The whole Western World has been lured into believing cholesterol causes heart disease, a theory that lacks scientific fact. The pharmaceutical companies who have spent billions of dollars developing "Statin" drugs, have deliberately ignored all the scientific research that shows that cardio vascular disease has nothing to do with cholesterol levels and that reducing cholesterol can be harmful.

Cholesterol was believed to be the main culprit in CVD becasue it was found at the scene of the crime. However, for the past 10 years it has been known that the cholesterol found at the scene of the crime is actually there for healing purposes. The real culprit is an amino acid called homocysteine, and also to a far lesser extent, free radicles. The pharmaceutical companies have supressed this information because homocysteine levels can be considerably reduced or eliminated by supplementing with vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and Folic Acid (in the form of folate). These naturally occuring compounds cannot be patented and therefore there in no money to be made through them. To add insult to injury the pharmaceutical industry are actively trying to ban these supplements on health grounds, (nobody has ever died from these supplements), whereas one side effect of statin medication is sudden death caused by depletion of co-enzyme Q10. Statins also have numerous other horrific side effects.

To find out more about the Great Cholesterol Lie click here 

No common virus can resist vitamin C so use this to boost your immune system. 2 grams every day is a good preventative dose. If you are exposed to swine flu double this.  Suplementing with zinc and selenium also boosts immunity. In the unlikely event of you becoming a victim then increase the dose of vitamin C to 10g a day taken at regular intervals. It is possible to take upto 100g a day short term. There are no side effects, apart from diarhorea, and if you suffer from this just cut the dose. (Women taking the pill may lose some of its effectivenss if they develop diahorrea). If you have glucose-6-dehyrogenase dificiency it may cause a form of anaemia known as haemolytic anaemia. In individuals who are known to have the condition hyperoxalurea, use of Vitamin C may lead to the formation of oxalate kidney. stones. These are both extremely rare conditions.

Elderberry extract is another powerful remedy for any type of flu. It is avaialble on the High Street for £8.30 a bottle and will help you recover much more quickly. There are none of the side effects of Tamiflu, and unlike Tamiflu, you can keep a bottle or two in the medicne cabinet ready to start taking at the first symptoms.

For further advice on boosting immunity please email me. coaching@healthcoachinguk.com

One of the simplest ways to boost health is to do regular deep breathing exercises.

Breathe in through your nose for a count of four, inflating your abdomen first and then your chest.

Hold the breath for 16 seconds

Breathe out for a count of 8 seconds through pursed lips.

Repeat for a few minutes. The health benefiits can be multiplied by doing this exercise before eating. Doing so relaxes your body and mind and aids digestion of the food. When you are stressed most of the nutrients, particularly Calcium pass straight through the digestive system into the bladder.

This easy exercise has the following benefits...

Breathing exercises such as the one I showed you above have a positive impact on your:

• Circulatory system; improving blood circulation and cell oxygenation throughout your body
• Nervous system Reduces stress and anxiety
• Respiratory system, which can reduce mental and physical fatigue, as well as relieve symptoms of asthma and bronchitis
• Endocrine system. The action of your diaphragm helps push lymph throughout your body, which helps eliminate toxic waste and strengthen your immune system
• Digestive system, by acting as a pump to massage internal organs
• Urinary system, by helping to eliminate fluids and massaging your kidneys
• Skin. Toxic CO2 waste is eliminated more directly through your breath, and your skin can also be positively affected by improved blood flow and oxygenation

The Acai Berry from the Acai Palm found in Brazil is currently touted as the latest weight loss supplement, but it is also claimed to have numerous other health boosting properties, such as, increased energy levels, improved sexual performance,enhanced digestion, detoxification, high fiber content, improved skin appearance, improved cardio vascular health, improved sleep, and reduction of cholesterol levels. Açaí has very high  levels of antioxidants, which are claimed to promote health.It has an ORAC value of 18,500. It is also rich in phyto-nutrients, amino acids and trace minerals. Regardless of the health claims above it can certainly be classed as a "super food".

Water should, without any doubt, be your drink of choice. You should aim to consume at least two litres a day, and maybe more if you are of above average size. It needs to be water, not tea,  coffee, or fizzy drinks. ater is even preferable to herbal teas. There is something about water that the human body really likes and benefits from.

Take a look at these babes that were raised entirely on Evian Spring Water.

Smoking is dangerous whether you are smoking or breathing in the smoke from cigarettes.

Studies have shown

Smoking causes 120,000 deaths per year, 130 a day, in the UK alone.

Smokers in the UK have five times as many heart attacks as non-smokers

One third of smokers will die prematurely

Most of the remainder will suffer chronic health problems in later life

If you give up you can expect
50% reduction in the risk of developing oral cancers within 3-5 years of stopping smoking.
A return to normal level of risk within ten years of stopping.
Gum disease also improves once the habit is stopped.

Smoking can cause many problems including :
Staining of the teeth.
Bad breath (halitosis).
Gum (periodontal) disease.
Oral cancer.

It is also associated with many other medical conditions e.g.
Lung cancer.
High blood pressure.
Strokes.
Heart disease.
Impotence & Sperm Damage

Caution
Although mouth rinses and smokers’ toothpastes may be effective in removing stains and making your mouth feel fresher, they cannot treat the underlying damage caused by smoking. Furthermore, these treatments are not without risks themselves. Alcohol based mouthwashes cause oral cancer, and most toothpastes contain harsh chemicals like sodium fluoride and sodium lauryl sulphate which are both harmful to health.

Two thirds of smokers believe they cannot give up because they are addicted to nicotine. Nicotine is actually no more addictive than sugar or chocolate. Smoking is an addictive habit, but this should not be confused with addiction. Alcohol is addictive, Heroin is addictive, nicotine is not addictive. If you think about it, there are hundreds of residential clinics to help people come off drugs and alcohol. There is not a single residential clinic anywhere in the world to help people come off nicotine.

The reason people believe that nicotine is addictive is a clever piece of marketing by the tobacco industries, released 20 years or so ago,  in which they reported on  some research which appeared to come from highly academic sources that stated nicotine was as addictive as heroin. This is absolute rubbish but it ensures millions of people continue smoking in the false belief they are addicted.

Giving up smoking can be almost effort free. Stopping smoking is hard work if you rely on the willpower alone. However if you use the power of the imagination through hypnotherapy it is far easier than you would ever think possible to stop smoking. The key is, you must want to stop smoking. Hypnotherapy can make it almost effort free to stop.

A team at Retroscreen Virology, an institute associated with the University of London, have found that elderberry extract was at least 99 per cent effective against the H5N1 virus (Avain flu) and significantly neutralized the infectivity of the virus in cell cultures. There are no human trials yet and there are unlikely to be any as elderberry extract is a natural non-patentable product so the pharmaceutical companies just wont be interested, even though it could save millions of lives.

Elderberry extract is readily available in the high street as "Sambucol". There have been trials of this preparation, the first done in Israel, and the second in Norway – both found that people who took the elderberry supplement got rid of flu in half the time of the placebo group, or after two to three days compared to about six.

Sambucol seems to work by blunting the spikes on the outside of the virus. It also blocks the action of hemagglutin which the virus uses to bind to living cells.This prevents the virus injecting its RNA into the living cell and therefore stops the virus reproducing.

Sambuccol also has been shown to increase the production of four cytokines which boost immune response, so Sambucol has preventative properties as well. There are no side effects (unlike Tamiflu, which cannot be given to children under 12). There is also evidence to suggest that the flu virus is already becoming resistant to Tamiflu.

Sambucol was first trialed during the Israeli flu epidemic of 1992/3. Within 24 hours, 20% of those patients taking Sambucol had dramatic improvements in symptoms like fever, muscle aches and pains and coughing. By the second day, 73% were improved and by day three, 90%. In the untreated group, only 16% felt better after two days. The majority of that group took almost a week to begin feeling better.

Further studies in 1995 showed sambucol to be effective against human, swine and avian flu.

Oscillococcinum. This homeopathic remedy is one of the world's most popular for flu, especially in France, where it has been in production for over 65 years. Though the key to this remedy is having it handy at the earliest signs of getting the flu, patients report high effectiveness. One published study showed it prevented the onset of flu in 19.2% of users and improved symptoms in 43.7%

Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue and then place it in a covered container. If you don't have a tissue use your hand and then wash your hand to remove any germs.

Wash your hands frequently. Especially after coughing and sneezing. Use any type of soap along with warm water. Wash well for at least 20 seconds. Dry your hands with a clean towel or paper towel. Alcohol based hand wipes can also be used.

Keep your hands away from your face. Flu germs can live for several hours on door knobs, telephones, keyboards and desks. If you touch a contaminated surface you can easily introduce the infection into your own body by touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

Avoid Sick People. Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and stay out of crowded areas during flu outbreaks.

Stay at home if you develop flu symptoms. No one will thank you for spreading bugs.

Above all maintain a healthy immune system. You can do this by eating a healthy diet, taking MEGA (see below) and pro biotic supplements, taking regular exercise, and getting plenty of quality sleep. A positive mental attitude helps tremendously also.

1. Garlic
Studies have found that garlic has antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiprotozoal properties. Try soothing garlic soup at the first signs of the flu or a cold,. Go for fresh garlic - it's likely to be more effective than supplements. ( If you're on anticoagulant drugs or are scheduled for surgery, talk to your doctor before consuming large amounts of garlic).

2. Mint
Mint is a natural source of menthol, so a steaming cup of mint tea can actually help open clogged nasal passages and soothe sore throats, at least temporarily. Drinking it throughout the day may even help offset the need for dehydrating decongestants. If you're running a fever, menthol's cooling sensation may help you feel a little more comfortable. Mint is also a great stomach soother.

3. Chile Peppers
Chiles appear to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, so they may give you some respite if you're feeling achy.

4. Ginger
Ginger has also shown to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Add minced fresh ginger root to soup, or blend it into a Vitamin C-rich fruit smoothie. It can also be put through a juicer to provide a refreshing drink. (If you are on anticoagulant drugs or are scheduled for surgery, best talk to your doctor.)


5. Chamomile
This little floral herb soothes the stomach, and relaxes both mind and body. Because it has mild muscle-relaxing properties, it may help alleviate aches and pains, too. Try a cup of chamomile tea before bedtime.

6. Echinacea

This has numerous medicinal properties: it is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory and possesses wound healing properties. It’s popularity today is fuelled by claims that it has immune stimulating properties and can reduce the severity of symptoms and duration of colds and flu, especially if it is used in the early stages of infection. One study showed you were 58% less likely to catch a cold and if you did catch a cold it duration would be shortened by 1.4 days. (Echinacea shouldn’t be used on an indefinite, continuous basis. With long-term use, Echinacea appears to lose its effectiveness. The maximum period of continuous use should be 8 weeks. Then take 1 week off.)
 

What are some of the things we all know we need to do to achieve great health? They include:

In 1991 the FDA in the USA banned the use of Stevia on the grounds of some dodgy research that showed that it had a mutagenic effect on rat liver. The research was flawed in that it would have shown that distilled water had the same mutagenic effect. However, the USA banned the substance, and many peole beleive it was banned as a result of huge political pressure from the sugar industry.

The extract is now legal in the USA, although sales of the natural plant remain illegal.Coca Cola and Pepsi have plans to start using the stevia extract to sweeten their drinks.

In Europe Stevia products are still illegal. . Could this be due to lobbying from the sugar industry?

It is possible to source Stevia plants on the interenet. I would prefer to use the raw plant leaves rather than the processed product. The processed product can be purchased using the link in the blog below.

For more info on Stevia see Wikipaedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia)

Nutritionalists are divided as to which substance would make the most difference to our health it it was banned. Half say sugar, half say white flour. Both are very harmful to health   leading to   insulin resisitance, metabolic syndrome and ultimately diabetes as well as being the main causes of obesity.

Artificial sweeteners are just as harmful, they trigger an insulin response and aspartame breaks down in the stomach to methanol and formaldehyde. Methanol causes blindness and formaldehyde is a carcinogenic toxin.

A plant called Stevia (Stevia Rebaudiana) is a natural sweetener. When refined into a white powder extract (stevioside), it becomes 200-300 times sweeter than sugar without raising blood sugar levels and free from chemicals, carbs or calories. Research indicates that both diabetics and persons suffering from hypoglycemia may use Stevia.

It is available from........

If you are too cheerful a new drug, Despondex, is available to help you moderate your mood and stop you from infecting those around you. Watch this CNN clip to learn more and to see if it would be an appropriate treatment for you.

Some people argue that drugs are unneccessary to achieve this. It is possible to do it through diet alone. Just eat losts of sugary, highly processed food and limit the amount of fruit and veg in your diet.

I am always alarmed when I hear someone say they are on statins as these drugs have some serious side effects although you may not yourself be prone to the side effects.

The side effects include muscle weakness which I experienced when I took statins a few years ago. I only realised because I am a runner and my regular run was taking longer and longer every time I ran it

Other side effects include depletion of CoEnzyme Q10 - you should supplement with this, liver failure and memory loss ( See "Lipitor Thief of Memory" by Dr Duane Graveline), cancer, nerve damage, short temper, cognitive decline, and recent studies have linked it to Parkinson's disease.

The pharmaceutical companies have billions of dollars tied up in statins and statins recently overtook aspirin as the world's number one selling drug. Even though they know cholesterol is a red herring they are going to continue promoting them. They have managed to hoodwink the whole medical establishment and even governments into believing the cholesterol myth. The real threat is homocysteine which can be eliminated by supplementing with vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid. These cost just a few pennies and cannot be patented because they are natural products. The pharmaceutical companies are actually trying to ban these vitamins even though there has never been a single death caused by them recorded anywhere in the world.

There is no such thing as bad cholesterol. When a blood vessel is damaged it sends a signal to the liver which releases LDL cholesterol, this goes to the site of the damage and starts a series of reactions during which it is converted to HDL cholesterol and goes back to the liver for processing. This is like calling an ambulance on the way to the scene of an accident a bad ambulance and then calling it a good ambulance when it returns to the hospital. Cholesterol was always a prime suspect because it is found at the scene of the crime, but it is actually homocysteine and other toxins in the blood that cause the damage.

I don't want you to stop taking your statins (yet), but I think you should find out as much as you can about statin drugs, cholesterol and homocysteine. A really good book is "Put your heart in your mouth" by Dr Natasha Cambell-McBride. She is a Dr of Neurology and a Dr of Nutrition - I just have a degree in biochemisry.

It has been known for sometime that Vitamin D can reduce the chances of dying of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. These conditions account for 60 -70 % of all deaths in the western world.


Recent research by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the European Institute of Oncology have shown that over a six year period those who took a vitamin D supplement stood a 7% less chance of dying of any disease than those who did not.


Vitamin D is manufactured by the action of sunlight on cholesterol. This may explain why deaths from heart disease are higher in the UK than in the Mediterranean. It has long been thought to be due to the so called "Mediterranean Diet", but if any of you have lived in this area  you will know that there is no such thing. The diets here are nearly as unhealthy as any where else.


If you live where there is reduced sunlight during the winter months then you probably need to supplement your diet with vitamin D.


Dr Gionvannucci, of Harvard School of Public Health has suggested that moderate exposure to sun, and vitamin D supplementation will have a beneficial effect on health.


Vitamin D has  also been shown to boost the immune system, lowers insulin resistance, enhances thyroid function helping control calcium which in turn regulates blood pressure, lowers inflammation, particularly of the heart, reduces colon, breast and ovarian cancer, and may influence such conditions as MS and autism.

There is a proven link between Alzheimer's disease, other forms of dementia and nutrition.

In recent research at the University of Montreal 36 patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease were compared to 60 health subjects who were in good cognitive health and matched the ages of the patients. Over an 18 month period the dietary and supplementation regimes of both groups were carefully monitored. The patient group were found to have a lower intake of dietary fibre and protein and were found to be deficient in the following important nutrients

* Calcium
* Iron
* Zinc
* Vitamin A
* Vitamin K
* Omega-3 fatty acids
 
The researchers commented "This vulnerable population would benefit from systematic dietary assessment and intervention to prevent further deterioration in food consumption and increased nutritional risk."

In another study at Tuft's University in america researchers studied 10 years of data from over 1,100 elderly patients. They found that those that had high DHA (an Omega 3 fatty acid), and who also ate three fish meals a week , had a nearly 50% reducted risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease.

Another Canadian study showed that Alzheimers patients and those with other forms of dementia had lower levels of DHA compared to people with normal cognitive functioning.

It can be argued that dementia reduces DHA levels, but more probably, reduced DHA levels can contribute to dementia.

Everyone can benefit by boosting intake of omega 3 oils.

These can be found naturally in oily fish* or in certain seeds. One of the best sources is Linseed oil (also known as flaxseed oil). Alternatively, cod liver oil or fish oil supplements may be taken.

*Risk of mercury toxicity from fish can be eliminated by taking probiotics which absorb toxins from the gut .All these supplements are available from www.healthsenseonline.com

Employees who work long hours could be putting themselves at risk of developing dementia.

That is according to research from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

The study of 2,214 British civil servants found that middle aged employees who worked for over 55 hours a week also had worse short term memory and were less able to recall words than those who worked less than 41 hours.

Commenting on the results, the researchers said: "This study shows that long working hours may have a negative effect on cognitive performance in middle age.

"The link between cognitive impairment and dementia later in life is clearly established."

The researchers went on to suggest that employees who work long hours are putting themselves as at much risk of developing dementia as those who smoke.

Happy New Year! Don't let the credit crunch spoil your year. To make 2009 your most successful year yet it is essential to keep focussed on your goals (you do have goals don't you?). You also need to learn new skills, take inspired action - (just do it!), and work on developing good habits and letting go of bad habits.

The male menopause, correctly termed the andropause, is caused by oestrogen overload and can affect any male over 40 years old. The signs are very familiar:-

                                                                Moobs -Male Boobs

                                                                Weight gain, especially around the belly

                                                                Muscles turning to flab

                                                                Memory Loss

                                                                Mood Swings and Depression

                                                                Low sex Drive and Impotence

                                                                Sleepless Nights

This is caused by a decrease in Testosterone as the body ages.  Testosterone is also converted to oestrogen through the action of the enzyme aromatase, which is found in fat cells. Unfortunately, with middle age weight gain this process accelerates.  Further oestrogen imbalances occur due to the presence of xenoestrogens in the environment. These are toxic oestrogen mimics and originate from numerous sources such as detergents, plastic bottles, soy products, personal care products herbicides and pesticides. Massive amounts of these hormones are also injected into beef, pork  and poultry to increase yields.

There is research to suggest that increased oestrogen levels can lead to prostrate enlargement & prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and hypertension.

It’s definitely worth having your oestrogen levels checked. You can also minimise your exposure to oestrogens by cutting back on dairy produce, halving or eliminating meat consumption, avoiding drinks in plastic bottles, avoiding soya products such as soya milk (rice or almond milk is a much healthier option) and buying quality organic produce. Additionally regular exercise will keep the fat off and reduce the amount of testosterone converted by aromatase to oestrogen.

Women can be affected by Oestrogen overload and they, too, will benefit from the suggestions above.

Health Coaching is an extremely powerful technique for achieving any of your health related goals. The secret lies in its simplicity.

Firstly the coach will never tell the client what to do. The coach simply asks the client what health goals they would like to achieve (guided by the Wheel of Health exercise below). This way the client accepts ownership of their goals and   is much more motivated.

The coach will then ask what small step they could take to move them closer to achieving that goal. Most people fail with health goals because they try to do to much to start with. The coach will guide the client to take a step that they couldn't possibly fail at. The client then keeps making very small steps and is motivated by the coach and also held accountable by the coach for making progress. The power of small incremental steps taken over a relatively short period of time is phenomenal and really propels the client towards achieving their goals very quickly. It is the accountability to the coach that makes it so successful.

Please phone 0800 043 2505 or email for a free demonstration.

The Wheel of Health

The Power of the Subconcious Mind