When you’re busy with work and responsibilities at home, does your sleep suffer? Do you get to bed later than you’d planned, or wake in the early morning already thinking about all you need to tackle during the day? If so, you have a lot of company.

According to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly one-third of workers in the United States aren’t getting enough sleep. The CDC examined more than 15,000 responses to the 2010 National Health Interview Survey, analyzing the data for information about the sleep habits of working people. In their analysis, CDC researchers looked at workers’ sleep in relation to several demographic factors, including age, gender, race and ethnicity, marital status, education and type of employment.

The study found that overall, 30 percent of workers in the U.S. are sleeping for no more than six hours a day. That’s at best an hour short of the seven to eight hours of daily sleep that most of us need. The rates of low sleep among different industries vary significantly, ranging from a low of 24.1 percent for an industry category titled “other services, except public administration” to a high of 41.6 percent for workers in the mining industry. More than a third of manufacturing workers — 34 percent — reported sleeping no more than six hours on a daily basis.

The study also showed big differences among day and night shift workers:

• 44 percent of night shift workers reported sleeping six hours or fewer per day
• 28 percent of day shift workers reported sleeping no more than six hours
• Among night shift workers, those in certain industries were especially likely to be short on sleep: 69.7 percent of transportation and warehousing workers and 52.3 percent of health care/social assistance workers reported sleeping for no more than six hours daily

When examining age, researchers found that those in the middle of the pack were more likely to be short on sleep.

• Workers age 45-64 had the highest rate of insufficient sleep, at 31.8 percent
• They were closely followed by workers ages 30-44, of whom 31.6 percent reported sleeping for no more than six hours daily
• Both middle-age working groups were much more likely to report low sleep than younger workers: 26.5 percent of workers ages 18-29, and 21.7 percent of workers over the age of 65 said they slept for six hours or fewer per night.

When looking at marital status, researchers found that people who’d been widowed, divorced or separated from a partner were measurably more likely to be sleeping less than people who were married or those who had never been married.

• 29.4 percent of married workers said they slept no more than six hours per day, compared to:
• 28.2 percent of workers who had never been married and
• 36.4 percent of those who were widowed, divorced, or separated

Workers at the far ends of the education spectrum reported sleeping more than workers in the middle. Slightly more than a quarter of workers who had attained a college degree — 26.7 percent — reported sleeping no more than six hours per day, compared to

• 33.8 percent of workers who had completed some college
• 33.7 percent of those who had completed high school or the equivalent
• 29.1 percent who had not completed high school

Not surprisingly, workers with multiple jobs and those who worked long hours at a single job were more likely to sleep for no more than six hours in a day.

• 37 percent of workers who held multiple jobs said they slept no more than six hours, as did:
• 36.2 percent of those who worked more than 40 hours a week and
• 27.7 percent of people who worked under 40 hours per week.

We’ve seen lots of evidence recently that workers in a wide range of industries are having trouble with sleep. In one way or another, sleep deprivation will affect work performance in addition to an individual’s health and well being. And the consequences can be serious for the public at large, especially when the sleep-deprived are part of a workforce that involves public safety, such as police, firefighters, airline workers, or medical professionals. In just the past several months, we’ve seen news of:

• Wall Street investment bankers working in a culture of chronic sleep deprivation
• Widespread sleep problems among police and other law enforcement professionals in the U.S. and Canada
• Ongoing safety issues in the airline industry where sleep has played a role, both with air traffic controllers and pilots
• The hazards of extended shift work among medical residents in the U.S.

The risks of not sleeping enough are well known, and are as true for a shift worker in a manufacturing plant or a cop working the night beat as they are for a busy stay-at-home mom or a fresh college grad toiling in an office job. Low sleep interferes with our performance on the job — whatever job we do. Being short on sleep also makes it harder to enjoy our lives outside of work. In addition, chronic sleep deprivation puts you at risk for serious health problems, including:

• Heart disease and stroke
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Depression, anxiety and other mental health issues

Close the computer at 6 p.m,, decline that extra bit of overtime, don’t bring work home on the weekends: It’s up to each of us to find ways to set reasonable limits so that work life doesn’t rob us of the sleep we need.

Sweet Dreams,
Michael J. Breus, PhD
The Sleep Doctor™

Offered by our myBIGearth friends at the Huffington Post

Technorati Tags cdc, centers for disease control cdc, health interview survey, night shift workers, six hours, sleep

Yoga works. It has scientifically proven health benefits and is highly effective in decreasing stress, a major factor in most disease. For various social and economic reasons, however, yoga is not easily accessible to many isolated and underserved populations, often those who could use it the most. The Yoga Service Council (YSC) was started in 2009 at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, by a group of seva yogis in order to broaden access to yoga and its life-changing practices (sevameans “selfless service” in Sanskrit, and infers service without the expectation of reward).

Made up of an ever-expanding and diverse community of non-profit service organizations including Off the Mat, Into the World; Yoga Hope; The International Association of Yoga Therapists; The Art of Yoga Project; and many more, the YSC will be holding its inaugural Yoga Service Conference next weekend. This three-day event will feature yoga teachers, wellness professionals, and scientists and researchers who work with marginalized and at-risk groups teaching workshops, lecturing, and discussing ways in which education and cooperation can affect lasting social change. Faculty includes yoga teachers Seane Corn and Beryl Bender Birch, mind-body wellness expert Dr. Gabor Mate, Stanford University lecturer Kelly McGonigal, PhD, and a host of other yoga service pioneers.

Yoga teachers, school teachers, counselors, social workers, health providers, wellness practitioners, and any who desire to make a positive difference with the power of yoga are encouraged to attend. If you do plan to go, make sure to register by phone and mention the discount code YSC for a substantial reduction of $100 off the $395 registration fee. For more information, visit the Yoga Service Council website at yogaservicecouncil.org.

From our myBIGearth friends at Yoga Journal

Technorati Tags mind body wellness, rhinebeck new york, selfless service, yoga teachers, yoga therapists, yogis

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring oil-soluble, vitamin-like substance which is absolutely essential for optimum health and longevity. Also known as ubiquinone, CoQ10 is found in virtually every cell in the body, primarily in cellular mitochondria, and it is a vital component of the electron transport chain which generates 95 percent of the body’s energy via adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

CoQ10 is vital for the heart

Organs with the highest energy requirements – such as the heart, liver, and kidney – have the highest concentrations of CoQ10. Adequate CoQ10 is particularly vital for the cardiovascular health. It is thus ironic as well as tragic that statin drugs which are prescribed for reputed heart benefits lower CoQ10 production by up to 40%. For more information statin drug dangers, see:

As we age, we lose much of our supply of CoQ10, particularly in the heart. At the age of 80, for example, CoQ10 levels are cut by more than half. CoQ10 benefits and protects the heart in many ways, including helping lowering high blood pressure and preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. The effectiveness and safety of CoQ10 in the treatment of congestive heart failure has been well established by numerous studies. One recent study also found that CoQ10 can improve survival after a cardiac arrest.

Other CoQ10 benefits and the dangers of CoQ10 deficiency

CoQ10 is also an important antioxidant which inhibits both the initiation and the propagation of lipid and protein oxidation. Additionally, it regenerates other antioxidants such as vitamin E. One recent study demonstrated that low doses of CoQ10 reduced oxidation and DNA double-strand breaks, and that a combination of CoQ10 and a diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids leads to a longer lifespan.

Low CoQ10 levels have been observed in cancer patients, while treatment with CoQ10 has been shown to be effective against cancer. CoQ10 has also been found to be beneficial for migraine headaches and some studies have indicated that it may help provide better brain health and function.

Lack of CoQ10 can cause Rhabdomyolysis, which is the breakdown of muscle fibers that leads to the release of muscle fiber contents (myoglobin) into the bloodstream. Myoglobin often causes kidney damage. Notably, rhabdomyolysis has often been observed in patients who take statin drugs.

Inadequate CoQ10 levels have been noted in incidences of chronic heart failure, end stage AIDS and other overwhelming illnesses.

Supplementation and food sources for CoQ10

In addition to the body, CoQ10 is also found in relatively small amounts in a wide variety of foods, with the highest amounts found in organ meats such as heart, liver and kidney, as well as beef, sardines, mackerel, and peanuts. Other food items with modest amounts of CoQ10 include grapeseed oil, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, parsley, spinach, sesame seeds, olive oil and avocado.

Food sources alone may not be enough for those deficient in CoQ10. To put dietary CoQ10 intake into perspective, one pound of sardines, two pounds of beef, or two and one half pounds of peanuts, provide only 30 mg of CoQ10.

Fortunately, no known toxicity or side effects have been observed in supplemental CoQ10. CoQ10 shows a moderate variability in its absorption, with some patients attaining good blood levels of CoQ10 on 100 mg per day while others require two or three times this amount to attain the same blood level.

Supplementation with CoQ10 has been studied in amounts as high as 3600 mg per day with largely only gastrointestinal side effects observed. The observed safe level (OSL) risk assessment method indicated evidence of safety is strong at intakes up to 1200 mg/day.

From our myBIGearth friends at Natural News

Technorati Tags congestive heart failure, electron transport chain, important antioxidant, lowering high blood pressure, treatment of congestive heart failure

The right food choices can greatly increase the odds of beating cancer. Fortunately, nature offers a multitude of foods which have great cancer fighting and immune boosting properties. Here are some of the very best:

Cancer fighting and immune boosting superstars

Cruciferous Vegetables. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and kale are among the most powerful cancer fighting foods to be found. Cruciferous vegetables are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals and contain important antioxidants such as beta carotene and the compound sulforaphane. Cruciferous vegetables contain isothiocyanates, phytochemicals which help break down potential carcinogens. They also contain indole-3-carbidol (I3C), which helps prevent estrogen driven cancers. Other cruciferous vegetables are: arugula, bok choy, chard, Chinese cabbage, collard greens, daikon, kohlrabi, mustard greens, radishes, rutabagas, turnips and watercress.

Curcumin (turmeric). Curcumin, the major ingredient of the spice turmeric, has been a rising star against cancer in recent years. Numerous studies have indicated curcumin’s cancer fighting abilities as well as its abilities to help prevent cancer, including one study which found that curcumin helps prevent lung cancer for tobacco smokers.

Mushrooms. There are a number of mushrooms known as “medicinal mushrooms” which can help the body fight cancer and build the immune system. These mushrooms contain a number of valuable cancer fighting and immune boosting compounds including polysaccharides such as lentinan, beta glucan, lectin and thioproline. These compounds attack cancerous cells, prevent them from multiplying, and boost immune activity – including stimulating the body’s natural production of interferon.

Some of the very best cancer fighting and immune boosting mushrooms are: agaricus blazei murrill (ABM mushroom), coriolus versicolor (Asian turkey tail mushroom), shitake, reishi, maitake, cordyceps oglossoides and phellinus linteus.

Garlic. Garlic, as well as onions, leeks and chives, has immune-enhancing allium compounds that increase the immune cell activity, help break down cancer causing substances and block carcinogens from entering cells . Studies have linked garlic to lower risk of stomach and colon cancer. Diallyl sulfide, a compound found in garlic oil, has also been shown to render carcinogens in the liver inactive.

Flax. Flax contains lignans, compounds which block or suppress cancerous changes in cells. Flax is also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which protect against colon and other cancers. Notably, flax is part of the famous and highly successful Budwig Cancer Diet.

Hot Peppers. Hot peppers such as cayenne (chili peppers) and jalapenos contain capsaicin, a chemical which fights cancer and helps neutralize certain cancer-causing nitrosamines. Hot peppers are especially valuable for helping prevent stomach cancers.

Dark Leafy Vegetables. Spinach, turnip greens and other cancer fighting dark green leafy vegetables are rich in folic acid. Folic acid helps maintain the cell’s genetic code and regulate normal cell division.

Dark Seeded Grapes. Dark red grapes contain powerful bioflavonoid antioxidants that work as cancer preventives. Grapes are also a rich source of resveratrol and ellagic acid, a compound that slows the growth of tumors by blocking enzymes needed by cancer cells. Eat the entire grape, seeds and all.

Brown Seaweed. Brown seaweeds such as kombu contain the polysaccharide compound fucoidan. Fucoidan has been found to kill cancer tumors including lymphoma, different kinds of leukemia, stomach cancer and colon cancer. Notably, the people of Okinawa, who consume the highest per capita amount of kombu, have some of the highest life expectancies in Japan as well as the lowest cancer death rate.

Other powerful cancer fighting foods are:

* Carrots
* Green and black tea
* Fermented organic soy
* Tomatoes
* Blueberries
* Raspberries
* Purple corn
* Extra virgin olive oil
* Avocados
* Nuts
* Sweet potatoes
* Apples

Offered by our myBIGearth friends at Natural News

Technorati Tags cancer, food choices, natural news, preventative

The now-infamous “Tanning Mom” of New Jersey has a dark side to her public image that almost matches her extremely artificial suntanned complexion.

Patricia Krentcil, 44, has been fighting to clear her reputation since police accused her of child endangerment for allegedly bringing her 6-year-old daughter Anna inside a tanning booth.

She lost her cool on Wednesday when questioned by a TMZ reporter about the charges she exposed her kindergartener to potentially harmful ultraviolet rays.

“I’m a great mother and I would never do that to my child,” Krentcil said while getting into a car.

She added a vague accusation that she has an arch rival lurking out there to make her look bad.

“There’s somebody out there my whole life that doesn’t like me,” said Krentcil, “because they’re jealous, they’re fat and they’re ugly.”

To burnish her reputation, Krentcil appeared on national television to explain her side of the story. But many became bewildered by her skin tone which appeared practically charred during an interview on CBS. Critics said she might be tanorexic, or addicted to tanning.

Krentcil’s troubles began when a school nurse questioned Anna about her sunburn and the girl allegedly said got it from tanning with her mom.

Police investigated and charged the golden baked mom. On Tuesday, she pleaded not guilty

Her husband defended Krentcil, saying that their daughter got a sunburn from playing outdoors.

“She’s 6 years old,” said Richard Krentcil in the Star Ledger. He said the school officials misunderstood what Anna meant. “It’s a child speaking.”

Offered by our myBIGearth friends at the Huffington Post

Technorati Tags child endangerment, harmful ultraviolet rays, kindergartener, school nurse, tanning booth

The proverbial lonely hearts club may be more literal than we once thought.

A new study from Cornell University, published in Psychology and Aging, found that loneliness actually ages the heart, increasing cardiovascular damage and heart disease risk.

The researchers looked at two groups with 91 adults in each-the first between the ages of 18-30 and the other ages 65-80. To compare the two groups, they measured how participants’ cardiovascular systems reacted and recovered under stress when presenting a speech or doing mental math. Participants also reported how lonely they typically feel.

“The most striking thing we found was that the cardiovascular response of the lonely young adults to the social stressor task looked more like that of the nonlonely older adults,” lead author Anthony Ong, Ph.D., said in a statement. In other words, loneliness aged their hearts prematurely.

The effect of loneliness was even worse for older adults, putting them at the greatest risk for heart-related problems. In fact, on average, their post-stress recovery was so slow that they never returned to baseline during the two-hour follow-up period.

As we age, our blood pressure naturally rises, and our hearts may react more intensely to stress while taking more time to recover. Speeding up that process-which chronic loneliness can do-strains the heart and leads to long-term damage.

But the damage isn’t just internal; it shows up on your skin as well.

“Your arterial health is one of the main factors that affects the way your skin looks,” says YouBeauty co-founder Michael Roizen, M.D. “Your skin is an organ, so you need healthy arteries to deliver all the nutrients it needs.”

“An important takeaway from our work is the reminder that we all desire and need meaningful social connections,” Ong told YouBeauty. “When it comes to loneliness, we may not need 100 Facebook friends so much as one friend-one genuine connection.”

If you often feel lonely, then building community can be a huge boon for your wellbeing-both mentally and physically. Join a church; get a dog; take a dance class; start a book club; ask your coworkers out for drinks; or reach out to an old friend.

Having somebody to lean on will keep you young at heart.

Offered by our myBIGearth friend Nadia Goodman at Yahoo Shine

Technorati Tags cardiovascular response, cornell university, genuine connection, heart disease risk, mental math, social connections

Acid reflux, commonly called heartburn, is caused when digestive acids flow up from the stomach and into the esophagus. The esophagus, located in the heart region of the chest, becomes irritated with a burning sensation.

There are lesser known symptoms other than heartburn for acid reflux as well: gas, bloating, flatulence and even apparently unrelated symptoms such as chronic dry coughing, sour or bitter mouth between meals, trouble swallowing, hoarseness, and wheezing.

Acid reflux usually occurs from a failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to contract after swallowing food, thus allowing stomach acids to come up toward and into the esophagus.

This muscular failure to contract can be from several situations, including obesity, lying down after meals, eating just before bedtime, eating disagreeable processed fried foods, and over eating. Excess caffeine or alcohol can weaken the LES and induce occasional or reoccurring acid reflux.

Hiatel hernia, where the diaphragm muscle protrudes over the top of the stomach, is another contributing factor to acid reflux. If acid reflux occurs often on a regular basis, the condition becomes gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can develop into cancer of the esophagus if ignored.

Over the counter (OTC) or prescribed medications lead to other problems, of course. So here are a few suggestions for natural remedies.

Long term solutions from Dr. Edward Group

In addition to the usual lifestyle changes in order to lose stomach fat — eating right, cutting back on sugar, alcohol, and caffeine, moderate exercise, and relaxation — Dr. Group recommends increasing intake of digestive enzymes.

This can be done by juicing frequently, and by eating more organic raw foods, or supplementing. Cooking or processing food destroys enzymes, considered by many to be more vital than vitamins and minerals because it takes enzymes to metabolize them.

Increasing probiotics is always a good idea. Homemade milk or water kefirs, and foods such as miso and homemade sauerkraut are potent and economical probiotic foods. Less economical but conveniently accessible probiotic supplements are also available.

He also recommends high vitamin D intake and using real sea salt. Before undertaking drastic dietary changes, Dr. Group recommends doing colon cleansing enemas then graduating to coffee enemas for the liver. All this may seem to be too much for handling mere heartburn.

However, in addition to eliminating or avoiding acid reflux, all of these recommendations are essential for overall health.

Immunity, as well as good physiological and mental health depends more on a healthy gut than even many health professionals realize.

Suggestions for quick relief from acute heartburn

Dr. Group recommends organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon in a little bit of water, to eliminate heartburn. This seems counterintuitive in that apple cider vinegar increases stomach acid to aid digestion before meals. But there are many testimonials claiming it works.

He also likes to use baking soda (bicarbonate of soda, not baking powder), which actually shoots alkalinity way up. A tablespoon in a half cup of water can give immediate relief from heartburn. An ounce or two of unprocessed Aloe Vera juice is good for heartburn and stomach ulcers.

Dr. Andrew Weil advises using DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) in chewable tablets or powder. He recommends chewing a couple of tablets or taking a half-teaspoon of the powder in water as often as it takes to get relief. He also likes slippery elm for soothing the esophagus.

Another counterintuitive remedy is a half or full teaspoon of 40,000 heat unit (minimum) cayennepowder in water. Many claim it works. Master Herbalist John Christopher cured his stomach ulcer this way. Cayenne is also an inexpensive heart tonic.

Offered by our myBIGearth friends at Natural News

Technorati Tags natural remedies, remedies for acid reflux

Superfoods are natural foods that have an array of nutrients that synergistically work to together to exponentially expand the individual nutritional components. Many raw, organic vegetables fall into this category. One of the world’s favorite superfoods are cucumbers.

Cucumbers are the 4th most cultivated vegetable in the world. Cucumbers are in the same botanical family as melons and squashes. They are considered one of the absolute best foods for the health of the skin, joints, liver, and kidneys. They are also a natural energy tonic with their rich array of phytonutrients and electrolytes.

Cucumbers are loaded with the mineral silica, which is an essential component for healthy connective tissue (muscles, ligaments, cartilage, bone, & skin). It is also full of ionic potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C which give it a powerful alkalizing effect within the body. Additionally, cucumbers are particularly rich in fluids that hydrate the skin, joints, and tissues.

More recently scientists have begun studying the unique lignans found in cucumbers. These lignans include lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. New research is linking these lignans with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease as well as breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancer.

Cucumbers also contain the triterpene phytonutrients cucurbitacins A, B, C, D, and E. These phytonutrients have been the major focus of some extensive research looking deeply into their abilities to inhibit cancer cell signaling pathways.

Fresh cucumbers have been shown to improve anti-oxidant levels within the body and inhibit pro-inflammatory substances such as COX-2 and nitric oxide. The combination of alkalizing elements, electrolytes, and fluids make it one of the world’s best foods for enhancing energy levels. Cucumbers are also great for stabilizing blood pressure and stimulating the body’s natural detoxification process.

Cucumbers make for beautiful skin

Cucumbers are often used topically to enhance skin function. The natural ascorbic acid and caffeic acid within the cucumber act to prevent water retention in the skin. This reduces swelling under the eyes and helps the skin heal from sunburn, inflammation, and eczema.

Cucumbers are also very effective when eaten and applied topically for removing unwanted cellulite. Cucumbers act to draw out excess fluids and tighten collagen which has the effect of a natural cellulite reduction. Simply eat some cucumber, juice it, and/or place the cucumber on the regions of water retention.

Cucumbers are typically highly sprayed with pesticides so it is necessary to get organic varieties. If conventional is the only option it is best to scrape off the green skin rather than washing. Many of the chemicals are waxy and do not come off easy with washing.

Try dicing up cucumbers and adding some apple cider vinegar, oregano, and pink salt. This makes a quick, electrolyte and enzyme-rich snack to boost energy levels.

Technorati Tags beautiful skin, detoxification process, electrolytes, enhancing energy, natural detoxification, organic vegetables

In a desperate attempt to avoid implementing an actual ban on the non-therapeutic use of antibiotic drugs in factory animal feed, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has once again made it abundantly clear that it favors corporate interests over public health. In a recent announcement, the FDA publicly petitioned the factory food industry to voluntarily stop using antibiotics, claiming that this hands-off, non-regulatory approach will somehow be more effective at curbing antibiotic overuse than a mandatory ban would be.

The announcement comes just weeks after a federal judge took the FDA to task for its blatant disregard for public health, and ordered the agency to begin withdrawing approval for the non-therapeutic use of certain antibiotics in animal feed (http://www.ucsusa.org). But instead of stepping up to the plate to fulfill these federally-mandated legal duties, the FDA has instead chosen to stage a meaningless publicity stunt that will do absolutely nothing to fix the problem.

Meanwhile, the drug companies that produce penicillin and tetracycline, the two antibiotics ordered by the federal judge to be banned, have the opportunity to challenge the ruling. But if they fail at an evidentiary hearing to prove the drugs’ safe and effective use in animal feed, which they likely will be unable to do, then the FDA will not get away with simply requesting that the food industry withdraw the drugs’ use — on the contrary, the FDA will be required to ban their use in accordance with the law.

“For the past 35 years, while advocates and citizens alike have been urging FDA to take action, the problem has steadily worsened and FDA has sat on its hands, which begs the question of whose interests the agency is protecting,” said Margaret Mellon, senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists‘ (UCS) Food & Environment Program, in a statement. “The FDA has known since the 1970s that the routine use of powerful antibiotics in livestock leads to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which cause infections that are more difficult to treat in both people and animals.”

FDA plays word games to conceal its selling out to the factory food industry

The FDA really has no valid excuse as to why it has deliberately failed for more than 35 years to address the problem of non-therapeutic antibiotic use in factory animal feed. And now that the public is finally catching on to the FDA’s cozy coalescence with the factory food industry, the agency is being forced to at least acknowledge the issue.

But rather than acknowledge it in a sound and reasonable way, the FDA has resorted to playing word games that completely dodge the issue. Despite the fact that a federal judge has already ordered the two most common antibiotic culprits to be banned, for instance, the FDA is now claiming that this voluntary approach will perform the same function without the need for litigation.

“The new strategy will ensure farmers and veterinarians can care for animals while ensuring the medicines people need remain safe and effective,” FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg is quoted as saying in a recent Reuters report.

Huh? Farmers and veterinarians will still have the ability to “care for animals” following a ban on non-therapeutic antibiotic use, hence the “non-therapeutic” designation. And yet Hamburg would have us all believe that simply asking the industry to regulate itself will somehow better address the problem than actually regulating it. Do not be fooled by such nonsense.

Technorati Tags accordance with the law, antibiotic overuse, antibiotics, food and drug administration fda, food industry, regulatory approach

Hooray! — even more research shows why dark chocolate (in moderation) has heart-healthy benefits.

Researchers from San Diego State University conducted a small controlled study illustrating that eating dark chocolate has positive effects in lowering blood sugar levels and “bad” cholesterol levels and increasing “good” cholesterol levels — all of which could have positive effects on heart health.

The study was presented at the Experimental Biology 2012 meeting.

For the study, researchers had 31 people eat either 50 grams of regular dark chocolate (70% cocoa), dark chocolate (70% cocoa) that has been overheated, or white chocolate (0% cocoa). The study participants ate their assigned chocolate for a 15-day period; their blood glucose, circulating lipids, blood pressure and blood flow were all measured before and after the study.

But while the researchers found a positive effect of eating the dark chocolate in the study, they cautioned that chocolate is also high in saturated fat and calories, and must therefore be eaten in moderation.

Offered by our myBIGearth friends at the Huffington Post

Technorati Tags blood glucose, dark chocolate, good cholesterol levels, heart health, lowering blood sugar