McDonald’s announced in June that by the end of 2004 the fast-food chain will be serving antibiotic-free beef and chicken, calling on its suppliers to change their agricultural protocol to a more natural process. The declaration comes in response to the growing alarm over the effect of routine antibiotic use in animal production, a practice that undermines the effectiveness of antibiotics in people and has been banned in Europe.
Natural chemicals found in black tea, called polyphenols, help fight the bacteria that cause bad breath, say researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is caused by volatile sulphur compounds produced by bacteria that thrive in oxygen-lacking environments, such as the back of the tongue and deep gum pockets. In the laboratory, polyphenols not only inhibited the growth of oral bacteria, they also suppressed by 30 percent the enzyme that catalyzes hydrogen sulfide, a halitosis culprit.
Kids who meditate are happier, have higher self-esteem, get along better with other students and cope with stress more effectively than students who don’t meditate, suggests Rita Benn, Ph.D., a researcher at the University of Michigan. Aged 10 to 14, the Detroit students of Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse practice non-religious transcendental meditation (TM) for 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon to reduce stress — a growing concern for parents and child psychologists who note that kids are dealing with more pressure than ever.
During this harvest season, you may want to consider carving up your pumpkin for a soup recipe rather than a jack-o’-lantern. The orange pigment of pumpkin is rich in carotenoids — specifically beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene — which are powerful antioxidants with cancer-fighting properties. Studies have specifically shown the compounds in pumpkin help ward off lung, colorectal, breast, uterine and prostate cancers. Furthermore, carotenoids can boost immunity, help eyesight and protect cells from ultra-violet radiation.
Summer has arrived, meaning everyone’s spending more time outdoors hiking, biking, swimming, gardening, and traveling. However, sunburn, bug bites, and motion sickness often go hand-in-hand with these seasonal activities. Below are several natural remedies to help ease those acute issues and get on with enjoying the pleasures of summertime.
Aloe (Aloe vera), applied topically, is a pain-relieving anti-inflammatory that penetrates to injured tissue and soothes the skin.
Looking at the evolution of modern massage therapy over the last 40 years shows both an exponential growth and subsequent factioning of modalities within the larger parent field. We need only look at the internally divided camps of certain bodywork genres (i.e., Rolfing and reiki to name but a few) to see a micro-cosmic representation of how an even larger gap has developed between structural work and energy work throughout the years. As a result of that chasm, the spirit once found in the union of structure and energy has been lost.
Life is an act of affirmation. Each day that we rise from our bed and engage in the moment-by-moment activities and choices that script our personal story, we are saying “yes” to life. Some do it unconsciously. Some do it with great relish and joy. Some do it consciously and with skill.
In general, antioxidants are nature’s combined sanitation and police department. They are designed to keep the body’s free-radical population under control, to keep the process of oxidation at its rightful balance and to ensure that nutrients are properly absorbed and assimilated.
However, antioxidants can only work effectively if enough of them are present in the body at any given time. Antioxidants are primarily found in fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins C and E.
Following is a list of foods and food groups loaded with these substances.
In response to the quest for perfect skin, microdermabrasion is gaining popularity in day spas, medical offices and medispas across the country. Coined the “luncheon peel” because it requires virtually no recovery time and as little as 30 minutes to perform, microdermabrasion is described as skin sandblasting, a procedure that exfoliates dead skin cells.
Q: I’d love to try new skin care treatments, but I have a history of allergic reactions. What ingredients should I avoid?
A: You’re wise not to experiment with your precious skin. There are specific ingredients you probably should avoid, according to Dana Vande Weg, co-owner of Stellar Spa in Corte Madera, Calif., which specializes in natural treatments.
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