‘Blinded by Science’ explores the power of vibrational energy and water in healing and wellness

(NaturalNews) The narrow and mechanistic way in which modern science tends to investigate and explain life, the world, and human health has robbed generations of people of a true knowledge of how these things actually work. In an up-and-coming new book Blinded by Science , author Matthew Silverstone explores how vibrational energy, water, magnetism, and plants all play a crucial role in health, and how the Western scientific method as we know it has utterly failed to grasp the critical connection between the natural world and real health. The field of modern medicine has been largely reduced to nothing more than a type of reactionary, drug-input system where only synthetic chemicals that induce a specific and narrowly-measurable response are considered scientifically valid. Trees, plants, water, sunlight — these and many other natural features of the world are ignored in favor of a “scientific method” that is not only biased but inherently flawed. And yet, it is the simple things in nature that have everything to do with promoting health. In his book, Silverstone shares countless hours of research on ideas like vibrational energy, which is found in everything from plants and trees, to the sun and the entire universe. Even at the atomic level, electrons are constantly moving as they spin around nuclei. And understanding this inherent vibrational reality that exists all around us will help explain various unknown phenomena, including inexplicable health conditions, that modern science is incapable of truly explaining. Building upon the reality of vibrations, Silverstone also explores how vibrational energy affects us and the world around us, including our moods, attitudes, and even our physical health. The vibrational properties of water, he says, make all the difference in how well plants grow, for instance. And the vibrational properties of water affect how beneficial it is in our bodies as well. Blinded by Science addresses these and many other fascinating concepts that will revolutionize the way you see the world around you. But the even greater thing about the book is that it is part of a “Book 2.0″ project where readers can participate in the writing of the final version. As you download and read one chapter at a time, you will gain access to a forum where you can submit comments and feedback on that chapter, and thus open up access to the other chapters. Not only will your ideas be considered and potentially included in the final release of the book, but you may even earn a co-author spot in the book’s credits. To learn more about Blinded by Science , visit: http://www.blindedbyscience.co.uk/ From there, you can download the book’s introduction for free, and read more about the foundational concepts of the book. You can also register to download any single chapter of the book for free. And if you choose to participate in Book 2.0, you can also begin submitting comments and gaining access to other chapters in the book.

Cookware chemicals disrupt hormones, lead to early menopause, study finds

(NaturalNews) The type of cookware you use can make all the difference in determining the health of you and your family. Researchers from West Virginia University (WVU) recently found that perfluorocarbons (PFCs), an artificial chemical commonly used in non-stick cookware, can disrupt hormonal balance and lead to early menopause in women. Published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism , the study contains data on 26,000 US women between 42 and 64 years old. Upon evaluation, the research team found that women with the highest blood concentrations of PFCs tended to go through menopause much earlier than women with low levels of PFCs in their blood, and that PFCs led to “significantly lower” levels of estrogen in women’s bodies. “There is no doubt that there is an association between exposure to PFCs and onset of menopause,” said Dr. Sarah Knox, lead researcher of the study. “Part of the explanation could be that women in these age groups have higher PFC levels because they are no longer losing PFCs with menstrual blood anymore, but it is still clinically disturbing because it would imply that increased PFC exposure is the natural result of menopause.” PFCs, which are a fluoride-containing chemical, can be found in all sorts of consumer products ranging from popcorn bags and pizza boxes to Teflon cookware and dental floss. The chemical is a linked to causing cancer, thyroid problems, liver and kidney damage, neurological disorders, and infertility (http://www.naturalnews.com/PFOA.html). According to a recent report by FOX News , DuPont, the manufacturer of Teflon, plans to eliminate PFCs from its product line by 2015. The best bet for cooking is to use only products that are inert and non-reactive. High quality ceramic, earthenware, enamel, glass, heavy-gauge stainless steel, and cast iron cookware are all viable options to help avoid chemical leaching into food. Sources for this story include: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/03/24/study-chemicals-saucepans-linked-early-menopause/

Iron, folic acid supplements during pregnancy make kids smarter

(NaturalNews) Giving pregnant women folic acid and iron supplements may increase the intelligence of their children later in life, according to a study conduced by researchers from Johns Hopkins University and published in the “Journal of the American Medical Association.” The researchers studied school-aged children in rural Nepal whose mothers had previously participated in a clinical study while pregnant. During that prior study, some of the mothers had been given folic acid and iron supplements. “We had the opportunity to follow the offspring of women who had participated in a randomized trial of iron and folic acid and other micronutrients to assess neurocognitive function and outcomes,” researcher Parul Christian said. The researchers found that children whose mothers had received supplements scored higher on tests of intelligence, organization and fine motor skills than children of mothers who had not received supplements. “What we showed is prenatal iron and folic acid supplementation had a significant impact on the offspring’s intellectual level and motor ability and ability during school age, which was a very exciting finding,” Christian said. “It had an impact across a range of function, including intellectual function, executive function and fine motor function.” Iron and folic acid are both known to play important roles in early nerve development. Although the difference in scores on the universal nonverbal intelligence test was only 2.4 points between supplemented and non-supplemented children, a difference of that scale could be highly significant on a population level, the researchers said, calling for improved prenatal care for poor communities. Prenatal care is already known to improve birth outcomes. “Women who receive prenatal care enjoy the lowest risk of maternal and infant mortality in history,” writes Tori Hudson in the book “Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine.” To learn more about the importance of nutrition, read the free NaturalNews.com report “Nutrition Can Save America!” at http://www.naturalnews.com/report_Nutrition_Health_America_0.html. Sources for this story include: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BK68620101222 ; http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/PreventiveCare/24022.

Why your urologist may be ordering unnecessary imaging tests

(NaturalNews) Whether a urologist is salaried or self-employed can make all the difference in how often and under what circumstances he or she orders imaging tests, according to a new study out of the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. Self-employed urologists tend to be twice as likely to order imaging tests than employed urologists, and researchers believe financial incentives are to blame. “In the same patient, a medical problem would be evaluated — and perhaps treated — differently by employed versus self-employed urologists,” explained Dr. John M. Hollingsworth, author of the study, to Reuters Health. Since ordering more diagnostic tests means more money for the self-employed urologist, it makes sense that those in this type of practice are more likely to order them, even when their patients do not really need them. Based on data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey that included over 37 million outpatient visits to urologists, roughly 80 percent of urologists are self-employed, and more than 20 percent of urology visits involve orders for imaging tests. But about 24 percent of self-employed urologists order imaging for their patients while only 13 percent of salaried urologists do. Though the majority of the imaging tests ordered were ultrasounds, other types of imaging that involve radiation could be problematic in the long-term for patients who see self-employed urologists, as repeated exposure could cause other health problems. For this reason, some are calling for changes to be made in the way physicians are reimbursed for services in order to curb illegitimate imaging orders. “With physicians controlling much of the demand for imaging, strategies to affect its use should consider the methods by which providers are compensated,” added Hollingsworth. Sources for this story include: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6A450Y20101105

Prevent heart disease with quality multivitamins

(NaturalNews) Taking quality multivitamins is a great way to supplement one’s diet with high doses of nutrients that are often lacking in modern-day food. And a new study out of Sweden has found that women who take multivitamins help to reduce their overall risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack. For ten years, Dr. Susanne Rautiainen and her colleagues from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm monitored 31,671 women with no history of heart disease and 2,262 women with heart disease to observe their progression in overall health. Roughly 60 percent of women from both groups took some kind of dietary supplement. At the completion of the study, 3.4 percent of the women who had no heart disease to begin with, but who did not take any dietary supplements, ended up having heart attacks. In contrast, only 2.6 percent of women from the same group who did take a multivitamin had heart attacks. Statistically, the multivitamin group exhibited a 27 percent less chance of having a heart attack. Additionally, women who began the study without heart disease but who had been taking a multivitamin for less than five years had an 18 percent reduced risk of heart disease compared to the non-multivitamin group, while those who had been taking multivitamins for ten years or more had a 41 percent reduced risk of developing the disease. The study does not explain what type of multivitamins and supplements the women were taking, so it is difficult to ascertain their quality. Multivitamins made with whole food vitamins are far superior to the synthetic varieties commonly sold at drug stores and big-box retailers, and they work best as part of an overall healthy diet and lifestyle. To learn more about the difference between whole food and synthetic multivitamins, and to see which brands offer the best formulations, check out the NaturalNews.com multivitamin page: http://www.naturalnews.com/multivitamins.html Sources for this story include: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69046E20101001

Hand sanitizers do nothing to prevent viruses, flu

(NaturalNews) Panic over last year’s swine flu pandemic led to the installation of millions of alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispensers in places like grocery store checkout lines, restaurants and schools. Many people also began carrying with them travel-size hand sanitizers for additional protection from germs. But a new study out of the University of Virginia (UV) has found that hand sanitizers do practically nothing to prevent the transmission of viruses like influenza and rhinovirus, a major cause of the common cold. Dr. Ronald B. Turner and his colleagues from UV evaluated 212 volunteers as part of their study, 116 of which were instructed to carry with them an “enhanced antiviral activity” hand sanitizer to be used every three hours throughout the day. The other 96 volunteers simply lived their routine lives with no interventions. For ten weeks, researchers collected periodic samples from both groups to test the presence of influenza and rhinovirus. They also collected samples whenever any volunteer indicated flu or cold symptoms. At the end of the ten-week period, the hand sanitizer group had only slightly less cold and flu cases than did the control group. According to researchers, the difference was statistically insignificant. “We all thought if you used hand disinfectants, it would have an impact,” Dr. Turner told The Daily Progress . Funded by Dial Corp., a major manufacturer of hand soaps and hand sanitizers, the study is sure to shock many Americans who have come to rely on hand sanitizers as perceived protection against viral infections. But it also points to the fact that viral infections might be more of a threat from the air than they are from hand contact, which could change the way experts approach prevention strategies. Sources for this story include: http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-heb-hand-sanitizers-dont-work-20100913,0,553132.story

Corn Refiners Association wants to change name of high fructose corn syrup to "corn sugar"

(NaturalNews) Consumers have largely ignored every marketing effort by the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) to “health-wash” high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as being the same as all other forms of sugar. But the group refuses to give up. According to the Associated Press, CRA is now petitioning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow it to change the name of the highly-processed, controversial sweetener to “corn sugar” in yet another attempt to convince the public to accept it. No matter how you look at it, HFCS is a highly-processed, unnatural form of refined sugar that inflicts a heavy burden on the liver. Besides being derived from corn, of which the vast majority is genetically-modified (GM), HFCS is linked to metabolic syndrome, heart disease and type-2 diabetes. Last year, studies also found that at least half of commercial HFCS contains high levels of toxic mercury due to the extensive chemical refining process necessary to produce the sweetener. Nearly a third of the HFCS-containing breads, cereals, sodas and other consumer foods tested as part of the study showed up positive for mercury. Despite the overwhelming evidence showing that HFCS is harmful to health, CRA is determined to convince the public otherwise. Its new marketing slogan claims that “whether it’s corn sugar or cane sugar, your body can’t tell the difference. Sugar is sugar.” Consumption of HFCS has reached a 20-year low, and will likely continue to fall. Several large food producers, including Hunt’s ketchup and Snapple, have already removed the sweetener from their products, and many others will likely follow suit to meet consumer demand. But most producers are replacing HFCS with refined cane or beet sugar, which is not much better. In fact, the majority of beet sugar grown in the U.S. is GM as well, but a recent court ruling may change that. The best forms of sugar are those in their natural, whole form. The refining process removes many necessary co-factors that help the body to process the sugar properly, which leads to disease. So stick to things like raw sugars, raw honey and whole stevia leaf extract when enjoying a sweet treat. Sources for this story include: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhLmmfpP2F4zOXVikr8Uh_fbdA9QD9I7RIIG0 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601831.html

Boost your athletic performance with this proven amino acid

(NaturalNews) Getting that extra push in the gym or out on the sports field might be as simple as supplementing with an important, nitric oxide-producing amino acid. In a recent study out of the University of Exeter (UE), researchers discovered that L-arginine, one of the 20 most common natural amino acids, helps increase exercise capacity by 20 percent and race times by up to two percent. Nitric oxide (NO) is an important substance produced by the body that regulates blood flow, fights harmful pathogens and assists in cell communication. NO also helps to improve the efficiency of food and nutrient delivery into muscle tissue, which is why high levels of it help athletes perform better. When L-arginine is processed by the body, it converts into NO, resulting in improved athletic performance. The amino acid is also a precursor to metabolites in the body like collagen, connective tissues, enzymes and hormones. “The research found that when the dietary supplement (L-arginine) was used there was a striking increase in performance by altering the use of oxygen during exercise,” explained Professor Andrew Jones from UE’s School of Sport and Health Sciences. “This is important for endurance athletes as we would expect the supplement to bring a one-to-two percent improvement in race times. While this may seem small, this is a very meaningful improvement — particularly at elite levels where small gains can be the difference between winning and losing.” When tested on a group of healthy males, L-arginine not only improved performance levels, but it helped to lower blood pressure and reduce the amount of oxygen needed during exercise. L-arginine is naturally found in protein-rich foods like nuts and meat. Chickpeas and coconuts, for instance, are rich in L-arginine. L-arginine supplements are also available, including powders that can easily be added to protein or meal-replacement smoothies. Sources for this story include: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/uoe-spa082610.php

Obesity linked to poor sperm quality

(NaturalNews) Young men now have a new incentive to stay lean and fit. According to a new report in the journal Fertility and Sterility , overweight young men have poorer sperm quality than their peers of a more healthy weight do. The findings reveal that not only do overweight men have lower sperm counts, but their sperm are less mobile and less able to travel in the right direction as opposed to simply swimming aimlessly. In other words, overweight men between the ages of 20 and 30 may have a much harder time becoming fathers than leaner, fitter men will. Researchers say it is unclear whether or not the difference in sperm quality is significant enough to affect overall fertility, but they believe that it could, and that further research is necessary. For the study, Dr. Uwe Paasch and his team from the University of Leipzig in Germany analyzed more than 2,000 men who had visited fertility clinics between 1999 and 2005 to test their sperm quality. None of these men had any known fertility problems at the time. Based upon the analysis, overweight men from this group had lower sperm counts than normal-sized men, but generally all the men were still in the “normal” range. However, this range is quite large, spanning between 20 and 150 million sperm per millimeter of semen, which may affect fertility. Other studies suggest that the reason why overweight men have poorer sperm quality is due to imbalanced hormone levels caused by excess fat. Obese men can have levels of estrogen that are too high, while their testosterone levels are below normal levels. So it is important for men to maintain healthy body fat levels. Sources for this story include: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67A44F20100811

New ‘bio-gas’ car unveiled

(NaturalNews) British engineers have successfully converted the fuel system of a Volkswagen Beetle to run mostly on methane “bio-gas” produced from human waste. And according to reports, the converted vehicle operates just as well as the original version. The new vehicle still starts using regular unleaded gasoline, but then runs on methane gas. And the modified “Bio-Bug” is the first methane-powered vehicle to be released in the U.K. that operates without reduced performance. The new Bio-Bug is capable of running on both conventional fuel and methane fuel. It has two tanks, but runs primarily on methane. If the methane tank runs out, the car will switch over to the conventional fuel tank. According to Mohammed Saddiq of GENeco, the company that developed the original prototype, the car runs so well that people “won’t know the difference.” “If you were to drive the car you wouldn’t know it was powered by biogas as it performs just like any conventional car. It is probably the most sustainable car around,” he went on to say further. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the new Bio-Bug is its efficient use of methane gas. According to a recent Telegraph article, the human waste flushed down 70 toilets is enough to power the car for roughly 10,000 miles, or the distance an average person drives in a year. Anaerobic digestion, or the process by which biodegradable material like human waste is broken down into methane gas, has a lot of potential in sustainable energy projects, many believe. “This is a very exciting and forward-thinking project demonstrating the myriad of benefits of anaerobic digestion,” explained Lord Rupert Redesdale, chairman of The Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association. Sources for this story include: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7929191/Bio-Bug-Car-run-on-human-waste-is-launched.html

« Previous Page — Next Page »