Toxic rapeseed and other low-grade oils with additives are being passed off as olive oil

As much as 50 percent of the olive oil sold in the U.S. is not actually pure olive oil, as some brands claiming to be “extra-virgin” or “100 percent Italian,” for instance, have actually been adulterated with toxic rapeseed oil, more popularly known as canola oil, soybean…

Did you know? Oregano delivers more antioxidants than blueberries, oranges or apples

Oregano, a common ingredient in Italian and Mexican cuisine, comes from the leaves of an herb native to the Mediterranean (not to be confused with Mexican oregano, native to the Americas), is one of the most concentrated antioxidant sources ever studied. According to…

Don’t be afraid: very old patients treated with Vitamin K antagonists, if adequately managed, benefit from anticoagulation

Results of the EPICA Study (Elderly Patients followed by Italian Centers for Anticoagulation Study), were presented at the ESC Congress 2011 today. This is the largest study on very old patients anti-coagulated with vitamin K antagonists for the prevention of venous thromboembolism and, for the major part (75 percent), for the prevention of stroke because affected by atrial fibrillation.

Olive oil, green leafy vegetables prevent heart disease

(NaturalNews) Italian researchers have confirmed that diets rich in leafy green vegetables and olive oil are vital for heart health. Dr. Domenico Palli from the Cancer Research and Prevention Institute in Florence and his colleagues discovered that women who eat at least one serving of leafy greens a day are 46 percent less likely to develop heart disease than women who eat less. And those who consume at least three tablespoons of olive oil a day earn roughly the same benefit. “Probably the mechanisms responsible for the protective effect of plant-origin foods on cardiovascular diseases involve micronutrients such as folate, antioxidant vitamins and potassium, all present in green leafy vegetables,” explained Palli to Reuters Health, confirming what previous studies on the “Mediterranean Diet” have already found. Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , the study collected data from about 30,000 Italian women and tracked their health over the course of eight years. They then correlated cases of heart disease to dietary habits and found that the amount of olive oil and leafy green vegetables consumed is directly correlated to heart health. Besides improving heart health, eating a diet rich in vegetables and olive oil has been shown to prevent and treat type-2 diabetes, reduce the risk of breast cancer, maintain healthy weight and prevent obesity, prevent and treat prostate cancer, prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and even lengthen lifespan (http://www.naturalnews.com/mediterranean_diet.html). “It appears that the various components of the Mediterranean Diet do promote lower inflammation, oxidative stress, and serum protein levels, which in turn lower risk for vascular problems that can contribute to brain aging — hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, dyslipidemia, and diabetes,” explain Peter J. Whitehouse and Daniel George in their book The Myth of Alzheimer’s: What You Aren’t Being Told About Today’s Most Dreaded Diagnosis . Sources for this story include: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BT49320101230

News coverage about a flawed omega-3 study reveals truth about media’s inaccurate health reporting

(NaturalNews) Scientists have conducted numerous studies (http://www.naturalnews.com/omega-3.html) over the past decade showing the remarkable health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids — the kind of “good” fat found in cold water fish like salmon and some plant foods such as walnuts. Recently, Dutch researchers published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine which involved adding a small amount of marine source omega-3s to the diets of heart patients. Instead of actually reporting the details of this study and placing the findings in the context of previous scientific research, the mainstream media went, predictably, for the easy headline. The result? Widespread inaccurate and even downright misleading headlines and sloppy reporting that hinted — and even sometimes declared — the Dutch study was proof omega-3s aren’t so great for the heart after all. For example, Time magazine blared: “Omega-3 May Reduce Heart Risks Less Than Thought”. Another case in point: “Omega-3 Fats No Magic Answer to Heart Problems” declared U.S. News and World Report . The latter article also started off with the highly questionable statement that “Omega-3 fatty acids might not be as potent a weapon against heart disease as some research has shown, a new study suggests.” So what exactly was wrong with this coverage? It distorted the specific facts of a scientific study — which is not only bad journalism but denies the public accurate information about medical research. First of all, the new study does not conclude, nor prove, that “omega-3s may reduce heart risks less than thought”. Instead, it shows only that a low dose of omega-3s failed to offer any additional cardiovascular protection to a very specific group of people — those diagnosed with heart disease who had already suffered from heart attacks and who were all taking an “optimal”, i.e. multi, regimen of all kinds of prescription drugs (for cholesterol, hypertension, and to prevent blood clots). The new study, as the majority of mainstream media failed to even mention, did nothing to refute previously clinically substantiated findings that omega-3s (in high enough doses) overall reduce the risk of second heart attacks as well as the risk of sudden death. In fact, the Dutch researchers behind the new study admitted — if reporters bothered to actually read the research thoroughly — that one obvious explanation for their findings was that the omega-3s simply didn’t do anything to override or change the combined power of all the cardiac drugs the nearly 5,000 heart patients in the study were taking. A similar German study last year came up with the same results. And, just like the Dutch research, the German scientists’ conclusions in no way negate the long-term health protective value of omega-3s for people who are not already heart patients taking multiple drugs. The head researcher of the 2009 German study, Jochen Senges, said in a media statement that while his research team could not find any additional benefits of omega-3s within a year after patients were placed on multiple heart drugs “…it would be incorrect to say that omega-3 fatty acids are not effective.” So what did the new Dutch research actually show? The scientists added low doses of omega-3s to four different kinds of margarines and gave them to heart patients every day for more than three years. At the end of this period, the low dose omega-3s from fish oils hadn’t added any heart protection to the patients who, as stated earlier, were all taking a variety of Big Pharma prescription meds. In fact, about 14 percent of the heart attack patients had experienced another major cardiovascular event, and some had died. Women in the study who consumed low dose fish derived omega-3s added to ALA (alpha-linolenic acid, the plant-form of omega-3s) were almost one third less likely to develop more cardiac complications. However, this was deemed to be not quite enough of an impact to be statistically significant. Bottom line: the Dutch study showed low doses of omega-3s don’t do anything to help people who already have heart disease and have had myocardial infarctions and who also take a variety of drugs. But the research does not negate the host of previous studies that have found cardioprotective benefits at higher doses. And it certainly does not mean — as the spurious U.S. News and World Report headline implied — that all the well documented studies showing omega-3s do have important cardiovascular benefits were somehow just an attempt at “magic”. For a detailed analysis of what the growing body of scientific research has revealed about omega-3s and heart health, check out a study just published in the journal Thrombosis and Haemostasis that has received virtually no media attention. Among the conclusions of a team of Italian scientists from the University of Milan: omega-3 fatty acids reduce overall mortality and mortality due to heart attacks and sudden death in patients with congestive heart disease; fish oil rich in omega-3s reduces heart rate, a major risk factor for sudden death; and consuming adequate omega-3s leads to a 10 to 33 percent net decrease in triglyceride levels. For more information: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1003603 http://www.schattauer.de/en/magazine/subject-areas/journals-a-z/thrombosis-and-haemostasis/contents/archive/issue/special/manuscript/13498.html

Gourmet "truly raw" organic almond butter now available from Sicily

(NaturalNews) Thanks to efforts by the USDA and the Almond Board of California, it is illegal for commercial almond producers in the United States to sell raw almonds. The almonds now have to be fumigated with chemicals or pasteurized (cooked) to meet “food safety requirements” that really have nothing to do with food safety but everything to do with killing your food. See my related CounterThink Cartoon at: http://counterthink.com/The_Killing_of_California_Almonds.asp Because of this unfortunate situation, health-conscious consumers in the USA who love almonds and almond products (such as almond butter) have been forced to purchase almonds from other countries. You see, almond growers in Italy can sell raw almonds to the USA without any problem. That’s perfectly legal. Only U.S.-based producers are required to kill their almonds with heat or chemicals. (Just another brilliant move in Washington to destroy the livelihoods of U.S. farmers, isn’t it?) In any case, it now turns out that the best truly raw almond butters come from Sicily, Italy, where the “tuono” and “correnta” varieties are known for their robust aromas and flavors. They are the gourmet almonds of the world, and they’re used quite liberally in the Mediterranean Diet. I love almond butter. It’s a delicious and highly nutritious natural nut butter that I use on everything from raw sandwiches to mouth-watering desserts. Now, through a special arrangement we’ve once again managed to put together for you, we’ve acquired a few thousand jars of raw, organic almond butter from Sicily, made from some of the finest almonds in the world. And as you’ve come to expect, we’ve managed to make this available directly to you at a ridiculously good price. You see, since the USDA required that all California almonds be fumigated or pasteurized, the price of raw almonds has skyrocketed. A 16 oz. jar of truly raw almond butter can now set you back $25 at retail. Crazy, huh? We’re trying to bring that price back down to Earth with the fantastic pricing we’re able to achieve due to our large reach and low overhead. While supplies lies, we’ve got 16 oz. glass jars of organic, raw almond butter from Sicily for just $13.95 ! (That’s a savings of nearly 40% over the usual retail price of $22.95.) Click here to take advantage of this special now . This is for the good stuff! This is truly raw, truly organic, gourmet Italian almond butter made from Sicilian almonds. Raw almond butter doesn’t get any better than this! (Taste it yourself and you’ll see!) The price, though, does get better: When you purchase a 3-pack of this raw almond butter, the price per jar drops to just $12.56 per jar, or a 45% discount off the usual retail price. Click here for the 3-pack special of this raw almond butter . As with all our store specials, this is only good while supplies last. (We received a single shipment of a few thousand fresh jars, and when they’re gone, they’re gone…) While you can probably find a better price on pasteurized, non-organic almond butter , I’m confident you won’t find a better price on raw, organic, non-fumigated almonds that are truly raw and nutritionally intact. This is “premium” almond butter at a non-premium price. And unless the Almond Board of California reverses its decision requiring the fumigation of California almonds, you’ll probably never see a price this low again on truly raw almond nut butter. Historical information about almonds Here’s some interesting information about almonds, provided by our supplier of this remarkable raw almond butter: Almonds are mentioned as far back in history as the Bible. The Bible’s “Book of Number” tells the story of Aaron’s rod that blossomed and bore almonds, giving the almond the symbolism of divine approval. Through history , almonds have maintained religious, ethnic and social significance. They were a prized ingredient in breads reserved to Egypt’s pharaohs. Their exact ancestry in unknown, but almonds are thought to have originated in China and Central Asia. Explorers ate almonds while travelling the “Silk Road” between Asia and the Mediterranean. Before long, almonds trees flourished in the Mediterranean, especially in Spain and Italy. Almonds were central to many cultural traditions around the world. In classical times Romans presented gifts of sugared almonds to important dignitaries as well as personal friends. At weddings they also tossed almonds to the bride and groom as a symbol of fertility. Today, Italians and Americans give guest at weddings a bag of sugared almonds, representing children, happiness, romance, good health and fortune. In Sweden, cinnamon-flavored rice pudding with an almond hidden inside is a Christmas custom. Find it, and good fortune is yours for a year. Cultivating almonds it’s a tradition that comes from afar. The earliest varieties of almonds were found in China carried by traders down the ancient silk road to Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East. Nestled between the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Pacific Coast Ranges is California’s fertile Central Valley, home to one of the oldest and most beautiful flowering fruit trees. Unlike other flowering fruit trees that bear edible fruit, this tree’s “pearl” is the delicious nut found inside the fruit, the almond. Botanically, the sweet almond is considered a stone fruit, closely related to the cherry, plum, apricot, and peach. The almond’s botanical name comes from the Greeks who called them “amygdalon.” Almonds are a surprisingly source of calcium: Although we would have to consume 330 calories’ worth of almonds to get a significant quantity of this bone-supporting mineral, almonds are higher in calcium than all other nuts. Almonds are also a significant source of magnesium, and they supply a healthy amount of vitamin E. These sweet, versatile nuts have the highest dietary fiber content of any nut or seed; like all nuts, almonds are a good source of protein and they are cholesterol free. Vitamin E, considered a powerful antioxidant, is plentiful in almonds. They’re also high in magnesium, containing even more than spinach. They’re abundant in phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and trace amounts of the B vitamins thiamine and riboflavin. Click here to see all the NaturalNews Store specials . (And enjoy your raw almond butter!)

Daiya, a soy-free, vegan cheese that actually tastes like cheese

(NaturalNews) Many Natural News readers are probably aware of the many “cheese-free” cheeses on the market. Most of them are derived from soy, which more often than not is genetically-modified (GMO), and many of them lack the characteristics of cheese that would make a person want to actually eat them. Some do not melt, others do not even taste like cheese, and still others are filled with artificial chemicals and processed fillers. There is one brand, though, that stands apart from the rest. Daiya, a dairy-free, vegan cheese is definitely one of the best cheese alternatives on the market. There are many varieties of cheese alternatives available, but Daiya is arguably the best one out there based on its excellent taste, texture and ingredients. Tapioca and arrowroot flours, non-GMO canola and safflower oils, coconut oil and pea protein are some of the primary ingredients that make up Daiya. Though not certified organic, the product is a good start in an otherwise vacant landscape of quality, vegan cheeses. Because it is still somewhat difficult to source organic gluten-free flours, it makes sense that not every gluten-free product, especially those that are sold on a large scale, is fully organic. As the industry burgeons, the availability of certified organic gluten-free flours should increase, and hopefully Daiya will make this transition in the future. Daiya cheese is free of soy, casein, lactose, gluten, egg, wheat, barley, corn, rice and nuts. There are no artificial ingredients, preservatives, hormones, antibiotics, or animal products of any kind. Daiya melts like cheese, grates like cheese and tastes like cheese. Fortunately, for those with dairy issues, Daiya does not digest like cheese, but rather digests like other whole, plant-based product. Currently, Daiya is used primarily in the foodservice industry, but is growing in retail availability nationwide. It is great for making pizza, as a salad topping, or on a grilled-cheese sandwich, and it contains no cholesterol or trans-fats. It currently comes in two varieties: cheddar and Italian blend. In 2009, Daiya won a “Product of the Year Veggie Award” from VegNews, America’s premier vegetarian lifestyle magazine. Over 35,000 readers voted in the survey, which highlights the best vegetarian products available and is the largest survey of its kind. After tasting it, it is easy to see why it won this award. Daiya truly is a delicious and healthy vegan product. Its only drawbacks are that it is not certified organic, it contains conventional salt rather than sea salt, and it is relatively low in protein. But for what it is, Daiya is one of the best in its class. If you cannot or choose not to eat dairy products but wish to enjoy a meal with cheese every now and again, Daiya is definitely a top choice. Daiya is available at many Whole Foods stores and at many local health food stores nationwide. Some local health restaurants also carry and use Daiya. To learn more about Daiya and to locate a store or restaurant near you that carries it, visit www.daiyafoods.com.