Author: Natural News

Republished with permission from Natural News.

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Pregnant Women Who Receive Flu shots at Increased Risks of miscarriages, CDC-funded study finds

(Natural News) If you were told that obediently getting your flu shot every year would give you a 40 to 60 percent shot at avoiding the flu (or zero, if the experts get it wrong that year), but would double your chances of having a miscarriage one day, would you find those odds acceptable? Many women would be appalled if that were true, and would avoid getting the flu shot at all costs. Well, a recent study, published in the journal Vaccine, has reached exactly that conclusion (though everyone seems to be doing their level best to deny the study’s results).

Related:  How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children

It is incredibly important to note right at the outset that this study was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – the very body that determines the country’s annual vaccination schedule, and the biggest vaccine pusher out there. (Related: Flu facts they don’t want you to know about.)

The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), which is pro-vaccines, recently reported:

A study published today in Vaccine suggests a strong association between receiving repeated doses of the seasonal influenza vaccine and miscarriage. [Emphasis added]

This is an unambiguous warning about repeated doses of the flu vaccine for women planning to have a baby. Nonetheless, the article’s author very quickly tried to soften the blow and protect vaccine industry interests. (Related: Discover the truth at Vaccines.news)

Related: Influenza Vaccine – A Comprehensive Overview of the Potential Dangers and Effectiveness of the Flu Shot

Almost immediately, Stephanie Soucheray, who wrote the CIDRAP article, quoted the lead author of the study as saying that this is not a “causal relationship.” She then interpreted his comment, claiming that “the data don’t necessarily show that the flu vaccine causes miscarriages.”

This is a direct contradiction of her opening remarks, as quoted above.

The study, which was led by James Donahue, DVM, PhD, MPH, a senior epidemiologist at the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin, was conducted over the 2010 to 2012 flu seasons, and compared 485 women who had experienced early miscarriage to a number of women who had carried babies to term (either born alive or stillborn).

The research team’s aim was to investigate whether miscarriage was more likely to occur within 28 days of a woman receiving the flu vaccine.

The results were startling.

Related: The MMR Vaccine – A Comprehensive Overview of the Potential Dangers and Effectiveness

For women who had not received a flu shot in the previous year, there was no increased risk of miscarriage. However, women who received back-to-back shots, one of which was the vaccine against the 2009 H1N1 virus, had an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 7.7 compared to an aOR of just 1.3 for women who had not been vaccinated during the previous flu season.

The CIDRAP propaganda piece went on to note, “The overall aOR in the 28-day window was 2.0, or double the risk,” but then went on to claim that these results were “not statistically significant.” [Emphasis added]

Soucheray then claimed that the study should essentially not be taken seriously because:

  1. Previous research into a correlation between the flu vaccine and miscarriage did not find the same link; and
  2. It’s likely that only women who would get the flu shot would report it if they had experienced a miscarriage. This, she claims, would skew the results towards an association that isn’t really there. i.e. If you don’t get the flu shot you’re likely ignorant and uneducated and unlikely to report something as massive as a miscarriage to your attending physician.

The CIDRAP article closed off neatly with an admonition to still get your flu shot, and stressed that there was “no change to recommendations.”

Related: Doctors Against Vaccines – Hear From Those Who Have Done the Research

The thing is, even the CDC, which stresses the need for pregnant women to be vaccinated against the flu because of its myriad complications in pregnancy, only promises:

Studies in young healthy adults show that getting a flu shot reduces the risk of illness by 40% to 60% during seasons when the flu vaccine is well-matched to circulating viruses.

What that essentially means is that getting the flu shot gives a pregnant woman a 50/50 shot at preventing the virus, and then only if the vaccine is “well-matched to circulating viruses.”

Before every flu season, experts have to essentially guess which three flu strains are likely to dominate and create a vaccine accordingly. This process is random at best, and with only a 50/50 chance of success, but a 200 percent risk of increased miscarriage, it is something that those hoping to fall pregnant in the future need to weigh very carefully.

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Top Five low-impact exercises for overall health

(Natural News) To anyone who doesn’t frequently engage in exercise, just mentioning the word brings up images of exhaustion, pain, and lots of sweat. These are more than enough to turn plenty of us off from physical activity. Yet according to one Harvard doctor, the best exercises may actually be the easiest ones.

Forget long-distance running: Dr. I-Min Lee, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, says that this can do a number on your joints and digestive system. There are five low-impact exercises you can do to lose weight, build muscle, and strengthen your bones, all of which Lee has extensively discussed in a Harvard Medical School report entitled “Starting to Exercise”. These exercises are:

  1. Swimming: Lee has called this “the perfect workout” since it requires you to use all the muscles in your body. Swimming has plenty of other health benefits too, and these run the gamut from improved brain and heart health to decreased risk of chronic illness to better helping you keep your weight under control. Plus, being in water takes a huge load off your joints, so people who have arthritis can easily do swimming and enjoy the benefits it has to offer. Swimming regularly for 30 to 45 minutes is the ideal.
  2. Tai chi: Also known as tai chi chuan, this centuries-old Chinese martial art involves performing a series of slow, rhythmic movements while paying special attention to deep breathing. Although gentle and relaxing in appearance, tai chi can actually enhance your upper- and lower-body strength, boost flexibility, and help you develop a greater sense of balance. Furthermore, practitioners of tai chi typically go at their own pace, so they aren’t left struggling for breath at the end of each session. This makes tai chi perfect for all kinds of people regardless of their fitness level or age. In fact, Lee has gone on to state that tai chi “is particularly good for older people because balance is an important component of fitness, and balance is something we lose as we get older.” (Related: Tai chi benefits people with chronic health problems like Parkinsons, arthritis and fibromyalgia)
  3. Strength training: If your goal is to build muscle and lose weight, then strength training is for you. This type of physical exercise basically involves using weight to create resistance against gravity, resulting in improved strength and endurance. Barbells, dumbbells, elastic bands, weighted ankle bracelets, and even your own body can serve as weights during strength training. You can begin strength training by performing a single set of eight to 12 movement repetitions per session. From here, build up to a greater number of sets and more intense training sessions. Just keep in mind that consistency is the key to getting positive results from strength training.
  4. Walking: Perhaps the easiest exercise to pull off, walking is one of the most beneficial as well. Brisk walking daily for a solid 20 minutes has been found to add years to your life. Even leisurely walking for 30 minutes can do wonders for your brain and body. If you’ve never engaged in walking as an exercise before, then start off with 10- to 15-minute treks around your neighborhood. Gradually build up your walking routine to 30- or 60-minute hikes, and soon enough you’ll be feeling better than before.
  5. Kegel exercises: Doing Kegel exercises will basically have you clenching and releasing the muscles that make up your pelvic floor, which are the muscles that support your pelvic organs. Kegel exercises are usually encouraged as a treatment against urinary stress incontinence, particularly among women. But both men and women can benefit from these exercises since the muscles in our pelvic floor weaken with age and make us more prone to bladder leakage and passing gas at inappropriate moments. To perform Kegel exercise, squeeze the muscles of your pelvic floor in the same way you’d hold in pee and hold these contractions for two to three seconds. Release and repeat 10 more times.

As Lee has shown, you don’t need to push your body until it breaks to be healthy. Making time, putting in the effort, and keeping at it is what exercise is all about. And whether you choose tai chi or brisk walking, you’ll come out looking and feeling your best ever.

Visit Slender.news for more tips and tricks to achieving your best state of health.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk
Independent.co.uk

Dementia Now the Top Cause of Death Among Women in the UK

(Natural News) A recent report by the Public Health England revealed that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are now the leading causes of death among women in the United Kingdom. According to the report, the country’s overall life expectancy for women has shown a significant increase in years, which is now 83.1 years. However, these added years are characterized by poor health. As per the report, women are expected to live about a quarter of their lives being ill.

The report also noted that while other diseases exhibited a relative decline, the rates of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have doubled since 2001. In fact, the cognitive diseases were accounted for 15.3 percent of deaths among British women.

Related Reading: Increase Your Cognitive Power – A Simple User’s Manual For Your Brain

“Good public health is not defined by health policy alone. Our health profiles show a high-quality education, a well-designed and warm home, a good job, and a community to belong to are just as important. The more we consider the impact of all policies on population health, the sooner we can focus on preventing poor health instead of only dealing with its consequences, especially for those from the most deprived communities,” Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, was quoted as saying on The Daily Express website.

“To achieve the same successes as we have with other health conditions like heart disease and cancer, we need dementia research to remain a national priority. We have been able to make promising steps forward, thanks to a renewed focus, but we are not there yet,” said Dr. Matthew Norton, director of policy at Alzheimer’s Research U.K.

The latest figure was consistent with an Office for National Statistics report released late last year. According to the report, more women died from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in 2015 compared with men. Report data showed that the cognitive conditions accounted for 41,283 dementia deaths in women in 2015, which equates to 15.2 percent of all female deaths in that year. This was significantly higher than the 13.4 percent recorded in 2014.

Related: Beat Alzheimer’s Disease Naturally

“These figures once again call attention to the uncomfortable reality that currently, no one survives a diagnosis of dementia. Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing, it’s caused by diseases that can be fought through research, and we must bring all our efforts to bear on what is now our greatest medical challenge,” Alzheimer’s Research U.K. official Hilary Evans told BBC.com.

Are vaccines to blame for the increasing rates of dementia?

Exposure to heavy metals — such as mercury and aluminum — by way of vaccines and medicines have long been associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and other neurological conditions. In fact, an analysis published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease revealed that long-term mercury exposure was linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms including confusion, impaired memory, and cognitive function decline. Mercury was mostly used as a preservative in many childhood vaccines until 2001.

Related: The Alzheimer’s Aluminum Connection

On the other hand, a study published in 2009 revealed that aluminum, another heavy metal commonly added to flu shots, may raise the odds of developing dementia and other neurological conditions. According to the study, people who had the highest aluminum content in their drinking water had the highest risk of suffering from the condition. A vast number of clinical studies have also shown that the heavy metal was directly tied to the onset of brain damage. (Related: Aluminum in vaccines linked to Alzheimer’s and other neurological conditions.)

Related Reading:
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Exposing the truth about painkillers: The warnings and solutions

(Natural News) More than 25 million American adults – roughly 11.2 percent of the population – report having chronic pain, according to the National Institutes of Health. This epidemic has triggered an unprecedented national spike in the use (and abuse) of painkillers – including over-the-counter drugs and prescription opioid medications.

Tragically, 44 people die in the United States every day as a result of prescription opioid overdose – while non-narcotic medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen carry risks of their own, including damage to the stomach and liver. But, according to Charles Gant, MD, PhD, the solution to the problem of chronic pain and painkiller use could lie within our own bodies.

On the next NaturalHealth365 Talk Hour, Dr. Gant will expose the entire truth about painkillers and outline a better way to eliminate chronic pain.

To hear this FREE show – visit http://www.naturalhealth365.com/free-shows and enter your email address for show details.

Related: NSAIDs Warning – These Drugs Are Not Safe (Motrin, Advil, Naproxen…)

Neurotransmitters hold the key to relief from chronic pain and addiction

According to Dr. Gant, drugs simply mimic the actions and effects of neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers in the brain. But depletion and deficiency of these neurotransmitters can cause increased awareness of pain, and trigger cravings and addictive behavior. The key to relief, says Dr. Gant, is restoring proper biochemical balance in the brain – which can break the cycle of addiction.

For instance, proper levels of serotonin in the brain can ensure stable mood and restful sleep. The neurotransmitter GABA also has a calming effect – which is mimicked by Valium and other benzodiazepines.

Endorphins and enkephalins, which are mimicked by opiate drugs such as oxycodone, help with relief of pain and create a sense of well-being.

According to Dr. Gant, there is even a “natural nicotine” – acetylcholine – in the body, as well as a form of “natural marijuana,” the endocannabinoid system.

When we take the actual drugs that mimic the neurotransmitters, says Dr. Gant, the brain no longer feels impelled to create them. As a result, it produces less and less of them. “Physical substances cause physical changes in the brain,” Dr. Gant reports.

On the next NaturalHealth365 Talk Hour, Dr. Gant reveals WHY painkillers can be ineffective (and dangerous) plus a more natural way to feel better.

To hear this FREE show – visit http://www.naturalhealth365.com/free-shows and enter your email address for show details.

Related: An Alternative to Prescription Painkillers: A New Epidemic

Better nutrition is the key to ending addiction for life

Dr. Gant, who has helped over 7,500 patients, says that his comprehensive approach – which combines neuro-nutritional protocols, detoxification and genetic interventions – has led to a clinical outcome rate of 83 percent – as opposed to the traditional rate of 10 to 30 percent achieved by many detoxification and rehabilitation facilities.

Proper supplementation of nutrients such as herbs, vitamins and amino acids can help replenish neurotransmitters, thereby normalizing and restoring deficiencies that spur cravings.

For example, phenylalanine helps to restore enkephalins and endorphins, deficiencies of which can trigger the abuse of opiate painkillers – as well as of sweets, starches and nicotine. Both phenylalanine and the amino acid tyrosine also help to restore dopamine and norepinephrine – shortages of which can lead to cravings for stimulants such as caffeine, cocaine and amphetamines.

In addition to rebuilding neurotransmitters, Dr. Gant has developed a detoxification program built on proper nutrition. It’s a safe (and effective) way to restore your health. Join us for a great show.

This week’s guest: Charles Gant, MD, PhD, integrative doctor and expert on nutrition, addiction and chronic pain

Discover the truth about painkillers and how to end addiction naturally – Sun. Jul. 23

Charles Gant, MD, PhD is an integrative physician, author and educator. Practicing contemporary/alternative and functional medicine for over 30 years, Dr. Gant focuses on finding the root cause of disorders, while assisting patients in maximizing their genetic potential. He received his M.D. from the University of Virginia Medical School, and received postgraduate training in family practice, psychiatry and psychology.

Currently the chief science officer of the Academy of Functional Medicine, Dr. Gant is a leader in Precision Medicine, a cutting-edge medical system of prevention and treatment that takes into account individual differences in genomics, environmental stressors and lifestyles. Dr. Gant is also the author of several books including, “End Your Addiction Now: The Proven Nutritional Supplement Program that Can Set You Free.”

Recommended:
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Big Food starts anti-coconut oil campaign again, despite studies showing its great for your health

coconut oil and fresh coconuts on old wooden table

(Natural News) Coconut oil is highly regarded for its wide array of uses: From moisturizing skin and clearing up acne to cooking your favorite foods, there’s plenty of reasons why people love coconut oil. But, as you may have noticed, this versatile fat has been getting a lot of bad press lately. For example, the United Kingdom’s Telegraph recently published a hit piece that declared the saturated fat in coconut oil makes it bad for you.

Now, the logic here actually has little to do with the actual composition of coconut oil. When making the claim that coconut oil is bad for you, the Telegraph falls back on the American Heart Association’s general stance on saturated fat as a whole. The argument against saturated fat has been highly contested — and when it comes to coconut oil specifically, this generalization falls short. Why? In addition to the fact that saturated fat is not the enemy it has been made out to be, coconut oil also features a highly beneficial type of saturated fats, called medium-chain fatty acids.

Related: 35 Things You Could Do With Coconut Oil – From Body Care to Health to Household

Saturated fat is not the enemy

Yes, coconut oil does contain a high amount of saturated fat: 87 grams of saturated fat per 100-gram serving. That much is true. First and foremost, saturated fat has long been demonized as a harbinger of any number of diseases. While the war on saturated fat began in the 1950’s thanks to a cherry-picked study by Ancel Keys, the fact is that there is much evidence to the contrary. Saturated fat is not explicitly bad, as we’ve been lead to believe. For example, it is actually very important to keeping your brain healthy.

When it comes to brain health, it’s easy to understand why saturated fat is so important. The myelin sheath, which surrounds nerves and is key to their functionality, is made up almost entirely of saturated fat. The brain itself is primarily made of fat.  As sources explain, in addition to protecting the brain, studies have shown that saturated fat offers protective benefits to the liver, heart, skin and immune system.

Related: Fight Cavities and Gingivitis Naturally With Homemade DIY Oral Health

And, as this 2010 study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concludes, “there is no significant evidence for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of CHD [coronary disease] or CVD [cardiovascular disease].” It’s worth noting that the meta-analysis in question featured nearly 350,000 people who were followed for 5 to 23 years; a fairly substantial data set, to say the least.

A more recent study, from 2016, also showed that saturated fats could be beneficial for heart health. Norwegian researchers found that in addition to not increasing study subjects’ risk of heart disease, those on a diet high in fat exhibited “substantial improvements in several important cardiometabolic risk factors, such as ectopic fat storage, blood pressure, blood lipids (triglycerides), insulin and blood sugar.” How about that? The fat sources the test patients primarily consumed were also foods with low amounts of processing: Butter, cream and cold-pressed oils. Study subjects on the high-fat diet also exhibited an increase in the “good” cholesterol — HDL. No significant changes were observed in LDL cholesterol levels in the high-fat group, which is contrary to commonly held beliefs.

Coconut oil and medium-chain fatty acids

Medium-chain fatty acids (also known as medium-chain triglycerides) are a specific type of saturated fat that have become highly regarded for their health benefits. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs)  are metabolized differently than the long-chain triglycerides seen in animal fats. MCTs are known for being metabolized more readily than long-chain fats. Research has shown that MCTs can help to bolster endurance during exercise, speed up metabolism and help with weight loss and appetite control.

Related: Personal Care Recipes With Coconut Oil

Studies have also indicated that MCTs may play a beneficial role in preventing atherosclerosis, supporting the immune system and more. [RELATED: Learn more about health maintenance at Prevention.news]

To sum it up: Medium-chain fatty acids seem to have a host of health benefits that are not afforded by other types of saturated fats. Approximately 60 percent of the fats in coconut oil are MCTs. Lauric acid, a specific type of MCT in coconut oil, is known for its antimicrobial effects and is a huge component of human breast milk that helps prevent infections in newborn babies.

In addition to modern science getting things wrong about saturated fat as a whole, it is clear that coconut oil has a myriad of health benefits for a number of different reasons. Not only is saturated fat not as bad for you as the media would have you believe, coconut oil in particular has a number of properties that make it stand out from the crowd.