Hansies Health Report

Is the appendix actually useful?

Here's a little info that suggests that the appendix might have a place in the world. Many thanks to Dr. Mercola for surfacing this one. Read his comments on the matter and the full article here.

Your appendix is a small dead-end tube connected to a
section of your large intestine. It has long been thought to be a
vestigial remnant of some other organ, but there is little evidence for
an appendix in our evolutionary ancestors. Few mammals have any
appendix at all, and the appendices of those that do bears little
resemblance to the human one.

Some researchers now believe that the appendix is a
“safe house” for commensal bacteria, the symbiotic germs
that aid digestion and help protect against disease-causing germs.

The appendix is isolated from the rest of the gut, with an
opening smaller than a pencil lead. In times of trouble, such as an
infection that flushes the system, these commensal bacteria could hide
out there, ready to repopulate the gut when the danger is past.

Biofilms, colonies of beneficial microbes, form in your
large intestine. They aid digestion and protect against infection,
while enjoying the protection and nutrition of the human host.
Researchers have found biofilms on the epithelial lining of the
appendix as well.

Sources:

• New York Times June 17, 2008

• The Journal of Theoretical Biology December 21, 2007; 249(4):826-31

Fermented Foods Are What You Need

Self-serve olive bars are becoming so popular in many Washington supermarkets that storeowners are now offering expanded "antipasto" bars, heaped high with pickles, pickled peppers, mushrooms, artichokes and other tangy pickled and marinated foods, according to The Seattle Times.

This growing trend in both health/natural and regular commercial supermarkets across the country is theoretically good news for health-conscious consumers looking to increase their digestive, cardiovascular and immune health, since these traditionally lacto-fermented foods are some of the oldest and healthiest on the planet. Yet, the key phrase you absolutely must watch for if you want to achieve the amazing health benefits is traditionally lacto-fermented, as not all of these tasty condiments are created equal.

The Wonderful Health Benefits of Traditionally
Lacto-Fermented Foods

Olives, pickles, grass-fed cheese,
wine, yogurt, sauerkraut and the seasoned, aged sausages the French
call "charcuterie" are some of this category’s most
popular delicacies.

Though the term "fermented" sounds vaguely distasteful,
the results of this ancient preparation and preservation technique
-- produced through the breakdown of carbohydrates and proteins
by microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts and molds -- are actually
delicious. Even more so, they are so beneficial to overall health
that some of these "functional foods" are now considered
to be "probiotics," increasing your overall nutrition,
promoting the growth of friendly intestinal bacteria, and aiding
digestion and supporting immune function, including an increase
in B vitamins (even Vitamin B12), omega-3 fatty acids, digestive
enzymes, lactase and lactic acid, and other immune chemicals that
fight off harmful bacteria and even cancer cells.

More at Mercola.com

"You're already on drugs!"

NPR : Researchers Find Bias in Nutrition Studies

This is very interesting and worth noting.  It goes right along with a speech by Michael Crichton about how science as a subject is becoming more and more watered down by political and, if this NPR article is any measure, corporate influence.  Click on link below to listen to the NPR story.

Link: NPR : Researchers Find Bias in Nutrition Studies.

Morning Edition, January 9, 2007 · A new study, co-authored by Harvard researchers and analysts from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, suggests there's a systematic bias in nutrition studies funded by food companies.

Life Extension Daily News

This is an interesting article.  Recently I had been having some similar symptoms whereby I would get these sorts of symptoms when laying on my right side in bed. 
It wasn't really as strong as this fibrillation they are describing, but noticable just the same.

Recently, I quit coffee for reasons other than this symptom.  It's been a couple of weeks now since I had any at all, except the occasional decaf Americano.  The last few nights I have noticed that the mild fibrillation symptom has ceased to occur.  It makes me wonder whether the ever-increasing popularity of caffeine in our country in its various forms (coffee, Red Bull, diet pills, etc.) could be contributing heavily to this situation.
Link: Life Extension Daily News.

Everyone's heart skips a beat occasionally, just because the pattern of electrical impulses that cause the heart muscles to contract aren't perfect. Many people also have very brief periods - several seconds or so - in which their hearts race or flutter. These may be caused by emotional stress, caffeine, rigorous exercise or occur for unknown reasons.

"The Drugs I Need"

Your Incredible Self-Generating Body

This information takes an interesting light when you ask yourself "am I giving my body enough of the right materials to regenerate itself?"

In my opinion, the food we typically eat in America today is the equivalent of balsa wood or styrofoam in terms, to use house construction as a metaphor.  This might be why evidence shows so well that what we are eating today is directly impacting our health tomorrow.

Link: Life Extension Daily News.

THINK you've got the body of someone half your age? Turns out you're right. If you're in your late 30s, your muscles are only around 15 years old, say scientists. And some of your parts aren't much older than a newborn's - your eyelashes are only 2 months old, while the surface of your skin has been around a mere two weeks.

A Natural Antiviral and More

When we started using this product in our family, the incidence of flu dropped remarkably.  Our kids used to get sick at least once a year as things would "go around".  Once we started giving them their "dots", we seemed at least double the time betwen flu bouts.

If you read the list of good things that it does, too, you can see that it's a pretty powerful little product, despite its being of natural origin.  Check out the Microorganisms Inactivated page.  It's just a little technical but of note is the fact that it deactivates "enveloped viruses".  That's virtually every flu virus you can get including H5N1 (aka: Bird Flu).

I'm not suggesting you'll never get sick if you take this stuff.  But it should be part of every healthy home's medicine cabinet in our opinion.  As a result, we keep multiple containers on hand here at home (if you're local and you want some fast, we might have enough to sell you one so feel free to check with us).

Link: Lauricidin®�.

Bloomberg.com: Top Worldwide

Link: Bloomberg.com: Top Worldwide.

The meeting marks the third time in two years the FDA has addressed the heart-related side effects from attention-deficit drugs.

Fate not part of heart disease

Two good health articles in one day! 

This is good news, especially if you have someone in your family who has been plagued by heart disease and you're wondering if you're next.  You don't have to be according to these facts.

Link: Life Extension Daily News.