Camexpo 2007 'The Best Yet'

Now in its fifth year, camexpo has established itself as the biggest and most important event for healthcare professionals, therapists and practitioners in the UK. Over 4,500 practitioners and industry professionals are expected to come to London over the weekend of the 6th - 7th October to learn, to network and to be inspired by nearly 200 exhibitors, a top international speaker lineup, a unique 'hands-on' workshop programme, and much more.

The organizers promise that this year's programme will be the best yet, with seminars featuring some of the most influential speakers in our industry, including Professor Edzard Ernst, Dr Natasha Campbell McBride, Patrick Holford, Professor Ben Pfeifer, Nigel Denby, Dr Marilyn Glenville, Dr Jane Buckle and Dr Mark Atkinson. In total, this year's event will stage and incredible 26 Key Note seminars, all of which are CPPD accredited.

The 56 Taster Workshops include a broad range of modalities, from Thai Yoga Massage, Ayurvedic Massage, Reflexology and Myofascial Release, to Qi Gong, Tui Na and Aromatherapy Massage, so there is something for everyone.

The large exhibition area features all the leading suppliers to the industry, who will be introducing the visitors to their latest products, books, training and services. The event is supported by the leading industry associations, including the BCMA, CMA, FHT, CThA and the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health.

Many other benefits are offered to visitors, including a free 12 month membership of the new CAM Club, providing a host of special offers, initiatives and resources.

To register online, visit www.camexpo.co.uk or call the ticket hotline on 0870 800 5210 .

More Good News on Echinacea

The Lancet Infectious Diseases has published research concluding that Echinacea can more than halve the risk of catching a common cold. This is the conclusion drawn by researchers from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Connecticut, who looked at 14 different studies on Echinacea.

Overall, Echinacea was shown to decrease the odds of developing a cold by 58% and reduce the duration of colds by a day-and-a-half in people who were infected.

Echinacea reduced the likelihood of participants catching a cold naturally (i.e. in normal circumstances such as working with someone who has a cold) by 65%. Professor Ron Cutler of the University of London said that Echinacea, 'decreases the severity of cough, headache and nasal congestion,' if people have already caught a cold. He gave it as his opinion that, 'people with impaired immune function might benefit from taking Echinacea during the winter months to prevent colds and flu.'

Most of the positive trials on Echinacea published in the last few years have used an ethanolic extract (tincture) of Echinacea purpurea produced from freshly harvested plant material - the same specifications as Echinaforce, which has had a medicine's licence proving its safety and efficacy for colds, flu and upper respiratory tract infections for more than 10 years.

Opening the Doors to Complementary Therapies

Twenty percent of us already use complementary therapies, almost all of which we pay for ourselves. For people living with chronic conditions and other types of illness, experiencing relief of their symptoms can drastically improve their quality of life. Too many people cannot afford to pay for these therapies privately, and access through the NHS is patchy.

www.getwelluk.org is launched this month as an online resource for people to find free and low-cost complementary therapies in the UK, as part of Get Well UK’s commitment to increase access to these services to all people.

We believe that as more people experience the relief these therapies can bring they will have a better quality of life and the more they will push for these therapies to be made available through the NHS. That’s the motivation we have for setting up a ‘google map’ which is interactive, online and very cool.

The map has three goals:

1. Helping the public.
The map will make it easy for the public to look for services nearby, or specialising in a particular condition or patient group. We give information about price, opening hours and accessibility to help you.
As GPs become commissioners of NHS services it is important that we, as patients tell our GPs what we want our taxes to be spent on and also we can vote with our feet. If, for example, you find that your GP does not offer access to osteopathy and there is a practice down the road that does, you might want to change your GP.

2. Supporting and linking groups and organisations providing complementary therapies.
Many of us are so busy providing services that we hardly have time to look up and see what everyone else is up to. At Get Well UK we think that working together is more effective than standing alone, so we encourage networking to share ideas, develop best practice and for the encouragement to keep going. You will find contact information on the map, and you can also search it by types of expertise and interest.

3. Changing the system.
With help from the fabulous tools built by My Society you can write to your local councillors and other elected representatives to let them know you want access to these therapies for your health. Remember it’s our money and our NHS, so we must make it work for us.

For too long the Department of Health has been unable to see complementary therapies, despite 20% of us using these therapies. Colleagues at the DH only seem able to see the NHS and medical insurance. We want the map to visually make an impact – showing the increasing numbers of services available to people.

By collecting information such as who funds these services we are able to understand more about our health services, and how we can influence them. We hope that the map will be useful for the media as well – one resource where people can find accessible, affordable health services.

Please visit it at www.getwelluk.org, and once you have got over the thrill, and wondered why no-one has done this before, then please help us. Our plan is to tell you, our friends and colleagues in the complementary health world, and get help in uploading more services onto the map. So please rack your brain for any groups, GPs, hospitals or other services you know of that offer free/low-cost complementary medicine services. You can either enter the information on the online form, email us the details or call us. We follow up every lead with a phone call to make sure the information is accurate and hope to have 500 service mapped by the end of the summer.

We also want to find out from you what works and what doesn’t work so we can fix any bugs and respond to comments and suggestions before launching the map to the wider (and perhaps less friendly/more critical) world.

Of course if you want to contribute to the PR fund to help us promote the map in October please contact nichola@getwelluk.com.

EFSA and FDA Strengthen Cooperation in Food Safety Science

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today signed the first U.S./ European agreement in the area of assessing food safety risk. This is the first formal international cooperation agreement EFSA has signed and the first formal step in cooperation between the two bodies.

'I am delighted to be signing this agreement today with the FDA. Food safety knows no national boundaries and the food chain is today truly a global one,' said Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle, EFSA's Executive Director. 'We need to work with the best scientific minds from across the world and extend scientific co-operation to assess food safety risks and protect consumers even more. Sharing data and knowledge across our two organizations is an important first step in achieving this goal.'

'As a science-based and science-led agency, FDA recognizes that scientific cooperation is vital for the success of its mission, which is to provide the best possible health protection for the public," said Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., Commissioner, Food and Drugs. 'I welcome this opportunity for scientific exchanges with our European colleagues - exchanges that will be focused on ensuring the safety and wholesomeness of food, a major area of responsibility of our agency.'

Today's agreement is designed to facilitate the sharing of confidential scientific and other information between EFSA and the FDA, such as methodologies to ensure that food is safe. A formal agreement ensures appropriate protection of such confidential information under the applicable legal frameworks in both the United States and the European Union. Informal cooperation and dialogue have already been established between the two bodies; this agreement will enable these to be formalized and extended.

For more information on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, please see: http://www.fda.gov/.
For more background information about the European Food Safety Authority, please visit: http://www.efsa.europa.eu.

Award for Naturopath Practitioner

Acclaimed Naturopath and Herbal Practitioner, Rumana Zahn, wins award for outstanding contribution to the community.
Rumana, who runs the Complementary Medicine Walk-In Clinic at the Nutri Centre at Tesco in Kingston Park, won the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community 2007.

'I am thrilled to have received this award and grateful to be recognised for the work that I have done,' said Rumana.
'More and more people are using Complementary and Alternative Medicine [CAM] and as it is not yet available on the NHS, treatments are only used by those who can afford it.'

The Nutri-Centre is the first of its kind in the UK and offers free 10-minute consultations on natural and holistic medicine and customers can access expert advice on what natural health products and treatments will help suit their particular health needs.

Rumana explains: 'The free advice is ideal for those without prior experience or knowledge in using natural and holistic medicine.

'The centre is a valuable resource open to anyone wishing to access independent professional advice on natural health.
'It can be very confusing for people to work out what supplement to take or which herb can help or whether it is safe alongside their medication.'

The Nutri Centre is based in selected Tesco stores nationally and supplies nutritional and herbal supplements including books and other media on natural health.

For further information contact the clinic at the Nutri Centre on 0191 286 0020.

Ayurveda Being Taught in US Medical Schools

For the last several years, Dr Navin Shah, co-founder and past president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) has been advocating the teaching of Ayurveda as part of medical syllabus in US universities.

His mission and commitment to the cause led him to New Delhi on many occasions with a request to the Health Ministry to depute two Ayurveda professors to teach a short course in Ayurveda to medical students. The attempts proved successful and the Ministry decided to depute two professors to the US.

Dr H Palep and Dr T Nesari have been selected to visit the US for a period of six weeks. The invitees for the course are medical students, faculty members and practicing physicians. The 12-hour course will be taught under the Complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM) in various cities and provided without any fees.

The courses began early May and the classes were held in Washington DC on May 5 and 6, in Baltimore on May 12 and 13, in Philadelphia (during the Silver Jubilee of the AAPI) on May 19 and 20. Four more classes will be held on May 25 and 26 and June 2 and 3.

The professors are visiting medical schools to interact with faculty members for both Ayurveda education and research. Dr Navin Shah, who spearheaded the efforts to introduce Ayurveda in US universities, said that India was not able to promote their alternative medicinal system as the Koreans and the Chinese, who have made significant inroads into the US.

'There is keen interest in Ayurveda, just as Yoga, meditation, Panchakarma (process of detoxification) and vegetarianism in the US medical community. This 5000-year old proven medical tradition has already begun making impact benefiting millions. I am confident that our efforts will help include Ayurveda teaching in the US Medical School Curriculum under CAM,' Shah said. Shah added, 'The only condition we have stipulated is that these experts should be able to scientifically validate that they have been able to cure diseases.

'The concept of healing the mind, body and soul is fast gaining popularity and Ayurveda can make a niche for itself in the alternative medicine sector. Alternative medicine has $40-billion market in the US and traditional Chinese and Korean systems have cornered a lion's share.'

Ayurveda has been able to capture just $200 million business, which is miniscule compared to its actual potential, he said. The above classes might encourage many American graduates to go to India and learn the craft and thus heralding a great potential clientele for India, he said.
He added that National Health Institute has shown keen interest for a joint Indo-US research on Ayurveda.

'They are ready to fund the research,' he said with enthusiasm. Ayurveda, the science of longevity, is one of the earliest systems of diagnosing and treating human physical ailments, developed in India for over two millennia. It is based on authoritative treatises written by the sages of great wisdom including Charaka, Susruta, Vagbhata, Nagarjuna and many more.

It also traces its roots to Vedic Samhitas, especially to Atharva Veda one of four Vedas, the sacred scriptures of the Hindus. According to Ayurveda, most physical ailments are the result of imbalances in the three basic elements integral to the human body namely, Vata (air), Pitha (bile) and Kapha (phlegm). Although these three doshas (imbalances) are emphasized, a number of independent external causes are also recognized, including supernatural and psychological traits.

Canada's New Government InvestsS $721,000 In Natural Health Products

Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, has announced a $721,000 investment in the Nutri-Net Canada Project to help expand market opportunities for the Canadian functional foods and natural health products industry.

Natural health products include supplements which, in many cases, are made from traditional or specialty crops, seafood and aquaculture.
Functional foods are similar in appearance to, or are conventional foods, that have benefits and can help to reduce the risk of chronic disease.

'Consumers today are becoming more interested in extra nutritional benefits in their food staples, such as cereals, eggs, juice and bread. This is great news for the Canadian agri-food industry and Canadian farmers as this industry grows,' said Minister Strahl. 'Canada's New Government is proud to provide an investment that will help to boost market opportunities for Canadian farmers in the natural health product industry.'

Through case studies, regional and national workshops and conferences, and a nation-wide industry networking website the project will provide an in-depth understanding of the sector and lay a solid foundation for building a sustainable national network of the Canadian functional food and natural health products industry. More importantly, the Nutri-Net Canada Project will bring together public and private sector stakeholders from across Canada to develop a national strategy and action plan for accelerating the growth of the Canadian functional food and natural health products industry.

The project is administered by the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) on behalf of the coalition of functional food and natural health products organizations known as Nutri-Net Canada. Members of the Nutri-Net Canada Steering Committee include representatives of organizations and institutions supported by the governments of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. In addition to AAFC funds, the project will receive over $900,000 in financial and in-kind contributions from industry, bringing the total budget for all activities to over $1.6 million.

'As Canada's largest not for profit trade association representing the interests of hundreds of health food and natural health product suppliers and retailers across Canada, the CHFA is pleased to be involved in this important initiative that will ultimately enhance consumer understanding and choice of functional foods and natural health products,' said CHFA Vice President, Anne Wilkie. 'We are extremely grateful for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's enabling support.'

AAFC funding for this projects falls under the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF), Science and Innovation Broker Program. The APF is a federal-provincial-territorial initiative that aims to position Canada as the world leader in food safety, innovation and environmentally responsible agricultural production.

EU to Standardise Organic Labelling

EU ministers have agreed that all organic food sold across the continent should have a standardised logo in a bid to end consumer confusion. The logo will be introduced from 2009 but products will also be able to display national or private logos.

The labels will also have to inform consumers where the products were farmed.

Food will only be able to carry the organic logo if at least 95 per cent of the ingredients are organic.

Non-organic products will only be able to indicate organic ingredients on the ingredients list.

Genetically modified organisms

The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOS) will remain prohibited but ministers agreed that organic food could contain up to 0.9 per cent of GMOs if it got there via accidental or unavoidable contamination.

Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said: 'This is an excellent agreement which will help consumers to recognise organic products throughout the EU more easily and give them assurances of precisely what they are buying.

'Organic food is a successful and growing market and I hope that this new set of rules will provide the framework to allow this growth to continue - through a combination of market demand and the entrepreneurship of European farmers.'

In 2005, around 6 million hectares of European Union farmland were either farmed organically or were being converted to organic production.

Thousands of Patients Turn to Health Frequency with Positive Results

Victor Dyment is the co-author of 'A Journey Towards Health' and the founder and leading practitioner of a new branch of alternative medicine, known as Health Frequency. His approach to healing, in combination with the body's natural processes, brings relief to many patients where traditional treatment has failed--and is often a lifesaver.

'Health Frequency refers to a level of frequency in the stem cells produced by bone marrow,' said Dyment. 'There is only one frequency that is healthy, and it is affected by everyday materials including fabrics and incompatible dental materials previously used in dental work.' When people wear or use them, the body reacts biochemically, causing numerous problems including an overall deterioration in health and wellness, sleep disorders, and even serious illness such as cancer and autoimmune diseases.

'Teeth are the most important access to health,' adds Dyment. 'Dental materials render the greatest influence on the state of health of the immune system, cardiovascular condition and high-grade work of cells in the body. A large percentage of discomfort and serious health problems are due to inappropriate dental materials. Mercury amalgams, composites, bonding cements, many metals, porcelains or other materials not compatible to Health Frequency negatively affect cellular structures and all functions in the body.'

'Traditional medical and scientific research focuses on chemical solutions for treatment," he said. "I focus on the body's frequency,' Dyment emphasizes.

Dyment has treated approximately one thousand patients ranging in symptoms from chronic migraines and severe back pain to autoimmune and kidney disorders. It is not uncommon for his patients to first be misdiagnosed by traditional physicians for years before learning of Health Frequency.

One such patient, Jane Parker who later became co-author with Dyment of the book 'A Journey Towards Health" approached him about her scleroderma, an autoimmune disease characterized by the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the skin and organs of the body. This condition leads to thickness and firmness of involved areas, and considerable pain. It is also characterized by short life expectancy.

'I was diagnosed with pain and numbness in my hands and arms,' said Parker. 'Doctors told me I had arthritis, then carpal tunnel syndrome, then Lupus, and finally, scleroderma. I simply did not accept the death sentence.'

Dyment uses simple touch by placing his hand over the problem area to allow his frequency to enter the muscle, bones, and ultimately bone marrow of a patient. In effect, his healthy health frequency heals that of his patients.

'By the end of my first treatment, I felt a significant reduction in pain,' explained Parker. 'I felt better.'

Under Dyment's care, Parker replaced clothes and improved her personal environment. Gone were bed sheets, couches, and mattresses that negatively affected frequency. Substituted in their place were linens and furniture made with the right material.

According to Dr.Mark D. Horowitz M.D., P.C, Parker was able to taper off Prednisone within six months and the scleroderma was completely reversed within three years.

In an effort to treat more patients, Dyment has been working to produce two products that reduce frequency pollution in the body. The first, a gold alloy in the form of a ring, causes healthy biochemical reactions in the body. The second, a dental alloy, is designed to replace mercury fillings and other incompatible materials previously used in dental work, a leading cause of frequency problems.

http://www.healthfrequency.com

Health Canada Approves Lakota® for Arthritis Pain

Lakota® Canada today announced that Health Canada has approved Lakota® for arthritis, joint, muscle and back pain relief. After extensive review, the Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) - Health Canada's division responsible for evaluating the safety, efficacy and quality of natural health products (NHPs) - has issued a product license and natural product number (NPN) for Lakota® Joint Care Roll-On.

Health Canada issues natural product numbers only to products that are safe, effective, and of high quality. Natural product numbers are issued only after an extensive review. These numbers assure consumers that what is on the label is what is in the bottle and that the health claims stated are supported by appropriate levels of evidence. Natural health products require the same degree of scientific evidence as drugs to support their claims.

Their regulations are very similar to drug regulations with requirements for standardized labeling, and specification requirements for finished products.

The treatment claim that Health Canada has approved for Lakota® Joint Care states that the product provides relief of 'Joint and muscle pain (arthritis, sprained muscles, sports injury, low back pain, nerve pain).'

These claims are supported by the highest level of scientific evidence and should give consumers great confidence. This is strong medical recognition for the Canadian based natural health product company.

'This is an important step for Lakota®. We know how effective our products are, our consumers know how effective they are, and finally Health Canada has given us recognition,' said Kent Pedersen, CEO of Lakota® Canada. 'Our goal has always been to provide arthritis sufferers with the most effective natural source pain relief; we are proud to be one of the few approved natural arthritis pain relief products available,' said Pedersen, pointing out that very few of the arthritis products on the market have been issued natural product numbers to support their claims.

Lakota® is a top-selling arthritis pain relief company that provides natural source pain relief and joint care supplements to people all over Canada. The powerful Lakota® formulas are rooted in traditional Native American medicine and feature striking images of Native American braves on their packaging.

The well known Lakota® Topical Pain Relievers use exclusive, natural plant extracts from the Capsaicin family and work by depleting pain messengers, providing a deep penetrating heat to relieve arthritis and muscle pain. Lakota® is famous for their innovative advertising featuring Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman, saying, 'Get Medicine that Works.'

Life Works - Surrey's Answer To The Priory In The Heart Of Woking

Set in a Grade II manor house in Old Woking, Surrey, Life Works provides the highest quality treatment for addictions, compulsive behaviours and related mental health disorders. Life Works has one of the most successful completion rates of any treatment centre, with an average of over 82% - the UK industry average being under 50% - establishing Life Works as one of Europe's leading addictions treatment centres.

The main Residential Treatment Centre, known as the Grange, is set in beautiful grounds with high walled gardens for privacy, providing a small and personalised facility, with 18 residential beds. Here individuals are encouraged to stay in shared rooms, so they cannot isolate themselves, and so they can share their experiences of the intensive 5-week programme that Life Works offers.

'When setting up Life Works, I knew this part of Surrey was an important area for such a facility. It has the largest and most developed recovery community outside of Central London. The Grange itself proved to be the perfect solution. In practical terms it is within easy reach of London and major airports and traffic links. The building meets all of our needs from a medical and clinical perspective and has an incredible healing feel to it. The previous owners spent 7 years lovingly restoring it to make it into an alternative healing centre. The love and energy they put into the facility still remains. Most people comment on the tremendous warm and inviting feeling as they walk in and clients find that to be a contributing factor to their recovery.'

Life Works offer programmes for:Alcohol Addiction ,Drug Addiction, Detoxification, Eating Disorders, Sex Addiction, Love Addiction, Codependency, Professionals Programme, Trauma, One to One Counselling, Gambling Addiction, Relapse Prevention, Aftercare

Life Works' philosophy is based on treating the whole person - healing the mind, body, spirit and emotions. Many recovering individuals suffer from a combination of addiction, mental health problems and unresolved traumatic stress. For this reason the treatment programmes incorporate the latest practices from the UK and the US, focusing on therapies directed at trauma resolution, integrated with the science-based practices of addiction and mental health recovery.

An essential part of long term recovery for all individuals is the 12-step programme. This programme, designed by Alcoholics Anonymous more than 70 years ago, has been modified to treat other addictions. The twelve-step program is used as a set of guiding principles for recovery from addiction, compulsive, or behavioural problems.

www.lifeworkscommunity.com.

M&S School Clothes Made from Plastic Bottles

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has developed school clothes made from recycled plastic bottles. The used plastic is turned into polyester yarn which is woven into fabric.
Fleeces, skirts and trousers for the new M&S school uniform range are made from the recycled material.

The process of turning plastic bottles into 100 per cent recycled polyester was carried out in Taiwan.

This is the only place which currently has the technology to do so, M&S said.
Used bottles are chopped up into flakes, which are melted and squeezed through tiny holes to turn them into thread.

The M&S school uniform range also includes a polo shirt made from a mix of recycled polyester and cotton.

Julian Kilmartin, director of boys' wear at the chain, said M&S wanted to create innovative, high quality school uniforms.

'Using recycled polyester is another way that we're doing this and what's great about this range is you're getting the same M&S quality that you'd find on all our schoolwear but you're also doing your bit for the environment,' he said.

The recycled polyester schoolwear will launch at 20 M&S stores and on the chain's website during the peak back-to-school period in mid-August.

A collection of 100 per cent Fairtrade cotton shirts and polo shirts for boys and girls is included in the school clothing range.

Prices for the new 100 per cent recycled polyester schoolwear start at £7 per item for the smallest sizes.

M&S has pledged to donate 5 per cent of the sales price of its back-to-school range sold during August to a Save the Children campaign.

Complementary Therapies Week At Pitsea Nutri Centre

The Nutri Centre at Pitsea is one of the latest in a rapidly expanding chain of retail branches being opened within Tesco superstores by the UK's leading on-line resource for natural nutrition and alternative remedies. It is hosting a Complementary Therapies event from Saturday 14th to Saturday 21st July.

This free event - an ideal opportunity to find out more about the increasing range of popular treatments - will feature practical demonstrations of Acupuncture, Reiki, Reflexology, Hypnotherapy,
Massage, Indian Head Massage, Hopi Ear Candling, Skin Analysis and General Nutrition.

According to the Nutri Centre manager Aggie White, all the therapists who will be discussing their work are based in and around the Pitsea area - so anyone who wants to take their interest further can make an appointment nearby.

'The development of stores like The Nutri Centre reflects the increasing demand for complementary healthcare products, backed by sound individual advice,' says. Aggie. 'British consumers are assuming greater responsibility for their own well-being. Attitudes have changed, with people looking beyond conventional medicines - to vitamins, supplements, herbal remedies and alternative therapies.'

The Pitsea Nutri Centre is within the Tesco Extra store off Station Lane, Pitsea, Essex. In addition to thousands of major brand products with special offers on gluten-free and organic foods and sports nutrition, the branch features a learning zone with on-line access to the latest nutrition and health research.

Other therapies included in the programme are Nutritional Therapy, Body Detox Therapy, Homeopathy, Kinesiology (muscle testing), Flower & Crystal Essences, Sports Massage, Allergy Testing, Personal Training/Sports Nutrition and Thought Field Therapy.

A full timetable programme of events taking place can be found on The Nutri Centre website: http://www.nutricentre.com/start/PitseaTherapy2007.aspx.

The Practice Partnership Finds Success is the Best Therapy

New business, The Practice Partnership is going from strength to strength since the recent launch of its new practice, The Clinic on the Green. The Practice Partnership opened the first of its planned clinics in York after securing premises in a deal worth over £400,000, with funding from Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank.

The three directors, Lance Kearon, Elaine Wilson and Russell Bailey are all fully qualified and accredited practitioners with strong business backgrounds.

Knowing that complementary healthcare can provide tremendous benefits to overall health and wellbeing, the partners identified the need to bring this field of healthcare into the 21st century and address the needs of the people who take a proactive approach to their own health but who also want the care and environment you would expect in a spa rather than a surgery.

The Clinic on the Green offers a wide range of complementary health therapies, including acupuncture, sports massage, remedial massage and chiropractic treatment, attracting a broad client base. In addition, the clinic offers early and late appointments to offer flexibility for clients.

Lance Kearon, Director of The Practice Partnership said: 'We have all been practicing complementary medicine for a number of years and felt it was time to create and develop our own practice. In recent years there has been a steady increase in the use of complementary medicine, as people learn more about its benefits. We work in partnership with traditional medicine practices to offer a balanced approach to patent care and can deliver real benefits to patients with a wide range of ailments.'

After finding suitable premises in York, The Practice Partnership approached Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank following an introduction from brokers, Stirling Knight.

Lance Kearon continues: 'Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank spent time with us, getting to know the business and our requirements and put together a bespoke package with full banking tailored to the needs of the business. The practice has got off to a great start, exceeding our initial expectations and we look forward to expanding the business further, with a view to opening more clinics as we grow.'

Darren Smith, Business Banking Manager at Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank's West Yorkshire Business Centre said: 'Lance and his partners at The Practice Partnership have vast experience in their chosen fields of complementary medicine and the additional services provided by the independent practitioners at the clinic will help to further develop the business and attract a wider client base. I look forward to seeing the Practice Partnership continue to develop and aim to play my part in helping the business to prosper.'

Learn to Heal with Reiki on MysticBoard.com

Swetha Lodha of MysticBoard.com has come up with an innovative way to help people heal themselves and others by starting online Reiki classes She says, 'Reiki has helped millions and if we can teach a few more about this wonderful self healing technique, this would be our small contribution to people who need help.'

Reiki is a Japanese healing technique that promotes a balance of our physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual levels by 'laying of hands'. This spiritual healing method has always been seen as an effective way for stress reduction.

Swetha adds, 'Mystic Board is all about healing and helping people. So when a member who is a Reiki Master offered to teach this technique, we decided to encourage and spread awareness about Reiki as an alternative method of healing.' She further adds, 'When I shared my idea of starting the online class, with the existing members of the board, I received a positive and an overwhelming response from everybody.' You can't put it better in words than what one of the member silverphoenixwillow says, 'Thank you so much for this. I had written about this in some topic and am so happy that you are willing to teach. I am so excited. God bless you.'

Among all the other methods of alternative healing, Reiki is one of the most amazing and powerful healing techniques. Reiki heals a person by using the energy in one's life. Rei means 'Universal' and Ki stands for 'Life Force Energy'. This energy can heal a person by clearing the blockages and has a positive influence on the person. It helps the person who is doing the healing as well as the person receiving the healing. Reiki is very simple, but practice is the only key to it being successful.

Britishfish, who is a Reiki Master and also a member of Mystic Board, will be conducting the Reiki classes. When asked about his plans for the upcoming classes he says, 'I am very happy to get this opportunity to be able to teach this wonderful self healing technique to other people and I must thank Mystic Board for providing me with such a wonderful platform. I heartily welcome everybody to join this class. The duration of the class will be for one month and is absolutely free. The students will be guided step by step through the traditional form of Usui Reiki from the basic to the advanced level.' He further adds, 'I shall be providing the students with a comprehensive guide about the basics. Gradually discussions about attunement processes, case studies and the different scenarios which can be completely healed through Reiki will be taken up.'

Many have wondered abut the success of online Reiki tutorials. Since there is so much of energy involved, it may not be very effective if the students cannot relate to the teacher mentally and spiritually. Swetha has found a solution to this issue and says, 'The online Reiki classes will be held in a closed forum. Students will need to be a part of the Reiki Class Group to be able to enter the Introduction to Reiki Class. This way students and can directly communicate with the teacher with no outside disturbance or dissipation of energy.'

The signing up process for the Reiki class is simple too, the details of which can be found at http://www.mysticboard.com/introduction_to_reiki The class notes and literature will be put up once the class starts. Students can also question the teacher and get answers to their queries. They will be guided through the whole process of learning and all one needs to have is the will to heal.
Mystic Board aims to make this alternative method of healing accessible to millions of people through its online classes. Reiki can be practiced anywhere, anytime and by anybody. It can harm nobody. It can only help you lead a better life.

About www.MysticBoard.com:
MysticBoard.com is a leading online forum and website on reiki, meditation, yoga, chakra, crystal healing, hypnosis, astrology, psychic, and tarot and other divination related topics. Mysticboard.com is an easy, user friendly, well defined new age forum on the Internet. Mystic Board has over 9100 members and 90,000 live discussions. It has something to offer to all its members -- experts, amateurs and the general public at large. The forum gives an opportunity for amateurs to interact with experts, to learn and perfect their skills. It also offers an excellent platform for professional exchange of ideas and new findings.

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Solutions to the Seven Most Common Sleep Myths

We all know that sleep is absolutely critical to feel your best, look your best and perform at your best - every day. A lack of sleep can result in issues such as decreased productivity, creativity and focus, but a continuous lack of sleep can lead to more serious health issues. While the quality and quantity sleep take front and center stage, there are other major health players such as: eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, making time for 60 minutes of exercise each day, taking in fresh air, drinking lots of water and having an uplifting outlook on life.

Sleep is important, but there is much confusion about how we can get this sacred time to rest, recuperate and reenergize. Sometimes the confusion and misinformation is harmless; sometimes it is dangerous.

Here are the solutions to the top seven myths about getting your daily zzz's:

Myth No. 1: Snoring may be annoying to a sleep partner, but it is never harmful.

Fact: Snoring may be harmless, but it can also be a symptom of a life-threatening sleep disorder called sleep apnea, especially if it is accompanied by severe daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea, or pauses in breathing while sleeping, prevents air flow, reduces oxygen levels and strains the heart and cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. People with sleep apnea awaken frequently during the night. Obesity can also contribute to sleep apnea.
Solution: Lose weight and if you suspect sleep apnea, get it checked out. It is treatable. Newer, medical advancements can assist in helping you get a good night's sleep.

Myth No. 2: You can 'cheat' on the amount of sleep you get.

Fact: Sleep experts say that most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night for optimum performance, health and safety. When we don't get adequate sleep, we accumulate a sleep 'debt' that can be difficult to 'pay back.' The result: sleep deprivation, which is linked to obesity, high blood pressure, mood swings, decreased productivity and safety issues in the home, on the job and on the road.

Solution: Put your body and health first and get to bed early enough for your full eight hours of rest.

Myth No. 3: Insomnia means difficulty falling asleep.

Fact: Difficulty falling asleep is only one of the four symptoms associated with insomnia. The others include waking up too early and not being able to fall back asleep; frequent awakenings during the night; and waking up feeling unrefreshed. Insomnia can be a symptom of a sleep disorder or other health problems. According to a recent National Sleep Foundation poll, 58 percent of adults in this country reported at least one symptom of insomnia in the past year.

Solution: Daily exercise, loading up on lots of whole, fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoiding or eliminating stimulants from the diet, such as caffeine, chocolate, and refined sugar in foods and drinks. When insomnia symptoms occur more than a few times a week and impact a person's daily life, the symptoms should be discussed with the appropriate health care provider.

Myth No. 4: Health problems such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and depression are unrelated to the quantity and quality of a person's sleep.

Fact: Studies have found a direct relationship between sleep and many health problems. Insufficient sleep affects growth hormone secretion that is linked to obesity. As the amount of hormone secretion decreases, the chance for weight gain increases. Blood pressure usually falls during the sleep cycle. However, interrupted sleep can adversely affect this normal decline, leading to hypertension and cardiovascular problems. Insufficient sleep impairs the body's ability to use insulin, leading to the onset of diabetes.

Solution: Losing weight and building up one's health with whole fruits and vegetables, while reducing fat-loaded foods, such as meat, cheese, and hydrogenated fats found in many processed foods can help. Also, 60 minutes of daily exercise and avoiding stimulants, such as caffeine, chocolate and white sugar found in drinks and foods.

Myth No. 5: The older you get, the fewer hours of sleep you need.

Fact: Just like most adults, people over the age of 65 need seven to nine hours of sleep. While sleep patterns change as we age, the amount of sleep we need generally does not. In fact, a poll by the National Sleep Foundation's found that older adults typically do not sleep less than their younger counterparts, but an average of seven hours. Poor health, not age, is a major reason why many older people report sleep problems.

Solution: Building healthy, lifelong habits is a must to getting a good night's sleep and enjoying life as a senior. Daily walking, deep-breathing and stretching exercises, spending time with family and friends and jumping into a hobby can contribute to a good night's sleep. Eat the right kind of foods and avoid caffeine, refined and processed foods, and fatty foods. Napping in the very early afternoon, around noon, is less likely to interfere with sleeping at night. And, of course, get down to your ideal body weight.

Myth No. 6: During sleep, your brain rests.

Fact: The body rests during sleep. However, the brain remains active and gets 'recharged.' During sleep, you drift between two sleep states, REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM, in 90-minute cycles. Non-REM sleep, when our minds can still process information, has four stages with distinct features, ranging from stage one drowsiness, when one can be easily awakened to 'deep sleep' stages three and four, when the most positive and restorative effects of sleep occur. REM sleep is an active sleep where dreams occur and eyes move back and forth under the eyelids.

Myth No. 7: If you wake up in the middle of the night, it is best to lie in bed, count sheep, or toss and turn until you eventually fall back asleep.

Fact: If you wake up in the middle of the night, relaxing imagery or thoughts may help to induce sleep more than counting sheep, which may be more distracting than relaxing.

Solution: Most experts agree that if you do not fall back asleep within 15 to 20 minutes, get out of bed, go to another room and engage in a relaxing activity such as listening to music or reading. Return to bed when you feel sleepy. Avoid watching the clock.

About the authors:

Narinder Duggal, M.D., is a clinical pharmacy specialist, internist and medical director of Liberty Bay Internal Medicine. With multiple degrees and specializations, Dr. Duggal's expertise includes geriatrics, diabetes, addiction, hypertension, weight loss and integrated medicine. For more information, call 360-779-9911 or e-mail Narinderduggal@libertybayim.com.

Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a doctor of chiropractic, author, and expert in weight loss and the prevention of diabetes, breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, fatigue, and premature aging. She empowers people to lose weight and boost self-esteem, energy and health with doable food and lifestyle choices. For more information, visit www.drleslievanromer.com or call 888-375-3754.

Smoking Ban Means Less Cadmium Exposure For Everyone

Exposure to cadmium can result in death. The most serious source of cadmium poisoning is the smoking of tobacco or the inhalation - directly or indirectly - of the fumes. On July 1st England took a step in the right direction towards reducing unnecessary exposure to at least one potentially fatal toxin: cadmium.

Cadmium is used in a number of industries (photography, soldering, production of nickel-cadmium batteries found in mobile phones and cordless equipment) and the amount of cadmium present in the environment is increased by forest fires and volcanoes and also through the burning of fossil fuels.

However for the general population, by far the biggest sources of cadmium exposure come from the food we eat - not only the actual food but also the packaging - and cigarette smoke. Small amounts of cadmium are found in fruit and drinks, leafy vegetables and potatoes have a little more. Shellfish, kidneys and liver contain even more. Food packaging and plastic drink bottles rely on cadmium for their 'plastic' quality and a certain amount of the cadmium leaches out of the wrapping into our food and drink.

Smoking (active and passive) is the most serious source of cadmium poisoning. The most serious consequence of chronic cadmium poisoning is cancer (lung and prostrate) and smoking doubles the average daily intake of cadmium.

Cadmium also hinders the body's ability to absorb essential minerals - so the exposure to smoke may reduce after July 1 st , but our bodies will still have been exposed to cadmium and its' harmful qualities. The good news is there is something we can do to aid the situation...Humet® -R is the safe and easy way to remove toxic heavy metals, such as Cadmium, Lead and Mercury (and also Aluminium) from the body. Humet® -R is the only proven, natural heavy metal detox and, as well as removing the harmful metals, Humet® -R also passes a multitude of healthful minerals into the system. It does this by carrying the minerals (10) in a unique chelate (or binder), called Humifulvate®. When the Humifulvate® has delivered its mineral, rather than then deteriorating and disappearing, it naturally attaches itself to the toxic heavy metals which are present in the body and removes them from the body via the gut.

Humet® -R is available as a 30 day supply of vegicapsules and costs just £29.95 (that's less than £1 per day to naturally detox and balance your body - much less than the cost of smoking!) Simply take a non-tasting capsule after food with half a glass of water or fruit juice. There is no need to take the product forever, just cleanse your body for a month or so then have a rest and start the programme again when you next feel like a 'proper' detox.

Humet® -R is available from good health stores nationwide or please call 01480 869 456 for stockists and further information.

Course for Cures the Natural Way

For many years alternative - or complementary - medicine has been the poor cousin to Western medicine. But an institute to be set up at the University of Western Sydney will be the first to provide Australia with new research, data and proven alternative remedies.

The federal Health Minister, Tony Abbott, visited the Campbelltown campus last week to announce a $4million grant to establish Australia's first National Institute for Complementary Medicine.

Along with Macarthur federal MP Pat Farmer and UWS vice-chancellor Janice Reid, Mr Abbott said the institute was a significant asset -not only for the people of western Sydney, or the state, or Australia, but possibly the world.

'For a long, long time complementary medicine has been looked down upon by the general health sector,'' he said.

'For several generations we have had a medical model which said things that came out of test tubes were good.

'These are complementary practices which are supported by a strong evidence base and we are trying to develop it further.'

The Medical Journal of Australia says about half the nation's population use complementary and alternative medicine.

This could include acupuncture, traditional Asian and Aboriginal medicine, naturopathy and herbal medicine.

'Evidence-based studies such as clinical trials are needed to integrate it into medicine,' Professor Reid said.

Medicines Debate about Safety Versus Freedom of Choice

From herbal medicines to Herceptin, from condoms to heart valves, a controversial regulatory proposal to hook up with Australia would cast a large net over New Zealand health products, supplements and medicines.

Government agencies on both sides of the Tasman have been working for more than a decade on creating a transtasman agency to regulate medicines, medical devices and complementary medicines.

Since details emerged in 2002, the scheme has been attacked, politically and now in a series of protest marches - yet State Services Minister Annette King is pushing ahead, even if Labour is short of support in the House.

Supporters say the proposal will improve public safety; detractors say it will force hundreds of products off shelves, leaving New Zealanders with less choice, destroying jobs and closing businesses. Claim and counter-claim are flying, ahead of a likely parliamentary show-down within weeks.

What is the proposal?

To create the Australia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Authority, in line with a transtasman treaty signed by ministers in 2003. This would replace Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration and New Zealand's Medsafe.Based in Canberra and Wellington, it would be run by a managing director and governed by a board overseen by a two-member council comprising the two countries' health ministers.

What would it regulate?

All medicines, medical and surgical devices and complementary/alternative medicines.
This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, contact lenses, pacemakers, endoscopes, blood products and, most controversially, the likes of most herbal and traditional medicines, sunscreens, homeopathic remedies, aromatherapy, vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements - but not products prepared by traditional Maori healers for individual clients.

Why regulate low-risk products?

Dietary supplements currently come under food legislation. The joint agency would bring regulation of supplements into line with Australia. They and other complementary medicines would have to meet minimum safety and quality standards, and any claims of therapeutic benefit would have to be backed by scientific evidence. At present only weak, generalised claims are permitted.

The Government argues that complementary medicines can pose a risk. Medsafe's principal technical adviser, Dr Stewart Jessamine, said the record of adverse reactions to medicines contained reports of around 300 cases related to complementary medicines in the past 10 to 15 years.

The new regime was to allow consumers to be confident of the consistent quality of products.

Yoga Associated with Elevated Brain GABA Levels

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and McLean Hospital have found that practicing yoga may elevate brain gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) levels, the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter.

The findings, which appear in the May issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, suggest that the practice of yoga be explored as a possible treatment for depression and anxiety, disorders associated with low GABA levels.

The World Health Organization reports that mental illness makes up to fifteen percent of disease in the world. Depression and anxiety disorders both contribute to this burden and are associated with low GABA levels. Currently, these disorders have been successfully treated with pharmaceutical agents designed to increase GABA levels.

Using magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging, the researchers compared the GABA levels of eight subjects prior to and after one hour of yoga, with 11 subjects who did no yoga but instead read for one hour. The researchers found a twenty-seven percent increase in GABA levels in the yoga practitioner group after their session, but no change in the comparison subject group after their reading session. The acquisition of the GABA levels was done using a magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique developed by J. Eric Jensen, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an associate physicist at McLean Hospital.

According to the researchers, yoga has shown promise in improving symptoms associated with depression, anxiety and epilepsy. 'Our findings clearly demonstrate that in experienced yoga practitioners, brain GABA levels increase after a session of yoga,' said lead author Chris Streeter, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and neurology at BUSM and a research associate at McLean Hospital.

'This study contributes to the understanding of how the GABA system is affected by both pharmacologic and behavioral interventions and will help to guide the development of new treatments for low GABA states,' said co-author Domenic Ciraulo, MD, professor and chairman of the department of psychiatry at BUSM.

'The development of an inexpensive, widely available intervention such as yoga that has no side effects but is effective in alleviating the symptoms of disorders associated with low GABA levels has clear public health advantage,' added senior author Perry Renshaw, MD, PhD, director of the Brain Imaging Center at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital.

This study was supported in part by grants from the national Institute of Drug Abuse; the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; the National Center for Research Resources, and the Gennaro Acampora Charity Trust to the Division of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center.

Yoga May Help Improve Pregnancy Outcome

The practice of yoga during pregnancy seems to improve birth weight and reduce prematurity and overall complications, Indian researchers report.

Dr. Shamanthakamani Narendran, from the Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation in Bangalore, and colleagues studied 169 pregnant women trained in the integrated approach to yoga and in 166 'controls' who received routine prenatal care.

The yoga training included various loosening exercises, postures ('asanas'), relaxation, deep breathing exercises ('pranayamas'), and meditation, which was practiced for 1 hour daily.

Fourteen percent of deliveries were premature in the yoga group compared with 29 percent in the controls. Rates of pregnancy-related high blood pressure were also lower in the yoga group, the researchers report in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine.

'The exact role of yoga is unclear at present,' co-author Dr. Vivek Narendran of Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Ohio told.

He said possible mechanisms whereby yoga improves pregnancy outcomes include increased blood flow to the placenta, decreased transfer of maternal stress hormones, and decreased premature release of hormones that trigger the onset of labour.

'Given the larger picture of multiple failed attempts to reduce low birth weight and prematurity globally in the last decade,' Dr. Narendran commented, 'we provide preliminary data for the first time, to support a simple potential intervention, particularly in India, to improve pregnancy outcomes.'.

Ransom set for Growth as Natural Health Product Sales Expand

Sales of natural healthcare products are growing faster than the standard over-the-counter market, says William Ransom & Son, the UK's oldest independent pharmaceutical company and a leader in natural remedies.

Since the Hertfordshire-based group acquired Health Perception three years ago, William Ransom has been country's leading supplier of glucosamine food supplements which it says are being increasingly used in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

'There are currently approximately 800,000 prescriptions of this type in England and Wales, growing at approximately 50% a year,' chairman Tim Dye said in a statement accompanying the annual figures.

William Ransom, which was founded in 1846, increased its product range when it acquired Optima Healthcare making it one of Europe's leading suppliers of aloe vera products.

Group sales rose 12% to £36.5 million in the year to 31 March against £32.5 million last time. This reflects a full year contribution from the Optima business which was acquired in June 2005.

Sea Buckthorn May Cut Inflammation

Regular consumption of sea buckthorn berries reduced levels of a protein that is associated with inflammation, diabetes and heart disease, say Finnish scientists.

However, no major effects were observed on the instance of common cold or digestive tract infections, reports the study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The report could see the berries join an ever-increasing list of a number of antioxidant fruits, including pomegranate, guarana, mangosteen, noni berries, goji berries and blueberries, which are increasingly seen by food and beverage makers as up and coming ingredients.

http://www.NutraIngredients.com.

Cranberries may Fight Ulcer-causing Bacteria in Humans

Cranberry juice may enhance the power of antibiotics to clear the stomach of women of a bacteria known to cause ulcers and cancer, new research reports.

Results from the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 177 patients with Helicobacter pylori infection, published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, suggest that drinking cranberry juice during and after a weeklong antibiotic course enhances the eradication of the bacteria by about 10 per cent.

However, no beneficial effect was observed in men, reported the researchers from Tel Aviv University.
http://www.NutraIngredients.com.

Blueberries may Reduce Alzheimer Risk

Eating a diet rich in blueberries may reduce the severity of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's or cognitive disorders relating to ageing, if results from an animal study can be translated into humans.

'The current findings would suggest that a diet enriched in blueberry might attenuate degenerative processes due to oxidative or inflammatory stressors similar to the effectiveness of pharmacological strategies related to this hypothesis of Alzheimers disease,'wrote lead author Kara Duffy in the journal Neurobiology of Aging.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and currently affects over 13 million people worldwide. The direct and indirect cost of Alzheimer care is over $100bn (€ 81bn) in the US alone. The direct cost of Alzheimer care in the UK was estimated at £15bn (€ 22bn).

This is not the first time that blueberries have been linked to protection from Alzheimer's, with sales of the fruit reported to be booming, going from £10.3m (€14.9m) in 2003 to almost £40m (€58m) in 2005, according to UK supplier BerryWorld.

http://www.NutraIngredients.com.

Is Fruit Peel the Next Snack Craze?

One in five UK adults regularly snack on or eat fruit peel as part of their diet, according to a survey released recently.

The survey was carried out by the UK Food Standards Agency to help judge if eating peel should be taken into account when working out how much pesticide residue people are likely to eat in their foods.

However the results add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that health-conscious consumers are turning to healthy snacks that are unusual and adventurous.

Of the 2,011 adults contacted in the research, 385 said they consumed at least one type of fruit peel. They were then asked about what kind of peel they ate.

The majority of consumers eat just one or two types of fruit peel, and the most common choices are orange, followed by lemon, kiwi fruit, grapefruit and mango, according to the survey.

At the other end of the scale, one per cent of people questioned admitted to eating peel from lychee, passion fruit and even avocado.

http://www.NutraIngredients.com

Low-carb Diet Bad for Gut Health?

Eating a low-carbohydrate diet, like the once fashionable Atkins diet, may adversely affect the numbers of certain types of bacteria in the gut of obese men, Scottish researchers have reported.

The study, published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, again raises concerns about the impact of the prolonged use of very low-carbohydrate weight-loss diets on gut health.
Low carb diets have lost popularity amongst the public with critics saying that the approach puts followers at a higher risk of clogged arteries and heart attack in the long-term.

The new study, by scientists at Aberdeen's Rowett Research Institute, reports that prolonged adherence to the low-carb diet may also adversely affect the gut bacterial populations that beneficially produce a substance called butyrate, which has been shown to be important for keeping the gut healthy including helping to prevent colorectal cancer.

http://www.NutraIngredients.com

Do Food Miles go the Distance on Emissions?

The impact of measuring the environmental cost of food by the distance it travels could have serious cost and supply chain implications for manufacturers. With 95 per cent of fruit and half of all vegetables consumed in the UK sourced from abroad, the debate on 'food miles'is forcing processors to add the distance ingredients travel to the growing list of environmental concerns they must taken into consideration.

Just how the true environmental cost of food is evaluated is still in its infancy. The term "food miles" is generally considered to be the measure of distance that food has travelled along the supply chain from farm to fork.

On the manufacturing side it is an attempt to attribute the CO2 emissions along the supply chain from ingredient to product to retailer.

Proponents say it is a measure that compares environmental impact among product. The longer a product is required to travel, the more energy will be required, and therefore the higher volume of emissions released into the atmosphere.

Shipping fuel and the energy required for suitable storage, such as refrigeration, are part of the formula when environmental impact is calculated for imports travelling long distances.

The impact of the debate has already begun to take effect, with food miles the latest marketing weapon of the UK supermarket oligopoly. Tesco now offer 'local choice' milk sourced from 14 regions around the UK. Marks & Spencer have recently introduced 'Air freighted' logos onto packaged food flown in from abroad.

European countries, including Germany, are now beginning to make similar considerations in earnest as the debate on shipping food grows.

However, just as food miles looked the environmental yardstick imported food would be judged by, the Soil Association threw a new consideration into the mix. It has recently published a green paper with a view to removing the organic status of food it certifies if it has been flown in.

While the distance food travels is an important consideration, the mode of transport is the key consideration, according to the certifier, with air freighting being the worst offender.

In the UK, where the Soil Association certifies 70 per cent of products, air freight is the fastest growing mode of transportation for imports.

Less than one percent of all food imported into the UK, travels by air, but they constitute 11 per cent of all food transport emission according to Defra.

Estimates put the carbon emissions from air freighting at between 40 and 200 times that of goods shipped by sea or road.

Air freiting is the most expensive way to transport food, even though aviation fuel is not taxed in the UK and is about one fifth the price of petrol.

The method is mainly used by importers to meet short term demand when supplies run low and to transport highly perishable goods that cannot withstand lengthy shipping durations.

Evaluating the environmental impact of food by either distance covered or mode of transportation seems logical, but these methodologies have been subject to the criticisms that they are flawed and narrow.

Distant importers claim a holistic approach, in which they fair better in most instances, is a better way to evaluation the total impact.

http://www.foodproductiondaily

Aspartame Can Increase Cancer Risk, says Study

A new study on aspartame conducted by the Ramazzini Foundation reveals that aspartame causes a dose-dependent increase in cancers (lymphomas, leukemias and breast cancers) when consumed at levels approaching those consumed by humans in diet soft drinks. Specifically, the study shows (reprinted from the abstract):

a) a significant dose-related increase of malignant tumor-bearing animals in males, in particular in the group treated at 2000 ppm;
b) a significant increase of the incidence in lymphomas/leukemias in males treated at 2000 ppm and a significant dose-related increase of the incidence of lymphomas/leukemias in females, in particular in the group treated at 2000 ppm;
c) a significant dose-related increase of the incidence of mammary cancer in females, in particular in the group treated at 2000 ppm.

Conclusions. The results of this carcinogenicity bioassay not only confirm, but also reinforce the first experimental demonstration of [aspartame's] multipotential carcinogenicity at a dose level close to the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for humans. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that when lifespan exposure to [aspartame] begins during fetal life, its carcinogenic effects are increased.

The study, entitled "Lifespan Exposure to Low Doses of Aspartame Beginning During Prenatal Life Increases Cancer Effects in Rats" has been accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), the most widely-read environmental science journal in the world.

This is the second study conducted by the Ramizzini Foundation documenting the cancer-causing effects of aspartame in animals. Most sane people, when faced with such evidence, would ask the obvious questions: Could aspartame also cause cancer in humans? Should we review the safety of aspartame just in case?

Read the full article here
http://www.newstarget.com/021920.html.

Tai Chi and Hydrotherapy Help Arthritis Sufferers

Both Tai Chi and water-based exercise can help alleviate pain and stiffness of chronic osteoarthritis, according to a study by researchers in Australia. Researchers from the George Institute for International Health at the University of Sydney published their results in the current issue of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Marlene Fransen, lead researcher, and her co-workers studied 152 men and women over 60 with chronic osteoarthritis. The research team randomly assigned participants to hydrotherapy classes, Tai Chi classes or a waiting group. The classes, one hour in length, were offered two times per week.

After 12 weeks, both groups showed significant improvements on scores measuring pain and physical function. At 24 weeks, researchers found that the improvements had been sustained, with the greatest improvement measured in the hydrotherapy group.

'Hydrotherapy classes appeared to be more acceptable (higher attendance), appeared to provide greater relief of joint pain, and resulted in larger improvements in objective measurements of physical performance,' wrote Fransen.

Patients assigned to the hydrotherapy group were more likely to attend classes than those assigned to Tai Chi, which the researchers noted may be due to a lack of familiarity with Tai Chi. Eighty-one percent of participants in the hydrotherapy group attended at least half of the classes offered, compared to 61 percent of Tai Chi participants.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States and affects 46 million Americans. Osteoarthritis, often referred to as 'OA' is also called osteoarthroses or degenerative joint disease, and is diagnosed in 21 million people in the U.S. Typical onset is after age 40.

On May 3, 2007, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a statement that the prevalence of all types of arthritis will likely surge in the coming decades, reaching as many as 67 million Americans by 2030. In the statement, the CDC acknowledged that weight control and exercise are vital to arthritis prevention.

http://www.newstarget.com/021905.html.

Mediterranean Diet Fights Allergies in Children

Researchers studying children in Greece found that those who eat a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and olive oil experience less respiratory allergies and asthma than other children. Dr. Paul Cullinan of Britain's Royal Brompton Hospital and National Heart and Lung Institute and colleagues in Greece and Spain studied 690 children aged 7 to 18 using a 58-food frequency questionnaire.

Comparing children on the Greek island of Crete who ate the most fresh fruits and nuts to children who ate the most margarine, researchers discovered "a high consumption of nuts was found to be inversely associated with wheezing, whereas margarine increased the risk of both wheezing and allergic rhinitis (sneezing and runny nose)."

"Eighty percent of children ate fresh fruit (and 68 percent vegetables) at least twice a day," they wrote in their report, published in the journal Thorax. Researchers reported that "data suggest a beneficial effect of commonly consumed fruits, vegetables, and nuts and of a high adherence to a traditional Mediterranean diet during childhood on symptoms of asthma and rhinitis. Diet may explain the relative lack of allergic symptoms in this population."

The scientists found intake of grapes, oranges, apples, and fresh tomatoes, which are local products widely available in Crete, had no association with atopy -- a hereditary immunoglobulin-related problem that can predispose a child to certain atopic allergic illnesses -- but was protective for wheezing and rhinitis.

"This benefit is thought to be linked to the vitamins and antioxidants which [fruits, nuts and vegetables] contain," said Leanne Male, assistant director of research at Asthma UK, "Asthma UK is currently funding a number of research projects to further explore this association."

Researchers stated grapes had never before been shown to protect against allergies. Compounds found in grape skins, especially antioxidant substances, may be responsible, they said.

"Most consumers do not know it, but allergies are often brought on by a highly inflammatory diet comprised of processed foods," said Mike Adams, author of The 7 Laws of Nutrition, "Switching to unprocessed foods, including fresh vegetables, olive oil, and vinegar results in a sharp reduction in inflammation, thereby reducing allergies in both children and adults."

http://www.newstarget.com/021882.html.

UK Organic Sector Fights GM Contamination

Representatives from the UK organic sector have today urged the UK environment minister David Miliband not to allow organic food to be contaminated by genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

A delegation representing 70 organic businesses urged Miliband not to increase the current threshold for GM contamination of organic food from 0.1 per cent to 0.9 per cent.

Currently, only food that has a contamination level of less than 0.1 per cent can be sold as organic, but the UK government is suggesting that this level should be raised and that only food with a GM level of more than 0.9 per cent should be labelled as containing GMOs. 

"There is overwhelming evidence that one of the main reasons that consumers buy organic is to avoid eating food containing any GM," said Alex Smith of Alara, chair of the Food and Drink Federation's organic group.

http://www.FoodQualityNews.com

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