PETER'S PRINCIPLES - April 21-25, 2008
Chuck from Commerce emails asking what he can do to get some relief from his allergies.
Chuck, you’re not alone, about 50 million people suffer with allergies. Its the 6th leading cause of chronic disease in the united states. There’s no cure for allergies so the key is avoiding triggers. Many triggers are right in your own home. Dust mites are a big trigger. The key to reduce exposure, wash bedding and curtains weekly in hot water and put your clothes away immediately after washing. Mold and mildew is another big trigger. For this try to wash any moldy or mildewed surfaces with diluted bleach. Use an exhaust fan or keep windows open in the bathroom and repair leaks quickly. Finally-pollen-it’s one of the major allergy triggers, so keep your windows closed and don’t hang any clothes outside.
Ted from Detroit emails asking how important is it for him to lose weight?
Ted, it’s critical to slim down and stay healthy, it could save your life. The world cancer research fund found a new link between body fat and cancer. It found convincing evidence to link six types of cancer to body fat, five more than in it’s previous report 10 years ago. Among the new types of cancer are colorectal and breast cancer. Researchers believe processed meats, red meat and alcohol are the big causes for the increased risk. They now recommend what i’ve been saying for a long time, 30 minutes of exercise daily, eat fruits and vegetables, lean meats and drink plenty of water.
Gary from Sterling Heights emails asking what he could add to his diet to help keep him healthy?
That’s a great question Gary, the answer tons of color in the form of fruits and vegetables. New research has shown the more colorful your diet, the more antioxidants you get-which are key to youthful skin, healthy bones, sharp memory and fighting and preventing disease. Each color has a different class of nutrients. Yellow and orange fruits and vegetables such as carrots and melon can reduce the risk of cancer. Green, such as spinach and broccoli can keep your vision sharp and clear. Blue and purple-in your blueberries and blackberries can prevent tumors from forming and suppress their growth. Red in tomatoes and watermelon can protect against cancer and heart disease and white such as cauliflower can help fight off stomach and colon cancer. For the best benefit, mix and match these foods.
Sheila emails asking about the role fiber can play in a successful weight loss plan.
Sheila, you're sure to find the results of this twelve year study interesting. It shows conclusively that those taking in the most fiber are the ones to gain the least weight! Those putting on the most weight were found to be eating diets low in fiber and some kinds of fat. The numbers say it all! The twenty five percent of study subjects with the highest filler intake had a forty nine percent lower risk of major weight gain! Dietary fiber seems to work by delaying the body's carbohydrate absorption. That lowers insulin levels and results in less fat storage in the body! As a result, those taking in high filler had a major increase in a wide varlety of health problems. And it doesn't take much to get the job done! Just a bowl of high filler cereal in the morning and some whole grain toast will get you on the right track!
Sarah emails for natural ways to help fight high cholesterol levels.
Sarah, the answer to your question is a little on the spicy side! Early research shows that cinnamon has plenty of potential when it comes to taking on both high cholesterol and diabetes! A recent study examined twenty test subjects over a sixty day period. It found that those taking in one gram of cinnamon daily reduced bad cholesterol, total cholesterol and dangerous blood triglycerides! What's interesting is that very high doses of cinnamon can be toxic! Cinnamon's impact on diabetes is definitely worth mentioning here. It seems to show that cinnamon works in the body in a way similar to insulin. Sugar absorption int.o the cells a key problem in type two diabetes. Cinnamon seems to make the cells more receptne to available insulin. But if you're diabetic and using cinnamon be sure you monitor your blood sugar levels. Also talk to your doctor before you begin any kind of new regimen that could have an impact on your health.
