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A monthly publication of Pure Energy Rx www.pureenergyrx.com 1-Service Voice Mail: 620-399-7462 | APRIL, 2005 | |||||||||||
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This newsletter was sent to you from Boyd Martin, webmaster for Pure Energy Rx, Pure Energy Rx,Wellington, KS 67152, Service Voice Mail: 620-399-7462 .
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We will be traveling to the 
After spending years as an emergency room doctor, Dr. Ruthie Harper became perplexed when she kept seeing the same patients. "I did all this great medicine, but nobody got well," declares Dr. Harper. "They had more and more medical issues, and were on more medications and having more side effects." Theorizing about how people used food in their lifestyles, Dr. Harper developed a simple but highly effective approach she calls "food as fuel." She says, " People can not believe what food can do in their body when they use it correctly." As a result, Dr. Harper has built a thriving practice feeding people's bodies for health. She also specializes in natural hormone replacement therapy for mid-life women--a journey she was surprised to find herself on. 
Witness immediate results with Ambra-Lift Elixir from the Elina Elite Skin Care Collection. From the very first application, you will notice instant lifting, toning and smoothing of your skin. This exclusive formula contains Amelit
You may have noticed a unique, pungent odor when you open a new bag of pet food -- what is the source of that delightful smell? It is most often rendered animal fat, restaurant grease, or other oils too rancid or deemed inedible for humans. Restaurant grease has become a major component of feed grade animal fat over the last fifteen years. This grease, often held in fifty-gallon drums, may be kept outside for weeks, exposed to extreme temperatures with no regard for its future use. "Fat blenders" or rendering companies then pick up this used grease and mix the different types of fat together, stabilize them with powerful antioxidants to retard further spoilage, and then sell the blended products to pet food companies and other end users. These fats are sprayed directly onto extruded kibbles and pellets to make an otherwise bland or distasteful product palatable. The fat also acts as a binding agent to which manufacturers add other flavor enhancers such as digests. Pet food scientists have discovered that animals love the taste of these sprayed fats. Manufacturers are masters at getting a dog or a cat to eat something she would normally turn up her nose at. In 1995, Nature's Recipe pulled thousands of tons of dog food off the shelf after consumers complained that their dogs were vomiting and losing their appetite. Nature's Recipe's loss amounted to $20 million. The problem was a fungus that produced vomitoxin (an aflatoxin or "mycotoxin," a toxic substance produced by mold) contaminating the wheat. In 1999, another fungal toxin triggered the recall of dry dog food made by Doane Pet Care at one of its plants, including Ol' Roy (Wal-Mart's brand) and 53 other brands. This time, the toxin killed 25 dogs. 
According to new health and wellness research, that depends on a number of factors. For example, if you are conscientious about getting the highest nutritional value from the food and beverages you consume, then you probably belong to the 26 percent of the U.S. adult population termed "food actives" by the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI). If, on the other hand, you regularly just eat the pie and forget about the cholesterol or trans-fats, then count yourself among the ranks of the "Eat-drink-and-be-merrys," who comprise 21 percent of the population. So who makes up the other 53 percent? That would be the "Fence Sitters," the "Well Beings," and the "Magic Bullets." "Consumer attitudes and behavior nationwide have shifted dramatically over the last decade," said Steve French, researcher and managing partner for the Natural Marketing Institute, which conducts research on health and wellness. "Organic foods, vitamin/mineral and herbal supplements, as well as nutritionally fortified foods are now widely available and used by 60 percent of the U.S. adult population." Last week, French presented the latest findings on consumer attitudes and behaviors at the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, where thousands of manufacturers, retail buyers and health food enthusiasts gather annually. According to French, the natural foods movement is no longer the domain of the crunchy granola types, and the numbers reflect this shift. Consumer spending on natural foods and nutritional supplements nationwide has skyrocketed from $55.1 billion in 2001 to $68 billion in 2004. Spending is projected to grow to $84 billion by 2007.
The recently-announced USDA dietary guidelines stress the need for consumers to be more aware of the benefits of polyunsaturated essential 
Red yeast rice is rice that has been fermented by the red yeast, Monascus purpureus. It has been used by the Chinese for many centuries as a food preservative, food colorant (it is responsible for the red color of Peking duck), spice, and as an ingredient in rice wine. Red yeast rice continues to be a dietary staple in China, Japan, and Asian communities in the United States, with an estimated average consumption of 14 to 55 grams of red yeast rice per day per person. Red yeast rice also has been used in China for over a thousand years for medicinal purposes. Red yeast rice was described in an ancient Chinese list of drugs as useful for improving blood circulation and for alleviating indigestion and diarrhea. Recently, red yeast rice has been developed by Chinese and American scientists as a product to lower blood lipids, including cholesterol and triglycerides. In a study out of China published earlier this year, 48 consecutive patients with stable angina were randomly assigned to receive 1,200 or 2,400 mg daily of red yeast rice for two weeks. At the end of this short study, the patients given 1,200 mg reduced their total cholesterol by 13% and their LDL cholesterol by 23% . The patients treated with 2,400 mg lowered total cholesterol by 22% and LDL cholesterol by 32%. The study also showed that red yeast rice significantly lowered C-reactive protein (CRP) levels literally within one day. (CRP elevations indicate inflammation in the body.) The careful fermentation process of red yeast rice yields specific amounts of statins--the compounds largely held responsible for reducing cholesterol levels. In 2001, however, red yeast rice extract, a "natural" unregulated nutritional supplement, was withdrawn by the FDA. This decision followed the agency's determination that it was chemically too similar to the prescription statin medication Mevacor, and thus should be classified as a "drug," which by law is strictly controlled by the federal government. Although you probably won't find it on retail store shelves, you can find red yeast rice on the Internet. Yay! 
A new study reveals that 30 percent of stroke victims report experiencing either intense anger or negative emotion within two hours of their stroke. It's interesting to note that this study also tested to see if experiencing strong positive emotions brought on strokes, and the answer is no. So it isn't that we need to avoid strong emotions -- just strong negative emotions.
We've seen other studies that try to measure the impact of emotions and attitude on health, such as the study that showed pessimistic people are more likely to have heart disease than optimistic people. The stroke-trigger study shows, however, that even an optimistic person can have a sudden turn of anger and their usual sunny disposition will not prevent the stroke.
When you become angry, the body experiences the ancient fight-or-flight response. Blood pressure shoots up, at least temporarily, and the hormones adrenaline and cortisol are released and flood the body. Heart rate increases, muscles become tense, digestive processes come to a halt, and certain parts of the brain are triggered, altering brain chemistry. It's not exactly a surprise that, if you have a blood clot developing, this kind of physical response would be enough to put it into action and cause you to have a stroke. For those of us who live life with a full range of expression, including anger, this study is a bit frightening. Of course, anger is a natural part of life, and it is impossible (even unhealthy) to attempt to never feel or acknowledge your anger. A better, more realistic course of action is to find healthy outlets for releasing anger, or even channeling your anger in healthier, more positive ways. Some find that exercise helps to release anger, while yoga and meditation train the body to instantly relax and get grounded, and prepare to address the emotion more productively.
The two-hour time frame reported by the stroke victims was of particular interest to researchers. It could mean that if you can find a way to relax and short-circuit a sudden and extreme physical response to something that makes you angry, the event won't become a trigger, and you can go back later and deal with your emotions in more manageable doses at a later time. 
Environmentally responsible investing means aligning your financial goals with your commitment to the environment. Or more simply, investing with your principles and your pocketbook in mind. The roots of environmentally responsible investing can be traced back two centuries to the early Quakers who refused to profit from companies invested in the slave trade. In the 1920's, many U.S. churches chose not to invest in alcohol or tobacco products. And in the 1970's and 1980's, the public outcry to direct capital away from companies that profited from apartheid in South Africa demonstrated the power of social investing. What environmentalist, for example, wants to profit from dioxin, ozone-depleting chemicals or nuclear power? Traditionally, there are three major strategies of socially and environmentally responsible investing: (1) Channel capital toward companies whose products and services contribute to a safe and healthy environment. Investors promote environmental solutions and leadership by investing in well-managed, environmentally responsible companies. By minimizing environmental risks, these companies can enjoy competitive advantages from cost reductions, quality improvements, profitability enhancements and access to expanding and new growth markets. (2) Divert capital away from environmentally destructive businesses. Companies that pursue the least environmentally sound practices can be at the greatest risk of negative economic consequences; for instance, a company may face liabilities if a business operation or service is determined to be harmful to the environment. By directing investors' dollars away from companies that flout basic standards for environmental responsibility, we demonstrate support for responsible companies and create an incentive for less responsible companies to clean up their acts.
(3) Make small investments in less responsible companies to use as leverage to influence corporate behavior. This strategy, known as shareholder advocacy, is a crucial tool for environmentally responsible investors. By filing shareholder resolutions, you can bring your beliefs as an investor to corporate boardrooms across the country.