Natural Healing Tools

Rebounders and Mini Trampolines: About Our Cellerciser

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:46:00 +0000

The Cellerciser is available in three versions at Natural Healing Tools: Half Fold, Half Fold with Balance Bar and Trifold.

All Cellercisers are Free US Continental Shipping.

Tracking Food Borne Pathogens

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Natural Health Tip #11- Treat The Flu Naturally

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:30:00 +0000

Natural Healing Tools Winter Supplements and Health Products.

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GMO Facts from The Non-GMO Project

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:30:00 +0000

In our work to bring quality information to our patients, we talk about food, food quality and diet. Consequently, the topic of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) is an ongoing topic. We thought it important to bring to our news site a few FAQ's. To see more about GMO and get a list of verified non-GMO brands, visit the GMO project.

What are GMOs?
GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.

Virtually all commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. Despite biotech industry promises, none of the GMO traits currently on the market offer increased yield, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit.

Meanwhile, a growing body of evidence connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights.

Are GMOs safe?
Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe. In nearly 50 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. In the U.S., the government has approved GMOs based on studies conducted by the same corporations that created them and profit from their sale. Increasingly, Americans are taking matters into their own hands and choosing to opt out of the GMO experiment.

Are GMOs labeled?
Unfortunately, even though polls consistently show that a significant majority of Americans want to know if the food they’re purchasing contains GMOs, the powerful biotech lobby has succeeded in keeping this information from the public. In the absence of mandatory labeling, the Non-GMO Project was created to give consumers the informed choice they deserve.

Where does the Non-GMO Project come in?
The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization with a mission of protecting the non-GMO food supply and giving consumers an informed choice. We offer North America’s ONLY third party verification for products produced according to rigorous best practices for GMO avoidance (for more info, click here). Our strategy is to empower consumers to make change through the marketplace. If people stop buying GMOs, companies will stop using them and farmers will stop growing them.

Do Americans want non-GMO foods and supplements?
Polls consistently show that a significant majority of North Americans would like to be able to tell if the food they’re purchasing contains GMOs (a 2008 CBS News Poll found that 87% of consumers wanted GMOs labeled). And, according to a recent CBS/New York Times poll, 53% of consumers said they would not buy food that has been genetically modified. The Non-GMO Project’s seal for verified products will, for the first time, give the public an opportunity to make an informed choice when it comes to GMOs.

How common are GMOs?
In the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food. Click here for a current list of GMO risk crops.

What are the impacts of GMOs on the environment?
Over 80% of all GMOs grown worldwide are engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 1S times since GMOs were introduced. GMO crops are also responsible for the emergence of “super weeds” and “super bugs:’ which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange). GMOs are a direct extension of chemical agriculture, and are developed and sold by the world’s biggest chemical companies. The long-term impacts of GMOs are unknown, and once released into the environment these novel organisms cannot be recalled.

How do GMOs affect farmers?
Because GMOs are novel life forms, biotechnology companies have been able to obtain patents with which to restrict their use. As a result, the companies that make GMOs now have the power to sue farmers whose fields are contaminated with GMOs, even when it is the result of inevitable drift from neighboring fields.

GMOs therefore pose a serious threat to farmer sovereignty and to the national food security of any country where they are grown, including the United States.

How can I avoid GMOs?
Choose food and products that are Non-GMO Project Verified! Click here to see a complete list.

Natural Health Tip #10: Don't Take Asprin for Heart Disease Prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:30:00 +0000

About the QLink SRT 3 Pendant

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Q Link SRT 3 Pendants.

Improve Your Sleep Naturally

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Health Tip #9: Drink More Coffee

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:14:00 +0000

BBC Frank Skinner on Taking 50 Plus Vitamins...

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Study Finds Menopausal Women Deficient in Vitamin D

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

A Spanish study reports that women are not getting enough vitamin D from food so they're increasing risk of certain diseases that often accompany menopause. Are retailers and manufacturers seizing the opportunity to provide D-fortified supplements to older women?

(New Hope 360) A new study from Spain finds that women are not getting adequate levels of vitamin D from their diets before, during, and after menopause, which puts them at greater risk of the common health conditions that may accompany this life stage, including diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease and breast cancer. A related 2007 study at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School reported that a combination of vitamin D and calcium reduced risk of breast cancer in perimenopausal women.

In the current study, which was published in Nutrición Hospitalaria, researchers examined the eating habits of 3,574 Spanish women, ages 45 to 68. Perimenopause often begins after age 40 and lasts until a woman does not menstruate for an entire year, when she is considered to be in menopause, which on average occurs at age 50.

The researchers found that while the majority of women were attaining the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for most nutrients, they all fell short when it came to vitamin D and on average were only consuming 39% of the RDA for their age group. The other nutrient they were lacking was vitamin E. The study also reported that 29 percent of participants were obese and 42 percent were overweight.

The scientists concluded that a Mediterranean diet approach to eating more vegetables, fruits, nuts and beans, and less fat and protein could correct the low levels of both vitamins D and E. It appeared that the women were eating too much of another Med diet staple, olive oil, which may have been contributing to weight gain.

Natural Health Tip #7: Butter Over Margarine

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Want to Shop Non GMO? There is an App for That!

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:22:00 +0000

Should Products with GMOs Be Considered 'Natural'?

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:12:00 +0000

A class action lawsuit against PepsiCo's Frito-Lay snacks business in late December rounded out last year's bevy of "all natural" claims lawsuits. According to the California-based claimant, the company is misleading consumers by using the "made with all-natural ingredients" label on Tostitos and SunChips snacks, which actually contain genetically modified vegetable oils and corn.

(New Hope 360) Frito-Lay joins the ranks of food manufacturers such as ConAgra, Kashi, Bear Naked and Alexia Foods, who were sued last year for similar complaints. As each lawsuit unfolded, and as genetically modified organism (GMO) labeling initiatives gained steam, a new trend arose. It's becoming increasingly clear that many consumers believe the "all natural" or "100% natural" marketing claims should equate to non-GMO.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has loosely defined "natural" as containing "nothing artificial or synthetic" that would not normally be expected to be in the food. But the GMO complaint is a new one for natural, and one that just 10 years ago wasn't on the radar—for consumers or the government.

"Historically, 'natural' has not meant non-GMO," said Mary Mulry, Ph.D., president of FoodWise, Inc. a natural, organic and specialty foods consultancy. "I think that has shifted over the past few years as people have become more aware of GMOs."

'Natural' needs tiers, similar to organic

The reality is, the food supply isn't as "natural" as consumers think it is. For example, take modified food starch. "Some retailers will say it's natural, but it is not a natural product—it's chemically modified," said Mulry. Also, the lack of availability of non-GMO ingredients, such as soy protein concentrate commonly found in vegetarian foods, is holding back many natural foods from being non-GMO. Should these foods be excluded from the "natural" label, too?

"Given where we are today, there should be two tiers of natural," said Mulry, akin to organic certification levels. For example, she said "natural" could mean no artificial or synthetic ingredients or colors while "100% natural" could mean the former plus non-GMO.

Mulry has long wanted a coalition of industry professionals to take on the "natural" definition, similar to what Just Label It is doing for non-GMO labeling. "We shouldn't denigrate natural," she said. "It should mean something different than 'natural' Frito-Lay chips."

If industry doesn't come up with a clear definition, she predicts companies may discontinue the use of the label "natural" or "100% natural." After all, lawsuits can't occur if the claims aren't made. Several of Mulry's clients have, in fact, already removed the "natural" label from their products.

As Nutrition Business Journal reported last year, "Whether or not these particular [lawsuits] have merit, the lack of definition around 'natural' continues to permit deceptive marketing claims on grocery store shelves that diminish the message and import of the overall category."
For now, retailers such as Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers and Whole Foods Market are left to decide their own natural credos. But with lawsuits mounting, consumers may soon be deciding the definition of "natural" for us all.

Health Tip #8: Organic Cooking Oils

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:17:00 +0000

Natural Health Tip #5: Do NOT Buy GMO Products

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Dr. Necky - New at Natural Healing Tools

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

Perfect for Travel! Small! Portable! Convenient to Use!

The special rolling wheels have a knuckle –like pattern that works like no other tool on the market, to loosen up those tight muscle knots by rubbing and rolling the muscle knots back and forth to ease the tension and release the muscle spasm.

Self massage tools are becoming the essential must have for those that are on the go, at work, or just too busy to see a professional. The portability and ease of use of this nifty gadget will come in handy time and time again to help revitalize your neck and cervical region. Dr. Necky can be used as a light massage or a deep tissue rub.

Easy to use at your desk, on the airplane or in the comfort of your home!

Dr. Necky is a wonderful little tool that will work your neck into relief like a professional masseuse!

Natural Health Tips #4: Avoid Pesticides

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Invisible Dangers of Radiation

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:30:00 +0000

Perkl Light: Subtle Energy Machine

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Perkl Light is nothing scientific but was discovered by pure accident! Perfect for energy work or cleansing.

Buy the Perkl Light here!

Meat Glue

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:24:00 +0000

(Be Well Buzz) You might have seen the viral videos going around about “meat glue.” It’s deceptive, it’s nasty, and it’s potentially deadly. Read on to learn more about why it’s used, what it is, and the dangers that it poses.

Well, first to get to why this stuff is used. Corporations and businesses don’t want to lose money, and I think we can all relate to that on some level. I know, for one, that all my odd-shaped scraps of wrapping paper end up being used as gift tags or amalgamated wrappings, for example. Money is money, and everyone has their odd ways of saving it and not wasting things that can be made use of.

Manufacturers, food processors, caterers, and butchers are exactly the same way; the issue is that instead of wrapping paper scraps, they have meat scraps after trimming and shaping their cuts. They’ve devised some ways to skirt around the issue of unused cuts of meat by using meat glue to bind the disparate snippets back together again (the end result of which is popularly termed “frankenmeat.”)

“Meat glue” is industry standard, and chances are if you eat meat, or even tofu, you’re consuming this binding agent on a monthly, if not weekly, basis. And for all you vegetarians and vegans out there, please note: this stuff is not friendly to you and might be in your cheese, dairy, or tofu.

What It Is

“Meat glue” is scientifically known astransglutaminase, and its brand name is Activa.
Activa is manufactured by the Ajinomoto company, the same lovely folks who have brought us the pervasive neurotoxins aspartame and MSG (monosodium glutamate.)

There is little debate within scientific circles as to the neurotoxic effects of these food additives (please see bottom of page for sources.) The jury’s still out about transglutaminase, but if you ask me, anyone willing to sell neurotoxins to the public can not and should not be trusted.

Transglutaminase (TG) is an enzyme that helps proteins bind permanently together through the formation of covalent bonds. The TG forms cross-linked, insoluble, and irreversible protein polymers.

Natural examples of these stable polymers are found in blood clots, our skin, and hair.
What’s happening chemically: protein-bound lysine + protein-bound glutamine (free amine + carboxamide.)

How It’s Made

Most TG is made from the cultivation of bacteria using the blood plasma (clotting factors) from cows and pigs.

Some TG is made from cultivating bacteria using vegetable and plant extracts. Most TGs are mixed with other ingredients including gelatin and caseinate (milk derivative.)

The issue? Manufacturers don’t have to tell you which method they’re using, what type of animal plasma was used (cow, pig), or anything else that most of us would like to know more about. As with most things, the only way you can really know what you’re consuming is if you make it yourself.

Depending on how stringent a vegetarian you are, this may or may not ring some bells for you. Vegans, avoid this stuff like the plague. In addition to vegetarians and vegans, Judaism and pork products don’t go together, so make sure you’re buying kosher cuts. There is a special “kosher” meat glue made just for you.

What It’s Used For

Makes “steaks” out of glued together meat chunks
Makes imitation crab meat, chicken nuggets, and fish balls
Creates reconstituted steaks, fillets, roasts, and cutlets
Makes uniform meat portions that cook evenly and reduce waste
Binds meat mixtures (sausages, hot dogs) without using casings
Improves mouth feel, water retention, and appearance of processed meats
Makes novel meat combinations like lamb and scallops or bacon and beef
Makes meat noodles (shrimp noodles) and other cuisine oddities
For use in molecular gastronomy
Thickens egg yolks
Strengthens dough mixtures
Thickens dairy products (yogurt, cheese)
Increases yield in tofu production

Dangers And Concerns

The FDA classifies the TG enzyme as GRAS or “generally recognized as safe,” and it’s also approved by the USDA. That said, the USDA approves the use of neurotoxins (MSG, aspartame, fluoride), pesticides and herbicides, and growth hormone and antibiotic-injected meats.

Bacterial Contamination:
When multiple pieces of meat are globbed together (potentially from different animals and multiple countries), this can be a hazard. “If there is a bacteria outbreak, it’s much harder to figure out the source when chunks of meat from multiple cows were combined,” says Keith Warriner who teaches food science at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

Food Poisoning:
The bacterial count in “restructured” meat is extremely high because pieces of meat that were outside pieces are now glued together inside, making them hard to cook thoroughly. “The amount of bacteria on a steak that’s been put together with meat glue is hundreds of times higher,” says microbiologist Glenn Pener. This can lead to food poisoning, dire illness, and even death.

Increased Risk Of Disease:
In addition to an enormous increase in the likelihood of bacterial infections and food poisoning, there’s a potential link between consumed TG and common diseases. Though not directly linked to consumption of transglutaminase, there’s an increased risk to people who do not regulate the enzyme properly.

For example, when TG is not properly regulated in the body, it’s associated with plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s Disease patients; in the development of cataracts in the eyes; arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries); and various skin disorders. [Transglutaminases in Disease, Soo-Youl Kim, et al., Neurochemistry International 40 (2002), 85-103.]

Gluten Allergy And Celiac Disease:
The “glut” of transglutaminase stands for “gluten.” We’ve recently seen an enormous increase in gluten sensitivity in the US. Might this increase, in part, be due to the continued and “forced” consumption of this enzyme?

Ingested meat glue is not a “self” transglutaminase, and will therefore be recognized by the immune system as foreign. If this leads to your own transglutaminase being determined foreign as well, it could lead to the development of gluten allergy and Celiac (Coeliac) Disease.

NASA Science: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:04:00 +0000

Healthforce Fasting Kits

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Just in time for spring fasting, Natural Healing Tools is offering 3 Levels of Cleansing Kits from Healthforce.

Level 1 Healing Cleansing Kit

Weekend Power Cleanse™ - 3 Day Intensive or up to 7 Day GENTLE Cleanse

In a world of so many choices, important decisions can be skewed by trends, advertising, or false perceptions.

Cleanses often contain small amounts of fiber, and insignificant amounts of cleansing herbs, yet are touted to be the best, while also being priced as if they are the best.

The HealthForce Healing Cleanse™ formulated by Dr. Jameth Sheridan D.H.M. holds nothing back with this REAL, deeply therapeutic cleanse with real results.

Kit Contents:· (All VeganCaps™) :

One – Vitamineral™ Green 105 VeganCaps™
One – Intestinal Movement Formula™ 50 VeganCaps™
One – Intestinal Drawing Formula 105 VeganCaps™

Level 2 Healing Cleansing Kit

7-Day Intensive Power Cleanse™ - 14 to 30-Day GENTLE Cleanse

In a world of so many choices, important decisions can be skewed by trends, advertising, or false perceptions.

Cleanses often contain small amounts of fiber, and insignificant amounts of cleansing herbs, yet are touted to be the best, while also being priced as if they are the best.

The HealthForce Healing Cleanse™ formulated by Dr. Jameth Sheridan D.H.M. holds nothing back with this REAL, deeply therapeutic cleanse with real results.

Kit Contents: (All VeganCaps™):

Two – Vitamineral™ Green 105 VeganCaps™
One – Intestinal Movement Formula™ 120 VeganCaps™
One – Intestinal Drawing Formula 260 VeganCaps™
One – Liver Rescue (Version 4+ )120 VeganCaps™

Level 3 Healing Cleansing Kit

7 Day Intensive or up to 30 Day GENTLE Cleanse

Easy to follow routine with results!

However, This is NOT FOR WIMPS! HARD- CORE CLEANSE WITH HARD-CORE RESULTS

7 Products (4 of Powder, 3 in VeganCaps™)

Kit Contents:

One – Vitamineral™ Green 300 gram (powder)
One – Earth 300 gram (powder)
One – ZeoForce 400 gram (powder)
One – Intestinal Movement Formula™ 120 VeganCaps™
One – Intestinal Drawing Formula 408 grams (powder)
One – Liver Rescue (Version 4+ ) 120 VeganCaps™
One – Internal Parasite Formula 150 VeganCaps™

The National Radio Quiet Zone Becomes a Haven for Electrosensitive Suffers

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:35:00 +0000

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory

The National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) was established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Docket No. 11745 (November 19, 1958) and by the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC) in Document 3867/2 (March 26, 1958) to minimize possible harmful interference to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Green Bank, WV and the radio receiving facilities for the United States Navy in Sugar Grove, WV. The NRQZ is bounded by NAD-83 meridians of longitude at 78d 29m 59.0s W and 80d 29m 59.2s W and latitudes of 37d 30m 0.4s N and 39d 15m 0.4s N, and encloses a land area of approximately 13,000 square miles near the state border between Virginia and West Virginia.

Magnesium Benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:30:00 +0000

Magnesium’s benefits can include reduced symptoms from conditions such as chronic pain, fatigue and insomnia. Magnesium may also provide protection from a number of chronic diseases, especially those associated with aging and stress.

Recently re-discovered as an overlooked key to good health, a number of medical researchers are recommending increases to the RDA for magnesium — sometimes suggesting as much as double the current recommendations — to ensure protection from diseases such as osteoporosis and hypertension.

Essential to life, necessary for good health, and a vital component within our cells, magnesium’s benefits help our bodies maintain balance, avoid illness, perform well under stress, and maintain a general state of good health.

What Conditions Can Benefit from Magnesium?

Magnesium is known to reduce muscle tension, lessen pain associated with migraine headaches, improve sleep, and address neurological disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Conditions linked to magnesium levels include:

Pain:

Headaches
Muscle Spasms and Muscle Cramps
Fibromyalgia

Mental Health and Sleep:

Anxiety
Depression
Autism and ADD
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Insomnia
Tics

Other Conditions:

Psoriasis, Acne and Eczema
Asthma
Blood Pressure
Diabetes
Osteoporosis

Magnesium works within our cells — the powerhouses, factories and regulators of the body’s systems.
Because it is a necessary part of hundreds of biochemical reactions occurring constantly inside our cells, magnesium’s presence or absence affects the brain, the muscles, and the heart and blood vessels.

What are the Effects of Magnesium?

While many are aware of the importance of calcium, the parallel and in some ways even more crucial role of another essential mineral — magnesium — is less widely known. As a result, adequate magnesium intake is rare, especially in the U.S.

There are fifteen essential minerals required by our bodies to function properly. These can be divided into “trace minerals”, those required in very small amounts, and “macro-minerals” or “major minerals”, those required in larger amounts.

The six major minerals required in excess of 250 mg per day include:

Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Phosphorous
Sodium
Chloride

The body needs these minerals on a regular basis as it cannot manufacture them. Four percent of the body’s weight is made up of minerals, but their function as regulators is vast.

Magnesium impacts nearly all of systems of the body due to its cellular and molecular function. As a fundamental ion in the body (a charged particle soluble in water) magnesium is utilized in key chemical reactions on a microscopic level throughout the body’s cells, including its vital role as a co-factor to over 300 enzyme functions, and its role in DNA and RNA stability.

Magnesium’s effect on the body can be as intense as that of many prescription drugs, because magnesium functions as a regulator of electrolyte balance, metabolism, and other biochemical reactions.
Unlike prescription drugs, however, magnesium is recognized as an essential component of the body, not a foreign element. When supplied sufficiently, magnesium is actually conserved by the body for future use.

Medications, on the other hand, tend to treat only one symptom or disease, and are flushed out of the body as toxins, thus taxing the liver and the body’s detoxification systems.

Magnesium:

Is an important factor in muscle relaxation and heart health
Allows nerves to send messages in the brain and nervous system
Aids and regulates the body’s use of calcium and other minerals
Assists in bone and teeth formation
Regulates the metabolism of nutrients such as protein, nucleic acids, fats and carbohydrates
Regulates cholesterol production and helps modulate insulin sensitivity
Assists in energy production, DNA transcription and protein synthesis
Maintains the structural health of cell membranes throughout the body

Healthy magnesium levels have been linked to lowered blood pressure, reduced incidence of type II diabetes, emergency migraine treatment, reduced symptoms of asthma, and improved memory.

Magnesium is also a healthy part of bone and a necessary element in healthy calcium regulation. Increased magnesium has been linked to reduced bone loss in older adults.

Why Do We Need Magnesium?

Magnesium is distinguished as being not only one of the most vital and essential enzyme co-factors, regulating more reactions than any other mineral, but it is also responsible for two of the most important cellular functions: energy production and cellular reproduction.

Magnesium and other minerals absorbed into the body are utilized as “ions” and circulated throughout the body via the blood. There, magnesium is used by our cells in order to perform routine functions such as creating energy, building hormones, maintaining cells, and bodily movement. Once circulated through the body, magnesium is filtered by our kidneys and excreted on a regular basis.

Magnesium must be continually supplied to the body as it is needed on an ongoing daily basis. When we don’t take in adequate magnesium daily, our bodies will either remove magnesium from our bones, where it is needed, or function in deficiency.

Though some amount of magnesium is stored within the bones and can be accessed for future use, magnesium turnover tends to contribute to unhealthy bone loss and the release of calcium from the bone into the blood stream.

Operating in magnesium deficiency disrupts the balance of not only magnesium but other minerals in the body, causing problems that reverberate throughout the body’s systems.

Low magnesium intake has been linked to risk factors for:

Osteoporosis
High blood pressure
Issues of heart health
Diabetes
Asthma

Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include muscle cramps or tremors, irregular heart beat, fatigue, confusion, and irritability.

Add magnesium topical with the Ancient Minerals Magnesium skin care line. Choose your favorite - lotion, spray oil, gel and bath flakes.

Health Food Hard to Find at College

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Healing Tools) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:51:00 +0000

(Star Tribune) Minneapolis Community and Technical College makes a point of its pride in one characteristic of its students: "the most diverse student body in the state of Minnesota."

This, indeed, is something to be proud of.

But while the program options and extracurricular activities at MCTC might accurately represent its rare level of diversity, there is one glaring exception: the food.

On one of my first days as a student at MCTC, stomach rumbling, I wandered into the cafeteria to find something for lunch. I was appalled at what I found: an MCTC take on, essentially, Subway, Pizza Hut and McDonald's.

An avid healthful- and organic-food enthusiast and a vegetarian, I was not in the slightest interested in any of these options. I wandered over to the drink cooler and found a coconut water.

This was, literally, one of maybe three items, drinks included, that fit into my healthful-eating lifestyle in the entire MCTC cafeteria.

Disappointed and dejected, I paid for my coconut water (marked up, might I add, to about twice what it would be at a grocery store), and decided to wander upstairs to "Josephine's Café," the coffee stand/café marketed, as far as I could tell, as the quaint, healthy alternative to the cafeteria.

I was pretty amazed at what I found.

Besides a bunch of 1,000-plus-calorie vanilla-caramel-mocha-supreme type coffee drinks, über-frosted pastries, and a shelf with bags of Doritos and the like, there wasn't much available.

A couple of premade sandwiches on what appeared to be Wonder-bread looked straight out of a gas station. And besides a veggie cup with carrots, celery and ranch dressing, the most healthful-looking thing I could spot was a cooler full of Odwalla smoothies.

While I'm a fan of carrots and juice, it's hardly enough to satisfy a hardworking student in class for a day as long as mine (a couple of days a week I'm at school for almost eight full hours).

My alternative? Ever since that disappointing discovery, I've been trekking over to the Wedge Natural Foods Co-op on my breaks from class (driving or biking distance from school, but barely walking distance, especially during frigid Minnesota winter months).

If time doesn't allow, I stop there on my way. No refrigerated foods will work, so I stock up on apples, nuts and other shelf-stable items my nonhealthful-eating guy friends lovingly refer to as "bird food." I love the Wedge, but it's hardly an ideal situation.

I shouldn't have to avoid the food at school like the plague in order to stay true to my habits. I'm not even saying all the food needs to be organic (although that would be excellent), but rather nutritious, healthy, local if possible, and diverse.

And maybe not even all of the food needs to be those things -- I'm sure some kids would be disappointed to lose their fries and burgers. But some of it should be.

I can't possibly be alone in this. With a school as diverse as MCTC, in the middle of an urban center, I know there are like-minded people there. I often run into them at the Wedge.

I would wager that not only would healthier, local and even organic options at school be a positive thing for students' health and well-being, but a lucrative endeavor for the school as well.

Because, here's the thing: I mentioned that the coconut water was priced at about twice what I could have bought it for if I had trekked over to the Wedge. But I bought it anyway.

Given the option, it is a lot more convenient to purchase food and drinks in the building where you already have to be. MCTC already has that advantage over other local businesses. Offering better quality food would quickly pay for itself, and then some.

In addition to its lack of healthier "American" food, it's disconcerting to me that with a population as ethnically diverse as MCTC's, few of these cultures are represented gastronomically.

A lot of students would be happy to eat an East African lunch or snack on some plantains from a Puerto Rican stand. If MCTC was really as proud of their students' diversity as they claim, maybe they would do more to represent it and make those students feel at home.

MCTC is in the process of a multimillion-dollar renovation of its student center. A new place to eat is inevitable, so why not add some healthier, more diverse options?

A place where students could buy an organic apple, a sandwich on whole-wheat bread, a tempeh melt, or even some injera bread and lentils.

MCTC, it's time to make a choice: Start embracing your diverse and progressive student population, or continue watching their dollars fly into the pockets of surrounding businesses.
* * *
Claire Taubenhaus, of Minneapolis, is a singer and student.