Mobile phones could represent a public health risk akin to asbestos or smoking, according to a study by neurosurgeon Dr Vini G Khurana, a Mayo Clinic-trained neurosurgeon with an advanced neurosurgery Fellowship in Cerebrovascular and Complex Tumor Surgery from the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, and a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
It suggests there is growing evidence linking excessive long-term use of mobile phones and certain health risks like brain tumors - reigniting a long-running debate about the safety of the technology. “There is a growing and statistically significant body of evidence reporting that brain tumors such as vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) and astrocytoma are associated with ‘heavy’ and ‘prolonged’ mobile phone use, particularly on the same side as the ‘preferred ear’ for telephony…
Children’s use of mobile phones carries a high health risk, (because of their thinner, undeveloped skulls) he claims, suggesting kids’ use of mobiles should be to emergency situations only.
Researchers in Sweden have found that just two minutes’ exposure to energy waves from a handset can disable a defense mechanism in the body designed to prevent harmful proteins and toxins in the blood from entering the brain.
In what is the latest in a series of mobile phone health scares, once the proteins enter brain tissue there is a higher risk of brain and nerve diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis developing.
RADIATION from cellphones is too weak to heat biological tissue or break chemical bonds in cells, but the radio waves they emit may still affect cell behavior.
“Our study suggests that it is possible that mobile phone radiation alters the expression of some proteins in living humans,” says Dariusz Leszczynski at the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, in Helsinki.
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Right now the world is in the state of denial as far as mobile phones’ health risks are concerned. Everyone does not want to give up the use of their mobile phones because it is such an all too convenient medium of communication. This will change when more statistics proving links between mobile phone usage and cell /brain damage are released in the years to come. It seems like an inexpensive way to communicate until you add up the future health costs!.
Don’t wait till there is a health problem before cutting back on mobile phone use. Use a wired headset (instead of a blue tooth wireless device) and cut calls and duration of calls to a minimum. Asking callers to sms their messages or use other forms of communications will also increase productivity. Think twice before making that next call on your mobile phone. Don’t be a slave and victim of your mobile phone.
What You Need to Know About Supplements to Fend Off Heart Disease
Think of heart disease as partly a vitamin/mineral ‘deficiency disease’ of global proportions.
To best stave off heart disease, along with a nutrient-rich diet, it’s necessary to take extra amounts of certain supplements, notably vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene and coenzyme Q-10.
It’s no longer smart to think that food can give you all the vitamins and minerals you need to fend off heart disease.
You can’t rely on the government-sanctioned recommended modest doses of vitamins and minerals (RDAs and the like) to maximally combat heart disease, although sometimes even small amounts can reverse some risk factors for heart disease.
Know that you are probably deficient even in the minimal recommended requirements for vitamins and minerals. Nearly all people are. Thus, you are flirting dangerously with heart disease.
One of the main ways vitamins and minerals combat heart disease is by boosting antioxidant activity, helping crush free radicals that contribute to artery-clogging plaque and damaged vessels. Another way is by suppressing levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is linked to heart disease.
Contrary to what you sometimes hear, vitamins and minerals in heart disease-preventative doses are remarkably safe and free of side effects.
Most supplements are cheap, especially compared with the enormity of good they do and the possible money they save in doctors’ bills.
Numerous vitamins and minerals and phytochemicals in supplements work together to protect against heart disease. There is no one anti-heart disease miracle. A number of studies show that antioxidants work better in combination than individually.
The above health advice comes from Jean Carper’s book: “The Miracle Heart - Preventing and Curing Heart Disease With Diet and Supplements“. Jean is one of America’s best-known and authorities of health and nutrition. She is the author of 16 books, including the bestselling books “Food - Your Miracle Miracle” and “The Food Pharmacy”
Jean serves on the board of the American Aging Association, and on the advisory board of the American Botanical Council, the most reliable source of information on medicinal herbals.
She is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, and a recipient of their distinguished achievement award.
Here are links to reputable news media articles on Staying Healthy in 2008.
Topics covered on Staying Healthy are:
Health Risk Factors and Symptoms
Health Warnings on Medications
How to Stay Healthy
Natural Remedies to Good Health
These articles are based on the latest studies and findings on new and old ways of staying healthy without resorting to medications and drugs, if possible, because of their known and not known side effects. We sincerely believe that we should look for natural remedies rather than to rely entirely on medications. The reason for this is that natural remedies, like special diets and nutritional supplementation, keeps your body functioning at optimal levels making it easier for us to stay healthy or keep diseases under control. Without good nutrition (which cannot be derived solely from the modern processed foods we eat), your body is at risk to diseases. Medication merely controls the disease. It does not nourish your body. This page will also keep in informed of the latest findings on how to cope with stress and other related mental problems which also makes staying healthy a viable option.
As a matter of policy, we do not repeat the same story from various websites twice to avoid information overload unless the story offers significantly new information on the staying healthy research which are of interest to our readers. We also read the article and select the ones that is of more significance and relevance to the topics outlined above and from the more reliable online sources. As much as possible, we do not include links to articles that are essentially editorially advertisements. The Links to news and institutional reports in this page(below) will keep you informed of the latest developments in staying healthy. This page will be updated almost daily or when there are news-breaking articles posted on the Internet by major news media, so please do use our RSS feed or bookmark us for regular updates.
Staying Healthy 2008 links:
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It is unscientific to pour wholesale scorn on complementary medicine. Alarmist condemnation of all alternative therapies ignores the crucial role some could play in the human healing process. Conventional medicine prolongs life but is less successful in prolonging good health - we can expect to spend more years of our life in poor health, as a government report showed last week - and in producing wellbeing. So people are voting with their feet, trying to find other ways to fill the gaps left by conventional medicine. We need scientists to help to identify what they are looking for and why, rather than pouring scorn indiscriminately on the whole field and on the relations between belief, mind and body, of which science still has such a fragmentary understanding. —– (The Guardian UK, March 24 2008)
AP Probe Finds Drugs in Drinking Water. A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.—– (Associated Press, 10 Mar 2008)
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Planning for Health Emergencies Eases Stress of Family Travel. Think ahead, expert says, to enjoy vacations when unexpected illness arises. First, create a travel health kit that includes medicines that are regularly taken by members of the family, as well as medicines for sudden ailments, such as congestion or a rash. He recommended packing a fever reducer, an antihistamine, bandages and a topical antibiotic ointment, but advised against including an anti-diarrhea medicine for traveler’s diarrhea. It’s better to consult with your doctor to learn about antibiotics that treat bacterial infections that can cause diarrhea. —– (Kids Health, June 2006)
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Firms accused of toxic toothpaste import. Selective Imports Corp. sold the toothpaste containing diethylene glycol to distributors nationwide between December 2005 and May 2007, prosecutors said. Vernon Sales Inc. is accused of buying some of the tubes and reselling them to Los Angeles stores. Diethylene glycol is a chemical used in antifreeze and as a solvent. Chinese manufacturers have used the chemical, known as DEG, as a cheaper alternative to glycerin, which thickens toothpaste. Exposure to DEG, however, can cause kidney and liver damage over time.—– (The Associated Press, March 07, 2008)
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Diet updates for Baby Boomers - (1) Carbs are not the enemy (2) Not all fat is bad (3) Eggs can be an ally - says Janet Helm, a registered dietitian. —– (Chicago Tribune, March 5, 2008)
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Smoothing wrinkles safely?The Food and Drug Administration last month issued a statement that Botox and another botulinum toxin drug, Myobloc, have been linked to serious respiratory and swallowing problems and at least one death. The most common side effects are bruising and pain at the site of the injection. The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen’s own analysis of the FDA’s database reported 180 serious adverse reactions and 16 deaths linked to the drug between 1997 and 2006, with one death linked to cosmetic use. —— (Los Angeles Times, 3-Mar-2008)
What to do with unused drugs. Drugs tossed by coroners when investigating deaths account for approximately 20 tons of pharmaceuticals getting flushed into oceans and rivers annually. And that’s the active ingredients alone. From dead people. That doesn’t include everyone else deep-sixing cough syrups and unused antibiotics. —– (Seattle PI,26 Feb 2008)
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A bitter pill. Millions of prescriptions for SSRIs are written up in the UK each year, but a major study says they’re no better. Today, a major new study shows that Prozac, taken by 40 million people worldwide, does not work and nor do similar types of drugs. For a profession normally diplomatic, the words today of one of study’s authors are damning. “Given these results”, Professor Kirsch of Hull University says, “there seems little reason to prescribe antidepressant medication to any but the most severely depressed patients.” —– (Guardian UK, February 26 2008)
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Feared Health Risks From Amalgam Ignored By U.S. Government Reports NJ Cosmetic Dentist. The American Dental Association announced last month that mercury-silver (amalgam) dental fillings were banned, due to feared health risks, in Sweden and Norway. But the U.S. government and local ADA consider amalgam fillings to be safe. Yet some insurance companies have begun reimbursing patients for alternatives to mercury-silver fillings. —– (PRUrgent, 25 Feb 2008)
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How to Be Heart Smart at the Supermarket.Dietitian offers advice on navigating nutrition claims and food labels. “Reading the labels is a great way to be guided toward healthier choices for your heart, and for general reduction of all chronic diseases today,” Cathy Fitzgerald, registered dietitian with MFit, the University of Michigan Health System’s health promotion division, said in a prepared statement. “So think about using the front of the package as well as the nutrition facts on the back when you are out shopping.” —– (HealthDay News,Feb. 24, 2008 )
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A Regular Dip In The Pool Could Benefit Fibromyalgia Sufferers. Patients suffering from fibromyalgia could benefit significantly from regular exercise in a heated swimming pool, a new study shows. The findings suggest a cost effective way of improving quality of life for patients with this often-debilitating disorder. —– (ScienceDaily, Feb. 22, 2008)
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Eating beans helps lower cholesterol. Consuming as little as one-half cup of cooked dry beans every day helped volunteers lower their total cholesterol levels in an Agricultural Research Service study in North Dakota. These results, published in the November issue of the Journal of Nutrition by the ARS scientists and their colleagues, add to a growing–and convincing–body of evidence that beans are a heart healthy food choice. —– (High Plains Journal, February 22, 2008)
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Are Plastic Baby Bottles Harmful? Researchers tested 19 baby bottles purchased in nine U.S. states and Canada. Bottle brands included Avent, Dr. Brown, Evenflo, Disney, Gerber and Playtex. When the bottles were heated to 175 degrees F (80 degrees C), every one of them leached bisphenol A at about 5 to 7 parts per billion. The report also suggested that because of the chemical makeup of bisphenol A, it may leach more in fatty or acidic liquids, such as milk or apple juice, than in water. —– (Time, 22 Feb 2008)
Unscrambling the myths of eggs and cholesterol. Guidelines not to limit egg consumption have been revisited because of the latest research, but also due to a better understanding of eggs’ nutritional benefits. Eggs provide a number of heart healthy nutrients, such as folate, vitamins E and B12, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, as well as antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which are important for good eye health. Eggs also contain vitamin D and A, iron, phosphorus and zinc. —–(The Calgary Herald, February 20, 2008)
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Dominic Lawson: Bottled or tap, we drink far too much water. It is taken as an indisputable truth that anyone who has a proper regard for his or her health will drink eight glasses of water a day. Given that the average glass will hold about eight ounces of water, this is frequently described as the “rule of 8×8″. As Rose Shapiro notes in her new book, Suckers, the bottled drink industry has warmly endorsed the ludicrous pseudo-medical fad which suggests that we are at great risk of dangerous levels of dehydration unless we spend much of our day glugging down water. —– (The Independent UK, 19 February 2008)
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USDA Orders Largest Meat Recall in U.S. History. The tape, made secretly by a slaughterhouse worker and provided to the Humane Society of the United States, showed electric shocks and high-intensity water sprays administered to cows too sick or weak to stand on their own, and the use of forklifts to roll such animals. Government regulations prohibit slaughtering for food cattle that cannot stand or walk on their own. An inspecting veterinarian had said the cattle in question were healthy enough to be used for food, but they subsequently collapsed. Under federal regulations, such animals must be reexamined by a veterinarian and slaughtered separately. That apparently was not done. One worry when an animal collapses is that it may have bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the infection known as “mad cow disease.” A small number of people who have eaten meat from such animals have developed a fatal brain infection, but cattle with BSE have very rarely turned up in government inspections. Richard Raymond, the USDA’s undersecretary for food safety, discounted the chance of BSE in any of the Hallmark/Westland cattle. —— (Washington Post, 18 Feb 2008)
Snorers may be sending their partners to an early grave by pushing up their blood pressure, according to a new study. —– (Fox News, February 13, 2008)
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Artificial sweeteners linked to weight gain. Cutting the connection between sweets and calories may confuse the body, making it harder to regulate intake. Want to lose weight? It might help to pour that diet soda down the drain. Researchers have laboratory evidence that the widespread use of no-calorie sweeteners may actually make it harder for people to control their intake and body weight. The findings appear in the February issue of Behavioral Neuroscience, which is published by the American Psychological Association (APA). —– (EurekAlert, 10-Feb-2008)
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Plastic Bottles Release Potentially Harmful Chemicals (Bisphenol A) After Contact With Hot Liquids. When the same new and used polycarbonate drinking bottles were exposed to boiling hot water, BPA, an environmental estrogen, was released 55 times more rapidly than before exposure to hot water. “Previous studies have shown that if you repeatedly scrub, dish-wash and boil polycarbonate baby bottles, they release BPA. That tells us that BPA can migrate from various polycarbonate plastics,” explains Belcher, UC associate professor of pharmacology and cell biophysics. —– (ScienceDaily (Feb. 4, 2008)
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Doctors Told to Stop Giving Antibiotics for Colds in Britain. Doctors are to be told to stop prescribing antibiotics for coughs, colds and sore throats because over-use of the drugs is fuelling the spread of killer hospital superbugs.—- (Telegraph UK, 04 Feb 2008)
Salmonella levels over 5x higher in battery eggs than organic.The study showed that 23.4 per cent of farms with caged hens tested positive for salmonella compared to 4.4 per cent in organic flocks and 6.5 per cent in free-range flocks. —– (Natural Choices UK, 1 Feb 2008)
FDA cites toxic risk of popular head-lice drug. The sole U.S. maker - Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals - of an insecticide-based treatment for head lice has stopped promoting the product after a sharply worded warning from the Food and Drug Administration that its marketing misled consumers by downplaying the rare, but serious, risks of the treatments. The move follows years of controversy over prescription shampoo and lotion treatments that contain the insecticide lindane, including a ban on their use in California. Lawmakers in Michigan, New York and Minnesota are considering curbing use of the products. —– (USA Today, January 31, 2008)
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Vitamin D Deficiency Study Raises New Questions About Disease And Supplements. Low blood levels of vitamin D have long been associated with disease, and the assumption has been that vitamin D supplements may protect against disease. However, this new research demonstrates that ingested vitamin D is immunosuppressive and that low blood levels of vitamin D may be actually a result of the disease process. Supplementation may make the disease worse.—– (ScienceDaily (Jan. 27, 2008)
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Are Vaccines Safe ? - Features Well Cited Works on the Subject! This two and a half hour presentation, is well researched and presented. Are vaccines safe? Find out how they made it & the LIES about … all » MERCURY Free vaccines. At the end a medical doctor discusses how he gave his child a vaccine and it caused him to have severe autism. He vowed never to vaccinate himself or his family ever again after FINDING out the TRUTH! - (Google Video, Jan 25, 2008)
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Why the British woman’s cleavage has gone from 34B to 36C in a decade. —– (Daily Mail, 23rd January 2008)
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Growing Consumer Demand For ‘Greener’ Cleaning Products Sparks Industry Changes. Increasingly, suppliers are generating consumer cleaning products that contain natural or naturally-derived ingredients, avoid the use of environmentally-harmful chemicals, and generate less carbon dioxide during manufacturing and use.. Consumer products giant Clorox will join the bandwagon this month by rolling out a new line of green cleaning products with the earth-friendly name Green Works. —– (Science Daily, Jan. 22, 2008)
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Mobiles linked to disturbed sleep. The study, funded by mobile phone companies, suggests radiation from the handset can cause insomnia, headaches and confusion. Researchers said they could not rule out the possibility that long-term use may raise the risk of cancer. —–(BBC News, 21 January 2008)
Tests find hazardous levels of mercury in tuna sushi in New York. Eight of the 44 pieces of sushi The Times purchased from local restaurants and stores in October had mercury levels so high that the Food and Drug Administration could take legal action to remove the fish from the market. —– (International Herald Tribute, January 22, 2008)
Study Children and Cellphones, U.S. Experts Advise. Most Studies Show No Link to Brain Tumors, But Cell Phone Use Keeps Growing. —– (ABC News, Jan 18, 2008)
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One Meal to Good (or Bad) Health. Just one high-fat, high-sugar meal can trigger a biochemical cascade, causing inflammation of blood vessels and immediate, detrimental changes to the nervous system, according to the paper, published this week in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. —– (Time, Jan. 15, 2008)
Autism Gene Findings Raise Questions, Hype. The study suggests that mutations aren’t possessed by the parents of autistic children, but arise — spontaneously or because of some environmental factor — during the production of sperm and eggs. —– (Wired Science Blog Network, January 10, 2008)
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Dentists Drilling for Dollars? False Dental Claims Drive Up Consumer Premiums, Max Out Benefits. “Don’t be pressured into thinking you have to make a decision right then,” said Donna Klein, “Get a second opinion if your insurance doesn’t cover it, or pay for it, or you’ll end up paying for it in the long run,” said Tomalinas. Most of all, trust your instincts. —– (ABC News, 2 Jan 2008)
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How to Be Happier with What You Have:
1 - Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket 2 - Engineer Your Day
3 - Break Comparisons: Diversify your social life; Shut off the media; Find your talents; Cultivate abundance; Focus internally. Don’t Make Yourself Miserable. —– (LifeHack.org, September 25th, 2007)
Here are the 30 Practical Tips on How to Stay Healthy and Live Longer
Drink Pure Water; water purified to remove chemicals, microorganisms, lead, copper and other metals
Eat the Appropriate Fats; Omega-3 fats, chickens (cage free chickens that eat green plants or algae), and eggs; small fish (achovies, herring, and sardines), oily fish (tuna, shark, swordfish, mackerel, and salmon - are good but may contain mercury), olive oil (for salads and marinades (monunsaturated fat) and coconut oil (for cooking - contains health-promoting lauric acid)
Eat Right for your Nutritional Type (according to your Blood Type Group):
Type A types - should basically stick to fruits and vegetables (high carbs / low fat). They have thicker blood than other blood types, a sensitive immune system,and should not consume dairy products, animal fats and meats. They are at a heightened risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Type B types - should consume a balanced diet (fruits and vegetables, grains, fish, dairy, meat, but avoid chicken). They have the best chance of bypassing or overcoming everyday types of diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Type AB types - should consume a mostly vegetarian diet, and only on rare occasions some fish, meat (no chicken), and dairy. Type O types - should basically stick to a high protein diet (including red meat), low carbs, and enriched with fruits and vegetables. They should limit the intake of wheat germ, whole wheat products, corn, and avoid dairy products and most nuts. Type O types are commonly affected with hypothyroidism, high stomach acid (leading to ulcers), and thinner blood with greater resistance to blood clotting.
Take quality Health Supplements; Good health supplements show some results even after taking half bottle and offer a money back guarantee if you are not satisfied)
Skip a Meal or take just a salad for a meal
Get Outdoors, take in Sunlight; Sunlight protects you from cancer, is a source of Vitamin D, cheers you up. Avoid strong sunlight.
Exercise; Stay Active, Go for Daily Walks
Stay the Weightyou were at 18, Stay Trim, Reduce Calorie Intake
Have Restful Sleepof 6-8 hours per night. Do not oversleep.
Make Love the most important thing in your life; Spend Time with Loved Ones
Resolve Emotional traumas; Don’t hold grudges: cultivate a sense of forgiveness, of your enemies, your family, your parents.
Get and stay involved - Be of Service to Others; Do Good Deeds
Prevent Injury; Injury induces trauma and stress to the body resulting in the weakening of the body’s immunity system.
Relax, Reduce Stress. Stress is the leading cause of diseases.
Religion and Faith adds 2-3 years of your Life
Lower your Body Temperature - even a small reduction in Body Temperature can increase lifespan by 12-29%
Stay happily married
Take a Deep Breath, enjoy life’s wonders
Make your Home a Sanctuary and Refuge.
Change your Perception of Time
When comedians take a dig at big pharmaceutical companies who are promoting their drugs and other products aggressively in the media, we know that the public are becoming generally aware of health risks and want better and natural ways to stay healthy and live longer.
In his TV program, Bill Maher quipped: “But none of these plans address the real problem. We won’t stop being sick until we stop making ourselves sick. Even the most universal government health program can’t help y0u. They cannot outlaw unhealthy foods, or alcohol or cigarettes. The government isn’t your nanny. They subsidized illness because they have to - there is too much money in it. There is no money in healthy people. There is no money in dead people. The money is in the middle; people who are alive, sort off.. but with one or more chronic conditions which puts them in need of …(medication). Fifty years ago, children didn’t even get Type 2 Diabetes. Now it is an emerging epidemic. As are a long list of aliments which used to be rare and have now been mainstream.”
Food companies and pharmaceutical companies are always trying to convince us that we need their products to stay healthyand live longer so much so that many of us are confused and lose sight of the common sense way to stay healthy and live longer. Why do they do this? Because it is big business and big bucks for food companies and pharmaceutical companies. The more products we consume, the more new products they will put into the market. Products that are not for our health but which we consume because they “make us feel good”. There is little money to be made from eating natural, healthy foods packed with nutrients. Foods that our forefathers consumed. When I say “natural and healthy” foods, I don’t mean the claims these companies make on their product packaging or in their advertising campaigns. Processed foods can hardly be called “natural and healthy” when is is processed by unsaturated oils, flavored by sugar, salt and other less than desirable ingredients like MSG. “Natural” means food as found in nature and not modified with chemicals or substances to preserve, enhance growth or flavor, or boost their marketability.
Are you prepared for a long life?
One last thing about longevity. More people are living beyond 100 years years as a result of better health and medical intervention. If you intend to live beyond 100 years, you will need to ensure that your finances is sufficient to see you through your golden years. One way is to get into a business that provides an passive income long after you have “retired”. Are you prepared for a long and happy life?
Here is the Bill Maher video about “The Pharmers’ Market” on YouTube as mentioned earlier in this article:
