The Best Health Info

I have just been updating my health website, The Best Health Info.

There are a number of articles I've written at the Health & Longevity index.

Yucky, yellow teeth?

If so, well, you're just socially unacceptable.

Here's a freebie tooth-whitening kit that may be of interest: SmilePro by Dr. Rudy, "Dentist to the Stars." Cheesy ad, but what the hey, it's free.

The Best Health Info Audiobooks

The website The Best Health Info provides quality audiobooks related to the subjects of health, fitness, nutrition, diet and general happiness.

Panic Disorder and Anxiety Attacks

There was a long period when I suffered serious, debilitating panic attacks. I have managed to minimize them to the point of near non-existence. One of the methods I used was brought to my attention by Joe Barry, author of "Panic Away." This program has been very beneficial, and I highly recommend it.

As I say, I suffered debilitating panic attacks that sometimes left me paralyzed. I know how much life can be lost in that manner. I also used the nutritient GABA, which I have written about. That article mentions Joe Barry's Panic Away as well. If you or a loved one suffer from panic disorder and anxiety attacks, I highly recommend these two methods.

Major Win for Alternative Medicine!

This development is wonderful news for the advancement of medicine. While I will not claim to endorse the Hoxsey method per se or any other alternative method for the treatment of cancer, the fact remains that such a court victory, allowing a sentient individual the say over whether or not he wishes to receive debilitating mainstream cancer treatments, is extremely important, as it will assist in scientifically weeding out what works and what doesn't. Three cheers for this brave young man and his family!

Court pact says Va. teen can forgo chemo

By SONJA BARISIC, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 49 minutes ago

ACCOMAC, Va. - A 16-year-old cancer patient's legal fight ended in victory Wednesday when his family's attorneys and social services officials reached an agreement that would allow him to forgo chemotherapy.
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At the start of what was scheduled to be a two-day hearing, Accomack County Circuit Judge Glen A. Tyler announced that both sides had reached a consent decree, which Tyler approved.

Under the decree, Starchild Abraham Cherrix, who is battling Hodgkin's disease, will be treated by an oncologist of his choice who is board-certified in radiation therapy and interested in alternative treatments. The family must provide the court updates on Abraham's treatment and condition every three months until he is cured or turns 18.

'It's all over. It's everything we fought for, everything we wanted to ever have, we've won. We got our freedom back,' Abraham said outside the courthouse after the hearing."

Hard-soled Shoes are BAD for Your Feet!

Because I am the mother of a small child, the subject of shoes comes up quite a bit. I constantly see children clomping around in thick- and hard-soled monstrosities that were never meant for humans to put on their feet. The shoe industry goes right along with the worst advice imaginable: To wit, that children's feet need "support." That concept is false. Period. Children's feet do not need "support." They need flexibility that will help them develop a nice, healthy arch and, consequently, healthy ankles, knees and legs in general. Hard-soled shoes create flat feet, as well as other leg, ankle and knee problems. I see children falling on their faces because their feet don't flex, making them trip and stumble. Obviously, this development is not healthy, and I am surpised that more podiatrists are not coming out and criticizing these clunky and ill-conceived shoes, which are found everywhere. I don't have the data to back up my suspicions, but it would seem likely that all these thick-soled shoes are causing an epidemic of foot problems, which, to be cynical, I suppose is good for business.

What is the natural state of a human's feet? In most places and eras, human beings have spent a great deal of the time barefoot or wearing thin-soled shoes made of leather. Their feet have developed naturally. You would not find Native Americans, for instance, clambering around the cliffs with blocks of wood on their feet. Yet, here we are with millions of children plodding about in this most unnatural and uncomfortable manner. At this time, it is difficult to find soft-soled and flexible shoes anywhere in stores, but they can be sought out on the net, with difficulty for older children. There are famous, old-fashioned sneakers for little kids that maintain their soft but protective soles up to size 10. After that, they start to become clunky again. It will require parental demand to create the old-fashioned protective but flexible shoes and sneakers, so get to it!

As you can see from the below article, at least one foot organization, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, gives the right advice on this subject, recommending that children wear flexible shoes which protect their feet but nonetheless allow for proper development. AOFAS also recommends that children go barefoot "in a protective environment." Of course, we do not want children stepping on glass or metal or other harmful material, but going barefoot on safe and soft grass is extremely pleasant and healthful as well. Now, get thee back to nature and get your precious feet back!

American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society
A Guide to Children's Shoes

Most children learn to walk at about the time of their first birthday, although some learn months earlier or later. As your child begins to walk, you may have your first questions about what shoes he or she should wear. A growing child will need new shoes frequently and more questions will arise....

Insole

Make sure the insole is made of absorbent material. You may want padded insoles. Most children do not need a special arch support. All toddlers younger than 16 months have flat feet and only fully develop an arch by the age of 6 to 8 years.

Outer Sole

The outer sole provides traction, cushioning, and flexibility to the shoe. Some very sticky and thick outer soles can make young children clumsy and cause falls and should be avoided.

Heel

Toddlers do not need heels on their shoes. Flat outer soles make it easier to begin walking. Older children can wear shoes with heels, but they should not be too high (bigger than one inch) as this can cause the foot to slide forward, cramping the toes against the shoe....

Pre-Walking Shoe

Certain types of shoes are appropriate for your child's age.

Babies and crawlers do not need shoes. They only need booties, warm wide socks to keep their feet warm, or pre-walking shoes that do not bind their feet. The shoe should be flexible rather than providing a rigid support, and it's very important that the shoe be shaped like the child's foot.

Your child can go barefoot in a protected environment such as indoors.

Toddler Shoes

Shoes for toddlers, age 9 months to 3 years, should allow the foot to breathe since their feet perspire a great amount. Avoid synthetic materials that don't breathe.

For children 9 to 18 months, choose a high top shoe which will stay on the foot better than an oxford or a low top tennis shoe. A leather or canvas tie shoe is more secure, will stay on the foot, and will fit fat little feet better. The sole of the shoe should be smooth like the palm of your hand. A smooth sole means less friction so the shoe won't grab the floor, possibly causing your child to fall. Choose a light-weight shoe, since children use a lot of energy walking at this age. Toddlers can go barefoot in a protected environment such as indoors.

School-Age Children's Shoes

Style and shoefit is important for school-age children. At this age, they can choose from a variety of options including athletic shoes, sandals, hiking shoes, etc.

Look for reasonably priced, flexible, well-ventilated shoes that allow plenty of room for growth. If you have a great deal of difficulty finding shoes that fit, or if your child develops calluses, sores, or other foot problems, consult your physician....

Plastic Surgery

Can we improve health and extend life by "going under the knife?"

Does plastic surgery improve health and increase longevity? Several studies over the years have demonstrated that some cosmetic or reconstructive surgery may have profound physical, psychological and emotional effects that create greater happiness, improve quality of life and increase the will to live. Of course, overindulgence in cosmetic surgery may be not only unattractive but also unhealthy.

For the rest, please see Plastic Surgery.

Water: The Elixir of Life

How much water is needed for superior health and longevity? What type of water?

Fresh water is the elixir of life. Unless you're a sea creature, of course! So, how much water should drink in order to thrive? And what type of water?

As is the case with plants, human beings need a variable amount of water. The "one size fits all" approach does not work with diet, exercise or sleep. Nor does it apply to water. A man in the desert will need more water than one in the rainforest. Someone who's been perspiring will be thirstier than someone who has not.

The subject of water consumption is, like so many other health issues, full of confusion. One person recommends drinking nothing but spring water; another insists on distilled. Is H2O just H2O, or is there some "trick" to it?

For the rest, please see Water: The Elixir of Life.

Probiotics: The Staff of Life

Probiotics have been shown to be very effective in improving overall health.

Since the days when acidophilus first entered the vocabulary there has been a quest for the "perfect" probiotics. The word "probiotic" means "for life," as opposed to "antibiotic," which means "against life." It has been recognized for centuries that cultures added to such foods as milk, producing yogurt and cheese, are beneficial to human health: Hence, they are probiotics. These probiotics are composed of many different strains of bacteria that thrive in the intestine and could thus be called "intestinal flora." Included within this category of bacteria are not only acidophilus but many other strains - more than 400 different species - including bifidus, bactilis subtilis and various substrains, as well as soil-based organisms, which under normal circumstances release "beneficial enzyme, hormone and nutrient by-products" into the soil. Numerous scientific studies have been conducted using a large variety of probiotics or intestinal bacterial flora, with a wide spectrum of results and probiotics therapy being recommended by scientists and doctors in many parts of the world.

For the rest, please see Probiotics: The Staff of Life.

The Ultimate Diet

What is the diet most likely to improve health and increase longevity?

Over the years, many diets have been proposed that not only help someone lose weight but also increase health and, possibly, human lifespan. In experiments with animals, diet has consistently had a very pronounced effect on the animal's longevity. It is clear that the consumption of whole foods, as opposed to denatured, refined and processed foods, increases health, well-being and longevity. It is also evident that we must go even further "back to nature" in increasing the amount of organic whole foods we consume. Can someone live a fairly long life consuming little but junkfood? It may be possible, as there are always exceptions to the rule, such as long-lived individuals who smoke and drink, but it is a smarter bet to put your money on organic foods.

For the rest, please see The Ultimate Diet.