Until recently, Monsanto's stock value had been steadily rising since 2008, but as its new GMO varieties have failed to live up to expectations, share prices and profits have been plummeting. SmartStax corn, which is far more expensive than previous GMO varieties, has failed to achieved desired yields, as has the company's newer variety of GMO soybeans. Both failures have led not only to major price reductions for seeds, but also far less overall sales by farmers.

Monsanto's strategy has been to continually insert increasing amounts of new genes into seeds to make them perform better, and subsequently increase prices for farmers. But that predatory strategy has failed, as farmers are less willing these days to buy such seeds, especially at premium prices. And many farmers simply no longer trust Monsanto.

Sales of Monsanto's RoundUp formula have also plummeted, due in part to the fact that cheaper generics have started to penetrate the market, and because the formula simply is not working like it used to. New RoundUp-resistant "superweeds" are emerging that have rendered the product largely useless.

You can find out more about Monsanto by visiting: http://www.naturalnews.com/Monsanto...

Unfortunately, Monsanto is not the only player in the GMO game. And rather than regress back to non-GMO seeds, some farmers are simply purchasing GMO seeds from other companies like DuPont that have seen their market share grow as Monsanto's has decreased. But as the public wakes up to the truth about the dangers of GMOs, perhaps the entire GMO industry will eventually wither and die, much like the weeds and pests that it claims to eliminate.

Nearly 14 million people in the United States abuse alcohol. That is 1 in every 13 adults. Cirrhosis of the liver resulting from alcohol abuse is among the 10 leading causes of death in the United States. Worldwide, 3.6% of cancer cases are alcohol related and that is a modest statistic.

95% of alcohol consumed must be metabolized in the liver. This process requires a lot of work and becomes a priority above other necessary functions.

Alcohol abuse can also lead to dehydration, anemia, osteoporosis, leaky gut syndrome, ulcers, pancreatitis, gallstones and cardiovascular disease. And it increases the risk of hypoglycemia, diabetes and neuropathy due to nerve damage.

Almost all alcoholic drinkers are malnourished and nutritional deficiency becomes serious. Alcohol robs the body of needed nutrients and interrupts vital functions. Many of the health problems that may occur are due to the depletion of needed minerals and vitamins. These may include calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C and most of the B vitamins. With liver impairment absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K is also reduced. The body receives a lot of calories and little nutrition. Cells weaken from starvation and become prone to disease.

Alcohol is a simple sugar that is rapidly absorbed. It contains empty calories and coverts to fat. One beer has around the same instant caloric value of 10 teaspoons of white sugar.

It can be a dual addiction of both alcohol and sugar. It's the reason many newly recovering alcoholics find they have a craving for sweets. If sugar is avoided when drinking stops the cravings for the sugar will diminish in a few weeks and usually disappear altogether after several months. However, if sugar consumption continues, the fluctuating blood sugar levels can trigger cravings for alcohol.

Diet and supplement therapy can play a big role in physical recovery. The use of plenty of fluids, alkaline foods and additional vitamins and minerals eases the initial detox. Adding more vitamin C and a B complex along with some specific minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium can help to replenish the body of these depleted nutrients. The amino acid L-glutamine is also useful to reduce cravings.

The body will begin to eliminate the alcohol and other toxins and it will also begin breaking down some of the fat. Due to fluctuating blood sugar levels, some basic hypoglycemic protocols are suggested. This means avoiding sweets and refined foods. The more processed foods avoided the better.

The right foods can help to stabilize blood sugar and counter cravings. Protein and complex carbohydrates are needed. This would include a variety of vegetables and leafy greens with the addition of fruit, legumes, organic cheese, beans and whole grains such as brown rice, wild rice and quinoa. Some healthy fats to add (in modest amounts) can be olive oil, nuts, seeds, flaxseed and avocados. It's also important to get a lot of fluids. Drinking water throughout the day will help the process of moving alcohol and its by-products out of the body and aid in hydration.

A diet full of the nutrients can help to minimize some of the potential problems that can surface due to alcohol abuse. Following these suggestions can reduce cravings, aid in the physical recovery process and move you toward vibrant health.

Linda Carlson

Sources:
http://self-renewal.com/alcohol%20a...
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/...
http://www.raysahelian.com/alcohol.html

For centuries, ginger has been used by practitioners of Chinese medicine and by traditional Indian and Japanese healers to treat a host of conditions including vomiting and nausea, chronic coughs, morning sickness, gastrointestinal complaints and migraine headaches. It has also been used to treat both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. However, Western medicine has only recently started to seriously study the medicinal qualities of ginger.

So far, several studies have shown that ginger appears to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties similar to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but without the side effects (which can include gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers). In one study, taking a daily dose of ginger (30 to 500 mg.) for four to 36 weeks successfully reduced knee pain in people suffering from osteoarthritis.

Now, in new research from the University of Georgia and Georgia College and State University (GCSU), scientists have found even more evidence that ginger is a potent muscle pain reliever. The scientists worked with seventy-four student volunteers who were divided into three groups. One group was given raw ginger, one group received heated ginger and the third group received a fake ginger placebo.

Muscle pain was induced in the volunteers by having them perform 18 eccentric muscle exercises. Then the research subjects were tested on 11 consecutive days to see if those taking the ginger had reduced muscle aches and pains. And they did -- dramatically. The results showed that both raw and heat-treated ginger lowered muscle pain intensity by 25 and 23 percent, respectively.

More breaking ginger news: in a study just reported in the journal Pediatric Blood and Cancer, researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi have documented that ginger significantly reduced nausea and vomiting in children subjected to chemotherapy for cancer. In addition, new research published this month in the journal Molecular Vision suggests ginger may prevent or delay the development of cataracts in diabetics.

For more information:
http://ampainsoc.org/press/2010_jop...
http://www.naturalnews.com/025930_h...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...
http://www.naturalnews.com/ginger.html

"Increase in the usage of electronic gadgets has led to electropollution of the environment. Honeybee behavior and biology has been affected by electrosmog since these insects have magnetite in their bodies which helps them in navigation," the researchers wrote.

Honeybees play a major role in pollinating some of the world's most important food crops. Populations have been steadily falling across North America, Europe and some other parts of the world, raising alarm for reasons of both ecological health and food security.

Numerous studies have aimed to uncover the reasons for the decline, and most scientists are now blaming a combination of pesticides, disease and habitat loss. In the new study, researchers sought to determine whether cell phone radiation might play a role by attaching two mobile phones to one beehive and attaching two dummy phones to a control hive. The active phones were then powered on for two 15-minute sessions each day for three months.

"There are reports of sudden disappearance of bee populations from honeybee colonies," they wrote. "The reason is still not clear. We have compared the performance of honeybees in cell phone radiation exposed and unexposed colonies."

At the end of the study period, the number of eggs laid by the queen had dropped significantly in the cell phone-fitted hive, and production of honey had ceased. The overall population of bees also decreased, as did the number of workers returning from foraging trips. The absence of workers in turn led to an overall drop in nectar production.

"The behavior of exposed foragers was negatively influenced by the exposure; there was neither honey nor pollen in the colony at the end of the experiment," the researchers wrote.

Sources for this story include: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wi....

If you go to your doctor with a wound or a sports injury, he will do the very worst thing for you - he will try to reduce the inflammation. But don't blame him, it's the way generations of doctors have been taught at medical school, and only this week researchers have discovered the therapy is wrong.

Doctors have always been taught that it's important to reduce the inflammation as quickly as possible - but researchers have now discovered that it's nature's way of healing damaged muscles.

Faced with an acute muscle injury caused by trauma - such as a sports injury - or by chemicals, infections or drugs, the doctor usually prescribes an NSAID drug in order to reduce the inflammation. Once the inflammation is under control, the wound will begin to heal, he says.
But what he's been taught is the exact opposite of the way the body works. Inflammation is an important part of the healing process, as researchers from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio have revealed this week.

Inflammatory cells around an acute muscle injury produce a high level of a growth factor that naturally increases the rate of muscle regeneration, they have discovered.

(Source: FASEB Journal, 1 October 2010; doi: 10.1096/fj.10-171579).

"Just one advertised food item by itself will provide, on average, three times your daily recommended servings of sugar and two and half times your daily recommended servings of fat," said lead researcher Michael Mink.

The researchers recorded 84 hours of prime time broadcasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox over the course of 28 days, plus 12 hours of Saturday morning programming. In that time, more than 3,500 commercials were aired, over 600 of them for food products. In contrast, none of the 116 public service announcements aired concerned nutrition.

Researchers used a computer program to analyze the nutritional content of the more than 800 individual food items advertised, then constructed a 2,000 calorie diet of only these foods. This hypothetical diet was then compared with government dietary guidelines.

The TV diet provided 20 times the recommended amount of fat and 25 times the recommended amount of sugar, as well as too much protein, sodium, saturated and cholesterol. It provided too little in the way of fresh fruits and vegetables, resulting in only 55 percent of recommended calcium intake, 50 percent of recommended magnesium and insufficient levels of vitamin E, potassium and fiber.

"The thing that really struck us is that this is a double whammy," Mink said. "You're getting too many of the things that are associated with a higher risk of illness and too few of the nutrients that are associated with protecting us from illness. It's the worst combination."

The food industry spent more than $11 billion on television advertisements in 2004.

Sources for this story include: http://health.usnews.com/health-new... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/h... http://news.discovery.com/human/tv-....

But despite the view of many that osteoarthritis is an inevitable part of aging, researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) believe they are hot on the trail of a way to prevent this form of arthritis from developing in the first place. The potential solution? A natural, bioactive compound called sulforaphane that is found in cruciferous vegetables, especially broccoli.

The UEA scientists have already discovered sulforaphane blocks the enzymes that cause joint destruction in osteoarthritis. Now the same researchers are launching a new and groundbreaking project to investigate how sulforaphane may act to slow or even prevent the development of osteoarthritis. This initial study will pave the way for additional patient trials that could lead to safe and natural ways of preventing and treating this painful disease.

In a statement to the media, the UEA research team noted that broccoli has previously been associated with a reduced risk of cancer. But their study is the first major research into its effects on joint health. As part of their three year long project, the UEA scientists will also investigate the impact of other natural compounds on osteoarthritis -- including diallyl disulphide, a component of garlic that appears to slow the destruction of cartilage in laboratory models.

As reported previously in NaturalNews, phytochemical compounds in cruciferous vegetables are turning out to be remarkably powerful disease fighters and health builders. For example, scientists at Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center at Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and the Richard J. Solove Research Institute have discovered that a substance in broccoli and Brussels sprouts specifically blocks the growth of breast cancer cells

(http://www.naturalnews.com/029204_b...).

Other research has concluded eating broccoli can protect against asthma, too (http://www.naturalnews.com/025771_b...).

For more information:
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/home/home.aspx
http://www.naturalnews.com/broccoli...
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/...

"HIV-positive women are holding the health system accountable for the wrongs done to them," said Veronica Kalambi of the Women's Health Network.

The plaintiffs are represented by the Legal Assistance Center, which says it has collected evidence of 15 such forced sterilizations since 2008. The three women are seeking one million Namibian dollars (U.S. $130,000) in damages.

"We want a health system based on human rights which promotes equality for all," said Amon Ngavetene of the Legal Assistance Center.

According to Ngavetene, women in Namibia who are diagnosed with HIV are often urged by their doctors to undergo sterilization operations. The women are not always given a clear explanation of the risks and consequences of the procedure, nor of the alternatives available (such as drugs) to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus. In addition, doctors do not always take into account pre-existing conditions that might make the sterilization more dangerous.

All these problems are exacerbated by communication barriers in a country with 11 indigenous languages.

Hundreds of people marched in support of the women in the Namibian capital of Windhoek, as well as in South Africa, Zambia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Supporters also held sit-ins at two of the hospitals accused of performing the procedures.

According to protest organizer Vicky Noa, women deserve "peace of mind that if you have HIV you can still go to the hospital and be treated with dignity and equality."

"If we were scared that we might be sterilized, we will not use the hospital services as much," she said. "We do not want to be denied the right to motherhood."

According to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS, one in five Namibians, or 200,000 people, have been diagnosed as HIV positive.

Sources for this story include: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/af... http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap....

African Coconut Cream and Banana Soup

Ingredients:

1 dozen small green bananas
2 cups home made chicken, fish or vegetable stock
1 cup coconut cream
1 small onion, chopped
Fresh hot chili, to taste

Method:

1. Peel and grate the bananas or puree in a blender, if preferred, then mix with the stock.
2. Saute the onion and chili until soft.
3. Mix all the ingredients together and heat but do not allow to boil.
4. Decorate with fresh parsley or coriander.

Main Course Using Coconut Milk

Many people confuse coconut milk with the liquid found inside a coconut, which is coconut water. Coconut milk is extracted from the meat of coconuts. The fresh meat can be squeezed directly (usually referred to as coconut cream) or it can be grated, mixed with hot water and then squeezed, making a thinner coconut milk. It can easily be made at home or it can be purchased at stores, canned or frozen.

Spicy Potato Curry with Coconut Milk

Ingredients:

3 cups potatoes, cut into cubes
1/2 cup coconut cream, 1/2 cup coconut milk
1 small onion, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 sliced red chilies, or more, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil

Method:

1. Fry the cumin seeds, onion and chilies until the onion is soft.
2. Add potatoes and then stir in the coconut milk.
3. Simmer on a low heat until potatoes are soft.
4. Add the coconut cream and seasoning, to taste.
5. Bring to a boil, allow to cook at a high heat for a minute or two, and then turn off the heat.
6. Serve hot with brown rice.

Coconut Oil and Strawberry Smoothie

Healthy strawberry smoothies are packed with phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and enzymes that come in a whole-food form. Combined with coconut oil, a strawberry smoothie is rich and filling enough for a complete meal.

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh strawberries
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1/3 cup raw almonds, soaked
1 and 1/2 cups water

Method:

Blend until smooth and strain to remove almond meal.

Sources:

http://www.antioxidants-for-health-...
http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/
http://www.nursingdegree.net/blog/3...