Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Cocaine found in Red Bull



(From AP) May 25, 2009: BERLIN — "Six German states have told retailers to stop selling Red Bull Cola energy drinks after a test found a trace amount of cocaine. The bans started Friday after a sample test conducted by authorities found 0.4 micrograms per liter in the drink.”

Okay, so it was only trace amounts (if you are ok with that), but while we’re on the topic...


Guess what else is in Red Bull


Red Bull contains 80.0 milligrams of caffeine which is twice as much as in a can of Coke (40 mg/330 ml can). And 5-6 teaspoons of sugar. A sugar-free Red Bull is sweetened with aspartame (a known neurotoxin, scary stuff– it’s in your Diet Coke too. Beware!).


Other Health Risks of Red Bull


According to the latest research (circa 2008), the popular energy drink Red Bull can increase the risk of heart damage. The participants of the study were university students aged between 20 and 24. Researchers found that just one sugar free can of Red Bull raised the level of stickiness of the blood and could lead to the formation of blood clots.

According to Dr. Scott Willoughby, of the Cardiovascular Research Center at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Adelaide University, the results of the study were alarming. "After one can it seemed to turn the young individual into one with more of the type of profile you would expect to see with someone with cardiovascular disease. People who already have existing cardiovascular disease may want to talk to their physician before they drink Red Bull in future," the scientist said.


The 30 students who passed the test were shocked by the results. Previously some of them drank up to 8 cans per night in order to stay awake to study. Most of these students are now refusing to drink Red Bull, saying they will never consume it again.



Better Alternatives to Red Bull



Yet again, better off sticking with your good ol' B Vitamins for energy. Take your B Complex vitamins in an activated and isotonic form for maximum absorption, or have some in a healthier natural "energy drink" like Awake energy shots


Remember "H.A.L.T." -- if you are Tired, get some rest! Skip the Red Bull as you would cocaine, and don't forget to take your vitamins (Bill W. did!).

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Bill Wilson supports B Vitamins for Alcoholism Treatment

Many people are not aware that AA founder, Bill Wilson, was trying to educate doctors on the importance of vitamin supplementation in the treatment of alcoholism. Check out Dr. Abram Hoffer sharing about his experience with Bill W. and Bill's passion for research on Niacin (vitamin B3) for alcoholics and his desire to educate doctors on this:




For those in search of a high quality complete B Complex, be aware that not all supplements are created equally! The best supplements are those that are high quality and best absorbed. Good nutrition is not what you eat, but what you absorb.

For that reason, I personally only take this Isotonix activated B Complex.
Scroll down on that product page to read more about the benefits, science and uniqueness of this B Complex to help you determine if it may be right for you in your recovery from alcoholism or for your wellness needs in general.

Natural Flu Prevention Tips

With flu fear all over the media, more than ever people are looking for natural ways to prevent getting the flu. The best way to prevent flu or any other viral infection is to boost your immune system. First, don't let the news set you in to a panic...

Stress will only weaken your immune function. And for those who understand and believe in the Law of Attraction, it goes without saying that you should not be obsessively worrying about getting sick! You may be setting yourself up for self-fulfilling prophecy in that respect. 

Use whatever stress reduction techniques you desire. Check out this favorite – Emotional Freedom Technique to quickly easily relax your stress response. 

Get plenty of rest to optimize your immune function. 

Avoid sugar, it weakens your immunity. 

Stay hydrated! Don't underestimate the importance of water for all aspects of your health. Also, see this brief post on nutritional support during stress


Nutritional Supplements to Support Flu Prevention


The best quick nutritional tips for helping your immune system prevent the flu include taking supplements to support healthy immune function so that it can fend off any potential viral attacks. There are so many different vitamins and herbs touted to aid in this battle, so I will just outline the possible top three here…

1. Most people know that Vitamin C boosts immune function. It is also considered an antiviral by blocking the enzyme neuraminidase which viruses need to reproduce. There are anecdotal stories of people taking large amounts of Vitamin C and surviving the Spanish Flu. Research shows that Vitamin C may reduce the production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. A study on 470 people involved giving the test group 1000 mg hourly for 6 hours and then 1000 mg 3 times daily after reporting flu symptoms. Symptoms decreased by 85% with Vitamin C use. (Pubmed PMID 10543583, 634178, 16169205, 12876306). Read more about this exceptional form of Vitamin C.

2. Resveratrol, probably most recognized as a “miracle anti-aging supplement” since Barbara Walters 20/20 special last year, is also a proven antiviral supplement. Found naturally in red wine, in addition to inhibiting neuraminidase, studies have revealed that resveratrol inhibits the growth of viruses such as herpes and influenza. Resveratrol supplements are relatively inexpensive, are more stable than wine, with no toxic effects (Pubmed PMID 1583880, 12817628, 15985724). Learn more about this exceptional form of Resveratrol.

3. Many doctors are finally catching up with the research on Vitamin D and starting to test their patients’ vitamin D levels. In the popular newsletter by Dr. Mercola, a recent article included vitamin D as a crucial component in the flu battle. “Optimizing your vitamin D levels is one of the absolute best strategies for avoiding infections of ALL kinds, and vitamin D deficiency is likely the TRUE culprit behind the seasonality of the flu -- not the flu virus itself. This [supplementing with Vitamin D] is probably the single most important and least expensive action you can take.” Click here to read more about this excellent form of vitamin D with K2.

Most importantly, please note that not all supplements are created equally. The best supplements are those that are high quality and best absorbed. Good nutrition is not what you eat, but what you absorb. Take advantage of the links above to read more about the most absorbable potent forms of these supplements taken orally (i.e. you can only get better absorption intravenously!).

It is worth being proactive in your self-care via stress management, hydration, rest, healthy eating, and smart supplementation to support your immune health so you don't have to suffer this flu season.