The Health Plus Letter
December 2, 2003, Vol. 1, No. 19
By Larry Trivieri, Jr. – founder & publisher

Table Of Contents:
What’s New
Quote of the Day
Fast Facts
Medical Freedom Alert
Mind/Body Approaches for Healing Arthritis (Part 3) by Eugene Zampieron, ND and Ellen Kamhi, Ph.D., RN
Should You Get The Flu Shot? By Sherri Tenpenny
The Power of A Human Spirit - A Tribute to My Sister (Part 5)
Recipe of the Week: Very Berry Banana Shale
Reader Feedback: Praise for 1HealthyWorld’s eBooks
Recommendations
Humor


What’s New

This Thursday look for a special email from me regarding 1HealthyWorld’s eBook titles. You’ll definitely won’t want to miss it.

This week’s issue features Part 3 of our article on how mind/body medicine can relieve and even cure arthritis. This week, we examine some of the mind/body therapies that are useful in this regard. This information is excerpted from our eBook Burton Goldberg’s Definitive Guide to Arthritis, co-written by Drs. Eugene Zampieron and Ellen Kamhi.

Also in this issue, physician, researcher, and vaccine expert Dr. Sherri Tenpenny returns with a look at the pros and cons of getting a flu shot. To learn more about Dr. Tenpenny, please visit her website: http://www.nmaseminars.com.

And I’m continuing my tribute to my sister Andrea with the fifth installment of The Power of A Human Spirit.

Please continue to send me with your comments and suggestions. You can email me at larry@1healthyworld.com. And please spread the word about The Health Plus Letter by passing it along to your friends and inviting them to subscribe.


Quote Of The Day

"What we see depends mainly on what we look for."
- John Lubbock


Fast Facts

Farm raised salmon, on average, contains concentrations of PCB (toxic chemicals banned for use in the U.S.) That are 16 times higher than wild, ocean-fished salmon.

Source: Washington Post, July 29, 2003.


Medical Freedom Alert

Please do your part to ensure that the misleadingly named "Dietary Safety Supplement" Act (S. 722) is defeated. To become informed about S. 722 and to take action to help defeat its passage, please visit: http://capwiz.com/nnfa/S722.html

To stay informed of other developments related to medical freedom, please visit http://www4.dr-rath-foundation.org, the website of Dr. Mattias Rath, a leading crusader for medical freedom.


Health News and Commentary

Tomatoes Better Than Lycopene Alone For Preventing Prostate Cancer

A recent animal study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that consumption of whole tomatoes (including the skin and seeds) is more effective for preventing prostate cancer than is taking lycopene alone. (Lycopene is an active ingredient found in tomatoes. For the past few years it has been touted as an anti-prostate cancer nutrient.)

"Our findings strongly suggest that risks of poor dietary habits cannot be reversed simply by taking a pill," says Steven Clinton, MD, PhD, co-author of the study. "We must focus more on choosing a variety of healthy foods, exercising, and watching our weight."

For more on this story, see: http://snurl.com/36w7

[Comment: Hopefully, Dr. Clinton’s advice will advice will be taken seriously by his colleagues, as well as the lay public.]

Caesarean Birth Doubles the Risk of Stillbirth in Subsequent Pregnancy

Women who give birth by caesarean section run twice the risk of having a stillbirth at the next pregnancy, according to a study published last week in Lancet. The study was based on the evaluation of the records of 120,000 births in Scotland in the years 1992-1998. Commenting on their research, the study’s authors also noted that the rate of caesarean births has more than doubled over the last 20 years.

For more on this story, see: http://www.snurl.com/36wb

[Comment: Caesarean births, or c-sections, are among the most over-performed medical procedures in the Western world. Studies like the one above confirm that they are also not without risk to both mother and child.]


Unabashed Plug

Learn the Truth about Heart Disease, Stroke and Hypertension. Most of what conventional medicine has to offer for treating these conditions is based on faulty and potentially dangerous assumptions. Discover the real causes behind these diseases and learn what you can do today to prevent and reverse them using safe and natural alternatives that have been scientifically proven to be effective. Read the critically-acclaimed eBook Burton Goldberg’s Definitive Guide to Heart Disease, featuring the contributions of Dr. Garry Gordon, Dr. Stephen Sinatra, and many other leading heart specialists. To order or to find out more about this potentially lifesaving guide, visit
http://www.1healthyworld.com/ebooks/Heart-Book-Info.cfm.


Mind/Body Approaches for Healing Arthritis (Part 4) by Eugene Zampieron, ND and Ellen Kamhi, Ph.D., RN

[The following article is an excerpt from the eBook Burton Goldberg’s Definitive Guide to Arthritis, co-written by Eugene Zampieron, ND and Ellen Kamhi, Ph.D., RN. It is available at http://www.1healthyworld.com/ebooks/Arthritis-Book-Info.cfm]

Mind/Body Therapies for Healing Arthritis

According to Hans Selye, M.D., whether a person experiences stress as a positive motivational force or as a negative detrimental one depends on their perception of the stress. People who perceive that they are in control of their lives and generally feel good about themselves (referred to as an "inner locus of control") will use life’s stressors in a positive fashion. However, those who feel that their life circumstances are controlled by outside forces and other people ("outer locus of control") tend to react negatively to stress. The locus of control can be consciously shifted by deliberately "reprogramming" the mind, with positive instead of negative thoughts, through meditation, cognitive therapy, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Relaxation therapies, such as biofeedback, hypnotherapy, guided imagery, flower remedies, and aromatherapy, among others, can help reduce your stress levels and relieve arthritis pain.

Meditation

Meditation is a safe and simple way to balance a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states. It is easy to learn and can be useful both for treating stress and in pain management. Meditation, in the broadest sense, is any activity that keeps the attention focused in the present. When the mind is calm and focused in the present, it is neither reacting to past events or preoccupied with future plans, two major sources of chronic stress. There are many forms of meditation, but they can be categorized into two main approaches, concentration meditation and mindfulness meditation.

Concentration meditation focuses the "lens of the mind" on one object, sound (mantra), the breath, an image, or thought, to still the mind and allow greater awareness or clarity to emerge. The breath is one of the most popular objects of focus in this type of meditation. As the person focuses on the ebb and flow of their breath, the mind is absorbed in the rhythm and becomes more placid, tranquil, and still. Mindfulness-based meditation entails bringing the mind to a still point, tuning out the world and bringing the mind to a halt as much as possible. Mindfulness meditation helps us practice non-judgment. The meditator sits quietly and simply witnesses whatever goes through the mind, not reacting or becoming involved with thoughts, memories, worries, or images. This helps the person gain a more calm, clear, and non-reactive state of mind.

Transcendental Meditation™ (TM), a popular type of concentration meditation, is the most well-documented regarding the physiological effects of meditation, with over 500 clinical studies conducted to date. Research shows that, during TM practice, the body gains a deeper state of relaxation than during ordinary rest or sleep. Brain wave changes indicate a state of enhanced awareness and coherence and TM has been found to increase intelligence, creativity, and perceptual ability and reduce blood pressure and rates of illness by 50%. TM also causes decreased blood levels of cortisol, a hormone responsible for many of the deleterious physiological changes seen with stress. By reducing cortisol levels, the adrenal glands are allowed to heal, which positively influences pain and inflammation.

A direct effect of meditation in arthritis is the reduction of pain. "Chronic pain can erode the quality of life," says Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder and director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the Univ/ersity of Massachusetts Medical Center, and author of Wherever You Go, There You Are. In one study performed by Dr. Kabat-Zinn, 72% of the patients with chronic pain achieved at least a 33% reduction in pain after participating in an eight-week period of mindfulness meditation, while 61% of the patients achieved at least a 50% reduction in pain and perceived their bodies as being less problematic (suggesting an improvement in self-esteem).

A Simple Meditation Exercise

The first step to practicing meditation is learning to breathe in a manner that facilitates a state of calmness and awareness. Dr. Kabat-Zinn recommends the following exercise for achieving a sense of calmness—find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed and practice for several minutes each day:

Assume a comfortable posture lying on your back or sitting. If you are sitting, keep the spine straight and let your shoulders drop.

Close your eyes if it feels comfortable.

Bring your attention to your belly, feeling it rise or expand gently on the in-breath and fall or recede on the out-breath. Keep the focus on your breathing.

When your mind wanders off the breath, notice what it was that took you away and then gently bring your attention back to your belly and the feeling of the breath moving in and out. If your mind wanders away from the breath, your "job" is simply to bring it back to the breath every time, no matter what it has become preoccupied with.

Practice this exercise for 15 minutes every day, whether you feel like it or not, for one week and see how it feels to incorporate a disciplined meditation practice into your life.

Cognitive Therapy

It has been estimated the average human being has around 50,000 thoughts per day, according to Dr. Richard Carlson, author of Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff…And It’s All Small Stuff. Unfortunately, he reminds us, many of them are also going to be negative—angry, fearful, pessimistic, or worrisome. Up to 85% of the thinking we regularly engage in is negative and self-defeating.

The basis of cognitive therapy is to identify—through maintaining a journal and by introspection—the negative, self-defeating inner dialogue of thoughts (what cognitive therapists refer to as "automatic thoughts"). Positive, coping thoughts can then be used to counter the negative thoughts. The goal is to pull yourself out of reflexive self-destructive mental behavior that may be exacerbating your illness and to bolster the positive, self-reliant aspect of your personality.

Cognitive therapy does not focus on the root causes of psychological problems, rather it seeks to support health by interrupting the flow of negative thoughts. Countering each negative thought on paper with a list of positive responses to the same problem enables the mind to reframe the situation. For arthritis sufferers, replacing negative thoughts with positive ones can help facilitate healing. Cognitive therapy may also be helpful for dealing with pain. The intensity of pain is partly determined by how you perceive it—if you "catastrophize" the pain, you may actually make it worse. Cognitive therapy can be used to gain control of your thought processes and allow you to alter your perception of pain.

How to Stop a Thought Attack

One technique to stop a ‘thought attack’ is to keep a rubber band around your wrist. When you are aware of a negative thought, snap the rubber band in order to "snap" your consciousness out of its negative pattern. Then replace the negative thought with a positive affirmation that you means something to you personally. "I am making progress in treating myself as a friend," for instance. This coping technique helps you to become aware of your "automatic thoughts" and begin to change them consciously.

Success Story: Cognitive Therapy Helps a Case of Stress-Induced Arthritis

Ray came to the office suffering extreme pain due to chronic psoriatic and gouty arthritis. It was clear that he had a very stressful life—he was in bankruptcy, contemplating divorce, had very low self-esteem, and had problems with his teenage children. He was so depressed that he had even contemplated suicide. Not surprisingly, the patient felt like he was caught in a downward spiral, with little he could do.

The first thing we realized about this patient is that his sense of hope was low and helplessness was high. Ray’s team of rheumatologists offered little else but higher doses of medication and opiates to control his pain. We explained to Ray that chronic pain is a complicated mixture of physical, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, environmental, and other factors. Pain is actually an individual experience and is real, regardless of whether or not an organic cause can be found.

We stabilized Ray’s depression with a combination of kava-kava (Piper methysticum), Botanodyne (from Nature’s Answer), DL-phenylalanine (an amino acid helpful in pain management), and cognitive therapy. We made a list of his negative thoughts and brainstormed with him on a list of positive, coping thoughts to replace them. Every time Ray would catch himself in the act of a negative thought, he would snap the rubber band kept around his wrist as a reminder, then repeat his coping thoughts as a present tense, personal, and positive affirmation.

The combination of naturopathic arthritis treatment, diet changes, and cognitive therapy helped tremendously. Ray began to transform himself into a positive thinker; he became less critical of himself and others. He felt strong enough emotionally to be able to manage his pain and cure himself of arthritis. He ended his dysfunctional marriage (a major component of his constant stress) and was able to begin to work from his home again. He smiled more and became angered less frequently. He occasionally would slip back to his old habit of worrying, but when he became conscious of doing it, he would snap the rubber band, then go for a walk or, in some way, interrupt his downward spiraling vortex of negative thoughts. After ten months, Ray was not only "completely out of pain," but also in possession of a different self-image. "Not only is my arthritis better, but I’ve learned to manage my emotions, and become a better, happier person," he said.


Unabashed Plug

Discover and Gain Control of Your Human Energy Field. Read Dr. Valerie Hunt’s Mind Mastery Meditations: A Workbook for the "Infinite Mind," the empowering guide created by one of the world's foremost researchers into the human energy field, energy medicine, and the relationship between consciousness and health. Each of the meditations this eBook contains is designed to give you mastery of your mind and to empower you to discover the answers to why you are the way you are, your soul's needs, your unique talents and capacities, and your self-designed destiny. By practicing and mastering these meditations, you will become able to live your life with greater ease and success, speed your self-healing, and dramatically increase your ability to manifest your deepest goals.

To order this life-changing guide, visit
http://www.1healthyworld.com/ebooks/Mind-Mastery-Book-Info.cfm.


Should You Get the Flu Shot? By Dr Sherri Tenpenny

News reports have been flooding us with articles warning that the impending flu season may be the worst in years. Even though it is difficult to separate the facts from the hype, a close evaluation of the flu vaccine will reveal that serious questions must be raised about the recommendations that are routinely touted, namely high efficacy with little risk. Anyone considering a flu shot should become informed about the substances coming through that needle, and should be determined to investigate the safety and efficacy issues that are still unresolved.

The vaccine virus

Each year, a new vaccine is developed that contains three different viruses (one influenza B and two influenza A strains). CDC officials select the new viruses based on which viruses were prevalent during the flu season in China and Australia the previous year. The CDC admits that the viruses selected for the new vaccine are chosen on the basis of an "educated guess."(1)

What’s in a flu shot?

The influenza virus is grown in "specific pathogen-free" (SPF) eggs. Eggs are tested for a variety of agents—usually between 23 and 31—to confirm the absence of those specific pathogens. Laboratories limit the number of agents that are screened due to the shear abundance of potential viruses and/or bacteria to choose from. In addition, screening for every potential agent would be cost prohibitive.(2) If none of the tested agents are detected, the vaccine is reported as "pathogen-free."

However, it should be understood that there is a distinct difference between "pathogen free" and "specific pathogen-free." In its July 1996 report, the Institute of Medicine acknowledged that "although it is not possible to produce a completely uncontaminated animal, it is possible to produce an animal [or egg] certified to be free of specific pathogens."(3) Viruses that are harmless to their animal host, however, may be potentially harmful to humans.

During the manufacturing process, antibiotics (neomycin, polymyxin B and gentamicin) are added to eliminate stray bacteria found in the mixture. The final solution can contain the following additives in any combination: Triton X-100 (a detergent); polysorbate 80 (a potential carcinogen); gelatin; formaldehyde; and residual egg proteins. In addition, many of the influenza vaccines still contain thimerosal as a preservative. Thimerosal (mercury) is being investigated for its link to brain injury and autoimmune disease.

Does the flu shot protect?

There are no guarantees that the influenza viruses selected for the vaccine will be the identical strains circulating during a given flu season. In fact, it has recently been announced that this year's flu vaccine does not include the strain that is being reported by doctors in the community called the "A Fujian" strain. Outbreaks have been reported in Texas, Colorado and elsewhere(4) that involve strains that do not match the current flu vaccine. CDC tests have confirmed that more than 80 per cent of the 55 strains of influenza virus isolated thus far are the A Fujian strain. Even so, the CDC still maintains that the current vaccine could provide cross-protection against the new variant, but the fact is, no one knows for sure.

Moreover, the majority of illnesses characterized by fever, fatigue, cough and aching muscles are not caused by the influenza virus. Non-influenza viruses (e.g., rhinoviruses respiratory syncytial virus [RSV], adenoviruses, and parainfluenza viruses) can cause symptoms referred to influenza-like illnesses (ILI). Certain bacteria, such as Legionella spp., Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, have been documented as the causes of ILI.(5)

Notably, these microbes are not part of the flu vaccine. Unless an organism’s antigen is contained within the vaccine, there is no protection conferred by the vaccine. It is estimated that most adults will average 1-3 episodes of ILI, and most children will average 3-6 episodes. The CDC also admits that "many persons who have been vaccinated against influenza can still get the flu"(6)

Targeting the elderly

The flu vaccine is generally recommended for persons aged 65 and older, and those with medical conditions who could experience serious complications from the flu. Medical journals report broad differences in effectiveness for the elderly, ranging from 0 to 85%.

The CDC states that 90% of deaths from influenza occur among the elderly. Considering that nearly 65% of all deaths (from any cause) occur in this age group, it is nearly impossible to prove that flu shots significantly increase life expectancy in this group. The truth is that most people—young and old—will weather a bout of the flu without hospitalization or complications.

A serious concern: Alzheimer’s Disesase

Hugh Fudenberg, MD, an immunogeneticist and biologist with nearly 850 papers published in peer review journals, has reported that if an individual had five consecutive flu shots between 1970 and 1980 (the years studied), his/her chances of getting Alzheimer's Disease is ten times higher than if they had zero, one, or two shots.(7)

Dr. Boyd Haley, Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the Univ/ersity of Kentucky, Lexington has done extensive research in the area of mercury toxicity and the brain. Haley’s research has established a likely connection between mercury toxicity and Alzheimer’s disease.(8) In a paper published in collaboration with researchers at University of Calgary, Haley stated that "seven of the characteristic markers that we look for to distinguish Alzheimer's disease can be produced in normal brain tissues, or cultures of neurons, by the addition of extremely low levels of mercury."(9)

Does this prove that the mercury contained in the influenza shot can be directly linked to Alzheimer’s? No, absolutely not. But further research in this area is critically needed because the absence of proof is not the "proof of absence."(10)

Flu vaccine for children

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) adopted a resolution effective March 1, 2003 that expanded the use of the influenza vaccine to include children aged 6-23 months. The recommendations also included vaccinating those aged 2 to 18 years who live in households containing children younger than 2 years of age.(11)

The flu vaccine most commonly given to children is Fluzone, a trivalent vaccine grown in chicken eggs. Harvested with formaldehyde and containing the recommended ratio of 15 ug of each of the three prototype viral strains, each dose of Fluzone also contains 25 ug of mercury.(12) The new CDC recommendations include giving the influenza vaccine to children beginning at six months of age and then annually, for the rest of their lives. Children less than age 9 receiving their first flu shot, two doses of vaccine are recommended, with a minimum interval of one month between the two doses. However, the CDC does not provide a direct reference to substantiate this recommendation.(13)

On June 17, 2003, the FDA approved an intranasal influenza vaccine for use in healthy persons aged 5–49 years. Flumist is a live-virus vaccine that can cause a litany of problems.

Alternatives?

If you choose not to receive the flu shot, have a discussion with your doctor regarding other options. However, some simple and possibly quite effective things you can do for yourself to prevent the flu include: 1) avoid white sugar;(14) 2) exercise regularly; 3) get adequate sleep; 4) eat a healthy diet, omitting trans-fats; 5) drink plenty of purified water daily and 6) wash your hands. A common way people contract viral illnesses is by rubbing their nose or their eyes after their hands have been contaminated with a virus. The CDC states, "the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands."(15)

We are so used to taking medications—for prevention and treatment—that it is difficult to comprehend that these modest recommendations are really the most powerful ways to minimize the likelihood of getting the flu.

Making the decision

You may decide to consult a physician who is schooled in alternative medicine to assess a variety of options for you and your family. What is most important, in the end, is to become as informed as possible regarding your options for keeping healthy and avoiding the flu.

References:

1. Sabin, Russel and Reynolds. Breakdowns Mar Flu Shot Program Production, distribution delays raise fears of nation vulnerable to epidemic. San Francisco Chronicle. Feb. 25, 2001
2. Charles River Laboratories, A Laboratory Animal Health Monitoring Program: Rationale and Development,' (Winter 1990); Source: www.criver.com
3. Institute of Medicine Press Release: Federal Guidelines Needed to Ensure Safety in Animal-to-Human Organ Transplants. July 17, 1996.
4. CBS: The Associated Press. CDC Says Flu Season Is Going Strong in Parts of U.S., Vaccine Doesn't Match Strain Doctors
5. MMWR. November 9, 2001 / 50(44);984-6
6. Ibid. MMWR Nov. 9, 2001/50(44); 984-6
7. Hugh Fudenberg, MD, is Founder and Director of Research, Neurolmmuno Therapeutic Research Foundation. Information from Dr. Hugh Fudenberg came from transcribed notes of Dr. Fudenberg's speech at the NVIC International Vaccine Conference, Arlington, VA September, 1997. Quoted with permission.
8. The Relationship of Toxic Effects of Mercury to Exacerbation of the Medical Condition Classified as Alzheimer’s Disease by Boyd E. Haley, PhD.
9. NeuroReport, 12(4):733-737, 2001
10.http://www.testfoundation.org/
11. MMWR. 2002;51[RR-3]:1-31
12. Package insert. Influenza Virus VaccineFluzone® 2003 – 2004 Formula
13.MMWR. 2002: 51 [RR-3], pg. 19
14.All forms of refined sugar depress white blood cells' ability to destroy bacteria. See Sanchez A, et al. Role of sugars in human neutrophilic phagocytosis. Am J Clin Nutr 1973;26:1180.
15. CDC- Handwashing: An ounce of prevention keeps the germs away. Source: www.cdc.gov

Copyright © 2003 by Sherri Tenpenny - http://www.nmaseminars.com. All rights reserved


The Power of A Human Spirit - A Tribute to My Sister (Part 5)

[The first four parts of this article appeared in issues 14, 15, 17, and 18 of The Health Plus Letter, which are available at http://www.1healthyworld.com/ezine.]

Lying alone in her hospital bed, her body riddled with cancer to such an extent that her oncologist didn’t expect her to live more than six months, Andrea awoke in the still of the night to reflect on what hours earlier she had admitted were her only remaining unfulfilled dreams: living in Manhattan and seeing the Grand Canyon. And in that moment, she committed herself to doing both. Given the severity of her illness, logic should have told her this would be impossible, but Andrea wasn’t relying on logic; she was tapping into the power of her Soul, and so she committed herself to fulfilling her desires. And then, her decision made, she accepted it as a certainty and fell peacefully back asleep.

From that moment on, her strength improved, and that weekend she was discharged from the hospital. She still needed to be on oxygen, and was told she would require it for the rest of her life, but she didn’t care. Her heart and mind were set on her goals, and she went home feeling happy and excited. Unaware of what she was planning, my family and I were committed to helping her around the clock so that what time remained for her could be spent in relative comfort. But within a few days, she exerted her innate independence and told us to come visit only when she felt like company. She had work to do, she said, and refused to be treated as an invalid. Her attitude cheered me up, despite my concerns for her health, and I was made even happier when she asked me to visit a week later. I walked into her home, amazed to find it completely redecorated. Her birthday was coming up, and Andrea intended to celebrate by throwing herself a huge party. "What do you think?" she asked me, when I found her finishing up in her bedroom. "Your house looks great,"I replied, "but how come you’re not using your oxygen?"

Andrea dismissed the question with a wave of her hand. "I don’t need it, I’m getting better." Before I could protest that she should do as her doctor had advised, she went on, "Guess what? I’m moving to New York City!" This was the first time she’d shared her plans with me, and she was beaming with happiness.

"What? When? How?"

She laughed. "I don’t know, but I’ll find a way. It’s what I always wanted to do. You know that." And before I could list the litany of factors that stood in her way, she waved her hand again. "Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine!"

By time I left her that day, I knew she was telling me the truth. Her determination was both palpable and reassuring. I drove home in a daze of wonder.

Within a few more days, Andrea was off the oxygen completely and her oncologist was no longer talking about her having short time left to live. He too was becoming a believer, and when she told him of her plans, he encouraged her to fulfill them. Still convinced of the merits of conventional cancer care, she began a new course of weekly chemotherapy sessions soon after her strength returned, but aside from the 24 hours or so that it took her to recover from each session, she was constantly on the go. Her life was filled with creative projects again, and the party we had for her that year was a tremendous success, her house overflowing with our extended family and her friends, great food (much of which she insisted on preparing herself, being the best cook in our family - which is saying a lot!), and so much love and laughter.

By now, everyone knew of Andrea’s plans to move to Manhattan, and we were all wondering how she would make that happen. But not Andrea. She knew that things would simply fall into place without her needing to work them out. And that’s exactly what occurred. A few days after her birthday party, her friend Mary called, unaware that Andrea’s cancer had returned. Mary was a realtor Andrea had met when she too sold real estate in Manhattan, commuting into the city from her previous home in New Jersey. She was calling to let Andrea know she had just got the listing for an one bedroom apartment in the heart of Greenwich Village. "It’s perfect for you, Andrea, and the price is right too. I know you’ve always wanted to live in the City, so here’s your chance."

Andrea was thrilled as she listened to the details. Then she finally informed Mary that her cancer had returned. "But never mind that, I’ll be fine," she went on. "When will the apartment be available?" At the end of June, Mary replied, only two months away. "I’ll take it!" Andrea said. And there it was - living proof of how easily the manifestation process can work when we commit ourselves to our dreams with complete faith and intention. Having lived in Manhattan for over a decade, I know full well how difficult it can be to find a place to rent, even though I too had found my apartment without any problems once I decided to move there. But in Andrea’s case, she had done me one better. Not only had Life presented her with a place to stay, it was also located in her favorite part of Manhattan and at a price far below market value due to it being a sublet.

Now that her living situation was resolved, Andrea next needed to find an oncologist in the City with whom she could continue her treatment. To do so, she again turned to the Internet and quickly located a number of candidates. She was looking for someone who was both a practitioner and researcher. One by one, she called them up for interviews, and quickly decided on one of them. Her name was Dr. Chung and Andrea scheduled a trip to New York to interview her in person. When I picked her up at the train station, she reported that she was thrilled. "Larry, you’d love her! She’s brilliant and very much part of the research network. I know I’m going to get great care from her!"

During this time period, I took Andrea to one of her chemotherapy sessions at our local cancer center. From the moment we walked into the hospital wing, I was struck by how everyone who greeted her seemed to light up when they saw her. The effect was even more pronounced among the nurses and patients when we entered the cancer center itself. I wanted to stay, but Andrea insisted I go home and come back later. "You’ve got work to do, and will just be bored," she said, shushing me out of the room.

But I returned a few hours later. It had been a hectic day for the hospital staff, so things were running late, allowing me to stay in the room with Andrea and the other patients for over an hour. Each of them sat in a comfortable barcalounger chair, hooked up to an IV from which chemotherapy dripped into their veins. Andrea introduced me all around, and everyone I greeted told me how amazing Andrea was. "We get such support from her," one woman said, "and she always cheers us up with her stories!" Then one of the nurses entered the room. wondering who I was. Andrea introduced us, whereupon the nurse came up to take my hand. "Your sister is the most wonderful person I’ve ever cared for," she told me. "I mean it; she is so strong and inspiring to be around!" I replied that I knew that, but Andrea laughed off the praise, insisting that all she was doing was "living in the moment." That was her mantra and it served her well.

As I drove her home, she smiled at me. "Aren’t they great?" she said, meaning the staff and her fellow patients. "I’m telling you, Larry, this chemo is no big deal and I have fun coming here each week."

At the end of June, 2001, Andrea moved to Manhattan, fulfilling the first of her two remaining dreams. Three weeks later, she fulfilled the second one as well, taking her children with her to visit the Grand Canyon.

[Continued next week.]


Recipe of the Week: Very Berry Banana Shake

Ingredients:
1 cup blueberries
1 cup strawberries
1 large, very ripe banana
1-1/2 cup plain rice milk
3 tbsp raw honey
1 cup ice cubes (optional)
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

This recipe comes from the eBook Burton Goldberg's Definitive Guide to Arthritis, available at http://www.1healthyworld.com/ebooks. For more healthy recipes, visit http://www.1healthyworld.com/recipes.


Reader Feedback: Praise for 1HealthyWorld’s eBooks

Here are just a few of the emails I’ve received from readers who purchased titles from 1HealthyWorld.com’s eBook Library of Health:

"Dear Larry - Thank you so much for what you are doing! I wanted to tell you about the positive changes in my health since I purchased Burton Goldberg’s Definitive Guide to Heart Disease. I ordered your eBook last June and since I began following the dietary and nutritional recommendations made by the doctors in the book, I have much greater levels of energy. But the best news is that last week, my physician told me my blood pressure levels are back to normal after years of being hypertensive. God bless you for making this information available to me! - Jan H."

"Hi, Larry - I have to admit, I wasn’t sure if your eBook on weight loss would help me, since I have tried for years to lose weight with no success. But since I ordered it last July, I’ve lost an average of 2-3 pounds each week. Having been overweight for over 15 years, you can imagine how many diet and weight loss books I’ve read in the past, but none of them contained the information I found in your eBook. Thanks to applying what I read, I am nearly back to what I weighed in college, and my energy levels have dramatically improved, too! Keep up the good work - Richard E."

To Jan and Richard and everyone else who has emailed me with positive results obtained from applying the information in the eBooks, congratulations on your success. I’m not surprised by it, though, because the information they contain is provided by some of the world’s finest holistic physicians.

Look for an announcement regarding our eBooks this coming Thursday, which you will receive as a special email from me. Meantime, you can read the first two chapters of all of our titles for no cost by visiting http://www.1healthyworld.com/eBooks.


Recommendations

Website:
http://www.healthbulletin.org - This site is a very good resource for news about nutrition and health, with a lot of topics to browse.

Books:
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy by Greg Palast. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in what is really occurring in the United States under our current president and the special interests his administration is beholden to. The stories Palast, an American journalist, documents have been widely disseminated in England and Europe, but all but ignored by the U.S. media.

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Told against the backdrop of a space mission to a newly discovered planet and its extraterrestrial cultures, this is book is an exploration of religious faith and the human need for forgiveness and redemption. Deeply moving and highly recommended.


Humor

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was? The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."

The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."

Without looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."


See you next Tuesday.

Health and Blessings!

Larry Trivieri, Jr. (larry@1healthyworld.com)


Disclaimer: The Health Plus Letter is a weekly eZine published by Larry Trivieri, Jr. and Library of Health, LLC (dba www.1healthyworld.com). It is made available without charge for information purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical care. If you are experiencing a health problem, seek prompt medical attention.

Legal Notice: The information in this eZine may be freely and widely disseminated so long as full attribution is made as follows: The Health Plus Letter, December 2, 2003, Vol. 1, No. 19. Copyright © 2003 by Larry Trivieri, Jr. All rights reserved.

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