Heavy metals and aluminum are in every part of our environment and food. These elements are deadly and you will benefit if you are aware of what they do where they come from.

Brain tissue has an attraction for heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and others. When heavy metals appear in the brain they can interfere with your natural brain chemistry. This interference, overtime, can accelerate the onset of dementia or Alzheimer's.

Aluminum is an element that has been associated with Alzheimer's. Aluminum has been found in high levels in people's brain that have died of Alzheimer's. The evidence points to aluminum been involved with Alzheimer's.

There is a lot of controversy about whether aluminum can bring on Alzheimer's. But because the Aluminum Industry is so powerful, it has blocked and campaigned against any reports that point to aluminum's involvement in dementia or Alzheimer's.

Here is a list of products that contain aluminum:

Antacids, aluminum wrap, pans, pot, rice cookers, small oven trays, soft drink cans, various food cans, toothpaste tubes, water, roll on deodorants,

Here is what heavy metals do:

Lead - makes you aggressive and hyperactive

Cadmium - makes you confused and aggressive

Mercury - gives you headaches, causes memory loss

Aluminum - is associated with dementia and Alzheirmer's

Heavy metals come from air pollution, smoking, pestricides, fillings,.

Be aware of how heavy metals and aluminum get into your body, since they will end up in your brain and accumulate along your artery walls with cholesterol. Having loss of memory and other mental abilities is not result of aging. It is a result of poor diet and excess consumption of pollution and toxins.

Here is how to minimize heavy metal damage. Take a good electrolytic mineral supplement or eat a lot of fruits and vegetables since they contain a lot of minerals.

The good minerals compete to get absorb in your intestines with the heavy metals. Good minerals will get absorbed leaving behind the heavy metals. These heavy metals will then be excreted out of your body.

Also drinking a lemon and chlorophyll drink is helpful. Chlorophyll attaches to heavy metals and help to remove them from your body. Drink this every morning. Here's how to make this drink. Combine juice of one lemon, 8 oz of distilled water, and 1-2 oz of chlorophyll.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. At some point in your life, either you or one of your loved ones will be forced to make decisions about some aspect of heart disease. Knowing something about the anatomy and functioning of the heart, in particular how angina and heart attacks work, will enable you to make informed decisions about your health. Heart disease can strike suddenly and require you to make decisions quickly. Being informed prior to an emergency is a valuable asset to you and your family.

In this article we will discuss various heart diseases and how they can lead to a heart attack, or even a stroke. We will also look at how heart attacks are treated and what you should do to prevent heart disease.

Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. When a blockage occurs in one of these arteries, blood flow to the heart muscle is decreased. This becomes most evident during exertion. During exertion, the heart muscle is working harder and needs more oxygen-enriched blood than usual. By preventing the much needed increase in blood flow, the blockage deprives the heart muscle of oxygen thereby causing the heart muscle to hurt. This chest pain is called angina or Angina Pectoris. When the heart muscle goes without sufficient oxygen, the muscle is said to be ischemic. If cell death occurs it is called infarction. Since a heart attack is cell death of heart muscle (myocardium), it is called a Myocardial Infarction (MI). The condition that causes CAD, angina and heart attacks is called atherosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis is a more general term for hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis that causes a buildup of fatty material (referred to as atheromas and plaques) along the inner lining of arteries. Depending on where these blockages occur, they can cause a number of different outcomes:

        * If the blockage occurs in a coronary artery, it causes chest pain (angina).
        * If the blockage is complete, it can cause a heart attack (Myocardial Infarction or MI).
        * If the blockage occurs in one of the arteries near the brain, a stroke can occur.
        * If a blockage occurs in a leg artery, it causes Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) and can cause pain while walking called intermittent claudication.

Atherosclerosis takes many years, even decades to develop and the condition can easily go unnoticed. Sometimes symptoms such as angina will gradually indicate the condition. However, it can also become evident in a sudden and severe way, in the form of a heart attack.

Let's take a look at some of the risk factors for atherosclerosis. Some of these factors are things you can control. By being proactive, you could reduce your risk.

The cosmetic industry has been pulling the wool over your eyes as their cosmetics continue to have ingredients that are harmful and even deadly to human health. But they have no shame since they continue to add these ingredients to their cosmetics because they make the product smell better, flow nicer, cost less, dilute easy, easy to obtain, and fool you that they work.

These ingredients contaminate all forms of personal care products, such as soaps, facial creams, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, hair gels, and toothpaste. If you can not eat these products, than you should not be using them. Every time you put cosmetics and their ingredients onto your skin, they are suck into your blood and immediately go to your liver just as if you had chewed them and swallowed.

Does the cosmetic industry care about how harmful these ingredients are? Not really. They have been using these ingredients since these ingredients were discovered and found useful for their products. Of course, they do testing to make sure there are no major side effects on the skin or scalp, but a lot of the side effects don't show up quickly, since side effects would be related to diseases, which takes awhile to develop. And when these diseases develop, they are no longer related to the skin products used.

Here are some of the most frequently used cosmetic ingredients, which are toxic to your body and can create disease.

  Acrylamide, Acrylate, Butylaminoethyl, Methylacrylate polymer - These are synthetic polymers that are used in some body creams, shampoos, nail lacquers, fabrics. Animal laboratory testing has been linked to tumors. They are also known to cause various skin issues and allergic reactions.

  Parabens, Are para-hydroxybenzoic acid esters (methyl, propyl, butyl) - Are used as a preservative in cosmetics. It is estimated that 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products contain parabens. These chemicals are toxic and cause allergies. Some studies connect these chemicals with cancer. They have also shown to have hormone-disrupting qualities by mimicking estrogen and causing problems in the endocrine system.

  Propylene glycol - This chemical derived from petroleum and is a synthetic product. Because it attracts water it is used in cosmetics as a surfactant, solvent and humectant. It is used as a moisturizer in cosmetics and as a carrier in fragrance oils. It is also used in antifreeze and hydraulic brake fluid. It is toxic and causes allergic reactions. It affects the health of the liver and kidney. It also irriates the skin and prevent normal skin health growth.

  Sodium laurel, lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) - Is a white powder used in thousands of cosmetic products and non-cosmetic products. SLS is a strong degreaser that dries the skin and hair. It can also cause hair loss. Used in many products that are called natural as a result these products are not natural. This product is found in shampoos, toothpastes, lotions, and creams. It is also found in many car washes, engine degreasers, and garage floor cleaners. When combined Triethanolamine (TEA) it can become a nitrosamine, which is a potent class of carcinogen.

  Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum - Are hydrocarbons which come from petroleum products. On the skin, it is heavy and greasy and clogs pores. It is toxic and leads to skin issues. It disrupts natural skin grown causing skin aging. It is also suspected cause of cancer and disrupts hormonal activity. If take internally, it prevents the absorption of nutrient into the blood in the small intestines.

  Phenol carbolic acid, Phenolic compounds - Are used as a preservative and found in many lotions and skin creams. They are toxic and can cause paralysis, convulsions, coma and even death from respiratory failure.

  Benzoic Acid, sodium benzoate - is used as a preservative in cosmetics and foods. Often combined with sodium bisulfites, which are banned in some countries. This is a dangerous additive, since in low amounts it has been associated with brain damage, neurological disorders, and cancer.

  Dioxane PEG, Polysorbates, Laureth, ethoxylated alcohols - Found in many cosmetics and other personal care products. It is easily absorbed through the skin and has been found to be carcinogenic.

  BHA and BHT - Butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene. These chemicals are synthetic antioxidants used in foods and cosmetics. Please avoid them, since they are toxic and may contain toluene which quite toxic.

There are hundreds of other chemicals you should know about so that you can avoid them in the products you use. All of them create problems on your skin, cause internal organ damage, or create diseases - acetone, aluminum chemicals, amyl dimethyl para, chloroxylenol, butylenes glycol, diammonium citrate, formalin or formaldehyde, and list goes on.

If you want good cosmetics and ingredients, check the cosmetics you plan to buy and look for more natural ingredients. Here is a list of good natural cosmetic ingredients - herbs, aloe vera, jojoba oil, coconut oil, natural palm oil, shea butter, olive oil, castile soap, yucca root, lactalbumin, balsam tolu, coconut fatty acids, benzoin gum, witch hazel, myrrh. This list is just a start for you to start looking for more good ingredients in cosmetics and other personal care products you use.

Rudy Silva is a natural nutritionist and has created Good Skin Care Blog which gives you more tips on cosmetics and ingredients and on how to keep your skin healthy and free of blemishes. Go to his Natural Skin Care Blog now.

Ever watch a very large person order a Big Mac, large fries, and top it off with a Diet Coke?

Ever notice that you rarely see thin people drinking diet sodas?

I have. And it made me wonder if could there be a link between diet beverages or artificial sweeteners and obesity.

Research suggests that there is, indeed, a link.

First, our current obesity epidemic has coincided perfectly with the introduction of large amounts of artificial sweeteners into our food supply. While we don't know that one has caused the other, it is suspicious.

For example, the number of Americans who consume products that contain sugar-free sweeteners grew from 70 million in 1987 to 160 million in 2000.

At the same time, the incidence of obesity in the United States has doubled from 15 percent to 30 percent across all age groups, ethnic groups, and social strata. And the number of overweight Americans has increased from about 30 percent to over 65 percent of the population. The fastest growing obese population is children.

Next, we know that just the thought or smell of food triggers a whole set of hormonal and physiologic responses that prepare the body for food.

Just as in Pavlov's dog experiment, where he trained dogs to salivate in anticipation of food simply by ringing a bell, diet sodas and artificial sweeteners act as the bell for your physiology.

Your brain prepares for food even before your fork or cup crosses your lips.

This allows you to anticipate and prepare for the arrival of nutrients in your intestinal tract, improves the efficiency of how your nutrients are absorbed, and minimizes the degree to which food will disturb your natural hormonal balance and create weight gain.

Any sweet taste will signal your body that calories are on the way and trigger a whole set of hormonal and metabolic responses to get ready for those calories.

When you trick your body and feed it non-nutritive or non-caloric sweeteners, like aspartame, acesulfame, saccharin, sucralose, or even natural sweeteners like stevia, it gets confused.

And research supports this.

An exciting new study in the Journal of Behavioral Neuroscience has shown conclusively that using artificial sweeteners not only does not prevent weight gain, but induces a whole set of physiologic and hormonal responses that actually make you gain weight.

The researchers proved this by giving two different groups of rats some yogurt. One batch of yogurt was sweetened with sugar and the other was sweetened with saccharin.

They found that three major things happened over a very short period of time in the rats that were fed artificially sweetened yogurt.

First, the researchers found that the total food eaten over 14 days dramatically increased in the artificial sweetener group -- meaning that the artificial sweetener stimulated their appetite and made them eat more.

Second, these rats gained a lot more weight and their body fat increased significantly.

And third (and this is very troubling) was the change in core body temperature of the rats fed the artificial sweeteners. Their core body temperature decreased, meaning their metabolism slowed down.

So not only did the rats eat more, gain more weight, and have more body fat, but they actually lowered their core body temperature and slowed their metabolism.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: All calories are not created equal.

The study's most astounding finding was that even though the rats that ate the saccharin-sweetened yogurt consumed fewer calories overall than the rats that ate the sugar-sweetened yogurt, they gained more weight and body fat.

This helps disprove the conventional view that people will consume fewer calories by drinking artificially sweetened drinks or eating artificially sweetened foods.

Despite their name, these are not "diet" drinks. They are actually "weight gain" drinks!

My bottom line?

Avoid artificial sweeteners, including aspartame, acesulfame, sucralose, sugar alcohols such as malitol and xylitol (pretty much anything that ends in "ol"), as well as natural artificial sweeteners like stevia.

Stop confusing your body. If you have a desire for something sweet, have a little sugar, but stay away from "fake" foods.

Eating a whole-foods diet that has a low glycemic load and is rich in phytonutrients and indulging in a few real sweet treats once in a while is a better alternative than tricking your body with artificial sweeteners -- which leads to wide scale metabolic rebellion and obesity.

So, put that teaspoon of sugar in your tea and enjoy!

Nerve modulation techniques have been used for a few decades. A spinal cord stimulator is one of the nerve modulation techniques for spinal pain. It is considered the last resort of pain management. It does not address the causes of the pain, but serves as a very effective pain killer. The electrical wires are inserted into the spinal canal, stimulating the spinal cord, which is the center for pain transmission. The wires are connected to a programmable pulse generator, which is buried under the skin. The artificial electric pulses are felt as a comfortable buzzing in the pain area and the usual pain in these areas abate considerably. A spinal cord stimulator is typically given to people who have failed previous spine surgeries, pain due to nerves, diabetic neuropathy, and pain from peripheral vascular diseases. It is also wildly used for intractable angina in European countries, but not in the US. Atlantic Spinal Care can help you if you have persistent lower back and neck pain even if you have failed surgeries or other intractable pain syndromes.

This week I want to share with you some important natural remedies that I have found as I go through some of my old books, nutritional news, and my own experience. Some of these books that are out of print really have some good advice on natural remedies that were used many years ago. Omega 3 update As you know, omega-3 is a necessary supplement and you need to find the best source for it. Neptune Krill Oil is now at the top of the list, since it is found in Antarctica where there is little or no pollution. Krill oil has less dangerous levels of mercury and lead. It also has phospholipids that fish oil does not have, which helps to build your cell membranes. Fish oil is now less desirable, since it will contain contaminates from the ocean waters that have become polluted. Fish oil also becomes rancid quicker than Krill oil. Just make sure if you order or buy this oil that it is Neptune Krill Oil. Antioxidants Using antioxidants and Neptune Krill Oil are the two most important health practices you can do. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and this prevents inflammation, which is the start of various deadly diseases. Antioxidants also protect your eyes from cataract. This is why eating plenty of fruits and vegetables are so important for your health, since they are packed with antioxidants. Eye Redness and Eye Sunburn Eye redness can be cause by chemicals, pollutants, or dust and dirt that gets into your eye causing irritation. Here in the Philippines, I experience what they call Red Eye caused by the pollution and dust that got into my eyes. At a Chinese herbal shop, I found a product called Daigaku eye drops and in combination with the MSM eye drops that I made, I was able to get rid of my Red Eyes in 4 days. You can purchase MSM eye drops which contain ionic silver as an antibacterial. Every one should have MSM eye drops in their remedies kit. You eyes can also get sunburn, kerotoconjunctivitis, which is an overdose of UV light on your cornea, the clear, protective outside layer over your eyes. You can get this from being out in the snow, sea, swimming pool, lake and other highly reflective surfaces. This type of sunburn can have a delayed reaction, showing up after 12 hours and disappearing after 48 hours. This is another condition where MSM drops will help relieve the red eye, gritty feeling, and sensitivity to light. I would add a drop of or so of 99% pure aloe vera gel to the MSM drops to allow the healing and repair to occur without damage to the cornea. The aloe will make the eye drops sting a little more, but you can add one drop of aloe into the MSM to adjust it to your tolerance. I have used straight aloe 99% into my eye when they feel tired without any harm. Of course to avoid all of this you can use sun glasses to avoid excess UV light. Using Sunglasses Using sunglasses is not always a good idea for just normal sun day activities. Glasses will filter out the sun's UV light. When out in the sun always get some sun without sun glasses. Your pituitary, pineal, hypothymus glands, which are right behind your eyes, are stimulated by sun light to produce certain hormones that regulate your body functions. Preventing sunlight from getting into your eyes can lead to imbalances in your hormones which then create disease. Using MSM drop regularly help to keep your eyes clean and eye tissue young and healthy. So there you have a few more ideas on using natural remedies to keep your eyes healthier. Remember, it's a good idea to just add these remedies to your habits gradually doing something every week or every two weeks.