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January 2008 Newsletter
Happy New Year! New Beginnings for 2008
by Beth Ley, Ph.D.
www.blpublications.com
NHL Ministries
IN THE NEWS
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Honey Beats Drugstore Syrups for Childhood Coughs
Folk remedy wins out over synthetic drugs; Finding follows expert panel's advice
to avoid giving young kids common OTC cough-cold drugs
It seems that your grandmother (or great grandmother) knew best when she offered
honey as a way to soothe childhood coughs. The results of a revealing clinical trial
show that honey eases childhood coughs more effectively than the leading
non-prescription cough medicine for kids: an antitussive (cough-suppressing) drug
called dextromethorphan or DXM.
DXM is the active ingredient in dozens of OTC medicines such as Dimetapp DM,
Robitussin, Sudafed, Triaminic, Tylenol Cold, Vicks 44 Cough Relief, Vicks NyQuil,
and store brand counterparts.
This news follows the October, 2007 conclusion of an expert FDA panel, which
scrutinized the safety and effectiveness of antihistamines, decongestants,
antitussins (e.g., DXM) and expectorants, and concluded that the FDA was wrong to
rely on tests in adults to allow use of these common drugs in children under 12.
Key Points
• Honey surpassed dextromethorphan (DXM) for kids' coughs in a controlled clinical
trial.
• DXM proved no better than placebo in earlier study.
• Expert FDA panel advises against use of DMX and common cough-congestion drugs in
kids under six.
The panel found that DXM-based cough medicines don't work for children under age 6,
and recommended against giving DXM to young children.
As the FDA said in its August, 2007 announcement of the panel's October review,
"Questions have been raised about the safety of these products and whether the
benefits justify any potential risks from the use of these products in children,
especially in children under 2 years of age." (FDA 2007) In higher doses, DXM
produces effects similar to those of the illegal drugs ketamine and PCP, which are
known to errant adolescents as "special K" and "angel dust". Accordingly, the FDA
has received several reports of deaths associated with youngsters' abuse of DXM, as
well as brain damage, seizure, loss of consciousness, and irregular heart beat.
(FDA 2005)
The new findings that honey is better than DXM should dissuade parents from assuming
that FDA-approved drugs are safer or more effective than time-tested natural
remedies for mild, transitory illnesses.
Honey's ancient healing reputation
Honey has been used for thousands of years to treat wounds and illnesses, but the
sources of its reputed powers remain unclear. It is proven that honey possesses
strong antiseptic and antibacterial properties, mostly related to the fact that
honey is powerfully "osmotic".
In other words, when bacteria or other microbes come into contact with honey, the
sweetener's physical properties are such that it sucks all of the water out of the
microorganisms, killing them instantly. This osmotic property explains why you can
keep honey at room temperate indefinitely, without fear of spoilage or mold.
Researchers from the Penn State College of Medicine conducted a controlled clinical
trial to test the anti-tussive (cough-suppressing) powers of honey, versus
dextromethorphan (DXM).
Clinical trial yields sweet results for kids' cough care
The scientists enrolled the parents of 105 children aged two to 18 who were
suffering from with upper respiratory tract infections and nighttime coughs. They
chose only kids whose illness was no more than a week old (Paul IM 2007).
The parents and kids were divided into three groups:
• Honey treatment (buckwheat honey)
• Honey-flavored DXM treatment
• No treatment
The trial was "blind" with regard to honey and DXM, in that the parents could not
distinguish between the two treatments.
The children received the normal recommended dose of DXM syrup, or an equivalent
volume of honey: children aged two to five received 1/2 teaspoon, children aged six
to 11 received one teaspoon, and children aged 12 to 18 received 2 teaspoons of DXM
syrup or honey, 30 minutes before bedtime.
The parents were asked to use a point score to quantify the frequency and severity
of their kids' coughing, and how well they and their children slept, for 24 hours
before and during the night of treatment (or non-treatment). All of the parents who
gave their kids honey reported levels of improvement greater than those reported by
the DXM group. Unsurprisingly, the parents chosen to administer no treatment
reported the poorest results. The children treated with honey improved by an
average of 10.71 points, versus only 8.39 points for DXM-treated ...
http://newsletter.vitalchoice.com/e_article000981433.cfm?x=bbPWpbJ,b7B6BygK
GE ALERT UPDATE:
Genetically Engineered SUGAR IN THOUSANDS OF NON-ORGANIC PRODUCTS IN 2008
A new article in the New York Times calls attention to the pending controversy of
unlabeled, under-tested, genetically engineered sugar being laced into breakfast
cereals, chocolates, and a wide variety of non-organic processed foods and beverages
next year. In September, OCA posted an alert to pressure major buyers of sugar beets
to boycott Monsanto's latest herbicide-resistant crop. The American Crystal company,
the #1 white sugar provider in the U.S., along with Kellogg, have brazenly announced
they will welcome the biotech sweetener in early 2008. The New York Times notes that
American Crystal's CEO responded to the deluge of consumer emails stemming from
OCA's alert in September by turning off his email. If American Crystal won't listen,
perhaps some of its major customers will. Please send a letter to Hershey's, Mars,
and Kellogg demanding they keep their sugar additives GE-free. And of course keep in
mind that your only real protection against GE sugar or any Genetically Modified
Organism is to buy organic.
Take action: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7031.cfm
IN BETH'S KITCHEN
Barley Mushroom side dish
Prep and Cook Time: Prep time: 20 min;
Cook time: 55 min
Ingredients:
• ½ cup pearl barley
• 1 medium onion, chopped fine
• 3 medium cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced in ¼ inch cubes
• 2½ cups crimini mushrooms, cut in half and
sliced (can use other types of
mushrooms if
desired)
• 1/8 cup red vinegar
• 6 cups + 1TBS chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 TBS chopped fresh parsley
• 1 TBS chopped fresh thyme
• ½ TBS chopped fresh sage
• Salt and black pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Rinse and soak barley in 1 cup of warm water while preparing rest of ingredients.
2. Heat 1 TBS broth in a medium soup pot. Healthy Sauté onion, garlic, and carrots
in broth for 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently.
3. Add vinegar and mushrooms and continue to sauté for another 3 minutes.
Add drained barley and cook for about 2 minutes.
4. Add rest of broth, bring to a boil on high heat. Once it comes to a boil reduce
heat to medium and simmer for about 40 minutes, or until barley and carrots are
tender.
5. Add herbs, salt and pepper at end of cooking and serve.
Mediterranean Brussels Sprouts
Cutting Brussels sprouts into quarts and steaming them helps to make them sweeter
with no odor. The easy Mediterranean Dressing enhances their flavor.
Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
• 1 lb Brussels sprouts
Mediterranean Dressing
• 3 TBS extra virgin olive oil or 2 TBS organic
butter
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 2 medium cloves garlic
• Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Fill the bottom of the steamer with 2 inches of water.
2. While steam is building up in steamer, cut Brussels sprouts into quarters and let
sit for 5 minutes.
3. Chop or press garlic and let sit for at least 5 minutes.
4. Steam Brussels sprouts for 5 minutes.
5. Transfer to a bowl. For more flavor, toss Brussels sprouts with the remaining
ingredients while they are still hot. (Mediterranean Dressing does not need to be
made separately.)
Research shows that carotenoids found in foods are best aborbed when consumed with
oils. That's why we put butter on corn, squash, etc.
SCRIPTURE
CS Lewis wrote: "Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for
those desires exists. A baby feels hunger; well there is such a thing as food; a
duckling wants to swim; well there is such a thing as water, etc. If I find myself a
desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation
is that I was made for another world."
We are no longer primitive. Now the whole world seems "not holy." Humanity has moved
from Pantheism to pan-atheism. Pan-atheism is the belief that because there is no
God, nothing can be properly termed sacred or holy. It is hard to desecrate a grove
and change your mind. Humanity has doused the burning bush and cannot rekindle it.
They are lighting matches in vain under every green tree. Was there a time when the
wind would cry out His praise or the hills would shout and extol Him?
Kim Clement - read the hold word at http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/5952
Jesus said His Kingdom is not of this world.
Jn 18:36
Like Jesus, we are not of this world.
Jn 17:14-17
Jesus will come to receive us so that we
will be with Him.
John 14:1-6
We will have an eternal heavenly body, and we will be present with the Lord.
2 Cor 5:1-11
For our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for the new body Jesus will
give us.
Phil 3:20-4:1
Currently, however, we are strangers, pilgrims, aliens and sojourners on earth.
1 Pet 1:1, 2:11-12, Hebrews 11:13-16
And friendship with the world is hatred toward God.
James 4:4
(Remember, we are still to love all our neighbors around the world. See note.)
Because we do not belong to the world,
the world will hate us.
Jn 15:18-19
Christ will deliver us from the present evil age.
Gal 1:3-5
Death (leaving this earth) cannot separate us from God’s eternal love
(which will continue in heaven).
Rom 8:35-39
We are children of God, heirs with Christ. Therefore, the sufferings of this
present earth are not worthy to be compared with the future glory
(in our real home).
Rom 8:15-26
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FEATURED BOOKS
Medicinal Mushrooms for the Immune System
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* How to prevent and naturally treat diabetes AND the complications associated with
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Food is your best medicine!
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$5.95 US
ORDER [click here]
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NUTRITION COUNSELING
with Dr. Beth now available in TWIN CITIES.
Two locations available:
In Golden Valley, call 763-391-7636
In Savage, call 952-746-4404
For more info click here
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QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Q and A:
Send in your questions... there's a good chance
other's would like to hear the answer too.
contact us by e-mail at
bley@blpublications.com | |
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