Wednesday, November 11, 2009

GE Corn Health Concerns

New health evidence sparks call for ban on GE corn and better food labelling

Sydney Thursday November 12, 2009: A type of genetically engineered (GE) corn approved for human consumption in Australia has now been linked to increased risk of developing chronic kidney and heart disease. High Lysine corn LY038 was also withdrawn from commercial development in Europe because of safety concerns.

Greenpeace calls on our food regulator – Food Standards Australia and New Zealand to immediately review its approval of Monsanto’s LY038 GE corn for human consumption, in light of this new evidence of health risks, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

“The Food Labelling Review being chaired by Dr Neal Blewitt must take note of this case as an example of why we need to improve the labelling of genetically engineered ingredients,” said Greenpeace GE campaigner Laura Kelly. “It’s also time for an end to the rubber stamp approach FSANZ takes with applications for genetically engineered food products. For a start FSANZ should immediately review it’s approval of LY038 and properly consider the health risks.”

“This case indicates a serious regulatory failure by the Federal Government,” continued Ms Kelly. “Parliamentary Secretary for Health Mark Butler must be held accountable for any health impacts Australians suffer from eating genetically engineered food. This latest research shows these health impacts could be serious.”

The research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reaffirms that compounds found in high lysine corn called “advanced glycation endproducts”, or AGEs, “are pathogenic…suggesting that dietary AGEs are directly linked to increased [oxidative stress] and the risk of developing CKD [chronic kidney disease] and CVD [cardiovascular disease].” (1)

Dr Jack Heinemann of New Zealand’s Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety (INBI) had warned FSANZ of the health risks associated with this type of high lycine corn, and says there is no excuse for its continued approval for human consumption.

“FSANZ knows that there are strong links between dietary AGEs and certain human diseases but it hasn’t even asked for a list of novel compounds that may appear in this corn much less attempted to evaluate their safety through scientific tests,” said Dr Heinemann.

When the European Food Safety Authority asked the developer, Monsanto/Renessen, to supply additional scientific information that this corn will be safe for humans to eat. Monsanto pulled the development of GE high lysine corn.

(1) Helen Vlassara, et al. Protection against Loss of Innate Defenses in Adulthood by Low Advanced Glycation End Products (AGE) Intake: Role of the Antiinflammatory AGE Receptor-1

J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., Nov 2009; 94: 4483 - 4491.

Contact:

Greenpeace GE campaigner Laura Kelly ph: 0407 414 572

Media Manager Carolin Wenzel ph: 0417 668 957

Jack Heinemann, INBI ph: 0011 64 3 364 2500

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Farm Update Oct. 09


Having, at last, completed the clearing of the old nursery where it is now ready to build the new shade houses for the growing of our vegetables in the cooler months, and for our new trees for the orchard, I have commenced on their erection. This is achieved in a similar way to our trelliss' on which we grow our passion fruit, only they are much lower. In this instance the star pickets are much shorter, with the width spanned by the poly-piping being almost half as wide again. After the main structure is erected and covered with wire mesh, this is then covered by shade cloth. For whereas in the cooler climates structures of this nature are used to maximise the benefits of sunlight, and often referred to as hot-houses, in the tropics the opposite effects is required, that is, to lessen the effects of the sunlight by the use of shade-cloth, and could well be called cool-houses, as this is the effect that is desired.

Speaking of trellis' here is to be seen some of the passion fruit vines that have survived the depredations of the roaming cattle, and lo and behold they have set passion fruit. I must admit that I had given up all hope of this occurring, for the damage to the vines was massive with at least 60% being eaten completely out. And those that had survived were a sore sight to see.



The new papaya patch has now been completed and fully planted. Between each papaya tree I am growing tomatoes and beans. All being well the new papayas will be ready as the older planting is commencing to produce less fruit. And the new tomatoes will also be ripening as the old bushes come to the end of their lives. I have never tried to grow beans before at this time of the year. The nurserymen say it is possible to do so. I will keep you posted.




And speaking of tomatoes, Here is today's harvest. Well most of it to be precise, for I also picked a bowl full separately. As can be seen we have an abundant supply at the moment.





The persimmon tree was so badly effected that I was very surprised when it commenced to shoot from the old roots. And now we are being blessed with the first crop, with the new fruit just setting.





Last, but not least, the Brazillian Cherries have just about completed their season. They are a small fruit born on a shrubby bush which grows to an average height of five to six feet. The fruit is quite tart, being almost sweet when fully ripe. They are very thirst quenching.



This is a brief addendum on the building of the shade houses for the vegetables. The previous garden edgings/borders, to the beds had in some instances been burnt out and required replacing before erecting the superstructure. Fortunately off-cuts from a nearby saw-mill were available just for the collecting so it was only a matter of driving over in the van and rummaging through the heap to find suitable lengths.




The longest, and the hardest part of the whole operation is/was the placement of them in the required position. This necessitated digging out the required trench into which they were then fitted and the soil then back-filled.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Jim's Story. My Process of Healing.

Nature's way is always towards healing, but sometimes it takes a crisis for us to realize that fully.
After a serious head injury at work( I work on a farm in rural Victoria) I found myself battling all the traumas and many of the side effects of amnesia. The heartbreak of not knowing on's partner, not recognising or knowing the bond with one's kids, or even one's own world, floundering with poor co-ordination, slow reactions, interrupted sleep, very poor concentration and a general lack of mental speed - all these things and many others, just tore me to pieces. I can't tell you how many x-rays, MRI's and tests I endured - I'm just glad I don't really remember them all. My problem seemed to be that there was nothing definitely wrong - I just didn't work like I used to - however that was? Yep, this Humpty Dumpty couldn't be put back together. Regardless, I knew there was something haywire, even if the scans all showed that I was OK.

Any-way I managed to get some of my life back together, fall in love(again) with the partner whom I didn't remember, and together(maintained by her strength and love), we tried to pretend we were healthy. But then again, most people pretend about health these days. You know, sometimes "acting as if", is not the best way of finding true health.

Well when I started having weird stuff happen with my vision and my balance I became really worried, I did not want to pursue that medical treadmill again, so I started to do some seeking of my own.

I discovered that the body will always heal itself if left to itself and if supplied with suitable nutrition and care. So I figured diet had to be my first change. I wanted to get maximum nutruition - isn't that the real purpose of eating? So Iwent 100% raw food. Thress months later I decided that I wanted to help my healing by going on a fast. I wanted some guidance here. I had read that stuff can bubble up during a fast, so I searched for help. I found John Fielder and the Clohesy River Health Farm. I found out that John was no phoney - he had lived this healthy life style for fourty years or more. So I decided to do a ten day fast at the Clohesy River Heaqlth Farm. Now that is a big step for some-one who had very little money, and who had not been away from his partner for even a moment in two and a half years.

Yes the fast was costly in lots of ways, but it has been well worth it. Others I spoke with who had undertaken fasts in other places, or even at home, said they were nothing like a fast under John Fielder. Fasting is about resting and allowing your body to do its own thing, and that's what Clohesy's all about. It is intense and wholly beneficial. I felt that John was truly showing me the essentials of healthy livinh. His words were full of meaning, coming from some-one who had lived this simple, caring way for over 40 years.

Other places may have the facilities, all turned on with all the "mod cons".( If you want them, then go to a motel), but then the essence, and the power of healing may very well get lost. There is a reason that John insists on no radios, no TV's, and no cosmetics. There is a reason that Clohesy is out in the bush and not huddled inside a city. There's a reasonthat we are taught to embracethe real needs in this time of healing. That reason is to ensure that we rest totally and that the fast is as effective as possible.

Now that I have travelled the Fielder way, I can see the sense of it. I can see the power and the message and the healing that John is directing me to. John's daily consultations allowed me to ask a thousand questions, and always his answers and direction sent me away with more to think about, and with another piece to the puzzle. Healing is not about taking a pill, or throwing a switch. It is not and instant, just add water and swallow this. Healing is about working to assist your body, your healing centre to do its thing. Healing is a wonderful, powerful patient process. When one leaves John's care one knows that healing is what life's entire experience is about.

As for results..... well on day 5 of my fast my arthriric pains in my knees and elbows began to disappear. I haven't had a single wobbly weird vision thing since - and I was having up to 40 per week. My eyes are clearing( I apparently always had blood-shot eyes) . On day 9 of the fast I slept for 5 hours without waking - that was the first since my accident. Constant interrupted sleep has been my norm for three years.

Now my mind is full of the desire to do things. I can feel it working again. No I have not regained my memory again yet, but as John has taught me, healing is a slow process, and I'm on that healing road now. I know I am! I'm trying to apply all the stuff John has taught me, and I still have a great deal of tweaking to do.

One thing I do know - this entire experience has been a great stride toward health, and it has taught me that my body can heal itself, and that it doesn't make mistakes. In fact it even fixes up all the mistakes I make. So armed with what John has taught me, I'm journeying on and I am just so excited about every single day now.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Artificial-Sweeteners-More-Dangerous-than-You-Ever-Imagined.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/13/Artificial-Sweeteners-More-Dangerous-than-You-Ever-Imagined.aspx

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Banning Bottled Water

September 26, 2009 05:07pm

THE very last bottle of still water has been run out of Bundanoon in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, as the sleepy hamlet officially became the world's first town to boycott bottled H2O.

The residents of Bundanoon in July voted 355 to one to ban commercially bottled water, in an effort to reduce the town's carbon footprint.

Bundanoon launched the Bundy-on-Tap initiative at a parade and an official switchover today, attended by 400 locals and visitors. Free water stations on the main street and school were turned on for the first time, while Bundy-on-Tap reusable bottles went on sale across the town.

The four water stations will be open 24 hours a day.

Free chilled water will also be available in the town's stores.

Bundy-on-Tap organiser and local businessman Huw Kingston said it was a proud day for Bundanoon, a couple of hours south-west of Sydney.

"From something to go from an idea to reality, I think there is a lot of pride in the town today," he told AAP.

Mr Kingston said the ban had put Bundanoon "on the map", and he was confident it would inspire other towns to adopt similar boycotts.

"It is catching on - there are a lot of towns worldwide that have been in touch about this, and obviously we're happy to help as a small community," he said.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Home Pesticides Linked to Childhood Cancers

Home Pesticides Linked to Childhood Cancers

by S. L. Baker, features writer

(NaturalNews) Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a malignant disease of the bone marrow, is the most common cancer diagnosed in children. In fact, nearly one third of all pediatric cancers are cases of ALL. Although this form of cancer can be cured in many cases, in the worst case scenarios the cancer crowds out normal cells in the bone marrow, metastasizes to other organs and takes the lives of about 15 percent of the youngsters it attacks. What triggers so many kids, usually between the ages of three and seven, to develop this cancer in the first place? A new study just published in the August issue of the journal Therapeutic Drug Monitoring raises the suspicion that commonly used household pesticides are the cause.

Previous studies in agricultural areas of the US have shown strong associations between pesticides and childhood cancers but this is the first research conducted in a large, urban area to look at the connection. The study, conducted between January of 2005 and January of 2008, involved 41 pairs of children with ALL and their mothers and a control group of 41 matched pairs of healthy children and their mothers. The volunteer research subjects were all from Lombardi and Children's National Medical Center and lived in the Washington metropolitan area.

Urine samples collected from the children and their mothers were analyzed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to look for metabolites that provide evidence of household pesticide exposure. Specifically, the scientists were looking for metabolites associated with the pesticides known by their chemical name as organophosphates (OP). The researchers found evidence of the pesticides in the urine of more than half of all the participants, but levels of two common OP metabolites, diethylthiophosphate (DETP) and diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP), were significantly higher in the children who suffered from cancer. What's more, the mothers who participated in the study filled out questionnaires that revealed more moms whose kids had cancer used pesticides (33 percent) than did the mothers in the control group (14 percent) whose youngsters were cancer-free.

"We know pesticides -- sprays, strips, or 'bombs,' are found in at least 85 percent of households, but obviously not all the children in these homes develop cancer. What this study suggests is an association between pesticide exposure and the development of childhood ALL, but this isn't a cause-and-effect finding," the study's lead investigator, Offie Soldin, PhD, an epidemiologist at Lombardi, said in a statement to the media. "Future research would help us understand the exact role of pesticides in the development of cancer. We hypothesize that pre-natal exposure coupled with genetic susceptibility or an additional environmental insult after birth could be to blame."

While the scientists aren't ready to flat out say pesticides cause cancer, when you look at the big picture and see what is already known about the havoc pesticides appear to cause in the human body, it makes sense for parents and parents-to-be to ditch pesticides -- for their own health and for the health of their children. For example, NaturalNews has previously reported on the link between residential pesticides and childhood brain cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/026155_p...), and the strong association between a serious pre-cancerous blood condition and exposure to pesticides (http://www.naturalnews.com/026626_p...).

For more information:
http://explore.georgetown.edu/news/...

Living Off the Land(in Suburbia)

This video, should, so I believe, be viewed by us all, for it shows how it is possible to be virtually self-sufficient in suburbia. That it is not necessary to sell our soul to achieve a level of independance which most of us only dream of.


http://paulnison.blogspot.com/2009/09/living-off-land.html

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Mars Story


Twenty-eight years ago I found this Health Farm via word of mouth.

At twenty-one I had no idea what to expect let alone no food for 16 days - "water only", is that possible?

Now, many years later, burnt out with work, life, being a single parent - with a large number of holidays owing, I womdered, hoped, then discovered that John Fielder still existed, along with the farm.
To me the Perfect Holiday.
  • Time out of life
  • Fasting
  • Rejuvenation for an exhausted, neglected, and abused body.
  • Not to forget John's years of experience.
Today I am able to comprehend the essence of Raw Food - Natural Hygiene. Disease as being the process of cure - and that I am responsible for the outcome or future of each day I live in, all areas of my life.

My challenge, and I think this is important to say, is getting back out there " into life", maintain strength, determination, confidence to be an individual - facing ridicule, negative opinions, and being treated as a "Freak".

Simply, I guess we have but one life, and personally I don't wish to look into anybody's back garden, for should I do that, the weeds will be strangling my neck in my own.

I have had an amazing journey here. I've observed the process, let go and gone with it.

Time to rest. time to learn, time to lie around, meditate, time for healing, time to listen to everything, to watch, to be serene.

I feel gratitude to John's wisdom, guidance, grace, and patience with this human race.

I feel blessed to be the only person here at this time. I feel totally taken care of. I have been able to trust. Thank you Dr John.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Farm Up-Date


The refurbishment of the units has now been completed, and all being well will not be required again for another twenty years. Our on-going battle with the termites, I feel sure will never cease though.


Our Bullock's Heart custard apples are ripening at least two months early. Their flesh is more of a pink colour alongside that of the other varieties which is white.They are one of my favourite varieties of custard apple. They usually do not ripen until just prior to Xmas. The other varieties of custard apples have just completed their season.



The Jaboticaba's which grow into a small tree, and bear cherry sized fleshy fruits, are just commencing to flower, and will, hopefully, set a good crop for us this year.






This is both the flower and the fruit of the Jak fruit. When asked to describe what it is like, I have said it looks like crayfish, and tastes like bubble-gum. The fruit has been known to grow to 70 pounds in weight. The fruit grows on the main limbs of the tree, and on occasion can grow on the roots.



In this view you can discern the new mangos which have just set. Some of our trees appear to be setting fruit quite heavily, which augers well for the coming season. Of course, if it is too dry, they will drop quite a large percentage of their fruit.
Setting of the fruit can be effected by rain, which then washes the pollen out of the flowers and stops fertilisation. It can also be effected by wind which blows the pollen out of the flowers.


This is another variety of custard apple whose native habitat is central and south America, known as Rollinea Deliciosa. And delicious it is. This is a very young fruit and grows to the size of an apple, and even larger. Its flavour is remniscent of lemon meringue pie.





The citrus are just commencing to flower and set their fruit. The flowering and fruiting usually goes hand in hand with the ripening of the previous season's crop.







The Yellow Sapote, or lekuma, is another fruit native to central and south America. A very dense and rich fruit, one which nursing mothers require to be careful with, as if they eat too much, it can make their milk too rich and thus upset the baby. The name Sapote, in the local dialect, means fruit. So we have, Yellow, Black, White, and Green Sapote, all of which are unrelated botanically.



Our Papaya's are just setting their first crop. These will be our first crop since the fire. Papayas require well drained soil, and as we did not have an area suitable for them earlier than the beginning of this year, were unable to plant them previously. The normal time from planting to crop bearing is fifteen to eighteen months where we live. In a warmer climate it can be as early as twelve months.




The Sapodilla fruit, is about the size of a large egg, although there are a number of varieties which can be as large as a table tennis ball. In our area they are very slow growing, as can be seen though they are setting fruit. the whole of the fruit is eaten, skin and all. The flavour is remniscent of cinnamon. They are commonly known as chico chico.




Surprising as it may well seem, we are able to grow a variety of Mulberry here. And ours are fruiting at this very moment. Although they are a nice fruit to have, the variety we have available do not have the flavour, nor sweetness of those grown in the southern areas, nor those I have tasted in California.




This is another of our jak fruit trees which, as can be seen is loaded with fruit, some of which are in the stage of ripening. In the Asian countries they are cooked when green, primarily with vegetables, and used this way as they take on the flavours of other foods.






The Soursop, is the same botanical family as the custard apple, with one variety of custard apple being known as the sweetsop.
When opened the flesh and seeds appear to be vey similar to those of the custard apple, except the flesh is quite stringy, and is sour to the taste. And although it is quite a job to de-seed the flesh, many do so, and then blend the flesh in a blender, claiming it is much easier to eat that way, and enhances the flavour somewhat.



Many will ask the question as to how it is that I have a non-fruiting tree in the orchard? This tree is the Bottle Brush tree. And yes, it does not bear fruit. It is a native plant to OZ and adds a little colour to the orchard.







This is to show that the flower really does look like a bottle brush.









And to show that we do appreciate colour in our environment this is a Pink Bauhinia tree.






The Bauhinia's come in Pink, Blue and White. the one on the left being white. I have as yet to acquire a blue one.

Jan's Story

Sent: Wednesday, 16 September 2009 8:24 AM
To: John Fielder
Subject: Re: a Hello

Jan . delighted to have you run my email, as I consider you were the turning point of my outlook to maintaining my health, one has to realise they are responsible for their own lifestyle and currently I do not let others in mainstream alter my basic needs, my other goal has been to remove all negativity from my aura, have had to by pass a long term gal pal who basically made me feel like crap when in her company.

I always desire to return to your Farm ...one day eh!

many thanks for the encouragement to take a new road, has been successful for me.....cheers Jan

----- Original Message -----

From: John Fielder

To: .

Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:24 AM

Subject: RE: a Hello

Hi Jan,

So lovely to hear from you, and particularly with regards to your health maintenance. I commend you, and look forward to hearing from you again in 10 years with the same story.

May I request a favour? I would like to run your e-mail on my blog to encourage others. I would only use your Christian name. Please let me know what you think?

Kind regards,

John

John L Fielder,DO,DC,ND(Adel)

Osteopath & Lifestyle Consultant

Academy of Natural Living

www.johnfielder.com.au


From: .Sent: Tuesday, 15 September 2009 12:35 PM
To: anl1@activ8.net.au
Subject: a Hello

Jan . touching base John, I came and spent 4 days at the Farm in 1990 after a breast operation.

Have noted changes to the Farm, well done.

I am keeping good health actually for the past 10yrs or so this has been my mantra " maintain health.

Wishing you all the very best, cheers Jan

Friday, September 4, 2009

Mobile Phones and Brain Damage

As all those who know me will verify, I do not own, nor do I wish to own a mobile phone, convenient though they may well appear. I have always felt that the risk of harm from them is far too great to expose myself to such a risk. And any-way, we have lived and survived quite well prior to their appearance, for aeons of time, and their intrusion into our everyday life has, in my opinion, only further increased the stress under which we live. An intrusion, I believe we can well do without, along with the possibility of harm from the EMF's.

This new research further illustrates my point.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/

Monday, August 24, 2009

Farm Up-Date August



The termites are an on-going problem, and from time to time it requires that, in spite of taking every possible precaution, I need to replace the timber that they have been feasting on.



In this instance we are having to replace the roofing timbers, with galvanised steel bearers and have taken the opportunity to also replace the roof itself, as some of the iron was commencing to rust. In this way I am hoping that our friends the termites, will cease to be such a problem.
Our friends had also had an enjoyable time chewing away at the internal walls separating the units, and they are being replaced with a sheeting which is said to be termite proof. All being well, it should be completed by next week-end.


Alison, an Osteopath, and long standing friend and I had a picnic lunch on the Esplanade the day she left the farm to spend a week seeing the sights in Cairns, prior to flying back to the UK. And yes it was a tropical fruit lunch and that is papaya that you can see, as well as Rollinea Deliciosa, a central and South American custard apple.



Another long standing friend from the UK,Annette, also assisted us with our painting, as the chamfer board on the Dining room was badly in need of some TLC. She did a wonderful job, especially as heights are not her forte. Yes., as can be seen here, she braved the topmost rungs of our extension ladder to not only rub it all down, but to also apply two coats of paint!!!!



Alonside the refurbishment of our units I am at present occupied with the rehabilitation of the nursery which was destroyed in the fire. This is something which I have been delaying, as it was badly overgrown, and quite a mess really, and not high on the priority list. The time has come, as with all things, to rectify the damage.




Our Papayas are at the stage where they are setting fruit, and it is possible that we will be eating our own papayas soon after Xmas all being well.






The Brazillian Cherries are commencing to flower, and we trust will set fruit in the very near future.







Some of our young mango's have flowered and not set any fruit








Whereas our older trees are flowering and setting fruit profusely








And here are to be seen the first of our tomatoes setting. I am hopeful that we will soon be self-sufficient in this regards.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

The Pill

Endometriosis Part IV -How Oral Contraceptive Pills Effects Vitamins, and Circulatory System In A Woman's Body

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Veronique


Three days ago, a friend of nearly 30 years died. This friend was a 100% raw foodist, grew much of her own food , and was very active. Amongst her peers she was considered as exemplary in her lifestyle. She was 60 years of age.

This is the story of her passing as I know it. About ten days prior to he death she developed, strong pain throughout her whole body. She then decided to drink only vegetable juices for a few days. As after four or so days no change had occurred, she then decided to drink water only. There was still no change till eventually she was so incapacitated that she was unable to care for herself in any way, and no-one was available to assist her she was hospitalized.

The hospital could find no cause. They were consulting with others worldwide to try to find a solution. One hour prior to her death, she was diagnosed with Lymphoma of the Bone. They claim that it only developed in the last few weeks – that is that it only manifested itself in that time.

For a few weeks prior to her death she had been eating raw cacao beans, which to my knowledge, she had not been doing previously. At the time she commented to a friend that she was not feeling so well and must have over-done it on the cacao beans, and would require to eat lightly for a while.

It is my considered opinion that the eating of the cacao beans, whilst not being the only factor involved, was sufficiently harmful to push her over the edge.

For a further insight into the factors that may well have contributed towards her death at this early age, it might be of interest to note that she was heavily into social drugs for many years of her early adult life, and at one stage had cancer of the lungs, which she successfully survived. She was a single mother, and estranged from her only son, as well as being estranged from her parents . they still being alive. The path she had chosen in life was not an easy one, yet through it all I never knew her to be depressed, or essentially unhappy. I am sorry that I was unable to be with her at this time, as we lived over three thousand miles apart. Her passing was/is a sad loss of a dear friend who was always there to assist whenever needed.

Knowing her, I feel sure she would wish that we should be happy for her, that her suffering was short and brief, and to hold a wake being joyful and happy for having known her, and had the pleasure of those, only too short years.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Exercise and Heart Disease

New Evidence: Exercise Helps Heart Disease, Increases Survival Better than Angioplasty

by S. L. Baker, features writer

(NaturalNews) At the European Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation meeting recently held in Barcelona, Spain, new heart research was presented that shows one treatment in particular can provide remarkable help for patients with certain forms of serious heart disease. It's not a new drug or surgical procedure. Instead, it's a natural therapy -- plain old-fashioned regular exercise.

In fact, in several studies just presented at the meeting, exercise reduced the markers of heart disease in patients following coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). What's more, it improved indications of disease in people with heart failure, a condition usually thought to be incurable and often just treated with symptom-relieving drugs. But the news that's perhaps most likely to make some interventional cardiologists' hearts skip a beat or two was the evidence presented that showed that exercise improved cardiac event-free survival in coronary patients better than angioplasty with stents.

Also called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), angioplasty is commonly used to help people with coronary artery disease whose arteries are narrowed and even blocked by a build-up of sticky plaque. By threading a thin tube through a blood vessel in the arm or groin, interventional cardiologists perform angioplasty to restore blood flood through a clogged artery. A tiny balloon at the end of the tube is inflated when it reaches the exact spot of blockage. That pushes the plaque outward against the walls of the artery, restoring blood flow. A small metal device called a stent is also carried by the tube and deployed at the site of the blockage in order to prop open the artery.

This approach to treating heart disease is a huge business. A report in Bloomberg News last fall noted that about 800,000 angioplasties are performed each year in the U.S. at a cost of about $10 billion annually. And, although many cardiologists consider angioplasty to be the "gold standard" of care in most types of acute coronary events such as heart attack, the procedure's long term benefits have been questioned by many doctors. In addition, the role of angioplasty in treating other kinds of coronary disease, like angina, isn't clear.

To help shed light on this issue, researchers at the University of Leipzig in Germany conducted a study to compare the event-free survival rate in 101 stable angina patients. Research subjects with the condition were divided randomly into two groups. Each group was treated with either a regular exercise program or with angioplasty.

The results, just presented at the European Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation meeting, showed that after five years of follow-up, the study participants who went through exercise training had a better event-free survival rate than those treated with stent angioplasty. In the exercise group, 63 percent of patients had survived, free of cardiac events. However, only 40 percent in the angioplasty group had survived without cardiac problems (which included heart attack, stroke and death).

Two other studies released at the Barcelona conference also back up the idea that exercise can often help even patients with very serious heart problems. Research by Dr. Tomasz Mikulski and colleagues from the Medical Research Centre in Warsaw, Poland, showed that aerobic training using an exercise bike not only improved the physical fitness of cardiac patients following bypass surgery, but also reduced their cholesterol levels and markers of inflammation (which are associated with heart disease).

Dr. Marcus Sandri from the University of Leipzig presented data showing that a moderate exercise program daily for four weeks improved the function of endothelial cells in patients with heart failure. This is important because endothelial cells, which line the circulatory system, are associated with the progression of heart disease and heart failure when they don't function properly.

No improvement was noted in the control group of heart failure patients who did not exercise. Dr Sandri noted in a statement to the media that the beneficial effect of exercise was seen as much in older subjects as in younger. "The effects of exercise were not diminished in our older heart failure patients which suggests that exercise as a treatment might be just as effective in older patients as younger," he explained.

Friday, June 26, 2009

San Diego

My last port of call in the USA, prior to flying out to OZ, and home near Cairns, via Sydney, where I made a quick stop-over to visit my daughter, was San Diego. Here I had the privilege and joy of spending a few days with James and Jera, whom I had met on my previous visit. They lived in a semi-rural area, about an hours drive from the city on the family estate.

Before we travelled to their home we spent an hour or so on the beach- front, having a picnic lunch in a very natural way sitting on the rocks. It was a most pleasant experience, to say the least, and one which could not have been better chosen.

I must, once again, have had a slack attack with my photography, as their organic vegetable garden missed out on being photographed for me to be able to share it with you.





Nevertheless I did photograph the large pond, or dam, which is on the property, and from which the water is drawnto water their garden and trees. Preferring to not walk along the roads which did not have foot-paths, each day I made it my business to enjoy the dam and its environs by briskly walking around it several times. I am not sure of the distance covered, but found that I could circumnavigate it at least 16 times in an hour.


We visited several pot-lucks as we toured the local district informing those who attended of my up and coming lecture.
















All of them were held in delightful garden settings, and although the sun was shining, the weather was still quite cool.




On my last day, James, Jera, and I hiked up a nearby hill to their home which provided an extensive panoramic view of the surrounding country-side. From memory, I believe it took us just over an hour to reach the top-most point.





As can be seen, the country, without water, is quite dry with low lying bushy cover. When water is supplied it blooms, growing a wide range of fruits and vegetables, including some sub-tropical ones.


I for one, am eternally grateful to James and Jera for inviting into their home and giving me the opportunity of sharing their thoughts, feelings and dreams, with me.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Houston, Texas


After attending the church service, followed by the pot-luck luncheon in Hot Springs, Janis, Her sister Sheila, and I set off to travel to Houston, to eventually arrive at our host Anna's and her husband Eric's. Their home is in what I would term as an exquisite setting for an urban home, called most appropriately Woodlands.




The generosity of Anna and Eric in hosting our annual gatherings, with the amount of time and energy involved, is indeed most generous. And all who are involved are truly thankful for their kindness in enabling it to ocur. Thank you Anna and Eric.





As with most of my lectures, those in Houston were no exception, with most commencing with a pot-luck meal.






A wide range of fruits and vegetables were available to us through farmers markets with much of the produce coming from Mexico. The range, and quality available, in my opinion, was far greater, and better than in the local super markets.





This is the venue for one of the lectures at a public library in the city of Houston. It was very well set up with overhead projector, and other facilities, etc.






Not all was work. One of the days we took the opportunity of enjoying the sunshine and having a walk and a picnic lunch on the river bank. The river is an artificial one running through the city centre, and has been very tastefully landscaped with the surounding area being a most pleasant and attractive environment.



Even though it was an artificial environment, the tortoises had made their homes there, and fish were also evident.






Mamiko is an old friend of many years standing who is an author and translator living in Houston, and travelling frequently to Japan to give lectures on Natural Hygiene, and promote her books. She is also host to the local Natural Hygiene Society, which it is my privilege to address each year.