February 2006 Alternative Medicine&Natural Health Newsletter

The Alternative Medicine & Natural Health Newsletter is sponsored by ALTERNATIVE HEALTH INSURANCE SERVICES.

Since 1985, Alternative Health Insurance Services has helped businesses and individuals find the best value in health insurance with an emphasis on coverage for alternative medicine and natural therapies. Please visit www.AlternativeInsurance.com to learn about options for your personal or group health insurance.

Our goal is to provide you with information and articles that are of interest to you and may be of value to you. Information we include is gathered from a variety of publications.

If you have not read our previous newsletters, they are also posted on our website.

Blue Cross is increasing individual plan rates by approximately 25% on March 1. If you enroll on a Blue Cross individual plan prior to that date, you can lock in the current lower rates for your first six months of coverage. Please contact our office for details. Your coverage can begin any day of the month, but no later than February 28 to take advantage of the lower rates.

Eating More Than Five Portions Of Fruit And Vegetables a Day Can Substantially Reduce The Risk Of Stroke
According to a meta-ananysis appearing in The Lancet, UK researchers have reviewed data from eight studies involving over 257 500 people from Europe, Japan, and the USA, observing that compared to individuals who have less than three fruit and vegetable servings a day, those with three to five servings per day had an 11% reduction in the incidence of stroke, while those with more than five servings per day had a relative reduction of 26%.
Internet Resources:
Press Release on NPIcenter

Whole Grains Prove Vital to Older Adults
A new study shows that older adults who eat whole grains foods instead of refined grain products may be at lower ...More

Blackcurrants may prevent onset of Alzheimer's
Research indicates that blackcurrants could prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease, suggesting their extracts could be included in a range of processed functional foods... Read

In Vitro Study Finds Cranberry Compounds Block Cancer
Researchers, in a study published in The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, prepared proanthocyanidins-rich fractions from whole cranberry extract and tested the fractions against eight tumor cell lines and screened for the effect on tumor growth. The researchers observed that the fractions inhibited the proliferation of the tumor cell lines without inhibiting the growth of normal embryonic mouse cells.
Internet Resources:
Press Release on NPIcenter

Study: Walking can offer fast depression relief
Walking for 30 minutes a day can help depressed patients feel better for up to an hour after the activity, according to a new study. Previous studies have shown that exercise, along with medication and counseling, can help depression, but the researchers say this is the first to show the exercise can have a positive effect right away.
Houston Chronicle/Associated Press

Study: Modest exercise in seniors drives away dementia
Older people who exercise modestly three times a week have a reduced risk for developing dementia, according to a new study. The study of more than 1,700 men and women older than 65 found seniors who did as little as 15 minutes of modest exercise three days per week had about a 30% lower risk of developing dementia. USA TODAY (1/17)

DHEA may reduce depression symptoms in HIV patients
According to a Reuters Health article citing a report in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, in a placebo -controlled trial, assessed the effectiveness of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) on 145 HIV-positive adults with mild depression, starting with 100mg DHEA per day, increased up to 400mg per day if no improvement in symptoms was observed. The researchers noted a response rate of 56% for DHEA patients compared to 31% in the placebo group.
Internet Resources:
Reuters Health Article

Fish-oil Supplements May Reduce Anger in Substance Abusers
[2006/01/23][Nordic Naturals]
Double-blind clinical study of omega-3 essential fatty acid (EFA) supplementation in substance abusers suggests that a patented fish-oil supplement can reduce levels of anger, thereby potentially mitigating aggressive behavior.

New plant compounds could prevent blood clots
ARS researchers have identified, characterized, and synthesized two plant compounds, which could be used in dietary supplements to inhibit blood clotting... Read

Study Compares Regulation of Conventional, Homeopathic Drugs; Finds Strong Similarities
A new study, "Regulation of homeopathic drug products", published in the January American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy comparing the standards by which homeopathic medicines are regulated to conventional drugs and dietary supplements shows that homeopathic medicines undergo extensive Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pre-market evaluation that more resembles traditional pharma than dietary supplements.
Internet Resources:
Press Release on NPIcenter

New Cocoa Flavanol Study Provides Important Evidence on Why Plant Foods are Beneficial to Cardiovascular Health
Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America identifies the flavanol, (-)epicatechin, as one of the bioactive nutrients in cocoa that can improve the ability of blood vessels to relax.
Internet Resources:
Press Release by Mars, Incorporated on NPIcenter

Curry and Cauliflower Could Halt Prostate Cancer
Researchers at Rutgers University, in a study published in the journal Cancer Research, examined the effect of turmeric along with phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a substance found in vegetables including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale and cauliflower, for individual and combined ability to retard tumor growth. The researchers observed that mice injected with the combination experienced significantly retarded tumor growth. The compounds, when injected separately, also slowed growth, but not as significantly.
Internet Resources:
Press Release on NPIcenter

No Evidence Echinacea Prevents Colds
While the popular herbal remedy echinacea may help shorten the length and severity of cold symptoms, it does not prevent ...More

Review: No Correlation Between Omega-3's and Cancer Reduction
According to a Reuters article citing a review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers at RAND Health and the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System reviewed 38 studies on omega-3 fatty acids to determine any correlation between the use of omega-3 fatty acids and cancer risk reduction. The authors concluded that there was no significant association.
Internet Resources:
Reuters Article
Abstract

Fish-oil Supplements May Reduce Anger in Substance Abusers
A double-blind clinical study of omega-3 essential fatty acid (EFA) supplementation in substance abusers, conducted at the Veterans Administration New York Harbor Healthcare System in Brooklyn, NY, and presented at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology meeting last month, suggests that a patented fish-oil supplement can reduce levels of anger, thereby potentially mitigating aggressive behavior. Adult male patients received either 3 grams (5 capsules) per day of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of purified fish oil (EPATM/ProEPATM from Nordic Naturals), or placebo, with those receiving the fish oil showing a clinically significant and progressive decrease in their POMS anger subscale scores.
Internet Resources:
Press Release on NPIcenter

AHA Committee Reviews Studies on Soy's Health benefits
According to an AP article in the Daily Democrat, citing a review by an American Heart Association committee of 22 studies examining the effects of dietary soy protein on cholesterol levels, large amounts of dietary soy protein only reduced LDL cholesterol by about 3% and had no effect on HDL, or on blood pressure. Examining 19 studies involving isoflavones, the researchers stated they observed no effect on lowering LDL cholesterol or other lipid risk factors. In a statement recently published in the journal Circulation, the committee concluded that soy-containing foods and supplements did not significantly lower cholesterol.
Internet Resources:
AP Article in the Daily Democrat

Vitamin D signals to prevent bone loss during osteoporosis
In a study appearing online on January 19 in advance of print publication in the February 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Japanese researchers examine mice with severe osteoporosis and show that oral vitamin D treatment inhibits the production of the protein c-Fos, which plays a role in bone breakdown and resorption.
Internet Resources:
Press Release on NPIcenter

Many People Believe Cancer Is Unpreventable
Forty-seven percent of U.S. residents believe they have little or no control in reducing their risk of cancer, according to a survey commissioned by the American Cancer Society, the AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.

FDA Warns Consumers about Brazilian Diet Pills Found to Contain Active Drug Ingredients
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers not to use two products marketed as dietary supplements, found to contain controlled substances that could lead to side effects or injury. The Brazilian products, Emagrece Sim Dietary Supplement, also known as the Brazilian Diet Pill and Herbathin Dietary Supplement), have been found to contain chlordiazepoxide HCl (the active ingredient in Librium), and fluoxetine HCl (the active ingredient in Prozac), and were also were also found to contain Fenproporex, a stimulant that is not approved for marketing in the United States.
Internet Resources:
Press Release on NPIcenter
FDA Website

Enrollment in health savings accounts triples
The number of Americans enrolling in health savings accounts has tripled to 3 million people in the past 10 months, according to the health insurance industry. "This is a very significant success story," said AHIP President and CEO Karen Ignagni. Alternative Health Insurance Services offers many health insurance plans that are compatible with a Health Savings Account (see http://www.alternativeinsurance.com/html/healthsavings.htm for more details on the benefits of health savings accounts). Los Angeles Times (free registration

FREE ACUPUNCTURE & CHIROPRACTIC BENEFIT

Alternative Health Insurance Services now includes a free benefit for our individual and group clients that provides up to 20 acupuncture and/or chiropractic visits per year with a $20 co-payment for each visit. This complimentary benefit is a bonus for doing business with us and is included with most of the health insurance plans we offer.

We have contracted with Landmark Healthplan of California, Inc. to provide a combined chiropractic and acupuncture benefit that utilizes Participating Chiropractors and Acupuncturists. A directory of these providers may be found on the Landmark website at www.LandmarkHealthcare.com or from Alternative Health Insurance Services.

Participants will have a co-payment of only $20 per visit and can receive up to 20 visits per year. Treatments must be medically necessary to treat an injury or illness. After an initial visit, subsequent visits need to be pre-authorized by Landmark. Each participant will receive a Schedule of Benefits and other materials that fully describe their benefits, limitations, and exclusions.

This benefit is being provided at no cost to California clients of Alternative Health Insurance Services who are actively participating in a permanent health insurance plan where commissions are being paid to either Alternative Health Insurance or Steve Gorman. These benefits are being provided only to each primary policyholder and their spouse/partner.

This program is only available as a complimentary benefit to clients who have purchased their health insurance plans through Alternative Health Insurance Services and can not be purchased as a "stand-alone" benefit.

NEW VISION BENEFITS are now available from America's largest provider of eyecare coverage. Normally these benefits are only available to employees of large companies, but you can participate through our special program. For more details, click on the Vision Benefit link on our website.

Information in this newsletter is obtained from various sources and you are encouraged to conduct further research into any areas that you find interesting. Nothing contained in this newsletter is intended to recommend any treatment or therapy. Our intent is solely to share articles, information, and data that we believe is of interest to you. Some of the articles contain links where you can obtain additional information related to the subject of the article.

Alternative Health Insurance Services
Providing Health Insurance Benefits for Groups and Individuals since 1985
117 Bernal Road #70-205
San Jose, CA 95119
California Insurance License #0674567
Arizona Insurance License #189511
Ohio Insurance License #679717
Oregon Insurance License #205674
Virginia Insurance License for Health and Life
Toll-free: (800) 331-2713
Fax: (208) 567-2507
www.AlternativeInsurance.com