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.

Natural Health Newsletter from Alternative Health Insurance Services   Features on Alternative Medicine and Natural Therapies   February 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We are happy to present you with the new format for our Natural Health Newsletter.  If you are receiving this for the first time, I hope you find the articles we include to be of value.  If not, there is a link below to remove your e-mail address from our list.   It has been longer than usual since our last newsletter because we were creating this new format for the letter.  We will be including fewer articles so there is not so much digest each time.   I hope you continue to find the information included to be of value and always welcome any thoughts, suggestions, comments, etc.   To our existing clients, thank you for your continued support.  To those receiving our newsletter for the first time, I hope you enjoy it and thank you for the opportunity to be of service.   Sincerely,   Steve Gorman

Raising vitamin D intake could slash breast, colorectal cancer risk Increasing the daily intake of vitamin D to 2000 International Units could halve the risk of developing breast and colorectal cancer, two studies have reported... Read Omega-3-rich flaxseed oil may lower blood pressure A diet rich in the plant omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) reduced blood pressure by up to six per cent, says new research from Greece... Read    Report: Taking alternative medicines could skew drug trial results Clinical trial participants who take dietary supplements, vitamins and other remedies may be skewing the results of Phase I trials, according to a journal report. Researchers said more than a third of patients participating in initial trials say they take the alternative medicines, and the report noted such supplements could mask the effect of the drug being studied. The Washington Post/HealthDay News   Vitamin B12 linked to slower mental decline Increased levels of vitamin B12, but not folate, may reduce the rate of age-related cognitive decline and dementia, suggests a new study... Read   Calcium, vitamin D may reduce stress fracture risk Daily supplements of calcium and vitamin D, long linked to improving bone health, may also reduce the risk of stress fractures during exercise, scientists have reported... Read   Caffeinated drinks may protect elderly against heart disease Over-65s who drink four or more caffeinated beverages every day may reduce their risk of heart disease by a whopping 53 per cent, suggests research from the US... Read   Research shows possible new health benefit of olive oil Extra virgin olive oil may have the potential to prevent or treat Helicobacter pylori infections that are known to cause gastritis and peptic ulcer disease, Spanish researchers said. The study found the oil's healthful phenolic compounds had a strong antibacterial effect against multiple H. pylori strains, including antibiotic-resistant strains. United Press International    New study: Fertility treatment raises risk of birth defects The use of fertility treatments raises the risk of birth defects, but the overall risk is less than 3% of all births, according to a new study of more than 61,000 births in Canada, the largest such study ever done in North America. One medical expert said the risks are "not overpowering, but they're not insignificant."    Study: Napping helps reduce coronary death risk People who take naps may have a reduced risk for coronary deaths, according to a new study that is considered the largest to date on the subject. Researchers following 23,681 people in Greece for about six years found that those who napped at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week, were 37% less likely to die from heart disease, and occasional napping reduced the likelihood by 12%. Los Angeles Times (free registration)   DHA alone can lower triglycerides, says study A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition concluded that the American Heart Association's recommended cardioprotective dose of omega-3 fatty acids can lower triglycerides in patients... Read   Pine bark extract shows promise for slowing sugar uptake Extracts from French maritime pine bark may inhibit an enzyme linked to glucose absorption 190 times more than a synthetic medication, says new research from Germany that could offer significant benefits for diabetics... Read     The Elaine Anestos Gorman Foundation   As many of you know, my wife, Elaine, passed away the end of August 2006, so it has been a difficult time for me. Thank you to those who have sent me positive thoughts and energy.I am pleased to be able to say that the people I have the opportunity to work with are the most compassionate and caring people I could wish to have in my life and have provided me much comfort during this ordeal.   We have established The Elaine Anestos Gorman Foundation for the purpose of raising consciousness about inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).  IBC is an advanced and accelerated form of breast cancer usually not detected by mammograms or ultrasounds.  Some women who have inflammatory breast cancer may remain undiagnosed for long periods, even while seeing their doctor to learn the cause of her symptoms. The symptoms are similar to mastitis, a breast infection and some doctors, not recognizing IBC, will prescribe antibiotics. If a response to antibiotics is not apparent after a week, a biopsy should be performed or a referral to a breast specialist is warranted. The Foundation has applied for tax-exempt status with IRS and will commence operations as soon as we receive that.  I will keep you updated through our newsletters as to the progress. Sincerely,   Steve Gorman

Quick Links... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Visit Our Website: www.alternativeinsurance.com     LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS WE PROVIDE AT NO EXTRA COST: http://www.alternativeinsurance.com/html/freechiroaccubenefit.htm http://www.alternativeinsurance.com/html/FreeCard.htm     TO RECEIVE A FREE QUOTE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE: http://www.alternativeinsurance.com/html/individual_quote.htm     LEARN MORE ABOUT HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS (HSA): http://www.alternativeinsurance.com/html/healthsavings.htm

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.