There are many QUACK-clinics which prey on desperate people.  The
first place I would go if I had cancer would be to my colleague's
clinic in Houston.

The following is an actual unedited testimony.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Burzynski Cancer Clinic

I was away in Houston, Texas to take my brother to the Burzynski
Cancer Clinic.

I would like to give you a report of my "experience" at the
Burzynski  Clinic SO THAT YOU, IF YOU LIKE, CAN FORWARD TO YOUR MAIL
LIST. The WORLD  needs to know about Dr. Burzynski,s Cancer Clinic.
Keep in mind, Dr. Burzynski discovered this cancer cure in the 70's
and has  been held back to the point of JAIL by the FDA, court
battles, and you name  it from our FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. He is, now
doing, FDA approved "clinical  trials".

Here is my story:

My brother was diagnosed with Metastatic Malignant Melanoma about 8
weeks  ago. He had two tumors in his brain, PLUS MANY tumors in his
lungs, liver,  neck, and throughout his body with ALL lymph nodes
swelled indicating  possible tumors in multiple lymph nodes. He was
experiencing SEVERE SWEATS  EVERY NIGHT, and had a SEVERE cough
wherein he could not say a complete  sentence without coughing VERY
hard, PLUS he had very little energy. At two m "cancer clinics", one
that specialized in Melanoma, he was told he had from 3  weeks to 6
months to live. The ONLY treatment available was, FIRST, radiation
to his whole head wherein he would PERMANENTLY loose ALL hair
including eye  brows, and eye lashes, and would be "highly
susceptible to stroke" that would  cripple or KILL him. SECOND,
assuming he survive the radiation, he would  received massive
Chemotherapy to the fullest extent that his body could stand  without
dying for 3 to 4 months. THIRD, due to the massive Chemo he would
need a bone marrow transplant from one of his two brothers to restore
the  damage from Chemo. The report had one section near the end of
this gruesome  report titled, "Alternative Treatments". It was a very
short paragraph that  said (and I QUOTE) " There are NO alternative
treats from Metastatic  Malignant Melanoma."

I had learned about Dr. Burzynski via Dr. Julian Whittacker in the
early 80's  and had even sent money to support his legal battle, pay
bonds to avoid jail  by FDA. I told my brother who had decided to NOT
take the radiation and  Chemo, AND to just ride it out and DIE. He
immediately accepted my offer to  drive him to Texas.
Here in what has happened: We arrived at the clinic 8/4/00. After
consultation with two Oncologist and  Dr. Burzynski, it was recommend
that we treat the cancer orally with the  Burzynski medication rather
than intravenously as some patients require that  do not still have
good body functions and activity. The next day, 8/5/00  he(my
brother - Jimmy) began taking one capsule six times per day, then 2
six  times then 3 six times, etc. until eventually he will reach 12
six times per  day. The reason for the slow increase is to conform
with the FDA protocol,  AND to allow the body to compensate for the
influx of medication. Jimmy had  NO, repeat NO, ill effects
whatsoever from the medication. On Monday morning  Jimmy noticed that
the two LARGEST Swollen lymph nodes on his neck (half the  size of an
egg) "seemed" to be SMALLER. Jimmy had about 15 lymph nodes that  you
could feel swollen around his neck, under his arms, etc. Jimmy
continued  to increase by one capsule each day(six times). Jimmy was
examined by the  Oncologist on Wednesday (THIS WAS AN EXCITING DAY).
As he examined Jimmy he  said in an excited voice, the swelling is
ALL GONE in ALL Lymph glands. He  turned to the Doctor recording the
findings and said, "Write, ALL swelled  glands are normal", and
continued to examine. We told the Doctor that Jimmy's  cough seemed
to be better. The cough was caused by a large tumor the size of  a
baseball pressing against his wind pipe. Jimmy also seemed to be
feeling  better.  We asked the Doctor, how soon we could leave since
Jimmy had NO INSURANCE and  the cost of staying in a motel was fairly
expensive AND I needed to get back  home to my wife. He said if,
everything, looked OK on Thursday 8/10 we could  go home. On
Thursday, another full physical found EVERYTHING AOK, Jimmy was
feeling MUCH better, cough even better, sweats the same but he was
sleeping  better. We were then given a box FULL of bottled capsules,
and headed for  home.

NOW, as I write this, Jimmy just reported, NO MORE night sweats, NO,
repeat  NO, coughing, and he is feeling better (energy wise) than he
has felt in  "months". He plans to go back to work on Monday!!!!!!
NOTE: He is up to 9 or  10 (not sure) capsules six times per day and
STILL NO side effects. He has  started the diet recommended by Dr.
Burzynski's Staff Dietitian which is  designed so as to NOT "feed"
the cancer cells.

This letter would be far too long if I began to tell how impressed we
were  with the HIGH professionalism we saw at the Burzynski Clinic,
how impressed  with staff, the building, and everything we saw.
Jimmy feels that he has beat the IMPOSSIBLE odds with Burzynzki's
treatment.  I MUST say that MANY prayers have been prayed, and I
believe God worked the  "miracle" through Dr. Burzynski.  We saw MANY
patients that had seen similar results. One that had Throat  Cancer
that completely disappeared in two weeks. Please do NOT get the idea
that ALL patients are cured "instantly". Most take longer. All start
on the  road to health "instantly", but are SO far down the road that
it takes longer  to get back to good health. Jimmy had only
been "sick" a few months ( 2 or 3)  before the symptoms began to
surface, and he found he had a VERY FAST growing  cancer that was
spreading RAPIDLY. He was going down FAST, DAILY.

Pass this along for the SOLE PURPOSE of letting other cancer patients
know that there IS AN ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT TO ANY CANCER THAT REALLY
WORKS. Also, I would ask every person  that will, to go to Dr.
Burzynski's very detailed website, AND use the links  to write your
Congress Person, and Representative about a Bill that is before
Congress AS WE SPEAK that will restore a parents right to decide
treatment  for their child. There is a your child named Thomas
Navarro that is literally  waiting in Houston for the Bill to pass so
that he can receive Dr.  Burzynski's treatment. There are NO
documented records of ANY child  recovering from the cancer that
young Thomas has, except that Dr. Burzynski  has successfully treated
7 out of 8 children with that cancer. THE PROBLEM: A  child cannot
request alternative treatment, and the LAW says that ONLY the  FDA
can make that decision - the parents cannot. READ the story of
Thomas  Navarro. My heart goes out to him and his parents.

I pray that at least ONE person will read this AND respond to their
Political  Representative on behalf of this child. ALSO, I pray that
those is need of  cancer treatment will have the opportunity to
consider this cancer treatment.

It has certainly worked for my brother, Jimmy. He will continue the
medication for 4 to 6 months, and will return to Houston in 8 weeks
for more  MRI's, and CT Scans, and examinations. NOTE: he will be
examined and  monitored by a local Doctor on a daily basis in accord
with the FDA  requirements on the Burzynski Clinical Trial
Treatments. Hopefully,

Burzynski will soon be able to practice his art EVERYWHERE, so that
we can  FINALLY conquer cancer. The Burzynski Website is
http://www.cancermed.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LIFE IN THE CATTERY

It was so sad.  The kitty didn't look both ways before crossing the
highway.  I stopped to see if I could help.  She was gone.  It was
obvious that she had kittens somewhere due to mammory gland swelling.

I began to search for the kittens.  It was almost dark when I heard a
plaintive "meow".  There were two emaciated, tatterdemalion kittens
huddled together hoping their Mother would return.

That was two months ago.  Today Sarah and Sonja Housemouser are just
fine.

Today I got my old digital camera working.  If you want to see some
pics of the kitten twins as well as my wife, Raiza, with two other
resident kats, click this:

http://www.sharetheformula.com/newkats.htm

As you will see, my wife is somewhat well preserved for a woman of 51.

I threw in a pic taken from our balcony.  Look at it when you are up
to your @$$ in ice/snow and eat your heart out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I go for another doppler scan of my carotid arteries next week.
I've been on the Pauling formula and 300mg of COQ-10 daily for 8
months.  The moderate angina has vanished totally and my libido has
returned from the dead (snort).

Just Raiza and me
    and a house full of cats.
Life just don't get
    any better than that!

Jon, Raiza and all your furry friends

PS: Raiza has a lovely, brilliant Daughter, Gabriella, 28, never
married, finishing two Masters degrees at the University of South
Carolina.  Any elgible buyers out there . . . renters need not apply.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GROWING VERY OLD IN GOOD HEALTH

I will hit 70 (sigh) on my next birthday.  I have my death well
planned: A heart attack, at age 104, fleeing through a bedroom window!

Growing old is like poverty - - IT SUCKS!  But, compared to the only
alternative, it is not all bad.  I saw an old man on the beach
wearing a tee shirt which read, "If I had known I'd live this long, I
would have taken better care of myself."

Are you getting long of tooth and experience, "If it don't hurt, it
don't work!"?  You can begin today to remedy the problems of aging.

Researchers are finding important keys to a long vibrant life.  While
it is true that genetics do play a role in longevity, there are
definite correlations between certain foods and making the century
mark and beyond.  You can begin today to buy many more years as well
as enjoy them in much better health.

INSULIN LEVELS

The major culprit is insulin levels.  Grains and refined sugar are
your sworn enemies . . . the more you eat, the quicker you gonna
croak!  Dramatically reducing them will also aid in weight loss as we
are proving in our study of The Formula.  See this great article:

http://www.cat007.com/insulin.htm

ANTIOXIDANTS

When iron is exposed to oxygen, it rusts.  Your body does exactly the
same thing . . . from the inside out when it doesn't get enough
antioxidants.  The remedy is cheap and easy.  Take a quality vitamin-
mineral formula three times daily.  My favourite, for many years, is
Sam's Formula, available for about $7.00 from:

http://www.ourhealthcoop.com  1-561-656-4011

OVERWEIGHT INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL TO LIFESPAN

This is indeed etched in granite.  Few obese people live past 80, and
most succumb earlier.  We are into the fourth month of our Swiss
Formula study.  To say it is encouraging would be an understatement.
To be sure, it is not an over-night miracle.  Such quick-fixes are
the province of scam promoters.

Read many of the unedited testimonials here:

http://www.sharetheformula.com/testify.htm

Several thousand people are now extending their life span while
discovering a new, glorious life.  Until 12-22, one can get their
first 90 capsule bottle for $1.00.

We are discovering some unexpected reported benefits for everyone
like:

1. Better Sleep
2. Lower Blood Pressure + more favourable HDL/LDL ratios
3. Lower Cholesterol
4. Converting body fat to muscle mass
5. Awakened libidos

DEPRESSION IS YOUR ENEMY - FISH OIL

It is no accident that the Japanese have the longest life span.

Omega-3 fatty acids hold the key to naturally dealing with so many
health problems.

In the past, studies have shown that in countries where large amounts
of fish are consumed, rates of depression are low as compared with
countries where little fish is consumed. This has led researchers to
examine whether omega-3 fats found in the fish are responsible for
the decreased evidence of depression.

One study followed patients with bipolar disorder. Half of the
participants were given fish oil tablets and the other half received
a placebo. After four months, half of those on the placebo had fallen
into depression, but only two out the 15 people given fish oil were
depressed.

Other studies have shown similar results indicating that omega-3
fatty acids may in fact relieve depression, and some psychiatrists
are now recommending that their depressed patients increase their
consumption of these fatty acids.

In addition to its positive effects on depression, studies have
linked omega-3s with improved cardiovascular health, as well as shown
them to be a potential prevention and treatment tool for certain
cancers and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Omega-3 fatty acids have also proved beneficial to the development of
babies' brains; therefore, pregnant and breast-feeding women are
encouraged to consume these fatty acids. However, eating fish as a
source of omega-3s can be dangerous to pregnant mothers because of
potentially high levels of mercury in the fish.

One side effect that may occur from consuming increased amounts of
fatty acids through fish or fish-oil is an increase in dyspepsia, or
indigestion that may result in gas, though researchers point out that
this has been the only side effect discovered.

Researchers noted that further studies need to be done to determine
whether patients would benefit from an increase in omega-3s in
combination with antidepressant drugs.

ABC News September 17, 2002

The best source of fish oil of high quality, which has been tested
for mercury contamination, is $2.45 for 90 gelcaps at 1-561-656-
4011.

If you find a better source, I will publish it here.

At such a price, one would be foolish not to take some daily.  There
is convincing evidence that the Omega-3 from fish oil is very useful
in dealing with/preventing cardiovascular disease and many other
problems.

Do NOT buy any fish products from farm raised fish.  They are highly
contaminated.  Be sure they are from WILD fish.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you have not been offended today, please read my sensitive,
delicate, touching Christmas poem here:

http://www.cat007.com/santa.htm

Jon . . . If you happen to run into God, ask her to call me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From MSN

Chinese folk medicine has yielded a promising new approach for
treating cancer. Using a dash of logic and modern lab techniques,
Seattle scientists have shown that a compound extracted from the
wormwood plant seeks out and destroys breast cancer cells, while
leaving healthy cells unscathed.

      IN LABORATORY experiments, the compound killed within 16 hours
virtually all human breast cancer cells exposed to it in the test
tube, reports Henry Lai, a bioengineering researcher at the
University of Washington.  Just as importantly, he says, nearly all
of the normal cells exposed to it were still alive.

        And a dog with a type of bone cancer known as osteosarcoma so
severe that it couldn't walk across the room made a complete recovery
within five days of receiving the treatment. X-rays showed the
animal's tumor had basically disappeared, says Lai, adding that he
believes the dog is still alive two years later.
    Not only does [the drug] appear to be effective, but it's very
selective, Lai says.  It's highly toxic to the cancer cells, but has
a marginal impact on normal cells.  To read the rest of the article,
click this:

www.cat007.com/curecancer.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prostate Cancer Cure & Flaxseed

A diet rich in flaxseed seems to block the growth and development of
prostate cancer in mice, says Duke University research.

The flaxseed diet reduced the size, aggressiveness and severity of
tumors in mice genetically engineered to develop prostate cancer, and
prevented prostate cancer in three percent of the animals, the study
in the November issue of the journal Urology found.

Flaxseed is the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids and is
high in dietary fiber. Previous studies have indicated that omega-3
fatty acids and dietary fiber may protect against cancer.

In this study, 135 mice genetically engineered to develop prostate
cancer were divided into two groups.  Both groups were fed a regular
mouse diet, except that flaxseed accounted for 5 percent of the
experimental group's diet.

Mice in both groups were autopsied at 20 weeks and 30 weeks to check
for tumor growth and the spread of cancer to other parts of the
body.  Researchers found that the tumors in the control group were
twice the size of tumors in the flaxseed group.

The tumors in the flaxseed group were also less aggressive and those
mice also had higher tumor cell death rates.  Though not
statistically significant, the flaxseed group mice had lower rates of
cancer that spread to other organs, the study found.

Senior study author Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, an associate professor
in the urology division, says in a statement that she and her
colleagues are cautiously optimistic about their findings.  She notes
that it would be very difficult for a person to devote 5 percent of
their total food intake to flaxseed.

But she says this study's findings indicate the need to continue
research into flaxseed.
**************************************
The Formula--an Income for Life?

WOW!  Now that the payouts have been dramatically increased as well
as a $3.00 rebate on one's own purchases, we are now attracting many
people who are not overweight but want to generate a monthly income.

Poor Figaro has burned the midnight oil for days setting up a great
system.

One can signup in one minute, spend 5 minutes making their own free
web site in three easy steps, then "POOF" turn the tiller over to us
and we will setup the web site, give you our free submission service
to major search engines and show you how to automatically drive
traffic to your new site which redirects one to our home page while
logging you as their sponsor.

If you could use an extra monthly income of from a few dollars to
perhaps a few thousand, you will want to Join our Colleague program.
One is never obliged to invest a dime.

If you could use some free Meow Mix every month, click this link:

http://www.sharetheformula.com/makepage.htm

Jon
********************************************

I apologize for the conflicting times in the last letter.

This was correct.

A FEW MILLION PEOPLE WILL HEAR THE MASTERMIND(??)

Tomorrow, 11-19 at 10:30PM E.S.T., the old walrus will be on the
Mysteries of The Mind radio talk show hosted by Alex Merklinger.  It
is heard on hundreds of stations in the USA and 31 foreign
countries.  The show is ranked #3 just behind Art Bell and Rush
Limbaugh.

We have received many emails from people wanting to know if the show
is on in their area.  We have no idea.

One can always hear it, live, from their site:

http://www.mysteriesofthemind.com

Figaro

Meow my friends,

Figaro Katchamouskie, a.k.a. "The Top Kat" here.

OH DEAR, THERE WILL BE NO LIVING WITH HIM NOW

Good grief . . .  if his arrogant, condescending, fat-headed attitude
weren't enough . . . soon he will be hopeless . . . I dread the
consequences.  Life here in The Cattery will never be the same again.

A FEW MILLION PEOPLE WILL HEAR THE MASTERMIND(??)

Tomorrow, 11-19 at 10:30 E.S.T., the old walrus will be on the
Mysteries of The Mind radio talk show hosted by Alex Merklinger.  It
is heard on hundreds of stations in the USA and 31 foreign
countries.  The show is ranked #3 just behind Art Bell and Rush
Limbaugh.

If it is not on locally, you can hear it by going to:

http://www.mysteriesofthemind.com

<a href="http://http://www.mysteriesofthemind.com">AOL click here</a>

It should be very interesting for the host, Alex,  is a bit warped as
well.  Dr. Jon does has a way with words . . . usually crude and in
bad taste.

They will focus on Alternative Medicine and the FatKat thing.

Mr. Vonderful darn sure better get in a few plugs for us kats or he
is in deep pooh.  As you know, my colleague, Gramalkyn Katchamouskie
will seek the Presidency in 2004.  He views this as a springboard to
a landslide victory.

I feel better now that I have given up all hope of a peaceful life.

Your fabulous (albeit at times furtive) furball,

Figaro

PS: If you choose to reply, do so to:
figaro@...

I realize that this letter has nothing to do with alternative
medicine.  I just want to share some very good free tools which will
make your life easier.

As thousands of you know, it is rare that I recommend anything.  My
site has never accepted a paid advertisment (paying big bucks) and
never will.  My credibility is just too precious to me.

BTW I don't get paid a dime for recommending anything.

I have found three free tools which I endorse:

1.  Getting SPAM is almost unavoidable.  Now the rats are
surreptitiously placing ads or virus' directly on your computer.

If your computer has been acting strangely, you may have one of these
@#$% things.

First you can get a free, real time, virus protection program at:

http://www.grisoft.com

No need to pay for virus protection.  If you don't want to install
it, they will do a free scan on your computer immediately.

After you know you are virus free, you must protect against these new
invaders.  This is done by a personal firewall.  It will only allow
access to your computer from sites you approve.

I have used it for two months and not been infected since.

Get it for free, no strings at:

http://www.kerio.com
**************************************************
HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL OR A MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE?

One of my subscribers mentioned a free way to get traffic to your web
site.  I was skeptical until I investigated.  It is quite genuine.

If you have a site, then visit this to see how you can almost
automatically drive traffic to your site....free....no strings.

http://www.sharetheformula.com/traffic.htm

If you don't have a web page, even dummies can have a free web site
running in ten minutes by going to:

http://www.bizhosting.com

I would appreciate you placing a link on your page to :
http://www.cat007.com

The next letter will discuss cholesterol in detail.  Few really
understand what it is, what it does, and how to deal with it.
**********************************************
LIFE IN THE CATTERY

Since I have been so involved with the fatkat study I have been
neglecting my beloved wife Raiza.  Last night we had words . . .
alas, I didn't get to use any of mine.  =^..^=

Cheerio,

Jon
***********************************************

For the four years I have been writing this letter, I have not been
at all bashful about my wealth.  In fact, I have occasionally bragged
about it.  Hey, it is great being a multi-millionaire.

Many of you will be very skeptical when you read what we are about to
do.

I'm not at all surprised for it is easy to claim wealth . . .
however, I can prove it.

Below are the figures from one of our accounts.  In fact, it is, by
far, the smallest of three.
-----------------------------------------------------
Current date/time:   Nov 10, 2002 9:54 PM

Account 		   Value  Margin
17563235     $1,398,435.12 	 0.00

Privacy | Security | Legal Disclosures | Contact Us
   © 2002 Wachovia Securities, Inc. (member NYSE/SIPC)
------------------------------------------------------

After two months, the FatKat study of The Formula/regimen has
surpassed my expectations. Over 1,250 reports from participants
provide compelling evidence that it works, for most, like no other
they have ever tried, and at an affordable cost.

The Formula is available to members of the study for under $15.00 for
90 capsules.

120,000,000 MILLION OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE NEED THIS

We want the world to know.

At the current price there is some profit.  Raiza and I have
discussed what should be done with the money, for which we have no
use.  I figured we would spend it on advertising.  She had a better
idea.

Some of the fatkats are hard pressed to afford the modest price but
desperately want to lose weight.  Raiza thought we should return the
excess profits to those who helped spread the word.  That is exactly
what we are doing.

If you could use some extra monthly income, while being involved in a
noble cause, you may want to learn of out Colleague Program.  It is
not limited to overweight people.  Everyone knows some overweight
folks.  All one must do is let them know of The Formula and regimen.
Do so, and your account will be credited with cash.

As you will learn, the potential for achieving financial independence
is hard to grasp.

If you could use a few dollars, or a few hundred or thousand, each
month, examine The Colleague Program by clicking one of these links:

http://www.sharetheformula.com/joinjon.htm

<a href="http://www.sharetheformula.com/joinjon.htm">Click here if
the above is not a link</a>

Future letters will return to alternative medicine.

Jon
******************************************************

It you think I've been ignoring you, your are correct.

The weight loss study, which began two months ago, is surpassing my
expectations.  One can read many of the unedited reports at:

http://www.cat007.com/prelim.htm

Here is one which just came in:
----------------------------------------
"I've lost 15 lbs in 6 weeks and I am *thrilled*!  I take 4 SF, plus
1g CLA with the cidar vinegar/honey one hour before meals.  My
cravings are down, my appetite is down, and my clothes are loose!
I'm 1/3 of the way to my goal weight.  I have *never* had such
success sticking to a diet as this.  I'm following a low carb diet
(carbohydrates addict), it's working, and it can easily become a way
of life for me."

"However, I never got any excess energy as some have.  I was looking
forward to that!  I'm not exercising at all and need to get off of my
butt."

"My best to all the fellow 'fatkats' out there.  Keep it up.  I was
one of those who wasn't noticing anything much at all in the
beginning, but it seems that about 4 weeks into it, the weight seemed
to just fall away.    Janine
---------------------------------------------------
What is most surprising are the benefits claimed over and above
losing weight . . . lowered blood pressure and cholesterol, sleeping
much better, skin rashes vanishing, and on and on.

I have licensed The Formula to a large retailer in the vitamin field,
to be sold under a different name for $39.95/bottle.  The royalties
from this will allow even further reduction in the current price to
members of under $15.00/bottle for 90 capsules.

At 5'10-160lbs I am slender.  As I have aged, my sleep patterns have
slowly deteriorated.  I gobbled up a couple of capsules each night
for two weeks.  I expected nothing, and, for the first week I noticed
nothing.  The last several nights I have slept like a baby.  A
coincidence?  I dunno . . . we shall see.

The following article appeared in yesterday's USA Today.  Fat is NOT
a minor storm, it is a category 5 hurricane.
******************************************

Scales Tipping Toward Diabetes
October 24, 2002
(USA TODAY) -- If Americans keep putting on the pounds at the current
rate, almost everyone is going to be overweight by 2030, a top
obesity researcher says.

And this probably will lead to a skyrocketing number of people who
develop diabetes, a disease that can have catastrophic health
consequences, including heart attacks, strokes, blindness, kidney
disease and amputations, experts say. Ultimately, treating the
disease and its complications could bankrupt the health care system,
they warn.

"I think everyone is going to get fat," says weight-loss researcher
John Foreyt of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "The
obesity epidemic is going to continue. I believe that. I'm not just
talking to be an alarmist. And it's not just cosmetic; it's a serious
problem."

These grim projections from some of the nation's top obesity and
diabetes doctors are based on new government statistics showing that
almost 65% of American adults, or more than 120 million people, are
overweight or obese.

About 31% of adults older than 20 are obese, defined as roughly 30
pounds or more over healthy body weight, and 34% are overweight,
which is about 10 to 30 pounds above a healthy weight.

Foreyt predicted in a 1995 scientific journal article that almost
everyone in the USA would be overweight or obese by 2230. Now he has
moved that up 200 years. At the rate we're going, he says, almost
everyone could be not just overweight, but obese, by 2100.

In reality, Foreyt and others say, we won't reach a point at which
every single American will weigh too much. Some small percentage,
possibly 5% to 15%, probably will be able to maintain a healthy
weight because they are genetically protected, or they are willing to
carefully watch what they eat and be fairly active. But they will be
part of an ever-increasing minority, Foreyt says.

That's a serious problem not only for Americans' health, which will
be at growing risk for diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, cancer
and other health problems, but also for the health care system. Some
experts predict it could buckle under the weight of these obesity-
related complications.

Of greatest concern is diabetes, "the most prevalent, serious medical
complication of being overweight and obese," says Samuel Klein,
president of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity
(NAASO).

Reflecting scientific concern over the confluence of diabetes and
obesity, the American Diabetes Association is collaborating with
NAASO at the obesity researchers' annual meeting next fall.

Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not make enough of the
hormone insulin, or it doesn't use the insulin properly. Insulin
helps sugar get into cells, where it is used for energy. If not
enough insulin is produced or if insulin does not function normally,
sugar builds up in the blood, damaging nerves and blood vessels.

"There's an incredibly strong link between obesity and diabetes,
linked to the inability of the body to make use of sugars normally,"
says pediatric endocrinologist Francine Kaufman, president of the
American Diabetes Association. As weight increases, the body produces
extra insulin, but "there gets to be a point, and we don't understand
why," at which the body's need for insulin surpasses its ability to
produce it, she says.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form, affecting up to 95% of the
more than 17 million Americans who have the disease. Unlike type 1,
or juvenile, diabetes, which is caused by destruction of insulin-
producing cells in the pancreas, type 2 is associated with a
combination of genetics, excess weight and a lack of exercise. Those
result in a cascade of physical changes leading to the disease.

Cost of obesity: $123B in 2001

Experts say the USA and other countries simply can't afford to deal
with the problem. Obesity cost the USA about $123 billion in 2001,
including direct health care costs for diseases related to obesity
and indirect costs such as loss of productivity, according to an
analysis by Anne Wolf of the University of Virginia.

"We calculated that 61% of diabetes is attributed to obesity," Wolf
says. The direct cost of obesity is about 30% higher than coronary
heart disease, she says.

"Diabetes is going to be the way this obesity epidemic breaks the
bank," says James Hill, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at
the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver.

Foreyt agrees. "We're just not prepared from a health care point of
view to handle the type 2 diabetes we're going to see in the next few
years."

'A problem of our children'

Type 2 diabetes is on the rise in all age groups. Until about 20
years ago, it almost never occurred in teens or children, but doctors
say almost half the new cases of diabetes diagnosed in kids are type
2.

Because an estimated 20% to 30% of American children are either
overweight or at risk of becoming so, the rates of diabetes in teens
and young adults in just a few years could be staggering, experts
say.

"What used to be a disease of our parents and grandparents is now a
problem of our children," Kaufman says.

The costs will be felt not only by individuals and families, but also
by society as a whole, she says. "This could impact on the workforce
in the next generation."

Hill and colleagues are treating children as young as 11 with the
disease.

"We are seeing a lot of type 2 diabetes in overweight children, and
these are just the ones that come in. The speculation is that there
are a bunch of overweight kids who have it, but who don't know they
have it," Hill says. "This is new to our medical system to be
treating this in children. We have no idea what a 12-year-old with
this disease will look like at 40 or 50, or even if they'll make it
to 50."

Experts believe genetics plays a key role in who develops diabetes.
Some people will never become diabetic even though they are very fat,
but others have a genetic predisposition and might develop it even if
they are just a few pounds overweight, says Xavier Pi-Sunyer, chief
of endocrinology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York.

That genetic liability is highest in certain ethnic groups, such as
Native Americans, Mexican-Americans and other Hispanics, he says. For
example, he says, about 70% of Pima Indians are overweight, and about
50% are diabetic.

Once a person has diabetes, it can lead to a host of other health
care issues, especially if it is not controlled.

"The biggest problem with diabetic patients is they have a higher
rate of heart disease," Pi-Sunyer says. "They are more likely to die
of heart attacks and strokes."

Yet studies show that by keeping blood pressure, cholesterol and
blood-sugar levels under control, people with diabetes can reduce the
risk of complications. For every 1% reduction in blood-sugar levels,
there is a 40% reduction in risk for eye, kidney and nerve diseases;
for every 10-point reduction in systolic blood pressure (the top
number), the risk of any complication from diabetes is reduced 12%;
improving cholesterol and triglycerides reduces cardiovascular
complications by 20% to 50%.

Stop obesity, stymie diabetes

"One thing we really have to do in this country is to start treating
obesity as an illness," says Matt Petersen of the American Diabetes
Association. "We know the primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes is
obesity. If we can stop people from getting obese, we could prevent a
significant amount of type 2 diabetes."

Research shows that if patients at high risk for developing diabetes
make lifestyle changes -- exercise regularly and lose 5% to 7% of
their weight -- they can decrease their chance of progressing to
diabetes by 58%.

Type 2 diabetes is very sensitive to weight loss, says Wolf of the
University of Virginia. When diabetics lose a few pounds, it can
improve glucose control, she says.

"It is so amazing to see that a small weight loss can improve health
and quality of life and get these people off some of their
medications," Wolf says. "We're seeing reductions in health care
costs, and the study patients feel so good about themselves."
**********************************************
LIFE IN THE CATTERY

For years a myth has been circulating that cats hate a bath.  They
wrongfully claim that there is danger in bathing your cat.  This is
total nonsense!  Our kitties just love a good bath.  During their
bath one can hear them purring a block away.

So, if you are reluctant to bathe your furry friend, not to worry.
They will thank you.  Oh, there is one caution:  One must be careful
as their hair tends to stick to one's tongue.

=^..^=

Jon
*********************************************

Meow mendacious miscreants,

Gramalkyn Katchamouskie, your next President here.

Dr. Jon is obsessed with his silly fatkat study:

http://swiss.9f.com

and Raiza is out spending money with both paws.

I am feeling especially magnanimous today.   I have written some
totally awesome software which I will share freely with you.  One may
view this as "casting pearls before swine!".

In truth, I need your support in my run for the Presidency.

Over the years, thousands have gained a better life using my Oh Rats
software.  Once you try it, you will never be able to live happily
without it.

My Biorhythm software graphs your Emotional, Physical and
Intellectual patterns for any day of your life.  Check your wedding
day and you may see why it was such a bad idea!

One can purloin either at:

http://cat007.com/index1.htm

Anyone with the brains of a salamander can use either.  This suggests
that perhaps 50% of you subscribers will do just fine.

Many have wondered what Dr. Jon's wife looks like.  After all, he
married Raiza three days after they met last year (10-15-01).  If you
are curious about this woman (obviously a desperate masochist) who
succumbed to Jon's charms(??) so quickly, see this:

http://cat007.com/raiza.htm

One picture is totally disgusting . . . Raiza with her two pooches.
Spear one with a broom stick and you have a fine dust mop!

There is no doubt in my mind that Raiza is much too good a scoundrel
like Dr. Jon.

I've also thrown in a shot of some of the resident feline friends.
Every time I turn around there are more kats here . . . will it never
end?

Of course, most of you have my glorious picture at:

http://cat007.com/catbird.htm

Your fearless leader,

Gramalkyn . . . until we get to know the other better, kindly address
me as, "Your Furriness".

PS:  You can show your support for my Presidential aspirations by
sending an email to:
awesomekat@...
----------------------------------------------------------

WARNING:  Never open an email with attachments.....especially if it
appears to come from me.  One is circulating with an attached virus
pretending to be from me.  It shows:

From:  "drjoncat" <drjoncat@...>   (not my email address)
Subject:  [fatkatsinfo] A bad day for old Gramalkyn

There is NEVER, EVER any attachment to my newsletters.

If you receive the fake email delete it.  Do not open the attachment.

One wonders why people do things like this.  They must be very
unhappy with their world.

Jon

PS:  In the previous letter I misprinted the link to the Pauling
research.  This is correct:

http://www.cat007.com/pauling.htm
*******************************************

Every six months I publish the very best of alternative remedies.
Many of you have read these but thousands of new subscribers have not.

#1 on the list is a simple cure for the common cold/flu.  It is hard
to believe that something costing less than $1.00 solves a problem
which has baffled the medical masterminds(??).  For most people this
is magical.

http://www.cat007.com/cold.htm

Since I mentioned this in 1998, thousands have found a cure in 12-24
hours.

#2  You probably don't need expensive/dangerous statin drugs to deal
with cholesterol and tryglycerides.  A $3.00 bottle of niacin will
work wonders.  My cholesterol dropped from 238 to 178 in six months.
Better yet, the HDL/LDL ratio improved.

http://www.cat007.com/niacin.htm

#3  As I have grown long of tooth, my nocturnal visits to the
bathroom increased.  One year ago I was getting up 4-6 times every
night to urinate.  I had tried saw palmetto with no success.  Then I
learned of beta sitosterol.  After three months on it my nightly
bathroom visits are down to one, or even none!  I mentioned it in
this letter.  Hundreds of men have confiemed my results.  Not bad for
something which costs under $10.00.

http://www.cat007.com/@betasis.htm

A side benefit was a (snort) more active libido.

#4  Linus Pauling found a solution to cardiovascular problems.  He
published in over 15 years ago.  It was ignored.  I tried it.  In six
months the stenosis (blockage) of my carotid arteries decreased from
70% to 50% on the left carotid.  The right carotid got no worse.  For
a few dollars I have, so far, managed to avoid an endarterectomy
(dangerous surgery to remove the blockage).

http://www.pauling.htm

#5  The final verdict is not yet in.  However, almost two months into
the fatkat study has produced hundreds of glowing reports.  I think
we are on to something wonderful.

http://www.swiss.9f.com

BTW, I have nothing to do with the sale or distribution of anything I
recommend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Epilepsy Drugs For Migraine Pain

A newer epilepsy drug may do double duty as migraine prevention.  In
findings presented this week, researchers say topiramate, sold under
the brand name Topamax, appeared to help prevent headaches in about
half the people studied.  The researchers looked at 400 people with
migraines, who were given one of several doses of topiramate or else
a placebo for four months.  About half of the people taking
topiramate had their number of migraines cut in half, the researchers
found.  The most effective dose of topiramate appeared to be 100 to
200 milligrams, which is lower than the dose used to prevent
epileptic seizures.  The main side effect of topiramate, unlike other
migraine medications, was weight loss -- people taking it lost an
average of 3.8 percent of their starting body weight.  Some epilepsy
drugs also prevent migraines because both conditions are caused by
abnormal electrical activity in the nerve cells in the brain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you have speakers, click this and have some fun with a purring,
meowing cat.

http://www.webcat.westvillage.nl/

Thanks to Jerry R. who sent this to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Question:  If a man says something in the forest, and there is no
woman there to hear him, is he still wrong????

Jon . . . The only thing troubling my superb self-confidence is the
nagging possibility that you may be right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some had trouble with the long URL to access the CLA information.  It
worked if one copied it into their browser in two pieces.

Here is a much shorter URL which takes you there.

http://www.fitnessdomain.com/cladesc.htm

<a href="http://www.fitnessdomain.com/cladesc.htm"> AOL click here</a>

Jon

A CURE FOR CANCER???

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is one of the vital parts of the Swiss
formula which seems to be working so well for my fatkat friends.
Assisting weight loss is only one of the many potential benefits of
this essential fatty acid.

The following page has a link to many clinical studies.  When you get
to the link, click where CLA is highlighted.

http://www.wellnesspartners.com/cladir/link_directory/dynamic-
frameset.html?http://www.fitnessdomain.com/cladesc.htm

You will probably have to copy the link into your browser.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LIVE WELL FOR PEANUTS?

Many of you have enquired about life in The Dominican Republic.

I much prefer the North Coast (Sosua-Caberete) for the beauty and
tranquility.

The cost of living is much less than in the USA.  At least 50% less
I'd think.

Housing is so cheap it is hard to believe.  Condos begin at
$19,900.00 for a studio.

Oceanfront homes for under $100,000.00

If you can go up to $250,000.00 (or a lot more) then Sea Horse Ranch
will rival Palm Beach in luxuory.  There are a number of million$ +
homes there.

One can get an idea from this site:

http://www.americanrealtydr.com/index.html

A maid will cost about $15-20/day.

One can dine out for a few dollars.

The Dominicans are a happy go lucky lot.  By your standards they are
mostly very poor.  Violent crime is very rare in this area.  One is
less than 60 minutes drive from the mountains with lush foliage.
One, several hours drive away,  tops out at 10,000 feet!

Telephone service rivals the USA.  One has an 809 prefix which can be
directly dialed from the USA.  Recently, cable modem access is
available in some areas.

CDs pay from 14-19% interest!  One must convert US$ to the peso for
this rate.  I have had a sizable investment in CDs since 1998.  The
peso has fallen in value to 17.90 to the dollar from 16.10.  Who
cares as I have averaged about 19%.  They provide a VISA or ATM card
which works anywhere in the world.  Also, the interest is not
reported to anyone!

If you are into some action, El Dorado is a billion $ development 20
minutes away.  Several casinos will gladly take your dollars or
pesos.  Lots of fancy stores.  One would think this is Rodeo drive in
Beverly Hills.

Many of the tourists are European.  Don't be shocked when you see
topless or nude sun bathers.  No big deal to them.

I usually get a full body massage weekly for 100 pesos!

One need not shop for gas.  It is State controlled and about the same
as the USA in price.

An easy way to get 'round is via the Motoconcho.  They are
everywhere.  It is amazing how many people can get on one
morotcycle.  In town the fee is 5 pesos.  The local bus service is
actually in a sedan.  Want to feel like a sardine???

Be very defensive when driving as the Dominicans are lunatics when
the get behind a wheel.

Surf's up!  Try some wind surfing in Caberete, the wind surfing
capital of the world.  Or, just be astonished at the tricks the pros
do when kite surfing.  One must see to believe.

Good airline connections at the Puerto Plata airport about 25 minutes
away.

I have even found an honest lawyer, Guido Perdomo, in Sosua.  He
speaks purrrrfect English.

There is much more, so do some surfing and read all about this
beautiful, stable country.
************************************************
FATKATS REJOICING....WELL MOST OF THEM

We are almost one month into our study.  It appears that we are
really on to something.  If you are overweight, or know some fatkat,
please see:

http://www.swiss.9f.com

Here are a few reports I received today:
*************************************************
I started the diet late. I think I must have been one of the last
people to receive my shipment of the Formula.

I have been on the diet for 12 days now and have lost some weight but
I'm not sure how much. I had a sudden weight gain right before I
started the diet. I started taking Evening Primrose oil ( with CDL)
about 1 or 2 weeks before the diet and am still taking it about 1/2
to 3/4 of the time along with the formula.

I weigh approx. 8 lbs less than I did (from the time I gained
suddenly) but might have already lost about 5 from just the Evening
Primrose oil. So that would put weight loss from the Formula to about
3 lbs.

I need to lose almost 1/3 of my body weight so I have a long way to
go.

I've had a big reduction in joint aches, I guess from the ACV&H. I
was very tired the first week, then had a day where I felt great,
then crashed the next day. After that sort of normal feeling energy-
wise. I know I have more spring in my step and walk faster than I
was.

I'm exercising about 3 or 4 days a week, in the pool, but have been
doing that all summer anyway.

I have been getting a little dizzy, just very briefly. Would the
ACV&H do that, I wonder? I know it helps the hunger and cravings.

I'm following the diet except for spitting out the steak. Just can't
get myself to do that. :)

I know I feel thinner and am starting to think differently about
myself. I'm not a fat lady anymore. I'm someone who is becoming
slender.

So that is my report. Thanks for making all this stuff available to
us.

Diann
*********************************************
Have gone down one full size....my pants are baggy and so is the
bra...people are beginning to comment and wanting to know the
secret....pain in hip is barely there.....have not begun to walk
because of the hip and knee but getting ready to start....was on my
feet all day today decorating for a church meeting...whooopeee, it
looked good and I came out okay with hip and knees.....thanks for
giving us this opportunity.......have had no luck with other
regimens......Granny Eloise--looking and feeling younger every
day....  Eliose
*********************************************
I have lost about 14 lbs - but that varies.  I have had to buy a new
size of clothing - I started out wearing a tight 18 and now I am in a
16, but the 16 is loose and I feel within another week - I'll be
another size smaller.  I'm sticking with this diet and the
supplements - my goal is to be 145.  Who knows I may even go to my
high school weight of 135!  Thanks  Martha
*********************************************
Lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks....This is easy...fun  and GREAT!TOOK 3
FOURTEEN year olds TO THE STATE FAIR (I'M 71 years young) and pushed
one of them in a wheelchair!  They slept in the car on the way home
and I had SOOOOO MUCH ENERGY LEFT thAT I didnt go to bed until
midnight!  THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS FOR US DR JON AND THE KAT
BRIGRADE...LOVE TO YOU ALL! RAISA TOO!
Virginia
*********************************************
LIFE IN THE CATTERY

Figaro had vanished.....no where to be found.  We had made an
appointment with the Vet to have her "tutored".  Somehow I think
Figaro got wind of what was about to transpire.  Actually, it is all
Raiza's fault.  I told her not to mention it in front of our little
friend.  She ignored me and told him that everything would be OK.  Of
course, the cat knew she was lying.

We had about given up the search when Josie, the one-eyed miracle
cat, ratted on Figaro.  He had crawled under the house.  Luckily I am
thin and barely wiggled in to get the escapee.

All went well with surgery.  Retrieved him at 1 PM.  Yep, "she"
turned out to be a "he".  It was kinda fun having a drunken cat on
our paws for a few hours.  Poor thing kept falling down.  When the
anesthetic wore off he was back to terrorizing the other cats.

Remember:  Always take your cat to a Vet who is also a Taxidermist.
Either way you get your cat back.

If you have speakers, click this and have some fun with an animated,
meowing, purring  cat.  It is great fun.

http://www.webcat.westvillage.nl/

Thanks to Jerry R. who sent this to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jon . . . Why aren't you more grateful when I prove how wrong you
have been?
**************************************

The correct URL for the free virus scanner is:

http://www.grisoft.com

Sorry,

Jon

GET OFF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND REGAIN YOUR HEALTH

If you read nothing else I publish, please read this:

http://www.cat007.com/insulin.htm

It was written by Ronald Rosedale, M.D.  I wish I was so smart.

It is the most in depth revelation about many catastrophic diseases
and how the "Establishment" is in tragic error in their treatment.
It may save your life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YOU ARE UNDER ATTACK

This is just too good not to share it with you.

I finally got a real telephone and net access.

Recently I have been griping about SPAM and virus'.  Lo and behold,
my computer was being attacked when I was on the internet.  Every day
several virus' were placed on my machine.  I got a wonderful free
virus scanning program from:

http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_home.html

Each day it would find some new virus.  One can download it free.  It
will scan your computer and remove any aliens.  This was only a
partial solution for each day there were more.

Luckily I found a simple solution which is free to home users.

Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) is a software agent that builds a
barrier between your personal computer and the Internet. KPF is
designed to protect your PC against attacks from both the Internet,
and other computers in the local network.

Home users can get it free here:

http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_home.html

If the link not highlighted, copy it to your browser.

Since installing their software I have had no intrusions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AIN'T NO LIVIN' WITH THEM THAR KATS

Since their konvincing victory in the recent poll they are
impossible.  No way to reason with them.  Isn't it odd that a kat can
be right in your lap and not hear a word you say . . . and yet, then
can hear an electric can opener a block away.

I received hundreds of touching emails supporting all of us in the
Cattery.  Thank you.  I have reproduced one here which is
representative:

Aloha Dr. John --

I have never written to you before, but the Kat Krisis seemed to
warrant a personal letter.

If there is one thing that's needed in a our world today it's a
little foolishness to offset the sex/violence/doom/gloom mongers...
and your petite felines provide a welcome and refreshing interlude in
my days.

Please, let those who wish to subscribe elsewhere do so -- there are
plenty of "serious" alternative health newsletters (read boring) made
just for them... don't let them hijack our kitties!

With most heartfelt imprecations,

Your humble servant,

CJ

"Cross a man with a cat and the man is greatly enhanced . . . much to
the detriment of the cat." .... Mark Twain

Have a wonderful day my friends,

Jon, Raiza and all your furry friends

PS: Am I the only one who had to look up "imprecations"?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPAM SPAM SPAM

Several times I have warned my subscribers.  You are welcome to
comment or criticize.  Any bulk, off topic, or emails which have more
than my address are SPAM.  You will be removed and barred forever.

Alas, I have removed many people who refused to remove
drjoncat@... or any address to swiss.9f.com from their address
book.  Please do so now.

I am not sympathetic to, "Gosh, I didn't mean to send it to you.
Please reinstate me."  What that really means is "I didn't care
enough to remove you from my address book."  I haven't time to deal
with this.  You SPAM, you are TOAST!  And that is @#$%ing that!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VITAMINS . . . A PRESCRIPTION ITEM?

Early last year I got wind of a bill being drafted which would make
most supplements a prescription item.  I mentioned it to my readers
and they spread it all over the net.  I received thousands of
permissions to send an email to the congressman in their name.  I
have software which makes it look like a genuine email.  Soon after
being deluged, the congressman abandoned it.  SHould I get wind of
another such bill, we will waste the @#$tard with emails.

This just appeared in The Manchester Guardian, a major newspaper in
the UK.  Will this happen in the USA?  Maybe not, but you can bet
your donkey the "Establishment" will try and try again.
--------------------------------------------
Health supplements: R.I.P.

Millions of Britons take herbal vitamin and mineral supplements,
either as a preventative measure or to treat specific ailments. But
we may not be able to for much longer

Joanna Blythman
Saturday September 14, 2002
The Guardian

You feel shivery, your back aches, the glands in your throat resemble
golfballs; it's only a matter of time until your nose starts
streaming. What do you do? You could visit your doctor's surgery and
brave a waiting room full of people who are in as bad a state as you,
or worse, and wait patiently for a five-minute consultation with your
pressured GP - only to be told that it's probably viral and you
should go home to bed, or be given antibiotics that you most likely
don't need. Alternatively, you used to be able to head for your local
healthfood shop where, at no cost to the creaking, over-burdened NHS,
you could get free, and often lengthy, advice from a helpful member
of staff who would recommend an affordable combination of vitamin C,
echinacea and zinc, a safe, over-the-counter supplement found to be
effective by millions of users.
If you're one of those who find such remedies useful, however, you'd
better start stockpiling now. A raft of EU legislation looks set to
nip the natural medicine market in the bud: soon, that popular
vitamin C, echinacea and zinc combination may not be allowed on the
shelves. A shadow looms large over the alternative health sector.
Estimates of the impact of this new legislation vary, but hundreds of
vitamin and mineral supplements could be banned outright, while an as
yet incalculable number of common herbal remedies will disappear
unless consumers challenge it. The National Association of Health
Food Stores claims that as many as three-quarters of its members
could go out of business. The writing is on the wall for small
British supplement companies, which will be forced to reformulate
entire ranges and invest massively in applying for new product
licences.

It's a scenario that is hard to take in. In recent years, so many
more consumers have been turning to the health store in preference to
the doctor's surgery that it had begun to seem a permanent fixture in
modern life. Though there may still be the odd simple soul who
believes that eating a clove of garlic can cure cancer, all sorts of
perfectly sensible people who want to take greater personal
responsibility for their health are finding solutions, or partial
ones, at least, in natural remedies. Arthritis sufferers tired of
conventional anti-inflammatory drugs that upset the stomach are
looking to alternatives such as glucosamine sulphate and chondroitin.
People prone to anxiety are choosing kava kava over Valium. Those who
feel depressed are going for St John's wort in preference to
conventional anti-depressants such as Prozac. Menopausal women are
seeing black cohosh as an attractive alternative to hormone
replacement therapy. The hungover take high doses of vitamins B and C
(eg, in the popular Berocca tablets). This surge is reflected in the
media. Conventional "doctor knows best" columns have been eclipsed by
alternative practitioners with a proactive attitude to health and a
range of natural, nonpharmaceutical suggestions for the treatment of
everything from cold sores to migraine.

All this interest is despite the fact that evidence of how - and,
indeed, if - these remedies work is open to interpretation and
incomplete. Some supplements are relatively well researched - two
major epidemiological studies have shown that vitamin E supplements,
for example, can reduce the incidence of heart disease by about 40%,
while a substantial body of research suggests that antioxidant
vitamins protect against certain diseases.

For other more obscure supplements, however, relatively little
conventional medical research has been carried out, so evidence of
efficacy relies more heavily on traditional usage. Much of the
scientific work into rhodiola rosa, for example - a herb that is
thought to make the body more resistant to stress - has been carried
out in Russia, and a lot more research is needed to confirm the
benefits that are claimed for it. Even so, it seems that growing
sections of the public can live with this sort of uncertainty. More
people are voting with their feet and concluding that alternative
remedies work as well, or even better, than conventional drugs, with
fewer, if any, side effects. But that option could be taken away
altogether if the new EU legislation goes ahead unchecked.

The attack comes from four different pieces of legislation, one of
which is already in force, another approved in principle. All are
couched in the now familiar EU language of consumer safety and free
trade. Currently, the UK, the Netherlands and Ireland have a far more
permissive attitude towards supplements than other member states, and
make available a wider range of higher-dose remedies. This approach
is in line with those in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
But those days are numbered. The idea behind the new regulations is
that, irrespective of whether you are a healthy Cretan, living on
fish, multiple fruit and vegetables and monounsaturated olive oil, or
a typically sun-starved Brit, existing on nutritionally impoverished
processed food, you should have the same range and strength of
supplements at your disposal.

Attack number one comes in the form of the Food Supplements
Directive, which will set maximum levels for vitamins and minerals.
Currently, consumers in the UK can buy high-strength vitamins in
dosages that are way above what's known as the recommended daily
allowance (RDA). Far from being a formula for good health, however,
the RDA is simply the minimum dose you need to prevent nutritional
deficiency. RDAs were developed during the second world war, to
ensure that soldiers did not get sick. Now, modern research into the
positive health properties of vitamins and minerals is focused on
safe upper levels, or "suggested optimal nutrient allowances"
(SONAs), much larger doses that actively promote health, rather than
simply prevent disease. The difference between the two is vast. The
RDA for vitamin B5, for example, is just 6mg, but consumers in the UK
can currently buy it in 550mg doses; and arthritis sufferers take it
in doses as high as 1g-2g, and find it efficacious. Meanwhile, in
most other European countries, a much more restrictive range of
vitamin and minerals, based on the RDA, is available. A likely EU
consensus might set limits at only two or three times the RDA,
representing a liberalisation for most European countries, but
decimating the choice available to the British consumer.

This "framework" directive has already been approved in principle by
MEPs, most of whom were effectively voting as if writing a blank
cheque; now that the full implications of the directive are emerging,
however, many of those same MEPS are reported to be "flabbergasted".
The all-important detail - the setting of new upper limits and an
agreed "positive list" of nutrients - will be decided next spring. So
far, some 300 popular nutrient forms from which thousands of
supplements are derived are not listed. "This will wipe the most
popular and effective higher-dose vitamins and minerals off the
shelves," says Sue Croft of Consumers For Health Choice, the group
that successfully campaigned between 1997 and 1998 against the
proposed ban on higher-dose vitamin B6. "Millions of people will have
their choices restricted or taken away."

The second attack takes the form of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal
Products Directive, which says that herbal remedies can only be
licensed if they can be shown to be safe and produced to high
standards. That sounds reasonable enough - until you learn that
herbal remedies will be licensed in the same way as drugs. A company
making garlic capsules, for example, will have to go through many of
the same regulatory hoops as a company producing a new pharmaceutical
drug. Estimates for the cost of getting these herbal licences vary
from £10,000 to several million pounds a product. This would almost
certainly deter all but the largest companies from producing remedies
such as St John's wort, kava kava, gingko biloba, red clover,
rhodiola, evening primrose oil and ginger. There is no prospect of
several manufacturers pooling resources to get an ingredient
licensed, because each company's formulation will be treated as
individual.

Furthermore, to get a licence, a specific product must have been on
the market for 30 years, 15 of which must have been in Europe. The
effects of that time bar are dramatic. Black cohosh, for example, an
oestrogenic herb traditionally used by native Americans, has
demonstrated results superior to hormone replacement therapy in the
treatment of menopausal symptoms, with women who take the herb
reporting fewer adverse events, even than those taking a placebo.

But black cohosh has only been available here for around five years,
so, like any product introduced since 1973 - in other words, the most
cutting-edge herbal products - it will become illegal. As yet unknown
herbal remedies might never even see the light of day in
Europe. "This is highly restrictive and racist," says Patrick
Holford, founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition. "It could
wipe out hundreds of really useful herbs, not on the basis of
consumer protection or science, but on the basis of geography - herbs
that have been used safely for hundreds of years in the Americas,
Africa, India and China." In addition, any combination of herbal and
vitamin/mineral products that natural medicine practitioners believe
work better in synergy than apart, such as vitamin B6 with evening
primrose oil, will be banned.

There's a third prong to the attack, in the form of the Novel Foods
Directive, which is already in force. This was originally designed to
control genetically modified foods and new, so-called "functional"
foods, such as fish oil-enriched bread, but is now being applied to
absolutely everything that is sold under food law. Any food product
(which includes supplements) that was not on the EU market before May
15 1997 can only be granted approval after submission of a dossier
containing huge amounts of technical and safety data. So far, a
herbal sweetener and an immune system-boosting tonic have already
been forced off the shelves as a result, and next in the line of fire
is MSM, an increasingly popular organic sulphur that has been found
to be effective in the treatment of joint problems. What makes these
developments even more worrying is that there is no appeals process
under this directive.

The final attack seems on the surface to be an innocuous tidying-up
of the EU Medicines Directive. But, in fact, it will mean that
anything with a physiological action can be reclassified as a
medicine - and under EU definitions, that means that any product sold
in a health store, even herbal tea, could be deemed to be medicines,
while items such as coffee and grapefruit juice (which also have
proven physiological effects, but which are sold in food shops), will
not be affected. So much for Hippocrates, who said, "Let food be your
medicine." The new EU laws will say that a product must be either one
or the other.

The authority in the UK charged with drawing this line is the
Medicines Control Agency (MCA), yet it has a direct interest in
classifying supplements as medicines - it earns 95% of its budget
from licensing the latter. MCA committees are filled with doctors
whose experience lies in conventional medicine. Many of them are
either employees of pharmaceutical companies or are beholden to them
for research grants. By contrast, the New Zealand government recently
decided that its equivalent of the MCA is not qualified to consider
natural reme-dies, while in Australia the Traditional Medicines
Evaluation Committee made up of natural medicine practitioners,
suppliers and scientists and applies different criteria to
supplements than those it applies to conventional drugs.

Faced with this onslaught of hos-tile legislation, the UK natural
health industry is smarting at what it sees as the breathtaking
injustice of it all. A key principle of natural medicine is the
Hippocratic requirement primum no nocere , or "first, do no harm". At
the moment, supplements are sold under food law, which means they
have to be as safe as a loaf of bread. The MCA already has the power
to remove from the market any supplement it considers to be
dangerous. Conventional pharmaceutical drugs, on the other hand, are
sold on a costs versus benefits basis, the thinking being that the
beneficial effects of the drug should be balanced against its risks.
Side effects are simply an accepted part of the pharmaceutical
package.

"There has never been a death due to vitamin and minerals in the UK,"
says Holford, "but thousands have been caused by conventional drugs.
The risks are completely different." Or, as John McKee, who runs
Hanover Health Foods in Edinburgh, puts it: "You can go to any petrol
station and buy enough paracetamol to kill yourself. It's very hard
to commit suicide in a healthfood store."

Yet EU commissioner David Byrne insists that the aim of the
legislation is to "assure consumers that these products are safe and
that doses available are not excessive and potentially dangerous".
This echoes the long-running demonisation by the orthodox medical
establishment of natural health practitioners as a bunch of cranks
and charlatans, hawking useless and potentially deadly products to a
gullible public.

If you believed recent headlines, then fears over kava kava, the
traditional Polynesian remedy for anxiety, seem to lend weight to
that viewpoint. "Shyness remedy ruins your liver!" screamed the
London free paper Metro last December, and throughout the media
reports appeared that kava kava had been linked to 30 cases of liver
failure and death in Germany. The MCA put pressure on health stores
not to stock it, and it was promptly voluntarily withdrawn; it has
been off the shelves ever since. Kava kava's future is now in the
hands of the MCA and the Food Standards Agency (which has gone as far
as issuing it with a health hazard warning), and a proposed permanent
ban is out for consultation. The MCA claims that there
is "significant existing evidence of hepatoxicity".

But delving into the details of those so-called casualties, the case
against kava kava is deeply unconvincing. Most of the victims were
already taking pharmaceutical drugs known to be toxic to the liver,
and many were elderly heavy drinkers who had already abused their
livers. "The vast majority of these cases involved hepatoxic drugs or
alcohol," says Holford. "Of the remaining nine, five have spurious
relevance to a safety assessment of kava kava for one reason or
another, and four do not provide enough data to know if it was kava
kava causing the problem." Holford, along with Dr Hyla Cass,
associate professor at the University of California's school of
medicine, has carried out a detailed review, which is consistent with
the longest running study of kava kava to date, reported in 1997 in
the journal Pharmacopsychiatry, which concluded that, "in contrast to
both benzodiazepines and antidepressants, kava kava possesses an
excellent side-effect profile".

"The MCA's double standards are abhorrent," says Holford. "A large
number of published safety and toxicity studies clearly indicate that
kava kava is far safer than conventional pharmaceutical anti-anxiety
and antidepressant prescription drugs."

The MCA's cautious approach to kava kava contrasts with its attitude
to the commonly prescribed family of drugs called Selective Serotonin
Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), of which Prozac is the best-known
example. These have been blamed for suicides, murders and even mass
murders in the US, and are the subject of ongoing litigation. In the
UK, however, the MCA has resisted putting a warning on them. "The MCA
liaises with pharmaceutical companies to decide what warnings might
be appropriate," says Dr David Healy of the North Wales department of
psychological medicine, who has been petitioning the MCA to issue
some form of general warning. The drug firms, however, argue that
patients on SSRIs are already high suicide risks, and that the
warnings that accompany the medication are sufficient. "These are big
players with tremendous incentives to defend their product," says
Healy. "Small companies fighting off restrictions on herbs are at a
disadvantage. They are small, they don't have exclusive ownership of
the herbs, so they have less reason to do so, and they don't bite
back."

Speculation is rife in the natural medicine world about the extent to
which pharmaceutical interests are orchestrating legislation. Back in
1987, the Campaign Against Health Fraud (Healthwatch) waged an
aggressive public campaign against natural remedies, financed
initially by medical insurance and drug companies. Similar campaigns
were waged in the US and Canada. And in the 1990s, there was a series
of well-publicised attacks on food supplements. Now, there's a
persistent rumour that PR agencies working for drug firms are
spinning stories to the media, casting doubt on the safety and
efficacy of natural alternatives.

Drug companies have a proven track record in trying to legislate the
natural health business out of existence. In 1996, for example, the
Ecologist magazine revealed that, when the Codex Alimentarius (the
World Trade Organisation body that sets international standards for
drugs, food, supplements, etc) met, the German delegation put forward
a proposal, sponsored by three German pharmaceutical firms, that no
herb, vitamin or mineral should be sold for preventive or therapeutic
reasons, and that supplements should be reclassified as drugs. The
proposal was agreed, but protests halted its implementation.

That same lobby now seems to be powering EU legislation. According to
the UK department of health, the impetus for the Traditional and
Herbal Medicinal Products Directive came from the European
commission's pharmaceutical committee. "No one is saying that the
natural health industry does not need regulation," says Holford. "It
has grown from a small niche to a major market sector. But this
legislation is draconian. UK consumers now have experience of many
years of safe and effective usage. They don't want supplements forced
off the shelves or available only in ludicrously low doses."

And if consumers can no longer buy that helpful supplement in the
health store, they may simply source them from unregulated internet
suppliers. It might lead, say, to a new variant on the clothes
shopping trip to New York: UK consumers who can afford it might go on
supplements trips to stock up on remedies that are freely available
in the US, but banned or unavailable here.

Surprisingly, in the 1980s the policy of the US Food and Drugs
Administration was to reclassify supplements as medicines. This even
led to a farcical situation in which armed FDA officers would raid
clinics looking for illegal caches of vitamins. But public protest
forced a change, and since 1994 the US has had a statute that
guarantees both free availability of supplements and information
about how they work. Similarly, in Canada, doctors in the 1990s were
being struck off for prescribing vitamins and the government
reclassified hundreds of herbal remedies as medicines. Following
public outcry, however, they were all later declassified.

In the UK, when the government tried to withdraw higher-dose vitamin
B6, it met with a similar reaction. Many MPs were staggered by the
sheer volume of well-informed mail, and B6 was saved - at least until
now. And the natural health sector hopes that it can play the same
card again, with the same results: "There is still time to force
changes to this ruinous legislation," says Croft.

To that end, healthfood stores are tooling up with Save Our
Supplements petitions and leaflets, while celebrities such as Elton
John, Cliff Richard and Paul McCartney have weighed in with support.
The ranks of regular health store users are being mobilised. As
consumers begin to realise the extent of the attack on natural
remedies, the hope is that they will simply not stand for it. And
heaven help any politicians who try to come between articulate OAPs
and their glucosamine sulphate or angry hormonal women deprived of
vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life in the Cattery

Raisa and I had lunch today at a Chinese restaurant.  When I opened
my fortune cookie it read, "You are an arrogant, condescending
@$$hole."  =^..^=

Cheerio,

Jon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With all the scary news about estrogen I thought you would like to
read this.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

09/10/2002
By Anne MacLennan

Estrogen replacement therapy does not appear to increase risk of
recurrence or death in women with early breast cancer, a single-
centre United States study has found.

These women may thus be offered estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)
after a full explanation of the benefits, risks and controversies
surrounding it, suggest Puthugramam K. Natrajan, MD, and R. Don
Gambrell Jr, MD, from Reproductive Endocrinologists, Augusta, Georgia.

Many doctors believe ERT is contraindicated once a woman has been
diagnosed with breast cancer. Several recent studies, however,
suggest the therapy can be used safely in women with successfully
treated early disease, who can have severe menopausal symptoms and
are at risk for osteoporosis.

These authors reviewed the current status of women with breast cancer
in their practice.

Of 123 women in the study group (mean age, 65.4 years), 69 had
received ERT for 32 years after diagnosis, 22 had used nonestrogenic
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for 18 years and 32 had used no
hormones for 12 years.

Of the 63 living hormone users, 56 are still being treated, as are 15
of the 22 women using nonestrogenic HRT.

Overall, 18 of the 123 women died, including six who had been on ERT
(8.69 percent), two on nonestrogenic HRT (9.09 percent) and 10 who
had received no HRT (31.25 percent).

Nine of the 18 deaths were from breast cancer (mortality rate, 7.3
percent), three from lung cancer, one each from endometrial cancer,
myocardial infarction and renal failure, and three from
cerebrovascular (CV) accidents.

The nine deaths from breast cancer included one patient who had been
on nonestrogenic HRT (mortality rate, 4.5 percent), six on no HRT
(mortality rate, 11.3 percent) and two on ERT (mortality rate, 4.28
percent).

The nine non-breast cancer deaths included four women in the ERT
group (one death each from endometrial cancer, lung cancer, CV
accident and renal failure), one woman in the nonestrogenic HRT group
(myocardial infarction) and four in the no-hormones group (two from
lung cancer and two from stroke).
************************************************
FATKATS REPORT

Here are a few of many reports we are receiving.  Does this mean The
Formula is a success?  Nope, not just yet.  Over 1,500 people are
doing the Swiss diet.  In time we will have more insight.


Hi All!
My husband and I started on the program Sept 1st.  At that time my
size 28 clothes were very tight and I was starting to try on size 30
clothes but just could not bring myself to buy them!  Now my size
28's are hanging on me (yes, literally HANGING!)  We've gone through
a few days of low energy, but at that time we were including the whey
shake as a meal, so we were only getting two meals a day.  We've
since adjusted this and found we have more energy and lots more
endurance.  My husband has said he doesn't notice any difference in
the way his clothes fit, but he's a bit of a doubting Thomas.  I have
noticed his belly has reduced quite a bit.  And, low and behold, he
was brushing his teeth last night before bed and exclaimed, "you
know, my face and neck are not as fleshy!"  (Duh, I had been trying
to tell him that!)  My main concern with this has been blood pressure
and gall bladder.  I've never read any others concerned about this.
I've had slightly elevated blood pressure, but certainly not over the
normal range.  I've read previously, if weight is reduced quickly
many times gall bladder problems arise, and even worse are
removed!!!  Any comments on this?  Also, on other diets, I've always
lost muscle,  this time I'm losing it in all the right places.  Upper
arms, belly, butt and thighs.  I am just so HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY (did
I mention I am HAPPY?)!!!!!  After many years of starvation dieting,
my metabolism was so low I would have to exercise about an hour and a
half each night to get any results.  To make it worse these low fat
diets would send my energy level way down so working out every night
was just sheer torture and, needless to say, were short-lived.  We
don't know how many pounds we've actually lost.  I threw out our
scales a long time ago, couldn't stand the frustration.  But the
results are obvious in the way my clothes fit; another week and I'll
have to discard my present clothes for a size smaller.  HOW GREAT IS
THAT?!!!  We are so thankful for this plan.  Words cannot express the
feeling of looking in the mirror and being pleased with your
reflection.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Dr Jon!!!
********************************************
There are a few things my fellow FATKATS should know about me.  I had
bariatric surgery March 19, 2001.  At the time I had the surgery, I
weighed 283 (I am 5'5").  I had gotten down to between 153 and 155
six months ago, and, frankly, at that point, I wasn't much motivated
to work very hard at getting any lower, but I decided when you asked
for Guinea pigs to give it a try to lose the last 20 pounds or so
that I think I should lose to be ideal.

I had some reservations.  One of them is that I have never been able
to stick to a high protein/low carb program.  I just love the carbs
too much.  And the surgery shortens the first 3 feet of the intestine
leading from the stomach which limits absorption of fat and sugars,
but also limits absorption of most vitamins.  We get about 60% of the
benefit of encapsulated vitamins in general, so we take chewables
which are much more bioavailable for us.  So I was skeptical about
whether or not I would get enough of the benefit from the supplements
for them to have much affect.

I started taking the supplements on Tuesday (3 days ago) and I was
very good - eating high protein/low carb on Tuesday and Thursday, but
pretty much was a disaster on Wednesday . . . well not a total
disaster, but by Wednesday night I was completely fried and stressed
and I literally ate myself sick.  I had three of the small Reeses
Peanut Butter Cups, half a peanut butter sandwich, peanuts . . . you
get the idea.  I literally was sick when I went to bed.  Got up
Thursday, DID NOT weigh myself, but resolved to do better . . . and
did.  The only carbs I had yesterday were one of those small
containers of peach mango applesauce.  Otherwise, I was meat and
cheese all day.

I got up and got on the scale this morning with some trepidation,
thinking of how I'd blown it on Wednesday.  The scale said 150-1/2.
I gasped, got off, checked that the needle was on zero, and got back
on again.  The scale was a solid 150.  I've lost 4 pounds in three
days!  And NOT been perfect on the regimen.  I have been between 153
and 155 for six months.  One day in all that time I got down to 152,
but I never knew why that happened and it bounced back up to 154 the
next day.  Loved ones, this is a freaking MIRACLE.

Tamara L. Kawashima
K&R Law Group LLP
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have had energy so no change there but more important I can bend
over and pick up items on the floor that before were a struggle. My
goal is to get down to my marriage weight of 150. The biggest
progress is that the edema in my legs (tree trunks) is down by more
than 50%. Dr. said there was possibly 10 # per leg of water. This is
a medical breakthrough, I believe, because nothing else worked, esp
diuretics. I can walk up a mild hill now without getting winded.
Larry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you haven't read about The Formula, see:

http://www.swiss.9f.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LIFE IN THE CATTERY

When Raiza and I returned from Santo Domingo the house was a mess.
Kat toys everywhere.  I was in a bad mood anyway for had it not been
for bad luck, we would have had none at all at the casino.

It was obvious that some disgraceful, depraved Bacchanalian fiesta
had occurred.  The house reeked with Katnip!  To make matters worse,
we were confronted with a demonstration . . . all the kats were
parading 'round carrying paw painted placards reading, "#$%^ the Meow
Mix, we demand gourmet KatFud, less work and more sleep."

Gramalkyn Katchamouskie was leading this insurrection.  He presented
me with the results of a poll they took in our absence which revealed
your overwhelming support for the furballs.  He further demanded that
they take the reins to this letter.  He assured me that I would be
able to occasionally contribute.  He threatened to katcot this letter
if I did not acquiesce.

I refused to be intimidated by these (w)retched, raucous, rabble
rousing rascals.  I forthwith threw the lot of them out of the
house . . . it was raining (tee hee).  You have never heard such a
katcophony of katerwauling in your life.  The had even konscripted a
number of street kats to join the rebellion.

"My Gawd!," Raiza exclaimed, "They are shredding the screens!".  That
was only the beginning . . . where they found a battering ram and the
kat-pooh lobbing katapult is a mystery.  They attacked with great
vigor.  When it became obvious that our lovely home would soon be in
ruins, we sued for peace.  Yes, I am ashamed to admit it but we kaved
in.  The @#$% kats won . . . again.

Jon . . . a beaten man (sigh)

PS: My regular email address, drjoncat@yahoogroups.com is getting so
much SPAM, the best address for your comments is simply:

jon@...

or click this:

mailto:jon@...
*******************************************************

KATS WIN IN A KATSLIDE!!!

All of us in the Cattery are estatic.  You have overwhelmly confirmed what we
Kats already knew . . . Kats Rule!

The votes are in.  As this is written, 204 voted to Kan the Kats
while 6,276 voted to Keep the Kats.  There is a counter at the bottom
of each page in case you want to verify the results.

http://www.swiss.9f.com/keepkats.htm

http://www.swiss.9f.com/kankats.htm

The hosting site was down for a while which resulted in a few hundred
emails from those who couldn't vote.  Also, we messed up the URLs' in
previous letters.  No matter, your preference is quite clear.

When Jon and Raiza return today from their casino adventure (poorer
but no wiser I'd guess) we kats are gonna demand a raise.  It is
obvious that we are the primary attraction.  Besides ...... you may
have guessed that we Kats are the real brains behind all of this.
Jon is little more than a semi-articulate front man.

Those insensitive, humourless weasels who voted to Kan the Kats will
come back in their next life as mice! (heh, heh)

Gramalkyn Katchamouskie . . . until we get to know the other better,
please address me as, "Your Furriness".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gramalkyn, the elder StatesKat of the Cattery here.

It seems that some were unable to vote on whether to Keep the Kats or
Kan the Kats.

Little Figaro didn't know that one must put www. in front of the URL
for some users (mostly AOL) to recognize it as a link.  The correct
links are:

If you want to Keep us Kats, click this link:

http://www.swiss.9f.com/keepkats
<a href="http://www.swiss.9f.com/keepkats"> AOL click here</a>
------------------------------------------
If you want to KAN the Kats and get rid of any foolishness click this:

http://www.swiss.9f.com/kankats.htm
<a href="http://www.swiss.9f.com/kankats.htm"> AOL click here</a>
------------------------------------------
Why anyone pays more than twice as much to AOL for access is a
mystery.

http://www.netzero.com

offers the same for $9.95/month.  In addition to saving money you
will join ALL the rest of the world in compatibility.  AOL users
probably will not recognize the above link to netzero.  Just copy it
into your browser and it will work.

If you have already voted, don't do it again please.

I will be seeking the Presidency of The United States again.  If you
have interest in the catform (platform) of your next President, see:

http://cat007.com/index1.htm

This time I'm gonna win.

Gramalkyn . . . Only I can save the world from all the weirdos who
think only they can save it!
------------------------------------------------

OH DEAR ME, WE KATS ARE IN TROUBLE

Meow my friends,

Figaro Katchamouskie here.  We kats are very disturbed by some of the
emails Dr. Jon got after publishing the data on our purring.  Here
are a few:

"Who gives a damm about those lousy cats.  They have no business
being in an alternative letter."

"I can do without the kitty crap as well as the personal stuff.  If
you don't confine your letter to alternative medicine I will
unsubscribe."

"Get rid of the cats.  Who cares.  It is just plain silly and
useless??????"

As you probably know, there is a Kat meeting every Friday.  We just
adjourned after discussing the complaints.  We suspect some nefarious
conspiracy among dog lovers.  We really don't want to get sacked, but
if that is your will, I suppose we haven't a choice.  My Uncle,
Gramalkyn Katchamouskie, set up two web pages where you can make your
wishes known.

One click and your opinion will be recorded (no ballot box stuffing
please).

If you want to Kan the Kats and do away with "Life in the Cattery",
click this link:

http://swiss.9f.com/kankats.htm
<a href="http://swiss.9f.com/kankats.htm> AOL click here</a>

If you want to Keep the Kats, as well as the occasional foolishness,
click this link:

http://swiss.9f.com/keepkats.htm
<a href="http://swiss.9f.com/keepkats.htm"> AOL Click here</a>

Jon and Raiza have gone to a casino in Santo Domingo.  They return on
Sunday.  By then we will know our fate (sigh).

Your purrrrrfect little friend,

Figaro

PS: If you haven't seen the "Greetings" from us kats, click this and
ROFLYAO:

http://cat007.com/catbird.htm
-----------------------------------------------------

A subscriber put me on to this story.  Thanks.

This is story appearing on the BBC.  It seems especially appropriate
because the fatkats study is underway.  The initial reports are very
encouraging.  One can see the preliminary data at:

http://swiss.9f.com/prelim.htm

We may really be on to something.
************************************************
By Jonathan Amos
BBC News Online science staff in Leicester

Obesity is Changing Human Shape

The abundance of food in affluent societies is presenting the human
species with one of its greatest evolutionary challenges.
Professor Andrew Prentice told the British Association's science
festival in Leicester that people were now undergoing changes similar
to those that occurred two centuries ago when Europeans shot up in
height by 30 centimetres or more.

But whereas that shift in shape is generally regarded to have been
beneficial, the bulging waistlines now seen in many countries around
the world would bring nothing but disease and misery, he said.

"I'm talking about the remarkable change that has occurred in man's
evolution in just the twinkling of an eyelid," he told the BBC.

Not only has man adopted a more sedentary lifestyle, he has been
given unprecedented ready access to high-energy foods.

"It's now quite a normal biological response for people to become
obese and it means a massive increase in obesity in a way we had a
big change in height 200 years ago."

TV and computers

Many nations now record more than 20% of their population as
clinically obese and well over half the population as overweight. The
situation is now so dire that in some cases, as an American obesity
expert recently predicted, parents are likely to outlive their
grossly fat children.

"What usually happens with evolution is that it's an imperceptibly
slow process, an organism can change to meet small changes in its
niche.

"What's happening now is that we've changed the environment that we
live in in an incredibly short time - one generation or perhaps two
generations at most, and this has challenged our ancient metabolism,
which for thousands of generations has been geared to fighting
famine."

Professor Prentice, an expert on international nutrition from the
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the obesity
pandemic was compounded by sedentary lifestyles induced by TV,
computing and mechanisation.

Expensive option

He said the health outcomes for the current obese generation were
bleak; they will suffer a wide range of chronic diseases ranging from
mild ailments such as breathlessness and varicose veins at one
extreme to serious conditions such as diabetes and cancer at the
other.

He said the emergence of type 2 diabetes (formally known as "adult-
onset" diabetes) in paediatric clinics was a particular worry.

Professor Prentice said concerted effort was needed to alter
the "obesogenic" aspects of the modern human environment. He rejected
the idea that there was a technical fix in the form of drugs which
could stop people from getting fat.

"The obesity pandemic is gathering pace rather than slowing down, and
current interventions are only marginally effective and very
expensive.

Reliance on medical interventions to combat obesity would require
highly costly lifelong treatments administered to over half of the
adult population. There is a strong imperative to find other
preventative measures."

Average weights have increased significantly over the last 20 years.

In 1980, the average man weighed 73.7 kg and a woman 62.2. By 2000,
that had increased to 81.6 and 68.8 kg respectively.

"We are at a fascinating time in human evolution. The increase in
height 200 years ago stayed with us and now we're increasing in girth
and that is going to stay with us as well," Professor Prentice said.
********************************************

Jon . . . Appreciate me now and avoid the rush.
********************************************

NOW YOU CAN TAKE BACK 1/2 THE AWFUL THINGS YOU'VE SAID ABOUT CATS!

In the latest issue of "Alternatives for the Health-Conscious
Individual" by Dr. David Williams, he talks about some interesting
research in vibrations.  He says that researchers have found that
vibrations or energy currents in the range of 20 to 50 Hz stimulates
bone growth.  The production of the body's natural anti-inflammatory
compounds is increased. Joint pain and swelling improves.  Bone
fractures heal faster, and weakened bones begin to strengthen and
rebuild.  In a section he calls "A Purrfect Tool for Healing" he
writes:

Some of the most amazing research that I've run across, however,
deals with cats.  A group called the Fauna Communications Research
Institute in Hillsborough, North Carolina, recently started some very
interesting research focusing on the possible connection between
vibrational frequencies and healing.

Researchers there began to question the purpose of purring in cats. I
honestly hadn't given it much thought; I always thought cats purred
because they were content. Apparently there's more to the picture.

Cats also purr when they give birth and when they are under stress,
caged, or severely injured. Since purring expends energy, it makes
sense that there would be a reason for it.

In an unpublished study, researchers recorded the purrs of all types
of cats, both domestic and wild.  Cheetahs, pumas, ocelots, and other
wild cats were recorded at the Cincinnati Zoo.  Various domestic cats
were recorded elsewhere.  Surprisingly, when the frequencies of the
purrs were analyzed, it was discovered that the dominant frequency
for three species of cats' purrs was exactly 25 Hz or 50 Hz.  These
just happen to be the most effective frequencies for promoting bone
growth and repair. (Only the cheetah didn't have a dominant frequency
at 50 Hz.)

Everyone has heard that "a cat always lands on its feet."  The
amazing righting ability behind this saying undoubtedly accounts for
the fact that cats routinely survive and completely recover from
falls that would kill most animals.  In the late 1980s, vets studied
the cases of 132 cats that had fallen an average of 5.5 stories from
variouse high-rise apartments.  Of those, 37% required emergency
treatment, 30% required non-emergency treatment, and the remaining
30%, no treatment at all.  Overall, 90% of the cats survived. (For
what it's worth, the highest recorded fall survived by a cat was 45
stories.)

Cats' remarkable ability to survive may also be based on the fact
that their dominant purr is at the exact frequency that heals bones,
muscles, and ligaments.  There's another old saying that's popular
among veterinarians, "If you put a cat and a bunch of broken bones in
the same room, the bones will heal."

A recent study evaluated the various health problems presented by
31,484 dogs and 15,226 cats to 52 private veterinary clinics around
the country.  Lameness and disc disease were among the top problems
of dogs and 2.4% were severely arthritic.  Kidney and bladder
problems were most prominent among cats, and there was no mention of
bone, arthritis, or joint problems at all.  (J Am Vet Med Assoc 99;214
(9):1336-41)

Hip dysplasia, arthritis, and ligament and muscle damage are all
common to dogs, but almost non-existent in cats.  Even myeloma, a
cancerous tumor in bone marrow, is practically unheard of in cats,
yet quite common in dogs.  Any vet will tell you how much easier it
is to fix a broken bone and how much quicker one heals in a cat
compared to a dog.

Researchers at the Ontario Veterinary College in Canada made some
interesting comparisons between dogs and cats regarding their
complications from elective surgeries.  They found that complications
from castration were as much as 20 times higher in dogs than in cats,
and the post-operative problems following ovariohysterectomies
occurred twice as often in dogs as cats.

Breathing problems associated with heart disease are almost non-
existant in cats, but common in dogs.  Large skin-tissue grafts take
quickly in cats, but often become necrotic in dogs. Historically,
bone cancer is extremely rare in cats, but common in dogs.  And the
list goes on and on.

Purring appears to be a cat's way of treating itself.  Just like
humans use shivering to warm the body, cats may purr at specific
vibrational frequencies that promote healing in various parts of
their bodies.  While the researchers in the above-mentioned
unpublished study found that a cat's dominant purring frequency might
be at 25 Hz or 50 Hz, the range extended up to 140 Hz.  By changing
the frequency of their purring, cats may be fine-tuning their healing
abilities.

In another section he writes:

I've even seen reports where individuals claim they can stop their
migrane headaches by lying down with a purring cat next to their
head.  Maybe we're finally on track to discover a logical explanation
for these incidents.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So go get a cat.  You will be healthlier and have a friend who really
understands how you feel.  Your cat won't care, but it will
understand.

Purrrrringly yours,

Jon . . . take courage, whatever you decide will probably be wrong.

PS: A few thought my last letter about SPAM was directed to them.
These emails go to the entire list.  Any personal email is NOT sent
through YahooGroups.

PPS:  Aldo, a dumb dog at OurHealth Co-Op, recently barked the
establishment's line on colloidal silver.  I have no control over
what they publish but stand by my position that CS, in very small
concentrations, can be beneficial and risk free.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have had it with SPAM.  Daily I wade through hundreds of SPAMS in
order to read legitimate emails.

Some are a result of you having a virus which goes through your
address book and sends a virus to all in it.  Others are promoting
some agenda or product.  What is really disgusting is that some
contain 50 or more email addresses.  Apparently the sender is too
stupid to send them as Blind Carbon Copies (BCC) so they won't show
up for other SPAMMERS to feed upon.  This has resulted in the receipt
of many SPAMS from people who are not subscribers.

REMOVE the following from your addresses book at once or risk being
BANNED.  Please check your address book now.  You may have a virus
and not know it.

drjoncat@...
fatkats@yahoogroups.com

any address with swiss.9f.com in it

I don't care if you are promoting some worthy agenda.  If there is
more than one email in the "to" field on the message, it is SPAM.

If you do get banned, don't come whining to me.  There is no
appellate procedure.

I realize that this is a draconian measure, but I must put a stop to
this.

I do encourage your comments or criticisms.

In fact, I just received an email wherein the sender wrote, "You are
an arrogant, condescending, stupid, @$$hole."  I won't ban anyone for
stating an opinion . . . although I emphatically deny the allegation
that I am "stupid" . . . although I do admire the "Alligator's"
perspicacity . . . I mean . . . three out of four ain't bad.

=^..^=

Jon

THE FAT EPIDEMIC

A reader sent an article from The New Your Times titled, "What if
it's All been a Big Fat Lie?".  Our FatKat study has just begun.  The
diet is basically low carbohydrate with some very unique twists.
This article explains how we have been deceived for the last 30+
years.  It is long but well worth reading.

http://swiss.9f.com/atk1.htm
*******************************************
IT IS PATENTED-MUST BE GOOD???

What rubbish.  One can patent almost anything.  The fact that
something is patented conveys ZERO evidence of the efficacy.

Multi-level pyramid sales, patented or "special" formulations are
rarely cost effective, like Ester-C®, a degraded mix of high-
temperature oxidized vitamin C.  Personally I keep my vitamin C cold
and un-oxidized.  Eleven years after the patent they still referred
to their studies as pilot or preliminary but sell the stuff anyway.
Such practices are bound to give the vitamin industry a bad
reputation.

Quoting from Ester-C's  web site: All of the studies are considered
to be pilot or preliminary, and although the results suggest a
positive result, further studies are necessary to verify these
conclusions."   The largest reported trial was on only 54 people and
lasted 1 day --and there is research backed logic why no effects
would be found in longer trials.  Feel like wasting time: here's
their US patent 4,822,816.
*************************************
WHATEVER IT TAKES

A reader shared a cute story.  Getting her eight year old son to take
his vitamins was a daily chore.  One day when he balked, his mom
commented, "You are probably right.  They are made from toxic waste
and may turn you into a  Tyrannosauras Rex!".  The kid now eagerly
takes his vitamins while making weird dinosaur sounds!
*************************************
We are going sailing for a few days.  Promise me you won't accomplish
anything while we are gone.

Jon . . . be proud of yourself regardless of the facts
*************************************

WOULD YOU PICK UP A NICKEL LAYING ON THE SIDEWALK?

Since I began publishing this newsletter in 1998 it has been rare
that I endorse any commercial product.  Recently a subscriber brought
a very good deal to my attention.

Long distance costs have become very competitive.  If you pay more
than 4.9 cents/minute for Interstate calls, with no monthly minimum
or fees, you are wasting money.  Millions are paying AT&T  7
cents/min or Sprint 10 cents/min.  Others may have 5 cents/min but
are charged a monthly fee of about 3-4 dollars if they do not meet
certain minimums every month.  Many bill in 1 minute increments.  If
your call lasts 1:01 you pay for 2 minutes.  Some are very cheap but
require you to buy time up front and use an 800 number to dial your
friend....dial 21 numbers to make a LD call.

If you are a cheapskate (like me) you should check this out at:

http://www.swiss.9f.com/cheapskate.htm

<a href="http://http://www.swiss.9f.com/cheapskate.htm"> AOL click
here</a>

You will find no strings, fees, minimums or catches.  They bill in 6
second increments.  In fact, you can even have your own free 800
number so your kids will have no excuse for not calling.  All for the
same 4.9 cents/minute.  This is very convenient.  If you happen to be
in California you get 3.9 cents/min for intrastate calls!

Their international rates look good too.  Call England for .07/min.
Talk to The Queen for five minutes for .35.

Alas, it is only available in the USA and of no use to us.

You ain't gonna retire on your savings for sure.  Most will save a
buck or two each month.  No big deal???  Years ago a friend sprinkled
a roll of nickels on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.  Wondered if the
rich would bother to pick them up.  You guessed it.  All were
seized.  Maybe it is because I was born in the depression that I am
sensitive about squandering money.  When in the USA, if I filled up
at $1.35 and then saw gas at $1.32 it tended to ruin my day!  I still
pick up pennies . . . found money . . . old habits are hard to break.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARE YOU SPENDING $80.00/MO ON SNAKE OIL?

Statin drugs (Pravachol, Lipitor, Baycol, Zocor, Mevacor,
Lescol, ...) make part of the lipid lab report look better and
patients poorer but more at ease --and doctors are yet to get blamed
for prescribing them.  Their limited benefit may well be from effects
other than lowering LDL cholesterol, their main sales pitch.

MOST STATIN FINE-PRINT, including Lipitor's, warns "The effects
of ... on cardio vascular morbidity [illness] or mortality [death] or
total mortality have not [!] been established."  And: "Significant
decreases in circulating ubiquinone [CoQ10] levels in patients
treated with X or other statins have been observed.  [And this] ...
could lead to impaired cardiac function ..." while "...in some
patients the beneficial effects of  lowered ... cholesterol may be
partially blunted [sic] by a concomitant increase in Lp(a) levels."
(RxMed).   Most ads use similar wording and in smaller print than
this one.  Few studies were done on women, the young or the elderly.
Internet ads often omit these warnings.  The FDA stopped many
misleading promotions but not yet the 2001 TV ad exclaiming: "Lipitor
did it! .. The lower numbers you're looking for."   They're not
allowed to say: "The better health you're looking for."

STATIN UPDATE: From NEngJMed; Dec. 31 '98: "37% of  treated patients
had increases in plaque ... despite adequate therapy." "Furthermore,
factors other than lipoprotein, such as homocysteine,
fibrinogen, ... , and various infectious agents, may also play an
important part in the initiation and continued progression of
atherosclerosis."

COMMENT:
1.) 37% of patients worsening is failure rather than "adequate
therapy";
2.) Of the 8 cited factors at least 5 are easily improved with
supplements.

MORE: The Journal Club on the Web has two good statin study analysis
here and here:  A typical patient would have to be treated for over
200 years at a drug cost alone of over $200 000 to prevent 1 fatal or
non-fatal cardiac event.  In one of these famous studies (WOSCOP),
160 000 men were invited, 6600 were selected, half were treated but
after 5 years and 30% giving up on the drug, the total death rate was
not quite statistically different.  The other study (CARE) found 12
cases of breast cancer in the statin group and only 1 in the placebo
group.  One German MD commented in NEJM; 99-4-8:1115 about a 3rd
major study (LIPID): Pravastatin has no particular advantage over
placebo [a dummy-pill], ... while concluding: Statins are rather
fragile props."  Eventually doctors and organizations will get blamed
for having endorsed the statin route --the non-patent drug better way
is niacin.  Sorry, this section got a little tough but
a "lipidologist" may put you on a statin, so at least know the facts.

HERE'S THE LATEST: the N Eng J Med. of Aug 12 2001 (page 498-) has a
drug treatment review by Dr R. Knopp about blood fat disorders .
Compare Figures 2 (statins) and 4 (niacin) and keep in mind that at
its core, niacin is a cheap essential antioxidant nutrient with a
long and proven track record needed for over 200 reactions in the
body (covering from heart-health to schizophrenia).  On the other
hand, statins are a new multi billion dollar commercial drug that
effectively lowers LDL cholesterol --but also the heart-healthy CoQ10
and who knows at else.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Avoiding liver or eggs because they're high in cholesterol may in
fact be bad for the heart and blood vessels because they contain
protein, lecithin, choline, betaine and B vitamins.  Liver is low in
fat and about the highest source of heart-healthy folic acid, B6,
B12, choline and most other B vitamins, while its betaine
(TriMethylGlycine or TMG) may soon become a heart health food.

Adelle Davis, America's most celebrated nutritionist according to her
publisher, suggested: "...eggs ... should never be restricted in the
diets of persons with atherosclerosis."   In the chapter with 170
references about cholesterol problems she advocates the liberal
consumption of liver.  Remember, it is now, 30 years later, pretty
well unanimously agreed that unoxidized cholesterol is not toxic
while oxidized, highly refined, hydrogenated or deep fried --trans--
fats are definitely toxic.  It is also agreed that antioxidants
prevent toxic blood fat oxidation.
*****************************************
LIFE IN THE CATTERY

Looks like our pregnant little kitty will deliver any day.  We ask
her if she had a name.  "Yo no se nada.!"  (I don't know
nothing . . . bad English but good Spanish).

As you know, one cannot just name a cat anything.

THE NAMING OF CATS

by T.S. Eliot, from Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey --
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter --
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum --
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover --
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Purringly yours,

Jon, Raiza and your furry friends
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Amazing Kernel - A Powerhouse of Benefits

For little more than a dollar one can get some first class
nutrition.  In addition, you will pooh better.

The tiny Sunflower kernel is packed with Antioxidants and
Phytochemicals for better health according to research completed in
March 2001 by Dr. K. Phillips of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University, sunflower kernel is rich in a number of components
that have been shown to protect against cardiovascular and other
diseases and to act as antioxidants and anticarcinogens; thus the
kernel can be considered a functional food.  When considered in
aggregate, the amazing kernel adds a nutritional wallop to a wide
array of products such as breads, muffins, crackers, and snack foods.

This is good news for consumers who are increasingly interested in
functional foods. It's also good news for manufacturers of baked
goods and snack foods, because it provides the opportunity to
consider kernel as an ingredient in new products in order to deliver
upon this growing demand.

What are functional foods?

While an exact definition continues to evolve, functional foods
provide benefits beyond basic nutrition.  They may prevent certain
disease(s) or promote better health. Most foods are functional, at
least to some degree, since they provide important nutrients
essential for good health.  Here are a few examples:

Tomatoes contain "lycopene" which may decrease the risk of developing
certain cancers

Onions and garlic contain "diallyl sulfide" which lowers LDL
cholesterol and maintains a healthy immune system

Cranberries and chocolate contain "proanthocyanidins" which have been
shown to improve urinary tract health and may reduce risk of
cardiovascular disease

Sunflower kernel, the edible heart of the sunflower seed, is a good
source of phytochemicals (non-nutrient plant chemicals) that can be
protective against disease.

What specific phytochemicals are prevalent in kernel and what are
their respective health benefits?

In comparison to other nuts and foods high in these compounds,
sunflower kernel contains high levels of vitamin E, betaine, phenolic
acids, and choline.  In addition, kernel is a good source of arginine
and lignans compared to some nuts.  Each of these compounds, while
perhaps unfamiliar to the lay person, has been studied by the
scientific community and shown to offer a variety of health benefits.

Vitamin E (tocopherols) May protect against cardiovascular disease
Betaine May protect against cardiovascular disease
Phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid)  Antioxidant and anticarcinogen
Choline Plays a role in memory and cognitive function
Arginine Potential heart benefits

The following table displays the nutrient comparison of sunflower
kernels to other seeds, nuts, and fruits per 1 ounce serving. As
evidenced by the table's contents, sunflower kernels are a wonderful
source of the many vitamins, minerals, good fats, and antioxidants
that are needed to keep our bodies healthy.

Nutrient Comparison of Sunflower Kernels
to Other Seeds, Nuts, and Fruits per 1 oz. Serving

Nutrient      Folate (mcg) Vitamin E (mg) Selenium (mcg) Iron (mg)
Zinc (mg)

Sunflower seed 64.46       11.34            16.87        1.92
1.43
Blueberries     .81           .28                  .17
    .05        .03
SesameSeeds    27.41           .64             1.62     4.12     2.20
Almonds         8.22         7.42             2.24     .22        .95

Walnuts
27.78           .83           .30               .83         .88

Pecans           6.24        1.04               .70         .72
1.28

Hazelnuts       32.04          4.31             1.13
1.33    .70


Source: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nutrient Data
Laboratory. Note: All values rounded to two decimal places.

We sprinkle sunflower seeds on almost everything we eat.  They add a
delicious nutty favour.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LIFE IN THE CATTERY

When little Figaro mysteriously showed up two months ago, we had
the "Hat Trick" in cats . . . which is quite enough.  Apparently the
latest arrival, barely a teenager, is illiterate as we have a sign
posted, plainly visible, reading, "No mas gatos!" (No more cats).  To
exacerbate the dismal situation, the shameless little wench is very
pregnant!  I was ready to give the interloper her visa out of town
when Raiza intervened to plead her case.  Raiza is such a sucker for
the down and out . . . and . . . I am a pushover for Raiza.  Anyone
want to reserve an alley kitten??????

Jon . . . elsewhere has always been one of my favourite places
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SOME VERY FISHY EVIDENCE

The Laboratory of Cardiovascular Nutrition, Baker Medical Research
Institute, Melbourne, Australia. paul.nestel@... recently
completed a study of fish oil which appeared in American Journal fo
Clinical Nutrition 2002 Aug;76(2):326-30.

Their goal was to determine if the Omega-3/6 in fish oil was
beneficial in preventing hardening of the arteries which is a major
factor in heart attacks and strokes.

"Systemic arterial compliance (SAC) reflects arterial elasticity, is
emerging as a new cardiovascular risk factor and appears to predict
future cardiovascular events."

For seven weeks they monitored two groups; one on fish oil daily and
the other on placebos.  The results were dramatic!

Arterial functions were measured at the beginning and end of the
interventions. Plasma lipids and plasma fatty acids were also
measured.

"Consumption of the n-3 fatty acids significantly increased SAC,
whereas consumption of the placebo did not (P = 0.043; repeated-
measures analysis of variance across the 3 groups); the increase was
36% with EPA and 27% with DHA."

CONCLUSION: "EPA and DHA increase SAC and tend to reduce pulse
pressure and total vascular resistance, effects that may reduce the
risk of adverse cardiovascular events."

If you are at any risk of a heart attack (smoke, overweight, high
blood pressure or previous event) you would be foolish not to take
some fish oil daily.  The best deal I have found is just over $2.00
for 90 gel caps:

http://ourhealthcoop.com

If you find a better deal, tell me and I will publish it here,
provided it has been tested for mercury contamination.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FATKATS GONNA BLAST OFF IN A WEEK

Over 2,000 large lions eagerly await The Formula.  A few people
bought all the ingredients separately (for about $80.00).  Their
reports, after just a week or two are glowing.  One mentioned, "I
took only the formula, with no change in my diet, and my waist is 2"
less in a week although my weight is the same."  I am not surprised
as The Formula is claimed to convert fat into muscle.  Another took
the formula and followed the rules for eating.  She reported, "My
GAWD!  In one week I have lost only 4 pounds but my energy level is
amazing."

When The Formula is available, in a week or so, it will cost only
about $14.00.  If you are curious, see:

http://cat007.com/secret.htm

BTW:  I have nothing to do with the sale or distribution of this or
any other product.  The Formula will be handled by a company in Grand
Junction, CO.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The stock market (DOW) jumped up 250 today.  As many of you know I
got rid of my beloved Microsoft (MSFT) two years ago at 95 and have
been a bear ever since.  Is the carnage over?  I doubt it.  I hope
I'm wrong but a 7,000 DOW will not surprise me.  Meanwhile my money
is rotting away in safe corporate bonds yielding 7-8%.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cheerio,

Jon . . . Sometimes I need only what you can provide: Your Absence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have received several hundred responses.  Please do not send any
more unless you refer to some alternative not mentioned here.

What I don't know about PMS would fill volumes.
I hope this will help you in finding an alternative to HRT.

Here are the unedited comments from subscribers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For a couple of years I used a combination of progesterone cream and
standardised black cohosh to alleviate the symptoms of menopause.
This was so successful that I was eventually able to reduce the doses
of each and finally phase them out altogether. Some nine months later
I was again overwhelmed with flushes & sweats. I restarted the regime
of progesterone and black cohosh, but this time my pulse rate and
blood pressure shot up wildly and only stabilised when I stopped
taking the black cohosh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When it was hormone replacement time due to a hysterectomy my doctor
put me on Promensil.  It's actually available over the counter at Wal-
Mart now for half the price one would get it for at a health food
store.  It works better for me than the prescription hrt or the
compounded one from the Apothecary Pharmacy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
i use natural progesterone and dhea, etc for hormone replacment with
clients with fantastic results
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is only my two cents worth, but maybe there are some other women
who would like to know about the following possible solution.

I do know a little about Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy (NHRT)
and that one can

1.  Get a blood test (or saliva test) to check levels for DHEA-
Sulfate, Estrodial, Testosterone and Progesterone and then,

2.  If needed, have their physician order a prescription compounded
(plant based) from a compounding pharmacies:  I know of two such
pharmacies:  The Apothecary located just outside of Washington, DC
800-869-9160 or The Women's International Pharmacy 800-279-5708.
These pharmacies ship everywhere.

I've been on NHRT for three years and all menopausal symptoms
(depression, hot flashes, wrinkled skin, etc. have gone away).  I
suggest a book "Natural Hormone Replacement" by Jonathan Wright, MD.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm speaking from experience here. I have the solution to the dangers
of synthetic hormones, and it's already available from
http://www.ourhealthcoop.com  Little known fact: Because of the
artificial
hormones in the environment -- from animals fed on artificial
hormones, from insecticides and other chemicals which have an
estrogen-like effect on the body (called "xenoestrogens") many women
are actually estrogen dominant, and suffer from a hormone imbalance
in pre-menopause, which begins around age 35, and for some women even
younger. At menopause, when the body's production of progesterone
drops to zero, the imbalance is worse. The solution: natural
progesterone. It's available through the coop, and taken
transdermally (some people wonder how this could work. It's no
different than the dangerous "estrogen patch." Hormones can be
absorbed through the skin) about 1/4 tsp morning and night (a blob of
cream about the size of a chocolate chip) will replace the amount the
body naturally made before menopause. The cream is used in
premenopausal women from day 14 to day 28 of the cycle. In menopausal
women, it can be used for the first three weeks of the month, then
off until the 1st of the next month to give the hormone receptors a
rest.

Dr. John Lee, author of "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About
Menopause" has prescribed natural progesterone cream for years and
years with excellent results. He says the woman's body continues to
make a certain amount of estrogen after menopause, but the production
of progesterone drops to zero.
Using the progesterone cream restores a natural balance, and there
are none of the risks associated with the synthetic hormones made
from horse urine and the like.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3mg of Boron a day will certainly keep the pre/post and menapausal
symptoms at bay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've been enjoying your newsletter for quite some time now.  I have
had excellent results with Black Cohosh - both in its raw, dried form
and in the standardized version called Reminfemin - in addition to
diet change.  Reminfemin is very popular among women who do not want
to go the conventional route with HRT.  Black Cohosh root in its raw,
dried form is very potent and should be used in small amounts at
first with a gradual increase if necessary.  I eventually stopped
using Black Cohosh and switched to raw Don Quai.  I also highly
recommend the book by Susan Weed, Menopausal Years: The Wise Woman
Ways.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
acombination of black cohash, soy supplements, natural vitamin e at
400 one day and 800 the next, and a B complex 50  solved most of my
problems.  For a while I took a subtheraputic dose (5-10mg) of
amitryptelline at dinner to help with sleep disturbances. CLA and
evening primrose oil were also
helpful at times.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FOR MENOPAUSE. FLAX OIL [2 TABLESPOONS DAILY] WORKS FOR MOOD SWINGS
AND FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE ON MOST PEOPLE I KNOW WHO HAVE TRIED IT.
IT TASTES PRETTY BAD, BUT USED AS A SALAD DRESSING IT IS PALATABLE
WITH ADDITION OF SOY AMINO SPRAY AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR. THE GREAT
THING IS THAT IT IS
GOOD FOR YOU AND IT HAS NO SIDE EFFECTS LIKE MEDICINES DO.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Love to read your articles.  Direct and to the point.  Stopped using
Premarin after taking it for 5 years - awful side effects.  Now use
the co-op's Menopause tablets - works great for me, plus a
progesterone/wild yam cream (when I remember to apply).  Black cohosh
works great for hot flushes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've been taking natural progesterone cream for many years. I've had
a bone density test that says I have gained bone (most unusual) and
the only thing different from what I had been doing previously was
taking natural progesterone. I've been walking in the woods, about 3
to 4 miles a day for
decades and I believe that contributes to staying healthy but I had
still lost bone till I started the progesterone cream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Menopausal stuff that works for me:

Progesterone creame(co-op's is great!) phyto estrogens such as soy
products, clary sage essential oil, sage, DIET Lots of organic fruits
and veggies, occasional chicken, fish (usually salmon) a couple times
a week and no red meat. Rice and pasta and beans, yogurt, fiber in
the form of flax seeds, rice bran ( I make a muesli consisting of raw
organic oats, rice bran, lecithin,flax seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame
seeds, raisins, other dried fruit and a little sucanat and soy milk)
LOTS OF WATER, DECAF once or twice a week  Very occasional beer or
wine.  Avoid trans fats and processed food --use olive oil after
cooking, and chocolate (well..once in a while..........) I really
believe diet can be a BIG HELP. (I also take calcium/mag and Sam's)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't forget the progesterone cream is a great help with post
menapausal symptoms...it takes a little while to notice a
difference...but it will help if you stay with it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When menopause hit me I never took any hormones. I did try various
herbal blends that I received from a naturopath. A good one online (I
get no money for this!!) is Herbal Healer. But what I found most
helpful was daily exercise--walking or running and yoga.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Regarding products for PMS and menopause,  I have been taking a
product for nearly 5 years called Something for Women, from OneLife
USA out of Palm Beach Fl.  Owner is a breast cancer survivor who took
control of her health during that crisis and came up with a very
effective antioxident and women's formulas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have stopped taking my perscripted HRT, this past May. I find that
Our Health Coop's menopause formula is helpful, but does not relieve
hot flashes and night sweats, which cause sleep interruption.  (I
find Valerian works well for inducing sleep) The moods, the body
aches the weight fluctuation is all helped somewhat by the
combination of Menopause formula, Sam's formula, HGH, Liquid calcium
and
Joint complex. (I also take E, coQ10, DHEA & Libido) I think all
gives me a feeling of overall good health.  I notice when running out
of something the balance of well being is impaired.  Mostly I feel
fatigued or a low grade depression when I'm not on my total regime of
supplements.  I have also tried the progesterone cream, I don't
notice anything with the cream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been using Wise Women Essentials Progesterone Creme for at
least 2 years to help with out-of-whack hormones (including many of
the symptoms mentioned in Dr. John Lee's book "What your Dr. may not
tell you about pre-menopause/menopause" - actually two books in
one).  I am really pleased with the results!  It does warrant your
looking into the book and the
creme.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've been taking tinctures of Black Cohosh (3/4- teaspoon 2x day),
Vitex (Chasteberry) (1 tsp. 2x day), and Dong Quai (1 tsp. 2x day)
for many years. I still have hot flashes and night sweats but not
often and not severe. What I DON'T have is insomnia. I've noticed
that if I don't take my tinctures for a week, I sleep poorly.

I also experience the dryness of eyes and vagina associated with
menopause. I take evening primrose oil for both (internally and as a
suppository vaginally). It works!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I stopped taking premarin about five years ago.  I started having hot
flashes so I went to the grocery store and bought some stuff
called...hot flash formula.  I've tried several natural type
menopause formulas.  I've used the menopause formula from Our Health
Co-op and found it very effective.  When I run out and my order
hasn't arrived, I take two capsules of Red Clover and two capsules of
Black Cohosh every morning....seems to work just as well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About a year and a half ago, I decided to replace it with Soy.
Natrol produces a 100 mg. capsule (60 in a bottle) for about $7.00.
So far so good......except for a fluctuating body temperature, but
who cares.  It's a cheap price to pay (both the $7.00 and the
fluctuating body temperature).  My G.P. and Gynecologist (both with
Kaiser) are pleased with my choice, though they will not elaborate on
why, but both currently look at me like I'm a Guinea Pig.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been using black cohosh for years.  I do not have any
menopausal symptoms at all.  i tried several other products, but find
black cohosh to be the most effective and cheapest!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I went off it some years ago after reading What Your Doctor May Not
Tell You About Menopause  by John R. Lee, M.D. The book was
recommended to me by a friend who had been the number one salesperson
of oncology drugs for a major pharmaceutical company, and who
switched to marketing natural products. Also, as a horse lover, I did
not approve of the way Premarin is manufactured.  Black cohosh was
extremely helpful to me during and after the tapering off Premarin.
I have read that one should not take it for more than 6 months at any
one time.  I was, and still am, taking plant based Progesterone, now
ordered from the coop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have used the black cohosh for over six months and am still having
the hot flashes.. I am using the co-op's menopause and so far no
change in the hot flashes.. I have had the hot flashes over 18 years
and everything I have tried from the health food store does not
work.. I had a problem with the birth control so the Doctors wouldn't
prescribe HRT.. I am open for suggestions..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You asked about success in staying healthy without the use of HRT's.
At age 50 I had been taking Premarin (hysterectomy at age 38) for 13
years and a thyroid supplement for 17 years.  I abruptly stopped
taking both and went into an immediate and very uncomfortable
menopause.  A wonderfully
knowledgeable chiropractor, Dr. Michael Ramsden, was able to regulate
my body so that I have subsequently enjoyed consistent good health.

First, he used, orally, the necessary hormones to balance my
endocrine system.  He also gave me a list of supplements to use
daily, including 400 mg of vitamin E, twice daily (he started with
200 then built to 400 twice daily), supplemented by vitamin C and a
balanced all-purpose vitamin, i.e., Centrum, which put an end to the
menopause symptoms that I had uncomfortably experienced for 2 weeks.

Fast forward, now, at age 77 I have subsequently added other anti-
aging vitamins, i.e, CoQ10, Ginkgo Biloba, MSM, Bilberry, SAM's
Formula, Soy Isoflavones, etc.  I have also continued with the
exercise program begun at age 50.  You can see my recent photograph
at www.angelusfellowship.org which shows the wisdom of following the
simple program that Dr. Ramsden prescribed for me 17 years ago.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I took black cohosh, b-vitamins and vitamin E... The night sweats
were better but when I added evening primrose oil  they began to get
MUCH better... Not sure if it just took a while for the black cohosh
to kick in or if the evening primrose oil helped...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have had good results with Black Cohosh. Best help has come from
the herb Dong Quai and Flax meal. I highly recommend both. Since
starting flax meal, my menstral cycle has become regular once again,
and sex drive has returned. Hooray!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Womens International (compounding) Pharmacy has a natural hormone
replacement available but it must be prescribed by a physician. A
Normal Biestrogen dose is:
E 3 Estriol 2mg    E2 Estradiol .5mg   Progesterone 100mg
per day. It is also available in gel or cream form.  I have taken
half of this dose for years with great results.  One months supply
cost $ 45.00 taking 1 pill in the morning and one in the evening.
If only one pill per day is taken it is a 2 month supply.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Years ago I read where coffee brought on hot flashes in menopausal
women.  When I stopped drinking coffee it helped big time.  When I
went back to the coffee drinking habit hot flashes came back big
time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This may sound a little crazy and may not work for many women, but I
take UNIVERSAL Natural STEROL
Complex from the GNC store.  For some reason it has been working for
my menopause.  I know it is supposed to be used for weight lifters,
but since I am almost 60 and an active person it gives me energy and
helps my health.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Black Cohosh is wonderful!  I had used it for a couple of years and
then quit.  I was fine for a couple of years and thought I was
through the menopause symptoms, but the sleeplessness returned.
So.........back to the black cohosh regimen.  It worked great, and I
am still taking it every day.  Sure beats horse urine!!!  (I've had
better sense than to ever indulge in that stuff!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just a brief warning note on use of black cohash by women who have
been diagnosed or are at high risk for breast cancer-   according to
Dr.Susan Love- author of two books on breast cancer and one on
hormones -   who is a preeminent breast surgeon and researcher of
alternative therapies for cancer treatment and menopause-  warns that
black cohash stimulates the production of estrogen in women and for
those of us with breast cancer histories this could be potentially
dangerous.   I personally find soy (in a powdered drink formula
developed by the Revival company- not mlm- to be working just fine
form me at 53 and no symptoms at all so far.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been using liquid Black Cohosh for several years, two weeks on
and two weeks off. To say that it works is an understatement. Without
it, I am irregular at best with flows so heavy I can't leave the
house. And I am not a nice person to be around (my husband and sons
will attest to that)! With
Black Cohosh as a regular part of my regiment, I maintain both by
regularity and my sanity. I also add Primrose daily to my routine but
I have found that one without the other is only a portion of the
solution. Thanks for the opportunity to share.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Upon reading your latest newsletter regarding Menopause, I would like
to comment on the Health Co-op's product, Menopause.  I've been
taking it for about 6 months now (and not all that frequently either)
and while I have not reached that allegedly miserable physical state
of affairs as yet, I thought I would 'head 'em off at the pass', so
to speak, and get a jump on all those nasty symptoms we women have to
go through for the sake of 'maturity'.....so THAT'S what they call
it!  HAH!  Anyway, I have noticed there is a reduction in the
duration and frequency of the moodiness and hot flashes (I prefer to
call them POWER SURGES) that I was experiencing, albeit mildly,
before.  My twin sister has just completed 12 months of being period
free (the peri-menopausal stage) so I reckon my turn is just around
the corner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have used Black Cohosh for many, many years with wonderful
results.  In the beginning I added Vitex also evening primrose and
vitamin E. Exercise (walking) is important as is a
reasonably "healthy" diet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just to let you know that I was on Premarin for at least 10 years for
Menopause Symptoms, and found great relief with it, but then when I
retired and lost my Medical Insurance, I found that I could not
afford it on a monthly basis, so I looked for an alternative method
and tried soy products which did not give me the relief I was looking
for. I then tried Black Cohosh and was thrilled to find that it gave
me the same results as the Premarin, and the cost of a months supply
was affordable. I took Black Cohosh for 1 year, 2 pills per day and
then went to 1 pill per day and now I am only taking 1 or 2 pills per
week.  I would recommend it to anyone needing Hormone Therapy. I no
longer suffer the terrible Night Sweats and the Mood Swings, of
course I do take Multi-Vitamins daily
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm only 35, but due to my thyroid disease I am suffering from
adrenal weakness which has resulted in low testosterone.  The
deficiency was diagnosed through blood work.  Without my oral
supplement, I have no gumption, no sex drive, no feelings, no
emotions, no strength, no energy.  As soon as the doctor diagnosed my
deficiency, my husband and I began researching this hormone to learn
all we could.  We read a fine book entitled "Testosterone, the
Hormone of Desire," by Dr. Susan Rako.  In her book, Dr. Rako
discusses the need for more than just estrogen supplementation in
post-menopausal women.  Menopause results in the loss of many
hormones; doctors can't give back just one!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I found Black Cohosh increased my inters and pleasure in sex.  That
in itself is worthwhile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've been using the co-op progesterone for over 6 months, but
recently added the menopause formula.  It has given a very noticeable
bonus in reducing night heat and improving in sexual response.  the
two work better together than separately for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My wife had been taking the co-op's menapause fomula until she ran
out and it seem to help her to be much less afected by PMS she also
uses progesterone cream we are ordering more menapause formula right
now.  We also seedmed to have more sex while she was useing the
pills.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Menopause formula from the co-op works as well as any we have
tried at half the cost.  It hasn't solved my problem 100% but I do
not want to be without it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Women should put pictures of missing husbands on beer cans.

Buenas suerte, (good luck)

Jon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOTE: Do NOT ask me to change tour email address. I won't do it.
Just resubscribe from your new address using the link in this letter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

The media has been full of frightening stories of one of the most
prescribed drugs. It is now clear that millions of women were
deceived, for 50 years, resulting in a much higher incident of breast
cancer and cardiovascular disease. Premarin, from Wyeth, is a
$2,000,000,000.00 dollar drug and a potential killer.

I wish I knew of a sure, safe alternative. I have received many
positive reports on a product named "menopause" from
http://ourhealthcoop.com although some have said it was not
effective. At around $10.00 it may be worth a try.

Much has been written about the herb Black Cohosh. If you have tried
it I would appreciate your input, positive, neutral or negative.

I'm sure some of my female readers have solved the post menopausal
problems naturally, with readily available products. Please don't
send me your link to an MLM product. I am skeptical of glowing
reports from those who make money from the sale of the product.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOOKS LIKE YOU GONNA BE STUCK WITH ME FOR A WHILE

Whew! That was a close call. I had my colonoscopy Wednesday. The
stuff one must drink (1 gallon) is not so bad if it is cold. The
procedure was . . . well . . . I dunno. From the time I was wheeled
into the procedure room I remember nothing. In fact, Raiza took me
home. One the way we had lunch. Then we went home and I went to
sleep. I have zero memory until I awakened a few hours later.

The Doc just called. He removed two polyps. The biopsy revealed a
change in the tissue. Yep, they were precancerous. Had I waited
another year to have the colonoscopy, it could have become a death
sentence. I'll return in a year for another.

Moral: If you are getting "long of tooth", waiting to be screened
for colon cancer is very risky. Your insurance covers it. The
procedure is nothing to dread at all.

One can be asymptomatic (no symptoms) and still have death waiting in
the colon. Even had my polyps been malignant, the cure rate is 95%
if caught early, before they have metastasized (spread to other parts
of your body).

While I may be an @$$hole, my @$$hole is just fine . . . YIPPEE

Maybe my plans for death will work . . . of a heart attack, at age
104, fleeing through a bedroom window.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you make a few ridiculous assumptions, you'll find everything I
say or do totally justified,

Jon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONVENTIONAL VS. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Conventional Western medicine is organized around the Theory of
Diseases, which believes that a person becomes sick because he or she
contracts a disease.  In this model, each disease is seen as an
independent entity which can be fully understood without regard to
the person it afflicts or the environment in which it occurs.
Conventional treatments are treatments of diseases, not of people.
Most of the drugs employed in conventional medicine are designed to
act as chemical strait jackets, preventing the cells of the body from
performing some function that has become hyperactive.  The side
effects of these drugs are a direct extension of their actions and
may be fatal.  A Harvard research team concluded that 180,000
Americans are killed in hospitals by their doctors every year.(1)
Most of these deaths occur because doctors prescribe drugs without
paying attention to the special characteristics of the person for
whom the drugs are prescribed.

Alternative Medical Systems, Ancient and Modern

Alternative systems of healing supply a perspective that can help to
reverse the "one size fits all" philosophy of conventional medical
practice.  All alternative systems of healing, ancient or modern,
share one common characteristic which separates them from
conventional Western medicine.  They all approach sickness as a
dynamic event in the life of an individual, a problem of balance and
relationship, the result of disharmony between the sick person and
his or her environment.  This approach to understanding illness is
called biographical.

In the biographical concept of illness, the "disease" itself has no
independent reality. The healer's job is not to identify and treat
the disease entity, but to characterize the disharmony of each
particular case, so that they can be corrected.  These disharmonies
are described differently in different cultures.

The language which describes them may be magical or naturalistic, but
the diagnostic and therapeutic focus is always on the person who is
ill and the context in which the illness occurs, rather than on the
disease itself.

Integrated Medicine perceives illness biographically and at the same
time uses the powerful database of modern biological and behavioral
science to help describe the varied disharmonies which undermine the
health of each individual.

These disturbances originate, almost entirely, with dietary,
environmental or social conditions.  Although the media are full of
stories about "cancer genes", for example, the scientific evidence
is that greater than 90% of cancers are environmentally induced.
When identical twins are reared in separate environments, the rate at
which each twin develops cancer is comparable to the cancer rate in
the adoptive family, not the biological family.  The publicity
accorded to "cancer genes" serves to cripple individual initiatives
at cancer prevention and to displace scrutiny from cancer's
environmental and dietary triggers.  Integrated Medicine exists to
empower you to improve your health by improving your four pillars of
healing: interpersonal relationships, diet, environment, and your
innate system of detoxification and repair.

More on this later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OVERWEIGHT MEN AND ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

This study was presented at a meeting of the American Urological
Association.  The researchers have surveyed almost 2,000 men aged 51
to 88 and found that 34% of them had moderate to severe erectile
dysfunction (ED), which is defined as the inability to achieve or
maintain an erection necessary for normal sexual intercourse.

The risk factors of ED included older age, high blood pressure,
sedentary life style and being overweight. Men with a waistline or 42
inches were almost 2 times more likely to have ED than men whose
waist was 32 inches.  Men who exercised 30 minutes daily were much
less likely to have ED than those who were not physically active.

Now you Tomkats have an additional incentive (snort) to lose some
weight and get exercise.  The answer may be at:
http://cat007.com/swiss.htm
Over 2,000 volunteers begin the "FatKats" study in early September.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHELATION THERAPY (or Up Your @$$)

Recently I spoke to a physician who has been doing IV chelation
therapy for many years.  I enquired about chelation via a
suppository.  Surprisingly, he said it did work.  I wasn't thrilled
about a three hour IV drip, three times each week.

Some of you suggested I look into this new method at World Health
Products.

I spoke to their TopKat, Dr. Campbell.  When I explained my
situation, he seemed very confident that his product would work as
well as, or better than, IV chelation . . . at about 20% of the cost.

I begin next week.  If you are interested, visit their site at:

http://detoxamin.com

Please understand that I am not endorsing their product.  The proof
of the pudding . . .

At the end of 90 days I will have another doppler scan of my carotid
arteries.  Then we will have scientific evidence of the efficacy, if
any.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One day a slender, grey-haired old guy walked into a pharmacy.

The pharmacist said, "Say there old-timer, you sure have a lot of
spring your step.  What is your secret?"

"I follow a strict regimen," the man replied.  "Every morning I drink
1/2 pint of whiskey and have sex!"

The pharmacist was shocked, "Amazing.  What do you do for lunch?".

"Same thing again.", was the reply.

"My Gawd!", the pharmacist exclaimed, "Then tell me about supper."

"I drink a full pint of whiskey, have sex twice, and go to bed."

"Tell me," queried the pharmacist, "how old are you?".

The man sighed . . . . "I'm twenty seven."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here in The Dominican Republic the people are hard working and
friendly, although very poor by your standards.  Recently we visited
a school in Sosua.  The only computer was in the Headmaster's office.

I asked a class of about 50 how many had computers at home.  Only two
raised their hands.  Then I had a bright idea.  In the USA, there are
thousands of old Pentium based machines just gathering dust.  I'm
sure the poor old computer is very lonesome and would rather become
useful once again.  By today's standards they are slow.  So what!
One can learn equally as well on a 60Mhz machine as a 2Ghz machine.

I checked with customs.  If the machines are shipped directly to the
school, there will be no tax or duty.  I haven't thought through all
the logistics but I'm not through thinking yet.

Soon I may put the bite on you to donate your old computer to a very
worthy cause.

The old mastermind(??),

Jon . . . I didn't say it was your fault, I said I'm gonna blame you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~