"Easter Candy Blindness" happens when parents ignore labels and the reality of what they are really buying their child for Easter. After Easter is a good time to review labels so that we are reminded as parents what these products that are going into the bodies of our children really do contain and their potential to compromise health.

San Bernardino, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 04/04/2013 -- Stop and read those Easter candy labels before tossing them out this year and let's try and stop the viscous circle of "Easter Candy Blindness!" Maybe if we all read the labels now after Easter, we can accept the reality of what we just did to our child giving them all those Easter candy products. Before Easter we get caught up in a flurry of putting together the "Easter Experience" so we can bring smiles to our children's faces and feel the joy of watching them hit the candy jackpot. All our parental instincts and common sense goes out the window.

Even those that might otherwise be critical of any food ingredient that passes through their child's lips are willing to forget the rules for one day. The fact is whether we want to accept it or not our children are ending up with a basket full of Easter candy that is also full of pesticides, genetically modified organisms, GMO high fructose corn syrup, GMO artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors, additional GMOs in the form of corn, cornstarch, and high fructose corn syrup. You have to assume any oil coming from corn, cottonseed, or soy source contains genetically modified organisms since 90% of these crops today are GMOs.

Doubt we'll stop giving our kids treats for Easter anytime soon because it's obvious that parents get a kick out of making our kids happy with a basket full of candy.

The good news is we don't have to stop letting the Easter Bunny visit our house, all we have to do is give the Easter Bunny better information on best choices for our child's Easter Basket. Once learned these skills can be applied to other special events or moments that involve "treats."

There are many delicious organic versions of our favorite candies and treats now available that are made with real food ingredients, grown without pesticides and GMOs, and have no "hidden" chemicals.

As parents that are supposed to protect our child from bad things, exposing them to this kind of concentration of food ingredients could hold risks on it's own. In actuality many common ingredients used in many candy products don't ever belong in a child's diet because of the long list of diseases associated with them.

Read the article "9 Crazy Things Pesticides Are Doing to Your Body" by Leah Zerbe and Emily Main to find out nine diseases that can be trigged or made worse by exposure to pesticides.

We blindly buy many of these Easter candies so nicely displayed on store shelves thinking only how we are going to bring happiness to our child. Why bother to read the ingredient label when we already know that it's not good. We think, "This is Easter so what's in it doesn't matter."

Why not start to think that it does matter from now on and think how many bad ingredients that you could prevent you child from ingesting with your "Smart Treat Choices."

Most consumers don't think about what is NOT included in the ingredient list. The truth is if you buy a product that has artificial flavor, there could be 50 "hidden chemicals" added to that product that you don't see on the label. It takes that many chemicals to make fake strawberry, blueberry, cherry, or other food flavors. The chemicals are ridiculously cheaper than buying a real food. It is easy to see why organic companies that are forbidden from using these chemical substitutes would cost more.

Chemicals are cheap compared to real organic food. What happens when your child eats them is also different. Clean organic food nutrients are delivered in perfect little packages that our bodies recognize, but when confronted by the foreign proteins in GMOs, and toxic chemicals and pesticides that attack our cells all energy has to go into defense and detoxification of the new poisons that have entered our system. With a focus on defense, other cell maintenance needs suffer.

Tasty Brand organic gummies was started by a pair of moms fed up with products full of ingredients they didn't want to feed their child. Many ingredients found in non-organic gummies are also listed on the Center for Science in the Public Interests "Chemical Cuisine" site. They can be found under the categories to "Avoid" altogether, "Certain People Should Avoid" such as children, and "Caution" which is another way of saying, "why even go there?"

These Tasty Brand gummies contain organic fruit juice and real organic fruit powders such as Organic Apple Powder, Organic Acai Powder, Organic Blueberry Powder, and Organic Pomegranate Powder.

Compare those ingredients in non-organic brands that contain pesticide and antibiotic laden fruit, multiple corn, soy, and cottonseed GMO sources. Hydrogenated transfat oils that are also GMOs.

Colors and flavors come from artificial sources. Add an additional 50 chemicals for every artificial flavor (that's how many chemicals needed to make them), and then look for the artificial colors on the "Chemical Cuisine Avoid" list. Those to "Avoid Completely" include Blue#2, Green #3, Orange #B, Red #3 and #40, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, and aspartame artificial sweeteners, and transfats.

Let's make next Easter different and not fuel the industry that puts the type of ingredients in their candy that our kids should avoid all together.

This Easter and throughout the year, consider quality over quantity. Spending a little more for organic treats, and giving children a little less also decreases their total pesticide load and therefore their risk of disease. It sends the message to our children that you deserve food without poison and could help them set higher standards for themselves in other parts of their life.

Don't give in easily. When you have a choice, choose organic for you and your family. Read labels and compare. Get wise which are real food ingredients and which are GMO.

Use the "Smart Health Talk Organic Treat List" on our homepage to get started. These products taste so good, you won't want to go back to fake food.

About Smart Health Talk
Smart Health Talk is a radio show based out of San Bernardino, California and broadcast on KCAA 1050 AM every Thursday at 4:00 pm PST. Host Elaine McFadden, MPH, RD wants consumers to be educated so they can make "Smart Choices."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The City of San Bernardino went bankrupt and the longest running Black History Month Parade in the country was left with ZERO funding, but the San Bernardino Black Chamber of Commerce has stepped in to try and save the parade. Community support and participation is needed to make it happen.

San Bernardino, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/28/2013 -- As cities and counties fall victim to upside down budgets, such as what happened in San Bernardino, California, there are casualties to the chopping block ripple that extend further than jobs and services and reach the very core of the community and what keeps its members connected.

For San Bernardino the yearly event that transcended all racial barriers while celebrating the rich heritage of both the local and national Black History Month leaders and heroes had been celebrated for 43 continuous years with a community parade. The parade has been a cornerstone for the community and the idea of having it ripped from the heart of all those that participate from the students to the local businesses, churches, and clubs, losing their beloved Black History Month Parade can be a devastating blow.

Past organizers of the parade lost their city funding so another group, the San Bernardino Chapter of the Black Chamber of Commerce would not let the parade go down without a fight. Even though they were starting with zero dollars and faced a short deadline of only a few weeks, the group decided to take on the challenge.

After all the San Bernardino Black History Parade is the longest running in the entire country with this years parade having historical significance since it's also the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech.

Everyone in the Black Chamber of Commerce hit the ground running to try and solve funding and parade location obstacles. The National Orange Show turned out to be the perfect location. That way they could not only have a place for the parade and all those that wanted to march and participate in that venue, but could support an expo for local businesses, vendors, and non profit community services.

With Chamber member connections in the entertainment community, and the response about coming to the event to perform so positive, they had to add another stage for entertainers in addition to the judge grandstand. The live performances will happen before and after the parade.

Nonstop excitement and talent will be coming from the stage. Come by and listen or join in and find out just how fun line dancing can be. A local faith based exercise program will get you moving to the music. Dancing has a way of burning calories with fun instead of work and will be one of the many health messages that will be woven throughout the event.

The parade planning committee understands the importance of getting services to the people. So many that need care are hard to reach and unaware of low cost services available to them in the city and why the Chamber has invited those organizations to participate as well.

Black History Month is the perfect time to bring attention to the fact that the African American population is at high health risk compared to other racial groups. The disparity is so great it can make those that take the time to understand the differences to stop in their tracks in shock.

According to the report "Race, Ethnicity and the Health of Americans" by the Sydney S. Spivack Program in Applied Social Research and Social Policy not only do African Americans live on average five years less than whites, but Black men live the shortest lives of all. A gay African American man is ten times more likely to get an HIV related disease than a white man. One upsetting statistic is how this group receives the least amount of screening tests even if on a Medicare or Medical program. A problem that can stem from health practitioner attitudes about the ability of the patient to know they have a problem and dismiss the need for the test.

The report also thought it was important to note that the African American culture is a model for fostering healthy minds. Cultural traditions support community involvement such as participating in group and family events, going to church and being involved in church activities. Their closeness is part of a community infrastructure that also provides the perfect environment for strong mental health and why this group has the lowest rates for mental health illness of any other ethnicity.

Perhaps community closeness that Dr. King felt in his church and community was something he saw missing from other places. Bringing people together could help others heal and gain strength like the healing he had witnessed in his life. Events such as the San Bernardino Black History Month parade can help define us as a community, bring us together, and make us stronger. Let us not realize the value when they are gone, but see now they are worth saving. Without events such as this all we can hope is that our children will somehow rediscover their importance, but the tradition in the true sense will never be the same.

With mental health and detachment being at the cause of some of the most tragic of events in recent weeks, we all should look around at what might be missing in the lives of these young people.

We know that when people feel they are surrounded by a community that cares and will be there for them if they get sick or need help will have stronger feelings of confidence to get up and join in on community activities instead of staying isolated and sitting in front of a television set. According to Dr. Peter T. Katzmarzyk in "Sedentary behaviour and life expectancy in the USA, July 2012" just getting out and living life and being active can be a game changer for how long we live.

Anyone wanting to participant in the festivities can plan on staying the entire day. The expo component of the event will be ongoing from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The parade will march from 11-12 noon on each side of the expo activities, Vendor and restroom facilities will be easily accessible near the grand stand. This event is the perfect opportunity for the community to come together and "SAVE THE PARADE."

Everything is coming down to the wire with the big day Saturday, February 2nd, 2013. There is so much more the parade planning committee needs to make it all happen in the style it deserves.

They're looking for parade participants. Does your club or group want to be a part of the parade? Do you participate in a car club and know people with convertibles? The parade committee has VIPs that need someone to drive them in the parade so contact them today. All types of vendors are invited to participate as well as non-profits that offer health services to the community. Faith based organizations are also welcome. All local businesses should consider paying the small table fee and be there for the event. Give people a chance to learn about you the old fashion way, one on one.

Don't miss this historical event of the longest running Black History Parade in the country on the 50th anniversary of the famous speech by Dr. King that has inspired people of all races to pass racial barriers and respect and help each other. An important lesson for our children to take with them, and adults that want to feel the love of community.

Anyone can help support the parade with participation or donations by going to the SmartHealthTalk.com website and clicking on any parade or Black History Month graphics. That takes you right to the parade sign up page.

Find the right form for being in the parade on the BlackChamberofCommerce.org website. Choose vendor, non profit, or donor, and fill out the form and process it all right there. Keep scrolling down to access all information.

About Smart Health Talk
Smart Health Talk is a local radio talk show that supports sustainable communities, GMO and pesticide free food, and teaching our members how to make healthy choices for ourselves and our families. Our radio show is part of KCAARadio.com 1050 AM, an NBC Affiliate station in San Bernardino, California. Go to the radio website to watch or listen live every Thursday at 4:00 pm or just tune in your radio dial. Find much more at SmartHealthTalk.com website or join us on facebook, YouTube, or Twitter: SmartHealthTalk.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

It's easy to give in to temptation and put on extra pounds thinking New Year's Resolutions will miraculously take them away. Smart Health Talk wants to encourage everyone to forget that and start with new lifestyle changing goals now. Instead of facing the task of taking off pounds after the New Year, already be on your way to a healthier you when New Years comes around. Guest from Glee Gum and host Elaine McFadden discuss how chewing gum can be a great tool for saving hundreds of calories along with other tips.

San Bernardino, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/29/2012 -- As we head into the holidays many will be attending a string of parties leading up to our 2013 New Year celebrations. Not only will there be all kinds of food and drink but how many of us will be facing daily temptations of workplace holiday treats brought from home and left in break rooms all across the country.

It 's easy to give in to "just one more" during these times and may seem like an innocent 100 calories here and there, but they will add up. Somewhere along the line you may find yourself ready to throw in the towel and give in to temptation with the you'll start your weight loss program after the first of the year.

Smart Health Talk wants to discourage that way of thinking by getting people to start on the road to a healthier lifestyle now, instead of after the first of the year.

Host Elaine McFadden, MPH, RD sees a huge potential for weight gain by accepting the concept of New Year's resolutions being the answer or the justification for consuming extra calories during the holidays. "As soon as people give into the concept that I will start my diet after the New Year, they have put themselves on the road to weight gain."

Elaine is trying to encourage people to forget about that concept by instead setting a goal to look even better on New Year's than they do now. "Even if people can move the needle a pound or two, and fight back packing on extra pounds during the holidays, they will be inspired to keep it up after the first of year."

Instead of trying to find motivation and start on New Year's resolutions after a big holiday splurge, small steps started now help teach us the behaviors needed for success. Elaine's advice is to let go of putting all kinds of pressure to achieve millstones we have done in the past. "If we used to work out an hour a day, and we expect ourselves to get to that level again, it may be enough to make us give up before we start. We subconsciously know that is too much to expect because so much in our life has changed, and it's just not going to happen, but we still expect ourselves to do that. Let it go and just set small goals. If you can only do half the time, so what at least you did something."

It helps to have a fall back plan during those times of temptation and gum chewing is something that can be made readily accessible for a low cost. Gum chewing has proven to be successful at reducing total calories eaten as reported by a research study presented at the 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society.

When we went looking for gum that we could recommend in the mist of all the synthetic gums out there, it wasn't hard to settle on Glee Gum. It has all that you could want in a gum. First it is the only real gum available in North America made with chicle—a tree sap harvested sustainably to help conserve the Rainforest. Yes, sorry to tell you that most all chewing gums are synthetic, and can contain GMOs and other chemicals you might want to avoid such as artificial flavors and colors.

Glee gum is also gluten and aspartame-free (GMO), and uses Fair Trade ingredients. They have eight flavors which can help add to the stimulating brain effects that can come from chewing gum. Something we will discuss along with a list of other gum chewing benefits such as dental protection, increased alertness and ability to concentrate, avoiding cravings for sugary snacks, and reducing total daily calorie consumption without compensating other ways like can happen with diet sodas.

Chewing gum can even help tighten up your jaw for a more youthful look. What an great extra bonus!

For those that find themselves getting stressed during the holidays, you might want to use gum as a stress reliever.

Glee Gum comes in mini boxes made from recycled paper that can fit easily in pockets, purses, desk and kitchen drawers, or anywhere you need quick access to gum instead of extra portions that could add up to hundreds of extra calories. Those mini four packs that come in recycled paper boxes are also perfect for tucking away chewed gum so we can practice responsible gum disposal.

To prevent holiday weight gain, chew gum and practice the three bite rule. Eat three bites and enjoy them to the hilt, and then stop. Don't deprive yourself, but don't overdue. Remember those extra portions will end up as extra pounds that are much harder to lose that put on, so just avoid getting in that situation to begin with. Put New Year's resolutions out of your head and think about looking great for New Years and beyond.

Start with small steps like replacing gum with extra portions and using it as a reward when you avoid temptation. Five or ten calories beats hundreds any day whether it's a holiday or not.

Smart Health Talk can help you get started. Visit our website and look for our Smart Health Talk Resolutions for 2013. Lifestyle suggestions instead of a quick fix plan. It takes practice to incorporate new healthy lifestyle options, and is best to start out slow with easy and attainable goals.

Elaine McFadden explains that the Smart Health Talk Resolutions are all actually mini goals. You can look through them and find something that will work for you. Focus on just one or two at a time and get good at those goals and then move on. Don't put too much pressure on yourself except to stay consistent. Whether you do a 10 minute or 30 minute walk, sometimes just doing something is more important that how long you did it.

Tune in today for Smart Health Talk Radio Show at 4:00 pm on KCAARadio.com 1050 AM. Listen or watch the show live by going to the KCAARadio.com website and clicking USTREAM or "tunein." Even if you can't tune in today you can download or listen to podcasts after the show on the SmartHealthTalk.com or KCAARadio.com website. Go to the SmartHealthTalk.com homepage and click "Many Ways to Listen" under the flashing antenna for complete instructions on how to listen on your cell phone, computer or notebook.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

By adjusting some of our actions and choices we can start the new year already on track to a more healthful lifestyle and ideal body weight instead of looking at an extra 20 pounds packed on in just a little over a month of holiday partying. Pig out until your miserable, indulge in some of your favorite holiday foods, and party on your terms. Just be real on what you are consuming, plan how to make up the difference and see if you can at least keep the scale needle steady and not let it move upward.

San Bernardino, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/21/2012 -- Everyone wants to make it past the holidays without packing on the pounds. People say they want to know what to do, but do they really want to follow the rules and will they?

Some yes, most no. The majority of us go into Thanksgiving ready to power down like we have been given permission to eat until we're miserable on one day a year, and we're going for it and pay the price later.

As a registered dietitian that wants more than anything for people to have fun and enjoy the holidays on their terms, so my recommendations are centered on a "reality approach." Go into Thanksgiving Day knowing there's a good chance you'll be eating 2000-3000 calories that day or just think double your average.

Plan ahead by saving calories now and reduce portion sizes for a day or two before the big meal. Fit some exercise in too. Not just on days leading up, but on Thanksgiving Day as well. You know that exercise will probably not happen after you eat and have a few beers watching football so get a 30 minute walk done early in the day and then eat until you can't move later if that's your goal.

Try not to overdue on the alcohol. Perhaps buy something that is a step up from what you normally buy, and drink less, slower and savor the higher quality. One recommendation is to try some organic beer, wine, and spirits. They are free of sulfites, pesticides, GMOs, and even gluten. Wine is the only food in the store without a nutrition facts and ingredient label. Big question mark what's really in your wine unless it's USDA certified organic. Excellent organic wines in the $12-$18 range. Our experience found them comparable to $50-$100 conventional wines.

Take a long nap. Have found that sleep can be a good diet tool if you time it right. Sleep during your most vulnerable times can save you thousands of calories a week. If you never eat late, but graze at 7-8:00 start going to bed at 6:30 pm. So what if you get up at 4:00 am. For some that can be a productive period and most people don't eat during that time of day.

Some say to eat breakfast so you don't eat as much at Thanksgiving dinner. That can work for some, but those that want to save calories for later, may want to wait to eat or keep it light. I'm not going to force myself to eat breakfast and add 300-500 calories to my day when I can save up. For me it's about total calories for the day.

You hear a lot of advice to first fill your plate with salad and veggies. That is always the number one goal, but what if all that goes out the window, what's a strategy to help save you from yourself?

Whether Thanksgiving dinner, an all you can eat buffet, or special restaurant my first choice is to have something not eaten at home. That doesn't mean all choices have to be bad. For example eating lots of turkey and some turkey skin if you love it as much as I do would not be as bad as choosing to eat something processed and made of chemicals, GMOs, transfats, and refined grains and sugars.

Have healthy favorites at the meal that are "free to eat all you want" even if you have to bring it yourself. Something that my brain is OK with choosing over other fat laden, high sugar food choices at Thanksgiving (and all year) is Waldorf salad made with organic apples, walnuts, and celery. It's sweet enough, lots of crunch, and fills me up over high calorie desserts.

Cut out fat and sugar wherever possible when your cooking foods, and you'll eliminate hundreds of unneeded calories.

Hard to take fat out of gravy and keep flavor so use less fat in making the potatoes. The gravy will provide the fat flavor so you don't need all the butter and creme in the potatoes. Instead just add a little olive oil and a small amount of milk or broth. If you really love butter with your potatoes like me, give up the gravy and instead put some organic grassfed butter on top where you get the full taste. Yukon gold potatoes have a rich buttery flavor on their own without any added fat and make great mashed potatoes. Adding garlic instead of fat is another way to get flavor and keeping down the calories.

Buy organic sweet potatoes and eliminate the need for sugar, fat, and marshmallows. Organic yams and sweet potatoes will taste different most times and have a sweeter and richer flavor. Eat year round for beta carotene and other anti inflammatory benefits.

Think about slicing them and drizzling with raw honey and fresh squeezed orange juice for flavor. Another healthier alternative is maple syrup to add sweetness without processed sugars.

Fresh organic fruits, vegetables, whole grain crackers with lowfat dips are perfect hordorves and snacks before dinner. Avoid GMO containing corn and soy products such as corn chips and popcorn. Choose certified organic instead. Use Greek yogurts in dips and salads in place of mayonnaise or split it half/half. Adding a little agave can balance bitter flavor in yogurt. Offer refried bean, salsa, and hummus (chickpea/garbanzo bean) dips to increase fiber and lower fat. Avoid chemical laden non organic mixes and premade dips.

Think of organic buttermilk for cutting calories in creamy salad dressings. Mix some right in. The dressing will be thinner, but so will you. Use organic, unadulterated olive oil and balsamic vinegar for flavor.

Leave room for dessert, choose your favorite(s), and enjoy every precious bite to the hilt. Remember the three-bite rule. By the third bite most of the thrill is gone and taste buds are saturated so the wow factor is diminished. After that you are just going through the motions of eating and not really getting the flavor punch anymore so why not stop.

Space out the treats, let your pallet clear, and build up the anticipation. By spreading out your special treats such as pie, chocolates, and candies you will feel more satisfied because each memory will be separate instead of running together. That will bring more total pleasure than one session of trying some of everything. After awhile you are just feeding your face, and not giving your full attention to the flavors exploding on your taste sensors.

Get back on track right away after Thanksgiving instead of waiting for New Year's Day to start eating healthier. Remember to balance party extras by reducing portion sizes, switch to whole food meals, and fit in the exercise. Starting now to control weight gain instead of facing extra pounds put on during the holidays puts you on your way to a healthy 2013. Go to SmartHealthTalk.com website for healthy Thanksgiving recipes, our Smart Health Resolutions for 2013, podcasts, and all kinds of other resources to improve your health.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

America Recycles Day reminds us that if we could increase the amount of recycled materials from 35% of total trash to 75% we could create 1.5 million jobs that would pay around $50,000 a year. Recycling jobs produce more jobs than they displace, and inspire brand new industries to be created.

San Bernardino, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/15/2012 -- America Recycles Day reminds us just how valuable trash is and forces us to question any logic for dumping or burning something with such a huge financial return potential. Today, November 15th, 2012, the 15th Anniversary for AmericaRecyclesDay.org has never brought a more important message to the country.

Recycling means business and jobs, well paying jobs like the kind you can support a family and a better life with. Just one catch, it involves everyone in the country to do a better job of recycling their trash and taking responsibility for making sure it gets to where that recycling can happen.

Could each of us afford just a couple of minutes per day to create 1.5 million jobs for our country? All that would be required in most cases is to separate our trash and put all of what can be recycled into the recycling bin. Some may think this effort doesn't help them much, but you never know who could benefit from one of the multitude of industries that can be built around recycling. With the average recycling job paying around $50,000 a year with benefits, it is not hard to see these are jobs are worth creating.

According to a report by the Tellus Institute with Sound Resource Management, if we could increase our national recycling rate from 34 percent to 75 percent it would create nearly 1.5 million NEW jobs. Switzerland, Austria, and Germany already average about 50% recycle rate so let's challenge our citizens to top that in the United States and put people to work.

Jobs that pay $50,000 a year create tax revenue as does the businesses that employ them. Even better is the fact that recycling industry jobs create more jobs than they replace. Apparently the return and job potential of trash is much higher when you send the trash truck drivers to deliver all that trash to the recycling center for processing instead of burying it in the dump. All the jobs that make trash into new materials that can then be turned into useful products would not even exist if trash is buried in a landfill.

We can all help create more trash to be recycled if we can remember that with every plastic bottle, paper and glass product we recycle we are creating a new job for someone.

The circle of benefits from recycling includes more than those working directly in the recycling industry. There are a wide variety of businesses that make money providing services and products to those companies. Everything from accounting services to office supplies, building materials and machinery manufacturers all receive extra business when those jobs are created.

Everyone that works in the recycling industry or serves that industry will have more money in their pockets to spend for other personal services and products and maybe even a house. Dreams that are much harder to achieve on a minimum wage job with no chance of advancement.

All of that happens when you make sure that aluminum can you just finished drinking out of gets into the recycle bin.

Some people find other ways of increasing their cash flow by turning trash to treasure. Go to the Smart Health Talk Recycling Center and find a great crafting idea link. Make products out of recycled materials that repurpose or turn them into art. Maybe that pile of stuff you have been collecting and didn't know what to do with could have a new life.

People and business can add a lot more recycling materials to the system by knowing what they can recycle and setting up a way to get it to the recycling centers. The system can take much more product. Many recycling centers are currently running far below capacity.

Educating yourself on what can be recycled helps us choose new products that can be put in the recycle instead of the trash bin. Both packaging and the actual product can have recycling potential. A growing group of designers and engineers are thinking about recycling potential when creating new things for us to buy. What a concept!

The energy saved by not having to make plastic or aluminum from scratch is huge. You avoid having to start by pulling oil or ore from the ground and then go through a multiple of steps to turn it into the finished product. It takes eight times less energy to turn an old plastic bottle into a new one, than to make a new plastic bottle from oil. This uses less energy and ultimately burns less coal keeping mercury and other pollutants out of our air, oceans, lakes, and soils.

Knowing how much recycled materials could save energy in our country makes it hard to understand why our recycled materials are being sold to China. Go to our recycling center to listen to the interview with Dan Bahou, VP of Marketing for Global PET, to find out more about the recycled plastic industry and why selling these products to China is devastating to the United States.

Smart Health Talk is dedicated to supporting recycling and getting the word out. Their Recycling center on their website www.SmartHealthTalk.com is full of resources and information all in one place.

Check out the "15 Tips for Recycling Day Anniversary" under Recycling from our "Resources" tab or just click the link on our homepage.

Find out the latest in recycling today at 4:00 pm PST on Smart Health Talk Radio show as we talk with Ginny Routhe, Assistant Director of Sustainability at Pomona College. If you can't listen to KCAA 1050 AM on your radio, you can tune in from your cell, notebook, or computer. Go to KCAARadio.com on click on USTREAM to watch us in the studio, or click "tunein" to listen. The http://SmartHealthTalk.com homepage has a link for more instructions. Host Elaine McFadden, MPH, RD will also provide tips on how to save hundreds of calories on your Thanksgiving meal and direct you to some great recipes.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

What you might not know could be making you fat. Leah Zerbe, Online Editor for Rodale.com, has researched this subject extensively and will join Smart Health Talk Thursday, August 30th at 4:00 pm PST so we can better understand how they get in our bodies.

San Bernardino, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/30/2012 -- If taking weight off wasn't hard enough, the 80,000 or so chemicals used in everything from food to shampoo could be forcing our bodies to do things that can also make us fat. Like we need something that we didn't even know was there, that can cause us to make more fat cells in our bodies, and not just any fat cells but fat cells that can store even larger amounts of fat, and at a time when we are facing the largest obesity rates in history.

Obesogens as they are called, confuse the body's nerve centers by sending false messages. They take up docking stations that are only meant for something our body made for that purpose and not outsiders. Their presence prevents insulin and hormones from taking their place and keeps them in the blood at high concentrations. With docking stations full, our bodies are tricked into thinking it should decrease production of key hormones. Low hormone levels can have a negative impact on overall health and the body's ability to defend itself.

When the docking stations become full from phthalates and take the place of our own hormones, high blood concentration levels of insulin, glucose, and hormones accumulate and can damage vital organs and lead to other disease conditions.

Numerous sources can be identified with high levels found in pesticides on food and personal care products, and even air fresheners and detergents. Packaging can also contribute to phthalate load with chemicals of its own.

Obesogens have been associated with increased cancer risk.

Before this week it was thought that the primary mechanism for phthalate induced breast and prostrate cancer tumors were hormone based. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) had reported that phthalates are known animal endocrine system disruptors.

A new report is saying that phthalates just got potentially deadlier with the release of information on their ability to trigger other types of tumors using previously unknown mechanisms.

New research just released on August 27th in the FASEB Journal has found enough evidence to suggest there is another pathway phthalates can promote cancer that does not involve hormone receptors. In other words there are even more ways phthalate exposure can give us cancer.

This new information is cause for concern since Americans are ingesting and applying chemical additives on our bodies in even higher concentrations.

Just look at a food or shampoo label to find a long lists of man made chemicals as ingredients. Same with air fresheners. What's even more unsettling is what is missing from the label, but is really there in the product. Phthalate ingredients are not required to be listed on product labels even when they are present in the formula.

Women using multiple beauty products are especially vulnerable. After lotion, shampoo, cremes, make up, and hair spray one estimate reported by Reuters in a November 2009 poll of 2,016 women by personal care products manufacturer Bionsen was that the average woman wears around 500 chemicals each day. That is just on the outside of their bodies.

The President's Cancer Panel tried to warn us when they came out with a list of food and environmental toxins that we could be increasing our cancer risk. You don't hear much about the report because most of the products containing those ingredients are made by 10 companies that control most what is found on supermarket and drugstore shelves and they don't want to advertise their use and the risks associated with them. Doesn't make for happy customers when they find out what they have been unknowingly exposed to in products they trusted.

How does antibiotic laced meat sound for dinner? With 80% of antibiotics produced each year going to animal production, it's not a matter of if, but when we will have to pay the price for this obvious abuse of the drug.

Reports of people getting sick and dying from bacteria that can survive even our strongest antibiotics increase each year. According to a report published in the July issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), a potentially deadly bacterial infection that is resistant to antibiotic treatment, more than tripled between 1997 and 2006.

Urvashi Rangan, director of Consumer Safety at Consumer Reports, an independent product-testing organization, called the misuse of antibiotics a "public health crisis."

Farmers add antibiotics to animal feed daily because it allows them to fatten up livestock quicker even though they keep them in stressful, crowded and inhumane living conditions that make animals sick. Farmers cannot allow a sick animal into the food system so if they do get sick, they need special treatment, and cannot be slaughtered until they recover. Sick animals increase work and expense for the farmer. This is especially true for large industrial operations. Crowded factory farms also provide the perfect conditions for the spread of salmonella, a potentially deadly public health risk.

Could we also be fattening up humans with antibiotics and obesogens in foods and personal care products?

Leah Zerbe, Online Editor for Rodale.com believes regular use of antibiotics to treat conditions that don't even involve bacteria, together with ingestion of meats from animals that have been fed antibiotics their entire lives is making children and adults fat. She also sites the widespread practice of allowing chemicals that have undergone limited safety testing in products for adults and children.

After reviewing the research, Leah wrote several articles explaining how obesogens coming from antibiotics and other chemical sources are messing with our hormone and insulin levels. Not only are we getting fat, but ingesting these obesogens puts our body in a constant state of defense and is causing unpredictable cross chemical reactions.

Tune in to Smart Health Talk this Thursday, August 30th from 4-5:00 pm PST as Leah Zerbe joins us to explain what obesogens are doing to our health and how to avoid them.

Anyone can listen to the show live from anywhere in the world. Go to KCAARadio.com and click on top left hand corner icon that gives you the option to watch the show on USTREAM or listen on "Tune In." If you have a "Tune In" radio app on your phone you can just type in "KCAA Radio 1050 AM" and listen like you were in the studio with us. If you miss a show you can catch up with podcasts are on KCAARadio.com when you click Elaine McFadden's picture, or you can find them on the SmartHealthTalk.com website under "podcast tab."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Those that want to learn the health secrets of balsamic vinegar and olive oil will get the whole story this week on Smart Health Talk Radio Show on Thursday, August 9th at 4-5:00 PM. Guest is Theo Stephan, author "Olive Oil and Vinegar for Life."

San Bernardino, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/06/2012 -- When we think of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, we can't help but think of the history attached to these iconic foods. There is a reason their staying power as dominant ingredients for flavoring and health have thrived since before 4,000 B.C., they are both delicious and deliver concentrated flavor and health benefits.

Investigating the love and use of these foods to increase flavor, strength, endurance, and health can prove to be a tasty and enjoyable experience. Especially when you have Theo Stephan from Global Gardens in attendance with the fruits of her labor as a producer of both olive oil and fruit flavored balsamic vinegars.

Theo decided to take all of her talents as an award-winning graphic designer, and leave the fast paced world she had worked in for over 20 years and trade it in for the peace and quiet of the farm. She not only has been successful at achieving her goal to bring a quality organic olive oil and balsamic vinegar to customers, but also has done it in spades. Her balsamic vinegar varieties offer a rainbow of flavors that use natures pure fruit juices to create taste sensations at a low calorie cost.

Those that have been inspired watching our Olympic athletes, and want to get up and get their own health and workout program going to take off those extra pounds and add some muscle, will not want to miss Smart Health Talk Radio Show host Elaine McFadden's interview with Theo Stephan.

Elaine feels it's important for listeners to understand the secret benefits to these foods that many may not be aware. "As a dietitian I want people to have tools for success in their weight loss toolbox, and these foods should always be included."

ScienceDaily just report on August 2, 2012 that research presented at the American Psychological Association's 120th Annual Convention reported that a 20 pound weight loss for an overweight or obese person, will actually give them a decade's worth of important health benefits. Even if the weight is gained back.

Producing a product that improves health was an added motivation for Theo to move forward with her dream. In the many classes she offers to help others appreciate what these products have to offer, she explains to eager students how, "Balsamic vinegar provides antioxidants and why it is a good choice to substitute her unadulterated extra virgin olive oil with unhealthy saturated and transfats." She demonstrates how to use the flavored balsamic vinegars to add flavor to a wide variety of foods without adding high fat or high sugar products like salad dressings, ice cream, and butter.

Watch us in the studio via USTREAM from the KCAARadio.com website as we recreate one of her classes in our studio. Be a part of the fun as we explore and taste test some of these incredible full-flavored condiments and oils. Learn how to take advantage of the health and flavor benefits you can get from both, and learn how easy they can be to cook with even if you have never done so before.

Theo Stephan has perfected the simple healthy recipe. With her cookbook, "Olive Oil and Vinegar For Life, Delicious Recipes for Healthy Caliterranean Living," Theo gives anyone that loves delicious food a chance to enter a whole new world of cooking and eating. She makes it easy to prepare meals that can be fast in a time crunch, to those that will impress even the most sophisticated guest with a taste sensation they will not soon forget.

As more information gets out to customers on how our foods are being manipulated and altered, and then presented as the real thing, it is nice to know there are products you can trust to deliver more than you would expect.

GlobalGardensOnline.com organic products are in that category. You get only the best nature has to offer, together with Theo's caring and talented skills as a farmer and producer.

Claudia Sanchez, CPC, HT from Clark's Nutrition Stores will also be in the studio, bringing her expertise as a Certified Life Coach Hypnotherapist. Most have trouble making that transition to a healthier lifestyle, but may not be hard to understand since many have had little or no counseling on how to get there. We will also talk about Theo as a successful woman entrepreneur, and how other women can also tap into their inner strengths and talents to achieve their goals and dreams.

There are lots of ways to listen live or watch our interview with Theo Stephan next Thursday, August 9th on Smart Health Talk Radio Show from 4:00-5:00 pm PST. Just type in "KCAA Radio 1050 AM" into the radio app on your cell phone, computer, or notebook.

You can also listen live or watch the show in our studio by going to KCAARadio.com." Click "listen live" to hear the broadcast or "USTREAM" to watch us in the studio. Easy instructions at: www.SmartHealthTalk.com/listen-live-on-your-cell-phone.html. Missed the broadcast? No problem because our podcasts are on KCAARadio.com and Smarthealthtalk.com websites. Get caught up and listen to past podcasts as well.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Olympic Coach Sue Nesbitt joins Smart Health Talk Radio Show today, July 26th, 4-5:00 pm PST. Type in "KCAA Radio 1050 AM" into any radio app. Go to KCAARadio.com. Click "listen live." On SmartHealthTalk.com homepage click "Many Ways to Listen."

San Bernardino, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/27/2012 -- For the first time the Riverside Aquatics Association (RAA) is hosting the Southern California Swimming (SCS) Junior Olympics Event for Age Group Swimming everyday through Sunday. Each day's event awards will be given out at 5:00 pm that day. It's a great free family event. Parking is $5.00.

The location is the new $11 million Riverside Aquatic Center (RAC) located on the Riverside Community College campus and will feature approximately 1,000 athletes from Southern California and Nevada. Explore the new facility and get a close up look at what could be our future US Olympians through Sunday. Find out more about the different swimming events at: http://www.RAA-Swim.org under "Events."

It was just 18 months ago that the new aquatic center opened as a replacement for the 55 year old Riverside Community College pool. Shari Chung, Board Member at the Riverside Aquatics Association reports the center has been getting calls from all corners of the globe as the word gets out of a new world class swimming facility right here in the Inland Empire. Inquires are coming in all the time with the summers of 2013 and 2014 slotted with events that include world championship level competitions.

The RAC has already hosted national level diving, regional swim meets, synchronized swimming, water polo and swimming competitions. City businesses get a boost in tourism dollars and visitors get to take advantage of the central geographical location to access a wide variety of popular Southern California tourist stops.

The new Aquatic Center is not only attracting world-class competitions to Riverside, but world class talent as well. The center had a treat when Ryan Lochte, US Olympic Swimming Team, visited the center and took time out to swim with the kids participating in a special community program offered at the center for aspiring young talent where they are given swimming lessons and their own swimming equipment.

"That experience will probably take on a new meaning with those children when they watch Ryan on television compete in the London Olympics," said Debbi Guthrie from the Riverside Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

Olympic athletes have been a product of the RAC even before the new facility was built thanks to coaches like Sue Nesbitt who has lived and breathed synchronized swimming since her days competing on the Riverside Poly High School swim team and then the Riverside AQuettes.

With synchronized swimming, the team uses precision movements on, above, and beneath the water, performed to music. It requires a combination of skills that include being able to hold your breathe for a very long time, jumping out of the water strength, the ability to move gracefully in water and learn choreographed routines.

Sue participated on an international level herself and as a coach for Olympians in the US, Canada, and Australia including her daughter Stephanie who competed in 2004 in Athens, and another daughter Barbara who is currently competing as a colligate swimmer.

Her coaching style parallels the expectations of being a Riverside AQuette. Those in the program are taught to eat right, stay in shape, and be strong, committed, and positive, believe in yourself, do your best, and never give up.

Sue's coaching program also incorporates other key lessons on how to be an Olympian and hopefully a productive and happy adult. To accomplish this Sue helps these young students learn work and team ethics such as to be on time, work hard, be part of a team and respect others. She teaches them to set their goals high, be a leader, responsible, support others, don't be afraid to ask for help, give back to your community when you can, and have fun.

No wonder Sue Nesbitt is so loved by so many. Her program teaches morals and integrity, get kids engaged in physical activity while learning to move to music, and build confidence in themselves.

Her work has not gone unnoticed and that is why the United States Olympic Committee felt Sue deserved the Developmental Coach of the Year Award for the years 1999, 2006, and 2007 while also being named U.S. National Coach, and inducted into the Riverside Hall of Fame.

There is no doubt her style works. Many of the swimmers who have been fortunate enough to be taken under Sue Nesbitt's coaching wing have went on to lead successful and happy lives.

Find out how she does it, and learn how to maximize your workout from Lee Egan, Clark's Nutrition Stores today, July 26th on Smart Health Talk at 4:00 – 5:00 pm PST. Just type in "KCAA Radio 1050 AM" into your radio app, "listen live on KCAARadio.com," or go to SmartHealthTalk.com/listen-live-on-your-cell-phone.html to learn all your options to listen live or hear our podcasts 24-7.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Two women legislators representing the people of their state by introducing a Mandatory GMO Labeling Bill, now find themselves facing GMO seed maker Monsanto in two different ways. One faces a long-standing physical presence and the other a lawsuit.

San Bernardino, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 04/19/2012 -- Elle Cochran, Maui Council Member and Kate Webb, Representative for the State of Vermont are both facing corporate giant Monsanto head on by filling state bills for mandatory labeling of all their genetically modified products (GMOs) sold in Hawaii and Vermont. Elle and Kate have filed the bills in response to an overwhelming outcry from the people they serve who say they want to know if GMOs are in their food.

Public upset is increasing as more people become aware of the replacement of traditional crops with GMO crops over the past ten years with some as high as 96% of the total crop grown in United States. When you learn 80% of processed foods found on store shelves contain GMOs, consumers feel they are helpless to get away from them. Surveys show that as many as 90% of consumers want GMO information on labels so they can make a choice. Organic is currently the only way of being sure GMOs are not added to products.

When it became clear that the Kate Webb's Mandatory GMO Labeling Bill was probably going to pass because of strong support from other Representatives, Monsanto then publicly came out with a statement saying they would sue the state of Vermont if the bill passed.

Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Ross spoke on the April 16th broadcast of "Vermont Edition" that he and the Governor support mandatory GMO labeling, but don't feel that the structure of the current GMO bill could hold up in court against a Monsanto legal team.

Elle Cochran introduced the mandatory GMO labeling bill in Hawaii, but Oahu, the largest island, voted against the bill so there was no way that it could pass without their support. Hawaii has served as a central research center for Monsanto GMO seeds, with a presence that goes all they way back to the 1960s.

Locals have long been against the GMO research in Hawaii according to Elle in our December 2011 interview. Elle explained that the locals, which are also true Hawaiians, worried about the risk for cross contamination with the thousands of indigenous plants and foods that had developed on the islands over hundreds of years. They feared that perhaps you would never be able to take GMOs back out of the vegetation once the organisms became embedded in the DNA.

Elle visited a Monsanto farm last December and shared her experience on the December 22nd Smart Health Talk broadcast. Elle has since visited another Monsanto research farm, which is also home to their premium GMO crop. She will be sharing information on that visit today on Smart Health Talk.

Host Elaine McFadden agrees with last weeks guest Dag Falck, Program Director at Nature's Path Organic Foods that we should have mandatory GMO labeling so people can know if these organisms are in their food. "People have a right to say, no I don't want to put that in my body."

Jeffrey Smith, author "Genetic Roulette" and "Seeds of Deception" has met with groups around the world to educate them on GMOs. The biggest change he now sees at these presentations is the amount of health professionals that attend. He explained on the October 13th Smart Health Talk broadcast how doctors come up to him excited with results achieved when they put their patients on a 100% "Non GMO Diet." Patients use the free "Non GMO Shopping List" and "phone app" that was developed by the Institute of Responsible Technology of which Jeffrey is the Director and is available for download on their website.

Jeffrey also explained that, "One of the biggest concerns right now is infant formulas, juice, and baby foods, and how the concentration of GMOs and pesticides in these products could compromise a vulnerable, underdeveloped immune and digestive system.

Tune in today at 4:00 pm PST as we talk to Elle and Kate on where things stand with Mandatory GMO labeling bills in their states, and how Vermont will respond to the Monsanto lawsuit. This decides our right to know what's in our food!

Anyone with an internet connection or cell phone can "listen live." Go to the KCAARadio.com website and click the yellow button at the top left corner. Full listening instructions are on the SmartHealthTalk.com website under the "about us tab." If you miss the broadcast, podcasts are available 24/7 when you click "podcast" under Elaine McFadden's picture on the KCAARadio.com website or go to the podcast section on SmartHealthTalk.com. Type in "smarthealthtalk" on twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to find us.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Smart Health Talk launches their Countdown to Earth Day with Dag Falck from Nature's Path Organic Foods as their guest for the live radio show on Thursday, April 12th at 4:00 pm PST. Anyone can "listen live" by following the directions under the "about us" tab on the SmartHealthTalk.com website. Dag has worked directly with farmers for years and served as a Board Member for the Organic Trade Association that helps sets guidelines for organic products.

San Bernardino, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 04/11/2012 -- Smart Health Talk has launched a "Countdown to Earth Day" and is posting reminders at least two times per day on their Twitter and Facebook accounts in the hope of raising the consciousness level as to the true scope of what Earth Day is to all of us. Elaine McFadden, the host of Smart Health Talk explains the reason for starting the countdown is that it seems like each year Earth Day comes and goes so fast that we hardly have enough time to really think about what it is all about. A lot is happening in the world and it can feel so big there is nothing we personally can do about it.

"At Smart Health Talk we think of Everyday as Earth Day because we believe that it will only be through our daily efforts that we can control waste, effectively use our resources, and maintain our ability to support a growing planet. We started to think about our biggest motivators, and our children were at the top of the list. That is why we decided to make our Earth Day message, "Our children remind us, Everyday is Earth Day."

The planet and the need for resources is growing at an unprecedented rate.

People use resources, and in the US we use more than anyone. Much more resources than we need to exist. Our presence has already drastically changed the planet by creating a constant need to be feed energy and stuff that requires energy and resources to make, but we could live without. Our blind greed has already brought thousands of species to extinction with many more dying everyday.

It is going to get worse in the years to come because of the accelerated population growth. According to the UN Population Division, it took from the beginning of our existence on this planet until two hundred years ago to reach one billion people, yet it took only 12 years to create the last one billion people added to the population. We just hit 7 billion a few months ago with 8 billion expected to happen even sooner than the last, so in less than 12 years.

What this means is that we now have a lot more people to share our planets limited resources. Try and think about doubling production of everything we already use, cut it in half, and that is how much we will need in just 20 short years because of population growth. If we continue to pump all of the pollution, pesticides, and trash into the environment we will kill the very things that sustain us and bring us pleasure and joy.

As much as some parts of the agriculture industry want us to believe otherwise, organic farming is actually the answer to many of the problems we are facing today. Instead of expanding farming of genetically modified crops that are dependent on petroleum fertilizers and toxic pesticides, we can use the research that has already been proven that shows how specific organic farming methods can produce higher yields than any other farming method and clean the air in the process.

As we look at a need to feed even more people in the future, we need to be looking at all of the possibilities. Especially those methods that can be done in a sustainable way, that are not dependent on expensive "extras" such as pesticides and herbicides to grow, can produce higher yields, and take carbon from the air and put it into the soil where it can benefit the plant instead of polluting the air seems like a good way to go.

That is why we have invited Dag Falck to join us on Smart Health Talk Radio Show on KCAA Radio 1050 this Thursday April 12th at 4:00 pm PST. We are hoping to gain some knowledge from his many years of experience working directly with organic farmers that supply raw materials for Nature's Path Organic Foods.

Having also served as a board member for the Organic Trade Association that helps set guidelines for USDA Certified Organic products, Dag has experienced many opportunities for understanding what it means to be an organic farmer that needs to grow and sell a product, and an organic manufacturer that needs to take those raw materials and turn them into a product that people want, and is something they can trust and enjoy.

If you miss the show or want to listen live through the internet, visit us at SmartHealthTalk.com and click our podcasts that are available 24/7 or the "About Us" tab for ways to "listen live." Find us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube by typing in "SmartHealthTalk."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy (TMS) is explained by Psychiatrist Dr. Tarique Perera on Smart Health Talk Radio show, April 22 at 4:00 pm PST on KCAARadio.com. TMS can work when other treatments fail, and offers a new treatment option.

San Bernardino, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/23/2012 -- Even with all of the medical breakthroughs we have today, mental illness remains a topic we rarely discuss in the media and yet the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported over 45 million people in the US had at least one mental illness in 2009 with 11 million of those considered serious.

People are not getting the information that tells them to seek treatment.

This is especially disturbing since the World Health Organization considers mental illness responsible for more disability in developed countries than any other illness group including heart disease and cancer. Mental illness not only weakens our people, but our country. It impacts the entire family, a person's ability to work, be productive, and fully enjoy life.

Even those with depression or anxiety disorders that have tried to seek medical treatment may not have received relief even after experimenting with several treatment options under a doctor's supervision. Some say they feel, "Something is still not right."

There is hope for these patients with a new treatment option that is also non-evasive and painless called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy (TMS). Psychiatrist Dr. Tarique Perera will explain how this treatment works on Smart Health Talk Radio show, April 22 at 4:00 pm PST on KCAARadio.com. KCAA is a broadcast and internet radio station where people can tune in live through radio, internet, or cell phone. Podcasts are also available 24/7 after the show.

To understand the importance TMS as a revolutionary new treatment for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse you only need to look at the statistics. The SAMHSA survey analysis reported that in 2009 at least 19.9 percent, or one in five people experienced mental illness. Unfortunately out of ten people that need treatment, less than four of them will get it.

Large subgroups go untreated. Different levels of mental illness can be present in those sick with disease, seriously hurt or disabled from accidents, and as we age, but can go unnoticed because the physical sickness is so overwhelming. With the aging of baby boomers, this problem will only continue to grow.

One in five mental illness patients also have a substance abuse problem creating a dual treatment need.

The CDC reported last year that antidepressants were the most used drug for people aged 18-44. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Study looked at 12,637 participants and found that nearly one in four women ages 40 to 59 are taking antidepressants, as well as one in 25 teens. Most antidepressant users are not under the supervision of a mental health expert.

The United States has the highest mental illness rate in the world and an equally high addiction to pain killers. The US uses over 80% of all pain killers manufactured in the world and 99% of the Vicodin. These drugs are not only impacting our mental state, but are killing us as well. "Vicodin and other narcotic pain relievers killed more people than car accidents in 17 states," according to Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vicodin is an opioid that is essentially legal heroine and could mask underlying mental illness.

With mental illness being such a taboo subject, most people are not learning about the physical symptoms or genetic risks. Some may suspect they need help, but may choose to not seek treatment for a variety of reasons including cost and lack of confidence in drug therapy.

For people that have felt depression, anxiety, or substance abuse treatments did not bring them the results they were looking for, or have not tried to seek help even when they know they need it, there is now a new revolutionary non-evasive treatment option that could change psychiatry forever.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy (TMS) is delivered while the patient sits upright in the machine. A magnetic coil is positioned by the part of the brain that affects mood. This part of the brain is usually underactive in those with depression. The machine sends impulses that stimulate neurotransmitters to work and increase oxygen delivery by increasing blood flow.

The treatment is still new, but initial results are showing low relapse rates, with most relapse cases responding to additional treatments. Patients usually start off with a series of 20-30 treatments, five times per week that are given over a 4-6 week period. Each treatment lasts about 30-40 minutes. There are no side effects and patients can drive to and from their appointments without need assistance.

Even if you miss the broadcast with Dr. Perera, this podcast and our other Smart Health Talk podcasts can be found on http://www.SmartHealthTalk.com. Just click podcast.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Dr. Al Plechner has been the vet the world trusts for over 50 years of veterinarian practice with all kinds of animal patients that owe their life to his skills and willingness to go the extra mile to find the cause of their illness even when others had given up on them.

San Bernardino, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/06/2012 -- Pet owners looking for the best advice on how to choose their pet, vaccinations, which food to buy, the importance of mineral supplements, how to deal with saying goodbye, and what to do if you pet is sick will find it all in Dr. Al Plechner's new book "Fifty years of Healing: Dr. Plechners perspective on a half century of curing animals many had given up on."

Dr. Plechner is a veterinarian with over 50 years of experience. His patients have spanned a wide range of the animal kingdom and called him to many parts of the world for help. Owners ask specifically for Dr. Plechner because of his excellent skills that go beyond everyday veterinarian medicine. His compassion for animals runs deep and has pushed him to find answers to their suffering when it seemed there was none.

That is the continuing theme through all his books, but in his new book the culmination of all of his work has been put together in an easy to read reference that provides not only quality information on the basics of owning a pet, but includes a special section for those struggling with a pet that doesn't respond to medical treatment.

Anyone can learn a lot working one job for 50 years, but how much you learn is determined by how much you want to learn. Dr. Plechner has been unrelenting in his search to find ways to increase the chances of survival for many types of animals by better understanding what is happening to them. He has approached his most challenging cases with an open mind and a willingness to look past standard care to find out what was "causing the problem" and not just treat the symptoms.

Dr. Plechner did "go a looking" and found some interesting abnormities in his most challenging patients. Once he started evaluating blood tests with new eyes after all else had failed, he started seeing a pattern in these cases and used his medical experience to develop a new standard of treatment. After awhile this treatment become known as "Plechner's Syndrome."

Pet owners with animals that had suffered for years in pain, sometimes with terrible allergies that would leave them sick, weak, or itching uncontrollably to the point of making themselves bleed would be willing to try treatment after treatment looking for the answer to relief for their beloved family member. Some pet owners have spent thousands of dollars in their quest to find the answer. Larger animals such as horses can cost even more.

Imagine their gratitude when they would find Dr. Plechner and finally have an answer to end the suffering. With some specific blood tests, prescription drugs, and diet recommendations he has been able to turn around the lives of thousands of animals.

"My protocol for testing for Plechner's Syndrome is something that can be done by any veterinarian, but most do not analyze blood tests and look these specific markers to identify whether there is an increase in certain hormones. This test can have far reaching implications and can even determine whether your animal will be protected after vaccination or not. If an animal is not able to make the antibodies from the vaccination, they could easily get a highly contagious disease such as Paarvo or distemper and possibly die."

Paarvo is a deadly disease that can kill a dog in a couple of days after exposure. Treatment to save the dog after they have gotten sick can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

According to Dr. Plechner, these high hormone levels, which are usually accompanied by high levels of inflammation, can be the cause for several other diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. "The good news is that we can identify the problem through a blood test, and then work to correct the cause from there. If we are treating the cause, and not just adding a Band-Aid to a problem, the patient can have recovery."

During his interview with Smart Health Talk host Elaine McFadden, MPH, RD, he even discussed how his discoveries could help humans suffering from allergies and many other health problems. Elaine has invited Dr. Plechner to return to the show to discuss in more detail how "Plechner's Syndrome" works in the body, how it can be identified, and the possible courses of treatment.

Until then there is an entire page dedicated to Dr. Plechner and his work with animals on the SmartHealthTalk.com webpage that includes his Smart Health Talk radio interview, a video of Dr. Plechner giving an exam and interview from the animal hospital, link to his website, and information about his past books and his new book coming out in a couple of weeks.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Make Valentine's Day a night to remember with the Smart Health Talk recipe for romance.

San Bernardino, CA -- (ReleaseWire) --02/13/2012 -- If your goal for Valentines Day is romance, then we suggest you consider following the Smart Health Talk guide to ignite sparks and get things fired up with "Keeping it hot chicken." Not only is this meal designed to stimulate the senses, but comforts with some easy homemade four-step mac and cheese. The three course meal comes to a sweet conclusion with a berry pie that is so good people have been known to start eating it right out of the pan because it looked to good to wait.

"We have made this an allergen free meal so anyone can eat and enjoy it. Not only are all the ingredients gluten free, but the menu was chosen for great taste, easy prep , and food choices loved by most everyone. When a meal is delicious all the way through, it makes it easier to stay upbeat and keep the rhythm moving in a positive direction throughout the night," explains host Elaine McFadden who is also a registered dietitian.

"We figured the meal was all about first getting your Valentine to join you for dinner, so the menu had to be as universally appealing as possible, and since the night is more about romance than eating, best to keep it short and simple. All three recipes are easy to make and gluten free. If all ingredient recommendations are followed, those looking to please their Valentine with an unforgettable taste experience can increase their odds for only a few extra dollars.

Can wowing your Valentine with unusually high taste appeal increase the odds you will leave a lasting impression as an extraordinary cook? Maybe so. Seems that organic chicken and berries both score high on taste. Most people who try organic chicken for the first time do notice a difference. It is like a light comes on that says, "that is the way it's supposed to taste." Men seem to notice more than women or are just more passionate about good tasting meat.

Could it be that eating a broiled or baked chicken brings out our primal instincts? Perhaps there is an association with a flame cooked chicken and the man having to hunt dinner and cook it over a campfire. As women we might enjoy a little playful barbaric behavior in our man because with it might also come passion.

Test it out by throwing your manners out the window and grab a leg and eat it with your fingers. Tell him he brings out the animal in you. Organic chicken could deliver a more concentrated wild flavor that appeals to men. These birds are fed all organic grains, and are forbidden by the USDA to inject them with antibiotics, hormones, or extra fluids.

Celebrity guest Chef Lance Corralez gave several suggestions on how to create a romantic setting that would not require a lot of extra expense. He also recommends spending extra on quality food, and keep the rest simple and basic so most of the attention goes to great food and each other.

A newlywed himself, Chef Lance draws from his experience working with a wide variety of clients that hire him as their personal chef or to create a romantic dinner experience in their home. You will have to listen to the podcast to hear all of his suggestions, but one romantic idea he shared had to do with a special dinner he recently set up for a celebrity where dinner was served in bed. Chef Lance explained, "People eat breakfast in bed, why not dinner in bed. Skip the dining table, and just start in the bedroom. All of the foods on our Valentine's Day menu can be eaten in bed or fed to each other."

Even though organic quality may not be possible all the time, we can create new traditions for special days. What better time to offer quality ingredients than when you are trying to say I love you? Use the best quality ingredients, and go for the WOW factor and even if the romance doesn't work out, they'll never forget your cooking. When you serve the best ever eaten, you will have spoiled their taste buds forever. Organic foods have a way of doing that to people.

About Smart Health Talk
Smart Health Talk Radio Show is a live broadcast of KCAARadio.com, an NBC affiliate station. The radio show is live on Thursdays 4-5:00 pm PST, but podcasts are available 24/7 on the SmartHealthTalk.com website. Instructions for listening to the show on your radio, computer, or cell phone are available under the "About Us" tab.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Those looking to make this an extra special Valentine's Day can tune in to Smart Health Talk Radio Show as host Elaine McFadden and Chef Lance Corralez provide the formula for a hot night to remember even for those restricted to a gluten free diet.

Loma Linda, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/09/2012 -- Move over engagement chicken, Smart Health Talk host Elaine McFadden and Top Chef Lance Corralez have the recipe to bring lovers together over a Valentine's Day meal that will keep it hot, delicious, and gluten free.

"Chef Lance and I feel we have came up with the perfect meal for not only getting your would be Valentine to join you, but also contains all of the components for a hot and sexy Valentines Day. This meal may be gluten free, but the food is healthy and is pleasing to anyone. We use quinoa based gluten free products that are high in protein and other nutrients as well. Most people that taste it won't even realize these are gluten free substitutes because they just taste good."

This Smart Health Valentines Day meal is designed to not only get your lover to join you for dinner with a menu they can't resist, but if prepared according our instructions will also be better than anything they have ever tasted before. "You can't leave anything to chance when preparing a Valentines Day meal because this is your opportunity to not only make it a night to remember, but also a meal to remember and for a few extra dollars you can do just that. We want the food to taste so good they will be spoiled forever and always compare the quality taste in your meal as superior to what they eat in the future. You can't accomplish that with cheap ingredients."

This romantic meal is designed to spice things up a little, and include one of Americas all-time favorite comfort foods using a new recipe that will make them fall in love with the dish all over again. That regular boxed version will never be quite as pleasing after eating your new recipe.

Award winning Chef Lance Corralez is known for helping people with a gluten intolerance or celiac disease learn how to prepare gluten free recipes. "The dessert recipe I have created contains a gluten free pie crust, something that those on gluten free diets can usually only dream of because there is just not anything out there that can give you the flavor you desire and is gluten free also. Anyone that tries this crust will fall in love with it, and the recipe is so simple that even an inexperienced cook will be able to make it."

Chef Lance and Elaine McFadden are not going to promise an engagement after cooking their "Keeping it Hot" chicken, but will promise to help get things heated up while serving up your Valentine a taste of chicken that will please and stimulate more than one type of sensory response. Elaine explained that, "Both the chef and I agree that when it comes to Valentines Day you start with the best ingredients. For just a few dollars more you can up the taste to a level that is memorable and sure to please."

Elaine promises this meal is something anyone can do. "We help walk you through all the steps to pull off the perfect Valentines Day dinner. We supply what you need from start to finish such as a shopping list, suggestions for ambiance, and meal preparation on the big day. Keeping in mind that most people have little time and tight budgets, the at home meal is the perfect option for being able to impress without breaking the bank. We help you with everything except your wardrobe, that you'll have to put together on your own, although we would suggest to accentuate your best assets."

The podcast, recipes, and suggestions will all be easy to find on our smarthealthtalk.com homepage. Everything will be there in one place.

Tune in to Smart Health Talk Radio either live on Thursdays from 4-5:00 pm PST or visit us at SmartHealthTalk.com and click podcast to listen to the broadcast 24/7. Podcasts are also available on the KCAARadio.com website. Look for our host Elaine McFadden and click podcast.

Instructions for how to listen to Smart Health Talk live, on your cell phone, or through the internet as well are under the "About Us" tab on the Smart Health Talk website.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Bluefin tuna population numbers have been dropping at an alarming rate. With demand growing and supply dwindling, prices are soaring. Large potential profits are fueling a feeding frenzy where fisherman from all over the world are looking to cash in on the luxury sushi market. As long as people are willing to pay high prices no matter what the ecological price, the tuna will be doomed to extinction.

San Bernardino, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/06/2012 -- The insatiable appetite for Bluefin tuna together with the large profits to be made selling it to the luxury sushi industry has fueled a feeding frenzy that is cutting Bluefin tuna population numbers to dangerously low levels. Rampant overfishing is pushing the species past the tipping point. Decisions made now will impact not only the ability of the Western Atlantic Bluefin tuna to recover, but how quickly it can happen.

Customer demand, too many fisherman, and too little Bluefin tuna are making the chances of population recovery bleaker than ever according to reports published in the July 2011 issue of Science Magazine.

The supply of Bluefin tuna in the Atlantic and Mediterranean is shrinking fast which is pushing prices up. Large payoffs draw in people willing to ignore laws, restrictions, and warnings of the potential collapse of the fishing industry.

No wonder the temptation just keeps getting stronger. A single 593-pound tuna sold for $736,000 last month at the opening of the Japanese Bluefin tuna season. Fisherman from many countries, with vessels built to haul loads over the legal limit, are rushing to grab what is left of the Bluefin populations and sell it for a premium price. With all of today's technology, the tuna doesn't stand a chance.

Lee Crockett, who directs the Pew Environment Group's Bluefin tuna work, told "The Salt" the danger in this type of high price for Bluefin tuna. "When you sell fish for this amount of money, that exacerbates problems with overfishing. You can bet fishermen all over the world are going to say, 'Boy, I'd like to sell fish for that amount of money.'"

The Pew Environment Group reported, "In 2010 at least 141% more Bluefin meat was taken from the Mediterranean Sea than was reported as caught." That comes out to 428,400 pounds of tuna worth millions of dollars. The numbers could be much higher as it is hard to count tuna that have been caught while fisherman are targeting other types of fish, by catch, unreported catch, net totals, or illegal catch.

Vulnerable spawning habitats could play a role in delivering the final blow as demonstrated last year with the BP oil spill. Not only did the oil spill coincide with the Western Atlantic Bluefin tuna spawning cycle, but also happened in the same area of the Gulf of Mexico.

Bluefin tuna laying their eggs were bombarded with oil and toxic dispersants. Eggs die when exposed to either. The amount of time it will take before the spawning area is safe again is yet to be determined.

After dispersant use began, The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice of its intent "to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for authorizing the use of toxic dispersants without ensuring that these chemicals would not harm endangered species and their habitats."

After the devastation of the BP oil spill to the spawning habitat and the eggs that had been laid, The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit challenging a new rule that expands overfishing of "highly imperiled Atlantic Bluefin tuna." The lawsuit seeks to halt the dramatic expansion of commercial fishing from Massachusetts to Florida in an effort to prevent Bluefin from being fished to extinction.

With over 80% of the population gone due to overfishing, and the additional blow of the oil spill, immediate action was needed to protect the remaining tuna.

The new rule issued by the NMFS doubles the number of Bluefin tuna that can be caught each day by expanding the season length and expanding the fishing area from the North Atlantic states all the way south to Florida so they can be caught right before they are ready to spawn.

According to Catherine Kilduff, a staff attorney at the Center, "This rule enables fishermen to chase the remaining Bluefin tuna down the Atlantic Coast on their way to reproduce in the Gulf of Mexico. At some point, the last Bluefin tuna will be caught, and there'll be no fishery left at all."

Find out more about what is being done and not done to ensure the availability and safety of our Western Atlantic Bluefin tuna by tuning into Smart Health Talk Radio either live on Thursdays from 4-5:00 pm PST or visit us at SmartHealthTalk.com and click podcast. They are also available on the KCAARadio.com website. Look for our host Elaine McFadden and click podcast.

Instructions for all of the ways to listen to Smart Health Talk live or through podcasts are under the "About Us" tab.

We have had many great guests sharing information to educate us all on what is happening with our food and how it affects us everyday so scroll through our past podcasts to find what interests you the most.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm