Healthy Update, the weekly e-newsletter of HealthWorld Online (www.healthy.net), provides the latest news and resources from the world of healthy living, alternative medicine and Self-Managed Care. To view HTML version and the Healthy Update archives: www.healthyupdate.com

Soy Could Help Reduce Alzheimer's Risk
Alzheimer's affects an estimated 4 million people in the United States and nearly half of all people over 85 have it. Scientists have noted that a plant-based compound found in soy might mitigate changes in the brain linked to Alzheimer's disease, particularly in women who have passed menopause. Post-menopausal estrogen use is linked with lower incidences of Alzheimer's disease and components in soy, namely isoflavones, carry out estrogen-like actions.

Healthy Diet Sets Model for Children
It's a common lament among parents that their children are picky eaters. Studies repeatedly have shown that kids imitate their parents, particularly their mothers, when it comes to eating habits. If you serve and eat fruits and vegetables, they will follow. Keep offering a variety of foods, even if they refuse them. Familiarity helps them accept foods. And when a new food arrives at the table, try to accompany it with other foods the kids will like.

Comment: Genetically Modified Food: Unsafe Until Further Notice
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced plans to approve new genetically altered foods: All that is required is for manufacturers to notify the agency 120 days before putting the product on the market and promise that it is "substantially equivalent" to a conventional counterpart. And the FDA has ruled that labeling is purely voluntary. Although scientists are well aware that genetic engineering can produce unexpected, often highly undesirable, effects, there is no current testing or health monitoring to detect these health and environmental curve-balls. It is unreasonable to ask the American public to risk so much - with no choice in the matter - when fundamental questions are still unanswered? Until thorough and independent scientific research provides genuine assurances about the long-range safety for health and the environment of these unprecedented products, caution is the only rational course.

Mind Over Matter
At last there's promising news on the horizon for the prevention of one of the most frightening and devastating diseases of our era. In "Preventing AIDS: on the global horizon" Barry Bittman, M.D. reports on a research project that tested a new AIDS vaccine in 28 monkeys. All of the vaccinated monkeys, although infected with the AIDS virus, were not ill. Their immune systems were able to control the infection. While the long-term effects of this approach are not yet known, the data appear promising.

The Healer Within
One of the self-healing methods of the ancients that is easy and inexpensive yet absolutely profound is breath practice. In "Exhale to Compress the Organs" Dr. Roger Jahnke reveals a breath practice that is quite remarkable. This method takes the exhalation of the full chest and abdominal breath to a radical extreme that dramatically shifts the pressure in the pelvic, abdominal and chest cavities. The exhalation continues, until it feels as if the body and organs are compressing toward the center. This practice has a profound effect on the nervous system and the lymphatic elimination of waste from the tissues. It unleashes a powerful healing energy. It takes just a few moments, costs nothing is always with you, just a breath away.

Understanding Homeopathy
The homeopathic method of individualizing a medicine based on the totality of the person's symptoms is a sophisticated 21st century science. Homeopaths assert that body and mind are inseparable, and they posit the necessity of looking at "bodymind" types. In "Homeopathic Typologies: The Bodymind Personalities" Dana Ullman, M.P.H. introduces constitutional therapies, the ones based on certain groupings of bodymind symptom patterns corresponding with the sensitivity of a particular homeopathic medicine.

Mind Boosters
Vinpocetine is chemically related to vincamine, an alkaloid found in the periwinkle plant. It was introduced into clinical practice in Europe more than two decades ago for the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders and related symptoms. In "Vinpocetine" Ray Sahelian, M.D. reports that experiments with vinpocetine indicate that it can dilate blood vessels, enhance circulation in the brain, improve oxygen utilization, make red blood cells more pliable, and inhibit aggregation of platelets; and may even have antioxidant properties.

"The Roots of Human Aggression: Healing the Wounds that Drive Us to War" With Andrew Bard Schmookler
In the interview ''The Roots of Human Aggression: Healing the Wounds that Drive Us to War'' with Dr. Daniel Redwood, Andrew Bard Schmookler discusses the roots of human aggression and warfare, as well as the reasons that wealth rarely brings its possessors what they thought it would. He also presents the idea of "traumatic overlearning," in which people are so strongly affected by a traumatic event that they start applying the lesson to any and all situations, no matter how inappropriately.

Healthy Bookstore
If you've often wondered what real choices you have to improve the state of your dental health, you'll find "The Complete Book of Dental Remedies: A Guide to Safe and Effective Relief from the Most Common Dental Problems Using Homeopathy, Nutritional Supplements, Herbs, and Conventional Dental Care" by Flora Parsa Stay, DDS a reliable source of information that you can turn to time and time again. This is a comprehensive A-to-Z guide to dental problems and their remedies using both alternative care and conventional treatments. Written in easy-to-understand language, it provides safe and effective solutions for most common dental problems.

Featured Center
Our Cancer Center offers a broad vision of leading experts and systems for alternative and complementary cancer care, from nutritional perspectives on adjunct cancer care to herbal medicine, Chinese medicine, naturopathy, and mind/body medicine to metabolic and biological therapies. The Cancer Center also features a Cancer Cookbook from nationally renowned cancer nutrition expert, Patrick Quillin, Ph.D. Other features include the Cancer Newswire, Cancer Update, Cancer bookstore, guidance on cancer prevention as well as links to key cancer organizations.

Healthy Child Update
A normal childhood is filled with minor skin injuries. Beyond a nurturing Mother's kiss, parents need to know the tips included in "Children's Health: Cut's, Scrapes, and Punctures" prepared by the American Institute of Preventive Medicine. Basic first aid is detailed, plus how to evaluate the seriousness of bleeding or signs of infection and whether or not a tetnus shot is needed.

Find a Professional
The Professional Referral Network contains searchable directories for 20 leading professional associations in complementary and integrative health care, with over 16,000 professionals. Looking for a healthcare professional specializing in progressive vision care? The Vision Care/Vision Training section includes the Optometric Extension Program Foundation member database.

Medical Cybrarian Research Service
Medical librarians were formerly only available through a hospital or university medical library. Now referred to on HealthWorld Online as a "Cybrarian," this librarian in cyberspace can help you locate the really hard-to-find material on diseases and their treatments.

The Cybrarian offers you personalized research service, searching the Internet, books, MEDLINE and other databases, to find EXACTLY the information you require. The Cybrarian can custom design research for individual patients or healthcare professionals, as well as healthcare industry business people, including information on diseases, treatments, products, market research or statistics for alternative, complementary and conventional medicine. For reasonable fees, the Cybrarian carefully gathers and selects the information or points you to useful web sites and other sources, with the speed and searching techniques acquired from many years of professional research.

Association Network -- Hot Pick
The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education uses movement and attention to bring about increased awareness and improved functioning through learning. Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioners (graduates of Feldenkrais Guild of North America accredited training programs - minimum of 800 hours) help their students to become aware of existing patterns of action and guide the discovery of additional possibilities for action and self-organization. The Method is not medically or therapeutically oriented, nor does the Feldenkrais® practitioner make any medical claims.

Visit Feldenkrais Guild of North America

Global Health Calendar -- Hot Picks

Practical Introduction to Anthroposophical Medicine
For physicians and medical students
Spring Valley, NY USA
April 19-22, 2001
Contact: Physicians' Association for Anthroposophical
Medicine - 413-584-9990

Ottawa Health Show
Ottawa, Ontario CANADA
April 27-28, 2001
Contact: Canadian National Health Shows - 604-885-0960

Cancer As a Turning Point, From Surviving to Thriving
Free conference for anyone touched by cancer
Medford, OR USA
April 27-28, 2001
Contact: Healing Journeys - 800-423-9882

AHMA Annual Conference
The Marriage of Art and Science in Holistic Medicine
Miami, FL USA
May 2-5, 2001
Contact: American Holistic Medical Association - 703-556-9245

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance Conference
Safety Harbor, FL USA
May 4-7, 2001
Contact: Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance - 800-345-1010

Fourth World Congress on Qigong
The Fourth American Qigong Association Conference
San Francisco, CA USA
May 4-7, 2001
Contact: East West Academy of Healing Arts - 415-788-2227

Healing Into Wholeness with Jacquelyn Small
Ten-Day Psycho-Spiritual Wellness Program
Jacksonville, FL USA
May 7-10, 2001
Contact: Eupsychia Institute - 800-546-2795

SupplySide East
International Trade Show and Conference
Secaucus, NJ USA
May 7-9, 2001
Contact: Virgo Publishing, Inc. - 480-990-1101

Yoga at the Leading Edge
Celebrate the grace of movement and all that is yoga today
Lenox, MA USA
May 17-20, 2001
Contact: Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health - 800-741-7353

Botanical Medicine in Modern Clinical Practice
New York, NY USA
May 21-25, 2001
Contact: Columbia University/Rosenthal Center for
Complementary & Alternative Medicine - 212-543-9542

2001 World Congress on Complementary Therapies in Medicine
Washington, DC USA
May 25-27, 21001
Contact: Mosby/Continuing Education & Training
- 800-826-1877