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March 2007  Volume 3, Issue 8

march 2007 National Ideas and Nutrition Month

Michael Lynch

March Events for Parents

Amber Link keeps your child's vital statistics on a USB "thumb"drive in a format that can be accessed by law enforcement in the event your child or loved one should go missing.  The police would have near instantaneous access to pertinent information to find him or her. Amber Link was developed by Peter Engleson, a Broward   school teacher, inspired by the Natalie Holloway case when it took police several days to get a photo into circulation. Amber Link is affiliated with  A CHILD IS MISSING, the non-profit organization which assists law enforcement in recovering missing children. The device is only $25.00 For more information call Tawnya Perry 954-683-9442   www.amberlink.net

Natural Treats for Healthier Snacking! CLICK HERE FOR YOUR LIST!

FREE Conference Call: The Relationship Between Nutrition and Autism Monday, March 12th 8:30 PM EST Enroll Me in the Workshop with Jean

Ideas for Birthday Gifts for Ages 1 - 12 CLICK HERE

Creating Quiet Time for Parents and Children CLICK HERE

"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples, then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas." George Bernard Shaw

Popping Vitamin Pills Could                                       Increase Your Risk of Dying,                        New Report Says By Nancy McVicar South Florida Sun-Sentinel Posted February 28 2007 Before you reach for your morning vitamins, consider this: They may not be good for you. An analysis of 47 studies involving more than 180,000 participants taking beta carotene, vitamin E and vitamin A indicates that rather than improving health, popping the pills may increase the risk of death.  The report appears in today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association and was compiled by researchers with the Cochrane Collaboration, an international network of experts who conduct systematic reviews of published studies to determine whether current treatments are based on scientific evidence. The researchers reviewed 68 studies, but sorted out results from the 47 they considered the most credible and found an overall 5 percent increased risk of death. Beta carotene was associated with a 7 percent increased risk; vitamin A, a 16 percent increase, and vitamin E, a 4 percent increase.  Vitamin C and selenium were also included in the analysis and no increased risk of death was found, according to Dr. Goran Bjelakovic, director of medical science at the Center for Clinical Intervention Research in Copenhagen. But people taking vitamin C didn't necessarily live any longer than people who didn't take the vitamin.  "Our findings contradict the findings of observational studies claiming that antioxidants improve health," the researchers wrote. There is no evidence that vitamin C increases longevity, they said, and while selenium tended to reduce mortality, more study is needed to confirm the benefit. The vitamin industry took issue with the methods used in the analysis and with the findings. "Healthy consumers can feel confident in continuing to take antioxidants for the benefits they provide. This meta-analysis does nothing to change those facts," Andrew Shao, vice president of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a Washington-based trade association representing ingredient suppliers and manufacturers in the dietary supplement industry.  "While meta-analyses can be useful when the included studies are very similar in design and study population, this meta-analysis combined studies that differ vastly from each other in a number of important ways that compromise the results," Shao said. The findings in the JAMA article were not a surprise to Dr. Robert Hasty, assistant professor of internal medicine at Nova Southeastern University's College of Osteopathic Medicine.  "We've known about the link between beta carotene in smokers and an increased risk of lung cancer," Hasty said, "and the vitamin E controversy has been going on for a long time."  Hasty noted the so-called HOPE study, for Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation -- involving 2,500 women and 6,900 men, published in January 2000 -- first raised concerns about vitamin E.  "We know from the HOPE study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that [taking vitamin E] showed no benefit and actually worsened outcomes," he said.   Hasty said people who take lipid-soluable vitamins -- E, D, A and K -- can build up toxic levels of them because they don't easily leave the body.  Vitamin C is water soluable and doesn't build up in the body, but Hasty cautioned against taking too much.   "We live in the "stonebelt" of the United States. We have the most kidney stones, and vitamin C has been associated with an increased risk of stones," Hasty said. Hasty said he takes a multivitamin every day, "but the evidence behind taking it is really not that profound." The National Institutes of Health estimates that more than one-third of American adults take multivitamin/mineral supplements regularly. Recommendations regarding supplement use from expert groups vary widely, as does the strength of the evidence supporting such guidelines.  And that makes it confusing for people trying to figure out whether they should take vitamins and what kind. In general, health experts say most Americans should get the bulk of their vitamins from food, and should consult their doctors before considering supplements. Some say that taking a multivitamin can't hurt, but the study does not address the question of multivitamins.  "It's tough on the general public to figure out what's good and what's not," said Richard Polcini, 78, of Hollywood, who had already crossed vitamins A, E and beta carotene off his list after consulting with his doctor and local pharmacists.  "Vitamin A you don't want to take that because you get enough in a multivitamin, and too much isn't good. I do take vitamin C," he said, "but some of those other things you can get too much and it can build up." The researchers said there are several possible explanations for the negative effects found in their analysis. It could be because antioxidant supplements are synthetic and not subjected to the same testing required of medications, or it could be that they interfere with some natural body defense mechanism.  "Better understanding of mechanisms and actions of antioxidants in relation to a potential disease is needed," the researchers said.  "People shouldn't be taking large doses of anything, but in particular these antioxidants," said Dr. Michael Friedland, dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science and regional dean of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.  Friedland said he doesn't take vitamins. "If you eat a normal healthy balanced diet, with fruits and vegetables and whole grains, there's no real reason to take vitamin supplements," Friedland said. "That's probably the best thing people can do." Nancy McVicar can be reached at nmcvicar@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4593. The complete article can be viewed at: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-rxvitamins28feb28,0,3270368.story?coll=sfl-consumer-h elpteam

A Taste of UYO - March 13th 7 PM Learn with the heck UYO is all about in this free mini-course!  CLICK HERE to RSVP and receive directions. Understanding Yourself and Others - March 23rd to 25th Our lives are changed by Events, Experiences, and Encounters with others.  Sometimes, a simple, brief event improves our perspective so profoundly we never see the world the same way again. Identify barriers to your success, confront your fears and unanswered questions. CLICK HERE for More! Money Freedom - March 30th to April 1st This course allows you to experience Money as Energy. This affords you the ability to shift deep core beliefs that may be keeping you stuck in your creation of Wealth, or in the enjoyment of your Wealth.  In the process you will learn to overcome the temptation of allowing money to control you!  We also review early childhood beliefs that may be keeping you "stuck" in your creation of wealth.   By bringing your core belief system to your awareness, you will immediately begin shifting the way you view, attract, and interact with money. CLICK HERE for More!

Hello Parents and Teachers -- March is National Ideas Month as well as National Nutrition Month.  Read below for resources for creative parenting ideas, including a revival of the vintage idea of quiet time.  Learn about Amber Link, an idea that can help keep your children safe.  We also present opportunities to learn about nutrition with lots of ideas on getting your children to eat healthy meals.  There are some new ideas about potential health dangers associated with vitamins.  Check out the list of natural goodies that you can substitute for unhealthy treats.  Our teleseminars this month are packed with ideas on Teaching Children Self-Control and Effectively Handling Power Struggles.  For the month of March and beyond, I wish you health and a constant flow of ideas! Wishing You Well -- Maggie

Michael Lynch, a South Florida insurance executive, baldly goes where few have gone before.  As the organizer of the first St. Baldrick's Day event in Florida in 2002, Michael is now preparing for the 2007 event.  St. Baldrick’s Day, which began in 1999, is a charitable event that raises money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.  The largest grants from the Foundation have gone to the Children’s Oncology Group, the world’s foremost childhood cancer research organization.  Volunteers agree to have their heads ceremoniously shaved in a show of solidarity for the children who undergo painful chemotherapy, oftentimes losing their hair in the process of fighting cancer.   The children afflicted with cancer have no choice but to lose their hair.  The volunteers have the choice and they choose to give up a little of their time and their hair, trading inconvenience for hope.  To help Michael with our South Florida event, please contact him 954-647-4259 or mlynch@reliaserve.net.  Visit www.stbaldricks.org for more information on the St. Baldrick's Foundation,

Teleseminars: Dial in From Home No Babysitters and No Driving (1) "I Don't Want to and You Can't Make Me!" Effectively Handling Power Struggles March 14th from 9:00 - 10:30 PM (2) Teaching Children Self-Control March 19th from 9:00 - 10:30 PM Click Here for More!

"A mind once stretched by a new idea never returns to its former dimensions." Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.