On April 8, 2008, the Harper Tories introduced Bill C-51 which would lead to more regulatory scrutiny of natural health products sold in Canada. The proposed legislation, if passed into law, will have a major impact on natural health in Canada and will restrict the choices Canadians currently have in regards to natural health products.

Many Canadians feel the bill will outlaw up to 60 per cent of natural health products currently sold in Canada, making many natural health products that have been sold in Canada for years unavailable for purchase and penalizing consumer who choose herbs or supplements for themselves and their children.

Critics say C-51 will allow Canadian authorities to raid businesses without warrants, seize bank accounts, confiscate property and give fines up to $5-million and jail terms of up to two years for selling herbs.

The bill would also allow the government to designate any natural health product a prescription drug, making it available by prescription only.

Germany has banned a family of pesticides that are blamed for the deaths of millions of honeybees. The German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) has suspended the registration for eight pesticide seed treatment products used in rapeseed oil and sweetcorn.

The move follows reports from German beekeepers in the Baden-Württemberg region that two thirds of their bees died earlier this month following the application of a pesticide called clothianidin.

"It's a real bee emergency," said Manfred Hederer, president of the German Professional Beekeepers' Association. "50-60% of the bees have died on average and some beekeepers have lost all their hives."

Tests on dead bees showed that 99% of those examined had a build-up of clothianidin. The chemical, produced by Bayer CropScience, a subsidiary of the German chemical giant Bayer, is sold in Europe under the trade name Poncho. It was applied to the seeds of sweetcorn planted along the Rhine this spring. The seeds are treated in advance of being planted or are sprayed while in the field.

Vitamin D has been received much attention in recent months. While natural health practitioners have long integrated vitamin D in the treatment of certain health issues, the Canadian Cancer Society now recommends all Canadians to supplement with vitamin D during winter months.

Vitamin D is produced naturally by the body. People get most of their vitamin D from sunlight. After being exposed to adequate amounts of sunlight, the skin produces vitamin D, which is then converted to its active form by the kidneys. Studies suggest that as we age, we tend to produce less vitamin D.
You can also find good amounts of vitamin D in certain kinds of fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as cod liver oil.

Some supplements use synthetic vitamin D2. A much better form is the natural and bioavailable vitamin D3 which is more effective and stays longer in the system.

Medical research shows that cells need vitamin D to function properly. Vitamin D may even prevent certain cancer. For over 60 years researchers have observed that greater sun exposure reduces cancer deaths. Researchers have found that people who consume higher levels of calcium and take vitamin D supplements seem to be better protected for the risks of colorectal cancer. Some data indicates that vitamin D lowers the risk in men but not in women.

Get ready for the great outdoors and protect yourself with a good sunscreen.
However, commercial sunscreens contain potentially dangerous ingredients which may be more harmful then beneficial.

According to statistics the number of skin cancer is rising. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and accounts for 8,500 deaths annually.

One theory for the increasing numbers is that harmful chemicals found in commercial sunscreens are doing more harm than good.

Non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested 831 sunscreens of which 84 percent did not pass health and environmental guidelines. Some experts even suggest that sunscreen formula may be cancer causing. Many contain potentially harmful chemicals such as Benzophenone, homosalate and octyl methoxycinnamate (also called octinoxate), which are known to mimic naturally occurring hormones. Some sunscreens contain Padimate-0 and parsol 1789 (also known as avobenzone), which are suspected of causing DNA damage when exposed to sunlight.

Chocolate has gained a reputation as a healthy and tasty treat. Indeed chocolate has some health benefits, but they largely depend on the type of chocolate you’re eating.

Organic Chocolate
Most of the chocolate bars and treats on the market are not organic, which means they are grown with chemical pesticides and often irradiated. Cocoa, just like cotton, is a heavily sprayed crop. Organic chocolate is free of added heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides.

Look for fair-traded product to ensure proper working conditions for the farming families and communities, while supporting sustainable farming methods and the environment.

Raw Chocolate
Chocolate power is made from grinding raw cacao beans, the bean of a tropical plant native to South America. Actually, it was the ancient Mayans who discovered the cacao bean as a delicious and energizing food. Hence, they called chocolate the food of the gods.

Tea comes in all colours and varieties, from black and green to white and oolong to red and herbal. So which one offers the most health benefits?

Drinking tea has been regarded in China and India as a healthy tradition for thousands of years. Western research studies tea for the prevention and treatment of different health concerns. Tea contains high levels of antioxidants, some of which are called polyphenols, flavonoids, and catechins. Antioxicants fight the free radicals in our body and protect healthy cells.

Even though researchers can’t quite agree on the exact benefits of tea, numerous studies support a broad spectrum of health promoting qualities in tea.

Studies have found that polyphenols help prevent blood clotting and lower cholesterol levels. According to the Archives of Internal Medicine tea drinkers have lower blood pressure.

According to Harvard Medical School green tea could help stem esophageal cancer.

The growing interest in healthy food also ignited a huge interest in a raw food lifestyle. Raw foodists claim that a diet consisting of organic, fresh, uncooked fruits and vegetables, as well as sprouted nuts and seeds achieves maximum health, detoxifies the body and saves the planet.

Raw foods contain enzymes which are important in aiding digestion and absorption of food. This means that the body's own enzymes may work better in regulating the body's metabolism. Heating food above 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit decreases or destroys enzymes. Freezing food is acceptable, even though freezing lowers enzyme activity.

Raw foods contain friendly bacteria and other micro-organisms that affect the immune system and digestion by populating the digestive tract with gut flora. When handled and prepared properly, raw food can help to lessen and relief heartburn, gas, indigestion or constipation (check with your holistic health practitioner if you are fit for a raw or partially raw diet).

More people are turning to herbal medicines in their search for more natural and gentle health care. Herbal remedies are cost-effective and offer relief from an abundance of ailments.

However, self-medication is cautioned, as herbal remedies can have short-term or long-term effects.

Most spices are not consumed in large amounts so the average person will not notice their effect. Large or long-term doses of any spice or herb to achieve a desired health benefit should not be taken without consulting a physician.

As every human has individual needs, the health benefits of all herbs and spices may vary from person to person. Also potencies vary among the many different preparation methods and brands.

Always follow label directions, unless otherwise prescribed by a herbologist, traditional Chinese doctor, Ayurvedic doctor, naturopathic or homeopathic doctor or other certified natural health care provider.

Herbs have been used to promote health and wellness and to prevent and treat ailments for several thousand years. It is believed that herbal remedies were already used by the Neanderthals 60 000 years ago.

As much as 80% of the world's population use herbs in one way or another. In fact, herbal remedies are the main form of medicine for three-fourths of the entire world. There are more than 80,000 various plants used in the world today.

In India, herbs are used as part of Ayurvedic medicine for more than 5,000 years. In China, traditional Chinese medicine has been used as a primary form of medicine for over 2,500 years.

For most of the 20th century, American physicians have primarily prescribed synthetic chemicals and drugs. The pharmaceutical industry grosses more than $100 billion annually n the U.S. alone.

New scientific evidence supports the benefits of herbal medicines, and more consumers are opting for natural and nontoxic treatments. A USDA study looked at almost 40 common herbs and spices and how common foods on your spice rack can improve your health. Oregano has the highest antioxidant activity. Dill, thyme, sage, rosemary, ginger and even peppermint have high antioxidant levels too.

A recent US study suggests that antibiotics are overused in people with advanced dementia. During the study 214 residents with advanced dementia in Boston nursing homes were followed for 18 months or until their deaths. During the study period, 99 people died. Of those, 42 percent received antibiotic medication during the last two weeks of their lives.

The study raises concerns about the end-of-life care of patients dying with advanced dementia. The report recommends administering antibiotics more carefully because of the growing problem of drug-resistant bacteria.

About 70 percent of the 5 million Americans with dementia will live in a nursing home at the final stage of their disease. Repeated infections and fevers are common at the end of life, and nursing home residents with advanced dementia are at elevated risk to receive antibiotics. Nursing homes often harbour drug-resistant bacteria, and residents can spread dangerous infections when they are admitted to hospitals. Drug resistant bacteria are also associated with higher mortality rates and prolonged hospitalization. Nursing home residents with dementia are a growing population.