"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude."

- Cynthia Ozick

"Let us not bankrupt our todays by paying interest on the regrets of yesterday and by borrowing in advance the troubles of tomorrow."

- Ralph W. Sockman

"The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them."

- Denis Watley

"The beginning is the most important part of the work."

- Plato

Can Cell Phones Really Trigger Alzheimer's?

By Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD

Can you hear me now?

How does the idea of playing Russian roulette with your brain sound? How'd you like to live a healthy lifestyle and come down with a horrible disease, like Alzheimer's, simply because you were using your cell phone?

Not too pleasant a thought, is it?

Well, perhaps you're aware of the recent news from the prestigious University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center warning of cell phone risks to your immune system and bone marrow. Their recent research report, published online, reveals that the electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phones may pose a serious risk for developing brain cancer, as well as eye cancer and acoustic neuromas, a benign tumor of the nerve in the ear leading to deafness, which needs surgery to be removed.^1,2

Recently, Dr. Paul Song, a radiation oncologist from Los Angeles, appeared on Larry King live and was asked about the dangers of carrying your cell phone on your hip and holding it next to your head. Here is what he said:

"Surprisingly, the concern about radio frequency exposure is not so much for the brain or the hip, but really the testes or the eyes. Those are the areas that are most sensitive to radio frequency, because they get hot and they don't have the blood vessels to cool off."³

But that's not all.

An earlier published paper revealed that cell phone radiation kills brain cells that are associated with learning and memory, and may therefore trigger Alzheimer's.⁴

How can that be?

Now, although this study was carried out in rats, it still adds fuel to the fire over the controversy about cells phone safety.

Let me tell you why.

Rats and humans have very similar brains -- they both have the same blood-brain barrier and brain cells or neurons -- leading researchers to suggest that similar effects would also occur in humans.

In this cited study, the rats were exposed to two hours of radiation equal to that emitted by mobile phones. Upon examination 50 days later, researchers found a multitude of dead brain cells in rats exposed to the radiation.

The scientists also hypothesized that in people whose neurons are prone to Alzheimer's disease -- either from genetics, family history, increased age, or poor lifestyle -- radiation from mobile phones may trigger the disease.⁴

Let me be very clear: to some people this research is very controversial. To others, it's what's called emerging science and is in the same place where the knowledge about cigarettes was -- say 40 years ago or so. I remember seeing ads in antique magazines, even medical journals, that said not only was smoking harmless but, amazingly, was actually good for your breathing and digestion.

Only many years later, after vociferous denials from tobacco companies, was the reality of the truth accepted -- smoking causes lung cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other forms of cancer as well as chronic lung disease, heart disease, strokes, and more.

And, unfortunately, the same now holds true for the cell phone industry. The people in the corporations associated with the cell phone industry seem to be trying to suppress any and all negative information to protect their own bottom lines.

During the aforementioned discussion on CNN's Larry King Live on July 29th of this year, Mr. King reported on the response of the cell phone industry to the warning issued by the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center. Here is the direct transcript from the show:

KING: LARRY KING LIVE contacted cell phone companies to take part in our program today. We contacted T-Mobile, AT&T, Motorola, LG Electronics, Qualcom (sic), Nokia, Verizon, Samsung and Sprint. All declined our invitation. We contacted Erickson (sic) too, [and] got no response. Many companies we spoke with referred us to the association that represents the wireless industry. They too declined our invitation, but they did give us this statement,

"This is an issue that should be guided by science. The overwhelming majority of studies that have been published in scientific journals around the world show that wireless phones do not pose a health risk. Furthermore, this is the public position of leading health organizations, such as the United States Food and Drug Administration, the American Cancer Society and the World Health Organization. Public statements and declarations not guided by published scientific research can have the effect of misinforming the general public. As technology continues to evolve, the industry supports continued research. But we want to stress the fact that there is a consensus among leading health organizations concerning published scientific research, and they show no reason for concern."

Regardless of the preliminary nature of these studies, the available data is striking and does beg the following question:

What can you do right now to protect yourself from possible cell phone damage while waiting for the ongoing prospective studies to give us a definitive answer; perhaps a decade from now?

Short of throwing your cell phone in the garbage, there are a few widely accepted ideas.⁵

First of all, take these ideas very seriously. We are, after all, nothing but electromagnetic energy and cell phone radiation may clash with that, causing extreme damage.

In addition, here are some common sense ideas:

• Curb calls inside buildings.
• Limit time spent on the phone.
• Limit your exposure to WiFi routers.
• Use the phone in open spaces as often as possible.
• Use a wired headset to limit your exposure to the cell phone.
• Use the speaker phone instead of putting the phone to your ear.
• Limit use by children and pre-adolescents as much as possible, preferably for emergencies only.

And please remember -- this is all the more reason to take care of your brain.

Let's do everything we can to protect ourselves from yet another risk factor to our long-term mental and physical health. The important thing to remember is that you need to be cautious, because we may not have the answer to this for at least another 10 years.

Best of Blessings,

Dr. Dharma

References

1. www.Environmentaloncolgy.org. The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center website.
2. Khurana, V. International Journal of Oncology, February 2008; 22(2): 399-407. (contains 50 or so references)
3. Larry King Live, July 29th, 2008.
4. Salford, L. et al. Environmental Health Perspectives, June 2003. Vol. 111 # 7 881-883 (Also contains many reputable references).
5. www.Environmentaloncolgy.org. The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center website.

[Ed Note: The author of seven best-selling books, Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., often referred to as Dr. Dharma, is America's # 1 Specialist in Memory Loss Prevention & Reversal, and Brain Longevity. To discover more about his work, receive his free newsletter, The Healing Minute, and a claim a free e-book called The 11 Secrets to The Prevention and Reversal of Memory Loss, click here. To ask him a question, e-mail info@drdharma.com.]

Cutting Edge Fitness: Six-Pack Abs In Only Five Minutes a Day By Chris Esposito

Building those six-pack abdominal muscles is notoriously one of the most difficult areas of the body for many people to achieve for a few reasons:

• The abdominal area is one of the most common places that the body selects to store fat which then causes the muscles to be hidden.

• Many people over-exercise the abdominal muscles because they can't feel enough of a burn. This can happen because these are very large muscles, but don't be mistaken into thinking that if you don't feel a severe burn, that you haven't exercised effectively. If you over-exercise you can actually cause the depletion of muscle.

• When exercising abs, each area of the muscles is not properly targeted. In order to have complete development, you need to train the upper abs, lower abs, obliques, and lower back.

Developing well-defined abdominal muscles is a combination of doing the right combination of exercises for the correct amount of time and with the proper form. Without doing this, you could easily be working out a like a dog, and killing yourself with huge painful sets of exercise that might not be building your six-pack at all. Or even worse, it's possible you could be causing muscle degradation if you're using the wrong technique or overusing the muscle.

If you want to get that washboard stomach, you must use an exercise program that will target all the right areas and not overwork the muscles. It's actually possible to do this in as little as five minutes, every other day.

Here is one exercise that is a very effective six-pack builder:

Crunches with Legs Raised: A basic crunch is done by lying flat on your back, keeping your hands gently on your ears (not pulling the head which can cause neck strain), feet flat on the floor with the knees up, and then bringing your head up toward the knees to about a 30-degree angle.

However, you can get even better results by taking your legs and placing them on a small medicine ball or even a low chair, so your feet are elevated. Raise your head at the same 30 degrees and do about three sets of 15 repetitions.

The key to getting great abs is in using an exercise program that will work your abs smart, not just hard. For more information on building six-pack abs in as little as 5 minutes a day, take a look at the link below.

[Ed. Note: Chris Esposito is a certified fitness trainer and the owner of R2K Kickboxing Academy. For more information on his Abcubator program, click here.]

Healthy Recipes: Grass-Fed Beef Satay with Chinese Spices By Kelley Herring

This delightful Asian dish is brimming with heart-healthy B vitamins. In fact, one serving provides a robust 50% of vitamin B6 and 33% of vitamin B12. Together with folate, these nutrients help to reduce homocysteine -- an amino acid that increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.¹

Time To Table: 1 hour
Serves: 4

The Benefits
Excellent source of protein, selenium, zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, niacin
Good source of iron, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin

Ingredients
2 Tbsp organic sesame oil
1 Tbsp organic honey
2 clove organic garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 1/2 pound organic grass-fed flank steak
1/4 cup organic tamari (soy sauce from soy)
2 medium organic scallions (white part only), chopped
1 Tbsp fresh organic ginger, finely chopped
1/2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
1/4 cup sake (rice wine)
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

Preparation
Cut the flank steak across the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Thread the meat onto 8-inch bamboo skewers and arrange the skewers side-by-side on a large platter. Combine the sake, tamari, sesame oil, honey, garlic, ginger, scallions, five-spice powder, and pepper in a small bowl. Pour the marinade over the skewers and turn to coat. Let the beef marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes or refrigerate for up to 1 hour. Light a grill. Place the grate 6 to 8 inches from the heat source. Lightly brush the grate with oil. Arrange the skewers on the grate and grill over high heat, turning once, until sizzling and nicely browned all over, 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer the skewers to a large platter. Serve with Peanut Dipping Sauce.

Nutrition Information
362.66 kcal Calories, 14.31 g Carbohydrate, 57.82 mg Cholesterol, 15.69 g Total Fat, 1.13 g Fiber, 39.81 g Protein, 930.9 mg Sodium, 5.03 g Sugars, 4.55 g Saturated fat, 0 trans Fat, 6.15 g Monounsaturated fat, 3.35 g Polyunsaturated fat

Reference

1. Clarke R, et al. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2007;10(1):32-39.

[Ed Note: Do you love dessert, but not the sugar? Kelley Herring's new company, Wellness Bakeries, has created all-natural, protein-packed, high-fiber, low glycemic dessert mixes that you can enjoy without a moment's guilt. To learn more and try a delicious slice for yourself, click here.]

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs [Issue 09-19-08] which offers alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/

It's Fun to Know: Why We Hang Stockings on the Mantle for Christmas

Santa Claus is based on St. Nicholas, a 4th century bishop in what is now Turkey who was persecuted for his Christian beliefs by the emperor Diocletian. That's what's in the historical record. The legend takes over from there.

St. Nicholas's reputation as a gift giver - and our tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace - comes from a story (there are several variations) in which he helps the three daughters of a poor man. Without a dowry, the trio were doomed to slavery or prostitution. So St. Nick tossed bags of gold down their chimney. Luckily, the girls had hung their stockings to dry by the fire, and the gold landed safely inside them. With their newfound riches, they were able to marry.

(Source: Catholic Encyclopedia and St. Nicholas Center)

Word to the Wise: Sacrosanct

Something that's "sacrosanct" (SAK-roh-sangkt) - from the Latin - is extremely sacred or inviolable; above or beyond criticism, change, or interference.

Example (as used by Dawn Drzal in a New York Times review of Immoveable Feast by John Baxter): "How the boy from a town in New South Wales where olive oil was sold only in pharmacies became the man who now cooks the sacrosanct Christmas dinner for a clan of fastidious Parisians is as important a part of this book as the annual dinner itself."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2548, 12-25-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

"C" Your Way to a Slimmer You

By Kelley Herring

Getting more vitamin C in your diet can help stave off diabetes. And now here's another reason to make sure you're getting enough of this antioxidant: It helps your body burn more fat.

A recent study published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism evaluated the fat-burning rates of two groups of people - those with adequate vitamin C levels and those with a vitamin C deficiency. The researchers found that when the participants with low blood concentrations of vitamin C walked on a treadmill for an hour, they burned 25 percent less fat than those with adequate C.

So how does vitamin help to speed fat-burning? It is essential for creating carnitine - a substance that turns fat into fuel.

Aim for 1,200 mg of vitamin C per day. To achieve this, fill your plate with fat-burning foods like peppers, citrus fruits, strawberries, and broccoli, and supplement with a high-quality, whole-foods multivitamin.

It's Fun to Know: About Kris Kringle

Yesterday, we told you about La Befana, the kindly witch who fills the stockings of Italian children with candy and toys. In Germany, the role is filled by a young child with wings - the Christkindl ("Christ Child").

Legend has it that Martin Luther (who jump-started the Protestant Reformation, among other things) created the Christkindl to replace St. Nicholas, whom he felt drew attention away from the celebration of the birth of Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas.

German immigrants in the 18th century brought the tradition to the United States. And eventually Christkindl became Kris Kringle, an alias of Santa Claus. (Sorry Martin Luther.) In recent years, the Christkindl tradition has been diminishing - even in Germany - as the image of Santa Claus spreads throughout the world.

(Source: About.com)

Word to the Wise: Encomium

An "encomium" (en-KOH-mee-um) - from the Greek for "eulogy" - is a formal expression of high praise.

Example (as used by Charles Isherwood in a New York Times article about the Broadway musical Billy Elliot): "Such is the high regard and warm affection most critics have expressed for this smash from London that you may have tired of reading encomiums to its glory."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2547, 12-24-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

'Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
and to see just who in this home did live.
I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand,
on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.
With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,
a sober thought came through my mind.
For this house was different, it was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.
The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,
not how I pictured a United States soldier.
Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?
I realized the families that I saw this night,
owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.
Soon round the world, the children would play,
and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.
I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.
The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa don't cry, this life is my choice;
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more,
my life is my God, my Country, my Corps."
The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still
and we both shivered from the cold night's chill.
I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark, night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,
whispered, "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas day, all is secure."
One look at my watch, and I knew he was right.
"Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night."
- Anonymous

Want to Avoid Diabetes? Get More Vitamin C

By Kelley Herring

Digging into a fresh grapefruit today may help guard against diabetes tomorrow. Why? Vitamin C.

A recent study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine evaluated plasma vitamin C levels and the risk of developing Type II diabetes. The study included 21,831 non-diabetic participants who were followed over a 12-year period.

The researchers found that those with the highest levels of vitamin C (in the top 20 percent) had a 62 percent lower risk of developing diabetes compared to those with the lowest levels of vitamin C.

Vitamin C levels are declining in our food sources. So, in addition to filling up on vitamin C-rich foods (citrus, strawberries, peppers, and broccoli, to name a few), you may want to take a supplement.

It's Fun to Know: Is Your Life a Reality Show?

Psychiatrists are reporting a new disorder, one that, researchers say, illustrates the influence pop culture has on mental illness. Patients with "Truman syndrome" (named after the movie The Truman Show) are under the delusion that their lives are being recorded and broadcast as a TV reality show. So far, about 50 cases have been seen around the world.

(Source: Associated Press)

Do You Leave Your Customers Scratching Their Heads?

By Jason Holland

"Well, her pH looks good, and so does the CBC. But I'm worried about the electrolytes. You see here? They're at 300. But there's no reason she can't go home. Just have her drink some Gatorade."

And with that, the doctor left the exam room. (To be honest, the above is not a direct quote. I really don't know what the hell the doctor said.)

A midnight run to the ER with my grandmother. And neither she nor I had any idea what had caused her dizzy spell.

Doctors are known for their inability to explain to patients, in laymen's terms, what's going on. And they're not alone. In the business world, many companies sabotage customer relationships and lose sales because they use in-house shorthand, jargon, and corporate-speak.

I have never returned to the department store, for example, where an employee repeatedly (and with contempt) asked me for the "skew" of an item I wanted to special order. (Turned out he was saying "SKU," short for stock-keeping unit, which is a way to track inventory.)

And my wife was driven to the point of exhaustion by a phone company customer service rep who said she couldn't answer any questions until she had a "CIN." Turns out this "customer identification number" (not to be confused with the account number), is printed in microscopic type on the monthly bill.

There are countless examples. And because employees are accustomed to talking like this within the company, many don't realize when they are using language that is incomprehensible to people in the outside world... including their customers.

The last thing you want is to make your customers feel like outsiders. So check your customer service and marketing messages with an objective eye. Are you communicating with your customers using terms and phrases they don't understand? When discussing technical issues, are you breaking them down and making them easy to digest?

If you're not communicating with your customers on their level... you're losing sales.

Word to the Wise: Homily

A "homily" (HAH-muh-lee) - from the Greek for "instruction" - is (1) a moralizing lecture, or (2) an inspirational, often cliched, saying.

Example (as used by Brad Barkley in Money, Love): "The book consisted of easy-to-remember rhyming homilies on the subjects of selling, winning, and making money ('If you want to earn your dough, get up in the morning and GO, GO, GO!')."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2529, 12-04-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

Can Garlic Reduce High Blood Pressure?

By Ray Sahelian, MD

Did you know that if you have hypertension and eat garlic or perhaps take garlic pills, your blood pressure could be slightly reduced? Doctors at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, CT reviewed several studies with garlic done in the last few years and concluded that the use of this herb, on average, can help systolic blood pressure drop by 16 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 9 mmHg.¹ The use of garlic apparently did not reduce blood pressure in those with normal blood pressure.

A review by another team of researchers at the University of Adelaide in South Australia found garlic reduced systolic blood pressure by 8 mmHg on average, and diastolic blood pressure by 7 mmHg.² Although the actual mg of pressure reduction is still not clear, it does appear that garlic consumption is of benefit to those with blood pressure problems.

The amount of garlic used in the studies was about a gram, providing about 5 mg of allicin, one of the active ingredients in this herb. Sulfides present in garlic are converted by red blood cells into hydrogen sulfide which helps to dilate blood vessels. If you have hypertension, you may consider eating more garlic or taking a garlic supplement. An average garlic clove weighs about 3 to 5 grams.

Those who are already on blood pressure medications are not likely to have significant side effects when adding fresh garlic to their diet. However, do discuss with your doctor that you are planning to take garlic and initially use only a small clove once a day.

Over time you can gradually increase the amount of garlic you use while you monitor your blood pressure. Hopefully, it may be possible to reduce the dosage of BP medications if the garlic helps reduce BP by a few points. Those concerned about garlic breath may consider taking odorless garlic pills.

References

1. Published Online, 18 November 2008, www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1L319.
2. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2261/8/13/abstract

[Ed. Note: Ray Sahelian, M.D. is a practicing physician and the best-selling author of Mind Boosters. He is a leading authority on natural supplements and nutrition. For the latest research on organic ways to improve your health and well-being, click here.]

Healthy Nutrition: 13 Eating Tips for a Healthier New Year By Candace Booth, ND, PhD, CNC, SHC

Whether you need to de-stress from too much holiday partying, or simply want to kick off the New Year right, these 13 healthy nutrition tips are a great way to start.

1. Drink warm water with lemon in the morning. A cup of warm water first thing in the morning goes right through the bowels and cleans out mucus from the day before.
   
2. Lubricate, don't flood. Your stomach needs to be lubricated, not flooded. When you drink fluids with meals, it means you drown or destroy digestive enzymes which in turn inhibit or strain digestion. Therefore, drink fluids, juices, or preferably water, 20 to 30 minutes away from meals.
   
3. Chew slowly. Chewing slowly gives the food in your mouth a chance to become liquefied as a result of mixing with enzymes from the saliva. Really learn to savor each mouthful. Feel the texture of the food and capture the flavor. The digestive process begins when your saliva comes in contact with your food as it is being chewed. The chewed food will pass more easily through the digestive tract for maximum nutrient uptake.
   
4. Eat when calm. Stress eating causes you to physically not be able to digest your food properly.
   
5. Not too hot -- not too cold. The temperature of food and drink entering your body affects the strength of your spleen, your energy battery, and other organs too. Ice cold drinks weaken the organs. Eating foods that are too hot (burn your palate) aren't much better, since they injure your mouth membranes, damage gastric stomach lining, and degrade taste buds. Room temperature water is best to drink.
   
6. Decorate your plate. Try and prepare meals that are attractive to your eyes -- this causes your brain to spur into action sending a message to salivary glands to secrete saliva which contains digestive enzymes.
   
7. Rotate your foods. Don't eat the same things every day. You don't need too much of one single food and it can often lead to food intolerance, allergies, or sensitivities. You will also nourish your body with a wider range of nutrients.
   
8. Listen to your body. Take note of the foods you crave. If you really want a specific food because of its color, smell, or feel, just enjoy and go with the attractions. It may be that your body needs something nutritionally contained within that food. We aren't talking chocolate cookies here! We are referring to all those healthy whole foods such as fresh herbs, fruits, vegetables, seasonings, etc. that are available at health food markets. Walk the produce aisle slowly and imagine your taste buds enjoying the flavor of each food. What looks good? What smells good? Which foods look healthy and robust? Savor the produce instead of looking at the high sugar/fat foods. Then make your choices. Notice how much difference there is in the foods you are buying compared to the week before.
   
9. Enzymes! Enzymes! Enzymes! Sprouted seeds, raw vegetables, raw fruits, nuts, and seeds are loaded with live enzymes, which are the key to feeding your body with living nutrition and assuring better nutrient absorption.
   
10. Break the fast. Always eat something healthy and substantial for breakfast. This is the time period when your stomach energies are at their strongest and your digestive juices are raring to go.
    
11. Don't sleep on a full stomach. Eat your last meal of the day at least 3 hours before bedtime. Try not to eat after 7 PM as a rule. When you eat too late, you stress your digestive system -- you cannot digest as effectively when you go to sleep on a full stomach. It's bad for your digestive organs, heart, and liver not to mention the sugar that will get stored as fat because you aren't burning off what you ate.
    
12. Choose as many colors as you can. Every color in the vegetable/fruit family -- red, orange, purple, green, yellow, dark green, etc. -- plays a role in building or detoxing the body/blood.
    
13. Drink your greens. Once a week, have a green juice drink made from a variety of vegetables and/or fruits. This drink will have a rejuvenating effect on your body -- it is a power surge for the blood because it will be rich in chlorophyll. It will purify the blood, build red blood cells, detoxify the body, and provide fast energy. Green juice is the perfect fuel for the body. Its high water content means it is easily assimilated, and it contains the whole vegetable except for the fiber, the digestible part of the plant.

[Ed. Note: Candace Booth has a natural health practice in Mt. Dora, Florida where she offers consultations in nutrition and overcoming disease symptoms with natural healing remedies. Her new book, How Much Fat Are You Carrying - The Ultimate Fat Loss Guide For People Who Are Sick of Diets is available on her website, www.Destinationhealthplus.com.]

Healthy Recipes: Hot Spinach Dip By Laura LaValle, RD, LD

This dip is a wonderful twist on a traditional recipe. The added chicken makes it higher in hunger-satisfying protein, while the water chestnuts add a great crunch. This is a great dip to offer your guests this holiday season. Try it out!

Time to table: 45 minutes

Serves: 12

Healing Nutrient Spotlight:
Excellent Source of vitamin A
Good source of vitamin C, calcium, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, manganese
Wheat, Dairy, and Egg Free

Ingredients*

1 10-oz. package frozen spinach, thawed, drained, and chopped
1 cup water chestnuts, chopped
2 3-oz. cooked chicken breasts, chopped (about 2 cups)
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 10-oz. package Vegan Gourmet brand mozzarella cheese
1 cup Follow Your Heart brand Grapeseed Oil Veganaise
1 tsp. liquid smoke flavoring (choose a gluten-free version and one that's been scrubbed and filtered to remove impurities; or you can add a few pieces of crumbled, pre-cooked nitrite-free bacon for a wonderful smoky flavor)

*Choose organic ingredients for optimal nutrition

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine spinach, water chestnuts, chicken, mayonnaise, cheese, onions, garlic, and liquid smoke in a large bowl. Mix well. Spoon mixture into a shallow glass baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes or until dip is bubbly and the edges turn golden brown. Serve with rice crackers, tortilla chips, or veggies.

Nutrition

225 calories, 6 g protein, 5 g carbohydrates, 20 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 4 g monounsaturated fat, 2 g polyunsaturated fat, 12 mg cholesterol, .6 g sugar,
2.4 g fiber, 1840 IU vitamin A, 2.06 mg niacin, .17 mg pantothenic acid, .13 mg vitamin B-6, 30 mcg folate, 6 mg vitamin C, 65 mg calcium, .7 mg iron,19 mg magnesium, .20 mg manganese, 125 mg potassium, 4.35 mcg selenium,
240 mg sodium, .26 mg zinc

[Ed. Note: Laura B. LaValle, RD, LD is presently the director of dietetics nutrition at LaValle Metabolic Institute (formerly part of Living Longer Institute). She offers personal nutritional counseling at LMI for clients who need help with their diet in relation to illness or disease. Laura also provides educational services in the areas of health promotion, wellness, and disease prevention. To learn more click here.]

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs [Issue 12-23-08] which offers alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/

Never a Bad Time to Spend Wisely

By Andrew M. Gordon

Splurging in the middle of a recession is a no-no by Wall Street's lights. They're very good at punishing companies that can't rein in spending when the economy goes into a tailspin (like now). The thinking is, a company can't increase sales in a recession and shouldn't try. They can only hope to cut costs to sustain profits. But this particular piece of conventional wisdom doesn't always hold true. In the recession of 1989 to 1991, many companies that dared to spend aggressively on advertising were amply rewarded...

• Jif peanut butter raised ad support and sales went up 57 percent.

• Kraft salad dressings saw a rise of 70 percent.

• Bud Light and Coors Light spent more than the average on marketing, and ramped up sales by 15 percent. (Overall, beer sales were down 1 percent.)

• With aggressive advertising, Pizza Hut sales rose 61 percent, and Taco Bell's rose 40 percent.

At the same time, companies that didn't spend on advertising suffered the consequences. Mickie D's sales went down about 28 percent. Jell-O, Crisco, Hellmann's, Green Giant, and Doritos suffered sales losses of 26-64 percent.

And there are studies that point to business-to-business companies getting good results from spending that supports sales during a recession. During the recession of 1981-82, companies that spent aggressively on advertising averaged significantly higher sales volume not only during the recession but for the following three years.

Investors looking for companies like these can search for them on Yahoo and other financial sites by "sales" or "revenue" (look for increasing sales in the last three or 12 months). Further research will most likely reveal that the money they spent on advertising also went up.

Search engines have no category that tracks spending in support of sales. But I like doing it "backward." In the end, you don't care why sales go up as long as they do. When you hear so-called experts on TV complaining about a company failing to cut back on costs and/or spending, take it with a grain of salt. Smart strong spending in support of sales can help a company grow - even in the worst of times.

This is a good lesson not only for investors but also for small businesses. It comes down to this: Smart spending is always smart, regardless of what the economy is doing. And stupid spending is always stupid. Companies seemingly get away with it when the economy is good. But when it stalls, stupid spending (think auto companies) catches up to them in a hurry.

A Toast to Your Health

By James B. LaValle

Mulled wine, Champagne, hot toddies... the holidays are here. And many of us are tempted to drink a little more alcohol than we're used to. But what's the story? Should you down that Irish coffee pushed on you by your host? Or pass?

Several studies over the last 10 years have found that moderate drinking actually may have some benefits. For instance, it seems to lower blood sugar and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. But before you overindulge, remember that the healthy definition of "moderate" is pretty low. Furthermore, the definition of moderate is different for women than for men.

Moderate drinking means no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. One drink translates to 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that two-thirds of women and half of all men usually drink more than this.

Ladies, be especially cautious! According to the Harvard School of Public Health, one drink per day increases your risk of breast cancer by 10 percent - and two to five drinks per day increases your risk by 40 percent. The good news is that increasing your intake of folate may erase the cancer risk (according to an Australian study in the British Medical Journal). Foods high in folate include beef liver, spinach, great northern beans, asparagus, green peas, broccoli, avocado, lettuce, and turnip greens.

Once you exceed "moderate" (as defined above), your risks start to increase - linked to a 70 percent increased risk for high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and dangerous belly fat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So for better health this holiday season, try to keep your drinking down to the true definition of moderation. When it comes to alcohol, more is not better!

My Favorite Holiday Tradition: Sharing the Wealth

By Suzanne Richardson, ETR Managing Editor

On the outside, the church looked empty. Inside, it was a buzzing hive of activity.

Men and women formed makeshift assembly lines, popping Barbie dolls and teddy bears and Ninja Turtle pajamas into boxes. Others filled paper sacks with canned yams and string beans, boxes of Stovetop stuffing, and mesh bags full of potatoes. Frozen turkeys were added later.

When I was in high school, my best friend and I always volunteered to help.

Sometimes we would fill those bags and boxes with toys and food. We'd base the contents on lists that described the needs of the families we were "shopping" for. (This family has a baby - don't forget the formula and diapers. This family has a wheat allergy - so leave out the bread. This family has a little boy - make sure you include a monster truck.)

Other times, we'd stand at the door, gathering stuffed animals and board games, underwear and socks, canned cranberry sauce and carrots from red-nosed, bundled-up donors, and then distribute them to the people working inside.

Once filled, the bags and boxes would be handed off to other volunteers, who'd swoop them off to the Salvation Army to be picked up by the families in need.

There's so much to be thankful for around the holidays. And I loved those days of helping to make Christmas a little merrier for people going through a rough time.

It's Fun to Know: The Legend of the Gift-Giving Witch

According to Italian folklore, it's not Santa Claus who gives presents to good little boys and girls. Instead, La Befana, a good witch, travels the country by broomstick on Epiphany Eve (the night before January 6). She fills the stockings of good children with goodies, but leaves only coal for those who have been naughty. (These days, parents put carbone dulce ("sugar charcoal"), a rock candy that looks like coal, in their children's stockings as a joke.)

The story behind the legend is that the Three Wise Men invited La Befana to go with them to visit the newborn Christ child, but she declined because she had housework to do. When she was done she set off to join them, but got lost. Every year, she continues her search on Epiphany Eve, giving presents (or coal) to all the children along the way.

(Source: About.com)

Word to the Wise: Balletomane

A "balletomane" (ba-LET-uh-mane) - derived from "ballet" + "mania" - is an ardent admirer of the ballet.

Example (as used by Jennifer Balderama in a New York Times review of Reading Dance, edited by Robert Gottlieb): "This is, in short, one big brick of dance-nut manna, a loving exhaustive compilation by an editor-balletomane of sterling pedigree."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2546, 12-23-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

Folate Making Headlines Again

By James B. LaValle

You can learn a lot about what's good for your body - and what isn't - by reading medical literature. But you have to be careful. Take, for instance, two recent studies that gave negative press to some very beneficial vitamins. The way these study results were reported can give the impression that we don't need vitamins B12, B6, and folate. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Here's the real story...

Both studies found that a cocktail of B12, B6, and folate lower homocysteine (a byproduct of an amino acid found in the blood). But, surprisingly, they didn't find that this translated into less risk of mortality or cardiovascular events.

In fact, several previous studies have shown that homocysteine is a marker for increased risk of heart disease and stroke. And homocysteine levels go up when the body doesn't have enough B vitamins. Also, low levels of folate have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

Folate affects a lot more than heart health. It regulates DNA in cells, which is important for healthy cell division. For mothers-to-be, adequate folate is needed to prevent neural tube defects in developing fetuses, miscarriages, and Down's syndrome. It is particularly effective in preventing colon and breast cancer. And it has been found to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's by more than 50 percent. It also reduces high blood pressure, as well as the risk of stroke.

What I find most disturbing about these two recent studies is that because both found a slight increased cancer risk in patients taking folate and B vitamin supplements, researchers are now questioning their safety. And because of the way this has been reported, people are now afraid of these essential nutrients. Meanwhile, the increase was so small it was not even considered statistically significant. Plus, the overwhelming majority of studies on folate have found it to be cancer protective.

What should you do? Let science continue to sort out the confusion. In the meantime, make sure you get adequate folate to protect your health - and not only in your daily multivitamin. Folate is found in leafy green vegetables, oranges, broccoli, asparagus, peas, and some beans.

There is one caveat, however. About 20 percent of the population has a gene mutation that prevents them from getting the benefit of the folate in their food or the usual form found in multivitamins. It is a good idea to get tested by your doctor for this mutation. If you have it, you need to take folate in its activated form: 5 methyl tetra hydro folate (5 MTHF).

It's Fun to Know: Why "Yellow" Journalism?

How did yellow become associated with trashy newspapers? Here's the "colorful" history.

In the 1890s, the New York World and the New York Journal American were feuding. In a battle for readership, they kept trying to outdo each other with increasingly lurid headlines and sensational stories. The Journal American escalated the war by hiring away one of the World's most popular cartoonists. He'd been drawing a strip called "Hogan's Alley," with a main character (known as "the yellow kid") who dressed completely in yellow. To retaliate, the World hired another cartoonist to create yet another yellow character.

As the battle heated up, critics started referring to their tactics as "yellow kid journalism," eventually shorted to "yellow journalism." The term is still used to describe biased, irresponsible, unethical reporting in the media.

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2475, 10-01-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

A Simple Nutritional Formula for Heart and Brain Protection

By Jon Herring

Homocysteine, an amino acid produced by your body, serves several important functions. But once its job is done, it is meant to be broken down and eliminated. If it's not, it builds up and begins to attack your blood vessels. This paves the way for heart disease, stroke, cognitive decline, and eye problems. And a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that too much homocysteine can also lead to brain degeneration - similar to that found in Alzheimer's patients.

But the good news is ... there's a highly effective nutritional solution to normalize elevated homocysteine levels.

Several nutrients are required to break down homocysteine. If you're deficient in them, there is a good chance your homocysteine levels are elevated. These nutrients include folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). A good multi-vitamin should have plenty of the first three, and you can find NAC at any health food store. It is a safe, inexpensive, and highly beneficial supplement.

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This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #1731, 05-17-06], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

"How come there's fluoride in tea?"

"Kelley Herring's article 'Brewing Up a Pot of Fluoride' came as a nasty surprise. I'm aware that there's fluoride in tap water, but it never occurred to me that this toxin exists in tea as well. How come?"

A.Y.

Hello A.Y.,

What may come as an even more "nasty surprise" is that the fluoride level in one cup of black tea rivals that of nearly 8 liters of water fluoridated at 1 ppm.

Why? Because the Camellia sinensis plant from which we obtain tea has a unique propensity to absorb fluoride. In fact, it is known to accumulate more fluoride (from pollution in both soil and air) than any other edible plant. What's more, the fluoride in tea is much higher than the maximum contaminant level (MCL) set for fluoride in drinking water.

As I mentioned in my "Brewing Up a Pot of Fluoride" article, you can stay fluoride-free with green tea extract that has been cleared of fluoride. And here's another option: Try herbal "teas" like Yogi Detox Tea. Boasting antioxidant-rich cloves, cinnamon, and ginger (with ORAC scores of 314,446, 267,536, and 14,840, respectively), this delicious beverage trumps green tea's trivial ORAC score of 1,200, without any fluoride contamination.

- Kelley Herring

It's Fun to Know: Christmas Tree Facts

• Christmas tree lots have sprouted up around the holidays since 1850 (though not, until recently, in front of local shopping plazas).

• The most popular Christmas trees include the Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine, Balsam fir, and white pine.

• There are Christmas tree farms in all 50 states - and 98 percent of the Christmas trees available for sale are grown on those farms.

(Source: University of Illinois Extension)

Word to the Wise: Acuity

"Acuity" (uh-KYOO-uh-tee) - from the Latin for "to sharpen" - is sharpness of perception or vision.

Example (as used by Stephen Budiansky in If a Lion Could Talk): "Horses tend to shy a lot because the construction of their eyes is optimized for a near 360-degree field of view, useful for spotting danger, but the price the horse pays for that is relatively poor acuity and some out-of-focus spots that can cause objects within the field of view to suddenly sail into sharp focus."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2545, 12-22-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

Brewing Up a Pot of Fluoride

By Kelley Herring

You probably know that green tea has an array of active compounds that promote health - from calming theanine to antioxidant EGCG and heart-healthy tannins and cancer-fighting flavonoids.

But there's another active compound in tea that produces some very unpleasant effects. Fluoride.

Fluoride is a toxic substance that can negatively impact multiple organ systems. It has been linked to hypothyroidism, skeletal fluorosis, brittle bones and teeth, gastrointestinal inflammation, and more. And because tea leaves accumulate more fluoride than any other edible plant, enjoying this otherwise healthy beverage could put your health in jeopardy.

To reduce your exposure to fluoride, here are a few things you can do:

1. Steep Less. The longer you steep, the more fluoride you'll reap. In fact, in one study, after tea was steeped for 10 minutes, the measurable amounts of fluoride (and aluminum) almost doubled.

2. Go for White. While all true teas come from the Camellia sinensis plant, the amount of fluoride varies with the different "colors." Green tea contains the most, black tea is next, and white tea contains the least. Instant tea mixes have been found to contain very high levels of fluoride.

3. Opt for Extracts. Many tea extracts, like Body Ecology Diet's Green and Black Tea Extracts and Chi Green Tea Extracts, are free of fluoride.

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This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2525, 11-28-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

"How did reason come into the world? As is fitting, in an irrational manner, by accident. One will have to guess at it as at a riddle."

- Friedrich Nietzsche

The Decoy Effect - and How It Can Help You Make More Sales

By Alex Mandossian

Let's say you're trying to decide where to dine tonight - and you're in the mood for Mexican food.

Your spouse says, "I heard about a new place the other day. Supposedly, it has handmade tortillas and chiles rellenos that are to die for. The only problem is, it's about a 30-minute drive from here."

You're hungry right now. So your spouse offers another option: "There's our old standby, Don's Tex Mex. It's right down the street. But, as you know, the food's only average."

You're torn between your growling belly... and a desire for those handmade tortillas.

And then your spouse pipes up again, "I just remembered that restaurant we went to last month. Remember how good the salsa was? But... it's about 45 minutes away."

Suddenly, the 30-minute drive to the new place with the handmade tortillas doesn't seem so bad.

It happens all the time - where the introduction of a third option suddenly makes one of your earlier options look better. It sounds irrational. And it is. But it's such a common phenomenon, it even has a name. It's called the "decoy effect."

Marketers often take advantage of the decoy effect. Consider the following scenario...

You're at the movies, and you're thirsty. So you go to the concession counter to get a soda. The small size is $3.00. The large size is an outrageous $5.00. But then the person behind the counter points out that it is only 50 cents more than the medium size. Suddenly, the large size seems like a better deal.

That's the decoy effect.

In his New York Times best-seller, Predictably Irrational - The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, Dan Ariely describes an interesting study he conducted with students at MIT's Sloan School of Management. The study was based on a clever bit of "decoy-effect" pricing in an ad he found for a subscription to Economist magazine:

Offer A: Internet-only subscription for $59
Offer B: Print-only subscription for $125
Offer C: Print-and-Internet subscription for $125

"I read these offers one at a time," writes Ariely. "The first offer seemed reasonable. The second option seemed a bit expensive, but still reasonable. But then I read the third option: a print and Internet subscription for $125. I read it twice before my eye ran back to the previous options."

At this point, Ariely asked himself the same question you may have asked yourself when presented with a similar Good-Better-Best pricing model: "Who would want to choose the 'Better' option [print delivery only - Offer B] when both the 'Good' [Internet delivery only - Offer A] and 'Better' options could be purchased at the same $125 price [Offer C]?"

Good question.

In my own marketing experience, I've found that the decoy offer - Offer B in this Good-Better-Best pricing model - influences my prospects to have a strong bias toward Offer C (the "Best" option).

When Ariely presented a group of 100 MIT students with the three subscription options from the Economist ad, the same thing happened. Though some selected Offer A, most went with Offer C. None of them selected Offer B, the decoy.

So he wondered what would happen if he removed Offer B. After all, since no one had selected it, it shouldn't make any difference, right?

Not exactly...

When he presented another group of 100 MIT students with just two options - Offer A [Internet-only for $59] and Offer C [the Internet-print combo for $125], 68 of them chose Offer A and only 32 chose Offer C. Which makes the "decoy-removed" version of the ad far less profitable than the one the Economist actually ran.

I've split-tested the traditional "Good-Better-Best" model against the decoy model myself.

In the traditional model, Good = $X, Better = $Y, Best [Good + Better] = $Z.

But over and over again, the winning model looked like this: Good = $X, Better = $Y, Best [Good + Better] = $Y.

How can you use the decoy effect to make your offers stronger, more appealing, and more profitable? Start testing today.

Boost Your Kids' Brainpower With This Supplement

By Kelley Herring

Want your kid to be a star student? Feed him fish.

We've long known that omega-3s are important for developing and maintaining healthy brain tissue. Now, new research shows that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) significantly improves cognitive function.

In the study, 175 healthy four-year-old children were randomly assigned to receive either 400 mg/day of DHA or a placebo. They were tested for various types of cognitive function before and after the supplementation.

At the end of the study, researchers found a 300 percent increase in blood levels of DHA in the supplemented group. They also found a significant association between a higher level of DHA in the blood and better performance on a test that measures listening comprehension and vocabulary. What's more, for each one percent increase in blood DHA, the percentile rank on the cognitive test improved by up to nine points.

DHA is found primarily in cold-water fish like salmon. But if your little ones are finicky about fish, you can still give them the benefits by supplementing their diets with a yummy supplement like Carlson for Kids orange-flavored DHA (100 mg), Barlean's Fresh Catch Kid's DHA (320 mg), or Nordic Naturals Children's DHA (125 mg).

It's Fun to Know: On Dasher, On Blitzen...

Reindeer - a domesticated variety of caribou - have been kept in herds for nearly 2,000 years by native peoples of the Arctic regions of Europe and Asia. They depend on the reindeer for food (sorry, Rudolph), clothing, shelter, and transportation (usually pulling, yes... sleighs).

Both caribou and reindeer thrive in extremely cold temperatures. They have a unique type of fur that traps air, providing insulation. Their diet, too, is adapted to their harsh environment. They eat mainly lichen and tough grasses, the only food available in the Arctic tundra for much of the year.

(Source: Arctic Studies Center and the National Park Service)

Word to the Wise: Apposite

Something that's "apposite" (AP-uh-zit) - from the Latin for "to set or put near" - is very appropriate and relevant.

Example (as used by Alan D. Sokal and Jean Bricmont in Fashionable Nonsense: Postmoderm Intellectuals' Abuse of Science): "Suppose, for example, that in a theoretical physics seminar we were to explain a very technical concept in quantum field theory by comparing it to the concept of aporia in Derridean literary theory. Our audience of physicists would wonder, quite reasonably, what is the goal of such a metaphor - whether or not it is apposite - apart from displaying our own erudition."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2543, 12-19-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

"Testing everything you do with your online business - and tracking the results - is the only way to keep on top of what you're doing right and what you need to improve."

- Derek Gehl

"What Are We 'Split-Testing' Today?"

By Alex Mandossian

I ask myself the same five-word question at the beginning of each day... and I've asked it repeatedly ever since December 2004: "What are we 'split-testing' today?" One of the things I'm certain of is that this has unlocked the secret passageway to accelerated business growth, wealth, and success.

I encourage you to ask yourself (and your team) the same question. Ask it at the beginning of each day, and then sit back, relax, and watch what happens.

Magically, this powerful declaration almost instantly puts you (and your team members) into a market-centered mindset. It puts you in the marketing driver's seat to capture more profits - faster, better, and easier.

In my own business, this question has helped me achieve accelerated growth month after month, without the stress and worry that accompanies marketing guesswork.

What can split-testing do for you?

Split-testing is the best way to find out which marketing efforts are working best... and which aren't working at all. You merely choose an element you want to test - a headline, for instance - and test one version against another. Whichever version best helps you achieve your marketing goals - collecting names for your e-mail list, making sales, etc. - is the winner, the one you run with. (Of course, we are always testing new variables against the original winners.)

The more split-tests you do, the more chances you have to increase your profits.

Below are eight single-variable split-tests I've conducted during the past few years - and the results of each test. You should consider trying these split-tests for your own business. The results you get could accelerate your sales and profits for the rest of your professional life!

Split-Test #1: Inbound Phone Order Script

"Call now. Operators are standing by..." (Loser)
"Call now. If the line is busy, keep calling..." (WINNER)

Split-Test #2: Online Order Button Copy

"Add To Cart >>" (WINNER)
"Buy Now!" or "Order Now>>" (Losers)

Split-Test #3: Free Shipping & Handling Pitch

"Free shipping and handling..." (Loser)
"We pay for your shipping and handling charges..." (WINNER)

Split-Test #4: 2nd Product Free

"Get 2 for the price of 1..." (Loser)
"Buy 1 and your 2nd one is free..." (WINNER)

Split-Test #5: Online Audio & Video Testimonials

Testimonials WITHOUT "Case Study" story (Loser)
Testimonials WITH "Case Study" story (WINNER)

Split-Test #6: Auto-Responder Follow-Up E-Mails

7 daily e-mail reminders in 7 days (WINNER)
7 weekly e-mail reminders in 7 weeks (Loser)

Split-Test #7: Special Existing Customer Offer

One-Time Buyer Sublist - sending the offer to subscribers who have made only one purchase from us (Loser)

Multi-Buyer Sublist - sending the offer to subscribers who have made at least two purchases from us (WINNER)

Split-Test #8: "Good-Better-Best" Price Test

The traditional pricing method:
Good = $X, Better = $Y, Best (Good+Better) = $Z (Loser)

The decoy pricing method:
Good = $X, Better = $Y, Best (Good+Better) = $Y (WINNER)

Try some of the split-tests I revealed above. Or create your own single-variable tests. They will teach you a LOT about your marketing. And the results can ensure that you will maximize your marketing efforts and make the biggest possible profits.

Keep in mind that outside variables can significantly impact your split-test results. When I say "outside variables," I'm talking about things like business-to-business lists vs. business-to-consumer lists... the time of year (not to mention the state of the economy!)... whether your sales package is conveyed through audio or video... and many others.

You can have the same offer, product, and price and your split-tests may differ when these outside variables come into play.

Remember This: For each split-test you do, your decisions should always be governed by your results.

If you decide not to put split-testing into your daily marketing ritual, here's the typical downward spiral you can expect just before your business goes on life support...

No split-tests leads to no results. No results leads to no growth. No growth leads to no innovation. No innovation leads to no market relevance. No market relevance leads to no business.

Game over. Thanks for playing

"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king," said Desiderius Erasmus. No truer words have ever been spoken in the context of marketing today. Each of your split-tests gives you 20/20 vision with both eyes wide open.

What NOT to Split-Test: Split-testing, like any other important marketing activity, will cost you some time and money. Duh! So it doesn't make sense to test whispers. In other words, split-test "screaming" variables. It's not worth split-testing price points of $199.95 vs. $199.98, for example, or font formats of Garamond vs. Times Roman.

To paraphrase marketing legend Ted Nicholas, "The Holy Grail of direct marketing is the single-variable split-test." By split-testing, you'll never again have to chase down winning offers... winning offers will chase you down!

2 Fountains of Youth

By Craig Ballantyne

Life extension is one of the most popular research topics in the world right now. You might have heard what scientists have learned about calorie restriction, for example. Many studies have found that if you cut calories from an animal's diet, they can live longer. This works with mice, monkeys, and even household pets.

But does it work for humans?

Researchers at the University of Florida's Institute on Aging recently investigated the possibility that calorie restriction could help extend the human lifespan. In this study, human subjects either decreased their dietary intake by 20 percent less than needed to maintain their weight, or they increased their energy expenditure by 20 percent through exercise. (The subjects needed a lot of discipline, because this went on for more than a year.)

The researchers found that both diet and exercise helped reduce oxidative damage to the subjects' DNA. And they expected that this would have a positive effect on lifespan.

What does this mean for you? It means that you might not have to starve yourself to live longer. Both diet and exercise appear to have the same beneficial effect on the aging process.

Of course, the best thing to do - for both life extension and weight control - is to combine diet and exercise for a double-whammy. Not only will you lose pounds, you could also add years.

It's Good to Know: Pareidolia and the Auto Industry

Have you ever seen "the man in the moon"? How about clouds shaped like trees or mermaids or bears? When you see vague forms as specific images, you're experiencing a phenomenon known as "pareidolia."

Because people tend to view the front of cars as face-like, researchers are using pareidolia to come up with more appealing designs. Surprisingly, they've found that people seem to prefer cars with angry faces - especially cars that have features associated with power, like the BMW 5 series.

(Source: livescience.com)

Word to the Wise: Officious

"Officious" (uh-FISH-us) - from the Latin for "a sense of duty" - is another way of saying "meddlesome."

Example (as used by Ken Follett in Code to Zero): "The guy was an officious twerp, but Luke and Pete were vagrants, and a railroad employee had the right to throw them out."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2492, 10-21-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.