Category: General Interest

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Are Shower Filters Worth It?

Winston Kao writes:
I am often asked for recommendations of shower filters.
I don’t have one. Why?
Several reasons:
1. The effectiveness of all water filters drops sharply when exposed to HOT water. Most people shower at temperatures above 120F. But that is the limit of temperatures at which most filters are rated.
2. Shower filters tend to be SMALL. Small means that the water lacks sufficient contact time with the filter media to effectively remove certain stubborn contaminants, especially chloramines and fluoride, which are common in most tap water in the U.S.
3. Shower filters may not contain the correct media to do the job even if we don’t consider the problems with hot water. Especially true of fluoride – I know of NO shower filter which contains materials that would effectively remove fluoride.
4. Shower filters vary widely in quality and I would hesitate to trust some of the cheap, Chinese-made filters.
5. Shower filters need to be changed frequently if they are to be worth anything. This jacks up the cost.
6. The “best” shower filters aren’t cheap. I have seen quotes of $200 to $300 or more to purchase a new unit, with a cartridge replacement cost of $150 or more, and the recommended replacement intervals of every 3 months! Cost for a year of ownership on the order of $800 isn’t a good deal, is it?
Paying so much for a filter which cannot remove chloramines and fluoride, two of the toughest and very harmful chemicals, makes no sense.
My solution is always to suggest one of two things:
1. Ideally, purchase and install an Ideal Earth whole-house water filter system. This way ALL of your water from every tap is clean! You can shower or bathe in very hot water without any problems, because the water is filtered BEFORE it goes to your water heater and then to your shower.
2. A few people have connected a filter in the bathroom COLD water supply line and then fed this already filtered water into one of those “on-demand” water heaters to supply the shower. I have designed custom bathrooom filter systems for this purpose for those who, for some reason, cannot get the whole-house filter system. The cost of this custom system works out to be very reasonable compared to the cost of the premium shower filters and their replacements. The MAIN point, though, is that this system will GET THE JOB DONE PROPERLY, while conventional systems will not.
Yours in health,
Winston Kao
Natural Health Researcher,
Inventor & Educator
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Katharine Ross and Sam Elliott

Katharine Ross and Sam Elliott

During the filming of “The Legacy” in 1978, Sam Elliott found himself quietly falling for his co-star Katharine Ross. Elliott, with his deep voice and rugged charm, was already a figure of intrigue on set, but it was Ross’s grace and intelligence that captured him entirely. They spent long hours together between takes, learning each other’s rhythms and building a connection that neither had anticipated. Yet, both instinctively understood that their blossoming romance needed protection from the prying eyes of the press.
In a later interview with “Vanity Fair,” Elliott revealed, “We were building something fragile. It was too new and too precious to have other people’s opinions weighing on it.” The vulnerability in his voice reflected how much those early days meant to him. For Ross, who had already experienced the harsh glare of public attention during her earlier marriages and career peaks like “The Graduate,” the need for privacy felt even more vital. She had seen too many romances wilt under the magnifying glass of Hollywood.
Their time on “The Legacy” served as a rare bubble of intimacy. On set, they maintained professionalism, careful not to fuel any gossip. Behind the scenes, quiet dinners and long conversations deepened their bond. Elliott admired Ross’s subtlety, the way she listened more than she spoke, and how she carried herself with effortless dignity. He once said in a “Parade” magazine feature, “She had this elegance about her that could stop you in your tracks. I knew early on that she was unlike anyone I had ever met.”
Ross, in turn, found herself drawn to Elliott’s authenticity. In an interview years later with “Closer Weekly,” she recalled, “Sam never tried to impress anyone. He was who he was, whether cameras were rolling or not. That kind of honesty is rare in our world.” Their connection grew steadily, shielded by a mutual understanding that true intimacy required sacred ground, far removed from flashing cameras and magazine headlines.
Friends close to the couple later shared that there was an unspoken code between Ross and Elliott during those first few months. One crew member from “The Legacy” commented anonymously to “People” magazine, “You could feel something between them, but they were careful. It was like watching two people pass notes in class—silent but obvious if you looked closely enough.”
When Elliott reflected on those early days, he often emphasized the importance of patience. He believed that the slow pace at which their relationship developed made it stronger. In a 2015 interview with “The New York Times,” he said, “There is a beauty in waiting, in letting love grow in the quiet moments instead of blasting it out to the world before it’s ready.” It was a philosophy that guided them both as they navigated a romance that was at once exhilarating and terrifying.
Their bond deepened long after “The Legacy” wrapped, proving that their caution had been well-placed. Elliott once jokingly noted that winning Ross’s heart felt like winning an Oscar he never got to accept on stage. “She was the prize. Nothing else mattered once I had her,” he told “Vanity Fair,” his voice thick with emotion.
In protecting their young love from external pressures, Katharine Ross and Sam Elliott gave themselves the gift of a foundation built on trust and quiet understanding. They were not interested in spectacle; they were invested in building something real, something that could stand the test of time.
Their story remains a reminder that sometimes, the most beautiful romances are the ones shielded from the noise, nurtured in silence, and cherished away from the spotlight.
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How to Get Rid of Carpal Tunnel

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Dr Izabella Wentz writes:
I’ll share my protocol, as well as the connection between thyroid hormones and carpal tunnel (in case you’re curious).

In this article, you will learn:

The common symptoms and progression of carpal tunnel syndrome
What causes CTS and risk factors
The connection between Hashimoto’s and carpal tunnel syndrome
Why conventional treatment often results in surgery
My very simple carpal tunnel protocol
The root cause approach to carpal tunnel syndrome
Alternative treatments that may help support carpal tunnel symptoms

Finish reading:  https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/carpal-tunnel-and-hashimotos/

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Snippets

Some snippets I gleaned from listening to a couple of podcasts from doctors…

Foundational Medicine seeks to address the root cause of health issues. If you are experiencing health issues for which your GP is merely prescribing drugs to mask the symptoms, I recommend you search for a Foundational Medicine practitioner in your area.

Supplement with:
10,000 IU of D3 and 100 mcg K2
Supplement with DHEA
1,000 mg Vitamin C
1,200 IU Vitamin E
200 mg Selenium
50 mg Niacin 3 times a day
120 mg of CoQ10
Alpha Lipoic Acid
teaspoon of Nigella seeds (black cumin)
Increase intestinal bacteria diversity with fermented foods, probiotics

Eradicate or reduce as much as possible the following
interesterified fats,
Linoleic acid
Omega 6 fatty acids
wheat
processed foods
soy products
food that is fried, grilled, dried, smoked or pasteurised (instead steam, stew or poach)
Exposure to BPA (plastic water bottles and no carbon required receipts)

Increase raw foods
Research a calorie restricted diet
If you are a heavy meat eater, reduce it, especially processed meats. Eat more fish instead.

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Cold plunges actually change your cells

Ice Water Dip

Ever wondered what happens to your body when you take those trendy ice baths? Scientists at the University of Ottawa just found out, and it’s pretty fascinating.

Cold water immersion for seven days significantly improves cellular resilience and autophagic function, helping cells manage stress better. This adaptation could enhance health and longevity, potentially preventing diseases and slowing aging at a cellular level.

https://nexusnewsfeed.com/article/health-healing/cold-plunges-actually-change-your-cells/

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People who received a flu shot this winter were MORE likely to get the flu

Flu Stats By Vax Status

This research is only the latest to suggest that flu shots simply do not work — and that any observational studies that seem to show their effectiveness are fatally flawed by what researchers called healthy vaccinee bias. (People who are vaccinated are historically healthier, more health-conscious, and more fearful of contagious illness and thus more likely to avoid situations where they might become infected than those who are not.)

Nationwide data is equally troubling.

As I reported in 2022, the number of flu shots has risen almost 15-fold in the United States since 1980, yet flu deaths have only increased. The Centers for Disease Control now says this year’s flu season might have been the deadliest in decades, with up to 130,000 deaths.

The media has been loathe to report that ugly number, since doing so might raise questions about both the effectiveness of flu jabs and whether Covid mRNA shots may have somehow damaged the immune systems of people who received them. At best, though, that figure suggests nothing we’re doing about the flu is working.

https://alexberenson.substack.com/p/urgent-people-who-received-a-flu

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One serving of greens daily slows brain aging by over a decade

Salad Bowl

Is memory loss and decreased brain power inevitable as we age? Many people in their 40s, 50s and beyond are told that it is and there is nothing that can be done about it. Is that true? Of course not. Steps can be taken to not only stop memory loss, but also reverse it. Here is a simple step. New research from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that eating just one serving of leafy green vegetables a day takes a decade off an aging brain. Two servings produced even greater effects. I explain how below.

There is considerable evidence that diets that are high in green leafy vegetables; highly-colored vegetables such as carrots, yams, and squash; and flavonoid-rich fruits like citrus, berries, and cherries are associated with prevention of age-related memory decline and Alzheimer’s disease. In particular, two large studies have shown that the consumption of green leafy vegetables, including spinach, kale, collards, and lettuce, had the strongest association with slowing down cognitive decline due to aging.

https://nexusnewsfeed.com/article/food-cooking/one-serving-of-greens-daily-slows-brain-aging-by-over-a-decade/