Happy March to you and yours! Spring approaches, making it an ideal time to think about how you want to conduct your spring cleaning this year—body, mind and spirit. Let yourself be inspired by the numerous health observances for March, starting with National Nutrition Month.

If you have long been meaning to incorporate healthier foods, there is no time like the present. Also, if you are not supplementing each day with a comprehensive multi-vitamin/mineral formula, you may wish to heed the counsel of The American Medical Association, which has finally come to the fore in a recent report recommending that all Americans take a multi-vitamin daily to help prevent a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease, some cancers and osteoporosis.

The Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) has been a leader in food and human nutrition information dissemination since 1971. FNIC's Web site provides a directory to credible, accurate, and practical resources including printable format educational materials, government reports, research papers and more. Take advantage of this excellent resource.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. As one of the pioneers in cancer prevention education and research, the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation has spearheaded campaigns that empower people to take charge of their health by reducing their cancer risks. This organization reiterates what we already know (and just need to follow!) that we can all lower our overall cancer risk by being active and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

In addition to regular exercise and healthy eating, there are other ways that you can protect yourself against cancer, based on your age, gender and family history of the disease. To learn more, go to and visit the men's, women's or children's health sections, and select your age group to access prevention tips and other useful cancer information.

Additionally, March is National Women's History Month. This important observance featuring the 2004 theme: "Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility," celebrates the hope and sense of possibility that comes to our lives from the inspirational work of women. Hope comes in many forms from laws challenged and changed, new medical research, stories of compassion and courage, and watching women stand tall against great odds. The eight 2004 Honorees represent this vision of hope in myriad ways. Learn more at The National Women's History Project.

This month features the following important weeks:

Brain Awareness Week (March 15-21)
National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week (March 21-28)
National Poison Prevention Week (March 21-27)

Mark these very important days on your calendar:

National Lymphdema "D" Day (March 6)
International Women's Day (March 8)
Absolutely Incredible Kid Day (March 15)
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 20)
American Diabetes Alert (March 25)
National Sleep Apnea Awareness Day (March 29)

As always, I hope you find this month's information helpful. Take action by viewing resources for any health observance that might apply to you or your family. Knowledge is power!

We too wish to be an ongoing resource. Feel free to contact me at kiki@aboutnhs.com.

Best wishes for a beautiful and inspired March!

Kiki Powers

I was privileged recently to attend a presentation by Dr. Lester Packer, author of The Antioxidant Miracle. I was so inspired by this man's brilliant work that I immediately purchased a copy of his book, which I highly recommend.

As emphasized by WholeHealthMD.com, from the start of his career as a cell biologist in the Fifties, Lester Packer, Ph.D., has looked at the multiple ways that oxygen affects each cell in the body—for good and for ill. In The Antioxidant Miracle, Dr. Packer presents his evidence—much of it discovered at the Packer Laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley—which clearly shows the benefits that antioxidants can offer.

At the heart of Packer's theories is the notion that single antioxidants may be powerful, but that these compounds work more effectively as a team. Individual chapters are devoted to Dr. Packer's five star players—vitamin E, vitamin C, glutathione, lipoic acid, and co-enzyme Q10—and to the back-up second-stringers—flavonoids, carotenoids, and selenium. Packer argues convincingly that these antioxidants are the key to preventing diseases (such as heart disease and cancer), wrinkled skin, and memory failure—and possibly to extending the length and quality of human life.

Although Dr. Packer doesn't discount the importance of fruits, vegetables, beans, and other plant foods, his emphasis is clearly on supplements, since for most Americans, it is virtually impossible to derive optimal levels of these key nutrients from food alone. If you want to understand how free radicals can harm your health and how antioxidants protect it—and what practical steps you can take to affect this process—you would be well advised to learn from an expert who's pioneered much of the major research in the field.

~ Elmer M. Cranton, M.D. ~

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“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything
without losing your temper or your self-confidence.”

~ Robert Frost ~