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The Little Horse That Could: The Connemara Stallion – Erin Go Bragh [VHS] $7.42 You don’t have to be a horse lover to enjoy this courageous, uplifting video. Kids learn lessons in what it takes to become a successful champion while watching this inspirational story. Beautifully filmed and highlighted with Irish music, this 60-minute VHS tape is a winner your children will enjoy watching for years to come….

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Romance of a Horsethief $0.01 Yul Brynner leads this entertaining film romp. In 1904 Poland, a Cossack captain takes horses for the Russo-Japanese war. The residents of the town rise up, goaded on and coerced by a beautiful young woman….

2 Weeks Free Horse Racing Tips-About 90% Win Rate

Horse Racing Software

The term “horse racing software” can be viewed two different ways. It could refer to as a type of software which horse racing fans use to simulate racing horses or software used in racing horses.

Depending on the interpretation you are using, we know that “horse racing software” definitely has computers involved and how much technology has changed the world. The term “horse racing software” in the past, it could have been interpreted by horse racing fans as referring to a cushion placed on the saddle which would make the riding experience more comfortable. Nowadays, software refers to programs a computer uses to perform a certain task.

The two interpretations use of the term “horse racing software”.

a) Training use, one of the interpretations of the term “horse racing software” is programming a piece of software that can be used in racing horses. To improve the racing performances of horses various types of software can be used. The fact that horse racing has been brought into the age of computers is not well known.

To quantify a horse’s ability to race various types of software is used. To monitor a horse’s physical development there are different types of software designed. Based on current trends and statistics there are types of software which tries to predict the outcomes of these various horse races. Trainers use software to prepare racing strategies because horse racing is not just about the speed of the horse anymore. Thinking and finesse to actually win races today is required.

To help with the conditioning of the horses there are also various types of horse racing software designed which are used to compute the various aspects of a horse’s development and it raises the activity of training horses to the level of an exact science.

b) Gaming, is the other interpretation of the term “horse racing software”. This type of software allows horse racing fans to enjoy the experience of horse racing through the use of a computer.

To simulate different aspects of this sport there are different types of horse racing software. With this type of horse racing software, you can experience the life of a jockey, trainer or an owner and will give you a good insight into the sports side of horse racing. There is horse racing software designed to allow you to compete against other players from all over the world in real time.

There are also types of horse racing software which allows horse racing fans to place a bet on actual races online at racebooks or sportsbooks and to enjoy the thrill of the horse racing without even leaving their homes. Often, this type of horse racing software comes with programs that give you all the statistics you need to make an informed decision on the right horse to place a bet on. Some software comes with media players so that you can watch the actual horse race from your home in real time.

Interpretation and finding the right information you need is the key. As you can see, the interpretations of the term “horse racing software” are very different from each other.

About the Author

James Murray is a successful writer and online gambling expert providing valuable tips and advice for those interested in gambling and online gambling strategies. His numerous articles found on the Internet ,provide useful and factual gambling information and insight. Some of his websites are http://www.casinospokerrooms.com , http://www.bingosbingos.com , http://www.top-sportsbook.ca.

Good Horse Track Handicapping Software?

I need some good horse track handicapping software. Anyone know where I can get some and what is your experience with your recommendations?

I know of none that can be installed but would highly recommend Formulator Web interactive Past Performances available at Daily Racing Form (drf.com)

Formulator PPs – Featuring:

• Live Odds
• Sample Races
• TickerMaker Program
• Moss Pace Figures
• Video Replays & Result Charts
• Trainer Patterns
• Lifetime PPs in Charts & in the Trainer Patterns Tool
• Workout Tabs
• Synthetic Stats
• Full Manipulation of PPs
• Extended Chart Archive

http://www.drf.com/formulator/formulatorweb.html

http://www.drf.com/formulator/formulatorwebhelp.html

The 2010 State of the Union Address

The Article was not found…

Secretariat $8.87 Features include: •MPAA Rating: PG•Format: DVD•Runtime: 123 minutes…

My Fair Lady $11.95 A WIDESCREEN EDITION OF THE PERENNIAL FAMILY FAVORITE AS DR.HENRY HIGGINS MEETS HIS MATCH IN A FLOWER GIRL WHO BLOOMS INTOTHE BELLE OF HIGH SOCIETY….

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Sensible Money Management for Your Horse Race Betting

In a previous article I jokingly suggested I had put all my assets – my savings, the deeds to the farm, my kids’ Trust fund, and the proceeds from selling one of my kidneys – on a horse at Newbury. I showed this was potentially financial suicide, and an extreme example of bad money management.

I wrote that more often than not a losing punter will find himself saddled with a bunch of bad betting habits. It is these bad habits that have gotten him, and his betting bank, to where his is now – the Poor House.

To arrive at a change in fortune, and to start making consistent profits, the losing punter has to be prepared to make changes to the way in which he bets. In the previous article we talked about the cornerstone supporting my own personal betting strategy, and that is finding value in every bet you make.

You will only ever make a profit from betting if you consistently back horses at prices too high when compared to their actual chance of winning. This is exactly how bookmakers have made their money for generations – they consistently lay horses at prices too low compared to the actual chance of the horse winning. When punters continue to take these low prices day-in and day-out, it will only ever be the bookmakers who come out with a profit in the long run.

The second ‘bad habit’ I want to examine is the subject of inappropriate staking. What do I mean by staking that is not appropriate? Well, what I am driving at is placing bets that are generally too large in proportion to the size of your betting bank.

Before I expand upon this, the concept of a betting bank is a side-issue in itself. You categorically MUST have a sum of money put aside for the sole purpose of betting. It scares me rigid when I hear of people simply ‘dipping’ into their current account to place a bet using their debit card.

If you do not have a separate account for your betting activities, you cannot keep records, and you will not be able to answer that simple question, “Am I making a profit, or a loss?”

It goes without saying, that betting involves a degree of risk, and you should never bet with money you cannot afford to lose.

Getting back to inappropriate staking, the idea of lumping all your money on one horse is an extreme example of over-staking. Of course, on the one occasion this strategy may pay off. We had friends round a few nights ago to play one of those Race Night DVDs. I was comfortably in front by studying the form before each race, and placing considered bets at what I considered to be value prices. As you might imagine, I had a suitably smug expression on my face as we came to the last race, and our friends were complaining I enjoyed a ‘professional advantage’.

My wife then decided to put every penny she had left on an 8/1 chance. The race turned out to be the ‘lucky last’ for my wife, and she walked away with the whole bank!

But seriously, continue with these tactics, and it will not be long before you lose everything.

Personally, I would never consider starting any betting campaign with a bankroll of less than 100 points. In other words, I will divide my bank by 100 to arrive at my unit stake. You can see that I will only ever be putting 1% of my bank at risk when I place a bet.

This is a very generalised approach, and you might argue that a little more consideration should be given to a punter’s typical strike rate. True, if someone has a strike rate of 50% then it is statistically highly unlikely that he will suffer a run of 100 losers to go bust. So, in this case you might be justified in operating a smaller bank. Bear in mind that when flipping a coin, it is by no means unusual to see 6 or 7 ‘heads’ in succession, and losing runs in double figures do occur.

Erring on the side of caution, you could foresee two such losing runs occurring twice in close succession. In which case, I hope you can see that even when considering a system which such a high strike rate, having a bank of well over 20 points now seems very sensible.

With my own Redd Racing betting service, we enjoy what I would consider to be quite a healthy strike rate. However, we have experienced a negative swing of some 60 points during one particular month a couple years back. The account recovered to make a profit by the end of the month, but it underlined the importance of having a bankroll large enough to absorb the losing runs that EVERYBODY has to endure from time to time.

Indeed, it would probably be better advice if I suggested members of my service had a bankroll of 150 or even 200 points in reserve.

Yet I often receive emails asking me whether it is OK to deposit £100 with Betfair and start with unit stakes of £10.

Betting with stakes too high in proportion to your bank normally comes out of a desire to make money quickly. I think we are all guilty of getting overly greedy sometimes, and unwilling to think a little more long-term. People are inclined to set themselves unrealistic profit targets, given the size of their betting bankroll. Having a bank of £100 and expecting to be able to make £100 per month is not realistic. Get-rich-quick does not exist.

Akin to the Tortoise and Hare story, let me give you an example of where what might initially seem like a very moderate return, actually gives surprising results over time.

If you started with £100 in your betting bank, and increased this bank by just one-half of one per cent every day, after just 6 months your account would have a balance of £244 due to the compounding effect. You could more than double your investment in 6 months with this seemingly small daily profit return. Take that to your bank or building society and see if they can come anywhere near such a deal!

Hopefully this demonstrates how ’slowly but surely’ wins the race.

To summarize, my advice would be to set your unit stakes at one per cent, or even one half of one per cent, of your total betting bank. By striking only value bets, and when the odds are in your favour, your betting bank will grow. As your bank grows, so you can naturally increase the size of your unit stake to make more profit – but your bets will still be in proportion to your bank.

In the next part of this Sensible Money Management series, I will look at more bad habits that suck money from the accounts of losing punters.

About the Author

Learn about cactus diet and cactus varieties at the Types Of Cactus site.

Horseback Riding with RR Trail Riders in Southwest Michigan

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White Horse Whisky TEVEREC 1999 TV spot Uruguay

Kentucky Derby 2009

The countdown to the 2009 Kentucky Derby has begun. Since 1875, this celebrated race has captured the hearts of horse racing fans. Filled with excitement and anticipation, crowds will flood into Churchill Downs on May 2, 2009 for the 135th Kentucky Derby.

There are many things that make the Derby the Derby including: the long history, the traditions, the hats, and the garland of roses. Together, the Kentucky Derby adds up to the premier North American horse racing event.

The Kentucky Derby is limited to three-year-old horses. These contenders will vie for the chance to win the $2 million prize. Because the competition for admission is stiff and because the fees are high (according to one source, the least you could spend on fees to have a horse run in the Kentucky Derby would be over $50,000), horse owners want to be confident they have a horse with a good chance of winning. Between now and Derby-day, a number of races will help determine which horses are likely to be contenders for the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

For people with the opportunity to visit the Derby, Case the Race provides tips on travel, tickets, betting and choosing a hat. The site is updated weekly to keep it current. For regular updates on a variety of Kentucky Derby topics, go to http://www.casetherace.com/kentuckyderby/index.html.

History

Most people know that the track that hosts the Kentucky Derby is Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Few people know that Churchill Downs was originally called the Louisville Jockey Club. The track officially opened in 1875 and has been running the Derby and the Oaks every year since. Attendance is expected to reach around 150,000 fans in 2009.

In Fall 1894 and Spring 1895, a new grandstand costing $100,000 was built for the Derby. The new grandstand had two spires. Over time, the spires became known as the Twin Spires and have become an iconic symbol of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby.

The racetrack and the Kentucky Derby might not have become all they have become had it not been for Matt Winn, who took the reins in 1902. Because of his drive and business savvy, Churchill Downs experienced a revival.

Kentucky Derby Traditions

There are several traditions associated with the Kentucky Derby. Some of the best known traditions are the garland of roses, drinking mint juleps on Derby-day, collecting Kentucky Derby glasses, and collecting silver julep cups.

Garland of roses

The first published account of roses draped on horses appeared in 1896. Since 1987, floral designers from Kroger grocery chain have produced the garland of roses which is 90 inches long by 14 inches wide and weighs about 35 lbs.

Mint Julep

The official drink of the Kentucky Derby, the mint julep has delighted horse racing fans for over 100 years.

There are variations, but most recipes include fresh mint sprigs, bourbon whiskey, powdered sugar and water.

Kentucky Derby glasses

It was not the racetrack’s intention to provide glasses as keepsakes the year the tradition started. In 1938, the glasses were intended only as mint julep glasses. Because of their popularity, many glasses were not returned. The following year, the track gave into the inevitable. They added twenty-five cents to the cost of the drinks and let customers keep the glasses. In almost every year since 1949, all previous Derby winners have been listed on the glasses.

Sterling silver julep cups

First introduced in 1951, the sterling silver julep cup was intended as an official, useful souvenir of the Kentucky Derby. Traditionally, the governor of Kentucky uses the cup to toast the winner. The cup is then added to a complete set the track has.

Kentucky Derby Style

For some, the Kentucky Derby is just a thinly-veiled excuse to wear a really great hat. According to Carol Bader, the owner and creator of Del Mar Hat Company, the 2009 trend is for colorful hats. Her full article is available at http://www.casetherace.com/kentuckyderby/derbystyle.html.

Betting on the Derby

Horse racing handicappers will be focusing on the betting prospects of the Kentucky Derby. According to Paul Lambrakis, author of The 10-Cent Superfecta, “I try not to get caught up in the hype of any one horse or attached to any one horse [before the Derby]. I’ll look at past performances and the whole field of horses when the time comes and try to handicap it just like I would any other race.” Others, like Frank Di Tondo , the author of One Minute Handicapper, are monitoring a number of regional competitions to see which horses look to have the best prospects. Case the Race provides weekly updates on the horses and tips from handicappers. Get advice from handicappers here http://www.casetherace.com/kentuckyderby/handicappers.html

Travel to the Derby

The Kentucky Derby tends to stretch the full capacity of Louisville’s accommodations. Finding a hotel room during the Kentucky Derby can be a challenge, especially for those planning late or working with a limited budget. While the first stop may be to check the usual travel sites, if these are not providing enough options, consider other possibilities such as B & Bs or vacation rentals. The Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau provides a search tool to explore a variety of accommodations and locations.

http://www.gotolouisville.com/accommodations-search.aspx If you are traveling with a group, vacation rentals might be an option. The site RentMyHouseforDerby.com specializes in providing luxury vacation rental homes for events like the Kentucky Derby.

The Derby festivities begin as early as April 2nd and extend all the way up to Derby Day. Between 4/23 -5/2 the Kentucky Derby Festival has 32 events scheduled. Learn more about the events at the Kentucky Derby Festival site. http://www.kdf.org/search.cgi?category=events

The Countdown for the 2009 Kentucky Derby

In the end, it will come down to two minutes. It will be two minutes of white-knuckle suspense, two minutes of sweaty palms clenched around betting tickets, two minutes for dreams to be either realized or dashed, two minutes from the sound of the bell to the moment the winner crosses the finish line amidst a cheering crowd. Spectators will come from all over and from all walks of life, but for those two minutes, they will be united by the same question: Which horse will win?

About the Author

The author is part of a team that produces data and articles for a horse racing website, Case the Race. More information on the Kentucky Derby is available at
http://www.casetherace.com/kentuckyderby/index.html
.

How long does it take whiskey to go off afteropening and also Harveys Bristol Cream. The whiskey ;is very old?

How long does it take for whiskey to go off after opening and Harveys Bristol Cream Full Bodied Sherry. I have two bottles of White Horse refined whiskey which have registered numbers and could be quite old. I do not drink alcohol at all so I would prefer not to try them myself but want to use them for an occasion in the next few days possibly. The sherry, I bought today.

Liquor never spoils.

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A T-Touch of M.A.G.I.C. for Horses: A Holistic Training Approach to the Body, Mind and Spirit of the horse [VHS] $31.99 …

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Horse Training Video: 1 of 12

Strength Training Will Put Life Back Into Living

Once upon a time, a hundred plus years ago life was full of physical activity for our ancestors. Transportation consisted of walking on your own two feet, or if you were lucky you rode a horse. Farming was the main occupation and required hard physical labor from dawn to dusk. Household chores like washing, cooking, cleaning and shopping were all serious workouts. There was absolutely no need for anyone to add in some intentional exercise into their lives.

The Industrial Revolution came along and radically changed our occupations and lifestyles. Machines started doing the hard jobs, at work and at home, and when radio, television, movies, computers and video games came along to fill the extra free time, we were only too happy to take a seat and a load off our feet.

Without the physical “work” to maintain strength, our bodies pay the price and we begin a long slow downward run of muscle and bone loss of between 300-500 grams per year starting in the mid 30’s. This muscle tissue loss causes a corresponding drop in metabolism (the rate the body burns fuel) and body fat is accumulated often padding the area masking the loss so it is rarely noticed.

This change in body composition (ratio of lean muscle tissue to body fat) not only lowers the metabolic rate but siphons away our strength, drains our energy levels and weakens our immune system exposing us to disease and illness.

The good news is there’s an antidote that is now well known and well proven. Strength training exercise can reverse muscle and bone loss and make our bodies work better and become leaner. When challenged by strength training exercise, the body is stimulated to produce growth hormone, a hormone that has been shown to slow the aging process.

Your muscles, bones and other cells in your body will have good reason to renew themselves as they are being challenged to stay strong, sweeping away old, degenerated cells and tissue. This allows the rejuvenation and rebuilding of new tissue that is younger, stronger, and healthier.

Strength training exercise is such a powerful age eraser it can improve the quality of your life at any age or any physical condition you may be in It is no longer thought of as only a hobby of youth, but a lifetime method of keeping your strength and fitness which gets even more important as you get older. Whether you are 40 or 60 years old you can reclaim your youth by gaining strength and building muscle as fast as a 21 year old. It is quite possible to become 100 to 150 % stronger in just a few months of this special exercise regime.

The basic premise of strength training is to use resistance to make muscles work harder than they are accustomed to working in everyday activities, and provides more health benefits than any other exercise or activity. You will be preventing or slowing degenerative changes, rebuilding damaged tissue, restoring lost function, and helping the immune system fight disease.

What priority are you giving your health and well-being? Remember that if you are strong, fit, well and happy with yourself this will benefit others too. Every child deserves a happy parent; every boss would rather have a fit employee and every person appreciates a vital and vibrant spouse or partner in life.

Resolve to reserve the time for strength training exercise. Whatever your current condition, you can choose to be building strength and fitness and put life back into living, or letting it slip away. It is up to you alone to decide how you will live, which path will you choose?
About the Author

Do you want to discover the secret to rejuvenating your body and improving the quality of your life? Download my free ebook “I’ve Found the Fountain of Youth- Let Me Show You Too!

Where can I get the DVD of the horse movie called “Flash” ????

A boy trains a young horse and his dad is gone (to war, I think) he rides the horse from Georgia to NYC to meet his dad. It’s such a neat movie!

Ebay is probably your best bet. Amazon and Overstock.com may be helpful also.

The Man Who Listens to Horses: The Story of a Real-Life Horse Whisperer $6.62 Monty Roberts is, as they say, the real horse whisperer–even if he does revile the last third of Nicholas Evans’s romance. Yet Roberts also makes clear from the start that listening and close attention have more to do with gentling an animal than soi-disant whispering. As far as he’s concerned, silent communication can “effectively cross over the boundary between human (the ultimate fight an…

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Training Tips: Teaching a Horse to Respond to Leg Pressure

Places You Can Go to While Dating in Nebraska

Nebraska is a state in the Midwestern United States. It has a population of about two million people. The majority of the population in this state is Christian with a majority of them being protestants. Nebraska has two major climates. The humid climate and the semi arid continental climate. However the snow fall in the state is quite evenly distributed. Nebraska is a state that is divided into two time zones, that is the central time zone and the mountain time. The eastern side of the state experiences central time zone while the western side uses the mountain time. If you are dating in Nebraska you can go to visit their museums, the parks, you can also go to see their desert like lands that are pretty beautiful and interesting to see.

If you are dating in Nebraska, you can go to Fun Plex. This is the largest water park in the state of Nebraska. It has a lot of games that you and your loved one can play. These games can be played on the water or the land. You and your date can go for a typhoon water slide or you can ride on the waves of the ocean. You can also have a ride on the Carousel. If you do not like the water much you can go cart tracking and still enjoy your time at this park. Another park you can go to while in Nebraska is the Eugene T Mahoney State Park. While in this park you can do activities like fishing and horse riding. You can also make a stop in Freedom Park and see their training submarine, an amphibious landing ship and the world war 11 minesweeper.

While dating in Nebraska, visit the various museums they have to see what are displayed inside. The Museum of Nebraska History a lot to offer in terms of the history of the people of Nebraska. You will enjoy listening to the history of this great state and the people who used to live here. You will also come to understand their culture and get to know how they do things. This museum also has great artifacts that you can go to see. You should also visit the Durham Western Heritage museum which has great train exhibits and old passengers cars.

The Carhenge is also some thing of interest you can go to see while dating in Nebraska. It has great mystical alignment of stones that you can go and wonder how they were arranged and how beautiful they look like. You can also go and contribute to the maintenance of this place and its preservation if you love art and nature. You can also go and visit the Henry Doorly zoo where you can see the sharks and other water animals through a glass. You will also be able to see a lot of birds while you are in this zoo. Its a great place to go to feel peaceful, fun and joy all at the same time.

About the Author

Francis K. Githinji Is An Online Dating Expert. His Latest ProjectDating In Nebraska Shows How The Power Of Online Dating Can Be Harnessed Internationally and With Great Success, Or You Could Post Your Valued Comments On His Blog At Dating In Nebraska

Gypsy vanner horses in Nebraska?

I have been looking for someone who sells gypsy vaners around where i live, I live just about smack in the middle of nebraska and I havent found any so far, if you know of any please tell me! I can probably drive a little ways out of the state but not much farther. It doesn’t have to be purebred or well trained, I can train it myself, but i am looking for one thats affordable and within a reasonable driving distance. Please tell me if you know about any! please and thank you!
ugh people gypsy vanners make just as good of ridng horses as they do draft horses and the main reason i want one is my grandparents used to breed and sell horses and they got a few gypsy vanners with great temperments and sold it to a childrens camp and they kids absolutely loved it and ive waned one ever since, that and they are so beautiful and their temperments make them great show horses

I don’t know why people are bashing Gypsy horses here. No, they’re not the most talented horses, but they are beautiful and unique. A Gypsy Vanner will be able to do 90% of what the average rider in the US would need. They can probably do dressage through at least 1st level, trails, and they have been used as hunt horses in Europe (jumping). They can be a nice all-around horse. We just had a Gypsy Vanner from England donated to the therapeutic riding program where I keep my horse.

Anyways… Try http://www.equinenow.com, http://www.horsetopia.com, http://www.equine.com, http://www.dreamhorse.com, http://www.craigslist.org

Spread the word around the barns you’re at that you are looking for a Gypsy Vanner. If someone knows of one for sale, they might send them your way!

Good luck, and I really hope you find one!

You might have some luck just googling too. But, since you are in the middle of Nebraska, you might be out of luck.

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Horses Saddles Badge Holder Horse ID Name Card Credentials Lanyard – Travel Accessories $7.99 Great for events, travel, trade shows or work. Features an adjustable neck strap, and a zippered back pocket for money, phone, keys etc. Keep all your necessities at your fingertips. You’ll never use the cheap plastic holders again!…

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The Best Gifts for Pet Owners

Do you have a pet you love? Yes? Then you know how meaningful these creatures can be in the lives of your friends and family, and how much you appreciate when one of them cares for your pet and considers it an important part of the group.

With this in mind, and thinking of special occasions in which you have to give a gift and do not know what would make your friend or cousin’s day, have you ever considered giving their pet a gift as a gift for them?

Think about it! How great is it to be able to help them groom their pet by giving them a Pet Hair Magnet, or to help them secure their puppy with a Clear Gate. Or maybe you can surprise them with a Puplight, which will allows them to go running with their dear friend at night while the dog lights up the way!

Have you noticed? All of these gifts really show your loved ones how much you care and pay attention to their lifestyle and interests. These are the best gifts for pet owners, the ones that allow them to enjoy their furry, four-legged friends in special and meaningful ways, and help these beautiful creatures fit into their daily life, and even enhance it.

So, the next time a birthday is approaching, you are invited to a meaningful dinner party, Christmas is around the corner, a graduation is in view, the pet’s anniversary is days away, or you just feel like making your loved one feel special with a gift, think about what this creature means to them and choose a Solvit Car Booster Seat for Pets, so that their little dog or cat can travel safely and comfortably with them in the car; or give them a BreezeGuard Screen, to allow their breeze-loving dog to enjoy the view with an open window while keeping him safe inside the vehicle. And how about a Tick Tock Teaser, to stimulate a cat’s mental and physical abilities; a Water Wiggler, to attract your loved one’s favorite birds to it; a Scented Jolly Ball Horse Toy, that doesn’t need any explanation; or an Aquachef, to help your loved one feed their fish on time even if they are away from home all day long?

There are great gifts for all kinds of pets and owners, from the normal dog lover to the most unique reptile fan, there is always a way to make the time your loved one spends with their pet, extra special.

Among auto accessories, bathroom solutions, bowls and feeders, beds, collars and leashes, crates and carriers, cleaning solutions, eco-friendly gifts, exercise gear, furniture, grooming items, health stuff, handicapped solutions, ID tags and pet locators, outdoor stuff, pet doors, training aids, toys, treat toys, safety gear, waste solutions, playhouses, scratchers, luxury items and activity centers, for dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, horses and even tortoises, if you know your loved one well and care for what moves them, you are sure to find something that will enrich, assist, or brighten up their relationship with their funny beloved friend.

Is just a matter of listening, paying attention to details, and why not… thinking outside the cage.

Check out these and more great Pet Gadgets!

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to post it to your site or blog and forward this link to your friends. Have a great day!

About the Author

I am a huge pet fan who found an incredible amount of useful information on http://www.petgadgets.com.
Articles, pieces of advice, toys, and anything you might need for your pet. If you love your fury friend, then you know what’s best for him. Everything they might ever need: PetGadgets.

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Oprah’s Crazy Talk – Bioidentical Hormones – Helpful or Harmful? (Part 1)

Read full article: <a href=”http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/oprahs_crazy_talk_bioidentical_hormones_helpful_or_harmful_part_1/”>Oprah’s Crazy Talk – Bioidentical Hormones – Helpful or Harmful? (Part 1)</a>

Newsweek recently indulged in tabloid journalism, featuring Oprah on the cover with the headline:  CRAZY TALK, Oprah, Wacky Cures, & You.  The specific emphasis of the article was an attack on Suzanne Somers, Oprah, and bioidentical hormones.  The Genie is out of the hormone bottle, consumers are confused, the medical profession is in its typical funk, and somewhere out there is the health-improving truth.

One of the authors of the Newsweek article has her own “traditional” book on menopause and the other is a male in his early 40s – neither has any clinical experience in the subject and can do little more than toss insults and reference conventional points of view on hormones.  Newsweek is desperate for sales and is hoping the millions of Oprah followers will purchase the magazine.

Traditional medical people find it extremely annoying, even alarming, that Suzanne Somers and Oprah have generated such massive interest in the subject of bioidentical hormones.  After all, there is a legion of baby-boomer women who have no interest in getting older any faster than they have to.  Are bioidentical hormones really the “juice of youth,” as Suzanne Somers calls them?

The mafia-like FDA has gotten into the fray, attacking compounding pharmacies at the bequest of pharmaceutical competitors.  Indeed, the compounding industry hasn’t ponied up its bribery fees to the FDA.  The FDA can’t tell anyone how to practice, but they can regulate health claims and availability of bioidentical hormones.

As a clinical nutritionist I have helped women with bioidentical hormones for over twenty years.  I am a believer in the appropriate use of bioidentical hormones, and have witnessed their power to help first hand on many occasions.  However, there are clear pros and cons that any woman should fully understand prior to using any type of bioidentical hormone.

Traditional Western Medicine – Lacking Credibility on Female Hormones

Before pointing out what is potentially problematic about bioidentical hormones I must point out what is wrong with the typical group of Western medicine critics.  Those supporting this belief system have a recent history of killing and injuring tens of thousands of women with their “official” and FDA-sanctioned use of hormone replacement therapy.  In my view, these people have little credibility and should instead be standing trial in a court of law.

And I don’t just mean Wyeth, a primary producer of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) derived from horse urine, who is still fighting 5000 cancer lawsuits.  I’m talking about the prescribing physicians, who often browbeat women to tears if they didn’t want to go on estrogen and progesterone drugs – while selectively ignoring or downplaying the substantial body of risk data that existed prior to 2002.

The FDA can also be thrown into this group of incompetents, as they approved horse urine extract and sat by haplessly watching as women were killed and injured – a problem that continues to this day despite stepped-up FDA warnings.

A major setback for ERT marketing occurred back in July of 2002.  Data coming from the Women’s Health Initiative showed that a combination of estrogen from horse urine and non-bioidentical progesterone increased the risk of invasive breast cancer by 26%, strokes by 41%, heart attacks by 29%, blot clots by 100%, and total cardiovascular disease by 22%.  Based on the 6 million women taking these drugs in 2002 (2 billion in sales), the data suggests that during only one year there were an extra 4,800 cases of invasive breast cancer, 4,200 heart attacks, 4,800 strokes, and 10,800 blood clots – including 4,800 life-threatening blood clots in the lungs.

Remarkably, Wyeth still sells 1 billion dollars worth of horse urine extract a year, and they continue to try to spin their estrogen/progesterone drugs as safe.  Making matters worse, the marketing of these drugs was based on fraud in the first place.

There were only a few thousand women taking estrogen back in 1966.  That number changed dramatically with the release of the book Feminine Forever, by Dr. Robert A Wilson, a New York gynecologist.  In the book Dr. Wilson attributed all undesirable aspects of aging to a lack of estrogen – while downplaying and trying to explain away the troubling link to cancer.

Dr. Wilson quit his practice and set up a foundation to promote his ideas.  He and his wife went around the country giving seminars and his book received wide media coverage in major magazines.  The book became one of the first off label marketing pieces, freely given out to doctors as a promotional tool.

What was not known at the time was that the drug company that is now Wyeth (Ayerst Laboratories) was funding the foundation.

Throughout the 1990s I was an outspoken critic of ERT – a minority view that was based on basic science the medical profession couldn’t seem to grasp.

It was well established that increasing a woman’s exposure to her own estrogen, such as starting menstruation before age 12, increased the risk of breast cancer.  Anything that produces higher serum levels of estrogen places a woman into this risk.  It was basic common sense that extending a woman’s exposure to estrogen through ERT was going to place her into a similar risk pattern due to extended estrogen exposure.

Female cancer risk, especially breast cancer risk associated with estrogen replacement therapy had been reported for many years, and was extensively reviewed back in 1999.  This data did not deter a majority of doctors from prescribing and pushing ERT on women with menopausal symptoms.

Even worse, the typical dose of estradiol at that time was .625 mgs taken every day (today it is .3 mgs).  In normal menstruation a woman is exposed to .4 mgs of estradiol for a few days every month around her ovulation.  Thus, this Wyeth-promoted prescribing practice exposed women to much higher levels of estrogen than she ever made naturally.  Furthermore, the Wyeth product also contains all sorts of horse estrones that are totally unnatural for a woman.  The FDA twiddled its thumbs.

Adverse data on Wyeth’s hormone drugs continues to pile up, with a recent study showing that their ERT nearly doubles the risk for lung cancer.

Another common problem with ERT (and birth control pills for that matter) is weight gain, which doesn’t always happen to everyone but happens so often that it is a major concern.  Doctors used to tell women that ERT was good for their heart even while they were gaining 15 pounds – it just didn’t add up – credibility was woefully lacking.  Weight gain, especially after menopause, is also linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

I should also point out that the actual risks of birth control pills are still unknown, even though they have been used by millions of women for decades.  One recent study presented at an American Heart Association meeting showed that for every 10 years of birth control pills there is a 20 – 30 percent increase in peripheral artery small plaques.

It is also known that women have ten times the rate of autoimmune disease as men – due to imbalanced and excess levels of estrogen.  This is because estrogen (estradiol) suppresses T suppressor cells, leaving them out in the circulation longer and more likely to adversely react to inflamed tissue.  It wasn’t long before lupus was reportedly caused by women taking horse urine extract.  This information is likely to apply to any autoimmune disease – if researchers bothered to study the issue.

The medical use of ERT, as pushed by various drug companies, condoned by the FDA, and adamantly pushed on many women by doctors, was a clear violation of the most basic creed of a physician to first do no harm.  It is an example of a lack of intelligence and inability to predict the obvious consequence of known principles of biochemistry relating to the drugs they prescribe, a problem that continues to plague their Big Pharma-sponsored profession.

Any woman seeking to understand how to use bioidentical hormones to support her health should also understand this history, and know that the FDA, drug companies, and the medical profession itself have very little credibility or useful information to offer on this subject.  Thus, the trite phrase to “consult your doctor” on the subject of female hormones is a pointless waste of time and may even be dangerous to your health.

Female Hormone 101

I view the safety issue surrounding bioidentical hormones as one of consumer education.  There are a number of essential points any woman should clearly understand about what her body is doing and what that means.  Let’s begin at the beginning, with a basic understanding of hormones and general health.

In the first two weeks of your menstrual cycle your brain releases a hormone signal called FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), which travels to your ovaries and ripens an egg.  As your egg ripens it releases estradiol, a form of estrogen required for normal reproductive function.  As estradiol levels rise in your blood it signals to your brain that an egg is ripe.  Once your brain knows this it switches to an androgen signal called LH (luteinizing hormone), which stimulates the release of your egg.  For the second half of your menstrual cycle the follicle that was housing your egg now produces progesterone (from what is called the corpus luteum).  Progesterone helps attach protein to the wall of your uterus should you become pregnant.  Estradiol is coordinating the proliferation of tissue that makes this process possible.

If you are not pregnant then progesterone production stops, in turn starting the sheathing of the protein build-up off the wall of your uterus – which is your menstrual cycle.

Your menstrual cycle is energy intense.  You have to put a steak dinner’s worth of protein onto the wall of your uterus every day.  If you don’t eat enough protein, especially the week before your menstrual cycle, then your body will take apart muscle proteins and even the neurotransmitter proteins that keep your mood elevated.  A lack of dietary protein is the most basic nutritional reason for a poor mood associated with PMS.

In addition to protein other foods most commonly lacking from the diet of any woman with any type of PMS are fruit, vegetables, and essential fatty acids.  The greater the junk food and sugar content of her diet, the more likely there are to be problems.  As stress and/or physical demands increase, problems multiply and dietary weaknesses become more important.

Anorexia and excessive exercise are two issues in young women that reflect inadequate protein nutrition for the menstrual cycle, typically resulting in no cycles, erratic cycles, or skipped cycles.

On the other hand, as a woman gains weight then the efficiency of hormone signals, including signals to her ovaries, are less efficient and more at risk for problems developing.

Other basic nutrition includes B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and iron.  B vitamins are needed to assist protein to work correctly, as well as to help offset stress.  Calcium and magnesium are vital for a pain-free menstrual cycle, and along with essential fatty acids their lack is the most common reason for menstrual cramps.  Iron is often lacking in women who eat little or no red meat, who exercise a lot, or who have heavier menstrual cycles.  A lack of iron will cause fatigue that is aggravated as the menstrual cycle progresses and can produce almost every symptom of hypothyroid, including weight gain.

A goal that reflects health is that your menstrual cycle comes and goes every month with a minimal amount of trouble or distraction.  Your menstrual cycle receives a higher demand for nutrition than any other system in your body, as this is all about survival of the human race.  It is a monthly test of how well you did ALL MONTH LONG managing your overall health.

If you are approaching menopause and you have a long-term history of problematic menstrual cycles, you have more risk associated with the use of estrogen to suppress or modulate uncomfortable symptoms.  You are also more likely to have more hot flashes.

What is Estrogen Dominance?

Any woman of menstrual age, including women who are pre-menopausal, should do everything in their power to reduce the symptoms of estrogen dominance.  This is vital for reducing the risk of any type of female cancer and autoimmune disease.

The symptoms of excessive estrogen are any of the following:  heavy menstrual cycles, excess clotting with menstrual cycle, abnormal bleeding/spotting between cycles, breast swelling and tenderness, fibrocystic breasts, endometriosis, fluid retention, or headaches with cycle.

Oftentimes women with a history of estrogen dominance end up with a partial or complete hysterectomy.  Gall bladder problems are also typical, as surplus estrogen super-concentrates cholesterol in their gall bladder causing sludge and stones.  Cellulite is always made worse by excess estrogen and in some cases estrogen dominance problems may be the cause of cellulite.

The following is a list of the primary topics that contribute to or cause estrogen dominance, besides the basic nutritional deficiencies listed in the previous section.  Many women have problems in all of these areas.

1)  Extra pounds of fat.

Fat cells produce another form of estrogen called estrone.  Think of estrone as a buffer to help regulate blood levels of estradiol.  In other words, estradiol can be converted into estrone to “store it” and estrone can be converted to estradiol to “make it active.”  Having a back up system to maintain levels of needed estradiol for reproductive purposes is vital.

Remember, women have a naturally higher percentage of body fat than men so as to have the available energy to feed a child – a survival necessity.  Fat serves multiple roles in this grand plan.  Gaining extra weight messes this up, not only producing excessive amounts of estrogen, but hormones in general become resistant to normal communication with each other.  This sets up a highly inflammatory and pro-carcinogenic health-risk situation.

Problems with excessive amounts of the fat-hormone leptin drastically aggravate ovarian function and can make female hormone function miserable (such as causing polycystic ovarian syndrome).  Losing weight in a healthy way, if overweight, is vital for normal female hormone function.

2)  Estrogen-like chemicals.

Estrogen-like chemicals pose a grave threat to female and male health.  Bisphenol A from plastics is one example, many of the pesticides used on food is another, and Monsanto’s PCBs are yet another.  These tend to absorb into fat and interact with estrogen receptors.  They likely play a large role in the earlier onset of menstruation in young women, and they certainly pose a serious female cancer risk – especially in women with genetic susceptibility.

Compounds that protect your liver and help you clear these toxins are now general dietary recommendations simply for protection – since our government has no guts to make any big company clean up their environmental trash.  Nutrients like Milk thistle extract, chlorella, and R-alpha lipoic acid are top choices, as is the dietary intake of a wide variety of vegetables.  The greater an individual’s chemical sensitivity, the more likely there are to be problems with toxins and adverse female hormonal interactions.

3)  The failure to clear estrogen – digestive problems.

Estrogen levels peak mid cycle and are then cleared out of your blood by your liver.  Your liver binds estradiol to another compound, a process known as conjugation.  This package is then sent through your bile, through your gall bladder, into your digestive tract, and hopefully out.  A major problem occurs when there is an overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria in your gut – typically reflected by symptoms of gas, bloating, constipation, irritable bowel, etc.  In this situation the bacteria can “eat” the conjugation bond, causing estradiol to be released in your digestive tract and to re-enter your general circulation.

This problem is a common source of excess estrogen.  It is almost always happening in cases of inappropriate estradiol-drive tissue proliferation like endometriosis, as well as cyst formation – and of course cancer risk.  Extra dietary or supplemental fiber and acidophilus are basic steps to help.  Digestive problems may need a more significant strategy for improvement – and solving them is vital to female hormonal health

4)  Pregnancy.

Even a healthy pregnancy can act as a jolt to hormone balance.  While some women find their menstrual cycles actually run better after pregnancy, far more are likely to find symptoms of estrogen excess have now begun even though they did not exist prior to pregnancy.

In essence, the routine demands of pregnancy are a form of stress to metabolism, thyroid function, and female hormones.  The typical result is a lack of progesterone, described next.  However, full energetic and metabolic repair following pregnancy is always a good idea, so that pregnancy is not noted as the time when your health started to decline (a common finding for many women).  This is oftentimes quite a challenge as women try to juggle the demands of children, working, sleeping adequate hours, and maintaining good self-care habits like exercise.

5)  The lack of progesterone – too much stress.

One function of progesterone is as a natural balancing compound to estradiol.  The precursor compounds for progesterone production are also used to make adrenal hormones that combat stress.  If stress is too high, or a person is too malnourished, progesterone may be converted into stress-fighting hormones.  Unfortunately, this leaves estradiol levels high due to the relative lack of progesterone.

By supporting adrenal health and managing stress better, progesterone is spared this fate.  Almost every woman knows that if she has had a more stressful or physically demanding month, then symptoms of PMS or menopausal hot flashes are likely to be worse.  Basic nutrition for adrenals includes higher dietary protein, B vitamins – especially pantethine, vitamin C, Q10, and essential fatty acids like DHA.

Bioidentical Progesterone Can Help

Over the past three decades the use of bioidentical progesterone cream has been a popular health option to help women overcome issues of estrogen dominance as well as symptoms of menopause, an approach made popular by John Lee, M.D. In order to maximize the likelihood that such an approach could be of use to you it is important to understand your overall health (are you estrogen dominant and why), as well as the dose and type of progesterone to use.

Bioidentical progesterone is available in OTC creams, through compounding pharmacies, and by traditional prescription.

There are also non-bioidentical forms of progesterone drugs which are very dangerous and should never be used.  It has been demonstrated that non-bioidentical progesterone increases the risk of cancer, whereas bioidentical progesterone has the opposite effect and is protective.

Progesterone drugs like Wyeth’s Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate), which was implicated in the Women’s Health Initiative study along with horse urine extract, exist so that drug companies can patent something to sell, not because it is good for your health.  Provera is not bioidentical, and is associated with highly toxic side effects including almost every symptom of estrogen excess!

The OTC creams have been on the market for three decades – and I personally have used them with thousands of women.  Bioidentical progesterone is synthesized from wild yam.  It is from a natural source.  It is now synthetic and bioidentical, meaning it was changed from the precursor molecules in wild yam into the identical progesterone hormone that your body produces.  Most OTC products contain 20 mgs of progesterone per ¼ tsp.

These products fall into a gray regulatory area as far as the FDA is concerned.  The FDA allows them on the market as cosmetic moisture creams.  Companies selling them cannot explain that the progesterone (or estrogen in the case of an estrogen-containing cream) is absorbed or has any effect on a woman’s health.  Otherwise, the FDA will view that company as selling an unapproved drug.  In other words, the FDA allows the cream products on the market but doesn’t want you to understand how to use them.  This is of course better than not being on the market at all – and there is legitimate concern the FDA could reverse its decades-long policy – which would be detrimental to the health of many women who rely on these creams for noticeable health benefits.   

While studies on progesterone creams show them to be safer than drugs, their effectiveness at quenching menopausal symptoms is up in the air.  A number of studies support benefits, and others do not.  This is because studies do not separate women according to their overall health and degree of estrogen dominance, health history, etc.  In other words, the source of many estrogen dominance issues is not a lack of progesterone and a woman would be better off addressing such an issue or at least working on it while simultaneously trying some progesterone.  Progesterone will never be a “one stop solution.”

As can be seen from the previous section on estrogen dominance, any woman could be having multiple reasons for estrogen excess.  These symptoms will have a monthly severity – how bad are they?  They will also have a trend – how long have they been going on?  Simply giving progesterone may or may not work.  The best approach is improving any obvious issues that could be causing estrogen excess.  The use of progesterone would be part of an adrenal, thyroid, and stress support protocol, not the only thing being done.  Many times, women would find they don’t need any progesterone when their adrenal function, thyroid function, and stress demands are in better shape.

Another key to the safe use of bioidentical hormones is to use an amount that is at or below what your body would normally produce.  For example, during the second half of your menstrual cycle your ovaries produce around 25 mgs of progesterone a day.

It is not known exactly how much progesterone is absorbed through the skin creams; however, it is likely to be less than half.  One study using 40 mgs of progesterone cream each day found that blood levels never rose higher than normal production, while being very effective at reducing the symptoms of menopause.  Another study showed that 80 mgs of cream per day raised blood levels similar to a 200 mg oral capsule of the prescription drug.

There are three basic menstrual situations for any woman using progesterone; a) she is having regular cycles, b) she is no longer having cycles, c) she is in limbo land and never knows if or when the next cycle will come.

Progesterone cream for regularly menstruating women of any age can be a miracle.  It is extremely beneficial for almost any symptom of PMS or estrogen dominance – especially nasty menstrual headaches.  40 mg of progesterone cream has been shown to be protective against surplus estrogen exposure.  As such, it is always worth a try for any woman who is having difficulties. In my experience it is likely to be of help more than 75% of the time, especially when used as part of a program for overall health improvement.

Most women use ¼ tsp per day from day 14 of the month (day 1 is the first day of your period), until day 28 (or the day your period starts).  Some women find it helpful to go to ½ tsp per day from days 21 – 28, to help with stubborn symptoms.

It is relatively easy to judge if such an approach is helpful or not.  The most common side effect is getting a headache (rather than getting rid of one).  Other women find that it just doesn’t help or may even seem to aggravate symptoms.  In such cases, the progesterone obviously isn’t working, so don’t use it.

Common sense tells you that if it helps, and you are using a dose that is at or below what your body naturally produces, then you have found a safe support system for hormonal balance.  If that isn’t happening, even if you have a lab score with low progesterone or all the symptoms of estrogen dominance, you need to find a different solution.  Don’t go on month after month doing something that isn’t helping.

During menopause, especially to help lower hot flashes and support mood, it is typical to try ¼ to ½ tsp of progesterone every day.  Once again, this either helps or not.  If you can’t tell a significant benefit, free of any undesirable side effect symptoms, then I wouldn’t use it.  It is far more typical that progesterone is more helpful than not – but if for some reason it isn’t doing the job then move on to something else.

Women with erratic menstrual cycles during menopause will often use progesterone to stabilize mood and help hot flashes, and they typically use it every day.  In some cases your body may be trying to run a menstrual cycle, and you could be feeling bloated or like a cycle is trying to come but it just isn’t happening.  This is a sign to try stopping the progesterone for a few days, which will often allow a menstrual cycle to occur.

Many women also use progesterone as part of a natural bone support program, since progesterone helps activate the osteoblasts that build bone.  A study of postmenopausal women has shown that in women with osteoporosis the use of progesterone prevented further bone loss.  However, women also taking soy negated the beneficial effects of progesterone (soy is also anti-thyroid).

You do not need a lab test to measure your progesterone if you are following the guidelines I have laid out above and you are keeping your use of the hormone within a natural level of your body’s production and you are paying attention to whether it is helping.  Ideally, you should be simultaneously working on improving your health in general and not just relying on progesterone to fix your problems.

Summary

Progesterone is the most commonly used bioidentical hormone, with over three decades of use in the United States.  In order to get the most benefit from using this hormone you should understand the subject of estrogen dominance and what factors may be contributing to any problem you are having.  It is well advised to work on these issues, along with any use of progesterone.  It is safest to use any bioidentical hormone at or below the level your body naturally produces.  Higher levels are unpredictable and as unnatural as hormone drugs.

The second part of this article explains hormones and aging in greater detail, including the risks associated with growth hormone, DHEA, and testosterone.  The safe use of estriol is explained, the only form of estrogen replacement women should consider.

Newsweek recently indulged in tabloid journalism, featuring Oprah on the cover with the headline:  CRAZY TALK, Oprah, Wacky Cures, & You.  The specific emphasis of the article was an attack on Suzanne Somers, Oprah, and bioidentical hormones.  The Genie is out of the hormone bottle, consumers are confused, the medical profession is in its typical funk, and somewhere out there is the health-improving truth.

One of the authors of the Newsweek article has her own “traditional” book on menopause and the other is a male in his early 40s – neither has any clinical experience in the subject and can do little more than toss insults and reference conventional points of view on hormones.  Newsweek is desperate for sales and is hoping the millions of Oprah followers will purchase the magazine.

Traditional medical people find it extremely annoying, even alarming, that Suzanne Somers and Oprah have generated such massive interest in the subject of bioidentical hormones.  After all, there is a legion of baby-boomer women who have no interest in getting older any faster than they have to.  Are bioidentical hormones really the “juice of youth,” as Suzanne Somers calls them?

The mafia-like FDA has gotten into the fray, attacking compounding pharmacies at the bequest of pharmaceutical competitors.  Indeed, the compounding industry hasn’t ponied up its bribery fees to the FDA.  The FDA can’t tell anyone how to practice, but they can regulate health claims and availability of bioidentical hormones.

As a clinical nutritionist I have helped women with bioidentical hormones for over twenty years.  I am a believer in the appropriate use of bioidentical hormones, and have witnessed their power to help first hand on many occasions.  However, there are clear pros and cons that any woman should fully understand prior to using any type of bioidentical hormone.

Traditional Western Medicine – Lacking Credibility on Female Hormones

Before pointing out what is potentially problematic about bioidentical hormones I must point out what is wrong with the typical group of Western medicine critics.  Those supporting this belief system have a recent history of killing and injuring tens of thousands of women with their “official” and FDA-sanctioned use of hormone replacement therapy.  In my view, these people have little credibility and should instead be standing trial in a court of law.

And I don’t just mean Wyeth, a primary producer of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) derived from horse urine, who is still fighting 5000 cancer lawsuits.  I’m talking about the prescribing physicians, who often browbeat women to tears if they didn’t want to go on estrogen and progesterone drugs – while selectively ignoring or downplaying the substantial body of risk data that existed prior to 2002.

The FDA can also be thrown into this group of incompetents, as they approved horse urine extract and sat by haplessly watching as women were killed and injured – a problem that continues to this day despite stepped-up FDA warnings.

A major setback for ERT marketing occurred back in July of 2002.  Data coming from the Women’s Health Initiative showed that a combination of estrogen from horse urine and non-bioidentical progesterone increased the risk of invasive breast cancer by 26%, strokes by 41%, heart attacks by 29%, blot clots by 100%, and total cardiovascular disease by 22%.  Based on the 6 million women taking these drugs in 2002 (2 billion in sales), the data suggests that during only one year there were an extra 4,800 cases of invasive breast cancer, 4,200 heart attacks, 4,800 strokes, and 10,800 blood clots – including 4,800 life-threatening blood clots in the lungs.

Remarkably, Wyeth still sells 1 billion dollars worth of horse urine extract a year, and they continue to try to spin their estrogen/progesterone drugs as safe.  Making matters worse, the marketing of these drugs was based on fraud in the first place.

There were only a few thousand women taking estrogen back in 1966.  That number changed dramatically with the release of the book Feminine Forever, by Dr. Robert A Wilson, a New York gynecologist.  In the book Dr. Wilson attributed all undesirable aspects of aging to a lack of estrogen – while downplaying and trying to explain away the troubling link to cancer.

Dr. Wilson quit his practice and set up a foundation to promote his ideas.  He and his wife went around the country giving seminars and his book received wide media coverage in major magazines.  The book became one of the first off label marketing pieces, freely given out to doctors as a promotional tool.

What was not known at the time was that the drug company that is now Wyeth (Ayerst Laboratories) was funding the foundation.

Throughout the 1990s I was an outspoken critic of ERT – a minority view that was based on basic science the medical profession couldn’t seem to grasp.

It was well established that increasing a woman’s exposure to her own estrogen, such as starting menstruation before age 12, increased the risk of breast cancer.  Anything that produces higher serum levels of estrogen places a woman into this risk.  It was basic common sense that extending a woman’s exposure to estrogen through ERT was going to place her into a similar risk pattern due to extended estrogen exposure.

Female cancer risk, especially breast cancer risk associated with estrogen replacement therapy had been reported for many years, and was extensively reviewed back in 1999.  This data did not deter a majority of doctors from prescribing and pushing ERT on women with menopausal symptoms.

Even worse, the typical dose of estradiol at that time was .625 mgs taken every day (today it is .3 mgs).  In normal menstruation a woman is exposed to .4 mgs of estradiol for a few days every month around her ovulation.  Thus, this Wyeth-promoted prescribing practice exposed women to much higher levels of estrogen than she ever made naturally.  Furthermore, the Wyeth product also contains all sorts of horse estrones that are totally unnatural for a woman.  The FDA twiddled its thumbs.

Adverse data on Wyeth’s hormone drugs continues to pile up, with a recent study showing that their ERT nearly doubles the risk for lung cancer.

Another common problem with ERT (and birth control pills for that matter) is weight gain, which doesn’t always happen to everyone but happens so often that it is a major concern.  Doctors used to tell women that ERT was good for their heart even while they were gaining 15 pounds – it just didn’t add up – credibility was woefully lacking.  Weight gain, especially after menopause, is also linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

I should also point out that the actual risks of birth control pills are still unknown, even though they have been used by millions of women for decades.  One recent study presented at an American Heart Association meeting showed that for every 10 years of birth control pills there is a 20 – 30 percent increase in peripheral artery small plaques.

It is also known that women have ten times the rate of autoimmune disease as men – due to imbalanced and excess levels of estrogen.  This is because estrogen (estradiol) suppresses T suppressor cells, leaving them out in the circulation longer and more likely to adversely react to inflamed tissue.  It wasn’t long before lupus was reportedly caused by women taking horse urine extract.  This information is likely to apply to any autoimmune disease – if researchers bothered to study the issue.

The medical use of ERT, as pushed by various drug companies, condoned by the FDA, and adamantly pushed on many women by doctors, was a clear violation of the most basic creed of a physician to first do no harm.  It is an example of a lack of intelligence and inability to predict the obvious consequence of known principles of biochemistry relating to the drugs they prescribe, a problem that continues to plague their Big Pharma-sponsored profession.

Any woman seeking to understand how to use bioidentical hormones to support her health should also understand this history, and know that the FDA, drug companies, and the medical profession itself have very little credibility or useful information to offer on this subject.  Thus, the trite phrase to “consult your doctor” on the subject of female hormones is a pointless waste of time and may even be dangerous to your health.

Female Hormone 101

I view the safety issue surrounding bioidentical hormones as one of consumer education.  There are a number of essential points any woman should clearly understand about what her body is doing and what that means.  Let’s begin at the beginning, with a basic understanding of hormones and general health.

In the first two weeks of your menstrual cycle your brain releases a hormone signal called FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), which travels to your ovaries and ripens an egg.  As your egg ripens it releases estradiol, a form of estrogen required for normal reproductive function.  As estradiol levels rise in your blood it signals to your brain that an egg is ripe.  Once your brain knows this it switches to an androgen signal called LH (luteinizing hormone), which stimulates the release of your egg.  For the second half of your menstrual cycle the follicle that was housing your egg now produces progesterone (from what is called the corpus luteum).  Progesterone helps attach protein to the wall of your uterus should you become pregnant.  Estradiol is coordinating the proliferation of tissue that makes this process possible.

If you are not pregnant then progesterone production stops, in turn starting the sheathing of the protein build-up off the wall of your uterus – which is your menstrual cycle.

Your menstrual cycle is energy intense.  You have to put a steak dinner’s worth of protein onto the wall of your uterus every day.  If you don’t eat enough protein, especially the week before your menstrual cycle, then your body will take apart muscle proteins and even the neurotransmitter proteins that keep your mood elevated.  A lack of dietary protein is the most basic nutritional reason for a poor mood associated with PMS.

In addition to protein other foods most commonly lacking from the diet of any woman with any type of PMS are fruit, vegetables, and essential fatty acids.  The greater the junk food and sugar content of her diet, the more likely there are to be problems.  As stress and/or physical demands increase, problems multiply and dietary weaknesses become more important.

Anorexia and excessive exercise are two issues in young women that reflect inadequate protein nutrition for the menstrual cycle, typically resulting in no cycles, erratic cycles, or skipped cycles.

On the other hand, as a woman gains weight then the efficiency of hormone signals, including signals to her ovaries, are less efficient and more at risk for problems developing.

Other basic nutrition includes B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and iron.  B vitamins are needed to assist protein to work correctly, as well as to help offset stress.  Calcium and magnesium are vital for a pain-free menstrual cycle, and along with essential fatty acids their lack is the most common reason for menstrual cramps.  Iron is often lacking in women who eat little or no red meat, who exercise a lot, or who have heavier menstrual cycles.  A lack of iron will cause fatigue that is aggravated as the menstrual cycle progresses and can produce almost every symptom of hypothyroid, including weight gain.

A goal that reflects health is that your menstrual cycle comes and goes every month with a minimal amount of trouble or distraction.  Your menstrual cycle receives a higher demand for nutrition than any other system in your body, as this is all about survival of the human race.  It is a monthly test of how well you did ALL MONTH LONG managing your overall health.

If you are approaching menopause and you have a long-term history of problematic menstrual cycles, you have more risk associated with the use of estrogen to suppress or modulate uncomfortable symptoms.  You are also more likely to have more hot flashes.

What is Estrogen Dominance?

Any woman of menstrual age, including women who are pre-menopausal, should do everything in their power to reduce the symptoms of estrogen dominance.  This is vital for reducing the risk of any type of female cancer and autoimmune disease.

The symptoms of excessive estrogen are any of the following:  heavy menstrual cycles, excess clotting with menstrual cycle, abnormal bleeding/spotting between cycles, breast swelling and tenderness, fibrocystic breasts, endometriosis, fluid retention, or headaches with cycle.

Oftentimes women with a history of estrogen dominance end up with a partial or complete hysterectomy.  Gall bladder problems are also typical, as surplus estrogen super-concentrates cholesterol in their gall bladder causing sludge and stones.  Cellulite is always made worse by excess estrogen and in some cases estrogen dominance problems may be the cause of cellulite.

The following is a list of the primary topics that contribute to or cause estrogen dominance, besides the basic nutritional deficiencies listed in the previous section.  Many women have problems in all of these areas.

1)  Extra pounds of fat.

Fat cells produce another form of estrogen called estrone.  Think of estrone as a buffer to help regulate blood levels of estradiol.  In other words, estradiol can be converted into estrone to “store it” and estrone can be converted to estradiol to “make it active.”  Having a back up system to maintain levels of needed estradiol for reproductive purposes is vital.

Remember, women have a naturally higher percentage of body fat than men so as to have the available energy to feed a child – a survival necessity.  Fat serves multiple roles in this grand plan.  Gaining extra weight messes this up, not only producing excessive amounts of estrogen, but hormones in general become resistant to normal communication with each other.  This sets up a highly inflammatory and pro-carcinogenic health-risk situation.

Problems with excessive amounts of the fat-hormone leptin drastically aggravate ovarian function and can make female hormone function miserable (such as causing polycystic ovarian syndrome).  Losing weight in a healthy way, if overweight, is vital for normal female hormone function.

2)  Estrogen-like chemicals.

Estrogen-like chemicals pose a grave threat to female and male health.  Bisphenol A from plastics is one example, many of the pesticides used on food is another, and Monsanto’s PCBs are yet another.  These tend to absorb into fat and interact with estrogen receptors.  They likely play a large role in the earlier onset of menstruation in young women, and they certainly pose a serious female cancer risk – especially in women with genetic susceptibility.

Compounds that protect your liver and help you clear these toxins are now general dietary recommendations simply for protection – since our government has no guts to make any big company clean up their environmental trash.  Nutrients like Milk thistle extract, chlorella, and R-alpha lipoic acid are top choices, as is the dietary intake of a wide variety of vegetables.  The greater an individual’s chemical sensitivity, the more likely there are to be problems with toxins and adverse female hormonal interactions.

3)  The failure to clear estrogen – digestive problems.

Estrogen levels peak mid cycle and are then cleared out of your blood by your liver.  Your liver binds estradiol to another compound, a process known as conjugation.  This package is then sent through your bile, through your gall bladder, into your digestive tract, and hopefully out.  A major problem occurs when there is an overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria in your gut – typically reflected by symptoms of gas, bloating, constipation, irritable bowel, etc.  In this situation the bacteria can “eat” the conjugation bond, causing estradiol to be released in your digestive tract and to re-enter your general circulation.

This problem is a common source of excess estrogen.  It is almost always happening in cases of inappropriate estradiol-drive tissue proliferation like endometriosis, as well as cyst formation – and of course cancer risk.  Extra dietary or supplemental fiber and acidophilus are basic steps to help.  Digestive problems may need a more significant strategy for improvement – and solving them is vital to female hormonal health

4)  Pregnancy.

Even a healthy pregnancy can act as a jolt to hormone balance.  While some women find their menstrual cycles actually run better after pregnancy, far more are likely to find symptoms of estrogen excess have now begun even though they did not exist prior to pregnancy.

In essence, the routine demands of pregnancy are a form of stress to metabolism, thyroid function, and female hormones.  The typical result is a lack of progesterone, described next.  However, full energetic and metabolic repair following pregnancy is always a good idea, so that pregnancy is not noted as the time when your health started to decline (a common finding for many women).  This is oftentimes quite a challenge as women try to juggle the demands of children, working, sleeping adequate hours, and maintaining good self-care habits like exercise.

5)  The lack of progesterone – too much stress.

One function of progesterone is as a natural balancing compound to estradiol.  The precursor compounds for progesterone production are also used to make adrenal hormones that combat stress.  If stress is too high, or a person is too malnourished, progesterone may be converted into stress-fighting hormones.  Unfortunately, this leaves estradiol levels high due to the relative lack of progesterone.

By supporting adrenal health and managing stress better, progesterone is spared this fate.  Almost every woman knows that if she has had a more stressful or physically demanding month, then symptoms of PMS or menopausal hot flashes are likely to be worse.  Basic nutrition for adrenals includes higher dietary protein, B vitamins – especially pantethine, vitamin C, Q10, and essential fatty acids like DHA.

Bioidentical Progesterone Can Help

Over the past three decades the use of bioidentical progesterone cream has been a popular health option to help women overcome issues of estrogen dominance as well as symptoms of menopause, an approach made popular by John Lee, M.D. In order to maximize the likelihood that such an approach could be of use to you it is important to understand your overall health (are you estrogen dominant and why), as well as the dose and type of progesterone to use.

Bioidentical progesterone is available in OTC creams, through compounding pharmacies, and by traditional prescription.

There are also non-bioidentical forms of progesterone drugs which are very dangerous and should never be used.  It has been demonstrated that non-bioidentical progesterone increases the risk of cancer, whereas bioidentical progesterone has the opposite effect and is protective.

Progesterone drugs like Wyeth’s Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate), which was implicated in the Women’s Health Initiative study along with horse urine extract, exist so that drug companies can patent something to sell, not because it is good for your health.  Provera is not bioidentical, and is associated with highly toxic side effects including almost every symptom of estrogen excess!

The OTC creams have been on the market for three decades – and I personally have used them with thousands of women.  Bioidentical progesterone is synthesized from wild yam.  It is from a natural source.  It is now synthetic and bioidentical, meaning it was changed from the precursor molecules in wild yam into the identical progesterone hormone that your body produces.  Most OTC products contain 20 mgs of progesterone per ¼ tsp.

These products fall into a gray regulatory area as far as the FDA is concerned.  The FDA allows them on the market as cosmetic moisture creams.  Companies selling them cannot explain that the progesterone (or estrogen in the case of an estrogen-containing cream) is absorbed or has any effect on a woman’s health.  Otherwise, the FDA will view that company as selling an unapproved drug.  In other words, the FDA allows the cream products on the market but doesn’t want you to understand how to use them.  This is of course better than not being on the market at all – and there is legitimate concern the FDA could reverse its decades-long policy – which would be detrimental to the health of many women who rely on these creams for noticeable health benefits.

While studies on progesterone creams show them to be safer than drugs, their effectiveness at quenching menopausal symptoms is up in the air.  A number of studies support benefits, and others do not.  This is because studies do not separate women according to their overall health and degree of estrogen dominance, health history, etc.  In other words, the source of many estrogen dominance issues is not a lack of progesterone and a woman would be better off addressing such an issue or at least working on it while simultaneously trying some progesterone.  Progesterone will never be a “one stop solution.”

As can be seen from the previous section on estrogen dominance, any woman could be having multiple reasons for estrogen excess.  These symptoms will have a monthly severity – how bad are they?  They will also have a trend – how long have they been going on?  Simply giving progesterone may or may not work.  The best approach is improving any obvious issues that could be causing estrogen excess.  The use of progesterone would be part of an adrenal, thyroid, and stress support protocol, not the only thing being done.  Many times, women would find they don’t need any progesterone when their adrenal function, thyroid function, and stress demands are in better shape.

Another key to the safe use of bioidentical hormones is to use an amount that is at or below what your body would normally produce.  For example, during the second half of your menstrual cycle your ovaries produce around 25 mgs of progesterone a day.

It is not known exactly how much progesterone is absorbed through the skin creams; however, it is likely to be less than half.  One study using 40 mgs of progesterone cream each day found that blood levels never rose higher than normal production, while being very effective at reducing the symptoms of menopause.  Another study showed that 80 mgs of cream per day raised blood levels similar to a 200 mg oral capsule of the prescription drug.

There are three basic menstrual situations for any woman using progesterone; a) she is having regular cycles, b) she is no longer having cycles, c) she is in limbo land and never knows if or when the next cycle will come.

Progesterone cream for regularly menstruating women of any age can be a miracle.  It is extremely beneficial for almost any symptom of PMS or estrogen dominance – especially nasty menstrual headaches.  40 mg of progesterone cream has been shown to be protective against surplus estrogen exposure.  As such, it is always worth a try for any woman who is having difficulties. In my experience it is likely to be of help more than 75% of the time, especially when used as part of a program for overall health improvement.

Most women use ¼ tsp per day from day 14 of the month (day 1 is the first day of your period), until day 28 (or the day your period starts).  Some women find it helpful to go to ½ tsp per day from days 21 – 28, to help with stubborn symptoms.

It is relatively easy to judge if such an approach is helpful or not.  The most common side effect is getting a headache (rather than getting rid of one).  Other women find that it just doesn’t help or may even seem to aggravate symptoms.  In such cases, the progesterone obviously isn’t working, so don’t use it.

Common sense tells you that if it helps, and you are using a dose that is at or below what your body naturally produces, then you have found a safe support system for hormonal balance.  If that isn’t happening, even if you have a lab score with low progesterone or all the symptoms of estrogen dominance, you need to find a different solution.  Don’t go on month after month doing something that isn’t helping.

During menopause, especially to help lower hot flashes and support mood, it is typical to try ¼ to ½ tsp of progesterone every day.  Once again, this either helps or not.  If you can’t tell a significant benefit, free of any undesirable side effect symptoms, then I wouldn’t use it.  It is far more typical that progesterone is more helpful than not – but if for some reason it isn’t doing the job then move on to something else.

Women with erratic menstrual cycles during menopause will often use progesterone to stabilize mood and help hot flashes, and they typically use it every day.  In some cases your body may be trying to run a menstrual cycle, and you could be feeling bloated or like a cycle is trying to come but it just isn’t happening.  This is a sign to try stopping the progesterone for a few days, which will often allow a menstrual cycle to occur.

Many women also use progesterone as part of a natural bone support program, since progesterone helps activate the osteoblasts that build bone.  A study of postmenopausal women has shown that in women with osteoporosis the use of progesterone prevented further bone loss.  However, women also taking soy negated the beneficial effects of progesterone (soy is also anti-thyroid).

You do not need a lab test to measure your progesterone if you are following the guidelines I have laid out above and you are keeping your use of the hormone within a natural level of your body’s production and you are paying attention to whether it is helping.  Ideally, you should be simultaneously working on improving your health in general and not just relying on progesterone to fix your problems.

Summary

Progesterone is the most commonly used bioidentical hormone, with over three decades of use in the United States.  In order to get the most benefit from using this hormone you should understand the subject of estrogen dominance and what factors may be contributing to any problem you are having.  It is well advised to work on these issues, along with any use of progesterone.  It is safest to use any bioidentical hormone at or below the level your body naturally produces.  Higher levels are unpredictable and as unnatural as hormone drugs.

The second part of this article explains hormones and aging in greater detail, including the risks associated with growth hormone, DHEA, and testosterone.  The safe use of estriol is explained, the only form of estrogen replacement women should consider.

About the Author

Byron J. Richards, Founder/Director of Wellness Resources, Inc., is a Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist and a world renowned natural health expert. Richards is the first to explain the relevance of leptin and its link to solving obesity.

your favorite experienced horse-person author?

trainer, medical expert, ground work expert, care expert, or otherwise.

Mark Todd “Charisma.” It’s not a “how to” book, however. I also really like Sally Swift and her teaching has helped me a lot in riding and teaching, Jane Savoie, too. Also Museler “Riding Logic” ; Also Steinkraus, Kursinski, Kyrkland, Podjaski and John Lyons, gosh – lots of really good trainers and riders out there whose written word is really helpful once you have some practical experience you can apply it with. I love reading books by trainers and riders whose methods are tried and proven!

PS Nothing you can do now to take lessons with Sally Swift – passed away, in April of last year, unfortunately.

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Horse of a Different Color $6.16 Country music had no bigger story in 2004 than the rise of the Muzik Mafia, a renegade group of Music City misfits led by Big & Rich (Big Kenny Alphin and John Rich, the latter formerly of Lonestar) and Gretchen Wilson. Both acts shook up Nashville’s lethargic, formulaic format–Wilson with her take-no-bull brand of redneck chic, and Big & Rich with their eclectic, wild-haired blend of honky-tonk,…

Brainwashed $5.44 Completed by George Harrison’s son Dhani and Jeff Lynne (Traveling Wilburys, Cloud Nine) after the ex-Beatle succumbed to a long illness in November 2001, Brainwashed is a bittersweet reminder of the myriad contradictions that made Harrison such a compelling figure. One of the most warm, melodically rich albums in a career pockmarked by personal frankness and professional indifference in its latte…

HORSES in the water of ATLANTIC OCEAN ( like a scene from a “horse book” by Twombly Publishing

Are you Ready to Buy your First Horse

You’ve loved horses ever since you were a kid and have always dreamed of owning one. You’ve spent the last three years taking horseback riding lessons. You know how to tack up, muck out, and have read just about every book out there on the care and feeding of horses. No one can doubt that you’ve put your time in. Horses are no fleeting fancy, but are a hobby that is here to stay!

So, are you ready to buy your first horse? Well, before you break out your checkbook you need to take stock of a few things in your life to determine whether horse ownership is right for you.

• Do you have the knowledge? How much time have you really spent around horses, and has it been hands-on? If you ride at a fancy stable that tacks and untacks your horse for you then guess what? You aren’t having the full horse experience! Make sure you know what is really involved in caring for, feeding, and cleaning up after your horse. A great way to learn about all that is involved in horse ownership, without making a long-term commitment, is to lease a horse. Try leasing a horse for a year or two and then decide if horse ownership is really for you.

• Now that you know what is involved, do you have the desire? Horse ownership is a tremendous amount of work. Are you up for it? If you aren’t, that’s perfectly okay. If you really love riding horses but don’t enjoy all the extra stuff that goes along with them, then why not just keep taking riding lessons? Ask yourself what you really love about horses. If you love things like mucking out, grooming, feeding, and taking care of horses, then you would probably make a great horse owner!

• Do you have the time for horse ownership? No more showing up at the barn, riding for an hour, and then heading home to your real life. When you are a horse owner, horses are your real life. If you travel frequently, can’t or don’t want to commit to a regular schedule, or have a very busy work or family life, then this might not be the right time in your life for horse ownership. Remember, horses must be fed, watered, and cared for according to schedule, and it’s up to you to be able to maintain that schedule.

• Do you have the space for a horse? You either need good accommodations at home, or you need to find a place to board your horse. If you are keeping your horse at home, at the very least he needs two grassy acres, a run-in shed, and an adequate water supply. If you keep your horse at home you also need to know that he’ll appreciate some company. It’s best if you have room for an additional horse, a goat, or some other companionable animal.

Remember, owning a horse is hard work and can be extremely taxing on your time and resources. Before you embark on the exciting journey of horse ownership, make sure you are ready!

About the Author

Michael Albert is an expert by profession but he is also writing articles on horses, stallion, and trailors for a long time. He has done his research work in the same field within the organization of Horse Chit Chat.To know more about horse chit chat, horses for sale, horse forum, horse trailers, equine forum, horse articles visit www.horsechitchat.com

What’s a good book to read?

I’m looking for a book that really touches all your senses, like The Little White Horse, or Harry Potter – something that pays attention to the details.. like how a food tastes like (and makes your mouth water), or how the wind feels in your face. Any recommendations?
I have already read all 3 books out in the Twilight series – I did love it! I am waiting for breaking dawn =P

The Twilight Series: (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn)
The Host
Stephenie Meyer

Blue is for Nightmares Series
(Blue is for Nightmares
White is for Magic
Silver is for Secrets
Red is for Remembrance)
Project 17
by Laurie Faria Stolarz

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Things Change
Nailed
Chasing Tail Lights
Cheated
By Patrick Jones

A Walk to Remember
A Bend in the Road
The Notebook
The Wedding
The Guardian
Nights in Rodanthe
Dear John
Message in a Bottle
True Believer
At First Sight
By Nicholas Sparks

She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Running With Scissors
Dry
By Augusten Burroughs

Wicked by Gregory MacGuire

Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

Go Ask Alice: anonymous

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Sam’s Letters for Jennifer
Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas
You’ve Been Warned
by James Patterson

Ordinary People by Judith Guest

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Night by Elie Wiesel

The Vampire Diaries Series
(The Awakening, The Struggle, The Fury, Dark Reunion)
by L.J. Smith

Homefree by Nina Wright

Prep
Lovesick
by Jake Coburn

Slaughterhouse-Five
Cat’s Cradle
by Kurt Vonnegut

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

Carrie by Stephen King

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

The Watcher by James Howe

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

In My Enemy’s House
Daniel’s Story
By Carol Matas

The Outsiders
That Was Then, This is Now
By S.E. Hinton

Anne Frank and Me by Cherie Bennet and Jeff Gottesfeld

The Other Shepards by Adele Griffin

The Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osbourne

Goosebumps by R.L. Stine

What Kind of Love? by Sheila Cole

The Giver
Gathering Blue
by Lois Lowry

Harmless
A Brief Chapter In My Impossible Life
By Dana Reinhardt

Wuthering Heights
by Emily Bronte

Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck

Romeo and Juliet
Julius Cesear
By William Shakespeare

To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee

The Pigman
The Pigman’s Legacy
The Pigman and Me
My Darling, My Hamburger
by Paul Zindel

Sweethearts
Story of a Girl
By Sara Zarr

Peeps
The Last Days
by Scott Westerfeld

Bloom
by Elizabeth Scott

Speak
By Laurie Halse Anderson

What Happened To Cass McBride
by Gail Giles

Remembering Raquel
By Vivian Vande Velde

Hiroshima
By John Hersey

Elsewhere: Gabrielle Zevin

Sweet Blood: Pete Hautman

Lucas: Kevin Brooks

Uninvited: Amanda Marrone

A Certain Slant of Light: Laura Whitcomb

Nothing But The Truth: AVI

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
By Roald Dahl

Hope this helps!