Superfoods Could Help Keep You Healthy

A new generation of new superfoods that tackle heart disease and diabetes could be developed following research into a protein that helps keep cells in our bodies healthy.

Researchers at the University of Warwick found that the protein, called Nrf2, continually moves in and out of the nuclei of human cells to sense the cell's health and vitality.

When Nrf2 is exposed to threats to the cell's health it oscillates faster and activates an increase in the cell's defence mechanism, including raising the levels of antioxidant.

The researchers, from the University's Warwick Medical School, successfully increased the speed of Nrf2's movement by artificially introducing health beneficial substances – potential components of new superfoods.
The beneficial substances comprise broccoli-derived sulforaphane and quercetin, which is found in high-levels in onions.

The team used these insights to develop new food supplements, which are currently being trialled to decrease risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.

Published by Antioxidants and Redox Signalling, the research investigated the ways in which compounds in fruit and vegetables keep humans healthy.

The research team are the first to record the continual movement cycle of Nrf2, which sees the protein oscillate in and out of the cell nucleus once every 129 minutes. When stimulated by a health beneficial vegetable-derived substance Nrf2's cycle sped up to 80 minutes.

Lead researcher Professor Paul Thornalley says, "The way Nrf2 works is very similar to sensors in electronic devices that rely on continual reassessment of their surroundings to provide an appropriate response".

Discussing the health benefits of the research Professor Thornalley argues:

"The health benefit of Nrf2 oscillating at a fast speed is that surveillance of cell health is increased when most needed, that is, when cells are under threat. By understanding how this process works and increasing Nrf2's speed without putting cells under threat, new strategies for design of healthier foods and improved drugs can be devised. Current designs may have selected substances with suboptimal if not poor health benefits in some cases."

Commenting on the research, Professor Andreu Palou, coordinator of the EU-funded BIOCLAIMS research programme said "A main nutritional challenge in Europe is to substantiate the beneficial effects of foods that are advertised to the consumers. The approach of the group of Prof Thornalley is opening a fascinating new window."

What all this means to the consumer is that Standard Process is a company that is continuously working to give us all real food supplements that offer real health benefits for a long-lasting, productive life.  That is why I have switched over to Standard Process and MediHerb...especially for those suffering from chronic health problems.

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This Year's Flu and A Very Worthy Cause

According to the CDC, this year's flu shots will, at best, be only effective in about 30% of the cases...for those who are interested in an  effective method of dealing with what appears to be a very nasty flu season, I suggest prevention.

There are a few formulations that are extremely helpful in avoiding the flu, if taken as soon as the first signs of flu appear.  These are readily available for anyone who is interested.  For those with previously compromised immune systems, there are specialized formulations also available.

For those of you looking for a hostess gift or just a yummy Christmas gift, may I suggest you look at the following website?    http://www.bakingmemories4kids.com/purchase-cookies/

This organization uses 100% of the proceeds from these cookies to send a significantly ill child on a family vacation to Florida for a week.  I saw this on a morning show, today, and feel that this is a wonderful way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

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Living a High Energy, Vital Lifestyle

You can live your life with energy and vitality. Unfortunately, our fast-paced, modern life-style promotes stress causing us to choose efficiency and convenience; sacrificing our health. The fact is Americans simply do not eat the right things in the right amounts. Studies show most of us do not get enough of the nutrients our bodies need for peak efficiency - especially those found in low trans fat, high-soluble fiber diets with the recommended amount of fruits, vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids.


Don't be put off by the claims and studies stating that supplementation is unnecessary as we can get everything our bodies need through a healthy, wholesome diet. We couldn't agree more. If you're eating a diet that includes the recommended 2-3 servings of organic fruits and 6-8 servings of organic vegetables daily (remembering to include 20 gm. of soluble fiber)  and wild caught fatty fish three times per week, along with a regimen of exercise, you may not need to add a high-quality, whole food vitamin or supplement to your diet.


If, on the other hand, what you eat is not always what you need, a natural, organic whole food supplement can help you repair/maintain a healthy, active life. Additionally, men and women over 40 have special concerns and needs.


A sensible regimen of natural vitamins and supplements may begin to fill the voids that start opening due to our stressful lives and enable you to maintain a vibrant edge and enjoy life to its fullest.


I have evaluated all the products that I carry to verify they have; NO: Sugar, Yeast, gluten, Sodium, artificial coloring or favors or ingredients of animal products.

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Beware if you Use This Dryer Product

The results from a long-term study have just been released...dryer sheets as well as commonly used plastics (including containers that many use in microwaves) contain a particular group of chemicals (phthalates) that have been linked to lower IQs in children whose mothers were exposed to them while pregnant.

The researchers noted that when comparing children of the same age (7 years old), the children that were exposed as fetuses, showed a significantly lowered IQ than those that weren't exposed to higher than "allowable" or "recommended"
levels. 

Whether or not this is scientifically "provable," it should give anyone who uses dryer sheets, plastic containers in microwaves, plastic toys, water bottles, cosmetics and vinyl flooring (to name the most commonly used items), reason to pause, at the very least.  I have written many blogs about the subject of the deleterious affects that chemical exposure can cause.  Please, consider not using conventional cosmetics and body care products or plastic water bottles and dryer sheets.  There are some pretty tricky alternatives to chemical fabric softeners and detergents that we use that cost next to nothing, won't hurt our environment and won't hurt us or our children.

This is just another example of the unintended consequences that we can reap from technology and inventions that we don't take the time to study and carefully consider.

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A new Method of Lyme's Transmission

There have been a number of studies recently released that indicate that Lyme's can be transmitted like an STD.  High levels of the spirochetes have been found in vaginal secretions.  The use of a condom is suggested for anyone with Lyme's who is having active sex.

A medical doctor out of Boston who has been studying and treating patients with Lyme's has found that after the second or third course of antibiotic therapy, the Lyme's reactivates and many patients contract arthritis.  This is irrespective of the type of antibiotics that the patient is taking.

Antibiotic therapy for Lyme's has not been effective for many, many people.  Some who have been taking antibiotics for years still feel horrible and can  experience explosive diarrhea, changes in cognition, exhaustion, fibromyalgia-like symptoms, chronic arthritis, depression, anxiety and sleep problems, among other symptoms.

There are alternatives to traditional therapy, using specific formulations, which have been shown to be highly effective for those suffering from Lyme's.  There is hope for those with this condition.

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Well, It Didn't Take as Long as We Thought

A few weeks ago, I attended an extremely informative seminar about the condition, Dysbiosis.  I wrote a number of blogs about this widespread problem
which is associated with autoimmune diseases as well as other GI tract conditions.  The lecturer stated that the up-and-coming medical "cure" for dysbiosis and its associated problems would be fecal transplants....instead of treating the causes of the dysbiosis.

I just, now, received an e-mail from a medical doctor touting the "latest" in gut-related illnesses and diseases: FMT=  fecal microbiota transplants.  Wow, that was sooner than any of us thought.  The lecturer thought these transplants would be happening within the year.

Fecal Transplants------------------ Dysbiosis Protocol.... which to choose?

My guess is that we'll soon be seeing ads from the "it which must not be named" industry after it develops meds and protocols for the FMT procedures. 

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Chronic Idiopathic Constipation

Constipation is a subject that still seems to be taboo in our society.  Since topics of conversation that are deemed 'unacceptable' are generational, I guess discussion about what and how we eliminate are forbidden since we were all in diapers.  The problem is that if our doctors don't know that a patient is having problems in this area, we can't help reverse a potentially very serious imbalance.

Let's look at this condition and see what is really happening.

Chronic= All/Most of the Time
Idiopathic=  Unknown Cause
Constipation=  Difficult & Infrequent Elimination

When being encouraged to take medications for something that is, admittedly, ambiguous in origin, we run the risk of not only not addressing the underlying cause but also making things worse.

Constipation is a symptom/effect that indicates a chronically imbalanced gastrointestinal system, caused by dysbiosis...a topic that we have talked about before.  The body is crying out that it isn't digesting or assimilating food and that there are inflammatory problems going on that need immediate attention.

Please, don't ignore or downplay constipation, especially if it is chronic.  Probiotics won't help more than symptomatically.  If they are needed on a daily basis to help alleviate symptoms, it is a further indication that there needs to be serious intervention with specific protocol and dietary changes.

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Antibiotics in Your Fish and Seafood: Another Source for Dysbiosis

When we think about food raised with antibiotics, we probably picture oversized chickens and plumped-up cows. But they’re also in our fish—both farmed and wild, finds a new study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.

Antibiotics are used in fish largely to treat and prevent disease, not to promote growth, says study leader Hansa Done, a PhD candidate at Arizona State University’s Center for Environmental Security. They’re dispersed into the water in fish farms and are sometimes injected into fish directly. And once they get into the fish, they generally stay there, even though their concentration diminishes over time.

 The study looked at 27 fish from 11 different countries, all bought at an Arizona supermarket. Researchers used a meat grinder to pulverize the fish and tested the meat for 47 types of antibiotics. They found residues of five antibiotics, some of which are also used to treat human diseases. Residues of a kind of tetracycline, for instance, showed up in farmed tilapia, farmed salmon and farmed trout. It was also present in wild-caught shrimp from Mexico—probably due to wastewater treatment plant runoff, Done says. Even fish marketed as antibiotic-free wasn’t off the hook: researchers found virginiamycin in one sample of farmed salmon bearing the label.
All traces of the drugs were within legal limits of what’s allowed—which is a victory for our food supply, says Done, but there is a caveat: “For there to still be something in there”—after untold stages of processing and months in Done’s freezer—“means that at one point, it was injected or fed a lot more,” she says. “We just don’t know how much.”
The problem with low-dose antibiotics isn’t that they’re immediately harmful to human health, Done says. It’s that high or low levels in our food supply can breed antibiotic resistance. “Antibiotics present at levels well below regulatory limits still can promote the emergence of drug resistant microorganisms,” the researchers write in the study. In a related meta-analysis of studies on antibiotics and seafood, Done found that antibiotic resistant bacteria in seafood has grown more than 8-fold in the past three decades.
Beyond fending off disease, it’s not clear what antibiotics are doing to the fish themselves. “There’s this rumor that high levels of [the antibiotic] oxytetracycline could lead to spinal deformities in rainbow trout if it’s fed to them during their growth stages,” Done says, though she notes a definite lack of research on the matter. In the six fish she tested, the group with normal spines didn’t have detectable levels of oxytetracycline, but the three with deformed spines did—though only very slightly detectable levels, she says.

More research is needed

Maybe, just maybe, this might be yet another reason for the explosion of autoimmune diseases and other problems related to microbiota overgrowth.

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A Simple Way to Add Soluable Fiber to Your Diet

Building on my last blog about the importance of adding soluable fiber to the diet, I've discovered (I'm sure others have already figured this out) a way of preparing the old fashioned rolled oats that doesn't take very long.

In a jar with a lid, put in your serving of oats (usually 1/3 of a cup) with water (2/3 cup) or any 1:2 ratio, cover and refrigerate overnight.  Place the mixture into a large saucepan (this stuff will boil over, easily), cover and cook on 3 or 4 setting (electric stove top) for about 12-15 minutes.  Then, after turning off the heat, cover and let sit about 5 minutes.  Voile...all done.

I made a bit of a mistake this morning and added more water because some of the oats stuck to the bottom of the jar.  It looked like a big wet mess, but after the initial 10 minutes of cooking, I turned the heat up, took the cover off the pan and continued to cook (and stir, often) the mixture until all the water was absorbed.  It was creamy and delicious.  I added 1 tbsp. of Hemp hearts, some crushed almonds, a little pink salt and some coconut palm sugar and cinnamon.  You could add some raisins, if you'd like.

Enjoy!

The Real Reason for Our Allergies and Food Reactions

We remember that there is a difference between an allergic reaction (requiring an antigen that causes anaphylaxis) and an adverse reaction to foods (causing us specific discomfort after ingesting the offending food).  Interestingly enough, discounting some genetic-mediated factors, the reason for both problems is virtually the same....dysbiosis.

 A few blogs back, I introduced the concept of dysbiosis, but not the causes.  I thought I'd discuss a bit about the etiology of this wide-spread problem.

Our intestines contain both native and acquired microbiota.  We inherit our native bacteria from our mothers....except if we are delivered via C-section.  Then, our flora becomes skin, rather than bowel-based.  We also are able to re-populate our native flora by eating specific foods....soluable fiber and fermented foods.  Without these two food groups, our native flora will diminish to the point of allowing "bad bacteria" overgrowth.  Add antibiotics to the mixture and our native bacteria don't stand a chance.

When the wrong type of bacteria overgrow our intestines, a cascade of imbalances occur to:  our anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic responses, the absorption of minerals, including iron, our population of potassium, vitamins B 5,7,9, and 12, our production of neurochemicals such as GABA, dopamine, norepinephrine, progesterone, histamine, serotonin and acetlycholine, the pH of our colon, bile acid metabolism and further small intestine bacterial overgrowth, to name a few.  The microbiota of our large intestine are trophic (synergistic to the function) to the heart, brain and pancreas...an imbalance to these areas contributes to heart disease, diabetes and cognitive dysfunction aka Alzheimer's.

Our "great American white trash food" diet, along with our propensity to take medications, especially antibiotics, for every little problem has lead us to this epidemic of dysbiosis.  Look at the increase in serious nut allergic reactions in the past 25 years, alone.  Dysbiosis has been shown to contribute to the rash of autoimmune diseases...via a phenomenon known as, "cross reactive immune response."  It is the cause of our inability to digest and assimilate foods...indicated by bloating, gas, heart burn, anemia, and the rash of bowel discomforts and diseases (most of which are caused by a corrupted autoimmune response).

The health of our native microbiota is directly related to the balanced function and health of our entire body.  Our diets are at the forefront of both the cause of and the solution to dysbiosis.  I wonder how many people are surprised to learn just how important our healthy bacteria are to us....

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For Anyone Taking Sleeping Pills: Alert!

There is some alarming recently published research which has examined deaths associated with "hypnotics," aka "sleeping pills."

The meds specifically studied were:  Ambien, Sonata and Lunesta.  No matter what the prescribed dosage, it was shown that a "strong association" exists between the use of sleeping pills and an increased risk of death or cancer. The risk of cancer was not attributable to any pre-existing disease.

The study listed the possible risks of death and cancer to "HR"  or hazard ratios of dying compared to not taking any sleeping pills.  The HR of only 18 doses per year was 3.6  and more than 132 doses per year had an HR of 5.3!

There are safe and effective alternative sleep aids available, right now.  My advice is for those taking these above-mentioned items; seek alternatives asap...we can help.

Hypnotics' association with mortality or cancer:  a matched cohort study. Daniel F Kripke, et.al. BMJU Open 2012;2(1): e00850.

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Bowel Symptoms may Indicate More Serious Problems

Recent research is showing us just how vital the health of our intestines is in relation to our overall state of health.  Even only one course of antibiotic therapy can result in significant imbalances in our gastrointestinal tract.  This state of bad bacterial overgrowth is known as, "Dysbiosis."

We now know that we are born with bacteria that are unique to us.  We also acquire bacteria from the foods we eat.  There are some 2-3 pounds of bacteria in our intestines, the most of which are contained in our large intestines...over a trillion cells!  We also know that there are many factors which can interrupt the normal intestinal environment which can result in improper digestion to the development of autoimmune diseases.

IBS, Chron's, certain food sensitivities, celiac disease, chronic diarrhea and constipation, diverticular disease, gastrointestinal infections, type 1& 2 diabetes, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, Graves disease, chronic active hepatitis, autism, chronic pain syndrome, depression and anxiety, breast and colon cancer, poor immunity, poor digestion, lack of well-being, low energy and fatigue are some of the conditions now linked via research to dysbiosis.  Gas, bloating and indigestion after meals are our bodies "wake up" call for the need to restore our gut to balance and health.

Unfortunately, probiotics won't correct or even make much of a difference in the restoration of the normal intestinal flora environment as they do not last very long and do not address the re-balancing of the unique flora contained within our bodies.  We need to rid the intestines of the amount of bad flora and reintroduce the unique flora in order to restore balance to the gastrointestinal tract. 

There are documented and effective dysbiosis protocol available that are able to restore our normal bacterial environment.  In my opinion, gut health is the foundation to all health.

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Fevers: How Dangerous are They to our Body?

How many times have we, as parents, run to the medicine cabinet to get medication that will get our children's temperature down when they wake up hot in the middle of the night?  We have been conditioned to fear fevers for the potential brain damage they may cause.  Here is an excerpt from a research article written by Judith DeCava, C.N.C. published in Biomechanical Research & Clinical Nutrition:

"Fever is a built-in mechanism of repair:  The muscles around bones become warm in order to leach ionized calcium from the bones and free the calcium where it is needed to activate white blood cells.

No one ever 'burned up' with fever; no one ever will.  Heat a pan of water to 106 degrees F., insert your finger and see how hot it is.  Do you feel anything at all except lukewarm water?  Yet, we have been taught to fear fever.

Parents frequently panic over the thought of seizures--called febrile convulsions--
that sometime occur with sudden high fever in children.  The Journal of Pediatrics (66:1009-1012, Dec. 1981) established the truth by stating that febrile convulsions in children do not injure the central nervous system (brain/spinal cord). Febrile convulsions....are really 'hypocalcemic tetany,' muscle twitching resulting from low blood calcium.  These muscle twitching do not cause brain damage and do not lead to epilepsy.

Although fever is a purposeful process to release stored calcium from bone reserves, it is better to supply calcium in the diet rather than withdrawing it from bones.  The pasteurization of milk alters the available free calcium.  In turn, pasteurized milk is not a good source of calcium."  (Something I have been saying to skeptical patients for years.)

As you may have read in past blogs, I recommend only one type of calcium supplement:  calcium from a whole food organic source that requires only one biochemical step to reach its ionized state.

Sugar Substitutes, Chinese food and Pain

According to the Annals of Pharmacotherapy,  foods containing MSG or aspartame can cause chronic pain sensitization.   Simply removing these items from the diet for as little as 4 consecutive month can result in the elimination of all chronic pain symptoms. 

My blog from April of 2013 references some great substitutes for aspartame.  As far as the MSG is concerned, most Chinese restaurants are amenable to offering dishes which do not contain this added chemical.

A report in the journal, Surgical Neurology, states that 59% of patients suffering from chronic pain subsequent to degenerative spinal disease can eliminate the need for pain drugs by consuming adequate levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids.

More information about the benefits of anti-inflammatory foods can be found in my October 7th blog.

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Do You Know Where that Vit. B. Supplement is Made?

Those who take a vitamin B supplement NOT from a whole food, organic source need to know that 90% of it is produced in China.  We all know the stringent codes under which that country works. 

Where is the other 10% of non-whole food B vitamin produced?  Reilly Tar and Chemical Company.  That's correct, the source of all non-whole food, organic vitamin B sold in this country is petroleum!

Whether it's sold in health food stores, pharmacies or the big chain stores, the source of the Vitamin B (and, other vitamins, too) is the by product of tar production and a petroleum product.

This, and many, many other reasons, is the primary reason that I only distribute whole food, organically produced nutrients.  I hope you find this information illuminating...I know I do.

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Ebola and Other Viral Problems

I told myself I wasn't going to comment on the news coverage of our latest viral infection, but there is so much misinformation out there, I couldn't let it go.

First, this is not an "outbreak," that every single news anchor and local station likes to call it...an outbreak necessitates the involvement of hundreds to thousands of people...it's an outbreak over in Liberia, but not here.

Second, the people who are being interviewed on the news demanding that all the residents of the apartment building that the newly diagnosed doctor lives in be guaranteed, are, again, misinformed.  And, putting them on the news I'm certain increases ratings, but does nothing to further the truth....one cannot contract this disease, casually.  This virus is transmitted via bodily fluid contact.

Third, this is a virus, not some unknown entity.  Unless one is already immuno-suppressed, sick or very old, the body will recover on its own if supported, nutritionally and with the proper fluids and electrolytes.

I wonder how many people know the number of deaths attributed to the flu, every year, in this country?  Over 2.5 MILLION, that's 807 deaths per 100,000 people! 

I think that a little perspective is always a good thing.  Keep your immune system strong, as I have elaborated on in past blogs this month, and everything will be fine. (Don't forget what added refined sugar does to the immune system...especially with what's coming up next week.)

Autism and Water...A Revolutionary Treatment

We've been reading a book entitled, Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols.  The author talks about the science that shows how being around water and, more specifically, our oceans, can cause changes in our emotional health.  One of the chapters talks about the results of various studies done connecting getting into the ocean and improvements in the emotional responses of autistic people.

Going into the water you leave autism behind...  Don King, whose autistic son, Beau, bodysurfs with him

"Clinicians who study aquatic programs designed for autistic kids discovered that parents and recreational therapists report increases not just in swimming skills, muscle strength and balance in children, but also greater tolerance of touch and ability to initiate/maintain eye contact.  In a Taiwanese study, children had fewer negative behaviors and demonstrated greater attention and focus and more appropriate conversations with peers following a ten-week swimming program."

I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with anxiety/depression and for those with autistic children/adults.  I'll leave you with part of a memoir written by a young man of 13 who suffers from autism...

"In the water it's so quiet and I'm so free and happy there.  Nobody hassles us in the water, and it's as if we've got all the time in the world.... Outside of the water there's always too much stimulation for our eyes and ears and it's impossible for us to guess how long one second is or how long an hour takes..."

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The New Marketing for Milk...Milk=Life

I have just seen the latest in television advertising by the dairy industry.  I have to say, in terms of effective marketing, I think this one deserves an "A." Back on July 15, 2013, I wrote a blog that contained a number of studies and opinions from medical doctors about the need/efficacy of our population (children and adults) to get their calcium from cow's milk.  I would highly recommend this as a great refresher for those who continue to believe the dairy industry's message.

You all know my opinion about cow's milk, so I don't think any further comments are necessary.

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month & Chiropractic Care Month

I think the American Chiropractic Association might want to re-think the timing of "Chiropractic Care Month."  Maybe, November.

I did a series on breast cancer prevention last year, during October.  You'll find it in the blogs of October 17-30, 2014.  I hope that it contains some helpful information for all of us to remember and apply it to our general health.

For those not dealing with breast cancer, might I recommend you consider the importance of chiropractic care in the prevention of mechanical imbalances, a major cause of pain and the primary cause of lost work days, in this country.

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Probiotics Help Prevent Tooth and Gum Disease

According to Dr. Alex Shvartsman, a wholistic dentist that I'm "linkdin" with, probiotics are a tool that he uses in his treatment and care of gum disease and tooth decay.  As I have said before, I wish he could be my dentist as I have never run into any other dentist that is actively practicing naturopathically (he's also an ND).

One word of caution, here. Not all probiotics are equally effective.  Even if the probiotics are manufactured from a "natural" source, there is only one sub-type of each of the different bacteria groups that has been shown to be biomedically active,and therefore, helpful.  That would rule out all the commercially sold products that supposedly contain active bacteria.

I wrote a blog on August 2, 2013, which contained information from a study about this very topic that supports the validity of Dr. Shvartsman's therapy.

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We're Coming Into Flu Season

As we approach yet another flu and cold season, I thought it might be a good idea for my readers to review the information that I posted in a blog that I wrote on January 2, 2014.

This is especially important as we want to keep our immune systems as strong and healthy as possible in light of what's going on right now in Africa and in some areas of this nation.

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Why I Have Never Liked Fish Oil Supplements

Many of you already know that I have discouraged patients from taking fish oils as their source of fatty acids for many years.  My opinion has been and remains that there is no where in the world's oceans that significant pollution hasn't invaded...including the supposed "pure" waters off the coast of Scotland.

In January of 2012, Consumer Reports released the results of their in-depth study of fish oil brands and rated whether they met basic criteria for quality.
The results verify what I have always suspected...that the brands they tested failed for various reasons.  Fish oils from CVS, Sundown, Nature's Bounty and GNC all contained PCBs...a group of highly carcinogenic chemicals found in the ocean.  The Costco Kirkland's brand should also be avoided as, for some reason, they had an enteric coating problem. Nordic Naturals tested for spoilage...something to which all oil-containing foods are susceptible.

Your best sources of essential fatty acids (the importance of which we discussed in my Oct. 7 blog) are hemp hearts (87% fatty acids), salmon that is wild caught from rivers and some nuts and seeds.  It's not that our rivers are any less polluted, but salmon don't live long and, as such, don't contain the high levels of carcinogenic chemicals that other fish (such as tuna) have....that's why I like the vegetable (which we carry) and nut sources of omega fatty acids, better than fish. See my February 14, 2014 blog for more information about alternative sources of essential fatty acids.

A certain amount of chemicals are considered "allowable" by the FDA in all our foods, supplements and drinking water.  We need to keep that in mind when looking for brands of supplements...that's why we only use organic,whole food supplements in the office...they have to pass much more rigorous inspections than the regular supplements, whether they be sold by health food stores, pharmacies or large retailers.

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Why Do We Experience Pain?

Pain is one of the most difficult of all symptoms to alleviate, permanently.  Those suffering from chronic pain know how difficult it is simply to get through another day.  The majority of time lost from work is as a result of pain...primarily low back pain.

Pain is the signal by our body that something is seriously wrong.  Those of you who are our patients or who have been reading my blog know that the body can experience up to 70% dysfunction before it signals a problem with pain.  I thought I'd give you a brief lesson in the biochemistry of pain.

Our bodies break down nutrients via metabolic pathways into usable molecules.  Fats are broken down into usable energy via specific pathways according to the types of fats we eat.  The hormone-like lipid compounds that are enzymatically derived from fatty acids are called, "Prostaglandins" or PGs.  I'll use the abbreviation "PG" just because it's easier.

There are three PG groups, referred to as, PG1, PG2 and PG3.  It's the PG2's that we are concerned with that result in pain.  The following foods are broken down in the arachadonic acid (inflammatory) pathway from:  red meats, organ meats, dairy fats, shellfish, mollusks and hydrogenated fats (we talked about these in a former blog).  Since this is an inflammatory-causing pathway, these foods are responsible for excessive PG2 production that can contribute to inflammatory diseases and problems (including cardiovascular disease, cancer, strokes, autoimmune disease, asthma, skin problems, hot flashes, PMS and menstrual cramps) and pain. Inflammation is the body's response to infection, injury and certain substances. 

What are the PG1 and PG3 compounds responsible for, you ask?  They are anti-inflammatory and healing.  There are specific fats that are metabolized into the PG1 and PG2 pathways, but there are substances that can inhibit PG1 &2 production and throw the metabolism into the arachadonic acid pathway....certain medications and even excesses of certain good fat-containing supplements.   Aspirin works by inhibiting ALL prostaglandin activity.  So, your pain or headache is resolved at the cost of the protection of the anti-inflammatory compounds.  For those interested in what supplements, foods or substances can cause a systemic inflammatory response, you may contact me, directly via the options listed on my website.

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Do You Know any Children who Experience these Problems?

The following is an excerpt from the book, Lick the Sugar Habit, by Nancy Appleton, Ph.D.--

"It's so simple, so simple.  If your child has a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep, cannot concentrate in school or at home, has low grades in school, suffers with allergies, is prone to headaches, is hyperactive or listless, is overweight, cannot go for more than four hours without eating, has a hard time keeping friendships or has colds or bacterial infections more than once a year, I suggest that you remove sugar (all forms) from his or her diet for two weeks....Once sugar has been removed from the diet, energy levels increase, concentrations levels become strong and self-esteem improves."

Your child need not suffer from all of the above in order to be reacting to too much refined sugar in the diet. If a child is experiencing some of the above mentioned problems, I suggest the parent not only look to refined sugar, but also to dyes and additives commonly found in prepared or prepackaged foods.  Alleviating many childhood maladies can be as simple as removing these things from the diet.

I refer the reader to yesterday's blog subject about the biochemistry of refined sugar on the body as to why sugar can cause so many negative and significant physiological reactions.

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Over 100,000 People Die Every Year From...

Let's back up a bit and go over the leading causes of death in this country:

Heart Attacks, Stroke, Cancer, Diabetes, Car Accidents, Suicides...

So, of the above, cardiovascular disease and cancer are the top two killers in this country.  The third and fourth leading cause of death isn't even mentioned in the above list.  I'll give you a hint:  every man, woman and child in this country average 13 of them a day; more than 4.02 billion of them are written every year. Yes, the fourth leading cause of death in this country is from PROPERLY prescribed and TAKEN medication... over 100,000 per year!!

Now, for those who might question the source of these statistics, it is:  JAMA.  So, that would make it difficult for those who are antagonistic towards alternative medicine to dismiss as biased.

Also, according to JAMA, 50% of all medications are improperly prescribed and more than 50% of patients take their medications, improperly.  When that statistic is taken into consideration, the death rate goes up to the THIRD leading cause of death.  Also, every year about 1.5 million people in this country experience an adverse reaction to medication so significant that it requires hospitalization.

I cannot imagine the hue and cry in this nation if ONE patient died from a visit to the chiropractor, yet, we live in silent acceptance of the deaths of tens of thousands of people every year. Amazing.

My next blog subject will offer a physiological explanation of why flu season usually begins around mid-November in this country.  Any guesses?

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Anibiotic-resistant drugs...What Can We Do?

Recently, there have been more reports about "super-bugs" that are being developed in hospitals.  The thought is that they are being created in the sinks and drains, of all places.  Simply put, the DNA of one bacterium is being transferred to the DNA of  another bacterium...creating a completely new bacterium that happens to be resistant to any of today's medications.

We need to remember that the foundation of all original medication was herbs.  Somehow, even the most "alternative-health" minded people frequently are convinced that they need to take drugs instead of herbs or other phytonutrient formulations in order to get well from the symptoms of a viral or bacterial infection.  In actuality, the correct whole food, organic formulations can be very effective as they support the immune system, nutritionally allowing the body to heal itself without side affects.

Supporting our immune systems with the correct formulations may allow us to avoid bacterial infections and viruses altogether...even in the height of cold and flu season.  One of the other causes of the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is the overuse and/or incorrect use of antibiotics, as in the over prescription of antibiotics for viral infections.  Doctors in Europe haven't prescribed antibiotics for children's ear infections for decades...can we say the same for doctors in this country? 

I recommend one or two formulations that can be taken everyday, especially in the winter months, that can help to keep our immune systems strong as well as help if we succumb to the symptoms of a cold or the flu.

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All About Oil and Cooking

Last week I was watching America's Test Kitchen.  In that episode, Chris was giving the results of their tests on olive oil.  I was particularly interested as I have been telling patients for years that the best source of olive oil was Spain, as it contains the greatest concentration of proanthocyanidins (the good nutrients in oils) in the world.  Sure enough, after all the testing that was done, his conclusion was the the olive oil from Spain was the best.  It's also the most expensive...around $38.00 per liter.  The reason for the cost is the quality of the oil.  Other olive oils don't contain the same quality of phytochemicals, even if the label says, "extra virgin."

What many don't know is that there is no defined quality control by the FDA as to what parameters constitute the extra virgin label.  As such, what Chris and his researchers found out is that the less expensive imported oils are in reality of lessor quality...my guess is that Italy keeps its higher quality olive oil for itself and ships us the leftovers.

Additionally, I agree with Chris in that one should not use olive oil in cooking...get a vegetable oil or high heat oil for those purposes.  The benefits of olive oil are optimally obtained in its raw or unheated state.  Avocado oil takes heating better than most other oils.  But, the rule when cooking is only cook oils in moderate heat.  Also, if you want to cook meat in oil, don't put the oil into the hot pan, but put it on the meat and then cook it on a moderate heat setting.

I encourage any of you who appreciates the benefits of olive oil not to cook with it but use it liberally on salads and cooked vegetables after they have been taken off the heat. Substitute oil for butter whenever you can.  It's truly worth the extra cost, especially since you don't need to use  much of the high quality olive oil.

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Some Facts about Chocolate and Pre-Menstrual Syndrome

I was reading a blog written by a self-described "chocoholic."  This person wanted to curb her dependence on chocolate and found that by eating organic, unsweetened chocolate nibs, she was able to do so.  The nibs are pure cacao and are very high in magnesium...something that helps relieve premenstrual symptoms.  Of course, one could simply take extra whole food supplements that are high in magnesium, too.

Here is the information the chocoholic found:

Here are 3 facts about Chocolate that might surprise you:

• When scientists measured brain activity in people eating chocolate they found that there was increased blood flow to the areas of the brain that are also activated when cocaine is taken!
• Chocolate contains the same 'happy chemicals' found in some recreational drugs such as ecstasy!
• It contains a neurotransmitter that affects the brain in the same way as the active ingredient in Cannabis

Some chocolate ingredients about which little is understood can directly effect the neurotransmitters in the brain.

• Chocolate contains trypotophan which the brain uses to make seratonin which is a neurotransmitter that can produce feelings of elation
• It also contains phenylethylamine. High levels of this neurotransmitter can stimulate the pleasure centres in the brain; normally, peak levels are reached during orgasm.

But chocolate also contains things that may be beneficial to us.

• It contains magnesium and low levels of which in the female body can cause a woman to experience pre-menstrual tension which would explain the craving that women can get for chocolate before their periods. Nice to know that it isn't all in the mind huh?
• Chocolate also contains IRON
• It contains theobromine which helps to relax smooth muscle in the lungs
• Chocolate contains flavanoids (these are also the ingredients in red wine) that help to prevent clotting and thin the blood.

Of course, if you are experiencing severe premenstrual symptoms, the problem may not be as simple as just adding magnesium to the diet.  Frequently, insufficient testosterone production can be a foundational problem and both the digestive tract and adrenals must be addressed as well as specific formulations to correct any nutritional deficiencies.

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Do You Suffer From Hypertension?

One of the most pervasive problems we face in this country is cardiovascular disease and too high blood pressure is often at the foundation of this disease.  Of course, the response is to get the blood pressure to a more manageable number by hypertensive medications.

Many years ago, the AMA researched the efficacy of hypertensive medication with some interesting results....50% of the people studied showed no difference in blood pressure whether they took medication or not. Not surprisingly, when one looks at the results of studies done by the pharmaceutical industry, those show different numbers....an increased efficacy of the effects of medication on systolic and diastolic readings.

Getting to the root issues of why one's blood pressure is elevated is another approach.  My guess is that most of you don't know the important role that proper amounts of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, a balanced liver, gallbladder and adrenals, essential fatty acids and calcium in the diet and the importance of formulations that aid in the elimination of excess fluids all play in the proper functioning of our vessels.... and, thus, our blood pressure.

When proper nutritional support is offered for the common underlying causes of the existing nutritional deficiencies, the results are frequently quite astonishing. 

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Too Little Salt Can be Harmful, Too

This month's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reports findings that indicate too little sodium consumption can be just as harmful to our health as too much sodium.

Sodium is an essential chemical necessary for electrolyte balance in our cells....too much and we risk cardiovascular disease and stroke,  too little and we increase that risk for heart-related diseases and/or death.

The researchers suggest the optimal daily intake be between 3 and 6 grams a day.  Now, this includes foods with naturally occurring sodium as well as added sodium.  I always suggest pink or Himalayan salt as they contain additional minerals necessary for proper assimilation and utilization of sodium.

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For Those who Take Antactids...

People typically take antacids because they get frequent heart burn.  An entire pharmaceutical firm's gross earnings are based around the need for the "purple pill."  However, those who experience frequent heart burn might be surprised at it's true cause:  too little acid and insufficient enzymes in the stomach.

The antacid approach offers the wrong solution as it is the wrong biochemistry.  Antacids neutralize one of the single most important of our bodily secretions:  hydrochloric acid.  Additionally, pepsin, a proteolytic enzyme (protein digesting) is necessary for proper digestion. 

Heartburn is an indication that there is insufficient acid production as well as insufficient enzyme production in the stomach.  As a result, the protein that is eaten actually putrifies in the stomach,  causing indigestion, malabsorbtion of nutrients, heartburn, gas and, frequently, flatulence.  A proper stomach acid environment is vital for our body being able to break down and utilize calcium.  Pernicious anemia ( a potentially fatal form of anemia) can also result from a stomach that is chronically low in hydrochloric acid (hypo or achlorhydria).

Guyton, the definitive expert on physiology ( and a really, really smart "guy"), says, in the text book, "Guyton's Physiology":

    "A substance called intrinsic factor, essential for absorption of vitamin B-12, is secreted....along with HCl.  Therefore, when the acid producing cells of the stomach are destroyed (as in chronic gastritis)....the person...develops pernicious anemia..."

Heartburn is not something to be ignored.  It indicates potentially serious and even possibly life-threatening problems, the underlying causes of which need to be identified.  Fortunately, there are formulations that are available to support the body, nutritionally.

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A Simple Fruit Cobbler

Here's my new favorite summer dessert that's not only yummy, but also very nutritious.  I like blueberry cobbler, made from wild grown and not cultivated blueberries.  While the cultivated ones are delicious and contain anti-oxidants, the wild grown ones contain twice the amount.  You can buy them in the frozen food section, so they are already cleaned and stemmed...you have to love that:  convenience with a super-food!

I use a 12 inch, oven-safe, non-stick pan (see last week's blog for specifics).

Ingredients:

20 ounces of wild-grown blueberries OR----
6 cups of sliced peaches WITH 8 ounces of wild-grown blueberries   (I like the combination of peaches/nectarines with the blueberries)
3/4 cup of coconut palm sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbsp. non-gluten flour

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl, until incorporated.   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Topping:

In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of Pamela's Baking Mix or Non-gluten flour with 1/2 cup coconut sugar, 1/4 tsp. pink salt, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, cut in 6 Tbsp. of cold butter and combine until the consistency of the flour is like coarse sand.  As an unusual touch, if you want, add 1/2 cup grated goat's cheddar cheese and then add about 1/4 or so cups of almond milk.  Mix this just until combined, making certain that the biscuit mix isn't too moist...err on the dry side.

Place the fruit mixture into the non-stick pan and drop the biscuit mixture by spoonsful over the fruit.  I like to try to keep the biscuit mixture about the same thickness so it bakes, evenly.  Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and completely done.

I suggest you place a large cookie or baking sheet under the pan in case there's a spill over.  Let the cobbler cool before serving.  This should feed at least 6 people.  This dessert is high in phytonutrients, anti-oxidants and low in sugar.  It doesn't get much better than than...enjoy!

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Do You Know What's In That "Silver Filling" from your Dentist?

The following is taken from a blog written by Alex Shvartsman, DDS, ND among other degrees.  I highly respect him and the type of dentistry he practices.  Many in this country do not understand the possible health affects that their amalgam fillings can cause.

The Minamata Convention on Mercury was held in Geneva Switzerland on January 10, 2013. The purpose of the multi-country treaty is to protect human health and the environment from the toxic effects of mercury.
In addition to agreeing on a ban on new mercury mines, the phasing-out of existing ones, control measures on air emissions, and the international regulation of the informal sector for artisanal and small-scale gold mining, the multi-country committee agreed on a global “phasing down” of amalgam filling use.

Public awareness on toxicity of mercury is surprisingly low.

A new Zogby poll shows that nearly 60% of Americans do not know that the major component of dental amalgam fillings is mercury – considered by toxicologists to be the most toxic non-radioactive element on earth. Mercury is a neurotoxin, a reproductive toxin, and a pollutant.  This number is not surprising because only 11% of Americans are told by their dentists that amalgam contains mercury and fully 23% do not know that there is mecury in “silver fillings."
What does our government say about dental amalgam mercury? It turns out that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)– allows dental industry to hide from consumers the fact that amalgam is 55% mercury. The FDA endorses the deceptive term “silver fillings” to describe this mercury product. In addition, the FDA promotes more amalgam use – not less, especially in the poor population. Furthermore, The FDA took down their original warning that mercury fillings should not be used in children and pergnant or nursing mothers.

The FDA is not keeping its promise.

While the U.S. government signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury – thereby pledging to scale down amalgam use, the FDA’s pro-dental amalgam position hinders the phasing out of dental mercury fillings.
It is up to the public to put pressure on the federal government to stay true to their pledge to the world, to eliminate mercury fillings.

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Is All Peanut Butter the Same?

This week, I had a request from a patient to write about peanut butter.  This person said that some people believe that all peanut butter is equal in quality. 

Commercial peanut butter contains hydrogenated and saturated fats. The hydrogenation process allows the peanut butter to remain the same consistency and the oil to not separate from the peanut butter.  The peanut butter is both heated and stabilized by adding chemicals to the product.  Any peanut butter that is stored on the shelf and has no separation between its oils and solids is hydrogenated.  The problem is that we have found that hydrogenation damages cells and tissues and the saturated fats cause inflammation and damage in arteries and veins.  Eating these types of fats can lead to cardiovascular disease and even strokes.

The peanut butter that contains separated oils from the solids is not hydrogenated.  Also, since the peanut butter is not overheated or processed, it contains less saturated fat.  This product should be stored just like any nuts, in the refrigerator, once opened.  Remember, exposure to heat and light causes a fat to saturate.

Oils are best eaten, unheated.  If you want to cook with oil, I suggest a high heat oil such as avocado or grape seed.  Other oils shouldn't be exposed to high temperatures, otherwise they change to saturated or trans fats.  Coconut oil is a saturated fat and, in my opinion, should be used sparingly and always in conjunction with an unsaturated fat.

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A Warning if You Use Colgate Toothpaste

Despite the slick commercials featuring a perky Kelly Rippa hawking Colgate for a whiter smile and fresher breath, you might want to throw that toothpaste away.  For the past 20 or so years, manufacturers have been including the chemical, triclosan, in their hand soap and toothpaste products.  A new study on animal fetuses shows that this chemical causes disruptions in their endocrine systems.

Most of the hand soap manufacturers have voluntarily pulled this chemical from those products, especially after all of Europe banned triclosan.  Minnesota is the only state to ban its use, interestingly enough.  Colgate categorically refuses to stop using this chemical in its Colgate Total products. The company cites studies confirming the safety of triclosan.  What they don't say it that these are industry studies, not independent studies. Remind anyone of the tobacco industry and its claims back a couple of decades ago?

Triclosan has been found in the umbilical cords of all the women who participated in a separate study about this chemical.  It was also found in the blood samples of their fetuses.  I am always amazed at the surprise that is elicited from the hosts of the shows (in this case, the CBS Morning Show) where these findings are announced.  Our blood contains over 800 chemicals and the banning of just one that has finally been identified as harmful isn't going to make that tremendous of a difference, but it seems to make people feel as though they are getting some sort of protection against damaging chemicals.

My recommendation continues to be for all of us to discontinue using patent medicines and chemical-containing personal products (which are all of the commercially produced ones).  We cannot avoid all the chemicals in the air, but we can certainly cut down on those that we put into our bodies or on our bodies, for that matter.

Caffeine and Hot Flashes

A new study suggests that caffeine use is linked to increased menopausal symptoms in post-menopausal women.

As many as 85% of women experience hot flashes during menopause. Hot flashes are vasomotor symptoms that cause a warm or hot flushed sensation that usually begins in the head and face and then radiates down the neck to other parts of the body. There may be red blotches on the skin. They can happen any time of day or night. If they happen at night (such as night sweats), they can interrupt sleep. Loss of sleep can eventually lead to irritability and fatigue.

In a recent study, researchers at the Mayo Clinic conducted a comprehensive survey on 2,507 women with menopausal symptoms between 2005 and 2011. Data on 1,806 women from the survey were ultimately included in the analysis.

The researchers found that women who used caffeine had significantly greater symptom scores for hot flashes and night sweats when compared to women who did not use caffeine. The authors noted that these findings remained significant even after adjusting the data for smoking and menopause status.

There are a number of effective nutritional support formulations for older women, including both herbal and vitamin supplements.

One very important point that this and other studies concerning coffee consumption fail to mention is that coffee is highly acidic and as such, it can be responsible for leaching calcium from bone...something that can lead to osteopenia or osteoporosis.

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Understanding Holistic Female Hormonal Health

Women's hormonal health is controlled by multiple factors at multiple levels. Our genetics, internal and external environment, our interpersonal relationships, demands made by others and ourselves, our diets and our self-analysis, to name a few, all contribute to our overall health.

Dr. Royal Lee, founder of Standard Process, said, "The whole nutrient complex is greater than the sum of its parts."  The same may be said for women's hormonal health:  it's so much greater than simply looking at a few symptoms such as weight gain, irritability or hot flashes.

Those of us alternative care doctors who work with women's special health issues, realize that hormonal care necessitates a triple approach:  chemical, physical and mental/emotional.  Within this triad, is each woman's epigenetic environment.  We know that our DNA can be altered.  About 20% of our DNA is encoded and unchangeable while 80% is alterable. What exactly are these components?

1.  Chemical.  This is crucial to our success with hormonal imbalances.   Diet, environmental factors, gut health, and other stressors have to be addressed in order to provide nutritional support for a healthy female endocrine system.

2.  Physical.  Here, we have to address digestive health.  This is not simply how you assimilate nutrients, but how healthy your immune system is, which affects your endocrine system....all parts of your endocrine system.  This is the primary reason that I evaluate sugar handling, thyroid function, adrenal function as well as ovarian health.  Additionally, many women need a safe, effective detoxification program provided for them to ensure optimal digestive health.

3.  Mental. Stress, relationship problems, work issues and financial issues are some of the challenges that occur on a daily basis.  These factors can lead to physical and chemical hurdles that can negate or derail any progress.  Women have been programmed to take care of everyone else, first, and if there's anything left over, that's about all they get....leftovers.  Add to this, the fact that women usually are the last ones to bed and the first to get up, we now see sleep loss and exhaustion added to the mix of problems. 

Lucille Ball once said, "Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.  You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world."

Women are the backbone upon which our family structure is built.  We women set the emotional tone of the family.  We deserve to be heard, valued, respected and given the best and most complete hormonal care available.  I consider it part of my calling to help provide that care.

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If You're Tired After a Night's Sleep, it Might not be Your Bed

I've noticed a new trend in the past few years...many patients are telling me that they never feel completely rested in the mornings.  Many of us live very full lives in which it may seem difficult to find the time just to catch our breath.  However,  after addressing the problems of stress, poor food habits and even a new mattress, may still report feeling tired most of the time.

What I have found, through my experience with the results of the foundational nutritional health analyses is that the tiredness is directly associated with how the body handles sugar.  I'm talking about added dietary sugar, from any source...including white foods, excess fruit or fast foods.  Over the years, we lose muscle mass, experience high levels of stress, tend to eat, "whatever is available," (which is usually simple carbohydrate-containing items) and no longer exercise as we once did.  All of this contributes to our body's inability to break down and assimilate sugars.

There are nine points that I check to see how the body handles sugar...it's called a Foundational Sugar Handling Analysis.  Most of us might associate the pancreas with sugar as it is responsible for the production of insulin, a hormone that aids the body in sugar assimilation.  In reality, there are five additional organs/glands that are involved with sugar handling.  After analyzing all six, I can accurately assess how the body handles sugar assimilation and provide the care/formulations necessary to re-balance and heal the body. 

I have seen a tremendous improvement in quality of sleep and energy levels in those patients who have gone through our nutritional sugar handling program.  The next time you wake up unrefreshed in the morning, it may be the sugar overload in some of your organs that is the problem.
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To Drink or not To Drink Red Wine...that is the question.

The May 12, 2014 issue of JAMA has just published results of a case history/clinical  study (one of the least "scientific" methods of study) in which over 700 old men and women from the Chianti region of France (I'm guessing they drink loads of red wine) were followed for 9 years.  Their levels of urine were tested as well as markers for inflammation, heart disease and cancer, assessed.

By the end of the 9 years, 268 of the participants, died. (Remember, this was not a randomized, double-blind study, so the conclusions are biased and probably not particularly accurate).  No association of the supposed protective properties of red wine were found.  The resveritrol was deemed, "unimportant,"  (my word) in its anti-inflammatory properties.

I'm going to continue to suggest one eat more dark fruits and berries that contain resveritrol than to try to get this from drinking alcohol.  I think the benefits of eating fruit that contains hundreds to thousands of phytonutrients is obvious in comparison to drinking red wine with its scores of additives that need not be included on any of the labels...unintended consequences may abound as a result.

By all means, if you enjoy red wine, have a glass (4 ounces) a day.  But, I'd caution everyone who believes that red wine offers significant anti-inflammatory protection to re-consider and eat dark berries, instead.

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The Most Important Element in Your Diet Is....

WATER!

I  know that so many of you live with husbands/partners/significant others who steadfastly refuse to drink sufficient water everyday.  The excuses are many and varied, but the bottom line is...we need to drink 1/2 our weight in ounces of water, daily.  Just as important is that we don't drink a lot of water at one time.  Too much water in a short period of time can cause electrolyte imbalances....potassium being the most easily washed away.  Eight ounces of water every half hour is optimal.

When any of those you love ask you why it's so important for them to "bother" drinking...here's a cautionary tale for you to tell:

There is a person whom I have been trying to convince to drink more water for years.  This individual typically only drank with meals (I've written about the problems associated with doing that) and only 6-8 ounces at a time.  Now, at an advanced age, even though this person is physically active, the body is showing signs of too little water over a period of time...  increased hydrostatic pressure in the kidneys leading to imbalances in the cardiovascular system. (This has been medically verified)  The reason for this, actually, has to do with acupuncture meridians. 

Meridian energy is divided into four categories: earth, wind, fire and water.  These four elements mitigate the balances in all of our meridians.  In this case, the imbalance is caused in the water-mitigated meridians...the kidney and bladder as well as the fire-mitigated meridian...the heart (triple warmer) because water controls fire.  So, now we need to re-balance this person's entire meridian energy system.

We need water in our daily lives,  no matter what someone's opinion may be to the contrary.  How easy is it to simply drink water and how devastating the consequences may be when we don't?
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High Insulin Levels & Breast Cancer

Insulin is the hormone that is responsible for maintaining normal blood sugar (glucose) levels in the body.  All food that we eat is broken down into energy by our cells and insulin is the transport system.  When the body is flooded with more sugar than it can process, insulin resistance results.  The interesting thing is that most people connect candy, sugary foods/drinks and other sweets with sugar, but don't understand that all refined foods, all white foods  and all grains (not pseudo-grains) are processed as sugar and cause the release of insulin from the pancreas...again, resulting in insulin resistance.

Excess carbohydrates that are not needed for energy are stored as fat.  Increased body fat increases estrogen levels and increased estrogen levels lead to estrogen dominance (as does excessive cortisol production via progesterone imbalance), which we already know leads to increased risks for breast cancer.

I'm sure some of you have heard that eating cruciferous vegetables helps to protect us from breast cancer.  While that's true, we know that one would have to eat between 3 and 5 pounds of them, everyday, in order to ingest enough of the phyto-chemicals in these vegetables to offer that level of protection.   

Cutting down on the simple carbohydrates, of all varieties, along with eating a diet high in complex carbohydrates (low-carbohydrate containing vegetables) will offer us the best possible dietary protection against insulin resistance and all the problems associated with this...cancer, diabetes, heart problems, nerve problems...and so on. 
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An Important Video to Watch About Food

Over the past months, I have written about the myths that many in the medical profession are still clinging to....fat in the diet makes you fat, eat lots of grains and cereals, eat according to the old food pyramid and so on.  I highly recommend those of you (or friends and family) who still are eating a low-fat diet, grains and cereals, carbs for breakfast and won't eat eggs because of the cholesterol, to please view the following video.

My thanks to B.K. who sent me this link.  It's good timing because I had intended to write about insulin resistance, today.  I'll save that for later in the week.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/06/28/cereal-killers-movie.aspx?e_cid=20140628Z1_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20140628Z1&et_cid=DM51233&et_rid=568274155

The Dangers of Hormone Imbalances

Hormone balance is directly connected to the food we eat, the exercise we get, the toxins we absorb and internally produce, the weight we carry and the stress levels we put up with.  How these multiple factors impact the overall hormone picture is crucial, particularly at midlife when most hormone production is mediated by the adrenal glands.

I have previously spoken about the changes that prolonged mental/emotional stress can produce in the adrenal glands, resulting in symptoms that are associated with sympathetic hyper-stimulation syndrome...blood pressure problems, sleep disturbances, low testosterone production in women, depression, anxiety,  elevated cortisol production and immune system deficiencies, among the most significant.

The excess cortisol production affects total hormone production.  This forces the body to steal from its own supplies of available progesterone, to make more cortisol, thus depleting this key balancing hormone with obvious implications for estrogen dominance.  The symptoms of hair loss, cold extremities, dry skin and dry membranes that are typically associated with thyroid dysfunction, are actually primarily connected to adrenal imbalance. 

Prolonged stress tears up our bones, melts our muscles, robs us of strength and energy, lowers our libido and overwhelms our immunities, putting us at serious risk for chronic illness and autoimmune disease.

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The Truth about a Gluten-Free Diet

The past couple of days I've both read articles and watched while medical doctors on a news program comment negatively about gluten-free diets.  Their rationale centered around the fact that only 1% of the population has Celiac Disease and it's claimed that only about 6-7% have symptoms indicating a sensitivity.  "And your point?" I thought to myself is...

They really didn't have a point except that people (I don't know what people) had the idea that they would lose weight on a gluten-free diet when, in fact, many of those packaged GF products contain a considerable amount of added sugar, salt and fat.

So, their point is that gluten has a taste to it?  I find that amusing. Gluten-free packaged foods have a different texture because of the types of flours that are used, so that could be perceived as a taste variant.  But, if the GF companies are putting more fat, salt and sugar in their products, then consumers need to  be aware of it.

The truth is that most of us have become sensitive to gluten because of the GMO wheat that has been grown in the U.S. since the Clinton Administration.  We become sensitized to those items that we eat in excess....dairy, citrus, peanuts, soy, corn, gluten and so on.  Look at the label on any packaged product you buy...soy is at the top of the list; anything containing wheat, contains gluten. There are other grains/products/foods that contain gluten...the internet is a great resource for that information.

We have developed symptoms that are associated with that sensitivity to gluten...bloating, gas, bowel problems, allergies, inability to digest certain foods....all gastrointestinal symptoms that are relieved by cutting out gluten.  Many people do lose weight resulting from water retention because of the inflammation in their GI tract.

I recommend people cut out gluten to help eliminate inflammation and its associated symptoms. I also recommend that people not eat prepackaged or processed foods...eat fresh vegetables and fruits, cut out the foods to which you are sensitive and don't eat gluten, whenever possible.  That way, you aren't getting added trans-fats, salt or sugar in your diet and you will be better able to lose weight that way and live a healthier life.

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Warning Signs Your Body is Giving You

I don't know how many times I've heard patients tell me that their symptoms just began, "from nowhere."  I can categorically say that the body Always gives us warning signs when it is becoming ill or is stressed beyond its capacity to cope.  We are so used to the Western approach to health....take a lab test and if it comes out "normal" we must be healthy.  The truth is often farther away than we believe.   Simply put, continuous stress depletes the adrenals and affects the weakest systems of our body, first.

Here are warning signs from your body that stress, if left unchecked, will cause any of the following:

high blood pressure-----> cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, strokes
diabetes--------> cancer,  neuropathy, blindness, early death
chronic fatigue----> autoimmune disorders, chronic illness
gastrointestinal disorders----> migraines, anxiety, gall bladder disease
obesity----> cancer, sleep apnea, diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular    disease, stroke, liver and gall bladder disease

These signs and symptoms often go full circle, as you can see. 

Here are some common signs and symptoms of stress:
hair loss   trouble concentrating    depression    increase in drug or alcohol use
social withdrawal    teeth grinding   mouth ulcers

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A New Paradigm....Functional Medicine

Back in 1991, the AMA sued two doctors (PhD's), Jeffrey and Susan Bland, for making claims that a person could lose weight by changing the metabolism.  Also, they claimed that by changing a person's diet, that person's gastrointestinal, inflammatory and immune problems, fatigue, food allergies and mercury poisoning could be affected or eliminated. 

You might be interested to know that the medical association lost and the Bland's won the suit.  In fact, if you watch Dr. Oz or The Doctors or even the Steve Harvey show, you'll hear all about how diet and dysfunction are interrelated...seems as though once the medical association loses, they absorb the information and pass it along as their own....just one person's opinion.

The Institute of Functional Medicine was born in 1991.  If you google it, you'll even be able to find medical doctors who are now certified in Functional Medicine.

Functional Medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the health care needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Functional Medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, Functional Medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.

I had never heard of the term, "Functional Medicine," before a year or so ago.  What I find ironically interesting is that we have been practicing using this philosophy and approach to patient care for over two decades.  That's why we offer treatment that encompasses both a neuro-mechanical and physiological, functional  approach.  Maybe, great minds do think alike.

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Foods We are Most Allergic To

The American Association of Pediatrics has complied a list of foods to which we are most allergic.  In past blogs, I have detailed the difference between true allergies and adverse reactions to foods.

The eight foods are:

tree nuts (ex. pine nuts)                wheat
peanuts                                          dairy
corn                                               eggs
soy                                                 shellfish

I believe the problem with the wheat is gluten, the dairy is the size of the protein, with shellfish, the iodine and with eggs...maybe the years of added hormones.   I have seen the greatest negative reactions to nuts, eggs, soy and shellfish.  Typically, people usually have adverse reactions to corn, wheat and dairy, although there are many who are allergic to these foods.

To see how much of an adverse reaction to foods you have, if you know you don't have actual allergies to the foods, remove the food from your diet, one at a time, for 3 weeks.  Then, reintroduce the food into your diet.  If you adversely react, as in headaches, stomach symptoms and the like, this is a food to cut out of your diet. 

Coffee, sugar and beef also can typically cause your body to react adversely.  When trying to cut out sugar or coffee, expect withdrawal symptoms for about 3 days time.  Then, it should get progressively better.

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Are You Still Following the old Pyramid Eating Plan?

You remember the old pyramid, calling for low-fat foods and between six and eleven servings of carbohydrates a day?  That ridiculous standard, given to us by the medical profession, has resulted in our obesity epidemic of today.  And, more importantly, the typical recommendations by national dietary organizations are simply not aggressive enough to reverse the conditions that are associated with obesity...especially the horrific number of childhood diabetes diagnoses.

The CDC has released its latest figures about blood sugar and sugar intake:  By the age of 65, 77% of adults have progressing blood sugar management problems.  This is as a result of our diets being based on processed foods with a high glycemic index (remember how you were encouraged to eat bagels for breakfast?) causing nutritional deficiencies that increase the risk of developing many of the degenerative diseases plaguing older (and many not-so-old) people, today.  When was the last time you knew of an older person simply passing away during a normal night's sleep at home? We don't have a robust nursing home care industry for nothing.

I just performed a physiological/nutritional work-up on a 55 year old patient.  This person had every one of the 9 physiological indicators for sugar handling dysfunction.  This is a pre-diabetic case who, if left unchecked, would be a full-blown diabetic in a very short time.  None of this person's lab tests indicated diabetes or even hyperglycemia....the systems survey, history, BMI, fat percentage and nutritional work-up certainly did.  What's so amazing is that with a change in diet, exercise and individualized formulations, this person won't become that CDC statistic.

 We understand that it's nearly impossible for patients to cut down on their simple carbohydrate intake to the degree necessary without good, clear-cut guidelines on what is desirable, healthy fat--including healthy, natural saturated fats (hint: think coconuts).  There is growing evidence that removing saturated fat, entirely, from our diet over the last few decades and replacing it with commercially processed liquid oils like corn, canola and soy has done more harm than good.  ( U.S. Dept. of HHS, National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).

Those of us that understand the world of alternative healthcare, sometimes referred to as "functional medicine," are equipped to help guide patients into a healthier and balanced lifestyle...they need only ask.

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How Reliable are Lab Tests for Determining Your State of Health?

All of us are familiar with our doctor's ordering laboratory tests during our annual check-ups.  I wonder how many of us realize just what parameters these tests are based upon?  National averages, mostly,  educated guesses, frequently, hard science, sometimes.

The best example is the 98.6F.  as the determinant normal body temperature reading.  What many don't know is that millions of people's normal body temperature can run between 95.5 F. to 99.5 F. and that the 98.6 number is merely an average temp reading taken from our armed forces in WW 2.  If your temperature is normally 96 F and you are reading, 98.6 F, you are definitely running a fever. I know one person like this and he tells me that every time he has gone to the medical doctor with a "normal" temperature reading, he has to convince the nurse and doc that he's not well.

Scores of other lab tests are based on the average results of mostly sick people; after all, how many of you actually go to the medical doctor and have lab work done when you are feeling well?  These lab tests don't take individual variation into consideration.  A good health care provider will put more emphasis on clinical presentation than lab results if they come back within normal limits and you are not feeling well.

I find the body lets us know in advance, sometimes years, when it is beginning to break down.  For example, there are 9 physiological indicators that show up when the metabolic pathways for sugar handling are weakening...a precursor to diabetes.  The skin, face, eyes, ears, feet, other indicators and acupuncture meridians all show us signs of systemic physiological imbalances. 

What is especially helpful is the fact that we can analyze how each system of the body is functioning, and that imbalances and dysfunction can be identified well before any laboratory tests are run.  We can, in effect, head off serious problems before they are more than annoyances.

I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in their state of health take a half hour of their time to answer our systems survey and send it to me for analysis....your body is very chatty, one need only know how to listen. 

Here's the form for those of you interested in taking charge of your health:

05-08-2013HEALTHanal

You can print it out, scan it and send it back to: drkollars@gmail.com, anytime...I'll be happy to analyze your results.  You may even send it via snail mail.

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