David S. Murphy, N.D., Ph.D.

Build A Qi Ball

2012-03-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

Universal life force energy is call Qi (Chi) in China, prana in India and Ki (like in ReiKi) in Japan. It is available to all for free. One of the easiest ways to experience Qi is to build a Qi ball. I lead you through the process in the following YouTube video. Don't worry if you don't feel anything the first time. I took me about a week of daily practice to create and feel my first Qi ball. I bet, when you experience it, that you won't forget the experience. Energy, Qi, is real.

Joint Pain and Exercise

2012-02-28T08:21:00.003-08:00

After dropping the kids off at school this morning I headed for the gym for 30 minutes of cardio followed by 30 minutes of pumping iron. At my age I'm not trying to get a beach body; I just want to preserve the muscle mass that I have. However, it got me thinking about exercise and pain . . . I'm not in the "no pain, no gain" camp. My philosophy has always been, if it hurts, then don't do it. Call me a whimp but I got my fill of pain in high school sports and that was a long, long time ago.

I have noticed that people with joint pain often avoid exercise. Did you know, however, that exercise can acually help those who suffer from joint pain? Harvard Health Publications reported that:

” … limiting your movements can weaken muscles, compounding joint trouble, and affect your posture, setting off a cascade of further problems. And while pain relievers and cold or hot packs may offer quick relief, fixes like these are merely temporary.

“The right set of exercises can be a long-lasting way to tame ankle, knee, hip, or shoulder pain. Practiced regularly, joint pain relief workouts might permit you to postpone—or even avoid—surgery on a problem joint that has been worsening for years by strengthening key supportive muscles and restoring flexibility.” (1)

One study demonstrated that people with rheumatoid arthritis improved their function by up to 30 percent and strength by 120 percent after doing weight training exercises for 24 weeks. (2) A 30 percent increase in function means that that participants in the study were able to move better after about six months of exercise.

Another study conducted at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University indicated that over 40 percent of men and 56 percent of women with knee osteoarthritis (OA) were inactive. They do not engage in even one 10-minute period of moderate-to-vigorous activity all week. Surprisingly the authors of this study concluded that, "Despite substantial health benefits from physical activity, adults with knee OA were particularly inactive based on objective accelerometry monitoring. The proportions of men and women who met public health physical activity guidelines were substantially less than those previously reported based on self-reported activity in arthritis populations. These findings support intensified public health efforts to increase physical activity levels among people with knee OA." (3)

I suggest incorporating weight training, high-intensity cardio, stretching, and core work (work those abs . . . it will reduce back pain) into your routine at least three to four times a week. If you have osteoarthritis in your knee then incorporate exercises that strengthen the quadriceps muscle found at the front of the thigh. In addition, instead of running or other high-impact exercise, opt for non-weight-bearing exercises like swimming and bicycling, my two favorite cardio exercises.

If you experience pain lasting longer than one hour in your joints after exercising then you might consider a visit to a physical therapist or a personal trainer.

I try to avoid anti-inflammatory drugs like analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) to alleviate joint pain. Popping too many of these pills may lead to serious side effects including kidney and/or liver damage. Here are a few natural pain relievers:

Astaxanthin – An anti-inflammatory antioxidant that affects a wide range of inflammation mediators,
Boswellia (boswellin or “Indian frankincense”) – This Indian herb helps maintain a steady blood flow to the joints to promote flexibility and strength in joint tissues.
Eggshell membrane – Contains elastin and collagen, proteins that promote cartilage health and connective tissue strength and elasticity. It also has growth factor-B, a protein that supports tissue rejuvenation, along with other amino acids and structural components that support the stability and flexibility of your joints.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) – Is a key component of cartilage. It works by moving nutrients into the cells and moving waste out. It also helps with water retention for your cells.
Omega-3 fats – Help reduce inflammation. I like high-quality krill oil.
Turmeric – The anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin, the pigment that gives turmeric its yellow color, has been found to be as effective as ibuprofen for relieving knee osteoarthritis pain.
Vitamin D – Cartilage loss in the knees is associated with low vitamin D levels

See you next time at the gym . . .

References:

(1) http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/the-secret-to-joint-pain-relief-exercise?e=mkester%40nci.com&j=28081960&l=16278673_HTML&mid=148797&u=323662523&jb=0

(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19950325

(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21792835

What's All The Fuss About?

2012-02-26T10:04:00.000-08:00

Most people today know what it takes to have a healthy body: good food and water, sufficient sleep, exercise, and a fairly low stress level. Your brain is part of your body so it needs all of that too. But, what does it take to have a healthy mind? In fact, what is a healhty mind? Is your's healthy? What about mine? How would you know?

Daniel Levinson, a meditation researcher graduate student thinks that a healthy mind is one that is able to use all of its mental resource. Not a bad definition. He asserts that letting your mind wander from time to time gives it a rest from overthinking, and that meditation may effectively restore the mental balance of a wandering mind.

Meditation is an ancient practice found in many traditions. Does it do it any good? Here are the results from a few research studies:

Pain control -- Meditators reported a 40 percent reduction in pain intensity and a 57 percernt reduction in the unpleasantness of their pain. Note that Morphine is reported to reduce pain ratings by about 25 percent . . . meditation wins.
Brain atrophy and dementia -- Meditators exhibited range of brain areas with stronger neural connections than did a control group of non-meditators.
Depression relapse -- Both meditators and antidepressant users in an 18 month study had a relapse rate of about 30 percent compared to a control group on placebos who had a 70 percent relapse rate.
Brain structure -- Participants in a meditation program showed increased gray-matter density in the hippocampus and in structures associated with self-awareness, compassion and introspection. Members of a non-meditator control group did not show the same changes.

Don't know about you, but I like to increase the density of my gray-matter. Stay tuned for more about how to meditate.

To your health . . .

Reference

Boyce, B. (2012). Taking the Measure of Mind. Shambhala Sun. March, 2012: 43-49, 81-82.

The Three Treasures and QiGOng

2012-02-25T07:20:00.002-08:00

The Three Treasures (San Bao) are usually thought of as body, mind and spirit by QiGong and Tai Chi practitioners. These three treasures, Jing, Qi and Shen, in Chinese medicine and philosophy are really much more than that.

Body Qi or Jing may be viewed as the sperm and egg, DNA, neurotransmitters, and hormones that activate the human body. These are the most basic and subtle aspects of the human body and are locally present and substantial or physical. Jing was created at the time of our conception and is nourished by the food and water and the air that we breathe. Physical activity, for example Kung Fu, is a method for strengthening Jing.

Mind Qi or Qi is non-substantial and somewhat local. It operates through our memory, emotions, thoughts, intuition and creativity. Spirit Qi or Shen is non-substantial and non-local. It is transcendental and hold that pattern of our eternal beings. You might view it as the eternal or immortal template that is manifest currently in your physical body.

Mind and Spirit reside in the Middle Elixir Field, the Dan Tian. In Chinese there is only one word for both "mind" and "spirit", shin. Thus, as a QiGong practitioner I don't view your mind and heart (spirit in the West) as separate attributes. You have a Mind/Heart.

The table below summarizes some of the aspects and attributes of Jing, Qi and Shen:

Attribute	Jing	Qi	Shen

Treasure	Earth	Life	Heave
Domain	Body	Hear/Mind	Spirit
Location	Earth	Heart/Mind	Heaven
Elixir	Jing Dan	Xin Dan	Shen Dan
Elixir Field	Sea of Qi Lower Dan Tian	Heart/Mind Middle Dan Tian	Yin Tang Upper Dan Tian
State	Yin	Harmony	Yang
Intention	Heal Body	Clear Mind	Radiate Spirit
Lifestyle Focus	Nutrition/Exercise	Emotional Resolution	Spiritual Practice Meditation
Practice Method	Kung Fu	QiGong	Stillness/Meditation

Recall that Dr. Mehmet Oz on Oprah, advised, “If you want to be healthy and live to one hundred, do Qigong.”

If you would like to learn more about QiGong please visit my web site at www.Dr-Dave-ND.com and download the free QiGong PDF on my resource page.

Could I Interest You in Some Poison Oak?

2012-02-25T06:42:00.001-08:00

If you live on the East Coast you are probably familiar with Poison Oak. It causes a nasty, blistering rash similar to that of Poison Ivy. So, could I interest you in some Poison Oak?

Rhus Toxicodendron is the homeopathic dilution of Poison Oak. The guiding principal of homopathy is that like cures like. Consequently the highly diluted (usually 30C) dose of Rhus Tox is a long standing remedy for problems that manifest with burning sensations. In fact, I have found that Rhus Tox is one of the best treatments for Poison Ivy.

Rhus Tox has also been used to treat both eczema and shingles. Rhus Tox is indicated for use with eczema when the skin is very itchy and feels better after the application of very hot water. The itching, burning and blisters of shigles can be relieved with Rhus Tox taken for a few days.

Rhus Tox can also be used to treat the following:

Arthritis -- when the symptoms appear in the morning and at night and seem to improve during the day with activity, and when symptoms appear before a storm,

Flu -- when the flu symptoms include stiff muscles and joints,

Strains -- used when ligaments and tendons are strained (I keep a bottle of Rhus Tox in my gym bag),

Mosquito bites -- to relieve itching,

Urticaria (hives) -- to reduce itching and aid the healing of lesions.

Side effects: Rhus Tox has few side effects. However, some people experience an increase in skin irritation (usually those with chronic eczema or arthritis). This healing aggravation is usually a sign that the remedy is working. If you are not sure about using Rhus Tox or other homeopathic remedies please consult with a homeopathic practitioner in your area.

To your health . . .

Why Your CoQ10 Supplement May Not Be Working

2012-02-23T10:13:00.014-08:00

The many health benefits of taking Coenzyme Q10 like increased energy, improved metabolism, weight loss, cell protection, and better cardiovascular health are already well established.1 In addition, research shows CoQ10 may promote neurological health as well.1

However, many individuals who take CoQ10 supplements don’t experience the expected benefits. Unfortunately in many cases most of the CoQ10 they are taking never makes it to their cells where it can do the most good.

Most people over 50 have a hard time converting CoQ10 into its usable form. That means that most of the valuable CoQ10 enzyme disappears, making it impossible to give your cells the protection and nourishment they need.

Most brands of commercially available CoQ10 supplements use a cheaper form of the enzyme – known as ubiquinone – that is extremely difficult for your body to absorb. When you swallow ordinary CoQ10 pills, your body goes through a two-step process to make CoQ10 available at the cellular level. First, it has to convert the ubiquinone to ubiquinol, the most biologically active form of Co Q10. Only then can you absorb the CoQ10 as a nutrient that can power your cellular metabolism.

Regular CoQ10 Metabolic Process

Regular CoQ10 ---------------------------> Ubiquinol -------------------------------> Bloodstream

(Ubiquinone) | |

Conversion Uptake

The label of your CoQ10 supplement says the pill contains X amount of CoQ10, and it probably does. However, if it is Ubiquinone then only a tiny fraction of that is actually absorbed by your body. The rest is passed as waste, and is in fact wasted – never reaching the cell membranes and walls where it is needed most.

With ubiquinol, your body absorbs up to 8 times more CoQ102 than with ordinary CoQ10 supplements as shown in the graph below:3 When you take Ubiquinol your body is able to avoid the conversion stage and to directly to the uptake process where Ubiquinol enters the bloodstream and become available to your cells.

The many health benefits of taking CoQ10

Increased energy, improved metabolic function, cell protection, better cardiovascular health and weight loss are just a few of the benefits of CoQ10. Here are some other ways that CoQ10 can help:

Heart health... according to the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, a number of clinical studies have found CoQ10 promotes cardiovascular health.5

Blood sugar... an Australian study showed that patients who took CoQ10 were able to maintain blood sugar levels that are already within the normal range.6

Vision... in a recent clinical trial, taking CoQ10 for a year helped them see more clearly.7

Cognition... an animal study performed at Johns Hopkins University found that CoQ10 supplementation improves learning and memory.7

Bronchial Health... researchers in Texas found CoQ10 promotes bronchial health.7

Gum health... CoQ10 can improve gum and oral health.7

Clear-headed comfort... in one study, more than 6 out of 10 patients treated with CoQ10 daily reported feeling more clear-headed comfort.7

Oxidative stress... Accel is a powerful antioxidant, eliminating the free radicals that can cause damage to cell membranes and mitochondria.3

Skin care... a German study shows that CoQ10 can help reduce wrinkles and protect skin from the damaging effects of too much exposure to sunlight.8

The key is to make sure that you take a CoQ10 supplement that provides more bio-available CoQ10. Ubiquinol, is available at most well-stocked natural health store and online through places like Swanson Vitamins (I don’t work for Swanson and receive no compensation from them . . . that’s just the source that I use.) The bottom line . . . if you decide to take a CoQ10 supplement make sure that it will provide you bio-available CoQ10.

References

1 “CoQ10 Health Benefits” September 1, 2008.

2 Hemmi N. Bhagava and Raj K. Chopra. Plasma coenzyme Q10 response to oral ingestion of coenzyme Q10 formulations. Mitochondrion. Volume 7, Supplement 1, June 2007, Pages S78-S88

3 William Fallon. “Has Your CoQ10 Become Obsolete?” January 2007. Life Extensions Magazine.

4 Super Ubiquinol CoQ10. September1, 2008. http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01226/Super-Ubiquinol-CoQ10-100-mg-60-softgels.html

5 Blasi MA, Bovina C, Carella G, Genova ML, Jansen AM, Lenaz G, Brancato R. Does coenzyme Q10 play a role in opposing oxidative stress in patients with age-related macular degeneration? Ophthalmologica. 2001 Jan-Feb;215(1):51-4.

6 Hodgson JM, Watts GF, Playford DA, Burke V, Croft KD. Coenzyme Q10 improves blood pressure and glycaemic control in a controlled trial in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002 Nov;56(11):1137-42.

7 Gazdík F, Gvozdjáková A, Nádvorníková R, Repická L, Jahnová E, Kucharská J, Piják MR, Gazdíková K. Decreased levels of coenzyme Q(10) in patients with bronchial asthma. Allergy. 2002 Sep;57(9):811-4.

8 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10416055

QiGong for Health

2012-02-23T08:03:00.003-08:00

To understand what Qigong is it is necessary to understand the meanings of both Qi and Gong. In Qi society Qi is believed to be the energy or life force that permeates the universe. The Chinese were not alone in their belief in a natural force that fills the universe. Many ancient traditions are based on life-force energy. The same energy is called prana in India and Ki in Japan.

There are three types of Qi, Tian Qi, Di Qi, and Ren Qi. Tian Qi, or heavenly qi is the energy that heavenly bodies exert on the earth. This energy includes sunlight, moonlight and the gravitational pull of the moon on the earth that causes the tides. Di Qi or earth Qi is the energy forces that run through the earth. The earth absorbs Tian Qi and in affected by it. Di Qi includes lines and patterns of energy that run through the earth, the earth’s magnetic field, and the heat generated in the core of the earth.

Ancient Chinese believed that wind, rain, and even earth quakes were caused by Tian Qi and Di Qi energy imbalances. These natural phenomena are caused by the movement of energy as it seeks to reach equilibrium. You may have noticed how wind flows from a high pressure area of lower pressure. This is the movement of weather Qi. The patterns and cycles of nature were recorded in the Yi Jing (The Book of Changes), the first text on Qi, written about 2,400 BCE. The Yi Jing identifies Tian Qi, Di Qi and Ren Qi as the three components of the San Cai (the three natural powers).

Human Qi or Ren Qi is affected by Tian Qi and Di Qi. Since you are part of heaven and earth (Dao) you are affected by heaven and earth Qi. The Ren Qi that flows through your body determines your level of health and wellness. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that optimal health can only be achieved when the flow of Ren Qi is balanced and the Qi flows freely. Qigong exercises to control the flow of Qi were perfected over thousands of years of practice and study in China.

Gong, a short form of Gongfu, literally means time and energy. Thus any activity that requires a lot of time and energy to perfect is a gongfu. Qigong is any training or practice dealing with Qi that takes time and energy to master.

To read more about QiGong for health please download my free, 20 page PDF, Qi Gong for Health, on the resource page of my web site at www.dr-dave-nd.com I am currently editing a YouTube video that shows the Lift-Qi-Up-Pull-Qi-Down exercise explained in the PDF file. I'll post a note here when it is published.

Doing vs. Being

2012-02-22T08:16:00.001-08:00

According to Hofstede’s cultural dimension theory individuals in the United States are the most individualistic in the entire world. You might say that we are driven. For me at least that translates into a need to always, and I mean always, be doing something. If I’m not doing something then I feel like I am wasting time.

We are goal oriented. Most of us have a series of goals that we want to achieve and when one goal is accomplished we move on to the next one. I remember when I graduated from Washington State University with a Ph.D. That had been my only goal for four years. Did it. Accomplished it. Cross that puppy of the list. But wait, what do I do now? I had no other goals in the pipeline and I felt lost. Quick! Find another goal. Tenure at a big research university sounded like a good goal. Planned that out, did it, and had to look for a new goal. I wasn’t on a search for meaning in my life, I was just on a search for the next goal.

Having spent years as a computer programmer, systems manager and IT consultant (yup, that was a previous life) I like to plan and organize. You know the type, completely linear . . . have a plan, work the plan. That was me. The number one question was “How?” I had a goal, now I needed a plan, a how, to get me there. Never stopped to ask why . . . “Why and I doing this?” and I never, ever asked “What do I really want?” It was just, I have a goal, how am I going to get there?

I realize now that I slowly morphed from being a human being into a “human doing”. Sometimes just being is the best thing to be. I have replace my “How?” question with a new one, “What?” “What do I want to do?” not, “How am I going to do it.” I don’t worry about how it is going to happen and rather than constantly trying to swim against the current of my life I let my inner self (higher being, subconscious mind, or whatever you want to call it) take over and work out the details. When left alone my inner self does a miraculously marvelous job of defining the “what” and then figuring out the “how” and I have transformed back from being a “human doing” into a “human being”.

Life is much better now that I work to live, rather than live to work.

To your health . . .

Stress Relief

2012-02-20T17:45:00.000-08:00

After teaching three classes and sitting through a 90 minute faculty meeting this afternoon I was ready for some stress relief . . . the kind that comes from a bottle. No, not that kind of a bottle! I was thinking about Rescue Remedy followed later, once the boys are all in bed, with a good meditation session.

Rescue Remedy is probably the most popular of all of the Bach Flower Remedies. It contains five flower essences:

Chery Plum -- for feelings of desperation
Rock Rose -- to ease terror, fear or panic
Impatiens -- to soothe irritability and adjitation
Clematis -- to conteract the tendency to drift away from the present
Star of Bethlehem -- to address the mental and physical symptoms of shock

I really needed some Clematis after the faculty meeting had drug on for over an hour and I realized that I was physically present in the meeting but that my mind was far, far away. About fifteen minutes later I felt the need for Impatiens after had I started to count how many minutes of my life have been wasted in non-productive meetings. Oh well, the meeting finally ended.

Rescue Remedy can be used to help create a safe mental sanctuary. It is often used after an accident, argument, trying event or even surgery. It is the only Bach Flower Remedy that is taken neat, that is, straight from the bottle. Although you can add four drops to a glass of water I prefer to place four drops under my tongue. You can follow up by adding four drops to a glass of water and sipping it until you feel better. After using Rescue Remedy to help you overcome stress or shock you might want to review the other Bach Flower Remedies in one of my earlier posts and create a combination to help you move forward.

You can purchase Resuce Remedy from any well-stock natural health store or make your own by adding 2 drops of each flower essence to 1 fluid ounce of brandy.

To your health . . .

Constiwhat?

2012-02-20T07:04:00.000-08:00

Yup, you read that right. This blog is about that dirty little problem called constipation. For many people today's SAD (standard American diet) is full of processed food with few fresh vegetables and fruits and too much animal protein, dairy products and too much vinegar, pepper, salt and spices. This results in a diet that is low in fiber and with insufficient fluid intake. The result can be chronic constipation.

The most common approach to treating constipation is to pop a couple of laxitives in the evening and to hope that everything will come out fine in the morning (pun intended). This approach of treating the symptom rather than the underlying problem can result in overreliance on laxatives. The more you take, the more you need . . . and it becomes a vicious circle. In addition to resuting in overreliance, the constant use of laxatives can damage the body. In particular the excessive use of stimulant laxatives can damage the nerve endings in the intestines, thus increasing the need for constant laxative use.

What do to? Here are a few suggestions:

Increase the fiber intake in your diet. How about a high-fiber breakfast cereal in the morning (I eat mine with fresh orange juice rather than smothered in milk . . . may sound strange but it is yummy) and a fiber drink in the evening.
Reduce your SAD intake and eat more high fiber foods
Drink lots of water. I suggest that you get a stainless steel water bottle, one that holds at least 500 ml of water, and drain it at least four times a day.
Avoid all stimulant laxatives
Consider homeopathic remedies for the relief of occasional symptoms:

Lycopodium -- usually used when there is flatulence but no need for a bowel movement for a long time
Nux vomica -- for constipation that alternates with diarrhea
Sepia -- when the belly feels full
Opium -- when there is no desire (physical not mental) for a bowel movement
Causticum -- for stich-like pain accompanying a bowel movement
Bryonia -- for large, hard, dry stools with congention in the abdomen causing distension and a burning feeling in the rectum
Alumina -- when there is not desire for a bowel movement until the rectum is full.

While not a pleasant topic, proper elimination of waste from the body is crucial for optimal health. Eliminating toxins and waste from the body is just as important as providing our bodies with high-quality, nutritious foods.

To your health . . .

Spring Cleaning

2012-02-19T07:20:00.000-08:00

Spring is almost here . . . and it really felt like it yesterday. We went hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains yesterday in 60+ temperatures and, even though today we are under a winter storm advisory and expect to get about 7 inches on snow in the next 24 hours, the weather yesterday got me thinking about Spring cleaning.

There are only two things that we can't control, our genetics and acts of God. Other than those two, we are all, at least in part, responsible for what happens to us and for our conditions in life.  For example, the body that you live within today is the result of your genetics, potentially some acts of God, and the decisons that you made in the past. Think back over the past year . . . how often did you make the choice to get some exercise or to eat more fruits and vegies and less fast food?  If you consistently made healthy choices in the past chances are good that you are healthy today.

The same way, the body that you will have a year from now will be, to a large extent, the product of the decisions that you make today and tomorrow. So, make healthy decisions from today forward to build a healthy body tomorrow.

The Spring cleaning that I was thinking about yesterday while we hiked along a mountain stream had two parts.  First, to clean the cobwebs out of my mind and to replace some old thoughts and ideas that aren't serving me very well with some new ones. For example, last night while doing my evening meditation I went back to the phrase, "Every day in every way I am getting stronger and better."

The second part of my spring clean is to do a semi-annual cleanse. Cleansing is a quick and efficient way to detox the body. Just like we all like or need an occassional treat (mine is a piece of chcolate once in a while) we also need an occassional detox. Detoxing is the foundation upon which we can build a stronger and healthier body and one with a better immune system.  Detoxing reduce the toxic load within our bodies.

If you can committ to it, a weekly, 24 hour cleanse is ideal. However, just to get your started why not try it once? I expect to be pretty snow-bound today so here is my 24 hour plan. Give it a try and please, write and let me know how it worked for you if you tired it too:

Upon Waking: One large glass of warm water with a slice of organic, unwaxed lemon.

Breakfast:  One large glass of hot water with a slice of organic, unwaxed lemon . Follow this with a cup of ginger tea (one inch of freshly grated ginger and 1 teaspoon of honey in a cup of hot water).

Mid-morning:  One large glass of warm water with a slice of organic, unwaxed lemon.

Lunch:   One large glass of fresh vegi jucie (tomato and celery) and a large cup of ginger tea.

Mid-afternoon:  One large glass of warm water with a slice of organic, unwaxed lemon.

Supper: Fresh, organic kiwi and pinaple juice (run two kiwi fruits and half a pineapple through your juicer) and guess what . . . another cup of ginger tea.

Evening: Juice four large oranges and place the OJ in a blender with a small handfull of almonds, blend together and enjoy a glass of orange almond drink. (Almonds are the only nuts that are not acid forming in the body).

Bedtime: Drink a warm cup of camomile tea with a teaspoon of organic honey.

The Smell of Spring

2012-02-15T13:18:00.000-08:00

Winter this year in Central Virginia has been warmer than usual and very dry. As a result, everything is dry and brown and I can't wait for the spring rains and for plants returning to life. I was reminded of how much I miss the aroma of spring when my son cut his finger and rather than squeezing some antibiotic cream from a tube on his finger I grabed my bottle of Tea Tree oil and put a drop on his finger. Tea Tree essential oil, like all essential oils, is an antiseptic. Not only that, it smelled so good.

This got me thinking about essential oils so I opened up all of my oil storage boxes (three wooden boxes) and began to smell different oils. Essential oils contain aldehydes, phenols, oxides, esters, keytones, alcohols and terpens as well as many other chemical compounds. While all essential oils are anticeptics, individual oils may also have analgesic, fungicidal, diuretic, or expectorant properties.

Essential oils operate on the body on pharmacological, physiological, and psychological levels. On a pharmacological level essential oils act on the body in ways that are similar to drugs. However, they act slower and in a more sympathetic way and with fewer side effects. It is important to be careful with some essential oils, especially if one is pregnant or has a number of other medical conditions.

On a physiological level, different oils seem to have affinities for different parts of the body. For example, rose has an affinity for the female reproductive system; in general spice oils benefit the digestive tract; and Juniper Berry oil has an affinity for the urinary tract (in another blog I'll show you how we make Juniper tincture from the Juniper berries that we collect in the fall).

Finally essential oils can have psychological effects. For example, chamomile is relaxing, citrus oils like grapefruit are refreshing, and rosemary is stimulating.

If you would like to learn more about the use of essential oils then you might check out our book, An Introduction to the Art of Armoatherapy, at http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/an-introduction-to-the-art-of-aromatherapy/14736018?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1

However you use them, essential oils smell wonderful. And for me today they were a reminder that spring is around the corner and pretty soon nature will come alive with colors, sounds, and smells.

Bach Flower Remedies

2012-02-14T08:10:00.000-08:00

Edward Bach (1886-1936) entered medical school in London in 1906 at the age of 20 and graduated five years later. He practiced conventional medicine from 1912 until 1919 when he joined the staff of the London Homeopathic Hospital as a pathologist and bacteriologist. Impressed with the work of Hahnemann, the father of homeopathic medicine, he developed seven nosodes (homeopathic remedies) from the seven types of bacteria that he had associated with chronic illness. At the same time he noted that patients with the seven different types of intestinal bacterial pathogens exhibited particular personality types or temperaments. He began to prescribe his nosodes solely by observing the patients’ personality types and temperaments.

Bach did not like using pathogen-based nosodes and began to use herbs and plants in place of intestinal bacteria in homeopathic remedies. After using flowers as the basis for developing several homeopathic remedies he sold his medical practice and in 1930, at the age of 43, he left London for the English countryside. Over the course of the next six years he developed 38 flower remedies and the more well know Rescue Remedy. Dr. Bach died at the age of 50 in 1936.

Dr. Bach’s Philosophy

Dr. Bach’s philosophy about healing and life are set forth in his short book, Heal Thyself. The crux of his philosophy is summarized in two statements:

· “The main reason for the failure of modern medical science is that it is dealing with results and not causes . . .

· Disease is in essence the result of conflict between Soul and Mind, and will never be eradicated except by spiritual and mental effort.” (Centre, 1997, 9-10)

As an N.D. I believe that the body has the wisdom and knowledge to heal itself, give appropriate rest and nutrition. The body, mind and soul want to be in harmony. I think that Dr. Bach envisioned such a change process when he wrote:

“The prevention and cure of disease can be found by discovering the wrong within ourselves and eradicating this fault by the earnest development of the virtue which will destroy it; not by fighting the wrong, but by bringing in such a flood of its opposing virtue that it will be swept from our natures." (Centere, 1997, 18)

Dr Bach felt that the correction of mental attitudes could treat a disease at the energetic level before it became grossly pathological, thus halting the disease process before it becomes physical, and assisting the healing process when a disease does become physical. This ability, according to him, results because the mental (psychological or emotional) component of dis-ease may cause the physical problem. Disease can only be treated when the cause is removed; any other treatment only masks the underlying problem.

Flower Remedies

Dr. Bach developed the flower remedies from his understanding of homeopathy. However, the flower remedies differ from homeopathic medicine in several important ways. Homeopathic medicines are prepared according to the Law of Similars that states that a homeopathic medicine that causes the symptoms of a disease in a well person will cure the same symptoms in a person who is not well. Flower remedies are not formulated according to this law. Flower remedies are harmless and will not cause adverse reactions or symptoms in the user.

Homeopathic medicine is prepared using extreme dilution, as are flower remedies. In addition, homeopathic medicines are also prepared using a specific rhythmic method that imparts energy to the medicine. Flower remedies are not so prepared.

In the course of his work Dr. Bach identified 38 different flowers and the emotional or psychological states that they affected. You can download a free PDF questionnaire from the resource page on my web site (www.dr-dave-nd.com) that can be used to identify appropriate flower remedies. As you read the statements in the questionnaire you will be able to identify the mental state that each flower remedy treats. Dr. Bach was never concerned with why the flower remedies work, just that they work.

Given a modern view of quantum or vibrational healing we might postulate that the link between illness and personality that Dr. Bach observed results from the development of dysfunctional energetic patterns within subtle bodies. We know that Dr. Bach felt that disease resulted from a soul-mind conflict. The vibrational energies of the flower remedies help realign the personality (mind) with the energies of the Higher Self or subtle bodies.

As issues are cleared, new problems or concerns may surface; consequently the specific flower remedies needed by a client change over time. Thus you may want to reuse the questionnaire from time-to-time. For example, a person with weight issues may indicate frequent self-image problems (Crab Apple), a feeling of hopelessness and despair (Gorse), and a feeling of guilt because of overeating (Pine). A week later, the feelings of hopelessness and guilt may be gone, only to have been replaced with feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities (Elm) and a need to find some direction in life (Wild Oat). When this happens you may want to prepare a new flower remedy formulation.

Reference

The Dr. Edward Bach Centere, The Bach Flower Remedies, Revised Edition, New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing, Inc., 1997.

Longevity

2012-02-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

A recent United Nations report identified life expectancies by country. If you live in the United States and think that we came out on top then think again. Here are the top ten countries:

Rank     Country
1            Japan
2            Hong Kong (PRC)
3            Iceland
4            Switzerland
5            Australia
6            Spain
7            Sweden
8            Israel
9            Macau (PRC)
10          France (metroplolitan)

So, where is the United States you ask? It was number 38, yes you read that right, number 38 on the list. That means that there are 37 other countries in the world today where you would live longer. I expect that for you to live longer in any of those 37 countries you would have to give up the SAD (Standard American Diet) and eat like the locals. Not a bad idea . . . and one that you can implement here quite easily.

Here are my recomendations:

1. Eat close to the farm. I don't mean that you should move to a farm, or even become the farmer's next-door neighbor. Rather, eat food that is as natural and minimally processed as possible.

2. Move. No, not to the farm. Just move your body. Move for at least 30 minutes a day. If you are like then you spend way too much time just moving your fingers in front of a computer screen. Move your whole body. My daily goal is 30 minutes of cardio on a bike (stationary or moving depending on the weather), and 30 minutes of weight lifting. That daily hour is my gift to myself.

3. Drink and then drink more. I don't mind if you have a glass of red wine with your dinner (how do you think the metroploitan French ended up in the top ten). However, please make sure that you drink at least eight big glasses of purified water a day.

4. Reduce stress. The United States, according to a number of studies, is the most individualistic county in the world. I translate that as the most competitive. For example, when at the gym I am usually aware that the people on both sides of me are looking at my screen to see what level I'm at and how many RPMs I'm pumping. They feel the need to at least match, if not exceed whatever level I'm at. Consequently I have taken to covering the screen on my bike with a towel . . . I know what level I'm at. One good way to reduce stress is through meditation. Another great way is to use movement as a meditation tool. Tai Chi and Qi Gong are two great ways to move and meditate (reduce stress) at the same time. Check the resource page on my web site for a free PDF downloadable Qi Gong manual.

5. Maintain a healthy weight. Both a low-carb, high-protein diet and a high-carb, low-protein diet (Japanese diet) seem to work as long as you avoid simple carbs (I avoid white foods like bread, pasta, white rice, and white potatoes because they are all high glycemic foods, and anything containing high fructose corn syrup - HFCS). Did you know, for example, that white bread has a higher glycemic index, 70, than does a Mars Bar, 65. Lentils on the other hand have a glycemic index of only 28. Did you have a bowl of corn flakes for breakfast? Corn flakes have a glycemic index of 84, ouch.

So, once again, my top five suggestions are:

1. Eat close to the farm
2. Move your body
3. Drink lots of purified water
4. Reduce stress
5 Maintain a health weight.

I'll be posting more about HFCS in the near future so stay tuned.

The Sugar Buzz

2012-02-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

You may have heard or seen the recent buzz about sugar on the internet and in news reports. It's pretty interesting and the science behind it can be compelling. Robert Lustig, MD, Laura Schmidt, PhD, MSW, MPH, and Claire Brindis, DPH, research colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), argue in the February 2, 2012 issue of Nature ("Public health: The toxic truth about sugar", 482, 27–29) that sugar’s potential for abuse, coupled with its toxicity and pervasiveness in the Western diet, make it a primary culprit of this worldwide health crisis.

They contend that the health hazards associated with sugar consumption are similar to those of alcohol. In case you have forgotten, alcohol is made by distilling sugar. Some researchers have already pointed out that worldwide consumption of sugar has tripled during the past 50 years, therefore possibly leading to an “obesity epidemic”. For example, take a look at the increase of sugar in coke:

The original Coke bottle in 1915 contained only 6.5 ounces of liquid. Assuming someone consumed 1 bottle per day, that would be equivalent to eating 8 pounds of sugar per year with an assumed rate of 3,500 calories per pound If you don't want to do the math, that's 28,000 calories per year. Want to exercise that off with me?
In 1955, the bottle size was upped to 10 ounces, which translates to 13 pounds per year under the same assumptions.
In 1960, the 12 ounce can of Coke can was introduced in 1960 and it translates into the consuption of 16 pounds of sugar per year if you only drink one Coke a day.
In 1992, the 20 ounce plastic bottle was introduced, which translates to 26 pounds of sugar per year (91,000 calories per year) .
A supersize fountain drink with 44 ounces would translate into 57 pounds per year. The next time you are in a grocery store count 11+, 5 pound bags of sugar, and then think about eating that much in a year . . . yuck!

Unfortunately obesity is just one possible symptom of sugar’s toxicity, which goes further than simply being high in calories. To find out the other ways that sugar affects for body take a look at Dr. Lustig's video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffoOeW5wZ9s&feature=player_embedded&noredirect=1 it is really worth the 5 minute investment of your time.

If you want to know more, after viewing the YouTube video, then get a copy of Samantha Quinn's book, The Real Truth About Sugar: Dr. Robert Lustig's "Sugar: The Bitter Truth" (Volume 1). It is available for about $11 (paper back, or a free Kindle edition from Amazon. I'm sure that you can also find it at Barnes & Noble and most other book sellers. this book provides a full summary and analysis of Dr, Lustig's video. Friends, this really is a must read!

Drum Build

2011-05-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to build a Native American drum for several years; one that I could drum alone or take to the drum circle here in town. I thought about building one from scratch but in the end decided to build one from a kit. After looking around on the internet I settled on an 18 inch drum from Grey Wolf (www.greywolfdrums.com). The drum that I ordered arrived promptly and in good condition. The instructions that accompanied the kit were sparse but provided sufficient guidance.

The kit included the octagonal drum frame made from Western Red Cedar (six sides) and pine (two sides), the drum skin with pre-punched holes, a rawhide circle, and three lengths of rawhide lacing. The first step was to soak the rawhide for 48 hours. This was the hardest part of the build because I didn’t want to wait.

Photo 1 shows the components after the soak, all laid out on a table ready to start.

The drum frame is sitting on the drum skin. The rawhide circle is top left. Two lengths of rawhide lacing are to the right. The third length of rawhide lacing is bottom left. It needs to be spliced onto the double length of lacing. The rawhide slips when knotted so splicing works better. The following photo shows one of the splices. Grey Wolf’s instructions explain how to splice . . . it is really easy.

Rawhide Splice

I suspended the rawhide circle inside the drum frame with four lengths of wire and began to lace the drum. I doubled the three lengths of rawhide lacing, now joined with splices, to find the middle and threaded the lacing through two holes in the drum skin, making sure that the lacings on either side of the starting position were the same length. That way I would thread the lacing in both directions and when they met at the other side of the drum the remaining lacing from each side would be about the same length. I kept the lacing loose so that I could make sure that the rawhide circle was centered inside the drum frame. The following picture shows the rawhide circle suspended by the last wire and the lacing as it was progressing.

Partially Laced Drum

When the drum was completely laced up I began the process of tightening the lacings. I started in the middle opposite the side of the drum where the lacings ended. This was a rather slow process because I wanted to make sure that the tension on the lacings was consistent all the way around the drum, and that the rawhide circle stayed centered. This process resulted in a substantial increase in the lengths of “free” rawhide. The following photo shows the result after going around the drum one time tightening the lacings.

Drum After First Tightening

Notice how long the “free” ends of the lacing have become. Before the first round of tightening the lacings the “free” ends were about three inches long. After the first round of tightening I went around the drum to make sure that the triangles formed by the lacing were symmetrical and then tightened the lacing a second time. After adjusting the triangles again I went around the drum and pulled hard on the rawhide circle to tighten the lacings a third time. Grey Wolf recommends really tight lacings, guitar string tight, so that was my goal.

When I was sure that I couldn’t get the rawhide lacings any tighter then I tied the “free” lengths of rawhide to the circle and then, without cutting the rawhide lacings, I used one of the lengths of rawhide lacing to make a five-pointed star on the inside of the rawhide circle. I used what was left of that rawhide lace to wrap the arms of the star. I then used the other length of rawhide lacing to wrap the other arms of the star.

Drum with Star Wrapped

Notice in this picture how much closer the rawhide circle is to the drum frame. It is much closer than it was after the initial lacing and the first tightening.

At this point the drum looked great but it sounded dead. I worried all evening that I had built a dud. Not so. The drum had dried and tightened substantially by the next morning and it had a wonderful sound. Here is what the semi-dry drum looked like.

Finished Drum Drying

While the drum was drying I put together one of the drum beater kits that I had purchased with the drum.

Finished Drum with Beater

I have a great sounding drum, one that I can’t wait to show off at the drum circle in June.

Would I do it again? You bet, in a second.

Would I buy another kit from Grey Wolf? Absolutely! Grey Wolf’s kit was excellent, his service is outstanding, and best of all, the kit is very fairly priced.

I'll record the drum on my YouTube channel so you can hear how it sounds.

Get To Sleep Naturally

2011-05-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

If you are having a hard time getting to sleep at night here are a few hints:

Go to bed (sleep) earlier. Most people are hardwired to go to sleep between 9:00 and 10:00 if you miss that sleep window and stay up until midnight you will have confused your body's clock. Not only that, but if you miss the sleep window then your body secrets stress hormones to help you stay awake longer.
Exercise in the morning rather than at night right before bed time. When you exercise your body raises its adrenaline level . . . this makes it even harder to sleep.
Relax with a warm bath half an hour before bed time.
Add relaxing foods to your diet and eliminate stimulants like caffeine, sugar, and MSG. Calming foods are high in magnesium, which calms the nervous system. Some magnesium rich foods are black beans, spinach, pumpkin seeds, and salmon. You might consider a 200 to 300 mg magnesium suplement twice a day as well.
If you are still having a hard time getting to sleep then you might visit you local health food store and pick up gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is a calming brain chemical. When I get too stressed out, yup it happens sometimes, I take 100 mg of 5-hydroxytryptohan (5-HTP). 5-HTP is a natural compound that relaxes by balancing the serotonin level in your brain.

Note: If you don't have a local health food store that you can support (please buy local if you can) then visit http://www.swansonherbs.com/. They carry both 5-HTP and a variety of GABA formulations. Please remember I don't work for Swanson Herbs and they don't pay me to hype their products. However, when I can't buy locally, they are my internet source of choice. Great prices and service.

Making Bread

2011-05-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

I'm making bread today . . . nothing tastes better than bread fresh out of the oven. I thought that I would make some Naan too. Naan is Indian flat bread. It is great with curry. Here is my recipe:

NAAN FLAT BREAD RECIPE

Ingredients for indian naan recipe:

4 cups White Flour
1/2 tsp Baking powder
1 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Milk
1 tbsp Sugar
1 Egg
4 tbsp Oil
1 tsp Nigella seeds NOTE: I use sesame seeds when I can't get Nigella at the health food store

Procedure:

1. Sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl and make a well in the middle.

2. Mix the sugar, milk, eggs 2tbsp of oil in a bowl.

3. Pour the liquid mixture into the well in the center of the flour and knead adding water if necessary to form soft dough.

4. Add the remaining oil, knead again, then cover with damp cloth and allow the dough to stand for 15 minutes. Knead the dough again and cover and leave for 2-3 hours.

5. About half an before the naan are required, turn on the oven to maximum heat. Your oven needs to be really hot. The bread bakes fast.

6. Divide the dough into 8 balls and allow rest for 3-4 minutes.

7. Sprinkle a baking sheet with nigella or sesame seeds and put it in the oven to heat while the dough is resting.

8. Shape each ball of dough with the palms to make an oval shape.

9. Bake the indian bread naan until puffed up and golden brown. Serve hot. I don't know how hot your oven will get so I can't tell you how long this will take, sorry. Turn the light on in your oven and watch the bread. Take it out when it is golden brown.

Serve warm with a vegetable curry or drizzle honey on it. Yum.

Rahu and Ketu

2011-05-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

Rahu and Ketu moved into new signs, (Scorpio and Taurus), on May 3rd. They will be in these signs for the next 20 months. Vedic astrology uses the visible planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn) and Rahu and Ketu, the nodes where the Moon crosses the ecliptic. While not identical, the nodes function somewhat like the outer planets in Western astrology.

If you would like to learn more about Rahu and Ketu then visit

http://www.komilla.com/pages/rahu-ketu.html for a quick summary.

Rahu and Ketu will affect the houses in which they reside for the next 20 months. To place them in the correct houses you will need to know your rising sign, not your Western Sun sign. You can download a free Vedic astrology package at http://jyotishtools.com/downloads.php. If you are a Windows user then click on “Download Junior Jyotish for Windows for free” to download and install the software.

Once you have installed Junior Jyothish then you can click on “File” and “New” to enter your birth data. To see your chart in fixed sign order click on “View” then “Chart Style” and select the South India style chart. The chart should look like this, but without the identification of the signs:

The Sign that contains the designation “As” is your Vedic ascendant and consequently your first house. Count clockwise from your ascendant to Scorpio. For example, if you are Leo ascendant then Scorpio is the 4th house. Taurus will be located 7 houses away from Scorpio in the 10th house. If you are a Leo rising then Rahu will affect your 4th and 10th houses and for the next 20 months.

Again, if you are a Leo rising then you would want to connect spirituality (Ketu) with work (the 10th house), and ambition (Rahu) with assets (the 4th house), for the next 20 months. Rahu and Ketu can have a significant effect on your life of the next 20 months so act with wisdom and understanding.

Namaste

Do You Love the Sun?

2011-04-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

We lived in the former Soviet Union for a year about a decade ago. It got cold in the winter. I mean really cold. We would bundle up to go out for our daily walk when I would come home for lunch at noon. I was amazed to see rows of old men sitting in lawn chairs in front of Soviet-style apartment buildings. They sat there for about an hour every day sunbathing wearing their boots and underpants and nothing else. I wonder what their vitamin D level was.

Humans have been out in the sun for millenia. Our bodies are designed to convert sun light into vitamin D (which is really a hormone not a vitamin). Now the cosmeceutical industry is trying to convince all of us that sun light is bad. The American Academy of Dermatology has adopted a policy stating that a "comprehensive sun protection program, including avoiding outdoor activities between 10 am and 4 pm when the sun's rays are strongest, seeking shade whenever possible, wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SP) of at least 15 and reapplying it every 2 hours, and wearing sun-protective clothing.

Given that apparently sound advice, after all dematologist couldn't be wrong could they, then why has Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called on the FDA to reveal the findings between a possible link between a chemical found in (yup, you guessed it) most sunscreens (retinyl palmitate) and skin cancer.

According to Dr. Holick vitamin D levels are low in a large fraction of the world's population. This deficiency causes an increase in osteoporosis, rickets, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attacks, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and cancer. May the old guys taking sun the in winter in Tashkent had the right idea.

Want to lear more? I recommend Dr. Holick's book, The UV Advantage. It is a great read. You can pick it up at Amazon for about $10. It's well worth the small investment.

Spring Cleaning

2011-03-24T07:06:00.000-07:00

Spring and sprung and thoughts turn to Spring cleaning. It's time to open the windows and get fresh Spring air circulating through the house. When I was a kid in the 50's we hung the rugs on the clothes line and gave them a good beating (that was always fun). We clean our yards, wash and wax the cars, and plant gardens.

Why not give your body the same care. This is a wonderful time to detox your body and even think about a colon cleanse. Your body's most important natural detoxifier is glutathione, an amino acid-based antioxidant. Glutathione contains sulfur and so toxins stick to it and are then flushed from the body via urine and stool. One way to increase your glutathione level is to eat foods that are high in sulfur. These include garlic, onions, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower and boc choy as well as egg yoke.

You also might want to consider adding gultathione building supplements like N-acetylcystine (NAC), alpha-lipoic-acid (ALA) and milk thistle extract (MTE) to your supplement routine. I take 500 mg of NAC, 100 mg ALAand 175 mg of MTE twice a day. Some people double the NAC and ACA intake.

In addition to a multiviatamin you may consider taking 500mg of vitamin C, 20 mg of zinc, and 150 mg of selenium. These all provide metal-chelating benefits.

If you have never considered or done a colon cleanse then you might want to read this informative article at Web MD: http://www.webmd.com/balance/natural-colon-cleansing-is-it-necessary. From my perspective I think that it is important and do a colon cleanse every six months.

To your health . . .

Emergency Kits

2011-03-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I responded to a Twitter request for info about emergency kits with the following. I hope that it is useful. Obviously, my way is not the only way. Develop emergency kits and plans that meet your family's needs.

I have a large plastic box in the back of the van with food for three days (lots of easy to prepare canned food, etc.). The van also caries an ax, hatchet, small shovel, and a camp stove with fuel. We live in a heavily wooded area so wood for fires and shelter is plentiful.

I have prepared a fanny pack for each member of the family. The fanny packs are in the back of the van. Each fanny pack includes the following:

Small AA flashlight
Plastic poncho
Emergency blanket (reflective plastic)
Whistle
Pocket knife
Fire starter (the kind that make goods sparks)
Box of matches in a zip lock bag
A $5 roll of quarters
$20 bill
2 protein bars

I have also prepared a large backpack with the following (the backpack stays in the van):

Two rolls of toilet paper
Compass
GPS with East Coast topo maps
Hunting knife
20 protein bars
2 wakie takies
A 2 meter portable transceiver that runs of 6 AA batteries (I'm a ham radio operator)
2 meter, roll-up J-pole antena with 6 meters of coax
100 meters of parachute cord
20 meters of rope
Fishing line, hooks, lures, and weights
Fire starter
Snow Peak GigaPower Stove with 2 liters of white gas
Small fry pan
Small pot for boiling water
Five metal drinking cups (they nest well inside each other) Can be used to heat water for instant soup or noodles
Water purification tablets
MSR Water purification filter
1 Liter Nalgene water bottle
12 rechargable AA batteries
Solar battery charger
Solar/crank AM/FM/SW radio
Pocket version of the Bhagavad Gita

Finally I have placed a tent, ground cloth and five sleeping bags in the closet by the front door of the house so that we could load them in the van in a hurry if we had to. We also have a canoe parked next to the house for quick access. It takes about five minutes to toss it on top of the van and tie it down.

Pray for the best, plan for the worst.

Reduce Cholesterol Naturally

2011-03-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

When my doctor told me that my cholesterol level was way too high he also suggested that I start taking a statin drug. I decided that rather that risking muscule pain and kidney and liver damage I would take a natural approach . . . after all I'm an ND.

While diet and exercise have been shown to reduce cholesterol I decided that they probably wouldn't do much for me. I was already a vegitarian, go to the gym five days a week for a 30 minute cardio workout and weight training, and hit the trails on my mountain bike every chance I get. I needed to do something more.

Here are a few natural supplements that have shown to be effective in lowering bad cholesterol. You might want to try one of these after checking with your physician. You should be able to find any of these at your lcoal health food store or online.

Ferulic Acid – A powerful antioxidant that can reduce the level of cholesterol and triglycerides. You can take it as a supplement, and it is also found in brown rice, whole wheat and oats.

Chromium Picolinate – Chromium is an essential mineral for everyone, but it's especially important for people trying to lose weight. Chromium Picolinate plays a crucial role in fat and sugar metabolism. Picolinate is a nutrient found in raw sugar cane and beeswax. It is reported to significantly lowers levels of LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) increases levels of HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and does not raise blood sugar levels.

Lecithin - Is an outstanding fat emulsifier for healthy cholesterol and cardiovascular maintenance. It is also a source of phosphatidylcholine which is a vital nutrient for brain and liver function. Lecithin is high in nutrients, it helps to raise HDL levels and inhibits the absorption of cholesterol from foods.

Pumpkin Seed Oil - Pumpkin seeds have been used traditonallhy to provide nourishing support to the prostate. They contain zinc, which is vital for normal prostate function. It contains essential fatty acid nutrients (Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids) that may help to reduce the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver. The oil has also been shown to enhance the cholesterol-lowering ability of policosanol and other nutrients.

Quercetin – An antioxidant use to protect the cardiovascular system and the whole body. Quercetin is a natural antioxidant flavonoid found in onions, apples, green tea and other plant sources. It delivers valuable free-radical protection for blood vessels and other vital tissues throughout the body. It has also been gaining the attention of nutrition researchers for its potential to help maintain a healthy prostate
Dong quai root – A staple of traditional Chinese herbology which is often called "the female ginseng" because of the many benefits it provides for women's overall health. It has gained widespread popularity inthe West as a way to promote well-being throughout the menstrual cycle. It is also a great source of iron and a natural sedative and is also supposed to help lower cholesterol.

Ginger root – Is a well-known as a culinary herb and it is also an excellent natural stomach-soother and digestive system tonic. It is belived to reduce high blood pressure and help lower cholesterol as well.

Artichoke extract – Is a popular nutritional supplement in Europe. Artichoke extract has a long, successful history of liver support, particularly for those who have a history of liver-related problems. It contains a compound called cynarin which increases the liver’s production of bile and the flow of bile from the gallbladder. Bile is a key element for the extraction of excess cholesterol.

Beta-sitosterol - Is a powerful plant sterol that works naturally within the body to help promote cardiovascular health. Research shows that it can lower LDL cholesterol without having an effect on HDL cholesterol.

Red Yeast Rice – Has been used for centuries in Asia as a food additive and in folk medicine. Evidence shows that this can help lower LDL cholesterol. However, The Food and Drug Administration has warned that red yeast rice products could contain a naturally occurring form of the prescription medication known as Lovastatin. Lovastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body. Because you don’t know the quality or level of this drug in the red yeast rice supplement, it poses a potential hazard. So checking with your physician before taking it is a must. Red yeast rice should not be taken by individuals with a liver disorder.

Transits for March 10 -16

2011-03-11T11:06:00.000-08:00

Sun transits out of Aquarius and into Pisceson March 14 at 7:03 p.m. EDT. Sun is outside the orb of influence of other planets, but is weak in transit until March 19. Watch your digestion and blood pressure, and be patient with authority figures.

Moon is waxing and transits Aries, Taurus, Gemini and Cancer. Moon is exalted in Taurus from March 10 – 12. Moon is in its own sign (Cancer) from March 15 – 16. These dates should be good for creativity, romance, the emotional state, and family matters.

Mars transits Aquarius, from 17:58 to 23:27°. Mars is combust until April 25, and is weak due to the weakness of its final dispositor, Mercury. Be careful with property matters. There is some level of vulnerability for Mars professions like the police, military, athletes, surgeons, engineering, construction, etc.

Mercury transits its debilitation sign, Pisces, from 06:56 to 19:04°. Mercury is debilitated until May 11. Be careful with stocks, business, computers, viruses, and communications. Mercury is closely conjunct Jupiter, March 12 – 19. Taurus, Cancer, and Capricorn rising sign persons, companies, and countries (including USA) should be careful and patient.

Jupiter transits its own sign, Pisces, from 15:52 to 17:31°and is in good strength for most people. Jupiter is, however, closely conjunct Mercury, March 12 – 19. Aries, Libra, and Aquarius rising signs should be careful and patient.

Venus transits Capricorn, from 15:37 to 23:54°. Venus is strong, outside the orb of influence of other planets, and is free from afflictions. This is exceptionally good for a practical approach and long-term planning for artists, musicians, healers, teachers, and creative types. Enjoy the arts, romance and luxuries, and consider that new vehicle.

Saturn transits Virgo, from 21:40 to 21:12° and is outside the orb of influence of other planets. Saturn is retrograde Jan. 26 – June 13 (20 weeks). The significations for Saturn, such as oil, gas, minerals, labor industry, manufacturing, insurance, funeral homes, etc., move in the wrong direction. (Oil and Gas Prices Climb, Oil Fields in Libya Burn.)

Rahu and Ketu transit Sagittarius and Gemini, respectively, from 04:40 to 04:23°. Persons, companies, and countries with odd rising signs, (Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius), in the 3-5°range, and those with planets in odd signs in the 3-5°range, should be careful and patient.

Vedic Astrology

2011-03-11T10:51:00.000-08:00

I have been studying and practicing Vedic astrology for the past ten years. My focus, as a Vedic astrologer, is to help individuals find their purpose and path in life. I'll be adding more information in the future about Vedic astrology and planetary transits. Please stop in again on my new Vedic Astrology page.

Capsaicin and Heart Attack . . . The News is Good!

2011-03-03T11:49:00.000-08:00

Capsaicin, the hot stuff in cayenne peppers, has a long history of use in folk medicine and by alternative health practitioners. In fact, cayenne is often called, The King of Herbs". Now scientists have come up with proof cayenne does have a remarkable ability to help the heart. University of Cincinnati (UC) scientists have found that capsaicin, the main component of cayenne, may literally stop a heart attack in its tracks when applied topically.

New research just published in the journal Circulation concludes that a common, over-the-counter pain salve containing capsaicin rubbed on the skin during a heart attack (mice were used in this experiment) could serve as a cardiac-protectant -- reducing or even preventing damage to the heart. The researchers found an amazing 85 percent reduction in cardiac cell death when capsaicin was used. This is the most powerful cardioprotective effect ever recorded, according to Keith Jones, PhD, a researcher in the UC department of pharmacology and cell biophysics.

According to Natural News, Dr. Jones is currently working in collaboration with cardiologist Neal Weintraub, MD, director of UC's cardiovascular diseases division, and other clinicians to test capsaicin's heart protective abilities in people. "Topical capsaicin has no known serious adverse effects and could be easily applied in an ambulance or emergency room setting well in advance of coronary tissue death," Dr. Jones said in a media statement. "If proven effective in humans, this therapy has the potential to reduce injury and/or death in the event of a coronary blockage, thereby reducing the extent and consequences of heart attack."

Learn more: http://www.healthnews.uc.edu/news/?/9213/

Vegetables In Coconut Curry Sauce

2011-03-03T07:04:00.000-08:00

Hope you enjoy this, it is one of my favorites:

Vegetables in Coconut Curry Sauce
Prep time; 20 minutes
Cooking time: 50 minutes
Serves; 6

Ingredients

Vegetables

1 head of cauliflower florets (about 4 cups)
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into half rounds
2 zucchini, cut into found
1 red bell pepper, cut into half strip
1 cup frozen pea
1 medium onion, mince
2 tablespoons garlic, mince
¼ teaspoon dried crushed red chili pepper (more or less to taste)

Spices

2 tablespoons ground coriande
1 teaspoon turmeri
1 teaspoon curry powde
1 teaspoon sal
½ teaspoon powdered cumi
½ teaspoon ground cardamo
¼ teaspoon cinnamo
pinch ground clove

Other

2 cups coconut milk (use 1 can of pure coconut milk, 14 fl. oz.
¼ cup canola oil or peanut oi
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
1 tablespoon honey (optional)

Steps:

Steam cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, bell pepper and frozen peas until al dente
Heat oil and mustard seeds in a medium sized pot
When seeds start to pop, add onion, garlic and red chili pepper and sauté until the onions are is translucent
Add spices and mix and cook for 3 minutes on low heat
Add 2 C coconut milk and simmer, but do not allow to boil
Fold in steamed vegetables
Add 1 T honey if desired
Serve with steamed rice

Humus

2011-03-01T07:06:00.000-08:00

If you like good humus as much as I do then you might be a little dismayed by grocery store prices. I have been making my own for a long time. Its quick and easy, and pretty inexpensive.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 16 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans, drained (reserve the liquid)
1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas
3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
1 1/2 tablespoons tahini - OR- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation:

Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine all of the ingredients in blender or food processor. As you blend slowly add the liquid from chickpeas until you get to the desired, creamy consistency. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth.
Place in serving bowl, and create a shallow well in the center of the hummus.
Add a small amount (1-2 tablespoons) of olive oil in the well. Garnish with parsley (optional).
Serve immediately with fresh, warm or toasted pita bread, or cover and refrigerate.

For a little variety you might add one of the following as your are blending:

1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 C drained artichoke hearts
red pepper flakes (these are hot so be carefull)
1/4 C drained and pitted black olives

Enjoy

Meditation and Your Brain

2011-02-24T10:16:00.000-08:00

While at the gym this morning I listened to Episode 50 of The Secular Buddhist (http://www.editurl.com/qb0). The discussion was about a recent study conducted at Boston General Hospital. The study was designed as a pretest-posttest control-group design. They started with a group of non-meditors and measured their brain structure. Half the group then participated in Boston General Hospital's MBSR meditation program. At the end of eight weeks the brain structures of the new meditators and the non-treatment-group were again measured.

The results were astounding. They concluded that the results suggest that participation in MBSR is associated with changes in gray matter concentration in brain regions involved in learning and memory processes, emotion regulation, self-referential processing, and perspective taking. Wow. Meditation is good for your brain.

The article is a little technical but you can reference it at the above link. The link will also give you access to a summary article about the reserach that was published at Science Daily.

The Power of Green Tea

2011-02-22T06:14:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder why people in China and Japan have such relatively low rates of heart disease, cancer and other chronic aliments? Might be because they drink so much green tea.

Tea is widely recognized as a rich source of healthful antioxidants called catechins. Tea is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves are picked, rolled, dried and heated. Back tea leaves are left to ferment and oxidize as well. Green tea leaves are not. This may explain why green tea leaves contain more antioxidants than do black tea leaves. White tea, made from young tea leaves, has even more antioxidants but is harder to find and is more expensive.

Hundreds of studies have been conducted on the effect of green tea consumption. Most of the studies indicate a strong link between drinking green tea and health benefits. In one study, for example, of 18,000 Chinese men, the tea drinkers (who primarily drank green tea) were half as likely to develop stomach or esophageeal cancer as the men who drank little tea. Other studies in Asia have shown a linkage reduced risks for bladder, colon, prostate, breast, and pancreatic cancers and green tea consumption. It appears that at least three cups of green tea is needed to achieve the healthful benefits of drinking green tea.

Want to learn more about the health benefits of drinking green tea? Read Lester Mitscher, PhD's, book The Green Tea Book: The Science-backed "Miracle Cure".

Your Brain on Statins

2011-02-12T18:49:00.000-08:00

I just finished a very interesting book by Dr. Graveline, MD, titled Lipitor: Thief of Memory.

It appears, from his book, that Lipitor may cause transient global amnesia. Here are a few of the other problems that he associates with Liptor (a statin) use:

Personality changes / mood disorders
Muscle problems, polyneuropathy (nerve damage in the hands and feet), and rhabdomyolysis (a serious degenerative muscle tissue condition)
Sexual dysfunction
Immune suppression
Pancreas or liver dysfunction, including a potential increase in liver enzymes
Cataracts

And, according to Dr. Graveline, a form of Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS may also be a side effect.

If you want to know what to do about it then I highly recommend that you read the book, you can find it on Amazon. You also might want to read up on CoQ10 and ubiquinol.

Don't Wait for Your Doctor

2011-02-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

Wellness is your responsiblity so don't wait for your doctor to make you well. Taking a pill for high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol doesn't make up for a bad diet and lack of exercise. Here are a couple of easy things you can do to take charge of your health:

1. Get creative with exercise -- you can do simple things like taking a parking spot in a far, out of the way, corner of the parking lot, or walking the stairs rather than the elevator. How about joining a walking club or going mall walking. Make if fun and mix it up. The key is to move your body every day.

2. Get smart about nutrition -- know what you eat, and what it does to your body. Check the local hospital for a free nutrition or weight-loss program. http://www.healthcastle.com/ is a free web site run by registered dieticians that has great information about nutrition and weight loss. I made one simple change to my diet and have lost eight pounds in less than three weeks. Email me and I'll tell you what I have done.

3. Don't let chronic health problems sideline you -- A chronic health care problem is not a prescription or permission to become a couch potato. Check with your doctor and see what activites are right for you. If you do have a chronic health care problem then I really suggest that you talk with your doctor about safe activities. Check the resource section on my website for a free PDF on Qi Gong. It is an easy and safe way to start moving.

Remember that there no pills that can take charge of your health . . . that is something that only you can do.

Change Your Brain Through Meditation

2011-02-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

A study published in the January 30 issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) concluded that an eight-week mindful meditation practice produced measurable changes in participants’ brain regions associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress.

MR images were taken of the brain structures of 16 study participants two weeks before and two after they participated in the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness. In addition to atttending weekly mindfulness meditation practice sessions the research subjects also listened to audio recordings of guided meditation practice and were asked to log their daily meditation time. MR brain scans were also taken of a control group of non-meditators over the same time interval.

The meditators reported spending an average of 27 minutes a day practicing mindfulness meditation. The MR images showed increased grey-matter density in the hippocampus (an area of the brain known to be important for learning and memory) and in structures associated with self-awareness, compassion and introspection. In addition the MR images showed reductions grey-matter density in the amygdala, (the part of the brain which is known to play an important role in anxiety and stress). None of these changes were seen in the control group.

It's exciting to know that by practicing meditation we can cause physical changes in the brain and can increase our well-being and quality of life.

Feed Your Brain

2011-02-04T11:08:00.000-08:00

As I get older I start to worry about little things like degenerative brain conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Not happy thoughts, but there is some new, good news. I call it "Nerf 2" but it's real name is Nrf2. Nrf2 is a protein that turns on genes that produce a wide arry of antioixidants, like Glutathione, in the body and particularly in the brain. Antioxidants protect against free radicals, the little nastys that cause disease. Because the brain uses so much energy there are more potential damaging free radicals up there.

Dr. David Perlmutter, MD, is an integrateve neurologist and has written several books about brain health (You can see my favorite in "Recommended Readings" at the right). He recommends nutritional supplements to boost the brains ability to protect against free radicals. Here are some ways to crank up your Nrf2:

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) help boost glutathione production. ALA can reduce blood sugar so diabetes need to be monitored if they take ALA.
Docosahezaenoic acid (DHA) dramatically boost Nrf2-related antioxidant activity and increases the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF is a protein the stimulated the growth of neurons and synapses and helps protect neurons from trauma damage (a bump on the head).
Tumeric, oh I love tumeric. It's active ingredient in curcumin, a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflamatory substance that also increases the production of BDNF. Just for good measure, it also has a stimulating effect on Nrf2.
Broccoli, or really sulforaphane, is one of the strongest Nrf2 activators. If you don't like eating broccoli then you can take broccoli seed extract.
Blueberries, or the active component pterostilbene, is effective in boosting Nrf2 levels. In addition, it seems to be more easily assimilated by the body than its chemically related cousin resveratrol.
Green Tea Extract contains antioxidants that help eliminate free radicals. It also stimulates Nrf2.

In addition to feeding your brain you might try replacing some TeeVee time with quiet meditation, spending some time in nature, or enjoying loved ones.

Don't Eat That!

2011-01-31T10:00:00.000-08:00

I just finished a fasicnating book, In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan. He notes that humans historically consumed over 80,000 different species fo edible plants, animals, and fungi; and that about 3,000 of those have been in widespread use by humans. When was the last day that you ate 3,000 different foods? What about last year? Did you eat 3,000 different foods last year?

It turns out that you probably got most of your calories from only three (yup, 3) foods: corn, soy and wheat. About 67 percent of most people's diets come from those three foods and their derivatives. It's no surprise that we face a health crisis today, a crisis of obesity and life-style diseases. Some of the common derivatives include:

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
Corn oil
Soybean oil (hydrogenated or plain refined)
Refined wheat flour

Think about how many foods that you eat that contain HFCS; foods like soft drinks, marinades, salad dressings, ketchup, breads, and 100's of other fattening HFCS. Don't forget all of the fried foods that you may eat that are cooked in corn or soybean oil. These oils are found in processed foods like chips, candies, cakes, salad dressing, tomato sauces, burrito wraps, corn chips, breaded chicken. Then their are all of the foods made from processed wheat: breads, cereals, pastas, and muffins.

So, what's wrong with that? Well for starters:

It skews the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in our diets from the healthy 1:1 to 2:1 to an unhealthly 30:1
Gluten intolerance caused by heavy wheat consumption
Weight gain
blood-sugar swings and reduced insulin sensitivity
And, if too much corn and soy is bad for us, what do you think it does to the farm animals that eventually find their way onto our tables.

So what can you do? Here are a few ideas:

Don't purchase processed foods and eat one-ingredient foods instead like fruit, vegetables, beans, eggs (free froaming if you can get them), nuts, seeds, a meats from grass-feed or free roaming animals
Get most of your carbs from fruits and veggies, rather than from grains
Make your own salad dressings (olive oil and quality vinager are an easy choice)
Make sure that your tomato sauces don't have HFCS or soybean oils, or make your own
Eat guacamole or hummus with veggie sticks rather than with crackers

My goal is to get my corn/wheat/soy calorie count down from the American average of 67% to a healthier 5% of my diet. See what you can do.

Exercise for Better Sleep

2011-01-23T08:25:00.000-08:00

A recent article published in Sleep Medicine indicates that aerobic exercise (walking, cycling, biking or jogging) can reduce insomnia in middle-aged and older adults. All it takes is two twenty-minute sessions four times a week, or one 30 to 40 minute session four times a week. Exercise was shown to improve the quality of sleep, and to reduce symptoms of depression and daytime sleepiness. Exercise was also shown to increase vitality.

Source: K. J. Reid, et al. (2010). Aerobic Exercise Improves Self-reported Sleep and Quality of Life in Older Adults with Insomnia. Sleep Medicine.

10 Keys to Reaching Your Goals

2011-01-20T13:42:00.000-08:00

There has never been a shortage of good advice. We all know what we need to do. We have been told to lose weight, or stop smoking, or to eat more healthy foods, to exercise more, to worry less, or to relax and “chill out”, or to see the Doctor, to stop complaining and to look on the “bright side”, or just to have fun once in a while. For some reason we just never seem to get around to doing it.

1. Decide what you value in life. You will never achieve your goals if they conflict with your inner values. But, if you haven’t ever defined your inner values you might end up with value-goal conflicts.

2. Define exactly what you want to achieve. You can’t achieve a nebulous, fuzzy, goal so make it specific. For example, assume that you want to lose weight . . . How much? By when?

3. Use positive self-talk. Write short, visual, active, present tense, positive and powerful statements that describe the benefits of having reached your goal. Read them out loud several times a day to stimulate your imagination (subconscious mind). Don’t worry if you feel silly at first, you’ll get over it.

4. Find powerful motivators for reaching your goal. If you can find enough reasons why you should reach your goal then your subconscious mind will help you find a way to do it.

5. Write everything down. That means write down your values, goals, positive self-talk or affirmations, and your reasons why. If it is not written down it is not real. You should set daily goals then write them down daily and read them constantly. The outline below identifies what we write down for each of our major goals.

6. Set a deadline. If you don’t set a deadline then your conscious and subconscious minds will keep putting goal-directed effort off to tomorrow, and we all know that tomorrow never comes. All we have is today.

7. Set intermediate goals that lead towards your ultimate target. If your goal is to get an “A” in a class at the end of the semester then set daily study goals and weekly review goals. If you want to lose 40 pounds in 4 months then set monthly goals of 10 pounds per month and weekly goals 2 ½ pounds per week. That is a little more than 1/3 pound per day. The idea of losing 40 pounds may seem daunting but losing 1/3 pound a day is realistic. Take a small step each day towards your goal.

8. Tell the world. One of the best ways to help you reach your goals is to make them public . . . then you are really committed.

9. Find support. Ask a buddy or a partner to help you reach your goal and ask for their unconditional support.

10. Use an incentive-reward system. Celebrate reaching intermediate and final goals by rewarding yourself. Decide in advance what your reward will be and then enjoy your reward when you reach your goal.

Outline for a Goal Worksheet

1. My goal is to . . .

2. I will reach this goal by (date) _____________

3. My values are consistent with this goal. I value . . .

4. When I reach my goal I will reward myself by . . .

5. Reaching this goal is important to me because (list benefits) . . .

6. My positive-self talk for this goal is . . .

7. My first action step that leads me towards reaching this goal is . . . and I will do it today!

8. I will ask ________________________ to be my support person for this goal on ________ (date).

A Healthy Alternative to Olive Oil

2010-12-18T11:09:00.000-08:00

Many people use olive oil because it contains healthy monounsaturated fats like oleic acid. These fats have mild anti-inflammatory properties, reduce "bad" LDL (low-density lipoprotien) cholesterol and contain beta-sitosterol, a plant sterol than can be healthful for the prostate. If you find that olive oil has too strong a taste then you might try avocado oil. It has the same amount of oleic acid as olive oil, a few more calories and a higher smoke point (500 degrees F) than olive oil (400 degrees F). Avocado oil is slightly more expensive than olive oil but I really like its subtle flavor with a touch of pepper taste.

Another Drug-Free Way to Lower Cholesterol . . . If you are a guy.

2010-08-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

A study performed at Iowa State University found that men with high cholesterol who ate at least 150 milligrams of flaxseed lignans a day (about three tablespoons) experienced nearly a 10 percent decrease in cholesterol. The study didn't explain why flaxseed consumption didn't have the same effect on women. I sprinkle ground flaxseed on my salads.

Love Those Nuts

2010-08-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

A review of 25 clinical trials published in Archives of Internal Medicine indicates that eating about one-half cup (2.4 ounces) of nuts a day can lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and total cholesterol as well. Nuts are high in calories so you might reduce your intake of other snacks and high-calorie foods.

Fermentation and Health

2010-06-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

Preparing and eating fermented foods is quickly becoming a lost art. When was the last time that you prepared sauerkraut, or for that matter even ate it? By the way, after reading this post, if you want to make sauerkraut then follow "Mother Earth New's" simple directions at http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2006-08-01/Got-Cabbage-Make-Sauerkraut.aspx

Anyway, back to fermented foods . . . acid indigestion results when your stomach doesn't have good bacteria and enzymes. The symptoms of "acid indigestion" are really a warning that you don't have enough acid. Loading up on antacids will just make the problem worse over the long term.

Fermented foods are pre-digested foods that magically sooth and heal the stomach. They also provide nutrients like B vitamins and omege-3 fatty acitds. Dr. Bill Douglas in the February 2010 issue of his Douglas Report stated that "the lactic acid you get from fermeted foods produces substances that can kill bacteria like Salmonela and Helicobacter pylori." Ever wonder why the French have such a low cancer and heart disease rate? Could it be because the drink more wine, a fermented food, that has avoided commercial processing?

Other fermented foods that you might try are Kombucha, an excellent drink and unflavored (fewer calories, non-pasteurized yogurt.

To your health . . .

Statin Drug Update

2010-03-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

Last April (April 2009) I wrote a post about the dangers of statin drugs used to control (reduce) cholesterol. Last week, the day before the health "care" bill passed, the FDA announced that one of the most popular statin drugs sold in America causes so much kidney damage that it might kill you. The Food and Drug Administration says the highest available dose of the cholesterol drug Zocor can cause muscle damage as well as severe and potentially lethal kidney damage.

The FDA stated that statin drugs like Zocor (the generic version is simvastatin) are known to cause muscle damage in some patients. The risk is greater when patients are taking 80 milligram doses of Zocor. The risks include rhabdomyolysis, a form of muscle damage that can lead to kidney damage or failure, and death.

Please go back and reread my April 2009 post . . .

Omega 3 for Heart Attack Survivors

2010-03-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that heart attack patients who had the highest intake of Omega-3 fatty acids from food rather than supplements had a 47 percent lower risk of ventricular ectopy. Ventricular ectopy is a form of heart rhythm abnormality that can result in sudden death. The best natural sources of Omega-3s are walnuts (I eat a small handful, about 1/4 cup, a day), kale and brussel sprouts (yum), salmon, herring and mackerel. I suggest that you include at least three serviing of Omega-3 rich food in your diet every day.

Source: Smith, P. J., et al. (2009) "Association Between n-3 Fatty Acid Consumption and Ventricular Ectopy after Myocardial Infarction," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Zucchini Delight

2010-03-14T12:16:00.001-07:00

You might be thinking, “Oh no, not Zucchini again.” I love Zucchini in all of its wonderful varieties and missed it tremendously during the few months when I couldn’t find it in the grocery store . . . and early March is way too early to get it out of my garden. Tired of steamed, stir-fried and boiled (yuck) zucchini? Try our recipe for Zucchini Delight.

Wash and grate two large zucchinis (skin on)

Chop ½ of one red onion

Combine with one egg and three tablespoons of butter

Salt and pepper to taste

Fry until brown (about three minutes on each side) in olive oil

Serve with garnish.

Now that is yummy!

Being Prepared

2010-02-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

We have had a lot of snow in the mid-Atlantic this winter, as you may have noticed in the news if you don't live here. A couple of nights ago I was awoken by the arrival of the wind. Living in a forest we are able to hear strong wind blowing through the tops of the trees minutes before it hits. The wind was so strong that I listened to it for about five minutes before it hit our house. The street lights flickered a couple of times, it was 4:00 in the morning, and then the lights went off.

It was cold outside, about 9 degrees according to my thermometer, and so I went down stairs and turn on the fireplace and then made sure that our three boys were well covered in their beds. We stumbled out of bed into a reasonably warm house in the morning, thanks to our propane fireplace and I dug out our old Coleman camp stove to cook breakfast (and lunch and dinner . . . ).

All this got me thinking. We were nice and warm, as long as there was propane in the tank . . . but what would have happened if the tank ran dry? I need a backup of good old fashioned fire wood. The Colemen stove worked great . . . but I only have two gallons of fuel . . . that runs out and then what?

We don't need a disaster on the scale of Katrina to feel uncomfortable. What are you doing to be prepared for the bumps in life that come along from time-to-time?

-- Do you have food and fuel stored away?
-- What about a three-day emergency kit?
-- Could you plant a garden to feed your family? (I have an emergency supply of heritage seeds)
-- If you can't get to the ATM do you have cash (small bills and coins and maybe a little silver) on hand?

Have a plan . . . a get prepared.

Herbs for a Healthy Immune System

2010-01-30T12:52:00.000-08:00

A 2007 study (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17464769?dopt=AbstractPlus) documents the incredible effects of the herb Andrographis Paniculata on the immune system. The study reported the following findings:

Andrographis supplementation increases the production of cytotoxic T cells—an immune cell that destroys caner cells.
Mice with thymoma—a cancer of the thymus gland (which produces immune cells) live more than twice as long when treated with Andrographis extract for 10 days.
Andrographis extract exerted beneficial effects on several cytokines (chemical messengers that direct the immune response), resulting in suppression of tumor growth.

Andrographis paniculata is an herb commonly used in China, India, and other countries in subtropical and Southeast Asia. Both the fresh and dried leaves, as well as the fresh juice of the whole plant, have been used in a variety of cultures. In traditional Chinese herbalism, andrographis is used to support healthy digestive, cardiovascular, and urinary systems. In Sweden, andrographis has been used for more than 10 years as a primary herb for the winter season.

A very similar study (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12071516?dopt=abstractplus ) was done using another of my favorite herbs, ashwagandha. The results were similar with a large increase in immune function and a suppression of tumor growth. Ashwagandha is known to many herbalists as the Ayurvedic answer to ginseng, this powerful adaptogenic herb has been used in India for hundreds of years to strengthen the immune system and help normalize body functions affected by stress.

I recommend the use of Andrographis or Ashwangandha anytime you feel signs of flu or cold coming. Look for both at Swanson Vitamins.

Be Gentle with Yourself . . .

2010-01-29T08:46:00.001-08:00

Do this with me . . . take a deep breath and now hold it while you count slowly to 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5 . . . 6 . . . 7 . . . 8 . . . don’t give up . . . keep holding your breath . . . 9 . . . 10 . . . 11 . . . 12 . . . 13 . . .14 . . . 15.

Your body absorbed all the oxygen that it could from that breath in the first two or three seconds. The rest of the time you were holding on to something that was completely useless; air devoid of usable oxygen. How did it feel? A little tight? Constricted? Uncomfortable? That’s how we feel when we hold onto anything that we don’t need.

Are you holding onto old hurts? Resentment? Anger? Holding onto any of those old emotions does about as much good as holding your breath. Let go of those old, useless emotions and memories and forgive. Holding on to old pains is a lot like telling someone, “I’m going to drink this poison so that you will die.” When we fail to forgive we hurt ourselves, not the person whom we think has wronged us.

I can remember years ago when a student came to my office after class one day and said, “Dr. Murphy, you wronged me!” He was upset because I hadn’t given him extra time to finish an exam. He went on to accuse me of being an insensitive and arrogant professor. I could hold onto the bad feelings that I felt at that moment. If I did that the student, who graduate long ago and moved on with his life, would never know. I, however, would be affected by those thoughts every day.

I believe in Hemingway’s book, For Whom the Bell Tolls, he tells the story of a father who had just received a telegram informing him that his son had been killed in the Spanish Civil War. In the book, the father went to a party that night and was confronted by a friend who asked him, how can you be here tonight? You just found out that your son was killed in the war. The father responded with the explanation that he knew if he didn’t let go of the pain sooner or later it would destroy him and that he had chosen to let go sooner. (I need to find the exact quotes for you . . . ) Letting go sooner is a really good idea.

I have found a way to forgive that works for me, it might work for you. I close my eyes and try to visualize the person that I need to forgive. As I tell them, in my mind, “I forgive you, I release you.” I let them slowly break apart and float away before my eyes. It seems that they become a jigsaw puzzle that slowly comes apart and each puzzle piece floats away. By forgiving, I free myself.

Be gentle with yourself . . . forgive.

Feeling Down?

2010-01-26T18:17:00.000-08:00

Professor Irving Kirsch, author of The Emperor's New Drugs, (Click on my book recommendations at the left) has researched the efficacy of antidepressant medication. His research indicates, contrary to popular belief, that depression is not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and treating the condition with antidepressant drugs is no more effective than placebos.

Kirsch analyzed data from numerous clinical studies on antidepressants reports that "75 percent of the response to the drugs appears to be a placebo effect." According to Kirsch, patients improved mostly because they believed they were taking a medication that would help them with depression. He concludes that the figure could be as high as 82 percent, with the remaining 'drug difference' accounted for by enhanced placebo effect.

Kirsch stressed that lack of serotonin cannot be the physical cause of depression. As proof, he pointed to a new French antidepressant that works as a selective serotonin reuptake enhancer (SSRE). This drug decreases serotonin levels -- exactly the opposite of how popular SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) medication functions. Kirsch said studies show about 60 percent of patients get better regardless of whether they are on antidepressants that increase, reduce, or do nothing to their serotonin levels. This is a clear evidence to Kirsch that these drugs actually do nothing.

Even if antidepressants were an effective pharmaceutical treatment for depression they come with a host of negative side effects, including insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and increased risk of suicide in children and young adults. Kirsch suggests that alternative treatments for depression like physical exercise (shown clinically to help people get better) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which boasts effectiveness comparable to antidepressants.

Besides its physical health benefits, exercise is often said to help people simply feel good. And a growing number of studies are showing that these mood-boosting effects may even fight clinical depression. For example, researchers found that walking for 30 minutes each day quickly improved the patients' symptoms -- faster, in fact, than antidepressant drugs typically do. (British Journal of Sports Medicine April 2001;35:114-117).

The results indicate that, in selected patients with major depression, aerobic training can produce a substantial improvement in symptoms in a short time. In fact, in one study that compared exercise with antidepressants among older adults, investigators found that physical activity was the more effective depression-fighter.

Here is another idea:

Change your physiology. When you feel down, look up, put on a big, big smile, and high-five in the air. I bet you can’t feel bad while smiling . . . it just doesn’t work.

Safe Plastic

2010-01-21T13:37:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder whether your plastic containers are food safe? The connection between plastic and cancer was discovered at Tufts University in 1987. A research team was culturing breast cancer cells in plastic test tubes and the cancer cells grew like crazy. Since then a number of studies have confimed the plastic-cancer link. So, it really is important to find out if your plastic containers are safe.

To find out, check the number that is usually found on the bottom of the container inside a small triangle. Containers with a 1 or 2 on the bottom are the safest. These containers are usually used to store milk, water, and other drinks. These containers are safe for storing food and water.

Continers with a 4 or 5 on the bottom are generally safe, but use the sparingly. Containers with the number 3, 6 or 7 contain the volatile chemical BPA and should never be used for food or beverage storage.

Finally, I don't like microwaves in general (more about why in another blog) but please, never microwave food or beverages in a plastic container.

Munch Those Nuts

2009-12-16T06:41:00.000-08:00

A study conducted by researchers from Harvard University and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that eating a diet high in walnuts may decrease cholesterol and fight inflammation, two major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The authors of the study stated that, "Consumption of nuts has been associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease events and death," and that "Walnuts in particular have a unique profile: they are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which may improve blood lipids and other cardiovascular disease risk factors."

The researchers analyzed the results of 13 different studies conducted on a total of 365 participants who had obtained between 10 and 24 percent of their calories from walnuts for four to 24 weeks. They found that participants on a high-walnut diet underwent significant decreases in total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol. "When compared with control diets, diets supplemented with walnuts resulted in a significantly greater decrease in total cholesterol and in LDL-cholesterol concentrations," the researchers wrote.

The researchers also found other indicators that even though a high-walnut diet is high in fat, it seems to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease rather than raising it. In addition, "Other results reported in the trials indicated that walnuts provided significant benefits for certain antioxidant capacity and inflammatory markers and had no adverse effects on body weight," the researchers wrote.

Spice Up Your Life

2009-12-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

You know you should eat well . . . I mean lots of fruits and veggies (organic if you can find and afford them). One frequently overlooked way to enhance and optimize your health is to use herbs and spices (again unprocessed and organic). One benefit of herb is that they’re very low in calories, while being dense in vitamins and minerals. Many herbs are also thermogenic. They naturally boost your metabolism to help you burn calories.

One of my favorite herb is Tumeric. It is so important that I take it every single day, first thing in the morning. No one is really sure when turmeric was first used as a healthy spice but it has been used for millennia. People in India and China used the spice thousands of years ago. In fact, some stories suggest usage dates back 10,000 years in India when they say Lord Rama walked the earth. The ancient Polynesians carried turmeric with them on their incredible voyage across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. Today, Hawaiians still use this spice known to them as Olena.

One of the main healthful ingredients in turmeric is curcumin (a curcuminoid) which gives turmeric its yellow color. Curcumin makes turmeric a powerful antioxidant. These curcuminoids deliver antioxidants that may be:

5 to 8 times stronger than vitamin E -- and also stronger than vitamin C
3 times more powerful than grape seed or pine bark extract
Strong enough to scavenge the hydroxyl radical -- considered by many to be the most reactive of all oxidants*

Curcumin, as an antioxidant, can potentially benefit you by:

Promoting your immune system*
Helping you maintain your healthy digestive system*
Supporting your healthy bones, joints, and overall skeletal system*
Helping you maintain cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range*
Promoting your healthy blood and liver functions*
Promoting radiant skin*

Ayurveda, the “Science of Life” is India’s ancient holistic health system. Turmeric has multiple uses within Ayurveda, including blood cleansing and maintaining healthy skin.* Turmeric has been used in Indian culture for thousands of years for a multitude of health-promoting reasons* and an estimated 500 million Indians still use the spice today.

In Ayurvedic terminology, turmeric includes the following:

Verdana sthapana -- promotes your healthy nervous system and helps you with occasional discomfort*
Sangrahani -- supports your absorption of vitamins and minerals*
Anulomana -- helps you in purging out wastes and building healthy blood*
Rakta stambhaka -- promotes the wellness of your circulatory system*

One more time, to summarize, here are thirteen ways that Turmeric can spice up your life:

Boosts your antioxidant protection against free radicals*
Helps promote your healthy skin*
Supports your overall eye health
Provides you immune system support*
Aids your skeletal system and joint health*
Encourages your healthy liver function*
Helps you maintain healthy cells with support against free radicals*
Balances the health of your digestive system*
Aids you in support of healthy blood and your circulatory system*
Helps you maintain normal cholesterol levels to support your cardiovascular system*
Assists your neurological system's healthy response to stress*
Promotes a healthy female reproductive system*
Helps you maintain blood sugar levels already within the normal range*

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Nobel Prize Winner's Breakthrough

2009-12-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

You probably haven't heard of Dr. Louis Ignarro, a Nobel Prize winning scientist. His discoveries are important but there is no money in them for the pharaceutical industry so they haven't made big news.

Dr. Ignarro, Ph.D., a member of the faculty at the School of Medicine, won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1998 for his discovery of the effect of Nitrix oxide (NO) on heart health. His research shows that NO helps control blood pressure and inhibit the accumulation of arterial plaque. His research has shown that NO:

Expandes blood vessels thus reducing blood pressure in hypertensive patients,
Controls platelet function -- a vacular network that is enhanced by NO sheds platelets and inhibits the development of clots,
Reduces alterial plaque by 50%,
Lowers total cholesterol by 10% to 20%.

NO levels in the blood stream gradually decline with age, probably due to damage to the endothelial cells (inner lining) in the blood vessels. You can't take an NO supplement because its a gas. However, the following supplements increase NO production in the body. You can get them at your local health food store.

L-arginine -- A Mayo clinic study demonstarted that people taking L-arginine (an amino acid) showed significant improvement in endothelial function and blood flow.
L-citrulline -- This amino acid, found in mellons and cucumbers, is needed to get the L-arginine into the cells.

For good health you should also be taking a Vitamine E supplement and Vitamine C.

Other heart-healthy things that you can do include:

Getting at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week,
Minimize your intake of saturated fats.
Eat more fiber.

Foods to Help You Stay Young

2009-11-13T06:28:00.000-08:00

You are what you eat, so why not eat foods that help you stay young. Here are some of my favorites:

Almonds -- An ounce of almonds (about 23) contains about 9 grams of heart-healthy oleic acid. A quarter of almond's calaories come from fiber and protein and so an almond snack will keep your tummy happy a lot longer than a rice cake. Best of all, almonds have been shown in laboratory studies to improve memory.

Eggs -- That's right. Eggs are healthy foods. A large egg contains 6.3 grams of high-quality protein and only 72 calories. An article in the International Journal of Obesity found that people who replace high carb breakfasts with eggs lost weight 65 percent faster. Egg eaters are half as likely as those who don't eat eggs to be deficient in vitamin B12, 24 percent less likely to be deficient in vitamin A and 36 percent less likely to be deficient in vitamin E. Worried about cholesterol? A study indicates that people who eat at least four eggs a week had significantly lower cholesterol levels than those who ate fewer than one egg.

Garlic -- Garlic should be considered a wonder drug. Allicin, found in high quantities in garlic, is a potent antibacterial and antifungal. This smelly but tasty herb fights cancer, strengthens your cardiovascular system, decreases fat storage and even fights acne inflammation. Don't over cook it, however, that will kills its nutritional value.

Green tea -- Green tea, like garlic, is a wonder food. Green tea is high in catechins, an antioxident concentrated in tea leaves. A 2006 AMA decade-long study of Japanese adults with a seven-year follow-up study found that those who drank five or more cups of green tea a day were 26 percent less likely to have died from any cause. A short term, 12 week study, found that green tea drinkers lost more weight than non-green-tea drinkers. This was believed to have been caused by the metabolic boost caused by green tea.

Grapefruit -- Want to lose weight? Try grapefruit. In a study of 100 obese people conducted by the Scripps Clinic in California those who ate half a grapefruit with each meal (yup, three serveings a day) lost an average of 3.6 pounds over 12 weeks and some lost as much as 10 pounds. The control group, those who didn't get to dine of the tangy fruit, only lost 1/2 pound. Ouch.

Bell Peppers -- I know that they cost a little more, but when you by Bell Peppers opt for the brightly colored ones, the yellow, orange and red ones. These peppers are highest in antioxidents (carotenoids) that will improve your immune function. Carotenoids also improve intercelluar communication, protect the body against sun damage and reduce the risk of some cancers. If you like it hot, cook with some chili peppers. In addition to carotenoids hot peppers contian capsaicins that have been shown to fight headaches, reduce arthritis pain, and boost metabolism.

Avocado -- Don't you just love slices of avocado on you salad? Keep enjoying them and every time you eat one remember that you are reducing your risk of heart disease at the same time. Some fat is good for you and more than half the calories in an avocado come from monounsaturated fat (also found in olive, canola, and peanut oils). Monounsaturated fats have been shown to improve cholesterol profiles and reduce triglyceride levels. Even better news . . . studies have shown that there is no link between monounsaturated fats and body fat.

More Concerns About Flu Vaccine

2009-09-08T06:36:00.000-07:00

The following is a quote out of a recent news article published in Germany. The link to the full article is given below.

"The swine flu vaccine has been hit by new cancer fears after a German health expert gave a shock warning about its safety.

"Lung specialist Wolfgang Wodarg has said that there are many risks associated with the vaccine for the H1N1 virus.

"He has grave reservations about the firm Novartis who are developing the vaccine and testing it in Germany. The vaccination is injected “with a very hot needle”, Wodarg said.

"The nutrient solution for the vaccine consists of cancerous cells from animals and "we do not know if there could be an allergic reaction".

"But more importantly, some people fear that the risk of cancer could be increased by injecting the cells.

"The vaccine - as Johannes Löwer, president of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, has pointed out - can also cause worse side effects than the actual swine flu virus."

Read the rest of the article at: http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/world-news/2009/08/07/swine-flu-health-expert-warning/does-virus-vaccine-increase-risk-of-cancer.html

You suggest that you also read the report, "Flu drugs inappropriate for healthy adults: study" published in Rueters last month: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57K54B20090822?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews.

Stay healthy!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

2009-08-31T07:15:00.000-07:00

Every wonder why it is so hard to lose weight?

Just In . . . Tea and Diabetes

2009-08-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

Black tea has long been known for its antioxidants, immune boosting and antihypertensive properties. Now it turns out that it could have another health benefit.

Researchers studied the polysaccharide levels of green, oolong and black teas to determine whether they could be used to treat diabetes. Polysaccharides, a type of carbohydrate that includes starch and cellulose, may benefit people with diabetes because they help retard absorption of glucose. This latest study concentrated on a natural polysaccharide compound that mimics type 2 diabetes drugs Precose and Glyset. The tea polysaccharides reduce blood sugar by inhibiting alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that turns starch into glucose. Precose and Glyset work inhibiting this enzyme as well.

The researchers found that of the three teas, the polysaccharides in black tea had the most glucose-inhibiting properties. The black tea polysaccharides also showed the highest scavenging effect on free radicals that are involved in the onset of diseases such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

Reference: "Black Tea May Fight Diabetes" found at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090728172604.htm and http://www.ift.org/cms/?pid=1002096

My Favorites

2009-08-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

I'm often asked what my favorite supplements are and my answer is always the same, "It depends." However, here are some supplements that I think are very important. Don't take them becuase I like them. Do your own research and find out what your body needs.

Conenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) for heart health -- Co-Q10 is a compound made by the body that fuels energy production in muscles, including the heart and that scavenges free radicals. The production of Co-Q10 is affected by both age and the use of statin drugs. Studies have shown that daily Co-Q10 use afer a heart attack can significantly reduce the risk of another heart attack. It can also reduce the side effects of statin drugs like muscle aches. It helps the heart pump more effectively in cases of congestive heart failure and has also been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesteral levels.

Niacin (Vitamin B3) for heart health -- A 2006 study of heart disease patients demonstrated that daily use of extended release niacin over a period of 12 to 24 months caused a significant reduction of plaque. It also raises good cholesterol levels.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) for weight loss -- CLA is believed to reduce fat storage and to lower the number and size of fat cells. It may also promote lean muscle mass. See my previous blog on weight loss for more information about CLA.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) for Diabetes -- ALA is believed to lower blood sugar levels by metabolizing sugar (glucose) and by transporting it to the muscles where it is used in the energy production cycle. ALA is used in Europe as a prescription remedy for diabetic neuropathy. A 2006 study indicated that patients who took 600 to 1,000 mg of ALA per day over a five week period had a significant reduction in diabetic neuropathy.

Tumeric (Curcumin) 'cause it good for you --Curcumin reduces the activity of enzymes that lead to excessive inflamation. A 2008 study demonstrated that curcumin significantly inhibited the growth of human colon cancer cells. I eat at least one plate a day of vegetables sauted with olive oil and tumeric.

This is just a short list . . . check back in a week or so for more of my favorites.

How is Your Omega Ratio?

2009-08-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

Fats have a bad reputation. But, guess what? Fats are essential for your health and wellness. The problem is that not all fats are created equally. And please, avoid trans-fats, they are never good for you.

When you hear about fats you often hear the term “omega”. Fats, or fatty acids, are really a long carbon-chain molecule. This molecular chain has a carboxyl group (COOH) at one end and a methyl group (H3C) at the other end. Omega refers to the distance of the first cis unsaturated double bond (see note below) from the methyl end of the carbon chain. This means that Omega-3 fats have the first cis unsaturated double bond in the third position from the methyl end. Aren’t you glad you are reading this? Don’t worry, no more organic chemistry.

Omega-3 fats include fish oils (EPA and DHA ) and flax seed oil (Alpha-linolenic acid). Your body can convert alpha-linolenic acid into EPA and DHA however, the conversion process becomes less effective as you age. Omega-6 fats include most vegetable oils like corn, soy, canola, safflower and sunflower oils. Olive oil is the most common Omega-9 oil. Omega-3 and Omega-6 oils are essential oils; your body can not produce them. Omega-9 fatty acid is not essential because your body can create Oleic acid, an Omega-9 fatty acid.

So, what is the big issue about Omega -3 and -6 oils. Well, if you are like most Americans eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) then you consume too much Omega-6 fatty acid and not enough Omega-3. The optimal ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acid is 1:1. Unfortunately most Americans consume a diet with a ratio of 1:20 to 1:50. That means that you may be consuming up to 50 times the Omega-6 fatty acids as Omega-3.

We do need both Omega-3s and Omega-6s however, it is becoming increasingly clear that an excess of omega-6 fatty acids can have adverse health consequences. Many scientists believe that a major reason for the high incidence of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, premature aging, and some forms of cancer is the profound imbalance between our intake of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 deficiencies have also been tied to many conditions, including the following:

dyslexia
violence
depression
memory problems
weight gain
cancer
heart disease
eczema
allergies
inflammatory diseases
arthritis
diabetes

So, what should you do?

Avoid trans-fats.
Limit your intake of Omega-6 fats.
Increase your intake of Omega-3 fats
Eat more fish.
Take fish oil supplements.
Take flax seed supplements.

NOTE:

In case you were currious, as cis bond includes two double bound carbon atoms with a hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, both on the same side:

H H

-C=C-

10 Non-Drug Ways to Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

2009-07-31T14:28:00.000-07:00

1. Don't Smoke
While more than 50 percent of heart attacks among middle-aged women are attributable to tobacco the risk of cardiovascular disease begins to decline within months of smoking cessation and reaches the level of persons who have never smoked within 3 to 5 years.

2. Take an Aspirin a Day
An analysis of six studies involving about 95,000 people, none of whom had heart disease, found that aspirin therapy cut a man’s risk of heart attack by 32%. Another 16-year study of 22,000 postmenopausal women found that those who took aspirin were 25 percent less likely to die of heart attack and 13 percent less likely to die of cancer than those who never took aspirin.

3. Take an Afternoon Nap
This is great news! An afternoon nap can reduce your risk of heart disease. A six-year study of 23,000 Greek men and women demonstrated that those who took at a half-an-hour nap at least three times a week were 37 percent less likely to die of heart disease compared to those who never napped.

4. Lower Your Cholesterol
High blood cholesterol greatly increases your chances of developing coronary heart disease. Extra cholesterol in the blood settles on the inner walls of the arteries, narrowing them and allowing less blood to pass through them to the heart. Aim for total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL; LDL cholesterol below 130 mg/dL and HDL above 35 mg/dL.

5. An Apple a Day Does More than Keep the Doctor Away
Apples, in animal studies, has been shown to reduce the build-up of arterial plaque associated with arthrosclerosis. This effect is most likely due to the flavonoid quercetin in apples.

6. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Obesity and sedentary lifestyles are epidemics in the United States that contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (Click on the “Wellness” link on my web site at Dr-Dave-ND.com for some startling statistics about weight). Obesity, especially abdominal fat, is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in women.

7. Take a Walk
Recent evidence suggests that even moderate-intensity activity, like brisk walking, results in a substantial reduction of cardiovascular disease risk. These findings support the 1995 federal exercise guidelines endorsing 30 minutes of moderately intense physical activity most days of the week, a program that should be feasible and safe for most of the population.

8. Eat More Vegetables and Fiber
Diets low in saturated fat and high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (You might want to read the The China Study). A report in the Annals of Internal Medicine confirmed that eating fruits and vegetables, particularly green leafy vegetables and vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables, seems to have a protective effect against coronary heart disease. A vegetarian diet reduces the risk of coronary artery disease, and may even reverse existing coronary artery disease when combined with other lifestyle changes (Read The Blue Zones for more information about life extending diets).

9. Avoid Trans Fat
Trans fatty acids have been linked to adverse lipid profiles and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This includes most margarines.

10. Consider Nutritional Supplements
Talk with your health care professional about the following herbs that may be useful in preventing and treating cardiovascular disease:
Bilberry
Coenzyme Q10
Fenugreek
Fish oils
Folic acid
Garlic
Ginger
Ginkgo
Guggul
L-Carnitine
Magnesium
Niacin
Onion
Red Yeast Rice
Resveratrol
Soy
Turmeric (curcumin)
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B6
Vitamin E

The Natural Way to Weight Loss

2009-07-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

Before we get to weight loss, in my last post I wrote about Doshas. Please email me at Dr_DS_Murphy@yahoo.com if you would like to receive a short (4 page) questionnaire to help you identify your dosha. Now, let's talk about weight loss. By some measures, about 1/3 of all Americans are overweight. If you are not at your perfect weight, what can you do? Dieting isn't the answer . . . lifestyle change is. After all, take the "T" out of "DIET" and what are you left with? That's how I use to feel every time I tried to diet.

How many times have you tried to lose weight, gone on a crash diet, and lost a few pounds only to gain the back again? I have been through that cycle too many times. I have tried keeping a food diary, counting calories, counting fat grams, avoiding carbohydrates and reducing my protein intake. Then I realized that the key is balance.

A healthy body needs clean air, clean water, sunshine and exercise. It also needs a balance of carbohydrates, fat and protein to function effectively. Yes, you read that right. Our bodies need fat. The problem with the American diet is that we are eating too much of the wrong kinds of fats and not enough of the right kinds.

Cutting down of saturated fats, like those found in meat and butter and vegetable fats that are solid at room temperature like margarine, and replacing them with unsaturated fat isn’t enough. Our bodies need essential fatty acids (Vitamin F). These are the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that you have heard about. The best proportion of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids is a ratio of 1 to 4. That means for every gram of omega-3 fatty acid that you consume you shouldn’t consume more than four grams of omega-6 fatty acid. That’s a big problem.

Most people today consume a ratio of at least 1 gram of omega-3 to 20 grams of omega-6 fatty acids. Eggs and fish (salmon, trout, catfish and shrimp) are all high in omega-3 fatty acids. Unfortunately, our concern about cholesterol keeps the eggs off of many of our breakfast plates. In addition, much of the fish purchased today is farm raised. Fish raised on fish farms are feed a diet high in omega-6 fatty acids like grains. Most vegetable oils and prepared salad dressing are high in omega-6 fatty acids because of their longer shelf life. Table 1 below compares the percentage omega-3 and omega-6 in common oils.

Table 1
Percentage of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids

Oil ----------Percent omega-3 -------------Percent omega-6
Safflower....................0%................................................75%

Sunflower...................0%................................................65%
Corn...........................0%................................................59%
Soybean......................7%................................................54%
Walnut.......................5%................................................51%
Pumpkin Seeds...........15%...............................................42%
Golden Flax Seeds......48%...............................................19%

Notice that the oils that we use the most (safflower, sunflower, and corn) are very high in omega-6 fatty acid and that they don’t contain any omega-3 fatty acid. Canola oil contains about three percent omega-3 fatty acids however when it is deodorized (refined) it loses most of its omega-3 fatty acids. Olive oil, on the other hand contains mostly neutral omega-9 fatty acids. A table spoon of olive oil contains 10.8 grams of monounsaturated fat and only 0.10 gram of omega-3 fatty acid.

What’s wrong with that? When your body doesn’t get the proper balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that it needs the excess carbohydrates that can’t be used are converted into fat and stored.

The Adrenal Connection

A study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicated that there is a positive relationship between waist size and diabetes risk. Table 2 below summarizes the risk levels. This research has lead to concern about our insulin production and the health of the pancreas.

Table 2
Waist Size and Diabetes Risk

Waist Size...................... Risk Increase (Times)
29 to 34 inches............................. Lowest Risk
34.3 to 35.9 inches....................... 2 times higher risk
36.0 to 37.8 inches....................... 3 times higher
37.9 to 39.8 inches....................... 5 times higher
40.0 to 62.0 inches..................... 12 times higher

The pancreas produces insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels. The adrenal gland produces various hormones that keep the blood sugar level from falling to low. Table 3 below summarizes problems that result from imbalanced or weakened adrenal glands.

Table 3
Symptoms of Weakened Adrenal Glands

· Abnormal or racing heartbeats
· Excessive sweating
· Mood swings
· Abnormal pigmentation of the skin
· Excessive urination
· Muscle wasting
· Asthma
· Gastric reflux
· Salt cravings
· Constant fatigue and exhaustion
· Headaches
· Sensitivity to light
· Dehydration
· Hip problems
· Sex hormone imbalance
· Dizziness or lightheadedness
· Joint pain
· Ulcers
· Edema and water retention
· Low back problems
· Varicose veins

Weakened adrenal glands are often accompanied with an accumulation of adnominal fat and the onset of diabetes. In part this may result from a decline in the production of dehydroepiandrosterone or DHEA, a hormone produced by the adrenals. Although a declined in the production of DHEA is a normal part of the aging process, it can be accelerated by poor life-style choices like the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and sugar. In addition, stress or chronic infections can also affect the production of DHEA.

The Natural Solution

There are several things that you can do to make sure that you are consuming the right kind of omega-6 fatty acid, and that your diet includes enough omega-3 fatty acid.

Research has shown that a decrease in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) leads to obesity. On the other hand increased consumption of CLA helps with weight loss by increasing the metabolic rate, suppressing appetite and causing the body to use more stored fat for energy production. While safflower oil is high in CLA the easiest way to take it is in the form of Tonalin CLA softgels. A Norweigan study indicates that 3.4 grams per day achieved weight loss with no change in diet or exercise[1].

A recently published ten-year study in the Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine[2] of 15,655 middle-aged individuals shows that those who used a chromium supplement demonstrated a significantly lower level of weight gain. Another study shows that while the use of bioavailable hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) is an effective weight-loss supplement, the combination of HCA-SX, niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema sylvestre extract are a more effective and safe weight-loss formula that facilitates a reduction in excess body weight while promoting healthy blood lipid levels[3].

But what about the omega-3 fatty acid? Remember, your diet is probably low on omega-3. One of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acid is flax oil or flaxseed. I recommend three tablespoons a day of flax oil. It takes longer for oils to saturate your cells than it does for water-based supplements, about six months. The long-term effects of balancing your essential fatty acids include increase metabolism, energy increase, better oxygen transfer, lower blood pressure and a decrease in the stickiness of blood platelets. The benefits are worth it so stick to omega-3 supplementation.

Adrenal function can be improved by making appropriate dietary changes, reducing stress levels, and exercising. In addition the use of nutritional supplements like Vitamin C (2,000 to 5,000 mg), a high potency B-complex, Adrenal glandular supplements and Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) can help improve adrenal health.

You might also consider taking DHEA. While this will not improve adrenal health it will supplement the DHEA currently being produced by the adrenals. A six-month study of 28 men and 28 women between the ages of 67 and 78 that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows the dramatic effect of DHEA supplementation[4]. Half of the participants in the study received DHEA while the other half received a placebo. The participants who took DHEA for six months showed a significant decrease in abdominal and visceral fat. In addition, their insulin output decreased while their blood sugar levels remained constant indicating an increase in their bodies’ insulin sensitivity.

Conclusion

What should you do to lose weight? This is what I have been doing:

Take vitamins and minerals supplements (including chromium) daily,
Eat a healthy and well balanced diet in moderation,
Avoid toxins (alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, sugar, white flour . . .)[5],
Get some exercise (I like walking . . . I have two feet and shoes. No more equipment is needed and I don’t have to go to the gym),
Take at least 3g of CLA per day,
Take at least three tablespoons of flax seed oil a day, and
Supplement my diet with 50 mg of DHEA a day.

Please, visit your health care provider before starting an exercise program or a program of nutritional supplements.

References

[1] Gaullier J.M., J. Halse, K. Hoye, K. Kristiansen, H. Fagertun, H. Vik, and O. Gudmundsen. (2005), “Supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid for 24 months is well tolerated by and reduces body fat mass in healthy, overweight humans”, Journal of Nutrition, Vol 135, No. 4, pp. 778-784.

[2] Nachtigal M.C., R. E. Patterson, K. L. Stratton, L. A. Adams, A. L. Shattuck, and E. White. (2005) “Dietary supplements and weight control in a middle-age population”, Journal of Complementary Alternative Medicine, Vol. 11, No. 5, pp 909-915.

[3] Preuss H.G., D. Bagchi, M. Bagchi, C. V. Rao, D. K. Dey, and S. Satyanarayana. (2004). “Effects of a natural extract of (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) and a combination of HCA-SX plus niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema sylvestre extract on weight loss”, Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 171-180.

[4] Villareal D.T. and J. O. Holloszy. (2004) “Effect of DHEA on abdominal fat and insulin action in elderly women and men: a randomized controlled trial”, Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 292, No. 18, pp. 2243-2248.

[5] See my article at http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Murphy8.html for a list of foods to avoid.

Ayurveda and Nutritional Types

2009-07-16T16:03:00.001-07:00

Most modern fad diets, high protein – low carb, and high carb – low protein, are based on the one-size-fits-all diet fallacy. In fact, what is good for one person may not be equally appropriate for another. This truth led me to the study of Ayurveda (in case you haven’t read my bio I received a certificate of proficiency in Ayurvedic Medicine with highest honors from The National Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine/Institute of Indian Medicine). Ayurveda recognizes that we are not all the same and the both diet, life-style choices, and medical treatments must conform to a person’s constitutional type.

Ayurveda defines three basic constitutional types or doshas: pitta, vatta, and kapha. To simplify matters you may think of them as earth (kapha), wind (vatta) and fire (pitta). Some individuals are characterized by a single dosha, pitta for example, while others manifest more complex constitutional types like pitta-vatta. A similar taxonomy has evolved in the West.

Bill Wolcott published his work, The Metabolic Typing Diet, on metabolic typing in 2001. His work was extended and simplified by Dr. Mercola as nutritional typing. While metabolic and nutritional typing (MT/NT) focus on a person’s metabolic process and their relationship to diet and wellbeing they have much in common with the constitutional types in Ayurveda.

For example, I am a pure pitta and my wife is a pure vatta. She is as happy as can be with a salad for lunch and another one for dinner. Her optimal diet is consistent with the MT/NT carb dietary type. I have tried to live on salads but just can’t do it. I can’t resist adding a grilled chicken breast, nuts, cheese or legumes to my salad. You see, as a pitta I am also a protein MT/NT.

Ayurvedic constitutional typing is more comprehensive that MT/NT. However, MT/NT are very valuable guides for identifying your optimal diet. Dr. Mercola’s book, Take Control of Your Health, is a must read. It is available from his web site at http://products.mercola.com/take-control/

Please email me at Dr_DS_Murphy@yahoo.com if you would like to receive a short (4 page) questionnaire to help you identify your dosha.

The French Connection

2009-07-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

No, this isn't about a movie. Ask most MDs and they will tell you that the French eat a horrible diet. After all they consume four-times as much butter, 40 percent more grams of fat, and 60 percent more cheese per day than do Americans. In spite of this "horrible", high-fat diet the death rate from heart attacks in France is half that of the United States. The French connection is that the French, along with this high-fat diet, also consume a lot more red wine with their meals than do Americans. Red wine (especially Pinot Noir) contains resveratrol, a powerful little molecule.

Resveratrol turns on the two sirtuin genes, Sir1 and Sir2, that are the "stay alive" genes. These genes are usually turned on under conditions of caloric restriction (famine) but are also triggered by resveratrol. Resveratrol also protects us from disease and also turns NFkB (Nuclear Factor Kappa Beta) and the resultant inflamation caused when NFkB is turned on.

NFkB is a factor in the cytoplasm of cells that turns on inflamatory cytokines. Generally NFkB is turned on when one's diet, life style and health are poor and are turned off when one is healthy, eats a good diet and has a positive life style. Remember that inflamation results when NFkB is turned on and inflmation is the cause, not cholesterol, of heart disease.

Statins inhibit NFkB which is apparently why the drugs work. However, they also inhibit Co-Q10 (coenzyme Q10). Co-Q10 is the body's most important essential nutrient and is responsible for the body's production of energy. Co-Q10 is concentrated in the heart and liver. The inhibition of Co-Q10 can lead to heart attacks in statin users.

Resveratrol has also been shown to:

Protect cells from free-radical damage,
Keep blood pressure within normal ranges,
Keep the heart healthy and improves blood vessel elasticity,
Enhance the body's protection against abnormal cell activity,
Better controls the aging process.

The upshot. I take resveratrol and a Co-Q10 supplement every day. If you prefer, you can get a dose of resveratrol by drink red wine, but you would have to drink a lot (and I mean a lot) to get the same effect as your would get from a resveratrol supplement. Both resveratrol and Co-Q10 are available at most health food stores and on line.

Breathe Your Way To Better Health

2009-07-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

Most people are familiar with the hatha yoga, another of the eight limbs, but few are familair with the other seven. Pranayama, life force or breathing exercises, is one of the lesser-known elements of Patangali's eight limbs of yoga. Dr. Andrew Wiel, the well-know holistic MD recently stated that 4-7-8 breathing was most powerful health recomendation. Here is how to do it:

First, remember the numbers 4, 7 and 8. It’s not important to focus on how much time you spend in each phase of the breathing activity, but rather that you get the ratio correct.
Sit up straight.
Place the tip of your tongue up against the back of your front teeth. Keep it there through the entire breathing process. Note, this is done to connect the energetic circuits (nadis in Ayurveda or meridians in TCM) that run up the front and the back your body.
Breathe in silently through your nose to the count of four.
Hold your breath to the count of seven.
Exhale through your mouth to the count of eight, making an audible “woosh” sound.
That completes one full breath. Repeat the cycle another three times, for a total of four breaths

You can do this exercise as often over the course of a day as you want, however, it is recommended you don’t do more than four full breath cycles at a time during the first month or so of practice. Later you may work your way up to eight full breath cycles at a time.

This is a wonderful way to reduce stress. Breathing mindfully can modify and accelerate your body's inherent self-regulating physiological and bioenergetic mechanisms. These changes result because you are oxygenating your body properly and correcting your internal and energetic balance. This has a direct positive effect your nervous system. Finally, this affects your entire body and its countless cellular functions, including all of your subtle energy systems.

Flu Vaccines

2009-07-02T06:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a quote from "Vaccine Expert Reveals What You Should Know Before You Roll Up Your Sleeve" by Barbara Minton, Natural Health Editor for NaturalNews.com, posted Wednesday, July 01, 2009. You can read the full article at http://www.naturalnews.com/026526_health_influenza_vaccines.html, which I suggest that you do.

"Do flu shots work?

"The flu shot does not work for babies. In a review of 51 studies involving more than 294,000 children, it was found there was "no evidence that injecting children 6 to 24 months of age with a flu shot was any more effective than a placebo. In children over the age of 2 years, it was effective only 33% of the time in preventing the flu. ("Vaccines for preventing influenza in health children", The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2008)

"The flu shot does not work in children with asthma. In a study of 800 children with asthma in which one half were vaccinated and the other half were not, the two groups were compared with respect to clinic visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations for asthma. The researchers concluded that no evidence was provided that the influenza vaccine prevented pediatric asthma exacerbations (Christly, C. et al, "Effectiveness of influenza vaccine for the prevention of asthma exacerbations." Arch Dis Child, August, 2004, 734-5)

"The inactivated flu vaccine, Flumist, does not prevent influenza-related hospitalizations in children, especially the ones with asthma...In fact, children who get the flu vaccine are more at risk for hospitalization than children who do not get the vaccine." (The American Thoracic Society's International Conference, May 15-20, 2009, San Diego)

"Adults are also not protected by flu vaccine. In a review of 48 reports including more than 66,000 adults, "Vaccination of healthy adults only reduced risk of influenza by 6%, and reduced the number of missed work days by less than one day (0.16). It did not change the number of people needing to go to a hospital or take time off work." ("Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults," The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2006)

"Although the hype is that the elderly must be protected, in a review of 64 studies in 98 flu seasons, for elderly living in nursing homes, flu shots were non-significant for preventing the flu. For elderly living in the community, vaccines were not significantly effective against influenza, ILI or pneumonia. ("Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly," The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2006)"

Swine Flu

2009-04-27T07:27:00.000-07:00

I have been preparing a follow-up blog on heart disease but thought, given current concern over the swine flu problem, that the following might be more timely.

The recent outbreak of swine flu-bird flu hybrid has many people concerned about natural steps that they can take to strengthen their immune systems and fight off the latest flu bug. I hope that fears of a flu pandemic are overreactions However, it seems possible that the swine flu may spread to epidemic or pandemic proportions. The Center for Disease Control announced on April 25 that containment of the virus is "highly unlikely". Besides washing your hands frequently, taking mega doses of vitamin C and avoiding large groups of people what else can you do?

Vitamin D

Many Americans, especially young children, are alarmingly deficient in vitamin D. Most people know that vitamin D is essential for bone and central nervous system health. In addition it a critical role in enabling the immune system to successfully defeat viruses of all kinds. Cannell JJ et al (2006) demonstrated that vitamin D is extremely effective in fighting standard influenza strains. It is more important than ever that you drastically increase your intake of this critical vitamin. You can purchase vitamin D supplements over the counter, from health food stores, or get it from my favorite source Swanson Health Products (I am just one of their many satisfied customers) at http://www.swansonvitamins.com/.

Elderberry Syrup

Sambucol, a standardized extract of elderberry, has been shown by repeated scientific studies to fight standard strains of influenza. Elderberry has natural compounds that are safe for children and even infants and which appear to reduce the duration of colds and flu by several days. This means Sambucol is a must-have for surviving pandemic flu.More importantly, studies of elderberry syrup's efficacy have specifically focused on H5N1 bird flu, one of the core components of the swine flu pandemic's biology. Laboratory trials have confirmed that elderberry extract effectively defeats H5N1 avian flu with up to 99% efficacy (see H. Friel et al., 2006 for example). I ordered four bottles of Elderberry extract from Swanson for my family last night.

Selenium

Selenium is a trace mineral and only relatively small amounts are needed for selenium to accomplish its biological role. Unfortunately it, like many other minerals, is not available in food in the quantities that it used to be because of mineral-depleted farm land. As a result many people are selenium deficient. Selenium is as important as more popular immune-stimulating supplements in preventing serious illnesses. In vitro studies have confirmed that selenium, like elderberry syrup, can effectively fight the H5N1 strain of avian flu.

Other immune-stimulating herbs and compounds, including the "classic" immune-boosters Echinacea, goldenseal, zinc, and vitamin C, may also be effective in preventing illness during an epidemic. While single supplement or combination of supplements is likely to completely eradicate swine flu, avian flu, or any other form of flu pandemic a balanced diet, common-sense precautions, and a combination of herbal and nutritional supplements, you may be able to protect yourself and your loved ones during a catastrophe.

Sources:

CDC Release- Swine Flu. Accessed 25 April 2009.

Cannell JJ et al (2006). "Epidemic influenza and vitamin D". Epidemiol. Infect.134 (6): 1129-40.

H. Friel et al. (2006)A nutritional supplement formula for influenza A (H5N1) infection in humans☆ Medical Hypotheses, Volume 67, Issue 3, Pages 578-587

Statin Drugs and Heart Disease

2009-04-06T06:52:00.000-07:00

Statin drugs like Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin) and Pravachol (pravastatin) have been around for almost a decade so I thought that it would be interesting to see what research reports have to say about their effectiveness in combating heart disease.

The 20 year Honolulu Heart Program (Schatz, et al. 2001) report indicated that, “Our data accord with previous findings of increased mortality in elderly people with low serum cholesterol, and show that long-term persistence of low cholesterol concentration actually increases risk of death. Thus, the earlier that patients start to have lower cholesterol concentrations, the greater the risk of death.” Yes, you read that right. They report that low cholesterol levels increase the risk of death. Their report also states that “Those individuals with a low serum cholesterol maintained over a 20-year period will have the worst outlook for all-cause mortality.” I’ll write more about the cholesterol hypothesis in my next blog so come back for more.

The 2001 study “aptly” named MIRACL (Schwartz, et al, 2001) followed 3,086 patients in hospital after angina or non-fatal MI for 16 weeks to test the effect of Lipitor. This study found that the only significant difference between the control group and the group receiving 80 mg/day of Lipitor was a significant reduction in chest pain requiring rehospitalization. There was no significant difference in re-infarction rate or the need for resuscitation from cardiac arrest.

One of the largest North American cholesterol-lowering trials was ALLHAT (2002) which used data from 10,000 participants over a 4-year period. Of the 5,170 participants that received Lipitor, 28 percent showed a reduction in cholesterol levels. The other 5,185 participants used a “usual care” protocol of maintaining proper body weight, no smoking, and regular exercise. Guess what? Both groups showed the same rates of death, heart disease, and heart attack. The mortality rates of the treatment and control groups were identical after three and six years.
PROSPER (Shepherd, et al. 2002) studied the effect of Pravachol compared to a placebo on two older populations. There were no differences between the treatment and control groups in measures of total health impact, total mortality and total serious adverse events. The only overall statistical difference was that the treatment group (those receiving Pravachol) had increased cancer.

The Japanese Lipid Intervention Trial (J-LIT, Matsuzki et al. 2002) was a six year study that followed 47,294 patients treated with Zocor. The participants were divided into three groups, those with no reduction in LDL levels, those with a moderate fall in LDL levels and those with a very-large reduction in LDL levels. There was no correlation between the amount of LDL lowering and death rate at five years. In fact, those with LDL lower than 80 had a death rate just over 3.5 at five years and those with LDL levels above 200 had a death rate of just over 3.5 at five years.

A meta-analysis of 44 trials involving almost 10,000 patients (Hecht and Marmon, 2003) found that the death rate was identical at 1 percent in each of three groups, those taking Lipitor, those taking other statin drugs and those taking nothing.

Another widely publicized meta-analysis (PROVE-IT, Cannon et al., 2004) conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School was serious flawed because it did not include a control group. Rather it compared the effect of two statin drugs, Lipitor and Pravachol. While those taking Lipitor had a great reduction in LDL levels it is not possible to draw a conclusion about the overall health effect of statin drugs from this study.

If you are taking or are thinking about taking statin drug please read http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/statin.html. They review some of the same research (and others) and provide a very good explanation of the effects of statin drugs.

I'll be writing about some less expensive, less risky, and more effective approaches to reducing the risk of heart disease in my next post.

References

Schatz IJ and others. Lancet 2001 Aug 4;358:351-355.

Schwartz GG and others. J Am Med Assoc. 2001;285:1711-8.

The ALLHAT Officers and Coordinators for the ALLHAT Collaborative Research Group. JAMA 2002;288:2998-3007.

Shepherd J and others. Lancet 2002;360:1623-1630.

Give your Heart a Gift . . . Lose the Excess Pounds

2009-04-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

A long-term study conducted in Sweden and recently published in the British Medical Journal suggests that overweight individuals, and not just those who were obese, may also be subjected to increased risk of premature death. The study also suggested that the adverse effects of excess weight on mortality may be as significant as smoking cigarettes.

The study was conducted using data from Sweden's military service conscription register, census, and and cause of death register. 45,920 men were tracked for a period of 38 years. The average age of the men at the start of the study was 18.7 years. Over the course of the 38 year study 2,897 of the men died.

For the study, overweight men were defined as those with a body mass index (BMI) between 25.0 and 29.9. Obese men were defined as those with a BMI of 30.0 or more. The normal BMI for a health male was defined as ranging between 18.5 and 24.9.

After accounting for age, socioeconomic status, muscle strength and smoking, the researchers found that men who were overweight during adolescence when they joined the Swedish military in 1969 and 1970 had a 33% higher rate of mortality during the study period, as compared with their counterparts in the normal weight range. Obese men had an even higher risk, 114% elevated likelihood of death during the period. Similar relative mortality rates were obtained when smokers and non-smokers were analyzed separately. It appears that being overweight carries the same risk as that of smoking.

Smoking and excess weight combined appear to be a catastrophic lifestyle choice. Overweight heavy smokers demonstrated a mortality risk 155% higher than that of normal BMI nonsmokers. Obese heavy smokers suffered the worst, having a mortality risk that was 4.74 times higher than that of normal weight non-smokers.

Source:

Neovius M et al. Combined effects of overweight and smoking in late adolescence on subsequent mortality: nationwide cohort study. British Medical Journal 2009;338:b496.

Cow's Milk . . . Is For Cows

2009-03-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., a nutritional biochemist at Cornell University is convinced that cow's milk is responsible for a share of American's medical problems. Here are a few reasons why:

It is unnatural to drink milk. Nature formulates mother's milk for different species. What's good for a calf is not necessarily good for a human baby or an adult human. We are the only species that suckles from another, even if it comes from a milk carton.
Dr. Campbell theorizes that cow's milk unnaturally stimulates enzymes and growth hormones that increase the risk of various diseases.
Various vegetables and legumes may be a better source of calcium than cow's milk
In a series of experimentes at Cornell University and Virginia Tech Dr. Campbell found that it was possible to turn cancer growth off and on by increasing the amount of casein (milk protein) feed to laboratory animals.
He found that the threshold amount of casein required to switch on turmor growth averaged about 10 percent of diet; the average American diet is about 17 percent protein.
Speaking about milk, Dr. Neal Barnard, head of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has said that, "It would be hard to imagine a worse vehicle for delivering calcium to the human body."
Epidemiological research suggests correlation between breast and prostate cancer and milk consumption.

Evidence about the adverse health effects of milk has been around for some time but few are listening. For example,

A 1989 study showed that higher breast cancer rates were correlated with the higher milk consumption in Scandinavia and the Netherlands.
A 1977 study indicated that for every one man who dies in Asiz (where milk consuption is very low) from prostate cancer ten men die of prostate cancer in Western Europe.
The 2000 Harvard University Physicians' Health Study of 20,885 male doctors discovered that those who consumed at least 2 1/2 servings of dairy products per day were 30% more likely to develop prostate cancer than those who consumed less than 1/2 serving.
The 1997, 12-year Harvard Nurses' Health Study of 78,000 nurses found that the nurses who drank two or more glasses of milk a day had a slightly higher risk of arm fracture (5%) and a much higher risk of hip fracture (45% higher risk). And you though that milk builds strong bodies . . .

I give all of my wellness coaching clients a copy of the book The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health. If you're not one of my wellness coaching clients then get a copy and read it . . . or become one of my coaching clients and I'll send you a copy. Email me for more information.

Corn Syrup is Just Sugar, Right?

2009-03-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

A new study using mice, not people, that was recently published in Science Daily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090303123802.htm) explains in part at least why insulin resistance can result from diets high in high-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener found in most sodas and many other processed foods.

Fructose is much more readily metabolized to fat in the liver than glucose. This process can lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease which in turn leads to hepatic insulin resistance and type II diabetes.

Please, avoid artifact food products that contain high-fructose corn syrup. Your body wasn't designed to metabolize it correctly. It is a non-food, food artifact.

Time for Spring Cleaning

2009-03-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung here in Virginia. The little bit of snow that we had has melted, the rains have started and the trees in our yard have budded. It’s time to clean out the garage or the basement, put away the heavy winter drapes and put the shears back up to let the sunlight in. It’s also a good time to clean your body.

You probably change the oil in your car every 3,000 miles to keep it running smoothly. Do the same with your body. Your body is exposed to harmful and toxic substances every day including pesticides in produce, formaldehyde in carpets, cosmetics and baby products, PCBs from plastics (a good reason by the way to drink filtered water in a glass glass and avoid water bottled in plastic), and dioxins from bleached paper. In addition it has been estimated that most people carry up to fifteen (yup 15) pounds of un-eliminated waste in their large intestine.
The waste and toxic substances that is stored in your liver, lungs, kidneys, fat cells, intestines, blood and skin can result in chronic illness. Detoxification gets these substances out of your body.

My protocol for spring cleaning includes the following:

1. Nature’s Sunshine Clean Start. This is a 14-day colon cleansing product that consist of three components. The first component is a fiber-rich drink packets that includes Bentonite (a natural clay that attracts and neutralizes toxins in the colon) and psyllium hulls that act as a bulk forming laxative. It also includes two LBS II capsules with a lower bowel cleansing formula and one Enviro-Detox capsule designed to cleans the intestines, kidneys, liver, lungs and skin. E-mail me for more information about Clean Start.

2. Three glasses of fresh lemon juice every. Lemon juice helps clean the liver of stored toxins. Squeeze the juice from one lemon into a 12 ounce glass of filtered water and enjoy. Please, don’t add sugar and turn it into lemonade.

3. Go vegetarian for two weeks . . . yes you really can do it! Eat lots of legumes, brown rice, and homemade leek or fresh vegetable soup. Avoid polished, white rice, it has a high glycemic index and no fiber. Add some turmeric[1] to your rice while it cooks.

[1] Turmeric contains curcumin and curcuminoids, which are powerful anti-inflammatory phytochemicals that act as natural cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors in the body, and inhibit the production of the prostaglandins that cause inflammation and swelling. Indian researchers found that tumeric relieved joint pain and swelling in people with arthritis as well as prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without side effects such as abdominal bleeding or stomach upset. Turmeric is a natural antioxidant, and thus protects the body from oxidative damage. Laboratory studies have found that tumeric inhibits the development of cataracts, breast cancer, colon cancer, and lymphoma. In one study, smokers that took just 1 teaspoon of tumeric a day for 30 days had lower levels of cancer-causing mutagens. In another study, just 500 milligrams of curcumin each day significantly reduced participants' cholesterol levels in as little as 10 days. Some studies indicate that turmeric's ability to lower cholesterol may provide the same heart-protective benefits as its close relative ginger, including blood clot prevention and reduced blood pressure. It helps detoxify the body, and protects the liver from the damaging effects of alcohol, toxic chemicals, and even some pharmaceutical drugs. Turmeric stimulates the production of bile, which is needed to digest fat and also guards the stomach by killing salmonella bacteria and protozoa that can cause diarrhea.

Eat Your Fruit and Vegies

2009-03-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

The Standard American Diet is SAD. Poor lifestyle and dietary habits are a major cause of the escalating rates life-style illnesses like diabetes. A recent study conducted at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and the Harvard School of Public Health demonstrates that one's risk of type 2 diabetes may be reduced by consuming more whole fruits and green leafy vegetables on a daily basis.

The study used data from the Nurses' Health Study, which ran for 18 years from 1984 to 2002. Diet and health information from 71,346 women between the ages of 38 to 63 years were used in the study. The nurses completed food frequency questionnaires once every 4 years. About 7.4% of the nurses included in the study developed diabetes during the study period. The subjects of the study, which was published in Diabetes Care, were also free of cancer and cardiovascular disease at the beginning of the study.

The researchers discovered that eating three more servings of whole fruits each day was associated with a lower risk of developing diabetes. Just eating one more serving of green leafy vegetables was also linked to lower diabetes risk. Such correlations existed even after factors such as family history, smoking and weight were taken into account.Fruit juice, however, did not fare so well. "Based on the results of our study, people who have risk factors for diabetes may find it helpful to fill up on leafy greens like lettuces, kale and spinach and whole fruits, like apples, bananas, oranges and watermelon rather than drink fruit juices, which deliver a big sugar load in a liquid form that gets absorbed rapidly," said Lydia Bazzano, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Tulane.

Sources
Fresh Vegetables, Fruits Reduce Diabetes Risk (http://www.sph.tulane.edu/pressroom...)

Lydia A Bazzano, Tricia Y Li, Kamudi J Joshipura and Frank B Hu. Intake of Fruit, Vegetables, and Fruit Juices and Risk of Diabetes in Women. Diabetes Care 2008;31:1311-1317.

Feeling Blue?

2009-02-13T07:33:00.000-08:00

About 20-25% of women and 12% of men will experience serious depression at least once in their lifetimes so if you are feeling blue then you are in good company. The symptoms of depression include

Prolonged sadness, unexplained crying spells, feeling hopeless
Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety, restlessness
Pessimism, indifference, feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Significant changes in sleep or eating habits
Persistent lethargy, loss of energy, inability to concentrate, indecisiveness
Social withdrawal, loss of interest or pleasure in former fun activities
Unexplained aches and pains
Recurring thoughts of death and/or suicide

The Pharmaceutical Response

Several decades ago when researchers discovered that a person’s mood was largely affected by the concentrations of certain neurotransmitters in the brain—especially serotonin and dopamine. Pharmaceutical companies wasted no time developing drugs to fool with brain chemistry and eventually came up with drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs alter brain chemistry and change the balance of these two chemicals in the brain and improve mood. SSRI’s include are Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft, Luvox, and Paxil.

The pharmaceutical companies have aggressively marketed SSRIs. Their marketing efforts have focused both on expanding the definition of depression and spreading the belief that depression is a biochemical-based problem that can be solved chemically. It looks like their efforts have been successful because doctors wrote more than 150 million prescriptions for antidepressants.

The Good and the Bad

Consequently millions of people are taking powerful prescription drugs on a long-term basis. I would highly recommend reading a 2005 report of researcher Janet Currie. Her report is one of the very best reports I’ve seen detailing how the pharmaceutical industry literally created a market for SSRI drugs, while at the same time covering up the fact that they are generally ineffective, costly, and loaded with dangerous side effects as well as addictive properties. You might come to the conclusion that pharmaceutical companies are more motivated by profit than by improving your wellbeing.

To see the complete document, The Marketization of Depression: The Prescribing of SSRI Antidepressants to Women, visit www.whp-apsf.ca/pdf/SSRIs.pdf.

An All-Natural Alternative

A natural and safe alternative to SSRI drugs is the compound inositol. While inositol is considered to be a part of the vitamin B complex, but not truly a vitamin. Inositol’s primary use in the body is in the formation of cell membranes. However, it is also involved in the systems that deliver messages from hormones and neurotransmitters to individual cells, and this is how deficiencies of inositol can be related to neurological problems like depression.
Numerous studies have shown that inositol can be equally as effective as the SSRI drugs in the treatment of conditions like depression, bulimia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and without any of the dangerous side effects.

Most of the studies have utilized 12 grams a day for depression and 18 grams a day for problems like panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Some doctors report excellent results in these same type cases using doses in the range of 3 to 6 grams daily.

Inositol is considered very safe. In a few cases, individuals experience temporary diarrhea and large doses may cause uterine contractions. Thus I do not recommend that you consider taking inositol if you are pregnant.

If you decide to try inositol, I suggest starting with 3 grams mixed with either juice or water and taken each morning. You can also just put the powder in your mouth. It doesn’t matter if you take inositol with or without food. From there, you can gradually increase the dose by an additional 3 grams every 4 or 5 days until either you reach 12 to 18 grams daily or you begin to experience beneficial effects.

In most studies individuals began to see positive results within 4 to 6 weeks. Some people actually see a difference in a matter of days, but it’s worth continuing for at least a couple of months if you don’t get a response that quickly.

Inositol can be purchased in capsules or in a more economical bulk powder. For example, 8 ounces of inositol sells for about $11 at www.allstarhealth.com (I'm not affiliated with All Star Health and don't receive commissions or any other form of compensation from them). At a dose of ¼ teaspoon (600 mg) that’s 378 servings, making inositol inexpensive in addition to being safe and effective. One ounce is about 28.4 grams so an 8 ounce package of inositol contains about 227 grams or about 75 three gram servings.

Quality Health Care?

2009-01-27T07:59:00.000-08:00

Just in case you haven’t noticed, there is a health care crisis in the United States; one that is different from the much touted health insurance crisis. For example, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical School the United States spends 44 percent more per capita on health care than Switzerland, which has the second most expensive health care system in the world.[i] The same study reported that the per capita health care expenditure in the Untied States was 134 percent more than the average in developed countries. One might expect that such a large expenditure would result in world-class health care. It doesn’t. The United States ranks 27^th in the world in life expectancy at birth and 39^th in infant mortality. Here are a few more statistics on the state of health care in the United States:

· Today about 66 percent of U.S. adults, about 134 million people, are overweight or obese. By comparison, only 44.8 percent of the population was overweight or obese in the period between 1960-1962.

· Nearly one-third of U.S. adults, about 64 million people, are obese.

· The percent of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese has increased from 4.2 percent (1963-65) to 17.5 percent (2001-04).

· Obesity is associated with about 112,000 excess deaths per year in the U.S. population relative to healthy weight individuals.

· 23.5 million people, or 10.7 percent of the U.S. population over age 20 have diabetes.

· The percentage of the population with hypertension (high blood pressure) has increased from 21.7 percent (1988-94) to 26.7 percent (2001-04).

· Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

· While deaths from heart disease and stroke have declined due to improvements in long-term and emergency care, cancer deaths have remained relatively constant since 1950, at about 200 deaths per 100,000 people.

· Only 31 percent of adults over age 18 engage in regular physical activity (three or more sessions per week of at least 20 minutes each).

Take control of your health, don't expect your doctor to do it for you!

[i] Anderson, G. F., U. E. Reinhardt, P. S. Hussey, and V. Petrosyan. (2003). It’s the Prices, Stupid: Why the United States is So Different from Other Countries. Health Affairs, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 89-105.

Another Reason for Taking your Vitamin C

2009-01-25T16:21:00.000-08:00

You always knew that Vitamin C was good for you, but did you know that it reduces blood pressure? A recent study has linked high blood levels of vitamin C with lower blood pressure in young women. This study, which involved about 250 women who were between 11 years old when they entered the study. It tracked them over a 10-year period and found both their systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings were inversely associated with ascorbic acid levels (Nutrition Journal December 17, 2008; 7:35)

Previous research has already linked high plasma levels of vitamin C with lower blood pressure among middle-age and older adults. Several studies have examined the effect of vitamin C on blood pressure. Vitamin C, an antioxidant, helps neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. Research has shown that antioxidants can help to reduce high blood pressure, possibly by protecting your body's supply of nitric oxide, a molecule that relaxes blood vessels.

Previous research has also confirmed that adding vitamin C to your diet can help to reverse the degenerative process caused by free radicals resulting in lower blood pressure levels.

In addition vitamin C can also give extra power to other antioxidants, such as catechins, which are naturally occurring antioxidants found in green tea. Green tea has been linked to heart- and cardiovascular health because it improves both blood flow and the ability of the arteries to relax. One 2007 study discovered that complementing green tea with either citrus juices or vitamin C increases the amount of catechins available for your body to absorb (Science Blog November 13, 2007).

Other natural supplements, in addition to Vitamin C, that can help improve your blood pressure include grape seed extract and olive leaf extract. Grape seed extract is another powerful antioxidant that, like Vitamin C, has been shown to reduce blood pressure by an average of 8-12 millimeters. The antioxidant power of grape seed extract comes from proanthocyanidins. Scientific studies have shown that the antioxidant power of proanthocyanidins is 20 times stronger than vitamin C and 50 times stronger than vitamin E.

Finally, one recent study found that supplement users taking 1,000 mg of olive leaf extract per day showed a substantial dip in their blood pressure and lowered levels of LDL cholesterol. The active agent responsible for the hypotensive action of the olive leaf is oleuropein, which acts as an antioxidant and helps relax and dilate blood vessels.