Aspartame/Nutrasweet Changing its Name.

America's Deadliest Sweetener Betrays Millions, Then Hoodwinks You With Name Change

Aspartame producer Ajinomoto is launching a new initiative that will rebrand the sweetener as “AminoSweet”. Aspartame is used in many foods and beverages marketed as low calorie or sugar-free. However, its reputation has been clouded by studies that have investigated reports of ill effects. Reported side effects of aspartame include: Headaches, Vision changes, Convulsions, Seizures, Hallucinations, Nausea, Vomiting, Joint pain and many other problems. Aspartame is the most controversial food additive in history, and its approval for use in food was the most contested in FDA history. In the end, the artificial sweetener was approved, not on scientific grounds, but rather because of strong political and financial pressure. After all, aspartame was previously listed by the Pentagon as a biochemical warfare agent! It’s hard to believe such a chemical would be allowed into the food supply, but it was, and it has been wreaking havoc with people’s health for the past 30 years. The truth is, it should never have been released onto the market, and allowing it to remain in the food chain is seriously hurting people – no matter how many times you rebrand it under new names.
The Deceptive Marketing of Aspartame
Sold commercially under names like NutraSweet, Canderel, and now AminoSweet, aspartame can be found in more than 6,000 foods, including soft drinks, chewing gum, table-top sweeteners, diet and diabetic foods, breakfast cereals, jams, sweets, vitamins, prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Aspartame producer Ajinomoto chose to rebrand it under the name AminoSweet, to “remind the industry that aspartame tastes just like sugar, and that it’s made from amino acids – the building blocks of protein that are abundant in our diet.” In this case, the agenda is to make you believe that aspartame is somehow a harmless, natural sweetener made with two amino acids that are essential for health and present in your diet already. They want you to believe aspartame delivers all the benefits of sugar and none of its drawbacks. But nothing could be further from the truth.
How Aspartame Wreaks Havoc on Your Health
Did you know there have been more reports to the FDA for aspartame reactions than for all other food additives combined? In fact, there are over 10,000 official complaints, but by the FDA’s own admission, less than 1 percent of those who experience a reaction to a product ever report it. So in all likelihood, the toxic effects of aspartame may have affected roughly a million people already. While a variety of symptoms have been reported, almost two-thirds of them fall into the neurological and behavioral category consisting mostly of headaches, mood alterations, and hallucinations. The remaining third is mostly gastrointestinal symptoms. Unfortunately, aspartame toxicity is not well-known by doctors, despite its frequency. Diagnosis is also hampered by the fact that it mimics several other common health conditions, such as: Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Multipe chemical sensitivity, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Attention deficit disorder, Panic disorder, Depression, Lupus, Diabetes, Birth defects, Lymphoma, Lyme disease and Hypothyroidism.
How Diet Foods and Drinks CAUSE Weight Problems
In recent years, food manufacturers have increasingly focused on developing low-calorie foods and drinks to help you maintain a healthy weight and avoid obesity. Unfortunately, the science behind these products is so flawed; most of these products can actually lead to increased weight gain! For example, researchers have discovered that drinking diet soda increases your risk of metabolic syndrome, and may double your risk of obesity – the complete opposite of the stated intention behind these “zero calorie” drinks. The sad truth is that diet foods and drinks ruin your body's ability to count calories, and in fact stimulate your appetite, thus boosting your inclination to overindulge. Unfortunately, most public health agencies and nutritionists in the United States recommend these toxic artificial sweeteners as an acceptable alternative to sugar, which is at best confusing and at worst harming the health of those who take their misguided advice.
Even More Toxic Dangers of Aspartame
As mentioned earlier, almost two-thirds of all documented side effects of aspartame consumption are neurological. One of the reasons for this side effect, researchers have discovered, is because the phenylalanine in aspartame dissociates from the ester bond. While these amino acids are indeed completely natural and safe, they were never designed to be ingested as isolated amino acids in massive quantities, which in and of itself will cause complications. Additionally this will also increase dopamine levels in your brain. This can lead to symptoms of depression because it distorts your serotonin/dopamine balance. It can also lead to migraine headaches and brain tumors through a similar mechanism. The aspartic acid in aspartame is a well-documented excitotoxin. Excitotoxins are usually amino acids, such as glutamate and aspartate. These special amino acids cause particular brain cells to become excessively excited, to the point that they die. Excitotoxins can also cause a loss of brain synapses and connecting fibers. A review conducted in 2008 by scientists from the University of Pretoria and the University of Limpopo found that consuming a lot of aspartame may inhibit the ability of enzymes in your brain to function normally, and may lead to neurodegeneration.
According to the researchers, consuming a lot of aspartame can disturb: The metabolism of amino acids, protein structure and metabolism, the integrity of nucleic acids, neuronal function and endocrine balances.
Furthermore, the ester bond in aspartame breaks down to formaldehyde and methanol, which are also toxic in their own right. So it is not surprising that this popular artificial sweetener has also been found to cause cancer.
How to Ditch Artificial Sweeteners, and Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
If you suffer from sweet cravings, it’s easy to convince yourself you’re doing the right thing by opting for a zero-calorie sweetener like aspartame. Please understand that you will do more harm than good to your body this way. First, it’s important to realize that your body craves sweets when you’re not giving it the proper fuel it needs.
Acceptable Alternative Sweeteners
For those times when you just want a taste of something sweet, your healthiest alternative is Stevia. It’s a natural plant and unlike aspartame and other artificial sweeteners, it is a safe, natural alternative that's ideal if you’re watching your weight, or if you’re maintaining your health by avoiding sugar. It is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar and truly has virtually no calories. I recommend using Stevia in moderation, just like sugar. In excess it is still far less likely to cause metabolic problems than sugar or any of the artificial sweeteners. I want to emphasize, that if you have insulin issues, I suggest that you avoid sweeteners altogether, including Stevia, as they all can decrease your sensitivity to insulin. Lo han is another sweetener like Stevia. It’s an African sweet herb that can also be used, but it’s a bit more expensive and harder to find. So if you struggle with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or extra weight, then you have insulin sensitivity issues and would benefit from avoiding ALL sweeteners. For everyone else, I strongly encourage you to consider using Stevia or Lo han, and toss out all artificial sweeteners and any products that contain them.
Sources: FoodBev 2010, Mercola.com | March 02 2010

How to Feel Better When You Are Stressed.

1. Calm down - Before anything else, don’t panic. Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
2. Feed your mind with positive thoughts - When you’re depressed, it’s easy to fall into a vicious cycle of negative thoughts. It’s important that you break this cycle. To do that, feed your mind with positive thoughts. You may read spiritual texts, motivational books, or inspiring quotes. You may also listen to positive tapes.
3. Remember good things - Remember the good things in your life and the good people around you.
4. Look at the big picture - An event that seems bad might not seem that bad if you look at the big picture. Put the event in context.
5. Believe that everything will be all right - What you believe has a big effect on you. If you believe that things will go wrong, that would usually be the case. On the other hand, if you believe that everything will be all right, you will have a winning attitude.
6. Exercise - When you’re depressed, take time to exercise. Exercise relieves the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
7. Forgive - Sometimes one reason you feel bad is because you don’t forgive. Perhaps you had made mistakes in the past and you blamed yourself for it. You need to forgive yourself. Or perhaps someone mistreated you. You need to forgive them.
8. Take action - Things won’t get better if you just sit and do nothing. Instead of thinking about how bad things are, think of what you can do to solve the problem and take action.
9. Say something positive - Negative words have devastating effect on your confidence and motivation. So whenever you’re about to say something negative, stop yourself and take a deep breath. Reframe what you’re going to say and make it positive.
10. Think about other people - One of the best ways to feel better is simply by taking the focus away from you. Start thinking about other people and how you can help them. When you do that, your problems will no longer seem so hard.
Great quote: You can’t always control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it.

Contact me at DrDan1221@yahoo.com or 920-954-1002 if you have questions or comments.

Source: mercola.com

What You Eat After Exercise Matters.

Many of the health benefits of aerobic exercise are due to the most recent exercise session. The nature of these benefits can be greatly affected by the food you eat afterwards. Differences in what you eat after exercise produce different effects on your body's metabolism. Specifically, a recent study found that exercise enhanced insulin sensitivity, particularly when meals eaten after the exercise session contained relatively low carbohydrate content. Interestingly, when the research subjects ate relatively low-calorie meals after exercise, this did not improve insulin sensitivity any more than when they ate enough calories to match what they expended during exercise. This suggests that you don't have to starve yourself after exercise to still reap some of the important health benefits. Enhanced insulin sensitivity means that it is easier for your body to take up sugar from your bloodstream into tissues like muscles, where it can be stored or used as fuel. Impaired insulin sensitivity, also known as insulin resistance is a hallmark of Type II diabetes, as well as being a major risk factor for other chronic diseases.

Jack LaLanne once said:
“Exercise is your king, and nutrition is your queen. Together they create your fitness kingdom."

This new study shows, what you eat after your workout can actually have positive effects on your body. What the researchers found was that all exercise sessions increased insulin sensitivity. This was to be expected as exercise is one of the most powerful tools you have available to normalize your insulin levels. This is important because elevated insulin levels are one of the primary drivers for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and weight gain. But the foods you eat are equally important to maintain healthy insulin and leptin levels. When participants ate fewer carbohydrates after exercise, this enhanced insulin sensitivity significantly more -- even more so than eating a low-calorie meal. What this means is that you don’t need to starve yourself after a workout, and in all actuality doing so may slow down your metabolism because your body goes into starvation mode.

Expert Tips on What to Eat After Your Workout
Darin Steen, a personal trainer, has shared some of his expert tips on what to eat to get the most benefit from your exercise routine. Generally speaking, after exercise your body is nitrogen-poor and your muscles have been broken down. That's why you need amino acids from high quality animal proteins like organic free range chicken, grass fed beef and eggs, as well as vegetable carbohydrates. It’s important to combine a quality protein and a carb (veggie type) together in every meal, no matter whether it’s a resistance training day, an interval cardio day, or a non-workout day, and ideally you should adjust the ratio according to your unique nutritional type. Darin has broken the equation down even further post-workout, and recommends eating a different combination of foods depending on what type of workout you did that day:

Aerobic/Cardio Post-Workout Meal
After a cardiovascular workout (fat loss day), wait 45-60 minutes, and then consume a high-quality source of protein (whole food) and vegetable-type carbohydrate. An example would be a spinach salad and some chicken. The reason why you’ll want to wait an hour after the session to eat is to ride the fat-burning wave of your cardio session. However, waiting more than an hour is typically too long, and can send your body into starvation mode.

Resistance Post-Workout Meal
You want your meal after a resistance workout (muscle-building day) to be absorbed rapidly This is the opposite of what you’ll typically want, because when a meal is absorbed quickly because of refined carbs, there is a good chance your blood sugar will rise too fast, and the carbohydrates will be stored as body fat. But after a resistance workout, you’ve just primed the pump with an intense workout and you have a one-hour window of opportunity to shuttle in nutrients, amino acids, glycogen, and other anabolic nutrients to help repair your damaged muscles. If you miss this one-hour window, the chances that your muscles will be able to repair themselves, which makes them bigger and stronger, diminish significantly. So the best post workout meal on resistance training days is whey protein and a higher glycemic (fast released, starchy) carbohydrate, such as a banana. The potassium in the banana seems to help with recovery. The whey protein is already pre-digested so it is absorbed rapidly. You’ll want to this post-workout meal 15-30 minutes after your intense weight-training session.

Choose Whole Food, Not Sports Drinks or Bars
Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars on energy drinks and energy bars each year. Bar and drink makers add dozens of elements to these products, including vitamins, minerals, herbs and whey. However, the active ingredients usually come down to two simple substances: Sugar and caffeine. When used properly, these products may have some benefits for athletes when they are using intense, high-level training that causes them to lose more than a quart of water in sweat. However, for most of you, the vast majority of these energy bars and powders only add hazardous toxins, chemicals, and useless calories to your diet. Probably the worst of the worst would be fructose. You simply should avoid this in a sports drink at all costs unless you are losing more than a quart of water in sweat in 30-45 minutes. The truth is that eating whole, organic and biodynamic foods tailored to your nutritional type is the ticket to optimal performance, whether you’re a professional athlete or a weekend warrior at the gym. If you find that you often resort to processed sports bars in a pinch, make sure you stock up your pantry with the following post-workout staples now, so they’re ready for you to grab after your next workout:

Beneficial sources of protein include: Organic chicken (dark meat for protein nutritional types); Organic free-range eggs; Lean, grass-fed red meat; Whey protein; Nuts and seeds (preferably raw)

Beneficial sources of carbohydrates include: Virtually any vegetable (limiting carrots and beets, which are high in sugar); Dark green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale or Swiss chard; Low fructose fruits like lemon, limes, passion fruit, apricots, plums, cantaloupe, raspberries; Avoid high fructose fruits like apples, watermelons and pears.

Sources:
Eurekalert January 28, 2010
Journal of Applied Physiology December 31, 2009
Mercola.com February 2010

Email me if you have any comments or questions at DrDan1221@yahoo.com

The 10 Things Kids Really Want From Their Parents

Many moms and dads today feel as if they are not good parents unless they are racing around, shuttling their children from lessons to practices, and back to lessons again. What do you think matters most to your children? You driving them to lessons and practices? Or the smile and hug you greet them with after school?

If you guessed the latter, you are correct.

Here is a list of the top 10 things students around the world said they desire most from their parents.
1. Tuck me in at night and sing me a song. Also tell me stories about when you were little.
2. Give me hugs and kisses and sit and talk with me privately.
3. Spend quality time just with me, not with my brothers and sisters around.
4. Give me nutritious food so I can grow up healthy.
5. At dinner talk about what we could do together on the weekend.
6. At night talk to me about anything: love, school, family etc.
7. Let me play outside a lot.
8. Cuddle under a blanket and watch our favorite TV show together.
9. Discipline me. It makes me feel like you care.
10. Leave special messages in my desk or lunch bag.

Children are incredibly wise and tend to see the world more simply than we do. Perhaps it is time we start taking their advice.

Source: mercola.com

WHO Advisors Pad Pockets with Pharmaceutical Money

A Finnish member of the World Health Organization board, an advisor on vaccines, has received 6 million Euros (approx. 9 million dollars) for his research center from the vaccine manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline. Although WHO promises transparency, this conflict of interest is not available for the public to see at WHO’s homepage. Prof. Juhani Eskola is the director of the Finnish research vaccine program and a new member of the WHO group ‘Strategic Advisory Group of Experts’ (SAGE). SAGE recommends which vaccines -- and how many -- member countries should purchase for the pandemic.
According to documents acquired through the Danish Freedom of Information Act, Eskola’s Finnish institute, THL, received almost 6.3 million Euros from GlaxoSmithKline for research on vaccines during 2009. GlaxoSmithKline produces the H1N1-vaccine which the Finnish government -- following recommendations from THL and WHO -- purchased for a national pandemic reserve stockpile.

Several other WHO experts also have financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry--a double role that notably is not published by WHO.

As the Flu Case article states, this financial conflict of interest is not an isolated incident with one researcher—the following list of WHO researchers, reported to have financial ties to Big Pharma, suggests a more systemic corruption:

Dr. Peter Figueroa, Professor in the Department of Community Health and Psychiatry in Jamaica, has received money from Merck

Dr. Neil Ferguson has received funding from Baxter, GlaxoSmithKline, and Roche, as well as from some insurance companies

Professor Malik Peiris in Hong Kong has received money from Baxter GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Pasteur

Dr. Arnold Monto, advisor to Chiron, GlaxoSmithKline, MedImmune, Roche, Novartis, Baxter and Sanofi Pasteur, has received funding from same

Dr. Friedrich Hayden, consultant to MedImmune and Sanofi Pasteur, received money from those companies, in addition to Roche, RW Johnson, and SmithKline Beecham

The World Health Organization (WHO) proclaims itself to be an agency that “is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.”

Source: Dr. Mercola, January 2010

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at drdan1221@yahoo.com

Growing Meat in a Lab - That's an Expensive Steak!

Scientists have figured out how to grow tiny nuggets of lab meat and say it will one day be possible to produce steaks in vats, without actual animals.
Pork chops or burgers cultivated in labs could eliminate contamination problems, as well as address environmental concerns that come with industrial livestock farms.

However, such research opens up strange and perhaps even disturbing possibilities once considered only the realm of science fiction.

Currently, bioengineers are growing nerve, heart and other tissues in labs. Although such research is meant to help treat patients, biomedical engineers suggest growing skeletal muscle in labs -- the kind people typically think of as the meat they eat -- could also help feed the rising demand for meat worldwide.


resource: Mercola.com.

If you have any questions please contact Dr. Dan Thibodeau.

Doctors Warned of Smoking Danger 400yrs Ago.

A doctor's letter written more than 400 years ago has revealed medics were even then concerned about the dangers of young people smoking.

The letter, by Dr. Eleazar Duncon, concluded that tobacco "is so hurtful and dangerous to youth ... that it was as well known by the name of Youths-bane as by the name of tobacco.”

The letter was unearthed by library staff at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) as they prepared for an exhibition. Professor Sir Neil Douglas, the president of the RCPE, said that the letter "provides a fascinating insight into historical medical concerns about the addictive nature of smoking and young people, and shows that this issue has been of concern for over four centuries."


Sources: Mercola.com newsletter, STV September 20, 2009

Would You Actually Get These New Vaccines?

1. AIDS vaccine - A storm has erupted over the announcement last month that an experimental AIDS vaccine tested in Thailand proved modestly effective. It was billed as a major scientific advance — the long-awaited hard evidence that it is possible to inoculate people against AIDS. But now the trial has been called into question in a way that is overblown and possibly destructive.
But this isn’t the first time the efficacy and safety of a vaccine has been called into question. The government recently announced that $10 million of stimulus money would be used to fund a phase 3 clinical trial of a promising anti-smoking vaccine produced by Nabi Pharmaceuticals of Rockville, Md. However, another company working on a similar vaccine has not been so successful.

2. Stop Smoking vaccine - Cytos Biotechnology Ltd. said this week that a trial of its nicotine vaccine had failed to reduce smoking behaviors. The study, which is continuing, involved 200 smokers who were motivated to quit. The researchers found that the vaccine, designed to bind nicotine in the blood and prevent it from reaching the brain, was safe and well tolerated. But apparently it did not stimulate high enough levels of antibodies to produce the desired response.

3. Obesity vaccine - The moment evidence was found that obesity may be linked to a virus, opportunistic drug company researchers dove into developing an “obesity vaccine.” Now researchers say their obesity vaccine could be ready for market in five years. Searching for genetic clues to the obesity epidemic, in the hopes of developing a vaccine against it, is not the answer.

Sources: mercola.com

Posted by: Dr. Dan Thibodeau, contact me at 920-954-1002 or DrDan1221@yahoo.com if you have questions or comments.

Insurance Companies Deny 500,000 Claims a Day!!

A recent article in the November/December issue of AARP magazine gives current statistics about insurance claims and tips on how to fight back if your claim is denied.

1. One claim in seven is initially denied. This totals 200 million per year.
2. Insurance companies are becoming more aggressive especially on high dollar claims.
3. Don't accept the insurance companies initial word as final.
4. Ninety six percent of the people do not question their denied claim.
5. Build your case and collect evidence before calling to demand a review.
6. Cases are overturned about 80% of the time.

Sources:
AARP Nov./Dec. 2009

Please contact me at 920-954-1002 or at http://us.mc655.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=DrDan1221@yahoo.com if you have any questions.

The FDA changes warnings on Tylenol - but it's still Dangerous to your Health!

FDA advisers have recommended lowering the maximum dose of over-the-counter acetaminophen -- the key ingredient in Tylenol, Excedrin and many other pain-killing medications.
The advisers' vote followed the release of a report last month, which found that severe liver damage and even death can result from a lack of consumer awareness.
Many people take more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen-based pain relievers in the mistaken belief that taking more will be more effective without posing health risks. Consumers may also not know that acetaminophen is present in many over-the-counter products, including remedies for colds, headaches and fevers, making it possible to exceed the recommended acetaminophen dose accidentally.

Comments:

The NUMBER ONE cause of acute liver failure in the United States is from taking acetaminophen (Tylenol type products). So it is high time the FDA took action.
Acetaminophen is found in more than 200 over-the-counter cold and flu remedies and other medications, making it the most widely used painkiller in the United States.
When most people have a cold, headache or other ache or pain, they don’t just take two Tylenol and leave it at that. Many people double or triple-up, taking multiple OTC medications, all of which may contain acetaminophen.
It’s actually very easy to overdose on acetaminophen, and thereby cause serious liver damage or liver failure -- and this is what this new FDA warning stems from.
In fact, you can actually have liver damage just from taking recommended doses of Tylenol (such as eight extra-strength Tylenol tablets daily for a couple of weeks), so hopefully these FDA changes will help to curb some of that.

Sources:
U.S. News & World Report June 30, 2009
Time July 3, 2009
http://www.mercola.com/

If you have any questins, please contact me.

The Milk Myth: What You Really Need is Calcium

A recent study claims that young adults are not drinking enough milk -- at least according to press reports on the matter. But according to the study’s lead author Nicole Larson, the focus on the study was on calcium not milk.
The words "milk" and "calcium" are often used interchangeably in the popular press. But while milk is a calcium source, no standard other than that of the National Dairy Council considers it the best calcium source.
The suggestion that you need to drink three glasses of the secretion of a cow's mammary glands in order to be healthy is a bit outrageous and doesn't fit the human evolutionary profile. In fact, most humans around the world cannot easily digest cow milk.
Yogurt has more calcium than milk and is easier to digest. Collards and other greens also have about as much or more calcium than milk by the cup. Greens, unlike milk, have the added benefit of vitamin K, also necessary for strong bones.
When you measure calcium by cup of food product, milk is high on the list. When you view it by calories, milk is at the bottom. A hundred calories of turnip greens have over three times as much calcium as 100 calories of whole milk.
Sources:
Live Science June 24, 2009
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior July/August 2009; 41(4):254-60
http://www.mercola.com/

Comments:
The thought that you have to drink milk for strong bones is ingrained in our societyas a result of successful PR by the dairy industry. But what most people do not realize is that pasteurized milk has little to do with strong bones, or good health, for that matter.
In fact, pasteurized milk has no important health benefits at all, and is mucous forming.
As stated in the article above, calcium is the issue being investigated, not necessarily the consumption of milk.
Regardless of the milk issue, eating vegetables is one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting sufficient amounts of calcium, and is part of a healthy lifestyle.


If you have any questions or comments, contact Dr. Dan Thibodeau at DrDan1221@yahoo.com or at 920-954-1002.

The Key to Healthcare Reform is to Get Healthier!

The Key to Affordable Health Care: Healthier Lifestyles

Scientists are reporting a breakthrough therapy to lower the risk of developing the most common and deadly chronic diseases by about 80 percent. The therapy is called Taking Care of Yourself: not smoking, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight.
Obesity is costing the American healthcare system more than $100 million annually. Diabetes costs nearly $150 billion, cancer care costs more than $200 billion, and heart disease costs more than $300 billion annually.
The key to affordable healthcare is disease prevention, not disease treatment.

Sources:
Live Science August 11, 2009
Archives of Internal Medicine August 10/24 2009; 169(15):1355-1362

Please contact me at DrDan1221@yahoo.com or 920-954-1002 if you have any questions.

Medical Doctors Bribed to Hook Kids on Drugs?

Americans must start to question the legitimacy of the exploitations of drug companies, and the predatory people that run them. The pharmaceutical-industrial complex has virtually annexed the mental health profession. Take, as one example, Harvard psychiatrist Joseph Biederman, the high-profile doctor most responsible for the explosion of kids on psychiatric drugs. Biederman took $1.6 million from drug makers from 2000 to 2007, and failed to report most of it to his university.

On March 20, 2009, the New York Times reported that Biederman told Johnson & Johnson that he planned for his proposed research studies on its antipsychotic drug Risperdal to turn out favorably. Biederman delivered the goods.

The Times also reported that in 2005 Biederman proposed a study on adolescents using the ADHD-drug Concerta, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, and he assured the company that his study would "extend to adolescents positive findings with Concerta."

And in 2006, Biederman was co-author of a study showing that children given Concerta for a prolonged period did not have reduced growth, allaying a significant concern about the medicine -- but in contradiction to what has now been established.

The CDC has estimated that 9% of boys and 4% of girls in the U.S. are taking ADHD stimulant medications. ADHD drug prescriptions rose by almost 12 percent a year between 2000 and 2005.

source: AlterNet, 7/17/09

If you have any questions about this press release, please contact Dr. Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at drdan1221@yahoo.com

Is Instrument Adjusting Better Than Hands-on Adjusting?

A recent article published in DC Products 6/2009 gave ten reasons why chiropractic instrument adjusting is "better" than regular hands-on adjusting. You can judge for yourself.

The following were the main points:

1) Adjusting instruments were designed to give a mechanical advantage to the chiropractic adjustment. Newton's Second law is force equals mass times acceleration. The instrument can take advantage of the acceleration part of the equation. If the speed of the adjusting instrument is 10 - 20 times faster then the human hand, we don't have to push as hard to adjust.
2) The tip of the adjusting instrument is much smaller than one or two hands touching the spine, this makes the contact point very specific. This equals more movement on the exact bone we want to adjust.
3) The adjustments will be more consistant because the adjusting instrument can be set at the same setting each time. That way you won't be adjusted rough at one appointment and then soft at the next.

All of this equates to the patient getting a consistant adjustment that is specific and comfortable with no twisting or cracking. The technique that I prefer is Activator Instrument Adjusting.

If you have any questions about this press release, please contact Dr. Dan Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at DrDan1221@yahoo.com

MRI's are not as great as we thought - or are they?

A recent article published in The American Chiropractor 5/2009 quoted research that was published in the journal Spine.

The study stated that, "30% of patients with a disc herniation do not show that herniation on a traditional MRI study."

The author suggested that since many patients will describe their pain varying throughout the day and with specific activities. These differences are generally based on the position and biomechanics of the spine. It would be better to MRI the patients in the position of most pain.

Flexion and extension MRI views would greatly increase the degree of disc herniations found when compared to nuetral views alone.

If you have any questions about this press release, please contact Dr. Dan Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at DrDan1221@yahoo.com

Chiropractic Care Improves Brain Function

A recent article published in The American Chiropractor 1/2008 contained ground breaking research showing that a chiropractic treatment actually changed how the brain functioned.

A New Zealand researcher, Dr. Heidi Haavik-Taylor, demonstrated that chiropractic care sends signals to the brain that change the way the brain controls muscles.

After 7 years of research, she was able to measure using EEG how the brain waves are altered before and after spinal adjustments. The brain processes information differently after chiropractic care.

My recommendation: Try chiropractic care first for musculoskeletal problems.

If you have any questions about this press release, please contact Dr. Dan Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at DrDan1221@yahoo.com

Experts Say You Can Reverse Type 2 Diabetes

A recent article in Reader's Digest asked 4 medical experts for solutions to Type 2 Diabetes. Here are their responses:

1) "People who ate a plant-based, low fat vegan diet lost weight, reduced their cholesterol and improved their blood sugar....You can use diet to reverse the condition, but if you return to your old habits, it will come right back." Neal Barnard, MD

2) "Diet and exercise have the biggest impact, and the best diet is high in fiber and low in the glycemic index foods....fiber lowers insulin and cholesterol levels." Dwight Mckee, MD

3) "A main cause of type 2 diabetes is being overweight. You have to make a big change to get healthy, and exercise is key to reversing the condition....aim to burn 300 calories a day....gradually increase your exercise time." Joel Fuhrman, MD

4) "Diabetes is a disease not a moral failing. Lifestyle modifications can make it better...." Robin Goland, MD

My recommendation: Try diet, exercise and nutritional changes first before any drugs are used.

If you have any questions about this press release, please contact Dr. Dan Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at DrDan1221@yahoo.com

Paying More for More of the Same!

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) 2008 showed that medical and pharaceutical care for back and neck problems increased substancially but without significant improvement in health and function.

The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey showed that from 1997 to 2005, medical care increased from $52 billion per year to $86 billion per year. Medication costs for spinal problems rose from $7 billion per year to $20 billion per year. (In contrast, diabetic care rose from $89 billion to $98 billion.)

The authors noted that, "Despite rapidly increasing expenditures from 1997 to 2005, there was no improvement over this period in self-assessed limitations or social functioning."

Sadly, the increase in health care costs did not result in better health outcomes. It seems that the need for chiropractic and chiropractic's potential to impact the current health situation are continuing to grow!

My recommendation: Try chiropractic treatment first before expensive medical care or drugs.

If you have any questions about this press release, please contact Dr. Dan Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at DrDan1221@yahoo.com

Honey, I Shrunk Your Brain??

Two recent studies published in Neurology, January 2009, determined that Hormone Replacement Therapy for women is linked to brain shrinkage, but not to small brain lesions that are the first sign of cardiovascular disease. The studies aimed at finding out how hormone therapy might affect memory and thinking skills.

MRI scans were taken of 1400 women ages 71 - 89. They found that women taking estrogen (with or without progestin) had smaller brain volumes in two specific areas of the brain. Both areas were involved with thinking and memory skills. One of the areas (the hippocampus) is a risk factor for dementia.

My recommendation: Try to use natural alternatives to Hormone Replacement Therapy first before any drugs are used.

If you have any questions about this, please contact Dr. Dan Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at DrDan1221@yahoo.com

Overuse of Farmland Creates Depleted Soil.

A recent article published in To Your Health magazine, February 2009, determined that the growing regions in the United States are continuing to get smaller. The overuse of the same soil, instead of rotating use of the land, causes the earth's soil to become depleted of essential organic complexes, nutrients and minerals. Even if you eat an all-organic diet, you need to supplement your diet.

Comment: This is not a new idea and has been talked about for the last 10-15 years. This article reminded me that it was a good topic to re-visit.

My recommendation: Include in your diet a good quality multi-vitamin/multi-mineral supplement. Many are now available to help with specific health concerns, for example, female issues, blood sugar problems, chewable, etc.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Dan Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at DrDan1221@yahoo.com

Low-Tech Treatment Same as Knee Surgery.

A recent study seen in Good Health magazine, March 2009, determined that for arthritic knee pain - arthroscopic surgery to smooth cartilage and remove floating tissue has been standard treatment.

The rigorous study, following 178 Canadian patients, found that the popular procedure offered no benefit over a regimen of physical therapy and in some cases anti-inflammatory injections or injections of fluid-restoring hyaluronic acid.

Two years later, the surgery patients had no less pain and no more mobility than the non-surgery group. Robert Litchfield, MD said, "Scoping [arthroscopic knee surgery] is great for many things but it won't cure your arthritis."

My recommendation: Even though the study did not mention Chiropractic care directly, this shows that patients should try conservative treatment options before choosing surgery. The Chiropractic care, physiotherapy, nutrition and exercise rehab that we offer at our office has been very successful in helping to reduce and eliminate knee pain for many patients. Please make surgery your last option not your first.

If you have any questions about this, please contact Dr. Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at DrDan1221@yahoo.com

Omega 3 Fish Oil Better Than Cholesterol Drug!

A recent study seen in To Your Health magazine, February 2009 was originally published in the British medical journal Lancet. This study determined that omega 3 fish oil supplements taken daily were superior to the popular prescription cholesterol reducing drug Crestor. Crestor is prescribed to adults with high cholesterol and has common side effects including headaches, muscle pain, abdominal pain, weakness and nausea. The 4 year study followed 11,500 patients. The patients given fish oil were less susceptible to side effects, hospitalization and death.

I recommend about 1000 - 1500mg of omega 3 fish oil per day however good overall nutrition and exercise are also important for a healthy lifestyle.
(Please check with your doctor before you start any new supplements or exercise programs.)
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at DrDan1221@yahoo.com

Normal Cholesterol Levels Causes Heart Disease

An article in the Appleton Post Crescent two weeks ago told about two recent studies that showed that patients with normal levels of bad cholesterol were still at risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The researchers concluded that either:
1) Normal bad cholesterol levels were set too high thus allowing many patients to be missed.
2) Bad cholesterol is not a good measure of heart attack and stroke risk.

Since bad cholesterol is only one of the risk factors including age, gender, smoking, blood pressure, diabetes, and family history; it should not be used as the only measurement.

My personal opinion is that the pharmacuetical companies will jump on this study to prove that another 11 million people shoud be taking cholesterol lowering drugs. This equates to alot of additional money in their pockets.

Source: The Post Crescent, February 2009

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at drdan1221@yahoo.com

Chiropractic Treatment Helps Blind Man See

Doug Harkey, from Dubuque Iowa, whose left eye suddenly stopped working 12 years ago, thought he was making a routine visit to his chiropractor. After his chiropractic adjustment, his blind eye started to water for about 45 minutes. This made his good eye water also. When he wiped his good eye he noticed he could partially see out of his blind eye.
The chiropractor told him that the treatments to his spine helped get his nervous system to function better and that may have restored his vision.
Doug's vision is now nearly perfect in his "blind" eye, however he does wear glasses. He has been getting used to the new depth perception that he hasn't had for the last 12 years.

Source: The American Chiropractor, January 2009

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at drdan1221@yahoo.com

Dr. Dan is Setting up Lecture Locations for 2009

Free Speaker Available
Dr. Dan Thibodeau, DC is a local member of The Foundation for Wellness Professionals. This is a national non-profit organization consisting of hundreds of volunteer doctors from around the country. They speak on various natural health related topics throughout their local communities. There is no cost for this service. Dr. Dan is currently setting up workshops for 2009.
He has presentations on common topics such as:

- The Secrets to Permanently Decreasing Allergies!
- New Solution for Accelerated Weight Loss: 9-Day Cleansing Program
- Natural Solutions to Digestive Problems.
- How to Finally Get a Good Night Sleep.
- A Drug Free Approach to Treating ADD and ADHD.
- The Five Secrets to Looking and Feeling Younger.
- How To Stay Healthy And Stress Free.
- A Drug Free Approach to Treating Fibromyalgia.
- Natural Approaches to Preventing and Handling Arthritic Pain.
- The Five Secrets to Permanent Weight Loss.
- True Facts About Auto Accidents.
- The Five Secrets to Preventing And Improving Type II Diabetes.
- The Truth About Balancing Female Hormones Revealed.
- Natural Solutions to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

To schedule a presentation for your business, group or organization, please contact
Dr. Thibodeau at 920-954-1002 or at drdan1221@yahoo.com