Rules to Guide Your Life by Dr. John Amaro, DC
On a bulletin board in my office, I have the following laws posted and have reviewed them daily for nearly 40 years. I am asked by patients and visitors a minimum of three to four times per week if they can have a copy. To read and study the following rules of life on a daily and weekly basis will, without question, positively impact your family, social life and practice.
Post these laws in a conspicuous place and read just one or two of them each morning. Do not try to intently study and focus on all of these laws daily. Take one law per day and focus on it for the entire day and evening. Once per week, read and review all the laws. Memorize them and make them an integral part of your life.
I first learned these laws in 1972 from one of my early mentors, a master of the martial arts and master of acupuncture in Kowloon, China. I can say without hesitation that each of these laws has made a major impact in my life, and I sincerely believe my practice and personal success would not have come as early as it did without these philosophies.
Lao Tzu has been credited with saying, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Best wishes on your life journey; you've taken the first step.
THE LAW OF CREATION: Whatever we think about and focus on, grows into reality. We create the situations we think about throughout the day. Think you will succeed, you will. Think you will fail, you will do that too. Focus on being sick, you end up creating the illness, focus on being healthy and vibrant, you create that as well. Think you are old, others will perceive you that way. Feel and think you are young, you will create that as well.
THE LAW OF ATTRACTION: We attract people, places, things and circumstances into our lives in direct proportion to our wants, needs and desires. People and situations come into our lives not by accident, but by our attraction and creation of the need.
THE LAW OF CONTROLLING OUR OWN LIFE: If we are not specifically controlling our own life and creating the circumstances which are necessary to meet our desires, we will become an instrument for others who do have control of their own life. We in essence will be used by others to meet their mission and destiny.
THE LAW OF RELAXATION: With physical laws, the harder we work, the more is accomplished. With mental laws, the more we relax, believe and expect to succeed with ease and confidence, the better the results.
THE LAW OF RECIPROCITY: Whatever we see in the universe sees us! Whatever attitudes, feelings, thoughts and desires we put out, regardless of if they are negative or positive, will always return to us.
THE LAW OF THE UNIVERSE (KARMA): Like the Law of Reciprocity, which deals with mental factors, the Law of Karma deals with physical manifestations. This law is what may affect our personal belongings, physical health and financial status. This law works both negatively or positively depending upon what we have put out in the universe.
THE LAW OF RETURN: Our rewards in life are in direct harmony with the value of our products, services or ideas. Very important!
THE LAW OF SUBSTITUTION: Consciously substitute all negative thoughts with positive ones immediately upon experiencing the negative thought. We can only experience one thought at any given time, therefore by substituting a positive for a negative, only positive will reach the subconscious.
THE LAW OF BELIEF: Whatever we believe with strong feelings becomes our reality. We are not limited by what we think we can do, but by what we think we can't do. Self-limitations are not based upon reality, but negative belief systems.
THE LAW OF PRESENT-TIME CONSCIOUSNESS: It is imperative that we live in the present as opposed to "tomorrow" or "yesterday." Preparing for tomorrow with righteous living and positive thoughts prepare us for what we will manifest; however, it is what we do today, right now (present-time consciousness) that is most important to achieve the rewards of life.
THE LAW OF PERSONAL GROWTH: "To become, act and feel as if." To become a successful practitioner, businessperson, parent, athlete, etc., act and feel as if you are already successful. The human spirit will act upon what it is given.
THE LAW OF EXPECTATION: We must know what it is we want to accomplish or obtain before the universe can manifest our desires. Most people don't know what they want due to unclear thinking and foggy mental vision.
THE LAW OF CLARITY: The clarity of our mind and thoughts is in direct proportion to the physical clutter in our lives. Take a look around you.
THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT: Within universal law, our thoughts are the cause; the conditions, either good or bad, are the effects. The outcome is totally dependent on our creation of thought. (See the LAW OF CREATION.)
THE LAW OF PERSEVERANCE: People who succeed never stop trying. People who stop trying, never succeed. You see it time and time again in life. Never stop trying and reach your dreams.
THE LAW OF FORGIVENESS: Forgiving all others is a necessary and effective purgative for a successful life. The law doesn't demand that we like the other person or situation, just that we forgive them and let go of the mental chains that entrap us.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Statin Drugs Actually Worsen Your Heart Function.
A study found that statin drugs are associated with decreased myocardial (heart muscle) function.
Statin use is known to be associated with myopathy, muscle weakness and rhabdomyolysis, a breakdown of muscle fibers resulting in the release of muscle fiber contents into the bloodstream. For the study, myocardial function was evaluated in 28 patients.
According to Green Med Info:
“There was significantly better function noted ... in the control group vs the statin group”.
The majority of people who use statin cholesterol-lowering drugs are doing so because they believe lowering their cholesterol will prevent heart attacks and strokes. How many of these people do you think would continue to take them if they knew these very same drugs have been linked to decreased heart muscle function and increased risk of stroke?
No one in their right mind?
The truth is, the usefulness of statin drugs has received tough scrutiny in recent months, and that scrutiny is well deserved. Take this study in Clinical Cardiology. It found that heart muscle function was "significantly better" in the control group (NOT taking the statin drug) compared to those taking statin drugs!
The researchers concluded:
"Statin therapy is associated with decreased myocardial [heart muscle] function."
What's often the end result when your heart muscle function is weakened or decreased? Heart failure!
How Statins May Actually Cause Heart Failure
The Clinical Cardiology study did not address causes, but it's widely known that statins lower your CoQ10 levels by blocking the pathway involved in cholesterol production -- the same pathway by which Q10 is produced. Statins also reduce the blood cholesterol that transports CoQ10 and other fat-soluble antioxidants. The loss of CoQ10 leads to loss of cell energy and increased free radicals which, in turn, can further damage your mitochondrial DNA, effectively setting into motion an evil circle of increasing free radicals and mitochondrial damage.
There are no official warnings in the U.S. regarding CoQ10 depletion from taking statin drugs, and many physicians fail to inform you about this problem as well. Labeling in Canada, however, clearly warns of CoQ10 depletion and even notes that this nutrient deficiency "could lead to impaired cardiac function in patients with borderline congestive heart failure." As your body gets more and more depleted of CoQ10, you may suffer from fatigue, muscle weakness and soreness, and eventually heart failure, so it is imperative if you take statin drugs that you take CoQ10.
Statins Fail Miserably at Heart Attack Prevention
Originally, statin drugs were prescribed for secondary prevention, meaning the prevention of a second heart attack or stroke if you'd already suffered one and had clear signs of heart disease. But today a majority of people taking the drugs are doing so for primary prevention, i.e. "preventive medicine" -- to help prevent people with certain risk factors of heart disease -- although otherwise healthy -- from having a heart attack or stroke in the first place.
This switch came largely as the result of the JUPITER study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008. It boasted that statin drugs could lower the risk of heart attack by 54 percent, the risk of stroke by 48 percent, the risk of needing angioplasty or bypass surgery by 46 percent, and the risk of death from all causes by 20 percent.
As you might suspect, the funding for this study came from Astra-Zeneca, the maker of statin drug Crestor -- and once again, we find that industry-funded claims of health benefits for highly profit-producing drugs need to be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism. Two years after the original study came out; three articles were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, refuting the claims by the industry-funded JUPITER study.
One of these studies titled Cholesterol lowering, cardiovascular diseases, and the rosuvastatin-JUPITER controversy: a critical reappraisal, carefully reviewed the methods and the results of the JUPITER trial and concluded that the trial was flawed and the results "do not support the use of statin treatment for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases …"
In addition, a second study, a meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials, found no evidence to back up the JUPITER trial claim that statins can reduce your risk of death when used as primary prevention against heart disease.
Increased Risk of Stroke, Serious Side Effects
Statin drugs are frequently prescribed like candy for tens of millions of Americans, but you need to think long and hard before deciding to take your physician up on this prescription, as they have very real, and very steep risks, and they are NOT right, nor safe, for everyone. Case in point, a new study found that statin drugs actually increase your risk of having a type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain if you've already had one before. Among such patients, the risk of a second stroke was 22 percent in those who took statins compared with 14 percent in those who did not.
There are two reasons why this might happen: the drugs may either lower your cholesterol too much, to the point that it increases your risk of brain bleeding, or they may affect clotting factors in your blood, increasing the bleeding risk.
At GreenMedInfo.com you can see 71 diseases that may be associated with these drugs, and this is only the tip of the iceberg. There are actually over 900 studies showing the risks of statin drugs, which include:
Cognitive loss Neuropathy Anemia
Acidosis Frequent fevers Cataracts
Sexual dysfunction An increase in cancer risk
Pancreatic dysfunction
Immune system suppression
Serious degenerative muscle tissue condition (rhabdomyolysis) Hepatic dysfunction. (Due to the potential increase in liver enzymes, patients must be monitored for normal liver function)
Oftentimes statins do not have any immediate side effects, and they are quite effective, capable of lowering cholesterol levels by 50 points or more. This makes it appear as though they're benefiting your health, and health problems that appear down the line are frequently not interpreted as a side effect of the drug, but rather as brand new, separate health problems.
But there's an ever-growing body of evidence showing that potentially serious side effects begin to manifest several months after the commencement of therapy. Further, according to a review published in the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs, adverse effects are dose dependent, and your health risks are also amplified by a number of factors, such as:
1) Drug interactions that increase statin potency, 2) Metabolic syndrome, 3) Thyroid disease, 4) Other genetic mutations linked to mitochondrial dysfunction
High blood pressure and diabetes are linked to higher rates of mitochondrial problems, so if you have either of these conditions your risk of statin complications increases. Additionally, since statins can cause progressive damage to your mitochondria over time, and your mitochondria tend to weaken with age anyway, new adverse effects can develop the longer you're on the drug.
Are You Taking a Statin for No Reason?
For certain individuals who are at very high risk of dying from a heart attack, statin drugs may be useful -- but this is only true if you have strong heart attack risk factors (NOT if you simply have "high" cholesterol levels). It is important to note that it is also not necessary for you to remain on the drug for the rest of your life. Once your cholesterol ratios have been optimized by a course of treatment on statins, you can safely go off them if you have changed your diet. So, odds are very high -- greater than 100 to 1 -- that if you're taking a statin, you don't really need it.
The only two subgroups that might benefit are:
• Those at very high risk of heart attack (based NOT on your cholesterol levels but on your heart attack risk factors)
• Those born with a genetic defect called familial hypercholesterolemia, as this makes you resistant to traditional measures of normalizing cholesterol
If you are not in one of those two categories, statin drugs are an unnecessary health risk you're better off avoiding -- and you definitely want to avoid the trap of taking them to lower your cholesterol when your cholesterol is actually well within a healthy range. I have seen a number of people with total cholesterol levels over 250 who were actually at low risk for heart disease due to their elevated HDL levels. Conversely, I have seen many people with cholesterol levels under 200 who had a very high risk of heart disease, based on their low HDL.
Further, if you take statin drugs unnecessarily, there's a good chance your cholesterol levels will become too low, which is dangerous since your body NEEDS cholesterol -- it is important in the production of cell membranes, hormones, vitamin D and bile acids that help you to digest fat. Cholesterol also helps your brain form memories and is vital to your neurological function. There is also strong evidence that having too little cholesterol INCREASES your risk for cancer, memory loss, Parkinson's disease, hormonal imbalances, stroke, depression, suicide, and violent behavior – so keeping your cholesterol high enough is important.
Do You Want to Optimize Your Cholesterol?
The goal of the tips below is not to necessarily lower your cholesterol as low as it can go; the goal is to optimize your levels so they're working in the proper balance with your body.
Seventy-five percent of your cholesterol is produced by your liver, which is influenced by your insulin levels. Therefore, if you optimize your insulin level, you will automatically optimize your cholesterol. This is why my primary strategies for optimizing your cholesterol have to do with modifying your diet and lifestyle:
• Reduce fructose, grains and sugars in your diet. It is especially important to eliminate dangerous sugars such as fructose, which is found in soda and most processed foods. If your HDL/Cholesterol ratio is abnormal and needs to be improved it would also serve you well to additionally eliminate fruits from your diet, as that is also a source of fructose.
Once your cholesterol improves you can gradually reintroduce fruits at levels that don't raise your cholesterol.
• Consume a good portion of your food raw.
• Make sure you are getting plenty of high quality, animal-based omega 3 fats, such as krill oil. Research suggests that as little as 500 mg of krill per day may lower your total cholesterol and triglycerides and will likely increase your HDL cholesterol.
• Eat the right foods for your nutritional type. Examples of heart-healthy foods and fats include olive oil, coconut and coconut oil, organic raw dairy products and eggs, avocados, raw nuts and seeds, and organic grass-fed meats as appropriate for your nutritional type.
• Exercise daily. Make sure you incorporate exercise, which also optimize your human growth hormone (HGH) production. When you exercise you increase your circulation and the blood flow throughout your body.
• Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol excessively.
• Be sure to get plenty of high-quality, restorative sleep.
Sources: mercola.com; Clinical Cardiology, December 2009; 8/18/11.
Statin use is known to be associated with myopathy, muscle weakness and rhabdomyolysis, a breakdown of muscle fibers resulting in the release of muscle fiber contents into the bloodstream. For the study, myocardial function was evaluated in 28 patients.
According to Green Med Info:
“There was significantly better function noted ... in the control group vs the statin group”.
The majority of people who use statin cholesterol-lowering drugs are doing so because they believe lowering their cholesterol will prevent heart attacks and strokes. How many of these people do you think would continue to take them if they knew these very same drugs have been linked to decreased heart muscle function and increased risk of stroke?
No one in their right mind?
The truth is, the usefulness of statin drugs has received tough scrutiny in recent months, and that scrutiny is well deserved. Take this study in Clinical Cardiology. It found that heart muscle function was "significantly better" in the control group (NOT taking the statin drug) compared to those taking statin drugs!
The researchers concluded:
"Statin therapy is associated with decreased myocardial [heart muscle] function."
What's often the end result when your heart muscle function is weakened or decreased? Heart failure!
How Statins May Actually Cause Heart Failure
The Clinical Cardiology study did not address causes, but it's widely known that statins lower your CoQ10 levels by blocking the pathway involved in cholesterol production -- the same pathway by which Q10 is produced. Statins also reduce the blood cholesterol that transports CoQ10 and other fat-soluble antioxidants. The loss of CoQ10 leads to loss of cell energy and increased free radicals which, in turn, can further damage your mitochondrial DNA, effectively setting into motion an evil circle of increasing free radicals and mitochondrial damage.
There are no official warnings in the U.S. regarding CoQ10 depletion from taking statin drugs, and many physicians fail to inform you about this problem as well. Labeling in Canada, however, clearly warns of CoQ10 depletion and even notes that this nutrient deficiency "could lead to impaired cardiac function in patients with borderline congestive heart failure." As your body gets more and more depleted of CoQ10, you may suffer from fatigue, muscle weakness and soreness, and eventually heart failure, so it is imperative if you take statin drugs that you take CoQ10.
Statins Fail Miserably at Heart Attack Prevention
Originally, statin drugs were prescribed for secondary prevention, meaning the prevention of a second heart attack or stroke if you'd already suffered one and had clear signs of heart disease. But today a majority of people taking the drugs are doing so for primary prevention, i.e. "preventive medicine" -- to help prevent people with certain risk factors of heart disease -- although otherwise healthy -- from having a heart attack or stroke in the first place.
This switch came largely as the result of the JUPITER study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008. It boasted that statin drugs could lower the risk of heart attack by 54 percent, the risk of stroke by 48 percent, the risk of needing angioplasty or bypass surgery by 46 percent, and the risk of death from all causes by 20 percent.
As you might suspect, the funding for this study came from Astra-Zeneca, the maker of statin drug Crestor -- and once again, we find that industry-funded claims of health benefits for highly profit-producing drugs need to be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism. Two years after the original study came out; three articles were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, refuting the claims by the industry-funded JUPITER study.
One of these studies titled Cholesterol lowering, cardiovascular diseases, and the rosuvastatin-JUPITER controversy: a critical reappraisal, carefully reviewed the methods and the results of the JUPITER trial and concluded that the trial was flawed and the results "do not support the use of statin treatment for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases …"
In addition, a second study, a meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials, found no evidence to back up the JUPITER trial claim that statins can reduce your risk of death when used as primary prevention against heart disease.
Increased Risk of Stroke, Serious Side Effects
Statin drugs are frequently prescribed like candy for tens of millions of Americans, but you need to think long and hard before deciding to take your physician up on this prescription, as they have very real, and very steep risks, and they are NOT right, nor safe, for everyone. Case in point, a new study found that statin drugs actually increase your risk of having a type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain if you've already had one before. Among such patients, the risk of a second stroke was 22 percent in those who took statins compared with 14 percent in those who did not.
There are two reasons why this might happen: the drugs may either lower your cholesterol too much, to the point that it increases your risk of brain bleeding, or they may affect clotting factors in your blood, increasing the bleeding risk.
At GreenMedInfo.com you can see 71 diseases that may be associated with these drugs, and this is only the tip of the iceberg. There are actually over 900 studies showing the risks of statin drugs, which include:
Cognitive loss Neuropathy Anemia
Acidosis Frequent fevers Cataracts
Sexual dysfunction An increase in cancer risk
Pancreatic dysfunction
Immune system suppression
Serious degenerative muscle tissue condition (rhabdomyolysis) Hepatic dysfunction. (Due to the potential increase in liver enzymes, patients must be monitored for normal liver function)
Oftentimes statins do not have any immediate side effects, and they are quite effective, capable of lowering cholesterol levels by 50 points or more. This makes it appear as though they're benefiting your health, and health problems that appear down the line are frequently not interpreted as a side effect of the drug, but rather as brand new, separate health problems.
But there's an ever-growing body of evidence showing that potentially serious side effects begin to manifest several months after the commencement of therapy. Further, according to a review published in the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs, adverse effects are dose dependent, and your health risks are also amplified by a number of factors, such as:
1) Drug interactions that increase statin potency, 2) Metabolic syndrome, 3) Thyroid disease, 4) Other genetic mutations linked to mitochondrial dysfunction
High blood pressure and diabetes are linked to higher rates of mitochondrial problems, so if you have either of these conditions your risk of statin complications increases. Additionally, since statins can cause progressive damage to your mitochondria over time, and your mitochondria tend to weaken with age anyway, new adverse effects can develop the longer you're on the drug.
Are You Taking a Statin for No Reason?
For certain individuals who are at very high risk of dying from a heart attack, statin drugs may be useful -- but this is only true if you have strong heart attack risk factors (NOT if you simply have "high" cholesterol levels). It is important to note that it is also not necessary for you to remain on the drug for the rest of your life. Once your cholesterol ratios have been optimized by a course of treatment on statins, you can safely go off them if you have changed your diet. So, odds are very high -- greater than 100 to 1 -- that if you're taking a statin, you don't really need it.
The only two subgroups that might benefit are:
• Those at very high risk of heart attack (based NOT on your cholesterol levels but on your heart attack risk factors)
• Those born with a genetic defect called familial hypercholesterolemia, as this makes you resistant to traditional measures of normalizing cholesterol
If you are not in one of those two categories, statin drugs are an unnecessary health risk you're better off avoiding -- and you definitely want to avoid the trap of taking them to lower your cholesterol when your cholesterol is actually well within a healthy range. I have seen a number of people with total cholesterol levels over 250 who were actually at low risk for heart disease due to their elevated HDL levels. Conversely, I have seen many people with cholesterol levels under 200 who had a very high risk of heart disease, based on their low HDL.
Further, if you take statin drugs unnecessarily, there's a good chance your cholesterol levels will become too low, which is dangerous since your body NEEDS cholesterol -- it is important in the production of cell membranes, hormones, vitamin D and bile acids that help you to digest fat. Cholesterol also helps your brain form memories and is vital to your neurological function. There is also strong evidence that having too little cholesterol INCREASES your risk for cancer, memory loss, Parkinson's disease, hormonal imbalances, stroke, depression, suicide, and violent behavior – so keeping your cholesterol high enough is important.
Do You Want to Optimize Your Cholesterol?
The goal of the tips below is not to necessarily lower your cholesterol as low as it can go; the goal is to optimize your levels so they're working in the proper balance with your body.
Seventy-five percent of your cholesterol is produced by your liver, which is influenced by your insulin levels. Therefore, if you optimize your insulin level, you will automatically optimize your cholesterol. This is why my primary strategies for optimizing your cholesterol have to do with modifying your diet and lifestyle:
• Reduce fructose, grains and sugars in your diet. It is especially important to eliminate dangerous sugars such as fructose, which is found in soda and most processed foods. If your HDL/Cholesterol ratio is abnormal and needs to be improved it would also serve you well to additionally eliminate fruits from your diet, as that is also a source of fructose.
Once your cholesterol improves you can gradually reintroduce fruits at levels that don't raise your cholesterol.
• Consume a good portion of your food raw.
• Make sure you are getting plenty of high quality, animal-based omega 3 fats, such as krill oil. Research suggests that as little as 500 mg of krill per day may lower your total cholesterol and triglycerides and will likely increase your HDL cholesterol.
• Eat the right foods for your nutritional type. Examples of heart-healthy foods and fats include olive oil, coconut and coconut oil, organic raw dairy products and eggs, avocados, raw nuts and seeds, and organic grass-fed meats as appropriate for your nutritional type.
• Exercise daily. Make sure you incorporate exercise, which also optimize your human growth hormone (HGH) production. When you exercise you increase your circulation and the blood flow throughout your body.
• Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol excessively.
• Be sure to get plenty of high-quality, restorative sleep.
Sources: mercola.com; Clinical Cardiology, December 2009; 8/18/11.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Obesity Surgery Even Worse Than Thought
A study has found that nearly half of a group of patients who received gastric band surgery for weight loss over ten years ago had the bands removed because of medical complications. The study is the first to track laparoscopic gastric band surgery outcomes over a long period. The bands eroded in almost a third of the patients, and sixty percent went on to undergo additional weight loss surgery in spite of the bands.
According to the New York Times:
"Researchers concluded that the adjustable gastric band surgery, which is growing in popularity in the United States, 'appears to result in relatively poor long-term outcomes.' The results 'are worse than we expected,' said Dr. Jacques Himpens ... lead author of the new study."
Furthermore, significant bone loss has been shown to occur in teens receiving gastric bypass surgery, the same result that occurs in adults receiving this more invasive type of stomach surgery. Researchers took bone density measurements every three months for two years after the teen's surgeries and according to USA Today found that:
"Two years after the surgery, the bone mineral content of the 61 obese teens studied had declined, on average, by 7.4 percent."
However gastric banding is not the magic bullet panacea that it is being promoted as. There are powerful forces at work that motivate those who struggle with obesity to consider this option. There is no question that it is occasionally effective but at what price? Since NO ONE was ever designed to have their gut artificially shortened, there are inevitable damages that occur in everyone undergoing this procedure. So the question becomes a risk/benefit analysis. We make these types of judgments every day and some risky procedures are worth it. We all know that we can die when we travel by plane or auto yet most of us are willing to take that risk. However when you carefully examine the complications I review below, it is hard to imagine any rational individual ever choosing these procedures. The results of the first ever long-term gastric banding study are now in, and they are not promising.
Over a third of the adults receiving the surgery experience eroding bands, while a whopping 60 percent need additional surgery to address their weight problems.
Gastric Banding Surgery up Ten-Fold Since 2000
Gastric banding, known as the Lap Band, has increased in popularity for two main reasons.
• First, the number of obese Americans has now surpassed the number of merely overweight Americans, which brings the total number of either overweight or obese to almost three quarters of the American population. And the increase is seen mostly in the number of obese people, according to the National Center for Health Statistics:
"Although the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled since 1980, the prevalence of overweight has remained stable over the same time period."
• Secondly on February 16, 2011 the FDA approved lowering the BMI (body mass index) to qualify for health care-covered gastric banding surgery from 40 to 30 if health related conditions are present.
Remember it's hard to sustain a BMI of 30 for very long without exposing yourself to "health related conditions" like sleep apnea, GERD, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and certain cancers. A BMI of 30 is the minimum threshold to qualify as obese. So in other words, the requirements for this surgery have changed from morbidly obese to just barely obese, resulting in millions of more Americans qualifying for health care-covered gastric banding surgery. Gastric bypass surgery, on the other hand, is both more invasive and still available only for the morbidly obese (those with a BMI of 40 or higher).
Gastric Bypass and Gastric Banding Surgeries are NOT Normal
Gastric bypass refers to creating a small thumb-size pouch in the upper stomach which connects directly to the small intestine, thereby bypassing the majority of the stomach and leading to a greatly reduced stomach size. It is the more invasive procedure of the two surgeries, but less widely performed due to increased BMI requirements to qualify for insurance coverage.
Gastric banding refers to a surgery that inserts an inflatable silicone band into your stomach to create a smaller stomach size. Short-term, these procedures usually do produce significantly greater weight loss compared to lifestyle modification.
Both procedures limit the amount of food you can consume, and the rapid weight loss is clearly the natural effect of this forced starvation produced by the smaller stomach size. But in exchange for this rapid weight loss, the health risks are VERY high, and long-term safety and effectiveness according to the featured article above are "worse than expected".
Some of the side-effects listed on Lapbandsurgeryfaq.com can include:
Vomiting- A common side effect. Due to overeating or eating large chunky food. Eating in a hurry or drinking water on an empty stomach can cause this. The important thing is it results with lap band slippage and slippage can cause hospitalization or re-operation. Nausea is also common.
Gastro esophageal reflux- Often a problem of an eating disorder. When you lay down after eating you may experience heart burn. This may be caused due to tightness of lap band system.
Difficulty swallowing- This is the problem of passing food from mouth to stomach. This results with reflux and vomiting.
Constipation- This is also a normal lap band surgery side effect. Happens due to the liquid food eaten.
Stomach obstruction- If your lap band is not placed at correct position then you can have an obstruction of the stomach opening. This problem has been reported by almost 14% of banders.
Esophageal dilation- This happens after the enlargement of the esophagus. This means your pouch becomes too large and there is the problem of pushing food by the esophagus. As a result you can have bleeding, perforation, painful swallowing, heart burn etc.
Gallstones—Gallstones can form and cause abdominal pain with indigestion and vomiting because of rapid weight loss.
Gastric perforation- Tearing of stomach wall. As a result of this, food comes of your stomach. It may cause infection or other severe problem. It may require transplantation, otherwise repair is also an option.
Pancreatitis- enlargement of the pancreas. You can have breathing problems, bacterial infection etc.
Lap band slippage—lap band may slip from its place due to any reason like vomiting and this can result in hospitalization and re-operation.
Other possible lap band surgery side-effects include diarrhea, hair loss and protein deficiency, rejection of lap band by your body, infection, band erosion, leakage from the balloon, esophageal dilatation, and pouch dilatation.
Besides all of these side-effects, a third of the adults in the study featured above had the band erode and 60 percent needed additional surgery. So a third of the time the band becomes non-functional and over half of the time further surgery is needed. Not exactly an inspirational long-term performance record, is it?
Death Can Result from Gastric Banding or Gastric Bypass
Would you be willing to trade your life for the possibility of losing weight? This is a serious question as both of these surgeries can lead to death.
As stated directly on Lap-Band's safety information page:
"You should know that death is one of the risks. It can occur any time during the operation. It can also occur as a result of the operation. Death can occur despite all the precautions that are taken."
What else is buried on the Lap-Band safety page? Disclaimers letting you know that along with the laundry list of possible complications, there's a chance you may not lose any weight at all:
"Complications can cause reduced weight loss. They can also cause weight gain … It is possible you may not lose much weight or any weight at all."
So weight loss surgery, which includes gastric banding and the more invasive gastric bypass, may seem like a simple quick fix, but they are NOT a safe solution because of the many negative long-term health consequences inherent with both of these surgical options. Over 40 percent of weight loss surgeries result in major complications within six months, including black-outs, malnutrition, infection, kidney stones, bowel and gallbladder problems, liver failure, and, again, an increased risk of death. All surgeries have inherent risks, but bariatric surgeries seem to have a much higher ratio of complications. In fact, you are far more likely to suffer an adverse event from these types of surgeries than not.
A More Natural Approach to Weight Loss
Lifestyle modification is the more natural way to address your weight loss concerns since it more permanently treats the source of the problem rather than using a surgically inserted Band-Aid to curb overeating. Addressing your diet and lifestyle without surgery is also much safer, and in the long run, much more effective, as this option will not present you with all of the risks of side-effects and complications that accompany these surgeries, not to mention the "worse than expected" outcomes. While exercise is crucial for everyone seeking to control their weight it plays a variable role in its important. For those that are massively overweight the single most important element will be the foods that are selected. So don't expect doing two to three hours of cardio will work miracles, it, won't. You have to focus on food first.
Fasting and using freshly squeezed organic green vegetable juices are two of the more powerful interventions to rapidly normalize your weight. Other healthy lifestyle tips that will help you to reach your ideal weight naturally requires just three basic steps:
• Eat a healthy diet that's right for your nutritional type, paying very careful attention to keeping your insulin levels down, primarily by avoiding fructose as much as possible. When you eat for your nutritional type, you eat the foods that are right for your biochemistry, and these are the foods that will push your body toward its ideal weight. A healthy diet means eliminating soda and processed junk foods, along with eating non-GMO and organic options whenever possible. Again, organic green vegetable juicing and fasting are key elements when seeking to lower large amounts of weight.
• View exercise as a drug. When you're trying to lose weight, a casual walk here and there is not going to cut it. There are a number of routes you can go here, but ideally, you need to exercise each and every day. It is simply impossible to optimize your health and weight without regular exercise. Fortunately, there's a highly effective exercise strategy that can dramatically reduce your workout time and maximize your weight loss; it's called Peak Fitness.
• Manage your stress. Tools like the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) are your friend and ally when it comes to losing weight. For some, emotional eating is more complex and an experienced EFT practitioner may be able to help unravel some of your deeper emotional issues that are impacting your weight.
As you naturally start to shed your unwanted pounds by following this healthier lifestyle, you will be stepping into a future with a greatly reduced risk of all the degenerative diseases that are linked to being overweight and obese, giving you a greater chance at a longer life to enjoy your newfound optimal health.
Sources:
New York Times, Archives of Surgery, USA Today, Pediatrics, mercola.com; 6/19/2011
According to the New York Times:
"Researchers concluded that the adjustable gastric band surgery, which is growing in popularity in the United States, 'appears to result in relatively poor long-term outcomes.' The results 'are worse than we expected,' said Dr. Jacques Himpens ... lead author of the new study."
Furthermore, significant bone loss has been shown to occur in teens receiving gastric bypass surgery, the same result that occurs in adults receiving this more invasive type of stomach surgery. Researchers took bone density measurements every three months for two years after the teen's surgeries and according to USA Today found that:
"Two years after the surgery, the bone mineral content of the 61 obese teens studied had declined, on average, by 7.4 percent."
However gastric banding is not the magic bullet panacea that it is being promoted as. There are powerful forces at work that motivate those who struggle with obesity to consider this option. There is no question that it is occasionally effective but at what price? Since NO ONE was ever designed to have their gut artificially shortened, there are inevitable damages that occur in everyone undergoing this procedure. So the question becomes a risk/benefit analysis. We make these types of judgments every day and some risky procedures are worth it. We all know that we can die when we travel by plane or auto yet most of us are willing to take that risk. However when you carefully examine the complications I review below, it is hard to imagine any rational individual ever choosing these procedures. The results of the first ever long-term gastric banding study are now in, and they are not promising.
Over a third of the adults receiving the surgery experience eroding bands, while a whopping 60 percent need additional surgery to address their weight problems.
Gastric Banding Surgery up Ten-Fold Since 2000
Gastric banding, known as the Lap Band, has increased in popularity for two main reasons.
• First, the number of obese Americans has now surpassed the number of merely overweight Americans, which brings the total number of either overweight or obese to almost three quarters of the American population. And the increase is seen mostly in the number of obese people, according to the National Center for Health Statistics:
"Although the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled since 1980, the prevalence of overweight has remained stable over the same time period."
• Secondly on February 16, 2011 the FDA approved lowering the BMI (body mass index) to qualify for health care-covered gastric banding surgery from 40 to 30 if health related conditions are present.
Remember it's hard to sustain a BMI of 30 for very long without exposing yourself to "health related conditions" like sleep apnea, GERD, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and certain cancers. A BMI of 30 is the minimum threshold to qualify as obese. So in other words, the requirements for this surgery have changed from morbidly obese to just barely obese, resulting in millions of more Americans qualifying for health care-covered gastric banding surgery. Gastric bypass surgery, on the other hand, is both more invasive and still available only for the morbidly obese (those with a BMI of 40 or higher).
Gastric Bypass and Gastric Banding Surgeries are NOT Normal
Gastric bypass refers to creating a small thumb-size pouch in the upper stomach which connects directly to the small intestine, thereby bypassing the majority of the stomach and leading to a greatly reduced stomach size. It is the more invasive procedure of the two surgeries, but less widely performed due to increased BMI requirements to qualify for insurance coverage.
Gastric banding refers to a surgery that inserts an inflatable silicone band into your stomach to create a smaller stomach size. Short-term, these procedures usually do produce significantly greater weight loss compared to lifestyle modification.
Both procedures limit the amount of food you can consume, and the rapid weight loss is clearly the natural effect of this forced starvation produced by the smaller stomach size. But in exchange for this rapid weight loss, the health risks are VERY high, and long-term safety and effectiveness according to the featured article above are "worse than expected".
Some of the side-effects listed on Lapbandsurgeryfaq.com can include:
Vomiting- A common side effect. Due to overeating or eating large chunky food. Eating in a hurry or drinking water on an empty stomach can cause this. The important thing is it results with lap band slippage and slippage can cause hospitalization or re-operation. Nausea is also common.
Gastro esophageal reflux- Often a problem of an eating disorder. When you lay down after eating you may experience heart burn. This may be caused due to tightness of lap band system.
Difficulty swallowing- This is the problem of passing food from mouth to stomach. This results with reflux and vomiting.
Constipation- This is also a normal lap band surgery side effect. Happens due to the liquid food eaten.
Stomach obstruction- If your lap band is not placed at correct position then you can have an obstruction of the stomach opening. This problem has been reported by almost 14% of banders.
Esophageal dilation- This happens after the enlargement of the esophagus. This means your pouch becomes too large and there is the problem of pushing food by the esophagus. As a result you can have bleeding, perforation, painful swallowing, heart burn etc.
Gallstones—Gallstones can form and cause abdominal pain with indigestion and vomiting because of rapid weight loss.
Gastric perforation- Tearing of stomach wall. As a result of this, food comes of your stomach. It may cause infection or other severe problem. It may require transplantation, otherwise repair is also an option.
Pancreatitis- enlargement of the pancreas. You can have breathing problems, bacterial infection etc.
Lap band slippage—lap band may slip from its place due to any reason like vomiting and this can result in hospitalization and re-operation.
Other possible lap band surgery side-effects include diarrhea, hair loss and protein deficiency, rejection of lap band by your body, infection, band erosion, leakage from the balloon, esophageal dilatation, and pouch dilatation.
Besides all of these side-effects, a third of the adults in the study featured above had the band erode and 60 percent needed additional surgery. So a third of the time the band becomes non-functional and over half of the time further surgery is needed. Not exactly an inspirational long-term performance record, is it?
Death Can Result from Gastric Banding or Gastric Bypass
Would you be willing to trade your life for the possibility of losing weight? This is a serious question as both of these surgeries can lead to death.
As stated directly on Lap-Band's safety information page:
"You should know that death is one of the risks. It can occur any time during the operation. It can also occur as a result of the operation. Death can occur despite all the precautions that are taken."
What else is buried on the Lap-Band safety page? Disclaimers letting you know that along with the laundry list of possible complications, there's a chance you may not lose any weight at all:
"Complications can cause reduced weight loss. They can also cause weight gain … It is possible you may not lose much weight or any weight at all."
So weight loss surgery, which includes gastric banding and the more invasive gastric bypass, may seem like a simple quick fix, but they are NOT a safe solution because of the many negative long-term health consequences inherent with both of these surgical options. Over 40 percent of weight loss surgeries result in major complications within six months, including black-outs, malnutrition, infection, kidney stones, bowel and gallbladder problems, liver failure, and, again, an increased risk of death. All surgeries have inherent risks, but bariatric surgeries seem to have a much higher ratio of complications. In fact, you are far more likely to suffer an adverse event from these types of surgeries than not.
A More Natural Approach to Weight Loss
Lifestyle modification is the more natural way to address your weight loss concerns since it more permanently treats the source of the problem rather than using a surgically inserted Band-Aid to curb overeating. Addressing your diet and lifestyle without surgery is also much safer, and in the long run, much more effective, as this option will not present you with all of the risks of side-effects and complications that accompany these surgeries, not to mention the "worse than expected" outcomes. While exercise is crucial for everyone seeking to control their weight it plays a variable role in its important. For those that are massively overweight the single most important element will be the foods that are selected. So don't expect doing two to three hours of cardio will work miracles, it, won't. You have to focus on food first.
Fasting and using freshly squeezed organic green vegetable juices are two of the more powerful interventions to rapidly normalize your weight. Other healthy lifestyle tips that will help you to reach your ideal weight naturally requires just three basic steps:
• Eat a healthy diet that's right for your nutritional type, paying very careful attention to keeping your insulin levels down, primarily by avoiding fructose as much as possible. When you eat for your nutritional type, you eat the foods that are right for your biochemistry, and these are the foods that will push your body toward its ideal weight. A healthy diet means eliminating soda and processed junk foods, along with eating non-GMO and organic options whenever possible. Again, organic green vegetable juicing and fasting are key elements when seeking to lower large amounts of weight.
• View exercise as a drug. When you're trying to lose weight, a casual walk here and there is not going to cut it. There are a number of routes you can go here, but ideally, you need to exercise each and every day. It is simply impossible to optimize your health and weight without regular exercise. Fortunately, there's a highly effective exercise strategy that can dramatically reduce your workout time and maximize your weight loss; it's called Peak Fitness.
• Manage your stress. Tools like the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) are your friend and ally when it comes to losing weight. For some, emotional eating is more complex and an experienced EFT practitioner may be able to help unravel some of your deeper emotional issues that are impacting your weight.
As you naturally start to shed your unwanted pounds by following this healthier lifestyle, you will be stepping into a future with a greatly reduced risk of all the degenerative diseases that are linked to being overweight and obese, giving you a greater chance at a longer life to enjoy your newfound optimal health.
Sources:
New York Times, Archives of Surgery, USA Today, Pediatrics, mercola.com; 6/19/2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Bone Strengthening Drugs Cause Fractures!
Orthopedic surgeons and bone specialists have been seeing an increasing number of unusual fractures among long-term users of bisphosphonate bone-strengthening drugs such as Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva and Reclast.
The latest and largest study suggests that women who've been on bisphosphonates for more than five years have a nearly three times higher risk of these fractures. Since tens of millions of women take bisphosphonates, this suggests thousands of them may suffer devastating atypical fractures every year.
According to NPR:
"... [A] growing number of experts agree ... that the risk of such fractures should discourage premature use of the drugs... [T]he take-home message is: Don't start one of these drugs too early ... [and[ don't stay on one of these drugs longer than necessary."
For 15 years women have been able to take a class of drugs called biphosphonates, which are marketed directly to consumers as a so-called treatment for osteoporosis. While the drugs do show some short-term effectiveness at preventing hip fractures in severe cases of osteoporosis, multiple studies are now beginning to point to the drugs causing some unusual bone problems in many older women. Researchers state these unusual bone problems are rare, but with millions of more women beginning to reach the age when these drugs are commonly prescribed (as the baby boom generation turns grey), perhaps these rare effects are now in danger of becoming quite common. I believe this is another classic illustration of the failed drug model. Once again, this is an instance of pills being over-prescribed, mainly through the direct-to-consumer marketing, resulting in increasing unnecessary risks for the majority of people taking these drugs, and especially in people taking these drugs longer than five years.
Also, as so often happens with pharmaceutical drugs in the US, the FDA allows them to be sold on the market before they are actually proven to be safe! Only later, when large-scale problems start to get reported in the media, are the drugs re-evaluated for safety, and often the new studies citing problems with drugs are done by a third-party unrelated to the drug manufacturers or the FDA (never by the FDA itself, because the FDA is loathe to interfere with its drug-company-client-partner profits). This is part of the broken health care model currently in effect in the US, where the FDA sees its mission as rushing drugs to market for maximum profits for corporations (it's said drug companies lose one to two million dollars for every day that a drug is kept off the market!), instead of thoroughly evaluating a new drug or new class of drugs for safety in order to protect the public.
What are Biophosphonates and What Does the New Study Say about Them?
Loss of bone mass is one of the common signs of aging, because as you age your existing bone is absorbed by your body while new bone is created to replace it. But in the case of osteoporosis, the formation of new bone falls behind the rate of bone absorption, leading to weakened, thinner and more brittle bones. A thinning hipbone is a major concern if you are elderly, because any fall increases the risk of a broken hip, which always carries a great risk of complications and usually requires prolonged specialized care for recovery. It's estimated that 25% of elderly people suffering a hip fracture die as a direct result.
Biphosphonates are branded and marketed under these names: Aredia, Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel, Zometa and Aclasta
Non-nitrogenous versions that work through a different cellular mechanism are branded and sold under these names: Didronel, Bonefos, Loron, Ostac and Skelid
All these different marketing names belong to the class known as biphosphonates. But these drugs may not be the magic bullet for thinning bones that the drug companies would lead you to believe. The new study above found that women taking biphosphonates for five years or longer actually showed signs of having weaker femurs. Taking this drug long-term you have about a three times greater risk of suffering a very unusual fracture either at the socket connecting the femur to the hip, or in the upper femur itself (which is usually the strongest part of the bone).
More Women Hurt than Helped by these Drugs
This means that for every woman gaining a benefit in their hips from taking a biphosphonate for a short-term, there are many more women out there in danger of weakening their femur bones as a result taking this class of drugs long-term. The problem is, thanks to the drug companies' multi-million dollar PR campaigns, many doctors AND the public today believe this class of drugs should be given even before bone density starts dropping, meaning the vast majority of women currently taking biphosphonates are beginning them too early, and staying on them too long. Experts are beginning to agree that only women with documented osteoporosis should even consider taking these drugs, and not stay on them for a very long duration if they do use them. But will the treatment of osteoporosis now change thanks to this new study and studies like it that have been appearing for the last few years?
It's not likely, because the drug companies usually let nothing stand in the way of their profits.
Although the FDA has already included a warning against long-term use on the label of these drugs, the direct-to-consumer marketing continues unabated, ensuring that many older women will show up at their doctor's office demanding a prescription for the drug that they mistakenly believe will strengthen their bones with little risk of ill effects, since nothing in the advertisement mentions long-term risks associated with biphosphonates.
Although the advertisement does mention (because they are forced to by law) some disturbing potential side effects, including: Difficult or painful swallowing, Chest pain, Severe or continuing heartburn, Severe joint, bone or muscle pain
Other side effects, listed by WebMD include: Abdominal pain, and irritation of the esophagus, Headache and pain in muscles and joints, Constipation, diarrhea, and increased gas (flatulence), Allergic reactions
Other Problems Associated with Biphosphonates
Some media reports have indicated that biphosphonates have been associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), also called "jaw death". ONJ occurs when your jawbone is weakened to the point that it "is no longer alive", because unlike other bones in your body there is a limited supply of blood to the jaw, which is not sufficient to grow new bone. And this class of drugs is reported to permanently weaken the jawbone, leading to a chronic, painful, and disastrous outcome. According to a study in The Journal of Endodontics:
"There are an increasing number of reports of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws that have substantial implications for the patient and for the treating dentist."
That is quite an understatement if you are no longer able to use your jaw to chew your food!
Another study involving cancer patients indicates that as many as 1 in 10 women taking biophosphonates will develop this jaw problem. So, a potential 10 percent chance of having your jaw "die" as a result of taking this medication is clearly a cause for alarm if you don't already have a fairly serious case of osteoporosis. But that's not all, another study has linked biphosphonates to an increased risk of erratic heart rhythms, called atrial fibrillation. Also a 2010 study suggests that the risk of oesophageal cancer increased with 10 or more prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates and with prescriptions over about a five-year period. This same study also cites research stating:
"Adverse gastrointestinal effects are common among people who take oral bisphosphonates for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis; they range from dyspepsia, nausea, and abdominal pain to erosive oesophagitis and oesophageal ulcers."
How to Reduce your Risk of Osteoporosis
Prevention, once again, is a much preferable route than trying to "cure" osteoporosis symptoms with the drug companies' offerings, so here are some top ways you can reduce your risk of having to deal with osteoporosis in the first place: Optimize your vitamin D levels, Avoid processed foods and artificial sweeteners, Increase your Omega 3 intake, Get some exercise, including weight-bearing exercise like resistance training, Women should always maintain healthy levels of estrogen, Avoid steroidal drugs.
The Truth about Osteoporosis and Calcium Deficiency
I'm sure you've heard that the cause of osteoporosis and the key to its prevention revolve around calcium, right? Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Dr. Robert Thompson, M.D., wrote an entire book on this subject called, The Calcium Lie, which explains that bone is comprised of at least a dozen minerals and the exclusive focus on calcium supplementation is likely to worsen bone density and increase your risk of developing osteoporosis! As mentioned in this previous article, Dr. Thompson recommends the use of unprocessed salt as a far healthier alternative to calcium supplementation. I recommend using Himalayan salt as it is an excellent way to feed your body the trace minerals it needs to function optimally.
Steer Clear of Steroids
According to a study done at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, there is a strong link between osteoporosis and the use of steroids," so says senior author Steven L. Teitelbaum, M.D., Messing Professor of Pathology and Immunology:
"High-dose cortisone is the second most common cause of osteoporosis, and we currently have no real treatment for this serious side effect. Given how frequently these drugs are used to treat many different conditions, that's a major clinical problem."
The conclusion of the study revealed that although the steroid cortisone appears to inhibit the ability of osteoclasts to dismantle old bones in genetically normal mice, the inability of the skeletal structure to renew itself may cause bones to weaken dramatically from aging and stress.
Other Foods that Lead to Bone Loss
Processed and fast foods are the worst stuff you can put into your body. In order for your body to function optimally. Processed foods such as potato chips, French fries, microwaveable "meals", soda and candy contain very little nutrients and are chock full of undigestible fats and dangerous additives such as high fructose corn syrup, aspartame and preservatives. When cooking, I advise you to avoid most all omega-6 based oils such as corn, safflower or soy oil. These oils are loaded with highly processed, damaged omega 6 fats, which contribute to inflammation in your body. Instead, I recommend using healthful olive- and coconut oils.
Prevent Bone Loss with Appropriate Sunshine Exposure
The health benefits of vitamin D cannot be overstressed. An alarming number of people in the United States are vitamin D deficient, and vitamin D deficiency can lead to a host of health problems, including osteoporosis. Despite what you may have heard, appropriate sunshine exposure is not bad for you. It is healthy and necessary. Just 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure per day can make a dramatic improvement in your health, and appropriate sun exposure is the ideal way to maintain your vitamin D levels in the optimal range.
Exercise to Prevent Bone Loss
Remember that bone is living tissue that requires regular physical activity in order to renew and rebuild itself. Peak bone mass is achieved in adulthood and then begins a slow decline. Exercise is very important in maintaining healthy bone mass. Weight-bearing exercise is one of the most effective remedies against osteoporosis. Your bones are actually very porous and soft, and as you get older, your bones can easily become less dense and hence, more brittle. Especially if you are inactive. Resistance training can combat this effect because as you put more tension on your muscles it puts more pressure on your bones, which then respond by continuously creating fresh, new bone. In addition, as you build more muscle, and make the muscle that you already have stronger, you also put more constant pressure on your bones.
Osteoporosis in Men
Here is something about osteoporosis in men you may not have realized: Men over the age of 50 are at greater risk for developing osteoporosis than prostate cancer. Men develop this disease because of a condition called hypogonadism, which may lead to shrinking in height by several inches. Risk factors in men include: Alcoholism, Obesity, Smoking, Gastrointestinal disorders, Sedentary lifestyle, Lack of sunlight exposure
Men with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, emphysema, Crohn's disease, herniated disks, and autoimmune disease taking steroids such as prednisone or cortisone are increasing their risk of developing osteoporosis that much further.
Sources: NPR, The Journal of American Medicine; May, 21 2011.
The latest and largest study suggests that women who've been on bisphosphonates for more than five years have a nearly three times higher risk of these fractures. Since tens of millions of women take bisphosphonates, this suggests thousands of them may suffer devastating atypical fractures every year.
According to NPR:
"... [A] growing number of experts agree ... that the risk of such fractures should discourage premature use of the drugs... [T]he take-home message is: Don't start one of these drugs too early ... [and[ don't stay on one of these drugs longer than necessary."
For 15 years women have been able to take a class of drugs called biphosphonates, which are marketed directly to consumers as a so-called treatment for osteoporosis. While the drugs do show some short-term effectiveness at preventing hip fractures in severe cases of osteoporosis, multiple studies are now beginning to point to the drugs causing some unusual bone problems in many older women. Researchers state these unusual bone problems are rare, but with millions of more women beginning to reach the age when these drugs are commonly prescribed (as the baby boom generation turns grey), perhaps these rare effects are now in danger of becoming quite common. I believe this is another classic illustration of the failed drug model. Once again, this is an instance of pills being over-prescribed, mainly through the direct-to-consumer marketing, resulting in increasing unnecessary risks for the majority of people taking these drugs, and especially in people taking these drugs longer than five years.
Also, as so often happens with pharmaceutical drugs in the US, the FDA allows them to be sold on the market before they are actually proven to be safe! Only later, when large-scale problems start to get reported in the media, are the drugs re-evaluated for safety, and often the new studies citing problems with drugs are done by a third-party unrelated to the drug manufacturers or the FDA (never by the FDA itself, because the FDA is loathe to interfere with its drug-company-client-partner profits). This is part of the broken health care model currently in effect in the US, where the FDA sees its mission as rushing drugs to market for maximum profits for corporations (it's said drug companies lose one to two million dollars for every day that a drug is kept off the market!), instead of thoroughly evaluating a new drug or new class of drugs for safety in order to protect the public.
What are Biophosphonates and What Does the New Study Say about Them?
Loss of bone mass is one of the common signs of aging, because as you age your existing bone is absorbed by your body while new bone is created to replace it. But in the case of osteoporosis, the formation of new bone falls behind the rate of bone absorption, leading to weakened, thinner and more brittle bones. A thinning hipbone is a major concern if you are elderly, because any fall increases the risk of a broken hip, which always carries a great risk of complications and usually requires prolonged specialized care for recovery. It's estimated that 25% of elderly people suffering a hip fracture die as a direct result.
Biphosphonates are branded and marketed under these names: Aredia, Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel, Zometa and Aclasta
Non-nitrogenous versions that work through a different cellular mechanism are branded and sold under these names: Didronel, Bonefos, Loron, Ostac and Skelid
All these different marketing names belong to the class known as biphosphonates. But these drugs may not be the magic bullet for thinning bones that the drug companies would lead you to believe. The new study above found that women taking biphosphonates for five years or longer actually showed signs of having weaker femurs. Taking this drug long-term you have about a three times greater risk of suffering a very unusual fracture either at the socket connecting the femur to the hip, or in the upper femur itself (which is usually the strongest part of the bone).
More Women Hurt than Helped by these Drugs
This means that for every woman gaining a benefit in their hips from taking a biphosphonate for a short-term, there are many more women out there in danger of weakening their femur bones as a result taking this class of drugs long-term. The problem is, thanks to the drug companies' multi-million dollar PR campaigns, many doctors AND the public today believe this class of drugs should be given even before bone density starts dropping, meaning the vast majority of women currently taking biphosphonates are beginning them too early, and staying on them too long. Experts are beginning to agree that only women with documented osteoporosis should even consider taking these drugs, and not stay on them for a very long duration if they do use them. But will the treatment of osteoporosis now change thanks to this new study and studies like it that have been appearing for the last few years?
It's not likely, because the drug companies usually let nothing stand in the way of their profits.
Although the FDA has already included a warning against long-term use on the label of these drugs, the direct-to-consumer marketing continues unabated, ensuring that many older women will show up at their doctor's office demanding a prescription for the drug that they mistakenly believe will strengthen their bones with little risk of ill effects, since nothing in the advertisement mentions long-term risks associated with biphosphonates.
Although the advertisement does mention (because they are forced to by law) some disturbing potential side effects, including: Difficult or painful swallowing, Chest pain, Severe or continuing heartburn, Severe joint, bone or muscle pain
Other side effects, listed by WebMD include: Abdominal pain, and irritation of the esophagus, Headache and pain in muscles and joints, Constipation, diarrhea, and increased gas (flatulence), Allergic reactions
Other Problems Associated with Biphosphonates
Some media reports have indicated that biphosphonates have been associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), also called "jaw death". ONJ occurs when your jawbone is weakened to the point that it "is no longer alive", because unlike other bones in your body there is a limited supply of blood to the jaw, which is not sufficient to grow new bone. And this class of drugs is reported to permanently weaken the jawbone, leading to a chronic, painful, and disastrous outcome. According to a study in The Journal of Endodontics:
"There are an increasing number of reports of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws that have substantial implications for the patient and for the treating dentist."
That is quite an understatement if you are no longer able to use your jaw to chew your food!
Another study involving cancer patients indicates that as many as 1 in 10 women taking biophosphonates will develop this jaw problem. So, a potential 10 percent chance of having your jaw "die" as a result of taking this medication is clearly a cause for alarm if you don't already have a fairly serious case of osteoporosis. But that's not all, another study has linked biphosphonates to an increased risk of erratic heart rhythms, called atrial fibrillation. Also a 2010 study suggests that the risk of oesophageal cancer increased with 10 or more prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates and with prescriptions over about a five-year period. This same study also cites research stating:
"Adverse gastrointestinal effects are common among people who take oral bisphosphonates for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis; they range from dyspepsia, nausea, and abdominal pain to erosive oesophagitis and oesophageal ulcers."
How to Reduce your Risk of Osteoporosis
Prevention, once again, is a much preferable route than trying to "cure" osteoporosis symptoms with the drug companies' offerings, so here are some top ways you can reduce your risk of having to deal with osteoporosis in the first place: Optimize your vitamin D levels, Avoid processed foods and artificial sweeteners, Increase your Omega 3 intake, Get some exercise, including weight-bearing exercise like resistance training, Women should always maintain healthy levels of estrogen, Avoid steroidal drugs.
The Truth about Osteoporosis and Calcium Deficiency
I'm sure you've heard that the cause of osteoporosis and the key to its prevention revolve around calcium, right? Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Dr. Robert Thompson, M.D., wrote an entire book on this subject called, The Calcium Lie, which explains that bone is comprised of at least a dozen minerals and the exclusive focus on calcium supplementation is likely to worsen bone density and increase your risk of developing osteoporosis! As mentioned in this previous article, Dr. Thompson recommends the use of unprocessed salt as a far healthier alternative to calcium supplementation. I recommend using Himalayan salt as it is an excellent way to feed your body the trace minerals it needs to function optimally.
Steer Clear of Steroids
According to a study done at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, there is a strong link between osteoporosis and the use of steroids," so says senior author Steven L. Teitelbaum, M.D., Messing Professor of Pathology and Immunology:
"High-dose cortisone is the second most common cause of osteoporosis, and we currently have no real treatment for this serious side effect. Given how frequently these drugs are used to treat many different conditions, that's a major clinical problem."
The conclusion of the study revealed that although the steroid cortisone appears to inhibit the ability of osteoclasts to dismantle old bones in genetically normal mice, the inability of the skeletal structure to renew itself may cause bones to weaken dramatically from aging and stress.
Other Foods that Lead to Bone Loss
Processed and fast foods are the worst stuff you can put into your body. In order for your body to function optimally. Processed foods such as potato chips, French fries, microwaveable "meals", soda and candy contain very little nutrients and are chock full of undigestible fats and dangerous additives such as high fructose corn syrup, aspartame and preservatives. When cooking, I advise you to avoid most all omega-6 based oils such as corn, safflower or soy oil. These oils are loaded with highly processed, damaged omega 6 fats, which contribute to inflammation in your body. Instead, I recommend using healthful olive- and coconut oils.
Prevent Bone Loss with Appropriate Sunshine Exposure
The health benefits of vitamin D cannot be overstressed. An alarming number of people in the United States are vitamin D deficient, and vitamin D deficiency can lead to a host of health problems, including osteoporosis. Despite what you may have heard, appropriate sunshine exposure is not bad for you. It is healthy and necessary. Just 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure per day can make a dramatic improvement in your health, and appropriate sun exposure is the ideal way to maintain your vitamin D levels in the optimal range.
Exercise to Prevent Bone Loss
Remember that bone is living tissue that requires regular physical activity in order to renew and rebuild itself. Peak bone mass is achieved in adulthood and then begins a slow decline. Exercise is very important in maintaining healthy bone mass. Weight-bearing exercise is one of the most effective remedies against osteoporosis. Your bones are actually very porous and soft, and as you get older, your bones can easily become less dense and hence, more brittle. Especially if you are inactive. Resistance training can combat this effect because as you put more tension on your muscles it puts more pressure on your bones, which then respond by continuously creating fresh, new bone. In addition, as you build more muscle, and make the muscle that you already have stronger, you also put more constant pressure on your bones.
Osteoporosis in Men
Here is something about osteoporosis in men you may not have realized: Men over the age of 50 are at greater risk for developing osteoporosis than prostate cancer. Men develop this disease because of a condition called hypogonadism, which may lead to shrinking in height by several inches. Risk factors in men include: Alcoholism, Obesity, Smoking, Gastrointestinal disorders, Sedentary lifestyle, Lack of sunlight exposure
Men with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, emphysema, Crohn's disease, herniated disks, and autoimmune disease taking steroids such as prednisone or cortisone are increasing their risk of developing osteoporosis that much further.
Sources: NPR, The Journal of American Medicine; May, 21 2011.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Top 10 Food Additives to Avoid
Some food additives are worse than others. Food Matters suggests these as the top ones to avoid:
Artificial Sweeteners Aspartame, also known as Nutrasweet and Equal, is believed to be carcinogenic and accounts for more reports of adverse reactions than all other foods and food additives combined. The sweetener Acesulfame-K has been linked to kidney tumors. All artificial sweeteners are bad news.
High Fructose Corn Syrup High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) increases your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels and contributes to the development of diabetes.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Is used as a flavor enhancer. It is an excitotoxin, a substance that overexcites cells to the point of damage or death.
Trans Fat Numerous studies show that trans fat increases LDL cholesterol levels and increases your risk of heart attacks, heart disease and strokes.
Common Food Dyes Artificial colorings may contribute to behavioral problems in children and lead to a significant reduction in IQ.
Sodium Sulphite This is a preservative used in processed foods. People who are sulfite sensitive can experience headaches, breathing problems, and rashes. In severe cases, it may cause death.
Sodium Nitrate/Sodium Nitrite This common preservative has been linked to various types of cancer.
BHA and BHT Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydrozyttoluene (BHT) are preservatives that affect the neurological system of your brain, alter behavior and have the potential to cause cancer.
Sulphur Dioxide Sulphur additives are toxic and in the U.S., they have been prohibited in raw fruit and vegetables. Adverse reactions include bronchial problems, low blood pressure, and anaphylactic shock.
Potassium Bromate This additive is used to increase volume in some breads. It is known to cause cancer in animals, and even small amounts can create problems for humans.
If you've ever read the ingredients lists on packaged foods, you know that there's a lot more in food these days than in the past. Virtually every processed food now contains a long list of preservatives, colorings, flavorings, emulsifiers and more -- and unless you're shopping at a natural specialty store, gone are the days when a loaf of bread contained just a few ingredients. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) definition, a food additive is "any substance the intended use of which results or may reasonably be expected to result -- directly or indirectly -- in its becoming a component or otherwise affecting the characteristics of any food." There are currently more than 3,000 food additives added to foods in the United States; ideally, you should steer clear of all or most of these, but if you're just getting started the 10 listed above are an excellent starting point of additives to remove from your diet as soon as possible.
What are You Really Eating?
When you purchase a package of cheese, you expect it to contain milk and salt … bread you'd expect to contain flour, yeast, etc., and when you pick up a can of beans, you may think it only contains beans. In reality, cheese is commonly laced with preservatives and colorings. Bread contains high fructose corn syrup, preservatives and sometimes trans fats. And even canned beans typically contain additives including corn syrup, coloring and sweeteners, along with being packaged in a can that probably leaches BPA from its lining. If you're like most Americans who spend 90 percent of their food budget on processed foods, you're eating your share of these additives and then some … which is concerning when you begin to look into their potential effect on your health: Cancer, Hormone Disrupters, Behavior Problems and Lowered IQ.
Processed Foods Depend on Additives
When foods are processed not only are valuable nutrients lost and fibers removed, but the texture, natural variation and flavors are lost also. After processing, what's actually left behind is a bland, uninteresting "pseudo-food" that most people would find entirely unappetizing. Food manufacturers must add back in nutrients, flavor, color and texture to processed foods in order to make them palatable, and this is why they become loaded with food additives. Most commonly, additives are included to: slow spoilage, prevent fats and oils from becoming rancid, prevent cut fruits from turning brown, fortify or enrich the food with synthetic vitamins and minerals (which are lost during processing) and improve taste, texture and appearance
When reading product packages, some of the most common food additives to watch out for:
Sodium benzoate, sodium nitrite, potassium sorbate, BHA, BHT, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium (acesulfame-K), etc.), FD&C Blue Nos. 1 and 2, FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red Nos. 3 and 40, FD&C Yellow Nos. 5 and 6, Orange B, Citrus Red No. 2, monosodium glutamate (MSG), hydrolyzed soy protein, autolyzed yeast extract.
The Simplest Way to Avoid Food Additives?
Ditch the processed foods. Swapping your processed food diet for one that focuses on real, whole foods may seem like a radical idea, but it's a necessity if you value your health. When you put the history of food into perspective, it's actually the processed foods that are "radical" and "new." People have thrived on vegetables, meats, eggs, fruits and other whole foods for centuries, while processed foods were only recently invented.
The frozen food business didn't begin until the mid-1920s when the General Seafoods Company began selling crudely frozen fish fillets, and fast food restaurants didn't get a foot hold until after World War II. TV dinners didn't even come around until the 1950s … before that it was a home-cooked meal or no meal at all. If you rely on processed inexpensive foods you will simply exchange convenience and short-term cash savings for long-term health miseries.
When it comes to staying healthy, avoiding processed foods and replacing them with fresh, whole foods is the "secret" you've been looking for.
If you have any questions about food additives, please ask us. We can let you know about allergy elimination, this treatment can help to reduce or eliminate food sensitivities along with other allergies such as animal and outdoor allergies.
Sources: Food Matters, mercola.com, 4/17/11
Artificial Sweeteners Aspartame, also known as Nutrasweet and Equal, is believed to be carcinogenic and accounts for more reports of adverse reactions than all other foods and food additives combined. The sweetener Acesulfame-K has been linked to kidney tumors. All artificial sweeteners are bad news.
High Fructose Corn Syrup High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) increases your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels and contributes to the development of diabetes.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Is used as a flavor enhancer. It is an excitotoxin, a substance that overexcites cells to the point of damage or death.
Trans Fat Numerous studies show that trans fat increases LDL cholesterol levels and increases your risk of heart attacks, heart disease and strokes.
Common Food Dyes Artificial colorings may contribute to behavioral problems in children and lead to a significant reduction in IQ.
Sodium Sulphite This is a preservative used in processed foods. People who are sulfite sensitive can experience headaches, breathing problems, and rashes. In severe cases, it may cause death.
Sodium Nitrate/Sodium Nitrite This common preservative has been linked to various types of cancer.
BHA and BHT Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydrozyttoluene (BHT) are preservatives that affect the neurological system of your brain, alter behavior and have the potential to cause cancer.
Sulphur Dioxide Sulphur additives are toxic and in the U.S., they have been prohibited in raw fruit and vegetables. Adverse reactions include bronchial problems, low blood pressure, and anaphylactic shock.
Potassium Bromate This additive is used to increase volume in some breads. It is known to cause cancer in animals, and even small amounts can create problems for humans.
If you've ever read the ingredients lists on packaged foods, you know that there's a lot more in food these days than in the past. Virtually every processed food now contains a long list of preservatives, colorings, flavorings, emulsifiers and more -- and unless you're shopping at a natural specialty store, gone are the days when a loaf of bread contained just a few ingredients. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) definition, a food additive is "any substance the intended use of which results or may reasonably be expected to result -- directly or indirectly -- in its becoming a component or otherwise affecting the characteristics of any food." There are currently more than 3,000 food additives added to foods in the United States; ideally, you should steer clear of all or most of these, but if you're just getting started the 10 listed above are an excellent starting point of additives to remove from your diet as soon as possible.
What are You Really Eating?
When you purchase a package of cheese, you expect it to contain milk and salt … bread you'd expect to contain flour, yeast, etc., and when you pick up a can of beans, you may think it only contains beans. In reality, cheese is commonly laced with preservatives and colorings. Bread contains high fructose corn syrup, preservatives and sometimes trans fats. And even canned beans typically contain additives including corn syrup, coloring and sweeteners, along with being packaged in a can that probably leaches BPA from its lining. If you're like most Americans who spend 90 percent of their food budget on processed foods, you're eating your share of these additives and then some … which is concerning when you begin to look into their potential effect on your health: Cancer, Hormone Disrupters, Behavior Problems and Lowered IQ.
Processed Foods Depend on Additives
When foods are processed not only are valuable nutrients lost and fibers removed, but the texture, natural variation and flavors are lost also. After processing, what's actually left behind is a bland, uninteresting "pseudo-food" that most people would find entirely unappetizing. Food manufacturers must add back in nutrients, flavor, color and texture to processed foods in order to make them palatable, and this is why they become loaded with food additives. Most commonly, additives are included to: slow spoilage, prevent fats and oils from becoming rancid, prevent cut fruits from turning brown, fortify or enrich the food with synthetic vitamins and minerals (which are lost during processing) and improve taste, texture and appearance
When reading product packages, some of the most common food additives to watch out for:
Sodium benzoate, sodium nitrite, potassium sorbate, BHA, BHT, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium (acesulfame-K), etc.), FD&C Blue Nos. 1 and 2, FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red Nos. 3 and 40, FD&C Yellow Nos. 5 and 6, Orange B, Citrus Red No. 2, monosodium glutamate (MSG), hydrolyzed soy protein, autolyzed yeast extract.
The Simplest Way to Avoid Food Additives?
Ditch the processed foods. Swapping your processed food diet for one that focuses on real, whole foods may seem like a radical idea, but it's a necessity if you value your health. When you put the history of food into perspective, it's actually the processed foods that are "radical" and "new." People have thrived on vegetables, meats, eggs, fruits and other whole foods for centuries, while processed foods were only recently invented.
The frozen food business didn't begin until the mid-1920s when the General Seafoods Company began selling crudely frozen fish fillets, and fast food restaurants didn't get a foot hold until after World War II. TV dinners didn't even come around until the 1950s … before that it was a home-cooked meal or no meal at all. If you rely on processed inexpensive foods you will simply exchange convenience and short-term cash savings for long-term health miseries.
When it comes to staying healthy, avoiding processed foods and replacing them with fresh, whole foods is the "secret" you've been looking for.
If you have any questions about food additives, please ask us. We can let you know about allergy elimination, this treatment can help to reduce or eliminate food sensitivities along with other allergies such as animal and outdoor allergies.
Sources: Food Matters, mercola.com, 4/17/11
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
No Whey! Protein Improves Heart Health.
A whey protein rich ingredient may improve blood vessel function in healthy individuals, reports a new randomized, double-blind study. Two weeks of supplementation resulted in a 1.5 percent improvement in blood flow. According to the researchers, the whey protein-derived ingredient may work via an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity. ACE inhibitors work by inhibiting the conversion of angiotensin I to the potent vasoconstrictor, angiotensin II, thereby improving blood flow and blood pressure. Whey protein, a by-product of milk and cheese production, was promoted for its health benefits as early as 420 B.C. At that time, Hippocrates, also known as “the Father of Medicine,” recommended whey to his patients.
These days, evidence continues to mount in favor of whey, often referred to as the gold standard of protein.
The Many Health Benefits of Whey Protein
Whey protein, which is available as a protein powder, has been linked to a variety of health benefits, such as:
• Helping your pancreas-produced insulin work more effectively, which helps maintain your blood sugar level after a meal.
• Promoting healthy insulin secretion.
• Helping to promote your optimal intake of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals needed for your overall wellness.
• Supporting your immune system, as it contains immunoglobulins.
• Helping you preserve lean body tissue (particularly during exercise) as it delivers bioavailable amino acids. Ingesting protein within a half hour after exercise helps increase lean muscle mass. I use the whey protein as a vanilla shake or with fruit mixed in it.
• Maintaining blood pressure levels that are already within the normal range.
This latest study adds to the last benefit listed above, as it found that supplementation with the whey-derived peptide NOP-47 had a positive impact on vascular function in healthy people. Blood flow in the arm improved by 2.7 percent per minute following whey protein supplementation, but did not change for those in the control group who took a placebo. Whey has also been shown to benefit colicky babies, and may help prevent at-risk infants from developing allergies.
Whey Protein’s Impact on Your Insulin Levels
Previous research has shown that whey protein appears to allow the insulin produced by your pancreas to work more effectively, thus lowering your blood sugar level after a meal. This is important as research suggests lowering your blood sugar levels after meals may be more beneficial for your health than lowering fasting blood sugars.
As you’re probably aware of already, improving your insulin secretion and metabolism of glucose is imperative for optimal health. This is one of the foremost reasons for avoiding sugars and grains, as overconsumption of grains and sugary foods has a negative impact on both, and is a prime factor in developing type 2 diabetes.
If you or someone you know has pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, it's important for you to use every tool available (as long as it does you no harm) to normalize your blood sugar levels. It appears whey protein can help, but the effects will be far more substantial if combined with exercise. Also remember that although high-quality whey protein can be an excellent addition to your diet, it should not be used in place of proper diet and exercise, the two mainstays of diabetes management.
Take Quality and Source Into Account
If you are interested in adding whey protein to your diet -- a smart move for the reasons noted above and much more -- I urge you to be very cautious of which brand you choose, as there can be extreme variations in the quality of the whey.
Most whey products contain whey protein derived from pasteurized, commercial dairy sources. When selecting a whey product, I strongly recommend making sure it’s made from raw, grass-fed milk, in order to obtain all of its immune-enhancing benefits.
In addition, I want to reiterate that I promote supplements to complement your healthy diet, NOT as total meal replacements. And that holds true for whey protein supplement as well.
But if you’re on the go a lot, a high quality whey protein supplement can be more beneficial, and is a far better choice than most other nutritional bars and processed convenience snacks. So when you use whey protein, chose a product that is from New Zealand to ensure less use of pesticides and herbicides. Chose a product that is cold processed to maintain as much of the nutrition and digestive enzymes as possible.
My favorite whey protein product is Dream Protein. You can call our office to get it or order it online at www.FirstShake.com/3556. They do offer free sample packets if needed.
Sources: NutraIngredients, Nutrition Journal, mercola.com; 3/23/11
These days, evidence continues to mount in favor of whey, often referred to as the gold standard of protein.
The Many Health Benefits of Whey Protein
Whey protein, which is available as a protein powder, has been linked to a variety of health benefits, such as:
• Helping your pancreas-produced insulin work more effectively, which helps maintain your blood sugar level after a meal.
• Promoting healthy insulin secretion.
• Helping to promote your optimal intake of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals needed for your overall wellness.
• Supporting your immune system, as it contains immunoglobulins.
• Helping you preserve lean body tissue (particularly during exercise) as it delivers bioavailable amino acids. Ingesting protein within a half hour after exercise helps increase lean muscle mass. I use the whey protein as a vanilla shake or with fruit mixed in it.
• Maintaining blood pressure levels that are already within the normal range.
This latest study adds to the last benefit listed above, as it found that supplementation with the whey-derived peptide NOP-47 had a positive impact on vascular function in healthy people. Blood flow in the arm improved by 2.7 percent per minute following whey protein supplementation, but did not change for those in the control group who took a placebo. Whey has also been shown to benefit colicky babies, and may help prevent at-risk infants from developing allergies.
Whey Protein’s Impact on Your Insulin Levels
Previous research has shown that whey protein appears to allow the insulin produced by your pancreas to work more effectively, thus lowering your blood sugar level after a meal. This is important as research suggests lowering your blood sugar levels after meals may be more beneficial for your health than lowering fasting blood sugars.
As you’re probably aware of already, improving your insulin secretion and metabolism of glucose is imperative for optimal health. This is one of the foremost reasons for avoiding sugars and grains, as overconsumption of grains and sugary foods has a negative impact on both, and is a prime factor in developing type 2 diabetes.
If you or someone you know has pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, it's important for you to use every tool available (as long as it does you no harm) to normalize your blood sugar levels. It appears whey protein can help, but the effects will be far more substantial if combined with exercise. Also remember that although high-quality whey protein can be an excellent addition to your diet, it should not be used in place of proper diet and exercise, the two mainstays of diabetes management.
Take Quality and Source Into Account
If you are interested in adding whey protein to your diet -- a smart move for the reasons noted above and much more -- I urge you to be very cautious of which brand you choose, as there can be extreme variations in the quality of the whey.
Most whey products contain whey protein derived from pasteurized, commercial dairy sources. When selecting a whey product, I strongly recommend making sure it’s made from raw, grass-fed milk, in order to obtain all of its immune-enhancing benefits.
In addition, I want to reiterate that I promote supplements to complement your healthy diet, NOT as total meal replacements. And that holds true for whey protein supplement as well.
But if you’re on the go a lot, a high quality whey protein supplement can be more beneficial, and is a far better choice than most other nutritional bars and processed convenience snacks. So when you use whey protein, chose a product that is from New Zealand to ensure less use of pesticides and herbicides. Chose a product that is cold processed to maintain as much of the nutrition and digestive enzymes as possible.
My favorite whey protein product is Dream Protein. You can call our office to get it or order it online at www.FirstShake.com/3556. They do offer free sample packets if needed.
Sources: NutraIngredients, Nutrition Journal, mercola.com; 3/23/11
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Foods That You Should Eat More Often.
It's impossible to talk about health without coming back to the basics, namely food. The state of your physical health is the result of what you put into your body, and how you live your life. Unfortunately, the financial situation of most people is strained these days, to say the least. But that doesn't mean you can't maintain good health through your diet.
It's a common misconception that buying pre-packaged processed foods is less expensive than eating fresh and cooking from scratch, but don't fall for this notion. When you consider the nutrient value of fresh versus processed-to-death denatured foods and the subsequent health consequences of each choice, it's quite clear that you can eat well and improve your health and still not spend a fortune.
Kale - It's loaded with vitamin C, vitamin B, and calcium, and costs just over a dollar a bunch.
Winter Squash - It's just a few dollars a pound, it's a good source of vitamin B6 and folate.
Sweet Potatoes - They're full of fiber, protein, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
Adzuki Beans - Adzuki beans contain some of the highest levels of protein of any variety of beans, and they also contain high levels of potassium, fiber, B vitamins, iron, zinc, and manganese.
Black Beans - These are a good source of folate, dietary fiber, manganese, protein, magnesium, vitamin B1 (thiamin), phosphorus, and iron.
Sunflower Seeds - Raw sunflower seeds contain 76 percent of the RDA for vitamin E.
Almonds - Almonds are good for heart health and loaded with vitamin E.
Unpasteurized grass-fed milk -- Raw organic milk from grass-fed cows contains both beneficial fats and bacteria that boost your immune system. An great source of vitamin A, zinc, and enzymes, raw organic milk is not associated with any of the health problems of pasteurized milk such as rheumatoid arthritis, skin rashes, diarrhea and cramps.
Whey protein -- Even if you don't have access to raw milk, you can use a high-quality, cold processed whey protein derived from the milk of grass-fed cows to receive much of the same health benefits. Whey protein contains beta-glucans and immunoglobulins, which protect your immune system and support your body's natural detoxification processes.
Fermented foods -- Boost your immunity by adding traditionally fermented foods. The most healthful fermented food is kefir -- an ancient cultured, enzyme-rich food full of friendly microorganisms that balance your "inner ecosystem" and strengthen immunity. Other good fermented foods include natto, kimchee, miso, tempeh, pickles, sauerkraut, and olives.
Raw organic eggs from free-range chickens – Many people are deficient in, especially high-quality protein and fat. A single egg contains: Nine essential amino acids. Six grams of the highest quality protein. Proteins are nutrients that are essential to the building, maintenance and repair of your body tissues such as your skin, internal organs and muscles. They are also the major components of your immune system and hormones. Lutein and zeaxanthin for your eyes. Choline for your brain, nervous and cardiovascular systems and naturally occurring B12. As long as you have a good source for fresh, organic eggs, you need not worry about salmonella if you choose to eat them raw.
Grass fed beef -- Grass-fed beef is very high in vitamins A, B12 and E, omega-3 fats, beta carotene, zinc and the potent immune system enhancer CLA (conjugated linoleic acid). Many organically raised cows are fed organic corn, which you don't want. However, most grass-fed cows are raised organically.
Coconut oil -- Besides being excellent for your thyroid and your metabolism, coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which converts in your body to monolaurin – a compound also found in breast milk that strengthens a baby's immunity. Its medium chain fatty acids, or triglycerides (MCT's) raise your body's metabolism and fight off pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. Additionally, coconut oil may serve as a natural treatment for Alzheimer's disease, as MCT's are also a primary source of ketone bodies, which act as an alternate source of brain fuel that can help prevent the brain atrophy associated with dementia. Choose an organic coconut oil that is unrefined, unbleached, made without heat processing or chemicals, and does not contain GM ingredients.
Berries and Raspberries – They rate very high in antioxidant capacity compared to other fruits and vegetables and are also lower in sugar. Other good fruits include cranberries, which have five times the antioxidant content of broccoli, and decrease total cholesterol and bad cholesterol levels in animal studies. Unsweetened cranberry juice has also been traditionally used to successfully treat urinary tract infections.
Broccoli – This humble vegetable is indeed a superfood with near miraculous powers of healing and disease prevention. It contains the highest amount of isothiocyanates, a cancer-fighting compound, of all the crunchy vegetables. Isothiocynates work by turning on cancer-fighting genes and turning off others that feed the disease. Other vegetables containing isothiocyanate include: Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, arugula, watercress and horseradish. Research has shown that eating cruciferous vegetables can significantly reduce your risk of breast, bladder, lung and prostate cancer. Best of all, you don't need to eat massive amounts of these veggies to take advantage of their health benefits. Studies have shown that just 10 spears a week (5 servings) can make a difference in your health.
Chlorella – A superfood if there ever was one, chlorella is a single-cell freshwater algae that acts as an efficient detoxification agent by binding to toxins (most of which promote chronic inflammation), such as mercury, and carrying them out of your system. The chlorophyll in the chlorella helps you process more oxygen, cleanses your blood and promotes the growth and repair of your tissues.
Tea – As for beverages, clean pure water is a must for optimal health, but if you want another beverage, a good choice with added health benefits is high quality herbal teas. Matcha tea is the most nutrient-rich green tea and comes in the form of a stone-ground powder, completely unfermented. The best Matcha comes from Japan and has up to 17 times the antioxidants of wild blueberries, and seven times more than dark chocolate. Tulsi is another tea loaded with antioxidants and other micronutrients that support immune function and heart health.
Source: Planet Green, January 11, 2011; mercola.com
It's a common misconception that buying pre-packaged processed foods is less expensive than eating fresh and cooking from scratch, but don't fall for this notion. When you consider the nutrient value of fresh versus processed-to-death denatured foods and the subsequent health consequences of each choice, it's quite clear that you can eat well and improve your health and still not spend a fortune.
Kale - It's loaded with vitamin C, vitamin B, and calcium, and costs just over a dollar a bunch.
Winter Squash - It's just a few dollars a pound, it's a good source of vitamin B6 and folate.
Sweet Potatoes - They're full of fiber, protein, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
Adzuki Beans - Adzuki beans contain some of the highest levels of protein of any variety of beans, and they also contain high levels of potassium, fiber, B vitamins, iron, zinc, and manganese.
Black Beans - These are a good source of folate, dietary fiber, manganese, protein, magnesium, vitamin B1 (thiamin), phosphorus, and iron.
Sunflower Seeds - Raw sunflower seeds contain 76 percent of the RDA for vitamin E.
Almonds - Almonds are good for heart health and loaded with vitamin E.
Unpasteurized grass-fed milk -- Raw organic milk from grass-fed cows contains both beneficial fats and bacteria that boost your immune system. An great source of vitamin A, zinc, and enzymes, raw organic milk is not associated with any of the health problems of pasteurized milk such as rheumatoid arthritis, skin rashes, diarrhea and cramps.
Whey protein -- Even if you don't have access to raw milk, you can use a high-quality, cold processed whey protein derived from the milk of grass-fed cows to receive much of the same health benefits. Whey protein contains beta-glucans and immunoglobulins, which protect your immune system and support your body's natural detoxification processes.
Fermented foods -- Boost your immunity by adding traditionally fermented foods. The most healthful fermented food is kefir -- an ancient cultured, enzyme-rich food full of friendly microorganisms that balance your "inner ecosystem" and strengthen immunity. Other good fermented foods include natto, kimchee, miso, tempeh, pickles, sauerkraut, and olives.
Raw organic eggs from free-range chickens – Many people are deficient in, especially high-quality protein and fat. A single egg contains: Nine essential amino acids. Six grams of the highest quality protein. Proteins are nutrients that are essential to the building, maintenance and repair of your body tissues such as your skin, internal organs and muscles. They are also the major components of your immune system and hormones. Lutein and zeaxanthin for your eyes. Choline for your brain, nervous and cardiovascular systems and naturally occurring B12. As long as you have a good source for fresh, organic eggs, you need not worry about salmonella if you choose to eat them raw.
Grass fed beef -- Grass-fed beef is very high in vitamins A, B12 and E, omega-3 fats, beta carotene, zinc and the potent immune system enhancer CLA (conjugated linoleic acid). Many organically raised cows are fed organic corn, which you don't want. However, most grass-fed cows are raised organically.
Coconut oil -- Besides being excellent for your thyroid and your metabolism, coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which converts in your body to monolaurin – a compound also found in breast milk that strengthens a baby's immunity. Its medium chain fatty acids, or triglycerides (MCT's) raise your body's metabolism and fight off pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. Additionally, coconut oil may serve as a natural treatment for Alzheimer's disease, as MCT's are also a primary source of ketone bodies, which act as an alternate source of brain fuel that can help prevent the brain atrophy associated with dementia. Choose an organic coconut oil that is unrefined, unbleached, made without heat processing or chemicals, and does not contain GM ingredients.
Berries and Raspberries – They rate very high in antioxidant capacity compared to other fruits and vegetables and are also lower in sugar. Other good fruits include cranberries, which have five times the antioxidant content of broccoli, and decrease total cholesterol and bad cholesterol levels in animal studies. Unsweetened cranberry juice has also been traditionally used to successfully treat urinary tract infections.
Broccoli – This humble vegetable is indeed a superfood with near miraculous powers of healing and disease prevention. It contains the highest amount of isothiocyanates, a cancer-fighting compound, of all the crunchy vegetables. Isothiocynates work by turning on cancer-fighting genes and turning off others that feed the disease. Other vegetables containing isothiocyanate include: Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, arugula, watercress and horseradish. Research has shown that eating cruciferous vegetables can significantly reduce your risk of breast, bladder, lung and prostate cancer. Best of all, you don't need to eat massive amounts of these veggies to take advantage of their health benefits. Studies have shown that just 10 spears a week (5 servings) can make a difference in your health.
Chlorella – A superfood if there ever was one, chlorella is a single-cell freshwater algae that acts as an efficient detoxification agent by binding to toxins (most of which promote chronic inflammation), such as mercury, and carrying them out of your system. The chlorophyll in the chlorella helps you process more oxygen, cleanses your blood and promotes the growth and repair of your tissues.
Tea – As for beverages, clean pure water is a must for optimal health, but if you want another beverage, a good choice with added health benefits is high quality herbal teas. Matcha tea is the most nutrient-rich green tea and comes in the form of a stone-ground powder, completely unfermented. The best Matcha comes from Japan and has up to 17 times the antioxidants of wild blueberries, and seven times more than dark chocolate. Tulsi is another tea loaded with antioxidants and other micronutrients that support immune function and heart health.
Source: Planet Green, January 11, 2011; mercola.com
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Dr. Dan continues Advanced Rating in Activator Technique
Dr. Dan Thibodeau continues Advanced Proficiency Rating in Activator Technique.
Pheonix, Arizona: Activator Methods International has announced that Dr. Dan Thibodeau of Appleton, Wisconsin has continued his Advanced Proficiency Rating in the Activator Methods Instrument Adjusting Technique for the 2011 calendar year. Such an acheivement is a reflection of his commitment of time and energy to complete the rigorous continuing education program. This designation puts Dr. Thibodeau in an elite class of Chiropractors who are expertly trained in the world's number one instrument adjusting techniques. He is the only Activator Proficiency Rated doctor in Appleton.
Dr. Thibodeau has been practicing at Beck - Thibodeau Chiropractic in for 11 years. He graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1989 and specializes in treating patients with this gentle technique that is proven through clinical trials to provide relief for numerous ailments.
Pheonix, Arizona: Activator Methods International has announced that Dr. Dan Thibodeau of Appleton, Wisconsin has continued his Advanced Proficiency Rating in the Activator Methods Instrument Adjusting Technique for the 2011 calendar year. Such an acheivement is a reflection of his commitment of time and energy to complete the rigorous continuing education program. This designation puts Dr. Thibodeau in an elite class of Chiropractors who are expertly trained in the world's number one instrument adjusting techniques. He is the only Activator Proficiency Rated doctor in Appleton.
Dr. Thibodeau has been practicing at Beck - Thibodeau Chiropractic in for 11 years. He graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1989 and specializes in treating patients with this gentle technique that is proven through clinical trials to provide relief for numerous ailments.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Drug Companies Lying, Cheating and Bribing.
Prescription drugs continue to be dangerous.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals will pay $442 million dollars in penalties for marketing an epilepsy medicine for unapproved uses and then bribing and paying kickbacks to medical doctors to prescribe it and five of its other drugs.
Johnson & Johnson continues to have legal troubles as it conducts a phantom recall by circumventing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and buying up its defective painkillers Tylenol and Motrin so no one would know. Congressmen say there is “too cozy” of a relationship between the FDA and Johnson & Johnson.
GlaxoSmithKline agrees to pay $460 million dollars to resolve lawsuits regarding its diabetes drug Avandia. It turns out the drug can cause heart attacks and strokes in diabetics – the very things it is supposed to prevent. The company is facing 10,000 lawsuits with a worse-case scenario of payments of about $500,000 dollars each. Avandia, with $3 billion in annual sales is still in the air as the FDA decides whether to pull it completely off the market.
Pfizer was fined $2.3 billion dollars for illegally marketing drugs. Yes that’s $2.3 billion dollars. Federal prosecutors called the drug maker a “repeating corporate cheat” for bribing medical doctors to sell their drugs.
Some physicians continue to prescribe estrogen despite the fact that it has caused an estimated 17,500 cases of breast cancer every year. Most women have quit these prescriptions, with a resultant dramatic drop in breast cancer cases. The first such drop in cancer incidence since the war on cancer began over 30 years ago.
Conclusion: So in today’s times, drug maker fines and penalties for fraud, cheating, bribing and lying are now running in the billions of dollars.
Sounds like just another day at the pharmaceutical office, business as usual.
Source: Health Alert; September 2010 and December 2010
Novartis Pharmaceuticals will pay $442 million dollars in penalties for marketing an epilepsy medicine for unapproved uses and then bribing and paying kickbacks to medical doctors to prescribe it and five of its other drugs.
Johnson & Johnson continues to have legal troubles as it conducts a phantom recall by circumventing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and buying up its defective painkillers Tylenol and Motrin so no one would know. Congressmen say there is “too cozy” of a relationship between the FDA and Johnson & Johnson.
GlaxoSmithKline agrees to pay $460 million dollars to resolve lawsuits regarding its diabetes drug Avandia. It turns out the drug can cause heart attacks and strokes in diabetics – the very things it is supposed to prevent. The company is facing 10,000 lawsuits with a worse-case scenario of payments of about $500,000 dollars each. Avandia, with $3 billion in annual sales is still in the air as the FDA decides whether to pull it completely off the market.
Pfizer was fined $2.3 billion dollars for illegally marketing drugs. Yes that’s $2.3 billion dollars. Federal prosecutors called the drug maker a “repeating corporate cheat” for bribing medical doctors to sell their drugs.
Some physicians continue to prescribe estrogen despite the fact that it has caused an estimated 17,500 cases of breast cancer every year. Most women have quit these prescriptions, with a resultant dramatic drop in breast cancer cases. The first such drop in cancer incidence since the war on cancer began over 30 years ago.
Conclusion: So in today’s times, drug maker fines and penalties for fraud, cheating, bribing and lying are now running in the billions of dollars.
Sounds like just another day at the pharmaceutical office, business as usual.
Source: Health Alert; September 2010 and December 2010
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Chiropractic Saves 40% on Care.
A new study finds that care for low back pain initiated with a chiropractor saves 40% on healthcare costs when compared with low back pain care initiated through a medical doctor, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) announced recently.
The study, featuring data from 85,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield beneficiaries, concludes that insurance companies that restrict access to chiropractic for low back pain treatment may inadvertently pay more for care than if they removed such restrictions.
Published in the well known Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT), the new study looked at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee’s intermediate and large group, fully insured population over a two year span.
Comments:
- Why would insurance companies want to pay more for low back pain care?
- Why did Canada drop all Chiropractic care from their government paid national health care several years ago?
- If 80% of the entire population has back pain at least once in their life, that would cost insurance companies and or the government a lot more money.
- Why not embrace Chiropractic care as a lower cost alternative to expensive medical care for low back pain!
Source: American Chiropractic Association, Chiropractic Economics; 1/20/2011
The study, featuring data from 85,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield beneficiaries, concludes that insurance companies that restrict access to chiropractic for low back pain treatment may inadvertently pay more for care than if they removed such restrictions.
Published in the well known Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT), the new study looked at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee’s intermediate and large group, fully insured population over a two year span.
Comments:
- Why would insurance companies want to pay more for low back pain care?
- Why did Canada drop all Chiropractic care from their government paid national health care several years ago?
- If 80% of the entire population has back pain at least once in their life, that would cost insurance companies and or the government a lot more money.
- Why not embrace Chiropractic care as a lower cost alternative to expensive medical care for low back pain!
Source: American Chiropractic Association, Chiropractic Economics; 1/20/2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Don't Get Sick This Winter!
Bacteria present naturally in your body and sometimes found in food could keep cold and flu viruses at bay. According to a study, young children who drank a mixture of such bacteria, known as probiotics, had fewer colds, needed fewer antibiotics, and missed fewer days of school. Researchers have already shown that probiotics can benefit those who are ill, and the bacteria are thought to boost the immune system's response to invaders.
For most of you reading this, cold and flu season is here, and with it comes the yearly push urging you to get a flu vaccine to stay healthy. If you take nothing else away from this article, let it be this: you have at your disposal tools to bolster your immune system and drastically reduce your risk of colds and the flu. You do not need a vaccine to do this. In fact, a vaccine could easily make your health worse. One of these “tools” is good bacteria, or probiotics.
Eighty percent of your immune system is located in your digestive system, so--it makes perfect sense that probiotics would be very effective at warding off cold and flu viruses Remember, a robust immune system is your number one defense system against ALL disease, and in order to keep your immune system in top working order you must have a healthy balance of good to bad bacteria in your gut (the optimal balance is about 85 percent “good bacteria” and 15 percent “bad”). The researchers in this new study actually found quite significant benefits among 3- to 5-year-old children who received either a single strain or combination of probiotics twice a day for six months.
Compared to the placebo group, the single and combination probiotic groups had reduced fever by 53 percent and 73 percent respectively, decreased coughing by 41 percent and 62 percent, and reduced runny noses by 28 percent and 59 percent.
Why are Probiotics so Important?
In many cultures, probiotic-rich food and drinks, such as the fermented superfoods natto, kefir, lassi (an Indian yogurt drink) and sauerkraut, are an integral part of the daily diet. If you eat a diet rich in fermented foods like these that have NOT been pasteurized (pasteurization will kill the probiotics), then you will likely enjoy great digestive, and immune system, health. However, if you find yourself strongly drawn to processed foods or rely on mostly cooked foods, as is commonplace in the United States, the balance of bacteria in your digestive tract will have a hard time staying optimal.
This is most unfortunate because this ratio between the "good" bacteria and the other bacteria is one of the critical factors determining your optimal health, as the good bacteria are essential for:
• Proper development of your immune system; Protection against over-growth of other microorganisms that could cause disease; Digestion of food and absorption of nutrients
The probiotics in your gut also play a role in helping numerous bodily functions, such as:
• Digesting and absorbing certain carbohydrates; Producing vitamins, absorbing minerals and eliminating toxins; Keeping bad bacteria under control; Preventing allergies.
Sugar is also an incredibly efficient fertilizer for growing bad bacteria and yeast in your gut, so if you indulge in a lot of it you’re fueling the bad bacteria rather than the good. Likewise, stress, pollution, and taking antibiotics can further upset the balance in a negative way. Since helpful bacteria are increasingly absent in most people’s diets, it is important to purposely include foods that contain live probiotic bacteria in your diet, or take a probiotic supplement -- especially since flu season is here.
Here’s What You Need to Know to Avoid the Flu This Year
Now is the time to start making healthy changes that will keep you virtually immune to cold and flu viruses. If you follow the tips I recommend, you can easily sail through each and every winter (and fall, spring and summer) without so much as a case of the sniffles.
How do I know this?
Follow these simple guidelines.
• Optimize your vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency is the likely cause of seasonal flu viruses. Getting an optimal level of vitamin D will help you fight infections of all kinds. In fact, the largest study yet of the association between vitamin D and respiratory infections found people with the lowest blood vitamin D levels reported having significantly more recent colds or cases of the flu.
• Eat plenty of probiotic-rich fermented foods, or take a high-quality probiotic supplement to support your digestive and immune system health.
• Avoid or Limit Sugar. Sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately and a strong immune system is key to fighting off viruses and other illness.
• Get Enough Rest. Just like it becomes harder for you to get your daily tasks done if you're tired, if your body is overly fatigued it will be harder for it to fight off cold and flu viruses.
• Reduce Stress. We all face some stress every day, but if stress becomes overwhelming then your body will be less able to fight off the flu and other illness.
• Exercise. When you exercise, you increase your circulation and your blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads.
• Take a good source of animal based omega-3 fats, which is crucial for maintaining health.
• Wash Your Hands. Washing your hands will decrease your likelihood of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people.
Also, be careful not to overdo it. Washing your hands too much can actually remove much of the protective layer on your skin and increase your chances of acquiring an infection.
Source: mercola.com, ABC News, Reuters; January 2, 2011
For most of you reading this, cold and flu season is here, and with it comes the yearly push urging you to get a flu vaccine to stay healthy. If you take nothing else away from this article, let it be this: you have at your disposal tools to bolster your immune system and drastically reduce your risk of colds and the flu. You do not need a vaccine to do this. In fact, a vaccine could easily make your health worse. One of these “tools” is good bacteria, or probiotics.
Eighty percent of your immune system is located in your digestive system, so--it makes perfect sense that probiotics would be very effective at warding off cold and flu viruses Remember, a robust immune system is your number one defense system against ALL disease, and in order to keep your immune system in top working order you must have a healthy balance of good to bad bacteria in your gut (the optimal balance is about 85 percent “good bacteria” and 15 percent “bad”). The researchers in this new study actually found quite significant benefits among 3- to 5-year-old children who received either a single strain or combination of probiotics twice a day for six months.
Compared to the placebo group, the single and combination probiotic groups had reduced fever by 53 percent and 73 percent respectively, decreased coughing by 41 percent and 62 percent, and reduced runny noses by 28 percent and 59 percent.
Why are Probiotics so Important?
In many cultures, probiotic-rich food and drinks, such as the fermented superfoods natto, kefir, lassi (an Indian yogurt drink) and sauerkraut, are an integral part of the daily diet. If you eat a diet rich in fermented foods like these that have NOT been pasteurized (pasteurization will kill the probiotics), then you will likely enjoy great digestive, and immune system, health. However, if you find yourself strongly drawn to processed foods or rely on mostly cooked foods, as is commonplace in the United States, the balance of bacteria in your digestive tract will have a hard time staying optimal.
This is most unfortunate because this ratio between the "good" bacteria and the other bacteria is one of the critical factors determining your optimal health, as the good bacteria are essential for:
• Proper development of your immune system; Protection against over-growth of other microorganisms that could cause disease; Digestion of food and absorption of nutrients
The probiotics in your gut also play a role in helping numerous bodily functions, such as:
• Digesting and absorbing certain carbohydrates; Producing vitamins, absorbing minerals and eliminating toxins; Keeping bad bacteria under control; Preventing allergies.
Sugar is also an incredibly efficient fertilizer for growing bad bacteria and yeast in your gut, so if you indulge in a lot of it you’re fueling the bad bacteria rather than the good. Likewise, stress, pollution, and taking antibiotics can further upset the balance in a negative way. Since helpful bacteria are increasingly absent in most people’s diets, it is important to purposely include foods that contain live probiotic bacteria in your diet, or take a probiotic supplement -- especially since flu season is here.
Here’s What You Need to Know to Avoid the Flu This Year
Now is the time to start making healthy changes that will keep you virtually immune to cold and flu viruses. If you follow the tips I recommend, you can easily sail through each and every winter (and fall, spring and summer) without so much as a case of the sniffles.
How do I know this?
Follow these simple guidelines.
• Optimize your vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency is the likely cause of seasonal flu viruses. Getting an optimal level of vitamin D will help you fight infections of all kinds. In fact, the largest study yet of the association between vitamin D and respiratory infections found people with the lowest blood vitamin D levels reported having significantly more recent colds or cases of the flu.
• Eat plenty of probiotic-rich fermented foods, or take a high-quality probiotic supplement to support your digestive and immune system health.
• Avoid or Limit Sugar. Sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately and a strong immune system is key to fighting off viruses and other illness.
• Get Enough Rest. Just like it becomes harder for you to get your daily tasks done if you're tired, if your body is overly fatigued it will be harder for it to fight off cold and flu viruses.
• Reduce Stress. We all face some stress every day, but if stress becomes overwhelming then your body will be less able to fight off the flu and other illness.
• Exercise. When you exercise, you increase your circulation and your blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads.
• Take a good source of animal based omega-3 fats, which is crucial for maintaining health.
• Wash Your Hands. Washing your hands will decrease your likelihood of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people.
Also, be careful not to overdo it. Washing your hands too much can actually remove much of the protective layer on your skin and increase your chances of acquiring an infection.
Source: mercola.com, ABC News, Reuters; January 2, 2011
Monday, November 29, 2010
How Processed Foods Are Killing Us!
Carlos Monteiro, a professor at the University of São Paulo, believes that "the big issue is ultra-processing." The most important factor when considering food and nutrition is neither nutrients nor foods -- it's what is done to foods and the nutrients contained in them before they are purchased and consumed. Monteiro makes it clear that most foods and drinks are currently processed to some extent -- even fresh apples are washed and sometimes waxed, and drinking water is filtered. But ultra-processed foods are too common, they are depleted of nutrients and they provide little more than calories.
According to the Atlantic:
"The purpose of ... ultra-processing is to create: durable, accessible, convenient, attractive, ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat products ... Monteiro argues: 'the rapid rise in consumption of ultra-processed food and drink products, especially since the 1980s, is the main dietary cause of the concurrent rapid rise in obesity and related diseases throughout the world.'"
Comments:
I wholeheartedly agree with Carlos Monteiro. Americans currently spend upwards of 90 percent of their food budgets purchasing processed foods, which offer very little in terms of nutritional value and instead typically contain ingredients that will actually cause you harm. Monteiro maintains that "consumption of ultra-processed food and drink products, especially since the 1980s, is the main dietary cause of the concurrent rapid rise in obesity and related diseases throughout the world.” What makes processed foods, or as Monteiro calls them "ultra-processed foods," so devastating to your health?
Lots of Calories for Little Nutrition
If you eat a fast-food burger, you can easily take in close to half of your daily caloric requirements. Add in fries and a soda and you may be nearing an entire day's worth of required calories. But in that one meal, which is designed to be eaten quickly, you have not received the vitamins, minerals, live enzymes, micronutrients, healthy fats or high-quality protein that your body needs to thrive. When these types of foods are consumed day in and day out, for months and years on end, what you end up with is a calorie-dense diet that is not giving you the nutrients you need to stay healthy. On a diet like this, you will likely gain excess weight while your body is literally starving for healthy nutrients. With nearly 7 out of 10 Americans being overweight, and 1 in 4 being affected with diabetes or pre-diabetes, the heavily processed standard American diet, SAD, is clearly in dire need of a radical overhaul.
Processed Foods are Addictive
Fast food is available just about everywhere, including in hospitals and schools, and processed foods make up the majority of foods at your supermarket. They are marketed aggressively to kids and adults alike, and are manufactured using specific synthetic ingredients and other tricks to get you to eat more, crave more, and keep coming back for more.
I find it interesting that most people know that fast food and processed foods are "not good for you," yet most still choose to eat it. This is in large part due to the intensive advertising campaigns coupled with the habit-forming nature of these foods. On average, just one serving of a typical children's breakfast cereal equates to more than 90 percent of the daily sugar intake for girls aged 9 to 13. Even infant formulas and jarred baby food contains excessive amounts of sugar and high fructose corn syrup -- hooking babies on the unnatural taste of processed foods as soon as they're out of the womb! In one study of rats fed a diet containing 25 percent sugar, they became anxious when the sugar was removed -- displaying symptoms similar to people going through drug withdrawals, such as chattering teeth and the shakes. The researchers conducting the study found a link between opioids, your brain's 'pleasure chemicals,' and a craving for sweet, salty and fatty foods. It is thought that high-fat foods stimulate the opioids, as when researchers stimulated rats' brains with a synthetic version of the natural opioid, the rats ate up to six times their normal intake of fat. Further, long lasting changes in rats' brain chemistry, similar to those caused by morphine or heroin use, were also noted. According to researchers, this means that even simple exposure to pleasurable foods is enough to change gene expression, which suggests an addiction to the food. It's easy to forget that the processed, packaged foods and fast food restaurants of today are actually a radical change in terms of the history of food production. Many people have no idea that the frozen food business didn't begin until the mid-1920s and fast food restaurants didn't get a foot hold until after World War II.
Dangerous Food Additives
Eating processed foods is in no way the same as eating pure, unprocessed foods, in taste, nutritional value or the way they interact with your cells on a biological level. Processed foods often have little nutritional value and are chemically altered to increase the appeal to your taste buds, so they can override your body's signals that would otherwise tell you it's time to stop eating and try something else. They are also loaded with additives that are harmful in their own right, such as:
1.Fructose - Now the number one source of calories in the US, fructose diminishes your feelings of fullness because it does not stimulate a rise in leptin, one of the most powerful hunger- and fat storage regulators in your body. Fructose also reduces the amount of leptin crossing your blood-brain barrier by raising triglycerides. Leptin resistance, in turn, is perhaps one of the most significant factors underlying human disease. For example, it plays a significant if not primary role in the development of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, reproductive disorders, and perhaps the rate of aging itself. Additionally, whereas glucose suppresses ghrelin (also known as “the hunger hormone,” which makes you want more food), fructose, again, does not. Fructose also increases your insulin levels, interfering with the communication between leptin and your hypothalamus, so your pleasure signals aren’t extinguished. Your brain keeps sensing that you’re starving, and prompts you to eat more. For the sake of your health, I strongly advise keeping your fructose consumption below 25 grams per day, but this is virtually impossible if you eat a lot of processed foods.
2.Genetically Modified (GM) Ingredients - Some 75 percent of processed foods contain GM ingredients, which are being increasingly linked to serious health problems. Just last year the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) reviewed the available research and issued a memorandum recommending that all doctors prescribe non-GMO diets to all patients because they are causally linked in animal feeding studies to: Infertility, Immune system problems, Gastrointestinal problems, Organ damage, Dysfunctional regulation of cholesterol and insulin, Accelerated aging. One of the first steps to avoiding GM ingredients is to cut back on processed foods in your diet.
3.MSG - Monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer, is added to thousands of processed (canned soups, crackers, meats, salad dressings, frozen dinners, chips and much more) and restaurant foods. MSG is so popular because it actually enhances the flavor of foods, making processed meats and frozen dinners taste fresher and smell better, salad dressings more tasty, and canned foods less tinny. However, it is also an excitotoxin, which means it overexcites your cells to the point of damage or death, causing brain damage to varying degrees -- and potentially even triggering or worsening learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease and more.
4.Food Additives - More than 3,000 food additives -- preservatives, flavorings, colors and other ingredients -- are added to foods in the United States. While each of these substances are legal to use, whether or not they are entirely safe for long-term consumption -- by themselves or in combination -- is a different story altogether. Many of them, such as sodium nitrate, BHA, BHT, aspartame, Blue 1, 2, and potassium bromate, have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. Others are estrogen-mimicking xenoestrogens that have been linked to a range of human health effects, including reduced sperm counts in men and increased risk of breast cancer in women. Studies have also shown that a variety of common food dyes, and the preservative sodium benzoate -- found in many soft drinks, fruit juices and salad dressings -- cause some children to become measurably more hyperactive and distractible. Meanwhile, E-numbered food dyes (such as tartrazine (E102), ponceau 4R (E124), sunset yellow (E110), carmoisine (E122), quinoline yellow (E104) and allura red AC (E129) do as much damage to children's brains as lead in gasoline, resulting in a significant reduction in IQ. Fortunately, when you avoid processed foods you’ll also automatically avoid virtually every one of these toxic food additives.
If You Only Eat Processed Foods, You're also Missing Raw food!
I believe it's wise to get as much raw food in your diet as possible. For starters, processing foods at high temperatures destroys naturally occurring enzymes. Enzymes are proteins -- catalysts to speed up and facilitate reactions in your body. In fact, some biochemical reactions will not even occur without these enzymes (you have about 1,300 of them). Processed foods are also devoid of biophotons, the smallest physical units of light, which are stored in, and used by all biological organisms -- including your body. Vital sun energy finds its way into your cells via the food you eat, in the form of these biophotons. They contain important information that controls complex vital processes in your body. The biophotons have the power to order and regulate, and, in doing so, to elevate the organism – in this case, your physical body -- to a higher oscillation or order. This is manifested as a feeling of vitality and well-being. The more light a food is able to store, the more nutritious it is. Naturally grown fresh vegetables, for example, and sun-ripened fruits, are rich in light energy. The capacity to store biophotons is therefore a measure of the quality of your food -- and processed foods contain zero light energy.
Ditching Processed Foods Can be Easy
Eating fresh, whole foods is the "secret" to getting healthier, losing weight and really enjoying your food, but many believe it's next to impossible to eat nowadays without processed foods. Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough have tackled this issue head-on in their book Real Food Has Curves, which is a great starting point to "relearn" the basics of how to enjoy and prepare real, healthy food. Many people are under the mistaken impression that cooking from scratch is an extremely complicated affair that takes lots of time and costs more than they could possibly afford. More often than not, this is simply not true. Once you get the hang of it, you'll find you can whip up a healthful meal from scratch in the same amount of time it would have taken you to drive down the street to pick up fast food. Of course, you'll be far more satisfied when you eat your home-cooked meal, both physically and mentally. Finding the time, and the financial resources, to make healthy meals for your family can be challenging, but please don't use these as excuses to exist on processed food. Your health, your energy levels, your appearance, your mood and so many other factors -- will improve when you eat the foods your body was designed for. Returning to a diet of locally grown, fresh whole foods is really the only way to reach optimal health. A major leap forward would be to strive for a diet of 90 percent non-processed food and only 10 percent from other sources.
Final Words of Wisdom:
Please remember that someone has to spend some time in the kitchen to prepare your meals, whether it is you, your spouse, a relative, friend, or a chef. If you ignore this basic principle you can be strongly assured your health will suffer. It is no mystery that when noon comes around you will likely want lunch. So why not figure out what that will be the night before you go to sleep. Seek to make a habit of knowing what you will eat the next day so you can be prepared and won't have to rely on fast food or junk food.
Source: www.mercola.com, 11/22/10
Please contact me at DrDan1221@yahoo.com or 920-954-1002 with questions or comments.
According to the Atlantic:
"The purpose of ... ultra-processing is to create: durable, accessible, convenient, attractive, ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat products ... Monteiro argues: 'the rapid rise in consumption of ultra-processed food and drink products, especially since the 1980s, is the main dietary cause of the concurrent rapid rise in obesity and related diseases throughout the world.'"
Comments:
I wholeheartedly agree with Carlos Monteiro. Americans currently spend upwards of 90 percent of their food budgets purchasing processed foods, which offer very little in terms of nutritional value and instead typically contain ingredients that will actually cause you harm. Monteiro maintains that "consumption of ultra-processed food and drink products, especially since the 1980s, is the main dietary cause of the concurrent rapid rise in obesity and related diseases throughout the world.” What makes processed foods, or as Monteiro calls them "ultra-processed foods," so devastating to your health?
Lots of Calories for Little Nutrition
If you eat a fast-food burger, you can easily take in close to half of your daily caloric requirements. Add in fries and a soda and you may be nearing an entire day's worth of required calories. But in that one meal, which is designed to be eaten quickly, you have not received the vitamins, minerals, live enzymes, micronutrients, healthy fats or high-quality protein that your body needs to thrive. When these types of foods are consumed day in and day out, for months and years on end, what you end up with is a calorie-dense diet that is not giving you the nutrients you need to stay healthy. On a diet like this, you will likely gain excess weight while your body is literally starving for healthy nutrients. With nearly 7 out of 10 Americans being overweight, and 1 in 4 being affected with diabetes or pre-diabetes, the heavily processed standard American diet, SAD, is clearly in dire need of a radical overhaul.
Processed Foods are Addictive
Fast food is available just about everywhere, including in hospitals and schools, and processed foods make up the majority of foods at your supermarket. They are marketed aggressively to kids and adults alike, and are manufactured using specific synthetic ingredients and other tricks to get you to eat more, crave more, and keep coming back for more.
I find it interesting that most people know that fast food and processed foods are "not good for you," yet most still choose to eat it. This is in large part due to the intensive advertising campaigns coupled with the habit-forming nature of these foods. On average, just one serving of a typical children's breakfast cereal equates to more than 90 percent of the daily sugar intake for girls aged 9 to 13. Even infant formulas and jarred baby food contains excessive amounts of sugar and high fructose corn syrup -- hooking babies on the unnatural taste of processed foods as soon as they're out of the womb! In one study of rats fed a diet containing 25 percent sugar, they became anxious when the sugar was removed -- displaying symptoms similar to people going through drug withdrawals, such as chattering teeth and the shakes. The researchers conducting the study found a link between opioids, your brain's 'pleasure chemicals,' and a craving for sweet, salty and fatty foods. It is thought that high-fat foods stimulate the opioids, as when researchers stimulated rats' brains with a synthetic version of the natural opioid, the rats ate up to six times their normal intake of fat. Further, long lasting changes in rats' brain chemistry, similar to those caused by morphine or heroin use, were also noted. According to researchers, this means that even simple exposure to pleasurable foods is enough to change gene expression, which suggests an addiction to the food. It's easy to forget that the processed, packaged foods and fast food restaurants of today are actually a radical change in terms of the history of food production. Many people have no idea that the frozen food business didn't begin until the mid-1920s and fast food restaurants didn't get a foot hold until after World War II.
Dangerous Food Additives
Eating processed foods is in no way the same as eating pure, unprocessed foods, in taste, nutritional value or the way they interact with your cells on a biological level. Processed foods often have little nutritional value and are chemically altered to increase the appeal to your taste buds, so they can override your body's signals that would otherwise tell you it's time to stop eating and try something else. They are also loaded with additives that are harmful in their own right, such as:
1.Fructose - Now the number one source of calories in the US, fructose diminishes your feelings of fullness because it does not stimulate a rise in leptin, one of the most powerful hunger- and fat storage regulators in your body. Fructose also reduces the amount of leptin crossing your blood-brain barrier by raising triglycerides. Leptin resistance, in turn, is perhaps one of the most significant factors underlying human disease. For example, it plays a significant if not primary role in the development of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, reproductive disorders, and perhaps the rate of aging itself. Additionally, whereas glucose suppresses ghrelin (also known as “the hunger hormone,” which makes you want more food), fructose, again, does not. Fructose also increases your insulin levels, interfering with the communication between leptin and your hypothalamus, so your pleasure signals aren’t extinguished. Your brain keeps sensing that you’re starving, and prompts you to eat more. For the sake of your health, I strongly advise keeping your fructose consumption below 25 grams per day, but this is virtually impossible if you eat a lot of processed foods.
2.Genetically Modified (GM) Ingredients - Some 75 percent of processed foods contain GM ingredients, which are being increasingly linked to serious health problems. Just last year the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) reviewed the available research and issued a memorandum recommending that all doctors prescribe non-GMO diets to all patients because they are causally linked in animal feeding studies to: Infertility, Immune system problems, Gastrointestinal problems, Organ damage, Dysfunctional regulation of cholesterol and insulin, Accelerated aging. One of the first steps to avoiding GM ingredients is to cut back on processed foods in your diet.
3.MSG - Monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer, is added to thousands of processed (canned soups, crackers, meats, salad dressings, frozen dinners, chips and much more) and restaurant foods. MSG is so popular because it actually enhances the flavor of foods, making processed meats and frozen dinners taste fresher and smell better, salad dressings more tasty, and canned foods less tinny. However, it is also an excitotoxin, which means it overexcites your cells to the point of damage or death, causing brain damage to varying degrees -- and potentially even triggering or worsening learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease and more.
4.Food Additives - More than 3,000 food additives -- preservatives, flavorings, colors and other ingredients -- are added to foods in the United States. While each of these substances are legal to use, whether or not they are entirely safe for long-term consumption -- by themselves or in combination -- is a different story altogether. Many of them, such as sodium nitrate, BHA, BHT, aspartame, Blue 1, 2, and potassium bromate, have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. Others are estrogen-mimicking xenoestrogens that have been linked to a range of human health effects, including reduced sperm counts in men and increased risk of breast cancer in women. Studies have also shown that a variety of common food dyes, and the preservative sodium benzoate -- found in many soft drinks, fruit juices and salad dressings -- cause some children to become measurably more hyperactive and distractible. Meanwhile, E-numbered food dyes (such as tartrazine (E102), ponceau 4R (E124), sunset yellow (E110), carmoisine (E122), quinoline yellow (E104) and allura red AC (E129) do as much damage to children's brains as lead in gasoline, resulting in a significant reduction in IQ. Fortunately, when you avoid processed foods you’ll also automatically avoid virtually every one of these toxic food additives.
If You Only Eat Processed Foods, You're also Missing Raw food!
I believe it's wise to get as much raw food in your diet as possible. For starters, processing foods at high temperatures destroys naturally occurring enzymes. Enzymes are proteins -- catalysts to speed up and facilitate reactions in your body. In fact, some biochemical reactions will not even occur without these enzymes (you have about 1,300 of them). Processed foods are also devoid of biophotons, the smallest physical units of light, which are stored in, and used by all biological organisms -- including your body. Vital sun energy finds its way into your cells via the food you eat, in the form of these biophotons. They contain important information that controls complex vital processes in your body. The biophotons have the power to order and regulate, and, in doing so, to elevate the organism – in this case, your physical body -- to a higher oscillation or order. This is manifested as a feeling of vitality and well-being. The more light a food is able to store, the more nutritious it is. Naturally grown fresh vegetables, for example, and sun-ripened fruits, are rich in light energy. The capacity to store biophotons is therefore a measure of the quality of your food -- and processed foods contain zero light energy.
Ditching Processed Foods Can be Easy
Eating fresh, whole foods is the "secret" to getting healthier, losing weight and really enjoying your food, but many believe it's next to impossible to eat nowadays without processed foods. Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough have tackled this issue head-on in their book Real Food Has Curves, which is a great starting point to "relearn" the basics of how to enjoy and prepare real, healthy food. Many people are under the mistaken impression that cooking from scratch is an extremely complicated affair that takes lots of time and costs more than they could possibly afford. More often than not, this is simply not true. Once you get the hang of it, you'll find you can whip up a healthful meal from scratch in the same amount of time it would have taken you to drive down the street to pick up fast food. Of course, you'll be far more satisfied when you eat your home-cooked meal, both physically and mentally. Finding the time, and the financial resources, to make healthy meals for your family can be challenging, but please don't use these as excuses to exist on processed food. Your health, your energy levels, your appearance, your mood and so many other factors -- will improve when you eat the foods your body was designed for. Returning to a diet of locally grown, fresh whole foods is really the only way to reach optimal health. A major leap forward would be to strive for a diet of 90 percent non-processed food and only 10 percent from other sources.
Final Words of Wisdom:
Please remember that someone has to spend some time in the kitchen to prepare your meals, whether it is you, your spouse, a relative, friend, or a chef. If you ignore this basic principle you can be strongly assured your health will suffer. It is no mystery that when noon comes around you will likely want lunch. So why not figure out what that will be the night before you go to sleep. Seek to make a habit of knowing what you will eat the next day so you can be prepared and won't have to rely on fast food or junk food.
Source: www.mercola.com, 11/22/10
Please contact me at DrDan1221@yahoo.com or 920-954-1002 with questions or comments.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Want a Good Night's Sleep?
Sleep is one of the great mysteries of life. We still don’t understand exactly why we sleep—although we are learning more about it every day. We do know, however, that good sleep is one of the cornerstones of health. Six to eight hours per night seems to be the optimal amount of sleep for most adults, and too much or too little can have adverse effects on your health. Sleep deprivation is such a chronic condition these days that you might not even realize you suffer from it. Science has now established that a sleep deficit can have serious, far reaching effects on your health.
For example, interrupted or impaired sleep can:
• Dramatically weaken your immune system
• Accelerate tumor growth—tumors grow two to three times faster in laboratory animals with severe sleep dysfunctions
• Cause a pre-diabetic state, making you feel hungry even if you’ve already eaten, which can wreak havoc on your weight
• Seriously impair your memory; even a single night of poor sleep—meaning sleeping only 4 to 6 hours—can impact your ability to think clearly the next day
• Impair your performance on physical or mental tasks, and decrease your problem solving ability
When your circadian rhythms are disrupted, your body produces less melatonin and has less ability to fight cancer, since melatonin helps suppress free radicals that can lead to cancer. This is why tumors grow faster when you sleep poorly.
Impaired sleep can also increase stress-related disorders, including: heart disease, stomach ulcers, constipation and mood disorders like depression.
Sleep deprivation prematurely ages you by interfering with your growth hormone production, normally released by your pituitary gland during deep sleep. Growth hormone helps you look and feel younger. One study has even shown that people with chronic insomnia have a three times greater risk of dying from any cause. Lost sleep is lost forever, and persistent lack of sleep has a cumulative effect when it comes to disrupting your health. Poor sleep can make your life miserable, as most of you probably know. The good news is, there are many natural techniques you can learn to restore your “sleep health.” Whether you have difficulty falling asleep, waking up too often, or feeling inadequately rested when you wake up in the morning—or maybe you simply want to improve the quality of your sleep—you are bound to find some relief from the tips and tricks below.
Optimizing Your Sleep Sanctuary
1. Sleep in complete darkness, or as close to it as possible. Even the tiniest bit of light in the room can disrupt your internal clock and your pineal gland's production of melatonin and serotonin. Even the tiniest glow from your clock radio could be interfering with your sleep. Close your bedroom door, and get rid of night-lights. You may want to refrain from turning on any light at all during the night, even when getting up to go to the bathroom. Cover your windows—I recommend using blackout shades or drapes. All life evolved in response to predictable patterns of light and darkness, called circadian rhythms. Modern day electrical lighting has significantly betrayed your inner clock by disrupting your natural rhythms. Light signals your brain that it’s time to wake up and starts preparing your body for ACTION.
2. Keep the temperature in your bedroom no higher than 70 degrees. Many people keep their homes and particularly their upstairs bedrooms too warm. Studies show that the optimal room temperature for sleep is quite cool, between 60 to 68 degrees. Keeping your room cooler or hotter can lead to restless sleep. When you sleep, your body’s internal temperature drops to its lowest level, generally about four hours after you fall asleep. Scientists believe a cooler bedroom may therefore be most conducive to sleep, since it mimics your body’s natural temperature drop.
3. Check your bedroom for electro-magnetic fields (EMFs). These can disrupt the pineal gland and the production of melatonin and serotonin, and may have other negative effects as well. To do this, you need a gauss meter. You can find various models online, starting around $50 to $200. Some experts even recommend shutting off your circuit breaker before bed to kill all power in your house.
4. Move alarm clocks and other electrical devices away from your bed. If these devices must be used, keep them as far away from your bed as possible, preferably at least 3 feet. Remove the clock from view. It will only add to your worry when you stare at it all night... 2 a.m. ...3 a.m. ... 4:30 a.m.
5. Avoid using loud alarm clocks. It is very stressful on your body to be suddenly jolted awake. If you are regularly getting enough sleep, an alarm may even be unnecessary. You may want to try a sun light alarm clock, it combines the features of a traditional alarm clock (digital display, AM/FM radio, beeper, snooze button, etc) with a special built-in light that gradually increases in intensity that simulates a natural sunrise. It also includes a sunset feature where the light fades to darkness over time, which is ideal for anyone who has trouble falling asleep.
6. Reserve your bed for sleeping. If you are used to watching TV or doing work in bed, you may find it harder to relax and drift off to sleep, so avoid doing these activities in bed.
7. Consider separate bedrooms. Recent studies suggest, for many people, sharing a bed with a partner (or pets) can significantly impair sleep, especially if the partner is a restless sleeper or snores. If bedfellows are consistently interfering with your sleep, you may want to consider a separate bedroom.
Preparing for Bed
8. Get to bed as early as possible. Your body (particularly your adrenal system) does a majority of its recharging between the hours of 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. In addition, your gallbladder dumps toxins during this same period. If you are awake, the toxins back up into your liver, which can further disrupt your health. Prior to the widespread use of electricity, people would go to bed shortly after sundown, as most animals do, and which nature intended for humans as well.
9. Don't change your bedtime. You should go to bed and wake up at the same times each day, even on the weekends. This will help your body to get into a sleep rhythm and make it easier to fall asleep and get up in the morning.
10. Establish a bedtime routine. This could include meditation, deep breathing, using aromatherapy or essential oils or indulging in a massage from your partner. The key is to find something that makes you feel relaxed, then repeat it each night to help you release the tensions of the day.
11. Don't drink any fluids within 2 hours of going to bed. This will reduce the likelihood of needing to get up and go to the bathroom, or at least minimize the frequency.
12. Go to the bathroom right before bed. This will reduce the chances that you'll wake up to go in the middle of the night.
13. Eat a high-protein snack several hours before bed. This can provide the L-tryptophan needed for your melatonin and serotonin production.
14. Also eat a small piece of fruit. This can help the tryptophan cross your blood-brain barrier.
15. Avoid before-bed snacks, particularly grains and sugars. These will raise your blood sugar and delay sleep. Later, when blood sugar drops too low (hypoglycemia), you may wake up and be unable to fall back asleep.
16. Take a hot bath, shower or sauna before bed. When your body temperature is raised in the late evening, it will fall at bedtime, facilitating slumber. The temperature drop from getting out of the bath signals your body it’s time for bed.
17. Wear socks to bed. Feet often feel cold before the rest of the body because they have the poorest circulation. A study has shown that wearing socks reduces night waking. As an alternative, you could place a hot water bottle near your feet at night.
18. Wear an eye mask to block out light. As discussed earlier, it is very important to sleep in as close to complete darkness as possible. That said, it's not always easy to block out every stream of light using curtains, blinds or drapes, particularly if you live in an urban area (or if your spouse has a different schedule than you do). In these cases, an eye mask can be helpful.
19. Put your work away at least one hour before bed (preferably two hours or more). This will give your mind a chance to unwind so you can go to sleep feeling calm, not hyped up or anxious about tomorrow's deadlines.
20. No TV right before bed. Even better, get the TV out of the bedroom or even completely out of the house. It’s too stimulating to the brain, preventing you from falling asleep quickly.
21. Listen to relaxation CDs. Some people find the sound of white noise or nature sounds, such as the ocean or forest, to be soothing for sleep.
22. Read something spiritual or uplifting. This may help you relax. Don't read anything stimulating, such as a mystery or suspense novel, which has the opposite effect. In addition, if you are really enjoying a suspenseful book, you might be tempted to go on reading for hours, instead of going to sleep!
23. Journaling. If you often lay in bed with your mind racing, it might be helpful keep a journal and write down your thoughts before bed.
Lifestyle Suggestions That Enhance Sleep
24. Reduce or avoid as many drugs as possible. Many drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, may adversely affect sleep. Check with your doctor.
25. Avoid caffeine. At least one study has shown that, in some people, caffeine is not metabolized efficiently, leaving you feeling its effects long after consumption. So, an afternoon cup of coffee or tea will keep some people from falling asleep at night. Be aware that some medications contain caffeine (for example, diet pills).
26. Avoid alcohol. Although alcohol will make you drowsy, the effect is short lived and you will often wake up several hours later, unable to fall back asleep. Alcohol will also keep you from entering the deeper stages of sleep, where your body does most of its healing.
27. Make certain you are exercising regularly. Exercising for at least 30 minutes per day can improve your sleep. However, don't exercise too close to bedtime or it may keep you awake. Studies show exercising in the morning is the best if you can manage it.
28. Lose excess weight. Being overweight can increase your risk of sleep apnea, which can seriously impair your sleep.
29. Avoid foods you may be sensitive to. This is particularly true for sugar, grains, and pasteurized dairy. Sensitivity reactions can cause excess congestion, gastrointestinal upset, bloating and gas, and other problems.
30. Have your adrenals checked by a good natural medicine clinician. Scientists have found that insomnia may be caused by adrenal stress.
31. If you are menopausal or perimenopausal, get checked out by a good natural medicine physician. The hormonal changes at this time may cause sleep problems if not properly addressed.
32. Increase your melatonin. Ideally it is best to increase levels naturally with exposure to bright sunlight in the daytime and absolute complete darkness at night. If that isn’t possible, you may want to consider a melatonin supplement. In scientific studies, melatonin has been shown to increase sleepiness, help you fall asleep more quickly and stay asleep, decrease restlessness, and reverse daytime fatigue. Melatonin is a completely natural substance, made by your body, and has many health benefits in addition to sleep.
***In Conclusion: Ask one of the doctors at Beck-Thibodeau Chiropractic about getting your adrenal glands or hormones checked. We can also advise you on supplements to aid in sleeping. We have helped many patients with these types of problems.
Source: www.mercola.com – October 10, 2010
For example, interrupted or impaired sleep can:
• Dramatically weaken your immune system
• Accelerate tumor growth—tumors grow two to three times faster in laboratory animals with severe sleep dysfunctions
• Cause a pre-diabetic state, making you feel hungry even if you’ve already eaten, which can wreak havoc on your weight
• Seriously impair your memory; even a single night of poor sleep—meaning sleeping only 4 to 6 hours—can impact your ability to think clearly the next day
• Impair your performance on physical or mental tasks, and decrease your problem solving ability
When your circadian rhythms are disrupted, your body produces less melatonin and has less ability to fight cancer, since melatonin helps suppress free radicals that can lead to cancer. This is why tumors grow faster when you sleep poorly.
Impaired sleep can also increase stress-related disorders, including: heart disease, stomach ulcers, constipation and mood disorders like depression.
Sleep deprivation prematurely ages you by interfering with your growth hormone production, normally released by your pituitary gland during deep sleep. Growth hormone helps you look and feel younger. One study has even shown that people with chronic insomnia have a three times greater risk of dying from any cause. Lost sleep is lost forever, and persistent lack of sleep has a cumulative effect when it comes to disrupting your health. Poor sleep can make your life miserable, as most of you probably know. The good news is, there are many natural techniques you can learn to restore your “sleep health.” Whether you have difficulty falling asleep, waking up too often, or feeling inadequately rested when you wake up in the morning—or maybe you simply want to improve the quality of your sleep—you are bound to find some relief from the tips and tricks below.
Optimizing Your Sleep Sanctuary
1. Sleep in complete darkness, or as close to it as possible. Even the tiniest bit of light in the room can disrupt your internal clock and your pineal gland's production of melatonin and serotonin. Even the tiniest glow from your clock radio could be interfering with your sleep. Close your bedroom door, and get rid of night-lights. You may want to refrain from turning on any light at all during the night, even when getting up to go to the bathroom. Cover your windows—I recommend using blackout shades or drapes. All life evolved in response to predictable patterns of light and darkness, called circadian rhythms. Modern day electrical lighting has significantly betrayed your inner clock by disrupting your natural rhythms. Light signals your brain that it’s time to wake up and starts preparing your body for ACTION.
2. Keep the temperature in your bedroom no higher than 70 degrees. Many people keep their homes and particularly their upstairs bedrooms too warm. Studies show that the optimal room temperature for sleep is quite cool, between 60 to 68 degrees. Keeping your room cooler or hotter can lead to restless sleep. When you sleep, your body’s internal temperature drops to its lowest level, generally about four hours after you fall asleep. Scientists believe a cooler bedroom may therefore be most conducive to sleep, since it mimics your body’s natural temperature drop.
3. Check your bedroom for electro-magnetic fields (EMFs). These can disrupt the pineal gland and the production of melatonin and serotonin, and may have other negative effects as well. To do this, you need a gauss meter. You can find various models online, starting around $50 to $200. Some experts even recommend shutting off your circuit breaker before bed to kill all power in your house.
4. Move alarm clocks and other electrical devices away from your bed. If these devices must be used, keep them as far away from your bed as possible, preferably at least 3 feet. Remove the clock from view. It will only add to your worry when you stare at it all night... 2 a.m. ...3 a.m. ... 4:30 a.m.
5. Avoid using loud alarm clocks. It is very stressful on your body to be suddenly jolted awake. If you are regularly getting enough sleep, an alarm may even be unnecessary. You may want to try a sun light alarm clock, it combines the features of a traditional alarm clock (digital display, AM/FM radio, beeper, snooze button, etc) with a special built-in light that gradually increases in intensity that simulates a natural sunrise. It also includes a sunset feature where the light fades to darkness over time, which is ideal for anyone who has trouble falling asleep.
6. Reserve your bed for sleeping. If you are used to watching TV or doing work in bed, you may find it harder to relax and drift off to sleep, so avoid doing these activities in bed.
7. Consider separate bedrooms. Recent studies suggest, for many people, sharing a bed with a partner (or pets) can significantly impair sleep, especially if the partner is a restless sleeper or snores. If bedfellows are consistently interfering with your sleep, you may want to consider a separate bedroom.
Preparing for Bed
8. Get to bed as early as possible. Your body (particularly your adrenal system) does a majority of its recharging between the hours of 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. In addition, your gallbladder dumps toxins during this same period. If you are awake, the toxins back up into your liver, which can further disrupt your health. Prior to the widespread use of electricity, people would go to bed shortly after sundown, as most animals do, and which nature intended for humans as well.
9. Don't change your bedtime. You should go to bed and wake up at the same times each day, even on the weekends. This will help your body to get into a sleep rhythm and make it easier to fall asleep and get up in the morning.
10. Establish a bedtime routine. This could include meditation, deep breathing, using aromatherapy or essential oils or indulging in a massage from your partner. The key is to find something that makes you feel relaxed, then repeat it each night to help you release the tensions of the day.
11. Don't drink any fluids within 2 hours of going to bed. This will reduce the likelihood of needing to get up and go to the bathroom, or at least minimize the frequency.
12. Go to the bathroom right before bed. This will reduce the chances that you'll wake up to go in the middle of the night.
13. Eat a high-protein snack several hours before bed. This can provide the L-tryptophan needed for your melatonin and serotonin production.
14. Also eat a small piece of fruit. This can help the tryptophan cross your blood-brain barrier.
15. Avoid before-bed snacks, particularly grains and sugars. These will raise your blood sugar and delay sleep. Later, when blood sugar drops too low (hypoglycemia), you may wake up and be unable to fall back asleep.
16. Take a hot bath, shower or sauna before bed. When your body temperature is raised in the late evening, it will fall at bedtime, facilitating slumber. The temperature drop from getting out of the bath signals your body it’s time for bed.
17. Wear socks to bed. Feet often feel cold before the rest of the body because they have the poorest circulation. A study has shown that wearing socks reduces night waking. As an alternative, you could place a hot water bottle near your feet at night.
18. Wear an eye mask to block out light. As discussed earlier, it is very important to sleep in as close to complete darkness as possible. That said, it's not always easy to block out every stream of light using curtains, blinds or drapes, particularly if you live in an urban area (or if your spouse has a different schedule than you do). In these cases, an eye mask can be helpful.
19. Put your work away at least one hour before bed (preferably two hours or more). This will give your mind a chance to unwind so you can go to sleep feeling calm, not hyped up or anxious about tomorrow's deadlines.
20. No TV right before bed. Even better, get the TV out of the bedroom or even completely out of the house. It’s too stimulating to the brain, preventing you from falling asleep quickly.
21. Listen to relaxation CDs. Some people find the sound of white noise or nature sounds, such as the ocean or forest, to be soothing for sleep.
22. Read something spiritual or uplifting. This may help you relax. Don't read anything stimulating, such as a mystery or suspense novel, which has the opposite effect. In addition, if you are really enjoying a suspenseful book, you might be tempted to go on reading for hours, instead of going to sleep!
23. Journaling. If you often lay in bed with your mind racing, it might be helpful keep a journal and write down your thoughts before bed.
Lifestyle Suggestions That Enhance Sleep
24. Reduce or avoid as many drugs as possible. Many drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, may adversely affect sleep. Check with your doctor.
25. Avoid caffeine. At least one study has shown that, in some people, caffeine is not metabolized efficiently, leaving you feeling its effects long after consumption. So, an afternoon cup of coffee or tea will keep some people from falling asleep at night. Be aware that some medications contain caffeine (for example, diet pills).
26. Avoid alcohol. Although alcohol will make you drowsy, the effect is short lived and you will often wake up several hours later, unable to fall back asleep. Alcohol will also keep you from entering the deeper stages of sleep, where your body does most of its healing.
27. Make certain you are exercising regularly. Exercising for at least 30 minutes per day can improve your sleep. However, don't exercise too close to bedtime or it may keep you awake. Studies show exercising in the morning is the best if you can manage it.
28. Lose excess weight. Being overweight can increase your risk of sleep apnea, which can seriously impair your sleep.
29. Avoid foods you may be sensitive to. This is particularly true for sugar, grains, and pasteurized dairy. Sensitivity reactions can cause excess congestion, gastrointestinal upset, bloating and gas, and other problems.
30. Have your adrenals checked by a good natural medicine clinician. Scientists have found that insomnia may be caused by adrenal stress.
31. If you are menopausal or perimenopausal, get checked out by a good natural medicine physician. The hormonal changes at this time may cause sleep problems if not properly addressed.
32. Increase your melatonin. Ideally it is best to increase levels naturally with exposure to bright sunlight in the daytime and absolute complete darkness at night. If that isn’t possible, you may want to consider a melatonin supplement. In scientific studies, melatonin has been shown to increase sleepiness, help you fall asleep more quickly and stay asleep, decrease restlessness, and reverse daytime fatigue. Melatonin is a completely natural substance, made by your body, and has many health benefits in addition to sleep.
***In Conclusion: Ask one of the doctors at Beck-Thibodeau Chiropractic about getting your adrenal glands or hormones checked. We can also advise you on supplements to aid in sleeping. We have helped many patients with these types of problems.
Source: www.mercola.com – October 10, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
H1N1 Swine Flu Pandemic Was a Farce?
The H1N1 flu was actually no more serious than most seasonal strains, according to a new study. H1N1 virus disproportionately affected children and young adults, but the symptoms and risk of complications were similar to those of seasonal influenza viruses. For the study, researchers compared the H1N1 pandemic flu with the seasonal H1N1 flu, as well as the H3N2 seasonal flu. H1N1 pandemic flu was not linked to substantially more hospitalization or pneumonia compared with either H1N1 seasonal flu or H3N2 seasonal flu.
Reuters reports:
“This year, it is doubtful H1N1 pandemic flu will be noticed ... most people are now immune to this strain, because it spread so far and wide.”
What a difference a year makes. It was around this time last year that swine flu hysteria was sweeping across the United States and much of the world, and one of the largest, most inappropriate and unnecessary vaccine campaigns was launched. We were told by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the president of the United States that H1N1 swine flu was deadly and millions might die worldwide. The terrifying, deadly pandemic that health officials had been expecting for over half a century was knocking at our doorstep … only it never materialized. It didn’t take long for the truth to come out -- that the swine flu was not only no more dangerous than regular flu but it was FAR less dangerous. Nevertheless, government agencies remained steadfast in their urgings to get vaccinated.
Swine Flu is a Mild Virus, and the Pandemic was a Fake
Now we have even more evidence of swine flu’s mild nature, as a new report in JAMA found that serious complications were no more likely in adults and kids with swine flu than they were in those with regular seasonal flu. This is an important finding to further solidify that the 2009 swine flu pandemic will likely go down as one of the most massive cover-ups in American history … but it is really not new information. Within a week of Australia reporting that the swine flu virus appeared to be 40 times less lethal than originally feared, the World Health Organization (WHO) instructed countries to simply stop lab confirming suspected H1N1 cases, which meant that any and all flu-like symptoms were reported as pandemic influenza, padding the statistics. It was only June 11, 2009 when WHO raised its swine flu pandemic alert from a 5 to a 6. By this time the swine flu virus was already showing itself to have mild symptoms, quick recovery time, and low incidence of death among the vast majority of H1N1 patients throughout the world.
Yet all the drug companies needed to begin shipping out their profitable new H1N1 vaccine across the world was for the swine flu to be kicked up one notch, from a phase 5 to a phase 6 pandemic … and that is exactly what they got.
Suspicious?
That’s putting it mildly considering the very same scientists, who advised the WHO on their decisions were paid consultants with the drug industry. Even before this revelation, the Council of Europe, European Parliament, and even the WHO itself had launched investigations to determine exactly what role the drug companies played in the swine flu debacle, and how deeply Big Pharma's tentacles reach into the World Health Organization. In a motion asking the council to investigate the declaration of H1N1 as a pandemic, these members accused pharmaceutical companies of faking the pandemic and farming it out to the world, so they could fill their pockets with the proceeds. This so-called pandemic was never a pandemic in the true sense. Despite rampant misrepresentation of the facts, last year's flu season turned out to be one of the mildest in recent years!
The Swine Flu May be a Memory … but the Vaccine is Still Here
The flu vaccine that’s being widely promoted in the United States this year is a combination vaccine that contains a type A and type B seasonal flu strain as well as the pandemic H1N1 type A swine flu strain of influenza. This is despite the fact that many Americans have now been exposed to H1N1 swine flu and have some natural immunity to it. But while the swine flu is mild for most people, the vaccine has been causing a host of reactions in both children and adults. According to Barbara Loe Fisher of the National Vaccine Information Center, a special government committee has been created to investigate last year's H1N1 monovalent H1N1 swine flu vaccine for signs that it may be associated with a higher rate of certain kinds of reactions. What the committee found out provisionally is that there were three signs of trouble with the H1N1 swine flu vaccine used last year.
In a recent NVIC video update, Fisher explained:
"One was Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), which we know has been associated with influenza vaccine since 1976 when the first swine flu vaccine was used.
There is [also] a sign of a blood disorder called thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia is when your blood cannot produce enough platelets. It's an autoimmune type reaction.
The other is Bell's palsy. That's a facial paralysis. It's a neuroimmune reaction.
The government is saying they don't know if these are true signals or not, but there were some red flags that were raised."
Sweden and Finland also recently sounded the alarm because young patients suddenly developed narcolepsy after being vaccinated with the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. France, Germany and Norway have also started counting cases, and the EU has launched an investigation. Earlier this year, Australia suspended use of its seasonal flu vaccine for children under the age of 5 back in April after detecting an abnormal number of side effects within 12 hours of vaccination, compared to previous years. The vaccine contained three strains of influenza, including the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. Side effects included high fevers and seizures. Despite outstanding questions about the safety of this year’s seasonal influenza vaccine containing the reactive H1N1 swine flu component, including warning signs from Australia and Europe about seizures and other neurological complications, the United States is now moving into the 2010-2011 flu season using a flu vaccine that may be very reactive.
"I am concerned," Fisher says. "We have over 300 million people [in the US] who… are supposed to get this influenza vaccine. And we have a very aggressive push by the media and others who are following the lead of the government, so we could have a bad situation."
Source: Business Week 9/7/10; JAMA 9/8/10; FoodConsumer.org 9/8/10
Reuters reports:
“This year, it is doubtful H1N1 pandemic flu will be noticed ... most people are now immune to this strain, because it spread so far and wide.”
What a difference a year makes. It was around this time last year that swine flu hysteria was sweeping across the United States and much of the world, and one of the largest, most inappropriate and unnecessary vaccine campaigns was launched. We were told by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the president of the United States that H1N1 swine flu was deadly and millions might die worldwide. The terrifying, deadly pandemic that health officials had been expecting for over half a century was knocking at our doorstep … only it never materialized. It didn’t take long for the truth to come out -- that the swine flu was not only no more dangerous than regular flu but it was FAR less dangerous. Nevertheless, government agencies remained steadfast in their urgings to get vaccinated.
Swine Flu is a Mild Virus, and the Pandemic was a Fake
Now we have even more evidence of swine flu’s mild nature, as a new report in JAMA found that serious complications were no more likely in adults and kids with swine flu than they were in those with regular seasonal flu. This is an important finding to further solidify that the 2009 swine flu pandemic will likely go down as one of the most massive cover-ups in American history … but it is really not new information. Within a week of Australia reporting that the swine flu virus appeared to be 40 times less lethal than originally feared, the World Health Organization (WHO) instructed countries to simply stop lab confirming suspected H1N1 cases, which meant that any and all flu-like symptoms were reported as pandemic influenza, padding the statistics. It was only June 11, 2009 when WHO raised its swine flu pandemic alert from a 5 to a 6. By this time the swine flu virus was already showing itself to have mild symptoms, quick recovery time, and low incidence of death among the vast majority of H1N1 patients throughout the world.
Yet all the drug companies needed to begin shipping out their profitable new H1N1 vaccine across the world was for the swine flu to be kicked up one notch, from a phase 5 to a phase 6 pandemic … and that is exactly what they got.
Suspicious?
That’s putting it mildly considering the very same scientists, who advised the WHO on their decisions were paid consultants with the drug industry. Even before this revelation, the Council of Europe, European Parliament, and even the WHO itself had launched investigations to determine exactly what role the drug companies played in the swine flu debacle, and how deeply Big Pharma's tentacles reach into the World Health Organization. In a motion asking the council to investigate the declaration of H1N1 as a pandemic, these members accused pharmaceutical companies of faking the pandemic and farming it out to the world, so they could fill their pockets with the proceeds. This so-called pandemic was never a pandemic in the true sense. Despite rampant misrepresentation of the facts, last year's flu season turned out to be one of the mildest in recent years!
The Swine Flu May be a Memory … but the Vaccine is Still Here
The flu vaccine that’s being widely promoted in the United States this year is a combination vaccine that contains a type A and type B seasonal flu strain as well as the pandemic H1N1 type A swine flu strain of influenza. This is despite the fact that many Americans have now been exposed to H1N1 swine flu and have some natural immunity to it. But while the swine flu is mild for most people, the vaccine has been causing a host of reactions in both children and adults. According to Barbara Loe Fisher of the National Vaccine Information Center, a special government committee has been created to investigate last year's H1N1 monovalent H1N1 swine flu vaccine for signs that it may be associated with a higher rate of certain kinds of reactions. What the committee found out provisionally is that there were three signs of trouble with the H1N1 swine flu vaccine used last year.
In a recent NVIC video update, Fisher explained:
"One was Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), which we know has been associated with influenza vaccine since 1976 when the first swine flu vaccine was used.
There is [also] a sign of a blood disorder called thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia is when your blood cannot produce enough platelets. It's an autoimmune type reaction.
The other is Bell's palsy. That's a facial paralysis. It's a neuroimmune reaction.
The government is saying they don't know if these are true signals or not, but there were some red flags that were raised."
Sweden and Finland also recently sounded the alarm because young patients suddenly developed narcolepsy after being vaccinated with the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. France, Germany and Norway have also started counting cases, and the EU has launched an investigation. Earlier this year, Australia suspended use of its seasonal flu vaccine for children under the age of 5 back in April after detecting an abnormal number of side effects within 12 hours of vaccination, compared to previous years. The vaccine contained three strains of influenza, including the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. Side effects included high fevers and seizures. Despite outstanding questions about the safety of this year’s seasonal influenza vaccine containing the reactive H1N1 swine flu component, including warning signs from Australia and Europe about seizures and other neurological complications, the United States is now moving into the 2010-2011 flu season using a flu vaccine that may be very reactive.
"I am concerned," Fisher says. "We have over 300 million people [in the US] who… are supposed to get this influenza vaccine. And we have a very aggressive push by the media and others who are following the lead of the government, so we could have a bad situation."
Source: Business Week 9/7/10; JAMA 9/8/10; FoodConsumer.org 9/8/10
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