Natural Wellness Choices

Iodine for Optimal Health

2011-04-16T22:33:00.002-05:00

Iodine for Optimal Health

Optimal Dose of Iodine/Iodide is 12.5 milligrams a day – not 0.150 mg

Iodine is critical for our health and yet it is underused and even incorrectly feared. Former professor of obstetrics, gynecology and endocrinology at UCLA School of Medicine, Guy Abraham, M.D. began research which resulted in a series of papers which came to be known as “The Iodine Project.” Our new understanding of iodine has some which startling implications for your health.

The RDA (recommended daily allowance) is the minimal amount of iodine/iodide needed to prevent goiter, hypothyroidism and cretinism - mental retardation due to low thyroid activity. What has been missing from most discussions on iodine is what the optimal dose would be. Dr. Abraham’s studies revealed that the optimal daily dose is 12.5 milligrams which is almost 100 times the RDA of iodine - 0.150 milligrams (150 micrograms). At the Hotze Health and Wellness Center we routinely recommend the use 12.5 mg a day by taking 1 tablet of Iodoral, a combination of Iodine and Iodide. Note: Iodide is preferred by the thyroid gland. Iodine is preferred by the breast, ovary and prostate. Both iodide and iodine must be replaced but for the sake of simplicity I will simply use iodine to refer to both of these forms.

A Rats’ Tale: The Origins of Iodo-phobia

Many medical experts incorrectly believe that iodine can block thyroid function and becomes toxic at doses of more than 2 mg a day. This erroneous conclusion started with a 1948 rat study published by Drs. Wolff and Chaikoff. If they had limited their incorrect conclusions to rats, the results would not have been too bad (I would not be too upset if rats were iodine deficient). Unfortunately, the Wolff-Chaikoff conclusions were generalized to humans and today medical textbooks repeat these conclusions as though they were based on solid evidence. Several other studies have looked at iodine and seemed to build on the conventional wisdom that iodine is dangerous. Later, these studies were also shown to have flaws which have led most who look at the data to conclude iodine supplementation is very safe. In fact, as discussed below, the Japanese have an intake of 13.8 mg of iodine/iodide a day and experience significantly better health in many important areas such as thyroid function and cancer rates.

Iodine is Essential for Brain Development

Women of childbearing age need to pay particular attention to their intake of iodine. Iodine deficiency is now accepted as the most common cause of preventable brain damage in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 30% of the world’s population has insufficient iodine intake. Iodine deficiency has adverse effects in all stages of development but is most damaging to the developing brain. In addition to regulating many aspects of growth and development, thyroid hormone is important for myelination of the central nervous system, which is most active before and shortly after birth. Every year over 100,000 infants are born with cretinism – mental retardation due to low thyroid (hypothyroidism), a problem clearly related to low iodine intake.

School children in iodine-deficient areas show poorer school performance, lower IQs, and a higher incidence of learning disabilities than matched groups from iodine-sufficient areas. A combination of 18 studies (called a meta-analysis) concluded that iodine deficiency alone lowered mean IQ scores in children by 13.5 points.

Iodine and ADD/ADHD/Autism

Areas where iodine intake is lower has been associated with high rates of ADHD and ADD.

Children with autism have been shown to have lower levels of iodine that children without autism.

Hypothyroidism and Goiter

Iodine deficiency is a common cause of goiter in many parts of the world and may result in hypothyroidism. Adequate iodine intake will generally reduce the size of goiters, but the reversibility of the effects of hypothyroidism depends on an individual's stage of development when treated.

Iodine and Cancer Prevention

Japanese women have the highest iodine intake in the world at 13.8 milligrams a day, mainly from seaweed. They also have one of the lowest rates of fibrocystic breast disease, breast, ovarian and uterine cancer. Conversely, Thailand & Mexico have low iodine intake and have high rates of breast cancer and goiter.

Iodine to Resolve Breast and Ovary Cysts
The breast and ovary concentrate iodine and iodine deficiency causes fibrocystic breast disease (FBD) with nodules, cyst enlargement, pain and scar tissue.

Iodine has been shown to resolve fibrocystic breast disease and help ovarian cysts to decrease in size.

Iodine for Prevention of Autoimmune Disease

When iodine deficiency is present, the thyroid enzymes called peroxidases damage the thyroid gland and can cause autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ Disease. When iodine is replaced, the peroxidase injury in hyperthyroidism stops and hyperthyroidism can return to normal.

Iodine for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

Lipoprotein (a) is sticky substance in the blood which when created in excess can cause plaques in arteries. Excessive clotting and vascular disease resulting from high levels of lipoprotein (a) can be reversed by iodine treatment.

Determining if a Person is Iodine Sufficient and Treatment Dosages
If you are not taking iodine supplements or eating iodine rich foods such as kelp or seafood, you are very likely to be among the 95% of adults who are deficient. If needed, the status of iodine can be determined by urine testing. A loading dose of 4 – 12.5 mg Iodoral tablets are taken (50 mg of iodine/iodide) and for the next 24 hours all the urine is collected. If less than 90% (45 mg of the iodine) is excreted, the person is considered iodine deficient (i.e. the less iodine you have in your body, the more your body will hold onto iodine instead of it passing through in the urine). By the way, the fact that iodine is excreted when the body has enough highlights the safety of iodine, if you do not need it, it passes through you.

Iodine Use is Inhibited by Fluoride, Bromide and Chlorine
Instead of addressing the need for more iodine, we are adding iodine blocking compounds such as fluoride, bromide and chlorine. Chlorine and fluoride are added to city water supplies and bromide is added to most baked products such as bread. Bromides are present in many processed foods and beverages (especially Mountain Dew).

Iodine Supplementation Allows Detoxification of Fluoride and Bromide
David Brownstein, M.D. and Jonathan V. Wright, M.D have noted that iodine helps remove toxic elements such as bromide and fluoride. As is generally seen with detoxification, the mobilization of toxic substances can cause temporary side effects such as rash, fatigue or irritability all of which can be resolved by decreasing the dosage of iodine.

People are using less of our main source of iodine: Iodized Salt
Americans are getting less iodine than ever. We have replaced iodine in bread with iodine, less iodine rich seafood and using less iodized salt. Note that most sea salt does not contain iodine; however, iodized sea salt is available. The nutritional survey known as NHANES I and III demonstrated that the average iodine levels in the US have declined more than 50% during the 20 year period from 1971-1974 to 1988-1994.

Are You Low On Iodine?

Unless you are eating a lot of seaweed, kelp, seafood or taking Iodoral or other iodine/iodide supplements, you are almost certainly low.

Dr. Brownstein has found 95% of those tested are low in iodine

Starting Iodine

While very safe, iodine supplements like Iodoral should be done with medical supervision. I often recommend our guests at the Hotze Health and Wellness Center start with one 12.5 mg tablet of Iodoral, available at Physicians Preference www.physicianspreference.com. The dose should be reduced if any detoxification symptoms occur. Detoxification symptoms include irritability, acne-like skin lesions, headache, an unpleasant metal taste or increased salivation and sneezing.

Iodoral may decrease the need for thyroid hormone supplementation. Watch for signs of too much thyroid such as feeling your heart beating hard or fast, anxiety, increased sweating, being short of breath of not tolerating heat.

Selenium is required to use iodine/iodide, 200 mcg of selenium a day ensures adequate selenium for use of iodine.

Dr. Abraham found iodine deficiency takes a year to resolve when 12.5 mg a day is used and 3 months when 50 mg a day is used. For this reason, those with severe deficiency issues may best respond when treated with 4 tablets a day for 3 months and then reduce to 1- 12.5 mg tablet a day.

For children who cannot swallow a tablet, some liquid preparations such as Liquid Iodine Forte from Biotics Research may be helpful. Each drop contains 150 mcg (0.15 mg) of potassium iodide. A drop a day would cover the RDA and would be a reasonable minimum for most children. Use of iodized sea salt is also helpful. The optimal dose in children has not been determined but is certainly higher than the RDA for children listed below:

RDA for Children
1–3 years	90 μg/day of iodine
4–8 years	90 μg/day of iodine
RDA for Boys
9–13 years	120 μg/day of iodine
14–18 years	150 μg/day of iodine
RDA for Girls
9–13 years	120 μg/day of iodine
14–18 years	150 μg/day of iodine

Iodine Allergy?

An allergy to iodine itself is rare. A reaction to intravenous contrast dye or shellfish is not the same as an allergy to elemental iodine/iodide. The allergy is actually to the organic molecule which includes iodine bound to something else. An allergy to elemental iodine/iodide is extremely unlikely. If you do not have a problem with iodized salt, you are not allergic to elemental iodine and iodine supplements. If you are avoiding iodine supplements due to a history of a reaction to shellfish or contrast dye, you should discuss this with your doctor before starting Iodoral.

For more information:

www.theiodineproject.webs.com

www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/opt_Research_I.shtml

www.drbrownstein.com/bookstore_Iodine.php

Eat to Live: Sylvia’s Super Salubrious Salad Shake

2011-02-25T12:08:00.002-06:00

Eat to Live

I recently read Dr. Fuhrman's book "Eat to Live." It is available in audio form as well as in paperback. The website drfuhrman.com is well done.

I was very impressed and have adopted his concept of trying to eat 2 pounds a day of nutritious green foods daily. Sylvia has come up with a tasty way to help achieve this goal that I wanted to share with you.

Sylvia’s Super Salubrious Salad Shake

In a powerful blender ( like a Vitamix) add the following ingredients:

-1 handful of carrots

-3 cloves garlic, pressed

- ½ jalepeno pepper

-1 tsp minced ginger

-2 T. red onion

-6 rehydrated dried tomato halves

-2 handfuls of spinach

-1 large leaf of kale (center rib removed)

-3 large leaves of romaine lettuce

- 1/2 avocado

-1 t. Bragg’s Amino Acids or Nama Shoyu or soy sauce

-1 t. sea salt

-1 T. fresh lemon or lime juice

-1 T. hempseed or flaxseed oil

-1/2 cup water

Whiz altogether until a nice smooth consistency. You will probably need to eat with a spoon, but you can add more water if you want to drink it.

How to Fight Infections Naturally

2011-01-08T15:45:00.002-06:00

NaturalWellnessChoices.com

We all hate that feeling of coming down with something. Fortunately, we have been blessed with many powerful, natural tools which can help fight colds and flu. When started early, you may find that both the duration and severity of symptoms are significantly reduced. Many of the products I mention can be found at www.physicianspreference.com de

Fighting & Preventing Infections begins with healthy living:

- Good nutrition Sugars and fruit juices significantly decrease our immune defenses. Conversely, fruits and vegetables boost immune activity. Eating 5+ serving of fruit & vegetables can also be augmented with fruit & vegetable capsules.

- Deal positively with stress, get enough sleep and exercise regularly in moderation

Nasal Rinsing (Neti-Pot, NeilMed Sinus Rinse, Nasopure)

This really is easy and incredibly inexpensive. Nasal rinsing with saline or salt water helps to temporarily relieve sinus congestion and can help slow viral activity. Devices for nasal irrigation are sold at most drug stores (see names above). I would use nasal irrigation 3-4x/day while fighting an infection. For more information on this, see my June 18, 09 blog post.

Vitamin C

Often you do not know when you have a runny nose whether your allergies are acting up or if you are coming down with something. Vitamin C (as well as Andrographis - see below) work well for both conditions.

A review of 21 placebo-controlled studies found that vitamin C reduced the duration and severity of symptoms by 23%. In these studies, 1,000-8,000 mg of vitamin C was used. Overall, higher doses work better than low and some will need 12-15,000 mg a day to optimally fight off infection. Vitamin C is very safe and the dose limit is primarily determined by your GI tract – too much can cause gas or diarrhea. Dr. Cathcart found that the sicker one is, the greater the need for vitamin C. His publication in Medical Hypothesis documented that 80% of adults can tolerate doses of 10-15 grams of vitamin C a day.

Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata)

Andrographis is an herb which increases the production of infection fighting antibodies and improves the ability of the white cells to “eat” invaders (i.e. improves macrophage phagocytosis). Studies have shown andrographis significantly improves symptoms of the common cold and the flu. Generally people improve within 2 days but 4-5 days may be required for maximal effects. The doses used have been 200 mg -6,000 mg a day. As with most herbs, pregnant women should not use andrographis.

Elderberry

A trial from Israel published in the Winter1995 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine studied the Elderberry product, Sambucol. This study was small and I would like to see it repeated but the results were rather striking: those who took Sambucol recovered completely within two to three days versus 6 days in the placebo group. Another advantage of Elderberry is it apparently tastes good and it is easy to get children to take. The dosage for children is two tablespoons daily, adults take four tablespoons.

Probiotics (Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus acidophilus)

Children in day-care taking a probiotic blend had a 45% lower risk of experiencing fever, cough, rhinorrhea compared to placebo. Those who did get symptoms had less sick time – 2 days shorter. These taking probiotics were significantly less likely to need antibiotics.

Zinc

The most studied forms of zinc for the cold are the oral lozenges and the intranasal spray. Zinc helps decrease the duration of the common cold in adults. Lozenges should be taken every 2 hours while awake, starting within 48 hours of symptom onset. Zinc nasal spray has also reduced the severity and duration of cold symptoms; however, some have lost their sense of smell following the use of intranasal zinc. I would recommend avoiding intranasal zinc and but rather use the oral zinc lozenges or capsules.

Echinacea

Echinacea increases phagocytosis and increases lymphocyte activity, possibly by promoting the release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interferon. If taken daily for more than 8 weeks, Echinacea may lose its ability to work. Those who find Echinacea helpful at fighting chronic infections may do best if they take it for 8 weeks and go 1 week off the Echinacea.

One issue with herbs is that the effectiveness varies with the product due to factors such as:

a) The exact species is used

b) Where the plant was grown

c) Which part of the plant is used

d) How the plant was processed

For example a recent study by Barrett (December 2010) showed that a MediHerb Echinacea product containing dried extracts of Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia did not make a significant difference when started at the onset of cold symptoms. Most studies on Echinacea showing a shortening and easing of cold symptoms used Echinacea purpurea. The recent media releases made it sound as if Echinacea had been wholly discredited; whereas, the reality is that we have a study showing one particular product (MediHerb Echinacea) did not work well. When dealing with medical studies, one must look at the details to avoid being deceived and most studies show Echinacea offers modest degree of benefit.

Echinacea is in the same plant family as ragweed and might have cross-allergenicity for those who have ragweed allergies

Olive Leaf Extract

Olive leaf has infection fighting antimicrobial properties and according to the Alternative Medicine Review it appears to interact with the protein in cold and flu virus to block infection.

Colloidal Silver is a natural antibiotic which kills many organisms which can cause disease including colds. Colloidal silver products are very safe when taken according to the recommended dosage for short periods of time. Older preparations and home-made colloidal silvers used at higher than recommended doses have caused argyria, a condition that causes the skin to turn blue-gray. This is not seen with a single commercially made product such as those used by naturally oriented practitioners. Just to avoid any potential for the colloidal silver building up, I recommend you use it only to clear up an infection and always use no more than the recommended doses. Colloidal silver should be diluted with at least 8 oz. of water and used no more than 7-10 days. It can also be added to nasal rinses to help clear up sinus infections.

Grapefruit seed extract: Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, Volume 5, No. 3, USA, 1990 examined the effects of GSE and compared this with 30 effective antibiotics and 18 proven fungicides. GSE was found to perform as well as any and all of the tested agents.

Grapefruit seed extract is non-toxic. Most of my experience has been with Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract Plus, 125 mg- 90 caps. The combination of Grapefruit seed extract, vitamin C, astragalus, and the extracts of Echinacea, Reishi, Maitake, Shiitake, ginger root, goldenseal, and yarrow can be found together in Nutribiotics Defense Plus

Garlic (Allium sativum): Garlic has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and immunostimulant effects

Mushroom fractions: Maitake & Shitake mushrooms are rich in immune boosting components such as beta glucans which help activate the immune systems infection fighting cells such as natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells.

Colostrum is the bovine (cow) “fore-milk” or “first milk” which can enhance help in several ways:

· Rich with infection fighting IgG-type immunoglobulins

· Contains lactoferrin which can fight candida.

· Contains growth factors which may explain why athletes often notice that colostrum can enhancing performance and speed up recovery from injuries.

· Note: Should not be used if you are allergic to dairy (though lactose-intolerant individuals may use this)

Selected References

Vitamin C Medical Hypotheses, 7:1359-1376, 1981

Andrographis Paniculata

Puri A, Saxena R, Saxena RP, et al. Immunostimulant agents from Andrographis paniculata. J Nat Prod 1993;56:995-9.

Caceres DD, Hancke JL, Burgos RA, Wikman GK. Prevention of common colds with Andrographis Paniculata dried extract: a pilot, double-blind trial. Phytomedicine 1997;4:101-4

Caceres DD, Hancke JL, Burgos RA, et al. Use of visual analogue scale measurements (VAS) to assess the effectiveness of standardized Andrographis paniculata extract SHA-10 in reducing the symptoms of common cold. A randomized, double-blind, placebo study. Phytomedicine 1999;6:217-23.

Thamlikitkul V, Dechatiwongse T, Theerapong S, et al. Efficacy of Andrographis paniculata, Nees for pharyngotonsillitis in adults. J Med Assoc Thai 1991;74:437-42.

Caceres DD, Hancke JL, Burgos RA, Wikman GK. Prevention of common colds with Andrographis

Melchior J, Palm S, Wikman G. Controlled clinical study of standardized Andrographis paniculata in common cold- a pilot trial. Phytomedicine 1996;97;3:315-8.Paniculata dried extract: a pilot, double-blind trial. Phytomedicine 1997;4:101-4.

Elderberry

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Winter1995

WebMD Medical News: "The Herbal Way to Keep Flu At Bay."

WebMD Medical News: "Flu Widespread Over Nearly Half of U.S."

Garlic

Ankri S, Mirelman D. Antimicrobial properties of allicin from garlic. Microbes Infect 1999;1:125-9.

Echinacea

B. Barrett, R. Brown, D. Rakel, M. Mundt, T. Ewers Echinacea for Treating the Common Cold A Randomized Trial Ann Intern Med December 20, 2010 vol. 153 no. 12 769-777

Brinkeborn RM, Shah DV, Degenring FH. Echinaforce and other Echinacea fresh plant preparations in the treatment of the common cold. A randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind clinical trial. Phytomedicine 1999;6:1-6.

Barrett BP, Brown RL, Locken K, et al. Treatment of the common cold with unrefined echinacea. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 2002; 137:939-46.

Jean Carpers’ “Food Your Miracle Medicine”

2010-10-17T21:41:00.000-05:00

Jean Carpers’ “Food Your Miracle Medicine”

We all know that our diet is important. What we often underestimate is the incredible healing power of food.

Our staff recently read “Food Your Miracle Medicine” by Jean Carper. I found it to be a great resource and in todays’ issue, I would like to share a few highpoints of Jean Carpers’ work. de

Introduction

Food has now emerged as a critical way to prevent and treat disease. Jean Carper reviews the food-health connection in an easy to understand manner and offers great insight into addressing disease and promoting health.

Carper reviews how food has been used to promote health and cure disease since antiquity. We have not only forgotten much of this ancient information but we have also created many new problems such as the widespread use of omega-6 rich vegetable oils and margarine.

Food Allergies

Food has great power to fight oxidation and promote the healthiest possible balance in our bodies but it has also can create great disease via food allergies. The allergy community has largely focused its attention on the immediate allergy reactions which are associated with IgE antibody production toward that food. The problem with this approach is that the most common food allergies involve delayed food reactions which are not IgE mediated. Wheat, dairy and corn are the most common foods which trigger the delayed food allergy problems. The mechanism behind the delayed food allergies is not IgE but rather appears to be related to IgG and other immune mechanisms. Why do these reaction start? Why would normal food be associated with allergies? Infection and inflammation can result in a ‘leaky gut’ which allows incompletely broken down foods to enter the bloodstream. In addition, low levels of digestive enzymes and the lack of natural enzymes in processed food also impair s proper digestion and increase the risk of food allergies.

How can these food allergies be detected?

Food allergies can produce almost any symptom: chronic fatigue, depression, headaches, arthritis, mood swings, diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc.

For 1 week avoid the most common food allergens: wheat, dairy and corn. Then add a food back and eat a lot of it – give it 4 days to see if you notice a difference. One important exception is the obvious – if you have had a severe reaction to a food in the past, this should not be challenged since it may result in a severe reaction.

Preventing Specific Diseases

Heart Disease

Avoiding saturated fat rich meat, dairy and eating a more Plant Based diet (save possibly fish) is key to preventing and even reversing heart disease. Specifically, one should eat fruits and vegetables, onions, garlic, nuts, legumes, grains, foods rich in vitamins C, E and beta carotene as well as possibly adding moderate alcohol and fish.

Drinking tea reduces atherosclerosis

Supplements for those with heart disease would include fish oil, garlic and vitamin C.

Cholesterol

While not the actual cause of heart disease, cholesterol can be oxidized and cause vascular injury. The same diet associated with heart health also lowers the cholesterol. Adding oats and grains high in soluble fiber also helps. Interestingly, fatty food such as almonds, olive oil and avocado can actually lower the cholesterol. Note that Decaffeinated coffee can increase LDL by 6%.

Eggs and dietary cholesterol is a minimal contributor to cholesterol in the blood and do not need to be completely avoided.

How can HDL (the protective cholesterol) be raised?

- Beans can increase HDL 9% and improve the HDL/LDL ratio 17%

- Garlic - 3 Garlic cloves a day can reduce cholesterol by 10%

- Onion: ½ a raw onion increases HDL 30%

Triglycerides are lowered by avoiding sugar, simple carbohydrates, juice, heavy alcohol drinking and saturated fats.

Preventing Strokes and Blood Clots

A heart-healthy diet can be made all the more powerful by adding garlic, onion, fish and moderate use of red wine. The onion with the burger may actually help negative the clot forming effects of saturated fat.

Spices such as cloves, ginger, cumin and turmeric keep our vessels free of clots as do olive oil and mushrooms. Eating breakfast and drinking tea also helps prevent clots.

Strokes include the above plus emphasizing carotene rich foods such as carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato and spinach – i.e. Carrots 1 – 5x /week can reduce stroke by 68%

Fish oil and potassium are very important in preventing strokes as well. Potassium rich foods include: Spinach, beet greens, tomato juice, oranges, cantaloupe, carrots, baked potato with skin and acorn squash.

Lowering Blood Pressure

Blood pressure can be raised by high sodium foods as well as excessive alcohol intake.

Foods that lower blood pressure include: Celery, Garlic, fatty fish, fruits and vegetables, high calcium and high potassium foods.

§ Celery: 2-4 stalks a day. Celery has been noted to have compounds capable of reducing blood pressure by 12-14%.

§ Garlic 2 cloves a day 171/102 to 152/89

§ 2,000 mg of fish oil reduces blood pressure approximately 5 mm Hg

§ Vegetables lower blood pressure. Vegetarians have a strikingly low rate of hypertension

Constipation

Foods which prevent and cure constipation include coarse wheat bran, rice bran, fruits and vegetables, prunes, figs, dates, coffee and fluids

Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be brought on by dairy, fruit juices, coffee, sorbitol, xylitol, magnesium and vitamin C supplements.

Diarrhea can be relieved with starchy soups, cereals and yogurt

Nausea: Ginger

Gas: Ginger, Garlic, soak/rinse beans

Lactose Intolerance: Yogurt, non-yogurt dairy (milk, butter, cheese)

Heartburn: avoid chocolate, fats, peppermint, garlic, onions, orange juice, red hot sauce, tomatoes, coffee and alcohol. Of course, we also treat yeast, bacterial overgrowth and use digestive enzymes and Betaine HCl to improve digestion.

Colic: usually from giving infants cows’ milk or breastfeeding mother ingesting milk.

Spastic Colon: Relieved by high fiber bran

Aggravated by: Milk, Sorbitol, Fructose, Coffee, Cereal

Ulcers: Bananas, Plantain, Cabbage juice, licorice, tea, hot chili peppers (avoid milk, beer, coffee, caffeine)

Gallstone: Eat plant based: vegetables, soybean, olive oil and avoid coffee and sugar

Kidney Stones: Plant based diet: fruit/vegetables, high fiber grains, fluids- water. Calcium rich foods actually help reduce stones and should be consumed daily.

Avoid: high protein foods such as animal products, Sodium and Oxalate rich food like Spinach and Rhubarb

Cancer:

Prevention: Vegetables, garlic, cabbage, soybeans, onions, carrots, tomatoes, all green and yellow vegetables, fruits especially citrus, fatty fish, tea, milk, vitamin D

Increased: Cancer is increased by meat, high fat foods, vegetable oils, excessive alcohol

Prevent Spread: Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, collard greens, seafood and garlic, vitamin D, Calcium for colon cancer

Garlic is amazing in its power to promote health:

§ Preventing heart disease by 66%

§ 3 Garlic cloves a day can reduce cholesterol by 10%

§ Garlic oil can increase HDL 23%

§ Prevent blood clots

§ Preventing strokes

§ Lowers blood pressure

§ Reducing the pain of osteoarthritis

§ Prevent and fight viruses

§ Kill bacterial infections

§ Kill yeast overgrowth

§ Decrease gas

Cancer Resources and Backpacks Causing Back Pain

2010-09-15T19:26:00.001-05:00

Cancer Resources

I am often asked if there are any natural ways to help fight cancer. While our medical practice at the Hotze Health and Wellness Center does not include treating cancer, I do have the privilege of hearing from many of you about what has helped.

In the spirit of networking and passing on what others have found to be useful, I wanted to collect and share these resources. This list is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a personal endorsement or a professional medical referral to these individuals

Knockout: Interviews with Doctors Who Are Curing Cancer--And How to Prevent Getting It in the First Place by Suzanne Somers Oct 20, 2009

A very useful book which includes interviews with many leaders in this area: Ralph Moss, Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski, Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, Dr. James Forsythe, Dr. Julie Taguchi, Dr. Russell Blaylock, Burton Goldberg, David Schmidt, Dr. Stephen Sinatra, Dr. Michael Galitzer, Cristina Paul and Bill Faloon.

I have had the pleasure of interviewing Suzanne Somers, Dr. Burznski, Dr. Gonzalez on our radio broadcasts (The Hotze Health & Wellness Centers’ Health & Wellness Solutions which can be heard Monday – Friday 12-1 pm Central time. I have met Ralph Moss spoken with him at a medical conference.

Dean Ornish

http://www.pmri.org/index.html

Dean Ornish pioneered using diet to prevent and reverse disease.

Ralph Moss
http://www.cancerdecisions.com/
He puts together conventional and alternative care and provides cancer specific information as well as one-on-one consults with him.

Dr. Daniel Rubin, N.D.

http://www.rubinmedical.com

Dr. Rubin is a naturopathic physician in Arizona who works with those with cancer to help optimize the immune system.

Naturopathic Specialists, LLC
7331 E Osborn Dr Ste 330
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
Phone: (480) 788-3982
fax: (480) 990-1110

Stanislaw R. Burzynski, MD, PhD

http://www.burzynskiclinic.com/

Developed “antineoplastins” Fought and won against the FDA.

Burzynski Clinic
9432 Katy Freeway, Suite 200
Houston, Texas 77055
Phone: 713.335.5697
Toll-Free: 800-714-7181

Cancer Clinic: ITL Cancer Clinic

http://immunemedicine.com/

Focus is on enhancing the immune systems’ ability to fight cancer

East Atlantic Drive
Freeport
Grand Bahama
Bahamas

242-352-7455

Postal Address: P.O. Box F-4268 Freeport Grand Bahama Bahamas

Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez

http://www.dr-gonzalez.com/

Innovative use of diet, enzymes and coffee enemas

Nicholas J. Gonzalez, MD PC
Linda L. Isaacs, MD
36A East 36th Street
Suite 204
New York, N.Y. 10016
Phone: 212-213-3337
Fax: 212-213-3414

Have more names to add to this list? Please email me at naturalwellnesschoices@gmail.com and I will update this list.

Backpacks can be a pain in the back

It is back to school time and many students will be toting backpacks. Is there any concern with using a backpack? An article in the journal Spine 2010;35(1):83-88 suggests there is. Researchers concluded:

“Backpack loads are responsible for a significant amount of back pain in children, which in part, may be due to changes in lumbar disc height or curvature.”

Thirty-seven percent of children aged 11 to 14 years report back pain, the majority of whom attribute their pain to wearing a school backpack.

In the first study of its kind, researchers looked at MRI studies done before and after students put a backpack on. The spine response to typical school backpack loads in healthy children included both disc space narrowing and significant spinal curvatures:

Options to Backpacks

More trips with less: Making more trips to a locker will mean more walking but may save the back. Discuss this issue with your students and encourage them to use a backpack only when needed and then with a minimal load.

Rolling or Wheeled Backpacks: A rolling or wheeled backpacks are easy to find, examples include these found at Target and Wal-Mart.

Expandable book carts : Another alternative to the traditional backpack is to use an expandable book cart on wheels such as the Staples® Expanding Folding Crate on Wheels. These are popular among homeschooled and classically educations students who frequently need to transport a lot of material from one site to another.

Calcium and Heart Disease

2010-08-01T20:37:00.015-05:00

On July 30, 2010, the British Medical Journal published an article demonstrating an association between the use of calcium supplements and the risk of heart attacks. Those taking calcium supplements had a 27% increased rate of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks). While previous studies have hinted at this, this combined study is the most persuasive evidence to date.

This study was actually a compilation of smaller studies. This type of study (known as a Meta-Analysis) combined 11 randomized trials in which participants took calcium supplements (500 milligrams or more per day) without vitamin D. I believe the fact that no vitamin D, K or magnesium was used with the calcium is an important reason for the negative effect. Calcium intake from food sources is not associated with an increased risk.

How Could Calcium Supplements Increase Heart Disease?

1. Calcium taken as a supplement appears to behave differently than calcium ingested from diet. This may be related to supplements lacking the natural calcium balancers which are present in food. The size of the calcium clusters in supplements is larger than that in food and may be harder to use.

2. Low vitamin D

Calcium ingested without adequate Vitamin D results in arterial calcifications. Vascular calcifications can accelerate atherosclerosis and result in heart attacks. The better your vitamin D status, the less calcium you have in your arteries. Most are very low in vitamin D.

3. Low Vitamin K

Low Vitamin K speeds up arterial calcification. Higher Levels of Vitamin K has been shown to:

· Reduce mortality from all causes by 26%

· Decrease Coronary Artery Disease by 57%

4. Low Magnesium

Magnesium competes with the calcium binding sites on our cells. Magnesium is a critical mineral to balance calcium and according to the NIH, 62% of Americans are low on magnesium.

Recommendations

Should you stop calcium supplements? Since this study just looked at adding calcium alone, we really do not know what the results would have been if Vitamin D, Magnesium & Vitamin K had been used. We definitely need more studies and for now I would recommend:

Get Your Calcium Naturally from Food, Water, Whole Food Supplements

Optimize Vitamins D, K and Magnesium

Natural Sources of Calcium

The dairy industry wants you to think of dairy when you think of calcium. Dairy is associated with too many negative effects to recommend dairy as your source of calcium. Instead, I would recommend one focus on healthier sources of calcium like dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, turnips, and collard greens and as well as calcium rich water such as spring water or ionized water (see below ):

Non-Dairy Foods rich in Calcium include:

· Spinach

· Kale

· Collard greens

· Turnip greens

· Broccoli

· Peas

· Brussel sprouts

· Sesame seeds

· Bok choy

· Almonds

· Soybeans

· Tofu

· Rhubarb

· Okra

· White beans

· Baked beans

Drink Calcium Rich Water

Spring water and Ionized water contain natural minerals in a proper balance. You can purchase a water ionizer - The Ionizer Plus from www.hightechhealth.com. For more information, please read my February 2010 blog post at NaturalWellnessChoices.com

Always optimize the vitamins D and K as well as Magnesium:

Optimal blood test levels of Vitamin D are between 60-100. Physicians Preference carries quality vitamin D3 – levels of the 25-OH-Vitamin D should be monitored to ensure proper levels are achieved and not exceeded.

Use supplements made from whole foods, especially green vegetables, when needed (Vitamin K and magnesium are naturally in vegetable capsules)

Magnesium Citrate 200 mg 1-2 twice a day helps optimize Magnesium

Note that green vegetables, beans and nuts are rich in both vitamin K and magnesium:

Sources of magnesium include:

· green, leafy vegetables (kale, turnip greens and spinach)

· beans, peas and soybeans

· nuts

· whole grain cereals

Sources of vitamin K include:

§ Vegetables like asparagus, spinach and broccoli

§ Beans including Soybeans

§ Strawberries

§ Meat

§ Eggs

If you have osteoporosis, you may want to add Strontium (2 – 340 mg daily) and Vitamin K2 (MK-7 fraction, 100 mcg a day) along with Whole food Supplements. Together these can help optimize bone health and more.

- For more information about Vitamin D – please read the July 08, 2008 blog post.

- For more information about Strontium please read the October 2009 post at NaturalWellnesschoices.com for more information.
- You can get a quality source of Strontium (as well as Magnesium Citrate) from Physicians Preference.

- For clinical studies and a source of whole food supplements click HERE

Selected References

Bolland MJ, Avenell A, Baron JA, Grey A, MacLennan GS, Gamble GD, et al. Effect of calcium supplements on risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular events: meta-analysis. BMJ 2010;341:c3691 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/341/jul29_1/c3691

BMJ 341: c3856-c3856 BMJ 2010;341:c3691 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/341/jul29_1/c3691?ijKey=51bab5ce0d1878144150e56d4a42235dbc6fdedd&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

BMJ Rapid Response letter: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/341/jul29_1/c3691#239626

Celiac Disease and Wheat Intolerance

2010-06-12T14:04:00.002-05:00

Wheat Intolerance

· Common: Celiac Disease appears to be at least 1% of the population. A significantly larger percentage of the population has non-celiac related wheat intolerance

· Slowly diagnosed – Celiac disease typically takes four years to reach a diagnosis if you’re symptomatic leaving 90% with CD unaware, undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

· Serious - untreated wheat intolerance can be very serious. A study of military recruits 50 years ago has found that intolerance of wheat gluten is four times more common today than it was in the 1950’s.

What Causes Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is an immune mediated disease triggered by exposure to Gluten (name from the Greek word for “Glue” and found in wheat, barley, rye). Gluten contains Gliadin and one mechanism for the Celiac Disease related immune damage occurs when Gliadin is modified by enzymes in our intestines (such as tissue transglutaminase). The resulting proteins cause an immune-mediated toxic reaction that causes damage both to the GI tract small intestine as well as other areas of the body. Untreated, the small intestine becomes increasingly damaged and less able to absorb nutrients.

Why the Increase in Celiac Disease?

1. We have cultivated our wheat crops to have higher levels of gluten. More gluten means more stickiness and generally this makes for better taste and texture.

2. Our diet consists of high intake of gluten rich wheat products.

3. Yeast overgrowth in our colon. Most commonly candida overgrowth is related to our use of antibiotics, birth control pills and prednisone like medications. Candida contains amino acid sequences that are identical to or very similar to those found in the celiac induced immune response. Candida overgrowth in our intestines can trigger the production of antibodies that not only attack candida but also react to gluten (wheat, barley and rye). When we eat gluten containing foods, we then experience an inflammatory response characteristic of celiac disease.

4. Eating whole grain and sprouted grains actually increases gluten intake as they have higher amounts.

5. Autoimmune diseases in general are increasing and several of these are associated with Celiac disease. What causes autoimmunity? High intake of animal products and yeast overgrowth are just 2 factors associated with a higher risk of autoimmunity. Type 1 Diabetes appears genetically linked with the genes that increase the risk for Celiac disease. 5-10% of those with Diabetes Type will also develop Celiac disease.

It is not just in the genes and it is not just Celiac disease that is the issue. Gluten and other grains rich in lectins capable of directly damaging to the majority of tissues in your body without requiring a specific set of genetic susceptibilities.

Not Just in the GI tract

Unfortunately, the offending glycoproteins in Gluten are extremely small and resistant to breakdown by living systems. These proteins tend to accumulate and become incorporated into tissues where they interfere with normal biological processes such as:

- Causing the production of inflammatory chemical messengers which can cause inflammation throughout the body

- thymus atrophy

- crosses the blood-brain barrier and causing brain injury

- interfere with gene expression

- disrupt endocrine function

Symptoms of Gluten-Intolerance

Symptoms of the disease are often gastrointestinal (many with Celiac Disease have been diagnosed with IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Not everyone has Gut symptoms when they have Celiac Disease. Consider testing if you have one of the following issues, conditions on an ongoing basis:

· Bloating

· Gas

· Diarrhea

· Abdominal pain

· Nausea/vomiting

· Foul smelling stools

· Gastroesophageal reflux disease

· Inflammatory Bowel Disease

· Irritable Bowel Disease

Some with Celiac Disease actually lack the gastrointestinal symptoms. Aside from the gastrointestinal symptoms, celiac disease can cause numerous problems:

· Weight loss

· Fatigue

· Joint pain

· Depression

· Hypoglycemia - low blood sugar

· Irritability and behavioral changes

· Bone loss: Osteopenia or Osteoporosis

· Muscle cramps

· Hair loss

· Canker sores inside the mouth

· Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel

· Seizures

· Cerebellar ataxia

· Peripheral neuropathy

· Any Autoimmune disease: i.e. Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic Lupus

· Psoriasis

· Thyroid disease

· Short stature, unexplained

· Delayed puberty

· Dementia

· ADD

· Anemia (iron deficiency that does not respond to iron)

· Microscopic Colitis

· Miscarriage

· Infertility

· Failure to thrive in infants

· Growth retardation in children

· Premature menopause

· Dermatitis Herpetiformis – a skin condition with itching and blistering

· Asperger’s/Autism

· Schizophrenia

· Vitamin deficiencies (especially vitamin K which can cause bleeding problems)

· Intestinal Lymphomas

· Pancreatic insufficiency

· Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) - a skin manifestation of celiac disease characterized by blistering, intensely itchy skin. The rash has a symmetrical distribution and is most frequently found on the face, elbows, knees and buttocks. DH patients can have intestinal damage without obvious GI symptoms. (DH) is diagnosed by a biopsy of a skin lesion and staining for IgA in the tissues. More than 85% of DH patients have small bowel sensitivity to gluten. Everyone with DH needs to follow a gluten-free diet.

The symptoms of Celiac Disease can begin at any age. The disease can be triggered for the first time after stressors such as infections, emotional stress, childbirth or surgery.

Diagnosis

Specific antibody blood tests help identify the presence of Celiac Disease and are the initial step in screening includes the following tests (note: usually one must be eating gluten containing foods when these tests are done in order for them to be accurate):

Tissue transglutaminase antibody (tTG - IgA/IgG) (blood or stool)
Anti-gliadin antibody (AGA-IgG, AGA-IgA) (blood or stool)
Stool studies for tTG (Enterolab)
Genetic testing (cheek swab, stool sample or serum)
Total serum IgA (blood)
Response to a Gluten free diet

Most would say the most cost effective screening test is to test the blood for Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG-IgA). All labs are less than 100% in their ability to identify disease this test can be falsely negative, particularly with early disease. Some advocate always checking for the anti-gliadin antibodies. Dr. Kenneth Fine, M.D. (a gastroenterologist who started and owns Enterolab in Dallas) feels the best way to diagnose early Celiac Disease is using stool tests (you can read his article HERE). You can order directly from Enterolab without a physicians order. His experience has been that unlike blood tests, even those avoiding gluten can still test positive. Enterolab is reasonably priced and may be more sensitive than serum testing at detecting antibodies associated with Celiac disease as well as wheat sensitivity. The panels of tests cost less than adding individual tests. If you suspect you or a loved one have a problem with wheat you may wish to order of the Enterolab stool studies, for example:

Gluten Sensitivity Stool Panel Complete ($249) Combination of stool test for gluten sensitivity, stool test for tissue transglutaminase, and test for intestinal malabsorption. These tests complement one another and are best ordered together.

Gluten Sensitivity Stool and Gene Panel Complete ($369) This would be a very thorough test which includes gluten sensitivity stool test, tissue transglutaminase stool test (test for the autoimmune reaction caused by gluten sensitivity), intestinal malabsorption test, gluten sensitivity gene test (HLA DQ2/DQ8 genes) and a milk sensitivity stool test.

Labcorp has several useful blood tests:

Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG), IgA Test Number: 164640 CPT Code: 83516 (this would be the lowest cost screen)

Celiac Disease Antibody Screen This is more comprehensive than the above test. This includes tests for: Deamidated Gliadin Antibodies (DGP), Gliadin and Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) Antibodies. Labcorp Test Number: 334971 CPT Code: 82784; 83516(x2) (costs more but tests for more)

Celiac Disease HLA DQ Association A genetic test for HLA Typing, DQ2, DQ8 Test Number: 167082 CPT Code: 83891; 83894(x2); 83896(x44); 83898(x2); 83912 (This test can be positive even before one develops the condition)

Dr. Scot Lewey is another Gastroenterologist with a focus on Celiac Disease. He points out that when genetic testing is done, it is most sensitive when it contains the alpha and beta subunits. Laboratories in the U.S. that are known to offer complete alpha and beta subunit genetic testing include Kimball Genetics and LabCorp. Quest and Enterolab only test for the beta subunit portions and therefore their test can miss part of a minor alpha subunit that carries a risk of Celiac disease. A negative DQ2 and DQ8 report from these labs may not necessarily be truly negative for the risk of Celiac disease.

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
Many people have gluten sensitivity with both GI and systemic symptoms that do not actually have Celiac Disease. Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity should be suspected if you have positive

- Antigliadin antibody (AGA IgA and IgG)

- Stool tests at Enterolab

- A positive response to an elimination diet (remember history is always a key to diagnosis)

Most with positive antibody tests have endoscopy to both assess the amount of damage to the intestinal lining called villi as well as to perform a biopsy. I question whether the risk of this procedure is justified (not to mention the expense).
A follow-up biopsy or blood work may be ordered several months after the diagnosis and treatment. Normalizing lab results indicate that you have responded to treatment, thereby confirming the diagnosis. However, this does not suggest that the disease has been cured. The diet is lifelong (see below).

Treatment

1. Follow a lifelong Gluten-free diet (by far the most important)

The treatment for celiac disease or gluten intolerance is a gluten-free diet, which means abstaining from grains and any food that contains gluten. All forms of wheat (including semolina, spelt, kamut, einkorn, durum and faro) and related grains rye, barley and triticale must be completely eliminated.

Typically, avoiding gluten for a week or two is enough to see significant improvement.

2. Cleanse and Restore the GI tract

Since the immune system is thrown off balance by yeast overgrowth, it would also be wise to do a Candida Cleanse (see March 2010 blog post on the topic of Yeast)

Probiotics have been shown to decrease inflammation in Celiac disease. Dr. Mercola has a good article on this HERE

3. Eat Plant Based

An immune system friendly Plant Based Diet will reduce inflammation

4. Restore nutritional Deficiencies

Strontium and Vitamin K2 are important for strong bone (see the NaturalWellnessChoices.com Oct 2009 blog post on Strontium). Often women will want to supplement Progesterone and DHEA to promote bone health and men will often need supplemental testosterone.

5. Look for and treat commonly associated diseases such as thyroid Disease

Thyroid problems are more common in those with Celiac Disease. For more information, please read my blog post on the topic of the Candida, Celiac, Thyroid Connection.

To help break down hidden sources of gluten there are products such as Gluten Defense by Enzymatic Therapy that contain enzymes that help break down gluten and casein (dipeptidyl peptidase also known as DPP IV).

Hidden Sources of Gluten

Gluten may still be hiding in processed foods like ready-made soups, soy sauce, candies, cold cuts, and various low- and no-fat products, just to name a few, under labels such as:

· Malts

· Starches

· Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)

· Texturized vegetable protein (TVP)

· Natural flavoring

Celiac.com – list of Gluten containing foods. See The Gluten Solution site. They also offer more detailed information about the current state of gluten-free labeling legislation.

The healthiest way for anyone to eat is to enjoy a diet of fresh, whole foods (preferably organic whenever possible). Those will Celiac Disease would be wise do eat less processed foods that are more likely to have hidden gluten sources.

However, this is truly only one problem linked to eating wheat, and may not even be the most serious one. That honor may actually go to wheat lectin.

Beyond Celiac Disease: Why We all should limit Lectin Rich Grains

Lectin is a defense mechanism for the wheat plant, designed to ward of its natural enemies such as fungi and insects. Unfortunately, this protein is also very resistant to breakdown by living systems, and it easily accumulates in tissues where it interferes with normal biological processes and acts as an anti-nutrient. Typically, sprouting, fermenting or digestion can help to negate some of the harmful effects of such anti-nutrients (as in the case of fermenting soy, which removes many of its anti-nutrient properties). However, lectins are resistant to these types of processes.

The Dangers of Wheat Lectin

What is lectin’s potential to disrupt your health, exactly? Here is a sampling of its dangers, which you can read about more in-depth here:

· Pro-Inflammatory: lectin stimulates the synthesis of pro-inflammatory chemical messengers, even at very small concentrations.

· Immunotoxic: lectin may bind to and activate white blood cells.

· Neurotoxic: lectin can pass through your blood-brain barrier and may attach to the protective coating on your nerves known as the myelin sheath. It is also capable of inhibiting nerve growth factor, which is important for the growth, maintenance, and survival of certain target neurons.

· Cytotoxic (Toxic to cells): lectin may induce programmed cell death.

Further, research shows lectin from wheat may even:

· Interfere with gene expression

· Disrupt endocrine function

· Adversely affect gastrointestinal function

· Share similarities with certain viruses

The Gluten lectin called WGA Lectin is capable of passing through cell membranes of your intestines, gaining entry into your body.

Lectin is most likely to cause problems with the intake if high and the gastrointestinal barrier has been compromised such as with yeast overgrowth or use of non-steroidal medications like Ibuprofen. Grains such as rice, wheat, spelt, rye, etc. have high levels of lectin.

Many of us will benefit from the elimination of grains – especially wheat. If you eliminate grains from your diet strictly for 2 weeks and improve it is likely you are experiencing health problems related to them. If your symptoms then return upon reintroducing the grain you would want to avoid it.

For more information

www.celiaccenter.org

www.celiac.com

Longevity & Vitality

2010-04-16T17:45:00.001-05:00

Healthier and longer living

Blue Zones is a research effort founded and led by Dan Buettner and funded in part by the National Institute on Aging. What is a Blue Zone? Places in the world where a higher percentages of people enjoy remarkably long, full lives. National Geographic featured 3 Blue Zones in their 2005 edition. Many people think of “Shangri La” when it comes to living a long time….somewhere far away and exotic. Interestingly, one place where people live longer and healthier is right here in the USA. Residents of Loma Linda, California live approximately 10 years longer than the rest of Americans and enjoy dramatically lower rates of disease.

What is their secret?

Lessons from Loma Linda

Longevity often does run in families but genetics are estimated to account for only about 30% of our health. The secret of vitality in Loma Linda is not their genes but rather their faith, community and lifestyle.

A significant number of people in the town are Seventh Day Adventist. Adventists have a strong health aspect to their faith and do not drink or smoke and most follow a vegetarian or plant based diet.

In one study, 1 million American Seventh-Day Adventists were compared to the rest of Americans and found to have:

40% less coronary disease

100% less morality rate from all causes

1000% percent less death rate from lung cancer

50% less dental cares in children

While residents of Loma Linda do follow a healthy lifestyle, they also have a strong faith and a strong community. These factors have been observed to be common denominators in areas where people live well.

People who live well do so in an atmosphere of faith, community and healthy living.

Plant Power

Adventists model their diet after Genesis 1:29

^“Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” NIV

Generally speaking, as the consumption of animal products decreases, the health benefits increase. Animal products include all meat (fish, pork, beef, lamb, chicken) as well as dairy and eggs. We also see that health improves as people consume less simple sugars and fat. A plant based diet which limits oil and chooses from lower glycemic index unprocessed vegetables, fruits and grains is the healthiest of all.

The American Dietetic Association has released an updated position paper on vegetarian diets that concludes: “such diets, if well-planned, are healthful and nutritious for adults, infants, children and adolescents and can help prevent and treat chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes.”

The Blue Zones “Power 9”

The top 9 factors for health, vitality and longevity as compiled by Blue Zones:

1. Move (find ways to move mindlessly, make moving unavoidable)

2. Plan de Vida (know your purpose in life)

3. Down Shift (work less, slow down, rest, take vacation)

4. 80% Rule (stop eating when you're 80% full)

5. Plant-Power (more veggies, less protein and processed foods)

6. Red Wine (consistency and moderation)

7. Belong (create a healthy social network)

8. Beliefs (spiritual or religious participation)

9. Your Tribe (make family a priority)

One could easily add Positive mental attitude/Gratitude to this list. People who live well live with a sense of joy and gratitude. They are not overly concerned, they worry less than most.

For more information, here are some videos on this topic

National Geographic: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4260721835159081833#

AndersonCooper360: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4260721835159081833#docid=2627190837173172246

CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4282088n%253fsource=search_video

CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5647727n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

Additional Resources

www.bluezones.com

www.realage.com

www.tcolincampbell.org

www.engine2diet.com (Highly recommended reading “Engine 2 Diet” and “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell

www.drmcdougall.com

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090701103002.htm

Yeast Overgrowth (Candida,Intestinal Dysbiosis) Why You Need to Get Rid of it

2010-03-06T21:15:00.002-06:00

What if I were to tell you that there is a fungus living in your intestines that produces 180 chemical toxins capable of making you feel dizzy and fatigued and shutting down your thyroid & throwing your hormones off balance? This uninvited guest may also be making you have allergies, crave sugar and alcohol and cause your immune system to attack your own body.
There really is a fungus among us – it is known as yeast overgrowth or Candida. This problem is a subset of problems that can be called Intestinal Dysbiosis - a general term referring to an unhealthy population of organisms in our GI tract (gastrointestinal tract).
Yeast overgrowth is very common but sadly few doctors recognize or treat this problem.
How do you know if you have this problem?
Almost everyone who has taken antibiotics has increased yeast levels

Remember how Penicillin was discovered? Sir Alexander Fleming noticed that a culture of bacteria was contaminated by a fungus which produced an unknown substance that had killed the bacteria surrounding it. Sir Fleming named this bacteria killing substance Penicillin after the mold that produced it (a member of the Penicillium genus).

Penicillin is a mold toxin. Mold toxins kill bacteria. This is not all good news. Curing pneumonia with penicillin is wonderful; unfortunately the use of antibiotics also kills the friendly bacteria in our GI tract and this allows yeast to grow like crazy. Candida overgrowth in our colon results in the production of toxins which kill the bacteria in our GI tract that we require to be healthy.

Antibiotics cause yeast overgrowth and yeast overgrowth produces antibiotics

Dr. John Pitt stated about penicillin:

“It is ironic that this humbled fungus, hailed as a benefactor of mankind, may by its very success prove to be a deciding factor in the decline of the present civilization.”

Yeast overgrowth in your GI tract does not go away on its own.

Every round of antibiotics leaves more yeast in your GI tract and the effects are cumulative. People often think, “it has been years since I took antibiotics – how could that be effecting me now?” Think about the mold that can grow in your shower on your tile. Will it go away if you just leave it alone? The yeast that grew when you had the ear infection when you were 2 is made worse by your tonsillitis at 10 and your sinus infection at 20 and your bronchitis at age 25… you get the picture.

Common causes of yeast overgrowth include:

· Use of antibiotics

· Counterfeit hormones such as birth control pills or Premarin

· Pregnancy

· Eating non-organic meat which has hormones and antibiotics

· Drinking tap water due to chlorine killing off the good bacteria in our GI tract

· Heavy metal such as those from silver amalgams that are 50% mercury

· Insulin resistance or diabetes

· Stress

I have met individuals who have never taken antibiotics or counterfeit hormones and who eat organic foods and drink only chlorine free water – but they are rare.

Why does yeast need to be eradicated? Here are 10 Reasons

1. To reverse and prevent many autoimmune diseases

Autoimmunity is the failure of an organism to recognize self versus non-self. When our body starts attacking itself – a type of immunologic friendly fire begins. Autoimmune antibodies can slowly cause damage. There appears to be no normal level of autoimmune antibodies. Any level is of antibodies is a sign of problems.

Autoimmune diseases can be cause both disease and in some even death. In the United States, 72 Million people have autoimmune disease. After cancer and heart disease, autoimmune diseases are the 3^rd leading cause of death.

What are the names of some autoimmune disease?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Primary hypothyroidism

Hyperthyroidism

Type 1 Diabetes

Celiac Disease

Lupus

Multiple sclerosis

Ulcerative colitis

Vitiligo

What causes autoimmune disease? Some people mistakenly think autoimmune problems are primarily from bad genes. Not so.

Genes + Environmental factors = autoimmune disease. But Environment > Genes

It turns out that the environmental factors are significantly more important than the genetic.

The most important thing to know about autoimmune disease is that autoimmune disease start in the gut. Dysbiosis or an imbalanced gut flora results in intestinal barrier dysfunction. An unhealthy GI tract is now known to be a major factor in causing autoimmune problems.

Women are 9x more likely to have autoimmune conditions. Why are women more likely to get this immune dysfunction? Part of the answer is that women are exposed to petrochemical products and plastics via cosmetics and hair dyes than men. Women also see doctors more than men and so they are more likely to be prescribed antibiotics and counterfeit hormones – which makes yeast worse. By the way when yeast metabolizes cosmetics they become autoimmune disease producing.

When you combine low vitamin D, eating too few fruits and vegetables, environmental toxins such as plastic and yeast overgrowth, one is at very high risk for autoimmunity.

Reason to eradicate yeast #2: to Reverse and Prevent Food Allergies

Yeast overgrowth damages the GI tract and causes the GI tract to become leaky. This is often referred to as “leaky gut syndrome.” When incompletely broken down foods enter the blood stream through our leaky guts, our immune reacts and we develop fatigue, aches, pains, rashes, etc.

Reason to eradicate yeast #3: Reduce airborne allergies and chemical sensitivities

Having a gut filled with yeast gives you a moldy gut. Having a moldy gut makes you react to chemicals and molds. Allergies, eczema, psoriasis and asthma are exacerbated.

Reason #4: To Reduce Food Craving and Help Weight Loss

When we have yeast overgrowth we start craving sweets and simple sugars that feed yeast. We also tend to crave alcohol. Getting rid of yeast helps with your appetite control and this facilitates weight loss

Reason #5: To relieve heartburn

Treating Yeast Overgrowth relieves most heartburn, gas and bloating problems…..no more purple pills needed in most cases.

Reason #6: To improve energy

Treating yeast can increase energy by removing the 180 fungal toxins that yeast produce which contribute to much fatigue and fibromyalgia

Reason #7: To reduce heart disease

Toxins made by yeast hit the blood stream and trigger widespread inflammatory. Inflammation is the number one reason for heart disease and cancer.

Reason 8: To improve your Hormonal Balance

The toxins and antibodies produced by yeast and an unhealthy GI tract (dysbiosis) can block thyroid production and cause general hormone imbalance. If you just take hormones but have an unhealthy GI tract, you will often get poor results.

Reason 9: To help prevent brain degeneration

Dysbiosis or an imbalanced gut flora à intestinal barrier dysfunction à systemic (whole body) inflammation which includes the brain. The resulting brain inflammation (neuroinflammation) may produce brain degeneration (neurodegeneration).

In the wellness world, the GI tract is often referred to as the second brain.

If the second brain is unhealthy our first brain will be unhealthy as well

Reason 10: to help prevent depression and anxiety

Did you know more neurotransmitters are produced by your GI tract than any other part of your body? An unhealthy GI tract throws our brain chemicals off. All disease has a cause and much depression and anxiety are a result of the fungus among us.

Conclusion

Yeast overgrowth is common but rarely recognized and treated. In order for you to obtain and maintain health and wellness naturally, it is essential to get rid of the yeast. You will need to eat differently for a while so that you stop feeding the yeast. If it is white, don’t bite – no sugars or starches for a few months – especially month 1. When the yeast run out of food they stop growing and drop their defenses. Now we can work to eradicate yeast &replace the yeast with good bacteria. This allows the GI tract to heal.

You can read more details about the eating plan and how we eradicate yeast at www.NaturalWellnessChoices.com – click Hotze Health and Wellness Center Guests and Click on Optimal Eating Program Step 1

What is the best drinking water?

2010-02-06T18:39:00.000-06:00

People often ask what type of water filter or purifier I recommend. Over the years I have tried to find the ‘perfect’ water and I have come to the following conclusions:

1. It is definitely worth the small extra expense and effort to get high quality water

2. Most Americans live in a mildly dehydrated state. Keep well hydrated and never drink tap water. Water helps prevent fine skin wrinkles, headaches, arthritis, blood pressure, heartburn, asthma, improves memory and promotes weight loss and proper thyroid function. For hydration, water should be your main stay. Not juice, coffee, tea, milk and certainly not soda. Drink 2-3 liters of quality water daily.

3. Water should:

· Taste great - if you drink water and get used to quality water, you can really tell the difference in waters. Remember that great tasting water makes it easy to avoid less healthful choices

· Contains essential minerals

· Be Alkaline – have a pH greater than 7.0

· Be free of chlorine, fluoride and other toxins

· Be affordable

I would generally avoid the following:

· Bottled water. Specifically bottled water in plastic containers. Many estrogenic plasticizers like Bisphenol A are present in plastic (this can lower sperm production). In addition to the concerns regarding plastic, many independent studies have shown bottled drinking water may contain contaminants.

· Distillation: While it is pure and free of impurities, I no longer recommend distilled or reverse osmosis water as your main source of drinking water. Distilled water lacks key minerals. These minerals serve as a buffer to prevent water from becoming acidic when CO2 is absorbed from the air. In addition, distillation uses quite a bit of electricity, tastes flat and has a slow rate of production. One also has to clean the unit as it builds up deposits.

· Reverse Osmosis: RO has some positives such as removing pathogenic organisms and chemicals such as chlorine & fluoride. However, like distilled water, the pH is slightly acidic and RO water lacks minerals. Drinking this type of water results in a net loss of minerals from our body. The loss of minerals increases bone loss and may result in osteoporosis. Generally avoid RO water. Occasional use is fine.

· Water softeners are fine for decreasing mineral deposits to protect water heaters, plumbing and decrease the “scum” deposits. I would not recommend using softened water for drinking due to the abnormally high amounts of sodium or potassium (depending on the type of unit). Softened water also lacks calcium and magnesium.

I recommend the following types of water/technologies:

· Ultrafiltration with mechanical filters: typically 0.5-4 micron pores remove suspended sediment, sand, rust, and the 0.5-micron remove most microorganisms such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. They do not filter viruses and do not remove chemicals. They often come combined with filters that can remove chemicals and kill viruses.

· Activated Carbon: taste is good, affordable and fast.

· Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF-55) uses redox (oxidation/reduction) to remove chlorine, lead, mercury, iron, and hydrogen sulfide from water supplies. KDF filters are used most often with an activated carbon filter. They prolong the life and increase the effectiveness of carbon filters by reducing chlorine build-up & heavy metals.

· Spring water if it comes in glass

· Ionized alkaline water

· UV light – used to kill organisms

· Iodinated resins

Specific Brand/Model Recommendations:

The American Environmental Health Foundation (AEHF) was founded in 1975 by William J. Rea, M.D. of the Environmental Health Center - Dallas. I have had the privilege of getting to know Dr. Rea through the Pan American Allergy Society. The AEHF offers several excellent products that are reasonably priced:

· Doulton Counter-top stainless steel ceramic countertop unit http://www.aehf.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=33_168

· AEHF Whole-house Water Filter with Prefilter http://www.aehf.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=33_168&products_id=1167

· See all his water filters at: http://www.aehf.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=33_168

· Additional products: www.aehf.com

My other recommendations include:

· The Ionizer Plus™ Water Electrolyzer www.hightechhealth.com (see the comments below regarding alkaline water)

· Berkey filters – the stainless steel models www.berkeyfilters.com

· Pentapure Products - http://www.tealbrook.com/Products.html - they have some nice units for overseas travel as well as for use in the U.S. They offer discounts to non-profit organizations

· Mountain Valley Spring Water - delivered in glass www.amacwater.com

For more information about the dangers of chlorine, I recommend you read my previous article http://naturalwellnesschoices.blogspot.com/2007/10/dangers-of-chlorine.html.

Since we take in as much or more chemicals from showering as we do from drinking water, I would urge you to avoid bathing in unfiltered water. AEHF.com carries inexpensive shower filters. The whole house unit (listed above) would take care of the whole house.

Alkalinity (pH) - Does it Matter?

Drinking alkaline-ion water has been claimed to improve:

Absorbing nutrients
Chronic fatigue
Chronic diarrhea
Chronic constipation
Heartburn
Migraines
Psoriasis
Indigestion
Acidic body chemistry
Osteoporosis

Dehydration
Nausea
Poor circulation
Arthritis
Leg cramps
Better athletic performance
Obesity
Stress
High blood pressure
Diabetes

Are these claims accurate? I need more research in English before I can say anything dogmatically. Most of the research is in Japanese or Korean. I do like the fact that alkaline water is:

1. Rich in calcium, magnesium and potassium – thereby slowing bone loss

2. Has an antioxidant effect

3. Forms smaller molecular clusters than tap water (as determined by NMR – nuclear magnetic resonance). This may improve hydration at the cellular level

How to create alkaline water?

A water ionizer separates water into alkaline and acid fractions using electrolysis. It does this by exploiting the electric charge of the calcium, potassium, magnesium ions which are present in tap water. Note that without these minerals, ionization does not work. Ionization has no effect on distilled water or water filtered by reverse osmosis. Ionizers also do not work with water that has been “softened” because softened water lacks magnesium and calcium.

One study cited in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (Volume 234, Issue 1, 8 May 1997, Pages 269-274) showed that electrolyzed–reduced water scavenges active oxygen and protects DNA from oxidative damage. Alkaline water helps neutralize free radicals. Less free radicals means less damage to our body (K. Hanaoka, D. Sun, R. Lawrence, Y. Kamitani, G. Fernandez, The mechanism of the enhanced antioxidant effects against superoxide anion radicals of reduced water produced by electrolysis, Biophys Chem. 2004 Dan 1;107(1):71-82).

Dr. Sherry Rogers (author of “Detoxify or Die”) recommends alkaline ionized water. Specifically she recommends the unit carried by High Tech Health www.hightechhealth.com. I have this unit and have been pleased with it.

In addition to using ionized water, we also use a whole house unit, a Berkey water filter and Mountain Valley Spring Water. Is this too much? When you consider the importance of water and the dangers of tap water, I do not think so. We save money by staying healthy and we do not waste money on soft drinks, juices or milk. It is amazing how easy it is to get children to drink water when it tastes good and there are no alternatives!

What Causes Low Thyroid (Hypothyroidism)? What can we do about it?

2010-01-01T16:42:00.004-06:00

Note that the November 14th Natural Wellness Choices newsletter discussed Hypothyroidism and the Limitations of Blood Tests. Today’s newsletter is a follow up which discusses why hypothyroidism is so common and what can be done. DE

A Quick Review:

Hypothyroidism is missed when blood tests alone are used to make the diagnosis

Hypothyroidism can cause or at least contribute to many common, serious medical problems such as:

Coronary artery disease
Congestive heart failure
Chronic fatigue
Depression
Memory problems
Fibromyalgia – painful muscles
Attention deficit
Chronic or recurrent infections
Fertility problems
Menstrual irregularities

Hypothyroidism is quite common. Using blood tests alone - approximately 20% of Americans are hypothyroid.

This raises the obvious question - Why is low thyroid so common?

We have an epidemic of low thyroid function because we live in a toxic environment. Some of the causes of hypothyroidism include:

Genetics
We live with hypothyroidism long enough to have children. Hypothyroidism is commonly inherited.

Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance causes our liver to make more thyroid binding globulin which will make less thyroid hormone available for use in the cells. It also appears to decrease intracellular utilization by impairing the conversion of T4 to T3.

Estrogen dominance may be caused by:

age related decline in progesterone production (women & men)
birth control pills
using real estrogen without balancing it with progesterone
estrogenic hormones used in raising livestock
exposure to estrogen petrochemicals, plastics, herbicides and pesticides via air, water, food – especially if food or drink is stored and heated in plastic containers

Yeast - Unhealthy GI tracts à abnormal thyroid regulation + autoimmune thyroiditis

We are exposed to a lot of substances which work against a healthy gastro-intestinal tract:

Antibiotics
Chlorine
Fluoride
Aspirin and NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

Antibiotics primarily lead to the overgrowth of yeast (candida) in our GI tracts via their indiscriminate killing. Not only do antibiotics kill the “bad” bacteria but they wind up killing off the “good” bacteria we need to have in our colon (these good bacteria include Lactobacterium acidophilus). Chlorine and fluoride are also added to municipal tap water and kill the healthy bacteria more readily than fungi and further contribute to yeast overgrowth. Pain relievers like aspirin and NSAIDs are well known for their ability to cause GI tract damage - a “leaky gut” condition. An impaired intestinal barrier combined with the overgrowth of bacteria and fungi allow chemicals to enter the blood stream that appear to be able to damage the hypothalamus and alter thyroid production. Candida also increases autoimmune thyroiditis by disrupting the immune system and causing “friendly fire”

Mercury released from our dental amalgams and fluoride added to our water can lower thyroid function.

Selenium deficiency is related to lack of trace minerals in our soil. The proper conversion of precursors into thyroid hormone depends on a selenium containing enzyme.

Lack of iodine in our soil and diet can lead to decreased thyroid hormone production.

Medical x-rays can harm the thyroid gland (especially x-rays used in dental work and in the neck region).

Perchlorates widely found in drinking water inhibit the production of thyroid hormone by blocking the reuptake of iodine. These are found in California from where we grow much of our produce.

Too much protein in the diet. Dr. Barnes observed than when protein intake is high, the dose of natural thyroid needed to restore normal function increased dramatically. “The China Study” by Dr. T. Colin Campbell shows that the healthiest people eat much less animal products.

Treatment of Hypothyroidism

A comprehensive approach to hypothyroidism includes:

Deal positively with stress: exercise, deep breathing, get enough sleep
Take Natural Thyroid Supplementations
Bioidentical hormone supplementation when needed
Iodine (Iodoral) and Selenium supplementation
Avoiding tap water – avoid fluoride and chlorine
Avoiding “silver” amalgams which are 50% mercury
Eat organic
Avoid sugar
Avoid pesticides, herbicides
Never heat food or liquid in plastic; avoid plastic water bottles
Avoid antibiotics as much as possible
Do a yeast cleanse and take probiotics
Detoxify using supplements such as milk thistle, N-acetyl-cysteine, selenium. Far infrared sauna is also useful.
Reduce protein intake – eating a Plant Based Diet

Most wellness oriented physicians use desiccated pork thyroid or compounded products which contain the active thyroid hormone known as T3 or triiodothyronine.

Proper dosing of thyroid is critical

Physicians who are new to using natural medicine may try to use the right thyroid supplement (such as desiccated thyroid) but dose it according to the TSH level. This approach will usually result in under dosing. The TSH will fail to reflect cellular thyroid activity if either central regulatory mechanisms or tissue utilization of thyroid are off. Both of these issues appear common and this results in the TSH level becoming low when thyroid is dosed to compensate for less than perfect utilization in our cells. If we think about the thyroid issue from the perspective of the cell (the worksite for thyroid), we can see why the TSH approach is limited -the TSH producing regulation system does not “see” how well the thyroid is used once it is delivered to the cell. We need to look at other ways to "look inside" the cells.

How do we best assess thyroid status?

The best assessment of cellular thyroid activity is obtained by a good history, physical exam and free hormone levels. More information on this topic can be seen on the November posting on the limitation of blood tests

Selected References

JAMA. 2003;290:3195-3196 Effects of Reducing the Upper Limit of Normal TSH Values Vahab Fatourechi; George G. Klee; Stefan K. Grebe; Rebecca S. Bahn; Michael D. Brennan; Ian D. Hay; Bryan McIver; John C. Morris III

NEJM, February 1999, pp. 424-429 Effects of Thyroxine as Compared with Thyroxine plus Triiodothyronine in Patients with Hypothyroidism Bunevicius, et al.

New Mammography Guidelines

2009-11-23T21:18:00.006-06:00

This is a special report in response to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force regarding the Screening for Breast Cancer. You can read this report directly at: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/USpstf/uspsbrca.htm

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Key Recommendations were:

- Recommend against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years.

- Recommends screening mammography every 2 years for women between the ages of 50 and 74

- Concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the benefits and harms of clinical breast examinations by physicians and other health providers

- Recommends against clinicians teaching women how to perform breast self-examination.

You may find yourself torn between confusion, anger and concern as you try to do what is best. I have heard most react negatively to these guidelines. My reaction to points 1 & 2 concerning mammogram guidelines has been strongly in favor of them. I am still undecided on points 3 and 4 regarding clinical breast exams and self exams.

Why I Support the USPSTF Mammogram Recommendations:

Less x-ray exposure. These guidelines are an improvement because they result in ionizing radiation with more caution and result in less risk. The task force states that “Radiation exposure (from radiologic tests), although a minor concern, is also a consideration." I suspect they are understating how much radiation factored into their conclusions.

The U.S. has been the only country in the world to recommend premenopausal routine mammographic screening. The guidelines for screening mammograms starting at age 40 were based on optimistic assumptions on their safety. It turns out that the ionizing radiation used in mammography is 2-5 times as damaging to the tissue as x-rays used in chest x-rays. This increased biologic effect of mammographic x-rays had not been factored into safety estimates (see Radiation Research 162, 120–127 (2004) and International Journal Radiation Biology (2002, vol. 78, no. 12, 1065-1067).

This new understanding would make each mammogram more comparable to 14-35 chest x-rays. The International Journal of Radiation Biology article calculated the risk to benefit using this new understanding of the radiation used in mammography. This new calculation results in concluding that mammograms should be started later. They suggested starting screens at age 47 at the earliest and starting annual mammograms at around age 60 instead of 50. Note that these ages would be much higher if, instead of 2x, the upper end of the estimate is used (5x). Those who understand the radiation effects are more cautious in recommending mammography.

More realistic estimates of benefit. These guidelines help to shatter the myth that mammography dramatically changes the course of breast cancer. The conclusions in which mammography is stated to make the most differences focus on the assumption that there is little downside to screening. The downsides include:

- Unnecessary studies including surgery needed to prove that there is no cancer

- Unnecessary treatment. For example, excessive screening may result in treating DCIS which may have never caused disease. Ductal Carcinoma in Situ is commonly diagnosed via mammography but often does not actually develop into what most people would think of as cancer – it stays fairly dormant. No one actually knows when this should be treated. Overtreatment exposes women to harm and perhaps no benefit

The Psychological Stress of the ordeal can cause disease

Possibly spreading the cancer through unnecessary biopsies. This is a theoretical concern which is hard to quantify

You may be surprised that in some studies the benefits may not even exceed the risks. One well done Swedish trial concluded that “Screening for breast cancer with mammography is unjustified” Why – there was more harm than benefit. To read the actual article published in The Lancet go to the following:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2899%2906065-1/abstract

You can see the full text free as well; just sign up with a username and password

This is The Lancet, January 8, 2000 Volume 355, Issue 9198, Pages 129 – 134

The Cochrane Collaboration is an international, independent non-profit group which is often cited as one of the best medical reviewing organizations. They concluded that while mammography has benefit it also causes harm and stated: “It is thus not clear whether screening does more good than harm.”The 2001 Cochrane Review of Breast Mammography http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab001877.html

3. These guidelines will hopefully encourage women to focus on using natural ways to prevent cancer – an area which is ignored in October: Vitamin D, Iodine/Iodide, Progesterone, Cruciferous Vegetables and avoiding plastics, pesticides, hair dyes and underwire bras. I will cover more on these later

4. These guidelines may result in more widespread use and clinical studies involving breast thermography and breast ultrasound. These hold the promise of lower false positives and no radiation.

Recommendations:

These are my thoughts but obviously we are dealing with way too many unknowns to be dogmatic. We do not know the natural progression of DCIS, we do not know the exact risk of radiation nor do we have all the studies we would like to see on thermography, ultrasound and prevention strategies. We do have a lot of studies on these topics but I would like to see more. For more information on thermography see my January 09 post.

In order to settle this in your mind and make an informed decision, you will want to do your own research. Ask Questions. Factor in your risk factors for breast cancer – the above guidelines were for routine screening – not high risk individuals. Overall, Think Prevention and Safe Screening for early disease. More restraint with mammography and greater use of thermal imaging and ultrasound make more sense.

What I see points to much more success on the Prevention Side: Vitamin D (around 1000 iu for every 25 lbs is a general guideline but check your 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin D levels), Iodoral 1 a day helps insure adequate iodine intake (see www.PhysiciansPreference.com, Eat Your Veggies and if you are not getting at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables daily I highly recommend increasing your intake – especially the cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, and bok choy. Fruit & Vegetable capsules are an excellent way you can conveniently supplement your intake by taking 2 fruit and 2 cruciferous vegetable containing vegetable capsules a day. You can order a well researched fruit & vegetable capsule through www.naturalwellnesschoices.com. Progesterone capsules and cream are available to our wellness center guests. Over the counter Progesterone cream is also available at www.physicianpreference.com and off course avoid heating food in plastic and avoid cosmetics that are petrochemical based (most are) and hair dyes.

The text contained herein does not constitute medical advice. Natural Wellness Choices & Dr, Ellsworth advise you to consult your own physician before acting on any recommendations contained in this email or blog posting

Hypothyroidism and the Limitations of Blood Tests

2009-11-14T18:17:00.006-06:00

Hypothyroidism is an important condition to recognize and properly treat. Some diseases associated with hypothyroidism include:

· Coronary artery disease
· Congestive heart failure
· Chronic fatigue
· Depression
· Memory problems
· Fibromyalgia – painful muscles
· Attention deficit
· Chronic or recurrent infections
· Fertility problems
· Menstrual irregularities

Medical Dogma & The Tyranny of the TSH
Since hypothyroidism causes so much suffering, disease and death, we must do everything possible to properly identify those who need treatment. Sadly, it appears that the medical community has actually taken many steps backward in their approach to hypothyroidism.

If you saw a doctor in 1960 and you had hypothyroidism, you would have been diagnosed based on your symptoms and physical exam findings and treated with natural thyroid. You would have improved and enjoyed good health. Today you would typically not be so fortunate.

Since the 1970’s doctors have been actually trained to ignore symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism unless they see an elevated pituitary hormone called the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). If the TSH is elevated doctors are taught to treat using L-Thyroxine (aka T4). The TSH was adopted as the standard for diagnosing hypothyroidism by a consensus opinion in 1973. This decision was made on the basis of “expert opinion” and consensus rather than actual studies which show that using the TSH is the best way to approach hypothyroidism. The advocates of the TSH standard felt that it provided a more objective means of determining thyroid status than clinical parameters and after more than 30 years the TSH Approach has become medical dogma. The assumption that it is the right thing to do appears to be validated by the fact that so many physicians are doing it. Could we be missing something?

Does the TSH Approach Work?

Yes and No. The TSH is an excellent indicator of severe underproduction of thyroid hormone. A high TSH is typically present when the production of thyroid hormone is dramatically lowered such as when the thyroid gland is removed. The regulation system detects a low level of thyroid hormone and attempts to get the levels back to normal by making an excessive amount of TSH in a vain attempt to get the thyroid gland to produce more.

While a high TSH does indicate the underproduction of thyroid, a TSH level within the reference range does not assure optimal thyroid status. Why? Hypothyroidism is low thyroid function within our cells. No blood test can directly measure the thyroid activity within the cells of our body.

Why would a cell have sluggish thyroid function?

A. Underproduction – the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid

B. Cellular Underutilization – thyroid hormone only does it job within the cells of our body. Numerous steps are involved in thyroid hormones effect to help the cells produce and use energy. The cell will function sluggishly if the thyroid hormone is not used efficiently

C. A Combination of A and B

One should realize that for the medical community to use the TSH as the sole basis for diagnosing hypothyroidism one must make several huge assumptions that are not typically discussed in textbooks or lectures. The majority of the medical community has adopted a model which knowingly or not has assumed the following to be true:

1) The central regulation mechanisms in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland are assumed to be working perfectly. The thermostat like set point for serum thyroid levels within our brain is assumed to function perfectly – unaffected by aging, stress, nutritional deficiencies, toxins or genetic factors.

2) Perfect utilization of thyroid at the cellular level is assumed. Once again this assumes that the delicate process of utilizing thyroid is unaffected by aging, stress, nutritional deficiencies, toxins or genetic factors.

3) “Anywhere in the range” is fine for an individual. The model that doctors typically use assumes that individuals are perfectly fine if they are anywhere within the reference range.

Is assumption #1 true? Do central regulatory mechanisms work perfectly?
No. Consider the following quote made in the respected Primary Care Clinics:

“With significant physiologic stress, illness, inflammation and aging, however, there is demonstrable suppression of thyrotropin, making the thyrotropin test unreliable”

Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice Volume 35, Issue 4, (Dec 2008) 669–705

Is assumption #2 true? Is thyroid hormone perfectly used in our cells at all times?
No. Hormone resistance is common

Our new understanding of endocrine dysfunction suggests that hormone resistance is more common that previously recognized. Consider both leptin and insulin.

- Underproduction is uncommon: Underproduction of leptin is rare and underproduction of insulin constitutes less than ten percent of all diabetes

- Cellular underutilization of hormones is common: leptin is almost universal with obesity and most with type 2 Diabetes have high insulin levels associated with their insulin resistance

If leptin and insulin resistance is common, could thyroid resistance be common as well?

We now have strong evidence that the intracellular conversion of thyroxine (T4) to the active form triiodothyronine (T3) is inhibited by numerous common factors. Hypothyroidism related to intracellular factors will not be reflected in changes in either the TSH or free hormone levels. Drs. Boc and Starr have adopted a reference mechanism of Hypothyroidism Type I for underproduction and Hypothyroidism Type 2 for peripheral hypo-utilization (described in the book, Hypothyroidism Type 2, Mark Starr, M.D.).

Cellular resistance can be compared to a factory with enough workers showing up but they are unable to do their job efficiently. The workers are our hormones but the factory is the cell.

We can see how many workers are showing up for work by measuring the hormone level but we cannot see how well they are working inside the factory. To gain a window into the status of our cellular factories we must step back and look at the person who is made up of all those cells. If every cell in our body is sluggish, we will see it reflected in having some of the symptoms of sluggish cell function – tired, cold, dry skin, depressed mood, memory and focus issues, constipation, aches and pains, hair loss. The body temperature may be low.

It is a cellular world

The study of what happens in our cellular factories is more challenging and has only recently been worked out in detail. We now know that cells regulate thyroid function independent of the brain/pituitary regulation system. It is well known that many chronic illnesses produce the so called sick-euthyroid syndrome characterized by normal thyroid labs but decreased thyroid function. This is often seen in many hospitalized patients with serious illnesses. We now know that under stress our cells can slow metabolism of some tissues by increasing the intracellular conversion of T4 to Reverse T3 instead of the active form of thyroid T3.

The cellular regulation of thyroid is not reflected by changes in the serum thyroid levels or the TSH. In fact these changes may only occur in certain organs and not others. During starvation the brain thyroid function continues but less critical function in the muscles and GI tract will be slowed. The TSH remains unchanged while our tissues are adjusting thyroid function to cope with our stressors. Interestingly, those of Irish decent tend to have a higher rate of thyroid underutilization problems (Hypothyroidism Type 2) due to the fact that their ancestors were the ones who survived the great potato famine of 1845 and 1852. Those who more readily slowed their metabolism presumably by producing more reverse T3 would have had a survival advantage. Therefore, descendents of these survivors may be more prone to produce reverse T3 when they encounter stress from any source; however, their TSH levels are unchanged.

Is assumption #3 true? Is the entire reference range of the TSH or thyroid hormone level necessarily that which will be optimal for an individual?
No. The reference range simply describes where most of the population is. This is made up of people of all backgrounds, young and old, healthy and ill. In order for you to have the best possible thyroid status you need to be at your optimal level. For example, when one buys shoes, one is interested in getting a little more specific than getting a “normal” shoe. I have never heard anyone say “just give me any size normal shoe in that style.” In fact most normal shoes are not right for your foot. Similarly, a person with the signs and symptoms of low thyroid and a test result that is at the 50th percentile may feel great at the 60% percentile. Another person may be in the 10th percentile and be perfectly healthy because that is their optimum.

An optimal thyroid status is much more than feeling good. In 2008 the HUNT study showed that women with a higher TSH had a 69% higher rate of heart disease (odd ratio 1.69). This dramatically increased rate of heart disease was found with TSH levels within the reference range. (see Thyrotropin Levels and Risk of Fatal Coronary Heart Disease The HUNT Study Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(8):855-860 http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/168/8/855)

Conclusion: When the TSH is used alone to diagnose hypothyroidism, most who suffer from hypothyroidism will be missed. A high TSH typically indicates underproduction of thyroid. A normal TSH can be present in those with severe cellular underutilization of thyroid. This appears to be common and must be addressed. The TSH Standard for hypothyroidism diagnosis and management needs to be revised to reflect our current understanding.

Next issue: What Causes Hypothyroidism and What You can Do About it

Strontium – For Strong Bones and More

2009-10-03T16:50:00.000-05:00

In August I sent a newsletter about strong bones and made several suggestions. I have an important addition to make to my previous recommendations: Strontium

Strontium is a key component of our bone and connective tissues. If you look at the periodic table of elements you will notice that strontium is in the same row as calcium. What makes strontium unique is that it has the ability to actually increase the density of bone and connective tissue and help make it both stronger and healthier.

Strontium reversing Osteoporosis

1959 the Mayo Clinic gave 1.7 grams of strontium per day as strontium lactate to 32 with osteoporosis. The results showed 84% had less bone pain. There were no significant side effects bone mass appeared to increase (measuring tools were less precise then).

1985 McGill University in Montreal conducted a very small study with just 3 people. I mention this study because it was unique in that bone biopsies were actually done to directly measure the bone density both before and after 6 months of treatment with strontium. After 600 to 700 mg/day of strontium given as strontium carbonate there was a 172% increase in bone formation and less pain.

In 2002, the results of a large multi-center trial known as the STRATOS Trial (this stood for the “Strontium Ranelate for Treatment of Osteoporosis trial) showed that strontium given to 353 osteoporotic women with at least one previous vertebral fracture increased bone density. Strontium was given as strontium ranelate in the dose of 500 mg, 1000 mg or 2000 mg per day for 2 yr which provided 170, 340 or 680 mg of elemental strontium respectively per day. The lumbar bone density increased in a dose-dependent manner. Those who took the 680 mg/day of elemental strontium (2000 mg of strontium ranelate) appeared to have the best combination of efficacy and safety.

2004 - New England Journal of Medicine: 1649 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and at least one vertebral fracture to receive 2 g of oral strontium ranelate per day (total of 680 mg of elemental Strontium) or placebo for three years. Strontium increased bone mineral density at by 14.4 percent at the lumbar spine and 8.3 percent at the femoral neck. Fracture risk was reduced a whopping 41%. The authors concluded that: “Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with strontium ranelate leads to early and sustained reductions in the risk of vertebral fractures.”

2005 Another large multi-center trial result was released in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 90, No. 5 2816-2822 This study was a double blind study looking at 5091 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis for 5 years. Fracture rate again decreased 39-45%. Conclusion: “This study shows that strontium ranelate significantly reduces the risk of all nonvertebral and in a high-risk subgroup, hip fractures over a 3-yr period, and is well tolerated. It confirms that strontium ranelate reduces vertebral fractures. Strontium ranelate offers a safe and effective means of reducing the risk of fracture associated with osteoporosis.

Strontium and Cavities

Epidemiologic studies have shown that strontium concentrations of 6 to 10 mg/liter in the water supply are associated with a reduced incidence of cavities. Animal studies show that adding these levels of strontium reduced cavities.

Strontium and Arthritis

A study of the cartilage-forming cells known as found that strontium strongly promoted cartilage growth in-vitro (test tube like conditions). Hopefully we will see larger studies done one the benefits of strontium in osteoarthritis.

Bottom line

Strontium dosed at 680 mg of elemental strontium a day is a safe and effective way to prevent and reverse osteoporosis. While the largest and most recent studies used strontium ranelate, we have earlier studies which show that other strontium salts are effective including strontium carbonate, strontium lactate, and strontium gluconate. In other words, the key ingredient is strontium.

Strontium has also resulted in less bone pain in those with vertebral fractures and may be useful in reversing the pain and joint damage in osteoarthritis. Studies also suggest strontium helps prevent cavities.

Strontium is best absorbed on an empty stomach and when taken alone without other minerals. Calcium can block strontium absorption. Calcium may be taken at another time of day .

My updated recommendations for strong bones are to:

Avoid

· Soda/soft drinks (the acid in them weakens bone)

· Smoking

· Excessive caffeine

· Excessive grain intake

· Milk? There is actually an inverse relationship between how much a society drinks milk and bone density

· Optimize Vitamin D

· Daily eat 5-9 Servings of Fruit and Vegetables, drink Vegetable Juice, take Fruit/Vegetable capsules (www.NaturalWellnessChoices.com to order)

· Eat green leafy vegetables like spinach and collard greens

· Optimize Hormones: DHEA, Progesterone, Estrogen and Testosterone

· Exercise – weight bearing exercise

· Get natural sunlight

· Supplemental calcium, magnesium

· Vitamin K2 (about 100 mcg a day)

· Strontium 680 mg a day

One product with strontium is the NSI Strontium at Vitacost.com http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Strontium. At our wellness center, Physicians Preference is currently formulating a bone formula which will contain strontium.

References

Reginster JY, Deroisy R, Dougados M, et al. Prevention of early postmenopausal bone loss by strontium ranelate: the randomized, two-year, double-masked, dose ranging, placebo-controlled PREVOS trial. Osteoporosis Int 2002; 13:925-31

Pierre J. Meunier, et. Al. The Effects of Strontium Ranelate on the Risk of Vertebral Fracture in Women with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis. New England Journal of Medicine Volume 350:459-468 January 29, 2004 Number 5 http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/350/5/459

Meunier, P.J., Slosman, D.O., Delmas, P.D., Sebert, J.L., Brandi, M.L., Albanese, C., Lorenc, R., Pors-Nielsen, S., De Vernejoul, M.C., Roces, A., Reginster J.Y. Strontium ranelate: dose-dependent effects in established postmenopausal vertebral osteoporosis&emdash;a 2-year randomized placebo controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, May 2002; 87(5):2060-6.

Meunier, P.J., Roux, C., Seeman, E., Ortolani, S., Badurski, J.E., Spector, T.D., Cannata, J., Balogh, A., Lemmel, E.M., Pors-Nielsen, S., Rizzoli R., Genant, H.K., Reginster J.Y. The effects of strontium ranelate on the risk of vertebral fracture in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, N Engl J Med, 2004, Jan 29;350(5):459-68.

Strontium: Breakthrough Against Osteoporosis by Ward Dean, MD

Osteoporosis Drugs – Fact versus Fiction

2009-08-24T18:47:00.000-05:00

You see the ads. You hear the hype.

Your doctor recommends them…What do you do?

Bisphosphonates
The drugs for osteoporosis known as bisphosphonates decrease bone resorption by inhibiting the cells that break down bone (osteoclasts). They actually bind to and become part of the bone and eventually stop bone formation.

These drugs include:

Alendronate sodium - Generic and Fosamax
Ibandronate sodium - Boniva
Isedronate sodium - Actonel
Etidronate disodium – Didronel
Pamidronate disodium - Aredia
Tiludronate disodium - Skelid
Zoledronic acid - Aclasta; Reclast

All of these drugs are related and have similar side effects. They differ mainly by how often they are taken and whether they are a pill or IV. In this article I will refer to them collectively as Bisphosphonates

Why are these drugs so popular?
· Massive marketing campaigns
· They do increase bone density readings which leads many to mistakenly believe this means better bone
· They can produce a short term decrease in the risk of fractures in a few – a point that is greatly exaggerated by proponents of these drugs
· Doctors feel the need to do something and they are largely ignoring the best solutions

Reasons not to take Osteoporosis Drugs
· If you have osteopenia they have been shown to increase the fracture risk
· If you have osteoporosis, the chances of short term benefit is remote (1/81 chance)
· Long term these drugs essentially poison & kill bones and produce many side effects – some of them very serious
· The result in weaker, more brittle bone – especially after 5 years
· There are safer, natural approaches

Most Taking These Drugs Have No Personal Benefit
The studies showing benefit for these drugs are in the first 5 years of treating osteoporosis. The reason people take these drugs is to prevent fractures; however, a 2008 review of more than 12,000 women using alendronate showed only a 1-2% absolute risk reduction in women who have already developed osteoporosis.

The majority of the prescriptions written for these drugs are for individuals who have only some bone loss called osteopenia. The Hype in the media is the message that “these medications will protect your bones.” The reality is that they actually increase fracture risk. The FIT study – the Fracture Intervention Trial showed that when these drugs are used as for osteopenia, there is an increased risk of fractures. You can read this study in the reference section at the end.

Side Effects
Bone is alive and is in a constant state of remodeling by dissolving small bits of old bone (a process known as resorption) and building new bone. This remodeling allows bone to repair itself from fractures both large and microscopic.

When the levels of our bone building hormones begin to fall in midlife, bone resorption outpaces the bone building. This results in a net loss of bone which can be milder (osteopenia) or more severe (osteoporosis). The bone builders in women include Progesterone, DHEA and Estrogen. In men Testosterone and DHEA are important bone builders.

Instead of replacing declining hormones, many physicians are recommending bisphosphonates. Is this wise? Bisphosphonates do not just slow bone resorpting osteoclast activity, they poison them and eventually stop bone production by the osteoblasts.

These compounds strongly bind to the bone and become part of it. This is very unnatural.
As the graphs below show, these drugs eventually stop the bone building process.

These drugs transform living bone into inactive – essentially dead, chemically altered skeletons. Do they work to reduce fractures? In those with osteopenia they increase the fracture risk. In those with osteoporosis they temporarily decrease the fracture risk – for about 4-5 years. However, the chance of personally benefiting during this 5 year period is very low – about 1 in 86 chance.

After 5 years on these drugs, the cumulative effect of

1)preventing the repair of micro-fractures
2) blocking bone formation and
3)adding a foreign chemical to the matrix of the bone

results in bone that looks good on the bone density machine but is actually weak, brittle and essentially dead.

The increased fractures associated with these drugs may occur suddenly – even without trauma.

In addition to sudden fractures one can develop bone death in the jaw bone – especially after dental procedures and joint and muscle pain. In 2008 an FDA alert was issued warning of sudden bone and muscle pain with these drugs that can persist after the drugs are stopped.

To Summarize - Side Effects of Bisphosphonates include:
· Increased risk of fractures with osteopenia
· Increased fracture risk with osteoporosis after 5 years
· Irritation and ulcers of the esophagus
· Fractures of the femur (often without any trauma – they just snap)
· Low calcium in the blood
· Jaw bone decay (osteonecrosis) – especially after having a tooth removed
· Atrial fibrillation (increases risk 1.86 times) – this can lead to stroke/death
· Joint, bone, and muscle pain (potentially irreversibly) may occur within days, months, or years after starting a bisphosphonate

Bottom line: These drugs have serious side effects and poor effectiveness – Avoid Them
These drugs are most often used for osteopenia where they can actually increase fracture risk. Their long term effects in all who use the drugs is to possibly permanently impair the ability of the bone to grow as well as to remodel and repair small micro-fractures. The net result produces brittle, near dead bone. The bones appear to be able to recover partially when these drugs are stopped but some effects are permanent.

Safer, natural approaches
Why would you want to take a drug that actually blocks bone formation when there are actually natural ways of increasing bone production?

Avoid
· Soda/soft drinks (the acid in them weakens bone)
· Smoking
· Excessive caffeine
· Excessive grain intake
· Milk? There is actually an inverse relationship between how much a society drinks milk and bone density

Do

· Optimize Vitamin D
· Daily eat 5-9 Servings of Fruit and Vegetables, drink Vegetable Juice, take Fruit/Vegetable capsules (http://www.naturalwellnesschoices.com/ to order)
· Eat green leafy vegetables like spinach and collard greens
· Optimize Hormones: DHEA, Progesterone, Estrogen and Testosterone
· Exercise – weight bearing exercise
· Get natural sunlight
· Supplemental calcium, magnesium
· Vitamin K2 (about 100 mcg a day)
-Strontium - 680 mg a day can significantly build bone

In many cases doctors may not be aware of the negative effects of these medications. I trust this information will help you make better decisions about your health care. Some references you may find useful are below.

Selected References
Effect of Alendronate on Risk of Fracture in Women With Low Bone Density but Without Vertebral Fractures Results From the Fracture Intervention Trial
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/280/24/2077

Dr. Susan M. Ott at the University of Washington, Seattle wrote an article entitled Long-Term Safety of Bisphosphonates which was published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (Vol. 90, No. 3 1897-1899). You can read the text at http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/90/3/1897.

Alendronate for the primary and secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev., 23 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18253985

An emerging pattern of subtrochanteric stress fractures: A long-term complication of alendronate therapy? Injury, 39 (2), 224–231. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18222447

Drugs to build bones may weaken them. New York Times, July 15, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/health/15well.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Alonso–Coello, P., et al. 2008. Analysis. Drugs for pre-osteoporosis: Prevention or disease mongering? BMJ, 336 (7636), 126–129. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/336/7636/126
Carmona, R. 2004. Bone health and osteoporosis. A report of the Surgeon General. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/bonehealth/content.html

Brown, S. 2008. Vitamin D and fracture reduction: An evaluation of the existing research. Alt. Med. Rev., 13 (1), 21–33. http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/13/1/21.pdf

Nasal Washing (AKA Sinus Irrigation/Rinse)

2009-07-18T19:33:00.001-05:00

Nasal Washing (AKA Sinus Irrigation/Rinse)

Why should you do a nasal wash?

I have become a big fan of nasal washing. This simple and easy to use tool can be very powerful when used regularly. For many years, I only emphasized nasal washing when an upper respiratory illness began. While nasal washing is quite useful in relieving the symptoms of infections, it is even more useful when used regularly. I now recommend anyone with any respiratory issues perform nasal washing 1-2x/day and increase to 3-4x/day if allergies worsen or at the onset of a respiratory infection. Regular nasal washing cleans mucus, decreases swelling and flushes out allergen which can make a dramatic difference in your health. You can expect to see:

· Less sniffing
· Less nasal voice
· Less clearing of your throat (post nasal drip)
· Decreased snoring and potentially better sleep for all J
· Relieve pregnancy rhinitis – the congestion during pregnancy
· Clears passages for CPAP users
· Children who wash have less missed school days and less doctor visits
· Improved ability to taste and smell
· Less infections
· Less asthma symptoms
· Less use of antihistamines, antibiotics and asthma medications
· More energy
· Better concentration
· Less use of antihistamines, antibiotics and asthma medications

What Rinsing Device Should I Use?

The 2 most popular units are the NeilMed Device and the Neti Pot. The Neti Pot is like an Aladdin’s Lamp that uses gravity. The NeilMed and another Product called Nasopure involve gently squeezing the bottle and uses positive pressure to provide more thorough rinsing. You can the NeilMed and Neti Pot devices in most drug stores. You can order the Nasopure device at www.nasopure.com and it is also in some stores.

A Picture is worth a Thousand Words
In order to really understand what rinsing involves you really need to watch a video. You can click on the links below (or cut and paste). They are worth your time.

Nasal Rinsing 101 (using the NeilMed): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qen6kJdn-y8
Neti pot demonstration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8sDIbRAXlg
Nasopure Demonstration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOBQcLBxTe4

What is the correct nasal washing technique?

• Wash your hands
• Make the nasal wash solution using boiled or distilled water
• Make the saltwater, or saline, solution fresh for every nasal wash
• To make an Isotonic saltwater solution, mix ½ teaspoon of uniodized salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water. Uniodized salt is used because iodized salt may be irritating when used over a long period of time. Add a pinch of baking soda. A pinch is a small amount you can pick up between two fingers
• To make Hypertonic Saltwater Solution (more effective) use 1 tsp. of salt with ½ tsp. of baking soda per 8 oz.
• Use the entire 8 ounces of saltwater during the nasal wash
• Discard any unused saltwater and prepare a new saltwater solution before the next nasal wash

Isotonic Solution
An isotonic solution has the same concentration of salt as fluids in the body. While isotonic solutions do not have as many benefits as hypertonic solutions, many people like to begin nasal washing with these because they are milder.

Hypertonic Solution Studies show hypertonic solutions have benefits over isotonic:
Thins thick secretions most effectively
Removes 80% of allergens and can actually kill bacteria, fungi and viruses
Shrinks swollen membranes better

Precautions
Do not use regular tap water without boiling first or use distilled water
Do not wash if nasal passage is completely blocked
Use only lukewarm water. Do not use cold or hot water
Avoid rinsing later than one hour before bedtime, in order to avoid any residual solution dripping in the throat
No Plain Water! Plain water without salt and baking soda will result in severe burning sensation
Can they brush their teeth? A person who does a nasal wash should be able to brush their own teeth. This ensures safe use of the product

Not in my nose!
I know many think “there is no way I am putting anything up my nose!” Nasal Washing really is quite easy and can even be pleasant. I encourage you to give it a try. Once you see the benefits, you will want to continue this simple wellness tool.

Stimulants lead to Increased Risk for Sudden Death in Children 7 Fold

2009-06-20T19:28:00.000-05:00

Stimulants lead to Increased Risk for Sudden Death in Children 7 Fold
American Journal of Psychiatry June 15 2009

Previous studies have shown that stimulants like Ritalin have an increased risk of high blood pressure and medical visits. A new well done study just released June 15th looked at 7-19 year olds who died of sudden death and compared them to those the same age and sex who died in motor vehicle accidents. There was a seven fold increase in the use of stimulants used in treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in those who died suddenly versus those who died in traffic accidents. This study gives strong evidence that stimulant use dramatically increases the risk of sudden death by 7 fold or over 700% increase!

FDA Response: If this had been a report on a supplement you would have heard about it on all the news channels and the producers of the supplement would be shut down immediately. Instead, the FDA urged caution in interpreting the results and suggested the report should not serve as the basis for parents to stop a child’s stimulant medication. No bottles of medications are being seized. No factories shut down.

While the FDA points out correctly that since the risk of sudden death in children is rare, the absolute number of sudden deaths is going to be low. We must remember are talking about medications that are often used for questionable reasons in children which have lethal side effects. No country in the world comes close to drugging their children like the USA.

Natural Approaches to ADHD
We must find a better way to help children with attention problems. What are some natural ways to improve ADHD? By far and away, proper nutrition is the most important issue.

Eat Nutritious Food
Avoiding sugar, high fructose corn syrup & food additives
Identify food allergies (wheat and dairy are the two most common)
Omega 3 supplements (fish oil)

Dr. Stitt and her husband developed a school healthy eating program. In 1997 they were invited to Wisconsin’s Appleton Central Alternative High School to implement their program. This school was basically the last stop before prison. The students were disobedient, dropping out and crime was so rampant that full time policeman patrolled the halls to control the violence.
One Monday, students returned to see soda machines and sugar laden cafeteria food had been removed. No more including artificial colors and corn syrup. Instead they had water coolers with water and a cafeteria filled with wholesome fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. Within three months the police officer had little to do and grades were way up. Crime was gone and the drop out rate went to zero. WATCH this remarkable story:

IMPACT OF HEALTH FOOD PART 1

IMPACT OF HEALTH FOOD PART 2

The above information is not new. We have known the importance of nutrition for decades. Why do schools still allow soda machines? Why do we serve junk food in cafeterias?
While we wait for schools to clean up the junk, we can all take action at home now. Please do not bring home junk food. Good nutrition promotes a happy home as well as good students. Will some children still have attention and learning issues when you clean up the diet? Yes, but virtually all improve with good new nutrition. Additional non-drug alternatives can be used to help students who have persistent ADHD symptoms.

Additional tools to help address ADHD:

Neurofeedback (see addadhdadvances.com/neurofeedback.html)
Treating hypothyroidism when indicated
Detoxification programs
Targeted supplements based on Testing

Additional Resources:
www.feingold.org
www.endadhd.com
www.blockcenter.com