I just finished watching part of the movie, The Future of Food. I had to stop and take a break, because I have come to understand a very sobering truth. The public at large has been passively standing by while more GMO foods are being introduced for human consumption. There is outrage in Europe over GM foods but only a small (yet very strong) presence of activists here. However, I think the U.S. will soon reach a tipping point whereby information about the dangers of GMO foods goes mainstream. The Japanese at large are very concerned about GMOs, and when a trade representative in the food industry in Japan says, "We will watch the children in the United States for the next 10 years," Houston, we have a problem.
This is an absolute must-see movie. There are interviews of farmers who have been sued and taken to the cleaners by Monsanto for "breaking it's patents"--when Monsanto crops contaminated the farmers' crops. In Canada the Supreme Court made a farmer destroy his own seeds, cultivated for generations because Monsanto crops contaminated the farmer's seeds via the wind therefore"he was violating a patent." The farmer also lost his retirement ($200,000) in lawyers fees. This year, however, 270,000 organic farmers have collectively filed suit against Monsanto to protect themselves from this kind of abuse.
There is an explanation of how viruses, bacteria, and antibiotic genes are forced into plant cells--the GMOs are basically a biological experiment when about 75% of the items at a regular grocery store contain GM ingredients. (There is more information in my previous post about GMOs)
97% of the vegetables grown at the beginning of the 20th century are now extinct as the food system has become industrialized. Monsanto is pushing to own patents on more seeds, and they already own many of the pesticides that industrial farming is now dependent upon. Monsanto controls a lot of the seeds, hence food, yet GMOs have never been voted on by the people or Congress. Lack of government regulation in addition to millions in lobbying allows them to do so. A line from the movie states, "The U.S. pesticide industry bought the seed industry."
There is a movement in the U.S. to label GMOs, whether or not it passes, I am not going to eat them.
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health,) Alix
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
21 uses for Coca Cola other than Drinking It
Dr. Mercola recently did an article on soda saying that many colas contain aspartame, which is linked to "headaches, insomnia, memory loss, GI tract disorders, loss of energy, depression, and even seizures." He also talked about the connection between high fructose corn syrup and "diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, increase in LDL cholesterol, and liver abnormalities." Also HFCS tends to come from GMO corn.
Well, now that I don't drink soda, I really miss it--Coke was part of my childhood during holidays and summer BBQs. For those of you who still love your soda, here are some other ways (rather than drinking it) that you can enjoy your Coke.
On the internet I saw Coke used for unclogging drains, de-icing windshields, cleaning toilets, removing rust from chrome bumpers and knives, cleaning bug and road film off windshields, removing grease and asphalt from clothes, and cleaning blood spills.
Also Coke was used for carpet stains, cleaning tile grout, cleaning a tea kettle and pans, removing oil stains from the driveway, and gum in hair. If you absolutely must drink it, try it in small amounts--it is great for nausea and congestion.
Next time you need it, try Coke for powering a battery for a TV, cleaning ancient coins, relieving a jellyfish sting, greener grass, suntan lotion (regular coke only) and softer skin, and cleaning the outside of your submarine.
Well, there are 21 reasons to stock up on Coke!
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Well, now that I don't drink soda, I really miss it--Coke was part of my childhood during holidays and summer BBQs. For those of you who still love your soda, here are some other ways (rather than drinking it) that you can enjoy your Coke.
On the internet I saw Coke used for unclogging drains, de-icing windshields, cleaning toilets, removing rust from chrome bumpers and knives, cleaning bug and road film off windshields, removing grease and asphalt from clothes, and cleaning blood spills.
Also Coke was used for carpet stains, cleaning tile grout, cleaning a tea kettle and pans, removing oil stains from the driveway, and gum in hair. If you absolutely must drink it, try it in small amounts--it is great for nausea and congestion.
Next time you need it, try Coke for powering a battery for a TV, cleaning ancient coins, relieving a jellyfish sting, greener grass, suntan lotion (regular coke only) and softer skin, and cleaning the outside of your submarine.
Well, there are 21 reasons to stock up on Coke!
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Flu Vaccine vs. EpiCor
My previous post was about side effects from the HPV vaccine, and today I received an article in Mercola's Newsletter that says, "A study published in the prestigious journal The Lancet revealed that flu shots provide only “moderate protection” against the flu, and in some seasons is altogether 'reduced or absent.' Specifically, the Lancet said the vaccine is about 59 percent effective. But when you break the numbers down statistically, what it really works out to is that the vaccine prevents flu 1.5 times out of 100. That’s right. Using the Lancet’s own numbers, statistics show that the vaccine only works 1.5 times out of 100."
I have not yet talked about EpiCor yet on this blog. This is the name of a dried yeast fermentate that I have taken for several years. I purchase it at Vitamin Research (www.vrp.com). EpiCor is a natural product that doesn't adversely affect the balance of flora in the digestive tract because the yeast is dead. Lab studies show that EpiCor decreases allergies, protects against the flu, and balances the immune system.
Within a week of taking EpiCor, I noticed my allergies were reduced remarkably, and my occurrence of sinus infections dropped dramatically. I used to have chronic sinusitis (sinus infections several times a year). With EpiCor they dropped to once a year (from 3), and in the last year I have had none, which I attribute to the EpiCor and also the protocol I am on for Adrenal Fatigue, which I have discussed in prior posts, as well as eating organic foods.
I have not had the flu since I have been on EpiCor. (4 years) EpiCor has been studied in a lab, and it boosts NK cells in the lungs (mucus membranes) 400 percent. There are no side effects, except that it helps prevent cancer because it harmonizes the ratio of different components in the immune system, not just amps up NK cells. It balances rather than overstimulates the immune system.
EpiCor was originally a yeast fermentate used in high performance race horse food. The workers in the factory were breathing in the dust from the fermentate and many were reporting they hadn't been sick in years. Since then studies were done to validate the findings, and the fermentate was upgraded with added selenium and production in a food-grade facility. Get more details about EpiCor at www.distance-healer.com/27.html.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
I have not yet talked about EpiCor yet on this blog. This is the name of a dried yeast fermentate that I have taken for several years. I purchase it at Vitamin Research (www.vrp.com). EpiCor is a natural product that doesn't adversely affect the balance of flora in the digestive tract because the yeast is dead. Lab studies show that EpiCor decreases allergies, protects against the flu, and balances the immune system.
Within a week of taking EpiCor, I noticed my allergies were reduced remarkably, and my occurrence of sinus infections dropped dramatically. I used to have chronic sinusitis (sinus infections several times a year). With EpiCor they dropped to once a year (from 3), and in the last year I have had none, which I attribute to the EpiCor and also the protocol I am on for Adrenal Fatigue, which I have discussed in prior posts, as well as eating organic foods.
I have not had the flu since I have been on EpiCor. (4 years) EpiCor has been studied in a lab, and it boosts NK cells in the lungs (mucus membranes) 400 percent. There are no side effects, except that it helps prevent cancer because it harmonizes the ratio of different components in the immune system, not just amps up NK cells. It balances rather than overstimulates the immune system.
EpiCor was originally a yeast fermentate used in high performance race horse food. The workers in the factory were breathing in the dust from the fermentate and many were reporting they hadn't been sick in years. Since then studies were done to validate the findings, and the fermentate was upgraded with added selenium and production in a food-grade facility. Get more details about EpiCor at www.distance-healer.com/27.html.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Review of The Mars Venus Diet and Exercise Solution
I was listening to a free talk given by John Gray, who wrote Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. He has a book called The Mars Venus Diet and Exercise Solution. I actually don't follow these prescriptives, because I eat for my type, according to metabolic typing. I'm a protein type as I discussed in an earlier blog.
There are so many "diet plans," out there--all written by so-called experts that one could become confused by reading them all. John Gray recommends eating all three groups--carbs, protein, and fat--in one meal, but he is not concerned with the ratio of the three. This is where Metabolic Typing offers a different perspective--eating based on your type. This means combining protein, carbs and fat into a ratio based on your individual needs. This is the type of eating I do, as discussed in previous blogs, to reduce my adrenal fatigue.
John Gray says that men need more protein to produce dopamine, since men usually run low on dopamine during stress. He states that women need a little more fat than men to boost prostaglandin, which will in turn boost serotonin, since women tend to run low on serotonin when under stress. He also recommends taking trace minerals. I think John Gray does good research, and interestingly, the introduction is written by Dr. Daniel Amen, a brain chemistry expert, who I talked about in a different blog. I also take trace minerals from time to time due to their depletion from the soil.
I tried John Gray's plan a couple years ago, and it did not help my adrenal fatigue. I like the fact that John Gray is talking about balancing hormones (serotonin and dopamine). For me, because of my Estrogen Dominance, this is done directly through bioidentical hormones. I take natural progesterone, pregnenolone, and DHEA. These will correct the estrogen dominance/hormonal imbalance and therefore have a cascade effect that will improve serotonin production. Also, Gray doesn't believe in letting blood sugar get too high or low, which is generally agreed upon in holistic health. I eat every three hours to keep my blood sugar level balanced.
And I do like a couple of the recipe suggestions in Gray's book: quesadillas made with corn tortillas, mozzarella cheese, avocado, with chicken or black beans, and also cheese omelet with vegetables such as zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, mushrooms, onion, and tomato. Gray also recommends drinking a glass of water with lemon juice, aloe vera, trace minerals, and honey first thing in the morning to assist with cleansing the liver and lymphatic system. I like that Gray is talking about cleansing, which is a common theme in holistic health. He also talks about eating healthier carbs rather than sugar or ones with a high glycemic index.
I bring up Gray's work to distinguish it from Metabolic Typing. I think choosing an eating plan for health really depends on which health professional you choose to follow. Right now I am following a lot of the information provided by Paul Chek in How to Eat Move and Be Healthy.
Before I started Metabolic Typing and following the advice of my holistic health practitioner, Kristie Yaakoby, I was always hungry and I was eating constantly just to feel full. Also, I really believe in organic eating, especially considering the fact that I am overcoming adrenal fatigue. As I have written about in a previous post, Kristie recommended a host of supplements plus bioidentical hormones to help with my adrenal fatigue and estrogen dominance.
There are so many contradictory theories about avoiding starchy foods, eating a balanced amount of starchy foods, and even eating starchy foods to lift one's mood. Gray recommends women eating sweet potatoes to produce serotonin in the morning, saying that this is a common morning meal in Japan, and that there is no word in Japanese for hot flash or PMS.
Judith Wurtman, PhD and former director of the Research program in Women's Health at the MIT Clinical Research Center, says that women who don't eat enough carbs may lack serotonin, and that eating carbs alone can raise the normal fluctuations in mood. She says 99% of people have a decline in mood around 4pm and can raise serotonin by eating starchy snacks/meals of pasta, potatoes, polenta, rice, oatmeal, or soup with a side of crusty bread. She has a book called The Serotonin Power Diet. Again, more confusing information, when there are other health professionals (Mercola) saying to avoid starchy foods altogether.
Usually, I get low energy when I'm hungry and getting low blood sugar. I stick to the Metabolic Typing plan, which is more specific about balancing protein, carbs and fats than John Gray's plan, and, for me, since I'm a protein type, less carbohydrate oriented than Wurtman's plan, and less extreme than Mercola's suggestion to avoid all starchy vegetables--hence somewhere in the middle of the three other recommendations. I think it's good that there is so much research going on about the effects of food on our moods, and hopefully one day all the scattered and dichotomous research will be fleshed out and eventually converge.
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
There are so many "diet plans," out there--all written by so-called experts that one could become confused by reading them all. John Gray recommends eating all three groups--carbs, protein, and fat--in one meal, but he is not concerned with the ratio of the three. This is where Metabolic Typing offers a different perspective--eating based on your type. This means combining protein, carbs and fat into a ratio based on your individual needs. This is the type of eating I do, as discussed in previous blogs, to reduce my adrenal fatigue.
John Gray says that men need more protein to produce dopamine, since men usually run low on dopamine during stress. He states that women need a little more fat than men to boost prostaglandin, which will in turn boost serotonin, since women tend to run low on serotonin when under stress. He also recommends taking trace minerals. I think John Gray does good research, and interestingly, the introduction is written by Dr. Daniel Amen, a brain chemistry expert, who I talked about in a different blog. I also take trace minerals from time to time due to their depletion from the soil.
I tried John Gray's plan a couple years ago, and it did not help my adrenal fatigue. I like the fact that John Gray is talking about balancing hormones (serotonin and dopamine). For me, because of my Estrogen Dominance, this is done directly through bioidentical hormones. I take natural progesterone, pregnenolone, and DHEA. These will correct the estrogen dominance/hormonal imbalance and therefore have a cascade effect that will improve serotonin production. Also, Gray doesn't believe in letting blood sugar get too high or low, which is generally agreed upon in holistic health. I eat every three hours to keep my blood sugar level balanced.
And I do like a couple of the recipe suggestions in Gray's book: quesadillas made with corn tortillas, mozzarella cheese, avocado, with chicken or black beans, and also cheese omelet with vegetables such as zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, mushrooms, onion, and tomato. Gray also recommends drinking a glass of water with lemon juice, aloe vera, trace minerals, and honey first thing in the morning to assist with cleansing the liver and lymphatic system. I like that Gray is talking about cleansing, which is a common theme in holistic health. He also talks about eating healthier carbs rather than sugar or ones with a high glycemic index.
I bring up Gray's work to distinguish it from Metabolic Typing. I think choosing an eating plan for health really depends on which health professional you choose to follow. Right now I am following a lot of the information provided by Paul Chek in How to Eat Move and Be Healthy.
Before I started Metabolic Typing and following the advice of my holistic health practitioner, Kristie Yaakoby, I was always hungry and I was eating constantly just to feel full. Also, I really believe in organic eating, especially considering the fact that I am overcoming adrenal fatigue. As I have written about in a previous post, Kristie recommended a host of supplements plus bioidentical hormones to help with my adrenal fatigue and estrogen dominance.
There are so many contradictory theories about avoiding starchy foods, eating a balanced amount of starchy foods, and even eating starchy foods to lift one's mood. Gray recommends women eating sweet potatoes to produce serotonin in the morning, saying that this is a common morning meal in Japan, and that there is no word in Japanese for hot flash or PMS.
Judith Wurtman, PhD and former director of the Research program in Women's Health at the MIT Clinical Research Center, says that women who don't eat enough carbs may lack serotonin, and that eating carbs alone can raise the normal fluctuations in mood. She says 99% of people have a decline in mood around 4pm and can raise serotonin by eating starchy snacks/meals of pasta, potatoes, polenta, rice, oatmeal, or soup with a side of crusty bread. She has a book called The Serotonin Power Diet. Again, more confusing information, when there are other health professionals (Mercola) saying to avoid starchy foods altogether.
Usually, I get low energy when I'm hungry and getting low blood sugar. I stick to the Metabolic Typing plan, which is more specific about balancing protein, carbs and fats than John Gray's plan, and, for me, since I'm a protein type, less carbohydrate oriented than Wurtman's plan, and less extreme than Mercola's suggestion to avoid all starchy vegetables--hence somewhere in the middle of the three other recommendations. I think it's good that there is so much research going on about the effects of food on our moods, and hopefully one day all the scattered and dichotomous research will be fleshed out and eventually converge.
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Monday, November 28, 2011
No, Not Potato Chips!!!
I thought I was safe eating non-GMO potato chips, but according to a 2005 study conducted by the Environmental Law Foundation, all potato chips contain a naturally occurring carcinogenic material called acrylamide. (www.envirolaw.org/report_how_potato_chips_stack_up.pdf) Acrylamide is a byproduct caused by heating starchy foods to high temperatures. These carbohydrate rich foods include potatoes, bread (toast), and even coffee beans.
The federal limit for acrylamide in drinking water is about .12 micrograms for an 8 oz. glass of water--.5 parts per billion. According to the report, potato chips can contain up to 910 times that amount. Some of the worst offenders were Cape Cod Robust Russet (910x the amount), Kettle Chips that are lightly salted (505x), and Kettle Chips, honey dijon, (405x).
In 2005 California sued potato chip makers resulting in a settlement whereby Frito Lay and some others agreed to lower the acrylamide level to 275 ppb by 2011. This will prevent them from having to issue a cancer warning label in California. Again, federal law restricts the acrylamide level in water to .5 parts per billion.
I absolutely love potato chips, but I think I will avoid them for now. I am going to call Whole Foods and Trader Joes to see if I can find out what the levels of acrylamide are in their house brand chips (I usually eat their ruffles chips brands), and I will post the results if I can get them.
By the way, here's an interesting fact; Pringles contain only small amounts of potatoes. They are a conglomeration of rice, wheat, corn, and potato flakes. Also, speaking of heating things up to high temperatures, when oils reach their smoke point, they oxidize and partially hydrogenate creating trans fats. Coconut oil is a great oil to use, because it has a high smoke point. Oils that have lower smoke points are olive, corn, safflower, sunflower, and canola.
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
The federal limit for acrylamide in drinking water is about .12 micrograms for an 8 oz. glass of water--.5 parts per billion. According to the report, potato chips can contain up to 910 times that amount. Some of the worst offenders were Cape Cod Robust Russet (910x the amount), Kettle Chips that are lightly salted (505x), and Kettle Chips, honey dijon, (405x).
In 2005 California sued potato chip makers resulting in a settlement whereby Frito Lay and some others agreed to lower the acrylamide level to 275 ppb by 2011. This will prevent them from having to issue a cancer warning label in California. Again, federal law restricts the acrylamide level in water to .5 parts per billion.
I absolutely love potato chips, but I think I will avoid them for now. I am going to call Whole Foods and Trader Joes to see if I can find out what the levels of acrylamide are in their house brand chips (I usually eat their ruffles chips brands), and I will post the results if I can get them.
By the way, here's an interesting fact; Pringles contain only small amounts of potatoes. They are a conglomeration of rice, wheat, corn, and potato flakes. Also, speaking of heating things up to high temperatures, when oils reach their smoke point, they oxidize and partially hydrogenate creating trans fats. Coconut oil is a great oil to use, because it has a high smoke point. Oils that have lower smoke points are olive, corn, safflower, sunflower, and canola.
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Friday, November 11, 2011
Dr. David Williams--Follow up on Depression
As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently subscribed to Dr. David Williams' online newsletter. Here is a great link to a Dr. Williams post that talks about depression. This link offers another alternative look at this condition. (See my prior post about Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Amen on depression.)
Dr. Williams' article states "...the difference in improvement between patients taking antidepressants and placebos was not clinically significant..." In other words, SSRIs--selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors--have a long list of side effects but studies have shown they don't work for mild/moderate depression (there were positive results for severe depression.)
The SSRIs include Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox, and Effexor. Another part of this article says, "...we now know that taking these antidepressants also doubles one's risk of the worst consequence of the problem they're being used to treat: suicide..."
Dr. Williams then goes on to talk about the connection between depression and adrenal, thyroid and pituitary imbalance. In a previous post I wrote about Dr. Weil's recommendation for Ashwagandha and Rhodiola for depression. In doing research on the Internet, I discovered these herbs are often recommended for adrenal fatigue, which makes sense, since Williams links depression with glandular imbalance.
www.drdavidwilliams.com/shared/multiUseBlank.aspx?contentID=22574
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Dr. Williams' article states "...the difference in improvement between patients taking antidepressants and placebos was not clinically significant..." In other words, SSRIs--selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors--have a long list of side effects but studies have shown they don't work for mild/moderate depression (there were positive results for severe depression.)
The SSRIs include Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox, and Effexor. Another part of this article says, "...we now know that taking these antidepressants also doubles one's risk of the worst consequence of the problem they're being used to treat: suicide..."
Dr. Williams then goes on to talk about the connection between depression and adrenal, thyroid and pituitary imbalance. In a previous post I wrote about Dr. Weil's recommendation for Ashwagandha and Rhodiola for depression. In doing research on the Internet, I discovered these herbs are often recommended for adrenal fatigue, which makes sense, since Williams links depression with glandular imbalance.
www.drdavidwilliams.com/shared/multiUseBlank.aspx?contentID=22574
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Dr. Weil & Dr. Amen, Natural Cures for Depression
Wow! I usually am not interested in the Dr. Oz show, but today I watched clips on his website of Dr. Andrew Weil talking about his own experience with depression. Dr. Weil had mild/moderate depression and anxiety in his 20s, and in his 40s he was given a prescription for antidepressant medication. Dr. Weil could only tolerate the medication for five days, because he felt that the medication numbed his body and mind.
Dr. Weil explains that there is a mass epidemic of depression in America with 1/10 adults on medication for it. He says, however, that the pharmaceutical industry is pushing medication for ordinary sadness, so perhaps a third of those cases may be unnecessarily medicated. Dr. Weil also suggests that mood shifts are normal and that some temporary mild depression occurs naturally from time to time. However, Dr. Weil does offer a host of natural solutions for ongoing mild/moderate depression.
Weil holds that the greatest solution for depression is exercise. He also recommends daily dietary supplements of 2-3 grams of fish oil, 2000 iu of Vitamin D, 50 mcg of B6, 100 mcg of B12, and 400 mcg of folate. He also recommends a daily multivitamin.
Other tactics to heal depression include cutting back on caffeine because it affects moods. Weil recommends eliminating processed foods. Artificial foods can lead to inflammation in the body, and this can cause depression. He also suggests getting off the computer by 8pm information overload affects the brain.
More remedies include acupuncture with a practitioner experienced in treating depression and touch in general which produces oxytocin, the feel good hormone. Weil recommends standing with an erect posture, because people with depression often stand with a sunken chest, which can alter thoughts towards depression.
He also suggests feeling and expressing gratitude often along with forgiveness and reparation of damaged relationships to remove emotional stress. He contends that "social connection protects us from depression." He explains that massive depression is unheard of in primitive cultures for many reasons--healthier eating, physical exercise, being exposed to natural light cycles and social support.
Dr. Weil recommends experimenting with Ashwagandha if depression is associated with anxiety. This is a natural substance that is also called Indian Ginseng and is safe for long term use. Weil calls Ashwagandha "stress protective with a mild relaxive effect."
Another supplement Weil describes as "quite safe" is SAMe (S-adenoslymethionine), which is fast acting. It takes effect within 24-48 hours. It can be stimulating and is not to be taken at night or by people with a bipolar disorder.
Rhodiola, an herb native to Tibet, is another supplement that is mood elevating and leads to more mental clarity and focus.
Weil cautions not to take more than one of these at a time (Ashwagandha, SAMe, Rhodiola) He says to experiment with each one separately and then discover if they are effective.
Dr. Daniel Amen is another Western Medical Doctor that recommends natural remedies for depression. He has been a practicing psychiatrist for over thirty years, and ultimately turned towards natural solutions for depression/anxiety after years of prescribing pharmaceutical medication.
Amen uses brain scans to view the entire brain and then make recommendations for supplements. According to Amen there are many types of depression which are often coupled with anxiety. He defines pure depression as a state of sadness, low energy and hopelessness. (He treats this with SAMe)
Dr. Amen also describes the state of pure anxiety as one where a person usually predicts the worst outcome in many situations. (Amen uses L-Theanine, Guava, B6, Magnesium, Valerian, and Cava Cava to treat this.)
Amen talks about a state of mixed anxiety and depression. (treated with L-Theanine and SAMe)
Another condition he explains is overfocused anxiety and depression, where one can't let go of worry and holds grudges, often getting into arguments. (treated with St. John's Wort, 5htp, Saffron, and serotonin medication)
He talks about a cyclic state such as severe PMS or bipolar disorder. (treated with Guava, Fish oil)
Another mode is unfocused anxiety and depression. (treated with Green tea, Ginseng)
Dr. Amen has several offices around the country where he does the brain scans in order to make recommendations. Interestingly, he says that pharmaceutical medication is only effective on one out of the seven kinds of depression/anxiety, which is the over focused type. He is also able to scan for ADHD and Alzheimer's, and offers natural supplements for treating those as well.
He also suggests eating 4-5 meals a day, because blood sugar is crucial to brain health. He recommends getting at lease 6 hours of sleep, exercise, and also getting lab tests for medical issues of low thyroid, low testosterone, and low vitamin D, which can lead to depression. He also uses medical hypnosis to help his patients.
I highly recommend going to Dr. Amen's website for more information, because my information is based on notes I scrawled during an interview I heard with him on the Internet, which I think is no longer available. I think it is very interesting to have these two alternative viewpoints by Dr. Weil and Dr. Amen to add to the mix of conventional western medicine in the treatment of depression.
I haven't tried any of these supplements except for the usual-- fish oil (krill oil in my case), vitamin D (I take 4000IU daily per research done by Dr. Mercola), and B supplements/a multivitamin. Neither Dr. Amen--in the interview I heard--nor Dr. Weil (on Dr. Oz) recommended dosages.
More information can be found at www.AmenClinics.com and in Weil's new book Spontaneous Happiness. I am not recommending either of their treatments, but it is great to have alternative viewpoints being presented to people who can then decide for themselves which treatment route to take.
I would probably not go to one of Dr. Amen's clinics, because, if health care doesn't cover the expense, the cost is a little over $3000 for a comprehensive evaluation--plus, I am leery of having a radioactive isotope injected for the scan--even if it is a very small amount. From my previous blogs, you may have read that I like to err on the side of caution. If I were to try any of these treatments, I would probably follow the more cost effective suggestions offered by Dr. Weil--but I would only take them with the support of a Holistic Health Practitioner.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Dr. Weil explains that there is a mass epidemic of depression in America with 1/10 adults on medication for it. He says, however, that the pharmaceutical industry is pushing medication for ordinary sadness, so perhaps a third of those cases may be unnecessarily medicated. Dr. Weil also suggests that mood shifts are normal and that some temporary mild depression occurs naturally from time to time. However, Dr. Weil does offer a host of natural solutions for ongoing mild/moderate depression.
Weil holds that the greatest solution for depression is exercise. He also recommends daily dietary supplements of 2-3 grams of fish oil, 2000 iu of Vitamin D, 50 mcg of B6, 100 mcg of B12, and 400 mcg of folate. He also recommends a daily multivitamin.
Other tactics to heal depression include cutting back on caffeine because it affects moods. Weil recommends eliminating processed foods. Artificial foods can lead to inflammation in the body, and this can cause depression. He also suggests getting off the computer by 8pm information overload affects the brain.
More remedies include acupuncture with a practitioner experienced in treating depression and touch in general which produces oxytocin, the feel good hormone. Weil recommends standing with an erect posture, because people with depression often stand with a sunken chest, which can alter thoughts towards depression.
He also suggests feeling and expressing gratitude often along with forgiveness and reparation of damaged relationships to remove emotional stress. He contends that "social connection protects us from depression." He explains that massive depression is unheard of in primitive cultures for many reasons--healthier eating, physical exercise, being exposed to natural light cycles and social support.
Dr. Weil recommends experimenting with Ashwagandha if depression is associated with anxiety. This is a natural substance that is also called Indian Ginseng and is safe for long term use. Weil calls Ashwagandha "stress protective with a mild relaxive effect."
Another supplement Weil describes as "quite safe" is SAMe (S-adenoslymethionine), which is fast acting. It takes effect within 24-48 hours. It can be stimulating and is not to be taken at night or by people with a bipolar disorder.
Rhodiola, an herb native to Tibet, is another supplement that is mood elevating and leads to more mental clarity and focus.
Weil cautions not to take more than one of these at a time (Ashwagandha, SAMe, Rhodiola) He says to experiment with each one separately and then discover if they are effective.
Dr. Daniel Amen is another Western Medical Doctor that recommends natural remedies for depression. He has been a practicing psychiatrist for over thirty years, and ultimately turned towards natural solutions for depression/anxiety after years of prescribing pharmaceutical medication.
Amen uses brain scans to view the entire brain and then make recommendations for supplements. According to Amen there are many types of depression which are often coupled with anxiety. He defines pure depression as a state of sadness, low energy and hopelessness. (He treats this with SAMe)
Dr. Amen also describes the state of pure anxiety as one where a person usually predicts the worst outcome in many situations. (Amen uses L-Theanine, Guava, B6, Magnesium, Valerian, and Cava Cava to treat this.)
Amen talks about a state of mixed anxiety and depression. (treated with L-Theanine and SAMe)
Another condition he explains is overfocused anxiety and depression, where one can't let go of worry and holds grudges, often getting into arguments. (treated with St. John's Wort, 5htp, Saffron, and serotonin medication)
He talks about a cyclic state such as severe PMS or bipolar disorder. (treated with Guava, Fish oil)
Another mode is unfocused anxiety and depression. (treated with Green tea, Ginseng)
Dr. Amen has several offices around the country where he does the brain scans in order to make recommendations. Interestingly, he says that pharmaceutical medication is only effective on one out of the seven kinds of depression/anxiety, which is the over focused type. He is also able to scan for ADHD and Alzheimer's, and offers natural supplements for treating those as well.
He also suggests eating 4-5 meals a day, because blood sugar is crucial to brain health. He recommends getting at lease 6 hours of sleep, exercise, and also getting lab tests for medical issues of low thyroid, low testosterone, and low vitamin D, which can lead to depression. He also uses medical hypnosis to help his patients.
I highly recommend going to Dr. Amen's website for more information, because my information is based on notes I scrawled during an interview I heard with him on the Internet, which I think is no longer available. I think it is very interesting to have these two alternative viewpoints by Dr. Weil and Dr. Amen to add to the mix of conventional western medicine in the treatment of depression.
I haven't tried any of these supplements except for the usual-- fish oil (krill oil in my case), vitamin D (I take 4000IU daily per research done by Dr. Mercola), and B supplements/a multivitamin. Neither Dr. Amen--in the interview I heard--nor Dr. Weil (on Dr. Oz) recommended dosages.
More information can be found at www.AmenClinics.com and in Weil's new book Spontaneous Happiness. I am not recommending either of their treatments, but it is great to have alternative viewpoints being presented to people who can then decide for themselves which treatment route to take.
I would probably not go to one of Dr. Amen's clinics, because, if health care doesn't cover the expense, the cost is a little over $3000 for a comprehensive evaluation--plus, I am leery of having a radioactive isotope injected for the scan--even if it is a very small amount. From my previous blogs, you may have read that I like to err on the side of caution. If I were to try any of these treatments, I would probably follow the more cost effective suggestions offered by Dr. Weil--but I would only take them with the support of a Holistic Health Practitioner.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Sign Petition to Label GMOs
This is a link to a petition being sent to President Obama and the Commissioner of the FDA. Obama made a promise when running for office to label all GMO foods. The petition is being put together by Food Democracy Now and, as can be read in the petition, 93% of Americans polled want GMOs to be labeled. There are already 15 countries in the European Union that require labeling. Russia, China, Australia, and many more countries also implement mandatory labeling of GMOs.
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/434?akid=410.145879.x8qlD1&t=5
A Votre Sante, (Here's To Your Health), Alix
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/434?akid=410.145879.x8qlD1&t=5
A Votre Sante, (Here's To Your Health), Alix
Monday, November 7, 2011
Pharma Companies & Vaccines ($$$)
I used to be a social worker who supported developmentally disabled adults. One day I was chatting with the mother of one of my clients. My client, who was mentally challenged, was not born with a disability. She became disabled after having a seizure due to a vaccination. In fact, she and her parents won a joint lawsuit against the company that made the vaccine. (She was born in the early 1970's)
Before I started reading Mercola's newsletter I had no idea that vaccines were still dangerous to some, especially children. I also didn't know that vaccines are not always effective (see my blog about the CDC). I think Mercola's outspoken opposition against pharmaceutical companies' aggressive push of vaccinations is very important.
In a post today he talks about pharmaceutical companies being immune to lawsuits over vaccines, and the fact that Pharma Companies are pushing to make many vaccinations mandatory. He states, "In February of this year, drug companies got what they wanted all along: the U.S. Supreme Court gave Pharma total immunity from lawsuits..."
Mercola continues, "Pharma is funding medical organizations profiting from mass vaccination policies to press politicians into quickly passing laws that force Americans to buy and use dozens of doses of vaccines...But what happens if a vaccine given to a child without the parent's consent ends up injuring or killing a child? Is anyone accountable? No. Nobody is liable in a court of law to be tried before a jury of our peers when our children and grandchildren are injured or die after getting vaccinated – not the drug companies that made the vaccines; not the federal health officials, who licensed and recommend the vaccines; not the doctor or medical worker, who gave the vaccines; and not the state politician, who voted for vaccine mandates or looked the other way while state health officials added another new vaccine to the required list..."
He condends, "Nobody is held accountable or liable when a child is injured or killed by vaccines in America except the parent of that child, whose informed consent rights may have been violated by fellow citizens wielding power they should never have been given..."
He goes on to state, "More of us are wondering why doctors inside and outside of government are insisting that every child get 70 doses of 16 vaccines starting on the first day of life and why that list includes expensive new vaccines for mild diseases, like chickenpox, and for diseases you can't catch in a classroom, like hepatitis B. More of us are asking why we have to get a flu shot every year and why health care workers are losing their jobs if they don't..."
He also holds that, "More of us are looking at vaccine studies published in the medical literature, many of which are paid for by drug companies or public health agencies promoting one-size-fits-all vaccine policies, only to discover that a lot of those studies are the best junk science that money can buy..."
I like that Mercola offers a different viewpoint about vaccines than those of conventional medicine. I think it's important that he challenges the status quo of pharmaceutical companies pushing vaccines to make a profit. I think it is especially important for parents to be informed about the risks before they make their decisions about what vaccines to give, or not give, to their children.
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Before I started reading Mercola's newsletter I had no idea that vaccines were still dangerous to some, especially children. I also didn't know that vaccines are not always effective (see my blog about the CDC). I think Mercola's outspoken opposition against pharmaceutical companies' aggressive push of vaccinations is very important.
In a post today he talks about pharmaceutical companies being immune to lawsuits over vaccines, and the fact that Pharma Companies are pushing to make many vaccinations mandatory. He states, "In February of this year, drug companies got what they wanted all along: the U.S. Supreme Court gave Pharma total immunity from lawsuits..."
Mercola continues, "Pharma is funding medical organizations profiting from mass vaccination policies to press politicians into quickly passing laws that force Americans to buy and use dozens of doses of vaccines...But what happens if a vaccine given to a child without the parent's consent ends up injuring or killing a child? Is anyone accountable? No. Nobody is liable in a court of law to be tried before a jury of our peers when our children and grandchildren are injured or die after getting vaccinated – not the drug companies that made the vaccines; not the federal health officials, who licensed and recommend the vaccines; not the doctor or medical worker, who gave the vaccines; and not the state politician, who voted for vaccine mandates or looked the other way while state health officials added another new vaccine to the required list..."
He condends, "Nobody is held accountable or liable when a child is injured or killed by vaccines in America except the parent of that child, whose informed consent rights may have been violated by fellow citizens wielding power they should never have been given..."
He goes on to state, "More of us are wondering why doctors inside and outside of government are insisting that every child get 70 doses of 16 vaccines starting on the first day of life and why that list includes expensive new vaccines for mild diseases, like chickenpox, and for diseases you can't catch in a classroom, like hepatitis B. More of us are asking why we have to get a flu shot every year and why health care workers are losing their jobs if they don't..."
He also holds that, "More of us are looking at vaccine studies published in the medical literature, many of which are paid for by drug companies or public health agencies promoting one-size-fits-all vaccine policies, only to discover that a lot of those studies are the best junk science that money can buy..."
I like that Mercola offers a different viewpoint about vaccines than those of conventional medicine. I think it's important that he challenges the status quo of pharmaceutical companies pushing vaccines to make a profit. I think it is especially important for parents to be informed about the risks before they make their decisions about what vaccines to give, or not give, to their children.
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Dr. David Williams' link
Today I subscribed Dr. David Williams' newsletter. It is a digital newsletter that I paid $10 to receive online for the year. His newsletter was recommended in a comment made about my post on Monsanto. (www.DrDavidWilliams.com)
I discussed the CDC hiring very questionable decision makers in my last post. Dr. Williams has spoken about cancer saying that if an effective, inexpensive cure is found, but cannot be controlled by the AMA or drug companies, that we won't hear about it form our family doctor or the government. Since the American Medical Association is the third largest lobbying group in Washington D.C. (based on expenditure), it's great to have Dr. Williams, another experienced and powerful voice, researching speaking out on behalf of holistic medicine.
I have included his link as another alternative source of health information for the reader.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
I discussed the CDC hiring very questionable decision makers in my last post. Dr. Williams has spoken about cancer saying that if an effective, inexpensive cure is found, but cannot be controlled by the AMA or drug companies, that we won't hear about it form our family doctor or the government. Since the American Medical Association is the third largest lobbying group in Washington D.C. (based on expenditure), it's great to have Dr. Williams, another experienced and powerful voice, researching speaking out on behalf of holistic medicine.
I have included his link as another alternative source of health information for the reader.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Center for Disease Control--Big Time Crazies &Vaccines
I think Mercola does a fantastic job of getting to the bottom of the controversey about vaccines. He states, "In February of this year, drug companies got what they wanted all along: the U.S. Supreme Court gave Pharma total immunity from lawsuits...Pharma is funding medical organizations profiting from mass vaccination policies39 to press politicians into quickly passing laws that force Americans to buy and use dozens of doses of vaccines...But what happens if a vaccine given to a child without the parent's consent ends up injuring or killing a child? Is anyone accountable? No. Nobody is liable in a court of law to be tried before a jury of our peers when our children and grandchildren are injured or die after getting vaccinated – not the drug companies that made the vaccines; not the federal health officials, who licensed and recommend the vaccines; not the doctor or medical worker, who gave the vaccines; and not the state politician, who voted for vaccine mandates or looked the other way while state health officials added another new vaccine to the required list. Nobody is held accountable or liable when a child is injured or killed by vaccines in America except the parent of that child, whose informed consent rights may have been violated by fellow citizens wielding power they should never have been given...More of us are wondering why doctors inside and outside of government are insisting that every child get 70 doses of 16 vaccines starting on the first day of life 60 and why that list includes expensive new vaccines for mild diseases, like chickenpox, and for diseases you can't catch in a classroom, like hepatitis B. More of us are asking why we have to get a flu shot every year 61 and why health care workers are losing their jobs if they don't.62
More of us are looking at vaccine studies published in the medical literature, many of which are paid for by drug companies 63 or public health agencies promoting one-size-fits-all vaccine policies, only to discover that a lot of those studies are the best junk science that money can buy. More of us are watching doctors paid by Pharma..."
In 2010 Australia temporarily banned the flu vaccine in children due to vomiting, seizures, and fevers. Also in 2010 the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System recorded 18,000 Guardasil related adverse effects, and www.jucicialwatch.org recorded 65 deaths from this HPV vaccine. This "protector" only prevents 2/15 strands that can cause HPV. Mercola does a lot of posts on vaccines, and I think they are very relevant.
Mercola can be a tad melodramatic, but since his artilces are so expose in nature, I think he is very relevant. His newsletter talked about a top official at the CDC being arrested for child molestation and bestiality. She has not been convicted, but the DeKalb County Police contend that they are in possession of photographs picturing her performing acts of bestiality. If proven guilty, this was a person in charge of swine flu vaccinations and hence our children's safety.
Mercola explains that this woman was responsible for pushing the H1N1 vaccine during the last epidemic, "An interim report issued in January of this year found that the H1N1 vaccine increased the risk of narcolepsy by 900 percent in children and adolescents below the age of 19. In the US, the H1N1 flu vaccine was statistically linked with abnormally high rates of miscarriage and stillbirths. As reported by Steven Rubin on the NVIC's blog, the US H1N1 flu vaccine was SIXTY times more likely to be reported to VAERS to be associated with miscarriage than previous seasonal flu vaccines. The only "winners" in this game were the pharmaceutical companies that received millions of dollars for this never-proven-effective and highly reactive vaccine, while being sheltered by our government from liability for any harm it caused."
Whether or not this woman is proven guilty and has her competency completely discredited, anybody considering vaccination their children might want to check out The National Vaccine Information Center. It looks like the "brilliant thinkers" at the CDC aren't necessarily going to give out all the information that indicates vaccines can be harmful.
Mercola gives another example of faulty thinking on the part of the CDC, "The reason I fault [the CDC] is because they hired Dr. Thorsen to debunk the link between thimerosal in vaccines and autism—which he did to their satisfaction. However, CDC officials may have played a significant role in "guiding" this research to their desired end, and now that Thorsen has been exposed as a fraud, the agency still upholds his research as being of high caliber....As explained in a 2010 article by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.:
"While infants and young children are at greatest risk, NO ONE is exempt from the potential serious complications of vaccination, one of which brain inflammation after DPT or DtaP vaccination.
In the video profile of pertussis vaccine injury above, Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the non-profit National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), interviews a Houston family with a history of vaccine reactions that spans three generations. Now, a 12 year old child in the family has become permanently disabled from a reaction to the DtaP vaccine that was given to her, along with 6 other vaccines, at age 15 months.
This family has chosen to share their heartbreaking story to help those, who have had the same experience, feel less alone, and to educate others about what it means to be vaccine injured. What happened to this family is a potent reminder of just how important it is to make well-informed decisions about vaccinations."
In yet another post--Mercola has a lot of posts about vaccinations, he states, "Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) is not contagious. It is an autoimmune disorder that develops when a person's own immune system attacks and damages the myelin sheath of the body's nerves, causing muscle weakness and paralysis.
GBS symptoms can last for a few weeks or months or can become permanent.
In rare cases, people die from GBS, usually because they cannot breathe.
In the U.S., an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop GBS annually.
Some healthy people, who develop GBS, have recently recovered from a viral or bacterial infection within the previous 4-8 weeks but others have recently been vaccinated.
The inactivated influenza vaccine has been associated with development of GBS since 1976, when an inactivated "swine flu" shot given to millions of healthy Americans caused GBS in several hundred previously healthy Americans and there were 30 deaths.
I recently read a book about Narcissistic Personality Disorder that claims a lot of high ranking officials/people in places of power have this disorder and are therefore primarily concerned with power and devoid of empathy and actual service to others. I'm definitely keeping myself informed about vaccines through other channels than high ranking government officials. (www.nvic.org)
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
More of us are looking at vaccine studies published in the medical literature, many of which are paid for by drug companies 63 or public health agencies promoting one-size-fits-all vaccine policies, only to discover that a lot of those studies are the best junk science that money can buy. More of us are watching doctors paid by Pharma..."
In 2010 Australia temporarily banned the flu vaccine in children due to vomiting, seizures, and fevers. Also in 2010 the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System recorded 18,000 Guardasil related adverse effects, and www.jucicialwatch.org recorded 65 deaths from this HPV vaccine. This "protector" only prevents 2/15 strands that can cause HPV. Mercola does a lot of posts on vaccines, and I think they are very relevant.
Mercola can be a tad melodramatic, but since his artilces are so expose in nature, I think he is very relevant. His newsletter talked about a top official at the CDC being arrested for child molestation and bestiality. She has not been convicted, but the DeKalb County Police contend that they are in possession of photographs picturing her performing acts of bestiality. If proven guilty, this was a person in charge of swine flu vaccinations and hence our children's safety.
Mercola explains that this woman was responsible for pushing the H1N1 vaccine during the last epidemic, "An interim report issued in January of this year found that the H1N1 vaccine increased the risk of narcolepsy by 900 percent in children and adolescents below the age of 19. In the US, the H1N1 flu vaccine was statistically linked with abnormally high rates of miscarriage and stillbirths. As reported by Steven Rubin on the NVIC's blog, the US H1N1 flu vaccine was SIXTY times more likely to be reported to VAERS to be associated with miscarriage than previous seasonal flu vaccines. The only "winners" in this game were the pharmaceutical companies that received millions of dollars for this never-proven-effective and highly reactive vaccine, while being sheltered by our government from liability for any harm it caused."
Whether or not this woman is proven guilty and has her competency completely discredited, anybody considering vaccination their children might want to check out The National Vaccine Information Center. It looks like the "brilliant thinkers" at the CDC aren't necessarily going to give out all the information that indicates vaccines can be harmful.
Mercola gives another example of faulty thinking on the part of the CDC, "The reason I fault [the CDC] is because they hired Dr. Thorsen to debunk the link between thimerosal in vaccines and autism—which he did to their satisfaction. However, CDC officials may have played a significant role in "guiding" this research to their desired end, and now that Thorsen has been exposed as a fraud, the agency still upholds his research as being of high caliber....As explained in a 2010 article by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.:
'Thorsen was a leading member of a Danish research group that wrote several key studies supporting CDC's claims that the MMR vaccine and mercury-laden vaccines were safe for children. Thorsen's 2003 Danish study reported a 20-fold increase in autism in Denmark after that country banned mercury based preservatives in its vaccines. His study concluded that mercury could therefore not be the culprit behind the autism epidemic.Regardless of the "he said she said debate" over the CDC, I always like to educate myself about opposing views than those of the prevailing government authorities. Another Mercola post reads,
His study has long been criticized as fraudulent since it failed to disclose that the increase was an artifact of new mandates requiring, for the first time, that autism cases be reported on the national registry. This new law and the opening of a clinic dedicated to autism treatment in Copenhagen accounted for the sudden rise in reported cases rather than, as Thorsen seemed to suggest, the removal of mercury from vaccines.
Despite this obvious chicanery, CDC has long touted the study as the principal proof that mercury-laced vaccines are safe for infants and young children. Mainstream media, particularly the New York Times, has relied on this study as the basis for its public assurances that it is safe to inject young children with mercury -- a potent neurotoxin -- at concentrations hundreds of times over the U.S. safety limits.' "
"While infants and young children are at greatest risk, NO ONE is exempt from the potential serious complications of vaccination, one of which brain inflammation after DPT or DtaP vaccination.
In the video profile of pertussis vaccine injury above, Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the non-profit National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), interviews a Houston family with a history of vaccine reactions that spans three generations. Now, a 12 year old child in the family has become permanently disabled from a reaction to the DtaP vaccine that was given to her, along with 6 other vaccines, at age 15 months.
Dr. Mercola Recommends...
Every "Like" Helps Support This Cause
In yet another post--Mercola has a lot of posts about vaccinations, he states, "Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) is not contagious. It is an autoimmune disorder that develops when a person's own immune system attacks and damages the myelin sheath of the body's nerves, causing muscle weakness and paralysis.
GBS symptoms can last for a few weeks or months or can become permanent.
In rare cases, people die from GBS, usually because they cannot breathe.
In the U.S., an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop GBS annually.
Some healthy people, who develop GBS, have recently recovered from a viral or bacterial infection within the previous 4-8 weeks but others have recently been vaccinated.
The inactivated influenza vaccine has been associated with development of GBS since 1976, when an inactivated "swine flu" shot given to millions of healthy Americans caused GBS in several hundred previously healthy Americans and there were 30 deaths.
I recently read a book about Narcissistic Personality Disorder that claims a lot of high ranking officials/people in places of power have this disorder and are therefore primarily concerned with power and devoid of empathy and actual service to others. I'm definitely keeping myself informed about vaccines through other channels than high ranking government officials. (www.nvic.org)
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Monday, October 31, 2011
Mayo Clinic "Expert Blog" a Disappointment
Warning Readers! The following is a rant--I am not a big fan of rants, because I think they are a stylistic cliche, but I am so shocked that my blog, which I consider to be relatively "non-technical" sometimes has more depth and often sites more references than the posts on the Mayo Clinic blog. I am not even a health professional! (I'm a writer and interpreter of holistic health trends.)
Say it isn't so! A freelance writer friend of mine suggested that if I ever wanted to become a freelancer and sell articles, I would have to make one major change to my writing--dumb it down to a sixth grade level! He said that, unfortunately, freelance writing that is geared to the general public and hence needs to be dumbed down. I guess that explains the Mayo Clinic's "Expert Blog."
I was reading the Mayo Clinic "Expert Blog" today, and most of the articles are brief summaries of general Western medicine ideas--with no research done on the part of the Mayo Clinic! Their posts are written by Doctors, and an article on raw milk sites a reference as "fans of raw milk."
The Mayo Clinic raw milk blog reads, "Fans of raw milk assert that it tastes sweeter and fresher. They also claim that it fights allergies, digestive problems, eczema, autism, arthritis and learning disabilities, and boosts immunity — properties that they say are removed by pasteurization. The FDA and other public health officials, however, point out that these claims aren't supported by research." Actually, there is research that supports these health claims about the benefits of raw milk, which I will include in a future post.
The same authors wrote another about soup--Thinking Outside the Can. They mentioned the health concerns about sodium in canned soup, but never even mentioned that MSG is in most canned soups, and that MSG, by law, doesn't have to be listed as an ingredient. MSG may be listed as a "natural flavoring," or many other innocuous terms other than MSG. As I talked about in an earlier post, I was tested for food sensitivities, and I am sensitive to MSG, and should not eat it. I am really disappointed that an intuition as prestigious as the Mayo Clinic wouldn't even mention the prevalence of MSG in canned soup in an article about soup.
Yikes! This is Mayo Clinic! I want to hear results from THEIR OWN research on raw milk! But apparently they haven't done any! A quick, shallow summary is all there was from of the leading medical pioneers in the world! (By the way, I don't drink raw milk, because of the rare cases of contamination, but I am glad to have access to all the information about it, as non-raw milk coalitions lobby against small farmers for financial reasons because larger companies are not equipped to produce raw milk.)
The Mayo Clinic blog on raw milk sites resources such as "FDA and "other public health officials" without tackling the subject of politics at the FDA that prevent unbiased findings. (I will do a future post on mercury amalgam--the FDA head of this amalgam study was a former high level employee of the amalgam industry!!!)
These are Doctors affiliated with the Mayo Clinic, and the article is simpler than something I could have watched on Dr. Oz! Actually Dr. Oz seems to be a little more progressive than the "Expert Blog" from the Mayo Clinic.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Say it isn't so! A freelance writer friend of mine suggested that if I ever wanted to become a freelancer and sell articles, I would have to make one major change to my writing--dumb it down to a sixth grade level! He said that, unfortunately, freelance writing that is geared to the general public and hence needs to be dumbed down. I guess that explains the Mayo Clinic's "Expert Blog."
I was reading the Mayo Clinic "Expert Blog" today, and most of the articles are brief summaries of general Western medicine ideas--with no research done on the part of the Mayo Clinic! Their posts are written by Doctors, and an article on raw milk sites a reference as "fans of raw milk."
The Mayo Clinic raw milk blog reads, "Fans of raw milk assert that it tastes sweeter and fresher. They also claim that it fights allergies, digestive problems, eczema, autism, arthritis and learning disabilities, and boosts immunity — properties that they say are removed by pasteurization. The FDA and other public health officials, however, point out that these claims aren't supported by research." Actually, there is research that supports these health claims about the benefits of raw milk, which I will include in a future post.
The same authors wrote another about soup--Thinking Outside the Can. They mentioned the health concerns about sodium in canned soup, but never even mentioned that MSG is in most canned soups, and that MSG, by law, doesn't have to be listed as an ingredient. MSG may be listed as a "natural flavoring," or many other innocuous terms other than MSG. As I talked about in an earlier post, I was tested for food sensitivities, and I am sensitive to MSG, and should not eat it. I am really disappointed that an intuition as prestigious as the Mayo Clinic wouldn't even mention the prevalence of MSG in canned soup in an article about soup.
Yikes! This is Mayo Clinic! I want to hear results from THEIR OWN research on raw milk! But apparently they haven't done any! A quick, shallow summary is all there was from of the leading medical pioneers in the world! (By the way, I don't drink raw milk, because of the rare cases of contamination, but I am glad to have access to all the information about it, as non-raw milk coalitions lobby against small farmers for financial reasons because larger companies are not equipped to produce raw milk.)
The Mayo Clinic blog on raw milk sites resources such as "FDA and "other public health officials" without tackling the subject of politics at the FDA that prevent unbiased findings. (I will do a future post on mercury amalgam--the FDA head of this amalgam study was a former high level employee of the amalgam industry!!!)
These are Doctors affiliated with the Mayo Clinic, and the article is simpler than something I could have watched on Dr. Oz! Actually Dr. Oz seems to be a little more progressive than the "Expert Blog" from the Mayo Clinic.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Thursday, October 27, 2011
The "No-Diet" Diet (Paul Chek on Metabolic Typing)
I was a bit disenchanted when I read an article on the Dr. Oz website today about losing weight. The article talked about eating low fat foods, as well as low fat dairy, and avoiding refined carbohydrates depending on which area of the body carries the weight. This article did not mention reducing sugars, including sugar from fruit. Mercola recommends eating under 25 grams of fructose a day. It also did not mention that many people have a food sensitivity to pasteurized milk or mention the alternatives of raw dairy.
A different kind of "diet," Metabolic Typing, makes a lot more sense to me, in fact I currently eat according to my metabolic type. The title of this post, The "No-Diet" Diet, is the title from chapter 3 of Paul Chek's book How to Eat, Move and be Healthy. As I am the Facility Coordinator of a holistic gym in Chicago that employs Paul Chek trainers, I am going to do a series of posts summarizing information from his book, and talking about my experience with it.
By the way, I am not personally affiliated in any way with Paul Chek, and I do not get any type of monetary "kickback" for mentioning his name. I am not a Chek Trainer or Practitioner, and I am in no way financially linked with Paul Chek's organization. I'm merely sharing my experience, as I am currently being helped by a Chek Practitioner. Also, as you may notice, many of my other posts are based on varying sources.
As you might remember from earlier blogs, Kristie Yaakoby, Chek Trainer and Functional Nutritionist is helping me with "clean," organic eating to alleviate the exhaustion and imbalance from Adrenal Fatigue and Estrogen Dominance. I am on this eating plan for my health, but it also helps many people lose weight.
Metabolic typing is a way of eating that is based on the studies of Dr. Weston Price, who investigated indigenous groups of people. Some groups ate high protein, high fat diets. Others ate a mostly plant based diet. All of these groups ate primarily organic, whole foods. When Eskimos began to eat a modern western diet of processed and pasteurized milk, their sickness and death rates began to rise markedly. All of these indigenous diets were at least four times as nutrient rich as the modern diet.
The idea is that, depending on what food was available in that climate zone, each group physically adapted over many generations to that type of that diet--plant or protein based. If I recall correctly, I remember reading an article by Paul Chek online that talked about our varying lengths of intestines, depending on ethnicity. This influences digestion and what foods a person metabolizes well and therefore what foods people need to eat.
For example, people from polar regions need more protein and fat, because of many generations adapting to eating a lot of fish. People with ancestry form the Equator benefit more from plant-based diets, because many generations adapted to an environment with more plant sources of food and less meat sources. All cultures studies did have some meat in their diet.
You don't have to know your ancestry to understand what metabolic type you have. Just ask yourself how you feel when you eat certain types of foods: Do you feel better after a meal of mostly protein and fat or a meal of mostly carbs, or a mixed meal? You can take a free test at www.ppssuccess.com. This is the site for Paul Chek's Mastery Center, and you can click on Food for Thought, and then click on What is the Primal Pattern (this is the metabolic typing test). If you google metabolic typing test, there are several on the internet, although taking this test from a holistic health practitioner is best.
Until I started eating for my type (protein type), I was hungry all the time, I could not get full, and meals weren't satisfying. In fact, in the past when I was a vegetarian, I lost so much weight and could not gain it back, I eventually had to reintroduce meat. By the way, when I was younger and wanted to loose weight, I tried the low-fat diet, which didn't work. I function at my best when I eat a protein type diet:
Protein Type: 45% protein, 20% Fats/Oils, 35% Carbohydrates (from vegetables not refined carbs--also, Chek practitioners recommend that all types avoid gluten--many people who are overweight, loose weight immediately when they do this.
Carbohydrate Type: 70% Carbohydrates, 20% Protein, 10% Oils/Fats (Avoid fatty meats and fatty dairy--this type may do well eating only 2 meals a day. Focus on eating light meals.)
Mixed Type: 40% Protein, 50% Carbs, 10% Oils/Fats
These ratios must be balanced accurately--if I don't eat all three food groups in the correct ratio, I still end up being hungry all the time--eg, skipping the carbs (even though I'm a protein type.) By the way, I often eat butter and fatty meats, and I am slender, because I am a protein type. I really need to avoid sugar--this kind of carb overload totally gets my body out of whack, and I become light headed and tired.
It is my personal view that "white sugar" is poison, and I will rarely eat things like junky-birthday- cake-icing when I am at a birthday party, and as soon as I reduced my sugar intake to below 25 grams a day, I immediately stopped craving it.
This is a very simplified, brief summary of Metabolic Typing from How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy. Hopefully, if you have read this far, you might consider buying the book, which is much more detailed and really well researched. Chek'swww.eatmoveandbehealthy.com, www.chekinstitute.com and www.paulcheksblog.com.
Knowing what I know now, having read the book, and being helped by Kristie Yaakoby (www.balancemethods.com), I will never go back to eating an "Average American Diet"--now I cringe when I think of that phrase. Before I was diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue, I thought I was impervious to any negative influence that an "above average diet" might have (by this is mean eating some organic foods, some processed foods, and sugar whenever I wanted becasue I was not overweight.) But unfortunately, the more I educate myself about whole, organic foods, the more I realize, "above average" is absolutely not going to cut it.
By the way, Dr. Oz had another article on his website about the "Prehistoric Diet." It said people only need 10% of their calories from meat. Apparently he is either not familiar with or doesn't adhere to metabolic typing, which has helped me immensely. Dr. Oz's "Prehistoric Diet" also included a smoothie recipe with a lot of fruit, and hence a whole lot of sugar from fruit. I look forward to the time when mainstream practitioners are educating people about the issue of too much sugar, regardless of the source. He also recommends soy milk, which acts as a xenoestrogen--some studies link it to breast cancer, "man boobs," and hermaphrodite babies. I'll do a post on soy milk later, but it is fermented soy that is recommended, while advertisers push people to guzzle soy milk.
After learning from Paul Chek's book and from holistic health practitioners, I'm really "underwhelmed" by Dr. Oz's show, and I rarely see anything helpful on it.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
A different kind of "diet," Metabolic Typing, makes a lot more sense to me, in fact I currently eat according to my metabolic type. The title of this post, The "No-Diet" Diet, is the title from chapter 3 of Paul Chek's book How to Eat, Move and be Healthy. As I am the Facility Coordinator of a holistic gym in Chicago that employs Paul Chek trainers, I am going to do a series of posts summarizing information from his book, and talking about my experience with it.
By the way, I am not personally affiliated in any way with Paul Chek, and I do not get any type of monetary "kickback" for mentioning his name. I am not a Chek Trainer or Practitioner, and I am in no way financially linked with Paul Chek's organization. I'm merely sharing my experience, as I am currently being helped by a Chek Practitioner. Also, as you may notice, many of my other posts are based on varying sources.
As you might remember from earlier blogs, Kristie Yaakoby, Chek Trainer and Functional Nutritionist is helping me with "clean," organic eating to alleviate the exhaustion and imbalance from Adrenal Fatigue and Estrogen Dominance. I am on this eating plan for my health, but it also helps many people lose weight.
Metabolic typing is a way of eating that is based on the studies of Dr. Weston Price, who investigated indigenous groups of people. Some groups ate high protein, high fat diets. Others ate a mostly plant based diet. All of these groups ate primarily organic, whole foods. When Eskimos began to eat a modern western diet of processed and pasteurized milk, their sickness and death rates began to rise markedly. All of these indigenous diets were at least four times as nutrient rich as the modern diet.
The idea is that, depending on what food was available in that climate zone, each group physically adapted over many generations to that type of that diet--plant or protein based. If I recall correctly, I remember reading an article by Paul Chek online that talked about our varying lengths of intestines, depending on ethnicity. This influences digestion and what foods a person metabolizes well and therefore what foods people need to eat.
For example, people from polar regions need more protein and fat, because of many generations adapting to eating a lot of fish. People with ancestry form the Equator benefit more from plant-based diets, because many generations adapted to an environment with more plant sources of food and less meat sources. All cultures studies did have some meat in their diet.
You don't have to know your ancestry to understand what metabolic type you have. Just ask yourself how you feel when you eat certain types of foods: Do you feel better after a meal of mostly protein and fat or a meal of mostly carbs, or a mixed meal? You can take a free test at www.ppssuccess.com. This is the site for Paul Chek's Mastery Center, and you can click on Food for Thought, and then click on What is the Primal Pattern (this is the metabolic typing test). If you google metabolic typing test, there are several on the internet, although taking this test from a holistic health practitioner is best.
Until I started eating for my type (protein type), I was hungry all the time, I could not get full, and meals weren't satisfying. In fact, in the past when I was a vegetarian, I lost so much weight and could not gain it back, I eventually had to reintroduce meat. By the way, when I was younger and wanted to loose weight, I tried the low-fat diet, which didn't work. I function at my best when I eat a protein type diet:
Protein Type: 45% protein, 20% Fats/Oils, 35% Carbohydrates (from vegetables not refined carbs--also, Chek practitioners recommend that all types avoid gluten--many people who are overweight, loose weight immediately when they do this.
Carbohydrate Type: 70% Carbohydrates, 20% Protein, 10% Oils/Fats (Avoid fatty meats and fatty dairy--this type may do well eating only 2 meals a day. Focus on eating light meals.)
Mixed Type: 40% Protein, 50% Carbs, 10% Oils/Fats
These ratios must be balanced accurately--if I don't eat all three food groups in the correct ratio, I still end up being hungry all the time--eg, skipping the carbs (even though I'm a protein type.) By the way, I often eat butter and fatty meats, and I am slender, because I am a protein type. I really need to avoid sugar--this kind of carb overload totally gets my body out of whack, and I become light headed and tired.
It is my personal view that "white sugar" is poison, and I will rarely eat things like junky-birthday- cake-icing when I am at a birthday party, and as soon as I reduced my sugar intake to below 25 grams a day, I immediately stopped craving it.
This is a very simplified, brief summary of Metabolic Typing from How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy. Hopefully, if you have read this far, you might consider buying the book, which is much more detailed and really well researched. Chek'swww.eatmoveandbehealthy.com, www.chekinstitute.com and www.paulcheksblog.com.
Knowing what I know now, having read the book, and being helped by Kristie Yaakoby (www.balancemethods.com), I will never go back to eating an "Average American Diet"--now I cringe when I think of that phrase. Before I was diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue, I thought I was impervious to any negative influence that an "above average diet" might have (by this is mean eating some organic foods, some processed foods, and sugar whenever I wanted becasue I was not overweight.) But unfortunately, the more I educate myself about whole, organic foods, the more I realize, "above average" is absolutely not going to cut it.
By the way, Dr. Oz had another article on his website about the "Prehistoric Diet." It said people only need 10% of their calories from meat. Apparently he is either not familiar with or doesn't adhere to metabolic typing, which has helped me immensely. Dr. Oz's "Prehistoric Diet" also included a smoothie recipe with a lot of fruit, and hence a whole lot of sugar from fruit. I look forward to the time when mainstream practitioners are educating people about the issue of too much sugar, regardless of the source. He also recommends soy milk, which acts as a xenoestrogen--some studies link it to breast cancer, "man boobs," and hermaphrodite babies. I'll do a post on soy milk later, but it is fermented soy that is recommended, while advertisers push people to guzzle soy milk.
After learning from Paul Chek's book and from holistic health practitioners, I'm really "underwhelmed" by Dr. Oz's show, and I rarely see anything helpful on it.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Oh no, not Burt's Bees! Topical toxins
I read the ingredients on my Brut's Bees lip gloss, and they include titanium dioxide and rosemary. I wrote about titanium dioxide as an ingredient to avoid in the post on vitamins. Most people don't know that rosemary is a topical xenoestrogen (foreign estrogen), as well as sage, pomegranate, lavender, and tea tree oil.
There is a great video about xenoestrogens at www.womhoo.com. Dr. Eckhart explains xenoestrogens (foreign estrogens or chemicals that mimic estrogen) very well, and he sites study after study showing their effects. I've written a lot about estrogen dominance, but this post really explains why avoiding chemicals topically is a good idea. Topical chemicals come from laundry detergents, shampoos, lotions, soaps, dryer sheets, and topical products including sage, rosemary, lavender and tea tree oil. Lavender and tea tree oil were put in test tubes with cancer cells, and they increased cell growth of breast cancer.
Absorption of topical ingredients is ten times that of those that are ingested. This is extremely important to people who have estrogen dominant related conditions such as endometriosis, major p.m.s., mood swings, or have been diagnosed as estrogen dominant or with breast cancer. According to Eckhart, people who are sensitive to xenoestrogens usually are bothered by smells (they can get headaches from perfume) and are sensitive to caffeine, which indicates that the body doesn't excrete chemicals well. Therefore, the body will not excrete foreign estrogens well, either. Those who are sensitive will be affected by chemicals in parts per billion.
Women sensitive to xenoestrogens have reported bloating from mascara and breast tenderness from shampoo. Unfortunately, I am one of these people sensitive to smell and chemicals. I use some products with chemicals (makeup and salon quality shampoo), but not regular soap, laundry detergent, perfume, lotion, and I certainly do not use lavender oil, because that was actually causing me to bloat.
Other conditions linked to estrogen dominance and xenoestrogens are fibroids, early puberty, and "man-boobs"--even in boys. Chemicals coming from pesticides, herbicides, birth control pills, pharmaceuticals and detergents are inundating the waterways. All major waterways in the U.S. have hermaphrodite fish, and some waterways have no male fish at all because of the chemicals coming from the sewage system (via our homes and industrial sources.) A government organization, the U.S. Geological Survey is a study in 2009 showing that 42% of the male bass in the Potomac produce eggs.
Stress also plays a major factor in hormonal imbalance as well. Chronic stress causes a cascade of maladaptive hormonal responses that lead to estrogen imbalance, according to Eckhart.
Dr. Elizabeth Smith talks about the dangers of chemicals/xenoestrogens at www.nobreastcyst.com. Here she recommends avoiding BPAs in plastic and cans, parabens, sunscreen, baby lotions.
Smith also suggests avoiding caffeine. Eckhart explains that premenstrual chocolate cravings are indicative of magnesium deficiency, and taking magnesium supplements will eliminate chocolate cravings, since chocolate contains magnesium. He says chocolate should be avoided, because it contains a chemical that is a xenoestrogen.
Well, I don't think I can avoid chocolate, but xenoestrogens are definitely a problem for me, so I am gradually going to replace my makeup with natural cosmetics. Currently, I don't use laundry detergent with any chemicals or lavander/tea tree oil. I really had to look carefully at the labels at Whole Foods, because many of their cleaning products are not free of xenoestrogens--including natural ones like rosemary and sage.
Coconut oil was recommended to me for my face by Elizabeth Wallish (www.DaretoCareNow.com). Cured sesame oil is used in Ayruvedic health (heat the oil with several drops of oil, when the water pops, the oil is cured.) But I am attached to a certain kind of shampoo with chemicals, this brand now offers paraben-free shampoo, but I should probably go to natural shampoo.
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
There is a great video about xenoestrogens at www.womhoo.com. Dr. Eckhart explains xenoestrogens (foreign estrogens or chemicals that mimic estrogen) very well, and he sites study after study showing their effects. I've written a lot about estrogen dominance, but this post really explains why avoiding chemicals topically is a good idea. Topical chemicals come from laundry detergents, shampoos, lotions, soaps, dryer sheets, and topical products including sage, rosemary, lavender and tea tree oil. Lavender and tea tree oil were put in test tubes with cancer cells, and they increased cell growth of breast cancer.
Absorption of topical ingredients is ten times that of those that are ingested. This is extremely important to people who have estrogen dominant related conditions such as endometriosis, major p.m.s., mood swings, or have been diagnosed as estrogen dominant or with breast cancer. According to Eckhart, people who are sensitive to xenoestrogens usually are bothered by smells (they can get headaches from perfume) and are sensitive to caffeine, which indicates that the body doesn't excrete chemicals well. Therefore, the body will not excrete foreign estrogens well, either. Those who are sensitive will be affected by chemicals in parts per billion.
Women sensitive to xenoestrogens have reported bloating from mascara and breast tenderness from shampoo. Unfortunately, I am one of these people sensitive to smell and chemicals. I use some products with chemicals (makeup and salon quality shampoo), but not regular soap, laundry detergent, perfume, lotion, and I certainly do not use lavender oil, because that was actually causing me to bloat.
Other conditions linked to estrogen dominance and xenoestrogens are fibroids, early puberty, and "man-boobs"--even in boys. Chemicals coming from pesticides, herbicides, birth control pills, pharmaceuticals and detergents are inundating the waterways. All major waterways in the U.S. have hermaphrodite fish, and some waterways have no male fish at all because of the chemicals coming from the sewage system (via our homes and industrial sources.) A government organization, the U.S. Geological Survey is a study in 2009 showing that 42% of the male bass in the Potomac produce eggs.
Stress also plays a major factor in hormonal imbalance as well. Chronic stress causes a cascade of maladaptive hormonal responses that lead to estrogen imbalance, according to Eckhart.
Dr. Elizabeth Smith talks about the dangers of chemicals/xenoestrogens at www.nobreastcyst.com. Here she recommends avoiding BPAs in plastic and cans, parabens, sunscreen, baby lotions.
Smith also suggests avoiding caffeine. Eckhart explains that premenstrual chocolate cravings are indicative of magnesium deficiency, and taking magnesium supplements will eliminate chocolate cravings, since chocolate contains magnesium. He says chocolate should be avoided, because it contains a chemical that is a xenoestrogen.
Well, I don't think I can avoid chocolate, but xenoestrogens are definitely a problem for me, so I am gradually going to replace my makeup with natural cosmetics. Currently, I don't use laundry detergent with any chemicals or lavander/tea tree oil. I really had to look carefully at the labels at Whole Foods, because many of their cleaning products are not free of xenoestrogens--including natural ones like rosemary and sage.
Coconut oil was recommended to me for my face by Elizabeth Wallish (www.DaretoCareNow.com). Cured sesame oil is used in Ayruvedic health (heat the oil with several drops of oil, when the water pops, the oil is cured.) But I am attached to a certain kind of shampoo with chemicals, this brand now offers paraben-free shampoo, but I should probably go to natural shampoo.
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Vitamin Research Newsletter: More on Estrogen Dominance
I receive the Vitamin Research Newsletter in the mail free, and there is also a link to this newsletter at www.vrp.com. This is a great resource, and the information is very research oriented. Just go to the link--the newsletter is under the heading "Research Center."
The first article today on the VRP website is about Women's Hormonal Health (Estrogen Dominance.) This piece echos everything my Functional Nutritionist, Kristie Yaakoby, has told me about my own condition of hormonal imbalance.
A "pregnenolone steal" happens when cholesterol is converted to pregnenolone (the mother hormone), which is converted to progesterone, which is then converted to cortisol. In other words, under stress, cortisol is "gobbling up pregnenolone like crazy" through a domino effect. [my simplification]
This inevitably results in very low progesterone (since the cortisol is "gobbling up progesterone" as well) and results an imbalance called estrogen dominance where estrogen is much higher than the progesterone. This can cause fatigue, mood swings, abnormal menstrual cycles, and even reduced libido. Not everyone experiences all of these, and my symptoms are mainly of fatigue. (I also have Adreanal Fatigue--becasue my cortisol levels are imbalanced due to the "pregnenolone steal.")
The progesterone (the mother hormone), under normal circumstances, will produce DHEA, which in turn, produces sex the hormones testosterone, estradiol, or hormones that break down estrogen, such as estrone and estriol. Therefore, when pregnenolone is "stolen" to make extra cortisol, there isn't enough DHEA being produced, which leads to more hormonal imbalance. These imbalance can lead to low melatonin levels, which can affect sleep also.
Hence I take bio identical hormones, which are natural and non-cancer causing--pregnenolone, progesterone and DHEA. I currently take 10 drops of pregnenolone 3x daily, 3 drops of DHEA, and progesterone for part of the month. These have improved my energy level, and I will be retested using a saliva test in a few months to measure my progress.
As you know, in this blog, I share my experience and site studies, but I am not publishing a scientific journal as this is not "reference-heavy" forum. The Vitamin Research article on Women's Hormone's sites twenty three references and they are a great reference that is science-based if one is more interested in obtaining specific studies that back up a variety of general holistic health philosophies.
There is a really great video on estrogen dominance at the www.womhoo.com. Go to the site and look at the bottom left corner for videos. I will talk a little about their xenoestrogen video in my next post. This is a site that sells natural progesterone cream, which I don't use (I use drops), but Dr. Eckhart does a great job explaining estrogen dominance in these videos.
I do site references often but assume that if the reader wants technical detail, that the links in this blog will be helpful for locating specific references on the topics I cover. Overall, the concepts in this blog are considered to be general knowledge in the holistic health field, so I am referencing general information and posting links that are more heavy on research.
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
The first article today on the VRP website is about Women's Hormonal Health (Estrogen Dominance.) This piece echos everything my Functional Nutritionist, Kristie Yaakoby, has told me about my own condition of hormonal imbalance.
A "pregnenolone steal" happens when cholesterol is converted to pregnenolone (the mother hormone), which is converted to progesterone, which is then converted to cortisol. In other words, under stress, cortisol is "gobbling up pregnenolone like crazy" through a domino effect. [my simplification]
This inevitably results in very low progesterone (since the cortisol is "gobbling up progesterone" as well) and results an imbalance called estrogen dominance where estrogen is much higher than the progesterone. This can cause fatigue, mood swings, abnormal menstrual cycles, and even reduced libido. Not everyone experiences all of these, and my symptoms are mainly of fatigue. (I also have Adreanal Fatigue--becasue my cortisol levels are imbalanced due to the "pregnenolone steal.")
The progesterone (the mother hormone), under normal circumstances, will produce DHEA, which in turn, produces sex the hormones testosterone, estradiol, or hormones that break down estrogen, such as estrone and estriol. Therefore, when pregnenolone is "stolen" to make extra cortisol, there isn't enough DHEA being produced, which leads to more hormonal imbalance. These imbalance can lead to low melatonin levels, which can affect sleep also.
Hence I take bio identical hormones, which are natural and non-cancer causing--pregnenolone, progesterone and DHEA. I currently take 10 drops of pregnenolone 3x daily, 3 drops of DHEA, and progesterone for part of the month. These have improved my energy level, and I will be retested using a saliva test in a few months to measure my progress.
As you know, in this blog, I share my experience and site studies, but I am not publishing a scientific journal as this is not "reference-heavy" forum. The Vitamin Research article on Women's Hormone's sites twenty three references and they are a great reference that is science-based if one is more interested in obtaining specific studies that back up a variety of general holistic health philosophies.
There is a really great video on estrogen dominance at the www.womhoo.com. Go to the site and look at the bottom left corner for videos. I will talk a little about their xenoestrogen video in my next post. This is a site that sells natural progesterone cream, which I don't use (I use drops), but Dr. Eckhart does a great job explaining estrogen dominance in these videos.
I do site references often but assume that if the reader wants technical detail, that the links in this blog will be helpful for locating specific references on the topics I cover. Overall, the concepts in this blog are considered to be general knowledge in the holistic health field, so I am referencing general information and posting links that are more heavy on research.
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Monsanto, lies and coverup? Readers, what do you think???
I usually don't summarize articles in this forum, but I do so today, ending the summary with some questions for the reader. Mercola recently published a couple posts about Monsanto, and I will summarize one of them here. (More info on this topic can be gained via the search bar at his website, Mercola.com.) I am not as focused on expose as Mercola is--I just try to avoid unhealthy food, and farm fresh food tastes better. I think Mercola's voice is really important, even if he may be a bit "overly-entrepreneurial" at times on his site.
This blog is for the readers--the most important part of this blog are your comments at the end...(otherwise you could go to Mercola and just read his posts.) I invite all comments including opposing views.
Mercola states, "When it comes to products with the potential to devastate the planet, Monsanto takes the cake. This company has single-handedly created some of the most destructive products know to man, including polychlorinated biphenyls, knows as PCBs, and dioxin (Agent Orange). They are also the world leader in genetically modified (GM) seeds--and if we don't take action soon, the entire planet could soon become contaminated with these toxic seeds, leading to the complete destruction of the natural food supply...Monsanto insists that GM foods are no different from conventionally grown varieties, but the research does NOT support this claim. Here is just a sampling of the unsavory findings associated with GM foods."
He goes on to list research findings of GMOs being linked to "lung damage in mice, cancer in rats, bacteria in the gut taking up DNA from GM food, significant organ disruptions in rats and mice, specifically the kidney, liver, heart and spleen, a wide variety of immune responses in mice, commonly associated with diseases such as arthritis, Lou Gehrig's disease, osteoporosis, and inflammatory bowel disease...offspring of rats fed GM soy showed a fivefold increase in mortality, lower birth weights, and the inability to reproduce, male mice fed GM soy had damaged young sperm cells, the embryo offspring of GM soy-fed mice had altered DNA functioning, several US farmers reported sterility or fertility problems among pigs and cows fed on GM corn varieties, and investigators in India have documented fertility problems, abortions, premature births, and other serious health issues, including deaths, among buffaloes fed GM cottonseed products."
"First came Agent Orange and PCBs, and now we have glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's nonselective broad-spectrum herbicide roundup." These lead to superweeds that can choke out crops and poison soil, water and possibly kill plants and wildlife. "Monsanto's own tests showed that only two percent of the herbicide broke down after 28 days, which means it readily persists in the environment! This chemical is now showing up in air and rain samples across the United States." Glyphosate is linked to 40 different crop diseases, and the EPA is now seriously looking into the damage it does to humans.
Monsanto now produces seeds that self-destruct, and of they contaminate other crops, the seed sterility could be passed along. "If allowed to continue, every farmer in the world could come to rely on Monsanto for their seed supply!"
Mercola continues to write about "Monsanto's History of Deception and Drive for Power...suing small farmers...secretly discharging PCB-laden toxic waste into an Alabama creek, and dumping millions of pounds of PCBs into open-pit landfills for decades after the PCBs were banned in the US for being a possible carcinogen, being found guilty of bribery to bypass Indonesian law requiring an environmental assessment review for genetically engineered cotton...In 2007, the South African Advertising Standards Authority also found Monsanto guilty of lying when advertising that no negative reactions of Genetically Modified food have been reported. According to one EPA scientist, Monsanto doctored studies and covered-up dioxin contamination of a wide range of it's products. She concluded that the company's behavior constituted "a long pattern of fraud."
This was a pretty dry summary, but I think relevant. I am curious about what people think about GMs and Mercola's accusations against Monsanto. What makes some people continue to buy GM foods? Do they just not have access to this type of information? Or maybe they disagree with the view that GMs are unhealthy? Are many people too busy with life to have to worry about the hassle and cost of organic shopping? Or have they been totally free of health issues and just don't see a need to avoid GMs? This particular post is really dedicated to the readers, and I look forward to hearing the comments... be as honest as you want; I may use some of your comments to spark more story ideas for this blog.
My answer to the above questions is that I didn't start eating all organic until a year ago when I was diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue. Until then, I thought I was totally healthy and that "small amounts of toxins found in food and water didn't affect me." As I have begun consulting holistic health practitioners, associating with holistic health professionals at the holistic gym where I work, and doing research, I have come to be more specific about choosing foods that I eat, opting for organic rather than going for conventional foods. And yes, in the past, I would eat some organic foods, but not all organic because of the cost. In the past, I also didn't know much about GMOs. I had a vague understanding that GMOs were "undesirable," but was pretty busy with my life and didn't think about them much. (Regarding Monsanto, I am from St. Louis, it's headquarters, and have read and heard a couple rumors about shady stuff going on there, so I never really take Monsanto's word on anything at face value without scrutiny--especially since, for years, they said Roundup was harmless....)
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
This blog is for the readers--the most important part of this blog are your comments at the end...(otherwise you could go to Mercola and just read his posts.) I invite all comments including opposing views.
Mercola states, "When it comes to products with the potential to devastate the planet, Monsanto takes the cake. This company has single-handedly created some of the most destructive products know to man, including polychlorinated biphenyls, knows as PCBs, and dioxin (Agent Orange). They are also the world leader in genetically modified (GM) seeds--and if we don't take action soon, the entire planet could soon become contaminated with these toxic seeds, leading to the complete destruction of the natural food supply...Monsanto insists that GM foods are no different from conventionally grown varieties, but the research does NOT support this claim. Here is just a sampling of the unsavory findings associated with GM foods."
He goes on to list research findings of GMOs being linked to "lung damage in mice, cancer in rats, bacteria in the gut taking up DNA from GM food, significant organ disruptions in rats and mice, specifically the kidney, liver, heart and spleen, a wide variety of immune responses in mice, commonly associated with diseases such as arthritis, Lou Gehrig's disease, osteoporosis, and inflammatory bowel disease...offspring of rats fed GM soy showed a fivefold increase in mortality, lower birth weights, and the inability to reproduce, male mice fed GM soy had damaged young sperm cells, the embryo offspring of GM soy-fed mice had altered DNA functioning, several US farmers reported sterility or fertility problems among pigs and cows fed on GM corn varieties, and investigators in India have documented fertility problems, abortions, premature births, and other serious health issues, including deaths, among buffaloes fed GM cottonseed products."
"First came Agent Orange and PCBs, and now we have glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's nonselective broad-spectrum herbicide roundup." These lead to superweeds that can choke out crops and poison soil, water and possibly kill plants and wildlife. "Monsanto's own tests showed that only two percent of the herbicide broke down after 28 days, which means it readily persists in the environment! This chemical is now showing up in air and rain samples across the United States." Glyphosate is linked to 40 different crop diseases, and the EPA is now seriously looking into the damage it does to humans.
Monsanto now produces seeds that self-destruct, and of they contaminate other crops, the seed sterility could be passed along. "If allowed to continue, every farmer in the world could come to rely on Monsanto for their seed supply!"
Mercola continues to write about "Monsanto's History of Deception and Drive for Power...suing small farmers...secretly discharging PCB-laden toxic waste into an Alabama creek, and dumping millions of pounds of PCBs into open-pit landfills for decades after the PCBs were banned in the US for being a possible carcinogen, being found guilty of bribery to bypass Indonesian law requiring an environmental assessment review for genetically engineered cotton...In 2007, the South African Advertising Standards Authority also found Monsanto guilty of lying when advertising that no negative reactions of Genetically Modified food have been reported. According to one EPA scientist, Monsanto doctored studies and covered-up dioxin contamination of a wide range of it's products. She concluded that the company's behavior constituted "a long pattern of fraud."
This was a pretty dry summary, but I think relevant. I am curious about what people think about GMs and Mercola's accusations against Monsanto. What makes some people continue to buy GM foods? Do they just not have access to this type of information? Or maybe they disagree with the view that GMs are unhealthy? Are many people too busy with life to have to worry about the hassle and cost of organic shopping? Or have they been totally free of health issues and just don't see a need to avoid GMs? This particular post is really dedicated to the readers, and I look forward to hearing the comments... be as honest as you want; I may use some of your comments to spark more story ideas for this blog.
My answer to the above questions is that I didn't start eating all organic until a year ago when I was diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue. Until then, I thought I was totally healthy and that "small amounts of toxins found in food and water didn't affect me." As I have begun consulting holistic health practitioners, associating with holistic health professionals at the holistic gym where I work, and doing research, I have come to be more specific about choosing foods that I eat, opting for organic rather than going for conventional foods. And yes, in the past, I would eat some organic foods, but not all organic because of the cost. In the past, I also didn't know much about GMOs. I had a vague understanding that GMOs were "undesirable," but was pretty busy with my life and didn't think about them much. (Regarding Monsanto, I am from St. Louis, it's headquarters, and have read and heard a couple rumors about shady stuff going on there, so I never really take Monsanto's word on anything at face value without scrutiny--especially since, for years, they said Roundup was harmless....)
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Toxins in Multivitamins & Irradiation
I recently changed my vitamin to avoid toxic ingredients. I had been taking the Whole Foods Multivitamin for women, but have switched to a higher quality vitamin. There are a lot of ingredients that should be avoided in vitamins. The vitamin I take now is from Ulta Life, which is a site that requires a referral from a professional holistic health care provider. Elizabeth Wallish (Dare2CareNow.com), an Integrative Nutrition Consultant, recommended to me the multivitamin from MegaFoodVitamins (Megafoods.com)
Magnesium Sterate is a common ingredient in many vitamins. Essentially this is chalk and it is useless to the body but is included to help the vitamin pass through the body more easily. Magnesium Sterate contains hydrogenated oil and can contain pesticides. According to Mercola, it is associated with decreasing natural killer cells that are needed in the immune system. Although vitamins are in no way a substitute for getting nutrients from food, if taken, they should be free of toxins.
Sodium selenite/selenate is an inorganic for of selenium that is toxic (see the studies on greenmedinfo.com). Selenium as a natural nutrient from plants is essential and also prevents cancer and heart disease, but due to the selenium depletion in the soil, different forms of artificial selenium are added to vitamins. Natural ways to get selenium is fresh produce, brazil nuts, and mustard seeds. Safer forms of selenium in vitamins are chelated or yeast-grown selenium.
Many vitamin supplements contain artificial ingredients that the EPA has prohibited in tap water (at levels above 50 parts per billion.) Titanium Dioxide is a heavy metal compound and coloring agent. Check out the website safecosmetics.org that talks about titanium dioxide and other heavy metals such as chromium, mercury, and lead that are found in cosmetics, nail polish, sunscreen and the harm they can cause including immune toxicity and cancer.
Elizabeth Wallish also gave me a list of other elements to avoid in vitamins: Methyl parabens, microcrystalline cellulose, talcum powder, polyethylene glycol, sodium metabisulfite, maltodextrin, resins, and polysorbate 80. Also on her list are things to avoid in nutritional products as a tablet: silicon dioxide, natural flavors (could include MSG), methacrylic copolymer, triethyl citrate, corn starch, hydroxypropl cellulose, red ferric oxide (orange shade), diacalcium phosphate, and pharmaceutical glaze. Also, avoid caramel coloring.
Another thing to look out for is irradiated food. These foods include wheat, flour, meats, eggs, spices and produce. Irradiation is done with cobalt 60, cesium 137 ( used rarely) or x rays--150 million times more radiation than a standard chest x-ray, according to Paul Chek, Holistic Health Practitioner (the C.H.E.K. Institute.)
Paul Chek writes in his book How to Eat, Move and be Healthy, "A wide range of independent studies prior to 1986 clearly identified mutagenic and carcinogenic radiolytic products in irradiated food, and confirmed evidence of genetic toxicity in tests on irradiated food. Studies in the 1970's run by India's Institute of Nutrition reported that feeding freshly radiated wheat to monkeys, rats, mice and to a small group of malnourished children induced gross chromosomal abnormalities in blood or bone marrow cells and mutational damage in the rodents. Food irradiation results in major micronutrient losses, particularly vitamins A,C,E and the B complex group."
How To Eat, Move and be Healthy also states "the FDA approved irradiation based on five studies selected from 441 studies published prior to the early 1980s. To this day, these early studies remain the basis for their claims that irradiation is safe." A Center for Disease poll of 11,000 people showed that only half were comfortable eating irradiated food. The food will be labeled irradiated in the ingredients, but if the food is not entirely irradiated there is not regulation requiring labeling. The radiation kills dangerous bacteria, but there are safer ways being developed such as high pressure and ozone treatment.
Chek also points out that "the US Department of Energy has aggressively promoted food irradiation for decades. The DOE sees food irradiation as a way of reducing disposal costs of spent military and civilian nuclear fuel by providing a commercial market for caesium nuclear wastes." Cs-137 is "the remains of spent military nuclear fuel." Both Co60 and CS137 were leaked in Three Mile Island fiasco, the Chernobyl disaster and the more recent Fukushima episode.
Purefood.org states "the origin of cobalt-60 and cesium-137 is rarely mentioned in glowing reports of irradiation's benefits: cesium-137 is a radioactive waste left in huge quantities from nuclear weapons programs, and cobalt-60 is manufactured in nuclear reactors. Cesium-137 is extremely hazardous, deadly for 300 years, water-soluble and very expensive to store. The FDA's Jim Greene said in 1986 that using cesium-137 for irradiation, 'could substantially reduce the cost of disposing of nuclear waste.'(6) In 1983 the Energy Dept. told the House Armed Services Committee, 'The utilization of these radioactive materials simply reduces our waste handling problem. we get some of these very hot elements like cesium and strontium out of the waste.'"(7)
Mercola's website (mercola.com), posts study upon study on irradiation--some of the tests on animals link dangers such as cancer , reproductive dysfunctions, and liver damage due to irradiation.
Thanks, I think I'll stick to organic foods, no nuclear waste for me, please....another toxic element to avoid is the fluoride in drinking water. More on that in later posts.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Magnesium Sterate is a common ingredient in many vitamins. Essentially this is chalk and it is useless to the body but is included to help the vitamin pass through the body more easily. Magnesium Sterate contains hydrogenated oil and can contain pesticides. According to Mercola, it is associated with decreasing natural killer cells that are needed in the immune system. Although vitamins are in no way a substitute for getting nutrients from food, if taken, they should be free of toxins.
Sodium selenite/selenate is an inorganic for of selenium that is toxic (see the studies on greenmedinfo.com). Selenium as a natural nutrient from plants is essential and also prevents cancer and heart disease, but due to the selenium depletion in the soil, different forms of artificial selenium are added to vitamins. Natural ways to get selenium is fresh produce, brazil nuts, and mustard seeds. Safer forms of selenium in vitamins are chelated or yeast-grown selenium.
Many vitamin supplements contain artificial ingredients that the EPA has prohibited in tap water (at levels above 50 parts per billion.) Titanium Dioxide is a heavy metal compound and coloring agent. Check out the website safecosmetics.org that talks about titanium dioxide and other heavy metals such as chromium, mercury, and lead that are found in cosmetics, nail polish, sunscreen and the harm they can cause including immune toxicity and cancer.
Elizabeth Wallish also gave me a list of other elements to avoid in vitamins: Methyl parabens, microcrystalline cellulose, talcum powder, polyethylene glycol, sodium metabisulfite, maltodextrin, resins, and polysorbate 80. Also on her list are things to avoid in nutritional products as a tablet: silicon dioxide, natural flavors (could include MSG), methacrylic copolymer, triethyl citrate, corn starch, hydroxypropl cellulose, red ferric oxide (orange shade), diacalcium phosphate, and pharmaceutical glaze. Also, avoid caramel coloring.
Another thing to look out for is irradiated food. These foods include wheat, flour, meats, eggs, spices and produce. Irradiation is done with cobalt 60, cesium 137 ( used rarely) or x rays--150 million times more radiation than a standard chest x-ray, according to Paul Chek, Holistic Health Practitioner (the C.H.E.K. Institute.)
Paul Chek writes in his book How to Eat, Move and be Healthy, "A wide range of independent studies prior to 1986 clearly identified mutagenic and carcinogenic radiolytic products in irradiated food, and confirmed evidence of genetic toxicity in tests on irradiated food. Studies in the 1970's run by India's Institute of Nutrition reported that feeding freshly radiated wheat to monkeys, rats, mice and to a small group of malnourished children induced gross chromosomal abnormalities in blood or bone marrow cells and mutational damage in the rodents. Food irradiation results in major micronutrient losses, particularly vitamins A,C,E and the B complex group."
How To Eat, Move and be Healthy also states "the FDA approved irradiation based on five studies selected from 441 studies published prior to the early 1980s. To this day, these early studies remain the basis for their claims that irradiation is safe." A Center for Disease poll of 11,000 people showed that only half were comfortable eating irradiated food. The food will be labeled irradiated in the ingredients, but if the food is not entirely irradiated there is not regulation requiring labeling. The radiation kills dangerous bacteria, but there are safer ways being developed such as high pressure and ozone treatment.
Chek also points out that "the US Department of Energy has aggressively promoted food irradiation for decades. The DOE sees food irradiation as a way of reducing disposal costs of spent military and civilian nuclear fuel by providing a commercial market for caesium nuclear wastes." Cs-137 is "the remains of spent military nuclear fuel." Both Co60 and CS137 were leaked in Three Mile Island fiasco, the Chernobyl disaster and the more recent Fukushima episode.
Purefood.org states "the origin of cobalt-60 and cesium-137 is rarely mentioned in glowing reports of irradiation's benefits: cesium-137 is a radioactive waste left in huge quantities from nuclear weapons programs, and cobalt-60 is manufactured in nuclear reactors. Cesium-137 is extremely hazardous, deadly for 300 years, water-soluble and very expensive to store. The FDA's Jim Greene said in 1986 that using cesium-137 for irradiation, 'could substantially reduce the cost of disposing of nuclear waste.'(6) In 1983 the Energy Dept. told the House Armed Services Committee, 'The utilization of these radioactive materials simply reduces our waste handling problem. we get some of these very hot elements like cesium and strontium out of the waste.'"(7)
Mercola's website (mercola.com), posts study upon study on irradiation--some of the tests on animals link dangers such as cancer , reproductive dysfunctions, and liver damage due to irradiation.
Thanks, I think I'll stick to organic foods, no nuclear waste for me, please....another toxic element to avoid is the fluoride in drinking water. More on that in later posts.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Bottled Water vs. Tap Water
I gave up bottled water a few months ago after watching the documentary Tapped. I had already known about the BPAs (Bisphenol A)* and phthalates in the bottled water that are leached from the plastic. But until I saw the film, I was not aware of the obscenely grotesque amount of plastic bottles going into landfills and on beaches around the world. There are now large parts of oceans that are literally liquid plastic. Plastic moves up the food chain, and we are ingesting minute bits of plastic from our seafood.
The visuals of all those bottles in the film made me really conscious about recycling plastic bottles whenever possible. I made sure to buy a recycling can for the gym where I work. Every time I see plastic bottles in the trash I am painfully reminded of the vast amount that are thrown away, and the fact that most states don't have a refundable deposit law for plastic bottles--the 10 states that do have a very high recycling rate, but the bottle companies don't want to pay out that money to consumers so they don't favor these laws. For more information on bottle bills check out Bottlebill.org.
The pollution caused by making the bottles is toxic to nearby residents, causing many health problems. Producing a myriad of bottles deepens our reliance on the oil used to make the plastic as 1.5millions barrels of oil are used annually for plastic bottles.
Much of the bottled water sold is simply tap water. Tap water in general contains trace amounts of DBPs (disinfectant byproducts) which are linked to cancer. Other things found in tap water are nitrates, caffeine, Tylenol, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, arsenic and bacteria. But sometimes bottled water is tap water sold straight back to the consumer, why not drink out of a drinking fountain rather than buy a bottle of Dasani?
Volvic, Evian, Gerolsteiner, and Fuji are higher quality waters, but research is showing that even very small amount of BPAs and phthalates leached from the plastic affect our hormones, which can lead to cancer. Drinking out of a water bottle that has been sitting in the heat is said to be dangerous. In summer, these bottles are transported in trucks that are not air conditioned and are left on loading docks outside at times, so, depending on the climate zone, there is not necessarily a metric for knowing if the bottles have been exposed to heat.
Even more detrimental to drinking toxins is showering or bathing in them due to absorption through the skin. One long shower or bath can lead to the absorption of a weeks worth of toxins from drinking water. Aside from reverse osmosis, granular carbon filters (rather than carbon block) are the best. Brita is really not very effective.
I have not gone as far as some people by drinking fresh spring water, which is usually free. (Findaspring.com), but I do have drink filtered water from the gym where I work. At home I have a carbon block filter for my shower, but I am thinking about buying a better one for my shower and kitchen. Some people go as far as bathing/showering very quickly as to absorb as few toxins as possible.
At the gym we have a Kangen water machine that runs the water over a platinum plate to ionize it. This gives the water an alkaline antioxidant property. The water is said to be very healing as it raises the ph in the body. This is a very high quality machine, unlike others of its kind. Many immitators' machines break down faster and some eventually can leak titanium which is toxic. So for people interested alkaline water, I highly recommend contacting a Kangen dealer for a presentation. (I am in no way affiliated with Kangen.)
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
*Tip of the day: Most canned food comes in cans that leach BPA--try Eden's brand at Whole Foods for non BPA containing cans. Cans with BPA are banned in Canada. (Canned food used to come in tinned metal, but are now usually steel or aluminum with a protective coating inside.)
The visuals of all those bottles in the film made me really conscious about recycling plastic bottles whenever possible. I made sure to buy a recycling can for the gym where I work. Every time I see plastic bottles in the trash I am painfully reminded of the vast amount that are thrown away, and the fact that most states don't have a refundable deposit law for plastic bottles--the 10 states that do have a very high recycling rate, but the bottle companies don't want to pay out that money to consumers so they don't favor these laws. For more information on bottle bills check out Bottlebill.org.
The pollution caused by making the bottles is toxic to nearby residents, causing many health problems. Producing a myriad of bottles deepens our reliance on the oil used to make the plastic as 1.5millions barrels of oil are used annually for plastic bottles.
Much of the bottled water sold is simply tap water. Tap water in general contains trace amounts of DBPs (disinfectant byproducts) which are linked to cancer. Other things found in tap water are nitrates, caffeine, Tylenol, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, arsenic and bacteria. But sometimes bottled water is tap water sold straight back to the consumer, why not drink out of a drinking fountain rather than buy a bottle of Dasani?
Volvic, Evian, Gerolsteiner, and Fuji are higher quality waters, but research is showing that even very small amount of BPAs and phthalates leached from the plastic affect our hormones, which can lead to cancer. Drinking out of a water bottle that has been sitting in the heat is said to be dangerous. In summer, these bottles are transported in trucks that are not air conditioned and are left on loading docks outside at times, so, depending on the climate zone, there is not necessarily a metric for knowing if the bottles have been exposed to heat.
Even more detrimental to drinking toxins is showering or bathing in them due to absorption through the skin. One long shower or bath can lead to the absorption of a weeks worth of toxins from drinking water. Aside from reverse osmosis, granular carbon filters (rather than carbon block) are the best. Brita is really not very effective.
I have not gone as far as some people by drinking fresh spring water, which is usually free. (Findaspring.com), but I do have drink filtered water from the gym where I work. At home I have a carbon block filter for my shower, but I am thinking about buying a better one for my shower and kitchen. Some people go as far as bathing/showering very quickly as to absorb as few toxins as possible.
At the gym we have a Kangen water machine that runs the water over a platinum plate to ionize it. This gives the water an alkaline antioxidant property. The water is said to be very healing as it raises the ph in the body. This is a very high quality machine, unlike others of its kind. Many immitators' machines break down faster and some eventually can leak titanium which is toxic. So for people interested alkaline water, I highly recommend contacting a Kangen dealer for a presentation. (I am in no way affiliated with Kangen.)
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
*Tip of the day: Most canned food comes in cans that leach BPA--try Eden's brand at Whole Foods for non BPA containing cans. Cans with BPA are banned in Canada. (Canned food used to come in tinned metal, but are now usually steel or aluminum with a protective coating inside.)
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Cellphone Usage
I recently bought a BlocSock for my cellphone. It is a metalic-lined cloth that I can slip in my back pocket to block the radiation when I carry my phone. It is also used when talking to block radiation between the phone and head although I usually put my phone on speaker. I also bought a great headset from the EMF Safety Superstore (lessemf.com) called the Airtube headset. Unlike many other headphones, radiation cannot travel up the wire and go straight to the brain through the ear. There is also a cellphone cover called Pong that can be used on iphones.
Brain cancer caused by cell phones has not been sufficiently addressed by the mass media--now cellphone use is much higher than it was even a few years ago, when 'heavy use" meant 2 hours a month. Studies indicate that 10 years of use doubles the risk of brain cancer, especially on the side of the head that is placed up against the phone. Cellphone use is linked to immune deficiency, neurological disorders, and childhood cancers like leukemia.
Lloyd Morgan, B.Sc., member of the International EMF Collaborative and Senior Fellow of Environmental Health Trust, wrote the report "Cellphones and Brain Tumors."
"What we have discovered indicates there is going to be one hell of a brain tumor pandemic unless people are warned and encouraged to change current cell phone use behaviors.
I read on Mercola.com that Verizon and Sprint carry 28times less radiation than other carriers. Nonetheless, there are no safe cell phones, although the older 900MHz phones do not constantly emit radiation. Modern phones emit radiation even when not in use. Children should not use cell phones, and landlines are preferable for everyone.
Standing in an area that gets better reception while using a cell phone is safer, because the phone doesn't have to work as hard and emits less radiation. The phone should never be placed closer than six inches to the body or worn on the belt.
I haven't gone as far as buying an EMF meter in order to detect how much radiation is being put off by my phone, but people are using these devices to measure the radiation in their homes as well. I always put my phone on speaker when I don't have my headset with me, use my BlocSock when keeping my phone in my pocket, and turn my phone off at night. I am considering going back to a land line eventually.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Brain cancer caused by cell phones has not been sufficiently addressed by the mass media--now cellphone use is much higher than it was even a few years ago, when 'heavy use" meant 2 hours a month. Studies indicate that 10 years of use doubles the risk of brain cancer, especially on the side of the head that is placed up against the phone. Cellphone use is linked to immune deficiency, neurological disorders, and childhood cancers like leukemia.
Lloyd Morgan, B.Sc., member of the International EMF Collaborative and Senior Fellow of Environmental Health Trust, wrote the report "Cellphones and Brain Tumors."
"What we have discovered indicates there is going to be one hell of a brain tumor pandemic unless people are warned and encouraged to change current cell phone use behaviors.
Governments should not soft-peddle this critical public health issue but instead rapidly educate citizens on the risks. People should hear the message clearly that cell phones should be kept away from one's head and body at all times."San Francisco has passed a law that requires cell phones to be labeled with the amount of radiation they emit. France, Germany and India have issued recommendations for people to limit exposure to electromagnetic fields including cell phones.
I read on Mercola.com that Verizon and Sprint carry 28times less radiation than other carriers. Nonetheless, there are no safe cell phones, although the older 900MHz phones do not constantly emit radiation. Modern phones emit radiation even when not in use. Children should not use cell phones, and landlines are preferable for everyone.
Standing in an area that gets better reception while using a cell phone is safer, because the phone doesn't have to work as hard and emits less radiation. The phone should never be placed closer than six inches to the body or worn on the belt.
I haven't gone as far as buying an EMF meter in order to detect how much radiation is being put off by my phone, but people are using these devices to measure the radiation in their homes as well. I always put my phone on speaker when I don't have my headset with me, use my BlocSock when keeping my phone in my pocket, and turn my phone off at night. I am considering going back to a land line eventually.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)
A friend recently asked me what the O stands for in GMOs (Geneticlly Modified Organisms). Most people are aware of the issue of GMOs contaminating other crops, in fact hundreds of thousands of members of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association are suing Monsanto in order to prevent their farms from being contaminated by GMO seeds. About 75% of the items from a regular grocery store have GMO ingredients. Becasue GMO ingredients do not have to be labeled, the only way to know food does not contain them is to buy organic.
Crops that have GMO plants are corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, tobacco, soy and cotton, some varities of zucchini, crookneck squash and Hawaiian papaya. Oils that are GMO include soybean, corn, canola, and cottonseed. There are GMO meats that are not yet out on the market. Studies suggest that GMOs are allergenic, toxic, carcinogenic, anit-nutritional, raise infant mortality, cause stunted growth and accelerated again as well as infertility.
The idea is that GMO sweet potato and rice could be resistant to pests and therefore help malnutrition in Africa and Asia. However, GMOs are linked to a decrease in crop yields, and cost farmers more, because the seeds die every year. This is very problematic in third world counties, where poor farmers remain in debt every year because of that. (Heirloom seeds are available on line in the U.S., and at a few farm stores around the county, but not readily available in poor countries.) There has been no reduction in pesticide use in the U.S., Roundup is used on 80% of GM crops, and wastes from GM corn are killing aquatic insects.
Today I received an email from Food Democracy Now! with a petition to ban the sale of Monsanto's GMO sweet corn to national grocery stores like Wal Mart, Kroger and Safeway. I sifted through their information and came up with the following stats:
As of 2010 more than 365 million acres were planted around the world with GMO seeds. The United States has more than 165 million acres of GMO crops, which are mostly "RoundupReady" crops, which means the plants are resistant to Roundup. GMOs also produce their own insecticide. About 90% of all GMO seeds are produced by Monsanto, and these plants are usually fed to animals.
Now Monsanto wants to bring this GMO sweet corn to food chains for human consumption.
Studies from the International Journal of Biological Sciences directly link GMOs to organ damage in rats. Monsanto conducted it's own crude 90 day study finding the corn safe. Gilles-Eric Seralini, who conducted the IJBS research, said, "Our study contradicts Monsanto conclusions...This is a very serious mistake, dramatic for public health. This is the major conclusion revealed by our work, the only careful reanlysis of Monsanto crude statistical data."
Dr. Don Huber, a scientist who has studied plant disease for 50 years, spent 35 years at Purdue University as Professor Emeritus of plant pathology, and coordinates the "Emergent Diseases and Pathogens Committee" as part of the USDA National Plant Disease Recovery System under Homeland Security has also has found disturbing effects caused by GMOs. They are associated with a sharp rise in animal infertility and micronutrient soil deficiency.
A Canadian study (The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sherbrooke Hospital Centre, Quebec) shows that 93% of pregnant women tested were found to have a GMO toxin designed to kill insects in their blood. The toxins came from processed foods and eating livestock that eat GMO crops. Monsanto falsely claims that these toxins would be dissolved in the animal's gut. But they are passed along to humans that eat them, and these toxins are found in most people's blood.
GMOs contain Bt (bacillus thuringiensis), a bacteria used in pesticides since the 1920s (now under trade names such as Dipel and Thuricide.) These pesticides are implanted using GM techniques into corn and other crops. The spores produced by the bacteria act as a pesticide. The toxin found in the study was CryAb1, which is extracted from the bacteria. Some studies show that this toxin can trigger an immune response and weaken the immune system.
Bts have been linked to the decline of Monarch butterflies and deaths of bees. This bacteria is said to be safe, occurring naturally in the guts of caterpillars, but this bacteria is closely related to anthrax. Many insects that are supposed to be targeted by the pesticide have already developed a resistance to this pesticide.
Not every country's government agrees with the "safety" of GMOs. The following information is taken directly from purezing.com, a good resource for health.
Crops that have GMO plants are corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, tobacco, soy and cotton, some varities of zucchini, crookneck squash and Hawaiian papaya. Oils that are GMO include soybean, corn, canola, and cottonseed. There are GMO meats that are not yet out on the market. Studies suggest that GMOs are allergenic, toxic, carcinogenic, anit-nutritional, raise infant mortality, cause stunted growth and accelerated again as well as infertility.
The idea is that GMO sweet potato and rice could be resistant to pests and therefore help malnutrition in Africa and Asia. However, GMOs are linked to a decrease in crop yields, and cost farmers more, because the seeds die every year. This is very problematic in third world counties, where poor farmers remain in debt every year because of that. (Heirloom seeds are available on line in the U.S., and at a few farm stores around the county, but not readily available in poor countries.) There has been no reduction in pesticide use in the U.S., Roundup is used on 80% of GM crops, and wastes from GM corn are killing aquatic insects.
Today I received an email from Food Democracy Now! with a petition to ban the sale of Monsanto's GMO sweet corn to national grocery stores like Wal Mart, Kroger and Safeway. I sifted through their information and came up with the following stats:
As of 2010 more than 365 million acres were planted around the world with GMO seeds. The United States has more than 165 million acres of GMO crops, which are mostly "RoundupReady" crops, which means the plants are resistant to Roundup. GMOs also produce their own insecticide. About 90% of all GMO seeds are produced by Monsanto, and these plants are usually fed to animals.
Now Monsanto wants to bring this GMO sweet corn to food chains for human consumption.
Studies from the International Journal of Biological Sciences directly link GMOs to organ damage in rats. Monsanto conducted it's own crude 90 day study finding the corn safe. Gilles-Eric Seralini, who conducted the IJBS research, said, "Our study contradicts Monsanto conclusions...This is a very serious mistake, dramatic for public health. This is the major conclusion revealed by our work, the only careful reanlysis of Monsanto crude statistical data."
Dr. Don Huber, a scientist who has studied plant disease for 50 years, spent 35 years at Purdue University as Professor Emeritus of plant pathology, and coordinates the "Emergent Diseases and Pathogens Committee" as part of the USDA National Plant Disease Recovery System under Homeland Security has also has found disturbing effects caused by GMOs. They are associated with a sharp rise in animal infertility and micronutrient soil deficiency.
A Canadian study (The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sherbrooke Hospital Centre, Quebec) shows that 93% of pregnant women tested were found to have a GMO toxin designed to kill insects in their blood. The toxins came from processed foods and eating livestock that eat GMO crops. Monsanto falsely claims that these toxins would be dissolved in the animal's gut. But they are passed along to humans that eat them, and these toxins are found in most people's blood.
GMOs contain Bt (bacillus thuringiensis), a bacteria used in pesticides since the 1920s (now under trade names such as Dipel and Thuricide.) These pesticides are implanted using GM techniques into corn and other crops. The spores produced by the bacteria act as a pesticide. The toxin found in the study was CryAb1, which is extracted from the bacteria. Some studies show that this toxin can trigger an immune response and weaken the immune system.
Bts have been linked to the decline of Monarch butterflies and deaths of bees. This bacteria is said to be safe, occurring naturally in the guts of caterpillars, but this bacteria is closely related to anthrax. Many insects that are supposed to be targeted by the pesticide have already developed a resistance to this pesticide.
Not every country's government agrees with the "safety" of GMOs. The following information is taken directly from purezing.com, a good resource for health.
"The following countries have banned [Hungary also just banned them] or restricted the import, distribution, sale, utilization, field trials and commercial planting of GMO’s:
- Africa: Algeria, Egypt
- Asia: Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Japan, Philippines
- Europe: The European Union, Norway, Austria, Germany United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Luxembourg, Portugal
- Latin America: Brazil, Paraguay
- Middle East: Saudi Arabia
- North America: Maryland has banned GE (genetically engineered) fish and North Dakota and Montana have filed bans on GE wheat. The Municipalities of Burlington, Vermont (declared a moratorium on GE food), Boulder, Colorado (bans on GE crops) and the City and County of San Francisco (urged the federal government to ban GE food) are the only towns or states to take some sort of stand against plants, animals, foods, crops and body products that are, or contain Genetically Modified Organisms.NOTE: The U.S. government, and the FDA do not require anything Genetically Modified to be identified on ingredient lists. Genetically Modified foods and products are in widespread use and distribution throughout the U.S.
- Pacific: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Australia, New Zealand
Percentage of crops that are Genetically Modified in the U.S.:
- Soy (85%)
- Cotton (Cottonseed) (76%)
- Canola (75%)
- Corn (40%)
- Hawaiian papaya (more than 50%)
- Zucchini and Yellow Squash (small amount)
- Quest brand tobacco (100%) "
There will be more posts on GMOs that include the shutdown of "whistle blowers" and other political reasons why the U.S. is so slow to reject these crops.
A Votre Sante (Here's to Your Health), Alix
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Adrenal Fatigue and Estrogen Dominance
As I mentioned in my earlier blog, Paul Check is a Holistic Health Practitioner and trainer who founded the C.H.E.K. Institute in California for advanced trainers and holistic health coaches. He wrote How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy, and I recommend his website and blog. (Paulcheksblog.com and Chekinstitute.com)
I came to know about Paul Chek training as I began working in a private, personal training gym in Chicago. The operation primarily employs C.H.E.K. certified trainers. For the most part the facility operates under the C.H.E.K. philosophy, which entails his method of exercise, nutrition and holistic health. This includes exercise based on natural movements such as bending, lunging and squatting, as well as organic eating, and most of the trainers buy their food directly from farms, including raw milk. (I will talk about the pros and cons of raw milk in a later post.)
Last year I met Kristie Yaakoby, a certified C.H.E.K. trainer and C.H.E.K. Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist who happened to be at the gym. Kristie had purchased all the equipment for the workout room and was stopping by to look at it, as she was engaged in moving to Michigan to open her own gym and farm. (Pictures of her gym and farm can be seen on her website, www.Balancemethods.com)
As I shared in the last blog, I mentioned to Kristie that I was chronically tired. Kristie told me that she would not be surprised if I was estrogen dominant and had adrenal fatigue. I was not familiar with these terms, as I had not heard them after years on telling my Western medicine doctors that I was tired. A saliva test Kristie gave me revealed that indeed I had very low levels of progesterone causing an imbalance with the estrogen, as well as Adrenal Fatigue. I told this to my Western medicine doctor who recommended that I follow Kristie's protocol.
The protocol is detailed and extensive, but well worth it: I now began to eat all organic food (before I was eating some organic food) and I am able to get really good quality filtered water from the gym (the filter is about $300), and I am thinking about buying a good water filter for my apartment. My home Brita filter is in no way as comprehensive as a better filter--it's just not that effective. Actually Kangen water is available at the gym. Kangen water, which is alkaline, is used in hospitals in Japan, and I will talk about this in a later blog.
I put a water filter on my shower head as the toxins absorbed in one shower equates to about a weeks worth of drinking it. The City of Chicago, where I live, sends out an annual brochure about it's water quality, listing trace amount of toxins present in the water--but, in general, many cities can have water containing not just chlorine, but the more dangerous disinfectant byproducts, which are carcinogenic, as well as heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals.
Obviously eating all organic food is indeed more expensive, and I am easily tempted to shop at Whole Foods, located right across the street from the gym, and also right across the street from my apartment elsewhere in the city, rather than make the trip to Trader Joe's to save money. But at this point, I am beginning to shop at a Farmer's Market, using Whole Foods only as a supplement in order to minimize costs. I am going to track my expenses and hopefully come up with a relatively cost effective way to shop, and post it, since I have run into several people who have told me that they don't buy organic because of the expense.
I also avoid eating GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). GMOs are so ubiquitous that Whole Foods in the Chicago Loop said they use GMO canola oil in their deli--according to them all canola oil is from GMO sources.* I will talk about GMOs in another forum, but they have been banned in some other countries, and there is some research linking them to various kinds of diseases.
Another complicity in my protocol is that I also took a blood test for food sensitivities. (The MRT--Mediated Relief Food Sensitivity test) Food sensitivities are different from food allergies and food intolerances. Food allergies happen in the tissue. For example, swelling from a bee sting or a rash from strawberries is a reaction in the tissues. Food intolerance occurs in the gut. Gluten or lactose intolerance are examples. Food sensitivities occur in the blood and trigger an immune response and inflammation.
Not rotating foods can lead to food sensitivities, and I have avoided many common foods for six months, and I can now re-introduce them back into my diet one-by-one: Tomatoes, onions, carrots, and a host of others that reacted in my blood. Since I am on a protocol for exhaustion caused by the Adrenal Fatigue and Estrogen Dominance, it is essential for me to avoid these foods that still cause me an immune response.
The protocol includes bio identical progesterone. Before starting the progesterone, I would sleep 10-12 hours or more and wake up feeling "beat-up," aching like I had been kicked all over. This fatigue was occurring on and off again for years. Eventually, I scaled back my life, my schedule, and chose jobs for which I did not have to get up in the morning. My adrenal fatigue had progressed so far that I was no longer even making enough cortisol to wake me up early, and I "didn't do" mornings.
The estrogen dominance was making the Adrenal Fatigue worse and exhausting me as well. (These two conditinos are often linked.) The other two bio identicals in my protocol are Pregnenolone (the "mother" hormone needed to produce other hormones) and a very small dose of DHEA. I have experienced no negative side effects from any of the bio identicals, and of course, these are natural so I don't have to worry about them causing cancer.
Aside from my very specific organic diet, dealing with the food sensitivities, there was an another test I took that has helped me immensely. I took the Metabolic Typing test, which revealed that I needed a certain amount of protein and fat in my diet, as well as carbs from vegetables. Depending on which type a person is (protein, carb, or mixed type) it is essential to balance the ratio of protein, carbs, and fats. In my case, I was so hungry I was eating all day long, I could not get full--until I started eating for my type. When I snack I also stick to this appropriate ratio for my Protein Type. I will do a whole post on Metabolic Typing.
I took Healthexcel's Metabolic Typing Test online as recommended by Kristie, and then received a whole supplemental protocol from Kristie through Ultra Life, Inc.--this company, where I get my vitamins and glandulars, can only be utilized via a holistic/health professional. But aside from the bio identicals and glandulars, I take and multivitamin from Ultra Life--very important to get a high quality one--I will not buy the one's at Whole Foods--there will be list of ingredients to avoid in vitamins in a future blog. I take Glutathione from MaxGL for removing heavy metals, and a pro biotic from Ultra Life.
All in all, although this is a complex protocol based on several tests, I have seen great results. I am now sleeping 10 hours a night (down from 10-12 or more), and still have several more months on the protocol, so I expect to have even more energy then.
A Votre Sante (Here's to your health), Alix
*Tip of the day: Whole Foods sells a great house brand ruffled potato chip--and they are non GMO.
I came to know about Paul Chek training as I began working in a private, personal training gym in Chicago. The operation primarily employs C.H.E.K. certified trainers. For the most part the facility operates under the C.H.E.K. philosophy, which entails his method of exercise, nutrition and holistic health. This includes exercise based on natural movements such as bending, lunging and squatting, as well as organic eating, and most of the trainers buy their food directly from farms, including raw milk. (I will talk about the pros and cons of raw milk in a later post.)
Last year I met Kristie Yaakoby, a certified C.H.E.K. trainer and C.H.E.K. Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist who happened to be at the gym. Kristie had purchased all the equipment for the workout room and was stopping by to look at it, as she was engaged in moving to Michigan to open her own gym and farm. (Pictures of her gym and farm can be seen on her website, www.Balancemethods.com)
As I shared in the last blog, I mentioned to Kristie that I was chronically tired. Kristie told me that she would not be surprised if I was estrogen dominant and had adrenal fatigue. I was not familiar with these terms, as I had not heard them after years on telling my Western medicine doctors that I was tired. A saliva test Kristie gave me revealed that indeed I had very low levels of progesterone causing an imbalance with the estrogen, as well as Adrenal Fatigue. I told this to my Western medicine doctor who recommended that I follow Kristie's protocol.
The protocol is detailed and extensive, but well worth it: I now began to eat all organic food (before I was eating some organic food) and I am able to get really good quality filtered water from the gym (the filter is about $300), and I am thinking about buying a good water filter for my apartment. My home Brita filter is in no way as comprehensive as a better filter--it's just not that effective. Actually Kangen water is available at the gym. Kangen water, which is alkaline, is used in hospitals in Japan, and I will talk about this in a later blog.
I put a water filter on my shower head as the toxins absorbed in one shower equates to about a weeks worth of drinking it. The City of Chicago, where I live, sends out an annual brochure about it's water quality, listing trace amount of toxins present in the water--but, in general, many cities can have water containing not just chlorine, but the more dangerous disinfectant byproducts, which are carcinogenic, as well as heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals.
Obviously eating all organic food is indeed more expensive, and I am easily tempted to shop at Whole Foods, located right across the street from the gym, and also right across the street from my apartment elsewhere in the city, rather than make the trip to Trader Joe's to save money. But at this point, I am beginning to shop at a Farmer's Market, using Whole Foods only as a supplement in order to minimize costs. I am going to track my expenses and hopefully come up with a relatively cost effective way to shop, and post it, since I have run into several people who have told me that they don't buy organic because of the expense.
I also avoid eating GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). GMOs are so ubiquitous that Whole Foods in the Chicago Loop said they use GMO canola oil in their deli--according to them all canola oil is from GMO sources.* I will talk about GMOs in another forum, but they have been banned in some other countries, and there is some research linking them to various kinds of diseases.
Another complicity in my protocol is that I also took a blood test for food sensitivities. (The MRT--Mediated Relief Food Sensitivity test) Food sensitivities are different from food allergies and food intolerances. Food allergies happen in the tissue. For example, swelling from a bee sting or a rash from strawberries is a reaction in the tissues. Food intolerance occurs in the gut. Gluten or lactose intolerance are examples. Food sensitivities occur in the blood and trigger an immune response and inflammation.
Not rotating foods can lead to food sensitivities, and I have avoided many common foods for six months, and I can now re-introduce them back into my diet one-by-one: Tomatoes, onions, carrots, and a host of others that reacted in my blood. Since I am on a protocol for exhaustion caused by the Adrenal Fatigue and Estrogen Dominance, it is essential for me to avoid these foods that still cause me an immune response.
The protocol includes bio identical progesterone. Before starting the progesterone, I would sleep 10-12 hours or more and wake up feeling "beat-up," aching like I had been kicked all over. This fatigue was occurring on and off again for years. Eventually, I scaled back my life, my schedule, and chose jobs for which I did not have to get up in the morning. My adrenal fatigue had progressed so far that I was no longer even making enough cortisol to wake me up early, and I "didn't do" mornings.
The estrogen dominance was making the Adrenal Fatigue worse and exhausting me as well. (These two conditinos are often linked.) The other two bio identicals in my protocol are Pregnenolone (the "mother" hormone needed to produce other hormones) and a very small dose of DHEA. I have experienced no negative side effects from any of the bio identicals, and of course, these are natural so I don't have to worry about them causing cancer.
Aside from my very specific organic diet, dealing with the food sensitivities, there was an another test I took that has helped me immensely. I took the Metabolic Typing test, which revealed that I needed a certain amount of protein and fat in my diet, as well as carbs from vegetables. Depending on which type a person is (protein, carb, or mixed type) it is essential to balance the ratio of protein, carbs, and fats. In my case, I was so hungry I was eating all day long, I could not get full--until I started eating for my type. When I snack I also stick to this appropriate ratio for my Protein Type. I will do a whole post on Metabolic Typing.
I took Healthexcel's Metabolic Typing Test online as recommended by Kristie, and then received a whole supplemental protocol from Kristie through Ultra Life, Inc.--this company, where I get my vitamins and glandulars, can only be utilized via a holistic/health professional. But aside from the bio identicals and glandulars, I take and multivitamin from Ultra Life--very important to get a high quality one--I will not buy the one's at Whole Foods--there will be list of ingredients to avoid in vitamins in a future blog. I take Glutathione from MaxGL for removing heavy metals, and a pro biotic from Ultra Life.
All in all, although this is a complex protocol based on several tests, I have seen great results. I am now sleeping 10 hours a night (down from 10-12 or more), and still have several more months on the protocol, so I expect to have even more energy then.
A Votre Sante (Here's to your health), Alix
*Tip of the day: Whole Foods sells a great house brand ruffled potato chip--and they are non GMO.
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