Wellcast

Positive affirmations and intentions has gone to a whole new level. How enlightened is your food?
The Navajo indians have been doing this for centuries. Infusing products with good vibes through meditation, prayer and music may catch on in the U.S. and canada if profitable.
A California Company named, “H2-OM” sells water infused with good wishes, for joy, love and good health via the words, symbols and colors on the label. Restorative music is played at the bottling warehouse.
Another example is chocolatier jim Walsh, who uses a recording of Tibetan monks meditating and exposes the chocolates for 5 days per batch to this spiritual mantra. His product is called “intentional Chocolate” founded in 2007, (Kornfeld, A. “Mind over Chocolate” Time April 6, 2009).

I can see you rolling your eyes. But some claim that we can alter the physical world with our thoughts and intentions. Sure, there are some skeptics, but if we are energetic beings, and thoughts, words and music have energy, it makes sense that what you put into a product can make a difference.
The simplest example is eating a piece of pie baked by your mother versus one made at the store most likely manufactured on an assembly line. They will taste completely different. Infusing love into something you like to do will produce a product with a different vibration and energy then something you’re just putting out to finish your shift.
As you can see…I’m sort of into this embedded food. Whether you think it’s a gimmick or not, these foods may be in high demand. It might be worth trying.

It looks like the verdict is out..and genes do play a critical role in the development of those nasty allergies.
So what can help?

First, get some testing done to identify what allergens you have.

Second, consider digestive enzymes. Enzymes are amazing! We literally could not live without them. As part of the digestive process, the pancreas secretes 3 main enzymes. Protease to digest protein, lipase to digest fats and amylase to digest carbohydrates. Unfortunately the body’s ability to produce these enzymes declines as we get older. Also the more cooked food we eat, the more enzymes the body has to produce in order to digest the food, and the sooner the body’s capacity to make enzymes declines. Hence the “raw food ” diet craze. When eating uncooked food, these enzymes are highly active and promote digestion.

Other conditions that cause a decline in these enzymes are stress, illness, and exposure to toxic chemicals.
Lack of digestive enzymes causes poor digestion. Incompletely digested food particles gets absorbed through the bowel and into the systemic circulation (blood). This stimulates your immune system thinking that something foreign has entered your body, so your immune system goes under attack causing all kinds of inflammation. Your system then consistently hunts down and tries to destroy these irritant-like compounds before they do any more damage.
By identifying these allergens and avoiding them, you can rest your immune system and allow it to do its other job which is to heal and repair damaged tissues.
Taking digestive enzymes can help prevent and treat allergens, especially if you can identify the antigens and avoid them. Usually there are some deeper food allergens that build up and weaken the system. This leads to more sensitivities to our environment. So allergies to grasses, trees, pollen, etc is many times a product of some deep seated food allergens.
If allergies run in your family, you will be more susceptible to allergies in general and need to pay more attention.

Are allergies genetically-based?



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And you thought taking a nap was a waste of time?
Think again…

Grabbing a quick nap may not only be refreshing but may also increase your ability to solve problems creatively, according to US researchers who suggest that REM (rapid eye movement) sleep directly enhances creative processes more than any other sleep or wakeful state….

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Some of my patients wanted me to comment on the recent “Newsweek” article, June 8, 2009, entitled, “Crazy Talk: Oprah, Wacky Cures & You.” After reading the article, I had to smile in how the writers used words in making their point in the article, that is…how crazy is Oprah?

I can only comment on the main attraction of the article which was the women’s health series Oprah had on the air starring Suzanne Somers. The writer made the following statements, “…the 62 year old actress and self-help author rubs a potent estrogen cream into the skin on her arm.” How do you know how potent that estrogen cream is? Most bio-identical hormones compounded by experienced pharmacists are much less potent than the standard pharmaceutical hormones.

“And once a day, she uses a syringe to inject estrogen directly into her vagina.” This comment makes Suzanne Somers sound like some kind of masochistic psycho! What she actually does is INSERT estrogen cream vaginally by using a syringe dispenser so it can be measured accurately. NO needle is used.
The reason I’m familiar with these practices is because I also prescribe compounded hormones to my patients. The media seems to get all up tight about these products being “non-FDA-approved”, but the fact is all the ingredients used in bio-identical hormones ARE FDA approved. The FDA approves drug products and ingredients in the drug (quality control). Compounding pharmacies (that make bio-identical hormones) and retail pharmacies both use FDA ingredients. The FDA regulates and inspects drug industries such as Merck, Wyeth and Upjohn. Bio-identical hormones are not made by big drug companies. They are compounded, which means they are prepared by hand by trained pharmacists to help meet unique needs of the patient including customizing their doses. Traditionally, ALL prescriptions were compounded.

Using chelating agents to help clear the body of certain toxins and ordering IV drips of Vitamin C and other nutrients are not so far fetched when you use these therapies for your own patients and see incredible benefits. And there is evidence based research behind theses therapies!
When conventional therapies don’t work or they produce unwanted side effects, people often look for other alternative options. I see Suzanne Somers as one of those people. Her books and appearances are more of a testimonial (with some research) of her journey through menopause. She wants to let women know they don’t have to suffer with symptoms or treatments that don’t work. How is this any different than some one selling you the newest weight-loss diet that worked wonders for them, or a new drug or supplement that cures everything from insomnia to erectile dysfunction!?
Hormones are prescription drugs. The Oprah show is a platform for her quests to share information and their stories. Then it is up to the viewers to take that information and have an open discussion with their health practitioner on whether such treatments are right for them. Be responsible for your own health care, and that starts with what you watch on TV and what you read. Talk to your health practitioner and ask lots of questions. The ultimate decision is yours.

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According to a 2005 survey. 75 percent of cancer patients who used complementary and alternative medicine didn’t tell their physicians.

This article explains the importance of discussing all medications and supplements with your practitioner, especially if you are going through cancer treatments. Even though supplements are considered “natural” and beneficial for health, they may prevent proper treatment (radiation or chemo) for cancer.

Think that vitamins can only help–but never hurt–a condition? Although that’s true in many cases, some vitamins can be harmful to certain people or under special circumstances.

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Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection in pre-menopausal women. A new study has found that this infection is associated with Vitamin D deficiency. A study from the Journal of Nutrition examined 469 women at a Pittsburgh clinic. There were 209 white women and 260 black women in the study. More than half had Vitamin D levels below 37 nanomoles per liter. A level of over 60 is healthy. About 52% of black women had bacterial vaginosis, compared with 27% of white women. Darker skin prevents adequate synthesis of Vitamin D and this may have been why black women were almost 3 times as likely to be Vitamin D deficient.

In my clinical experience, some women have chronic vaginosis, meaning that even though treatment with antibiotics is effective, this infection continues to come back. It is not sexually transmitted, therefore a woman’s partner does not need to be screened. I have also found that the risk is higher when women are under a high amount of stress. The vaginal PH can shift to a less acidic environment, and make women more susceptible for this infection.

Some other alternative treatments for bacterial vaginosis include tea tree oil vaginal suppositories, betadine douche nightly for 5-7 nights, and oral and vaginal lactobaccillus suppositories. Evaluate your stress level and check your diet. Are you eating too many “comfort foods” consisting of lots of sugar and empty carbs? How are you sleeping? Definitely get your Vitamin D level checked. I screen all women for Vitamin D due to the enormous deficiency in our country. It certainly won’t hurt. Discuss other options with our practitioner.

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That is…if you are getting mammograms at all. The question on mammography screening for very old women has been a debatable one for some time. No randomized trials have been done on this population.
A recent study from three outpatient clinics in Boston tracked mammography screening and breast cancer outcomes in over 2000 women who were all over 80 years old. They were followed for 2-12 years (average 5 years).

Half the women had mammograms and the other half did not. What they found was that the effectiveness of mammogram was modest at best. There were 28 cases of breast cancer in the mammography group, and 20 in the group that did not undergo mammography. This group was diagnosed through clinician exam or was self-reported by the patient’s symptoms. Breast cancer caused 1 death in the mammography group and 2 deaths in the other group.

The interesting thing is that the women that had the screening done, 11% had false-positive mammograms that resulted in additional imaging tests or biopsies. In this age group, that’s a significant number. How would you like your 80+ year old mother or grandmother to undergo an unnecessary breast biopsy? Don’t know if it’s worth it over age 80.

Rsource: JW Gen Med April 15 2009, p. 67, and J Clin Oncol 2008; 26: 2482.

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We’ve all heard of the “mind-body” connection. The main concept is that physical illness and disease are linked with our emotion of stress. Common examples are the relationship between heart disease and “type A” personalities, and how suppressed anger can result in hypertension and strokes.

Much of the research looks at the bodies immune system and the impairment of our bodies defenses, when we are stressed. But does this also apply to our belief systems and attitudes? The origin of stress relates to the way we respond to stimuli in specific patterns. So it makes sense that our interpretation of the world, which is guided by our belief systems conditioned patterns, that determines how we deal with stress in our lives.
There is well documented research from the mathematics of nonlinear dynamics and attractor research, confirmed by kinesiology and acupuncture, that gives us a basic foundation and understanding of the human disease process (Hawkins, D. “Power vs. Force”. hay house, Inc. 2002).

We have millions of thoughts in our mind everyday. A constellation of these thoughts shapes our reality and presents an attitude that persists over time. This attitude, according to David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D., author of “Power vs. Force,” is associated with an attractor energy field of corresponding power or weakness. “The result is a particular perception of the world, and appropriate events are created to trigger the specific emotion,” according to Hawkins. All of our attitudes, beliefs and thoughts are connected with various pathways known as “meridians” of energy to all of our body’s organs. You may have heard of the heart meridian, or spleen meridian. So how sensitive are these thoughts we have to an immediate result? It depends on the repetition of the thought over time. Think about it…
All of us have many of the same thoughts over and over again. You can label them as being more pessimistic or optimistic; thoughts about our past or worry’s about the future. The repetition of these thoughts and beliefs become amplified until it eventually affects the entire system and a new energy pattern evolves. Eventually, an accumulation of these thought patterns can manifest as a disease or sickness, or optimal health, depending on your attitude and beliefs.

Think more globally about the state of the world and the shift that has happened. The internal communication of our nation has consisted of negativity, greed and corruptive behavior, selfishness and fear. Eventually, it was a matter of time until some event or events were created to trigger those emotions. This invisible universe of thought and attitude becomes visible as a consequence of these prevailing thought patterns. The results are an observable dis-ease process. The stimulus may be so minute but the persistence and repetition of the stimulus is what determines the end result.
We are now faced with new choices and new opportunities. We have seen spontaneous recoveries from every disease that has ben recorded throughout history. We see specials on TV shows like 20/20 about people being “cured” but don’t know how or why such a dramatic change has happened.
With the election of a new president and new administration, we have an opportunity to shift our old thought patterns to ones of hope and change in a direction that will take us further to a healthier future. First we must start with ourselves. Are there conditioned responses you have that are not serving you anymore? That is what we must focus on, before world change is to happen.
Our thoughts are powerful! We are at a crossroads, and have decisions to make that start with literally one thought at a time. Be conscious of the voice in your head. Be open to change and trust in yourself.

For more information, read “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne, “Quantum Success” by Sandra Taylor, and “A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose” by Eckhart Tolle.

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Do you have symptoms of fatigue, muscle cramps, nausea or palpitations?
If you do, check your consumption of cola. Drinking more than 32 ounces per day can cause hypokalemia.

Read more…

AFP - A steady, litres-per-day diet of colas can cause serious muscle problems, doctors warned in a study Tuesday.

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Some say there is no conclusive evidence to show that users of birth control pills, otherwise known as oral contraceptives (OC’s), need more vitamins and minerals. I say….all women on these pills need to be on a good multivitamin/mineral supplement.

Research has shown that taking OC’s, especially over many years, can have a significant effect on how nutrients are absorbed in the body. Overtime, symptoms of nutrient deficiencies can be misinterpreted for other problems that are actually due to OC’s.
Common symptoms that I see at the clinic include: depression, anxiety, irritability, lack of appetite, headaches, fatigue, erratic blood sugars and insomnia. These symptoms can certainly be due to other causes, but if a woman has been on OC’s for more than 3 months, I will treat them with the most suspected nutrient deficiencies which are vitamins B-1 (thiamine), B-2 (riboflavin), B-3 (niacin), B-6 (pyridoxine), B-12, folic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and the minerals Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc, Iron, and Copper.

Deficiencies in all these vitamin/minerals can lead to depression. Foods that are loaded with these nutrients include:

Vitamin B-6- fish, poultry, meat, whole grains and potatoes
Folic acid- leafy greens and dries beans
Vitamin B-2- milk, meat, poultry, fish, dark leafy greens and enriched cereals
Vitamin C- citrus fruits and juices, broccoli, peppers, spinach and cabbage
Vitamin A- leafy greens, yellow vege’s (carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash), yellow fruits (apricots, peaches, cantaloupe)
Iron- meat, poultry, liver, fish, enriched cereals and grains, prunes, dark leafy greens
Zinc- oysters, other seafood, meat, nuts, whole grains
Copper- oysters and other seafood, dried beans and peas, nuts

Birth control pills have many benefits, in particular in preventing pregnancy, as well as menstrual cramps, anemia, ovarian cancer, fibrocystic breast changes, and many PMS symptoms. But for many women, these benefits come with a price. Prevent symptoms by taking a good multivitamin/mineral supplement and eating well. Beyond nutrition, the best advice for women on OC’s is not to smoke.

Reference: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/foodnut/09323.html