Archive for October, 2010
Psyllium Revival
October 29, 2010 Written by JPThe dietary supplement Metamucil has been commercially available for over seventy-five years. For the most part, this familiar product is known the world round as an old fashioned constipation aid. There’s good reason for this reputation. But there’s also more to Metamucil and psyllium than simply promoting regularity. Today I’ll discuss some of the lesser known attributes of this decidedly untrendy supplement. (1,2,3)
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Tags: Fiber, Gluten, IBS
Posted in Diabetes, Heart Health, Nutritional Supplements | 19 Comments & Updates
Cancer, Candy and Willpower
October 28, 2010 Written by JPWhat do cancer, Halloween candy and willpower have in common? The connection they share may not be readily apparent. Cancer is generally thought of as a life threatening disease. Halloween candy is a once-a-year treat and tradition in which most children are permitted to indulge. Willpower is the fortitude we all hope to possess when we’re in the presence of temptation. To my mind, they’re all linked by one common thread: health. Without willpower you’re likely to consume excess amounts of sugar which is documented as supporting the growth of malignant cells. Do you think that’s too big a leap? See if you still think so after today’s column.
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Tags: Cancer, Inflammation, Low Carb
Posted in Children's Health, Diet and Weight Loss, Mental Health | 6 Comments & Updates
Your Biological Machine
October 27, 2010 Written by JPThe human body is infinitely more complex than any machine created by mankind. But it is sometimes useful to think about it in similar terms. Two of the most frequently used machines in modern life are automobiles and personal computers. In order for either of them to function efficiently, they need proper fuel (electricity and gasoline) and periodic maintenance. Fueling up a car and plugging in a lap top has become second nature in the 21st century. Unfortunately, so too has the unhealthy manner by which many people re-fuel themselves – drive-thrus, frozen dinners, etc. The trouble is that the human body doesn’t provide as immediate a response to improper nourishment as most machines do. Rather, the human organism is exceedingly resilient and can put up with years of improper care before demonstrating overt evidence of damage.
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Tags: Diet Soda, Fish Oil, Gums, Kidney Health
Posted in Dental Health, Exercise, Food and Drink | 2 Comments & Updates
Almond Cocoa Butter Recipe
October 26, 2010 Written by JPAs you may know by now, I rely on events in my life to help inspire the columns that I write on this site. I was recently asked about an apparent paradox relating to dark chocolate. A client asked me how cocoa could possibly be heart healthy when it contains natural stimulants such as theobromine. “Won’t that cause my blood pressure to rise?”. Today I’ll address that question and the larger issue of cardiovascular health and cocoa. I’ll also include a supremely simple recipe that I sometimes use to satisfy my dark chocolate fix.
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Tags: Almonds, Cocoa, Stevia
Posted in Food and Drink, Nutrition, Recipes | 6 Comments & Updates
Diabetes Protection
October 25, 2010 Written by JPDo you ever wonder what life will be like in the year 2050? Futurists are notorious for being way off base in their predictions about what’s to come. Let’s face it, we don’t see many flying cars or teleportation devices around us. Fortunately, medical predictions are generally easier to approximate. This is especially true when such prognostications involve health conditions that are largely shaped by lifestyle factors. A current report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one out of every three adults in the US could develop type 2 diabetes in the next 40 years. That’s an enormous leap from the present level of 1 in 10 adults. The most recent statistics from 2007 assign diabetes the seventh spot on the list of leading causes of death in the U.S. What’s more, roughly $174 billion health care dollars were spent managing the disease and its complications. My Healthy Monday tip of the week is to do all you can to not become a part of the above statistics. (1,2)
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Tags: Meditation, Nuts, Olive Oil
Posted in Diabetes, Exercise, Nutrition | 65 Comments & Updates
Botox Migraines
October 22, 2010 Written by JPA news item that received a great deal of attention this past week was the FDA’s decision to approve Botox for the treatment of chronic migraines. This was welcome news for the estimated 12% of the US population who live with this debilitating form of headache pain. But as with all medications, symptomatic relief often comes at a price. The treatment itself requires 31 injections directed at seven specific points in the head and neck. In addition, a number of adverse reactions have been reported in relation to onabotulinumtoxin A. Documented side effects include the possibility of blurred vision, breathing problems, difficulty swallowing, muscle spasms or weakness and neck pain. A recent interview with the actress Dana Delany in Prevention magazine chronicles her own negative experience with cosmetic Botox which resulted in a “huge hematoma” and subsequent muscle and nerve damage in the eye region. (1,2)
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Tags: Acupuncture, Biofeedback, Ginkgo Biloba
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Mental Health, Nutritional Supplements | 14 Comments & Updates
Resistance Training, Sitting Danger and Tea Types
October 21, 2010 Written by JPThe most exciting aspect of skimming through Twitter posts or tweets is that you never know what or who you’re going find. The one thing you can be sure of is that the more time you spend looking, the more interesting content and people you’ll stumble upon. Some of the characters you’ll likely end up following may be household names, while others are hardly recognizable if you normally get your news via the mainstream or regional press. Today’s edition of Twitter Thursday will feature examples of both camps.
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Tags: Diabetes, Green Tea, Sitting
Posted in Exercise, Food and Drink, Heart Health | 9 Comments & Updates
Breastfeeding, Liver Health and Tinnitus News
October 20, 2010 Written by JPDo you ever find yourself in a situation where you have too much to do in the time you have available? These days, that’s where I am. One way that I deal with such situations is to set up parameters for myself. I try to do it in a constructive manner which deflects the stress that often accompanies a typical time crunch. Instead of feeling as if I don’t have enough hours in the day, I think to myself: How can I do something different with the limited time I do have? What I usually come up with is a challenge. My challenge for today is to present three health promoting news items that are no longer than three sentences in length each – a sort of rapid fire version of my typical daily column.
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Tags: Breast Feeding, Liver, Pycnogenol
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Children's Health, Detoxification | 19 Comments & Updates
Coconut Flax Muffin Recipe
October 19, 2010 Written by JPChronic constipation is estimated to affect approximately 1 in 6 adults living in the US. It’s even more prevalent in senior citizens. Dehydration, inadequate nutrition, lack of physical activity and medication side-effects all contribute to the problem. Many imperfect solutions abound including fiber supplements, laxatives and stool softeners. But in my opinion that’s putting the horse before the cart. The first thing that should be addressed in instances of recurrent constipation is diet. However, it might surprise you to know that just adding whole grains to your diet won’t solve much. Grains of any stripe frequently cause adverse digestive and systemic reactions. In my opinion, a better option is to incorporate gentler sources of dietary fiber and healthy fats into your daily routine. (1,2,3)
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Tags: Coconut, Fiber, Flax
Posted in Food and Drink, Nutrition, Recipes | 5 Comments & Updates
Static Stretching News
October 18, 2010 Written by JPMany of us are familiar with static stretching from our elementary, middle school and high school years. In my own experience, I can vividly recall starting off each physical eduction (P.E.) period engaging in a series of stretches that we’d have to hold in place for about 30 seconds or so. The idea behind this ritual was that the stretching and holding helped to lengthen and warm-up the isolated muscles being targeted. The expected result was an improvement in physical performance and a reduction in the risk of injury. However, a series of recent scientific studies did not bear out these expectations. That’s why my Healthy Monday tip of the week is re-evaluate how you stretch and warm up before your work-out.
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Tags: Gymnastics, Running, Soccer
Posted in Bone and Joint Health, Exercise | 7 Comments & Updates
Humor Therapy
October 15, 2010 Written by JPEvery so often I’ll encounter a client who isn’t open to the possibility of changing his diet and/or incorporating nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes into his daily routine. At first thought you might wonder “What’s left to recommend?”. I like to treat situations such as this as a puzzle. Certain pieces clearly don’t fit. But if someone comes to me asking for help, I have to assume they’re at least willing to consider my advice. He might even adopt my suggestions, if I respect his wishes and find the right fit for him (or her). Laughter therapy is a treatment modality that frequently falls into this category.
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Tags: Depression, Eczema, Laughter
Posted in Diabetes, Heart Health, Mental Health | 14 Comments & Updates
Arthritis, Gossip and Vitamin D News
October 14, 2010 Written by JPLife expectancy is slowly but surely rising in the US and many industrialized countries. This is a welcome trend that we all hope will continue. But with advancing age, so too comes an elevated risk of degenerative and progressive health conditions including arthritis, heart disease, osteoporosis and more. So while scientists strive to find new ways of keeping us here longer, we must do our part to figure out how to improve the quality of this additional time.
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Tags: Arthritis, B Vitamins, Vitamin D
Posted in Bone and Joint Health, Mental Health | 2 Comments & Updates
Echinacea Flu Question
October 13, 2010 Written by JPWhen cold and flu season arrives each year, so do questions pertaining to natural means of defending against it. Just the other day I was asked about using echinacea to fend off influenza and/or help speed its departure. Thankfully, each year there’s additional research to factor in when coming up with an answer.
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Tags: Echinacea, Flu, Immune
Posted in Alternative Therapies, General Health, Nutritional Supplements | 10 Comments & Updates