Archive for January, 2012
Healthier Looking Skin
January 30, 2012 Written by JPMy philosophy about aging mirrors my outlook about well being in general. Simply put, I think that any sign of aging that bothers you should be addressed – if there’s a pragmatic and relatively safe way to do so. Changes in skin appearance is one of the most obvious manifestations of advancing age. Fortunately, there are a number of dietary supplements that address thinning skin, uneven pigmentation and wrinkling. And, perhaps best of all, these nutritional aids also provide a host of “side benefits” for other aging organs and systems.
Tags: Acne, aging, Skin Care
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Nutritional Supplements, Women's Health | 24 Comments & Updates
Walnuts and Prostate Cancer
January 27, 2012 Written by JPThe good news about life expectancy is that both men and women are living longer than ever before. The bad news about longevity is that it is often accompanied by certain diseases. When it comes to older men, prostate cancer tops the list. Fortunately, there is a growing body of evidence that certain dietary and lifestyle choices can minimize the risk of prostatic malignancies.
Tags: Nuts, Prostate, Vitamin E
Posted in Food and Drink, Men's Health, Nutrition | 14 Comments & Updates
Heavy Metal Toxicity
January 25, 2012 Written by JPHeavy metal exposure has become an increasingly relevant topic in the modern age. The air we breathe, the food we eat and even the homes we live in are potential contributors to unsafe levels of toxic minerals including cadmium, lead and mercury. Although this is undeniably true, there’s no sense worrying ourselves sick about it. A far more constructive approach is to look for ways to minimize heavy metal exposure, such as the use of air purifiers, safer building materials and water filtration. And, while we’re at it, perhaps we should add a little more garlic to our diets for good measure.
Tags: Garlic, Kidney Health, Liver
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Diabetes, Heart Health | 14 Comments & Updates
Vitamin C and Diabetes
January 23, 2012 Written by JPThe pressing issue of type 2 diabetes recently took on an unexpected spokesman: Paula Deen. Ever since the highly publicized announcement of her illness and related drug endorsement, a hailstorm of negative and positive reactions has made its way to all forms of media. Instead of adding yet another voice to the chorus, I’ve decided to share some breaking information for Ms. Deen and other type-2 diabetics that may improve their health care prospects.
Tags: Insulin, Metformin, Vitamin C
Posted in Diabetes, Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements | 10 Comments & Updates
Echinacea Revelations
January 20, 2012 Written by JPEchinacea is widely known as an immune boosting herb that is used at the onset of cold and influenza infections. But, if you’re only using it when your nose starts to “run” and throat gets scratchy, you’re missing out. According to a new publication in the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, in addition to Echinacea’s immune-modulating activity, this traditional Native American treasure also possesses antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which may address conditions ranging from fungal and parasitic infections to poor wound healing.
Tags: Echinacea, Immune, Skin Care
Posted in Alternative Therapies, General Health, Nutritional Supplements | 3 Comments & Updates
Argan Oil
January 18, 2012 Written by JPIf you’re a consumer of natural hair and skin care products, you’ve probably noticed more and more creams, lotions and shampoos containing argan oil. And, while this may be a relatively new development in your part of the world, it’s actually old news in select Mediterranean countries such as Algeria and Morocco. There, argan oil has been used therapeutically for more than eight centuries. But, what does modern science have to say about this economically and historically important beauty aid and nutritional oil?
Tags: Argan Oil, CoQ10, Skin Care
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Food and Drink, Heart Health | 4 Comments & Updates
Vitamin D Heart Controversy
January 13, 2012 Written by JPA recent publication in the American Journal of Cardiology called into question the safety of high dose Vitamin D supplementation. In the paper, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine investigated a proposed link between Vitamin D levels and an inflammatory protein (CRP) which is considered a risk factor for heart disease. Their conclusions report that levels of D below 21 ng/ml are associated with higher CRP or C-reactive protein. This determination came as no surprise. However, participants with Vitamin D concentrations significantly above 21 ng/ml also demonstrated elevated or undesirable CRP readings. The lead author of the piece, Dr. Muhammad Amer, stated that “Clearly vitamin D is important for your heart health, especially if you have low blood levels of vitamin D. It reduces cardiovascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, and may reduce mortality, but it appears that at some point it can be too much of a good thing.”
Tags: Diabetes, Inflammation, Vitamin D
Posted in Bone and Joint Health, Heart Health, Nutritional Supplements | 9 Comments & Updates
Eat More Organic Strawberries
January 11, 2012 Written by JPAvoid sugary foods. Cut back on carbohydrates. Skip dessert. If you’re at all interested in weight management and well being, you’ve probably been advised to follow one or all of these adages. But, how you apply this advice is as important as whether you follow it at all. For instance, if you avoid wholesome fruits such as strawberries you’re missing out on important health benefits that are frequently overlooked.
Tags: Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Organic
Posted in Food and Drink, Heart Health, Nutrition | 10 Comments & Updates
Relax Naturally
January 9, 2012 Written by JPIt’s ironic, but the concept of holistic wellness isn’t always popular with some of my clients. Not everyone is interested in learning the root causes of their conditions or “dis-eases” and/or taking the necessary steps to address them through meaningful lifestyle changes. Recently, a client wanted to know what simple steps he could take to help him through a particularly stressful time at work. Options such as aerobic exercise, dietary adjustments and yoga were summarily dismissed by this “Type-A” personality due to time constraints. What to do?
Tags: Anxiety, Insomnia, Meditation
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Mental Health, Nutritional Supplements | 16 Comments & Updates
Protein Matters
January 6, 2012 Written by JPBeef is often included on a short list of foods which are purported to increase the risk of various diseases. Among the health concerns expressed about beef is a supposed correlation between red meat consumption and cardiovascular disease. However, a just published study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition begs to differ with this prevalent theory. In the trial, a group of participants with high cholesterol were fed one of four diets for 5 weeks. Those receiving a diet known as BOLD+, comprised of 28% fat, 27% protein and includes 153 grams of beef/day, demonstrated greater improvements in several cardiovascular risk factors than subjects receiving lower beef and protein diets. According to the authors of the study, these findings “provide support for including lean beef in a heart-healthy dietary pattern”.
Tags: Heart Health, PCOS, Stroke
Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 8 Comments & Updates
Arsenic Warning
January 4, 2012 Written by JPIncreased risk of birth defects, cancer and cardiovascular disease are not typically associated with the consumption of “wholesome” foods such as fruit juice and rice. After all, these menu options are 100% natural and frequently recommended as part of a healthy, low fat meal plan for adults and children alike. However, even if you set aside the high glycemic (ie blood sugar elevating) nature of these foods, you should still consider the possibility that they may be contaminated with the heavy metal arsenic.
Tags: Cancer, Heart Health, Juice, Rice
Posted in Detoxification, Food and Drink, Women's Health | 10 Comments & Updates