Archive for May, 2012

Bone Density Success

May 30, 2012 Written by JP

Recently, a client of mine experienced a very positive response to a natural regimen I recommended for improving skeletal health. Today’s column highlights the basic principles my client used to turn the tide from losing bone to gaining it. I can’t promise that others will find the same results. However, I hope that this real life example will encourage everyone concerned about osteoporosis to examine how they’re approaching it from a dietary, lifestyle and supplemental standpoint.

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Posted in Bone and Joint Health, Exercise, Nutritional Supplements | 8 Comments & Updates

Clay Masks for Acne and Oily Skin

May 25, 2012 Written by JP

Throughout history, adolescents and adults with acne and oily skin have utilized clay masks as a means of improving appearance. This technique may not be technologically advanced, but you’ll still find it featured in the most cutting-edge skin care lines and offered at clinics and spas in the ritziest neighborhoods. Still, historical practices and modern popularity don’t always guarantee a strong rationale for using a given therapy. Fortunately, in recent years, scientists have begun to examine whether therapeutic clay truly deserves a place in 21st century dermatology.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Detoxification, Women's Health | 10 Comments & Updates

Berberine for Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome

May 23, 2012 Written by JP

Berberine is a naturally occurring plant alkaloid found in a number of medicinal herbs including barberry, goldenseal and oregon grape root. In China, a significant amount of money and time has been applied to investigating the potential of this phytochemical in managing a host of conditions and diseases. Diabetes and heart disease top the list of health concerns presently being evaluated. The findings of a current batch of studies may very well catapult berberine supplements into the bestseller category in China, the United States and beyond. Whether or not this turns out to be a positive development remains to be seen.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Diabetes, Nutritional Supplements | 11 Comments & Updates

Microwave Danger?

May 21, 2012 Written by JP

The Internet has opened up a world of scientific information previously inaccessible to most people. I frequently pour through dozens upon dozens of medical journals that I couldn’t possibly subscribe to, and would otherwise have to access through an academic library. Quite simply, the Internet makes the consulting and written work I do much, much easier and efficient. However, the vast stores of information currently available on the ‘net’ isn’t always reputable. The combination of easy, free access and sometimes sensational information is often the basis for the modern myths that are widely spread today. One of the more popular urban tales has to do with the implications of cooking using a microwave oven.

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Posted in Food and Drink, General Health, Nutrition | 6 Comments & Updates

High Fructose Corn Syrup

May 18, 2012 Written by JP

New research from UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine reveals that daily consumption of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) impairs learning and memory in rats. This finding has lead to a slew of headlines this past week with titles such as, “Sugar Makes You Stupid”. If accurate, this may come as a surprise to anyone who’s encountered one or more of the television commercials financed by the Corn Refiner’s Association. In the slickly produced ads, the prevailing sentiment is that HFCS affects the body in the same way as any other sugar source. In fact, there’s currently a push to rename HFCS to “corn sugar”.

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Posted in Diabetes, Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink | 4 Comments & Updates

Algae News You Can Use

May 16, 2012 Written by JP

The notion of sprinkling algae into a protein shake or spreading it on toast probably seems foreign or just plain bizarre to most people. But, fortunately, many fresh and sea water dwellers have no problem using algae as an essential food source. And, in a roundabout way, humans end up deriving some of the benefits of algae by consuming the fish that feast on it.

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Posted in Bone and Joint Health, Heart Health, Nutritional Supplements | 9 Comments & Updates

Matcha Tea

May 14, 2012 Written by JP

It’s frothy. It’s green. It’s a type of tea, but decidedly different looking and tasting than most brews. It’s matcha! Whether you’ve tried it or not, you’ve probably seen matcha-based drinks being sold in coffee shops and health food stores from Los Angeles to Tokyo. The claim is that matcha is essentially an elevated form of green tea. But, is this assertion backed up by anything more than historical accounts and slick advertisements?

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Posted in Detoxification, Diabetes, Food and Drink | 7 Comments & Updates

Shirodhara at The Hale Clinic

May 11, 2012 Written by JP

During my last trip to London, I had the pleasure of visiting The Hale Clinic – a 25 year old institution that offers a wide assortment of alternative and complementary therapies and resources. The primary objective of this world renowned center of healing is to integrate holistic principles into the conventional medical paradigm. In addition to providing access to holistic practitioners, Hale also has a natural pharmacy and reading room on premises.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Mental Health, Women's Health | 5 Comments & Updates

Anti-Aging Travel Tips

May 9, 2012 Written by JP

If you’re a frequent traveler, you know how challenging it can be to remain on a healthy diet. Often times you don’t have control over what time you eat, where you eat or your dining companions. Changes in time zones, exposure to recirculated air on planes and the general stress of being in unfamiliar circumstances and locations add to the pressure many business travelers experience. In short, travel can contribute to the aging process and lower your defenses, unless you prepare a game plan ahead of time that will help you cope with the uncertainty of life on the road.

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Posted in Diabetes, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 3 Comments & Updates

A New Prebiotic Ingredient

May 7, 2012 Written by JP

There’s an old adage that says to avoid foods that contain ingredients you can’t easily pronounce. The purest interpretation might lead one to steer clear of processed foods altogether. I’m fully supportive of this philosophy provided that it works for you. However, in my experience, most people eat at least some pre-packaged or refined foods. And, much to the chagrin of purists, sometimes hard to pronounce ingredients are actually quite good for you.

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Posted in Diabetes, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 4 Comments & Updates

Sea Buckthorn for Healthy Skin

May 4, 2012 Written by JP

A few weeks ago, I was listening to a podcast about natural skin care. One of the callers inquired about products featuring sea buckthorn. “What is sea buckthorn anyway? Is it a seaweed? How is it different than krill oil?”. Whenever I hear this sort of exchange, whether in a health food store or on TV, I have an impulse to interject and answer the question myself. I guess it’s an impulse still with me from my days working as a health food store consultant. I always loved answering questions posed by customers and employees alike. That enthusiasm and passion to share information about natural medicine remains within me. These days, I just have a different venue for sharing what I know.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Nutritional Supplements, Women's Health | 6 Comments & Updates

New Heart Disease Test

May 2, 2012 Written by JP

Cholesterol, C-reactive protein, homocysteine and triglycerides are probably the best known biomarkers used to assess cardiovascular risk. Uric acid typically isn’t included in this group of heart disease indicators. In the coming years, this may very well change. However, you and your doctors don’t have to wait for an official stamp of approval from the American Heart Association or any other organization in order to benefit from what’s currently known about uric acid.

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Posted in Food and Drink, Heart Health, Nutrition | 11 Comments & Updates