Archive for August, 2012
Better Nursing Homes
August 28, 2012 Written by JPImproving the quality of care that seniors receive in nursing homes is a passion of mine. In my experience, I’ve found that the most practical way of accomplishing this goal is by forming a strategic partnership between the nursing home staff, residents (and their families) and treating physicians. Evidence-based solutions form the common link between each of the three integral parts of the aforementioned team.
Tags: aging, Massage, Vitamin D
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements | 6 Comments & Updates
Natural Medicine for Cats
August 23, 2012 Written by JPNatural medicine isn’t the exclusive domain of two legged creatures. Cats, dogs, horses and virtually every other domesticated animal can likewise be assisted by the judicious application of holistic principles. What’s more, over the past few decades, researchers in the field of veterinary care have been devoting more and more money and time to this very topic. In particular, an emphasis has been placed on evaluating the role of dietary components in relation to inflammatory conditions that frequently affect older felines.
Tags: Allergies, Arthritis, Fish Oil
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Food and Drink, Nutritional Supplements | 3 Comments & Updates
White Kidney Bean Extract
August 20, 2012 Written by JPWhat if you really could have your cake and eat it too? I’m not asking you to consider a profound philosophical concept, but rather posing the question quite literally. The dream of many dieters is to one day be able to eat high carbohydrate foods without familiar consequences such as high blood sugar, an unhealthful lipid panel and weight gain. Until recently, this was universally accepted as “pie in the sky”. However, nutritional scientists have uncovered certain food based extracts that may, in fact, offer hope in this arena.
Tags: Low Carb, Sugar, Triglycerides
Posted in Diabetes, Diet and Weight Loss, Nutritional Supplements | 10 Comments & Updates
Mineral Water Question
August 17, 2012 Written by JPI was recently contacted by a young lady whose mother has osteoporosis. I was told that she’s unable to have dairy and many calcium-fortified foods such as orange juice and soy products. In addition, she has a difficult time swallowing pills. On the other hand, she very much enjoys mineral water. Her question to me was, “Can I drink mineral water instead of taking a calcium supplement?”.
Tags: Calcium, Osteoporosis, Water
Posted in Bone and Joint Health, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 10 Comments & Updates
Orange Oil Relaxation
August 13, 2012 Written by JPToday I’d like to tell a tale of two oranges. Citrus sinensis, the more popular of the two, is known as “sweet orange”. The lesser known Citrus aurantium is referred to as bergamot or “bitter orange”. Although bitterness and sweetness are typically thought of as polar opposites, both of these citrus fruits have found common ground in the field of natural medicine. Over the past several years, C. aurantium and C. sinensis have been analyzed as potentially beneficial aromatherapeutic agents. In particular, scientists are investigating whether the inhalation of bitter and sweet orange oil aroma may curb anxious feelings.
Tags: Anxiety, Aromatherapy, Surgery
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Dental Health, Mental Health | 5 Comments & Updates
Probiotics for Travelers
August 10, 2012 Written by JPThe last thing you want to contend with while on a business trip or vacation is TD or traveler’s diarrhea. And, while many people assume TD only affects those visiting exotic or remote locales, I can assure you this isn’t always the case. In fact, I was quite surprised to find that my digestive system was in a bad way for about a week following a recent trip to New York. There, we stayed at a pretty high end hotel and ate mostly at top-notch restaurants. Nevertheless, some troublemaking bacteria, protozoa or virus temporarily camped out in my body and made me quite miserable in the process.
Tags: Antibiotics, Probiotics, Thyme
Posted in Alternative Therapies, General Health, Nutritional Supplements | 8 Comments & Updates
Sweet Potatoes for Diabetes?
August 8, 2012 Written by JPAre sweet potatoes really healthier than regular, “white” potatoes? In a word: yes. For starters, the most obvious difference between the two relatives is the vibrant orange color of the so-called “sweet” variety. Carotenoids, much like those found in carrots, are naturally occurring pigments which impart this easily identifiable characteristic of sweet potatoes. Apart from their well established antioxidant properties, select carotenoids, such as beta carotene are used by the body in the manufacture of Vitamin A, an essential nutrient. But, that’s not all that sets sweet potatoes apart from paler potatoes. Sweet potatoes are also higher in fiber and Vitamin C, and equivalent in most other nutrients including potassium. However, before you feel too good about ordering a side of sweet potato fries, you should also be aware that they’re not all they’re cracked up to be – especially for diabetics.
Tags: Carotenoids, Fructose, Potato
Posted in Diabetes, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 6 Comments & Updates
Natural Energy Boosters
August 3, 2012 Written by JPOne of the top five questions I’m asked has to do with natural, non-stimulating ways to increase energy. Most people are looking for fatigue fighters that do not contain caffeine (coffee) or related stimulants such as theobromine (cocoa). My first response is to establish whether there was a recent medical exam to rule out potential causes of low energy. Some serious health conditions such as heart, kidney and liver disease can result in fatigue. In addition, disorders involving red blood cells (anemia) and hyper or hypothyroidism may also be contributing factors.
Tags: Fatigue, Iron, Magnesium
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Nutritional Supplements, Women's Health | 18 Comments & Updates
Holistic Headlines August 2012
August 1, 2012 Written by JPWhen I consider the concept of holistic health care, a hierarchy comes to mind. If you imagine it as a ranking system based on importance, here’s what it would look like: diet, regular exercise/physical activity, mind-body techniques or stress management practices and the judicious use of dietary supplements. The food we eat, the movements we make and supplements we take to “fill in the gaps” present a scenario much like taking care of a valuable piece of machinery. How you care for your car is a good analogy. Without driving it from time to time, gas and the addition of various fluids, sooner or later it will stop working in peak form. However, unlike machines, the human existence is complicated by the influence of emotions and the stress response.
Tags: Chia Seeds, Low Carb, Probiotics
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Diet and Weight Loss, Exercise | No Comments;