2012 TOP READS ARE POSTED!

Here are some of the most not to miss highlights for this month:
1. A continued discussion from last week's blog on breast health including an abstract about the sensitivity of mammograms in breast cancer detection and a discussion on calcium supplements and heart disease links!
2. The safety of Naturopathic and Chiropractic Modalities (discussed by Dr. Mercola).
3. Potent Nutrigenomic effects of Milk Thistle on Cancer, Vitamin C on Asthma, and Zinc for Bone health
4. Various Drug updates such as Dr. Northrup's blog on HRT and safety studies on MS medications.

Calcium- More Insight on Why It May Not Be a Woman's Best Bone Friend!

By Dr. Sarah LoBisco, ND

In a society obsessed with youth and perfection, mid-life women are led to believe that as they age, they are doomed to hormonal mishap resulting in weak, estrogen deficient, brittle, bones. Conventional guidance teaches the belief that bisphosphonate drugs and a calcium supplement will keep bones healthy and strong. However, the one pill panacea is not how the body works. Below, Dr. Mercola discusses how this one sided approach have led women astray, and he warns us to not be a blind lemming in popping so-called panaceas, consider these facts:

• Taking elemental calcium supplements (with or without vitamin D) in amounts of 500 mg or more may actually increase your relative risk of heart attack by up to 27 percent, and may even increase your risk of stroke
• Taking the wrong type of calcium and in isolation, without complementary nutrients like magnesium, vitamin D and vitamin K, which help keep your body in balance, can have adverse effects, such as calcium building up in coronary arteries and causing heart attacks
• Osteoporosis, as defined by DXA bone screenings using the T-score, are highly misleading, because they compare your bone density to a 25-year old (and not your age group) as the standard of normality. Bone density and bone strength are two different things, and having highly dense bones may increase your risk of breast cancer as a woman by 300% or more.
• Evidence that supplementing with calcium safely prevents fractures is lacking, but plentiful research suggests calcium deposits are major contributors and even causative factors in many health conditions
• In order for calcium to do your body good, it must be in a biologically appropriate form and balanced out with vitamins D and K and other important trace minerals, as part of a total nutritional plan

There are actually a number of studies indicating that mass market calcium supplements increase your risk for cardiovascular incidents and other problems, while offering little benefit to your bones. Only because something can increase your bone density: eating what amounts to chalk or pulverized bone meal, or worse, chemicals like the drugs Fosamax and Evista, does not mean this will translate into improved health for your bones, or any of your other organ systems.

Indeed, before jumping off the lemming-like cliff of conventional medical wisdom, consider there is a solid body of research indicating that higher bone density may actually increase the risk of malignant breast cancer by 300% or more! Considering that close to 1 in 4 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lives, with breast cancer top on the list, isn't the neurotic fixation on increasing bone density with calcium supplements misplaced, especially when it may increase the overall risk of dying from cancer and, as we will see, cardiovascular disease (the #1 killer), as well?

My words of caution in scientific research:

1.       Causation is not proved with association. The study referenced in the British Medical Journal linking the risk of cardiovascular events to calcium usage only used a small dose of vitamin D (400IU) to a large dose of 1 g of calcium in the comparison groups of placebo and calcium alone. No other balancing nutrients were assessed or accounted for! What did this study prove? That the issue is balance and bio individuality. Studies that don't account for individual needs and blindly give supplements to participants without assessing their dietary needs or other risk factors are not a good means to assess risk and disease associated with their usage.

Evidence based studies on the intake of calcium supplementation is neither positive nor negative, but there is an association with increased calcification and breast cancer risk with excess supplementation.

2.       Bone density scans are only one risk assessment for fracture risk. Furthermore, denser bones or the risk of fractures modulated with calcium supplementation is lacking. The abstract below from the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology sums up some major take home points:

Abstract

Credible evidence that calcium supplements reduce the risk of vertebral, nonvertebral, or hip fractures is lacking. Flaws in study design and execution such as inclusion of calcium-replete individuals, high dropout rates, and poor compliance preclude testing the hypothesis that calcium deficiency increases fracture rates or that calcium supplements reduce them. Intent-to-treat analyses of individual trials have failed to detect antifracture efficacy. Post hoc analyses of subgroups with a low calcium intake and per-protocol analyses of compliers have reported fewer fractures in the supplemented groups. However, this may be the result of confounding by violation of randomization; compliers to placebo have a lower morbidity and mortality than noncompliers. Higher hip fracture rates and cardiac mortality in patients receiving calcium supplements, as reported in some studies, may also be due to factors other than supplementation. Hypothesis testing requires that a cohort be stratified into calcium-deficient and calcium-replete groups, with each person randomized to a supplement or placebo. This design quantifies the risk of fracture attributable to calcium deficiency and any benefit that supplementation confers in the calcium-deficient and calcium-replete groups. To regard a calcium-deficient arm as unethical begs the question. Consensus statements that support the widespread use of calcium are opinion-based; they accept claims of beneficial effects despite flaws in study design, execution, and analysis; and they reject reported adverse effects because of them. Until well designed, well executed, and well analyzed studies demonstrate a net benefit in morbidity, mortality, and cost, recommendations supporting the widespread use of calcium supplementation remain belief-based and not evidence-based. PMID: 20089500

What's a woman to do?

Dr. Brown offers a fracture risk assessment on her website that takes into account a holistic assessment besides bone density. Furthermore, she discusses all the important nutrients needed for bone health, beyond Calcium, and Vitamins D and K. My past blog on this subject provides a summary of additional tools.

The bottom line is that everyone is different, with different needs, and that's why blindly taking supplements, like drugs, can cause an imbalance in the system. I suggest speaking with a well versed practitioner or nutritionist who can assess your individualized needs and perhaps provide a functional analysis of your own bone turnover and nutrient assimilation. Also, let's keep in mind that the safety profile of supplements and nutrients doesn't even scrap the effects of properly prescribed medicines.

References:

Dr. Mercola . Breast Cancer and Heart Attacks: A Deadly Side Effect of Calcium Supplements? January 30 2012. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/30/calcium-supplement-on-heart-attack.aspx?e_cid=20120130_DNL_art_1

Seeman E. Evidence that calcium supplements reduce fracture risk is lacking (abstract). Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010 Jan;5 Suppl 1:S3-11.

J M Zmuda, J A Cauley, B M Ljung, D C Bauer, S R Cummings, L H Kuller. Bone mass and breast cancer risk in older women: differences by stage at diagnosis (abstract). J Natl Cancer Inst. 2001 Jun 20;93(12):930-6. PMID: 11416114

Bolland MJ, Grey A, Avenell A, Gamble GD, Reid IR. Calcium supplements with or without vitamin D and risk of cardiovascular events: reanalysis of the Women's Health Initiative limited access dataset and meta-analysis (abstract). BMJ. 2011 Apr 19;342:d2040. doi: 10.1136/bmj.d2040.

Brown, S. Are Your Bones Healthy & 20 Key Bone Building Nutrients. Accessed January 31, 2012. http://www.betterbones.com/bonenutrition/20keybonenutrients.aspx

Happenings:

Upcoming Essential Oils Workshops with Terry Quigley at the Healing Garden. Contact Terry at 518-831-9469

Next Health Forum is February 9^th at 6:15pm. Learn more.

 Radio For Your Body-Mind-Soul: Dealing with Addiction

Do you or your loved one suffer from an addiction?

Addiction is one of the top health care concerns for the U.S. and Europe. In the U.S. alone, over 7 billion is spent on alcohol and substance abuse treatment. Join Gabrielle and her guest, addiction specialist Elisa Hallerman, for a powerful discussion on how to deal with addiction issues.  

 Book of the week: The Calcium Lie by Robert Thomson, MD

This book discusses that bone is comprised of at least a dozen minerals, not just calcium. Supplementing with excessive calcium off balances other minerals and important electrolytes in various tissues, including bone tissue. In fact calcium supplementation can worsen bone density and actually increase your risk for osteoporosis. Dr. Thompson discusses overconsumption of calcium can also increase your risk of heart disease, kidney stones, gallstones, osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Read more on my blog.

·          Listen to my colleagues and other experts as they discuss solutions to menopausal issues on a show dedicated just for women in mid-life! Here is a link from my interview on 360menopause Radio Show on Panic Attacks and Menopause and a list of archived shows.

·          Check out my latest answer on Dr. Oz's Sharecare:

·          View the Updated Link Resources on my homepage

Be sure to check out my informational blog on breast cancer:

One of the scariest diagnoses for a woman to receive is breast cancer. As an integrative practitioner, the labels that are placed on people serve as a guidepost which explains how their body has been led off the track of optimal health. With the emergence of nutrigenomics, the healing power of food, functional diagnosis, and the Naturopathic philosophy of the body's own innate wisdom, there exists powerful, holistic tools that can provide the body with support when pathology seems to be winning. This is even true with cancer.

Dr. Mercola recently interviewed Dr. Horner, a board certified plastic surgeon regarding the topic of breast cancer. Dr. Horner discussed how her journey of treating breast cancer shifted from conventional surgery to a more integrative focus. As Dr. Horner found herself operating on younger and younger women, she made the realization that environmental risk factors had to be at play. Below I highlight some key points she discussed in this 90 minute interview:

Read more.

1.       Naturopathic Philosophy Highlight... Fun Facts:

a.       The most important determination of health and Longevity Revealed!

b.      Healthy Aging Foods

c.       The Good and Bad of Wine and Breast Cancer

d.      Your Diet woos....Gluten Free, Dairy Free, & Sugar Free. Yet, you still have symptoms!!?? Watch this Video.

2.       Happenings:

Upcoming Essential Oils Workshops with Terry Quigley at the Healing Garden. Learn tidbits such as what is mentioned below:

The Miracle of Onycha
by David Stewart, PhD, DNM

Onycha is an oil mentioned in the Bible, Exodus 30:34, as an ingredient in the Holy Incense to be diffused in temples of worship. Onycha oil (Styrax benzoin) is also a powerful antiseptic and facilitator of rapid healing. It goes by several common names including Friar's Balm and Javanese Frankincense. It is extracted from the resin of a tree that grows in the Far East, specifically in Indonesia.

For more than 200 years, hospitals have used an alcohol solution of this oil as their primary antiseptic. Dissolved in ethyl alcohol, it is called Benzoin or Tincture of Benzoin. It is the smell of this tincture that used to give hospitals their peculiar "hospital smell."

Following World War II, hospitals started to employ other antiseptics derived from petroleum that were less expensive. They are now discovering that bacteria can become resistant to these synthetic antiseptics, but do not become resistant to Tincture of Benzoin. Hence, many of today's hospitals are returning to the natural antiseptic of Benzoin realizing it is more effective and does not contribute toward the creation of resistant strains of virulent pathogens.

Resistant strains of bacteria are a major and growing problem in hospitals today resulting in thousands of deaths every year. Even visitors to hospitals can pick up these pathogens, which can be fatal. Even the most powerful antibiotics, such as vancomycin and methycillin, do not kill these germs. The answer is to be found in natural products such as essential oils.

Contact Terry at 518-831-9469 for more information.

Next Health Forum is February 9^th at 6:15pm. Learn more.

PATIENTS: Please review follow ups and cancellation policy on my website

Time for a symptom re-evaluation?

All patients can now download the symptom survey done at the original visit online. If you haven't re-evaluated your symptoms in a year or more, it may be a good time to fill out the form again and bring it in to your next visit. (Please add the numbers in every section when you return it)

3.       Radio For Your Body-Mind-Soul: Resonance with Joyce Whiteley Hawkes, Ph.D.

Joyce Hawkes, Ph.D., joins Diane Ray to discuss her new book Resonance: Nine Practices for Harmonious Health and Vitality. Dr. Hawkes explores the uncharted interfaces between science and spirit in relation to health and well-being. Discover how to enhance your health at the cell level, your spirit at the soul level, and your consciousness at the mystery level.

4.       Book of the week:

Waking the Warrior Goddess: Dr. Christine Horner's Program to Protect Against and Fight Breast Cancer

"[W]e have the answers to the breast cancer epidemic," she says. "We truly do- and it's very simple. If you have a terrible diet and lifestyle and you do just one thing, you cut your risk in half. You do more than one thing and they will multiply up together. They don't add up together. They multiply up together, so it becomes extremely easy to dramatically lower your risk of breast cancer."

5.       Don't miss out:

The Rest of Fun Facts on my Saratoga.com blog.

Listen to my colleagues and other experts as they discuss solutions to menopausal issues on a show dedicated just for women in mid-life! Here is a link from my interview on 360menopause Radio Show on Panic Attacks and Menopause and a list of archived shows.

Check out my latest answer on Dr. Oz's Sharecare: Learn more about holistic treatments for Alzheimer's, HPV vaccine side effects, and more.

View the Updated Link Resources on my homepage

The Community Cure: Your Relationships, Your Health

In a previous blog, I presented some studies that demonstrated the important link between the quality of relationships and health. Specifically, even when controlling for all other physical contributors such as cholesterol levels, inflammatory markers, diet, and exercise, social connections were the biggest predictor of overall mortality and cancer risks:

According to Dr. Dean Ornish's book, Love and Survival: The Scientific Basis for the Healing Power of Intimacy:

·         In 1985, Dr. Berkman at California Department of Health Services studied 7,000 men and women living in Almedia County.

·         Those who lacked social and community ties were 1.9 to 3.1 times more likely to die during nine year follow-up period independent of age, gender, race, SES, smoking, alcoholic beverage consumption, overeating, physical activity and utilization of preventative health services.

·         Those who lived longest had close social ties and healthful behaviors

·         In additional 8 year follow-up: those who were socially isolated or who just felt isolated had higher risk of dying of cancer

Dr. Hyman recently revisited the importance of assessing the whole person amongst society, vs. just looking at an organ system or only physical factors:

Who you spend time with and the quality of your relationships not only says a lot about who you are as a person, but it has a tremendous impact on your health. A now classic study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that--even after controlling for risk factors like smoking, poverty low socio-economic status, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise and obesity--lack of social relationships, personality dispositions, and acute stress, including the stress of racism were better predictors for increased risk of death and disease. [i]

Other studies have shown that you are more likely to be overweight (and suffer from all of the resulting health consequences) if your friends are overweight than if your parents are overweight. And we are now learning that when you join together in community to lose weight and heal you are far more likely to succeed. The Look Ahead Study, a 13-year study of 5,000 people funded by the National Institutes of Health, compared an intensive group lifestyle change program for diabetes prevention to regular medical care with individual visits to the diabetic educator, nutritionist, and doctor. To date, the group lifestyle program has proven remarkably more effective in lowering weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure than conventional medical care.[ii] Once this study is completed, it will completely change our way of thinking about how to treat disease.

We get better together. The community is the cure.

Source: Dr. Hyman.  Relationships, Menopause, & Health. January 14, 2012. http://drhyman.com/relationships-menopause-and-health-8155/?utm_source=Publicaster&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=drhyman%20newsletter%20issue%20#50&utm_content=Get+the+story

What to Eat for Longevity?

I've discussed ad nauseam how food is medicine, but as mentioned above, so are relationships. Why not combine both!

One way our culture forms bonds is through meals. Meeting for a business dinner is not just about food, but about the conversation and experience of slowing down to something that has intrinsic value of comfort and pleasure. On one level, a partner may hope sharing in such an intimate event will form loyal partnerships that lead to more connections. On another level, the food itself can provide an enjoyable distraction for the bored dinner. 

Food also brings people together for emotional bonding, togetherness, and tradition. Family gatherings are sprinkled with memories of what was served for generations on special days.

Therefore, why not add in some favorable foods to enhance the healing, health, and longevity of your relationships. Click here to view a slide show that reviews the power of food. Here are some highlights that go with the theme of cancer prevention from this week's blog:

People living near the Mediterranean regularly incorporate olive oil, fish, vegetables, whole grains, and an occasional glass of red wine into their meals. Instead of salt, they rely on spices and herbs to flavor their foods. This "Mediterranean diet" can be beneficial to heart health, can reduce the risks of mild memory impairment, and may ward off certain cancers.

Veggies contain fiber, phytonutrients, and loads of vitamins and minerals that may protect you from chronic diseases. Dark, leafy greens contain vitamin K for strong bones. Sweet potatoes and carrots contain vitamin A, which helps keep eyes and skin healthy and protects against infection. In one study, men eating 10 or more servings of tomato products per week saw a 35% decrease in their risk of prostate cancer.

Source: WebMD. Slideshow: Eating for a Long Life. Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on October 13, 2011. http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/nutrition-world-2/slideshow-nutrition-longevity?ecd=wnl_dia_012412

Wine & Breast Cancer

What goes better with a little laughter and food, than a good glass of wine? How many times have we touted the excuse of drinking wine for our heart? Who doesn't love scientific studies that prove our discretions could be our saving grace?

1 in 2.6 deaths in women are lost to heart disease vs. breast cancer which is 1 in 30.  I've discussed above how relationships can mitigate these effects. I've also spoken on foods in the past that support the heart.  My blog this week discussed what to eat for breast health, but what about what to drink?

There are mixed reviews in if alcohol modulates the risks of breast cancer. Craig Wetherby reports the conflicting evidence. I believe the difference is related to SNPs and biotransformation and antioxidant absorption.

Certain grape polyphenols found in red wine - isoflavone phytoestrogens, flavones, and procyanidins - are known to act as "aromatase inhibitors" which means that they prevent the conversion of androgens ("male" hormones) to estrogen. In fact, aromatase-inhibiting agents are used to treat breast cancer, because they raise testosterone levels and lower levels of various forms of estrogen: estradiol, estrone, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG).

The Cedars-Sinai study affirms the idea that red wine exerts aromatase-inhibiting effects ... at least in premenopausal women. As the authors wrote, "These data suggest that red wine is a nutritional AI [aromatase inhibitor] and may explain the observation that red wine does not appear to increase breast cancer risk." (Shufelt C et al. 2012)

 The researchers called their findings encouraging, saying women who occasionally drink alcohol might want to reassess their choices. "If you were to have a glass of wine with dinner, you may want to consider a glass of red," said study co-author Chrisandra Shufelt, M.D. "Switching [from white wine or other alcoholic drinks] may shift your risk." (CSMC 2012) Importantly, the investigators said the change in hormone patterns suggested that red wine may stem the growth of cancer cells, as has been shown in test tube studies. As co-author Glenn D. Braunstein, M.D., said, "There are chemicals in red grape skin and red grape seeds that are not found in white grapes that may decrease breast cancer risk." (CSMC 2012)

Source: Wetherby, C. Red Wine May Reduce a Key Breast Risk. VitalChoice Newsletter. January 16, 2011. http://newsletter.vitalchoice.com/e_article002324837.cfm?x=bkwvG5l,b1h0JlRD

The Lectin-Health Connection

Gluten, dairy, sugar free....still symptoms? Watch this video to find out why you may be reacting to foods you don't normally view as a problem.  What I find in clinical practice is that every diet is an individual endeavor and my clients appreciate the fact that no foods are off limits, but knowing what may produce symptoms and what can heal is empowering! We discover what a perfect diet  for them through their health history, blood work, current diet, digestive health, ethnicity,  cravings, traditions, and more.

Source: Lectin Lock - A Natural Defense Against the Hidden Cause of Food Sensitivity - Chris Meletis ND. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AFKtG_f8FF4

A Perfect Diet??

My latest Blog is posted. Does a Perfect Diet really exist. Find out here.

This Newsletter includes:

1. Naturopathic Philosophy Highlight... Fun Facts:

• How One Doctor Reversed Her MS with her Diet
• A tax on Soda Helps Health
• A New Approach to Heart Disease Treatment-Chelation?

2. Happenings:

• Upcoming Essential Oils Workshops with Terry Quigley at the Healing Garden. Contact Terry at 518-831-9469 to get more information on attending workshops or to learn more about how to use this powerful therapeutic ancient modality to create a non-toxic, safe medicine cabinet for you and your family.
• Trader Joe's is Coming-It's True. Thanks Bruce Roter and the Crew.
• Next Health Forum is February 9^th at 6:15pm. Join me a lovely group of like-minded individuals at the Healing Garden in Rexford, NY in an open forum discussion on the latest in health and wellness. Learn more about this and the upcoming events in 2012.
• PATIENTS: Please review follow ups and cancellation policy on my website
• Time for a symptom re-evaluation?
• All patients can now download the symptom survey done at the original visit online. If you haven't re-evaluated your symptoms in a year or more, it may be a good time to fill out the form again and bring it in to your next visit. (Please add the numbers in every section when you return it)

3. Radio For Your Body-Mind-Soul:

January 18, 2012 Weighing It Out
Join Marcelle to learn the myths, facts, and fiction about maintaining a healthy weight. Today Marcelle talks about the plethora of information which we all see about losing weight and keeping it off! You've heard them, too! Call in today with your questions about the latest fad you've seen.

4. Book of the week: Perfect Health Diet: Four Steps to Renewed Health, Youthful Vitality, and Long Life by Paul Jaminet (Author), Shou-Ching Jaminet

See this weeks blog that highlights 10 key points to Dr. Jaminet's philosophy on human nutrition.

5. Don't miss out:

• The Rest of Fun Facts on my Saratoga.com blog.
• Listen to my colleagues and other experts as they discuss solutions to menopausal issues on a show dedicated just for women in mid-life! Here is a link from my interview on 360menopause Radio Show on Panic Attacks and Menopause and a list of archived shows.
• Check out my latest answer on Dr. Oz's Sharecare:
• View the Updated Link Resources on my homepage

How One Doctor Reversed MS with Her Diet

Dr. Wahls, being diagnosed with MS herself, was driven to find a solution to regain her health. Therefore,  she sought for a common mechanism and solution for a number of diseases that cause brain shrinkage, including not only MS but also Huntington's, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. She found that one common denominator in all of these conditions was a poorly functioning mitochondria. What Dr. Wahls discovered was that three nutrients were essential for proper mitochondrial function:

1. Animal-based omega-3 fat
2. Creatine
3. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), or better yet, the reduced version known as Ubiquinol

Just by adding those three to her diet, her decline began to slow. But it wasn't until she adjusted her diet for optimal mitochondrial-, myelin-, and neurotransmitter function that she began to improve. She also eliminated processed foods, grains, and starches (which includes potatoes and corn), and within a matter of months experienced astounding improvements.

In short, she altered her diet to reflect the Paleo-style diet of the hunter-gatherers of old as follows:

• 3 cups daily (equal to one dinner plate, piled high) of green leaves, such as kale, which are high in vitamins in the B group, A, C, K, and minerals
• 3 cups daily of sulfur-rich vegetables from the cabbage- and onion- families, mushrooms and asparagus
• 3 cups daily of brightly colored vegetables, fruits and/or berries, which are a good source of antioxidants
• Wild fish for animal-based omega-3's
• Grass-fed meat
• Organ meats for vitamins, minerals and CoQ10
• Seaweed for iodine and selenium

Some other Hints:

·         Eliminate pasteurized milk and dairy--This is another critical element. Studies have shown that cow's milk consumption is correlated with MS prevalence (Neuroepidemiology 1992;11:304-12 and Neuroepidemiology 1993;12:15-27). In fact, a specific antibody cross-reactivity between myelin oligodendrocyte (a component of neurological tissue) and the cow's  milk protein butyrophillin was identified in 2004, likely contributing to the immune system of MS patients losing self-tolerance and attacking their own nervous system. 

·         Avoid aspartame and commercial fruit juices. Aspartame rapidly metabolizes to methanol, a potent neurotoxin. Additionally fruits and vegetables are also loaded with methanol but when they are consumed fresh it is bound to pectin and your body does not have the enzymes to break it down. However when fruits and vegetables are processed and put into glass jars or cans the methanol dissociates and can be liberated in high quantities.

Dr. Mercola.  Eat Like a Caveman and Protect Your Brain. January 7, 2011/ http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/07/eat-like-a-caveman-to-protect-your-brain-from-shrinking.aspx?e_cid=20120107_DNL_art_2

Tax on Soda: A Good Thing for Health?

We've taxed cigarettes to deter health consequences, now soda? What are your thoughts? Craig Wetherby explains the viewpoint in a recent blog:

That study on sugar-sweetened beverages - which scientists call SSBs for short - was preceded and followed by several analyses that came to similar conclusions.

Currently, some 33 states have sales taxes on SSBs (average of 5.2%), but the Harvard-led team found that those taxes have been too small to affect consumption.

Columbia study supports tax on soda

A new study from Columbia University adds yet more evidence that a penny-per-ounce tax on "liquid candy" would improve public health, and reduce rates of diabetes, heart disease and obesity substantially.

As the authors wrote, "Sugar-sweetened beverages are cheap to buy, but they cost the U.S. plenty: about $174 billion per year on diabetes treatment costs and $147 billion on other obesity-related health problems."

Columbia epidemiologist Y. Claire Wang, M.D., and her colleagues calculated that a penny-per-ounce tax on SSBs could bring the U.S. these benefits over a 10-year period:

·         Prevent 26,000 premature deaths.

·         Cut sugar consumption by 15 percent.

·         Reduce cases of diabetes by 2.6 percent.

·         Prevent 95,000 adverse heart events and 8,000 strokes.

·         Save $17 billion in medical costs for adults aged 25-plus.

·         Generate approximately $13 billion in annual tax revenues.

Americans consumed up to 13 billion gallons of SSBs over the last 10 years, the authors wrote, making such drinks the largest source of added sugar and excess calories in the U.S. diet.

Source: Wetherby, C. Tax on Sweet Drinks Would Help US Health.  January 12, 2012. http://newsletter.vitalchoice.com/e_article002321503.cfm?x=bkvSFVL,b1h0JlRD

A Controversial Approach to Blocked Arteries-Chelation?

Since the detox module in Arizona, many of you are becoming more and more familiar of the importance of protecting and supporting our body from all that it is up against in the world. I have been offering some simple suggestions on how to do this. A more intense form of removing toxic burden is chelation. Chelation is a form of detoxification that uses agents which bind heavy metals (chelating agents) to assist their removal from the body. This is complex process that must be monitored and  prescribed by a trained physician; furthermore, we learned in training that this should only be performed when the body is strong enough to handle this intense process, as side effects can occur various interventions must be administered to manage them.

Recently, I read a blog from Metametrix explaining another use of chelation therapy, specifically with its affect on clearing calcium deposits from clogged arteries. Dr. Marynowski offered an interesting insight on how medicine's most common use of angioplasty (percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)) as a treatment is often overprescribed and unnecessary, according to an article from Consumer's Report. Dr. Marynowski offers her viewpoint on the use of preventative medicine and safe chelation:

With heart disease remaining at the top of our country's killer list, it absolutely deserves the best and brightest minds working towards a resolution...minds from the worlds of both conventional and integrative medicine. And don't get me wrong, PCI proves to be a remarkable intervention in many emergency situations but prior to reaching the ER, shouldn't we start with the basics, such as:

1.      Preventing heart disease before it starts and focusing our efforts on healthier diets, nutrient repletion, exercise, smoking cessation, and stress management.

2.      Utilizing therapies, including chelation, that often prove to be less expensive and potentially more effective when implemented at the appropriate time.

There is a difference between chelation for cardiac patients and chelation for toxic burden. Heavy metal chelation is obviously a little easier to measure from start to finish, and to determine success. Depending on the toxin(s) at hand, a chelator is selected and a protocol is implemented (daily oral supplementation or periodic IV chelation therapy).  In addition, replacement vitamins and minerals, glutathione, and amino acids help support the liver and other organs during the detox period. From my experience, I've found this to be the safest and most optimal way to chelate. With accepted protocols in place, it can be a pretty remarkable therapy.

This year, as we strive to become more medically open-minded...whether using therapies to protect the brain, the heart, or any organ vulnerable to damage from toxins, it's always good to weigh opinions on both sides of the argument.  

References:

ConsumersReport.org. Too Much Angioplasty. August 2011. http://www.consumerreports.org/health/conditions-and-treatments/heart-health/heart-disease-treatment/angioplasty-procedure.htm

Rachel Marynowski, ND. Chelation therapy - in the hot seat once again­! January 2012. Metametrix Institute Blogs.  http://www.metametrixinstitute.org/post/2012/01/04/Chelation-therapy-%E2%80%93-in-the-hot-seat-once-again.aspx?utm_source=MM-0112&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=0112-enewsletter

Bock, K. Recognizing Neurotoxicity and Immunotoxicity within the Functional Medicine Model. IFM. Detox Advanced Practice Module. Phoenix, AZ. December 9, 2011.

Drisko, J. Review of Underlying Processes in Elimination and Biotransformation. IFM Detox Advanced Practice Module. Phoenix, AZ. December 9, 2011.

Mayfield, R. Key Nutrientional Modulators in Detoxification. IFM Detox Advanced Practice Module. Phoenix, AZ. December 9, 2011.

Drisko, J. Laboratory Assessment in the Patient with an Elevated Toxic Load. Detox Advanced Module. IFM. December 10, 2011. Phoenix, AZ

Yes, that innocuous and popular crimping tool, the eyelash curler, can be dangerous to your lashes.

As a New York State Licensed Aesthetician, I have been applying lash extensions for women in Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa and the surrounding towns for about five years.  As such, I have seen many sets of eyelashes.  One thing has become quite apparent -  women who have used traditional eyelash curlers are unknowingly harming their own, natural lashes.

What I see are lashes that have been broken and no longer have their tips.  The natural shape of an eyelash tapers to a point, whereas these lashes are blunt.  I liken it to folding paper over and over again, which results in a weakened fold in the paper where it will eventually tear.  I believe this is the same with lash curlers and eyelashes, where the user inadvertently folds the natural lash in approximately the same place over and over again on a daily basis.

Fortunately, there are other options.  There is a new type of eyelash curler on the market; one that has coils, which are gently heated by a battery.  You press the curler against the lashes, lifting and warming them upwards.  It may not be as dramatic a curl as that which is produced by the traditional eyelash curler, but it is much gentler and does not promote lash breakage.

Eyelash extensions are another way to enhance your own lashes with curl, thickness and length and can be applied in a way that is natural or dramatic, depending upon your personal likes.  With extensions, you do not need to wear mascara at all.

I ask clients to be gentle when removing eye liner, shadow and mascara as rough handling of our lashes can cause breakage too.  It is also important to remove eye makeup thoroughly as bacteria can proliferate and cause infections between lashes where makeup is lodged.

Lashes frame the eyes and make a tremendous difference in our appearance.  Women are consistently amazed at the effect that having thick, lovely eyelashes creates. 

Please feel free to contact me with questions about lashes, eyelash curlers or eyelash extensions!

Psychotic, Depressed, Dyspeptic (Excerpt of Holistic Primary Care-Winter ed)

The IMS data indicate that Americans spent $308 billion on pharmaceuticals last year; collectively, we consume 47% of all pharmaceuticals by the drug categories with the biggest total expenditures, one can conclude that, "the US is psychotic, depressed, has hyperlipidemia and heartburn!" Dr. Guarneri joked. But it's really not a joke. It's a frightening reality, one that's economically unsustainable.

Like many clinicians involved with Bravewell, Dr. Guarneri believes that a fundamental shift from disease-based interventions to wellness focused care has tremendous potential to save lives and save money.

"We have the tools. We know that for every dollar we spend on, say, the Ornish lifestyle based programs for CVD, we save $6. We have the research. We need to apply it." Last year, Dr. Guarneri co-authored a review paper entitled The Efficacy and Cost- Effectiveness of Integrative Medicine, documenting the actual real-world outcomes and savings from application of integrative principles and practices in treatment of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and depression.

It is not my intention to suggest that our current model is not needed, rather that I've found it to be lacking and not in resonance to this idealized prevention and wellness model in my mind. To me, health is more than the absence of symptoms; it is about thriving and the ability to participate in life with full vitality and joy! This is why I continue to study Naturopathic and Functional medicine. This is also why most of my blogs continue to stress the importance of a holistic and systems biology approach to medicine.

Environmental medicine is one example that highlights how preventing and maintaining health is not just about looking at the individualized pathology of one system, but in evaluating the interaction between the patient and his or her surroundings. This approach exhibits that factors such as the quality of food and environmental toxicity can no longer be ignored and must become an integral part to the solution. (Be sure to see a great example of this in my Naturopathic Fun Facts this week!)

Last week, I gave you two baby steps to take to move forward in creating a strong foundation for a holistic and integrated approach to health. This week, I'll continue with two more infant footies by encouraging you to:

1. Plan on food and you first, especially when stress rears its ugly head

2. Make your way safely through the grocery store aisles--with a very famous doctor!

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1.      Naturopathic Philosophy Highlight... Fun Facts:

a.       Is Your Birth Control Hurting your Partner? 

b.       Saw Palmetto & Prostate Cancer

c.       Nature's Antifungal as Good as Rx Drug?

d.       Genetic Differences in Detox highlight Negative Drug Reactions- Functional Medicine to the Rescue!

2.      Happenings:

Upcoming Essential Oils Workshops with Terry Quigley at the Healing Garden. Contact Terry at 518-831-9469

Trader Joe's is Coming! It's True. Thanks Bruce Roter and the Crew.

PATIENTS: Please review follow ups and cancellation policy on my website

Time for a symptom re-evaluation?

All patients can now download the symptom survey done at the original visit online. If you haven't re-evaluated your symptoms in a year or more, it may be a good time to fill out the form again and bring it in to your next visit. (Please add the numbers in every section when you return it)

3.      Radio For Your Body-Mind-SoulM: arcelle Pick

January 11, 2012 Are You Fizzling Instead of Sizzling in the New Year?
Has the hustle and bustle of year end activities taken its toll on you? Are you finding getting out of bed in the morning to be harder than usual? Is your energy dipping earlier in the day? Listen in today as Marcelle talks about getting your energy back!

4.      Book of the week:  Manifesto for Medicine: Your Guide to Healing Partnerships & the Wise Use of Alternative Therapies. By James Gordon

Learn the importance of self-care and true holistic medicine.

5.      Don't miss out:

The Rest of Fun Facts on my Saratoga.com blog.

Listen to my colleagues and other experts as they discuss solutions to menopausal issues on a show dedicated just for women in mid-life! Here is a link from my interview on 360menopause Radio Show on Panic Attacks and Menopause and a list of archived shows.

Check out my latest answer on Dr. Oz's Sharecare: Side effects of Birth Control Pills

View the Updated Link Resources on my homepage

Naturopathic Fun Facts:

Your Birth Control May be Hurting His MoJo!

Uh-oh. For years, women have been putting synthetic hormones in their body in order to suppress ovulation and prevent pregnancy.  In relation to biotransformation, synthetic hormones can create nutrient deficiencies and create extra burden on the woman's liver. Poor women, victims again, right? Nope, guys don't escape that easy,  it's now an equal opportunity issue.

In a recent blog, Dr. Mercola discusses how the toxicity of our world and how a women's synthetic hormones can affect a man's prostate health and some solutions to correct this affect. He also gives some safer alternatives for contraception for a women's body.

(Note: If you are currently on any form of hormones, it is wise to consider being assessed by a competent practitioner for the nutrient and phytochemicals deficiencies that if restored, can protect your body and prevent side effects).

Using data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the United Nations World Contraceptive Use report, which spanned 100 countries, researchers analyzed rates of prostate cancer and prostate cancer deaths, as well as oral contraceptive use among women.

The report concluded that the areas with a high rate of oral contraceptive use also had a high rate of prostate cancer. In addition, the researchers speculated that higher environmental levels of estrogen -- and by implication, higher cumulative estrogen exposures in men -- may be to blame.

In the United States alone, over 82 percent of women aged 15-44 have used oral contraceptives, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Typically, hormonal birth control methods like The Pill work by releasing estrogen and progestin into a woman's body, preventing her ovaries from releasing eggs.

While it's argued that only a small amount of additional estrogen is excreted by a woman using this form of contraception, this "small amount" is compounded by millions of women, many of whom use the pill for long periods of time. Also, synthetic estrogen and progesterone (progestin) - being unnatural - does not biodegrade as rapidly and is far harder to remove through conventional water purification systems - resulting in greater accumulation in the environment.

It's also important to consider that you are exposed to a large number of estrogen-like compounds daily, called xenoestrogens. Estrogen pollution is increasingly present all around you, from plastics to canned food and drinks, food additives, household cleaning products, and pesticides. And estrogen levels are rising in our waterways, not only as pollution from birth control use but as a result of the runoff from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

So whether it's a promoter or a causative factor (likely it's both), there's a wealth of evidence supporting excess estrogen exposure as a risk factor for cancer.

What's All the Buzz About Saw Palmetto and Prostate Cancer?

As we age, testosterone levels decline. One reason why this occurs is because of the overexpression and/or overactivity of an enzyme known as 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a process which simultaneously lowers the amount of testosterone in the body and contributes to both the benign (BPH) and malignant (cancer) growth of the prostate gland.  

While the pharmaceutical companies have already capitalized on this biological fact by producing a class of drugs which inhibit 5-alpha reductase activity, thereby blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT, these drugs come with a significant set of risks, including --  no joke! -- increasing your risk of developing prostate cancer.

Unlike the laughably inept pharmaceutical approach, which typically creates greater malignancy than improvement in the organ it is "treating," i.e. suppressing symptoms in, natural substances like saw palmetto provide a viable alternative. It is, in fact, through this same mechanism of DHT inhibition that saw palmetto works and can make a big difference in your cancer risk.

Source: Dr. Mercola. How Women May Be Contributing to Men's Rising Cancer Rates. Mercola.com. January 2, 2011. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/02/use-of-pill-raise-prostate-cancer-risk.aspx?e_cid=20120102_DNL_art_1

Garlic vs. Fluconazle

A recent trial reported in Phytomedicine compared the efficacy of Garlic as an antifungal with the medication Fluconazole. The result, both of these treatments are very potent anti-fungals! Here's the abstract:

Candida albicans is an opportunistic human pathogen with the ability to differentiate and grow in filamentous forms and exist as biofilms. The biofilms are a barrier to treatment as they are often resistant to the antifungal drugs. In this study, we investigated the antifungal activity of allicin, an active compound of garlic on various isolates of C. albicans. The effect of allicin on biofilm production in C. albicans as compared to fluconazole, an antifungal drug, was investigated using the tetrazolium (XTT) reduction-dependent growth and crystal violet assays as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Allicin-treated cells exhibited significant reduction in biofilm growth (p < 0.05) compared to fluconazole-treated and also growth control cells. Moreover, observation by SEM of allicin and fluconazole-treated cells confirmed a dose-dependent membrane disruption and decreased production of organisms. Finally, their expression of selected genes involved in biofilm formation such as HWP1 was evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and relative real time RT-PCR. Allicin was shown to down-regulate the expression of HWP1..

Source: Alireza Khodavandi, et al.  Comparison between allicin and fluconazole in Candida albicans biofilm inhibition and in suppression of HWP1 gene expression (abstract). Phytomedicine

Volume 19, Issue 1, 15 December 2011, Pages 56-63.

Genetic Differences in Detox highlight Negative Drug Reactions

Here it is! In one of the biggest health newsletter around! Whoo-hoo. Modern medicine is beginning to see the importance of a systems biology approach! Genetic differences in detox abilities affect not just health, but drug metabolism and behavior.

Dr. Mercola explains how slow detoxifiers, related to genetic difference in one liver enzyme pathway, creates more side effects for this unfortunate genetic lot:

• Since the late 1980s, there have been frequent reports of increased violent behavior, including homicides and suicides, among individuals taking antidepressant drugs
• A newly published study provides a plausible theory about how a genetic mutation in the CYP450 gene family can cause a metabolic disturbance resulting in uncontrollable violent impulses and behaviors in some individuals taking these drugs, which establishes the link between the drugs and the violent impulses
• "Homicidal akathisia" is an extreme motor restlessness sometimes caused by antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs that is thought to underlie these violent outbursts
• Depression and other emotional disturbances can be safely and effectively treated by an energy psychology technique called EFT, which a growing number of scientific studies are showing to be incredibly effective; EFT is even more effective when combined with healthy diet and lifestyle choices.

Source: Mercola, J. If You Have These Genes, This Popular Drug Can Trigger Impulsive Violence. January 07 2012. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/07/antidepressants-trigger-violent-behavior.aspx?e_cid=20120107_DNL_art_3|

My latest blog on Building the Foundation for Health in 2012 is posted!
Here's an excerpt:

Can you believe it!??? It's time to make our way forward into a new year. Wouldn't it be great if 2012 became the year that society united in setting positive intentions and moved into their goals of healthier life decisions? New Year cycles are humanities ways of refocusing our goals on the positive and releasing what no longer serves us. Although we'd all like to change to a diet of Brussels sprouts and broccoli over milkshakes and lollipops, the caveat is that change is hard. We're up against a lot of momentum of habitual programming in our brain. This is why most New Year's resolutions fall short of long term commitments.

I explained this phenomenon in the blog I wrote at the beginning of 2011. It's called cybernetics (brain set points) and trying to make huge lifestyle shifts all at once, rather than changing a little bit at the time leads to literal brain overload. A broad resolution will most likely fail in the long term; because the brain goes into overwhelm by too many changes way too quickly. Our pre-frontal cortex loses its safety reference point amongst all the new life style shifts implemented and the result is that our brain reverts back to our diet of ho-hos, dingle dos, and too many "adult beverages". Therefore, the solution is to stop the overload and calm the brain and stress response, hence my belief in the power of Baby Steps!

Therefore, for 2012, I want us to look at the first important foundation of health, food, and I want to give you some gentle tips to start your growth from a little junkie foodie into a full out nutritional expert. Why? Well beyond nutrition and weight, food is medicine. It is not just calories; it's information for our genes.

This is called the science of NUTRIGENOMICS- the study of how a specific food modulates how our genes express themselves. Literally, certain foods can turn off and on cancer promoting signals. This means, no more excuses for a bad gene pool and no more pointing fingers at your mom for your health woos. Although it is true that some may have to be more careful with their food choices depending on the cards their parents dealt, especially relating to their own detoxification power. (This relates to finding out which single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are present, and modulating this with foods and supplements, but I'll stop on this point here.)

Read more here.

In this Newsletter:

1. Naturopathic Philosophy Highlight Fun Facts:

Yoga and Low Back Pain
Exercise Boosts Brain Power
Mindfulness Decreases Fatigue in RA
2. Happenings:

Upcoming Essential Oils Workshops with Terry Quigley at the Healing Garden. Contact Terry at 518-831-9469
Integrative Forum to begin again on February 9th! Look for more information in my newsletters and on my website.
PATIENTS: Please review follow ups and cancellation policy on my website.
Note: Appointments open as people reschedule. In order to avoid being charged the full consultation, we need notice 24 hours (counted as business days) prior to the appointment. My office is keeping tight with our cancellation policy and rescheduling because of our commitment to continued progress and monitoring therapeutic supplements responsibly. As a Naturopathic and Functional Medicine doctor, I feel it's essential that my patients have a mutual commitment to wellness by making their health a priority every 3-8 weeks.
Time for a symptom re-evaluation?
All patients can now download the symptom survey online. If you haven't re-evaluated your symptoms in a year or more, it may be a good time to fill out the form again and bring it in to your next visit. (Please add the numbers in every section for comparison when you return it to our office.)
NEWSFLASH: My book manuscript is almost finished...be on the lookout within the next months for per-ordering availability!
3. Radio For Your Body-Mind-Soul:

Flourish! with Dr. Christiane Northrup:

The New Wisdom of Menopause
Midlife is a time of rebirth and renewal. The midlife transition is replete with weight gain, mood swings, and hot flashes. Tune in and learn how to negotiate this transition comfortably and joyfully.

4. Book of the week:

It's so packed full of what all women need to know, I'm making this week's book a repeat from last week-- celebrating its release today:

The Wisdom of Menopause by Dr. Christian Northrup

Now completely revised, this groundbreaking classic draws on the current research and medical advances in women's health, and includes:

All you need to know about perimenopause, and why it is critical to your well-being
Updated mammogram guidelines
Nurturing your brain: sleep, mood, memory
Hormone therapy and the options available
Midlife weight control
Sex and menopause: myths and reality
5. Don't miss out:

The Rest of Fun Facts on my Saratoga.com blog.
Listen to my colleagues and other experts as they discuss solutions to menopausal issues on a show dedicated just for women in mid-life! Here is a link from my interview on 360menopause Radio Show on Panic Attacks and Menopause and a list of archived shows.
Check out my latest answer on Dr. Oz's Sharecare: Avoiding Emotional Binges.

Here's an excerpt: If you are addicted to certain foods, abstaining is the only true way to avoid a binge. That being said, with any slippage, it's best to be gentle with yourself and plan so that you have safer alternatives for the future. Planning your meals and initiating a social support system around triggering emotional events, gatherings, and a crazy work schedule can prevent grabbing an unhealthy sugar/caffeine binge. This kind of planning allows your prefrontal cortex to respond verses react to situations. Whereas, social support aids in dopamine release, a feel good chemical that can be obtained without through friendship verses cookies. You also want to make sure the following biological factors are in order to support your biochemistry and keep your mood in check... Read more at the link above....
View the Updated Link Resources on my homepage

Naturopathic Fun Facts:

Chiropractic: Yoga & Low Back Pain.
Does Yoga make a difference in back pain? In a recent study, 313 participants matched for chronic or recurrent low back pain were all given back pain education booklets while some were also assigned to a treatment group with a 12 week yoga instruction. The two groups were compared and the results were reported:

Conclusion: Offering a 12-week yoga program to adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain led to greater improvements in back function than did usual care.

Tillbrook, H. et al. Yoga for Chronic Back Pain: A Randomized Trial (abstract). Annals Of Internal Medicine, November 1, 2011 vol. 155 no. 9 569-578. http://annals.org/content/155/9/569.abstract

Exercise Boosts Memory

Exercise is not just for weight loss. It boosts brain power. Here's an excerpt from Neuroscience that explains how:

Exercise has been shown to impact brain plasticity and function by involving the action of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); however, mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Two types of BDNF coexist in the brain, the precursor (proBDNF) and its mature product (mBDNF), which preferentially bind specific receptors and exert distinct functions. It is crucial to understand how exercise affects crucial steps in the BDNF processing and signaling to evaluate therapeutic applications. We found that 7 days of voluntary exercise increased both pro and mature BDNF in the rat hippocampus. Exercise also increased the activity of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), a serine proteinase shown to facilitate proBDNF cleavage into mBDNF. The blockade of tPA activity reduced the exercise effects on proBDNF and mBDNF. The tPA blocking also inhibited the activation of TrkB receptor, and the TrkB signaling downstream effectors phospho-ERK, phospho-Akt, and phospho-CaMKII. The blocking of tPA also counteracted the effects of exercise on the plasticity markers phospho-synapsin I and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43). These results indicate that the effects of exercise on hippocampal plasticity are dependent on BDNF processing and subsequent TrkB signaling, with important implications for neuronal function.

Source: Ding Q, Ying Z, Gómez-Pinilla F. Exercise influences hippocampal plasticity by modulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor processing (abstract). Neuroscience. 2011 Sep 29;192:773-80. Epub 2011 Jun 29.

Amen, D. Exercise to a Better Brain. Dr. Amen Blog. December 13, 2011. http://70.32.73.82/blog/5482/exercise-to-a-better-brain/

Mindfulness Decreases Fatigue in RA

A recent study reported less fatigue in those that suffer from rheumatoid arthritis when mindfulness was enacted in a treatment plan. Here's the abstract for those interested in learning more:

Objective To evaluate the effects of a mindfulness-based group intervention, the Vitality Training Programme (VTP), in adults with inflammatory rheumatic joint diseases.

Methods In a randomised controlled trial, the VTP--a 10-session mindfulness-based group intervention including a booster session after 6 months--was compared with a control group that received routine care plus a CD for voluntary use with mindfulness-based home exercises. The primary outcome was psychological distress measured by the General Health Questionnaire-20. Self-efficacy (pain and symptoms) and emotion-focused coping (emotional processing and expression) were used as co-primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included pain, fatigue, patient global disease activity, self-care ability and well-being. Effects were estimated by mixed models repeated measures post-intervention and at 12-month follow-up.

Results Of 73 participants randomized, 68 completed assessments post-intervention and 67 at 12 months. Significant treatment effects in favour of the VTP group were found post-treatment and maintained at 12 months in psychological distress (adjusted mean between-group difference −3.7, 95% CI −6.3 to −1.1), self-efficacy pain (9.1, 95% CI 3.4 to 14.8) and symptoms (13.1, 95% CI 6.7 to 19.3), emotional processing (0.3, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.5), fatigue (−1.1, 95% CI −1.8 to −0.4), self-care ability (1.0, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.6) and overall well-being (0.6, 95% CI 0.1 to 1.2). No significant group differences were found in emotional expression, pain or disease activity.

Conclusion The VTP improved most primary and secondary outcomes compared with individual use of CD exercises. Improvements were maintained at 12 months, suggesting that the VTP is a beneficial complement to existing treatments for patients with inflammatory rheumatic joint diseases.

Source: Zangi, et al. A mindfulness-based group intervention to reduce psychological distress and fatigue in patients with inflammatory rheumatic joint diseases: a randomised controlled trial. Ann Rheum Dis doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200351

In this Newsletter!

1. Naturopathic Philosophy Highlight... Fun Facts:

a. Good Fats/Bad Fats to Eat

b. Depression and "Alternative Medicine"

2. Happenings:

a. Upcoming Essential Oils Workshops with Terry Quigley at the Healing Garden. Contact Terry at 518-831-9469

b. PATIENTS: Please review follow ups and cancellation policy on my website

c. Time for a symptom re-evaluation?

All patients can now download the symptom survey done at the original visit online. If you haven't re-evaluated your symptoms in a year or more, it may be a good time to fill out the form again and bring it in to your next visit. (Please add the numbers in every section when you return it)

3. Radio For Your Body-Mind-Soul: Year End Wrap Up

Join the Hay House Book Club for a review of their favorite books of 2011. The Book Club members will go over the titles that have been reviewed over the past year and discuss what Hay House titles have really inspired them. Book Bloggers will join in to share there favorites. We'll also discuss our favorite Hay House titles of the past and what books have been influences over the years. Please leave your comments on the Book Club link at HayHouseRadio.com to share which Hay House titles have inspired and helped you the most.

4. Book of the week: Highlights from The Year End Wrap Up

HayHouse's Booklovers Book Club Recommendations of 2011: which did you miss?

a. Married to Bhutan

b. Ravenous

c. Peace from Broken Pieces

d. Angel Therapy Handbook

e. Shift Happens

f. You Can Create an Exceptional Life

g. Winter Moon Rises

5. Don't miss out:

a. Top Reads of December 2011:

Here are just some of the topics covered in my summaries covered below of what I feel are top headlines of this month:

The power of FOOD AS MEDICINE: The benefits of antioxidant packed and Mediterranean style diets and a study on B vitamins link lower lung cancer risk
PROBIOTIC POWER: The balance of bugs in your gut is not just to relieve symptoms of constipation or diarrhea. Microbiota balance in the gut, supplemented with probiotics, have links to many health effects. Highlights include the modulation of weight, metabolism, brain health, blood sugar, and even MS!
OREGANO POWER:These feature studies are too good to miss! Learn how this powerful essential oil could be a solution to resistant superbugs!
Drug Updates: FDA warnings of 2011 including Simvastatin, 5 alpha reductase inhibitors, and various antidepressants are reviewed. Other drug updates include a warning on Zofran, adverse drug reaction statistics, and pertussis vaccination efficacy is also included.
Various Health Highlights such as the use of exercise for depression, how violent video games affect brain health, 8 tips to mind-body balance.....and there's so much more....check it out and have a great New Year.
b. Listen to my colleagues and other experts as they discuss solutions to menopausal issues on a show dedicated just for women in mid-life! Here is a link from my interview on 360menopause Radio Show on Panic Attacks and Menopause and a list of archived shows.

c. Check out my latest answer on Dr. Oz's Sharecare: This week I focused on Emotional Overeating and Brain Chemistry.

d. View the Updated Link Resources on my homepage

Naturopathic Fun Facts

These Fats are Good! Really!

Remember my blog on the connection between mood and food? Here's a refresher:

One study looked at the connection between mood, health, and nutrients. The authors found that fish oil reduced anxiety and also suppressed inflammation in the body. This makes sense considering that fatty acids are vital components involved in brain functioning, neurotransmitter signaling, and controlling inflammatory processes. (Read more about the inflamed body, inflamed brain):

Other studies have also reported a connection between intake of fatty acids and alleviating low mood. According to the Journal of Clinical Investigation, this mood effect also affected hunger cues.

There has been a lot of misinformation on the power behind healthy fats, especially from the 1980s "low fat diet" revolution. The result of low fat and high carb diets has been more heart disease and more mood disorders. In fact, Dr. Mercola recently interviewed Gary Taubes, author of Good Fat, Bad Fat about the subject. I recommend everyone concerned about health give a listen. Good science is backing up how it's actually carbohydrates and insulin deregulation that is the true cause of metabolic issues that underlie many chronic diseases.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:

In summary, although substitution of dietary polyunsaturated fat for saturated fat has been shown to lower CVD risk, there are few epidemiologic or clinical trial data to support a benefit of replacing saturated fat with carbohydrate. Furthermore, particularly given the differential effects of dietary saturated fats and carbohydrates on concentrations of larger and smaller LDL particles, respectively, dietary efforts to improve the increasing burden of CVD risk associated with atherogenic dyslipidemia should primarily emphasize the limitation of refined carbohydrate intakes and a reduction in excess adiposity.

Source: Patty W Siri-Tarino, Qi Sun, Frank B Hu, and Ronald M Krauss. Saturated fat, carbohydrate, and cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr March 2010 vol. 91 no. 3 502-509

Source: Mercola, J. Interview with Gary Taubes. Mercola.com. What if it's all a Big Fat lie? Youtube. Accessed December 28, 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLF4070F17514CE372&feature=player_embedded&v=riXoANHWYPQ

Clinical Evidence of Use of Alternative Medicine for Depression

More and more evidence from the main stream is supporting the use of natural treatments for chronic conditions. Below is an abstract from a meta-analysis assessing the use of non-pharmaceutical methods to aid depression. The researchers found good evidence in support of St. John's Wort and exercise. Other promising therapies included folic acid, B vitamins, and omega 3 fish oil.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical evidence supporting complementary and alternative medicine interventions for treating major depressive disorder.

QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: PubMed was searched from January 1966 to February 2010 using the term depressive disorder in combination with St John's wort, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e), exercise, acupuncture, omega-3 fatty acids, and folate. Only relevant human trials were selected.

MAIN MESSAGE: In a large meta-analysis, St John's wort was found to be equivalent to antidepressant drugs with fewer side effects. Exercise reduced depressive scores in 3 meta-analyses. Omega-3 fatty acids reduced depressive scores in a meta-analysis of 16 trials, but publication bias was identified. Oral SAM-e monotherapy reduced depressive scores in 4 of 5 small randomized controlled trials. Folate deficiency is associated with more severe and refractory depression, and supplementation reduced depressive scores in 2 of 3 randomized controlled trials. Acupuncture demonstrated limited efficacy in 1 meta-analysis and 5 other trials.

CONCLUSION: St John's wort and regular exercise appear effective in the treatment of depression. Acupuncture appears ineffective for depression, but it might offer other health benefits. Other promising therapies include SAM-e, omega-3 fatty acid, and folic acid supplementation in selected patients; further study is warranted.

Source: Nahas R, Sheikh O.Complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Can Fam Physician. 2011 Jun;57(6):659-63.

Be sure to check out my latest blog on Thriving through the Holidays!

Here's an excerpt:

In the next few weeks, I'll be sprinkling in my blogs more of what I learned at the IFM's Advanced Practice Module on Detoxification. However, this week I'm aware that most have their vision more on dancing sugar plums and running out for last minute gifts than on the biotransformation of the high fructose corn syrup in fruit cake. (By the way, did you know that high fructose corn syrup contains MERCURY? Yikes!) Therefore, in keeping with the season, I have decided to present another holiday blog on how to modulate some of food transgressions and tips for dealing with the added stress that holidays can bring.

Read more here.

In This Holiday Newsletter:

1. Naturopathic Philosophy Highlight... Fun Facts:

a. A Bonus: A mini- blog on Treating the Cause of Disease

b. Nature's Anti-inflammatory Foods- Include these foods in your holiday fare to decrease the effects of some of the holiday treats you may partake in!

2. Happenings:

a. Upcoming Essential Oils Workshops with Terry Quigley at the Healing Garden. Contact Terry at 518-831-9469

b. PATIENTS: Please review follow ups and cancellation policy on my website

c. Emma and I will be taking some time to be with family and loved ones this holiday season; therefore, the office will be closed from December 23rd-December 27th and again on December 30th. May you all have a beautiful holiday season filled with blessings and joy!

3. Radio For Your Body-Mind-Soul:

December 14, 2011 Intention Setting for 2012 with davidji
Why wait until January to set your intentions for the New Year? Today davidji will help you get ready for the wonderful opportunities that await you in 2012. It's the perfect time to let go of any speed bumps, obstacles, and frustrations you've encountered in 2011 - and begin to plant your seeds of intention for the year to come. No matter what has happened in your life up until now, you are always capable of new choices that will allow you to experience more happiness, love, and genuine fulfillment. Join davidji for an inspiring hour of conversation, meditation, and insight - and call in with your questions about setting powerful intentions.

4. Book of the week: JUST IN TIME FOR XMAS-A PREVIEW OF THE POWER OF MID-LIFE & WOMEN!

Book of the week: The Wisdom of Menopause by Dr. Christian Northrup

Now completely revised, this groundbreaking classic draws on the current research and medical advances in women's health, and includes:

All you need to know about perimenopause, and why it is critical to your well-being
Updated mammogram guidelines
Nurturing your brain: sleep, mood, memory
Hormone therapy and the options available
Midlife weight control
Sex and menopause: myths and reality

5. Don't miss out:

a. My latest Blog: Thriving through the Holidays

b. Listen to my colleagues and other experts as they discuss solutions to menopausal issues on a show dedicated just for women in mid-life! Here is a link from my interview on 360menopause Radio Show on Panic Attacks and Menopause and a list of archived shows.

c. Check out my latest answer on Dr. Oz's Sharecare. This week I focused on how to ensure that what you are putting in your mouth is GMO free.

d. View the Updated Link Resources on my homepage

Naturopathic Fun Facts:

Treating the Cause, not the Condition

I love what I do! I know that it's a blessing in my life to wake up and feel grateful. I will be either heading to the office to be a guide in the therapeutic process of healing or to write/research and produce something that others can benefit from. For me, being in Arizona this past month really cemented in my psyche how my Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Practitioner colleagues are pioneers. It's the forefront of medicine, it's not just about speaking to my patients and treating what I believe to be off balance, but finding the matrix of all the factors that continue to trigger the process and removing what is not needed and giving what is. Dr. Hyman summarizes this:

Plus, just one CAUSE can create 10 or more different diseases.

For example, if you have the gene that causes celiac disease (an intolerance to gluten), it can show up as nearly 100 different diseases -- from kidney failure to osteoporosis to iron deficiency to hypothyroidism to rheumatoid arthritis to psoriasis to chronic fatigue and so on.

Most doctors will prescribe the right drug for the kidney disease, osteoporosis, iron deficiency, or hypothyroidism.

But treating all those conditions individually doesn't take the "tack" out of your foot -- and the cause of your problems won't be solved.

So if you're taking a drug that just masks your symptoms but doesn't treat the underlying problems, you may feel better for while -- but the disease keeps progressing. It's like having a broken ankle. If you take enough pain medication and produce enough adrenalin, you could run on that ankle -- but the ankle won't heal.

That's how modern medicine treats disease! It's been said that, "The greatest obstacle to discovering the shape of the earth, the continents, and the oceans was not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge." The same can be said for medicine.

What we think we know about disease just isn't working. That's why we are at a crossroads, where the old ideas we have about disease and diagnosis become less meaningful as we understand more and more about the importance of individual differences in determining illness.

In fact, we are at a time in medicine where the old ideas are rapidly becoming obsolete. The new medicine says the world is round, while the old medicine says the world is flat. It's clear where we're headed. This a time when personalized medicine will replace medicine based on diagnosis and disease.

In fact, disease and diagnosis as we know it will soon be an obsolete concept -- just like blood-letting or phrenology (the art of diagnosis based on the shape of your skull).

Source: Hyman, M. A New Era of Medicine Has Finally Arrived. dyhyman.com. December 17, 2011. http://drhyman.com/a-new-era-of-medicine-has-finally-arrived-3497/?utm_source=Publicaster&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=drhyman%20newsletter%20issue%20#46&utm_content=Read+more

Anti-inflammatory Foods!

So are you more of the moderation types? You want to partake in some "no-nos" but don't want to feel lousy from the side effects. How about adding some of these foods as Nature's Ibuprofen to your holiday fare? According to Dr. Hyman:

Common Anti-Inflammatory Foods are what I refer to as Nature's Ibuprofen. The one's that top the list are:

Organic berries and all fruits and vegetables because they contain various photochemicals like antioxidants (vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and various minerals), bioflavonoids (like quercitin, limonene, hesperidin), and fiber which is needed for daily elimination of waste and support the healthy balance of the micro flora of the digestive tract. Grown women should aim for at least 7 servings a day and men should get 9. A serving is between ½ - 1 cup. The more COLORS the better!
Herbs and spices are showing some very promising research in reducing inflammation and are a culinary delight! They add flavor and powerful anti-inflammatory punch to your dishes!
Turmeric (contains curcumin)
Oregano
Garlic
Green tea
Ginger
Rosemary
Holy Basil
Source: Hyman, M. Nature's IBU: Pain Relief from Within. drhyman.com. December 17, 2001. http://drhyman.com/natures-ibuprofen-pain-relief-from-within-32/?utm_source=Publicaster&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=drhyman%20newsletter%20issue%20#46&utm_content=Read+more

Be sure to check out my latest blog on what I learned in the detox module in Arizona!

In this Newsletter:
1. Naturopathic Philosophy Highlight Fun Facts:

Don't Eat Here- unless you want infected chicken salad--YUM!
The "kindness gene"--biology speaks nice to itself
2. Happenings:

Upcoming Essential Oils Workshops with Terry Quigley at the Healing Garden. Contact Terry at 518-831-9469
My latest publication on NDNR (Available online)
PATIENTS: Please review follow ups and cancellation policy below:
Cancellation Policy: Due to the administrative work, training, work, and time Dr. LoBisco puts into individualized treatment plans between visits, patients are subject to a $25 cancellation fee for missed appointments or cancellations the day prior to the appointment. Patients who give no notification via telephone of cancellation of appointments or less than 24 hours will be billed via PayPal the cost of the full assessment. Please note that it if one wishes to stay moving forward, regular assessment is critical and follow ups are generally re-scheduled within 3-4 weeks with adequate notice. Read the rest of the policy here.
Look for Top Reads-Flora and GMOs highlighted to bring in good cheer.

3. Radio For Your Body-Mind-Soul:

The Light Within with Dr. Northup
In the Northern Hemisphere, we're in the darkest season of the year. But deep inside each of us, something is growing in the light. In fact, scientific experiments prove that our bodies emit light. In this episode of Flourish, Dr. Northrup focuses on the light within, and what you can do to shine yours.

4. Book of the week: Healing the New Childhood Epidemic. Kenneth Block, MD.

Did you know that fact mothers with high toxic exposure + genetic predispositions in faulty gene protecting enzymes (methylation SNPS) can lead to increased risk of Autistic Spectrum children. Children are more sensitive to these toxins due to their unformed immune response and decreased excretory potential. Furthermore, children today are exposed to the most detrimental diet available in human time. Did you know high fructose corn syrup in most processed foods contain mercury?? In his book, Dr. Bock explains this new childhood epidemic of ASD, allergies, asthma, and ADHD which is now present in 1/3 of children!

Dr. Bock was a key lecturer at the Institute for Functional Medicine's Detoxification Advanced Practice Module in Arizona. Dr Bock's specialty is working with children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and other pediatric epidemics. Dr. Bock is a genius in assessing the multi-factorial effect of toxins on children and how they impact their metabolic processes, mitochondria function (our energy producing cells), immune function, endocrine function, and gene regulation and DNA.

Last weekend, Dr. Bock specifically discussed a detailed case study of one of the many children he has helped recover from a diagnosis of an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. This book is a crucial read for all parents. We are passing our future over to children, and unfortunately, mothers and fathers are passing there toxicity to their children. Dr. Bock provides guides on how to prevent and work with our genetics and environments to assist in raising healthy children.

Bock, K. Recognizing Neurotoxicity and Immunotoxicity within the Functional Medicine Model. IFM. Detox Advanced Practice Module. Phoenix, AZ. December 9, 2011.

5. Don't miss out:

Click here to subscribe on my homepage in order to receive my latest blogs via email and add in my goal of promoting Integrative Health to the Masses!
My interview on 360menopause Radio Show on Panic Attacks and Menopause is still available. While you're there, browse through the archives of other health experts.
Check out my latest answer and more on Dr. Oz's Sharecare: The Safety Considerations of Liver Cleansing
View the Updated Link Resources on my homepage
Updated vaccine links
Resources for finding healthy organic meats and non-GMO guides

Naturopathic Fun Facts:

Don't Eat Here---unless you like chicken d' salmonella!

The good news about choosing Organic, is you know not only that you are eating healthier, but you also know what you're not getting---sewer sludge, GMO's, hormones, antibiotics, and in the case of fast food....l' chicken d' salmonella. Dr. Mercola emphatically explains:

McDonald's and Target will no longer purchase eggs from Sparboe Farms due to potentially unhealthy conditions discovered at Sparboe's egg laying facilities. The egg producer was cited for at least 13 violations of rules meant to prevent dangerous salmonella outbreaks
Most restaurant chains get their food from confined animal feeding operations (CAFO); be it eggs, beef, or chicken. This is in part what makes fast food so inferior, no matter what restaurant chain you're frequenting
Organic eggs are statistically FAR safer than CAFO-raised eggs. In one study, more than 23 percent of farms with caged hens tested positive for salmonella, while just over 4 percent of organic flocks tested positive
Aside from a greater risk of food poisoning, fast food is a primary driving factor of obesity and poor health due to inferior raw ingredients, high sugar content and added chemicals
Join the Food Revolution and Embrace Real Food...

If you're at all concerned about your health--whether you want to gain health or maintain it--nutrition is paramount. In fact, your diet accounts for about 80 percent of the health benefits reaped from a healthy lifestyle, with the remaining 20 percent from exercise. So what makes for a nutritionally sound diet? First and foremost, a healthy diet is based on fresh whole, preferably organic foods, and foods that have been minimally processed. These are the signs of high-quality, health-promoting foods you'll want to look for when grocery shopping:

1. It's grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers (organic foods fit this description, but so do some non-organic foods)

2. It's not genetically engineered (GMOs)

3. It contains no added growth hormones, antibiotics, or other drugs

4. It does not contain any artificial ingredients, including chemical preservatives

5. It is fresh (keep in mind that if you have to choose between wilted organic produce or fresh conventional produce, the latter may be the better option)

6. It did not come from a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO)

7. It is grown with the laws of nature in mind (meaning animals are fed their native diets, not a mix of grains and animal byproducts, and have free-range access to the outdoors)

8. It is grown in a sustainable way (using minimal amounts of water, protecting the soil from burnout, and turning animal wastes into natural fertilizers instead of environmental pollutants)

If the food meets these criteria, it is most likely a wise choice, and would fall under the designation of "real food," which is the very foundation of good health.

Source: Mercola, J. The Worst Possible Place to Eat if You Want to Stay Healthy. December 9, 2011. Mercola.com. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/09/avoid-eating-at-fast-food-restaurants.aspx?e_cid=20111209_DNL_art_1

The Kindness Gene

Do you ever wonder why some people are just so darn nice?? Sometimes "Mr. and Mrs. Positive" can make one feel a little bit like "Mr. and Mrs. Grumpy Pants." But-ha! There's a biochemical reason beyond stress, PMS, and the in-laws that may explain the difference between Susie sunshine and Oscar the Grouch.

Scientists have actually found a "kindness gene." It seems as though the hormone receptors for oxytoxin, the bonding hormone in the hypothalamus that is responsible for creating feel good chemicals from contact, are more active in those who are naturally empathic and compassionate. In other words, Mr. and Mrs. Positive receive a greater chemical reward in their brains from helping the old lady across the street than your nasty mother-in-law yelling at the old lady to speed the heck up! The following article from VitalChoice explains how those who are kinder are actually genetically pre-wired to feel a greater reward for their efforts.

Using videos of couples interacting, scientists found that a genetic trait strongly influences people's tendency toward empathy, sensitivity, and sociability ... in other words, being naturally caring, kind, and convivial.

The genetic trait in question affects cell receptors for oxytocin ... a peptide from the hypothalamus that influences the body and brain through its dual roles as hormone and neurotransmitter.

Oxytocin is best known for facilitating birth and breastfeeding ... but it also encourages trust, love, social recognition, pair bonding, and positive emotions in general.

As the authors wrote, "... we found that individuals [with genotype GG] were judged to be more pro-social than carriers of the A allele. Thus, individual differences in [the oxytocin-receptor gene] are associated with behavioral manifestations of pro-sociality, which ultimately guide the judgments others make about the individual." (Kogan A et al. 2011)

"It was amazing to see how the data aligned so strongly by genotype," Saturn said. "It makes sense that a gene crucial for social processing would yield these findings; other studies have shown that people are good at judging people at a distance and first impressions really make an impact." (OSU 2011)

Can people ovecome an innate caring/trust deficit?
The answer to this critical question is likely to be "yes". Dr. Saturn, for one, believes that people can and do overcome their genes all the time.

Referring to people with the "less-caring" gene profile, she said, "It may not be that we need to fix people who exhibit less social traits, but that we recognize they are overcoming a genetically influenced trait and that they may need more understanding and encouragement." (OSU 2011)

And Kogan said that many factors ultimately influence kindness and cooperation.

"The oxytocin receptor gene is one of those factors - but there many other forces in play, both genetic and non-genetic. How all these pieces fit together to create the coherent whole of an individual who is or is not kind is a great mystery that we are only beginning to scratch." (OSU 2011)

Wetherby, C. Kindness Gene Found. VitalChoice Newsletter. December 8, 2011.

In this Newsletter:

1.     Naturopathic Philosophy Highlight Fun
Facts:

a.       Are Antibiotics Making Us Fat?

b.      Green Tea and Cholesterol

c.       CoQ10 and Brain Function with Statin Use

2.     Happenings:

a.       Upcoming
Essential Oils Workshops with Terry Quigley and Lori Mershon at the Healing
Garden. Contact Terry at 518-831-9469

b.      I'll be in Arizona from December
8th-December 13^th learning about Biotransformation
and Detoxification!
I will not be available for emails/phone at this time, but look forward to
sharing with you all at that time. Emma will still be available for scheduling,
general inquiries and will be handling all calls, faxes and emails.

c.       PATIENTS: Please review follow ups and
cancellation policy below:

Cancellation
Policy: Due to the administrative work, training,
work, and time Dr. LoBisco puts into individualized treatment plans between
visits, patients are subject to a $25 cancellation fee for missed appointments
or cancellations the day prior to the appointment. Patients who give no
notification of cancellation of appointments or less than 24 hours will be
billed via PayPal the cost of the full assessment. Please note that it if
one wishes to stay moving forward, regular assessment is critical and follow
ups are generally re-scheduled within 3-4 weeks with adequate notice.

***It is
not recommended that one stay stagnant in a protocol. Instead, the focus should
be on continued progress and attaining adequate feedback as your body heals.
Integrative medicine works best through continued support and keeping the
body healthy; therefore, follow ups are essential for attaining treatment
goals. Follow ups are intended to continue to support your body as it
heals by (1) discussing the blocks to implementing lifestyle changes,
(2) updating  your nutritional protocols, and (3)assessing changes in
blood chemistry. Once maintenance is reached, follow ups are generally every
3-6 months. I urge all my patients to be active participants in their health.
Our therapeutic work together is most successful when it is collaborative,
which requires both patient and physician alike to maintain accountability
throughout.  Thank you.

3.     Radio For Your Body-Mind-Soul:

a.       Diet: What
Works, What Doesn't with Dr. Northrup

Are you
confused about what to eat in this age of abundant food? We are deluged with
conflicting information about food, especially around the holidays. Join Dr.
Northrup to find out what diet is right for you!

b.      Staying happy, healthy, and hot, during the Holidays with Michelle Phillips

With the cold months and the hustle and bustle of the Holidays upon us
taking care of you can fall by the wayside. And we all know that if you are not
feeling well you certainly won't be looking your best either. So before you get
caught under the mistletoe looking and feeling like a lump of coal in a
stocking take some time out for this week's Beauty Blueprint. Join Michelle and her guests as she gives tips on
the latest supplements, superfoods, and ways to exercise physically and
mentally, to ensure that you get a beautiful gift inside and out.

c.       Ending Thyroid Symptoms with Marcelle Pick

Over 30
million Americans have fatigue, depression, and weight gain from thyroid
disease. Most are women ages to 30-60. Unfortunately, even with treatment, most
don't improve. Dr. Alan Christianson, author of the Complete Idiot's Guide to Thyroid Disease, explains why this happens. Learn
the tips and tricks that have enabled thousands of his patients to reverse
their symptoms and feel their very best again.

4.     Book of the
week: The Beauty Blueprint with Michelle Phillips

Michelle's
latest bestseller discusses beauty from the inside out, learn about how feeling
beautiful from the inside can radiate outward and how you can nourish your
physical body and appearance with practical solutions. Here Michelle's message
on her website via YouTube.

5.     Don't miss out:

a.       My
latest Blog on Detoxification and Treating People, Not Diseases!

b.      My interview on 360menopause Radio Show-Panic
Attacks and Menopause

c.       Check out my latest answer and more on Dr. Oz's Sharecare: I discuss the benefits of
Probiotics

d.      View the Updated Link Resources on my homepage

Naturopathic Fun Facts:

Are Antibiotics Making You Fat?

They could be!! Here are some
studies that indicate the imbalance in microflora in our gut from toxins, antibiotics,
and pharmaceuticals can hurt our waist line. You can read more about probiotics
here.

H.pylori death and fat increase

Circulating
meal-associated leptin and ghrelin levels and BMI changed significantly after
H. pylori eradication, providing direct evidence that H. pylori colonization is
involved in ghrelin and leptin regulation, with consequent effects on body
morphometry.

Source: Francois
F, et al. The effect of H. pylori eradication on meal-associated changes in
plasma ghrelin and leptin. (abstract)BMC
Gastroenterol. 2011 Apr 14;11:37. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21489301

Dysbiosis and Waist-line

Levels of
ghrelin should ordinarily fall after a meal to signal your brain that
you're full and ready to stop eating; an increase would therefore essentially
tell your brain to continue eating, leading to weight gain. Further, the
increase in leptin levels is concerning because overexposure to high levels of
the hormone can lead to leptin resistance, which means your body is unable to
properly hear leptin's signals.

The way your
body stores fat is a highly regulated process that is controlled, primarily, by
leptin. If you gain excess weight, the additional fat produces extra leptin
that should alert your brain that your body is storing too much fat and needs
to burn off the excess.

Two
studies found that obese individuals had about 20 percent more of a family
of bacteria known as Firmicutes, and almost 90 percent less of a bacteria
called Bacteroidetes than lean people. Firmicutes help your body to extract
calories from complex sugars and deposit those calories in fat. When these
microbes were transplanted into normal-weight mice, those mice started to gain
twice as much fat.

Source: Mercola, J. This Commonly
Used Drug Found to Promote Obesity. November 24, 2011. Mercola.com. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/24/antibiotics-promote-obesity.aspx?e_cid=20111124_DNL_art_2

How Do Antibiotics
Improve Growth in Animals and YOU!?

Continuous,
low-dose administration of an antibiotic can increase the rate and efficiency
of weight gain in healthy livestock. The presence of antibiotics likely changes
the composition of the gut flora to favour growth. Debate is ongoing as to how
that gut flora are changed; change may simply be a reduction in numbers, a
change in species compo-sition or a combination of the two. For example, a low,
continuous dose of antibiotic may:

·         eliminate
bacteria that steal essential nutrients required by the animal for growth

·         reduce
competition allowing beneficial bacteria that produce essential nutrients
required by the animal for growth to multiply

·         control
growth of bacteria that cause low-grade infections or produce toxins, both of
which result in thick intestines that do not absorb nutrients well.

Some
antibiotics may also enhance feed consumption and growth by stimulating
metabolic processes within the animal.

Source:
Klotins, K. Antibiotic Use for Growth Improvement -

Controversy And Resolution. June 2005.
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/animalcare/amr/facts/05-041.htm#2

Green Tea
Reduces LDL Cholesterol

Here
is a snapshot from science on the awesomeness of nutrigenomics (the science of
how food affects genes). Specifically, this article highlights how green tea favorably
modulates cholesterol level.  Green tea
is high in antioxidants and
catechins. I discussed in the past the mechanism of antioxidants on metabolism, and this article is further proof of the ancient
culture traditions of tea sipping. There have also been previous research articles
on the effects of green tea on fatty liver. Therefore, green tea not only helps
cholesterol, but may heal your liver, where cholesterol is formed! J

Conclusion: The analysis of eligible studies
showed that the administration of green tea beverages or extracts resulted in
significant reductions in serum TC and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, but no
effect on HDL cholesterol was observed. 

Source:
Xin-Xin Zheng, et al. Green tea intake lowers fasting serum total and LDL
cholesterol in adults: a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials. Am J
Clin Nutr August 2011 vol. 94 no. 2 601-610. http://www.ajcn.org/content/94/2/601.short?rss=1

Neurosci Lett. 2011 Aug
26;501(2):92-5. Epub 2011 Jul 8.

Xi
Jin; Ruo-heng Zheng; You-ming Li. Green Tea Consumption and Liver Disease. Medscape.
09/05/2008; Liver International. 2008;28(7):990-996. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/578882

Coenzyme Q10 and cognition in atorvastatin treated dogs.

Statins can have bad side effects, some of the issue is related to their effect on blocking coQ10. Recently, there's been studies showing there negative impact on blood
sugar. Studies have shown how low cholesterol affects food, but here's one
article relating low coQ10 to cognition:

Statins have been suggested to protect
against Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, however, we reported that aged dogs
that underwent chronic statin treatment exhibited cognitive deficits compared
with age matched controls. In human studies, blood levels of Coenzyme Q10
(CoQ10) decrease with statin use. CoQ10 is important for proper mitochondrial
function and is a powerful antioxidant, two important factors for cognitive
health in aging.

However, poorer cognition was correlated with
lower parietal cortex CoQ10. This study in dogs suggests that serum CoQ10 is
reduced with atorvastatin treatment. CoQ10 levels in brain may BE linked to impaired
cognition in response to atorvastatin, in agreement with previous reports that
statins may have a negative impact on cognition in the elderly.

Sources:

Martin SB, Cenini G, Barone E, Dowling AL, Mancuso C, Butterfield DA, Murphy MP. Coenzyme
Q10 and cognition in atorvastatin treated dogs. (abstract) Neurosci Lett. 2011 Aug
26;501(2):92-5. Epub 2011 Jul 8.

Dr.
Hyman. Do Statins Cause Diabetes and Heart Disease? drhyman.com. http://drhyman.com/do-statins-cause-diabetes-and-heart-disease-2062/