Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Magnesium in Neurological Diseases and Emotions

Fascinating information about magnesium to help with so many diseases - even cancer....


Magnesium in Neurological Diseases and Emotions

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Why Antidepressants Don’t Work for Treating Depression

Dr. Mark Hyman has just written about unpublished evidence the pharmaceutical industry has hidden from the public confirming what many already know - anti-depressants don't solve depression issues! The reason they don't work are that they do not address the underlying cause of why a person is depressed. The "symptoms" of depression can vary from person to person and this "diagnosis" is very broad. Besides hidden food allergies, which a common cause of depression linked symptoms, vitamin, mineral and amino acid deficiencies or excesses play a leading role in why a person is depressed.Hormones (for both men and women) also can create depression related symptoms. Finding and correcting these imbalances is what functional nutrition & medicine aims to do.Click on the link below to read Dr. Hyman's thoughts on this subject.

Why Antidepressants Don’t Work for Treating Depression

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Why is Lansing Playing Monopoly With Our Health?

Did you know that a law passed in 2006 has the potential to restrict your right to choose who you go to for nutritional counseling? Click on the link to read more -

Playing Monopoly With Our Health

Please also see the Michigan Nutrition Association's website here:

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Are legislators poised to end natural supplement censorship?

You have no doubt read all the bad news about limiting your freedom to choose holistically oriented health care - now it seems we have three new bills being introduced for a vote in Washington that may actually make it easier for us to choose holistic care over allopathic care. Here are the three bills:

The Free Speech About Science Act of 2010 (H.R.4913)
What it does: permit the free exchange of legitimate scientific evidence showing that food, herbs and vitamins hold therapeutic, healing power.

The Freedom of Health Speech Act (H.R.3394)
What it does: stops the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from being able to freely and arbitrarily prosecute food and supplement manufacturers for making legitimate health claims. It will force the FTC to prove a claim is false before they can prosecute.

The Health Freedom Act, (H.R.3395)
What it will do: puts the burden of proof on the FDA to convince a court that a claim is false before being able to pursue a company for making health claims.

Why is this so important?
An important reason for showing evidence of a specific nutraceutical product is that using published researched studies and peer reviewed articles is the way the scientific and allopathic medical community evaluates methods and protocols to treat various disease conditions. Right now just as published scientific research studies are done on pharmaceutical drugs so too are they being done on many supplements. This is especially true for those supplement companies who are more reputable and of higher grade.

Each time a micro nutrient or herb is tested in a trial or in vivo (in animals) or in human trials it scientifically verifies these products are effective (and often more effective than pharmaceuticals).

The allopathic medical and scientific communities are slow to change but this is how they will begin to acknowledge, accept and begin adopting more functional methods of treatment and prevention. And ultimately, this is how the current "sick care system” will evolve to be a true "well care system".

Once documentation is legally allowed and you can take this to your doctor when he/she questions why you are following a program based on whole foods, nutrition, supplementation etc, the Medical Schools will be forced to properly train/re-train their students and practitioners in the field of functional nutrition.

This is called a paradigm shift.

This website provides an easy way for you to contact your legislator in support of these important bills: http://truehealthclaims.citizens.org

Further information can be found here:

Help end criminalization of vitamin, supplement makers in America

Friday, September 10, 2010

Fatty acids in disorders of neurodevelopment, learning and behavior

Essential fatty acid supplementation is so important for everyone. EFA's positively impact brain, heart, hormonal and neurological health.

The brain is made mostly of fat. The correct balance of fatty acids is necessary for neuronal health, nerve transmission, maintaining a normal threshold of excitability, and the regulation of inflammation in the brain and elsewhere. A fascinating study published recently in the journal Neuropharmacology reveals the relationship between fatty acids, electrical activity (EEG), and brain function in adolescent boys with ADHD.

“Abnormal fatty acid status has been implicated in the aetiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Delayed maturation in ADHD may result in raised frontal low frequency (theta) electroencephalographic activity (EEG) and a reduction in posterior high frequency (beta, alpha) activity.”

Continue reading at this link...

Fatty acids in disorders of neurodevelopment, learning and behavior

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Michigan legislature close to approving nutrition and dietetics regulations limiting choice

I need your help.

I and others who work in the field of holistically oriented nutrition are in a battle for our survival here in Michigan against the American Dietetic Association.

Four years ago the ADA’s (American Dietetic Association) lobbyists succeeded in convincing a legislator that all nutritional and dietetics practitioners should be licensed for the safety of the public and a law was passed. As a result of the licensure law that passed in 2006 the Board of Dietetics and Nutrition - appointed by the governor was charged with evaluating other nutrition credentials to determine if any other professionals (besides the Registered Dietitian) can be licensed. The credentials for licensure have been being debated for 4 years now by board members. Only two of the board members are supportive of the distinction between the ADA educational & careers paths and the Nutritionist educational and career paths. The registered dietitians are so far succeeding in writing the licensure requirements to be that of the RDA –

Based on the criteria that the board developed as "equivalent course of study" to dietetics, no other nutrition credentials are accepted. This means that the CNS, CCN, CNC, CN, DACBN do not meet criteria for licensure. However, a PhD or MS Nutrition who can document 900 hours of clinical experience is eligible to take an exam given by the state. The state will use the RD exam and may use the CNS exam for those who do not go through a dietetics program, such as someone with a MS or PhD in Nutrition.

This law will restrict your right to choose what kind of nutritional counseling by legally silencing those who have a different approach than the ADA. For more on some of the distinctions and impact of this law please visit the websites below. (aka; the food programs in our public schools, hospitals and prisons and their sponsors such as Coca-Cola Company - all run bay and endorsed by the ADA).

Please add your voice by using the forms at these websites to send an email against the law as it is being drafted an in support of health freedom of choice.

http://www.michigannutritionassociation.org/

https://secure3.convio.net/aahf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=563

Please view the video (next post) featuring Jamie Oliver for more reasons why defeating this law is so important!

Jamie Oliver Speaks out on Obesity and Disease

Jamie Oliver Speaks out on Obesity and Disease

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Foods that impact Alzheimer's Diseae Risk - New Study

Study Identifies Food Combination Associated With Reduced Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

Individuals whose diet includes more salad dressing, nuts, fish, poultry, and certain fruits and vegetables and fewer high-fat dairy products, red meats, organ meats, and butter appear less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to a report that will appear in the June print issue of Archives of Neurology.

Yian Gu, PhD, of Columbia University Medical Center, New York, and colleagues studied 2148 older adults (aged 65 years and older) without dementia living in New York. Participants provided information about their diets and were assessed for the development of dementia every 1.5 years for an average of 4 years. Several dietary patterns were identified with varying levels of seven nutrients previously shown to be associated with Alzheimer's disease risk: saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E, vitamin B12 and folate.

During the follow-up, 253 individuals developed Alzheimer’s disease. One dietary pattern was significantly associated with a reduced risk of the disease. This pattern involved high intakes of salad dressing, nuts, fish, tomatoes, poultry, fruits, and cruciferous and dark and green leafy vegetables and low intakes of high-fat dairy, red meat, organ meat, and butter.

The combination of nutrients in the low-risk dietary pattern reflect multiple pathways in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. “For example, vitamin B12 and folate are homocysteine-related vitamins that may have an impact on Alzheimer's disease via their ability of reducing circulating homocysteine levels, vitamin E might prevent Alzheimer’s disease via its strong antioxidant effect and fatty acids may be related to dementia and cognitive function through atherosclerosis, thrombosis or inflammation via an effect on brain development and membrane functioning or via accumulation of beta-amyloid,” the authors write.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Prescription medications or a naturally healthy lifestyle - compare the side effects!

Warnings about prescription medications seem to appear in headlines on an almost weekly basis. I did some research on the side effects of some frequently prescribed medications and here's what I found:

Corticosteroids: used to treat autoimmune disease such as RA, arthritis, lupus, asthma, and MS. Side effects include; abdominal obesity; increase susceptibility to infection; interference with wound healing; interferes with metabolism of folic acid, vitamins B6, B12, potassium, and zinc; a reduction of vitamin D and calcium levels. Long term use leads to decreased bone density and osteoporosis.

NSAID’s (Advil, Motrin, and Aleve): an over the counter medication used to treat minor pain. Side effects include; stomach upset. Over use leads to erosion of the stomach wall and gastritis, gastric ulcers, leaky gut syndrome, which can trigger an inflammatory immune reaction and food sensitivities/intolerances. Even aspirin and ibuprofen have been linked to an accelerated breakdown of cartilage in joints.

Cox – 2 inhibitors (Vioxx, Celebrex): these work to suppress cyclooxygenase activity which rises in the inflammatory response. Side effects include increased risk for heart attack and stroke, erosion of the stomach wall, impedance of brain development such as memory and activity, and can potentially disrupt reproduction.

CRP (C-reactive protein) lowering agents called satins; Lovastatin; pravastatin; simvastatin: these reduce the body’s production of cholesterol by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. This in effect turns off all the other compounds dependent on HMG-CoA reductase such as all of the body’s steroid hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and corticosteroids. Side effects include; depletion of CoQ10 – vital to the production of energy in cells. It can also lead to muscle weakness, and breakdown of muscle tissue.

Now consider the "side effects" of making a few changes to your dietary and lifestyle habits:

Improved sleep
Improved concentration
Increased energy
Less aches and pains
Saved money on prescriptions, co-pays and office visits!
Increased passion and joy for living!

The choice is up to you....

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Annoucing Heal Your Heart Free Your Soul Yogic Lifestyle and Nutrition Workshop

I am delighted to be part of a new lifestyle and nutrition program which will offered by two prominent cardiologists; Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan, M.D., F.A.C.C. and Dr. Ginette Gomez, D.O., F.A.C.C. at Beaumont hospital. The program, which is scheduled to launch via a two day workshop next month, is called Heal Your Heart Free Your Soul. Unique to this lifestyle program is that it focuses on the body-mind-spirit connection through yogic lifestyle and nutrition. I developed the recipes and nutritional portion of the program in keeping with the Sattvic way of approaching food and nutrition which is founded in whole foods, primarily vegetarian.

The workshop will beheld April 17 and 18th at Bay Pointe Golf Club in West Bloomfield.

Please visit the Heal Your Heart Free Your Soul website for more information or to register for the workshop

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts

Sunday, January 17, 2010

High Colesterol & Heart Disease - Truth or Myth?

This article examines the last 70 years of research on what causes heart disease.

The Response-to-Injury Rabbit Never Developed Atherosclerosis — Why Not?

August 23, 2008
by Chris Masterjohn

The pop science version of cholesterol goes something like this: when you eat fatty foods, especially foods rich in animal fat, the saturated fat and cholesterol in these foods wind up in your blood and stick to your arteries. Since saturated fats are solid outside your body, they will be solid inside your body too — depsite the 30-degree increase in average temperature. Arteries are much like pipes. When they get caked up with grease, blood flow is impaired, and a heart attack ensues.

None of the prominent scientists who promoted the idea that cholesterol is a critical factor in the development of heart disease ever believed anything remotely resembling this nonsense. From the beginning, they recognized that atherosclerotic plaque accumulates behind the layer of the artery in contact with the blood, called the endothelium, and that the cholesterol and fat within it is engulfed in white blood cells.

Keep reading by clicking on this link - http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/cholesterol.xml

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Agave Nectar, the High Fructose Health Food Fraud

New information suggests that Agave is not a safe sweetener due the way it is chemically processed and it's high fructose content. Fructose is linked to the development of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Please read -

Agave Nectar, the High Fructose Health Food Fraud

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Why a holistic approach to health takes time

Many people who attend my lectures or contact me are hungry for information they can use to help themselves live a healthier life. Unfortunately, many people are still looking for that magic bullet, that one supplement or food they think will change it all and solve all their health issues. I wish there were such a nutrient, but there is not.

You see our bodies are very complex and have many systems that work in concert to maintain homeostasis such as; Central Nervous System, Parasympathetic Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous System, Respiratory system, Digestive system, Reproduction system,Lymphatic System,Cardiovascular System and the Endocrine System. Although it may seem obvious that your headaches and fatigue are stress induced there is usually more to it than that. Thus a comprehensive approach ie: "holistic" is going to be more effective in the long run.

Clients typically come to me with one overriding heath concern that they are suffering from. Interestingly, after our initial session together they begin to realize they will need to address several areas as a part of a lifestyle change if we are to begin to solve their health problems. This is where a holistic approach often takes longer and is due to the need to establish a path and process that is systematic. It's essential to move through each stage carefully, monitor progress and make adjustments as needed so as not to shock the body and make the person feel worse. At the same time we are working to bring the body back to balance as quickly as possible so they feel better. When clients do as I teach them they actually begin to heal themselves and they are empowered to maintain their new healthy lifestyle and hopefully require much less allopathic treatment.

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