Healthy Defenses

New Blog location

2010-06-03T21:22:00.001-04:00

This blog is being moved to: http://genesis2health.blogspot.com/

Thanks.

Your Health, Your Cleaners- The FACTS

2010-05-23T16:41:00.000-04:00

Did you know?

• Ingredients in common household cleaners can harm your health and the health of your

family.

• The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of all cancers are environmentally related.

• Cleaning chemicals can cause headaches, asthma, burns, permanent eye damage, major organ damage, and even cancer.

• The World Health Organization estimates that 30% of all buildings experience indoor air quality (IAQ) problems. Cleaning products can be a key contributor.

• A fetus may come into contact with an endocrine-disrupting chemical while still in the womb, but problems such as birth defects, infertility and learning disabilities may not show up until much later.

• Manufacturers are not required to list ingredients that make up less than 0.1% of listed carcinogens or 1% of listed OSHA chemicals.

• The World Health Organization states that indoor air pollution is attributable to the deaths of 1.6 million people per year – one death every 20 seconds.

* More than 9 out of every 10 suspected poison exposures occur at home with household products

* Women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than women who work outside the home.

******DANGER • WARNING • CAUTION*******

Many household products contain organ damage, and even cancer. pesticidal and toxic ingredients that can be harmful to humans, animals, or the environment. -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Is your product truly "Green"?

Does the company promote eliminating packaging waste & eliminating greenhouse gas? Cleaners that come in super-concentrated form—where you add your own water (saves $$$ too)—ex) drops + water= 1 bottle of cleaner. Cleaners that are Organic—this is important—no chemicals on the materials that compose the cleaner.
Seek out products that are….

· Nontoxic
· No harmful fumes
· Hypoallergenic
· No volatile organic cleaning compounds
· Formulated without hazardous chemicals such as:
1.     Kerosene
2.     Phenol
3.     Cresol
4.     Lye
5.     Hydrochloric Acid
6.     Sulfuric Acid
7.     Sulfamic Acid
8.     Petroleum distillates
9.     Ammonia
10. Sodium hydroxide
11. Butyl cellosolve
12. Phosphoric Acid
13. Formaldehyde
14. Chlorine Bleach
15. Morpholine

For a true green cleaners that work and saves money click here.

References
1. Landrigan PJ, Garg A. Chronic effects of toxic environmental exposures on children's
health. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2002;40(4):449-56
2. Rumchev K, Spickett J, Bulsara M, Phillips M, Stick S. Association of domestic exposure
to volatile organic compounds with asthma in young children. Thorax. 2004
Sep;59(9):746-51
3. Medina-Ramón M, Zock JP, Kogevinas M, Sunyer J, Antó JM Asthma symptoms in
women employed in domestic cleaning: a community based study. Thorax. 2003
Nov;58(11):950-4.
4. Casas X, Monsó E, Orpella X, Hervás R, González JA, Arellano E, Martínez C, Martínez
G, Ascosa A, Comín J, Ruiz R, Monsó B, Casas I, Esteve M, Morera J. [Incidence and
characteristics of adult-onset asthma]. Arch Bronconeumol. 2008 Sep;44(9):471-7

B all you can Vitamin B

2010-05-21T12:40:00.000-04:00

What constitutes a good B-Complex supplement? There are some rules. These rules are not cheap to follow, however they do let us know whether or not the product we are evaluating has any value. Certainly this short article cannot begin to cover all the issues, and so I'll try to cover just a few of the most important ones.

First, lets look at the composition. There are eight known B vitamins, and the good products have all eight. Not only do quality products have all eight present, but they also have these eight nutrients in a somewhat balanced form. B vitamins are competitive in the body, and it is important that the balance exists. Correct balance should be: Thiamin (as thiamin monoontrate) 20.25 mg, Riboflavin 23mg, Niacin (as niacinamide) 270mg, Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride) 27mg, Folate (as folic acid) 400 mcg, Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 81 mcg, Biotin (as d-biotin) 300 mcg, and Panthothenic Acid (a d-calcium pantothenate). We used to see products in the drug store that would have zero amounts of the expensive components and 6000% of the less expensive components. Make certain yours is balanced.

Now, what about bioavailability? This is a measure of what happens to a nutrient (or medicinal) when consumed by someone. Does it get passed through the system untouched, or does it get into the blood stream in the correct amount? Make sure the product's scientists spend a lot of time and money making certain that the products we consume including B- Complex do exactly what they are supposed to do.

A perfect example of this occurred when Shaklee recently reformulated our B-Complex. They tested comparable products from several other manufacturers looking for the bioavailability of the folic acid portion. What they found was that in all other products the folic acid was not available at the labeled amount. Some had no folic acid at all even though the label indicated they did. Folic acid is hard to get into the blood stream and Shaklee found a way to overcome this obstacle they put the folic acid in the coating. Now when you take a Shaklee B-Complex, you are assured of getting what the label says you should get. Folic acid is an important compound that is highly effective in preventing birth defects, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. It has been clearly
demonstrated that $20 billion in hospital charges alone could be saved every year if women of childbearing are were to supplement with zinc and folic acid! It is so important that it is one of the few nutrients that the federal government mandates it be added to certain foods. These protective effects are even more pronounced when folic acid is combined with high levels of vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12. It is now proven that B-6 and B-12 markedly reduce (by 1/3) the risk of
heart disease.

B-complex deficiency has also been linked to Crohns Disease, Alzheimers Disease, mental depression, Parkinsons Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, hearing loss, and kidney disease.

With this in mind, Shaklee B-Complex is certainly included in our daily regimen of nutritional supplementation. Maybe it should be in yours too.

Nature's Harvest....The Best that Sun & Soil Have to Offer

2010-05-14T17:43:00.000-04:00

Alfalfa- The Father of all food. Alfalfa is very valuable for its vitamin content. It contains about 8000 international units of Vitamin A for every hundred grams. This compares favorably with apricots (7000 units per 100 grams) with beef liver (9000 units per 100 grams). In addition, alfalfa is a good source of pyridoxine, one of the B vitamins, and vitamin E, whose great importance for the health of muscles and heart is well known. Alfalfa is regarded as the most reliable source of Vitamin E for herbivorous animals. In addition, it is extremely rich in Vitamin K, ranking along with spinach, kale, and carrot tops.

Alfalfa roots absorb many precious natural minerals which make this plant a Miraculous Treasure of Health-giving Nutrients: the roots of the alfalfa plant burrow in the soil by nature. These roots absorb these minerals which are nourishment for plant; such as minerals as well as vitamins are transported throughout the entire plant, into the seeds, the stem and the leaves.

Mineral deficiency diseases that Alfalfa can help with:
Acidosis, Acid Reflux, Acne, Anemia, Arthritis, Asthma, Blood Pressure, Bladder trouble--including UTI's ; other infections, Boils, Bronchitis, Constipation, Cysts- fluid filled, Diabetes, Digestive disorders, Eye Sight Failing- Cataracts, Falling Hair out, Fingernails- thin- hard brittle, Gall bladder, Goitre, Hardening of Arteries, Hay Fever, Joints, Kidney issues, Low Vitality--lack of pep, Nervousness, Obesity, Prostrate Gland, Poor Circulation, Stomach alcers, Teeth & Gums, and Undernourished children.
*Also helps with immune system function.

Today more and more people are looking to prevent disease, alfalfa offers many benefits. Be careful when choosing an alfalfa product, many products heat the alfalfa causing the killing of its natural enzymes. For a product that doesn't heat click here.

Help! Allergy Season is Here!

2010-05-08T12:29:00.000-04:00

Allergic disorders affect an estimated 1 in 5 adults and children (40 to 50 million people) and are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, according to the Allergy Report from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAI).

What Are Allergies?
Allergies are the immune system's inappropriate response to a foreign substance, called an allergen. Exposure to what is normally a harmless substance, such as pollen, causes the immune system to react as if the substance were harmful. Being exposed to allergens when the body's defenses are low or weak, may also contribute to the development of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) symptoms. Sneezing, congestion, itchy, watery nose and eyes and/or asthma symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing and coughing, are no fun. We’ve all seen the many commercials for various prescription drugs, but is that the only answer?

Factors That Weaken Your Immune System:
Sugar/Alcohol        Over exposure to toxins
Poor diet                Lack of rest
Aging                     Genetics
Stress - emotional, physical (depletes B, C, Zinc)
Nutritional deficiencies (B, C, Zinc)

Are there Natural Solutions to Allergies?
Yes. By strengthening your immune system, you can replenish your body’s own arsenal of defenses.

Factors That Strengthen Your Immune System:

Healthy diet … lots of fresh vegetables ( 50% of diet ), fish and poultry and as little sugar, wheat and baked goods as possible
8 hours of sleep
Exercise
Nutritional Supplementation

Most people who suffer with allergy and sinus problems feel they must resort to using medications that have unpleasant and even dangerous side effects. For those who may be interested in safer, more natural alternatives, some of the following premium products by Shaklee may be of interest. (Or the brand of your choice - but they must be good quality products to be effective).

Premium Garlic Complex
Retaining all the potency of l clove of fresh raw garlic without the odor. Garlic is traditionally used for its
anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. People often take it to reduce symptoms of allergy, asthma, colds, flu, sinus infections, yeast infections, diarrhea & flatulence. It also has heart protective properties of lowering elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels.*

Sustained Release Vita C
For continuous antioxidant protection against environmental assaults, this unique all-natural sustained formula
slowly releases Vitamin C into your blood stream over a 5-hour period and provides nutrients from the entire
vitamin C complex including bioflavonoids. Vitamin C has been found to protect against smog, smoke, and poor diet, stress, bruising, varicose and spider veins, chronic infection, allergies, asthma, colds, flu, swollen glands, anemia, colon polyps and slow healing.*

Nutriferon
Developed and extensively tested by immunologists in Japan, this proprietary blend of natural plant extracts is
derived from pumpkin seeds, safflower flowers, plantago seeds and Japanese honeysuckle flower buds. Nutriferon supports and stimulates the immune system by increasing the activity of macrophages (white blood cells) and inducing natural interferon production. It optimizes the body’s immune response against environmental irritants and airborne substances (as with allergies and asthma). Completely safe – no adverse reactions to these plant extracts recorded.*

Optiflora: Two-Product Daily Colon Care System
There appears to be a surprising correlation between symptoms of upper respiratory congestion and sinus discomfort and poor elimination in the lower intestines… often associated with an overgrowth of the Candida yeast organisms. An increasing number of Americans suffer from Candida when the essential friendly microbes nature intended to reside in our intestines get destroyed by medications such as antibiotics, steroid-based drugs (e.g. asthma medications), oral contraceptives and more. Couple this with a culture so entrenched in sweets, breads, baked goods, chips and snacks that are the favorite foods of the Candida organisms…..Scientists now believe 70% of the immune system is located in the gut … a good place to start to strengthen our immune system against allergic reactions.

Start with just the Optiflora capsule … a patented technology that allows the very fragile probiotics to pass through the highly acidic stomach protected by a triple encapsulation so they arrive exactly at the right location in the lower intestines.*

The Optiflora powder (prebiotic formula) is a specialized food that will enhance the growth of the friendly microbes.*

Zinc Complex—essential for the immune system,, zinc is often deficient in American diets. It is lost with perspiration and stress. Classic zinc deficiency symptoms are loss of taste, smell and appetite ( common after illness or chemotherapy), slow healing, prostate problems, delayed sexual maturity, infertility, cataracts and acne ( one study showed an 85% reduction in acne scars in 4 weeks.*

Alfalfa –With deep roots extending 10 to 20 feet into the soil, this amazing plant is rich in trace minerals, protein and contains 8 digestive enzymes. Recognized as a natural anti-histamine, allergy sufferers report good results from taking 3 or 4 of the little compressed sun-dried leaf tablets … containing no pesticides, fungicides, growth regulators or synthetic hormones. Other popular uses for alfalfa are swelling, pain and stiff joints, ulcers, stomach ailments, hiatal hernia, water retention, gout, body odor, and bad breath.*

Defend & Resist Complex
Contains Echinacea,.. . which activates the immune system, promotes production of white blood cells, enhances resistance to infection, viral and bacterial, anti-inflammatory, promotes wound healing, reduces mucous, relieves boils, gangrene, ulcerations, bites, abscesses, fights candida. Also contains larchtree extract and elderberry to surround viruses and help prevent their reproduction. Best taken at onset of a virus… Can be sucked as a zinc lozenge or made into a tea. Very soothing to sore throats.*

Reduce Exposure to Toxins
In addressing allergy and sinus problems, a two-fold approach is usually recommended: 1) strengthening the immune system (as discussed above), and 2) avoiding products that could aggravate allergy and sinus conditions such as certain foods and cleaning products. Many cleaning products not only irritate the skin, but their odors can aggravate upper respiratory problems.

Because the brain is the most sensitive organ in the body, many experts recommend eliminating foods and environmental irritants that could create brain allergies. (Doris Rapp, M.D. “Is This Your Child’s World?”) Using Shaklee cleaning and personal care products may be helpful as they are based on a philosophy of “Living in Harmony with Nature.”

Get Clean Starter Kit – Step one in reducing toxins in and around our living space is to remove all toxic cleaning products from the home ..and replace them with the non-toxic, earth-friendly Get Clean Product line. These are remarkably effective yet inexpensive cleaners. They can be purchased individually or in the most popular Get Clean Starter Kit.

The kit includes products for the kitchen, the bathroom and the laundry; in particular, fragrance-free dryer sheets made from vegetables and biodegradable… a pint of Basic H2 that makes 48 gallons of all purpose cleaner for about $10 and Scour Off cleanser for pots and pans and stove tops in the kitchen and tile cleaning in the bathroom. Kosher certified.

Basic-G Highly Concentrated Germicide

Disinfectant, no cresol (easily absorbed by the skin, causes digestive disturbances, nervous disorders, mental changes, skin eruptions and jaundice). Kills parvovirus, feline leukemia, distemper virus and the AIDS virus on surfaces. Note: for allergy and sinus relief in the winter when it’s dry, remember to use a humidifier with a few drops of Basic-G to inhibit bacterial growth.*

If you are interested in tackling you allergy issues using a natural approach, please contact me to set up a consultation.

FDA Survey Data on Lead in Women's and Children's Vitamins

2010-04-12T10:28:00.000-04:00

When I talk to people about supplements, one of the things I mention is the importance of knowing who makes them. For one thing, you want to be sure that they are using quality ingredients. If you click on the link below, you will see a long list of supplements that contain lead. If yours is on that list, you may want to consider trying something else. My vitamins are from a 54 year-old company with a stellar reputation in the industry, and I can assure you, they do not contain lead.

Survey Data on Lead in Women's and Children's Vitamins

I hope you will share this information with your friends too. No one needs extra lead in their bodies!

Water Is Just Water

2010-04-09T22:05:00.000-04:00

Here is Dr. Stephen Cheney's enlightening discussion about the bogus claims of "super" bottled waters:

It's bad enough that some people are paying a premium price for bottled water that isn't required to be any better than tap water...
...but the latest fad appears to be things like "alkaline" water and "ionized" water...
...and these "super" waters come with a really hefty price tag.

If you believed the hype behind these products you would think that they were revolutionary advances that will cure all sorts of ills. But the truth is that those enticing claims are completely bogus. They contradict the basic laws of chemistry and biochemistry. More importantly, there are no good quality clinical studies showing that they work!

Let's start with alkaline water - but first a bit of background information.

Pure water has a pH of around 7, which is neutral. However, if the water is exposed to air for any length of time it picks up CO2 from the atmosphere. The CO2 dissolves in the water and is converted to carbonic acid making most sources of pure water slightly acidic.

On the other hand, if metal salts are dissolved in the water it generally becomes slightly alkaline.

Now the questions that we might ask are:

1) Does alkalinizing the body have any health benefits?

In the 1930s Otto Warburg, one of the founders of modern biochemistry, showed that cancer cells were much more dependent on glucose (blood sugar) as an energy source than were most other cells in the body and that cancer cells metabolized that glucose in a way that made the cancer cells very acidic.

That information languished for many years, but interest in the "Warburg Hypothesis" has been revived in recent years by studies showing that cancer cells can be selectively killed by limiting their source of glucose.

In theory, making the body more alkaline would also slow the growth of the cancer cells. There is some evidence to support that hypothesis, but the evidence is still relatively weak.

It is the same with the other proposed health benefits of alkalinizing the body. There is some evidence out there, but it is not yet convincing.

As a scientist I'm keeping on open mind, but I'm not ready to "bet the farm" on it.

2) Can alkaline water alkalinize the body?

Here the answer is a clear cut NO!

The body has a very strong buffer system and some elaborate metabolic controls to maintain a near- constant neutral pH. Water is such a weak buffer that it has almost no effect on body pH!

If you really want to alkalinize your body you can do that by eating more of the alkaline foods (most fruits (including citrus fruits) and most vegetables (except the starchy vegetables), peas, beans, lentils, seeds & nuts) and less of the acidic foods (grains (especially refined grains), meat (especially red meat), fish, poultry and eggs).

I've seen some experts recommend 60% alkaline foods and 40% acidic foods. I can't vouch for the validity of that recommendation in terms of the benefits of alkalinizing the body, but there are lots of other good reasons to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and less red meat and refined carbohydrates.

Ionized water is an even sillier concept from a chemical point of view. It is very difficult to ionize pure water and the ions that you do create quickly recombine to give you pure water again without any change in pH or physical properties.

If you add sodium chloride (table salt) to the water you can get electrolysis that creates a slightly alkaline pH at one electrode and a slightly acidic pH at the other electrode.

However, as soon as you turn off the current these pH changes rapidly disappear. And even if you were somehow able to capture some of the alkaline or acidic water remember that water alone has almost no effect on body pH.

But, what about all of those glowing testimonials that you heard? You need to remember that the placebo effect is near 50% when it comes to pain or a feeling of well being.

You can't repeal the laws of chemistry and biochemistry. Water is, after all, just water!

Good science trumps good testimonials any day.

Prenatal exposure to phthalates could affect infant behavior

2010-03-16T12:23:00.000-04:00

Phthalates are used to make plastics more flexible and durable. They are the most abundant man-made environmental pollutants and have been found to disrupt the endocrine system.

Where will you find phthalates? Everywhere! Upholstery material, shower curtains, children's toys, metal foils (like those found on yogurt containers), aluminum foil, cosmetics, perfumes, hairspray, nail polish, and food packaging material. And this is just the short list.

Phthalates have long been suspected in connection with rising infertility rates, particularly among men. These substances are considered highly hazardous to human health because they disrupt the hormonal balance and impair reproduction and development. New research has found significantly high levels of phthalates in almost 70 percent of girls with early onset of puberty.

Prenatal exposure to phthalates could affect infant behaviour

The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act: Executive Summary

2010-02-27T15:50:00.000-05:00

This a compelling new report put out last month by Safer Chemicals Healthy Families. It created quite a stir in the media so I wanted to be sure my readers had a chance to read it for themselves and take action. If you are tired of the governments lack of concern regarding the dangers of toxic chemicals in our homes, speak up on behalf of chemical reform by adding your name to the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families campaign.

The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act: Executive Summary

There is growing agreement across the political spectrum that the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 does not adequately protect Americans from toxic chemicals. In the 34 years since TSCA was enacted, the EPA has been able to require testing on just 200 of the more than 80,000 chemicals produced and used in the U.S., and just five chemicals have been regulated under this law. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson has asked Congress to provide her agency with better chemical management tools for safeguarding our nation’s health.[1]

Much has changed since TSCA became law more than 30 years ago. Scientists have developed a more refined understanding of how some chemicals can cause and contribute to serious illness, including cancer, reproductive and developmental disorders, neurologic diseases, and asthma.

The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition believes that, by reforming TSCA, we can reduce our exposure to toxic chemicals, improve our nation’s health, and lower the cost of health care. This report documents some of the scientific findings and economic analysis underlying our position.

Chronic disease is on the rise

More than 30 years of environmental health studies have led to a growing consensus that chemicals are playing a role in the incidence and prevalence of many diseases and disorders in our country, including:

•Leukemia, brain cancer, and other childhood cancers, which have increased by more than 20% since 1975.[2]

•Breast cancer, which went up by 40% between 1973 and 1998.[3] While breast cancer rates have declined since 2003, a woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is now one in eight, up from one in ten in 1973.[4]

•Asthma, which approximately doubled in prevalence between 1980 and 1995 and has stayed at the elevated rate.[5][6]

•Difficulty in conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy affected 40% more women in 2002 than in 1982. The incidence of reported difficulty has almost doubled in younger women, ages 18–25.[7][8][9]

•The birth defect resulting in undescended testes, which has increased 200% between 1970 and 1993.[10]

•Autism, the diagnosis of which has increased more than 10 times in the last 15 years.[11]

The health and economic benefits of reforming TSCA

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 133 million people in the U.S.—almost half of all Americans—are now living with these and other chronic diseases and conditions, which now account for 70% of deaths and 75% of U.S. health care costs.[12]

Estimates of the proportion of the disease burden that can be attributed to chemicals vary widely, ranging from 1% of all disease[13] to 5% of childhood cancer[14] to 10% of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and neurodevelopmental deficits[15] to 30% of childhood asthma.[14] Whatever the actual contribution, effective chemical policy reform will incorporate the last 30 years of science to reduce the chemical exposures that contribute to the rising incidence of chronic disease. And any decline in the incidence of chronic diseases can also be expected to bring health care cost savings. Even if chemical policy reform leads to reductions in toxic chemical exposures that translate into just a tenth of one percent reduction of health care costs, it would save the U.S. health care system an estimated $5 billion every year.

The U.S. now spends over $7,000 per person per year directly on health care.[12] This sum does not include the many other kinds of costs, such as the costs of raising a child with a severe learning disability or coping with a young mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. Chemical policy reform holds the promise of reducing the economic, social and personal costs of chronic disease by creating a more healthy future for all Americans.

For more information and to take action now, please visit Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families.
For alternative Green NonToxic cleaners, please click here.

Citations:

1.^U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, “EPA Administrator Jackson Unveils New Administration Framework for Chemical Management Reform in the United States,” http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/D07993FDCF801C-2285257640005D27A6 (accessed November 8, 2009)

2.^Tracey J. Woodruff, et al., America’s Children and the Environment, (Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008)

3.^Holly L. Howe, et al., “Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer (1973 through 1998), Featuring Cancers with Recent Increasing Trends,” Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 93, no. 11 (June 2001): 824–42

4.^Janet Gray, ed, State of the Evidence: The Connection Between Breast Cancer and the Environment, (San Francisco: Breast Cancer Fund, 2008)

5.^Tracey J. Woodruff, et al., “Trends in Environmentally Related Childhood Illnesses,” Pediatrics, 113, no. 4 (April 2004): 1133– 1140

6.^Jeanne E. Moorman, et al., “National Surveillance for Asthma, United States 1980–2004,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5608a1.htm (November 1, 2009)

7.^Anjani Chandra and Elizabeth Hervey Stephen, “Impaired Fecundity in the United States: 1982–1995,” Family Planning Perspectives, 30, no 1, (1998): 34–42

8.^Anjani Chandra, et al., “Fertility, Family Planning and Reproductive Health of US Women: Data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth,” Vital and Health Statistics, 23, no. 25 (2005)

9.^Kate Brett, “Fecundity in 2002 National Survey of Family Growth Women 15–24 Years of Age”, Hyattsville, MD, National Center for Health Statistics (2008)

10.^Leonard J. Paulozzi, “International Trends in Rates of Hypospadias and Cryptorchidism,” Environmental Health Perspectives, 107, no. 4, (1999): 297–302

11.^National Institute of Mental Health, “NIMH’s Response to New Autism Prevalence Estimate,” http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/updates/2009/nimhs-response-tonew-autism-prevalence-estimate.shtml (November 4, 2009)

12.^ abNational Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, The Power of Prevention: Chronic Disease...the Public Health Challenge of the 21st Century, (Washington, DC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009)

13.^Commission of the European Communities, “Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council Concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals (REACH), establishing European Chemicals Agency and Amending Directive 1999/45/EC and Regulation (EC) on Persistent Organic Pollutants: Extended Impact Assessment.” (October 29, 2003): 30

14.^ abPhilip J. Landrigan, et al., “Environmental Pollutants and Disease in American Children: Estimates of Morbidity, Mortality, and Costs for Lead Poisoning, Asthma, Cancer, and Developmental Disabilities,” Environmental Health Perspectives, 110, No. 7 (July 2002): 721–8

15.^Tom Muir and Mike Zegarac, “Societal Costs of Exposure to Toxic Substances: Economic and Health Costs of Four Case Studies That Are Candidates for Environmental Causation,” Environmental Health Perspectives Supplements, 109, No. S6 (December 2001): 885–903

A Natural Approach to ADD/ADHD

2010-02-19T11:57:00.000-05:00

There is increasing concern about the growing number of children on Ritalin and similar drugs, and many parents are looking for more natural alternatives. The following is a summary of some of the nutrients and herbs that many parents are using with good results to offer nutritional support for learning and brain function.

To give a good nutritional foundation to the brain and nervous system and to the whole child, a good program should always begin with a high quality multi-vitamin/mineral. The B vitamins are really important for the brain…parents have reported that they makes children not only smart, but pleasant!

Calcium-magnesium: These essential minerals are often referred to as natural nerve tranquilizers and muscle relaxants. Pediatric Allergist Dr. Doris Rapp and other authorities feel many learning and behavioral problems are related to allergies and brain sensitivities. Therefore, many recommend limiting milk and dairy products as well as artificial dyes, flavorings, preservatives, etc.

Zinc: In addition to its reputation for improving our immune systems, especially viruses and sore throats, zinc is essential for the brain and helps protect the eyes from aging.

Bifidus and Acidophilus (Probiotics): Essential friendly bacteria that ideally live in our lower intestines. These good bacteria help prevent over growth of bad bacteria and Candida yeast – often associated with attention deficit disorder.

Probiotics are especially important for a child who has ever been on an antibiotic or steroid-based medications (common with asthma). These medications kill off much of these essential “friendly microbes” that live in the lower intestine. Without adequate amounts of these microbes, research now shows the body is more susceptible to infection (especially sinus and upper respiratory) because 70% of the immune system resides in the intestines.

It is very difficult to find an acidophilus/bifidus product that guarantees live delivery of microflora to the intestine. Tests show that many of them do not make it live to your door, much less to your colon. 90% of the microflora alive in these products at the time of manufacture are killed off long before they reach the intestine. So please choose wisely—I know of only one product that guarantees delivery of 500,000 live microorganisms to the intestines without being destroyed by the highly acidic environment of the stomach.

In addition to the above recommendations, for hyper activity, allergies or asthma consider replacing your cleaning and laundry products with non-toxic alternatives. Here’s an excerpt from a powerful testimony: “In your homes, laundry soap stays in the fabric, cleaning chemicals under the sink give off fumes in the air (remember the smell of the cleaning isle in the store!!)…. I wanted to get "as much as possible" out of our environment...so we went completely Shaklee!! BIG difference !!!! After we cleared out the chemicals and started to clean and do laundry with Shaklee, his rash on his face cleared, all of our sinus infections cleared up, my husband now comments on the smell of homemade bread!!!”

The best and most affordable health insurance is a diet based on 6 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and a basic supplementation program combined with regular exercise… and lots of love and laughter.

Feel free to contact me to request information on nutritional programs for ADD/ADHD.

Do Toxic Homes Cause Asthma?

2010-02-12T01:43:00.000-05:00

Note: Today’s blog entry was written by Dr. Stephen Chaney. Dr. Chaney is a professor of biochemistry, biophysics and nutrition at UNC Medical School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He is also a prominent cancer researcher with a well established research lab he directs at UNC.

Everybody is going green. Biodegradable cleaners are finally in fashion.

But did you realize that many of the cleaners that you buy in the supermarket - and some of the biodegradable cleaners that you buy in the health food store - release toxic fumes in your home that can adversely affect the health of you and your children?

I'm going to focus on just one aspect of this topic - household chemical exposure and childhood asthma. But first a bit of background information: The prevalence of childhood asthma increased 74% between 1980 and 1994 and has continued to increase in the years since.

The causes of this rapid increase in asthma prevalence are likely to be complex, but evidence has accumulated in recent years that some of the increase may be caused by early exposure to toxic chemical fumes in the home.

Why is that?

The American consumer keeps demanding cleaners that work better (It's considered a big plus if they require no effort) and are easy to use (Don't bother with messy liquids and pastes - just spray it on). And manufacturers have been willing to oblige by adding ever more exotic chemicals to household cleaners and putting them in aerosol spray cans.

And of course no one opens their windows any more. That would be wasting energy and contributing to global warming.

The result is that these toxic chemicals accumulate in the air that we breathe in our own homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency has stated that the air inside our homes is often more polluted than in Los Angeles or New York on a smoggy day.

A number of studies have pointed to an association between these toxic household fumes and childhood asthma, but I'd like to focus on one particularly good study on this topic that was published recently in the European Respiratory Journal (31: 54-57, 2008).

This study measured the household chemical exposure of 7,162 pregnant women in England and looked at the incidence of asthma in their children at age 8.5 years.

A maternal composite household chemical exposure (CHCE) score was derived by measuring the pregnant mother's exposure to a number of common household products known to contain toxic chemicals.

The household products used most frequently were disinfectants (87.4%), bleach (84.8%), aerosols (71.7%), air fresheners (68%), window cleaners (60.5%), carpet cleaners (35.3%) and pesticides/insecticides (21.2%). (For information on the toxic chemicals in these and other common household products visit: http://www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/products.htm)

Asthma was quantified based on persistent wheezing (reported by the parents) and several lung function tests that were administered at age 8.5 years.

To make sure that the asthma was not caused by simple allergies the children were also given a skin prick test against a panel of 6 common childhood allergens (house dust mites, cats, mixed grass, mixed nuts, peanuts and milk). The study also controlled for confounding variables such as exposure to tobacco smoke, damp housing, pets in the home and maternal history of asthma.

In short, this was a very large and particularly well controlled study.

And the results were clear. Higher household chemical exposure during pregnancy was associated with a 41% increase in childhood asthma in children with no known allergies.

What does that mean to you and me? It means that it is not enough to select household products that are safe for the environment. We also need to select products that we use in our homes on the basis of their safety for us and our family - not just on the basis of cost and convenience.

To Your Health!

Dr. Stephen G Chaney

P.S. Shaklee, the company that brought us one of the very first biodegradable cleaners and the very first company in the world to be certified as climate neutral, makes a "Get Clean" line of household cleaners that are not only biodegradable but also contain no toxic fumes that could be harmful for your health.

INSTANT OR DEHYDRATED POTATOES...ARE YOU SURE THEY’RE JUST POTATOES?

2010-01-18T22:23:00.000-05:00

What is it? Potatoes in a box or bag.

Why eliminate it? The number of chemicals and their effects on the
body can be very harmful

Although the amounts of the toxins listed may be extremely low, however, we
have no way of knowing the following:

1. How much it takes to harm
2. How long the chemical accumulate in our bodies
3. How it may interact with other chemicals, even with the ones in the same food,
4. Will the repeated assaults on our DNA ultimately overcome our ability to repair our DNA.

I personally find it to be outrageous that if an industry were to use a product that contains the ingredients below for industrial uses, there is a requirement for them to have something called a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on file on the premises so that they are aware of the toxicity in the product and the sheet warns about ingestinknown for that ingredient.

Some of the chemical ingredients in instant potatoes are used in industrial applications, and they are dangerous to the degree that the government’s Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) requires industrial users to be aware of proper use and the effects of misuse.

For the millions of us who just go to the grocery store to unknowingly buy them, no such warnings are required! All of the information about the chemicals below came from the MSDS for the specific chemical. What I also think is outrageous is that the same thing holds true for ingredients in household cleaners and chemicals and for personal and skin care and cosmetic products, when we consider that if we feed these fake foods to our young children we must multiply the “dosage” that they are getting compared to what we get, because not only are their bodies so much smaller, but typically they will
absorb a higher percentage of a chemical than will an adult.

Here is a catalogue of the ingredients that are too often included in the pack of dehydrated potatoes,
- potato (you would actually be surprised if this was not included)
- monocerides (these are fats)
- diglycerides (another sort of fats)
- citric acid (a weak acid found in citrus foods, but can be synthetic, used for flavoring)

In addition to the ingredients above, as you will see in the table below, there are also some ingredients that I personally wouldn’t want to ever eat or allow my family to eat. The information on safety and health concerns is presented on required Government Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The table below lists the chemicals that are in instant potatoes and the associated information from the MSDS. Although the cautions in the MSDS are, as we noted, for industrial usage, it is interesting to see that they still show the hazards that are present if someone ingests them. How come it isn’t ok to ingest
them if you are working in industry, but it is ok if you buy the same chemical if it is placed in a food?

INGREDIENT MSDS INFORMATION
Sodium acid pyrophosphate (used in electroplating)
Very Hazardous – in case of skin contact or eye contact as an irritant.
Hazardous – in case of ingestion or inhalation
Slightly Hazardous – in case of skin contact or eye contact as a corrosive. Inflammation of the eye is characterized by redness, watering and itching. Skin contact is characterized by itching, scaling, reddening, or occasionally blistering.

Sodium metabisulfate
Hazardous – in case of skin contact (irritant) of ingestion, of inhalation, the substance may be toxic to upper respiratory tract, skin and eyes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organ damage. (Gee, do they think people are only gong to eat this one time, and no other foods have it?)
Toxic effects on humans- Acute potential health effects.
Ingestion: May be harmful if swallowed. May cause gastrointestinal tract irritation with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, violent colic, and possible gastric hemorrhaging. May affect behavior/central nervous system and cause central nervous system depression/seizures. It may also affect the cardiovascular system (hypotension, tachycardia, cardiovascular collapse), ingestion of sulfite compounds may cause a severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic symptoms) in sensitive individuals and some asthmatics. (And that is only for the immediate effects) Prolonged or repeated ingestion may affect the liver, urinary system, and metabolism (weight loss). Future exposures may also cause asthma like allergy with coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and/or chest tightness.

BHT – Butylated hydroxytoluene (Used in the food processing industry)
Hazardous – in case skin contact, eye contact, or inhalation.
Slightly hazardous - in case of ingestion.
Mutagenic - for mammalian somatic cells. (All mammals body cells, (that’s us!), except the reproductive cells. (Well, at least the reproductive cells are not in danger of mutating! I tend to think
that the possibility of this causing my cells to mutate is pretty darn hazardous!).)

WHAT CAN I DO INSTEAD?
I hope I have given you some helpful information that you can use to improve your own and your family’s health and wellbeing. You know what the problems are with “the 4 Whites” and why it is so
important to eliminate them from your diet. Now we are going to cover the ways you can work toward this goal without turning yourself “inside out”! And then we’ll explore the next step in achieving your dream of enjoying optimal health.

WHITE RICE... PRETTY LITTLE GRAINS OF BERI-BER

2010-01-13T11:51:00.000-05:00

This was the conclusion the 1929 Nobel Prize winner, Christian Eijkman declared in 1896 on his return to the Netherlands, after ten years of research in Batavia, Java in the Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta, Indonesia). If you want to learn about his research an his findings that white rice does indeed cause beri-beri, a
horrible disease that killed many people, click here to read about him.

Perhaps a good place to start this discussion and comparison is with the question of why we have white rice. The same questions and
answers also apply to refined and unrefined sugar and refined and unrefined flour. In all cases the unrefined is healthier and the refined is more frequently used. The answer is based on economics and history.

First, the economics, live plants have a shorter shelf life before they spoil. The refining process removes matter that will decay. Most bugs won’t even bother to get into white rice because they sense that there is nothing to sustain their lives in it.

Now, for the history...When the milling of grains started and the resulting flour was so fresh and clean looking, the wealthy and the aristocracy felt that they deserved to have this delicacy and even kept it from the common people. The same thing happened with white rice and white sugar.

That feeling of having something special, carried over even after the common people were allowed to have it, just because they were allowed. That made them feel special. Fortunately, at that time, the products were more expensive so a lot of people still couldn’t afford them. Because of that, many people have been convinced that white bread, white sugar, and/or white rice are more desirable. So, one bottom line is that we, the consuming public, choose to buy less healthful products and convenience.

The differences between brown and white rice begins shortly after harvest. The rice we eat is the seed of the rice plant. For brown rice, the outer husk of the seed is removed by milling. This leaves the product that we call brown rice. Whole grain Basmati rice looks more like white rice but has the benefit of being very healthy. White rice is the result of a polishing process in which the germ (the nutritious part that spoils sooner) and bran of the rice are also removed.

Removing the germ and bran results in a considerable nutrient loss. Brown rice offers a number a health advantages. The body’s insulin response to brown rice is significantly lower that for white rice. Brown rice is higher in fiber, B vitamins, Vitamin E, potassium, magnesium and macronutrients than all types of white rice. Brown rice also has more dietary fiber than white rice, and it has been shown to maintain a superior microflora in the intestine. Studies show higher numbers of beneficial bacteria and lower numbers of harmful bacteria in the colon. This is very important because many disorders including diverticulitis, cancer, and constipation are known to result from larger numbers of harmful bacteria and insufficient numbers of beneficial bacteria in the colon.

Fortified white rice is sold, and in some cases the label may indicate higher vitamin and/or mineral levels than brown rice. But, the synthetic vitamins used in fortifying are less bioavailable; that is they
are not assimilated as well for purposes of feeding the cells. Thus the brown rice is still a healthier choice. This is another example of a good principle, whenever you take a natural food from nature and change its composition or strip nutrients from it, you will always have less human nutritional benefits. Mother Nature really knows best.

GLEAMING WHITE FLOUR...THE BEAUTIFUL POISON

2010-01-02T15:12:00.001-05:00

What is it? Refined bleached or unbleached wheat flour.

Why eliminate it? It is essentially converted by the body back into the same simple sugar as sucrose. It has all the same effects of sucrose so you could almost think of it as white sugar without the sweetness. By the way, if you can chew a piece of white bread or cracker long enough without having to swallow it, you will notice that the change to sugar starts in your mouth and you can actually taste it getting sweeter.

The origin of white flour is a whole grain. In making white flour, the whole grain is “refined.” In making white bread the refined flour is then, “enriched.” The refining process removes the fiber rich bran outer layer and the nutrient rich embryo, called the germ. So we start with a healthy food that has both fibers and nutrients and we end with negative nutrition...it takes more nutrients to deal with the resulting “food” than that food provides. If the flour is used to make white bread, the flour is also “bleached” with chemicals.

One such chemical, chlorine oxide, is allowed by the FDA even though it destroys beta cells in the pancreas and is linked to diabetes. Another chemical used in bleaching is alloxan, which selectively
destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas when administered to rodents and many other animal species. This causes an insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (called "Alloxan Diabetes") in
these animals, with characteristics similar to type 2 diabetes in humans.

Over 50 years ago studies showed that because of the “refining” process, more vitamin B complex and iron deficiencies were appearing. The government requires that white bread be “enriched,” because bread is a staple. Although refining the flour totally removes 15 nutrients, the “enrichment” process adds back only 3 B vitamins and iron. “Refining” robs a larger amount of healthful natural nutritional ingredients and then to prevent severe vitamin deficiencies returns a minimum amount of synthetic B vitamins and iron. In “refining” flour, we also destroy complex carbohydrates (the fiber rich bran) and are left with a simple carbohydrate. Complex carbohydrates are processed during digestion without causing sudden spikes in sugar. Additionally fiber enhances healthy elimination. The lack of fiber is
related to constipation, and white flour is one contributor.

Simple carbohydrates cause sudden spikes in sugar which then causes the pancreas to release insulin in order to protect the brain from too much sugar. This cycle of spikes in sugar followed by a demand for insulin from the pancreas leads to Type 2 Adult Onset Diabetes. Sadly, Type 2 Diabetes is more and more often diagnosed in children under the age of 15 now. While many people have consciously reduced their use of sugar, they may not be as careful in monitoring their white flour intake. As I
mentioned above, white flour essentially is converted to the equivalent of white sugar and produces very similar results in your body. They both are major contributors to diabetes and weight gain, and other degenerative diseases.

There are unbleached enriched breads. Don’t be fooled! These breads are slightly darker in color, but present all the same nutritional deficiencies of the enrichment process, just without the bleach toxins.
Remember, a diet that includes a lot of refined foods results in many women being malnourished, constipated, and vulnerable to chronic illness. Fertility problems and difficulty carrying a baby to term can also frequently be related to nutritional deficiencies that are so often related to the Standard American Diet... S.A.D!

WHITE SUGAR…SWEET TREAT OR TOXIC TRICK?

2009-12-30T21:57:00.003-05:00

What is it? Sucrose.
This is another name for plain old refined white sugar
Why eliminate it?
When we refine sugar, we remove every nutrient that comes with it in nature that helps our bodies use it to promote good health.

Isn’t it interesting how words can be used! A “refined” person is defined as one who is cultured and has cultivated fine manners. The word “refined” as misapplied to foods would seem to mean that the food has been freed of impurities or unwanted ingredients. In fact just the opposite is true. What refined sugar, refined flour, and refined rice have in common is that they all have been stripped of the most
important nutrients. They actually provide negative nutrition, meaning that your body has to work harder to utilize or eliminate them and so uses up other nutrients in trying to do so. Over time they all also cause health problems.

When little Hawaiian kids would to go out to the fields and chew on the canes, none of them got a bunch of cavities; they didn’t get a sugar high, or hypoglycemia. This is because in the natural form, it was a whole food and it contained all the vitamins and minerals needed to use the sugar properly. An influx of sugar, sucrose, into the bloodstream upsets the body's blood-sugar balance, triggering the release of extra insulin, which the body uses to keep blood-sugar at a constant and safe level and which inhibits the release of growth hormones. That extra insulin means that your body is not burning the sugar and that promotes the storage of fat, so that when you eat sweets high in sugar, you're paving the way for rapid weight gain and elevated triglyceride levels, both of which have been linked to
cardiovascular disease.

Complex carbohydrates are absorbed more slowly, lessening the impact on blood-sugar levels. Once your body signals that it has too much sugar and the extra insulin is released, it has to take that sugar and store it. There is only a tiny storage area for that sugar, which is stored as glycogen. There isn’t enough stored to even last for a full day of activity, so it doesn’t give you much “wiggle room”, and once it is full, then the rest of that sugar is simply stored as saturated fat. Now you know one of the reasons you may not be able to maintain your weight. It can be so frustrating.
Another problem with a high insulin level is that it also depresses the immune system. This is not something you want to happen if you want to avoid disease. Just think of how many times you or someone you know has worked and fretted over a party, wedding, holiday meal wanting it to be perfect, and got terribly stressed. At those times most of us reach for the comfort foods, sweets, great rolls, and sodas. Many times that just set them up to get sick because it compromised their immune systems.

Each time we eat, insulin is released into the bloodstream. This vital hormone, secreted by special cells in the pancreas, encourages our tissues our muscles in particular - to gobble up the glucose surging through the bloodstream after we eat a meal. Insulin has many other vital roles as well. That's good news, because glucose hanging around in the blood is dangerous stuff. It can stick to proteins and destroy their ability to do their job. Kidney damage, blindness, and amputations may result.

But after a meal, insulin stops the liver from releasing any fat, a potential metabolic fuel, into the blood. Why after a meal? It turns out that just like glucose, these fats, released as triglycerides, are dangerous if they hang about in the blood too long. Because refined dietary sugar is so lacking in minerals, vitamins, and fiber, and has such a deteriorating effect on the endocrine system, major researchers and major health organizations (American Dietetic Association and American Diabetic Association) agree that sugar consumption in America is one of the 3 major causes of degenerative disease they must draw upon the body's micro-nutrient stores in order to be metabolized into
the system.

The health dangers which habitually ingesting sugar creates are certain. Here is a list of just some of the ways sugar affect your health. It can: suppress the immune system, speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair, cause hypertension, increase total cholesterol, upset the body's mineral balance contribute to weight gain and obesity, cause drowsiness, anxiety, and decreased activity in children, contribute to diabetes, compromise the lining of the capillaries contribute to osteoporosis. contribute to hyperactivity, depression, and concentration difficulties in children, cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity, raise adrenaline levels and crankiness in children, lead to decreased glucose tolerance, produce a significant rise in triglycerides, Increase systolic blood pressure, reduce helpful high density cholesterol cause toxemia during pregnancy., promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (HDLs). (LDLs), cause food allergies, cause hypoglycemia, cause atherosclerosis, cause kidney damage. contribute to eczema in children, contribute to a weakened defense against bacterial infection, increase the amount of fat in the liver, cause depression. cause headaches, including migraines, increase the risk of chromium deficiency, increase bacterial fermentation in the colon, lead to coronary heart disease. cause free radical formation in the bloodstream, increase the body's fluid retention., cause hormonal imbalance, cause copper deficiency. overstress the pancreas, causing damage, interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium, increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney produce an acidic stomach, cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver, increase fasting levels of blood glucose, increase blood platelet adhesiveness, promote tooth decay. cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly cause cardiovascular disease, high sugar diets compared to low sugar diets increase risk of blood clots and strokes lead to periodontal disease, high intake of SUGAR increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Natural Approach to Infertility

2009-12-27T21:13:00.000-05:00

Infertility is a health issue that I seem to be encountering more and more these days. I have read that 1 in 6 couples experiences infertility issues. In my experience, I have come across many couples today who are having trouble conceiving.
So what’s the problem?

For men, infertility is most often associated with a decrease in the number, quality or motility (are they strong swimmers?) of sperm. Underlying conditions affecting sperm health are smoking, exposure to toxins and chemicals, and urinary tract infections.

For women, infertility could be caused by an allergic reaction to sperm, ovulatory issues, endometriosis and uterine fibroids. These are the most common, but there are many others, including psychological issues and age.

Many of these underlying issues are the result of xenoestrogen toxicity which results in endocrine disruption. I did a 4-part series on this serious topic and would encourage you to go into my archives to read about endocrine disruption – especially how it affects us and what we can do about it.

The good news is that there is HOPE.

For couples who are struggling with infertility, a medical evaluation is definitely in order. Depending on the outcome and before venturing into costly fertility procedures I would suggest that you consider making some lifestyle changes.

Both men and women can improve their fertility by doing such things as avoiding toxins of all kinds – found in household cleaners, poultry, dairy & meats, on fruits & veggies, in personal care products & tap water (bottled water isn’t necessarily the answer), and pesticides. The list is much longer, but these are some of the more common areas of exposure.

You should also strive to reduce stress, get plenty of rest and get in some daily exercise. Of course you want to eat a healthy diet: fresh fruits and veggies (preferably organic), lean protein (soy is an excellent protein source), lots of fiber & whole grains and plenty of purified water.

And caffeine, tobacco and alcohol should be avoided.

Another aspect of a natural approach to infertility is the addition of certain nutritional supplements. Some of the more important ones would be a well-balanced multivitamin/mineral, alfalfa, B-complex, milk thistle, soy protein, Vita-E and zinc. These should be taken by both partners.

This all may sound way too simple, but I have seen it work! What a joy it is when a couple is able to conceive after making a few lifestyle changes and without having to undergo the stress and expense of more extensive fertility processes.

I can’t stress enough the importance of having the specific cause of infertility diagnosed by a natural physician before more serious solutions are considered. And I cannot say that these suggestions will work for all couples. But nothing I have mentioned is risky and…what if it did work!

The success I have experienced has been with the line of products I have marketed for over 12 years. So I don’t know what kind of results you would get with other products. You might want to check my blog on how to select good quality supplements before taking this route. And if you would like a free 30-minute consultation, please fill out the box on the right.

Why Supplement?

2009-12-14T16:00:00.000-05:00

There are many reasons why we should consider adding nutritional supplements to our daily diet and I would like to talk about a few of them.

1. Our food isn't like it used to be. My grandparents were farmers. We ate true free-range chickens, pork and beef. And the eggs were straight from Mother Nature, too. Today, ever-increasing amounts of pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, additives and perservatives are being added to our food supply.

2. Our food isn't like it used to be....there are ever-decreasing amounts of nutrients in our foods today. Nutrient content is lost first of all due to nutrient depletion of the soil. Secondly, early harvesting, transporting, storage, cooking, overprocessing and pasteurization further decrease the nutrient content of our food supply. I remember several years ago I was in south Florida and noticed trucks in the fields loaded to overflowing with round, green things...tomatoes! No wonder they are hard and tasteless - and nutrient poor.

Many people use the excuse that they get all they need from their diet. Do they really? Studies have been done which say that we don't. 96% of the US population dies of a disease. We are NOT getting proper nutrition. The American Medical Association says "...it appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements."

Today's foods may fill our stomachs, but they do not feed and fortify our cells. Is it worth the risk not to supplement? OK, so now you have decided you want to start taking vitamins you may be wondering about what are good supplements. Not all supplements out on the market are good supplements, in fact most are not good and can cause long term issues because they contain things synthetic (man made) ingredients while may appear to work in the beginning, cause bigger problems later. Cheap vitamins are usually not good vitamins. Click here to read blog on how to choose a good supplement.

Selecting Good Quality Supplements

2009-12-07T20:33:00.000-05:00

We are living in a health-crazed society. There are so many different companies out their selling so many different vitamins and supplements. So how do you know which brands are good and which are just a waste of money?

Here are some questions and answers to guide you:

Q. How do I know what is in my vitamin; can I trust what the label says?
A. Unfortunately, some manufacturers’ labels do not accurately reflect their supplements’ contents and there is very little legal pressure for them to do so. Nobody is proactively watching out for consumer safety, much less monitoring label claims or ensuring efficacy. Manufacturers are legally obligated to formulate their supplements to only 90% of their label claim (Do you find that shocking?). Since they know they probably won’t get caught, some formulate to only 60% (or less) of claim. That means that what you see is not necessarily what you get, and poor quality products may contain ingredients and impurities never listed on the label.

Your best bet is to buy from a company you trust and educate yourself about the products you buy. For instance, call your supplement company and ask them questions about their formulation standards, ingredient sources and bio-availability tests. If you get lots of marketing hype and little useful information look elsewhere. (You have to listen carefully because they can make it sound really good when it’s not).

Q. How can I be sure I am digesting & absorbing the vitamins I take?
A. Individual supplement manufacturers may conduct their own dissolutions and bioavailability tests, or may pay to have them conducted by third-party labs. Good manufacturers will also take care to supply nutrients in dosages, combinations and ratios that encourage their proper absorption and interaction. Know your supplement company - their philosophy, formulating, testing and quality-control methods - that’s your best guide.

Q. What should I look for in a multivitamin?
A. ABOVE ALL look for a a reputable dietary supplement company. “Reputable” means they have their products analyzed and tested by third-party independent labs and that they have developed their products with quality and optimal health (vs. just high profit margins) in mind.
Don’t assume that just because a multi is a best-selling brand and shows 100% of most Daily Values that it is a good product. Some of the leading brands, and yes, even some very expensive ones, offer poor quality formulations that ignore important nutrients and use cheap ingredients. A good product will contain natural vitamin E (d-tocopherol vs. synthetic dl-tocopherol), won’t skip on expensive ingredients like biotin, and won’t overlook important trace minerals and amino acids.

There are good quality supplements out there. You just have to do your own due-diligence and not depend on marketing hype as your method of selection. GOOD LUCK!

Endocrine Disruptors..What Can We Do To Protect Ourselves?

2009-12-04T15:42:00.000-05:00

Well, first I must apologize for taking you down a rather dismal road and then leaving you hanging. Sometimes life just gets in the way, but I am back and ready to wind up this discussion on endocrine disruptors by sharing with you some of the ways we can avoid them.

1. Buy organic. Yes I know it is more expensive, but meat and dairy consistently have the highest levels of persistent hormone disruptors. If you can’t go totally organic, than at least limit the amount of dairy (especially cheese and butter) that you consume. And be sure to wash your fruits and vegetables to remove as much pesticide residue as possible. FYI—strawberries, apples, peaches and grapes are among the fruits with the highest level of residue of endocrine disruptors and reproductive toxins from pesticides.

2. Use filtered water for drinking and cooking. You can have your tap water tested, but it is likely that it will contain chlorine and/or trihalomethanes. Also, beware of bottled water—this industry is not well-regulated and so you could be paying for tap water. See NRDC for more information.

3. Consider purchasing an air purifier for your home. According to the EPA indoor air is 5 to 70 times more toxic than the air outdoors. See EPA for more information.

4. Replace your cleaners & laundry products with toxic-free products.

5. Do not microwave in plastic

6. Do not use pesticides

7. Remove the plastic from dry-cleaned clothes and air them out in the garage before bringing into the house.

8. Replace personal care products—lotions, soaps, shampoo, cosmetics, toothpaste, etc—with chemical-free brands that are free of parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde and other extremely harmful chemicals. These are in baby products too! (Keep in mind that it is the repeated use of these products, day in and day out, that causes the health risks.)

This list is far from exhaustive, so as always, I encourage you to do your own due diligence. And I don’t want to overwhelm you with this information. Even one positive change is better than doing nothing. So, start slowly, continue to educate yourself and tell others what you learn. Together we can truly make a difference for ourselves, our families and the planet.

If you have any questions concerning endocrine disruptors please contact me. It has been my pleasure to share this information with you.

Endocrine Disruptors: How Do They Affect Us?

2009-11-29T13:45:00.001-05:00

Well, this is another huge topic. And so to keep this blog as concise as possible, I will give you the abridged response. But again, I urge you to please do your own due diligence and learn as much as you can about endocrine disruptors.

How do they affect us? It starts before birth in the womb. What a mother has been exposed to throughout life as well as what she takes in during her pregnancy become the legacy of the next generation. Many exposures during pregnancy don’t even manifest themselves until the child reaches sexual maturity or beyond.

Children are exposed to more chemicals today than ever before. As a result we are seeing a more rapid maturation process. Doctors are seeing eight-, nine-, and ten-year-olds exhibiting signs of early puberty.

Endocrine disruption has also been linked to an increase in childhood cancers & asthma, abnormal development of sex organs; in addition, birth defects, preterm births and low birth weight babies are increasing in number. Lower IQ’s, behavior and attention issues also may be linked to endocrine disruptors.

Problems related to men’s health range from reproductive issues like low sperm count and testicular cancer to other types of cancers such as leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease; and an increase in heart disease has been seen in several dioxin-exposed populations.

There are a number of women’s health conditions that are possibly related to hormone-disrupting chemicals in the body: endometriosis, uterine fibroids, RSD, benign breast disease, PMS, ovarian cysts, thyroid issues, inability to lose weight, infertility and increase in reproductive cancers. And this is just a partial list.

Think for a minute – I bet you have friends or family members who have experienced some of the above mentioned issues. I can tell you that I personally have encountered many of them among my clients and friends, and I truly believe that this is a topic that we must treat seriously.

The information that I have been sharing with you may be alarming to some. But because it is a serious issue that historically has not gotten a lot of press, I am determined to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can. There are things we all can do to alleviate our exposures to endocrine disruptors, but people have to know that they have been exposed to them in order to be proactive about make changes. Spreading awareness is the essence of what I do…I hope you have been enlightened but what I have shared with you.

Endocrine Disruptors: Where do we find them?

2009-11-26T23:49:00.002-05:00

In the first installment I defined endocrine disruptors as exogenous substances (coming from outside the body) that act like hormones in the endocrine system and disrupt the physiologic function of endogenous (inside the body) hormones. So the next logical question would be where are these hormone-like substances found? Some man-made chemicals found in household products that we use daily – cleaners, laundry products, personal care products – are likely suspects. These chemicals are also found in many of the foods we eat. We are exposed through the air we breathe, the food and water we take in, and the products we absorb through our skin (think shampoo, body lotion, cosmetics, etc).

Here is a sampling of chemicals thought to be endocrine disruptors:

Phthalates – used to make plastics more flexible and durable. It is used in PVC plastic found in upholstery material, shower curtains, floor tiles & children’s toys. It is also found in toiletries (especially nail polish), toothbrushes and insect repellents. (This is just a very small sampling.)

Bisphenol A (BPA) – is a component of plastic used in the lining of food cans & bottle tops. It is also in polycarbonate plastics like soft drink containers, water jugs and baby bottles.

Dioxins – not intentionally produced, dioxins are released into the environment as a by-product of chemical processes involving chlorine. Most dioxin is emitted into the air and then deposited on grass and trees and consumed by cows and other animals; or it goes into lakes and streams and ingested by fish. Ninety-five percent of our exposure is through meat, fish, and dairy products.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) aka vinyl – one of the most common plastics. Manufacturing and burning PVC creates dioxins. It has been used widely in upholstery, home furnishings, children’s toys and hundreds of other products.

Detergents – a class of chemical surfactants that dissolve and remove oils and grease and make products more water soluble. They are found in ordinary household products like laundry detergents, all-purpose cleaners, personal care products like soaps, shampoos shaving foams, cosmetics and spermicides.

Other Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds: Pesticides, lead, cadmium and mercury.

Pesticide are used on food crops and home gardens, and are also found in flea collars, lice shampoo and even under the foundation of your home.

I just want to say that this is a daunting subject and cannot possibly be covered thoroughly in a few blog posts. I would encourage each of you reading this to please do your own due diligence and learn what products you should remove from your homes and replace with safer alternatives.

Primary source of information: Hormone Deception by D. Lindsey Berkson

Endocrine Disruptors: What Are They?

2009-11-24T15:19:00.000-05:00

In 1962 Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring was published, creating an outcry that forced the banning of DDT. Since then there has been growing concern that chemicals in the environment might exert profound and disasterous effects on wildlife populations, and that human health is inextricably linked to the health of the environment.
Although researchers had studied the endocrine effects of chemicals for some time, the term endocrine disruptor was coined in 1991 by Theo Colborn at a conference at the Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin. Theo Colborn is co-author of Our Stolen Future, published in 1996. Her extensive research and that of many others firmly establishes that environmental chemicals disrupt the development of the endocrine system, and that effects of exposure during development are permanent.

Although hormone disruption isn’t new, the growing incident of it that we are experiencing today is such that we must consider it a modern-day epidemic. In her book Hormone Deception, D. Lindsey Berkson takes up where Theo Colborn left off by extending the evidence into the realm of human health. If this subject concerns you as much as it concerns me, I would highly recommend that you purchase Dr. Berkson’s book.

So what are endocrine disruptors anyway? According to Wikipedia this term refers to exogenous substances (coming from outside the body) that act like hormones in the endocrine system and disrupt the physiologic function of endogenous hormones (inside the body).

Simply put, our cells have receptor sites which allow hormones to attach to the cell. When we are exposed to environmental chemicals (that mimic hormones) the receptor site doesn’t know if it is the real hormone or an imposter. So, these imposters are reeking havoc with our cells and thus with our overall health.
As Dr. Berkson says in her book “All this points to what can go awry. If something is wrong with the signal, the body will respond to the wrong message. In other words, an unnatural signal may create an inappropriate response. What science is discovering is that hormone disruptors can bind with receptors and send messages the same way our natural hormones can. But these particular messages can significantly alter normal cell function and growth.” [Hormone Deception, pg.13]

Next time: Endocrine Disruptors: Where do they come from and how do they affect us?

Bad Sugar, Good Sugar, Healthier Ways to Feeling Better

2009-10-26T22:12:00.000-04:00

Image on left, goes with this discussion. Natural verses unnatural. Yummy sugar is found in fruits and veggies. It provides us all sorts of good nutrition including natural sugar, fiber, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. Too many times do we reach for the chocolate bar- while just one small square of a Hersey bar contains bad sugar, wax, chemicals, and some antioxidants. Candy and junk food in general pretty much is absorbed directly on our tongue straight into the blood stream, while fruit and veggies go through the entire digestive process ending up depositing nutrients along the way--mostly in our colon- where the best nutrients are then absorbed.

When we eat candy and junk food we end up on this roller coaster for blood sugar (highlighted in red). This creates very high levels responses of: anxiety, depression, dizzy, headaches/migraines, tingly feeling, allergies get worse, spacey, ADD, ADHD, panic attacks, etc. When we are coming down from the sugar (sometime identified as 'food coma') we experience the following: fear, confusion, tiredness, cravings, suicidal thoughts, hungry, phobias, clamy skin, nightmares, heart palpitations, etc. Not to mention being on this roller coaster puts us in high risk for diabetes and the inability to lose weight.

Essentially what is happening when we eat bad foods (high in sugar, fat, salt, etc) our cells crave begin to crave these things all the time, but at higher levels- as if we are building up a tolerance. Each cell has this spot, almost like a door where insulin naturally enters, but when we bombard our system with sugar constantly, the door can't open because of the sugar levels, so when the sugar levels drop this creates more insulin to rush in, but then at this point there is not enough sugar so levels drop making the body crave more sugar. This also throws the adrenal glands off-- stress also contributes to this.

5 things people are going to crave going through this cycle

1. Sugar

2. Simple Carbs

3. Caffine

4. Nicotine

5. Alcohol

6. Drugs

To quite all this and to get back on the good foods will take 3 weeks without cheating. The key is fruit- fiber helps slow down sugar. Best things to do:

1. Raw Protein

2. Fiber

3. Excersise

4. Vitamins and Minerals

5. Enzymes

* All these should be in the most natural/ raw form as possible.

Consumer Checklist for High Quality Vitamin Supplements

2009-10-15T20:41:00.002-04:00

You have to be very careful with supplements these days. Here are a couple tips. For me I use one which is quality tested by third party and has been published in numerous peer reviewed medical and nutrition journals worldwide. Not to mention it is all natural and made from raw materials.

*Do you have a way to tell if the supplement (vitamin) that you’re using is being absorbed & assimilated?

The place to begin is to see if your supplement dissolves when placed in water within 30 minutes
or less. That is the same standard the pharmaceutical industry uses for tablets. Otherwise it goes in one end and out the other. That is just the very beginning.

The second and most critical question is...

• Are the supplements you are taking being absorbed and assimilated into the
bloodstream where they are available to the cells?   Always ask the company for peer reviewed research on their products. The key word here is peer reviewed. That means it is unbiased, legitimate research vs. advertising research where you pay someone to publish your research in what looks like a legitimate journal.

• Is there balance in the formulation?
Balance is critical to a well-formulated supplement. Many nutrients do not work effectively unless
in a certain balance. .
For example The B vitamin Biotin is extremely expensive. It should offer at least 100 % of the daily
value. Most vitamins will show none at all or less than 100% That is a sign to you of a poorly formulated vitamin, so read your labels.

• Is the amount on the label the amount in each tablet?
A common problem in the food supplement industry is quality control. It is not uncommon for the
amount in each individual tablet in a bottle of supplements to vary dramatically. .

• Is the manufacturer using a “cooling” system to preserve nutrients?

When supplements are manufactured at a low temperature, all the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, phytonutrients are not lost in the process. Without the enzymes, the body cannot utilize or absorb
the nutrients effectively. It is common for companies to use too much heat and pressure in making their tablets, which destroys the enzymes.

• Are sugars, artificial colorings or sweeteners used?
It is common for vitamins to have artificial coloring and sweeteners in them. Read the labels to
determine their presence.

• Are the supplements you are using safe and do you trust the company to have your
best interest in mind over profit?
While no vitamins are FDA approved, a few have received awards/ recognition from the FDA. Also check the reviews on the vitamin for side effects and guarantee before purchasing.

• Is there a full money back guarantee?

How Stress Destroys your Health

2009-10-13T22:10:00.001-04:00

We know stress can cause a variety of problems anything from acne, type 2 diabetes, ulcers, anxiety, digestive problems, lower immune system, and cellular aging. While these are only some of the effects of stress other more serious conditions include stress on the heart and nervous systems. Stress can affect virtually any part of the body and produce physical, mental and emotional symptoms including allergies, dizziness, headache, heart palpitations, environmental sensitivity, impaired coordination, impaired immunity and weight gain.

Skin
Many people believe that stress may aggravate acne, but a recent study stated that this information is anecdotal. These researchers wanted to study the relationship between acne and stress. A group of 22 college students volunteered for this study and all participants had acne. Students stress levels and severity of acne were measured during examination and non-examination periods. The results of this study found that acne sufferers may endure worsening of acne during stressful periods. The researchers also concluded that, “emotional stress from external sources may have a significant influence on acne.

Anxiety and Insomnia
The vast majority of insomnia, anxiety and minor depression are brought on by sugar, alcohol, coffee and food allergies. Sugar, coffee and tea (with caffeine) put excessive wear and tear on the adrenal glands. Anti-anxiety drugs simply mask the symptoms of anxiety. In addition, most of these drugs have serious side effects, including increased anxiety! A natural therapeutic approach to acute or chronic anxiety is more likely to provide long-term relief than prescription drugs. Natural approach to insomnia and anxiety are the following:
* Avoid excessive sugar, alcohol, tea and coffee (with caffeine). Drink non- stimulating herbal teas
such as Chamomile tea, caffeine free.
• Recognize your food allergy and eliminate them from your diet.
• Avoid taking OTC painkillers, cold and allergy medicines which contain caffeine and ephedrine causing insomnia (e.g. anacin, excedrin, midol, sudafed etc).
• Exercise: It is one of the best sleep aids around. Exercise literally changes your brain chemistry. Do an aerobic exercise during the day like brisk walking five to six times a week for 30 to 60 minutes each time. If necessary, take Melatonin lozenge 20-30 min before bedtime. It is a natural hormone which gives us the signal to sleep. It is also very useful for banishing jet lag. Magnesium is a known
muscle and nerve relaxant. Reduce muscle tension with 500-1000 mg of Magnesium daily.

Type 2 Diabetes
When blood sugar regulation is impaired, despite the availability of insulin, type 2 diabetes is suspected. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by elevated blood sugar and impaired insulin response. It is a non-ketotic form of diabetes. People with type 2 are not dependent on insulin to survive. The pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes is not fully understood. Three physiological abnormalities typically occur in type 2: insulin resistance, increased glucose production in the liver (hepatic gluconeogenesis), and poor beta cell function. These can occur individually or in combination. The long-term complications associated with diabetes are serious, often life threatening, and
diagnosed in the late stages of the disease. These complications are due to continuous hyperglycemia from poor glucose control. Many of these chronic complications can be traced to changes in blood vessels that cause a decreased blood flow. These changes include coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy.

A few studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between stress management and diabetes. However, these studies incorporated stress interventions that were not practical. A recent study published in the journal Diabetes Care, examined the role that stress management training has on glucose metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes. For 1 year, this study followed 108 patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. At regular periods during the year, blood glucose levels were tested and the patients were asked to respond to questionnaires regarding stress, anxiety, and psychological health. The patients involved were randomized into 2 groups both of which received diabetes education. One group was offered instruction in stress management while the control
group was not. A significant reduction in glucose levels was seen in the diabetic group who received the stress management training although patients who demonstrated unusually high levels of anxiety did not benefit from the training. The authors concluded that, "… a cost-effective, group stress management program in a "real-world" setting can result in clinically significant benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Cellular Aging
Increasing scientific evidence suggests that prolonged psychological stress takes its toll on the body, but the exact mechanisms by which stress influences disease processes have remained elusive. Now, scientists report that psychological stress may exact its toll, at least in part, by affecting molecules believed to play a key role in cellular aging and, possibly, disease development. In the study, published in the November 30 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the University of California - San Francisco-led team determined that chronic stress, and the perception of life stress, each had a significant impact on three biological factors -- the length of telomeres, the activity of telomerase, and levels of oxidative stress -- in immune system cells known as peripheral blood mononucleocytes, in healthy premenopausal women.

Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes that cap the ends of chromosomes and promote genetic stability. Each time a cell divides, a portion of telomeric DNA dwindles away, and after many rounds of cell division, so much telomeric DNA has diminished that the aged cell stops dividing. Thus, telomeres play a critical role in determining the number of times a cell divides, its health, and its life span. These factors, in turn, affect the health of the tissues that cells form. Telomerase is an enzyme that replenishes a portion of telomeres with each round of cell division, and protects telomeres. Oxidative stress, which causes DNA damage, has been shown to hasten the shortening of telomeres in cell culture. The results of the study -- which involved 58 women, ages 20-50, all of whom were biological mothers either of a chronically ill child (39 women, so-called "caregivers") or a healthy child (19 women, or "controls") -- were dramatic. As expected, most women who cared for a chronically ill child reported that they were more stressed than women in the control group, though, as a group, their biological markers were not different from those of the controls. However, in one of the study's key findings, the duration of caregiving -- after controlling for the age of the women -- proved critical: The more years of care giving, the shorter the length of the telomeres, the lower the telomerase activity, and the greater the oxidative stress.

How do I over come stress?
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
The herb is botanically more closely related to potatoes or tomatoes, but because of its
similar uses it is often called "Indian ginseng." This "adaptogen" has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It is a tonic herb traditionally believed capable of strengthening the body, but it is milder and less stimulating than ginseng. Recent studies show ashwaganda to be immuno modulating and to aid in cases of anxiety and other psychological complaints. (3)
Beta-sitosterol
One of the indicators of stress is elevated cortisol levels. Beta-sitosterol, is a natural plant sterol helps reduce cortisol levels. In a recent study with marathon runners in South Africa, runners receiving the "active" capsules had significantly decreased cortisol levels, less of an inflammatory response, and were less immune suppressed during the post-marathon recovery period. Another study found that beta-sitosterol added to the diet decreased total cholesterol absorption by 43 per cent among a sample of nine adults (4).
L-theanine:
The amino acid, L-theanine is found almost solely in tea plants (Camellia sinensis). L-theanine acts antagonistically against the effects of caffeine, and it demonstrates relaxation effects without promoting drowsiness.

There are very few products out there with this combination. The one I use works pretty well.

Whole Food vs. Raw Material Vitamins

2009-10-06T11:58:00.001-04:00

This is often a difficult issue because of the conventional perception that whole food supplements can be made from fresh fruits and vegetables and somehow dried and compressed into a tablet. Unfortunately, this is not possible or realistic. A supplement condensed or compressed from a whole food would actually contain little nutrient value, and would require taking an inordinately large number of servings or tablets to get even one serving with adequate nutritional value. Take spinach, for example. If we consider a reasonable serving size for spinach to be one cup of cooked spinach, the spinach in that serving would weigh about 180 grams. Dried and made into a powder, it would weigh about 30 grams. Since a normal-sized tablet holds about a half gram of powder, at best, to get the equivalent of a cup of cooked spinach, you would need to consume a minimum of 60 tablets. And that’s for the nutrients in spinach, alone.

Raw Material Vitamins (whole food concentrates) on the other hand are free from pesticides, chemicals, genetically altered compounds, the good ones are made from 100% organic (better than USDA organic- which by law is only 98%), made from pure (natural as possible) materials which are quality tested through a third party and have ingredients that reflect the most recent scientific and technological advances. Finding a really good raw material vitamin would need to have clinical testing done (when necessary) and have those studies published in a peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals, such as The New England Journal of Medicine, The Journal of the American Medical Association, The American Journal of Cardiology and others. I personally have only found one vitamin company that meets these standards.

Flu Season Tips from Janet Witte, RN

2009-10-04T19:39:00.000-04:00

Concerned about the Flu Season? October 2009 Update

Here are some common sense suggestions that also includes products Healthy Generations recommends.

We’ve used this plan successfully for years to avoid getting colds and flu.

Living pro-actively is the KEY to staying well.

1. Adequate sleep. 8-10 hours for adults is best. The body regenerates and heals during sleep. A good old-fashioned nap is good for everyone. Sleep before 10PM is a deeper, more restful sleep for most individuals. Children’s bedtime is best by 8-8:30PM. They do their growing during sleep and need more sleep than adults. Keep the bedroom as dark as possible. Light interferes with restorative sleep.

2. Routine. Don’t underestimate the value of routine. Constant change and disruption creates stress, and stress weakens your immune system. Regular times for meals, bedtimes, bath time, etc., create structure that helps create a peaceful home. Everyone thrives on the security that healthy routines provide.

3. Plenty of healthy foods, especially fresh or frozen organic fruits and veggies. Cut up organic fruits and veggies for snacks. During the flu season especially, make pots of homemade vegetable or chicken soup with plenty of garlic (nature’s antibiotic), and organic chicken/beef stock if possible. Avoid junk food--white flour, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine all weaken the immune system. Plan ahead for simple, healthy meals.

4. Plenty of pure water. It’s easy to become dehydrated in the winter time. Water keeps the toxins flushed out of your system. You need ½ ounce for every pound of body weight. If you weigh 150 pounds, you would need about 75 oz of water a day.

Children need more water and less juice. The #1 cause of daytime fatigue and fuzzy thinking is dehydration. Our immune systems require us to be well-hydrated. Bottled water is expensive; find a water purifier that does at good job for 18-32 cents a gallon. Shaklee purifiers make pure, delicious water for just pennies a gallon.

5. Fresh air. Get outside often- enjoy the fresh air whenever you can. The EPA says the air in our homes is worse than the air outside. Look for a purifier that decreases significantly all the known pollutants, and does it in a way that is economical (figure cost per sq. foot, and upkeep costs).

6. Regular Exercise is important, but don’t overdo it if you’re feeling under the weather. Too much exercise can sometimes cause stress on the body and further deplete the immune system, so to recover eat adequate protein and quality food and get rest.

7. Regular Hand Washing & disinfecting is important to minimize transferring germs. Keep hands away from your eyes. Wash hands before putting anything in your mouth and after blowing your nose. Common hand-sanitizers should be avoided, as they strip away the natural protection of the “acid mantle” of the skin, allowing germs to pass through.

We use Basic G to disinfect the laundry, bathrooms, doorknobs, phones, computer keyboards, etc. When you clean with “G,” germs aren’t going to regrow for about 72 hours. Germ regrowth with bleach is about one hour. Lysol is effective against 8 of the most common pathogens, but “G” kills 32 different pathogens. Basic G is approved for hospital use; is very concentrated and economical.

8. Supplement with Pure Whole Food Concentrates. Even the best of diets has gaps.

We recommend “Prescription for a Healthier Life” as the foundation for any wellness plan. These provide the best possible nutritional insurance for a healthy immune. These supplements also has a perfect array of supplements for children, from infancy to teens. The world’s best multi for kids, and Mealshakes healthy and delicious shakes that kids love.

Says Janet Witte, RN: “In my experience, as previous owner of two health food stores, I realized that there is nothing like these nutritional science to help boost the immune system. It wasn’t until I found Shaklee products that I was able to build my immune system.

For the past 20 years we have almost never been sick. I used to take handfuls of ‘regular’ vitamins from our health food store and was sick A LOT!” Our daily Shaklee choices consist of Shaklee “Vitalizer” vita strips, Cinch protein shake, VIVIX and Nutriferon to keep the immune system strong.

Our Shaklee Herbal Medicine cabinet contains Performance Sports Drink powder, Defend & Resist (Echinacea and more),odor-controlled Garlic Complex, Sustained Release Vita C, Herb-lax, Alfalfa. These all have a specific benefit in attacking bacteria, and increasing the effectiveness of your immune system.

9. Our “GET-WELL” Concoction that works!! You’ll want to make sure you have the ingredients on hand.

At the first sign of a sore throat, or feeling sick, chew (or swallow) 2 or 3 Defend and Resist tablets. Per instructions on the bottle, repeat 3 times the first day.

If you start to feel really crummy, drink this:
add Shaklee Performance in a big mug (3 to 4 tablespoons of powder) plus 3 crushed Defend & Resist tablets; 3 crushed Garlic Complex tablets, and 3 crushed Vita C. (use a mortar and pestle to crush the vitamins, and then add to the Performance in the mug). Add very hot, near boiling water, stir and sip. You’ll start to feel better right away. Keep drinking this till you are better. Performance replaces vital electrolytes; the vitamins and herbs start to immediately sooths the respiratory tract, strengthens the immune system, and goes after the bacteria. Repeat in a few hrs.

10. Keep your bloodstream more alkaline. Disease thrives in an acid blood stream, and many foods raise the acid level. Junk foods; sugary foods, high trans-fat foods are extremely damaging to the immune system.

Shaklee’s Alfalfa helps make the blood stream more alkaline, has detoxifying properties.

11. De-stress your lifestyle. It’s OK to accomplish less. Prioritize. What’s really important? Do you think your family is involved in too many activities? Avoid violence--on TV, in video games, etc. Even the “nightly news” is often too much of an assault on a healthy mind and spirit. Who needs to know every bad thing that happened that day. Regular supplements like extra Vita C, B Complex, and Stress Relief Complex are great natural supports if you’re under a lot of stress.

12. Take more time for beauty, for quiet, and for music. Simplify your life. Meditate/pray, take a nice long bath, go for a relaxing walk, do nothing/putter, enjoy your hobby, absorb the beauty of nature, etc. Get and give a massage at home or find a professional--there are relaxation/energy points on the bottoms of the feet and the palms of your hands. Cultivate Gratitude. Literally count your blessings.

13. Surround yourself and your family with people you love. Practice forgiveness; hug your loved ones. Do some kindness every day. Pay it forward!

14. Pray and trust God ~ not last, but first.

Janet L. Witte, RN, Certified Wellness Educator

The above is not intended as a prescription, nor a promise to cure any disease.

I highly recommend products from the Shaklee Corporation. They meet my requirements for exceptional purity, potency, and performance. The FDA regards Shaklee as the “standard” to which all vitamin companies should adhere.

I highly recommend that everyone use the foundational nutritional products, and stock their “Herbal Medicine Cabinet” with the items listed in #8 and #9