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Healthy Foods for Healthy Breasts

2/19/2013

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We have all heard the statistics of how many women are being diagnosed with breast cancer.   More women are being daignosed than ever before.  So what can you do to become healthier and help your body get the nutrition it needs to support your breasts?  Here are just a few compounds that research has shown to benefit breast health.
1.    Black Currant Seed Oil is a natural source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is one of two essential fatty acids responsible for the function and growth of cells, nerves, muscles, and organs.

2.    Omega-3 Fats are found in oily fish, flax seeds and walnuts. Research has found that women with the highest omega-3 fats in breast fatty tissue  were less likely to have breast cancer that women with the least omega-3 fats. (International Journal of Cancer, 2002 Mar 1;98(1):78-83)

3.     Cruciferous Vegetables, such as Kale and Brussels sprouts, contain phytochemicals known as glucosinolates.   These compounds have been shown to protect against colon, breast, prostate, thyroid, cervical, and other cancers.   

4.    Fiber helps reduce excess estrogen and remove it from the body. 

5.     Although not a food, a healthy weight is known to reduce risk of many diseases, including breast cancer.
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Standard Process Publishes on the Role of Spanish Black Radish in Detoxification

12/14/2012

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Good Digestion for You and Your Guests at Thanksgiving

11/19/2012

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The turkey is thawing, the last minute grocery shopping is starting, and friends and family will soon arrive.  Such a joyous celebration!  Don't let the festivities be ruined by indigestion due to the rich menu.  There are two ways to assist your digestion through the holiday season.
First, have a pitcher of natural mountain spring water with lemon wedges available.  Keep it on the dinner table so that guests can help themselves.  The mineral rich water will provide needed minerals in our diet, and the lemons will help our gal bladders handle the rich fatty foods. 
For the guests who know that they suffer from indigestion and need some relief, keep organic apple cider vinegar at hand.  They can either take a tablespoon or two before eating, or put it on their salad.  This will increase the stomach's pH, which will assist in breaking down the heavy meal.

I offer my patients a product called Betaine Hydrochloric Acid.  It is the same type of acid that is in our stomachs, so adding more right before big, heavy meals, helps break down our food more efficiently.
If you have questions about indigestion or any other concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

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How to Handle the Sudden Onset of Pain

11/13/2012

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You wake up to the sound of the alarm and realize that you're in so much pain that you can barely move.  Most of you have been in this situation.  So what do you do?
First of all, avoid heat.  Everyone rushes to put a heating pac on painful spots, but this is not the right time for heat.  Anytime your pain has increased significantly, it's time for ice.  I know it doesn't feel as good as heat does, but it does more for the pain and inflammation.  Heat increases blood flow, which increases inflammation.  Ice decreases blood flow, which decreases inflammation, which decreases pain.
If you would like more information on this topic, look up my older blog on ice vs heat.
Now that you have ice on the painful area, you must let it get cold enough to go numb in order to be affective. ALWAYS have a layer between you and the ice, whether it be a paper towel, T-shirt, etc.
Next, gentle stretching, if possible will help relax the muscles involved.  If it's the low back, lying on your back, with an ice pac under you and bringing you knees up to your chest (as far as you can comfortably) and holding to a count of 10.
If it's your neck, lying on your back with ice pac under you with a rolled up towel to support your cervical curve.  Clasping your hands together and placing them behind your head, gently lift your head towards your chest.
Ice and stretching can do wonders until you can get in to see your Chiropractor.  This combination will help stop the inflammation, calm down the muscle spasms and actually begin the healing process quicker. 
I am always available for questions and offer a free consultation to everyone.
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

10/25/2012

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Wikapedia's definition of Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is "an entrapment median neuropathy, causing paresthesia, pain, numbness, and other symptoms in the distribution of the median nerve due to its compression at the wrist in the carpal tunnel. The pathophysiology is not completely understood but can be considered compression of the median nerve traveling through the carpal tunnel.[1]

In my experience, patients have symptoms of pain before they actually have numbness.  They can have pain in the wrist and/or forearm.  The numbness is one of the last stages, when the inflammation has encroached on the small space where the median nerve runs.
Carpal Tunnel can be treated with therapeutic massage, Acupuncture, ice and B6.  I start with deep tissue massage techniques and have the patient ice at home.  If this does not resolve the issue, the next step is acupuncture and B6.  So far, I have not had a patient that needed surgery.  There have even been some cases where the patient was scheduled for surgery and was able to cancel.  Every case is different, and not everyone can avoid surgery, but if it were me, my family or friends, I would try this before surgery.  If you have questions, please feel free to contact me.  I always offer a free consultation.

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Is Your Supplement Giving You Enough Nutrition?

10/1/2012

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More and more we hear that we  Americans eat plenty of food, but we are still starving.   In other words, we are overfed and undernourished.  We are not eating enough fresh fruits and vegetables, and the foods we do eat have been stripped of their nutritional value.  The same goes for our supplements.

The supplements available are abundant, diverse, and overwhelming, But they can also be nutritionally insufficient.  Where did the nutrients in your vitamin come from?   The best multivitamin nutrition is whole food supplements.  That means that whole foods are concentrated into a supplement so that all the nutrients from the food are intact, and are replacing the missing nutrients from our diets. 

Most multivitamins available are not from whole foods.  They are single vitamins in large amounts, not the entire food complex, and not from whole foods.  If you want the most effective multivitamin supplement,  look for a whole food supplement.  The one I use and recommend is Catalyn, by Standard Process.  For further information, feel free to contact me.  I always offer free consultations, and I am available for questions.
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Vitamin C and Ascorbic Acid

8/13/2012

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The Government rates vitamin C products by the amount of ascorbic acid contained in them.  There are many other factors in vitamin C that are just as important.  It is crucial to get all the nutrients and the synergistic cofactors, enzymes, and all the other unknown factors that are found along with it.  So if you are interested in taking vitamin C, find a supplement that is a whole food supplement.  In other words, it is the whole orange, lime, alfalfa, etc.  It will list ingredients such as dried alfalfa leaf, carrot root, wheat germ.  It will not mention ascorbic acid, although it is contained in the product.  The brand I use for myself, my family, and my patients is Standard Process.
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When to Use Ice

7/17/2012

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One question I am asked frequently is when to use ice or heat.  There is a lot of confusion and a lot of varying opinions as to when to use ice as opposed to heat.


When you are injured, or your pain suddenly increases, you should use ice.  This stops pain and slows down swelling.  If you have the same achey, soreness day in and day out, you can use heat.

Ice is used to slow down the blood flow by constricting the blood vessels, which slows down the swelling and inflammation.  Heat increases blood flow by dialating the blood vessels, which increases inflammation and swelling.  Therefore, in an acute situation (a new injury, increase in pain and swelling), you would want to use ice. 


I recommend using gel ice pacs because they are more comfortable.  Also frozen peas or corn work well too.  DON'T put ice directly on your skin!  Always have a layer between your skin and the ice pac.  You can actually burn your skin with direct contact.  A paper towel, or thin dish cloth works best.  Don't use a towel because of the thickness.  You want the area to get cold.  A thick towel won't allow the proper temperature change to the area. 


A good rule of thumb is 15 minutes after the area gets numb.  First, you will feel a burning, then an ache, and then it will go numb.  Ice doesn't feel as soothing as heat, but it works best for acute symptoms, and will help control swelling and inhance recovery.

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