Are your vitamins helping or hurting?

As of 1996 the Journal of American Medical Association reported that vitamin and mineral supplement sales were a 6.4 billion dollar market. The FDA reported that 53% of adults, or 101 million Americans, took vitamin and or mineral supplements with the most dramatic increase in single vitamin supplements. So with over half the population taking vitamin supplements why are our immune systems failing? Eight of the top ten western killers are related to a weakened immune systems and 23.5 million Americans suffer from autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Celiac's, Diabetes type 1 and many  others.

So what gives?  Well for one thing vitamins and minerals work best in the body when combined with enzymes and phytonutrients, not isolated.  They are meant to be eaten not taken, our bodies run on food not vitamins. Although we are well intentioned trying to maintain our health or heal naturally vitamin supplements are as far from being food as are drugs.  Synthetic reproductions made from food bi-products do not operate the same in our bodies, and many of the isolated vitamins are actually damaging to the body by creating a mineral or enzyme deficiency. For example if you take a mega dose of vitamin C in ascorbic acid form what you are getting is only the one component of the complex. Vitamin C's real immune protecting power comes from organic copper, a trace mineral we get from the soil if we eat organic. Medical research on AIDS found a relationship between copper deficiency and ineffective lymphocytes. Copper is the real protector. Vitamins found in food are bundled with enzymes, trace minerals, and phytochemicals.

The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts has never been more true than in our supplements.  If you are taking a multivitamin without minerals and enzymes you could be doing real damage to your health.  If you take the isolated supplements your body needs to combine them with their synergistic components pulling from other organs in the body creating an imbalance.  So at the worst you could be doing damage and at the best you just have some expensive urine. Many of us have mineral deficiencies due to pesticide burned soil, processed food, and mega synthetic vitamin usage so personally, I only recommend whole food vitamin, mineral, and enzyme supplements for a balanced healthy body. I use Standard Process whole food supplements.

Wheat that's fattening and addicitve. Just what we need!

I have read and written quite a lot about the evil of wheat in the American diet specifically  in regard to many of today's chronic diseases.  However, always lurking in the back of my mind was the thought that wheat has been around for thousands of years so how could it alone be the root of our modern health problems. Whole "Wheat Berries" are high in Selenium and Magnesium.  Adequate Selenium regulates the thyroid, selenium can bind with heavy metals in the body thereby making them harmless, and finally viruses of many types are deactivated in the body with the proper levels of Selenium.  Adequate levels of Magnesium support the liver and gall bladder, Magnesium harmonizes mental and emotional imbalances, Magnesium strengthens the structures of the body - think bones, joints and muscles. Magnesium supports getting Calcium into the bones not soft tissue so if you're taking Calcium without Magnesium you could be doing more damage than good by putting Calcium in the soft tissue.

Yet with all the "wheat" we eat in the US we still have a huge problem with hypothyroidism which is on the rise,  problems with mental/emotional function -1 out of  5 U.S. adults took prescriptions for psychological disorders in 2010, and the U.S. has a very high rate of Osteoporosis. In fact, 70% of the American public is deficient in the mineral Magnesium. So with essential minerals found in Wheat Berries that most Americans are deficient in, it would seem we need to eat more wheat not less right?

Wrong! I link to an article below written by Dr. Mark Hyman that is definitely worth reading.  Dr Hyman explains that not surprisingly we no longer eat the wheat of our ancestors. In the early 1950's Agricultural scientists where working on ways to engineer wheat to grow longer during the season, be pest resistant, and grow thinker stronger stems.  This engineering of plants has produced a wheat that has low mineral content from a pest treated soil, high in starch and gluten content through thicker stalks, and abundantly available. 

Since we can no longer get the organically grown wheat of our ancestors I guess it's better to take Selenium and Magnesium whole food supplements and and skip all the wheat products. Leave it to us to engineer food out of our diets.      http://drhyman.com/three-hidden-ways-wheat-makes-you-fat-8425/

The wonders of Chia

If you have not yet heard all the wonderful health benefits of Chia seeds then read on and go get some Chia seeds.  Chia is a flowering plant from the mint family and grows in southern Mexico and Gautamala.  In the 16th century it was cultivated by the Aztecs and is an important crop used for its nutritional properties. Chia Seeds have recently gained popularity in the United States because of their many health benefits.  It seems now you can buy them anywhere from Walgreens to Whole Foods.  Why all the sudden fuss?

Here are 10 reasons you should stock up on Chia seeds:

1) They are very high in heart and brain healthy Omega 3 fatty acids. Like Flax seeds, Chia seeds are a good vegetarian source of omega 3 oils.
2) They expand up to 12 times their weight in your stomach so you feel full on less food.
3) Eaten daily they cleanse the colon and keep you  regular (one serving contains  42% of your recommended daily fiber intake)
4)  They lower your cholesterol
5)  They are high in Tryptophan which is the precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin so they will improve your mood and help you sleep better
6)  Chia seeds deliver 18% of your daily value per ounce, which is three times more than skim milk.
7)  Chia seeds are high  protein which can help balance blood sugar levels and give you more energy.
8)  They can help cut food cravings, if you are low on essential minerals and trace mineral you can get the cravings and bottomless pit feeling.  Chia seeds are high in Calcium, Magnesium, and Boron.
9) They can add a creamy texture to whatever you are baking without adding saturated fat.
10) Chia seeds improve mental focus and concentratio

They are tasteless so you can add then to anything however, if you eat them plain they will taste oily.  So sprinkle them in salads, in smoothies, and add them to baked goods. Be creative, have fun,  and feel good.

Kristine

The cleanse was a success!

My 21 day cleanse was a success!  A month ago I was feeling sluggish, bloated, moody, and slow but now I feel great.  During the 21 day cleanse I broke my sugar addiction, refocused my meal preparations, got off my allergy medication, and gave up my 20-24oz of coffee every morning.  The first week was hard, I had some headaches, fatigue, aches and pains, and moodiness but by week two I was feeling stronger.  The final result was a 7 pound weight loss (my size 6 jeans are feeling loose), more energy, improved mood, brighter skin, healthier hair, broken caffeine addiction, mental clarity, and a feeling of peacefulness. So I would say it was a huge success.
This cleanse was much easier than the 28 day cleanse I did last year because I never felt like I was missing something nutritionally and I was not starving. For anyone who has never done a cleanse the Standard Process 21 purification program is a good one and can help you change your relationship with eating. I recommend it  highly.

Preparing for the January Cleanse

Well the holidays are over, the cold is setting in, the days are getting darker, and I want to curl up on the couch in a snuggie with a bowl of salty snacks. BUT instead once again this year I am going to do a 21day cleanse. If you read my blog last year you know that I did a 28 day cleanse consisting of smoothies and cold raw vegetable soups. It was awful, I still shudder at the thought of some of those soups! This year I am doing and running a group 21 day purification program at my new office in Rhode Island.  More info here http://www.rihealthandwellness.com/january-2012.html.
This cleanse seems much more doable with three rice protein shakes a day and all the vegetables and fruit I want.  I'm actually looking forward to it because it's not only going to be physically healthy for me but also emotionally healthy for me. There is a lot of new research showing what happens in our brain when we eat carbohydrates, remember carbohydrates are sweets, sodas, alcohol, grains, fruit, fruit juice. One article I really liked was in Details Magazine http://www.details.com/style-advice/the-body/201103/carbs-caffeine-food-cocaine-addiction.  Refined carbohydrates provide a rush of Serotonin from the brain into the body and if feels good.  We then come down and want to feel good again so we eat more carbohydrates. 
I am very in-tune with my body and it's reactions to food and for the last two weeks of December I ate and drank whatever I wanted and by the time I went back to work on January 2nd I was agitated, angry, heavier, and my skin was broken out. I have let myself fall back into an addictive cycle with sugar again and I hate it.
In the morning my oatmeal is calling for brown sugar, by 2pm the miniature Hershey candy bars in the office are screaming my name, and by evening the can of left over whipped cream in the refrigerator is ordering me to do a mouth whip cream shot.
So this  is why I'm actually looking forward the detox program.  I learned last year how to think about food in a new way and it was very enlightening and liberating to be free of cravings at the end of the month.  I'm not even mentioning the 14 pound weight loss, the great skin, the shinier hair. I'm really looking forward to February 1st when I can feel well adjusted, focused, powerful, and happy. So this week I am starting to prep for the detox, cutting back my caffeine, incorporating more vegetables back into my diet, and planning what I will do with myself when I am antsy during the cleanse.  The detox starts January 11th.  If you want to do the detox with me give me a call and I can set you up with the supplements you will need and talk you through how it will go.
I will be blogging about my experience, what I feel, what results are happening, and how I am coping so more to come

A pill for every ill and a drug for every bug

I am constantly amazed at how many internet, print, and television ads there are for prescription drugs.  Many with a very long list of side effects including liver damage, stroke and death. There has been a lot of debate in the recent past and some still on going about the need to reform the U.S. Healthcare system and I agree there is a need, although my idea of change is radically different. In January 2011 it was announced that the US government was going to spend 1 Billion dollars to start it's own drug research center. 45.8 Billion is already spent privately each year through the big drug companies.
I am not much of a conspiracy theorist however, when I look at how much money and energy is spent on researching, producing, and selling prescription drugs on both the private and governmental side I start to wonder "what would happen to our economy if our society was healthy and relatively drug free?" Would our economy collapse? Is this what the U.S. economy produces, sick people, drugs and new medical procedures?
If I could reform our entire medical system I would take the 1 Billion governmental dollars and invest it in health education. I would change the way we educate young doctors at the medical school level and then work up to continuing education for current medical practitioners. Now I'm not saying we should not continue to work on and research tools and procedures that are life saving. By all means our medical life saving procedures are important and worth while but the treatment of symptoms from disease instead of  the causes of disease leave us with what?
An article by Mark Hyman MD,contributing editor of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine discuses the failure of treating risk factors for prevention of chronic disease. Dr. Hyman points out that large drug companies have attempted to prove that treating risk factors such as lipid or glucose levels with prescription drugs reduces the risk of chronic disease endpoints such as cardiovascular events, diabetes, and mortality.  "Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on this research, aggressive risk factor treatments of the two most important targets -lipids and glucose- has consistently failed to show benefit in primary prevention." Dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension are risk factors for chronic disease, they are not the causes of the disease.  Drugs mask these symptoms but don't treat the cause and help us live longer. In two large trials, the NAVIGATOR and ACCORD studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that "lipids, glucose, and blood pressure were all effectively reduced in the drug trials.  But there was no reduction in morbidity and mortality in any of the trials reported and there was significant side effect." Side effect that include myopathy, elevated creatine phosphokinase, sexual disfunction, liver damage, nerve damage, and others were reported in 10-15% of patients.  So they reduce the symptoms, cause damaging side effects, but they don't prevent cardiac problems or diabetes? Why are we taking these drugs?  A study published in the Lancet in 2004 named the INTERHEART study followed 30,000 people and found that changing lifestyle could prevent at least 90%of all heart disease!!
The cause of the symptoms indicated in cardiac problems and diabetes is the environment influencing our gene expression.  The way we eat, how much we exercise, how we deal with stress, how much stress, the effects of environmental toxins all interact with our genes and change the way the gene phenotype.
So if I could make changes to our healthcare I would educate and research comprehensive approaches to treating body systems not symptoms.  If we were all informed about comprehensive approaches to treating systems using a whole-food, plant based diet, rich in omega 3 fats, antioxidants, and phytonutrients; supplements, exercise, stress management,and  treating low level toxicity we would be a lot healthier.  But what would take the place of that 16% of our GDP currently spent on healthcare?

No state of mind exists that is not reflected in the immune system

No state of mind exists that is not reflected by a state of the immune system. Body and mind are one, the body is the actual outward manifestation, in physical space, of the mind. Candace Pert's work "Molecules of Emotion" brilliantly proves the mind body connection which unfortunately today is still not always considered in U.S. Medicine when offering treatment options. The mind is a very complex organ which has as it's primary goal to survive.

Physically it's important to understand, our brain is made up of molecules containing receptors and ligands which are neurotransmitters, steroids, and peptides. Our brain is constantly receiving information through our senses and responding to the cells in the rest of the body through our thoughts and emotions. No two brains are the same and our brain will not be the same from birth to death. Our brains experience two large growth periods, one in early childhood and then again in adolescence. Once hormones are introduced reproduction, as a basic instinct, takes center stage in our behavior until we are older and hormones diminish. Once hormones diminish clearer thinking will return.

Our environment is constantly changing and our brain is always directing our body in how to react. These reactions are recorded experiences and our expressed emotions are fundamentally survival adaptive responses. We must learn to recognize these adapted behaviors and forgive some of the behavior we and others engage in, realizing these learned behaviors are how we cope with what threatens us.

Our Limbic brain is where information from the senses is stored, translated, and sent up to the higher brain for action. It is often referred to as the emotional brain because it is the axis where sensory information is converted to survival adaptive responses shown as behavior. The Limbic brain contains a high concentration of receptors and peptides. Candace Pert states” Neuropeptides and their receptors thus join the brain, glands, and immune system in a network of communication between brain and body, probably representing the biochemical substrate of emotion.” It could be that spontaneous healing is the result of the Limbic brain receiving a healing message so clearly that the peptides alter the direction of cells in the immune and endocrine system.

A lot of study has been done on neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, endorphins and many others as a pathway for drugs both illegal and prescription. In these studies it has been shown that altered neurotransmitter levels can be the cause of addictions. If your neurotransmitter levels are low in the body using certain drugs can release stored neurotransmitters until eventually you are depleted. This is how an addictive cycle is set up with drugs such as extascy, cocaine, and heroine. A big release happens when the pathway is opened and after the high there is a an extreme low so addicts get high again trying to feel the same way. Neurotransmitters can become low without the use of heavy illegal drugs. Much of our American diet leads to low serotonin levels and many antidepressants and other prescribed drugs can also deplete neurotransmitter levels.

Spiritually, we can impact our emotions and our immune system by exposing ourselves to goodness. There have been studies such as the “Mother Theresa effect” that show a bolstered immunogloblin 1A just by the presence of goodness or a study that found people diagnosed with a disease lived longer if they had a support network. The value we put on ourselves and our relationship with others can have a positive emotional and immunological response.

Our bodies and mind are one. “All emotions are healthy, because emotions are what unite the mind and body. Anger, fear, sadness, the so-called negative emotions, are as healthy as peace, courage, and joy. To repress these emotions and not them flow freely is to set up a dis-integrity in the system, causing it to act at cross-purposes rather than as a unified whole.

You control your health. It is your responsibility!

Nutrition and lifestyle can make a bigger difference on our health than any medication and a relatively few number of people are actually taking advantage of this avenue for health. Heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are not just a fact of getting older and the causes are primarily not genetic. It's time the public was informed that they have real control over their health. Getting one of the diseases that plague our society today is not arbitrary! It is in direct relation to how we live our lives. We own the responsibility of caring for ourselves and we can not rely on the miracles of modern medicine to keep us healthy. Modern medicine can not keep us healthy! It can keep us from death for an extended period of time but it can not keep us healthy. Most of us are born with health. We have all we need to live a long healthy life but we do not care for our health and nurture it.  So how do we care for our health?

1) Engage in physical activity- A minimum of 30 minutes a day 7 days a week at a medium to rapid pace. Start a walking group, take a dance class, buy a bicycle, learn tennis, anything that keeps us moving. Remember, what is in motion stays in motion. It doesn't have to be hard exercise, it could be two 15 minute walks.

2) Eat Healthy - Nutritional information seems to be all over the map depending on who you ask but since our health is directly linked to our survival and our quality of life, I would encourage everyone to make an effort to seek out the truth about what to eat. Should we seek the truth from RJR-Nabisco or Phillip Morris-Kraft? They would have no reason to bias any information, right? Even the USDA advice should be looked upon critically since their primary roll is to support big meat, big dairy, and big grain processes. I encourage everyone to seek information from sources that are not supported or funded by anyone with something to sell. Seek the evidence of pure research or speak with people who have done the research and you will find that we need to:

• remove complex carbohydrates in the form of processed food (no cookies, crackers, bread, bagels, waffles, candy, ice cream, soda, etc.) from our diet
• remove trans-fats from the diet (and yes that means goodbye fried food)
• include three servings of whole grains a day (brown rice, quinoa, spelt, oats, barley, wheat berries)
• eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as you want
• include 3 servings of lean protein a day
• use good oils (olive oil, canola oil, soybean oil, avocado oil)
• eat nuts
• eat fish
• restrict dairy to one serving a day or less
• limit red meat to 2 servings a week.
• Take fish oil and a multivitamin

  3) Think Spiritually - What is it that we value? What do we want to embody? What we eat contributes to the essence of who we are and what we value. Do we value a disease free body, fit capable body, or a pure body and then we must think about the choices we make and do the correspond with what we value.

4)  Go Green - There are many environmental factors that impact our health such as chemicals in our; food, body products, plastic containers, and air. We should seek to remove as many of these chemicals from our lives as possible so they are not endocrine disruptors. Get back to products that are natural, good for the earth, and good for us. There is wisdom in how our ancestors lived and what they shared with us.

5) Stress is another BIG environmental factor in our health that we should seek to limit. Continuing to release stress hormones causes vitamin and mineral deficiencies and wears our body down. Many times stress is a value system problem.  We may be stressed because we are being asked to act in a way that is in conflict with what we value. Meditation can be a great way of relieving stress or simply setting aside 15 minutes a day to sit alone quietly and breath deeply.

 

What exactly is the mind body connection?

No state of mind exists that is not reflected by a state of the immune system. Body and mind are one, the body is the actual outward manifestation, in physical space, of the mind. Candace Pert's work brilliantly proves the mind body connection which unfortunately today is still not always considered in U.S. Medicine when offering treatment options. The mind is a very complex organ which has as it's primary goal to survive.

Physically it's important to understand, our brain is made up of molecules containing receptors and ligands which are neurotransmitters, steroids, and peptides. Our brain is constantly receiving information through our senses and responding to the cells in the rest of the body through our thoughts and emotions. No two brains are the same and our brain will not be the same from birth to death. Our brains experience two large growth periods, one in early childhood and then again in adolescence. Once hormones are introduced reproduction, as a basic instinct, takes center stage in our behavior until we are older and hormones diminish. Once hormones diminish clearer thinking will return.

Our environment is constantly changing and our brain is always directing our body in how to react. These reactions are recorded experiences and our expressed emotions are fundamentally survival adaptive responses. We must learn recognize these adapted behaviors and forgive some of the behavior we and others engage in, realizing these learned behaviors are how we cope with what threatens us.

Our Limbic brain is where information from the senses is stored, translated, and sent up to the higher brain for action. It is often referred to as the emotional brain because it is the axis where sensory information is converted to survival adaptive responses shown as behavior. The Limbic brain contains a high concentration of receptors and peptides. Candace Pert states” Neuropeptides and their receptors thus join the brain, glands, and immune system in a network of communication between brain and body, probably representing the biochemical substrate of emotion.” It could be that spontaneous healing is the result of the Limbic brain receiving a healing message so clearly that the peptides alter the direction of cells in the immune and endocrine system.

A lot of study has been done on neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, endorphins and many others as a pathway for drugs both illegal and prescription. In these studies it has been shown that altered neurotransmitter levels can be the cause of addictions. If your neurotransmitter levels are low in the body using certain drugs can release stored neurotransmitters until eventually you are depleted. This is how an addictive cycle is set up with drugs such as extascy, cocaine, and heroine. A big release happens when the pathway is opened and after the high there is a an extreme low so addicts get high again trying to feel the same way. Neurotransmitters can become low without the use of heavy illegal drugs. Much of our American diet leads to low serotonin levels and many antidepressants and other prescribed drugs can also deplete neurotransmitter levels.

Spiritually, we can impact our emotions and our immune system by exposing ourselves to goodness. There have been studies such as the “Mother Theresa effect” that show a bolstered immunogloblin 1A just by the presence of goodness or a study that found people diagnosed with a disease lived longer if they had a support network. The value we put on ourselves and our relationship with others can have a positive emotional and immunological response.

Our bodies and mind are one. “All emotions are healthy, because emotions are what unite the mind and body. Anger, fear, sadness, the so-called negative emotions, are as healthy as peace, courage, and joy. To repress these emotions and not them flow freely is to set up a dis-integrity in the system, causing it to act at cross-purposes rather than as a unified whole.

Is dairy in the U.S. safe to consume?

Is dairy in the U.S. safe to consume? The USDA recommends adults have three servings a day and our children are pushed to drink milk by their parents, doctors, and schools but the milk of today is not at all the same as the dairy our ancestors ate.  The growth hormones and estrogen given to cows cause rapid cell division and the hormones end up in the milk. According to a Harvard School of Public Health researcher, Dr. Walter Willett, No one is manning the shop keeping track of exactly how much of these hormones ends up the milk.  He and colleagues have done studies that show there may be more harm than good done from dairy consumption, that it may be better to take calcium supplements, and that low vitamin D may be the real health problem.  Below is a link to an article about some U.S. dairy and the cancer link.

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/12.07/11-dairy.html

The Science of how High Fructose Corn Syrup Can Kill You!

Dr. Mark Hyman is a family physician who has spent his career looking for the root causes of chronic diseases and medically treating people as whole humans not individual diseases.  He writes a great article about the propaganda campaign the Corn Refiner's Association is underwriting to tell Americans that High Fructose Corn Syrup is the same as sugar and that used in moderation it is not a health risk.  In the article he outlines the science of how the molecular structure of HFCS is different than simple sugar and the health risks that it poses.  If you are unsure of whether you should STAY AWAY from High Fructose Corn Syrup read this article,

5 Reasons High Fructose Corn Syrup Will Kill You

What happens when we engineer food?

If you have not paid much attention to what is happening to the food production in the U.S. you might want to start now. According to the Human Genome Project, a government initiative out of Oak Ridge National Laboratories, 53% of the crops grown in the US are genetically modified.  Since 1996 genetically modified food has exploded in corn, cottonseed, and soybeans to name a few.  I would be very suspicious of GM food since we also have more people than ever suffering from food allergies, autoimmune diseases, autism, and behavioral problems. Below you can read some of the reasons there is an effort to get the Millions Against Monsanto campaign going. If you are not sure about what the problems with GM food are, read on:

#1 Monsanto's Bt-toxin, in its Bt-producing GMO corn and cotton (used in food in the form of cottonseed oil), was found by Canadian doctors in the blood of 93% of pregnant women and 80% of the umbilical blood of their babies.

#2 The authors of the Canadian study conclude that the women and their babies were exposed to Monsanto's GMO Bt-toxin through a "normal" non-organic Canadian diet, including non-organic (so-called "natural" and "conventional") meat, egg, and dairy products from animals fed Bt corn.

#3 Monsanto's GMO "Bt" corn and cotton plants are engineered to produce a insecticide in every cell of the plant that kills insects by breaking open their stomachs.

#4 Mice fed Monsanto's Bt corn had elevated levels of immune system substances that are also higher in humans who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, allergies, Lou Gehrig's disease, autoimmune disease, and colitis.

#5 Young mice in the same study had elevated T-cells, which are increased in people with asthma, and in children with food allergies, juvenile arthritis, and connective tissue diseases.

#6 Monsanto's GMO Bt-toxin has properties of known allergens - it actually fails the World Health Organization's allergen screening tests.

#7 Monsanto's GMO Bt-toxin has been found to bind with the small intestines in mice and with intestinal tissue in rhesus monkeys.

#8 In addition to its GMO "Bt" crops which are engineered to produce insecticide, Monsanto also produces GMO "RoundUp Ready" crops, engineered with a bacterial DNA that allows it to survive otherwise deadly doses of its herbicide RoundUp.

#9 In the only human feeding study ever published on GMOs, Monsanto's GMO "RoundUp Ready" soybeans were found to transfer Monsanto's "RoundUp Ready" DNA to the bacteria living inside human intestines.

#10 According to Jeffrey Smith of the Institute for Responsible Technology, the transfer of Monsanto's GMO Bt DNA to human digestive bacteria could create a "living pesticide factory" that could be responsible for the "increase in gastrointestinal problems, autoimmune diseases, food allergies, and childhood learning disorders - since 1996 when Bt crops came on the market."

Is exercise really necessary? Can't we just eat better and be healthy?

The short answer is, yes we need exercise not just better eating to attain better health. Here is the long answer of why. 

Our muscles use ATP as their sole source of fuel and ATP is made in the muscle cells by anaerobic respiration. Oxygen determines how much ATP will be made in the muscles so fitness is how much oxygen can be consumed in the muscle cell mitochondria. Regular exercise has a major impact on the ability to be healthy and stay healthy. Regular exercise lowers blood lipids, strengthens and makes the heart bigger, lowers blood pressure, increases the size of the muscle mitochondria for better metabolism, decreases the rate of fatigue, strengthens the bones, and shifts your body composition from fat to lean muscle mass reducing metabolic syndromes. There is no down side to exercise so it must be part of any healthy lifestyle.

Nutritionally, carbohydrates and fats can both be used to make energy and using fat sounds good but carbohydrates are more efficient and better for performance. It takes about 30 minutes of exercise for fat to start supplementing the carbohydrates for energy. Most people aren't running marathons although some do and so I illustrate that we only have 1500 calories of stored carbohydrate energy and if we burn about 100 calories per mile we will run out of carbohydrate fuel after 15 miles and have to utilize our 70,000 calories of stored fat energy. Which is harder and it's called hitting the wall when your body makes the switch. More glucose during the race is needed.

Emotionally, exercise improves mood by releasing endorphins, the feel good neurotransmitters. According to a Mayo Clinic study it also helps improve mood by reducing immune system chemicals that can worsen depression and it elevates body temperature which has a calming effect It also makes you happier throughout the day if you're not as fatigued by each stressor. You feel better if you accomplished something and you did something good for yourself.

Environmentally, you want to exercise where the air is as clean as possible since you will be sucking a lot into your lungs. Also you want to train where you will be competing if you are an athlete. If you are running a race in Denver the oxygen percentage in the air is lower or if you train in New England and then run a race in Texas it's important to realize how your body will react and what alterations you might need to make.

Some religions claim the body is a temple. I think this is a good way to think about the vessel that allows our spirit to inhabit it. Each spirit is on this earth for a limited amount of time in this body. If we respect our spirit we must respect our body. Taking good care of our our spirits' vessel requires proper nutritional fuel and oxygen to make the muscles work. Exercise makes use of the great food we eat and allows us to consume more oxygen, making the vessel strong. It's important to respect our essence, our unique spirits and the body that carries it.

Beware of Osteoporosis Medication that Inhibits Breakdown of Bone | Columbia University Medical Center

Breakdown of Bone Keeps Blood Sugar in Check, New Study Finds

http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/news/breakdown-bone-keeps-blood-sugar-check-new-study-finds

 

Research May Lead to Better Drugs for Type 2 Diabetes

July 22, 2010

NEW YORK (July 22, 2010) – Researchers led by Columbia University Medical Center have discovered that the skeleton plays an important role in regulating blood sugar and have further illuminated how bone controls this process. The finding, published in Cell, is important because it may lead to more targeted drugs for type 2 diabetes.
Led by Gerard Karsenty, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Genetics and Development at Columbia University Medical Center, the researchers found that the destruction of old bone during normal skeletal regrowth – a process known as resorption – is necessary to maintain a healthy level of glucose in the blood.
While resorption is a process that occurs throughout life to make way for new bone, Dr. Karsenty’s team discovered that it also acts to stimulate the release of insulin into the bloodstream and improve the uptake of glucose by cells in the entire body.
The findings suggest that, for some people, diabetes may develop from changes in the skeleton, and that drugs designed to stimulate the bone-insulin pathway may lead to better drugs for type 2 diabetes.
The first clue that the skeleton may have an important role in regulating blood glucose came in 2007 when Dr. Karsenty discovered that a hormone released by bone – known as osteocalcin – can regulate glucose levels. Osteocalcin turns on the production of insulin in the pancreas and improves the ability of other cells to take in glucose. Both of these processes are impaired in type 2 diabetes.
The new paper reveals that osteocalcin cannot work until cells that degrade bone start working and begin the resorption process. As the cells degrade bone, inactive osteocalcin is converted to its active form by the increase in acidity around the bone.
“Remarkably, insulin was discovered to favor bone resorption. Hence, in a feed-forward loop it favors the activation of osteocalcin, which in turn favors insulin synthesis and secretion,” said Dr. Karsenty. “Insulin is a street-smart molecule that takes advantage of the functional interplay between bone resorption and osteocalcin, to turn-on the secretion and synthesis of more insulin.”
By identifying the tight connection existing between energy metabolism and skeleton physiology – in this case between insulin and osteocalcin – this new study further underscores the wealth of physiological function exerted by the skeleton. The finding further strengthens the idea that diabetes could be treated by increasing the level of osteocalcin in the body.  In addition, the researchers suggested that since most drugs to treat another condition – osteoporosis – work by inhibiting bone resorption, the drugs may decrease the activation of osteocalcin and cause glucose intolerance in some patients.

Insulin signaling in bone favors whole-body glucose homeostasis by activating osteocalcin. (1) Insulin signals osteoblasts, bone cells responsible for bone formation, which (2) tell osteoclasts, bone cells responsible for resorption, to destroy old bone. Next (3), the acidic (low pH) conditions created by the osteoclasts activates osteocalcin inside the bone. Finally (4), the active osteocalcin released from bone travels to the pancreas and stimulates the release of more insulin. © Image provided by Columbia University Medical Center.

“This research has important implications for both diabetes and osteoporosis patients,” said Dr. Karsenty. “First, this research shows that osteocalcin is involved in diabetes onset; secondly, bone may become a new target in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the most frequent form of diabetes, as it appears to contribute strongly to glucose intolerance; and, finally, osteocalcin could become a treatment for type 2 diabetes.”
“And for people with osteoporosis, the concern is that a common treatment, bisphosphonates – which work by inhibiting bone resorption and therefore may increase glucose intolerance, could push someone with borderline glucose intolerance into full-fledged disease onset. Although, more research is needed to study this further,” said Dr. Karsenty.

###

This work was supported by a fellowship from the Fond de la recherche en santé du Québec (M.F.) and grants from the National Institutes of Health (G.K.) and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (P.D.).
Authors of the paper are: Mathieu Ferron¹,⁵, Jianwen Wei¹,⁵, Tatsuya Yoshizawa¹,⁵, Andrea Del Fattore², Ronald A. DePinho³, Anna Teti², Patricia Ducy⁴ and Gerard Karsenty¹*
Affiliations: ¹Department of Genetics & Development, and ⁴Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; ²Department of Experimental Medicine, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy; ³Department of Medicine and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; ⁵These authors contributed equally and were placed in alphabetical order.
Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, pre-clinical and clinical research, in medical and health sciences education, and in patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, public health professionals, dentists, and nurses at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. Established in 1767, Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons was the first institution in the country to grant the M.D. degree and is now among the most selective medical schools in the country. Columbia University Medical Center is home to the most comprehensive medical research enterprise in New York City and State and one of the largest in the United States. Columbia University Medical Center is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the nation’s largest not-for-profit, non-sectarian hospital provider. For more information, please visit www.cumc.columbia.edu.

Those amazing bones

Muscles and bones contribute to our overall well being in many different ways. They are important to our physical protection, our survival, our beauty, and our immune systems. We often forget about our bones, relegating them to the limited care of calcium and vitamin D supplements.. When in reality they are living organs that provides us with life. Red and white blood cells are made in the bones along with the immune cells phagocytes. Bones regulate how much calcium is in the blood stream and calcium is needed in the blood for many metabolic functions. So if bones not only give us shape, but also play a role in metabolism and immunity, we should learn to take good care of them. Taking care of the bones does start with adequate calcium intake however, I am leery of the store bought supplements. Because a proper balance of enzymes and vitamins, are required for calcium absorption I recommend getting calcium through raw vegetarian sources in the diet and whole food supplements. Vitamin D is still being studied extensively and the US RDA keeps creeping up but we do know that it helps with calcium absorption and may play a part in preventing several other diseases. So my recommendation is 15 minutes outside and 600IU everyday. Keeping the bones strong also means we need to do some weight training. Moderate resistance training 3 times a week will improve the amount of calcium being deposited into the bone. Limited caffeine and alcohol consumption will help increase calcium absorption as well as lowering emotional stress levels. Lowering emotional stress is important because we know that when we chronically stress our body in any way our body releases cortisol which sets up hyper nutrient metabolism and tells the cells not to bother storing nutrients for later.

Our muscles are not only there to help us move and make us look good and they are not independent of the bones. Muscles are the communicators between the bones and the nervous system. Studies have shown that in induced muscle paralysis there is rapid degradation of bone. The papers indicate that even very minor localized muscular deficits can have dramatic effects on bone re-absorption. Muscle derived cells contribute directly to bone healing. So if we are going to take care of our bones we need to take care of our muscles. Taking care of our muscles means we need to eat plenty of proteins and polyunsaturated fats, take essential fatty acid supplements, and do some strength training 3 times a week. Really, a well balanced diet of whole foods, some supplements, and moderate exercise will help to keep our bones and muscles working well. They are much less demanding than our digestive or endocrine systems yet essential to living well.

Since everything is connected to everything these recommendations will undoubtedly have other benefits to the body and provide little to no interference.

Dr. Hyman on the dangers of our drug system

If your taking Zetia this is a must read!

The Dangers of the Medical Industrial Complex
YOUR DOCTORS THINK they make decisions based on medical evidence. But they don't!
In fact, half of medical evidence is hidden from your doctors. And the half that's hidden is the half that shows drugs don't work.
The bad news is that drug companies are not policed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the way they should be. A drug should be proven both effective and safe BEFORE it is prescribed to millions of people. Sadly, that often isn't the case.
Let me share with you two recent examples that highlight the dangerous collusion between drug companies and our government agency. They show why the FDA should really stand for "Federal Drug Aid."
First, we now know that the cholesterol-lowering drug Zetia actually causes harm and leads to faster progression of heart disease DESPITE lowering cholesterol 58 percent when combined with Zocor.
This challenges the belief that high cholesterol causes heart attacks and shakes the $40 billion dollar cholesterol drug industry at its foundation.
Second, it's come to light that nearly all the negative studies on antidepressants - that's more than half of all studies on these drugs - were never published, giving a false sense of effectiveness of antidepressants to treat depression.
I'm not telling you to blame your doctor. Instead, blame deceptive scientific practices and industry-protective government polices. Let's talk a closer look at these findings and their implications.
Get the story 
http://drhyman.com/the-dangers-of-the-medical-industrial-co...

Coca-Cola rejects growing calls for bisphenol A disclosure

Coca-Cola is facing mounting pressure on bisphenol A (BPA) after 26 per cent of its shareholders called on the company to reveal its plans over the continued use of the chemical in its packaging.

  http://www.foodqualitynews.com/Public-Concerns/Coca-Cola-rejects-growing-calls-for-bisphenol-A-disclosure?utm_source=AddThisWeb&utm_medium=SocialAddThis&utm_campaign=SocialMedia

Of course they don't want to admit they are causing gene mutations in millions of people and they certainly don't want to have to change that because it costs money.  You can read in my earlier posts about the problem with environmental toxins on weight loss but Bisphenol A is also a known carcinogen.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid for weight loss: it's no magic diet pill

Conjugated Linoleic Acid for weight loss: it's no magic diet pill

I recently wrote about Conjugated Linoleic Acid on my blog as a way to lose fat along with taking GLA and DHA supplements. In this article they say that people who took CLA and did nothing else lost 2-4 pounds a year and that since that is not significant weight loss it's not important.  So I want to make some comments about the article here,

1)  2-4 pounds a year is what most people gain. So if we could stop the gain isn't that worth taking a pill that has as it's only ingredient something that is essential to our body?  We can't function properly without it and 80% of Americans are deficient in this ESSENTIAL fatty acid.
2) GLA Targets stomach fat!! If you could loose 4 pounds of stomach fat a year wouldn't that be great?  Stomach fat is known to be more metabolically active  and dangerous that other fat.
3) I would never suggest someone who is over weight take only a pill.  This supplement in combination with a balanced diet and light to moderate exercise could aid in more than 2-4 pounds of weight loss a year.
4) Other studies have shown that people who took CLA lost 9% body fat.

Bottom line is take 5 grams of each DHA, GLA, and CLA supplements a day.  They all help us metabolize fat better, reduce inflammation, are essential for health, reduce risk of heart attack, improve memory, and many other positives. The negatives?  Umm there aren't any.

Support your weight loss

Potential reasons for global weight gain

1. Environmental toxins
2. Viruses and Bacteria in the gut
3. Fear of fats
4. Toxic Liver
5. Water logged tissue
6. Excess Insulin and inflammation
7. Stress - producing cortisol
8. Lack of Support

One of the main reasons people state their diets fail is lack of support.  This is also why organizations like weight watchers have been so successful in helping people lose weight.  Support is always important, studies have shown that people who have wider support and social circles have lower stress levels, healthier immune systems and live longer. Add lose more weight that list. Support for weight loss is important because presumably when you are trying to lose weight there are life style changes you will be making.  Some of which may affect others in your life. Here are some ways to make your weight loss more successful,

• Ask your family to be your morale supports
• Start or join  a group - this could be a group at your place of worship or at your office
• Support your body with the correct supplements
• Pamper yourself often with a massage, facial, or some sort of relaxation
• Reflect on the positive changes you have made in your life
  

The Amazing Liver

Potential reasons for global weight gain

1. Environmental toxins
2. Viruses and Bacteria in the gut
3. Fear of fats
4. Toxic Liver
5. Water logged tissue
6. Excess Insulin and inflammation
7. Stress - producing cortisol
8. Lack of Support

 Our liver is probably the most under appreciated organ in the body and actually it is really quite amazing.  The liver performs over 400 functions in the body one of which is the detoxification for our body of chemicals, OTC and Rx meds, Alcohol, and hormones. It converts the toxins into more easily eliminated water soluble forms for disposal.  Liver toxicity from acetaminophen poisoning is by far the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States.  The liver produces bile which helps to emulsify fats in the small intestine.  Fats are one of the most difficult nutrients for the body to digest. As I mentioned, the liver performs over 400 functions and you can not live without it. Unfortunately the liver is so strong that we would not know there is a problem until 75% of the tissue is damaged.  It has no way to signal us unlike the heart or the lungs.  It's probably safe to assume that our livers are over worked considering how little we think about them and often we abuse them.  Here are some things you can do to support your liver before it's too late.

• Take a complete multi-vitamin every day
• Make sure your supplements include zinc, selenium, maganese, glutathione, glutamine, and taurine
• Drink lemon and water, a bile thinning beverage
• Reduce over the counter meds
• Mix a little cranberry juice in you water, cranberry opens up the detox pathway
• Consider taking milk thistle or dandelion supplements
• Eat plenty of vitamin c rich foods