sugar - is it good for you?

Some interesting points from Dr Mark Hyman about sugar:

"Historically we ate the equivalent of only 20 teaspoons of sugar a year as a hunter/gatherer species, now we eat 150lbs per year per person, or about 1/2 pound each day. The average schoolboy has 34 teaspoons of sugar a day.

We evolved in a world without super grocery stores, convenience stores, and fast food restaurants. We had to work for our food and had limited access to refined foods or excess calories. In fact, our genes are pre-agricultural. We only started farming 10,000 years ago and only started refining flour about 200 years ago with the advent of the steam engine-powered flourmill.

With the advent of 15,000 low-fat foods (a/k/a high-sugar, high-calorie foods) on the market over the last 15-20 years, we have created an epidemic of increasing obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The scientific foundation for the low-fat movement was shaky from the start. Madison Avenue got ahead of medical science to the detriment of us all.

Our bodies normally produce insulin in response to food in our stomach, particularly sugar.

We once thought that insulin’s only role was to help the sugar enter the cells to be metabolized, transforming the stored energy of the sun (in plant foods) with the oxygen we breathe into the energy we use every day to run our bodies.

Here is what too much insulin really does to your body and health:

* Now we recognize insulin as a major switching station, or control hormone, for many processes. It is a major storage hormone – fat storage that is.
* Try as you may, as long as your insulin levels are high you will fight a losing battle for weight loss. It acts on your brain to increase appetite and specifically an appetite for sugar.
* It increases LDL cholesterol, lowers HDL cholesterol, raises triglycerides and increases your blood pressure. Insulin resistance causes 50% of all reported cases of high blood pressure.
* It makes your blood sticky and more likely to clot, leading to heart attacks and strokes.
* It stimulates the growth of cancer cells.
* It increases inflammation and oxidative stress and ages your brain.
* It even increases homocysteine because sugar consumption decreases B6 and folate.
* It also causes sex hormone problems and can lead to infertility, hair growth where you don’t want it, hair loss where you don’t want to lose it, acne, and low testosterone in men and more. It also leads to mood disturbances.

Balancing blood sugar and correcting insulin resistance is well within our reach.

Scientific advances of the last few decades point the way to managing this.

While there are some new medications that can help such as Glucophage, Avandia and Actos, they have side effects and are only a band-aid unless used with a comprehensive nutritional, exercise and stress management plan I describe in a moment.

My goal is to make your metabolism more efficient, to make your cells more intelligent and cooperative, not resistant. In other words, you will need much less insulin to accomplish the task of balancing your blood sugar.

While I want to tell you how to balance your stress hormones, thyroid function and all your sex hormones, and all your brain and mood chemicals that will take a few more lessons!

For now I want to show you how you can reset your metabolism of sugar and insulin by stopping the things that knock you off balance, and providing the things that put you balance in balance allowing you to thrive.

Here is what to do:

* Stop eating flour and sugar products, especially high fructose corn syrup.
* Don’t have liquid calories – your body doesn’t feel full from them so you eat more all day!
* Stop all processed, junk or packaged foods. If it doesn’t look like the food your great-great-great grandmother ate, then stay away.
* Stop eating trans or hydrogenated fats.
* Slow the rate of sugar uptake from the gut through balancing your meals (low glycemic load) with healthy protein (nuts, seeds, beans, small wild fish, organic chicken), healthy carbs (vegetables, fruit, beans, whole grains) and healthy fats (olive oil, nuts and seeds, avocadoes, fish oil)
* Rough it up: eat plenty of soluble fiber (30-50 grams a day)
* Eat smaller more frequent meals
* Get an oil change: Make your cells smarter by giving them an oil change with omega-3 fats – fixing the cell membranes so that they can more readily receive the messages from insulin.
* Move your body: exercise improves your cells ability to work better, respond to insulin better and burn sugar faster.
* Relax! Stress reduction also helps improved blood sugar control!
* Make your cells smarter through increasing specific nutrients such as chromium, vanadium, magnesium, vitamin E, biotin, the B vitamins, zinc, bioflavinoids and some newer compounds including alpha lipoic acid, arginine, and carnitine.
* Herbs may also be of benefit including Panax ginseng, ginkgo biloba, green tea, fenugreek and gymnena sylvestre, bitter melon and garlic.

Just balancing this one hormone – insulin – can have wide-ranging effects on all your other hormones and brain chemicals – so just start there".

chiropractic and addictions

Reward Deficiency Syndrome and Addictions

It is estimated that at least 20% of the American population suffers from some form of addiction or compulsive disorder, including attention deficit /with or without hyperactivity disorders (ADD, ADHD).

The five primary addictions are work, food, sex, gambling and chemical addictions.

Chemical addictions include, but are not limited to: alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, opiates, amphetamines, barbiturates, methadone, prescription drugs, sedatives, hypnotics, Ecstasy, antidepressants and even caffeine.

The total cost of addictive behaviors in terms of family disintegration, loss of labor productivity, illness, injury and death is staggering. Over 80% of all crimes are related to addictions or substance abuse. There is now evidence that addictions account for 69% of all drownings, 68% of manslaughters, 52% of rapes, 50% of spousal abuse, 50% of traffic fatalities, 38% of child abuse and 20-35% of all suicides.

The disease of addiction is multifactorial, having genetic, psychological, physical and spiritual components. Recent research has shown a genetic component in the form of a defective gene for the Dopamine D2 receptor. When functioning optimally, the human organism is capable of producing a cascade of neurotransmitters within the Central Nervous System which results in a sense and feeling of well-being. This is called the Brain Reward Cascade.

People suffering from the defective gene are unable to produce a reward cascade. We then say that they suffer from Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS). Those individuals are unable to produce a feeling of well-being and, consequently, turn to addictive substances or compulsives behaviors that momentarily make them feel better.

RDS can be manifested in mild forms such as chain smoking or in more severe forms such as in chemical addictions.

Alcohol addictions, obesity (as a result of carbohydrates bingeing), nicotine addiction, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, cocaine addiction, Tourette’s Syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorders are centrally mediated Reward Deficiency Syndromes.

Chiropractic, Subluxation and Addictions

Many things can interfere with the normal function of the Brain Reward Cascade, including, but not limited to: genetic factors; loss of normal neurological function (vertebral subluxations) due to physical, emotional and chemical traumas; illness, nutritional deficiencies; and drug and medication interactions.

In vertebrates, the vertebral motor units are intimately related with the Brain Reward Cascade by virtue of the nocioceptive reflex from vertebral joints to the limbic system (where the cascade takes place). Research has shown that the limbic system is not just in the brain, but also extend to the spinal cord (especially the dorsal roots and dorsal horn).

In light of this research, a subluxation-free spine is a requisite for the Brain Reward Cascade to express itself fully and allow the individual to experience optimal well-being.

The beneficial effects of subluxation-based chiropractic care in enhancing the well-being of individuals suffering from addictions has been demonstrated in a landmark randomized, placebo control, single blind study published in the very prestigious scientific journal Molecular Psychiatry.

The study – designed by Robert Duncan, PhD at the University of Miami School of Medicine, and Dr. Jay Holder, chiropractor and medical director of Exodus Treatement Center – has demonstrated that chiropractic adjustment of the spine of addicts enhanced their ability to complete a 30-day treatment protocol at a remarkable 100% retention (compared to 56% in the group not receiving chiropractic). The chiropractic group also had significantly lower anxiety levels and did not require as many visits to the nurse station.


Discovery Health Channel airs documentary segment on chiropractic and addictions

chiropractic can reduce high blood pressure

'one man's meat is another man's poison'

While researching ideas for a natural health book I'm writing I came across'metabolic typing'.
the idea is that the same diet won't be good for everyone : some people get on better with eating a lot of protein and others have a different genetic make-up and feel healthy eating more carbohydrates, and there are mixed types.

some of my friends have gained great results within a few days from following their body type diet - lost weight, bloatedness, less fuzzy headed, etc.

you can take the test here for free:

www.naturalhealthyellowpages.com/metabolic/self_test.html

get a flu jab and alzheimers at the same time

message from Dr Tedd Koren:
"Since flu shot season is approaching, we thought it appropriate to remind everyone
that according to Hugh Fudenberg, MD, the world's leading immunogeneticist and 13th
most quoted biologist of our time (over 850 papers in peer reviewed journals), if an
individual has had five consecutive flu shots their chance of getting Alzheimer's
disease or dementia is ten times higher than if they had one, two or no shots. (1)
Dr. Fudenberg reports that this is due to the mercury in flu shots (and many
childhood and RhoGam shots); these toxins build up in the brain causing cognitive
dysfunction. Is this why Alzheimer's is expected to quadruple? (2)

1. Dr. Fudenberg at the NVIC International Vaccine Conference, Arlington, VA.
September 1997. Quoted with permission.
2. John's Hopkins Newsletter. November 1998."

arthrostim adjusting demo

why don't I ‘pop’ or ‘crack’ spines?

Many people when they think of chiropractic care envision their spines
being twisted, yanked, and pulled on with great force. In our office we
offer our patients a low force gentle technique that can
address the structural problems in the body. We use an electronically
controlled instrument called an Arthrostim that provides gentle
repeated tapping motions to help loosen stuck spinal joints and reduce
painful muscle spasms.

The Arthrostim instrument works to correct Subluxations in the spine,
and can also be used safely on the joints of the arms, and legs. Many
people who suffer from shoulder, elbow, and wrist pain as well as hip,
knee, and ankle/foot pain greatly benefit with the low force care.

The Arthrostim (TM) also works well for people that are suffering in great
pain as well as those in chronic pain. An added advantage of using the
Arthrostim (TM)instrument is that patients can be treated standing,
sitting, or laying down. Many people only experience pain and other
problems in certain positions. For example, sitting is often a problem for
people where as laying down is not. By using the Arthrostim instrument
a patient can be worked on sitting down or whatever position is causing
the pain.

The Arthrostim (TM) instrument is a versatile instrument that is
exceptional for people of all age ranges and conditions. It is gentle
enough for newborns and children as well as adults of all ages and
conditions. Many of our patients report that it is more comfortable
adjustment/treatment and they feel better in a shorter period of time.

WATCH YOUR BACK IN THE CREDIT CRUNCH!

If the credit crunch is making you work longer hours, and your stress
levels are increasing, take care. Your body may start complaining.

I’ve noticed a big increase in neck, back and shoulder pain since the
beginning of the credit crunch at my busy practice in Hough Lane, Leyland.
I believe it’s a direct consequence of increased pressure and hours of work,
and the stress and anxiety we’ve all been suffering in the past couple of months hasn"t helped.
You can’t hold excessive levels of tension in your muscles without causing
backache and neck pain.

According to BackCare, the charity for healthier backs, 40 to 50 per cent
of the UK population will suffer from some kind of back pain each year,
and about one in 10 GP consultations is for back pain.
"It’s well known that stress exacerbates any underlying problem, and that
sitting hunched in front of a computer screen for hours is asking for
trouble – An increased workload also means that you’re more likely to
leave out going to the gym an not have time for a relaxing walk in the
countryside."
So how can you keep yourself healthy in these testing times? You need to pay
attention to pain and discomfort. Take preventative
action, find a physical activity or sport you enjoy to counteract the
periods of stress and visit your local chiropractor if you are in pain. To
help local people I am offering a free consultation until 23rd December.
Call 01772 431133 for details

statins

An interesting comment from Dr Paul Sherwood (author of The Back and Beyond - a very good book):
"A number of people feel positively miserable on Statins...If your cholesterol is a bit up and it is decided it is essential for you to have a Statin it is worth asking your doctor “are my arteries healthy?” This can be determined by a non-invasive scan of your arteries. If they are in good order, then why protect them? "

Dr John Sarno

I have become very interested recently in the work of Dr John Sarno - his theories are turning my understanding of pain upside down.
As far as back pain is concerned, Sarno's thesis, crudely stated, is that much back pain is generated by emotion, particularly anger. The pain in your back is real, genuine pain -- it's not your imagination. What you are feeling is muscular pain which results from the muscle being held in tension for long periods, which deprives it of oxygen (tension myositis syndrome). But Sarno argues that what is causing you to hold that muscle in tension, for far longer than is required in normal physical activities, is a largely unconscious group of emotions. Learn to understand your emotional reactions to events, and the pain can disappear.

Over the past couple of decades, Sarno has had a remarkable level of success in treating patients who suffer from back pain of this kind, and now he has extended this work to give sufferers some insight into the possible psychosomatic causes of other physical disturbances.

Sarno, who is now 83, is Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, and attending physician at the Howard A. Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Medical Center. As he will be the first to tell you, his work on back pain is not accepted by the scientific community, for a variety of reasons relating to 'academic rigour'. However, I think there are good reasons for supposing that the 10,000 patients whom he has successfully treated for back pain and RSI probably don't care too much about that.
Rachel's testimonial:

"My story, in a nutshell: I had RSI for about a year and a half. By random luck, a stranger (actually, two of them) referred me to 'The Mindbody Prescription' by John Sarno. This was September 1999. I had chronic arm pain, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I treated my arms like they were made of fragile glass, I didn't type at all (I used voice recognition software to do most of my work). I saw myself in the book, but I was afraid -- afraid that if I believed in Sarno's theory I might get worse, might hurt my arms more, etc. Nonetheless, over the course of the next 4 months, I gradually became more and more convinced of his theory, enough to take a leap of faith around January 2000 by choosing to take a lot of classes rather than a few (i.e. coddling my hands). By May 2000 I was very confident and was not restricting my physical activity at all. I was typing, writing, opening doors, lifting weights, everything. I still had some pain. By September 2000, the pain was gone. I was working a full-time job as a programmer, in an extremely un-ergonomic workstation, and I was completely pain-free"

152 year old man dies!

If you're interested in living a long, youthful, healthy and vibrant life this my be of interest!

Westminster Abbey is the most famous church in England.

It was started in 170 A.D. That means, this famous church is now 1,835 years old. It is a work of architectural genius, a place of daily worship and the burial place of kings, statesmen, poets, scientists, warriors and musicians.


And...
This Church Has A Secret
Here's the story:

Inside this church are vaults and monuments of many of the most famous and powerful people on earth. However, one of the smallest burial places in that church is the final resting place of the oldest person who ever lived.

His name was Thomas Parr and he was born in the County of Shropshire, England in 1483 A.D. And, he lived until November, 1635 A.D. That means...
...He Lived 152 Years!

Not only did Thomas Parr live a very long life, he also lived a very healthy, vigorous and active life. He married his first wife when he was 80-years old. He married again in 1605 at the age of 122. He fathered his first child when he was over 130 years old.

After Parr's death, an English doctor named William Harvey (he discovered the circulation of blood) was hired by King Charles to perform an autopsy to find out why Thomas Parr lived so long.

Dr. Harvey's autopsy report was written in Latin and, it has been preserved to this very day in case anybody wants to read it. It says all of Parr's organs were in perfect condition and, his colon was as clean and healthy as that of a child.
so maybe good to research and use colon detox products.

full story here http://www.westminster-abbey.org/search/12190?query=parr&x&y

clay good for sheep

Researchers at the University of New England in Australia claim to have made a surprising discovery. While searching for means to combat a serious stomach disorder common to Australian sheep, they found that "small quantities of a naturally occurring clay, called bentonite, mixed into a sheep's drinking water" not only improved the animal's digestion but increased wool growth, reports The Australian. One of the researchers, Professor Ron Leng, said that a daily dose of a half ounce of bentonite mixed into their drinking water had resulted in increase of up to about one tenth of an ounce a day in a sheep's growth. It is hoped that use of this mixture on sheep nationwide will bring increases in wool production worth millions of dollars.
note:
there is much interest in the use of bentonite clay in humans - especially as a way of detoxing heavy metals such as mercury.

the art of healing

"The art of healing comes from nature and not from the physician. Therefore, the physician must start from nature with an open mind."
~ Paracelsus