I just returned from our Tai Chi class. It was a good way to start the day and the weekend. We all felt better after the exercises. Each of us decided to change our plans to enjoy the outdoors in some way this weekend.
The weather today in Camarillo is fantastic. Get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunlight. It is healthier for your body, calming for the mind and enriching for the spirit. You can't ask for a better medicine.
We may copy a friend and go to the tide pools. Or take a hike up in the Santa Monica Mountains. Whichever we do it will be great to get out and enjoy this spring-like day.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Meditation or Prozac?
Boston University's psychology professor Stefan Hofmann reviewed 39 studies on mindfulness meditation. The studies showed that using this as therapy can relieve anxiety and improve moods. While not for all of the 1,140 people the technique did work.
Another study last month found that the treatment is as effective as drugs in preventing relapses of depression. MRI scans actually validated the study showing different brain activity before and after the meditation training.
Many people have side effects from their prescriptions but deal with them since the depression or anxiety is worse than the side effects. Simple meditation found in yoga or tai chi can have the same benefits without the side effects of the drugs.
It makes me appreciate my Tai Chi even more.
Another study last month found that the treatment is as effective as drugs in preventing relapses of depression. MRI scans actually validated the study showing different brain activity before and after the meditation training.
Many people have side effects from their prescriptions but deal with them since the depression or anxiety is worse than the side effects. Simple meditation found in yoga or tai chi can have the same benefits without the side effects of the drugs.
It makes me appreciate my Tai Chi even more.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The Myth of Sports Drinks
Sport Drinks are not of any benefit for the average athlete. They mildly help professional athletes but if you are not exercising at that level daily then they are just as bad for us as soda. Due to successful marketing people are convinced that they are good for anyone that does any level of activity. But all the sugar they contain may be part of the obesity problem the USA faces.
This study was authored by Nalini Ranjit and posted at CNN.com. 15,000 middle and high school students found that the people purchasing these drinks also were eating a better than average diet. These students have been convinced that the drinks are part of a healthy lifestyle. Yet the sugar content is almost as high as soda.
To help prevent obesity, diabetes and other sugar related health problems stay away from Soda and Sports Drinks. Your body will thank you for this.
This study was authored by Nalini Ranjit and posted at CNN.com. 15,000 middle and high school students found that the people purchasing these drinks also were eating a better than average diet. These students have been convinced that the drinks are part of a healthy lifestyle. Yet the sugar content is almost as high as soda.
To help prevent obesity, diabetes and other sugar related health problems stay away from Soda and Sports Drinks. Your body will thank you for this.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Brown Rice, White Rice and Diabetes
We always hear, "eat whole grains." Yet many of us forget to apply that to rice.
We remove the bran from brown rice and that is white rice. Along with the bran go a lot of nutrients; various antioxidants, a form of vitamin E, gamma-oryzanol, beta-sitosterol, 2 fibers and ferulic acid. Many studies have shown all of these may contribute to either lowering fats, lowering cholesterol and balancing blood sugar.
In 2010 a Harvard study of 200,000 people showed that those eating 5 or more servings of white rice per week increased the chance of diabetes by 17%. Yet CNN.com shows people eating 2 or more servings per week of brown rice lowered their chances of diabetes by 11%. That is a 28% difference between white and brown rice!
Without the bran the white rice is converted into blood sugar much quicker than the brown rice which increases our demand for insulin. Higher insulin demand without the nutrients we need to deal with it make it harder & harder for our bodies to handle spikes in blood sugar. This leads to diabetes.
Combine these studies with other research and we see that removing white rice and substituting whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat, quinoa, barley, spelt, Irish oats) instead can decrease the incidence of diabetes by over 30%.
So next time you order Chinese food ask for brown rice. If they can't do it, call someone who can. Your health depends on it.
We remove the bran from brown rice and that is white rice. Along with the bran go a lot of nutrients; various antioxidants, a form of vitamin E, gamma-oryzanol, beta-sitosterol, 2 fibers and ferulic acid. Many studies have shown all of these may contribute to either lowering fats, lowering cholesterol and balancing blood sugar.
In 2010 a Harvard study of 200,000 people showed that those eating 5 or more servings of white rice per week increased the chance of diabetes by 17%. Yet CNN.com shows people eating 2 or more servings per week of brown rice lowered their chances of diabetes by 11%. That is a 28% difference between white and brown rice!
Without the bran the white rice is converted into blood sugar much quicker than the brown rice which increases our demand for insulin. Higher insulin demand without the nutrients we need to deal with it make it harder & harder for our bodies to handle spikes in blood sugar. This leads to diabetes.
Combine these studies with other research and we see that removing white rice and substituting whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat, quinoa, barley, spelt, Irish oats) instead can decrease the incidence of diabetes by over 30%.
So next time you order Chinese food ask for brown rice. If they can't do it, call someone who can. Your health depends on it.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Acupuncture changes brain's perception and processing of pain, researchers find
Acupuncture changes brain's perception and processing of pain, researchers find
Another study showing how acupuncture helps the body.
Another study showing how acupuncture helps the body.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Is Cholesterol the Threat They Tell Us?
Heart Disease is still on the rise despite a constant stream of new preventative pharmaceuticals. Western Medicine's approach to preventing heart attacks is based on study from the 1970s. They compared fat intakes. Our understanding of cholesterol are based on this study.
The problem is that the people eating the higher fat were also eating higher sugar. Was it the fat or sugar? We don't know for sure. Everything we are doing could be wrong and maybe it should be sugar that we are reducing.
Add to this that almost 20% of the population have very harsh side effects from Statin prescriptions (e.g. Lipitor). Two of which are weight gain and high blood pressure. Those are very counter productive in the attempt to reduce heart disease.
I do think High Cholesterol is a problem but I'm not sure it is as bad as they are saying. Yet sugar is a major problem in our country. Reducing that will do nothing but improve your health. And that is a Sure Thing.
The problem is that the people eating the higher fat were also eating higher sugar. Was it the fat or sugar? We don't know for sure. Everything we are doing could be wrong and maybe it should be sugar that we are reducing.
Add to this that almost 20% of the population have very harsh side effects from Statin prescriptions (e.g. Lipitor). Two of which are weight gain and high blood pressure. Those are very counter productive in the attempt to reduce heart disease.
I do think High Cholesterol is a problem but I'm not sure it is as bad as they are saying. Yet sugar is a major problem in our country. Reducing that will do nothing but improve your health. And that is a Sure Thing.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Our Responsibility and Medical Errors
According to Institute of Medicine, in the year 2000 between 44,000 & 98,000 unnecessary deaths and more than a million injuries occured due to medical error.
Another study by Barbara Starfield, MD, MPH, shows that medical errors may be the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States. Some of these deaths occur as a result of drug interactions or severe side effects. These happen while using the drugs correctly.
This is not the disease causing the death or injury. This human error.
Within 1 week I had 2 patients come in complaining about side effects of their statin (cholesterol lowering) and Lasix (blood pressure reducing). Both had started their statin 1st and then later had high blood pressure (HBP). In both cases the doctors did not try a non-statin cholesterol lowering drug. A percentage of the population gets HBP from statins. Rather than try a different prescription for the high cholesterol another drug was prescribed to treat the HBP. No other approach was tried even after the woman complained about the side effects.
By changing diets and using herbs I was able do reduce the cholesterol in both patients so low that they did not need the statin which then lowered their HBP so they could get off that drug also.
Neither doctor had checked the side effects of the drugs. Neither doctor counseled on diet. They just wrote another prescription.
Western medicine in emergency situations is fantastic but there are so many drugs available that it has become difficult for doctors & nurses to keep track. It has become the patient's responsibility to watch what is going on.
Report All new symptoms and feelings. Ask questions. Be a partner in your health and recovery.
Another study by Barbara Starfield, MD, MPH, shows that medical errors may be the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States. Some of these deaths occur as a result of drug interactions or severe side effects. These happen while using the drugs correctly.
This is not the disease causing the death or injury. This human error.
Within 1 week I had 2 patients come in complaining about side effects of their statin (cholesterol lowering) and Lasix (blood pressure reducing). Both had started their statin 1st and then later had high blood pressure (HBP). In both cases the doctors did not try a non-statin cholesterol lowering drug. A percentage of the population gets HBP from statins. Rather than try a different prescription for the high cholesterol another drug was prescribed to treat the HBP. No other approach was tried even after the woman complained about the side effects.
By changing diets and using herbs I was able do reduce the cholesterol in both patients so low that they did not need the statin which then lowered their HBP so they could get off that drug also.
Neither doctor had checked the side effects of the drugs. Neither doctor counseled on diet. They just wrote another prescription.
Western medicine in emergency situations is fantastic but there are so many drugs available that it has become difficult for doctors & nurses to keep track. It has become the patient's responsibility to watch what is going on.
Report All new symptoms and feelings. Ask questions. Be a partner in your health and recovery.
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