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Archive for June, 2010

My tummy hurts!

pH scale showing common substances

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Stomach pain. That’s just one of the symptoms of gastropause. Wow, sounds like menopause or andropause. Very similar in a way. Anyway, this term was coined by one of the doctors I really admire. He’s the well-respected author and physician Dr. Eric Bravermerman of PathMed. Gastropause is basically a period in one’s life when the functions of the intestinal tract begin to decline (similar to ovarian function decline in menopause and testicular function decline in andropause). Gastropause may manifest with symptoms such as gas, bloating and indigestion (or heartburn). This usually happens during our 30’s, making the class of drugs called PPI’s or acid-blockers some of the best-selling drugs for this age group. What triggers the onset of these symptoms? Possibly, factors such as eating cooked (dead, devitalized) food majority of the time, eating mindlessly (eating fast and not chewing food properly), and eating the wrong kinds of foods (highly refined or processed foods with artificial ingredients and preservatives). Ways to relieve these symptoms include taking plant (or animal-based) enzymes and betaine HCl. Eating more raw foods is definitely helpful as well. For acute situations, the drug alternative may be used but only for a short period. However, what ends up happening, is that most people stay on these drugs indefinitely, without making the necessary dietary and lifestyle changes to address the problem. In fact, there’s an article in the latest issue of Scientific American on the overuse of acid blockers and how it poses long-term health risks such as nutritional deficiencies, hip fracture (buy inhibiting calcium absorption) and an increased risk of bacterial infection (by increasing the pH of the stomach). One thing the article stresses is that there’s a need to re-evaluate the use of PPI’s as a prophylactic agent (for hospital patients with serious injuries to prevent gastrointestinal bleeding and stress ulcers) since only one intensive care patient is saved from serious bleeding for every 900 treated. Therefore, to prevent or relieve the symptoms of gastropause, try these things. Eat slowly, chew thoroughly, in small (frequent) portions.

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One-of-a-kind

Yes, that’s what you are. Unique, different, special. No one in this world is exactly like you. Even identical twins have slight differences in certain aspects of their health. That said, I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to making dietary, lifestyle and therapeutic (even medication) recommendations. Why is it that some people tolerate high doses of certain meds while others could get all the full-blown side effects from a single dose of a certain medications. The answer lies in a term we call “biochemical individuality.” We all have very minor differences in our genetics (based on the human genome project) and we all differ in how they’re expressed depending on environmental triggers. To borrow one of my colleague’s statement, “Our genes are like a loaded gun, but the environment pulls the trigger.” There’s a field of science called “Epigenetics,” which basically says that our environment could actually trigger the expression of our genes. This environment includes the food that eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, how we handle stress, the presence of harmful electromagnetic radiation (harmful EMF’s), whether one smokes or drinks, among other things. True, there are things that are difficult to avoid but there are also things that are in our control. Like the food we eat for instance, the closer to nature the food is, the better (meaning, THE LESS PROCESSED, THE BETTER). Regarding vaccinations, I would recommend individualizing it rather than doing mass vaccinations. People who are generally in good health and take care of the basics (nutritious food, clean water, enough rest, etc.) have healthy immune systems and they don’t require vaccinations. However, take a look at the link provided and see what most people have to say about mandatory vaccinations. It’s getting really interesting here.

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Body Talk

Experiencing symptoms that are uncomfortable or dragging you down? Maybe it’s time to listen to your body talk. Symptoms are actually our buddies, alerting us that something in our lives is out of sync or out of balance. Sure, treating symptoms help. However, treating the root cause/causes of symptoms or illness makes more sense in the long run. For instance, treating headaches with tylenol may help but headaches are not due to a tylenol deficiency. By the way, tylenol could deplete the body of the antioxidant molecule called glutathione, which actually protects the liver, among other things. It has been promoted as a very safe drug until recent years when massive recalls of the product have taken place because of serious side effects. Anyway, headaches could be due to various factors such as dehydration, muscle tension, stress and other things. Find the cause and address it. Doesn’t that make sense? We just need to use our common sense and listen to our bodies instead of being brainwashed to think that there’s a pill for every uncomfortable physical or emotional symptom we experience. A good example of an emotional symptom is SAD, short for “social anxiety disorder”, meaning being extremely uncomfortable in social situations. In other words, being bashful or shy. Now, when has that been a medical disorder? Not too long ago. There are more normal emotional states that are being “medicalized” but I won’t even go there. Check this link however!

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Wow, that smells!

Shelves of perfumes

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I knew it! There’s something more to perfumes or colognes than the strong smell they give off. I often wonder why some people splash (or practically bathe) themselves with very strong scents. I guess some people use it to attract others while some use it to mask their body odors. It’s all good unless the smell is too strong or offensive. Ever gone to places where heavily perfumed people have been? Sometimes, the odor lingers for hours on end (maybe not that long). Apparently, there are other ways that synthetic colognes/perfumes could harm you. They could cause male infertility by damaging men’s sperm, according to a Harvard study done in 2006. This was also the conclusion made by the Environmental Working Group, who said that the secret ingredients in popular perfume brands are causing damage to sperm. One of the offending agents mentioned is diethyl phthalate (DEP), which is a xeno-estrogen or hormone-disruptor found in the colognes. So, if men want to stay virile (guys, if you wanna have babies) into their older age, stay away from those synthetic scented perfumes/colognes. A better option would be to use therapeutic-grade essential oils. They can be used as perfumes as well as for various ailments. In fact, the oils have been used since ancient times. Records their use have been found in the Ebers Papyrus and the Bible. However, don’t just get essential from anywhere including health food stores. Most of them are not prepared properly such that the oils practically no therapeutic value. If you’re going to use essential oils, make sure that they’re prepared properly. I know of a company that has the motto of “From Seed To Seal”. They have stringent quality control procedures in place such that I’m confident in using them myself and recommending them to my loved ones and my clients.

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I want my coffee now!

Facts about coffee. It is a beverage prepared from the coffee seeds, otherwise known as “coffee beans”, of the coffee plant. It is grown primarily in agricultural communities in approximately 70 countries throughout the world. It was discovered in the Middle East where it’s cultivation spread throughout the Arab world. It is now consumed by more people all over the world. Just look at the popularity of Starbuck’s or Peet’s or Seattle’s Best Coffee in the US alone. Anyway, what are the benefits of drinking coffee? People who take it regularly do so because it perks them up or gives them energy (due to the caffeine content which has stimulating properties). One disturbing fact about coffee though is that it’s one of the most heavily pesticides crops in the world. So, if you’re going to have your coffee, choose sustainably-produced, organic coffee at least. Decaf coffee is another issue all by itself. During the decaffeination process, chemicals such as formaldehyde, are used which actually makes the coffee worse. So, for people who want their decaf coffee, find one that’s processed without toxic chemicals. And perhaps, have your adrenals checked out by a holistic practitioner if you’re totally addicted or dependent on coffee in general. One thing more, have you ever heard of the coffee fruit? It’s basically the whole fruit with the beans and the flesh all intact. The whole fruit has more beneficial nutrients than the coffee bean alone. It is rich in antioxidants called phenolic acids as well as beneficial polysaccharides. Antioxidants, as we all know, fight off free radicals while polysaccharides enhance cellular communication (which is beneficial for the immune system in particular). I’ll have my coffee fruit instead!

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Common Sense, Environment, Tips

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We Need Bugs….

The good ones, that is. In a recent article in Scientific American magazine, it was reported that prophylactic bacteria may protect critically ill patients against pneumonia. The study was done at the Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and was subsequently published earlier this month at the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. This is great considering that you rarely hear about preventive medicine in mainstream medical journals. Good bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifodibacterium are part of the body’s normal flora. Their numbers can decrease due to factors such as antibiotic intake, NSAID use, and even just by drinking tap water (chlorinated and fluoridated). When this imbalance between good and bad bacteria happens, conditions such as antibiotic-related diarrhea, small bowel bacterial overgrowth, candidiasis and “leaky gut syndrome” could occur. Symptoms of these conditions could range from gas, bloating, food sensitivities, allergies, joint pains, muscle aches, fatigue and brain fog. It’s really important to take probiotics on a regular basis nowadays (even without a history of taking antibiotics or NSAID’s because our water supply is not as safe as it used to be). Typical water purification methods usually remove particulate matter and certain microbes. It does nothing however for removal of heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, etc.), VOC’s (volatile organic chemicals), certain bacteria (such as Cryptosporidium), and mostly importantly, pharmaceutical drugs (from people flushing them in the toilet, etc). It certainly won’t hurt to invest in a good water purification system. Remember, most water sold in plastic containers may just be filtered municipal water. Let’s not even get into that now! I’ll save that rant for another day. How about that? In the meantime, take a good probiotic supplement daily and make sure to stay hydrated with pure water. By the way, the probiotic that I use is called Life 5.

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For Men Only (and for those who love them)

There are a lot of symptoms of male menopause that’s commonly attributed to the normal aging process. Symptoms are usually subtle unless there’s an abrupt decline in hormones. These symptoms include the following: abdominal obesity, decreased muscle mass and strength, loss of self-confidence, depression, fatigue, hot flushes, decreased sex drive, decreased ejaculation volume, decreased strength of erections, anxiety and loss of interest in life. Among the signs of testosterone deficiency include: loss of muscle tone, wrinkles at corner of eyes or above the lips, flabby belly or increased abdominal fat, prostate hypertrophy or atrophy, small/atrophied/flaccid penis and male pattern baldness. Anyway, a lot of men usually suffer in silence because complaining is not a sign of being macho. Oftentimes, men just deal with these nagging symptoms until things get worse. For instance, erectile dysfunction could be due to low normal testosterone levels. Treatment is usually not given until a person’s level is really deficient or below normal. So, instead of getting testosterone treatment, men are given “rocket boosters” like Viagra, Cialis or Levitra or supplement-wise, tribulus, maca, or L-arginine. This is all fine and dandy. However, it’s better to address the root of the problem rather than just treating symptoms, just like anything else. Sometimes, the first symptom of low testosterone is a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack. Scary, right? Anyway, it’s also important to check estrogen levels in men. High levels could lead to gynecomastia, prostate issues and emotional imbalance while very low levels could lead to osteoporosis. So again, it’s all about balance in everything (yin yang in Chinese medicine).

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Shut Your Pie Hole!

Veggie burger eating competition, Slovakia.

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Excuse my French. But that’s one of the only ways we can take care of the obesity epidemic in the US and around the world. Many people consume excess calories beyond what their body needs to function optimally. When I first came to the US 17 years ago, I was surprised by the huge servings of food they serve at most, if not all, restaurants (fast food or slow food ones) that I visited. I remember as a kid, my mom would always tell me to finish the food on my plate. But I won’t coz I was a picky eater and besides, she would finish eating the rest of my food anyway. Perhaps, at a young age, I thought intuitively that eating when you’re already satisfied is not right. Good thing, even though I ate junk food during my residency training, I somehow didn’t overeat or gain weight. Ideally, the only time to eat is when we’re hungry. Emotional reasons for eating should be addressed properly. Like when a person’s depressed, they tend to eat carbs to lift their spirits. A better option would be to inhale therapeutic-grade peppermint oil when you feel down because this oil uplifts, works as a digestive aid and also suppresses appetite according to a research study conducted by Dr. Hirsh, a board-certified neurologist from Chicago, who happened to be one of the attending physicians at the hospital where I did my residency training. A good rule of thumb when eating is to eat the amount of food that you could fit in the palm of your hand. Of course, you gotta eat whole foods that’s organic, in season, and sustainably produced. Avoid CRAP (conventional, refined, adulterated produce) foods if possible coz it makes you gain weight too.

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Rhythm is the Answer

Overview of biological circadian clock in huma...

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There is a rhythm in life. You see it everywhere in nature. Moon cycles, seasonal changes, circadian rhythms, migratory patterns, growth spurts, planting/harvesting times, etc. There is nothing static in nature. Everything is in a constant flux. The only thing that’s static is death. At least, that’s what we know for now. If there are rhythmic patterns in our bodies, doesn’t it make sense to give hormones (if a person’s symptomatic, deficient or has sub-optimal numbers) in a rhythmic pattern as well? This idea was actually brought forth by a person named TS Wiley. She’s trained as an anthropologist and unfortunately (or fortunately?) is not an MD. Otherwise, a lot of doctors, especially in the anti-aging community would have jumped onto the bandwagon of prescribing bioidentical hormones in a rhythmic manner. That is, changing the dose every so often, to mimic nature. Doctors, just like every one else, are creatures of habit. Nobody wants to mess with the status quo. A German philosopher named Arthur Schopenhauer put it succinctly, “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” Anyway, hormonal imbalance is just one of the causes of accelerated, symptomatic aging. Other factors such as nutritional deficiencies, chronic inflammatory processes, toxicities, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction need to be addressed as well if a person wants to age well.

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Air Supply

Love my new HEPA air purifier ...

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If you’re thinking about the 1980’s singing group sensation, think again. I actually want to discuss about something that we rarely think about: breathing. It’s more than just an interchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide). And it better be good gas. Hey, that didn’t sound right. Anyway, I’m talking about the purity of the air we breathe. Air pollution is so bad that the incidence of asthma and allergies especially in major cities have gone up. And it’s not just outdoor air that’s bad, indoor air is supposedly worse. And for those of you frequent fliers out there, airplane air is the worst. Ever wonder why a lot of people feel tired or get sick after a plane ride? I thought that we could all blame it on jet lag but I don’t think so! According to an article published on Natural News, recirculated airplane air is toxic the way it’s created. Combine that with the low pressure when you’re high up in the sky, occasional sick passengers, synthetic fragrances and petroleum-based cleaners, then you’re in for a treat or is it a trick? So, to protect yourself especially on long flights, I recommend therapeutic-grade essential oils. Not the store bought ones though coz they’re of poor quality in general. Think about it, how could something so difficult to produce (steam distillation for most oils) be sold at very low prices unless they’re diluted or something. I recommend a blend that’s been used since the middle ages. This ancient oil blend called “Thieves” consists of lemon, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus and rosemary. Each of these oils have specific therapeutic functions but in combo, they have synergistic therapeutic properties. These oil’s chemical structures by the way, are more complicated than you think (compared to synthetic antibiotics). It’s so complicated that it’s harder for pathogens to develop a resistance against them. They practically go gaga when this happens (not to be confused with Lady Gaga). And for those doubters out there, look at the research (it’s even in PubMed). There’s a lot mentioned even in the Ebers Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian scroll (1555 BC) and Shen Nong’s Herbal book (3000 BC), the oldest surviving medical book in China. Cool, huh?

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