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Work It! Work Out!

September 21, 2010
Yoga Class at a Gym Category:Gyms_and_Health_Clubs

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Ever wonder why some people go to the gym regularly but don’t get results whatsoever or worse, they just get injuries? Well, let’s see the possible reasons why this is so. A lot of times, people aren’t able to accomplish their goals because they don’t have the nutritional support for their bodies (to create muscle tissue or lose body fat). There is a greater need for protein during the anabolic process. And this doesn’t mean just any protein. A high-quality protein source is needed by the body during this time, whether it’s from an animal or plant source (depending on a person’s individual needs). For those with busy lifestyles, using a protein meal replacement would work (whey, rice, pea). And it’s not enough to eat a diet that’s high in protein, however. Are you actually digesting and assimilating the nutrients from your food? Beginning in our 30’s, we actually produce less digestive enzymes (HCl, pepsin, pancreatic enzymes, bile). People usually manifest this lack of enzymes with symptoms such as heartburn, burping, indigestion, bloating and gas. So, it would be beneficial to take some digestive enzymes especially with high-protein meals or meals that are primarily cooked. If a person’s nutritional needs are already met but they still have a hard time reaching their goals, then it might be a good idea to have their hormones checked. Hormonal imbalance could lead to issues such as muscle and bone loss as well as fat accumulation. Deficient or even “low normal” levels of the androgens in men (DHEA and testosterone), estrogen/progesterone imbalance in women, imbalance in thyroid and adrenal hormones, and deficient or “low normal” levels of anabolic hormones such as growth hormone can all lead to futile work-out efforts. It would be really helpful to work with a anti-aging practitioner when someone is trying to optimize their hormone levels. One thing to remember by the way, is the difference in sexes when it comes to trying to achieve a certain body fat percentage. For men, the normal is between 10-15%, while in women, it’s 20-25% (since women are genetically programmed to have a higher body fat percentage). If the hormones are still out of balance in spite of efforts to optimize them , then it may be important to look at the role that toxins play in this scenario. Heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides and other environmental toxins could create hormonal imbalances. Therefore, it’s also important to rule them out if one is intent on achieving their health/fitness goals. More on this later.

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Diet Perfect!

September 15, 2010
A vegetarian dinner at a Japanese Buddhist temple

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The perfect diet! Is there such a thing?  Possibly, if a person’s biochemical individuality is considered when making dietary recommendations, then it’s possible to have a perfect diet. Ideally, a diet should be tailored according to a person’s needs. And it should all start right after a baby is weaned off from his/her mother’s milk, which by the way, is a baby’s perfect food. You probably have heard of the blood type diet. It is a concept popularized by Dr. D’Adamo in his book called “Eat Right For Your Type” and actually endorsed by world-famous holistic MD, Dr. Jonathan Wright.  The dietary advise based on the blood type diet actually goes beyond the general recommendations given by dietitians, nutritionists or even some holistic practitioners.  The “blanket” recommendations given include a low fat/high protein diet, low carb diet, no hydrogenated oils/trans-fats, no artificial colorings/flavorings/preservatives, no caffeine, no high fructose corn syrup, hormone and antibiotic free meat, etc. There are also a lot of fad diets on the market such as the Atkin’s diet, South Beach diet, and the Mediterranean diet. It’s all good but the common denominator among these recommendations is that they’re generalized, cookie-cutter or a one-size-fits-all approach. The blood type diet is a small step towards individualizing dietary recommendations. People with type O blood do well on a diet that’s high in animal protein due to their higher production of Hydrochloric acid. Type A blood type usually do well on vegetarian diets. Blood type B individuals could tolerate dairy and fish and lastly, blood type AB do well on seafood, nuts and grains. Another interesting concept is based on the work of George Watson, proponent of the metabolic typing diet. A person can be a fast, slow, mixed or balanced oxidizer. Oxidation, by the way, refers to the burning of foods in the body for fuel/energy. Slow oxidizers metabolize food slowly while fast oxidizers metabolize food rapidly. Then, there are those who are mixed oxidizers, who vacillate between fast and slow oxidation. In summary, it’s really important to get to know a person well before making dietary recommendations. Fortunately, there are tests available that help us achieve this goal. These include functional intracellular analysis (or nutrient deficiency testing), food sensitivity/allergy testing, organic acid analysis and more.

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Waste in Your Waist

September 14, 2010
On overweight man's waistline.

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You got that right! There’s a lot of waste in your waist. And I don’t mean the waste products in your colon, however.  What I’m referring to are the toxic products that are in the fatty areas of the body, primarily the core or abdominal area. Toxins have a propensity to accumulate in fatty tissues because they are lipophilic or “fat-loving”. Other fatty areas in the body include the breast area in women and the neurological system in both sexes. The toxins found in these areas are primarily environmental toxins such herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals, VOC’s, and other dangerous chemicals. During the process of weight loss (fat loss, specifically), the body begins burning fat, in the process releasing all these toxic chemicals into the circulation. With poor detoxification mechanisms, these chemicals are just recirculated and deposited into other parts of the body where they interfere with function. That’s the reason why some people feel worse when they lose weight. It’s really important to enhance the detoxification pathways before embarking on such a program. Speaking of detoxification, one of the major organs responsible for this process is our liver. There are 2 phases of detoxification that goes on here. To simplify things, phase 1 primarily involves making toxic products less toxic and phase 2 involves preparing the toxin for excretion by conjugating it with certain nutrients. Deficiency of nutrients could interfere with either phase and lead to waste build up in the body. In summary, if one intends to lose weight, wait and do some research and then run to your nearest holistic health provider.

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Holistic Approach to Chronic Infections

September 10, 2010
Herbs: Thyme, oregano and rosemary

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Are antibiotics effective enough to take care of infections? We all hope so but it doesn’t always happen in real life especially in the case of chronic infections. A more comprehensive way of addressing chronic infections should involve the following: 1. reduction of microbial load through the use of anti-infective agents, 2. immune system support, 3. optimizing detoxification mechanisms, 4. nutritional support, 5. optimizing sleep/rest and 6. hormonal support. We all know the different ways to reduce microbial load. It involves the use of synthetic/prescription and herbal antibiotics, anti-virals, anti-parasitics and anti-fungals. Immune system support is critical, since ultimately, it’s our immune system that takes care of killing these microbes. Vitamins (vitamin C complex, vitamin D), minerals (selenium, zinc), herbal agents (echinacea), therapeutic-grade essential oils (oregano, clove, frankincense), homeopathic/spagyric remedies, and acupuncture are among the tools used to optimize immune system function. Support of detoxification mechanisms is absolutely essential to prevent a severe die-off or a Herxheimer reaction, a process that takes place when the body is overwhelmed with byproducts of microbial destruction. We’re looking at improving colon, kidney, liver, skin, lymphatic and lung function since all these organs are involved in detoxification (and drainage, for that matter). Having a sensible diet and the judicious use of nutritional supplements could go a long way in improving overall health. Sleep is a time when our body  repairs and regenerates itself. During this time (“anabolic phase” according to Dr. Revici’s work), our body secretes hormones such as growth hormone, prolactin and melatonin (which are all involved in the anabolic process). Finally, hormonal support is essential in cases of chronic infections. Our adrenals and thyroid could be burned out (from the stress of chronic infection) and supporting these organs could help the body overcome and win the fight against infection.

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Detoxification and Biochemical Individuality

September 9, 2010
Detox day

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Everybody needs to detox. True. Everybody should do the same detox program. False. We are all different and therefore, a cookie-cutter or a one-size-fits-all approach at detoxification would not work at all, ever! Fortunately, there are genetic tests available to determine if a person can tolerate a detoxification program. If a person’s tests turns out to be homozygous positive for one of these genes, then they better be careful when they’re undergoing a detox program. It’s better for these people to start slowly and perhaps work with a holistic health care practitioner who considers each person’s biochemical individuality. Other things to consider when going on a detoxification program, it’s important to focus downstream (on the bowels) before treating the upstream (liver, kidneys, etc). Otherwise, toxins would be recirculating into the body, practically making things worse. Ever wonder why some people experience a lot of side-effects or worse, deathly- ill when they’re undergoing a cleanse? Indeed, there is a truth to the the adage, death begins in the colon. So, it’s really important to focus on gastro-intestinal health. Whatever we put in our mouths affects everything else in the body. Don’t believe the “party-line” advise to eat whatever you want. I’ve heard it from “healthy” people and people with chronic degenerative disease (such as cancer) being told by their health care practitioner to do so. No wonder our country ranks only #17 as far as the healthiest industrialized nations in the world even though we spend the most in health care. Just something to ponder about.

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Lymelife

September 8, 2010
The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), the ...

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That’s the title of a movie I just saw yesterday on Netflix. It’s basically a movie about 2 families who live in a town that’s been “terrorized” by Lyme disease. There is one character played by Timothy Hutton who has been experiencing chronic neurological problems. He says in the movie that he’s been diagnosed by doctors at different times with syphilis, Lyme disease and multiple sclerosis. Interesting, since Lyme disease is also called “the great imitator” (because it could mimic a lot of illnesses). Lyme disease has to be ruled out in cases such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, psychiatric illness and autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis), among other things. How is it acquired? It’s primarily caused by a tick bite. Other possible routes of transmission (according to researchers) may include blood transfusion and mosquito bites. It’s scary considering that quite a huge percentage of infected people don’t have the characteristic bull’s eye rash. So, these people go undiagnosed, only to manifest later in life with chronic, debilitating symptoms. How is it diagnosed? Ideally, according to ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society), it has to be a clinical diagnosis. However, most doctors are still relying on the not very sensitive commercial tests available. People who are actually infected may have negative test results. What’s the usual treatment? A short course of antibiotics. According to Dr. Stricker, one of the prominent LLMDs (Lyme-literate medical doctors) challenging the IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America) guidelines, a short-course of antibiotics is not sufficient t0 eradicate the bacteria. It has been mentioned that Lyme disease is a zoonotic infection and as such, are programmed to be chronic infections. Anyway, what’s happening in real life is much more interesting than what happens in the movie. My advise, watch it for entertainment purposes.

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Natural Antibiotics

September 1, 2010
Lavande / lavender

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Are there such things? You bet! Ancient civilizations have used them in the past. Traditional medical systems such as Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine texts are replete with information on natural germ fighting agents. In very recent times, just in 1987 in fact, one of the most comprehensive studies was conducted in Scotland that determined the most powerful antibacterial agents. These include the essential oils of thyme, cinnamon, clove and geranium. According to another study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, the oils of cinnamon, thyme and clove killed 92% of 25 different Gram negative and positive bacterial strains. As a side note, do you know that Listerine antiseptic was originally named after Joseph Lister, the Father of modern surgical antisepsis? The formula has the following essential oils, namely; thymol (from thyme essential oil), eucalyptol (from eucalyptus essential oil), methyl salicylate (from wintergreen essential oil) and menthol (from peppermint essential oil). A study done in 1999 published at the Journal of Clinical Periodontology showed that a mouthwash that had the essential oils of thyme, peppermint, wintergreen and eucalyptus, was more effective in improving oral health than an antiseptic that was fluoride-based. In 2006, powerful anti-fungal oils were identified by researchers and they include the following: essential oils of cinnamon, clove, lemongrass, geranium and thyme. They were all found to be equal or superior to a well-known anti-fungal medication. Other natural anti-fungal agents include garlic, caprylic acid (from coconut), melaleuca (tea tree oil) and Saccharomyces boullardii (an anti-fungal yeast). One common infectious cause of gastritis is H. pylori. Mastic gum has been used traditionally to treat this. Other agents were found to be effective in a study conducted at the Kyoto Prefectural University in Japan. These include the essential oils of manuka, cinnamon bark, carrot seed, savory, white grapefruit, clove and eucalyptus. Meanwhile, natural anti-viral agents include eugenol from clove oil (found to be effective against Herpes virus), peppermint oil, and manuka essential oil. Finally, what natural agents are effective against MRSA and VRE antibiotic-resistant bacteria? In studies done at the Western Infirmary in Glasgow, UK, it was found that melaleuca, lavender, peppermint and thyme essential oils showed the strongest activity against these germs. Anyway, I want to acknowledge Dr. Carolyn de Marco for providing a lot of great information regarding the use of essential oils. If someone is suffering from an infectious illness, work with your healthcare provider on how to improve your immune system so that you won’t get sick in the first place.

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I Hate Germs!

August 29, 2010
Staphylococcus aureus - Antibiotics Test plate

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Everybody does! And the answer is not using petroleum-based or synthetic sanitizing agents to eradicate these germs(whether they’re in our bodies or the environment).It’s like throwing fuel into the fire. Anyway, you must have read about the article on NaturalNews.com regarding how antibiotics are practically becoming useless. This study was published by the journal, Lancet Infectious Diseases. What has led to this problem is the indiscriminate use of antibiotics (such as what happens when antibiotics are doled out like candy even for viral infections). Then, there’s the use of antibiotics on animal feed to fatten up the poor animals. These practices have led to resistance to practically all antibiotics and unless new ones are discovered ASAP, then we’re SOL. A different approach, instead of rushing to find more “weapons” against these microbes, is to strengthen overall immunity. With a strong immune system, these bugs are kept at bay and unless there’s a triggering event, they usually stay harmless. Take note that people who catch the flu bug don’t all get sick. It’s usually those with poor immune systems who get really sick and suffer from complications. What are the things we can do to strengthen the immune system? It all goes back to the basics which includes nutritious food, adequate pure water intake, deep breathing, stress reduction, having the right attitude and last but not least, spirituality. What about natural antibiotics? Check out my next blog entry…..

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Toxic!

Danger

Back in school, I never understood why the cause (or etiology) of a lot of chronic medical conditions (such as cancer or autoimmune diseases) was unknown or idiopathic. Perhaps, we were not taught to look deeply enough at that time. For whatever reason, it doesn’t make sense to just treat symptoms with synthetic drugs (or even natural ones). It’s always better to look for the cause or causes of illness and address those while also treating symptoms with the appropriate remedies. Otherwise, if the cause/causes are not addressed properly, the illness tends to return and get worse with time. One of the more common causes of chronic degenerative diseases are heavy metal toxins (other causes such as nutritional deficiencies and neurotoxins will be discussed later). These include mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminum, and cadmium among many others. Where do we get them from? Practically everywhere. Indoors and outdoors. It’s from our food, air and water. It’s found in natural and synthetic products. You don’t even have to try hard to get exposed to them. Guess what? Even babies are born with heavy metals present in their system. What are the overall effects of these toxins? Basically, they could deposit in any part of the body, particularly those fatty areas (since these metals are lipophilic) including the nervous system. They would then interfere with physiological processes by causing free radical damage as well as inflammation. It’s always a good idea to screen who presents with vague symptoms (or anyone for that matter, for preventive purposes) for heavy metal toxicity. Screening for heavy metals could be done through the blood, urine, hair and actual tissue samples. There are pros and cons to each type of specimen used for screening, of course. I recommend working with a holistic health care practitioner versed in detoxification or chelation therapy if levels are found to be elevated.

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on August 21, 2010

Drink Milk, Not!

August 17, 2010
Espace Opéra Milk

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Drinking milk has always been thought of as a healthy thing. I remember as a kid, almost being forced into drinking my glass of milk. I was really stubborn then and I’m glad I was. Being of Asian heritage, it doesn’t make sense to drink milk because most of us (and for that matter, people of African descent as well) are lactose-intolerant. Even organic milk won’t work if you’re lactose intolerant. Besides, there’s so much “stuff” in regular milk that you may not want to drink it. Among these include antibiotics, hormones and pesticides. What’s fed to commercially-farmed animals ends up in their body fluids (and that includes their milk). Anyway, one of the reasons they’re promoting it widely is because of it’s benefit of improving bone density because of it’s calcium content. But, there’s more to healthy bones than taking calcium alone. A preferable source of calcium would be green, leafy vegetables. But of course, it’s not “cool” to promote veggies in large media advertising campaigns. See how they use celebrities with milk in their upper lips? How many of them actually drink milk? What about celebrities with green plant material between their teeth suggesting that they’re eating veggies? Won’t that be a funny picture? I heard one of my mentors several years ago talking to his obese client jokingly. Why do you need (cow’s) milk? Is your mother a cow? Don’t you know that milk is probably making you fat? Funny, but it’s true. One of the results of food sensitivities is weight gain but that another topic we have to discuss in the future. One more thing to think about is that we’re the only mammals that drink milk in their adulthood. Is there a reason why other creatures don’t drink milk in their adulthood? Just wondering…..

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