Meet the naturopathic doctor

If you have symptoms of depression, anxiety, migraines, insomnia, OCD, ADD/ADHD, trichotillomania, compulsivity, food cravings/binges, drug or alcohol addiction, memory or concentration issues, Parkinson’s disease or restless leg syndrome, you have a neurotransmitter imbalance. This means that serotonin (the main inhibitory neurotransmitter) and dopamine (the main excitatory neurotransmitter) are out of balance with one another, which causes you to experience one or more of the symptoms above.

One of the products we use to help bring those neurotransmitter levels back into proper balance is called NeuroReplete. NeuroReplete was developed by Martin Hinz, MD, and is sold exclusively through CHK Nutrition to licensed health care professionals. It provides the amino acids 5-HTP and L-tyrosine along with the necessary co-factors (vitamins, minerals and amino-acids) to give the body everything it needs to make serotonin and dopamine in a balanced fashion. This is extremely important, as research has shown that administering only 5-HTP or L-tyrosine will lead to depletion of neurotransmitters, creating further imbalances.

Providing only 5-HTP will increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. In response to this, the body increases the amount of enzymes to break down some serotonin to maintain balance. However, these enzymes also breakdown dopamine, which is the main excitatory neurotransmitter that needs to be kept in balance with serotonin in order to keep everything working well. Because no dopamine precursor was given (i.e., L-tyrosine), relatively more dopamine than serotonin is broken down, so the imbalance between them becomes greater. This often leads to additional issues over time.

It works something like this: let’s say I have two bank accounts, both with $100 in them. I put $1,000,000 in one of them (which is like taking just 5-HTP), but leave the other one where it is. Now let’s say I take $90 out of both accounts (which is equivalent to the enzymes breaking down serotonin and dopamine non-selectively). The account with $1,000,000 isn’t affect much, but the account with only $100 in it is affected a great deal. Moreover, the imbalance between the two accounts has also gotten a lot more lopsided. This is similar to what happens if one takes only 5-HTP with no l-tyrosine (or vice versa, taking only l-tyrosine and no 5-HTP) – it can create greater imbalances over time and really deplete the competing system.

The bottom line is that net effect of giving improperly balanced amino acids is neurotransmitter depletion and further neurotransmitter imbalance. Even though some people may initially see some positive results due to the increase in either serotonin (if 5-HTP is given) or dopamine (if L-tyrosine is given), they will eventually develop other symptoms as the two systems become imbalanced. Creating more problems is definitely not going to help you over the long haul.

NeuroReplete contains the precise amounts of 5-HTP and L-tyrosine to assist the body in achieving proper neurotransmitter balance. For many people, NeuroReplete provides all the building blocks their bodies need to achieve a complete resolution of symptoms. Even for those that do not achieve a complete resolution of symptoms with NeuroReplete alone, taking it establishes the foundation necessary to attain proper neurotransmitter balance in the future.

Stuffy head, runny nose, pressure behind the eyes, maybe a tickle in the throat; these are all common allergy symptoms that plaque a growing number of people. This post will focus on simple ways to naturally eliminate your symptoms and breathe easy.

Allergies are one of the most common health conditions in America. In fact, more than 1 in 5 people suffer from allergies, and the number is growing every year. Common causes of allergy symptoms include food allergies such as peanut allergy or milk allergy, and seasonal allergies resulting from grass, weed, tree pollen, or various molds. Cat allergies and dog allergies can also cause miserable symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and wheezing. Allergic skin conditions can cause a rash and itchy skin.

Nailing Down the Source of Allergies

Almost anything can cause an allergy, but the most common underlying cause is an imbalance in the immune system. Most people shouldn’t react to pollen, grasses, animal dander, etc., but for some reason, they do. That reason is often excessive stress put upon the immune system via stress, improper food choices, and lack of sleep or illness. Long term allergy control depends on correctly these underlying lifestyle factors. However, we must also identify the things a person is reacting to so that we can minimize them in order to allow our immune system to rebalance.

• Skin testing is the most widely used; there are several different methods, but all involve exposing the skin to small amounts of various substances and observing the reactions over time. Blood tests (RAST) generally identify IgE antibodies to specific antigens. Both of these tests can help identify specific reactions to certain substances, but often miss most immune reactions and are of little clinical value to many people.

• The most accurate testing available today is called a lymphocyte response assay (LRA); it is a simple blood test that looks at every immune reaction a person can have against a substance (except IgE reactions). It is more comprehensive and accurate than any testing currently available (find out more at www.elisaact.com). You can test a variety of substances; most people begin with either a Basic or a Comprehensive profile. Once we receive your test results, we work with you to identify where you may be being exposed to these substances and how you can eliminate them from your life while your immune system readjusts.

Relieving Symptoms

You don’t have to wait in anguish as your immune system rebalances; Mother Nature has provided several options that have been combined to provide quick, effective relief without the side-effects many over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications provide.

• Sinatrol contains several components to help thin and drain mucus, support optimal immune function and reduce sinus pressure and pain. We have had countless clients use and benefit from this formula taking just 1 capsule 3x/day (ideally between meals).
• Natural D-Hist provides key factors to help address and support the underlying nasal and sinus imbalances that can lead to so many symptoms. It also helps balance the immune system and provide fast relief if your allergies have really kicked in. Most people start with 2 capsules three times daily for 7-10 days, then reduce to the lowest amount possible to control symptoms. Kids can use D-Hist Jr, which provides the same formula in a kid’s strength chewable that tastes great!
• Another incredibly effective therapy to use in conjunction with the supplementation above is to use a Nasaline to help clear the sinuses. All you do is make a saline solution, using either the Nasaline Salt or sea salt (start with ½ tsp in 1 pint of warm water; you can add ¼ tsp baking soda if you have any inflammation in the sinuses) fill the Nasaline with water and push it into one of your nostrils. The water will fill the sinuses, decreasing pressure and inflammation and killing any bacteria that could be causing the pain, and drain through your other nostril. Do this twice on each nostril and you are done with the whole procedure in about 3 minutes from start to finish! Using the Nasaline 1-2x/day is a great way to keep the sinuses clear and healthy any time of year.

Allergies can affect every aspect of your life, but they don’t have to. Using the simple steps above to identify and address the reasons you have allergy symptoms can naturally alleiviate your symptoms and allow you to get back outside again and enjoy breathing fully again!

The media has been buzzing about the negative health impact that trans-fat (a.k.a. partially hydrogenated oils) can have on the human body. Some cities, such as New York have even gone as far as to require all restaurants to go trans-fat free. This is a very drastic measure and upon further investigation it seems necessary to protect our health.

Trans-fats are produced when a hydrogen molecule is added to vegetable oil. The hydrogenation process makes liquid oil solid at room temperature. Companies choose to use trans-fats because they are cheap, increase shelf life and create flavor stability.

The increased intake of trans-fats does not come without a price. Trans-fat consumption is directly related to increased LDL (less desirable form of cholesterol) and decreased HDL (the “good” cholesterol) cholesterol. This can be linked to the increase in heart disease over the last 30 years.

Other chronic conditions such as cancer and diabetes are also related to high trans-fat intake. Hydrogenated oils interfere with the insulin receptor sites on cell membranes that can trigger type II diabetes. They also interfere with the enzymes the body produces to protect itself against cancer. If this information is not convincing enough, one study showed that women who consume trans-fats weighed more than women who did not consume any trans-fats, even though their caloric intake was the same.

Following are some simple steps you can take to cut the trans out of your fat intake:

• Eat whole foods – this means choosing food as close to nature as possible. The most common foods that hydrogenated oils are found in are highly processed (margarine, cookies, candy, cakes, crackers, baked goods, breads, fried potatoes, chips, microwave popcorn, peanut butter, and salad dressing) and restaurant foods that are cooked in hydrogenated oils, including all deep fried foods. Focusing on eating fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and high-quality proteins will greatly reduce exposure to trans-fat.
• Read labels – check the back of food packages for the words ‘partially-hydrogenated’ oil or ‘hydrogenated’ oil. You can not count on the new labeling law to tell if a product is trans-fat free because the government allows 0.5g per serving to be considered trans-fat free. Many companies are simply changing their serving sizes to get below this limit. In other words, just because the trans-fat number is “0″ on the label does not mean that the food is free of trans-fat.
• Home cook’ in – try to prepare as many meals as possible at home. This allows control of the products and oils that are used.
• Ask – when dining out, ask the server what type of oil is used for cooking various dishes or if there is trans-fat in their baked products. If they don’t know, don’t eat it. Trans-fat can also be avoided if food is cooked in chicken or vegetable broth instead of oil. Most chain restaurants provide ingredient information on their website.

The bottom line – reducing intake of trans-fat not only helps your heart and waistline, it will also increase YOUR shelf life.

Resources:

Trans fatty acids in the food supply: A comprehensive report covering 60 years of research Enig, Mary G, PhD, 2nd Edition, Enig Associates, Inc, Silver Spring, MD, 1995.

As most of you know, I do a lot of research. Recently, I came across a study that summarized clinical data for several selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications used in the treatment of depression. The results were shocking.

SSRI medications don’t work for ~90% of people!

This study showed that people taking popular SSRI medications – including Lexapro, Celexa and Effexor-XR – have remission and response rates 5.6%-13.0% greater than taking a sugar pill. Said differently, this means that between 87.0% and 94.4% of people taking these drugs have no greater relief of depression symptoms than those people that took a sugar pill. However, 100% of the people taking these drugs are exposed to drug side effects, including nausea, runny nose, headache, back pain, dry mouth, diarrhea, insomnia, drowsiness, extreme fatigue and even suicide. (The original study and a more lengthy discussion of the results can be found here)

The bottom line is that this study indicates that SSRI medications provide relief greater than placebo in only 5.6% to 13.0% of the people taking them. This is supported by previous research that showed that only 7% to 13% of adult patients achieved relief of depression symptoms greater than placebo with antidepressant drugs (Hinz et al 2009). In addition, the total incidence of side effects in these studies is greater than relief of symptoms from any of these SSRI drugs. Once more, 100% of the people taking these drugs are exposed to the depletion of neurotransmitters that are caused by SSRI medications, which will only make the real problem worse over time.

Addressing the Cause of the Problem

SSRI medications are designed to shuffle around neurotransmitters, specifically serotonin, to try and help a person eliminate their depressive symptoms. What they end up doing, however, is causing further depletion of not only serotonin, but other neurotransmitters as well. (For a more complete discussion on how this occurs, see Amino Acid Therapy on this site and www.stoppullinghairout.com) This not only exacerbates the existing problem of depression (making it necessary to increase or change medications) it can also create many more problems, such as anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, weight gain, hormone imbalances and many others.

The real solution is to supply the body the nutrients and cofactors it needs to manufacture the needed neurotransmitters. Only by doing so can a person achieve proper neurotransmitter balance and achieve a lasting resolution of symptoms. Studies have shown that following this approach leads to a relief of depressive symptoms in 93% of people, with the remaining 7% requiring a dual drug-amino acid approach to achieve a relief of symptoms. That’s a 100% response rate.

So a person needs to ask themselves: Do you want a 5.6%-13.0% chance of having a relief of symptoms with a 63%-72%% chance of experiencing unpleasant side effects OR do you want a near 100% chance of having relief of symptoms with nearly a 0% chance of unpleasant side effects. In the case of depression, the research is clear: targeted amino acid therapy is FAR superior to SSRI drug treatments for the resolution of symptoms.

Our post today comes from Dr. Mark Hyman.  You can view the original post here.

SOMETHING YOU’RE EATING may be killing you, and you probably don’t even know it! If you eat cheeseburgers or French fries all the time or drink six sodas a day, you likely know you are shortening your life. But eating a nice dark, crunchy slice of whole wheat bread–how could that be bad for you? Well, bread contains gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, spelt, kamut, and oats. It is hidden in pizza, pasta, bread, wraps, rolls, and most processed foods. Clearly, gluten is a staple of the American diet. What most people don’t know is that gluten can cause serious health complications for many. You may be at risk even if you don’t have full blown celiac disease. I want to reveal the truth about gluten, explain the dangers, and provide you with a simple system that will help you determine whether or not gluten is a problem for you.

The Dangers of Gluten

A recent large study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people with diagnosed, undiagnosed, and “latent” celiac disease or gluten sensitivity had a higher risk of death, mostly from heart disease and cancer. (i)

This study looked at almost 30,000 patients from 1969 to 2008 and examined deaths in three groups: Those with full-blown celiac disease, those with inflammation of their intestine but not full-blown celiac disease, and those with latent celiac disease or gluten sensitivity (elevated gluten antibodies but negative intestinal biopsy).

The findings were dramatic. There was a 39 percent increased risk of death in those with celiac disease, 72 percent increased risk in those with gut inflammation related to gluten, and 35 percent increased risk in those with gluten sensitivity but no celiac disease.

This is ground-breaking research that proves you don’t have to have full-blown celiac disease with a positive intestinal biopsy (which is what conventional thinking tells us) to have serious health problems and complications–even death–from eating gluten.

Yet an estimated 99 percent of people who have a problem with eating gluten don’t even know it. They ascribe their ill health or symptoms to something else–not gluten sensitivity, which is 100 percent curable.

And here’s some more shocking news …

Another study comparing the blood of 10,000 people from 50 years ago to 10,000 people today found that the incidences of full-blown celiac disease increased by 400 percent (elevated TTG antibodies) during that time period. (ii) If we saw a 400 percent increase in heart disease or cancer, this would be headline news. But we hear almost nothing about this. I will explain why I think that increase has occurred in a moment. First, let’s explore the economic cost of this hidden epidemic.

The most serious form of allergy to gluten, celiac disease, affects one in 100 people, or three million Americans, most of who don’t know they have it.

Undiagnosed gluten problems cost the American healthcare system oodles of money. Dr. Peter Green, Professor of Clinical Medicine for the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University studied all 10 million subscribers to CIGNA and found those who were correctly diagnosed with celiac disease used fewer medical services and reduced their healthcare costs by more than 30 perecnt. (iii) The problem is that only one percent of those with the problem were actually diagnosed. That means 99 percent are walking around suffering without knowing it, costing the healthcare system millions of dollars.

And it’s not just a few who suffer, but millions. Far more people have gluten sensitivity than you think–especially those who are chronically ill. The most serious form of allergy to gluten, celiac disease, affects one in 100 people, or three million Americans, most of who don’t know they have it. But milder forms of gluten sensitivity are even more common and may affect up to one-third of the American population.

Why haven’t you heard much about this?

Well, actually you have, but you just don’t realize it. Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity masquerade as dozens and dozens of other diseases with different names.

Gluten Sensitivity: One Cause, Many Diseases

A review paper in The New England Journal of Medicine listed 55 “diseases” that can be caused by eating gluten. (iv) These include osteoporosis, irritable bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, anemia, cancer, fatigue, canker sores, (v) and rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and almost all other autoimmune diseases. Gluten is also linked to many psychiatric (vi) and neurological diseases, including anxiety, depression, (vii) schizophrenia, (viii) dementia, (ix) migraines, epilepsy, and neuropathy (nerve damage). (x) It has also been linked to autism.(ix)

We used to think that gluten problems or celiac disease were confined to children who had diarrhea, weight loss, and failure to thrive. Now we know you can be old, fat, and constipated and still have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Gluten sensitivity is actually an autoimmune disease that creates inflammation throughout the body, with wide-ranging effects across all organ systems including your brain, heart, joints, digestive tract, and more. It can be the single cause behind many different “diseases.” To correct these diseases, you need to treat the cause–which is often gluten sensitivity–not just the symptoms.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that ALL cases of depression or autoimmune disease or any of these other problems are caused by gluten in everyone–but it is important to look for it if you have any chronic illness.

By failing to identify gluten sensitivity and celiac disease, we create needless suffering and death for millions of Americans. Health problems caused by gluten sensitivity cannot be treated with better medication. They can only be resolved by eliminating 100 percent of the gluten from your diet.

The question that remains is: Why are we so sensitive to this “staff of life,” the staple of our diet?

There are many reasons …

They include our lack of genetic adaptation to grasses, and particularly gluten, in our diet. Wheat was introduced into Europe during the Middle Ages, and 30 percent of people of European descent carry the gene for celiac disease (HLA DQ2 or HLA DQ8), (xii) which increases susceptibility to health problems from eating gluten.

American strains of wheat have a much higher gluten content (which is needed to make light, fluffy Wonder Bread and giant bagels) than those traditionally found in Europe. This super-gluten was recently introduced into our agricultural food supply and now has “infected” nearly all wheat strains in America.

To find out if you are one of the millions of people suffering from an unidentified gluten sensitivity, just follow this simple procedure.

The Elimination/Reintegration Diet

While testing can help identify gluten sensivity, the only way you will know if this is really a problem for you is to eliminate all gluten for a short period of time (2 to 4 weeks) and see how you feel. Get rid of the following foods:

• Gluten (barley, rye, oats, spelt, kamut, wheat, triticale–see www.celiac.com for a complete list of foods that contain gluten, as well as often surprising and hidden sources of gluten.)
• Hidden sources (soup mixes, salad dressings, sauces, as well as lipstick, certain vitamins, medications, stamps and envelopes you have to lick, and even Play-Doh.)

For this test to work you MUST eliminate 100 percent of the gluten from your diet–no exceptions, no hidden gluten, and not a single crumb of bread.

Then eat it again and see what happens. If you feel bad at all, you need to stay off gluten permanently. This will teach you better than any test about the impact gluten has on your body.

But if you are still interested in testing, here are some things to keep in mind.

Testing for Gluten Sensitivity or Celiac Disease

There are gluten allergy/celiac disease tests that are available through Labcorp or Quest Diagnostics. All these tests help identify various forms of allergy or sensitivity to gluten or wheat. They will look for:

• IgA anti-gliadin antibodies
• IgG anti-gliadin antibodies
• IgA anti-endomysial antibodies
• Tissue transglutaminase antibody (IgA and IgG in questionable cases)
• Total IgA antibodies
• HLA DQ2 and DQ8 genotyping for celiac disease (used occasionally to detect genetic suspectibility).
• Intestinal biopsy (rarely needed if gluten antibodies are positive–based on my interpretation of the recent study)

When you get these tests, there are a few things to keep in mind.

In light of the new research on the dangers of gluten sensitivity without full blown celiac disease, I consider any elevation of antibodies significant and worthy of a trial of gluten elimination. Many doctors consider elevated anti-gliadin antibodies in the absence of a positive intestinal biopsy showing damage to be “false positives.” That means the test looks positive but really isn’t significant.

We can no longer say that. Positive is positive and, as with all illness, there is a continuum of disease, from mild gluten sensitivity to full-blown celiac disease. If your antibodies are elevated, you should go off gluten and test to see if it is leading to your health problems.

So now you see–that piece of bread may not be so wholesome after all! Follow the advice I’ve shared with you today to find out if gluten may be the hidden cause of your health problems. Simply eliminating this insidious substance from your diet may help you achieve lifelong vibrant health.

References:(i) Ludvigsson JF, Montgomery SM, Ekbom A, Brandt L, Granath F. Small-intestinal histopathology and mortality risk in celiac disease. JAMA. 2009 Sep 16;302(11):1171-8.

(ii) Rubio-Tapia A, Kyle RA, Kaplan EL, Johnson DR, Page W, Erdtmann F, Brantner TL, Kim WR, Phelps TK, Lahr BD, Zinsmeister AR, Melton LJ 3rd, Murray JA. Increased prevalence and mortality in undiagnosed celiac disease. Gastroenterology. 2009 Jul;137(1):88-93

(iii) Green PH, Neugut AI, Naiyer AJ, Edwards ZC, Gabinelle S, Chinburapa V. Economic benefits of increased diagnosis of celiac disease in a national managed care population in the United States. J Insur Med. 2008;40(3-4):218-28.

(iv) Farrell RJ, Kelly CP. Celiac sprue. N Engl J Med. 2002 Jan 17;346(3):180-8. Review.

(v) Sedghizadeh PP, Shuler CF, Allen CM, Beck FM, Kalmar JR. Celiac disease and recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a report and review of the literature. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2002;94(4):474-478.

(vi) Margutti P, Delunardo F, Ortona E. Autoantibodies associated with psychiatric disorders. Curr Neurovasc Res. 2006 May;3(2):149-57. Review.

(vii) Ludvigsson JF, Reutfors J, Osby U, Ekbom A, Montgomery SM. Coeliac disease and risk of mood disorders–a general population-based cohort study. J Affect Disord. 2007 Apr;99(1-3):117-26. Epub 2006 Oct 6.

(viii) Ludvigsson JF, Osby U, Ekbom A, Montgomery SM. Coeliac disease and risk of schizophrenia and other psychosis: a general population cohort study. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2007 Feb;42(2):179-85.

(ix) Hu WT, Murray JA, Greenaway MC, Parisi JE, Josephs KA. Cognitive impairment and celiac disease. Arch Neurol. 2006 Oct;63(10):1440-6.

(x) Bushara KO. Neurologic presentation of celiac disease. Gastroenterology. 2005 Apr;128(4 Suppl 1):S92-7. Review.

(xi) Millward C, Ferriter M, Calver S, Connell-Jones G. Gluten- and casein-free diets for autistic spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(2):CD003498. Review.

(xii) Green PH, Jabri B. Coeliac disease. Lancet. 2003 Aug 2;362(9381):383-91. Review.

Emotional eating is very common – many people reach for a bowl of ice cream, some cookies, a bag of chips or whatever their comfort food of choice is when they get down or stressed. This may help them feel better momentarily, but a new study shows that eating junk food significantly increases one’s risk of developing depression.

The research showed that the more trans fat you eat, the higher your risk of depression. In fact, people that ate more trans fats had a 48% increased risk of depression than those that didn’t eat trans fat. What is particularly interesting about this study is that the diets of the ‘high’ trans fat group in this study (those with significantly increased risk of depression) actually contained a fairly low amount of trans fat (only about 0.4% of their total caloric intake) compared to what people typically consume in this country. In the US, the average person in the US consumes about 2.5% of their total calories from trans fats, which is far higher – more than 600% higher – than that consumed in this study.

What does this all mean? All of our clients know that there is no safe amount of trans fat – this means that you should not eat anything that contains trans fats, hydrogenated fats/vegetable oils, partially hydrogenated fats/vegetable oils or shortening. And be aware that “0 grams” doesn’t mean zero trans fat. Food manufacturers are permitted to list a product’s trans-fat amount as “0 g” if each serving of the food contains less than half a gram of the fat per serving, so many of them just made the servings sizes smaller to reach this lower limit. This means, of course, that you could still consume significant amounts of trans fat from such a product — especially if the serving size is small and your appetite is big. To make sure “0 g” truly means what it implies, check the ingredients list.

The good news is that other fats, including olive oil might actually lessen the risk of depression. This same study found that consuming more than 20 grams of olive oil a day could reduce the risk of depression 20-30%. That’s about 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil per day.

So, change the oil you eat and significantly decrease your risk of depression. Read food labels carefully until you find those products that don’t contain trans fats. Keep products with trans fat out of your grocery cart, off your dinner plate, and out of your pantry and freezer. As often as possible, cook from scratch, using fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, good fats (like olive oil), and lean meats.

Remember: While moderate amounts of healthy fats are critical to your body’s function, trans fat is nothing but trouble. You can live longer, healthier and happier without it.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In the US, approximately one in three adults has high blood pressure, totaling more than 72 million people. Additionally, more than half of Americans over the age of 60 have hypertension.¹

Blood pressure medications have helped a lot of people reduce a condition that can damage their cardiovascular systems. However, recent research has also shown that these medications can have serious health consequences. Here we will explore alternative, natural ways you can use to help lower your blood pressure and support your overall health.

Blood pressure medications, diabetes and cholesterol

Recent research indicates many high blood pressure medications may substantially increase your risk of diabetes as well as adversely affect your cholesterol levels.² Take thiazide diuretics (also known as ‘water pills’), for example. Often considered the first choice drug for hypertension, not only do they disturb the balance of key electrolytes – including potassium, sodium and magnesium – they increase your risk of dehydration (which has a myriad of health consequences), as well as increase your risk of diabetes – by as much as 45 percent!³

What’s worse, thiazide diuretics aren’t the only blood pressure drugs that studies have associated with this serious disease – calcium channel blockers (e.g.,  verapamil,  nifedipine, etc.) and ACE inhibitors (e.g., enalapril, lisinopril, etc.) have also been shown to increase mean blood sugar levels within five years of use.⁴ Another long-term study showed that as many as 20.4 percent of patients treated with blood-pressure medications will develop diabetes – which in turn poses a greater risk of stroke, heart attack and death.⁵

In addition to diabetes, anti-hypertensive medications are associated with adversely impacting cholesterol (blood lipid) profiles. Studies have shown that beta-blockers reduced the ratio of beneficial HDL to total cholesterol by nearly 12 percent and increased serum triglyceride levels by nearly 26 percent.⁶ Diuretics can cause an increase in total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels while beta-blockers can decrease HDL cholesterol and increase triglyceride levels.⁷ Some beta-blockers also have been found to decrease levels of CoQ10.⁸

Furthermore, it has been shown that death caused by coronary artery disease and sudden death is not significantly reduced by the use of antihypertensive medications in hypertensive patients, despite the evidence that hypertension is a major risk factor for heart attacks.² Some researchers suggest that this is due to the adverse metabolic effects caused by the drugs that counteract the benefits of lower blood pressure.²

Natural Approaches for Lowering Blood Pressure

Hypertension can have serious consequences and patients should never stop taking their blood-pressure lowering drugs without a doctor’s guidance. However, for individuals who want to explore other options, there are a number of natural approaches.

There are a number of simple dietary measures that have been shown to significantly decrease blood pressure. British researchers have discovered that drinking two  cups of beet juice daily can decrease blood pressure 10 points.⁹ That’s because beets are loaded with the nutrient nitrate. Spinach, lettuce, and other green, leafy vegetables also have high levels of nitrate, so eating and juicing these daily can provide significant blood lowering benefits.

Antioxidants have also shown significant benefits. A Finnish study has found that eating just ½ cup of berries twice daily can decrease blood pressure 7 points and increase HDL cholesterol.¹⁰ Berries contain particularly high levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols; other polyphenol-rich foods include chocolate, tea, and red wine, which also have been linked to lower heart disease risk.

Vasotensin provides peptides from bonito fish (related to tuna and mackerel) that have demonstrated significant blood lowering effects due to angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. In fact, the bonito peptides in Vasotensin are the strongest commercially available natural ACE inhibitors ever reported.¹¹ Clinical research suggests that bonito peptides are approximately 64% effective in reducing blood pressure (compared with approximately 50% for drug treatments) with no known side effects.¹²

Nattokinase is an enzyme derived from a fermented bean called natto, and has been shown to be effective in dissolving blood clots, preventing plaque build-up and lower blood pressure.¹³ Nattokinase helps dissolve fibrin, which is a protein in the blood that decreases blood flow and causes blood clots. In addition, researchers have confirmed the presence of ACE inhibitors in Nattokinase and demonstrated an approximate 10 percent reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure with regular use.^14,15

High dose EPA and DHA fish oils have also demonstrated significant reductions in blood pressure.¹⁶ Orthomega is a great source of purified, high-potency fish oil, containing therapeutic amounts of EPA and DHA in 2 softgels 2-3x/day (with meals).

In addition, many lifestyle factors can significantly reduce blood pressure, including smoking cessation, increased exercise and weight reduction. If you would like assistance with weight reduction, our Optimal Body Balance program can help you uncover the reasons why weight loss or maintenance may be difficult for you and help you address these areas to help you attain and maintain your weight goals.

You can reduce your blood pressure and improve your overall health by following this simple plan. If we can be of further service, don’t hesitate to contact us.

References

1. National Institutes of Health. Who is at Risk for High Blood Pressure? Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbp/HBP_WhoIsAtRisk.html.
2. Morgan TO. Metabolic effects of various antihypertensive agents. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1990;15 Suppl 5:S39-45.
3. Shafi T, Appel LJ, Miller ER 3^rd, et al. Changes in serum potassium mediate thiazide-induced diabetes. Hypertension. 2008 Dec;52(6):1022-9.
4. Barzilay JI, Davis BR, Cutler JA, et al. Fasting glucose levels and incident diabetes mellitus in older nondiabetic adults randomized to receive 3 different classes of antihypertensive treatment: a report from the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT). Arch Intern Med. 2006 Nov 13;166(20):2191-201.
5. Almgren T, Wilhelmsen L, Samuelsson O, et al. Diabetes in treated hypertension is common and carries a high cardiovascular risk: results from a 28-year follow -up. J Hypertens. 2007 Jun;25(6):1311-7.
6. Leren P. Comparison of effects on lipid metabolism of antihypertensive drugs with alpha- and beta-adrenergic antagonist properties. Am J Med. 1987 Jan 5;82(1A):31-5.
7. Hunninghake DB. Effects of celiprolol and other antihypertensive agents on serum lipids and lipoproteins. Am Heart J. 1991 Feb;121(2 Pt 2):696-701.
8. Kishi T, Watanabe T, Folkers K. Bioenergetics in clinical medicine XV. Inhibition of coenzyme Q10-enzymes by clinically used adrenergic blockers of beta-receptors. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1977 May;17(1):157-64.
9. http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20080208/beet-juice-lowers-blood-pressure.
10. http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080215/berries-good-for-heart.
11. Fujita H, Yasumoto R, Hasegawa M, Ohshima K. Human volunteers study on antihypertensive effect of “Katsuobushi Oligopeptide” (I). Jpn Pharmacol Ther 1997;25(8):147-51.
12. Fujita H, Yasumoto R, Hasegawa M, Ohshima K. Human volunteers study on antihypertensive effect of “Katsuobushi Oligopeptide” (II) – a placebo-controlled study on the effect of “peptide soup” on blood pressure in borderline and hypertensive subjects. Jpn Pharmacol Ther 1997;25(8):153-7.
13. Barron J. Health Science Institute Members Alert. March 2002.
14. Maruyama M, Sumi H. Effect of natto diet on blood pressure. JTTAS, 1995.
15. Sumi H. Healthy Microbe “Bacillus natto”. Japan Bio Science Laboratory Co. Ltd.
16. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1990;322:795-801.

I have been doing a lot of research lately on the effects of chronic sleep deprivation. Most of this is for a new book I am writing on what underlying metabolic factors create a condition that makes it nearly impossible for many people to lose weight. However, during that research I was astounded by all the studies that have been done documenting the incredibly adverse effects that not sleeping can have on a person over time.

Basically, what happens when your body is chronically deprived of sleep, levels of the stress hormone cortisol tend to rise, especially at the end of the day. This in turn raises insulin levels. Insulin promotes fat storage. Therefore, chronic sleep deprivation can quickly pack on the pounds.

However, research has shown that people suffering from chronic sleep debt can also expect to experience adverse health effects in virtually every area of their lives, including:

In contrast, studies show that sleeping 7-8 hours each night reduces mortality from all causes.

The bottom line is this – if you can sleep, you should get as much sleep before midnight as possible and shoot for a total of 8 hours of sleep every night. If you have difficulty sleeping or suffer from chronic insomnia, figure out why and address those underlying reasons ASAP. If you need help figuring out what to do, follow the links below for more information or give us a call – we’ll have you sawing logs before you know it.

Learn more about fatigue

Get a Good Night’s Sleep Naturally

The weather’s nice, schools out and the kids are ready for a long summer’s vacation. Now is the perfect time to help your young one eliminate ADHD so by the time classes start up again, they are ready, willing and able to get the most out them.

Every parent knows the feeling of irritability and frustration when their kids won’t listen or behave, but for parents of kids with ADHD, it often morphs into despair and desperation because their kids seem to be out of control and/or unable to ‘just sit and be still’. And many times, this is true – the kids can’t. It isn’t a choice, it’s a condition.

Many of these children have an underlying biochemical imbalance that doesn’t allow them to properly filter information. This overloads their mental circuitry with information, making it literally impossible for them to focus on any one thing very long. Adults living with ADHD know this all too well as they have to struggle to concentrate and complete the tasks at hand.

The medical approach to this problem is to prescribe drugs like Ritalin or Strattera to try and overpower this underlying imbalance. However, although these drugs are the best attempt to help these kids focus, peer-reviewed data indicate that 60-85% of the children taking these drugs receive relief of symptoms no greater than a sugar pill, but 100% of them are exposed to drug side effects. The side effects from these medications are many, and many are serious.

Thankfully, recent research has shown that providing the body the nutrients it needs to naturally restore balance works much better than the standard drug interventions without any of the side effects. In fact, our clinical experience is backed by peer reviewed literature [PDF link] that shows that properly balanced amino acid therapy is superior to conventional medical treatments with an improvement in 77% of children without any of the side effects.

If you’d like to learn more about how amino acid therapy may be able to help you or your children, give us a call – we’d love to help eliminate the condition so behavior can become a choice.

Drinking enough water is something that everybody hears about, everybody talks about and we all know we should do, but most of us for whatever reason, do NOT do. In this post we will outline why it is so important to be properly hydrated as well as show you ways you can easily get more water into your daily routine.

Water, Water Everywhere?

We’ve always heard that we need to drink ‘enough’ water; and some have told us that  ‘enough’ is eight 8 oz. glasses of water daily. We are told that if we drink eight 8oz. glasses of water daily and/or if our urine is clear,  we are properly hydrated. While this may be true, it is not necessarily true. What we are not told is that many of our lifestyle and dietary habits induce dehydration.

Consuming caffeine, alcohol, soda, processed foods or smoking will all cause water loss from the body. Once more, exercise, low humidity (winter), sweating, etc., all cause increased water needs. Even minor dehydration can have dire health consequences.

You cannot always see dehydration, but it is crucial you do not ignore it. The reason is that almost every single chemical reaction in the body depends upon water, and in order for the body to perform at its very best, we MUST be properly hydrated.

Functions of water in human body

• Improves oxygen delivery to the cells
• Transports nutrients (very important for healing)
• Enables cellular hydration
• Promotes health mucosal membranes (i.e., GI tract, respiratory tract, urinary tract)
• Cushions and lubricates bones and joints (i.e., arthritis, joint pain)
• Absorbs shocks to joints and organs
• Regulates body temperature (i.e., hot flashes, cold hands/feet, intolerance to hot/cold)
• Removes wastes and flushes toxins (i.e., detoxification)
• Improves cell-to-cell communications (i.e., mental function, coordination)
• Maintains normal electrical properties of cells (i.e., mental function, fatigue, muscle soreness)
• Allows immune system to function properly

If we are not hydrated properly, the body will begin to send us signals, such as:

That is not to say that every one of the conditions listed above is due solely to dehydration (although this is entire possible in many cases); however, every one of the conditions above will be exacerbated by dehydration. And it is VERY likely you are dehydrated.

A Dehydration Epidemic

We have a dehydration epidemic in this country. Your body is approximately 67% water by weight. If your body’s water content drops by as little as 2%, you will feel fatigued. If it drops by 10% you will experience significant health problems, such as those above. Losses of water over time are a real threat to our health, yet Americans don’t drink enough water.

In a survey of 3003 persons in 15 major US cities, participants reported drinking an overall average of only 4.6 – 8 oz. servings of water per day. Once more, 44% said they drank three or less servings of water per day and nearly 10% said they didn’t drink water at all.

In addition, many of the things we do drink actually decrease hydration, including coffee, soda, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol, which are all diuretics – which means they are dehydrating. Soda/pop is particularly damaging becuase it is also very acidic in addition to being dehydrating. Net is that the average American consumes approximately three 8 oz. servings of hydrating beverages daily, which means most of us are in a constant state of dehydration!

So How Much Water Do I Need to Drink?

We lose approximately 2-3 quarts of water every day through normal perspiration, urination, breathing and metabolism. This can change/increase dramatically with increased exertion/exercise, changes in temperature, humidity, stress, body size and altitude. However, a good rule is to drink ½ your body weight in ounces every day. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs., you should drink about 75 oz. of water per day.

However, the key to proper hydration is how much water you drink at once and how often. The cells can only absorb a limited amount of water at any given time; any excess is simply eliminated through the urine (making the urine clear). Therefore, you should drink your water in divided doses – about 2-4 oz. every 20-30 minutes ideal. In addition, you should try and drink the purest water available – distilled would be best, reverse osmosis, filtered bottled water, and spring water would be next best. Keep in mind that it can take weeks to months to become properly hydrated due to the fact that the cells can only absorb a limited amount of water at one time, so get your water in throughout the day on a regular basis.

Here are some tips to increase your water intake:

• Have multiple water containers stashed where ever you are during the day so it is always around.
• Use a timer/alarm to remind you to drink water regularly and often.
• Use Emer-Gen-C or other powdered mix (such as Endura) to give the water some flavor.
• Use lemon/lime to flavor the water.
• Use Stevia drops to flavor the water; we have several flavors available at the clinic.
• Mentally connect drinking water to some other activity you are doing regularly throughout the day (i.e., deep breathing, sending email, talking on the phone, people calling your name, etc.).

Other things you can do to improve your hydration is eliminate dehydrating drinks, foods and habits, including coffee, black tea, soda (especially soda!), alcohol, processed foods and smoking.

If you’d like to know or track your hydration status, the Natural Path Health Center has a simple, inexpensive test called bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) that will provide not only your hydration status, but also your body composition and basal metabolism (to the calorie). Contact us for more information.

Proper hydration will help with almost any health condition, especially those listed before. In fact, becoming properly hydrated is the least expensive and most impactful thing you can do for your health.

Stay healthy – stay hydrated!

References

1. Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, MD – wwww.watercure.com
2. Report from Nutrition Information Center at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, May 11, 1998.
3. Cornell University Medical Center, Nutrition Information Center. Survey conducted by Yankelovich Partners. Underwritten by the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA).  Reported in Alternative Medicine Magazine. June 3, 2000