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Showing posts from 2015

Women’s Health: Support for Women with Uterine Fibroids

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The incidence of fibroids in women has risen exponentially in the last 20 years. Approximately 80 percent of women will develop at least one uterine fibroid at some point in their lives. Some women are never made aware that they have a fibroid, and because of its relatively small size, never have symptoms. Other women are faced with heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged periods, severe cramping, bladder problems, low back pain, and may even be prevented from carrying a pregnancy to full term. The average fibroid size is somewhere between a walnut and a lacrosse ball. The overall consensus in the medical and alternative healthcare fields is that the causation of fibroids is related to hormone imbalance in the body. Specifically, the most commonly accepted hormone imbalances that may cause uterine fibroids are estrogen and progesterone. Since, the endocrine system is interconnected with many different organs and glands, it is not far-fetched to assume the possibility that imbalances in

Get Up, Stand Up - Counteract Effects of Prolonged Sitting

People are often complaining of some form of pain related to sitting at their desk job. Whether it's wrist pain from working on a computer, or low back pain , many people feel as though their desk job is hurting them. We've known for years that prolonged sitting puts more pressure on the low back by significantly increasing the weight on the intervertebral disc. It also causes certain muscles in your hips to physically shorten and inactivates the gluteus muscles which are essential for lower back stability. Recent studies indicate that prolonged sitting goes way beyond the toll it takes on our musculoskeletal systems. These studies point to the connection between prolonged sitting and the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and even mortality. So what does this mean for the majority of office workers out there? It's time to make some significant changes in your work routine. That does not mean people should quit thei

More Tips to Get Some Sleep

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More Tips to Get Some Sleep There is no doubt about it, getting enough sleep is one of the most important aspects of health. Lack of sleep has been linked to an increase in depression, obesity, endocrine imbalances and chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Why do so many of us have issues going to sleep, staying asleep, or getting enough sleep?? There are multiple reasons, from nutritional deficiencies to a growing and insurmountable daily checklist. Many people are sleep deprived and need help. If you are sleeping less than 7 hours per night, then you are not getting enough sleep. Catching up and sleeping longer on weekends is not going to make up for the sleep that you are missing out on during the week. You actually throw your body off more with an inconsistent sleep schedule.  Yes, we all have hectic lives and a lot to do during our days, but multiple studies suggest that nothing can replace getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Here are My Tips to

Should I Stretch or Should I Roll?

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We've all been taught to stretch, stretch, stretch-before and even after our workouts. Somewhere along the way most of us have been taught that stretching is the best way to prevent injury. There is absolutely no evidence, I repeat NO evidence, that static stretching prevents injury and is beneficial before or after working out. Most people do not realize that the stretching they are doing is actually weakening their muscles and is increasing the likelihood of injury. The two most common types of stretching are static stretching and dynamic stretching. Static stretching (which is the most common type of stretching that most of us have been taught to do before we workout) is performed at rest and results in the lengthening and elongation of a muscle to an end position. Usually, the static stretch is held between thirty and sixty seconds. Dynamic stretching is safer and more effective than static stretching and is the active movement of muscles that brings forth a stretch-but i

Support for Memory and Concentration

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We've all had our moments when we have forgotten where we put our keys or our phone, and for some of us it happens more than others. I've had my moments where I've thought, "Umm, that's crazy, I literally just put something down, and now I have no idea where it is." Our hectic schedules can absolutely breed forgetfulness, but when it interferes with our lives and daily routines, it may be time to look into natural and healthy solutions for memory and concentration.  As we age, our brains actually get smaller. Nerve tracts and neuron terminal branches decrease in size and blood flow to the mini vessels in the brain also decrease. Our brains use 20 percent of the total oxygen available to our bodies, and it is extremely important that the brain is able to continually receive this level of oxygen. Inflammation and high blood sugar levels in the body probably have the most deleterious effects on our brain's ability to function well. The health of our diges

Gut Bacteria: How They Influence Our Mood

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Last month, numerous articles were published in the New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, and many websites detailing researchers' findings that further support our gut's connection to mood, behavior, and well-being. Clinically, it is always fascinating when a patient comes to see me, and I work with them to clean up their guts (by eradicating fungus, candida , parasites , etc.), and they report feeling more emotionally balanced and even-keeled. Science has proven why, and it is no longer just a nice side effect that people enjoy from doing my protocols. The key to why the gut affects mood lies in the enteric nervous system, which is embedded in the gastrointestinal walls. It consists of hundreds of millions of neurons and can operate separately from the brain and spinal cord. The enteric nervous system uses more than 30 neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. 90 percent of serotonin and 50 percent of dopamine are produced in the gut. These are probably considered th

The Importance of a Healthy Lymphatic System

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Working with the lymphatic system is an integral part of getting a patient out of pain and getting them well. The lymphatic system encompasses lymph fluid, ducts, nodes, vessels and organs.  The purpose of the lymphatic system is to carry lymph fluid between tissues and cells. Lymph fluid contains white blood cells, proteins, toxins, waste products, foreign particles, and chemical by-products. The lymphatic system's organs and glands consist of the adenoids, thymus gland, tonsils, appendix, Peyer's patches of the small intestine, and spleen. The lymphatic system acts as a filtration system. Unlike a water filter, in which a filter can be changed every six months or so, our bodies do not have this as an option. Since we don't have the option of changing our filters, we have to work with what we have to keep this system functioning properly. The importance of keeping this system moving is to clear the body of toxins and to get rid of harmful microorganisms and waste from

Spotlight on Vitamin D

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Vitamin D is very important for the proper functioning of the human body. It is such an important vitamin, and steroid hormone, and this new information about vitamin D can hopefully dispel some misconceptions. Vitamin D helps to metabolize calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and iron. It helps with immune system activation by activating B and T cells, monocytes, and macrophages. Overall, it helps with cell-to-cell communication. Vitamin D activates many enzyme pathways, such as: Tyrosine converting to L-dopa, which is essential for mood Cholesterol converting to pregnenolone, which is essential for proper hormone balance Arginine converting to nitric oxide, which helps modulate peristalsis, airway tone, vascular tone, and insulin secretion   It is the only vitamin that our bodies can actually manufacture. Ultraviolet B rays from the sun interact with 7-Dehydrocholesterol underneath our skin, and is converted into cholcalciferol (D3). This is then converted to 25-hydro