In Lieu Of Gifts This Year I Will Be Giving to Charity

Over the next few weeks I plan on posting links to some of the charities that I donate to. In lieu of gifts this year I am donating to several charities. My first favorite charity is the first charity I ever donated to. They remain the largest children's rights lobbying organizations in the United States. I am of course referring to The Children's Defense Fund. A great organization doing amazing things for America's children. If you would like to donate here is a link to their actual website. http://www.childrensdefense.org/

Can Velvet Bean (Mucuna Purens) be used effectively to treat Parkinson’s disease and Depression?

 (Mucuna Purens) has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, and many other forms of traditional medicine, for centuries. This unusual plant has many usages, due to a wide variety of benefits that include, aiding in the relief of chronic pain, improved mood enhancement, increased libido, blood sugar stabilization and increasing testosterone.

One of the main active ingredients responsible for many of the therapeutic benefits of the Velvet Bean is Leva Dopa (L-Dopa), a precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine dysregulation has been linked to several disease that include, Parkinson’s disease, chronic depression, drug addiction and the associated side-effects of withdrawal from drugs and alcohol, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and schizophrenia.

Dopamine is considered to be a neurotransmitter associated with reward-motivated behavior, and many recreational drugs have addictive qualities because of their ability to increase circulating dopamine in the brain. Dopamine can enhance mood, create feelings of joy and euphoria, and is associated with our ability to feel pleasure and even fall in love.

Currently, Velvet Beans is available as an extract of 15% L-Dopa and has been researched as an alternative treatment for Parkinson’s disease, drug addiction withdrawal, and depression. I don’t currently advice pregnant women to use Velvet Bean as it can raise testosterone and inhibit prolactin; an important hormone needed to aid in lactation.

For people currently taking antidepressants or antipsychotic medications Velvet Bean is contraindicated. Current dosage recommendations are 30 grams twice daily, or approximately 1 heaping teaspoon twice a day. I don’t advice taking Velvet Bean unless you have spoken to your doctor first; as it may be contraindicated with some medications.

New Studies Shows Link Between Youth Violence and Consumption of Soft Drinks

A recent article published in Injury Prevention has shown a link between the sugar and caffeine levels in soft drinks and youth violence.

While not a surprise to nutrition experts, or public health advocates, a possible link has been found between aggressive behavior in children and the consumption of carbonated beverages, and according to David Hemenway, MD, professor of public health, and director of the Injury Control Center at the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (who over-saw the research) "This is the first study to suggest such an association."

The research, which controlled for sex, age, race, body mass index, typical sleep patterns, tobacco use, alcohol use, and having family dinners, found that high consumption of carbonated, non diet soft drinks showed a positive association with an 9% to 15% greater likelihood of engaging in aggressive behaviors. In fact, heavy soft drink use had about the same effect as tobacco and alcohol on violence.

While the exact amount of sugar and caffeine that can lead to aggression in currently not known, and Dr. Hemenway feels additional research needs to be carried out, the data suggest a possible cause-and-effect relationship between high soft drink consumption and aggression.

The research, carried out by Dr. Hemenway and coauthors, found that teenagers who drank more than five 12-ounce cans of carbonated soft drinks each week were more likely to carry a weapon and commit violence against friends, dates, and siblings. The study also found that the relationship appears to be a dose–response relationship, with the strongest relationships shown for teenagers drinking 14 or more cans per week. Of those adolescents, 42.7% carried a gun or knife, 58.6% were violent toward their peers, 26.9% were violent toward dates, and 45.3% perpetrated violence toward other children in their family.

Heavy soft drink use was also associated with, getting insufficient sleep and using alcohol and tobacco within the past 30 days.

Critics of the research, site the fact that data was collected using self reporting and that correlation does not necessarily lead to causation. Poor children often drink more soft drinks, and the study tended to look at a poorer minority populations of children, and children possibly more prone to violence, a population of children soda companies tend to market to.

Could Low Dose Radiation Extend Life Expectancy?

When Yiannis Karimalis, was told he had only months to live, he decided to return to his native Island of Ikaria Greece to die. He had thought it would be cheaper to be buried there and wanted to be close to his family in his final days. And than something strange happened, instead of dyeing, he proceeded to live happily and healthfully another 40 years.

The strange case of Yiannis Karimalis, who had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in the 1970's, is just one of a series of interesting and odd cases of life extension that have captured the interest and imagination of scientist. And researchers are currently attempting to discover what possible protective factors could exist on the Island of Ikaria that make it a place with so many healthy citizens of advanced age (Ikaria boast a large and vibrant senior population with very little chronic disease).

One possibly theory behind Karimali's remarkable recovery (in fact, when he returned on a recent visit to the United States, he discovered that he had survived all of his doctors), is Ikaria's hot springs. Like many people in Ikaria, Karimalis frequented the hot springs the Island was known for. Recent scientific research into the baths revealed that the springs emit low dose radon (a radioactive substance) that may be associated with life extension. One theory, by life-extension researchers, is that low dose radiation can be protective of DNA, thus reducing a person's risk of certain degenerative diseases, like cancer.

Other possible protective factors on the Island include: a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables and fish, physical and sexual activity into old age, a culture that boast a greater respect for the elderly, and a culture that is seen as extremely close, affectionate, open, and demonstrative--where people are often perceived of as highly emotional and even volatile by outsiders. Tempers often flare up and are quickly cooled, but rarely progress to physical violence (a trait thought to be add additional cardiovascular-protective benefits).

Artificial Meat Less Than Six Months Away, Claim Scientist

In a mad dash to be the first scientific team to invent artificial meat by 2012, (PETA is currently offering a 1 million dollar prize to the first team that succeeds), Dutch scientist claim they are less than six months away from producing a synthetic lab grown sausage.

According to a recent article published in the Huffington Post, scientist may be just a year away from inventing artificial hamburger meat.

The idea of inventing cruelty free synthetic meat has been around for several years. However, it has only been in the last few years that the technology has enabled such products to become available.

Some of the potential benefits of such an invention could be the end of factory farming and widespread animal abuse, a reduction in methane gas and CO2 emissions, not to mention cheap readily available animal protein that could help reduce malnutrition and world hunger.

While I tend to be someone who encourages a whole-foods diet, I find myself being all too enthusiastic about the possibilities of animal-free meat products. The idea that so much land, currently being used to produce grain to feed cattle, can now be freed up to produce food that feeds people, or better yet free to return back to natural prairie lands, is an exiting idea. Still, convincing people to sink into a hamburger made from the stem cells of cows and fed on horse serum might be a hard sell. Furthermore, the meat is white in appearance and hardly appealing, namely because it contains no blood vessels.

Eating Animals: a book review

As of late, I have immersed myself, as only an anthropologist can, in the culture of the animal rights movement and the curious world populated by proponents of a vegan lifestyle (a diet that abstains from any food derived from animals including; dairy, eggs, fish and meat). During my studies, I fell upon the book “Eating Animals”, by Jonathan Safran Foer. Foer’s book, which became a national bestseller in 2009, was a glaring expose on the current escalation of factory farming in the United States, along with all of its horrific consequences, from the environmental devastation of factory farming, to the inhuman treatment of animals and the effect that eating large amounts of factory farmed meat on America’s overall health. Among the glaring statistics mentioned by Foer, are the fact that factory farms account for more than 40 percent of the global warming in our country (due to the astronomical amounts of methane gas being produced), loss of natural habitat, contamination of hundreds of lakes and streams, due to the run off from massive amounts of animals manure, pandemics (like Swine flu), and multiple medical problems like heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and obesity.

Sprinkled within the pages of this exhaustively well-researched book, are stories of his own childhood, as the grandchild of a holocaust survivor, and the significance that culture plays on our view of food and our food choices. The point being, that food is not just eaten for its taste, but also holds significant emotional meaning for us. Certain foods, such as traditional holiday foods can be eaten together with others in order to help create community and shared experiences. When we “break bread” with another human being, we are also creating bonds and shared experiences. A person who chooses to change their diet to a vegan diet does more than simply decide not to eat meat s/he chooses to challenge those old bonds and traditions. An example would be deciding to host a vegetarian Thanksgiving, instead of a traditional one with turkey. Perhaps this new Thanksgiving might create new traditions and a new community, but not with perhaps straining old ones.

Perhaps the thing that most influenced me about Safran’s book, peppered with dozens of studies citing the reasons not to eat meat, was his first hand accounts—by slaughterhouse workers—of horrific animal abuse they either witnessed or engaged in on a daily basis. While in some distant and abstract way I understood that animals are slaughtered in order that I eat meat, I had never really taken the time to thoroughly examine what goes into making meat on my plate so inexpensive and available.

The images in this book haunt me, and left me committed to finding a way to make it possible for both myself, and my patients, to choose a vegan lifestyle that was affordable and healthy. This book changed my life, made me re-evaluate the way I live and why I became a doctor in the first place. I became rededicated to my work as a health educator and to the firm commitment to contribute to a form of medicine that takes into account not only the health and welfare of the individual, but the planet as a whole. This book comes highly recommended.

Eat To Live: a book review

No Illness which can be treated by the diet should be treated by any other means.”

- Moses Maimonides (1135-1204)

When I was in medical school, I took a class on nutrition that required we read the book "Eat to Live," by Joel Furhman. Furhman is a family physician who specializes in treating obesity and chronic disease using diet alone. At that time, I was intrigued by the common sense logic of Furhman's approach, and could not understand why more doctors did not refer to his book to help them when developing diets for their patients.

Furhman explained what he called the 90/10 rule—where he encouraged people to obtain 90 percent of their calories from unprocessed fruits and vegetables—with animal products accounting for only 10 percent. This type of diet encourages people to eat foods that are high in nutritional content with very few calories. In Furhman's estimate, the most nutritious foods are green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and beans (roughly half should be eaten raw), with animal products coming in dead last.

While many people prefer to make the meat dish the main course, from a nutritional standpoint, it is probably better to make the salad the main course; with meat acting as a kind of condiment. What this means is that people who eat this way consume foods that are high in nutritional value with very few calories. This is in contrast with the way most people live and eat today; where they consume high calorie foods that have little nutritional value whatsoever. Because this type of eating is naturally much lower in calories, but loaded with fiber and nutrients, people feel full, quickly begin to lose weight, and experience much better health overall.

Perhaps the most interesting observation I have made about this diet is that it so closely resembles what we believe people closer to nature eat. An example would be the Native American populations of the Pacific Northwest Coast, like the Sahaptin of the Columbia River, which I studied while a student at the University of Washington. Most anthropologist today believe that gatherers and hunters subsist mostly on a vegetarian diet with meat only eaten in small quantities. We also find that people who eat this way, live much longer and experience far less chronic diseases.

When in doubt about what to eat, Furhman suggest you eat 2 pounds of vegetables and fruit a day (1/2 of these should be raw and 1/2 cooked), to obtain optimal health. This way of eating is also very high in fiber (which has been found to lower cholesterol and help in elimination). If you are looking for an excellent book on general information about health and diet, I cannot think of a better one to recommend than Eat to Live, it is by far the best book I have ever read on health and nutrition for the health professional and layman alike.

What The Sahaptin People Taught Me About Health

Before I went to medical school, I had the opportunity to study Anthropology, under Dr. Eugene Hunn, while a student at the University of Washington.
Dr. Hunn received his doctoral degree after researching a North American tribe known as the "Sahaptins" and is the author of the book, "Nch'i wana, The Big River". (the greater Sahaptin tribe can be found with bands across Oregon reaching as far as Washington and Idaho).
They lived on the Columbia River, and ate a mostly plant-based diet that included plenty of fresh berries (mostly huckelberries), nuts, seeds, and vegetables, like wild Camas (Camassia quamash), and wild celeries — known by their latin name as "Lomatium kous," (the Lomatium are a family of plants researched extensively for their immune supportive properties).
They supplemented this diet with wild salmon and wild game; that was either eaten fresh, or, like their vegetables, stored by being smoked and dried.
What I learned from Dr. Hunn, was that most gatherers and hunters lived in temperate zones, and ate a diet that was 90 percent plant-based with animal products making up only 10 percent of their overall diet. I also learned that this is probably the earliest diet humans had, and that this is probably the diet our bodies were evolved to eat.
Often I hear theories from people about what constituted the Paleolithic diet, but these theories are rarely supported by environmental anthropologist today, like Eugene Hunn. Instead, these diets draw on a myth of the caveman from earlier anthropologist theories that have since been dismissed by the majority of modern achademics. These supposed "Cave Man"diets often contain a great deal of animal products and are frankly not healthful. The truth is, with the exception of those communities that lived in harsh terrains (like Greenland), few tribes ate such large quantities of meat, but instead relied on their women folk to gather the majority of food that was eaten. A diet that was usually mostly vegan with meat acting as a type of condiment.
Hunting was labor intensive, and required a great deal of preparation and skill; making plant collection the bulk of most peoples diets.
Like other gatherers and hunters, the Sahaptin enjoyed excellent health, even without modern medical interventions.
The Sahaptin people lived much longer than their European counterparts (often decades longer). And are believed to have made contact with Louis and Clark, in the winter of 1805, when they crossed the Columbia river, and stayed in an area that later became Astoria Oregon. They are credited with keeping the Louis and Clark expedition alive during their harsh stay there.
They were called the "salmon eaters," and it was noted by the expedition that they lived to a very ripe old age, and their burial sites contained few child graves. They kept busy, and worked hard, had close extended families, and spent much of their time outdoors engaged in food collection and storage.
Dr Hunn's course, which was titled "Environmental Anthropology," was amongst the most interesting courses I took during my studies at the University of Washington. And the lessons I learned about health, and the proper diet for the human body, stayed with me long after I graduated; as I continued my studies in medical school and beyond. I often draw on these lessons when I discuss health and diet with my students and patients or develop diets to promote my patients health.

Why You Should Be Including Foods High In Fiber In Your Diet

When people ask me what I think is the most important change they can make to their health, I usually recommend that they begin eating a diet high in dietary fiber.

Most anthropologist today believe that early humans ate a diet far higher in fiber than we currently do. And most health experts agree that the daily intake of fiber should be approximately 25 grams (early humans may have eaten twice that amount or more).

There are two kinds of fiber you should be aware of soluble and insoluble. A soluble fiber dissolves easily in water. This kind of fiber has been linked to reducing cholesterol—namely because soluble fiber binds to cholesterol in our digestive tracts and helps flush it from our bodies.

Soluble fiber has also been researched as a dietary adjunct treatment for type II diabetes. This is because fiber slows how quickly sugar can enter the blood stream—preventing it from becoming dangerously high. In fact, several high concentrate soluble fibers are currently being researched for their ability to stabilize the blood sugar of type II diabetics.

Insoluble fiber is responsible for bulking up our stool—helping to prevent constipation, polyps, and diverticula (intestinal out-pouches that can be caused by straining during bowel movements).

In general, fiber fills you up reducing hunger pangs—even when the high fiber food you are eating is low in calories. These foods are often not only high in fiber, but nutrient dense as well. Good examples of high fiber low-calorie foods include; root vegetables like carrots and parsnips, green leafy vegetables, like spinach and kale, as well as squashes, beans, nuts and seeds, and whole grains (like unprocessed brown rice, buckwheat an quinoa). These foods are highly nutritious but low in calories—filling you up without weighing you down.

So if you are serious about staying healthy and loosing weight, simply begin counting your fiber. Begin by looking at the foods you are eating and asking yourself "how much fiber is in the meal I am eating right now?" How much fiber is in this condiment or dressing? You can be sure that if you are eating a meal rich in fiber—your meal is substantially lower in calories. High fiber meals are typically either vegan or 90% vegan with meat being eaten as a condiment. Great ideas for high fiber meals include; beans, whole grains, or a salad garnished with a small amount of lean animal protein like salmon or chicken.

Fat Sick And Nearly Dead: A Movie Review

Recently, I watched the movie "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead," available on Netflix. The film chronicles the real life adventure of Joe Cross, an entrepreneur from Australia, who decides to go on a 60 day juice fast. Cross had a series of medical conditions that included obesity, and an autoimmune disease commonly referred to as "Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria." Cross's decision to go on a juice fast, is based on the idea that his lifestyle choices made him sick. In fact, many healthcare providers now believe that much of America's epidemic of obesity and chronic disease have more to do with diet and lifestyle choices than anything else.

The film was shot in the United States, and depicts Cross traveling across the country asking people about health and diet, while discussing the current medical epidemic of obesity and chronic disease that has lead to Americans consuming more prescription drugs than any other nation on earth. Along the way Cross meets a truck driver named "Phil," Phil is 425 pounds and suffering from the same debilitating disease. Phil decides to go on his own juice fast and not only recovers his health but looses close to 200 pounds (for his part, Cross lost around 90 pounds during his fast).

This film is amazingly inspirational, and I highly recommend people watch it. Not just because it demonstrates how diet and exercise can cure disease, but because it addresses, what I have come to believe, are gaping holes in our current healthcare system. Mainly, the lack of emphasis we have placed on diet and lifestyle changes to cure disease in this country, and have opted instead for the "quick fix," medications can offer instead.

The film maker argues that juicing is better than eating foods raw because it would take far too many fruits and veggies to equal the amount of nutrients found in a single glass of juice. Therefore, in order to maximize the amount of micronutrients available in vegetables it is better to juice them.

This is not a perfect film. I am not a huge proponent of a juice only fast. One of the main reasons I don't like this type of fast is because it eliminates fiber from the diet. Fiber is vital to our health for a number of reasons. For starters, fiber bulks up our stool helping us to have healthier and more frequent bowel movements (preventing constipation, and decreasing our risk of diverticulitis and polyps). Fiber is also thought to reduce our risk of colon cancer and type II diabetes. Fiber also helps keep our blood sugar stable. It does this by slowing down how quickly sugar can enter the blood stream; preventing the elevated levels you can sometimes get from consuming high sugar content food items like soda pop and white bread.

Instead of the juice only diet seen in this film, I advice people to do both a juice fast combined with nutrient dense foods like plenty of raw veggies, brown rice, and beans. This keeps the blood sugar stable during the fast, while still gaining all of the added benefits of taking in nutrient dense juices.

Like every article we write on Anderson Health Watch, we always want you to ask your doctor before starting any diet or exercise regime to see if it is right for you.

Are You Taking Medication for Acid Reflux? If so, you may be deficient in vitamins B12

One of the most common types of over-the-counter medications my patients take are medications for reducing acid reflux. Unfortunately, over time, this can lead to some health challenges which include, difficulty digesting food, malabsorption, and nutritional deficiencies. This is because without adequate stomach acid it becomes impossible to digest our food properly.

Our stomach usually produces stomach acid via Parietal cells. Medications that block the release of stomach acid from Parietal cells also block something else called “intrinsic factor.” Intrinsic factor is a carrier protein that the parietal cells release into the stomach when we eat foods that contain B12 (such as animal products). However, when people take acid-blockers they can also block the parietal cells from releasing intrinsic factor; making it impossible to absorb vitamin B!2. Consequently, long-term use of acid blockers can result in B12 deficiency and I advice my patients who are unable to get off acid blockers to supplement with B12.

If your doctor has placed you on an acid blocker, speak to him/her about B12. B12 is a very important vitamin that is vital for several processes in the body. B12 gives us energy, helps in DNA synthesis, and protects our nerve cells. B12 is also helpful in red blood cell division. People with low levels of B12 often experience a medical condition called “neuropathy”, or pain in the nerves (often in the feet and hands). they may also experience a form of anemia where red blood cells continue to grow but do not divide called “megaloblastic anemia.”

If you are concerned about getting enough B12, and you are taking an acid-blocker, I recommend taking a sublingual B12. This is a B12 that you can take under the tongue bypassing the stomach so that it can be absorbed more easily. B12 sublingual is sold in 500mcg, 1mg and 5mg dosages. I also advice taking the form methylcobalamine as it is of higher quality than the cheaper quality cyanocobalamine.

Feeling Depressed? Try Taking Niacin

Feeling a bit blue lately? You might want to think about adding an inexpensive supplement to your diet everyday. Niacin (also known as B3) is a readily available over-the-counter supplement that has been found to improve mood in some people.

In fact, one of the first signs of vitamin B3 deficiency is anxiety and depression. Why would that be? Simple really, when we aren’t getting enough B3, our bodies may become deficient in an important neuro-transmitter called “serotonin.” Serotonin helps relieve stress and anxiety—so when we are low— we can become overly anxious and depressed.

More recently, taking high dosages of niacin has become popular; due to the fact that niacin has a lipid lowering effect and has been shown to be effective in helping to increase HDL (good cholesterol).

Niacin deficiency has been noted in people who suffer from alcoholism and in cultures that rely heavily on a corn-based diet (where the niacin is not easily digested unless the corn has been specially treated). Extreme deficiency of niacin causes a medical condition known as “pellagra.” pellagra is characterized by dermatitis, scaling of the skin, diarrhea, a swollen beefy red tongue, emotionally erratic behavior, and mental confusion.

Niacin can be purchased in 100 mg tablets. However, if taking this much niacin causes you to have side effects, like hot flushes, you may try 250 mg-500 mg Slo-Niacin or no-flush niacin currently on the market.

Another option, that I prefer, is to have people simply start taking a B-Complex that includes niacin; as well as other important B vitamins, like B12 and folic acid, also found to improve mood.

Foods high in niacin include lean meats, legumes, like peanuts and lentils. Niacin is also found in small quantities in grains, vegetables and fruit.

The simplest and easiest changes to our diets can have the most amazing impact on our moods and well-being. We sometimes see young people, after they go away to college, become depressed. And I believe part of that change in mood may be due to bad dietary choices. By educating our children early on about the importance of diet to our health and well-being, hopefully, these deficiencies can be avoided.

Type II Diabetes Can Be Reversed with Diet

In a recent article I read in the BBC, it was pointed out that Diabetes type II can be reversed in people, who have only had the disease for a short amount of time, if they go on a restricted diet of 600Kcals a day.
While this may be good news for many people, I have found that similar benefits can be attained by putting people on a whole food based diet (80 percent vegan 20 percent lean animal protein), on a restricted diet of between 1400 and 1700 calories a day with moderate exercise,
I do not feel that treating obesity, or type II diabetes, is very complicated.
What I find is difficult for people, is learning to change the patterns of diet and lifestyle that they have established for years that lead to the disease itself.
One of the things that I learned when I received my Anthropology degree is the importance of community and ritual in peoples lives. These rituals become patterns that comfort us and give us a sense of who we are in the world.
For a person with a drinking problem, for example, the ritual might be sitting on a bar stool talking to the same group of people and having the same drinks over the course of several years. The bar, and the people, become the community and environment that the person has come to feel safe in, even if the activity they have chosen is ultimately unhealthy, the familiarity of the environment has made it both a safe zone and a source of comfort and community. The ritual of drinking may be comforting for its own sake, but it is also an addiction that is harmful to ones health.
I do not think that we can address real change in a person's life if we do not address the fact that we are asking a person to find a new set of rituals and give up old ones that are not longer healthy for them.
In the case of the alcoholic, we are also asking a person to give up the only community they may have. However, once we are able to help a person see the extent to which they may have to change their life's patterns and habits in order to heal it. People become far more realistic about what they need to do in order to change their lives. And begin to seek out new rituals and a new community that better mirrors the type of life they wish to live.

Trying to Stay Healthy? Try drinking coffee

For those people who truly love coffee, as I do, the idea that coffee could actually be good for you is a welcome relief. Among the many benefits attributed to coffee include, possible reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, diabetes type II, cirrhosis of the liver, and gout.

There are several different species of coffee. The most common, Coffea canephora, commonly referred to as “Robusta,” is the form we most often see in common brands available at your local supermarket. This type of coffee is often high in caffeine and fairly inexpensive to produce. A more prized form of coffee is the C. arabica. Originally found in the highlands of Ethiopia, and the Sudan, this is the form most often used to make espresso. C. arabica is lower in caffeine and considered more flavorful and more expensive. Because we are fairly serious about coffee in our house—we only buy the C. arabica variety. And while it is thought that unfiltered coffee contains ingredients, called diterpenes, thought to slightly elevate LDL cholesterol, we use a French Press and never filter our coffee with a paper filter. This is because, in addition to removing diterpenes, paper filters also remove beneficial antioxidants thought to have numerous health benefits.

Studies have shown that people who consume a moderate amount of coffee everyday, around 3-5 cups a day, are at decreased risk for developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease type II diabetes and prostate cancer.

A few cups of coffee a day can also be helpful in alleviating mild depression and can act as a “pick me up,” when you are having trouble starting your day.

Coffee is also high in antioxidents. These are substances that help repair cell damage. In fact, coffee has more anti-oxidants in it per cup that just about any drink on the market.

The greatest health risk associated with drinking coffee appears to be acid reflux. A condition that may be alleviated by choosing coffee that has a lower acidity level.

If you are a naturally nervous person and easily stressed, you may try switching to decaffeinated coffee. However, decaffeinated coffee does not hold that same health benefits.

So if you are someone who loves coffee as much as I do—enjoy your 2-4 cups a day there are many health benefits you can enjoy without giving up one of the worlds favorite beverages.

Natural Remedies for Protection from Radiation Exposure

I have been receiving a rash of phone calls over the last couple of days, both by the press and from my patients, asking me to address concerns regarding the possibility of the United States being exposed to radioactive fall out should there be a major leak of radiation from Japans crippled nuclear power plants. I have also received phone calls from concerned citizens and doctors asking if I know where they can get Potassium Iodide (KI) .

In the event of exposure to high amounts of radiation the CDC is currently recommending the following dosages for KI:

-Adults should take 130 mg (one 130 mg tablet OR two 65 mg tablets OR two mL of solution).Women who are breastfeeding should take the adult dose of 130 mg.

-Children between 3 and 18 years of age should take 65 mg (one 65 mg tablet OR 1 mL of solution).

-Children who are adult size (greater than or equal to 150 pounds) should take the full adult dose, regardless of their age.

-Infants and children between 1 month and 3 years of age should take 32 mg (½ of a 65 mg tablet OR ½ mL of solution). This dose is for both nursing and non-nursing infants and children.

-Newborns from birth to 1 month of age should be given 16 mg (¼ of a 65 mg tablet or ¼ mL of solution). This dose is for both nursing and non-nursing newborn infants. These dosages should not continue after 14 days.

However, many doctors, including myself, our concerned that people will begin taking KI when no real risk of contamination exist. The problem is that high amounts of KI, over an extended period of time, can be toxic to the thyroid. The purpose of taking KI, is that it blocks the thyroid from taking up radioactive Iodide in the atmosphere that can cause cancer.

Currently, while radiation has not hit the shores of the United States, I am recommending that people keep KI in their emergency disaster earthquake ready kits simply as a precaution. I am not recommending they start taking it–as it simply poses too many health risk–except in the event that we experience radioactive fall out.

Here is what KI cannot do, it cannot protect your body, and its organs, from the severe and devastating consequences of high dose radiation exposure. Long term exposure to radiation can lead to several medical problems. If the radiation exposure is high enough it can lead to death within a few days or weeks. Lower dose radiation, over time, can lead to various types of cancers such as Thyroid, Lung, Skin, Multiple myeloma, Breast Cancer, and Stomach Cancer.

Natural remedies to protect the body from radiation do exist, and they are not harmful to the body. The most noted case of natural treatments for radiation exposure come from Dr Tatsuichiro Akizuki MD, who was the Director of the Department of Internal Medicine at St. Francis Hospital in Nagasaki, a hospital that was 2 miles from the atomic bomb blast. Operating with only a generator for power, the hospital was only able to feed its patients brown rice, Miso soup and seaweed. Akizuki noted that none of his staff or patients succumbed to radiation sickness. This diet offered protection from radiation exposure probably for a few reasons. First, the seaweed contained high amounts of iodine, which protected the thyroid from radiation. The second is that miso soup (a fermented soy bean paste popular in Japanese cooking), contains an ingredient known as Zybocin. Zybocin was discovered in 1972 and is believed to be an agent that can bind to radioactive elements and help rid it from the body.

Because radiation can cause substances known as Reactive Oxidative Species or ROS–they can cause damage to our cells and lead to cancer. Therefore, any foods high in antioxidants can be beneficial. these include the antioxidants themselves, Vitamin E (Avoid DL-alpha-Tocopheral as it is synthetic), Beta Carotene, Vitamin C, Selenium and Zinc. Foods high in antioxidants include vegetables, green tea, berries, like blueberries and pomegranates, and greens products like spirulina and chlorella.

The Anti-Radiation Diet

Believe it or not, there is such a diet. We recommend the following foods (they can be taken daily and will not harm you).

* Miso Soup Daily

* Spirulina, chlorella and algaes (like kelp) for their anti-oxidant properties and their high mineral and Iodide content.

*Brassica Vegetables (these are vegetables in the mustard family that help protect the liver and include kale, broccoli, mustard greens, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, turnips and rutabagas)

*Minerals like Potassium, Calcium and Mineral rich foods

*Cod liver oil and olive oil

*Drink plenty of green tea

* Consider taking supplements like Reishi, Astragalus, Panex ginsing, Rhodiola, and Ashwaganda, these herbs protect immune health and are strong anti-oxidants. these plants can both protect the body from making carcinogenic (cancer causing substances), as well as protect the cells from developing into cancer in the first place.

*Avoid junk food and processed foods like sweets. These foods burn quickly (creating oxidative stress to the cells) are not nutritious and can add additional strain to the body as it attempts to rid itself of toxins.

Hopefully, these precautions will be unnecessary but by presenting the best possible, and safest options, for protecting ourselves, we can be better informed and better prepared should such an emergency ever happen.

Turmeric May Help Reverse the Damaging Effects of Stroke

In a recent article in BBC News, it was reported that the spice Turmeric--commonly used in curry--may fight the damaging effects of stroke.

This is not the first time turmeric has been researched for its many health benefits. Turmeric may also be helpful in reducing risk for heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and a host of other diseases commonly seen as a result of chronic inflammation and degeneration.

Recent research, which was published by Ceder-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and presented at the American Stroke Association's annual conference, presented evidence that a drug derived from turmeric--may help repair cells in the brain that govern the movement of muscles.

While Turmeric by itself cannot cross the blood brain barrier without a fat like gee--the new trial drug (known as CNB-001) has been modified to reach brain cells and help protect them from the damaging effects of stroke. And is thought to help when administered up to three hours after stroke has occurred.

The trial was originally conducted using rabbits with promising results--while clinical testing on humans has not yet been scheduled.

Does Your Child Suffer From PTSD?

We want to believe the world is safe for our children. And perhaps we wish it had been safe for us. But, sadly, it was not. Unfortunately, we live in a world where children are often forced to see the worst of humanity. When that happens a child can become damaged, and this damage can impact them deep into adulthood.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, often simply referred to as PTSD, was first noted in solders suffering an emotionally traumatic event during combat. However, we now know that the vast majority of people who suffer from PTSD are not solders. And that, in fact, are people who contracted the condition in childhood following extremely traumatic events. These events left the child feeling vulnerable and helpless. And can manifest as disorganized or agitated actions, loud inappropriate behavior, learning disabilities, and poor social skills.

Currently in the United States, it is estimated that 8% of the population suffers from PTSD, but the numbers could be far higher.

For a child, this might include witnessing violent or abusive behavior in adults that include physical, mental, or sexual abuse. Even in situations sometimes deemed “mild”, by adult standards, children can be deeply traumatized. An example would be a couple that is going through a difficult divorce, believes that they have adequately protected their child from conflict, only to discover the child has been deeply wounded and traumatized by the experience.

I have noticed with increasing alarm over the years an overlap between the over diagnoses of Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and a refusal to consider PTSD as a diagnoses in children; even though the two conditions in children have very similar behaviors. This is not to say that ADD and ADHD are not real disorders. Rather, they are real disorders that have been over-diagnosed in children with PTSD.

Why is this happening? Could it be that we simply refuse to believe that the child has been traumatized? Rather then address this real possibility the child is placed on medications and designated “a patient” and a “problem child”. When, in fact, the child may not be the real problem at all, but merely the innocent recipient of an awful situation.

For many adults this is painful to come to terms with, especially when a parent may have to accept the fact that they, or someone they know and trust, has done something abusive to their child, even unintentionally; that has caused severe trauma.

Because these unfortunate children are never properly diagnosed they are often placed on the wrong set of medications and never receive the treatment they so desperately deserve. Instead, they are often left feeling ashamed of their behavior—believing that they have done something wrong (which only compounds their distress). This is often the case when the child is repeatedly chastised for his/her behavior and made to feel that they are somehow different or bad. Which only reinforces what they may have come to believe themselves following a trauma or experience of abuse.

If you suspect your child may have been wrongly diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, instead of PTSD, here are some of the signs and symptoms to look out for and include the following:

disturbing and intrusive reoccurring thoughts or dreams of the traumatic event. In children this may express itself in violent or repetitive acts of play where the themes of abuse appear.

recurrent nightmares and night terrors. The child may begin to regress, act like a baby, begin bed-wetting, or be afraid to sleep by themselves.

-A Feeling of intense anxiety when placed in certain situation that can trigger memories of the traumatic event. In adults this anxiety can impact our ability to hold down a job, or seek more challenging work opportunities. In children, it can present itself as trouble concentrating in class, learning challenges, or a refusal to go to school.

­- Feeling forced to avoid certain places, people, or situations because they trigger memories or unpleasant feelings of anxiety or helplessness. If the child is being abused at school he may either try to avoid going all together or seem more detached or disturbed when he returns home.

-A feeling of hopelessness about your future. The child may not want to get out of bed, play with other children, and may withdraw for long periods into his own room.

-Sleep disturbances, angry outburst, rages, hyper-vigilance and an exaggerated startle response are not uncommon and may lead to serious problems at school and social settings.

-Last is dissociation, or a child that seems to “live in his own world,” talks to himself,” or spends hours on activities alone making few if any friends.

If you suspect your child has PTSD seek help with a trained professional. Do not attempt to treat on your own. The professional help you seek should be with a licensed therapist trained to treat trauma in children. If you suspect a child is currently being abused you must report it to the authorities immediately—that is the law. Remember, there is help for people who suffer from PTSD— even in people who have had the condition for years. But research shows that the sooner therapy is sought the more likely a person is to recover. For more about PTSD and treatment please visit the following sites.

http://www.mental-health-today.com/ptsd/dsm.htm

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/dsm-iv-tr-ptsd.asp

http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/ptsd.htm

http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Posttraumatic+Stress+Disorder+%28PTSD%29&section=Facts+for+Families

http://anxiety.emedtv.com/ptsd/ptsd-in-children-p2.html

You Come China You Go Shopping!

This year, I chose to take a vacation to The Peoples Republic of China. I was exited by what I had heard about its history and culture. I read every book I could get a hold of on the subject. I began to memorize every dynasty in order over a span of over 5000 years. I even began to learn a few mandarin phrases. I wanted to find out what the new modern China was like. How had it changed since the door began to open to the West 35 years ago?

Because, like most Americans, I am not allowed to leave my job for more then a brief amount of time, I only had two weeks of travel planned. So, I decided to focus my trip on the two largest cities in the country, Beijing, and Shanghai. While Beijing might be viewed as the political center of the country, kind of like Washington DC, Shanghai is a major metropolitan city much like New York City.

I had heard that China is a country that is changing quickly. The country has certainly become more open to tourist, more friendlily to foreign trade and foreign business. Everywhere I looked, while visiting the major cities I saw foreign companies had made their mark in China. There were Starbucks, Kentucky Fried Chickens, Subways and McDonald's everywhere. Even the Forbidden City had advertisements for American Express as a foreign donor. From what I saw it was not the Chinese taking over America but America taking over China, and in the worst possible way.

I saw two things I did not expect to see in China, obesity and extreme wealth. I saw many Chinese that seemed to be quite wealthy (especially in Shanghai), and extreme poverty. I saw beggars deformed in the most hideous and heart wrenching ways. And I saw that the junk food and fast foods we have exported to the rest of the world beginning to take their toll on the health and welfare of the Chinese people. I saw classicism and greed of course, but I also saw a real love of money and everything that money brings.

The all American capitalist could learn a thing or two about greed from the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese themselves. while they were often helpful and gracious, they were also after my wallet.

In fact, the only English word I consistently heard was “shopping”. Suggestions to shop came up every where I traveled; while walking down the street, visiting museums and Buddhist Temples, and of course, while traveling to tourist sites. Getting into taxis with cabbies that don’t speak English usually ended with them taking me to the nearest shopping mall (even when I was trying to go somewhere entirely different). I quickly learned the best way to get around China was by bus or subway (Public transportation is excellent in most Chinese cities and well funded). The prices were cheap, and you were able to get to where you wanted to go without being hijacked and taken on a shopping spree.

This is what happened the first time I attempted to hire a driver and tour guide to take me to the Ming Tombs and Great Wall. Instead, I was taken from one shopping location to another. And in the end, only had a few minutes to visit the actual places I had wanted to visit.

I had been warned about culture shock and thought I had prepared myself well for the trip. But the truth is, nothing prepares you for going half way around the world to a place where you cannot communicate effectively with anybody else. I quickly realized I was as helpless as a child, and began to act like a frustrated two year old (much to the amusement and fascination of the locals). I became loud, temperamental, and downright frightening in my rants. I can safely say I now have a new found sympathy for babies as they become frustrated and annoyed at the seemingly well meaning clueless adults around them.

The nine-dollar Barnes And Noble Mandarin phrase book aside, being able to communicate effectively with others was one of the hardest challenges about vacationing in China. If you visit and it takes you more than 3 days to have a complete melt down in the streets consider yourself something of a saint.

My flight to Beijing left Los Angeles at midnight of October 14Th. Crossing the International Time Zone, I landed a day later in Seoul South Korea, at around 4:30 in the morning. And as the plane began its lazy decent I could not help but notice that the North Korean side was completely blacked out. I said a silent prayer hoping our plane wouldn't be shot down during some unforeseen scuffle between the North and South.

At the Seoul airport I took a photo of the mist covered mountains in the North; just as the sun was rising from the east. And realized it was the closest I would probably ever come to North Korea. The picture was sad in its beauty and left me with feelings I am not sure even I understand.

Upon arriving in Beijing, I soon realized two things. First, that most cab drivers had no clue how to find my hotel (despite having printed out the directions in Mandarin from map quest). I often found myself driven in circles for what seemed like hours listening to frustrated cab drivers muttering to themselves in incomprehensible Chinese. And secondly, the Chinese have a very different interpretation of what constitutes a traffic law and how to obey them. You see, where we have traffic laws in the United States, the Chinese have only mild suggestions and little annoyances. You take your life in your own hands if you are crossing a street in Beijing or Shanghai. The annoying, self absorbed, cell phone toting, speed texting, snooty teenager (that Americans specialize in mass producing) is no match for the insane maneuverings of the cars, buses, scooters and bicycles on any given day in any given Chinese city. Remember, you cross the street at your own discretion. God help us all.

I soon discovered that the best way to cross a street in China is to latch on to some unsuspecting native as the crowds pushed forward against oncoming traffic and hope for the best. The odds are fairly good you’ll survive but don’t count on it.

But through it all I came to enjoy my trip to China, yes I really did. You see, by the end of the second week I came to understand that China has a rhythm all its own, and I learned to surrender to it. I let myself soon be moved by the tide of fellow foreigners hustled from one “bargain sale”, to the next. I learned to shop, and enjoy it (something I cannot stand to do in the United States). I bargained down prices with the best of them and bought cheap jewelry and trinkets I shared with friends and co-workers when I returned home. I stopped arguing with taxi drivers but instead thanked them profusely when they dropped me off miles from my destination and dumped me at yet another one of its new trendy western style malls. I learned to go to China and spend money. And realized I had done what I intended to do, I had experienced Chinese culture. I had learned to embrace capitalism. I came to China and I went shopping.

Stress In Childhood Can Impact Health Long Into Adulthood

The ways in which childhood trauma and abuse can impact a person's health for years to come is a disturbing idea to contemplate. We would like to believe that once a child has left an abusive or stressful home they can then begin to live a healthier and happier life. Unfortunately, the long term effects of abuse can last long after the abuse has ended.

A recently published article in the health section of the BBC, has revealed several studies showing the long term effects of poverty and childhood stress on overall health for years to come.

Childhood stress, abuse and poverty, were found to increase a person's risk for cardiovascular disease, inflammation, high blood pressure and a host of other diseases. Childhood abuse and poverty has also been associated with long term stress in social situations; which can increase blood pressure and have a negative impact on health.

Research shows that children who survive childhood abuse and neglect are at greater risk of incarceration, drug abuse, suicide, relationship instability, shortened life span, and illiteracy.

The role of a Naturopath is to treat both the cause of disease and to encourage preventative measures be taken to insure people remain healthy. Having said that, it seems obvious to me that health care practitioners, or anyone who is concerned with public health, should take an active role in education and advocacy for policy changes necessary to reduce the risk of childhood neglect and abuse; which has such long term negative impacts on public health over all.

Alternative health care offers hope and education to people wishing to improve their health and well being, and I do not wish to suggest that their are no options to survivors of abuse to recover and improve their health. Rather, I would suggest that health care providers cannot address the idea of preventative health care; if that discussion does not address social inequality and its impact on public health.

Pacific Northwest Restaurants Make Local Fresh Cuisine An Art Form

Having just returned from a one-week stint in the Pacific Northwest I can say emphatically that there was no lack of great restaurants in that part of the world. Both my fiance and myself traveled to Oregon to attend the 25 annual AANP Convention, and also took some time to enjoy a little tourism. The most exciting development I have seen, from an environmental and health standpoint, is the creation of several restaurants that serve local, fresh, and whenever possible, organic cuisine.

Probably the best restaurant we ate at was located in the beautiful small town of Astoria Oregon. Astoria has a rich history (and once made the bulk of its money from the generous Columbia Salmon run that was once teeming with fresh fish). Unfortunately, like many business that are based on natural resources, the economy experienced a boom and then bust collapse leaving many locals out of work. And now, Astoria has reinvented itself and become a sleepy and beautiful tourist town with great local restaurants and artist.

When you do visit Astoria Oregon, be sure to visit on a Sunday, if you can, so that you can enjoy a walk through the local Sunday Market. And then afterward, visit the Restaurant Clemente’s for lunch. The owners, Gordan and Lisa Clemente, buy their vegetables and fish from local businesses and never freeze anything. The food is always fresh, preferably caught or picked that very day (the fish we had eaten for lunch, had been caught by Lisa’s brother that very morning). And the delicious salad we ate contained vegetables grown from the local family farm.

With out a doubt, the food was the best I have ever had and the attention and respect that the chef (Lisa prepared our meal), gave to every detail of the meal was exceptional. Afterwards, Lisa came and spoke to us about her vision of creating an excellent restaurant that incorporated local organic food with minimal negative impact on the earth. Another great thing about the restaurant was the local art. Clemente’s makes an effort to exhibit and promote the works of local artist (many of whom are quite exceptional).

A similar great meal was also had when we visited a local restaurant in Portland Oregon a few Days later. We chose to eat at a local gem called The Farm. This restaurant also has its produce, cheese and meats supplied by local businesses. The concept of both of these great restaurants is to attempt to minimize the environmental impact of shipping food from far away. Instead, both these restaurants attempt to buy within 50 miles of their location. They buy organic whenever possible. The impact on the environment is far less damaging and the food itself is much fresher and healthier then the food you would otherwise get at a more conventional restaurant. The great thing about this type of eating is that you are not only helping to support local businesses, and the environment, but you are having a meal that is having far less of a damaging impact on the environment and far better for your health over all.