Chiropractic Elk Grove

Chiropractic Provides Relief from Major Depression
46-year old man overcame his major depression and increased his quality of life after chiropractic care.

A case study published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research credits regular chiropractic care with helping a 46-year old man overcome his major depression and increase his quality of life. The study documents the important role chiropractic care can play in the management of depressions.

More than 15 million American adults are diagnosed with mood disorders every year, which include major depression, Dysthymia and Bipolar Disorder. The disease is usually treated with antidepressants, according to the study, but the quality of life of people who are clinically depressed is subdued by the medications’ many unwanted side effects.

In this particular study, a 46-year old man suffered from major depression and was taking an antidepressant with unwanted side effects, such as decrease in his sex drive, dizziness, muscle weakness and insomnia. A chiropractic evaluation revealed that he had suffered physical trauma in the past, which led to vertebral subluxations. A subluxation is a condition in which the body is unable to function properly because of interferences with the nervous system, and the condition may be corrected with chiropractic adjustments.

The patient had a total of 34 adjustments done on various parts of his spine over a period of 11 months. After the first visit, his dizziness subsided, and he experienced a decrease in lower back and neck pain. After three visits, he felt less anxious and fatigued and reported an increase in muscle strength. Over time, his depression significantly improved, and he was eating healthier.

Previous studies have shown a correlation between injury or trauma to the spine and the onset of social disorders, in addition to biochemical changes in the brain.

A healthy spine is vital to your health, to your overall state of well being and thus to your quality of life.

FDA: Antibiotics in Livestock Affects Human Health
Agency Suggests Limits on Antibiotics in Animals Because of Rise of Drug-Resistant Bacteria
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

June 28, 2010 — Giving animals antibiotics in order to increase food production is a threat to public health and should be stopped, the FDA said today.

The federal agency says it has the power to ban the practice, but it’s starting by issuing “draft guidance” in hopes the food industry will make voluntary changes. After a 60-day public comment period, the guidance will become FDA policy.

The guidance is based on two principles:

* Antibiotics should be given to food animals only to protect their health.
* All animal use of antibiotics should be overseen by veterinarians.

“We are seeing the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens,” FDA Deputy Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein, MD, said at a news conference. “FDA believes overall weight of evidence supports the conclusion that using medically important antimicrobial drugs for production purposes is not appropriate.”

Sharfstein said it’s a public health issue when antibiotics important for human health are given to animals on a massive scale. Such use encourages the growth of drug-resistant bacteria that can cause hard-to-treat human disease.

Like humans, animals sometimes need antibiotics to fight or prevent specific infections. The FDA says it has no problem with this.

But producers regularly give antibiotics to food animals because it makes them gain weight faster or makes them gain more weight from the food they eat. This is the practice the FDA wants to end.

Sharfstein hopes that by offering the carrot of voluntary guidelines, industry will avoid the stick of new regulations.

“We are not expecting people to change tomorrow. This is the first step in FDA establishing principles from which we could move to other steps, such as oversight,” Sharfstein said. “This does not tell people what to do, it establishes principles and tells people how to achieve those principles.”
4 Top Picks

* Healthy Foods and Treats for Your Dog
* Slideshow: Food Frauds That Can Wreck Your Diet
* Is Your Diet Irritating Your Bladder?
* Bad Eating Habits? Assess Your Diet

This time of year everyone is excited to pull out the grill and get the Barbeque started. Personally, I love the taste of barbeque. Unfortunately, grilling out regularly is a dangerous habit that radically increases one’s risk of heart disease and cancer.

There are 3 major cancer causing molecules that are present when meat gets heated at a high temperature. One is caused by the smoke that is released when fat drips from meat or fish onto a heat source. This potent carcinogen is called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAH’s for short. The second set of molecules formed by cooking meat at high temperatures are heterocyclic amines (HCA’s). HCA’s are formed through a chemical reaction between naturally occurring amino acids and creatine in the meat.

Finally, grilling meat at high temperatures increases the amount of advanced glycolytic enzymes (AGE’s) present in the meat. When you eat the meat the AGE’s get transferred to your body. AGE’s cause inflammation and oxidative damage in the tissues of your body. These are the leading causes of degenerative diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, etc.

Fortunately, there are certain steps we can take to enjoy our barbeque while minimizing exposure to these toxic molecules. A report published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2008 showed that marinating meat in anti-oxidant rich substances can be effective. The researchers found that an olive oil, lemon juice and garlic marinade cut HCA levels in chicken by as much as 90%. Marinating in red wine for 6 hours before grilling cut down HCA levels by up to 90% compared to unmarinated steak.

Healthy BBQ Tips:

1. Cook at Lower Temperatures: Lower temperatures cause more of a “roasting” effect than grilling, but they significantly cut down on the amount of HCA’s formed in the meat. Well-done meat has much higher levels of HCA’s than meat cooked medium-rare.

2. Avoid Char-Grilling or Blackening Your Meat: This causes the largest amount of HCA’s to form. Do your best not to char-grill your meat and avoid eating any blackened regions.

3. Prevent Flaring: Flames from grill cause the formation of both HCAs and PAHs. Keep an eye on your grill & turn meats frequently to minimize flaring.

4. Use Grass-Fed Meat Sources: Grilling grain-fed meat causes more AGE’s to form due to a higher sugar content within the meat. Grass-fed meat is lower in total fat than grain-fed meat. Cooking leaner meat reduces the PAH formation. Grass-fed meat also contains a significantly higher amount of healthy omega 3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid.

5. Marinate the Meat in Anti-Oxidant Rich sources: Not only is this tasty but it reduces HCA levels by as much as 90%. Use lemon/lime, red wine, apple cider vinegar, & superfood herbs.

Monday, June 21, 2010 - by AuthorDr. Axe
Is ‘The Pill’ Controlling YOU? »
in CategoryMedications, CategoryToxicity | Comment4 Comments

“There’s no medical reason to have your monthly periods.”

Have you seen this TV ad? The medical reason would be pregnancy, since that is now considered a medical, rather than a natural condition. Menstruation too, is now a medical condition: one that can be “fixed.”

The medicalization of reproduction has increased our acceptance of unnecessary cesarean sections, the regular use of hormones and the suppression of monthly periods.

Although suppressing your period and taking hormones to prevent pregnancy may seem convenient; the long-term consequences of doing so are still unclear. The human endocrine system is a complex, interdependent and still mysterious natural phenomenon.

Hormones are not only involved in reproduction: they are involved in growth and development, metabolism and nutrient regulation and overall homeostasis. The endocrine balance is so complex and acts in such intricate concert that “a single hormone may affect more than one of these functions and each function may be controlled by several hormones,” write authors of the textbook Endocrinology.

Even though many doctors feel that menstruation holds no benefit for women, others disagree. Dr. Susan Rako, for instance, says, “Taking the birth control pill non-stop throws a monkey wrench in the workings of every organ and system in the body, not just reproduction.”

Although doctors like Dr. Elsimar Coutinho believe that menstruation serves no purpose other than reproduction, that it can be harmful and that it is “obsolete,” health psychologist Paula Derry points out that no one really knows what purposes menstruation may actually serve.

She adds that suppressing menstruation with drugs is unnatural and creates a “hormonal environment that is not found in nature.” The FDA has approved such contraceptives without evidence from long-term research, Derry warns.

In 1993, University of Washington scientist Margie Profet theorized that the immune system cells found in menstrual blood may point to a flushing function of menses: protection from sexually transmitted infections.

Others, like Dr. Scott Spear, believe that menstrual blood can be a medium for bacteria to grow.

When you consider that the endocrine system is so complex and that we don’t really know what messing it will do over the long-term, as Derry says, “The argument that menstruation is obsolete is illogical and unscientific.”
Preventing Pregnancy

Common methods of contraceptives can be categorized as: barrier methods, intrauterine devices, sterilizations methods, natural family planning or hormonal methods.

These techniques prevent pregnancy by:

* Preventing sperm from reaching the egg
* Damaging or inactivating sperm
* Preventing the release of eggs
* Altering the uterus lining so a fertilized egg cannot attach
* Thickening the cervical mucus so that sperm cannot pass through easily

How Hormonal Birth Control Works

The pill is the most common hormonal contraceptive but other hormonal delivery methods include injections, implants, patches and vaginal rings.

Traditional birth control pills, reports the Mayo Clinic, give you doses of reproductive hormones for 21 days: then, a week of placebo pills that allow withdrawal bleeding (withdrawal from the hormones—not typical ovulation and menstruation).

Extended-cycle pills have you take reproductive hormones every day, suppressing ovulation and so menstruation.

Two other extended-cycle birth control pills involve taking reproductive hormones for three months continuously and then a week of either placebo pills or low-dose estrogen so that menstruation then occurs just a few times a year.

Anyone can suppress their periods continuously by skipping the placebo pills and starting a new package of pills.

The hormones used in birth control prevent ovulation, thicken cervical mucus and alter the uterine lining, according to The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AGOG).

Birth control pills can affect cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and increase blood pressure, reports Mayo Clinic.

The other hormonal contraceptives, reports AGOG, can have side effects such as:

* Abdominal pain
* Acne
* Anxiety
* Breast tenderness
* Cramping
* Dizziness
* Headaches
* Irregular bleeding
* Nausea
* Trouble generating proper hormone levels in order to get pregnant after discontinuation
* Unwanted hair growth
* Vaginal discharge
* Vaginal infections and irritation
* Weight gain

The Pill and Cancer

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) reviews the research to date on cancer risk and the use of oral contraceptives.

NCI explains that most versions of the pill are either synthetic versions of estrogen and progesterone or one type of synthetic progesterone. Estrogen stimulates the growth of the uterus, causes the thickening of its lining to prepare a “nest” for the egg, and affects breast tissue. Progesterone prepares the endometrial lining for a fertilized egg. If an egg implants, progesterone stops further eggs from being released.

Breast Cancer

A 1996 worldwide analysis by the Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer found that users of “the pill” had an elevated risk of developing breast cancer.

A 2003 NCI study seemed to suggest that birth control pills raised risk in women who had used the birth control within five years of diagnosis of breast cancer, more so than in women who had used the pill 5 or 10 years before a breast cancer diagnosis. This risk was increased with younger women.

None of these studies were controlled or randomized: they were population studies or surveys.

Cervical Cancer

The longer a woman takes birth control pills; the higher her risk of cervical cancer reports the NCI.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found that women who used oral contraception for more than 5 years had a four-fold increased risk of developing cervical cancer, and that this risk may decrease after discontinuing use of the pill.

Liver Cancer

Several studies have found that oral contraceptives increase the rate of liver cancer in low-risk populations.
Other Negative Health Findings

Birth control pills almost double the risk of stroke, according to a 2009 meta-analysis by Loyola University Health System doctors.

Long term use of progestin-based injectable contraceptives (2 or more years) has been linked to a 50% increase in risk of bone fracture in women under 50, according to 2010 study by scientists from the University Hospital Basel and Boston University Medical Center.

A German study published in a 2010 issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine has found that women taking oral and non-oral hormonal contraceptives have the highest risk of female sexual dysfunction.

Editor of the journal Dr. Irwin Goldstein points out that “The irony is that these women are provided a medication that enables freedom from reproductive worries but these same women are not provided information that there are significant adverse sexual effects that may ensue.”

Sounds more convenient and liberating for men than it does for women!
Natural Family Planning

Natural family planning involves following a woman’s natural cycle in order to determine when unprotected sex is less likely to result in pregnancy. These methods, also known as fertility awareness methods or FAMs, track a woman’s ovulation. They can be up to 98% effective with committed monitoring.

FAMs require self-control because although an egg is released about 14 days before a woman’s next menstrual period; the egg can survive 3 to 4 days after actual ovulation and sperm can live anywhere from 48 hours to 5 days!

It’s best to combine FAMs with non-allergenic condoms or abstinence to improve effectiveness.

FAMs include the calendar rhythm method, basal body temperature, mucus inspection, the symptothermal method and ovulation indicator testing kits.

Calendar Rhythm Method

The calendar method is about 80% effective on its own. Women vary greatly in terms of their monthly cycle and many things can affect hormonal levels.

If you are very regular in terms of your menstrual period; you’re more likely to be successful with this method.

After documenting her menstrual cycles for a year, a woman can subtract 18 days from her shortest cycle to determine her first possibly fertile day, and 11 days from her longest menstrual cycle to determine her possibly last fertile day.

Basal Body Temperature

12 to 24 hours before ovulation, a woman’s temperature drops by about half a degree Celsius, less than 1 degree Farenheight at rest.

This method involves taking temperature with a very accurate and specialized thermometer every morning before getting out of bed.

Cervical Mucus

Cervical mucus is watery just before the release of an egg from the ovary, and thickens throughout the rest of the cycle.

Symptothermal Method

The symptothermal method is a comprehensive approach to natural planning. It includes calendar, basal body temperature, mucus inspection and other known symptoms such as breast tenderness and slight cramping. With attention and awareness, a woman can actually come to feel the release of an egg.

Ovulation Indicator Testers

Leutinizing hormone (LH) surges 20 to 48 hours before ovulation and can be detected 8 to 12 hours later. Ovulation prediction kits measure LH levels in the urine.
Sources

Principles of Endocrinology (2001)

Mayo Clinic (2010)

Women’s E News (2004)

Medical News Today (2007)

Mayo Clinic (2009)

American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (2010)

Science Daily (2009)

National Cancer Institute (2006)

Science Daily (2010)

Medicine Net (2010)

Science Daily (2010)

KidsHealth (2009)

Patients who are over-prescribed antibiotics may develop drug resistance that lasts up to a year. This puts both them and the larger population at risk.

The more antibiotics are prescribed for coughs and flu-like illnesses, the more bacteria become resistant in a vicious cycle.

According to Reuters:

“Medical experts say overuse of antibiotics in Europe, the United States and other wealthy regions is building widespread resistance in and threatening vital medical treatments from hip replacements and cancer therapies, to intensive care.”

Sources:
Reuters May 18, 2010

Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

There’s much talk about the seriousness of antibiotic-resistant disease, yet few actually take it into consideration when making day-to-day health- and dietary decisions for their families.

It’s easy to think that one more round of antibiotics won’t hurt. In fact, many believe it’s absolutely necessary for nearly all infections. And it’s a rare person that gives any thought at all to the fact that eating factory farmed meat fuels antibiotic-resistant disease.

But this is where it needs to start – within the home of each and every one of us.

The Staggering Statistics of Lethal Antibiotic-Resistant Infections

Although doctors are urged to limit antibiotic prescriptions, as long as people ask to get them for every ear-, nose-, throat- or urinary infection they may have, the habitual prescribing of potent antibiotics is not likely to cease.

The knee-jerk decision to ask your doctor for antibiotics for every minor infection adds to the toll these drugs exact on public health, and it’s a significant one.

Did you know that antibiotic-resistant infections now claim more lives each year than the “modern plague” of AIDS?

It’s hard to believe, but according to a study published in October, 2007 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), there were close to 100,000 cases of invasive Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in the United States in 2005, which lead to more than 18,600 deaths.

HIV/AIDS, meanwhile, killed 17,000 people that same year.

And when you include ALL resistant infections, not just MRSA, the numbers become even more staggering.

Approximately 1.7 million Americans contracted infections during hospital stays in 2007, and a subsequent 100,000 people perished from these diseases, according to the U.S. Center of Disease Control (CDC).

It’s also costing the American health care system more than $1.87 billion a year to treat these drug-resistant bacteria, according to Reuters.

As long as we continue using bazookas to eradicate mosquitoes, which is essentially what you’re doing when using potent antibiotics for minor infections, this trend of creating ever more resistant strains of infections will continue.

Keep in mind that, according to this latest meta-analysis, the health risk from over-use of antibiotics is also a very personal one, as opposed to simply raising the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in the general population over time.

Reuters reports:

“The more antibiotics are prescribed for coughs and flu-like illnesses, or urine infections, the more bacteria become resistant in a vicious cycle, said British researchers who analyzed 24 previous studies of antibiotic resistance.

“The effect is greatest in the month immediately after treatment, but may last for up to a year, and this residual effect may be a driver for high levels of resistance in the community.”

What this boils down to is that whenever you use an antibiotic, you’re increasing your susceptibility to developing infections with resistance to that antibiotic – and you can become the carrier of this resistant bug, and spread it to others.

“… The more we prescribe, the more the bacteria become resistant,” says lead researcher Alastair Hay. “And really the only way of turning that vicious cycle into a virtuous circle is to only prescribe when it is absolutely necessary in the first place.” [Emphasis mine.]

Naturally, this issue needs to be addressed on a large scale, by doctors and hospitals, but I urge you to also take personal responsibility and evaluate your own use of antibiotics, and avoid taking them — or giving them to your children — unless absolutely necessary.

How Your Dietary Choices Come into Play

Compounding the problem is that not only are potent antibiotics over-prescribed in modern medicine, they are also widely over-used in agriculture.

In fact, agricultural uses account for about 70 percent of all antibiotic use in the US, so it’s a MAJOR source of human antibiotic consumption.

Animals are often fed antibiotics at low doses for disease prevention and growth promotion, and those antibiotics are transferred to you via meat, and even via the manure used as crop fertilizer.

Some countries have realized the hazard inherent in this and have opted for a healthier approach to raising their livestock. Denmark, for example, stopped the widespread use of antibiotics in their pork industry 12 years ago. After they implemented the ban on antibiotics, a Danish study confirmed that it had drastically reduced antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals and food.

So, reducing the spread of antibiotic-resistant disease is yet another reason for making sure you’re only eating grass-fed, organically-raised meats.

Every so often, I’m criticized for recommending eating meat. But it’s important to remember that I ONLY recommend meat from organic, grass-fed, free-range, humanely raised animals.. They are far superior to conventionally farmed meats in terms of quality and nutritional content, and second, they’re not treated with antibiotics and other growth hormones.

So, please, understand that any time I discuss meat consumption, it is with the explicit understanding that I only promote humanely raised, organically farmed livestock that have roamed free, feeding on their natural food source, without any use of antibiotics and other growth-promoting drugs typically used in conventional farming.

(For more information about real meaning behind meat labels such as “free-range,” or “biodynamic,” please review this previous article.)

So keep in mind that in addition to enjoying better health, becoming an educated consumer and selecting organic meats over conventionally-raised meats will help quell the rise of antibiotic-resistant disease.

Natural Approaches to Preventing MRSA

Aside from the long-term preventive strategies of avoiding frivolous use of antibiotics for minor infections, and opting for antibiotic-free, organic meats, there are also several sound methods that can greatly hinder the spread of infectious disease on a day-to-day basis:

1. Wash Your Hands … and Make Sure Your Doctor Does Too

Handwashing, which is one of the oldest and most powerful antibacterial treatments, may be the key to preventing MRSA.

According to a Johns Hopkins study, the best way for patients to avoid such infections is for doctors and nurses to simply wash their hands before touching a patient. This is the most common violation in hospitals!

Be sure to use a mild soap, and avoid all antibacterial soaps as they typically contain triclosan, a dangerous chemical that can cause even more resistant bacteria. More importantly, antibacterial agents are not necessary for soap to work.

Studies have shown that people who use antibacterial soaps and cleansers develop a cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms just as often as people who use products that do not contain these antibacterial ingredients. In other words they are unnecessary and can cause you additional problems.

Guidelines to proper hand-washing include:
* Wash your hands for 10 to 15 seconds with warm water
* Use plain soap
* Clean all the nooks and crannies of your hands, including under fingernails
* Rinse thoroughly under running water
* In public places use a paper towel to open the door as a protection from germs that harbor on handles
2. Avoid Sharing Your Personal Items

Since infection can spread by contact with contaminated objects, keep personal items like towels, clothing, bed linens, athletic equipment, razors and more to yourself.
3. Use Natural Disinfectants

As with antibacterial hand soaps, antibacterial house cleaners are also best avoided. A natural all-purpose cleanser that works great for kitchen counters, cutting boards and bathrooms is 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. Just put each liquid into a separate spray bottle, then spray the surface with one, followed by the other.
4. Eat Garlic

Researchers have found that allicin, the active compound in garlic, is an effective, natural “antibiotic” that can eradicate even antibiotic-resistant bugs like MRSA. An added benefit is that the bacteria appear incapable of developing a resistance to the compound.

Keep in mind that the garlic must be fresh! The active ingredient is destroyed within one hour of smashing the garlic, so garlic pills are virtually worthless and should not be used.

Instead, compress the garlic with a spoon prior to swallowing it (if you are not going to juice it). If you swallow the clove intact you will not convert the allicin to its active ingredient.

Of course, there may be other effective strategies than the ones I just mentioned.

If you know of any others that would be helpful for preventing the spread of infections, I encourage you to add your comment below. If you aren’t already registered it will literally only take a moment to register so you can post your own words of wisdom.

by David Gutierrez, staff writer

(NaturalNews) A 7-year-old girl died after a Botox injection paralyzed her lungs, her family says, and they are suing pharmaceutical company Allergan for wrongful death.

Botox is the trade name for the botulinim toxin, which is produced by the botulism bacteria. Botulinim toxin blocks nerve signaling, leading to muscle paralysis, and has been called the single most toxic protein known. In small doses, it is approved for use to smooth away facial wrinkles. Although it is not approved in the United States for the treatment of muscle spasms such as those caused by cerebral palsy, U.S. law allows doctors to prescribe drugs for unapproved uses if they wish.

Kristen Spears began Botox treatment for cerebral palsy-related spasms at age six. In November 2007, Spears died from pneumonia and respiratory failure, which her family claims was caused when the botulinim toxin spread to her lungs and weakened her breathing muscles.

Spears’ case is the first Botox-related wrongful death lawsuit to reach trial. The company claims that the drug actually improved Spears’ breathing, and that she died from complications of her underlying cerebral palsy. To counter this claim, the plaintiffs’ lawyers will seek to prove that the Botox spread beyond its injection site in Spears’ body.

According to the nonprofit watchdog group Public Citizen, there have been at least 180 reported cases of serious side effects from Botox and at least 16 related deaths. Concern over these side effects led the FDA to mandate a “black box” label for Botox in April 2009, warning that improper injection may allow the toxin to spread to other parts of the body, with potentially fatal consequences.

Records unsealed as part of the lawsuit show that as early as 2005, Allergan knew that serious side effects could result from use of the drug.

Allergan makes $1.3 billion a year in Botox sales, $47 million from its use as a cerebral palsy treatment alone.

Sources for this story include: www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-boto… http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-….

(NaturalNews) Eating by the season is a key aspect to a healthy nutritional plan. Fruits and vegetables are at their nutritional peak during their prime growing season. Before the advent of refrigeration and the mass production and storage of foods everyone had to eat by the availability of the season. This is natural and our body is innately designed to eat in this matter. Different seasons have their own unique qualities and energies. Summer foods tend to be lighter and cooler. They also should be packed of fluid and hydration boosting minerals to take on the heat & humidity of the summer.

Here are some top food suggestions for eating by the season this summer.

1. Avocados: This amazing fruit is very high in healthy oleic acid. This is a monounsaturated fat that helps increase fat metabolism. It is also rich in the powerful carotenoid anti-oxidants lutein and zeaxanthin as well as Vitamin E (tocopherol). These anti-oxidants decrease oxidative stress and allow for a healthier cellular environment. Other critical components include ionic potassium and folate. These elements are alkaline forming in the body, helping to buffer acidic wastes that accumulate within the human tissue and bloodstream.

Avocados are a terrific complement to a vegetable based meal. Most vegetables, particularly in their raw state, contain a high amount of carotenoid based anti-oxidants. Studies have shown that these anti-oxidants are lipophilic (fat-loving) and are absorbed best in the body when combined with a healthy fat such as oleic acid.

A study published in the Journal of Nutrition in March 2005 showed that adding avocados to salad increased absorption of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and lutein, 7.2, 15.3, and 5.1 times higher, respectively, than the average amount of these carotenoids absorbed when avocado-free salad was eaten.

2. Blueberries: This summer superfood is loaded with antioxidant phytonutrients called anthocyanins. These nutrients powerfully neutralize free radical damage to the collagen matrix of cells and tissues. In addition, anthocyanins have been shown to improve capillary integrity and enhance the effects of Vitamin C.

The anti-oxidant power of blueberries has been shown to be particularly useful in stabilizing brain function and protecting the neural tissue from oxidative stress. The riper the berries the more anti-oxidant power they contain. To assess the ripeness of the berries look at the color. Riper berries are a darker blue. Blueberry season is mid-late summer, June - August. Most frozen berries are picked at maximal ripeness and frozen.

3. Cucumbers: One of the best foods for your skin, joints, & energy levels, cucumbers are loaded with the mineral silica, which is an essential component for healthy connective tissue (muscles, ligaments, cartilage, bone, & skin). It is also full of ionic potassium, magnesium, & vitamin C which give it a powerful alkalizing effect within the body. Additionally, cucumbers are particularly rich in fluids that hydrate the skin, joints, and tissues.

The combination of alkalizing elements, electrolytes, & fluids make it one of the world’s best foods for enhancing energy levels. Cucumbers are also great for stabilizing blood pressure and stimulating the body’s natural detoxification process.

Suggestions:
1. Utilize avocados in creamy, home-made guacamole recipes or simply slice on to a salad.
2. Frozen blueberries are a terrific base for a cooling & satisfying shake. They are also a terrific desert food to use for children, parties, and other big events.
3.Slice cucumbers and add apple cider vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, and herbs and spices for a great mid-day snack or meal.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?…
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?…
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?…
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?…

Drugs, dangerous drugs, advair, avandia, celebrex, ketek, prilosec, nexxium, visine, PseudoephedrineDoctors know which prescription and over-the-counter drugs are the most dangerous. The writers of this article asked them the question, “Which medications would you skip?” Here were their answers:

Advair

It‘s asthma medicine that can make your asthma deadly. Advair contains the long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) salmeterol. A 2006 analysis found that regular use of LABAs can increase the severity of an asthma attack. Researchers estimate that salmeterol may contribute to as many as 5,000 asthma-related deaths in the United States each year.

Avandia

Diabetes is destructive enough on its own, but if you try to control it with rosiglitazone, better known as Avandia, it could cause a heart attack. A study found that people who took rosiglitazone for at least a year increased their risk of heart failure or a heart attack by 109 percent and 42 percent, respectively.

Celebrex

This painkiller has been linked to increased risks of stomach bleeding, kidney trouble, and liver damage. And according to a 2005 study, people taking 200 mg of Celebrex twice a day more than doubled their risk of dying of cardiovascular disease. Those on 400 mg twice a day more than tripled their risk.

Ketek

This antibiotic, which has traditionally been prescribed for respiratory-tract infections, carries a high risk of severe liver side effects. In February 2007, the FDA limited the usage of Ketek to the treatment of pneumonia.

Prilosec and Nexium

The FDA has investigated a suspected link between cardiac trouble and these acid-reflux remedies, although they did not find a “likely” connection. But whether this is true or not, they can raise your risk of pneumonia, and result in an elevated risk of bone loss. The risk of a bone fracture has been estimated to be over 40 percent higher in patients who use these drugs long-term.

Visine Original

These eye drops “get the red out” by shrinking blood vessels. Overuse of the active ingredient tetrahydrozoline can perpetuate the vessel dilating-and-constricting cycle and may cause even more redness.

Pseudoephedrine

This decongestant, found in many drugs, can raise blood pressure and heart rate, setting the stage for vascular catastrophe. Over the years, pseudoephedrine has been linked to heart attacks and strokes, as well as worsening the symptoms of prostate disease and glaucoma.
Sources:
MSN Health

Brain Poisons
By David Jockers D.C.

Brain & neurological tissue are extremely sensitive regions of the body that are highly susceptible to damage. Our culture is loaded with brain poison. Some of the most damaging brain poisons include gluten, unfermented soy, blood sugar imbalances, poor posture, & a sedentary lifestyle.

Gluten Sensitivity: One of the most common nutritional/toxicity issues in our society today deals with the common protein found in wheat, barley, rye, oats, kamut, & spelt. According to gluten researcher Kenneth Fine, up to 81% of our society has a gluten allergy. When they are exposed to gluten there body has differing degrees of inflammatory responses. Some individuals have mild inflammatory reactions while others have severe reactions.

The most vulnerable tissue to the inflammatory cascade in response to gluten is the brain & nervous system. The immune molecules that are secreted (cytokines) destroy brain tissue and cause massive neurological damage. The most common symptom associated with this reaction is “brain fog,” memory problems, and mental fatigue.

Unfermented Soy: One of soy’s primary isoflavones, genistein, has been shown to inhibit the enzyme tyrosine kinase in the brain. The highest amounts of tyrosine kinases are found in the hippocampus, a brain region that is essential to learning & memory. High soy consumption actually blocks this mechanism of memory formation.

Several studies have associated high intakes of tofu and other unfermented soy products to increased risk of dementia and cognitive impairments. On the flip side, fermented soy products such as tempeh are associated with greater cognitive abilities. Researchers hypothesize that this is due to the deep fermentation process removing enzyme inhibitors and phytoestrogens. In addition, this process increases folate, a critical nutrient for brain & nervous system function.

Blood Sugar Imbalance: The brain depends on a continual supply of glucose for energy. A 2003 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that people’s memory is harmed by poor blood sugar metabolism. The slower the sugar metabolism in the body, the less fuel is available for the brain to store memories. Stable blood sugar levels are critical for healthy brain and neuronal cells that fire quickly and efficiently.

Abnormal blood sugar levels also cause neuronal damage and weaken the protective blood-brain barrier. This makes for easy passage of different toxins and other particles that will disrupt brain function. A mechanism for Alzheimer’s disease is that of poor blood sugar metabolism. This pre-diabetic disorder opens the door in the blood brain barrier for toxic aluminum particles to cross-over and accumulate in the sensitive regions of the temporal lobe.

Sedentary Living & Poor Posture: The brain depends on oxygen and activation from muscle and joint receptors on a continual basis. A lack of motion equals a lack of oxygen generating energy getting up into the brain. Poor posture and subluxation cause spinal joint receptors to fire abnormal, corrupted feedback patterns into the brain. This causes further brain-body feedback problems and disrupted movement patterns in the body. Chronically poor posture and uncorrected subluxation is one of the most detrimental factors for brain function.