September 8, 2014

Short and Sweet

Rashes From Wipes, Liquid Soaps On The Rise: “In the last two or three years, we've suddenly seen a big increase in people with this type of allergy," said Dr. Matthew Zirwas. The chemical preservative, methylisothiazolinone, can cause an itchy, painful rash that can include blisters and resembles a reaction to poison ivy. It is found in many water-based products, including pre-moistened wipes, cosmetics, liquid soaps, hair products, sunscreen, and laundry and cleaning products. 
Dr. Olson: A good, healthy hand soap is so much better than these chemical-laden hand wipes. I think we are wiser to worry about the chemical toxins in our products (which we have no natural way of dealing with), than natural bugs that we have built-in protections against. Ask Diane about the wonderful Arbonne cleansers or Doterra soaps that are rich in essential oils that are so healthy in so many ways. 

Minnesota Becomes First State to Ban Antibacterial Chemical ‘Triclosan’: It's widely used nationwide as a germ-killing ingredient in soaps, deodorants and even toothpaste, but critics including the FDA say there's no evidence that triclosan soaps are any more effective than washing with plain soap and water for preventing the spread of diseases. A study found increasing levels of triclosan in the sediments of several lakes, and that the chemical can break down in those waters into potentially harmful dioxins. Studies have raised concerns that it can disrupt hormones critical for reproduction and development, at least in lab animals, and contribute to the development of resistant bacteria.
Dr. Olson: Killing bugs is not nearly as important as keeping your immune system active and effective. Over-sterilizing your environment is not healthy. We need to have bacteria on our hands. The more good bacteria we have (and almost all of them are good), the less likely it is that we will get an overgrowth of virulent bacteria. A good non-bacteriacidal soap is a good thing to use. Arbonne sells good hand and face soaps. Doterra also has some excellent soaps that are gentle on the skin, are good cleansers, and yet don't devastate the first line of immunity on our body: the hosts of healthy microorganisms that protect us. Ask Diane about these healthy products that will give you a fighting edge against disease-causing organisms that are so common in our society.

Dogs Sniff Out Prostate Cancer: Dogs can be trained to sniff out organic compounds tied to prostate cancer, according to a new study that finds they're 98 percent accurate. While it’s not a test that is ready for prime time, the findings suggest quick and accurate new ways to screen for the disease, which kills 29,000 U.S. men every year. And the report joins a growing list of studies showing that dogs can smell the byproducts of various types of cancer.


Cancer-killing Chamomile: Based on the findings of a Japanese research team, German chamomile extracts seem to induce apoptosis in cancerous cells. The anticancer effects of bisabolol oxide (BSBO), one of its main components, were analyzed when used on rat thymocytes. It turns out that cancerous cells started shrinking and dying within the first 24 hours of incubation.
Dr. Olson: Nature is full of herbs and foods that have natural benefits in every type of condition. Take advantage of healthy herbal teas, great foods, a diet rich in organic vegetables, or take advantage of our Vitamineral Green, a very healthy product that delivers the equivalent nutrient of 8-12 servings of fruits and vegetables with each serving.  

The United States Has A Really High Infant Mortality Rate: The infant mortality rate in the United States is more than twice that of countries like Japan and Sweden. It hasn’t always been like this. In the 1960s, the United States actually had a lower infant mortality rate than the average among its peer countries. The country began to lag in the 1980s.
Dr. Olson: Too much intervention, not enough good nutrition, and not as much natural health care as we should have. Too many drugs at a young age is one of the worst things we can do to our kids. Only intervene with medical proceedures when absolutely necessary. Kids get colds and flu's. Let them fight through it naturally and they will never loose their immunity. You may not know this, but this year's flu vaccine is the same exact vaccine as last year's. They are still encouraging people to get vaccinated again, even though they had that same vaccine a year ago. There is no other vaccine on the market that does not claim to last at least 3-5 years. Why would they want to sell you another vaccine that you don't need? I'll give you one gue$$. 

Top CDC expert declares that “We've reached the end of antibiotics”: “Miracle drugs” that have saved millions are no match against “superbugs” because people have overmedicated themselves. “We are literally in a position of having a patient in a bed who has an infection, something that five years ago even we could have treated, but now we can’t.”
Dr. Olson: I find the language in the article fascinating, "people have overmedicated themselves." Can patients write their own prescriptions for antibiotics? Who gives the prescriptions? Then why blame the patient for a problem created by the medical establishment? We need to understand it is our fault, not the medical establishment's, who prescribed the meds in the first place. 
There are so many natural alternatives that bugs will never become immune to. If you want an appropriate alternative, we can recommend a good one based on your body's specific needs. And guess what? No side effects.  


Have a blessed month!  

August 18, 2014

Short and Sweet

Certain Foods Linked With Depression: Many of the foods we eat because we are rushed and may not make time for healthier meals are linked with depression. These include fast food, refined grains, and soft drinks.

Casual Sex Linked To Depression And Suicidal Thoughts: Dr Sara Sandberg-Thoma said: "This study provides evidence that poor mental health can lead to casual sex, but also that casual sex leads to additional declines in mental health."

Less Sleep Brings More Rapid Brain Aging: Sleep troubles are more common with age, and shrinkage of certain brain structures is normal. But for the over-55 study participants, those changes could be seen accelerating slightly with each hour less of sleep each night.

Light Drinking Is Less Healthy Than Researchers Thought: Reducing even light consumption of alcohol will not only improve your chances against coronary heart disease, but also help you lose weight and ease high blood pressure, it said.

The Biggest Bucks In The Business Of Healthcare: Though the recent release of Medicare’s physician payments cast a spotlight on the millions of dollars paid to some specialists, there is a startling secret behind America’s health care hierarchy: The base pay of insurance executives, hospital executives and even hospital administrators often far outstrips doctors’ salaries.

Are Pain Relievers Wrecking Your Health?: What many people don’t realize as they reach for a bottle of ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen is that these medications can cause a surprisingly common condition called leaky gut syndrome, which is “a breakdown of the barrier of the intestinal lining,” says Leo Galland, M.D. Leaky gut can cause fatigue, joint pain, allergies, digestive troubles, mood swings, and other symptoms.

August 11, 2014

"O" Zone - The Race of Your Life

So what race are you running? We run through our lives, judging ourselves by the way others are running, what pace they keep, how hard they are breathing, and if they look more tired than us or not.  
But we usually don’t ask ourselves, "What race are they running?" Some run a sprint. A short burst to get to a short-term goal, without the long term in mind. They can crush our self-image, if we judge ourselves by the way they look in the midst of their race. We will always feel inadequate. 
Or maybe they are running a marathon, or middle distance, or even a half-mile. Each requires different ingredients from the runner. 

Most dangerous is if we are not sure what our race is, but we try to pace ourselves by those around us. We will be exhausted by the sprinters, or bored by the long distance runners.
Object number one is to figure out your own race. What is it? What is the distance you are running, for what reason, and how do you need to run your race according to your gifts and current ability? All these things need to be figured out before we will find comfort or peace in our race. 

I have a friend who shared this personal story with me: 
“I was a bad runner. I saw myself as a bad, SLOW runner, not competitive, and heavier than most runners. For the first year and a half of races that I ran in, I cried. I cried because I was embarrassed by my obvious weaknesses. I was so slow compared to others. 
“When I was out running one day, I started wondering why I've continued to run although I still carry the same weaknesses, and at what point did I stop crying? After about a year and a half of running it had started to get a little easier for me. I didn't wear out quite as fast and, because I didn't have a competitive nature, I never worked to be faster. 
“In one race, I was running by a girl who was having a harder time than I was. I encouraged her along, building up, and complimenting wherever I could. We finished and went our own ways. The next week, our cross country coach got a letter from her parents. They said that whatever I had said had made a huge difference in their daughter’s life, and to please thank me.  
“When you're in the back, you're around people who are usually really struggling, who are in a lot of pain and want to give up. As I continued running, I kept helping all those people I was around. I would talk to them and motivate them and tell them to stick with me because I had a very slow pace and I could help them finish the race. In the beginning a lot of my teammates told me that if I had the energy to talk I had the energy to run faster but I didn’t really because I really am just slow. (Don't get me wrong: I'm sure if I worked super ultra hard I could do it, but that's not the point.) My coaches kept getting letters from other coaches thanking them for me and the help that I offered people on their team. I was often able to stop for people who were hurt or felt sick and either get them through the race or get them to help if they needed it. Even parents from other teams were writing my coaches. It wasn't before long that my entire team started to emulate my actions.

“Seven years later, I still considered myself a bad runner. But one day, I realized that I'm not a bad runner. I am a great runner…I had only considered myself a bad runner. But what I realized in that moment was that I am a slow GREAT RUNNER. And it must be said in that order: I’m not a great slow runner because that emphasizes SLOW. By saying slow GREAT, I am acknowledging that I am indeed slow but what I really am is a great RUNNER because I was slow.”

This friend’s race was more about helping others than helping self. Her greatest wish was to nurture another fellow traveler in life, rather than to acquire accolades. As a result, she healed herself in the process of helping to heal others. Her race was to serve. 
What is your race about? Once you know, the stress is mostly gone. The tears dry, and we rarely look around to see how others are running their race and compare; either them to you, or you to them. 
Decide, what race you are running, then get going and have fun at it! Enjoy the journey!  

Have a blessed month,


Dr. Olson

July 30, 2014

From our food expert, Megan!


Sweet delicate blueberries, rich juicy strawberries, and ripe watermelon, just to name a few, can be found in plenty right now. Do not miss the opportunity this time of year, when these fruits are at their peak of concentrated flavor. Not only will they make your mouth happy, your body will thank you. 

Fruits are an incredible source of powerful antioxidants! While your body creates a certain number of antioxidants on its own, fruits and veggies in plenty add additional antioxidants to help your body fully neutralize potentially dangerous molecules in the body. Empowering your body with the tools it needs to fight against the constant presence of pesticides, plastics, chlorine byproducts and other toxins present in today’s world, opens up a wide range of potential health benefits. 

Harvard University recently completed a study showing “that men who ate the most tomato based foods (rich in antioxidants) had a 35% lower risk of developing prostate cancer than those who ate the least amount of tomato based foods.”1

“A Harvard School of Public Health study published in the January 2013 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, finds that three or more servings of blueberries and strawberries per week may slash a woman’s risk of heart attack by as much as 33%. Researchers attributed benefits to the berries’ high anthocyanin content, which may help dilate arteries, counter the buildup of plaque and provide other cardiovascular benefits.”2

The benefits of antioxidants is honestly innumerable. Warding off all types of cancers, lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, keeping your heart healthy, preventing Alzheimer’s, reducing signs of aging, producing more energy for your cells, supporting your immune system and nervous system.3 The list goes on and on. The main thing to remember is to go out this summer and enjoy the delicious, ripe produce that is growing in plenty during this time of year, and your body will thank you! 

-Megan

Sources
1. http://www.naturalnews.com/024710_antioxidants_fruits_antioxidant.html

2. http://www.wildblueberries.com/health/research.php

3. http://articles.mercola.com/antioxidants.aspx

Fresh Strawberry Photo By Chaiwat, freedigitalphotos.net

Blueberries Stock Photo By Rosemary Ratcliff, freedigitalphotos.net