Showing posts with label Short and Sweet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Short and Sweet. Show all posts

December 1, 2015

Short and Sweet

Is It The Gluten Or Is It The Glyphosate? New evidence points to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, as the culprit in the rise of gluten intolerance, celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome. A study just published in the Journal of Interdisciplinary Toxicology (Vol. 6(4): 159–184 ) by Anthony Samsel and Stephanie Seneff explains how the nearly ubiquitous use of glyphosate as a crop desiccant is entering our food chain and making us ill. http://www.examiner.com/article/is-it-the-gluten-or-is-it-the-glyphosate

Higher Vitamin D Levels In Patients With Advanced Colon Cancer Appear To Improve Response To Chemotherapy And Targeted Anti-Cancer Drugs, Researchers Say.  "We found that patients who had vitamin D levels at the highest category had improved survival and improved progression-free survival, compared with patients in the lowest category," said lead author Dr. Kimmie Ng, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston. Those patients survived one-third longer than patients with low levels of vitamin D -- an average 32.6 months, compared with 24.5 months, the researchers found. http://nws.mx/1EQgyye 

Poor Sleep Quality May Accelerate Cancer Growth, Study Finds: Failing to get a good night’s rest may actually have some serious health consequences.
Poor quality of sleep marked by frequent waking can speed cancer growth and increase the disease’s aggressiveness, according to new research. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/01/28/poor-sleep-quality-may-accelerate-cancer-growth-study-finds.html

The American Academy Of Pediatrics Says Children Under Two Should Avoid Using Tablets:
Parents think they’re educating and stimulating their kids, but doctors and therapists are raising a red flag — too much screen time can hurt their developing bodies. “If they are always on the iPad and not actually doing those paper pencil activities that they should still be doing, those muscles are going to remain weaker,” said occupational therapist Lindsay Marzoli, Learning and Therapy Corner. http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/11/14/red-flag-doctors-warn-tablets-can-actually-hurt-a-toddlers-developing-body/

Steroid Shots Do Little Good for Back Pain: Study
Lower back pain related to herniated disk (when intervertebral disks become compressed and bulge) and, to a lesser degree, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), is often treated with epidural steroid injections, the researchers said. But after reviewing 38 previously published studies, the researchers found no strong evidence to support their use for these conditions.
Lead researcher Dr. Roger Chou, a professor of medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University, said, "Patients may have a perception that these injections reduce the need for surgery or result in long-term benefits," Chou said. "It's important for them to understand that benefits appear to be short-lived and to weigh these short-term benefits against potential complications of the injections, such as infection and nerve injury."
Dr. Nick Shamie, professor and chief of orthopedic spine surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, agreed with the findings.
"We have known that steroid injections don't have a lasting benefit," said Shamie, who was not involved in the study. "For spinal stenosis, giving an injection is not going to open up the compression of the nerves and is not going to have a lasting effect." http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Health-News/steroid-shots-back-pain/2015/08/24/id/671661/

Dr. Olson’s note:
Chiropractic and acupuncture are excellent as the first line of defense in seeking healing from back pain. Rather than seeking merely to relieve the pain, these modalities effectively treat the cause of the pain. This approach to healing is more time- and cost-effective, as well as having encouraging results in your physical outcome. Give yourself the gift of preventative and maintenance care on a regular basis, as well as when you are in pain. 

July 22, 2015

Short and Sweet


Mayo Clinic Researchers Say They’ve Cracked The Code To Being Happy: Dr. Amit Sood led the research and says the first and foremost way to be happy is to focus our attention. “You can choose to live focusing on what is not right in your life,” Dr. Sood said. But if we learn to command our thoughts, shifting perspective away from the negative, and embrace the positive, we will be happier, experts say. “Resiliency has everything to do with happiness,” Dr. Sood said. The Mayo Clinic’s research also shows the degree of happiness people enjoy has to do with how resilient they are to life’s many curve balls. Happy people are very good at compartmentalizing and creating boundaries. “So for example, if you’ve had a difficult day, when you get back home, for the first three minutes, forget about it, park it, and meet your family as if they’re long lost friends,” Dr. Sood added. And perhaps one of the biggest hindrances to being happy is too much thinking about one’s self, research shows. “Complainers are never going to be happy,” Ketchian said. “Happiness is a decision.” So why did the Mayo Clinic decide to study happiness? Studies show happier people are healthier people. http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/06/05/researchers-cracked-code-happiness/

Centenarians’ Positive Attitude Linked to Long Life: A recent study published in the journal Aging suggests that having a positive attitude and a sense of humor could play a role in living a longer, healthier life. "The results indicated they had two things -- a positive attitude for life, meaning they are optimistic, easygoing, extraverted, laughed more and expressed emotions rather than bottling them up," said Dr. Nil Barzilai, a study co-author and director of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine's Institute for Aging Research. The study participants also were less neurotic and more conscientious than a representative sample of other Americans. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/centenarians-positive-attitude-linked-long-healthy-life/story?id=16494151

For Headaches, A Lifestyle Change May Be The Best Remedy:
At the Comprehensive Headache Center of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, patients receive a thorough medical history that includes headache patterns, disability and mood assessments. Then the center works with patients to try to identify what triggers their headaches and how they can avoid those triggers in the future.
Some people find relief through exercise. "I write an exercise prescription probably as often as I write a prescription for medication," the headache center’s director, neurologist Carolyn Bernstein, says. She acknowledges it's sometimes difficult to encourage a patient with cracking head pain to get up and exercise. But even a little can help, and according to Bernstein it doesn't have to be jogging for miles and miles. It can be yoga, tai chi or even just a little stretching. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/05/11/404693609/for-headache-pain-a-lifestyle-change-may-be-better-than-a-doctor-visit
Chiropractic and Acupuncture are natural therapies for those who have headaches.  Because we deal with cause, and not the symptoms, headaches are a natural fit in our practice.  If you or someone you know has headaches, please give us a call, and make the world a healthier place today. 
-Dr. Olson

Getting a tattoo may be a rash decision: Folks in New York who’ve gotten tattooed sometimes receive a little something extra—a “rash, severe itching or swelling that lasted longer than four months and, in some cases, for many years,” according to researchers. "The skin is a highly immune-sensitive organ, and the long-term consequences of repeatedly testing the body's immune system with injected dyes and colored inks are poorly understood," says Leger. "Some of the reactions appear to be an immune response, yet we do not know who is most likely to have an immune reaction to a tattoo." http://www.citylab.com/work/2015/05/tattooed-new-yorkers-report-all-kinds-of-nasty-skin-conditions/394304/

Unhealthy lifestyle can knock 23 years off lifespan: Suffering from heart disease, stroke and type two diabetes could knock 23 years off life and yet they are preventable for eight out of 10 people. "Our results highlight the importance of preventing heart disease and stroke amongst patients with diabetes, and likewise averting diabetes amongst heart disease patients," said Professor John Danesh, Head of the Department of Public Health and Primary Care University of Cambridge and British Heart Foundation Professor. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/11723443/Unhealthy-lifestyle-can-knock-23-years-off-lifespan.html

5 Ways Vinegar Keeps You Healthy: Vinegar has been used for healing since Hippocrates used it to treat wounds. Recently, vinegar has been touted as a cure for everything from an upset stomach to dandruff. Can vinegar really be such a "cure-all?" Modern scientific studies are giving the old folk remedies new life by showing that they can indeed be used to treat modern medical scourges. Read the full article to check out the following ways vinegar can help keep you healthy: Diabetes, Weight loss, Heart disease, Cancer, Stomach ailments. http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Headline/vinegar-healing-healthy-cure/2015/06/02/id/648310/#ixzz3c1pycmau 


Diet soda may do more harm than good: Purdue University researchers reviewed a dozen studies published in past five years that examined the relationship between consuming diet soda and health outcomes. http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/10/diet-soda-may-do-more-harm-than-good/

June 13, 2015

Short and Sweet


Children who watch three hours of TV a day could be left 'educationally stunted and prone to bullying': Researchers have found that after two hours of viewing, every extra hour of TV has the potential to harm a child's development, both physically and socially.  This includes poorer vocabulary, math skills and attention in class, victimization by classmates and poor physical prowess at nursery. Read more at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2559336/Children-watch-three-hours-TV-day-left-educationally-stunted-prone-bullying.html#ixzz2tOgrett1 

Antibiotic-Resistant Diseases Described As 'Apocalyptic' Threat: Britain's most senior medical adviser, Dame Sally Davies, said the threat from infections that are resistant to frontline antibiotics was so serious that the issue should be added to the government's national risk register of civil emergencies. She described what she called an "apocalyptic scenario" where people going for simple operations in 20 years' time die of routine infections "because we have run out of antibiotics". Read more at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/23/antibiotic-resistant-diseases-apocalyptic-threat?intcmp=239

Children Exposed to More Brain-Harming Chemicals Than Ever Before: In 2006, scientists identified five industrial chemicals responsible for causing harm to the brain – lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (found in electric transformers, motors and capacitors), arsenic (found in soil and water as well as in wood preservatives and pesticides), and toluene (used in processing gasoline as well as in paint thinner, fingernail polish, and leather tanning). Exposure to these neurotoxins was associated with changes in neuron development in the fetus as well as among infants, and with lower school performance, delinquent behavior, neurological abnormalities, and reduced IQ in school-aged children. “The consequence of such brain damage is impaired [central nervous system] function that lasts a lifetime and might result in reduced intelligence, as expressed in terms of lost IQ points, or disruption in behavior.” Read more at http://healthland.time.com/2014/02/14/children-exposed-to-more-brain-harming-chemicals-than-ever-before/#ixzz2tM20Qn26

Heartburn Drugs Linked to Kidney Failure: Older patients taking drugs known as proton pump inhibitors, a common remedy for heartburn and acid reflux, are two times more likely to be hospitalized with kidney failure than peers who don't take the pills, a study finds. While the side effect is extremely rare, and the study doesn't prove the drugs cause kidney failure, the association is worrisome because tens of millions of people a year take these pills, sold by prescription and over-the-counter in some countries, with brand names including Prilosec, Prevacid and Zegerid. Read more at http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Health-News/heartburn-kidney-drugs-proton/2015/04/16/id/639044/#ixzz3XX9zDIyS 

Surprising Ways the Moon Affects Your Health: A study of British physicians found that visits and emergency calls increased during a full moon and decreased during a new moon. And numerous studies have also confirmed that the moon has a definite effect on sleep, menstrual cycles, heart health, kidney stone pain, mental and emotional health, and even animal behaviors. Read more at http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Headline/moon-affects-health-tales/2015/04/15/id/638770/#ixzz3XX9SeXM1 

“Antioxidant supplements should not be used to replace a nutritionally adequate diet”: Antioxidants, including vitamins A, C and E, are plentiful in vegetables and fruits and may help protect against cell or DNA damage – as a result, they’ve been touted for cancer prevention, heart disease prevention and warding off dementia. “There is good scientific evidence that eating a diet with lots of vegetables and fruits is healthful and lowers risks of certain diseases,” said lead author Annlia Paganini-Hill of the Clinic for Aging Research and Education at the University of California, Irvine. “However, it is unclear whether this is because of the antioxidants, something else in these foods, other foods in people's diet, or other lifestyle choices,” she stated. Read more at http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/07/us-health-antioxidants-mortality-idUSKBN0KG1TN20150107

A hormone used to raise beef cattle may be staying in the environment longer than previously believed and changing the sex of fish, among other effects: These hormones are so effective at causing the sex changes in fish that some fish farms in both the U.S. and abroad intentionally feed similar compounds, such as 17-alpha methyltestosterone, to their fish—usually tilapia—to prevent breeding by turning all of their fish into males. This helps farmers control populations, and divert the energy the fish would use for breeding to growing more tissue, producing a larger animal. http://www.cnbc.com/id/102667398

Whole Grains Help You Live Longer: That’s the upshot of a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health that indicates each average daily serving of whole grains lowers a person's risk of dying from heart disease by 9 percent and lowers the overall risk of dying from anything by 5 percent over a quarter-century. "Eating whole grains as a regular part of a healthy diet for many years is associated with a lower risk of death from cardiovascular-related diseases," the researchers said. "These findings further support current dietary guidelines that recommend increasing whole grain consumption to facilitate primary and secondary prevention of chronic disease and also provide promising evidence that suggests a diet enriched with whole grains may confer benefits toward extended life expectancy." Whole grains include whole wheat, brown rice, and whole oats. Read more at http://www.NewsmaxHealth.com/Health-News/whole-grain-health-longevity/2015/01/05/id/616525/#ixzz3NzxKJfcw 

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May 13, 2015

Short and Sweet



Americans who frequently use drugs to relax have lower well-being, according to interviews with at least 450 residents of each state from January to December 2014: While the interview question specifically refers to drugs that "affect your mood or help you relax," the interpretation of that description is left up to respondents and could include prescription drugs, recreational drugs, alcohol or nicotine. http://www.gallup.com/poll/182192/mood-altering-drug-highest-west-virginia-lowest-alaska.aspx?utm_source=STATE_OF_THE_STATES&utm_medium=topic&utm_campaign=tiles

Ambien is becoming better known for triggering bizarre behavior than it is for treating insomnia: It was designed for short term use to combat insomnia. Ambien users sued the manufacturer because of bizarre sleep-eating behaviors while on the drugs. According to Chana Lask, attorney for the class action suit, people were eating things like buttered cigarettes and eggs, complete with the shells, while under the influence of Ambien. Lask called people in this state “Ambien zombies.” As a result of the lawsuit, and of increasing reports coming in about “sleep driving,” the FDA ordered all hypnotics to issue stronger warnings on their labels. The drug has also caused cases of murder, “sleep driving,” “sleep eating,” “sleep shopping,” and amnesia. http://www.alternet.org/drugs/americas-number-one-prescription-sleep-aid-could-trigger-zombies-murder-and-other-disturbing?ak_proof=1&akid=.1121926.wDJK8-&rd=1&src=newsletter948677&t=11

Massachusetts nurses sue over flu shot mandate: The Massachusetts Nurses Association, the union representing 3,200 nurses at the Brigham, said in its lawsuit that the hospital’s mandate, which could lead to the firing of employees who refuse vaccination, violates a state regulation that explicitly bars hospitals from requiring employees to the receive vaccine if they don’t want it, regardless of the reason. David Schildmeier, the spokesman for the nurses’ union, said that while nurses accept requirements to be vaccinated against polio, measles, and other infectious diseases, some regard the flu vaccine differently. Shots must be taken every year, reformulated each time to protect against the flu strains expected to circulate. Schildmeier asserted that the shot is ineffective 50 to 60 percent of the time and that nurses can protect patients through infection control measures. http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/09/24/nurses-union-sues-block-proposed-flu-shot-mandate-brigham-and-women-hospital/SQBXdxd1OQwTie5Fyg1d1J/story.html

Certain birth control may pose risk of Type 2 diabetes for obese women: A first-of-its-kind study by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) indicates that healthy, obese, reproductive-age women who use long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) containing the hormone progestin have a slightly increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes when compared to those who use non-hormonal contraception. http://www.biospace.com/News/certain-hormonal-contraceptive-may-pose-risk-of/287140

Gardasil is in the news again: A mystery illness is plaguing girls in El Carmen de Bolivar, Colombia. First their hands and feet feel cold. Then they go pale and cannot move. Some convulse and fall to the floor. "This is not collective hysteria or manipulation. If you see your daughter have these symptoms after a vaccination, what else would you blame?" asked Maria Veronica Romera, the mother of a weakened 13-year-old. Dozens of teenagers have experienced similar symptoms. Some have even lost consciousness. The city's modest hospital has been overwhelmed by a surge of unconscious teenage girls being wheeled through its doors. Doctors search, in vain, for possible cases of hypoglycemia or drug abuse. According to hospital official Augusto Agamez, about 370 minors have checked into the facility. http://news.yahoo.com/mystery-illness-plagues-girls-colombia-052825963.html

Is sugar making you sick? The common belief until now was that sugar just makes us fat, but it's become clear through research that it's making us sick. For example, there's the rise in fatty-liver disease, the emergence of Type 2 diabetes as an epidemic in children and the dramatic increase in metabolic disorders. http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/sc-health-1210-sugar-metabolic-syndrome-20141205-story.html#page=1

Most people associate liver disease and cirrhosis with alcoholism. However, the vast majority of people with NASH are not heavy drinkers: The chief cause is obesity, says Dr. Maheshwari. Particularly suspect is the overconsumption of sugar, particularly in the form of high fructose corn syrup, a common ingredient in processed food. “If you think about an apple and banana, they have sugar, but the body has to do a lot of work to break down that sugar and metabolize it,” said Bipan Chand, M.D., director of the Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery & Bariatric Care at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. “High fructose corn syrup is very dense and easy for the body to convert into fat.” http://www.NewsmaxHealth.com/Headline/fatty-liver-disease-nonalcoholic-steatohepatitis-epidemic/2015/01/04/id/616329/#ixzz3NzwbIyZm 


These articles pile up every month.  The BEST course is a healthy lifestyle.  Keep taking care of yourself and investing in your health and well being.  You are worth it!

April 13, 2015

Short and Sweet

Photo by amenic181 | freedigitalphotos.net

As spring launches into full bloom, be aware of a couple of health hints:

1.  Engage in yard work with a little restraint. I am already seeing injuries from overdoing the initial phase of working in the yard.  
       
2.  Allergies are already rearing their unpleasant mug. Remember, Antronex, Allerplex or CB and HB are excellent natural alternatives to treating the effects of hayfever, without the side effects of prescription and OTC meds, and you can get rid of your allergies in many cases. Let us know if we can help you use healthier habits as you embark on a new summer of activities. 
—Dr. O.

Women exposed to pesticide chemicals show an increased risk of autism in their unborn children: This new study strengthens the existing evidence linking neurodevelopmental disorders with gestational pesticide exposures, particularly organophosphates. These chemicals work by paralyzing muscles in insects, and they can harm humans in multiple ways as well. http://www.healthfreedoms.org/new-study-links-pesticide-exposure-in-pregnant-women-to-autism-us-naturalsociety-on-twitter-facebook-naturalsociety-on/

Men who eat more fruits and vegetables with pesticide residue have lower sperm counts and a lower percentage of normal sperm, according to a new study: “This does not necessarily imply reduced fertility,” said senior author Jorge Chavarro of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He and his team are actively investigating whether women’s markers of fertility may also be linked to pesticides in the diet, he said.
Some pesticides remain on the surface of produce and may come off when washed, but many others are absorbed into fruit and washing will do nothing in those cases, Chavarro said. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/03/30/us-sperm-quality-pesticides-idUKKBN0MQ2CS20150330

New concern about testosterone and heart risks: A large new study found that prescription testosterone raised the risk of heart attacks in older men and in middle-aged men with a history of heart disease, prompting some experts on Wednesday to call for more extensive warning labels on the drugs. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/study-adds-to-concern-about-cardiac-risks-for-older-men-taking-testosterone/

Medications are the biggest cause of sudden deaths related to allergy: And yet there is no national registry [in the United States] for anaphylaxis deaths. When the responsible drug was identified, it was an antibiotic in 40 percent of the cases, researcher says. The next most common allergy-inducing drugs were radiocontrast agents, which are used during diagnostic imaging tests, followed by chemotherapy medications to treat cancer, the study reported. 
       When the cure becomes more deadly than the cause, we must rethink our approach. Many of our patients have found NAET a safe and effective way to eliminate allergic symptoms—for good. And unlike drugs, it does it by making you healthier.  —Dr. O.

Supplements effective as prescription drug for arthritis pain: Three daily doses of glucosamine and chondroitin may provide the same relief as a smaller dose of prescription celecoxib for people with severe pain from osteoarthritis, according to a randomized trial in four European countries, in which half of the study participants took a daily combination of 400 milligrams chondroitin sulfate and 500 mg glucosamine hydrochloride. The new study suggests that in combination they can be effective for osteoarthritis patients, especially for people with heart or gastrointestinal problems who may not be able to take an NSAID. http://www.NewsmaxHealth.com/Health-News/glucosamine-chondroitin-arthritis-pain/2015/02/14/id/624828/#ixzz3RqUUJrHI 

Facebook reportedly working on healthcare features and apps: Facebook Inc. is exploring creating online "support communities" that would connect Facebook users suffering from various ailments. A small team is also considering new "preventative care" applications that would help people improve their lifestyles. Privacy, an area where the company has faced considerable criticism over the years, will likely prove a challenge. Frank Williams, chief executive of Evolent Health, a company that provides software and services to doctors and health systems, said that people would need anonymity and an assurance that their data and comments wouldn't be shared with their online contacts, advertisers, or pharmaceutical companies. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/03/facebook-healthcare_n_5926140.html

Dieters more likely to have gallstones, study says: People who go on an extremely low calorie diet are more likely to develop gallstones than people on a moderately low calorie diet. Dr. Michael Jensen, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, said dieters typically end up with similar weight loss in the long run whether they use extreme calorie restriction or more moderately restricted diets. "You're going to end up in the same place (weight-wise), so why take the risk of ending up in the hospital with a gall bladder problem just to lose weight faster?" said Jensen, who was not part of the study. http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Health-News/diet-crash-gallstones-weight/2013/06/07/id/508746#ixzz2VixIA8mY 

Dental decay in athletes may be due to changes in saliva: Vigorous exercise is good for almost all of the body — except perhaps the teeth, according to a surprising new study of athletes. The study found that heavy training may contribute to dental problems in unexpected ways. “We had thought sports drinks and nutrition might have the most detrimental influence on dental decay,” said Dr. Cornelia Frese, “but we saw no direct link” between them. Instead, it was the changes in saliva during exercise that differentiated the athletes’ mouths from those of the control group. Since saliva “has a very protective function” for teeth, Dr. Frese said, having less of it or a chemically different version during exercise could be problematic. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/24/is-exercise-bad-for-your-teeth/?_r=0

March 25, 2015

Short and Sweet News


Combining benzodiazepines with other substances raises risks: Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam, diazepam, clonazepam and lorazepam, are a class of drugs used to relieve symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks and seizures.  They are usually safe when taken as prescribed and directed under a health professional’s supervision.   However, benzodiazepines can sometimes cause adverse effects – especially if used improperly or in combination with substances like opioid pain relievers or alcohol. http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/DAWN-SR192-BenzoCombos-2014/DAWN-SR192-BenzoCombos-2014.pdf.

Thicker brain sections tied to spirituality: For people at high risk of depression, a new study hints that spirituality may offer some protection for the brain. Parts of the brain's outer layer, the cortex, were thicker in high-risk study participants who said religion or spirituality was "important" to them versus those who cared less about religion. http://bit.ly/1jYo6ro

Drinking soda may speed up how your body’s cells age: Dr. Elissa Epel worked on the study for 5 years. “We think we can get away with drinking lots of soda as long as we are not gaining weight, but this suggests that there is an invisible pathway that leads to accelerated aging, regardless of weight,” said Dr. Epel. http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/10/18/ucsf-study-links-soda-to-premature-aging-disease-early-death/

The obesity epidemic in the western world could be caused in part by exposure to hormones in plastic and soy: Scientists believe that men are slowly becoming 'feminised' by contact with estrogen, found for example in the PVC used to make water pipes. Exposure to extra estrogen inhibits the thyroid and affects areas of the brain, leading to more weight gain. And this could even explain the drop in sperm counts amongst Western men. http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/521126/Men-obese-hormones-plastic-soy-oestrogen

Long-term study found that slow joggers had the lowest rates of death: Strenuous joggers were as likely to die as sedentary non-joggers. Going jogging three times a week for no more than 2.4 hours is optimal. The pace of the slow joggers corresponds to vigorous exercise and strenuous jogging corresponds to very vigorous exercise, researchers qualified. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2936615/Too-jogging-just-bad-doing-none-short-run-three-time-week-key-longer-life.html#ixzz3QgacuLVz 

Organic or not organic, that is the question: Researchers reported that people who ate organic fruits and vegetables had significantly lower amounts of organophosphates (OPs) in their bodies than those who ate conventionally grown produce. OPs are components of many insecticides and herbicides, and they have been linked to numerous health problems, such as increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and risk of ADHD in children. The EWG estimates that people can lower their pesticide exposure 90 percent by avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead.
       Almost two-thirds of the produce samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture contained pesticide residues, and the Environmental Working Group (EWG)'s "Dirty Dozen" list contains the most. With apples as the "dirtiest," the rest of the list is as follows: peaches, nectarines, strawberries, grapes, celery, spinach, sweet bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, imported snap peas and potatoes. The EWG considers the "Dirty Dozen Plus" — leafy greens and hot peppers — particularly toxic to human health.
       The "Clean Fifteen" list, on the other hand, includes fruits and vegetables found to have the least amount of pesticides. Avocados topped the list, with only 1 percent showing pesticide residue. Other items on the clean list include sweet corn, pineapples, cabbage, sweet peas (frozen), onions, asparagus, mangoes, papayas, kiwi, eggplant, grapefruit, cantaloupe, and cauliflower. http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Headline/produce-foods-organic-pesticides/2015/03/17/id/630725/#ixzz3UnJR1FyU 

February 14, 2015

Short and Sweet

Photo by winnond | freedigitalphotos.net

Optimistic people have healthier hearts: “Individuals with the highest levels of optimism have twice the odds of being in ideal cardiovascular health compared to their more pessimistic counterparts,” said the lead author of this new study. http://scienceblog.com/76313/optimistic-people-healthier-hearts-study-finds/#kYwBr2k6X1vfzJoB.99

"Do-it-yourself" blood pressure measurements and medicine changes work better than usual doctor-office care in some patients: A study of older adults in England found that those who did their own readings at home and adjusted their medicine as needed had healthier blood pressure levels after a year than those who got standard doctors' care. http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/blood-pressure-self-medication-better-than-doctors-in-study-1.2747569

Staying mentally sharp into your 90s is easier than you think: A new study challenges the long-held belief that cognitive decline is an inevitable part of aging. Danish researchers found that people in their 90s today are much more likely to stay mentally sharp than the elderly of a decade earlier. Dr. Small said that focusing on certain lifestyle behaviors leads to better brain health: mental exercise and stimulation, physical conditioning, diet, stress management. http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Headline/cognitive-decline-aging-The-Mind-Health-Report-healthy-lifestyle/2013/07/16/id/515390#ixzz2ZKJ1CiE1 

A few healthy habits could reduce risk of colon cancer: This study examined how five lifestyle factors affected colon cancer risk: healthy weight; low amounts of belly fat; regular physical activity; not smoking and limiting alcohol consumption; and a well-balanced diet. This diet was high in fruits, vegetables, fish, yogurt, nuts and seeds, and foods rich in fiber, and low in red and processed meat. http://consumer.healthday.com/cancer-information-5/colon-cancer-news-96/healthy-habits-might-reduce-your-colon-cancer-riskcer-risk-bmc-med-release-batch-1419-692541.html

Obesity in adolescence linked to colon cancer later: Obesity and inflammation in late adolescence are associated with increased risk for colon and rectal cancer in adulthood, a new study of Swedish males suggests.
The 35-year study found that 16- to 20-year-olds who were obese had more than twice the risk of developing colon or rectal cancer compared to normal-weight teens.
And teens with high levels of inflammation had a 63 percent increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, compared with those with low levels of inflammation, researchers found. http://consumer.healthday.com/cancer-information-5/colon-cancer-news-96/obese-in-adolescence-colon-cancer-in-later-life-692157.html

Antibiotics linked to child obesity: Children who receive a lot of antibiotics before age 2 are slightly more likely than others to become obese, a new study shows.
Research suggests that bacteria in the gut affect how people absorb calories, says pediatrician Stephen Cook, an associate professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/29/antibiotics-child-obesity/16275489/

Is your deodorant or antiperspirant poisoning you with neurotoxins?: Deodorants work by killing the bacteria that live on the skin. Commercial deodorants also often contain hormone-disrupting chemical fragrances that absorb into the skin and disrupt the endocrine system. 
Most antiperspirants work by blocking the sweat glands’ secretion of proteins and fatty acids with aluminum salts. Antiperspirants change the physiology of the body.
Natural deodorants use plant-based essential oils as an alternative to the chemicals. Many of these essentials oils give the natural deodorant more power, because they possess antibacterial properties that help drive away the bacteria that cause the stink. http://www.naturalnews.com/046654_deodorant_aluminum_neurotoxins.html

Duke study says many lung tumors are harmless: Harmless lung cancer? A provocative study found that nearly 1 in 5 lung tumors detected on CT scans are probably so slow-growing that they would never cause problems. The analysis suggests the world's No. 1 cause of cancer deaths isn't as lethal as doctors once thought. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/09/lung-cancer/3927909/

October 27, 2014

Short and Sweet

Coffee Worsens Hot Flashes: A new Mayo Clinic study suggests that drinking caffeine may worsen the hot flashes and night sweats that affect roughly two-thirds of women as they go through menopause.
http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Health-News/caffeine-hot-flashes-menopause/2014/07/24/id/584754#ixzz38RKLAYcG 
Here’s A Shocking Statistic: “The death toll from healthcare screw-ups adds up to at least 500,000 Americans annually,” says renowned pharmacy professor and medical author Joe Graedon.  “When it comes to medical care, you need to realize that you need to take charge…. Don’t suffer in silence and don’t be afraid to ask questions and speak your mind.” http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Headline/medical-errors-malpractice-doctors/2014/08/26/id/590884/#ixzz3BYgsHXGc 
'Food Fraud,' Cheap imitations are filling up grocery store shelves: "One of the ways that happens is by substituting one ingredient for another. It's hard for consumers," said Dr. Mark Stoeckle, a Senior Research Associate in the Program for the Human Environment at The Rockefeller University. High cost ingredients are especially susceptible to fraud, says Stoeckle. More expensive products are being replaced with cheaper imposters. http://www.khou.com/news/health/Food-fraud-a-growing-problem-in-grocery-stores-236733491.html
Antibiotics in Livestock Means Antibiotics in Humans: Several health and consumer organizations want the FDA to withdraw approval of using penicillin and tetracycline in animal feed to make cattle and other livestock grow faster. They say the practice has been linked to an increase to human resistance to antibiotics, while industry groups argue the issue needs more study. http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Health-News/antibiotics-livestock-resistance/2014/07/24/id/584762#ixzz38RJxVd7y 
Want to Avoid Low Back Surgery?: See a Chiropractor for your back pain, first, and your chances of having back surgery are dramatically lower than if you see an M.D. first. A recent study found that Washington state workers with an occupational back injury who visited a surgeon (orthopedic, neuro or general) first were significantly more likely to receive spine surgery within three years (42.7 percent of workers) than workers whose first visit was to a DC (1.5 percent of workers). This association held true even when controlling for injury severity and other measures. http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=56359
Research Shows Hookah Session Can Equal 10-40 Cigarettes: A study funded by the National Institutes of Health reports a single hookah session delivers 1.7 times the nicotine, 6.5 times the carbon monoxide and 46.4 times the tar of a single cigarette. http://www.lung.org/associations/states/florida/news/top-story-in-the-news/smoking-hookah-may-be-worse.html
Firms ordered to pay $9 billion for hiding diabetes medicine cancer risk: Jurors found Takeda and Lilly “failed to adequately warn” about Actos’ bladder-cancer risks and that the drug caused the plaintiff’s disease, according to court filings. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-07/takeda-actos-jury-awards-6-billion-in-punitive-damages.html
The gut-brain connection: Have you ever had a “gut-wrenching” experience? Do certain situations make you “feel nauseous”? Have you ever felt “butterflies” in your stomach? We use these expressions for a reason. Anger, anxiety, sadness, elation — all of these feelings (and others) can trigger symptoms in the gut. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/the-gut-brain-connection

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.

July 14, 2014

Short and Sweet

Facebook Under Fire for 'Creepy' Secret Study: For one week in 2012, Facebook tampered with the algorithm used to place posts into users' news feeds to study how this affected their mood, all without their explicit consent or knowledge. Still want to expose yourself to the world through this portal?

Higher-Dose Statins Linked to Diabetes: People with heart problems who were started on cholesterol-lowering statins were more likely to develop diabetes if they were prescribed stronger versions of the drugs, a new study finds. 

Costs of Autism $2.4 Million Per Person: The cost of supporting people with autism spectrum disorders throughout their lives could be as high as $2.4 million per person, according to a new estimate. An ounce of prevention is worth 2.4 Million in treatment. We should increase our awareness of the triggers of this devastating condition. 

Lover’s Hearts Beat At The Same Pace: Emilio Ferrer, a UC Davis psychology professor who has conducted a series of studies on couples in romantic relationships, found that couples connected to monitors measuring heart rates and respiration get their heart rate in sync, and they breathe in and out at the same intervals.

A Half Million U.S. Surgeries On Knee Cartilage May Be Unnecessary: Finnish researchers found repairing meniscal cartilage in the knee is no more effective than a placebo and about 500,000 U.S. surgeries may be unnecessary. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The Medicaid Time Bomb: The Oregon Health Insurance Exchange study, the first randomized controlled study of Medicaid outcomes, recently concluded that, while Medicaid increased medical spending increased from $3,300 to $4,400 per person, “Medicaid coverage generated no significant improvements in measured physical-health outcomes.”

Meditation May Help With Anxiety, Depression And Pain: Mindfulness meditation may be useful in battles against anxiety, depression and pain, according to a fresh look at past research. "Many people have the idea that meditation means just sitting quietly and doing nothing," wrote Dr. Madhav Goyal in an email to Reuters Health. "That is not true. It is an active training of the mind to increase awareness, and different meditation programs approach this in different ways."

June 9, 2014

Short and Sweet

It wouldn't be this way if more people used chiropractors: Back Pain Biggest Source of Global Disability:  Nearly a tenth -- 9.4 percent -- of the world's population has lower back pain, with the prevalence highest in Western Europe, followed by North Africa and the Middle East, and the lowest in the Caribbean and Latin America, a study found. The figure includes children. http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Health-News/lower-back-pain-chronic-pain-work-related-handicaps-disability/2014/03/25/id/561600#ixzz2x0FVGnpX  

‘Cutting yourself some slack’ could help people live longer: Researchers say that being able to forgive yourself for mistakes is the key to staying healthy, and that constant stress over small things like traffic should be a warning sign.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2600004/Could-chilling-save-life-Researchers-say-cutting-slack-help-people-live-longer.html

Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction: The Association of Teachers and Lecturers warn that rising numbers of children are unable to perform simple tasks such as using building blocks because of overexposure to iPads. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10767878/Infants-unable-to-use-toy-building-blocks-due-to-iPad-addiction.html

Scientists say sugar at levels considered safe is harmful: The study shows "that added sugar consumed at concentrations currently considered safe exerts dramatic impacts on mammalian health," the researchers said in the study, published in the journal Nature Communications. "Many researchers have already made calls for reevaluation of these safe levels of consumption." http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sn-sugar-20130813,0,982020.story

How the craze for running ever longer distances can damage the heart: 

Elderly athletes with a lifelong history of endurance training and competing are prone to heart rhythm disturbances, known as arrhythmias. 
This is due to molecular changes in the heart's pacemaker from the exercise training, according to scientists from the University of Manchester. 
But Professor Boyett stressed that although endurance exercise training can have harmful effects on the heart, 'it is more than outweighed by the beneficial effects'. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2627279/How-craze-running-longer-distances-DAMAGE-heart.html#ixzz31erDpLmX 


How gaining weight makes us hungrier and hungrier: For most of the last century, our understanding of the cause of obesity has been based on immutable physical law. Specifically, it’s the first law of thermodynamics, which dictates that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. When it comes to body weight, this means that calorie intake minus calorie expenditure equals calories stored. Surrounded by tempting foods, we overeat, consuming more calories than we can burn off, and the excess is deposited as fat. The more calories we lock away in fat tissue, the fewer there are circulating in the bloodstream to satisfy the body’s requirements. If we look at it this way, it’s a distribution problem: We have an abundance of calories, but they’re in the wrong place. As a result, the body needs to increase its intake. We get hungrier because we’re getting fatter. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/opinion/sunday/always-hungry-heres-why.html?_r=0