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To Your Health
Modern Medicine Focuses On Diseases Instead Of Wellness
In these tough economic times, you hear a lot about healthcare. But no matter what your opinion on the new healthcare laws, the truth is that modern medicine still focuses on disease instead of wellness. In my opinion, that's simply the wrong approach! If you want to save on health care and sidestep the red tape so prevalent in the insurance industry, look to prevention. After all, fighting cancer, heart disease and diabetes can cost you thousands of dollars yearly in medication, doctor visits and treatment. But it's a lot cheaper to keep from getting sick in the first place. Along with eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise, here are the top five supplements for staying healthy that are recommended by Dr Andrew Weil, MD:
Walt Edwards, Ph.D. - Dr. Health
Multivitamin: It's virtually impossible to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need through diet alone. Taking a good multi every day can help fill in any nutritional gaps and provide extra antioxidant support. A multi also helps your body convert the food you eat into better, more stable energy. What's more, a new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found a link between multivitamins and a lower risk of heart attack in women.(1) Look for a high quality multivitamin with at least 25 mg to 50 mg of B Complex. Because B and C vitamins are water soluble and out of your body in 3 to 4 hours, your supplements should be taken with food and more than once per day.
Curcumin: One of the most prevalent problems I see in my practice is chronic inflammation. It shows up in patients as cardiovascular disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Modern life and the standard American diet just keep this inflammation simmering away. But you can tamp down inflammation with Curcumin. Derived from the curry spice, turmeric, Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory that acts as a scavenger of nitric oxide and inhibits COX-2, a pro-inflammatory substance, better than pharmaceuticals! It also helps ease arthritis pain.
Fish Oil: Taking 3000 mg. of fish oil daily can lower your triglyceride levels and cut the risk of suffering a stroke in half. The reason is that fish oil reduces stickiness in the blood and prevents dangerous clots from forming. As an extra benefit, fish oil also improves mood, supports healthy skin and joints, enhances brain function and reduces inflammation. But fish oil may offer even more benefits. A recent study found that people with the highest blood levels of omega-3s - the type of fat found in fish oil - had the least chromosome damage, a marker for aging and age-related disease.(2)
Vitamin D: If you've been keeping up with the news lately, it may seem like vitamin D can do just about anything. It prevents some types of cancer and enhances bone health. Research also suggests that it supports healthy blood pressure and protects against depression. It also strengthens the immune system.(3) The problem is, many Americans are woefully deficient in this critical nutrient. You can easily remedy this, however, by taking a minimum of 1,000 IU of D daily. Just be aware that vitamin D is fat soluble, so make sure to take it with a meal containing some fat for best absorption.
Probiotics: The best way to support digestive health is by stocking your gut with beneficial bacteria. But taking a probiotic supplement every day doesn't just improve digestion. It also supports healthy cholesterol levels, enhances immunity and boosts the absorption of the nutrients in food. These beneficial bugs are sold as powders, liquid, capsules and tablets - many of which need to be refrigerated. The minimum dose to prevent common illnesses is one billion live organisms a day. While that might sound like a lot, it's actually about the same amount you'll find in a cup of yogurt. But when it comes to probiotics, more is better. Sedonna Labs' I Flora contains 18 Billion active bacteria as well as 16 different strains. In fact, it isn't uncommon to take probiotics in divided doses at least twice per day.
Protect Against Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
If you or someone you know is getting on in years, you may want to consider supplementing your diet with lutein. Lutein and another carotenoid, zeaxanthin, form the yellow pigment of the retina and absorb blue light, which is a potentially harmful component of sunlight. There is very good evidence that the lutein in food helps protect against cataracts and macular degeneration, which are common age-related eye disorders. The best thing you can do for your eyes is to make sure your diet contains plenty of lutein-rich produce, including: Fruits - mangoes, watermelon and tomatoes are good sources of lutein; Vegetables - corn, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, squash and dark leafy greens (such as kale, collards and bok choy) provide lutein. In addition to the foods listed above, you can get zeaxanthin through orange bell peppers, oranges, and honeydew melon. I recommend eating five to seven servings of fresh fruits and vegetables per day. If you are unable to get adequate lutein through your diet, you may want to consider a vision-supportive supplement; talk with your doctor.
What About Polyunsaturated Fats?
They are the absolute worst oils to use when cooking because these omega-6-rich oils are highly susceptible to heat damage. This category includes common vegetable oils such as: corn, soy, safflower, sunflower, and canola.
Damaged omega-6 fats are disastrous to your health, and are responsible for far more health problems than saturated fats ever were. Trans fat is the artery-clogging, highly damaged omega-6 polyunsaturated fat that is formed when vegetable oils are hardened into margarine or shortening. If you are concerned about your health never using margarine or shortening when cooking. You're already getting far too much of this damaging fat if you consume any kind of processed foods, whether it be potato chips, pre-made cookies, or microwave dinners.
Trans fat is the most consumed type of fat in the U.S., despite the fact that there is no safe level of trans fat consumption, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine. Trans fat raises your LDL (bad cholesterol) levels while lowering your HDL (good cholesterol) levels, which of course is the complete opposite of what you want. In fact, trans fats - as opposed to saturated fats - have been repeatedly linked to heart disease. They can also cause major clogging of your arteries, type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems.
Pure Virgin Coconut Oil is the most resistant to heating damage, but also a great source of medium chained triglycerides and lauric acid. It may be surprising for you to realize that the naturally occurring saturated fat in coconut oil actually has some amazing health benefits, such as: (1) Promoting your heart health, (2) Promoting weight loss, when needed, (3) Supporting your immune system health, (4) Supporting a healthy metabolism, (5) Providing you with an immediate energy source, (6) Keeping your skin healthy and youthful looking, and (7) Supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland.
Coconut Oil's Secret Ingredient
Fifty percent of the fat content in coconut oil is a fat rarely found in nature called lauric acid. If you're a frequent reader of my newsletter you already know that I consider lauric acid a "miracle" ingredient because of its unique health promoting properties. Your body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoa properties.
Monolaurin is a monoglyceride which can actually destroy lipid coated viruses such as: HIV, herpes, Measles, Influenza virus, Various pathogenic bacteria, Protozoa such as giardia lamblia. Lauric acid is a powerful virus and gram-negative bacteria destroyer, and coconut oil contains the most lauric acid of any substance on earth! Capric acid, another coconut fatty acid present in smaller amounts, has also been added to the list of coconut's antimicrobial components. This is one of the key reasons supporting those who may consider consuming coconut oil, because there aren't many sources of monolaurin in our diet. However, we do carry products that contain Monolaurin and we also have a product that contains Monolaurin and Olive Leaf for those interested in defending against cold and flu viruses.
Cramps, Stiffness and Aching Joints Are Usually Caused By Inflammation
Herbs for reducing pain caused by inflammation are: Boswellia, also known as boswellin or "Indian frankincense," this herb contains specific active anti-inflammatory ingredients, referred to as boswellic acids that animal studies have shown significantly reduce inflammation. Bromelain is an enzyme, found in pineapples and is considered a natural anti-inflammatory. It can be taken in supplement form. Ginger is anti-inflammatory and offers pain relief and stomach-settling properties. Fresh ginger works well steeped in boiling water as a tea or grated into vegetable juice. Powder capsules are also available as well as Turmeric, which is also anti-inflammatory. SerraPhase is not an herb, but a systemic protein enzyme that helps maintain the body's normal inflammation response to joint, tendon, cartilage, muscular and heart health.
Chakra Energy Candles
Chakra energy candles combine metaphysics with aromatherapy and can facilitate psychic and physical healing. They are enhanced with essential oil blends selected for their aromatherapy benefits relative to balancing each chakra. As the chakra energy candles burn they release beneficial, therapeutic vapors.
Thought For The Day
Think of life as a journey and remember that it is important to enjoy the journey and not the destination. The purpose of why we are here is to learn and experience our life's lessons. Be sure you consider that for every action there is a reaction. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy. At the end of the day, how we perceive these lessons can be important to our health and well-being. Be good to yourself and take time each day to smell the roses.
Contact Dr. Health:
Walt Edwards, Ph.D.
29820 Ellensburg Avenue
PO Box 283
Gold Beach, OR 97444
541-247-7077
walt4health@gmail.com
MEDICAL HERBALISM:
The Science Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine
Medical Herbalism contains comprehensive information concerning the identification and use of medicinal plants by chemical structure and physiological effect, the art and science of making herbal medicine, the limitations and potential of viewing herbs chemically, and the challenge to current research paradigms posed by complex plant medicines. It also includes information on toxicology and contraindications, the issues involved in determining dosage and formulation types for an individual, guides to the different measurement systems and conversion tables, and the pros and cons of both industrial and traditional techniques.
With additional sections devoted to the principles of green medicine, the history of Western Herbalism, the variety of other medical modalities using medicinal plants, an extensive resource directory, and a discussion of treatments organized by body system, Medical Herbalism is the comprehensive textbook all students and practitioners of clinical herbalism need to develop their healing practices.
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