We come to the end of another holiday season and patients keep telling me they are sure they gained more weight than they ate. It seems the weight goes on a lot easier than it comes off and takes a lot longer than it used to. Here are a few things that will slow or prevent weight loss:
1) Not working out, or working out in the wrong heart rate zone. Although you will burn more calories at a higher heart rate, most fat calories are burned in the lower heart rate zones. There are many websites you can go to calculate where your heart rate should be for optimal weight loss, for a great explanation you can go to http://www.thewalkingsite.com/ Many disease processes can cause your heart rate to change from day to day, so for best results wear a heart monitor.
2) Hormone balance - any hormone imbalance can cause you to gain (or lose) weight. Diabetes, menopause, Cushings, thyroid problems.... these are just a few examples of hormone imbalances. If you eat processed sugar on a daily basis, you most likely have a hormone imbalance or will develop one. The best way to fix a hormone imbalance is not by taking hormones, but by eliminating all processed sugar and working on all the things listed in this blog. There are also adaptogenic herbal supplements that when used properly can help. I find it rare that a person needs to take hormone replacement (unless endocrine organs have been removed) to correct a hormone balance. If you suspect you have a hormone imbalance, I would suggest you see a doctor who specializes in bioidentical hormones, or an alternative care provider who knows how to interpret labwork in functional ranges.
3) Not enough water - water is used to break down sugar and almost everything in your body, so if you want to break down fat be sure to consume more than enough water. The basic formula for water intake is half your body weight in ounces (eg. if you weigh 100 pounds you should be drinking at least 50 ounces of water each day). If you are exercising, sweating, or wanting to loose weight, you will probably have to increase that amount.
4) Toxic environment - Ever notice the people drinking diet drinks are just as fat as the ones drinking the full sugared ones? Our environment is filled with all sorts of toxic substances, from dry cleaned clothing, surgical implants of any sort, tap water, medications, and the list goes on. Read labels, avoid all foods with anything made in a lab or you don't know what it is - did you know all commercial gum contains aspartame, sucralose or both? Besides increased exposure, certain diseases and any hormone imbalance will decrease your body's ability to detoxify itself naturally.
5) Food Sensitivities - (often confused with food allergies) For reasons too long to list in a simple blog, each person is able to digest some foods better than others. When you eat foods that are difficult for you to digest, you will gain weight. My next blog will be on this if you would like additional information.
6) Not Eating Right - Eat breakfast and set your metabolism for the day. Not eating enough will slow your metabolism because your body thinks it's starving. Better than coffee, Green Tea is known to increase metabolism. Start your day with your largest and highest protein meal, then eat small HEALTHY snacks throughout the day eating your lightest lowest carbohydrate, high vegetable meal in the evening. Citrus fruits (especially grapefruit) contain hydroxycitic acid which helps with weight loss. Celery helps to curb appetites. If you do not eat fats your leptin levels will not increase to a level that tells your body you are no longer hungry, just avoid all hydrogenated fats, and limit fried foods. If you are not eating processed food (like flour and sugar), working out five days a week, and following these guidelines - it is unlikely you will ever need to count calories.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Fountain of Youth
"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." - Ben Franklin. So let's play....
Crossword puzzles, sudoku, board games, read a book, maybe even a little pac man...... because it is brain exercise, use it or loose it. Change up the games to exercise different parts of your brain.
And of course don't forget to exercise your body; work out, take a hike, run, swim, bike, go horseback riding..... just play. Studies show that the older people get, the less likely we are to exercise and the our muscles will deteriorate faster as we age when not used.
Learn to belly dance, or try yoga, skiing, scuba diving, mountain climbing, tai chi; whenever you learn a new physical skill your brain grows. Some researchers believe our brains do not deteriorate because we age, but because we stop learning new physical activities. We use many parts of our brain when we learn, especially physical activities.
Try something new and healthy to eat, explore, let your taste buds learn. Discover new foods like a child, play. An occasional treat is not bad, but remember what we choose to consume is an expression of who we are.
Get a dog, gather with friends, get a massage, play with some kids, go to work, because who really needs me to quote a study to know that companionship is essential for our emotional health? Laughter, friendship, and a great outlook on life probably influences our health more than any other single thing.
Seek out spiritual guidance, through church, through friends, meditate, spend some time alone in nature or writing, or maybe even drawing. In my silent moments I can hear my inner child telling me what to play. In my silent moments God's voice is not drowned out by the world around me.
The young sapling is beautiful with its fresh green growth reaching for the skies; but it is the tree centuries old with termites, squirrels, and the laugh lines from living well that is truly intriguing. A fountain of youth exists within us all, if we choose to look for it.
Crossword puzzles, sudoku, board games, read a book, maybe even a little pac man...... because it is brain exercise, use it or loose it. Change up the games to exercise different parts of your brain.
And of course don't forget to exercise your body; work out, take a hike, run, swim, bike, go horseback riding..... just play. Studies show that the older people get, the less likely we are to exercise and the our muscles will deteriorate faster as we age when not used.
Learn to belly dance, or try yoga, skiing, scuba diving, mountain climbing, tai chi; whenever you learn a new physical skill your brain grows. Some researchers believe our brains do not deteriorate because we age, but because we stop learning new physical activities. We use many parts of our brain when we learn, especially physical activities.
Try something new and healthy to eat, explore, let your taste buds learn. Discover new foods like a child, play. An occasional treat is not bad, but remember what we choose to consume is an expression of who we are.
Get a dog, gather with friends, get a massage, play with some kids, go to work, because who really needs me to quote a study to know that companionship is essential for our emotional health? Laughter, friendship, and a great outlook on life probably influences our health more than any other single thing.
Seek out spiritual guidance, through church, through friends, meditate, spend some time alone in nature or writing, or maybe even drawing. In my silent moments I can hear my inner child telling me what to play. In my silent moments God's voice is not drowned out by the world around me.
The young sapling is beautiful with its fresh green growth reaching for the skies; but it is the tree centuries old with termites, squirrels, and the laugh lines from living well that is truly intriguing. A fountain of youth exists within us all, if we choose to look for it.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
What is Functional Blood Chemistry?
It is a frustrating experience to feel absolutely terrible and have your doctor tell you that your bloodwork and all of your tests are 'normal' . This is quite common with hormonal imbalances as well as with many of the over 2,000 named autoimmune diseases (300 new classifications added every year). Often after being poked and prodded in about every way possible and everything is still 'normal' , you may be labeled with a vague diagnosis of 'fibromyalgia' or 'mitrochondrial disease'.
The reason this happens is that lab abnormal ranges are set to identify most life threatening diseases. There are many health problems that can cause you to feel so terrible, it often feels like you must be dying. These health problems may not yet be life threatening and therefore your lab tests will come back as 'normal'. A functional bloodwork analysis can be done on the same bloodwork you have done at your yearly physical, or when you are trying to figure out what is 'wrong' with you.
Functional ranges are a lot smaller than disease state ranges, and meant to identify patterns rather than diseases. In other words, the smaller ranges are used to identify weak organ systems, or areas you need to strengthen. Strengthening can be done with a number of different techniques from exercise to specific nutrition and lifestyle changes. A functional bloodwork assessment should be done by someone trained to identify patterns of bloodwork with functional deficiencies.
Eating healthy, exercise, supplements, and taking care of yourself is not covered by your health insurance (seems that would be common sense, but a lot of people need to be told). Health insurance is meant to help people who suffer from life threatening or physically debilitating diseases. I believe all health problems (life threatening or not) are best served by proper nutrition and care of your body. I try to guide patients along this path using functional blood chemistry as one of many tools. And don't worry if you want your insurance to pay for it, with a few more years of doing the same thing and expecting a different result, your body will continue down the same path and eventually your lab tests will come back abnormal. At which point your doctor is likely to recommend a drug or treatment to prevent death or debilitation not disease, and of course that is covered by your insurance.
I believe we create our own destiny by the choices we make. Or as Eleanor Powell once said, "What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God."
The reason this happens is that lab abnormal ranges are set to identify most life threatening diseases. There are many health problems that can cause you to feel so terrible, it often feels like you must be dying. These health problems may not yet be life threatening and therefore your lab tests will come back as 'normal'. A functional bloodwork analysis can be done on the same bloodwork you have done at your yearly physical, or when you are trying to figure out what is 'wrong' with you.
Functional ranges are a lot smaller than disease state ranges, and meant to identify patterns rather than diseases. In other words, the smaller ranges are used to identify weak organ systems, or areas you need to strengthen. Strengthening can be done with a number of different techniques from exercise to specific nutrition and lifestyle changes. A functional bloodwork assessment should be done by someone trained to identify patterns of bloodwork with functional deficiencies.
Eating healthy, exercise, supplements, and taking care of yourself is not covered by your health insurance (seems that would be common sense, but a lot of people need to be told). Health insurance is meant to help people who suffer from life threatening or physically debilitating diseases. I believe all health problems (life threatening or not) are best served by proper nutrition and care of your body. I try to guide patients along this path using functional blood chemistry as one of many tools. And don't worry if you want your insurance to pay for it, with a few more years of doing the same thing and expecting a different result, your body will continue down the same path and eventually your lab tests will come back abnormal. At which point your doctor is likely to recommend a drug or treatment to prevent death or debilitation not disease, and of course that is covered by your insurance.
I believe we create our own destiny by the choices we make. Or as Eleanor Powell once said, "What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God."
Sunday, September 5, 2010
"I'm So Stressed Out"
If you haven't uttered those words at one point or another, please share your secret. It seems to me jobs, schedules, foods, cars, houses, and even spouses are changing more and more. Since stress can be simply defined as 'change', it is no surprise the prevalence of depression, anxiety, impulse control, and substance abuse disorders have doubled since 1945. Of course stress affects our health on a physical level as well.
I have wanted to write this blog for a while, but have struggled to put simply to words what stress looks like in your body. I believe in a holistic vision when it comes to taking care of myself, and that doesn't mean avoiding allopathic medical care. Holistic means to see the body as a whole and not as individual parts. It is as if I am looking out at an entire landscape trying to put into words what causes it to change over time. I want to just say "God only knows", but understand that many of us seek answers as to why we get sick.
Having studied a Western paradigm, I will start with what Western scientists refer to as our stress glands, the adrenals. I start here because it is quite rare to find an American with a completely normal adrenal hormone labwork. Often I see patients whose labwork consists of a single cortisol number, and tell me their doctor said their adrenals are completely normal. Well maybe they don't have adrenal cancer, but saying your adrenals are functioning normally with a single cortisol level, is like starving a diabetic then testing their blood sugar and then saying they no longer have diabetes because their blood sugar was normal. Adrenal stress causes abdominal weight gain, muscle aches, sensitivity to light, perimenopausal symptoms, fatigue, and so much more......
Regardless of whether you have high, low, or bloodsugar somewhere in between, the best thing you can do to help restore you health is ***eliminate all processed sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and MSG from your diet because all of these things can increase your cortisol levels. Increased cortisol levels will cause your blood sugar to elevate, and long term will cause diabetes, and hypothyroidsim.
Even children are under more stress today playing more sports, more homework, busier schedules, less family time, less spiritual growth, more sugar, more MSG and other food additives that cause their adrenal glands to become stressed at younger and younger ages. This causes their immune systems to become weaker, and their liver less capable of detoxifying the chemicals added into our foods (like dyes, aspartame, etc.). Both of these things cause a decrease in immunoglobin A which causes food allergies and leaky gut syndrome. So it is very important to **eliminate foods that cause allergies/sensitivities in anyone with stress for optimal health.
*Good sleep patterns are essential to maintain good cortisol levels, most people having trouble sleeping are struggling with an overworked adrenal gland. As your body struggles to make more hormones to keep everything in balance, your cholesterol levels will climb because your body needs cholesterol to make the hormones and also to respond to the inflammation indirectly caused by the increased blood sugar caused by the increased cortisol. Eventually adrenal stress will lead to altered neurotransmitter function which causes depression, anxiety and a number of emotional problems, as if you weren't stressed out enough now your stress is causing you to be more stressed.
Western and Eastern scientists alike recognize that stress effects our health. M. Emoto (a Japanese scientist) believes that when water is subjected to good or bad feelings it will change appearance; and since most of our body is composed of water, our feelings and the feelings of those we come in contact with can influence our health. During the past few weeks we have been in a time period Eastern scientists refer to as 'Mercury Retrograde' which is what us Western scientists would simply call a stressful time. I hope one day Eastern and Western scientists will be able to combine their knowledge, fitting pieces of the puzzle together so we can better see the entire landscape and not just a piece of it.
Life was a lot easier when I thought Western science had all the answers, but as my mind grows I have come to recognize life is not a small town, a country, a planet, and who knows maybe not even an entire universe. In the end, I still believe only God truly knows everything.
I have wanted to write this blog for a while, but have struggled to put simply to words what stress looks like in your body. I believe in a holistic vision when it comes to taking care of myself, and that doesn't mean avoiding allopathic medical care. Holistic means to see the body as a whole and not as individual parts. It is as if I am looking out at an entire landscape trying to put into words what causes it to change over time. I want to just say "God only knows", but understand that many of us seek answers as to why we get sick.
Having studied a Western paradigm, I will start with what Western scientists refer to as our stress glands, the adrenals. I start here because it is quite rare to find an American with a completely normal adrenal hormone labwork. Often I see patients whose labwork consists of a single cortisol number, and tell me their doctor said their adrenals are completely normal. Well maybe they don't have adrenal cancer, but saying your adrenals are functioning normally with a single cortisol level, is like starving a diabetic then testing their blood sugar and then saying they no longer have diabetes because their blood sugar was normal. Adrenal stress causes abdominal weight gain, muscle aches, sensitivity to light, perimenopausal symptoms, fatigue, and so much more......
Regardless of whether you have high, low, or bloodsugar somewhere in between, the best thing you can do to help restore you health is ***eliminate all processed sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and MSG from your diet because all of these things can increase your cortisol levels. Increased cortisol levels will cause your blood sugar to elevate, and long term will cause diabetes, and hypothyroidsim.
Even children are under more stress today playing more sports, more homework, busier schedules, less family time, less spiritual growth, more sugar, more MSG and other food additives that cause their adrenal glands to become stressed at younger and younger ages. This causes their immune systems to become weaker, and their liver less capable of detoxifying the chemicals added into our foods (like dyes, aspartame, etc.). Both of these things cause a decrease in immunoglobin A which causes food allergies and leaky gut syndrome. So it is very important to **eliminate foods that cause allergies/sensitivities in anyone with stress for optimal health.
*Good sleep patterns are essential to maintain good cortisol levels, most people having trouble sleeping are struggling with an overworked adrenal gland. As your body struggles to make more hormones to keep everything in balance, your cholesterol levels will climb because your body needs cholesterol to make the hormones and also to respond to the inflammation indirectly caused by the increased blood sugar caused by the increased cortisol. Eventually adrenal stress will lead to altered neurotransmitter function which causes depression, anxiety and a number of emotional problems, as if you weren't stressed out enough now your stress is causing you to be more stressed.
Western and Eastern scientists alike recognize that stress effects our health. M. Emoto (a Japanese scientist) believes that when water is subjected to good or bad feelings it will change appearance; and since most of our body is composed of water, our feelings and the feelings of those we come in contact with can influence our health. During the past few weeks we have been in a time period Eastern scientists refer to as 'Mercury Retrograde' which is what us Western scientists would simply call a stressful time. I hope one day Eastern and Western scientists will be able to combine their knowledge, fitting pieces of the puzzle together so we can better see the entire landscape and not just a piece of it.
Life was a lot easier when I thought Western science had all the answers, but as my mind grows I have come to recognize life is not a small town, a country, a planet, and who knows maybe not even an entire universe. In the end, I still believe only God truly knows everything.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
HOPE
It's been said that when you look at something, intentional or not, you will walk in that direction. Motivational speakers all say that to make a dream become reality, you must see it in your mind so you can walk in that direction. Before the first man ran a four minute mile it was thought to be impossible, so runners didn't see it in their minds. After the first person ran that four minute mile many more did.
Last week I overheard two older women talking about their health problems. I found myself wondering if their health problems weren't worse because they were spending so much time looking at them that they couldn't help but walk towards their problems. Then I found myself wondering what direction I was looking?
Many of my patients have been to more than ten different doctors and still seek answers. Doctors label my patients with some ill defined malady or none at all, and tell them there is no treatment, no cure, no answer. If a patient improves they are told it is probably placebo, psychosomatic, coincidental, or nothing was wrong with them in the first place; because statistically they shouldn't be getting better. As a doctor, I truly understand how easy it is to walk in the same direction as most people and believe the statistics; that a four minute mile is impossible. It is harder to believe in a reality few people see.
I find myself wondering if it is not answers my patients seek, but hope? Maybe, for some, the only real cure is to believe a four minute mile is possible.
Last week I overheard two older women talking about their health problems. I found myself wondering if their health problems weren't worse because they were spending so much time looking at them that they couldn't help but walk towards their problems. Then I found myself wondering what direction I was looking?
Many of my patients have been to more than ten different doctors and still seek answers. Doctors label my patients with some ill defined malady or none at all, and tell them there is no treatment, no cure, no answer. If a patient improves they are told it is probably placebo, psychosomatic, coincidental, or nothing was wrong with them in the first place; because statistically they shouldn't be getting better. As a doctor, I truly understand how easy it is to walk in the same direction as most people and believe the statistics; that a four minute mile is impossible. It is harder to believe in a reality few people see.
I find myself wondering if it is not answers my patients seek, but hope? Maybe, for some, the only real cure is to believe a four minute mile is possible.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Cholesterol - The Good Stuff
If you had a truckload of dirt dumped in your front yard because you intended to build a beautiful landscape, would it make sense to get rid of it because having it there devalued your property? So I wonder why you want to get rid of the cholesterol your body is making? Do you not know what masterpieces your body intends to create with this cholesterol?
Cholesterol is essential for creating healthy cell membranes. We need cholesterol to repair damaged tissues, from sprain/strains to heart and vessel damage. Everyday I see people healing much slower, and developing new muscle aches and pains because of the cholesterol lowering drugs they take. It is important to recognize that often cell membranes are damaged from eating too many chemicals, saturated fats, hydrogenated fats, and don't worry about eating enough cholesterol because your body will make what you need.
Cholesterol is used to create hormones like DHEA, estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, and many more. It seems logical to me that if you have hypothyroidism, andropause, perimenopause, diabetes, or any disease affecting your hormone levels that your cholesterol numbers would be a little high. It is important to remember here that many hormone imbalances are caused by eating too much sugar. Eating less sugar can definitely help lower cholesterol.
Cholesterol is used in the liver to create bile acids. Bile acids are used to break down foods in your gut, so if you have any number of gut issues your cholesterol levels can start to climb. So maybe all those antacids aren't helping you?
Cholesterol is used to convert sunlight to vitamin D. Vitamin D is one of the many miraculous creations your body intends to make with cholesterol. It helps prevent cancer, builds stronger bones, and is essential for proper immune function. I believe our bodies are the best pharmacies around, just give it what it needs and it will make what you need.
Currently 66% of adults are overweight or obese. Obesity in the United States is largely due to a poor diet resulting in cell membrane damage. Fat cells produce estrogen and cause hormonal imbalances. For a lot of people lowering cholesterol is as simple as loosing weight with a good diet and exercise program. If your cholesterol level is high but your triglyceride level is low it is unlikely you will lower your cholesterol with diet and exercise, so look deeper to discover what your body is making with that cholesterol.
If you find yourself on cholesterol lowering medication and wondering what your alternatives are, I would suggest reading the books below. I would never suggest going off any medication without consulting your doctor first.
NOTE: recommended reading "The Great Cholesterol Con" by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick (my favorite); and "Heart Disease, What Your Doctor Won't Tell You" by Rodger Murphee
Cholesterol is essential for creating healthy cell membranes. We need cholesterol to repair damaged tissues, from sprain/strains to heart and vessel damage. Everyday I see people healing much slower, and developing new muscle aches and pains because of the cholesterol lowering drugs they take. It is important to recognize that often cell membranes are damaged from eating too many chemicals, saturated fats, hydrogenated fats, and don't worry about eating enough cholesterol because your body will make what you need.
Cholesterol is used to create hormones like DHEA, estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, and many more. It seems logical to me that if you have hypothyroidism, andropause, perimenopause, diabetes, or any disease affecting your hormone levels that your cholesterol numbers would be a little high. It is important to remember here that many hormone imbalances are caused by eating too much sugar. Eating less sugar can definitely help lower cholesterol.
Cholesterol is used in the liver to create bile acids. Bile acids are used to break down foods in your gut, so if you have any number of gut issues your cholesterol levels can start to climb. So maybe all those antacids aren't helping you?
Cholesterol is used to convert sunlight to vitamin D. Vitamin D is one of the many miraculous creations your body intends to make with cholesterol. It helps prevent cancer, builds stronger bones, and is essential for proper immune function. I believe our bodies are the best pharmacies around, just give it what it needs and it will make what you need.
Currently 66% of adults are overweight or obese. Obesity in the United States is largely due to a poor diet resulting in cell membrane damage. Fat cells produce estrogen and cause hormonal imbalances. For a lot of people lowering cholesterol is as simple as loosing weight with a good diet and exercise program. If your cholesterol level is high but your triglyceride level is low it is unlikely you will lower your cholesterol with diet and exercise, so look deeper to discover what your body is making with that cholesterol.
If you find yourself on cholesterol lowering medication and wondering what your alternatives are, I would suggest reading the books below. I would never suggest going off any medication without consulting your doctor first.
NOTE: recommended reading "The Great Cholesterol Con" by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick (my favorite); and "Heart Disease, What Your Doctor Won't Tell You" by Rodger Murphee
Friday, July 30, 2010
Looking Forward to Health Care Reform
If there is such a thing as the best time and place to ever have lived, I think I've lived it. As a kid I never met anyone with cancer, or anyone who contracted a fatal disease like small pox, tuberculosis or yellow fever. Everyone who was capable of working did, and there was enough money left over to take care of those who couldn't. It seemed anything was possible in a world bursting with abundance.
Then a couple years ago while raising money to help families with critically ill children, I had to take off my rose tinted glasses. It seemed increasingly more and more families were struggling with critically ill family members. Sixty one percent of bankruptcies in the United States are now due to medical expenses. People are struggling just to take care of their own families.
Often I would make dietary suggestions like cutting back on sugar and eliminating all foreign chemicals like msg, food dyes, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, and basically anything made in a lab. Most of the time they would try it for a while and then say if it wasn't guaranteed to fix them they just weren't going to follow through. Sometimes I would suggest someone try exercise, therapy, acupuncture, herbs, and/or manipulation before they resorted to drugs or surgery for non-life threatening ailments. Many times I heard, "I can't because my insurance doesn't pay for that, and it's too expensive".
I believe health care reform is not creating a society that expects to be taken care of, but creating a society that takes responsibility for their own health. There are two types of people who take responsibility for their own health.
The first group of people are those who have gone to the doctor (usually several), did what the doctor told them, and did not get any better. These people often become desperate for answers and willing to try just about anything to feel better. This group of people either grow resentful of "a system that doesn't work", or become part of the next group.
The second group of people are those who don't expect someone else to fix them. This group includes people who do everything within their own ability to maintain good health. They usually research any herb, drug, or new food they plan to put into their bodies. They wouldn't go have surgery unless there was no other viable option, and will research all possibilities. They do not expect their doctor to fix them, but to offer guidance.
Some people take care of themselves naturally, while others do so because of their circumstances. People who do not have insurance will often research alternatives because they are less expensive. People who live in countries with socialized medicine often take more responsibility for their own health because they have to wait for months and sometimes years before a procedure will be covered by their national health care. And most obvious of all, if you become unhealthy you usually try to live healthier.
I believe our health care today is much like an American child who gets upset because they only own a single pair of new shoes. In many other countries a child would feel blessed and grateful beyond words to own a single pair of used shoes. So many children in America leave their old shoes lay behind, because they have or can easily get another pair. I look forward to the day when people take care of their health before it goes bad, because they realize we only have a single pair of shoes to take care of. The best made shoes come from someone who creates that great shoe from their own need. Sometimes we have to lose what we have to appreciate it.
Then a couple years ago while raising money to help families with critically ill children, I had to take off my rose tinted glasses. It seemed increasingly more and more families were struggling with critically ill family members. Sixty one percent of bankruptcies in the United States are now due to medical expenses. People are struggling just to take care of their own families.
Often I would make dietary suggestions like cutting back on sugar and eliminating all foreign chemicals like msg, food dyes, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, and basically anything made in a lab. Most of the time they would try it for a while and then say if it wasn't guaranteed to fix them they just weren't going to follow through. Sometimes I would suggest someone try exercise, therapy, acupuncture, herbs, and/or manipulation before they resorted to drugs or surgery for non-life threatening ailments. Many times I heard, "I can't because my insurance doesn't pay for that, and it's too expensive".
I believe health care reform is not creating a society that expects to be taken care of, but creating a society that takes responsibility for their own health. There are two types of people who take responsibility for their own health.
The first group of people are those who have gone to the doctor (usually several), did what the doctor told them, and did not get any better. These people often become desperate for answers and willing to try just about anything to feel better. This group of people either grow resentful of "a system that doesn't work", or become part of the next group.
The second group of people are those who don't expect someone else to fix them. This group includes people who do everything within their own ability to maintain good health. They usually research any herb, drug, or new food they plan to put into their bodies. They wouldn't go have surgery unless there was no other viable option, and will research all possibilities. They do not expect their doctor to fix them, but to offer guidance.
Some people take care of themselves naturally, while others do so because of their circumstances. People who do not have insurance will often research alternatives because they are less expensive. People who live in countries with socialized medicine often take more responsibility for their own health because they have to wait for months and sometimes years before a procedure will be covered by their national health care. And most obvious of all, if you become unhealthy you usually try to live healthier.
I believe our health care today is much like an American child who gets upset because they only own a single pair of new shoes. In many other countries a child would feel blessed and grateful beyond words to own a single pair of used shoes. So many children in America leave their old shoes lay behind, because they have or can easily get another pair. I look forward to the day when people take care of their health before it goes bad, because they realize we only have a single pair of shoes to take care of. The best made shoes come from someone who creates that great shoe from their own need. Sometimes we have to lose what we have to appreciate it.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Sugar Cramps
Halloween had to be one of my favorite holidays growing up. The next day grandpa would warn me about "sugar cramps" when I would sit down to eat my entire collection of treats in a single sitting. Mom and dad thought if I got sick from eating so much sugar all at once, that I would "learn my lesson"and no longer crave sugar. The next day I always felt bad, but figured a little more sugar would fix me up. If there was such a thing as sugaraholoics anonymous, I could be their poster child.
If you think healthy choices come easily to me, maybe you didn't know about my secret little addiction. I am a sugar addict, and it has been 30 years since I drank my last soda. I tried chromium, gymnema, B vitamins and anything people told me would curb my cravings for sugar. For me the only thing that worked was a strong will to be healthy.
I didn't want the headaches I suffered from because my blood sugar dropped or spiked. I didn't want the hormonal problems I developed because of the stress sugar put on my adrenals, which help to maintain balance between all of your hormones. I didn't want yeast infections and stomach problems. I didn't want sore muscles and joints caused by the increased inflammation secondary to sugar consumption. I didn't want to get sick every time someone around me was sick because sugar compromises my immune system. I didn't want to get diabetes like my grandmother. I didn't want the kidney, heart, gall bladder and liver problems she developed because of her diabetes. It came down to a simple choice, did I want to be healthy or eat sugar?
It is probably a good thing that I made the decision to be healthy back when the only sugar substitute that existed was saccharin which everyone knew tasted nasty and caused cancer. I could have easily cross addicted into using the chemical substances of aspartame (Nutrasweet) and sucralose (Splenda) which seem to be even less healthy than sugar. These chemicals have been linked not only to cancer but to neurological diseases, birth defects, fibromyalgia, and a never ending list of new complaints. I grew up in the "say no to drugs" era when chemicals foreign to our body weren't typically added into our foods.
Occasionally I do fall off the wagon. I'd love to blame Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia, but have to admit that I've fallen victim to other gluten free sugary temptations as well. I am no longer so far gone that I don't feel those "sugar cramps" or deny that sugar causes my body and health to deteriorate. I recognize the extensive health problems sugar can cause for not just diabetics, but to me and everyone. May God grant me the strength to chose wisely.
If you think healthy choices come easily to me, maybe you didn't know about my secret little addiction. I am a sugar addict, and it has been 30 years since I drank my last soda. I tried chromium, gymnema, B vitamins and anything people told me would curb my cravings for sugar. For me the only thing that worked was a strong will to be healthy.
I didn't want the headaches I suffered from because my blood sugar dropped or spiked. I didn't want the hormonal problems I developed because of the stress sugar put on my adrenals, which help to maintain balance between all of your hormones. I didn't want yeast infections and stomach problems. I didn't want sore muscles and joints caused by the increased inflammation secondary to sugar consumption. I didn't want to get sick every time someone around me was sick because sugar compromises my immune system. I didn't want to get diabetes like my grandmother. I didn't want the kidney, heart, gall bladder and liver problems she developed because of her diabetes. It came down to a simple choice, did I want to be healthy or eat sugar?
It is probably a good thing that I made the decision to be healthy back when the only sugar substitute that existed was saccharin which everyone knew tasted nasty and caused cancer. I could have easily cross addicted into using the chemical substances of aspartame (Nutrasweet) and sucralose (Splenda) which seem to be even less healthy than sugar. These chemicals have been linked not only to cancer but to neurological diseases, birth defects, fibromyalgia, and a never ending list of new complaints. I grew up in the "say no to drugs" era when chemicals foreign to our body weren't typically added into our foods.
Occasionally I do fall off the wagon. I'd love to blame Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia, but have to admit that I've fallen victim to other gluten free sugary temptations as well. I am no longer so far gone that I don't feel those "sugar cramps" or deny that sugar causes my body and health to deteriorate. I recognize the extensive health problems sugar can cause for not just diabetics, but to me and everyone. May God grant me the strength to chose wisely.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Looking at the World through Healthier Eyes
Grandpa's laugh growled like an engine revving up, and I can remember laughing with him watching his big Santa belly shake. Through his black framed bottle cap lenses, dad would smile at us revealing his missing front tooth. They were the most handsome men in the world, at least to me. Can you remember far enough back when everything and everyone in your life was beautiful? Do you remember how good that felt?
Feeling good is about being healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Physically, I think most people know what to do (or not to do) to be healthy. It is easy to look at a morbidly obese person, or see an alcoholic or drug addict sleeping homeless on the street and shake our heads wondering how they could do that to themselves. But as healthy as I live, I recognize that I have my own weaknesses and do not always make the right choices. I know the only difference between me and that drug addict is the ability to control my choices. In a world where biochemically engineered products marketed as food (sometimes deceptively as healthy food) that is less expensive, often addictive, and more accessible than real healthy food - it can be difficult to make the right choices. I know there are many factors that can contribute to poor choices when it comes to our physical health.
Emotionally, I wonder if the increasing amount of antidepressants being prescribed is a result of not understanding the effect our emotional health has on us physically? or not wanting to attempt to cure what ails us physically by working on the emotional aspect? Emotional health comes from understanding that I am beautiful, and appreciating everyone and everything in my life; the good for just that, and the bad for what I can learn from it.
Spiritually comes from understanding that the world and life is not about me, but about discovering the purpose God intended for me. As I grow older, I have come to believe that although our bodies and minds may begin to deteriorate with the normal aging process, our spirituality can grow if we so choose. We can grow to see the world through God's eyes; and see beauty in everything and everyone.
Feeling good is about being healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Physically, I think most people know what to do (or not to do) to be healthy. It is easy to look at a morbidly obese person, or see an alcoholic or drug addict sleeping homeless on the street and shake our heads wondering how they could do that to themselves. But as healthy as I live, I recognize that I have my own weaknesses and do not always make the right choices. I know the only difference between me and that drug addict is the ability to control my choices. In a world where biochemically engineered products marketed as food (sometimes deceptively as healthy food) that is less expensive, often addictive, and more accessible than real healthy food - it can be difficult to make the right choices. I know there are many factors that can contribute to poor choices when it comes to our physical health.
Emotionally, I wonder if the increasing amount of antidepressants being prescribed is a result of not understanding the effect our emotional health has on us physically? or not wanting to attempt to cure what ails us physically by working on the emotional aspect? Emotional health comes from understanding that I am beautiful, and appreciating everyone and everything in my life; the good for just that, and the bad for what I can learn from it.
Spiritually comes from understanding that the world and life is not about me, but about discovering the purpose God intended for me. As I grow older, I have come to believe that although our bodies and minds may begin to deteriorate with the normal aging process, our spirituality can grow if we so choose. We can grow to see the world through God's eyes; and see beauty in everything and everyone.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Overuse of Antacids
If you have ever felt that burning ache in the pit of your stomach racing up into your chest, you can probably testify to the effectiveness of antacids for pain relief. From Tums to Priolsec and the ever growing variety, anactids are one of the most common drug I see used by my patients. Antacids are so commonly used that most of my patients do not even include them on their list of medications they are currently taking. Noticing numerous GI complaints, a progressively worsening health, ridges in their fingernails indicating malabsorbtion of nutrients, and many other problems I will discover they are taking antacids.
Our bodies are miraculous creations capable of innately curing itself given the proper care. The normal response to food entering the stomach is stimulation of cells that produce HCL. When these cells are stimulated, the normal neurological response is to close the sphincter leading to your esophagus so no acid can enter and cause heartburn. Therefore if you have heartburn it is for two reasons:
1) The sphincter is mechanically compromised.
2) More commonly, there is not enough HCL being produced to stimulate the sphincter to close or stay closed. Poor diets, smoking, medications, hypothyroidism, and other health issues can cause this to occur by slowing down your digestive system (constipation). When this occurs food sits for longer periods of time in your stomach causing the food to putrify and form acid. This acid and not your body's HCL is more likely what causes your heartburn. Food putrification as well as the use of antacids causes the stomach lining to breakdown. The more the stomach lining breaks down, the fewer cells there are to produce HCL causing your digestion to slow even more, causing additional stomach lining breakdown, causing.....hopefully you see the progressively worsening scenario.
When this process occurs you are said to have hypochloridria because there is not enough HCL and other enzymes necessary to break down and utilize foods properly in your stomach. Many nutrients are not properly broken down or absorbed. Calcium requires an acidic environment to be absorbed, over time you will start to develop osteoporosis. Iron absorbs best on an empty stomach in an acidic environment, over time you may develop anemia. These are only a couple of many health disorders that can occur indirectly as a result of long term antacid usage.
Taking antacids for recurring heart burn makes about as much sense as taking Tylenol for a brain tumor. If pain is merely controlled and changes are not made to correct what caused the heartburn to occur, it will not likely heal. Or as one of my favorite quotes goes, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result".
TREATMENT: I would suggest seeking advice from an alternative care physician with experience and knowledge in this area.
Our bodies are miraculous creations capable of innately curing itself given the proper care. The normal response to food entering the stomach is stimulation of cells that produce HCL. When these cells are stimulated, the normal neurological response is to close the sphincter leading to your esophagus so no acid can enter and cause heartburn. Therefore if you have heartburn it is for two reasons:
1) The sphincter is mechanically compromised.
2) More commonly, there is not enough HCL being produced to stimulate the sphincter to close or stay closed. Poor diets, smoking, medications, hypothyroidism, and other health issues can cause this to occur by slowing down your digestive system (constipation). When this occurs food sits for longer periods of time in your stomach causing the food to putrify and form acid. This acid and not your body's HCL is more likely what causes your heartburn. Food putrification as well as the use of antacids causes the stomach lining to breakdown. The more the stomach lining breaks down, the fewer cells there are to produce HCL causing your digestion to slow even more, causing additional stomach lining breakdown, causing.....hopefully you see the progressively worsening scenario.
When this process occurs you are said to have hypochloridria because there is not enough HCL and other enzymes necessary to break down and utilize foods properly in your stomach. Many nutrients are not properly broken down or absorbed. Calcium requires an acidic environment to be absorbed, over time you will start to develop osteoporosis. Iron absorbs best on an empty stomach in an acidic environment, over time you may develop anemia. These are only a couple of many health disorders that can occur indirectly as a result of long term antacid usage.
Taking antacids for recurring heart burn makes about as much sense as taking Tylenol for a brain tumor. If pain is merely controlled and changes are not made to correct what caused the heartburn to occur, it will not likely heal. Or as one of my favorite quotes goes, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result".
TREATMENT: I would suggest seeking advice from an alternative care physician with experience and knowledge in this area.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Pain Threshold
"How wimpy are you?" would have to be the layman's version of, "What kind of pain threshold do you have?" Although a doctor will ask you about your pain to try to determine its source, I doubt any doctor would ask you such a question because everyone perceives pain differently. One person may cut themselves to the bone and hardly feel the pain at all, while another may cry out from a simple paper cut.
"Suck it up" is probably the layman's way of saying, "I think there is a significant emotional component to your pain". From the time we are young crying out for our mother's attention or blocking painful outcries so as not to be thought of as a sissy, we develop emotional patterns to our pain. Many authors like Louise Hay and intuitive healers believe all pain and disease processes have an emotional orgin. I have come to believe that our physical well being is a direct reflection of our emotional well being.
"That looks like it hurts" would have to be the layman's way of saying "There is a significant physical component to your pain". There are occasions when your pain receptors are stimulated and you should have pain, a message to your brain that you need to change or do something differently. It is not uncommon to see terrible arthritis, healed compression fractures, or healed rib fractures on x-rays in patients with no pain in the affected area. Innately our bodies are capable of completely healing from (almost?) anything if we eliminate the physical AND emotional component of the pain.
"You are always whining about something hurting" would be the layman's way of saying, "There must be a physical orgin to your pain, but it is difficult to determine what that is because of your overlying emotional components and my limited knowledge." We often expect our bodies to heal themselves when we experience pain, and therefore do little to nothing to change or do something differently. A diabetic may just take more medicine when eating a high glycemic meal; or after a spinal surgery a person may not retrain their muscles to function properly with therapy and return to the same lifestyle or activities that caused the biomechanical dysfunction to start out with. Alcoholics, and people using multiple medications will almost always have a lower pain threshold and more chronic pain. Once a person has allowed multiple incidences of pain to occur without making any changes, chronic pain is almost a guarantee. So choose wisely.
"Suck it up" is probably the layman's way of saying, "I think there is a significant emotional component to your pain". From the time we are young crying out for our mother's attention or blocking painful outcries so as not to be thought of as a sissy, we develop emotional patterns to our pain. Many authors like Louise Hay and intuitive healers believe all pain and disease processes have an emotional orgin. I have come to believe that our physical well being is a direct reflection of our emotional well being.
"That looks like it hurts" would have to be the layman's way of saying "There is a significant physical component to your pain". There are occasions when your pain receptors are stimulated and you should have pain, a message to your brain that you need to change or do something differently. It is not uncommon to see terrible arthritis, healed compression fractures, or healed rib fractures on x-rays in patients with no pain in the affected area. Innately our bodies are capable of completely healing from (almost?) anything if we eliminate the physical AND emotional component of the pain.
"You are always whining about something hurting" would be the layman's way of saying, "There must be a physical orgin to your pain, but it is difficult to determine what that is because of your overlying emotional components and my limited knowledge." We often expect our bodies to heal themselves when we experience pain, and therefore do little to nothing to change or do something differently. A diabetic may just take more medicine when eating a high glycemic meal; or after a spinal surgery a person may not retrain their muscles to function properly with therapy and return to the same lifestyle or activities that caused the biomechanical dysfunction to start out with. Alcoholics, and people using multiple medications will almost always have a lower pain threshold and more chronic pain. Once a person has allowed multiple incidences of pain to occur without making any changes, chronic pain is almost a guarantee. So choose wisely.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
GLUTEN FREE?
It has been said that the qualities we dislike most in others, are the same qualities we struggle with in our own lives, sort of that "I'm nothing like that" or "not me" denial.
For me, this sort of denial happened after being diagnosed as autoimmune. I read study after study that said most people with autoimmune diseases (especially Hoshimoto's Thyroiditis) will do better on gluten free diets. Despite everything I read, every class I went to, and every patient I saw improve, I refused to believe that my health would improve on a gluten free diet.
Some people go gluten free simply because it makes them feel better. All sorts of symptoms have been known to improve or completely go away on gluten free diets including headaches, rashes, gas, bloating, ADD, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle aches, and many more. It is easy to argue that gluten has been in our diets for hundred of years and not caused problems. But unlike a hundred years ago, wheat is typically stored for years before it reaches your table, and during those years endotoxins (that can wreak havoc on your body) form on the wheat. Unlike a hundred years ago wheat is genetically modified, grown in nutrient depleted soils, and over processed.
Some people go gluten free because they have celiac disease or have a food sensitivity to gluten. It seems to me in this instance, most patients want a specific lab test before they are willing to take their beloved gluten out of their diet completely. There are blood tests for IgA and IgG antigliadins, IgA transglutaminase, and endomysium antibodies. There is an excellent complete gluten sensitivity and gene panel (stool test) you can run yourself through enterolab.com. Most medical doctors will not diagnose celiac disease in a patient without doing an intestinal biopsy (surgically removing a piece of your bowel) because none of the lab tests are considered 100% accurate.
It is my opinion that the best diagnosis is made by COMPLETELY eliminating gluten from your diet for at least a month. It is important to be sure not to expose yourself to hidden sources of gluten while on an elimination diet. Sometimes patients feel better right away, other times no difference is felt until you try to put gluten back into your diet. If you are celiac you will likely have a pretty significant and immediate reaction when you add gluten back into your diet. If you are sensitive to gluten, it may take a couple exposures before you have a reaction. In either instance your gut will heal and improve on a gluten free diet.
Since the secret to living healthy with any autoimmune disease is improving your immune system, and most of your immune system can be found in your gut - it is only logical that staying gluten free could help strengthen your immune system. Since there is no cure for autoimmune disease; since the onset of autoimmune conditions can be delayed with a strong immune system; since everyone even without autoimmune conditions would be healthier with a stronger immune system - I think everyone should at least give the elimination/provocation diet a try.
NOTE: Some people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities have a type that will affect the nervous system more than the gut (just a few possibilities: ADD, irritability, brain fog). So when doing the elimination diet these people may not immediately notice their reaction to gluten.
NOTE: 6/1/11 Since the first publication of this, Cyrex Labratories has created an in depth blood panel for Celiac Disease that is probably the most diagnotic test available at this time.
For me, this sort of denial happened after being diagnosed as autoimmune. I read study after study that said most people with autoimmune diseases (especially Hoshimoto's Thyroiditis) will do better on gluten free diets. Despite everything I read, every class I went to, and every patient I saw improve, I refused to believe that my health would improve on a gluten free diet.
Some people go gluten free simply because it makes them feel better. All sorts of symptoms have been known to improve or completely go away on gluten free diets including headaches, rashes, gas, bloating, ADD, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle aches, and many more. It is easy to argue that gluten has been in our diets for hundred of years and not caused problems. But unlike a hundred years ago, wheat is typically stored for years before it reaches your table, and during those years endotoxins (that can wreak havoc on your body) form on the wheat. Unlike a hundred years ago wheat is genetically modified, grown in nutrient depleted soils, and over processed.
Some people go gluten free because they have celiac disease or have a food sensitivity to gluten. It seems to me in this instance, most patients want a specific lab test before they are willing to take their beloved gluten out of their diet completely. There are blood tests for IgA and IgG antigliadins, IgA transglutaminase, and endomysium antibodies. There is an excellent complete gluten sensitivity and gene panel (stool test) you can run yourself through enterolab.com. Most medical doctors will not diagnose celiac disease in a patient without doing an intestinal biopsy (surgically removing a piece of your bowel) because none of the lab tests are considered 100% accurate.
It is my opinion that the best diagnosis is made by COMPLETELY eliminating gluten from your diet for at least a month. It is important to be sure not to expose yourself to hidden sources of gluten while on an elimination diet. Sometimes patients feel better right away, other times no difference is felt until you try to put gluten back into your diet. If you are celiac you will likely have a pretty significant and immediate reaction when you add gluten back into your diet. If you are sensitive to gluten, it may take a couple exposures before you have a reaction. In either instance your gut will heal and improve on a gluten free diet.
Since the secret to living healthy with any autoimmune disease is improving your immune system, and most of your immune system can be found in your gut - it is only logical that staying gluten free could help strengthen your immune system. Since there is no cure for autoimmune disease; since the onset of autoimmune conditions can be delayed with a strong immune system; since everyone even without autoimmune conditions would be healthier with a stronger immune system - I think everyone should at least give the elimination/provocation diet a try.
NOTE: Some people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities have a type that will affect the nervous system more than the gut (just a few possibilities: ADD, irritability, brain fog). So when doing the elimination diet these people may not immediately notice their reaction to gluten.
NOTE: 6/1/11 Since the first publication of this, Cyrex Labratories has created an in depth blood panel for Celiac Disease that is probably the most diagnotic test available at this time.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Pain is Good
Why does it seem like so many things that are good for us don't feel very good at all? Back when I was a kid choking down cod liver oil, doing chores, being nice to my sisters when they weren't so nice to me, and a slew of other stuff all seemed to be quite painful at the time. Dad always said such things were good for my character. I was never completely convinced because I always thought pain was something to be avoided at all cost. After all I wouldn't leave my hand pressed to the side of a boiling pot.
Although I am Christian, I love the Buddhist's Four Noble Truths in regard to pain. The first is like when I was young and believed that I would be happier if I didn't have to eat healthy, do chores, or be nice to my sisters because less pain was always better. The problem with this is it always leads to wanting more to make me happy.
The second truth says that we fulfill our cravings, attachments, and selfish grasp for pleasure to avoid pain. We eat poorly, buy expensive stuff, don't exercise, limit our graciousness towards others so we have more for ourselves believing it will make us happier. Typically this is when a person will develop health problems. If you have ever hit your rock bottom be it emotionally or physically (like with cancer, heart attacks, or other ailments) you know this is when we reach the turning point and finally ask ourselves, "Is there something better?"
The third noble truth is a complete release from attachment and a liberation from pain. Or as a Christian would put it, giving it over to God; that fear for ourselves is not trusting in God. I used to worry about not having enough money. I used to worry about the worst case scenarios whenever I had some strange ache or pain. But now I recognize that those worries are conscious messages, and the pain or health problems I have had are unconscious messages directing me to a healthier being. I'll probably spend the rest of my life trying to recreate new patterns I created by my own selfishness, searching for that liberation from pain.
The fourth noble truth is utter extinction of pain.....Christians call that heaven.
Although I am Christian, I love the Buddhist's Four Noble Truths in regard to pain. The first is like when I was young and believed that I would be happier if I didn't have to eat healthy, do chores, or be nice to my sisters because less pain was always better. The problem with this is it always leads to wanting more to make me happy.
The second truth says that we fulfill our cravings, attachments, and selfish grasp for pleasure to avoid pain. We eat poorly, buy expensive stuff, don't exercise, limit our graciousness towards others so we have more for ourselves believing it will make us happier. Typically this is when a person will develop health problems. If you have ever hit your rock bottom be it emotionally or physically (like with cancer, heart attacks, or other ailments) you know this is when we reach the turning point and finally ask ourselves, "Is there something better?"
The third noble truth is a complete release from attachment and a liberation from pain. Or as a Christian would put it, giving it over to God; that fear for ourselves is not trusting in God. I used to worry about not having enough money. I used to worry about the worst case scenarios whenever I had some strange ache or pain. But now I recognize that those worries are conscious messages, and the pain or health problems I have had are unconscious messages directing me to a healthier being. I'll probably spend the rest of my life trying to recreate new patterns I created by my own selfishness, searching for that liberation from pain.
The fourth noble truth is utter extinction of pain.....Christians call that heaven.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
OPENING MY MIND
One time my mom asked me, "If all your friends jumped off a bridge would you jump off too?"
My eyes bulged and heart raced with excitement, "Really? Where? How high is it? Is there water under the bridge, or maybe just one of those trampoline things?"
Mom tried changing her question to jumping off a cliff but quickly dubbed me hopeless, chalking it up to my Ambrosius genetics. If any inkling of doubt remained in my mother's mind, it was permanently squelched a few years later when she watched me jump off a bridge by moonlight in Los Angeles. This was back when few people had heard of bungee jumping, and my friends purchased their heavy duty bungee cords under the guise of chiropractic students designing exercise equipment.
Just as I knew many years ago that jumping off that bridge with my friends would be an unforgettable, life enriching experience, I also knew that what I experienced with my own health was not a normal part of aging. I believe intuitively we all know what ails us, and the path we must take to find healing. When we follow the healthiest path, life becomes easy. But sometimes we make poor diet choices, or choose not to exercise. Sometimes we choose to live in stressful situations, because we stop believing it is possible to live healthier.
It is easy to believe that minor health problems like weight gain, memory loss, or muscle and joint pains are simply the result of getting older. Since there is no drug or surgery to cure such maladies your doctor will often declare you well even when you do not feel well at all. I used to be one of those doctors who wanted an answer to every question, who wanted to label every complaint with a disease.
It took me years to realize that a + b does not always equal c. I would see two patients who presented exactly the same. I treated the two patients exactly the same. One would get better quickly, and the other did not get better at all. In school I learned that a specific bacteria or virus would cause a specific disease. I learned in life that just because a person is exposed to a specific virus or bacteria does not mean they will develop the disease. Why are some babies born to HIV positive mothers HIV positive and others are not? Why do some people have severe reactions to immunizations or medications and others do not?
Throughout my practice I have encountered many patients who have been healed of many deadly diseases from hepatitis to cancer with a list of what most doctors would consider obvious placebos. Be it the power of prayer, a diet, an herb, magnets, some type of laser or ozone machine; the one thing all these patients had in common was that they knew they would be healed.
I am grateful to the many patients I have had who have opened my mind to all the possibilities. I hope that I never give up looking for that next adventure, cure, or life enriching experience because that is what truly cures us all.
My eyes bulged and heart raced with excitement, "Really? Where? How high is it? Is there water under the bridge, or maybe just one of those trampoline things?"
Mom tried changing her question to jumping off a cliff but quickly dubbed me hopeless, chalking it up to my Ambrosius genetics. If any inkling of doubt remained in my mother's mind, it was permanently squelched a few years later when she watched me jump off a bridge by moonlight in Los Angeles. This was back when few people had heard of bungee jumping, and my friends purchased their heavy duty bungee cords under the guise of chiropractic students designing exercise equipment.
Just as I knew many years ago that jumping off that bridge with my friends would be an unforgettable, life enriching experience, I also knew that what I experienced with my own health was not a normal part of aging. I believe intuitively we all know what ails us, and the path we must take to find healing. When we follow the healthiest path, life becomes easy. But sometimes we make poor diet choices, or choose not to exercise. Sometimes we choose to live in stressful situations, because we stop believing it is possible to live healthier.
It is easy to believe that minor health problems like weight gain, memory loss, or muscle and joint pains are simply the result of getting older. Since there is no drug or surgery to cure such maladies your doctor will often declare you well even when you do not feel well at all. I used to be one of those doctors who wanted an answer to every question, who wanted to label every complaint with a disease.
It took me years to realize that a + b does not always equal c. I would see two patients who presented exactly the same. I treated the two patients exactly the same. One would get better quickly, and the other did not get better at all. In school I learned that a specific bacteria or virus would cause a specific disease. I learned in life that just because a person is exposed to a specific virus or bacteria does not mean they will develop the disease. Why are some babies born to HIV positive mothers HIV positive and others are not? Why do some people have severe reactions to immunizations or medications and others do not?
Throughout my practice I have encountered many patients who have been healed of many deadly diseases from hepatitis to cancer with a list of what most doctors would consider obvious placebos. Be it the power of prayer, a diet, an herb, magnets, some type of laser or ozone machine; the one thing all these patients had in common was that they knew they would be healed.
I am grateful to the many patients I have had who have opened my mind to all the possibilities. I hope that I never give up looking for that next adventure, cure, or life enriching experience because that is what truly cures us all.
Friday, June 25, 2010
What Causes Autoimmune Disease?
A hundred years ago obesity, cancer, or depression didn't run rampant through society. A hundred years ago people didn't suffer with allergies, and nobody had ever heard of autoimmune diseases. For years people argued that this was because such things just weren't diagnosed, but you must have your head in the sand if you aren't noticing that more and more people are aching all over and being diagnosed with all sorts of weird diseases.
So let's take a look at history and see how we got to where we are today....
A hundred years ago people were dying of syphilis, of typhoid, of numerous infectious diseases. Then along came antibiotics, and people not longer had to die when they got sick. The American philosophy that if a little was good more had to be better was alive and well, people started taking antibiotics not just to save their lives but because they thought they might be coming down with a cold and didn't want to miss work; because they were going to have surgery and maybe possibly taking an antibiotic would prevent the rare post surgical infection. In the late 1980's doctors started warning people that the overuse of antibiotics would lead to antibiotic resistant strains, and increased susceptibility to infections. Then along comes a normally benign bacteria like E. Coli (many others) in one of these resistant strains, and starts killing people. Stronger antibiotics are created, people start using antibiotic gels and sprays on everything, and the warnings of overuse are forgotten. Today not only are antibiotics routinely overperscribed (because let's face it no doctor wants to be sued because it was some new strain of bacteria that they did nothing for), but antibiotics are being pumped into the cows, pigs, and chickens you eat.
A hundred years ago people died of and were crippled by polio. Then along came immunizations that eradicated such diseases. These were deadly diseases, and our world has become a much safer place because of immunizations. But I have to wonder about our society's belief that if a little is good, a lot is better. Twenty years ago when I first heard anti-immunization people claiming that multiple sclerosis and many diseases never existed before immunizations, I thought they were crazy. And although I am not 100% against immunizations, I no longer think they are crazy.
What I do believe is that if we do not use our muscles: we become weak; if we do not use our brains: our brains do not function as well; so it seems only logical that if we do not use our immune system, that it will no longer function as it is intended to either. Antibiotics and immunizations both cause our immune system to work in an unnatural way. Yes, this can save lives but at what cost? Open your eyes to all the new diseases; diseases that are becoming more prevalent in our children.
Then we take an already weak body and bombard it with chemical stressors. A hundred years ago we didn't have heavy metals, hormones, BPA, chlorine, and an entire slew of toxins in our drinking water. A hundred years ago we didn't have shampoos, lotions, and soaps made of chemicals we couldn't pronounce and unknowingly infused with hormones. A hundred years ago we didn't genetically modify foods, pesticides, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, sucralose, and an entire list of chemically engineered 'foods'. What happens? Look around, and if you want to see a better world start with your own.
"We must welcome the future, remembering that soon it will be the past, remembering that it was once all that was humanly possible" - George Santayana
So let's take a look at history and see how we got to where we are today....
A hundred years ago people were dying of syphilis, of typhoid, of numerous infectious diseases. Then along came antibiotics, and people not longer had to die when they got sick. The American philosophy that if a little was good more had to be better was alive and well, people started taking antibiotics not just to save their lives but because they thought they might be coming down with a cold and didn't want to miss work; because they were going to have surgery and maybe possibly taking an antibiotic would prevent the rare post surgical infection. In the late 1980's doctors started warning people that the overuse of antibiotics would lead to antibiotic resistant strains, and increased susceptibility to infections. Then along comes a normally benign bacteria like E. Coli (many others) in one of these resistant strains, and starts killing people. Stronger antibiotics are created, people start using antibiotic gels and sprays on everything, and the warnings of overuse are forgotten. Today not only are antibiotics routinely overperscribed (because let's face it no doctor wants to be sued because it was some new strain of bacteria that they did nothing for), but antibiotics are being pumped into the cows, pigs, and chickens you eat.
A hundred years ago people died of and were crippled by polio. Then along came immunizations that eradicated such diseases. These were deadly diseases, and our world has become a much safer place because of immunizations. But I have to wonder about our society's belief that if a little is good, a lot is better. Twenty years ago when I first heard anti-immunization people claiming that multiple sclerosis and many diseases never existed before immunizations, I thought they were crazy. And although I am not 100% against immunizations, I no longer think they are crazy.
What I do believe is that if we do not use our muscles: we become weak; if we do not use our brains: our brains do not function as well; so it seems only logical that if we do not use our immune system, that it will no longer function as it is intended to either. Antibiotics and immunizations both cause our immune system to work in an unnatural way. Yes, this can save lives but at what cost? Open your eyes to all the new diseases; diseases that are becoming more prevalent in our children.
Then we take an already weak body and bombard it with chemical stressors. A hundred years ago we didn't have heavy metals, hormones, BPA, chlorine, and an entire slew of toxins in our drinking water. A hundred years ago we didn't have shampoos, lotions, and soaps made of chemicals we couldn't pronounce and unknowingly infused with hormones. A hundred years ago we didn't genetically modify foods, pesticides, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, sucralose, and an entire list of chemically engineered 'foods'. What happens? Look around, and if you want to see a better world start with your own.
"We must welcome the future, remembering that soon it will be the past, remembering that it was once all that was humanly possible" - George Santayana
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Treating Autoimmune Disease
Most medical doctors treat autoimmune disease by monitoring your symptoms, sometimes giving prescriptions to mask your symptoms, and then if your symptoms become so unbearable that it becomes difficult to perform daily tasks because of them - they will prescribe medication to suppress your immune system. The most common drug prescribed is prednisone which can cause weight gain, indigestion, insomnia, mood swings, easy bruising, diabetes, osteoporosis, glaucoma, cataracts...... well let's just say all doctors know this and that's part of the reason steroid drugs are not used sooner. There are many new immunosuppresant drugs out, maybe fewer side effects but according to my patients not usually as effective at relieving symptoms. And with some autoimmune disorders like Hoshimoto's Thyroiditis, or Grave's steroid drugs are not used at all regardless of your symptoms.
The best treatment is prevention: if you have an autoimmune disease and you have a child start before they develop a disease because once symptoms start it is much more difficult to manage. How does the saying go.... an ounce of prevention...
If you have any type of autoimmune disease, the best treatment is strengthening your immune system.
1) 80% of your immune system is in your gut, so if your gut is not functioning properly your autoimmune disease will be MUCH worse. It amazes me what people think is normal, so let me tell you that if you ever have to take an antacid, have any stomach pain, gas, bloating, and have more than two or less than one bowel movement a day.....this is not "normal".
ESSENTIAL: Rule out celiac disease - the two best ways to do this are with an elimination diet, and/or with a complete stool and genotype analysis that can be ordered through http://www.enterolab.com/ (Surgical biopsy is standard protocol if you want to go through that) Personally I would recommend every autoimmune person to go gluten free, but due to reluctance from patients I recommend this test for anyone who refuses to go gluten free.
I can also order tests to determine fungal/bacterial balance and rule out parasites.
Avoiding food sensitivities is essential. The best way to determine your sensitivities is through an elimination diet as the blood tests are often inaccurate if you have autoimmune disease because they are dependent on a properly functioning immune system.
2) Avoid all processed sugar as it will always weaken your immune system.
3) Exercise in your aerobic range at least 30 minutes/5 times a week. It is very important to monitor your heart rate because too intense of a work out can also put stress on your immune system. Some autoimmune diseases are associated with increased heart rates already and it does not take much to get to an aerobic heart rate level.
4) Get plenty of fluids and rest.
5) Avoid stress, avoid known stressors to your body - most people know what their own stressors are like cold, work, etc.
Anything you do to help strengthen your immune system, will help: Herbal and nutritional support, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation, and much more. It is important to note that most people I see with autoimmune disease will discover a "miraculous cure" only to have their symptoms recur a week, a month, or days later. This is most likely due to your immune system shifting back and forth between a TH1 and TH2 immune pattern. Don't give up, because you will shift back and that "cure" may work again.
When it comes to specific nutritional recommendations I prefer to talk to a patient directly, but hope this starts you on your journey.
The best treatment is prevention: if you have an autoimmune disease and you have a child start before they develop a disease because once symptoms start it is much more difficult to manage. How does the saying go.... an ounce of prevention...
If you have any type of autoimmune disease, the best treatment is strengthening your immune system.
1) 80% of your immune system is in your gut, so if your gut is not functioning properly your autoimmune disease will be MUCH worse. It amazes me what people think is normal, so let me tell you that if you ever have to take an antacid, have any stomach pain, gas, bloating, and have more than two or less than one bowel movement a day.....this is not "normal".
ESSENTIAL: Rule out celiac disease - the two best ways to do this are with an elimination diet, and/or with a complete stool and genotype analysis that can be ordered through http://www.enterolab.com/ (Surgical biopsy is standard protocol if you want to go through that) Personally I would recommend every autoimmune person to go gluten free, but due to reluctance from patients I recommend this test for anyone who refuses to go gluten free.
I can also order tests to determine fungal/bacterial balance and rule out parasites.
Avoiding food sensitivities is essential. The best way to determine your sensitivities is through an elimination diet as the blood tests are often inaccurate if you have autoimmune disease because they are dependent on a properly functioning immune system.
2) Avoid all processed sugar as it will always weaken your immune system.
3) Exercise in your aerobic range at least 30 minutes/5 times a week. It is very important to monitor your heart rate because too intense of a work out can also put stress on your immune system. Some autoimmune diseases are associated with increased heart rates already and it does not take much to get to an aerobic heart rate level.
4) Get plenty of fluids and rest.
5) Avoid stress, avoid known stressors to your body - most people know what their own stressors are like cold, work, etc.
Anything you do to help strengthen your immune system, will help: Herbal and nutritional support, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation, and much more. It is important to note that most people I see with autoimmune disease will discover a "miraculous cure" only to have their symptoms recur a week, a month, or days later. This is most likely due to your immune system shifting back and forth between a TH1 and TH2 immune pattern. Don't give up, because you will shift back and that "cure" may work again.
When it comes to specific nutritional recommendations I prefer to talk to a patient directly, but hope this starts you on your journey.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Autoimmunity......
Simply put, is when your immune system isn't functioning properly.
About ten years ago I had a patient come in and say to me, "I've seen ten kids in my class diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Is that normal?" Of course I closed my eyes and ears to what she was seeing back then because any good doctor could tell you that statistically ten out of fifty kids being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis was either a misdiagnosis or a total fluke. Even today sites on the internet state that only 1 out of 31 people have an autoimmune disease. Of course my eyes and ears are a little more open today.
It seems the more I open my eyes the more autoimmune disorders I am seeing, but maybe that is because the list of diseases classified as autoimmune is growing. Diseases once thought to be strictly genetic like Diabetes Type 1 are now considered autoimmune because there have been specific antibodies identified with the disease. The list of other autoimmune diseases includes things like most cases of hypothyroidism in America (Hoshimoto's), lupus, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's, pernicious anemia, celiac disease, Guillian Barre Syndrome, of course rheumatoid arthritis, and many, many more. There are many people who believe autism is an autoimmune disorder.
One reason many believe autism is an autoimmune disorder is that most people with autism have been diagnosed or present with symptoms of other autoimmune disorders. If you have been diagnosed with one type of autoimmune disease, it is very likely you will develop another as well. Children of parents with autoimmune diseases almost always develop autoimmune diseases (not always the same one as their parent) at an earlier age.
Just a few of the many symptoms associated with autoimmune disease are fatigue, muscle soreness, sensitivity to chemicals, rashes of unknown orgins, brain fog, food sensitivities, hair loss, hyperactivity, insomnia, and of course increasing severity of allergies. Of course these can be signs of a lot of disorders, so if you have some or all of these problems the best thing to do is start with some bloodwork and a complete history. One pattern that newer studies are showing is that people with high HDL levels (especially when your triglicerides and LDL are not significantly elevated) very often have an underlying autoimmune disease.
So think about yourself, your family, and your friends. Do you or does someone you know possibly have an auto immune disease? Am I the only one out there who thinks that 1 in 31 statisic is someone either completely blind AND deaf or completely outdated? (That's a rhetorical question by the way, because I know many people who believe as I do that autoimmune disease is quite common).
NEXT BLOG.....Treating autoimmune disease?
About ten years ago I had a patient come in and say to me, "I've seen ten kids in my class diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Is that normal?" Of course I closed my eyes and ears to what she was seeing back then because any good doctor could tell you that statistically ten out of fifty kids being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis was either a misdiagnosis or a total fluke. Even today sites on the internet state that only 1 out of 31 people have an autoimmune disease. Of course my eyes and ears are a little more open today.
It seems the more I open my eyes the more autoimmune disorders I am seeing, but maybe that is because the list of diseases classified as autoimmune is growing. Diseases once thought to be strictly genetic like Diabetes Type 1 are now considered autoimmune because there have been specific antibodies identified with the disease. The list of other autoimmune diseases includes things like most cases of hypothyroidism in America (Hoshimoto's), lupus, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's, pernicious anemia, celiac disease, Guillian Barre Syndrome, of course rheumatoid arthritis, and many, many more. There are many people who believe autism is an autoimmune disorder.
One reason many believe autism is an autoimmune disorder is that most people with autism have been diagnosed or present with symptoms of other autoimmune disorders. If you have been diagnosed with one type of autoimmune disease, it is very likely you will develop another as well. Children of parents with autoimmune diseases almost always develop autoimmune diseases (not always the same one as their parent) at an earlier age.
Just a few of the many symptoms associated with autoimmune disease are fatigue, muscle soreness, sensitivity to chemicals, rashes of unknown orgins, brain fog, food sensitivities, hair loss, hyperactivity, insomnia, and of course increasing severity of allergies. Of course these can be signs of a lot of disorders, so if you have some or all of these problems the best thing to do is start with some bloodwork and a complete history. One pattern that newer studies are showing is that people with high HDL levels (especially when your triglicerides and LDL are not significantly elevated) very often have an underlying autoimmune disease.
So think about yourself, your family, and your friends. Do you or does someone you know possibly have an auto immune disease? Am I the only one out there who thinks that 1 in 31 statisic is someone either completely blind AND deaf or completely outdated? (That's a rhetorical question by the way, because I know many people who believe as I do that autoimmune disease is quite common).
NEXT BLOG.....Treating autoimmune disease?
Monday, June 21, 2010
Healty Choices
Sitting down to her 'balanced' breakfast of coke with a piece of pie, my mom laughs when I look and her and say, "When it comes to health, I feel like a born again Christian in a house full of athiests." Then I do my best to resist the temptation of eating pie for breakfast as well.... homemade apple pie.
A lot of people think healthy choices come easy for me, and surely they come easier the healthier my life becomes. I know I feel better when I exercise, rest, and eat well. I see people everyday suffering terribly because they have made unhealthy decisions, and they inspire me to be healthier.
Early in my journey I met a woman, Jo Ellen, who relentlessly encouraged my passion in nutrition. Over the years I have known her I have seen her and the product she sells (Juice Plus) play an insturmental role in improving the lives/health of many people. Not only because Juice Plus is an excellent product, but because of the education and support they offer not only to their customers, but to everyone.
It has been very helpful in my journey to surround myself with people who share my passion for health, and to share my passion with others. I have a long list of friends who encourage me as much or more than I encourage them, by words, by example, and sharing our unique experiences. There is an old saying that goes 'you are the company you keep'.
If you have a spouse who smokes, it is a lot harder to quit. If you are an alcoholic, you probably shouldn't work in a bar. And if you are a sugar addict like me and most Americans..... that pie sure sounds tempting.
NOTE: Sept. 10th, 2010 Gina Carmicheal will be hosting a health talk. If you want to go, or are interested in future events she will be hosting give her a call (512) 773-5300
A lot of people think healthy choices come easy for me, and surely they come easier the healthier my life becomes. I know I feel better when I exercise, rest, and eat well. I see people everyday suffering terribly because they have made unhealthy decisions, and they inspire me to be healthier.
Early in my journey I met a woman, Jo Ellen, who relentlessly encouraged my passion in nutrition. Over the years I have known her I have seen her and the product she sells (Juice Plus) play an insturmental role in improving the lives/health of many people. Not only because Juice Plus is an excellent product, but because of the education and support they offer not only to their customers, but to everyone.
It has been very helpful in my journey to surround myself with people who share my passion for health, and to share my passion with others. I have a long list of friends who encourage me as much or more than I encourage them, by words, by example, and sharing our unique experiences. There is an old saying that goes 'you are the company you keep'.
If you have a spouse who smokes, it is a lot harder to quit. If you are an alcoholic, you probably shouldn't work in a bar. And if you are a sugar addict like me and most Americans..... that pie sure sounds tempting.
NOTE: Sept. 10th, 2010 Gina Carmicheal will be hosting a health talk. If you want to go, or are interested in future events she will be hosting give her a call (512) 773-5300
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Opening my Eyes
Sometimes it feels like I'm swimming out in the ocean and I'm the only one who can hear that music they play in movies that let's you know jaws is coming. I'm screaming "Get out! Get out!" and nobody can hear me....
Seventeen years ago when I started practice I saw very few people under the age of twenty, and when I did they almost always recovered withing a couple treatments. Today children make up a significant part of my practice, and are not responding so quickly. In 1994 the Surgeon General stated that children today are expected to have shorter life splans than their parents, it put a statistic to what I was already seeing. Since that statement twelve years ago, chronic health problems in young people have doubled to one out of every four chilfren. Today as a general rule, my Medicare aged patients are on fewer drugs and suffer fewer complaints than patients twenty years younger.
It surprised me to discover that although it sounded like a shocking epidemic, some people have been trying to convey this message for years. In the 1930's Max Gershon was treating patients with all sorts of ailments with natural and less toxic foods. In 1942 Pottenger published a ten year study on cats that documented progressively deteriorating health with each generation of cats given processed foods (much like what I am seeing today). Even when the processed food was changed back to raw foods, the younger generation did not overcome all of their health problems.
Much like the children I see today in practice, I am at least a second generation cat. I spent much of my childhood riddled with severe headaches, depression, weight loss, fainting spells, and insomnia. I would go to one doctor after the next searching for a solution. I was poked and proded in what felt like everyway possible and told everything was 'normal'. So unlike most people my age in society today who experienced a headache or flu and was cured by a pill, I learned that pills and doctors couldn't fix me.
At thirteen years old I gave up sugars and was counting carbs way before it was a popular thing to do. I felt a lot better physically, but emotionally I wanted to be just like eveyone else - I wanted sugar. I read every book on sugar balance I could get my hands on trying to figure out how to fix me. It was like searching for that perfect outfit and never finding it.
Looking back on my life I can see my path chose me more than I chose it. Every person I have met, each pain and new experience, every path I crossed leading me to where I am today. When I was young I didn't even know what a chiropractor was, I dreamed of becoming a famous writer. Yet I have no doubt that I am exactly wher I am intended to be.
It is easy to find a comfortable place on a path and not feel like moving on. This is usually when I believe God starts sending me subtle messages. One patient after the next came to me complaining of hormone or other pains that they seemed unable to find answers for. It was easy to send them to one doctor and then another. Then one patient after the next returned to tell me their doctor ran one test after the next only to find nothing wrong. It was a story I was all to familiar with, and I still didn't get the message. I had to experience the frustration all over again for myself. While eating 500 to 800 calories a day with a physical job and swimming five to six miles a week, weight was creeping on. I went to my general practioner and then to my OBGYN and everything was "normal????" "Just a part of getting older????"
Many classes and much personal healing later I have discovered what innately I already knew, it was not normal. I believe intuitively we al know what ails us, and the path we must take to find healing. My eyes have been opened to an entirely new world.
Note: In future blogs I will talk more about hormone balance, however if you are interested in what I found to be the best lay book out there on thyroid I would suggest "Why do I still have thyroid symptoms when my lab tests are normal?" by Datis Kharrazian
Seventeen years ago when I started practice I saw very few people under the age of twenty, and when I did they almost always recovered withing a couple treatments. Today children make up a significant part of my practice, and are not responding so quickly. In 1994 the Surgeon General stated that children today are expected to have shorter life splans than their parents, it put a statistic to what I was already seeing. Since that statement twelve years ago, chronic health problems in young people have doubled to one out of every four chilfren. Today as a general rule, my Medicare aged patients are on fewer drugs and suffer fewer complaints than patients twenty years younger.
It surprised me to discover that although it sounded like a shocking epidemic, some people have been trying to convey this message for years. In the 1930's Max Gershon was treating patients with all sorts of ailments with natural and less toxic foods. In 1942 Pottenger published a ten year study on cats that documented progressively deteriorating health with each generation of cats given processed foods (much like what I am seeing today). Even when the processed food was changed back to raw foods, the younger generation did not overcome all of their health problems.
Much like the children I see today in practice, I am at least a second generation cat. I spent much of my childhood riddled with severe headaches, depression, weight loss, fainting spells, and insomnia. I would go to one doctor after the next searching for a solution. I was poked and proded in what felt like everyway possible and told everything was 'normal'. So unlike most people my age in society today who experienced a headache or flu and was cured by a pill, I learned that pills and doctors couldn't fix me.
At thirteen years old I gave up sugars and was counting carbs way before it was a popular thing to do. I felt a lot better physically, but emotionally I wanted to be just like eveyone else - I wanted sugar. I read every book on sugar balance I could get my hands on trying to figure out how to fix me. It was like searching for that perfect outfit and never finding it.
Looking back on my life I can see my path chose me more than I chose it. Every person I have met, each pain and new experience, every path I crossed leading me to where I am today. When I was young I didn't even know what a chiropractor was, I dreamed of becoming a famous writer. Yet I have no doubt that I am exactly wher I am intended to be.
It is easy to find a comfortable place on a path and not feel like moving on. This is usually when I believe God starts sending me subtle messages. One patient after the next came to me complaining of hormone or other pains that they seemed unable to find answers for. It was easy to send them to one doctor and then another. Then one patient after the next returned to tell me their doctor ran one test after the next only to find nothing wrong. It was a story I was all to familiar with, and I still didn't get the message. I had to experience the frustration all over again for myself. While eating 500 to 800 calories a day with a physical job and swimming five to six miles a week, weight was creeping on. I went to my general practioner and then to my OBGYN and everything was "normal????" "Just a part of getting older????"
Many classes and much personal healing later I have discovered what innately I already knew, it was not normal. I believe intuitively we al know what ails us, and the path we must take to find healing. My eyes have been opened to an entirely new world.
Note: In future blogs I will talk more about hormone balance, however if you are interested in what I found to be the best lay book out there on thyroid I would suggest "Why do I still have thyroid symptoms when my lab tests are normal?" by Datis Kharrazian
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Sharing my Journey
The frigid water feels like an attack on my entire body as I dive into the pool. My heart races. Gasping for air, I force myself to stay afloat and move forward. At first I struggle, but then somewhere deep inside I feel a voice that soothes me, comforts me, and guides me.
Stoking and flowing smoothly over and around my entire body, the water refreshes me and I feel like a seal at home in my bright blue pool of water. I breathe in and see the sun, the coulds, and birds above. I breathe out into the water below and sunbeams twinkle as if God is winking at me.
I wish all moments in life were so clear but it is easy to forget success is not about money, travel is not about a destination, sex is not about an orgasam, beauty is not about appearance, and health is not just about not being sick. I think we all fall from our intended path or clarity sometimes and it feels a little like swimming through a class V rapid.
Despite living in a world with more resources and information than ever before, everyday I see more people than ever before struggling with their health. I see patients stuggle with unanswered questions and lack of clarity. Often patients seek me out because they wnat to share my clarity. But when I say something like, "your cholesterol is more likely high because of your high sugar consumption than the eggs you had for breakfast", or "getting the flu isn't a bad thing", or "your pain could be due to toxicity issues", I often get a blank stare response that makes me feel like a round peg in the square hole of society.
So here I am standing on the edge of the pool with you trying to figure out how to teach you to swim. I know your kick, your stroke, your breath, and even how the water feels will be different for you than it is for me. Still I hope that the creation of my own blog will help you discover your own clarity, so that we all may be seals in the pool of health.
Stoking and flowing smoothly over and around my entire body, the water refreshes me and I feel like a seal at home in my bright blue pool of water. I breathe in and see the sun, the coulds, and birds above. I breathe out into the water below and sunbeams twinkle as if God is winking at me.
I wish all moments in life were so clear but it is easy to forget success is not about money, travel is not about a destination, sex is not about an orgasam, beauty is not about appearance, and health is not just about not being sick. I think we all fall from our intended path or clarity sometimes and it feels a little like swimming through a class V rapid.
Despite living in a world with more resources and information than ever before, everyday I see more people than ever before struggling with their health. I see patients stuggle with unanswered questions and lack of clarity. Often patients seek me out because they wnat to share my clarity. But when I say something like, "your cholesterol is more likely high because of your high sugar consumption than the eggs you had for breakfast", or "getting the flu isn't a bad thing", or "your pain could be due to toxicity issues", I often get a blank stare response that makes me feel like a round peg in the square hole of society.
So here I am standing on the edge of the pool with you trying to figure out how to teach you to swim. I know your kick, your stroke, your breath, and even how the water feels will be different for you than it is for me. Still I hope that the creation of my own blog will help you discover your own clarity, so that we all may be seals in the pool of health.
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