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Showing posts from 2013

Low Libido? Testosterone is not just for men

Do you suffer from fatigue, mood changes, weight gain, and low libido? Millions of women suffer from hormonal imbalance and are often misdiagnosed as anxiety or depression. Interestingly, low libido is one of the most common complaints in women of all ages. Yes, young women in their 30’s can suffer from low libido too. Low libido affects about 40% of women, according to the American Medical Association; however, there is no FDA approved treatment for low libido in women (but not men). But not to worry, help is available! Although doctors have known that women produce testosterone, most mainstream physicians have believed that hormones like testosterone are not important for women. Only levels of the “female” hormones, progesterone and estrogen, were thought to have any significant bearing on a woman’s health and well being. Over the last decade, however, more and more evidence has been brought forth suggesting that testosterone is a very important hormone for women, especially in

Life after cancer- Nourishing your health

“What do I do to keep the cancer from coming back?” “What do I eat?” “What do I not eat?” “How do I live a cancer free life/lifestyle?”  These questions are ones that I hear from my patients every day.  Hippocrates said it best, “let your food be your medicine, and your medicine, your food.” Let’s start with establishing some basic food guidelines for cancer and chronic disease prevention. Reduce your risk factors through diet. Don’t get bogged down on all the different kinds of diets that you find online. Variety is the spice of life.   There is no “one diet” for everyone, however, there is a diet that everyone can certainly avoid; the “SAD” or “Standard American/Western Diet”.   It is estimated that dietary factors are related to 30% of all cancer development, and the SAD diet captures them all. When eaten over time, foods high in poor quality protein, refined sugars/carbohydrates, and bad fats (breads, processed foods, pastries, fried foods, fast foods) can lead to the develo

A Celebration of Naturopathic Medicine

On September 10, 2013, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution (Sen. Res. 221) designating October 7 - October 13 as Naturopathic Medicine Week.   The resolution recognizes the value of naturopathic medicine in providing "safe, effective, and affordable health care..." and encourages Americans to learn about the role of naturopathic doctors in preventing chronic and debilitating conditions. According to Jud Richland, CEO of American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, "Passage of this resolution is an historic achievement for naturopathic medicine. The Congress has now officially recognized the important role naturopathic medicine plays in effectively addressing the nation's health care needs as well as in addressing the increasingly severe shortage of primary care physicians." Licensed Naturopathic doctors (ND) graduate from a 4 year, fully accredited, medical program.   The curriculum includes studies on physiology, pathology, and biochemi

In response to the latest news that fish oil can lead to prostate cancer:

In light of the recent SELECT study on prostate cancer that was published this past week, our trusted fish oil supplier (Nordic Naturals) is providing an official response, which is attached to this message.   Also attached is the response from the Council for Responsible Nutrition. I would also encourage you to go to GOED (Global Organization for EPA and DHA), for another alternative viewpoint on this trial. Takeaway Points: 1. Improper testing for Omega-3 scores in tissue. 2. Back loaded the trial with 75 (advanced cancer stage) men. 3. Conclusion is based on less than 0.2% difference in omega-3 scores (4.66% - 48%) from tests they ran on random participants, not on the entire group. 4. GOED responded, "If the findings were true, then prostate cancer would be rampant in any country with high seafood consumption (Scandinavia, Japan etc.) and conversely, low level consumption should be protective. Clearly this is not the case."   For the GOED response, use

Dehydration Prevention

Especially in this valley, you don’t want to be caught in a state of dehydration. If you wait until you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Because of most people’s lack of water intake, the dehydration threshold is closer than you think. With the already dry valley air coupled with the oven-like heat, dehydration can sneak up on you quickly, especially when you are on the golf course, hiking, at the park, or even at the gym. It is much easier to prevent dehydration than to treat it. We should always be cognizant of our hydration status, especially in the summer months. If you have a dry, sticky mouth, are thirsty, have frequent headaches or constipation, you already are in mild to moderate dehydration.   A good gauge of hydration status is not how thirsty you are, but the color of your urine. If your urine is light to clear, you are adequately hydrated. If your urine is dark yellow to amber, you are dehydrated! Our bodies are 72% water. We need a lot of water intake to k

The Power of Hypnosis in Professional Sports and Entertainment

Athletes and entertainers know that their performance is as much of a mind game as it is the final result. Focus, concentration, and the determination to win, originate in the mind. The use of hypnosis in sports and entertainment is more widespread than most people realize. Sports hypnosis has been used by athletes for years.   In the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, Greg Louganis hit his head on the board when doing a complex dive.   With his head gushing blood, he had the wound treated while listened to hypnosis tapes.   Greg went on to score a perfect dive and win the gold medal. Tiger Woods’ father hired a hypnotist for Tiger when he was just 13. Tiger uses Self Hypnosis to visualize his game and keep away distractions. Jack Nicklaus openly claims that hypnotherapy and visualization are the sole reason for his improved levels of concentration during play. The list of entertainers who used hypnosis is equally extensive.   Florence Henderson, of the Brady Bunch, Helen Reddy, Bruc

Jump Start the New Year with a New You

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The annual number one resolution of all time is to lose weight and get healthy. After indulging in festivities from November to January and enjoying all those sugary food and drinks, those pesky extra pounds have probably found your waist line. Participating in a 21 day detox program allows your body to rest and recover from the every day stress and toxins we put in our bodies, especially after the holidays!  Making sure your body is properly detoxifying is crucial. Detox helps with weight loss, increased energy, eliminating inflammation, normalizing digestive function, improving sleep, and reducing joint pain, headaches, and other chronic disease symptoms. The body is amazing in what it does to keep us healthy and energized.  Our body has a complex detoxification system that constantly works to process and clear out the plethora of toxins that we intake every day. Think of a detox like an oil change. Your car won’t function optimally and efficiently when its oil is old and sludg