tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1 2008-09-07T19:29:18Z Wellsphere builds online healthy living communities that help people ‘Get active, Eat better and Unwind’. Wellsphere’s groundbreaking platform works by connecting each member with local health and wellness resources, classes and activities that match their unique interests and goals, and with the personalized advice and social support they need to sustain healthy habits. Movable Type 3.33 tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.164 2008-09-05T16:11:28Z 2008-09-07T19:29:18Z

I am very excited to share with our wonderful community and the rest of the world that we have just released the new Wellsphere.com With this very special release, we are launching the next generation of online health by making...

Starting today, instead of having to search multiple websites ton only find generic medical information over and over again, you can finally get firsthand accounts of what it’s like to deal with serious medical issues, hear from doctors the inside scoop on handling difficult diagnoses and get personal advice from healthy living experts – all in one place. I would like to take this opportunity to share all the best words in the world with our wonderful team that has worked around the clock for months to break ground in health knowledge with a mission to improve the lives of people around the world. I would also like to thank the phenomenal individuals in our Health Bloggers Network, who gave us essential help, support and continuous feedback as we developed the site. Their warm response has been overwhelming – and we are humbled by some of the comments we’ve heard about the new site. Here are just a few of their reactions:       Wow… the new Wellsphere site is very impressive! - Lorilaws1       It's interactive, easy to use and looks fantastic.       The expanded array of health topics is wonderful. - Avsfan       I love the new site! - Jacquelineljones Please send us your feedback and ideas on how we can continue to improve Wellsphere. As we have always done, we will continue to listen to you and be attentive to your suggestions and feedback in order to become better and better and reach new frontiers in health knowledge and support so we can help more people live healthier happier lives. We are also very excited to launch “WellPages,” our comprehensive, personalized web pages that connect people with the best health knowledge from experts, doctors, patients and healthy living professionals – providing immediate answers to their specific health questions. Every WellPage is powered by our new proprietary Health Knowledge Engine™ that understands people’s everyday health questions, instantly translates them into medical terminology, finds the most relevant credible knowledge, and presents it all on a single user-friendly WellPage. On each WellPage you can find a comprehensive set of articles, videos and visuals that we carefully selected from top medical experts, leading health institutions, healthy living professionals and other trusted health writers. Starting today, you don’t have to visit multiple websites to find answers to your health questions. Listening to users in our supportive communities has always been our first priority and the new Wellsphere reflects our response to the needs we have identified while talking with our users. We heard from many users that they are not satisfied with the information about their condition or symptom that generic health websites or encyclopedias provide. What people are really looking for is a credible, one-stop-shop where they can quickly get a personal perspective on their specific health issues – from medical experts and fellow patients. A 26-year old mother of two recently diagnosed with breast cancer is looking for different kinds of information and support than a 74-year old grandmother facing a seemingly similar diagnosis. We wanted to make sure that each of these individuals could easily find expert medical information that’s relevant to them, as well connect with other patients and health writers with similar experiences When you soon try our new WellPages you will experience the rich comprehensive perspective on millions of health topics that we bring from hundreds of thousands of articles written by Wellsphere’s network of 1,200 rigorously selected health writers and experts. These great individuals dedicate their writing to helping others improve their lives. Many of the leading medical minds from Stanford, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Yale and other top Medical Institutions are currently sharing their knowledge alongside patients who bravely share their journeys through stories, pictures, videos, and personal discussions. You can also connect with these great people in Wellsphere’s more than 100 new health communities where you can also share advice and support with other members in our community. . I’m looking forward to hearing you feedback! Ron -- Ron Gutman Founder and CEO, Wellsphere]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.165 2008-09-05T01:25:19Z 2008-09-05T01:32:28Z

We all have known women who have complained about aches and pains they experienced during their pregnancies. Although pregnancy requires the female body to undergo major physical changes, regular and sustained exercise is the secret to alleviating many of...

We all have known women who have complained about aches and pains they experienced during their pregnancies. Although pregnancy requires the female body to undergo major physical changes, regular and sustained exercise is the secret to alleviating many of the discomforts and health conditions that accompany a pregnancy. Women who exercise throughout the nine months are able to maintain and often improve their cardiovascular fitness levels, as well as increase muscular strength and endurance. Balance, coordination and posture are problems for most pregnant women. However, women who exercise tend to experience these problems to a lesser degree than their non-exercising counterparts. Maternal weight gain and fat accumulation is also reduced in exercising women. Studies conducted by Dr. James F. Clapp III, a leading authority on the effects of exercise on pregnancy, have shown that pregnant women who exercise at least three hours per week over the duration of their pregnancies gain an average of eight poundsless, and their body fat percentages increase three percent less than non-exercising women. The end result is that, through exercise, women can maintain a leaner appearance while pregnant, a boost to most expectant mothers' body image! Pregnant women often complain of having problems with varicose veins, back pain, leg cramps, swelling, constipation, nausea,insomnia, anxiety, depression and incontinence. Imagine a pregnancy free of such discomforts! Exercise can help. In fact, exercising helps to reduce the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension and gestational diabetes, too. Women who continue regular weight-bearing exercise throughout their pregnancy tend to have easier, shorter and less complicated labors. Dr. Clapp's studies have shown that exercising women have a 35 percent decrease in the need for pain relief during labor, a 55 percent decrease in the need for an episiotomy and a 50 percent decrease in the need to induce labor. Also, among women who have vaginal births, the length of labor was shorter. Exercising women also tend to have more positive attitudes, higher energy levels and lower incidences of colds and flu. Plus, most of these women are able to return to their prepregnancy weight within a year. It is important to note that women are more likely to achieve the above benefits if they are able to continue their exercise program throughout the duration of their pregnancy. This posting, Pre-Natal Exercise Benefits for Mom, is posted by Vionna J. at Wellsphere.com]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.163 2008-09-02T00:40:51Z 2008-09-02T00:45:54Z

Adults who respond to life's challenges, to other people, and to stress very much as children do . The survival skills we were forced to develop as children tend to fail us as adults. As children, our natural process...

Adults who respond to life's challenges, to other people, and to stress very much as children do . The survival skills we were forced to develop as children tend to fail us as adults. As children, our natural process of development was stunted. Many of us remain stuck at stages we would have naturally passed through had our environment been healthier. Adult children of Alcoholics are often damaged people. I am going to speak to this personally, although I am still uncomfortable with much of the language. I am still uncomfortable admitting my father is an alcoholic. He is now 70 years old and he would never agree with that assessment, though he readily admits he drove intoxicated more times in life than he can admit. He admits to blackouts. He admits to binge drinking. However, he asserts that he always kept a high-level executive job. He went to work everyday and cut the grass on the weekends. In his free time, he volunteered as a youth football coach and was honored for his 30+ year devotion by the state of Massachusetts and the United States of America. He is now retired and works part time as a substitute teacher. He still coaches football, and remains a "giver" in terms of community service and youth athletics. What he doesn't understand is that none of this erases the fact that he drank heavily since a pre-teen. None of this erases day upon day of drinking, starting at noon and sometimes moving the hands of the clock ahead around 11:00 AM as a joke. As a kid I thought that was funny. But I didn't find car rides funny - 80 miles per hour, riding people's bumpers, gritting his teeth, flipping the bird to those going the speed limit, all with a beer between his legs. I'd meet him for dinner as I became a working adult, and I was always thrilled to see him, though anxiety rose up inside of me like vomit as I watched him order beer after beer, then a few wines, then a scotch or some vodka...all within 2 hours or less. He'd walk to his car straight as an arrow. I never saw this man slur words but once in my lifetime, when he tried to play checkers with me when I was 9. He was so drunk he'd move a checker quickly and clumsily, so that all of my checkers would tumble to the floor. But he didn't notice. He just kept moving his checkers and laughing, his face and eyes red, and his nose bulbous with a tinge of purple. But I noticed. And if you're reading this because you're also an Adult Child, then you noticed too. A few things Adult Children of Alcoholics share in common: We lack a consistent view of self . Our view of self is changeable. It wiggles and jiggles. It's as solid as a jellyfish, as reliable as a broken thermometer. We can never quite figure out who we are . We're always waiting for the next person to tell us. We look to others for approval, for a pat on the head, or a map to follow. We swing from relationship to relationship, hoping for a new perspective. We're a Rubix cube, just waiting for that one person to click us into place. We crave praise from others, be it a boss, a friend, a sister, a lover, or stranger. It momentarily quells the thirst deep within our soul. Yet that praise quickly disappears. Above it all, a giant cerulean wave crashes down, snatching back the positive words we so needed. We are left resting upon the rocks, barely breathing. We are perfectionists who will never, no matter what pinnacle of life we reach, feel satisfied with ourselves. Someone will always be better. If only we could get that A+ instead of that A. If only we had longer legs, a more symmetrical face, or a gentle slope of a nose we could find someone to love us. We can't finish that novel we're writing because we believe it will never be good enough. We know we could never write as beautifully as Jeanette Winterson, so why even try? It's better to keep the dream, right, then prove everyone (including yourself) right? We never can finish anything, anyway. We react in an extreme way to angry people . Many of us literally quake in our boots, so terrified are we of another person's anger. We flinch if the angry person makes a move. If they reach for their keys on the counter, our hand flies to protect our face. It's a reflex and once we do it, we feel foolish. The terror runs through our arteries and clogs our reason. We shrink from an adult into a terrified child. And when it's all over, we crumble into ourselves. We shake. We cry. And, we're still so very afraid. We stare in wonder at those who like themselves. We wish "doing our best" felt good enough. We feel cheated and frustrated, knowing there is no "do-over" when it comes to childhood. We are attracted to those we can help or heal . We're the first to caretake. We protect even those who hurt us. We are all too willing to sacrifice our own needs. We wish we could rescue others. God knows, we couldn't rescue our parents or make them happy, but we'll never give up trying on someone else. We instinctively cling to those who hurt us . Being loved is better than no love at all. We confuse love with sacrifice. When someone leaves us, we feel so empty. We mourn what we had, even if it wasn't good for us. We're terrified of change. Better the devil we know than the devil we don't. We're always playing defense . We react instead of act. We'd rather disappear through a hole in the floor than assert ourselves. We give away our power so easily. It's easier and less scary. We're still so afraid. As a group, we mirror one another more than we can ever know . If we sat in a circle and listened to each others' stories, we'd shake our heads over what we share in common. If you're included in this group -- if one or both of your parents are alcoholics/substance abusers, I extend my heart to you. I want you to know that I understand. As a little girl, I thought all daddies drove with a beer can between their legs. I thought all daddies came home hours late from work, smelling like a bar. I thought all daddies drank 3 beers, a few glasses of wine, a scotch or two and some vodka at dinner. I thought that all daddies drank a 20 ounce beer in two gulps. I thought all daddies had red-rimmed eyes and vomited on the floor. I thought all daddies knocked all the checkers off the board when they were trying so hard to play with you. I thought all daddies mounted the stage at family weddings and sang "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" with a red face and stumbling feet. I thought all daddies did all of this and more. I thought all daddies were Gods. One minute Daddy spent with me equaled 3 hours with my Mom. I hoped he loved me. He never said it. He never told me I was smart, pretty or worthwhile. He was distant. He was the center bunny in a baby's crib mobile. All of the little bunnies that hung from the big bunny moved when the big bunny did. He was the top of a carousel and those horses spun and spun until the centrifugal force came to rest. For years, I thought I could replace Daddy, and his love and approval. Encounters that I thought were about love turned out to be cheap and dirty. The promised calls and dinner invitations never came. The phone stayed silent for days though I watched it like a pot about to boil. I made excuses. Perhaps there was a car accident, a death in the family. Then, I went into the spiral of self-doubt. If only...I were prettier, thinner, more carefree and less serious. If only I had better skin. If only my apartment were cleaner. The list went on and on until I had picked myself over like an apple tree. When too many days had ticked by, I finally faced the reality of what had happened, and it opened a deep wound. I was waiting for someone to make me feel whole, to fill up a constantly draining sieve. I offered my love to strangers like it was a trinket on a table at a flea market. So many people passed it by. Some laughed at it because it was so pathetic. Who ever would want that? they whispered. --- All I Can Offer You is This: It's OK to be angry and feel cheated of a happy childhood. Were I to codify the events of my childhood, I would never see people sitting around a roasted turkey for Thanksgiving, so happy to be together. Holidays were marked by dead silence, the scraping of utensils against plates, then a fight, screaming and crying, and finally, the screech of tires leaving the driveway. Someone always left. I was always left alone to pick up the pieces - and there were lots of them. I cried myself to sleep, but no one ever heard. But I always heard them cry. I was hyper vigilant to their every emotion. My home was either dead silent or explosive. A storm was always brewing and I lived in perpetual fear of its onset. I always felt the winds change just before it arrived. I know there are thousands who can say the same. I'm not special in this scenario at all. Many of us from dysfunctional/alcoholic/substance abusing families lack happy childhood memories, and it's OK to mourn that loss. It's OK to cry when you realize that those who were supposed to love you the most caused you the most pain. It has helped me to remember that my mother and father were people, not superheroes. They had their own hurts, their own shattered dreams, their own secrets and limitations. They used substances and affairs in an attempt to self-medicate. Also, times were different. I look at my father and know that he worked in a time when fast-drinking salesmen and 3 hour martini lunches were par for the course. Television didn't feature public service announcements and programs about addiction. Therapy was for "crazy people" and not just for the average person who was hurting. Rehab centers weren't in every state across the nation. People kept secrets to themselves; child abuse, molestation, and spousal abuse were not discussed openly. Pamphlets about drinking and drug abuse weren't on the table in doctor's waiting rooms. We're lucky that educational material is everywhere we look these days. This knowledge is saving people and helping families. Unfortunately, it may have come too late for so many of us. We can't reconfigure our childhood, and I don't believe we can re-raise ourselves. We can't forget it either. But, we can educate ourselves, educate others, learn to live and love differently, and lean on a network of other survivors when days get rough. ACOA meetings are everywhere, including online . And finally, hopefully, we can let those who tried to raise us off the hook. We can offer forgiveness, if only to stop ourselves from grinding our teeth down at night. (I was fitted for a mouthpiece at 15 because my teeth were wearing down. Now the inside of my mouth looks like Stonehenge.) It's OK to get angry if you grew up in a home where substance abuse was prevalent . I still get angry. To me, children are sacred and precious, meant to be carried like a chalice of holy water. Praise should be given daily, even for the smallest things. Telling your family members that you love them, and that they're wonderful, talented and worthy of love and respect is something you can do each and every day. (Go do it now if you can, or later tonight.) Though I still have my angry moments, I don't blame my parents for the failures in my life. I do, however, hold them responsible for creating the conditions that harmed me. I blame them for creating a fractured person, and one who will always be fighting the effects of deep, deep damage. With patience and with grace, and armed with the knowledge that none of this was your fault, you can let yourself off the hook too. You were left with a clumsy ball in your hand, and you can either keep it in your closed palm for a lifetime or toss it far, far away, setting it free. This posting, Adult Children of Alcoholics, is posted by Hinsley F. at Wellsphere.com]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.162 2008-08-31T19:10:06Z 2008-08-31T19:15:08Z

The associated health issues related to gluten intolerance (GI), have a wide range, with Celiac Disease being the defining and best known aspect of that problem. However, GI can often go undiagnosed, because it does not always present with...

The associated health issues related to gluten intolerance (GI), have a wide range, with Celiac Disease being the defining and best known aspect of that problem. However, GI can often go undiagnosed, because it does not always present with the more obvious symptoms seen in Celiac Disease (CD). GI and even CD can be cryptic, or a hidden problem, in many individuals. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, fatty stools, nausea or vomiting, and distention are at times part of the clinical presentation of GI and CD, however these symptoms may be mild or absent altogether. Cryptic or hidden GI, is commonly referred to as sub-clinical gluten intolerance or sensitivity, and bears distinguishing it’s clinical features from CD. Sub-clinical gluten intolerance is often confused with celiac disease, also referred to as celiac sprue or non-tropical sprue, or gluten enteropathy. In essence, CD is a diagnosis that is confirmed by biopsy of intestinal tissue. If the damage is apparent upon biopsy and there is other supportive evidence, such as elevated antibodies, then the diagnosis of CD is given. The reaction to gluten in sub-clinical gluten intolerance, commonly referred to as gluten “sensitivity”, may be similar to the gluten intolerance in celiac disease, except for the actual degree of presenting symptoms and the damage to the small intestine-if any exists. In many cases there is not any typical presenting symptoms and absence of any apparent intestinal damage, but there will be other health issues, such as anemia, fatigue due to malabsorption of nutrients, mood disorders, elevated thyroid antibodies, rheumatic pains or other related autoimmune diseases. Other medical references to forms of CD, include “silent” CD, which does not present with any symptoms that normally characterizes a GI, but upon a biopsy, there will be damage to the tissues of the small intestine. Silent CD, may present as one of many other celiac disease related disorders. “Latent CD”, refers to a finding of positive blood antibody tests, but there are is minimal or no appearance of damage to the intestinal tissues upon examination. It is thought that these latent cases reflect gluten sensitive individuals, or perhaps a relatively gluten free diet, albeit also having a high probability for eventual damage to the intestinal tract with any significant exposure to gluten. These references to GI and classifications of CD are not concrete definitions. They are at times used interchangeably and are used more so to categorize atypical CD. Gluten Intolerance-Celiac Disease The exact mechanisms in Celiac disease (CD), are complex and not completely known. What is generally accepted to be the primary course of CD, involves the effects of gluten on the intestinal structures and immune system. There is perhaps no other such complex biological disease that has such a simple answer-the avoidance of gluten. Nevertheless, the understanding of the inter-related processes of gluten intolerance and CD, gifts us with insights into the dynamics of the intestinal milieu and subsequently a better grasp as to the workings of an amazing universe within-our digestive tracts. The gluten/celiac disease theory proposes that CD is caused by an exaggerated (hyper) immune response to the gluten found in wheat, and wheat related and hybrid grains-spelt, kamut, and triticale, as well as barley, and rye. There are many other wheat strains, such as couscous and bulghur that are in the family of prime gluten offenders as well. Other grains like oats are considered by some to potentially have negative health effects related to gluten Intolerance (GI), albeit in most studies, they do not promote the same immune/gluten intolerance reactions. The issue of oats is somewhat confounding. Oats have the similar toxic peptide sequences (avenin) as gliadin in wheat, yet in studies, there are conflicting results indicating that oats are very harmful to some individuals with CD, while not very harmful to others. It may be that the load of the gluten in oats is such that it may take more long term exposure, or greater amounts of oats ingested, to elicit the gut immune responses typical of gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. The issue of oats in some individuals, may also be one of cross contamination by wheat, in processing facilities that handles both grains. In any case, oats and other grains may contribute to inflammatory reactions (allergies) in sensitive individuals and contribute to, or converge with the cascade of immune responses and leaky gut issues that occurs in CD, regardless of their gluten profile. A distinction to note here is that intolerances to foods, is not an allergy response. There are several food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance, that are primarily due to a lack of specific enzymes that break down either sugars or proteins. Gluten intolerance is the only intolerance that involves an immune system reaction, albeit not the same as in a true allergy or delayed food sensitivity. The predominant theory with respect to GI, is that there is an inherent lack in ability to break down gluten, a generic term for a type of protein in grains. More specifically, gliadin (i.e. alpha-gliadin), a polypeptide in wheat gluten, and other prolamins in grains are the offending protein. Prolamins (a group of proteins-prolamines, with similar protein structures), namely gliadin from wheat, hordeins from barley and secalins from rye, have been identified as the trigger for celiac disease. These polypeptides (strings of amino acids) are the residual from incompletely broken down pieces of protein from gluten that are potentially toxic to the intestinal tissues. Gluten and prolamins, are in other grains like rice and corn, but these do not contain the toxic peptide(s) sequence that can provoke an immune response and that are toxic to, and damage the intestinal tissues in gluten intolerant or sensitive individuals. Nevertheless, as noted above, some grains like corn and soy, are common allergens that can problematic in people with food sensitivites and intolerances and should be carefully assessed as to any possible role they may be playing in ramping up inflammation in the gut. The toxic peptides from select prolamins eventually trigger a specific immune response that is part of the immune cascade associated with CD. However, a proinflammatory condition in the digestive tract may be a requisite intestinal environment before gluten can exert it’s influence.(1,2) Food allergies and sensitivities as well as some common gut infections, can potentially contribute to “breaking tolerance” (see below), and opening the gate to immune/inflammatory reactions characteristic of CD. In GI and CD, chronic exposure to these gliadin containing grains, leads to an inflammatory condition of the small intestine. The repeated immune reactivity to gluten/gliadin, in some individuals, eventually manifests in an “autoimmune” condition, in which immune system antibodies attack the intestine and cause severe damage over time. The immune/inflammatory reaction in the small intestine, damages the villi of the small intestine, and causes changes to the structure (hyperplasia) of the tissues deep between and at the base of the villi, the crypts. The villi are finger-like projections on the intestinal wall where nutrient absorption occurs. This damage impairs the absorption of nutrients from digested food. With repeated exposure to gliadin in gluten, these villi can become shortened or completely flattened, with the subsequent loss of nutrient absorptive surface area. The immune reaction and intestinal intolerance to gluten, can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, malabsorption of nutrients (iron, calcium, zinc, folate, fat soluble vitamins), and other gastrointestinal problems. However, the typical symptom picture of sub-clinical or silent CD, may not have much or any of the digestive distress symptoms that characterizes CD. Often GI and CD may be written off as an irritable bowel syndrome problem, or a spastic colon. More severe intestinal/bowel disorders related to gluten intolerance reactions are inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease. Other symptoms that may indicate an intolerance to gluten include, bone pain, muscle cramps, migraine headaches, tingling, numbness and nerve pain of the extremities (neuropathy), miscarriage and infertility problems, menstrual irregularities, depression, gall bladder disease, vitiligo (discoloration of skin), and developmental and growth problems in children. Enzyme Therapy Enyzyme deficiency (peptidase) in gluten intolerance was once theorized to play a role in the development of CD. Peptidases, are protein digesting enzymes secreted by the intestinal tissues (brush border), and are distinguishable from pancreatic enzymes that also break down proteins for absorption. More recent research in enzyme therapy and CD, reveals that enzyme therapy with newer enzyme products demonstrate a promising role, in at the very least, ameliorating gluten intolerance (GI) reactions and perhaps buffering the margin of error in a gluten free diet. In numerous studies, pancreatic insufficiency (enzyme production) has been noted in a considerable percentage of celiac patients, and could in part explain why a population of celiac patients do not do as well despite eliminating gluten from the diet.(3) Enzyme therapy in part protects patients with CD with amelioration of symptoms related to gluten intake.(4) Enzyme therapy can provide important digestive support, and offer some protection for all CD patients where the gluten status of the meal is uncertain, as when eating out, or for those who are especially sensitive to gluten. Specific enzyme derivatives, demonstrate enhanced gluten digest, and shows promise in management of GI. Enzyme products that contain Aspergillus niger (fungal) derived enzymes, survive stomach acid and pepsin degradation, and effectively break down gluten proteins.(5) However, to date Aspergillus niger derivatives specific for gluten digest are not commercially available. Several peptidase enzymes also have demonstrated resistance to stomach acid, effective break down of gliadin peptides, and thus promise in the treatment and management of celiac disease.(6) An additional benefit to enzyme therapy is the enhanced digest of other proteins, particularly those in dairy products, as well as the sugar lactose. A secondary feature of GI is lactose intolerance, that is a consequence of the damage to the intestinal tissues and the enzyme secreting cells. Lactose intolerance and bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine, the latter a common condition that follows the inadequate digest of foods, are suspected as underlying factors that contributes to the unresponsiveness to a gluten free diet in some individuals.(7,8) The autoimmune profile of CD may also result in hydrochloric acid deficiency (HCL). HCL deficiency has been associated with dermatitis herpetiformis (9), a skin disorder that is linked to CD. I consider enzyme and HCL supplementation a must for the management and support GI and CD. The Lectin Connection According to another theory, a component in wheat gluten, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), may act as a lectin with toxic properties to the intestinal cells. Lectins, are specialized proteins that bind specifically to sugars or other carbohydrates, usually on other proteins, which are located on the membranes of cells. They are thus often referred to as carbohydrate-binding proteins. Lectins causes cells to agglutinate, or stick to each other, compromising their function. In the digestive tract, lectins bind to specialized intestinal cells (crypt cells).(10) If they enter the blood stream, they also bind to red blood cells causing agglutination or clumping. High levels of lectins may be found in grains, the legume family (beans, peanuts), dairy and plants in the nightshade family. While lectins are present in most foods, their higher levels in some, are problematic for many individulas that are genetically vulnerable to their potentially toxic effects. “Lectins are (a) toxic, inflammatory, or both; (b) resistant to cooking and digestive enzymes; and (c) present in much of our food.”(11) Among the effects observed in the small intestine of lectin fed rodents is stripping away of the mucous coat lining the intestinal tract, increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut), and the overgrowth of toxic bacteria and.(12,13,14). The characteristic damage from gluten intolerance (crypt hyperplasia), to the intestinal tissue, is also caused by WGA.(15) Breaking Tolerance In examining the details of a food intolerance like gluten, it is a logical course to look at the known pathways of the immune reactions, intestinal anatomy and function, the genetic characteristics of predisposed individuals, and the unique construct of gluten containing grains. Nevertheless, all of that examination does not entirely reveal why some genetically gluten intolerant individuals never develop celiac disease (CD), why some celiac disease patients do not recover even after eliminating gluten from the diet, or why a few (rare) without the genetic blueprint, manage to become “intolerant”. The answers to these questions, may come from a deeper examination as to the factors that may “break” a gluten tolerant individual, into an intolerant pattern - it is the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Normally, the intake of food does not elicit an immune reaction as the body is able to modify the immune response to proteins in the diet. As we ingest proteins growing up, our immune system adapts, and suppresses immune reactions to many of the more allergenic foods we are exposed to. This phenomenon is known as “oral tolerance”. Oral tolerance of foods that potentially can provoke an immune response is acquired as our digestive tracts are exposed to foods, and our immune systems accomodate during childhood. That is familiar to many families as they slowly introduce a variety of foods, particularly proteins, to a growing and developing child. In a large study, the second by the same investigators, of 1560 children with a genetic predisposition (diabetes type 1 genotypes-HLA-DR3 or DR4 gene variations)* for celiac disease, those exposed to gluten before month 3, had a 5-fold increased risk in developing CD, compared with children exposed to gluten-containing foods at 4 to 6 months.(17) An interesting timing aspect of this study, was that children exposed to gluten after 7 months, had a significantly increased risk of CD compared with exposure at 4 to 6 months. While the age times of exposure raises some questions that hopefully will be answered by other studies, the real takeaway, is that exposing genetically susceptible children to gluten at a young age increases their risk for CD. I would not recommend exposing at-risk infants to gluten at age 4 to 6 months to hopefully lessen the probability of incurring CD. Why raise the probability of breaking tolerance! Especially if there is a family history of type 1 diabetes or CD. The immune system of the digestive tract is constantly in a state of tolerance to it’s own population of microorganisms (bacteria) and to food allergens as it attempts to maintain a steady immune response-one that is not reacting to just any potential insult, and subsequently moderating inflammatory responses. So what is it that skews an immune response in one individual that results in an allergy response or perhaps a gluten intolerance response, and yet in another individual there is a tolerance to that allergen? The answers are complex and specific to types of foods or proteins. Gluten intolerance (GI) is predicated on a number of factors. Yes genetics plays a role, but it may be more limited than is currently accepted, or there are a number of other genes that are yet not understood as to specific influences. As detailed below, some interesting research is percolating, that implicates leaky gut genes as part of the holism of gluten intolerance. It is largely accepted that genetics plays a primary role in various food intolerances. This certainly could fully explain the intolerance to gluten as we well know that gliadin and other prolamins stimulate immune-inflammatory reactions in susceptible individuals. Nevertheless, we also have evidence that in tolerant individuals, regardless of genetics, certain triggers will turn that tolerance into an intolerant profile. Viruses (rotavirus), gut infections (bacteria & candida) and even pregnancy may act as triggers in a apparently gluten tolerant individual, and stimulate inflammatory responses that promotes the cascade of events that results in intolerance. The preganacy link indicates that hormones may exert some influence as well. There may be degrees of intolerance as evidenced by cases that manifest into full blown celiac disease, down to the less “sensitive” individual that seems to have a tolerance predicated on the amount of gluten ingested, the timeline involved or “triggers” that may push one over the edge. Two recent scientific publications have now shown that a rotavirus (common gut viral infection) protein may be linked to celiac disease through a “molecular mimicry” mechanism. “Molecular Mimicry” describes a phenomena whereby some pathogens like viruses, yeast or bacteria, can evoke an immune response because they have enough similarity to the body’s own proteins to cause an autoimmune reaction. This is evident in a number of autoimmune disorders associated with certain HLA genotypes (susceptibilty genes) such as in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). In some cases of AS or RA, gut bacteria that passes through the gut barrier and is recognized by the immune system as “similar” to joint tissues. As the immune system reacts to the bacteria to eliminate it, it actually attacks the joint isssue. In the case of a rotavirus infection, a common cause of gastrointestinal infection and inflammation (gastroenteritis), it is seen as a similar to the gialdin molecule and the body is triggered into the same intolerance, or immune reaction as stimulated by gliadin in susceptible individuals. Antibodies to this celiac peptide also recognize and bind to the rotavirus protein (VP-7) and cause the same leaky gut/intestinal permeability that is a key step in the immune activation associated with CD.(19) Thus, viral infection and/or tissue damage in the intestine may cause inflammation and immune reactivity, leading to loss of tolerance for gluten. These recent studies on the link of a viral trigger in CD, provide the first indication that a high frequency of rotavirus infections may increase the risk of celiac disease autoimmunity in childhood in genetically predisposed individuals.(18) “Our findings show that in active celiac disease, a subset of anti-transglutaminase IgA antibodies recognize the viral protein VP-7, suggesting a possible involvement of rotavirus infection in the pathogenesis of the disease, through a mechanism of molecular mimicry.”(19) Bacterial (dysbiosis) and yeast (i.e. candida albicans) overgrowth are common patterns in digestive disorders-either as a primary infection causing digestive or systemic health problems, a concommitant or byproduct of various intestinal disease processes, or as a residual of other causative factors like antibiotics. In the case of Candida albicans, a fascinating dynamic occurs between Candida and the reactive antibody tTG (tissue Transglutaminase) IgA. Apparently Candida contains proteins-peptide sequences, that are identical and very similar to those found in gluten, including gliadin. Candida infections or overgrowth, in individuals that are genetically inclined to be GI, can trigger the same tissue transglutaminase and endomysial enzyme antibodies involved in celiac disease.(20) This study and several others illustrate that Candida albicans can “mimic” gliadin, and that under certain conditions, may result in the reactive immune response typical of GI. There is not enough research yet, to unequivocally establish the candida link to CD as a trigger. However, the lack of sufficient evidence, to draw firm conclusions does not rule it out either. Based on my own clinical observations, gluten sensitive individuals that address “overgrowth” of unhealthy gut bacteria and yeast, wind up with better tolerance and reduced titers of gut SIgA gliadin. Bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine may also inhibit the success of a gluten free diet and recovery from CD.(21) This posting, Gluten Intolerance-What Your Doctor May Not Tell You, is posted by Ralph S. at Wellsphere.com]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.161 2008-08-28T20:00:54Z 2008-08-28T20:17:24Z

A dreaded diagnosis, that dimmed and dooming dilemma. Feared, sometimes fought, too often forgotten. It is the grayest, ghastliest elephant in the room: dementia. What is dementia? I, like many others who dedicate their professional efforts to its study...

A dreaded diagnosis, that dimmed and dooming dilemma. Feared, sometimes fought, too often forgotten. It is the grayest, ghastliest elephant in the room: dementia. What is dementia? I, like many others who dedicate their professional efforts to its study and treatment, have no good answer. I believe we are lost in our lexicon, trying to define a brain state so vexing and elusive it drives us out of our minds. I hope we can do better, and I am not alone. In a sensitive and forward-looking editorial entitled Dementia: A Word to be Forgotten , Drs. Trachtenberg and Trojanowski of the University of Pennsylvania argue that alternate terms are more appropriate for research, clinical, and everyday settings. From scientific and biological perspectives, dementia is unspecific and subjective. Within the walls of the physician?s office, delivering the diagnosis of dementia can erect unintended walls around patients and families; vulnerable individuals, assuming that the "cruel connotations in the lay language" actually apply to them, are unnecessarily isolated. The authors recount a patient and caregiver experience upon first hearing the term applied: -- Recent Health News Male Beauty Tips Simi Valley Gyms Sebaceous Glands Adolescent Psychiatry Skin Cracking -- An immediate epiphany occurred, and suddenly the potential danger and threatening sentence of the word became manifest. It was frightening that somebody might say it to her while she was still able to fully grasp and sense its toxic effect and that it would hasten and seal her fate in the manner of a self-fulfilling prophesy. (Archives of Neurology 2008;65(5):594) Words to Live by Idiot, midget, lunatic, and many other pejorative terms have thankfully been excised from clinical and polite discussion. The resulting advantage goes beyond conformity to standards of socially-acceptable discourse. It enables the productive consideration of limitations which should not be dismissed or ignored. In the case of cognitive and behavioral disorders of aging, many resist confronting their concerns, preferring self-conscious group chuckles surrounding "senior moments." What's more, practicing physicians have few incentives or resources to probe for late-life neuropsychiatric conditions. While nihilism prevailed for some time, attitudinal change has taken hold. Proactive people are arriving at specialty evaluation centers with mild cognitive symptoms, well before one would ever consider dropping the D-bomb. Consequently, we need to employ alternative concepts to signify the presence of potentially serious brain dysfunction. -- Recent Health News Pulmonary Study Altered Mental Condition Bone Density Loss Frequent Hypercalcemia Scalp Problems -- Witness Brain Fitness SharpBrains readers young and old already know that Brain Fitness is an achievable goal. Increasing public awareness and diverse tools and venues for pursuing successful brain aging now exist. Useful starting points for discussion are emerging, many reflecting the concept of positive cognition. But what do you call that ghastly gray elephant? Brain Failure describes the loss of Brain Fitness, and fittingly refers to the state of mental degeneration and dependence experienced by millions. Of the many more aging individuals who are threatened to endure such a fate, the reasonable approach is to confront the possibility of Brain Failure by pursuing Brain Fitness. Nihilists and slackers are of course welcome to slip down the blissful slope toward Brain Disaster. Those who perceive signs of Brain Failure should seek help in identifying the biological and environmental determinants of their symptoms. Cognitive and behavioral disorders are common in aging, and are now routinely detected and treated at earlier stages than ever before. When medical and neurodegenerative diagnoses are communicated, there is no benefit in evoking stigma or sounding the death knoll. Regardless, if I had to choose an obsolete and hurtful label, I'd rather be senile than demented. Everyone familiar with Brain Failure understands it can be unremitting and cruel; we must also recognize that is remediable. Brain Fitness is still the goal, even in the throes of Brain Failure. Joshua R. Steinerman, M.D. -- Dr. Joshua Steinerman wrote this article for SharpBrains. Dr. Steinerman is Assistant Professor of Neurology at New York?s Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he directs the Neurodegenerative Disease Clinical Trials Program. He is the founding scientist of ProGevity Neuroscience. -- Recent Health News Severe Bleeding Symptoms Caregiving and Medicare Smoking and Alzheimers How To Survive a Dog Attack Polluted Beaches and E Coli -- This posting, Brain Failure and Brain Fitness: A Farewell to Dementia?, is posted by Alvaro F. at Wellsphere.com]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.160 2008-08-15T19:23:51Z 2008-08-16T03:02:10Z

Nuts are healthy! I would prefer them to almost any snack but if you but if your favorite is toasted, artificially flavored nuts you're in trouble. In this article I'm going to show you how the nutritional value changes depending...

Get the most out of your nuts, is posted by Carolin R. at Wellsphere.com]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.159 2008-08-13T17:47:36Z 2008-08-29T01:48:39Z

Now that I’ve attempted to make a case that culture and food are closely related, I’d like to change gears a bit while also (I hope) strengthening my case by broadening and deepening food’s relationship to the greater reality. I...

What is Food? -Food is Energy, is posted by Jennifer.. at Wellsphere.com]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.158 2008-08-10T08:29:38Z 2008-08-10T08:30:15Z

The Health Impact Award For many months, we have been working to create a new, more personal, interactive way for people to find information about their health, and connect with others who share their concerns and interests. One of...

The Health Impact Award For many months, we have been working to create a new, more personal, interactive way for people to find information about their health, and connect with others who share their concerns and interests. One of the most exciting parts of our journey has been learning about the many incredible, innovative health organizations and caring individuals who, like us, are working tirelessly to help people live healthier, happier lives. While conducting our research into the leading health organizations around the world, we have been humbled by the work being done and the impact that these groups are having on the lives of people here in America and around the world. In addition to providing care and support for patients, they conduct research into improved treatments and cures, raise awareness for central health issues, educate populations about major health risks, and drive innovation across the healthcare industry, making care and treatment more readily available to whomever needs it most. Too often, these organizations go unrecognized, unappreciated and frankly, unloved. We decided to “share the love” that millions of people have given us recently by choosing Wellsphere as their source for personal health information. We have decided to officially recognize the leading organizations in their fields of health, and to do our part to help spread the word about their efforts and accomplishments. I am proud to announce the Health Impact Award, which we will grant to the organizations and individuals making the biggest impact on the lives of patients and in their fields. We will contact the selected organizations and individuals, before we announce them to the public. We very much welcome the input of our community in honoring leading health organizations and individuals. If you know of a group or person who you feel is worthy of such a distinction, please send us an email to HealthImpactAward@wellsphere.com. Here are some of the criteria that we consider in determine Health Impact Award recipients in their respective fields: • Providing support for patients (emotional and physical) • Conducting or supporting basic and applied research • Improving accessibility and affordability of care • Raising awareness of significant health issues • Promoting prevention and proactive care • Providing and supporting education (patients and caregivers) • Driving and inspiring innovation ]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.157 2008-08-05T19:12:55Z 2008-08-29T01:50:26Z

Garlic, also known as allium sativum L., has been used medicinally for thousands of years. In fact, garlic was so popular in ancient Egypt, that modern archaelogists discovered clay sculptures sand paintingsof these pungent bulbs that date all the...

Garlic, also known as allium sativum L., has been used medicinally for thousands of years. In fact, garlic was so popular in ancient Egypt, that modern archaelogists discovered clay sculptures sand paintingsof these pungent bulbs that date all the way back to 3200 B.C. Ancient Greece and Rome have their own history: put to many uses, garlic was used for bladder infactions, asthma, and even dog bites at that time. Of course, it goes without saying that garlic is the most effective method for warding off vampires :). So garlic is good, but how good is it really? There have been many positive scientific claims made about garlic. To begin, garlic has been found to be helpful in the regulation of blood sugar levels. One study, published in the journalExperientiaand performed by researchers in India, found that the active anti-oxidative compund isolated from garlic was almost as effective as prescription drugs and insulin in the treatment of diabetes. In addition, according to trials performed by researchers at the Insitute of Indoor and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine in Germany, garlic may have cancer-fighting properties. In regards to thecommon cold, the results are promising. A study conducted at the Garlic Centre in East Sussex, United Kingdom, showed that individuals who take a garlic supplement every day are far less likely to catch the common cold than those who do not. Furthermore, the study found, participants who did catch a cold during the study recovered more quickly when taking garlic everyday. Garlic is also used as a treatment for intestinal worms and other intestinal parasites, infections, digestive disorders, fungal infections, and vaginal infections. On the downside, despite the many scientific trials that have touted garlic as an effective treatment for high cholesterol, the latest results from the National Institute of Health claim just the opposite. According to their findings, there is no significant difference between the use, or non-use, of garlic in the reduction of blood cholesterol levels. All that said, we can safely assume that incorporating garlic into one’s diet is more or less a good idea. Keep in mind that, when used medicinally, garlic is best consumed raw, however, if it must be cooked, it is best to allow crushed or chopped garlic to sit for 15 minutes prior to cooking. Give it lots of thought Like all these things there is a large amount of trial and error and often you will find yourself constantly changing up your numbers and gauging the ratio of potato varieties to plant in the vegetable garden. The more you think about your reasoning behind your selection of potato variety, the easier your choice will become. This posting, Garlic A Good for You Food, is posted by Melanie J. at Wellsphere.com]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.156 2008-08-04T17:42:51Z 2008-08-29T01:51:56Z

When choosing seed potatoes for the vegetable garden, determining what seed to buy is a difficult task. Here are ten factors to take into consideration: 1. How many potatoes do you normally use? Do you cook potatoes every day...

When choosing seed potatoes for the vegetable garden, determining what seed to buy is a difficult task. Here are ten factors to take into consideration: 1. How many potatoes do you normally use? Do you cook potatoes every day or once a week? It is a shame to fill the garden with more than you can possibly eat! 2. How much space is there in the vegetable garden for potatoes? Think about the other vegetables you are hoping to grow, and work out how long the potatoes will be taking up their allotted patch. Perhaps other vegetables should take precedent over potatoes? Check out this article which gives planting distances for seed potatoes. 3. Look at your diary and note the time that you will be away from home. If you are on holiday for two weeks in early June, you will not need early potatoes for those two weeks. 4. Would you like to store some main crop potatoes over the winter? Do you have space to store them, and the right conditions? 5. Are you an experienced potato grower? If not, don’t jump in at the deep end and grow masses of potatoes, of different varieties etc - it could be overwhelming and put you off gardening for ever. There is nothing like success to give a sense of achievement, so if you have never grown potatoes before, just try a few, and spend time looking after them and learning how they grow. 6. Calculate how many seed potatoes to buy, bearing in mind the above points. Work out how many early potatoes you would like, and how many main crop potatoes it is sensible to grow. 7. How do you like your potatoes cooked? Mashed potatoes tend to be more floury than salad potatoes which are waxy. Bakers need to be larger than salad potatoes, and some varieties are particularly good for chips! Do you like to ring the changes - and try several different sorts of potato, or do you prefer to keep it simple and just grow two varieties? 8. Choose the early varieties and main crop varieties that will give you the characteristics needed to satisfy item 7 9. Where will you source your seed potatoes from? The Internet or your local garden center? There are plenty of vegetable seed catalogues to look through for ideas. Whichever you decide, it is important to buy certified seed. 10. February and March is the time to buy seed potatoes in the UK. This will give them plenty of time to chit. Give it lots of thought Like all these things there is a large amount of trial and error and often you will find yourself constantly changing up your numbers and gauging the ratio of potato varieties to plant in the vegetable garden. The more you think about your reasoning behind your selection of potato variety, the easier your choice will become. This posting, Ten Factors to Consider When Choosing Seed Potatoes, is posted by TopVeg !. at Wellsphere.com]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.155 2008-07-30T20:50:10Z 2008-08-29T01:53:33Z

Way back in 2003, the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine’s Oct. 9th issue reported a study finding that Tai Chi “could decrease blood pressure and results in favorable lipid profile changes and improve subjects’ anxiety status. Therefore, Tai...

Way back in 2003, the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine’s Oct. 9th issue reported a study finding that Tai Chi “could decrease blood pressure and results in favorable lipid profile changes and improve subjects’ anxiety status. Therefore, Tai Chi could be used as an alternative modality in treating patients with mild hypertension, with a promising economic effect.” This study laid out a way to save our society, perhaps billions of dollars annually, and possibly save some patients with mild chronic hypertension the potential negative side effects of chronic lifelong medication. However, this largely hasn’t occurred. I caught a glimpse why when I was staying in the beautiful mountain town of Otavala, Ecuador, with a woman known for her knowledge of traditional Indian medicines. A tour of young American medical students stopped here to listen and learn from the Indian woman’s tour of her herbal gardens. As I followed them, I asked a group of young bright medical students if they were aware that Tai Chi was found to reduce high blood pressure. One lovely young woman replied, “Oh, yes, I’ve heard that, but I would never prescribe it.” I asked why, and she responded that she couldn’t because she didn’t know if it would work. Although Tai Chi studies do show that Tai Chi indeed helps lower high blood pressure, it is true that it does not reduce it in every person. However, it is also true that every drug prescription does not work on every person either. I suggested to the young medical student that she consider that many times I’ve been to the doctor, and he’s pulled out a prescription pad and explained, “Let’s give this a try, and see how it works for you, and if it doesn’t do the job, we’ll try something else.” Most of us are familiar with this, and by the confused look on the student’s face, I’m assuming her memory banks were bringing up similar images. So, why are our medical universities leaving students with the impression that they should not be prescribing Tai Chi, since we know it can help lower high blood pressure for many, who if it is successful with them, may enjoy a lifetime free of chronic and costly medications? And not only do that, but offer a plethora of GOOD SIDE EFFECTS including a stronger immune system and healthier respiratory system. This is a deep and important question we need to be asking as patients and consumers, and health professionals must begin asking this question regularly in order to fulfill the duties of their Hippocratic oath, specifically the admonition to “do no harm.” Because if a drug has potential side effects that are harmful, and a natural Tai Chi prescription only offers healthful side effects, than the Hippocratic oath would be violated if only the negative side effects option is offered by the physician. For, today we have even a much better understanding of Tai Chi’s potential than we did a few years ago, so ignorance or inconclusive data is not an acceptable explanation from our medical universities that train our future doctors, without teaching them about Tai Chi research, and what it portends for their future patients. Today, we are clearer on exactly why Tai Chi is such a powerful therapy for high blood pressure sufferers. In a March 17, 2005, article by the Mayo Clinic staff posted at mayoclinic.com they lay out what a “stress response” is, and the effects it has on the body. This is at the core of high blood pressure problems and the physical changes chronic stress responses illicit that creates or aggravates hypertensive conditions. In their article, they explain that a stress response, or “fight or flight” reaction involves our pituitary gland releasing adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which sets a domino effect signaling other glands to produce additional hormones, such as adrenal glands which flood the blood stream with stress hormones, such as “cortisol” and “adrenaline.” When ordinary life’s daily frustrations trigger this effect over and over again, the results can be damaging to the mind and body. Many of us experience this domino effect of triggers and hormones daily, which is why about 1/3 of Americans, or over 90 million Americans, suffer from high blood pressure. Cutting edge scientists like Dr. Herbert Benson, President of the Mind/Body Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, are discovering a stunning reality through their research. In a wonderful article by Jeanie Lerche Davis at WebMD Medical News entitled The Mysterious ‘Medication’ of Meditation (http://my. webmd.com/cont ent/article/25/1728_579 92.htm ), she writes of how such researchers are discovering that “meditation can indeed be medication – creating long lasting physiciolgical effects that reduce high blood pressure and even help unclog arteries to reverse heart disease.” Dr. Benson, who is also associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, sought to prove how this effect could be shown objectively, and had five long-time meditation practitioners take MRI brain scans while meditating. Dr. Benson informed WebMD in the aforementioned article by Davis, “There was a striking quietude across the entire brain which was documented through MRI . . . The areas of the brain that became active from that quietude were those that control metabolism, heart rate, etc., . . . We knew meditation caused a relaxation response, but we couldn’t prove it. We knew that if you thought in a certain way, with repetition, that physiologic changes would occur in the body. Here now is proof that mind, in the form of repetition, is affecting the brain, which affects the body . . . ” Stroke Magazine reported on a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, conducted by Dr. Amparo Castillo-Richmond, from the Maharishi University, more specifically on high blood pressure afflicting black people. The meditating group saw a reduction in the thickness of one of the arteries that supplied blood to the brain. Which indicates that blood flow is increasing. The group only using diet and exercise saw their artery walls getting thicker, which indicated that less blood was flowing through to the brain. This finding led Dr. Castillo-Richmond to make the profoundly exciting assertion, “It’s possible to reverse heart disease through meditation.” In fact, not only hypertension, but up to 90% of other illnesses sending us to the doctor are being caused by stress, according to Dr. Herbert Benson. Which makes Dr. Benson’s and Dr. Castillo-Richmond’s findings that meditative techniques can so dramatically alter our stress producing “fight or flight” response in healthy ways even more wonderful and important. Dr. Benson explains, that the relaxation response triggered by repetitive actions [like tai chi, yoga, etc.] can result in decreased metabolism, heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and also slower brain waves.” Benson asserts that it is the repetitive nature of acts like praying the rosary, yoga, or tai chi’s physical repetitive muscular actions that provides the profound hope for reducing anxiety, mild and moderate depression, anger and hostility, hypertension, cardiac irregularities, and all forms of pain, which are made worse by stress. This concept of Tai Chi being an effective tool for reducing or even avoiding incidence of high blood pressure or other illnesses all together, is echoed elsewhere. Mayoclinic.com also recommends Tai Chi for relaxation training in an article entitled, “Relax: Techniques to help you achieve tranquility” which also explains why relaxation is important and what you might experience by practicing tools that will help you relax. They detail how you can improve body responses to stress, such as: Slowing your heart rate; Reducing blood pressure; Slowing your breathing rate; Reducing the need for oxygen; Increasing blood flow to the major muscles; Lessening muscle tension. They go on to explain that practicing relaxation techniques may help you experience: Fewer symptoms of illness, such as headaches, nausea, diarrhea and pain; Few emotional responses such as anger, crying, anxiety, apprehension and frustration; More energy; Improved concentration; Greater ability to handle problems; More efficiency in daily activities. So, time and time again as we begin to examine one particular benefit of Tai Chi, such as lowering high blood pressure, we see a whole universe of potential opening up before us. An article from Archives of Internal Medicine, as reported on NBC’s local WCAU Health explained a Tai Chi research program at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston revealed a great deal. The article authors wrote, “Overall, these studies reported that long-term Tai Chi practice had favorable effects on the promotion of balance control, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness and reduced the risk of falls in elders . . . Cardiovascular and respiratory function improvements were noted in healthy people and those who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery as well as people with heart failure, hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, arthritis and multiple sclerosis . . . Benefit was also found for balance, strength, and flexibility in older subjects; falls in frail elderly subjects; and pain, stress and anxiety in healthy subjects.” They add the actual ways that Tai Chi provides these benefits are not well known. The fact is that less than .5% of the National Institute of Health’s budget goes to research alternative therapies, leaving yoga, meditation, tai chi, massage, herbal therapy, aroma therapy, and the entire massive field of alternative health systems to struggle over .5%, or a little over $100 million of the $28 billion (approx.) annual budget. Given the above studies, it boggles the mind that such a small portion of the health research dollars are going to Tai Chi. To recap, about 1/3 of the American population suffers high blood pressure. Tai Chi is proven to be a beneficial therapy that not only has no bad side effects, but dramatically improves immune function, respiratory function, lowers the incidence of anxiety and depression, and profoundly improves the balance of practitioners. Tai Chi does more, but for our purposes here these profound realities are enough to show exactly why it is truly unbelievable that Tai Chi is getting so little scrutiny in medical research dollars, when it can save so many from chronic suffering and perhaps some from a lifetime of chronic costly medications. It is time we all began to ask the question that all good consumers should ask, “What is the best way/product for my health?” If Tai Chi is that product, the next question is, “Why isn’t every physician offering it as an option to their patients with hypertension, as a prescription?” “Why aren’t all insurance policies covering such prescriptions for Tai Chi?” Ask and ye shall receive. We must become informed and demanding health consumers, in order to get the best health options available. This article does not advocate self-treatment, and encourages all to make health choices in conjunction with their physician. However, if your physician is close-minded to anything but a certain group of health options, even when research indicates your choices may be wider, than it is time to have a good talk with your physician about possibly widening your options. This posting, High Blood Pressure and Tai Chi Therapy, is posted by Steven S. at Wellsphere.com]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.154 2008-07-30T16:47:27Z 2008-09-05T18:36:54Z

If fat loss and improving body composition are your goals, take this list with you to the grocery store each and every time you do your shopping. Better yet, keep an extra copy in your car and/or purse/wallet, post...

If fat loss and improving body composition are your goals, take this list with you to the grocery store each and every time you do your shopping. Better yet, keep an extra copy in your car and/or purse/wallet, post it on your fridge, etc. Pick foods from the following catergories (notice how most of these can be found in the perimeter of the store...makes shopping a cinch): Fats OILS&SPRAYS: canola oil/spray, enova oil, fish oil capsules, flaxseed oil, "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray, extra virgin olive oil/spray VEGETABLES: avocados NUTS: almonds, cashews, macadamias, pecans, soy nuts, walnuts SEEDS: pumpkin, sunflower, flax Proteins FISH: anchovies, calamari, cod, flounder, grouper, halibut, mackerel, mahi mahi, wild salmon, sardines, swordfish, tuna, sushi SHELLFISH: clams/mussels, crab, lobster, oysters, shrimp/prawns POULTRY: skinless chicken, ground turkey (extra lean), turkey breast MEAT: buffalo, filet mignon, flank steak, ground beef (>93% lean), ham (96% fat free), London broil, pork loin (lean), top/bottom round, venison LEGUMES: black beans, soybeans (edamame), black bean chili & soup DAIRY PRODUCTS: cheeses (less than 2% fat), egg beaters, egg whites, milk (skim, fat free), yogurt (low fat, low sugar) PROTEIN POWDER: I like Champion Nutrition, Beverly International, and EAS brands. Carbohydrates BREADS: 100% whole wheat, sprouted grain, bran, rye, pumpernickel, whole wheat english muffins (*we suggest Food for Life & Brownberry Brands) CEREALS: Flax Plus, Optimum, Kashi, Cheerios, slow cooking oatmeal (100% whole oats) STARCHES: brown rice, whole wheat pasta ROOT VEGETABLES: beets, sweat potatoes, yams GREEN VEGETABLES: asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cucumber, field greens, mixed salad greens, green beans, romaine lettuce, snap peas, spinach, "broccolini" OTHER VEGETABLES: bell peppers, carrots, celery, eggplant, mushrooms, soybeans, squash, tomatoes, organic (low sodium) vegetable soup FRUIT: all fresh fruits All of the foods listed above are jam packed with healthy nutrients for fueling an active lifestyle. Furthermore, almost all of them have a high THERMIC EFFECT OF FEEDING, meaning the body will expend a great deal of energy simply digesting and absorbing these foods. If you eat foods with a high TEF, you can easily burn up a couple hundred more calories each week than you would eating foods with a low TEF...it's like adding in another calorie burning workout without acutally having to do anything! Eating the vast majority of your calories from the list above, while also adhering to a fat loss caloric intake of about 10-12 calories/pound of your current body weight, CONSISTENTLY is a sure fire way to meet your fat loss and body composition goals! This posting, Grocery Store List for Fat Loss, is posted by PJ S. at Wellsphere.com]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.153 2008-07-30T01:14:07Z 2008-08-29T01:56:28Z

It’s been several decades since Bobby McFerrin (Yes, Bobby McFerrin, not Bob Marley) wrote the hit song “Don’t Worry be Happy” and yet we still can’t, well, quit worrying and get happy. Whether it’s the kids, work, or a...

It’s been several decades since Bobby McFerrin (Yes, Bobby McFerrin, not Bob Marley) wrote the hit song “Don’t Worry be Happy” and yet we still can’t, well, quit worrying and get happy. Whether it’s the kids, work, or a to-do list that simply won’t quit, the reality is there are hundreds of sources of stress in our lives and very few real ways (short of hiring a personal assistant, and even that’s no guarantee!) to deal with them…or are there? The following are a list of our favorite de-stressing tips – so kick back, relax and feel the stress melt away. 1. Get Things Done Pick up milk, purchase stamps, update your checkbook, turn in the forms for the kids’ summer camp…and the list goes on, so much so that sometimes even the thought of having to tackle your mental to-do list is more intimidating than actually just getting it done! Unfortunately, in these instances, you have no choice but to take care of things. To make it more manageable (and remove the stress from the situation) transfer your mental list into a more tangible medium, either in the form of a written list or an electronic Outlook or Blackberry reminder list. Not only will writing everything down free-up much-needed mental space, it’ll also give you a visual place to check off tasks as you complete them. 2. Learn to Say No With so many ways to say no, it’s a wonder we ever say yes! Feeling overloaded? Then the last thing you need to do is agree to bake a batch of brownies for the soccer fund raiser. Yet, for many of us, and women in particular, saying no is simply not an option. However, it should be noted that saying that you just don’t have the capacity to take on an extra chore can be a huge stress reliever and free up time for the really important things (like an impromptu kick-around with your little soccer star!) When declining an offer, be firm. If necessary, let the person making the request know that you can’t fit it into a schedule and, if guilt overcomes you, offer to do something else or take on the task once your week is a little less hectic. 3. Work it Out It has long been reported that exercise can reduce stress, with one 2003 study suggesting that short,intense bursts of exercise are most effective at reducing stressand stress-related diseases (such as cardiovascular disease). While this is definitely good news for those of us who are feeling a time crunch, it should be noted that other forms of exercise, such as hiking, pilates and yoga, can also help quieten the mind and help you unwind. 4. Peace and Quiet If you’re the type of person who whips themselves into a frenzy planning a “relaxing” weekend away, perhaps it’s time to refocus your de-stressing activities to include something a little more manageable. Next time the going gets rough, retreat to a quiet room (or shut the door to the office), close your eyes, breathe deeply and think positive thoughts. Think you still need to split from your everyday environment? Consider a trip to a spa for a soothing massage or taking a morning to embark on a hike, spend some time on the beach or otherwise relax…whatever it takes to melt the stress away. 5. Natural Sunlight Everyone feels a little happier when the sun is shining, and the reasons aren’t just psychological. According to several studies, the less natural light there is in a room, the more stressed (not to mention sleepy!) a person will feel. In fact, astudy(PDF) by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that workers were more productive and reported higher rates of job satisfaction when exposed to natural light. Stuck in cubicle-dom? Make an appointment each day (yes, that’s right, put it on that Outlook calendar) to get outside, take a stroll, and absorb a couple of rays! Trust us, you’ll feel better for it! 6. Supplementation While the answer to your stress can rarely be found at the bottom of a bottle (both of the alcoholic and prescription variety), sometimes supplementation can prove beneficial. For example, a supplement that contains golden root (or rhodiola rosea) has stress reducing effects that can improve your mental outlook as well as give you the energy boost you need to tackle the issue at hand. 7. Phone a Friend Popularized in the game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” for contestants in a bind, phoning a friend can actually reduce stress. In a 2004 study conducted by researchers at Tokyo University, it was determined that “social buffering may accelerate recovery from stress and change your experience of it” as well as speed recovery. Now granted, the experiment was conducted with rats, but a second study conducted by researchers at UCLAshowedthat following the death of the spouse, women with a strong social network “were more likely to survive the experience without any new physical impairments or permanent loss of vitality.” Our verdict? Perhaps it’s time to buddy up! 8. Music Man Chalk another one up for the benefits of music – turns out it can help alleviate stress too! In a 2001 study conducted by researchers at Adelaide University in Australia, it was determined that organ music “significantly reduced a range of negative emotions commonly experienced during Christmas, such as tension, depression, anger and fatigue.” Our inclination? If it works during the super-stressful holiday season, it’ll work year round! Now go rock out! 9. Just Do it! Although sex is probably the last thing on your mind when you’re feeling stressed, sometimes getting down is the best way to get over it! In fact, according to a study by Canadian researchers, whenbacteria get in to hot water(literally…but it’s a stressor for them!), it activates a “sex-inducer” gene that ups the likelihood of reproduction. Need further proof? A 2006 study suggests that sex can reduce the stress and anxiety experienced prior to public speaking and that “greater frequency of intercourse is associated with greater benefits.” 10. Glass Half Full? Well, perhaps not this optimistic. We’ve all heard the term “making a mountain out of a molehill,” but when you’re in the midst of an existential crisis, sometimes it is difficult to take a step back and keep your cool. However, in the face of a stressor or other adversity it is important to ask yourself a few questions: Will this matter next week? How about next month? If I knew I was going to die in a week, would this be something I would want to spend this minute of my remaining time on? Is what I am basing my feelings on a fact, or is it an assumption? Sometimes just asking yourself these questions can help you gain perspective on the issue, so much so that before you know it, you’ve developed a solution! This posting, 10 Ways to De-stress, is posted by Mark S. at Wellsphere.com]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.152 2008-07-29T16:51:24Z 2008-08-29T01:57:35Z

The Tao of A Full Happy Wallet. Today is the day to start improving the relationship between you and your wallet. Find our how, here: A note from me recently over at Twitter Getting Clear: A regular feature: I...

The Tao of A Full Happy Wallet. Today is the day to start improving the relationship between you and your wallet. Find our how, here: A note from me recently over at Twitter Getting Clear: A regular feature: I have always believed there is something magical about creating a meaningful start to your day. Whether it be 60 seconds or 30 minutes. It’s simply, a quiet moment in time, between yourself and the universe before the busyness of your mind unfolds. It’s a moment for indulging in the calmness of clarity, whilst resting in stillness, as you enter your body and day consciously. A meaningful early morning ritual rocks! Prayer is talking to the universe: Meditation is listening: I’ve practiced many different early morning rituals over the past 20 years. Some manifested instant results whilst others were an exercise in patience, all made a difference. One thing I know for sure, you will never, ever find me rushing out of bed on any given morning, even if I’m running late. The consequences are too great. You start off on the wrong foot, charge into your day, rush against the clock, ignore your bodily needs, throw aside your intuitive hunches and wonder why you are having such a bad day. You have filled your body with stress and anxiety. You are exhausted and too tired to think straight. All could have been easily prevented by entering your day and body more consciously. Start with a meaningful sixty seconds, first thing in the morning while still lying in bed then expand on that. Make a difference to the flow of your day while still lying in bed: You are aiming for a wake up ritual that feels comfortable, meaningful and do-able ,whereby you can see and feel the difference to the flow of your day. 1: 60 meaningful seconds with yourself: Enter your body consciously. You have no where to go and no where to be for the next 60 seconds. Laying comfortably on your back place your hands on your belly. Now focus on your breathe observing your belly rise and fall. Bring your awareness and breath deeper into your whole body. Inhale into your toes then exhale out of your toes, feeling or sensing the extra space now filling your toes. Repeat for your feet, legs, stomach, back, arms, fingers, shoulders, neck and head. Offer gratitude and appreciation to your whole beautiful body. Whilst in this state of expanded awareness notice if there are any areas of your body needing extra attention. e.g perhaps you need to breathe more deeply into your neck to release an energy block or some stiffness in your leg. Trust in what comes up for you and follow through with the guidance of your breath. As you finish ask your body what support it needs from you today; the answers will be simple like drink more, move more, think slower, eat sitting down, eat more slowly or spend more time laughing with your children. Your body is a wise intelligent field of energy. It knows what it needs. All you need to do is ask. These sixty seconds spent focusing on your breathe and physical needs can make all the difference to your energy levels and wellbeing throughout your day. 2: Three meaningful minutes with yourself: Visualize your day. Upon waking bring your awareness fully into your body by focusing on your breath. In the calm peaceful three minutes that follow run a movie in your head imagining how you want your day to flow. See yourself getting showered and ready for the day with a relaxed calm energy around you, watch yourself eat and enjoy a healthy breakfast, then picture the amazing things that are going to unfold and manifest for you today. Towards the end of the 3 minutes start to feel excited and very grateful, at just how easy your day has flowed. Linger in this feeling for a long as you like. 3: Five meaningful minutes with yourself: Journal for clarity and direction. If you wake up tired and grumpy, journal to find out why. If you wake up angry, journal to find out why. If you wake up inspired and ready for anything, journal to find out what is the most important thing you need to do today. Journaling first thing in the morning before the mind gets too active is my personal favourite at the moment. As you wake, grab your pen and notebook, ask a question then let your hand write away. Sometimes the answers will be simple and practical and other times inspiring or totally revealing. Trust in the process, then let go and write. A great question to ask is “What do I really, really, really want” The question I am asking myself each morning at the moment is “What is I need to know for my - rejuvenation circle workshops - to be even more inspiring and nourishing?” 4: Ten or more meaningful minutes with yourself: Meditating. Just as you would tell a dog to sit, in meditation you are telling your mind to stay. Meditation creates space in between your thoughts, allows your body to relax and unwind, opens up channels for creativity and inspiration and paves the way for a disciplined mind; you are in control and not your mind. First meditation option, listen to your preferred guided meditation on your CD or MP3 player whilst still lying in bed. This is a fabulous way to wake up meaningfully. It sets the tone and flavour for your day. Chakra Clearing (Book & CD) by Doreen Virtue has been one of my favourites for the last 5 years, I always, always seem to come back to it. Second meditation option, while lying in bed, focus on your own personal affirmation, mantra or word. Give it your whole focus and repeat meaningfully such as ‘Wherever I am, I see joy and laughter”. Your intention is to carry these thoughts with you throughout your day. Third meditation option of course is simply to meditate in stillness observing your thoughts come and go from a distance. If you new to meditation start with an easy 3 minutes. The length of the meditation is not as important as the regular daily practice of it. You are simply wanting to tell your mind to sit and stay for 5 or more minutes each day. Adjust your yin yang time clock and add a delightful flow to your day. A great article to read if keen to attract a more balanced flow back into the rhythm of your life. It was my second most popular article for 2007. Adjust your yin yang time clock and add a delightful flow to you day. This posting, Four Meaningful Ways To Wake Up While Still In Bed, is posted by Carole F. at Wellsphere.com]]> tag:blog.wellsphere.com,2008://1.151 2008-07-28T22:08:39Z 2008-07-28T22:15:02Z

Walking is great exercise, it’s gets you out doors to (hopefully) fresh air, it strengthens your legs and calves, it keeps your hip, knee and ankle joints well lubricated, it improves circulation, it builds stamina, improves your mood by...

Walking is great exercise, it’s gets you out doors to (hopefully) fresh air, it strengthens your legs and calves, it keeps your hip, knee and ankle joints well lubricated, it improves circulation, it builds stamina, improves your mood by reducing stress, you can meet new people, and it BURNS CALORIES - that’s the important part. Since you’re burning calories, you’re losing weight, you’re increasing the strength of your heart muscle and you’re getting healthier and healthier. Using a pedometer can really be a benefit to getting exercise through walking. Studies have shown that we walk an average of 5000 to 5500 steps per day, and that 10,000 steps per day is where you see the most benefit. 10,000 steps is equal to about 5 miles for the average stride. Just having the pedometer hooked to your belt loop will be the reminder to keep moving, or to take the stairs, or to go out and walk during your lunch break at work. I advise my clients to keep a log of the information their pedometer gives them at the end of each day. It includes the date, number of steps, miles, calories burned and a space for any notes for that day. The notes area can be helpful to track why there was a significant difference, either fewer or more steps on a given day. Here are some ways to add steps to your day - remember your goal is 10,000: * Park in the far back of the parking lot at work, or at store lots * If you take a bus, get off the bus a few stops before your usual stop and walk the rest of the way * Take the stairs * Pace while waiting for meetings to start or while making phone calls * Get up and walk around during commercial breaks * Do not use drive throughs, park and walk in - better yet stay away from places that have drive throughs the food is no good for you * Dedicate a few minutes to walking each hour * Walk during your lunch break * Form a workplace, neighborhood or friends walking group * Make a family habit of walking in the morning or after dinner (or both) * Take advantage of 5k charity walks so you have company while walking * Take an extra trip up and down your stairs, just for fun * Bring your groceries into the house one bag at a time * Take the dog for a walk, they’ll love you for it. Take your neighbors dog for a walk if you don’t have one! * Pace while waiting for a meal to heat in the microwave * Use the lavatory at work that is furthest from your desk Go ahead, add more bullet points, there are plenty of ways to add walking to your daily life! This posting, WALKING AS EXERCISE - USE A PEDOMETER, is posted by Donna W. at Wellsphere.com]]>