Gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or GERD, has been known by many names over the course of time, but the one that is most known is heartburn. When stomach acid gets into the esophagus, it can create havoc, leading to an intense burning pain between the chest and throat. Additionally, it can create a chronic cough or need to clear the throat. Acid in the esophagus is a problem that needs a solution. Unfortunately, the solution modern medicine is giving us today does nothing to address the real problem, and sets the patient up for significant health problems down the road.
There are four basic reasons why the juices from the stomach, which are highly acidic, can get into the esophagus, and none of them have to do with an excess of acid.
1. You can have less tone in the cardiac sphincter, which is the muscle that is supposed to clamp down tightly and keep things in the stomach from moving back up.
2. There is a possibility that a hiatal hernia exists, which is where part of the stomach ends up above the diaphragm, thus pushing juices back into the esophagus.
3. The stomach can be slow to empty, keeping foodstuffs around and pushing things upwards.
4. You can have things get stuck in the esophagus from the cardiac sphincter not allowing normal movement of food into the stomach.
While there are other obscure reasons for GERD symptoms to appear, these four are the most common, and have absolutely nothing to do with medicine's treatment, which is to eradicate stomach acid, and have everything to do with acid simply being in the wrong place.
In conventional medicine today, the treatment for GERD is a variety of medications, all of which either slow the production of stomach acid, or prevent its formation entirely. While this seems like a common sense solution to some, their "cure" is leading to a whole host of problems for these patients.
Stomach acid is vital for our normal function. Without it, we accelerate our pace to the grave. Here are some of the vital roles this solution plays in our system:
1. It's our first line of defense against any bugs which try to enter our intestinal system.
2. It begins the protein digestion pathway.
3. It binds minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper for later absorption.
4. It is necessary to stimulate the production of bicarbonate and enzymes in the small intestine for food breakdown.
5. It creates a neural reflex which makes the cardiac sphincter have more pucker power.
6. It limits the growth of H. pylori, which is a bug in our stomach that can lead to ulcers.
7. It's production takes a tremendous amount of energy.
As we can see, the acid in our stomach has some pretty important roles to play. There's a reason it is there, and by suppressing it, medicine creates very significant disease. Right on the package of any GERD medication is a warning for those that have any osteoporosis risk. Taking H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors will wipe out your ability to absorb calcium, thus increasing the risk of osteoporosis. We also need protein for the formation of bone as well as almost all tissue repair, and we have a hard time getting that protein without normal amounts of acid. Lower stomach acid actually increases our risk of ulcer formation, due to the increased population of H. pylori. To say the least, without a healthy amount of stomach acid, we will quickly begin to deteriorate.
Have you ever looked at the diets of elderly women? They begin be eliminating beef (which is the most dense protein and hardest to digest) because it upsets their stomach. It is upsetting to their stomach because they don't have enough acid to start the protein digestion pathway, and the food sits in the stomach for too long, putrefying instead of digesting. Putrefaction leads to gas formation which can lead to acid in the esophagus, i.e. heartburn or GERD. Pretty soon pork follows suit, as eventually does poultry. Before long, fish creates problems as well, and their diet starts to be limited to soups and broths, which have very little protein. In the mean time, their body cannot repair, and rapidly begins to break down, all because they are deficient in stomach acid.
I am always baffled when I look at this condition and medicine's treatment of it, since their own books tell us what the problem most likely is. According to Guyton's Textbook of Physiology (the medical "bible" of physiology), from the age of 20 to 40, our stomach acid production decreases by 50%, and from 40 to 60 it goes down 50% more. That means that the average 60 year old has about 25% of the stomach acid production that they did when they were 20. Is it any wonder we see accelerated aging after 40? Not when you consider this. If we then go back and look at the mechanism, we see that more than likely, patients with GERD actually have a stomach acid deficiency, and because of this, it ends up in the wrong place - the esophagus. Why then, if the texts tell us this is the problem, are we suppressing the acid production, leading to accelerated deterioration of the patient? My cynical side tells me to follow the money. When a new drug has been discovered, we must find a condition for it to treat. Unfortunately for the patients who undergo this drug therapy, getting off of it is extremely difficult. If stopped quickly, it produces a rebound effect, and the patient often ends up with worse symptoms than they had initially.
In my practice, instead of stopping the production of this vital acid, I work instead to increase its production. I will have my patients do a stomach acid challenge test, and rarely to I find someone over 40 who has adequate acid production. Then it is simply a matter of replacement in a manner that teaches the stomach how to do things properly, and eventually, it begins to make the acid again on its own. In the mean time, the patients don't get GERD (because we addressed the problem), they begin to heal and make new bone, and they feel so much better.
Modern medicine is lacking in common sense in many of its treatments, but nowhere is it more obvious than when looking at GERD. If they were to read their own books and apply it to their practice, they would see the fallacy of what they are doing. Instead, they continue to accelerate the degeneration of their patients, only leading them to be more reliant on medications, since their function will continue to decrease as long as they take these worthless medications.
Look for future blogs that will give more information and insights into improving your health with natural health care. You can also visit my website, like me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Exercise Your Responsibilities to Keep Your Privileges
On this short work week, when many of us are concentrated on where we'll be driving, shopping, or eating, it is important that we remember to be thankful for those privileges we have today.
If you've been reading much of my blog, you'll know that I often don't agree with mainstream medicine. Whether it's the over prescription of whole classes of useless medications, promoting faulty research while suppressing good research, or simply ignoring common sense as it applies to human physiology, we have a problem with traditional mainstream health care in the US. Yet, what I find most important in our world today, is the fact that we still have the privilege to choose how we treat our bodies; we are able to voice our views; and as individuals, we can decide exactly how health care is administered to us.
You'll notice I said "privilege" and not "right". Rights and privileges are not the same, even though they are often grouped together. A privilege is given to you by someone in authority, so it can also be taken away by that same authority. Take your driver's license. Driving a car on a public road is not a right, but a privilege granted by your state government, once you have shown that you can safely operate that vehicle. Along with this, they have discretion as to when they revoke that license. Your choice of health care is no different. It is not a right, but simply a privilege granted by the governments that you are subject to.
Currently, at least in my state of MN, I have the privilege to choose if I vaccinate my children or not. This is not what the media or state and national governmental agencies want us to know, but I do. If I do not agree with either the vaccination itself, or the schedule on which it is administered, I have the privilege to sign a waiver and not subject my children to what I disagree with. That is not the case in many states, and some would have it be not the case at all. The government can take away that privilege with the stroke of a pen, and mandate anything they choose as long as I decide to send my children to schools that are subject to their authority.
If you look at history, you'll see that less than 100 years ago, chiropractors were being thrown in jail, accused of practicing medicine without a license. Even 25 years ago, a medical doctor could lose their hospital privileges if they simply recommended seeing a chiropractor to their patient. We've come a long way with breaking the monopoly of traditional medicine, because patients demand what works, and have refused to give up services they know are beneficial.
In the US, we should be thankful that we have the privilege to not only decide how our health care is administered, but that we can go outside mainstream and find alternative treatments that are more in line with our philosophy, at least for now. That is still our privilege, but each and every year, different branches of government are trying to clip the edges of that privilege, if not instigating a full frontal assault. Whether it is a judge in Wisconsin who makes a ruling that we don't have the right to decide how our food is grown or what we can put into our mouths (see here) or the FBI raiding local organic food cooperatives (see here) there are many policy makers who would like to take away our privilege to decide how our health care is administered.
When your privileges are threatened with being taken away, it is your responsibility to take action. Unfortunately, in today's Washingtonian gridlock, many are frustrated with the inability to see any positive changes being made. You have more power than you realize, though. While we can be goaded and chided into going along with much of modern medicine's fallacy, you still have the ability to change things with your pocketbook, but it won't happen unless more of us are spending time learning what the truth really is, and teaching others where things have been going wrong.
By reading articles like I've posted on my blog, you are taking time to really learn how things work, and what you can do on your own to improve your life. That's a good start. To exercise your responsibilities, you must do more. You must take that information and apply it to your life. Start making changes to your life by improving your diet, making better decisions about how you handle stress, and seek help with getting your body to function properly. By taking responsibility for your health, you are taking the power away from those that would impose their version of health on you. Whether they truly believe they are doing what is right for you, or simply using you for profit, modern medicine's version of disease care is broken, and more of us die each and every day because we aren't exercising our privileges.
I am thankful I live in a country where I still have the privilege of choice. I am also thankful for others like you who are working towards real health, and not just the artificial version promoted by BigPharma, the AMA, and the CDC. However, keeping that privilege will not be easy. It will take hard work, perseverance, and a concerted effort to spread the word to others. Just as important, is choosing to support those companies that work toward our health goals, and avoiding those that are more interested in promoting products that create sickness, simply for profit.
Be grateful for the privilege you have, but remember the responsibility that comes with it. More and more Americans are becoming disenfranchised with the schemes currently promoted. Eventually, we will reach critical mass, and the face of health care will change. I only hope we don't lose our focus on our responsibility, and end up losing our privilege before that happens.
I am truly thankful for all my readers, and I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving. May it be a safe holiday, filled with times to remember what you have to be thankful for.
Look for future blogs that will give more information and insights into improving your health with natural health care. You can also visit my website, like me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
If you've been reading much of my blog, you'll know that I often don't agree with mainstream medicine. Whether it's the over prescription of whole classes of useless medications, promoting faulty research while suppressing good research, or simply ignoring common sense as it applies to human physiology, we have a problem with traditional mainstream health care in the US. Yet, what I find most important in our world today, is the fact that we still have the privilege to choose how we treat our bodies; we are able to voice our views; and as individuals, we can decide exactly how health care is administered to us.
You'll notice I said "privilege" and not "right". Rights and privileges are not the same, even though they are often grouped together. A privilege is given to you by someone in authority, so it can also be taken away by that same authority. Take your driver's license. Driving a car on a public road is not a right, but a privilege granted by your state government, once you have shown that you can safely operate that vehicle. Along with this, they have discretion as to when they revoke that license. Your choice of health care is no different. It is not a right, but simply a privilege granted by the governments that you are subject to.
Currently, at least in my state of MN, I have the privilege to choose if I vaccinate my children or not. This is not what the media or state and national governmental agencies want us to know, but I do. If I do not agree with either the vaccination itself, or the schedule on which it is administered, I have the privilege to sign a waiver and not subject my children to what I disagree with. That is not the case in many states, and some would have it be not the case at all. The government can take away that privilege with the stroke of a pen, and mandate anything they choose as long as I decide to send my children to schools that are subject to their authority.
If you look at history, you'll see that less than 100 years ago, chiropractors were being thrown in jail, accused of practicing medicine without a license. Even 25 years ago, a medical doctor could lose their hospital privileges if they simply recommended seeing a chiropractor to their patient. We've come a long way with breaking the monopoly of traditional medicine, because patients demand what works, and have refused to give up services they know are beneficial.
In the US, we should be thankful that we have the privilege to not only decide how our health care is administered, but that we can go outside mainstream and find alternative treatments that are more in line with our philosophy, at least for now. That is still our privilege, but each and every year, different branches of government are trying to clip the edges of that privilege, if not instigating a full frontal assault. Whether it is a judge in Wisconsin who makes a ruling that we don't have the right to decide how our food is grown or what we can put into our mouths (see here) or the FBI raiding local organic food cooperatives (see here) there are many policy makers who would like to take away our privilege to decide how our health care is administered.
When your privileges are threatened with being taken away, it is your responsibility to take action. Unfortunately, in today's Washingtonian gridlock, many are frustrated with the inability to see any positive changes being made. You have more power than you realize, though. While we can be goaded and chided into going along with much of modern medicine's fallacy, you still have the ability to change things with your pocketbook, but it won't happen unless more of us are spending time learning what the truth really is, and teaching others where things have been going wrong.
By reading articles like I've posted on my blog, you are taking time to really learn how things work, and what you can do on your own to improve your life. That's a good start. To exercise your responsibilities, you must do more. You must take that information and apply it to your life. Start making changes to your life by improving your diet, making better decisions about how you handle stress, and seek help with getting your body to function properly. By taking responsibility for your health, you are taking the power away from those that would impose their version of health on you. Whether they truly believe they are doing what is right for you, or simply using you for profit, modern medicine's version of disease care is broken, and more of us die each and every day because we aren't exercising our privileges.
I am thankful I live in a country where I still have the privilege of choice. I am also thankful for others like you who are working towards real health, and not just the artificial version promoted by BigPharma, the AMA, and the CDC. However, keeping that privilege will not be easy. It will take hard work, perseverance, and a concerted effort to spread the word to others. Just as important, is choosing to support those companies that work toward our health goals, and avoiding those that are more interested in promoting products that create sickness, simply for profit.
Be grateful for the privilege you have, but remember the responsibility that comes with it. More and more Americans are becoming disenfranchised with the schemes currently promoted. Eventually, we will reach critical mass, and the face of health care will change. I only hope we don't lose our focus on our responsibility, and end up losing our privilege before that happens.
I am truly thankful for all my readers, and I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving. May it be a safe holiday, filled with times to remember what you have to be thankful for.
Look for future blogs that will give more information and insights into improving your health with natural health care. You can also visit my website, like me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
It's Heresy, I Say. Heresy!
If you are to believe modern medicine, their government lackeys at the CDC, and their media mouthpieces, we are coming upon that time of year when we are at great risk of developing a truly horrendous condition that could kills tens of thousands every year, so we must bow to their superior knowledge and take our injection or inhalation of the flu vaccine willingly. If we don't, who knows how many of us could end up clogging the halls at the local hospital suffering from one of the most deadly diseases known to man, or at least that's what the hype makes it seem like. And you just never know, this could be the year that half the world dies in the next great flu pandemic.
Anyone who has ever had the flu knows that it's not the most pleasant of conditions to deal with, but also knows that rarely does it lead to serious consequences. If you get your rest, drink your fluids, and eat good food, chances are you'll be over it in a week or two at the most, and it won't be a huge deal. The biggest consequence of the flu is if your body is extremely weak, you don't move enough while you're sick, and you end up with pneumonia. Is pneumonia serious? Definitely. Any time we have fluid accumulation in the lungs, it can be a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and fungi, which can all wreak havoc on your body. How often does the flu lead to pneumonia? Not that often. Most of the time, as I said, it's in those that are weakened to begin with, and can't fight off the secondary problem in the lungs while they're still fighting off the flu.
I often get asked my opinion of whether someone should get the flu vaccine. When looking at any medical procedure, I look to the statistics and add in some common sense. There are several hundred viruses that cause flu-like symptoms that are around each and every year. The average flu vaccine is made of less than a dozen (usually around 6) strains that seemed to cause the most problems last year. If you happened to have been exposed to any of these six in the previous year (whether or not you actually got sick), then this vaccine is worthless to you. If you weren't exposed to any of them, and none of those strains seem to be circulating this year, then again, it is worthless. If, by chance, they are correct in choosing the strains that circulate two years in a row, and they are just as virulent this year as last, and the majority of the population was not exposed in previous years, then maybe, just maybe it might be worth it.
On the other hand, when we look at overall statistics, with millions of Americans receiving the flu vaccine, have infection rates gone down? Do we see less people dying from the flu or secondary conditions like pneumonia? The answer to both of these questions is no, not really. In 1989, 15% of those over age 65 received the flu vaccine. In 2009, the rate was up to 65% of the same population. With such a dramatic rise in vaccination rates, it would be obvious then, that we would have less people developing the flu, and many less dying from either it or its secondary consequences. Instead, we have seen both flu infection rates and death rates remain relatively flat, when you account for seasonal variances. Most of the research done on the flu vaccine has serious flaws, and that which doesn't, ends up telling us that getting the vaccine is really irrelevant to our overall health.
Instead of spending billions of dollars on a vaccination program that the statistics show to be worthless, it's time we looked at what could really prevent tens of thousands of Americans from contacting the flu: maintaining adequate vitamin D levels and getting regularly adjusted.
That's right, I said get regular chiropractic adjustments. That last flu pandemic was in 1918, where 50 million people lost their lives fighting off the flu or secondary infections related to the flu. In the US, we keep meticulous records, and they reveal some very interesting statistics. When you look at those who were treated for the flu by conventional medicine in Iowa, New York City, and Oklahoma, you see that the death rates were between 1 in 6 and 1 in 18. At the time, chiropractic was in its infancy, but had regular hospitals where patients could stay and get natural care, including the adjustment. When we look at the statistics for the chiropractic patients, we see that death rates ranged from 1 in 100 to 1 in 789. In fact, there were 233 patients in Oklahoma that medicine had given up as hopeless, so they were given to the chiropractors to treat. All but 25 were saved. Believe it or not, but it was the pandemic of 1918 that launched the chiropractic profession. Once patients had literally had their lives saved by getting adjusted, they fought the medical profession, helped legitimize chiropractic with licensing boards, and became lifelong patients. Chiropractic has saved many from the flu, and the flu saved chiropractic from being a minor blip in health care history.
Vitamin D plays a huge role in the flu prevention as well. According to Dr. Cannell, founder of the Vitamin D Council, our seasonal flu is much more due to the lack of vitamin D we produce in the winter, than it is to whether or not we are exposed to a specific virus. Could it be that simple? If we improved our vitamin D status, would we see a decrease in seasonal flu? Unfortunately, no big pharmaceutical company nor American governmental agency is interested in providing the public with an adequate dose of vitamin D to make a difference. Canada, on the other hand, has begun research into this concept. Their government, in an attempt to put common sense and cost before profit, is studying the effects of adequate blood levels of vitamin D versus incidence of flu. It will take at least five years for the study to be completed, and another year or so for publication, but maybe within the next ten years, we'll finally be able to stop the fear mongering officials in medicine and government from subjecting the public to unnecessary, and potentially dangerous, concoctions being injected into their veins or noses. I can only hope that since it is a government funded study, it won't be buried in some obscure medical journal, as most studies that have had anything negative to say against the flu vaccine have been.
For the best flu prevention, get adjusted by a chiropractor regularly. Then get your vitamin D tested, and make sure that you are in the more than medically adequate range. I want my patients in the 65-80ng/dl range, since that seems to be where it helps the most with cancer prevention, which is just another positive effect of having adequate levels. You can have a healthy flu season, in spite of modern medicine.
Look for future blogs that will give more information and insights into improving your health with natural health care. You can also visit my website, like me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
.
Anyone who has ever had the flu knows that it's not the most pleasant of conditions to deal with, but also knows that rarely does it lead to serious consequences. If you get your rest, drink your fluids, and eat good food, chances are you'll be over it in a week or two at the most, and it won't be a huge deal. The biggest consequence of the flu is if your body is extremely weak, you don't move enough while you're sick, and you end up with pneumonia. Is pneumonia serious? Definitely. Any time we have fluid accumulation in the lungs, it can be a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and fungi, which can all wreak havoc on your body. How often does the flu lead to pneumonia? Not that often. Most of the time, as I said, it's in those that are weakened to begin with, and can't fight off the secondary problem in the lungs while they're still fighting off the flu.
I often get asked my opinion of whether someone should get the flu vaccine. When looking at any medical procedure, I look to the statistics and add in some common sense. There are several hundred viruses that cause flu-like symptoms that are around each and every year. The average flu vaccine is made of less than a dozen (usually around 6) strains that seemed to cause the most problems last year. If you happened to have been exposed to any of these six in the previous year (whether or not you actually got sick), then this vaccine is worthless to you. If you weren't exposed to any of them, and none of those strains seem to be circulating this year, then again, it is worthless. If, by chance, they are correct in choosing the strains that circulate two years in a row, and they are just as virulent this year as last, and the majority of the population was not exposed in previous years, then maybe, just maybe it might be worth it.
On the other hand, when we look at overall statistics, with millions of Americans receiving the flu vaccine, have infection rates gone down? Do we see less people dying from the flu or secondary conditions like pneumonia? The answer to both of these questions is no, not really. In 1989, 15% of those over age 65 received the flu vaccine. In 2009, the rate was up to 65% of the same population. With such a dramatic rise in vaccination rates, it would be obvious then, that we would have less people developing the flu, and many less dying from either it or its secondary consequences. Instead, we have seen both flu infection rates and death rates remain relatively flat, when you account for seasonal variances. Most of the research done on the flu vaccine has serious flaws, and that which doesn't, ends up telling us that getting the vaccine is really irrelevant to our overall health.
Instead of spending billions of dollars on a vaccination program that the statistics show to be worthless, it's time we looked at what could really prevent tens of thousands of Americans from contacting the flu: maintaining adequate vitamin D levels and getting regularly adjusted.
That's right, I said get regular chiropractic adjustments. That last flu pandemic was in 1918, where 50 million people lost their lives fighting off the flu or secondary infections related to the flu. In the US, we keep meticulous records, and they reveal some very interesting statistics. When you look at those who were treated for the flu by conventional medicine in Iowa, New York City, and Oklahoma, you see that the death rates were between 1 in 6 and 1 in 18. At the time, chiropractic was in its infancy, but had regular hospitals where patients could stay and get natural care, including the adjustment. When we look at the statistics for the chiropractic patients, we see that death rates ranged from 1 in 100 to 1 in 789. In fact, there were 233 patients in Oklahoma that medicine had given up as hopeless, so they were given to the chiropractors to treat. All but 25 were saved. Believe it or not, but it was the pandemic of 1918 that launched the chiropractic profession. Once patients had literally had their lives saved by getting adjusted, they fought the medical profession, helped legitimize chiropractic with licensing boards, and became lifelong patients. Chiropractic has saved many from the flu, and the flu saved chiropractic from being a minor blip in health care history.
Vitamin D plays a huge role in the flu prevention as well. According to Dr. Cannell, founder of the Vitamin D Council, our seasonal flu is much more due to the lack of vitamin D we produce in the winter, than it is to whether or not we are exposed to a specific virus. Could it be that simple? If we improved our vitamin D status, would we see a decrease in seasonal flu? Unfortunately, no big pharmaceutical company nor American governmental agency is interested in providing the public with an adequate dose of vitamin D to make a difference. Canada, on the other hand, has begun research into this concept. Their government, in an attempt to put common sense and cost before profit, is studying the effects of adequate blood levels of vitamin D versus incidence of flu. It will take at least five years for the study to be completed, and another year or so for publication, but maybe within the next ten years, we'll finally be able to stop the fear mongering officials in medicine and government from subjecting the public to unnecessary, and potentially dangerous, concoctions being injected into their veins or noses. I can only hope that since it is a government funded study, it won't be buried in some obscure medical journal, as most studies that have had anything negative to say against the flu vaccine have been.
For the best flu prevention, get adjusted by a chiropractor regularly. Then get your vitamin D tested, and make sure that you are in the more than medically adequate range. I want my patients in the 65-80ng/dl range, since that seems to be where it helps the most with cancer prevention, which is just another positive effect of having adequate levels. You can have a healthy flu season, in spite of modern medicine.
Look for future blogs that will give more information and insights into improving your health with natural health care. You can also visit my website, like me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Is It Bedtime Yet?
One of the most important things we can do to improve our health is invest our time getting adequate good quality sleep. The research has been clear for a long time, and is being reinforced today, that if we deprive ourselves of good sleep, we will become sick. It may not catch up with us today, but in the end, sleep deprivation will shorten our lives. So, how can we improve our sleep? Here are a few recommedations.
Keep the bedroom sacred. The bedroom should only be for two purposes: sleep and procreation. Any other use (other than dressing and undressing) will make it more difficult to get a good night's sleep. When you spend time reading, watching TV, or doing other non-sleep related activities in the bedroom, your body becomes accustomed to doing that. So, instead of falling asleep when you want, your body starts saying "shouldn't we be reading for a while" or "what's on TV", instead of starting the slide down into the depths of sleep. I often hear "but I can't fall asleep if I don't _____ for a while before bed". That's fine. Just don't do ______ in the bedroom. Teach your body that when you go to the bedroom, it's time to sleep.
Make your bedroom into a cave. We are meant to sleep in darkness. Light disturbs our production of melatonin, which is vital for our regeneration and maintaining proper sleep rhythms. It is important to have room darkening shades and block out as much light as possible. Nightlights are not allowed, especially for kids. If your kids are used to sleeping in the dark, they don't become afraid of the dark. It may take a while for them to acclimate, but they will thank you for it in the long run. If you need to take a toilet break from your sleep, keep the lights off. There is usually enough ambient light in most houses to not require added light to navigate. Alarm clocks can be an issue here as well. The only light that seems to not affect us too much is red, so make sure your clock is red, and as dim as possible.
Caves are meant to be quiet. Turn off the noise-makers before you go to sleep. While you may think the radio and TV help you fall asleep, they actually disturb it. We are meant to sleep in a quiet environment, so shut off the radio and TV before you crawl into bed. If you have outside influences that make it noisy, then something that generates white noise like a fan on low is next best. You can also purchase machines that generate white noise if you'd like. If white noise isn't an option, the next step down is natural sounds, like the ocean, babbling brook, or rain. While not ideal, these sounds at least are things our bodies have heard for thousands of years, and so disturb us less. Avoid noises that are intermittent or go up and down (like music, radio and TV), and your sleep quality will go improve.
Don't do stimulating things right before bed. Exercising, watching the news or horror movies, or reading an action thriller right before bed stimulates your brain, which impedes your sleep journey. Instead, spend a few minutes meditating, doing deep breathing exercises, or in prayer. Try to calm your mind before bed, not ramp it up.
Avoid alcohol and get to bed on time. As much as having a drink may calm one down, it actually makes it more difficult to get quality sleep. Alcohol keeps the brain from reaching stage IV sleep, which is where we get growth hormone released as adults. Kids get this hormone all day long, which is why they sprout like weeds before our eyes. As adults, we have a limited supply of this wondrous hormone, and stage IV sleep is one of the few times we can get it released. Timing here can be problematic as well. It seems that our bodies have a circadian rhythm that only allows growth hormone's release between 11pm and 3am, and only when we're in stage IV sleep during those times. This makes shift workers' lives extremely difficult, since they'll have added time needed to heal from injury or illness. We really are meant to be sleeping when it's dark, so get to bed in time to access your growth hormone.
Get enough, but not too much. Research keeps telling us that most adults need 7 to 8 1/2 hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep each night. If we miss one here and there, we'll be a little tired, but it won't affect us greatly. If, however, we continually limit our sleep to less than 7 hours, we do, in the long run, have a higher risk of sickness. On the other hand, sleeping too much also isn't good for us. More than 9 hours seems to have a negative effect as well. These recommendations are for adults. Kids (even teenagers) need more than 9 hours, and often 10-12 is best. Keep a regimented schedule with your kids, and they'll do much better, and don't let those teenagers get by with staying up until midnight on a regular basis.
Don't be offended if your spouse doesn't want to sleep with you. If you snore or toss and turn all night, you are reducing the sleep quality of your partner. For both of your health, work on your sleep hygiene, but if they decide sleeping in the same bed as you is not the best for them, honor their choice, knowing they will have more energy and be healthier because of it.
Pharmaceutical sleep aids are detrimental. Regardless of the claims made by BigPharma, all sleep aids are addictive and become habit forming or have significant side effects that are detrimental to your health. Over the counter sleep aids generally have an antihistamine added, which will make you drowsy. Unfortunately, they also dry out the mucous membranes of your nose and sinuses, leaving your more prone to colds and flues. Prescription medications like Ambien and Lunesta work on deeper levels of your brain to get and keep you asleep, but don't allow for stage IV sleep, which is vital for regeneration. These medications also often have rebound effects upon withdrawal, where it is more difficult to sleep for a time without them, since your body has become dependent on the drug to induce sleep. In addition, there are nasty side effects, like sleep walking, eating, and driving. It is not uncommon for an Ambien user to find their fridge raided (by themselves while sleeping) or wake up to find a police officer asking why they are out in their jammies as they write the ticket for a DUI.
Natural sleep aids have their downsides as well. While pharmaceutical aids are to be avoided if at all possible, I also don't recommend most herbal remedies. Herbs like passion flower, valerian, skullcap, and jujube can be used to induce sleep, but often make the user groggy the next morning, and are difficult to dose for the individual. Unless gotten from a health care practitioner, you also can't rely on quality or purity, which has it's own problems. Melatonin can be taken in dropper form, and I have used this for jet lag in patients who travel. On a regular basis, however, you can suppress the natural hormone production, disturbing your sleep cycle unless you dose yourself every night.
In most patients with insomnia, I use a single herb that has nothing to do with inducing sleep, yet has everything to do with getting and keeping you there. Rhodiola rosea is an adrenal adaptogen (it helps you deal better with stress) that is great for helping insomniacs. Instead of forcing the body into sleep, it enhances your production of GABA, which is a chemical in your brain that helps you focus. If taken about 30 minutes before bed, Rhodiola helps the brain shut down, so it doesn't act like the Energizer Bunny, and keep going, and going, and going....I also use this herb with patients who need help focusing during the day, i.e. for tests or studying. It doesn't make one tired, it just helps focus.
Sleep is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle. Getting an adequate amount of high quality sleep should be a priority, and by utilizing these recommendations, your sleep quality can easily improve.
Look for future blogs that will give more information and insights into improving your health with natural health care. You can also visit my website, like me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Keep the bedroom sacred. The bedroom should only be for two purposes: sleep and procreation. Any other use (other than dressing and undressing) will make it more difficult to get a good night's sleep. When you spend time reading, watching TV, or doing other non-sleep related activities in the bedroom, your body becomes accustomed to doing that. So, instead of falling asleep when you want, your body starts saying "shouldn't we be reading for a while" or "what's on TV", instead of starting the slide down into the depths of sleep. I often hear "but I can't fall asleep if I don't _____ for a while before bed". That's fine. Just don't do ______ in the bedroom. Teach your body that when you go to the bedroom, it's time to sleep.
Make your bedroom into a cave. We are meant to sleep in darkness. Light disturbs our production of melatonin, which is vital for our regeneration and maintaining proper sleep rhythms. It is important to have room darkening shades and block out as much light as possible. Nightlights are not allowed, especially for kids. If your kids are used to sleeping in the dark, they don't become afraid of the dark. It may take a while for them to acclimate, but they will thank you for it in the long run. If you need to take a toilet break from your sleep, keep the lights off. There is usually enough ambient light in most houses to not require added light to navigate. Alarm clocks can be an issue here as well. The only light that seems to not affect us too much is red, so make sure your clock is red, and as dim as possible.
Caves are meant to be quiet. Turn off the noise-makers before you go to sleep. While you may think the radio and TV help you fall asleep, they actually disturb it. We are meant to sleep in a quiet environment, so shut off the radio and TV before you crawl into bed. If you have outside influences that make it noisy, then something that generates white noise like a fan on low is next best. You can also purchase machines that generate white noise if you'd like. If white noise isn't an option, the next step down is natural sounds, like the ocean, babbling brook, or rain. While not ideal, these sounds at least are things our bodies have heard for thousands of years, and so disturb us less. Avoid noises that are intermittent or go up and down (like music, radio and TV), and your sleep quality will go improve.
Don't do stimulating things right before bed. Exercising, watching the news or horror movies, or reading an action thriller right before bed stimulates your brain, which impedes your sleep journey. Instead, spend a few minutes meditating, doing deep breathing exercises, or in prayer. Try to calm your mind before bed, not ramp it up.
Avoid alcohol and get to bed on time. As much as having a drink may calm one down, it actually makes it more difficult to get quality sleep. Alcohol keeps the brain from reaching stage IV sleep, which is where we get growth hormone released as adults. Kids get this hormone all day long, which is why they sprout like weeds before our eyes. As adults, we have a limited supply of this wondrous hormone, and stage IV sleep is one of the few times we can get it released. Timing here can be problematic as well. It seems that our bodies have a circadian rhythm that only allows growth hormone's release between 11pm and 3am, and only when we're in stage IV sleep during those times. This makes shift workers' lives extremely difficult, since they'll have added time needed to heal from injury or illness. We really are meant to be sleeping when it's dark, so get to bed in time to access your growth hormone.
Get enough, but not too much. Research keeps telling us that most adults need 7 to 8 1/2 hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep each night. If we miss one here and there, we'll be a little tired, but it won't affect us greatly. If, however, we continually limit our sleep to less than 7 hours, we do, in the long run, have a higher risk of sickness. On the other hand, sleeping too much also isn't good for us. More than 9 hours seems to have a negative effect as well. These recommendations are for adults. Kids (even teenagers) need more than 9 hours, and often 10-12 is best. Keep a regimented schedule with your kids, and they'll do much better, and don't let those teenagers get by with staying up until midnight on a regular basis.
Don't be offended if your spouse doesn't want to sleep with you. If you snore or toss and turn all night, you are reducing the sleep quality of your partner. For both of your health, work on your sleep hygiene, but if they decide sleeping in the same bed as you is not the best for them, honor their choice, knowing they will have more energy and be healthier because of it.
Pharmaceutical sleep aids are detrimental. Regardless of the claims made by BigPharma, all sleep aids are addictive and become habit forming or have significant side effects that are detrimental to your health. Over the counter sleep aids generally have an antihistamine added, which will make you drowsy. Unfortunately, they also dry out the mucous membranes of your nose and sinuses, leaving your more prone to colds and flues. Prescription medications like Ambien and Lunesta work on deeper levels of your brain to get and keep you asleep, but don't allow for stage IV sleep, which is vital for regeneration. These medications also often have rebound effects upon withdrawal, where it is more difficult to sleep for a time without them, since your body has become dependent on the drug to induce sleep. In addition, there are nasty side effects, like sleep walking, eating, and driving. It is not uncommon for an Ambien user to find their fridge raided (by themselves while sleeping) or wake up to find a police officer asking why they are out in their jammies as they write the ticket for a DUI.
Natural sleep aids have their downsides as well. While pharmaceutical aids are to be avoided if at all possible, I also don't recommend most herbal remedies. Herbs like passion flower, valerian, skullcap, and jujube can be used to induce sleep, but often make the user groggy the next morning, and are difficult to dose for the individual. Unless gotten from a health care practitioner, you also can't rely on quality or purity, which has it's own problems. Melatonin can be taken in dropper form, and I have used this for jet lag in patients who travel. On a regular basis, however, you can suppress the natural hormone production, disturbing your sleep cycle unless you dose yourself every night.
In most patients with insomnia, I use a single herb that has nothing to do with inducing sleep, yet has everything to do with getting and keeping you there. Rhodiola rosea is an adrenal adaptogen (it helps you deal better with stress) that is great for helping insomniacs. Instead of forcing the body into sleep, it enhances your production of GABA, which is a chemical in your brain that helps you focus. If taken about 30 minutes before bed, Rhodiola helps the brain shut down, so it doesn't act like the Energizer Bunny, and keep going, and going, and going....I also use this herb with patients who need help focusing during the day, i.e. for tests or studying. It doesn't make one tired, it just helps focus.
Sleep is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle. Getting an adequate amount of high quality sleep should be a priority, and by utilizing these recommendations, your sleep quality can easily improve.
Look for future blogs that will give more information and insights into improving your health with natural health care. You can also visit my website, like me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
It's Time for Timer!
For many in my generation, Schoolhouse Rock was a regular public service announcement splattered amongst our Saturday morning cartoons. These commercials taught us things about a wide variety of topics. I remember "I'm Just a Bill", which taught about how Congress works, "Conjunction Junction" teaching about grammar, and "The Shot Heard Round the World" helping kids understand about the Revolutionary War. A lesser known cousin to Schoolhouse Rock was "Time for Timer", a round yellow blob with a top hat and bow tie, Timer was in charge of helping us learn what our bodies were telling us, like it's time to sleep or eat. He had several different ditties he used, but the one I always remember was "You Are What You Eat". At the time to a kid, it was just an interruption, but as an adult, it takes on meanings that were way beyond what was originally taught.
One thing I try to help my patients understand, is that Timer's basic concepts need to be given some deeper thought. When I say "we are what we eat", I usually get "ya, I know", but do most of us really "know"? I argue that if most of us had a good understanding of Timer's message, we would drastically change not only what we eat, but how we allow that food to be treated.
Timer taught us that our food has three basic components to it: fats, protein, and carbohydrates. Each has it's unique function and we need all three components to be healthy. Carbohydrate has one basic function, and that is an energy source. Lumped by some into a general "sugar", carbohydrate is our body's preferred fuel, especially for our nervous and muscular systems. Some carbohydrates are better for us than others, as most have to be processed in the body and converted to glucose, which is useable energy. Some can be converted fairly easily with little problems for the body. Fructose, however, is one that can create significant issues for many. To convert fructose to glucose, the liver has a complex pathway, and we normally create more triglyceride (fat) out of fructose than we do glucose. Too much fructose clogs the liver's pathways, and can lead to increased levels of fats stored there as well. Carbohydrate is necessary, but we tend to overdo the amounts in western societies, especially of the "white" group; white flour, sugar, rice, potatoes, pasta, and bread. Whole grain alternatives to these are much better for us, providing necessary energy without the blood sugar spike.
Besides energy, there is really only one other reason to be consuming food: building and repairing our bodies. This is where we need to understand Timer a little more. By eating proteins and fats, we are providing the body with the raw materials to either build or repair, depending on our age and health. The majority of our organs are built from protein and our nervous system is mainly fat. Without proper quality and amounts, we cannot build or repair normally. Consider building a house. Your architect requires exterior walls built from 2x6's of a certain length, trusses that have a specific configuration, and just the right thickness and amount of external wall board. If your builder uses these materials correctly, your house will be have the qualities the architect intended. If instead, you give your builder 2x2's, random trusses, and cheap buffalo board, he will still be able to make a house. It won't, however, have the quality intended by the architect. It may look like a house, but it won't stand up to the first strong gust of wind without having structural problems.
When I say "we are what we eat", I apply the concepts that your architect applies to your house. If you eat correctly, exercise regularly, and reduce your stress level, your body can work magnificently. As a biochemical architect, that is what I teach my patients. If you decide to cut corners, though, and eat a standard American diet (SAD), be a couch potato, and let stressors overwhelm you, I can tell you what results you'll get, and I'm guessing it won't be to your liking. High quality building materials in a house make a quality house. High quality building materials (protein and fats) in your diet make a quality human. Cheap, low quality ingredients in your diet make a standard American; overweight, lethargic, stressed, and sick.
Providing ourselves with quality building materials, unfortunately, requires us to be informed consumers and pursue foods grown outside of the conventional farming techniques. Currently, many foods have been genetically modified in a laboratory, which changes the kind of protein and fat that we get. Instead of ratios that we've been eating for hundreds of years, we now are eating foods that are literally foreign to our bodies, even though they may look similar. Genetically modified foods are not high quality. They are no different than the 2x2's compared to the 2x6's. Are they both wood? Yes. Do they have the same strength? Not even close.
Listen to what Timer had to tell us: "You are what you eat". That which you put into your mouth will soon be what you are made of. To have a high quality body, you must provide yourself with high quality foods. Listen to what the architect tells you and build with the recommended building materials for a long healthy life.
Look for future blogs that will give more information and insights into improving your health with natural health care. You can also visit my website, like me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
One thing I try to help my patients understand, is that Timer's basic concepts need to be given some deeper thought. When I say "we are what we eat", I usually get "ya, I know", but do most of us really "know"? I argue that if most of us had a good understanding of Timer's message, we would drastically change not only what we eat, but how we allow that food to be treated.
Timer taught us that our food has three basic components to it: fats, protein, and carbohydrates. Each has it's unique function and we need all three components to be healthy. Carbohydrate has one basic function, and that is an energy source. Lumped by some into a general "sugar", carbohydrate is our body's preferred fuel, especially for our nervous and muscular systems. Some carbohydrates are better for us than others, as most have to be processed in the body and converted to glucose, which is useable energy. Some can be converted fairly easily with little problems for the body. Fructose, however, is one that can create significant issues for many. To convert fructose to glucose, the liver has a complex pathway, and we normally create more triglyceride (fat) out of fructose than we do glucose. Too much fructose clogs the liver's pathways, and can lead to increased levels of fats stored there as well. Carbohydrate is necessary, but we tend to overdo the amounts in western societies, especially of the "white" group; white flour, sugar, rice, potatoes, pasta, and bread. Whole grain alternatives to these are much better for us, providing necessary energy without the blood sugar spike.
Besides energy, there is really only one other reason to be consuming food: building and repairing our bodies. This is where we need to understand Timer a little more. By eating proteins and fats, we are providing the body with the raw materials to either build or repair, depending on our age and health. The majority of our organs are built from protein and our nervous system is mainly fat. Without proper quality and amounts, we cannot build or repair normally. Consider building a house. Your architect requires exterior walls built from 2x6's of a certain length, trusses that have a specific configuration, and just the right thickness and amount of external wall board. If your builder uses these materials correctly, your house will be have the qualities the architect intended. If instead, you give your builder 2x2's, random trusses, and cheap buffalo board, he will still be able to make a house. It won't, however, have the quality intended by the architect. It may look like a house, but it won't stand up to the first strong gust of wind without having structural problems.
When I say "we are what we eat", I apply the concepts that your architect applies to your house. If you eat correctly, exercise regularly, and reduce your stress level, your body can work magnificently. As a biochemical architect, that is what I teach my patients. If you decide to cut corners, though, and eat a standard American diet (SAD), be a couch potato, and let stressors overwhelm you, I can tell you what results you'll get, and I'm guessing it won't be to your liking. High quality building materials in a house make a quality house. High quality building materials (protein and fats) in your diet make a quality human. Cheap, low quality ingredients in your diet make a standard American; overweight, lethargic, stressed, and sick.
Providing ourselves with quality building materials, unfortunately, requires us to be informed consumers and pursue foods grown outside of the conventional farming techniques. Currently, many foods have been genetically modified in a laboratory, which changes the kind of protein and fat that we get. Instead of ratios that we've been eating for hundreds of years, we now are eating foods that are literally foreign to our bodies, even though they may look similar. Genetically modified foods are not high quality. They are no different than the 2x2's compared to the 2x6's. Are they both wood? Yes. Do they have the same strength? Not even close.
Listen to what Timer had to tell us: "You are what you eat". That which you put into your mouth will soon be what you are made of. To have a high quality body, you must provide yourself with high quality foods. Listen to what the architect tells you and build with the recommended building materials for a long healthy life.
Look for future blogs that will give more information and insights into improving your health with natural health care. You can also visit my website, like me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
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