Most people understand that preventing disease makes a lot more sense than trying to recover from a chronic disease process.  We hear a lot about prevention but most of us feel overwhelmed and are doing very little to protect our health.  It's true there are a lot of voices sometimes telling as contradictory things to do to maintain our health.

Which one do you follow? Unfortunately a large percentage of the population feels frustrated and end up doing very little to nothing.  At Keefe Clinic we attempt to stay balanced and offer direction that is attainable.  Eating properly, most people realize that's important yet are unsure what that fully means.  We all know exercise is important but sometimes finding the time can be difficult.  Rest and relaxation or stress management is something we all understand is important to reduce the potential of health problems.  Positive mental and spiritual attitudes we've heard is important.  A healthy nervous system is one most of us are totally in the dark about.  These five components are what we call the five laws of health.  We have a pamphlet on each one of these components if you're interested in further study.

A Healthy Nervous System

What does it mean to have a healthy nervous system?  Did you know your nervous system controls and coordinates everything in your body?  Did you know your stomach could not digest food properly if the nervous system was not regulating and controlling it?  Did you know that your heart would beat erratically  if the nervous system was not controlling and coordinates it.  Did you know without your nervous system's proper function you couldn't even sleep, breathe, move are have a normal existence?

We don't hear much about the importance of the nervous system, frankly because there's no pharmaceutical drug to make the nervous system function properly in each of these areas.

 Your ability to be aware of yourself and your environment, to be able to think or reason is dependent on a properly functioning nervous system.  Even to have a healthy sense of well-being depends on a cascade of chemical reactions that take place within a healthy nervous system.  In a sense, physically, you are your nervous system.  I don't mean that you're just physical; I mean that your ability to be self-aware is a function of your central nervous system.  So doesn’t it make sense that if you take care of your nervous system, then you take care of your health?  And did you know that the most common stress to your nervous system is misalignments of your neck and back?

 

Initial care for these misalignments is an intensive program of adjustments to obtain maximum balance to the spine.  But due to the limitations of matter and malformations due to genetic weaknesses, a perfect spine is not possible.  So after a corrective program we recommend some type of ongoing care.  Though each patient is responsible for determining how they're going to take care of their health we have recommendations that we encourage patients to consider.  One of those is our once a week wellness program.

Why once a week? 

After a corrective program the problems that are corrected tend to stay corrected unless you hurt that section again. The problems that are left in the spine are usually related to subtle malformations that don't allow certain joints to completely lock in place.   These joints are particularly sensitive to the normal stresses and strains that we put our bodies through on a 24-hour basis.  Coughing, sneezing, sitting postures or poor sleeping postures are just a few of the stresses that our bodies deal with everyday.  Add to that a lack of regular exercise, faulty diets and the effects on nerves and muscles of stress.  These factors can cause the loss of alignment and a buildup of stress (without pain)  on the nerves that are responsible for controlling our bodies.  The more often that you line up your spine the less stress that will be on your nervous system.  The more that your nervous system is free of stress the higher energy level that you'll experience.  Your resistance will be higher, in fact it has been shown that chiropractic patients who get regular chiropractic care have an immune system that functions 200% more effectively than the average person’s on the street.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSTURE AND HEALTH Roger Sperry,Ph.D. (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1981) discovered that 90% of the brain’s activity is used to balance your body within the gravitational field of earth. If your body is mechanically distorted, it will affect the other 10% of the brain’s activity, which controls all the other body functions such as breathing, digestion and cognition. If the body framework (bone structure and spine) is misaligned it can impede or block the electrical and chemical transmissions of the nervous system, which controls all of your body’s functions. This interference to the nervous system can cause or contribute to all kinds of symptoms and illnesses (in other words, the feeling that “I am hurting or I am sick”). Published research studies indicate that when body balance is restored, the body enters a healing cycle that alleviates pain and symptoms, elevates the immune system, increases blood and oxygen circulation, normalizes nervous system communication and creates more optimum body performance (“I feel good again”).

A recent study indicated patients who receive regular chiropractic care have a higher sense of well-being and a greater ability to cope with stress.  Your body will be more relaxed and thus sleep better.  Better sleep will lead to a sharper mind and higher energy levels.  Pretty soon you have an increasing domino effect toward better and better health.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE AND DNA REPAIR.  Patient satisfaction has always driven chiropractic acceptance. Several surveys covering thousands of chiropractic participants have shown quantitative benefits to periodic long term care. They include reduced use of health care services (including hospitalizations and prescription drugs) and better sense of well-being even for seniors over 75 years of age. Geneticists in the area of ecogenetics have periodically looked at chiropractic since the late 1970s as a potential source of reducing what was called mutagen sensitivity back then. Thiol is one of the chemicals your body makes to repair damage to your DNA. A study of regular chiropractic patients in 2005 showed an increase in this DNA repair chemical compared to the general public. DNA damage leads to disease even cancer and early death.  This is one of the reasons we recommend wellness care. Chiropractic helps keep your DNA healthy. But hang on: in the long-term chiropractic treatment group, the average level was 146. It was significantly higher than the control group’s average of 124.  And the ill group of 90. DRUGS CAN'T DO THAT.

I believe in wellness care and have followed once a week adjustments for over 40 years.  I can tell you from personal experience it makes a huge difference.  That's why we offer a 50% discount to encourage patients to choose the highest level of health.  You can decide to come in less often.  Or you can decide to wait until your body hurts or have some other symptom before you seek care.  The choice is yours.  We hope you pick wellness.  And quite frankly so does your body.

The choice is yours. 

Your health is your responsibility.  Good choices or bad choices, you have to pay the Piper.

As we get older we can start noticing our bodies more than when we were younger. A lot of times these symptoms are completely reversible. The reason people have more health challenges as they get older is simply due to the fact that time is the friend of disease. Let me explain, if you have a nutritional deficiency or a misaligned vertebrae in your back those are the seeds of disease. Just like in a garden seeds take time to grow. Disease takes time to grow some times 10,15, 20 years etc.

Disease does not have to be a normal part of aging. Yes we might slow down a little bit, maybe we can't run as fast as we used to and maybe your reflexes aren't as fast because we all age. But that doesn't mean that we have to develop diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer etc. chiropractic offers a proactive approach to staying well. When you maintain a better spinal alignment you have less stress on your nervous system. Your nervous system controls and coordinates every other organ in your body. If your body can regulate your digestive system better or your hormonal system better then you will stay in better health. If your diet is supplying you with the building blocks that your body needs to maintain proper chemistry and healthy tissue cells then you're going to stay in a higher level of health.

 

The facts are these simple principles can have a profound effect on your level of health, your attitude toward life and your ability to stay active and healthy into old age. Most health approaches are designed to wait until you get sick and then focus on suppressing the symptoms of the illness i.e. high blood pressure pills for hypertension etc. I think most of us realize that drugs don't heal in most cases they just manage the disease as we get sicker. Natural health care works with the very foundation of health.

 If you want to stay healthy and active then you must take care of your body. Eating right for your genetic makeup, making sure you're taking extra supplements that match your nutritional needs, and keeping your nervous system free of pressure are the most dynamic thing you can do for your health. It beats any annual exam, MRI, blood work or any other test to find disease. I'm not saying testing is not important I'm saying being proactive is the most important. You don't have to spend the last 5, 10+ years in a rest home hooked up to machines and taking 20+ drugs. You can stay active and vital up to the end. Call today for an evaluation. Get and stay on the road to better health. Health is the best health insurance on the market.

Methylation acts as an on/off switch that allows the body to learn how to respond to environmental change.  It represents the only cellular pathway that effects both adaptability and structural integrity of the body.  Like the simple water molecule, methyl groups are necessary for life.  This pathway is directly related to most major chronic conditions:

Heart disease, Stroke, Cancer, Diabetes, MS ,ALS, Parkinson's disease,  Huntington's disease ,  CFS/FM, Mitochondrial disease,SLE, neural tube defects, Miscarriages, Down's syndrome,  Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia,  Repair of tissue damage,Proper immune function,  The aging process, and  Autism.

methylation [meth??-la´shun] the addition of methyl groups.

The issue of a person being an under or over methylator can be confusing. It may not be one of the all time critically defining issues, but it may help in the general sense. Several common supplements often recommended for those with autism spectrum conditions are involved in this process (this is just one of the processes these supplements may help with).

"Methylation" is not just one specific reaction. There are hundreds of "methylation" reactions in the body. Methylation is simply the adding or removal of the methyl group to a compound or other element.

So why do we care about methylation at all? In general, when some compounds receive a methyl group, this "starts" a reaction (such as turning a gene on or activating an enzyme). When the methyl group is "lost" or removed, the reaction stops (or a gene is turned off or the enzyme is deactivated). Some of the more relevant methylation reactions would be:

1. getting methyl groups "turns on" detox reactions that detox the body of chemicals, including phenols. So if you are phenol sensitive, and you increase your methylation, then theoretically your body can process more phenols and you can eat fruits without enzymes!

  2. getting methyl groups "turns on" serotonin, and thus melatonin, production. Therefore, if you are a under-methylator, you can increase your methylation and have higher more appropriate levels of serotonin and melatonin. This means you may not have to take SSRIs, or may have improved sleep.

 3. if you are an over-methylator you can take certain supplements to decrease methylation and perhaps turn off reactions that need to be off. This may decrease aggression or hyperness, for example.

This is the general idea. To what extent this actually works in real life for any individual is back to "every one is different." But this is one thing that the Pfeiffer Treatment Center really looks at. I hope this explanation helps.

Something to note is that everyone is not EITHER an over OR under methylator. There are more groups than that, and you may be just fine in regards to methylation. Even if the Pfeiffer statistic is exactly correct when they say 45% are under-methylators and 15% are over-methylators, that totals 60%, so almost half the people are neither.

HOW TO HELP

As a solution, our unique topical delivery system, assures that our pharmaceutical grade Neuro-methylation Cream promotes and enhances the methylation processes needed to improve the production of glutathione, increase Vitamin D levels and allow maximum B12, B6 and vitamin delivery to the nervous and immune systems. This potent nutrient-rich cream can help maximize and aid in:

Mood Improvement & Stabilization   Mental Focus & Concentration                  Organization Skills   5 MTHR Mutation     Short Term Memory Loss             

Cerebral Folate Deficiency   Hormonal Regulation    Sleep Patterns   Immune Function

 

Such nutrients as Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate (B6) and Vitamin B12 in a methylated form called methylcobalamin (Methyl B12) and hydroxycobalamin (Hydroxy B12) and natural Vitamin D assist the body neurologically and physically. The advantage of using a topical cream is that it is delivered immediately into the skin, bypassing any mal-absorption problems of the gastrointestinal tract, which can be a common occurrence when the body is toxic or has gastrointestinal issues. In addition to assisting in detoxification and neuro-immune support, this topical cream is designed to work with the body to assist with oxidative stress, auto-immune diseases and sensory overload.

VEGA testing is a simple biofeedback procedure.  Your nervous system is a highly sophisticated information retrieval and intelligent response output organ.  Your nervous system is a bio computer more sophisticated any computer made by man.  Part of the nervous system retrieves and analyzes information the other part responds to that information.

During the VEGA test your nervous system is exposed to several different substances that it either responds to or doesn't.  Probably the easiest way to explain this is if someone has an allergy to ragweed.  In an allergy test with VEGA testing we would expose the body to the vibratory rates of ragweed.  Because the body recognizes this as an allergen we would monitor a response.

This is an objective response that is repeatable.  We observe this response in the apparent change in arm or leg lengths.  The response of tapping the knee and observing the reflex extension of the lower leg is the exact same reflex we observe.  If you elicited the reflex at the knee with the leg straight you would observe a temporary shortening of that leg as the muscles contracted.  This biofeedback reflex mechanism is the basis we use for monitoring in VEGA testing.

HISTORY

VEGA Testing is based on the phenomenon of “medicine testing” found by  Dr. Reinhardt Voll, M.D., a German  medical doctor, in his work with electrical acupuncture.  Dr. Helmut Schimmel, M.D., also of Germany, later  developed Dr. Voll’s work into a system of substance testing now known as VEGA  testing.

VEGA testing is based on the effect  of electrical resistance changes of the  skin on certain acupuncture points (low electrical resistance areas)  in  response to differing substances that are either beneficial or detrimental  to the body.

Dr. George Goodheart, D.C., U.S.A.,  discovered in the 1950’s that the muscles of the body, in the presence of certain substances, would either  become weaker or stronger.  This finding is part of a diagnostic system called "Applied Kinesiology". Based  on this phenomena, a simple arm or  leg check can monitor the body’s  response to any given substance.

Because this particular procedure is  more objective and can be performed  repetitively without fatiguing the body,  this is the system that we use.

VEGA TESTING’S SCOPE

VEGA testing is a multi-faceted diagnostic procedure.  It can be used to determine if a patient has an allergic tendency, and, if they do have allergies, what particular antigens they are allergic to. VEGA testing allows us to find the major organs that are under the most stress. It also helps to determine the level of stress of each organ or part of the body.  It can monitor the progress that a patient is making, without having to re-run expensive laboratory tests.

The VEGA test method allows for nutritional evaluation to determine if there are serious mineral or vitamin deficiencies, as well as food overloads, e.g., over-consumption of salts or sugars, proteins, etc.  VEGA testing also gives some information about the emotional status of a patient.  We can determine if the nervous system is being stressed by some strong deep emotions, and what possible remedies might be effective in helping the emotional processing.

The VEGA test method allows for determining what nutritional products or remedies might be effective in the treatment of certain conditions.  VEGA test method also allows for the determination of what is called, “Causal Chain”, or the domino effect that is taking place in the body. Most of the time when one organ malfunctions, it affects another organ, which affects another, etc.  To find the original, or most stressed organ, can be very important in understanding a patient’s particular health problems.

VEGA test method is a quick, easy method of developing an acupuncture diagnosis as to which meridians or electrical circuits within the body are malfunctioning.

When a patient is showing signs of an infection, VEGA testing allows for a quick evaluation to determine what is behind these acute symptoms - whether the source is a virus, bacteria, yeast overgrowth, food sensitivity, or an allergy response.

This method allows evaluation of the immune system, showing which organs in the immune system are under the most stress and need the most support.

We can determine also if a patient is suffering from geopathic stress.  This condition is due to radiations that might be influencing our health because of underground streams or mineral deposits or gases from underground; these can affect our bodies in subtle ways.

Through VEGA testing we can also tell if dental fillings are having an adverse effect on the body due to mercury leaching into the system.  It will indicate the presence of a toxic overload, and tell if that overload might be due simply to metabolic toxins, or if it is from heavy metals or insecticides that have entered through the environment’s food or water supply.

VEGA testing also can give us an idea of which areas of the body (which arteries, etc.) may be being affected by excessive cholesterol levels.

BIOLOGICAL SCORE (AGE)

 In the Vega test system the concept of bio-score, based on evaluating the body’s response to 21 ampules for  toxic load of the body,  relates to the level of over-all stress or disease within the body.  If we gave each organ that was malfunctioning a numerical value, then added them all up, that is the idea behind the bio-score.

By having a score like this when starting therapy we can evaluate our treatment program any time we would like.  As the body heals itself the score will reflect this by going down.  If the score becomes fixed then a change in the treatment program becomes necessary.  The bio-score is based on the body's reaction to one or more diagnostic ampoules in a set of 21.  The more ampoules that the body reacts to, the more problems that  represents.    If you react to two ampoules, say number 10 and 21, then your score would be 21x2. If you reacted to 3, 10, 16, 21 then your score would be 21x4.  Knowing each number within your score is not important, just your top number and how  many, tell the story.  In those two examples, 21x2 would be better than 21x4.  The following tells what to expect with different readings:

TWO  SCORES: PROGNOSIS EXCELLENT MILD IMMUNE STRESS,2-6 MONTHS OF CARE.

THREE SCORES: CHRONIC IMMUNE STRESS,6-9 MONTHS OF CARE.

FOUR SCORES: IMMUNE  SYSTEM NOT COPING, ADRENAL STRESS, ALLERGIES, INFLAMMATIONS, CANDIDIASIS, FATIGUE, 9-18 MONTHS CARE..

FIVE SCORES:  IMMUNE AND ADRENAL STRESS VERY SEVERE, AUTO-IMMUNE LIKELY,1 1/2-2 1/2 yrs. 0F CARE.

SIX SCORES: PROGNOSIS POOR, SERIOUS DISEASE LIKELY, SLOW RECOVERY, 2 1/2 +yrs. OF CARE.

THE ABOVE WAS BASED ON A LARGE SAMPLE OF PATIENTS AROUND THE WORLD . YOUR RECOVERY MAY BE FASTER.

We invite you to contact our office to schedule VEGA testing 918-663-1111.

 

Kefir (pronounced /ke’fier/ ke-FEER) (or alternatively kefi-rs, keefir, kephir, kewra, talai, mudu kekiya, milk kefir, búlgaros) is a fermented milk drink.

The composition of kefir depends greatly on the type of milk that was fermented, including the concentration of vitamin B12. During the fermentation, changes in composition of nutrients and other ingredients have also been shown to occur. Research has shown, however, that lactose maldigestors are able to tolerate kefir, providing the number of live bacteria present in this beverage consumed is high enough. It is believed that the bacteria in the kefir or yoghurt matrix are protected by the buffering effect of the yoghurt. It has also been shown that fermented milk products have a slower transit time than milk, which may further improve lactose digestion.

There are many benefits that may be gained from regularly drinking kefir

We have compiled information, gathered from scientific papers and studies, on benefits that may be enjoyed from regularly drinking kefir.  Of course, we are all different, and it is worth noting that the effects of drinking kefir will vary from person to person.  Some people drink kefir for health benefits - and others just because they like it. Kefir is not medicine, it a natural food with healing potential.  If you have any concerns about drinking kefir, we recommend you check with your GP first.

Kefir is a 100% natural probiotic

Everytime you drink a glass of kefir you are encouraging 'good' bacteria to flourish in your intestines.  The probiotics in Kefir are special, because they evolve naturally during the fermentation process and some of these types of probiotics are only found in traditional kefir.

People with gastro-intestinal health conditions such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or Crohn's who regularly drink kefir as part of their diet, can benefit from a reduction of typical symptoms and feel much better.  Noticable results include a normal bowel function - especially helpful to stop diarrhoea, reduce wind and painful bloating (often caused by bad bacteria in the gut).  Visit the section on probitoics for more information or see our testimonials page.

Increased vitamin and mineral intake

Fermentation of milk with the living kefir grains enhances its nutritional value increasing amounts of B vitamins, and important fat soluable vitamins A, D, E and K and folic acid. Nourish Kefir is a good source of the valuable minerals calcium, phosphorus and magnesium - which are easily absorbed into the body. Noticeable results include an increase in energy, stronger nails, good skin and shiny, stronger hair.

Improved Digestion

Kefir is easy to digest because the proteins, fats and lactose in the milk are transformed into smaller molecules during fermentation, that the body can easily absorb and utilise.  Milk proteins in kefir are broken down into a more basic structure of amino acids.  Acidic milk speeds up the secretion of digestive juices and encourages the metabolism to work more efficiently, reducing the effects of indigestion and improving digestion of other foods when taken at the same time.  Fermentation gives a release of CO2 into the milk which is good for digestion.  You may notice a slight effervesence when you open a bottle - that's the CO2 and is completely normal.

Digestibility of lactose in kefir

Lactose in the kefir milk is transformed during fermentation into smaller molecules: glucose and galactose.  Although there may still be some lactose present in the milk, it is reduced.

Cancer prevention and tumor reduction

Results of laboratory tests on mice have shown that traditional kefir helped to prevent cancer of the colon, and reduce tumour growth where cancer is already present in the colon. Similar results were obtained regarding tests for tumour reduction in breast and liver cancers, as well as prevention of prostrate cancer.  Although there have not been any clinical trials in the UK or USA, we hope that this will eventually happen to prove the true extent of the healing power of traditional kefir, that it may benefit others.

Cholesterol reduction

The cholesterol in milk fats is relatively low.  Kefir contains 12mg of cholesterol per 100 ml (in a drink with 3.5% fat content).  The microorganisms in kefir break down the fats in the milk, making them easier to digest.  Recent research suggests that certain probiotic lacto bacteria present in kefir may actually help to lower cholesterol; by attaching themselves to cholesterol cells and eliminating them from the body.

Antioxidant and Immune System

Kefir contains antioxidants that protect cells from illness and ageing affects.  Scientists believe that these antioxidants are the link to the longevity of the people from the Caucasus, who first drank kefir, and among whom were many centenarians.

Studies show more people are searching for natural solutions for their health. In 1993 the American Medical Association did a survey of health habits of Americans and found that more Americans visited doctors that practiced natural healthcare then doctors that practiced drug therapy and surgery.

There are many reasons for this shift in healthcare. Some people are concerned about the side effects that drugs have, (2000 deaths per week and over 1 million injuries per year), some people have a sense of body ecology and don't want to put any artificial substances within their body. Some people have discovered drugs mainly cover-up symptoms and never get to the root of their problem, and are more concerned with maximizing their health than just making some symptoms disappear.

I'm sure you have seen either a popular magazine or news program on TV on the benefits of different natural healthcare techniques. Chiropractic is the world's largest natural healthcare profession and specializes in finding the root cause of health problems and helping restore patients to better health through natural methods.

At Keefe clinic these are the principles that we specialize in. We promise you that we will not just cover-up your symptoms and allow the underlying condition time to get worse.

Chiropractic care, homeopathic care, individualized diet, acupuncture, nutritional therapy, muscle therapy and exercise, whatever it takes to move your body from disease to health, dysfunction to realizing your genetic potentials. We will customize a program to fit your particular health needs, from low back pain and headaches to digestive problems and PMS. From ear infections in babies to arthritis or heart disease and the geriatric patient, we offer the latest and natural healthcare.

  If you have a health problem or suffering from some painful condition I would like to invite you to come in for a complimentary consultation, or, if you have been looking for clinic that offers natural healthcare and want to get started rebuilding your health, please give Keefe clinic call at 918-663-1111. We offer classic diagnostic testing as well as unique state-of-the-art innovative testing techniques from the natural healthcare field to help understand the nature of your particular health issues and help customize a treatment program. We offer comprehensive natural family care. Come join the revolution. Learn how to take control of your health needs.

For more information visit our website:

 

If you have high blood pressure you should do the following:

Lose weight if you're overweight. 

Quit smoking if you smoke. 

Be more active, striving to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. 

Eat a healthy diet based on your body type and if you’r salt sensitive stop salt. 

Cut back on alcohol to no more than one drink a day for women and two a day for men.

Get your spine in proper alignment. (The “Journal of Human Hypertension” released a study indicating chiropractic neck adjustments lower blood pressure better than two medications given at the same time.)

For some people, this advice (and following through with it) is enough to get their blood pressure back to normal levels.

If the above recommendations don’t seem to correct the problem then there are additional things to consider.

Seeking emotional stability

If you are not handling stress properly we can help outline a program to resolve that.

Isometric exercises and breathing

New studies show that by using isometric gripping exercises you can reduce your blood pressure considerably.  Also Controlled breathing, trying to maintain less than 10 breaths a minute can lower blood pressure.  I would recommend two websites: zona.com and lowermypressure.com.

Minerals like potassium and magnesium can be the cause for some people’s high blood pressure if your low in them.

Foods that are high in potassium:

Apricots, avocado, bananas, cantaloupe, melons, kiwi, lima beans, milk, oranges and orange juice, potatoes, prunes, spin age, tomatoes, meat, fish, and poultry.

Foods high in magnesium:

Whole grain bread, dark green leafy vegetables, halibut, most kinds of nuts, especially almonds and cashews, soybeans, oatmeal, potatoes, peanut butter, black-eyed peas, and yogurt.

Other nutrients like garlic, Co-q-10, Hawthorne, L- arginine, fish oils, apple cider vinegar, cayenne pepper, ginseng and green or oolong tea have all been shown beneficial.

The salt myth

 

Research shows that for the vast majority of people,natural salt (sea salts) consumption does not raise blood pressure.  The truth is avoiding salt can be dangerous to your health.

One study in the “Journal of Human Hypertension” (13:777-80, 1999) concluded that substituting table salt for potassium, magnesium, sodium salt...  9 out of 20 elderly hypertensive patients experienced an 11 point drop in their daytime systolic blood pressure.  It turns out that natural sea salt rich in natural potassium, magnesium and sodium helps to normalize healthy blood pressure levels.  un less your sodium sensitive, chances are your high blood pressure stems from a lack of the correct ratio of key minerals.  Salt is basically sodium chloride and sodium ions, the two major components of salt, are necessary for survival for all known living creatures, including humans.

Don’t be afraid of the sun

Vitamin D is plentiful in sunlight, and it is necessary for a healthy immune system.  The UV rays from the sun have been found to boost mood, which may lower blood pressure.

Get a good nights sleep

Not getting enough sleep can raise your blood pressure.  If you don’t feel like you’re sleeping as well as you should, and especially if your sleeping partner complains that you are snoring more than normal, you might want to get a snore guard from our office to improve your sleep.

Eat more chocolate

A recent study published in the “Archives of Internal Medicine” found that eating or drinking cocoa lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of death in older men.  A substance known as flavan-3-ols found in dark chocolate has been shown to lower blood pressure and improve the function of cells lining the blood vessels.  Men who ate chocolate regularly over a 15 year study were found to have lower blood pressure than those who didn’t, even when weight, smoking, physical activity and other factors were taken into account.  Remember it’s dark chocolate, I recommend finding one that has cocoa content 80% or higher.  Don’t eat the whole bar just break off one layer per day.

Drink your water

Dehydration can increase your blood pressure.

Water needs are based on body weight.  The formula is half the body weight considered in ounces.  For example a 100 pound person’s cleansing dose would be 50 ounces of fluids per day.  80% of that would be the minimum dose, for instance 80% of 50 ounces is 40 ounces.  For a hundred pound person they should drink between 40 to 50 ounces a day to keep hydrated otherwise they become dehydrated which can lead to several different health problems, high blood pressure is just one of them.

Many of us have been jaded by the constant onslaught of "the latest" medical news, much of which seems to contradict what we just heard or read about the week before.

But on July 9, millions of us - patients and health care providers alike - paid rapt attention when the federal government's National Institutes of Health released findings from a major clinical trial, warning of the risks associated with a widely used type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that combines two female hormones, estrogen and progestin.

It's estimated that 6 million postmenopausal American women currently take Prempro or similar combined estrogen-progestin drugs to ease menopause symptoms and to improve their health and well-being.

Risks Outweigh Benefit,

Study Found

The study, called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), found that the combined drugs caused increases in breast cancer, heart attacks, strokes and blood clots. Although the risk to an individual woman may be small, the number of cases occurring in the population at large can be great, researchers said. And those risks outweigh the drugs' actual benefits - a small decrease in hip fractures and a decrease in cases of colorectal cancer. The study was released four years earlier than expected because of researchers' concerns.

The WHI study is the first-ever long-term randomized controlled clinical trial - considered the gold standard by medical researchers - of hormone replacement therapy. The WHI was established in 1991 by the government to address the most common causes of death, disability and impaired quality of life in postmenopausal women. The Medical College of Wisconsin is one of 40 WHI clinical sites nationwide where study participants are seen and monitored.

The Women's Health Initiative is a 15-year multimillion-dollar endeavor, and one of the largest US prevention studies of its kind. The study was designed to look at the effects not only of HRT, but also diet modification and vitamin and mineral supplements. Some 67,000 women from across the country, ranging in age from 50 to 79, are participating in the WHI clinical trials. In addition to those women, the study is also following the medical history and health habits of an additional 100,000 women to examine the relationship between lifestyle, health and risk factors with specific disease outcomes. Final results are due out in 2006.

More than 16,600 U.S. women are participating in the combined estrogen-progestin portion of the trial, among them 438 women who are in the Medical College of Wisconsin group. They were sent letters telling them to discontinue taking those drugs. The WHI is continuing to study the effects of ERT, or estrogen-alone drugs, used by women who have had a hysterectomy. WHI has not stopped that portion of the study.

Is there a safe alternative?

For years women have found safe alternatives to synthetic hormone replacement therapy.  Because these approaches are not patented you don't always hear about them.  When a pharmaceutical company can obtain sole rights to a drug they can charge what they want and can usually make millions if not billions of dollars before the patent runs out.  Companies that sell natural products are not able to do this and thus are under considerably more competition and have less resources to advertise.  That's why most people not only know about drug therapy approaches but assume there are no other choices.

The good news is there are many safe and effective alternatives to hormone replacement therapy.  When considering a healthy hormone state one should consider normal lifestyle habits.        Diet, exercise, plenty of clean water, sunshine, and sleep are just a few of the important lifestyle habits to maintain a healthy chemistry.  Along with these lifestyle habits different nutritional products have been shown to be very effective.  Herbs like black cohosh have a very high success rate in controlling many of the symptoms of menopause like hot flashes.  Stronger bones, healthier heart, balanced emotions, healthier skin and a normal sexual response can be maintained by properly balancing hormones during this time of life.

Different foods have been shown to be beneficial in this strategy.  Foods made from soybean or flax can help a woman maintain a better hormone balance.  At Keefe Clinic we have different options in utilizing these particular foods.

Lab work, symptoms survey questionnaires and vega testing can be helpful in developing a nutritional approach to hormone balance.  We carry a line of creams and pellets that have natural estrogen and progesterone to help maintain a proper level.  The hormones in these products are derived from plants, yet the estrogen is the actual form of one of the estrogens naturally produced in the body.  These hormones have been used for over 20 years with no known side effects.

If you would like to be evaluated for hormone balance, be it for symptoms of menopause or premenstrual syndrome, don't hesitate to ask.

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE BENEFITS

Those who use Hemp Hearts™ in quantity each morning to totally change their diets so that they no longer consume excess unnecessary nutrients, especially those who reduce their weight to levels not experienced since their teen years, can expect profound improvements in health and energy.

For healthy digestive systems--everyone should avoid starches and processed foods as much as possible.

The human digestive system needs a lot of roughage—raw, long fiber foods with coarse skins and membranes -- so that natural contractions will hold the food being processed together and move it en masse through our twenty foot long digestive systems. This process leaves the walls of the digestive system clean so that nutrients can be absorbed from the next material that passes. Cooked, ground, processed foods--especially starches--become pastes which remain plastered on the walls of our digestive systems thus preventing the absorption of nutrients from fresh material.  Those who eat Hemp Hearts in quantity with roughage early every morning will go to the bathroom after every meal; their stools will be yellow like those of a baby because they have not been retained long; they will experience perfect digestive health. Those who add starches to this diet will sometimes experience watery stools as liquefied starches are swept through the system by faster moving Hemp Hearts and roughage. If you are determined to eat cereal with your Hemp Hearts for breakfast, at least be certain that it is as unprocessed as possible and do not eat starch again that day or you may have watery stools.

Every cell in the human body needs to be supplied every morning with sufficient protein, essential fats, vitamins, minerals and enzymes for tissue health: The protein, essential fat and enzyme requirements are easily satisfied by Hemp Hearts. The vitamin, mineral and enzyme requirements are easily satisfied by Hemp Hearts in conjunction with assorted vegetables. The long fiber food requirement is only satisfied effectively by raw vegetables, perhaps with the significant addition of raw fruit for those who are not diabetic. Those who avoid starches while supplying themselves every morning with all of the essential nutrients will have veins and arteries that expand and contract with each heartbeat keeping passages clean--resulting in low blood pressure, excellent circulation, improved body function and optimum mental capacity. They will not suffer from inflammatory conditions and will look much younger than their age. They will have abundant long lasting energy for good mental health and success.

Those who eat at least 5, but perhaps as much as 8, Heaping tablespoons of Hemp Hearts early each morning with salads made with spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, celery, ripe avocado, beans in the pod, alfalfa sprouts and bean sprouts—further flavored with cayenne pepper, garlic, lemon, lime and perhaps some yogurt—always experience profound health and energy benefits. More adventurous salad makers sometimes incorporate cabbage lettuce, kale, chives, water cress, endive, black radish, red beet, dandelion, sorrel, radish sprouts, soaked beans and chia sprouts.

   A breakfast of HEMP HEARTS™ is a concentrated and balanced source of all required proteins and essential fats.

Besides diabetics and others with conditions requiring that they eat more frequently, those who eat four to five tablespoons of HEMP HEARTS™ early each morning report that they are not yet hungry at lunchtime -- often only slightly hungry at three or four o'clock in the afternoon

  Expect reduced cravings for foods with stimulants, sugars, starches and saturated fats. Such foods in excess promote obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, strokes, diabetes, increased susceptibility to cancer and a whole spectrum of diet-related diseases. Satisfied by HEMP HEARTS™, your body will not make insatiable demands that result in unhealthy food choices.

Contains several times more Omega 3 essential fat than any fish.

                Contains more required amino acids (proteins) than milk, meat or eggs.

                A complete protein source--much more balanced & digestible than any Soy product.

                Contains about 47% oil, 86% of which is omega 3, 6 and 9.

                Contains all the essential and Omega fats required for human health.

                Provides more energy than energy bars--without their sugar and with less saturated fat.

                Suitable for those unable to eat gluten, sugar, milk, nuts & meat.

                Perfect for those troubled with constipation and for those avoiding carbohydrates.

                No THC and is Kosher! 

LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF HEMP HEARTS

5tbs=100g

Calories                   567/100g

Protein              30.6/100g

Total Fat                 47.2g/100g

Saturated Fat       5.2g/100g

Palmitic 16:0         3.44g/100g

Arachidic 20:0  0.28g/100g

Stearic 18:0           1.46g/100g

Monounsaturated Fat   5.8g/100g

Oleic 18:1               5.8g/100g

Polyunsaturated Fat       36.2g/100g

Linoleic 18:2        (Omega-6 EFA)               27.56g/100g

Linolenic 18:3     (Omega-3 EFA) 8.68g/100g

Total Essential Fatty Acids            36.24g/100g

Carbohydrate    10.9g/l00g

Moisture             4.7g/100g

Cholesterol         O.Og/100g

Total Dietary Fiber           6.0g/100g

Sugars             1.99g/100g

Fructose              0.45g/100g

Glucose                0.30g/100g

Sucrose                1.24g/100g

Maltose               <0.lg/l00g

Lactose <0.lg/l00g

Vitamin A (B-Carotene) 4 IU/100g

Thiamine (Vitamin B1)  1.38mg/100g

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 0.33mg/100g

Vitamin B6                          0.12mg/100g

Vitamin C                             1.0mg/100g

Vitamin D                      2277.5 IU/100g

VitaminE(d)-A-Tocopherol)8.96 IU/100g

Sodium                     9.0mg/100g

Calcium                                 74.0mg/100g

Iron                                     4.7mg/100g

Tetrahydrocannabinol   none     detectable

ALLERGY INFORMATION: Hemp Hearts are free of preservatives, eggs, nuts, dairy, soy and gluten.

WARNING HEMP HEARTS™ provide amazing amounts of energy and may keep one from sleeping if consumed late in the day.

With the death rate from heart problems so high and the number of Americans suffering with heart related disease, we need to look at our approach to heart health.

Fortunately, we are slowly evolving from an era where a headache has been treated as an aspirin deficiency into an era of molecular or nutritional medicine, where we can now find the biochemical defects (missing nutrients) that predispose people to many symptoms. The main reasons for so many deficiencies today are dual:

(1) We are the first generation to eat so many processed foods that have been stripped of their nutrients to expand shelf life; and (2) We are the first generation to ever be exposed to and be detoxifying so many chemicals on a daily basis. This process of detoxification requires and actually uses up, or depletes, many nutrients.

For example, most grocery stores' cooking oils and margarines are purified and hydrogenated. This means the oils and margarines have been processed with strong chemicals that remove most of the vitamins and minerals. This is so the product can last for months and not go bad. Unfortunately these nutrients are the very ones that are necessary to prevent arteriosclerosis, early heart attacks, high blood pressure, impotence, Alzheimer's presenile dementia, strokes, premature aging, etc.

Furthermore, hydrogenation means that the product has been exposed to a temperature in excess of 1,000 F, which causes a twisting of the molecule. Normally, lipid (fat or oil) molecules fit into the membranes of cells to protect them and promote proper function. When these heat twisted molecules are ingested, they fit into the membranes like broken keys. They lock into the structure, but they stop it from functioning properly, and they prevent the good molecules from entering to perform their functions. Meanwhile, the twisted molecules are capable of causing the very same damage that saturated fats (from bacon, cheese, steak, etc.) cause.

What do doctors who have not studied nutrition recommend to heart patients?

Margarines, artificial eggs, etc.

Margarines are as much as 35% trans (the "bad" twisted molecules) fatty acids. Corn oil, artificial ("plastic") egg substitutes and most "natural whole grain health breads" (made with hydrogenated oils) contain significant amounts as well. So U.S. cardiologists could have actually been accelerating disease. U.S. cardiologists are blamed specifically, because European doctors are either more aware of biochemistry, are not so egocentric that they cannot listen to doctors who do read about the latest scientific discoveries or perhaps are not as controlled financially by other interests, like food and chemical manufacturers. Europe won't even allow the sales of our margarines there because they are so notoriously high in damaging trans- fatty acids.

Another point is that more than 51% of the heart patients in a recent study were low in magnesium in one study. These are the patients who died from a recalcitrant arrhythmia, induced by an undetected mineral deficiency.

For example, in patients who had suffered heart attacks, had bypass surgery and all the best modern drugs and yet were found to be relentlessly persistent in closing off new vessels with arteriosclerotic deposits, diet and lifestyle changes were able to reverse these lesions in one year, as proven by PET scans. Yet, cardiologists commonly treat irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia) with various drugs, like calcium channel blockers, even though magnesium is nature's calcium channel blocker.

In a time when government studies reveal that the average American diet only provides a small percent of the daily requirement for magnesium, is it any wonder that there is such an upsurge in the use of calcium channel blockers? The problem is that by artificially fixing the minerally deficiency symptom with a medication instead of correcting' the underlying cause, the deficiency is allowed to progress and cause other serious conquences, like sudden death.

In terms of chronic care, the cardiologist can actually be contributing to disease. For example, mineral deficiency may be a solo cause or one of several causes of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of chronic illness and death in the U.S. However, the main category of drug prescribed for chronic hypertension, a diuretic, is notorious for causing mineral deficiency.

So the very drug that is prescribed to treat (mask) the symptom, is actually worsening the underlying cause. The patient has only one option: to get sicker. As his mineral deficiency worsens, the patient may suffer chronic back spasms, chronic fatigue or depression, cardiac arrhythmia or even sudden death. If that were not enough, these diuretics also elevate serum lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides), thereby accentuating another cause of arteriosclerosis. And this occurs because we are drug-oriented and merely mask the symptoms, rather than look for the biochemical causes.

Doctors, in general, do not read bio-chemistry research journals, even though one of the roles of research biochemists is to make important discoveries about human health. Physicians instead normally read medical journals that are between 10 and 45 years behind actual scientific discoveries.

Should anyone take a preview peak into the literature and report it before the self-appointed medical authorities do, he immediately gets proclaimed a quack, or the information is labeled unsubstantiated. This is almost as though there is an unwritten rule: "It shall not be discovered and announced and taken for common knowledge until we are ready."

Historically, nutritional care has not only taken a back seat, but has taken a beating from drug-oriented medicine. Meanwhile, the politics and pace of change in medicine may make it necessary for you to take charge now until the cardiologists and other doctors catch up with the molecular era of nutritional medicine.

In another report, a research dietitian warned that the popular low fat, high-carbohydrate diet americans are being encouraged to follow isn't necessarily best for everyone - and could endanger the health of some individuals.

OK, What can I do? Seek correction not just treatment (symptom relief) for your health problems.

If you have a heart related problem 1) Make sure no subluxations affecting the heart go uncorrected 2) Ask us for a complete lab work-up and Vega exam to find if there are any nutrient problems relating to the underlying condition. 3) Start a regular exercise program 4) Ask about stress reduction.

Your lifestyle changes can make all the difference in the world. There is hope.

Heart surgeon speaks out on what really causes heart disease

 

HCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a glycoprotein hormone produced in pregnancy that is made by the developing embryo after conception and later by the placenta. Its primary utility is to provide nourishment to the fetus by burning the fat content from the mother's body. Research on HCG has suggested that it can have large repercussions on tackling obesity, a glaring problem in the modern day. Taking small daily doses of HCG  can result in weight loss of 1 to 2 lbs per day, and often more, when accompanied by a low calorie diet of approximately 500 calories. HCG has thus emerged as a powerful tool within the realms of weight loss and obesity issues, and the best part is that HCG weight loss programs is that they are easy to start, maintain, and leave. So if you really want to shed the excess weight, don't waste any more time.

The discovery of the effects of HCG for weight loss

A.T.W. Simeons, a British endocrinologist, discovered the impact of HCG on obesity in the late 1950s while working in India. He realized that some of the pregnant women in India were themselves quite malnourished, but were still able to have healthy babies. This helped Dr. Simeons understand how HCG (which influences the Hypothalamus within the brain) is released during pregnancy, and how it makes the body use up the fat reserves of the body without having any affect on muscle. Dr. Simeons then used this technique to come up with a HCG protocol or diet plan which involved administration of small quantities of HCG for a specific amount of time along with a low calorie diet. The idea was to basically make the hypothalamus use up the excess stored up body fat when the body is on a low calorie diet, with the help of small doses of HCG. This makes the body burn excess fat for energy and results in weight loss at a fast and steady rate. Dr. Simeons theorized that HCG distributed stored fat and helped the body to metabolize fat. However, although HCG became a rage during the late 1950's and 1960's, HCG for weight loss gradually lost popularity until its uses in weight loss were revived in 2007 by an infomercial and highly acclaimed book by Kevin Trudeau called "The Weight Loss Cure They Don't Want You to Know About". Mr. Trudeau has given in detail the wide scale applicability and impact that HCG can have.

Benefits of HCG

If you have tried the various diets and weight loss programs, and are dissatisfied with the outcomes, then an HCG diet may be the right option for you. The HCG weight loss diet has its advantages in areas where other weight loss diets and programs appear to be seriously lacking. It attacks the causes of obesity such as low metabolism, intense physiological hunger and binge or emotional eating. These abnormalities have usually been linked to a small region in the brain known as the hypothalamus. Other diet programs simply deal with the symptoms of such abnormalities by cutting the intake of food, thus they become far less effective in the long run. The fat that is lost after intense exercise regimes and numerous months of strict dieting returns almost as soon as one goes back to a normal diet. However, HCG diets can help bring these abnormalities, such as low metabolism, which are the fundamental causes of obesity within normal parameters. This is only possible due to the fact that HCG enables a sort of restructuring of the hypothalamus and so addresses the essentials of the weight problem. Thus the real benefits of the HCG protocol lie in modifying the dieter's relationship with food and eating, resulting in easily maintained, long-term weight loss.

When we put on weight, our bodies usually add on the extra pounds in certain "problem" areas. These include the hips, arms and below the chin. The easier it is to put on weight in these areas, the harder it is to lose weight from them. Anyone who has tried dieting and weight loss programs will know how true this is. On the other hand, because HCG diets have a cause based rather than a symptom based approach, they are highly effective in releasing "problem area" fat. Your body structure will appear almost reshaped when you look in the mirror. It is known to decrease waist sizes drastically leading to flat stomachs and a feeling that the old clothes are now highly oversized! Most people who have tried HCG diets say that after a few days they feel as though they have had liposuction done. Another plus point of HCG weight loss diets is the efficacy of these diets within short periods of time. The impact is visible on the first day itself, and the positive effects HCG diets will have on your body, and your life, will be immediate and apparent.

HCG Protocol

Most HCG protocols have a high success rate and help people lose around 1 lb of fat a day. It may seem unbelievable but people can lose from 3 - 5 lbs on the first day itself! A 30 - 45 day HCG protocol is more than sufficient to help you get back to shape and develop a new happy healthy point of view. Getting on the weighing scale in the morning and finding that you have lost weight every single day that you follow the HCG protocol can be a highly motivating and exciting experience.

Well researched and specialized protocols are an essential part of HCG diets. These are planned in such a manner that even if you cut down the daily calorie intake, you would not feel hungry or deprived in any way. Quite unlike the usual diets we know of. This takes place because the HCG instructs the body to utilize fat reserves through the hypothalamus. Hence the body is flooded with 2000 - 3000 calories from these reserves which along with the calorie intake as part of the program is more than sufficient to take care of your daily nourishment. Further, not only is your hunger controlled, but your energy levels stay high. Hence you will not feel lethargic, tired or grumpy during the day.

The simplicity of using HCG for weight loss lies in the ease with which one can lose the amount of weight one wants to and then leave the diet as and when it pleases them. There is a short stabilizing period when you want to get off the protocol, which helps you get back to your normal diet and maintain your new weight. Protocols generally include switching to organic foods and daily HCG  under the direction of a health care provider. Other recommended activities include walking an hour a day or more and doing breathing exercises.

                The gallbladder is a hollow system that sits just beneath the liver. In adults, the gallbladder measures approximately 8 centimetres (3.1 in) in length and 4 centimetres (1.6 in) in diameter when fully distended.  At the neck of the gall bladder is a mucosal fold called Hartmann's pouch, where gallstones commonly get stuck.

When food containing fat enters the digestive tract, it stimulates the secretion of cholecystokinin (CCK). In response to CCK, the adult human gallbladder, which stores about 50 millilitres (1.7 U.S. fl oz; 1.8 imp fl oz) of bile, releases its contents into the duodenum. The bile, originally produced in the liver, emulsifies fats in partly digested food.

During storage in the gallbladder, bile becomes more concentrated which increases its potency and intensifies its effect on fats.

  Gallbladder attacks are more common than you may think. Gallstones affect more than 25,000 million Americans with 1 million new cases diagnosed annually, according to the American Gastroenterological Association.

People can go for years with digestive symptoms and never realize that they may be related to a gallbladder problem. That's because they are so inter-woven with other digestive symptoms such as indigestion, gas, bloating and constipation.

GALLBLADDER SYMPTOMS

"              Pain or tenderness under the rib cage on the right side

"              Pain between shoulder blades

"              Stools light or chalky colored

"              Indigestion after eating, especially fatty or greasy foods

"              Nausea

"              Dizziness

"              Bloating

"              Gas

"              Burping or belching

"              Feeling of fullness or food not digesting

"              Diarrhea (or alternating from soft to watery)

"              Constipation

"              Headache over eyes, especially right

"              Bitter fluid comes up after eating

"              Frequent use of laxatives

GALLBLADDER ATTACK

SYMPTOMS

Please note that if you are in severe pain and particularly if your attack symptoms are accompanied by fever DO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. The following symptoms are typical of a gallbladder attack.

"              Moderate to severe pain under the right side of the rib cage

"              Pain may radiate through to the back or to the right shoulder

"              Severe upper abdominal pain (biliary colic)

"              Nausea

"              Queasiness

"              Vomiting

"              Gas

"              Burping or belching

"              Attacks are often at night

"              Attacks often occur after overeating

"              Pain will often but not always follow a meal with fats or grease

"              Pain may be worse with deep inhalation

"              Attacks can last from 15 minutes to 15 hours

SYMPTOMS OF GALLSTONES

    Symptoms of a gallbladder attack are often caused by gallbladder stones. However, short of causing an actual attack, stones may be present for years and never cause any symptoms at all. "Biliary pain can occur in about a third of the gallstone patients" (which leaves two thirds NOT experiencing pain) and "sometimes the gallstone symptoms are difficult to differentiate from that of dyspepsia." (indigestion)  The gallstones can impair the functioning of the gallbladder, however, which can result in any of the common gallbladder symptoms.

Gall bladder symptoms can look and feel the same with or without stones. Therefore, all of the symptoms on listed on this page can accompany gallstones.

SILENT GALLSTONES

70-80% of people with gallstones never know they have them. These are called "silent gallstones". However, the remaining 20-30% still results in 500,000-700,000 gallbladder removals every year. And since the diet of the general American population is not improving, those numbers are rising.

                The risk of silent gallstones causing a gallbladder attack is about 1% per year.

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine compared the mortality rate from emergency surgery performed for obstructing gallstones with the mortality rate from routine, scheduled gallbladder surgery and concluded that the latter gallbladder surgery is actually more dangerous. They advised that "silent" gallstones should not be subjected to surgery but left alone.

And another study reports:

"We conclude that innocent gallstones are not a myth, and that in some populations the majority of silent gallstones are inconsequential. We believe that routine prophylactic operation for silent gallstone disease, at least in white American men, is neither necessary nor advisable.".

Foods to Avoid for Gallstones:

Eggs, pork, gluten, onion, fowl, milk, coffee, grapefruit, oranges, corn, beans and nuts, alcohol, saturated fats, hydrogenated oils and partially hydrogenated oils

NOTE: green beans are not classified as beans.

Gallstones may be removed from the gallbladder by means of a gallbladder and liver flush.

As noted earlier in the pamphlet bile will concentrate in the gallbladder and if the gallbladder becomes sluggish and doesn't fully empty then this concentrated bile can develop into stones. Olive oil is a great stimulus to the gallbladder to empty itself and thus olive oil can help keep the gallbladder from developing stones. I would recommend at least a tablespoon a day for those individuals who suspect gallbladder problems. There are different supplements that can help dissolve gallstones one of those pectin in apple juice, I would recommend arsenic (pesticide) free organic apple juice. Choline is a supplement we use frequently for gallbladder issues because this can help reduce gallstones. Through testing we can determine the best approach in dealing with gallbladder issues and sometimes it can be purely neurological. Misalignments in the upper mid back can affect gallbladder function and can lead to functional spasms of the gallbladder. Coffee enemas can be very effective at stopping gallbladder attack (ask for coffee enema handout). The gallbladder liver flush indicated earlier is a seven day program that first prepares the stones to be removed and then on Saturday a drink is produced that will have a strong flushing effect on the gallbladder. Note: this flush should be used with some caution as large stones may become lodged in the bile ducts or common bile duct and might require surgery. (After 25 years recommending this no one has required surgery so for).

 

Home Remedies for Gallbladder

Home Remedies for Gallbladder #1 Alfalfa cleanses the liver and supplies necessary vitamins and minerals. Twice a day for two days, take 1,000 milligrams in tablet or capsule form with a glass of warm water.

Home Remedies for Gallbladder #2 Peppermint capsules are used in Europe to cleanse the gallbladder.

Home Remedies for Gallbladder #3 If you have gallstones, or are prone to developing them, turmeric can reduce your risk of further problems.

Home Remedies for Gallbladder #4 Other beneficial herbs include barberry root bark, catnip, cramp bark, dandelion, fennel, ginger root, horsetail, parsley and wild yam.

Home Remedies for Gallbladder #5 If you have an attack, drink 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of apple juice. This should relieve the pain quickly. If the pain does not subside, go to the emergency room to rule out other disorders such  heart problems.

When you stand on the vibration platform you will notice the following benifits: Burns Fat and tones and tightens Skin - Increased fat burning because the metabolism increases by training. The vibrations reshape the body in the hip, waist and abdomen.

 

Increases Human Growth Hormone output by up to 361%. Decreases cellulite and boosts your body's natural collagen production: The massage exercises loosen the agglutinations and results in better mobility of the tissue layers. The image of the skin will also improve, because cellulite is broken down and the connective tissue is enhanced therefore it would boost your body's natural collagen production for improved skin texture.

Increase your muscle strength up to 50% in as little as three weeks: During the training almost 100% of the muscle fibers are utilized.

Improves blood circulation and lymphatic drainage and metabolism: During training, the muslces pump blood into the smallest capillaries up to 50 times per second. This allows the cells to receive fuel more rapidly and causes waste products to be disposed of much faster. Also by enhancing your local circulation it builds a stronger immunity system. Fights  Against Numbness.

Builds Bone Density and fights osteoporosis and reduces your back and joint pains. Decreases blood Pressure, Decrease your recovery time after workouts. Dramatically increase your flexibility: Due to better blood flow, heating of the muscles and the tendon stretching reflex, the body becomes much more supple and relaxed.

Improved sense of balance and coordination: The receptors in the entire body are stimulated at the same time, which leads to improved coordination of the relating muscles at the same time the sense of balance are trained.

Reduces stress: Decreases level of Cortisol (hormone released when under stress) Causing better mood and sense of well being. It helps your relax with its vibration and it also can help you fight insomnia.

 

Using the remote, the power button is the red upper left button the start button is the upper right button. If the unit is on and you push the start button you will stare at level one of the 20 possible levels. If you push the program button "P" lower right then the start button you will start the first programed session of 3. These are 10 min. sessions with 3 different levels at about every 3 mins. I recommend starting at the first program. Each push of "P" will bring you to the next program, then you push the start button.

If you are going to sit or lay on the platform use the lower levels {NOT THE  Programs} you need to get accustom to it first then you can use higher settings.

Magnesium is the number one mineral Americans are Deficient in.  According to the USDA, not only do most Americans not get the RDA for magnesium, most of us-56%  do not even get two-thirds of that amount.  Because magnesium is depleted by stress, exercise, and alcohol, our needs are often well beyond the RDA, which many find inadequate in the first place.

 

What country has the highest rate of milk consumption? That's right: America. Now another question: what country has the highest rate of consuming calcium supplements? That is correct: America again. So, obviously, you would say, America must have the lowest occurrence of osteoporosis of all countries. Right? Wrong.  We have one of the highest rates in the globe!  Why? Excess calcium combined with low magnesium.

Optimum levels of magnesium: prevent  kidneys stones, lowers blood pressure, build healthy bones, enhance athletic endurance and increase muscle size in response to weight training, protects the heart and arteries, prevents muscle cramps, protects the body from the damage of stress, increases energy production and fat burning, enhancing insulin function, balances blood sugar, helps relieve nervous tension and the low blood sugar of PMS, nourishs and calms the nervous system, enhancing immunity, prevents aluminum deposits in the tissues, decreases craving for foods such as chocolate.

Magnesium is the most important nutrient for the heart.  Magnesium deficiency is the #1 cause of death by heart attack in the country. Getting optimal amounts of magnesium has been shown to: increase cardiac output, prevent cardiac arrhythmias and deaths they cause, decrease the output of stress hormones, which intern protects the heart, prevents the build-up of plaque on artery walls, prevents the dangerous depletion of magnesium caused by diuretic medications.

Congestive heart failure patients frequently have low magnesium levels.  Most patients suffering from peripheral vascular disease are also deficient.  Magnesium is also excreted in higher amounts by those with mitral valve prolapse.

Magnesium is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system. Without sufficient magnesium the nerve cells can not give or receive messages, and become excitable and highly reactive. This causes the person to become highly sensitive and highly nervous. Noises will seem excessively loud and the person will jump at sudden sounds like a door slamming and will generally be nervous and on edge. Lights can appear to be too bright.

Magnesium deficiency is the most common mineral deficiency in diabetics.  This may cause the many other complications seen in this disease.  Magnesium and insulin work hand in hand..  Magnesium deficiency stops the body from using sugar correctly.  Diabetics supplemented with magnesium have greater improved sugar metabolism and tissue response to insulin.  Type II diabetics have significantly reduced magnesium levels when compared to healthy controls.  Low levels of magnesium may be one of the main reason insulin fails to work for Type II diabetics.

 

Magnesium has been shown to be helpful in treatment of viral and bacterial infections, bronchitis, acne, the conjunctivitis.  It is also particularly important for those who suffer from the overgrowth of the yeast known as candida albicans.

 

If you have enough magnesium in your blood, that does not mean you have adequate amounts in your body.  Serum magnesium is like the amount of money in your pocket.  The amount of magnesium in your tissues is like your net worth.  They has nothing to do with each other.  Magnesium spends it's time inside your cells, not outside.  Serum levels of magnesium can be elevated and magnesium deficiency can still be present.  Red blood cell and white blood cell magnesium is a better indicator of body stores.  The best test for magnesium, however, is the magnesium loading test.  In this test, magnesium is administrative orally or intravenously.  A lack of magnesium in the urine is seen as a clear sign of deficiency.  This method has detected magnesium deficiencies in a large percentage of hospital patients.

Magnesium Depletors: coffee, sugar, diuretics, drugs of all types, low thyroid, STRESS, and a high calcium diet.

Food sources for magnesium include nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, seafood, leafy greens, and fresh vegetable juices.  Few Americans eat enough of these foods.

Epson Salt baths are another way to get more of this valuable mineral into your body.

 

Peeling The Onion

The Layers

By the time the first symptoms of most health care problems appear, that condition has been developing for months, if not years. There is an initial incident that causes normal function to be interrupted. After the loss of normal function, the next step is the tissue change or pathology. Then after enough tissue damage has taken place, symptoms will finally begin to appear. Considering this, it is clear that by the time we feel or know something is wrong the process is already in one of its later stages.

The 40 year old executive who dies of a sudden heart attack may have had no symptoms beforehand, no forewarning that the problem was there until too late. However, he did not just get "sick". There were processes leading up to that fatal moment of symptoms. This is basically true with most other health care problems. When the underlying dysfunction begins, the body tries to compensate. Then the dysfunction changes in nature, and the body again tries to compensate for that change. Each one of these compensations become, in fact, a" layer" of the disease process. Battle after battle, war after war, the two processes rage on: breakdown, degeneration, and death fight against repair, regeneration, and life. Back and forth it goes, until eventually, in the disease process, the degeneration starts to win, and, in time, symptoms inform the person of this fact. Usually the first symptoms are faint and infrequent. Gradually they become more severe and frequent, until the person realizes that something is really wrong. Unfortunately, in our society, the first step then is to try to SUPPRESS these symptoms.

Traditional Drug Approach

The American health care system approach is sadly ineffective: most doctors will recommend a drug or medication to help cover up or suppress the symptoms. Aspirin for chronic headaches, coating solutions for chronic indigestion, tranquilizers for chronic anxiety, nervousness, depression, painkillers for chronic pain, and on and on. These approaches simply do not deal with the problem. As we sedate or cover up the symptoms, this allows the disease process time to become more chronic, more imbedded and deep-seated, and more difficult for the body to correct, or repair.

The Layers Accumulate

When the patient, finally desperate enough to seek alternative health care options, finds a doctor who is involved in returning the body back to true health, he can find himself in an uphill struggle. By now there is layer upon layer upon layer of the disease process already in place. There will also be toxic remains within the body from the drugs, that will have to be eliminated. Most disease processes change as they progress; as more and more tissues become involved, and then different organs.

The natural health care physician now must help the patient work back through each of these levels in an effort to reach true health. The disease process could represent 5-40 years of progression! However, the patient may have only had symptoms for weeks or months. His expectation is to be well in a week or so, unless he is made aware of the true nature of his condition. The healing process can take time, as the body back-tracks through each level of toxicity and dysfunction until it returns itself to 100% normal function.

Vega Testing Evaluation

This layer effect is something that becomes very obvious in our offices when we utilize VEGA-TESTING as part of the diagnostic evaluation of a patient. When a patient comes in with a particular symptom which concerns him, we do the initial testing. Certain organs, glands, deficiencies, etc. show up at that time. As we treat these, we may find that the condition will improve, but not completely disappear. Further testing then may reveal other organs or glands that need to be treated; or the same gland may need additional treatment that wasn't evident at the first test.

This is because the body can only deal with certain levels at a time. To use an example, if we are dealing with a certain stomach condition, it may actually be a condition that is being affected by the pancreas, the liver, the kidneys, and the colon. The initial diagnostic evaluation may only show a problem with the stomach that is associated with the pancreas. As we treat the pancreas, strengthen its function, and clear that problem, then the liver and colon may show up. They will then need to be supported, and treated. After that the kidney may show up. This is because it reflects the process of how the stomach problem first originated. We will go through a reverse order until we completely clear out all the factors that lead to the particular stomach problem; then the stomach will completely heal at that time. In this process. symptoms may have gotten better at each stage, or there might not have been any symptom relief until we got to the final stage.

"Fix Me Now!"

Because of these particular complexities, there may be a time factor involved in the healing process that we as Americans are unprepared for. "Plop plop, Fizz fizz, Oh, what a relief it is!" is the philosophy of quick cure that is very popular with our "instant" world. We want what we want and we want it NOW! If you want quick relief at any cost, then you will not have a healthy body. Our apporach is dedicated to finding the root cause/s of your health problem and to work with the body until we return each organ, gland, and system of the body back to normal. And, understand, that can take time.

DETOX SYMPTOMS

It is also possible that, as we remove one layer after another, certain negative symptoms can show up. This can be common in natural health care, and has several different names: retracing, de-toxins, healing crisis. It is basically a detoxifying process that the body has to go through in order to get well. That is why we will often recommend different types of cleansing diets to help the body quickly flush out these stored toxins so that it can get on with the process of healing, and so that the process can be undergone with the least amount of discomfort possible.

Be Patient

If you have been asked to read this brochure by Dr. Keefe, it is probably because you find yourself presently in this process. Your body is attempting to return itself back to normal as fast as it can, but it may not he doing that as quickly as you would like it to. We ask that you have patience with the process, for your body's sake. We ask that you continue to follow the recommendations you have been given in order to help you get well. Be sure to communicate any questions about your particular symptoms to Dr. Keefe. We are partners in "peeling the onion" one layer at a time, attempting to get to the core. That is the goal of good health. We all have a potential of a level of good health if we are willing to work the process until we get to the desired destination. Good health may be just around the corner - you may be closer than you think you are.

Benefits Of Good Health

That is why it is important that we have a clear understanding about health and how to achieve it. Good health will affect every aspect of our lives. Good health will give us the energy we need to enjoy life and to do the things we must do in life. Good health is essential for a good state of mind, and for a feeling of wellbeing, of enjoying life at its fullest. It is worth our strong commitment and effort to be healthy in order to fulfill our callings in life.

But it takes time ... and effort. If you have not had a recent diagnostic workup, including blood tests and VEGA testing, your health could be at risk and you would not know it yet. We encourage you to schedule a Diagnostic health screen at our office to make sure all systems are functioning as they should be. Do what you need to do to get well, and then stay well by continuing to do what you need to do. Our first concern is your health. You are worth the time and effort it takes to reach that goal!! REMEMBER TIME IS THE FRIEND OF DISEASE, Get going NOW.

 50% of successful quitters did it cold turkey: the other 50% quit gradually. The first 48 hours are critical for most people once you pass them, it will be easier each day. So pick the tips that suit you.

1.            Smoke one less cigarette each day.

2.            Make each cigarette a special decision, and put off making the decision.

3.            Don't give up cigarettes - completely carry one with you in case of need. You'll find you're saving it - permanently.

4.            Don't quit “forever” just stop for a day - and tomorrow try it for another day, and tomorrow and tomorrow.

5.            Tell your friends and family you're quitting. A public commitment bolsters will power.

6.            Pick Q (QUIT) Day  and quit.

7.            Hide all evidence of cigarettes, ashtrays, matches, etc, so you aren't reminded of your renunciation.

8.            Lay in a supply of chewing gum, celery sticks, nuts, carrot sticks, etc.

9.            Nervousness, hunger, etc., are signs of the body's readjustment. If they're hard to manage, consult me.

10.          We carry supplements that help cut the craving and are safe, ask about them.

If you need help, we can employ auriculo-therapy which is a physical therapy modality used in addictive disease. This therapy consists of specific micro-electrical currents which are directed to isolated points on the ear which triggers the release of pituitary hormones (endorphins) which is thought to alter simulative physiological brain pathways.

Effects of auricular therapy  on drug addictions

It has been found that by stimulating these acupuncture points in the ear, you could enhance what is known as an "award cascade" effect from the limbic system. This re-balances an addict's chemistry. It can change the addiction from an overwhelming compulsion to a manageable situation which the patient can then eliminate. Certainly, many drug addicts would give anything to rid themselves of their habits - but that over-whelming compulsion to use the drug is more than they can overcome. Thus, this help is a wonderful asset to the addict on a physiological level.

It is through this mechanism that a person is able to break the addictive habits of smoking, alcohol, drugs, etc.

THE SUCCESS RATE FOR this PROGRAM HAS been running APPR0XIMATEY 79% with WOMEN AND 85% with MEN.

 Stevia, an extract 300 times more potent than sugar, the no-fat, no-calorie "natural" sweetener that soda and juice lovers have been thirsting for?

Stevia users have long insisted that the leaves (usually ground and used in tea bag form) and concentrate reduced their appetite and their craving for sweets and fatty foods, thus being a very effective aid in weight loss.

Research now underway suggests that natural Stevia may be beneficial for people who are overweight. It is believed that a defect exists between the stomach and the hypothalamus in many people who are overweight, which fails to "turn off' hunger sensations when the person is actually full. It appears, from the initial research, that Stevia may correct this defect and actually reset the hunger mechanism, thus "turning off' hunger sensations when satiation has occurred.

People who use Stevia Concentrate to help balance blood sugar levels have reported that they have found 30-50 drops of the Stevia concentrate, taken two or three times a day to be useful in helping to manage their condition. Some doctors have recommended 6-8 drops six times a day.

 

People looking for help in managing weight, blood sugar, blood pressure and simply nourishing the pancreas, as well as 'lust naturally" reducing their craving for sweets and fats are enthusiastic about Stevia .. Some experts suggest that Stevia is destined to be known as one of the most important nutritional discoveries of our century.

According to the Mayo Clinic, diabetics can safely use artificial sweeteners such as Stevia because they don't affect blood sugar levels. An article at Stevia.com says Stevia actually helps to regulate blood sugar, reducing cravings: "Hunger sensations are lessened when 10 or 15 drops are taken 20 minutes before meals."

Stevia weight loss and appetite control program.

Based on the following information I would recommend utilizing Stevia drops at 3 to 50 drops 10 to 20 min. before meals. In my opinion this would be like eating a box of chocolates before you sit down to a meal, most of us would not eat much after that. So most people will find doing this regularly will cause a nice pace of weight loss.

This routine can have a significant effect on appetite even putting a drop on your tongue can help suppress appetite when needed.

In my opinion Stevia is one of the safest sugar substitutes on the planet. Now it's important to understand that you could be allergic to anything, I mean absolutely anything. The Stevia allergy which is very rare can't be ruled out. The chances are very unlikely you will have this issues with Stevia.

I recommend that you maintain your body type eating program along with the Stevia for healthy weight loss.

Weight Loss

Weight loss can be frustrating experience. Counting calories, weighing and measuring your foods, and dealing with the Appetite Demon. Many people give up and try to find the easy way out.

Unfortunately, when it comes to our bodies and health, there is no easy way out. I know that there appears to be an easy way out sometimes. Any gimmick that you try with your body, in time, will backfire. Many people, when it comes to weight loss, have relied on drugs to suppress their appetite and speed up their metabolism. And now, we find in recent news reports that these individuals have caused irreparable damage to their bodies, and several have lost their lives. There is a principle that is eternal. You can't cheat natural law, with weight loss or any other health issue. Do it correctly or you will suffer some negative consequences.

At Keefe Clinic, we approach weight loss with a wholistic viewpoint. We look at diet, metabolism, chemical imbalances, exercise and methods to enhance function. Your body has a drive to seek its natural healthy weight. If you are overweight something is resisting this drive.

Your diet could be wrong even though you're eating good foods. There are four classic metabolic types each requiring different diet and exercise regime. Learning your metabolic type could be one of the keys you have missed in maintaining a proper weight.

Your metabolism could be off because of thyroid problems, a congested liver, endocrine problems, blood sugar problem, and problems with serotonin levels and other neurotransmitter imbalances. If you have one or more of these conditions then they need to be dealt with in order for your body to reach and maintain a normal weight. I hope you can see just taking a drug or trying some other wonder pill is not going to give you any type of results that will last for long. And studies have shown most people who began some quick weight loss have gained not only their weight back but usually more within the year.

• The following are the components of the normal natural weight loss program:
• Chromium picolinate helps convert fat to lean body mass, and reduces craving's for sweets.
• Amino acid pills work as a natural appetite suppressant and balance neurotransmitters.
• Developing the proper water intake enhances the release of excess fluids improves overall metabolism and reduces appetite.
• Working out an exercise program based in your body type helps increase the burning of calories.
• Detoxification programs sometimes can be essential to get proper weight loss started.
• Using the zone diet concept can help maximize your metabolism, promoting weight loss, high-energy and blood sugar control.
• Establishing the right body type diet for lifetime weight control.
• Working with Homeopathic remedies to help control mood swings and other emotions that might interfere with a weight loss program.
• Auricular therapy to help metabolism and appetite.

Give us a call for more information. Keefe Clinic (918) 663-1111

Heart Problems

With the death rate from heart problems so high and the number of Americans suffering with heart related disease, we need to look at our approach to heart health.

Fortunately, we are slowly evolving from an era where a headache has been treated as an aspirin deficiency into an era of molecular or nutritional medicine, where we can now find the biochemical defects (missing nutrients) that predispose people to many symptoms.

• The main reasons for so many deficiencies today arc dual:
• We are the first generation to eat so many processed foods that have been stripped of their nutrients to expand shelf life.
• We are the first generation to ever be exposed to and be detoxifying so many chemicals on a daily basis. This process of detoxification requires and actually uses up, or depletes, many nutrients.

 

For example, most grocery stores' cooking oils and margarines are purified and hydrogenated. This means the oils and margarines have been processed with strong chemicals that remove most of the vitamins and minerals. This is so the product can last for months and not go bad. Unfortunately these nutrients are the very ones that are necessary to prevent arteriosclerosis, early heart attacks, high blood pressure, impotence, Alzheimer's presenile dementia, strokes, premature aging, etc.

 

Furthermore, hydrogenation means that the product has been exposed to a temperature in excess of 1,000 F, which causes a twisting of the molecule. Normally, lipid (fat or oil) molecules fit into the membranes of cells to protect them and promote proper function. When these heat twisted molecules are ingested, they fit into the membranes like broken keys. They lock into the structure, but they stop it from functioning properly, and they prevent the good molecules from entering to perform their functions. Meanwhile, the twisted molecules are capable of causing the very same damage that saturated fats (from bacon, cheese, steak, etc.) cause.

What do doctors who have not studied nutrition recommend to heart patients? Margarines, artificial eggs, etc.

 

Margarines are as much as 35% trans (the "bad" twisted molecules) fatty acids. Corn oil, artificial ("plastic") egg substitutes and most "natural whole grain health breads" (made with hydrogenated oils) contain significant amounts as well. So U.S. cardiologists could have actually been accelerating disease. U.S. cardiologists are blamed specifically, because European doctors are either more aware of biochemistry, are not so egocentric that they cannot listen to doctors who do read about the latest scientific discoveries or perhaps are not as controlled financially by other interests, like food and chemical manufacturers. Europe won't even allow the sales of our margarines there because they are so notoriously high in damaging trans- fatty acids.

 

Another point is that more than 51% of the heart patients in a recent study were low in magnesium in one study. These are the patients who died from a recalcitrant arrhythmia, induced by an undetected mineral deficiency.

For example, in patients who had suffered heart attacks, had bypass surgery and all the best modern drugs and yet were found to be relentlessly persistent in closing off new vessels with arteriosclerotic deposits, diet and lifestyle changes were able to reverse these lesions in one year, as proven by PET scans. Yet, cardiologists commonly treat irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia) with various drugs, like calcium channel blockers, even though magnesium is nature's calcium channel blocker.

In a time when government studies reveal that the average American diet only provides a small percent of the daily requirement for magnesium, is it any wonder that there is such an upsurge in the use of calcium channel blockers? The problem is that by artificially fixing the minerally deficiency symptom with a medication instead of correcting' the underlying cause, the deficiency is allowed to progress and cause other serious conquences, like sudden death.

 

In terms of chronic care, the cardiologist can actually be contributing to disease. For example, mineral deficiency may be a solo cause or one of several causes of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of chronic illness and death in the U.S. However, the main category of drug prescribed for chronic hypertension, a diuretic, is notorious for causing mineral deficiency.

So the very drug that is prescribed to treat (mask) the symptom, is actually worsening the underlying cause. The patient has only one option: to get sicker. As his mineral deficiency worsens, the patient may suffer chronic back spasms, chronic fatigue or depression, cardiac arrhythmia or even sudden death. If that were not enough, these diuretics also elevate serum lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides), thereby accentuating another cause of arteriosclerosis. And this occurs because we are drug-oriented and merely mask the symptoms, rather than look for the biochemical causes.

Doctors, in general, do not read bio-chemistry research journals, even though one of the roles of research biochemists is to make important discoveries about human health. Physicians instead normally read medical journals that are between 10 and 45 years behind actual scientific discoveries.

Should anyone take a preview peak into the literature and report it before the self-appointed medical authorities do, he immediately gets proclaimed a quack, or the information is labeled unsubstantiated. This is almost as though there is an unwritten rule: "It shall not be discovered and announced and taken for common knowledge until we are ready."

Historically, nutritional care has not only taken a back seat, but has taken a beating from drug-oriented medicine. Meanwhile, the politics and pace of change in medicine may make it necessary for you to take charge now until the cardiologists and other doctors catch up with the molecular era of nutritional medicine.

In another report, a research dietitian warned that the popular low fat, high-carbohydrate diet Americans are being encouraged to follow isn't necessarily best for everyone - and could endanger the health of some individuals.

OK, What can I do? Seek correction not just treatment (symptom relief) for your health problems.

• If you have a heart related problem
• Make sure no subluxations affecting the heart go uncorrected.
• Ask us for a complete lab work-up and Vega exam to find if there are any nutrient problems relating to the underlying condition.
• Start a regular exercise program.
• Ask about stress reduction.

Your lifestyle changes can make all the difference in the world.
There is hope.

From time to time I have patients relate to me that their medical doctor is trying to scare them away from taking their vitamins. One tactic is just to ask the patient why are you taking those, and since most patients can't explain the biochemistry they can feel a little flustered and thus a little insecure about taking them. The complexities of changing your biochemistry and thus improving your health are an area we would not expect you to fully understand but I hope you feel comfortable asking questions so you can understand why you're taking what you take. The facts are this: there is more research behind diet and nutritional therapy in promoting health and longevity then there is behind the use of drugs. The vast amount of research primarily funded by the federal government over the past 60 years have proven what we see every day in our practice, diet and nutrition is one of the most powerful tools in restoring health and maintaining it over the long run. Drugs suppress symptoms, Vitamins heal. Drugs have become increasingly dangerous over the years and kill over 3000 people a week. I believe if most people read the side effects from the drugs they're taking many would stop taking drugs. But in the doctor-patient setting if your doctor is making you feel stupid about taking supplements that can be a lot of pressure.

Why do medical doctors do that? First of all not all medical doctors practice that way. In fact the younger medical doctors are starting to investigate nutrition on their own. The training they got in school is absurd. Your local car mechanic might know more about diet and nutrition than the average medical doctor. The following article helps explain why: Medical Doctors Have Little or No Knowledge of Nutrition Because Medical Schools Offer Little or No Education on Nutrition, Vitamins or Minerals Posted on June 9, 2011  by Mannie Barling and Ashley F. Brooks The fundamental reason why doctors do not know much about nutrition is because very few of them study much, if not anything, about nutrition in medical school. This is largely because the curriculum is heavily influenced by the food and drug industries. Ray D. Strand, MD, the author of Death By Prescription, punctuates the lack of education about nutrition by saying:

"In medical school I had not received any significant instruction on the subject. I was not alone. Only approximately 6 percent of the graduating physicians in the United States have any training in nutrition. Medical students may take elective courses on the topic, but few actually do… the education of most physicians is disease-oriented with a heavy emphasis on pharmaceuticals - we learn about drugs and why and when to use them."

Dr. Strand, also, observed that doctors usually make good teachers, but not good students. Most doctors fear not knowing the answers to medically-related issues and will try to present themselves with as much authority as possible.

 

Dietary supplements are a very foreign subject for most doctors, and most doctors show no interest in learning more about them. He opines that doctors are not taught much in medical school about the power of nutrition in medicine - only about the power of prescription drugs and surgery as treatment for diseases.

Why do we use supplements?

My postgraduate training was in family practice and internal disorders. And if we were talking about cardiovascular disease or immune system disorders or arthritis we covered the overwhelming research that showed nutritional therapy as one of the top approaches to effectively deal with these issues. Just talking about cardiovascular disease I can still remember the news reports in the 80s when the convention of “heart specialists” were having their annual meeting in Florida and how they were chided by research lecturers about the importance of vitamin E in stopping heart attacks. In fact research shows that nutritional therapy is far more effective in preventing and managing heart disease than any drug on the market. I'm not saying that there aren't times that drug therapy is not life-saving but when it comes to healing and repair, nutritional therapy is essential. You don't make healthy tissue cells from drugs you make them from vitamins, minerals and enzymes. You make hormones from the foods that you put in your mouth. You make white blood cells from the foods that you put in your mouth. And that's why I feel any physician who doesn't have the knowledge to help their patients with diet and supplementation should not be in the office of a primary care physician. Drugs and surgeries are best left to the emergency rooms. Repairing organs by rebalancing biochemistry comes from diet and nutrition. Every Surgeon General in the past 20 years has admitted that diet and lifestyle are the number one cause for our most common health problems. So does it seem odd that chiropractic physicians would focus on diet and lifestyle? What's odd is the medical profession doesn't. Yes they give lip service to eating right but what does that mean? Putting everybody on the Heart Association diet has been proven to be detrimental to the population as a whole. As individuals we require that our diets be customized to our  own genetic makeup. And nutritional therapy or supplements  also needs to be customized.

What should I do if my medical doctor says supplements are dangerous and they should stop taking them? If you want to give them a hard time you can ask him which of the drugs that you are recommending to me are free of side effects?

Which of the drugs that you recommending to me is my body using to make healthy tissue cells? Okay, I'm joking. What I would recommend you do is just smile and say thank you. You need to remember he has no training in nutrition and feels somewhat threatened. We all have a certain amount of fear about something were not familiar with. He's in a position where he should know and he doesn't, so instead of admitting his ignorance to you he comes across like he knows better.

  It’s sad as a patient you have to work through these political differences in healthcare. And believe me these are political differences not scientific ones. The science is on the side of diet and nutrition. And you can believe me that most of the studies that you hear that are negative about nutrition are what we call "junk science". Let me explain, one year after the Heart Association convention, we discussed earlier, in the recommendation given to the heart surgeons to recommend vitamin E there was another vitamin E research report a year later. I can remember the CNN report as if it was yesterday. Two or three doctors in white coats were standing at a podium explaining how their research showed that vitamin E does not help with heart attacks, that's amazing since the last 15 to 20 years of research said the opposite. So then on one side you have 15 to 20 years of research supporting the use of vitamin E with heart disease and the other side you have this research that shows it doesn't help. Remember the devil is in the details. The research over the past 15 to 20 years supported the use of 400 units of vitamin E as a way of preventing a second heart attack. When you look at the research that seemed  to contradict this you find a very interesting fact. They didn't use 400 units of vitamin E in their research. How much did they use? Around 30 units. Now you have to ask a question: Why they would use such a low dose of vitamin E when all the other research indicated the use of over 10 times that amount. And why didn’t they release on CNN that 30 units of vitamin E doesn't seem to help prevent a second heart attack instead of saying  just vitamin E in our study didn't prevent a second heart attack. Some might conclude that they were being deceptive. And the question is which pharmaceutical company paid for this research? Research that was doomed to fail from the start. Research that would just be used to muddy the water on the use of supplements. And the sad fact is you can buy any research results that you want in our politically charged environment today.

A little common sense and logic can help you work through this maze of contradictory information. The supplements that we recommend are based on our evaluation of you and we have individualized the supplements that we recommend through testing. Our approaches are driven by science and over 30 years of working with patients and helping them recover their health. When you start improving under natural healthcare is because your body is healing. If your headache goes away because you took and aspirin you just covered up the problem, no healing has taken place. The choice is yours we hope you choose health.