B 12 and Digestion

Several studies have shown that people who supplemented their diets with vitamin b12 shots reported higher energy levels and increased rates of weight loss vs. a control group that took no supplements. Some doctors may say there is no connection between weight loss and B12 but what they overlook is how many people are deficient in B12.

Studies indicate that B12 deficiencies do not correlate with diet (participants with diets high in foods rich in B12 had just as low levels of B12 as those without). It’s not because people aren’t eating enough B12 rich foods but the vitamin isn’t getting absorbed.

Studies conducted by the US Framingham trial reveal that a Vitamin B12 deficiency has been detected in 1 out of 4 Americans.

One possible cause of vitamin B12 deficiency – age. Many people don’t realize it but as they age their risk for a deficiency increases. Two factors that lead to B12 deficiency are an insufficient diet and declining rates of absorption.

The natural process of aging disrupts the digestive tract. This is caused by the cumulative effect of the typical American diet. The stomach lining gradually gets weaker so it can’t produce hydrochloric acid – the agent that “extracts” Vitamin B12 from what you eat.

Also consuming antacids and various remedies for an upset or acid stomach can also be blamed for the body’s inability to integrate Vitamin B12. Bacteria are another leading cause of Vitamin B12 deficiency. One such bacterium is the Helicobactor pylori, which puts the stomach at risk for moderate to serious ulcers, thereby aggravating a person’s deficiency.

Research in the field of nutrition reports that when the stomach lining fails to produce a protein called the intrinsic factor, the vitamin B12 will not bind, which prevents the body from absorbing B 12 via the small intestine.

It is important to make sure you get enough B 12 and that is absorbed properly as it is an effective digestion aid. It allows food to be properly and efficiently absorbed, and it promotes the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates.

Additionally B 12 is thought to responsible for more stable moods maintaining excellent memory functions, increased concentration and mental alertness.

For more help with digestive problems see our post Eating for Better Digestion

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What Dr. Chopra Says About Spiritual Optimism

I’ve just finished reading Why Is God Laughing? by Deepak Chopra, and I feel encouraged. Times have been so tough lately and I have felt so lost. I listened to the book on CD and I think Dr. Chopra has a lot of good healing advice in this book.

If you feed sad, lonely and scared a lot, I think this book will help you. The book is in two parts. At first Dr. Chopra tells you a story about a real successful comedian whose father recently died. The comedian is shaken up after his Dad dies. The Dad comes to talk to him after his death to give his son some advice and help him fix his life. The comedian goes on a journey with a spiritual guide who comes in the form a person and when the journey is over the comedian is a different more peaceful person.

Then Dr. Chopra talks about the 10 steps to spiritual optimism. After I read it, I started to feel better about my life. That maybe things are not so bad, maybe I have a chance to live in a way that I don’t feel so awful all the time. Maybe I can feel joy and appreciate the love people give me.

I want to try so I am putting the steps here on the website so you can see them too. You can get the book at the library, buy it or get the why is god laughing ebook. Just try to get it somehow and read it or listen to it on CD. I think it will help you feel better each day.

I am going to list the steps here but you should listen or read the explanation in the book to help you understand better.

10 Steps to Spiritual Optimism

1. The healthiest response to life is laughter. (Antidotes fear and sorrow)

2. There is always a reason to be grateful. (Antidotes victimization)

3. You belong to the scheme of the Universe. There’s nothing to be afraid of. You are safe. (Antidotes insecurity)

4. Your soul cherishes every aspect of your life. (Antidotes feeling undervalued)

5. There is a plan. And your soul knows what it is. (Antidotes meaninglessness)

6. Ecstasy is the energy of Spirit. When life flows, ecstasy is natural. (Antidotes inertia)

7. There is a creative solution to every problem. Every responsibility holds the promise of abundance. (Antidotes failure)

8. Obstacles are opportunities in disguise. (Antidotes inflexibility)

9. Evolution leads the way through desire. (Antidotes hypocrisy)

10. Freedom is letting go. (Antidotes attachment)

Dr. Chopra also talks about the value of meditation. See our post 5 Minute Chakra Guided Meditation. I believe the Chakra meditation is particularly good for removing stuck energy which is something Dr. Chopra talks about in the book.

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Music and Moods

Did you know that there are ways to prime your brain to accept certain information? There was an interesting tidbit in Parade Magazine from a new book called “Your Playlist Could Change Your Life.”

We all know how the right song can put us in a better mood or help us calm down. But next time try listening to a calming natural sound – like a waterfall before blasting your best mood lifting song.

Priming you brain in such a way can help amplify the effects of the music, according to the authors of Your Playlist Can Change Your Life.

If anxiety is keeping you from sleeping at night see our post Help With Sleep Problems

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Dental Underbite Treatment

Though underbite is a condition that only effects a small percentage of the population, the surgery to correct it is quite expensive and involved.

A noted California dentist has taken it upon himself to help educate consumers that are non-invasive alternatives to surgery. The procedure is called in-office bite reconstruction and it does not involve braces or surgery. For you the patient that means less discomfort and less money you have to spend.

Those who have underbites often also have crooked and chipped teeth. Up until recently patients are only given a surgical option. Most consumers are unaware that there is an alternative.

Alternative methods of treating a Class III malocclusion, or underbite, are usually less expensive than surgical procedures. While costs vary depending on the hospital, type of procedure, complications and additional fees, it is common for orthognathic surgery to cost around $30,000 and can even be as high as $50,000!

An underbite is where the lower front teeth are in front of the top teeth. The condition can be minor and barely noticeable or very obvious..

The symptoms of an underbite include pain and difficulty chewing, headaches and eventual TMJ. This is an inflammation and arthritis of the temporomandibular joint near the temples, which is the joint between the mandible (the lower jaw) and the rest of the head.

Up until now the only way to correct the problem was orthognathic jaw surgery or tooth extraction and braces. But, there is now a non-surgical low-risk alternative for patients with mild to moderate underbites, says Dr. Sam Muslin, the trademark holder for Face Lift Dentistry, a non-invasive treatment for dental malocclusions and aging teeth.

“Sometimes surgery and braces are clearly the better choice if there are significant skeletal issues and the patient is young. However, the bite reconstruction protocol that I use provides satisfying results without the pain and recovery time associated with surgery. No wired jaw or liquid diet,” says Dr. Sam Muslin. “While there are fees involved for neuromuscular and cosmetic dentistry services, the inherent risks associated with major surgery – anesthesia, possible secondary infections and the occasional surgical failure – are eliminated.”

Your first step should be an evaluation by a qualified dentist, orthodontist or oral surgeon. This should include measurement for ite discrepancy and assessment of any decay, chips or gingivitis that might be present. It’s important to ask questions and get your answers in language you can understand. You should ask to before-and-after photos of other patients who had non-invasive underbite correction.

In Dr. Muslin’s opinion: “If invasive treatment is suggested, get a second opinion. If a dentist wants to grind down your natural teeth, run! There are gentler options out there.”

There has been a lot of progress in alternative dentistry (see our post Caring for Dental Extractions and Alternative Medicine) and your dentist may not be aware of some of the newer procedures. Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion when it comes to your teeth. A beautiful smile is a wonderful thing to see.

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Holistic Preventing Bacterial Growth After Dental Surgery

Holistic dentistry is a fairly new field. As people become increasingly concerned about medical techniques and learn more about alternative health procedures, more people are looking for holistic dentists. A holistic dentist combines dental knowledge with ways to improve a person’s oral health. Rather than focus on one area of a person’s body, holistic dentistry is concerned with the patient’s overall health.

Holistic Dentistry stresses the use of nontoxic restorative materials for dental work, and often incorporates other alternative methods such as homeopathy, drug free remedies, hypnosis, nutrition and acupuncture. It takes into account that dental problems can lead to an imbalance in the body and have a negative impact on overall health.

Though holistic dental care sounds wonderful to all of us who support natural cures the big concern is always insurance. Probably your first question is will my dental insurance pay for a holistic dentist.

One of the best ways to get dental insurance for holistic dentist is to get a PPO plan. PPO’s generally let you *any* dentist you want. You generally have to meet a deductible which is usually $50 for an individual or $150/year for family).

Some insurance companies provide “Partial coverage” for alternative medicines. You may get a discount card that can be used with participating therapists to receive 20-30% off holistic wellness services. You may also want to try this strategy for getting insurance coverage for massage. See our post
Insurance Coverage For Connective Tissue Massage

Here are some alternative therapies For preventing infection and pain after dental extractions: (discuss with your dentist first before trying)

You can try rinsing with 3% hydrogen peroxide, it’s the best antiseptic mouthwash but if you get fever, swelling, or increase in pain after the extraction (pain later worse than pain day of) you probably really need the antibiotic.

Also try Arnica 200c in one dry dose about 3 hours before extraction and Arnica 30c liquid dose for every 2 hours after extraction.

Many alternative medicine experts say the best treatment is with Plantago-Q, 5 drops in some water three times a day before the extraction and on the day of the extraction and then for one additional day after the extractions. You may also take a swab soaked in the Plantago-Q and apply to the painful spot. This may also help with swelling.

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Insurance Billing for Massage Therapists

Though alternative and complementary health medicine is becoming more popular and there is more scientific evidence demonstrating the benefits and cost-effectiveness, it is still difficult to get these procedures covered by insurance.

There has been some improvement in the past few years. A recent survey of 18 major HMOs and insurance providers, including Aetna, Medicare, Prudential, and Kaiser Permanente, found that 14 of them covered at least 11 of 34 alternative therapies. Chiropractic, massage therapy and acupuncture are the three most-covered therapies followed by naturopathic medicine.

Massage is one of the most popular alternative therapies. There are a wide variety of different kinds of massages. Connective tissue massage is a slow deep approach which addresses the body’s connective tissue, also known as fascia. Both the circulatory and nervous systems lie within the connective tissue, therefore this approach has widespread effects on health and wellness. Constriction in the connective tissue is responsible for many problems expressed in the physical body.

Fibromyalgia, for example, is an inflammatory condition of the connective tissue can be very painful and debilitating.
According to NIH until a cure for FMS is found, CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) providers may offer an economic alternative for symptomatic relief. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1853385/)

Before you make an appointment for massage therapy contact your health insurance companies and ask if a massage therapy benefit is included in your coverage. Also, find out if the therapy can be performed by a massage therapist.

Your insurance company may have massage therapy included in plans as a “wellness benefit.” If this is the case, your company might have a contract with a massage therapist at a reduced rate and you may still pay something out of pocket but at a reduced rate.

If you have a flexible spending arrangement (FSA; sometimes called a Flexible Spending Account) which is a benefit provided by some employers that offers a way to help pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses, while reducing the employees taxable income, you may be able to use the monies for your massage therapy.

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Estrovera Super Supplements for Hot Flashes

Are bothered by hot flashes and night sweats? If you are looking for some relief from the extreme discomfort listen to this. I read an interesting letter in The People’s Pharmacy column today describing . Someone wrote in that their chiropractor recommended a vegetarian supplement derived from rhapontic rhubarb to help relieve their hot flashes. After the first month of taking it her hot flashes decreased in severity, and shortly after that they disappeared altogether as did the night sweats.

According to the Graedon’s the standardized extract of rhapontic rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum) has been used in Germany to treat hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause for a couple of decades (Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, November-December 2008. A placebo controlled trial of 112 women found that the botanical product reduced symptoms significantly more than the placebo (pill with nothing in it) (Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, January-February 2009.

According to Drugs.com, “Estroven helps to naturally support hormonal balance with ingredients known to be good sources of phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring compounds found in many plants including soybeans, whole grain cereals, seeds, nuts and many herbs. Phytoestrogens have a structure similar to that of the estrogen produced in your body and help support hormonal balance.* Studies have shown that women who consume foods high in phytoestrogens experience less dramatic hormone fluctuations during menopause.”

I checked several other sites and there do not appear to be any harmful side effects from the supplement or interactions with other medication.. You should inform your doctor though of all any supplement you are taking on a regular basis. You should not take it though if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.

Rhubarb itself has been used in European cooking since the 17th century. Rhubarb is also part of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine. The primary result of rhubarb root as an herbal medicine is a positive and balancing effect upon the digestive system. The root is used as an anticholesterolemic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitumor, aperient, astringent, cholagogue, demulcent, diuretic, laxative, purgative, stomachic and tonic.

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Best Christmas Gifts for Diabetic

If you have a friend who is diabetic a gift basket with carefully chosen items would be a thoughtful gift. Don’t fill the basket with things about diabetes such as diabetes cookbooks or “sugar free” stuff.

Not all “sugar free” items are actually safe for diabetics and not all diabetics like to use them. Additionally, some people don’t like to be reminded they have the disease.

If you don’t have diabetes or don’t live with a diabetic you may not know what food products are safe for diabetics. So here is a list of items that don’t scream “your diabetic!” but are still considered delectable treats. You may also want to consider non-food items for the gift baskets such as: fancy soap, shampoo,bath salts, bubble bath and candles.

You can also add gifts that are related to food such as bottle openers, fancy glasses, cheese blades, silverware, wine glass charms, timers and dessert plates.

Whatever foods you do include try to package in 15 g carbohydrate serving sizes if possible.

One of the best gifts for diabetics is raw nuts. Recent research studies have shown that people who eat nuts regularly have a lower rate of heart disease. Because people who are diabetic are particularly subject to heart disease, raw nuts are an ideal “health food”. Nuts that are especially healthy might include raw walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazel nuts, pistachios, pine nuts and Brazil nuts. Roasted peanuts, peanut butter or almond butter are additional choices.

Dark-Chocolate Treats - Look for the over 75% with no added sugar dark chocolate. Make sure to check the carbohydrate grams per serving. Buy only the plain or with nuts dark chocolate. Dark chocolate with fillings has too many carbs and too much sugar for diabetics.

Popcorn or popcorn toppings - Look for recipes for savory or cheesy popcorn or toppings.For convenience try ready-made or microwave kettle corn popcorn. Check that you are in the range of about 15 g of carbohydrate per serving. Put a serving into a mug, pretty bowl or decorative bag.

Fresh Fruit not dried - Dried fruit has too much sugar. Use fruits that rank low on the glycemic index scale such as apples, oranges, pears, grapefruit, cherries and berries.

Coffee or Tea – Infinite varieties of both coffee and tea are available. Around the holidays there are many special holiday blends.

Trail Mix - Here is a recipe for trail mix that is safe for diabetics though be sure to check how much sugar is in the dark chocolate chips.

* 1 cup roasted peanuts
* 1 cup raw or roasted almonds
* 1 cup pumpkin or squash seeds (How To Toast Pumpkin Seeds)
* 2 oz unsweetened coconut
* 1 cup dark chocolate chips

Non-sweet food – Cheese balls, other gourmet cheeses, unsweetened ham, foie gras paté’s, caviar, smoked salmon, canned soups, crackers, imported/gourmet sardines, whole grain crackers.

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Dr Oz Weight Loss Tips

I came across this offer in Parade magazine and thought it would be good to post on the site.

Dr. Oz, Weight Watchers and Sharecare have partnered to create Dr. Oz’s Transformation Nation: Million Dollar You, a life-changing contest to get America healthy. You are invited to join Dr. Oz and his team to tackle the seven key steps to weight loss and healthy living.

Participants who complete all 7 steps of the plan and meet all eligibility requirements will compete to become a finalist. Specific requirements for the contest are specified in the Official Rules. The public will vote for the most transformed and inspirational finalist. The winner will receive $1 million and a trip for two to attend a live taping of The Dr. Oz Show featuring the winner.

Sounds like good healthy fun that could be profitable. Here is the first step though I do not think you have to go to a Weight Watchers facility to get your BMI.

The first step in calculating your BMI is to go to a local Weight Watchers Center. There, you’ll find out your starting weight. A leader will give you a complimentary weigh-in, and, you can stay for a meeting where you’ll learn what getting started on (and sticking to) Weight Watchers is all about.

Dr. Oz says that measuring your BMI is the first step in any weight-loss plan. Your body mass index (BMI), the ratio of your height to your weight.

If you don’t want to visit a Weight Watchers calculate your BMI and consider signing up for Transformation Nation at doctoroz.com.

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SAD Soother safely promotes an easy–going, positive emotional outlook, without harmful side effects. This remedy contains a selection of homeopathic ingredients known to improve energy levels and temperament during the winter season.

Coping with Holiday Depression

Each of us has our own reasons for coming down with the holiday blues. It may be the memories of a past time when we were much happier or it may be the financial stress of the cost of gift giving or the emotional stress of having to interact with family members we have difficulty getting along with. Also, we may have unrealistic expectations of our holiday time and end up feeling disappointed and sad. Some of us might also have Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) where you feel down simply because your body is not getting enough sunlight.

If your depression does stem from SAD, see the banner at the top or bottom of the post, for help with your seasonal affective disorder.

Whatever the reason for the sadness there are some ways to help yourself feel better:

According to Richard Carlson, author of “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” it helps if you recognize that moods are transitory i.e. they change constantly. It may be that you are feeling bad at the moment and all seems lost but in a few hours your mood may shift back up. Dr. Carlson advises simply recognizing you are experiencing a low mood and wait it out. Before you know it a better mood will come along.

If your blues are coming from something that is lacking in your life think about following the old adage “Count your blessings.” It seems so simple but it really does work. Make a list of all that you have to be thankful for. In her book “Simple Abundance” Sarah Ban Breathnach advises writing down 5 things you are thankful for every day in a Gratitude Journal.

Take the focus off of yourself. The Mayo Clinic advises patients to reach out and if they are feeling lonely or isolated to seek out community, religious or other social events. Consider volunteering as helping others is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.

Many, many health experts recommend getting some exercise. Even just a quick stroll around the block can help lift your mood.

Make time for yourself. Sometimes we get the blues because we haven’t been very nice to ourselves. Give yourself a break; you deserve it. Take time to do the things YOU love to do and be with the people you enjoy.

Finally, some advice from Oprah via Elizabeth Lesser. Elizabeth Lesser is the author of Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow and A Seeker’s Guide: Making Your Life a Spiritual Adventure. Here is what she says about the holidays, “Once we get with the program that no one skates through December, we can get on with having an imperfectly wonderful holiday season. We can let go of wanting a different family and try to enjoy the wacky one we already have. If we have cherished childhood memories, we can be grateful for those we can duplicate in our adult world and wistful, yet mature about those we can’t. Or, if our memories are meager and mean, we can hitch our wagon to new rituals that we create from scratch.”

So if you feel blue, try not to be overly concerned about it because analyzing it just makes it worse. Most of us have felt that way during the holidays at sometime. Try one of the above suggestions. None of them take much time or money and you might feel a bit better.

SAD Soother safely promotes an easy–going, positive emotional outlook, without harmful side effects. This remedy contains a selection of homeopathic ingredients known to improve energy levels and temperament during the winter season.

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