Grains and Sugar = ‘Brain Drain’

Do you experience ‘brain fog’? Do you ever feel sluggish or irritable for no apparent reason? Like many health issues, the cause of the problem might be what you’re eating.

Dr. David Perlmutter’s new book, Grain Brain, draws a strong correlation that links insulin resistance, inflammation and hyperglycemia to our excessive consumption of grains. The book cites multiple studies of the effects caused by eating too much grain.  One Mayo clinic study showed that people who eat the largest amounts of grain-derived carbohydrates are 4 times more likely to suffer mild cognitive impairment as people eating the smallest amounts.

Since the 1950’s, our grains have been selectively bred and genetically modified, so that the grains we are consuming are not the grains in the bread that our grandparents ate.  Today’s wheat crops contains up to 40 times more gluten than the wheat produced 50 years ago.  Our ancient ancestors did not have access to high carbohydrate food, and when they did, it was seasonal and rare.  We have the same physiology as our ancestors, yet we consume large amounts of carbohydrates, not only with the amounts of sugars and gluten we eat, but the concentration of these substances in each mouthful. It is hard for our bodies to adapt to this onslaught of sugars and gluten, and has lead to the increase of such diseases as diabetes and obesity.

There is evidence that grains can cause dementia. These grains include wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut and bulgar.  These grains can be very allergenic, which can lead to brain inflammation and potential destruction of brain cells.

High blood sugars also decrease brain function. Sweetened drinks, sodas, and juices are all culprits. If you want a sweet taste without compromising your health, […]

By |November 11th, 2013|Children's Health, For Men, For Women, Healthy Eating|

Gearing up for Cold and Flu Season

Now that cold weather has arrived, use these quick tips and remedies to help your body defend itself from colds and flu:

Wash your hands 20 times a day
Get 8 hours of sleep each night
Take immune-boosting supplements, such as the ones listed below:

Note: We carry top-quality brands of all the following supplements in our pharmacy. Call our office at 208.658.5570 to place a pick-up or drop-ship order.

Garlic – In addition to providing many health benefits, garlic wards off some of the worst microbes, even antibiotic-resistant strains! Studies show that garlic juice shows significant activity against pathogens. Curious about other great benefits you can get from garlic? Here’s just a few.
Echinacea – Did you know that echinacea has been proven to reduce the risk of getting a cold by 54 percent? It can also reduce the duration of a cold by 1-4 days. Echinacea is commonly used to battle colds, flu, bronchitis and all types of infections. Here are some great echinacea remedies to try.
Gammadyn Cu – This remedy provides a type of oligotherapy that furnishes the body with ions that are essential for enzymatic functions. Use it to give your body that ‘extra boost’ when you feel a cold coming on.
Nucleo-Immune – This supplement provides nucleotides necessary for cellular rejuvenation and immune support. Among other benefits, it promotes cellular vitality and boosts energy levels.

 

Tidy or Messy?

 

Previous studies have indicated that a clean desk leads to healthy eating, generosity and conventionality. They have also indicated a correlation between persons having clean, tidy desks and not committing crimes and not littering. New evidence may weigh in the favor of those “creative chaos” desks though.

A new study published in September 2013 from the University of Minnesota suggests that a messy desk helps creativity to flourish and can lead to the creation of new and bold ideas. The lead author of the study concluded, “orderly environments would encourage adherence to social convention and overall conservatism, whereas disorderly environments would encourage people to seek novelty and unconventional routes.” Which desk do you have?

By |November 4th, 2013|For Men, For Women, News Tips|

Are you getting enough sleep?

Every person can appreciate a good night’s sleep but how many of us regularly get one? By sleeping too little or too much, you could be putting yourself at risk for serious health issues.

A review of several sleep studies published in the journal Sleep concluded that persons sleeping too little or too much live shorter lives than those who slept an average of 7-9 hours a night. An inadequate amount of sleep has been linked to health issues involving multiple body systems, such as kidneys, heart, lungs, metabolism, immune system and brain function.

One study involving 24,000 Japanese women found that those sleeping less than six hours a night were at a higher risk for developing breast cancer. Another study by the University of Cleveland found that men sleeping less than six hours a night were at a higher risk for developing potentially cancerous colorectal polyps.

Too much sleep has also been found to be detrimental to a person’s health. Studies have found that person’s sleeping more than 9 hours a night have a higher risk for developing health issues like obesity, type II diabetes, back pain, depression and heart disease.

How much should we sleep?? The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends adults sleep between 7 and 9 hours a night, teenagers sleep 8.5-9.5 hours a night and children ages 5-10 sleep 10-11 hours per night.

If you’re sleeping too much or not enough, here are some ways to put yourself back in the optimal range:

Regular exercise has been shown to improve sleep
Avoid eating before bed because this may trigger acid reflux
Avoid caffeine, smoking and alcohol before bed as they can disrupt sleep patterns
Taking a hot shower, bath or sauna before bed
If you’re tossing and […]

By |November 4th, 2013|Children's Health, For Men, For Women|

Heavy Metal Toxicity In Your Well Water

Do you get your drinking water from a well? Is the well water safe? Most people will tell me their well has been tested by the county authorities. This test determines if there are coliforms (or microorganisms associated with fecal contamination). It does NOT test for heavy metals, which can also affect your health. Do you know if you have heavy metals in your well water?

Idaho’s water contains high arsenic and fluoride levels, which could be hard on your health. Use Wikipedia to research arsenic poisoning and fluoride poisoning.

You may order a test to check for heavy metal toxicity in your ground water at Doctor’s Data Lab. The test is called “Comprehensive Drinking Water Test” and costs $129. A pre-paid sample collection kit will be sent to your home for collection and you can send the sample back in the mail. We do not carry the kit at our office, but you can directly order through Doctor’s Data. This test can provide you with detailed information on what your water really contains. Click here to view sample report.

If your groundwater contains a high level of toxic metals, consider testing yourself to make certain you have not absorbed abnormal amounts. These tests we do carry in our office. Contact us at 208.658.5570 for more information.

By |November 4th, 2013|Children's Health, For Men, For Women, Heavy metals|

Cancer-causing shoes

Watch out! Some shoes have been shown to cause cancer!

Testing on some less expensive plastic shoes has shown to contain carcinogens, heavy metals and other toxic solvents.

“Many of us wear or have worn the cheap clog-like plastic sandals. Throw them away! They are heavily polluted with carcinogenic chemicals. The ones that smell worst are the dirtiest.

That’s been found out by laboratory tests of 10 pairs of the plastic clogs in all price categories. The tests were commissioned by Germany’s biggest broadcaster, Cologne-based WDR, for its consumer service program.

The lab looked for solvents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals.”  Read more here.

Toss out those cheap plastic shoes…or you may pay the price difference later down the road.

By |October 2nd, 2013|Cancer, Children's Health, For Men, For Women|

Vitamin D and Alheizmer’s Disease

Higher vitamin D dietary intake is associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Women who developed Alzheimer’s disease had lower baseline vitamin D intakes (an average of 50.3 micrograms per week) than those who developed no dementia at all (an average of 59.0 micrograms per week). Journals of Gerontology, December 2012

Hormone Prescription Renewal–Read this to SAVE $

How would you like to save $35 every time you renew your hormone prescription? It’s simple. Just remember to get any needed labs done at least TWO WEEKS before you run out of your hormones.

Why two weeks?  It can take up to a week to run certain hormone lab tests, and a compounding pharmacy usually needs at least two business days to fill a hormone prescription.

If Dr. Huycke gets your lab results one week before you need your prescription refilled, she will WAIVE the $35 fee to call them in. If you run out of hormones and need a ‘stop-gap’ prescription refill before we have your lab test results, the $35 fee applies.

Because so many patients in our practice take bio-identical hormones, please help us help you save money and frustration by getting your lab tests done at least two weeks before your hormones run out.

Not sure when your hormone prescription will run out? (Sometimes its hard to tell with those creams/lotions). Look at the date the prescription was filled, note how many doses there are, and calculate the date they will run out. Then, simply make a note on your calendar two weeks before that date. To schedule lab tests, just call our office at 658-5570. We can do the tests at our office, or send orders to another lab if you choose.

REMEMBER–hormone tests are most accurate 5 hours after taking hormones, so make sure to schedule accordingly. You do not need to fast for hormone labs.

Check Your Shampoo For the Following Undesirable Agents

Substitute for a more healthy option.

Remember, anything that goes on your skin is absorbed as if you have eaten it.

You could also scrutinize your creams, and makeups using the same standards.

Propylene glycol:  a cheap syntheitc petrochemical that helps emulsify, it is a skin irritant that can age the skin.
Sodium lauryl sulfate:  a caustic detergent suds well.  It is also an engine degreaser and garage floor cleaner.  It ages and damages the skin and hair.  It can cause cataracts even if it does not come into contact with the eyes.
Fragrance:  cheap toxic scents that can cause headaches, lung problems, skin irritation, dizziness, memory impairment, and rashes.  They are trying to mimic the scents of the healthful essential oils.
Mineral oil:  a cheap petroleum-based oil that clogs the skin pores, enlarges them and leads to saggy skin.
Parabens:  cheap preservatives used to inhibit microbial growth. They are highly toxic and can cause skin rashes and allergic reactions.
Imidazolidinyl and diazolidinyl urea:  they release formaldehyde which is toxic, and cause rashes.
Synthetic colors can cause allergies, skin and nerve problems.  Avoid them.  This also applies to hair coloring agents which are all toxic, except for some henna products.
Triethanolamine (TEA):  used to adjust the pH of the shampoo, it can cause allergic problems, dryness of the hair and skin, and can be toxic to the body if absorbed over time.

Tired of aluminum toxicity from your antiperspirants?

You can change to Jason’s or Tom’s brand, but they still have the opportunity to clog your pores.

Another top-of-the-line option is frankincense essential oil.

It’s expensive, but allows the underarms to do their job while deodorizing.

Only use the pure essential oil.

By |June 8th, 2013|For Men, For Women|
Western Independent Media Developers