BETTER BRAIN!

Lifestyle Recommendations:
1. Practice good sleep habits and get between 8-9 hours of sleep a night.

2. Participate in a regular balanced exercise program that includes wearing a
pedometer to ensure that you collect steps and move more. High intensity short bursts (20-60 seconds) of activity during the day is recommended to enhance growth hormone release. Also engage in resistance training that works all major muscle groups (work each group at least 2 times a week).

3. Engage in mental exercise by consistently learning new skills and information.

4. Avoid exposure to chemicals including skincare and hair care products such as Grecian Formula (contains lead), lipstick (contains aluminum), deodorant

5. Build positive relationships in your life; practice clear communication,cooperation and forgiveness.

Dietary Recommendations:1. Choose lean, clean quality protein at each meal such as chicken breast, turkey breast, lean beef, fish (especially salmon and sardines), eggs and whey protein.

2. Emphasize omega 3 fatty acids (salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines) and omega 9 fats (olive oil, olives, almonds, hazelnuts, avocados, macadamia oil and coconut oil).

3. Eat 5-9 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily OR add one heaping
tablespoon of PaleoGreens and PaleoReds to your favorite drink.

4. Substitute complex carbohydrates (non-starchy vegetables and whole grains) for refined and simple carbohydrates. Eliminate refined carbohydrates from the diet (this includes bread, cereal or pasta made with white flour, white rice, white potatoes, sugar, corn syrup, honey and candy).

4. Limit or avoid trans fatty acids (hydrogenated vegetable oil, margarine and shortening). Cook with olive oil at a low heat.

5. Drink at least 64 ounces of filtered, bottled or non-chlorinated water every
day. In addition, drink 2-3 cups of naturally decaffeinated green tea daily.

6. Avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol and other potentially neurotoxic compounds
like aspartame and MSG.



Consult with your health care professional before engaging in an exercise program or in implementing dietary changes.Courtesy of Designs for Health Lifestyle Protocols(aluminum), toxic cleaning products and artist’s paints.

Therapeutic Spa

Therapeutic Spa was designed with you in mind.  We know it is important to free yourself from the stress of modern living and touch upon a deeper level of being. Therapeutic Spa’s mission is to help you obtain a higher level of health, strength,and wisdom while experiencing the joy of natural healing. At Therapeutic Spa, we pledge to create an environment of healing so you can return to your world relaxed refreshed, and renewed.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Have Anti-Inflammatory Action

Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory action

While inflammation is in fact a protective and restorative response to injury, excessive or prolonged inflammation can cause many chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The classic signs of inflammation?local redness, swelling, heat, pain, and loss of function?are caused and regulated by the activity of a large number of chemical mediators called eicosanoids.

Eicosanoids consist of different hormones that are responsible for numerous cellular functions within the body. There are pro-inflammatory eicosanoids (i.e., those that encourage inflammation) and anti-inflammatory eicosanoids (i.e., those that discourage inflammation).
The production of pro- and anti-inflammatory eicosanoids depends on the type and amount of fatty acids that we consume. Because the standard American diet is rich in fatty acids that heavily promote the production pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, numerous health challenges can arise.
Fortunately, many substances?including the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in cold-water fish?have been shown to simultaneously inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids and promote the production of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids. For this reason, supplementation with EPA and DHA may provide a safe and natural way to reduce inflammation and promote overall health.
SOURCE: Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71(Suppl):S343-S48.

Advanced Nutrition Publications ©2002

GC Chiropractic: Wellness anyone?

GC Chiropractic: Wellness anyone?: "Wellness has become a buzzword in health care circles recently. Just watch the commercials put out by your insurance company as they talk ab..."

Advanced Health & Nutrition

Quality Nutrition

works with real patients. The Functional Medicine Research Center℠ (FMRC)—is an on-site clinic staffed by medical professionals who recommend nutritional approaches and monitor their success. The FMRC also conducts clinical trials that have been published in respected peer-reviewed journals.

At Advanced Health and Nutrition,  our commitment is to bring you the best quality, therapeutic-grade nutrition, available. We only do business with those companies that guarantee that kind of quality. That is what makes our selection, "the best of the best".

Homeopathy

Homeopathy

What is homeopathy?
In the late 18^th century, a German physician named Samuel Hahnemann was frustrated with the contemporary practice of medicine. Then, he came upon a passage claiming that Peruvian bark cured malaria. Using himself as a subject, Hahnemann swallowed a dose of Peruvian bark, which contains quinine. He began to feel feverish, drowsy, desperately thirsty, and agitated-all of which he recognized as symptoms of malaria. This caused Hahnemann to experiment further and form his theory that like cures like. Soon, he coined the term "homeopathy" from the Greek homoios, meaning similar, and pathie, meaning feeling. One of the basic principles of homeopathy is that when a substance in large doses causes certain symptoms, in small doses it can help heal a person suffering from an illness that has those same symptoms. Some treatments in conventional medicine rely on this like-cures-like principle: vaccines, for instance, introduce small doses of an illness-causing agent to cure or prevent disease.
How does homeopathy work?
Rather than simply suppressing symptoms of a disease, homeopathic remedies act as catalysts that aid the body's inherent healing mechanisms. Moreover, homeopaths (people who practice homeopathy) believe that any physical disease has a mental and emotional component. They refer to a symptom complex-a cluster of physical, mental, and emotional responses that is unique to each person. The right remedy for a particular condition addresses all of these aspects.
Homeopathic remedies start with simple substances, such as herbs, minerals, or animal products. These substances are first crushed and dissolved in a specified amount of grain alcohol or lactose, mechanically shaken (a process called "succussion"), then stored. This is the "mother tincture." Homeopaths further dilute tinctures with alcohol or lactose, either 1 part to 10 (written as "X") or 1 part to 100 (written as "C"), and succussed, yielding a 1X or 1C dilution. Homeopaths can even further dilute these tinctures two times (2X or 2C), three times (3X or 3C), and so forth. In clinical practice, you may use any dilution, but the most popular for self-care are the 6X, 12X, and 30X and 6C, 12C, and 30C.
Health-food stores and some pharmacies sell homeopathic remedies in these dilutions for a variety of problems. These store-bought remedies are very safe; users have reported no side effects.

The Safety and Effectiveness of Herbal Therapies

The Safety and Effectiveness of Herbal Therapies

Herbal therapies are commonly thought of as ineffective treatments used before the invention and modernization of more effective pharmaceutical drugs. Many feel that herbal therapies are based on nonsensical folklore and outdated theories. However, these generalizations are highly inaccurate.

More and more, herbs are being regarded as effective treatments for a wide variety of health problems. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, the use of herbal medicine has expanded globally and has gained popularity during the last decade, with over 80% of the world population incorporating some form of herbal therapy into daily life. Today, herbal therapies have not only continued to be used for primary health care of the poor in developing countries, but have also been used in countries where conventional medicine is predominant in the national health care system.¹

The History of Herbal Therapy

The history of the use of medicinal herbs is full of fascinating accounts and facts. Interestingly, the history of herbal medicine intertwines with that of modern medicine. In fact, many modern medications were developed from ancient healing traditions using certain plants.²
The use of herbals therapies extends far past written history. However, archeological research confirms that several modern-day herbs like marshmallow root, hyacinth, and yarrow were used as far back as the Stone Age.³ With the development of written language, early herbalists continued to learn about the widespread uses of medicinal plants throughout the centuries to come. Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations utilized popular herbs, such as garlic, juniper, basil and ginger, while Islamic, Tibetan, and Chinese cultures combined nutmeg, cloves, saffron, apricot seed, licorice root, and cinnamon, along with many other herbs, to create peace, harmony, and balance.⁴

The Philosophy of Herbal Therapy

One of the myths of herbal therapies is that there has been no firm scientific evidence for the use of many natural products to support a wide variety of health problems; yet, this claim is simply not true. In fact, the last 10 to 20 years have produced a tremendous amount of information concluding that herbs and other nutritional substances are effective medicinal agents.²
Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, herbal therapies strive to correct the underlying causes of poor health instead of just alleviating medical symptoms. By simply focusing on obliterating symptoms, both practitioners and patients tend to forget about the causes of disharmonies and "dis-eases" within the body; however, these must be addressed before symptoms can be fully eliminated.⁴ Through the use of herbal therapies, patients can once again take responsibility for their own health. Instead of just providing pharmaceutical "quick fixes," herbalists teach patients to be sufficiently in tune with their bodies. This ultimately allows patients to restore balance as well as physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Herbal therapies are known to be less toxic than synthetic drugs. Oftentimes, herbal therapies lack the adverse side effects that accompany many traditional drug treatments. However, as with starting any new medical treatment, it is important to consult a knowledgeable herbalist when contemplating the use of herbal therapy. As both past and present alike have shown, herbal therapies are highly effective and bioactive. Thus, they should be used with care to avoid any possible complications or drug interactions.

The Role of Detoxification in the Prevention of Chronic Degenerative Diseases

The Role of Detoxification in the Prevention of Chronic Degenerative Diseases: A Summary

By DeAnn J. Liska, Ph.D. and Robert Rountree, M.D.

Low-level, long-term exposure to toxins such as heavy metals (e.g. lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium), pesticides, industrial compounds, and pollutants is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), fibromyalgia (FM), neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and atherosclerosis, and many types of cancers.^1-4 Common signs and symptoms of environmental toxicity include acne, rashes, headaches, aches and pains, fatigue, muscle weakness, tinnitus, fertility problems, memory loss, and chronic immune system depression.
Toxins can remain in the body for many years; therefore, we are exposed to much higher toxin doses than present environmental concentrations suggest. Research suggests we all maintain toxin contamination within our bodies on a regular basis due to this lifetime of exposure.

How Does the Body Remove Toxic Substances?

An individual’s ability to remove–or detoxify–toxins is a primary factor in susceptibility to toxin-related conditions.^5-11 In order to remove (excrete) the multitude of diverse toxins, the body has a complex system that converts them into non-toxic molecules for removal. This complex system occurs in two phases—Phase I and Phase II—that together convert (biotransform) a toxic molecule into a non-toxic molecule that can be easily excreted. The majority of detoxification occurs in the liver; however, all tissues have some ability to detoxify, including the intestines, skin, and lungs.
In Phase I, a functional group is added to the toxic molecule producing an intermediate that needs to be further transformed. Phase II detoxification involves a process called conjugation, in which various enzymes in the liver attach protective compounds to the intermediate, making it less harmful and more readily excretable. Because the products of Phase I can be highly reactive and more harmful than the original compound, achieving and maintaining a balance between the Phase I and Phase II processes is critical. Furthermore, a significant side effect of all this metabolic activity is the production of free radicals as the toxins are transformed, resulting in oxidative stress. Nutrients that help protect from oxidative stress include vitamins C and E, zinc, selenium, and copper.^12,13

Achieving Balanced Detoxification

Optimal detoxification requires that both Phase I and Phase II pathways function optimally and in balance with each other. Bifunctional modulators are phytonutrients that support balanced detoxification by modulating Phase I and promoting Phase II. This minimizes damage by reactive intermediates and free radicals. Fruits and vegetables contain many bifunctional modulators, which is one reason these foods are associated with reduced susceptibilities to cancer and degenerative diseases.¹⁴

Nutritional Support for Detoxification

Detoxification is an energy-requiring process that puts a metabolic burden on the body. Therefore, water or juice fasts are not beneficial because they deplete the body of the essential nutrients required for healthy detoxification. These fasts can have many adverse health effects, including decreased energy production, breakdown of lean tissue instead of fat, increased oxidative stress, and unbalanced detoxification.^15,16
Instead of decreasing nutrient support, a focused, high-impact, low-allergy-potential source of macronutrients should be provided. High-quality protein provides methionine and cysteine, which are beneficial to Phase II and may help with toxic metal burdens.¹⁷ Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) support energy production,¹⁸and olive oil may protect against chemically-induced liver damage.¹⁹ Fiber supports fecal excretion of toxins and the integrity of the intestinal barrier, which decreases toxic burden. In particular, rice bran can directly bind some toxins, thereby removing them before they can enter the body and cause damage.²⁰
Nutrients that support energy production include vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), niacin, vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), and magnesium. In addition, the following nutrients and phytonutrients provide targeted support for optimal detoxification:
N-Acetylcysteine and Sodium Sulfate promote generation of glutathione, which is used in Phase II and is a major route for detoxification of heavy metals, and supports Phase II sulfation.^16,21
Vitamin B12, Folate, Methionine, and Choline promote balanced detoxification by supporting Phase II methylation and healthy homocysteine recycling. Choline deficiency is causative for liver disease, and is a newly-designated essential nutrient.^22-24 The biologically-active, natural form of folate is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate.²⁵
Ellagic Acid from pomegranate significantly reduces tumors in animals with chemically-induced cancers, protects from toxin liver damage, enhances glutathione production, decreases lipid peroxidation, and binds some metals, thus promoting their excretion.^26-29 It is a bifunctional modulator that can bind some toxins directly, rendering them non-toxic, and can directly bind and protect DNA.^30,31
Catechins from green tea are bifunctional modulators that are strong antioxidants possessing anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic potential.^32,33Catechins are associated with lower incidence of Parkinson’s disease.^33,34The National Cancer Institute is currently investigating the chemotherapeutic potential of green tea catechins.³⁵Catechins also promote healthy gastrointestinal function.³⁶
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) contains high levels of glucosinolates, which are precursors to several bioactives that can inhibit chemically-induced cancers in animals, and promote excretion of carcinogens in humans.^37-41 The bifunctional activity of watercress is one of the proposed mechanisms for its chemoprotective effect.^37,42-44
Silymarin from milk thistle is a well-known liver-protectant that may improve liver function in patients with liver disease and toxicity.^45-47 Silymarin increases glutathione and is a strong antioxidant.^46-49
Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) is also a liver-protectant with a long history of traditional use that provides strong antioxidant protection and may decrease the loss of glutathione after toxic exposure.^50-53

Summary

Minimizing exposure to toxins is only one part of a beneficial detoxification program. Low-allergy potential, targeted nutrition providing the full spectrum of Phase II supportive cofactors, bifunctional modulators for balanced detoxification, and support for energy production and excretion may optimize balanced detoxification and promote optimal health throughout life.

Medical Food-Supplemented Detox Program

medical food-supplemented detoxification program in the management of chronic health problems

Although the body is designed to eliminate toxins, it cannot always handle the overload present in today's environment. Toxin overload can lead to a variety of health problems such as chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle and joint pain, headache, and allergy or flu-like symptoms. It is for these reasons that detoxification therapies are gaining popularity all over the world.

According to Dr. Jeffrey Bland and colleagues in Alternative Therapies, "Detoxification therapies are designed to lessen exposure to toxic substances while facilitating the physiological processes associated with the elimination of toxins from the body." While detoxification therapies often consist of water or juice fasts, Dr. Bland and colleagues hypothesized that enhancing the intake of specific nutrients may positively influence the detoxification process.
In order to test their hypothesis, researchers conducted a study in which 84 patients (the intervention group) received a medical food supplement that provided a combination of nutrients designed to enhance gastrointestinal healing and detoxification in addition to a low-allergy-potential, calorie-controlled diet. The control group consisted of 22 patients who received the low-allergy-potential, calorie-controlled diet without the medical food supplementation. A low-allergy-potential diet is free of common allergens including dairy products, gluten-containing grains, and citrus fruits.
Upon completion of the 10-week study, patients filled out a Metabolic Screening Questionnaire (MSQ), which was used to evaluate the severity, duration, and frequency of symptoms associated with individual patient health problems. Dr. Bland and colleagues reported that "The intervention group had, on average, a 52% improvement in symptoms as measured by the MSQ, whereas the control group had only a 22% average improvement."
Researchers concluded that "The results of this study confirm our hypothesis that patients...who are given the specific medical food supplement described...had a significant improvement in their clinical outcome compared with that of the control patients, who received only the calorie-restricted [low-allergy-potential] diet."
Altern Ther Health Med 1995;1(5):62-71.

Advanced Nutrition Publications ©2002