Avoid NSAID's, Reduce Inflammation, Live Better

My readers may have seen in past blogs and Facebook posts information regarding the dangers of analgesics (pain reducers), over the counter and prescription.  The question then arises, what can I do to help control pain.  Aside from addressing the body's structural problems, which lead to pain, with chiropractic evaluation and care, one of our recommendations is Turmeric.  Turmeric has been proven to reduce or eliminate pain better than leading prescription medications. [1]

A 2004 study published in the journal Oncogene [2] found that turmeric was an effective alternative to the drugs; aspirin, ibuprofen, sulindac, phenylbutazone, naproxen and diclofenac and the like, generally considered NSAID's (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories).

Turmeric does not just fight pain and inflammation, it does so much more. [3]

Simple root, Profound action

Most researchers agree that the turmeric’s profound healing abilities can be traced to its powerful anti-inflammatory action.

Full-spectrum turmeric (whole root, as opposed to an isolated curcumin extract) is especially effective because it operates by both mechanisms of anti-inflammatory action.

Most anti-inflammatory foods, work in one of the following ways...

1. They neutralize free radicals in the body which causes inflammation, with a flood of antioxidants or

2. They stop the body from producing the chemicals that initiate inflammation in the first place (this is how aspirin and OTC pain meds work)

What is unique about turmeric is that it combats inflammation through both of these mechanisms.... simultaneously! Its multi-pronged approach allows it to work wonders for aches, pains, and arthritis (by stopping inflammation at the source), while also strongly supporting the immune system with antioxidants.
 

Nearly all diseases and ailments can be traced back to inflammation and oxidative stress…it appears there’s almost nothing that turmeric can’t help.

Not all forms of turmeric are created equal…

Most of the turmeric supplements you see in stores come in the form of encapsulated powders. Many are just the isolated curcuminoids and as we mentioned above the whole root, with complimentary components appear to be most beneficial.

 

The truth is with turmeric powder you may be getting very little actual benefit.  Turmeric powder has a fairly low bioavailability (meaning that a good portion of it isn’t properly absorbed by your body), it often isn’t very fresh, and it’s sometimes made with harsh processes that can destroy or degrade turmeric’s healthful components.

 

Our recommendation;  buy a quality, full spectrum (whole root) supplement or what my family prefers is buying fresh whole root and grate it ourselves as needed. You can crush it or grind it, we purchased an inexpensive "micro grater", it works wonderfully and easy to clean up.  You can also use it for other root foods like garlic and ginger.   It can be difficult to find turmeric root in smaller communities and expensive when you do find it in major chain grocery stores.  We have great luck at Asian markets.  Most usages in cooking or dosing call for a teaspoon or less.  

 

Through experimentation our family has learned to use it in a number of home cooked dishes.  We also enjoy "Golden milk" or "Turmeric tea".   By using turmeric in these ways you can also increase its bioavailability (absorption).  Studies have found that absorption of turmeric components can be increased by either heating the ground up root, adding healthy fats or adding black pepper. Golden milk can do all three.

So, save your liver and kidneys from the abuse of NSAID use and consider giving turmeric a try.  Aside from the pain relieving properties tumeric has also been found to protect the brain, repair the liver, protect the heart after surgery, helps asthma patients and the list could go on and on.  Turmeric has been found to be as effective as 25 drugs, without the side effects.

 

 

 

References:
1. Analgesic Efficacy and Safety of Curcuminoids in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Pain Med. 2015 Dec 14. Epub 2015 Dec 14. PMID: 26814259
2. Green Med Info: greenmedinfo.com/blog/science-confirms-turmeric-effective-14-drugs
3. Zingiberaceae extracts for pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis: Nutr J. 2015 ;14:50. Epub 2015 May 14. PMID: 25972154

Breakfast: A Very Important Meal For Your Health

Skipping breakfast because you think that one less meal through the day will help you lose weight?  Well, you may want to rethink that.  The medical literature reports that roughly 10%-20% of Americans routinely skip breakfast whether for weight management or out of convenience.

A new report on a randomized trial finds that skipping breakfast can trigger a condition referred to as insulin resistance.  It was found that skipping breakfast triggered acute insulin resistance and elevated levels of free fatty acids in nine obese, non-diabetic women, compared with a day on which they ate breakfast.

Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas and released in the blood stream in response to sugars in the blood (glucose).  Glucose is obtained from nearly all the food we eat and serves as the fuel to produce energy for every tissue of the body.  The insulin is necessary for the glucose in the blood to enter the tissues, sort of like a key in a lock.  When the body develops resistance to insulin the body is then forced to dump more insulin into the blood stream in an attempt to "open up the tissues".  Ironically this excess insulin release tends to make the tissues even more resistant, and the cycle repeats itself over and over with each skipped breakfast. The situation is not much better with a breakfast that is high in refined carbohydrates (ie, breakfast cereals) and low in proteins. 

Insulin resistance is the forerunner of type 2 diabetes and a component of the disorder metabolic syndrome.  Elevated insulin levels in the blood have also been linked to a number of other health compromising conditions.

On the days of skipped breakfast indirect calorimetry measures showed decreased energy expenditure (difficulty burning calories) and a significantly reduced respiratory quotient (a measurement of basal metabolic rate), which indicates greater fat oxidation (LDL cholesterol production).

Just 1 day of missing breakfast could do this.  It is easy to see how skipping breakfast regularly over time may lead to further metabolic problems such as chronic insulin resistance and possible progression to type 2 diabetes.

It seems breakfast is an important meal of the day, maybe more so than originally thought.  It is important to eat a balanced breakfast containing a significant amount of quality protein such as eggs or yogurt.

For your better health,
Dr. Heller

Walking For Health

Another article from our friends at thePowerofpositivehabits.com discussing the health benefits of brisk walking. *************************************************************   Benefits of Brisk Walking By Dan Robey "Not running, not jogging, but walking is your most efficient exercise and the only one you can safely follow all the years of your life." – Executive Health Organization Walking as a daily exercise habit can truly be a life-changing positive habit and is one of the most powerful habits for reaching your goal of a healthy trim and fit body. Over the past 20 years, there have been dozens of studies that have proven the benefits of brisk walking. Thousands upon thousands of people have improved their health and lost weight by the diligent habit of walking. If you think that walking does not provide the same benefits as other more vigorous exercises, think again. A study published by the New England Journal Of Medicine showed that postmenopausal women who walked regularly lowered their risk for heart disease just as much as women who did more vigorous exercise, such as playing sports or running. This study suggests that walking is just as good for your heart as heavy exercise. I spoke with study author Dr. JoAnn E. Manson, Chief of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Womens Hospital, Professor of Medicine, at Harvard Medical School. She said, “The study provides compelling evidence that walking and vigorous exercise provide similar heart benefits, about a 30% to 40% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease with 30 minutes per day of either activity.” I also asked her about the benefits of making brisk walking a positive habit, and she responded, “they could surely walk away from heart disease and several other chronic diseases. We have also found that brisk walking for at least 3 hours a week can lower the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, and breast cancer. No pain, no gain, is an outdated notion; exercise doesn’t need to be strenuous or uncomfortable. It can be easy and enjoyable.” Even though the study consisted solely of women, it is likely that men would experience similar benefits from the positive habit of brisk walking. Here are additional benefits you will receive from your habit of brisk walking: * Walking burns calories and helps you lose weight and burn excess body fat. * Walking can help to improve your posture. * Walking requires no special equipment or gyms. * Walking can help lower blood pressure and help prevent circulatory and heart disorders. * Brisk, aerobic walking will give you the benefits of other exercises, such as jogging and cycling, but without the risk of injuries. * Walking at night can help promote better sleep. ***************************************************************   So get out and walk during the summer evenings.  Your body will thank you for it.   For your better health, Dr. Heller

Healing Foods: Turmeric (Curcumin)

For centuries folk medicine depended on natural, herbal and nutriceutical remedies.  With the advent of pharmaceutical medicine many of the old remedies and their benefits were lost by the wayside. Much to the detriment of society. However, with the ever growing lists of side effects of today's patent drugs, their lack of true healing and the epidemic of secondary chronic disorders that they leave behind, interest is once again being shown to the old ways, their benefits and their safety.

The following article, exerpted from greenmedinfo.com, reviews the benefits and the recent research behind the age old spice, turmeric.  Definitely an impressive resume' of benefits and a spice worth adding to your diet.
 *********************************************************
Turmeric is one the most thoroughly researched plants in existence today.  Its medicinal properties and components (primarily curcumin) have been the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies.  In fact, our five-year long research project on this sacred plant has revealed over 600 potential preventive and therapeutic applications, as well as 175 distinct beneficial physiological effects.

Given the sheer density of research performed on this remarkable spice, it is no wonder that a growing number of studies have concluded that it compares favorably to a variety of conventional medications, including:

• Lipitor/Atorvastatin(cholesterol medication): A 2008 study published in the journal Drugs in R & D found that a standardized preparation of curcuminoids from Turmeric compared favorably to the drug atorvastatin (trade name Lipitor) on endothelial dysfunction, the underlying pathology of the blood vessels that drives atherosclerosis, in association with reductions in inflammation and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients. [i] 
  
  
• Corticosteroids (steroid medications): A 1999 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that the primary polyphenol in turmeric, the saffron colored pigment known as curcumin, compared favorably to steroids in the management of chronic anterior uveitis, an inflammatory eye disease.[ii]  A 2008 study published in Critical Care Medicine found that curcumin compared favorably to the corticosteroid drug dexamethasone in the animal model as an alternative therapy for protecting lung transplantation-associated injury by down-regulating inflammatory genes.[iii] An earlier 2003 study published in Cancer Letters found the same drug also compared favorably to dexamethasone in a lung ischaemia-repurfusion injury model.[iv] 
  
• Prozac/Fluoxetine & Imipramine  (antidepressants): A 2011 study published in the journal Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica found that curcumin compared favorably to both drugs in reducing depressive behavior in an animal model.[v]
  
• Aspirin (blood thinner): A 1986 in vitro and ex vivo study published in the journal Arzneimittelforschung found that curcumin has anti-platelet and prostacyclin modulating effects compared to aspirin, indicating it may have value in patients prone to vascular thrombosis and requiring anti-arthritis therapy.[vi] 
  
• Anti-inflammatory Drugs: A 2004 study published in the journal Oncogene found that curcumin (as well as resveratrol) were effective alternatives to the drugs aspirin, ibuprofen, sulindac, phenylbutazone, naproxen, indomethacin, diclofenac, dexamethasone, celecoxib, and tamoxifen in exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activity against tumor cells.[vii]
  
• Oxaliplatin (chemotherapy drug): A 2007 study published in the International Journal of Cancer found that curcumin compares favorably with oxaliplatin as an antiproliferative agenet in colorectal cell lines.[viii]
  
• Metformin (diabetes drug): A 2009 study published in the journal Biochemitry and Biophysical Research Community explored how curcumin might be valuable in treating diabetes, finding that it activates AMPK (which increases glucose uptake) and suppresses gluconeogenic gene expression  (which suppresses glucose production in the liver) in hepatoma cells. Interestingly, they found curcumin to be 500 times to 100,000 times (in the form known as tetrahydrocurcuminoids(THC)) more potent than metformin in activating AMPK and its downstream target acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). [ix]

Another way in which turmeric and its components reveal their remarkable therapeutic properties is in research on drug resistant- and multi-drug resistant cancers. 

We have found no less than 54 studies indicating that curcumin can induce cell death or sensitize drug-resistant cancer cell lines to conventional treatment.[x]

We have identified 27 studies on curcumin's ability to either induce cell death or sensitize multi-drug resistant cancer cell lines to conventional treatment.[xi]

Considering how strong a track record turmeric (curcumin) has, having been used as both food and medicine in a wide range of cultures, for thousands of years, a strong argument can be made for using curcumin as a drug alternative or adjuvant in cancer treatment.

Or, better yet, use certified organic (non-irradiated) turmeric in lower culinary doses on a daily basis so that heroic doses won't be necessary later in life after a serious disease sets in.  Nourishing yourself should be the goal of a healthy diet.

For the references go to the original article: 

For your better health,

Dr. Heller

Controlling Blood Sugar Without Drugs

If you or a family member or friend have difficulty controlling blood sugars and aren't thrilled about the prospect of a lifetime on glucose reduction meds here is an article from natural news with some great recommendations.

(NaturalNews) Nearly one-third of all Americans today are either diabetic or pre-diabetic, which basically means their bodies have lost the ability to properly process sugar. As a result, excess sugar molecules, typically from junk foods, accumulate in the blood and vital organs leading to chronic illness and eventually premature death. But if you are one of the millions of people that struggles with blood sugar issues, or even full-blown diabetes, you do not have to go the pharmaceutical drug route to find relief or a cure.

Like most other types of chronic illness, diabetes and pre-diabetes are more often than not the direct result of poor diet, stress, lack of exercise, and nutrient deficiency. Almost all chronic disease, in fact, is the long-term consequence of one or more of these dietary and lifestyle failures, which means correcting them also has the potential to fully cure disease, in many cases. Here are some helpful tips for overcoming your blood sugar woes, which in turn may help eradicate disease and restore your health: 

1) Cut out the sugar, grains, and omega-6 fatty acids. The standard American diet, commonly referred to as "SAD," is jam-packed with simple carbohydrates like refined sugar, processed flour, and vegetables oil, all of which spike insulin levels and cause inflammation. Carbohydrates in general are toxic to the body, particularly when not enough energy is being expended, as whatever carbohydrates are not used are sugar.

"Any form of carbohydrate is eventually broken down by the body into glucose, a simple form of sugar," explains the Wellness Mama blog. "While the body can use glucose for fuel, levels that exceed what is needed are toxic to the body ... when the body senses glucose in the bloodstream, the pancreas releases a hormone called insulin to signal the body to store the glucose as glycogen."

Once the body's glycogen receptors become "full," however, glucose continues to cycle through the body's bloodstream, triggering the production of even more insulin. Not only does all this excess insulin damage the glycogen receptors, but it also ends up overburdening the pancreas, which of course produces insulin, and storing the excess glucose as fat inside the body. Carbohydrates, in other words, are primarily responsible for making people fat, and not actually fat itself.

So rather than continue gorging on corn chips, cookies, snack crackers, breads, and other heavy-carbohydrate foods, switch to low-carbohydrate, nutrient-dense foods like grass-fed meat and butter, pastured eggs, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and raw, full-fat dairy products. As long as you are not allergic to any of these foods, you should be able to get your blood sugar and insulin levels under control, and avoid creating a toxic environment within your body where disease is able to thrive.

2) Reduce stress levels and recharge your adrenal glands. For many people, excess stress leads to the production of too many stress hormones, which can severely damage the endocrine system. And when the endocrine system is out of whack, and hormones are not being produced and regulated as they should, the body loses its ability to properly metabolize nutrients, including sugar. The end result, of course, is a propensity for high blood sugar and eventually diabetes.

"When stress occurs, whatever the source, the hypothalamus signals the adrenals to release cortisol (and adrenaline)," adds Wellness Mama. "Excess cortisol can contribute to hormone imbalance in the body since the body uses hormones like progesterone to manufacture cortisol. Excess cortisol ... can also interfere with the body's ability to regulate blood sugar, reduce fat burning ability, raise insulin, suppress thyroid function and cause gain in belly fat."

To avoid over-stressing your body, be sure to get plenty of rest every night, preferably going to bed before 10:30pm in order to allow your adrenal glands a chance to "recharge." You can also de-stress nutritionally by mixing one inch of fresh, minced ginger together with a one-half teaspoon of ground black seeds, also known as black cumin (Nigella sativa), and eating it. This natural remedy is just one example of a practical way you can promote relaxation.

3) Exercise regularly, repair your gut, and eat plenty of "good" fats. One of the most effective ways to remedy insulin resistance is simply to engage in more physical activity. Exercise, it turns out, has been

To go along with this, make sure to avoid foods that may be damaging your intestinal lining and causing
eventually broken down and turned into
"cortisol belly." Such foods include wheat- and gluten-based products, grains in general, excess sugar, genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), and lack of beneficial bacteria. Correcting gut problems may require supplementation with probiotic bacteria, zinc L-carnosine, and the amino acid L-glutamine, as well as consumption of healthy saturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids.
shown in numerous studies to have a powerful blood sugar-correcting effect, especially smaller amounts of high-intensity exercise. Pushing your muscles on a regular basis will also help increase their ability to utilize insulin, which can effectively correct insulin problems over time.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/040240_blood_sugar_regulation_diet_and_exercise.html#ixzz2Su6r20sf

For your better health,

Dr. Heller

Friends for Life = Friends for Health

It is pretty self-evident that spending time with those close to us, that we can share with, laugh with and just spend time with make us feel better about ourselves and our lives.  Evidence is now coming out that the benefits are not only emotional they are truly physical.

Most of us have heard that pets and deep friendships with others can extend life and improve quality of life.  A recent study appearing in the from Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at Ohio State University presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology annual meeting in New Orleans has found why.

Researchers found people who were more lonely showed signs of elevated latent herpes virus reactivation and produced more inflammation-related proteins in response to acute stress than people who felt more socially connected. 

It seems that loneliness boosts inflammation.  Inflammation is linked to coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and most other chronic disorders.  Inflammation can lead to

tissue damage throughout the body accelerating aging and predisposing you to other disease processes.  Currently these chronic conditions are typically addressed with anti-inflammatory drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s).  Listening to the news and the disclaimers on advertising we should understand that this approach is not without significant risks.

It is clear from previous research that poor-quality relationships are linked to a number of health problems, including premature mortality and all sorts of other very serious health conditions. And people who are lonely clearly feel like they are in poor-quality relationships," stated the lead author.

So as you are taking steps in the New Year to keep yourself healthy, make sure you include time with friends, family and other companions in your daily or at least weekly schedule to improve your well-being.  

Yours for Better Health,

Dr. Heller 

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Squash: for your health

Pumpkins and squash dishes are not just for family, holiday dinners anymore. 

New studies indicate that squash could be an important part of your healthy diet as reported in a UPI release.

“Squash includes both winter and summer varieties, some examples include, zucchini from the summer and butternut, buttercup, acorn, pumpkin and kabocha from winter,” Phil Lempert, a food industry analyst, trend watcher and creator of supermarketguru.com, said in a statement.

Although squash is mostly starchy carbohydrates, studies show it also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties.  Squash is classified as a fruit, but many consider it a vegetable for cooking/meal purposes.  

Squash contains vitamin C, potassium, fiber, manganese and folate, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and copper.   Sqaush also contains carotenoids, including lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin, which give many squash its signature orange color and are good for eye health.

Even though it taste best in a pie with whipped topping or ice cream, for full health benefits you might consider baked squash, or sautéed or diced squash on a salad through the rest of the year.

For your better health,
Dr. Heller 



Image courtesy of nuchylee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net