Welcome to Dr. Barbara's

I plan on sharing general health advice that is of a holistic nature, based on the best of different sources of medical practices. The musings will cover subjects of a spiritual, physical and mental nature.

For example I plan on talking about the treatment of problem drinking and alcoholism with the medical model using a  medication called Naltrexone and the most effective treatment, Acu-detox based in, but updated with modern technology, acupuncture.

Watch for nutritional based program for the cure of osteoporosis.

Or an introduction to Neural Therapy.

This blog is not meant to be used for medical advise or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please see your own physician.


Stay tuned

Remember this: Multivitamins may boost memory according to a new study

Multivitamins may boost memory: RCT data

A daily multivitamin and mineral supplement with added herbal ingredients may boost memory in older women, but no effects were seen for other mental processes, suggest data from a randomized controlled trial from Australia.

Read more here.

http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Multivitamins-may-boost-memory-RCT-data

5 Ways to Afford Whole Foods on a Budget

I talk a lot about eating good healthy whole fresh foods to stay healthy and to improve ones health.

People do mention that they think eating healthy is more expensive. But there are some basic habits that make eating healthy affordable 

Dr. Mercola writes about five ways to make your foods more affordable and make it fit a budget. I can vouch these habits work.

Whole food -- that is to say, unprocessed and unrefined food -- has the reputation of being expensive. But there are many ways to add whole food to your diet while sticking to your budget. Seattle PI suggests a few:

1. Buy seasonal: Fruits and vegetables are both cheaper and tastier when purchased in season.
2. Use the bulk bins: You won't pay for packaging, labeling and advertising.
3. Grow your own: A sunny yard or even a window box can add cheap, fresh food to your plate.
4. Use your freezer: Stock up and freeze when whole food is on sale.
5. Reduce waste: Don't let leftovers go to waste.

To read more about their suggestions, you can click on the link here.

Homemade Ketchup

There are many reasons to make one own ketchup least of them being it tastes so much better.

I make some with nearly the same ingredients, but now I know I will have a more nourishing Ketchup if I leave it at room temperature for a few days before putting it into the frig.

Sarah Smith has a neat blog called "Nourished and Nurtured" that also carries GAPS recipes.Read her Ketchup recipe here:

My Family's Favorite Homemade Ketchup (and it's GAPS-legal!)

Homemade ketchup is much more nourishing than ketchup from the store.  We've enjoyed a few different fermented ketchup recipes (including the one in Nourishing Traditions), but I wanted something a bit more basic, without the strong flavor imparted by the fish sauce.  This recipe is bursting with tomato flavor, with just the right tang from the cider vinegar and garlic.  My family prefers this ketchup to the other recipes I've tried. Since this recipe includes whey, it is also a great probiotic condiment. It will keep for several months in the fridge.

This recipe is also a great base for homemade cocktail sauce.  Just add a bit of prepared horseradish to taste, and then dip away!

My Family's Favorite Homemade Ketchup
Makes about 3.5 cups ketchup

• Three 7-oz jars of tomato paste, preferably in glass jars to avoid BPA
• 1/4 cup plus 2 Tb raw honey
• 3 Tb raw apple cider vinegar 
• 3 small garlic cloves, pressed
• 6 Tb whey
• 2&1/4 tsp finely ground celtic sea salt
• pinch cayenne pepper
• Equipment needed: one quart mason jar, or two pint mason jars

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl (if using a quart mason jar, you can save on dirty dishes by mixing this up directly in the jar). Stir well to combine. If using pint mason jars, pour the ketchup into the jars.
2. Ensure that the top of the ketchup is at least 1-inch below the top of the jar(s). 
3. Using a clean cloth or paper towel, wipe the top of the jar above the ketchup clean. 
4. Put lid on jar and leave at room temperature for 3 days; then transfer to the refrigerator.

History of Chickenpox and more!

Chickenpox was first identified by the Persian scientist Muhammad ibn Zakariya ar-Razi (865–925), known to the West as "Rhazes", who clearly distinguished it from smallpox and measles.

Keep your risk low of getting sick from chicken pox and it's repeat manifestation called shingles, by keeping your intake of vitamin D steady.

Dr. R. Veith of the University of Toronto, a vitamin D specialist, suggested we all take 10,000 iu's a day  as a proper dose to stay well. 
And read another paper recommending the safety of 10,000 iu's a day. 


And if you want to read more about chicken pox here is a Wikipedia link.

To your health

UK Scraps Pneumonia Vaccines for over 65's Because They 'Don't Work'

Think twice if you are over 65 and are offered a vaccine to prevent pneumonia.These vaccinations are soon to be halted by the UK government, on the grounds that the injections are not effective enough  and do not save lives.The pneumonia vaccine for people over 65 is called Pneumovax, and it is a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine which is said to work against 23 common types of pneumococcal organisms.

Millions of people were injected with the vaccine, which was supposed to offer ten-year protection against an infection that causes pneumonia. But independent experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the UK Government, say the program has had 'no discernible impact' on rates of pneumococcal disease. According to the Daily Mail:

"... [T]he protection provided by the vaccine is poor and not long-lasting in older people."
Pneumonia jabs for the over-65s are to be scrapped by the Government because they do not save lives.
Millions of pensioners have been vaccinated with a one-off jab that was supposed to give ten-year protection against an infection that causes pneumonia.

But independent experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the Government, claim it has had ‘no discernible impact’ on rates of pneumococcal disease.It said the protection provided by the vaccine is poor and not long- lasting in older people.It has told the Government’s director of immunisation, Professor David Salisbury, there is little benefit in continuing the programme and it should be stopped.

However, the jab should still be given to children and people with risk factors such as respiratory and heart disease as the evidence is more ‘robust’, says the JCVI.The jab for older people has been linked to 30 deaths and more than 3,300 reported side effects, including heart disorders and joint and muscle pain, according to official figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
The jab is meant to work against 23 common types of pneumococcal disease bugs but there has been mounting evidence it does not cut the risk of pneumonia in over-65s.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1392594/Pneumonia-jabs-pensioners-scrapped-dont-work.html#ixzz1QRAfUkk3

Esophageal Cancer double in Bisphosphonate (Fosamax,Actinel) use if up to 5 years!!

This result is reported from the team of Jane Green et al from Cancer Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF published in BMJ. 2010 September 1; 41:c4444. This particular study reported in the British Medical Journal involved 80,000 patients tracked for more than seven years on average. This documents the long-term harm of these very toxic, inflammation producing drugs that do not build or rejuvenate healthy bone but poison osteoclasts, a type of bone cell.

Bisphosphonates are used for the treatment of osteoporosis as diagnosed, usually, by a bone density x-ray which measures quantity, not quality, of bone.

Bisphosphonates are not very effective and have some very severe side effects, and now we know one of those side effects is the shocking increased incidence of esophageal cancer. It is hard to diagnose and it has a very high mortality rate.

Dr. Jane Green and her team at Oxford write :( my bold)

"Oesophageal cancer is not common in Western countries, but it has a high morbidity and is often fatal. On the basis of incidences for Europe and North America published by the World Health Organization in 2007,6 a doubling of risk of oesophageal cancer associated with about five years’ use of oral bisphosphonates would mean an estimated overall increase in incidence of oesophageal cancer in people aged 60-79 years from 1 case per 1000 population over five years in both sexes combined (in women 0.5 and in men 1.5 per 1000) in non-users to 2 cases per 1000 over five years (in women 1 case and in men 3 cases per 1000) in users.

If confirmed, an association between use of oral bisphosphonates and risk of oesophageal cancer would add to our knowledge of the risks and benefits of use of oral bisphosphonates. Treatment and prevention of osteoporotic fracture is a subject of increasing public health importance with large scale clinical and economic implications. Further research is warranted to confirm or refute our findings and in particular to examine the associations between use of different types and formulations of bisphosphonates and risk of the different histological types of oesophageal cancer".




Bisphosphonates poor effectiveness, same as or worse than lifestyle and dietary changes, is a finding reported in a January 2008 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine (full article here). The conclusion of the study states: “Although good evidence suggests that many agents are effective in preventing osteoporotic fractures, data are insufficient to determine the relative efficacy or safety of these agents.” 

And what if bisphosphonates are not the first line of therapy for osteoporosis? So says a University of Illinois study which finds that an effective first course of action is increasing dietary calcium and vitamin D or taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.“For many people, prescription bone-building medicines should be a last resort,” said Karen Chapman-Novakofski, a U of I professor of nutrition and co-author of a literature review published in a recent issue of Nutrients, May 2011.The study reported that adults who increase their intake of calcium and vitamin D usually increase bone mineral density and reduce the risk for hip fracture significantly. "These results were often accomplished through supplements, but food is also a good source of these nutrients, she said".There are many other hazards of bisphosphonates including the direct side effects of osteonecrosis of the jaw, atrial fibrillation ( which requires long term use of blood thinning drugs to prevent strokes), pain syndromes and severe inflammation of the esophagus. See Byron Richard’s excellent summary of the hazards of bisphosphonates found here, at “The Delusions of Bone Drugs".

How to treat Osteoporosis?

Dr. Gaby's book "How to prevent and treat Osteoporosis" is wonderful resource and can be purchased at any book store.

Even one prescription for any type of bisphosphonate drug increases the risk of esophageal cancer by 20%. However, when a person fills 10 or more of these prescriptions for longer than a three year period, which is standard medical protocol, then the risk increases 98%

With osteoporosis, think celiac/gluten sensitivity!

To read more about this go to Celiacbrain, May 23, 2011.

A Super way to get your good bacteria, Vitamen C and Vitamen K in one food.

I know, when I mention that super food is Sauerkraut, many of you will turn up your nose.
But I'm going to tempt you to try home made or naturally fermented Sauerkraut found at health food stores. I recently started making some at home and find it easy. I find it quite sweet with a slight hint of sour. If it's too sour one could rinse it off a bit. But not too much because you don't want to wash away the good bacteria.

And you can even make chocolate cake from it!

Linda Joyce Forristal, CTA, MTA writes in her article on the Weston A Price Foundation web site called
Sauerkraut: The Miracle Cabbage :


With winter upon us, I think it's a good time to talk about sauerkraut--one of man's most ingenious ways of enjoying the garden bounty during the months when fresh fruits and vegetables are unavailable. In my mind, the miracle of sauerkraut is that the brine does not have to be inoculated with bacteria for the process to work; the best sauerkraut is made simply with shredded cabbage and salt that is magically inoculated with atmospheric bacteria.

According to Harold McGee, the author of On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen, the ideal salinity for sauerkraut brine is 2.25 percent, with temperatures between 65-70ºF. These conditions produce the best environment for a bacterium called Leuconostioc mesenteroides to grow and produce lactic acid. When the acidity of the brine reaches about 1 percent, another bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum, takes over to finish the job. The end result is tangy, crunchy bits of cabbage to top off a sandwich or round off a heavy meal.
A new book on sauerkraut, A Passion for Sauerkraut: The Humble Vegetable for Good Health by Sam Hofer, (Hofer Publishers, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, 2001) is full of interesting sauerkraut lore and fascinating recipes, including one for Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake!




The recipe can easily be doubled.

Sauerkraut, from Nourishing Traditions published by New Trends- Promotes Weston A Price philosophy.

1 half a head of cabbage shredded ( I use the food processor)

1 TBsp of sea salt.

1 tsp caraway seed (optional)

4 TBsp of whey ( optional, if used, use 50% less salt)

Crush or pound the cabbage with a meat hammer with the salt until there is a little bit of liquid. Transfer to a mason jar that can be sealed and punch down the cabbage so that it is covered with a layer of liquid. It should be at least 1 inch below the opening of the jar. Seal and leave at room temperature for 4-5 days before transfering to cold storage. The sauerkraut may be eaten immediately, but it improves with age. http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/612-sauerkraut-miracle-cabbage?



Best of all  sauerkraut is nutrient dense and has a strong reputation for preventing illness. With the erosion of our soils and the gradual decline in the nutrient levels in our foods, it's always best to look for nutrient dense foods.

Read more about it's use for preventing illness and death here. 

To your health
Dr. Barbara   

You heard it first here: nicotine, main culprit in diabetes complications among smokers

This important study was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Anaheim on March 27, 2011.
Xiao-Chuan Liu, Ph.D., who presented the results said. “It is the first study to establish a strong link between nicotine and diabetes complications. If you’re a smoker and have diabetes, you should be concerned and make every effort to quit smoking.”
I would add that if you have any family history of diabetes or you have symptoms of pre-diabetes such as weight gain around your middle, hypoglycemic spells, mood swings and other mood issues such as depression, then you should stop smoking immediately. And if you have been using the nicotine replacement products for some time, more than a few weeks, you should stop them too and find an alternative....like acupuncture or laser, or a precription from your doctor.


ANAHEIM, March 27, 2011 — Scientists today reported the first strong evidence implicating nicotine as the main culprit responsible for persistently elevated blood sugar levels — and the resulting increased risk of serious health complications — in people who have diabetes and smoke.
“Nicotine caused levels of HbA1c to rise by as much as 34 percent,” said Liu, who is with California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, Calif. “No one knew this before. The higher the nicotine levels, the more HbA1c is produced.”

HbA1c is a form of red blood cell that shows an average of the blood sugar over 3 months or 120 days. It can show if one has an elevation of the blood sugar over time and so is useful in determening pre-diabetes and diabetes in those whose fasting blood sugar may not be elevated.

You can read more here.....


To your health
Dr. Barbara

The Hidden Diabetes Link No One is Telling You About... Statins

Here is an article describing another serious side effect of Statin drugs used to lower blood cholesterol levels writen by Suzy Cohen, R.Ph..

NEW Studies Reveal Alarming Hidden Cause of Breast Cancer

Every woman is afraid of breast cancer. For good reason. It is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women worldwide and breast cancer rates are increasing rapidly.
Recent studies have shown that free iron or iron toxicity found in breast tissue are associated with the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Dr Russell Blaylock MD  writes about this iron toxicity, the recent studies on breast cancer and the disturbing, suspected source of the iron toxicity: alcohol consumption and aluminium exposure especially from vaccines. He makes a compelling argument.

"Vaccines are a Major Source of Aluminum for Many


Many inactivated vaccines contain aluminum salts to boost the immune reaction. Studies have shown that this aluminum is slowly dispersed all over the body and may be concentrated in breast ducts.11
The amount of aluminum in vaccines is tremendous, especially in such vaccines as the anthrax vaccine, hepatitis vaccine and tetanus vaccine.
Since many American children are being exposed to multiple doses of aluminum containing vaccines by the time they are 6 years old, one would expect very high exposures to injected aluminum.
A recent study by Lucija Tomljenovik and Chris Shaw found that a newborn receives a dose of aluminum that exceeds FDA safety limits (5mg/kg/day) for injected aluminum by 20-fold, and at 6 months of age a dose that was 50-fold higher than FDA safety limits.12
Aluminum at this young age will accumulate in various tissues and with new vaccine recommendations, children and young adults may be exposed to many more aluminum containing vaccines every year throughout life.
With the ability of aluminum to displace iron from its protective proteins, we may not only see a dramatic increase in breast cancer, but also other iron-related diseases, such as liver degeneration, neurodegenerative disease, diabetes, heart failure and atherosclerosis.13 No one is addressing this very real danger. "

Iron toxicity secondary to aluminium exposure may be a leading cause of severe chronic diseases like Alzheimers!

Read more at NEW Studies Reveal Alarming Hidden Cause of Breast Cancer

To your health
Dr. Barbara

How to make your own B complex, whole food supplement.

The B vitamens, B1 B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, folate, choline and inositol, are extremely important for health maintenance and to prevent the illnesses of modern life. For many different reasons most people have to supplement to get enough of these essential vitamens.

B complex supplementation has been shown to reduce the risk of a MI, or  myocardial infarction by 25 %, reduced the risk of depression and Alzeimer's and reduced the risk of cancer both primary and secondary. And they do so much more.

Everyone should take a B complex supplement and for some the cost of supplementation can be a financial hardship.
Paul Fassa writes about making your own B complex.
'(NaturalNews) We are confronted with the prospects of worsening financial conditions for many, and the prospects of supplement suppression grow with new regulatory bills being introduced to hamper health freedom. It has already happened in the EU and Canada. It might be prudent to look into making your own Vitamin B Complex from yeast or simply ordering nutritional yeast products for your Vitamin B.'

He has full instructions and lots of info.

Just to remember, no B complex gives enough B12 to correct B12 deficiency which is usually caused by one or more of 3 reasons: low stomach acid, H. Pylori infection or and autoimmune process where intrinsic factor is disabled and can't deliver B12 that is ingested into the body.

The most common cause of any autoimmune disorder is gluten sensitivity. If you have B12 deficiency it would be wise to find out if you have gluten sensitivity. See my other blog http://www.celiacbrain.blogspot.com/ for more information.




Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/028516_vitamin_B_supplements.html#ixzz1FwBWt0hE

To your health Dr. Barbara

My Favourite Chocolate Cake recipe from Elana's Pantry

Here is my favourite Chocolate Cake recipe from Elana's Pantry called New German Chocolate cake.

The recipe fits the "Specific Carbohydrate diet"," GAPS "diet and the "Paleo" diet. She says it's a little complicated but you can make it in stages: make the cake the day before, make the icing an hour before you plan on serving it as it has to cool and thicken. If you are serving it for dessert at a dinner party, cool the icing just before serving the main course. It should be ready just when you're ready for dessert. I iced the cake infront of everyone after the main course, just before I served it. Everyone needs a little entertainment.

Just a final note: I never use agave because it is almost 100% fructose, instead I use honey and I adjust the amount by using 3/4 of what is asked for in the recipe.

Enjoy!
To your health
Dr. Barbara

Here's a health tip: Increase Your Fibre Intake

Dr Jonathan Whitaker, America's wellness doctor, states it well, we need more fibre than we are getting, and fibre is important for all sorts of aspects of our health.

He writes:


"When it comes to heart health, fiber is extremely important. We have known for decades that high-fiber   diets result in reduced cholesterol levels. And a recent study published in JAMA, which followed the dietary habits of men ages 40 to 75, suggests that adequate fiber also protects against heart disease. The study found a strong relationship between fiber intake and decreased risk of heart attack. My favorite source of fiber is flaxseed.

Flaxseed provides a high amount of soluble and insoluble fiber—one-fourth cup (50 grams) contains 11.7 grams of fiber. Other high-fiber foods such as black beans (7.2 g per cup), prunes (7.4 g per cup), and brown rice (4.8 g per cup) pale in comparison. Flaxseed is also rich in lignans, fibrous plant compounds that not only bind to cholesterol and carry it out of the body but have numerous other health benefits as well.


I suggest incorporating ¼ cup of freshly ground flaxseed into your diet each day. These tiny golden or brown seeds have a rich, nutty flavor and can be mixed into yogurt or soups or sprinkled on salads and other foods."


I too prefer ground flaxseeds to supplement for adequate fibre. We need about 30 grams a day. Ground flaxseeds have also been shown to lower the risk of estrogen induced diseases, such as breast cancer.

So start to get imaginative with the use of ground flaxseed, cook with it, sprinkle it and mix it.

To your Health
Dr.Barbara

Mercury in your teeth? You need to see this video.

In this video, you will see just how much mercury vapours  are continuously being emitted and how easily chewing or grinding your teeth can accelerate the release of mercury vapours. This is important as the mercury vapours are extremely toxic.

For more information on mercury and dentistry and health, there is lots on Dr. Mercola's site. 

There are ways to detoxify from mercury. Dr Mercola states: "If you still have mercury in your teeth, I highly recommend reviewing my Mercury Detoxification Protocol, which details the things you can do, right now, to help detoxify your body to improve your health."

In my experience, not everyone gets toxic from mercury amalgams. It seems to depend on how your body naturally detoxifies. But since one doesn't know if one is a good at detoxifying or not, it is safest to keep one's exposure to mercury as low as possible and to assume one has abnormal mercury or other heavy metal levels in one's system and to detoxify.

Exercise should be a regular part of your day and it detoxifies. As does eating lots of green vegetables, every day!!

If you want to know more, speak to a naturopathic physician, or a physician trained by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine.

 
To your health
Dr. Barbara Powell

Todays Headlines: Folic-acid fortification may increase cancer risk. NOT!

"As a result of a federal program requiring some foods to be fortified with folic acid, nearly half the population now consumes high amounts of the vitamin, which may put some at risk of cancer." So states the Globe and Mail, December 14th, 10. But this is not what the Canadian researchers concluded.

I give credit to the authors of the study published Dec. 13th in the CMAJ. They say:
"The purpose of our study was to investigate the folate status of a nationally representative sample of Canadians, including a subset of women of childbearing age. Read it here:http://www.canadianmedicaljournal.ca/cgi/content/abstract/cmaj.100568v2


They conclude:

• There is virtually no folate deficiency in Canada.
• Young women of child bearing age, even though they had normal levels of RBC folate, were not supplementing enough in their diet and added supplements to get folate levels above 900, the level determined to prevent NTD.
• There should be on going monitoring of folate status and health outcomes.
  

Interesting study, and I fully agree there should be more studies on the relationship of folic acid, folate and health. I would hate it if this study discouraged any one from taking good quality B vitamens with folate( not folic acid) and B12, because I've seen so much benefit from these. Men and boys have benefited too. Folate helps the body produce healthy red blood cells, guards against neural tube defects such as spina bifida and performs a range of other functions including lowering cancer rates.

I find it so frustrating and difficult to assess any original research, when so many use folate and folic acid interchangeably. They are not the same.


This is what I've learned about folic acid and folate.
Folic acid (synthetic) has to be converted by MTHFR enzymes to folate, and folinic acid and folate are what is used in our metabolism.  Folate is what is usually measured to determine folate status. We vary in our genetics in our ability to convert folic acid to folate. If you have MTHFR alleles or variations of these genes, then there is a back log of folic acid waiting to be metabolized, which may be giving high levels of folic acid. How much? Nobody knows. A new study published in the Proceedings on the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) shows that our ability to convert folic acid to folate may be relatively slow, leading to extended exposure to unconverted folic acid. Is unconverted folic acid safe? Studies show that small amounts may be safe and more is not.


Some studies of folic acid supplementation have been linked to slight elevations in cancer rates. They are not considered well done studies. There have been over 30 studies that have shown reduced rates of cancer with the supplementation of folic acid.


Reference 1, the Norway study mentioned by the Globe and Mail on December 14th, found higher rates of lung cancer in older male heart disease patients, and some say the study actually showed the dangers of smoking, not of folic acid supplementation. A Harvard study in 2009, showed that supplements of folic acid helped and reduced the recurrence of colorectal cancer in people with low levels of the nutrient, but not people who already have adequate amounts. There was no elevation of cancer rates. ( Reference 2)


Back to the new study, I disagree with the second line in the "Background " section of their article where they caution "high folate concentrations may be associated with adverse outcomes, including increased risk of colorectal cancer among those with pre-existing neoplasms." in that all the studies that have shown increased cancer rates have been looking at folic acid supplementation and not folate status. The Canadian study published in 2009 linked folic acid supplementation( especially from enriched grains) with higher colon cancer rates. But this can be explained by higher rates of diagnosis of earlier colon cancer because of the major colon cancer screening program started about five years ago. Time will tell if there is actual increases in the incidence of colon cancer.

And, at present there have been no published studies showing that supplementation with "natural identical" folates such as 5-methyltetrahydrofolate or 5-formyltetrahydrofolate enhances the progression of pre-existing neoplasms. That means they are safe. 
 
I also am suspicious of their conclusion that "Folate deficiency is virtually nonexistent in the Canadian population". They use the guideline for folate deficiency as red blood cell folate less than 305 nmol/L but with further studies we could find out that health promotion is accomplished when higher levels are maintained.

We desperately need more studies on the relationship of folic acid, folate and good health. Linus Pauling had strong opinions on the health promoting effects of folate. 

Supplementing with folate has been shown to promote wellness with less cancer, less depression, less cardiac disease. We may find out the artificial folic acid is good in small amounts and not so good in larger amounts and that the amounts fortifying our grain foods now, is safe for the majority of persons and a great benefit to pregnant women to build a better baby.

Everything points to you being better off if you have some folic acid.



You are probably wondering: how much?
If you are going to take more folic acid than what is in your food, then it should come from a natural source folate such as is found in AOR's Advanced B Complex or in Metagenics Folapro. Or speak to your health care professional who may know another source.



To your Health
Dr. Barbara



References:
1.Ebbing M, et al "Cancer incidence and mortality after treatment with folic acid and vitamin B₁₂" JAMA 2009; 302: 2119-26.
2. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Published online ahead of print, doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28319
“A randomized trial on folic acid supplementation and risk of recurrent colorectal adenoma”
Authors: K. Wu, E.A. Platz, W.C. Willett, C.S. Fuchs, J. Selhub, B.A. Rosner, D.J. Hunter, E. Giovannucc

What to do if weight loss hasn't made a difference in high blood sugar readings.

Perhaps the first recommendation I would make for an adult  with high blood sugars, not responding to weight loss, is finding out if they have LADA. 

1/3 of people with the onset of diabetes after the age of 20, have LADA or Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adulthood, and not type 2 diabetes, and they would not respond well to oral medications.

Diabetes Type 1.5 is another name for LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults). People with LADA do not have insulin resistance and instead have lack of insulin because of autoimmune attacks on the pancreas. Type 1.5 is really a variation of Type 1 and is a little different in that the onset is slower and you may not be insulin dependent at diagnosis.

In diabetes Type 2, elevated blood sugars  are caused initially by insulin resistance. Some persons with Type 2 do lose their functioning cells and become insulin dependent but that does not make them a Type 1 or 1.5.

If it hasn't been done, to find out if you have LADA, ask your doctor to do an antibody panel (GAD, ICA, IAA) and a c-peptide. Here is a check list to help you decide to ask for more testing.      http://api.ning.com/files/9v-anH8d1nSlO0y0NKe0XWKI3CJRRPJ6tTGzyV7sDjbaQO8U*QYRBx6PnFxSCzsm7JmG9iSaSyiFpTuCQ3zTfQ__/LADA_Are_you_at_risk.pdf  

What about diet? Unlike the case with Type 2 diabetes, it is usually not possible to reverse or control LADA with carbohydrate restriction alone. That said, it is much easier to make insulin work when you are eating a lower carbohydrate diet than it is with a high carbohydrate diet. To learn more about how lowering carbs allows you to fine tune your blood sugar control and avoid dangerous hypos and soaring post-meal blood sugars, read Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution: The Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars. Though many people with LADA are able to eat higher amounts of carbohydrate than those that Dr. Bernstein recommends, the principles he explains hold true for all people with diabetes and reading this book will give you a much better idea of how to use insulin effectively.

One of the reasons people with LADA do better on a carbohydrate restricted diet is that there is a high rate of gluten sensitivity/celiac disease in persons with autoimmune disorders, 12 fold increase in fact. The best testing is to do a genetic test from www.enterolab.com  for $US 150.00.( Anything in Ontario cost the same and is only 50% accurate).

Of course, it goes without saying, that one should exercise 30- 60 minutes a day at a pace that only just takes your breath away.

Yours in health.

Dr .Barbara

Caregiving: 6 Steps to Help You Cope

If you are one of the many who look after an older, sick or disabled family member or friend then you know this care-giving is like a part-time or even a full time job. Not surprisingly , care-giving can be very stressful and the strain can take an emotional and physical toll.

John Hopkins hospital has published some helpful tips to lower that stress if you are a caregiver:

Caregiver Tip 1. Ask for help
Avoid being the sole caregiver, if possible. This may mean asking adult children or siblings to help with groceries or car rides or even hiring a professional caregiver to perform difficult tasks like bathing your loved one. Short-term respite care, programs that send a healthcare professional to your home to provide temporary care for your family member or friend, is also helpful. Some long-term care insurance policies will cover this. Federal and state programs may also provide funding. Check with your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for Eldercare options in your area.
Caregiver Tip 2. Let it all out
Talk to a family member, friend, minister, or counselor about what you are experiencing, or seek out a local support group. It’s all too easy for a caregiver to withdraw from family and friends, but research shows that those with emotional outlets report less stress and fewer health ailments than those without such connections.
Caregiver Tip 3. Get up to speed
Specialized health organizations, such as the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Cancer Society, can provide detailed information on the disease your friend or family member is facing.
Caregiver Tip 4. Remember your health needs
Remembering your own doctor appointments and when to take your medicine can be difficult enough without having to juggle someone else’s schedule as well. Keeping a calendar of your appointments, writing yourself reminders, or even setting an alarm when it’s time to take your medications can be cues to help you stay on top of your health issues.

See the rest here: Caregiving: 6 Steps to Help You Cope

If you are a care-giver, remember, "the care-giver must survive"  or nobody does well.

Yours in Health
Dr Barbara

Building a better baby includes proper Vitamen D supplementation in pregnancy

You don't need to know everything there is to know about vitamen D to be able to make a large and sustained improvement to your health or to the health of your children.

Can you imagine a world where almost none of our children got juvenile diabetes, or other autoimmune disease or cancer? Well it may be possible as even supplementing 1000 iu's of Vitamen D, in pregnant women, has shown an  85% reduction of type 1 diabetes in their 7 year old children compared to pregnant women who did not supplement vitamen D.

That was just one condition studied and there are studies that show the prevention of many other chronic diseases including osteomalacia, rickets, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, schizophrenia, heart disease, type 1 diabetes, and cancer. These studies are reviewed here in these two links.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20974417

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20646224

 

So you're pregnant and you ask: how much vitamen D should I take that is safe and effective?

I recommend, during pregnancy, to take 10,000 iu's of vitamen D per day, with a good multivitamen which contains at least 1 mg of folic acid. It's perfectly safe and has the potential to protect your child's health into their adult years.

Yours in health.
Dr. Barbara

 

 

How to Rid Your Body of Heavy Metals: A 3-Step Detoxification Plan

Dr Mark Hyman, a physician who calls himself a "functional medicine practitioner" as he looks at the  whole body and looks for the cause of disturbed health, recently wrote about mercury and it's toxic effects. It's clear that mercury and particularly almalgum dental fillings and in some persons, vaccines are causing significant health problems. You are hearing conflicting information. In this article from his blog he will explain and give you information to help you interpret this information about mercury and especially it's links to autism. 

The bottom line is: is mercury hurting you? It doesn't matter if mercury is safe for most people, you are a unique individual and it might be part of the picture of the cause of your problems.

If you should decide that mercury is part of your problems, then here is a 3- step detoxification plan.

Dr Hyman writes "AFTER MY RECENT BLOG ON MERCURY, I’m sure many of you are depressed and discouraged about mercury and its toxic effects. The bad news is today I am going to review more of mercury’s toxic effects and expand on what I learned at the medical conference on mercury I mentioned in my last article on mercury …
But the good news is I will provide you with a clear, three-step plan to help your body detoxify from mercury and other heavy metals and recover your health. I have used this same plan successfully and safely with hundreds and hundreds of patients over the last 10 years — and it’s the same process I used myself to overcome mercury toxicity!
But first, let’s look at the data presented at “The Impact of Mercury on Human Health and the Environment” conference.
Read......http://drhyman.com/how-to-rid-your-body-of-mercury-and-other-heavy-metals-a-3-step-plan-to-recover-your-health-523/

To your health
Dr. Barbara