Filed under: Research | Tags: cancer, children, leukemia, organic, pesticides
Tom Ballard, RN, ND
A new research study published in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring reports a 200% increase in acute leukemia associated with exposure to organophosphate pesticides (OP). Acute leukemia is the most common childhood cancer.
A few years ago the University of Washington conducted a study comparing organic and non-organic fruit juice consumption in kids. Calorie-hungry growing kids love their juice. When the juice is not organic, OP pesticide levels were shown to rise dramatically, while organic juice lowered their levels.
Nursing mothers will secrete OPs through their breast milk, so even the unborn child is not safe from pesticides.
Support your local organic farmers and protect your child’s health – buy organic.
Tom Ballard, RN, ND
Vitamin D has come a long way since it was only seen as the “bone vitamin.” In the last decade volumes of research have revealed its importance in preventing cancer, winter blues, and thyroid dysfunction, to name only a few. Now come reports that low vitamin D increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Fortunately vitamin D is easily measured with routine blood testing. Everyone should have this test, especially those living in the north, although southerners who spend most of their time indoors and use sun screen are also vulnerable to this deficiency.
What can you do? TTS = test, tan, supplement. Tanning should be done gradually, starting with pink, avoiding burning. Supplementation is based on blood levels. Keep in the pink with sunlight.
One of the biggest nutritional problems of industrial societies is consuming enough fiber. Refined foods have much of the fiber removed, along with protein, vitamins and minerals. Fiber has been shown to lower cholesterol better than prescription drugs, prevent constipation, and reduce diabetes.
My favorite fiber is stabilized rice bran. Bran is the outer layer of grains, the first thing removed by refining. Rice bran is particularly rich in nutrients such as B-complex vitamins, protein, omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, antioxidants, magnesium, manganese and potassium. It has been used for thousands of years as a source of nutrients for pregnant women and the elderly. It is a gentler fiber than psyllium, a popular ingredient in many fiber products.
“Stabilized” refers to the enzymatic process by which bran is protected from rancidity. Because bran is rich in essential fatty acids, it is prone to rancidity. Never buy rice bran that has not been protected from air and light. Once the package is open, it is best stored in the refrigerator.
Filed under: Commentary | Tags: bioimpedance, BMI, fat, muscle, scale, water weight, weight, weight loss
Tom Ballard, RN, ND
Body-mass index (BMI) has been used as a measure of health risk for decades. It is a measurement of weight relative to height. The problem is that large muscular people appear to have the same health risks as a large fat people.
While not as widely known, waist-to-hip ratio appears to be a better predictor of heart disease, diabetes and early death. To calculate your waist-to-hip ratio, measure your waist at its narrowest and your hips at their widest and divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. Healthier men have a ratio of less than 1.0 and women less than 0.8.
Even better are bio-impedance scales that differentiate percent fat, muscle, water, and belly fat as well as calculate calories and metabolic age. We use these scales at Pure Wellness Centers and find them to be excellent at monitoring health status. The recommendation is that everyone has their bio-status measured at least once a year. Those with diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, or battling weight, need quarterly assessments.
Filed under: Research | Tags: acid, acidic, acidosis, alkaline, diet, inflammation, interstitial cystitis, kidney stones, muscle, muscle wasting, osteoporosis
Candace McNaughton, N.D.
Foods can be categorized as carbohydrates, proteins and fats, but they also can be classified by how we process them. Our bodies transform nearly all foods into acids or alkaline bases, and we need a balance to be healthy.
Too many acid-producing foods cause a chronic condition called acidosis — meaning the body becomes too acidic, which can lead to osteoporosis, muscle deterioration, kidney stones, and inflammation.
Fish, meat, poultry, eggs, cheese, milk and grains generally produce acids, while fruit, vegetables, tubers and nuts generally cause blood to be more alkaline. For good health, your body should be slightly alkaline. This is easy to achieve by consuming more alkaline-producing foods and dietary supplements.
Not surprisingly, the typical Western diet, heavy with acid-producing meat and refined foods, is highly acidic.
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Read the rest of this article at the PCC Sound Consumer
Filed under: Research | Tags: brain, breakfast, diet, grains, memory, oat, oatmeal, sugar
Tom Ballard RN, ND
Breakfast eaters have better attention and memory than those who skip breakfast. This has been shown in dozens of studies dating back to the 1950s. Complex carbohydrates and protein are more effective than sweetened cereals. Oatmeal eaters outperformed Cap’n Crunch by 20%! (Tufts University) Most of these studies were done on children, but there is no reason to believe the same isn’t true for mature brains, maybe more so.
Dr. McNaughton is now contracted with the First Choice health network.
Dr. McNaughton is now contracted with all of the major health insurance companies:
- Regence Blue Cross
- Premera Blue Shield
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Uniform medical
- Community Health Plan of Washington
Check with your plan regarding specific coverage, as always!
Our Insurance/Payments page has more details about our clinic’s approaches and policies.
Filed under: Commentary | Tags: doctors, medical economics, medicine, naturopathic medicine, Primary care
Tom Ballard, RN, ND
Lack of choice threatens your pocketbook and health
Your health is harmed by medical economics. Yes, even if you have private insurance and aren’t faced with the red tape of Medicare and Medicaid, there are hidden health penalties built into our current system.
The latest revelation impacting your health is that there is a shortage of primary-care doctors. This is neither a sudden occurrence nor the unexpected consequence of global warming, but a growing trend over the past few decades. Medical students are increasingly choosing the track toward the more lucrative specialties: heart, bones, glands, skin, circulation, nerves, etc.
What was once called general practice is now called family practice and these docs are becoming as rare as the house call. This trend is becoming such a concern that it’s being reported by mainstream media.
Who cares if there are fewer general-practice doctors?
Economists were the first to raise the alarm – specialists cost more money. Their fees are higher, they run more tests and they do more procedures. This equals more money, many times more out of your pocket, both directly in co-pays and deductibles, and higher insurance premiums. But higher health care costs are not your biggest problem.
Health researchers are now becoming as alarmed as economists about the over-use of specialists. It’s time for you to pay attention – specialty care is more dangerous to your health.
According to research coming out of Dartmouth and other universities, more specialists means more drugs and procedures, and the outcome of these are more health problems, not fewer.
Obviously we sometimes need specialists, but the pendulum, both economically and health-wise, has swung too far away from primary, less-invasive, more preventive medicine. (more…)
Candace McNaughton, ND
A recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that phone contact is almost as effective as office visits in a weight loss plan. The study looked at percent of weight loss of about 400 people who were also on a weight loss drug. There was only a one percent difference in weight lost between those who had frequent face-to-face counseling and those who had frequent telephone contact during the program. The results were not as good with occasional face-to-face counseling, email counseling, or no support.
With our Pure Weight Loss program, we offer office visits, email support, and, with the Intensive program, telephone support as well. We want to do everything we can to help you reach your goals!
http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/abstract/150/4/255
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