Filed under: Commentary | Tags: acai, antioxidant, goji, mangosteen, noni, ORAC
Tom Ballard RN, ND
Those of you ‘in the know’ have heard of ORAC value and may purchase supplements based on it. Companies have been touting ORAC for several years in an effort to ‘prove’ their product is superior to others.
What is ORAC?
ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It is a test for determining the antioxidant potency of foods and nutritional supplements. Antioxidants are chemicals, such as vitamins and minerals, that destroy free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that make fats go rancid and cause destruction and inflammation in the body.
ORAC testing has been adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and has become an industry standard. Thus you will see growers of blueberries, importers of tropical fruits, and supplement manufacturers advertising the ORAC value of their product.
Examples
Generally speaking, the darker the fruit or vegetable, the higher the ORAC. Blueberries (1 cup) have an ORAC of 9019, while apples (1 cup) rate only 3903. Raspberries are 6058. And it’s not just fruits; red beans (1 cup) have an ORAC of 14,908. Cinnamon rates an astonishing 267,536 for only 100 grams. Remember, these are average ratings and not of organic produce. A particular cup of apples, for example, may be much higher or lower, depending on the variety, how they were grown, how long ago they were grown, and how they were stored before testing.
For a number of reasons it is good to have a standardized way of assessing the value of a food. For instance, I have a favorite green drink (GreensFirst). I like it for many reasons – it is organic, doesn’t contain added sugar or artificial sweeteners, is made from real fruits and vegetables not grass, and tastes good. It also has a very high ORAC value. This assures me that I’m eating a lot of antioxidants, and also that it was dehydrated under low temperatures to preserve the antioxidants and other nutrients. You could buy a product with all the same ingredients but with very low ORAC value.
The limitations
ORAC doesn’t tell you everything about a food or supplement. Your morning blueberries may have a high ORAC value, yet also be high in pesticides if they’re not organic. Those pesticides trigger free radicals. So, while blueberries have a lot antioxidant activity, that good may be nullified by the pesticides. Similarly, a supplement may have high ORAC, yet also contain sugar, allergens, and other toxins that increase free radical activity.
Manufacturers and advertisers also engage in a great deal of fact juggling. The ORAC test is a measurement of how well something in a test tube destroys free radicals. It does not test for a specific antioxidant or determine which free radicals are destroyed. There are dozens of antioxidants and free radicals, each one unique. (more…)
Filed under: Commentary | Tags: deficiency, depression, fatigue, pain, tired, vitamin b12
Tom Ballard, RN, ND
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause fatigue, weakness, depression, brain fog, numbness, and even pain. Yet many doctors overlook this condition, instead prescribing antidepressants and other drugs that do nothing for the underlying deficiency.
Vitamin B12 levels are often low in vegetarians, the elderly, and those with digestive problems, although it can become a problem for anyone. Testing is available. If you have any of these symptoms, discuss them with your Pure Wellness Doctor during your next checkup.
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.
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…)
Filed under: Commentary | Tags: antibiotics, infections, MRSA, resistance, super bugs
By Tom Ballard, RN, ND
Superbug infections, bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, are increasing at alarming rates. The most widely publicized, methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA) is on the lips of every hospital administrator and growing in the noses of up to 30% of their staff.
MRSA is not just causing problems in hospitals; daycare centers, schools and sports teams are regularly seeing outbreaks. Primarily an infection on the skin and in the nose, several patients have died when their lungs were overtaken.
Why MRSA and Superbugs?
According to experts, superbugs are the result of prescription antibiotic use. Antibiotics kill bacteria, but usually not completely. The ones that die are the weakest. The surviving germs are the strongest. One survivor is all it takes to reproduce billions of super-strong offspring.
Since shortly after the first antibiotic drug was produced in quantity, during World War II, resistance has been a problem. Recent decades have seen the problem become a crisis. Stronger antibiotics have spread stronger bacteria.
MRSA is only the latest. (more…)
Filed under: Commentary | Tags: Anti-aging, antioxidants, cancer, death, diabetes, estrogen, Hormones, longevity, testosterone
By Tom Ballard, RN, ND
And the answer is?
We don’t know the secret of anti-aging. Like most issues in human health, it is probably the combination of several factors. Much more research will need to be done. Currently most of the research is on mice which are unlike us in many ways.
While we don’t know the secret, we do know several important ways to limit disease and increase wellness. These are concrete actions you can do to increase your likelihood of, if not staying young, living longer. They may not be as sexy as injecting hormones or as exotic as drinking antler tea, but you’ll be happy to know they don’t require expensive or unproven therapies.
- Fat and shape: Increased fat, especially abdominal fat (waist/hip ratio) is perhaps the biggest contributor to aging, disease, and early death. Statistics show increased rates of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer. So, instead of shelling out for expensive supplements, shed the extra fat.
Unfortunately, popular weight-loss programs have a 95% failure when it comes to losing fat and keeping it off. New biometric scales as we use in Pure Wellness Centers provide accurate measurements of body fat. Knowing your percent of body fat is probably the most important marker of health you can know, more so than cholesterol. Learn about Pure Weight Loss on our site. - Activity that increases heart rate. You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete, but you do need to exercise your heart muscle and keep the blood moving. You can’t expect your glands to work right if the blood isn’t delivering nutrients and removing wastes. The best supplement in the world can’t do as much as a walk around the block.
- Hydration. Not as glamorous as injecting steroids, but will keep you younger and living longer. Dehydration can cause up to a 15% decrease in energy. 8-10 cups of pure water daily. No, sugared and caffeinated drinks are no substitute for H2O. (more…)
Filed under: Commentary | Tags: fish oil, pain, inflammation, aspirin, advil, nuprin, motrin, indocin, NSAID, anti-inflammatories, arthritis, turmeric, bromelain
Tom Ballard RN, ND
Inflammation is part of the body’s natural healing response. When something goes wrong – such as infection or trauma – the body sends in chemical helpers. These little micro-doctors help the body heal. Some of these helpers, like white blood cells, gobble up toxins. Others dilate blood vessels which are then better able to carry away dead cells.
Inflammation can happen anywhere. Cuts and scrapes become red and swollen. Inflamed mucous membranes swell and release mucus, as with colds and allergies. When you twist your ankle or strain your back, inflammation sets in to heal you. Digestive inflammation can cause diarrhea, mucus, and pain.
Out of Balance:
Inflammation is necessary and helpful, but when it is out of balance it interferes with healing. Our bodies make both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory substances. When you hurt yourself, pro-inflammatory activity increases until the healing is under control, then anti-inflammatory substances take over, like janitors cleaning up after an accident. If you are healthy, these processes are balanced.
However, in modern industrialized societies, where diet is deficient in nutrients and we’re toxic with industrial chemicals, pro-inflammatory substances dominate over anti-inflammatory. This result is a cascade of Free Radicals, reactive oxygen molecules that damage cells.
This imbalance leads to increasing levels of inflammatory diseases – chronic pain conditions, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, asthma, inflammatory brain diseases (Alzheimer’s) inflammatory digestive diseases, allergies, and skin problems.
(more…)