If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Summer’s here. Read this before you slather on the lotion - Environmental Working Group’s 2011 Sunscreen Report http://shar.es/H40HI. You may just find that what you though was protecting you may be causing you harm.
So many of you have been calling and emailing, asking what you should do about the looming threat of radioactive fallout as a result of the damage to nuclear reactors in Japan damaged by the earthquake there. And with so much misinformation, and fear mongering, on the internet, I felt compelled to give you some facts and answer some of your most frequently asked questions.
The first thing I want to say is DON’T PANIC! There is no imminent threat to us here at this time.
The main concern right now with the reactors in Japan is a nuclear “meltdown” because of the loss of coolant in the reactors. A meltdown has the potential to release radioactive material into the environment, but this is remote. A meltdown is not the same as a reactor explosion, which spews radioactive material into the atmosphere, like what happened at Chernobyl in 1986.
Now, let’s discuss why all you’re hearing about is Iodine, Iodine, Iodine. Iodine is one, yet far from the only, radioactive component of nuclear radiation. Iodine is also the main element in the Thyroid hormones. If one is exposed to radioactive Iodine, and the thyroid gland needs Iodine to manufacture its hormones, it will take up the radioactive Iodine present. If the thyroid gland is already saturated with “clean” Iodine it will have no need to incorporate the radioactive Iodine, thus protecting the gland. This saturation of the thyroid gland with Iodine can be accomplished by taking a Potassium Iodide supplement.
This is only necessary for people who are at high risk for exposure. There has been a run on Iodine supplements at stores and many are out of stock. If you feel you really want to take Iodine and cannot find a Potassium Iodide supplement, DO NOT take Tincture of Iodine (what you put of cuts) internally. It is poisonous if taken that way. You can eat foods that are high in Iodine such as kelp and other seaweeds.
Some people are promoting taking homeopathic Potassium Iodide, the remedy called Kalium iodatum, as a protective measure against radioactive Iodine. There is no evidence that this remedy will offer any protection in this instance.
But remember, taking a Potassium Iodine supplement will protect only your thyroid gland from damage caused by radioactive Iodine. It will not protect you from other radioactive substances found in nuclear waste, like Strontium and Caesium.
There are several homeopathic remedies that will treat many of the symptoms of radiation sickness and should this become a reality, seeking the care of a homeopathic practitioners is recommended.
One of the best ways I know of neutralizing the effects of radiation is with two simple substances: sea salt and baking soda. This has been known for quite some time and originally came out of research done at the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1950’s. I have prescribed this to my patients over the years after taking X-Rays, CT Scans or any Nuclear Medicine diagnostic procedure. Several internet sites discuss this but as I have seen they all put there own twist on it. The original, as I prescribe it, is as follows: Add 1 cup each of sea salt and baking soda into a tub of hot water and soak in it for at least 20 minutes. This should be done daily for as long as there is a threat of exposure. The mixture may also be taken internally. Add 1 teaspoon each of sea salt and baking soda into a quart of pure water and drink an 8 ounce glass four times a day. Remember, this is only if exposed to radiation, not for prevention.
Press Release:
Osteoporosis, or thinning of the bones, (literally: porous bone) is the most common bone disease. Starting with low bone density, it can go unrecognized, progressing to a much more serious condition. In the United States today, 10 million individuals already have osteoporosis and 18 million more have low bone density, placing them at increased risk for the disease.
A New York Times report on a study on sleep concluded that “There is evidence that multivitamins may disrupt nighttime sleep.” The report mentions this may be due to taking the vitamins before bed! Multivitamins are nutritional supplements, meaning they are meant to supplement the nutrition you get from your food. As such they are best taken at mealtime. For more information on how to attain a good night’s sleep, see The Sleep Issue of my newsletter, Dr. Garber’s Natural Solutions News.
The latest edition of Dr. Garber’s Natural Solutions News, my periodic topical newsletter, has just been released. The Osteoporosis Issue contains valuable information on how to keep your bones strong and healthy - naturally. http://dld.bz/5NjV
Don’t miss future issues - sign up on this page to receive Natural Solutions News directly to your inbox.
– Carol Koprowski, registered dietitian and professor at USC.
“It’s good if parents go along on the trick-or-treating — and walk. That way, you work off some of the extra energy. Schedule for the evening: Collect everything. Bring it home. Parents check to see that it’s all safe. Choose one or two pieces to eat. Decide what to do with the rest.
– Jo Ann Hattner, registered dietitian and nutrition instructor at Stanford University School of Medicine.
“I promote the use of alternative treats — stickers, glow sticks, crayons, bubble-blowers. . . . One year I gave out orange pencils with pumpkins on them. Kids got so excited because it was different. Some friends of mine have games, like carnival games, so kids get treats as prizes. They have people lined up at their house.
– Dr. Thomas Robinson, professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine and director of the Center for Healthy Weight at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.
“Let your kids go trick-or-treating. You don’t want to deprive them. You can figure out ways of minimizing the damage for this rare occasion.
“Make sure they get a well-balanced meal before they go. When they come back with a bag of candy, let them choose a handful they want to keep for themselves.
“Give away the rest. It’s the parents’ choice what to do. You can even throw it away. It will do a lot less damage in the garbage than in kids’ bodies.
“Let kids enjoy some of the candy. It’s not boot camp. But set reasonable limits. That’s a key parenting practice.
“Give kids a small, healthy snack before they have a candy or two. . . . Then let them enjoy it guilt-free. If they’re going to eat it, they should get to enjoy it.
“When kids pick out their handful, the parents need to maintain control over it, so a kid has to ask for a piece. Then the parent should give it guilt-free, but be sure the child has a healthy snack first. That way parents can keep children from eating all six at a time, and keep them from getting sick.”
– Dr. David Ludwig, professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and director of the Optimal Weight for Life program at Children’s Hospital Boston.
Health Tip: Bone Strength - Make sure to include weight bearing exercises in your work out. Cardio is important but just gliding won’t to anything to strengthen you bones or keep them strong. Dr. Garber’s Natural Solutions for Bone Strength
Over 40 million people in the US have some type of arthritis, about half of that being osteoarthritis, the common “wear and tear” form. Most people with arthritis have chronic pain and are not able to exercise, one of the most important health promoting activities. Among the most popular supplements for this problem is glucosamine (along with chondroitin) which dominate the market to the tune of two billion dollars a year in sales. But guess what? Study after study show that they just don”t work.
According to the results of a recent large meta-analysis (a study that reviews the results of many studies looking at the same problem) there were no clinically relevant effects of chondroitin, glucosamine, or their combination on perceived joint pain or on joint space narrowing.“We believe it unlikely that future trials will show a clinically relevant benefit of any of the evaluated preparations,” wrote the researchers from the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Bern in Switzerland.
Why, then, do so many people take it? In part because of a perceived benefit (perhaps a placebo effect,) they are considered safe (although there is evidence that glucosamine may negatively impact blood sugar levels) and, frankly, there’s not much else out there. In my clinical experience I never found any glucosamine type products, with or without chondroitin or other add ons like MSM, to be very effective. That’s why I developed my biotherapy formula, Dr. Garber’s Natural Solutions for Joints. I would have never bothered if there was already something out there that worked. But there wasn’t and it was frustrating. My original intention was to come up with a formula to repair the type of degenerated joints that are a common feature of osteoarthritis. To my delight, the formula not only accomplished this goal, it provided more immediate joint pain relief and had a positive impact on all types of arthritis. For more information, click here.
Sleep disorders affect as much as 34 percent of the U.S. population - a virtual epidemic.
In recent years studies have begun to link chronic partial sleep deprivation to serious physical health consequences. Regularly catching only a few hours of sleep can hinder metabolism and alters hormone production in a way that is similar to the effects of aging.
Chronic sleep loss may speed the onset or increase the severity of age-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and memory loss. Researchers have shown that just one week of sleep deprivation altered subject’s hormone levels and their capacity to metabolize carbohydrates.
The list of side effects from prescription sleep drugs is long, with the most common being headache, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, muscle and joint pain. One popular sleep drug was even shown to cause people to sleepwalk into their kitchen, consuming thousands of calories with no memory of it in the morning!
Dr. Garber’s Natural Solutions for Sleep is a unique, all natural homeopathic formula that will help you achieve a restful night’s sleep without unpleasant side effects.
Natural v. Organic: Which is better? “Natural” sounds great but the word means basically anything the manufacturer wants it to mean. There are few regulations governing the term. “Organic,” on the other hand, is tightly regulated by the federal government but there are plenty of unhealthy products on the market that are made with organic ingredients. Bottom line - read the label. See for yourself what’s actually in the product and then decide if it’s something you want to put in your body.
|
|
