CONTINUING EDUCATION Julius Silver - Wien/Österreich - Pixabay I confess. I love attending quality CE (Continuing Education) Seminars. There is such a massive amount of new information out there that is pertinent to my patient's health. Fail to stay current with it and you and your patients will be left behind. If you are one of those suffering with one or more CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEGENERATIVE CONDITIONS, the fact that you are reading this post means that you have finally come to the realization that drugs and surgery are not going to magically solve your problem. You've figured out that you will have to step outside the "medical" box if you want to have any sort of hope at solving your problem and having a normal life again.
When you get down to brass tacks, practically all disease is really just one big thing. For all intents and purposes, most sickness and disease has a common cause ---- as well as a common cure (HERE). But to truly grasp the complexity of what I am talking about, you'll have to understand the relationship between Inflammation, Leaky Gut Syndrome, Gluten Sensitivity, and Autoimmunity (HERE). If you fail to have a cursory understanding of the dance taking place between these four players, it is much more likely you will fail in your bid to return to health. Oh, you will have no problem finding a doctor who can give you something to mask your symptoms. But as far as long-lasting relief and seeing long term positive changes (healing) ---- it simply will not happen with pharmaceuticals --- it can't. That is not what drugs do (HERE). Allow me to give you a quick overview. One of the many bad things that INFLAMMATION often does is to cause the Small Intestine to become "sieve like" or hyper-permeable. As SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION increases, the holes in the sieve get larger. This increases the number and amounts of things that should not be let through into the blood stream, getting through. The medical community calls this INCREASED INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY (aka Leaky Gut Syndrome), and there are way over 10,000 peer-reviewed studies on this topic in the scientific literature. For a whole host of reasons (HERE), people's immune systems frequently recognize GLUTEN --- wheat protein --- as foreign, and attack it. Once your body starts attacking Gluten or (THINGS IT THINKS ARE GLUTEN), it often starts making antibodies against it's own tissues (AUTOIMMUNITY). (HERE) is a short list of the Autoimmune Diseases that have been linked in some form or fashion to Gluten. By the way, it is critical to understand that most Gluten Reactions do not manifest as gut problems (indigestion, bloating, gas, etc), but as NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS. The thing about this vicious cycle is that it can start from anywhere. In other words, there is not necessarily a beginning or end, just a self-perpetuating cycle that can be entered into at any point. If you have a cursory understanding of what is on this page, you already know more than 90% of the medical profession. They are still chasing their proverbial tails; treating you with things like pain meds, CORTICOSTEROIDS, ANTI-NEUROPATHY DRUGS, Anti-inflammatory meds, Muscle Relaxers, and many others (HERE) --- and that's just for starters. If you think this is a good thing, you might want to check out THIS SHOCKING LINK. Knowledge is power. I would hope that you believe nothing that any doctor tells you --- self included --- without doing some serious research of your own. The cool thing about the internet is that you now have access to millions upon millions of studies and a wide array of information on these particular topics at your fingertips. If you are suffering from any of these problems, make yourself an expert. With a bit of well-placed study, you can know more than your doctor about the best ways to deal with your particular problem. And as far as helping yourself get better is concerned, HERE is a great place to start.
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WHICH SODA IS BETTER..... |
 Gepharts3d - English - Pixabay |
Believe it or not, it's a question I get all the time; Which soda is better for me, diet or regular? Huh? You're asking me? You already know my answer to that question grasshopper. Neither one is better. They are both bad for you. But not equally bad.
REGULAR SODA is crazy high in white sugar. Regular consumption of white sugar can cause a myriad of health problems by ruining your body's ability to CONTROL ITS BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS. In fact, it seems that every study coming out about the dangers of PROCESSED SUGAR (particularly HFCS) are freakier than the study that came out before it. This is scary considering the explosion of Diabetes here in America and the fact that studies are saying that for those in the 15 - 25 age group; their #1 source of calories is soda (HERE). But despite the problems that regular soda creates, it seems that diet soda is worse --- possibly much worse.
A large European study of over 15,000 subjects that was published this week in the medical journal Diabetologia, said that just one can (12 oz) of regular, sugar-sweetened soda a day increased one's chances of developing Type II Diabetes by 22%. However, if that drink is a diet drink ("artificially-sweetened") your chances of developing Type II Diabetes increase an additional 30 points to an astounding 52%. In the words of the immortal Harry Caray, "Holy Cow"! But truthfully, you should not be surprised. Clear back in October of 2011 I wrote about DIET SODA, using a study by Dr. Sharon Fowler of the University of Texas Health Science Center.
REGULAR SODA is crazy high in white sugar. Regular consumption of white sugar can cause a myriad of health problems by ruining your body's ability to CONTROL ITS BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS. In fact, it seems that every study coming out about the dangers of PROCESSED SUGAR (particularly HFCS) are freakier than the study that came out before it. This is scary considering the explosion of Diabetes here in America and the fact that studies are saying that for those in the 15 - 25 age group; their #1 source of calories is soda (HERE). But despite the problems that regular soda creates, it seems that diet soda is worse --- possibly much worse.
A large European study of over 15,000 subjects that was published this week in the medical journal Diabetologia, said that just one can (12 oz) of regular, sugar-sweetened soda a day increased one's chances of developing Type II Diabetes by 22%. However, if that drink is a diet drink ("artificially-sweetened") your chances of developing Type II Diabetes increase an additional 30 points to an astounding 52%. In the words of the immortal Harry Caray, "Holy Cow"! But truthfully, you should not be surprised. Clear back in October of 2011 I wrote about DIET SODA, using a study by Dr. Sharon Fowler of the University of Texas Health Science Center.
| By now, everyone knows that sugar makes people fat, but a large review of 26 years of patient data found that people who drink diet soft drinks were more likely to become overweight than those who drank regular sodas. Not only that, but the more diet sodas they drank, the higher their risk of becoming overweight or obese - 65 percent more likely for each diet drink per day! The findings, the latest from the long-term San Antonio Heart Study, took even the researchers by surprise as they found that regular soft drinks had significantly less connection with serious weight gain than did diet soda. |
THE BAN ON TRANS FATS
Igor Ovsyannykov from Pexel
| "The removal of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils containing industrially produced trans fatty acids from the food supply has been described as one of the most straightforward public health interventions for improving diet and reducing the risk of noncommunicable disease." Dr. Shauna Downs, University of Sydney's Menzies Center for Health Policy, witing in the current issue of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
Let me start by saying that I am a person who believes in personal-responsibility. I do not want the government acting as the "Food Police" --- something they are doing with increasing regularity. However, when people vote for government-funded healthcare, they do not typically realize that in the end, they are handing over the right for the government to control every facet of their lives --- including what they eat.
Despite what one believes about government-run healthcare, there are certain substances that have been labeled as "food", that are as far from the definition of food as one can get (HERE). MSG is one of these. Another is Trans Fats. Although TRANS FATS occur in nature in very small amounts (these are actually good for you), they are, for all intents and purposes, a man-made product that is not real food. Why should they be banned? Only because they are directly related to a whole host of devastating and deadly diseases such as heart disease, CANCER, DIABETES, infertility / endometriosis, gallstones, ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA, and a host of others. In fact, if a disease is considered to be INFLAMMATORY, it is likely to be related to the consumption of Trans Fats.
Despite what one believes about government-run healthcare, there are certain substances that have been labeled as "food", that are as far from the definition of food as one can get (HERE). MSG is one of these. Another is Trans Fats. Although TRANS FATS occur in nature in very small amounts (these are actually good for you), they are, for all intents and purposes, a man-made product that is not real food. Why should they be banned? Only because they are directly related to a whole host of devastating and deadly diseases such as heart disease, CANCER, DIABETES, infertility / endometriosis, gallstones, ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA, and a host of others. In fact, if a disease is considered to be INFLAMMATORY, it is likely to be related to the consumption of Trans Fats.
Studies have shown that when bans / mandatory labeling of Trans Fats were undertaken, good things resulted. One of these was a 35% reduction in the amount of Trans Fats found in Canadian breast milk. Another was a nearly 60% decrease in plasma Trans Fats here in America. Still another resulted in increasing levels of HDL (the so called "good" cholesterol) and decreasing LDL (the so called "bad" cholesterol).
BEETS ARE HEART HEALTHY
Anwar2
Maybe you've heard the term "Superfood" before. Superfoods are usually plant-based foods that are low in calories but extremely high in nutrition (omega threes, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, etc). Beets are undoubtedly a Superfood. Note that I am not talking about pickled beets here, but beets that are eaten raw, or lightly baked / steamed. For years, I have been preaching the benefits of beets (both the root and the greens) as a huge help for liver / gallbladder issues as well as high cholesterol. Now it seems that portions of the medical community are coming around to this idea.
According to the latest issue of Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association, Dr. Amrita Ahluwalia and her research team from Queen Mary University of London found that, "Drinking a cup of nitrate-rich beetroot juice significantly lowered blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive individuals." Beet juice is thought to accomplish this by dilating the arteries via a conversion of organic nitrites into nitric oxide (NO) --- a powerful vasodilator that many are familiar with from its use in bodybuilding supplements.
Can't find good beets in your neck of the woods? Never fear, Standard Process is here. A product that I particularly like for my patients (and myself when beets are not available) is AF BETAFOOD. DR. ROYAL LEE formulated AF Betafood back in 1951, which was itself based on a product (BETAFOOD) that was formulated 70 years ago (1943) ---- during the peak of WWII. Why do I love the Whole Food Ideology behind Standard Process so much? It's utter simplicity is a breath of fresh air in our hi-tech world. Man can never improve on something made by God (HERE).
According to the latest issue of Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association, Dr. Amrita Ahluwalia and her research team from Queen Mary University of London found that, "Drinking a cup of nitrate-rich beetroot juice significantly lowered blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive individuals." Beet juice is thought to accomplish this by dilating the arteries via a conversion of organic nitrites into nitric oxide (NO) --- a powerful vasodilator that many are familiar with from its use in bodybuilding supplements.
Can't find good beets in your neck of the woods? Never fear, Standard Process is here. A product that I particularly like for my patients (and myself when beets are not available) is AF BETAFOOD. DR. ROYAL LEE formulated AF Betafood back in 1951, which was itself based on a product (BETAFOOD) that was formulated 70 years ago (1943) ---- during the peak of WWII. Why do I love the Whole Food Ideology behind Standard Process so much? It's utter simplicity is a breath of fresh air in our hi-tech world. Man can never improve on something made by God (HERE).
WARNING WARNING WARNING
Cinnamon by Sam Mugraby, Photos8.com
CINNAMON CHALLENGE COULD BE HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH
DEFINITELY NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR THE BRAIN EITHER
For centuries, Cinnamon has been touted for its numerous virtues --- including a wide array of health benefits. Some of the peer-reviewed scientific literature includes benefits for things like.....
If you're like me , you may have never heard of the Cinnamon Challenge until someone sent me a link to the forthcoming video. The Cinnamon Challenge is usually undertaken by kids who try to hold a tablespoon of Cinnamon powder in their mouths for somewhere between 10 and 60 seconds without consuming any kind of liquid. Dr. Steven Lipshultz, MD, of University of Miami's School of Medicine wrote of the potential dangers of this practice in this month's issue of the medical journal Pediatrics.
Not to make light of his study, but this reminds me of similar studies from our not so distant past. You know; the kind of taxpayer funded research that boils down to plain old common sense. These include things like, "Over the Road Truck Drivers Live Unhealthy Lifestyles", "Cattle Fart a Lot", or "Inhaling Powdered Cinnamon Could be Bad for your Health". As you might imagine, The Cinnamon Challenge can prove to be quite problematic. Below is one such example. BTW, as you are watching this clip, keep repeating to yourself, "This is a serious problem ---- this is a serious problem ---- this is a serious problem."
- Helping to REGULATE BLOOD SUGAR.
- Helping to reduce LDL LEVELS.
- Its Antibiotic powers --- particularly against H. PYLORI.
- It works against INFLAMMATION. Not only does this potentially help with everything from Arthritis to Heart Disease, but is showing promise for various Inflammatory Neurodegenerative Diseases, including: ALZHEIMER'S, PARKINSON'S, MS, and a host of others.
- It helps to fight CANCER.
- It works as a natural food preservative.
- It helps balance the HORMONAL SYSTEM.
- And to top it all off, it tastes great. And face it --- if it didn't, most of us would not care so much about the health benefits.
If you're like me , you may have never heard of the Cinnamon Challenge until someone sent me a link to the forthcoming video. The Cinnamon Challenge is usually undertaken by kids who try to hold a tablespoon of Cinnamon powder in their mouths for somewhere between 10 and 60 seconds without consuming any kind of liquid. Dr. Steven Lipshultz, MD, of University of Miami's School of Medicine wrote of the potential dangers of this practice in this month's issue of the medical journal Pediatrics.
Not to make light of his study, but this reminds me of similar studies from our not so distant past. You know; the kind of taxpayer funded research that boils down to plain old common sense. These include things like, "Over the Road Truck Drivers Live Unhealthy Lifestyles", "Cattle Fart a Lot", or "Inhaling Powdered Cinnamon Could be Bad for your Health". As you might imagine, The Cinnamon Challenge can prove to be quite problematic. Below is one such example. BTW, as you are watching this clip, keep repeating to yourself, "This is a serious problem ---- this is a serious problem ---- this is a serious problem."
THE CINNAMON CHALLENGE WITH GLOZELL
DRUG RECALLS FREQUENTLY INVOLVE NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
If you have been around the field of nutrition for very long (I have been studying or working in this field since 1986), you are aware that the medical community --- via the long arm of the government --- has tried numerous times (unsuccessfully I might add) to have dietary supplements classified as "prescription only". This is because many of them are said to be "dangerous" or even "deadly". But is this true? Certainly not! INEFFECTIVE maybe, but not dangerous. But be warned; many of the so-called "nutrition" companies are fly-by-night affairs who are marketing and selling junk nutrition (several examples among THESE POSTS).
A recent issue of the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine reported that just over half of all the Class I FDA Recalls are for dietary supplements. Most of this has to do with the fact that these supplements either contain things that are not on the label, they do not contain things that the label says that they do contain, or the ingredients are substandard. Are you surprised? You shouldn't be. Particularly when you find out that most of these "rogue" supplements fall into one of three categories.
I have always said that if my life's purpose was making money, I would create a cheap weight loss formula using whatever garbage I could get my hands on, make all sorts of wild claims about its abilities, hire a couple of website / SEO gurus to promote it online, and sit back and rake in the cash from gullible consumers. And if I were really ambitious, I could take to the satellites and do a TV infomercial. Once people figure out it doesn't work as claimed (eat anything you want and still lose weight), I repackage the same formula and start the process over under a different corporation and with a "different" product.
As one might well suspect, the study's lead author, Dr. Ziv Harel of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, stated that we need to, "regulate this industry through more stringent enforcement and a standard of regulation similar to that for pharmaceuticals. Keeping the status quo may taint the dietary supplement industry as a whole." Is Dr. Ziv correct here? What needs to be done?
Truthfully, I am not sure anything needs to be done. Regulation always leads to more regulation, which in turn leads to even more regulation. Although Dr. Mitch Katz (in an editor's note) states that the number of crappy dietary supplements is, "grossly underestimated", and that, "dietary supplements should be treated with the same rigor as pharmaceutical drugs and with the same goal: to protect consumer health," I am not personally convinced that anything drastic needs to be done about this problem.
Simply stop buying these cheap crappy supplements! Let the companies wither on the vine and die. If the claims seem too good to be true, they probably are! For instance, what is the best 'male enhancement' supplement for dealing with impotence? I discussed that just the other day --- and the answer is HERE. In fact, read what I had to say about this entire issue on my WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION PAGE. And the brutal truth is that I could say the exact same thing about the way that most people want to use dietary supplements.
A recent issue of the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine reported that just over half of all the Class I FDA Recalls are for dietary supplements. Most of this has to do with the fact that these supplements either contain things that are not on the label, they do not contain things that the label says that they do contain, or the ingredients are substandard. Are you surprised? You shouldn't be. Particularly when you find out that most of these "rogue" supplements fall into one of three categories.
- Bodybuilding Supplements (31% of the recalls) (REAL SOLUTIONS)
- Sexual Enhancement (40% of the recalls) (REAL SOLUTIONS)
- Weight Loss Aids (27% of the recalls) (REAL SOLUTIONS)
I have always said that if my life's purpose was making money, I would create a cheap weight loss formula using whatever garbage I could get my hands on, make all sorts of wild claims about its abilities, hire a couple of website / SEO gurus to promote it online, and sit back and rake in the cash from gullible consumers. And if I were really ambitious, I could take to the satellites and do a TV infomercial. Once people figure out it doesn't work as claimed (eat anything you want and still lose weight), I repackage the same formula and start the process over under a different corporation and with a "different" product.
As one might well suspect, the study's lead author, Dr. Ziv Harel of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, stated that we need to, "regulate this industry through more stringent enforcement and a standard of regulation similar to that for pharmaceuticals. Keeping the status quo may taint the dietary supplement industry as a whole." Is Dr. Ziv correct here? What needs to be done?
Truthfully, I am not sure anything needs to be done. Regulation always leads to more regulation, which in turn leads to even more regulation. Although Dr. Mitch Katz (in an editor's note) states that the number of crappy dietary supplements is, "grossly underestimated", and that, "dietary supplements should be treated with the same rigor as pharmaceutical drugs and with the same goal: to protect consumer health," I am not personally convinced that anything drastic needs to be done about this problem.
Simply stop buying these cheap crappy supplements! Let the companies wither on the vine and die. If the claims seem too good to be true, they probably are! For instance, what is the best 'male enhancement' supplement for dealing with impotence? I discussed that just the other day --- and the answer is HERE. In fact, read what I had to say about this entire issue on my WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION PAGE. And the brutal truth is that I could say the exact same thing about the way that most people want to use dietary supplements.
But I hear it all the time. Hey Doc; you got anything good for high blood pressure? I need to lose about 60 lbs; what have you got for weight loss? What about my heart problems? How about my stomach problems? What can you do for my hormonal problems, acid reflux, fibromyalgia, blood sugar, chronic fatigue, (insert your disease of choice here) ......cancer? This is how medicine is practiced in our modern, hi-tech medical culture. The patient has symptom A, so give the patient drug B. If you have Disease X, just take drug Y. This is what most people want. After all; it's easy. It doesn't require any effort from the patient (except maybe digging a few bucks out of their wallet to cover a co-pay). It's a truth that is sometimes hard to face ---- the fact that it's far easier to pay someone else to do something for us than to actually take care of ourselves. That pretty much describes the society we live in. It's not my fault. It's not my responsibility. Gimme, gimme, gimme! |
Dietary supplements are usually cheap junk. Quality Whole Food Nutritional Supplements are made from cold-processed, real, organically-raised plants and animals are different. If you are one of those who are spending part of the estimated 20 billion dollars a year that Americans spend on supplements, make sure you are getting the greatest amount of bang for your buck. Nutritional Supplements should be just that ---- supplemental to a diet rich in nutrient-dense Whole Foods. And do not be fooled by the fact that this piece from JAMA Internal Medicine ended with the "trust us" disclaimer ---- The researchers reported no conflicts of interest. Don't kid yourself.
This article was not written with public safety in mind. It was written to soften up the public for the medical / pharmaceutical industry's next big grab ---- yet another attempt to heavily regulate nutritional supplements (including making them a prescription-only item). How do I know this? Despite the fact that there are, as claimed by the FDA, lots of cheap, ineffective dietary supplements on the market, the article stated that, "No adverse events related to these recalled products were noted in the FDA database". So even though many of the supplements were undeniably junk, there were no adverse events associated with them. Too bad we can't say that for THE PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL INDUSTRIES.
This article was not written with public safety in mind. It was written to soften up the public for the medical / pharmaceutical industry's next big grab ---- yet another attempt to heavily regulate nutritional supplements (including making them a prescription-only item). How do I know this? Despite the fact that there are, as claimed by the FDA, lots of cheap, ineffective dietary supplements on the market, the article stated that, "No adverse events related to these recalled products were noted in the FDA database". So even though many of the supplements were undeniably junk, there were no adverse events associated with them. Too bad we can't say that for THE PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL INDUSTRIES.
 | Like Annie said in her comment below, "it all works". The way you can help us reach more people is to forward these posts on to people you care about. Not to mention, it takes three seconds to like us on FACEBOOK. |
HYPOGLYCEMIA
LOW BLOOD SUGAR AND HIGH BLOOD SUGAR TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN
 |  |
By definition, Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar. In this age of UNCONTROLLED BLOOD SUGAR, CARDIOMETABOLIC SYNDROME (aka prediabetes) and outright DIABETES, wouldn't it seem logical that we would all want lower blood sugar? This is why it's important to realize that Hypoglycemia is ONE OF THE EARLY STEPS on the road to Diabetes. The reality is that the two problems are different sides of the same coin. Both are dangerous and potentially (eventually) deadly. But it's not like this is 'new' information.
| Severe hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes appears to be associated with an increased risk of vascular complications and death, researchers have found. Type 2 diabetes patients who experienced these serious drops in blood glucose had nearly three times the risk of death and twice the risk of a major macrovascular event compared with those who didn't experience hypoglycemia, Sophia Zoungas, MD, PhD, of the University of Sydney in Australia, and colleagues reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. From a 2010 article on MedPage Today called Hypoglycemia a Marker of Poor Diabetes Outcomes |
If you are a person who has dealt with the symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), do not blow it off. Get your blood sugar under control. What are the symptoms I'm talking about? According to the website of the American Diabetes Association, they include things like.....
The question on everyone's mind is surely why; why in the world is Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) associated with Diabetes and Hyperglycemia (high or uncontrolled blood sugar)? The question, in fact, is greatly on the mind of the medical community as well. A study from the February 2017 issue of Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism (Hypoglycemia Manifestations and Recurrent Events) reiterates how common this is in diabetics (all quotes are cherry-picked due to restraints on time and space).
Hypoglycemia is a well-known risk associated with the use of sulfonylureas [HERE is a list] and insulin, often limiting achievement of glycemic goals. A cardiovascular outcome study of 16,492 patients allocated to [diabetes drugs] vs. placebo added to conventional care for a median of 2.1 years. Analyzing the features of the first hypoglycemic event for each patient revealed that a precipitant for the event was recognized by less than half of the patients... In 40% of patients reporting major hypoglycemic events [these require third party assistance], no precipitating factor was recognized and in over 60%, no previous hypoglycemic event was reported during the timespan of the study - underscoring the lack of predictability of such an event.
OK, it's common, but why is it common? According to the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website, "Hypoglycemia can be a side effect of insulin or other types of diabetes medicines that help your body make more insulin. If you take insulin or diabetes medicines that increase the amount of insulin your body makes—but don’t match your medications with your food or physical activity—you could develop hypoglycemia." When you take more medication than is needed, too much blood sugar is moved out of the blood and into the cells. Just realize that the same thing happens in people who aren't on insulin. This is why LOW CARB DIETS are so important for Type II Diabetics (or for anyone hoping to avoid going down that path).
By AVOIDING SUGAR AND JUNK CARBS, blood sugar levels are maintained in a more linear fashion. When people choose to eat junk, their blood sugar goes sky high before insulin (whether your own or in the form of a medication) can "grab it" and pull it back down to baseline. The problem is, as we've been discussing, it is common for insulin to bring blood sugar down, down, down to the point that it overshoots baseline, continuing to drop and create a deep valley. When this happens, people get the symptoms listed earlier. The solution? According to the NIH again, consuming fruit juices (OJ is the most common), SODA, raisins, SUGAR, honey, or CORN SYRUP. And as you might imagine, the yo-yo continues.
According to a group of thirty experts (MD's and Ph.D's) who got together and actually created the guidelines that the mainstream medical community largely continues to ignore (HERE), the thing that will prevent this yo-yoing is low carb. Interestingly enough, the American Diabetes Association still recommends a diet high in potatoes, corn, GRAINS (they actually refer to it as a "superfood", DIET SODA (research shows you'll gain double the weight as with sugared soda), and others that are equally as questionable, not to mention they continue to beat that old and worn out "LOW FAT" drum. And this doesn't even start to touch on the issue of inflammation.
It's also important to remember that first and foremost, the inability to control blood sugar (Diabetes / Hypoglycemia) is first and foremost an issue of INFLAMMATION. This is why it is not uncommon to see people who have lost huge amounts of weight, gotten downright skinny, yet can no longer maintain a normal blood sugar without meds. If this is you, at least need to take a look at THIS POST and see what it might take to figure out what could be driving said inflammation. Honestly, the most common causes are also the easiest to deal with (the low-hanging fruit if you will). It's just a matter of making the effort.
- Shakiness
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Hunger
- Headache (Particularly MIGRAINES)
- Tired after eating
- Pale skin color
- Sudden moodiness or behavior changes, such as crying for no apparent reason
- Clumsy or jerky movements
- Seizure
- Difficulty paying attention, or confusion
- Tingling sensations around the mouth
The question on everyone's mind is surely why; why in the world is Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) associated with Diabetes and Hyperglycemia (high or uncontrolled blood sugar)? The question, in fact, is greatly on the mind of the medical community as well. A study from the February 2017 issue of Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism (Hypoglycemia Manifestations and Recurrent Events) reiterates how common this is in diabetics (all quotes are cherry-picked due to restraints on time and space).
Hypoglycemia is a well-known risk associated with the use of sulfonylureas [HERE is a list] and insulin, often limiting achievement of glycemic goals. A cardiovascular outcome study of 16,492 patients allocated to [diabetes drugs] vs. placebo added to conventional care for a median of 2.1 years. Analyzing the features of the first hypoglycemic event for each patient revealed that a precipitant for the event was recognized by less than half of the patients... In 40% of patients reporting major hypoglycemic events [these require third party assistance], no precipitating factor was recognized and in over 60%, no previous hypoglycemic event was reported during the timespan of the study - underscoring the lack of predictability of such an event.
OK, it's common, but why is it common? According to the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website, "Hypoglycemia can be a side effect of insulin or other types of diabetes medicines that help your body make more insulin. If you take insulin or diabetes medicines that increase the amount of insulin your body makes—but don’t match your medications with your food or physical activity—you could develop hypoglycemia." When you take more medication than is needed, too much blood sugar is moved out of the blood and into the cells. Just realize that the same thing happens in people who aren't on insulin. This is why LOW CARB DIETS are so important for Type II Diabetics (or for anyone hoping to avoid going down that path).
By AVOIDING SUGAR AND JUNK CARBS, blood sugar levels are maintained in a more linear fashion. When people choose to eat junk, their blood sugar goes sky high before insulin (whether your own or in the form of a medication) can "grab it" and pull it back down to baseline. The problem is, as we've been discussing, it is common for insulin to bring blood sugar down, down, down to the point that it overshoots baseline, continuing to drop and create a deep valley. When this happens, people get the symptoms listed earlier. The solution? According to the NIH again, consuming fruit juices (OJ is the most common), SODA, raisins, SUGAR, honey, or CORN SYRUP. And as you might imagine, the yo-yo continues.
According to a group of thirty experts (MD's and Ph.D's) who got together and actually created the guidelines that the mainstream medical community largely continues to ignore (HERE), the thing that will prevent this yo-yoing is low carb. Interestingly enough, the American Diabetes Association still recommends a diet high in potatoes, corn, GRAINS (they actually refer to it as a "superfood", DIET SODA (research shows you'll gain double the weight as with sugared soda), and others that are equally as questionable, not to mention they continue to beat that old and worn out "LOW FAT" drum. And this doesn't even start to touch on the issue of inflammation.
It's also important to remember that first and foremost, the inability to control blood sugar (Diabetes / Hypoglycemia) is first and foremost an issue of INFLAMMATION. This is why it is not uncommon to see people who have lost huge amounts of weight, gotten downright skinny, yet can no longer maintain a normal blood sugar without meds. If this is you, at least need to take a look at THIS POST and see what it might take to figure out what could be driving said inflammation. Honestly, the most common causes are also the easiest to deal with (the low-hanging fruit if you will). It's just a matter of making the effort.
GLYN GILMAN'S OBITUARY
A TRIBUTE IN PICTURES
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.
It is a sad day as I sit here trying to clear my mind and type through the tears. Even though we all knew that this day was coming, it does not make it any easier. "Papa" went to be with Jesus earlier today.
Those who knew him would agree that Glyn Gilman was an amazing man. I would go as far as saying that Glyn was the greatest man I ever personally knew ---- a Godly man of impeccable character ---- a man whom I pray my son emulates as he himself becomes a man.
Glyn was not only one of the funniest, smartest, and wittiest men I have ever been around, he was undoubtedly one of most loving, most giving, and most humble as well. He was also the toughest. Debilitated in his later years by the after-effects of childhood polio (Post-Polio Syndrome), Glyn was a modern-day JOB who never complained about the cards life had dealt him. And despite his physical adversities, his faith was on display for all to see ---- a life constantly, consistently, and purposefully lived as a witness for Christ. Like the old timers like to say, "He cut a wide swath". As a long-time teacher / coach / principal, "Mr Gilman" touched countless lives and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. We love you.
Those who knew him would agree that Glyn Gilman was an amazing man. I would go as far as saying that Glyn was the greatest man I ever personally knew ---- a Godly man of impeccable character ---- a man whom I pray my son emulates as he himself becomes a man.
Glyn was not only one of the funniest, smartest, and wittiest men I have ever been around, he was undoubtedly one of most loving, most giving, and most humble as well. He was also the toughest. Debilitated in his later years by the after-effects of childhood polio (Post-Polio Syndrome), Glyn was a modern-day JOB who never complained about the cards life had dealt him. And despite his physical adversities, his faith was on display for all to see ---- a life constantly, consistently, and purposefully lived as a witness for Christ. Like the old timers like to say, "He cut a wide swath". As a long-time teacher / coach / principal, "Mr Gilman" touched countless lives and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. We love you.
Glyn Wendell Gilman, age 75, of Imperial MO went home to The Lord Saturday April 20, 2013. Glyn was born January 15, 1938 in Belgrade, MO. Glyn is survived by his wife Mary Lou Gilman, his daughter, Amy Schierling (Russell), his son Randy Gilman (Joy) and six grandchildren Malachi, Michaela, Grace Adelyn (Schierling) Keira and Jackson (Gilman). His sister Ladonna Whaley (Orville), his brother Jim Gilman (Donna) and sister Robin Dickmann (Doug). Glyn was preceded in death by his parents,Clyde and Dorothy Gilman and sister Clyta Richart. Husband, father, brother, paw-paw, teacher, coach and friend to many, he will be missed! Those of you who knew Glyn will understand why one of his favorite verses was Isaiah 40:31
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THE LITTLE ONE-ROOM CABIN IN THE WOODS
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PAPA AND MICHAELA
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PAPA HELPING KALA SHOOT FROM THE BACK DECK
THE DAY PAPA TOOK MALACHI TO KILL HIS FIRST TURKEY
GOOD BYE GLYN
WE ALREADY MISS YOU MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW.
LOOKING FORWARD TO A GRAND REUNION SOME DAY!
DIETARY CRACKHEADS
PICK YOUR POISON
John Hain - Carmel/United States - Pixabay
It was not too long ago that I reviewed one of Dr. David Seaman's articles (HERE). Fabulous! He recently wrote another article called, Dietary "Crackheads" and the Never-Ending Battle Against the Bulging Waistline. Although the title sounds harsh, it is similar to a post I wrote back in January called, "ARE PROCESSED CARBOHYDRATES ADDICTIVE?. Of course the answer to my rhetorical question is a resounding "yes". But today I want to take a couple of minutes to share Dr. Seaman's viewpoint with you. Not only is he a FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGIST, he is one of the Chiropractic Profession's most well-known and respected authorities on INFLAMMATION and squelching it dietarily.
The thing to understand is that Dr. Seaman's article is not written from a condescending point of view --- a view that would say since you are addicted to sugar, he is better than you. It is written from the viewpoint of someone who has learned what it takes to crush the cravings that plague those of us with sugar addictions (his junk of choice was candy corn, Snickers bars, marzipan, Twinkies, cinnamon toast, donuts, ice cream and Whoppers from Burger King). I get what he is saying because in this regard, I am him. That's right; my name is Russ and I am a sugarholic. I can relate to Dr. David because if I let myself, I could easily fall right back into the cycle of sugar addiction / craving / sugar addiction / craving / repeat ad infinitum (HERE). And all of you who have ever spun around in circles on this crazy cycle know how hard it can be to get off of it ---- and how easy it can be to climb right back on and start spinning again. Seaman's says that....
The thing to understand is that Dr. Seaman's article is not written from a condescending point of view --- a view that would say since you are addicted to sugar, he is better than you. It is written from the viewpoint of someone who has learned what it takes to crush the cravings that plague those of us with sugar addictions (his junk of choice was candy corn, Snickers bars, marzipan, Twinkies, cinnamon toast, donuts, ice cream and Whoppers from Burger King). I get what he is saying because in this regard, I am him. That's right; my name is Russ and I am a sugarholic. I can relate to Dr. David because if I let myself, I could easily fall right back into the cycle of sugar addiction / craving / sugar addiction / craving / repeat ad infinitum (HERE). And all of you who have ever spun around in circles on this crazy cycle know how hard it can be to get off of it ---- and how easy it can be to climb right back on and start spinning again. Seaman's says that....
| I would argue that careful moderation when it comes to these "crackhead" foods is reasonable. Otherwise, the use of the term moderation is really how out-of-control dessert and fast-food "crackheads" rationalize their behavior, which includes a very "moderate" intake of vegetables and fruit that often excludes green vegetables. |
I could not have said it better. In fact, in past posts I have spoken extensively how "Dietary Crackheads" cannot do "moderation". It is an unfathomable concept to us. As long as I am carefully CONTROLLING MY BLOOD SUGAR, I am good --- no cravings and life is peachy. But give me one single donut, and I turn into a stark raving lunatic. I could easily wolf down a dozen before I realize that I feel sick. Dr. David goes on to say that there area several potential reasons that can cause us to indulge our inner "Crack Head".....
| Not surprisingly, the data is very clear that inadequate sleep and stress increase the release of the hunger hormone ghrelin that propels us toward food reward. When this happens, it is a good idea to exercise or get very engaged physically with cleaning or yardwork, which has an appetite-suppressing effect and a limbic system-reward effect. Reward refers to anything from which we get pleasure. |
In other words, if you want to squash the craving, you will have to find something to substitute for the sugar (DON'T SUB THIS). I agree with his assessment above. Physical work is a good way to dampen cravings. Hitting the gym is also a great method of countering cravings. High intensity WEIGHT LIFTING & CROSS-TRAINING does it for me. And here is the really cool thing about these cravings ---- if you can do what it takes to get off sugar and starch for a week or ten days, you'll lose them. And how would Dr. Seaman's have you determine your level of addiction or "Crack Headedness"?
| Researchers have identified that humans and animals have a withdrawal experience when not consuming sugar, which is not unlike opiate withdrawal. People actually suffer just thinking about never again eating a sugary, floury, fatty dessert. This is actually a very good way to test yourself to identify the aggressiveness of your own personal dietary "crackhead." |
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF BUTTOCK PAIN?
Paul E (Zanzibarski) - Nederland - Pixabay
"Prevalence of piriformis syndrome was 6.25%. Piriformis syndrome is one of the differential diagnoses of low back/buttock pain with Sciatica. Individuals of all activity levels can be affected. Females are more affected than males. Causes are overuse, prolonged sitting, trauma, and vigorous massage." From the abstract of a 2013 study from the Indian Medical Society called Prevalence of Piriformis Syndrome Among the Cases of Low Back / Buttock Pain with Sciatica: A Prospective Study
Butt pain. We've all had it at one time or another. Maybe you sat too long on a hard chair. Or maybe you fell on your rear end on the ice --- or while playing sports or roller skating. Or maybe you were like me and got your hind end SPANKED on a fairly regular basis as a child. These are all causes of butt pain --- but not the kind of butt pain that we will be discussing today. Today I want to address a few of the potential diagnoses in people who end up with debilitating buttock pain.
Most buttock pain, whether chronic or acute, can be dealt with using conservative methods (without DRUGS, surgeries, or EXPENSIVE TESTS). CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS, understanding INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS, TISSUE REMODELING, LASER THERAPY, CORE STRENGTH, or SPINAL DECOMPRESSION THERAPY will change most of these conditions.
- SCIATICA: Firstly, I want you to understand that SCIATICA is not so much a diagnosis as it is a symptom of an underlying problem. In the same way that it is not really helpful to go to the doctor with a headache, which he then miraculously diagnoses as a "headache," it is none too helpful to have a doctor tell you that your problem is Sciatica. There is always an underlying cause of Sciatica. Truth be known, there are lots of causes of Sciatica. Pinch or irritate one of the nerves that comes from your low back / pelvis area and you could easily end up with Sciatica, as it's a very common problem. And one of the most common causes of Sciatica is..........
- PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME: Despite the fact that many people have never heard of it, according to a 2005 study done at UCLA's Mount Sinai Medical School in Los Angeles, PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME is the most common cause of Sciatica and Buttock Pain (40% as opposed to the 6.25% touted above). Although the incidence probably falls somewhere in the middle, when severe, this poorly understood problem can destroy one's will to live (HERE). By the way, the large discrepancy between the two numbers likely has to do with the fact that Piriformis Syndrome is usually misdiagnosed as.......
- DISC PROBLEMS: These can be in the form of things like DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE, SPINAL STENOSIS, or HERNIATED DISCS. The problems with disc diagnoses come into focus once you begin to grasp the concept of ASYMPTOMATIC DISC HERNIATIONS. Because all of these diagnoses have the ability to cause Sciatica, they all have the ability to cause severe buttock pain as well. HERE is a simple test for helping to differentiate between Disc problems and Piriformis Syndrome. Far from foolproof, but definitely a start.
- CUTANEOUS NERVE ENTRAPMENTS: This is an ultra common problem that I feel is way too often being diagnosed as Piriformis Syndrome (which also helps account for the 35% discrepancy discussed a moment ago). When CUTANEOUS NERVES (superficial nerves) become "entrapped" in FIBROTIC FASCIA, it can cause pain. Although this is super common to find just about anywhere, it is ultra common in the areas around the hip / buttock (HERE).
- SACROILIAC (SI) PAIN: You can find your SI joints by feeling for the two bony knobs of bone on either side of your spine at your belt line. I wrote an article awhile back on differentiating SI problems from Piriformis Syndrome (hint: it can often be difficult to do). To understand a little bit more about SI pain and its relationship to Piriformis Syndrome, go HERE.
- BURSITIS: The ischial tuberosity (the butt-bone that you sit on, often referred to as the "sits" bone) has a BURSA on it. If it gets inflamed it is known as WEAVER'S BOTTOM. In similar fashion to people with PS, these folks cannot sit down unless maybe they are sitting on a pillow or cushion of some sort.
- TENDINOSIS: Although TENDINOSIS can happen at any muscle tendon in the body, it is not terribly rare to have HAMSTRING TENDINOSIS. And because the hamstrings attach to the ischial tuberosity (the butt-bone), the pain is frequently felt in the region of the lower buttocks. If these are bad enough, they will be seen with MRI. People with hardcore tendinosis of the upper hamstring cannot sit down without major discomfort. Tendinosis can also occur in the piriformis or any of the other hip rotator cuff muscles.
- TAIL BONE PAIN: This is pain that can be felt in the Sacrum (the triangular bone that the lowest spinal vertebrae sits on), or it can be in the tail bone (the coccyx --- the tip; just above the anus). Although this is frequently the result of a fall or even having a baby, there are many cases of "Coccydinia" that have unknown origins.
- TRAUMA: Fall on your butt, and you are likely to end up with a bruise --- or even a broken tail bone (super common). I have seen many of these type of injuries result in both SCAR TISSUE and TRIGGER POINTS that can lead to buttock or hip pain, which, by the way, commonly manifests in the HIP FLEXORS as well.
- OTHERS: Truth be known, there are a number of other causes of Pain in the Butt (CANCER, tumors, INFECTIONS, WEIRD NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, labral tears, FAI, pelvic floor issues, etc, etc, etc). The really cool thing is that......
Most buttock pain, whether chronic or acute, can be dealt with using conservative methods (without DRUGS, surgeries, or EXPENSIVE TESTS). CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS, understanding INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS, TISSUE REMODELING, LASER THERAPY, CORE STRENGTH, or SPINAL DECOMPRESSION THERAPY will change most of these conditions.
Dr. Schierling completed four years of Kansas State University's five-year Nutrition / Exercise Physiology Program before deciding on a career in Chiropractic. He graduated from Logan Chiropractic College in 1991, and has run a busy clinic in Mountain View, Missouri ever since. He and his wife Amy have four children (three daughters and a son).
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