RAUL

RAUL: Product Review: Totally Tweetable Marketing System

2012-02-04T20:56:00.000-08:00

RAUL: Product Review: Totally Tweetable Marketing System

Product Review: Totally Tweetable Marketing System

2012-02-04T19:20:00.000-08:00

TotallyTweetable.com is one of those WOW sites that looks like it has been the brainchild of some very serious marketing minds. It is combining the powerful concepts of member based email marketing and combines it with some powerful viral techniques, including Social Media and blogging. Wow!!

I joined and took the upgrades - I figured, they offer a money back guarantee so why not..? You are not in any way required to take the upgrades to get the benefits of the site. However, they do multiply the benefits out by a few hundred times I have found, plus the fee is pretty small for the extra exposure you get... so I grabbed it.

What a concept - I must say.
The world of marketing online has been dying slowly for a while now as people are fed up with 'opting in' and getting mail boxes filled with nothing of any meaning. Spam is the killer.

So this system takes the traditional email marketing and modernizes it and then blows the roof of your exposure by adding in a pretty neat VIRAL twist.

http://totallytweetable.com/?vip=7539

This benefits WHATEVER you promote.
No matter if it is a Clickbank product, a matrix, an MLM or ANYTHING. Even Google ad words and 'traditional' style of marketing can reap huge benefits from this site.

You get to tap into the power of hundreds of active twitter accounts, and blog readers and send your message across the entire network.

http://totallytweetable.com/?vip=7539

There has never been another site that does this that I have ever seen. It is being hailed as 'Social Evolution' where by you can almost 'share' the social media connections of others. In fact... I think it ius going to be HUGE.

My vote is that this site is going to put a lot of dough in my pocket over the years to come.

The power of being able to reach out to people is not to be overlooked... The system makes that reaching easy. I, for one, have ALWAYS wanted to have otehr people send out tweets for me... And do you know what - this system has a guaranteed 200 people who will be tweeting for you, every time you send out!! But... THE TOP LEVEL IS WHERE TO BE FOR SERIOUS MARKETERS - A GUARANTEED 3000 PEOPLE TO TWEET FOR YOU COMES WITH THE PACKAGE... Whoa!

Overall I have to say I am impressed with TotallyTweetable.com. It is simple yet powerful, and delivers on its promises. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to explode their list and benefit from some excellent advertising.

See it and join here: (I negotiated to give anyone that joins through my link, instant EXECUTIVE membership, but this is not forever, so make haste)

http://totallytweetable.com/?vip=7539

Free website traffic with credit based safelist advertising

2012-02-02T01:31:00.000-08:00

We all know that advertising is one of the lifebloods of your business. You could have the most incredible products in the world, but if no one knows you exist, you won’t make any sales.

Traditional traffic methods are great and they work well. The only problem is they are typically time consuming, a lot of work, or expensive. You definitely need to look at getting traffic in different ways.

But today I’m going to show you something that’s easy, effective, fast, and cheap.

It’s called EliteSafelist, and it’s owned by a very respected Internet Marketer, Solomon Huey.

=> http://elitesafelist.com/s.php?ramilarc

EliteSafelist is your instant solution to getting traffic to your websites in minutes. How does it work exactly?

Imagine having a mailing list of thousands of double opt-in subscribers that you could email and tell them about your offers. Sounds great, right? It’s just hard to build that list of people.

Well EliteSafelist has fixed that problem by building a huge membership of thousands of people who are actually excited to hear from you and what you have to offer. By becoming a member, you can contact these people and tell them about your favorite programs!

Here’s 3 steps to start reaching thousands of people literally in minutes:

1) Join EliteSafelist

=> http://elitesafelist.com/s.php?ramilarc

2) Send a mailing to its members

3) Earn mailing credits by reading emails and clicking the credit links at the bottom.

That’s it! Easy right?

Yes, it’s a powerful advertising program that will bring you guaranteed website traffic. But it does much more than that if you use it properly.

When you refer new members to EliteSafelist, you get rewarded several ways, which helps you save time and make more money. If you refer just one upgraded member, you get…

* Tons of mailing credits to send advertisements at EliteSafelist

* Commissions every single month the member stays upgraded

* Commissions on every credit purchase

* A downline builder system where your referrals could become your downline in multiple programs

What’s most powerful is the residual commissions. Just for telling one person about EliteSafelist, you could get paid for years for making a sale just once!

And of course, that doesn’t include the advertising credits you earn, commissions for credit purchases, and building your downlines.

They even give you professionally made tools that you can use to get referrals right away, like emails, banners, reviews, signatures, and more.

When you join EliteSafelist, you’ll automatically become a part of their incredible affiliate program that saves you time, advertises your business, and makes you more money.

Visit the link below and sign up for EliteSafelist:

=> http://elitesafelist.com/s.php?ramilarc

To Your Success,

Raul Arce

The Super VIP Program Invites You!

2012-01-29T20:37:00.000-08:00

Internet Secrets?

Welcome to the #1 Home Based Business Website In the WORLD!

Google and Clickbank Money-Maker

Simple Technique which will be shown to you

How it’s done One on One On a

Love it and Leave it System!

Support is limited for 25 people Every Month!

All you have to do is follow some simple setup instructions and we will do the rest to get you on your way to making thousands of dollars monthly on the internet with Google and Clickbank.

This is very real, easy, and being made public.

So, if you don't mind working from home (1 hour a day Just to check your Stats) you must take advantage of this Once in a Lifetime Opportunity! You will thank me for it. Guaranteed!

NOTE: You will basically have to do no homework with this system because, this package is completely error free and the work has already been done.

See some proof and also read testimonials inside.

No Promoting or Marketing Required!

Let’s get started so you can start receiving

Big Checks from Google and Clickbank

No Risk, No Questions Asked - 100% Money Back Guarantee!

To your success,

Raul Arce

http://bit.ly/rAkLzS

The Sooner You Join ... the More Leads You'll Get!

2012-01-29T20:05:00.000-08:00

Triple Your List is a new innovative marketing
system, which actually generated real-time email
leads for you... ABSOLUTELY FREE!

It is designed to add fresh, targeted, verified
leads to your list. All the leads generated will have
gone through a double opt-in process, so you know
that these are do-ers, not lookers who never take action
on promotions.

Better yet, this is not a mailing system or a safelist.
These leads will actually be emailed to you (free of
charge) as members come into the system!

http://www.tripleyourlist.com/index.php/ramilarc

Triple Your List is a new innovative marketing
system, which actually generates real-time email
leads for you... ABSOLUTELY FREE!

Within minutes of signing up for my account I
started to have leads emailed to me. This system
is the best that I've ever seen for building your
list fast!

http://www.tripleyourlist.com/index.php/ramilarc

How are you generating your leads?

Are you writing a newsletter, advertising
through other people's lists, running a website,
or buying them?

No matter what you are doing now to build
your list, I can help make the process faster
and easier for you!

I can set you up with a free account, with
TripleYourList.com. This is a system that is actually
set-up to email you double opt-in leads at no cost!

If you are interested, head to my site:

http://www.tripleyourlist.com/index.php/ramilarc

The Top 5 Reasons to Build Your List

1. Research has shown you earn $1 month per subscriber

2. You can lower your outside advertising budget

3. Allows you to have contact with others in your field.

4. You can sell to these leads over and over again.

5. Quicker way to build up your name and reputation.

If a larger list of double opt-in leads is what you
are striving for, then I have the solution for you!
100% free leads are waiting to be emailed to you today!

http://www.tripleyourlist.com/index.php/ramilarc

Viral List Building Meets HUGE Loyalty Rewards!

2012-01-29T19:51:00.000-08:00

A new breed of Viral List Builder is upon us...

It's called adchiever, and you get HUGE rewards
just for earning more and more advertising.

What can you win?

* Free Upgrades!

* Login Page Ads (a full page view of your ad as
a user logs in)

* Premium Banner Ads (highest conversion spots
within the members area)

* Mailing Credits (Send your email ad to
hundreds or thousands more!)

The more you use adchiever the greater the
rewards get, and they get REALLY BIG!

>>> http://adchiever.com/?a=2150

Plus, you will get 300 free mailing credits
just for joining... this is some great free
advertising that just can't be missed!

To your success,

Raul Arce

P.S. Upgraded members have some really huge
benefits, so make sure to look
out for the offer immediately after you join
to grab the discounted price!

Trust me, this is an offer you don't want
to miss:

>>> http://adchiever.com/?a=2150

Free Presentation: Dominate List Builders...

2012-01-29T18:57:00.000-08:00

Darren Olander just released a
video which will teach you the easiest
and most effective techniques to completely
dominate viral list builders.

Watch it for free right now:

==> http://adchiever.com/index.php?a=2150&pageid=NQ==

It normally takes a lot of time and
organization to fully take advantage
of list builders... but with these
simple strategies it's made way easier.

This is a must see!

All the best,

Raul Arce

P.S. Whenever you can save time AND get
more done.. it's a huge deal. Watch the video
right now and start saving time and getting
more done right away:

==> http://adchiever.com/index.php?a=2150&pageid=NQ==

Free video training #1 (I see DEAD e-mail promos!)

2012-01-29T18:50:00.000-08:00

You will love this!

My friend Darren Olander has just released
his first free video presentation that will teach
you how to write e-mails that demand attention
and pull in the most cash.

Watch it now right here:

==> http://adchiever.com/index.php?a=2150&pageid=Mg==

It only takes one time to learn these
techniques and you will be pumping out
killer e-mail promos every time you
write and improve your results by leaps and
bounds!

Plus, you can avoid the most common mistakes
people make when writing their e-mail (or maybe
you are already making them?)...

Find out now:

==> http://adchiever.com/index.php?a=2150&pageid=Mg==

Enjoy,

Raul Arce

P.S. If you send ANY e-mails online at all,
you need this... even just one new technique
could greatly increase your results!

This Free 41 Page Ebook Reveals How To...

2012-01-29T18:42:00.000-08:00

The Internet Marketing Success Formula Floored Me

I have to tell you right off the bat, Soren Jordansen's Internet

Marketing Success Formula knocked me for a loop when I got my finally

got hands on his free 41 page e-book.

It's bursting at the seams with useful information Soren gleamed from

his own experience and, more importantly, from conducting scientific

surveys of internet marketers.

Basically, the average internet marketer is a new marketer who

desperately wants to make enough money so they can quit their day job

but has doesn't have the foggiest idea on how to actually go about

doing so.

There is one startling finding that many seasoned marketers overlook,

or just plain don't know, and it is from this fact that Soren lays out

detailed proven tested step by step plan

This e-book is written for the new marketer or for any other marketer

who is stuck and hasn't yet experienced success online.

When you can get right down to it, it's a roll up your sleeves and

get your hands dirty how to guide on starting a internet business from

scratch.

Everything, and I mean everything, is covered from choosing a web

host, building a squeeze page, monetizing the list building process,

how to set up a profit pulling email series and what types of

affiliate programs convert the best while creating the trust and

creditability.

The traffic generation system starts with methods that generate tons

of free traffic immediately and progresses through more advanced and

time consuming tactics as well as using paid traffic to build your

business.

The only thing I wished Soren would have spent more time on was the

chapter where he shows you how to take it to the next level. However,

it's really for internet marketers who need to get their basic hands

free affiliate system set up and running first.

Now, what make Soren's report stand head and shoulders above every

other basic how to guide are the real life examples Soren is currently

using in own business. He doesn't waste your time with fictional dog

training case studies or other such nonsense.

And get this, Soren is letting people rebrand this e-book for a

ridiculously low price.

I'm not kidding when I say using the methods revealed in The Internet

Marketing Success Formula could mean the difference between you

becoming one of the scant few percent making real money online or

still spinning your wheels trying make sense of internet marketing and

going nowhere fast!

My recommendation is to get your hands on this free e-book and follow

the steps exactly as Soren says.

=> http://imsuccessformula.com/?rid=44242

Quality co-op advertising you can trust!

2012-01-29T18:37:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for more traffic that is
proven to convert, without the high price
tag?

Well now you can get it - thousands of
visitors for dirt cheap...

http://www.viraltrafficcoop.com/members/?s=2653

The Viral Traffic Coop is a new site by
Darren Olander (a well trusted name online)
that makes getting results EASY!

All you do is purchase co-op packages,
and then assign a URL that you wish to
receive the traffic. After that you
will start receiving traffic on
complete autopilot.

Darren purchases the traffic through
special private deals or bulk offers
from the highest converting traffic
exchanges and advertising networks to
guarantee the most traffic at
the absolute lowest price.

This is a must see!
http://www.viraltrafficcoop.com/members/?s=2653

To your success,

Raul Arce

P.S. - Getting results will either cost
you a lot of time, or some money. With
Viral Traffic Coop you get the best bang
for your buck... you can't get the same
traffic cheaper from anywhere else!

Thousands worth of ads, upgrades, and products. Gratis.

2012-01-29T18:32:00.000-08:00

How many times have you purchased credits

or upgrades online?

1000 Traffic Exchange Credits ..... $10

1 Month Traffic Exchange Upgrade .. $13

Rebrand Rights on an eBook ........ $27

Viral Bonuses Membership .......... 100% FREE!

With Viral Bonuses, you get REAL valuable

gifts such as advertising credits, upgrades,

and other products for absolutely free.

Plus, These bonuses are exclusive to the members

of Viral Bonuses. These aren't available

anywhere else.

These are probably things you are already

buying... or will think about buying.

Through Viral Bonuses you can give

them a free try right now.

But, that's not all!

They are adding one NEW bonus every week,

so although there will be 10 bonuses listed

at one time... all you have to do is

check the site each week and you can claim

another freebie!

This will amount to thousands of savings in

advertising, membership fees, and products....

Grab them now:

==> http://viralbonuses.com/?a=3231

To your success,

Raul Arce

P.S. - Seriously, there is no catch.

You really can get REAL quality

bonuses that people are buying daily

for absolutely free...

But only through Viral Bonuses.

P.P.S. - and these aren't some

lame bonuses either, they are really

great, from top ranked sites

and products that Darren and Jared

have tested and use to deliver

great quality.

These are bonuses your business

needs and deserves, get them

now:

==> http://viralbonuses.com/?a=3231

Viral Traffic Coop Promotional Tools

http://www.viraltrafficcoop.com/members/?s=2653

Free Article Writing Software - ArticleToolChest.com

2011-02-26T06:06:00.000-08:00

RAUL: Welcome to DownloadPLRProducts.com

2011-01-09T23:04:00.000-08:00

RAUL: Welcome to DownloadPLRProducts.com

Welcome to DownloadPLRProducts.com

2011-01-09T22:50:00.000-08:00

PLR Products Private Label Rights content can be a goldmine of incredible value to Internet Marketers, yet can be purchased at reasonable prices. Although this might sound very private, PLR is actually very simple to obtain. Nowadays, as online marketing is getting more popular, you can earn more from it.

The most challenging thing for online marketers is preparing thier products to sell and bringing as much traffic to their website as possible to make more sales. By utilizing PLR, it is feasible to get your new product ready for sale within a week.

When you buy PLR, you are buying similar content others are also buying, but PLR gives you the license to call it your own creation. You can use the PLR content as it is, or change each and every word to create a form that is yours. The PLR license permits you to do anything you desire to with the content, and there are practically infinite methods to earn money with it.

PLR products can include articles, eBooks, web content and even software for nearly any niche. For instance, if you are in the cat niche, then you can get PLR contents for your blogs, website, and web offers.

By having access to PLR Products, you have access to a large quantity of off-the-rack content without having to wait for others to make content for you. You can make modifications to customize it any way you want to. You donâ€™t need to be an expert in writing to perform small modifications to swap the keywords to suit your niche services or products. Once you finish modifying the PLR product, you can insert your name as the author. It is always a good idea to personalize it to you by creating new graphics for it.

PLR provides you some distinctive articles and content written by first-rate writers for your website. With this unique and high quality content, graphics in your website you can promote your online business effectively.

Here is a great place to get PLR content without having to spend time searching for it:
PLR Products

Cash Kit 4 - Quick And Easy Ebook Creation

2010-11-21T02:58:00.000-08:00

Cash Kit 4 - Quick And Easy Ebook Creation

Cash Kit 3 - Web Traffic Overdrive

2010-11-21T02:48:00.000-08:00

Cash Kit 3 - Web Traffic Overdrive

Cash Kit 2 - Newbie Article Secrets

2010-11-21T02:19:00.000-08:00

Cash Kit 2 - Newbie Article Secrets

[FRE*E SOFTWARE] With FULL PLR right... No...

2010-09-03T23:45:00.000-07:00

Hey ,

I just downloaded full private label rights

to an awesome blogging software - for FREE!

>> http://www.IMBuzzRiches.com

It's released by my two friends Calvin & Jonathan

who have a ton of software products under their name.

They've made over $20K selling the same blogging

software when they launched it as a limited offer

around 1 year plus ago.

And now they've giving away full PLR to it.

Just so YOU can resell the software and

make money almost instantly.

>> http://www.IMBuzzRiches.com

I know it sounds insane, but there's honestly

no catch. And you won't be hit by any OTOs.

The only catch is this will only be available

for few days....

So get it now while it's still free:

>> http://www.IMBuzzRiches.com

To Your Success!

P.S. You'll also get awesome training content that

will teach you how to make more money reselling

the software.

>> http://www.IMBuzzRiches.com

Month's in Review

2010-08-15T06:54:00.000-07:00

Raw Foods: The Good And the Not So Good

It wasn’t long ago that raw food bars were all the rage. If you didn’t eat your food raw, you weren’t in with the IN crowd and you were out of the loop in the healthy rage. There are still some raw food bars around but pretty much the fad has died down and, I think, for good reason.

A lot of my patients ask me about the health benefits of eating raw food and I agree there are some foods that are of benefit eaten raw, some I question, and some I never would recommend without cooking. In case you were wondering about whether it’s more beneficial to eat all of your food raw, here’s some pros and cons you might want to consider.

What’s So Great About Raw Food?

To begin with, raw food is anything that has not been heated above 118 degrees. It’s reported by raw food enthusiasts that temperatures above that kill the natural enzymes present in food and make it harder for your body to digest them. It’s true, that your body needs specific enzymes to digest your food. As we get older those enzymes decrease and don’t do the job of digesting as well which may leave us constipated and missing a lot of nutrients from our food.

Now, there are some great, high vitamins and mineral, fiber-filled foods recommended for raw food dieting that are all the things you should include in a healthy diet anyway. They include such foods as vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains and juices as well as monounsaturated fats from olives, avocados, coconut, and nuts. As you can see, it’s mostly a vegetarian diet, but people who practice a raw diet exclusively say there are many benefits such as:

• Lower cholesterol.

• Lower/stable blood sugar levels.

• Lower blood pressure (from decreased sodium intake).

• May prevent stomach and oral cancers (overly cooked, barbecued food suspect).

• High in fiber, helps maintain good bowel health and blood sugar levels.

• Boosts immune system from higher glycoside levels in raw food.

• Avoidance of wheat, dairy, sugar, alcohol, and table salt may help some allergies and aids the body in detoxifying itself.

• Clearer skin.

• Weight loss, sustained.

What’s Not So Great About Raw Food Diet

The raw food diet lifestyle, in its purest form, is mostly a vegetarian diet. I become concerned about vitamin deficiencies, especially deficiencies in B12, which is common in vegetarian diets. This deficiency can result in anemia, and conditions of the nervous system, as well as neurological disorders of cognition problems and dementia. The best sources of B12 are from red meat, and secondly chicken, fish, and wheat germ.

In addition, not heating foods past 118 degrees allows food borne pathogens to stay intact and can result in serious illness. Take eggs for example. Many of my patients brag about how they put a raw egg in a blender with juice, etc, and drink it all down. I cringe and then tell them they’re lucky they dodged a salmonella bullet but may not always, as eggs can be carriers of bacteria.

Depending on how strict you are into a raw food diet, you may also include some fish (sushi, etc), red meat, and milk (non-pasteurized, non-homogenized only). Adding meat and fish works better from a nutritional standpoint, but from a food borne pathogen standpoint could pose some serious problems. Both fish and meat can carry bacteria, like salmonella and others. If you’ve ever suffered a Salmonella food poisoning event, you don’t want to go there again. They can also carry viruses and parasites. Non-pasteurized milk can also carry Mycobacterium bovis that can cause non-pulmonary type tuberculosis. In short, these raw foods can result in some serious illnesses that you don’t want to subject yourself to.

And if vitamin deficiencies and food borne pathogens aren’t enough to scare you away from a raw food diet, some raw foods are included that are in a natural and uncooked state, many of which can be toxic. Here is a short list of these foods:

• Kidney beans and sprouts contain a chemical called phytohemaglutinin, which can be toxic.

• Alfalfa sprouts contain canavanine.

• Apricot kernels – contain amygdalin, which is raw cyanide.

• Buckwheat greens are toxic if raw. They can trigger photosensivity.

• Parsnips – raw, contain furanocoumarin which can be toxic.

In addition, time may be a factor in not choosing a raw diet. Since it is mostly all raw food, it takes a lot of buying and preparation time, as freshness would be of ultimate importance.

Convenience may be another negative, as it would make it hard to go out to eat. Also getting used to it may be hard for people who have eaten meat, sugar, salt and alcohol their entire life to switch to a raw diet.

Is There a Healthy Way To Eat Raw Foods?

The answer to that question depends on whom you ask, mostly. But even many raw food enthusiasts say that the ideal raw diet is 75% raw and 25% cooked, and if I were going to “go raw” this is the way I’d likely do it as well.

• Twenty-five percent of your raw diet could be cooked meat, fish or eggs, but I would add a good digestive enzyme to help digest these proteins especially if you’re past age 40.

• The other 75% could be made up of raw vegetables steamed just enough to soften them and bring out their flavor. Raw fruit and nuts are always great in their natural form and I wholeheartedly recommend eating several servings of these vitamin and fiber rich foods every day.

• As always, drink half your weight in clean, filtered water a day to flush toxins out of your body.

This is what I tell my patients who ask about the health benefits of a raw food diet. There are a lot of positive elements involved, such as eating all the vegetables, fruit, and nuts, and staying away from sugar and alcohol and processed foods. These are healthy changes that anyone can incorporate into their diet whether it’s completely raw or not. To avoid serious illness however, stay away from sushi and steak tartare unless you really can vouch for where they came from and who handled them.

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Institute For Healthy Aging

________________________________________

Weight Loss Drugs: Are They Really Effective?

Seems at least once a week one of my patients asks me about the safety and effectiveness of some new diet formula they saw advertised on TV or the internet. The answer is a mixed bag of yes, no and maybe, depending on the ingredients in the formula and how they’re being used. If you’ve got a few pounds to lose, it’s only natural that you might be intrigued and tempted to try one of these formulas. So, allow me to share with you some information about a few common weight loss formulas out there, my recommendations, and let you to decide for yourself if you would like to try any.

Prescription Formulas

There are many prescription weight loss pills available, some control hunger, others rev up your metabolism, and still others play around with your insulin level to encourage weight loss. I feel that prescription weight loss formulas have health risks associated with using them. I would say, just leave the prescription formulas alone.

Over-The Counter Formulas

There are dozens of weight loss formulas out there. Most of them are herbal based. Here are some of the most common ingredients in these weight loss formulas, their function, and their health risks:

Metabolism boosters/Fat Burners:

• Green tea extract – helps you burn fat by ramping up your metabolism. A downside is that green tea extract contains a lot of caffeine and could cause some negative effects such as diarrhea, dehydration, heart palpitations, and nausea.

• White willow bark – an herbal derivative that aids in raising metabolism levels. It is also the herb that aspirin is derived from as it contains salicin, a natural pain killer. Often found in “stack” formulas, it doesn’t do much on its own. If you are allergic, or have reactions to aspirin, you will want to avoid white willow bark as well. Like aspirin, it can decrease blood clotting and may interact poorly with prescription medications you may be taking.

• Bitter orange – used in TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) for centuries for many conditions including weight loss. It contains the chemical synephrine which is similar to ephedrine in action, i.e., it revs up your metabolism like drinking caffeine.
• Caffeine – boosts metabolism and can help you sustain exercise so you burn more fat and calories. Too much can dehydrate you, cause heart palpitations, jitteriness and insomnia.
• Ephedra – the ban on this supplement was lifted not long ago but it has too many problems associated with it to use safely.
• CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) - clinical studies have proven this formula effective in burning fat and preserving muscle. A little over 3 grams of CLA a day (3,400 mg) is needed to produce these beneficial effects. Possible side effects may be loose stools and nausea in some people but can be prevented if taken with food.
• Garcinia cambogia – contains HCA, hydroxycitric acid, which inhibits the body’s ability to store fat. No real known side effects, unless taken in very high does, but may have a laxative effect or cause stomach upset if too much is used at once.

Appetite controllers:

• Hoodia – discovered in Africa, it was used by Bushmen to stop hunger pangs on long journeys. The real thing used in Africa may be a lot stronger than the manufactured type sold as a weight loss aid and depends on the integrity of the brand you buy and how they process the Hoodia. Some can be very expensive.
• Irvingia gabonensis – from the West African dika nut, initial studies showed weight loss in the group studied. However, may have been due to decreased food intake, and may take as long as 90 days to kick in.

Carbohydrate/Sugar/Fat Blockers:

• Phase 2 (white kidney bean extract) blocks carbohydrates from starches, i.e., pasta, potatoes, bread, corn from being absorbed.
• Alli – (Orlistat/Xenical). You may have seen TV ads. Weight loss occurs as it blocks a percentage of the food you eat from being stored as fat and moves it quickly out of the intestines. In 2009 FDA received reports of liver injury, and investigations are underway.
• 5-HTP – increases “feel good” serotonin levels in the brain so you can stay on a carb-restricted diet longer to help lose weight. Also helps you sleep. As an adjunct to a healthy, lower carb diet, it can have some value in limited amounts.

Insulin Stabilizers:

• Cinnamon – recent clinical studies were very promising in cinnamon by decreasing blood sugar levels and stabilizing insulin levels. Helps decrease belly fat by decreasing insulin. There is conflicting information, however, that common cinnamon, made from cassia bark, may be toxic to your liver in doses higher than 1 gram as it contains Coumarin. Ceylon or Sri Lankan cinnamon does not contain Coumarin. Best to stay in the 1 gram (or two 500 mg capsule) limit. Diabetics should use with a doctor’s supervision.
• Chromium – a mineral, helps utilize insulin better, decrease belly fat deposits.
• Gymnema sylvestre – an herb used in India for decades as a weight loss aid to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics, it is usually one of the ingredients in weight loss formulas along with chromium and cambogia gordonii. The American National Institute of Health deemed it helpful in controlling blood sugar levels in diabetics. However, diabetics should use under a doctor’s supervision.

Cleansers:

• Herbal slimming teas, or “Dieter’s Tea” - contain rhubarb and senna which are powerful laxatives. These can be used sparingly/diluted as a pre-diet colon cleanse, but do not use these types of teas regularly. They can cause diarrhea and deplete your electrolytes which make your heart fire incorrectly with palpitations, etc.
• Bowel cleansers – contain a lot of herbal ingredients like rhubarb, senna, cascara sagrada, and others. These work to clean the bowel of build up waste and can result in a few pounds of weight loss on the scale, but this is mostly water and waste loss and not fat. Useful as a pre-diet colon cleanse but not as a real fat loss solution.
• Acai berry – another detoxing agent, ads for it are all over the internet touting huge amounts of belly fat loss and almost always by people who are selling it. The benefit of acai berry is in its vitamin, mineral, antioxidant content. The downside; it’s not a magic bullet for weight loss.

Hormone/Sensory Formulas:

• HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) - HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy present in urine. It is touted to ramp up metabolism so that you burn a lot of fat quickly. The downside to this routine is that you have to go on a very low calorie diet to accompany it, which may be impossible to tolerate, and is not cheap. Best used under a doctor’s supervision.
• Sensa – works on your sense of smell to decrease the amount of food you eat. If you’ve ever had a bad cold and couldn’t smell you know how much your taste and desire to eat was also affected. Basically same principle. If you eat less, you lose weight.

My Recommendation

Weight loss is not all that complicated. It’s basically a matter of eating less, but nutritionally dense, low sugar, amounts of food, and moving more, i.e., getting more exercise. I feel the best, natural supplements to aid weight loss are vitamins and minerals that support healthy fat and sugar metabolism like the array of B vitamins, L-carnitine, Vitamins C, E, D, and Omega-3’s.

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Institute For Healthy Aging

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Torn Ligaments And Tendons

Many of my patients are very active and exercise every day. This is a good thing, but some of them overdo it or they fail to warm up properly and wind up with torn ligaments and/or tendons. These can be very painful and may necessitate surgery to repair them. Instead of being active and feeling great, these common athletic injuries can have you sitting on the sidelines for several weeks.

If you’re someone who exercises frequently, I’d like to talk to you about how to take care of your ligaments and tendons to avoid injury. First let me give you a little basic anatomy lesson about what your ligaments and tendons do and the most common injuries that occur.

Ligaments and Tendons Help You Move

When you think of going for your daily run, do you realize that there are several ligaments and tendons in your ankles, knees, hips, that if they weren’t there, your legs wouldn’t be able to move properly? Or when you play basketball, they enable your shoulders to keep your arms up so you can make that slam dunk? That’s right. Without them, you couldn’t participate in your favorite sports. That’s why they’re so important to consider before exercising.

Ligaments are flexible cord-like structures that are attached to your bones. They connect your bones/joints together so that they can move correctly. They act like shocks in your car, absorbing the impact of your movements on your bones. Although ligaments are very flexible and have a lot of bend and give to them, they can sometimes give too far, stretch beyond their limit and sprain or sometimes even tear.

Tendons are very similar to ligaments, they are made out of basically the same collagen material as your ligaments, but they have a different job. Tendons attach your muscles to your bones so your muscles and skeletal structure move together when you go for a run. Tendons are also very flexible and stretch quite a bit. Like ligaments, though, they can stretch too far and sprain and/or tear as well.

Common Injuries of Ligaments and Tendons

There are many ways you can injure ligaments and tendons that don’t involve playing sports. For example, in a job that requires repetitive motions of lifting heavier objects overhead may put strain on your shoulder, elbow, or wrist ligaments and tendons. If you do a lot of walking while at work, or are on your feet most the day, you could put stress on ankles, knees, and hips, especially the Achilles and knee tendons and ligaments.

However, most ligament and tendon injuries do come from participating in sports, especially where there is direct foot/ground impact, or players crunching into each other, falling or running into barriers. Let’s look at some of the most common, starting from the shoulders down:

• AC injuries: The acromioclavicular ligament – a big word that can be a big pain. 40% of ACL injuries occur in sports involving primarily the shoulder and upper arm like basketball, baseball, football and even overhead lifting in weight training. Injury to 1 or all 4 of the ACL ligaments usually occurs by either direct force – during a fall directly onto the shoulder with the arm held at the side, or by indirect force – during a fall onto an outstretched arm. There are six grades of severity of ACL ligament injury, all depending on how damaged the ligament is. Symptoms: Pain and swelling over the shoulder joint, restricted movement due to pain, laxity, or wrong movement, of the shoulder joint itself.
• UCL/LCL injuries: The ulnar and lateral collateral ligaments – these are 2 ligaments of the elbow that can be injured doing repetitive back and forth movements such that occur in “throwing” sports like baseball (most common), football and racquet sports like tennis, hockey, polo, javelin throwing. Symptoms: Pain, sometimes swelling along the inner elbow, bruising if the ligament was ruptured, closing/opening the hand, making a fist causes pain.
• Elbow Tendinitis: Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are the most common injuries to the elbow and affect the medial (middle) and lateral (side) epicondyles (tendons) of the elbow. This is a painful inflammation and stiffness caused by overuse and may recur frequently. It occurs most often in racquet sports or activities where there is repetitive back and forth movement of the elbow. Symptoms: Pain, swelling, stiffness of the joint, loss of range of motion.
• ACL injuries: The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the 4 stabilizing ligaments of the knee. An ACL sprain or tear is a very common injury in people who exercise moderately to heavily and occurs most frequently in women. It occurs from force placed on the knee from a twisting body movement where the foot is planted firmly on the ground, overstretching the ligament. Symptoms: A pop or crackle sound at the moment of injury may be heard, it is very painful, swelling of the knee occurs, and you cannot straighten out the leg.
• Achilles tendon injuries: The Achilles tendon is the largest and thickest tendon of the body and connects the heel to the lower leg muscles. It can be subject to several times the weight of your body in pushing off into a run or sprint. The Achilles tendon can be injured by improper support in shoes, accidents, or even some medications can weaken it. Achilles tendon tightness is also associated with heel spurs which can be very painful and prevent you from doing any foot/ground impact sports for several weeks. Symptoms: Soreness/stiffness especially noted getting out of bed. An Achilles tear may start with a sudden pop heard at time of injury with immediate pain and inability to stand on the leg.

Treatments for Sprained or Torn Ligaments and Tendons

If you’ve ever had a ligament or tendon injury you know how painful and debilitating it can be. Treatments of these injuries depend on how badly damaged the ligament or tendon is. In mild to moderate injuries, treatment usually includes:

• The RICE formula (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
• A short course of anti-inflammatory medications.

Elbow tendon and shoulder ligament injuries can take longer to heal as it is difficult to completely rest the ligaments and tendons of these areas.

More severe sprains and/or tears may often involve the following:

• Surgery to the ligament or tendon to restore the proper tension to keep bones/joint in proper alignment for correct movement. X-rays and/or MRI films are used to see how badly the ligament or tendon injury is.
• Arthroscopic surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee sometimes is necessary to repair the ligament. Under anesthesia, several ports are made in the knee for an insertion of an arthroscope to enable the surgeon to see/repair the ligament directly.
• AC ligament separations or tears: Reconnective/reconstructive surgery is often necessary.

Recovery from ACL and AC ligament injuries can be slow and may require several weeks of physical therapy. Afterwards treatments include whirlpool, range of motion exercises, direct ultrasound stimulation, heat, and/or ice to the affected areas.

Preventing Ligament and Tendon Injuries

As I tell my patients, the best way to avoid ligament and tendon injuries is to make sure you take time to warm up before exercising. I can’t stress how important this is, especially in people just starting an exercise regimen, as ligament and tendon injuries can seriously curb their enthusiasm for future exercise. Here are some basic tips on how to warm up each section of ligaments and tendons that are most prone to injury:

• General stretching: Lay on the floor, raise your arms overhead and stretch out like a cat does, slowly twisting in several directions. Do this for about 5 minutes, breathing in deeply as you go. Your muscles, tendons, ligaments all need oxygen to fire correctly.
• Shoulder shrug/rotations: Slowly shrug your shoulders, bring them up to your ears and rotate them backward slowly. This loosens up tension in the large muscles of the neck and shoulders.
• Elbow stretches: Hold your arm out straight ahead, slowly flex your hand/arm back towards you to the mid position and stop, lower your hand back down.
• Leg stretches: Stand straight, bend over and touch the floor with your fingertips and then slowly, gradually try to flatten your palm on the floor. Be sure to keep your feet flat on the floor and do not twist to the side. This stretches your hamstrings and loosens up tight knee and leg muscles.
• Achilles stretches: Stand facing a wall, about 1 foot away from it, lean into the wall, placing the palms of your hands on it. Extend one leg back behind you on the ball of your foot. Slowly, deliberately, bounce your heel towards the floor. This stretches out the Achilles tendon and helps to avoid heel spurs as well from a tight Achilles pulling on the calcaneus bone.
• Weight Train: Start with light weight training to strengthen ligaments and tendons, build up gradually.
• Get Enough Sleep: Inadequate sleep doesn’t allow your muscles, tendons, ligaments to re-strengthen themselves correctly and makes them more prone to injury.
• Drink Water! Your muscles, ligaments and tendons, need water to move fluidly and remove lactic acid that builds up during exercise. It also helps create adequate fluid for joint cushioning. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day, more if you are exercising in very hot, humid weather. Sport drinks can also help keep you hydrated.

Exercise does your health a world of good. Injuries to ligaments and tendons, however, can really put a damper on your fitness goals. It’s better to do a little exercise everyday than to do the ‘weekend warrior’ thing and wind up straining and/or hurting yourself. Remember, exercise should be fun and not be something that lands you on the couch watching television waiting to heal!

In Good Health,

Mark Bromson, M.D.

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Caffeine: The Good, The Bad And The Healthy

Many of my patients enjoy coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages but they read and hear that caffeine is unhealthy and should be eliminated from your diet. They’re always asking me, “Do I have to give up my coffee?”

It’s true that there seem to be mixed messages out there about the health effects of caffeine. Some information says it should be eliminated from your diet completely and yet new research shows that a little caffeine has several worthwhile health benefits!

Let’s look at some facts about caffeine, its downside as well as its health benefits, and hopefully, for all you coffee and tea lovers, we’ll find a healthy medium!

What’s So Bad About Caffeine?

Caffeine use by man has been around for centuries, or should I say eons, as it’s believed to have been consumed even in the Stone Age through the eating of Arabica (coffee) leaves or berries that contained it. In fact, about 80% of people around the world consume caffeine in some fashion every day! It is also used as a drug for pain relief and is present in many medicines and chocolate. In short, it’s a very popular commodity!

Caffeine affects the central nervous system shortly after your first few sips of your morning coffee or tea. It stimulates your brain and makes you more alert, gives you a jolt of energy to get you going and helps with stamina to complete tasks. For these reasons alone, you can see why people are so adamant about having their morning coffee or tea before going to work!

Caffeine affects your digestion/gastric processes, stimulating it and producing more gastric acid. It also speeds up colonic activity. For people who have trouble with digestion and constipation, drinking a little caffeine in the morning seems to help them. So what’s so bad about caffeine?

Well, for one, it is addicting. The more you drink it, the more you crave it and the more your body depends on it. The pre-morning-coffee doldrums is really just your addiction to it prompting you to have some more caffeine. In addition, because it affects your central nervous system it can also contribute to the following:

• Sleeplessness – especially if you drink caffeine after 3 pm.
• Adrenal gland burn out – your adrenal glands produce cortisol in response to stress. High amounts of caffeine overstimulate the central nervous system and the adrenals respond to it as a stressor.
• Belly fat increase – too much caffeine can contribute to increased belly fat from the adrenals over producing cortisol, a steroid your body makes in response to stress.
• Raises blood pressure – but only for a short duration, same as if you were walking up stairs.

However, if you already have high blood pressure, caffeine can aggravate it.

• Women’s health issues – caffeine seems to aggravate PMS and menopause symptoms. This may be because caffeine can destabilize blood sugar levels by over-stimulating insulin secretion. Caffeine also contributes to bone loss in post menopausal women if their calcium intake is also low. Problem pregnancies are also associated with caffeine.
• Insulin stimulation/diabetes control – can decrease insulin sensitivity which can destabilize blood sugar levels making type 1 diabetes harder to control. Contributes to the production of belly fat through cortisol (see adrenal burn out above). Recent research stated that “coffee” decreases the risk for type 2 diabetes, however, not because of caffeine. Other compounds in coffee are what decrease the risk.
• May Contain Pesticides – coffee is grown/harvested in parts of the world where there is very little, if any, control over what kind of pesticides are used on coffee bean crops. Most coffee we drink in the United States comes from South American rain forests. Some DDT with your coffee?

What’s Good About Caffeine?

After reading the list of negatives for caffeine, you might start to wonder, should I really have caffeine in my diet at all? Well, before you give up your caffeine completely, consider some new research out lately that shows some surprising health benefits of caffeine:

• May Prevent Skin Cancer - recent studies show that caffeine added to sodium benzoate in sunscreen had a positive effect on shedding skin cancer cells.
• Aids Weight Loss – caffeine has been present in weight loss formulas for years. It speeds up metabolism to burn more fat and the boost of energy it gives helps dieter’s maintain exercise levels necessary to burn fat/calories.
• Relieves Headaches – caffeine has long been used in OTC pain relief formulas that have about the same amount of caffeine in them as a cup of brewed coffee. It is particularly helpful with migraine, and other types of headaches.
• Helps Asthma – caffeine has been used for centuries to help asthmatics. It dilates airways and allows needed oxygen to enter the lungs.
• Prevents/Treats Parkinson Disease - caffeine has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system and seems to enhance muscles and movement.
• Enhances athletic performance – researchers aren’t sure exactly how caffeine boosts athletic performance. It may make muscle contractions stronger, or because it elevates mood, an athlete may get the kick they need to perform better. Caffeine also stimulates the brain and nervous system so may help ward off fatigue.

A Happy, Healthy Medium

Caffeine has gotten a bad reputation over the last few years and not completely undeservedly. It is true that too much of it can wreak health havoc. It can keep you from sleeping; it can decrease sodium and potassium levels in your body through frequent urination and cause heart palpitations, anxiety and agitation. On a positive note, a little caffeine, no more than the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee a day, or 300 mg, can give you a needed boost to exercise, burn fat, and stay mentally alert.

There are a few things, however, I would recommend to people who would like to keep drinking their coffee, or tea, or a caffeinated soda to ensure that it doesn’t become a health hazard:

• Limit caffeine - to no more than 300 mg a day. Switch to decaf (which still has a little caffeine in it), or half-caff coffee if you would like to drink a cup of coffee more than twice a day.
• Drink Water! Be sure to drink half your weight in water every day to begin with. Then add 1 cup of extra water for every cup of coffee, tea, or caffeinated beverage you drink. This will ensure that you don’t become dehydrated.
• Check B Vitamins: Make sure you take a high quality multivitamin daily and that it has the recommended amount of B vitamins in it, especially B12. B vitamins support the nervous system that caffeine works directly on.
• Limit caffeinated sodas - to 3 times a week. With soda, caffeine isn’t the worst ingredient, the phosphoric acid and sugar is. Switch to diet soda sweetened with Splenda, not aspartame.
• Switch Your Caffeine - to green or black tea, or even hot cocoa (the kind you make yourself from 100% cacao powdered baking cocoa) to get your caffeine boost. They have more health benefits to them than coffee as they are powerful antioxidants. Cocoa has also been shown recently to lower blood pressure and provide heart-healthy benefits.
• Supplement with calcium/magnesium/zinc combo - 1200 mg (3 tablets) a day, to mitigate caffeine jitters and prevent muscle cramps or bone loss. Also helps you sleep!

Many people, me included, enjoy drinking their morning or late afternoon cup of coffee, tea, or an occasional caffeinated soda. There is no reason for anyone who really likes, and can handle caffeine, not to enjoy it in moderation. The time you set aside for a coffee or tea break during, or at the end of your day, can be a little beneficial “you time” which can help you decompress and relax!

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Institute For Healthy Aging

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Blood Clots:Their Symptoms And How To Avoid Them!

Summer is once again here and many of my patients are traveling on vacations, or visiting friends and relatives across the country. Before they go, however, I like to give them some pre-travel advice about a potentially serious medical condition that can occur with long periods of sitting in cars, trains, and airplanes… blood clots.

Up to 600,000 Americans develop blood clots every year with 1 in 3 persons developing serious medical complications from them. I’d like to share with you the same advice I give my patients about the symptoms and risk factors for developing blood clots and how you can prevent them.

What Are Blood Clots?

Blood clots are clumps of debris or fat, coagulated blood, or even surgical materials, within veins. They can start in the legs and travel within the vein system to the brain, heart or lungs and cause a heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism.

What Are The Symptoms of A Blood Clot?

The symptoms of a blood clot are varied, depending upon their origin, but almost always include sudden and/or severe pain at the site. All require immediate medical attention. Here’s a list of the common types of blood clots and their symptoms:

Legs: Blood clots in the legs can often be overlooked as a pulled muscle, as they can feel like a “Charlie Horse” type of cramp. Look for swelling of the leg, warmth to touch, redness or bluish discoloration, pain.

Lungs: Sudden onset of shortness of breath. A stabbing, sharp chest pain that gets worse with deep breaths, fast heart beat and/or an unexplained cough that may contain blood.

Heart: A blood clot that has traveled to the heart will give the symptoms of a heart attack, severe, crushing-type chest pain, and shortness of breath.

Brain: A blood clot that has traveled to the brain is called an ischemic stroke, which is a blockage of blood flow. Its symptoms can include severe/sudden headache, confusion, blurred vision, dizziness, weakness on one side of the body, loss of balance or coordination/inability to walk, inability to speak or understand language.

Kidneys: Not as common as leg or lung blood clots, but kidney clots do occur. The symptoms are sharp pain in the lower back, usually on one side, inability to urinate, high blood pressure, retention of fluid, swollen ankles, and shortness of breath.

What Are The Risk Factors for Blood Clots?

Anyone can get a blood clot at any time, but generally the risks are highest with the following:

• Recent major surgery in the abdominal or pelvic area

• Prolonged bed rest in a hospital, nursing home over 3 days

• Knee and hip joint replacement

• Major trauma to the body such as an auto accident or serious fall

• Pregnancy, or recent childbirth

Other moderate, yet still very important, risks include:

• Age – over 65

• Smoking

• Long sitting during travel in a car, plane, train, bus

• Dehydration – inadequate water intake can cause blood to coagulate

• Under going chemotherapy

• Birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy

• Genetic predisposition

• Obesity/sedentary lifestyle

What Can I Do To Prevent Blood Clots?

Avoiding a blood clot involves reducing your risk factors where possible. In general, the following guidelines can help you prevent blood clots:

• Quit smoking. Period.
• If you travel for long periods, take an “exercise” break where you get up and walk around for several minutes every 2 hours of travel. This is easier to do in car or bus travel, not so easy in a plane or train. However, you can get up from your seat and walk to the restroom, and/or the club car once in a while. Shift your position in your seat, doing leg lift exercises, or ankle rotation exercises at your seat will also help.
• If you are overweight and sedentary, make some healthy, nutritional, diet changes and get up and exercise for at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day. This can be done by taking a walk, riding a bike, Wii FIT in your living room, anything that gets you up and your blood moving.
• Stay hydrated! Drinking the correct amount of water everyday is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself for several reasons. Drink half your body weight in water every day, and a little more if you consume caffeine. Your blood needs water to stay at an optimum density which is not so thick as to form clots and not so thin as to run too freely and cause profuse bleeding if you cut yourself.
• Find out your clotting time. A simple blood test at your doctor’s office can reveal if you have blood clotting issues present. You may need to make dietary changes (less vitamin K containing foods, take supplements that do not contain it) to help you prevent a clot from forming.
• Vitamin E – A low dose, 200 mg a day, can help prevent blood clots from forming.
• Hormones – if you take birth control pills and you are over the age of 35, you may want to consider another form of birth control. Similarly, if you are menopausal and on HRT, talk to your doctor about your risk for blood clots. Switch to physician-prescribed bioidentical hormones that have much lower risks for serious side effects than animal or synthetic derived hormones.

Blood clots can be scary business. Just knowing the symptoms of a blood clot can buy time in getting medical attention quickly. Though you may not be able to avoid certain high risk factors such as surgeries and/or prolonged hospital rest that may unexpectedly arise in your life, just trying your best to live a healthy lifestyle the rest of the time will help decrease your risk significantly. Happy, fun, and safe summer travels!

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Institute For Healthy Aging

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Good Hair Starts With Good Nutrition

Many of my patients, particularly those over 40, ask me if there is anything they can do about the look of their hair – it’s lost its healthy, youthful shine, and just doesn’t seem to be as thick as it used to be. There’s a whole lot you can do for your hair just by following some simple rules of good nutrition and supplementing with the correct vitamins.

When your body is healthy, it shows in your hair and your nails. In fact, I can often tell when a patient’s nutritional status is out of whack just by looking at their hair and nails as they are made from the same substance, keratin. Ideally, your hair should have a healthy density and texture, it’s not falling out, and it grows about ½ inch a month. Your nails are smooth without ridges, clear, non-yellowed, don’t chip and peel and grow normally.

A holistic approach to restoring the health and glow of your hair and nails is necessary by starting with some good, basic rules of nutrition that will also benefit the health of your entire body.

Good Nutrition, Good Health, Good Hair

Protein: As I mentioned above, your hair (and your nails) are made out of the same material called keratin, a protein. In order to ensure that this building block of your hair and nails is adequate to produce healthy hair shafts, you need to eat an adequate amount of high quality protein everyday. You should consume at least 50 grams (read labels) of this type of protein on a daily basis, some of which are good sources of B vitamins that are also crucial to hair health.

These include:

• Chicken – rich source of B vitamins
• Fish - good source of B vitamins
• Beef – rich in B12 and other B vitamins.
• Amino acids – like L-cysteine and L-methionine, proteins that benefit hair texture and growth. In addition to being found in protein foods, they can also be found in protein supplement/shake formulas like whey protein. Read labels for amino acid content.

In addition, there are many plant-based, quality proteins that are useful to your overall health as well as your hair which include:

• Legumes - (chick peas, lentils, kidney beans, black eyed peas, navy beans)
• Whole grains - like quinoa, brown rice, amaranth

Vitamins: Your body requires the right amount of many vitamins and minerals to support all its various functions, but when it comes to your hair and nails, the B family of vitamins rules. In fact, deficiencies in the B group of vitamins, particularly folic acid, B6 and B12, will show up most profoundly in lack of hair and nail health. Hair loss, lack of growth, dullness is often a result of deficiencies in these vitamins. The good news is that these conditions can be turned around restoring hair health as soon as these deficiencies are corrected. B vitamins are easily supplemented with a good quality B-Complex formula. They are also found in high quantities in the following sources:
• B9 (folic acid) – spinach, asparagus, romaine lettuce, turnip and mustard greens, broccoli, parsley, calf’s liver, legumes (all).
• B6 – yellow fin tuna, chicken and bananas contain the highest food sources. Other good sources include turkey breast, cod, salmon, and beef. Deficiencies in B6 can cause hair loss particularly in men.
• B12 – calf’s liver, sardines, snapper, and beef contain the highest food sources.

Supporting Vitamins: Your hair (and the rest of you) also benefits from a good intake of other vitamins that support hair health. They are:

• Vitamin C - helps to build collagen, a building block of keratin. Aids in scalp circulation as it supports blood capillaries. 1,000-2,000 mg daily. Good sources include citrus fruits.
• Vitamin E - helps with oxygen uptake, stimulates immune function (which stimulates hair growth). 400 mg daily.
• Vitamin A – watch for over-consumption of food, supplements, containing this vitamin as it can cause hair loss! No more than 10,000 IU daily, preferably from natural food sources of beta-carotene. Good sources include: sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and carrots.

Minerals: Good health requires a lot of different minerals to thrive. In particular, your hair benefits from magnesium, sulfur and zinc. Laboratory studies have shown that animals deficient in magnesium lost large amounts of hair! Here are some good sources of all:
• Magnesium – pumpkin seeds (raw), rich source. Black and navy beans (cooked). Salmon, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds.
• Sulfur – sunflower seeds, lentils, garlic, yogurt.
• Zinc – beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, salmon, dairy products, peanuts, legumes, whole grains, potatoes, yogurt.
• Iron – anemia can lead to hair loss, shine and beauty. If you are a premenopausal woman you need 18 mg of iron a day. For older women and men, the requirement is 8 mg per day. Be sure your vitamin/mineral supplement has the correct amount of iron in it for your age. Over-consuming iron can create heart and liver damage. Have your iron levels tested to determine if anemia might be contributing to your hair and other health concerns.

Other Nutrients: Other nutrients that are beneficial to hair health are:
• Co-Q10: 60 mg a day.
• Essential fatty acids: Like fish oil, super primrose oil, 1,000 mg a day.

Here you have my recommendations of how to restore your hair shine and health from the inside out. Remember that TV commercial that showed a model with long, thick, luxuriant beautiful hair who told viewers, “Don’t hate me because my hair is beautiful”? Well, of course, she was selling some product that promised to make your hair look just like hers.

The truth is, there are no external products that can completely restore hair health and beauty. They can smooth out frizzies, or add a little oil for some temporary shine and control, but ultimately hair health and beauty has to come from deep within your nutritional matrix. So, eat not only for your health, but to keep your crowning glory thriving for a lifetime!

In Good Health,

Jay Brachfeld, M.D.

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Resistance Training: Lose Fat, Gain Strength Faster!

If you’re like a lot of my patients over 40, you may have a few pounds to lose and would like to regain that youthful, toned, muscular look you used to have. It’s true, as we get older, if we don’t use it; we lose it, muscle strength, that is.

Did you know that people lose 5 lbs of muscle mass every 10 years after the age of 30? That’s right! With that muscle loss comes decreased metabolic rate, which means we burn fat slower and may gain weight faster. However, the good news is that there is a way to reverse this process. It’s called resistance training.

There are so many aspects of optimal health that good muscle strength influences. In fact, toned muscles not only make us look more streamlined but they can actually help us age slower, lose weight, build bone density, and stay agile and less prone to injuries.

Many people trying to lose weight tell me that they do aerobic exercise like walking, running, or cycling, several times a week along with watching what they eat, yet their weight loss is still very slow. When I ask them if they do any resistance, or muscle strength training along with those efforts, they’re surprised to hear that they’ll see results faster if they substitute some aerobic exercise for some resistance training. Let me explain why.

What Is Resistance Training?

Simply put, resistance training is any kind of movement of your muscles against an external resistance like free weights, weight machines, exercise bands, or even lifting rocks, that causes your muscles to contract. Doing these kind of muscle movements causes microscopic tears in the muscle in a process called catabolism, or break down, of the muscle fibers.

The healing and repair that our body does in response is known as anabolism. It causes the muscles to not only repair themselves but also grow stronger, denser, and more resilient. The result of that two-stage process creates a more toned you and increases your metabolic rate which helps you burn fat faster. If you burn fat faster, guess what? You lose those stubborn pounds of fat faster.

Here are some other side benefits of resistance training that I bet you’ll be surprised to know:

Can help lower blood pressure - current research shows that resistance training lowers both systolic (upper) and diastolic (lower) blood pressure by several points. It also decreases stress hormones in the blood which helps lower blood pressure.
• Prevents osteoporosis by building bone – friction of the muscle against bone during resistance training stimulates the bone to grow and become thicker.
• Reverse or slow down the aging process – along with a higher protein intake, resistance training helps release Human Growth Hormone (HGH) which slows aging.
• Improve glucose metabolism – weight training improves insulin usage by utilizing glucose for muscle work. Helps prevent type 2 diabetes.
Aerobic and Resistance Training – Both Work Together

Don’t get me wrong, aerobic exercise is very beneficial to your overall health. It also improves your mood, decreases your blood pressure, increases your metabolic rate, increases lung and heart capacity, and helps you sleep!

However, I have some patients who exhaust and dehydrate themselves doing aerobic exercise every day for 1 hour, trying to lose fat and tone muscles. This is actually counterproductive. You can shorten your aerobic exercise time to 20 minutes, 3 times a week, doing interval aerobic exercise instead which not only energizes you but strengthens your heart and boosts your metabolic rate far better and faster.

Interval aerobic exercise, is doing a 10 minute slower warm up with your chosen exercise (walking, jogging, traditional bicycling or “spinning” on a bike in a club, elliptical machine, swimming, brisk dancing) and then alternating between short, 2 minute bursts of more intense, faster, higher resistance level exercise and slow, resting exercise for the remaining 10 minutes. As you get used to doing intervals like this, you can gradually increase your length of high intensity bursts to 5 minutes.

Resistance training, on the other hand, specifically targets the strength of each muscle group and should be done 3 times a week. Whether you use free weights or standing weight machines in your gym is your choice. However, you may want to start out on weight machines and incorporate some free weight exercises into your resistance training routine after you’ve become comfortable with it. Also, a good warm up session of stretching before resistance training is important to avoid injury. Be sure to also stay hydrated and drink a lot of water while exercising.

In general, a good guideline is 3 sets of 10-12 reps (repetitions), starting with 5-10 lb free weights, or 20 lbs machine weight. Each exercise should be done on an every other day pattern, giving your muscles a chance to rest and repair in between sessions. However, to start out with for the first week or so, you may want to decrease your number of sets and reps to half this amount and gradually build up to this level, increasing your weight slightly as you go. You don’t want to over work previously unused muscles and become sore.

Remember, this is resistance/strength training and not bodybuilding so keep your weights at just slightly tougher than comfortable level to avoid building a lot of muscle mass. Resistance training is very easy, and safe to do on your own, but, you may want to start off with a little personal instruction at a gym with a trainer who can give you a basic resistance training program and help you keep track of your goals.

I hope the basics of resistance training mentioned here will encourage you to add it to your fitness routine. The benefits of resistance training are usually noticeable within the first 3 weeks, and if you’re faithful to your dietary intake, you should see some tangible results in fat loss. Take your measurements before you start resistance training, and then again 3 weeks later. You may not see a big drop in numbers on the scale, as muscle, even though it is smaller and denser than fat, weighs more. However, your clothes will fit better and you’ll start seeing more and more muscle definition. You’ll have more stamina, you’ll look great and best of all you’ll feel awesome!

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Institute For Healthy Aging

________________________________________

Aging Eyes:
What To Do About Them?

Having trouble reading a menu or need more light reading a magazine or newspaper? If you answered yes and are over 40, join the club! Millions of people in your age group find their vision is not as sharp as it used to be, have trouble reading labels on food packages in the grocery store, and find they are squinting more and more trying to read traffic signs!

It’s a fact of life. More and more middle aged Americans experience vision impairment of some form or another from simple inability to read fine print to cataracts, which affects more than 65 million Americans. Some have even more serious eye conditions like macular degeneration, and glaucoma, the leading cause of vision impairment in the United States today.

You might wonder whether there is anything you can do to protect your eyes from the effects of aging? Well, I’m glad you asked, allow me to share some information about aging and your eyes along with some specific things you can do to improve your vision and prevent some of the conditions mentioned earlier. First, let’s take a look at a few common conditions that can occur with aging.

Common Aging Eye Conditions

Around age 40, the human eye begins to undergo certain changes associated with age which include the following:

Trouble reading fine print: Holding print farther away from you to read it is called presbyopia that most commonly occurs in people over age 40. Headaches, or a feeling of “tired eyes” may also accompany it. This condition is easily corrected with simple reading glasses that you can buy at the store.

Spots that float: These are tiny dark specks, or floaters, that seem to bounce around your field of vision, most commonly seen on a sunny day. These usually are harmless but if they become bigger or more in number, and/or occur with flashes of light, they can warn of a condition called retinal detachment.

Dry eyes: Dry eye conditions most commonly start to occur over age 45 in most people and can be a result of hormone changes, prolonged computer use, certain allergic conditions or other health conditions. The tear ducts decrease the amount of fluid they produce and dry, scratchy eyes can result. These are usually treated with lubricating drops, (see Prevent Aging Eyes Naturally).

Tearing: One or both eyes may suddenly develop tearing due to the sensitivity to wind or light. It may indicate a blocked tear duct or an eye infection, or allergies (see Prevent Aging Eyes Naturally). Wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from wind or light can help, but if excessive tearing occurs, see an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) to determine the cause of the tearing.

As you start approaching age 60-65, other eye conditions may start to occur as well including:

Cataracts: This is a condition of the eye where a part of the lens becomes cloudy and doesn’t let enough light in, causing loss of eyesight. Often cataracts stay small and do not affect the eyesight very much. However, they can become larger and thicker and require surgical removal where your natural clouded lens is replaced by an artificial lens. Being out on sunny days without eye protection greatly enhances the risk of developing cataracts. Wear sunglasses or shade your eyes with a hat visor.

Glaucoma: This condition causes a buildup of fluid in the eye, the cause of which is mostly unknown. Treated early, glaucoma can be controlled so that blindness doesn’t result. Glaucoma usually has no symptoms and is found only on an eye exam through a special test that feels like a puff of air blown into your eye.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): The macula of the eye contains numerous light-sensitive cells that help you see. Over time, the macula can degenerate and cause sharp vision to decline, making it harder to see clearly, read or drive. Sometimes, laser treatments are helpful.

Prevent Aging Eyes Naturally

There are several things you can do to greatly slow down, or even reverse, some aging eye conditions. They include:

Eat A Vision-Friendly Diet: Lots of leafy green and yellow vegetables, decrease/avoid saturated fats like those found in fried foods, red meat, and hydrogenated oils (transfats). Decrease amount of sugar intake as over 11 teaspoons a day can dehydrate the eyes.

Nutritional Supplements: Many aging vision conditions start with nutritional deficiencies especially of the antioxidant type. Vitamins and minerals such as beta carotene (Vitamin A), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, resveratrol, selenium and zinc, can all help prevent damaged cells from oxidative stress (such as occurs in age-related macular degeneration) and clogged arteries (which can decrease blood flow to eyes). Other agents like lutein (from yellow carotenoid vegetables like squash, sweet potatoes, egg yolks) help absorb blue light from the sun; Zeaxanthin (also from yellow carotenoids) protects against AMD and cataracts; Bilberry contains flavonoids (found in blue, purple, red fruits and flowers) and is very beneficial in improving night vision.

Quit Smoking: Smoking greatly speeds up eye aging/damage through chemical exposure in its smoke. It also decreases Vitamin C in your body that is a crucial antioxidant for your eyes.

Protect Your Eyes: Sunglasses and hats with visors to shade your eyes on very sunny days can help prevent developing cataracts and damage from too much blue light absorption from the sun.

Control Your Health: Other health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, Sjogren syndrome have a direct effect on your eyes. If left uncontrolled, an eye condition called diabetic retinopathy can occur which can decrease vision. Uncontrolled high blood pressure, or hypertension, can damage blood vessels in your eyes that decrease blood flow to them and thereby decrease nutrients getting to the eye. Sjogren syndrome is a chronic dryness of all the mucous membranes of the body including the eyes. Some medications for certain illnesses may have vision-related side effects. Ask your doctor about any Rx you take.

Eye Exams: Seeing an eye doctor for yearly eye exams can detect any eye conditions early and treat them before they damage your vision.

Lubricate: Dry eyes cannot only be uncomfortable, they can open the door for other eye conditions. Eye tissues normally rest in a high fluid environment that protects them from harm. When that fluid level decreases, the tissues are more vulnerable to damage. The most important form of lubrication for your eyes comes from adequate water intake in your body in general. If you’re dry, your eyes are. As I always advise my patients, drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day. Other forms of lubrication include drops, which can consist of an artificial tear solution you can buy over the counter, or herbal drops that help clear the itching and redness from seasonal allergies. These are usually found in health food stores.

Decrease Computer Use/Rest: If you work at a computer 8 hours a day, remember to blink! Studies show that blinking slows down while people are in front of a computer screen. Look away at something black in the distance every hour while on the computer for a few moments to rest your eyes. Consider getting prescription computer glasses designed specifically for vision problems that occur with computer use, i.e., “computer vision syndrome”.

Exercise Your Eyes: Overall aerobic exercise is not just for the rest of you! It can benefit your eyes as well as it improves blood flow to your head and eyes. In addition, specific eye exercises really help to decrease eyestrain and re-energize tired eyes. Here are a few good ones that can be done a few times a day if you like:
• Figure 8’s – roll your eyes in the pattern of the number 8 to the count of 10.
• Palming – rub the palms of your hands together briskly until they get warm. Then place the palms of your hands across your eyes and rest them for a few minutes in the darkness of your hands.

I often tell my patients that getting older is inevitable, but aging eye/vision conditions don’t have to be. By being proactive and maintaining a healthy lifestyle full of beneficial eye/body nutrition, hydration, exercise, and protecting your eyes from damage by smoke, computer screens, or sun, you do have some control over slowing down/reversing, or preventing, certain age-related eye conditions from occurring. Protecting your eyes now can help you enjoy healthy vision throughout your lifetime!

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Institute For Healthy Aging

________________________________________

Regenerate Joints With Vitamin D!

Are aching, creaking joints making your simple daily activities uncomfortable? For many of my patients, joint pain prohibits them from exercising and that’s not a good thing. I have to tell them that sore, aching joints does not have to be a function of getting older.

The truths is, sore, aching joints and bones, are more likely due to nutritional deficiencies, specifically Vitamin D! That’s right. In fact, many health researchers believe there is an epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency today, especially amongst older people.

Most of my patients, like many people across the country, are deficient in Vitamin D. They work indoors all day and don’t spend much time in the sun. Recent studies have shown that Vitamin D plays an important part in making synovial fluid, the substance that surrounds joints and keeps them moving freely without pain.

Could You Have A Vitamin D Deficiency?

If you have aching and painful joints, the first and best thing you can do for yourself is to get a Vitamin D level test the next time you visit your doctor. Other symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency might include:

• Fatigue – constant tiredness, even chronic fatigue syndrome, can be from Vitamin D deficiency.
• Difficulty controlling your weight - vitamin D regulates weight levels. If your weight is stuck at a certain level or bounces back and forth, your Vitamin D levels may be off.
• Body aches – notably aching bones and joints.
• Race – very dark skinned people such as Hispanics, African Americans, and East Indians, are all at much higher risk than Caucasians of developing Vitamin D deficiency. Their skin is full of melanin, a natural sunscreen, which blocks the type of sunlight necessary to make Vitamin D.

What Can You Do About Vitamin D Deficiency?

There are several lifestyle changes you can make to guard against Vitamin D deficiency. They include:

Diet: When my patients ask about Vitamin D deficiency, I ask them what they are eating (or not eating!) on a regular basis. By what they say, I can tell if they’re likely to have a Vitamin D deficiency. A Vitamin D-friendly diet consists of dark green leafy vegetables, fatty type ocean fish, a little red meat, and sun-dried vegetables like mushrooms or tomatoes which contain good levels of Vitamin D.

Supplements: To truly combat Vitamin D deficiency in today’s world where food is over processed and soils depleted of nutrients, Vitamin D supplements are crucial. Even if you take a good multivitamin that contains Vitamin D, likely the 400 mg provided in them is not enough to get rid of your deficiency as adults require 2-4,000 units a day! Vitamin D3 is the type of Vitamin D supplement you want to look for, or ask your doctor for, as most prescription Vitamin D is the D2 form.

Sun Exposure: If you work indoors all year long and exercise in a gym rather than outdoors, you’re likely to have a Vitamin D deficiency. Taking a 15 minute break and going for a walk or run in midday sun is a good way to absorb enough of the sun’s building blocks to make Vitamin D.

As people age, one of the most debilitating ailments is the inability to move, or get around without joint pain or locking, stiff joints. It severely decreases your ability to participate in the activities of everyday life and most importantly, exercise, which is one of the most crucial aspects to staying healthy at any age.

Knowing the role Vitamin D plays in keeping your joints healthy and moving without pain is significant. Make sure you get adequate levels of Vitamin D everyday to ensure your joints will get the help they need to stay strong and healthy throughout the rest of your life!

In Good Health,

Mark Bromson, M.D.

________________________________________

Balance Problems: What They Mean

On occasion, I hear from patients who complain of feeling dizzy as if they are going to fall when they turn their head suddenly, or lose their balance if they turn around in a circle. They may also admit to motion sickness, i.e., feeling a little dizzy and unstable riding a bike or traveling by airplane or boat.

Balance problems such as these could be a sign of certain medical conditions. There are many types of balance difficulties and their causes can be simple, such as a drop in blood sugar or dehydration from not drinking enough water.

Other equilibrium problems may be more complex and need neurological testing to determine their cause. Let me explain the various types of conditions that effect balance and their possible causes so you can determine if you need to call your doctor, or re-hydrate with a good mineral replacement drink, or have a glass of orange juice and a snack!

Types of Balance Problems

As I said earlier, balance problems can have simple or complex causes. Basically, they fall into four categories:

Vertigo – a spinning, dizzy sensation with motion of the head or body. This category can be caused by several medical conditions that need a doctor’s care. These include:
• Benign positional vertigo – caused by particles that accumulate in the inner canal.
• Meniere’s disease – excessive fluid in the inner ear, causing dizziness, ringing or buzzing.
• Vestibular migraine – a bad headache that makes you sensitive to motion, turning your head suddenly can result in dizziness or off balance feeling.
• Acoustic neuroma – caused by a tumor on the acoustic nerve (connects inner ear to brain) that can cause hearing loss, ringing in the ears, and dizziness.
• Motion sickness – riding on amusement park rides, boats causes dizziness.
Feeling Faint – a general weakness, usually organic cause (blood pressure or blood sugar drop)

Disequilibrium – a loss of balance or falling, usually from mechanical causes (unstable joints, failing vision, inner ear conditions, side effect of medication).

Lightheadedness - an “out of body” sensation, usually caused by high/low blood oxygen levels from hyper/hypoventilation (anxiety, severe trauma), or inner ear conditions.

Tests for Balance Problems

If you determine that your dizziness/balance problem is not a result of lack of food or water, the next thing you should do is make an appointment with your doctor. There are certain balance tests that can be performed, or you may be sent for a CAT scan or MRI of your head to see if there are any structural causes of your balance problems (like tumor or inner ear abnormality).

Your doctor will discuss your balance problems with you and may ask a series of questions about your dizzy spells including the frequency, what you are doing when they occur, and what type of medications you may be taking to rule out the possibility of a side effect. Next, you may undergo one, or several of the following tests to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms:

EKG, possibly heart echocardiogram: To see if a too slow heart rhythm, or too low blood ejection from your heart could be the cause of your symptoms.

MRI or CAT scan: To determine if there is any physical abnormality such as a tumor or blood vessel blockage that may cause your symptoms.

Tilt Table test: To determine your heart’s response to adrenaline, such as in an anxiety attack or severe trauma. Adrenaline is slowly injected into your arm and the table you are lying on is tilted in different positions.

Hearing test: To determine if you have an inner ear condition.

Electronystagmography – monitors eye movement to see how well your inner ear/balance works.

Dix-Hallpike test – involves turning your head and monitoring eye movements to see if you get a sense of spinning or motion.

VEMP – vestibular evoked myogenic potential test. Electrodes (like those on an EKG) are placed on neck, shoulder, and forehead muscles to monitor contractions in response to sound.

Rotary Chair test – monitors eye movement while you move slowly in a circle in a computerized chair.

Treatment for Your Balance Problem

Once the cause of your imbalance has been determined, there are a number of treatments aimed at solving your problem. These may include:

• Medication dosage adjustment/discontinuation/substitution – often a dosage change is all that is needed to stop symptoms. Other times, a complete discontinuation of a drug is necessary.
• Vestibular rehabilitation - this is a special exercise program for people with inner ear problems to re-stabilize balance.
• Fall prevention – determining if vision, lack of sensation in the feet, weak muscles and joints are contributing to poor balance symptoms. You may need a walker or just a hand held quad cane.
• Positioning procedures – clears crystal deposits out of the inner ear back where they belong.
• Diet changes – reducing salt, caffeine or nicotine can help some people with balance problems completely get rid of their symptoms.
• Surgery – if you have a tumor or malfunction in your inner ear, you may need surgery to correct it. Types of surgery include gamma knife surgery, or stereotactic surgery that delivers radiation directly to the tumor site.

Some Natural Remedies That May Help You

If you experience temporary, occasional motion sickness while traveling by boat or airplane, you may be able to treat this condition yourself with:

OTC’s: Over the counter aids such as a Dramamine, or meclizine that can help you to regain your sense of stability.

Herbal: The Chinese have used Ginger for centuries as a stomach tonic and to restore balance. 250 to 500 mg every 6 hours is the usual dosage. A word of caution, if you take blood thinner-type medications for a heart problem, ginger can add to those effects and make you bleed more easily.

Acupressure: Stimulating certain acupressure points on your inner wrist can alleviate motion sickness. Bands, or bracelets, made for this purpose can be bought in drugstores or airport shops. They have a button or stud on them that presses against the acupuncture meridian on your wrist that regulates dizziness/ balance.

We all can have a bout of lightheadedness or feel off kilter now and then from simple causes like being tired, dehydrated, partying too much the night before, too much caffeine, not eating enough or riding a roller coaster! However, balance problems that occur regularly is your body telling you that something is off somewhere and you should consult your doctor to find out what.

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Institute For Healthy Aging
+++++++++++++++

The Addictive Power Of Salt

2010-08-15T06:48:00.000-07:00

Eating healthy just isn’t easy to do these days. Read your labels carefully, we’re told. Look out for trans fats and refined sugars. Choose organic, free range or cage free. Just when I think I’ve mastered the technique of avoiding all the dietary gremlins, there is yet another making headlines.

In case you haven’t noticed, salt is cropping up as the demon of all demons. Yes, salt is killing us and making us fat, right along with all the other additives you find on those food labels. It’s a known fact that too much salt is bad for you. It raises your blood pressure and increases your risk of heart disease. But what’s a body to do when salt is in everything we eat, like it or not.

After reading more than one disturbing article on the dangers of too much salt, I decided to rummage around in my pantry to check the salt content in some of the items on the shelf. I wasn’t happy with what I found.

I have to say, I got A+ for heart healthy, no trans fats, fewer calories, reduced fat, even a soup with 1 point on the weight watcher’s scale. But sad to say the salt content in all these products was off the charts! Oops. Take a look at sodium content in these products from lowest to highest:

• Ruffles – Reduced fat potato chips – 0 trans fat – heart healthy oil – 180 mg salt (7%)

• Select Harvest – Campbell’s – 98% fat free – soup – 480 mg salt (20%)

• Gia Russa – Marinara Sauce – 560 mg salt (25%)

• Progresso - Light – Weight Watchers – 80 calories soup – 690 mg salt (29%)

• Swanson – Natural Chicken Broth – 99% fat free – no MSG – 860 mg salt (36 %)

• Zatarains’s New Orleans Yellow Rice – 930 mg (39%)

These readings are unsettling to say the least. Who would have guessed that potato chips would have the least amount of salt as compared to the rest of the group? By the way, this was purely a random selection so I cringe to think what else might be lurking in my cupboard.

Did you know that most Americans consume more than double the amount of salt that their bodies demand? This is one of the reasons that a report by the Institute of Medicine called for federal limits on sodium content in packaged and restaurant food. Although the FDA agrees there has to be some form of mandatory sodium regulation, they are not sure how and when it will happen.

There is strong evidence to support the health benefits of cutting back on salt intake. A computer-based analysis was conducted to determine the effects of a 3-g-per-day reduction in sodium on the rates of heart disease and death along with the money saved in health expenditures. The conclusion was mind-boggling.

“By cutting salt intake nationwide, the U.S. could save $10 billion in health care costs. The health benefits would be as good for the heart as cutting tobacco use by half, lowering one's body mass index 5% or taking statin medications to lower cholesterol. Even more surprising, cutting salt by 3 g per day was as effective in reducing death rates among people with hypertension as taking medication to control blood pressure.”1

“A study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Stanford University and Columbia University shows that even a modest decrease in daily salt intake can lead to dramatic health benefits. The authors documented an annual drop of as many as 120,000 cases of heart disease, 66,000 instances of stroke and 99,000 heart attacks caused by high blood pressure after a 3-g-per-day reduction in sodium.” 2

The daily recommended amount of salt needed according to nutrition experts is 6 g. Compare this to what the average man usually consumes, 10.4 g and the average woman, 7.3 g and you can see that even a 3 g cut back would not be enough.

Many of my friends and people I know choose low sodium cold cuts, and do not add more salt to their meals. The point is our saltshakers are responsible for only about 11% of the sodium in our diet; the rest is tucked into all the rest of the things we eat. As much as we can do as individuals to limit our sodium intake, we can’t control outside sources from sabotaging our efforts.

The amount of salt most of us consume comes from processed and prepared foods, such as bakery items, cereals, dairy products, and canned goods much like those in my pantry. Just by eating a deli sandwich, loaded with meats and cheese, you can easily chalk up more than 3 g of salt especially if you throw in the chips and a pickle.

The reason there is so much salt in packaged, canned, and the restaurant food we eat is because it tastes so good. Have you ever tried eating a salt-less French fry, or anything without the addictive flavor of salt? Try it and you’ll know why salt is easy to overdo and hard to live without. What’s the alternative? Problem is there’s really no substitute for salt like there is for sugar.

The United Kingdom is leading the way in trying to reduce sodium intake by requiring their food makers to reduce sodium in some of their products by more than 40 %. Likewise, an initiative in the U.S. that started in New York City recently signed on 16 food companies, including Kraft, Heinz and Boar’s Head to follow in UK’s footsteps.

Until the Food and Drug Administration takes action to limit the amount of salt allowed by food makers, sodium will continue to be a silent killer for millions of Americans. “What's needed is a recognition that salt, like fat and trans fats, is not good for you. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration considers sodium to be "generally regarded as safe." 3

The bottom line is for people to be more aware of the amount of salt they are consuming, especially if you have high blood pressure or heart related conditions. Make health your priority by checking the sodium content in the foods you buy whether the food makers do it or not. Don’t let the addictive power of salt make a junkie out of you; just say “NO” to sodium overload!

Your Healthy Life Coach,

Dale Brown, B.S., M.A., C.E.C.

1 http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1955384,00.0html?iid=sphere-inline-sidebar#ixzz0rtCHE3tT
2 http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1955384,00.0html?iid=sphere-inline-sidebar#ixzz0rtWzk8uF
3 http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1955384,00.0html?iid=sphere-inline-sidebar#ixzz9rtSRPul9

Secondhand Smoking: Just Like Smoking

2010-08-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

I have several patients who are nonsmokers. So they think. They don’t actively put a cigarette to their lips and smoke it, but if they’re living with someone, or are consistently around someone who smokes in their presence, I make a note in their chart as, second hand smoker.

That’s right. Did you know that second hand smokers are continuously exposed to about 25% of their smoking spouse/friend’s smoke? This percentage can make a significant difference in risk factors for lung cancer, and other pulmonary diseases. With this percentage, every time someone smokes around you it’s as if you, too, are actively smoking a few cigarettes a day!

It’s estimated that there are 125 million second hand smokers in the United States! If you’re like some of my patients who believe they are at lower risk for disease because they don’t actually put a cigarette up to their lips to smoke, I’d like to share with you some of the surprising facts about second-hand, and even third-hand, smoke.

What Does Second Hand Smoke Do?

There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette tobacco and its smoke! Of these, 250 are known to be harmful to your health and 50 of them are already known carcinogens! The U.S. Surgeon General has concluded that the concentrations of these chemicals are potentially greater in second hand smoke than smoking a cigarette itself! Here’s what happens every time you are exposed to cigarette smoke, second or first hand:

• Destabilizes your heart and lung function: Breathing in smoke even for a short while, can put you at increased risk for heart and lung disease. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has deemed that smoking definitively causes lung cancer.

• Increases Risk for Heart Attack or Asthma Attack: Your heart gets less oxygen when you breathe in smoke. This can trigger an asthma attack or a heart attack.

• Second Hand Smoke Increases SIDS risk: Infants exposed to second hand smoke are more likely to die of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) than previously thought.

• Second Hand Smoke Puts Children At Risk: Children who inhale second hand smoke consistently have a much higher risk for pneumonia and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. It can also cause chronic ear infections like otitis media.

• Causes Physical and Mental Growth Impairment in Children: Kids develop more slowly physically and mentally around second hand smoke. An adult can get up and walk out of a room when someone is smoking, a baby/young child cannot. They are the most vulnerable to the effects of “forced” smoke exposure.

• Causes Your Blood Platelets To Stick Together: Even short exposures to second hand smoke can cause your blood platelets to become sticky. This damages your blood vessels and decreases coronary blood flow reserves.

• Second Hand Smoke Affects Twice: Nonsmokers near someone else smoking breathes in second hand smoke twice. Once from the burning tip of the cigarette, and twice when the smoker exhales. They get all the toxic effects of smoking twice.

• Increases Risk for Gingivitis: If your significant other is a smoker, they are at high likelihood of getting gingivitis, a chronic inflammatory condition of their gums. This condition can also be passed to you during kissing! Smoking changes the pH of the mouth by decreasing saliva and drying out the mouth tissues. This sets the stage for gingivitis to occur. Smoking also depletes Vitamin C in the body, which helps prevent gingivitis and other inflammatory conditions.

What Is Third Hand Smoke?

People fail to realize that the environment they smoke in also absorbs smoke and all its toxins. These include things like couches, clothes, carpets, the smoker’s hair, etc. Nonsmokers, especially very young children, such as crawling infants, can absorb these toxins through their skin after touching them or putting them in their mouth. For example, a young child who both plays with his smoker-mother’s hair while they breast feed gets exposed to third hand smoke twice. Crawling around on carpets also exposes them, or playing on couches and chairs.

Third hand smoke contains chemicals, heavy metals and carcinogens such as:

1. Hydrogen cyanide

2. Butane

3. Toluene

4. Polorium-216

How To Protect From Second and Third-Hand Smoke

Simple enough, you just need to stay away from people who are smoking. Here are a few examples of how:

• Smoking Ban In Public Places: Fortunately, now, most public places in the United States have recently instituted a ban on smoking in restaurants, nightclubs, businesses, public transport, etc, exposure to second hand smoke will decrease significantly.

• Just Say NO. If you’re married to, or otherwise live with a smoker, or who have friends who constantly want to smoke around you, especially in a car, ask them to quit for both your sakes! Educate them on the dangers of second and third hand smoke. Have them refrain from smoking in the house or the car. You might ask them to change their clothes, take a shower, wash their hair, and brush their teeth every time they smoke too. That ought to make them think twice about continuing to smoke around you!

• Public Housing: Unfortunately, smoking has not been banned in public housing. If you live in an apartment building or attached condominium, remember that smoke can travel through wall electrical sockets; heat and AC vent systems, doors, etc. Consider moving out if you do not want to be exposed to smoke from someone you don’t know and can’t see smoking!

• Protect a Child: If you know someone who smokes around a young child, please ask them to stop, and tell them about the dangers of exposing children, especially infants who must either just lay in cribs, or sit in car seats, and be exposed to their parents smoke constantly. There is a movement to make this issue considered child abuse enforceable by law.

As I tell my patient’s in no uncertain terms, smoking is a nasty habit that can cause a lot of illness. It seems kind of crazy, when you think about how much money people spend a week, month, or year, to put their own and other people’s health at risk by buying and smoking cigarettes. However, you don’t have to be the passive victim of a smoker, you DO have the right to not be exposed to toxic chemicals and noxious smoke. Just get as far away from it as possible.

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Institute For Healthy Aging

Gum Disease Can Seriously Affect Your Health

2010-08-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

When I examine a patient for the first time, I quickly assess their overall health by looking in their mouth. That’s right. The condition of their mouth and teeth can tell me a lot about what other health problems they may have.

You may wonder, isn’t ‘mouth health’ the concern of a dentist? Yes it is, but did you know that the condition of your gums might also be a bellwether for such things as heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, diabetes, or pneumonia? It’s true. Let me explain how.

A Silent Inflammatory Disease

Gum, or periodontal disease, is often a silent condition that may go unnoticed for a long time. It is a chronic inflammatory condition of your gums caused by plaque buildup on your teeth. Plaque buildup occurs from inadequate dental care, i.e., infrequent teeth brushing/poor technique and lack of flossing. There are also other factors that contribute to gum disease which include:

• Smoking – smokers build up more plaque than non-smokers. They are likely to have deep pockets between teeth from loss of bone and tissue from tobacco use.

• Puberty, Pregnancy, Menopause – dramatic shifts in hormones can wreak havoc on mouth tissues. Regular dental cleaning during these times can help.

• Stress – produces increased cortisol levels which can increase bone and tissue loss.

• Medications – anti-depressants, oral contraceptives, and heart drugs can damage gums.

• Poor Nutrition – lack of calcium, Vitamin C can add to inflammation of tissues.

• Other Diseases – people with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and heart conditions are likely to have gum disease.

Gum disease can increase your risk of heart attack and/or stroke by bacteria getting into the bloodstream and attaching to plaque within the coronary systems, causing a clot. Bacteria present in your gums can also get into your respiratory tract and cause pneumonia. In addition, gum disease can increase your risk of developing inflammation/disease in other parts of your body. Inflammation is now known to be a precursor to many diseases, including cancer.

Signs of Gum Disease

As I mentioned above, people can have gum disease and not be aware of it until it has become advanced. Here are some of the telltale signs of gum disease that you should be aware of:

• Bleeding – flossing, brushing or eating certain harder foods causes blood.

• Recession – gums pull away from the teeth.

• Persistent bad breath – indicates bacteria and plaque.

• Mouth sores – and/or pus between your gums and teeth.

What Can You Do About Gum Disease?

When I suspect gum disease, the first thing I recommend is to see a dentist. A dentist will likely recommend that you have a deep cleaning of your teeth that may include scaling and root planing, which is deep removal of plaque from root surfaces and cleaning out of gum pockets. Antibiotics may be necessary, as well, if you have infection present.

In addition to crucial dental care and your dentist’s recommendations, there are several natural things that can help prevent and/or get rid of gum disease:

• Get a battery operated spin brush – studies show that almost all of plaque is removed with each brushing with a spin brush. These are available at your drug or grocery store in the teeth care aisle and most are under $10. Many are now rechargeable as well.

• Up your intake of Vitamin C, Calcium - research shows that higher levels of these nutrients can prevent gum disease by strengthening bone (calcium) and preventing inflammation in tissues (Vitamin C). Especially if you are over age 40, 1500 mg of calcium per day, and 1-2,000 mg of Vitamin C (taken in divided doses of 500 mg each for better absorption).

• Drink Green Tea – a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology revealed that green tea drinkers had superior gum health. Contains a powerful antioxidant, catechin, which prevents inflammation throughout the entire body. Must be brewed green tea, not green tea soft drinks.

• Chew Gum With Xylitol – recently Xylitol, a sweetener made from corn, has proven to be effective against mouth bacteria and can help prevent gum disease.

• Drink Cranberry juice – prevents bacteria from sticking to teeth, reducing plaque buildup.

• Adequate Vitamin D – has anti-inflammatory properties as well as helps calcium work better to build bone tissue. Take 1,000 mg Vitamin D3 a day, and/or 10-15 minutes sun exposure 3 times a week (summer).

Periodontal disease can be a painful condition and increase your risk for serious health problems. In addition, bad breath that usually accompanies gum disease can also be very embarrassing and lead to uncomfortable social situations. However, by improving your dental hygiene, nutrition, quitting smoking, and adding some natural preventative measures, you can beat gum disease and reclaim your winning smile!

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Institute For Healthy Aging
++++++++++++++++++

The best way to do that is through your diet

2010-08-15T05:54:00.000-07:00

The good news is that if you or a loved one is suffering from diabetes, you can reverse it, too. The best way to do that is through your diet. Here’s what I recommend:

1. Eliminate heavily processed foods. This means any kind of junk food, including fried and sugary foods. They help fuel diabetes and keep it alive. Practically all of these foods are high-glycemic. Meaning they spike your blood sugar and, as a result, your insulin levels. Also, if it’s packaged and comes in a box or bag, chances are it’s not good for you. This kind of food has multiple ingredients, including hydrogenated oils (trans fats) to give it a long shelf life.

2. Eat more protein. Your focus should be on eating foods that have one, maybe two ingredients. That means getting the bulk of your calories from protein. Good sources are grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, organ meats, and wild-caught fish.

3. Eat healthy fats. Make sure to get healthy fats in your diet, too. Great sources are wild-caught salmon, olive oil, almonds, avocados, and egg yolks.

4. Get plenty of fruits and veggies. The majority of your carbs – if not all of them – should come from fruits and vegetables. Eat fruits with the skin intact, as it provides a good source of fiber. Stay clear of starches, grains, and any other kind of carb that’s been heavily processed.

Most diabetics think they’re stuck with the disease for life. That’s simply not true.

Type-2 diabetes can be reversed. And it all starts by changing your diet, starting with the four simple tips I’ve given you here.

But there’s more to it. More than I can cover in this letter to you. That’s why I’d like to tell you about a report I just read, called “The Diabetes Reversal Report.”

This guide gives you the secret ingredients for triggering the healing ability that’s in every cell in your body. You’ll get an easy-to-follow plan that puts you on the right path for treating diabetes.

Here’s how you can get a copy…

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

Miracle Root Lowers Blood Pressure Naturally‏

2010-08-15T05:49:00.000-07:00

Millions of Americans take prescription medication, like nitroglycerin, to relieve heart-related conditions. Including high-blood pressure.

The problem is that these medications often do more harm than good. Ironically, these drugs sold to treat symptoms of heart disease can even lead to a heart attack, stroke, and death. Unfortunately, there are strong forces at work within our system of medical care that cause under-reaction and even perpetuation of this problem.

Here’s where your “Doctor’s House Call” letter comes in…

Today, I’m going to tell you how you can lower your blood pressure – naturally. There’s a crunchy red root that works just as well as any prescription medication. And here’s the kicker… no side effects.1

To put that last statement into context: Here are just some of the side effects of nitroglycerin:

• Dizziness

• Fainting

• Headache

• Nausea and vomiting

• Allergic reactions

• Rapid or slow heartbeat

• Sweating

• Chestpain

You don’t have to worry about any of these with my natural solution.

I’m talking about beetroot.

Just a small amount of beetroot or beetroot juice can help reduce your blood pressure.

Here’s how it works.

When you eat it, the beetroot is mixed with your saliva and bacteria on your tongue. This combo turns into nitric oxide (NO2). It’s the chemical from the lining of your blood vessels that makes them expand.

When NO2 gets to your stomach, another reaction occurs, and the nitrate is recirculated throughout your body.

This recirculation is what causes your blood pressure to drop. You see the biggest drop 3-4 hours after eating beetroot. But the effects last for up to 24 hours.2

When these naturally produced nitrates are circulated through your body, your blood vessels relax. This lets your blood flow easier and reduces strain on your heart.

The result? Lower blood pressure.

You can get the most out of beetroots by either chewing them raw or throwing them in your juicer.

Here’s a fresh juice recipe you can try:
Fresh Beetroot and Vegetable Juice:
2 raw organic carrots
3 organic celery sticks
1/2 an organic cucumber
1 organic beetroot
Roughly chop all the vegetables, put them in your juicer, and blend.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD
________________________________________
1 Vikas Kapil; Alexandra B. Milsom; Michael Okorie; Sheiva Maleki-Toyserkani; Farihah Akram; Farkhanda Rehman; Shah Arghandawi; Vanessa Pearl; Nigel Benjamin; Stavros Loukogeorgakis; Raymond MacAllister; Adrian J. Hobbs; Andrew J. Webb; and Amrita Ahluwalia, “Inorganic Nitrate Supplementation Lowers Blood Pressure in Humans. Role for Nitrite-Derived NO.” AHA Journal 2010.
2 Webb. A. Hypertension, Feb. 4, 2008, early online edition. News release, Queen Mary, University of London

Healthy Answers: Month in review!‏

2010-08-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

Poor Sleep and Testosterone Level

Are you one of those guys who are burning the candle at both ends and maybe only getting 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night? Are you also one of those guys having problems with his sex drive and feeling out of sorts? Well, recent studies done in the last 3 years show that these symptoms could all be due to the effect of sleep on testosterone - just how, though, may be a chicken and egg question!

While it’s true that lower testosterone levels can be the cause of a sluggish sex drive and irritability it seems to be a matter of research opinion whether low sleep levels cause low testosterone or low testosterone causes lack of sleep.

Here’s what we know about sleep, and testosterone to date as it relates to men:

After age 30, men’s testosterone levels drop between 1 and 2% a year! By the time they reach 40 they start experiencing trouble sleeping. They complain of less deep sleep time, the period of sleep where the body repairs itself.

In fact, as a man gets older, the most recent studies assert, he can lose deep sleep time altogether! That means the older a man gets, the more his testosterone levels continue to decline, the less deep sleep he gets, the more his body’s repair mechanisms decline and the higher his risk climbs for disease!

The reason for this decline in deep sleep time is thought to be due to a loss of neuron activity, which synchronizes brain activity. These neurons are responsible for about 20% of achieving deep sleep. They are intact in young men and get further scrambled as a man ages.

To further complicate things, low testosterone levels are thought to contribute to this loss of neuron activity in the brain. The take away of these studies, then, whichever perspective you come from, seem to say that restoring testosterone to healthy, youthful levels would likely help a man not only achieve deep, restorative sleep again, but also keep him healthier, re-invigorate his sluggish sex drive and keep him in a happier frame of mind.

Do You Have Symptoms of Low Testosterone?

One of the most frequent complaints I hear from my over-40 patients is that their sex drive has diminished significantly from when they were younger. One of the first things I do is to check a testosterone level and most often find that it is decreased. Interestingly, as well, is that they also often complain of not sleeping very much and are depressed!

Now whether their lack of sleep is from a too hectic lifestyle, stress, or from their decreased testosterone level, is not clear. However, when I recommend that they try to get between 6-8 hours of sleep a night their testosterone levels seem to naturally increase and their mood is brighter!

But decreased testosterone levels don’t just affect men over 50, it can start as young as the 30-40’s! Many men don’t seek treatment because they think it’s just a part of getting older and they’re embarrassed to talk about it! Like menopause in women, low testosterone is not something men have to suffer through just because it’s associated with getting older. Here are some other symptoms you may not associate with low testosterone levels:

• Fatigue

• Emotional changes, like depression, irritability, “grumpy old man” syndrome

• Decreased muscle strength

• Loss of height

• Weight gain, especially belly fat

What Does Cause Low Testosterone?

Low testosterone levels can be caused or aggravated by a number of things both nutritional and environmental. For my patients who have lower than optimal testosterone levels, here are some other things I tell them to pay attention to in their diet and lifestyle:

• Xenoestrogens – in food and water supplies. These are “environmental estrogens” from soy products and plastics that get into our food and can decrease testosterone levels. Stay away from foods containing soy, most notably protein bars and soymilk. If you buy frozen foods, transfer them from their plastic container into a glass dish before heating.
• Lack of Protein – men need between 0.5 to 1 gram of high quality protein per pound of body weight per day to both build muscle strength and testosterone. Sources include pork, beef, and chicken, which also have higher levels of zinc, which is testosterone friendly.
• Lack of Cholesterol – many men over 40 are watching cholesterol intake for the sake of their arteries, but too little cholesterol will stop testosterone production. Aim for about 30% fat, mostly monounsaturated (nuts, olive oil) and some saturated (red meat, eggs) to build testosterone. Go very light, or leave out, polyunsaturated fats (fish, vegetable oils) as studies have shown they can decrease testosterone perhaps because they may contain xenoestrogens.
• Lack of Nutrition – zinc is a major building mineral for testosterone. The B vitamins, especially B1, B6, and B12 are helpful in keeping testosterone levels healthy. Be sure that your vitamin/mineral supplement includes these.
• Too Much Alcohol – alcohol increases blood sugar levels, which decreases testosterone. Limit to a few drinks per week.
• Lack of Sleep – as mentioned earlier, less than 6 hours of sleep a night can seriously rob your body of its repairing mechanisms and this includes the re-manufacturing of hormones like testosterone. See that you get at least 6-8 hours of sleep at night, more if you have been ill or under a lot of stress. Try some natural sleep aids like Valerian, calcium/magnesium supplements with some warm milk before bed. Cut back caffeine to not past 4 pm, and limit heavy meals to 2-3 hours before bedtime.

Researchers may finally decide which comes first; low testosterone then poor sleep, or poor sleep then low testosterone. In the meantime, I’m going to continue to counsel my patients that adequate sleep is at least a significant factor in low testosterone levels. However, before you start thinking dangerous steroids or prescription testosterone replacements, try the natural suggestions offered here. I believe your T-levels will be up to optimal levels and your sex drive and pleasant mood back on track in no time!

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Institute For Healthy Aging

Guard Against Summer Ear Injuries

With summer just around the corner, I know I’m going to start seeing a lot more patients with ear complaints and injuries. Why? Many ear conditions and injuries arise from things associated with warm weather and busier outdoor activity, like water sports, motorcycles, and amusement park rides, Fourth of July celebrations, flying insects! They all can create their special problems for your ears if you’re not careful. Let me tell you how.

Water Sports and Other Amusements

Infections and barotrauma injury (sudden atmospheric pressure changes from wind force or deep water) to the ears are the two most common types of injuries that can occur frequently in summer. Here’s how they happen:

Swimmer’s Ear: Water gets into the ear canal and destroys its natural acidity that normally checks bacteria. Infections can start deep in the ear and become very painful. Kids most often get swimmer’s ear but I see a lot of adult patients with it as well. In fact, you can get swimmer’s ear from getting water in your ear in the shower!

The symptoms are itching at first, a sense of blockage, decreased hearing, and then pain. However, swimmer’s ear is pretty easily treated with antibiotic eardrops that should relieve the symptoms in about 48 hours.

Helpful Tips: If you like to dive and/or swim under water a lot, use earplugs. Make sure you dry your outer ear canal so water doesn’t trickle down into your inner ear. To prevent infection, restore acid balance by instilling 3-4 drops of an equal mixture of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol into your ears. The vinegar restores the acid balance and the alcohol dries out the water. Do not use Q-tips in your ears! Not only can your hand slip and cause an eardrum penetration injury, but also tiny cotton fibers can get lodged in your ear and cause infection.

Scuba Diving, Jet Skiing, Kite Surfing, and Motorcycles: When the pressure from rushing wind (like that in fast jet skiing, motorcycles, or kite surfing) or deep water (scuba diving) isn’t equalized, it can damage the eardrum. Symptoms include ringing in the ears, hearing loss, or blood coming from the ear.

Helpful Tips: If you have trouble equalizing pressure while scuba diving, rise up in the water until you can. Don’t go diving with cold or sinus congestion already present as this causes extra pressure on your inner ear. If you’re going to jet ski, wind surf, kite surf, cover your ears with either a neoprene hood made for water sports and/or ear plugs. For motorcycling, keep a helmet on, with your head facing forward. Turning it sideways allows wind to rush into the ear canal at a high pressure. Not only can it blow dirt and bugs into your ear, but also the pressure alone can damage your hearing.

Surfer’s Ear: This is an overgrowth of bone in the external ear canal that occurs from exposure to cold water and wind. Bony lumps grow in the ear canal and can cause infections and a feeling of congestion and muffled hearing. Prevalent amongst cold-water surfers, people who jet ski, wind surf, kite surf, or participate in any water sports where high pressure wind effects their ears. Surgery is usually the treatment of choice to remove the bone growths.

Amusement Park Rides: Riding roller coasters and high sudden drop type amusement park rides can cause a loss of pressure in your ears, much the way deep water can damage the eardrum. Researchers studied people who rode high, fast roller coasters and found that if they turned their head even slightly during the first big drop, rushing, high-pressure air forced into the ear canal was significant enough to cause hearing loss.

Helpful Tips: Wear a neoprene hood or swim cap for water or kite surfing to keep your ears covered. Use earplugs and keep your head facing forward if you want to brave the extreme height of roller coasters or “sudden drop” type rides.

The Noise of Summer

With the warm weather comes noisy building/road construction, Fourth of July celebrations, loud rock concerts, auto races, even lawnmowers, all of which can damage your hearing. Let me share with you how loud noise from situations like this can injure your ears.

Firecrackers, Concerts, Auto Races: If you’ve ever shot off M-80’s or cherry bomb firecrackers on the Fourth of July, you know how loud they can be up close. If you attend an outdoor fireworks lightshow, these rapid percussion explosions can have the same effect on your ears as being in a war zone with shells going off. Similarly, ever go to an outdoor rock concert, or auto race and see people holding their hands over their ears? Typically, these events are very loud in the 90 to 140 decibel range. Anything over 80 db can permanently damage your hearing. At best it can leave your hearing muffled for several hours afterwards.

Helpful Tips: You go to fireworks displays for the beautiful colors and designs bursting against the night sky, not the explosive noise they make. Do yourself a favor and protect your ears, wear earplugs! For concerts and auto races, yeah, it’s great to be right up near the stage or the track, but your ears/hearing will thank you for getting seats farther back or lawn tickets.

Building/road construction, lawnmowers: I don’t know what are louder, jackhammers or those very high pitched, high velocity saws cutting through steel. If you live or work nearby this kind of very loud decibel construction and find you have to shout to talk to someone, this is too much noise for the safety of your ears and hearing. Similarly, lawn services with those big, loud lawnmowers on yours or your neighbors’ lawn all summer can adversely affect your hearing.

Helpful Tips: Again, get some earplugs. Try damping the noise by keeping the windows closed and pulling heavy sound muffling drapes over them.

Insects, Dirt, and Other Fly Bys

It may sound like something out of an urban legend but insects really do get into people’s ears, eyes and mouth! In fact, it’s happened to several of my patients. Most often this occurs while riding a bike and you run into flying bugs at just the right angle to your ear. It can also occur when you are swimming because bugs floating on the water see a safe haven to swim into.

Similarly, dirt, or other flying debris, can get into your ears from working outside, especially if its windy and you are clearing brush, or gardening, where debris can easily fall onto your ears. This kind of ear intrusion can cause inflammation and irritation for both you and your ear.

Helpful Tips: If you get an insect, dirt or debris in your ear, do not put your finger or any other object, like Q-tips or tweezers, in your ear to try and remove it. This can cause an insect to sting or bite, and/or drive what’s in there further into your ear canal. Instead put some baby oil or olive oil in a dropper and put several drops into your ear. Then lay with your affected ear down. The oil usually will suffocate an insect and it will float out. Similarly, dirt or other debris should be able to float out too. It might be best to seek medical attention as a doctor can safely flush your ear of any obstruction.

Insects, Dirt, and Other Fly Bys

If you cut or scrape an ear somehow, apply pressure if bleeding badly. Outer ears are very rich in blood vessels and can bleed profusely. Seek medical attention immediately if ear tissue has been lost and bleeding does not stop after 5 minutes of pressure. For more minor scrapes, gently clean with warm soap and water or hydrogen peroxide. Apply a compressive bandage and some ice to avoid swelling and pain. See your doctor if the swelling or pain doesn’t let up.

If you get hit in the ear by a flying object such as a baseball, Frisbee, or rock, seek medical attention as soon as possible to determine that there is no damage to the inner ear.

Although summer sports and outdoor fun have their own particular ear health and safety concerns, taking a few precautions ahead of time can help assure that you don’t damage your hearing or inner ear. Accidents always happen, especially in the summer, but using a little common sense can minimize any permanent damage to your ears and allow you to enjoy all the fun that summer can bring!

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Institute For Healthy Aging

Pros and Cons on Botox Injections

It’s hard to believe that people would actually pay to have their faces injected with a bacterium that causes paralysis of the face muscles. But that is of course what millions of Americans do every year and the number continues to increase. Since the procedure received FDA approval in April of 2002, my phone continues to ring off the hook from patients with questions regarding the pros and cons of Botox injections.

As a matter of fact the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) says nearly 1.6 million Botox treatments took place in the year 2001, a 46% increase since 2000 and a whopping 2,356% increase since 1997. 1 It is estimated that 2.8 million individuals in the U.S. underwent Botox treatment in 2008.

Although women usually outnumber men in their desire to look more youthful, men are finding they too are happy with their appearance after a visit to their skin specialist for a quick Botox enhancement.

Most people associate Botox with the “next best thing” to a facelift for getting rid of frown lines and forehead furrows. Not to mention that it costs a whole lot less and recovery time is minimal. Botox is fast and convenient to the extent that the treatment has been aptly named “the lunch hour procedure”.

What many people don’t know is that Botox was used in the past to treat a variety of medical conditions before it became widespread for cosmetic purposes. It was administered effectively to treat crossed eyes, uncontrollable blinking, skin conditions, as well as glandular and neurological disorders.

When the FDA finally approved it, a press release stated that Botox should be used temporarily for improving “the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows”. In a random study, placebo-controlled, researchers found that frown lines vastly improved or disappeared in people within a month of being injected with Botox.

Why the Controversy?

First of all, Botox comes directly from a deadly bacterial toxin, Botulinum Toxin Type A, a protein complex produced by Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium known to cause severe food poisoning and even death. A shot of poison into your face doesn’t sound like a very smart thing to do, but here is how it works.

When injected into the face, Botox blocks acetylcholine receptors and halts the pathway leading to the contraction of muscles controlling the ability to frown. When used properly by a qualified doctor, the results are surprisingly beneficial. It only takes about a fraction of a teaspoon of

Botox to make a dramatic difference in the disappearance of frown lines.

Typically, Botox treatment is done in a doctor’s office. The patient is asked to sit upright and flex his or her facial muscles while the Botox is injected. The patient is advised not to lie down for the next four or five hours to give the treated facial muscles a chance to fall into the natural positions they would hold during the day.

Results last for four to six months for most people but every patient responds differently to the drug.

Pros and Cons of Botox

I’ve touched on some of the pros of Botox treatment earlier in this article. It is quick, less costly than surgical procedures, minimally invasive, and you see results within a few days. The cosmetic industry refers to it as the ideal procedure and it has become a multi-million dollar market to say the least.

Let’s talk about the downside of using Botox cosmetically. Any time you take a foreign substance into your body, especially a drug, there is the risk of side effects. These may include flu-like symptoms, nausea, respiratory problems, and facial pain like stinging, burning, or allergic reactions. Botox also weakens the facial muscles that have been affected by the injection.

There may also be complications with medications that you might presently be taking or if pregnant, it could affect your unborn fetus. However, the evidence of such potential side effects is at this time inconclusive.

One of the biggest concerns is that the person injecting the substance may not be qualified to do so. If Botox is not administered properly, it can cause the patient to have droopy eyelids for a week or longer. The FDA insists that a trained certified physician who specializes in facial cosmetics, in a sterile environment, give Botox injections.

Is Collagen a Botox Competitor?

Collagen is another popular cosmetic treatment that is often used alone or in conjunction with Botox. It is used to fill in creases, wrinkles and depressions in the face with results lasting anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Collagen is derived from purified bovine (cow) but can also be made synthetically for those who have a positive reaction to a preliminary collagen skin test.

The injections may be more painful than Botox and can become very expensive to keep up. The procedure is usually done as an outpatient in a similar fashion to that of how Botox is administered.

If you think Botox or collagen injections are for you, make sure to check the qualifications of your doctor and ask a lot of questions. Talk to your doctor about your concerns, identify your expectations and be specific on the results you are looking to achieve.

Weigh the pros and cons, consider the risks, and proceed only when you are completely comfortable with your doctor. The good news is the results are usually temporary, and the treatment is much less invasive than laser and surgical procedures. At the end of the day the choice is up to you!

In Good Health,

Jay Brachfeld, M.D.

1 www.jyi.org/volumes/volume6/issue6/features/lee.html

Reap the Healing Power of Medicinal Herbs

Lately, more and more of my patients have expressed an interest in using herbs for their specific health concerns. They are concerned, as am I, about side effects, as well as rising costs of prescription drugs with health care insurance issues being what they are these days.

Herbs have been used as medicine for centuries in many cultures around the world. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Indian Ayurvedic medicine lead the way in treating illness with herbs. In fact, prior to 1930, herbal medicine was the only medicine used in America!

For the past 30 years, however, herbal, or botanical, medicine is enjoying resurgence in America. People are revisiting the healing power of all those ancient herbal formulas. Echinacea fights colds, St. John’s Wort brightens mood, chamomile settles upset stomach, and ginseng boosts energy. These herbs are so commonly known they’re sold in grocery stores!

The use of medicinal herbs is a vast subject, so I’d like to touch on some of the most common herbs and their uses.

Herbs for General Health

Especially in men and women over age 40, along with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and enough restorative sleep, taking at least 1 of these herbs can help keep you healthy in general:

• Garlic – antioxidant, antibiotic, and cholesterol reducer, can help prevent heart disease.
• Green tea – an all-around powerhouse antioxidant, can lower cholesterol and help prevent mouth and stomach cancers. Drink 2-3 cups a day without milk or cream.
• Turmeric – (yellow mustard ingredient) long used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, an excellent antioxidant which lower cholesterol and is said to prevent cancer.
• Olive Leaf Extract – anti-inflammatory, immune system booster, kills viruses and bacteria that can cause illness.

Herbs for Men’s Health Issues

There are several herbs that are beneficial to men’s specific health concerns such as prostate and impotence issues. Here are a few of them:

• Saw palmetto/beta sitosterol - one of the most popular herbs, treats BPH, benign prostatic hypertrophy, by shrinking the enlarged prostate and relieving urinary problems.
• Gingko biloba – helps increase blood flow throughout the body which can alleviate impotence and help cognitive brain function and circulatory issues.
• Muira puama – stimulates libido (both male and female), treats erectile dysfunction, and balances hormones.
• Tribulus – stimulates testosterone production, addressing impotence and libido.

Herbs for Women’s Health Issues

Women’s specific health concerns such as painful menstruation, menopause, libido and infertility have been treated with herbs for centuries. Recently, traditional medical doctors have turned to safe, herb-derived bioidentical hormone replacement to treat symptoms of menopause. The following are herbal estrogen and progesterone sources that come from:

• Black cohosh – full of natural plant estrogens, good for menopause symptoms and PMS.
• Wild Yam – contains isoflavones, treats menopause symptoms, and maintains bone strength.
• Dong Quai – for menopause, treats hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and weak bladder tone.
• Red Clover – like soy, contains isoflavones, treats menopause symptoms.

The Big Three and Herbs

In the United States, the highest rates of illness are from cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Let me share with you some herbs that have shown a lot of promise in research studies to specifically address these conditions:

• Sheep Sorrel – Cancer. Noted for its tumor shrinking, anti-metastasizing properties.
• Green Tea Extract - Cancer. Contains ECGC, an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals that damage healthy cells. Slows/prevents the rapid cell replication of cancer.
• Turmeric – Cancer. Contains curcumin, boosts immune system, and prevents tumor growth.
• Cinnamon – Diabetes. ¼ to 1 tsp sprinkled on food, can control insulin spikes. Also helps lower high blood pressure.
• Banaba – Diabetes. An herb from the Philippines extensively studied for diabetes. Like cinnamon, has insulin-like activity that helps maintain normal blood sugar.
• Ampalaya (bitter melon) – Diabetes. Also extensively researched, the favorite treatment for diabetes in India, Asia, Africa. Said to stimulate beta cell production in the pancreas that helps the body’s natural production of insulin.
• Valerian – Heart/high blood pressure. Relaxes you, lowers blood pressure, and aids sleep.
• Alfalfa and Garlic – Heart/arteries. Lowers LDL cholesterol by blocking absorption and preventing oxidation into plaques or clots.
• Cayenne – Heart/circulation. Stops heart pain by rapidly increasing blood flow to the heart. It has been touted as a first aid treatment for heart attack – 1 tablespoon Cayenne in a glass of warm water drank quickly.

There you have a basic introduction to medicinal herbs. There are innumerable health conditions that herbs can be used for. However, they are not without risk. You have to take them properly as you would prescription drugs. Consult a doctor familiar with the use of herbal medicine to treat illness. They can ensure correct usage and monitor you for any possible adverse reaction.

Stay well,

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Institute For Healthy Aging

Doctors Still Hounding You About Cholesterol?

Walk into any doctor’s office with a cholesterol level over 300, and they’ll wheel you out on a stretcher, shove you in an ambulance, and rush you to the hospital.

But, let me tell you something about cholesterol: As long as your HDL is high enough, you’re at little to no risk of heart disease.

Even if your total cholesterol is 305.1

Here’s the bottom line: You and everyone in this country has been coerced into believing that high cholesterol means you have one foot in the grave.

I’ve been going on about this since I was in med school, and still the myth is believed as fact. Wherever I go, I hear people talking about this.

Just the other day, I was standing in line at the grocery store and overheard two people sharing stories about which cholesterol-lowering drug they were taking and how high their cholesterol was at their last doctor’s appointment.

Let me say this again: Cholesterol is a fallacy. It’s a red herring. And this “high cholesterol myth” was supported with billions of dollars by drug companies when they patented drugs that lowered cholesterol.

Here’s something else: 75% of the people who have heart attacks have “normal” cholesterol.2

The fact that high cholesterol is safe and normal people are having heart attacks isn’t some kind of fantasy. I didn’t pull these numbers out of thin air. They come from the Framingham Heart Study.

This landmark study, which has been ongoing since the 1940s, is considered the most reliable data on heart disease. Why? Because it has no interference from drug companies.

In a time when drug companies sponsor, pay for, and manipulate clinical studies to prop up their best-selling drugs, the Framingham Study is untouched by corporate hands.

But there’s this one, little problem. The data that doesn’t support their cholesterol theory gets ignored, blackballed, or driven into oblivion. But the numbers are there for anyone to see.

I can’t even tell you how many heart patients I’ve seen. It’s in the thousands. And for decades, I’ve been the “go to” doctor for people who instinctively believe the mainstream is wrong.

Have you ever tried to challenge your doctor on cholesterol?

They’re so adamant about treating “high cholesterol,” they’ll refuse to see you as a patient if you don’t buy into their propaganda.

That’s why people come to me.

These heart health rebels who “dropped out” with other doctors because they refused to lower their cholesterol have always had the last laugh. Out of all my patients, they’re the ones who

have the fewest heart attacks.

They’re also the happiest.

They don’t waste their time with low-fat diets, prescription drugs, or scare tactics designed to make you feel guilty, weak, and helpless.

When I wrote The Doctor’s Heart Cure, I had these folks in mind. I wanted to give them a real alternative to the drug-fueled culture of fear we’re exposed to everyday.

I wanted to empower them to make choices based in fact, not in a well-orchestrated tragedy.

If your doctor is still pressuring you to get your cholesterol lower and lower... or if you’re already taking cholesterol drugs and starting to feel the fatigue, muscle pain, and depression that comes with them, let me make a recommendation.

Get The Doctor’s Heart Cure.

Arm yourself against the myth masquerading as fact.

I’ll show you how to build a disease-proof heart WITHOUT drugs, crazy diets, or boring gym routines.

Even if your cholesterol is 305.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD
________________________________________
1 Castiglioni A, Neuman WR. “HDL Cholesterol: What Is Its True Clinical Significance?” Emergency Medicine, January 2003:pp 30-42.
2 Castelli WP. “Cholesterol and lipids in the risk of coronary artery disease – the Framingham Heart Study.” Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 1998 July; 4 Suppl A:5A-10A.

RAUL

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