|
Understanding
Naturopathic Medicine
by David Newirth
Naturopathic
medicine is a unique and comprehensive healthcare
system that addresses people individually and on physical,
mental,
emotional, and spiritual levels. |
Naturopathic medicine is a system of
healthcare that focuses on restoring an individual to his or her
optimal state of health and well-being by supporting and strengthening
the body’s natural healing capabilities. At the heart of
naturopathic medicine are six basic principles that guide the
naturopathic primary care physician in addressing a patient’s
healthcare concerns:
 | The Healing Power of Nature
| Identify and Treat the Cause
| First Do No Harm
| Treat the Whole Person
| The Physician as Teacher
| Prevention |
| | | | |
The Healing Power of
Nature
At the heart of naturopathic medicine is the belief that the human
body has been created with the inherent ability to maintain and
restore itself. It is the role of the naturopathic physician to aid
the body in regaining a healthy balance. By removing obstacles to
healing and providing the body the nourishment, stimulation, and
support it needs, the body can regain health.
Identify and Treat the Cause
Critical to healing is identifying the cause of illness without
focusing solely on symptoms. Alleviating symptoms are important for
patient comfort, but the goal is to address the deeper root of the
health problem to prevent its recurrence.
First Do No Harm
Symptoms are considered part of the healing process as they alert the
patient to an imbalance that has arisen in their body. It is the
intention of the naturopathic physician to address an illness without
unnecessarily disturbing the body’s natural healing process.
Preventing the natural healing process disrupts the body’s inner
rhythm and defense mechanisms.
Treat the Whole Person
To function optimally, the human body in all its complexity, must
utilize mind, body, and spirit to maintain the delicate balance of
health. Too often, illness is looked upon as merely a physical
disturbance, yet it is well-documented that psycho-social stress alone
can cause immune suppression, resulting in lowered immune defenses. An
individual’s spiritual well-being also influences overall health. It
is one’s spiritual connection and faith that allows one to cope with
stress, believe in healing, and complete the circuit between the mind
and body.
In naturopathic medicine, especially in cases of chronic illness,
patients will be counseled to pursue their health goals through
physical, mental, and spiritual avenues.
The Physician as Teacher
Since the human body doesn’t come with an operator’s manual, it is
the role of the physician to educate patients about maintaining
optimal health and correcting imbalances that arise. It is through
education that patients of naturopathic medicine become aware of ways
to aid the natural processes of maintaining and restoring health. This
is the essential component of the patient taking an active role in
their own health and well-being, with the guidance and support of the
physician.
Prevention
Building a strong foundation of health is a philosophical cornerstone
of naturopathic medicine. Like building a solid and secure home, it is
the primary focus of naturopathy to promote and support prevention
through healthy dietary and lifestyle choices. Being proactive, rather
than reactive, allows for one to better ensure an optimally healthy
and longer life. Additionally, individual risk factors and genetic
predisposition are addressed to better design a personalized health
and treatment plan.
Scope of Practice
Naturopathic physicians are trained and licensed as primary care
physicians. During the four-year medical school curriculum, students
complete two years of basic sciences and two years of clinical
sciences. In order to be a licensed naturopathic physician, one must
pass both the national basic sciences and clinical sciences board
examinations. Naturopathic physicians use standard laboratory and
diagnostic tests in addition to more progressive functional medicine
tests to treat a vast array of diseases and disorders.
Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests
A licensed naturopath can perform routine annual physical exams and
order all conventional laboratory and diagnostic test such as x-rays,
MRI, and CT imaging. Naturopaths also utilize functional medical tests
such as ELIZA allergy testing, comprehensive digestive and stool
analysis, adrenal stress index, metabolic typing, and more.
Clinical Nutrition
Food is the most natural and best medicine. The use of whole foods and
nutritional supplements allow the body to regain a healthful balance.
Nutritional analysis and counseling is at the core of the naturopathic
approach to health and prevention.
Botanical Medicine
Commonly referred to as herbal medicine, the use of plant-derived
substances can be powerful tools for addressing health concerns.
Drawing on thousands of years’ use and knowledge of botanical
medicine, naturopaths can use these medicines in a standardized form,
as a whole herb, or in combination.
Physical Medicine
Naturopathic physicians are trained in a wide variety of physical
medicine techniques including therapeutic manipulation of the spine
and joints, ultrasound, diathermy, microcurrent, muscle stimulation,
massage, heat and cold therapy, traction, and many other modalities.
Psychological Medicine
Naturopathic physicians are also trained to use a multitude of
techniques to assist their patients in gaining perspective and to
balance their mental health, thus affecting overall health. Techniques
frequently used include counseling, stress management, biofeedback,
neurofeedback, hypnotherapy, EFT, and flower essences.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a 200-year-old system of medicine, practiced throughout
the world. It is based upon the principle of like cures like, called
the Law of Similars. This means that a substance that is capable of
producing symptoms in a healthy person, when specially prepared in
high dilution, can bring relief to a person who is ill and suffers
from similar symptoms. Homeopathy is used effectively to treat both
acute and chronic problems, and is designed to positively affect the
body¹s vital force.
Hydrotherapy
Hydro or water therapy is one of the basic tenets of naturopathic
medicine, and has been recorded in history as early as 100 AD by the
Romans. Hydrotherapy can be as simple as a warm bath or as complex as
a naturopathic constitutional hydrotherapy treatment. Using water in
its three states – ice, liquid, and vapor or steam – has proven
beneficial through its support of the immune system, digestive system,
and circulatory system, increasing energy, vitality and
detoxification.
Summary
In summary, naturopathic medicine is a unique and comprehensive
healthcare system that addresses people individually and on physical,
mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. This approach also empowers
patients to take control of their own health through a proactive
approach grounded in prevention, education, and self-awareness. The
role of the naturopathic physician is that of an educator and
facilitator in guiding the patient to regaining optimal health and
well-being.
Dr. David Newirth, a
naturopathic physician, is trained and licensed as a primary care
provider with the Alaska Family Wellness Center. He can be reached at
561-9444 or docdave@acsalaska.net.
|
Nutrition
for the Whole Family
by Kaycie Rosen
With a little
focused effort and knowledge, everyone in a family can
have his or her nutritional needs met.
|
What
takes place at your family’s dinner table each night? Is it pleasant
or hectic? Is the food take out, frozen or home made? Does dinner as a
family even happen at all?
We
all inherently understand that we need food to live, and the quality
of what we put into our bodies ultimately influences our health.
From a medical perspective, there can be serious consequences
to eating poorly, the most obvious being diabetes and cardiovascular
disease. Though in the past it has been primarily seen in older
people, children as young as 4 years old are now being diagnosed with
Type II Diabetes! It’s vital to understand that proper nutrition
affects every aspect of a child’s (and an adult’s) life, and can
influence school and athletic performance, mood, physical development,
oral health, immunity, and overall energy.
In
Naturopathic Medicine, we base our practice on what in Latin is called
the Vis Medicatrix Naturae,
which means the Healing Force of Nature.
This principle states that when free of obstacles and given
proper nutrition, each living thing will naturally move into a state
of balance. Said another
way, it means that if your body does not get what it needs
nutritionally, you will not feel your best.
However,
preparing food and eating in a way that is appropriate for each family
member can be a struggle. One
member of the family may be growing, one may need to gain weight, and
another trying to lose weight. One
person may have food allergies or a medical condition that
necessitates avoidance of certain types of foods.
Compound this with hectic schedules, variable food preferences,
and a cultural overabundance of low-quality and over-processed foods,
and the prospect of preparing a meal each night that is delicious,
satisfying, and meets each individual’s nutritional needs can seem
next to impossible.
It
is
possible, though. With a little focused effort and knowledge, everyone
in a family can have his or her nutritional needs met. If you want to
make a change for your family’s health, begin by keeping the
following simple guidelines in mind.
Eat
Frequently
Many
people suffer from fatigue and poor blood sugar control simply because
they are not eating frequently enough.
Blood sugar levels are regulated by how quickly the liver puts
sugar from the food we eat into the blood. Then, insulin is secreted
to put that sugar into the cells for energy.
When we don’t eat frequently enough (and this is particularly
true for bodies that are growing and/or active), the cells are starved
and we feel fatigued. We can’t concentrate or perform well
physically.
Although
it may not seem to be true, eating infrequently can also cause weight
gain. Why? The body will be more likely to store calories as fat
rather than using them because it is used to being low on immediate
fuel. For these reasons,
eating three meals a day is important for everyone, and snacking in
between meals can be appropriate for many.
Remember
the basics.
When
considering food choices, remember those basic building blocks of
nutrition: carbohydrates,
protein, fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber and water.
Every meal should have some of each of these.
Although it is possible to go into infinite complexity in
working out the finer details of what is ideal for each individual,
start with the basics. When
choosing foods for yourself or your family, the number one goal is
nutrient density. This
simply means that if a food has been refined or processed in a way
that either has removed some of its nutritional value (for example,
white flour which has had the fiber, oils, vitamins and minerals
removed) or has added non-food ingredients (for example, artificial
colors, flavors, or preservatives), it will be less nutritionally
dense.
As
a rule, go towards foods that look closest to how they looked when
they were growing. Also,
stick to the periphery of the store:
those foods that require refrigeration (produce and whole meat
and dairy products) are usually the most nutritious.
Prepare
your own food.
When
you make your own food, you know exactly what goes into it.
Although this can seem daunting to some, there are many ways to
prepare simple, wholesome, delicious foods.
For example, an easy and nutritious breakfast can be prepared
ahead by mixing several cups of whole, rolled grains with nuts, seeds,
and dried fruit, and kept in the refrigerator.
Each morning, eat ½ cup of the mixture with a little milk or
yogurt. Similarly, make
meals on the weekend that are large enough to accommodate lunches
throughout the busy work week. Focus
on buying high-quality ingredients that are less processed so you know
that what you are eating is good for you.
Sit
down for mealtimes.
When
we eat on the go, standing up, while working, or during times of
stress, our sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system is in
control, thus making our bodies less able to properly digest our food.
In order to digest more effectively, our parasympathetic (rest and
rejuvenate) nervous system must be working.
This system coordinates the movements of our stomach and
intestines and the production of digestive enzymes and bile that are
necessary to absorb the high-quality food you’re putting in your
mouth. Also, keep in mind that mealtimes are a wonderful opportunity
to share and enjoy life with your family.
Get
educated!
It
is possible that even when incorporating all of the above suggestions
into your family dietary schedule, there will still be individual
dietary needs that are not addressed.
Take time to explore options that work for each person.
Involve kids in the grocery shopping or food preparation so
they feel their preferences are considered.
Also, find out if the foods you are preparing most often are
tolerated well by each person. Chronic skin problems, allergy,
digestive problems and asthma can be signs of food intolerance.
Above
all, take time to discover how delicious and satisfying eating well
can be for the entire family. Good luck and happy eating!
Kaycie Rosen
,
ND
, is a family practice doctor specializing in infectious disease.
She works at
Avante
Medical
Center
, and can be reached at 770-6700.
|
What
to Do About the Winter Bug
By
Jennifer Lush and Corey Harmon
strengthening
the immune system through natural supplements is a beneficial
means of shortening symptoms and recovering rapidly
|
As
we celebrate the next several months of our majestic Alaskan winter,
many of us will feel a little under the weather due to the “winter
bug.” Do you have a runny nosy? Sore throat? Feeling a
little fatigued? If so, chances are you are coming down with the
common cold. More severe symptoms such as fevers, muscle aches,
nausea and vomiting, are most likely signs of the flu.
Why
do we all get sick during the winter? Some believe that the
increased levels of colds and flues are due to more time spent indoors
(and around each other), which naturally exposes us to more viruses and
bacteria. Additionally, the dryness of the cold weather weakens the
immune system, allowing viruses and bacteria to invade the body.
Regardless of the cause of the cold or flu, strengthening the immune
system through natural supplements is a beneficial means of shortening
symptoms and recovering rapidly.
One
excellent way to treat the initial symptoms of the flu is through a
homeopathic remedy. Homeopathy is a system of medicine widely used in
Europe
and
Australia
. It is based on using small amounts of substances to allow the body to
correct the imbalance that is occurring. The remedy Oscillococcinum, which can be found at most natural food stores, is very effective
in decreasing flu symptoms if taken at the onset of those symptoms.
Homeopathy has very low side effects, thus making it an ideal type of
medicine to utilize if you are using other medications or have a
compromised immune system due to illness such as HIV or cancer. It is
also very effective in children and easy to administer.
Herbal
medicine also has strong clinical evidence supporting its powerful
effects on strengthening the immune system. One herb that is widely used
for colds and flues is Echinacea.
The typical recommended amount of Echinacea is a
3 to 5
ml. tincture of the herb or root, or 300 mg. of dried root powder, three
times per day. Elderberry extract has also been widely used and
studied as a treatment for the influenza virus. One human trial
demonstrated that individuals receiving an elderberry extract (four
tablespoons per day for adults; two tablespoons per day for children)
appeared to recover faster than did those receiving a placebo (or
non-treatment).
Both
Asian
Ginseng and Eleutherococcus
(Siberian Ginseng) have immune-enhancing properties, which may play
a role in preventing infection with the influenza virus. Other herbal
remedies that have been shown to effectively treat the flu virus are Boneset,
Wild Indigo, Goldenseal, Myhrr, and Thuja. There are many types of
medicinal mushrooms which also demonstrate anti-viral and immune
enhancing properties.
Vitamins—especially
the antioxidants such as A, D, E, and C—also have immune-stimulating properties. Vitamin C has been
found to increase the production of white blood cells, which is one way
our bodies fight viral infections. The research behind vitamin C is
ample. In a review of 21 controlled trials using 1 to 8 grams of vitamin
C per day, it was found that "in each of the twenty-one
studies, vitamin C reduced the duration of episodes and the severity of
the symptoms of the common cold by an average of 23%." The correct
amount of vitamin C to take for flu and cold treatments remains in
debate, but may be as high as 1 to 3 grams per day—considerably more
than the 120 to 200 mg per day that has been suggested as optimal intake
for healthy adults. The mineral zinc may also help fight off and
relieve the symptoms of a cold due to its ability to stop viruses from
entering the cells of our body.
Finally,
there are other preventative measures that we can take to avoid
contracting the common cold or flu before symptoms arise. The simple act
of making sure we have good
hygiene, especially if we are in contact with children at schools
and daycares, can do wonders in keeping the immune system strong. The
immature immune systems of children make them carriers of bacteria and
viruses, which they pass to each other and their families as well.
Keeping water intake high (as much as 64 ounces per day for a
160-pound adult) will keep our cells hydrated and strong and better
prepared to fight off bacteria and viruses.
Our
bodies build their immune boosting cells, such as the white blood cells,
while we are sleeping and resting. Getting consistent,
uninterrupted sleep each night allows us to function well and keep
immunity strong during our waking hours. Eating a diet
high in nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
provides natural immune support. Foods such as green leafy vegetables,
whole grains, fruits, and organic (or non-hormone fed) proteins are
ideal for providing these nutrients. Refined sugars, as found in baked
goods, breads, candy, and soda, have been found to decrease the immune
system. Keeping sugars low or eliminating them altogether is a very
effective way to keep our bodies healthy as well.
As
you enjoy the snow and wide array of winter activities this year,
remember to do all that you can to keep your immune system healthy and
ready to ward off unwanted bacteria and viral infections.
Jennifer
Lush, N.D., practices general family medicine with a focus on
nutrition and botanical medicine at
Avante
Medical
Center
. Corey Harmon is the Director of Communications at Avante. Call
(907) 770-6700 or email avantemedicalcenter@gmail.com
for more information.
|
|
Vitamin
D Deficiency and Cancer
by Michelle Rogers
|
If
you could take a pill that would reduce your risk of developing
breast or colon cancer in half, would you? |
If you could take a pill that would reduce
your risk of developing breast or colon cancer in half, would you?
Research completed at several major universities over the past
few years suggests that vitamin D may an important part of any cancer
prevention program.
Vitamin
D was previously thought to have a small role in maintaining strong
and healthy bones, and alleviating depression.
However, the ‘sunshine vitamin’ appears to play a role in
prevention of many other diseases (including diabetes and high blood
pressure) and also in reducing cancer risk. In adults, vitamin D
deficiency can lead to bone loss, muscle weakness, fractures and
even common cancers, as well as autoimmune, infectious and
cardiovascular diseases. Nationwide, it is estimated that only 29
percent of the United States population has optimal levels of vitamin
D.
In
June 2006, Creighton University School of Medicine in Nebraska
reported results from a study which evaluated healthy menopausal women
for four years to determine if vitamin D and calcium or just calcium
alone could reduce the number of new cancer cases compared to a sugar
pill placebo. Of the
1,179 women who participated in the study, those who took the calcium
alone saw a 40 percent reduction in cancer rates compared to the sugar
pill. For women who took
both the calcium and the vitamin D, however, there was a dramatic 77
percent or greater reduction in cancer risk compared to women who took
the sugar pill.
In
August 2007, a research team from the University of California, San
Diego, reported that up to 50 percent of breast and colon
cancer cases could be prevented by consuming higher doses of vitamin D
on a daily basis. The
researchers found that supplementation with 2,000 international units
(IU) of vitamin D daily could reduce the risk of developing colon
cancer by 50 percent. The
amount of vitamin D needed to reduce the risk of breast cancer by 50
percent was higher at 3,500 IU daily.
The study found that the average adult intake of vitamin D in
the United States is 230 IU daily—well below the recommended daily
allowance of 400 IU. The
authors of the study assert that if all people in North America could
maintain vitamin D levels of 55ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter—the
unit of measure for vitamin D), approximately 60,000 cases of
colorectal cancer and up to 85,000 cases of breast cancer could be
avoided.
Vitamin D is
best obtained through judicious sun exposure.
Some of the leading researchers in the field of vitamin D
recommend 20 minutes of ‘unprotected’ sun exposure three times per
week during summer months. This limited sun exposure without suntan
lotions is particularly important to Alaskans, as Alaska has a short
summer. Foods that
contain vitamin D include cod liver oil, and small amounts can also be
found in egg yolks and butter.
Vitamin D
levels should be assessed before starting any vitamin D
supplementation. This is because vitamin D is fat soluble and could be
toxic in high doses. Your medical provider can test your vitamin D status by a
simple blood draw. The
test is called “25-hydroxy vitamin D” (often written as
25(OH)vitamin D). The
currently accepted optimal range for vitamin D is 60-80ng/ml.
Multiple studies have found that the largest beneficial impact
of reducing cancer risk is for those people with a 25(OH)vitamin D
level of at least 75ng/ml. If
your vitamin D level is significantly lower than the optimal range,
your medical provider may recommend higher doses of vitamin D for a
limited period of time to correct the deficiency.
Given
that proper vitamin D levels affect multiple aspects of our health,
testing for adequate vitamin D status and proper vitamin D intake
should become part of every disease prevention and wellness plan.
Dr.
Michelle Rogers is a Naturopathic Doctor practicing in Anchorage.
You may contact her at Avante Medical Center, 770-6700.
|
Much Too
Salty, Much Too Sweet:
What Goldilocks Knows About Eating Just Right
by Eva Nagy
|
Why
would you eat food that was full of additives? Why would you
want food that tasted only sweet or salty? Why would anyone’s
mama or papa want their kids to eat like that? |
Goldilocks had just escaped from the dreadful house of the three
bears, having been jolted from her sweet slumber in the most
comfortable little bed, after eating a wholesome meal of porridge.
She ran
frantically into the woods and then stopped to catch her breath. She
noticed that there were lots of pretty flowers growing in the sunny
patches among the trees, marvelous ones she had never seen before. As
she skipped along, she picked one and then the next and the next...
Wham! Down
Goldilocks fell into a deep, dark hole. She just kept falling,
twirling, down, down. No, she didn’t turn into Alice, but she soon
felt like she had arrived at Wonderland, because she found herself in
the middle of a large supermarket.
Blinking from
the bright lights, Goldilocks felt dizzy from all the noise: the
strange music; the shrieking intercom calling for a manager’s
override; babies past their nap time; cashiers chatting; and
people—all those people pushing big carts everywhere
Goldilocks
stared at all the fancy packages and boxes. What could they be? As she
walked towards the shelves, three bears suddenly appeared! Except they
were not ordinary bears; these bears were orange, yellow, and green.
In fear,
Goldilocks was about to run away, when the bears called to her:
“Little girl, come back! Would you like us to show you around?”
“W..well,
okay,” Goldilocks managed to say, trembling. “But who are you?”
“We are
gummy bears. Kids really like us because we taste like fruity candy.
And their parents think we are good for them because we have some
vitamins added to us. They can buy us as healthy treats and the kids
are happy,” said Orange Bear.
Goldilocks
wondered why treats were so important to keep kids happy.
“So, what
would you like to see first?” asked Yellow Bear.
“I’d like
to see what kids here eat for breakfast.”
“You see
those colorful boxes over there?” said Green Bear, pointing to rows
of shelves. “Those are cereal boxes. They have drawings on them
called cartoon characters. Kids like cartoon characters, so they ask
for the cereal that has their favorite friend on it. The cereal can
have colors like us too—and different shapes. Kids like it because
it tastes like fruity candy. And their parents think it’s good for
them because it has some vitamins added.
Many boxes even have a surprise inside, and activities to do on
the box, to make the cereal more fun to eat, which makes kids
happy.”
Goldilocks
wondered why food needed to be fun to eat. She always thought of fun
as being outside, exploring new things. Eating was to fill her tummy
and grow strong and healthy. Besides, when she ate her porridge, she
always ate with her mama and papa, which was great. Goldilocks was
taught to fully enjoy the taste of all her meals—how could you do
that if you were thinking of other things or doing something else at
the same time? Her mama always said that Goldilocks was the best
taster ever.
Then
Goldilocks remembered that what was really fun was to cook together: that she really liked. She was even willing to eat nuts and seeds
baked into bread if she was allowed to mix them into the dough. She
loved kneading, too.
“Can we see
some bread?” she suggested.
The bread
aisle the bears pointed to was long and full. Except where was the
bread? In those plastic bags full of square slices? That couldn’t be
right, for when Goldilocks picked one up, it was way too light.
“That’s a
loaf of white bread,” explained Yellow Bear. “It’s great for
kids’ peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches. The wheat is stripped of
most of its nutrients and made into white flour, which is also
bleached. Kids like white bread because it hardly has a crust. Plus,
it’s easy to chew and tastes sweet. With the jelly, it’s like
fruity candy. Parents think it’s good for their kids because the
bread has some vitamins added to it.”
Goldilocks
couldn’t imagine eating a sandwich that didn’t require some good
chewing. She wondered if other moms besides her own told their kids
how important chewing was for their gums, teeth, and digestion. Still
puzzled, Goldilocks followed the bears to some glass doors, behind
which were more fancy packages. One box was decorated with
funny-looking animals. Goldilocks soon learned that it contained
chicken. Chicken that was shaped into little dinosaurs, seasoned,
breaded, then fried and frozen. She wondered what it might taste like.
Something told her it may not really matter, as long as it was fun to
eat. Maybe it even tasted like fruity candy!
“No, you
silly,” chuckled Green Bear. “Chicken nuggets are nice and salty.
That makes you want to eat lots of them. But you can make them sweeter
by dipping them in ketchup, which is like fruity, tart candy. Parents
like ketchup because it keeps their kids happy.”
Goldilocks
remembered her mama’s chickens pecking around in the yard, eating
worms and grain. When one ended up as soup or in the oven, a delicious
dinner was guaranteed. The meat tasted so good: tender, fresh, somehow
happy even because of the good life the chicken had lived. Goldilocks
could swear she tasted it in the meat.
It was time to
get a drink of water. But which kind? Not only were there many
varieties of bottled water (it was best to avoid tap water, the bears
explained, as it’s full of harmful chemicals and even drugs), but
even more plentiful was the stock of soft drinks. Goldilocks, a fast
learner, quickly found the ones meant for kids: the bright-colored
pouches with straws included. All kids’ drinks looked like they’d
taste like fruity candy—with some vitamins added to them!
It was all too
confusing. As Goldilocks started to float up the dark hole back to her
familiar forest, she tried to make sense of her latest adventure.
She tried to
imagine eating food that looked so unlike what it should that nobody
knew where it came from. What was the value of food that was grown,
prepared, and eaten with the least amount of time, care and
involvement? Why would you eat food that was full of harmful or
useless additives? Why would you want food that tasted basically the
same: sweet and/or salty? Why would anyone’s mama or papa want their
kids to eat like that?
Goldilocks
wondered what happened to sharing: cooking together, eating together?
She wondered if those kids were growing up strong and healthy?
When
Goldilocks got home, she flew into her mama’s arms. “What should
we make for dinner tonight?” she asked, putting on her little apron
with even more excitement than usual. As she looked in the pantry and
began gathering rice and onions, bright green peppers and plump red
tomatoes, Goldilocks knew that their family meal was going to be
delicious.
|
Eating
Just Right
In
the last few decades, kids have become major targets for food
and drink advertisers. They are easy game: the buttons to push
are quite obvious. If we, as parents, want healthy and truly
happy kids, we must help them see through the shallow façade
of advertising. We must not let the food industry play upon
our guilt because we work long hours or don’t always have
the patience to cook. We must realize—and teach our kids to
realize—the dangers of health-damaging food. We must be
together with our kids, including them in healthy meal
planning and preparation. We must keep our kids in the
kitchen, helping them to make choices based on good
information. We can encourage their creativity with a variety
of foods and menus and cooking techniques. We can help them to
“really taste” what good food is. We can all make the
choice to see through the inane, profit-driven messages about
food. We can encourage mealtime to be a celebration of food
and togetherness. In embracing healthy, natural, “real”
food, we will all eat just right. |
Eva
Nagy
is a freelance writer, mother of three and former personal chef. She
can be reached at dunaihajos@yahoo.com
|
|
Nasal
Rinsing: Your Body Nose You Need This!
by Madeleine Morrison
|
Studies
have shown nasal irrigation to be very effective for adults as
well as children. |
Do you suffer from
chronic mucus build-up, dry winter passages or seasonal allergies?
Perhaps you just want to rinse away the break-up dust from your nose?
For all of these reasons—and more, nasal irrigation or rinsing is
reaching new heights of popularity.
In Alaska we have
more reasons to rinse than in many other places. Our winters dry out
our moist nasal passage ways, thus increasing our susceptibility to
infections. We can also have high pollen counts in other seasons. A
larger concern, however, is break-up dust. Dust contains all those
lovely chemicals, pollens, microbes, spores and other things that fall
to the ground. Luckily, nasal rinsing gives us the ability to at least
rinse these items from our nasal passages.
Traditionally
nasal rinsing is touted by many sinusitis and allergy sufferers.
Allergic people tend to suffer from inflammation and subsequent
infection of the nasal and sinus passages. They also suffer a myriad
of symptoms from nasal congestion to itchy, watery eyes, runny nose
and recurring sinus infections. Certain allergens are always present.
These include house dust mites, household pet dander, and mold spores.
Symptoms from these are frequently worse in the winter when the house
is closed up.
Mold spores cause
at least as many allergy problems as pollens. Molds are present all
year long, and grow both outdoors and indoors. Dead leaves, farm
areas, indoor plants, old books, bathrooms, and damp areas are common
sources of mold growth. Common food allergens such as dairy products
and wheat can be common mucus builders. Studies have shown nasal
irrigation to be very effective for adults as well as children. Nasal
rinsing and avoidance of allergens can provide amazing freedom from
medications and antibiotics.
What you need:
|
Rinsing
device: Neti pots (ceramic and plastic), bulb syringes, irrigation
bottles and water-pulsers can be purchased at drug stores or
online for about $10 to $20 each.
|
| Water (distilled
or tap): 8 ounces for adults, 4 ounces for children.
|
| A teaspoon of
baking soda and a teaspoon of non-iodized salt, preferably sea salt
with minerals (in either case, a fine grain salt works best) to 8
ounces of warm water. Halve this recipe for a child. More elaborate
recipes may include herbs, essential oils and Xylitol. |
How
to rinse with your device:
1. Place mixture
of salt and soda into rinsing device.
2. Fill device
with warm water and swirl to mix until the powder is dissolved.
3. Lean over sink
(or bend forward while showering) so you are looking directly into
basin. Gently insert rinsing device in right nostril.
4. Breathing with
your mouth open, your forehead tilted slightly higher than your chin,
squeeze device (or tilt Neti pot) so solution flows softly into
nostril and exits the other nostril.
5. Remove device
and blow out excess mucous into sink or tissue. (It’s normal to see
rafts of colored mucus if an infection is acute.) Do not sniff in!
6. Repeat steps 4
and 5 until bottle is half-empty, then switch to left nostril and
repeat.
7. Clean device
and air dry.
Remember to rinse
out the dust, pollens, allergens and spores twice a day!
Madeleine
Morrison, N.D., received her doctorate in 1995 from NCNM.
Her emphasis is on women's health care and pediatrics. She
practices at the Natural Health Center, 561-2330. For more
information, see: www.drmaddynd.com
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