Dear Patients,
I hope you enjoy this week's newsletter. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for future topics, please don't hesitate to contact me.
To your good health,
Dr. Beech
docbeech@mdofficemail.com
Ayurveda: Turmeric - Don't Take Capsules!
So many of my patients are telling me that they have read about the benefits of Turmeric for inflammation and infections. Turmeric has been used therapeutically in Ayurveda for over 5000 years to improve the function of the liver. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. However, it is contraindicated to take uncooked turmeric or alone without other spices. The reason is that Turmeric stimulates the liver and in doing so can cause the liver to release acidic toxins into the blood stream that otherwise would have been properly eliminated through the bowel. The ancient Ayurvedic doctors realized this potential danger and always prescribed Turmeric to be cooked in the food and combined with cooling spices such as coriander and fennel. I once had a patient who ignored this advice and drank raw Turmeric in his water for one week. As a result, a large amount of inflammatory toxins was released into his blood stream and settled in his right arm causing it to swell twice the normal size and turn bright red. He was lucky that those toxins settled in his arm instead of his brain or heart! My point is the quick easy way isn't always the safest. If you have been taking Turmeric capsules without detrimental effects then consider yourself lucky for now, but don't continue. Instead talk to me about how to safely use Turmeric and other spices in a holistic manner without any dangerous side effects.
Mental Attitude: Mental Attitude: Fat and Happiness.
Humans have an intimate relationship between their emotional state and what they eat. In this study, researchers found the levels of sadness among the subjects who received fatty acids were 50% lower than those who had not. Eating fat appears to be a mood-lifter.
Journal of Clinical Investigation, July 2011
Health Alert: Rising Health Costs.
The United States spent $2.3 trillion on health care in 2008, more than three times the $714 billion spent in 1990, and over eight times the $253 billion spent in 1980.
Kaiser Family Foundation, March 2010
Diet: Blueberries and Cancer.
Blueberries are full of antioxidants, flavonoids and other vitamins that help reduce free radicals in cells. Free radicals can cause cellular damage, one of the factors in the development of cancer. Blueberries are rich in vitamin C, which helps the immune system and helps the body absorb iron. Blueberry juice and other products may be nutritious but often contain less fiber than the whole fruit, and added sugar or corn syrup may decrease their nutritional value.
University of Alabama at Birmingham, July 2011
Exercise: Eating Before Swimming?
A review of 536 autopsies revealed 79.4% of those who had accidentally drowned had visible stomach contents. It's suspected there may be a link between eating before swimming and drowning as blood is diverted to the intestine during digestion, possibly causing circulation problems while the individual is swimming. This may reduce blood flow to the brain, resulting in loss of consciousness and potentially drowning the swimmer.
Medicine, Science and the Law, July 2011
Chiropractic: Effective For Whiplash.
26 of 28 patients (93%) with chronic whiplash syndrome improved following chiropractic treatment. According to the authors, before the publication of this article, no conventional treatment was proven to be effective.
Injury, November 1996
Wellness/Prevention: Investing With Prevention.
Preventing heart disease before it starts is a good long-term investment in the nation's health. Every dollar spent on building trails for walking or biking saves $3 in medical costs. Companies that invest in workers' health with comprehensive work site wellness programs and healthy work environments have less absenteeism, greater productivity and lower healthcare costs.
American Heart Association, July 2011
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