by Carole Jackson, Bottom Line Health

 You already know that tiny little ticks can bring on gigantic health problems — but I’ll bet you didn’t know that they have the potential to cause vulnerable people to develop a severe, even life-threatening, allergy to meat.

 Yes, meat. A surprising research report shows that meat allergies seem to be growing more common. This may be the result of an immune reaction that is kicked off by bites from ticks. It gets a bit complicated, however, so let’s start by taking these two topics — meat allergies and tick bites — one at a time. I promise there’s a link… and it’s a little scary if you’re among the susceptible group.

 Meat Allergies on the Rise

 The new research was triggered by the observation that meat allergy seemed to be on the rise, I was told by Scott Commins, MD, PhD, an allergist and immunologist at the University of Virginia who led the study. Meat allergies have been considered rare but not unheard of — however they differ from conventional food allergies in many ways that can make diagnosis difficult.

 Slow to React

 For one thing, symptoms of an allergic response to meat typically don’t appear until three to six hours after eating, while other food allergies produce symptoms in minutes. The reason? The substance that causes the body to develop antibodies — at the root of the allergic response — is found in greater abundance in fats, which are absorbed slowly.

 The most practical way to identify a meat allergy is to take note of whether symptoms arise predictably (within a few hours) after eating it. Beef is the most common allergy-causing meat, Dr. Commins said, but pork, lamb and indeed any mammalian meat (think animals with hooves) can be problematic. Pay attention if you experience itching after eating these meats — and, if you notice that meats cause a reaction, keep track of whether removing all meat from your diet makes symptoms vanish altogether.

 Tick, Tock — Why Now?

 To verify whether this meat allergy was indeed more widespread than had been previously thought, researchers at the University of Virginia, the University of Tennessee and the John James Medical Center in Australia examined 60 patients, all of whom had had at least one incidence of unexplained anaphylaxis. Examining their medical records for clues revealed that the vast majority (more than 90%) had reported tick bites. In susceptible people, tick bites can trigger production of an antibody that binds to a carbohydrate and causes the release of histamines — hence the allergic response. The test results showed that more than 40% (25 patients) had a positive reaction that indicated they were allergic to meat — far higher than the less than 5% that had previously been estimated.

 The researchers believe that the allergy can be set off by a bite from any and all ticks, including dog ticks, deer ticks, etc. Interestingly, people with certain blood types — specifically, the rarer ones, B and AB — appear to be less likely to develop a meat allergy than people with more common blood types. The allergic reaction seems to be more prevalent in the South as well — Dr. Commins said that this might be because Southerners are more likely to live in rural areas, close to woods, where they are in contact with ticks.

 What you can do

 First of all, this is yet another reason why it is important to take precautions to avoid exposure to all ticks and to remove them quickly if you find one on your body. Also, if you’ve eaten meat…

• Be alert to unexplained symptoms that could be allergic reactions, including itching, swelling, rash, hives or intestinal irritation. More severe symptoms, such as chaotic heartbeat, airway constriction, rapid drop in blood pressure or loss of consciousness, indicate anaphylactic shock, which is a medical emergency.

• If you notice recurrent mild allergy symptoms, keep a food diary to track whether your reactions correlate to eating meat. In addition, visit a board-certified allergist for an evaluation. Dr. Commins says that he encourages allergists to do a series of blood tests for beef, pork, lamb, chicken and turkey. “If all the tests for the red meats are positive, but negative for the other two, the patient probably is allergic to meat,” he says.

• Benadryl can be helpful in quelling allergic reactions limited to the skin or gastrointestinal system, but be aware that your reaction can progress to a more serious one — in which case you should seek medical help.

Overall, this allergy is still quite unusual, says Dr. Cummins, so don’t be overly concerned, but if you start itching after a weekend barbecue, don’t be too quick to blame it on mosquitoes!

 Source(s):

Scott P. Commins, MD, PhD, allergist and immunologist, University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

by Carole Jackson, Bottom Line Health

Maybe you’ve never realized it, but when sports fans cheer in unison for their teams, they are chanting… when protesters shout, “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” they are chanting… and when tough-as-nails Marines intone, “I don’t know but I’ve been told… ” while marching, they are chanting, too. And for their part, most of these folks probably don’t realize that this chanting is good for their health — and guess what? You can use chanting as a technique for improving your health, too.

Chanting rituals have been part of cultures around the world seemingly forever — from Western churches where worshippers repeat “alleluia” to eastern temples where yogis end their practice with a long exhalation of “ohm.” Now modern medical researchers are demonstrating that even the simplest forms of chanting are remarkably good for our health — physically, mentally and emotionally, too. If you’ll forgive the pun, I’m sincere in saying that when you read about how easy, fun and healthy a chanting practice can be, I predict you will be utterly enchanted by its potential to enrich your life!

Chanting Improves Mind, Body & Spirit

Studies show that chanting triggers the well-known “relaxation response,” slowing the heartbeat, brain waves and respiration while also producing stress-lowering endorphins. Chanting helps regulate blood pressure, too — in fact, a friend of mine with high blood pressure has learned to use just a minute or two of chanting to immediately lower her pressure by five or more points. More startling still, several studies from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation have found that daily practice of a 12-minute Hindu chant (saa-taa-naa-maa accompanied by specific finger movements) may help slow development of Alzheimer’s disease. Just eight weeks of this chanting practice improved memory and brain function in patients with mild cognitive impairment, a benefit supported by before and after brain scans showing evidence of physical changes in their brains, including improved blood flow.

My friend’s story motivated me to call Robert Gass, EdD, coauthor of the book Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound, who has taught and led group chanting around the world. He believes that the primary benefit of a chanting practice is the peace of mind it induces. “It takes you out of your daily life and to-do list and reminds you of your deeper nature and your existence beyond the outer pulse of life,” said Gass. He adds that vocalizing through chant — really belting it out if you like — can also energize you and create a sense of real joy. But Gass said that chanting has other very specific benefits as well, including…

Deep breathing. Chanting has a strong impact on breathing patterns. When you chant, you begin with a quick deep inhalation followed by a slow exhalation. This changes your ratio of blood gases — in fact, researchers have found that chanting boosts levels of nitric acid, which relaxes smooth muscles in arteries and aids in blood flow, including to the brain. This helps bring mental clarity and focus.

Good vibrations. At the core of chanting is a technique called toning, which involves intentionally elongating a vowel sound (such as eeeeeeee) in a monotone that becomes sort of an “internal massage” that helps induce relaxation in your bones and other tissues. To experience it, try this: Loudly tone the sound ahhhhhh and sense the vibration it makes in your chest… now switch it to eee and notice how the vibration moves up into your throat. Studies have found that toning can improve lung function for people with Parkinson’s disease. It has also been shown to enhance the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, therefore stimulating the organs and bones as well as the frontal lobes of the brain.

Sharpens focus. Chanting can provide cognitive benefits of meditation without the stillness required — in fact, some people who find it difficult to quiet their minds enough to do standard meditation do quite well with chanting instead. It can also be an effective way to begin a meditation, says Gass, especially at the end of a busy day.

Affirmation practice. Chanting can serve as an opportunity to repeat and reinforce affirmations such as “I am at peace” or “Life is good” or whatever has personal meaning to you at the moment. In fact, Gass used this chanting technique when he was battling a life-threatening melanoma a number of years ago. Several times each day, every day, he chanted the words “I choose life,” an affirmation that he says helped him endure the rigors of treatment and strengthen his courage.

Chanting 101

Though it sounds mystical, the truth is that chanting is totally practical — not least because it requires no equipment or preparation and doesn’t cost a penny. You can chant in the car to calm yourself and pass the time… in the shower to start your day on a cheerful note… whenever you need it to eclipse a bad mood… or as a distraction from temptations (food, smoking… what’s yours?).

You can chant anything you want. You don’t have to say anything meaningful, though many people do — you can choose words or a phrase from your own religious tradition, perhaps the word “amen” or “aleinu.” My friend who chants to control her blood pressure uses a classic and popular Buddhist chant, “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo,” (it means, roughly, “I dedicate my life to the mystic law of the Lotus (karma) and the teachings of Buddha”). Or you can simply open your mouth and intone “ohmmmmmmm.” Gass told me that his grandmother, healthy and spry well into her 80s, told him that she had heard it was good to chant an Indian word every day. And so she did, and the word she chose… Cheyenne.

Other ways to explore chanting: You can buy chanting CDs (or download chants to your iPod or MP3 player). Just a few of the popular chanters include Gass, Krishna Das, David Newman, Deva Premal and a female artist called Wah!. You also may want to try group chanting, which Gass says is both powerful and exhilarating. He said you can find group chanting events in most cities today — search “chanting” (or “kirtan” which is a call-and-response version often practiced with yoga) to find programs in your area.

Practice, Practice…

Whatever sounds you select to chant, you will gain the greatest benefits if you do it at least once or twice a day.

Here is how…

• Choose a quiet place where you will be undisturbed, and sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed.

• Chanting for even a few minutes will be of benefit, but, as Gass points out, longer regular sessions will strengthen your chanting vocal cords (making the chanting less tiring) and also deepen the experience for you.

• Take a quick deep breath, then exhale slowly as you chant. The more you practice, the more you’ll be able to chant on a single breath.

• Try different sounds and chants till you find a style that feels right for you.

• When you finish, sit quietly for a few minutes and “listen” to the calmness… and feel the vibrating energy the chanting produced within you.

Eventually you will begin to think of your chant as an old friend. It is always there to relax and comfort you no matter what situation you may be in.

Source(s):

Robert Gass, EdD, coauthor of Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound (Broadway Books), has a background in psychology, music and spiritual studies, among other disciplines, and has taught and led group chanting around the world. He is based in Boulder, Colorado. He is on the faculty of Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, in Rhinebeck, New York. He is also a composer and has recorded more than 20 CDs with his singing group, On Wings of Song. www.SacredUnion.com

  According to recent estimates, nearly one in three American adults has high blood pressure. But for the Kuna Indians living on a group of islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama, hypertension doesn’t even exist. In fact, after age 60, the average blood pressure for Kuna Indian islanders is a perfect 110/70.

 So what makes these folks practically “immune” to hypertension — and lets them enjoy much lower death rates from heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and cancer?

 Harvard researchers were stunned to discover it’s because they drink about five cups of cocoa each day. That’s right, cocoa!

   by Carole Jackson, Bottom Line Health

It’s not your imagination — mosquitoes really do find some people tastier than others. I’ve always suspected this, and now new UK research confirms that some lucky individuals produce certain skin oils that seem to repel mosquitoes… but, while fascinating, these findings aren’t at a point where we can put them to practical use. Since it’s summer, I thought it would be good to check on the latest expert advice about what’s effective and not effective… safe and not so safe… for keeping mosquitoes away.

This is important because not only are mosquito bites uncomfortable, they also can give you diseases such as West Nile Virus and encephalitis — even here in modern-day America. Mosquito maven Susan M. Paskewitz, PhD, professor in the department of entomology at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, was happy to offer some helpful advice.

What’s In Bug Spray?

Dr. Paskewitz was reassuring about the safety of insect repellents, saying that there’s not much evidence that they are harmful. She told me that just about all the products sold today are formulated using one or more of the following substances…

• DEET. This chemical (on labels it may be called N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) was developed by the US Department of Defense after WWII for military personnel stationed in tropical climates. Dr. Paskewitz told me it has supposedly been applied to humans more than eight billion times since becoming commercially available in 1957. Between then and 2002, which is when a report on DEET safety was published in The New England Journal of Medicine, there were fewer than 50 known cases of serious adverse effects from DEET — most caused by incorrect use and most resolving with no long-term consequences. But DEET-containing products do have the potential to irritate the skin of people who are sensitive and DEET should always be kept away from the eyes. Noting that DEET doesn’t accumulate in the body, Dr. Paskewitz said that there’s no evidence that using DEET causes cancer or any other long-term health concerns.

• Picaridin. This compound (its scientific name is KBR 3023) is odorless, less oily and even less irritating to the skin and eyes than DEET, Dr. Paskewitz told me.

• IR3535. Derived from natural compounds, this is the proprietary ingredient that supposedly makes Avon’s Skin So Soft Bug Guard products and BullFrog Mosquito Coast sunblock work so well. It can be irritating if it gets in your eyes but is otherwise safe, Dr. Paskewitz told me.

• Lemon Eucalyptus Oil. An extract from the lemon eucalyptus plant, the active ingredient is para-menthane-3,8-diol, and there is a synthetic version (known as PMD) as well. The only potential issue uncovered by EPA safety tests is that it, too, can irritate the eyes.

How well do they work? Dr. Paskewitz said that all these products are equally effective when tested at 20% concentration — but noted that concentrations vary in commercial products, so check labels to compare strength.

How to use safely: Though none of these products is linked to long-term health concerns, virtually all of them can be irritating to the skin for some people and for the eyes (for practically everyone). Minimize the likelihood that this will happen by using the sprays, creams and wipes only where you need to — on exposed skin, not under clothing. When using a spray product, Dr. Paskewitz advises averting your face and avoiding your eyes (donning glasses can be helpful) and holding your breath while spraying. Wash hands after applying to prevent getting the products in your eyes if you touch your face. Avoid cuts, scratches and irritated skin… don’t get any on or near your mouth… and, after you come indoors, she advises washing all treated skin with soap and water. If you’re prone to irritation, Dr. Paskewitz suggested trying a repellent formulated to be sprayed onto clothing, such as permethrin (Bug Off and Insect Shield are two such products).

Aromatherapy — Natural Scents that Repel Mosquitos

If you prefer to take a natural approach, there are numerous plant-based oils that can be effective at keeping mosquitos away — peppermint, cinnamon, citronella, cedar, clove, lemongrass, rosemary, thyme, lavender, catnip, patchouli, tea tree oil, eucalyptus and sage, to name a few. But be careful — you’ve heard it before from me, but it bears repeating: Natural substances also have the potential for harm if used incorrectly. Essential oils, in particular, are potent and may cause liver problems in susceptible individuals.

How well do they work? These oils haven’t been tested by the EPA for this purpose, but a few smaller independent studies have found undiluted oils of citronella, patchouli, clove, catnip and Zanthoxylum limonella (lemon oil) quite helpful, sometimes offering more than two hours of potent repellent power.

How to apply: Here’s the rub: Undiluted oils provide the best protection when applied directly to exposed skin. But they can also cause irritation and rashes and haven’t been tested for safety. A good solution is to look for these oils in natural skin creams, lotions or oils that use them as ingredients, formulated to be less irritating.

What Else Works?

Preventive advice includes doing all that you can to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your environment, suggests Dr. Paskewitz. This includes taking the following measures:

 Eliminate standing water. Mosquitoes breed like crazy in ponds and other natural pools of water. To avoid bites, avoid these locations, particularly on days that are hot and still. Keep control over the mosquito population around your home by draining water anywhere that it might puddle — even in small containers such as empty flower pots, spare tires, kiddie pools, etc.

Stay indoors at dawn and dusk. Mosquitoes are most prolific in the early morning and at twilight, so if there are lots in your area, try to stay indoors at these times.

Watch what you wear. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, particularly red and violet, so wear lighter and brighter colors — also wear long sleeves and pants.

Don’t drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol may boost the sugar content in your sweat, making you more attractive to mosquitoes.

 If you’re itching to learn more about mosquito behavior and how to stay safe from these pesky critters, visit the Integrated Mosquito Management Web site that Dr. Paskewitz and her team at the University of Wisconsin have developed: http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mosquitosite/. It’s an interesting read — and they put lots of home remedies to the test.

 Source(s):

Susan M. Paskewitz, PhD, professor, department of entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

   by Carole Jackson, Bottom Line Health

 Blueberries — in pies, pancakes and muffins — take me right back to my childhood summer vacations at the beach. Or, based on the latest research I’ve seen on this super-food, it may actually be that eating all those blueberries sharpened my cognitive abilities, making their deliciousness all the more memorable!

 Perhaps the connection is not quite so direct, but I just read a study reporting that blueberries have a profound effect on human brain function. Researchers from the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center asked nine older adults (mean age 76 years) who were experiencing early-stage memory decline to drink blueberry juice three times a day for 12 weeks. The amount they drank was adjusted for their weight and ranged from about 15 to 20 ounces per day. Results (based on tests performed at the beginning and end of the study) showed that participants’ memory function significantly improved, and there was also a slight trend toward reduced depressive symptoms and better blood sugar control.

 Antidote to Poor Dietary Habits

 When I spoke with study author Robert Krikorian, PhD, he told me that the polyphenols in blueberries may somehow correct abnormalities in our brains that result from our nutritionally weak Western diet. His guess is that if we ate more whole, nutritious food and less artificial and processed food, we might not need the brain boost that blueberries give — but, since few people eat so well, almost everyone, including older adults with good cognitive functioning, would benefit from eating blueberries regularly.

 An all-natural juice with no additives (the expensive kind you find in quality health-food stores) was used in the study, but Dr. Krikorian told me that you get the same benefits by eating somewhere between a half cup and a cup of whole blueberries each day. Though fresh ones are easy to find at farmer’s markets at this time of year, the most nutritious blueberries are actually to be found in the freezer section of your supermarket, Dr. Krikorian told me. Regular readers probably already know this is because nutrients get locked in when the berries are frozen at the very height of ripeness.

 Dr. Krikorian said that blueberries aren’t the only fruit with memory-boosting polyphenols — they’re also in other berries and grapes and even fruits (such as cranberries) and vegetables (including artichokes, parsley and Brussels sprouts) that do not have the distinctive blue/purple color. But I love the thought that all those mornings spent making blueberry-everything with mom not only built memories but actually made me smarter, too — so you can guess what I’ll be baking with my own daughters come Saturday morning.

 Source(s):

Robert Krikorian, PhD, associate professor of clinical psychology, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Ohio.

  by Carole Jackson, Bottom Line Health

                As she asked around for the name of a really good dentist, a colleague recently commented that it’s easier to find a great auto mechanic these days! Lots of dentists advertise via direct mail and on the radio, but they’re not necessarily the best ones — and the old-school ones with 10-year-old tools and techniques may not be such a great choice either. While I like my dentist just fine, the remark led me to wonder what I would do if I had to find someone to replace her. Asking for recommendations is a good start, but what would I be looking to learn?

                I called Michael Apa, DDS, who practices with the Rosenthal Apa Group in New York City and teaches at the New York University College of Dentistry for Aesthetic Advantage, to ask how he would choose a dentist. Beyond the obvious — someone who comes highly recommended, has good academic credentials, is convenient, personable and, of course, covered by your insurance plan (if you are lucky enough to have dental coverage) — he gave me some great insider secrets to evaluate whether a dentist really is as good as people say …

                Clue Number One: What modern tools and toys are on display? Dental techniques and the equipment they require change so rapidly that few offices have everything out there. So you shouldn’t expect the moon and the stars — this is expensive equipment and few dentists can afford all of it. However, the dentists who are most likely to provide high-quality care will have at least some standard equipment available, says Dr. Apa…

• Many dental offices now use digital X-rays, which are easier to read and therefore more accurate and — importantly — require less radiation than those of old.
• For 21st-century teeth cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning instruments use sound waves to break up and remove plaque and tartar, including that which has accumulated under the gums. This makes cleaning teeth faster, more efficient and, for most people, more comfortable.
•  Lasers are now used to trim soft tissue such as gums and other areas around the mouth, with benefits that include less bleeding than traditional procedures, often no stitches or discomfort, and faster healing. Some offices even have laser equipment to cut hard tissue — i.e., your teeth. With laser “drilling” you no longer have to hear that high-pitched whine, and since it doesn’t hurt, you don’t need anesthesia either.
• Many offices now have a Cerec machine, which Dr. Apa calls a “miracle tool.” It uses a technique called CAD-CAM (computer-assisted design-computer-assisted manufacture) to create fillings, crowns, veneers and so on in just one patient visit. The Cerec scans a tooth, takes measurements and then precisely carves the needed item from a ceramic block. Since it creates digital “impressions” of the tooth, there’s no need to create putty impressions either.

                               Clue Number Two: He/she examines your mouth for clues about your overall health. Dr. Apa says that today’s best dentists consider it their job to monitor your mouth for other problems beyond cavities and receding gums. More and more studies reveal dentists to be the new health-care generalists, on alert for many health problems that may reveal themselves in the mouth — among them TMJ, circulatory problems, inflammatory disease, sleep apnea, precancerous lesions and oral cancers. All dentists should routinely perform visual examinations of the mouth, and many now do this with a special light that changes color if it lands on suspicious tissue.

                 Clue Number Three: Who’s in the “in crowd”? When an unusual oral problem presents itself, you need an expert in treating that particular issue — this comes down to who your dentist knows. As Dr. Apa says, not everyone can be good at everything, and to become really excellent requires lots of experience and specialized training. Ask dentists for their lists of patient-referral specialists, and expect to find names of endodontists (for root canals and tooth implants)… periodontists (for gum disease)… TMJ specialists (for headache and jaw pain)… and dental surgeons (for tooth implants). Yet another area where it is best to work with an expert is cosmetic dentistry — today it has turned into a sophisticated practice that few general dentists are trained to do.

                 Clue Number Four: Lab work is done locally, not off-shore. Many dentists now outsource lab work for such things as veneers, crowns and bridges to China, Mexico or other foreign countries. While this may not be a terrible practice, it’s not optimal, says Dr. Apa. He explained that offshore labs typically do “good enough” work, but when dentists have a personal relationship with lab owners, they are more likely to get a level of excellence that helps assure the best product, and this is more likely with US labs.

                 Clue Number Five: According to Dr. Apa, graduating from even the finest dental school is just the start of a dentist’s education. He suggests asking “so, how’s school these days” to see what your dentist has to say — paying attention not only to what he/she says, but also to the comfort level in discussing it. The only way for dentists to stay on top of their profession is to regularly attend conferences and workshops offering continuing education (CE) credits. Nearly all states require CE credit hours, but the range is wide — from 15 to 100 hours, depending on the state. And Dr. Apa told me that good dentists take many more credits than that each year. The best dentists commit themselves to a lifetime of learning to stay current and keep their skills sharp, he said — and that sounds like the kind of dentist we all want to find.

                 Source(s):

               Michael Apa, DDS, practices aesthetic and restorative dentistry in the Rosenthal Apa Group in New York City and is an instructor at the New York University College of Dentistry for Aesthetic Advantage.

 by Carole Jackson, Bottom Line Health

If you’ve ever complained of a terrifically sore neck or lingering back pain, I’ll bet someone suggested that you see a chiropractor. I visit my chiropractor when my recurrent neck pain flares up (as in, when I spend too many hours in front of my computer for too many days in a row), and I know lots of other people who see chiropractors, too. Now research is affirming the efficacy of chiropractic care for a number of conditions, and this trend may be further stoked by changes brought about by health-care reform.

For many complaints, including such varied and seemingly unrelated ones as headaches and digestive distress as well as back and neck problems, chiropractic care can often provide safe, effective and fast-working treatment — and (unusual for natural therapies) most insurance plans cover it. However, many mainstream medical doctors aren’t fans. Their reasons aren’t always clear but seem to lie somewhere on the spectrum between being worried that chiropractic care is not safe and feeling threatened that good chiropractors may take away many of their patients.

The Time is Right

In a glass-is-half-full kind of way, today’s troubled health-care environment actually presents an opportunity for chiropractors to gain some long overdue respect — at least that’s a hope that’s currently afloat in the chiropractic community, I heard from Robert A. Hayden, DC, PhD, spokesperson for the American Chiropractic Association. A critical-care nurse for 20 years before becoming a chiropractor himself, Dr. Hayden explained that the nation’s ongoing and pressing concern about health-care costs and treatment efficacy is a good backdrop against which to understand the many ways chiropractic care can help patients.

Why are doctors skeptical? Dr. Hayden told me that one of his regular patients is an orthopedic surgeon — but another orthopedist in his community won’t accept patient referrals from Dr. Hayden, and a nearby hospital won’t perform MRI scans for his patients. He believes this lack of acceptance is fueled by the very fact that chiropractic does not involve drugs and can be an effective alternative to hospitalization and surgery, which makes it attractive to both patients and the bean counters of health-care costs. The fact that Medicare now covers some chiropractic services enhances its credibility but also adds weight to worries that this natural, less invasive and less expensive alternative will divert health-care dollars away from medical doctors and hospitals.

What Will It Take?

Key to the growing acceptance of chiropractic care is evidence-based research demonstrating that it is safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient. In the latest such effort, funded by Mercer Health and Benefits in San Francisco, Dr. Niteesh Choudry and colleagues reviewed existing literature on the efficacy of chiropractic. Their conclusion is that it works as well as or better than conventional modalities, including exercise programs, drug regimens and surgical intervention, for treating many forms of low back and neck pain, two of the most common medical complaints. Numerous other studies also support the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment for spine and neck issues in particular. For instance, a 2002 study of patients with nonspecific neck pain found that pain was reduced and function improved for 68.3% after seven weeks of chiropractic care, while the success rate for those in the care of general practitioners was only 36%. The patients of chiropractors missed work less frequently and needed less pain medication.

Can It Cause Stroke?

One very specific concern voiced by many medical doctors is that chiropractic neck manipulation has the potential to cause stroke, or — if done improperly — even death. The basis for this is a fairly rare and often undiagnosed condition in which the vertebral arteries in the neck are weakened, possibly by high levels of homocysteine. The fear is that in a vulnerable patient, twisting or stretching those arteries during a chiropractic manipulation could cause them to rupture.

To investigate whether this is a real danger, researchers at the University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) studied vertebral arteries from several recently deceased people and found that it would take nine times the force of a typical chiropractic adjustment to damage these arteries and mobilize plaque. In fact, according to Dr. Hayden, normal head and neck movement present a greater risk than chiropractic manipulation for the kind of weak arteries that are of concern. By that measure, it’s risky to have your hair washed in one of those beauty parlor sinks where you have to lean way back (there’s even a name for this one, “the beauty parlor stroke”), play sports or even to turn your head to complete a turn while driving.

The condition that puts people at risk for this problem is very rare, Dr. Hayden said, noting that the statistics don’t support the level of concern being expressed. He pointed out that chiropractic is so low-risk that practitioners’ malpractice insurance costs only about one-tenth what an MD has to pay — around $1,300, on average, compared with $10,000 to $20,000 for general physicians.

The Trend Is Good…

Meanwhile though, patients are voting with their feet — so maybe doctors should try to learn more about chiropractic care rather than stand in the way of progress. The number of chiropractic patients in this country doubled in the two decades from 1982 to 2002, and an estimated 10% of Americans have seen a chiropractor in the past year.

As for me, well, when my neck hurts, I visit my chiropractor… and I feel better. If you’re interested in exploring this form of alternative medical care, you can go to http://www.acatoday.org/search/memsearch.cfm to find an experienced, licensed practitioner in your area.

Source(s):

Robert A. Hayden, DC, PhD, founder and director of Iris City Chiropractic Center, PC, Griffin, Georgia, and spokesperson for the American Chiropractic Association.

    by Carole Jackson, Bottom Line Health

“You are what you eat” has been a catch phrase since I was a child… but new research from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City suggests it’s not only what you eat but how hot you cook it that matters. Subjecting certain foods to prolonged high heat — not only for frying, but also for grilling, roasting, broiling or baking — creates toxic, inflammatory particles. These, in turn, cause the oxidation and inflammation in the body that are associated with such diseases as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease and others.

Called advanced glycation end products (AGEs), these toxic particles adhere to the arteries, kidneys, brain and joints, where they heighten inflammation. Our typical Western diet, heavy on meat and processed foods and light on plant-based foods, is believed by many scientists to contain at least three times more AGEs than is considered safe.

Good News from this Study

It’s always exciting when research reveals a way to avoid a common health problem — and this new study does just that. According to the researchers, you can achieve dramatic and quick benefit — within just days — by reducing your intake of AGE-containing foods. Doing this decreases the body’s level of inflammation and helps restore its defenses against disease.

The study divided 350-plus participants into three groups — healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 45… an older healthy group, all past age 60… and nine patients with chronic kidney disease (the kidneys are believed to be especially sensitive to AGEs). Participants were randomly assigned to eat either a regular Western diet in which foods were grilled, fried or baked (in other words, loaded with AGEs) or what the researchers called “the AGE-less diet,” which included the same foods, only poached, boiled or steamed so that they contained only about half as many AGEs. The two diets were similar in calories and nutrients. After four months, all participants on the AGE-less diet showed a 60% decline in blood levels of AGEs as well as in several other inflammation markers. According to the study’s lead author, Helen Vlassara, MD, professor and director of the division of experimental diabetes and aging at Mount Sinai, this indicates that your actual chronological age may not be as significant a factor in aging and health as the AGEs in your food. A finding that’s even more impressive: The patients with kidney disease had a similarly substantial reduction after just one month on the AGE-less diet.

The Heat Is On…

I asked Dr. Vlassara to explain to me how the AGEs get into foods. They develop as a chemical reaction when heat is combined with protein and different sugars, she said — and she noted that meat-rich diets are especially bad, since meats contain high levels of easily oxidizable fat and protein.

There is a third point that is crucial to understand — which is that removing all visible fat when you cook meats doesn’t solve the problem. All cells in meats contain not only fat and proteins, but also sugars — some more reactive than others. Therefore, exposure to high heat will still cause AGEs to form in meat at much higher levels than in starch even if you cut away the visible fat. In fact, Dr. Vlassara told me that when you see meat brown while cooking, what you’re witnessing is the rapid reaction among proteins, fats and those reactive sugars to the heat. And, since they are also animal products, when they are cooked, full-fat milk and cheese also develop high levels of AGEs.

Even worse, manufacturers often add AGE-containing flavor-enhancers or coloring (such as caramel) to processed and packaged foods. You may be surprised to learn that a major offender in this category is dark-colored soda. Generally speaking, fast foods and processed/packaged foods also tend to be high in AGEs, which gives us yet another reason to avoid them.

Avoiding AGEs

The good news is, it’s not all that difficult to reduce the amount of AGEs in your diet, Dr. Vlassara said. It just requires making some modest changes in the way you prepare food. Her suggestions…

Meats

• Marinate in an acid-based mixture (such as vinegar or lemon juice) before cooking, which helps reduce the amount of AGEs produced by heat. Note: Avoid marinades containing sugar, such as most barbecue and teriyaki sauces.
• Aim to serve meats rare to medium rare if possible — for instance, cooking pork to just beyond pink. This is admittedly a balancing act — you want to cook as briefly as possible to minimize development of AGEs, but undercooking carries its own set of dangers.
• To achieve a brown finish to meats, Dr. Vlassara suggests cooking on your stovetop with a cover to conserve moisture, and then placing the meat under the broiler for just a few minutes at the end.
• Use as little fat as possible — as Dr. Vlassara points out, even healthy olive oil oxidizes at high heat.
• Water inhibits the formation of AGEs, so poaching, stewing, steaming or even boiling proteins is best (including fish and eggs).

Dairy and Other Foods

• Avoid bringing dairy products to high temperatures — for instance, when using milk in sauces or when melting cheese under a broiler. Dr. Vlassara said the less time these foods cook, the better. She added that lower temperatures are preferable, as is increased distance from the heat source.
• Brief microwaving produces a lower level of AGEs than broiling, grilling or stovetop cooking, so this is a great way to cook liquids.
• Plant-based proteins also create dangerous levels of AGEs when subject to very high heat for long periods — so be aware that there are dangers to even seemingly healthy foods like broiled tofu or roasted nuts.

What about restaurant food?

 Fortunately, the increasingly popular Mediterranean Diet uses lots of foods with low AGEs (including fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains), so it once again ranks among the healthiest ways that you can eat. This not only provides a good framework for eating at home, it also suggests a wide variety of delicious, healthful, low-AGE dishes that you can order in restaurants. But Dr. Vlassara noted that cooking even these foods at high heat with low hydration is problematic, so there’s no way around it — cooking at high temperatures is not so hot for your health.

Source(s):

                Helen Vlassara, MD, is professor of geriatrics, medicine and molecular medicine, director, division of experimental diabetes and aging, department of geriatric and palliative medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City.

    by Carole Jackson, Bottom Line Health

As though anyone needs an excuse to indulge in a cool, juicy slice of melon on a hot summer day, these popular fruits — including watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and casaba melons — are a rich source of potassium and a host of other nutrients as well. Refreshing and delicious, they also are a healthy, natural way to help lower your blood pressure, notes Lona Sandon, MEd, RD, LD, an assistant professor at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, and a national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (http://www.eatright.org).

Shake Off Blood Pressure Worries

If you have salt-sensitive high blood pressure, you probably know already that you should watch your sodium intake. Too much salt — both from the salt shaker and from processed foods — causes fluid retention and blood vessel contraction that contribute to hypertension. What you may not know is that potassium also plays an important role in this equation. A study published last year in the Archives of Internal Medicine noted that people with a low sodium-to-potassium ratio — that is, those who made a point of both consuming less salt and eating more potassium-rich fresh produce than is typical for the American diet — were less likely to experience high blood pressure. Because it is a vasodilator and helps get rid of sodium and water, potassium helps curb fluid retention and blood vessel contraction.

According to the American Heart Association, the recommended daily intake of potassium for adults is 4,700 milligrams. Many people don’t normally consume this much potassium, but melons provide a tasty solution. Two cups of cubed melon contain more than 1,000 mg of potassium, or nearly one-fourth of your daily requirement.

Other rich dietary sources of this mineral include apricots, artichokes, avocados, bananas, beans, kiwis, oranges, peas, potatoes, prunes, raisins, tomatoes, spinach, Swiss chard and other green leafy vegetables.

Melon at Every Meal?

Melons are much more versatile than most people realize, and you can easily incorporate them into a wide variety of dishes. Instead of reserving them for breakfast or a snack, take advantage of the season’s bounty and put melons on your family’s summer menu of soups, salads and salsas…

       Melon soup: Puree chunks of ripe honeydew and cantaloupe with orange juice and chill.

       Luscious melon salad: Combine small chunks of your favorite melon with raspberries, strawberries or orange sections and drizzle with honey and lime or lemon juice.

       Fish or chicken with melon: Serve the grilled or broiled meats on a bed of diced ripe melon. Or make a melon salsa to accompany the main dish — combine finely diced honeydew and cantaloupe, diced tomatoes, minced red onion, orange juice, lime juice, cilantro and salt.

       Grilled melon: Cube honeydew, and toss in lemon juice, brown sugar and ginger. Thread onto skewers and grill for three to four minutes or until slightly soft and beginning to brown.

Note: Potassium affects the balance of fluids in the body, so too much can be a problem for older people and those with heart or kidney disease. If you take a diuretic drug or have issues with fluid retention, talk to your doctor before adding significant amounts of melon to your diet.

Source(s):

Lona Sandon, MEd, RD, LD, assistant professor, department of clinical nutrition, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. Sandon is a National Spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. www.eatright.org.

   by Carole Jackson, Bottom Line Health

 For many people, the thought of getting dressed without applying an antiperspirant seems downright unhygienic, not to mention antisocial. But a new review of research suggesting a link between antiperspirants and two deadly forms of cancer — breast cancer and prostate cancer — presents a theory that may change some minds.

 “Both of these cancers are hormone-dependent,” explains Kris G. McGrath, MD, associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and author of the review, which was published in Medical Hypotheses. He believes that the hormone problem may be located in the underarms and that antiperspirant use may be driving it.

 Two Similar Cancers

 According to statistics from the US National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Program, the number of cases of breast cancer and prostate cancer in the US has been eerily similar throughout the 20th century, and for 2009 the figures are nearly identical — about 192,000 new cases of each. Dr. McGrath doesn’t think this is just a coincidence.

 Breast and prostate cancers share many characteristics. Both have hormone-dependent growth, in both cases primarily by sexual steroids. Women have a preponderance of circulating estrogen and very little testosterone, while it is the opposite for men — but estrogen and testosterone receptors are present in both breast and prostate tissue. Both cancers are treated with hormonal manipulation, and breast cancer is additionally treated with aromatase inhibitors to block the conversion of male hormones (androgens) to female hormones (estrogens).

 A possible cause

 Hormone-replacement therapy using synthetic forms of estrogen plus progesterone has been associated with breast cancer — but according to Dr. McGrath, rates of both breast cancer and prostate cancer started rising many years ago, well before the introduction of oral contraceptives and hormone-replacement. “So,” Dr. McGrath asked, “where are the hormones coming from? My hypothesis is that the problem started in the underarm after the introduction of aluminum salt-based antiperspirants in 1902.”

 In particular, Dr. McGrath is referring to the sweat glands located under the arm, which naturally release sweat, hormones and pheromones onto the surface of the skin. “When antiperspirants block these glands, the hormones they contain can’t leave the body,” he said. Instead, these hormones have the potential to be reabsorbed by the body — posing a potential excessive exposure to breast and prostate tissue. Even worse, antiperspirant use during puberty could be exposing breast and prostate tissue to unwanted hormones at a time of critical growth and development.

 Look at the label on your antiperspirant and you’ll probably see that it contains some form of an aluminum salt. These chemicals are used because they plug sweat ducts. The apocrine glands are considered an organ — by blocking them, “you are essentially blocking an organ and its function,” said Dr. McGrath. He added that antiperspirants are considered drugs by the FDA.

 A Better Alternative

 So what can we do about underarm sweating and odor without blocking the glands? Deodorants (as opposed to antiperspirants), which mask odors without blocking the sweat glands, can be a good option, but avoid products that contain petroleum-based propylene glycol, which is thought to be carcinogenic. (Propylene glycol derived from a vegetable source is fine.) Two deodorant brands he likes are the widely sold Tom’s of Maine (www.TomsOfMaine.com) and Terra Naturals (www.TerraNaturals.com). (Note: Dr. McGrath is a spokesperson for Terra Naturals.)

 Andrew L. Rubman, ND, our contributing medical editor, offered another suggestion for safely reducing the bacteria that cause underarm odor — good old baking soda. To use, mix about one teaspoonful of baking soda into enough warm water to make a thin, milky paste, which you then rub into your armpit. Or, he suggested, you can easily make your own totally natural, safe deodorant at home with just three ingredients: coconut oil, tea tree oil and lavender oil. First, warm up about one tablespoon of food-grade coconut oil… add a few drops of both tea tree oil and lavender oil. Stir and refrigerate until it solidifies, about an hour. Then you can apply a bit (use sparingly so it won’t get onto your clothing) of the mixture to your armpits just as you would with a commercial deodorant. “It feels good and you’ll smell great,” says Dr. Rubman. “And you won’t have to worry about blocking your apocrine glands.”  

Source(s):

 Kris G. McGrath, MD, associate professor of medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago.

 Andrew L. Rubman, ND, medical director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut.