GLOBAL HEALING CENTER, INC. "Worldwide Leaders In Advanced Alternative Medicine" www.ghchealth.com / www.oxypowder.com Alternative Health & Healing Newsletter January 2000 Volume 1, No. 2 January 2000 Global Healing Center Inc. 8208 Westpark Drive #220 Houston, Texas 77063 www.ghchealth.com HAPPY NEW YEAR!! THIS MONTH'S SPONSER: http://www.readmail.com SUBSCRIBER SPECIAL: Enter our monthly contest! DID YOU KNOW? TThere is an easy way to control yeast infections? SUPPLEMENT SPOTLIGHT: Creatine and Phytin NUTRITION NEWS: Sugar Substitutes: How safe are they? HERBAl INSIGHT: New herb promotes fat-loss without stimulants! WHAT"S UP DOC? Health Questions and Answers TIP OF THE MONTH: Hangover Helpers SPONSOR'S MESSAGE Read your e-mail on the Web from your own e-mail account! Check your e-mail from anywhere in the world with the click of a button! Just go to http://www.readmail.com and enter your normal e-mail address and password and press the "check mail" button. There's no catch. Read mail is free to use by anyone at any time. Brought to you by (E) union Technologies http://www.eunion.com DID YOU KNOW? There is an easy way to control yeast infections? In the past, Candida albicans was considered a beneficial and harmless organism within the body. In a healthy person it is found in the digestive tract, mouth, esophagus, throat and urinary tract, however, when it multiplies out of control it creates toxins, which weaken the immune system while having the potential to do harm to the body. According to Dr. Gary Tunsky, Ph.D. and many other health professionals, the primary culprit of candida is the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics. These antibiotics, which destroy the bad bacteria, also destroy the friendly flora (good bacteria). Often the bad bacteria build up a resistance to the antibiotics causing overgrowth and spreading of the condition known as candiasis or yeast infection. This condition weakens the immune system and the overgrowth within the intestinal tract also disturbs the normal intestinal membrane, often creating a leaky gut syndrome. A leaky gut allows undigested food particles to be absorbed into the bloodstream causing even more problems including allergies, and immune system suppression. This candiaisis condition starts a domino effect that creates even more physical symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, colitis, abdominal pain, headaches, bad breath, memory loss, mood swings, prostatitis, canker sores, muscle and joint pain, sore throat, congestion, nagging cough, acne, night sweats, clogged sinuses, PMS, extreme fatigue, kidney and bladder infections, adrenal problems and even diabetes. Animal foods are loaded with antibiotics. Even individuals who do not take prescription antibiotics but simply eat animal products have changes in their gut flora due to this overexposure to antibiotics. This creates a highly acidic condition in the body that allows the candida to thrive. When acidic levels of the body are brought under control the candida will normalize itself. When the body is able to maintain this favorable alkaline condition, candida as well as other infectious diseases have difficulty getting established and are unable to thrive. How do we avoid this candida problem and how do we restore the delicate balance if the condition already exists? Here's a summary of what you can do for prevention: 1. Change your diet, especially cut down on sugar and junk food and eat more live (uncooked) nutritious foods. 2. Repopulate your intestinal tract with pro-biotics such as acidophilus bifidus, and salvarius. Yogurt with live cultures is a good start and acidophilus can be purchased in pill form from any health food store. 3. Supplement with a plant derived digestive enzyme blend 15 minutes prior to eating cooked meals. The indication for enzyme use is 2-4 high quality enzyme capsules just prior to each meal, which helps break down and assimilate the nutrients from the food more efficiently. As the food particles are completely broken down and assimilated, the problem of undigested food particles passing through the intestines into the bloodstream is greatly diminished. When selecting a good plant based enzyme it is important to use a product that is active in the full pH range of the stomach, preferably a Japanese hybrid plant enzyme which includes protease, amylase, lactase, lipase, galactase, maltase and bromelain. With the implementation of this type of enzyme therapy, up to 90% of all physical problems are diminished or completely resolved. For more information on these state of the art natural treatments or to inquire about personal nutrition consultation with Dr. Gary Tunsky go to: www.fatmagic.com/precision.htm Dr. Tunsky is nationally recognized as a pharmaceutical grade nutrition supplement formulator and was instrumental in the design of FAT MAGIC. Dr. Gary Tunsky TIP OF THE MONTH: Hangover Helpers "Actually, none of us drinks alcohol. We drink delicious, liberating, inspiring or socially significant liquids, which happen to contain alcohol." Jancis Robinson, British Wine Journalist It's probably a little late but here's the scenario: You decided to go out on the town or go to a party, one thing led to another and you woke up feeling like death warmed over. Your head is pounding, your body is weak, your mouth is dry and you have to go to the bathroom but you can't get out of bed. Sounds like fun huh? When you get up you try to remember what you drank the night before. "What was that old saying? Liquor before Beer, Never Fear, Beer before Liquor, Never Sicker. What was that remedy someone told me about? Should I take Tylenol, Aspirin, or Ibuprofen? Wow, it hurts too much to think!" This should clear things up: First of all, drink clear liquors like Vodka or Gin because they contain less congeners. These are what give different liquors distinctive tastes, smells and color. Research has shown that liquors high in congeners cause more detrimental effects. In general, the clearer the liquor the less congeners. Bourbon has the most congeners while gin and vodka have the least. Actually, bourbon has 30 times more than vodka. Mixing alcohol produces a mix of congeners and other toxic compounds and usually produces awful hangovers. So what exactly causes a hangover? It is a combination of the congeners in drinks, the amount of alcohol consumed, how well your body metabolizes this alcohol and how dehydrated you are. The body needs the enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase to break down alcohol but it is a slow process (about 1 ounce every two hours). If you drink too much too fast, toxic metabolic byproducts such as acetylaldehyde builds up, affecting the brain and vital organs. This enzyme (alcohol dehydrogenase) is found almost entirely in the liver where most alcohol is metabolized. Ever wonder why men can drink more than women? Besides the fact they are larger in size, men have this enzyme in their stomachs and can potentially break down 30-40 percent of alcohol before it affects other systems. Also, women absorb alcohol easier when they are ovulating or during pre-menstrual periods. For every ounce of alcohol you drink you need at least 8 ounces of water to prevent dehydration. Because the body is composed of 70% water and the brain is over 80%, even a moderate dehydration can cause hangover symptoms. Alcohol inhibits the production of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) which means you urinate more water and vital nutrients like B-vitamins and other minerals such as magnesium which are important for normal bodily functions. Here's what you can do about it: If you know you are going to be drinking a lot, you can have a drink or two for a couple of days prior to your "big night". I don't recommend boosting your drinking habits, however, you won't have as bad of a hangover. The liver will increase the number of alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes and will metabolize the alcohol at a much higher rate. Also, avoid fizzy drinks and champagne because they contain carbonic gas, which allows more alcohol to be absorbed in the stomach. Eating some bread or a moderate size meal will help slow the absorption. Make it a point to drink a glass of water between every alcoholic drink to prevent dehydration, which is the major cause of the headaches. Watch out for sugary drinks and frozen drinks because the high sugar load to the system will cause also cause dehydration. Before Bed Don't eat a big meal or go to a fast food joint. The body (mostly the liver) has enough work to do cleaning up your system and a big heavy meal at bedtime will only slow the process down and leave you feeling worse in the morning. It is important to drink at least 40 ounces of water and eat a small snack like crackers and honey. Honey contains fructose, which speeds the metabolism of alcohol. Take a couple multi-vitamins especially B-complex before bed but make sure you take them with a small snack because they can upset an empty stomach. Don't take aspirin before bed because it can intensify the alcohol and make you feel more intoxicated. I don't recommend taking any medications that night because of possible interactions with the alcohol. The Morning After Get up slowly; drink at least 24 ounces of water and rest for another 30 minutes or so. Have some toast and jam or toast and honey and take a multi-vitamin. If you have a headache, take some Ibuprofen (Advil). Aspirin is ok but it may upset your stomach. White willow bark is a natural herbal form of aspirin and works well without upsetting your stomach. Tylenol is good for pain relief but it does not reduce swelling and inflammation, which is probably the cause of your headache. If your stomach is not feeling well, try some peppermint tea with a little honey. Take a hot bath with essential oils of lavender and chamomile. Place a few drops of each onto the surface of the water. Lavender and chamomile have soothing, relaxing effects when used as aromatherapy. The heat from the water will increase the activity of the enzymes in the liver and speed the metabolism of alcohol as well as helping you sweat out toxic by products. Drink a cup of coffee or tea. A small amount of caffeine will help your headache by constricting the blood vessels in your head and will also give you some energy. Don't drink too much caffeine because it can dehydrate you. Next, go outside and take a brisk walk, get some fresh air and if you are bold enough, work up a little sweat by alternating short jogs with walking. This is probably the fastest way to relieve your symptoms but it also takes some courage. After your exercise, drink some fresh water, preferably distilled and eat a small, but nutritious meal with a good source of protein and nutrients. Here's a good meal: Grilled chicken with some fresh steamed vegetables, a salad and some fruit. Of course, the easiest way is to avoid drinking all together. Jon Group, R.D. NUTRITION NEWS: Sugar Substitutes: How safe are they? Most people consume at least 3-5 foods or drinks containing artificial sweeteners per day. So what's the big deal? The FDA says they are safe so why do we have to worry about it? In limited use (1-2 times/week), most artificial sweeteners are generally safe, however, they are definitely not "good" for you. If you have a history of diabetes or you are consuming very large quantities of sugar daily, you will benefit tremendously by reducing your sugar intake. But you should not replace this excessive sugar intake by switching to artificial sweeteners because you will only be switching to other potential health risks. There are really only three artificial sweeteners in mainstream use and I will provide you a summary of each: Aspartame (Equal, Nutrasweet) - Aspartame has three components: the amino acids phenylalanine and aspartic acid and methanol (wood alcohol). Of course if you have PKU you should avoid aspartame, but this is a very rare condition present at birth. The FDA claims that the methanol levels in aspartame are too low to cause side effects however, there are thousands of people who report side effects such as headaches, mood swings, changes in vision, confusion, short term memory loss, nausea, diarrhea, convulsions and seizures. There have been an alarming number of cases of seizures, especially in children and in others at high altitudes. Over 600 pilots have reported mild to very severe symptoms due to aspartame. I'm not trying to scare the wits out of you but it is a definite concern and since many foods contain aspartame that you may not even be aware of, avoiding it all together is a difficult task. Approval of non-safe food additives like aspartame appears to be highly political and economic without any real regard to public safety. Saccharin- has been used since the early 1900's and the safety is still debatable. It has been shown to cause bladder cancer in rats but not in mice or humans. Also, the amount used to cause cancer is equivalent to a human drinking over a hundred diet drinks a day for 30 years. The debate still continues but it is reported to be worse for the young population, males, and smokers. I believe it is safer than aspartame. Acesulfame Potassium(K)- this is relatively new to the market even though it has been in existence for years. The FDA has approved the use of acesulfame-K for all segments of the population. No health warning or information statement is required on products. Since acesulfame-K's development in 1967, nearly 90 scientific studies have demonstrated its safety. It has been recognized as safe by the World Health Organization and numerous other regulatory agencies around the world, and has been widely used in Europe since 1983. According to a report by the American Dietetic Association, acesulfame-K has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in dry beverage mixes (such as iced tea), dry dessert mixes (such as instant pudding and gelatins), baked goods, tabletop sweeteners, chewing gum, confections, hard and soft candies, breath mints, throat lozenges, yogurt, refrigerated and frozen desserts, syrups, sweet sauces, toppings, dry coffee creamers and whiteners, and alcoholic beverages. Just recently, it has been approved for use in beverages and this is a warm welcome. The new Pepsi product called "ONE" uses this sweetener. Apparently, acesulfame-K is not metabolized or stored in the body. After it is consumed, it is quickly absorbed by the body and then rapidly excreted unchanged. I have done extensive searching for any research concerning health risks from the use of this sweetener and have found none. I'm sure there must be something out there but I have not seen it. If you know of any reports please email them to jgroup@integratedlife.com I would be extremely grateful. The bottom line is to use as little artificial sweeteners as possible but my choice of those we talked about would be acesulfame-K. However, I recommend using stevia, a natural plant that is 30 times sweeter than sugar but is not approved for mainstream use (I have no earthly idea why). It has been approved as a dietary supplement and it is available at health food stores as a liquid or powder. You may also want to check into Sucralose; a fairly new sweetener made from sugar. I have not read a whole lot about it but everything I have seen shows it to be safe. Jon Group, R.D. SUPPLEMENT SPOTLIGHT Creatine and Phytin Creatine monohydrate serves an important role in the body's formation of ATP. ATP is a major compound that fuels muscle contraction. Without adequate amounts of creatine, muscles fatigue very quickly during exercise. This shortage of creatine according to experts, is the main reason why most athletes never reach peak performance levels in their training. By adding additional creatine to your daily intake, you can dramatically enhance strength and power levels beyond expectations. This is primarily because the extra creatine available to your muscle cells actually seems to delay the onset of fatigue during a particular exercise such as bench press. This will enable an athlete to train in a "zone" where he might not otherwise be able. Being in this "zone" causes enough significant stimulation to occur to the involved muscle fibers so as to induce actual muscle growth. There is not really a "good" or "bad" quality of creatine out there, they are all pretty much the same. So just stick with shopping for the better price. Creatine is also absorbed better if taken with a little juice or carbohydrate containing liquids. Something else to consider taking with creatine is a mixture of calcium and magnesium salt of phytic acid. This product is simply called "Phytin". As a supplement for the athlete, Phytin is especially effective as a creatine enhancer. It is also a preventative agent in conditions of physical and mental overloading and enhances endurance during intensive exercise. It increases the delivery and use of oxygen during physical exercise and boosts mental working capacity. Because Phytin regulates cell metabolism, it also helps increase the absorption of creatine, vitamins, minerals and other supplements. Phytin has been shown to accelerate the transport of creatine into the muscle cells within a one-hour period. Unlike creatine, Phytin does not require a loading phase. used in combination with creatine and your regular multivitamin/mineral formula, I think you will see dramatic increases in strength and muscular development. Thomas Hogan HERBAL INSIGHT: New herb promotes fat-loss without stimulants! If you are interested in burning fat but don't want the side effects of stimulant products then you will want to read this! Citrus Aurantium comes from the fruit called Bitter Orange or Zi-shi and has been used for hundreds of years in Chinese medicine, mostly for intestinal problems and digestion. Recently, research has discovered the unique weight loss properties of this herb. Zi-shi contains five main ingredients: synephrine, N-methyltyramine, hordenine, octopamine, and tyramine. These ingredients (which you have probably never heard of) affect the beta-3 receptors of the body which in turn increase metabolic rate and the amount of fat that is released by the body's fat stores. Several other products also effect these beta-3 receptors such as caffeine and ephedrine (MaHuang). The problem is that they also effect other alpha and beta receptors, causing unwanted side effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, heart palpitations, dry mouth, insomnia, nervousness and a jittery feeling. The compounds in Citrus aurantium (primarily synephrine) only effect the beta-3 receptors so you get all the desirable fat-burning effects without the potential health hazards of caffeine and ephedrine. It has also been shown to help support lean muscle tissue by making it easier for the body to use fat as a fuel thus sparing muscle tissue. Major research is being conducted at this time and the results so far are quite promising. The typical dose for weight loss is 250-500mg a few minutes prior to each meal. Make sure the supplement is standardized for at least 4% total active amines or at least 5% synephrine. It is available at most major health food stores and is usually taken with other fat loss supplements before meals. Jon Group, R.D. ASK THE DOCTOR: Questions and Answers from our readers Q: What can I do to prevent and treat my low back pain? A: Of course, prevention is the key. Unfortunately, most people wait until it's too late. When you look in the mirror what do you see? You see the front of your body. This is why so many people neglect the back. With my low back pain patients I prefer to use a variety of treatments. I like to start with general aerobic exercise consisting of at least 30 minutes a day, preferably fast walking, first thing in the morning. This helps increase blood flow and oxygen to the tissues, flushing out harmful toxins. Before exercising, you must stretch your muscles. A good morning stretch that you can do while your still in bed is to bring both of your knees to your chest and hold for 5 seconds (repeat 3-5 times). Then stretch your arms as far above your head as you can, while doing this, point your toes and stretch your legs in the opposite position. (As if a rope weretied around your hands and your feet and someone was trying to pull you apart). Repeat 3-5 times. It is very important to exercise the entire muscular system but in today's fast pace world, not many people do this consistently. Other than the back muscles themselves, there are two muscle groups important for stabilizing the low back and helping with pain, the abdominal (stomach muscles) and hamstrings. To strengthen the abdominals, lay flat on your back, put a tennis ball under your chin, knees bent, feet flat on floor. Connect your fingers behind the base of your head keeping your arms parallel to the floor. Slowly raise up off the floor for a count of 2 sec. (It is important not to go all the way up and touch your knees). You should only raise up about 15 to 20 degrees so you're low back is still flat on the floor. Then lower your yourself back down in a count of 4 sec. (2 sec up, 4 sec down). Repeat 8-10 times in the beginning and work your way up. (Don't forget to breathe out on your way up and in on your way down!). To strengthen the hamstrings you can purchase some ankle weights or be creative and find something around the house to strap around the ankles. Lay face down with your ankles hanging off the bed. Lift one leg (bending your knee) at a time up to your buttocks. (repeat 8-10x for each leg). Do this 4-5 times on each leg. The position that you sleep in can also be a cause of your pain. You should sleep on a semi-firm mattress face up with your knees bent and a couple of pillows underneath them. If you sleep on your side put a pillow between your knees and bring your knees up halfway to your chest. Other helpful tips which I have used include magnetic back braces and drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day, Chiropractic manipulation, a low fat diet, proper posture (when sitting, roll up a towel and place in the lower back area and sit up straight). This might feel uncomfortable at first, but give it a week or so and you will stand taller and feel better about yourself. Posture, Posture, Posture. Finally, try to relax and control your stress levels. A good massage once every couple of weeks will work wonders! Q: What can I do to prevent and treat CTS without going through surgery? A: Quick relief from carpal tunnel syndrome can be achieved by applying Arnica gel, which you can pick up from your local health food store. If you continuously place stress upon your wrist joints, apply ice to the affected area every few hours to decrease the swelling and relieve the pain. The most effective vitamin treatment is B-6 (Pyridoxine). Take 100mg, 2 to 3 times daily but do not exceed 300mg per day. If you want long term relief you must reduce the repetitive stress to your wrist joints. Other effective alternative treatment includes Chiropractic manipulation, deep tissue massage, active release therapy and a low fat diet. I have included some preventative exercises to perform at the start of each work shift and after each break. 1. Extend and stretch both wrists and fingers up as if they are in a hand-stand position. Hold for a count of 5. 2. Straighten both wrists and relax fingers. 3.Make a tight fist with both hands. Then bend both wrists down whilekeeping the fist. Hold for a count of 5. 4. Straighten both wrists and relax fingers, for a count of 5. Repeat this entire routine 10 times, then hang arms loosely at side and shake them for a couple of seconds. Total exercise time: 5-10 minutes. In cases that occur during pregnancy, the symptoms may often (but not always) resolve after the baby is delivered. Since the narrow carpal tunnel is widest when the wrist is not bent up or down, the use of a removable wrist splint that keeps the wrist straight can be very helpful in controlling the symptoms. Q: Is there any way to stop the cramping during my period? A: There is a great way to reduce and even stop menstrual cramps. I have used this technique with great success although I recommend going to a qualified practitioner. I can give you a simple technique you can use at home. Lay flat on your back. Start by finding a tender point in the lower abdominal area on the right side. Apply deep pressure to that point as you bring your right knee up to your chest. Hold for 5-10 seconds then straighten your leg and repeat. Do this three times then move to the left side and repeat the same procedure. It is best if you have a friend or significant other do this for you, this way you can try to relax. This technique is painful to some women but the results can last from 1 to 6 months. Be aware that this usually causes excess bleeding at first but should relieve your pain. Other helpful hints include a low fat high-complex carbohydrate diet as well as cutting out dairy products and fried foods. Oil of evening primrose works great. Take 2-3, 500mg capsules, 2 times a day. Other great supplements to reduce your cramps include: 100mg of B-6per day, 50 IU of vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol), 3x a day and 100mg of magnesium 3-4 times a day. While menstruating, I suggest 100mg of magnesium every 2 hours to ease the pain. Raspberry leaf tea is effective, non-toxic and can be consumed as much as needed. There is a strong herbal therapy called cramp bark (Viburnum opulus) which has been used effectively. The dose is one dropperful of the tincture in warm water as needed. Women who smoke or are under a great deal of stress seem to experience the worst cramping so try to practice some relaxation therapy or cut down on the cancer sticks (cigarettes). Dr. Edward F. Group III SUBSCRIBER'S SPECIAL: Enter our monthly contest!