This is a step in the right direction. Often, these ingredients get banned due to an unfortunate incident of a contaminated batch being sold to the public, and the ingredient temporarily takes the blame instead of the contaminant itself.
From the article (link attached): "We spoke with naturopathic doctor Heidi Fritz, of the department of research and clinical epidemiology for the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, to find out more about a few of them. Centella asiatica Centella asiatica is also known as the herb gotu kola, a plant native to India, Japan, China, Indonesia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the South Pacific. Often it is used to treat anxiety and skin conditions, but Fritz says it can also help improve cognitive function and memory, and reduce the appearance of varicose veins. It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Theobromine Theobromine is a phytochemical found in cocoa. It’s a mild stimulant that affects humans similarly to caffeine (although to a lesser degree), and it also has a slight diuretic effect. As with caffeine, there may be risk for heart palpitations at high doses, according to Fritz. Levocarnitine Levocarnitine, or L-carnitine as it is more commonly referred to, is an amino acid that our bodies produce naturally. Fritz says it could be used for heart conditions and muscle degeneration. But you may start to see it in natural weight-loss products, as it helps to turn body fat into energy. Your body will only absorb so much, though, so don’t exceed what the product recommends. L-Tryptophan L-Tryptophan, also an amino acid, is famously known as the chemical in turkey that makes you tired. It was approved at a dose of 220 milligrams, which Fritz says may be too low to see any benefit. She adds that it can be used to help with depression and insomnia. Health Canada reports that it can enhance the effectiveness of antidepressant medications. Fritz warns: “These ingredients have been shown to be safe in the amounts that Health Canada is now allowing, but that’s not an endorsement of efficacy.” As with any health product, don’t self-prescribe. Consult a health professional about what might work for you and whether it will interact with other medications, natural health products or supplements you’re taking." http://www.besthealthmag.ca/get-healthy/health/the-newest-ingredients-in-natural-health-products
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This article summaries some of the fantastic ways that patients are benefiting from both conventional medical care and alternative health practices. I hope we continue in this direction as a society because I think everyone benefits. Check it out! A 72 year-old man says his leukemia was brought into remission with dandelion tea after aggressive medical treatments had failed. Results like these have prompted Windsor, Ontario, researchers to file an application with Health Canada to conduct further research with dandelion on more patients for whom the standard of care is not working. Researchers say dandelion root kills specific cancer cells in laboratory studies. This is exciting stuff!
[Note: Cancer is definitely a disease with which it isn't wise to self-prescribe. It's always best to consult a health care professional to ensure your supplements, your prescriptions, and your body are all working in unison.] http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/02/16/wdr-dandelion-tea-cancer-killer.html (an excerpt from the following link)
"A plant-based diet, which emphasizes fruits and vegetables, grains, beans and legumes, and nuts, is rich in fiber, vitamins and other nutrients. And people who eat only plant-based foods — aka vegetarians — generally eat fewer calories and less fat, weigh less, and have a lower risk of heart disease than nonvegetarians do A National Cancer Institute study of 500,000 people found that those who ate 4 ounces (113 grams) of red meat or more daily were 30 percent more likely to have died of any cause during a 10-year period than were those who consumed less. Sausage, luncheon meats and other processed meats also increased the risk. Those who ate mostly poultry or fish had a lower risk of death." http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meatless-meals/MY00752 An excerpt from the following article. The Swiss are doing amazing things!!!!!! "In late 2011, the Swiss government's report on homeopathic medicine represents the most comprehensive evaluation of homeopathic medicine ever written by a government and was just published in book form in English.....his breakthrough report affirmed that homeopathic treatment is both effective and cost-effective and that homeopathic treatment should be reimbursed by Switzerland's national health insurance program." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/homeopathic-medicine-_b_1258607.html "In Canada it is not mandatory to identify the method of production, including genetic modification, that was used to develop a food product" (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/gmf-agm/fs-if/faq_3-eng.php).
The main genetically modified crops in Canada are soy, corn, canola, potatoes, and tomatoes. This can help you decide which packaged food you decide to purchase. Organic food is not genetically modified and/or does not contain genetically modified ingredients ( http://www.cog.ca/uploads/Guidance%20310%20-%20Version%206,%20Jan10.pdf). Numerous sources say that fresh produce has PLU codes that identify whether the product is organic or genetically modified. They say a conventionally grown banana's code would be '4011', the organic version would start with a nine ('94011'), and a genetically modified banana would start with an eight ('84011'). (http://www.kipnews.org/2011/07/14/how-to-i-d-genetically-modified-food-at-the-supermarket/) Want to learn more about genetically modified foods? http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/ Interesting article about the value of home-cooked meals! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/opinion/sunday/is-junk-food-really-cheaper.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all The University of British Columbia recently published an article in the peer-reviewed. medical journal The Annals of Medicine questioning the efficacy of Gardasil, the vaccine currently administered to prevent Human papillomavirus (HPV). The authors found many issues with the use of Gardasil in Canada, including: 1) " ...while the world's leading medical authorities state that HPV vaccines are an important cervical cancer prevention tool, clinical trials show no evidence that HPV vaccination can protect against cervical cancer." 2) " ...contrary to claims that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, existing data show that this only applies to developing countries." 3) Last but not least, they say "...cervical cancer is a rare disease with mortality rates that are several times lower than the rate of reported serious adverse reactions (including deaths) from HPV vaccination." http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/07853890.2011.645353 Do you keep trying to start a meditation practice, but it never sticks? Or, have you always wanted to meditate but you weren't sure where to start? Here are six things you can do to ensure that you will actually WANT to meditate! (The following is written by Peter Fernando, The Meditation Guy)
1) Don’t meditate in front of the TV (even when it’s off), or in front of the computer. If you take some time to create a meditation-only space in your home, it’s more likely you’ll enjoy the experience, and not feel distracted and antsy. You can use any images or objects you find remind you of stillness, or peace, when creating this space. 2) Abide by the pleasure principle. If it starts feeling terrible, STOP. At least in the beginning. There’s no point trying to ‘break through the pain barrier’ when you’re just starting out. Psychologically speaking, we will tend to gravitate towards that which is pleasant. So, if we have the memory of meditation as some kind of dramatic battle, it’s likely that we’ll try to avoid it like the plague. 3) Use a timer, and start with short times. 10 minutes is a manageable time to start with. If it feels comfortable, you can increase the time incrementally. But don’t force it. Humble steps work better in the long run. 4) Don’t force your body into an elaborate sitting position if you have an injury, or if it feels painful. I did this, when I was 22, and screwed up my right knee trying to do full-lotus without being properly prepared. I learned the hard way that there is nothing sacred in a posture. Sure a meditation posture can definitely help to circulate energy and generate ‘fire’, but it’s not absolutely so. So if you have an injury, please don’t feel bad if you have to sit on a chair, or stool. As long as your back is upright, and your belly is open, it’s good enough to meditate. 5) If you are comfortable sitting on the floor, it really helps to keep your knees on the ground, with your buttocks raised higher then them, on a cushion. If you have your knees higher than your buttocks, you get weird circulation things happening, which makes the experience rather unpleasant! 6) Don’t spend too much time worrying whether you are ‘doing it right’ or not. There is no one judging your practice, and no ‘meditation police’ that are going to issue you a ticket! [The link if you want more information http://theyogalunchbox.co.nz/category/yoga-community/the-meditation-guy/] Just another reason to get more sleep.....it means you'll be inclined to eat less the following day. Check out the link below for more details.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120118111740.htm |
AuthorDr. Dielle Raymond, ND Archives
March 2020
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