|
This month's newsletter focuses on the immune system -- a complex network of interacting cells, cell products, and cell-forming tissues that protects the body from pathogens and other foreign substances. The immune system is under constant
assault in our industrialized society.
In this issue, Dr. Connie muses on how environmental
toxins undermine our immunity and discusses immune system functions and malfunctions. Dr. Marcel writes of how our lifestyles choices affect our immune systems; Elijah discusses his perspectives on herbal immunity; Jane Hernandez gives her thoughts on EFT as an energy healing technique; Elaine Kahn writes of how we need to discover the stories behind our
immune system challenges; and our resident foodie, Lauren Hoover-West, offers recipes for yummy bone and veggie broths.
Also, take a look at the Hernandez Center for Adjunctive Cancer Care articles this month and read about a major study connecting carbohydrates and cancer. The articles may be found towards the end of this newsletter.
We would like to draw your attention to a unique opportunity to become part of the Community Supported Agriculture movement. Dr. Connie and Dr. Marcel have participated in this specific CSA for years. With this year's CSA expansion, there remain just a few opportunities for participation. Please go to
the
end of this newsletter for information. Flyers are also available in our office.
New products in our office:
Nano Greens and Nano Lean. Also, liposomal glutathione and a variety of powerful, plant-based, vegan enzymes are now available. Read about them in ads scattered throughout this newsletter.
STARTING NEXT MONTH: A two-month special on environmental medicine. Absolutely more shocking than you can imagine. (Don't worry, we'll offer alternatives to dealing with the toxic load.)
Be Well.
Dr. Connie, Dr. Marcel, Dr. Brad, Dr. Sage and your health care team at Pacific Naturopathic and the
Hernandez Center for Adjunctive Cancer Care
|
|
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
|
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for information on purchasing the freshest, best-tasting fruits and veggies available.
** Recommended by Dr. Connie and Dr. Marcel
|
|
Dr. Connie's Musings...
|
|
|
| Dr. Connie muses at a taco stand in Hawaii |
Environmental Toxins
T
his past weekend, Dr Marcel and I were in attendance at an environmental medicine conference in San Diego.
Even being aware of the role that environmental toxins play in the bewildering constellation of symptoms that we now see in our naturopathic practice, we were horrified as presenters detailed out the extent of the problem, and the association of these toxins with immunity and autoimmune conditions.
People have become more aware of many of these toxins, and not so much of others.
Most of us know that Monsanto's Round Up contains the very toxic chemical glyphosate, but not many know that the other "inactive" ingredients in Round Up are many times more toxic, and not getting the same press. We take care now to avoid drinking from plastic water bottles, but babies still calm themselves on plastic binkies and drink from plastic baby bottles.
We like 100% cotton clothing, but ignore warnings not to wear that clothing until the chemical pesticides are washed away.
There is a dawning awareness that electro magnetic frequencies are environmental contaminants that create bodily havoc by disrupting intracellular communication, yet we  hold cell phones to our ears, and live and breathe in a sea of EMFs, vital to our electronically connected lives.
As we know,
all of these toxins, and so many more, create great bodily disturbance and encourage cancers.
They
do this in part by triggering immune system dysfunction. Progressive immune dysfunction and autoimmune diseases are red flags pointing to the need to consider and treat toxicity. Mold exposure can cause abnormalities of T & B cell populations (immune system!) Arsenic, lead and mercury are implicated in autoimmunity. Glyphosphate based pesticides disrupt the immune system. Effects of chronic exposure to volatile organic compounds (such as are found in memory foam, furniture, carpets, paint, flooring, air fresheners and many, many more materials) include allergies and autoimmunity.
Living in our chemicalized and contaminated world, we are faced with issues with the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, the products we use. Focusing on this issue could be both overwhelming and deeply depressing. However, there are preventive and protective steps we can take.
On an individual level, our best bet is to do the best we can in any way that we can. We can and should purify our air and water, buy non GMO and organic, avoid chemically treated products as we are aware of them and able to avoid them, keep cell phones away from our heads, shut off wifi when not in use.
Any detoxification or cleansing regime can be helpful. In cleansing, we optimize elimination through the major channels... lymph, liver, colon, kidney, and skin. We do this with dietary change, drainage remedies, botanicals, nutrients. Infrared saunas are one safe and effective way to go. Studies confirm the elimination of numerous toxins through the pores of our skin.
On a professional level, increasingly precise diagnostic laboratory tests have been developed to discern and quantify toxic exposures and reactivity to those exposures. Sophisticated detoxification regimes offer help in clearing toxins from our bodies, stabilizing cellular membranes, and undoing other damage that has been done. (Water fasting is no longer the safe and effective treatment it once was!)
Next month's newsletter will feature specific tests and detox kits you may want to consider, in addition to the use of the infrared sauna and the cleansing regimes we've offered over the years at Pacific Naturopathic.
* * *
|
New in our office:
Nanogreens
and Nanolean
** Recommended by Dr. Connie and Dr. Marcel
|
Everyone knows we all need dark, leafy greens to stay healthy, but most don't have the time, budget or the taste buds to get the full spectrum every day.
Did you know we need 3 times as many vegetables today to make up for the nutrients lacking in our soil?
No matter if you are good at getting whole foods into your diet or not, we all need extra nutrients to help keep our bodies healthy.
Nanogreens is the perfect solution. In just one serving of our vegetable powder supplement, you get the antioxidant power of 10 servings of vegetables from 55 different ingredients. Nanogreens is truly a powerhouse of nutrition and wellness made easy. Make a delicious strawberry flavored shake with this leafy greens supplement to make sure your body is getting what it needs to function properly.
Simply take one scoop of nanogreens strawberry flavored supplement powder, add water, shake it up and go! You can also use unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk to add extra creamy deliciousness or mix this green powder supplement with other nano products to create an even more enjoyable experience with optimal health benefits. Both of these products may be mixed together.
Our Price: $50.00
All natural nano lean was designed as a healthy support tool to drink in-between your meals.
It's a perfect pick-me-up right about when you feel
"the crash" coming on during that mid-day, mid-afternoon slump. Nano lean is a light, refreshing healthy beverage that helps keep you feel full, curb cravings, increase metabolism and energy and control stress.
It's also clinically proven to reduce body fat when used twice a day. The company describes this product as the "secret weapon" that can be used with any weight loss or maintenance plan to help keep you successful. Our Price: $40.00
|
Six Lifestyle Factors
That Undermine Our Immune Systems
|
There is an exhaustive list of factors that undermine our immune systems. For the six conditions listed below, making informed decisions and moderating our behavior are keys to management.
Lack of sleep.
New data the Sleep Center at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston reports that not getting enough sleep has been linked to a laundry list of mental and physical health problems, including those that stem from an impaired immune system.
The researchers report that our T-cells go down and inflammatory cytokines go up if we are sleep deprived. This makes us more vulnerable to developing a cold or flu.
Binge drinking.
A study reported in the journal BMC Immunology has confirmed that binge drinking undermines the immune system and weakens the body's ability to fight off infection for at least 24 hours afterwards by inhibiting certain signaling molecules that launch pro-inflammatory responses as a method of killing viruses and bacteria. The researchers also found that the after effects lasted for a day at least: some cytokines were not on infection guard duty 24 hours after the binge.
|
|
 |
| Our immune systems protect us from a number of insults... |
|
Vaccines.
Actually, vaccines do work, but it is HOW they work that gives rise to controversy. The human immune system has been described as being akin to a medieval fortified castle. First, you have a moat surrounding the outer walls. On top of the walls are archers and warriors. If invaders make it past these barriers, the last line of defense are the warriors inside the walls.
Vaccines bypass the moat and the archers, which are the white blood cells, the first line of defense, and make it all the way to the warriors inside the walls -- the antibody response system. So what in reality is prevented is not the disease but the ability of our cellular immune system to manifest, to respond to and to overcome the disease! In the long term, this weakens our immune response and leaves us vulnerable to infections.
Loneliness
. From the Harvard Medical School comes new research linking loneliness to a number of dysfunctional immune responses. Researchers have found that people who were more lonely showed signs of elevated latent herpes virus reactivation and they produced more inflammation-related proteins in response to acute stress than did people who felt more socially connected.
Stress
. When long-term stress becomes chronic, many systems in the body are affected. Chronic stress results in high levels of cortisol and other corticosteroids circulating in the blood for a long period of time. People who suffer from chronic or long-term stress can experience a myriad of chronic problems, including a weakened immune system.
Sugar
.
According to Health Services at Columbia University, when you eat 100 grams of sugar, about as much sugar as you find in a 1 liter bottle of soda, your white blood cells are 40 percent less effective at killing germs. This can cripple your immune system for up to 5 hours after eating sugar! Also,
sugar and Vitamin C are similar in their chemical structure. When you eat sugar, it directly competes for space in your immune cells with Vitamin C! The more sugar in your system, the less Vitamin C can get into your white blood cells.
Next month: A two-part series on environment medicine and the effects on our immune systems of living in a toxic world.
For more on Dr. Marcel's work click
HERE.
|
Immune System Functions
and Malfunctions
|
The job of the immune system is to distinguish self from not self and thereby to ward off dangerous and disruptive elements.
Several bodily organs and systems, as well as individual cells and proteins, are responsible for the defensive action the immune system provides. The bone marrow produces stem cells, immature blood cells that develop into specialized blood cells. The thymus gland, an endocrine organ that is integral to the lymphatic system, produces and matures a type of white blood cell responsible for protection from infection. Also a part of the immune system, the spleen filters the blood, and stores, produces and matures other white blood cells. The lymphatic system transports white blood cells. Mucus membranes throughout the body produce immunoglobulins that respond to microbes, allergens, and other antigens (non self proteins).
Things may go awry in a number of ways. An underactive immune system creates immune deficiency syndromes, resulting in chronic recurrent illnesses. Underactivity may be caused by a lack of production of white blood cells, a destruction of white blood cells, a breakdown of mucus membrane defenses (as is caused by adrenal stress depleting secretory IgA, the immunoglobulin responsible for mucus membrane protection).
Working with an underactive immune system may involve promoting bone marrow production of stem cells, ingesting thymic proteins or other substances which normalize the maturation of white blood cells, stabilizing the integrity of the mucus membranes, reducing stress.
An overactive immune system results in hypersensitivity and autoimmunity. In autoimmunity, the body responds to its own cells and tissues as though they were foreign rather than self. Common examples are Hashimoto's thyroiditis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis), rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease.
Typical conventional treatments for autoimmunity involve suppressing the immune system. The unfortunate consequence of this type of treatment is that the body then becomes susceptible to other outside influences and pathogens, such as the tuberculosis pathogen. Typical treatment also tends to treat the affected organ, rather than the underlying cause. Hashimoto's, for example, is generally treated simply by supplementing the thyroid hormone which has been depressed as a result of the autoimmunity.
The underlying cause of autoimmunity must be treated. Therein lies the rub. We are only beginning to understand potential underlying causes. Low vitamin D is correlated with autoimmunity.
Food sensitivities and gut permeability are generally involved. (Gluten sensitivity goes hand in hand with Hashimoto's). Microbial pathogens play a part in rheumatoid arthritis. Aberrant cell signaling mechanisms arise (but why?) and must be addressed.
Increasing evidence points to environmental toxins. (See Musings above).
One other thought with regards to the immune system comes from the field of energy medicine. The thymus gland is the endocrine organ associated with the energy center known as the heart chakra. The fundamental lesson of the heart chakra is to free ourselves from the over discrimination of self and not self that prevents the expression of universal love. In the divisive world in which we now find ourselves, one wonders whether that underlying energetic imbalance comes in to play in autoimmunity.
****
Find out more about Dr. Connie's work
HERE.
|
|
Available in our office...
Liposomal Glutathione
more absorbable than other forms of
glutathione
** Recommended by Dr. Connie and Dr. Marcel
|
Glutathione is a naturally occurring protein that is made by every cell in your body. It functions to:
- Neutralize and remove toxins
- Enhance immune function
- Protect the cells from free radicals that cause oxidative damage.
Glutathione is the most abundant cellular antioxidant in oxygen-using cells. Alterations, including deficiencies in glutathione levels, have been found in several neurological conditions.
Glutathione is also essential for the body's detoxification process. It binds with toxins to form a water-soluble complex that can be excreted through the liver.
Diminished levels of glutathione can lead to decreased efficiency in a number of body systems, including the immune cells designed to kill invading organisms. A wide range of health conditions are associated with low levels of glutathione.
Through a unique process ReadiSorb places reduced glutathione into liposomes, liquid bubbles made from essential phospholipids, to ensure bioavailability.
A compendium of ReadiSorb research on liposomal glutathione may be found
(Incidentally, In our infusion center, we offer intravenous administrations of glutathione.) |
Herbal Immunity
The way nature intended
|
Herbs are specialized forms of life created by Nature to help ourselves and the planet.
For most diseases that have plagued humanity, Nature has long ago already created a remedy that is efficacious, helpful and non-harmful. If there is not a current remedy, it means that it has not been discovered as of yet.
This does not mean that there is a single herb somewhere in the world waiting to be discovered, but that the answer could be a complex combination of herbs that have been designed to conquer the illness or disturbance in one's health.
Nature has taken several approaches to this all-important matter. Especially in terms of natural immunity to illness and our personal immune response.
The first is a very old and time proven way of dealing with dis-ease in the body. It is called Tonic Herbology. It is an ancient way of revitalizing the body when it is weakened and debilitated by illness, both acute and chronic.
Tonic Herbology feeds the cells directly with a high concentration of specific nutrients that aids in creating a metabolic cellular effect that allows the body to begin to heal. Often with illness, especially long term, the body becomes depleted of the necessary elements it needs to begin to heal. Tonic Herbology goes back to the finest traditions of the Native American healers and those of many other countries. Some very fine tonic herbs are: barberry root, gentian root, golden seal root, myrrh gum, black walnut leaf and hull and many others.
Next is a category of herbs known as adaptogens, or adaptogenic herbs. Adaptogenic herbs aid the body in overcoming the stress of healing. When one is ill for an extended time, then the body might just be too weak to heal. Adaptogens help the weakened system to recover from the stress of not being able to heal. Adaptogenic herbs are more commonly known as being used in Eastern herbology, but have become more widely used in Western herbology over the past few decades. Well known adaptogenic herbs include: rhodiola root, astragalus root, red rishi mushroom, dong qui, ashwaganda root, fo-ti, gotu kola and more.
Third would be complex formulas that include herbs that are tonic and adaptogenic in nature. This calls for a complex approach that handles immune system response on a number of levels and at times, redundancy to make sure that the immune issue is being addressed in a powerful enough manner.
My latest herbal immune system formula called Immunagen is the newest generation of herbal formulas to help keep a healthy immune system alive and operating at its best peak power.
Recently, one of my clients told me that this is the first time she has not gotten sick with a cold or flu since she began taking it. She is a school teacher, and as you know, during the cold and flu season, illness is passed around easily at school. But this season she did not even get a sniffle.
Immunagen is a complex herbal formula that combines herbs both tonic and adaptogenic that strengthens the immune system in a number of way.
If you are a patient or client at Pacific Naturopathic, then you may purchase Immunagen at 25% off of the online precept the clinic. Please note that if you want Immunagen shipped to you, then you need to purchase the product online at the regular price.
Also, all sales of Immunagen at the clinic need to be paid for via cash or check only.
Elijah Free has been an associate at Pacific Naturopathic
since January of 2000.
He specializes in working with both mechanical and metabolic pain.
You can visit his herbal company, Earth Friend Herb Co. at
and view his videos on Ending Fibromyalgia and Ending PTSD-One Veteran's Answer.
And to find out more of Elijah's work with his 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization to end PTSD in war veterans, (Elijah is a veteran and paramedic of the Viet Nam conflict) Bring Our Vets All the Way Home, please go to www.bringourvetsallthewayhome.org
To schedule an appointment with Elijah,
please phone 650-917-1121.
|
|
New in our office...
Powerful, Plant-Based Vegan Enzymes
** Recommended by Dr. Connie and Dr. Marcel
|
|
At a recent conference we attended, one of the vendor booths had a line of enzymes that impressed us -- powerful, plant-based, and vegan. Here are some of the products we brought back for purchase from our office:
 Critical Digestion:
A high-potency formula comprised of plant-based digestive enzymes, probiotics and nutraceuticals. Provides substantial support for maintaining a healthy intestinal environment. Soothes occasional indigestion, gas and bloating. Contains one billion active probiotic cultures per capsule. Price: $22.00
Acid Calm:
The National Institutes of Health estimate that 60 million Americans experience a burning sensation in the chest or
 acid taste in their throats at least once a month. Occasional heartburn is a digestive problem that may occur when stomach acid comes into contact with the lining of the esophagus, causing irritation. Most People suffer from heartburn occasionally, usually after a meal. Although commonly attributed to excessive acid production, occasional heartburn is often a symptom of impaired digestion as a result of factors including lifestyle, diet and genetics. Price: $25.00
Food intolerance is an adverse food reaction due to a lack food specific digestive enzymes. An enzyme deficiency occur when the body is unable to produce a sufficient quantity of enzymes to properly break down foods eaten. Unlike a life-threatening food allergy, intolerance does not involve the production of antibodies, nor is it mediated by histamine. Adverse food reactions are widespread. For Example, lactose intolerance affects 30-50 million Americans, and as much as 15% of the world's population suffers when consuming gluten. Other common intolerable foods include dairy protein (casein), lactose, whey and fibrous beans, vegetables and grains. Intolerance Complex contains high-potency enzymes specialized to digest compounds known to cause intestinal disturbance. Price: $20.50
Myomend:
When faced with an acute injury, one of the most common applications for healing
 is the RICE protocol: rest, ice, compress and elevate. Unfortunately, this procedure does not necessarily take into accountant the body's natural inflammatory mechanisms. The inflammatory response is designed to increase temperature in the injured area, ramping up the body's natural enzyme activity. Proteolytic enzymes are manufactured by the body to break down proteins in the bloodstream. Increasing enzyme activity, in the presence of heat, enables the removal of proteins which are dead, damaged or do not belong. This removal process is recognized by the body and may be indicated by fever. Removal of such stressors allows the body to transition into recovery. Price: $36.50
Enzyme Defense Pro:
Maintaining an adequate immune system to elicit a healthy immune response is essential. Enzyme Defense pro contains a high-potency proteolytic enzyme blend formulated with vitamin D3, L-lysine, and minerals to support and promote health immune function.
Enzymes are responsible for catalyzing and regulating biochemical reactions that occur within the human body. Specifically, enzymes are highly involved in regulating the body's digestive and metabolic process, thus making them essential for cellular function and overall wellness. In particular, proteolytic enzymes, also known as proteases, are responsible for supporting digestion and metabolism by breaking down protein. Supplemental proteolytic enzymes have an established history of use for supporting immunity and promoting general well-being.
Price: $45.00
|
|
EFT Tapping is Like Flossing
|
This week I went to the dentist and was commended for my diligent flossing. Many years ago I added flossing to my daily dental hygiene and it has made a huge difference to the health of my mouth. It's so easy yet so deeply effective.
I can say the same about EFT Tapping.
Using EFT on a daily basis makes a huge difference in both your emotional and physical life. That is because so many stressful emotions get stuck in the body and lead to negative physical manifestations.
EFT clears the negative energy and restores well-being. This has now been demonstrated through scientific investigation in many ways.
Stress, and tension happens every day to all of us. We experience challenging people and situations that create minor irritation or major stress. You must have a plan to deal with your stress and tension before it affects your physical body. That's where EFT becomes the tool of choice.
|
|
|
The next time you are flossing let that be a prompt to try out tapping. |
EFT Tapping is an energy healing technique
that was discovered about 30 years ago. Millions of people all over the planet now practice it... because it works.
So how does EFT work?
You tap on specific acupressure points or pathways of energy throughout the body while tuning in to a specific problem or issue that has you stuck. Our lives are full of different stressors like money and family problems, work, school, relationships, health, etc. These stressors are taken into our bodies and remain there gumming up the works. The tapping allows the mind/body energy system to get unstuck and the energy becomes available so we can heal. And, as you probably know, the body has the power to heal itself once we allow it.
By tapping on keeping your immune system strong, you can fire up your physical well-being significantly. In tapping, the more specific you are about what is bothering you, the more you clear your energy pathways.
I have taught many clients at Pacific Naturopathic what tapping is and how to do it...it takes one session and they leave knowing how. The thing I am emphasizing is that tapping should be done daily to keep you in best shape.
There is always an issue or event to tap on so why not use the EFT tapping for immune strengthening? It just takes a few minutes. You don't have to let stressful issues take a toll on your body and expose you to illness.
So, next time you are flossing, let that be a prompt to try out tapping.
Your mouth, your body and your emotions will be glad you did.
For more information about Jane and her work
click here.
|
|
Discovering the Story Behind Immune System Challenges
Elaine Kahn
|
Your body is home to trillions of tiny passengers. These are microbes that make up your microbiome. They outnumber the human cells in your body by 10:1.
The most sophisticated ecosystem is in the gut, with thousands of different species of friendly bacteria.
Why do we care about the microbiome?
It is essential to our health, as the microbiome is the educator of our immune system to stay alert to potential threats and lower over-reactions of inflammation, allergies, and autoimmunity.
However,
our modern lifestyles are deforesting this inner ecosystem and throwing our immune system into inflammatory disarray. Modern diet, antibiotics and environmental toxins are just some of the modern hazards that disrupt our microbiome.
Emotional factors and belief systems could also impact our immune systems.
Experiencing traumas while eating certain foods could cause sensitivity to those foods.
When balancing allergens, my experience is that there also needs to be a clearing at the emotional and mental level of the body-mind. Even when we are not consciously aware of our emotionally charged memories, we can still be impacted. For example, birth trauma, maternal separation just after birth, may impact the key discernment of what is self in the immune system. Issues of self-identity..."Who am I?", could lead to confusion down at the cellular level causing an autoimmune response.
In my experience, in order to address the immune issues, it is important to find the story behind those issues.
If you are interested in discussing how BodyTalk can help with belief systems, traumas, epigenetic factors, and immune issues,
|
|
Veggie and Bone Broths
Lauren Hoover-West
|
Bone broth is a rich source of nutrients. It contains protein, cartilage, and minerals, especially calcium. It's easy for our body to digest, tastes delicious and fills a home with an aroma of goodness while cooking. Bone broth is inherently calming, consoling, and restorative to our energy and spirit.
BASIC BROTH MAKING
I make this in the crockpot: put everything in the crockpot and fill it up to top with cold water, and turn it on high and cook for 24-36 hours.
Pressure Cooker Method: cook on low pressure for 1 1/2 hours.
For Vegan/Veggie: Use a variety of non-cruciferous veggies with ingredients below in #4 and only cook on stove top(Bring to boil and then simmer covered 1 hour).
1. Organic/Pasture Raised Bones:poultry, fish, shellfish, bison, beef or lamb
cooked bones from a previous meal, with or without skin or meat;
raw bones, with or without skin and meat (can be browned first for flavor)
use a whole carcass or just parts
feet, ribs, necks and knuckles
2. Water: cold, filtered or bottled
enough to just cover the bones by 2 inches if it will fit in your pot.
3. Vinegar:1 tsp. apple cider or coconut
Vegetables: 2-3 stalks celery, 2 carrots, 1 onion(quartered) and or 1-2 leeks, 1-2 cloves whole garlic, 4 sprigs thyme, 1-2 tsp. sea salt, 1 tsp. whole peppercorns and 1 bunch parsley and or cilantro. I add 1 bunch dandelion greens, handful chard stems and a few-1/3 cup mushroom stems. Use what you have.
Directions:
1.Put everything in a large crockpot or pressure cooker or stock/soup pot.
2.Cover everything with cold water.
3.Bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
4.Over low heat, cover and Simmer 1 1/2-2 hours for veggie broth, 8-24 hrs for chicken, 12-72 hrs for beef/red meat, the longer the better (24 hrs is ideal).
5.Strain through a colander and discard everything except the broth. If your want to use the meat, you must take it out after a few hours of cooking when it is fully cooked or it will be very dry and have no flavor.
If you wish to remove the fat, skim the fat off the top once refrigerated.
Broth may be frozen for months, or kept in the refrigerator for about 5 days.
To Use:
1.
Soup - Make soup by adding vegetables, beans, grains or meat to broth. Briefly cook vegetables and meat. Add broth and grains or previously soaked beans. Season with salt and pepper or other spices.
2.
Cooking Liquid - Use broth in place of water to cook rice, beans or other grains.
3.
Gravy - Use fat from broth or oil in a skillet, and add any gluten-free flour, one tablespoon at a time and whisk constantly till browned. Whisk in broth and cook till thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Sipping Tea - Don't forget you can sip broth like tea. This is especially nice in the winter months or if you're feeling sick. Since broth is simultaneously energizing and calming, it can take the place of morning coffee, afternoon tea, or evening nightcap. Try it in a thermos and sip throughout the day. Of course, the most traditional use for seasoned broth is as a first course, to enhance the digestion of any meal to come.
Be Well & Thrive!
* * *
Lauren has appeared and cooked on ABC Live in Chicago and Sacramento. She has cooked for 4 United States Presidents and a United States Senator.
Lauren Hoover-West was classically trained at The California Culinary Academy, now the Cordon Bleu. She is a Chef/Educator/Consultant specializing in food allergies and health issues since 2002, including Gluten sensitivity, Celiac's Disease, Diabetes, Autism, Autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions.
Lauren has created a revolutionary way to cook delicious food that is gluten-free, dairy-free, low glycemic index, or sugar-free, and very healthy while tasting just as good as traditional food so, everyone can enjoy it.
 Lauren does not believe in using weird ingredients, so you will learn to use readily available food, and she will introduce you to items you may not have noticed before. She will help you replace all your pantry items with gluten-free, dairy-free, low glycemic alternatives!
She is the author of "No Wheat No Dairy No Problem"
cookbook and blog site. She has over 20 years of cooking and teaching experience at La Folie(Michelin star), Fairmont, Hyatt Resorts, Bally's, Marriott, New Leaf Market, Sur la Table etc... Lauren is the owner of Lauren's Kitchen, a customized meal service. She also earned a Bachelors of Science in Psychology at St. Mary's College. To contact Lauren or for more information go to her blog site.
|
|
Breast Thermography at
Pacific Naturopathic
- about thermal risk ratings -
|
Thermal risk ratings on breast thermography reports are based on temperature differentials between the breasts. A higher temperature at a given location on either breast reflects a physiologic difference in that breast compared to the other breast. The heat reflects metabolic activity and could reflect injury, other inflammatory processes, or even a developing cancer. In any case, we can be sure that the immune system has been activated.
In addition to protocols which favorably alter estrogen metabolism (promoting anti inflammatory metabolites) we may use botanicals to settle down an overactive immune system, and support normal immune function. Typical medicines used to decrease breast inflammation and support breast health include green tea, curcumin and various mushrooms. After 3 months of consistent use, we should see a decrease in inflammation with a correspondent decrease in thermal risk rating on the subsequent breast thermography exam. If improvement is not seen, we may alter the protocol and/or seek further diagnostics.
****
Read more about
breast
thermography
at
Pacific Naturopathic
here.
|
|
Pacific Naturopathic Hawaii:
Immune system recovery in paradise...
Check Future Openings
(then click on "Calendar")
|
|
|
| Sunset from the guest house lanai |
There is strong scientific evidence to support the fact that joy,
awe and happiness strengthen the immune system.
As an example, a UC Berkeley study showed that as positive emotions go up, the level of interleukin 6 goes down. Interleukin 6 is a marker of inflammation that can cause both depression and autoimmunity.
The views you could take in from your View House porch at Pacific Naturopathic Retreat Center are awesome.
The rest, relaxation and rejuvenation realized by taking time off from a busy life to absorb the beauty of a Hawaii retreat brings happiness and inner joy.
How wonderful to support your immune system in this way! Click HERE for a calendar of times still available for your stay at Pacific Naturopathic Retreat Center.
* * *
Isn't it time you treated yourself to a magical experience?
Come, enjoy, rejuvenate and reinvent yourself.
Openings available from May.
|
|
The Hernandez Center for Adjunctive Cancer Care
|
|
News and Commentary on Cancer Topics
* * * * *
|
|
What We Offer
at the
Hernandez Center
for Adjunctive Cancer Care
|
Our cancer patients often ask us to give them an estimate of the effectiveness of therapy at the Hernandez Center for Adjunctive Cancer Care. We respond that
our entire focus is on helping our patients stay healthy, upbeat and positive.
The truth is that the botanical and nutritional therapies we offer
(including
intravenous vitamin C), although 'adjunctive' in nature, have powerful documented actions in decreasing inflammation, reducing tumor load and attacking cancer stem cells.
Our mind/body approaches are focused on transformation of experience. And our bodywork approaches helpreduce muscular pain, resolve lymph drainage problems and relieve stress.
The hope we offer is not that of a miraculous cure,
although we are definitely open to miracles,
but the hope of a life lived to the fullest in dignity
and understanding, for however long that may be.
|
|
Immune Therapy:
A New Twist on Treating Cancer
Marcel Hernandez, ND
|
|
|
| T-cells latching on to a cancer cell |
T-cells are a type of white blood cell responsible for finding and destroying unwelcome cells. This includes bacteria, viruses, fungi and cancer. These tiny powerhouses are covered in little fingers known as 'receptors', which allow them to identify anything that may threaten the body.
All cells are covered in tiny proteins: long chains of amino acids all strung together. Proteins control a huge variety of functions inside the cells. But bacterial and viral proteins look very different from normal, healthy proteins. In a healthy immune system, when the T-cell receptors identify a foreign protein, they call in reinforcements and get other cells to come and help; then the army of T-cells latch on to the proteins and shoot out toxic granules that punch holes in the infected cell, neutralizing the threat.
There are many different types of T-cells, but only a very small number of them are already capable of picking out and destroying cancerous cells. Unfortunately, there aren't enough of the cancer-killing variety, and in small numbers are also not effective enough to always successfully destroy most cancers.
The FDA recently approved three new immunotherapy drugs, called PD-1 inhibitors, designed to help white blood cells track down and destroy hard-to-fight tumors indefinitely. PD-1 is a type of switch on the T-cell that limits T-cell proliferation to prevent an uncontrolled immune response. But cancer cells produce their own protein that limits PD-1, essentially turning T-cells off. The new drugs bind to PD-1 and prevent cancer cells from limiting production of T-cells. More T-cells means more immune system cancer fighters.
Jonathan Cheng, executive director of clinical oncology at Merck, said, "Chemotherapy almost always stops working. The promise of immune therapy is that you're training the immune system to attack something foreign, so you are able to maintain that activity for a very long time, hopefully for the rest of the patient's life."
Sounds promising? Side effects of the new drugs? None listed... yet. We'll know soon. Clinical trials are underway.
Read more about T-cells HERE.
|
|
Carbohydrates Can Cause Cancer?
Believe it!
|
A recent study by MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, has everybody talking. While we
'
ve all known that sugar and simple carbs stimulate inflammatory pathways and are anathema to cancer patients, this study is truly shocking.
It turns out that
high glycemic index foods up the risk of cancer. This, in and of itself, is no surprise to us and to our patients. However, the MD Anderson report indicates that people who consume quantities of high glycemic foods have a 49% greater risk of developing lung cancer, regardless of the fact that they may never have smoked. It is not the quantity of carbs, it's the quality of carbs as reflected in the glycemic index that counts.
|
|
|
Lung cancer |
As a rule,
white foods and processed foods are much higher on the glycemic index thanother foods. A first step would therefore be to reduce your consumption of those foods, and increase your consumption of those delicious organic veggies.
Click
HERE for a connection to one of our Bay Area Community Supported Agriculture Co-ops, and have your organic veggies delivered on a weekly basis.
Interested in finding out more about the adjunctive cancer treatment at the Hernandez Center?
Please phone us for an appointment at:
650-917-1121
|
|
Other I.V. Therapies Offered at Pacific Naturopathic and the Hernandez Center
|
Many people have already heard about intravenous vitamin C as a complementary cancer therapy to help stimulate the immune system as well as being directly cytotoxic to cancer cells. We are often using this therapy at the Hernandez Center for our cancer patients. What people may not know is that we also have many other IV therapies that are also very helpful in supporting our cancer patients depending on their symptoms and what they need.
We often give a nutrient IV in between IV vitamin C sessions. This helps to provide more energy and rebuild our patients who may be feeling fatigued or have low blood counts.
We also have other anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer therapies like IV curcumin (turmeric) or IV silibinin (from milk thistle).
Another IV treatment that can help cancer patients from losing more weight or to help them gain weight is an infusion that includes a variety of amino acids.
Perhaps the most famous IV
These are just a few of the protocols we have for our cancer patients. For more information or to set up an appointment, please contact us at the Hernandez Center at (650) 917-1121.
* * *
|
|
CLEAN, HEALTHY PRODUCE:
RECOMMENDED BY DR. CONNIE AND DR. MARCEL
(We've been receiving this amazing produce for several years...)
* * * * *
NOW TAKING SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE 2016 GROWING SEASON
What makes our produce so unusually delicious?
* Hand harvested just 1-2 days before pickup
* Restorative, low-till agriculture
* Biologically alive soil filled with healthy microbes
* Plants and seeds carefully chosen for flavor and vitality
* Conscious farming by long-time meditators
Ananda Valley Farm is nestled amongst hills and canyons on 67 acres of rich farmland just outside of Half Moon Bay, land that has been lovingly farmed for more than 100 years. Water is available year-round from a mountain-top spring that American Indians have long considered sacred.
30 weeks of produce May-November, 2016
Classic box for 1-2 people/week
$26/box, $780 for the season
Family box for 3-5 people/week
$34/box, $1020 for the season
$50 early bird discount for orders by April 1
Questions? Please call Trisha at (650) 246-9453
|
|
Pacific Naturopathic
and
The Hernandez Center
for Adjunctive Cancer Care
2570 W. El Camino Real, Suite 111
Mountain View, CA 94040
650-917-1121 (v) * 650-917-1127 (f)
|
|
|
|
