Archive for July, 2010

Burzynski: A Must-See Film

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

For those of you who don’t know, my friend and colleague Stanislaw Burzynski, MD, PhD, has made what I believe to be the most important cancer discovery of all time. Subscribers of my monthly newsletter Health & Healing have been following his triumphs and challenges since I first wrote about Dr. B in 1995. And now, a remarkable new movie entitled Burzynski can bring this amazing story right to your living room.

Burzynski was featured this spring in film festivals in California, New Jersey, Florida, and Australia and screened in major cities nationwide. It won the esteemed Humanitarian Vision Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival and has received glowing reviews from critics.

This film highlights Dr. Burzynski’s struggle against the FDA and other federal and state bureaucrats. In it, you’ll see the unjust persecution he’s faced simply because his effective therapy challenges traditional medicine’s expensive and unsuccessful cancer treatment paradigm.

For 90 minutes, you’ll ride a rollercoaster of emotions: from inspiration and motivation to infuriation and frustration. And at the end of the film, you’re sure to be as big of fan of Dr. Burzynski as I am.

My nonprofit Freedom of Health Foundation has been involved in the screenings and publicity of Burzynski, and we want to get it into the hands of as many people as possible. Please help me spread the word about this important movie. To get your DVD of this full-length feature film, along with key articles I’ve written about Dr. Burzynski, call (800) 792-4269, visit our Web site, thefhf.org, or send $20 (tax-deductible, postage included; make checks out to the Foundation) to:

Freedom of Health Foundation
P.O. Box 11599
Newport Beach CA 92658

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Posted in Alternative Medicine, Cancer, Medical Politics | No Comments »

Seven Steps for Healthy Summer Skin

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Clear, youthful skin is synonymous with radiant good health. The following steps can help you achieve healthy, younger-looking skin.

1. Feed Your Skin the Nutrients It Needs
Optimal skin health is dependent upon optimal nutrition. Antioxidants are key, especially zinc and vitamins A and E because they protect your skin from the onslaught of environmental free radicals. Equally important are essential fatty acids (EFAs), which contribute to the formation of healthy cell membranes. To ensure that your skin is getting all the nutrients it needs, take a high-dose, antioxidant-rich multivitamin and high-quality fish oil supplement daily.

2. Drink Plenty of Water
Seventy percent of the dermis, the inner layer of the skin, is water. One of the main reasons our skin sags and wrinkles as we age is that the dermis loses about 30 percent of its water content. Don’t overlook the importance of hydrating your skin from the inside out by drinking 10 to 12 glasses of filtered water every day. This is vital for overall health and imperative for supple, moist skin.

3. Shield Against UV Radiation
The majority of skin damage is caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight. After you’ve gotten your daily dose of vitamin D by spending 15 minutes or so in the sun, use a zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sunscreen. These natural minerals stay on the surface of the skin and reflect and scatter light as opposed to chemical sunscreens that are absorbed into the skin.

4. Stimulate New Skin With Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) stimulate the growth of new epidermal cells—the most superficial layer of skin—by  encouraging older cells to shed more rapidly. AHAs also increase the number of glycoaminoglycans, complex sugar molecules that help skin retain moisture. The result? A fresher appearance and reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.

5. Make Your Skin Glow With Vitamin C
Collagen is the supporting structure of the skin. Along with water, it makes up the bulk of the dermis. As we age, collagen production plummets, and this causes the skin to droop, pucker, and wrinkle. To stimulate collagen formation, apply a topical vitamin C serum or cream every morning. Topical vitamin C will also protect your skin from UV damage.
 
6. Smooth Away Fine Lines With Retinol
To help your skin retain moisture and to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and age-associated skin discoloration, use a retinol cream. Retinol is a nonprescription, weaker relative of Retin-A, the vitamin A compound long touted as a wrinkle remover. Like Retin-A, retinol increases cell turnover, helps new cells retain moisture, and improves the appearance of the skin—without the irritation often associated with Retin-A.

7. Use a Good Moisturizer
Another way to keep your skin hydrated is to use a moisturizer several times a day. The best moisturizers contain hyaluronic acid and/or essential fatty acids. Hyaluronic acid binds with water to prevent evaporation, while essential fatty acids seal moisture into the skin.

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Posted in Anti-Aging, Nutritional Supplements, Prevention, Skin Health, Wellness | No Comments »

Prolo Your Pain Away

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Two weeks of hunkering over a computer for hours each day left Laura with severe low back pain shooting into her right leg. Josh had such intense pain in his neck after a surfing accident that he could barely get out of bed. Fred had another in a long line of recurring back spasms, this one caused by carrying in the groceries. And Marie—well, she’s been told she just has to learn to live with the pain in her lower back and legs.

Chances are that you have a neck or back pain horror story of your own. These very common flare-ups are like the villain in a scary movie, lurking about and attacking at random moments—or, in some cases, haunting you continuously.

Most people look to the medicine cabinet for pain relief, opting for ibuprofen, aspirin, or prescription painkillers to knock out discomfort. Others try chiropractic care, massage, or acupuncture for relief. In the short term, most of these solutions are okay. But the real goal is to get to the bottom of the pain and stop recurrent attacks before they start. And that’s where prolotherapy comes in. Prolotherapy relieves pain by addressing it at the source: weakness in the ligaments and tendons. The obvious solution is to strengthen these weakened areas, and that is precisely what prolotherapy does.

A slightly irritating solution (dextrose is the most common) along with a mild anesthetic is injected into the region where the ligaments attach to the bones. This causes the body to mount a healing response, and inflammatory chemicals and growth factors begin repairing and reconstructing the affected area. The end result is strong, tight new connective tissue that restores proper alignment. Pressure is removed from the nerves and discs, and pain resolves. Because prolotherapy tackles the underlying cause of chronic pain, its effects are in most cases permanent.

If you have neck, back, sciatic, or knee pain, you should consider a course of prolotherapy. But don’t expect to hear about it from your conventional doctor. Most physicians are far too entrenched in the drug and surgery paradigm to even consider this treatment. Instead, do your own research. You can start by reading prolotherapy testimonials from real Whitaker Wellness patients who are living pain-free lives thanks to this remarkable treatment.

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Posted in Alternative Medicine, Back Pain, Chronic Pain, Prolotherapy | No Comments »

Simple Steps for Boosting Metabolism

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Metabolism refers to the breakdown and processing of nutrients from the foods we eat and their transformation into energy. Metabolic rate, which differs from person to person, is influenced by a number of factors, such as genetics, body composition, hormones, and gender.

If you have a fast metabolic rate, you’re one of the lucky ones who can eat whatever you want without gaining a pound. However, a sluggish metabolism can make weight loss and even maintaining normal weight an epic battle. But even if you haven’t been blessed with a perky metabolic rate, there are several steps you can take to boost your metabolism naturally. Here are some of my favorites.

Exercise: You probably know that your metabolism shifts into high gear while you are exercising. But did you know that your metabolic rate remains elevated even after you kick off your walking shoes and collapse on the sofa? Studies have shown that regular exercise resets your body’s thermostat for hours after you stop exercising—which is precisely what you want. Shoot for a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate activity, most days of the week.

H2O: Water is a crucial element for sustaining all the body’s processes. It also acts as a natural appetite suppressant. You should drink at least eight, eight-ounce glasses of pure, filtered water each day. Try drinking a glass before each meal as well. This aids in appetite control and helps keep you hydrated.

Eat Less, Eat More Often: When you eat less, the body burns those calories for fuel. If you gorge yourself, excess calories are stored as fat. Consuming smaller meals more often throughout the day gives you a steady stream of energy and allows your metabolism to stay engaged.

Green Tea: Green tea is a natural, mild thermogenic agent that can be taken as a pre-meal beverage or supplement. I recommend green tea instead of strong stimulants, which can raise blood pressure and heartbeat, alter heart rhythm, and cause nervousness and insomnia in some people. Drink one cup of green tea or take 100 mg of a standardized green tea extract, one to three times daily, before meals.

Check Your Thyroid: If you are following a healthy diet and exercise plan, using the metabolism boosters mentioned above, and still not losing weight, you may need to take a look at your thyroid function. If you exhibit other symptoms of hypothyroidism—fatigue, cold hands and feet, dry skin, hair loss, constipation—talk to your doctor about a trial of natural thyroid.

Posted in Diet, Foods That Heal, Thyroid, Weight Loss, Wellness | No Comments »