Archive for the ‘Nutritional Supplements’ Category

Say No to Surgery, Say Yes to Health

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

When I tell people about the successes we have at the Whitaker Wellness Institute using natural therapies and nutritional supplements to treat disease, sometimes they are hesitant to believe me. That’s why patient testimonials are so important to what we do. Skepticism can often be overturned by real stories from real people. One of these testimonials comes from Bob. Here’s what he had to say:

“Back in 1989, I went to Scripps Hospital in San Diego, had a treadmill stress test and an angiogram, and was told they would need to do a bypass operation in the morning. I was feeling pretty good so I declined the surgery, got out of that place, and never went back. I started looking into my options and who did I find but Dr. Julian Whitaker.

“After a hands-on examination, he said he thought he could fix me up. He gave me a list of supplements to take, told me to exercise 30 minutes every day, and prescribed chelation therapy. I’ve had a relationship with Dr. Whitaker now for 20 years. I still take the supplements he suggests and exercise regularly. And to think, those folks down at Scripps gave me 30 days to live without the bypass operation!

“I’ve been working steadily in the title business without missing hardly a day of work for 55 years—and I plan to keep on working for another 20 years. I can honestly say that if it weren’t for Dr. Whitaker I wouldn’t be here today.” — Bob Duff, Whitaker Wellness patient

As remarkable as Bob’s story is, he’s actually the rule rather than the exception. Instead of operations and side-effect-riddled drugs, we offer our patients innovative therapies and targeted nutrients. And you know what? They respond better, regain their health, and are better off with this noninvasive approach.

Posted in Alternative Medicine, Avoiding Invasive or Dangerous Procedures, Diet, Exercise, Heart Disease, Innovative Therapies, Nutritional Supplements, Vitamins, Wellness | No Comments »

Practical Tips for Preventing Colds and Flu

Monday, September 13th, 2010

Fall is fast approaching, and with it cold and flu season. Here are a few practical tips for staying healthy this autumn and year-round.

1. Wash Your Hands
Microbes can enter your system when an infected person in the vicinity coughs or sneezes. More commonly, however, you bring them in yourself by touching the mucous membranes of your mouth, nose, or eyes after coming into contact with a contaminated person or item such as a glass or towel. That’s why it’s important to wash your hands regularly.

It sounds like a no-brainer but you’d be amazed at how many people are just plain lousy at hand-washing. In a study by the American Society for Microbiology, almost everyone—92 percent—claimed to wash their hands in public restrooms, but only 77 percent actually did. And it’s often a haphazard rinse. You really need to lather up and scrub for a full 20 seconds. Use good old bar or liquid soap and avoid antibacterial products. Antibacterials contain triclosan, an agent known to increase risk of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.” More than three-quarters of liquid hand soaps contain triclosan, so read labels carefully. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are another viable option.

2. Flush Microbes Out
Another method of staving off infection is to wash germs out of the eyes and nostrils before they have a chance to enter your body. One way to do this is with facial dips. You simply fill a basin with warm water, add a special solution, and submerge your face in the water for a few seconds. (Clenzology makes a line of reputable products; however, an alternative is to use only warm water.) Another option is to cleanse the nostrils with salt water with either a saline nasal spray or a neti pot, a small container with a spout that allows you to gently pour water into your nostrils. Neti pots have been used for centuries, and saline nasal sprays were shown in a study of college students to reduce colds.

3. Boost Your Immunity
It goes without saying that living a healthy lifestyle boosts immune function. This includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, stress management, and a good daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. But there are additional supplements you should take during flu and cold season to strengthen your defenses. Vitamin C is indispensable. It increases the number and function of microbe-fighting white blood cells as well as the production of interferon, which helps prevent viral infections. I recommend taking a minimum of 1,500 mg a day, in divided doses, at this time of year.

Though vitamin C is a must-have, there is another supplement that you shouldn’t be without this season: vitamin D. Ensuring that you have an adequate blood level of vitamin D may be your best protection against all types of “bugs” this winter. That’s why you need to beef up your intake now. The most predictable way to do this is to take vitamin D3 supplements—enough to bring your blood level up into the optimal range of 50–80 ng/mL. (For most adults, this requires about 5,000 IU per day.) To make certain your levels are in the proper range, ask your doctor for a 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) test.

I hope you are able to put these tips to good use. Feel free to share this information with your friends and family. You know what they say—an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Posted in Alternative Medicine, Diet, Exercise, Immune System, Nutritional Supplements, Prevention, Vitamins, Wellness | No Comments »

Why Children Need Nutritional Supplements

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Growth during childhood occurs at a dizzying pace. The average child’s weight quintuples, height doubles, and brain size quadruples in just the first five years of life. Deficiencies in key nutrients during this short window of growth can have lifelong consequences. This is why optimal nutrition is so important during the early years.

As a parent, I know that getting kids to eat right is no small task. Many of the foods marketed to children are highly processed, loaded with sugar, fat, and calories, and devoid of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Consequently, far too many of our youngsters are on shaky nutritional footing.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), only a very small percentage of American children eat a good diet (20 percent of 2- to 6-year-olds, 8 percent of 7- to 12-year-olds, and 4 percent of 13- to 18-year-olds). Other surveys show that 69 percent of toddlers under age 2 eat candy or dessert and 44 percent drink sweetened beverages on a daily basis. No wonder so many boys and girls have inadequate intake of several essential nutrients.

I firmly believe that all children should take a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. While nutritional supplements are no replacement for a good diet, they do a heck of a job of filling dietary “gaps” and ensuring adequate intake of iron, iodine, zinc, B-complex vitamins, magnesium, calcium, antioxidants, and other nutrients that play crucial roles in optimal growth and development.

In addition to a daily multi, I also recommend docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplements. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that comprises a quarter of the total fat in the brain. A vital constituent of robust cellular membranes and myelin (which insulates and protects neurons and speeds up electrical transmissions), DHA also turns on genes that signal the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a growth factor that plays a key role in learning and memory.

Breast milk is an excellent source of DHA, which is one reason why children who are breastfed score higher on IQ tests than their bottle-fed peers. (The FDA finally got smart a few years ago and approved the addition of DHA-supplemented formula.) But toddlers and older kids often shy away from DHA-rich fish. The only surefire way to make certain they get enough is to supplement with DHA.

Look in your health food store for a children’s daily supplement that contains a broad range of essential vitamins and minerals and take as directed, based on your child’s age. The suggested dose of DHA is 100 mg a day from age six months to four years, 150 mg from four to six years, and 300 mg for children seven and older. (It is available in liquid and capsule form.)

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Posted in Alternative Medicine, Diet, Nutritional Supplements, Prevention, Vitamins, Wellness | No Comments »

Defeating Diabetic Neuropathy

Friday, August 20th, 2010

If you or someone you know is dealing with diabetic neuropathy, you are aware just how painful and debilitating this condition can be. The numbness, discomfort, and loss of sensation in the extremities isn’t just inconvenient—it can cause real problems. Fortunately, several effective therapies for diabetic neuropathy exist. Here are a few of my favorites.

Chelation. Chelation is an intravenous therapy that binds to metal ions in the blood, carrying them to the kidneys where they are excreted in the urine. Used for heavy metal poisoning, chelation also improves circulation, which helps alleviate symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP). EECP increases blood flow to the extremities and reduces symptoms of diabetic and peripheral neuropathy. During 35 one-hour sessions, pressurized cuffs are placed around the lower extremities. With each beat of the heart, the cuffs contract, squeezing blood up toward the heart and throughout the body, increasing circulation.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). HBOT is administered in a specially designed, pressurized chamber. When 100 percent oxygen is inhaled in this environment, it is easily absorbed, even in areas where blood supply is limited. This infusion helps boost circulation and improves a wide number of conditions, including diabetic neuropathy.

Infrared Light Therapy. Infrared light therapy (brand names Health Light and Anodyne) delivers special wavelengths of infrared light through the skin to the affected tissues, increasing the production of nitric oxide (a signaling molecule in short supply in diabetics). This painless procedure enhances blood flow, improves circulation, and has restored sensation in 93 percent of patients in eight separate clinical trials.

Alpha Lipoic Acid. Also known as lipoic acid or ALA, alpha lipoic acid is my top supplement recommendation for treating diabetic neuropathy. ALA is an extraordinary antioxidant that, in addition to quenching free radicals, has been shown in clinical studies to improve pain, burning, numbness, and other symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. The suggested dose is 600-1,200 mg per day in divided doses.

High-Dose Antioxidants.  Because oxidative damage plays a large role in diabetic neuropathy, high doses of antioxidants are imperative. Aim for 300-800 IU of vitamin E, a minimum of 1,000 mg of vitamin C, and 15,000 IU of vitamin A (as mostly beta-carotene.) A high-quality multi should contain these levels.

B-Complex Vitamins. When it comes to supporting nerve health, B-complex vitamins are essential. Suggested minimum doses are 800 mcg of folic acid, 150 mcg of B12, and 75 mg of B6. Again, a good multivitamin/mineral supplement should contain these doses.

Fish Oil. Inflammation is also a factor in diabetic neuropathy and fish oil is just the supplement to counteract this symptom. For best results, take 2-8 g of high-quality fish oil daily.

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Posted in Alternative Medicine, Diabetes, Diabetes Treatment, Diabetic Complications, Nutritional Supplements, Vitamins | No Comments »

A Sweet Cure From the Kitchen

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Throughout history, people have used herbs, spices, and other non-drug remedies to prevent and treat a variety of health concerns. Let’s take a closer look at one of my favorite “kitchen cures.”

Mentioned in Chinese texts dating back to 2700 BC, cinnamon has made appearances in the Bible, graced the tables of ancient Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians, and been deemed at one time a gift fit for a king. Today, cinnamon’s medicinal benefits, as well as its culinary uses, keep it in high esteem—and for good reason.

This spice improves insulin sensitivity and has profound effects on blood sugar. German researchers gave patients with type 2 diabetes who were on oral drugs either an aqueous extract of cinnamon (the equivalent of 3 g of cinnamon powder) or a placebo daily. After four months, the group taking cinnamon experienced a 10.3 percent reduction in blood sugar, compared to the placebo group’s drop of 3.4 percent. This effect was even more pronounced in an earlier study, in which blood sugar levels fell 18 to 29 percent with doses of 1 to 3 g of cinnamon per day.

A recent study confirms that cinnamon also lowers blood pressure, a benefit I’ve been hearing about for some time from my patients and readers. Marsha, a Health & Healing subscriber from Memphis, reported that taking a cinnamon extract and drinking cinnamon tea lowered her blood pressure from 215/110 to an average of 125–135/60–70! In addition, it has been shown to drive down triglycerides 23 to 30 percent and LDL cholesterol 7 to 27 percent over a 40-day period.

Cinnamon’s other purported benefits range from curing the common cold and relieving arthritis to improving memory and warding off insects. Although I’m not certain these claims will pan out, the wide-ranging benefits of this spice make it a worthy addition.

But don’t just add ground cinnamon to your food. Research suggests that chemicals in saliva render it ineffective. Furthermore, whole cinnamon contains some undesirable compounds that are eliminated when it is mixed in hot water. Therefore, I recommend taking a water-soluble cinnamon extract, drinking cinnamon tea, or adding cinnamon to ground coffee before brewing. The suggested dose is a quarter to a half teaspoon twice a day.

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Posted in Diabetes, Diabetes Treatment, Diet, Foods That Heal, Nutritional Supplements, Prevention, Vitamins, Wellness | 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 »

New Therapy at Whitaker Wellness

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

I’m always on the lookout for new therapies that will benefit our patients at the Whitaker Wellness Institute. When I find something that makes the grade—whether it’s a nutritional supplement, noninvasive treatment or dietary modification—we add it to our treatment protocols.

I want to tell you about our latest addition. It’s a time-honored therapy that has been proven to be effective in clinical trials, yet is completely ignored by conventional physicians. It’s fasting.

Abstaining from food for a few days to a few weeks has numerous—and enduring—benefits. The body is able to get rid of excess sodium and accumulated fluids, resulting in reductions in edema and dramatic lowering of blood pressure. The copious amounts of water you drink during a fast flushes out toxins, making it the best of all detox regimens.

Fasting gives your digestive system a break, which leads to improvements not only in chronic gastrointestinal problems but also in allergies and autoimmune disorders, which are often related to leaky gut syndrome. In addition, fasting provides substantial benefits for patients with diabetes. It improves insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control, promotes weight loss, and facilitates the adaptation to a healthier lifestyle after the fast ends.

Fasting is best done in a medically supervised environment, such as the Whitaker Wellness Institute. During your treatment program at the clinic, you will be closely monitored by our professional staff, undergo other therapies for your specific condition, and attend educational activities that will help you stay on track once you leave the clinic.

I personally underwent a five-day fast several months ago, during which I lost 21 pounds, my blood pressure and blood sugar decreased, and my cholesterol and triglycerides improved. The first two days were tough—I was definitely grumpy and irritable. But after I got over the hump, I felt better than I had in years. Best of all, the strides I made during that short fast have endured, and as an added bonus, I find that sticking to a good diet and avoiding salty, sugary foods is now much easier than before. 

If you have diabetes, hypertension, obesity, an autoimmune disease, or digestive issues, I encourage you to look into this remarkable therapy.

Posted in Diet, Nutritional Supplements, Uncategorized, Weight Loss, Wellness | No Comments »

Are Nutritional Supplements Safe?

Monday, April 12th, 2010

There’s been a lot of press lately regarding the safety of nutritional supplements. Let’s look at the facts—and the hype.

First, let’s compare the risks of supplements to the perils of everyday life.  Every year in this country, 9,000 people are injured by fireworks. Millions sustain burns, many of them in kitchen accidents, and 4,500 of them die. More than 500,000 people are seen in emergency rooms for injuries sustained while riding bicycles, resulting in an average of 700 fatalities per year. About 3,600 Americans die from choking on food and other objects. Even food itself is risky, causing 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths a year!

Where do supplements fit in? According to the most recent annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, not a single death was attributed to a nutritional supplement in 2008. You’re more likely to die from lightning strikes, bee stings, dog bites, or diesel exhaust than from nutritional supplements—and you’re far more likely to be harmed by eating food.

There is one class of consumer products, however, that kills more people than handguns, automobiles, street drugs, and every type of poison combined. Each and every year, at least 106,000 patients die in our hospitals from adverse reactions to prescription drugs while under medical supervision. (This doesn’t count the untold numbers who die of medication side effects outside of hospitals.) Going with the conservative in-hospital figure, that’s 290 deaths per day, day in and day out—close to the equivalent of a 747 going down every single day.

Damage is not limited to prescription drugs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin kill 16,500 Americans every year and send 103,000 to the hospital with gastrointestinal bleeding. Now, add to these figures the two million people (5,500 per day) who have adverse drug reactions that require hospitalization or cause permanent damage.

Where is the hue and cry over this?  If any other consumer product had this dismal a record of safety, it would be history. Yet we rarely see exposés on the dangers of pharmaceuticals—until one of them kills hundreds of people and is yanked off the market.

Remind me again why supplements are under such scrutiny

Posted in Alternative Medicine, Dangerous Drugs, Nutritional Supplements | No Comments »

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