Category Archives: Diabetes

Memory, Alzheimer’s and Pesticides?

Are Pesticides Causing Memory Issues and Alzheimer’s?

Scientific America is weighing in on this question based on research reported by the Journal of the American Medical Association Neurology.

At Scientific American suggests that “saying that any pesticide causes Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is going too far. But evidence from a small study reported in JAMA Neurology suggests there could be a connection.” But the question still remains, “Are pesticides causing memory issues and Alzheimer’s?”

The JAMA Neurology study looked at pesticide levels in the blood of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and those who didn’t have it.  They looked for blood levels of DDE (a major byproduct of the pesticide DDT).  The levels of DDE in the AD subjects were almost FOUR TIMES HIGHER than in the controls. FOUR TIMES HIGHER.

This comes as no great surprise to those of us who have been looking at this chemical toxicity issue already for decades.  And, I go into detail about this connection, as ONLY 1 of MANY, in my books.  Learn more by going to http://www.OutsmartingDementia.com and http://www.SuperBrain-TheBook.com.

#Alzheimer #SuperBrain #obesity #pesticides

Scientific American states that there are still minute levels of DDE, a pesticide, in the US environment in spite of DDT having been banned in this country after Rachel Carson’s wide-spread alerting of the public in her seminal book, Silent Spring. 

There are still countries that permit the use of DDT pesticide in agriculture, and thus residues are most likely to be found fruits and vegetables imported from there. The pesticide has also been found in seafood, particularly farmed fatty fish, such as salmon, and shellfish imported from other countries.  DDE and DDT do not break down quickly, so that is one reason why they are so persistent even after being banned.

Scientific American advises that to reduce your exposure, wash produce thoroughly, throw away the outer leaves of leafy vegetables such as cabbage and trim the fat from meat and fat and skin from poultry and fish. If you eat sport-caught fish, check your state’s advisories for which types to avoid. If you don’t avoid it you may be susceptible to its ill effects and memory loss and Alzheimer’s.

Because trace amounts of pesticides (and other bad chemicals) can be in the water you drink from the tap, it is essential that you filter your drinking and cooking water with an effective water filtration system like the ones we recommend at http://www.multipureusa.com/redwoodclinic.  Buy one and use it to save the lives of yourself and your children.

The Scientific American article can be found at Memory on May 25, 2015

Dopamine, Addictions, and Branding

How are dopamine, addictions, and branding related? Addictions are habitual behavioral patterns that are cute__adorable-t1-baby picturetriggered by external and internal stimulants. The stimulants can be chemicals, drugs, foods, behaviors, memory patterns, etc.

476px-Chimp_Brain_in_a_jarIn general, we humans and mammals seek out pleasure and try to avoid pain. The pleasure centers of our brain are very powerful motivators of our behavior. We have high level control centers and deeper, survival level control centers. The high level ones have to be developed to be able to overcome the lower (survival) ones or our metabolism can be hijacked due to addictions. Dopamine is a powerful “reward” neurotransmitter that makes us feel great, satisfied, comforted.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Many substances and behaviors trigger release of dopamine. Addictive drugs like cocaine and heroine release it; sugar releases it; acupuncture releases it.

This is common knowledge that can be used to help prevent diabetes or can also be used to promote consumer behavior that can lead to diabetes and other conditions that can lead to dementia, brain degeneration, Alzheimer’s, etc. This post on FAST FOOD is scientifically accurate and a great read. ‪#‎Alheimers‬ ‪#‎dopamine‬ ‪#‎superbrain‬ ‪#‎addiction‬ http://www.psychologytoday.com/…/7-reasons-we-cant-turn-dow…

Digestion, Immunity, and Probiotics – Your Natural Choices

Boost Digestion, Immunity with Probiotics: Finding digestive comfort and Regularity

Many digestive complaints may be due to an imbalance of intestinal microflora. Digestive discomforts such as bloating, indigestion, and mild or occasional constipation or diarrhea could be bad bacteria and parasites on gutwarning signs of an imbalance of intestinal bacteria referred to as
microflora. Certain inflammatory disorders (e.g., inflammatory bowel diseases) are also associated with microflora imbalance. Stress and other lifestyle factors including diets high in sugars and low in fiber can foster harmful bacteria growth. Frequent or prolonged use of certain medications can also disrupt microflora balance.

Good bacteria are good for your health. Your gastrointestinal (GI) tract is home to hundreds of bacterial strains, including both good and bad bacteria. One of your GI system’s main immunological functions is to rid the body of harmful bacteria and maintain a favorable ratio of health-promoting microflora. “Friendly” bacteria aid in digestion, intestinal motility to promote probiotics on gutregular bowel movements, and immune function to defend against infection by food-borne or other disease-causing germs. A “probiotic” may help restore balance. Daily supplementation with beneficial probiotic bacteria complements healthy eating, regular exercise, and managing stress to support digestive, immune, and overall health. Probiotics can also be used strategically to help respond to brief flare-ups of digestive distress, such as travel-associated diarrhea or discomforts associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Get the right probiotic to meet your needs. Different probiotic strains have unique benefits. So it’s important to select a beneficial combination of probiotic strains to get the health support you need.

Stomach, Small Intestine, and Large Intestine

Stomach, Small Intestine, and Large Intestine

Make an appointment to discuss how a targeted probiotic can help you in the context of overall health and better functioning. Call us today  510-849-1176 * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How to Manage Your Diabetes

acupunctureOver one million people in the U.S. alone will be diagnosed with diabetes this year. There is a good chance that you or someone you know will be affected by diabetes. While it is generally a long-term condition, diabetes can be managed through self-care, nutrition, and medication. Another safe, effective approach to managing diabetes and its symptoms is acupuncture. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) help promote health and well-being. Both can be used safely along with your current medical treatment to provide the best results for you.

Helping You to Understand

The body gets its energy from food through the process of digestion. Food is broken down into glucose (or sugar) which passes into the bloodstream. Then the glucose is moved into muscle, fat, and liver cells by the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. However, if you have diabetes, your body either does not produce enough insulin, or doesn’t respond to it properly, and this leads to high levels of sugar in the blood.

Uncontrolled blood-sugar levels can cause serious complications if left untreated, including blindness, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, amputations, and nerve damage.

Making It Simple

Type I diabetes: Usually diagnosed during childhood, type I is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells. Symptoms usually come on suddenly, and treatment includes daily injections of insulin.

Symptoms of Type II Diabetes include:

  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urination
  • Increased appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Blurred vision
  • Slow-healing infections
  • Impotence in men

Type II diabetes: This type accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes cases, and is usually diagnosed during adulthood. Major risk factors include family history, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol and being overweight and sedentary.

Since symptoms may be mild, many people don’t know they have diabetes, which is why it’s important to get tested regularly, especially after age 45. Testing can also detect pre-diabetes, where blood sugar is high, but not yet at diabetic levels. With early detection and treatment, it is far easier to stop the disease from progressing, control your symptoms, and prevent complications. Treatments often include regular blood-sugar monitoring and medications to control blood sugar, as well as diet and exercise.

Diabetes according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) goes beyond a simple diagnosis of Type I or Type II diabetes.

Here is a list of the more common TCM diagnoses that your acupuncturist may discover and treat.

  • Upper Wasting
  • Middle Wasting
  • Lower Wasting
  • Spleen deficiency
  • Liver Qi Stagnation

Working Naturally

The good news is that certain types of diabetes respond very well to acupuncture along with other holistic health care choices and lifestyle changes—sometimes even making medications unnecessary.

Acupuncture and TCM can help put you on the path to a healthier lifestyle. Since diabetes has an impact on every part of your body, it makes sense to try a therapy that takes a holistic, or whole-body, approach to health.

According to TCM, Qi (pronounced “chee”) is the vital energy that animates the body and protects it from illness. Qi flows through pathways called meridians and provides nourishment to all of the body’s organs and glands. When there is an imbalance or blockage in the flow of Qi, symptoms associated with diabetes may appear.

According to TCM, diabetes is known as “Xiao Ke” or “wasting and thirsting disease”, caused by an imbalance of Qi and Yin. This produces heat which drains and consumes the body’s fluids. That is why symptoms related to heat appear—excessive thirst, irritability, itchy skin, dry mouth and red, swollen gums.

During treatment, fine, sterile needles will be inserted in specific acupuncture points along the meridian pathways in order to restore the flow of Qi and nourish Yin. This can ultimately relieve symptoms, improve pancreatic function and control blood sugar levels. Your acupuncturist will also work to resolve other imbalances or concerns that may be complicating your condition, and can help with common symptoms such as pain.

In addition to acupuncture care, your practitioner may offer recommendations for dietary changes, exercise plans, and herbal remedies.

Acupuncture and TCM address each patient’s individual needs in eliminating symptoms and potentially reduce the need for medication. The best approach to controlling your diabetes is to work with a team of health care providers who can address the many aspects of diabetes. Including an acupuncturist to your team—and working together to manage your diabetes—can have lasting benefits and help you live a healthy, active life.

Dr. Jay Sordean and The Redwood Clinic in Berkeley, California can help you manage your diabetes. Call us at today (510) 849-1176 to set up a consultation.