Cranberry - the new "Man-berry"?

So we've all heard of the benefits cranberries have for women, specifically with UTIs (urinary tract infection), but did you know that the little red berry may very well be beneficial for men as well?



There was a study done in the Czech Republic claiming that the protective benefits of cranberries toward urinary tract health may now extend to men's prostates.


According to the Czech scientists, after six months of supplementation with 1,500 mg per day of dried powdered cranberries, there were marked improvements in the International Prostate Symptom Score, 'quality of life' measures, urination parameters, and lower levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA).


"Our trial is the first to evaluate cranberry in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) specifically in men with [benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)], elevated PSA levels and non-bacterial prostatitis," said researchers, led by Dr. Jitka Vostalova.

"Unlike currently used medication for prostatitis and LUTS, cranberry has no adverse effects. Our findings may assist men suffering from LUTS, and also their clinicians, to decide on a treatment that is both inexpensive and natural, like cranberry," researchers added.


To read more about the study, check out "The effectiveness of dried cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms" published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Reference:

Source: British Journal of Nutrition

Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1017/S0007114510002059 "The effectiveness of dried cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms" Authors: A. Vidlar, J. Vostalova, J. Ulrichova, V. Student,D. Stejskal, R. Reichenbach, J. Vrbkova, F. Ruzicka, V. Simanek



If you need testing for your PSA or other issues regarding  prostate issues please give me a call lets discuss further.

Tips for everyday living toxin-free

 Tips for everyday living toxin-free and More

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Toxins pop up everywhere—from our plates to the air—and everyday exposure can have long-term effects on our health, potentially leading to oxidative damage and certain cancers. How can you live cleaner? Here, are some  tips on purifying the air in our homes, eating detoxifying foods, and taking safe, toxin-free supplements to be healthier for the long haul.

• Air out dry cleaning. Many dry cleaners use toxic chemicals like perchloroethylene (perc), a potential carcinogen that enters the body through the lungs and skin; other long-term health effects may include kidney and liver damage. To reduce risk, remove the plastic wrap and air out your dry cleaning on your porch or in your garage. Look for “green” cleaners who use less toxic chemicals. Also, wear dry-cleaned clothing as many times as you can before dry cleaning them again.
• Ditch toxic cleaners. Toss cleaning products containing harmful ingredients like bleach, ammonia, artificial fragrances, formaldehyde, and triclosan. Your body can manage the everyday germs in your home, so germophobia isn’t necessary. Toxic products don’t just kill germs, they also kill your cells. Use plant-based cleaning products and open windows while cleaning.
• Eliminate plastic cookware. When you heat your food in a plastic container or even when plastics get worn and scratched, plasticizers like bisphenol-A (BPA)—a known endocrine disruptor—leak into your food, potentially causing health problems including cancer. When you take leftovers home in plastic or Styrofoam, immediately transfer them to glassware, especially when heating them up.

                              

• Eat more organic dark leafy greens. Alkalinizing, cleansing, and full of chlorophyll, greens like kale and bok choy are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Dark leafy greens also support liver function, important because the liver breaks down fats and toxins. Buy organic to reduce pesticide exposure.
• Avoid artificial flavors and colors. Processed and packaged foods contain toxins, including artificial preservatives and colors, “natural” flavors, fillers, stabilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. These toxins have been linked to heart disease, cancers, diabetes, and learning disorders. Minimally processed foods provide easy-to-absorb nutrients without artificial ingredients. The cleaner we eat, the more efficiently our bodies function.
• Buy organic milk. Conventional milk contains pesticides, antibiotics, and steroids, and most conventionally raised cows are corn-fed instead of grass-fed, which is dangerous because conventional corn is often genetically engineered and pesticide-ridden. Pesticides, antibiotics, and steroids are stored in the cow’s fat content, and then concentrated in milk, which can interfere with hormone function.

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• Look for a multimineral with iodine. Toxic and carcinogenic plasticizers (such as xenoestrogen), which come from plastics, herbicides, and pesticides, act like estrogen and build up in the body. Iodine helps to clear these buildups, which are associated with breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers for women and prostate cancer for men. Also, cook with Himalayan or river-based salts to get naturally occurring iodine.
• Take curcumin. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative, curcumin is a spice that helps expel free radicals that damage the body through oxidation. Antioxidants like curcumin eliminate these toxins by quenching or neutralizing them, and then removing them from the body. Take 200–300 mg of a known and researched curcumin supplement daily. Also look for formulations with antioxidants resveratrol and green tea polyphenols.
• Choose quality supplements, particularly fish oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that fight inflammation associated with toxic buildup in the body.

Tired But Wired? Are you suffering fromn Adrenal Fatigue?

One of the most common but often undiagnosed health problems in America leaves more than 85 percent of us feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and over medicated. Today's doctors miss this syndrome but chances are you haven't overlooked the havoc it is wreaking in your life. It's time to take a serious look at Adrenal fatigue and Exhaustion!
Stress level most of us live with daily is totally over the top! Consider some of these things when you are taking a quick inventory of your stress level:
1. Do you have lots of physical stress? This includes things like overwork, lack of sleep and athletic over-training.
2. Do you have chemical stress? There's all that stuff in the environment, but this also includes allergies, foods that cause an inflammatory response, processed sugar and carbs, chemical calories, food additives, food substitutes (like Slenda and Equal), caffeine and energy drinks along with "natural occurring" chemical imbalances in the endocrine gland system, and alternating bouts of mild constipation and diarrhea.
3. I your body exposed to thermal stress? Are you regularly over-heated and/or over-chilling your body?
4. How much emotional and mental stress do you have?
This is a relatively new perspective for people beyond the regular marriage/divorce/job change/moving stuff.Watching too much news on the television, being in the presence of loud people and even unspoken family tensions all contribute to your stress.

Stress activates the adrenal gland response. Your Adrenal glands sit just above your kidneys; they secrete more than 50 kinds of hormones necessary for life, energy production, fat storage and fluid balance.
When we are chronically stressed, we set the stage for stress-related illnesses that have three stages . First we have an alarm reaction in our body, which alerts the brain and nervous system, triggers the release of certain hormones and increases adrenal activity. The adrenals are working overtime in case you need to respond with fight/flight/freeze. Once the initial alarm stage is over, your body goes through a temporary recovery phase of 24-48 hours. You'll feel tired, listless and less able to respond to other stresses effectively. Your body will secrete less cortisol, which in unhealthy.
Adrenal fatigue can often cause paradoxical reactions, odd responses out of the norm of the expected. Here's a list of red flags signaling you need to pay attention and get help!
* You get tired instead of calm when taking steroids
* You have sudden anxiety attacks and feelings of impending doom while at rest
* You have erratic heart palpitations even though your cardiac function is normal
* You experience dizziness and lightheadedness while at rest when you're under extreme stress or when you eat certain foods like carbohydrates.
* Your blood pressure is all over the place

* You feel "beaten up" for days after vigorous exercise
* You wake up in the wee hours for no good reason and cannot get back to sleep
* High losses of vitamin C or magnesium make you constipated
* You become far more emotionally fragile than usual and find yourself crying for no apparent reason.
* You feel good after taking your supplements but crash shortly after.
The second phase is called resistance with chronic severe and on-going stress, the adrenal glands try to adapt and rebuild themselves. In some cases, they even increase in size.On the way to total adrenal exhaustion, the adrenal glands hemorrhage, the thymus gland atrophies, which decreases our immune strength, and we no longer have the ability to cope (much less function) in our day-today lives. Some of us seek help at this point, but because adrenal fatigue is so common most of us brush it off. We tell ourselves, "Everyone deals with stuff, I just need to get it together". Wrong!

The Third stage is adrenal exhaustion we lose the ability to adapt to stress at all.Our bodies literally give up. Our adrenal glands no longer provide protective stress responses and they cannot produce the important hormones that influence almost all of the major physiological processes in our bodies. These hormones affect how we use carbs and fats, how we convert fats and proteins to energy, how fat is distributed across our bodies, our blood sugar balance, gastrointestinal function and heart rate. By stage three most people drag themselves to the doctor's office and it's not pretty!

So all that said What do you do Now!
So let's take a proactive step first detoxify your life. This means getting rid of foods that cause inflammation or interrupt your hormone balance, but it also means cleaning up your environment. Research has shown that reading the news or listening to it on the radio is less stress-inducing than watching it on TV. And removing stressors from your life may also mean you need to let go of some toxic people or reduce your interactions with them." You need to reduce the things that are pushing your stress buttons!" Others things you can do to support your body and actively manage your stress levels. Slow gentle movement like Tai Chi, stretching forms of yoga, walking, strolling through the park or walking around the block at lunch break. Contemplative activities like breath work, guided visualization and meditation also help. Gardening, Whittling, knitting, and crochet are also great for lowering stress. Next you need to look at what your eating. For instance reduce our over-stimulation with foods. If you drinking six to eight cups of coffee, having an energy drink, getting those extra shots of espresso at Starbucks- those are warning signs! Craving salt all the time. try adding a little organic sea salt to your water and see if you feel better. And if your suddenly craving black licorice, your body is trying to tell you something. Licorice actually can be a treatment -along with salt- for adrenal fatigue. "If we don't make changes we are literally getting beat up every day from the inside out!"Here are some good time frames for recovery if you take your treatment plan seriously. You can expect adrenal fatigue to heal in:
6 to 9 months for minor adrenal fatigue
12 to 18 months for moderate fatigue
Up to 24 months for severe adrenal fatigue
If you are all the way into stage 3 adrenal exhaustion, you need to hit the reset button on your life and get healthy NOW!. The final stage of full exhaustion is Addison's Disease and recovery is difficult at best.
And remember, you don't get here overnight. And you get back to feeling great. Just don't stress about it.
If you have a family member or you want to talk to me personally about this. email me or call me I would be glad to help you with your health.

Are you fatigued and constantly on the run trying to fulfill daily responsibilities at work and at home?



If so, you are not alone. Thousands of people struggle to deal with life's great demands. But too much stress can drain our vital energy, and if the energy balance is not restored, a physical illness ensues.

Exhaustion has become an epidemic in the 21st century. There are no easy solutions to remove stress completely from our lives, but there are ways to fight the afternoon slump and sluggishness. Here is how:

Drink Fluids
Believe it or not, dehydration is one of the major causes of fatigue. Dehydrated blood becomes thicker and flows much slower than normal, thus providing slower oxygen delivery to the brain. Therefore, your brain becomes tired and sluggish. In addition, the brain is composed of 80% water. When it becomes dehydrated, it works much slower. To prevent mental and physical sluggishness due to dehydration, drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water or other caffeine-free beverages a day. Try to drink filtered water, if you need to spice it up try putting lemon or lime, if just plain water is to bland.
Eat Snacks

Eating healthy snacks between meals and before bedtime will help your blood sugar level remain steady. That will enable you to avoid energy dips throughout the day. For lasting energy, combine fruits, vegetables, and grains with protein. Consider healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables, cheese, and crackers. Avoid high fat and high sugar snacks. They will give you a quick energy boost, but 30 minutes later you'll find yourself hungry again.

Physical Activity

Physical activity elevates mood and promotes a sense of well-being. While increasing your level of energy, it also helps lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and your risk for developing diseases like heart disease. So get off the couch and start a regular exercise routine! I recommend to my patients to get the most benefit from exercise, to engage in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Or just walking at a steady pace for 30 min.

The best way to relieve stress is to avoid energy draining activities like these:
TV

When you kick back in front of the TV, you think that you are in for an evening of relaxation. Think again! Many programs, especially the news, can cause high levels of stress. Instead of watching television to relax, get off the couch and go for a walk or a bike ride!

Sugar

Sweet treats are comforting, but may cause your blood sugar to drop, making you want to take a nap. In addition, sugary treats provide you with empty calories that ruin your waste line. Instead, reach for a healthy snack of fruits, vegetables, pretzels, and cheese.

Caffeine

Beverages containing caffeine can give you a quick jolt of energy, but it does not last long. Instead, keep your body hydrated with water and other caffeine-free fluids.


Hopefully this helps you know why you feel tired & fatigue all the time and don't know why. If your fatigue, needs a little more attention then the above, give me a call lets discus this further.

POMEGRANATE THE NUTRITIONAL JEWEL

Do something good for your heart- and many other parts of your body with pomegranate juice, supplements and seeds.

The whole fruit , though delicious, is less familiar to most people than juices and supplements. But in any form, pomegranate offers a multitude of health benefits.

In Fruits and vegetables, richness of color stems from a concentration of nutrients. Given their vibrant ruby red hue, pomegranates, not surprisingly are especially high in health-promoting antioxidants.

Studies on Pomegranate:

Studies have focused on juice and extracts. Benefits include lowering "bad" LDL cholesterol,

increasing blood flow to the heart among people with heart disease, protecting against prostate and breast cancers, improving erectile dysfunction, enhancing recovery from exercises, protecting against heart disease and diabetes, and increasing resistance to the flu. Newer research shows that pomegranate can help alleviate common symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes. Pomegranate is a natural source of phytoestrogens, known to help promote hormonal health. When applied topically to the skin, pomegranate reduces damage from the sun. In mouthwashes, it reduces plaque and protects against gum disease. And for overall health, antioxidants protect against environmental damage and the ravages of aging.



In studies, a therapeutic amount is most often 8 ounces of juice daily or the equivalent in an extract, taken for at least a few months. Health improvements generally result from making pomegranate a routine part of one's daily diet.

These are some research Highlights:

Research in Israel found that the natural sugar in pomegranate does not act like sugar in other fruit juices, which raise blood sugar. In a study of 20 diabetics, published in atherosclerosis, pomegranate did not raise blood sugar but reduced the development of arartherosclerosis.

In most juices, sugars are present in free and harmful forms said lead researcher Michael Aviram, Phd. In pomegranate juice however the sugars are attached to unique antioxidants, which actually make these sugars protective against atherosclerosis.



CANCER-Fighting Compounds:

At the University of California, Los Angles, a study of 50 men who had been treated for prostate cancer found that pomegranate juice (8 ounces daily of POM Wonderful) quadrupled the length of time during which there was little or no cancer progression. In men 65 to 70 who have been treated for prostate cancer, we can give them pomegranate juice and it may be possible for them to outlive their risk of dying from their cancer, said lead research Allan Pantuck, PhD .We're hoping we may be able to prevent or delay the need for other therapies usually used in this population, such as hormone treatment or chemotherapy, both of which bring with them harmful side effects.



Pomegranate Recipes:

The pomegranate's bright red seeds, or arils, are little juice sacs with crunchy inner seeds that are rich in fiber. Eat them as a snack, sprinkle on fish or game meats or fold into rice or other grain dishes. These are some other ways to enjoy the fruit.



• Make a quick salad dressing. Blend pomegranate seeds or juice with balsamic or rice vinegar and extra virgin olive oil; add honey to taste. If using seeds, strain before serving.

• Add pomegranate juice to smoothies for an antioxidant boost..

• Liven up guacamole: Mix one or two tablespoons of pomegranate seeds for added visual appeal and taste.

• Brighten up a salad: Sprinkle pomegranate seeds onto green or fruit salad after tossing.

• Add a burst of flavor to plain yogurt: Mix a little honey into yogurt, and then fold in pomegranate seeds for a sweet-tart combination.

• Sprinkle pomegranate seeds on cereal, pancakes, waffles, pudding, ice cream or other desserts. Or decorate a cake with the ruby jewels

• Enjoy a ruby-red glass of pomegranate juice in a place of wine, for party get together or special or festive occasions.

Questions?  Email or Call Dr Phillip Dietrich @ 650 291-0709  or  800 422-9660
 Email:  drpjd@earthlink.net

Fatty Liver Disease

The next new silent killer

First the obesity epidemic in the U.S., now this: a liver condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).  Many associate liver disease with heavy alcohol and/or drug users, but obese individuals are likely to have fatty liver disease due to overtaxing the liver from too much carbohydrate and fat intake, over time.
According to a review published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, NAFLD is believed to be one of the most common forms of liver disease worldwide.
Its prevalence is growing because of the rise in obesity. About 20% to 40% of industrialized Western countries may be affected.
The liver is an organ that metabolizes carbohydrates, fats and proteins. When consuming fat, the liver has to metabolize,  store, manufacture and package fat into particles called lipoproteins. These lipoproteins can then be transported throughout the body to cells that need them. Normally, this system works well.
However, with a lifetime of high fat and carbohydrate intake, the liver gets taxed and is unable to properly handle the fat that enters the body from the diet.
Triglycerides, a type of fat in the body, build up in the liver cells and over time, leading to a fatty liver. A fatty liver can cause inflammation, fibrosis (excess fibrous tissue) of  the liver tissue, cirrhosis. Insulin resistance, which can be  caused by excess calorie intake over time, raises triglyceride levels as well, and  thus may contribute to fatty liver disease developement.

High insulin levels, which occur with excess calorie intake, prevent fats from being broken down. Thus, it is easy to see why both obesity and insulin resistance can cause fatty liver disease.
NAFLD consists of two types of classifications:

hepatic steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The latter is a more severe form as it involves both fat accumulation and fibrosis and/or cirrhosis. About 20% of those with NASH result in cirrhosis or liver cancer. A simple Blood Test can detect and diagnose NAFLD. The best way to prevent it is to maintain  a healthy weight (lose weight if obese/overweight) through diet and  exercise, reduce total fat and carbohydrate intake, increase fiber  intake and make most of the fat you do consume plant-based. That translates into eating mostly plant foods (vegetables, legumes/beans, whole grains and fruit, plant oils such as olive oil) and lean animal foods (low fat dairy, eggs, fish, poultry and lean meat).
Adequate choline intake is important, too. The liver will become healthier as excess body weight is reduced.
Exercise is not only important for weight control, but it also increases muscle cells oxygen consumption and ability to burn fat, thus keeping fat from being stored in the liver. Exercise has also been shown to help with blood sugar control, insulin resistance, blood pressure, and liver enzymes.
Certain medications are commonly prescribed to treat the condition. Taurine, vitamin E and Milk Thistle supplementation have shown encouraging results.
Probiotics may also beneficially alter bowel flora and control inflammation.


Reference:
Patel, Anish A. MD, et al. Journal of Clinical
Gastroenterology, Nov/Dec 2009; Volume 43; Issue 10; pp 970-974

If you or  Family member have questions or need to further talk on this subject. Feel free to call me I would be happy to discuss with you.

Too Much Salt?

Sodium is the new dietary outlaw--and not just for its role in Hypertension...

A diet heavy in sodium can cause puffy eyes, headaches and a craving for calorie-laden drinks in the short run. Over time, it

not only sends blood pressure soaring but may also boost chances of developing stomach problems, osteoporosis and kidney stones. Yet despite decades of government warning and reams of fresh research about the myriad health hazards of excess sodium, we now eat up to 50 percent more than we did 30 years ago, feasting on a steady diet of Packaged foods and restaurant fare that--unbe knownst to many--delivers a whopping 80 percent of our sodium.

People have gotten the message about not using the salt shaker, but they don't realize that's not where they get all the salt in the first place. The problem is salt in processed and restaurant food.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Don't have hypertension yet? Just wait. Most people are well aware that those with, or at risk of, high blood pressure should go easy on the salt.What they don't realize is that means most of us..

A little more than 90 percent of the population in this country ultimately develops high blood pressure. Noting that one-third of adults already have hypertension and blood pressure slowly creeps up after about age 40 (due largely to the cumulative effects of excessive salt intake), leading to a host of cardiovascular problems. Here's what happens: Sodium draws in water, leading to increased blood volume. Like a hose on full blast, that boosted pressure strains at the heart and increases atherosclerosis in the arteries. And if an artery becomes sufficiently narrowed, it can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

The good news: According to one study, cutting salt intake from 9.7 to 6.6 grams per day can reduce average blood pressure significantly within six weeks. If we all cut our sodium intake by a modest 3 grams per day, or roughly one-half teaspoon, it still wouldn't get us to recommended levels, but it would be a good start with extensive impacts.

Stomach and Kidney Problems

Recent studies suggest that excess sodium can also interfere with the production of protective gastic mucos (leaving the stomach vulnerable to pathogens and carcinogens) and breed a virulent strain of bacterium H. pylori, the leading cause of stomach ulcers. And a sweeping 2009 research review concluded that "limitation on salt and salted food consumption is a practical strategy for preventing gastric cancer.And scientist have long known that chronic exposure to excess salt in the bloodstream is hard on the kidneys themselves, potentially leading to kidney stones and in in some cases, renal failure.

Fatigue and Obesity

Even in the short run, a sodium-loaded meal has consequences. Ever feel tired or have a headache after eating a bag of chips? That could be dehydration..You eat a lot of salt and it goes into your bloodstream where it pulls fluid away from the organs, making you tired. Salt also makes you thirsty (often for sugary, calorie-laden drinks) which has many health officials worried that salt could be contributing to the growing childhood obesity epidemic. Cutting salt consumption in half would help kids skip about 2.3 sweet drinks each week, avoiding 61 grams of sugar and 250 empty calories, according to British researchers.

The first step is to take a good look at what you eat during a typical week. If peperoni pizza, french fries, canned soup, grilled cheese, crackers or mac and cheese frequent the list, it's time to cut back in creative ways. Research shows that after 8 to 12 weeks of cutting sodium intake your taste buds will begin to prefer less salt.

So Now How Do You Avoid and Reduce Sodium Intake??

1. Recognize hidden salt mines, such as lunch meats, many breads and baked good (pita, corn tortillas) soba and Chinese noodles, many cheeses (cottage, American) tomato juice and spaghetti sauce, instant oatmeal and coca mixes.

2. Be a savvy label reader. "Reduced" sodium means 25 percent less than normal; "light" means 50 percent less; "low" means no more than 140 mg per serving; "very low" means 35 mg or less and "sodium free" means less than 5mg. When checking the Nutrition Facts Panel, look for no more than 5 percent of the Daily Value of sodium per serving or 115 mg for adults.

3. Seek out low-sodium versions. Choose unsalted butter and reduced-sodium tamari or soy sauce, soups, ketchup, salad dressings and other packaged foods.

4. Eat more potassium. Orange-colored fruits and vegetables (from apricots to acorn squash) bananas, artichokes, bok choy, spinach, Swiss chard, potatoes with skins on and other potassium-rich foods can help counteract the adverse effects of sodium.

5. Finally Order smart.. Ask the waiter if your meal Evan be made with less salt or get sauces on the side.Choose grilled meat rather than fried or breaded. Go easy on sodium heavy condiments for your burger. Ditto with salad dressing and skip the croutons. When cooking at home, use lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs to flavor your meals.