All Categories

Soybeans are Laden with the Herbicide Glyphosate

4/25/2014

At least 90% of soybeans grown in the US are genetically modified. The plant genome of the soybean is altered so when the fields are heavily sprayed with the herbicide glyphosate (common name Round Up) the soybeans survive, while the weeds are killed.

Weeds are becoming more resistant to glyphosate; therefore more and more glyphosate is being sprayed on the soybeans throughout the growing season. This means an increased accumulation of glyphosate residue in the soybean.

A recent article in the June 2014 journal Food Chemistry showed that GM-soy does indeed take up and accumulate glyphosate and its immediate metabolite AMPA. The levels are considered very high to extremely high. The study also compared the nutritional content of GM-soy to organic soy and found that organic soy had a more healthy nutritional profile.

This research is concerning because soy is ubiquitous in the American diet. It is fed to livestock, therefore is incorporated into the animal products we eat. It is the main component of vegetable oil, so is found is most processed foods and used in most restaurants. Avoiding GM-soy also means avoiding edamame, soy sauce, soy milk, and miso. If the soy product is not labeled organic, it’s likely GM-soy, and therefore contains glyphosate.

Food quality is vital. The nutrients in food, as well as the chemicals, enter our body and can either nurture our bodies, or harm our bodies. Therefore I highly advise avoiding all GMO foods, which includes soy, corn, and canola. Buy organic!

Reference: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814613019201

I strongly recommend reading the above Food Chemistry article. It is very interesting and extremely informative.

Antibiotics are Unnecessary 80% of the Time in Treatment of Upper Respiratory Infection

3/12/2014

According to the Centers for Disease Control, antibiotics are prescribed 62% of the time in treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (URI) and 80% of the time they are unnecessary! This is because generally these infections are caused by viruses, not bacteria, and therefore are not eliminated with antibiotics.

Due to this over-prescribing/overuse of antibiotics many bacteria are becoming more and more resistant to the prescription antibiotics that are available today, thus creating “superbugs.” Unfortunately when we really need them, the antibiotics may not be reliable. If this were not bad enough, the financial burden in this country is $1.1 billion spent annually on unnecessary prescriptions for treatment of URI’s.

Naturopathic physicians have been successfully treating URI’s without the use of antibiotics for years. First, I recommend making sure vitamin D levels are high enough, which keeps your immune system strong. Botanicals such as elderberry and lomatium (isolate) are excellent antiviral medicines. Nutritional intravenous therapy of vitamin C, along with other vitamins and minerals, can boost the immune function and help to kill the virus.

I believe that the more regular use of naturopathic medicine in this country would help to prevent and naturally treat URI (as well as other infections). This in turn would help to lessen antibiotic resistance and save billions in unnecessary antibiotic prescription cost.

Reference: http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/fast-facts.html

IV EDTA chelation is beneficial for cardiovascular disease

2/6/2014

Although “alternative” or “integrative” medicine doctors have been doing intravenous EDTA chelation for cardiovascular disease for many years, most cardiologists have not recommended it for their patients and have discouraged it. Then the positive results of the double blind, placebo controlled, randomized, $31 million, 134-center study named Trail to Access Chelation Therapy (TACT) were released in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), which surprised many cardiologists.

Results of the TACT study finally proved that chelation therapy is safe and very effective. Outcomes were fewer deaths, fewer heart attacks, and fewer strokes, less need for cardiovascular surgery, and fewer hospitalizations for heart problems. In particular, patients with diabetes had great improvement.

Specifically, forty 3-hour intravenous infusions of disodium EDTA were administered during 30 weekly sessions, followed by 10 more treatments given once per month. All patients in the study had previously suffered a heart attack.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. The risk of coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control those adverse factors that put people at greater risk. Contact me to address potential risk factors such as poor diet and nutrition, hormone imbalance, toxic metal burden in the body, and to discuss the possibility of IV EDTA chelation for prevention and treatment.

Reference: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1672238

HMSA insurance to cover naturopathic physicians

12/18/2013

With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) going into effect Jan1, 2014, Hawaii’s largest insurance company HMSA will cover visits with naturopathic physicians like me. Section 2706 of the ACA is a nondiscrimination provision that requires that insurers include and reimburse licensed health care providers, including naturopathic physicians, in health insurance plans.

As a nonparticipating provider with HMSA I will give patients the paperwork to submit for reimbursement at the end of the office visit. Laboratory testing through our local labs should be covered when ordered by naturopathic physicians. (Coverage pertains only to regular HMSA members, not HMSA-Quest members.)

One would hope that other insurers in Hawaii (Kaiser, UHA, HMAA) will comply with the above mentioned nondiscrimination provision of the ACA, but as of this writing I do not have further information.

Current patients and prospective patients feel free to contact me for more information.

Concerned that your health is negatively affected by pesticides? Get tested!

9/6/2013

With the introduction of the extremely important Bill 2491 on Kauai, it is been brought to light that the four big seed companies that occupy Kauai use 18 tons of restricted use pesticides here every year. This unprecedented use of toxic chemicals is very disturbing and makes one wonder about their own exposure to pesticides.

Organophosphates are some of the most commonly used and toxic class of pesticides. They are toxic to the human nervous system and are especially dangerous to children (and fetus development) causing developmental effects. Acute exposure can cause nausea, headaches, twitching, and difficulty breathing. Long term exposure is linked to negative reproductive effects, memory problems, depression, irritability, chronic fatigue, cancer, and Parkinson’s disease.

Of course here on Kauai we are very concerned about human exposure due to the extremely high use of organophosphates by the four seed companies, but these chemicals are sprayed regularly on crops so most of us are exposed to them if we are eating any non-organic produce (which means the majority of people). If you are living in an area of high use organophosphate pesticides (ie. Westside, Southside Kauai), or are simply concerned about your own pesticide exposure, and/or have any of the above mentioned symptoms, I recommend testing for organophosphate pesticide exposure (as well as the pesticide atrazine). Contact me if interested in testing.

Solid food too early in infants linked to health problems

3/27/2013

Feeding babies solid food before 6 months of age leads to more chances of allergies and eczema, plus obesity and diabetes later in life. A recent study in the journal Pediatrics changed the previous American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of food introduction between 4 and 6 months, to at least 6 months.

Babies that have been only breast fed up until at least 6 months of age reap all of the immune boosting effects of the mother’s milk, including less acute and chronic disease. This means fewer chances of ear infections, asthma, gastrointestinal infections, childhood leukemia, sudden infant death syndrome, and behavioral and learning problems.

Chemical ingested by pregnant women linked to behavior problems in young girls

10/26/2011

A recent study showed that pregnant women and their 3-year-old girls tested high for bisphenol A (BPA) exposure when the moms ate foods stored in containers containing BPA. Researchers found when the mothers' BPA levels were high, the girls were more likely to show signs of hyperactivity, anxiety and depression.

BPA is chiefly used in the making of plastics and is found in plastic bottles and the inside lining of canned foods. It is also used as a color developer and therefore found on store receipts, which can be transferred to our hands. BPA interferes with the normal functioning of hormones and is linked to numerous negative health effects, such as birth defects, obesity, and breast and prostate cancer.

Yet another reason to avoid BPA. This means avoiding food and drink stored in BPA plastics (usually number 3 and 7) and BPA-lined canned foods (most canned foods), as well as refraining from heating foods in plastic containers.

U.S. government against mercury in dental amalgams!!

5/25/2011

Finally the U.S. government realizes the toxicity of mercury and has called for a “phase down, with the goal of eventual phase out by all Parties, of mercury amalgam.” The so-called “silver” amalgams are about 50% mercury and are a major source of mercury exposure in most people. It is great news that the U.S. government now supports eliminating this source of mercury in our environment and our bodies.

Thousands of medical studies have proven the toxicity of mercury. It can cause numerous health problems, including depression, fatigue, irritability, tremors, numbness and tingling, insomnia, mental confusion, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, low immune function, etc.

The good news is that mercury toxicity can be diagnosed and treated. There are different ways of testing (blood, hair, urine, stool) and these test results mean different things. Contact me for the best method of testing that is right for you and the safest and most efficient treatment option.

Full text of U.S. government document: http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Portals/9/Mercury/Documents/INC3/United%20States.pdf

Glutathione: a powerful anti-aging antioxidant

4/19/2011

A major cause of premature aging is oxidative damage, which is caused by free radicals. Oxidative damage is linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, and degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Oxidative damage is also shown in the way we look, by causing wrinkles in the skin.

Stop and reverse this damage with powerful antioxidants. Glutathione is one of the most powerful antioxidants and protects by scavenging free radicals. It is natural within our body, but gets depleted by a nutritionally deficient diet, exposure to toxins, and poor lifestyle choices. Along with vitamin C, B vitamins and minerals, oxidative damage can be prevented.

IV administration of these ingredients is an excellent way to bring these important nutrients to the deepest part of the body for the maximal effect. Glutathione in particular is poorly absorbed when taken orally and is therefore best taken intravenously. Stop oxidative damage…..call to schedule your anti-aging antioxidant IV today.

Heartburn medications connected to increased fracture risk

2/24/2011

Heartburn (aka indigestion or acid reflux) affects many Americans, so it is no surprise that medications, such as antacids, over-the-counter acid blockers, and prescription acid blockers are big sellers. These medicines either neutralize the stomach acid or decrease stomach acid production so the acid doesn’t move up out of the stomach into the esophagus where it causes the burning discomfort. The medicines do decrease the symptoms of heartburn, but what about the long-term effects of low stomach acid?

When the stomach does not have enough acid, there will be a slow decline in general health because the body needs this acid for proper digestion and absorption of nutrients. This includes calcium and other minerals that are involved in bone formation. Studies have shown that heartburn medications are linked to increased fracture risk associated with osteoporosis, most likely because of this decreased nutrient absorption. One can imagine the other negative health effects that a deficiency of nutrients can cause. In addition, stomach acid kills organisms that our bodies get exposed to, so less acid means a possible overgrowth of unwanted guests in the body.

It is important not to ignore acid reflux, also called GERD, because the cells of the esophagus can be damaged, which is serious. I recommend seeking the advice of a naturopathic physician for natural treatments in order to avoid the side effects associated with long-term use of acid reflux medications.