Our Environment and Cancer

It is Fall 2014 - the leaves are starting to turn as we all prepare to hunker down for colder weather to come.  We also start seeing those pink ribbons to remind us that it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It is challenging sometimes to know what to share with you all in a way that I don't put down regular mainstream medicine.  I certainly get disenchanted with the lack of results that we sometimes see with the chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery options.  I also get frustrated with the tremendous resistance there is to looking at environmental factors that are greatly influencing our health.  We are told that there isn't enough data to absolutely link this-, that- or the other- substance to cancer.  It seems like common sense to me that environment MUST be playing a role.  

The incidence of cancer now is 2 out of 3 people in the United States.  This cannot be explained by genetics alone!  If environment, therefore, plays a role, why wouldn't we look at the environment and start to make changes? Environment includes food, air, and water quality, the quality of our relationship with ourselves, each other, and with God.  Common sense also tells us that if chemicals in our food, water, and air are ubiquitous, and we cannot fully get away from them, we may be accumulating them in our body.  

When a study is done, it may only focus on one substance to determine if it is cancer causing; in small amounts, it may not be.  But, what about exposure in small amounts over time, day after day, to many different chemicals?  The hundreds of chemicals we are exposed to every day, day after day, year after year certainly begin to accumulate.   And don't forget about epigenetics, which has shown (in mice, and a small study in humans) that chemicals we are exposed to can be passed down to future generations on our DNA!  So, do we need more research, yes!  But where is the funding?

If chemicals are accumulating in the body, what organ systems may need help so that our body can be optimally able to rid itself of toxins? The primary organs responsible for removing toxins are the liver, kidney, colon, and skin.  This is where I focus when I am assessing someone for cancer risk and overall wellness maintenance.  The good news is that there is a lot we can do to give our body what it needs to heal.  

A word about hormone replacement therapy for women.  Once again, the data is showing strongly that when you follow a God-given rhythm and use a bio-identical molecule, you turn on the p53 gene on day 12 and 21.  The p53 gene is very anti-cancer.  It tells cells that are abnormal to either repair themselves or die.  Static dosing of hormones, where you get the same dose every day, or you use pellets, DOES NOT PROVIDE THIS PROTECTION.  Rhythmic dosing really is worth the effort!

So keep up the good work!  Keep working at loving yourself by nurturing your body.  Find what nurtures your soul and make time for it.  Keep striving to improve your relationships through better communication.  Keep learning how to communicate optimally and lovingly.  Honor your own emotions and learn to become extremely honest with yourself on how you are feeling, and why you are feeling it.  What button is getting pushed and why does it bother you?  The environment for a human includes our family, our job, the workplace, our spouse and friends.  Be gentle with yourself and treat yourself like you would a sweet little child.  You are a sweet child of God.

Breast Cancer and Inflammation

Inflammation and Breast Cancer

Scientists have found that women with high levels of two markers of inflammation, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A, were 2-3 times more likely to die early or have their cancer return than women with lower levels.  

Another important characteristic of chronic inflammation is its relationship to angiogenesis - the development of new blood vessels.  The COX and LOX enzymes promote inflammation and hormone-like chemicals from these enzymes that play a major role in producing new blood vessels.  While this is a normal process, it can get hijacked by tumors, which are too small to detect and build a blood supply to feed the tumor’s growing needs.  Research has shown that compounds that block inflammation also inhibit angiogenesis, which is good!

Of course, life-style factors play a role in contributing to chronic inflammation: 

1.) Diet: The foods we consume are either "pro-inflammatory" or "anti-inflammatory".  Packaged foods that are processed and have high sugar content, as well as trans fats, are among the most potent pro-inflammatory foods. Vegetables and the correct fats are some of the most anti-inflammatory foods.

2.) Weight: Keeping your weight in check is important because visceral fat (the fat located deep in the abdominal area) is more metabolically active than other types of fat, secreting large amounts of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines.  The hormone insulin itself is pro-inflammatory, so you need to keep your fasting glucose and insulin levels down.

3)Sleep: Sleep deprivation will increase your levels of inflammation. Losing sleep for even part of one night can trigger the key cellular pathway that produces tissue-damaging inflammation. 

4.) Exercise: Lack of exercise or over exercise both can also lead to an impaired immune system and inflammation.

At Alternatives, we perform tests that help us monitor inflammation levels.  

1. A high sensitivity C-reactive protein test is an easy way to monitor the body's level of inflammation. Monitoring these levels every 3 months, especially if you have a history of cancer, is a good way to see if your lifestyle is keeping inflammation in check.  

1. The fibrinogen test, which is a marker for blood clotting, rises when you get inflamed.   Bringing levels into the normal range (between 215 and 300) helps blood flow more smoothly.

Inflammation and Breast Cancer

Inflammation and Breast Cancer

Scientists have found that women with high levels of two markers of inflammation, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A, were 2-3 times more likely to die early or have their cancer return than women with lower levels.  

Another important characteristic of chronic inflammation is its relationship to angiogenesis - the development of new blood vessels.  The COX and LOX enzymes promote inflammation and hormone-like chemicals from these enzymes that play a major role in producing new blood vessels.  While this is a normal process, it can get hijacked by tumors, which are too small to detect and build a blood supply to feed the tumor’s growing needs.  Research has shown that compounds that block inflammation also inhibit angiogenesis, which is good!

Of course, life-style factors play a role in contributing to chronic inflammation: 

1.) Diet: The foods we consume are either "pro-inflammatory" or "anti-inflammatory".  Packaged foods that are processed and have high sugar content, as well as trans fats, are among the most potent pro-inflammatory foods. Vegetables and the correct fats are some of the most anti-inflammatory foods.

2.) Weight: Keeping your weight in check is important because visceral fat (the fat located deep in the abdominal area) is more metabolically active than other types of fat, secreting large amounts of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines.  The hormone insulin itself is pro-inflammatory, so you need to keep your fasting glucose and insulin levels down.

3)Sleep: Sleep deprivation will increase your levels of inflammation. Losing sleep for even part of one night can trigger the key cellular pathway that produces tissue-damaging inflammation. 

4.) Exercise: Lack of exercise or over exercise both can also lead to an impaired immune system and inflammation.

At Alternatives, we perform tests that help us monitor inflammation levels.  

1. A high sensitivity C-reactive protein test is an easy way to monitor the body's level of inflammation. Monitoring these levels every 3 months, especially if you have a history of cancer, is a good way to see if your lifestyle is keeping inflammation in check.  

1. The fibrinogen test, which is a marker for blood clotting, rises when you get inflamed.   Bringing levels into the normal range (between 215 and 300) helps blood flow more smoothly.
   

Imperfection

When life throws a few changes at you, sometimes it is difficult to keep up with routines that help you maintain your health.

Thus not only  are you off balance because you may not be following your maintenance program, you are off because of the stress of your life situation.  Life changes challenge us to grow, whether they are positive or negative.  The temptation would then be to beat yourself up because you are not doing what you know would be good for you.  On top of that you may feel vulnerable because of your recent growth/discomfort -- kind of uncomfortable in your skin.

Take a deep breath and be gentle with yourself.  Give yourself the time and the space to not have your life in perfect order.  Sit in the "muck" for a bit.  Feel it, learn from it.  When you are ready, you will get back in your routine.

 If you seem to stay in the "muck"  too long, reach out and get some help.  Most of us need, at the very least a sounding board, and at times we need some guidance to realize we have choices. We don't have to remain paralyzed.  Part of wellness is wholeness.  We are human beings, not mechanical machines that need just the right diet and combination of supplements and we will be "OK."

We need upside down time, crazy as a loon time, not -so-together time, "my-time", screw up time, together with people time, play time, sleep time, laughing time and crying time, and peaceful time.
TIME.

All you have is today, right now, this moment.
You are precious.
Take this moment-- for YOU.

-Patricia Ryan-Carlson, MD, CCN

Increased Use of Psychiatric Medications Fails to Treat Root Causes

There are 49,000,000 U.S. adults on psychiatric medications - 100 Omaha’s or 6 New York City’s!!

There are 8,000,000 U.S. children under the age of 17 that take psychiatric medications— 9 Omaha’s or 1 New York City!!

What happened to us?

Fact: 
Psych meds for the large majority of us should be used as a secondary and temporary helper while we get other primary help.  Implied here and in the introductory statistics – it does not TREAT it.  57 million adults and children on psychiatric medications and growing indicates non-treatment!

• A lot of medical and mental health professionals don’t know this or believe this – professional problem.
• A lot of the pharmaceutical companies do not want us to believe this – nasty problem.

Listen to their funny commercials where the talking person talks real fast about the crazy side effects like homicide, suicide, and heart attacks and they play soft auditory music and they show us warm and   relaxing visuals around water and beaches with the people holding hands, smiling, providing HOPE.  Go get informed please!

Research side effects of medications you are on or your children.

• Almost all insurance companies pay for psychiatric medications – a contributor.
• A lot of the time we are not told this by prescribing doctors and psychiatrists – professional problem.
• Sometimes the meds do so well that we just decide to keep them on full time – personal decision.
• Sometimes we seek other help and find the other helper isn’t good enough to get the root problem to go away, so we have to stay on them – professional problem.
• Sometimes we believe using the medications is less financially less costly – personal info problem.
• Sometimes there aren’t any trained support groups to treat root causes – professional problem.
• Sometimes church leaders don’t want to train group leaders – professional problem.
• Sometimes we don’t want to do the work it takes to treat the root cause – personal pride problem.
• Sometimes it costs out of our pockets too much immediately to treat the root cause – financing problem

Your life problems will not be treated with medications evidenced by increasing crazy numbers.  If they treated we would see reductions over time but we are not – 49 million adults – 100 Omahas!!!!

It is supported by your insurance which makes it seem less costly but budget it for 10 years minimum.  Small payments over time added up is not less costly.

Meds can provide a quick help but not without other physiological, emotional, and relational problems which by the way are called SIDE EFFECTS instead of ADDITIONAL COSTS TO YOU!
There are treatments to root causes of depression, anxiety, attention deficits, migraines, sleep disorders, and more that TREAT, end your payments and end your medications!!!
Seek it, demand it for you and your children, you will find it and you will enjoy it.

More to come …..

Scott Carlson
LMHP

Inflammation

This is a common topic I have to explain at every visit so I thought I might talk about the definition of Inflammation.

The body is quite effective in protecting us from things that are bad for us. If the body is exposed to something that is harmful, the immune system will respond by sending out certain cells to survey the area. Then depending on what the offending agent the immune system will respond with, the cascading events that will then induce what is called Inflammation.

Inflammation is the result of the immune systems action towards a foreign harmful situation that recruits the white blood cells, blood and fluids that accumulate to destroy and clear the area of the harmful invader. In the process of this causes a visual redness and “puffiness” which then we know as inflammation. However inflammation is not always visual as this can occur in many areas of the body.

For short or acute situations like an injury or bacteria, virus, yeast or fungal infection this is an effective mechanism that protects the body. If there are long term or chronic exposures to a toxin, a bacteria, virus, foods one is allergic to or sugars the body will begin to suffer as chronic inflammation degrades tissues and causes pain.

Basic treatment of inflammation from a Functional Medicine standpoint begins in the diet and supporting the liver. Decreasing and or elimination of sugars and simple carbohydrates are a great place to start. Simple carbohydrates and sugars alone can initiate inflammation in the body.

Support the liver and its ability to remove toxins out of the body that come from daily living. Living in a the Midwest we are exposed to agricultural chemicals, diets high in high fructose corn syrup, sugars, bad fats and chemicals from prescription and over-the –counter medications over time sludge and inhibit the liver’s ability to detoxify or remove toxins from the body. It is the liver that helps us remove harmful substances out of the body. If the liver functions optimally this can help decrease inflammation.

Supporting the immune system can also calm auto-immune causes of inflammation and healing the gut can also decrease inflammation especially if there are offending foods causing inflammation and/or dysbiosis (imbalance of good and bad bacteria/yeast). Practitioners can assess patients to either test and treat other underlying causes for inflammation.

Michelle McCaslin, APRN
Alternatives
11036 Oak St
Omaha, NE 68144

CHIA: ANCIENT SUPER-SEED/ MODERN MIRACLE FOOD

CHIA: ANCIENT SUPER-SEED / MODERN MIRACLE FOOD

 

Long before the Spanish conquered Latin America and well before the CHIA-PET, Chia seeds were a staple like corn and beans.  Chia seeds were considered almost magical because of their ability to increase strength and energy over long periods of time. (Chia means strength in the Mayan language).

 

 Not only are they gluten free naturally, but 2 TBSP of Chia seeds are a good source of protein, calcium, balanced omega 3/6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber.  And because they have so much fiber, they can deliver a maximum amount of nutrients with a minimum amount of calories.  Fiber is important for your health for many reasons- especially weight loss and digestion. It also provides food for the supremely important friendly flora (probiotics) that live in your gut. Chia absorbs up to 12 times its weight in water. It forms a gel as it expands, to curb your appetite and help maintain healthy fluid balance in the body. Did I mention they are also low calorie because of all of that fiber?

 

Because Chia seeds contain heathy ratios of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and protein they are good for your bones.  

 

Due of their stellar health profile they can be useful in persons with Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes, digestion issues, and cardio-protective diets, athletes, and anyone who wants more energy.  

 

So what do you DO with chia seeds?  Glad you asked. 

1. As an egg substitute- mix 1/8^th cup chia seed with 1 cup water. Place in a jar and shake. Let sit out overnight- then 1/4^th cup = 1 egg.  Store in refrigerator thereafter. 
2. Thicken soups and gravies- add 1-2 tbsp to reach the desired thickness. Grind it first.
3. Add to smoothies and salads for a fiber and protein boost. 
4. When making a meat loaf of meat balls use for filler instead of crackers or bread crumbs.
5. Use for breading for fish or chicken.  Mix with some almond flour, garlic and ground chia. 
6. Sprinkle it over your cooked oatmeal for added protein, fiber and healthy fat. 
7. A personal favorite is Chia Pudding:

¼ cup Chia

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk

½ TSP Cinnamon

1 TSP vanilla

1 TSP raw honey or real Maple syrup or 1 Pkt. of Stevia

 

Mix and let soak for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or you get a giant clump!

You can add fruit, nuts or other spices- whatever your creative mind can come up with.

(if you prefer it warm, gently warm the coconut milk then add the rest of the ingredients, stirring every 5 minutes).

 

Enjoy!   

My wish for you is good health. Kathi Bratberg RN, MS