tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1250480 %ISSUE_DATE%T09:25:32-07:00 Products and nutrients for healthy and drug-free living. TypePad tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32513 2012-01-01T12:00:32-07:00 2012-01-01T12:00:07-07:00

Returning to the theme I've had in past articles of things that we "know" for a certain to be true (and then often are not), let's look at antioxidants. We all seem to know that free radicals are bad, and that antioxidants mop them up and prevent damage to us, slowing down the aging process, reducing the incidence of cancer and other major illnesses like heart disease. There are just a couple of problems with this theory, the biggest one being that the research shows the complete opposite.

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN Returning to the theme I've had in past articles of things that we "know" for a certain to be true (and then often are not), let's look at antioxidants. We all seem to know that free radicals are bad, and that antioxidants mop them up and prevent damage to us, slowing down the aging process, reducing the incidence of cancer and other major illnesses like heart disease. There are just a couple of problems with this theory, the biggest one being that the research shows the complete opposite. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32499 2011-12-01T12:00:32-07:00 2011-12-01T12:00:07-07:00

People are quick to say that the reason we are so overweight in this country is because we eat too much and don't exercise enough. But if that was so, how do you explain the epidemic of obese 6-month old babies? Are they not spending enough time on the treadmill? Any theory that tries to explain the obesity and diabetes epidemic must also be to explain this as well, or it's not a fully accurate theory. Let's look at what actually does explain this.

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN People are quick to say that the reason we are so overweight in this country is because we eat too much and don't exercise enough. But if that was so, how do you explain the epidemic of obese 6-month old babies? Are they not spending enough time on the treadmill? Any theory that tries to explain the obesity and diabetes epidemic must also be to explain this as well, or it's not a fully accurate theory. Let's look at what actually does explain this. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32460 2011-09-01T12:00:32-07:00 2011-09-01T12:00:07-07:00

It's easy to be deceived into thinking that we are getting all the nutrients we need. Never mind all the labels that say "fortified" with this and that, or the synthetic vitamins that make you think that 1,000 percent of an isolate is healthy. There are also many people, possibly including yourself, who are trying to make good food choices, and yet we all are struggling with malnutrition.

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN It's easy to be deceived into thinking that we are getting all the nutrients we need. Never mind all the labels that say "fortified" with this and that, or the synthetic vitamins that make you think that 1,000 percent of an isolate is healthy. There are also many people, possibly including yourself, who are trying to make good food choices, and yet we all are struggling with malnutrition. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32409 2011-06-01T12:00:32-07:00 2011-06-01T12:00:07-07:00

The ads are all over TV and magazines - if you have heartburn, you should take one of the acid-reducing medications that are out there, preferably for the rest of your life. It's true, acid reflux is dangerous and it is vital to stop it before it does permanent damage.

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN The ads are all over TV and magazines - if you have heartburn, you should take one of the acid-reducing medications that are out there, preferably for the rest of your life. It's true, acid reflux is dangerous and it is vital to stop it before it does permanent damage. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32387 2011-04-01T12:00:32-07:00 2011-04-01T12:00:07-07:00

The massive epidemic of chronic disease, most notably diabetes, heart disease and hypertension which can be collectively referred to as metabolic disorder, parallels the rise in sugar availability over the past 150 years. On top of that there has also been an exponential rise in availability of cheap, poor quality calories of all types, including synthetic foods. While our evolutionary past compels us to eat whatever is in front of us, we now must temper that impulse and it is not our fault!

By Andrew Rader, LAc, MS The massive epidemic of chronic disease, most notably diabetes, heart disease and hypertension which can be collectively referred to as metabolic disorder, parallels the rise in sugar availability over the past 150 years. On top of that there has also been an exponential rise in availability of cheap, poor quality calories of all types, including synthetic foods. While our evolutionary past compels us to eat whatever is in front of us, we now must temper that impulse and it is not our fault! tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32369 2011-03-01T12:00:32-07:00 2011-03-01T12:00:07-07:00

Continuing with the theme of what we "think" we know about food and nutrition, I would like to deal with two sacred cows -- whole grains, and vegetarianism. Not in the way of right and wrong, but rather with the realization that without adequate information, most people are damaging their health completely inadvertently, and quite significantly.

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN Continuing with the theme of what we "think" we know about food and nutrition, I would like to deal with two sacred cows -- whole grains, and vegetarianism. Not in the way of right and wrong, but rather with the realization that without adequate information, most people are damaging their health completely inadvertently, and quite significantly. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32326 2011-01-01T12:00:32-07:00 2011-01-01T12:00:07-07:00

What I've seen in my years of adding nutrition to my practice, is that a lot of people "know" certain things about food. "Know" in the sense that we don't question the thought anymore. Like we "knew" that low-fat diets were healthy, right? (see my article titled "Big, Fat Lies" in December). Or that we "know" eggs can raise your cholesterol. So let's look at a big myth that when you actually learn all the facts, makes you wonder how we got so bamboozled.

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN What I've seen in my years of adding nutrition to my practice, is that a lot of people "know" certain things about food. "Know" in the sense that we don't question the thought anymore. Like we "knew" that low-fat diets were healthy, right? (see my article titled "Big, Fat Lies" in December). Or that we "know" eggs can raise your cholesterol. So let's look at a big myth that when you actually learn all the facts, makes you wonder how we got so bamboozled. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32313 2010-12-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-12-01T12:00:07-07:00

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum), especially as the concentrated extract containing a defined level of the silymarin complex of flavanolignans, is being increasingly prescribed by herbal clinicians around cancer chemotherapy. It is mainly being used to assist recovery after chemotherapy, for liver protection during chemotherapy and to ameliorate any long-term effects of cancer treatment. The aim is to not only improve quality of life, but also to favorably affect treatment outcomes since the patient might be able to better tolerate chemotherapy at the optimum dose.

By Kerry Bone, BSc (hons), Dipl. Phyto. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum), especially as the concentrated extract containing a defined level of the silymarin complex of flavanolignans, is being increasingly prescribed by herbal clinicians around cancer chemotherapy. It is mainly being used to assist recovery after chemotherapy, for liver protection during chemotherapy and to ameliorate any long-term effects of cancer treatment. The aim is to not only improve quality of life, but also to favorably affect treatment outcomes since the patient might be able to better tolerate chemotherapy at the optimum dose. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32285 2010-10-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-10-01T12:00:07-07:00

Sometimes you have to be hit over the head a few times before you actually get it. You hear about it. You read some articles and reviews. It drifts around in the recesses of the mind. Then finally for some unknown reason you are compelled to actually dig in and find out the details. This was my experience with the book The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, who is the lead researcher on the largest, longest (27 years and still counting), most comprehensive study concerning diet and health ever undertaken.

By Andrew Rader, LAc, MS Sometimes you have to be hit over the head a few times before you actually get it. You hear about it. You read some articles and reviews. It drifts around in the recesses of the mind. Then finally for some unknown reason you are compelled to actually dig in and find out the details. This was my experience with the book The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, who is the lead researcher on the largest, longest (27 years and still counting), most comprehensive study concerning diet and health ever undertaken. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32271 2010-09-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-09-01T12:00:07-07:00

The Snackwell Effect, Part 1 talked about how we lost our ability to regulate blood sugar by overwhelming our bodies with cereal, bread and Ho-Ho's. I finished the article by recommending that you (or your patients) measure a few days of carbohydrate intake (not calories or fat, just grams of carbs) and see how far away from the number 72 you were. This article is going to be about how to reverse this whole process.

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN The Snackwell Effect, Part 1 talked about how we lost our ability to regulate blood sugar by overwhelming our bodies with cereal, bread and Ho-Ho's. I finished the article by recommending that you (or your patients) measure a few days of carbohydrate intake (not calories or fat, just grams of carbs) and see how far away from the number 72 you were. This article is going to be about how to reverse this whole process. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32258 2010-08-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-08-01T12:00:07-07:00

An athlete's quality of food intake is just as important as physical training and mental training. Unfortunately, many athletes are not really aware of this concept unless they are diabetic, vegetarian/vegan, gluten intolerant, and/or have food allergies. Food is a major player with exercise to obtain the desired results. While there are individuals who do take eating seriously and watch the quality of food that goes in their body, they are certainly a minority at all levels of athletics and in the general population.

By Ronda Wimmer, PhD, MS, LAc, ATC, CSCS, CSMS, SPS An athlete's quality of food intake is just as important as physical training and mental training. Unfortunately, many athletes are not really aware of this concept unless they are diabetic, vegetarian/vegan, gluten intolerant, and/or have food allergies. Food is a major player with exercise to obtain the desired results. While there are individuals who do take eating seriously and watch the quality of food that goes in their body, they are certainly a minority at all levels of athletics and in the general population. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32246 2010-08-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-08-01T12:00:07-07:00

One easy way to be more healthy and cut the risk for diabetes is ask for brown rice instead of white rice the next time you order take-out from your favorite Chinese restaurant. Brown rice is the whole grain before it has been stripped of its bran outer layer, which is high in fiber and nutrients. Once that layer has been removed, the white rice that remains is mostly starch. Brown rice also has a lower glycemic index than white rice, so it does not raise blood sugar levels as rapidly.

By Editorial Staff One easy way to be more healthy and cut the risk for diabetes is ask for brown rice instead of white rice the next time you order take-out from your favorite Chinese restaurant. Brown rice is the whole grain before it has been stripped of its bran outer layer, which is high in fiber and nutrients. Once that layer has been removed, the white rice that remains is mostly starch. Brown rice also has a lower glycemic index than white rice, so it does not raise blood sugar levels as rapidly. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32241 2010-07-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-07-01T12:00:07-07:00

As an acupuncturist for more than 15 years, I have seen that there are many layers to every patient's case. That can make treatment complicated. As a result, compliance with that treatment can be difficult for the patient and a frustration for the health care practitioner. In these cases, I have learned that remembering the basics provides an effective way to approach treatment.

By Chantelle DeShazer, LAc As an acupuncturist for more than 15 years, I have seen that there are many layers to every patient's case. That can make treatment complicated. As a result, compliance with that treatment can be difficult for the patient and a frustration for the health care practitioner. In these cases, I have learned that remembering the basics provides an effective way to approach treatment. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32213 2010-06-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-06-01T12:00:07-07:00

Have you noticed how people gain weight nowadays? You've seen it but perhaps not recognized it: the "muffin top," the belly fat, the apple-shape with the skinny legs. Have you tried on pants recently? A lot of them are now cut to be roomier in the waist. Take a look around you; people are gaining weight the same way. Each year, practitioners deal with more and more overweight patients. You may have heard that belly fat is a risk factor for everything from heart disease to cancer. What you haven't heard is why it's happening and what to do about, both for yourself and for your patients.

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN Have you noticed how people gain weight nowadays? You've seen it but perhaps not recognized it: the "muffin top," the belly fat, the apple-shape with the skinny legs. Have you tried on pants recently? A lot of them are now cut to be roomier in the waist. Take a look around you; people are gaining weight the same way. Each year, practitioners deal with more and more overweight patients. You may have heard that belly fat is a risk factor for everything from heart disease to cancer. What you haven't heard is why it's happening and what to do about, both for yourself and for your patients. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32200 2010-05-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-05-01T12:00:07-07:00

As acupuncturists, we must be aware of more than just Chinese medicine when it comes to taking care of the athlete, and a large part of this includes being aware of proper nutrition to get optimal performance. We'll talk more specifically about the role of traditional Chinese medicine in nutrition for athletes in another part of this series, but let's start with the nutritional basics so that you can understand the specific needs of the athlete who comes to you as a patient.

By Ronda Wimmer, PhD, MS, LAc, ATC, CSCS, CSMS, SPS As acupuncturists, we must be aware of more than just Chinese medicine when it comes to taking care of the athlete, and a large part of this includes being aware of proper nutrition to get optimal performance. We'll talk more specifically about the role of traditional Chinese medicine in nutrition for athletes in another part of this series, but let's start with the nutritional basics so that you can understand the specific needs of the athlete who comes to you as a patient. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32161 2010-03-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-03-01T12:00:07-07:00

What we hear about ethics mostly involves our CEUs and making sure we take the right classes and do the right thing. So how does nutrition have anything to do with being ethical? Here are a couple of examples...

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN What we hear about ethics mostly involves our CEUs and making sure we take the right classes and do the right thing. So how does nutrition have anything to do with being ethical? Here are a couple of examples... tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32144 2010-02-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-02-01T12:00:07-07:00

Chinese medicine is a path of healing that restores and maintains health. One primary aim is to increase the presence of life and health in a person, and help them manifest their unique destiny or potential as part of the whole of life.

By Michael Gaeta Chinese medicine is a path of healing that restores and maintains health. One primary aim is to increase the presence of life and health in a person, and help them manifest their unique destiny or potential as part of the whole of life. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32142 2010-02-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-02-01T12:00:07-07:00

In order to achieve optimum effectiveness when using diet therapy, the first consideration is compliance. The main reason for the limited information available to the Western practitioner regarding food therapy is the obscure and often odd ingredients and flavors found in traditional recipes. By identifying the therapeutic combinations of ingredients, we can locate similar combinations in other styles of cooking.

By Gordon Cohen, LAc In order to achieve optimum effectiveness when using diet therapy, the first consideration is compliance. The main reason for the limited information available to the Western practitioner regarding food therapy is the obscure and often odd ingredients and flavors found in traditional recipes. By identifying the therapeutic combinations of ingredients, we can locate similar combinations in other styles of cooking. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32128 2010-01-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-01-01T12:00:07-07:00

For almost our entire history as Homo sapiens, we have been hunter-gatherers. Our metabolic pathways have developed under the pressures of usually not enough food. The only food around was good for us, unless it was rotten or spoiled. We avoided poisons due to their bitter and nasty tastes. Under these conditions, our bodies evolved several different ways of raising blood glucose but only one way of lowering it; insulin. There was rarely a surplus of food but rather almost always a deficit. We were wired to eat any food that we could get our hands on.

By Andrew Rader, LAc, MS For almost our entire history as Homo sapiens, we have been hunter-gatherers. Our metabolic pathways have developed under the pressures of usually not enough food. The only food around was good for us, unless it was rotten or spoiled. We avoided poisons due to their bitter and nasty tastes. Under these conditions, our bodies evolved several different ways of raising blood glucose but only one way of lowering it; insulin. There was rarely a surplus of food but rather almost always a deficit. We were wired to eat any food that we could get our hands on. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32127 2010-01-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-01-01T12:00:07-07:00

Most of your patients are taking a multivitamin. If they aren't, they know they probably should. They might be taking vitamin C for immunity, or vitamin E because they heard it has antioxidant actions. But is what they're taking making a difference? Could it be harming them? Is it enough to make up for poor eating habits?

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN Most of your patients are taking a multivitamin. If they aren't, they know they probably should. They might be taking vitamin C for immunity, or vitamin E because they heard it has antioxidant actions. But is what they're taking making a difference? Could it be harming them? Is it enough to make up for poor eating habits? tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32107 2010-01-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-01-01T12:00:07-07:00

As a matter of course in traditional medicine, one is faced with the undeniable truth concerning herbal concoctions; they taste awful. In order to circumvent this, the resourceful herbalist prescribes food recipes that can replace the foul-tasting brews. This is particularly useful when formal care regimens are replaced with practical folk-based methods. The availability of formal supplies (herbs, drugs, etc.) is usually absent in areas where barefoot doctors are needed.

By Gordon Cohen, LAc As a matter of course in traditional medicine, one is faced with the undeniable truth concerning herbal concoctions; they taste awful. In order to circumvent this, the resourceful herbalist prescribes food recipes that can replace the foul-tasting brews. This is particularly useful when formal care regimens are replaced with practical folk-based methods. The availability of formal supplies (herbs, drugs, etc.) is usually absent in areas where barefoot doctors are needed. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32104 2009-12-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-12-01T12:00:07-07:00

Most of your patients are taking a multivitamin. If they aren't, they know they probably should. They might be taking vitamin C for immunity, or vitamin E because they heard it has antioxidant actions. But is what they're taking making a difference? Could it be harming them? Is it enough to make up for poor eating habits?

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN Most of your patients are taking a multivitamin. If they aren't, they know they probably should. They might be taking vitamin C for immunity, or vitamin E because they heard it has antioxidant actions. But is what they're taking making a difference? Could it be harming them? Is it enough to make up for poor eating habits? tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32085 2009-11-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-11-01T12:00:07-07:00

Food therapy needs to reclaim its central place in the practice of Chinese medicine and reconnect with the spirit of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, who echoed the Yellow Emperor with his motto: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Food therapy is given lip service in most Chinese medicine schools, not unlike PE in high schools. It is reduced most often to one or two lonely classes offered toward the end of the curriculum; a sad mirror image of the current Western medicine curriculum that surveys nutrition in a few cursory class hours.

By Liliane Papin, PhD, DOM, LAc Food therapy needs to reclaim its central place in the practice of Chinese medicine and reconnect with the spirit of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, who echoed the Yellow Emperor with his motto: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Food therapy is given lip service in most Chinese medicine schools, not unlike PE in high schools. It is reduced most often to one or two lonely classes offered toward the end of the curriculum; a sad mirror image of the current Western medicine curriculum that surveys nutrition in a few cursory class hours. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32043 2009-09-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-09-01T12:00:07-07:00

Angina, chest pain, dizziness, palpitation and high blood pressure are symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease. Medical science dedicates a great deal of effort and expense developing drugs, devices and procedures to combat the most common cause of death in both men and women. These symptoms can be controlled, prevented and treated successfully using medicated diet therapy.

By Gordon Cohen, LAc Angina, chest pain, dizziness, palpitation and high blood pressure are symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease. Medical science dedicates a great deal of effort and expense developing drugs, devices and procedures to combat the most common cause of death in both men and women. These symptoms can be controlled, prevented and treated successfully using medicated diet therapy. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-32036 2009-09-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-09-01T12:00:07-07:00

One of the great things about traditional Chinese medicine is that it has been developed, over a long period of time, to address a prodigious number of health problems, many of which still exist today. Unfortunately, one of its shortcomings is that it is not well versed in the challenges of dealing with modern diseases and complaints. What could be that much different, you ask? Let's take a look.

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN One of the great things about traditional Chinese medicine is that it has been developed, over a long period of time, to address a prodigious number of health problems, many of which still exist today. Unfortunately, one of its shortcomings is that it is not well versed in the challenges of dealing with modern diseases and complaints. What could be that much different, you ask? Let's take a look. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-31961 2009-06-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-06-01T12:00:07-07:00

You can treat these modern diseases - hypoglycemia, insulin-resistance, diabetes, food intolerances, adrenal fatigue, hormonal imbalances - but when the patient is malnourished (which is much more often than you can imagine), the treatment time is much slower.

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN You can treat these modern diseases - hypoglycemia, insulin-resistance, diabetes, food intolerances, adrenal fatigue, hormonal imbalances - but when the patient is malnourished (which is much more often than you can imagine), the treatment time is much slower. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-31942 2009-05-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-05-01T12:00:07-07:00

NCCAOM Welocomes Back Lapsed Diplomates, NYCC School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Gets New Name and OCOM Offers Summer Seminars at Portland Classical Chinese Garden.

Editorial Staff NCCAOM Welocomes Back Lapsed Diplomates, NYCC School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Gets New Name and OCOM Offers Summer Seminars at Portland Classical Chinese Garden.