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 Decrease in Breast Cancer Related to Reduction in Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in the United States. The use of prescriptions for HRT declined rapidly, following highly-publicized reports from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study that showed an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and urinary incontinence among postmenopausal women who were using hormone replacement therapy that included both estrogen and progestin. The two most commonly prescribed forms of HRT in the United States, Premarin® and PremproTM, had their steepest declines starting in 2002-2003 -- from 61 million prescriptions written in 2001 to 21 million in 2004.
New U.S. government numbers showed that breast cancer rates leveled off in 2004 after plunging in 2003 - the year after millions of women stopped taking hormone replacement because a big study linking HRT with increased heart, stroke and breast cancer risks. Experts now believe the leveling off in the 2003 drop in cancer rate was real and not a fluke.
In the St. Louis area, many doctors were skeptical of this initial study and continued to recommend the use of HRT. Fortunately, women are becoming informed and searching for alternatives to HRT. Topical Progesterone Cream has become a popular alternative to HRT. In the past, Dr. Dave recommended it and used it himself. That was until he attended the Functional Endocrinology course. Although many alternative healthcare people will dismiss this, the end result is that the progesterone in Progesterone Cream ends up turning into estrogen and is stored in fat cells. Fat cells will make estrogen. Excess estrogen should be eliminated but due to altered gut function it is not. The excess hormones must be eliminated through the liver and colon. Many have poor elimination and this contributes to the build up of excess hormones in your body. Excess estrogen suppresses Thyroid hormones and predisposes certain tissues (uterus, prostate and breast) to rapid cell growth (cancer). The end result is your body makes fat faster than you can burn fat and you can not lose weight no matter what you do.
The rationale supporting the use of Progesterone Cream is to restore the progesterone/estrogen ratio. This is well and good if your estrogen level is where it is supposed to be. But with outside sources of estrogen, fat cells making estrogen and your body's inability to remove excess estrogen, this makes your estrogen levels elevated. This increases your inability to lose weight and your risk of rapid cell growth (cancer). This is why Wellness Alternatives focuses on reducing your estrogen levels to functional levels, increasing your ability to lose weight and reduce your risk of rapid cell growth.
Many are finding Wellness Alternatives can provide both the information and resources to assist them with their unique health problems. The Functional Medicine utilized at Wellness Alternatives involves understanding a complex series of vicious cycles occurring in our body that feed each other. Then we identify and provide support and counseling to unlock these vicious cycles to prevent their reoccurrence.
We invite you to explore our website for more information. If you have questions, email us or give us a call.
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 Hip Fracture Heartburn
A study performed by the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine concluded that individuals using common heartburn medications over a long period of time increases their risk of hip fractures. The problem appears to be the result of decreased calcium absorption, but more research is needed to confirm this. The study involved almost 150,000 persons over the age of 50, and involved over 13,000 hip fractures. The researchers found that the higher the antacid dose and the longer the drugs were taken, the more the average risk increased by about 44 percent for patients taking heartburn medication.
JAMA, Dec. 27, 2007
While studying human physiology, we were taught that stomach acid was necessary for our body to absorb calcium. It is a known fact. That is why they put calcium in orange juice because the acid in the juice makes calcium more absorbable. Many patients at Wellness Alternatives report being told to take the antacid, Tums, for a calcium supplement. Isn't that contrary to the known fact we are taught in medical schools.
Yet ask anyone and you will find that excess stomach acid is blamed for digestive problems. From one perspective they say they are lowering the "excess" stomach acid to normal levels. If that was the case and in actuality what was occurring the study would not have shown decreased calcium absorption.
Stomach Acid is necessary for digestive chemistry and absorption of nutrients. If a person is taking heartburn medication that lowers already low stomach acid the results of the study make sense.
We work to restore optimal digestive chemistry at Wellness Alternatives. Are you tired of feeling bad while doing all the "right" things? Would you like to feel better? If you said yes, take the next step and give us a call. 636-227-4949 |
Drinking Alcohol is a Personal Choice
 Drinking alcohol is a personal choice. Summer is around the corner and as we head outdoors we tend to become more social. Often sharing a glass of wine or a beer is a part of this pleasant experience. Medical research agrees that moderate drinkers tend to have better health and live longer than those who are either abstainers or heavy drinkers.
What is Moderate Consumption?
One 5 oz glass of wine a day, or one 12 oz beer, or 1.5 oz of 80 proof spirits.
The definition of moderate drinking is something of a balancing act. Moderate drinking sits at the point at which the health benefits of alcohol clearly outweigh the risks. The latest consensus places this point at no more than one to two drinks per day for men, and no more than one drink per day for women. This is the definition used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and is widely used in the U.S.
How does alcohol affect Nutrition?
For moderate drinkers, alcohol does not suppress food intake, and may actually increase appetite. Chronic alcohol consumption appears to have the opposite effect. Alcohol causes euphoria, which depresses appetite, so that heavy drinkers tend to eat poorly and become malnourished.
Alcohol is very rich in energy, packing 7 calories per gram. But like pure sugar or fat, the calories are void of nutrients. The more calories an individual consumes in alcohol, the less likely it is that they will eat enough food to obtain adequate nutrients. To make matters worse, chronic alcohol abuse not only displaces calories from needed nutrients, but also interferes with the body's metabolism of nutrients, leading to damage of the liver, digestive system, and nearly every bodily organ.
Remember to stay away from all mixers and soda. They are just sugar and empty calories. Period.
Why does a social drink makes us feel happy?
By the time you feel happy, the following has happened. Alcohol clumps blood cells together making the blood thicker and this slows oxygen to the brain. In addition, alcohol is a narcotic depressant and affects the central nervous system. Drinking slows down the responses and the messages sent to your brain.
What happens when I feel more than happy?
Alcohol is metabolized extremely quickly by the body. Unlike foods, which require time for digestion, alcohol needs no digestion and is quickly absorbed. Alcohol gets "VIP" treatment in the body - absorbing and metabolizing before most other nutrients. About 20 percent is absorbed directly across the walls of an empty stomach and can reach the brain within one minute.
The liver is able to metabolize approximately one drink per hour, depending on a person's body size, food intake, etc. If more alcohol arrives in the liver than the enzymes can handle, the excess alcohol travels to all parts of the body, circulating until the liver enzymes are finally able to process it.
Why do I crave alcohol?
Why do you crave chocolate or bread? Or a pregnant woman crave pickles and ice cream? The body has innate wisdom. Cravings are messages, red flags, or the body's attempt to repair organs and feedback loops. Cravings are the body's attempt to get something it feels that it needs. Many of our clients tell us that an increased stress level will trigger this craving. Often this is associated evidence of insulin resistance. If you think you may be insulin resistant, check out web site and fill out the Metabolic Assessment Form under Downloads. If you have 1,2 and 3s in Categories VI and VII, call us your body is indeed trying to tell you something!
Why do I wake up in the middle of the night after drinking?
One reason is that in the middle of the night you body startles awake from hypoglycemia. Drinking creates a rollercoaster ride created by alcohol metabolism and it's effect on glucose levels.
A second reason is that it is a fact that alcohol intake may influence the molecular underpinnings of circadian rhythmicity. Circadian rhythms refer to biological phenomena that oscillate within a 24-hour cycle, in keeping with the earth's rotation. "The human body, like many other mammals and some bacteria, displays changes in functions and behavior that wax and wane through the cycle of day and night," said Dipak K. Sarkar, director of the endocrinology program and biomedical division of the Center of Alcohol Studies at Rutgers University. An individual has more than 100 circadian rhythms that are unique and influence various aspects of body functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, hormone levels, and pain threshold. Alcohol exposure can alter biological rhythmicity.
Thirdly, let's not forget about dehydration. Drink plenty of fluids. One glass of water to each alcoholic beverage.
Why can men drink more than women?
After you factor in weight, muscle mass, and body fat, there are two other issues. Women often are more slightly dehydrated than men. There is also a chemical reason. This is the simple answer as to why women get drunk a lot faster than men. A woman will attain a higher blood alcohol concentration than a man from the same amount of alcohol even if all other factors appear to be the same because women have lower levels of Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH), an enzyme involved in the metabolism of alcohol.
Let's look at some of the positives and negatives of moderate consumption.
+ some protection against vascular disease
+ reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack
+ may improve circulation
+ possibly reduce risk of stroke
+ lower your risk of gallstones
- depletes vitamin and mineral stores
- overloads the liver (most of us are exposed daily to toxins and chemicals that already tax the liver)
- alcohol is a narcotic
- decreases immunity
Obviously, alcohol in excess evidences many significant health problems. In addition, alcohol adversely interacts with many common prescription and over-the-counter medications. Check with your doctor, if you have questions or concerns.
Drink responsibly. Don't drink and drive. |
| Red Flags
That Indicate Structual Instability
I was suprised to have two women come in the day after we sent out our last news letter saying that they knew it was time to schedule an appointment when their bra didn't fit well. One said her straps slipped off more and the other said the cups didn't fit properly. As a guy I didn't have a clue that this would be a problem. As a chiropractic physician, this was of those times when the obvious was overlooked.
A well-fitting bra is also important for a woman's posture, particularly if she has large breasts. A bra that doesn't fit can cause back problems, muscle tension, and even headaches. Bras minimize jiggling and shape the appearance of a woman's breasts but they are also helpful from a health standpoint. Wearing the right bra keeps a woman's breasts supported while she's playing a sport and can help prevent injury to breast tissue.
60%-80% of women wear the wrong bra size, Are you one? Weight loss, weight gain and pregnancy are some of the factors that can change your breast size and shape so it may be time to remeasure to ensure you get the best fit, and ultimately, the best support.
Measuring for your bra size
When taking your measurements, wear a lingerie bra that fits you well.
Step One: 
· Measure snugly around your rib cage, just underneath your breasts. It should feel tight but not restrictive. Be sure that the tape measure lies straight all the way around.
· Add 5 inches to your rib cage measurement, then round to the nearest even number. The result is your bra size or band measurement.
Step Two: 
· Measure loosely around the fullest part of your bust, keeping the tape measure straight all the way around your body. Round this measurement to the nearest whole number.
· Subtract your bra size (band measurement) in step 1 from the bust measurement in step 2.
The difference between the two determines your cup size.
Difference between bra size (band measurement) and bust measurement:
1=A cup
2=B cup
3=C cup
4=D cup
5=DD cup
It can be difficult to measure yourself, the process itself is not an exact science. If you have trouble and think you are not getting your correct size, get professionally fitted. Many major department stores have professionals trained to fit and size on staff. |
Doing the Chewing
Without proper digestion, there can be no such thing as good nutrition and health.
Many people go to great lengths to "eat right", avoiding all the foods they are supposed to avoid, eating only the best organic that they can find and they still have health issues. How can that be? This month's edition of Changing Habits, Changing Lives involves chewing your food. Chewing is the first step in a long chain of events that provide your body with nutrition and energy. If that first step isn't handled properly the entire chain of events breaks down.
Think of it this way: Did you ever make Nestlé's Quik chocolate milk and after you drank it all down, there was a clump of chocolate in the glass. You used your spoon and smashed it and the powder inside was dry. When you don't chew your food properly, the digestive chemistry can only get to the outside of the food particle. Now ask yourself, what if that food particle was the same food that you had to have back in the fridge quickly after you served it. It can sit in your stomach for up to 14 hours (at 98.6 degrees). What do you think it's doing?
Mastication or chewing is the process by which food is mashed and crushed by teeth. It is the first step of digestion and it decreases the size of the foods to allow more efficient break down by digestive chemistry. Digestion is the process of metabolism where your body processes food, in order to chemically extract the nutrients and convert the food to use. Chewing also stimulates the production of digestive juices. If you don't chew properly, it is possible to deplete the digestive juices. What would happen if a stylist only had enough chemicals to dye half your hair?
How much should I chew my food? Think fruit smoothie texture versus chunky salsa. Since we can't be with you all the time to remind you to chew your food, you will have to keep it in mind. Debbie made little reminder notes that you can pick up the next time you are in. However, there are some things we can help you with.
Stress causes your body to produce cortisol (stress hormone). Cortisol thins the stomach lining causing a decrease in the amount of stomach acid produced. So even if you are chewing properly, it is possible that other factors can contribute to impaired digestive chemistry. We can assist in repairing your body's ability to produce stomach acid. We use the Metabolic Assessment form http://www.wellnessalternatives-stl.com/documents/Metabolic%20Assessment%20Web.pdf to help us determine if this is an issue. Download it and if you have 2's and 3's marked in Category II or III, you have a problem with digestive chemistry.
Another thing we can assist with is the physical breakdown of food. Many people have TMJ problems. This will create a habitual pattern of not chewing your food (usually a person is not aware of not chewing their food). Contrary to popular belief, functional habits such as chewing are not the main cause of the wearing of teeth. Structural alterations in your body will cause the jaw to not move properly. This will cause the muscles used for chewing to tighten during the day and the tension will be released at night by grinding the teeth. We can also determine if you need to see a Biological Dentist.
If you chew your food and still have digestive problems or your jaw pops or teeth don't hit right, you may find benefit in having Wellness Alternatives assist you in repairing your digestive system and restoring balance to your body. Give us a call 636-227-4949. |
SPRING BODY CLEANING
Detox, Cleansing, and Purification
Detox, short for detoxification, is the removal of potentially toxic
substances from the body. It is also a term used in alternative medicine to refer to diets, herbs, and other methods of removing environmental and dietary toxins from the body for general health.
What is Detoxing?
It's all about restoring your body to its natural state of health and vitality. This is done by flushing away the poisons and toxic residues that are stored due to the cumulative effects of poor dietary and other lifestyle habits, environmental pollution, and natural metabolic wastes. It's simple: "clean up your act", using detox-cleanse products and programs, you can remove those nasty toxic terminators inside, and once they're gone you'll notice a dramatic difference in your health! You will have loads of natural energy, fantastic skin, clear bright eyes, weight loss and more. You'll simply feel so good after it's done. Not only that, but think about your investment for the future - by detoxing and cleansing now better. You're protecting your future health as well.
Would Detoxing benefit you?
Yes or No
- I often feel tired, sluggish, or lethargic.
- I have difficulty concentrating or staying focused.
- I catch colds easily.
- I usually have bad breath.
- I tend to get congested, stuffed-up, or post-nasal drip.
- I have unpleasant body odors when I'm not using deodorant or perfume.
- I often have bloating, gas or indigestion after eating.
- I usually have dark circles under my eyes.
- I have allergies.
- I have eczema, acne, or psoriasis.
- I often go for more than one day without having a bowel movement.
- I'm a current or former smoker, or I spend time regularly around other smokers.
- I usually drink less than three cups of water a day.
- I usually eat meat two times or more a day.
- I tend to get bloated or puffy.
- I eat less than 3 servings of vegetables a day.
If you answered YES to more than 50% of these questions, a cleansing and purification program would be beneficial for you. If you are interested in
"SPRING BODY CLEANING", we are offering a 20% discount on all cleansing, detox and purification programs and products in the month of May with a free 15 minute nutritional consultation. Contact Pat or Debbie today. 636-227-4949.
Until the world wakes up to the mortal danger which environmental pollution poses to human health and longevity, and takes effective measures to clean up the planet, human beings who wish to live long and healthy lives in this world have no choice but to take their own measures to periodically detoxify and protect the inner world of their own bodies, and to try and stay a few steps ahead of the constant detoxification process that occurs naturally in the course of daily [modern] life"
- from "The Tao of Detox"
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Want to Lose Weight and Keep It Off For Good?
Learn from the Masters of Weight Control!
In 1997, the largest study ever done on successful weight maintenance was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The purpose was to identify the behaviors associated with long-term weight-loss maintenance. Researchers collected data on 786 individuals who had lost an average of 66 pounds and kept it off for an average of 5 years (16% had maintained for 10 years.)
Most of the dieters had been fat since childhood. Almost all, 91%, said they had tried and failed to keep weight off in the past. Many reported previously losing and regaining as much as 270 pounds! This time they were stricter with their diets and exercised more vigorously. They took responsibility for their food and activity choices and they treated their health and well being as a top priority. About half, 57%, initially got help from a weight management program or health professional.
This study illuminates several key behaviors that successful losers have in common.
1. Track your progress. 74% of the Masters used food and activity records while they were losing weight, and 50% continue to track calories during maintenance. Also, 69% report weighing themselves at least weekly.
2. Get moving. The men and women in the study reported weekly physical activity levels equivalent to 4 miles per day for their respective body weights.
3. Cut the unhealthy fat and calories. Study participants report consuming one-third less fat than the average American-23.5% vs. 34% of total calories.
4. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Emphasizing fruits and vegetables is one of the main methods Masters use to reduce their fat intake, while also keeping their calories low.
5. Become a manager and a problem-solver. Masters have learned to problem-solve how to respond to cravings and stressful situations, and have learned to control problem foods. Not bringing them home is the foundation of not struggling with problem foods.
6. Get support. Masters have become skillful in developing support relationships and have learned to be assertive about their needs.
Most of the Masters said that weight maintenance is actually easier than weight loss. And, 85% reported increased general quality of life, moods, mobility, self-confidence, health, and energy.
Why reinvent the wheel? It's successful! It's proven! These are the basic behaviors that are necessary for you to be successful with weight loss and  more importantly, weight loss maintenance. Lasting weight loss requires changing habits. Habits are typically hard to change, but by moving step by step, in predictable stages over time, lasting change is possible. If you are serious about improving your health and achieving a healthy weight for your body, Wellness Alternatives has a well-defined plan with worksheets, journals, physical activity charts, recommended calorie levels and simple eating lists that can simplify the weight loss process, and provide the support you need to be successful with your goals. Call us today!
636-227-4949
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