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“Natural” is a marketing Tool: Beware of Synthetic Cosmetics and fake- Frankenfoods!

BANG ON 2015!

Congratulations everyone! By reading this, and being *here* – this means you have made it to 2015!

Not a small feat in today’s world of cancer, sickness and ill health. I personally have lost a few loved ones last year, as have many of my friends.  I commiserate with the mind numbing grief that you might experience.   January is a time of introspection, a kindness to ourselves to start over again, to move forward.

Let’s try to turn this year into one of ACTION instead of Re-action. Being Wellness is about being proactive. Find the weak spots and Tweak ’em. For more hints and tips hop over to our dual facebook sites- the human side of Being Wellness is https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beingwellness/1508587542703500

and the Veterinary Pet site is here: https://www.facebook.com/animalwellness

As a Naturopath and Veterinary Surgeon and Physician I am known for my enquiring mind- WHY? is a common question to come from me.  The next question to follow is “What can we do to fix it?” followed by “How can we prevent this from happening?”  I am sure it drives my staff and family nuts sometimes- and certainly it may not be good for my adrenals, however THAT is the stuff I am made of, and I guess I must be OK with that because it somehow seems to work for me most of the time. You have to ask what the pay off is for me personally, and for others that are somehow “driven” to fight the good fight and to see what we can achieve. Guess I was just born that way.

Today I want to talk to you about MINDFULNESS ingestion: what you eat and what you put on your  body. Did you know that your skin is a carrier, NOT a barrier- as was previously thought. That means whatever you put On your skin is carried INTO your body and absorbed until it is eliminated. This has implications for nanoparticles in sunscreen (linked to cancer)  and phthalates and parabens in soaps, shampoos and cosmetics.

Natural does not necessarily mean “Natural” as in “gift from Nature”. It may NOT be a carbon life form derived product. It may, in fact be chemical mimicry that could be dangerous to your bodies’ chemistry.

 It is most likely a marketing tool- it really means “can taste like a natural food” or smells like a “Nature derived smell” when in fact it can be entirely synthetic and made from plastics and coal tar- a by product of the petrochemical industry. Its a lot cheaper and therefore more profitable for the company  to make a Rose scent in a test tube than to grow the roses, transport them to a distillery, and make a pomade, bottle it etc. Its the same for Vanilla, an orchid seed pod- very expensive to grow and then bottle.  That’s why most of your chocolate and cookies use ethyl vanillin- its cheap, but WHAT is THAT doing to your body and organ systems- especially if your body has no way of breaking it down? Where is it stored (think fat, liver etc! ) and how is it removed from your body? Much of  it must pass through into urine and  faeces- because it is found in our seawater, which means both the liver and the kidneys had a “go” at filtering it.  What does it do the the environmental food chain then?

Some contaminants in our food chain bioaccumulate. This means that if it is in the soil or seawater (via sewerage)  the smaller organisms eat it, incorporate this into their bodies, and as the larger organisms consume them in turn, there is a greater toxic dose per gram ingested. As Man is an “Apex” predator we end up with the stuff back in our bodies at a higher dose than the little guys.  This is true for everything that is NOT food.  Food gets broken down by your digestive system or by your liver to its primary components: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen plus some sulphur micro and macro minerals calcium, magnesium etc. Every cell gets washed in the serum that carries these molecules and each cell tries to figure out if it is food or foul—If you can’t  build cells or run enzymes with the molecules there, then the chemicals are either stored or put away or flushed out.  Its vitally important that you feed your body daily with the building  blocks for your cells to regenerate and that you avoid putting bad stuff into the system.

Don’t be fooled! If a substance has “not yet been found” to cause cancer it might just mean that the correlation has not been documented in enough places- and that possibly too many doctors /research scientists are on the receiving end of a pay back! (Conspiracy theorist?  nah, its just business as usual! If  your research funding pays your mortgage who/what ya gunna call??) . You can  check pubmed entrez – the scientific research  site– for information about the anthropogenic (ie synthetic man made substances) found in the atmosphere that DO NOT BREAK DOWN in the ocean’s waters.

  However pubmed is not a complete site as articles written in Chinese or non recognised journals are not listed.

For example  heavy metals and organochlorines were found in wild caught fish in New Zealand.  (e.g., organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), PCBs and selected heavy metals) were analysed in  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21402398 A cumulative lifetime cancer risk assessment showed potential health risk for consumption of some species, even at low consumption rates and provided the basis for establishing recommended dietary consumption limits for harvest sites within the study region.

 If they do not break down in the salt water, which is similar to the human body – what are we doing in our own bodies with this substance? the branding of “Natural” is a lie, synthetic GRAS (generally recognised as safe) does not necessarily= safe. Think DDT and various Monsanto poisons- glyphosate advertising (weedicide) was that it is so safe you can drink it. We have a rate of cancer that is approaching 100%, as in” everyone will have some form of cancer in their lifetime”. We should not be ingesting or putting on our skin non food. Synthetic stuff is NON FOOD. simple.

Doterra: Gift of the Earth or of the Laboratory? Certified Synthetic The Birch Report Overview: Doterra’s Birch Oil has been scientifically analyzed by a world leader of environmental laboratory services. It was discovered in this analysis that the Methysalicylate was an artificial additive.
 I went to a talk on chemical additives last year – it was a good night overall with some great discussion and wonderful food by a Brisbane group Lost Boys. The topic raised the issue of FRAGRANCES and what “certified organic” means. Miranda Kerr’s mum presented ,and is staunchly on the side of positive choices for confirmed certified organic produce and beauty and fragrance care. She is positive that the Pthalates had caused her to have splenic tumours and to be unwell. I asked the question about ethyl vanillin as I am aware that this is in many chocolates (eg. on the packet of biscuits in Ikea) and in doTERRA essential oils. I have studied aromatherapy, use many brands of essential oils, and have been concerned over misrepresentation of the word “Natural” flavouring- which ethyl vanillin is labeled as. It is NOT Natural in that it is a synthetic petrochemically derived substance, and therefore it is misleading to have this in our food or in topical essential oils especially when most people will read the word “Natural” and assume it is from nature (which I guess petrochemicals are…but that is beside the point!) I want to eat organic plants and food, not artificial dyes or possible poisons. I’m not even sure that it breaks down in our bodies, as it certainly hangs around in the environment a long time- often a sign of ongoing toxicity. ***** see below–vanillin= ethylvanillin–is found as a marine water pollutant. (hence it stays in the environment a long time) see the reference below. Unfortunately this ingredient is in every confectionary, cookie, cake etc but we shouldn’t be eating it most likely! Lindt has bourbon vanilla beans!! yay. win.

Anyway I thought it was essential that people understood the difference in the wording so that when they read a packet of food -or essential oil, and see the word “Natural” they will now know that it is NOT necessarily natural at all. Vanillin is not natural. Its synthetic.
Apparently someone in the audience took offence at this as I mentioned both Ikea cookies and DoTerra have ethyl vanillin in them, and she pretty much threatened me with libel after the talk– and wanted to argue with me about this, saying that there was no evidence that doTerra had ethyl vanillin in their oils and she was of the opinion that I was a Young living spy (inferring that I was making this up). Of course this has nothing to do with any affiliation- I would use doTerra if they didn’t do the adulteration with synthetics, but I told her I am 100% correct and have done my research. Synthetic incipients smell good but have no place on my body or in others trying to detox.  I’ve actually gotten pretty good at sussing out synthetic essential oil smells, AND they give me a headache!  I have some inherited mitochondrial defects, so I suppose I am a canary in the mineshaft of fragrances.
Well I am sorry that she was offended, but I have researched this quite thoroughly and I am referring to independent labs that verify this. She asked me to show her the data- so here is some data- I asked her to prove me wrong- and to take this up with her doTerra manufacturers, not merely her “upline” who have a vested interest in cover up.

Here is the impartial external lab testing on seve

Comments and conclusions from our Chemist, as cut and pasted right from the report:

% of trans-Thuyanol and Neomenthol too low,
% of Limonene and 1,8-cineole too high :

You can view the report for yourself by clicking here: doTERRA Peppermint Analysis.

Although our Chemist only commented on the constituents that were out of range, you can see from the report that “ethyl vanillin” is listed as the last constituent in the analysis. When I asked Mr. Dantin about the constituent, he told me ethyl vanillin is a “synthetic compound.” The sample only contains 0.07% ethyl vanillin, which is technically a trace amount. However, according to Mr. Dantin, “ethyl vanillin is a huge odor, more than vanillin!”

To confirm our Chemist’s comment that ethyl vanillin is a “huge odor,” I overnighted doTERRA’s Peppermint to our Essential Oil Expert and asked his advice.

Our Essential Oil Expert comment after an organoleptic assessment (sniff test!): This essential oil smells very pleasant, but it lacks the “clean” odor of a quality peppermint oil. It is over-sweet and reminiscent of a peppermint and dark chocolate candy. This would be consistent with a low concentration of added ethyl vanillin, a powerful odorant that smells of vanilla/chocolate.

Essential Oil Expert comments: Two samples (DoTerra and Heritage) were clearly from the same source. Both samples also contained 0.07% ethyl vanillin, which is a synthetic compound. The fact that many samples were run on the same equipment, but ethyl vanillin only showed up in two oils (which were virtually identical in every other respect as well) suggests that this was not an aberration or contamination that happened during analysis. *******Mar Pollut Bull. 2011 Nov;62(11):2404-11. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.08.029. Epub 2011 Sep 13.
Differential presence of anthropogenic compounds dissolved in the marine waters of Puget Sound, WA and Barkley Sound, BC.
Keil R1, Salemme K, Forrest B, Neibauer J, Logsdon M.
Author information
Organic compounds were evaluated in March 2010 at 22 stations in Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island Canada and at 66 locations in Puget Sound. Of 37 compounds, 15 were xenobiotics, 8 were determined to have an anthropogenic imprint over natural sources, and 13 were presumed to be of natural or mixed origin. The three most frequently detected compounds were salicyclic acid, vanillin and thymol. The three most abundant compounds were diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), ethyl vanillin and benzaldehyde (∼600 n g L(-1) on average). Concentrations of xenobiotics were 10-100 times higher in Puget Sound relative to Barkley Sound. Three compound couplets are used to illustrate the influence of human activity on marine waters; vanillin and ethyl vanillin, salicylic acid and acetylsalicylic acid,

3rd Party Test Results for Peppermint Essential Oil | Learning About EOs – Using Essential Oils…

Learning About EOs – Using Essential Oils Safely

Learning About EOs – Using Essential Oils Safely
Here is some further information about Vanilla oil  from Mercola.com:contains approximately 150 aromas, many of which are present in very small amounts. Vanillyl ethyl ether, acetic acid, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and caproic acid are among the chemicals present in it. 7

Benefits of Vanilla Oil

vanilla oil benefitsIn ancient Africa, healers used vanilla for stomach problems. The European doctors of the 16th and 17th centuries used it as an antidote for poisoning and stomach complaints, and as an aphrodisiac.

Vanilla oil has been documented to have antispasmodic, balsamic, calming, emmenagogue,8 antioxidant, antidepressant, and aphrodisiac properties,9 which enables it to assist in the following:

  • Fight some types  of cancers
  • Regulate menstruation
  • Relieve nausea
  • Ease stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia
  • Heal wounds
  • Enhance your libido10
  • Induce sleep and encourage dreaming11

Vanilla oil can also work as a fever reducer due to its eugenol and vanillin content, the same compounds that lessen inflammation and strengthen the body’s immune system. 12

How to Make Vanilla Oil

It’s important to establish that finding 100 percent pure vanilla oil today is highly unlikely, as it is extremely expensive. Most of the cheap vanilla oils available commercially are either heavily processed or contain loads of synthetic materials, and are unfortunately passed off as the real deal by unscrupulous manufacturers. Unlike other essential oils, vanilla oil cannot be obtained through steam distillation because of its very delicatestructure.

There are 3 types of vanilla oil extracts:

  • Vanilla carbon dioxide (CO₂) – The vanilla pods are put inside a stainless steel chamber that has been injected with CO₂ gas. The air inside the chamber is then pressurized. Under these conditions, CO₂ liquefies and becomes a supercritical fluid that pulls the oil from the pods. In the end, the CO₂ turns back into gas again, leaving the vanilla essential oil.
  • Vanilla absolute – Preferred in perfumery products, absolute vanilla is obtained by selective solvent extraction, using initially non-polar solvent such as benzene, followed by a polar solvent such as ethanol. 13
  • Vanilla oleoresin – This is a semi-solid concentrate produced by solvent extraction from macerated beans. Vanilla oleoresin is actually just a commercial term, as the liquid extract is not really an oleoresin but a resinoid obtained from the vanilla pods. 14

Each type is claimed to be better and purer than the other. But remember, the more processed it is, the less pure and the lower-quality your vanilla oil will be. More often than not, the natural aroma and essence of vanilla oil is lost during these processes. To avoid the risk of being duped into purchasing chemical-laced vanilla oil, I recommend making your own vanilla tincture and infusion at home. Try using these recipes:

DIY Vanilla Tincture

Simply soak whole vanilla pods in a jar of 151-proof rum. After 2 weeks, transfer the mixture in a separate container. Sift the solid particles away using a strainer, and you’ve gota high quality vanilla tincture. .15

DIY Vanilla Oil Infusion

Here are 2 ways to do vanilla oil infusion:

  1. Mix 1 teaspoon of your homemade vanilla tincture with 8 ounces of an essential oil of your choice, or
  2. Get whole vanilla pods or beans. Chop them into pieces and remove their seeds.  Add them directly to your carrier oil. Although it’s ready to use after a week, letting it sit longer will make your vanilla oil infusion stronger and more effective. It’s okay not to filter out the vanilla pods from the oil if you want, but make sure that it’s completely immersed and it’s kept in an airtight container to prevent oxidation.

For carrier oils, I recommend jojoba, almond, and apricot essential oil, for they don’t have a strong odor that may overpower vanilla oil’s sweet-smell. 16 I also advise using only organic vanilla pods to get optimum

Holistic = Homeopathy (only)??

Greetings Sentient ones!

I had an interesting weekend attending a surgery conference. On the whole it was most enjoyable, but it did raise my awareness that there is still an ignorance about what the term holistic entails. Holistic practitioners embrace a “heal the wholeness” of the individual.

There are many therapeutic models that are employed by the Naturopath, some would say this type of para-professional medical team member uses functional pathology, analysis of physical features and dietary/lifestyle/developmental history in a thorough way.

Often I am approached by clients and requested to “get to the bottom” of why they are experiencing different signs and symptoms. This means that I require a whole history and also review of their previous test results. (There is no point in spending extra dollars retesting eg. intestinal biopsies, recent blood work etc if they have recently been done!).

What I find fascinating is that some GP doctors or even specialists completely discredit the word “Holistic” as they simply have no idea about the meaning of the word. These doctors are simply confused about the terminology.
Although I have clients that tell me incredible stories about their, or their relatives healing at the hands of a Homeopathic practitioner, (ie this is a Homeopath- using a diluted water based therapy orally) many doctors assume that the word Holistic equals Homoeopathy=water=nothing in it (equates to quackery in their mind). They then further confuse the word Holistic with Naturopath and rudely disregard an entire profession of Natural healers!

I do wonder why these otherwise intelligent people (Doctors, Specialists) have no understanding of the functional pathology and mind-body medicine that Naturopaths practice. It seems that there is a separation of body parts in the minds of the standard western medical paradigm. That is the process by which emotions, and the hormones released by certain thinking processes (anxiety, worry, anger) leading to a cortisol stress response and physical body breakdown, is simply not recognised. Naturopaths like to delve down and get to the bottom of WHY this is happening, correcting the gut biome and changing diet, attitudes, and lifestyle while doing so.

It is for this reason that multiple supplements and lifestyle/nutritional changes are recommended. This may take several visits to the Naturopath while the client undergoes paradigm changes and baby steps forward. Its not too different to “going on a diet” and “getting more exercise” which is REALLY what the medical profession should be recommending anyway- instead of drug therapies!

In my Animal work I find that many of my veterinary patients reflect lifestyle concerns of the owner- that is the stresses of the home are also impinging on the health of their pet. Diet is also implicated as a factor, or cause of some of the dis-ease.

A Holistic practitioner recognises this, and although some Naturopaths also use Homoeopathy, most of us do all the above, and include diet recommendations, some form of body work, exercise, Herbal therapies and macro and micronutrient changes.

So please, inform your doctors and let them know that Naturopaths CAN and DO work with the medical profession as allied health care professionals. We ARE covered by most health care funds.

Go and drink some water now! 😉

That Trying Testing Technical Trap for Thyroid disease!

Hello folks,

There seems to be an epidemic of Hypothyroidism caused by the autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

This is basically where the body turns on itself and starts “eating” its own thyroid.

Very often people have not had adequate testing to diagnose this, as thyroid autoantibodies need to be identified.

Here is a list for you to print off and take to your doctor if you are having any of the following signs:

Unexplained weight gain, lethargy, itchy dry skin, tiredness, puffiness, constipation and other GI signs, cold hands and feet, sluggish in the morning, slow heart rate, faint, feeling weak.

Thyroid Testing

Full Thyroid Testing of:
TSH, FT4 & FT3, TPOAb & TgAb (antibodies)**
RT3 (Reverse T3) This is NOT covered by Medicare. It will be a private cost to yourself. Costs range from $50 – $80 upwards dependant on the lab you use.

Recommended labs for RT3 testing in:
WA = Clinipath
ACT= Capitol

**Please see page 3, it has important Medicare advice for you AND your doctor to enable Medicare to cover the costs of some or all of these tests (excluding RT3)

Blood Testing

FBC (Full blood count)
U & E (Urea & Electrolytes – includes Potassium & Sodium)
Full Fasting Cholesterol
Fasting Glucose
Full Iron Panel (includes: Iron, Transferrin, Saturations & Ferritin)
Full Liver Panel
Full Kidney Panel
AM & PM Cortisol (Saliva testing is more accurate but is NOT covered by Medicare, check for costs involved))
Urinary Iodine testing (NOT covered by Medicare, around $50+, check for costs)
H. Pylori (if required)

Folate/Folic Acid

Vitamin Testing

Vitamin D
Vitamin B1, B6 & B12
Vitamin A, C** & E (not as important but “may” be worthwhile)

**Vitamin C – check with your own state’s lab of preference. In WA through St John’s Pathology, you are required to attend their Head Lab in Subiaco due to the extra requirements of the testing procedure.

Hormonal Testing

E1, E2, E3 & Progesterone (Saliva testing is more accurate, but is NOT covered by Medicare, please check for costs involved)

Autoimmune/Inflammatory Markers Testing (if required due to family history)

Complements C3 & C4

Allergy/Coeliac Testing

IgE (Rast) – includes Animal, Food, House Dust/Mite, Grass & Mould panels (if required)
IgA & IgG Coeliac screen (Negative result “may” not mean you are not Gluten Intolerant/Sensitive)
DQ2/DQ8 Gene Test for Coeliac (if required)

A good website for a “symptom checker” of gluten intolerance can be found at

Additional Information

If you are on any antidepressants, please check with your doctor if you should be monitored with any extra blood testings involving that. Some meds have leaflets which state requirements of monitoring via blood tests but it’s not always the case your doctor does any monitoring.

ALWAYS ask for copies of all your blood tests. Ask your doctor to specifically write “copy to patient” on any and all lab requests. Your doctor’s “normal” result for yourself “may” not always the case. If you need copies of prior tests and your doctor is reluctant to provide them, please contact your lab for instructions on how to obtain your copies. It may mean signing an authority and once ID is provided you can get your copies sent to your home address.

*** Important Medicare Advice

The item number for thyroid function test, comprising of TSH, free T4 and free T3 is 66719.
The TSH test is covered by Medicare, but the free T4 and the free T3 will only be paid by
Medicare if at least one of the following conditions is satisfied (see MBS schedule below).

However if one of the following conditions is NOT satisfied, you can request for private billing.
The laboratory should test the free T4 and/or the free T3 if the tests have been requested on
the referral form by the doctor and it is clear you will be paying for the tests.

If the doctor writes down TFT then the laboratory may only test the TSH and the free T4.

If the doctor writes down TSH, free T4 and free T3 separately on the form then there will be
no confusion and the proper tests will be done.

For more information on item numbers you can check online at www.mbsonline.gov.au under
“Thyroid function tests (comprising the service described in item 66716 and 1 or more
of the following tests – free thyroxine, free T3, for a patient, if at least 1 of the following
conditions is satisfied:
(a) The patient has an abnormal level of TSH;
(b)The tests are performed:
(i) for the purpose of monitoring thyroid disease in the patient; or
(ii) to investigate the sick euthyroid syndrome if the patients is an admitted patient; or
(iii) to investigate dementia or psychiatric illness of the patient; or
(iv) to investigate amenorrhoea or infertility of the patient;
(c) the medical practitioner who requested the tests suspects the patient has pituitary
(d) the patient is on drugs that interfere with thyroid hormone metabolism or function
(item is subject to rule 9)”

This schedule from the MBS was up to date in January 2012

Medicare information provided by www.thyroidwa.com

Tinnitus: Those bells are ringing!

Tinnitus: Those bells are ringing!

Tinnitus is a condition in which there is “ringing” in the ears. The noise can be intermittent or continuous, and can vary in loudness. Some people hear a hissing or buzzing, rather than ringing.

Many causes – almost everything that can go wrong with our ears can produce tinnitus as a symptom! Perhaps as simple as wax against the eardrum, or as serious as a tumour on the hearing nerve. Otosclerosis (fixation of the tiny stirrup bone in the middle ear) can produce tinnitus; so can Meniere’s disease. . Noise destroys!  EXPOSURE TO EXCESSIVE NOISE, e.g. chain saws, machinery, rock concerts, IPODs/music earphones.   Damage to the middle or inner ear can create an annoying buzzing or ringing sound that can become worse with age and is related to a progressive arthritis or otosclerosis (bones of the ear)  Treatment therefore depends on limiting factors that will cause further damage and considering the sorts of treatment you might consider for generalised arthritis, plus increasing blood flow and circulation to the specific affected areas.

Hearing aids Good quality and properly fitted- can reduce and even eliminate most tinnitus associated with hearing losses. Hearing aids take away the strain of listening and distract from the tinnitus by bringing you more environmental sounds from the outside world.

Therapeutic Noise Generator– if the tinnitus or ringing is constant and annoying this device which looks like a hearing aid and recommended for people with no hearing loss. It produces a blend of external sounds which stimulate most fibres of the hearing nerve helping to deviate attention away from the tinnitus, and may help people adjust to living and studying/reading etc.

Nervous system diet:

Go High antioxidant,low carb, High fat (saturated, monounsaturated fatty acids and omega 3 fish and flax oils) protein + EFA oil, multicoloured fresh foods- as many vegetables as you can get into your system. Vitamins A,D, E are fat soluble and need a protein/fat source such as cold water fatty fish 3-5 times a week to help your gut absorb these essential nutrients. B vitamins,meat nuts and seeds.Try green smoothies for breakfast, with Spirulina, chlorella and parsley, plus add trace minerals to your smoothie, particularly chromium and vanadium to balance your insulin levels and prevent a proinflammatory state. Supplement with omega 3 oils 3 capsules 3x/day.

Once the condition occurs it is managed by attempting to correct the source-  treat and manage infections such as viral causes with Vitamin C, L-lysine, herbal supplements (Echinacea, Elderberry, turmeric, ginger, Golden Seal)  and manage stress with Herbs (Withania, ginseng, Rehmannia) yoga, relaxation/meditation, massages, osteopathy, acupressure and acupuncture.

5% of tinnitus is caused by a jaw joint (TMJ) problem as jaw muscles and a muscle in the middle ear are closely connected. When jaw muscles spasm the ear muscles react by pulling the eardrum too tight, and this situation can result in tinnitus. A remedial massage therapist using essential oils of helichrysum, lavender and copaiba may help reduce these taught trigger points.

In many people the middle ear is at fault, but virtually any part of the hearing system (includes ear and brain) may be the culprit.  If the inner ear, or cochlear, is involved it may progress to hearing loss, a decreased ability to hear, which is divided into two main categories: Conductive, which is hearing loss due to something interfering with the sound passing to the inner ear; and sensorineural –caused by nerve or organ damage within the ear (viral, bacterial, trauma). Loud noise, aging, infection, ear wax, tumors and other conditions can cause hearing loss. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Effective in alleviating distress and producing adaptation to tinnitus. CBT is threefold: changing the way a person perceives tinnitus; teaching ways to focus attention away from tinnitus and achieving control over stress. Offered by clinical psychologists.

Eat to Nourish your Nerves! Try to eat a salad a day and a piece of fish such as sardines, salmon or an egg plus flax oil dressing and a couple of handfuls of nuts -walnuts and cashews have adequate vitamin B6 and some oils to replenish your nervous system.

What Can Make Tinnitus Worse and how can I help prevent and Treat?
1. Loud noise! – Exposure to sudden or long-term noise can damage your hearing with resultant deafness and tinnitus. High-risk groups include industrial workers, farmers, transport workers – and don’t forget that noisy lawn mower! Reduce the noise source or protect your ears with earplugs, or ear muffs. Leisure noise can also be a hazard, e.g. rock concerts, boom boxes in cars and misuse of a digital iphone/ipods – never play it loudly.

2. Stress and Fatigue – They make tinnitus worse! Keeping busy – trying to focus your energies OUTWARD AND AWAY from the tinnitus – is an excellent idea, but stress and fatigue only undermine your healing. Minimise them by rethinking your lifestyle. Relaxation therapy can help greatly if  practised daily.

Hypnotherapy from a qualified practitioner may help. Also good – sports, hobbies, yoga, t’ai chi, reflexology or massage.

3. Medications – It is essential to tell your family doctor about your tinnitus; some common medications cause tinnitus as a side effect or make your existing tinnitus worse. Take special care with medications for arthritis, rheumatic diseases, some antibiotics, and anti-depressants. Also aspirin – ask your doctor about alternatives.

4. Try easing off caffeine (tea, coffee, coca-cola, chocolate), and alcohol as they can temporarily worsen tinnitus for some people. Avoid quinine – as in “tonic” water .Avoid  Nicotine and marijuana too. Smoking narrows your blood vessels which supply vital oxygen to your ears and their sensory cells. PLEASE – quit smoking!

5. Take supplements: Gingko biloba, Gotu kola essential anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids (DHA, EPA) Quercetin, Vitamin A,D,C,E, B’s Zinc, Magnesium, Selenium and a diet high in antioxidants (berries, green leafy veges) will help reduce stress and repair your body. Check with your Doctor for doses if on warfarin.

6. Eat a well balanced diet, get adequate exercise 20min/day-  maintain a healthy weight; being obese results in an proinflammatory state.  Exercise helps to lubricate your body and allows the nutrients to get through to your cells. Reducing atherosclerosis and plaque build up with good nutrition and exercise will keep the circulation to your nervous system active and healthy.

7. Keep your Ears/head and neck warm! If your circulation to your ears is reduced with your body’s attempt to stay warm, the tinnitus can get more pronounced.

Chai tea for Ear health: in a large pot 5 cups of water and 5 tbsp of Dandelion tea/coffee and brew with 2 tbs each of coconut milk, coconut oil,  3 cm of Rehmannia glutinosa root (from chinese supermarket) pinch of turmeric, cardamom pods, anise, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, plus 2 drops of stevia or honey to taste, blend in 1 tsp of flax oil prior to serving .

8. Get regular soothing, gentle neck and shoulder massages this will keep the blood circulating efficiently through your auditory nervous system, oxygenate and cleanse and prevent toxin build up.

What do I eat NOW?

I hear ya, you want 2014 to be the conquering year of getting in shape (round is a shape, right? ;-))
So here is a great kick start Joe Cross style (yes, grab that “Fat Sick and Nearly Dead” DVD http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/),
This means getting rid of sugar, carbs and increasing your nutrient value especially greens. Try this for breakfast and for a fast pick up during the day. Drink 6 glasses of mostly vege juices daily.

Green Smoothie Boost
Mix in high speed blender:
1 cup water (or coconut water)
1 stick celery
2 leaves kale
1 green apple
1/2 small cucumber (lebanese)
1 kiwifruit
50 gm baby spinach leaves
Juice of half lemon or lime
and organic spirulina, wheat grass, alfalfa, broccoli sprouts or phyto organic essential powder- 2 tsp.

Off you go! and have a GREAT day!

A variation to boost your detox and help your liver is to add 1-2 small pieces of turmeric. This is very helpful as an anti-inflammatory, antiarthritis, anticancer treatment. If you are detoxing for brain/neurological function (MS, Alzheimers etc) swallow 2 tablespoons of coconut oil twice a day as well.

If you have had many amalgam fillings it will take 1 month for every year you have had them to slowly detox your heavy metals out of your bones and fat deposits, your liver will need support while you do this to methylate the free radical toxins out (and into your poo! and out of your body) so you will need fibre daily. Try flax seed crackers- I love love love these ones from iherb.com http://www.iherb.com/search?sug=mary%27s+gone+crackers&kw=gone+crack&rank=2&x=0&y=0#p=1 and when you check out use my priority value code vet344 and you will receive 5-10$ off your first order! Its rewards based (not network marketing) so you will get your own code when you check out – share this and you too will gain rewards. Awesome way to shop for organics and yummy foods and supplements.

Naturopathic principles to support people with LHON Genetics

Naturopathic principles to support people with LHON Genetics
Since 1983 this Naturopath has been aware of a rare and devastating genetic disease that causes sudden irreversible blindness, with presently no treatment available and very little warning about its onset. You can read more about it here: http://www.ifond.org. and here:http://www.lhon.org/lhon/LHON.html You can read about the optic nerve here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optic_nerve
You see it was about this time that my brother, a fine and upstanding Dentist, found that he could not see the sutures he had placed the week before in his patient’s mouth. His optometrist advised him to take a break and rest his eyes from eye strain, as the optometrist could see no apparent cause to this sudden blindness while examining his retina. The ensuing months led to a bucket load of tests and hospitalisation in the London hospital for Nervous disorders, ruling out every possible brain disorder- Parasitic infection, heavy metal toxicity, MS, tumour, Parkinsons, Lou Gherigs, etc. All Nada. Negative. My bro was sent home back to Australia legally blind and unable to practice his life-long well studied career, with no obvious plan to move forward as there was no diagnosis. Hoping to regain his vision, and find a cause for this devastating disease was the focus of the next year. Unfortunately at that time there was no genetic testing, and many visits to multiple specialists were unfruitful. T he rule out factors added up and they came to the provisional diagnosis of LHON. No treatment, No CURE!
Causes: LHON is the acronym for Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. It is a sudden blindness due to an inherited mitochondrial enzyme deficiency. There is some supportive evidence based data linking the onset to a TRIGGERED response caused by various Reactive Oxygen Species/Free Radicals . Free Radicals are by products of chemical reactions with the cell contributing to apoptosis or cells breaking down. Women can get LHON but the incidence is rarer, contributing to the theory that female hormones are somehow protective to the optic nerve.
Because there are triggering events in some cases- which lead to subsequent apoptosis of the optic nerve (=programmed cell death) it is possible that preventative steps may help.
This may also be true of many mitochondrial disease processes, and so it may be worthwhile considering possible treatment strategies that may help –especially in the early stages of the onset of blindness.
I will add a disclaimer here- it is not possible to diagnose or treat any disease via the internet, you will need to work out what is best in your own situation. What I will list below are some naturopathic principles that others- including myself– have found useful. You see a genetic test was produced in the early 90’s and I have found that all of my mitochondria and my kids are also affected. They are now in their late 20’s early 30’s. All are doing well, and are aware of their genetic potentials. Through the internet I have also found many individuals with my mutation –boys, girls, and several women- younger than I –HAVE also gone blind from this horrid disease. So far no other members of my family have been affected, except perhaps my mother who suffered from atrial fibrillation in the last 20 years of her life and eventually succumbed to a clotting stroke secondary to that. LHON also causes heart disease. Remember that mitochondria affect the WHOLE body, they are the power houses of your cells, the “eveready battery” system. It is for this reason that several LHON affected individuals have multiple health challenges. It is imperative that you seek your own pathway and visit your own GP and eye specialist to discuss these strategies. You may find some of these ideas and lifestyle hints helpful. However some herbal and orthomolecular vitamins and minerals maybe contraindicated with some medications. Speak with a medically trained herbalist and nutritionist and discuss with an integrative doctor.
AIM for a BALANCE of hormones and body function:
Specifically Insulin, Oestrogen, Progesterone, Thyroxine, and Cortisol.
“Normalising” the body’s various metabolic processes and keeping “good health” involves the disciplines of nutrition, exercise physiology, sleep cycles, Stress management, and environmental toxin awareness. Its all about what we EAT, THINK, and DO! Its Lifestyle factors: Food, Fun and Fitness. By maintaining a great diet high in plant phytochemical antioxidants, GOOD quality fat, staying well hydrated, with low levels of stress and a low/healthy BMI fat ratio, while avoiding various toxins (smoking—of all types, paint fumes, alcohol, chemical preservatives, artificial flavourings, dyes, insecticides, weedicides and drugs) you have a better chance of living WELL. This is the Naturopathic principle behind stabilising LHON mitochondria. Wild blood sugar fluctuations by eating inappropriate candy, lollies, sugar, cakes, pastry, pasta and bread are pro-inflammatory and cause insulin surges, which in turn affect adrenaline and cortisol levels. Eating a low GI (glucose index) diet with plenty of good fat, some protein and phytonutrients is key to health.
The chemistry involved in the body is delicately balanced by hormones and food/nutrient intake. If you are releasing cortisol and adrenaline, the Calcium, Magnesium and other trace minerals are affected because every metabolic process in the body is affected! Yes even your kidneys will change their function if your brain puts out a signal that says STRESS!!! They will lose more vital nutrients to make way for other minerals to stay in the body to make more chemicals such as adrenaline and allow the blood pressure to elevate. Amazing systems our integrated organs! This is why families that are affected with a member who has/or is going blind need to acknowledge their grief and to seek counselling/meditation/or religious support to put back those “happy hormones” and return to a buzzing healthy body. Deal with it. For GOOD!
The grief and devastation to the individual and their family lasts a life- time with subsequent emotional roller coaster effects that continue to roll out over generations. Coping and living with dis-ease depends on the support structure of the family, the community, and the inherent strength of the individual. Find those groups, go to church, rotary or Lions club, or find a local community group with a similar interest (Chess or Golf—like my bro,line dancing, rock and roll, Agility dog handling, learning a new language, cooking etc).
Happy Hormones are linked to Happy emotions and will help balance your digestive system, your ability to absorb nutrients and will decrease your stress levels. Always a good thing. Seek your happiness bubble, as long as it is not self destructive! Exercise has been shown to increase happiness and decrease your risk of cancer by a whopping 37% so definitely add that to your Health achievement goal !

Research and lab rats:
Science takes at least 10-20 years to study medical phenomenon—the time PhD students work on and prepare their thesis and their Professors consider and work on the problem. To “do no harm” medically speaking scientific protocols and necessary ‘double blind placebo control” rules apply. Research grant proposals need to be garnered, and suppliers of cold hard cash need to be convinced that this research is necessary. This means that any preventative measures or possible treatments for a condition that does not affect a large percentage of the population is poorly funded and may even be stalled midway through its procedure. You can donate to this research via http://www.ifond.org.
While research is ongoing for LHON there have been only a few breakthroughs in the last 30 years that show promise. In the meantime hundreds more carriers have been identified throughout the world and many more souls have been inflicted by this optic nerve disease.
Through the gift of the internet and Facebook many LHON affected souls and their families have been able to communicate with each other, forming friendships across the globe which provid understanding and emotional support. It is through this avenue that I have been requested to write about my naturopathic understanding and personal experiences with LHON>
What has become apparent is that there is a resilience with many who have become blind, and who have gone on to develop a sense of humour about it and function well within society. Very few have regained a little vision over time, although most are still praying for a cure to restore their sight.

Let us break down some of the factors and possible triggers leading to the onset of LHON and for that matter any mitochondrial dis-ease.

Causes of Mitochondrial stress:
 Genetic (there are several areas on the mitochondrial DNA that are faulty-read about this in http://www.ifond.org)
 Obesity/Insulin Resistance / Inflammatory/dietary Metabolic reactions
 Infections
 Toxins
 Hormonal Imbalances – progesterone/oestradiol protective effects
 Stress
 Deficiencies of vitamins and other nutrients
 Exposure to environmental pollutants and radiation

Protective mechanisms for gene activity based on three main areas:
 Detoxification
 Methylation in the liver

 Decrease in antioxidant status in the individual may contribute to DNA damage – increased free radical exposure without neutralisation
 As we age, the ability for the body to produce anti-oxidants declines dramatically
 Impairs the ability for damaged DNA to repair itself faster.
 Free radical damage to DNA from chemical changes alters the DNA structure and therefore gene expression
 Antioxidant status is imperative to be maintained especially as the body ages.
Important antioxidants:
 CoQ10
 Vitamin C
 Vitamin E
 Selenium
 Vitamin A
 B vitamins – especially B1,3,6,9,12 necessary for the liver to detoxify via the methylation cycle.

It has been known for many years that what we eat (or don’t) is vital to how our body performs.
The role of Nutrition is key to physiological processes in the body– “the concept of health and dietary recommendations have been expanded to include achievement of genetic potential, prevention of disease and extension of longevity” Harper, AE, Am.J.clin.Nutr 1987 Vitamin and mineral deficiency at CRITICAL times are implicated in a number of pathological processes.
This is especially true in children, for instance if a child needs iron, vitamin A or iodine they NEED it NOW. Otherwise that child is going to pay for it for the rest of her life. If you meet that need the positive outcomes are glorious—2 Billion kids could be helped by supplementing these 3 things! (UNICEF. Micronutrient Initiative and United nations University).
If you have gut issues (see later blogs about gluten specifically) you may be harbouring inflammation, which releases damaging free radicals. Yep, those are the same nasty beasties that circulate through your body and bathe your optic nerve.
I hear you, you are asking: What do we need to eat?
Be aware that there is no ONE diet for everyone, as everyone has specific needs to stages of their life cycle. Growth, Pregnancy, new job, marathon running, lactating, and celiac disease all require different levels of nutrients, and specific co-factors.
There is, however ample scientific evidence to show that the advice on the Heart Tick foundation boxes of high sugar cereals is not correct. Today’s food pyramid is just WRONG—their emphasis at the bottom is on high processed sugar- refined in breads and pasta and this is fraught leading to inflammation. There is NO NEED to eat trans fats or processed margarine. Choose an unprocessed natural diet and avoid anything with numbers and preservatives. Do not eat empty calories- no sweets, cakes or candy/lollies. Avoid fried foods. Increase your omega 3 fatty acids, which should be fresh in foods such as chia, flax and other seeds and nuts and oily fish (Mackerel, salmon and a very little tuna- the latter has more mercury so should only be eaten no more than twice a month).
Nutritional imbalances are more common that frank single nutrient deficiencies in the western world. Beriberi (thiamine deficiency) Kwashiokor and Marasmus (overall protein deficiency) and Pellagra (vitamin B3 deficiency) is not common, however subclinical B6 and B12 deficiency could be underlying some neurological diseases.
The body is always changing and replacing cells. You are basically a new person every 7 years. Maybe that is why relationships suffer every 7 years. (Just kidding – no need to change partners every 7! They can change and grow with you too!).
The ability to switch on and switch off various metabolic processes using food therapy is called Nutrigenomics. We have found adding supplements and changing the diet to our chronic disease cases such as various dermatitides, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and heart problems can greatly improve outcomes. Together with the necessary medical interventions this form of Integrative Medicine is superior to plain pharmaceutical measures.
Just a quick word about Diet: there are many different diets out there and many different types of body stages, ages and conditions. What suits one person may not suit another, and most doctors know bugger all about this! Nutritional colleges don’t even agree with each other, and certainly the RDI (Recommended Daily Intake), or RDA (Recommended daily allowance) vastly underestimates nutritional requirements for dis-ease treatments. It’s going to take some research to work out what your individual body needs, however be assured that good wholesome organic foods grown on health non toxic soil are bound to be better for you than toxic waste preservative- coal tar dyed processed crap loaded with sugar and insectide sprays.
I’m going to make this simple for you, if you follow this golden rule you will notice a huge health improvement:
Eat less CRAP:
C- carbonated drinks
A-artifical sweeteners & Colours
P- Processed foods
Diet and Nutrition are NOT the same thing. Diet refers to the foods that are consumed and chosen on a daily basis, and Nutrition is the the factors that are retained and utilised by the body. Therefore, as all good naturopaths will tell you, the state of your gut function and digestion and absorption are where you should concentrate your efforts for healthcare. See some later blogs about poo and you. Having a Bristol Stool chart comparison gives you some idea about where you need to aim your efforts. Basically on the scale of 1-6 where 1 is hard rabbit type of pellets (constipation) and 6 is diarrhoea- runny pats with no form, an ideal faecal movement is about a 4- a submarine affair with sausage like ends and about 4-5 links at least once a day. This is significant, as runny poos likely mean you are not absorbing your nutritient factors adequately and constipation means you are probably dehydrated and lacking magnesium and other elements necessary to tonify the bowel, as well as a sluggish bowel will harbour more toxicity and bad bacteria increasing inflammation in the body.
A quick way to improve your digestion is to drink 2 glasses of warm water with ½ a lemon squeezed into it first thing in the morning. Then go for a 10 minute walk or do some stretches. Disciplining yourself to do this has seen improvements in 90% of my patients. It’s a simple and achievable process- baby steps to better health! This will rehydrate you and alkalinise the body, as well as increasing the gastric enzymes and HCL required to start your digestion.
Body types and Mineral Metabolism:
Another aspect of balancing your metabolism is to pay attention to your body type, as the structure is often linked to trace mineral imbalances. Scientifically proven HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) may be performed- this will work out which minerals need adjusting, and help your body absorb the correct minerals. Visit a Naturopath to obtain a Naturopathic diagnosis, based on observation of your nails, tongue, diet recall, skin etc. If you cannot afford to do this, at least try the zinc test and examine your fingernails. If there are white marks on them you are likely zinc deficient, and this is a very important mineral cofactor for many metabolic processes in your body. The most common deficiencies are vitamin D3, Zinc, Selenium and omega 3 fatty acids. The most common excesses are processed foods and sugar. Fix these simple things and you will be on your way for health.
The two basic body types are the apple shape with more fat in the centre and above the middle core- this is also known as a sympathetic type. Sympathetic here refers to the autonomic nervous system and a sympathetic system is adrenaline driven, type A personality, likes or seeks stress and is present in about 30% of the western population. This is a more testosterone type, and although I have not seen any studies linking this body type to the incidence of LHON blindness, it may be possible to look at a data base and define this at some future date. There are more males falling into the sympathetic body type as well, and as more males become affected by LHON than females this might be a future research area to look at the composition of mineral balanced due to the neuro-endocrine function which determines body type. They have low levels of Calcium and Magnesium in hair and blood samples and may require these minerals to be supplemented.
The other main body type is called the parasympathetic body- it is more pear shaped and represents more than 60% of the western population (except in Scandinavia where there is an equal distribution across the board of the 2 body types!). Parasympathetic people are type B personalities and have higher levels of Calcium and phosphates in their blood and hair, are more sedentary and nurturing and less stress- seeking.
The corollary one must ask: What does the body need to make and protect myelin and optic nerve tissue?
First the body needs to be signalled and told what to do with the nutrition. This is related to hormone levels – hence this is why menopausal women are cautioned to use hormone replacement therapy to protect their capacity to make more mitochondria. Oestradiol gives the mitochondria a kick- and this is possibly why there is an increase in men going blind at around the 30 age mark. (Although to this author’s knowledge presently no one has actually done a study to measure these hormones and link them to the onselt of LHON disease in men).
Progesterone also supports myelin sheath cell makers. Wild Yam crème has been used effectively to help perimenopause and PMS women and may well help men with this genetic predisposition. The studies are yet to be done on this.
Nutritional care for the myelin: we need to feed those suckers- they are formed fromLipoproteins and B vitamins! Lipo-proteins are the structures making up cell membranes. YES: The body needs good quality fat for its cell structure. That is why the presently taught “food pyramid” which is bottom heavy on grains and flour is BAD for LHON people. Carbs are pro-inflammatory they burn quickly, do not add to structure, and cause an insulin surge followed by a dip, thereby creating a hunger for more- and linked to the present day obesity epidemic and increase in diabetes type 2. Dementia, a neurological disease is also called “Diabetes type 3” today for a good reason- a low fat high carbohydrate diet is linked to onset of dementia and Alzheimers disease. Good quality fat (butter, fish oil, flax oil) has an anti-inflammatory action and is useful for building cell structure.
There are many studies that show improvement of dementia patients if “good” fat (omega 3’s fish/flax oil and coconut oil) intake is increased with an antioxidant such as turmeric powder.
Similarly the naturopathic outcome of correcting a vitamin B12 or Fatty acid deficiency for nervous function has been well documented.
There are numerous other nutrients which act as antioxidants. These are phytochemicals found in foods, but the research from the Doheny eye institute supports the synthetic coenzyme Q 10 called Idebenone at somewhere between 300-600 mg/day.
Please be aware that if your doctor has prescribed statin drugs to lower your cholesterol you will be deficient in mitochondrial function and will need to at least supplement with coenzyme q 10 at a minimum of 300 mg twice a day. Statin drugs will decrease your ability to make vitamin D3 and a host of other hormones. They cause muscle weakness and mitochondrial deficiency. Idebenone may also be of benefit , and you may want to question your doctor carefully about the need to take these drugs and if nutritional functional foods may be of benefit, together with weight loss if you are obese.
Some functional foods include those high in antioxidants.
Antioxidants in foods include:
 Quercetin – in the skin of citrus, in pineapple core, red onions and other fruits.
 Resveratrol – in red grape skin
 Polyphenols , in many fruits, vegetables, herbs and teas
 Phytoestrogens- in clover, soya (use fermented, eg. Miso and tofu) cohosh, wild yam and sweet potatoes
A rule of thumb is if the fruit and vegetable are multicoloured (ie eat from the rainbow) you are likely to gain multiple antioxidants in your diet. Make a ton of vegetable juice fresh and eat a little fruit. Add fresh turmeric and ginger to your drinks. These will increase your ORAC scale. The higher the ORAC scale the more useful as a “free radical mopper” these drinks and foods are.
This happens in the liver and free radicals and toxic substances are filtered out here (hence the requirement for no or low alcohol imbibation- and if you must choose red wine without sulphate preservatives, at least you will take in some resveratrol!) If you have a liver problem it will show up in blood tests as an elevation of ALKP and ALT.
It’s important to look after your liver. Take regular supplements of s-AME, Milk thistle, Vitamin E and Selenium, a multi B, Zinc and Sip Green tea often. Eat Artichoke and bitter herbs/lettuces (radicchio, rocket, Cap coy, Kang Kung, purslane, dandelion, spinach, parsley, Cilantro=Coriander) and collard greens regularly. Choose a mostly plant based diet and mostly organic (or wash/soak all fruit and vege in a detoxifying rinse- see www. naturopathvet.mysisel.com for organiclens)
If the liver is not cared for or abused (eg drinking alcohol- or drugs including antibiotics!) Problems with detoxification pathways will occur – this leads to DNA damage. DNA is sensitive to toxic chemicals – DNA expression and structure is altered with toxicity.
 Phase 1 – toxic metabolites are produced – need to be cleared effectively, otherwise accumulate – especially the steroid hormones.
Methyl groups – CH 3 – are utilised to regulate gene expression. (switches off/switches on where necessary). Therefore lack of methylation compromises this activity – gene expression is altered.
 Main nutrients for methylation processes:
o Folate, B6, B12, Methionine (1 methyl group), SAMe (3 methyl groups)
Inflammatory/neurotoxic factors:
 Higher BMI levels – more adipose tissue to store harmful steroid hormones derived from western diets – meats, poultry, eggs, dairy
 Xenoestrogens found in packaged foods, plastic containers, landfill, pesticides, fertilizers, agricultural soil, animals, fish, grains – mimic estrogen and are toxic – stored in fat tissue and contribute to carcinogenesis
• Review your diet and consider the following:
– Food allergies/sensitivities – gluten is common and commonly missed/misunderstood. Some nuts (peanuts) sesame seeds, and milk proteins (casein) are next in line.
– Organic foods – reducing the processed and artificial components of the diet as much as possible
– Alkalinising the diet – reducing acid-forming foods if necessary cut out red meat and sugar.
– Increase anti-inflammatory foods – oily fish, onions, garlic, citrus, tumeric, leafy greens, celery, berries
– Reduce heated saturated fats, trans and hydrogenated fats – use monounsaturated fats for cooking and in salads – olive and avocado or coconut oil.
– Reduce refined sugars and carbohydrates – these are pro inflammatory
– Reduce red meat intake – inflammatory
– Increase fibre – improves excretion
– Increase sulfur foods (cruciferous veges broccoli, brussel sprouts) – liver detox
– Reduce the burden on digestion – easier to digest foods – nutritionally dense foods – eat more pumpkin, chicken soup, slow cooked stews, eggs.
– Introduce chlorophyll into the diet via juicing – increasing green leafy veg. – helps with detox and as a blood cleanser
– Maintain healthy protein intake – quality protein foods – yoghurt, eggs, salmon, nuts.
– Maintain healthy calorie intake – to avoid weight loss
– Herbal teas – ginger, rosehip, peppermint, withania, passionflower, GREEN TEA
Increase the intake of certain Phytochemicals found in plants which have undergone research are as follows:
• Genistein
– an Isoflavone found in Soy and Flaxseed – inhibits angiogenesis
– may play a major role in the prevention of breast and testicular cancers
– antioestrogenic
– mimic estrogen – attaches to same receptors
– inhibits 5-alpha reductase in prostate (Davis, SR.et.al, 1999)
– anti-tumour effects
– Curcumin
– obtained from Tumeric
– inhibit breast cancer development
curcumin and genistein – most potent inhibitors against growth of human breast tumour cells induced by pesticides
• Insoluble fibres found in flaxseed, bran, lentils, garlic, celery, outer husks of grains
– bind to oestrogen, testosterone and DHT to increase excretion and prevent accumulation
– Flaxseed contains the highest amount of lignans (Schultz, TD et.al, 1991) Chia seeds are also helpful
– Contribute as a food source for gut bacteria to improve immunity and resistance to disease. Globe artichoke , chicory and melons are also a great source of inulin acting as a prebiotic for “good gut bugs to grow”. Good guts create a biome which manufactures helpful hormones and vitamin K and B’s. These assist in brain function, and well your optic nerve is part of your brain!
– Anti-tumour, Anti-mitotic, Anti-oxidant, oestrogen regulating effect via receptor binding
• Green Tea
– contains the polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG)
– anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, induces apoptosis of human epidermoid carcinoma cells and regulates cell cycles
– preventative against a variety of cancer types especially skin cancers
– carotenoid family – found in red flesh fruits and vegetables
– highest in tomatoes – also in red capsicums, goji berries, pawpaw, carrots
– Inhibits growth promoting effects of cancer cells
– Activates tumour suppressor genes
– Indole-3-carbinol
– Found in cruciferous vegetables
– Inhibits formation of carcinogenic eostrogens – 16-HydroxyEstrone
– Prevents estrogen-dependent cancers, prevents cervical cancer from HPV (Cancer Research 59, 3991-3997, 1999)
– Enhances chemotherapy effects
– Induces detoxification pathways
– Rosemary
– Carnosol – chemical in Rosemary found to be:
– Effective against blocking tumorgenesis in human bronchial epithelial cells (Offord, EA et.al 1995)
– Reverses resistence to chemotherapy drug treatment
Fish Oils
• Quercetin
– Found in red onions, berries, apples, beetroot, citrus
– Anti-oxidant
– Inhibits drug resistant estrogen receptor treatments
Detoxification for various organs:
– Liver support – Sulfur amino acids – Methionine, Taurine, Glutathione, Cysteine
– A, quercetinCo-factors for enzymes – Selenium, Magnesium, B group, Vitamin C, CoQ10, Manganese, Copper, Vitamin E
– Gut Support – soluble and insoluble fibre, pre and probiotics, vitamin A, Zinc, slippery elm
– Kidney Support – All antioxidants, Vitamin C, Selenium etc. Herbs – celery, Rhemannia and other Diuretic herbs
– Lung support – broccoli, glutathione, vitamin
– Heart Health- Hawthorne berry, Selenium, Vitamin E

PHEW! That’s a lot to take in if you are new to this game of nutritional science, right?
So to go with my baby steps plan this is an easy suggestion. Buy a juicer. Listen and watch Joe Cross’s movie “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” and drink a juice with pineapple, carrot, beetroot, celery, turmeric and ginger daily for a week then mix up your green juices so that you are drinking fresh 3 times a week minimum. If you are having signs of blindness IMMEDIATELY jump on the juices and add more good fat (butter, coconut oil, fish oil, flax oil) to your diet and remove sugars and processed foods. Eat goji berries like they are going out of style- by the handfuls. Take your Idebenone at HIGH doses immediately, and some vitamin E. Have your vit D3 checked and see a naturopath to have your minerals analysed.
So you are probably asking how am I going? So far I have not gone blind. When we first learned about LHON it was thought to only affect males, generally at the 30 year stage. I have since found many women, girls and young boys have been struck with this blindness at all ages. Perhaps I have managed myself well, or perhaps my hormones have protected me. This is what I have found with my own body, and remember everyone is different- even if we have the same genetic mitochondrial enzyme deficiency. My particular DNA pattern is 11778- it has a poor prognosis for vision return if affected and is implicated in many LHON plus signs.
My heart is OK, with a mild murmur which is thought to be no problem at this stage, however my mother suffered from Atrial fibrillation for many years prior to her serious stroke, so I am cognisant that I must be vigilant and will take warfarin if my heart becomes a fibrillation candidate. Fortunately my other parameters seem stable and healthy.
My vitamin D3 levels were down, and everyone should have these checked as this influences all your metabolic processes. In order to make D3 you need GOOD cholesterol in your diet, and sunshine. If either are lacking you may need to supplement orally, and the dose is often a lot higher than is on the lable. I take massive doses if ever I have a sign of a cold or a flu, but only for a day or 2- like 100,000 international units. I also increase vitamin C in the bioflavonoid range and zinc. I am almost never sick.
As a desk nerd and Naturopath I have noticed signs of pre syndrome x (cortisol undoubtedly playing a part as my weight gain coincided with the stress of looking after my stroked out mother) which led to a plunge in my thyroid.
Since Mother’s passing, I am addressing this now with increasing my walking and beach visits, and adding more kelp to my diet (sushi! Yum). Also removing gluten has been a big help – which causes leaky gut and is inflammatory.
I am a 56 year old menopausal woman who has worked and studied most of my life. So far I have had what I consider 2 near miss incidences of blindness in my left eye. Both times vision has recovered immediately after taking mega doses of antioxidants. These are what I have taken:
Synthetic Idebenone (900 mg /day for a few days only when the eye went blurry- I don’t take it every day) a goji berry drink with high ORAC levels from Young Living Essential Oils called Ningxia Red, several cups of strong green tea, a Cathay chinese herb called Ming mu di huang wan, and I chewed them all down with handfuls of dried Goji berries. I also make berry smoothies once a fortnight out of mixed frozen berries (YUM!) with a blender, and take Entrapro.com probiotics occasionally. I love Turmeric and curried food and eat this almost daily, often with coconut oil. I have at various times taken Neways supplements including Revenol, and also Usana antioxidants. These are all good, but I feel the greatest “hit” has been from coconut oil and turmeric plus the Goji drink. The natural progesterone effect of the wild yam crème has also been helpful to normalise hot flashes, although the chinese formula Liu wei di huang wan (also called Rehmannia 6) has been more useful.
I have also noticed that the Blackmore’s celloid of PS (potassium sulphate) is very helpful for my energy levels and I will chew one of those when feeling tired or stressed. It is very safe and can be taken several times a day as it is such a low dose. Possibly ingesting bananas may help, as a good source of potassium. I just had a banana smoothie while writing this blog, in fact.
Recently I have been taking a bioidentical hormone with a small amount of progesterone sublingually as I noticed when I was back from a teaching mission (about diabetes prevention) in Bali that I was having small sweats- thank goodness it is NOT malaria! I had this PCR tested for! I may still have some residual infection in some root canal work I have recently had performed- but THAT is a whole new blog. Dentistry is my “pet” special field, and I have written books on it! My mouth has been an adventure in dentition since I was quite young and was dealt a monobrow short sighted overenthusiastic amalgam filling overdrilling dentist. I have been “dealing with it” ever since.
Another thing: life is not immortal, and we are best to take a philosophical stance with the cards we are dealt with.
“The Pessimist complains about the wind,
The Optimist expects it to change’
And the REALIST adjusts the sail”
William A Ward.

Adjust your sails, fix your own boat- because you are the captain of your own ship. No one else controls you but YOU!
Best in health for now-
Cheers all,
And keep your mitochondria mumbling along………… stay healthy, be wise and be gentle on your body, it’s there for LIFE!

Cancer Care Using Integrative Therapies

Cancer Care Using Integrative Therapies as Adjunctive Treatments
TCVM or Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Naturopathic and Ayurvedic Medicine observes the whole patient as being one of organ systems “talking” to each other via neuro-humoral (some call it spiritual or auric field) responses. When deficiencies or over activity is observed that particular organ system is worked upon to “balance it” using foods, herbs, and body work therapy tonify or invigorate that system, or to relieve and remove blockages so that the inner force (read: lymph, blood, vascular or muscle tension) can work more efficiently. This form of medicine focuses on building the body from a deficient state to a more vital force. This is somewhat dissimilar to Western Medicine, where the focus is on the ‘war with cancer” or finding the cancer and cutting, burning or destroying that part of the body.
It is very promising that the future of medicine will encorporate both systems, enabling a more powerful form of medicine to emerge.
When viewing the animal that has developed a cancer, a wholistic therapist observes which systems are “weak” and focus the therapies to strengthen that part, encouraging a stronger “whole” to develop. From a scientific nutritional analysis point of view blood analysis for biochemistry, electrolytes and biopsies including hair analysis for heavy metals and toxins can be performed. In TCVM terms systems are organised for mathematical clarity using a 5 (five) element procedure. This does require further study, just as one would first study basic arithmetic before enrolling in a calculus subject in order to understand mathematical equations. A basic understanding can be described in several minutes, however, it may take a lifetime to perfect these skills! This should not discourage one from incorporating some of the principles of health care that can and should achieve good results.
This is the “art” behind the science of integrative medicine.
Years of study can delve into the science, and the internet is a highway tool to discover the wealth of PhD students allocating global time into researching WHY the basic rule of health care: clean living, exercise, and good food works best.

Happy Holidays without the Heartburn!

Happy New Year 2014! Today is the first   day for a wonderful new start for health in 2014!  January is going to be the month to sort out   your digestion issues. Let’s start at the Upper Gastrointestinal tract.

If you have been Living Hard these Holidays you may be experiencing that “Burning” Desire for a New Healthy Year!

 Oesophagitis/ otherwise called “Heart burn” is exacerbated with typical holiday fare: alcohol, sugar and a high carbohydrate diet.

READ about the causes and what you can do to prevent it, but if you are in a hurry HERE are my HANDY HELP Tips: Oesophagitis needs an increase in gut function and better digestion.

Firstly let me dis-spell a myth: the burning is NOT generally caused by too much stomach acid, but by the acid being in the wrong place! This is because often as we age, we decrease the amount of stomach acid we produce.  Digestive bitter herbs and tonics can increase this, but our Western diet and our taste buds prefer sweet- not bitter. TAKING ANTACIDS SUCH AS NEXIUM AND OTHER PPI (proton pump inhibitors) have a negative impact on digestion, Vitamin B12 and cause MORE heartburn *

Therefore our food sits undigested for longer in our stomach, and this is what causes the gastric reflux- a lack of motility and the belching and bloating is a byproduct of poor acid production.

Here are some helping hints:

  1. Stay hydrated! Drink one glass of water every 2 hours (more in the heat)  Dissolve 2 Blackmore’s SPPC tabs in your drinking water and sip this throughout the day. Chew one if experiencing stomach pain. Start your day by-Drink 2x 200 ml glasses of warm water with 1/2 a lemon squeezed into it, or a cup of warm water with 1 tbsp. honey and 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar (ACV) upon waking as you will be slightly dehydrated after your last intake of fluids- which was probably about 12 hours previousl. If either of these drinks gives you a burning sensation then see your doctor for gastric ulceration investigation; stomach ulcers often need triple drug therapy to treat Helicobacter pyloris. Otherwise the lemon or the ACV will rebalance the poor stomach acid, which is often deficient.
  2. Mix 1 tsp of slippery elm powder with warm water and drink this 1 hour before meals. This will coat the sore areas and soothe them.
  3. Do not eat anything for 3 hours before bedtime, go for an 20 minute walk an hour after eating dinner,  and spend the evening relaxing- eg. with a hot Epsom salts bath.
  4. Sleep with the head of the bed slightly elevated.
  5. Try Iberogast or equivalent essential oils or peppermint, dill, fennel teas.

   Approximately 20%   of the adult population over the age of 50 will have some upper   gastrointestinal discomfort, and of these a majority will be on the spectrum   of GORD or GERD (the “O” or “E” depends on which part of the equator and   English syllabus you reside in!Oesophagitis/Gord   (Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease)= Gerd(gastro-esophageal dyspepsia or   disease) is a burning sensation which sometimes mimics a cardiac pain, hence   the term ‘Heart Burn”. It’s always a good idea to see an internist to   rule out primary heart problems, however be aware that it is almost   impossible to diagnose heart problems- which may present in a similar   fashion. Although an ECG (electrocardiogram) and blood tests may not pick up   any coronary vasculature blockage, a stress test and an angiogram will. I   have seen several patients (human variety) who had recently visited their GP   and been declared within normal on basic testing for heart health, only to   find them suffer a major coronary attack days to weeks later. (GP by the way   is General Practitioner, not “Guinea Pig”—laughing out loud as there are so   many ways to confuse the veterinarian talk with the human medical talk!)

Many doctors prescribe antacids for this GORD, as the acid   reflux is very painful and analgesia is important to the patient The common   pain relieving medications such as the NSAID’s (non steroidal   anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, are contraindicated (not   recommended) because they cause gastric ulceration and kidney disease.

The pain from the acid reflux should be addressed at the   root cause, which generally is a poor digestion system. This is contrary to   the general medical profession’s concept which states that there is OVER   production of acid. What is really happening is that there is NOT ENOUGH   stomach acid, or a deficiency of movement from the gastric juices downwards.   To fix the problem at the root cause means to improve digestion and to get   the contractility moving!

Naturopaths will take a careful history and find out what is   in the diet that is slowing down digestion.

It’s very important to fix this system, as a prevention of   chronic inflammation- not only to reduce the pain in the oesophagus, but also   to stop the progression oesophagitis to Barrett’s disease.

Barrett’s esophagus is a serious complication of GERD. In Barrett’s   esophagus, changes to oesophageal mucosal tissue occur—to less   keratinized and softer more vulnerable tissue that resembles the lining of   the intestine. About 10% of people with chronic symptoms of GERD develop   Barrett’s oesophagus

  Contributing   Factors:Medications that patients are on can predispose to   developing poor motility and oesophagitis.    Antacid tablets that decrease or act as proton pump inhibition such as   Nexium slow down digestion, and anticholesterol statin drugs lead to muscle   weakness and slow contractility.

-Putting / eating bad combinations of food together, such   as carbohydrates with proteins (sandwiches and pasta require a lower stomach   acid to digest the carbohydrate, while meat proteins require a higher pH,   thus the combination is difficult to digest).

A diet full of  preserved meats is also problematic, as salami,   pepperoni, Ham, release nitrosamines and are known carcinogens and pro   inflammatory agents.

– dehydration-1.4-2 litres of isotonic water is needed to   keep the body lubricated. A dried out intestinal tract will not contract   efficiently. Chyme needs to churn over with a steady intake of fluids. A dry   mouth and oesophagus will lead to food clogging and difficulty swallowing.

– Stress! Adrenaline (epinephrine if you live in the   northern hemisphere and speak “American”) causes xerostomia, or dry mouth,   which leads to tacky and sluggish gut movement.

-Food triggers / allergenic foods- high gluten diet   consisting mainly of wheat is as a cause of inflammation.

– Heart disease- both medication and  sluggish vascular movement secondary to   heart disease will lead to a slower digestive system.

– smoking – this dries out the oesophagus as well as   adding carcinogenic substances and inflammatory mediators directly to the   mucosa

– alcohol and spicy   foods induce GORD

Sustaining Factors:

  – Medications- acid inhibitors such as Nexium and Statin   drugs ( which are often recommended by doctors for elevated cholesterol and   cardiovascular disease) perpetuate GORD; Nexium reduces stomach acid and   therefore decreases digestion; causing a slower gastro-intestinal emptying   with food fermenting in stomach and leaving partially digested; therefore   bloating pushes the antrum and stomach opening up in to the chest causing a   hiatal hernia and burning sensation at the base of oesophagus.Statin drugs cause myopathy, with decreased peristalsis   measured by an increase in serum CK (creatine kinase) levels as well as   decreasing mitochondrial enzyme function and necessary coenzyme Q 10 – an   antioxidant system for the “powerhouse” cell. This causes more cellular   damage and decreased muscle function- often resulting in micro tears and   bruising of ligaments, tendons and muscles.

-Poor choices and Putting / eating bad combinations of   food together

-Continuing to eat food triggers / allergenic foods

-Eating food close to bedtime –  not sure if client does that

-Lying down immediately after eating

Naturopathic   Analysis/Causative Factors:

What’s possibly making it   happen physically –based on biochemistry and personal choices as listed above

    In this condition,   there are a number of factors that increase pressure on the lower oesophageal   sphincter muscle, preventing it from effectively blocking acid from washing   into the oesophagus.Hiatal hernia is one reason why the upper part of the   stomach protrudes above the diaphragm which can result in GORD or GERD.  Excess weight can also increase pressure   within the abdomen. The excess weight in pregnancy teamed with hormonal   effects can result in GORD or GERD.    Particular foods  (acidic foods)   such as onions, garlic, citrus foods, mint, chocolate and tomato based foods   etc can potentially irritate the oesophagus or relax the sphincter too   much.  In addition, if the stomach is   not positioned where it should be and intra-abdominal pressure is increased,   this can irritate / exacerbate GORD or GERD such as in the case of lying down   immediately after eating or sleeping with piles of pillows on the bed,   wearing tight belts, lifting, bending and more.

Poor food choices and particular foods or food combining  create a decrease in digestion and slow   peristalsis down, hence the GORD / GERD burping, belching, and bloating   occur.

Smoking, drinking, and alcohol imbibation plus medications   that can perpetuate oesophagitis.

Be mindful or  how   you eat—sitting, and portion control at correct times 3 meals a day, how   relaxed you are at meal times, how your parasympathetic calm feeling  is at the time of eating, the foods you   choose and how you combine them, and the time you go to bed in relation to   when you have eaten.

Think about your emotional state, and practice enjoyment   of life and your food! Take up yoga, Tai chi, Bush walking, snorkelling,   swimming or some other relaxing exercise that allows your body to move and   helps move your digesting tract along as well as supporting your mood.

Nexium: What is the second bestselling drug, after Lipitor? The Purple Pill. Like statins, Nexium and the other Proton-Pump Inhibitors (PPI) to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), became household medications thanks to direct-to-consumer advertising. Before Proton-Pump Inhibitors, people took over-the-counter treatments like Tums or Tagamet when they had heartburn or indigestion. As the afflictions were upgraded into the “disease” of GERD, Nexium made almost $5 billion in the US in one year and the class of PPIs made $13.6 billion in one year, translating into 119 million prescriptions.

In 2012, the same year the FDA warned about statins, the FDA warned the public that Nexium and the whole class of PPIs are linked to Clostridium Difficile, a stubborn and sometimes deadly intestinal infection that is becoming increasingly drug-resistant and hard to treat. In 2013, medical literature linked PPIs to fracturescalcium and magnesium deficiencies, community-acquired pneumonia and vitamin B-12 deficiencies. Research by John P. Cooke, clinical professor at Houston Methodist Hospital, found in 2013 that PPIs might cause blood vessels to constrict and cardiovascular risks. Not a great ending for the blockbuster Nexium, whose patent runs out in 2014.

Gluten problems- from some thoughtful doctors

Here are some great web links for those seeking answers to their bloating grumbly tummies: http://www.gapsdiet.com/GAPS_Cookbook.html

Joe the Juice man from the movie Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead: http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/

has a reboot your life web http://www.rebootwithjoe.com/kiss-your-belly-bloat-goodbye/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+jointhereboot%2FuoBr+%28Reboot+With+Joe%29

Dr. Amy Myers the following are 10 signs of gluten intolerance:

      1. Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, and even constipation. I see the constipation particularly in children after eating gluten.

2. Keratosis pilaris, also known as “chicken skin” on the back of your arms. This tends be as a result of a fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat-malabsorption caused by gluten damaging the gut.

3. Fatigue, brain fog, or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten.

4. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma or multiple sclerosis.

5. Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness or feeling of being off balance

6. Hormone imbalances such as PMS, PCOS, or unexplained infertility.

7. Migraine headaches.

8. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. These diagnoses simply indicate your conventional doctor cannot pinpoint the cause of your fatigue or pain.

9. Inflammation, swelling, or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees, or hips.

10. Mood issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, and ADD.

According to The Examiner.com below are five not-so-obvious signs of gluten intolerance that you could be missing:

1. “You’re a full-grown adult but you still have breakouts like a teenager: Your skin is the body’s biggest organ and provides a window into your internal health. That may be why Dr. Alessio Fasano, at the University of Maryland’s Center for Celiac Research argues that persistent acne is a sign of inflammation from gluten that can affect other organs.

2. You wake up feeling sluggish, you’re fatigued all day, and never feel rested: If you aren’t burning the midnight oil every night and you are still hitting the snooze button repeatedly ever morning, your diet may actually be to blame. A gluten-filled diet can not only induce fatigue in someone with gluten intolerance, it can actually disrupt your sleep patterns and create a feeling of general malaise, according to studies.

3. You suffer from mood issues, anxiety, depression, or ADD. A gluten intolerance or allergy might not create anxiety or depression out of thin air, but they can certainly make symptoms worse. A 2010 study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) cited “significant concerns about increased rates of psychological symptoms and mental disorders in celiacs” patients.

4. You mysteriously suffer from join pain in your hands, knees, or hips: Join pain can be signs of several different autoimmune diseases. If you’re not hitting the heavy weights, logging serious miles running, or suffering from arthritis, the inflammatory response from a gluten intolerance may be one reason your system is triggering a reaction in your joints.

5. You are plagued by frequent headaches and migraines: The causes of migraines are various and mysterious, but some studies have made a connection between an increased rate of headaches and migraines in Celiac patients, compared to the general population. In a 2001 study, Dr. Marios Hadjivassiliou from the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in the UK documented patients actually lessening their migraine symptom by following gluten-free diets”.

And it gets worse, gluten has been linked to over 55 diseases! Yes, I said 55 disease

Read more: http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/10-signs-you-are-gluten-intolerant.html#ixzz2o7ICH76a

Detox this Christmas!

Holidays blinging, bells ringing, crowds and stress levels rising!

If Christmas is “not your thing” let your bah humbug be fed with nutritious adaptogenic health.

Here is your 5 step plan to last out this holiday season:

1) Start your day with a green smoothie drink!

1 banana, bunch of Kale, 1 tsp spirulina some pineapple (yum and bromelain to help digestion – a natural antioxidant and protease) coconut water/milk, pinch of tumeric and nuts of your choice- cashews and almond milk work a treat.

If you are juicing try the CABALA-  which stands for: 3 different colours of apple, Carrot, Beetroot, lemon.

Here is Don Tolman’s link for the recipe http://thedontolman.com/free-stuff/don-tolmans-c-a-b-a-l-a-juice-recipe/

(and no, I don’t know if he dyes his moustache or why it looks like that!).

Make sure you eat breakfast that is low carb but good quality protein. An egg fits the picture nicely.

2) Add some supplements:

Adaptogen herbal helpers will support your adrenals and reduce stress levels. These include withania, ginseng, cordyceps and the Salvia family – Dan Shen in Eastern herbal medicine terms. See your local Naturopath for a face, tongue, nail and check up analysis to fine tune your herbal formula. If you are imbibing add Milk thistle and dandelion tea to this list.

3) B vitamins.  Remember that your B vitamins are going to save your liver- especially B3, 6,and 9. The levels on over the counter supplements are ridiculously low,  if you are imbibing any alcohol you want to help your liver deal with it. Go for a mixed B lof at least 50 mg each (except for folate and cobalamine- the B9 and B12- which are both in the microgram range).

4) Antioxidants: amazingly throwing another shrimp on the barbie is not such a bad idea. The astaxanthin and good quality fats in a prawn (Aussie word for shrimp) Astaxanthin is found in microalgaeyeastsalmontroutkrillshrimpcrayfishcrustaceans, and the feathers of some birds. It provides the red color of salmon meat and the red color of cooked shellfish.

Other great antioxidants are in the above brekkie drinks. Virtually any fruit and vegetable with lots of colour will have some  antioxidant properties. Go for the limonene containing variety- lots of citrus zest added to your cooking/rawing. Eat mostly unprocessed ingredients.

5) WATER!  and minerals. Especially if you are in the southern hemisphere, drinking a minimum of 2 litres a day is imperative. More if you are active and out and about. Most people are not aware that you may not be thirsty until you are really dehydrated, and that cellular function cannot take place efficiently without water.  We, and the planet, are a water based system. We are approximately 73% water, so is the planet. Our cells also need electrolytes and minerals to function, so throw a pinch of that great Himalayan, celtic sea salt or other balanced salt plus a squeeze of lemon into your brew. It will make your body sing.

Enjoy! and have a pleasant Christmas~


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Traveling is a pain when you don’t have the mobility to move around. We own a database of 800 rental agents at 30,000 locations in 174 countries. It’s one of the largest databases that has ever existed on the planet!

Just let us know where and when you would like to pick up and drop off your car via the form above, and we’ll recommend the best deals for you!

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text:
Girls Top 25 Cross Country Countdown: #1 Cardinal Gibbons

#1 Cardinal Gibbons

Returning Database All-Class Team Rankings: 1st

2016 NCHSAA 4A State Championship Finish: 1st

2016 NCHSAA 4A Midwest Team Finish: 1st

Cardinal Gibbons return 6 of 7 girls that were on last years team that took 3rd at the NXN Southeast regional, 20 points off of Lake Braddock.  Though their graduation of Annie Pierce is a lot more than it would seem on paper as Pierce was a big leader of this relatively young team.  Pierce ended the season 15th in the Southeast region, but I think Gibbons certainly has the talent to replace her on the XC course.  Top returner for Gibbons will be Sloan Walter who holds an XC PR of 18:05 and ran 11:00 for the 3200 last season.  Walter was 4th at outdoor states on the track for the 3200, 4th in XC and 8th in the NXN Southeast region narrowly missing an individual spot at nationals as well.  Walter looked very strong at the Wake County Kickoff the other week running 9 seconds faster than last year winning in 10:55.  She's the top returner for the 4A State Championships and could be the preseason favorite to win the individual crown.

Marissa Bishop will be a senior this fall after three really strong years at Cardinal Gibbons and will be looked at to step up this season. Bishop has been 5th, 3rd and 9th at the state championships in XC and with her consistency over her career should be a lock to be in the top 10 once again this season.  Bishop took 3rd outdoors at the state meet running 11:03 and holds an XC PR of 18:17 from her freshman year.  Last year her fastest time was 18:26.  Will Bishop be able to get under her PR this season? Katharine Priu was a monster for Gibbons last fall running 10:42 for the 3200 and 18:13 at the state meet last fall. Priu had a big improvement last season going from a 19:38 girl at the end of the season to being sub 19 in ever race as a sophomore.  Priu went from 28th up to 5th at the state championship from 2015 to 2016.  But we haven't seen Priu race since NXN Southeast last fall leaving questions if she'll be back racing this fall and if she can get back into the form she was in last season.  Priu is a star, and the talent is certainly there for her to have a big year if she can bounce back and be healthy this XC season.

Caroline Todd is the #5 returner for Gibbons, but has shown that she's likely a breakout star this fall. Todd's PR comes from her freshman year where she ran 19:36, but she proved on the track that she's certainly taken the next step forward.  Todd ran 3:04 for the 1000 taking 6th indoors, 5:17 for the 1600 and 2:21 in the 800 last season.  Her 1600 was a 33 second PR and even though she's likely more middle distance focused than XC, I think Todd is the obvious breakout candidate for Gibbons this fall.  They'll return Hayden Callahan as their #4 who will be a senior this fall.  Callahan has only really ran XC for Gibbons with a few track races as well. She'll be a senior this year and after going from 20:27 to 19:25 last fall they'll hope she returns to the team in as good of shape as she left.

Molly McGowan definitely has a lot left in her in cross country after running 5:22 and 11:33 last spring.  McGowan was 5th at the 4A Midwest regional last year just missing qualifying for the state meet.  In cross McGowan was 24th in the 4A State Championship after taking 18th at the Midwest regional the week before.  Magdalen Lavelle will be a sophomore this season and will be fighting for a top 7 spot once again this season after running 19:55 as a freshman.  Alina Rovnak looked to be in great form at Wake County Kickoff running the 15th fastest time of the day.  On the track she had a big breakthrough running 5:30 for the 1600.  After missing the top 7 last season it looks like she's ready to fight for it this fall.  Beyond Rovnak the depth only continues with Anna Guarino, Audrey Smith, and Angelica Rock. Gibbons will brig in a lot of strong freshman lead by Caroline Mullahy and Courtney Farishian.  They took 2nd and 5th in the 9-10 girls race at Wake County and will likely only continue to improve as they learn cross country and the season goes on.  Gibbons has tons of depth and could have well over 10 girls breaking 20 minutes this fall.  I think they're heavy favorites to wear the NCHSAA 4A Crown once again this fall and will have their sights set on the NXN Southeast Region.  If they're better than they were as a team this season than they were last season I think their chances of making NXN as a team is massive.  They return as the #3 team in the Southeast this fall.


text:
Vehicular ad hoc network thesis

For the past few years, this has actuated investigators to find and inquire scalable expelling communications protocol that are full-bodied adequate for execution in VANETs. To insure the cogency of vehicular network, a suitable information interchange between node extremities of a network expects, amid additional features, the comprehension of node mobility below dissimilar environmental circumstances. The try out comprises of two vehicles mobile nodes that are associated with an ad-hoc Wi-Fi association and a stationary place post with a committed WiMAX association to one of the vehicles. Wi-Fi ad-hoc manner admits the devices to pass on with one another without the exercise of access point APand all devices in orbit associate in a P2P manner.

Vehicular ad hoc network thesis

Show full item record Abstract A major component of future communication systems is vehicle-to-vehicle V2V communications, in which vehicles along roadways transfer information directly among themselves and with roadside infrastructure.

Despite its numerous potential advantages, V2V communication suffers from one inherent shortcoming: One possible way to improve this coverage is to allow the vehicular nodes to connect to the more reliable cellular network, especially in cases of loss of connectivity in the vehicular network.

In this thesis, we analyze this possibility of boosting performance of VANETs, especially their node coverage, by taking assistance from the cellular network.

"Applying Multi-Packet Reception with DTN in Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks" by Feng Gu VANETs are very promising as they can make driving safer by improving road awareness through sharing of information from sensors. Vehicles communicate with each other wirelessly to exchange information and this exchange of information is susceptible to attacks of different kinds.
Introduction Today road accidents are on the peak and safety measures are still the same.
High Speed Vehicle Detection in Vehicular Ad-hoc Network - ethesis Applications[ edit ] VANETs support a wide range of applications — from simple one hop information dissemination of, e.
Network Simulation Tools Preview Kb Abstract Millions of people are dying in car accidents.
Vehicular ad hoc network - Wikipedia Mobile connectivity, road safety, and traffic congestion management are some applications that have arisen within this networking paradigm. VANET provides wireless communication among vehicles and vehicle to road side equipments.

While there has been a signifcant work on modeling wireless networks using random spatial models, most of it uses homogeneous planar Poisson Point Process PPP to maintain tractability, which is clearly not applicable to VANETs. Therefore, to accurately capture the spatial distribution of vehicles in a VANET, we model the roads using the so called Poisson Line Process and then place vehicles randomly on each road according to a one-dimensional homogeneous PPP.

As is usually the case, the locations of the cellular base stations are modeled by a planar two-dimensional PPP.

Vehicular ad hoc network thesis

Therefore, in this thesis, we propose a new two-tier model for cellular-assisted VANETs, where the cellular base stations form a planar PPP and the vehicular nodes form a one-dimensional PPP on roads modeled as undirected lines according to a Poisson Line Process.

The key contribution of this thesis is the stochastic geometric analysis of a maximum power-based cellular-assisted VANET scheme, in which a vehicle receives information from either the nearest vehicle or the nearest cellular base station, based on the received power.

We have characterized the network interference and obtained expressions for coverage probability in this cellular-assisted VANET, and successfully demonstrated that using this switching technique can provide a significant improvement in coverage and thus provide better vehicular network performance in the future.

In addition, this thesis also analyzes two threshold-distance based schemes which trade off network coverage for a reduction in additional cellular network load; notably, these schemes also outperform traditional vehicular networks that do not use any cellular assistance. Thus, this thesis mathematically validates the possibility of improving VANET performance using cellular networks.Tra c Congestion Estimation in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks A thesis submitted in partial ful llment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Technology (Honours).

routing in vehicular ad hoc networks Performance Metrics and Routing in Vehicular Ad hoc Networks By of the network. This thesis focuses on the maintenance of links in an active route or path by predicting the link and route availability which can be used proactively, executing a reroute in.

Vehicular ad-hoc Network technologies are emerging. Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) are de ned a as subset of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) with the distinguishing property that the nodes present in here are vehicles. The paper titled "Impact of node mobility on single-hop cluster overlap in vehicular ad hoc networks" by K.

Abboud and W.

City Research Online - Detecting Rogue Nodes In Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (DETER)

Zhuang was honored with the Best Paper Award in the 17th ACM International Conference on Modeling, Analysis and Simulation of Wireless and Mobile Systems (MSWiM).

The conference was held at Montreal, QC, Canada, September , A vehicular network is a challenging environment since it combines a fixed infrastructure (roadside units, e.g., proxies), and ad hoc communications among vehicles.

Vehicular ad hoc network thesis

Nov 04,  · Vehicular ad hoc network Routing Projects | Vehicular ad hoc network Routing Thesis.

phd research topic in Vehicular Adhoc network