|
| IVL Products Health Watch - August, 2007 |
| The Official IVL Products Health Blog |
Dear Reader,
Baffling. Exasperating. Overwhelming. Heartbreaking. All of
those adjectives have been used to describe autism, a
developmental disorder that affects as many as one out of
every 150 children in this country. Autism is a lifelong
disorder that causes abnormal neurological development and
typically manifests itself by the age of 3.
According to the Autism Society of America, autism is a
complex developmental disorder that affects social
interaction and communication. As early as infancy, a child
with autism may be unresponsive to people and focus intently
on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of
time.
Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements
such as rocking and twirling or in self-abusive behavior
such as biting or head banging. For reasons that are still
not understood, about 20 to 30 percent of children with
autism develop epilepsy by the time they reach adulthood.
Children with autism have a tremendous amount of social
anxiety, which can make attending school very difficult.
Although the symptoms will differ from child to child,
following are some of the most common traits of autism:
* Does not socially interact well with others, including
parents
* Shows a lack of interest in, or rejection of physical
contact
* Avoids making eye contact with others, including parents
* Fails to develop friends or interact with other children
* Is delayed or does not develop language
* Once language is developed, does not use language to
communicate with others
* Repeats same words or phrases over and over
* Has repetitive motor movements, such as rocking and hand or
finger flapping
* Does not like noises
* Has rituals
* Requires routines
Although experts disagree on the exact cause of the
disorder, many researchers believe that it is somehow
related to the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR). That
is because many parents report that their children were
developing normally until they received the vaccine.
Because traditional medicine provides only limited treatment
for autism, many parents turn to natural or alternative
treatments. Although the average pediatrician may not be
familiar with alternative treatments such as facilitated
communication, secretin therapy, auditory integration
training or nutritional supplements, they can usually
provide you with the name of a doctor who is.
Aromatherapy can help awaken the senses and also relax
autistic children. Some holistic practitioners recommend
giving the child a bath with invigorating oils in the
morning (eucalyptus, bergamot, lemon, peppermint or
rosemary). In the evening, oils such as chamomile, juniper,
lavender, marjoram and sandalwood may help the child relax
so that they can get a good night's sleep.
Massage is another alternative therapy that may be helpful
for autistic children. Massage is well known for its
relaxing effects but regular massages go a step further and
improve overall health. Although many people with autism
find light touching uncomfortable, they may enjoy the deep
pressure of massage. Massage has been shown to decrease
self-injury and other challenging behaviors in people with
autism.
There are several supplements that holistic practitioners
sometimes recommend for autistic children. Vitamin B-6, DMG,
Magnesium, Omega-3 fatty acids and others have been used to
help manage autism symptoms. Studies have shown that
autistic children benefit from a diet that is free from
gluten and casein. In other words, autistic children should
not eat wheat gluten or dairy products. You might also
experiment with removing corn and avoid food colors as much
as possible.
It is common for parents with autistic children to become
despondent. Parents cannot give in to despair. Try as hard
as you can to be loving, accepting and patient. Treating a
child with autism is a group effort involving many
professionals and non-professionals. The world of autism is
dynamic. It is critical that parents continue to educate
themselves and monitor, maintain and direct the goals of the
team for the benefit of their children.
Yours in good health,
Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch
|
|
|
Visit our Health Forum and ask a question of one of the
country's leading experts in nutritional medicine. |
| Dr. Mikles is a Board Certified Internist,
and is the Medical Director of Choices Integrative
Healthcare Clinic in Sedona, Arizona. For more than 30
years, Dr. Mikles has been engaged in the study and practice
of the therapeutic effects of diet and nutrition, making him
one of the country's leading experts. |
Brought to you by Institute for Vibrant LivingTM
To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245
or visit
http://www.IVLProducts.com
|
Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
|
Dear Reader,
Our mothers meant well when they told us to sit tight. They
really did. Unfortunately the suggestion to "sit tight" is
not good advice if your vacation plans include long flights
or extended car trips. Sitting motionless for long periods
of time may put some travelers at risk for deep vein
thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in a vein deep within a
muscle, usually in the calf or thigh. DVT can be serious,
even life threatening, because sometimes the clots that form
in the deep veins break off, travel through the bloodstream,
and obstruct a vessel in the lungs, restricting blood flow.
This condition is called pulmonary embolism and it can be
fatal.
DVT has been dubbed "the economy class syndrome" because it
has been associated with the cramped legroom in economy
class airline seating. The longer the flight, the greater
the risk.
Only 40 to 50 percent of people with DVT have obvious signs
and symptoms of DVT, and the condition often goes
unrecognized. When they do occur, signs and symptoms vary
depending on the severity of the condition. DVT may cause
pain and swelling in one or both legs, or less commonly, in
an arm. There may also be tenderness in the affected area,
and an increase in skin temperature (compared to the
unaffected limb).
An increasing number of airline travelers have become aware
of their risk for developing blood clots in their legs.
Airline magazines and newspaper articles encourage leg and
foot exercises during flight as well as walking around. Many
airlines also offer "in-flight yoga" videos.
Bear in mind that the threat of developing a blood clot is
not limited to air travel. Sitting for hours in a car, at a
computer or in front of a television can also be harmful.
Doctors recommend avoiding socks with very tight elastic
bands at the top during air travel. They urge travelers who
aren't able to walk around frequently to exercise their legs
by curling or pressing the toes down. This causes the
muscles to contract and squeeze on the leg vein, helping to
pump the blood along.
If your travel plans include a long flight, you might
consider the following tips:
* Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing.
* Do not place carry on luggage where it may limit leg
movement.
* Walk about the cabin at regular intervals.
* Drink plenty of fluids: Dehydration causes blood
vessels to narrow and thicken
which increases the risk of DVT. Reducing
alcohol and coffee consumption is
also recommended as they can lead to
dehydration.
* Avoid crossing your legs.
* If you are at high risk for DVT, wear compression
stockings, which can be
purchased in most drug stores. These
stockings put pressure on leg muscles
and help return blood flow from the legs to
the heart.
Don't take a 10-hour car trip without stopping every couple
of hours. Get out and walk a bit. Even if you are the
driver, you still need to take walking breaks. Pushing on
the gas pedal isn't enough movement for your legs. .
Although anyone can be affected by DVT, there are some
groups who are at higher risk. They include.
* The elderly
* Diabetics
* People with blood disorders
* Women who take oral contraceptives (birth control
pills) or other medications
that contain the hormone estrogen
* People with a history of thrombosis
* People who have just undergone major surgeries or
have just suffered a bone
fracture.
So if your travel plans include long flights or many hours
in a car, keep moving! Keeping the blood circulating and
muscles active can prevent your dream vacation from becoming
a nightmare.
Yours in good health,
Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch
|
|
|
Visit our Health Forum and ask a question of one of the
country's leading experts in nutritional medicine. |
| Dr. Mikles is a Board Certified Internist,
and is the Medical Director of Choices Integrative
Healthcare Clinic in Sedona, Arizona. For more than 30
years, Dr. Mikles has been engaged in the study and practice
of the therapeutic effects of diet and nutrition, making him
one of the country's leading experts. |
Brought to you by Institute for Vibrant LivingTM
To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245
or visit
http://www.IVLProducts.com
|
Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
|
Dear Reader,
A study published in the July 26 issue of the New
England Journal of Medicine contends that obesity is "socially
contagious." In other words, when a person gains weight their close
friends are likely to do the same. The study concluded that when the
scale reads "obese" for one individual, the odds that their friends
will become obese increase by more than 50 percent. Interestingly, the
study concluded that the "obese influence" occurs even if the close
friend lives hundreds of miles away.
Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis, a physician and professor of medical
sociology at Harvard Medical School and a principal investigator in the
study, said one explanation was that friends affected each other's
perception of fatness. When a close friend becomes obese, then obesity
may not look so bad. "You change your idea of what is an acceptable
body type by looking at the people around you," said Dr. Christakis.
Other interesting insights:
* If one adult sibling becomes obese, the chances that the other
sibling will become obese are increased by 40 percent.
* If a spouse becomes obese, the other spouse has a 37 percent increased risk of obesity.
The issue is of no small concern, since obesity has become a major
public health problem in the United States and other Western nations.
Around the world, the number of people struggling with weight problems
is increasing rapidly. Within the US the fraction of the population
considered obese has doubled in the past 25 years, from 15% to 32%.
Based on World Health Organization definitions, people are considered
obese if they have a body mass index, or BMI, over 30.
Obesity is associated with an increased risk for some types of cancer
including endometrial (cancer of the lining of the uterus), colon, gall
bladder, prostate, kidney, and postmenopausal breast cancer. Women
gaining more than 20 pounds from age 18 to midlife double their risk of
postmenopausal breast cancer, compared to women whose weight remains
stable.
Obesity contributes to increasing levels of lipids (fat) and
cholesterol in the blood (hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia
respectively), leading to narrowing of blood vessels due to deposition
of fatty materials in coronary arteries (atherosclerosis). This in turn
causes the blood pressure levels to soar (hypertension) and increases
the risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction) and strokes.
Overweight people are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, a
condition in which a person snores heavily and stops breathing for
small periods while sleeping. This is a serious condition that may lead
to heart failure.
Obesity increases the risk of diabetes because it increases insulin
resistance leading to glucose intolerance. Weight reduction helps many
diabetic patients in controlling their diabetes.
Excess body weight exerts more pressure on joints wearing out the
tissue that pads the joints leading to osteoarthritis. Losing weight
can provide significant relief from this condition.
Does this mean you should go through your address book and cross out
the names of your friends with a BMI greater than 30? Of course not.
"We're not suggesting that people should sever their ties with
overweight friends," says Christakis. "Having friends is healthy for
you." Experts stress that people with more friends tend to enjoy better
emotional and cognitive wellbeing.
What this does mean is that if you have close friends who are obese
then you should be vigilant about maintaining a healthy weight and
healthy lifestyle and encourage your friends to do the same. By
supporting each other, you can develop a happy, healthy lifestyle that
will add years to your life.
Yours in good health,
Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch
|
|
| Visit our Health Forum and ask a question of one of the country's leading experts in nutritional medicine. |
Dr.
Mikles is a Board Certified Internist, and is the Medical Director of
Choices Integrative Healthcare Clinic in Sedona, Arizona. For more than
30 years, Dr. Mikles has been engaged in the study and practice of the
therapeutic effects of diet and nutrition, making him one of the
country's leading experts.
|
|
|
Brought to you by Institute for Vibrant LivingTM
To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245
or visit http://www.IVLProducts.com
|
Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
|
Dear Reader,
If your partner's snoring is interfering with your ability
to get a good night's sleep you are not alone. Recent
studies indicate that 45 percent of normal adults snore
occasionally, while around 30 percent of adults snore a few
times a week. More than forty million Americans - (one in
seven people) -- suffer from habitual snoring, according to
a report by the National Commission on Sleep Disorders
Research. Another seven million to 15 million Americans
suffer from a related problem, sleep apnea, says the
American Sleep Apnea Association. As we grow older, more
people snore and they usually snore louder and longer.
Snoring happens when air flows past relaxed tissues in your
throat, causing the tissue to vibrate as you breathe.
Snoring ranges from mildly irritating to extremely annoying.
The causes of snoring vary from person to person. Chronic
nasal congestion or a deviated septum can cause a person to
snore. Many people snore only when they are suffering from
asthma attacks, allergy symptoms or a cold or sinus
infection. Your mouth anatomy might be to blame for your
snoring if you have a low, thick soft palate or enlarged
tonsils or adenoids in the back of your throat.
Snoring is sometimes caused by consuming too much alcohol
before bedtime. Alcohol acts as a sedative, relaxing throat
muscles. Smoking also worsens the symptoms of snoring
because it irritates the nasal passages. People who are
overweight are more likely to snore than people who are not
overweight. A combination of diet and exercise will not only
help you to lose weight and lessen the chances of snoring,
but will also promote a healthier lifestyle overall.
Allergy sufferers who snore should make a diligent effort to
rid their homes of any allergens, including dust, pet hair,
cigarette smoke, etc. This can be done with regular cleaning
and the use of air filtration devices, which should be used
in every room and especially in the bedroom. One of the
leading causes of snoring is when airways become restricted,
either in the throat or nasal area, which is very common
among allergy patients.
Sleeping on your side may help reduce the chances of
snoring. When you are ready to turn in for the night, try
sleeping on your side instead of your back. Individuals who
normally sleep on their back tend to have problems when
their tongue or fatty tissues rest in the back of their
throat and restrict breathing. When this happens, snoring is
often induced.
There are numerous herbal snoring remedies on the market. A
good natural remedy for snoring will reduce the tendency to
snore by opening nasal passageways and promoting normal
nighttime breathing. Herbalists and other alternative health
practitioners can help you select the remedy that best suits
your needs.
Many believe that marjoram oil provides just the right
natural treatment for snoring. Often sold in a jar with a
marjoram soaked sponge, the product is left open on the
nightstand table. You can then inhale the pleasant oils as
they gently surround the nasal passages.
If your partner's snoring is keeping you from getting a good
night's sleep it is important to seek out a solution. Sleep
deprivation is a common condition that affects 47 million
Americans, or almost a quarter of the adult population.
Symptoms can interfere with memory, energy levels, mental
abilities and emotions. Exhaustion and fatigue affect our
moods, causing pessimism, sadness, stress and anger. The
National Sleep Foundation has suggested that social problems
like road rage may be caused, in part, by a national
epidemic of sleepiness.
Yours in good health,
Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch
|
|
|
Visit our Health Forum and ask a question of one of the
country's leading experts in nutritional medicine. |
| Dr. Mikles is a Board Certified Internist,
and is the Medical Director of Choices Integrative
Healthcare Clinic in Sedona, Arizona. For more than 30
years, Dr. Mikles has been engaged in the study and practice
of the therapeutic effects of diet and nutrition, making him
one of the country's leading experts. |
Brought to you by Institute for Vibrant LivingTM
To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245
or visit
http://www.IVLProducts.com
|
|
Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
|
Dear Reader,
For centuries, people from all over the world have looked to
traditional Chinese medicine for health and healing. It is
very unsettling to hear that the country we have looked to
for natural healing may be exporting products that are
unsafe for human consumption.
As the horror stories about Chinese imports get scarier and
scarier, many American political leaders are stepping up to
the plate to help ensure the safety of the food and other
products that are ingested by people in this country.
Security watchdog Sen. Charles Schumer believes American
consumers are in greater danger than initially realized from
food and other products from China. He contends that "an
import czar" is needed to make sure that hazardous shipments
don't slip through a maze of agencies and inadequate safety
checks.
"There is no question that too many Chinese manufacturers
and food producers put the bottom line ahead of safety,"
said Schumer. "Agencies regulating the safety of imported
goods need to do more to address this worsening crisis. The
fact that every week we have to frantically pull Chinese
goods off store shelves shows that our safeguards are
failing."
The recent discovery of the toxic chemical melamine in pet
food imported from China appears to be the tip of an iceberg
of tainted products. The FDA's 2007 Import Refusal Reports
show China as the number one regulation violator in three of
the first four months of this year. The report gives a
description of each item that was rejected and a tag name
designating why. Browsing the document, descriptive tag
names such as "salmonella," unsafe coli", and "filthy" recur
time and again. In the past year, the FDA rejected more than
twice as many food shipments from China as from all other
countries combined.
Many of the world's vitamins are now manufactured in China.
In less than a decade, China has captured 90 percent of the
US market for vitamin C, driving almost everyone else out of
business. Chinese pharmaceutical companies have also taken
over much of the world market in the production of
antibiotics, analgesics, enzymes, and primary amino acids.
According to one industry group, China makes 70 percent of
the world's penicillin, 50 percent of its aspirin and 35
percent of its acetaminophen, as well as the bulk of
Vitamins A, B-12 and E.
U.S. officials are asking the Chinese to do more to
safeguard the food and drugs they export to America.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt warned
that any nation that loses U.S. trust in its exports will
suffer economically. "Assuring the safety of food in large
nations is a demanding proposition, whether it's China or
the United States," said Leavitt. "And neither of our
countries has perfected this process." Just this week the
president appointed a high-level government panel to
recommend steps that will guarantee the safety of food and
other products shipped to the U.S. from other countries.
Many experts say the problems are a consequence of
globalization, and especially on America's growing
dependence on China for food ingredients. Chinese leaders
are understandably concerned about this export image crisis.
They have stated time and again that their products are as
safe as those from any other country. China has tried to
rein in substandard food and drug makers and last month a
government agency said it shut down 152,000 food processing
plants in 2006 alone.
The problem is of sufficient concern that some companies who
sell or manufacture nutritional supplements for people and
pets are emphasizing the fact their ingredients do not come
from China. Plans call for a "China-free" sticker on
products for some health food companies. Others will also
use the term "China free" in advertisements and promotions.
At Institute for Vibrant Living we are doing everything we
can to ensure the safety of our products. Our manufacturers
are required by the FDA to have all raw materials tested.
The manufacturers also test each final product to make sure
it meets label claims prior to distribution. In addition,
IVL has procedures in place for independent labs to randomly
test our products and manufacturers throughout the year. We
feel that this three-fold approach should reassure our
customers that no matter where our ingredients come from, we
are doing our best to keep our products pure and safe.
Yours in good health,
Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch
|
|
|
Visit our Health Forum and ask a question of one of the
country's leading experts in nutritional medicine. |
Dr. Mikles is a Board Certified Internist,
and is the Medical Director of Choices Integrative
Healthcare Clinic in Sedona, Arizona. For more than 30
years, Dr. Mikles has been engaged in the study and practice
of the therapeutic effects of diet and nutrition, making him
one of the country's leading experts.
|
|
|
Brought to you by Institute for Vibrant LivingTM
To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245
or visit
http://www.IVLProducts.com
|
Contact us by mail at:
Institute for Vibrant Living
P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
|
|
|