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September 2010
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Think Right
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What Does ORAC Mean to You?
Part I of II
Was it the name of the giant robot from the 60's sci-fi thriller "The Day the Earth Stood Still"? No, No, that isn't it? Perhaps it's the latest laundry detergent that the guy is screaming at us about on the new infomercial? No, that can't be it! I've got it. Those are the units that the guy who eats all of the crazy stuff on that cable show uses to measure how hot the jalapeños are, as he consumes way too many for any thinking human being? No, that's not it either!read entire article
"Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Native American."
~Robert Orben
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Eat Right
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 Food Additives Causing Hyperactivity... Is That Possible?
When our second son Eric was born we thought that there was something wrong with him. Little did we know that this was the way children were supposed to act. You see our first son Christian was, well to put it gently, "very active". He was not labeled as ADHD, but he had all of the markings. Of course we decided that we would handle his "situation" naturally. So, we instituted a program which involved all of the alternative methods (which I have since used with many of my patients). Just as he had been since birth, Chris was adjusted regularly to assure that his nervous system was functioning at its peak performance. We used whole foods as much as possible. Chris loved his broccoli and other vegetables (no Lima beans though. We learned that one the hard way.) We avoided sugar in his foods, and didn't even have a sugar bowl in the house (we still don't have one in the house.) We did these things at the time (25 years ago) because it was congruent with our belief system. read entire article
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A Supplement to Eat Right
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 Seeds of Deception
I have been discussing GMO foods through our Newsletters and my Speaking Engagements for years now. If you aren't aware of what is going on here in the Good 'Ol U.S. with our food supply you need to take some time andwatch this video of one of the leading experts on GMO. Believe me you will be glad that you did, not only for yourself but also for your friends and family. Please send this to as many people as you can! We have to stop this madness!
So set aside an afternoon and get comfortable, you know that I want you to avoid the grains anyway but if you are inclined to pop some pop-corn and enjoy it while you watch this you might want to think again. The corn is probably GMO and you don't even know it!"
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The Latest on Decoding DNA and Epigenetics
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 The science of interpreting our "genetic code" has come a long way in recent years. In 2008 Henry Louis Gates, Jr. had his entire human genome completed. This elaborate blueprint of his past, present, and future life had not been completely outlined for many individuals in the past, and those who did have it generally had only pieces of this puzzle done, not the entire web of genetic information. read entire article
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Parting Thought
Things I've Learned
I've learned that if you spend your life always looking forward to something else, the present just slips away.
I've learned that a shoeshine bow made by my young son at summer camp is my most prized possession.
I've learned that at age 25 you're finding yourself, at age 45 you know yourself, and at age 65 you can be yourself.
I've learned that the only thing you can be sure of improving is yourself.
I've learned that the most endearing "three little words" I can say to my wife are "Let's eat out."
I've learned that when you begin to ask yourself if it's your fault, it usually is.
I've learned the older I get, the more I say "I don't know". When I was younger, I thought I knew it all.
I've learned that people tend to rise to accomplishments they thought were beyond them if you show them by your confidence that they can do it.
~ H. Jackson Brown Jr.
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| Upcoming and Recent Events |
- Fall Kick-Off Cleanse: We start our next Cleanse Event on October 9! A few openings are available. REGISTER NOW!
- September 15 and October 13: FREE seminars! Family Health & Wellness. Register here.
- October is National Chiropractic Month.
- August 12-14: Dr. Pfeiffer has been invited to sit on the Palmer College of Chiropractic Homecoming Committee. Homecoming details here.
- August 27-29: Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association Convention, Gettysburg PA
- December 2-5: Ulan Nutritional Symposium, Clearwater FL
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Copyright 2010, Upper Perkiomen Chiropractic Center. All rights reserved. This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of Upper Perkiomen Chiropractic Center.
DISCLAIMER
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult with your health care professional before changing any medications or undertaking intense physical activity.
This email has been sent on behalf of your practitioner, Dr. Douglas G Pfeiffer DC | Center for Nutrition and Wellness |215-679-WELL (9355) |
Think Right - continued
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OK gang here it is. O.R.A.C. is the acronym for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It is a measurement of the antioxidant effects of foods. As a relative example, the ORAC measurement of red grapes is just over 1000 micromoles TE/gram. The measurement of blueberries is about 6700 micromoles TE/gram. That is a pretty significant difference. Red grapes also have a higher glycemic content on theglycemic index. For these two reasons blueberries would be a much better choice.
So what does this all have to do with your brain and why did I place this article in our "Think Right" section of this month's edition of Health Hints™ you might ask? Well let's first all agree that there are many nutrients that can and do affect our cognitive abilities. For example a deficiency of vitamin B12 and Iron can seriously affect our cognitive function. As a matter of fact if you have a friend or loved one who is being evaluated for Alzheimer's and these two values have not been checked before the diagnosis has definitively been made, then it is time to seek out a new doctor. These must be assessed since deficiencies in either of these nutrients can cause two different forms of anemia, and the long term effects can mimic the cognitive effects of Alzheimer's. Also since 77 million of we Americans are now approaching the glorious "Retirement Years", I for one want to make sure that we all realize that the quality of those years is directly related not only to our physical status but also to our cognitive status as well. Our ability to "traffic information signals" in our brain as we age is critical to our ability to maintain a whole, and full life!
The USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is doing a plethora of research at various facilities across the country on the effects of diet and nutrition on the brain and its function as we "progress through life" (That is a Dr. Pfeiffer-ism for "as we get older." I have found that it always sounds better to my patients and they get my meaning).
Alright gang, hang with me now because here comes the "really cool stuff". First I have to share some "Research Gossip" with you. I have a patient who is a pharmaceutical researcher. He was in last week and he said that one of the Big Pharmas (who will remain nameless) was doing human research (what they call "pharmaceutical trial") on a drug that was designed to remove the "Plaques" that develop with Alzheimer's, from the brain. What was always "assumed" was that these Amyloid Plaques were actually "blocking" the brain's ability to transmit "nerve signals". What they found was that the individuals who were taking the drug which "broke down" these plaques actually got worse. Their Alzheimer's progressed much faster than the people in the study who were taking the "placebo" (sugar pill).
"Well that wasn't expected? Perhaps the plaques were there for a reason?" DUH! As I am constantly reminding our Silver Inner Health Circle members and all of my patients in both practices: "The Body's Wisdom (Innate Abilities) Far Exceed Our Ability to Try and Figure Out What It is Doing and Why!" Maybe, as these researchers finally had to admit, "those plaques were actually there FOR A REASON." Are they actually a way that the body is "Protecting Us" from even worse and more dramatically extensive changes in our brains? Well logically we must conclude that if the poor folks on whom the "experimental drug testing" was done ended up worse when the plaques were removed, that in fact they were "protecting" those people from more damage.
OK now let me get back on track with ORAC and explain to you why you need to learn more about this measurement in order to make the right choices to preserve your overall Health and Wellness.
Let's look at how the brain works. You see, your brain is made up of millions of tiny nerve cells or "neurons". These brain cells must communicate with one another and send signals to carry messages throughout the body. This occurs using chemical transmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Brain cells also die off while we're alive. This process is called "neuronal death" and unlike what was previously believed neuronal death does not necessarily speed up as we age. According to ARS researcher James Joseph: "There is a lot of individual difference. Loss of mental agility may be less due to loss of brain cells than to the cells' failure to communicate effectively."
Much research today is being directed at studying the beneficial effects of certain dietary phyto-nutrients (plant nutrients) and how they affect brain function. According to Dr. Joseph: "Vitamins and minerals in plant foods provide protective antioxidants, but fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and grains contain thousands of compounds that contribute significantly to the overall dietary intake of antioxidants."
"A partial measure of the antioxidant effect is called the ORAC. ORAC scores are showing up in charts and on some food and beverage packages. They may be helpful in choosing the foods to include in your diet."
This topic is extremely important to all our Silver Inner Health Circle members. It is also cutting edge information and therefore I want to share it all with our members as rapidly as I possibly can. Since there is so much information that I need to communicate to you all I have decided to break protocol and split this article into two installments. Next month we will dig into the meat of this research into the importance of antioxidants for brain health and what the latest research is showing about how these antioxidant compounds can preserve your "Brain Power". next article
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Eat Right - continued
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Now the British research journal The Lancet has published a research article which demonstrates that what we had done 25 years ago for our own son and what I have recommended to hundreds of patients since, WORKS! Imagine that - "Eating Right" really does make you Healthier. The lead researcher Dr. Jim Stevenson, a professor of psychology at England's University of Southampton, said that the study involved 3 groups of children in 2 age groups. The children in the 3 groups consumed 3 fruit drinks daily for one week. One group would consume a drink which contained the usual amount of dye ("food coloring") and Sodium Benzoate (a preservative which is commonly used by the food industry to preserve many forms of food). The next group of children consumed fruit drinks which contained a lower concentration of these additives, and the third group drank fruit drinks which contained none of the additives.
During the study week the parents and teachers observed the children. The observers didn't know which drinks the children were receiving. They used a variety of behavior assessment tools to objectively assess the children for qualities such as restlessness, fidgeting, talking too much, or interrupting, and lack of concentration.
The researchers found that in both age groups the children were "significantly" more hyperactive when they were in the group consuming the additives than when they were not. The younger children (3 years old) were in fact affected more significantly than the older ones (8-9 years old). This was even true with the lower doses of the additives.
There was also much individual variation in sensitivity. In other words some kids were more sensitive (hyperactive) than others. But isn't this the case with everything which we consume or are otherwise exposed. We are all individuals. This is why the "Germ Theory of Disease" must be questioned. Think about this one Gang as we take a tangent here, if we were all in a room and exposed to the same "disease causing germs" why is it that some of us would get sick, some of us would not, and perhaps some of us would die. Maybe it's because some of us have a stronger immune response. I know that all of you who Eat, Think, Move, and Sleep Right do!
While this research may seem like a "No Brainer" to you Silver Inner Health Circle members, it is not as easy for those who don't live in the same paradigm to appreciate. Your obligation is to help them. Pass this along to them. Tell them about your experiences, and about this study. Just try to help them. As the oft repeated phrase puts it "you can lead them to water, you can't make them drink." next article
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DNA and Epigenetics
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You may recall Gates as the Harvard Professor of African American studies, who hosted the PBS special African American Lives I & II. In this series you saw the genetic heritage of individuals such as Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, and Tina Turner traced.
It is important to understand that every single living organism on earth has a specific code of genetic material, a sort of "Instruction Manual" made up of "genes" which are contained in the nucleus of every cell. We all inherit half of the instruction manual from our mothers and half from our fathers. So that you have some perspective on this, that is 3 billion pieces of information from each parent.
The cost of sequencing your "Genome" is coming down significantly. You see, in 2003 only one complete human genome had been completely sequenced. The cost was fifty cents per character. You can figure the math on that one, but just quickly that comes out to 1.5 billion dollars. Today that same sequencing can be accomplished for a mere 1/300,000 of a dollar per character. A significant price reduction in 7 years, and this cost is decreasing every year. It is anticipated that within 2 to 4 years this cost will drop 10 fold, bringing the cost of a full genetic profile down to $2,000.00. This cost is anticipated to drop to around $100.00 to $200.00 within 10 years. Anyone who wants it will be able to have the testing performed in the very near future.
An individual's genome carries some pretty ominous and interesting information like your susceptibility to various disorders and diseases. When we are able to combine this genetic information with the emerging science of nanotechnology we will have some very interesting new forms of treatment come along with this.
Now let me interject some information for those of you who are newer Silver Inner Health Circle members. Those of you who have been members for years you will have to bear with me as I comment on some of the epigenetic information that you have heard, read, or watched in the past. Many of us realize that as we "progress through life" we begin experiencing changes, and new conditions that they had not experienced in the past. Many of us feel that these 7 to 10 year changes are due to the "ageing process" or even worse getting "OLD", a word that I hate to hear. If you consider the fact that your genetic code is static, and can only change by "up-regulating", or "down-regulating" specific genes, then you can understand that if you do the wrong thing by not Eating, Thinking, Moving, or Sleeping Right that you can over time turn certain genes on and others off. Now think about this one for a minute. Perhaps that is why you begin having allergies that you never experienced earlier in life, or developed high blood pressure or a heart arrhythmia. Not that genetics would be the only cause of this, but until you have your "Genome" mapped out you don't really know, do you? Therefore it is imperative whether you have your full genetic map or not to make sure that you make the appropriate lifestyle changes now. You simply must Eat, Think, Move, and Sleep Right.
Be aware also that the FDA is aware of the speed with which the genetic mapping field is growing, and has just informed the two largest genetic mapping companies (Knome and Illumina) that they will be regulating the personal genome and consumer genetics marketplace.
Get ready too because once genetic coding becomes routine and it is teamed up with all of the "Nano-Technology" that is being researched today, the outcome will change "disease care" as we know it today. next article
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| Featured Article |
Dr. Doug Pfeiffer
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Parents, please read this list of vaccine reactions. Know what to look for to keep your children safe.
Remember what is important; watch the "Dash".
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| Top 10 Reasons to Use Organic Body Care and Cosmetics |
I am often discussing with you the things that you put in your body. Perhaps I am guilty of not discussing with you how important it is to be cautious about what you put ON your body. Check out the top 10 reasons that you need to be buying true organic body care products. This can be difficult and you must be cautious here too because many of the products that are marketed for skin and body care as organic, just are not. And those of you who are taken in by the "All Natural" marketing claims must realize that this is a term that doesn't really mean anything. After all, coal tar and crude oil are "all natural products" but I don't think that you would use either as a body lotion, or deodorant.
Non-Organic Body Care and Cosmetics...
10. Fuel Oil Addiction
9. Spawn Super Weeds
8. Unleash Biocides
7. Contaminate Water
6. Make Us Fat
5. Speed Up Puberty
4. Increase Infertility
3. Cause Birth Defects
2. Give Us Cancer
1. Aren't Regulated
Search for the products you use here and learn how safe or unsafe they are.
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Study Suggests Link Between Pesticides and ADHD
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Has someone you love been "labeled" with ADHD? See what this Harvard University School of Public Health study shows. Remember what I have said to you over and over again. The only 2 things that cause diseases and disorders in our bodies are either "Deficiencies" of a substance/nutrient,
or a "Toxicity" of a substance (yes, even a nutrient). Think about it Gang. We are not only polluting our environment, we are also polluting
ourselves.
Click on this link and watch the video report.
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October is...
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| Drinking Water at the Correct Time |
We all know it's good for us and that we need to drink more. What are the best times to drink water?
Click here
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| My New Role Model |
I have told you in the past that you have to have a "Purpose" in life. Well Hazel is my new role model. Listen to what she says when
the interviewer asks her why she doesn't retire. Enjoy this one Gang!
Click here
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