10 Shocking Facts About Cow’s Milk
(DrEddyClinic News) Cow’s milk has been a nutritious, dietary staple for children and adults for ages. Today, we’re witnessing an increase in the frequency of cow’s milk allergies and it’s fueling a debate http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=33165 between proponents of pasteurized milk and raw milk. Whichever side you’re on, research continues to investigate the reasons for an apparent increase in cow milk allergies, the safety and nutrition of raw milk, dangers of milk consumption and healthy alternatives for children who cannot drink milk.
Let’s take a look at 10 shocking facts about cow’s milk.
1. Maternal Antibiotic Use is Linked to Cow Milk Allergy (CMA)
A 2013 study out of Finland looked at the connection between a mother’s antibiotic use and its impact on infants. Reviewing data from national records, infants diagnosed with CMA had a direct association with mothers who had taken antibiotics during pregnancy. Infants given antibiotics following birth also showed a greater tendency to the cow milk allergy. [1]
2. Cow’s Milk Affects Breastfeeding
With the increases in childhood allergies, including CMA, research has begun to explore the relationship between maternal diets and its effect on human milk in breastfeeding mothers. Infants of mothers who consume cow’s milk show higher levels of specific proteins known to increase immune response and lead to allergy development. The good news is mothers who restricted cow milk consumption reduced the chance of their infants developing a cow milk allergy. [2]
3. Raw Organic Milk Contains More Fatty Acids
The arguments for raw organic milk are loud and plentiful. Although some remain skeptical, the science is quickly changing minds. A study published just this year discovered that organic milk contains 62% more omega 3 fatty acids than conventional milk. [3]
4. Milk From “Factory” Cows Can Be Highly Suspect
Many big corporations keep cows in filthy conditions. Some may even pump them full of hormones (rBGH) to stimulate milk production. A problem side effect of this practice is mastitis, or the infection of mammary tissue – the tissue which produces milk. This can lead to milk contamination by pus and bacteria. One such bacteria is Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS). This antibiotic resistant bacteria has proven extremely virulent and difficult to control. [4] e Coli is another bacteria readily found in cow’s milk, and one resistant to powerful antibiotics like streptomycin and tetracycline. [5]
5. Lactose Free Has Drawbacks
Children with CMA raised on lactose-free formulas or milk-free diets have been observed having problems with developing proper bone mass. A Polish study of 66 children with CMA examined the impacts of lactose-free formulas on nutrition and bone health. The lactose-free children had similar nutritional levels of calcium http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33164, phosphorus, sodium and magnesium. But, they had higher vitamin D http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=33212 deficiencies and lower levels of the chemical markers needed for bone formation. [6] Based on this study, any child raised on a lactose-free diet should be monitored to ensure adequate nutritional and medical care.
6. Cow’s Milk May Contain Antibiotic and Hormone Residue
Cows are often given antibiotics to treat the diseases they develop, especially cows that have been loaded with growth hormone (rBGH). Although many strains have become resistant to antibiotics, they remain a first step in addressing infections. To make sure antibiotic residues remain within approved levels, researchers continue to develop new ways to detect these antibiotics. [7] Of course, this means with every glass of milk you’re getting cow antibiotics, unless you purchase raw or organic… or even better — goat’s milk.
7. Raw Milk Consumption is Associated with Fewer Allergies
Cow’s milk allergies is a hot topic of study in Poland. Another polish study explored the effect of raw milk on allergy and asthma in Polish children and adults from a rural town. The researchers observed that raw milk consumption led to a lower occurrence of asthma and allergies, although hay fever and chronic nasal congestion occurred less frequently in the non-farmers who consumed raw milk. [8] These results support the hypothesis early exposure to raw milk offers protective effects against allergies and other autoimmune related diseases.
8. Raw Milk is More Nutritious
Raw-milk advocates argue raw milk is more nutritious and promotes health much better than its pasteurized counterpart. Whether this is true or not, science has shown raw milk retains nutrients destroyed by pasteurization. Pasteurization has been found to reduce levels of B1, B2, B12, folate and vitamin E. [9]
9. Raw Milk is Safe
Pasteurization is far more of a recent idea than consuming raw milk. Louis Pasteur developed pasteurization to protect wine from microbes and bacteria. For decades after this process was developed, raw milk continued to be consumed around the world. The process of milk pasteurization wasn’t introduced until the early nineteenth century when proponents of milk pasteurization sought to protect children from the filthy and spoiled milk being sold.
Until then children (and adults) had consumed raw milk for millennia. Many obviously survived, however with consideration to cleanliness the number who did not as a result of raw milk provided from unclean sources, or that had gone bad is unknown.
A text called The Untold Story of Milk, by Ron Schmid, provides extensive detail into the safety and nutrition of raw milk, particularly in the chapter “The Safety of Raw vs. Pasteurized Milk http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33720.” [10]
Of course, while the anti-raw milk group will argue raw milk is unsafe the facts remain simple:
1. Raw cow’s milk has more nutrition than pasteurized milk.
2. Raw cow’s milk was consumed for thousands of years before pasteurization existed.
3. Consuming contaminated or spoiled raw cow’s milk, as with any food, can cause illness, disease, and potentially death.
10. Cow’s Milk May be a Cancer Danger to Some
Hormone sensitive cancers such as breast or prostate cancer can be influenced by phytoestrogens. Cow’s milk contains these hormonal substances. Researchers sought to identify whether the amount of estrogens could be influenced by the dietary sources of cows. The outcome showed the estrogens were present regardless of the cow’s diet. [11]
And, a 26 year study of 68,000 women supports this idea. Women, especially post-menopausal women, with greater dairy intake over the period of the study had higher rates of endometrial cancer. [12] This 2012 publication suggests the health value of cow milk should be considered on a more individualized basis. Because contrary to the dairy industry’s marketing line, “Milk does your body good’” milk may not be an ideal food for everyone and many are seeking out alternatives http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=33346.
by Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
References:
1. Metsälä J, Lundqvist A, Virta LJ, Kaila M, Gissler M, Virtanen SM. Mother’s and offspring’s use of antibiotics and infant allergy to cow’s milk http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23348066. Epidemiology. 2013 Mar;24(2):303-9. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e31827f520f.
2. Järvinen KM, Westfall JE, Seppo MS, James AK, Tsuang AJ, Feustel PJ, Sampson HA, Berin C. Role of maternal elimination diets and human milk IgA in development of cow’s milk allergy in the infants http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24164317. Clin Exp Allergy. 2013 Oct 28. doi: 10.1111/cea.12228.
3. Charles M. Benbrook, Gillian Butler, Maged A. Latif, Carlo Leifert, Donald R. Davis. Organic Production Enhances Milk Nutritional Quality by Shifting Fatty Acid Composition: A United States–Wide, 18-Month Study http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0082429. Published: December 09, 2013. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082429.
4. Seixas R, Santos JP, Bexiga R, Vilela CL, Oliveira M. Short communication: Antimicrobial resistance and virulence characterization of methicillin-resistant staphylococci Portuguese isolates from bovine mastitis http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24239071. J Dairy Sci. 2013 Nov 13. pii: S0022-0302(13)00779-0. doi: 10.3168/jds.2013-7130.
5. Metzger SA, Hogan JS. Short communication: antimicrobial susceptibility and frequency of resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from bovine mastitis http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23498019. J Dairy Sci. 2013 May;96(5):3044-9. doi: 10.3168/jds.2012-6402. Epub 2013 Mar 15.
6. Rowicka G, Ambroszkiewicz J, Struciska M, Dylg H, Gobiowska-Wawrzyniak M. [The evaluation of selected parameters of calcium and phosphorus metabolism in children with cow’s milk allergy] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22971654. Med Wieku Rozwoj. 2012 Apr-Jun;16(2):109-16.
7. Conzuelo F, Gamella M, Campuzano S, Reviejo AJ, Pingarrón JM. Disposable amperometric magneto-immunosensor for direct detection of tetracyclines antibiotics residues in milk http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22769033. Anal Chim Acta. 2012 Aug 6;737:29-36. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2012.05.051. Epub 2012 Jun 4.
8. Soza?ska B, Pearce N, Dudek K, Cullinan P. Consumption of unpasteurized milk and its effects on atopy and asthma in children and adult inhabitants in rural Poland http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23534445. Allergy. 2013;68(5):644-50. doi: 10.1111/all.12147. Epub 2013 Mar 27.
9. Macdonald LE, Brett J, Kelton D, Majowicz SE, Snedeker K, Sargeant JM. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of pasteurization on milk vitamins, and evidence for raw milk consumption and other health-related outcomes http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22054181. J Food Prot. 2011 Nov;74(11):1814-32. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-10-269.
10. The Safety of Raw versus Pasteurized Milk http://www.newtrendspublishing.com/PDFS/15MilkFinal.pdf. (last accessed 2013-11-15)
11. Nielsen TS, Höjer A, Gustavsson AM, Hansen-Mřller J, Purup S. Proliferative effect of whey from cows’ milk varying in phyto-oestrogens in human breast and prostate cancer cells http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22280936. J Dairy Res. 2012 May;79(2):143-9. doi: 10.1017/S0022029911000902. Epub 2012 Jan 27.
12. Ganmaa D, Cui X, Feskanich D, Hankinson SE, Willett WC. Milk, dairy intake and risk of endometrial cancer: a 26-year follow-up. Int J Cancer http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=21717454. 2012 Jun 1;130(11):2664-71. doi: 10.1002/ijc.26265. Epub 2011 Sep 17.
Healthy magnesium levels are crucial for your body's chemistry...
by: David Gutierrez
magnesium, nutrient deficiency, symptoms
(DrEddyClinic News) Magnesium is an essential micronutrient found in a wide variety of foods — yet the US Department of Agriculture estimates that only about half of the population gets enough of it in their diets.
How essential is it? Magnesium is found in every single cell in the body, with the highest concentrations in the bones and teeth, followed by the brain, heart and blood. It is involved in 300 separate metabolic functions.
Because relatively little of the body's magnesium http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=36430 circulates in the blood, however, it can be hard to test magnesium levels directly. Instead, people and their doctors need to be on the alert for the early warning signs of deficiency.
Symptoms to watch for
What exactly does magnesium do in the body? In a nutshell: a little of everything. It is required for the production of energy by the body, along with DNA, RNA, protein and fat. It helps maintain blood vessels dilated at appropriate levels for heart health, and helps maintain oral and immune health. Magnesium also plays a key role in maintaining the electrolyte balance of cells, which means it critically affects nerve signals, muscle contractions and heartbeat.
In its early phases, magnesium deficiency leads to digestive symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. It also causes weakness and fatigue. Early magnesium deficiency has also been linked with sleep disturbances, including insomnia, and mood disturbances such as anxiety and depression. If the problem is not addressed in its early phases, deficiency will likely worsen.
Ongoing, low-grade deficiency may lead to chronic health problems including osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes. Low levels of magnesium http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=36315 in the brain have been linked to the tremors associated with Parkinson's disease.
More severe deficiency produces numbness and tingling, along with muscle dysfunction including twitches, cramps, seizures, abnormal heart rhythm and spasms, and even difficulty breathing. It can also produce personality changes.
The groups at highest risk of magnesium deficiency http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=32805 are the elderly, diabetics, people who take diuretics and women who use hormonal birth control.
Preventing or correcting deficiency
How can you protect yourself from magnesium deficiency, or start correcting it if you worry your levels may be too low? If your deficiency is not severe, the best place to start is always by improving your diet. Magnesium is found in a wide variety of foods including beans, whole grains, leafy green vegetables, avocados, and seeds and nuts. Unfortunately, these foods are typically not consumed enough in the Western diet.
Magnesium is also found in dark chocolate.
For context, just 1 ounce of dry, roasted almonds or cashews or a half cup of spinach contains 20 percent of your daily magnesium requirement. You can get 15 percent of your daily magnesium from 1 cup of soy milk or a half cup of black beans. One cup of avocado, a 3.5 ounce baked potato (with skin), a half cup of brown rice, 1 cup of low-fat yogurt, and a single serving of fortified breakfast cereal all provide 10 percent of your daily magnesium needs.
Magnesium is best absorbed by the body when it is consumed along with calcium and vitamin B6. You should aim to consume between 500 and 1,000 mg of magnesium daily.
If you do choose to take a magnesium supplement, look for one that also includes these nutrients http://www.nutrients.news/. You can also boost your body's http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33132 effective use of magnesium by taking a supplement that also includes the magnesium co-factors glycinate, malate, orotate and taurinate. These increase your body's absorption of magnesium, while optimizing magnesium's effects on your heart, muscles, mood and general bodily systems. Magnesium glycinate is the form most effective at helping to correct long-term deficiency.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.yeoldejournalist.com/early-warning-signs-bodys-magnesium-levels-dangerously-low/
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=36430
The Health Benefits of Antioxidants
(DrEddyClinic News) You may have heard a lot about antioxidants in conjunction with good health and avoiding diseases. Antioxidants http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=4401 have gotten great press, and rightfully so. But how do they work once inside our bodies, and what are some sources of antioxidants?
Have you ever seen the bottom-feeder fish in a fish-tank, sucking up all the gunk and grime? Think of antioxidants as molecular-sized, “free radical scavengers” in the fish-tank of your body.
Once an antioxidant finds its way into the body, mostly through the foods we eat, it slows down, or even prevents, the oxidation of other molecules. When molecules in the body oxidize, they can create free-radicals, or cellular byproducts. It is very normal to have these free-radicals in the body, but in excess, they can wreak havoc on our cellular structures.
What Are Free Radicals?
Free radicals create a destructive process in our cells http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33847&p=66348, causing the molecules within the cells to become unstable. They may even be a big player in the formation of cancerous cells by a “chain-reaction” effect, causing other cells to become damaged. Because of the inherent instability of free-radicals, they try to attack other healthy cells to get stable themselves. This causes the once-healthy cells to react in the same way, attacking others in an never-ending attempt for cellular stability.
Benefits of Antioxidants
In layman’s terms, free-radicals are bullies that start pushing everybody around, and encourage nice cells to become bullies as well. Just like most conflicts, the results are “free radical waste products” made up of our broken, injured and deformed cells. If our cells are weak, it is natural that our organs, tissues and skin of the body will likewise become weakened.
As you can imagine, oxidative damage plays a huge role in many of our modern-day diseases [1], such as muscle and tissue degeneration, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, as well as many other health problems. You are exposed to free radicals as a normal bi-product of regular bodily processes, like breaking down the food we eat, taking toxic medicines, as well as through exposure to pollutants. In addition, over-exposure to the sun (sunburn http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=118&t=33214) and smoking can also increase your body’s need to oxidize and create free-radicals. Antioxidants stop this cellular chain reaction of oxidation by neutralizing the free radicals.
Many plants and animals keep large amounts of antioxidants on hand, due to their role in counteracting cell damage, as well as their ability to repair damaged cells. Studies have shown that antioxidants can play a role in reducing the cell-damage of free radicals [2].
Moreover, the National Cancer Institute has stated that preliminary research in lab animals has shown that “antioxidants help prevent the free radical damage that is associated with cancer [3].” Many experts feel that increased antioxidants in the body can also help slow the process of aging http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=113&t=33127, and may even increase longevity.
How can you get more of these antioxidants into your body?
The secret to consuming more antioxidants is simple: Eat more organic fresh fruits and vegetables.
Antioxidants in Food
The simplest and most effective way to expose yourself to more antioxidants is through your diet. By incorporating at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day into your diet, you may be helping your body reduce its chances of heart disease, neurological diseases, cancer and lowered immunity http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=32625.
Studies show that it is more effective to get antioxidants through diet, as opposed to taking supplements. So, enjoy eating a variety of these fruits and veggies daily!
Foods High In Antioxidants
The following is my short-list for antioxidant-rich Foods. Try to incorporate as many as possible into your daily diet. Remember, organic, raw, fresh and local is always best:
2 Supplements High in Antioxidants
I use the following two supplements on a daily basis and would highly recommend them to anybody looking to supplement their diet with antioxidants.
Intramax – 100% Organic Liquid Multi-Vitamin http://bit.ly/intramax
Megahydrate – Powerful Antioxidant supplement http://bit.ly/MegaHydrate
Below is an abstract of a scientific study about the benefits of antioxidants. I hope you found it as interesting as I did.
Measurement of antioxidant activity using biologically relevant assays is important in the screening of fruits for potential health benefits. The cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay quantifies antioxidant activity in cell culture and was developed to meet the need for a more biologically representative method than the popular chemistry antioxidant capacity measures.
The objective of the study was to determine the cellular antioxidant activity, total phenolic contents, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values of 25 fruits commonly consumed in the United States. Pomegranate and berries (wild blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry) had the highest CAA values, whereas banana and melons had the lowest. Apples were found to be the largest contributors of fruit phenolics to the American diet, and apple and strawberries were the biggest suppliers of cellular antioxidant activity. Increasing fruit consumption is a logical strategy to increase antioxidant intake and decrease oxidative stress and may lead to reduced risk of cancer.
Read More About This Study [4]
– Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
References:
1. Dean P. Jones. Redefining oxidative stress. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/ars.2006.8.1865. 2006 September 20. 8(9-10): 1865-1879. doi:10.1089/ars.2006.8.1865.
2. Haleem MA, Barton KL, Borges G, Crozier A, Anderson AS. Increasing antioxidant intake from fruits and vegetables: practical strategies for the Scottish population http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?cmd=historysearch&querykey=45. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2008 Dec;21(6):539-46. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-277X.2008.00906.x. Epub 2008 Aug 27.
3. National Institutes of Health. Antioxidants and cancer prevention: fact sheet http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/antioxidants. National Cancer Institute. 2004 July 28.
4. Kelly L. Wolfe, Xinmei Kang, Xiangjiu He, Mei Dong, Qingyuan Zhang, Rui Hai Liu. Cellular Antioxidant Activity of Common Fruits http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf801381y#citing. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2008 August 30. 56 (18), pp 8418–8426
DOI: 10.1021/jf801381y.
Thoughts on Eating a Healthy Breakfast and Lunch
(DrEddyClinic News) Whenever there is discussion of weight loss methods http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=119&t=33900, “eat healthy!” http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=32129 is always a suggestion. My opinion is no exception. I’ve devoted several recent blog posts to discussions about weight loss and the importance of implementing healthy eating habits in order to achieve it. The key word is “habit” and it’s necessary to understand that it means “every day”. Healthy eating habits don’t come in the form of an occasional bottle of vegetable juice, a once-in-a-while banana, diet soda instead of regular, or gorging out on 100 calorie snack packs of cookies and chips.
Eating healthy means regularly consuming a significant amount of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seeds, and nuts; organic is best. Pragmatically, that means when you’re at the grocery store, you should be spending most of your time in the produce section. Here’s a litmus test, when you’re unpacking your groceries, are you putting away raw staples http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=33993 or are you filling the pantry and freezer with boxed, bagged, processed, and packaged stuff? Don’t get me wrong, there are some great food companies that do make some great offerings. However, if you’re mostly relying on the frozen food http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=36405 aisle and its toxic partnership with your microwave http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33664 for your dietary needs… there’s a good chance your diet has room to improve.
Breakfast
Are you eating boxed and frozen sausage sandwiches, or something similar, for breakfast? I understand they may be advertised on commercials that have a homey, country-morning feel and the packaging is nice and they come with that special apparatus that’s supposed to mask the subpar cooking ability of a microwave and they require little effort but… check out the nutritional label and ingredients list on that thing. Does it all sound natural? Is a frozen, processed sausage, processed cheese, not-home-made biscuit sandwich the nutritional cornerstone you should start your day with? Is it loaded with all the vitamins, nutrients, enzymes, and body system activators you need to be at your best… or is it just a food pellet? The same question can be asked of most cereal products, breakfast pastries, and just about everything on every drive through menu.
Instead, start the day with fruit. Blackberries in the morning are awesome, so are strawberries. Bananas are conveniently packaged, naturally! Smoothies and fresh juice are fantastic ways to easily consume fruits and vegetables and they’re really effective ways to work in some of the nutrient-dense, power foods, like kale or chia seeds, that maybe aren’t as palatable by themselves. Raw nuts are a great source of protein and healthy fats and a handful will go a long way in satiating your appetite. Ready to make a commitment? Put your money where your mouth is and invest in a juicer and blender to facilitate new habits.
Lunch
I’ve known a lot of people with busy jobs who go out to eat almost every day of the week. Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with going out to eat every day. If you can afford it, there are plenty of restaurants that serve high quality food in responsible portions and remove the raw-material purchasing burden from your shoulders. However, a consistent problem I’ve noticed is that most folks don’t go to the best restaurants and don’t always order the best options. One fast food sandwich turns into one more. The benefits of a spinach salad are negated by a pound of croutons and quart of creamy dressing. “I’ll have a water” turns into having a 32oz soft drink instead. Avoiding the optional bag of chips quickly mutates to deciding which artificial flavor of chips to get.
Instead, get organized, plan ahead, and bring your lunch. Many vegetables are great raw: carrots, celery, peppers, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower are just a few. Another piece of fruit, additional nuts or seeds are other great options. Even a homemade turkey and avocado sandwich on whole grain bread is great compared to most of the $5 fast food options out there. Imagine what your figure, and wallet, would look like after just one month if you planned ahead and brought simple, nutritionally sound lunches every day. Open your mind to new ideas about food. If you have a low-activity desk job, do you need a huge steak sandwich and curly fries for lunch? You might be surprised to understand (by doing) how far a couple handfuls of nuts or dried fruit will really go in terms of satisfying your appetite.
But…
Life doesn’t exist in a vacuum of controlled variables and environments. It’s dynamic. Plans change, we run late, friends come over, priorities are shuffled, and sometimes the scenic route presents itself… and sometimes we should take it. What does this mean with regard to the foods you eat? It means the occasional brunch with friends is a good thing. It means accepting an invite with a new acquaintance to try a new restaurant has beneficial factors beyond fat gram content. It means having a dessert on your birthday. The infrequency of those exceptions are what make them special and they’re also made possible by having solid dietary habits the other 90% of the time- the less interesting times. I don’t know about you, but my Tuesday mornings are usually not that exciting and don’t warrant a sugary, fatty treat from Starbucks.
Formulate a plan (your grocery shopping list) and attack your daily-nutritional habits on purpose. If you’re not doing this already, I guarantee it can be one of the most empowering habits you can implement. If you are doing this, please weigh in and leave a comment below. Let us know how getting a handle on things has impacted your life.
Dinner is another ball of yarn that includes greater opportunities to be creative, to cook, and to enjoy fellowship of family and friends. We’ll talk more about that later.
by Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
9 Symptoms of a Yeast Infection
(DrEddyClinic News) Yeast infections are not a problem that only affect women or the vagina. The fact is that yeast infections can affect many parts of the body of both men and women of all ages. Yeast infections can cause pain, swelling and unpleasant discharge. When they infiltrate the mouth, they can make the mouth feel cottony and impair the sense of taste. When a yeast infection strikes the skin it can cause it to crack, swell, or bleed. Perhaps most surprising, according to new research, yeast infections may be related to IBD and neurological dysfunction.
What Cause a Yeast Infection?
The most common sources of yeast infections are from Candida albicans http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=32328, although Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis are also high on the list. [1] Candida is a fungus that occurs naturally on the body. It’s present on everybody’s body, that is normal. However, Candida must be adequately balanced. If a Candida imbalance occurs, then dark, moist areas — especially the mouth and any region in which skin folds — may be subject to an overgrowth as a result of systemic imbalance or inadequate cleanliness.
An even more serious problem, known as invasive Candidiasis, may occur when the fungus http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=33699 enters the blood stream. this type of infection can quickly become a serious problem. Additionally, some people may be at higher risk for yeast infections. For instance, persons with psoriasis http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=33398 and eczema as likely to suffer from oral Candida infections. [2]
Identifying a Yeast Infection
It’s important to identify a yeast infection early. Remember a yeast overgrowth literally means that yeast is reproducing on your body. The longer you wait the higher the count may be! Ignoring the problem can cause a simple overgrowth to become a serious issue. A yeast infection is like a noisy houseguest — it typically lets its presence be known. Experiencing any of the following? You may have a yeast infection…
1. Discharge
The creamy, cottage cheese-like discharge common with yeast infections comes from lesions. In the mouth they can occur on the tongue, tonsils, roof of the mouth or inner cheeks. The tongue may appear white. On the skin, lesions appear as small blisters around the infected area. The discharge from lesions of a vaginal yeast infection can be watery and white to thick and chunky.
2. Redness
On the skin, a yeast infection presents as reddish or purplish spots, similar to eczema or psoriasis. The vulva of an infected woman may be more red than normal and be much more sensitive.
3. Itching
Frequent, and potentially painful irritation naturally occurs as a result of infected skin and tissue of the vagina, vulva, or even penis (primarily in uncircumcised men). This can create a burning sensation and the urge to itch. Avoid scratching as it will only make the infection worse. Ozonated olive oil http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=32416 may provide cooling relief.
4. Cracking Skin
The skin around the mouth, or localized around the dermal infection may crack and bleed. While this indication means that the body is fighting the yeast infection, the cracking and bleeding presents a potential location for further infection. Keep it clean and use a soothing balm that encourages wound healing.
5. Swelling
The infected area will likely swell as the body fights off the Candida fungus http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=33699. Swelling can occur in the mouth, sex organs, and skin, as well as in the intestines if a Candida infection http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=33415 occurs internally. Swelling usually accompanies tenderness…
6. Discomfort
When far enough advanced, Candidiasis http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=52 can result in constant discomfort and tenderness. This stems from the swelling, itching and burning associated with infection. A vaginal yeast infection can cause uncomfortable urination and intercourse.
7. IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease)
Intestinal inflammation causes IBD http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=32985. While bacterial infections have been linked as a cause, researchers have begun to understand the role of yeast, specifically Candida http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=32061, in intestinal irritation. Studies have linked Candida to the development of Crohn’s disease and other bowel diseases. [3]
8. Fatigue
Patients suffering from internal yeast infections frequently experience fatigue. In fact, individuals suffering from a Candida-related complex, or chronic candidiasis syndrome, share similar symptoms to those with chronic fatigue syndrome. The one difference is the chronic flu symptoms experienced by those with chronic fatigue. [4]
9. Mood Disorders
There is a growing body of evidence that supports the use of micronutrients to combat depression. However, nutrition is only valuable when the body can use it. If absorption is hampered, then the micronutrients will not be effective. So what’s the problem? Well, Candida has been found to inhibit intestinal absorption. It has been shown that mood disorders can be worse during periods of Candida infection. When Candida clears up, mental status may improve. [5]
-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
References:
1. Ognjenovi M, Milati K, Parat K, Kovaci I, Buseli MA, Bozi J. Mucositis grades and yeast species http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23940987. Coll Antropol. 2013 Jun;37(2):443-7.
2. Sakharuk NA. [The role of various Candida species in oral candidiasis etiology in psoriasis and eczema patients http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23994853.] Stomatologiia (Mosk). 2013;92(4):31-33.
3. Gerard R, Sendid B, Colombel JF, Poulain D, Jouault T. An immunological link between Candida albicans colonization and Crohn’s disease http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23855357. Crit Rev Microbiol. 2013 Jul 16.
4. Cater RE 2nd. Chronic intestinal candidiasis as a possible etiological factor in the chronic fatigue syndrome http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7476598. Med Hypotheses. 1995 Jun;44(6):507-15.
5 Rucklidge JJ. Could yeast infections impair recovery from mental illness? A case study using micronutrients and olive leaf extract for the treatment of ADHD and depression http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23784606. Adv Mind Body Med. 2013 Summer;27(3):14-8.
