Dr. Adam Tice

President

Dr. Judith Thompson

Vice-President

Legislative Chair

Dr. Katie Swedrock

Secretary

Dr. Eli Camp

Treasurer

Dr. Jennifer Southard

Board Member

Dr. Dawn Dalili

Board Member

First Do No Harm

The Healing

Power of Nature 

Doctor as Teacher

Identify and

Treat the Cause

Treat the

Whole Person

Prevention

Lecture:

Holistic Parenting

Greetings!     

This newsletter discusses how to picnic for better health, the healing power of raw foods, vitamin E, health benefits of peppermint and the benefit of working with a nutritional counselor.   

The most important thing you can do to ensure that you have the option to choose a Naturopathic Doctor as your health care provider is to tell your legislator that you would like him or her to help bring a licensing law for NDs to FL. The next most important step to see this happen is for you to join our Association. For more information, please visit www.FNPA.org.

There is a very quick and convenient way to share the newsletter with your loved ones. Please scroll down and use the "Forward" button we have provided. Help spread the word about Naturopathic Medicine!

Picnic Your Way to Better Health

Consuming raw foods can be an excellent way to increase your nutritional intake. The heat used during cooking can destroy healthy nutrients in food such as the cancer-fighting sulforaphanes found in Kale or Vitamin C found in many vegetables. However, it is a myth that all foods should be eaten raw. Tomatoes, for example, become 3 to 4 times more lycopene-rich  after they are cooked. Nuts are another food group that need preparation to become more nutrient rich. Soaking and germinating legumes such as mung beans or cashews helps make the enzymes and nutrients more absorbable in your body by helping to break down the fiber casing that protects the nutrients. It is a good idea to consult with your healthcare practitioner about what foods are best consumed raw. Kidney beans, for example, should never be eaten raw. Other precautions when eating a raw food diet includes eating produce that has been treated with pesticides, or consuming high-sugar fruits and fruit juices if you have blood glucose regulation problems as with diabetes. A good rule of thumb is to eat a rainbow of colors when consuming produce. This will help ensure you get the full spectrum of healthy phytochemicals. If you decide to eat a 100% raw food diet, it is critical to seek the input of a licensed and experienced nutritionist or Naturopathic Doctor to make sure you are meeting all your nutritional needs.

References 

• Wong, Cathy (2012). Raw Food Diet. About.com. http://altmedicine.about.com/od/popularhealthdiets/a/Raw_Food.htm (accessed June 27, 2012).

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Peppermint is a potent herb that is a good source of Vitamin A, Manganese and Vitamin C. Clinical research shows that is can be used as a digestive aid. The compounds in peppermint have a calming effect on smooth muscles such as the intestines, which can sooth spasms that aggravate Irritable Bowel Syndrome and cause indigestion. The phytonutrients have also been shown to inhibit cancer growth in pancreatic, mammary, and liver cells. Peppermint oil  has antimicrobial properties that can be used to fight bacteria strains such as salmonella and MRSA. It is best to consume mint fresh from the leaves. Skip the dry form of the herb such as those found in teas, and instead choose fresh sprigs from the local farmers market or your own garden that are vivid green with no yellow or brown spots on the leaves.  To incorporate more peppermint in your diet try:

• sipping hot tea made from the leaves
• add a few sprigs to your sun tea or seltzer water
• freeze into ice cubes to add flavor to your water
• enhance your fresh fruit salads with crushed mint
• add to soups or gazpachos 
• chew on the leaves like gum
• make some homemade peppermint ice cream  

References 

• Edris AE, Farrag ES. Antifungal activity of peppermint and sweet basil essential oils and their major aroma constituents on some plant pathogenic fungi from the vapor phase. Nahrung 2003 Apr; 47(2):117-21. 2003.
• Ensminger AH, Ensminger, ME, Kondale JE, Robson JRK. Foods & Nutriton Encyclopedia. Pegus Press, Clovis, California. 1983.
• Ensminger AH, Esminger M. K. J. e. al. Food for Health: A Nutrition Encyclopedia. Clovis, California: Pegus Press; 1986. 1986. PMID:15210.
• Fortin, Francois, Editorial Director. The Visual Foods Encyclopedia. Macmillan, New York. 1996.
• Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Dover Publications, New York. 1971.
• Peppermint. The World's Healthiest Foods. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=102 (accessed June 27, 2012).
• Wood, Rebecca. The Whole Foods Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Prentice-Hall Press; 1988. 1988. PMID:15220.

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Nutritional counseling is a type of health assessment that looks at your diet and lifestyle to determine if you are meeting your vitamin and mineral needs. Current research is showing that improved nutrition can benefit almost every chronic health condition from heart disease to diabetes. Vitamin E, for example, has been shown to help bladder cancer and is more effective when consumed through food rather than supplementation. Diabetes is another condition that can be strongly impacted by diet and nutritional intake. Nutritional counseling will help you determine if you are meeting your basic nutritional needs, and assess where you may need to increase your nutritional intake based on your individual picture of health.

Some nutritional counselors may use lab tests to determine your nutrition levels such as blood tests, hair analysis, and food allergy testing. It is important to seek the help of a qualified healthcare professional. Having a certification in nutritional counseling may not be enough to ensure you are working with an experienced professional based on the licensing laws of individual states. Look for professionals that have attended a four-year accredited Naturopathic Medical School, have a Masters or PhD in nutrition, have an integrative medical degree, or are licensed Nutritionists.

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