Food Allergy and Low Glycemic Support Group to Start in November

If you have food allergies or have been prescribed a low glycemic eating plan and struggle with your eating this new support group may be just the thing for you. Started by Jane Benoit, a longtime adherent to restricted diets, and sponsored by Green Mountain Natural Health, this group aims to help people on restricted diets be more successful.

Many people on restricted diets struggle with finding the right foods and making the right choices. Support groups can be very effective in helping people to make dietary and lifestyle changes. Join Jane and others to support one another and to share ideas to help conquer your dietary challenges.

The support group will meet on the second Tuesday of every month beginning on November 8. The group will meet at noon at Green Mountain Natural Health for one hour. Feel free to bring your lunch!

For information call Jane at 279-3376.

Welcome, Dr. Stadtmauer

Dr. Mike Stadtmauer, ND, has joined Green Mountain Natural Health and is now seeing patients on Wednesdays from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Dr. Stadtmauer focuses on the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders (IBS, reflux, Crohn's disease, constipation, etc.), thyroid & adrenal imbalance and repair, chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia, auto-immune diseases, metabolic and blood sugar issues, and insomnia. He is also a licensed acupuncturist.

His focus is on uncovering the root cause of any condition. His goal is to not only help resolve symptoms, but to also (and perhaps more importantly) help patients understand how and why those symptoms or that condition came about in the first place.

He practices what is called functional medicine. This is a style of medicine where the latest in diagnostic testing is combined with the most current research in how those results fit together to give us a much more complete understanding of biochemistry, hormone imbalances, immune system function, gut function, and metabolism than was previously possible. It is through this understanding that we can more correctly identify the cause and more effectively treat it.

To achieve this, he uses nutritional supplements, nutrition and dietary advice, acupuncture, Chinese and western herbal formulas, physical manipulation, homeopathy, and other natural modalities. He can also prescribe certain drugs, but these are used only when absolutely necessary.

According to Dr. Stadtmauer, one of his mentors used to always say, "If you do what you've always done, you will get what you've always gotten." He likes to encourage patients to be open to change within their diets and lifestyles and to be open to new ideas regarding their conditions and how to approach them.

He focuses on educating patients in preventive measures and empowering them to take charge of their wellness. Every treatment program he recommends is completely tailored to each individual he sees. Some want to see him as a naturopath, others as an acupuncturist, and with many patients he combines the two. His goal is to help people achieve an optimal level of health.

He works with everyone from infants to the elderly (however, for primary care purposes, he does not see children under 5).

In addition to his Montpelier practice, Dr. Stadtmauer also sees patients at Vermont Naturopathic Clinic in South Burlington.

Lowering Blood Pressure Naturally

Age 50 Or Older? You May Be Due for Colorectal Cancer Screening

Merely being 50 years of age or older puts everyone at average risk of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second largest cancer killer in the U.S., killing over 56,000 people each year. Unfortunately colorectal is a silent killer, often with no symptoms of illness until quite late, when it is much harder to treat. You are at increased risk of colorectal cancer if you have a personal or family history of:

• Benign colorectal polyps
• Colorectal cancer
• Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
• Uterine, ovarian, or inherited breast cancer

That's the bad news. The good news is that if detected early through colorectal screening, it is a much more treatable disease. Some forms of screening can even be preventive, because precancerous polyps found during a colonoscopy can be removed during the procedure before they can become cancerous. Research has shown that up to 90% of colorectal cancers can be prevented by finding and removing these polyps.

The guidelines for screening for those at average risk begin at age 50. Screening options include the following:

• Colonoscopy every 10 years
• Fecal occult blood test yearly and flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
• Double contrast colon x-ray every 5-10 years

For those at increased risk, screening should be at age 40 or earlier and options include:

• Colonoscopy
• Double contrast colon x-ray and flexible sigmoidoscopy

To help prevent colorectal cancer you can also do the following:

• Eat at least 5 servings of fruits or vegetables daily (optimally 8-10 servings)
• Eat whole grain foods high in fiber instead of processed foods such as white flour products
• Reduce animal fats, focusing on lean meats and lowfat or nonfat dairy products
• Use beans as a high protein, lowfat alternative to meat
• Be physically active, at least 30 minutes (and optimally 45-60 minutes) most days of the week
• Maintain normal weight
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Do not use tobacco

Colorectal screening is now a covered preventive benefit under most insurance plans, which means you can get the service for free, without paying any deductible or copay.

The Research Says...

Blueberry Powder Cuts Cancer Tumor Size and Proliferation

A study has found that whole blueberry powder results in smaller cancer tumors, and a reduced rate of metastases (spread of cancer to other locations). The diets of test mice were supplemented with whole blueberry powder in the amount of 5 percent of total food by weight. Cancer tumors were 75 percent smaller. Gene expression was also altered resulting in reduced inflammation, cancer and metastases. A second phase of the same study found the blueberry supplement reduced liver cancer metastases by 70 percent, and lowered lymph node cancer metastases by 25 percent, compared to control mice. This just-released study will be published in the October 1, 2011 issue of the Journal of Nutrition. It is accessible online now at http://bit.ly/qZHOIs with subscription or access fee.

Chondroitin Sulfate Improves Osteoarthritis Pain and Function

Researchers have concluded that, compared to placebo, 800 mg of chondroitin sulfate daily reduces the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the hand, lessens morning stiffness, and improves functionality of the arthritic hand as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs but without the long-term toxicities. (Osteoarthritis, or OA, is the most common form of arthritis and some studies have found that OA of the hand affects up to 20 to 30 percent of adults, and over 50 percent of those aged 60 and over. Chondroitin sulfate is a naturally occurring molecule and the main component of joint cartilage. It is often paired with glucosamine in supplements.) Symptoms of OA diminished for those taking chondroitin sulfate once daily for a period of 6 months, and the improvement was considered significant according to several pain and functionality scales. The supplement also increased grip strength. This study was released September 6, 2011 but will not be published until a future issue of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism. It is accessible online now at http://bit.ly/qsYftZ with subscription or fee.

One in Five Now Has Metabolic Syndrome

A study has found that 19.1 percent of Canadians between six and 79 years of age have metabolic syndrome, indicating that almost one fifth of Canadians, and likely a greater proportion of Americans, have a high risk of diabetes and heart disease. (Metabolic syndrome refers to a constellation of conditions that raise the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and it is defined as having at least three of five conditions: abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL or good cholesterol, high blood pressure or impaired glucose tolerance.) Age was the strongest predictor of the syndrome, which affects 39 percent of those in their 70s. Abdominal obesity was the most common characteristic. While this conclusion suggests a huge future increase in cases of diabetes and cardiovascular disease among Canadians, the news for Americans could be worse: Canadian rates of metabolic syndrome, which are similar to those in Australia, are considered to be lower than those in the US. The study was released September 12, 2011 by the Canadian Medical Association Journal and will appear in a future issue. The full text study is available online now at http://bit.ly/oubU79 without cost.

Some Spices and Foods Boost Anti-Cancer Benefit of Broccoli

A study has found that pairing broccoli consumption with spices and foods that contain the enzyme myrosinase boosts the cancer-fighting power of each item, raises blood levels of a cancer-fighting broccoli compound, and ensures absorption in the upper digestive tract where the greatest benefit is derived. (Found in several spices and foods, myrosinase is an enzyme that is necessary for the formation of sulforaphane, which is a cancer-preventive compound contained in broccoli.) Sulforaphane is released during broccoli digestion, provided the vegetable is not overcooked, but this absorption involves the action of bacteria in the lower gut, which takes place at a slower rate than higher in the digestive tract, in the ileum. Researchers learned that eating broccoli with myrosinase-containing foods promotes faster, upper-digestive absorption and higher blood levels of sulforaphane. Items found to boost sulforaphane production and absorption included mustard, horseradish, wasabi, radishes, cabbage, arugula, and watercress; while it does not contain myrosinase, broccoli powder taken with broccoli also boosted sulforaphane. This study was released September 13, 2011 and will appear in a future issue of the British Journal of Nutrition. It is accessible online now at http://bit.ly/rgdS9C without cost.

Pain Threshold Increases for a Period After Unrestrained Laughter

Researchers have found that about 15 minutes of repeated but unforced laughter, of the type that creases the eyes, naturally raises the threshold of pain by 10 percent for several hours afterward by triggering the release of pain-alleviating endorphins. (Laughter that is unforced has previously been hypothesized to generate opium-like endorphins in response to the temporary exhaustion caused by the muscle exertion of exhaling without drawing in air. Endorphins are complex chemicals that help transmit messages between neurons; they also dull signals of physical pain and psychological stress. Endorphins are also released by running, rowing, and other forms of physical exercise; exercise is also a part of explosive laughter.) The laughter that proved successful in increasing pain tolerance was the relaxed kind of unforced laughter instead of a chuckle or polite titter. The scientists also found that this pain-dulling kind of laughter is more likely to occur when you are with friends rather than alone. This study was released September 14, 2011, but will not be published until a future issue of the biological sciences journal, Proceedings of the Royal Society B. It is accessible online now at http://bit.ly/ol48S4 without charge.

White-Flesh Fruits and Vegetables Reduce the Risk of Stroke

A study has determined that every 25 gram increase in daily consumption of fruits and vegetables with white flesh, such as apples, lower the risk of stroke by 9 percent; for comparison, just one average apple contains about 120 grams. (Plant foods of different colors contain different types of phytonutrients, and all colors are linked to different health benefits. For this reason, dietary guidelines recommend eating produce from as many different color groups as possible.) Highest consumption of white-flesh fruits and vegetables, and the phytonutrients they contain, was found to lower the risk of stroke by 59 percent, compared to lowest consumption. Other colors have other benefits, but only the white group was linked to lower stroke risk; three other tested colors did not have any effect on stroke risk: green, orange-yellow, and red-purple. Included in the anti-stroke white group were: apples, pears, bananas, cauliflower, chicory, and cucumber. Potatoes were not included, because they were classed as a starch. This 10-year study was released September 15, 2011 but will not appear in print until a future issue of the journal Stroke. However, it is available online now at http://bit.ly/odf3Er without charge.

The Omega 3 Oil DHA Benefits Heart and Brain When Added to Infant Formula

Researchers have found that infant formula enriched with a very small amount of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) produces better cognitive ability and lower heart rate when measured at four, six, and nine months of age, suggesting an improvement in the development of the brain and heart. (Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, or LCPUFA, found in fatty fish, that is generally deficient in the Western diet. Babies derive it from their mother before birth and up to age two, and it is linked with brain and eye development.) In the research, scientists measured heart rate and visual attentiveness of infants when they were shown images of adult human faces. Those infants receiving DHA-fortified formula were more attentive, suggesting cognitive development, and had lower heart rates. This study is the first randomized clinical trial on the attention of infants after postnatal DHA supplementation. It will be published in the October 2011 issue of the journal, Pediatric Research. It is accessible online now at http://bit.ly/q0kIiq with subscription or access fee.

Moderate, But Not Binge, Drinking Helps Prevent Atherosclerosis

A study has found that, compared to no alcohol consumption, moderate alcohol drinking prevents weight gain, improves blood fat levels, and results in less development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), while weekend-binge alcohol consumption negatively affects these factors. In the mouse study, the same amount of alcohol given over a week to represent moderate consumption was given to another group over just two days of the week to represent binge drinking. Moderate drinking was defined as two drinks a day for a total of seven days of the week; weekend-binge drinking was deemed to be seven drinks a day for a total of two days of the week. This study confirmed the findings of large epidemiological (observational) studies on alcohol consumption and atherosclerosis disease in humans but unlike epidemiological studies, also allowed scientists to control potentially confounding factors such as smoking, lifestyle habits, and differing dietary habits. The team did not suggest a possible mechanism by which drinking might affect artery disease. This study will be published in a future issue of the journal Atherosclerosis but was released early and is available online now at http://bit.ly/rlvViW with subscription or access fee.

Zinc Proved Critical to Brain Cell Communication

Researchers have largely confirmed that zinc plays a key role in the communication between brain cells, and may regulate neuron activity in the hippocampus where learning and memory processes occur and where disrupted communication contributes to epilepsy. (Zinc tablets are currently sold over the counter for certain brain disorders such as clinical depression. It has long been known that high zinc concentrations are found in the vesicles, specialized compartments of nerve cells responsible for packaging the transmitters that allow communication between brain neurons. But until now, it has been unclear whether this means zinc actually plays a role in the nerve cell communication itself.) Eliminating zinc from vesicles prevented enhanced neuron communication. This suggests zinc is crucial to brain cell communication. Areas of highest zinc concentration were those critical for memory formation. The team also found greater epileptic severity among epileptic animals with an excessive enhancement of communication by zinc-containing cells; this suggests the overall balance of zinc may be important. This study was released September 21, 2011 but will not be published until a future issue of the journal, Neuron. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/oFFyyN with subscription or fee.

Walnuts Boost Cognitive Function

Researchers have discovered that walnuts, which are rich in antioxidants, increase the ability to perform inferential reasoning, especially the ability to distinguish true from false, although walnuts do not improve memory, or non-verbal reasoning abilities. (Inferential reasoning is the ability to do critical thinking to deduce new information based on the context and experience.) An intensive 8-week supplementation of the diet with walnuts increased critical thinking significantly. One group ate banana bread containing ground walnuts, while the other ate the same bread without any nuts. It should be noted that the study was funded by the California Walnut Commission, which was not allowed any input on the study design or findings. This just-released study will be published in a future issue of the British Journal of Nutrition. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/nkrn2G without fee.

Midsection Fat Linked to Asthma Risk

Researchers have found that people who are not otherwise obese but who suffer from central obesity, better known as belly fat, a condition often reflected in the body mass index (BMI), have a 1.44 times greater risk of developing asthma; and those who are obese both around the middle and elsewhere have a 1.81 times greater risk of asthma. Excess abdominal fat has been linked previously to increased health risks such as diabetes and heart disease, but researchers have largely ignored any potential link to lung disease. The new study followed 23,245 subjects for 11 years, and monitored waist circumference and BMI to determine individual levels of overall obesity compared to central obesity. The team concluded that overall obesity and central obesity each constitute a higher risk of asthma, but together the risk is greater. Central obesity is linked to metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, but it is unclear how belly fat affects asthma risk. (Another study released the same day found moderate alcohol intake reduces asthma risk.) This study was presented in Amsterdam on September 25, 2011 at the annual congress of the European Respiratory Society, but has not yet been posted or published.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine May Treat, Reverse Spinal Cord Injury

A study has found that the supplement acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) can protect neuron cells and assist overwhelmed mitochondria, preventing them from shutting down, which in turn can halt the normal death of neuron cells following a spinal cord injury. (ALC is a derivative of essential amino acids that can generate metabolic energy. Mitochondria are the energy-generating components inside cells. During spinal cord injury, local mitochondria are overwhelmed by chemical stresses and lose their normal ability to produce energy, leading to cell death, which causes paralysis.) Administration of ALC shortly after spinal injury was found to supply alternative energy for cells, bypassing the reduced supply from mitochondria and protecting neuron cells from death. Protecting cells from death allowed treated subjects to fully recover from paralysis and walk normally within a month. This research was conducted on mice, but there could be huge implications for future treatment, and even reversal, of recent spinal cord paralysis in humans. (ALC can be given orally and high doses are well tolerated.) Further details have not been released, but this study will be presented in Washington, DC, on Sunday, November 13, 2011, at a meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.

Low Levels of Vitamin B12 May Lead to Brain Shrinkage

A study has found that, at least in people over age 65, having high levels of four out of five markers in the blood that indicate a vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to a smaller brain volume and lower cognitive test scores about 4.6 years down the road. (Directly measuring vitamin B12 levels in the blood of older persons is not a reliable indicator of a deficiency; as a result, scientists measure other factors in the blood, such as homocysteine, which more accurately indicate whether the body is experiencing a B12 deficiency.) The team reported that further research will be needed to determine whether supplementation would prevent the brain damage. However, the study does conclude that vitamin B12 deficiency can cause brain atrophy and cognitive impairment. The study was published in the September 27, 2011 issue of the journal Neurology. It is available online at http://bit.ly/nYrYdR with subscription or study access fee.

©2011 ChooseNewsDaily, used with permission