This month's newsletter has a mix of information for you to enjoy. In the main section, I will talk about Taurine, an important amino acid that is essential for many systems of the body to work efficiently. In the paragraphs below there is a number of links I recommend you look through.  

After a few requests from my patients with Lyme I have found an Infrared Sauna and it was right under my nose! Tammy at Spa Sensations, in the same building as my office, has an IR Sauna that is available.

I was notified of this petition to have the FDA require black box warnings on all FLUOROQUINOLONE DRUGS. After seeing patients who have had reactions to these drugs, I agree, this is the least we should do.

A few patient's of mine have brought these sites to my attention. The first, Wilderness Family Naturals, is  a northern Minnesota company providing certified organic and raw food along with other helpful things. The other, Leming Footwear, is a minimalist shoe company for those looking for options other than Vibram or Merrell. 

Don't forget to look through our archived newsletters for more information on other subjects. There is a wide range of topics covered including weight loss, avoiding soy, chiropractic care for kids, and low force adjustments. There are many newsletters on the topic of the flu, flu shots, and natural flu fighters since it is that time of year. Also, the office's Facebook page has new information almost daily to help you improve your health. 

Lastly, there is an opportunity for you to help out the International College of Applied Kinesiology and receive even more great health information. If you subscribe to their newsletter it will help fund research for the future of Applied Kinesiology. Use my name (Dr. Jonathan Herbert) and city (Hermantown, MN) to receive your discount. 

When our diets are balanced with fruits, vegetables, and meats, we provide our body with the nutrients it needs to function properly and efficiently. No other nutrient is a better example of this than taurine.

Taurine is an amino acid, which means it comes from proteins, specifically animal proteins. When proteins are broken down in the digestive tract they are broken into amino acids which are then absorbed and used throughout the body for many different functions. These functions include building muscle, feeding muscle, detoxification in the liver, calming or stimulating the nervous system, and supporting the immune system, among others.  

Taurine is found in high amounts in white blood cells. White blood cells, in short, are our immune system. They identify and destroy foreign invaders within our body. When there is not enough taurine present the immune system can be extra sensitive which may lead to allergies. The nervous system uses taurine for proper development of the brain and as a protector from glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. The cardiovascular system uses taurine in many areas. For instance, heart muscle has a very high concentration of taurine. It is known that the heart and brain use taurine to balance calcium, magnesium, and potassium within the cells of these tissues. Taurine has been used successfully to treat congestive heart failure and may help with night blindness, arrhythmia, angina, high cholesterol, and reducing plaques in arteries. It is also known that beta-agonist drugs, usually given for heart disease, cause a reduction

For your health, 

Dr. Herbert