Wellsprings Words
Issue No. 3
In This Issue
Mini-Medical School
Upcoming Events
Mini-Medical School #3
June 1, 2013 at 12:30 at Chautauqua Hall
Judith Horstmen is our special guest speaker on vigorous aging.
Judith has just published her fourth book for Scientific American entitled
The Healthy Aging Brain.
  
She is a former journalism professor, Fulbright scholar, and award winning science journalist. She will be writing a soon-to-appear blog for Psychology Today on "Brain Matters".
  
This will be another very special experiece and we hope to see you there!
  
Current Beginners Tai Chi Schedule:
Saturdays at 11:30 AM
March 30, April 6,13, 20, 27
May 4,11,18, 25, June 1, 2013.
This is a gentle and fun introduction to Yang Style Tai Chi.
  
Tai Chi starts again in August.
Let us know if you are interested as soon as possible.
Call 831-622-1994 and leave a message with your contact information or e mail: [email protected]
 
2013 Mini-Medical School Schedule
 

April 6-Food and Nutrition

June 1- Aging with Vigor-special guest

August 3-Herbal Medicine

October 5-Vitamins and Supplements

December 7-Environmental Health/Politics

All times at 12:30

Chautauqua Hall, Pacific Grove, CA

You are welcome to bring friends and family

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Health
Education
Community

Greetings!

Welcome to the third in a regular series of newsletters from our office to you! We have many enriching services to offer in addition to our office practice of Wellness Medicine. 
 
Our April 6th Food lecture was a big hit. Dr. Taylor reviewed the benefits of organic and fermented foods followed by a sauerkraut demonstration by Kathryn Lukas. Complete notes are in the next panel below. Our third session will be June 1. We have a special guest, Judith Horstman, who will speak on the Healthy Aging Brain. Our final lectures are August 3, October 5, and December 7, 2013  All lectures are Saturdays at 12:30 at Chautauqua Hall, Pacific Grove, California. The lectures are a part of your benefit as a participant in Woman's Wellspring and we look forward to seeing you.
 
Tai Chi classes will take a break for June and July and re-start in August, 2013. This is a graceful and relaxing form that is appropriate for everyone. Call 831-622-1994 for more information. 
 
The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi will be published this month. It is sure to be filled with inspirational medical research. I am sure this book will make Tai Chi much more accessible to millions.
  
Sincerely,
Stephanie Taylor MD, PhD
Woman's Wellspring 
  
Mini-Medical School #2
Food and Nutrition: Organic and Fermented Foods
Here is a summary from  the April 6th, 2013 lecture.
 

  

 

Our second Mini-Medical School was a rousing and informative investigation into the world of organic and fermented food. Dr. Taylor gave a short talk on organics and the health benefits of fermented foods. Kathryn Lukas, owner of Farmhouse Culture, shared a history of sauerkraut and offered a demonstration of kraut preparation and a tasting. For those of you who were not able to attend and for those who were there who need references, here is a summary of our event.

 

Dr. Taylor spoke about the benefits of organic foods and distributed a flyer from CCOF, one of the two organic certifying agencies in California. The other is "USDA Organic". There are many reasons to eat organic. Pesticide residues are clearly a risk factor for many diseases and disorders, especially for young and growing children. There are a large and increasing number of scientific studies identifying the risks of pesticides and herbicides. On a larger scale, organic gardening is more sustainable for the earth and will probably prove more resistant to climate change than monoculture. If you ever need to buy conventionally farmed foods the best information is from The Environmental Working Group. The EWG has a useful app for your smart phone (also available to download to print). It is called the "Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen" food list at www.ewg.org.

 

Refrigeration is a relatively recent invention. Although our generation has never known anything else, most of mankind's history with food preservation utilized smoking, salting, drying and fermenting. Fermented foods that are familiar are sourdough bread, sauerkraut, kimchee, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, but also coffee, cocoa and vanilla.

There are four primary benefits of fermented foods: pre-digestion, nutritional enhancement, detoxification and live bacterial cultures. Pre-digestion occurs when relatively indigestible fibers are broken down to smaller parts that are more easily digested by humans. This also makes some minerals more available. Nutritional enhancement refers to the production of several vitamins by the microorganisms directing the fermentation process as well as other compounds such as nattokinase which appears to have specific health benefits. Cabbage ferments produce compounds that appear to reduce cancer risk. Detoxification of phytates occurs in fermentation. Phytates bind minerals and prevent absorption. There is a fermentation enzyme that releases the minerals bound to grains, legumes, seeds and nuts. Finally, the effect of the live bacterial culture is vitally important. You can take supplemental pro-biotics, but research shows that they colonize the gut somewhat briefly. It is better to think of your bacterial companions as a vast and complex rainforest that you cannot replant with just one or two species. Clearly, it is in your best interest to consume a variety of friendly probiotic foods and supplements to establish a healthy ecosystem. The human cells in your body are outnumbered 10 to 1 by the bacteria in your digestive tract, so being on good terms is very important. Recent research demonstrated improved immune function with a healthy gut flora. This is actually no surprise since a large portion of your immune system is in the gut!

 

Kathryn Lukas then gave us a masterful presentation of the history of sauerkraut, and a demonstration of kraut making. All of her Farmhouse Culture ingredients are locally sourced, including the salt! It was amazing to see the cut cabbage, coming from the field already colonized with right lactic acid bacteria, develop into a kraut just with the application of salt. We followed the demonstration with a tasting of her creative varieties with Kimchee and Ginger Beet being a big favorite. Farmhouse culture products are locally available at Whole Foods in the refrigerated section. More information is available at www.farmhouseculture.com.

 

References and resources

 

Sandor Katz, The Art of Fermentation, 2012, Chelsea Green-A great summary of ferments by a master fermenter and also friend of Kathryn!

 

For kraut making supplies and a good time Kathryn recommends: Mountain Feed and Farm Supply, 9550 Highway 9, Ben Lomond, CA, www.mountainfeed.com

 

Classes and resources at Happy Girl Kitchen at 173 Central in Pacific Grove, California, www.happygirlkitchen.com

 

 

Lecture Topic Survey Results
In our integrative medical practice, we are always making great discoveries. This month I discovered what your were most interested in for future topics. The clear winner was Food and Nutrition. The other topics in order of interest starting with the most votes are:

#1. Food and Nutrition-are all calories the same? does organic make a difference?.....

#2. Vitamins and Supplements

#3. Herbal Medicine-Safety, Top Ten herbs.....

#4. Specific Health issues: Heart Disease (one vote), Blood pressure, Osteoporosis (4 Votes),     Fatigue (3 Votes), Thyroid problems, Insulin resistance and diabetes (3 write ins), pelvic floor issues, digestive issues, autoimmune disease

#5. The Environment and Health-prudent toxin avoidance, natural and man-made disasters

#6. The Affordable Care Act-What to expect, Medicare access to care

#7. Biofeedback-Heart Math, Wild Divine and other systems

#8. Movement-Tai Chi/Yoga/Meditation-the science behind the practice (special vote for research support of these movement interventions)

#9. Expressive arts and health-creating art and making music (Drumming-write-in)

#10. Milk-pasteurization, organic certification and the politics of the cow

#11. The healing power of animals

Other suggestions:

The safety of local drinking water

Cognitive Changes with Aging

About Woman's Wellspring

Logo large "True wellness and deep healing is more than the application of a pill to a diagnosis. I have pioneered a new approach to healthcare that is based on personal and community wellness. Here is what this means:

The first community is you. Each person is a composite of their own life experiences and their own circle of support. Every factor needs to be evaluated to develop a picture of the whole person. Each element can then be recruited into the healing process.

The second community is where you live. The majority of public health research shows that the health of individuals is not separate from the health of the community. We have an obligation to ourselves to care for our community. This means taking the ecological initiative and also supporting the small businesses that are based in our community, especially our local farmers. Over time the community that you care for will also care for you.

The center of the program is the office visit. We offer 30 and 60 minute patient visits. This gives us enough time to really get to know you. The relationship does not end at the office visit. You will enter a supportive community linked by regular newsletters and educational programs. You will have the opportunity to re-discover yourself and the joys of living on the Monterey Peninsula. Visit Medical Program and Educational Program and see how this unique holistic program can benefit you and assist you in achieving your life's purpose."