May 2016

Bacteria, Good and Bad

Before reaching for that bottle of antibiotics, you may want to think again. Have you tried everything possible to fix your illness? Sometimes we have no choice but to have to take antibiotics, but most times these bacteria killers are unnecessary and killing off good bacteria. "As an adult human, you have three to four pounds of beneficial bacteria and yeast living within your intestines. These microbes compete for nutrients from the food you eat. Usually, the strength in numbers beneficial bacteria enjoy both keeps the ever-present yeasts in check and causes them to produce nutrients such as the B vitamins. However, every time you swallow antibiotics, you kill the beneficial bacteria within your intestines. When you do so, you upset the delicate balance of your intestinal terrain. Yeasts grow unchecked into large colonies and take over, in a condition called dysbiosis." 

Even if you avoid taking antibiotics, you may be getting a dose from the animal based foods you eat. "Tons of antibiotics are fed to American livestock on a daily basis, purportedly to proof them against bacteria. This practice not only possibly contributes to antibiotic resistance in humans -- many experts feel weight gain, and not disease prevention, is the real reason antibiotics are so widely used. Fat cattle sell for more than thin cattle. That's all very well, but imagine what the antibiotics thereby possibly present in dairy products could be doing to our children's health."

Most disease originates in your digestive system. This includes both physical and mental disease. Once you heal and seal your gut lining, and make your digestive system work properly again, disease symptoms will typically resolve. Read the article here.
 
Blueberries

According to FitDay, blueberries have gained super fruit status because of their high concentrations of antioxidants and phytonutrients. These compounds have been linked to preventing cell damage by neutralizing radicals, while also preventing inflammation and protecting against cancer and chronic heart disease.

Inflammation is a known cause of Alzheimer's, and new research from the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center has shown that "blueberries can have a real benefit in improving memory and cognitive function in some older adults," according to Robert Krikorian, PhD, leader of the research team. As reported by Medical Xpress, blueberries also contain flavonoids known as anthocyanins, which have been shown to improve brain function and slow down brain aging in animal studies.
Meanwhile, according to FitDay, blueberries are also thought to reverse short-term memory loss, and their antioxidants can improve motor skills. These antioxidants include anthocyanins, proanthocyanins, resveratrol, flavonols and tannins - all of which have been linked to preventing the growth of cancer cells.

But the power of blueberries goes beyond their antioxidant content - they also contain a wealth of vitamins that are important to the health of your whole body, such as vitamin A which is vital for your eyesight.

Anxiety
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An anxiety disorder is a mental condition experienced due to fear which can be irrational or based on something realistic. This fear makes one feel overwhelmed by events around us and can threaten their physical health. Research shows that massage therapy may help with this condition. We don't know if massage therapy can replace other interventions such as yoga, exercise, or medication, but we do know it is more relaxing on the body with various other benefits. This active intervention may serve to decrease depression, lessen stress, and improve one's quality of life. 

 

Our massage and rolfing therapists here at Aspen Integrative Medicine are in no way mental health professionals, however they have been trained by Dr. Hughes from a medical standpoint. With more than 10 years of experience, Adam and David Nickamin are available to help soothe away those worries while also providing physical treatments for your aches and pains.