How to raise a Healthy Child in an Unhealthy World

April 26, 2012 2 Comments

In my 35 years of practice as a family physician, I have come to see the health challenges of our children grow each year. It becomes more urgent for parents to focus on their children’s health in order for them to survive in an unhealthy world.

The challenges of children begin before birth with the health of the mother. The environmental workgroup (www.ewg.org) published a study on July 21, 2005. Tests measuring the cord blood from 10 newborn infants randomly selected detected 287 chemicals. 180 of the chemicals are known to cause cancer in adults, 217 are linked to brain and nervous system damage, and 208 have been shown to effect fetal or child development in animal studies. For 209 of the contaminants, this was a first-time researchers have identified the chemicals in newborn blood.

It is paramount for pregnant mothers before and during their pregnancy to be aware of their exposure to such chemicals, and be proactive in a form of detoxification. To prevent this from being passed on to their infants. Mothers need to be aware of their vitamin and nutritional status as well as toxic chemical exposure i.e. Mercury fillings in their teeth.

Mothers need to abandon the standard American diet (SAD) and adopt a diet with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables (organic is preferred) and organic range free meats along with plenty of pure water. Mothers need to have adequate levels of vitamins, fish oil and vitamin D – 3 to provide a healthy environment for the newborn.

Mothers are encouraged to breast-feed their infants to help enhance their immune system. While strengthening mother infant bonding and reduce the potential for future allergies.

Parents need to reconsider the whole issue of vaccinations. My purpose is not to condemn the concept of vaccinations, but to look at how the present system has evolved where a newborn infant in the first 18 months of life is recommended to have 35 immunizations. A great resource is a book by Mayer Eisenstein MD, JD, MPH called “Don’t vaccinate before you educate.” He has also written, “Make an informed vaccine decision for the health of your child, a parent’s guide to immunizations.”

Younger children are encouraged to be fed organic fruits and vegetables as well as range free organic meats. Vitamin supplementation with a multivitamin and vitamin D3 and probiotics is recommended. If we do change our r children’s eating habits away from the standard American diet. The World Health Organization predicts that 50% of children born today will develop type 2 diabetes before the age 30.

We must continue to be vigilant to search out the chemicals in a children’s environment and try to reduce their ongoing exposure. For example, bisphenol A found in children’s plastic bottles is a xenoestrogen , which disrupts normal hormone function in children. Today we are seeing boys and girls develop premature puberty before the age of 10. Because of the synthetic xenoestrogen and other hormones found in milk and dairy products as well as processed meats. These chemicals include fluoride, and chlorine which disrupts thyroid function as well as mercury found in “silver fillings.”

As children grow into young adults, we must educate them and how to live a healthy lifestyle and make good choices in a diet, nutrition supplements and developing healthy lifestyles that will serve them into their old age. We must educate them that the pharmaceutical industry does not have the answer for every problem. Educate them on the hazards of legal and illegal drugs and help them to make wise choices. We as parents and grandparents have responsibility to educate our children to live a healthy balance lifestyle- emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

For additional information contact our office: www.lemireclinic.com phone #352-291-9459.

Filed Under: Blog, Health & Safety

A Healthy You

April 26, 2012 5 Comments

A Healthy Beginning for the New Year

Energy medicine is in our future and many are practicing this now.

Lemire Clinic is always looking for the latest, most innovative approaches to assisting the patients along their healing journey.

Right now we are very excited to introduce the revolutionary Future of Pain Relief:

Repair, Rebuild…..THE POWER TO HEAL!

Yes, now at Lemire Clinic you can experience Pulsed Magnetic Therapy (PEMF).

Why pulsed magnetics?

The Earth is protected by an electro-magnetic field generated through what is called a “dynamo effect”. According to electromagnetic theory, the Earth’s liquid metallic core is stirred by convection. This motion coupled with the Earth’s rotation generates electric currents, and the electric currents in turn generate a magnetic field.

Over the past 155 years, scientists have been studying the decline of the Earth’s magnetic field and the effects it has on human health. When the first cosmonauts and astronauts were going into space, physicians noted that they experienced bone calcium loss and muscle cramps when they were out of the Earth’s magnetic field for any extended period of time. After this discovery was made, artificial magnetic fields were placed in the space capsules.

Every organism on Earth has developed and evolved within this protective magnetic field. In order for our bodies to operate optimally, we need the proper type and intensity of electro-magnetism – like we need the proper types of food, water, air and sunlight. Some have called pulsed electro-magnetic frequency the “fifth element” required for life.

That is one of the reasons why we encourage patients to ground themselves by walking barefoot on the grass, sand or dirt. (As long as it has not been sprayed with herbicides).

Origins of Magnetic Therapy

Magnetic therapy has been studied and documented throughout the centuries, from ancient times to the present. Magnets have long been believed to have healing powers associated with energy, muscle pain and stiffness. In the third century B.C. Aristotle wrote on the benefits of magnetism in the treatment of pain and other conditions. Chinese healers as early as 200 B.C. were said to use magnetic lodestones on the body to correct unhealthy imbalances in the flow of qi, or energy. The ancient Chinese medical text known as The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine describes this procedure.

The Vedas, or ancient Hindu scriptures, mention the treatment of various illnesses with lodestones. Australian aborigines and many African cultures also have traditionally used magnetic stones for healing.

Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Frequency (PEMF) Today

Continuing scientific research in the U.S. and the world over is providing invaluable data on how magnetic fields affect the nervous and circulatory systems, as well as every living cell – animal, human and plant.

William Pawluk, MD, MSc and Jiri Jerabek, MD, PhD have published an outstanding book called ‘Magnetic Therapy in Eastern Europe: A Review of 30 Years of Research’. They report on dozens of medical conditions successfully treated with (pulsed) field.

Pulsed Electro-magnetic Frequency (PEMF) acts as a “whole-body battery charger” by recharging EACH of the 70 trillions cells in your body. Builds up energy within your cells; it oxygenates and alkalizes the cells. PEMF improves circulation so the conversion of nutrients and oxygen inside the body can occur at optimum performance. PEMF increases the efficiency with which your body processes and expels waste matter and keeps your system running smoothly.

PEMF Therapy is already approved by the FDA to promote the healing of non-healing bone unions and has been used in Europe for over 20 years in over 400,000 sessions with individuals experiencing migraines, sports injuries and other pain syndromes including:

• Back and joint problems

• Edema and swelling

• Lack of circulation

• Skin wound healing

• Fibromyalgia

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Arthritis

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

• Depression

After many clinical trials worldwide, it is being used by physicians and holistic health practitioners throughout the world creating a dramatic improvement in patient’s quality of life.

Check out the recent article in the Ocala Star-Banner by Dr Mehmet Oz

For additional information, and to set up your appointment for a personal experience of the PEMF call: Lemire Clinic 352-291-9459, or visit us at: www.lemireclinic.com

References:

Gordon Research Institute http://www.gordonresearch.com

www.pemf.us/info

Filed Under: Blog, Technology & Energy

How Safe is Your Toothpaste?

April 26, 2012 Leave a Comment

According to the handbook, Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, fluoride is more poisonous than lead and just slightly less poisonous than arsenic. It is a cumulative poison that accumulates in bone over the years. According to the Physicians Desk Reference, “in hypersensitive individuals, fluorides occasionally cause skin eruptions such as atopic dermatitis, eczema, or urticaria. Gastric distress, headache, and weakness have also been reported. These hypersensitive reactions usually disappear promptly after discontinuation of the fluoride.”

From 1990 to 1992, the Journal of the American Medical Association published three separate articles linking increased hip fracture rates to fluoride in the water. In the March 22, 1990 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Mayo Clinic researchers reported that fluoride treatment of osteoporosis increased hip fracture rate and bone fragility.
97% of western Europe has chosen fluoride-free water. This includes: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland. (While some European countries add fluoride to salt, the majority do not.) Thus, rather than mandating fluoride treatment for the whole population, western Europe allows individuals the right to choose, or refuse, fluoride.

Contrary to previous belief, fluoride has minimal benefit when swallowed. When water fluoridation began in the 1940s and ’50s, dentists believed that fluoride needed to be swallowed in order to be most effective. This belief, however, has now been discredited by an extensive body of modern research (1).According to the Centers for Disease Control, fluoride’s “predominant effect is posteruptive and topical” (2). In other words, any benefits that accrue from the use of fluoride, come from the direct application of fluoride to the outside of teeth (after they have erupted into the mouth) and not from ingestion.

Adverse effects from fluoride ingestion have been associated with doses attainable by people living in fluoridated areas. For example:
• Risk to the brain. According to the National Research Council (NRC), fluoride can damage the brain. Animal studies conducted in the 1990s by EPA scientists found dementia-like effects at the same concentration (1 ppm) used to fluoridate water, while human studies have found adverse effects on IQ at levels as low as 0.9 ppm among children with nutrient deficiencies, and 1.8 ppm among children with adequate nutrient intake. (7-10)
• Risk to the thyroid gland. According to the NRC, fluoride is an “endocrine disrupter.” Most notably, the NRC has warned that doses of fluoride (0.01-0.03 mg/kg/day) achievable by drinking fluoridated water, may reduce the function of the thyroid among individuals with low-iodine intake. Reduction of thyroid activity can lead to loss of mental acuity, depression and weight gain (11)
• Risk to bones. According to the NRC, fluoride can diminish bone strength and increase the risk for bone fracture. While the NRC was unable to determine what level of fluoride is safe for bones, it noted that the best available information suggests that fracture risk may be increased at levels as low 1.5 ppm, which is only slightly higher than the concentration (0.7-1.2 ppm) added to water for fluoridation. (12)
• Risk for bone cancer. Animal and human studies – including a recent study from a team of Harvard scientists – have found a connection between fluoride and a serious form of bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in males under the age of 20. The connection between fluoride and osteosarcoma has been described by the National Toxicology Program as “biologically plausible.” Up to half of adolescents who develop osteosarcoma die within a few years of diagnosis. (13-16)
• Risk to kidney patients. People with kidney disease have a heightened susceptibility to fluoride toxicity. The heightened risk stems from an impaired ability to excrete fluoride from the body. As a result, toxic levels of fluoride can accumulate in the bones, intensify the toxicity of aluminum build-up, and cause or exacerbate a painful bone disease known as renal osteodystrophy. (17-19)^

Filed Under: Blog, Health & Safety

Food Combining for Optimal Health

April 26, 2012 Leave a Comment

In nature, wild animals don’t combine foods. You’re unlikely to see a bear catch a fish, then pick berries to go with it before eating. Animals generally eat one thing at a time – a ‘mono-diet’ – and there are substantial benefits to eating this way. Different types of foods – proteins, starches and sugars, for example – all digest in different ways. So when we combine different foods together, it can be challenging for digestion. Unfortunately, most of us learned to eat exactly this way – combining many different foods in one meal. It took time to learn to eat this way: people don’t tend to feed babies complex concoctions, rather simple blended fruits/veggies. It also takes time to unlearn eating this way, but the benefits are worth it. All you need to know are a few simple food-combining rules and you can improve digestion immediately.

What we consume either digests easily or ferments and food combinations strongly affect this outcome. This doesn’t mean you have to follow a strict ‘mono-diet’ (though many raw fooders certainly do choose this path). It just means paying a bit more attention to what you mix together: the simpler you keep things, the easier it is to digest. One term coined by raw foodists is ‘combo-abombos’ – i.e. abominable combinations resulting from budding raw foodists throwing everything into the blender at once. The more you avoid such combo-abombos and aim towards keeping things simple, all the better for your digestion.

Imagine the difference, for example, between digesting a mono-meal of five peaches OR a slice of raw peach and blueberry pie with a base of three kinds of nuts and honey, plus chocolate sauce. Get the idea?? The fruit mono-meal is easily recognized by the body and digested within about 30mins. The pie on the other hand is much more puzzle-like for your stomach. The fruits and honey are simple sugars, which mean they digest quickly. The heavy nuts are protein-rich, so they require substantial time in stomach acid to break down. These two food groups thus start to ‘compete’ for digestion. This confusing set of messages challenges the stomach. Sugars are our primary source of energy and therefore ‘shout the loudest’ to get priority for digestion. This means that the protein-rich nuts get hurried out of the stomach, along with those sugars, before they’re really ready, leaving them to putrefy in the intestines. Hmmm, perhaps that pie doesn’t sound so pleasant after all? Let’s not get too rigid here though. It doesn’t need to be about perfectionism. For those starting out raw especially, it can be much more a case of ‘anything goes’.

If you’re coming from a background of processed junk foods, just the fact that you start eating mostly or all-raw means your digestion and health will improve. There is more margin for ‘error’ in the beginning. As time goes on, your cells get cleaner and tighter and your body lets you know it would prefer simpler combinations. Then you can start refining things, as feels good to you. That’s really what it comes down to – do you feel good after you eat a certain combination? Nobody knows your body better than you and what feels just fine to you might feel like a horrible combination to someone else. We can certainly use books and ideologies for reference, to learn about general patterns people find useful, but more key is listening to our own bodies.

The Side Effects
So, what happens when foods are not ‘well-combined’? A very common side effect is feeling sluggish, tired and heavy. This is because complicated combinations require much energy to digest. There is little energy left for anything else. We may also feel mental fogginess, especially if we’ve eaten a lot of fat. Digestive issues may include gas, bloating, constipation, fermentation and candida overgrowth. You may also experience rashes, mucus, spots, weight gain / difficulty losing weight or any number of other symptoms, as gas and waste back up in your over-worked system.

Is there any relationship to why we feel so full and uncomfortable after eating Thanksgiving dinner?
A less-obvious side effect is that it’s much easier to overeat and to overeat things you later realize don’t agree with you, when eating ‘combo-abombos’. Many people eat quickly and this, along with the longer time taken to decipher messages in muddled combos, means that by the time the stomach’s worked out the puzzle, you’ve already finished a plate of something that doesn’t serve your health.

In looking at: Omega 6 oils (cottonseed, vegetable etc) and carbohydrates which makes extremely the worst combination!! This is an increase of breast cancer by 27%. Example: French fries. Add to this 1 daily serving of ground beef which increases the incidence by 44%, and you have Fries & burger for a total of 71% increased incidence for breast cancer.

The Benefits
One major benefit of good food combining is it helps conserve energy. Digestion of food takes a lot of energy. The simpler our combinations, the easier it is to assimilate and use this fuel efficiently. As a result, you’ll feel cleaner, lighter, alert and more energetic.

‘Good’ food combining will also help you lose excess weight, especially if you avoid complicated meals late at night. Ideal combining also helps you maintain an ideal weight. Your digestion and elimination become smooth and regular and your skin clear and fresh.

Simplifying your food can have knock-on benefits in other areas too, like using less electricity, having less washing-upand shorter food-prep times. Mono-mealing fruit for example usually involves picking up fruit and eating it, with maybe a bowl, knife and chopping board at most to wash. Compare that to making a raw pie, or more complicated yet, a greasy cooked meal.

When you mono-meal, the body can tell you precisely when you’ve had enough, as it will begin to taste different and even unpleasant. This is the body’s way of letting you know it’s had enough for now. This feedback’s a real advantage, as you can get exactly what you need, without going to excess.

Overall, eating ‘good’ food combinations can thus bring more energy, time and vitality to enjoy the things you love.

NO MORE PIE????
Does all this mean you’ll never eat raw cake again?? Not necessarily – it’s really up to you. How easy do you want to make things for your body; how much energy do you want going to digestion? The example with the peach pie above, for instance, illustrated the overall idea behind why someone might want to pay attention to food combining. You don’t HAVE to do anything, or be ‘perfect’: just do the best you can, while enjoying yourself. A less-than-optimal combination’s unlikely to leave you in hospital – this isn’t a critical matter – it’s more about tweaks that can take your health to the next level, whether you’re 40, 80 or 100% raw.

The Raw Advantage
The good news for raw foodists is that food combining boundaries can be a little more flexible than for traditional cooked food eaters. This is useful if you do desire to eat raw gourmet foods. The high enzyme content of raw / living foods helps digestion enormously, meaning you can afford to make more ‘mistakes’ (at least in the beginning). In moderation, you can often eat ‘less-than-optimal’ raw combinations and find you feel fine afterwards – eat complicated recipes to excess however and you’ll unlikely feel great. (Taking digestive enzymes at such times will help.) Many different theories exist about food combining and here we’ll examine only a basic, suggested outline. For optimal digestion, try not to eat raw nuts and seeds, avocadoes, etc (fats) with your fruits (sugars), or starchy vegetables with either. Green leafy / low starch vegetables combine fine with just about everything.

For additional information or personalized nutrition consultation call: Lemire Clinic 352-291-9459 or visit our website: www.lemireclinic.com

References:
Dr. Dan Murphy Nutrition Conference

http://www.rawfor30days.com/blog/?p=590

Filed Under: Blog, Nutrition

The Meaningful Gift of Health

April 26, 2012 Leave a Comment

Here we are again. The holiday shopping season is upon us. The sale flyers try to lure you in with their announcement of the “lowest prices of the season!” The lights and decorations everywhere are sending the same message. Many people, out of necessity, have had to cut back on their holiday gift list. Many are completely re-thinking what type of gift they give. People want to give more practical and more truly meaningful gifts.

How about giving the gift of health? It sounds like a cliché, but health really is a gift. If your loved ones (or yourself) are in poor health, what does all the other “stuff” really matter anyway? It’s hard to enjoy that latest electronic gadget or wear the latest fashions, if you feel too lousy to use it or go anywhere. And who needs more trinkets to clean around and cause stressful clutter??

First give the gift of health to yourself. That might sound like a different concept, and to some even “selfish”. However we cannot give to others what we do not have ourselves.

Think of the concept of paying it forward. Whether you want a healthier lifestyle yourself or want to give the gift of encouraging healthier habits in others, here are some gifts giving ideas.

Good health isn’t a right; you have to work for it. What you eat and how you conduct your life every day contributes to the type of health you will enjoy now and for years to come. The best way to start building a more healthful future is to start curtailing bad habits today. If you or someone you love smokes, is overweight or otherwise just clueless about eating right to feel great, you can change their future for the better and potentially even save their lives by getting them to take personal responsibility for their physical future. That is a truly meaningful gift that can show your love and concern for them.

  • Stop smoking — The American Cancer Society projects that half of Americans who smoke will eventually die as a result of the habit. From hypnosis to other stop-smoking aids, there are resources available that will make quitting easier than it was even five years ago. Smokers have a better chance of quitting with support and encouragement, so give the gift of becoming a “stop-smoking cheerleader” for someone you love. toxins from your body and your home goes a long way toward healthful living.
  • Start moving — Take your favorite couch potato for a brisk walk, and suggest some form of regular exercise. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends 150 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise weekly for adults. Give them the gift of your company on these walks and give the benefits to yourself as well.
  • Achieve a healthy weight — Diet plays a big part in good health. If someone you love is overweight, it can be a touchy issue, but there are some ways to approach the weight topic. Offer to participate in a lifestyle changing program with them. It’s so much easier to accomplish when you have a buddy to support you along the way. As part of a general health regimen, spring for a visit to a nutrition consultant or personal trainer. Your loved one may take a few suggestions better from a professional. Learn about quality nutritional supplements and healthful eating habits that you need to really help your loved ones and yourself accomplish your goals of feeling great.
  • Reach out in service to others. According to the founder of positive psychology, Martin Seligman, the most effective strategy for giving yourself a boost of heartfelt joy is to perform an act of kindness for another person. In fact, making a meaningful difference in the lives of others has proved to be what defines people who are able to achieve the highest levels of happiness.

Receiving help can provide the inspiration that prevents a person from lapsing into despair and instead enables them to continue making the effort until they’re able to succeed.

Remember that a profound meaningful gift does not need to be tangible. Sometimes a smile, a touch, eye contact, a hug can go a long way into reaching someone else’s heart in a powerful life nourishing way.

For more information or help in ways to make this a meaningful giving season contact: www.lemireclinic.com or call 352-291-9459
References: The Meaningful Key

Filed Under: Blog, Health & Safety

What Does Love Mean to You?

April 26, 2012 Leave a Comment

Is it the love between a parent and a child? Is it the unconditional love between an owner and a pet?

Or is it a connection between two souls?

How about self love? Where does it fit in your life?

Pay attention to yourself. Give to yourself. Love yourself. Make a mindful effort to give something to yourself each day.

If you have mercy on yourself then you can have mercy on others. Practice self forgiveness, and mercy then you can initiate and extend your forgiveness to others.

Remember: “You cannot give what you do not have”. Sometimes people get carried away with just giving, helping, and doing for others. Often this comes with the price of forgetting that giving begins with self giving, and self love.

Using the analogy of a bank account: If you always withdraw, without making any deposits, you will overdraw sooner or later (burnout, become ill or resentful) So how are you going to make deposits into your account?

Here are some simple suggestions:

➢ Take a nice walk connecting with nature around you.

➢ Enjoy reading a special book.

➢ Meditate daily.

➢ Pray daily.

➢ Use a gratitude journal, and write daily entries of the blessings you are grateful for.

➢ Treat yourself to a relaxing facial or massage.

➢ Say nice things to yourself during your constant self talk.

➢ Take some time off from work.

➢ Recognize and rejoice in the amazing creation that you are.

These are just some simple ways to make deposits into your life enhancing account.

When a person is happy, feels love and compassion for all and is at peace with life, their cells have different hormones which work together with the body to ward off negative influences and help maintain a healthy environment. At a recent conference on Health, Aging and Longevity in Brisbane, Professor Marc Cohen [Founding Professor of Complimentary Medicine at RMIT Melbourne] said that love is a prime cause for a long, high quality life. He added that, “There is increasing clinical evidence that enjoying loving activities will help prolong life.” That is, love whatever you are doing because if you can’t or don’t love your work or your life it could literally be making you sick! The power to change is within you. Also any day, any time is the right time.

Fortunately you have the power within you to change anger into assertiveness, motivation and responsibility; fear into courage and alertness; anxiety and worry into compassion and contentment; and hate and despair into love, joy and passion for life. Instead of holding onto negative emotions you also have the power to surrender to growth and to trust life.

The question is how to effect the change?

The first thing you need to know is that there are both balanced and imbalanced emotions. The second thing you need to know is that whether you choose the balanced or the imbalanced expression, it is entirely under your control. Yes, this is the hard part, but it is not impossible. Begin by becoming aware of the imbalances you experience one day at a time, then by using the power of your mind, choose not to be victimized by your own emotions.

For many years now, people such as Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra and Caroline Myss have been saying that changing your thoughts, beliefs and patterns of thinking can change virtually everything about your lives, from improving health and slowing aging to having abundance and happy relationships.

It’s empowering to know that you are love. You are power. You are the living manifestation of Divine world changing love essence.

If you need help in re-connecting with some of the healing life giving parts of yourself call our office for an appointment to experience the NASA technology of: The Evox to unblock, release and re-align any patterns of imbalance within. Lemire Clinic: 352-291-9459. www.lemireclinic.com

Filed Under: Blog, Health & Safety

Vitamin D

April 26, 2012 Leave a Comment

Vitamin-D Deficiency Now Associated With Increased Mortality

Whatever we thought we knew about Vitamin D supplementation, we need to rethink. Another study suggesting a link between low levels of vitamin D and cardiac risk has been published, this time showing that vitamin D deficiency is associated with both cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality. The study, published in the June 23, 2008 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, was conducted by a group led by Dr. Harald Dobnig (Medical University of Graz, Austria).

They note that it has been estimated that 50% to 60% of people do not have satisfactory vitamin D status, and this is probably related to factors such as urbanization, demographic shifts, decreased outdoor activity, air pollution and global dimming, along with decreases in the cutaneous production of vitamin D with age.

The minimum desirable serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D has been suggested to be 20 to 30 ng/mL, and levels lower than this are clearly related to compromised bone-mineral density, falls, and fractures and more recently have also been linked to cancer and immune dysfunction, as well as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.

The study’s conclusions are shockingly simple … higher vitamin D blood levels lead to less heart disease. They point out that recent studies have shown an association of low 25-hydroxyvitamin-D levels with important cardiovascular risk factors, supporting previous findings that demonstrated positive effects of vitamin D and its analogs on fibrinolysis, blood lipids, thrombogenicity, endothelial regeneration, and smooth-muscle-cell growth.

This study is of particular importance since functional medicine is personalized medicine that deals with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of symptoms for serious chronic disease. Functional medicine centers on examining the core clinical imbalances that underlie various disease conditions. This study may well represent one core clinical imbalance underlying a host of conditions.

A simple blood test can determine your Vitamin D level. If you believe you may be deficient, you should discuss it with your doctor.

Filed Under: Blog, Nutrition

Home: What Does it Mean?

April 26, 2012 Leave a Comment

Is it a physical place? Or is it in the mind?
Have you heard: “Home is where the heart is?”
A home can be different for different people.
For now let’s look at home as the physical place used to relax the mind, rest the body and nourish the spirit.
A sanctuary, where you can be yourself without any judgments, or expectations. You can relax, enjoy the company of family, friends and above all…..enjoy your own company.

Standing in the center, looking around, what do you see?

Often the home is an external expression of your inner being. Do you look forward to coming home? Or is it cluttered, and not welcoming?
Eliminate the clutter, simplify create space for new ideas.
Without spending a lot, any space can be re created to become the nurturing, happy respite to strive in.

Let’s look at the colors. Different colors produce different energy in the environment. They have a bearing on your emotions, actions and response to people, things and ideas. The concepts of color symbolism, color psychology and color therapy serve as a proof of this fact. This is why, while decorating your house, you need to keep the influence and meaning of colors in mind.

Meaning of Colors
Red color has been known to stimulate mind and nervous system and thus, is regarded as conversation stimulant. At the same time, it also arouses appetite. These are the reason why the color will be suitable in drawing as well as dining room. Red makes objects appear smaller, so avoid it in rooms that are already small. Being a warm color, it should be used in association with green.

Orange, being the combination of red and yellow, has all the traits that those two colors have. It exudes warmth, acts as an appetite stimulant and spreads exuberance. Orange should be used in dining room and can be balanced by using blue color. Since it gives an emotional uplift, those suffering from depression would benefit if surrounded by this color.
Yellow is a warm color that is associated with power and helps in spreading about a bright, happy and cheerful atmosphere. It is best used in rooms that do not get adequate sunlight. Yellow also makes a room appear smaller and can be balanced by using violet color.

Green color has a soothing effect on the mind and thus, is associated with relaxation of nervous system and lowering of blood pressure. Being a cold color, it should be always be balanced with red. Green is also considered to be the color of luck and makes a small room appear bigger.

Blue color is said to be very calming, relaxing and refreshing. It also makes a room look bigger than it is. Blue is best used in case of bedrooms. Since it acts as an appetite suppressant, it should not be used in the dining room. At the same time, it is a cold color and should always be balanced with warm colors like yellow and orange.

Purple (Violet) has been known to be the color of royalty and is also associated with spirituality. The color is said to promote creativity, but only if used in moderation. It is a cold color and is never advised to be used in excess; otherwise it might lead to depression and moodiness. You can moderate the color’s effect by using it with yellow. Purple also helps in making small room appear larger.

Brown is an earthy color that is believed to create the feeling of intimacy. It also spreads calm and serenity and is good for those who suffer from anxiety or nervousness. However, since it is so subdued, it should always be used with bold colors like green. You can also go for different tones in brown, like beige and tan.

Black can convey a lot, depending upon how it is used. On one hand, it can make a room look elegant, suave and chic. On the other, it can impart a depressed feel to the room. This is the reason why it should not be used alone and in a wide area. It is best complimented with white.

White color signifies purity, freshness, peace and kindness. Rather than using on the surface as a whole, white should be used as an accent or background color. The best combination of white is formed with black.

Besides choosing a special color, also familiarize yourself with methods to keep your indoor environment as healthy as possible by using natural cleaners. Some examples of this are: vinegar, lemon and baking soda. Vinegar and water can be used for a multitude of chores.

Vinegar, naturally cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new store bought spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Always test on an inconspicuous area. It is safe to use on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being incredibly cheap. Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Never use vinegar on marble surfaces. Don’t worry about your home smelling like vinegar. The smell disappears when it dries.

Here are some uses for vinegar in the rooms of your house. Use it in the…
1. Bathroom – Clean the bathtub, toilet, sink, and countertops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings. Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down. Pour the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub down the bowl. Mop the floor in the bathroom with a vinegar/water solution. The substance will also eat away the soap scum and hard water stains on your fixtures and tile. Make sure it is safe to use with your tile.
2. Kitchen- Clean the stovetop, appliances, countertops, and floor.
3. Laundry Room- Use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This can be especially helpful for families who have sensitive skin. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively. (A plus when you have a family member whose skin detects every trace of detergent.)

Lemon juice is another natural substance that can be used to clean your home. Lemon juice can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Lemon is a great substance to clean and shine brass and copper. Lemon juice can be mixed with vinegar and or baking soda to make cleaning pastes. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you have a furniture polish for your hardwood furniture.

A favorite use for the fruit is to put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal. It freshens the drain and the kitchen. Orange peels can be used with the same results.

Baking soda can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers. Baking soda is great as a deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. Put it anywhere you need deodorizing action. Enjoy these three kitchen ingredients as natural cleaning products in your home.

Above all, remember to keep your environment clean of toxic electronics, pesticides, herbicides and damaging electric fields.
For more information on these and other topics of healthy living, contact: Lemire Clinic 352-291-9459. www.lemireclinic.com

References:
http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/colors-with-meaning-1244.html
http://www.howtodothings.com/home-garden/how-to-use-vinegar-for-household-chores

Filed Under: Blog

Are You Digging Your Grave With Your Fork?

April 26, 2012 1 Comment

Every day we hear of a new “magic” solution to the clamors of a way to look better, lose weight, eliminate wrinkles, etc.
Billions of dollars are spent in this search. Most often the results fall short of the expectations.

How many items have you purchase that promised one thing or another?

How many diets have you tried? Diets do not work…..Lifestyle changes do!

What are some of the basic principles for lifestyle changes?
1. Proper nutrition
2. Exercise
3. Sleep patterns
4. Stress management.
5. Detox

At this time we will focus on nutrition and the four principles of healthy eating.

Eat primitive.
Until about 150 yrs ago, humans were eating consistently, very simple. The main diet consisted of: roots and fruits, greens and beans, seeds and weeds plus some fish or wild game. The Industrial Revolution changed this with modern food processing. Refining, stripping food of nutrients, and adding man made fillers. The modern diet is quite different: meats and sweets, pies and fries, chips and dips, cakes and shakes.

Eat alkaline
Acid – alkaline balance is key to health. Studies are asking to consume about 80% alkaline (plant-based foods) and 20% acid (animal foods). Dr. William Howard Hay, physician who wrote at the turn of the century, How to Always Be Well
said, “Intracellular pH at about 7.3 and we strive. Anything less and the body is moving towards disease and death.” Dr. Robert Young, a microbiologist says: “Striking the optimum 80/20 balance can result in dramatic healthy weight loss, rebuilt stamina….and vibrant health.”

Alkaline (80%): usually fresh fruits and vegetables. The more they are cooked the more acid they become.
Acid (20%): proteins like meat, fish, milk, eggs and poultry, fats, grains, pasta & sugars.

What does the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) look like in comparison?
Breakfast…cereal and milk, bagel cheese, coffee, bacon and eggs, IS ALL ACID!
Lunch: sandwich of meat or cheese, slice of pizza, hamburger on a bun, fried foods or drive through.
Dinner: meat and potatoes, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken and rice…….maybe a few string beans.
ALL ACID. Eating this way every day, every year……….Any wonder people are sick???

All the different diagnosis and diseases present in the population really come down to:
One Sickness: Over acidification of the body, due to diet and lifestyle choices.
One Health: Alkalanization. Humans are designed to be alkaline. Shift to alkaline, decrease inflammation in the blood and tissues.

  • 75% of all cancer are diet related.
  • Cancer is a symptom of a breakdown of body chemistry.
  • 80% of all cancer cases are related to life-style.
  • 70% of all cancer can be avoided. (National Cancer Institute)
  • 20 million children are obese.
  • 50% of children born in 2000 will have type 2 diabetes by age 30.
  • 80% of US deaths are diet related.
  • Up to 80% of coronary heart disease / up to 90% of type 2 diabetes could be avoided through changing lifestyle factors (World Health Organization 2007 Report)

Eat colorful
How? By eating loads of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and veg. get their color from CAROTENOIDS, these play 2 roles. (1). They boost the immune function. (2). Powerful antioxidants, to get rid of free radicals E.g.: one carotene is LYCOPENE found in red foods like tomatoes and beets. These pack a punch against prostate cancer. They also are rich in FIBER. (fiber, binds up and escorts out cancer-producing hormones and chemicals. Ideally should consume about 50 grams of fiber daily. Most are consuming less than 5gms.

Dr. Richard Dubois, MD Chief of Internal Medicine at Atlanta Med. Center and top authority on infectious diseases, after 4,500 studies says: “whole fruits and vegetables specifically prevent cancer.” Andrew Weil, MD, stated: “A diet high in fruits and vegetables are associated with a lower risk of 15 types of cancer. E.g.: colon, breast, cervix, and lung.”

Eat organic
Organic, means more than what is left out….
It means what is left in….
Especially minerals. In comparison one organic tomato contains 1,938 parts per million of iron vs. a conventional tomato which has 1part per million. According to what I have learned, and the many doctors I use as references, using these principles, will help you prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and many other illnesses; they will help you maintain a healthy weight and feel vibrant and alive into your golden years.

For information, and guidance with lifestyle changes, contact our office:
Lemire Clinic 352-291-9459

Filed Under: Blog, Nutrition

Is Your Food Eating You?

April 26, 2012 1 Comment

Food: Is it What You Are Eating? or What Is Eating You?

Eating healthy foods begin with the brain. You must keep your brain healthy. What is your motivation? Do you want to be around for your children?, grandchildren? To be able to travel? Have energy and feel excited about life? Once you identify the motivation, no amount of ice cream, fast food, wheat, dairy products are worth it.

Despite all the scientific research, human health is continuously declining. Many nutritionists connect human health problems with nutritional deficiencies. Humans have lost their natural way of eating. What is the human diet supposed to be? What was it originally?

The good news is that there is another species in this world that closely resembles humans, and whose eating habits can be of great help in this quest.

Chimpanzees are very similar to humans.
“Modern people and chimpanzees share an estimated 99.4% of our DNA sequence, making us more closely related to each other than either is to any other animal species.”

“Chimpanzees resemble humans more than any other animal … Human brains are very like chimpanzee brains. The major differences between humans and apes are not anatomical, but rather behavioral.”

Comparison of: the Standard American Diet with the diet of chimpanzees

Consumption of greens has generally shrunk to the two wilted iceberg lettuce leaves on a sandwich.
The bulk of the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) are starches, simple carbohydrates, sugar and grains. This is followed by animal protein. All of these are highly acidic, and disease producing.

Are you aware that something you’re eating may be killing you, and you probably don’t even know it! If you eat cheeseburgers or French fries all the time or drink six sodas a day, you likely know you are shortening your life. But eating a nice dark, crunchy slice of whole wheat bread–how could that be bad for you? Well, bread contains gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, spelt, kamut, and oats. It is hidden in pizza, pasta, bread, wraps, rolls, and most processed foods. Clearly, gluten is a staple of the American diet. What most people don’t know is that gluten can cause serious health complications for many. You may be at risk even if you don’t have full blown celiac disease.

A recent large study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people with diagnosed, undiagnosed, and “latent” celiac disease or gluten sensitivity had a higher risk of death, mostly from heart disease and cancer.
This study looked at almost 30,000 patients from 1969 to 2008 and examined deaths in three groups: Those with full-blown celiac disease, those with inflammation of their intestine but not full-blown celiac disease, and those with latent celiac disease or gluten sensitivity (elevated gluten antibodies but negative intestinal biopsy).
The findings were dramatic. There was a 39 percent increased risk of death in those with celiac disease, 72 percent increased risk in those with gut inflammation related to gluten, and 35 percent increased risk in those with gluten sensitivity but no celiac disease.

This is ground-breaking research that proves you don’t have to have full-blown celiac disease with a positive intestinal biopsy (which is what conventional thinking tells us) to have serious health problems and complications–even death–from eating gluten.

Yet an estimated 99 percent of people who have a problem with eating gluten don’t even know it. They ascribe their ill health or symptoms to something else–not gluten sensitivity, which is 100 percent curable.

And here’s some more shocking news …
Another study comparing the blood of 10,000 people from 50 years ago to 10,000 people today found that the incidences of full-blown celiac disease increased by 400 percent (elevated TTG antibodies) during that time period. If we saw a 400 percent increase in heart disease or cancer, this would be headline news. But we hear almost nothing about this. I will explain why I think that increase has occurred in a moment. First, let’s explore the economic cost of this hidden epidemic.
The most serious form of allergy to gluten, celiac disease, affects one in 100 people, or three million Americans, most of who don’t know they have it.

Undiagnosed gluten problems cost the American healthcare system oodles of money. Dr. Peter Green, Professor of Clinical Medicine for the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University studied all 10 million subscribers to CIGNA and found those who were correctly diagnosed with celiac disease used fewer medical services and reduced their healthcare costs by more than 30 percent.

The problem is that only one percent of those with the problem were actually diagnosed. That means 99 percent are walking around suffering without knowing it, costing the healthcare system millions of dollars.

Why haven’t you heard much about this?
Well, actually you have, but you just don’t realize it. Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity masquerade as dozens and dozens of other diseases with different names.

A review paper in The New England Journal of Medicine listed 55 “diseases” that can be caused by eating gluten. These include: osteoporosis, irritable bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, anemia, cancer, fatigue, canker sores, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and almost all other autoimmune diseases. Gluten is also linked to many psychiatric and neurological diseases, including anxiety depression, schizophrenia, migraines, epilepsy, and neuropathy (nerve damage). It has also been linked to autism.

Gluten sensitivity is actually an autoimmune disease that creates inflammation throughout the body, with wide-ranging effects across all organ systems including your brain, heart, joints, digestive tract, and more. It can be the single cause behind many different “diseases.” To correct these diseases, you need to treat the cause–which is often gluten sensitivity–not just the symptoms.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that ALL cases of depression or autoimmune disease or any of these other problems are caused by gluten in everyone–but it is important to look for it if you have any chronic illness. By failing to identify gluten sensitivity and celiac disease, we create needless suffering and death for millions of Americans. Health problems caused by gluten sensitivity cannot be treated with better medication. They can only be resolved by eliminating 100 percent of the gluten from your diet.

The question that remains is: Why are we so sensitive to this staple of our diet?
There are many reasons …
They include our lack of genetic adaptation to grasses, and particularly gluten, in our diet. Wheat was introduced into Europe during the Middle Ages, and 30 percent of people of European descent carry the gene for celiac disease (HLA DQ2 or HLA DQ8), which increases susceptibility to health problems from eating gluten.

American strains of wheat have a much higher gluten content (which is needed to make light, fluffy Wonder Bread and giant bagels) than those traditionally found in Europe. This super-gluten was recently introduced into our agricultural food supply and now has “infected” nearly all wheat strains in America.

You can go to: www.celiac.com for a complete list of foods that contain gluten, as well as often surprising and hidden sources of gluten. Hidden sources can be: soup mixes, salad dressings, sauces, as well as lipstick, certain vitamins, medications, stamps and envelopes you have to lick, and even Play-Doh.

To find out if you are one of the millions of people suffering from an unidentified gluten sensitivity contact our office: Lemire Clinic 352-291-9459 www.lemireclinic.com
Additional References: Dr Mark Hyman, : http://drhyman.com, My Life with the Chimpanzees by: Jane Goodall

Filed Under: Blog
« Previous Page
Next Page »