Raspberry ketones are compounds that give red raspberries their aroma. In the US, they are used primarily in the food flavor industry. In Japan, however, raspberry ketone capsules are used as a weight loss supplement. Raspberry ketones are not to be confused with blood ketones produced in diabetes and on very low carbohydrate diets.

The hypothesis is that raspberries ketones affect biological activities that alter lipid metabolism. That fat-blasting claim rests on two small mice studies that show when mice are fed a high-fat diet supplemented with raspberry ketones they gain less body fat than expected.

Raspberry ketones work in two ways for a possible weight loss effect. They increase the metabolism by increasing the release of a hormone called norepinephrine. When I think of norepinephrine I think what would happen to me if I were being chased by a bear. My heart rate speeds up and I may even have some palpitations, there’s a good chance I’ll be running the fastest I ever have. My body is going to release some glucose into my blood to give me more energy so I can outrun this bear. I’m sure that I will feel nervous, hot and that I’ll be panting for air even after I stop running. I would imagine that at this point I would not be hankering for food because my focus is to stay alive causing my appetite to be suppressed. My vision may become blurry and I may feel the need to throw up or even feel nauseous. I may also have difficulty falling asleep after my run-in with the bear…yes similar to the effects of caffeine.

Now, imagine this is going on all day long – that could be you on raspberry ketones.

The other mechanism here is involving a protein that is found on fat cells called adiponectin. Adiponectin decreases glucose levels and has been found to be very successful in lab tests with mice regarding weight loss. Adiponectin has some ties to genetic makeup so if obesity runs in your family, lack of adiponectin might be to blame.

I think it’s important to address the fact that when supplements or medications are taken to alter the metabolism, there is a high probability of throwing off your own natural hormonal processes.

Addressing the root of the cause when it comes to your body’s inability to release weight, is the important factor to analyze.  Whether it’s a sluggish thyroid, improper diet, or simple adrenal fatigue, these various imbalances can be the culprit to preventing your weight issues.

For more information on natural and easy weight loss solutions, click here.

Studies suggest that new car smell comes from toxic chemicals off-gassing in a car’s interior, like brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and lead. In all, researchers identified more than 275 different chemicals in vehicle interiors, including those associated with birth defects, impaired learning, liver problems, and cancer.

Sadly, this report is not solely applicable to vehicles, it also pertains to carpeting, dry-cleaning, shoe-polish, nail polish, furniture, bedding and paint..to name a few.

What is off-gassing?

Off-gassing is the evaporation of volatile chemicals in non-metallic materials. When a new product arrives at your home in a box and you open the box, all of those chemicals flood out into the air inside of your home (this is what gives off the strong smell). That is bad enough, but what is worse is that the chemicals that were used to make the product slowly leech out of it due to normal atmospheric pressure differences over the course of several years. When they leech out, the chemicals have nowhere to go except for the air inside of your home that you and your family breathe.

• Formaldehyde. The fabric of new sofas, couches and loveseats are typically treated for stain and water resistance with a finish that contains formaldehyde and perfluorooctanoic acid, both of which are considered by the EPA to be likely human carcinogens.
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). New carpets and rugs use Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) in their backing. PVC is known to contain harmful phthalates and dioxins, which have been linked to breast cancer, decreased sperm levels, inability to carry a pregnancy to full term and asthma.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Any wood furniture that has been glued, painted or stained most likely contains VOCs. Some examples of harmful VOCs are formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, acetaldehyde, and isocyanates. Formaldehyde has been linked to asthma in children. Exposure to it and other VOCs can cause nausea, vomiting, nose bleeds, eye irritation, nose and throat discomfort, headache, fatigue, dizziness, allergic skin reaction and dyspnea (shortness of breath).

Prevention

Looking for low or free VOC  (volatile organic compounds) in products is important.  Formaldehyde, one of the best known VOCs, is surprisingly common in new home construction

• Buy used instead of new. Buy used furniture and other items for your home. Not only will it be cheaper, but because off gassing typically lasts for a few years, most used products have already off gassed all of their toxic chemicals and are safer to bring into your home.
• Natural products. Instead of buying products built using the traditional manufacturing process, look for natural products. Natural furniture has become more readily available and affordable recently. As an added bonus, most natural furniture is made from sustainable woods like Bamboo or from wood certified by the Forest Stweardship Council. The most comprehensive collection of natural products for the home is at Greenhome.com.
• Recycled products. Many new products can be made from old, recycled products now.
• Buy new but let it sit. (HIGHLY ADVISABLE) If you cannot find a good used, natural or recycled product and have to buy a new product made using the traditional manufacturing process, open the box outside of your home and let it sit out in your garage or other well-ventilated space for several weeks (yes that may seem long, but this is the best measure you can take) so that the majority of the chemicals off gas before it comes into your home.

Here is the 2012 Report from Ecology Center that analyzed the various “new car smells” being emitted:

Top 10 Healthy Car Interiors

(Worst at the Bottom)

Top 10 Unhealthy Car Interiors

(Worst at bottom)

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As a whole, we seek professional guidance to help us stay on the path of health, but how do we  maintain our well-being when most healthcare providers spend only five minutes listening to us while at the same time writing a prescription to address health?

Dr. Nirvana understands the various needs of her patients. As a Valentine’s gift, for the month of February, she is offering free consults to help address any health concerns that need catering.

To book your complimentary consult call (949) 836-6991.

More than 80,000 women in the United States are diagnosed each year with a gynecologic cancer, such as cervical, endometrial (also known as uterine) or ovarian cancer.

“Unfortunately, because symptoms for these cancers are often vague, many women mistake them for other less serious conditions,” said Therese Bevers, M.D., medical director of MD Anderson’s Cancer Prevention Center.

Below are 10 symptoms of cervical and other gynecologic cancers that every woman should watch for.

1. Swollen leg. Does one leg look or feel swollen for no reason? This may be a sign of cervical cancer. Typically, though, a swollen leg isn’t a sign of cancer unless there’s also pain, discharge or other cervical cancer symptoms.

2. Abnormal vaginal bleeding. More than 90% of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer experience irregular bleeding. Women who’ve already undergone menopause should have any bleeding — including spotting — evaluated. Women who haven’t gone through menopause should see a doctor about bleeding between periods, heavy bleeding or bleeding during sex.

3. Unexplained weight loss. Women who suddenly lose more than 10 pounds without changing diet or exercise habits should see their doctor.

4. Vaginal discharge colored with blood. Bloody, dark or smelly discharge usually signals infection. But sometimes, it’s a sign of cervical or endometrial cancer.

5. Constantly needing bathroom breaks. Constantly need to use the bathroom or feel continuous bladder pressure? This may be a sign of cancer.

6. Loss of appetite or constant feeling full. Never hungry anymore? Or constantly full? These appetite changes may be symptoms of ovarian cancer.

7. Pain in the pelvis or abdominal area. Ongoing abdominal pain or discomfort — including gas, indigestion, pressure, bloating and cramps — can signal ovarian cancer. And, constant pelvic pain or pressure can be a sign of endometrial cancer.

8. Belly bloat. Women often feel bloated after eating or drinking a lot, especially during their menstrual cycles. But a woman may have ovarian cancer if she continues feeling bloated for more than two weeks or after her period ends.

9. Constant fatigue. A little rest should typically cure fatigue. But women should see a doctor if fatigue constantly interferes with work or leisure activities.

10. Persistent indigestion or nausea. Feeling queasy for an extended period of time? Occasionally, persistent indigestion or nausea can signal gynecologic cancers, so play it safe and see a doctor.

“Remember, having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer,” Bevers said. “But if they last two weeks or longer, see your doctor. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Low dose bio-identical estrogen replacement (ERT) w/o progesterone fosters an overgrowth of the lining of the uterus which can lead to uterine cancer, more prevalent with synthetics.

Symptoms such as this article discusses shouldn’t be ignored, this is why it’s of upmost importance to restore hormones with bio-identicals. Discovering the imbalances is the first step to assessing your overall health or lack of it.

Your body doesn’t like it when you eat less. A drop in calories will eventually force your body to initiate measures to make up for the loss of energy. One step your body takes is increasing your appetite, especially for quick energy snacks — which, of course, are loaded with sugar.

So how can you avoid the inevitable increase in appetite that so often comes along with dieting? One way to do this is to make your diet less restrictive and incorporate nutrients that can help with appetite, sugar absorption, and supporting your metabolism. This way you’re using the diet more as a guideline to losing weight.

For people who don’t have a considerable amount of weight to lose, nutrients such as Chromium, B-complex, and Conjugated Linoleic acid can help to curb cravings and boost the metabolism.

However, getting the weight off can be another obstacle. With serious exercise and diet modifications…the body can respond quite well.

If you still haven’t seen the changes you want after eating well and exercising, then there may be more going on at a much deeper level. Thyroid problems, hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance can be the culprits preventing fat loss.

To get a kick start on losing weight and learning how to eat right for your body type, the HCG diet will allow you to see results fast! To learn more about the benefits and how it works, click here.

If you believe that there’s more going on to your lack of success in weight loss, then please contact Dr. Nirvana to help you get to the root of your stubborn problem.

The Weston A. Price Foundation is a non-profit nutrition education foundation dedicated to accurate scientific information about diet and health. Last year, WAPF led the criticism of the USDA 2010 dietary guidelines.

WAPF noted that by entitling their document “Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption,” the FDA has signaled that it has already decided that Americans’ sodium consumption should be reduced. But neither history nor the scientific evidence support this approach.

“A study from 1991 indicates that people need about one and one-half teaspoons of salt per day,” says Sally Fallon Morell, president of the Weston A. Price Foundation. “Anything less triggers a cascade of hormones to recuperate sodium from the waste stream, hormones that make people vulnerable to heart disease and kidney problems. This is proven biochemistry. Yet, FDA as well as USDA want to mandate drastically restricted sodium consumption at about one-half teaspoon per day.”

WAPF testimony noted that salt plays a critical role in body physiology and brain function. In the elderly, lack of salt is associated with increased hip fractures and cognitive decline; low salt diets in growing children predisposes to poor neurological development.

Proposals to restrict salt cite benefits to hypertension. But only 30 percent of the population experiences a slight reduction in blood pressure on a salt restricted diet, while 70 percent show no benefit.

“These statistics don’t justify a population-wide policy of salt reduction,” says Fallon Morell

Recent studies show a correlation of salt restriction with increased heart failure and with insulin resistance leading to diabetes. Studies show that even modest reductions in salt cause an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Higher incidence of inflammatory markers and altered lipoproteins are also found by researchers evaluating those on salt reduced diets. These factors are precursors to metabolic syndrome, which predicts heart problems and diabetes.

Both sodium and chloride, the components of salt, are needed for digestion. These elements form the basis of cellular metabolism and our only source of adequate intake is salt.

The Foundation also cautions the FDA that salt reductions will increase food safety risks. Salt is a traditional food preservation medium with an excellent track record. Artisan cheeses, preserved meats like salami and traditional pickled foods like sauerkraut require salt to prevent contamination by pathogens.

“Our biggest concern is that with FDA dictates against salt, manufacturers will add imitation salt flavors like Senomyx to processed foods,” says Fallon Morell. “Marketed as a food, so it does not require testing, and added in amounts so small that is does not need to be labeled, this neurotropic compound can interfere with our natural taste for salt, leading to severe deficiencies. Or, people will become obese as they eat more and more, trying to satisfy the body’s need for salt.”

How can you determine if you are getting too much or too little salt? Simple labs can be done to assess your overall health status. To find out more, please call Dr. Nirvana at (949) 836-6991.

The Weston A. Price Foundation fully referenced commentary is posted at http://www.westonaprice.org/images/pdfs/wapf-comments-fda-salt.pdf.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com CONTACT: Kimberly Hartke, WAPF Publicist703-860-2711, cell 703-675-5557press@westonaprice.org

Here a some tid-bits to get you started:

1. Drink water.
Try to drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of pure, filtered water that tastes good. For example, a 150 lb person would drink 75 ounces a day. This helps your body eliminate toxins through your kidneys.

2. Eliminate the offenders.
Start with eliminating sugar, processed and refined foods, alcohol, and coffee. If you want to bump it up you can also eliminate all animal products and gluten. This lightens the load of toxins that your gut and liver have to deal with.

3. Sweat
Aim to sweat for at least 30 minutes a day. This can come in the form of exercise, but know that with regards to a Cleanse, you’ll get just as much benefit from a sauna or steam. This helps to eliminate toxins though the skin.

4. 2 and 2
Eat a minimum of 2 servings of fruit and 2 servings of vegetables everyday. Of course 3 servings of fruit and 5-6 servings of vegetables a day would be most beneficial, but be realistic for your lifestyle. This gives the body nutrients it needs to run more efficiently.

5. Breathe
Simply be conscious about breathing deeply. Breathing slowly and deeply into the abdomen actually stimulates your body to relax. Not only will you release toxins through your breath, but relaxation also promotes detoxification. Being conscious about what you think is just as important as breathing deeply. Spend a few minutes each day, or multiple times during a day, thinking of that word or phrase and just breathing.

6. Support healthy bowel movements
It is healthy and helpful to have 1-3 complete and formed bowel movements a day. To help you reach this goal, increase your fiber intake by consuming  2 Tablespoons of Golden ground flax seeds each day. You can mix these into smoothies or sprinkle them on cereals and salads. You eliminate a majority of your toxins through your bowels, so having regular bowel movements (the more the better per day) is the foundation for good health and one of the most important parts of any cleanse.

Try these simple steps for a minimum of 2weeks or more and you’ll begin seeing a change in your health and vitality. To bump up the results and your energy levels, try a B-vitamin shot as well!

To better support your detox with a customized approach, contact Dr. Nirvana at (949) 836-6991

The type of RNA in question is called microRNA, due to its small size. MicroRNAs have been studied extensively since their discovery ten years ago, and have been linked to human diseases including cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. The Chinese research provides the first example of ingested plant microRNA surviving digestion and influencing human cell function.

Monsanto’s website states, “There is no need for, or value in testing the safety of GM foods in humans.” This viewpoint, while good for business, is built on an understanding of genetics circa 1950. It follows what’s called the “Central Dogma” (PDF) of genetics, which postulates a one-way chain of command between DNA and the cells DNA governs.

The Central Dogma resembles the process of ordering a pizza. The DNA knows what kind of pizza it wants, and orders it. The RNA is the order slip, which communicates the specifics of the pizza to the cook. The finished and delivered pizza is analogous to the protein that DNA codes for.

We’ve known for years that the Central Dogma, though basically correct, is overly simplistic. For example: Pieces of microRNA that don’t code for anything, pizza or otherwise, can travel among cells and influence their activities in many other ways. So while the DNA is ordering pizza, it’s also bombarding the pizzeria with unrelated RNA messages that can cancel a cheese delivery. (More information on this article can be found at www.theatlantic.com.)

So how can you protect yourself from the dangers of (GMO) genetically modified foods? Making sure that all of foods that you consume are strictly organic. The Environmental Working Group is an organization that is committed to exposing threats to your health and the environment, and to finding solutions. You can visit the website here: www.ewg.org

In Naturopathic Medicine, going to the root of the cause is the key to dismissing underlying health issues that are impeding the body from optimally functioning.

It’s important to address the various biochemical processes that may be causing problems such as thyroid function, digestion, insulin resistance or diabetes, and liver function.

Therefore, some of the most successful methods for releasing weight involves tackling all of the above, specifically blood sugar metabolism. This is where nature comes to the rescue.

Here are a few examples how nature steps in:

1. Stevia- is a sweet tasting leafy herb has been shown to improve insulin resistance.  It is naturally high in chromium and helps to protect the pancreas from drugs that typically harm them.

2. Hibiscus- are flowers which are often used in tea, have been shown to lower lipid levels and balance blood sugar.

3. Prickly Pear Cactus- these fruits have been shown to optimize metabolism, normalize blood glucose and significantly assist with cholesterol.

While these are only a few of Nature’s bounty that are available, other techniques are used by Dr. Nirvana that incorporate herbs, lifestyle and diet modification to enhance weight loss and regulate metabolism and overall health.

To get started on your optimal health plan please call (949) 836-6991

The reason why one gets a hangover is that your body – your liver in particular – is not able to process and metabolize the break down products from the alcohol quickly enough. In addition to needing enough enzymes, the liver also needs water to process and get rid of the toxins. When supplies run low, it takes water from other organs, including the brain. This is why alcohol is so dehydrating, and why you can wake up with a throbbing headache (and a dry mouth) from drinking too much. Therefore, it’s essential to drink a lot of water while drinking and before you go to bed… it can prevent a hangover or at least lessen the effects of one.

All known pathways of ethanol metabolism result in the production of acetaldehyde, a highly reactive compound. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) a potent anti-oxidant, binds acetaldehyde, thus preventing its damaging effect on the liver.

Not only is the liver effected by the ingestion of alcohol, but also the central nervous system or the brain.  Alcohol eats up all the B-vitamins that are normally used by the central nervous system to speak and think clearly as well as walking without stumbling.  The more you drink, the less clearly the words are spoken, the walls begin spinning and eventually you collapse on your little tush, or worse…

So what can you do to prevent the deleterious effects of a hangover?

1. Drink 1 glass of water for every drink you consume
2. Eat properly before and after your evening by including protein and low glycemic index foods (solid fruits, watermelon, etc ) to counteract the sugar depletion caused by alcohol. This is important to do especially before going to sleep
3. The best nutritional solution for treating pain and inflammation caused by an evening of alcohol consumption is taking a buffered, powdered Vitamin C (another potent anti-oxidant) or even better getting an IV of Vitamin C in the morning. This is packed with more Vitamin C than the body can digest orally. After your IV, you’ll feel like a new person! Appointments need to be made in-advance by calling (949)-836-6991
4. Taking a B-vitamin before and after drinking keeps you ahead of the game. However, since the oral absorption of B-vitamins is about 60%, getting a shot of B-vitamins is your best option. The B-vitamin shot clinic IS open on New Year’s day!

To find the closest times and locations for your B-Vitamin Shot, click here.

Wishing everyone a healthy, safe and Happy New Year!