Statins and Seat Belts

http://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149%2810%2900870-2/abstract

In a recent article in the American Journal of Cardiology, a very silly recommendation was offered to combat the heart disease epidemic in the US - supply a drug as a condiment for your fast food meal!!!

There is no confusion in the medical world - Every Health Care professional understands that drugs are NOT the answer to the pandemics of suffering and disease in America.

Every Health Care professional understands the need for lifestyle change as the solution.  But there's a problem.  People simply aren't following their doctor's advice to "eat better and exercise" - and why should they?  This is today's topic - the problems with recommending a drug at the same time as offering advice.

There can be no solution from a system that gives advice to "eat more healthily" and also offers a pill to "counteract the harmful affects of eating unhealthily".

Here is an actual graphic from the journal article in the American Journal of Cardiology, simply amazing:

There can be no solution within this system. 

In the article they explore the possibility of handing out statin drugs as condiments with your unhealthy fast food meal.  If a drug is offered to "reverse the effects", there will be no lifestyle advice taken seriously.  Period.  This is the very reason the medical system is a dismal failure at healthy lifestyles and preventing chronic diseases--the public simply does not take health care professionals seriously when they offer drugs at the same time they offer recommendations to change!  The signals are mixed. There's interference and it's not getting through!

Contributing to the problems with Medicine's management of chronic conditions is that the doctors are required to spend very little time with patients (and it's only going to get worse with Obamacare - cutting reimbursement to doctors will NOT result in more time and better advice to patients!).  All this being considered, we MUST understand that medicine has NO CHANCE at solving the MAJOR problems in America today where our health is concerned.

We need another approach!

Chiropractors are uniquely positioned to be the solution to the pandemics of chronic disease and suffering.  Our reliance on the body's ability to heal itself is paramount to the patient taking an active part in their own care!  This is the ONLY way we will overcome the amazing amount of pain, suffering and premature death in America today.  And compared with medicine, chiropractors are far superior at being able to offer lifestyle advice that the patient will actually follow (stretches, posture, exercise, specific supplements, specific dietary advice, etc.) with a lack of conflicting recommendations (drugs and lifestyle).

There are no mixed signals.  You do not go into a chiropractor's office thinking that a drug might be recommended during the course of the conversation.  We are Drug-Free!

They like to get treated for this but not talk about it

Statistics

It is estimated that…

• One in 10 men in the world have erectile dysfunction.
• 30 million men in the United States have erectile dysfunction.
• 50% of men with diabetes have erectile dysfunction, frequently within 10 years of diagnosis.
• The likelihood of erectile dysfunction increases with age: 39% at age 40, 65% over the age of 65.
• Smokers have a higher likelihood of erectile dysfunction. Men who smoke more than 1 pack per day have a 50% higher chance of impotency than nonsmokers the same age. 

Erectile Dysfunction appears to be on the rise:

• More men are experiencing impotency because the baby boomer generation is getting older. According to same reports, every 7 seconds a baby boomer turns 50 years old.
• Awareness of the problem is increasing, which increases the number of men who are treated.
• Because, in the past, men have generally been unwilling to talk about their problem or seek treatment, erectile dysfunction has been underreported.
• Many physicians are not aware of the treatment options, so patients have been either undertreated or not treated at all.
• According to a report in Newsweek, 11/17/97, "Each new drug, with its attendant publicity, brings more men into the game. Some urologists expect the number of men seeking treatment to double in the coming years."

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction:

• Arterial Insufficiency (Vascular disease): Diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking
• Surgery: Prostate removal for prostate cancer, pelvic surgery for colon cancer
• Nerve damage: Spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke
• Endocrine imbalance: Low testosterone levels
• Emotional/psychological: Depression, stress, anxiety
• Medications/drugs: Blood pressure medication, alcohol, sedatives, narcotics

Reconnecting you to information that they don't want you to know.

In Health, Love, and Freedom through knowledge - Steve Perry

http://www.infoviagra.net/statistics.html

There's a fight going on

"New York City food stamp recipients spend an estimated $75 million to $135 million of their $2.7 billion in food stamps annually on soda, according to AP."

"As a nation, we’re subsidizing soda companies $4 billion annually through the food stamp program. In return, decades later, the public will be stiffed with the hospital bill for billions of dollars more for extra health care costs from these poor dietary choices."

In 2004, the USDA rejected Minnesota's plan to ban junk food, including soda and candy, from food stamp purchases, saying it would violate the Food Stamp Act's definition of what is food and could create "confusion and embarrassment" at the register.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101007/ap_on_re_us/us_food_stamps_sugary_drinks

The people WANT change!

But the government is unwilling to give it to them!  People are not being accurately taught the consequences of their choices.  People are being lied to and coerced and tricked into thinking that what they are doing has nothing to do with their sickness.  This has been the message of the corporations, the government, and medicine for the last 50 years!  That people are sick due to bad luck or bad genes, not bad choices.  The advertisement industry's main goal is to get people to buy their product no matter how bad it is for them.  They DO NOT advertise the real consequences of making these purchases repeatedly!

Maybe candy, sugar cereal, and other junk food commercials should be required to have warnings like in the drug commercials.  You know, the long list of side-effects (obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes...) that will come along with putting that poison into the cart at the grocery store.

Personal comment:  I agree that people should be able to buy what they want, but they should never be able to buy what they want absent an understanding of the actual consequences.

The problem comes in when they have a complete disconnection between their choices and the consequences of those choices.  Most who buy sodas don't buy soda as one-time treat for the week as they did when I was growing up.


The problem is that people are disconnected from the 'why' to eliminate sweet from their daily regime.  People fail to see the reality which is that the craving for sweet in today's "food" atmosphere is the deadliest thing we have in America.  The absolute deadliest!

Most people crack a smile (you know out of the corner of their mouths) when they consume something sugary sweet or fried and say, "I know it's bad for me."  But these same people would NOT take a shot of cyanide with the same look on their face.  What's the difference?  One kills you fast, one kills you slow, but the understanding is completely lacking about the second.  People don't actually see this as being real.

The reason we fail to have an understanding of this are the mixed signals from government (The American Dietetics Association continues to claim, "There is no such thing as a 'good' or 'bad' food, and all foods can fit in a healthy diet.")  This idea is deadly because it completely misses the point that these things that people eat are not Foods at all!  The message from the government and associations like the ADA give completely wrong signals to the American people.  If the ADA really wanted to do something about the obesity epidemic and the Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes problems we have in the US, they would eliminate their connections to the contributers to these problems, namely, Coca-Cola, M&M Mars,

In order to try to solve the problem, these companies would have to actually attempt to SHRINK their own market share!!!  Did you hear that?  They would have to reduce their profits on purpose!  This can NEVER be appropriate in a capitalistic institution where money is the goal!  Make no mistake, they do NOT want to reduce their market share, if they did, they would quit the candy-making business altogether and go into health promotion.

If we had a more accurate definition of food, the problem would completely go away.

What people lack are:  1. An accurate definition of "food", 2. An accurate understanding of the REAL consequences of their choices, and 3. 
When I look at my kids, the 'why' gets pretty big pretty fast.

Dealing with your doctor

The escalating costs of drugs in this country is alarming and there are proven ways of accomplishing a better result without drugs.  Everyone who has watched the news knows there are side-effects to drugs, some of them very serious (death).  So,  if being prescribed a drug during a consultation with your doctor, make sure you guard your health.

Many doctors today are misguided to think that people are lazy and wont make changes they suggest.  They actually use this for an excuse to not tell people things that could improve their life that are really easy and comfortable to do.  So, understanding this, it is important to make sure you get the best care possible.  In an interaction with your doctor, here are some easy things to add to the conversation to make sure you get the best care possible:

If prescribed a drug, you could use all or a portion of the following dialogue:

1. "I'm not sure I need this prescription, do you really think I need it?"

The key here is to wait for an answer.  If the doctor really thinks you need it, (s)he will say so.  If (s)he thinks there is a better way that (s)he did not offer you thinking you might be too lazy to do it, you just got better care!

2. What are the side-effects of this drug?

3. How long are you prescribing it?

4. Is there some way I can reduce/remove the problem without the drug?

5. What caused this problem? 

6. How can I (or my family) avoid future problems like this?  (ask for very specific things, general advice like "eat better" or "exercise more" does NOT help).

Reconnecting you to a beneficial relationship with your doctor naturally.

In Health, Love, and Freedom through responsibility - Steve Perry

Liver failure and drugs

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hep.20948/pdf



http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hep.20293/pdf

Namaste

Definition: Namaste is a Hindi salutation or greeting. The word Namaste is a combination of the two Sanskrit words: nama, and te. Basically, nama means "to bow" and te means "you."

The hands are placed with palms together in front of the heart, the head is slighty forward and one bows in greeting to friends and strangers alike.

The interpretation is, "The divinity in me recognizes and honors the divinity within you." Isn't that beautiful?

What an amazing way to greet someone. The American handshake, which is a way to say "I'm unarmed," pales in comparison to the meaning and depth of such a profound introduction to someone you may or may not know.

You could stop brushing your teeth, but why?

Now, I get asked all the time, "I love the fact that we're making progress with my spine, I'm moving better, and I'm standing straighter, I have more energy than I've had in years, but how long do I have to keep coming in to see you?"

Great question.

The way I think about alignment and proper movement of the spine and other joints of the body is similar to the proper maintenance of your teeth. If you've lived your whole life u p to this point and never seen a dentist, you're probably going to come out of the office the frost time with a fair amount if work to do. Once you get the bulk of the problem fixed, should you discontinue care and expect to never have to see another dentist again? Or does it make more sense to maintain a regular schedule of check ups and do your part to prevent (spinal) cavities between visits?

What is the opposite of faith?

The opposite of faith is the same as the opposite of love, it's fear and doubt.

Faith is love in action.

Faith, nothing doubting is how I got through school. It's how I found a job with the exact techniques and values that I wanted, it's how I surrounded myself with the people and the circumstances that could help me grow like I knew I needed to. It's how we went on vacation with no money and no job, and came home to the promise of a new life. It's seeing the end from the beginning. And it's amazing.

When Natalie and I came together with only 3 months of school left and saw the mountain that we would have to climb, it was indeed scary. But, we put our heads together and really focused our intent on the circumstances that we wanted to create. We saw the end so clearly. We could see graduation. We prayed fervently, we doubled our efforts, we increased our faithfulness. We had no idea HOW it would happen, the only thing we knew was that it would. And we succeeded, right on time--something that looked virtually impossible ony a few short months before. They say seeing is believing. I say--having vision creates the ability to see AFTER believing. That's love in action. When you have the vision and proper motivation, you find the resources and skills to make it happen. You find the power you need to draw upon to accomplish the desire of your soul.

The new place

Today is my first day off since beginning work as a chiropractor. It's exciting to finally be doing what I've been studying to do for the last 12 years (an extended time due to several trips to various parts of the world).

It is with great excitement that I say to all the inhabitants of Reno, Nevada - get ready because we're here! Moving took a lot of time and energy earlier this year, but we're settled and ready to go.

I'm excited to be able to share the expanding truth about human health and potential with members of the community, we've already been to the largest OB/GYN practice in Nevada to tell them about the great benefits pregnant women and newborns can receive from chiropractic and living a wellness lifestyle.

Stress is a known killer. Any time you talk about heart disease (the nation's #1 killer) stress should be part of the conversation. But I say that most conversations about stress are incomplete and possibly misguided.

When we discuss "stress" in America, for the most part we're discussing only one subcategory of stress - we usually are talking about EMOTIONAL stress which is a very large, but at the same time small piece of the overall puzzle.

Chasing Darkness

I was thinking about this the other day -- Let's say you're in your house at night in a lighted bedroom with you door closed. Now let's also say the hallway is dark - there's no light. You're really thirsty so you get up to get a glass of water from the kitchen. As you open the door, let me ask you this question - does the darkness rush into the lighted room? Or does the light rush out? How many times out of a million?

You're right - Every time without exception!

Now let me ask you this question - if you wanted all the darkness out of your entire house - could you go around to all the corners and haul it away? Or does it make more sense to turn on the light?

Right again, in fact turning on the light is the ONLY way to have no darkness - by definition darkness is a LACK of light. It cannot exist on it's own, we only talk about darkness when there is no light.

Light is the entity that can be measured, darkness is not an entity. It has no properties. You cannot measure the amount of darkness present - it does not exist, it's simply the ABSENCE of light.

Teeth falling out?

Do you think teeth falling out is fun?  I don't.  And obviously my wife doesn't either, that's why she brushes our daughters' teeth every day.

Did you know there are places in the world that just DON'T emphasize tooth brushing and flossing?  That's right, and the industrial societies that don't do well with tooth maintenance have above average tooth problems, go figure...

What if America were one of those societies where only 8% of the population thought maintaining the teeth were important?  Would the 92% who don't maintain their teeth think that those 8% were crazy for regularly going to see the dentist, even if the teeth didn't hurt?

We all know that it's possible to have a silent problem in our teeth developing if they're not maintained and checked up on.
This is why in America, MOST of the population sees a dentist regularly even without tooth pain - for prevention and maintenance.  This is not seen as a crazy idea.

Amazing as it sounds, in modern day America, there are only 8% of the population that think that maintaining the spine is important.  Unlike teeth which can be replaced when they rot, the bones of the spine cannot be replaced when they become sick.  This is why maintenance of the spine is more important than maintaing teeth and only 8% of our population is onto this simple truth.  Crazy?  Only for those 92% who aren't caring for their spines.

World Breatstfeeding Week

August 1 through 7 is World Breastfeeding Week!

What a wonderfully needed concept in modern America as well as other "developed" nations who have been swept away by the false idea that we can actually engineer a product that's comparable or (roll eyes here) better than what God and Mother Nature designed for human young. 

Here's what the World Health Organization (WHO) has to say about breastfeeding: 
 

"Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Exclusive breastfeeding from birth is possible except for a few medical conditions, and unrestricted exclusive breastfeeding results in ample milk production."

[But the idea of World Breastfeeding Week is actually not for these "civilized" countries, it's for the underdeveloped countries of the world.]

It is true that formulas now are better than previous variants (high-fructose corn syrup), but the truth is that each successive version of the original (which was thought to be just as good or better than breastmilk, but of course now this idea was laughable) does get more nutritious, but the only way it will ever be as good as breastmilk is if it were actually - well, breastmilk.

For this reason, the WHO recommends in order: 1-Breastfeeding by the mother, 2- Breastfeeding by a woman other than the mother, 3- Breastmilk from a bottle, and lastly if NONE of the above options are available, 4- formula.


Please understand that breastfeeding by a mother who is fit, healthy, and happy is the absolute BEST nutrition there will ever be for a baby!  This is something that you should absolutely strive for if you want your baby to have the best start in life, however, over the last decade there has been increasing alarm about the toxicity of breastmilk.  Some of the chemicals of concern are those that have been banned since the '70s (PCBs, etc).  These chemicals are so bad that they can hang around for decades and affect generation after generation.  Are we in trouble?  Only if we continue blindly down this toxic road.

It is up to us to understand that the things we choose to purchase actually support companies that are responsible for poisoning us and our children.  It is up to us to spend the time to get informed about companies like Monsanto who kill for profit, about the devastation of herbicides, pesticides and anything else ending in "-cide" which means "kill".

Some of the worst offenders have been antibiotics.  When will we stop focusing on killing everything and instead focus on making ourselves stronger by consuming the diet our bodies were designed to eat, moving the ways we were designed to move, and forming thoughts and relationships our bodies were designed to have?  This is the only chance we have as a species on earth and it starts day one with breastfeeding by a mother who is properly nourished in body, mind, and spirit.

Yours in Health, Love, and Freedom,

Stephen Perry, DC, CCWP
Wellness Expert and Chiropractor

Montel Wiliams says: "It's the Most Amazing Thing That Ever Happened To Me!"

What was Montel Williams so worked up over in 2008?

"It's the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me!" exclaims Montel Williams after less than two weeks of chiropractic care. Montel has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He explains how after suffering from pain, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, he experienced almost instantaneous relief from pain with his first chiropractic adjustment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgS4H-hTo0Q

http://www.hatlenfamilychiropractic.com/images/auto-motor-sensory-gif.gif
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJnHzwpBCXs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxrMnxYQ6nI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgS4H-hTo0Q 

10 years of suffering with MS
http://www.amazon.com/Living-Well-Emotionally-Through-Happiness/dp/045122664X/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1287642112&sr=8-2

http://www.squidoo.com/montelchiropractic

Sleep posture

The Correct Sleeping Posture is Important

The correct sleeping posture is important if you want to develop good posture in general. We sleep for approximately one third of our life. Obviously, the way we sleep will have an effect on whether or not we end up with good or bad posture.

Have you ever woken up in the morning with a stiff neck, back pain or a headache? If you have, then it is probably due to poor sleeping posture.

Even gorillas understand good sleeping posture

The correct sleeping position is on your back. While sleeping, your spine should be in a normal curve. Sleeping on your side is your next best position. Sleeping on your stomach is the worst position and is not recommended.

Sleeping on your stomach can damage your spine and nervous system. It turns your head in an extreme rotation and it puts your head back in extension. This interferes with the blood and oxygen flow to and from your brain.

Sleeping on your back is the best because it provides the most neutral position for your spine. To achieve the best sleeping posture while on your back, use a pillow or pillows, but ensure that they are not too high. You want to keep your head in a neutral position. You also want support under your knees.

If you choose to sleep on your side, make sure that you keep your knees bent and have your pillow at the right height to ensure that your neck is straight. Avoid tucking your neck and chin into the fetal position. Again, your neck should be in a neutral position.

Be sure to change your sleeping position throughout the night.

By following the suggestions above you will soon experience the benefits of the correct sleeping posture, waking up refreshed with fewer aches and pains.

To learn more about improving your posture, please visit

http://posturematters.blogspot.com/

Am I crazy?

I was recently perusing the internet visiting parent sites, you know, because I want some information on how to be a better parent and help my kids be well.  So, while I'm on these parent sites, I see drug ads.  And I'm always interested in those drug ads - you know the ones that look like they have a really good web designer and have a really pretty website.  Well, I came across Abilify (R) - I wonder how they come up with these names (Intuitiv, Abilify...) - they really sound like they make your life better. [blog post =-removing a symptom versus making life better]

Anyways, of course I'm looking over the fine print (because I haven't written in a while and I need some good material) and oh my goodness, I didn't need to read very far until they were talking about death and stroke and diabetes, wow!  I was amazed at how many contraindications there were and how many side-effects beyond the minorly annoying ones like death and stroke.

Now keep in mind that depression is a serious issue, however treatment with drugs that produce a worse state than the actual "condition" scare me, especially when they're advertised!!!  I mean, it's ok that such drugs exist, but they shouldn't be TELLING people about them!

So, here's the kicker, look at this statement:

Elderly people with psychosis related to dementia (for example, an inability to perform daily activities as a result of increased memory loss), treated with antipsychotic medicines including ABILIFY, are at an increased risk of death compared to placebo. ABILIFY is not approved for the treatment of people with dementia-related psychosis (see Boxed WARNING).

What does this statement mean?

It means that people actually DIED during the testing of this drug due solely to taking the drug!!!  

And it got approved!!!!  

How can we call this approach sane?

Now put that together with this statement:

If you have diabetes, or risk factors for diabetes (for example, obesity, family history of diabetes), or unexpected increases in thirst, urination, or hunger, your blood sugar should be monitored. Increases in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), in some cases serious and associated with coma or death, have been reported in patients taking ABILIFY and medicines like it

What are the major contributors to depression? 

That's right, lack of proper body movement (exercise) and eating horrible diets. 

What are the major contributors to diabetes?

 That's right, lack of proper body movement (exercise) and eating horrible diets.  So, if elderly people (a risk factor in and of itself for diabetes) have depression due to lack of exercise and are eating bad diets, then there isn't any time that this medication COULD be prescribed for these people without increasing the blood sugar levels and "in some cases...coma or death". 

Did you get that?  The warning might as well simply read:

Do not take this drug

The logic behind approving and using these drugs really does scare me.

I would NEVER knowingly allow my parents or anyone I love to fill one of these prescriptions without me getting in their face about it.  I would go over there myself and pull them around the block, I'd rather force feed them vegetables than allow them to get onto something that I KNOW will make them worse and could kill them!  I'm not saying there is never a time for this drug, but I am saying that there is never a time for this drug in place of walking every day and eating really good, wholesome food!!!!!

Phew, that was intense!  When you're ready to move beyond drugs and discover super simple, easy ways to get and stay the healthiest you've ever been in your life, seek out a wellness care provider.  They'll show you how to do it right - because your children need you to stick around for a few more years, and it wouldn't hurt to be healthy.

If you want some light reading, go ahead and peruse the fine print below:

Elderly people with psychosis related to dementia (for example, an inability to perform daily activities as a result of increased memory loss), treated with antipsychotic medicines including ABILIFY, are at an increased risk of death compared to placebo. ABILIFY is not approved for the treatment of people with dementia-related psychosis (see Boxed WARNING).

Antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts or behaviors in some children, teenagers, and young adults, especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. Depression and other serious mental illnesses are themselves associated with an increase in the risk of suicide. Patients on antidepressants and their families or caregivers should watch for new or worsening depression symptoms, unusual changes in behavior, or thoughts of suicide. Such symptoms should be reported to the patient’s healthcare professional right away, especially if they are severe or occur suddenly. ABILIFY is not approved for use in pediatric patients with depression (see Boxed WARNING).

Contraindication: Patients should not use ABILIFY if they are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the ingredients in ABILIFY. Allergic reactions have ranged from rash, hives, and itching to anaphylaxis, which may include difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue.

Serious side effects may include:

• An increased risk of stroke and ministroke have been reported in clinical studies of elderly people with dementia-related psychosis
• Very high fever, rigid muscles, shaking, confusion, sweating, or increased heart rate and blood pressure. These may be signs of a condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a rare but serious side effect which could be fatal
• Abnormal or uncontrollable movements of face, tongue, or other parts of body. These may be signs of a serious condition called tardive dyskinesia (TD), which could become permanent
• If you have diabetes, or risk factors for diabetes (for example, obesity, family history of diabetes), or unexpected increases in thirst, urination, or hunger, your blood sugar should be monitored. Increases in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), in some cases serious and associated with coma or death, have been reported in patients taking ABILIFY and medicines like it

Lightheadedness or faintness caused by a sudden change in heart rate and blood pressure when rising quickly from a sitting or lying position (orthostatic hypotension) has been reported with ABILIFY.

Decreases in white blood cells (infection fighting cells) have been reported in some patients taking antipsychotic agents, including ABILIFY. Patients with a history of a significant decrease in white blood cell (WBC) count or who have experienced a low WBC count due to drug therapy should have their blood tested and monitored during the first few months of therapy.

ABILIFY and medicines like it can affect your judgment, thinking, or motor skills. You should not drive or operate hazardous machinery until you know how ABILIFY affects you.

Medicines like ABILIFY can impact your body’s ability to reduce body temperature; you should avoid overheating and dehydration.

ABILIFY and medicines like it have been associated with swallowing problems (dysphagia). If you had or have swallowing problems, you should tell your healthcare professional.

Tell your healthcare professional if you have a history of, or are at risk for seizures, or are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, and about all prescription and non-prescription medicines you are taking or plan to take, since there are some risks for drug interactions.

While taking ABILIFY, avoid:

• Drinking alcohol
• Breast-feeding an infant

Most common side effects (≥10%) from all clinical trials involving adults include:

• ADULTS: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, dizziness, an inner sense of restlessness or need to move (akathisia), anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness

It is important to contact your healthcare professional if you experience prolonged, abnormal muscle spasms or contractions which may be signs of a condition called dystonia.

For patients who must limit their sugar intake, ABILIFY Oral Solution contains sugar.

For patients with phenylketonuria or PKU, ABILIFY DISCMELT^® (aripiprazole) contains phenylalanine.

If you have any questions about your health or medicines, talk to your healthcare professional.

INDICATION: ABILIFY is a prescription medication indicated for:

• Use as an add-on treatment to an antidepressant for adults with Major Depressive Disorder who have had an inadequate response to antidepressant therapy

Please see U.S. FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION, including Boxed WARNINGS, and Medication Guide, for ABILIFY.

What's wrong with the government? - a Nutrition approach

In this Article from JAMA - August 11, 2010 the limitations of our current understanding about food and nutrition (as promoted by nutritionists and dieticians) are emphasized.  I thought I'd add my two cents:

My major criticisms of the government's food recommendations are: 1) They are too influenced by industries (dairy industry and General Mills, specifically), 2) They perpetuate false ideas such as "low-fat is good for you", 3) They fail to acknowledge a "gold standard" for nutrition focusing instead on how much of certain nutrients will "prevent disease" (scurvy, rickets, beri-beri, etc), leading to criticism #4) The current guidelines are severely deficient in whole vegetables and fruits and allow for ignorant substitutions (like fruit juice to count the same as a whole fruit).

This brings me to the largest of all my criticisms which is the focus of the attached article: Nutritionists and dieticians have chosen to focus on nutrients rather than whole, quality foods. This approach has helped push the US to the current levels of diseases we suffer from in the US - Heart Disease, Cancer,  obesity, depression, and especially Diabetes plus more.

Here is my "best of" from this great article:

"The proportion of total energy from fat appears largely unrelated to risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or obesity"

"Countless highly processed products are now marketed in which refined carbohydrate replaces fat, providing an aura of healthiness but without actual health benefits."

"Despite its initial appeal, attempts to extend the nutrient deficiency–based approach for prevention of chronic diseases have been problematic. The RDAs are methodologically and conceptually inappropriate for this purpose..."

"Saturated fat...has little relation to heart disease within most prevailing dietary patterns."

"Typical recommendations to consume at least half of total energy as carbohydrate, a nutrient for which humans have no absolute requirement, conflate foods with widely divergent physiologic effects (eg, brown rice, white bread, apples)."

"...little of the information found on food labels’ 'nutrition facts' panels provides useful guidance for selecting healthier foods to prevent chronic disease." 

Steve's comment: EAT FOODS NOT NUTRIENTS!!! But the industries REALLY don't like when the government gives advice to eat apples and carrots and avoid their processed junk that parades as health food!

A fantastic book you should read (or listen to) to get a good understanding of the inadequacies of a nutrient-based approach is In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan.

It's that time of year again...

It is that time of year again when the government and all the local drug marts are out in force trying to get everyone to take a flu shot ("jab" as they like to call it in the UK).

I was visiting the CDC's website yesterday to see if their knowledge and recommendations concerning flu and the immune system have caught up to the current research.  I wasn't surprised to see that they haven't.

The governement/CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) make recommendations for the population of the United States based on the "best evidence" they have.  This is scary as you'll see below, but not scary enough to get me to take the jab.

They use figures like 36,000 deaths annually to scare people into getting the flu shot without clarifying that the vast majority of these deaths are actually due to pneumonia in the elderly.  But somehow this number is thrown around to scare parents into vaccinating their children (and still no recommendations for keeping the immune system strong naturally).

Let's take a look at the governments recommendations for prevention:

Step #1 - Get a flu shot.  For anyone 6 months and older.  The CDC calls this the "most important" step for preventing flu (I can think of at LEAST 5 things that are MORE important than this unproven step.)

The major criticism I have is they recommend a stab in the arm to inject a foreign substance, yet they make no recommendation for increasing the body's natural ability to defend itself against ALL invaders (but especially flu) by reducing stress, eating proper foods for your body, and maintaining proper movement!  It is clear that sugar decreases your body's ability to defend itself against invaders as does emotional stress.  Not exercising and subluxation also has been shown to increase stress hormone production and weaken the immune system.  Sugar is a major immune system killer and I find it laughable that it's not mentioned as the #1 preventive measure by the Centers of Disease Control and "Prevention".

Is it just me or does this just seem silly?

Next week, we'll take a look at the #2 "Preventive" measure from the trusted government agency, who knows, maybe by next week, they'll get smart and put sugar on the list of things to avoid...not holding my breath.

Yours in Health, Love, and Freedom by boosting immune function naturally

Steve Perry

Tribute to the American Worker

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means




Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.
Reference:
http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm

What is Stress?