Thoughts on Water: Migraines
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There are many causes of headaches:
• Poor posture
• Staring at a computer for too long
• Dehydration
• Low blood sugar
• Muscle tension
• Stress
In my experience, dehydration is the number one cause of headaches. I have helped many individuals prevent frequent headaches just by encouraging them to stay hydrated. If you’re suffering from migraines and still drinking lots of water, you might want to consider visiting your doctor.
Erin
Thoughts on Water: Toxicity
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The human body eliminates excess water and electrolytes including sodium, chloride, and potassium through urination. This simple process helps our bodies to maintain homeostasis—a healthy internal chemical balance.
If people do not drink enough water for their own needs, there will be a buildup of electrolytes in the body. Although electrolytes aren’t exactly “toxins,” too many can still prevent equilibrium within the body.
And another thing, what about diabetics? When there is excess sugar in the blood, urination is a way to excrete the substance, which can cause significant harm to the body in high amounts. If people who are diabetic do not drink enough water to regulate blood sugar levels, this could lead to a headache, faintness, or even a coma.
Erin
The Dangers of BPA
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Nalgene and many other water bottles contain bisphenol A, or BPA.
So what is so dangerous about BPA?
BPA can mimic the sex hormone estrogen. The body can’t tell the difference between BPA and estrogen produced naturally, and both can activate the same receptors. To make matters worse, high estrogen levels in the body can lead to cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study in 2007 that found BPA in 93% of the 2,517 people sampled. These results show that many Americans have been exposed to levels of BPA. Expectant mothers and children are especially at risk because BPA exposure can interfere with development.
Exposure to small amounts of BPA is unavoidable. It is everywhere in our environment from the air we breathe to the dust on our shelves.
The Food and Drug Administration and the plastics industry (how convenient) say that minimal exposure to the chemical is safe.
However, some experts, such as Dr. Leo Trasande, believe there’s no such thing as a safe level of exposure to BPA.
Bottles numbered 3, 6, and 7 are to be considered unsafe across the board. Everyday-use bottles with the number 1 symbol are considered safe for single uses only, which isn’t exactly the most environmentally sustainable option. I would always try to reuse my number 1 bottles to help the environment. Now what?
For young mothers, the Parent:Wise Austin magazine promotes the Born Free baby bottles that are glass or BPA-free. For less than $10 a bottle, a mother can have peace of mind.
Speaking of mothers, turns out mine was right about re-used bottles containing germs by the dozen (see my last blog). Dr. Trasande explains that bacteria can easily build up in the crevices and we end up ingesting them.
Talk about feeding the gut with some unfriendly bacteria! One day I took a long look at my scratched up little yellow friend, and threw it away!
If number 1 bottles hurt the earth, and number 7 bottles harm the body, what are we to do?
Good ol’ water in a glass cup comes to mind. This can be a little tricky if you are on the go. Glass bottles seem to be the best bet until companies start making BPA-free products.
So for the time being, traveling to work and to the gym with a glass bottle seems to be a safer and more environmentally friendly choice than plastic products.
Erin
References
Born Free (2008). Born Free Bisphenol A free Feeding System. Retrieved on April 11, 2008 http://www.newbornfree.com/pics/bornfree/index.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals. Retrieved on April 11, 2008 from http://www.cdc.gov/
Parent Wise Austin Magazine (2008). Born Free Baby Bottles. Retrieved on April 11, 2008 from http://parentwiseaustin.com/Archive/2008/03_March/2008_03_PWA.pdf
Schardt, D. (2008). Hard Questions about a Hard Plastic. Nutrition Action HealthLetter.
Today show (2008). Are Plastic Water Bottles Safe? Retrieved on April 11, 2008 from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24023514#24023514
Water May Be Great, But the Bottle Ain’t!
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When I was a university student, I never left home without my trusty yellow Nalgene water bottle. I carried it everywhere, whether I was going to the gym or to the movies, its golden plastic clipped to the outside of my backpack, bumping against my back, full of that elixir of life: good ol’ H20.
One day when I was back home, my mother commented on my well-used and well-worn plastic water canister. She said I should discard of it, because she suspected—without any scientific evidence—that it was likely crawling with millions of tiny microbes, mixing with my daily drink.
Of course, at the time, I thought she was just being silly, or at least motherly. I mean, I did wash it several times a week, and it’s not like I would leave it lying around on the ground or fill it with sugary drinks.
Boy, was I ever wrong. New evidence has come to light after researchers discovered that the mere use of certain types of water bottles can leach a chemical called bisphenol A (also known as BPA) into the water. Polycarbonate—a type of plastic that is used in the production of Nalgene and other plastic products and carries the number 7 recycling figure—is made from BPA.
Erin
Low Cholesterol Problems
Filed Under Dr. Zoltan Rona (MD) | Leave a Comment
Dear Dr. Rona:I am a 46-year-old healthy father of three and was just told that my cholesterol levels are low. In fact, they are more than 10% lower than the lower limit of normal. When I asked my doctor if this was anything to worry about, he said, “The lower the better.” I suspect this may not be true. Can you comment on this?
Larry
Dear Larry:
Low cholesterol levels can be potentially dangerous. They can be the end of liver problems, heredity or chronic infections somewhere in the body with either viruses or fungi.
Low cholesterol has been linked to a greater risk of cancer and, most recently, depression in men (Psychosomatic Medicine 2000;62). The reasons for this are complex but may be due to the fact that brain levels of serotonin, a substance known to regulate mood, are also reduced when cholesterol levels are low.
In addition, the body uses cholesterol to manufacture vital steroid hormones like pregnenolone, DHEA, testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. If your cholesterol levels are low, make sure your doctor checks the levels of your steroid hormones and looks deeper into your biochemical makeup.
Dr. Zoltan Rona
The Issue Is Not the Issue
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I was just talking to a friend about money. This friend has been focused on trying to “fix” the situation, putting a lot of attention on what they want, visioning, goals, dreams, and trying to do things that feel good in order to line up more money. No wonder it isn’t working!
We human beings are magnificent creatures that are extensions of the Creative Force that makes Milky Ways. We are so powerful that as soon as we make lack of money/relationships/wars/symptoms the issue, guess what we get more of?
I shall share with you what I shared with my friend about money: The only issue is joy. Make that your focus, and you will remember your abundance, and we won’t even need to have this discussion about money.
As soon as you take action in response to a lack of anything, the “anything” must show up more because you are including it in your actions, and therefore your attention.
The issue is never the issue. The fact that you made it the issue is the issue.
The real issue is that you are trying to fix the unbroken. You are abundant! It is your birthright. If you would like to collect evidence of “lack,” the Universe loves you so much that it will give you evidence of that lie. Just because you have evidence doesn’t mean it’s the truth, though.
Jennifer Hough
Abundance 101
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Am I abundant? At first, my answer to that question was “Yes, somewhat.” But then my mind and heart opened up to the real answer.
I have at least 1 person who loves me. I own a car. Nature surrounds me, and if it didn’t, I could walk to it. I get to see the stars at night. I can connect with anyone anywhere in the world through the internet. I always have enough air. I can choose what I do for a living. I can read uplifting books. And if at any time, my thoughts block me from remembering my magnificence, I have the choice to change my thoughts and focus on my blessings.
I am as abundant as it gets.
Are you abundant? YES. Now your job is to figure out why. You will know that you are abundant when you know that whatever you need is at your fingertips at any time, even when you don’t already have it.
Jennifer Hough
What Does a Clean House Smell Like?
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Many people believe (or have been conditioned to believe) that a clean house should smell like Mr. Clean, Windex, or bleach. This is not true! In fact, after my endeavors into the cleaning business, I learned early on that “naturally clean” smells like—well, not much at all.
You can choose to clean your house with four or five basic items, such as salt, lemon, vinegar, baking soda, and oils (lemon oil, olive oil, etc). If you choose to clean using these basics, your house will be immaculate, but you won’t smell the masking scents of commercial cleaners.
Now, I must admit that I am a sucker for any eco-friendly product with pretty packaging and equally pretty scents, so when I clean, that is what I prefer to use. However, these are not the kind of scents that are damaging to our bodies or the environment. More companies are moving towards aromatherapy or “mulling” scents. In fact, I know there are some brands of eco-friendly cleaning solutions that will create a delicious bakery-like scent in the home.
If you care to be a bit more experimental and are open to using products with scents, there are a ton of choices available to you in grocery stores, hardware stores, and drugstores.
Make sure you look for a number of reputable seals and symbols that can help out, such as the Green Seal and the Environmental Choice Program. That will let you know your products are truly eco-friendly and you can feel safe using them at home.
Melissa
Natural Heartburn Relief
Filed Under Dr. Zoltan Rona (MD) | Leave a Comment
You can relieve heartburn with a natural approach:
Eat frequent small meals throughout the day.
Therapeutic vegetable juices include carrot, spinach, beet, cucumber, parsley, celery, cabbage, and potato. These should be used liberally throughout the day (2 quarts daily).
Avoid meat, alcohol, hot sauces, spicy and fried foods, added salt, caffeine products, sugar, and refined carbohydrate products.
If you use aspirin, replace it with white willow bark capsules.
Supplements that have a healing effect include:
• L-glutamine (an amino acid)
• Essential fatty acids (flax seed oil, cod liver oil, salmon oil, evening primrose oil, borage oil, black currant oil)
• Licorice root tincture or herbal tea*
• Choline
• Lecithin
• PABA
• Bismuth
• Bentonite
• Goldenseal
• Slippery elm
• Burdock
• Aloe vera juice
• Lactobacillus acidophilus (probiotics)
• Bovine colostrum
• MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane)
*Please note that the glycyrrhetinic acid component of licorice can sometimes elevate blood pressure. The best way of getting around this problem and still take advantage of licorice’s ability to protect the gastrointestinal lining from acid irritation is to use deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which is available as lozenges that can be dissolved in the mouth several times daily for 6 weeks or longer.
Dr. Zoltan Rona
Too Many Things to Choose From?
Filed Under Law of Attraction | Leave a Comment
I’ve been simplifying things in my life—and enjoying it quite a bit. I was speaking with a friend, and she was commenting on how many amazing courses, classes, books, and programs there are right now. She said that she wanted to do them all, but after further discussion, she realized that doing everything is not what brings her peace.
When a million things present themselves to you and you would love to do all of them, how do you decide? Well, you were given a mechanism that lets you measure which courses, books, or programs are the ones that would be most beneficial and bring you the most value. That mechanism is called your heart, your feelings, or your “cosmic GPS system” (as I like to call it).
Though you may be excited about all of the options that are in front of you, there will be one or two that just feel “right.” They put you at peace, and you know that if you don’t do them, it just wouldn’t be right. That’s how you know. Sometimes the right answer simply gives you a feeling of peace in your heart—not necessarily bliss.
Just know that if you do the things that feel right—instead of the things you think you should do or you don’t want to miss out on—you will live a much more enriched and meaningful life.
Today, choose what brings you peace. And know that it is perfect to do that.
Jennifer Hough
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