By Lisa Collier Cool

May 07, 2013

Up to 80 percent of Americans are jeopardizing their health by failing to get the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of a mineral that protects against heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, and other dangerous disorders. In fact, this essential nutrient—required by every cell in your body—is so often overlooked that it’s been dubbed “the forgotten mineral.”

Skimping on this crucial mineral—magnesium—could actually be fatal, a new study suggests. The researchers checked the magnesium levels of 7,664 initially healthy people (using urine tests), then tracked the participants for an average of 10.5 years. Those with the lowest urinary levels of magnesium were 70 percent more likely to die from heart disease, compared to people with higher levels, even after other cardiovascular threats were taken into consideration.

The researchers report that low magnesium levels are an independent risk factor for heart disease, while a diet that’s rich in this vital mineral may be protective.

Yet most of us eat a dangerously unbalanced diet that’s too high in calcium and too low in magnesium, a combination that may actually boost risk for heart attacks and strokes, according to another new paper.

Low Magnesium & Heart Disease Risk

The paper, which analyzes decades of peer-reviewed science, reports that low magnesium levels—not cholesterol or saturated fat—is the leading predictor of heart disease. The paper argues that medical research took “an early wrong turn” by ignoring studies dating back to 1957 showing that lack of this essential mineral may actually cause plaque buildup in arteries.

“This means we have been chasing our tails all of these years going after cholesterol and the high saturated-fat diet, when the true culprit was and still is low magnesium,” study author Andrea Rosanoff, Ph.D., Director of Research & Science Information Outreach Center for Magnesium Education & Research, in Pahoa, Hawaii, contends in a statement.

“It should be obvious that cholesterol isn’t the cause, since heart disease remains the leading killer of Americans, despite two decades of statin use,” adds Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, author of The Magnesium Miracle (Ballantine Books). Indeed, a 2009 study of more than 136,000 people hospitalized for heart attacks found that nearly 75 percent of had LDL (bad) cholesterol levels considered normal under national guidelines, and close to half had “optimal” levels.

A Potentially Lifesaving Heart Attack Treatment

“Magnesium deficiency is the missing puzzle piece that explains why people with normal or optimal cholesterol—as well as those being treated with drugs to lower cholesterol—suffer heart attacks and strokes,” reports Dr. Dean.

“Not only is there very solid scientific evidence that magnesium helps prevent heart attacks, but there is also research showing that if one occurs, immediate treatment with magnesium can actually stop cell death and save lives,” Dr. Dean adds.

In a randomized study of 194 heart-attack patients, those treated with IV magnesium had one-fourth the in-hospital death rate compared to those who received a placebo, and also had lower rates of irregular heartbeats and congestive heart failure. A follow-up study by the same researchers also found that five years later, nearly twice as many in the placebo group had died from heart disease or other causes and those who survive had higher rates of impaired heart function.

Magnesium Helps Protect Against Chronic Disease

Magnesium plays a key role in more than 300 biological functions of the human body. It helps maintain healthy muscle and nerve function, supports the immune system, keeps bones strong, and aids regulation of blood sugar levels and blood pressure, reports the NIH’s Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS).

Potential health benefits of magnesium include:

Reduced risk for type 2 diabetes, according to data from very large studies. That’s because magnesium plays a key role in carbohydrate metabolism and may influence the release and activity of insulin, according to ODS. Low levels of magnesium are common in diabetes and may also contribute to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the root cause of type 2 diabetes and implicated in 70 percent of heart attacks.

Protection against osteoporosis, the brittle bone disease that leads to fractures, deformity and disability in older people, particularly women. Several studies suggest that taking magnesium supplements may boost bone density.

Maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. A diet that’s high in fruits and vegetables, both of which are good sources of magnesium, has consistently been linked to lower blood pressure in large studies, including the well-known DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) study.

Reduced risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). Several studies have tied higher levels of magnesium to lower risk for CAD—clogged arteries that can lead to a heart attack. There is also evidence that getting enough magnesium may help prevent stroke and heart arrhythmias.

How much magnesium do you need?

The RDA is 400 to 420 mg. daily for men, and 310 to 320 mg. daily for women. For pregnant women, the RDA rises to 350 to 400 mg. daily, according to MedlinePlus. In the UK, the RDA is 700 mg. daily, the amount that Dr. Dean recommends to her patients.

Foods that are rich in magnesium include leafy green vegetables like spinach and beans, fruits like bananas and apricots, peas, nuts, seeds, whole grains, soy products, and some types of mineral water.

It is extremely common for Americans to have low levels of magnesium because most don’t eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. These foods are also lower in the mineral than was the typical in the past, since today’s produce is often grown in magnesium-depleted soil.

What are the warning signs of deficiency?

Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include chronic fatigue, weakness, insomnia, poor memory, mental fog, nausea, muscle cramps, tingling, and numbness. In more severe cases, people can experience seizures, abnormal heartbeats, and heart spasms.

Because these symptoms can overlap with those of other conditions, if you think you might be deficient, consult a healthcare provider, who can order tests to check your levels. Also talk to your provider before taking magnesium supplements, which can interact with certain medications.

If a supplement is advised, one type Dr. Dean recommends is magnesium citrate powder, such as Natural Calm (sold at most health food stores). However, the powder can have a laxative effect if you take too much at once, so she advises spreading the dosage through the day. If you prefer to take a pill, magnesium dimalate is available as a sustained release pill.

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.

I guess my issue with this wallet is my issue with America in general and how disconnected we are with our bodies and what we do to them.  I would not be surprised if this person blamed genetics on their problems! (oh, my father had sciatica, too!) WAKE UP AMERICA!  Sitting on a 4 inch thick wallet will cause problems. BIG PROBLEMS!! Funny thing is that there was less than $20 in that sucker. I can’t believe what people do to their bodies!  There is a victim mentality when it comes to the state of people’s health:

• “It runs in my family” is the biggest excuse I hear
• My husband “gave me” his cold – your immune system strength is your responsibility
• “Oh, it’s just Stress” – like there is nothing that can be done about it.  FYI: Stress KILLS!

I am writing about this because I am on the front lines when it comes to helping people get well and the insanity by which people live boggles my mind. There are so many excuses that I hear on a daily basis and the truth is that when the time comes where health slips away, no amount of time, money or energy will be enough to bring it back.

Please let me help you help yourself.  I am here to assist and yet cannot do it for you.  I can’t make you eat veggies, drink water, get adjusted, exercise, relax and be good to yourself.  Lets work together so that You Can Be Well, too!!

P.S.  Check out this link to give you more info on why NOT to put a wallet in your back pocket.

The Wallet-in-Back-Pocket Back/Pain Connection

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485. www.communitychiropractic.net

When your child pulls on their ear or shakes their head, it’s often a sign of ear pain. The constant crying and sleepless nights take as much of a toll on the parents as they do on the child. Ear infections (acute otitis media) are one of the top reasons for pediatrician appointments and about 50% of all children experience their first one before they even reach their first birthday!

When your child pulls on their ear or shakes their head, it’s often a sign of ear pain.

The symptoms of ear infection may include pain, fever, irritability, and loss of appetite. Pulling on the ear or shaking their head is usually a sign that your child has ear pain. Sometimes the pressure causing the pain in the middle ear builds to a point where the eardrum bursts, and blood and pus are discharged from the ear, giving you real cause for concern. Relax, generally you child will feel better once this has occurred and the hole in the ear allows any remaining fluid to drain.

Many pediatricians treat ear infections with a round of antibiotics. Chronic ear infections? The doctor will usually recommend insertion of ear tubes to “keep everything working properly.”

Giving children antibiotics for ear infections does little to speed their recovery while raising the risk of some side effects, according to a study published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study found that 80 out of 100 otherwise healthy children would recover from an acute ear infection within a few days if given medication only to relieve pain or fevers. If all 100 were given antibiotics instead, 92 would be better in the same period, said Dr. Tumaini Coker, the study’s lead author.

“But we would also expect three to 10 kids to develop rash and five to 10 to develop diarrhea,” said Coker, a pediatrician at Mattel Children’s Hospital at the University of California-Los Angeles.

The study found that 80 out of 100 children would recover from an acute ear infection within days

Coker noted that the increased number of children in the study who benefited from treatment with antibiotics was similar to the number that could be expected to get side effects from the antibiotic treatment.

“Clinicians and parents need to know the benefits and side effects on how to manage their child’s ear infection,” Coker said.

The study was designed to review existing research on the topic for the American Academy of Pediatrics, which is in the process of revising its guidelines for treating uncomplicated acute otitis media — ear infections that cause pain and fever. The pediatricians’ group and the American Academy of Family Physicians have suggested since 2004 that “observation” – avoiding antibiotics — is an option for treating ear infections in otherwise healthy children between the ages of 2 and 12.

 93 percent of all childhood ear infections improved with chiropractic care

Some believe that allergies, particularly to dairy products which increase mucous production, may cause chronic ear infections. Once removed from your child’s diet, the incidence of ear infections may drop significantly. Breastfeeding, particularly during the first few months of life, is associated with fewer ear infections in babies; it also gives added protection against other types of infection.

Many parents have discovered that chiropractic care not only relieves ear infections but can help prevent them. One study found that 93 percent of all childhood ear infections improved with chiropractic care. Seventy-five percent of the cases showed improvement in less than 10 days while 43 percent improved with only an adjustment or two! All this without drugs or surgery!

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.

SOURCE: Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2012 Dec 12. [Epub ahead of print]

This review, by scientists at the Department of Orthopaedics at the Geisel School of Medicine, clearly suggests that the first doctor you choose to see will have a profound effect on whether you end up having spinal surgery.

Just look at these stats:

42.7% of workers who first saw a surgeon ended in surgery, as opposed to only

1.5% of those who (first) saw a chiropractor.

The authors conclude: “There was a very strong association between surgery and first provider seen for the injury, even after adjustment for other important variables.”

Early Predictors of Lumbar Spine Surgery after Occupational Back Injury: Results from a Prospective Study of Workers in Washington State

Keeney, Benjamin J. PhD; Fulton-Kehoe, Deborah PhD, MPH; Turner, Judith A. PhD; Wickizer, Thomas M. PhD; Chan, Kwun Chuen Gary PhD; Franklin, Gary M. MD, MPH

Objective To identify early predictors of lumbar spine surgery within 3 years after occupational back injury

Summary of Background Data Back injuries are the most prevalent occupational injury in the United States. Few prospective studies have examined early predictors of spine surgery after work-related back injury.

Methods Using Disability Risk Identification Study Cohort (D-RISC) data, we examined the early predictors of lumbar spine surgery within 3 years among Washington State workers with new worker’s compensation temporary total disability claims for back injuries. Baseline measures included worker-reported measures obtained approximately 3 weeks after claim submission. We used medical bill data to determine whether participants underwent surgery, covered by the claim, within 3 years. Baseline predictors (P < 0.10) of surgery in bivariate analyses were included in a multivariate logistic regression model predicting lumbar spine surgery. The model’s area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to determine the model’s ability to identify correctly workers who underwent surgery.

Results In the D-RISC sample of 1,885 workers, 174 (9.2%) had a lumbar spine surgery within 3 years. Baseline variables associated with surgery (P < 0.05) in the multivariate model included higher Roland Disability Questionnaire scores, greater injury severity, and surgeon as first provider seen for the injury. Reduced odds of surgery were observed for those under age 35, women, Hispanics, and those whose first provider was a chiropractor. 42.7% of workers who first saw a surgeon had surgery, in contrast to only 1.5% of those who saw a chiropractor. The multivariate model’s AUC was 0.93 (95% CI 0.92-0.95), indicating excellent ability to discriminate between workers who would versus would not have surgery.

Conclusion Baseline variables in multiple domains predicted lumbar spine surgery. There was a very strong association between surgery and first provider seen for the injury, even after adjustment for other important variables.

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485. Chicago Chiropractor

Friday, January 11, 2013

by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger

Editor of NaturalNews.com

(NaturalNews) The USA is in an official flu pandemic panic right now, with Boston declaring a public health emergency and hospitals setting up flu treatment tents as if cities were war zones. The CDC says it’s the worst flu pandemic in a decade, and it’s of course urging everybody to get injected with flu vaccines.

But here’s the dirty little secret the vaccine industry doesn’t want you to know:

Most people getting the flu right now are the same people who were vaccinated with the flu shot.

The CDC refuses to release any statistics on this, of course, because then the total hoax of the flu shot would be exposed. But I’ve been making phone calls to a large network of friends and professional contacts, and they’re all telling me the same thing: Of the people they know who are getting sick, about two-thirds routinely get flu shots!

Check with your own friends, family members or co-workers on this point. Ask the ones who got sick: Did you get a flu shot? See if the answers you get are about the same as mine: Two-thirds.

If this holds true across a larger data set, it means that flu shots actually make you MORE susceptible to the flu. That’s because far less than two-thirds of the U.S. population takes flu shots. So if two-thirds of those getting the flu this year are the same people who got flu shots, mathematically it can only mean that flu shots INCREASE vulnerability to the flu.

In this way, people who get flu shots are acting irresponsibly because they increase their risk of spreading the flu to others. Instead of taking care of their health with nutrients like vitamin D, they act with neglect and seek out a flu shot that poses a very real increased risk to public health and safety.

The CDC openly admits that vaccines contain a toxic cocktail and metals and synthetic chemicals that we all know cause neurological damage. Those include aluminum and mercury.

These metals and chemicals also suppress the immune system, and that’s the primary purpose of vaccines: To actually cause an epidemic so that more people rush out to buy more vaccines. The whole point is to sell more vaccines, not to improve public health. And the fastest way to sell more vaccines is to make sure the vaccines themselves contain chemicals and metals that make people more vulnerable to infection.

What, you don’t believe me? You think Big Pharma is a collection of compassionate, loving angels who care about the people more than they care about profits? Wake up and smell the chemicals. Vaccine manufacturers are, on the record, criminal organizations that are repeatedly found guilty of felony crimes — everything from price fixing to the bribery of doctors and the commission of marketing fraud.

Drug companies have zero ethics. They kill children to test their vaccines. They conduct medical experiments on prisoners and mental patients. Do you honestly think they wouldn’t use vaccines as a way to make people sick and create an infectious disease scare that sells more vaccines?

If you really want to stay healthy this flu season, the answer is pretty simple. It all starts with the top three nutrients for flu prevention:

1) Vitamin D

2) More vitamin D

3) And yet more vitamin D

If you’re not taking at least 5,000 IUs of vitamin D each day during the winter flu season, you’re probably vitamin D deficient and that’s making you a sitting duck for influenza.

In addition to vitamin D, there are all sorts of other herbal remedies, trace minerals (like zinc), and superfood nutrients that can help protect you.

And, of course, don’t suppress your immune system with flu shots, chemotherapy or prescription medications. All those things make you more vulnerable to infection and makes you a repeat customer for the “sick care” cartels that profit from human suffering.

Learn more:

http://www.naturalnews.com/038648_flu_pandemic_vaccines_shots.html#ixzz2HhDpbpPA

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.

Larch arabinogalactan is a well known source of dietary fiber that offers powerful therapeutic benefit as a prebiotic and as a modulator of the immune system. Of particular interest is its potential as an adjunctive supplement in the treatment of chronic diseases, including cancer. (1)

Arabinogalactan (AG) is a polysaccharide found in the cell walls of a wide variety of edible and non-edible, woody plants. The wood of the western larch tree (Larix occidentalis) provides a rich harvest of free arabinogalactan from its inner bark. This complex carbohydrate helps the tree recover from injury from lightning strikes, and protects against the freeze-thaw cycles experienced in the high altitudes of the Pacific and Inland Northwest where it grows. (2)

Polysaccharides are often found in many medicinal herbs used for immune enhancement, including Echinacea and Astragalus. (3) AG is a fine, dry, off-white powder with a mildly sweet taste that mixes well with liquids. This safe and effective phytochemical is FDA approved for use as a dietary fiber and as a food additive. There are no known reports of toxicity. Credit for introducing larch AG into clinical practice goes to the distinguished naturopathic physician, Dr. Peter D’Adamo.

Larch AG acts as a food supply to friendly intestinal bacteria. Like the well-known fructooligosaccharides (FOS), AG is considered a “prebiotic.” The non-absorbed fiber is eagerly fermented by the distal gut microflora, resulting in an elevated production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—primarily butyrate, but also propionate. SCFAs are critically important to the health of the colon and are the principal energy source (butyrate) for the colonic epithelial cells. (8,9) Many clinicians use prebiotics to prevent and treat intestinal conditions like diverticulosis, leaky-gut, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as well as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

Studies have shown that larch AG consumption reduces intestinal ammonia generation. (5) Reducing ammonia is significant because even low ammonia levels can have damaging effects on intestinal colonic cells. (6) AG may especially benefit patients with liver disease who are unable to detoxify ammonia, resulting in hepatic encephalopathy. (4,6,7)

While larch AG is important for digestive health it has received even more attention for its ability to promote the health of the immune system. Larch AG seems to enhance immune response and may be termed a biological response modifier. (10)

Larch AG may be important in cancer treatment protocols due to its ability to block the metastasis of tumor cells to the liver, and to stimulate NK cell cytotoxicity. (3) Tumor metastasis to the liver is more common than to other organ sites. AG has been shown to reduce tumor cell colonization and increase survival time of subjects with various cancers. (12,13,14) Incidentally, modified citrus pectin has the same anti-metastatic mechanism of action as larch AG, but does not provide the immune-modulating effects.

NK cell activity is a functional marker for health. In one well-designed study, larch AG induced an increased release of interferon gamma (IFN gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). This resulted in activating two powerful cells of the immune system: macrophages and NK cells. It was found that the IFN gamma was most responsible for the observed enhancement of NK cytotoxicity. (11)

Reports in the medical literature link decreased NK cell activity to a variety of chronic diseases including chronic fatigue syndrome, (15) viral hepatitis, (16,17) HIV/AIDS, (3) and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. (18) The ability of larch arabinogalactans to stimulate NK activity might be the reason for the significantly improved clinical outcome of these patients.

Larch AG has also been shown to decrease the frequency and severity of pediatric otitis media caused by gram negative rods (especially, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella sp.) (3) (Note: Xylitol consumption also reduces the incidence of otitis media.)

Larch arabinogalactan in powder form is typically dosed in teaspoons or tablespoons at a concentration of approximately 3 grams per teaspoon. The adult dosage is one to three teaspoons per day in divided doses. Because of its mild taste and excellent solubility in water or juice, it is easy to use with children. Clinical feedback suggests an occasional reaction of bloating and flatulence in less than three percent of individuals (mostly women). This side effect is probably due to the effect AG has on beneficially altering intestinal microflora and will often disappear after several days to one week. (10)

Call the office today to find out more about our immune boosting supplement line!

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.

References

1. Adams MF, Ettling BV. Industrial Gums 2nd Edition; Academic Press 1973.

2. Chemstone. Theoretical Basis for Process Improvement with Chemstone OAE Technology.

3. D’Adamo P. Larch arabinogalactan is a novel immune modulator. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients 1996, July; 156: 42-46.

4. Vince AJ, McNeil NI, Wager JD, Wrong OM. The effect of lactulose, pectin, arabinogalactan, and cellulose on the production of organic acids and metabolism of ammonia by intestinal bacteria in a faecal incubation system. Br J Nutr 1990;63:17-26.

5. Englyst HN, Hay S, Macfarlane GT. Polysaccharide breakdown by mixed populations of human faecal bacteria. FEMS Microbiol Ecology 1987;95:163-171.

6. Robinson R, Feirtag J, Slavin J. Effects of dietary arabinogalactan on gastrointestinal and blood parameters in healthy human subjects. J Amer College of Nutrition 2001; 20: 279-285.

7. Crociani F, Alessandrini A, Mucci MM, Biavati B. Degradation of complex carbohydrates by Bifidobacterium spp. Int J Food Microbiol 1994; 24:199-210.

8. Roediger WE. Utilization of nutrients by isolated epithelial cells of the rat colon. Gastroenterology 1989; 83:424-429.

9.Tsao D, Shi Z, Wong A, Kim YS. Effect of sodium butyrate on carcinoembryonic antigen production by human colonic adenocarcinoma cells in culture. Cancer Res 1983;43:1217-1222.

10. Kelly GS. Larch arabinogalactan: Clinical relevance of a novel immune-enhancing polysaccharide. Alternative Med Rev 1994; 4(2):96-103.

11. Hauer J, Anderer FA. Mechanism of stimulation of human natural killer cytotoxicity by arabinogalactan from Larix occidentalis. Cancer Immunol Immunother 1993;36:237-244.

12. Hagmar B, Ryd W, Skomedal H. Arabinogalactan blockade of experimental metastases to liver by murine hepatoma. Invasion Metastasis 1991;11:348-355.

13. Beuth J, Ko HL, Schirrmacher V,et al. Inhibition of liver tumor cell colonization in two animal tumor models by lectin blocking with D-galactose or arabinogalactan. Clin Exp Metastasis 1988;6:115-120.

14. Beuth J, Ko HL, Oette K, et al. Inhibition of liver metastasis in mice by blocking hepatocyte lectins with arabinogalactan infusions and D-galactose. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 1987;113:51-55.

15.Levine PH, Whiteside TL,Friberg D, et al. Dysfunction of natural killer cell activity in a family with chronic fatigue syndrome. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 1998;88:96-104.

16. Machado IV, Deibis L, Risquez E, et al. Immunoclinical, molecular, and immunopathologic approach to chronic viral hepatitis.Therapeutic considerations. GEN 1994;48:124-132. [article in spanish].

17. Corado J, Toro F, Rivera H, et al. Impairment of natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity activity in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Clin Exp Immunol 1997;109:451-457.

18. Kastrukoff LF, Morgan NG, Zecchini D, et al. A role for natural killer cells in the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol 1998;86:123-133.

The information in this article is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained from a medical professional, and has not been approved by the U.S. FDA.

I just met Alice in my office. She is 3 months old and suffers from chronic acid reflux and colic. Again, one of the reasons I love Facebook is that it is a wealth of information. I sat down after my visit with this new little one and the first video I saw was this Ricki Lake Show clip. Enjoy!

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.