November 15, 2007
Contents:
- EDITORIAL: AGM, New Media Watch, Natural Skin Care Workshop
- FEATURE: For Cancer Prevention, Diet Not Enough
- FEATURE: Reflexology for Good Health and Stress Reduction
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EDITORIAL: AGM, New Media Watch, Natural Skin Care Workshop
Dear HANS Members and Friends,
It was great to see so many of you at our annual general meeting last week. What a wonderful turnout! For those of you who didn't attend, there were about 45 of us. After the business portion of the evening, Dr. Brian Davies, a HANS Professional Member, talked about how our digestive system works, and how a surprising number of problematic common health conditions are related to poor digestion. He explained why eating locally and with the seasons isn't just a fad; in fact, it's an eating style actually programmed into our bodies.
Unfortunately, we had to cut the Q & A period short when the people working at the library decided it was time to close the doors and go home! So, if you want to follow up with Dr. Davies, he practices at the Northshore Naturopathic Clinic in North Vancouver at (604) 986-7774, web www.eatingalive.com.
Media watch by Dr. Abram Hoffer
In other news, I'm thrilled to announce a new HANS collaboration with Dr. Abram Hoffer, whose medical practice and research have laid the foundation for the orthomolecular medicine approach that is helping so many people today. It's no secret that the media sometimes send confusing (or wrong) messages about health and nutrition, so Dr. Hoffer will be addressing this information gap with his upcoming contributions to the HANS e-News and
Health Action magazine.
In this e-News, his first "debunking" article is about diet and cancer, and I think you'll find it a fascinating read, as I did. It puts dietary advice into a valuable context provided by a true pioneer in nutritional and vitamin medicine. Enjoy!
Natural skin care product workshop
Another thing I personally hope to enjoy are the results of an upcoming workshop on making natural skin care products by Julieta Criollo, one of our HANS Professional Members.
My daughter, Michelle, is a fiend when it comes to natural skin care, and she's planning to attend this Saturday event on November 17th. Michelle is constantly investing in organic personal care products and finally decided to try and make her own to save money, and to get crafty instead of buying holiday gifts for all of her friends. Keep an eye out for a possible story on her adventures in the future. For information on this workshop through Douglas College, see right.
Lastly, I just wanted to let you know that our
Health Action magazine Winter 2007/08 is looking fabulous and is on its way to the printers next week. Search for it in your mailboxes soon, as well as a Christmas letter inviting members to our HANS holiday open house on December 6th. Hope to see you there.
Warm regards,
Lorna
Founding Member and Executive Director
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FEATURE: For Cancer Prevention, Diet Not Enough
by Abram Hoffer, PhD, MD, FRCP (C), RNCP The front page headline in the
Globe and Mail on November 1, 2007, was "Poor Diet Ratchets Up Cancer Risk". This is based upon a report by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund. By and large, this is a very good report and makes some very good suggestions: Be as lean as possible, be physically active, eat most foods of plant origin, limit intake of red meats and avoid processed meat, do not drink much alcohol, decrease salt, avoid mouldy cereal (why would anyone eat mouldy cereal anyway?) and aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone rather than through supplements.
That last recommendation flies in the face of all the studies that have shown that even the best of modern diets can not consistently supply even the smallest of recommended nutrient doses.
Take your vitamins, study
On October 29, 2007, Bill Sardi (www.KnowlegdeofHealth.com) summarized the results of a study headed by Dr. Gladys Block, University of California at Berkeley, that was published in the
Nutrition Journal. The study compared 602 adults who did not take any supplements with 176 who took a single supplement (usually a multivitamin) and 278 who took a large number of different supplements. All of the multiple vitamin users received enough vitamin C based on the conventional definition of what constitutes "enough"; 9 percent of the single supplement users did not receive enough and 32 percent of the non-supplement users did not receive enough. In other words, if everyone followed the advice in the American Institute for Cancer Research report about cancer prevention through diet alone, at least 32 to 41 percent of the population would not get enough vitamin C - and this is still according to the modern non-orthomolecular (non-optimum) standard of how much vitamin C our bodies really need.
In the
Nutrition Journal, Dr. Block and colleagues wrote, "Dietary supplement use in the United States is prevalent and represents an important source of nutrition. This study describes the dietary supplement usage patterns, health, and nutritional status of long-term multiple dietary supplement users, and where possible makes comparisons to non-users and multivitamin/mineral supplement users."
"Dietary supplements consumed on a daily basis by more than 50 percent of multiple supplement users included a multivitamin/mineral, B-complex, vitamin C, carotenoids, vitamin E, calcium with vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, lecithin, alfalfa, coenzyme Q10 with resveratrol, glucosamine, and a herbal immune supplement. The majority of women also consumed gamma linolenic acid and a probiotic supplement, whereas men also consumed zinc, garlic, saw palmetto, and a soy protein supplement. Serum nutrient concentrations generally increased with increasing dietary supplement use. After adjustment for age, gender, income, education and body mass index, greater degree of supplement use was associated with more favorable concentrations of serum homocysteine, C-reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as lower risk of prevalent elevated blood pressure and diabetes."
Modern nutrition paradigm outdated
This report by Block
et al is only the most recent in a large number of other findings that modern diets cannot and do not supply enough nutrients for good health, including cancer and chronic disease prevention. It confirms my observations over the past 40 years. If every physician who had ever referred patients to me had first placed patients on a good diet and the correct supplements, I would have lost half of my practice.
How can people accept the concept that less-than-optimum nutrient intake is of any value in decreasing the risk of cancer? It is clear that nutritionists advising the cancer industry are not aware of what is going on in modern nutrition, as they are too wedded to the out-of-date "vitamin as prevention" paradigm. The new paradigm is the "vitamins as treatment" paradigm. Optimum health and cancer prevention will not be achieved with diet alone, no matter what the news reports.
Dr. Abram Hoffer, now in private practice as a consultant at the Orthomolecular Vitamin Information Centre in Victoria, BC, was recently awarded the inaugural Dr. Rogers Prize for Excellence in Complementary and Alternative Medicine for his work using nutrition and vitamins to treat disease.
Usage patterns, health, and nutritional status of long-term multiple dietary supplement users: a cross-sectional study Block G, Jensen CD, Norkus EP, Dalvi TB, Wong LG, McManus JF, Hudes ML Nutrition Journal 2007, 6:30 (24 October 2007)
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FEATURE: Reflexology for Good Health and Stress Reduction
by Moira Khouri, Holistic Reflexology Practitioner Reflexology is a "hands on" therapy that uses a pressure-point system, much like acupressure does. These two therapies are also similar in that they seek to move the body's energy and make use of the body's energy centres.
Energy therapies have a long history of about 4,000 years, particularly in China and Egypt. Reflexology as we practice it now is a modernized version of ancient methods and is supported by many years of research and clinical experience; it's practiced worldwide in countries including Korea, Thailand, Denmark, Germany, England, Ireland, Scotland and Australia, and this list is growing steadily. Reflexology is becoming part of mainstream health care and is covered by benefit plans in some European countries. Perhaps best of all, it can be easily learned for self care in daily life to help harmonize all of our systems - mental, emotional and physical.
Effects of stress
Modern life is rife with various stressors. Dr. Bruce Lipton, PhD, in
The Biology of Belief explains that stress shuts down the immune system. This is why, for example, when a patient is scheduled for organ transplant surgery, they are given stress hormones to do exactly that: shut down the immune system, thus preventing rejection of the new organ by the recipient's body. Stress is also known to negatively affect health and is a suspected precursor to many modern era conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic fatigue, insomnia and digestive problems.
But by balancing the body's systems, reflexology helps reduce stress. As a trained reflexologist, I've had clients from 3 to 92 years old. During and after sessions with them, I've observed firsthand the powerful, deep relaxation response that reflexology initiates. There are more than 7,200 nerve endings in each foot that are connected to nerves that run up the legs and through the spine to the brain, stimulating a biochemical reaction that produces powerful results.
A seven-year Korean study from 2000 to 2007 has shown reflexology's effectiveness in reducing symptoms of peripheral neuropathy in diabetes II patients. Treatment also provides relief from mental and physical fatigue in middle-aged women, and helps common problems experienced during PMS and the perimenopause and menopause stages of a woman's life. Reflexology is also good in caring for cancer patients, by reducing pain and stress during chemotherapy treatment and by giving much-needed, loving emotional care.
Treat youself
In my experience, about 85 percent of people who try reflexology notice some kind of positive difference. If you think reflexology may be right for you, I'd recommend starting with five weekly sessions, then twice a month for two or three months, and then maintaining the bliss with monthly sessions. Over time, this will bring about increased feelings of well being and will provide relief from your busy life.
Next time you think you're just too busy to take the time for yourself, remember how much time it takes to recover from illness and how much you deserve good health care! Then call a reflexologist and give yourself the gift of better health naturally.
Moira Khouri is certified in holistic foot reflexology, holistic nutrition and Level 1 Sekhem Seichim reiki. She works as a teaching assistant with Global College of Natural Medicine, and as a reflexologist and nutritional consultant in private practice. Her passion is educating others on the beauty and simplicity of the holistic approach to health and well-being. Phone: 604-255-8405 e-mail: moirakhouri@telus.net web: www.moirakhouri.citymax.com
Gift certificates are the perfect way to introduce someone you love to the benefits of reflexology and save yourself from tromping through the mall in search of the perfect gift during the upcoming holiday season. Treat yourself to one too.
Moira is offering gift certificated at a special discounted price until December 31st.