I have recently been learning more about Chris Exley’s research into Aluminum. I wanted to bring to your attention a study he published in 2012 showing that drinking silicon-rich mineral water increased excretion of aluminum in urine. Some participants in the 12 week study with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s showed improvement in their cognitive abilities. For those of you who are unaware of the links between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease I will be reviewing another study by Exley next time where he looked at levels of aluminum in the brains of people who died with Alzheimer’s disease (spoiler alert they had high levels of aluminum). The only silicon-rich mineral water brands that I know are available in the US are Volvic and Fiji. I hate to recommend bottled water due to all the packaging waste, but the fact is many of us do use bottled water on a regular basis and now we may have a way to help our bodies detox aluminum when we do it.
Some sad news about bacon, and other processed meats
I love bacon, and I have been telling people for years they should probably eat more of it. Preferably from pastured pigs. Lard can be high in Vitamin D but only if the pigs are raised outside in the sunlight which doesn’t happen in commercial hog production. The other thing that happens in commercial production of pork products is the addition of nitrates and nitrites. You have probably heard of these guys and perhaps attempted to avoid them. Some people react to them with headaches, and they have been linked to increased cancer rates. Children, one of the largest consumers of nitrate and nitrite laden hot dogs are especially susceptible to the cancer inducing ingredient. It is not the nitrates and nitrites themselves it is compounds formed when they react with compounds in meat which cause the problem. This has been know for decades but the meat processing industry has done a great job of convincing us that it isn’t a problem. Why? Because using nitrate and nitrate to cure meats is cheaper than other methods. So what is one to do? First look to local butchers and food producers and ask how they process their meats. There are ways to do it without nitrates and nitrites. These methods will usually result in products which are less pink, and more expensive. Of course my argument there is which do you prefer more expensive meat or cancer? Then consider switching your breakfast meat to sausage, or steak, and when you have that occasional slice of pizza opt for sausage instead of pepperoni. For an in depth discussion of this topic I encourage you to read this article from the Guardian “Yes, bacon really is killing us”.
Great health related podcasts; soy, cholesterol, vaccines
I have been listening to podcasts from the Weston A Price Foundation, and they are great! They are 30 minutes long and cover serious health topics that conventional medicine gets wrong like soy, cholesterol, and vaccines.
Episode #110 Vaccines, Autism, & Wakefields side of the story
Episode #179 The Oiling of America- Why cholesterol is good for you
Roundup on your food
The very popular pesticide Roundup (glyphosate) is getting a lot of press right now. The most recent verdict in California awarded a couple 2 billion dollars because the jury determined that Roundup caused their cancer (non-hodgkins lymphoma). This article explains that glyphosate is regularly sprayed on crops from a few days to 2 weeks before harvest. Because glyphosate kills the crop it speeds up the drying of it so harvest can be done sooner and there are less weeds in the way. Unfortunately for us, this chemical has been found to cause cancer and is an endocrine disruptor. Here is a quote directly from the article by Ken Roseboro titled Why is glyphosate sprayed on crops right before harvest.
“Along with wheat and oats, glyphosate is used to desiccate a wide range of other crops including lentils, peas, non-GMO soybeans, corn, flax, rye, triticale, buckwheat, millet, canola, sugar beets and potatoes. Sunflowers may also be treated pre-harvest with glyphosate, according to the National Sunflower Association.” - Ken Roseboro EcoWatch
If you want to avoid eating roundup, limiting your consumption of conventionally grown versions of the above foods will help.
Does Nestle own your favorite supplement company?
Nestle finalized a deal in 2018 to purchase Atrium a company which owns the popular supplement brands Garden of Life, Seroyal, Wobenzym, Douglas Laboratories, Pure Encapsulations, Pharmax, Genestra Brands, Orthica, AOV, Minami, Klean Athelete, and Tropic. As you may know Nestle has come under fire in the past for pushing infant formula to replace breast milk. The reduction in breastfeeding rates due to the companies practices are alarming. The marketing of formula in impoverished communities is especially disturbing since using formula can cause a mothers milk supply to slow or stop and then she is dependent upon formula she must buy. This practice has also resulted in illness and death for many infants due to the mixing of formula with unclean drinking water, and the dilution of formula to save money which deprives the infant of nutrition. Nestle has also been criticized for profiting from public water sources in order to sell bottled water. This has occurred in communities with water restrictions due to drought and where residents have no access to clean water. For those of you who are not interested in supporting Nestle I can offer you suggestions on alternate products.
Support raw milk bill in West Virginia
There is a bill before the West Virginia House Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee right now to allow the sale of raw milk in the state.
HB2643 The West Virginia Farm Fresh Milk Act would legalize the sale of raw milk and raw milk products like butter and cheese from farmer to consumer.
This link provides more information on the bill, and links to the committee members, one of which represents Berkeley County. Please contact members of the committee and your own delegate to let them know you want farmers to be able to sell their own milk from their own farm and for residents to be able to buy the highest quality most nutritious milk they can for their families.
Are flu shots coming to your child's classroom?
I had heard rumors of children being given vaccines while at school without their parents permission. I finally saw an article today which helped fill in the blanks. A recent initiative is bringing a for profit company into schools to administer the flu shot to children. They are then paid by health insurance companies and the government for each shot given. They have procedures in place to make sure each child receiving the shot has their parents authorization. However, some parents are very concerned their child might receive a shot even if they have not given consent, and there are reports of exactly that happening. It is also not clear how much information is given to parents on the risks and benefits of the vaccine and what symptoms their child might experience as an adverse reaction from the shot. Here is a link to NVIC and info on flu vaccine risks. And here is a video story of a nurse who is a quadriplegic as a result of the flu shot. The article states that the program currently operates in 8 states. I checked the company website and found the names of seven of them; Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Ohio, Missouri, Washington, and Indiana. Here is an article explaining the program in more detail. The for profit company also collects medical and personal information on each child and shares it.
Remembering how far you have come
If you are reading one of my posts you are likely on some sort of healing journey. Today I encourage you to look back for a moment on your progress; you may have come farther than you think. When I was in Naturopathic Medical school I learned that keeping good records was essential for helping patients realize their progress. Humans have an amazing ability to forget how bad things once were which is a great thing when you think about it. Forgetting the unpleasant parts of a pregnancy and labor, and remembering only the joy of a new baby. Forgetting the horrors of war, and remembering the friendships. However, it can be a challenge when you are working so hard on your health and don’t feel like you are getting anywhere particularly when it costs you time and hard earned money. You can forget how bad you felt before and find yourself feeling like not much has really changed. This is a time when checking in with your doctor, an old friend or family member who doesn’t see you often can give you a reality check, reminding you how bad it was. For example, in medical school I had a patient who came in with a long list of problems, one of which was daily headaches. I questioned her thoroughly about them and took good notes. When she returned to the clinic a month later I asked how she was and she said “The same, nothing has changed. I don’t think any of this worked”. Slightly discouraged, I asked if her headaches had improved? She said “headaches, what headaches, I never had headaches”… I was floored. Fortunately I had my notes to read back to her and remind her. Crazy as it may sound this happens every day in a Naturopathic Doctors office. Your health gets better and better but your focus is out in front of you looking at how far you still want to go. I had an experience last week that really brought this home for me. Many of you have filled out a systems survey questionnaire for me. It is several pages of questions about every different body system. It helps me to get a holistic view of your health and prioritize what to work on. When I filled it out to check in on myself, I was truly shocked at the results. I had only marked 6 symptoms. So many problems had disappeared! I realized that for a little over 2 years I had been religiously taking quite a few food based supplements, and working hard to keep my diet nutrient dense. This was because of pregnancy and breastfeeding- big motivators to take care of yourself. My stress levels are high, and my sleep is not the best so I didn’t feel like I was doing that great, but when I looked at it there in black and white, in my own handwriting, it was undeniable that I was significantly better. So why did I write all this today? To ask you to take a minute and think back to a time when you were even less healthy than you are now. Have you sought out information like this blog to make yourself healthier? Take a minute to appreciate all the hard work you have done. Have you improved? Ask a friend or coworker. You might not realize how far you have come.
Where you get your milk matters
Where to find the most nutritious milk.
Read moreOrder directly from Standard Process- cheaper than amazon!
Patient direct ordering from Standard Process is finally here. I know some of you have found Standard Process products available on Amazon. I cannot argue with the convenience of Amazon especially with free shipping. Personally I avoid it as their treatment of employees gets very negative press, and many sellers are shifty. Those who have used Amazon for Standard Process supplements may have noticed the prices tend to be higher, sometimes MUCH higher than my prices. Here is how it works. Standard Process prefers that all of their supplements are sold by Doctors. This is because they believe the relationship between health care professionals and patients is critical in supporting the best health outcomes, and the Doctors who are approved to sell Standard Process supplements have the education to understand the needs of their patients and recommend appropriate products and dosages. We can also respond if there were ever a problem. When you see products on Amazon they are being sold by folks violating the Standard Process policy. Basically a Doctor, or more likely a patient, places large orders of supplements then resells them online. This is why the prices are higher because they need to make a profit over the retail price they paid. These sellers are being shut down by Standard Process as soon as possible, but they know they are doing something wrong and actively evade discovery by changing identities and websites.
Now rather than using Amazon you can place an order directly from the company while still under the supervision of your Doctor. Basically, you sign up at StandardProcess.com and I give you a special code to set up an account under my account. Then you can order your products to be delivered directly to you right from the company. Shipping is a flat rate of $10, (cheaper than for me!). This skips having to call me. Of course I love talking to you, and knowing how you are doing, but I get that life is busy. I am very happy that now you can place an order at 2am if you like and get what you need through a legitimate pathway and I can be sure you are getting quality products. If you are a patient, give me a call or send me an email and I will give you instructions.
New Documentary about vaccines free to watch
A new vaccine documentary can be viewed free by clicking this link. The seven part series is titled The Truth About Vaccines. It covers the history of vaccines, vaccine risks and safety concerns, and some alternatives to the conventional vaccine schedule.
Vitamin D is rat poison
It's true. Google cholecalciferol (the fancy name for Vitamin D) and pesticide. The same Vitamin D that is in your supplements is used to bait mice and rats and kill them. Yes the dose matters. You can have low Vitamin D and it can impact your bone health, but the "experts" are still arguing over what the magic number is for Vitamin D levels and which test is best. What concerns me is that people apply the logic that if a little is good, a lot must be better and then they take high daily doses of synthetic Vitamin D not realizing there can be negative effects (remember the rats). I am concerned they may be causing more harm than good. Vitamin D pulls calcium from the digestive tract and other tissues into the blood. If you pull too much calcium into the blood it's called Hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia can lead to abdominal pain, kidney stones, bone loss and bone pain, impaired cognitive function, depression, abnormal heart rhythm, and cardiac arrest. This is why high dose Vitamin D can kill rodents. I have said it before and now I will say it again. You should be getting your vitamins from high quality plant and animal foods, and supplements made from them, not synthetic vitamins. You should also be consulting with someone who is well educated about vitamins, nutrition, and human biochemistry, about your supplements. I am biased but I think a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor, or Osteopathic Physician are likely your best bets for that kind of information. Although, many of them will still recommend high doses of synthetic vitamins so choose carefully. I do not recommend ANY commercially available calcium or Vitamin D supplements. I look at blood work, find out if you have any deficiency symptoms and perform simple tests to determine if you need help balancing your calcium levels and then recommend food based solutions not rat poison.
New Location!
I have moved. My new address is 356 Village Drive Hedgesville, WV 25427. Hours by appointment only. I hope to be able to catch up with some patients in the new portals space early morning and late evening once they are all set up. Phone number is the same 970-236-6178.
Homeopathy and the Flu
I just came across this article about Homeopathy and the flu. I have helped countless people deal with symptoms of the flu with basic nutrition, supplements, Hydrotherapy, and Homeopathy. Homeopathy has been wildly successful throughout history for the flu, it proved much more effective than conventional medicine for the famous 1918 Spanish flu and it is still very effective today. In a short 30 minute visit I can explain a naturopathic approach to the flu and set you up with the tools you need to heal naturally. Call today for a flu preparedness visit in person or by phone 970-236-6178. Just $60 until the end of February.
Should you get a Tetanus Shot?
Many of the people who read my blog, or go to Naturopathic Doctors have educated themselves to some extent on vaccines. They may follow the recommended schedule, not vaccinate at all, or fall somewhere in between (this is the biggest group). I thought this article explaining tetanus, and the options for tetanus shots in the US might be helpful to many of you. Click here for the article.
Anxiety caused by a nutritional deficiency?
Its true. There are many causes of anxiety, and nutritional deficiencies are one of them. Research studies have proven that deficiencies in the following vitamins can cause anxiety;
Carnitine Chromium Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin B3
Vitamin B6 Zinc Folate Inositol Choline
Serine Copper Magnesium Selenium
Wouldn't you like to know if you are deficient in one of these? You can find out with a simple blood test. Unfortunately your primary care Doctor cannot order this test. It is done by a specialty lab called Spectracell. I have been using this test for 8 years to help people find out what they are actually low in so they can purchase the right supplements, and get nutritional support for all of their health challenges. Call today for more information 970-236-6178.
Free Talk Naturopathic Medicine for Brain Injury April 26th
Brain Injury: Everyone is at risk
What can an ex-NFL player with violent tendencies, a high school soccer player with impulse control problems, a 40 year old house wife with depression, and a military veteran with dementia all have in common? A past head injury.
The long term effects of head injuries are getting more attention now through research, advocacy groups, and even a blockbuster movie: Concussion.
It goes by many names: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), concussion, subconcussive blow, closed head injury, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), being knocked out, or a simple, seemingly insignificant knock to the head. The brain is a rather fragile organ. This is why it is encased in a hard skull and cushioned by fluid. It is just as vulnerable (if not more) to injury from a hard hit as any other part of your body. Unfortunately, unlike your leg you cannot see bruises on your brain surface, or even damage in an MRI from many head injuries.
So who is at risk for a brain injury? Those most at risk include military personnel, athletes, extreme sports enthusiasts, anyone participating in an activity where a helmet is recommended, and non athletes who have suffered a blow to the head from a fall or whiplash from a car accident.
You can suffer a brain injury at any age, and it’s effects can be lifelong.
You can minimize risk by limiting participation in contact sports and activities in which helmets are recommended. However, as a rock climber and football fan myself, I think it is unrealistic to expect everyone to stop participating in these activities which bring so many rewards. Especially considering anyone can suffer a brain injury from a simple fall. While you can reduce your risk, you can never completely eliminate it. Fortunately, you can reduce the effects and repair the damage with simple nutritional factors.
The good news is that it is never too late to help your brain repair. Foods and whole food supplements like DHA and EPA fats from fish oils, and B complex vitamins from liver help repair your brain.
What can you do right now? Educate yourself. The more you learn about this issue the better you can protect yourself and your family. Dr. Powell has a free talk on Natural Remedies for head injury Wednesday, April 26th at 6pm 21 Fairfax St. Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 (inside Portals). Or schedule an appointment to get started now on a brain repair protocol.
MTHFR gene mutation puts you at risk for miscarriage
I do a lot of work with people who have an MTHFR gene mutation. This gene impacts how well your body utilizes a few key B vitamins, namely B12, and folic acid. Unfortunately, many women who have had miscarriages are not even told to check for this gene, and still others are tested and their doctor tells them it is not a problem. Here is a link to an article By Dr. Ben Lynch an expert on MTHFR and a Naturopathic Doctor. If you have experienced one or more miscarriages, you should find out about Factor 5 Leiden and MTHFR the 2 most common genes associated with miscarriage. If you have MTHFR get to an ND or other health professional educated on the topic. You can absolutely overcome this gene mutation with the right diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes. Many women who have suffered one or more miscarriages have learned about this gene, done the work to compensate for it, and enjoyed one or more healthy pregnancies. For more information on this test and other ways to optimize your fertility call 970-236-6178 to schedule an appointment.
Study linking vaccines to OCD, anorexia, ADHD, anxiety & bipolar
Click here for an article with a link to the study