Dr. Johnson's Health & Wellness Blog

Hemp Seed - A Food with Many Health Benefits

2011-06-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

You mention to someone that they should eat "hemp seed" and you might catch them raising an eyebrow at you. They ask, "Hey, isn't hemp the same thing as marijuana?" The obvious answer to that question is, "No". While hemp and marijuana are both in a similar family of plants, hemp does not produce any appreciable amount of THC, with is the psychoactive substance secreted from female marijuana plants. Hemp has been used for centuries actually, and even the Declaration of Independence is written on "hemp paper". However, where much of the interest is in regards to hemp is the benefits from eating it.

Many people are trying to reduce animal products in their diet in an effort to improve health, and to increase sustainability. Many vegans (people who eat no animal products) have turned to soy in an effort to get much of their protein, as it is a complete protein (contains all 8 essential amino acids in adequate quantities) and it is easy to fit into the diet. However, many people do not like the fact that most soy protein is extracted with hexane, a petroleum derivative, and / or the high plant estrogen (phytoestrogens genestein and daidezein) content of soybeans. For a vegan, their is no other complete protein available, except for hemp!

Hemp does not contain any phytoestrogens. Hemp is a complete protein, and little more need be done to the seeds except grind them. Hemp seed protein is a whole food protein. It is also a raw food, that has not been cooked, and no heat has been added, so all the active enzymes inherent to that plant are all intact. Hemp is also high in GLA (gamma-linoleic acid), a rare Omega-6 fat that reduces silent inflammation in the body, and is especially great for skin disorders such as eczema or psoriasis as well as menopause and joint pain. GLA production in the body reduces with age and with certain disease processes, so the only other way to get this necessary lipid is through food. The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) is a poor source of GLA, so hemp protein and hemp oil are a boon for most people. Hemp protein is high in fiber, and contains some soluble fiber as well, which is the fiber type that reduces serum lipids and cholesterol. This miracle food is also high in chlorophyll, as it exudes a nice green color. Chlorophyll is an important detoxifier in the body and helps the body to rid itself of heavy metals (such as mercury, lead, arsenic, nickel, and cadmium). Moreover, Hemp protein is 100% USDA organic, and is free of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals. Since it is not an animal product, you don't have to worry about r-Bovine Growth Hormones or antibiotics ending up in the final product as you do with Whey or Casein Proteins (both derived from Cow's Milk). And lastly, as if you needed another reason, Hemp has a low allergenic potential and is tolerated by most everyone without problems.

So next time you are shopping for a protein powder, think Hemp. It will give you more than just protein!

Statin Drugs: A Potentially Unsafe Treatment for Serum Total Cholesterol Reduction

2011-05-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

Statin drugs (Lipitor, Zocor, etc.) have been recommended to patient's for the past several years in an effort to reduce their cholesterol levels. The rationale being that a low cholesterol level is associated with with a reduced risk of heart attack and / or stroke. It is arguable that a low cholesterol level magically reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, since "high cholesterol" is merely a symptom of other metabolic processes running amok. However, even if having a lower total cholesterol level is desirable, Statin drugs often achieve this in a manner that is counter to optimal health and function.

Statin drugs are not without side effects. To illustrate this point, I will make mention of a case that presented to my office for treatment: An elderly female patient presents to my office one morning complaining of neck pain, low back pain, general "achiness", as well as extreme fatigue. To find out, the fatigue has gotten so bad that she was unable to walk her daily mile with her husband anymore, and she had to stop at 1/10th of a mile due to exhaustion. The patient stated that this fatigue had started about 4 weeks ago. On that same visit, the lady also brought with her a print out of her most recent labs. Among those was a lipid panel and he total cholesterol had read "140". I knew that naturally, it was unlikely for a postmenopausal women's cholesterol to be that low. I asked her is she was taking any cholesterol medication and she stated that she "had been taking Lipitor". I asked her about how long she had been taking the medicine and she said about 5 weeks...then you could tell a light went on in her head! I informed her that it was likely that she was experiencing a side effect of the medication and that she should consider consulting with her pharmacist or Medical Doctor about reducing the dosage or switching the medication. She agreed to do so at the end of our visit, and then a follow-up was scheduled two weeks later in our office.

The same patient presented and seemed very happy. I asked her how she was doing, and she said "great". She had called her pharmacist and asked what would happen to her if she quit taking her statin drug. She was informed that "her cholesterol would go up, but nothing else" After hearing that, she quit taking her cholesterol medicine and within a week she was able to walk a whole mile again without any of the previous fatigue. Her body had been negatively affected by the medication.

This case illustrates one person that had a negative effect from statin drugs. But you might ask, why do statin drugs cause fatigue? They deplete the body's cells of a coenzyme called coenzyme Q10, or "CoQ10" for short. CoQ10 is necessary for normal energy production within the cells "energy factories" the mitochondria. CoQ10 is also necessary for healthy heart muscle contraction, without it, the heart becomes weak...doesn't make too much sense to use a statin drug to "reduce" the risk of heart attack now, does it? If someone really wants to lower their cholesterol, it can be done easily and via natural means. Of course, the two mandatory things to do is to perform cardiovascular exercise and eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and health fats, and one that is low in sugar, salt, preservatives, and animal fats (other than cold-water fish). Also, we have found in our office that the high quality fish oil that we use in our office (from Metagenics) reliably lowers total cholesterol and triglycerides. Fish oil also reduces inflammation in the body, which helps with pain, and disease of many different systems. Additionally, a good garlic extract complements fish oil very nicely. This is all without muscle weakness, achiness, or fatigue!

Vitamin D3 During Cold and Flu Season

2011-05-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

It has reached that time of year where everyone starts to come down with colds and flus. We rationalize that it is “normal” for us to get sick this time of year, and there is little that you can do to prevent it. For those that do try to prevent the flu, the usually go about it the wrong and more toxic way.

“Lets go get our flu shots”…says one of your coworkers. “Everyone else is getting one, and I want to make sure that I get one before they run out!” This is the logic that perpetuates the majority of our population.

However, there are many problems with influenza vaccines; these problems are as follows:

1) Ineffectiveness: Flu strains mutate every year, and the vaccines are made by drug companies with the best “guess” of what this years crop of flu viruses will be. The problem is, it is nearly impossible to know what a living, but not living thing (virus) will do every year. The result is that you get the flu anyway…actually, that would be the least of your worries.

2) Toxicity: flu vaccines are made with toxic preservatives (LIKE ALL VACCINES) and contain high amounts of thimersol mercury. Actually, the recent and “dreaded” H1N1 vaccine contained mercury levels that exceeded EPA standards. This is because the vaccines were rush produced and sent to the market so that as many could be sold as possible during the “scare” that the media had created. (perpetuated by big pharma) Thimersol is linked to neurodegenerative illnesses and also implicated as a cause of autism and “spectrum disorders”. Aside from toxicity, you could end up with an adverse reaction…

3) Guillion Barre Syndrome (GBS): Ascending paralysis would be an alias for this post-vaccination illness. It occurs in a select group of individuals after receiving a flu vaccine. First numbness sets in, then muscle weakness, next you can’t walk! If you survive, you will have to go to rehab and learn how to walk all over again. At least you didn’t get the flu! (maybe)

So what is the answer to this? How do we help to prevent influenza? While there are many factors that would assist us in this regard, arguably, one of the most important things to consider is adequate vitamin D status.

D3 is not just for bone health! D3 is necessary for the expression of 1/10th of our genetic code, and is involved in the turning on or off of over 2000 genes (source: mercola.com). Have you ever wondered why flu happens so often in the winter…the exact time of year where vitamin D production from sunlight is at its lowest? Vitamin D supports the immune system.

D3 helps to upregulate immune system expression. It helps macrophages to work more “aggressively” as well. Macrophages are white blood cells that specialize in “eating” or engulfing foreign invaders (viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.) It is for these reasons that influenza infection has been thought of as a “D3 deficiency syndrome”. Vitamin C is fine and dandy, but it has nothing on D3!

So how much is the right amount to take? Although close to 80% of Americans could be considered deficient, a lab test is the gold standard for determining vitamin D status. The lab test needed is called a 25-Hydroxy-D3. Anything below 50mg/dL would be considered deficient. A good range to be at would be around 75-99mg/dL. For most people about 5,000IU a day during cold and flu season would provide the most benefit, and would help keep them in this range. During the summer, assuming the patient is outdoors more often, the dosage should be reduced to 1,000-2,000IU daily. Athletes who get lots of sun exposure may need no oral D3 supplements at all during the summer, other than what their body makes on its own from sun exposure (at least 20 minutes a day to cause a minimal “pinking” of the skin).

So now that you know, pass up the flu vaccine first and start with making sure you have adequate D3 status. It is inexpensive, safe, nontoxic, natural, and effective at helping you to achieve optimum health. You do not have to catch a cold or flu ever. The choice is up to you. Once starting a D3 regimen, make sure that you are under the care of a natural health care provider (such Naturopathic Physician, or Chiropractic Physician

High Fructose Corn Syrup...Not the Same as Sugar!

2011-05-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

There had been much confusion over the synthetic sugar high fructose corn syrup or HFCS. First we all think it is okay…then we are told that is not. Now, TV ads are claiming that it okay once again. Who do you believe?

The fact is, HFCS is not the same as “table sugar” which is sucrose. HFCS is indeed made from corn, but it has been chemically altered and contains high amounts of dextrose (aka glucose) and fructose. Both of these sugars are usable by the body. However, this high amount of fructose combined with dextrose at the same time makes it difficult for the body to process. The liver has to contend with fructose and it is the only organ that can use fructose in its unaltered state. The liver will store this fructose as glycogen and once the glycogen stores are saturated in the liver, it has no additional use other than to convert the fructose to acetyl CoA, which is then easily converted to fat. Fat gains from HFCS is a very “soft” type of fat that concentrates around the abdomen. The more you make fat here, the likely it is that you will have insulin resistance, and the more likely you will end up with diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Young kids nowadays reflect this body style.

Arguably, any sugar could suffer a similar fate. However, HFCS itself seems to be less well tolerated than sucrose. Sucrose also seems to provide less insulin resistance. HFCS in large amounts (that of your normal American soda diet) is actually hepatotoxic and can lead to cirrhosis of the liver.
But why is HFCS still used? It is cheap, and extremely sweet. It takes less of it to provide the same amount of sweetness as table sugar. That is why soda companies made the switch over from cane sugar. HFCS is cheap!

But who is saying that HFCS is still safe? Just anyone who is tied to the Corn Refinery Process. Corn refiners have no job if there is no HFCS, plain and simple. Obviously they would want to persuade you that HFCS is “the same as sugar, and fine in moderation”…as their cute commercials state. They even offer the notion that nutritionists and “health experts” confirm this idea. The only health “expert” that holds their views are being paid to say so. The body of research is clear on this matter, HFCS is not the same as table sugar, your body CAN tell the difference, and HFCS is linked to insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. For optimum health and well being, keep your intake of HFCS at a minimum.

Chiropractic Mentioned on Dr. Oz

2011-05-05T13:08:00.000-07:00

Chiropractic treatment was mentioned on the Dr. Oz show as being a safe and effective alternative to pain medication in the management of back pain. Click the link below to view that segment of the show

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/back-pain-relievers