NFC March Newsletter

Hello Everyone!

Our doctors have written some great articles for this month's newsletter.

Buy the Organic Strawberries - Dr. Psenka
The Wet Socks Treatment- Dr. DiCampli
New Test Available for Prostate Cancer- Dr. Tamburri
The Vitamin D and Pain Connection- Dr. Kerievsky

Also, our online pharmacy is up and running! We've added dozens of our most popular pharmacy items, and are adding more daily. Visit nfcpharm.com to have all your supplements shipped right to your door!


Strawberry Bummer- Dr. Psenka
Who doesn’t love strawberries? I could probably eat my weight in strawberries on any given day. Strawberry rhubarb pie, strawberry shortcake, strawberry preserves they’re fantastically delicious no matter how you eat them. Unfortunately, not everything about strawberries is good. It has long been recognized that strawberries are one of the most heavily contaminated foods we eat. Strawberries, along with apples, cherries, and peaches have been on the “10 Most Contaminated List” for a long time.

I decided to look into what was contaminating the strawberries after paying five bucks for a pint at Whole Foods. My daughter can plow through a pint in about 3 minutes and they happen to be one of her favorite foods. Paying five bucks was a hard pill to swallow considering that I grew up down the road from a strawberry farm. I wanted to find out exactly what it was that made the organically grown berries so much better, were they really worth twice the price?

Here’s what I found: There are currently 371 pesticides approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use on strawberries (Kind of makes the name Environmental Protection Agency sound like an oxymoron, eh?) Growers of conventional strawberries may use methyl bromide, chloropicrin, Captan, malathion, Diprom, Kelthane, and Avermectin to bring a crop of strawberries to market. The highlights of these pesticides include:

1. Methyl bromide (aka. bromomethane) a soil sterilizer. Was supposed to be phased out of use according to the Montreal Protocol. In the US it has been granted a “critical use” exemption for use on certain crops including strawberries. Respiratory, kidney, and neurologic effects are of the greatest concern to people. No cases of severe effects on the nervous system from long-term exposure to low levels have been noted in people, but studies in rabbits and monkeys have shown moderate to severe injury.

2. Chloropicrin (aka PS) is currently used as a fumigant, but made it’s first appearance as a chemical warfare agent. It is sometimes used to kill vertebrates such as rabbits. Chloropicrin is a highly dangerous and toxic chemical. At concentrations above 1.1 ppm (that’s parts per million), chloropicrin irritates the eyes; between 1 to 3ppm can also cause excessive crying. Above 4ppm will limit a person's ability to participate in work or activity. A one minute exposure to chloropicrin above 15ppm can cause respiratory damage.

3. Captan, a fungicide. The EPA has this chemical classified as a “probable human carcinogen.” Enough said.

4. Malathion- This one is particularly interesting for Phoenicians, as it is used in mosquito control programs. You know, it’s sprayed from those helicopters that fly over the city at night....Currently labeled as “insufficient data to classify as a carcinogen” by the EPA. Animal studies suggest otherwise. Interesting study in April, 2008 issue Environmental Health Perspectives showed that dietary intake of organopesticides was the major source of exposure in young children. See the whole article here.

5. Dibrom (aka Naled)- this is another little beauty developed by the wonderful people who brought you chemical warfare. Originally used as a nerve agent, it can effect reproductive health and development, is toxic to aquatic organisms, and is a ground water contaminant. Spelled backwards is “morbid.”

After reading about the chemicals that are used for growing conventional strawberries, I decided to do my best to only eat organic strawberries. Additionally, there is no way that I can ever feed either of my kids something that is tainted with chemicals born from chemical warfare and known carcinogens.

I sometimes make jokes with patient about how pretty soon there won’t be anything left to eat. It’s turning out that this really isn’t a joke. The good news is that the locally produced organic food movement is gaining speed. Phoenix has several great farmer’s markets during the week. For a listing of all the markets look at the link on the right side of your screen.


Wet Socks Treatment- Dr. DiCampli
Cold/flu prevention at home.....WET SOCKS!

It sounds strange, but it works. What is it? Well, take a pair of thin cotton socks, saturate them with COLD water, and wring out. Next, get ready for bed and slip them on. Finally put DRY wool socks over the wet socks and crawl into bed for a good nights sleep and wake rejuvenated. Why do you want to do this to yourself? Because it is one of the easiest ways to stimulate your body's immune system while you are sleeping and it is fabulous for removing stagnation (stuffy nose, runny nose, head pain, cough, and just about any other symptom that goes with a cold/flu) Use it to prevent sickness during cold and flu season or use it nightly if you have a cold/flu. Children surprisingly love this hydrotherapy technique because it makes them feel so great! So TRY it and see for yourself what wet socks can do for you and your entire family.


Important and Promising Recent Finding For Prostate Cancer Assessment- Dr. Tamburri
The 2/11/09 issue of Nature announced that a potentially new urine test may help determine the severity of prostate cancer. Read the article here This test would be a crucial addition to the current testing of the faulty PSA and help contribute to decreasing unnecessary biopsy. Although numerous molecules were tested for their correlation to more severe prostate cancer variants (high chance for metastasis), the one which was highlighted is called sarcosine. Sarcosine is a derivative of the amino acid glycine. Some NFC patients may be familiar with this common amino acid given as a powder as a natural treatment for anxiety. The only new conventional laboratory test for prostate cancer released in the last few years (available at Naturopathic Family Care) is the Prostate Cancer Antigen 3 (PCA3) molecular test. A sarcosine adjunct test would be fantastic for the integrative patient to better determine the best treatment options, whether natural or conventional. This study will take years to better analyze its correlation to metastatic disease however once it is available it will be incorporated into our Advanced Prostate Cancer Assessment Program.

Vitamin D deficiency and pain? Is there a link? Dr. Kerievsky
New research is showing a wide range of problems associated with low levels of Vitamin D. I currently have been recommending all my patients over 40 be screened for Vitamin D deficiency due to the increased risk for developing cancer, heart disease as well as other conditions. Research is also indicating that people with unexplained muscle or bone pain should be screened for Vitamin D deficiency. A study of 150 children and adults with unexplained muscle or bone pain showed that almost all of them had Vitamin D deficiency. A simple blood test of 25 (OH) hydroxyvitamin D can be done to determine if you have low levels of Vitamin D. Please contact our office if you are concerned about your Vitamin D levels and are suffering with chronic pain.

January 2009 NFC Blog

Hello Everyone,

We hope that 2009 is treating you all well so far! In this issue of the NFC blog we've got a ton of great things to share. Here's a taste of what's going on in January:

1. NFC Health Stimulus Check- make sure you get yours!

2. Natural and Bio-Identical Hormones as seen on Oprah- NFC style

3. Prolotherapy: The treatment for sprains and strains.

4. Cholesterol Truth in Advertising

5. Pharmacy News- Yes! We have your supplements, our pharmacy is ONLINE!


Scroll down to read more about all these great topics

The Naturopathic Family Care Health Stimulus Check

We've decided to try something new at NFC this year. We're issuing a $20 Health Stimulus Check to everyone who reads our blog. This $20 is our way of saying an enthusiastic thank you to all the great people we see at the clinic. Readers can use this $20 bucks towards office visits or items from our pharmacy. Remember the wise words of Benjamin Franklin "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Keep your family healthy by visiting your friendly neighborhood Naturopath. Just print out the Health Stimulus Check on the right side of the page and bring it with you to the clinic.


Should Women Replace Their Hormones?

It was big news this week when Oprah Winfrey offered a expose on the benefits of bio-identical hormone therapy for women. Many women are familiar with the idea of hormone replacement to treat menopausal symptoms, and some women have heard of bio-identical hormone replacement. Oprah's experts offered a great review of the topic including research suggesting that the use of bio-identical hormone replacement could promote significant advantages for women. Oprah's expose also highlighted the importance of hormone education for women considering hormone replacement. At NFC we have two doctors who have been treating women with bio-identical hormone replacement for years. Dr. Marianne Marchese is a nationally recognized expert in women's health and hormone therapy. Dr. Sharhzad Orona has been treating with bio-identical hormones for years at NFC.
If you have ever wondered if hormone replacement was right for you come in and talk with one of our docs. To see what Oprah had to say about hormone replacement follow this link.

New Treatments for Old Injuries

Whether we make a definitive New Years’ resolution or not, most of us have the goal of improving our fitness level -- be it taking a daily walk, improving our race split time, or playing with our grandkids. At some point a variation of the phrase “if it weren’t for my bum knee/shoulder/back, I could do a lot more” comes out of our mouths. Most of us have old injuries that may limit or downright prohibit activity. We have worn out tendons, ligaments, cartilage, etc. and we don’t like the invasive option of surgery. Prolotherapy often is the solution. (click here for a thorough history and explanation of prolotherapy

Do you roll your ankle every time you take a hike? Does your knee click when you are playing basketball? Does playing with the grandkids leave you with a backache? These are all signs of an unstable joint. Barring frank ruptures or tears, prolotherapy can improve the integrity of the joint, increase stability and strength, and reduce pain. Prolotherapy has given many professional athletes a competitive edge, limited injuries, and increased the length of their active career. As a physician I have had the privilege of treating many of these athletes. I was trained at the Hackett Hemwall Foundation started in the 1960’s by Dr. Gus Hemwall who was mentored by Dr. George Hackett the pioneer of prolotherapy. A young C. Everett Koop, former US Surgeon General, was one of his patient success stories.

At NFC, prolotherapy is not a stand-alone solution. After a thorough history and orthopedic exam, we will determine what structures are involved. The injection solution is customized to your specific injury. Most patients need a series of injections to rebuild the joint. Supportive treatments of acupuncture, electrical-stimulation, massage, exercise rehabilitation, and chiropractic care are all part of a comprehensive plan to optimize your fitness.


When it Comes to Cholesterol, Don't Believe the Hype

It seems that if you ever watch prime time television you'll have the pleasure of viewing several health related commercials. One of my least favorites these days has to do with a well-know breakfast staple offering a cholesterol lowering challenge to people who consume this food for breakfast. The commercial states that when people eat this cereal for an entire month they can see an 8 to 10 point drop in their cholesterol levels.

Well, as great as an 8 to 10 point decrease in cholesterol is, it's probably not the cereal. Last week a patient came in to see me who had his cholesterol drawn on two consecutive days. Both times that his blood was drawn it was early in the morning, and both times he was fasting for the test. When the results came back there was a difference in total cholesterol of 15 points. Fifteen points in a single day beats the pants off of 10 points per month don't you think? The moral of the story is that laboratory values can change significantly in 24 hours, and it might have absolutely nothing to do with your breakfast cereal.

However, if you are attempting to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, then eating a high fiber diet with foods like oatmeal is a smart idea. Many different research studies have proven the benefits of eating a high fiber, low fat diet. One diet that seems especially good for many health concerns such as high cholesterol (aka hypercholesterolemia) is the modified Mediterranean diet. This diet has also been found to be good for other conditions such as high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and insulin resistance. At NFC we have been incorporating this diet into our First Line Therapy programs with great success. First Line Therapy is both a research-based treatment and preventative health program. The program consists of combining the Mediterranean diet and exercise with supplementation designed to help with specific conditions. Naturopathic Family Care has recently been recognized as a National Center of Excellence due to our success in helping people with chronic conditions get their health back with therapeutic lifestyle change.

If you have an interest in learning more about our First Line Therapy programs please call our office. Our NFC Health Challenges are another way that people can become familiar with our programs. For information about our next Health Challenge see the link to the right.


Your Supplements Are On The Way

Beginning this week the Naturopathic Family Care pharmacy will be available as on online store. Some of the products in our pharmacy are so popular that we often have a difficult time keeping our shelves stocked. Using this online store will ensure that you have the supplements you want when you need them. So far we have both Metagenics and Neuroscience products on the site, and we will be adding more all the time. Your orders will be shipped directly from the manufacturer and should never take more than a week to arrive on your doorstep.

In order to use the site a short registration process is required. Registering only takes about a minute, and rest assured that your information is safe, and that we will NEVER give out any of your information to anyone. To visit our new online store visit
www.nfcpharm.com

Happy New Year!

Hello Everyone,

Can you believe that we're closing in on the end of 2008?

With the New Year just around the corner many people will begin thinking about their New Year's resolutions. Despite our best intentions many of us have a difficult time following through with our resolutions. Dr. Adam Kerievsky, NMD, L.Ac., will be hosting a free lecture on how bring success to your health resolutions in 2009. "Dr. Adam," as he is known around the office is a wealth of information, and as both a Naturopathic Physician and a licensed Acupuncturist he has great information to share. This free lecture is being held at Naturopathic Family Care on Thursday, January 8th at 6:30 pm. More details about this and our other upcoming lectures can be found HERE

Special Event coming to Phoenix!

On January 10th, 2009 Dr. Peter D'Adamo, ND author of the Blood Type will be in Phoenix lecturing on How the Blood Type Diet and Naturopathic medicine can help people be healthier and live longer.

This lecture is open to both health professionals and the public and will certainly be full of great information. This event is sponsored by the Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association, and the complete details of the event, as well as reservation instructions, can be found by following this LINK.

Be sure to watch your mail for the Naturopathic Family Care Health Stimulus Check!

NFC December Newsletter

Don’t Take a Deep Breath.....

In 2005 the American Lung Association gave Maricopa County the lowest possible grade for air quality. Our air received this poor grade because it was determined that 79% of Maricopa County residents are at high risk for respiratory complications due to air quality.

We’ve all seen the “Brown Cloud” that enshrouds our city. On weekday mornings the smell of exhaust in central Phoenix can be nauseating. There are even times when it’s impossible to see the buildings of downtown from atop South Mountain.

Our air has turned it’s current shade of brown due to the presence of tiny particles of carbon and from nitrogen dioxide gas. This stuff comes from burning fossil fuels- cars, generators, lawn mowers. There has even been speculation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that large-scale animal farms, like those in the SW part of the valley, may be significant contributors to air pollution.

So what can we do about it? Well, at this point we all still need to drive our cars. However, we should consider buying cars cleaner burning engines the next time we’re in the market, and walking or biking instead of driving when we need to make a trip to the corner store.There are also simple solutions to improving the quality of the air inside of your home. First, and air filter is a great idea. At NFC we have several Austin Air Health Mate Plus filters, and we have been really pleased with their performance. These machines filter both gasses and particulate matter from the air, which is an important thing to look for in any good air filter.

Also, growing indoor plants can help to clean the air of gasses and chemicals. According to NFC doctor Marianne Marchese, ND- our environmental medicine specialist- there are some types of plants which are particularly effective for this purpose. Through researching studies completed by NASA, Dr. Marchese recommends the following plants to clean your air:


Mass cane (Dracaena massangeana)
Pot mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
Gerbera daily (Gerbera jamesonii)
Warnecki (Dracaena deremensis “Warneckei”)
Ficus (Ficus benjamina)

Adding just one or two small plants probably won’t make a huge difference in your indoor air quality, but a few larger plants may. It’s a known fact that the bedrooms are often the most polluted rooms in a home, and they are also where we spend the most time. So, adding an air filter and putting some greenery in your bedroom is a great idea.

Interestingly, what you eat may effect how your body deals with toxic effects of the Brown Cloud. At a recent presentation at the AACR cancer prevention research conference it was suggested that smokers could drastically reduce their risk of developing cancer by eating more broccoli. By eating 4.5 servings of cruciferous vegetables PER MONTH the chances of developing lung cancer were reduced by 22-50%. Wow.

So, because we’re all inhaling noxious gasses everyday as a result of being Maricopa County residents, eating more broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, and kale is a wise idea. These vegetables have some pretty powerful effects, from helping the liver to metabolize and excrete toxins, to converting potentially harmful hormones into their least active forms- think estrogen and breast cancer.

Of course maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a sure fire way to decrease the chance of getting any of the most prevalent chronic diseases plaguing society today. In fact, of that 79% of us (over 2.6 million) that are in danger of experiencing respiratory problems due to our air pollution, those with the highest risk are people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and bronchitis. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are both preventable diseases. Exercising, eating right, and reducing stress are all scientifically proven to both prevent and treat these conditions.

The NFC Health Challenge

If you’re new to healthy living, looking for a way to assess your health, or curious about how to prepare tasty and healthy foods then this month’s NFC Health Challenge is for you. On Saturday, December 6th we will be hosting our monthly meeting where participants will receive cholesterol, blood sugar, bio-impedance analysis (BIA), and blood pressure screenings, a full explanation of the meaning of their results, and a customized diet and exercise plan. Additionally this month we will be joined by chef Rachel Albert-Matesz. Chef Rachel has taught more than 800 whole foods cooking classes and had more than 200 articles published in national magazines. She’s the author of The Ice Dream Cookbook: Dairy-Free Ice Cream Alternatives with Gluten-Free Cookies, Compotes & Sauces and co-author of The Garden of Eating A Produce-Dominated Diet & Cookbook. She developed 130 recipes for two cookbooks by best-selling author Barry Sears, including Zone Meals in Seconds. As we're discussing everyone's lab values Chef Rachel will be making and passing around healthy foods for us to enjoy.

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about healthy living and healthy cooking. Call the office now for more information about this special event as space is limited. Here's the number 602-493-2273

Prince of the Prostates

Our very own Prince of the Prostate, Dr. Phranq Tamburri, ND has recently published his second article article for Naturopathic Doctor News and Review. Dr. Tamburri's article, titled "The Revolution in Prostate Cancer Management," has been extremely well received, and has further solidified his position as one of the top ND urologists in the country.

Dr. Tamburri uses a doppler ultrasound to evaluate prostate. This technique allows Dr. Tamburri to get accurate data about the size of the gland, the size and location of any suspicious tissue, and the blood flow in and around the prostate. This information is of great importance to men with prostate issues. This is especially true as the reliability of standard PSA testing has recently come into question. For more info on Dr. Tamburri please see his biography on the main NFC webpage.

Have a great day,

Jake Psenka, ND

October NFC Newsletter

Fall is Upon Us

Ahhh, finally it seems that we have a reprieve from the Arizona summer sun. Unfortunately, along with the opportunity to actually go outside, autumn is also the time for coughs, colds, and everyone’s favorite- the flu.

Already this year we’ve seen a couple of pretty tenacious colds come through the office.



Allergies also make an appearance in the fall. All those lovely winter lawns planted with annual and perennial rye grass cause
thousands of runny noses and red, itchy eyes each year. Not to mention the fact that many other allergy-causing plants bloom again this time of year too.

These health challenges of fall present great opportunities for naturopathic medicine. Many botanical medicines can be used to help prevent and treat coughs and colds. It’s important to remember that most URI’s (Upper Respiratory Tract Infections) are viral in nature. This means that antibiotics may not offer much help, as antibiotics are for bacteria, not viruses. The botanical medicines that offer good protection are those such as goldenseal, Oregon grape root, garlic, and oregano which all have anti-microbial properties. That means that they can kill viruses, bacteria, and even some molds. There are several good formulas on the market that we routinely recommend. Acute Immune by Mountain Peak, BioVeg by Priority One, and ViraCon from Vital Nutrients are all clinic favorites.

Don’t forget about good old vitamin C. Not only does vitamin C help ward off coughs and colds, but it’s great at stimulating the immune system as well. Taking Vitamin C is a great way to prevent getting sick in the first place. Usual dosages are from 1000-8000-mg per day, depending on the person. People who take too much vitamin C will find themselves with the runs.....
Vitamin C is also good for allergies. Many of the symptoms of allergies are mediated via the action of histamine (think anti-histamine medications). Histamine is released from a type of cell known as a mast cell.


This release occurs when the mast cells become aggravated by an allergic substance. Vitamin C, along with bioflavinoids like quercetin can act as mast-cell stabilizers. They basically keep the mast cells from getting aggravated and releasing histamine, which prevents the symptoms. Cool, eh?

At the clinic, we have found that D-Hist by Orthomolecular is great at reducing allergic symptoms.

Also, don’t forget the simple little things that can make a big difference. Wash your hands frequently, make sure you work to reduce your stress levels, eat a healthy diet, get plenty of exercise, and don’t over do it on the Halloween candy....

Have a great October!
Jake Psenka, NMD



NFC Free Lecture Series

We’re recently scheduled several new free natural health-related talks. We hold these talks at the office on a roughly bi-weekly schedule. Some of the topics on the schedule include:

Women’s Health- Dr. Jesica DiCampli
Men’s Health- Dr. Phranq Tamburri
Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia- Dr. Adam Kerievsky
Naturopathic Pediatrics- Dr. Shahrzad Orona
The NFC Health Challenge- Dr. Jake Psenka

Click here to see the whole schedule of talks.



Chiropractic Insurance Coverage
Good news!!!

Dr Ross Kerievsky, NMD, DC is now a provider for both Blue Cross/ Blue Shield and Lifewise of Arizona Plans. Many people with insurance through these companies have benefits available for chiropractic, physical therapy, AND massage! Dr. Ross is one of our dual-degreed docs- with degrees in both naturopathic and chiropractic medicine; it’s like seeing two docs for the price of one!

Dr. Ross is a graduate of both the Palmer College of Chiropractic and Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, and has been in practice for over 12 years. He treats a variety of conditions including low back pain, neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, mid back pain, fibromyalgia, personal injury and car accident complaints as well as many other pain syndromes.

If you have insurance through either BC/BS or Lifewise call our office to find out what your plan has to offer.

Fishy Risks, The NFC Health Challenge, and Our Fall Open House

Hello Everyone,

There's a lot going on at Naturopathic Family Care lately. Those of you who have been into the clinic lately may have noticed our new faces. Dr. Marianne Marchese, ND is now in full swing and seeing patients on Wednesdays and Fridays. Cortney has also joined our fantastic front desk staff.

Fall Open House

We've also been busy preparing for our fall open house, which is September 25th at 5:30. Our open houses are great time for people to come into the clinic, meet all our docs, participate in free health screenings, try new supplement samples, and find out all the health-improving options we have. If you haven't been to one of our open houses don't miss this great opportunity!

Take the NFC Health Challenge!

Based on the success of our Stopping Chronic Disease class that was held at the clinic last week, we've decided to launch the NFC Health Challenge. The goal of this health challenge is to stop, reverse, and prevent chronic disease. Anyone who has ever had a problem with high blood pressure, weight issues, diabetes, high cholesterol, or other long-standing health issues will benefit from this opportunity. The first Saturday of every month we will host a morning class at the clinic where participants will learn about chronic health problems and receive a detailed plan on how to eliminate them using therapeutic lifestyle changes. The cost for first-time participants is $75, and $50 for those who have been in the class before. This price includes all laboratory work ($125+ value) and materials. Those returning to the class can elect to get their lab results and leave, or stay and enjoy the learning part of the class again. Every session we'll have a different in-depth discussion of one aspect of lifestyle change, in addition to covering the basics. By taking advantage of this class it will be possible to track your progress on a monthly basis as well as gain valuable knowledge on maintaining health. Are you ready to get healthy? Call or email us for more information on how to take the challenge.


Something's Fishy......



Just about everyone has heard that something is wrong with eating fish. The FDA has issued warnings and consumer advisories about eating certain types of seafood, but many feel that these don't adequately protect the public. The problem with eating seafood arises because of mercury. Mercury, which comes from coal-fired power plants and other polluting industry builds up in some times of seafood. Government studies show that one of every six pregnant women in the U.S. will give birth to a baby whose blood is contaminated with mercury levels above the federal safety standard. High mercury levels can not only cause lasting brain damage (there is a hypothesized link with Autism), high levels are also associated with heart and immune system problems.

The Environmental Working Group has issued a Fish List to help get the word out about the risks of eating certain types of fish. This list was compiled from data obtained from several government programs. For more information on mercury and seafood visit the EWG's website.

If we're not careful, the only thing that will be left to eat will be freeze-dried food nuggets. Please do your part to reduce pollution.

Seafood To Avoid if Pregnant:
Shark
Swordfish
King Mackerel
Tilefish
Tuna Steaks
Canned Tuna
Sea Bass
Gulf Coast Oysters
Marlin
Halibut
Pike
Walleye
White Croaker
Largemouth Bass

Don't Eat These More Than Once Per Month:
Mahi Mahi
Blue Mussels
Eastern Oyster
Cod
Pollock
Great Lakes Salmon
Gulf Coast Blue Crab
Channel Catfish
Lake Whitefish

The Seafood With The Lowest Mercury:
Blue Crab
Croaker
Fish Sticks
Flounder
Haddock
Trout (farmed)
Salmon (wild Pacific)
Shrimp


Interested in Learning More? Check out our schedule of upcoming free lectures.

Have a great day!

Jake Psenka, ND

Artichokes, Doctors, and Special Opportunities!

Artichoke Extract Found to Lower Cholesterol Levels

Researchers at England’s University of Reading have published a study in which they found that an artichoke leaf extract can help reduce cholesterol levels. Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) has been used in Europe as a remedy for indigestion and gastrointestinal problems for many years. In this study 75 healthy volunteers were given either 1280 mg of an artichoke leaf extract (ALE) or a placebo.

The use of a placebo elevates the study to the highest benchmark for scientific studies- the double-blind placebo controlled trial.

After 10 weeks the study participant’s blood was evaluated for cholesterol levels. The researchers found that there was a modest, but statistically significant, reduction in blood cholesterol levels in those patients who had been taking the ALE.
This study is great because it demonstrates that yet another natural product has the ability to help reduce cholesterol levels in as little as two and half months. Bringing cholesterol levels down to healthy levels is extremely important. Several chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome have been associated with elevated levels of blood cholesterol. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that there are over 24 million Americans with cardiovascular disease. That number is pretty depressing, especially because heart disease is something that we do to ourselves.
For the most part heart disease is preventible. Adopting a lifestyle which incorporates healthy foods, stress reduction (which could also be termed “happiness elevation...”), and a reasonable amount of daily movement is really all it takes. Plus, one of the changes really is to start being happier and who isn’t for that?

Chances are, that if you are reading this naturopathic newsletter, then you’re no stranger to promoting health with lifestyle changes. Naturopathic doctors are the undisputed heavy weight champions of salubrious living. In addition to lifestyle changes such as exercising (30-45 min fives times a week), practicing happiness enhancement (yoga, gardening, meditation, reading, taking a walk), and dietary changes like eating more fiber (30-35 grams per day), limiting “bad fat” and grease intake (think trans fatty acids), and drinking enough water (1/2 body weight in ounces), there are a number of natural products which ND’s use to fight heart disease. Supplements such essential fatty acids, red rice yeast extract, gugul, niacin, essential fatty acids, and policosanol are all routinely used. Choosing the right supplement to take should be a decision based on each person’s individual needs.

So now, with the results of this study, we can add artichoke leaf extract to the list of those natural producs that can be used to fight heart disease. By making healthy everyday choices and taking the right supplements good health can be yours!

In Health,
Jake Psenka, ND



Two New Doctors Joining NFC!


This month we are proud to announce the addition of two fantastic doctors to the Naturopathic Family Care team. Dr. Shelley Crombach, DC, and Dr. Marianne Marchese, NMD will both begin seeing patients this month.

We’re all very excited to have these docs joining our practice. They both have many great skills and talents and are very nice people. You can read about each of the new docs on their NFC webpages by clicking the links below:

Dr. Shelley Crombach, DC
Dr. Marianne Marchese, NMD