The Natural Healing Foods Blog

In Bookstores Everywhere!

2012-02-03T07:45:00.000-08:00

Natural Healing Foods has finally been released, and the response has been most gratifying! As you may recall from earlier posts, I’ve compiled an extensive list of the foods, vitamins, and herbs that can help treat or prevent over eighty health problems—a research project that actually began over 25 years ago when I started looking for alternative ways to heal a painful carpal tunnel injury and a torn rotator cuff. An herbalist in Oregon introduced me to yucca, which took care of both problems in a matter of weeks without expensive surgery and the nasty side effects of prescription drugs. Then a friend needed a natural way to heal tennis elbow, my mother was facing surgery for gallstones, and my husband was concerned about his elevated cholesterol levels.

All of those needs led to more research, one cure led to another, and the result is Natural Healing Foods. This is a very user-friendly reference to nature’s pharmacy. You can find what you’re looking for very easily without wading through pages and pages of useless information. Check it out at amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. By the way, each of those health problems was resolved with natural healing.

Since the book has been released I’ve had a lot of readers ask for even more details on which foods will help with certain diseases, and, conversely, what will certain foods do to help with specific diseases—such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. So starting today I’m posting expanded excepts from the book, citing the studies used and adding a little more information on what each food can do for you.

Let’s start with almonds. In my book I’ve listed 38 different health problems this amazing little nut can have a positive effect on. A University of Toronto study done by Dr. David Jenkins, M.D, PhD, D.Sc. shows that individuals who eat just a handful of almonds daily lowered bad cholesterol levels by 4.4%. Pretty good, huh? It gets better: eat two handfuls a day, and LDL levels go down by 9.4 %. But almonds don’t just affect cholesterol; because almonds are low in saturated fat and contain protective nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin E, Omega-3 & 6 and many phytochemical compounds, researchers believe almonds can help protect you from cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, PMS, stroke and ulcers—just to name a few.

Here are a few more facts about this amazing little nut:

Almonds can help reduce your risk of a heart attack. A study from the Loma Linda School of Public Health showed that eating almonds five times a week reduces your risk of by 50%.

Almonds contain resveratrol, the anti-inflammatory agent in red wines that many scientists believe is a factor in the lower rate of heart disease among the French, in spite of all the rich, buttery pastries and other fattening foods in their diets. The fat in almonds is unsaturated, which is the "good" fat containing no cholesterol.

Almonds are incredibly nutritious: One ounce (about 23 whole nuts) contains 161 calories, 14 grams of “good” fat, 3 grams of fiber and 16 grams of carbs—not to mention 12% of your daily allowance of protein.

It’s no wonder a snack-bowl of almonds doesn’t last long around our house!

The Vital Connection

2011-10-21T09:05:00.001-07:00

The vital connection

Studies have shown that vitamin K2 is the new champion in bone health.
By Pamela Young
As chiropractors, you realize the vital connection of bone health to spinal health. There’s no question that strong bones support the body.
You know that calcium citrate and vitamin D3, with the addition of vitamin K, help prevent brittle bones. But new information has emerged indicating that these alone may not be the best nutrients for bone health. New studies show that vitamin K2 is responsible for building bone density and can help in the prevention of osteoporosis.
The studies
A 1995 study in Japan compared vitamin K levels in the blood of 24 women who had osteoporotic fractures and 36 elderly women who had no fractures. While vitamin K1 levels were virtually identical in both groups, vitamin K2 levels were twice as high in the group with no fractures.
The studies indicated lowered risk for vertebral fractures by 60 percent, hip fractures by 77 percent, and nonvertebral fractures by 81 percent.¹ A 45 mg/day dose of MK-4 (vitamin K2) supplements used in a three-year placebo-controlled study of 325 postmenopausal women also found improved measures of bone strength compared to a placebo.²
Additionally, the Harvard School of Public Health quoted two studies that also link vitamin K levels to the risk of osteoporotic fractures.
The first was the Framingham Heart Study (1988 to 1989) where more than 888 elderly men and women were monitored for seven years. Those whose vitamin K2 intake was in the top quartile had a 65 percent lower risk of hip fracture than those with the lowest amount of vitamin K2.
The second study, the Nurses’ Health Study, followed more than 72,000 women for 10 years. The conclusion was that the women whose vitamin K intake was in the bottom quintile of the group had a 30 percent higher risk of hip fracture. In fact, the nurses who had a daily serving of leafy greens (110 micrograms of vitamin K) cut their risk of hip fracture in half as opposed to the nurses who were only served greens once a week.
A recent study on vitamin K2 led by Bruce Ames, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of California at Berkeley, revealed that K2 deficiencies impact the body by the role they play in the production of certain proteins.
He found that when the body lacks vitamin K2, these essential functions are compromised, leaving the body vulnerable to disease. In other words, the body goes into an emergency mode when it lacks enough vitamin K2. The result is that vital processes break down leaving the body vulnerable to weak bones, cancers, and artery problems.
Other studies have demonstrated vitamin K2’s ability to protect osteoblasts (the cells that build new bones) from self-destructing, while it inhibits the formation of osteoclasts (the cells that destroy bones).
What is vitamin K2?
In simple terms, it’s the supercharged form of vitamin K, which is bacteria- based. The K is derived from the German word “koagulation,” referring to the process of blood clot formation.
Vitamin K2 has all the benefits of vitamin K1 but it stays longer in the system and is active in a greater number of both organs and tissues. It also inhibits calcification of blood vessels. It removes calcium deposits where they are not needed and increases calcium where it’s needed most.
In other words, with a healthy blood flow you have healthier

bones. It’s a fat soluble vitamin that is absorbed in the intestines along with fat. Fat soluble vitamins are stored in the liver. As we age, our bones become more brittle, but vitamin K2 can help slow down and even reverse that process.
Although deficiencies in vitamin K1 used to be rare, the times have changed. More and more people are becoming deficient in this vitamin for several reasons including:

Poor diet,
Long-term use of antibiotics,
Intestinal problems such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease (including irritable bowel syndrome), and
Cholesterol lowering pharmaceuticals.

Any one of these can cause disruption in the intestines and result in a decreased ability of the body to absorb or produce vitamin K. Additionally, eating foods with hydrogenated vegetable oils also impacts the absorption of vitamin K and the body’s ability to use it.
The downside
Despite its benefits, the public may never have easy access to vitamin K2 supplements due to the cost of manufacturing.
According to PrimoHealth, it costs approximately $1.5 million per kilogram. However, there is a more natural way to add vitamin K to your diet because many foods contain this essential vitamin.
The Institute of Medicine recommends a daily intake for vitamin K1 to be 120 mcg for men and 90 mcg for women. Foods such as leafy greens contain reasonable amounts.
For example: One cup of chopped Swiss chard contains 299 mcg, one- fourth cup chopped parsley contains 246 mcg, and 1 cup chopped kale contains 547 mcg.
The downside of eating these foods rich in vitamin K1 is that only 5 percent to 10 percent of ingested K1 is absorbed and it only stays in your system for a few hours, whereas almost 100 percent of K2 is not only absorbed into your blood stream — benefiting the tissue, bones, and arteries — but it lasts for several days.
Foods rich in K2
The top food rich in vitamin K2 is Natto, a Japanese breakfast food made of fermented soybeans, containing 1,000 mcg of K2 per 3.5 ounces.
Another rich source of K2 is cheese. Hard cheeses, such as asiago, parmesan, Gouda, and Jarlsberg contain approximately 75 mcg of K2 per 3.5 ounces.
Even soft cheeses, such as blue cheese, brie, and mascarpone, contain around 50 mcg per 3.5 ounces. Eggs, especially egg yolks, contain about 31 mcg per 3.5 ounces.
The job of vitamin K is to put calcium in the right places and keep it from being deposited in the wrong ones. The right places are bones and blood, while the wrong places include calcification of the vessels, bone spurs, and calcification of soft tissues.
With proper nutrition and foods that heal naturally, the addition of vitamin K2-rich foods can not only strengthen your patients’ bones, but clear their arteries as well.
Pamela Young is the author of The Healing and Be Still, and has also written articles on health and healing. Her recent book, Natural Healing Foods, takes a deeper look into natural healing foods, spices, and herbs. She can be reached at mailto:pam@pamelayoungbooks.com

References
¹Cockayne S, Adamson J, Lanham-New S, et al. Vitamin K and the Prevention of Fractures: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166 (12):1256-1261.
²Knapen MJ, Schurgers LJ, Vermeer C. Vitamin K2 supplementation improves hip bone geometry and bone strength indices in postmenopausal women. Osteoporos Int. 2007;18 (7):963-972.

Fat Is Good For You. Really.

2011-05-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

All fat is bad for you, right? Wrong! There’s bad fat—such as Omega-6, that clogs up your arteries, and then there’s good fat—Omega-3 fatty acids that actually help prevent heart disease. A 1970’s study of Inuits in Greenland, who have a diet of mostly Omega-3 rich fish and marine life, revealed that they had very little heart disease or diabetes. It also discovered that their ratio of good fat (Omega-3) to bad fat (Omega-6) was one-to-one, which is ideal. By contrast, the ratio in a typical American junk food diet is as high as fifty-to-one!

The safest way to reduce that unhealthy ratio is to add Omega-3 to your diet on a regular basis. Fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines are loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids—and there’s almost no limit to the tasty ways they can be prepared. In addition to heart disease, fish also helps fight Alzheimer’s, colon cancer, depression, allergy problems, high blood pressure, and so much more.

Find out more in Natural Healing Foods – A User Friendly Reference to Nature’s Pharmacy by Pamela Young. Available for pre-release orders through www.cavupubs.com.

Which to Buy--Organic or Non-Organic?

2011-05-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

As you browse through the produce section of your local grocery store, you notice that more and more space is now given to organic fruits and vegetables. As a good shopper who is concerned about your health, you compare that bright shiny apple to the less shiny organic one and wonder if the extra cost of the organic apple is really worth it. Is it safer? Is it more nutritious? Finally, what does organic really mean? In order to be classified as organic, the USDA has established strict regulations about how food is to be grown and processed. Only natural methods of farming are to be used, and chemicals, pesticides are herbicides are prohibited. Nutritionally, there is very little difference between organic and non organic fruits and vegetables, but the thought of ingesting all those chemicals and pesticides remains a major concern.

So, should you buy all your produce in organic form? Not necessarily. The Environmental Working Group (an organization of scientists and researchers) has comprised a list of produce you should always buy in organically. Even after a thorough washing, these fruits and vegetables still tested positive for between 47 and 67 different chemicals. These include:

Apples Nectarines

Blueberries Peaches

Carrots Pears

Celery Peppers (Sweet)

Cherries Potatoes

Collard Greens Raspberries

Grapes (Imported) Spinach

Kale Strawberries

Lettuce

"Natural Healing Foods" is Almost Ready for Release

2011-04-29T14:46:00.000-07:00

I'm excited! My new book, "Natural Healing Foods--A User Friendly Reference to Nature's Pharmacy," is in final production. Review copies will be available in a few weeks (if you're an interested reviewer request a copy via email). CAVU Publishing will release the book August 1st.

From the Preface, here's what led me to write this book:

"The research for this book began 25 years ago. At that time I was working in a job that required me to carry around an extremely heavy briefcase. I ended up getting carpal tunnel in my right arm. Unable to even pick up a plate, I immediately contacted my doctor who told me the inflammation was so intense that I needed to immobilize my arm immediately to prevent further damage, so he encased my arm in a cast. He said the cast should stay on for several weeks and if the inflammation persisted after that, I may need surgery. Unfortunately, within a week my arm began to swell inside the cast. I returned to the doctor who told me he would have to replace it with another one. In the process of removing it, he sliced my arm with the saw. By this time I was beginning to get a bad feeling about having another cast put on and I told him not to do it. He said if I didn’t have it on, at the very least I would have to go through weeks of physical therapy and reminded me that surgery still might be in my future. I certainly didn’t want to jeopardize my health by being so stubborn, but somewhere deep inside I knew there had to be another way. After I left the office I remembered an article I had read some time before about herbs helping people with arthritis. I headed to the library and began looking through all the books I could find on herbs. The one herb that was mentioned again and again to fight inflammation was yucca. My next stop was at the health food store. Knowing nothing about herbs, I asked the gentleman in the store if he by any chance had yucca. He immediately went to a shelf and picked up a small bottle that contained 100 capsules. I told him I had never taken herbs before and I was a bit nervous about it. He explained that herbs were different than pharmaceutical drugs in that drugs are meant to relieve the symptoms immediately, but herbs took longer. He said to follow the directions on the bottle and I should have results in a couple of weeks. Not realizing how my body was going to react to those herbs I only took half the dose per day. Within two weeks, I not only could lift plates, but bowling balls! I was delighted that I avoided surgery, but even more, I was amazed at the healing power of herbs. I think the most important revelation of that whole experience was that we all have the power of self healing. It was as if a light finally turned on. If yucca could help heal carpal tunnel syndrome, what other diseases could be helped by herbs? As I began to do more and more research, wading through paragraph after paragraph, I discovered that different foods and even spices were also powerful tools to keep us healthy. Twenty-five years ago, doctors would often refer to the healing power of food and herbs as “folklore and quackery”, but through the years, more and more doctors, and hospitals like Mayo Clinic, are beginning to realize the healing connection between nutrition and disease. "

You can read more and place an advance order for Natural Healing Foods thru my website:

http://www.pamelayoungbooks.com/

Can we eat our way to health?

2011-03-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

Sure we can. We eat or way to obesity, high blood-pressure, diabetes, and a host of other health problems--so it only makes sense that we can find the healthy, healing foods that can help reverse that process. This blog will further explore the information found in my forthcoming book Natural Healing Foods (CAVU Publishing). I've compiled a user-friendly cross-reference to foods and the diseases they can help prevent or cure. It's backed by extensive research (the bibliography runs 12 pages!), but you won't have to wade thru pages and pages of text to find what you need. In this blog I'll elaborate on specific foods and diseases, and feel free to post a topic for discussion if you have a particular question.