DrTranquility.com Today's Health Blog

Welcome to DrTranquility's Health Blog,"Today's Health". We are so excited to bring this amazing content to you we hope you enjoy it and I remind you to breathe.

Our health is in our hands as Dr. Fred says and so is our well being!! It's up to you to create the life and health that you want. It is so important to visualize your day,month,year,life as well. Remember to be grateful for our good health, if you are currently ill think of the ways in which you are healthy and then say "Thank You"!

We must be proactive and stand in gratitude for what we do have that is positive and well.

If we feel ourselves slipping into negativity ...hit the reset button by taking a deep exhalation of those negative thoughts and feelings literally blow them right out of your mind and body.

Now immediately visualize what we are grateful for as we begin a deep inhalation say thank you quietly to yourself.

I can't tell you how many times I do this exercise each day...but it is far fewer times than it was when I first started to practice this little exercise!

Feels good to breathe doesn't it. My wish for each of you is that you breathe and are well!

Lydia

Dr. Fred Vagnini
DrTranquility Health Blog's Co-Editor in Chief. Dr Fred Vagnini aka Dr. V is a former Cardiovascular Surgeon, and an amazing wellness healer scroll down to find out more!

This month Dr. Fred is Joined by a guest Co-Editor in Chief a fascinating healer Dr. Alan Logan,ND

Dr.Susan Eisen,DC

Co-editor in chief DrTranquility aka Lydia Belton-Alabastro PhD., Ct.H.A. brings us our Mind Body Spirit connection/communication here on our health blogs,and has 3 incredibly informative articles to share.

"Omega 3 The Supernutrient"By Dr. Fred vagnini.Our Co-Editor in Chief!
Dr. Alan Logan also chats about Omega 3's.
One piece is the positive effect on the Heart by our resident Cardiovascular Surgeon Dr. V. The other effect on the brain in
terms of mood,behavior and emotion by Dr. Alan Logan who among other titles in on the Faculty of Harvard University's Mind-Body Institute.Followed up with Dr. Susan Eisen and "The Dark Sise of Lyme Disease"

We wish you Health and Wellness as our good health and wellness is based on far more than just Luck!

Check out relaxation for travel, and just take a few moments enjoy a few moments of peace only on DrTranquility.com!
Psst don't forget our very own DrTranquility.com Free Relaxation Session..Luckily just in time to break through life's stressors. Click onto our Goodie Bag area for more info!

OMEGA-3 -THE SUPER NUTRIENT

Dr. Fred Vagnini

I have a long history of stressing the importance of nutrients to good health, dating back 25 years – even in the days when I was active as a cardiovascular surgeon. Omega-3 is a nutrient I single out for its broad effectiveness, its benefits reported in virtually thousands of research articles. The story of Omega-3 started 40 years ago when epidemiologic studies evaluated the health of Greenland Eskimos and found an interesting paradox. The Eskimos, who eat a diet high in fat, mainly consisting of whale blubber, had a remarkable low incidence of heart attacks. The paradox was solved when an analysis revealed that their diet was high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Since that time, there has been an avalanche of scientific studies establishing the myriad benefits of Omega-3.
Fish, the natural source of Omega-3, has always been considered a healthy food, and the American Heart Association recommends a diet that includes three to four servings of fish per week. But – and I am convinced of this by personal experience – the high mercury content found in many deep water fish, as well as the high PCB count makes eating excessive amounts of fish risky. Therefore, I strongly recommend that Omega-3 fatty acids be taken in supplements.

AHA Recommends Supplements

Years ago when I was attending a conference of the American Heart Association, I was pleased to hear the speakers recommending Omega-3 for a healthy diet; and, surprisingly, they added that if Omega -3 were not sufficiently available in fish at meals then there should be Omega-3 supplementation. This was the first time I had ever heard a medical society that is generally very conservative recommend supplementation. Times have changed, and today vitamin supplements, specifically vitamin B to lower homocysteine levels, are recommended by the AHA. And not only does the American Heart Association recommend Omega-3 supplements, but the American Diabetes Association has followed suit also advising supplementation intake of Omega-3.
Indicative of the interest in supplementation, the August 21, 2006, issue of the American journal Cardiology included a special 40 page supplement titled “Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease Reduction.” A recent article in the British journal Lancet reported a 20% cardiovascular risk reduction in individuals getting Omega-3 in a high fish diet or in supplements. The four benefits these researchers found were reduction in triglycerides, reduction in thrombogenicity, reduced inflammation, and stabilization of cardiac rhythm.
In my practice, I have used Omega-3 supplementation together with Coenzyme Q10, magnesium, and carnitine for cardiac rhythm problems with great success. To that very point, the New England Journal of Medicine reported recently that high Omega-3 intake protects the heart’s electrophysiologic system and prevents irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia. This beneficial effect of Omega-3 is most likely secondary to its anti-inflammatory effect and also to its cell membrane stabilization effect; because the Omega -3 fatty acids incorporate themselves into cell membranes.

Benefits for the Heart

Additional studies have reported that Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death. And their effect in reducing high triglycerides is one of the reasons why the American Diabetes Association recommends their supplementation. Diabetics and also persons with visceral adiposity (fat stomach) and/or metabolic syndrome are generally found to have hypertriglyceridemia, which is itself an independent risk factor for heart disease and sudden thrombosis. Omega-3 anti-inflammatory, cardiac regulatory, blood pressure regulatory, and blood vessel wall enhancement benefits are also of great importance for the management of diabetes.
Here is a summary list of the cardiovascular benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids:

1. Prevention of deadly heart arrhythmias and reduced incidence of sudden cardiac death.
2. Decreased cardiovascular disease- provoking inflammation.
3. Relief of endothelial dysfunction.
4. Improved blood vessel elasticity.
5. Reduced blood pressure.
6. Reduced triglycerides.
7. Reduced postprandial hyperlipidemia, which is as important as a cause of acute myocardial infarction (heat attack after dinner), and chronic increase in cardiovascular deterioration.
8. Stabilization of arteriosclerotic plaque.
9. Reduced thrombogenicity or blood clotting.
10. Improvement in HDL metabolism.
These multiple cardiac benefits are all documented by scientific studies and are the reasons I recommend Omega-3 fish oils to all of my patients for cardiovascular prevention and for other therapeutic considerations.

And More . . .

Besides cardiovascular, there are many other health benefits of Omega -3 supplementation. New research indicates that fish oils can reduce the progression of early Alzheimer’s disease. Studies also show that Omega-3 enhances mood, behavior, cognition and counters depression. Other beneficial effects include enhanced immunity, improvement in bone and joint problems, especially arthritis and other inflammatory joint conditions. I use Omega-3 fatty acids supplements as a principal therapy for patients with arthritis.
Skin problems, such as eczema and psoriasis respond to Omega-3 supplementation. Gastrointestinal function is markedly improved, especially problems such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Ocular benefits include a reduced progression of macular degeneration.
Of special importance for my practice is new research reported by the Endocrine Society that shows Omega-3 supplementation aids in weight management, not only through its anti-inflammatory effect but also by promoting fat oxidation. Other recent research reports improved wound healing and decreased prostate cancer progression with Omega-3 fish oil supplements. The list goes on. It is truly a super nutrient.

Our Health Editor here on Today's Health on DrTranquility.com. Dr. Susan Eisen DC, has an amazing new article for you on "The Dark Side Lyme Disease" Dr.V aka Dr. Fred Vagnini,MD is the new our Co-editor in chief with our very own DrTranquility Lydia Belton-Alabastro PhD., Ct.H.A. for a true Mind Body Spirit connection/communication here on our health blogs, has an incredibly informative article on "! We wish you Health and Wellness as our Good health and Wellness is far more than just Luck!
Check out relaxation for travel, and just take a few moments enjoy a few moments of peace only on DrTranquility.com!
Psst don't forget our very own DrTranquility.com Free Relaxation Session..Luckily just in time to break through life's stressors. Click onto our Goodie Bag area for more info!

Make sure that you stop by DrTranquility Magazine our online magazine.Dr V has a fascinating article on women and cardiovascular disease entitled "Women and Heart Attacks" a MUST read!
Dr. V's Your Health Is In Your Own Hands,and Counting Down Your Age can be found @ BarnesandNobel.com & Amazon.com. and on Drtranquility.com

Dr.Alan Logan is a naturopathic physician licensed in Connecticut. He completed his pre-medicine at the State University of New York and graduated as valedictorian from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto. He is currently invited faculty in the mind-body medicine courses in Harvard’s School of Continuing Medical Education. Here he lectures quarterly on the placebo and dietary supplements, and nutrition – learning, behavior and mood. Dr Logan facilitates anxiety and stress groups at White Plains Hospital, NY. He is author of The Brain Diet (Cumberland House, 2007) and co-author of The Clear Skin Diet with dermatologist Dr Valori Treloar (Cumberland House, 2007). He is currently in the completion stage of his latest book, Age Defiant Skin, co-authored with two leading dermatologists.
Dr. Alan believes that it possible that the diet changes the mood and the emotions because complex carbohydrates provide a steady stream of fuel for nerve cells, amino acids from dietary proteins make up the chemical communicators (neurotransmitters) which influence mood and behavior, fats make up the structural components of nerve cells, vitamins and minerals run the brain machinery and phytochemicals (natural plant chemicals) such as caffeine and polyphenols protect nerve cells against oxidative stress and directly influence mood. It is also true that consumption of sweet and fatty foods becomes readily associated with a positive influence – albeit temporary – on mood states. Through experience, eating foods we enjoy and find particularly palatable becomes associated with an expectation of mood elevation. The same is true of any pursuit of pleasure - with positive experience and the relief of discomfort there is repeated behavior.

Here is a brief Q&A based on his new book

How the same nutrients could modify our thinking and emotions?

Omega-3 fatty acids are perhaps the best example of how nutrients can modify thinking and emotions. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for both brain cell structure and function. The docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 makes up a significant portion of the nerve cell wall, and the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) omega-3 is responsible for communication within and between nerve cells. Research suggests that inadequate dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids can have a profound influence on mood and mental sharpness. Since the brain is 60% fat, and is highly dependent upon dietary fats for structure and function, a relationship between lack of essential omega-3 fatty acids should not be surprising. Intervention studies using fish oil supplements, and EPA in particular, have shown that marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids improve depressive symptoms in those with treatment-resistant depression. However, the effects may also be apparent in healthy adults as research in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation (2005) showed that one month of fish oil supplementation improved both mood and cognition in otherwise healthy adults. Even in healthy adults, low blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with lowered mood states, a negative view of the world and more impulsive behavior. Certain vitamins and minerals found are also important in maintaining a balanced mood. Low blood levels of zinc, selenium and folic acid have all been shown (individually) to be related to low mood states in humans. A common thread is that each of these nutrients helps to metabolize omega-3 fatty acids and boost omega-3 status. Clinical trials have documented benefit of just 25mg of zinc and 500mcg of folic acid added on top of antidepressant medications (versus placebo). At least two controlled studies also show that a daily multivitamin can improve cognition and mood in otherwise healthy adults, particularly in those who have a poor background diet.
Dietary antioxidants are also important to help preserve omega-3 fatty acids and prevent free radical damage to the lipid components within nerve cells. It has been suggested that dietary antioxidants might not only prevent long term cognitive decline later in life, but that they may also influence mental state and mood in day to day life at middle age.

Which are the biggest problems in our diet nowadays?

It is becoming increasingly clear that the typical Western diet, with its nutritional voids and nutritional excesses, is compromising brain health. Drawn in by the abundance of convenient, calorie-dense, processed foods, we have turned our backs on a diet rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients (components which give plants color and texture), and critically important omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish and seafood. Just five foods – canned tomatoes, onions, iceberg lettuce and potatoes (predominantly frozen) make up an incredible 50% of our vegetable intake. Only a mere 3.5% of our energy intake from grains is accounted for by nutrient and fiber-rich whole grains. Adults are now about 15g short of typical recommended levels of dietary fiber intake – fiber helps regulate blood sugar, which in turn helps to provide a steady supply of blood sugar to the brain. We are also taking in only 130mg of the important omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, while international experts recommend at least 650mg per day. We are over consuming saturated fats from animal meats and dairy products, and we are taking in too many hydrogenated vegetable oils which give us harmful trans fats – these trans fats promote oxidative stress (free radical generation) and inflammation, the two common threads of virtually every brain condition – both neurological and psychological. As it turns out, it is the very diet we have turned away from is that which is most protective to the delicate cells within the brain.
How can a poor diet give rise to a neurological disease?
As stated above, a diet which is high in sugar, saturated fats, trans fats and processed foods is a diet which promotes inflammation and does nothing to protect against oxidative stress. Almost all neurological conditions, and aging of the brain, are associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. We need to include anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods including fish and seafood, nuts, deeply colored fruits and vegetables, whole grains with fiber (not the white flour and processed grains), culinary herbs such as ginger, turmeric and other items such as green tea can protect against neurological decline.
Which are the nutrients that are able to change the cerebral metabolism?
Nutrients and foods which improve blood flow to the brain include any deep blue or purple colored foods (acai, blueberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, purple carrots, purple sweet potatoes, beets, purple cauliflower) because they contain the antioxidant called anthocyanidin which improves blood flow. Cocoa also improves blood flow to the brain and green tea as well. Ginkgo biloba and fish oil are supplements which can also improve cerebral metabolism.

How about the food we shouldn’t eat?

Avoid high-sugar foods, fried foods, processed foods which promote inflammation and oxidative stress. They also spike blood sugar and this leads to a subsequent fall in blood sugar and mood changes.
And what we should?
Include the most deeply colored fruits and vegetables possible, choose whole grains with fiber instead of white flours, include nuts which have good fats, include fish and seafood which are anti-inflammatory and provide the essential omega-3 fats needed for brain structure and function. Think about the small culinary spices and herbs – ginger, cilantro (coriander), parsley, turmeric are some examples - these provide major antioxidants and prevent inflammation. Coffee has been shown to protect against Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Green tea is very brain protective and just 2 cups daily can lower the risk of mental decline due to aging by as much as 50%.

If today I could change my diet, how long would it take to see a difference? What kind of differences?

Changes to mood with omega-3 fatty acids have been shown in as little as 3 weeks – for ADHD and learning disorders it may take 3 months. For other neurological conditions The Brain Diet is designed for prevention. Changing our diet towards The Brain Diet can lead to improvements in mood, focus, sleep and mental sharpness.
For more on his fascinating healer please check out DrTranquility.com in our Library and DrTranquility's lifestyle blog Relax,Refresh,Renew where he discusses "The Clear Skin Diet"

Don't forget about

and bwelltv.com

Dr.Susan Eisen,DC

I would like to take this moment to say hello to all of you, loyal readers, at DrTranquility.com. In these times of upheaval how lucky we all are to have someone like DrTranquility to guide us and help us through some dark and difficult times that we all may be experiencing right now. I also would like to say how grateful I am to have been a part of the history that we all experienced this November 4th. Irregardless of who you voted for we, have all taken a HUGE collective step forward toward our own responsibility… … responsibility to ourselves, to our country, and to our planet. Well done.

I will be bringing health tips and advice here at DrTranquility.com. It is my hope to open up a dialogue with you readers to hear what you want most to hear about. I do have a list of topics I wish to discuss and these are very important issues to consider. Issues like Lyme disease, exercise and health alternatives… butwith our reader's across America and the world I want to hear from you,as your questions are of the utmost importance to me!

Dr. Susan has joined Co-Editor in Chief, Dr. Fred Vagnini on Today's Health, the DrTranquility Health Blog. Dr. Susan is now officially our Health Editor for Today's Health

THE DARK SIDE OF LYME DISEASE
by Dr. Susan Eisen

Lyme disease... Do many of us really know what Lyme disease is? We have heard of it I am sure. Many Northeasterners have learned the hard way that it is a disease which can become crippling if left untreated. But do any of the unaffected people really understand?

Though many of us now find ourselves in the midst of winter with frost and snow, early spring will be just around the corner and with it the nymph stage of the Lyme tick a most dangerous stage for human infection of the disease. So, we here at Dr. Tranquility think this is the perfect time to get to know and understand this disease.

Lyme disease actually got its illustrious name from a town in Connecticut called Lyme. Back about 30 years or so ago, a large number of children were sharing strange symptoms including arthritis. Any cluster obviously requires further inspection and doctors in association with Yale University rightly investigated and found that their common symptoms were caused by the deer tick actually the deer tick is just a carrier for the real host which is the stomach of the common field mouse found locally in many, if not all states of our country. The disease, itself, is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi which is predominant to North America, though it was recognized that the spirochete was also one identified in Europe as early as the turn of the last century causing the well known bull eye rash medically referred to as Erythema chronicum migrans or Erythema migrans for short. These days we should assume that, the tick-borne disease is probably working its way to all points south.

Borrelia burgdorferi has a propensity for all tissue but particularly nerve tissue. But it is not unlike bacterial bronchitis, an infection that can be cured with antibiotics. This is the good news, the bad news is that there is a limited period of time to treat Lyme disease and cure the disease before it destroys your life indefinitely.

Lyme disease has a curious collection of odds symptoms. You have heard about the joint pains and arthritic symptoms which can on the surface seem innocuous. We all age right? Let me give you a longer list of possible symptoms starting with a sensation of being in a fog. Not a fog outside in a forest, but a fog which seems to be inside your head and it goes wherever you go. Lyme disease also presents with intense fatigue. Sinusitis is a symptom associated with Lyme disease. This is a condition that may also be prevalent with allergies. How many of us suffer with seasonal allergies, can most of us stand up? And the list continues, and gets stranger indeed. You can suffer with insomnia or excessive sleep. Depression, panic attacks, and muscle tics are also symptoms associated with Lyme disease. Word retrieval can become difficult suddenly you find yourself unable to complete your sentences; your ability to spell diminishes. Would you think that sudden onset of obsessive compulsive disorder could be a symptom of the disease? It is.

The problem is most people would be hard put to associate all of these symptoms together to form a disease. The symptoms can all point to other conditions and thus many patients fail to get a proper diagnosis in precious time which is paramount in the treatment of this disease if you wish to have a lifelong cure without the crippling and degenerative effects that untreated Lyme can bring.

Having and treating Lyme disease can be like a second job, believe me. I was met with the misfortune of being bitten by a tick myself and became infected with the disease 4 years ago. I started experiencing a myriad of weird symptoms and unknowing, didn't put things together until I slept one Saturday night into Sunday afternoon for 13 hours and waking up with intense fatigue and inability to get out of bed. By that Wednesday, I was convinced that I had Lyme, confirming the presence of the target bull eye rash to the back of my neck.

It prompted me to look into the full understanding of the disease, not just the CDC understanding. What I found out scared me and interested me at the same time. My medical doctor was disinterested in giving me the standard three week dosage set forth by the CDC and I was forced to politely listen to his lecture regarding the Merck formulary and the recommendation that one 500 mg. dose of Doxycycline was enough to kill the disease. I thought at the time,that is if you are uninfected. What about someone like me who was infected and diagnosed early? I was able to get the standard 21 day dose but from my own research as a holistic chiropractor, I already knew that 45 days of antibiotic therapy was needed to cure this disease for once and for all.

I was forced to seek out additional medical care in order to get my additional medication and I am happy to say that I was cured and that the aches, brain fog, facial tics, spelling and speaking difficulties as well as my obsessive compulsive symptoms disappeared. I can tell you while undergoing therapy; it was comical for me to watch myself with my OCD since I do not normally suffer with those symptoms. Getting out of the house was maddening since it took a full 10 minutes for me to be convinced that my front door was actually locked!

Try googling Lyme disease. Check out any medical site and very few if any will even suggest a hint of the severity of this illness or what can be done to treat, cure, and prevent. I will hope to accomplish all of this for you by the end of this article.

Until that time, I will leave you with some links to read about this disease.

end part 1. for part 2 visit Drtranquility.com !You will currently find it in our library!

Relaxation Response Can Influence Expression Of Stress-Related Genes
an article released by Massacheusetts General Hospital

How could a single, nonpharmacological intervention help patients deal with disorders ranging from high blood pressure, to pain syndromes, to infertility, to rheumatoid arthritis? That question may have been answered by a study finding that eliciting the relaxation response - a physiologic state of deep rest - influences the activation patterns of genes associated with the body's response to stress. The collaborative investigation by members of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind/Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Genomics Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) appears in the open-access journal PLoS One.

"For hundreds of years Western medicine has looked at mind and body as totally separate entities, to the point where saying something 'is all in your head' implied that it was imaginary," says Herbert Benson, MD, director emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute and co-senior author of the PloS One report. "Now we've found how changing the activity of the mind can alter the way basic genetic instructions are implemented."

Towia Libermann, PhD, director of the BIDMC Genomics Center and the report's co-senior author, adds, "This is the first comprehensive study of how the mind can affect gene expression, linking what has been looked on as a 'soft' science with the 'hard' science of genomics. It is also important because of its focus on gene expression in healthy individuals, rather than in disease states."

More than 35 years ago Benson first described the relaxation response, which can be elicited by practices including meditation, deep breathing and prayer; and his team has pioneered the field of mind/body medicine. Over the years, studies in many peer-reviewed journals documented how the relaxation response not only alleviates symptoms of psychological disorders such as anxiety but also affects physiologic factors such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen consumption and brain activity. While it became evident that the relaxation response was the opposite of the well documented fight-or-flight response, the mechanism underlying these effects was still unknown.

The current study was designed to investigate if changes in gene expression - whether specific genes are activated or ...read more of this fascinating article released by Mass General in the Library of DrTranqulity.com!
Benson is the Mind/Body Medical Institute Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, where Libermann is an associate professor of Medicine. Hasan Otu, PhD, of BIDMC Genomics Center is co-lead author of the PloS One study. Additional co-authors are Ann Wohlhueter, Benson-Henry Institute; and Manoj Bhasin, PhD, Luiz Zerbini, PhD, and Marie Joseph, BIDMC. The study was supported by grants from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

Massachusetts General Hospital, established in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the United States, with an annual research budget of more than $500 million and major research centers in AIDS, cardiovascular research, cancer, computational and integrative biology, cutaneous biology, human genetics, medical imaging, neurodegenerative disorders, regenerative medicine, systems biology, transplantation biology and photomedicine.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School and consistently ranks in the top four in National Institutes of Health funding among independent hospitals nationwide. BIDMC is a clinical partner of the Joslin Diabetes Center and is a research partner of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. BIDMC is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox.

We are sure you found these pieces fascinating and informative and we invite you to stop by our Library to find the full article's on DrTranquility.com
read many wonderfully informative pieces..in fact we update with 22 new articles daily!
From The Family of DrTranquility.com and myself we wish for you to be happy,healthy,and well!
Be well and breathe,
Lydia,DrTranquility
Co-Editor in Chief The DrTranquility Health Blog
Editor in Chief DrTranquility.com

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Wednesday, March 18, 2009