A new study published in the July 2012 issue of The Journal of Pediatrics shows that supplementation with an encapsulated fruit and juice concentrate, Juice Plus+® Orchard Blend and Garden Blend, was associated with an increase in serum beta-carotene concentrations, reduced abdominal adipose tissue and improved insulin resistance in overweight boys compared to the placebo group. These study results add to the existing body of research about the role of nutrition in promoting children’s health.

This double-blind placebo-controlled study was conducted at the Nemours Children’s Clinic Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism in Jacksonville, Fla., and was funded by the Nemours Research Program.  It followed 30 age-matched boys between the ages of six and 10 years (nine lean and 21 overweight) for a six-month period. Randomized participants received either placebo or fruit and vegetable juice concentrate capsules in conjunction with nutrition and lifestyle counseling sessions at baseline and halfway (three months) with a registered research dietician.

The many healthful benefits of Juice Plus+ have been demonstrated through numerous independent clinical research studies conducted in leading hospitals and universities by investigators in the United States, England, Australia, Austria, Italy and Japan. Read more about the independent Juice Plus clinical research here.

In just two months, Californians will be voting on one of the most important issues involving our eco-system, food supply and personal health.

Referred to as “The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act”, Proposition 37, a Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Initiative, is on the November 6, 2012 ballot in California as an initiated state statute.  If Proposition 37 is approved by voters, it will:

• Require labeling on raw or processed food offered for sale to consumers if the food is made from plants or animals with genetic material changed in specified ways.
• Prohibit labeling or advertising such food as “natural.”
• Exempt from this requirement foods that are “certified organic; unintentionally produced with genetically engineered material; made from animals fed or injected with genetically engineered material but not genetically engineered themselves; processed with or containing only small amounts of genetically engineered ingredients; administered for treatment of medical conditions; sold for immediate consumption such as in a restaurant; or alcoholic beverages.”

Surprisingly, you most likely are eating GMO’s already.  Most people in the United States don’t realize that they’ve been eating genetically engineered foods since the mid-1990s. More than 60 percent of all processed foods on U.S. supermarket shelves—including pizza, chips, cookies, ice cream, salad dressing, corn syrup, and baking powder—contain ingredients from engineered soybeans, corn, or canola.  Even though GMO’s exist, there have been NO long-term studies conducted on the safety of genetically engineered foods on humans or the possible negative effect on our ecosystem.  More than 40 countries with over 40% of the world’s population already label genetically engineered foods, including the entire European Union. Even China labels genetically engineered foods. California is taking the lead on this important issue in the United States. In a recent poll, 93% of Californians said they would vote for Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods.  Many large food corporations, agriculture and chemical companies are opposed to labeling GMO’s and have given large sums of money to the tune of $28,000.000.00 (yes, million) in opposition.  Since foods are already labeled with nutritional, allergen and ingredient information, perhaps we should be asking why don’t they want to label their GMO food?  And if GMO foods really are safe, why are these chemical and food companies shelling out so much money to make sure these GMO foods don’t get labeled?

Here is a great article from Huffington Post on the Top 10 Lies on GMO Labeling in California.

In our last blog, we explored the downside of drinking bottled water. And since tap water isn’t a healthy option either, the question remaining is how to we get access to clean, safe drinking water? One of the best and most affordable options (because it will save money over time) is to install a household water purification system and carry re-usable stainless steel or glass water bottles.  There are many different types of water filter systems to choose from and it can be cumbersome to discern which is best at filtering out dangerous tap water contaminants vs. ease of installation and price. To help make your quest for safe drinking water easier, we have compiled the following sites to help you:

Consumers Guide to Water Filters

Water Filter Comparisons

At Cypress Natural Medicine, we use a zero waste Reverse Osmosis system and love our Klean Kanteen bottles!

Bottled water manufacturers lead us to believe their product is pure, clean water direct from nature.  Just look at the water bottle ads of pristine pools of spring water surrounded by majestic, snowcapped mountain tops. Well, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, “Bottled water is not necessarily safer than your tap water.” The truth is most bottled water is sourced from a local municipal water supply, and even worse, the bottled water industry is poorly regulated.  In a report conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), they found as much as 40% of all bottled water comes from a city water system, just like tap water. The report also discloses 60 to 70% of all bottled water is exempt from FDA’s bottled water standards because it is bottled and sold within the same state. Unless the water is transported across state lines, there are no federal regulations that govern its quality. According to the NRDC, “bottled water companies have used this loophole to avoid complying with basic health standards, such as those that apply to municipally treated tap water.”  Other findings from the four-year study by the NRDC found that of 103 brands surveyed, one- third contained high levels of contamination and that the contents of one bottle labeled “Spring Water” actually came from an industrial parking lot next to a hazardous waste site.

Even though concerns over the quality, safety and environmental hazards of bottled water are becoming publicly acknowledged, the demands for bottled water continue to grow.  As if you didn’t need any more, consider the following facts compiled by the Environmental Working Group on compelling reasons to just say no to bottled water:

• Between 2004 and 2009, US consumption of bottled water increased by 24 percent. Bottled water sales have more than quadrupled in the last 20 years (BMC 2010).

• Every 27 hours Americans consume enough bottled water to circle the entire equator with plastic bottles stacked end to end.

• In just a single week, those bottles would stretch more than halfway to the moon — 155,400 miles.

• The federal government does not mandate that bottled water be any safer than tap water – the chemical pollution standards are nearly identical (EWG 2008). In fact, bottled water is less regulated than tap water.

• Close to half of all bottled water is sourced from municipal tap water (BMC 2010, Food and Water Watch 2010).

• It takes an estimated 2,000 times more energy to produce bottled water than to produce an equivalent amount of tap water (Gleick 2009).

• Bottled water production and transportation for the U.S. market consumes more than 30 million barrels of oil each year and produces as much carbon dioxide as 2 million cars (Gleick 2009).

• Plastic water bottles are the fastest growing form of municipal solid waste in the United States. Each year more than 4 billion pounds of PET plastic bottles end up in landfills or as roadside litter (Corporate Accountability International 2010).

• While plastic bottles can be recycled, the majority are not. Moreover, plastic never actually degrades; it just breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces. In some parts of the ocean, plastic outweighs plankton by a six-to-one ratio (Moore 2001).

• Bottled water has indirect economic costs. Disposing of plastic water bottle waste, for example, costs cities nationwide an estimated $70 million in landfill tipping fees each year (Corporate Accountability International 2010).

Next week we will explore safe and cost-effective alternatives to bottled water.

Tossing and turning, counting sheep, and replaying the day’s events or tomorrow’s to-do-list in your mind instead of sleeping? Unfortunately, this scenario is a common occurrence in today’s busy and stress-filled lifestyle.  Insomnia is one of the leading complaints of why people seek a doctor’s visit. In a Gallup poll of more than 1000 adults, one-third of them complained that they woke in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep.  Many doctors’ approach this issue with a prescription for sleeping pills that may send you off to dreamland, but unfortunately have very detrimental side effects and can become addictive. In a recent study on hypnotic pharmaceuticals prescribed for sleep by Dr. Daniel F. Kripke of the Scripps Clinic Viterbi Family Sleep Center in La Jolla, CA, they found the use of hypnotic drugs associated with a more than threefold increase in the risk of death, even when prescribed in limited quantities. They also found an increased incidence of cancer among those receiving higher quantities. Of course, these findings are extremely troubling. Fortunately, natural medicine offers a safe, natural and healthy approach without side effects. We have successfully treated many people suffering from sleep issues using natural remedies that do not cause long-lasting, harmful effects on the body.  We urge you to read more on this study from Family Practice News, throw your sleeping pills away and contact our clinic to find a natural approach to your health issues.

The lymphatic system is composed of a delicate network of branching vessels that span your entire body. It is one of the most overlooked systems of the body, despite the fact it plays a central role in your overall health.  Often called the “River of Life,” the lymphatic system performs the vital function of removing excess fluid and waste, destroying pathogens, and delivering nutrients and oxygen to the cells of the body.  This process protects your body from toxins, allows cells in the body to function at their best and is vital to healthy immune system function.

An unhealthy lymphatic system can have a serious impact on your health. Poor lymph function is associated with many chronic illnesses, such as fibromyalgia, MS, chronic fatigue syndrome and even cancer. Common symptoms of a sluggish lymph system can be fatigue, general body aches and pains, recurrent infections or illness and swollen glands.

Unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system has no pump to move lymph fluid through the body. There are several natural approaches that can aid and improve the function of our lymphatic system. We recommend the following:

• Drink plenty of purified water-Dehydration is a major cause of impaired lymphatic function.  Drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water. For example, if you are 100lbs, you would drink 50 oz. of water daily.
• Exercise-The lymphatic system relies on activity and muscle contraction to move lymph around the body.
• Get a massage-Massage increases lymph flow and helps combat stress and fatigue too.
• Jump on a rebounder (mini-trampoline).  Rebounding has been proven to be an effective way to move lymph fluid through the body. Just 5-15 minutes a day can be helpful.
• Dry skin brush-Using a dry skin brush in the morning before showering is a great way to move the lymph and get a great, quick start to the day. Always brush toward the heart.
• Detox at least twice a year-Detoxing reduces the amount of toxins circulating in your body which in turn will put less strain on the lymph system.
• There are homeopathic drainage products and programs designed to resolve lymph-related issues.  Contact our front office for more information.

Following are simple YouTube videos explaining more about how Dry Skin Brushing and Rebounding can help increase lymph flow.

When temperatures are predicted in high numbers and the busy days of summer keep you outdoors instead of in your kitchen, these healthy salads are quick and easy, require minimal or no cooking, and are the perfect way to enjoy all the produce that’s in season.

Vegan Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1/2 cup sweet corn (fresh or frozen)
• 1/4 cucumber
• 1/2 red onion
• 5 sundried tomatoes
• 1 lemon
• 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 tsp cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• pinch organic unrefined sugar
• salt and pepper
• handful finely chopped dill
• handful of radish sprouts (or alfalfa etc.)

Directions:

1. Cook quinoa and set in fridge to cool.
2. Finely dice the red onion. Skin and de-seed the cucumber and cut into small chunks. If you’re using fresh sweet corn, take it off the cob using a knife and blanche the kernels for a few minutes. If using frozen, place them in a bowl, cover with freshly boiled water, drain and rinse. Cut the sun-dried tomatoes into small pieces. Set all ingredients aside.
3. In a clean empty jam jar, add the mustard, sugar, salt and pepper, vinegar, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil and dill. Screw the lid on tightly and give it a vigorous shake.
4. Take the quinoa out of the fridge and carefully mix through all the ingredients. Pour over two thirds of the dressing and give it a gentle, coaxing stir. Serve in a bowl, topped off with the sprouts and using the remaining dressing to drizzle over the top.

Citrus Black Bean Salad

Ingredients:

• 1  green pepper
• 1  red pepper
• 2 cups black beans
• 1 cup diced pineapple
• 1 cup sweet corn kernals
• 1  lime, juiced
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
• 3/4 cup pomegranate seeds
•  salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Wash the peppers in cool water. Then, deseed and dice them. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
2. Add the black beans, pineapple and corn to the mixing bowl and stir to combine.
3. Pour the lime juice and olive oil over the pepper mixture. Sprinkle with cilantro. Mix well.
4. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds. Stir to combine.
5. Salt and pepper, to taste. Serve immediately, or chill until ready to eat.

Kale and Avocado Salad

Ingredients:

• 1⁄2 cup fresh orange juice
• 3 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 2 tsp. soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic, smashed and chopped into a paste
• 4 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 avocados, halved, pitted, and peeled
• 2 tbsp. raw hemp seeds (optional)
• 1 bunch kale (about 3⁄4 lb.), stemmed and finely chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Whisk together juices, soy sauce, and garlic in a bowl. Slowly whisk in oil; set dressing aside.
2. Cut 2 avocados into 1⁄2″ cubes and thinly slice the remaining avocado. Put cubed avocados, half of the hemp seeds, and kale into a serving bowl. Toss kale mixture with dressing and season generously with salt and pepper. Divide salad between plates and garnish with sliced avocado and remaining hemp seeds.

Enjoy!

What alternative practitioners have said for decades, finally allopathic medicine is beginning to admit; that underlying, chronic inflammation is the root of many diseases, including heart disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurological degeneration such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Andrew Weil, M.D., Director of Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, reported at the Annual Nutrition and Health Conference in San Francisco in 2011 that inflammatory status is strongly influenced by diet.

“Most people go through life in a pro-inflammatory state, because they eat a modern, industrialized diet, which gives you carbohydrates and fats without all of the protective elements,” said Weil. He reported that a diet that includes protective foods, such as vegetables, fish and whole grains, offers anti-inflammatory benefits that promote healthy aging, and support optimum health at any age.

Following are some tips to ward off inflammation:

• Eat healthy protein with every meal such as beans, nuts, seeds and fish. Wild Alaskan salmon is one of the best sources of protein and omega-3 fatty acids—the heavy hitter in the fight against inflammation. If you don’t eat fish, take a high quality fish oil to obtain healthy levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
• Eat lots of organic fruits and veggies. Loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, they nourish your body and are naturally detoxifying.
• Eliminate or minimize inflammation-causing trans-fats, most commonly found in fried and processed foods.
•  Incorporate Extra-virgin Olive Oil, which contains alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), into your diet. ALA is a type of omega-3 that is anti-inflammatory.  Olive Oil is best over salads and vegetables and not meant to be cooked with on high heat.
• Cook with anti-inflammatory spices such as turmeric, ginger and curry.
• Eat moderate portions of healthy, whole grains in your diet such as quinoa, brown rice and buckwheat.
• Minimize processed foods and refined sugar as they have no nutritional value and actually contribute to inflammatory states within the body.
• Drink green tea, which contains anti-inflammatory flavonoids.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of clean, purified water.
• Reduce stress. Find ways to handle stress in a positive way. Meditation, yoga, Tai Chi and journaling can help create calm and offer an outlet for stress release.
• Stay active. Find activities you enjoy such as walking or exercise.
• Breathe! Breathing from your diaphragm brings oxygen to your cells and aids in relaxation, which decreases inflammation!

Here is a printable version Dr. Weil’s version of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid.

We are full bloom into growing season at Cypress Natural Medicine! Our Tower Garden, in just 4 short weeks, is bursting with a bountiful harvest! Organic kale, spinach, lettuce, an array of herbs, and strawberries are ready for picking. We are eagerly waiting for tomatoes, squash and cucumbers to show up soon.

Here’s a look at our patio Tower Garden:

Cypress team members are also enjoying their own harvest at home:

Dr. Jen’s Tower Garden

Arlene’s Tower Garden

Dr. Destia’s Tower Garden

There are so many benefits to owning your own Tower Garden. Our favorite is once you have it set-up, which doesn’t take much time at all, you don’t have to spend a lot of time watering and tending to your garden. Many of us have gone out of town and when we return, our garden is still growing! It really is gardening made simple.

Visit our Tower Garden site to learn how you can grow your own harvest at home too!

Who knew that eating with the seasons is just what nature intended?  According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the world is a harmonious and holistic entity where all living beings are viewed in relation to the surrounding environment. TCM agrees that we are what we eat and that it’s important to consume foods according to the season. In ancient TCM philosophies, consuming seasonal foods that are similar in nature to the external environment help us remain in harmony with the environment, adapt better to seasonal changes, and stay healthy. The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor put forth the principle that one should cultivate the yang energy in spring and summer, while protecting the yin energy in autumn and winter.

This philosophy takes on a whole new meaning with our current global food economy.  Eating in accordance with what’s in season in your particular region has many advantages due to the transporting of our food. “The closer we eat to the source and the less processing and shipping, the more nutritional value we can access.  There is less risk of contamination, less fuel used, and less waste in the environment,” says Terry Walters, author of the seasonal cookbook Clean Food. According to the National Resources Defense Council, most produce grown in the United States travels an average of 1,500 miles before it gets sold. A grape traveling from Chile to California travels approximately 5,900 miles!

Fortunately, many of the summer foods recommended by TCM are foods that are naturally in season and can be found at your local farmers market. Some of the foods to look for are watermelon, cantaloupe, apricots, peaches, watercress, cucumber, summer squash, zucchini, Chinese cabbage, and spinach.

To find out what’s in-season in your area, head to your local farmers market or check out the National Resources Defense Council Eat Local Guide.