MBSR is based on a form of meditation known as mindfulness.  Mindfulness is a basic human quality, a way of learning to pay wise attention to whatever is happening in your life that allows you a greater sense of connection to your life inwardly and outwardly.  Mindfulness is also a practice, a systematic method aimed at cultivating clarity, insight, and understanding.  In the context of your health, mindfulness is a way for you to experientially learn to take better care of yourself by exploring and understanding the interplay of mind and body and mobilizing your own inner resources for coping, growing and healing.  Mindfulness is not something you have to “get” or acquire.  It is already within you—a deep internal resource available and patiently waiting to be reawakened.

Jon Kabat-Zinn started MBSR at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1979.  Nearly three decades of scientific research at UMASS and at medical centers all over the world suggest that training in mindfulness and MBSR can positively and often profoundly affect participants’ ability to reduce medical symptoms and psychological distress while learning to live more fully.

The Stress Reduction Program has benefited people reporting a variety of conditions and concerns:

Stress—with work, school, family, financial, illness, aging, grief, uncertainty about the future, and feeling “out of control”.

Medical conditions—chronic illness or pain, hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, allergies and asthma, skin disorders, GI distress and many other conditions.

Psychological distress—anxiety, panic, depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances.

Prevention and Wellness—health enhancement and wellness focused on prevention and learning the “how” of taking good care of yourself and feeling a greater sense of balance.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction is meant to work synergistically as a compliment with medical and psychological treatments.  Studies over the last three decades suggests that doing what you can for yourself, coupled with what your healthcare provider can do for you, can be far more effective than either approach on its own.

Dates

The program consists of eight weekly 2 hour classes and one day long practice (on a weekend) between sessions six and seven.  Classes will include meditation practices, mindful movements such as yoga and qi gong, and group discussions.

Our first class will be a free introduction to MBSR held on Thursday, March 1.

Classes will be held from 6-8pm on Thursday evenings starting on March 8.

Cost

$295 for the module (8 sessions plus the day long practice) + $20 materials fee (includes MBSR workbook)

Teachers

Christopher Gunst, MFTI

Dr. Jennifer Gunst, DAOM, L.Ac

Links

For additional information please visit www.cnmhealth.com and www.umassmed.edu/cfm/stress/index.aspx.

Please contact the front desk at 650-323-7345 or email info@cnmhealth.com to sign up.

Here at Cypress Natural Medicine, we have been fortunate to have had many beautiful, scenic photographs, taken by photographer Peter Buranzon of Pacific Visuals Photography, adorn our walls for the past few months. We have enjoyed working among such captivating and peaceful images of our environment and have received many compliments from our patients. We invite you to visit our clinic to view the showcase while on display until December 12th. You can even wrap one up and take it home as these beautiful, framed photographs would make a wonderful Holiday gift for someone on your list!

To learn more about Pacific Visuals Photography, you can visit pacific-visuals.com

In Health,

Dr. Bryan Skinner, ND

Radiation Monitoring for San Francisco

Radiation Daily Data Summary

Due to the information that we have now, we would not suggest that any patients consume additional supplemental iodine or iodide formulations.  We are keeping tabs on this situation and will add additional suggestions if conditions change.  Again, the levels of radiation that the West Coast is experiencing is not enough to be of harm.  Please abstain from the unnecessary use of iodine and iodide products unless levels of radiation significantly increase.

We will keep you posted if information changes.

In Health,

Dr. Bryan Skinner, ND

This teleseries is for you if…

* You constantly struggle with your weight

* Are challenged to maintain a regular fitness program that gets results

* Are looking for easy and simple ways to stay fit and healthy

Register at this link:

http://www.womengettingfit.com/membersite/index.php?afid=98

If you’re ready to be supported, encouraged, and educated with key insights, some not even in the mainstream yet, you’ll want to sign up for this FREE teleseries.

The first teleseries topic is Releasing Weight and starts March 8th, so hurry!

Get ready to discover:

* The 5 Feminine Strategies for Weight Loss Every Woman Should Know

* How Digestion Can Make or Break Your Weight Release Efforts

* How to Strip Away The Foods That Weigh You Down

* Discover the Missing Pieces to Creating Weight Release Success!

* Simple Steps to a Slimmer Tummy

* Rewrite YOUR Food Story From A Place Of Authenticity And Passion

* How To Lose the Last 10-20 Pounds, and Double Your Energy

* 3 Biggest Mistakes Most Women Make When Starting An Exercise Program

* And More

Don’t miss out on the teleseries that will change your health and fitness for the better!

Again, register for this FREE teleseries here: http://www.womengettingfit.com/membersite/index.php?afid=98 to sign up now!

The times and days for the calls are every Tuesday at 6pm PST starting March 8th and ending April 19th and every Thursday at 12pm PST starting March 10th and ending April 14th.

Actual dates:

March: 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31

April: 5, 7, 12, 14, 19

Diet high in dairy products and high glycemic foods are associated with increased acne.

Acne vulgaris has anecdotally been attributed to diet by individuals affected by this skin condition. In a 2009 systematic literature review of 21 observational studies and 6 clinical trials, the association between acne and diet was evaluated. Observational studies, including 2 large controlled prospective trials, reported that cow’s milk intake increased acne prevalence and severity. Furthermore, prospective studies, including randomized controlled trials, demonstrated a positive association between a high-glycemic-load diet, hormonal mediators, and acne risk. Based on these findings, there exists convincing data supporting the role of dairy products and high-glycemic-index foods in influencing hormonal and inflammatory factors, which can increase acne prevalence and severity. Studies have been inconclusive regarding the association between acne and other foods.

Before trying medication for acne, simply remove all dairy products from your diet.  This may be a simple cure for your acne.  The Doctors at Cypress Natural Medicine can assist you in this dietary change and also evaluate and treat food sensitivities.  Contact our office at (650) 323-7345 for more information.

We know that eating fruits and veggies is good for us but what we don’t realize is that this simple act could save our lives. Research demonstrates a reduced risk of chronic disease with a plentiful intake of produce, so sometimes an alternative is required for the vegetable-resistant or the busy. I eat fruits and veggies every day and still take my Juice Plus+ every day in order to “fill in� any nutrient gaps.

A great option to consider for those of us who understand the importance of a diet high in fruits and vegetables, although they don’t seem to get enough is a powdered encapsulated fruit and vegetable supplement. Juice Plus+ is made first by juicing and then drying vine ripened fruits and veggies at cool temperatures in order to remove water and sugar. This low temperature processing allows for the enzymes to stay active and the nutrients to remain at optimal levels, similar to that of a raw food diet.

The most recent of several research studies published in peer-reviewed journals on Juice Plus+ demonstrates the link between inflammation and many chronic diseases. This study was published in the April 2010 online edition of Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. This double-blind study of 117 healthy men and women measured changes in inflammatory blood markers after subjects consumed either placebo or Juice Plus+ powdered fruit and vegetable capsules. The optimal goal is having low levels of inflammatory markers.  Inflammation is linked increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

After 60 days, the subjects receiving the fruit and vegetable supplements had lower levels of inflammatory markers, as well as higher blood levels of antioxidant vitamins, when compared to the group taking a placebo.

For optimal nutrition, food is always key. Juice Plus+ provides extra nutritional intensity, density, and variety to your diet.  Juice Plus+ provides an easy way to eat 35 plant foods every day.

Feel free to assess the peer-reviewed research for yourself at www.FruitVeggieHealth.com

1. A change or variation.
2. The quality of being changeable.

One of the great joys in life is change; a sunrise as it changes the darkness into light, deciduous shrubs shedding their leaves, the lifecycle of amphibians, and ourselves as we grow and change. Allowing ourselves to be open to change can lead us to encounter new experiences and ideas. Most of us are not born vegetarian, so being open to the concept that vegetarianism is both valid and viable may lead us to discover a wonderful wide new world of plant foods.

artwork by L. Dunnett

The first step with any change begins first in the willingness to do so, which is then followed by a transitory stage. The change from fried chicken to teriyaki tofu need not be cold turkey, so to speak. It’s not necessary, or even recommended, for everyone to go full-fledged raw food vegan overnight (although those cheesy raw kale chips give hot cheetos a serious run for their money). A simple change from chicken to vegetable broth can make for an easier initial transition at the dinner table.

There is a wide spectrum of vegetarian subtypes, illustrating the variety of choices one can make during the transition away from meat. We may choose to include eggs and dairy, or omit them completely. It’s up to each of us to choose which variation of the vegetarian bandwagon we want to climb aboard.

• Pesco Vegetarians include fish into their diets.
• Lacto Vegetarians include dairy products into their diet of plant food.
• Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians eat both eggs and dairy products.
• Vegetarians eat only plant food. They do not eat any animal foods, including fish, eggs, or dairy products.
• Vegans also eliminate all animal products from the rest of their life; they do not wear leather, wool, or silk.
• Raw Food Vegans eat only unprocessed vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit, in order to preserve the enzymes inherent in raw food.

Which brings us to the point of this column. Visissitude includes change and variety. A varied diet, regardless of if it’s vegetarian, is a key component of optimal heath and wellness. Variability provides the broadest array of trace minerals, vitamins, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and proteins, all of which are essential for our function. Therefore, during the transitory stage, The Resident Veggie advocates the two key tenets to success: ease (i.e. no cold turkey) and variety. We’re going to get bored, deficient, and damp pretty quickly if we equate vegetarian food with tofu, more tofu, and then more tofu. Thanks to the vegetarian industrial powers that be, the following products are recommended for an easy transition onto your veggie sampler plate.

Tempeh Bacon
Tempeh is a fermented protein made from a combination of rices, millet, soy, and/or barley. The fermentation process increases digestibility and utilizes a koji starter of Aspergillus oryzae spores, which are also used to make miso and sake. The amino acid makeup of tempeh is very similar to meat.

Gardein Chick’n Scallopini and 7 Grain Crispy Tenders
Gardein stands for garden protein, and is used extensively by Oprah’s vegan chef Tal Ronnen. It’s a new generation of “meat” that uses a slow cooking method of blended quinoa, millet, kamut, amaranth, soy, and wheat to produce a hearty vegetarian protein. Gardein does contain gluten, so make sure to pop a gluten digestive enzyme as necessary.

Dr-cow tree nut cheeses and Daiya vegan cheese
For years the dairy-free cheese market was an embarrassment to the vegan world due to the uninspired, plasticized, rubbery, tasteless, and un-meltable “cheeses” that populated the supermarket aisles. Then, a few companies realized that cheese is cheese not really because of the milk, but because of the enzymes and bacteria. Brilliant! Subsequently, 2 spectacular vegan cheeses were born. Dr- Cow’s cheeses are made from organic nuts and seeds and aged with acidophilus. Daiya cheese is made with cassava, palm, and enzymes, and melts into strings that actually taste good.

Happy sampling.

Next up: “Where do you get your … ?”, everything you need to know regarding the nutritional biochemistry of a vegetarian diet.

Tuesday, May 25th from 6:30-7:30 pm, Kelly Grant, RD will give a lecture and cooking class on Living Dairy and Gluten Free. She will share how undiagnosed gluten and dairy sensitivity is the root cause of many diseases. Join us and taste for yourself the delicious and healthful gluten and dairy free snacks that will be provided. Learn new tips and recipes to help you transition into healthier eating patterns! Cost is $40 with a 50% off special for current Cypress Natural Medicine patients!

June 22- 29th 2010 – One Week Group Cleanse – $350 per person

Increase your energy and vitality and give your body a break from the toxic burden our modern world puts on us.  Eliminate food cravings, skin blemishes, lose excess weight, balance hormones, discover food sensitivities and more!

Includes:

• Includes organic cleansing meals delivered to your home. (Meals include organic, seasonal produce, detoxifying herbs and spices, anti-inflammatory nuts and seeds, organic protein choice and herb dressings.)
• Learn and receive healing recipes including smoothies, soups, healing tea, herb dressings and more.
• Include cleansing Herbs and Probiotics regime
• Includes Ultra Clear shakes by Metagenics
• Pre and post cleanse group meetings with doctor and registered dietitian
• Learn healing foods that detox you every day

Call us today to register for the above classes at 650-323-7345. We hope to see you there!