Home Blog Page 41

Finally, a cure for sepsis: Herbs

By
Scarlett Murray
-
0
Finally, a cure for sepsis: Herbs

Can herbs cure sepsis? The EXIT-SEP trial was just published, and demonstrated a decrease in all cause mortality from xuebijing – a product manufactured by a pharmaceutical company from a combination of Carthamus tinctorius flowers (Honghua in Chinese), Paeonia lactiflora roots (Chishao), Ligusticum chuanxiong rhizomes (Chuanxiong), Angelica sinensis roots (Danggui), and Salvia miltiorrhiza roots (Danshen). What should we make of these somewhat surprising results?

The paper

Liu S, Yao C, Xie J, et al. Effect of an Herbal-Based Injection on 28-Day Mortality in Patients With Sepsis: The EXIT-SEP Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2023 May 1:e230780. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.0780. PMID: 37126332 NCT03238742

The Methods

The EXIT-SEP is a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, multicenter trial from 45 ICUs in China. 

Patients

Adult patients (between 18 and 75 years) with sepsis and a SOFA score between 2 and 13.

Key exclusions were: sepsis for more than 48 hours at the time of enrollment, severe primary disease (such as an unresectable tumor), severe liver or kidney dysfunction, and immunosuppression.

Intervention

Xuebijing injection for 5 consecutive days.

Comparison

Matching placebo

Outcome

The primary outcome was 28 day all cause mortality.

The Results

Between 2017 and 2019, there were 4692 septic patients screened, and they ultimately enrolled 1817 patients. Presumably because of the exclusion criteria, the mean age is relatively young (56 years), with 65% of patients being male, and a relatively low rate of co-morbidities (30% HTN, 20% diabetes, and everything else in the low single digits). The mean APACHE II scores were also relatively low at about 12. The groups do appear to be evenly matched. 

Almost 25% of patients did not complete their course of the study medication.

Xuebijing resulted in a 7% absolute decrease in the primary outcome of 28 day all-cause mortality (26% vs 19%, p<0.001).

Secondary outcomes are also mostly positive (although I am a little more concerned about them, as they were changed from the original research protocol relatively late in the data gathering period).

My thoughts

Although there are always some minor points that can be discussed as part of a critical appraisal, this is a well done study, which followed the registered protocol, and demonstrated a large patient important benefit. Although I will mention a few critical appraisal issues, the key concepts when interpreting this study are broader, focused on pretest probability, and the general logic (or illogic) of herbal remedies.

Selection bias is always an issue to consider. The exclusion criteria of this study resulted in a much healthier population than the average ICU sepsis patient. There are also always concerns that a study completed entirely in China may not extrapolate to other areas of the world.

Given that the treatment course was only 5 days, it is a pretty big red flag that 25% of patients didn’t complete the treatment. However, it seems like this is mostly because the patients were transferred to the floor, and the rate seems similar between the groups. A somewhat bigger concern is that they don’t know the mortality status for 57 patients (which is pretty high, especially for an easily documented status of alive or dead), and the researchers just assumed the patients were alive.

It is also worth noting that a 7% decrease in absolute mortality is relatively unheard of, and so although it makes the results exciting, it also raises the ‘potentially too good to be true’ red flag.

The pretest probability for any study looking to decrease mortality in sepsis is going to be low. The pretest probability of any study looking at ‘alternative’ medicine is going to be low. Of the many forms of ‘alternative’ medicine, herbals probably have the highest pretest probability, because plant products contain thousands of biologically active substances, and we have formulated many of our drugs from those substances. (In contrast, the pretest probability of homeopathy is 0%, and so you can ignore the results of any trial, because it is simply scientifically impossible for homeopathy to provide benefit). When you start with a low pretest probability, a single study is never convincing in isolation. Even when the trial is high quality, there is always risk of both bias and chance findings. Replication is a core principle of science. Therefore, this trial should be seen as preliminary, and really needs replication before there is any clinical practice change. 

More importantly, herbal remedies will never be the best approach. A herbal remedy is a collection of thousands of chemicals, each with different biological actions. If a herbal remedy truly has an effect, it is highly probable that only one, or a small handful, of those chemicals is responsible. So the first big problem with herbals is that you are being exposed to thousands of additional pharmaceutical chemicals that are unnecessary and potentially harmful. 

A bigger issue is the lack of quality control in herbal remedies. The chemical composition of plants varies dramatically from crop to crop, depending on the time of year, weather conditions, and many other factors. (Just compare the flavor of an off season strawberry to one at the height of strawberry season, and the varying chemical composition of plants will become incredibly clear.) And that is just the variance of an idealized herbal remedy, without even accounting for the long history of adulterants found in these products, and variance in manufacturing processes. In essence, using a herbal remedy is using a random assortment of chemicals in random doses and praying for a good effect. That is a really bad plan.

Can herbals be useful? Of course, if we identify the important chemicals, purify them, and standardize the dose. But we just call that medicine.

Discussions of herbal remedies are frequently peppered with fallacies, and I won’t be able to cover them all here. There is nothing special about “natural”. Cyanide and sharks are both natural, but that doesn’t make them any less deadly. Plants do not evolve to help humans. Plants develop many of the chemicals they contain to act as poisons, specifically to prevent animals from ingesting them. You shouldn’t feel any better about these chemicals because they are “natural”.

Many people distrust the pharmaceutical industry (probably with good reason). However, they fail to recognize that the herbal supplement industry is also a multi-billion dollar industry, and the products are often sold by the exact same pharmaceutical companies, but just with less regulation. If you distrust “big pharma”, you should distrust “big herbal” even more, because there is just as much money to be made, but with far less regulation.

For that matter, the definition of herbal is extremely nebulous. Xuebijing is a product manufactured for intravenous injection by the Tianjin Chase Sun Pharmaceutical corporation. How is this different from a medication? If they had given this product an unpronounceable generic name, and marketed the hell out of the brand name “AntiSEP”, we would have just treated it like a drug. (Although, hopefully, we would have criticized the drug for its incredibly poor manufacturing standards).

At the end of the day, these are important results, especially if they are replicated. However, the appropriate clinical response is not to use a random mixture of chemicals in varying concentrations in a herbal product. The appropriate response is to begin work on isolating the individual chemicals and/or combinations that might actually be having a beneficial impact here, so that we can produce a safe and consistent medication for our patients.

Chemical components of xuebijing

Pay close attention to the high variability, represented in the +/- of the average content level. Would you accept a pharmaceutical agent whose active ingredients varied that much from batch to batch?

Bottom line

This is a promising study, but should be considered preliminary research, both because the results need replication, but also because we should be working towards being much more precise in the formulation, rather than exposing patients to this inconsistent brew of chemicals. 

References

Liu S, Yao C, Xie J, et al. Effect of an Herbal-Based Injection on 28-Day Mortality in Patients With Sepsis: The EXIT-SEP Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2023 May 1:e230780. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.0780. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37126332

The Daily Diet Chris Hemsworth Followed During Avengers Filming

By
Scarlett Murray
-
0
The Daily Diet Chris Hemsworth Followed During Avengers Filming

It’s no surprise that in order to build the hammer wielding physique of Thor, a serious amount of food must be consumed. But it’s not just about quantity. In fact, according to Chris Hemsworth’s nutritionist and personal chef, Sergio Perera, ‘When you’re training to build Thor-worthy muscles, you need to eat well.’

In an interview with news.com.au, the chef to the Hollywood star detailed the diet that Hemsworth followed in the lead up to Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and what was put on his plate might surprise a few people.

‘When it comes to building muscle he keeps it very clean with a lot of barbecuing — like meats and vegetables — and keeping it Mediterranean which involves a lot of olive oil,’ said Perera. ‘Obviously the guy is a big boy, he requires a lot of protein for the body he has.’

Hemsworth would start each day with a green smoothie containing leafy greens, fruits, nuts, seeds, fats and sea salt (apparently to aid in electrolyte balance, nerve transmission and glucose metabolism).

@chrishemsworth//Instagram

Perera also revealed that one of the Extraction star’s favourite foods is good quality beef, which he only tends to eat during daylight hours in order to allow for it to digest. According to Perera, Hemsworth doesn’t eat anything ‘boxed or canned’.

As you’d imagine, Hemsworth’s training is quite intense, which is why he focuses on eating plenty of whole foods, vegetables, lean meats and water.

a person wearing a hat and holding a golf club

@chrishemsworth//Instagram

Want to know exactly what Chris Hemsworth ate during the filming of Avengers? Check out the below,

Chris Hemsworth’s Daily Diet During Avengers Filming

Day 1

  • 8am – Green power shake with protein
  • 10am – Bowl of yogurt with mixed fresh berries, chia seeds, almonds and honey
  • 12pm – Workout
  • 1pm – Post-workout shake consisting of vegetable protein, ice water, BCAAs and 1g of vitamin C
  • 2:30pm – 8 oz grilled chicken with crispy sweet potatoes and a rocket salad with seeds, nuts and salted apple. Lemon and olive oil dressing on the side
  • 5:30pm – 2 rice cakes with Vegemite, tuna and cherry tomatoes
  • 7pm – 8 oz white fish with grilled mushrooms and a raw broccoli salad
  • 9pm – Half of a small papaya with yoghurt and berries. Magnesium and zinc supplement

Day 2

  • 8am – Green power shake with protein
  • 10am – 3 fried eggs on a slice of wholegrain toast with Vegemite and avocado
  • 12pm – Workout
  • 1pm – Post-workout shake consisting of vegetable protein, ice water, BCAAs and 1g of vitamin C
  • 2:30pm – 8 oz eye fillet (fillet mignon), grilled pumpkin salad with spinach, herbs, cucumber and ½ cup of steamed rice
  • 5:30pm – Chicken and vegetable soup with barley
  • 7pm – 8 oz white fish, leafy green salad with radicchio and balsamic dressing. A side of roasted mixed cruciferous vegetables
  • 9pm – BCAAs with magnesium and zinc supplement

Day 3

  • 8am – Raw cacao and frozen berry shake with coconut oil, chia seeds, dates and vegetable protein
  • 10am – Savoury porridge with olive oil, parmesan and two poached eggs
  • 12pm – Workout
  • 1pm – Post-workout shake
  • 2pm – Sesame chicken salad with leafy greens, sprouts, pickles and ½ cup steamed rice
  • 5pm – A homemade frozen green bar
  • 7pm – 8 oz grilled mahi mahi, grilled asparagus, roasted tomato and a non-dairy Caesar salad
  • 9pm – BCAAs with magnesium and zinc supplement
Headshot of Kate Neudecker

Kate is a fitness writer for Men’s Health UK where she contributes regular workouts, training tips and nutrition guides. She has a post graduate diploma in Sports Performance Nutrition and before joining Men’s Health she was a nutritionist, fitness writer and personal trainer with over 5k hours coaching on the gym floor. Kate has a keen interest in volunteering for animal shelters and when she isn’t lifting weights in her garden, she can be found walking her rescue dog.

Women’s health in the workplace. Here’s why businesses should care.

By
Scarlett Murray
-
0
Women’s health in the workplace. Here’s why businesses should care.

Less than 50 years ago, Canadian employers had grounds to lay off a woman for being pregnant. Fortunately, in 1978 the Canada Labour Code was amended to eliminate pregnancy as a basis for dismissal.

From family planning to menopause, there are a broad range of health concerns that women and non-binary people face during the various stages of their careers, with no two journeys being the same. The reality, however, is that women’s health topics, such as the “three Ms” of menstruation, maternity and menopause, are often viewed as taboo topics of discussion, remaining largely under-addressed in the workplace.

But women’s health is a business imperative.

As companies look to become more inclusive, bridging the women’s health gap in the workplace must be a top priority. Besides just being the right thing to do, study after study continues to build the business case for creating more equitable workplaces. Companies with more women on their executive teams earned higher returns than those with no women executives. One study found that Canada could add up to $150 billion in GDP by advancing gender equality and women’s participation in the economy.

For many women in the workforce, health-related concerns – from starting a family to menopause – often coincide with critical stages in their careers; organizations can play a key role in lending support.

Let’s look at menopause, for instance. As the Menopause Foundation of Canada highlights, the silence around this particular “M” leaves many women feeling unprepared for this stage of life and can negatively impact their health. A shocking three-quarters of working women say their employer is not supportive of this stage of life. Why should employers care about menopause? An estimated one-quarter of Canada’s labour force are women over the age of 40. The average woman will spend up to half of her working life in a menopausal state, often during the prime years of a career.

So, how can employers support women in the workforce and enhance health equity at various stages of people’s careers?

If the pandemic taught us anything, it is that a one-size-fits-all approach to supporting employee health and well-being doesn’t work. Instead, we need holistic strategies that take the diverse needs of our workforce into consideration. To bridge the women’s health gap and build inclusive workplaces, businesses should consider adopting the following three approaches:

  1. Training and education: Organizations should educate managers and employees to have real conversations about women’s health concerns in the workplace so they can address them adequately and fight the stigma. By building a culture of transparency, we can encourage more real talk about women’s unique health experiences – miscarriages, menopause, menstruation and more.
  2. Rethinking benefits and services: Ensuring women have the supports they need to succeed will mean that businesses must broaden benefits and services to be more inclusive of women and non-binary individuals. Businesses must recognize that women’s health is multidimensional and much more than just pregnancy. Benefit strategies for family planning, menopause and a broader range of health and mental health concerns in support of more equitable access to care will help lead to better health outcomes and drive business success.
  3. Integrating new policies and ways of working: Over the past few years we have seen the benefits of new ways of working firsthand. Balancing work and personal life can be particularly challenging for women, especially during critical life stages. Flexible work arrangements, such as hybrid work or flex schedules, give employees greater flexibility to attend medical appointments and family responsibilities. The vast majority of people believe that the flexibility of hybrid working serves as an equalizer in the workplace.

Women’s health is not only a matter of personal well-being but also a business imperative. The gender diversity and inclusivity of a workforce are directly linked to a company’s success and profitability. By adopting holistic strategies to support women’s health throughout their careers and life stages, employers can create more resilient, productive and compassionate workplaces.

14 natural blood thinners for heart health

By
Scarlett Murray
-
0
14 natural blood thinners for heart health

Natural blood thinners are substances that reduce the blood’s ability to form clots. Ingredients in a range of spices and supplements — such as ginger and Gingko biloba — may have this effect.

Blood thinners work in two ways. Antiplatelets keep blood cells from sticking together to become a clot. Anticoagulants cause clotting to occur more slowly.

Some people with certain medical conditions, such as congenital heart defects, need blood-thinning medications to reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke. Some natural remedies may have a similar function.

It is essential to speak with a doctor before trying natural remedies, as they may not work as well as medication and may interfere with some prescription drugs.

Here, we look at some foods and other substances that may act as natural blood thinners.

People have long used turmeric for culinary and medicinal purposes. Curcumin is an active ingredient in turmeric and appears to have anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning or anticoagulant properties.

A 2019 review indicates that turmeric may help block blood clotting. However, it advises caution when combining turmeric with blood-thinning drugs.

How to use:

  • in savory dishes and soups
  • mixed with hot water to make a tea
  • in capsule form after checking with a doctor

Ginger is another anti-inflammatory spice that may help prevent blood clotting.

A 2015 literature review notes that it may do this by reducing thromboxane, a hormone that causes platelets to aggregate, or stick together. Ginger also contains salicylates, the same substances that give aspirin its blood-thinning properties.

More research is needed to fully understand the potential blood-thinning properties of ginger.

How to use:

  • fresh or dried in sweet or savory dishes and baked goods
  • chopped, bruised, and steeped in water to make ginger tea
  • in juices and smoothies
  • in capsule form after checking with a doctor

Cayenne pepper also contains salicylates, and some people say including it in food can help with blood-thinning. However, reliable scientific evidence has not shown it has blood-thinning qualities.

How to use:

  • added to stews and soups for a spicy flavor
  • sprinkled sparingly on hard-boiled eggs
  • using a pinch to spice up cocoa or other chocolate goodies
  • in capsule form after checking with a doctor

Vitamin E may reduce blood clotting in various ways, depending on how much a person takes.

The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements suggests that people taking blood-thinning drugs should avoid large doses of vitamin E.

It is unclear how much vitamin E thins the blood, although it is likely that people would need to take more than 400 international units (IU) per day to have a blood-thinning effect.

However, long-term use of high doses — for instance above 1,500 IU daily — may have negative effects.

How to take:

While supplements are available, foods that contain vitamin E include:

  • almonds
  • safflower oil
  • sunflower oil
  • sunflower seeds
  • peanut butter
  • whole grains

Is it better to get nutrients from food or supplements?

A 2018 rodent study found evidence of antithrombotic activity in garlic, which means it may help prevent blood clots.

A 2020 review found that garlic supplements helped reduce blood pressure and had mild antithrombotic effects in people with hypertension.

A review from 2015 notes that some dietary supplements, including garlic, may affect platelet function and coagulation. The authors recommend avoiding them before surgery.

How to use:

  • fresh or dried in savory dishes
  • by adding freshly chopped garlic and olives to bread dough before baking
  • as supplements if a doctor recommends

Cinnamon contains coumarin, a blood-thinning agent. Warfarin, a commonly used blood-thinning drug, is derived from coumarin.

Consuming small amounts of cinnamon in the diet may help support the action of other natural blood thinners. However, research in humans is needed.

Taking large doses of coumarin-rich cinnamon on a long-term basis can cause liver damage.

How to use:

  • in powder form in cakes, baked goods, and drinks
  • by combining whole or powdered cinnamon with other spices in savory dishes, such as Moroccan harira
  • as capsules if a doctor advises

Ginkgo biloba is a popular herbal supplement that people take for blood disorders and memory problems.

One laboratory study found that Ginkgo biloba contains compounds that may block thrombin, an enzyme that causes blood clotting.

However, more research is necessary to see if ginkgo affects blood clotting in the human body.

How to use:

The extract of Gingko biloba leaves is available in supplements as tablets or capsules, but check first with a doctor.

Some evidence suggests that grape seed extract may benefit people with various heart and blood conditions, including high blood pressure.

One test tube study also found evidence that grape seed extract can stop platelets sticking together. The authors concluded that grape seed extract may help prevent blood clots, but research in humans is needed.

How to use:

Grape seed extract is available as liquid, capsules, or tablets, but it is essential to check with a doctor before using it.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health suggests avoiding grape seed extract if a person:

  • has a blood disorder
  • takes blood-thinning medications
  • is about to have surgery

Dong quai, also known as “female ginseng,” is another traditional Chinese herb that may reduce blood clotting.

This may be because dong quai contains coumarin, also present in cinnamon.

However, a small 2015 study found that taking 1,000 milligrams (mg) of dong quai daily did not significantly affect blood clotting. More research is needed.

How to use:

Feverfew is a medicinal herb that comes from the same family as daisies, or the Asteraceae family.

According to one case report, one person who was taking very high doses of feverfew (800 mg, three times daily) experienced vaginal bleeding and a longer menstrual cycle.

After stopping feverfew, their blood coagulation returned to normal. The authors cautioned against taking feverfew before surgery or with blood-thinning drugs.

More research is needed to confirm the effects of feverfew on blood clotting.

How to use:

  • by steeping the flowers and leaves in hot water to make a tea
  • in savory pastries for a slightly bitter taste
  • as supplements in capsule or liquid form if a doctor advises

Typical doses are 100–300 mg per day.

Bromelain is an enzyme present in pineapples. It may have anti-inflammatory properties and it might help manage cardiovascular diseases.

A 2016 laboratory study found that bromelain added to blood samples increased the time the blood took to clot. However, injecting bromelain into a small number of mice did not show this effect, and more research is needed.

How to consume:

Bromelain is present in pineapple or as a supplement, if a doctor advises.

Like ginger and cayenne pepper, aloe contains salicylates, which may have blood-thinning effects.

One 2020 laboratory study found that adding aloe vera gel to blood produced an antiplatelet effect similar to aspirin. However, more research is needed on aloe as a dietary supplement in humans.

How to take:

  • as a gel, mashed into avocado, banana, and other foods
  • as a juice either alone or combined with other juices or smoothies
  • as a capsule or other supplement form if a doctor advises

Because of its potential effects on bleeding, people should stop taking aloe at least 2 weeks before having surgery.

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) oil may reduce blood clotting.

A 2020 case study reported that one person’s thrombocytopenia — a low number of platelets in the blood — likely worsened due to the use of black seed oil and evening primrose oil.

Rodent research has also indicated that taking evening primrose oil may help prevent drug-induced thrombosis, a dangerous condition in which blood clots form within blood vessels when using certain medications.

However, more research is needed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of evening primrose oil in humans.

How to take:

Evening primrose oil is available as capsules if a doctor advises.

The body produces the hormone melatonin to regulate circadian rhythms, also known as the body clock.

One 2020 research review indicates that melatonin may also block the clumping of platelets to form clots.

Another study found that melatonin inhibited platelet activation, a process that leads to clots.

How to take:

Melatonin is available as a supplement, but check first with a doctor as it may interact with other medications and have other adverse effects.

Taken alongside warfarin (Coumadin), for instance, it may increase the risk of bleeding.

Here are some questions people often ask about natural blood thinners, or anticoagulants.

How can I thin my blood naturally?

Some substances in food and supplements — such as ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon — may help prevent blood clots from forming. However, natural remedies are not a substitute for prescription medication and may not be safe for some people.

How can I thin my blood clots at home?

It is not possible to dissolve a blood clot with natural remedies, nor can natural remedies effectively treat or lower the risk of blood clots in those at risk. Anyone with a blood clot or a risk of a blood clot needs prompt medical attention.

What foods can act as blood thinners?

Some foods and spices, such as cinnamon, cayenne pepper, garlic, ginger, and pineapple may contain substances that have anticoagulant properties.

Is vitamin D a blood thinner?

Some research suggests vitamin D may affect how a person’s body reacts to warfarin, an anticoagulant drug, and there may be a link between low vitamin D levels and various cardiovascular diseases. However, there is not enough evidence to show that taking vitamin D can help prevent blood clots.

Some natural substances in foods and supplements may help reduce the risk of clotting, but they are unlikely to be as effective as prescription medication, and they will not “bust” or dissolve a blood clot.

Natural remedies for blood clotting are not a substitute prescription medications. It is essential to speak with a doctor before taking them to ensure they are safe to use and will not interact with existing drugs.

Moreover, government authorities do not monitor herbs and supplements as closely as food and drugs. People should research different brands carefully before buying to ensure that the products are of high quality.

Read this article in Spanish.

Top 10 Nutrition Facts That Everyone Agrees on

By
Scarlett Murray
-
0
Top 10 Nutrition Facts That Everyone Agrees on

From consuming less sugar to eating more vegetables, there is nutrition information that experts agree is healthful and helpful. Here are 10 expert-confirmed nutrition facts.

There is a lot of controversy in nutrition and it often seems like people can’t agree on anything.

But there are a few exceptions to this.

Here are the top 10 nutrition facts that everyone actually agrees on (well, almost everyone…).

To improve the taste of processed foods, producers often add sugar to them. This type of sugar is known as added sugar.

Common types of added sugar include table sugar (sucrose) and syrups, such as high-fructose corn syrup.

Everyone knows that eating too much added sugar is unhealthy.

While some think sugar is a simple matter of “empty” calories, others believe it increases the risk of diseases that kill millions of people each year.

It is definitely true that added sugar contains empty calories. There are no nutrients in it, other than sugar. As a result, basing your diet on products high in added sugar may contribute to nutrient deficiencies.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other risks associated with excessive sugar intake that are now reaching mainstream attention.

Added sugar is being implicated as a leading cause of obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes (1).

The high fructose content of added sugar is often blamed.

This is because fructose is metabolized strictly by the liver. High intake has been linked with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, elevated triglycerides, abdominal obesity and high cholesterol over time (2, 3, 4, 5).

However, the role of fructose in disease is controversial and scientists do not fully understand how it works (6).

Summary Added
sugar provides empty calories and is believed to be a leading cause of diseases
that kill millions of people each year.

Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely important for the proper functioning of the human body.

For example, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid derived from animals, makes up about 10–20% of the total fat content in the brain (7).

A low intake of omega-3 is associated with a lower IQ, depression, various mental disorders, heart disease and many other serious diseases (8).

There are three main types of omega-3 fats: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

ALA comes mostly from plant oils, while the best sources of EPA and DHA are fatty fish, fish oils and certain algal oils. Other good sources of EPA and DHA are grass-fed meat and omega-3 enriched or pastured eggs.

The plant form, ALA, needs to be transformed into DHA or EPA to function correctly in the human body. However, this conversion process is inefficient in humans (9).

Therefore, it is best to eat plenty of foods high in DHA and EPA.

Summary A large
part of the population is not getting enough omega-3 fats from their diet.
Avoiding a deficiency in these essential fatty acids may help prevent many
diseases.

People are all unique. Subtle differences in genetics, body type, physical activity and environment can affect which type of diet you should follow.

Some people do best on a low-carb diet, while others are better off on a vegetarian high-carb diet.

The fact is, what works for one person may not work for the next.

To figure out what you should do, a little experimentation may be needed.

Try a few different things until you find something that you enjoy and think you can stick to. Different strokes for different folks!

Summary The
best diet for you is the one that works for you and you can stick to in the
long term.

Trans fats are formed as a side product when vegetable oils are hydrogenated.

Food producers often use hydrogenation to harden vegetable oils for use in products such as margarine.

Because trans fats have been linked with poor health, margarine free of trans fats is becoming increasingly common.

A high intake of trans fats is associated with various chronic diseases, such as abdominal obesity, inflammation and heart disease, to a name a few (10, 11, 12).

I recommend you avoid trans fats as if your life depended on it.

Summary Trans
fats form in chemically processed oils and are linked to all sorts of chronic
diseases. You should avoid them like the plague.

Vegetables are good for you.

They are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and an endless variety of trace nutrients that science has just begun to uncover.

In observational studies, eating vegetables is associated with improved health and a lower risk of disease (13, 14, 15).

I recommend that you eat a variety of vegetables each day. They are healthy, fulfilling and add variety to your diet.

Summary Vegetables
are rich in all sorts of nutrients. Eating vegetables each day is associated
with improved health and a lower risk of disease.

Vitamin D is a unique vitamin that actually functions as a hormone in the body.

The skin makes vitamin D when it is exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun. This is how people got most of their daily requirement throughout evolution.

However, a large part of the world is deficient in this critical nutrient today.

In many places, the sun simply isn’t available throughout most of the year.

Even where there is sun, many people tend to stay inside and use sunscreen when they go out. Sunscreen effectively blocks vitamin D generation in the skin.

If you’re deficient in vitamin D, then you’re actually lacking a major hormone in the body. Deficiency is associated with many serious diseases, including diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and others (16, 17, 18).

To find out if you are at risk, see a doctor and have your blood levels measured.

Unfortunately, it may be difficult to get enough vitamin D from the diet.

If getting more sun is not an option, taking a vitamin D supplement or a tablespoon of cod liver oil each day is the best way to prevent or reverse a deficiency.

Summary Vitamin
D is a crucial hormone in the body and many people are deficient in it.
Reversing a deficiency can have powerful health benefits.

There are a lot of differing opinions about carbs and fat.

Some think fat is the root of all evil, while others believe carbs are the key players in obesity and other chronic diseases.

But what pretty much everyone agrees on is that refined carbohydrates are not as healthy as unrefined carbohydrates.

Unrefined carbs are basically whole foods that are rich in carbs. These include whole-grain cereals, beans, vegetables and fruits. Refined carbs, on the other hand, are sugar and refined flour.

Whole foods contain numerous beneficial nutrients and antioxidants.

However, when high-carb foods such as grains are processed, the most nutritious parts are stripped off. What is left are massive amounts of easily digestible starch.

Those who base their diets on refined carbs may be lacking in fiber and many other healthy nutrients. As a result, they are at an increased risk of chronic disease (19).

Eating refined carbs will also cause rapid spikes in blood sugar. While high blood sugar levels are unhealthy for all people, they are a much greater concern in people with diabetes (20).

It is clear that whole grains and unrefined carbohydrates are a lot healthier than their refined, processed counterparts.

Summary Refined
carbohydrates like processed grains are unhealthy. They are lacking in
nutrients and eating them may lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar and insulin,
which can cause all sorts of problems down the line.

“Nutritionism” is the idea that foods are nothing more than the sum of their individual nutrients.

But it’s also a trap that many nutrition enthusiasts tend to fall into.

Nuts, for example, aren’t just shells loaded with polyunsaturated fat. In the same way, fruits aren’t just watery bags of sugar.

These are real foods with a massive variety of trace nutrients.

The vitamins and minerals, the ones you can also get from a cheap multivitamin, are just a small part of the total amount of nutrients in foods.

Therefore, supplements cannot match the variety of nutrients you get from real foods.

However, many supplements can be beneficial, especially those that contain nutrients that are generally lacking in the diet, like vitamin D.

But no amount of supplements will ever make up for a bad diet. Not a chance.

Summary It is
much more important to eat real, nutritious foods than to count on supplements
to provide the nutrients you need.

“Diets” are ineffective. That is a fact.

They may provide short-term results, but as soon as the diet ends and you start eating junk food again, you will gain the weight back. And then some.

This is called yo-yo dieting and is extremely common.

Most people who lose a lot of weight on a diet end up gaining it back whenever they “stop” the diet.

For this reason, the only thing that can give you actual long-term results is to adopt a lifestyle change.

Summary Adopting
a healthy lifestyle is the only way to ensure long-term weight loss and a
lifetime of improved health.

Processed food is generally not as healthy as whole food.

As the food system has become more industrialized, the health of the population has deteriorated.

During food processing, many of the beneficial nutrients in the food are removed.

Not only do food producers remove healthy nutrients like fiber, but they also add other potentially harmful ingredients like added sugar and trans fats.

Additionally, processed foods are loaded with all sorts of artificial chemicals, some of which have a questionable safety profile.

Basically, processed foods have less of the good stuff and a lot more of the bad stuff.

The most important thing you can do to ensure optimal health is to eat real food. If it looks like it was made in a factory, don’t eat it!

This is the way we learn about school

By
Scarlett Murray
-
0
This is the way we learn about school


The developmental pediatrics and rehabilitation team at Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre led a virtual workshop that helped ease the nerves of parents whose children are starting kindergarten this fall. Now, Holden and his mom, Rachel (left), are ready to bring on the new school year.

Ready for kindergarten?

Like many parents of kindergarten-aged kids, Rachel was feeling anxious about her child’s first day of school this fall.

“Holden is excited for junior kindergarten, but I’m not sure he fully understands that he’ll no longer be going to daycare,” says Rachel. “Even though he’s been enjoying books about getting ready for big-kid school, he’s always been a bit nervous with change.”

After receiving information from their daycare provider about the McMaster Children’s Hospital Kindergarten Prep Workshop, Rachel decided to register for the virtual workshop held at the Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre (RJCHC). The workshop is offered several times throughout the summer months. Both McMaster Children’s Hospital and RJCHC are part of Hamilton Health Sciences.

“Recognizing that this is a big transition that occurs every year, we decided that an interactive workshop would be a helpful way to share information and build capacity.”

HHS occupational therapists Victoria DiGiovanni (left) and Ali Rawling (right).

Launched in 2021, the workshop provides tips and tricks for parents needing help with children transitioning to kindergarten.

Victoria DiGiovanni, an occupational therapist with the Special Needs Resourcing team within Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation at RJCHC, is part of the team that runs the workshops.

“We focus on skills and practical strategies that are important for the move to kindergarten, including dressing independence, toileting, self-feeding and fine motor skills,” she says.

Parent participants were also welcome to share their experiences with the group and offer strategies that were working for them.

Smoothing the way

Children sometimes struggle with the idea of leaving daycare and parents worry about how their child will transition into a new routine, in a new location with new friends.

Resource consultants from Community Living Hamilton got in touch with the RJCHC team to let them know that many parents and caregivers were asking for resources to support their child’s transition to kindergarten in the fall. “Recognizing that this is a big transition that occurs every year, we decided that an interactive workshop would be a helpful way to share information and build capacity,” says Ali Rawling, one of the occupational therapists at RJCHC who helped lead the workshop alongside DiGiovanni.

Rachel says that Holden loves his daycare, but even after being there since he was 12 months old, he still has days where he’s very upset at drop-off about being separated from his mom. “That’s also one of the reasons we signed up for the workshop, so we could try any ideas for getting him used to the routine before actually starting school,” she says.

Gearing up for independence

One of the challenges Holden faced was doing things on his own, like getting ready for the day. “He refused to try getting dressed on his own and just stated that he couldn’t do it and needed help every time,” says Rachel. “We wanted some ideas since we know kindergarten teachers don’t have time to dress 25 kids.”

Starting school can be nerve-wracking for both children and parents. Attending the workshop helped Holden and Rachel prepare for their kindergarten start.

The RJCHC team offered insights on how to build Holden’s independence, and essentially get him ready for school. One of the strategies suggested was backward chaining, which means breaking down the task into smaller steps, giving the child a chance to try first, and then working from that step until the child is able to complete the task independently.

“Now, Holden attempts to dress himself all on his own,” says Rachel. “In the last week, he has successfully dressed himself three times. It’s a great step in the right direction.”

What do you really need to know before your child goes into JK?

Rachel was curious about what else Holden needed to know in preparation for the transition, particularly in terms of using the bathroom and writing. “As Holden is our first child, I was curious about what he needed to know and not know,” says Rachel. “Things like his comfort in using the bathroom, and his writing skills were things I worried about. I wanted to learn more on how to prepare him the best we could.”

“The team helped us set our minds at ease about a lot of things.”

Instead of writing on paper, the team suggested other fun activities that use small muscles of the hands and fingers such as opening a container to access a favourite food, water play with scoops, finger painting, and beading since such activities are building blocks for writing skills.

“The team helped us set our minds at ease about a lot of things,” says Rachel. “They helped us ease the pressure felt by our son too. I think because of the more relaxed tone developed through the workshop, he’s now predominantly using the washroom alone from start to finish with only a little help required, and he’s proud of being able to do more things on his own.”

Finding the fun and preparing where you can

The team offered ways to make building independence fun for Holden. “We encourage parents and caregivers to let their children try first and then build off of what they are already doing and provide lots of positive feedback,” says Rawling.

Holden is all set as he begins his first year of kindergarten.

Meanwhile, a piece of advice Rachel offers to other families is practice, practice, practice. “I’ve had my son eating out of his lunch boxes and snack containers as often as we can so he learns how to open and close them on his own,” she says. “These last couple of weeks we’ve also been driving past his school every morning before daycare so he gets more familiar with the new route. Things like this will hopefully ease him into the transition.”

It’s also important to get the right information because lots of conflicting advice is out there.

“This workshop breaks down some of the misconceptions about kindergarten readiness and gives families a sense of confidence, as well as some practical strategies to try before the September start,” says DiGiovanni.

Rachel experienced misinformation first-hand before taking part in the workshop.  “Some of the information we were given via word of mouth or read online about JK was not true, and the team made sure we had all the right information which made us much more relaxed.”

Milestones worth celebrating, not stressing

As busy as the first day of school can be, it’s also an exciting milestone to celebrate with your children. “Kindergarten is a great place to develop many of your child’s life skills,” says Rawling. “These will develop over time and with regular practice.”

To learn more about other upcoming workshops, visit our Family Resources section on the HHS website.

Related Posts

Oral care before, during, and after pregnancy: Building blocks for a healthy baby

By
Scarlett Murray
-
0
Oral care before, during, and after pregnancy: Building blocks for a healthy baby

As prevention and education specialists, dental hygienists have an important role in helping future parents prepare to conceive a baby. Growing a healthy baby starts well before conception! For most patients, brushing and maintaining a healthy mouth is the extent of their focus; they don’t realize the risk that oral diseases can pose to fetal development.

But there’s much more to it, and we need to share with our patients the impact oral infections have on their systemic health and the far-ranging effects their dental diseases, orofacial myofunctional disorders, heavy metal exposure, and sleep-airway issues have on the health of the developing fetus.

As a biological dental hygienist working in a biological and holistically oriented office, I have a focus of finding the root causes of dental diseases, addressing the oral-systemic connections, and educating patients on preventive protocols customized to fit their needs.

For women planning pregnancy, we must be very proactive. In the biological dental office, we work closely with the patient’s primary care provider to include the entire body to ensure we are stopping the cycle of disease from generation to generation. Decay is preventable, but it’s up to the entire profession to educate and inform patients on how decay progresses, how important it is to systemic health for the entire family, and how it can be prevented. 

Patients need this critical information so the next generation can grow up without decay, malocclusion, and sleep apnea. It really does all start in the dental hygienist’s chair.

Building blocks for a healthy baby

We must be more proactive and preventive and share with patients what a healthy mouth entails. Just telling patients to “brush longer and floss daily” is not going to help them maintain a healthy oral cavity. Time spent educating prospective parents on heavy metals, caries, and periodontal disease as well as nutrition, gut health, nasal breathing, nasal hygiene, and oral hygiene gives them the information they need to maintain their oral health.

And we shouldn’t wait until a patient is pregnant to address gingivitis and other oral infections. Bloody gums indicate inflammation of the entire body. Research shows treating the infection while a patient is pregnant does improve the health of the mouth but doesn’t alter rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, or fetal growth restriction.1 It’s best to prevent the infection before conception.

You might also be interested in: Why you should consider becoming a biological dental hygienist

In my office, we have longer dental hygiene appointment times, often 90 minutes, so the patient benefits from one-on-one oral health guidance information without feeling rushed. We take plaque samples to use on the phase contrast microscope and show patients what’s living underneath their gums and then what they need to do at home to help change this environment. Sharing this personalized information is critical to creating a healthy body. Seeing the bacteria, parasites, and candida reminds patients these pathogens are communicable and contagious. This emphasizes that the entire family benefits from improved oral health practices because we share pathogens with saliva-to-saliva contact. Kissing, sharing utensils, and even licking a pacifier to “clean” it shares and spreads pathogens to others in both a vertical as well as horizontal transmission.

We actively treat periodontal disease in both partners to heal the infection by using guided biofilm management, ozone therapy, laser therapy, ultrasonics, and perioscopy, and we continually monitor the microbiome with the microscope until the plaque microbiome and tissues correspond to health. Periodontal infections and caries are symptoms of bigger systemic issues. We must work with the patient’s primary care provider to address gut dysbiosis because that may be the root cause of gingival dysbiosis.2

Customizing oral self-care instructions based on salivary diagnostics with the end goal of a healthy oral microbiome for both partners before conception ensures a healthier pregnancy and newborn baby.

The dangers of heavy metals

Does the future mother have silver-mercury amalgam fillings?3 These fillings leach mercury vapors4 when people chew or brush, and especially with every dental hygiene recare or dental drilling appointment. Mercury vapors5 are poisonous to the body and are especially damaging when they pass the blood-brain barrier due to damage it does to the central nervous system.6 Fetal brains7 are most susceptible to maternal mercury vapors, creating the potential for brain damage and brain cell death. This has wide-ranging implications for a baby’s health, impacting cognitive abilities, fine motor skills, and language development, as well as cardiovascular, renal, and reproductive health.8 Research also connects mercury vapors to Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment.9 There is no safe level of mercury. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mercury is “highly toxic.”10

When mercury-silver fillings are removed with a dental drill, the heat from the drill creates even more mercury vapors. The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) does not recommend removing these fillings during a patient’s pregnancy11 or while they’re breastfeeding because of the hazards that mercury vapor exposure creates for the pregnant woman and developing fetus. If a patient is thinking about becoming pregnant, she may want to consider replacing these mercury-silver fillings well before conception. The IAOMT teaches its dental providers a safe mercury amalgam removal technique12 to reduce exposure to these vapors for not only the patient but all the professionals in the office. (Dental personnel exposed to low levels of mercury have more neuromotor behavioral problems, cognition decline, and sleep issues.)13

Biological dental offices practice “SMART” protocols: safe mercury-amalgam removal technique. Along with this protocol, we work closely with the patient’s primary care provider to help the patient safely remove mercury from the body via chelation,14 using special drugs to bind the heavy metals in the bloodstream, which are then excreted in the urine.15

Another heavy metal affecting the oral health of not only the mother but also the developing fetus is lead. Lead is stored in the bones and released during pregnancy16; in this way, it is passed down from generation to generation. Research shows that up to 11% of early childhood caries in 24- to 72-month-old children may be due to lead toxicity.17 Sharing this information helps future parents be proactive and test their lead levels, especially if they’re in a higher-risk environment such as an old house. Chelation is also used to detoxify the body of lead.

The root causes of caries

Discovering the root causes of tooth decay requires spending time diagnosing the underlying issues and finding ways to address them successfully.

We know dental caries pathogens are transferred from the mother or caregiver18 to the predentate infant via saliva.19 Ideally, we should be testing patients and potential parents before conception to assess their caries bacterial, viral, and fungal load levels and do a caries risk assessment. Reducing the pathogen load would go a long way toward helping reduce infant decay.

Using salivary diagnostics gives us critical information. Once we know the patient’s risk level and what pathogens are the potential problem, we can be more proactive and aggressive in recommending upgraded self-care routines and more frequent dental hygiene therapies, suggest products that address the pathogenic bacteria, candida, viruses or parasites, and investigate other causes of tooth decay such as vitamin and mineral deficiencies (also potentially impacting the health of the anticipated pregnancy), mouth-breathing habits, or poor saliva production or flow. By reducing tooth decay risk in a mother, we can help an infant start life with healthy deciduous teeth.

To reduce bacterial load, we can recommend five servings (six to 10 grams) of xylitol a day. This disrupts Streptococcus mutans colonization in the mother, which can reduce decay levels in the child.20 To address the viruses, parasites, and candida pathogens, we must dig deeper. In my biological office, we use ozone/oxygen therapy21 in its three forms—gas, water, and oil—to attack these pathogens. Ozone/oxygen therapy kills anaerobic pathogens; it lyses the bacterial cell wall, kills candida,22 and interferes with viral replication. (And, as an added bonus, ozone speeds healing.)23

Removing active carious lesions and restoring the teeth, as well as reevaluating oral hygiene techniques and products, helps halt decay. We should upgrade patients’ oral hygiene program to include electric brushes, interproximal tools, tongue scrapers, and oral irrigation. We can also discuss pH of products and nutrition. Tooth decay may also be due to fermentable carbohydrates as well as an acidic plaque biofilm on teeth, mouth breathing, a lack of quantity and/or quality of saliva, nutritional deficiencies, and gut dysbiosis.

The dangers of periodontal disease

Periodontal disease affects up to 40% of reproductive-age women.24 These pathogenic biofilms have been connected to adverse pregnancy outcomes.25,26 Twenty-five to 40% of preterm labor and birth are the result of periodontal disease pathogens infecting the body. Oral pathogens translocate with brushing, flossing, chewing, and dental procedures. Once introduced to the blood system,27 they travel throughout the entire body within 60 seconds. Oral pathogens from the mouth infect the entire body with every swallow, inhalation, and “bloody prophy.”

These oral pathogens have far-ranging consequences. They cause bacteremia and can trigger a heart attack up to four weeks post-prophy, as well as contribute to rheumatoid arthritis and dementia.28

Oral pathogens have been found colonized in the placenta and are connected to low birth-weight babies, preterm births,29 and fetal death.30 Severe periodontal infections have been implicated in spontaneous very preterm birth (under 32 weeks).31 Lower newborn Apgar scores and a decrease in birth size corresponded with the severity of the mother’s periodontal infection.32

Not only do periodontal disease pathogens affect the developing fetus; they also increase the mother’s risk of preeclampsia.33 Preeclampsia is the second most common cause of death in new mothers and increases the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and death for the newborn, as well.34

Salivary diagnostics as well as chairside phase contrast microscopy are ideal tools for uncovering dental health issues before they become full-blown infections, and for discovering what level of pathogens are residing within the gingival tissues and oral cavity (tonsils and tongue surfaces have similar microbiomes).

Our goal should be to encourage a healthy oral microbiome rather than eradicate all the oral bacteria. Good bacteria have an important role to play in oral health. (Good oral bacteria help create nitric oxide, which our bodies need to be healthy. By using an antibacterial mouthwash, we eradicate both the bad and the good.) Bacteria, as well as viruses and fungi, are supposed to be there, but in the right proportions. Salivary diagnostic testing tells us if this is occurring.

Our role in healthy sleep

Dental hygienists are a patient’s first line of defense in screening for airway and sleep issues. We see all the signs of brewing airway issues with broken and cracked, sensitive, fractured, and worn teeth. Periodontal disease and caries are signs of airway issues. Breathing-disordered sleep has far-ranging consequences35 such as heart attacks, stroke, atrial fibrillation, and cognitive impairment.36 Clenching, grinding, gnashing, and bruxing all find their roots in breathing issues during sleep.37 Acid-wear facets are small but significant signs of airway troubles brewing.38 While hardly noticeable, they are a red alert to future problems.

If an expectant mother has trouble breathing at night, so will her growing baby, and this lack of oxygen will dramatically affect fetal growth.39 Autism40 and birth defects41 can be the result of a lack of oxygen during sleep. Future dads also need airway and sleep screening because airway issues can contribute to reduced quality of the semen.42

Screening for sleep apnea, upper airway resistance syndrome, and other sleep-breathing issues before pregnancy can help ensure a healthier pregnancy and birth outcome.

Screen both the mom- and dad-to-be for signs of sleep breathing disorders, recommend sleep studies, and suggest sleep apps or other sleep monitoring devices. Most people say they sleep “fine”; they have no other comparison. Without testing, we’re only guessing and we need better answers than that; the consequences are too severe. Teach your patients where their tongue should rest to create a strong tongue that stays there during sleep. Orofacial myofunctional therapists (OMTs) call this “proper oral rest posture.” The tongue belongs on the roof of the mouth, teeth apart, and lips gently but firmly together. Learn more about the importance of nasal breathing so you can share this information with your patients. Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) are often the reason we have caries, periodontal infections, bone loss, broken teeth, and so much more.

As dental professionals, we’re in charge of everything from the neck up. Learn more about OMDs and become an airway specialist by becoming an OMT. Everything starts with oxygen. No one else monitors this area as well as we do, so we need to learn all we can about airway development.

Proactive prenatal protocols

Dentistry can do its part to ensure future generations are born healthy and stay healthy. Our patients need to learn more about the airway, heavy metal toxicity, dental caries, and periodontal disease/systemic connections as well as preventive oral hygiene self-care. Spending extra time testing, diagnosing, and educating are the missing links in our dental health services. Future parents need this critical information on how to have healthy bodies so they can grow healthy children. Dental hygienists should be allowed the time and support to share this vital information. Being proactive is well worth our time and attention.

References

  1. Michalowicz BS, Hodges JS, DiAngelis AJ, et al. Treatment of periodontal disease and the risk of preterm birth. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(18):1885-1894. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa062249
  2. Cai Z, Zhu T, Liu F, Zhuang Z, Zhao L. Co-pathogens in periodontitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;8:723719. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.723719
  3. Health effects of exposures to mercury. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Accessed May 23, 2023. https://www.epa.gov/mercury/health-effects-exposures-mercury
  4. Burhenne M. Mercury fillings dangers, who is at risk & removal checklist. Ask the Dentist. Oct. 26, 2021. https://askthedentist.com/mercury-fillings-safe/
  5. The Smoking Tooth part 1 of 3. Layton Dental. https://youtube/gCpVmcezCrI
  6. Cariccio VL, Samà A, Bramanti P, Mazzon E. Mercury involvement in neuronal damage and in neurodegenerative diseases. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2019;187(2):341-356. doi:10.1007/s12011-018-1380-4
  7. Abbott L, Nigussie F. Mercury toxicity and neurogenesis in the mammalian brain. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(14):7520. doi:10.3390/ijms22147520
  8. Falck AJ, Sundararajan S, Al-Mudares F, et al. Fetal exposure to mercury and lead from intrauterine blood transfusion. Pediatr Res. 2019;86(4):510-514. doi:10.1038/s41390-019-0463-z
  9. Azar J, Yousef MH, El-Fawal HAN, et al. Mercury and Alzheimer’s disease: a look at the links and evidence. Metab Brain Dis. 2021;36:361-374. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-020-00649-5
  10. Basic information about mercury. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Accessed May 23, 2023. https://www.epa.gov/mercury/basic-information-about-mercury
  11. Safe amalgam removal. International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT). Accessed May 23, 2023. https://iaomt.org/for-patients/safe-amalgam-removal/
  12. The Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART). International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT). Accessed May 23, 2023. https://iaomt.org/resources/safe-removal-amalgam-fillings/
  13. Bjorklund G, Hilt B, Dadar M, Lindh U, Aaseth J. Neurotoxic events of mercury exposure in dental personnel. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxico. 2019;124(5):568-574. doi:10.1111/bcpt.13199
  14. Cao Y, Skaug M, Andersen O, Aaseth J. Chelation therapy in intoxications with mercury, lead and copper. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2015;31:188-92. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2014.04.010
  15. Brodkin E, Copes R, Mattman A, Kennedy J, Kling R, Yassi A. Lead and mercury exposures: interpretation and action. CMAJ. 2007;176(1):59-63. doi:10.1503/cmaj.060790
  16. Childhood lead poisoning prevention. Pregnant women. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Page last reviewed July 21, 2022.
  17. Wiener RC, Long DL, Jurevic RJ. Blood levels of the heavy metal, lead, and caries in children aged 24-72 months: NHANES III. Caries Res. 2014;49(1):26-33. doi:10.1159/000365297
  18. Featherstone JDB. Dental caries: a dynamic disease process. Aust Dent J. 2008;53(3):286-291.
  19. Berkowitz RJ. Acquisition and transmission of mutans streptococci. J Calif Dent Assoc. 2003;31(2):135-138.
  20. Nakai Y, Shinga-Ishihara C, Kaji M, et al. Xylitol gum and maternal transmission of mutans streptococci. J Dent Res. 2010;89(1):56-60. doi:10.1177/0022034509352958
  21. Manjunath SN, Sakar M, Katapadi M, Geetha Balakrishna R. Recent case studies on the use of ozone to combat coronavirus: problems and perspectives. Environ Technol Innov. 2021;21:101313. doi:10.1016/j.eti.2020.101313
  22. Zargaran M, Fatahinia M, Zarei Mahmoudabadi A. The efficacy of gaseous ozone against different forms of Candida albicans. Curr Med Mycol. 2017;3(2):26-32. doi:10.18869/acadpub.cmm.3.2.26
  23. Smith NL, Wilson AL, Gandhi J, Vatsia S, Khan SA. Ozone therapy: an overview of pharmacodynamics, current research, and clinical utility. Med Gas Res. 2017;7(3):212-219. doi:10.4103/2045-9912.215752
  24. Boggess K, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Publications Committee. Maternal oral health in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;111(4):976-986. doi:10.1097/aog.0b013e31816a49d3
  25. Terzic M, Aimagambetova G, Terzic S, Radunovic M, Bapayeva G, Laganà AS. Periodontal pathogens and preterm birth: current knowledge and further interventions. Pathogens. 2021;10(6):730. doi:10.3390/pathogens10060730
  26. Saini N, Walia M. Relationship between periodontal diseases and preterm birth: recent epidemiological and biological data. Int J Applied Basic Med Res. 2015;5(1):2. doi:10.4103/2229-516x.149217
  27. Roda RP, Jiménez Y, Carbonell E, et al. Bacteremia originating in the oral cavity. A review. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2008;13(6):E355-E362. Accessed May 25, 2023. http://www.medicinaoral.com/medoralfree01/v13i6/medoralv13i6p355.pdf.
  28. Swanson M. Oral-systemic health care: interview with Dan Sindelar, DMD. Naturopathic Doctor News and Review. Apr. 3, 2014. Accessed May 25, 2023. https://ndnr.com/autoimmuneallergy-medicine/oral-systemic-heath-care/
  29. Goepfert AR, Jeffcoat MK, Andrews WW, et al. Periodontal disease and upper genital tract inflammation in early spontaneous preterm birth. Obstet Gynecol. 2004;104(4):777-783. doi:10.1097/01.AOG.0000139836.47777.6d
  30. Saini N, Walia M. Relationship between periodontal diseases and preterm birth: recent epidemiological and biological data. Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2015;5(1):2. doi:10.4103/2229-516x.149217
  31. Offenbacher S, Boggess KA, Murtha AP, et al. Progressive periodontal disease and risk of very preterm delivery. Obstet Gynecol. 2006;107(1):29-36. Erratum in: Obstet Gynecol. 2006;107(5):1171. doi:10.1097/01.AOG.0000190212.87012.96
  32. Shirmohammadi A, Abdollahifard S, Chitsazi M-T, Behlooli S. Relationship between maternal periodontal disease and Apgar score of newborns. J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2012;42(6):212-216. doi:10.5051/jpis.2012.42.6.212
  33. Boggess KA, Lieff S, Murtha AP, et al. Maternal periodontal disease is associated with an increased risk for preeclampsia. Obstet Gynecol. 2003;101(2):227-231. doi:10.1016/s0029-7844(02)02314-1
  34. Basso O, Rasmussen S, Weinberg C, Wilcox A, Irgens L, Skjaerven R. Trends in fetal and infant survival following preeclampsia. J Am Med Assoc. 2006;296(11):1357. doi:10.1001/jama.296.11.1357
  35. Cai H, Wang X-P, Yang G-Y. Sleep disorders in stroke: an update on management. Aging Dis. 2021;12(2):570-585. doi:10.14336/AD.2020.0707
  36. Leng Y, McEvoy CT, Allen IE, Yaffe K. Association of sleep-disordered breathing with cognitive function and risk of cognitive impairment. JAMA Neurol. 2017;74(10):1237-1245. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.2180
  37. Mehta V. Unraveling the mysteries of extensive tooth wear. Spear Education. July 12, 2013. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://www.speareducation.com/spear-review/2013/07/unraveling-the-mysteries-of-extensive-tooth-wear-part-i#:~:text=Extensive%20tooth%20wear%20is%20often%20the%20result%20of,reflux%20disease%20%28GERD%29%20and%20Obstructive%20Sleep%20Apnea%20%28OSA%29
  38. Ali DA, Brown RS, Rodriguez LO, Moody EL, Nasr MF. Dental erosion caused by silent gastroesophageal reflux disease. J Am Dent Assoc. 2002;133(6):734-737; quiz 768-769. doi:10.14219/jada.archive.2002.0269
  39. Kneitel AW, Treadwell MC, O’Brien LM. Effects of maternal obstructive sleep apnea on fetal growth: a case-control study. J Perinatol. 2018;38(8):982-988. doi:10.1038/s41372-018-0127-6
  40. Vanderplow AM, Kermath BA, Bernhardt CR, et al. A feature of maternal sleep apnea during gestation causes autism-relevant neuronal and behavioral phenotypes in offspring. PLoS Biol. 2022;20(2):e3001502. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3001502
  41. Bourjeily G, Danilack VA, Bublitz MH, et al. Maternal obstructive sleep apnea and neonatal birth outcomes in a population-based sample. Sleep Med. 2020;66:233-240. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2019.01.019
  42. Du C-Q, Zhang D-X, Chen J, He Q-F, Lin W-Q. Men’s sleep quality and assisted reproductive technology outcomes in couples referred to a fertility clinic: a Chinese cohort study. Nat Sci Sleep. 2022;14:557-566. doi:10.2147/NSS.S353131

I shunned traditional medicine to treat my hormonal issues with herbs and stinging nettles – I’ve never felt better

By
Scarlett Murray
-
0
I shunned traditional medicine to treat my hormonal issues with herbs and stinging nettles – I’ve never felt better

A Virginia woman who treats her hormonal health issues with herbs and plants claims she has ‘never felt better.’

Ash Ruiz, 27, suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal imbalance that affects one in 10 women of childbearing age in the US, irregular menstrual cycles, ovarian cysts, and excess levels of male sex hormones, which can cause abnormal hair growth.

She tried birth control and ‘tons’ of pharmaceutical treatments but turned to alternative medicine after taking classes in medical botany in college, using plants like echinacea for digestion and mullein for bronchitis.

Ms Ruiz claims: ‘I feel more in balance with myself.’

She isn’t the only one experimenting with natural remedies. Figures show that nearly one-third of Americans have tried some type of alternative medicine, including herbs and acupuncture.

Ash Ruiz, 27, an herbalist from Virginia, turned to alternative medicine after taking classes in medical botany in college. She now uses them to treat her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Ash Ruiz, 27, an herbalist from Virginia, turned to alternative medicine after taking classes in medical botany in college. She now uses them to treat her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Ms Ruiz was diagnosed with PCOS at age 14 and had been taking birth control to regulate her menstrual cycle. 

However, when she tried raspberry leaf tea and chasteberry vitex- an extract from the Mediterranean plant chasteberry- she said she felt ‘like myself again.’ 

Ms Ruiz claims that these remedies, which also include red clover and stinging nettle tea, rebalanced her hormones, calmed her anxiety, helped her irregular periods, and eased her headaches. 

She said that since trying these remedies, she will ‘never go back’ to using traditional medicines alone.

‘I’ve been on tons of different meds from a really young age, but now I feel more in balance with myself,’ she said. 

‘I was put on birth control from a really young age – and now I’m constantly trying to find natural ways to regulate my hormones.’

Ms Ruiz was diagnosed with PCOS after her parents took her to a gynecologist for her irregular menstrual cycles. As a teenager, she would go as long as four months without a period. Scans revealed ‘a lot’ of cysts in her ovaries. 

PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects one in 10 American women of childbearing age, according to the US Office on Women’s Health. It causes the ovaries to produce excessive amounts of the male sex hormone androgen due to cysts forming along the outer edges of the organ. 

This leads to irregular menstrual cycles, abnormal hair growth, acne, obesity, thinning hair, and infertility. 

Doctors put Ms Ruiz on birth control, which she took for about seven years. 

‘None of us knew any better, so when I was put on birth control, I just took it, and it was horrible from then on,’ she said. 

‘I used to have migraines, irregular periods, weight gain, anxiety – so many symptoms, the list goes on.’

‘And birth control just made it so much worse – I did not feel like myself.’

Ms Ruiz's herbs of choice to ease PCOS symptoms include chasteberry vitex, St John¿s Wort, and raspberry leaf tea

Ms Ruiz’s herbs of choice to ease PCOS symptoms include chasteberry vitex, St John’s Wort, and raspberry leaf tea

Ms Ruiz claims that herbal remedies make her feel 'like herself again' and that she 'never go back' to using traditional medicine alone

Ms Ruiz claims that herbal remedies make her feel ‘like herself again’ and that she ‘never go back’ to using traditional medicine alone

In 2017, Ms Ruiz began studying medical botany at Virginia Commonwealth University. 

She liked how ‘different’ it seemed from the other areas of study and poured all her research into St John’s Wort – a plant used to treat depression, burns and cuts, among other conditions.

‘From then on, I felt like it was meant to be,’ she said. 

‘I was trying out a juice cleanse anyway, for my PCOS symptoms. It all just kind of tied together, really.’

Soon after trying herbal remedies, she noticed her anxiety faded away, making her think, ‘this is the real deal.’ 

‘I saw such a huge improvement in my energy levels – as fatigue was one of my symptoms, too,’ she said. 

‘I’ve seen such drastic improvements in my cycle – my periods are more frequent with a lot less pelvic pain and discomfort.’

Six years later, Ms Ruiz studies herbalism alongside running a medicinal herbs business.

Her herbs of choice to ease PCOS symptoms include chasteberry vitex, St John’s Wort, and raspberry leaf tea.

‘I’d tell anyone to try raspberry leaf for hormones,’ she said. ‘Even pregnant women.’

‘Some people prefer to take it as a tincture, but I always steep it in hot water and make a tea.’

‘It’s a uterine tonic, which means it helps to tone and strengthen the uterus – even though I had extremely irregular periods with PCOS, when I did get it, it would be very heavy and painful.’

Chasteberry, also known as vitex agnus-castus, has been shown in some studies to boost fertility and reduce symptoms of hormonal conditions like menopause. However, much of the research is unclear. 

For example, a 2015 study in the journal International Immunopharmacology found that an active compound in the plant, called Casticin, could reduce inflammation in animals. However, the study also found that over-the-counter medications like aspirin work just as well. 

St John’s Wort is a European plant with yellow, star-shaped flowers. Some research has suggested that it may help reduce the symptoms of mild to moderate depression, but there is no evidence that shows it could treat more severe forms.

Raspberry leaf tea is a tea made from the leaves of raspberries. It can also be taken in pill form. Some studies suggest it can be used to make labor go faster and reduce pregnancy symptoms like nausea and vomiting, though there is no solid evidence.

1...404142...52Page 41 of 52
© Newsmag WordPress Theme by TagDiv