IM BLOG

How do you feel about sunscreen? – M. Sanchez, Gilroy, CA

Most sunscreens today contain a number of synthetic chemicals. These chemicals are absorbed through the skin. Depending on which chemicals and the properties of these chemicals, some may be carcinogenic, some can affect the function of the liver or kidneys, and most generate harmful free radicals in the body.

We have to use common sense when talking about sun exposure. The sun sends a full spectrum of radiation – both positive and negative. Those that are fair skinned should not prolong exposure to the sun during hot summer days. That said, sunlight is very effective in stimulating our body positively (vitamin D production, elevated mood, etc.). Most people who have problems relating to exposure to the sun also have problems with lymphatic flow under the skin itself. Stimulating the skin of such people may bring toxins to the surface and may create some undesirable effects. These people should drink more fluids, exercise more and naturally eliminate toxins while controlling exposure to sunlight depending on their constitutional ability.

There are some very good natural sunblockers that are effective and do not use harmful petrochemicals.  Increased consumption of anti-oxidants (think berries and vegetables) is also helpful.

Everybody worries about UV exposure and the relation to melanoma and other cancers. But when looking at many developing countries that are close to the Equator and are exposed to intense sunlight, they do not have high levels of skin cancer (compared to developed countries with less sun exposure and intensity). It is the developed countries like the US that have the highest incidents of skin cancer. The reason for this is unlike most modern developed countries, inhabitants of poorer developing countries normally eat and live a more natural lifestyle, avoiding processed foods and chemicals. When you introduce more chemicals, toxins and pollutants into your lifestyle, the risk of health issues such as skin cancer from UV exposure increases.

Posted byDr. Thomas K. Szulc, Medical Director

Ask Dr. Tom is a regular blog entry by Innovative Medicine’s Medical Director, Thomas K. Szulc, M.D. To submit a question to be answered by the doctor, please use our contact form.

A number of people still fear acupuncture because of the needles. Although not considered invasive, needles must be placed into the skin and there is risk of contaminated needles that can spread bacterial infections, hepatitis B and C, and even HIV. But have no fear, low-level laser therapy is here.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) stimulates acupuncture points so that needle penetration is unnecessary. For patients, Laser Acupuncture also means shorter treatment periods with all of the positive end results of traditional acupuncture. The laser beam produces a low-heat and an electromagnetic wave which can stimulate the acupuncture points of the human body. It puts energy into the body to excite the acupuncture channels, regulate the function of organs, and increase metabolism. The oscillating energy field produced by the laser makes it very suitable and effective for acupuncture and the meridian system as a whole. One of the major benefits of acupuncture laser therapy is the ability to treat injuries and promote the healing of tissue.

The importance of one’s lifestyle cannot be overemphasized when it comes to health. And now researchers in Barcelona confirm this statement by finding that up to a third of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more.

Confirming this finding is Dr. Michelle Holmes of Harvard University, who has studied cancer and lifestyle factors. She argues many people believe that their chances of getting cancer are dependent on their genes and not their lifestyle. She goes on to say: “The genes have been there for thousands of years, but if cancer rates are changing in a lifetime, that doesn’t have much to do with genes”.

Another confirmation of the great importance of lifestyle is the cancer rates in obese women. The average woman has a 1 in 8 chance of getting breast cancer, while obese women are 60% more likely to develop cancer. Experts believe this is due to increased estrogen levels in obese women. Estrogen plays an important role in many types of breast cancer, and is a hormone produced in fat tissue.

Other studies look past diet and exercise and show that some medical treatments that are used to regulate and adjust the body may have a negative effect. After studies several years ago linked hormone-replacement therapy to cancer, millions of women abandoned the treatment, leading to a sharp drop in breast cancer rates. Experts said a similar reduction might be seen if women ate healthier and exercised more.

It’s a sore subject in Western countries, as no one wants to be thought of as the cause of their serious life-threatening condition, but it needs to be addressed head on if we wish to become a healthier society. How you live your life absolutely affects your health. Taking responsibility for your health and wellness not only empowers you, but gives you the ability to realize prevention of many conditions is possible and a long happy and healthy life is within your reach.

I have heard a lot of negative opinions about “Diet” soft drinks, is there any truth to this? – Joy Brown, New York, NY

Well let’s just start by saying all soft drinks, whether diet or regular, are not good for you. They are processed foods (or drinks in this case) that contain harmful ingredients. I wouldn’t advise ANYBODY to drink soft drinks of any kind.

With that said, if we had no choice (I don’t see how that’s possible, but let’s just go along with it anyways), I would say stick to regular soda over “Diet” soda. Diet sodas contain some kind of engineered sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose, etc.), and while they don’t contain calories, they have a toxic effect on the body. This is especially true in children, as behavioral issues may arise from the introduction of toxins at a young age.

The more toxic or artificial elements we introduce to our body, the more toxic we become. The problem with artificial sweeteners such as Nutrasweet® and Splenda® is that they have an affinity to attack the nervous system (neuron-toxins). The nervous system regulates the function of all other systems – hormonal system, immune system, cardiovascular system as well as all the organs. We must have the nervous system working perfectly in order to achieve health and wellness.

Also, when you introduce these artificial sweeteners into the body, we create an incredible deficiency of natural substances and also create a craving for these sweeteners. Like with anything, if the body only receives artificial sweeteners, the body will adjust and begin to crave the artificial sweetener.

Another unknown fact about Diet soft drinks is that they don’t help you lose weight! Contrary to common belief, an 8 year study by the University of Texas Health Science Center shows that overweight risk increased 41% with each daily can of diet soft drink. When researchers took a closer look at their data, they found that nearly all the obesity risk from soft drinks came from diet sodas.

Posted byDr. Thomas K. Szulc, Medical Director

Ask Dr. Tom is a regular blog entry by Innovative Medicine’s Medical Director, Thomas K. Szulc, M.D. To submit a question to be answered by the doctor, please use our contact form.

Drinking water is important. But can it also give you cancer? It can if you are drinking from a water bottle coated with BPA. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a key building block of epoxy resins. These resins line the interior of many popular water bottle brands as a means of preventing corrosion and contamination. Unfortunately BPA is also highly toxic and can cause several reported health problems including birth defects in children and even possibly cancer. There are some brands that do not use the resin however. Klean Kanteen is one such company. Klean Kanteen makes all their water bottles out of stainless steal and does not coat them. If you are drinking water on a regular basis and use portable water bottles it is best to look for a company that makes their bottles out of 100% stainless steal and does not use any coating resins.

As the Winter Olympics begin later this week, a top American skiing prospect sits with cheese on her shin, hoping to heal a painful injury that threatens her dreams of winning Olympic gold. Although unconventional, alpine skier Lindsey Vonn has turned to Austrian topfen cheese to treat the shin injury that has made her a doubtful starter for the Winter Games. But is there any truth to the healing rumors surrounding cheese?

Although no real scientific evidence backs the claims, the use of cheese on injuries has a long standing history. Traditionally used in German-speaking parts of Europe (mainly the Alps), the cheese (called ‘Quark’ in Germany and ‘Topfen’ in Austria; resembling cottage cheese) is often used against sports injuries, arthritis and in general joint inflammation. Many doctors in the region still use the treatment and believe it has an anti-inflammatory effect. Because there is no side-effects of placing the cheese on problematic areas (do not place the cheese on open wounds), many believe the cheese is an excellent substitute for anti-inflammatory drugs that produce toxic effects.

We all know that soda isn’t the healthiest beverage option with its high sugar content, caffeine and artificial ingredients. Yet that usually doesn’t stop most of us from filling up a large cup from the soda fountain. But what if you knew that the fountain soda you were drinking contained fecal bateria?

A study published in the January issue of International Journal of Food Microbiology found that nearly half of the 90 beverages from soda fountain machines in one area in Virginia tested positive for coliform bacteria — which could indicate possible fecal contamination. Antibiotic-resistant microbes and E.coli were also found in some of the soda samples.

Researchers found that 48 percent of beverages obtained from soda fountains contained coliform bacteria, 11 percent contained E. coli (which are mostly harmless, but some can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia), and 17 percent had Chryseobacterium meningosepticum (which could sicken newborns or adults with weakened immune systems).

Although the reason for the bacteria with fountain sodas is unknown, researchers speculate that it may have to do with the fact fountains require hand contact with numerous people and poor cleaning methods.

“Some bacteria may potentially cause some disease or gastrointestinal distress. One thing we hesitate with is that people get afraid of bacteria. Many of them are benign or helpful, but certainly, I don’t want E.coli in my beverage.”

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been highly touted in the European medical community for a number of years now, and it seems American medical professionals are now catching up to their European counterparts. The use of LLLT is on the rise in the US, and a recent study provides more reason for its use in the medical field.

A study published in the Lancet shows that the use of LLLT may reduce neck pain significantly. In the study, a 100 point scale was used to determine difference in pain experienced. The study found:

• For acute neck pain, evidence was limited to two trials with mixed results, showing that patients were around 70% more likely to experience reduced pain following LLLT compared with placebo.

• Five trials of chronic neck pain showed patients given LLLT were around four times more likely to have reduced pain compared with placebo.

• Patients in 11 trials reported reductions of chronic pain of around 20 points on the 100 point scale. Seven of these trials provided follow-up data for 1-22 weeks after completion of treatment, with short-term pain relief persisting in the medium term with a reduction of 22 points on the scale.

• Side-effects from LLLT were mild and not different from those of placebo.

The lead author, Dr. Roberta Chow, and the rest of the medical team involved with the study concluded that “[This study] shows that LLLT reduces pain immediately after treatment in acute neck pain and up to 22 weeks after completion of treatment in patients with chronic neck pain.”

This study comes at a significant time, where chronic pain is predicted to reach epidemic proportions in developed countries with aging populations in the next 30 years. This type of therapy also allows practitioners a form of treatment without the use of prescription pain killers, which are commonly abused, may form dependency, and commonly produce side-effects.

Its a new year, and by now a good 50% or so of New Year resolutions have gone down the drain. But if you happen to be in the 50% thats sticking to the resolution of losing weight or eating healthier, we’re here to help.

One of the most popular new foods that many health conscious people are talking about is Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah). Commonly considered a grain, quinoa is actually a seed and a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach. The seed when cooked has a slightly crunchy texture and a somewhat nutty flavor. Quinoa is commonly used in various recipes, and resembles couscous or rice.

Quinoa is rich in complete proteins (amino-acids), making it a viable substitute for vegans in search of a substitute for protein from meat. The seed is also very high in fiber, manganese and copper. Quinoa is beneficial for cardiovascular health, gallstone prevention, type 2 diabetes prevention, and overall wellbeing.

Quinoa is very simple to cook, and readily available at all health food stores.

Altruistic tendencies are often accompanied by self satisfaction and wellbeing. And many people believe that “its good to be good”. But is there actually any science behind giving and wellbeing? It seems there is.

One study looked at preteens who’d first been surveyed in the 1920s in Berkeley, California. Those who displayed generosity and a giving attitude grew up to have lower rates of heart disease and depression, said Post, a professor of preventive medicine and director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook University in New York.

In addition to this study, another by Harvard detected, through the use of MRI devices, increased levels of seratonin and dopamine (feel-good chemicals) in the brains of students who were asked to simply think about giving. This same study noticed strengthening of the immune system when the participants were shown a video about Mother Theresa.

Yet another study has shown that people who go through Alcoholics Anonymous and then help other alcoholics have a 40 percent rate of recovery, while those who don’t help other alcoholics recover at a rate of 22 percent.

These scientific findings confirm the power of giving, compassion and kindness. Not only does it feel good to give, its also good for you health. As Azim Jamal, a motivational speaker and co-author of the best-seller “The Power of Giving: How Giving Back Enriches Us All,” says, “The power of giving is instantaneous, continuous and eternal. When you die, you don’t take what you have. You take what you gave.”