| About the Author |
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Along with bringing the latest news and trends about alternative health, Bob will help you get the most of your Internet health research. Bob is the Living Well Columnist for the Seattle Post- Intelligencer. He covers health and quality of life for the Hearst-owned newspaper and writes regularly for national magazines. He is a former syndicated health columnist for the Chicago Tribune twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and author of six books, including “The Good Mood Diet” and “Your Prostate Cancer Survivors’ Guide.” His articles have appeared in Life, Esquire, Parade, Self, Outside and Shape among national magazines. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two 11-year-old kids. |
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| Friday, November 14, 2008 |
| Fasting Can Help Eliminate Allergies, Manage a Healthy Weight |
Every spring, Dr. Elson Haas supervises a group of 25 to 100 people who participate in a 10-day fasting program. He does it himself too, a ritual he has followed since 1975.
“I was two years out of medical school with chronic allergies and way overweight,” recalled Haas by phone the other day after a day of seeing patients at his natural health clinic in Marin County, Calif. “I needed something.”
Fasting clearly worked for Haas, as he returns to it every spring (“the best time of year for detoxification, autumn is next”). He disbursed with the allergies and managed his weight despite a self-professed liking for food. Last week, Haas was drinking his version of a “master cleanser” drink while eating light (mostly fruit and veggies) as a modified fast he follows when he feels the need. His energy level is Haas’ usual guide.
Perhaps more impressive are the percentages associated with success among the spring fasting groups. Haas is into supervising thousands over 30-plus years and the vast majority benefited from the experience.
“Somewhere between 80 and 90 percent of the group members feel invigorated and report a profound experience,” said Haas. “They feel stronger, clearer, more energetic. That’s what we hear.
Continue reading...Labels: allergies, alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, fasting, weight loss |
posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 7:53 AM  |
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| Home Remedies for Sinuses are Endorsed and Effective |
Home remedies for sinus problems are a bit like comfort food. You opt for them when things are bleak or painful or both. And while you might not scare up much research to support the health value of tucking into a chicken cutlet with mashed potatoes, doctors are increasingly giving props to ways we can ease sinus pain with such practical remedies as saltwater nasal sprays and warm compresses.
Need a big name? Mayo Clinic endorsed saltwater sprays and warm compresses in its October 2008 health newsletter for women, just in time for the cold and flu season. Truth? Grandma knows more about comfort than even Mayo when sinuses are inflamed and dropping us for a loss.
But Mayo is good at explained how a cold turns into sinus pain and, even worse, chronic sinus pain: “Sinusitis often begins when a cold, which is caused by a virus, then leads to inflammation in the lining of the sinuses. Sometimes, this leads to a bacterial infection, which then creates a longer bout of sinusitis -- lasting longer than 10 to 14 days.”
If a doctor has never talked to you about sinusitis, consider yourself fortunate. The rest of us know the sinus pain is like back pain—until you experience it, you just don’t know.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, home remedies, sinuses |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 7:48 AM |
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| Monday, November 10, 2008 |
| Women are More Prone Than Men to Symptoms of 'Economy Stress' |
The economy is no one’s favorite subject these days. But a new American Psychological Association survey shows that women might be even more inclined to avoid the subject. Eighty-four percent of the women in the survey acknowledged deep fears about the uncertain financial future, compared to 75 percent of men. The difference is statistically significant.
But, hey, not so fast. Men might be just as stressed about the economy but don’t own up to the fears.
"Women are sometimes more aware of the stress they are feeling," said Stephanie Smith, a psychologist and public education coordinator for the American Psychological Association (APA) in a statement accompanying the survey results. "They are often more willing to talk about it and admit to the struggles they are having."
One issue for women is that even in 2008 they tend to be the primary caregivers in families, both for kids and aging parents. Worrying about money can be compounded if there is concern about covering those responsibilities from a money point of view.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, stress, women's health |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 8:48 AM |
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| Faith and Spirituality Can Improve Your Health |
For a physician who earned his medical degree in traditional fashion, Dr. Larry Dossey has been on the unconditional route ever since. Dossey is a pioneer in helping Americans become aware that research shows prayer can be healing. At Duke University, Dr. Harold Koenig has performed a similar role to connect a faith life with fewer health problems as people age.
Without any judgment about the right religion or even if one needs to follow organized religion (in fact, we dig what the Jewish rabbi and best-selling author Harold Kushner said, “spirituality brings us together and religion breaks us apart”), here is a review of important studies connecting spirituality and good health:
Four of every 10 Americans say they have been cured of an illness or enjoyed significantly improved conditions as a result of personal prayer or meditation.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, religion and spirituality |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 8:47 AM |
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| Magnesium Foods Prevent Gallstones, Hypertension, Memory Loss |
There are a lot of reasons to avoid or limit processed foods, whether you might find them packaged on grocery shelves or in the frozen convenience foods sections. One of the better arguments: You rob the body of dietary magnesium, which help prevent gallstones, relieve migraines, lower high blood pressure, reduce the risk of kidney stones and protect against bone loss in post-menopause.
A new study at the University of Kentucky Medical Center shows a diet rich in magnesium can reduce the probability of gallstones among individuals at increased risks from a family history of the conditon. This is important because the American diet in the last two to three decades has been declining. MIT scientists have reported that up to half of all American adults do not get enough magnesium on an average daily basis.
The Kentucky researchers found that not getting enough magnesium can increase your triglycerides and lower HDL or good cholesterol. It adds up to compromising health on many fronts. They studied more than 42,000 men over a decade. Other studies have confirmed the potency of dietary magnesium.
There is a simple solution: Eat more plant-based foods to up your intake of fiber.
Continue reading...Labels: cholesterol, gallstones, heart attacks, hypertension, memory |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 8:45 AM |
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| Ease Winter Depression or SAD with Supplements, Food Choices |
If you slice the United States in half horizontally, as if our country were a cantaloupe, then you can assume anyone who lives in the upper half is at higher risk for seasonal affective disorder or SAD. This “winter depression” is caused by lack of exposure to daylight and marked by feelings of low energy, anxiety and diminished joy.
While we all know that lightbox therapy and noontime walks are recommended, there are also effective strategies for your eating plan and which dietary supplements to take. One recommendation on the food side is to make sure your meals include lean proteins and even healthy fats to offset the increased SAD cravings for carbohydrates. A great dinner to eat once or twice a week would be a portion of wild salmon (you can broil it rubbed with olive oil, then sprinkled with tamari, lime juice and a couple smidges of sea salt), brown rice and some dark leafy greens. The salmon is a brain and mood booster, while brown rice is a whole grain with B6 and B12 vitamins, both key to emotional health. The leafy greens bring you folic acid for further mental balance.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, depression, dietary supplements, seasonal affective disorder |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 8:43 AM |
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| Gut Feeling: More MDs Recommending Probiotics |
As we move, like it or not, into the cold, flu and strep throat season, there is good reason to consider getting more probiotics or “good guy” bacteria into our bodies. You can take probiotics supplements (ask an informed practitioner to make a recommedation) or look for yogurts and kefirs at the market.
What the probiotics can do is strengthen the immune system, especially the underrated but brain signal-sender digestive tract. Maybe even better, the probiotics can protect the gut’s health while taking antibiotic medications. Impressively, more doctors are recommending probiotic foods (including yeasts and sauerkraut) for just that reason. That’s a big change for even three years ago.
Offsetting the possible digestive grief of a 10-day course of antibiotics is a smart health strategy. An October poll by Harris Interactive reports that one in five U.S. adults taking antibiotics will suffer through medication-associated diarrhea than can be debilitating. Research shows taking probiotics along with your antibiotics course can reduce diarrhea and resulting dehydration symptoms by an average of 60 percent.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, antibiotics, bob condor, colds, diarrhea, digestion, flu, immune system, probiotics |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 8:41 AM |
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