Get Your Body Back On Track With These 5 Points of Wellness

Bethany Cox To Highlight Essential Oils In A Series Of Blog Posts

At Seasons Wellness Clinic and Seasons – The Spa, we use essential oils on a daily basis. I am often asked what essential oils are and why we use them. In short, essential oils are the natural, aromatic liquids found in shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes, and seeds. In order to provide the most benefit to the body, Seasons only uses 100% pure therapeutic grade Young Living oils. And because we believe that essential oils should play a role in everyday life, we offer these oils for purchase to our clients.

In my massage practice at Seasons – The Spa, I use Young Living essential oils and lotions every day. These essential oils have many therapeutic benefits such as helping to calm and soothe muscle tension with blends of peppermint, coconut oil, lemongrass, oregano and sweet almond oil. I have had advanced training in Young Living essential oils and techniques using the oils and would be happy to answer any questions you may have by leaving a comment on this post.

In the next few months, I will be writing a series of blog posts to highlight different essential oils and their benefits. My first blog post will highlight orange. Orange, as a pure essential oil, not only relaxes the mind with its sweet citrus scent, but it is also great for the immune system. To read more about this essential oils and to find out how you can receive a FREE orange Young Living essential oil, click here.

Is The Flu Shot As Good As Gold?

Ah, fall! The crisp, cool mornings, the return of football, and the sweeping changes of color found throughout the landscape. Fall is a welcome change after the long, hot Louisiana summer. With all of the wonderful changes that fall brings, there are a few unwelcome visitors. Just as we move past the summer heat, fall ushers in the cold and flu season.

Recently, I overhead a good friend of mine say that the flu vaccine is “as good as gold” and that as far as results, “the proof is in the pudding.” Not long after that, I saw an ad campaign for the flu vaccine with the tagline: “the value of wellness.”

So, I have to pose this question. With the upcoming cold and flu season, what is the best way to protect my family? How should I treat or even prevent the flu? Is the flu vaccine “as good as gold” and is the “proof” really “in the pudding?”

Today is the era of evidence-based medicine.  So, to answer these questions let’s see what the evidence shows.

Is the flu vaccine “as good as gold?”

The answer is no. While not surprising to me, I’m sure this comes as a surprise to you!  Let me show you the evidence.

A Cochrane analysis, “Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults,” published in 2010 looked at over 70,000 adults ages 16-65 from 1966 to 2010. The objective was defined as: “identify, retrieve and assess all studies evaluating the effects of vaccines against influenza in healthy adults.”

The results may surprise you.

• Flu vaccine was found to be a very poor match (1%). Each year, the 3-strain flu vaccine is created in attempt to match the up coming viral strains.
• Flu vaccine only had a modest effect on reducing flu symptoms and days missed.
• No evidence was found that the flu vaccine affects complications. Complications were defined as pneumonia, hospitalization, and TRANSMISSION.

In my opinion, if you are a healthy adult, the flu vaccine is a waste of your time. But don’t worry; there are many scientifically proven preventive and therapeutic treatments available.  The problem is most are labeled “natural” or “alternative” so you may not have heard of their benefits.

Vitamin D

Hippocrates said, “Whoever wishes to investigate medicine properly should proceed thus: in the first place to consider the seasons of the year.” Vitamin D levels show an inverse relationship to the cold/flu incidence.

 Cannell JJ et al., in “Epidemic influenza and vitamin D,” showed that vitamin D levels reach their lowest levels during the winter months, often dropping by 24%. Below in “Epidemic influenza and vitamin D”, 2,000 IU daily versus 800 IU and placebo was shown to significantly reduce the incident of the cold/flu.

In addition to being preventative, vitamin D is active against ongoing infection. A recent study in the Journal of Virology, revealed that vitamin D has anti-viral properties. Because of its function in the innate immune system, vitamin D, a proven anti-viral, was suggested to be a primary method of treatment.

Probiotics

That’s right, a healthy gut equals a healthy immune system. In children with recurrent otitis media, 24 weeks of probiotics versus placebo was shown to reduce recurrent respiratory infections. Another study, revealed reduced otitis media recurrence in children given probiotics. Still another study revealed a reduction in fever, rhinorrhea, cough, days of antibiotics, and missed school days in children given probiotics daily for 6 months versus placebo.

How?  The current thought is that bacteria and viruses use a “biofilm” protective layer. This protects the virus or bacteria against the body’s immune attacks. This also appears to protect the offending virus/bacteria against administered therapies.

The importance of the gut to the immune system shouldn’t surprise us. It is estimated that 70% of the immune system is concentrated in the gastrointestinal system. In fact, we know that the route of delivery predicts the gut flora. Other events, including maternal steroids, antibiotics, and breast-feeding, can also alter the risk. Collectively, these early events can increase obesity risk.

Vitamin C

What do guinea pigs and people have in common? Their bodies don’t make vitamin C. That’s right, we humans, don’t make vitamin C. So, the only way our bodies get vitamin C is through our diet. Just like vitamin D, the majority of us don’t take in enough Vitamin C.

No therapies will have all positive studies, but therapy using vitamin C has a large body of evidence supporting its use against the common cold and flu. Vitamin C therapy came to prominence with Linus Pauling in the 1970’s. Linus Pauling was an advocate for Vitamin C therapy as an anti-viral therapy in the treatment of the common cold and flu. In his 1970 study, the incidence of colds were reduced by 45% and the duration of the colds were reduced by 63%. High dose IV vitamin C therapy has been shown to reduce the symptoms of the common cold and flu by 85% in a study of 715 people by Gorton and Jarvis. A study by Straten and Josling, showed that vitamin C reduced the incidence and the duration of cold symptoms. A large Cochrane review, showed a reduction of the severity and duration of cold symptoms with vitamin C therapy.

Furthermore, vitamin C has been shown to have many positive immunomodulatory effects. A study by Wintergerst, Magginini, and Hornig discussed many of the positive immune effects of vitamin C. And Harri Hemila in 2006, discussed the effects of vitamin C and the large body of evidence that show the positive effects it has on the immune system. The immune enhancement effects of vitamin C should be evident over the long-term. A study out of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2006 showed no change in severity or incidence of the common cold, BUT a 66% decrease in 3 or more colds over a 5-year period was seen; revealing just the long-term positive immune enhancing effect we were looking for. So the benefits are extensive, reaching beyond a therapy for the common cold and flu.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy goes back to the eighteenth century with Samuel Hahnemann, MD. In fact, it probably goes back even further. Hippocrates (400 BC) was quoted as saying, “through the like, disease is produced and through the application of the like, it is cured.” Homeopathy works by helping the body to heal itself first, before the powerful interventions of today’s therapies. These powerful interventions come with powerful side effects. The healing medical model of homeopathy fits the Hippocratic oath well, “First, do no harm.”

Homeopathy has been shown to be an effective addition in the treatment and prevention of the cold and flu. Homeopathy was shown to reduce the infection rate of cold and flu viruses by 20-40%. Long waits to see the doctor are very common in Europe and one study showed that homeopathy effectively reduces URI symptoms in children versus a waiting-list control. Finally, in a head-to-head study, homeopathy was shown to be more effective and had lower complication rates than antibiotics in children with recurrent acute rhinopharyngitis.

So how do we stay well?  

One thing is certain, wellness doesn’t come from the flu vaccine. Working with your body and allowing what God created to work as it was intended provides true wellness. Your body wants to protect and heal you. Why not give it a chance, first? No one therapy can provide 100% protection against the common cold and flu. However, these four recommendations, vitamin D, probiotics, vitamin C and homeopathy, have been shown through scientific evidence, to be worthy preventive and therapeutic tools for the upcoming cold and flu season.

 

 

Need to Spice Up Your Life? Cook with Herbs!

by Valerie Costanza, RD  Cooking with Herbs Are you tired of the same flavors used in your every day cooking? Do you want to add spice to your life but aren’t sure how? Adding fresh herbs while cooking not only turns an ordinary meal into extraordinary but also has added health benefits. Herbs come from a plant so just like fruits and vegetables, they contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These nutrients are best absorbed from foods not supplements therefore getting a varied diet is important to health. Herbs used in cooking can add health benefits such as: Thyme improves the immune system Sage aids in digestion and calms the nerves during stressful times Rosemary stimulates the liver to detoxify the body Garlic destroys cancer cells and disrupts tumor cell growth Parsley acts as an anti-inflammatory, as well as protects the body against colds and the flu There are many more disease fighting herbs. Rack up the health benefits by adding them to each meal and don’t be afraid to try new spices. Baked Chicken alla Milanese Ingredients : 1 clove(s) garlic 1 cup(s) parsley leaves 1/2 cup(s) seasoned breadcrumbs Zest of 1/2 lemon Salt and pepper 2 boned chicken thighs, rinsed and patted dry 4 tablespoon(s) olive oil 2 lemon wedges Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Chop the garlic together with the parsley and place in a small bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Moisten this mixture with 2 tablespoons of oil. Lay the boned thighs in a heavy baking pan and coat the top of the chicken with the breadcrumb mixture. Drizzle the chicken with the remaining olive oil and bake for 25 minutes, or until browned. Serve with lemon wedges. This Nutrition Update is brought to you by Seasons.  For a personalized nutrition consultation with Valerie Costanza, call Seasons at 255-3223 and schedule an appointment.

 

Me, Food Sensitivity Testing, and Fear of the Unknown

I did a lot of debating with myself about having food sensitivity testing.

At first I didn’t want to do it. I forbid myself to think that I wanted to do it. Why? I didn’t want to know what it was going to tell me. I was afraid of it. I was afraid that it would tell me that I couldn’t eat the things that I love to eat.

But I know of the success stories. Our patients who have eliminated foods from their diets they were sensitive to feel better and lose weight. And I wanted to feel better. Don’t get me wrong. I feel pretty good. But as the working mom of two young boys, I need every ounce of energy I can possibly generate from my body! Weight loss wasn’t necessarily my goal, but it could be an added bonus.

So here’s a look at me before food sensitivity testing. My symptoms were:

• Headaches
• Tired often
• Lack of energy
• Cravings (carbs, chips, salty)
• GI Symptoms (stomach issues)
• Trouble losing weight
• Didn’t feel 100%

The great irony of this whole story is this–I was telling my patients to do it (and I try to do everything that I tell my patients to do) but I hadn’t had the courage to face it myself. That fear of the unknown can be so overpowering, can’t it? I w anted to be able to tell them first hand what it was like, and why the sacrifices would really be worth taking the test.

And then, 3 weeks after sending my blood to the laboratory, the results arrived. As expected, there were sacrifices that would have to be made.My results revealed that I had a tremendous food sensitivity to — are you ready for this? — coffee. Argh. I crave coffee every day. I was not excited about this. But, I stopped cold turkey. And not only did I stop coffee, I’ve stopped diet cokes, too.

The results? 2 weeks in and I have lost 5 pounds AND I feel a lot better. Significantly better. I’ve gotten back into running and exercising. Even my husband said that he could tell a difference. Just from seeing what it has done for me, he is sold….he came to Seasons yesterday to have his blood drawn to check his food sensitivity.

And that, my friends, is the story. Two weeks and results. It hasn’t been easy. Ridding your body of the causes of inflammation is one of the keys to the health and wellness kingdom.

Phytonutrients…What Are They?

Phytonutrients are nutrients found in plants that may affect health positively. The health benefits found in these nutrients include decreasing the risk of heart disease and cancer, improving glucose control in people with diabetes, and much more. A few examples of phytonutrients are: carotenoids, flavonoids, lignans, phytosterols and stanols, and some vitamins. Each phytonutrient is found in varying amounts in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts.

Phytonutrients function by:

• Serving as an antioxidant
• Enhancing the immune system
• Altering estrogen metabolism
• Causing cancer cells to die
• Repairing DNA damage

Eating a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables and replacing refined grains with whole grains will ensure you are getting the beneficial effects of these powerful phytonutrients. To learn more, contact our office and schedule an appointment today.