Well…maybe.

We actually just need reminders.
I walked into the restroom at a Starbucks today and saw written instructions and step by step pictures of how to wash your hands. I couldn’t help but laugh.
The instructions read:
1. Rinse hands
2. Put soap on hands
3. Rub hands together
4. Rinse hands
5. Dry hands with paper towel
6. Turn off water with paper towel and throw away

Imagine a picture demonstrating each instruction.

We may not all wash exactly the same way, but the important thing is that we wash our hands OFTEN. We know washing our hands is the best way to prevent germs from being transfered to door knobs, tables and to other people. It’s a great way to prevent colds and other infections.

So even though instructions on how to wash our hands may seem silly, these reminders are good in helping us remember the little things that keep us healthy …and they’re not just for employees.

We know that salmon is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids which has been shown to help heart health, arthritis, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and many other ailments. But we also know the risk of too much salmon and its elevated mercury levels. So is farmed fish better than wild?

Proponents of salmon farming argue that the oceans can’t continue to meet the demand of all the fish we are trying to take, and farming makes salmon available year-round at an affordable price.

Opponents of farming counter that salmon farms spread disease and pack fish with contaminants, antibiotics, and artificial colorings and pollute the ocean. Some also claim that the rich source of omega-3 fatty acids are lower in farmed fish than wild fish.

So, what can we do to select fish that doesn’t harm us or the environment?

1. Choose fish from fisheries with careful management plans, such as Alaskan halibut, Atlantic herring and Alaskan salmon.
2. Choose short lived species like sardines and anchovies. Avoid large predator fish like tuna, swordfish, king mackerel and shark.
3. Look for fish with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label.
4. Ask how the fish was caught (hook-caught fish are better than nets and long lines)
5. Look for tuna labeled “dolphin safe”.
6. Remove fat and skin from fish before cooking. PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls, a highly toxic chemical compound) accumulate in fat. Trimming the fat will reduce your exposure.
7. Grill, bake or broil your fish so the fat can drain off the fish. Frying seals in the toxins.

As for me, I eat wild salmon in season and limit my intake of farmed salmon. The fish I buy comes from Chile, Alaska or Washington, which are known to have the lowest PCB levels. And to be on the safe side, I consume plenty of Vitamin C, Magnesium, and
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (N-A-C) which is a precursor to a powerful antioxidant known as glutathione. I will also occasionally use Milk thistle best known to support liver function. These supplements all help with detoxifying and removing toxins from the body.
Fish oil supplements are also an option. Find a reputable brand that screens their products for heavy metals and toxins and the benefit of these pills definitely outweigh the risks.

For more information about how to make responsible seafood choices and the environmental and health effects of various fish, check out these two websites: http://www.seafoodwatch.org and http://www.oceansalive.org.

Sale of fish oil supplements is on the rise

It’s summertime again and everyone is outdoors enjoying the weather. Ticks and mosquitoes may take the fun out of outdoor activities if we are not careful. Here are some good tips about ticks and Lyme Disease…

7 Tips About Ticks And Lyme Disease You Should Know

Blood test results came back today from a 14 year old patient of mine. She had high cholesterol and her ratio of lipids showed a moderate risk of heart disease. What!? A 14 year old with high cholesterol! Yes, if you haven’t heard, we have an obesity problem in our country. Our children are having as hard a time losing weight and lowering cholesterol levels as adults. For kids, exercise and getting away from the sugar and processed foods can do wonders. For the rest of us, there are also other solutions in addition to diet and exercise.
If your numbers are high, there are many natural supplements you can use to help lower total cholesterol and LDL (the bad cholesterol). My favorite is red yeast rice which is made from cooked white rice fermented by the yeast Monascus purpureus. The main active ingredient in red yeast rice is lovastatin. Lovastatin inhibits the enzyme that initiates the production of cholesterol biosynthesis. This is probably not the only cholesterol-lowering agent in red yeast rice. There are also omega-3 fatty acids, isoflavones, and plant sterols. Find out more…

Plant Sterols May Help Lower Cholesterol

Saliva has already be used to test hormones in diagnosing many endocrine problems. I use saliva testing in helping to balance hormones in women with premenstrual symptoms, as well as women entering menopause, and those with adrenal fatigue. It is a unique way to evaluate free bio-available hormone levels as opposed to both free and bound hormone levels as is measured in blood tests. Now, saliva may be used to diagnose other illnesses and diseases.

Saliva may paint an insightful view of the body’s health

Shingles can be an extremely painful condition that not only effects the quality of ones life, but can lead to long term nerve damage. Soon there may be hope for preventing outbreaks or at least reducing the symptoms of this painful viral condition.

DNC: Health News – Shingles Vaccine May Counter ‘Feared Consequence of Aging’

Leaky gut can be the underlying cause of everything from fatigue, headache, and sinus problems to osteoporosis and ADHD. Over 70% of people that have problems with malabsorption have no gastrointestinal symptoms. Find out more.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

(Via www.alternativemedicine.com.)