Status: RO Your Life-Your Choice ISSN 1488-0253 ==================== February, 2000 issue 47 PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS LOSE THE CREEP! Introducing a revolutionary feminine solution. The Rainbow Butterfly is an anatomically designed accessory that fits on the outside of your underwear to prevent the seam of your pants from riding up into the crotch. For Looks, For Comfort. http://www.rainbowbutterfly.com ********************************************** Letter from the Editor Spring house cleaning is just around the corner, and here at Your Life-Your Choice, we're getting ready to dust off the old and polish the new. Be prepared to see a lot of changes here at the old website. We've already added some new features, and I welcome you to take a look around. At http://www.Life-Choices.com/top10links.html you will find credible and interesting sites that feature Alternative Health Links only. At http://www.Life-Choices.com/links.html we feature links to some of the most interesting and useful sites on the web. For your enjoyment we now present Alternative Health related magazines. Keep your eyes open for special offers and free trials at http://www.Life-Choices.com/mag.html. More improvements are in the works, we'll keep you updated. Enjoy the newsletter, work hard, play hard, relax hard, love hard, and stay well until next time. Brigitte Synesael Editor of Your Life-Your Choice Traditional Medicine Isn't Enough Any More! Your life is your choice-don't give it away! http://www.Life-Choices.com ********************************************** ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 2. Ten Steps to a Healthy Prostate 3. Nutrition and Disease: Osteoporosis 4. The Recipe Corner ******************************************** Section 1 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by Christina Barrett mailto:cbr@glinx.com ----- All too frequently nowadays, we hear about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. And all too frequently we all know someone who has had to resort to surgery to correct the problem. Sometimes the surgery is successful and the person is never troubled again by the numbness and pain. Unfortunately for others, the surgery is unsuccessful, and the pain recurs. In many cases, physiotherapy has proven helpful, and sometimes chiropractic medicine does the trick. In others, massage therapy is the ticket to freedom. Massage treatment for carpal tunnel mostly involves work to the forearm muscles, especially to the flexors (the muscles that curl your fingers into fists and bend your hand towards your forearm). When these muscles are tight, feeling hard and resistant to pressure, they often close down on the nerves that supply your hand. A massage therapist skilled in this work, can loosen the muscles, increase the circulation through the area and free up the compressed nerves. Combined with exercises for you to do at home and at work, this can lead to a reduction, and in some cases a complete cessation of symptoms. Because quite a few of the muscles involved attach at the other end to the lower part of the humerus (the bone of the upper arm), it is important to work through there, too. Working on the attachments of the muscle should stimulate a relaxation response in the belly of the muscle. I like to combine this work with a deep kneading of the muscle itself, feeling the fibres loosen and relax under my fingers. It’s very satisfying to feel a muscle go from feeling like a bronze casting of a muscle to being soft and pliable, to see the client’s reaction as the numbness starts to subside and the pain to recede. In addition to the work described above, I use deep thumb stroking of the tendons where they cross the wrist from the hand down into the forearm, giving them a good stretch as I go. Part of my training involved learning how to mobilize the bones in the wrist and hand, and I use those techniques, too, on the theory that movement is life, and the more freely the bones and muscles can move, the happier and healthier a body is. When I feel that I’m starting to push the envelope to the point that the muscle is on the verge of being irritated, I switch to the muscles on the back of the forearm. It’s important to keep a balance, I believe, and when one group of muscles is tight and pulling, it usually causes strain on the counter group (the antagonists). Therefore, no treatment is complete without addressing the arm, the body, the person as a whole and not a small dysfunctioning part. To maintain the free movement, I also use passive stretching of the forearms, and show the client how they can do these exercises at home to stay loose and functioning properly. I also recommend wrist supports for those who use a keyboard a great deal, and try to find other helpful suggestions for other clients in jobs with repetitive wrist motions. In this part of Nova Scotia, there are quite a few people working "in the fish," employed by the fish factories cutting and processing fish. This involves long hours of standing on a concrete floor, reaching for a fish, then using a small, sharp knife to cut it apart, remove the innards and bones, and pass it along the line. Many of these workers suffer terribly from carpal tunnel syndrome, and need to be able to work when the fish comes in. The work is seasonal and unpredictable, so quite a few of these hard-working laborers try to come in for maintenance to keep them functioning during the season. There are some very good books out there on treating and avoiding carpal tunnel: 1 - Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: And Other Repetitive Strain Injuries - Sharon J. Butler, Jacqueline Entwistle Freeman (Illustrator); Paperback 2 - Repetitive Strain Injury : A Computer User's Guide - Emil Pascarelli, Deborah Quilter (Contributor); Paperback 3 - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Stress Injuries: The Comprehensive Guide to Prevention, Treatment and Recovery - Tammy Crouch; Paperback I hope anyone suffering from this condition will consider trying massage and other therapies. How much nicer to have relief without resorting to surgery unless it is absolutely unavoidable. Happy recovery. ----- Read about Christina Barrett on our Meet the Team page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html ********************************************** PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS 20 Minute Recipes! Here is what our visitors are saying about our free service: "Your pasta with Mushroom Sauce was incredible - thank you very much!" "am so excited, I have 3 small children and fix the same thing every night!" "bravo on the introduction of the healthy foods!" Sign up now for our free weekly newsletter by sending a blank email to mailto:subscribe@minutemeals.com or try our website: http://www.MinuteMeals.com ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ HOW HEALTHY ARE YOU? FREE Online customized, confidential, health and weight management profile. Instant results. FREE health tips, FREE monthly health newsletter. Take your FREE Online Health Analysis and learn more to achieve optimum health! Visit: http://www.stop-aging.com/?=103 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Don't miss this special opportunity!! ONLINE Front Row Seats Available!!! Online seminar on Therapeutic Massage, presented by Laurel Duran CMT. Presentation and question and answer format. Starts 7:00 pm sharp on Mar. 28. Instructions to join us at http://www.Life-Choices.com/Member/benefits.html. Become a member or attend only the seminar. Register NOW while there is still space available. ******************************************** Section 2 Ten Steps to a Healthy Prostate by Dr. John Maher http://www.RxforWellness.com ---------- One out of five men 50 years old has cancer cells replicating in his prostate. Three out of four have palpable inflammation. At 75, three out of 5 have active prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the number 2 cancer, behind skin cancer, in men, and the number 2 cancer killer in men, behind lung cancer. Prostectomy usually leaves one impotent and wearing diapers. SO, HAVE I GOT YOUR ATTENTION? The historical medical understanding is that this dysregulation of cellular division is in response to increased levels of dehydroxy-testoterone, a metabolite of testosterone, that tends to increase with age. DHT, as it is commonly called, is thought to be related to male pattern baldness as well. Indeed a treatment for advanced prostate cancer is a gonadectomy, a polite word for castration, in an effort to lower testosterone! But more and more doctors are beginning to suspect estrogen metabolites (like 16-hydroxy-estradiol), xeno-estrogens (estrogen mimics, usually petro-chemical pollutants), and "exogenous" estrogens in meat products, might be part of the picture as well, if not the major factor! One of the concerns of young men raising their testosterone with steroids or with "stacking" androstenes, DHEA and tribulus terrestris is the tendency for the body to turn them to estrogens instead of testosterone, especially once testoterone levels exceed optimal. (This is why Chrysin, aka flavone X, is often stacked as well as this herb resists estrogen formation from androgenic hormones.) The short term effect might be "bitch tits", but the long term side effect could be prostate cancer! Many natural health doctors also feel that the risk of prostate cancer is higher if progesterone is low. (Less than 25 pg/ml progesterone in saliva is considered too low by most experts in both men and post-menopausal women.) Just as progesterone protects women who take estrogen from breast cancer, it appears that progesterone protects men from prostate cancer by perhaps a similar mechanism. The Wellness Rx: Ten Steps for a Healthy Prostate. 1) Lots of sex is good for the prostate, although promiscuity may lead to infections and prostatitis. Indeed, three orgasms a week in males is strongly correlated with longevity (and optimal testosterone levels I'll wager)! 2) Vit. E, up to 400 IU and selenium, 200 mcg. is protective. Zinc, 30 mg., further supports prostate and testicular health. So do the fatty acids in flaxseed, pumpkin seed and walnuts. 3) Lycopenes are an anti-oxidant phytonutrient found in tomatoes, watermelons and pink grapefruit, that are prostate supportive. 4) Keep DHT low by taking herbs that are "5-alpha reductase inhibitors", such as saw palmetto and nettles*. 5) These two herbs above are also "anti-aromatases", thereby inhibiting the conversion of androgens to estrogens. Chrysin* does this as well and should be considered by those endeavoring to boost testosterone if estrogens are high normal. If already high, lower estrogens BEFORE trying to boost testosterone, by using the above herbs, and following step 6 below. (Normal estradiol in saliva* in men under 50 is 1 to 3 pg/ml; over 50, 1 to 5 pg/ml. For post-menopausal females, .5 to 1.5 pg/ml. Yes, less than a man!) 6) Keep exposure to outside estrogens down with pure water and cutting inorganic meats. Keep the "bad" estrogens further at bay with the cruciferous vegetables ( cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, rutabaga, turnips and turnip greens), which help your liver detoxify them. (They contain indoles, called DIMs for short) 7) Eat lots of "phyto-estrogens", which are plant foods that contain weak estrogens, such as soy products, beans, legumes, apples, alfalfa, and flaxseeds and whole grains. These plant estrogens take up the receptor sites (think of these as parking spaces) for the more powerful "bad" estrogens. 8) Enhance progesterone* if it is below 25 pg/ml in saliva. Progesterone products may have female sounding names, but men need just as much progesterone as post-menopausal females do! 9) Exercise has been shown to decrease the risk of prostate cancer by 25%! 10) Once past 50 have yearly DRE (digital rectal exams) and PSA's (prostate specific antigen blood tests) performed by your M.D. Keeping your sex hormones at optimal levels, while at the same minimzing the levels of the "bad" sex hormone metabolites, is a key step in anti-aging and life extension. ----- Read about Dr. Maher on our Meet the Team page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html ******************************************** Send in your testimonies, mailto:yourlife@life-choices.com with "Testimonies Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading. Share your story with Alternative Medicine! This is YOUR newsletter! Share your thoughts, what you'd like to see by emailing, mailto:yourlife@life-choices.com with "Feedback Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading. ******************************************** Section 3 Nutrition and Disease: Osteoporosis By: June Kaminski RN MSN ----- This week we will continue our discussion about how a balanced diet can help you and your family prevent chronic disease. This week, our focus will be on one of the most serious and damaging diseases: osteoporosis. This disease is more prevalent in women, but men do get it. Osteoporosis can be prevented or reduced significantly with balanced diet, regular exercise and fresh air, and a supportive social network. Osteoporosis Prevention The best form of calcium is food sources, simply because bone, like other tissues, requires balanced nutrition. In particular, milk is the best food source of vitamin D, a nutrient essential for normal calcium absorption and bone health. Milk and dairy products, such as cheese, yogurt and ice cream, contain the highest levels of calcium. Although many people tend to avoid milk because of its fat content, which might predispose them to heart disease, especially those with hypercholesterolemia, low-fat dairy products such as skim and 1% milk are safe and contain high levels of calcium. Nondairy food sources of calcium generally contain much lower levels, but significant amounts occur in canned salmon and sardines when the bones are also eaten. Some green vegetables (such as kale, broccoli and spinach) as well as legumes (such as soybeans and common beans) have small amounts of calcium, but it is not easy to assimilate. Vegetarians who do not consume milk products should take special care to ensure that they are receiving adequate amounts of calcium in their diets. Some people will find it hard to obtain the recommended amounts of dietary calcium through diet alone; for many, a combination of food sources and vitamin/mineral supplements is wise. Adequate amounts of vitamin D are also needed for optimal calcium absorption and bone health. Although many families obtain sufficient vitamin D through the exposure to sunlight, adequate dietary sources of vitamin D are particularly important for elderly people or for those who use sun screen preparations routinely. A dietary intake of 400 to 800 IUDs is recommended for such people. Daily Requirements of Calcium Age in years Intake (mg) 7 to 9 700 10 to 12 boys 900 10 to 12 girls 1200 to 1400 13 to 16 1200 to 1400 17 to 18 1200 19 to 49 1000 50+ 1000 to 1500 Get More Information! You can read all about how Calcium Requirements Rise! at the Health News Archives . A thought-provoking summary of a report on calcium intake and osteoporosis prevention by the Institute of Medicine. At Healthboards.com you can join in interactive discussions about nutrition and major diseases, and other health related topics. Anti-Aging Foods is a site that promotes nutrition for prevention and management of chronic diseases and conditions associated with aging. Rosemary Fisher, a spry 80 year old explains how she reversed her osteoporosis, heart disease, and Alzheimer's dementia. Recipes, articles, and other resources. Facts about Osteoporosis and Nutrition is presented by the American Dietetics Association. Medscape.com offers free registration to join their database to search a multitude of health-related topics, articles, news, and resources. One resource is an online textbook, Osteoporosis: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management. This site also offers free email, such as yourname@medscape.com and a personalized entry page. ----- Read about June Kaminski on our Meet the Team page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html ******************************************** Section 4 The Recipe Corner The following recipes are good sources of calcium and are recommended for those suffering from Osteoporosis. Reprint permission given by Renee from Veggies Unite! - http://www.vegweb.com/ Black Bean & Tofu Soup Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup black beans 8 cups water 3 strips Kombu 2 cloves garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 bay leaf 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil 1 head broccoli 1 big carrot 1/2 medium onion 2 stalks celery 1 1/2 cup spinich 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1/8 cup green onions 8 oz. tofu 4 medium mushrooms Directions: Serves 6-8. Wash the beans. Put the water, the beans, the salt, the bayleaf, the kombu, both kinds of oil, and the soy sauce in a large pot. Crush the garlic and put that in too. Bring it all to a boil and then turn down to a simmer. Let this brew cook for about 2 1/2 to three hours. In the last hour of cooking, throw in all the sliced veggies except for the green onions and the tofu. When the soup is done (i.e. the beans and carrots are soft) sprinkle green onions on top. Comment: kombu is a kind of seaweed. It makes good soup stock and also improves the digestability of beans. You can find it at most natural-food stores. Also, this makes for a very hearty soup. If you want something less dense, cut down on the veggies. This recipe is pretty robust; changes can be made and it will still turn out OK (less oil, salt, etc). Enjoy! ***** Easy "Kick-Butt" Pate Ingredients: 1 cup raw sunflower seeds 1/2 cup cornmeal, kamut or amaranth flour 1/2 cup engivita or nut. yeast 3 tsp. parsley flakes 1/4 cup sunlower oil (or any) 1 1/2 tsp. dried bazil 1 1/3 cups water 1tsp. crushed dried thyme 2 Tbsp. tamari (or Bragg's) 3/4-1tsp. sea salt 3-4 tsp. prepared horseradish 1/2 tsp. dried sage leaves 1 Tbsp. Saurkraut (opt.) 1/4 tsp. sea kelp 1/2 tsp. ground mustard 1 cup finely grated potato (rinse thoroughly & squeeze this makes it less starchy) Directions: Make sure you rinsed the potato (through a colander or any kind of nylon cloth or cheesecloth. Put everything in a blender except potato, blend for a bit...add potato, blend some more, if it isn't mixing add a l'il more oil (or olive juice). Preheat oven to 375* F. Oil a 9" glass pie plate and scoop in pate...OR DOUBLE recipe and put in a loaf pan. Bake 35-45 mins until well browned. You can really alter this recipe say by using nuts in combo or alone adding olive juice instead of oil to help mix- just make sure it has a sticky consistancy. Let pate cool for about 20 mins (the longer the better up to 2 hours). Then serve on bread or crackers. Keeps for a week or can be frozen in wedges. Serves: 4 Preparation time: 55 mins ********** Your Life-Your Choice makes every effort to provide you with healthy recipes where the nutrition is geared towards specific health issues. If you have a recipe you'd like to share, submit it to mailto:yourlife@life-choices.com?subject=recipe from YLYC subscriber. Remember to include whatever nutritional information you can. ********** ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Disclaimer All material appearing in this newsletter is provided for educational purposes only. It is provided with the understanding that authors and contributors are not offering medical advice or services. 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