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Paula Deen leaves a bad taste in my mouth!

2012-01-18T18:16:00.001-08:00

Healthy Wednesday!

I will tell you that I have some emotion around the news this week that Paula Deen has Diabetes. First I am not surprised are you? Second I want to take the time to provide a little education. Nearly all the articles talk about fat laden food and fried this and that. It is critical to mention that while trans fats and fried foods are bad for health it is the excess sugar and simple carbs that are the real problem here.

Excess carbs ( I am not including most veggies and most fruit in this statement) = Excess Glucose = Excess Insulin = Excess Fat Storage.

For true health you can control Diabetes with exercise and a clean diet ... Not with a pill and "continue to stay true to Southern Cooking" The pill will help lower blood glucose however are you really treating the cause or the symptom???? I have had several patients reduce their Blood Glucose, A!C and Trigylceride levels by choosing to make healthy food choices and exercise regularly. It is not a quick fix it takes effort. The ramifications of diabetes are absolutely terrifying. They include blindness, loss of limbs and heart attack just to name a few.

I have already lost a best friend to diabetes and my sister struggles with metabolic syndrome which is why I am so hot about this topic. If you want to get off the sugar roller coaster a fantastic way to get started is to do Dr Pia's Purification Program. Not only will you lose the weight but you will learn how to eat healthy foods. Get started ... take the 21 day challenge to better health.

Television cook Paula Deen has cooked up some trouble for herself with her revelation this week that she has diabetes.

Deen -- known for her high-calorie takes on Southern cuisine -- has drawn the wrath of fans and colleagues alike with her admission that she has Type 2 diabetes. Many are infuriated that Deen withheld her condition while shilling gut-expanding recipes to the public. And they are accusing her of exploiting her condition by revealing it on the same day she began promoting a diabetes treatment as a paid spokesperson for a pharmaceutical company.http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/18/idUS182507375620120118

Let's rock 2012

2012-01-08T17:10:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Time to get back into the swing of taking care of yourself in all areas of your life. What really works is the consistent small choices that we make everyday to support health that sustain us for the long term. This year choose healthy behaviors that you can do all the time, every time even if they seem small. It all adds up. One pound a week is 52 pounds a year!

To get you started I have provided you with a link to some easy stretches to help you with your Tech Neck! or the Business Man's slump as one of my patients affectionally calls his posture.

A research team under the direction of Dr Bronfort (Northwestern Health Sciences University) found that these stretches if done consistently are the BEST treatment for neck pain. The key is consistency. Don't stop once your symptoms ease.... keep going! The mistake most of us make is that once we no longer hurt or reach our goals we quit the behavior that helped get us there.

http://www.annals.org/content/suppl/2011/12/29/156.1_Part_1.1.DC1/156-1-1-supplement.pdf

Also to get you started we have the Purification Program available to reboot your nutritional health. Not easy, but very very effective, safe and completely natural. So if the holidays left you with extra pounds, brain fog, stiff joints, distressed digestion, the moody blues etc ...then join us.. PH 214 8696404... call or text me or email me to get started.

I plan on a fantastic 2012. Do You?

Dr Pia

Happiness and Gratitude.... How to Geet Sum

2011-12-22T17:26:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday!.

Today I wanted to talk about Joy and Happiness. We hear a lot about Joy and Gratitude during the Holiday season through song " Joy to the World" etc through greetings " Happy Holidays" and untold marketing messages, however many of us are still not feeling Joyful! Happiness is elusive and certainly not a one size fits all fix and therefore it takes a lot of introspection. Happiness is an inside job. I hope that this weeks article will help provide some useful insight into " What makes YOU happy"

For those of you who have been asking Dr Pia's Purification Program will begin Jan 6th for those who want to get out the gate early and Jan 13th for those who need more time. This means you will be done by end of January/ Beginning of Feb. For those of you who live out of state we will conduct the program via Skype. Please email me if you want to learn more about this life changing program. THIS THE REAL DEAL. REAL FOOD for REAL PEOPLE. You lose weight, feel absolutely great and the best part it teaches you how!Beginning

Enjoy the article and what makes me happy is that my husband is with me for the holidays and still making me laugh.

Actually it is not just hip to be happy it is our right as stated in the declaration of independence.

The real question though is “ What makes you Happy? Really! It is a serious question and maybe one of the most important questions of your life. Research shows that most of us can’t answer the question correctly because we fall into the Unhappiness Traps.

1. Postponing Happy! “ When I (fill n the blank) “ then I will be happy” This type of trap is connected to what we think success looks like. The truth is NOW is the only time you have to be happy.

2. Spending your life trying to make other people happy. This type of practice makes us unhappy. This idea of happy is often driven by not making our own choices but those of our parents, our peers, our kids etc.

3. Contrast or the Happiness Illusion. For example we could be having an awful day and we run into someone whose day is worse than ours and by contrast we begin to feel better. The opposite would be; that we are feeling good and we are exposed to someone who has a bigger house, more well behaved kids etc and by contrast we feel worse.

Feeling happy releases Dopamine and Serotonin which dial up the learning centers of our brain to higher levels, which means we are able to organize new information, keep it in our brains longer and be able retrieve it faster. Our brains perform best NOT when they are in negative or even neutral but when they are positive.

The reality is that happiness is an inside job and the best way to start feeling happy is to feel gratitude about what you have and all that you are right now; that is where happiness is born.

Perhaps the true meaning of happiness will always remain elusive probably because not is not a one size fits all sort of thing – Yet we can tell you with certainty that Happiness is: a choice!

Happiness is a state of mind and you can choose to be happy!

My Best and HAPPY Holidays!

From my Heart to Yours: Namaste

Dr Pia Martin DC, CCN, CWC, CHC

cempia1996@aol.com

http://www.drpia.com

PH 214 8696404

Ask me about Dr Pia's Purification Program

Focus to ease Stress

2011-12-08T08:12:00.000-08:00

Focus is the key to ease stress

Traffic jams, job woes and visits from friends and family. Life is full of stressors especially around the holidays, and more often than not, people feel it physically as well as mentally.

Although the stress response begins in the brain, it is a full-body phenomenon. When someone encounters a threat — real or imagined — the brain triggers a cascade of stress hormones. The heart pounds, the muscles tense, and the breathing quickens.

One of the best ways to counter stress is to pay attention to what is going on. That may sound counterintuitive, but paying attention is the first step toward cultivating mindfulness — a therapeutic technique for a range of mental health problems (and physical ones).

The opposite of multitasking

Multitasking has become a way of life. People talk on a cell phone while commuting to work, or scan the news while returning emails. But in the rush to accomplish necessary tasks, people often lose connection with the present moment. They stop being truly attentive to what they are doing or feeling.

Mindfulness is the opposite of multitasking. The practice of mindfulness, which has its roots in Buddhism, teaches people to live each moment as it unfolds. The idea is to focus attention on what is happening in the present and accept it without judgment. Then the key is to feel it and let it go.

However it is practiced, mindfulness is a powerful therapeutic tool. Research suggests that mindfulness techniques can help alleviate anxiety and reduce physical symptoms such as pain or hot flashes.

Do-it-yourself methods

One of the best things about mindfulness is that it is something people can try on their own. Here’s how to get started:

Center down. Sit on a straight-backed chair or cross-legged on the floor. Focus on an aspect of your breathing, such as the sensations of air flowing into your nostrils and out of your mouth, or your belly rising and falling as you inhale and exhale.

Open up. Once you’ve narrowed your concentration, begin to widen your focus. Become aware of sounds, sensations, and ideas. Embrace and consider each without judgment. If your mind starts to race, return your focus to your breathing.

Observe. You may notice external sensations such as sounds and sights that make up your moment-to-moment experience. The challenge is not to latch onto a particular idea, emotion, or sensation, or to get caught up in thinking about the past or the future. Instead you watch what comes and goes in your mind, and discover which mental habits produce a feeling of suffering or well-being.

Stay with it. At times, this process may not seem relaxing at all, but over time it provides a key to greater happiness and self-awareness as you become comfortable with a wider and wider range of your experiences.

You can also try less formal approaches to mindfulness by trying to become more aware while you are doing activities that you enjoy.

Practice makes perfect

Mindfulness is something to cultivate and practice, on a regular basis.

Make a commitment. The key part of mindfulness means letting go of expectations. Just commit to trying to become more mindful, and do the best you can.

Make small changes. It’s hard much harder to make big changes. It’s better to start slow and build gradually. Mindfulness involves taking it less than one day at a time — aim for one moment at a time.

Pure and Pumpkin

2011-11-30T17:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Wellness Wednesday!

I have struggled with what to share with you this week. Why? Who wants to hear from a health and wellness expert during the holidays season? I could share ways to reduce stress during the holiday, or share how to's on the best ways to navigate the numerous holiday parties and make more healthful choices, assuming there are any to be made, or "is a gym membership the right choice for?" and so on. You get the idea. I have written three different Wellness Wednesdays this week... all great topics that I am sure you will enjoy reading and that will have very helpful information you can use but I am going to save them till you are ready, which I am sure will be soon as you start thinking about the lifestyle changes you want to make for 2012.

A heads up for those of you who asked and for those of you that are alumni and want to start the year off with a bang and for those of you that over indulge during the holidays and want to feel light and energetic by end of Jan, we will be offering Dr Pia's Purification Program the first week in January. Let me if you want in on this fabulous program. Below is just one of the many success stories

Dear Dr. Pia,

Before I began the SP Cleanse program I was not feeling very well. In fact, I was feeling fatigued every afternoon. Most meals
were leaving me feeling either nauseous or just "icky" no matter what I ate and I had hypo-glycemic systems if I went too
long between meals. Just to make my story even better my cholesterol numbers were extremely high. I followed the cleanse
plan to the letter and was amazed at how fast my digestive system felt so much better.The nausea went away immediately,the hypoglycemic symptoms left after day 5 when my blood sugar leveled out and I lost 5 lbs that first week. I found the cleanse
easy to follow and the shakes actually tasted good!

Now here is the best part. In three weeks I took my total cholesterol from 296 down to 161!
My tryglycerides dropped from 279 to 158!!! My doctor was truly impressed and I am thrilled to get this amazing result in just
3 weeks. It's been a month since I completed the program and I am still having SP Shakes for breakfast and snacks to maintain
my great results.

Thank you for being there everyday with your encouragement, support, and guidance. It helped tremendously to know I wasn't
going it alone.

In the meantime... enjoy every second of this magical time of the year and try my wonderful recipe for Butternut ( Pumpkin) Squash Soup.

Dr Pia's Pumpkin Soup

One Butternut Pumpkin peeled and roughly cubed.

One medium/large brown onion. chopped.

In a large pan, add a couple of tbsp s of olive or better yet coconut oil,

Add 2 cloves of minced garlic, a little ( too much is not good) minced ginger.

Add chopped onion and brown a little/soft. ( I also like to add ground pepper and some italian herbs and a pinch of sea salt.)

Add pumpkin and mix a little.

Then add organic chicken broth low sodium ( I know... I added salt above... I like to control the salt and the quality )

Almost cover the pumpkin with broth, bring to boil and the simmer till pumpkin is soft.

Drag out the Vitamix. Put in the pumpkin mix. If you want it nice and thick then you will not use all the liquid. If you want it a little thinner then add all the liquid. Blend. Careful it is hot!

Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream on top and a sprig of cilantro.

Let me know how it goes and if you like it.

Dr Pia

The Buzz about 11-11-11

2011-11-10T18:09:00.000-08:00

I had to share this with you:

Many people are hearing the buzz about this special date and yet uncertain as to why it is so special. The words "portal, vortex, numerology" are swirling around and no matter what you make of it, there is a sense of SOMETHING IS HAPPENING! But the question is what? How does it relate to me?

The bottom line of all the hoopla is this: on 11-11-11 MILLIONS of people around the world, in one form or another, will be holding different ceremonies celebrating the shifting in consciousness on the planet. And this means that all those millions of people will be sending energy out into the collective consciousness grid which in turn feeds each one of us. This is quantum physics at its finest! Imagine a power surge of positive vibrations sent throughout the earth and beyond, focused on shifting the consciousness from the first three chakras energy of "protect and defend" to the higher chakras where we live in "balance & harmony."

We must be the change; it must take place inside ourselves. Participating in such a worldwide event shows that we take responsibility and actively engage in the lifting of consciousness. Perhaps this is why we chose to be born at this time, something to ponder.

Have a great day enjoy and look at all the ways eleven is already in our daily lives. EG: A lot of team sports have

eleven players on the field at one time like soccer, football, and cricket. The first lunar landing was made by Apollo 11, The deepest part of the ocean floor is 11 kms, the eleventh step of the 12 step program is meditation and courage, and the reason I and many of you first heard 11:11:11 was to stop in silence to pay tribute and remember the sacrifice of our veterans

Have a great week,

Namaste

Dr Pia

Are Vitamins harmful or helpful?

2011-11-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of alarming headlines in local and national newspapers this past two weeks regarding the safety of vitamins.

First: It is important for all of us to read the entire article and not just the headline. In the world of tweets and texts we tend not to read entire articles, nor do we look for further research that supports or refutes the information.

Second: It is important to understand that many of today's vitamins and supplements are fractions of the whole. In other words they are made in a

laboratory and are not from whole food.

Third: Vitamins are not an insurance policy against poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle. The best nutrients for the human body are whole fresh foods that are found in nature.

Fourth: If you think you need a particular nutrient such as Iron or Calcium speak to your health professional to see if you infact need it. They can also help you understand how these nutrients work in the body from a physiological perspective. For example calcium requires adequate stomach acid to be absorbed into the system and not all forms of calcium are absorbable. Some forms such as calcium carbonate (chalk) are a total waste of money and harmful.

Fifth: It is always important to read the labels of supplements and fortified foods. If the supplement does not list whole foods as the source then it is chemical and can be harmful. There is a lot of hype and marketing and if it sounds too good to be true? Then ...... As many of you know I am food first advocate and if needed and based on individual needs I would suggest the use of whole food supplements and herbs from organic sources.

I Have included the link to the various articles if you would like to learn more and as always should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2011-10-11/Are-vitamin-supplements-healthy-or-deadly/50735214/1

Happy halloween and take it easy on the candy!!!

Dr Pia

Do you worry about getting Breast Cancer?

2011-10-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

As many of you know this is breast cancer awareness month (Can we change the name to prevention month as it is more of an action statement than awareness) so I wanted to bring attention to this very important subject.

Today's Wellness Wednesday article is a little longer than usually but well worth the read as breast cancer affects us all in some way. Please feel free to forward this article to all your friends and family so they too have this very important information.

Do you worry about getting Breast Cancer ?

Do you worry about getting breast cancer? Have you already suffered from the disease and are now afraid of a recurrence? I understand why. The incidence of breast cancer is skyrocketing...
Last year over 200,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 60,000 cases of non-invasive breast cancer were diagnosed. A woman’s risk of getting breast cancer has jumped from 1 in 20 in the 1960s to 1 in 8 today. Tragically, more than 40,000 women died from breast cancer alone last year.
Why has there been such a huge escalation in the rates of this frightening disease? Notice that the escalation of this disease parallels the increase in poor life style habits and less that healthy food choices.. These are not the only reasons for breast cancer however there is lot you can do to limit your chances of getting this destructive disease... Cancer can not grow in a healthy environment..
The first step is to overcome insulin resistance.
Insulin is the hormone released from your pancreas after a meal. It sends signals to your cells telling them to absorb sugar from your blood—which is a critically important job.
What most people DON’T realize is that as your insulin levels increase your estrogen levels increase as well. That means your risk of breast cancer goes up every time you eat too much sugar!
However, the havoc that insulin wreaks doesn’t stop there.
Insulin resistance also increases the amount of body fat you have. As your body fat increases, so does an enzyme in your fat called aromatase. Aromatase turns hormones made in other organs in your bodies (such as your adrenal glands) into estrogen.
Another critical part of your body you need to focus on if you want to limit your risk of breast cancer is your digestive system.
What is the connection between your gut health the health of your breasts?
Your flora—or the good bacteria that live in your gut.
These little symbiotic helpers not only strengthen your immune system and help you digest the foods you eat; they also help detoxify the estrogen made in your body after it’s been used.
If your flora isn’t in balance, the estrogen your body needs to eliminate gets reabsorbed. This increases your estrogen level and exposes your body to unhealthy estrogen breakdown products.
It’s interesting to note that many studies link increased use of antibiotics to an increased risk of breast cancer. This may be because excess antibiotic use kills off the good bacteria in your gut.
So let’s review what you can do to balance your estrogen levels, heal from insulin resistance, limit your toxic exposure, and support the flora in your gut.
Doing the following will help you limit your risk of breast cancer:
1. Choose whole foods. This helps increase your insulin sensitivity and prevents insulin resistance.
2. Get 3-5 hours of exercise per week. This also helps increase your insulin sensitivity and allows you to more easily control your percentage of body fat.
3. Increase your fiber intake. Your goal is 35 gm per day. High-fiber foods include vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and whole grains such as brown rice and ground flax seed.
4. Have protein at every meal or snack of the day. Good protein sources include; fish, lean poultry, beans, nuts, eggs, etc.
5. Maintain a healthy weight. This is the best studied, most agreed upon step a woman can take to decrease her risk of breast cancer.
6. Get a good night sleep. Sleeping well helps with weight control, insulin sensitivity, and supports your immune system. All of this is important for preventing cancer.
7. Choose organic and hormone-free Protein sources, milk, and produce. This reduces your exposure to unwanted pesticides and hormones.
8. Avoid excess toxic exposure. Choose organic products for your lawn and garden, avoid dry cleaning, don’t use plastic bottles, and limit your intake of medications (like Tylenol) that get processed in your liver.
9. Take probiotics. To support healthy gut flora
10. Limit your alcohol intake to no more than 1 drink per day and 5 per week—less is better. Remember 1 drink is 5 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of hard alcohol, or 12 ounces of beer, and if you smoke,stop today!
These are just a few simple things you can do everyday to reduce your risk of getting breast cancer. Now I’d like to hear from you.
Have you struggled with breast cancer and if so, what has worked and what hasn’t?
Do you have any additional recommendations that might benefit others who are struggling with breast cancer?
Have a healthy day
Dr Pia

Keeping Blood Sugar Stable is the Key to Reducing Inflammation

2011-09-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

Happy and Healthy Wednesday,

Most of us think of Diabetes (High Blood Sugar) when we think of someone as having blood sugar problems, however there are other conditions that can be equally damaging if not managed. They are Hypo Glycemia (Low Blood Sugar) which is typical for a lot of endurance athletes who carbo load and vegetarians/vegans who eat too many processed grains. You also have a condition called Insulin Resistance (This is were the insulin cells are unresponsive to high blood glucose), which occurs after years of poor diet and high stress.

This subject is close to home for me as I have lost a dear friend to Diabetes and I have a family member who had Metabolic Syndrome, which thankfully is being managed.

Keeping your blood sugar stable is so important to your good health and many of the symptoms listed below will decrease when you make changes to when you eat and what you eat! Please feel free to pass this information along and as always I am ready willing and able to provide support.

Dr Pia

Why it is important to keep your blood sugar stable!

Research has shown that, by far, the most damage someone can do to the body is having blood sugar imbalances. We eat more sugar and refined carbs (same thing, really) in a week than people ate in a year 200 years ago. This is the common factor in almost every modern disease. The problems are severe and can include:

High amounts of inflammation
Increased cardiac risk
Hardening arteries
Reduced stomach and digestive function
Accelerated aging
High cancer risk
Adrenal fatigue
Low testosterone in men
Hypertension
Increased risk of stroke and clotting

Hypoglycemia (Reactive)

is defined as “too little blood glucose”. Symptoms include:

Getting shaky and/or irritable between meals
Tired without food
Overall fatigue
Difficulty in focusing vision
Waking up at night
Tired in the afternoon
Difficulty concentrating
Reflux, sour stomach, or nausea
Sugar cravings

It is most common in people who have a history of:

skipping meals or long periods between eating
high sugar/carbohydrate intake (athletes and vegetarians/vegan)
high stress

What occurs is the body is “predicting” a high carbohydrate diet and “surging” insulin, which causes insulin levels to be too high in the blood, causing low blood sugar and preventing fat-burning. People can be hypoglycemic for years and the body’s constant exposure to insulin can cause the cell receptor sites to become resistant (see below). This is the first step towards chronic inflammation and blood sugar issues.

Insulin Resistance

is defined as the body’s cells having been exposed to insulin for too long (in cases of years of high sugar or carb intake) and they are now not able to recognize insulin. It often progresses to Metabolic Syndrome, which is characterized by severe hormonal imbalances, abdominal weight gain, elevated triglycerides, increased cortisol (with it’s associated adrenal symptoms and diseases), and Type 2 Diabetes.

Symptoms include:

Sleepiness after meals
Mental fogginess and fatigue
Intestinal bloating and gas
Increased blood pressure
Increased blood triglycerides
Depression
Thinning hair in women
Abdominal weight gain
Difficulty losing weight
Many of the symptoms listed above for hypoglycemia

It is diagnosed using a fasting glucose value from a blood test, as well as possibly an A1C glucose blood test, which measures glucose levels over the last 3 months.

In insulin resistance, it is not enough to cut out refined carbohydrates – it must also be accompanied by treatment to reverse the cells’ resistance to insulin. Additionally, it is probable that the individual will never be able to return to their previous carbohydrate intake, which is what burned out their cells to begin with.

For some people, that will be less than 72 grams of carbohydrates per day (check labels). For others, it will take more extreme measures than that – a near-Atkins diet. This isn’t necessarily for forever, but until the sugar cravings disappear. That means most fruits also – they still trigger the sugar-insulin response.

Exercise is one of the only things that will reduce insulin resistance and improve blood glucose metabolism. It doesn’t have to be much, but it has to be consistent – a minimum of 30 minutes, 4-5 times a week. Walking, swimming, etc. are all great options. Keep it light.

Once your blood glucose levels have become more stable, you will notice that your energy levels are much better, your adrenals start to recover, your immunity improves, you sleep better, your moods are better, joint pain improves, etc. – the list goes on and on.

Learn from Pottenger's Cats

2011-08-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Happy and Healthy Wednesday,

I am on my soap box today! This is a call to action!

This week is the last week of the summer holidays for a lot of kids and many of you have begun the process of getting ready form them to go back to school. Yeah! I can hear some parents and kids saying! This week after reading some really heart breaking facts from the surgeon general that childhood obesity is on the rise and that kids ages 6-11 years old could be the first generation NOT to outlive their parents due to the early onset of crippling lifestyle diseases, I wanted to challenge you all to jump on the soap box with me and start a revolution to turn this around.

Parents and Teachers you influence your kids more than you know so I challenge you to start the conversation around good for you foods with your kids and also start to use your voice re: the foods available at school. Even though I started today's WW with a little doom and gloom I am hopeful that we can turn this around. Enjoy today's article on regeneration. I probably should have called it Regeneration Nation? Maybe there is a book in there?

Dr Pia

“Regeneration”

The Process of Renewal and Replacement

By Dr Pia Martin DC CCN

We have often heard the term “ The Body can heal itself”. Daily we are building a new body. Our bodies break down constantly and we see this every day as our skins sloughs off dead cells or we lose a few hairs as we brush or comb our hair. These are just a few of the many examples of renewal and replacement.

Each day the body, which consists of 80 to 100 trillion cells, breaks down at a rate of 24 billion cells a day. These cells need to be replaced at the same rate and supplied with the right nutrients in order to rebuild and have constant renewal. If not we have a process called Degeneration. We need to provide the body with the right building blocks to renew and replace and regenerate. To carry on the life process, each of the 80 to 100 trillion cells must digest and construct food, excrete waste, repair themselves and carry on a number of other essentials. Every cell needs whole foods, clean water, and clean air. Therefore I would like to re-state the above term “ Given the right environment and the right nutrients the body has the power to heal itself.”

In 1932 Dr Francis M. Pottenger conducted a famous study in nutrition using cats. Dr Pottenger used the cats to study an adrenal hormone extract he was making. The cats underwent adrenalectomies, and in his efforts to maximize the preoperative health of his cats he fed them cooked meat and scraps along with cod liver oil. His friends kept donating cats to his experiments and so he had to look for additional food supplies. He began to give some of cats raw meat scraps and other foods that closely resembled their natural diet and he noticed that the cats on the diet of raw food were far healthier than the ones who ate the cooked food. This startling contrast in the health of the cats prompted Pottenger to find the answers to a variety of questions that could be important to the impact of diet and optimal human health.

The Cat Study included several generations of cats. Healthy cats were given a natural diet of raw food and cod liver oil, making them the control group. The cats he called the deficient group were placed on a diet of unnatural foods for cats which including cooked foods. The cats on the diet of cooked food soon became unhealthy, weaker and less vigorous. Cats born to the deficient cats became weaker and less healthy each generation thereafter. As a result there were never more than three generations of deficient cats because they could not produce viable off spring. There is a light at the end of this tunnel. Some of the first generation of deficient cats were placed back on an optimal diet and soon became more healthy and thrived. Pottenger went on to conduct many more experiments and wrote this definition regarding the optimal diet. “ The optimal diet is one that provides man with the nutrients essential to regenerate his body cells; to enable him to mature regularly as determined by normal osseous, physical and mental characteristics; to resist disease; to reproduce his kind”

Our diets have undergone a marked change since the 1950’s with the invention of the TV dinner, the original fast food and unfortunately the beginning of the well intended school lunch programs for our children full of cheap highly processed grains with very few fruits and vegetables. Scientists also began to find ways to add chemicals and preservatives to our food to prolong the shelf life and farmers began the process of fattening their livestock with altered grains instead of natural grasses etc. With these and other changes our consumption of simple carbs and sugar increased dramatically.

Today 95% of Americans drink soda. This is quote from The Department of Nutrition and Food Studies “ In 1970 the average soda consumption per year per person was 22.2 gallons. In 1999 that number more than doubled to 56 gallons per year.” Today the average American drinks 557 -12oz cans of soda per year. Soda provides most people with 7% of their caloric input a day. It is the highest percentage of any given food source.

This is just one example and there are many more of how our population is slowly degenerating and not surprisingly we see the increase of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, allergies, asthma, autoimmune dysfunction etc.

Here’s the good news “ The body can regenerate and repair if given genuine replacement parts and the time to heal. It is possible to reverse the process of degeneration. Each cell, tissue, and organ in your body is in the process of replacing itself every day, month, and year. The health of each organ is determined by making the correct nutrients available to repair and regenerate at the cellular level.

Good nutrition begins with food from a good source. Eat whole foods particularly fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and grains. Ensure that your source of animal protein is free range or in the case of fish, wild. Choose good fats, like olive oil, flax seed, avocados, and butters, and drink plenty of filtered water each day. Shop at local farmers markets, whole food centers, ethnic stores or plant your own garden. Read labels and buy food that has not been altered from its original state.

Well-known health and wellness author Mary Frost says it best ”avoid the fads and trends and bold faced lies and get back to the basics of human health.”

Let’s take the steps we need to today to improve our health and the health of those around us so that we can ensure we live a healthy and long life and that our children and grand children also enjoy that legacy.

For questions or comments you can email Dr Pia at drpiamartin@gmail.com

"My Back Hurts"

2011-08-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Healthy Wednesday,

As a Whole Person Doctor one of the most common statements I hear is " My Back Hurts " Today more than ever we spend a lot of our day / night in a flexed hunched over position. We sit rounded over for work, we slump in front of the TV and a lot of us even sleep in the fetal position. Overtime it can take a toll on your back. What is even more alarming is that I seeing younger and younger patients with old person postures! Please enjoy this article and please also spend a little time each day strengthening and stretching your back.

Soak up the rest of the summer.

“ My Back Hurts”

6 tips that can help

Dr Pia Martin DC CCN

You never know until you hurt it how much you use your lower back.

When your lower back is injured, every movement becomes painful. Simple actions, such as getting out of a chair or bending over the sink, become excruciating, and your daily routine becomes difficult and frustrating.

Back pain affects 60 to 80 percent of U.S. adults at some time during their lives, and up to 50 percent have back pain within a given year.

Back pain has many different causes, ranging from a trauma, an imbalance of repetitive movements, chemical stress from toxicity, organ damage, or emotional stressors that cause muscle tension etc however the most common cause is a sedentary lifestyle. We are spending most of our time sitting in a flexed hunched position, either at work in front of a computer, watching TV etc at home or driving in a car.

Most mechanical lower back pain is associated with tight leg muscles and weak abdominal muscles. Leg muscles need to be stretched and abdominal muscles need to be strengthened to avoid recurrences of lower back pain. Most  people are generally not aware of these relationships.

Abdominal strengthening not only helps keep your lower back healthy, but also helps maintain good posture. Postural benefits include an easy, relaxed gait; muscles that are long and supple, rather than short and tight; and an open chest that allows for easy, smooth breathing. Your body is a machine. Everything’s connected.

The spine is a complete unit and therefore a lower back problem can affect other areas of the body, however there are things you can do to help keep your back healthy.

1. Stay fit

Weak back and abdominal muscles — due to de-conditioning or age exacerbate many cases of low back pain. That’s why stretching and strengthening both your back and abdominal muscles is important not only for treating low back pain, but also for helping to prevent a recurrence of the problem.

Stretching is a valuable component of any treatment plan for a person plagued by back problems. Most experts believe that supple, well-stretched muscles are less prone to injury. Indeed, shorter, less flexible muscle and connective tissues restrict joint mobility, which increases the likelihood of sprains and strains.

A stretching and strengthening regimen should target the back, abdominal, and buttock muscles.

2. Maintain a healthy weight

The heavier you are, the greater the load your spine must carry. To make matters worse, if the bulk of your weight comes in the form of abdominal fat, rather than muscle, your center of gravity can shift forward — a condition that puts added pressure on your back.

3. Mindfulness

Notice when you are experiencing a stressful moment and how the whole body tightens. Take a deep breath or two to relieve tension. We hide a lot of emotional pain in our bodies.

4. Quit the habit

First, nicotine hampers the flow of blood to the vertebrae and disks. This impairs their function and may trigger a bout of back pain. Second, smokers tend to lose bone faster than nonsmokers, putting them at greater risk for osteoporosis, another common cause of back pain.

5. Be less of a Turtle

We are carrying our lives on our backs and shoulders. Backpacks brief cases, extra large duffels and purses have become ubiquitous — at school, at work, at play.

For school kids opt for backpacks that have different-sized compartments to help distribute weight evenly. And look for wide, padded straps and a padded back. For very heavy loads, use a case with wheels.

6. Develop back-healthy habits

• Don’t remain sitting or standing in the same position for too long. Stretch, shift your position, or take a short walk when you can.

• Use you legs and hips when lifting a heavy object

• Ensure that your workstation at work is ergonomically sound.

Last but no least there are great practitioners out there than can help you improve the health of your back. They range from Chiropractors, Nutritionists, Acupuncturists, Massage Therapists, Fitness Trainers, Yoga Teachers etc. You do not have to suffer but you do need to take action.

A Healthy Gut is Key to our Health!

2011-08-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

The language of our deepest feelings, our instincts, and how we experience emotion often involves the Gut.

We have all heard the expressions " A gut reaction" , "Butterflies in our stomach" and "Gut wrenching" These are our verbal expressions of instinctive knowledge manifesting physically. It is therefore no surprise that our true health shows through the challenges we experience in our gastrointesintal tract. Some researchers are calling our gut the second brain.

There are millions upon millions of microorganisms living in our gut. In fact about 4-8 pounds of body weight consists of bacteria. That is a WOW right there! Most of us know that it is important to make sure that we have enough of the good bacteria in our gut to keep the bad bacteria from overtaking and creating an imbalance in our bodies. Unfortunately due to the overuse of antibiotics, the SAD american diet, (bad guys love love love sugar and simple carbs) stress, constipation, low HCL (stomach acid) production in the stomach etc the good gut flora, Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli are over run by the bad bacteria. This leads to a depressed immune system and then over time we begin to see the signs of autoimmune disfunction where the body does not recognize itself and it starts to destroy it's own cells.

One of the most important functions of the good gut flora is to support immune function. 80% of immune function is in the gut, so an imbalance can lead to all kinds of health problems. The body's primary exposure to an immune challenge is in the digestive tract. Seventeen out of the Twenty one known inteferons (sentinel like soldiers who search out harmful toxins ) are produced in the gut. A Healthy Gut is key to Great Health!

Here are only a few of the diseases and disorders linked to Dysbiosis;

IBS, Crohn's, Colitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Candida, Food Allergies, Asthma, Gas, Bloating, Diarrhea/Constipation, Chronic skin conditions, Anxiety, Depression, Blood sugar problems, Hormone imbalances and the list goes on.

A simple GI Flora Balance protocol is the answer. What you need to do is Cleanse, Feed, Restore and Balance your Gut. You essentially need to Reboot the Balance in the Gut. It's a sensitive issue for most of us and we often are reluctant to seek help. In my opinion we can't afford not to address this issue. Our Goal is to help you take back control of your health and thrive.

As always if you need my help or know someone who does I can be reached by email or

PH: 214 869-6404.

Have a healthy Day

Dr Pia

The Journey Of a Single Pound

2011-07-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday our community had a power outage that lasted almost 18 hours. I had no internet, TV, etc. It was actually quite peaceful. A technology break can be wonderful.

One of my patients " Warrior Wendy" wrote a wonderful story that she gave to me yesterday and insisted I share with all of you.

She hopes that her journey gives others the hope that they can do it too! The first thing that " Wendy" did was, she asked for help. We are often not so great at doing that, we see it as a sign of weakness and then we wonder why we fail! If you need help please ask. There are wonderful people ready willing and able to help you be your best self.

Happy 4th and enjoy this wonderful uplifting story. You can feel " Wendy's " joy in every word. Please feel free to pass on to anyone who can benefit from this story and if any of your friends, family or co workers would like to enjoy Wellness Wednesday's please have them email me and I will add them to the list.

Namaste

Dr Pia

THE JOURNEY OF A SINGLE POUND!

The journey of a single pound began with a leap of faith. Faith that said “I can do it.” Faith that believed there was a better way. Faith that knew somewhere deep inside, vegetables could and would be my friend. Faith that was confident success would be achieved as life priorities were realigned.

The journey of a single pound began in the office of Dr. Pia Martin: my chiropractor, health and wellness coach, and world-class “you can do it” advocate. With Dr. Pia’s guidance and sound counsel, I am thankful to have disposed of thirty pounds in three months. The effort involved three major components – faith, fitness, and food – any of which would never have been as successful alone as all three were together.

Fitness and food go hand in hand, as we all know, and this journey was first tailored as a union of the two; faith being added a couple weeks later. We took a hard look at exercise, or rather my lack thereof, and added enough of it to build a structure and routine in my life where previously none existed. My preferred method of fitness is hiking – I get out on the trails and just go. Other fitness choices involve bicycling and rebounding. Dedication to fitness and a big scary goal of hiking Half Dome kept me on the go day after day, week after week. I now look forward to my afternoon outings on the trail; nothing but me and my thoughts away from the daily hustle and bustle of life.

Food – oh the joy and delight of food. For many years, I have treated food as a close friend and confidant; a solid anchor as the ocean of life would ebb and flow. But oh, the results of such a relationship were neither healthy nor well for me in so many different ways. Taking the single step to decide to make a change meant that my relationship with food was impacted in every way. On this journey of a single pound, I control food rather than allowing food to control me. Today, as my trek continues, I can truthfully say that food is even now more important than it ever was before. It’s more important because the consequences of my choices are extreme. I know my next food choice will directly impact the future of my health and well-being, ensuring I continue on the path to victory. Therefore, every bite counts.

Faith – what was seemingly added as an afterthought to my health and wellness program quickly became the driving force to its success. I am so thankful my life, from childhood, has been strongly grounded upon biblical Christian morals, and I have reaped countless benefits from a God who loves me unconditionally and without measure. My expression of love and devotion, in return, has been lacking in so many ways for quite a long while. Why? Because I allowed other priorities in life take precedence – it was a choice. Knowing I have more in me that seeks to pursue holiness and a relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I set out to prayerfully redefine my life’s priorities. I will re-soundly admit I’m not where I want to be yet, but with the Lord’s help I will continue to pursue the faith of my fathers through the journey of a single step moving me closer to Him.

As I reflect upon the trek of the past three months, I give thanks for the kindness and wisdom of Dr. Pia. She has provided food for thought, encouragement along the way, an unbiased view of the journey, and a resounding positive outlook that has equipped me – warrior Wendy – with the necessary gear to be victorious. And so the journey continues; this trek began with a fight for one pound and it will continue as a fight to make the next choice the very best choice. Along the way, the journey morphed into a realization that body, soul, and spirit all needed a tune-up. The defeats along the trail have been embraced as win-learn opportunities. And the prayer for the future is that I will have the courage and strength to trek all the way to balanced health and wellness through wise employment of faith, fitness, and food.

Dr. Pia, I thank you for walking alongside me these past months. Your genuine compassion and desire to help me improve my life has been a driving force to the success I have realized. With kindness and love you have guided, not chided, and because you walk the walk and not just talk the talk, I too, believe that “I can do it.”

Wendy

June 28, 2011

Resilience THE KEY to living well

2011-06-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday,

The last two / three weeks seem to have been a very challenging time for a lot of folks. I have been hearing lots of stories from my patients in my health and wellness practice, and my social pages of events and situations that have been very stressful. We in the Martin household also have had an event that has stopped us in our tracks.

What I learned over the past three weeks is that resilience is key! What I mean is how fast and well do you bounce back or survive from tough events? Resilience is often related to how well we handle our emotional stress, however I would like to suggest that it is also how well we handle physical stress and chemical stress. You often have heard me say or have read in my articles that it is the small and consistent choices we make every day that affect our overall health and wellbeing. We often see those small consistent choices good or bad as not a big deal until something happens to us that is traumatic. It is then that we realize how those small consistent choices have a major impact on the outcome.

The questions become:

Does the person who meditates every day build emotional resilience and have reserves when he/ she encounters a stressful situation?

Does the person who exercises everyday build physical resilience and is therefore able to bounce back from a trauma?

Does the person who eats a well balanced whole food diet build nutritional resilience and recover from surgery/ or health setbacks at a much faster rate?

There are many more examples however the answer is the same.

The answer is a resounding yes!

Many of us wait till something happens to begin to take better care of ourselves emotionally, physically or nutritionally, or we flat out don't think it will happen to us! It's not if it's when. Don't wait to start and get the support of others as it is tough to do it all yourself. If you need help there are plenty of Health and Wellness professionals out there that are ready willing and able to support you.

Please enjoy the following article and start building your resilience bank account!

Dr Pia

RESILIENCE
How do you react to unexpected difficulties? Healthy, resilient people have stress-resistant personalities and learn valuable lessons from rough experiences. Resilience is the process of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences. Resilient people overcome adversity, bounce back from setbacks, and can thrive under extreme, on-going pressure without acting in dysfunctional or harmful ways. The most resilient people recover from traumatic experiences stronger, better, and wiser.
When hurt or distressed, resilient people expect to find a way to have things turn out well. They feel self-reliant and have a learning/coping reaction rather than the victim/blaming reaction that is so common these days.
There is over 30 years of research into the inner nature of highly resilient that survivors has created a clear understanding of human resiliency and how it develops. Highly resilient people show many similar qualities:
Playful, childlike curiosity. Ask lots of questions, want to know how things work. Play with new developments. Enjoy themselves as children do. Have a good time almost anywhere.
Constantly learn from experience. Rapidly assimilate new or unexpected experiences and enjoy being changed by them. Ask "What is the lesson here? What early clues did I ignore? The next time that happens I will...."
Adapt quickly. Very mentally and emotionally flexible. Comfortable with contradictory personality qualities. Can be both strong and gentle, sensitive and tough, logical and intuitive, calm and emotional, serious and playful, and so forth.
Have solid self-esteem and self-confidence. Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself. It determines how much you learn after something goes wrong. It allows you to receive praise and compliments. It acts as a buffer against hurtful statements while being receptive to constructive criticism.
Have good friendships, loving relationships. Research shows that people in toxic working conditions are more stress resistant and are less likely to get sick when they have a loving family and good friendships. Loners are more vulnerable to distressing conditions.
Express feelings honestly. Experience and can express anger, love, dislike, appreciation, grief--the entire range of human emotions honestly and openly. Can also choose to suppress their feelings when they believe it would be best to do so.
Expect things to work out well. Deep optimism guided by internal values and standards. High tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty.
Read others with empathy. See things through the perspectives of others, even antagonists. Win/win/win attitude in conflicts. Ask "What do others think and feel? What is it like to be them? How do they experience me? What is legitimate about what they feel, say, and do?"
Use intuition, creative hunches. Accept subliminal perception and intuition as valid, useful sources of information. Ask "What is my body telling me? Did that daydream mean anything? Why don't I believe what I'm being told? What if I did this?"
Have a talent for serendipity. They convert misfortune into good luck and gain strength from adversity.
A good indicator of exceptional mental health is when a person talking about a rough experience says "I would never willingly go through anything like that again, but it was the one of best things that ever happened to me." Ask "How can I turn this around? Why is it good that this happened? What is the gift?"
Get better and better every decade. Become increasingly life competent, resilient, durable, playful, and free. Spend less time surviving than others and survive major adversities better. Enjoy life more and more.

Nuclear Fallout-Should I be Concerned?

2011-04-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of chat on Facebook and other social forums about the effects of the nuclear fallout from Fukushima in Japan following the tsunami. Some folks are alarmed and others are ambivalent.

One person who is a longtime old friend really had a Shakespearian meltdown about the damaging effects of radiation while puffing away on a cigarette and eating processed food loaded with chemicals. So I say let's take a deep breath and put things into perspective and do the things that our within our control right now to make our immune systems strong and better able to with stand the fall out.

!. Are you eating a whole food nutrient dense diet?

2. Are you getting adequate filtered water each day?

3. Are you regenerating each cell by exercising each day?

4. Are you making an effort to think positive thoughts and live in gratitude?

5. Are you filling in the gaps with whole food nutritional supplements that you uniquely require?

If you are subject to higher levels of toxicity due to job as a flight attendant, aesthetician, computer programmer, hairdresser etc then I suggest all of the above and in addition a purification program at least once a year and a green juice drink or green supplement containing kelp every day.

Below is information from a couple of different sources that answers the major questions. One source says don't panic and the other has a higher level of concern due to acid rain and the effects it could have on our food supply.

Let me know what you think?

Dr Pia

Q: What is radiation?

A: Radiation is energy emitted from a source. Nuclear energy is produced by splitting the nucleus of a uranium or plutonium atom. That creates other unstable nuclei, or isotopes, including iodine-131 and cesium-137, which continue to decay into other nuclei until they eventually reach a stable form. The time it takes for the radioactivity to drop to half the starting level is called the half-life of the isotope.

Decay emits radiation in the form of beta and gamma rays. Gamma rays are photons traveling at high speed and beta rays are electrons or positrons. Beta rays can be stopped by aluminum shielding, while gamma rays can only be stopped by a layer of lead.

In a nuclear accident, radioactive isotopes including iodine-131 and cesium-137, which are normally contained inside the fuel rods, may be released into the atmosphere as gases or particulates if the rods are damaged. These can be inhaled or ingested through contaminated food or water.

Q: How is radiation harmful?

A: Both beta and gamma rays can pass through human tissues, where they collide with other atoms, breaking up molecules and potentially damaging the DNA inside cells. When the body tries to repair the damage, mistakes may be made, creating the potential for cancer.

Should I be worried about radioactivity coming to the United States from the failed Japanese nuclear reactors?

A: No. There is no need for concern. The information we have now tells us that no harmful levels1 of radioactivity will arrive in the United States from the failed Japanese nuclear power plants. Radioactive plumes2 that are being generated are dissipating with time as they cross the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.

In spite of this reassurance, thousands of people are purchasing potassium iodide (KI), a substance that blocks radioactive iodine (which may be in the plumes and is a potential cause of cancer) from accumulating in the thyroid gland. Medical experts state that there is no need for that in the United States. In fact, use of KI could have an adverse medical effect on people with specific allergies and other ailments.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working with its federal partners to place additional monitors (like air-sampling equipment) in parts of the United States and in the U.S. Pacific territories. The EPA states that it has made this decision "out of an abundance of caution"3 and it is expected that the monitors will show no harmful levels of radiation reaching the United States from Japan.

Q: What specifically is arriving in the air we breathe and unto U.S. soils and water supplies from radioactive Fall-Out emanating from Fukushima's nuclear power plant meltdown?

A: Right alongside the biologically significant levels of Iodide-131 arriving onto our shores, the extremely low levels of radioactive metals Cesium-137, Strontium-90, Tellurium-132, and Yttrium-91/90 are of primary concern and Americium-243/241, Barium-140, Putonium-244 and Uranium-235/234 are of secondary concern over the short or long term.^(H)

Q: What can I do now to protect myself from nuclear fall-out arriving from the meltdown of Japan's nuclear power plants?

A: The good news is that we can protect ourselves now.

What we must all do now is to fortify our immune system and enhance re growth of cells and bring online our very own Regeneration Effect within.

1. N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) is the most powerful short term quencher of ionizing radiation. It is a nutrient, a simple amino acid from protein. In this manner, NAC may be used daily on an indefinite basis, as it is a harmless amino acid our bodies will use to establish antioxidant defenses and aid the immune system. It is also an adequate remover (i.e., chelator - from the Greek which means that which "grabs onto or claws into") of toxic metals from the body rarely some adults are sensitive to NAC, so be aware of special advisories regarding its long term use. In those cases, use high-quality Whey products.

2. Iodide is also a first line of defense mineral supplement, since it can out-compete radioactive iodide from entering into our bodies. Kelp and other seaweeds are also excellent chelators of toxic metals from the body, especially if high fiber intake is also being incorporated into the diet. Remember, iodine is an essential nutrient our bodies must have every day to make adequate levels of essential hormones.

3. Chlorella (and other blue green algae) is a superior protector and chelator of radioactive metals from the body

4. Natural Vitamin E Complex - To stop cell membrane destruction. Natural Vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant.

5. Consuming High fiber and seaweed dishes on a regular basis must be used to maximize the best effects of the above tools. These will help insure removal (chelation) of toxic radioactive metals from the body.

From my Heart to Yours: Namaste

Dr Pia Martin DC CCN

cempia1996@aol.com

http://www.cre8wellness.com

PH 214 8696404

Katy Perry - Firework

2011-01-27T15:23:00.000-08:00

If you having a tough day, listen and watch the wonderful video.

It is my new inspirational song. Ignite your light and let it shine!!

2011-01-05T11:07:00.000-08:00

GIVE YOUR PARTNER THE BEST GIFT EVER.

DR PIA MARTIN DC. CCN

www.cre8wellness.com

I feel like the most loved wife on the planet. My husband constantly surprises me with his thoughtfulness, love and attention.

One day I asked him why he loved me so much and his answer was not what I expected. I have to admit I was fishing for compliments. You can’t blame a girl for trying eh? I thought perhaps he might say I am kind, thoughtful, even-tempered, pretty, etc, but he said, “Because I decided to”. Well you should have seen the look on my face. Not what I expected to hear and I certainly didn’t think it was very romantic until I took the time to think a little more about what he had said. My husband had decided to focus on all of my positive qualitities and to appreciate the good things I did each and every day. I didn’t fully understand this till I read this story by Darren Hardy the Publisher and Editorial Director of Success Magazine.

The story begins with Darren telling the readers how good we are finger pointing and blaming others for our own shortcomings. He then goes on to say that we are particularly gifted at this when it comes to our romantic relationships. Daren then tells us about a friend who is complaining about his wife, so Darren decided to share an experience with his friend that changed his own marriage.

Darren decided one thanksgiving to keep a journal and write down one thing every day that he appreciated about his wife- The way she prepared a fabulous meal, the kindness she displayed with friends and so on…

He did this for year and then gave his wife the journal as a gift.

She cried and said it was the best gift she had ever received. What happened to Darren is that he started to see his wife in a different light and he started to show up differently in his marriage, which of course made his wife respond differently to him. He then goes on to say that he has had one of the best years of his marriage and it has only gotten better since. His friend gave this a try and after only a few months of choosing to focus on his wife’s positive qualities it changed his view of her and it changed the way he interacted with her and it changed how she responded to him. The cycle perpetuated and it completely turned his marriage around. It is the small choices we make every day that make the difference in our lives. To me Wellness is about all the small choices we make every day that perpetuates growth. For 2011 make your choices work for you.

Finding your why power!

2010-12-29T14:19:00.000-08:00

Finding your why power!

Dr Pia Martin DC. CCN

www.cre8wellness.com

The newspapers, magazines and the Internet are full of information on making 2011 great! There are slogans out there that say “ It’s Time” “ Start living the life you want” “Lose weight now” “ Control Spending” and so on… It is all great information, however it is really hard to up root bad habits that have become mighty oaks. Where do you start? What do you do? Is willpower enough? What’s going to stop you from falling back into mindless bad habits? What is going to be different this time versus the last time you tried and slowly slipped back into your old comfortable routine?

I ask myself these very same questions when I decide to make a change and the answer I am going to suggest to you is that you have to find your WHY POWER!

Why power is what gets you to stick with it; however it needs to be a big enough why. People are either motivated by something they want or something they don’t want… Love is a powerful motivator and so is hate and fear. For example “I hate the way I feel with that extra 20 pounds” is a great motivator however without a big enough why it is just a statement.

As you sit to prepare your vision boards and set your goals for 2011, think about why you want to do this or that. Then ask yourself is the why big enough? If it is, then set about breaking down those goals into small manageable steps that are measurable and get started.

Happy New Decade!

Purification Program

2010-12-22T17:41:00.000-08:00

Purification Program

Weight Loss and Increased Vitality Guaranteed in 21 Days!

.WHAT IS PURIFICATION?

 Purification is merely the internal cleansing and detoxification of your body. Think of it as “spring cleaning” for your insides.  It requires making new, healthier choices for you. You will be discontinuing fast foods, processed convenience foods, and sugar-laden snacks, which place an unnecessary load on your body and provide little or no nutrients, and begin to detoxify.  Welcome to whole unprocessed, preservative free foods, lots of pure spring water, tasty fresh fruit and vegetable shakes and whole food supplements.

 During the process you will learn about your body and it’s needs. You will also begin to realize just how much food you unconsciously snack on throughout the day. We have become a society of snackers. Did that one cookie or that handful of chips really count? We eat mindlessly and then wonder why we put on weight. The purification program will help educate you on how to eat, how to listen to your body and become more mindful about the choices you make! You will shed some extra weight and rid yourself of accumulated sludge.

 HOW IS THIS PURIFICATION PRGRAM DIFFERENT?  This program is designed to help you live a healthier life, by cleansing not only the colon but also detoxing the liver and other vital organs.  The use of whole food, and whole food supplements help you purify your body from the inside out. This program teaches you how to nurture your body and provide it with the nutrients it needs to rejuvenate.

Success Stories

“Dr Martin recommended that I go on the 21 day purification program. With her encouragement and expertise this has been life-changing experience, as it has changed the way I eat. Not only have I lost a significant amount of weight; my energy, alertness, and overall wellness has significantly improved. These changes will be part of me for the rest of my life “ Frank Payton

"The purification program takes a lot of personal commitment. Be ready to make that commitment, and follow through. It is worth the effort. What you gain is great insight into your current eating habits and as you progress through the program you gain perspective that you are in control of what you do and what you eat." BG

"My goal was not weight loss or increased energy. My goal was to move my high cholesterol (247) in a positive direction without resorting to one of the Statin drugs on the market. I had convinced myself that I had inherited my high cholesterol. After the program I retested my cholesterol and it was (181). Needless to say I am a believer that the program works. " Charles Martin

Hi Dr Pia,

I just wanted to let you know that I did all of my measurements this morning after this program and have lost over 11 inches all over my body along with those 13 pounds! I will be weighing in again tomorrow and will keep with this ritual weekly to keep myself on track. I haven't brought in a lot of new foods, but I am being very keen on what I am feeling and it has been interesting to notice and has made me really want to stick with what I have been doing more and more because that is when I feel my best!!

I was talking to my mom this morning about doing it as well. Anyways, I keep sharing it and can't thank you enough for how great I feel!! Life is good! Thanks again!

With much love and respect. Angel:)

“I want to “Thank you” for the new outlook I have about dieting and eating. I was raised in a very ethnic family where your life revolves around food. You ate breakfast discussing what you were eating for lunch and dinner. I had never had a weight problem until I reached the age of 40 and took on a very stressful job. When I came to you in January, I was at my wits end, I was overweight and my hormones were out of control. I had tried almost every thing to lose weight as well as many vitamins, hormone replacements and gimmicks to straighten out my hormone problem. You took the time to talk, explain and introduce to me the SP Cleanse and the diet system.

In three months I lost 18 pounds and many, many inches. I had an abundance of energy and received many compliments about my skin. For the first time, in a long time, I felt good about myself and enjoyed life a little more…. Lisa

Here is how you can reset and restore your health!

January 6^th at 6.00pm.

Our first meeting: We will go over the program in detail with you so that you can plan for success. We will conduct an exam and get some biometric information, which will be used as a base line measure. It will include things like Height, Weight, and Blood Pressure etc. We will also conduct a Nutritional Exam to determine how many whole food supplements you specifically need. Not all programs do this and it’s my experience that this testing is vital to ensure that you only take what you need! We then order your supplements.

Oh and there will be some homework!

January 13^th at 6.00pm

Our second meeting. We will hand out supplements and answer any last questions or concerns before you begin. This will be Day 1of your 21 day Purification Program

Did I mention that you would receive daily tips, with suggestions and motivational support?

January 20 and 27^th at 6.00pm.

Our third and fourth meeting. We will take Bio Metric measurements at each meeting and make any adjustments needed to your supplement program. As this is a group program you will greatly benefit from helping motivate each other.

February 3^rd. at 6.00pm

Our last meeting! Yeah you did it! And you look and feel amazing. We will take last measurements and discuss how to reintroduce certain foods and what to do post purification program so you can continue on your road to optimal health.

Cost per person:

As this is a group program we are able to keep our costs low.

Adults: $250.00 PP

Kids under 18: 200.00PP

This includes 4 meetings with Dr Pia, the complete nutritional exam, daily emails and all of your initial whole food supplements. (Some folks might need more of one product. It will be based on the testing)

Fees must be paid in full January 6^th at our first meeting. The Location TBA.

Last but not least if you live out of town and want to participate you can! You will meet with me Dr Pia via Skype. If you only want to come to the first meeting and then communicate via email with me Dr Pia you can. I don’t want any excuses to get in the way of you becoming a healthier you in 2011.

Don’t let this coming year be a repeat of the last one. Call or email now!

DR PIA MARTIN DC. CCN

PH 214 8696404

drpiamartin@gmail.com

It’s Hip to be Happy!

2010-12-15T11:21:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday!.

For those of you who have been asking the Purification Program will begin Jan 6th with an initial meeting and our 21 days starts Jan 13th, which means you will be done by end of January! For those of you who live out of state we will conduct the program via Skype. Please email me if you want to learn more about this life changing program.

It’s Hip to be Happy!

By Dr Pia Martin DC. CCN

Actually it is not just hip to be happy it is our right as stated in the declaration of independence.

The reality is that happiness is an inside job and the best way to start feeling happy is to feel gratitude about what you have and all that you are right now; that is where happiness is born.

Perhaps the true meaning of happiness will always remain elusive probably because not is not a one size fits all sort of thing – Yet we can tell you with certainty that Happiness is: a choice!

Happiness is a state of mind and you can choose to be happy!

My Best and HAPPY Holidays!

No Health Tips Please

2010-12-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

Happy Wellness Wednesday!

I have struggled with what to share with you this week. Why? Who wants to hear from a health and wellness expert during the holidays season? I could share ways to reduce stress during the holiday, or how to navigate the numerous holiday parties and make more healthful choices, assuming there are any to be made, or "is a gym membership the right choice for me ?" and so on. You get the idea. I have written three different Wellness Wednesdays this week... all great topics that I am sure you will enjoy reading and that will have very helpful information you can use but I am going to save them till you are ready, which I am sure will be soon as you start thinking about the lifestyle changes you want to make for 2011.

A heads up for those of you who asked we will be holding a group Purification Program early January. More details next week.

In the meantime... enjoy every second of this magical time of the year and try this wonderful recipe for Kale Chips.

http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/food/cooking-recipes/2010-12-08-family08_ST_N.htm.

My best

Dr Pia

Dr Pia Martin DC, CCN

drpia@takethedoctorhome.com

214 8696404

Your Trusted Health and Wellness Solution

Thanksgiving Myth! Eating turkey makes people especially drowsy:

2010-11-22T07:56:00.000-08:00

Not so. Here, the myth is that the tryptophan in turkey causes the drowsiness. This amino acid is known to cause drowsiness, but the truth is that there's as much tryptophan in pork and cheese as there is in turkey. What's more, researchers noted that for tryptophan to promote sleep, you need to ingest it on an empty stomach (with no protein present) - something that's unlikely at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Other factors are probably to blame for post-meal drowsiness: any big meal can make you sleepy because of a decrease in blood flow and oxygenation to the brain. Your body is desperately trying to handle the sheer volume that is the Thanksgiving Meal!

And then, of course, there's the wine!

Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner: Not Stressgiving Dinner!:

2010-11-18T14:57:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!

Most of us have started the process of planning our Thanksgiving Meal. As we do so I invite you to concentrate on making the experience of: the planning, the cooking, the time with family and the eating of your bounty a joyful and grateful experience. Each time you find yourself getting a little irritated or stressed, take a breath and remember the intent of this special holiday. It was meant to be a time of thanks not a time of stress. That includes emotional stress, chemical stress and physical stress. Enjoy your meal, savour each bite. take your time and savour each moment with family.

Blessings to you all!

Dr Pia

How to Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner without the unwanted stuffing

Most people gain 10-15 lbs over the holiday season. Not only does that cause the potential for health problems but it also causes the body additional stress.

This added stress also causes our immune function to be lowered providing the potential for colds and flu etc. Make giving thanks with family and friends the focus of your gathering.

The key to unwanted “ stuffing “ is everything in moderation. If you are cooking you have control over what is served at the T.G table, if not you have the choice over what you consume. “ Ah Ha” you can’t blame anyone else!

Here are a few tips to help you navigate the most fattening (2000 calories on average) meal of the year.

Eat breakfast. Don’t go hungry as you have the potential to overeat.
Drink plenty of water up to hour before and one hour after the meal
Eat slowly. It takes 20 mins for the brain to catch up and register you are full.
Say no to seconds. You body can only process so much at once.
Careful with alcohol. You have a tendency to eat more and it is loaded with calories
Big one! Don’t take more of the fattening food home with you. No one needs more of the most fattening meal of the year
Get some exercise either before or after the meal. Sign up for a Turkey Trot. Fun for all and a great way to give to charity!
Watch portion control. There are often a lot more items on the menu than a typical meal. Take a little of everything.

Here is my ideal Thanksgiving Dinner…

Start: Butternut/ Pumpkin soup.

Dinner: Roasted organic turkey breast w/ herbs and a little sea salt

Roasted Root Vegetables

Green beans with garlic and almonds

Brussels Spouts

Whole grain wild rice or Quinoa

Arugala Salad

Desert: Probably skip it. But if I was serving it would be Baked Apples

If you are Vegetarian or Vegan you can substitute the turkey for Tempeh or Seiten, and add black beans to the rice or quinoa.

Function and Feeling great!

2010-11-15T15:25:00.000-08:00

It makes my day when the body the mind and the spirit and in alignment.

Hi Doctor Pia,
I just wanted to let you know that I did all of my measurements this morning after this program and have lost over 11 inches all over my body along with those 13 pounds! I will be weighing in again tomorrow and will keep with this ritual weekly to keep myself on track. I haven't brought in a lot of new foods, but I am being very keen on what I am feeling and it has been interesting to notice and has me really want to stick with what I have been doing more and more because that is when I feel my best!!

I was talking to my mom this morning about doing it as well. She is looking for the jump start and something that can sustain. I told her that this was the best thing I have done! I know you wouldn't necessarily be able to test her before starting, but would you have any suggestions on how she might be able to do it if she chooses to? She said she is thinking about it and would maybe do something after the first of the year.

Anyways, I keep sharing it and can't thank you enough for how great I feel!! Life is good!

I will stop by and pick up my stuff after work and put the check under the mat. I will also write that testimonial very soon for you!!
Thanks again!
With much love and respect,
Angel:)

Is shellfish as healthy as regular fish?

2010-10-17T16:24:00.000-07:00

Is shellfish as healthy as regular fish?

Dr Pia Martin DC.CCN

In general, fish (such as baked salmon) is a very healthy food choice. All that protein. Those omega-3 fats. But is the same true for shellfish such as lobster, shrimp, or clams?

To answer that question, we turned to the Department of Agriculture's nutrient database. The nutrient database is easy to use, and free, but you are limited to the foods and the nutrients that the agriculture department has decided to include. Also, for ease of comparison, we chose to standardize all the amounts to 3 ounces (85 grams), which is smaller than a realistic serving size for many seafood.

Omega-3s and shellfish

So what did we find? If you're eating cold-water fish like salmon because of the omega-3s, then shellfish may not be a great substitute. Lobster contains very few omega-3s, and shrimp and clams are pretty modest contributors. Calamari, blue crab, and oysters have about a fourth of the omega-3 content of salmon, or about as much as a fish like flounder. A medium-size, 6-ounce serving would give you a gram of omega-3s, which isn't bad at all.

What about protein?

If you're looking for protein, then you'll do all right at the clam shack or lobster bake. Ounce for ounce, they're pretty much in the same neighborhood as salmon (clams are a bit on the low side). But if you are really serious about protein, eat some octopus. It has more protein than the 10 species of fish we checked out in the nutrient database.

Cholesterol

Saturated fat has a bigger effect on our blood cholesterol levels than the cholesterol we eat. Clams, crab, mussels, and oysters—they may lower cholesterol levels a little bit, partly because they contain compounds called sterols that interfere with the absorption of cholesterol.

Calorie counting

Naturally, the calorie count goes up for anything that's breaded and fried. Aside from that, though, most shellfish are low in calories.

Nutritional curiosities

There are some nutritional curiosities among the shellfish. Oysters are perhaps the best food source of zinc you can find. Clams contain a lot of iron and vitamin B₁₂. And crustaceans are champion suppliers of choline, an obscure nutrient that accelerates the synthesis of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter important in memory and muscle control.

Toxins

There are other issues with shellfish besides nutritional pros and cons. Toxins can be a problem.

About 30 cases of poisoning by marine toxins (shellfish and finfish combined) are reported each year in the United States, and it's possible that many minor cases go unreported. A death occurs, on average, every four years. Still, getting sick from toxin-laden shellfish is a rare event. You should, though, keep an eye out for health advisories about red tides and other toxin-generating "blooms" and eat accordingly.

Allergies

People also get sick from eating shellfish because of allergies. About 2% of adult Americans are believed to have food allergies, and allergies to shellfish are among the most common. The reactions vary, but they tend to be on the severe side. There are case reports in the medical journals of shellfish causing anaphylactic shock and even a small number of deaths.

Some people are allergic to lobster, shrimp, and other crustaceans, but not to the molluscan shellfish, and the other way around. But there's also considerable overlap. As a practical matter, people who are allergic to one type of shellfish are usually told to avoid them all.

Last but no least.... enjoy shellfish, however for more nutritional bang for the buck enjoy the following: salmon,sardines, herring, and black cod.

My best

Dr Pia

Dr Pia Martin DC CCN

cempia1996@aol.com

http://www.cre8wellness.com

http://www.ncwcenter.com

ph 760 632 1134

Answers about Vitamin D

2010-04-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon,

I am often asked what are my thoughts on Vitamin D. There certainly has been a lot published recently about the subject and many healthcare professionals are saying that we all don't have enough of it. So far I am listening....I do know this more and more folks are not getting adequate sunshine and fresh air and I also know that you must address the basics first. In other words if your digestion is not functioning you will not adequately absorb any of nutrients you take into the body, whether that is a supplement or a food. Below is my article on Vitamin D that will help answer some of your questions. Have a happy easter and watch the sugar!

Vitamin D

Dr Pia Martin DC CCN

Vitamin D is produced in the body when the UV radiation in sunlight strikes the skin, triggering its synthesis. It is metabolized into the active form of the vitamin (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D) in a two-step process that occurs first in the liver and finally in the kidneys.

What is vitamin D?

Early in the 20th century scientists discovered that rickets, a childhood disease characterized by improper bone development, could be prevented by a compound isolated from cod liver oil referred to as "fat-soluble factor D," now known as vitamin D. The vitamin was also called "calciferol," since it was found to boost calcium deposits in bone. Because vitamin D is so important in skeletal growth and strong bones, many foods are fortified with this vitamin to ensure that children obtain adequate amounts.

There are two basic types of vitamin D. Ergosterol is the basic building block of vitamin D in plants. Cholesterol is the basic building block of vitamin D in humans. In the past, these two forms of vitamin D (calcitriol originating in animals, and ercalcitriol originating in plants)

What is the function of vitamin D?

Maintaining proper calcium levels in the blood

Although typically categorized as a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin D actually functions more like a hormone. Calcitriol, the most metabolically active form of vitamin D, works with parathyroid hormone (PTH) to maintain proper levels of calcium in the blood.

Maintaining proper phosphorus levels in the blood

When vitamin D levels remain problematically low, the parathyroid gland becomes overactive, a condition known as hyperparathyroidism. PTH levels rise, and blood levels of phosphorus drop. Without adequate phosphorus, bone cannot be properly mineralized, which contributes to the defects seen in osteomalacia.

Maintaining healthy immune function and preventing excessive inflammation

Vitamin D also helps regulate immune system activity, preventing an excessive or prolonged inflammatory response. Our immune cells, specifically our active T-cells, have receptors for vitamin D. This is important because autoimmune diseases-including multiple sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel diseases (such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis-all have a T-cell component of inflammation.

Foods Rich In Vitamin D

WILD Sockeye salmon is an exceptionally rich source of vitamin D: a 4-ounce serving of baked or broiled sockeye salmon provides 739.37 IU of vitamin D. The same 4-ounce serving of Chinook salmon, another excellent source of vitamin D, supplies 411 IU.

Why are sockeye salmon even more richly endowed with vitamin D than other salmon species? Because zooplankton constitute so much of there diet, and zooplankton-along with phytoplankton-are the key sources of vitamin D in the marine food chain

Also rich in Vitamin D are Sardines, Cod, Eggs and Milk.

Always choose organic sources and check with your health care professional if you are lactose intolerant.

Vitamin D supplementation

Please be clear however that you have to start with the basics. That means that if you take any food or supplementation into your body your digestion needs to be functioning well in order to absorb the available nutrients. Second, in the case of Vitamin D, the Liver and Kidneys play a vital role in the conversion of Vitamin D into it’s useable form. So these organs also need to be functioning well. Vitamin D also requires co-factors to function and the most important of these is Magnesium. Please talk to your healthcare professional before you begin supplementing with Vitamin D.

What are deficiency symptoms for vitamin D?

Vitamin D deficiency results in decreased absorption of calcium and phosphorus. As a result, prolonged vitamin D deficiency has a negative impact on bone mineralization.

The best source of Vitamin D is sunlight. It is particularly important for individuals with limited sun exposure to include good sources of vitamin D in their diets. Homebound individuals, people living in northern latitudes, individuals who wear clothing that completely covers the body, and individuals working in occupations that prevent exposure to sunlight are at risk for vitamin D deficiency.

Dr Pia Martin DC CCN

cempia1996@aol.com

http://www.cre8wellness.com

http://www.ncwcenter.com

ph 760 632 1134

Computers can be a Pain in the Wrist!

2010-03-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

Happy St Pats everyone.

I recently asked one of my favorite people what would she subject she like to know more about for wellness wednesday and her answer was " Carpal Tunnel". As Chiropractors we are seeing more and more problems due to computer/ phone use. The problems range from neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, mid-back pain and of course pain in the wrist. It is so important that you ensure your workspace both in the office and at home is set up ergonomically. You should also plan to stretch well every 1 to 2 hours. Not doing so will result in problems down the road. If you need help with this please do not hesitate to contact us. Today we going to focus on one cause of pain in the wrist known as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Last but not least ... St Patrick's day could be about celebrating with more green food??? I can hope?
Dr Pia

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
By Dr Pia Martin DC CCN
Carpus is a word derived from the Greek word "karpos" which means "wrist." The wrist is surrounded by a band of fibrous tissue that normally functions as a support for the joint. The tight space between this fibrous band and the wrist bone is called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel to receive sensations from the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the hand. Any condition that causes swelling or a change in position of the tissue within the carpal tunnel can squeeze and irritate the median nerve. Irritation of the median nerve in this manner causes tingling and numbness of the thumb, index, and the middle fingers, a condition known as "carpal tunnel syndrome."
What conditions and diseases cause carpal tunnel syndrome?
Tendon inflammation resulting from repetitive work, such as uninterrupted typing on a computer is a common cause of carpal tunnel symptoms. Carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive maneuvers has been referred to as one of the repetitive stress injuries. Other conditions that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome include obesity, pregnancy, hypothyroidism, arthritis, diabetes and trauma.
How does a patient with carpal tunnel syndrome feel?
Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome initially feel numbness and tingling of the hand in the distribution of the median nerve (the thumb, index, middle, and part of the fourth fingers). These sensations are often more pronounced at night and can awaken patients from sleep. The reason symptoms are worse at night may be related to the flexed-wrist sleeping position and/or fluid accumulating around the wrist and hand while lying flat.
As the disease progresses, patients can develop a burning sensation, cramping and weakness of the hand. Decreased grip strength can lead to frequent dropping of objects from the hand. Occasionally, sharp shooting pains can be felt in the forearm.
How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed?
The diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome is suspected based on the symptoms and the distribution of the hand numbness. Examination of the neck, shoulder, elbow, pulses, and reflexes can be performed to exclude other conditions that can mimic carpal tunnel syndrome. The wrist can be examined for swelling, warmth, tenderness, deformity, and discoloration. Sometimes tapping the front of the wrist can reproduce tingling of the hand, and is referred to as Tinel's sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. The examiner can also at times reproduce symptoms by bending the wrist forward (referred to as Phalen's maneuver). X-Rays of the hand may be helpful.
How is carpal tunnel syndrome treated?
The choice of treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome depends on the severity of the symptoms and any underlying disease that might be causing the symptoms.
In most cases, a chiropractic adjustment to the affected area is an extremely effective solution. In some cases, a misalignment in either the back or neck can cause this condition. These treatments, along with physical therapy, stretching, and strengthening exercises, can in most cases effectively alleviate and eventually eliminate the symptoms associated with CTS.
Patients whose occupations are aggravating the symptoms should modify their activities. For example, computer keyboards and chair height may need to be adjusted to optimize comfort. These measures, as well as periodic resting and range of motion stretching exercise of the wrists can actually prevent the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome that are caused by repetitive overuse.
Several types of medications have been used in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) has been reported to relieve some symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also be helpful in decreasing inflammation and reducing pain. Side effects include gastrointestinal upset and even ulceration of the stomach. Corticosteroids can be given by mouth or injected directly into the involved wrist joint. They can bring rapid relief of the persistent symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Side effects of these medications should be considered. Surgery involves severing the band of tissue around the wrist to reduce pressure on the median nerve. This surgical procedure is called "carpal tunnel release."
Dr Pia Martin DC CCN

cempia1996@aol.com
http://www.cre8wellness.com
http://www.ncwcenter.com
ph 760 632 1134

Uncertainty and Doctor Subjectivity underlie Women’s Health Issues

2010-03-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

By Dr Pia Martin DC, CCN

I recently went for my annual Gynecological exam and this year there was definitately more discussion about the breast exam portion than there has ever been.

Since the new guidelines regarding breast cancer screening came out in late 2009 there has been controversy. The crossfire has left millions of women confused about how to handle their health care. Many women were outraged and angry that experts could not agree and give them a straight answer. The American Cancer Center is against the new Task Force guidelines which recommend mammograms beginning at age 50 and then every other year after that and The National Cancer Institute is re-looking at their recommendations and making changes. Some organizations are suggesting that the changes and findings recommended by the task force are politically motivated and the media is having a field day pitting one health care professional against another. Even our TV Doc (Dr OZ) “little chuckle” is sitting on the fence on this one. He thinks you fall into one of two camps… The Peace of Mind Group or The Power of Me Group

I personally decided that as I have some fibrous tissue in one breast I would have an ultrasound (a less invasive and more costly procedure). My Doctor was onboard with the decision however the technician at the imaging center was not and she berated me for not having a mammogram. Not just a small slap on the hand either but she lit into me loudly and aggressively. I was astonished as first, but that soon turned to anger!!! I can tell you as a physician myself it took me everything not to make a few angry remarks of my own. Most of us dread these tests and hope that we get the all clear. I’m no different in-fact I am worse because I know too much. So, I kept my composure and strongly re affirmed my decision. The last thing I needed was more stress. The technician did not leave it at that she still had to make sure she told me that I needed a mammogram next year! I am telling you this story because I know that even when you make a decision regarding your health that you feel is best for you, you will and can run into heavy objection and opinion.

I did a little research and here are a few of the main points from both camps and a few things to think about relative to these new breast health guidelines:

Your personal health history and that of the women in your family

The guidelines cut out 10 whole years… hard to swallow for many or two aggressive in the first place.

The Insurance Question. For now it seems that Mammograms are covered beginning age 40. Always, always, always, even if you have insurance, ask first; what is the cash price for a test or procedure. You will be surprised and often save money. Ask before you make the appointment.

Only in the USA are mammograms recommended before age 50.

Not all women go through menopause at 50, some sooner some later.

There are many stories from women who contracted breast cancer before age 50 and their lives have been saved by routine mammograms.

There are many women who have had false positives and invasive unnecessary surgeries.

Mammograms use radiation and it builds up in the body.

If you smoke stop!!!!!

Reduce your risks!!!! Exercise regularly, and eat a whole food diet, with plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, lean protein, while grain, seeds and nuts. Drink plenty of fresh water.

Do your research no matter what your views are on the subject and make sure you have a physician that is aligned with those views and values. More than ever You have to be an advocate for your own health care.

Listed below are some resources that will give the conventional and alternate points of view.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA326611

http://www.westonaprice.org/Mammography-Madness.html

http://my.clevelandclinic.org

http://nccam.nih.gov

Fabulous Testimonial

2010-02-25T17:21:00.000-08:00

I have one for Dr. Pia.
"I was feeling completely out of whack after my Mexico trip, mentally
and physically. I hadn't seen Pia in a couple of months. So, one day
last week, I woke up with a serious kink in my neck one morning. I
posted a message on her facebook page that said something like, 'My neck
is killing me.' She said, "Can you come in at 11?' Well, I was happy to
go in, and she said that my back was more crooked than it had ever been
before. The vertebrae that sends the nerve to my stomach was badly out
of line. It was really interesting to me that when she put that
particular vertebrae in place, about one second later, my stomach made a
load growl. She retorted, 'Funny how that works.' As she worked up my
spine, Pia discovered that my neck was out in about 3 places too. I had
lingering soreness for about a day, and then my body returned to its
natural balance. I feel so much better. She also said to me that I need
to think of exercise (yoga) as something that I NEED to do in order to
keep up with my work demands (sitting if front of a computer). I get so
much insight from Pia, and guess what...she dropped her prices too! Who
does that???"

A healthy thanksgiving

2009-11-18T12:08:00.000-08:00

How to enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner without the unwanted stuffing

Most people gain 10-15 lbs over the holiday season. Not only does that cause the potential for health problems but it also causes the body additional stress.

This added stress also causes our immune function to be lowered providing the potential for colds and flu etc. Make giving thanks with family and friends the focus of your gathering.

Here are a few tips to help you navigate the most fattening (2000 calories on average) meal of the year.

Eat breakfast. Don’t go hungry as you have the potential to overeat.
Drink plenty of water up to hour before and one hour after the meal
Eat slowly. It takes 20 mins for the brain to catch up and register you are full.
Say no to seconds
Careful with alcohol. You have a tendency to eat more and it is loaded with calories
Big one! Don’t take more of the fattening food home with you. No one needs more of the most fattening meal of the year
Get some exercise either before or after the meal
Watch portion control. There are often a lot more items on the menu than a typical meal. Take a little of everything.

Here is my ideal Thanksgiving Dinner…

Start: Butternut/ Pumpkin soup.

Dinner: Roasted organic turkey breast w/ herbs and a little sea salt

Roasted Root Vegetables

Green beans with garlic and almonds

Brussels Spouts

Whole grain wild rice or Quinoa

Arugala Salad

Desert: Probably skip it. But if I was serving it would be Baked Apples

If you are Vegetarian or Vegan you can substitute the turkey for Tempeh or Seiten, and add black beans to the rice or quinoa.

Dr Pia Martin

Super Veggies with powerful disease fighting phyto nutrients ets

2009-09-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

The Super-Veggies: Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables have it all: vitamins, fiber, and disease-fighting phytochemicals. Here's how to get more of them.

Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale are attributed to the fact that these foods contain substantial quantities of the phytonutrients called isothiocyanates, specifically two isothiocyanates called sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. Research indicates that sulforaphane has the ability to increase the capacity of the liver to detoxify harmful, cancer-causing compounds.

In addition to helping your body protect itself from cancer, cruciferous vegetables are also believed to help prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, two debilitating diseases that can lead to vision impairment and blindness. These vegetables also contain a vast array of the vitamins and minerals that are necessary for optimal health.
Include the following in your diet in raw and slightly cooked forms and eat a variety of them

arugula
bok choy
broccoli
broccoli rabe
brocollina
brussels sprouts
cabbage
cauliflower
collards
Horseradish

kohlrabi
kale
mustard greens
radish
red cabbage
rutabaga
turnips
turnip greens
watercress

If you need help getting started, try the following suggestions:
1. All of the crucifers are wonderful when lightly steamed. For a little extra pizzaz, sprinkle steamed broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, or kale with lemon and sesame oil
2. Steamed broccoli, cauliflower, and kale make a delicious addition to marinara (tomato) sauce.
3. Purée cooked broccoli and cauliflower, then combine with seasonings of your choice to make a simple, yet delicious, soup.
4. These vegetables can also be enjoyed raw. When you prepare a vegetable tray, be sure to include broccoli, cauliflower, and chopped sections of red cabbage.
5. Sauté cauliflower with garlic, minced ginger and tamari. For cauliflower with a vivid yellow color, boil it briefly with a spoonful of turmeric or generous pinch of saffron.
6. Cabbage leaves are a great way to re-inspire leftovers. Spoon some leftovers onto the center of a cabbage leaf and roll into a neat little package. Bake in medium heat oven until hot. Enjoy your easy and healthy version of stuffed cabbage, a traditional eastern European dish.
7. Add watercress, radishes, arugala and shredded cabbage to your favorite green salad
Note: Cruciferous veggies have been know to cause gas in some folks, so start slow if you have eaten them in a while and chew well…
Have a healthy day
Dr Pia

What is really in " Healthy Foods"

2009-08-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

My goal today is to arm you with information so you can make the best choices for you and your family..

A lot of Americans think they're eating a healthy diet these days. But it's easy to be fooled by our assumptions and the ways that food manufacturers play on consumers.

Take chicken. The average American eats about 90 pounds of it a year, more than twice as much as in the 1970s, part of the switch to lower-fat, lower-cholesterol meat proteins. But roughly one-third of the fresh chicken sold in the U.S. is "plumped" with water, salt and sometimes a seaweed extract called carrageenan that helps it retain the added water. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says chicken processed this way can still be labeled "all natural" or "100% natural" because those are all natural ingredients, even though they aren't naturally found in chicken

Producers must mention the added ingredients on the package -- but the lettering can be small: just one-third the size of the largest letter in the product's name. If you're trying to watch your sodium to cut your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, it pays to check the Nutrition Facts label. Untreated chicken has about 45 to 60 mgs of sodium per four-ounce serving. So-called enhanced or "plumped" chicken has between 200 and 400 mgs of sodium per serving, almost as much as a serving of fast-food french fries.

Makers of enhanced chicken, including some of the biggest U.S. producers, and even at 330 mg of sodium, the enhanced chicken qualifies for the American Heart Association's mark of approval. ( Think Big Government)

Here are some other foods that may not be as healthy as they appear.

Trans fat. There's been a remarkable reduction in these artery-cloggers in processed foods recently. But manufacturers are allowed to round down: Products labeled zero grams of trans fat can have up to 0.49 gram of fat per serving.

The same rounding principle applies to zero calories, fat and carbohydrates. Walden Farms, which advertises a line of dips, spreads and dressings as "Fat Free, Sugar Free and Calorie Free," says its products do have trace calories and up to 0.49 gram of fat and carbohydrates per serving.

"Wheat bread." This is a meaningless term, since almost all bread is made with wheat. Some manufacturers add to the illusion by using a brown wrapper or darkening bread with brown sugar or molasses. The more healthful stuff is whole wheat, which includes the outer bran and the wheat germ inside, good sources of nutrients and fiber. Check the ingredients. If the first one listed is "enriched wheat flour," you aren't getting much whole grain.

A few bread makers are still displaying the USDA's old Food Pyramid on their packages -- the one that recommended six to 11 servings of bread or pasta a day. That's been replaced by a more individualized pyramid that recommends only six carbohydrate servings, three of which should be whole grains

Fiber. Companies are adding fiber to all kinds of products -- including yogurt, ice cream and beverages. In many cases, the added fiber comes from purified powders, not the kind of fiber found in whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruits. The latter have been shown to lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease and may cut the risk of colon cancer. But there isn't much evidence that "isolated" fibers like inulin, maltodextrin, oat fiber and polydextrose have the same effect, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit consumer-advocacy group. The Nutrition Facts label doesn't differentiate between the kind of fiber counted, so check the ingredients

Yogurt. The yogurt aisle is dizzy these days with products that promise to reduce your cholesterol, control your blood pressure, protect your digestive health or boost your immune system. In many cases, it's a single ingredient that provides the benefit, and you can find much more of it in other sources. For example, Promise activ SuperShots say they "Help Control Blood Pressure" thanks to 350 mgs of potassium. There's much more potassium in a banana, a cup of spinach or a baked potato. DanActive probiotic dairy drink's immunity-boosting claims stem from its L. casei Immunitas active culture. There's lots of research interest in such probiotics, but for now, the marketing is ahead of the science. Many are high in sugar and sodium!!!!

Super water. The Center for Science in the Public Interest sued Coca-Cola Co. earlier this year over claims on its VitaminWater beverages. The center argued that the drinks -- with names like "defense," "rescue," "energy" and "endurance" -- are mainly sugar water with 125 calories per bottle. Coke called the lawsuit "frivolous" and said its VitaminWater brands are properly labeled. "Consumers today are savvy, they are educated and they are looking for more from their beverages than simply hydration," said Coke spokesman Scott Williamson. Not only are these drinks expensive but a good source of filtered water is the best think for your body!!!

Omega 3. Many foods are adding these essential fatty acids, said to cut the risk of heart disease, cancer and arthritis and help promote brain health. But you can get a lot more from natural foods. You'd need to drink 45 eight-ounce glasses of milk that is fortified with 32 mgs of omega 3 to get as much of these fatty acids as you get in a three-ounce serving of salmon.

I get asked daily " Doc what foods should I eat" My answer is as always the same... Eat as close to nature as possible ...Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, good for u fats and lean organic or wild proteins:

Have a healthy Day!

Dr Pia

A daily dose of love

2009-08-05T13:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Wellness Wednesday....
It has been proven that those with strong loving relationships and solid social connections have healthier and more fulfilling lives

Although you may have never seen a doctor write a prescription for daily doses of “love,” best selling authors such as Deepak Chopra M.D., Bernie Siegal M.D., and Dean Ornish M.D. all write about the healing properties of love. Dr. Ornish says, “love may be the greatest of all disease-fighters, and it’s about time doctors realized it.” Dr. Ornish, a pioneer of wellness, has extensively researched how diet, exercise, and stress management can help to reverse heart disease symptoms. His book, Love & Survival explains how loneliness can ruin the body, while experiencing a sense of community and love can have healing effects.

Sharing love is the most powerful force of nature, whether it's with a pet, a friend, or a significant other. Experts stipulate that loneliness and social disconnect result from our increasing attention on technology and work. Regarding ailments such as heart disease, Dr. Ornish says that “the real epidemic isn’t physical heart disease. It’s spiritual heart disease: loneliness and isolation.”

It is amazing but true that the easiest thing in the world to do to improve our own health and wellness is to express our love for ourselves and for others. It doesn’t cost anything and it doesn’t have to take much time. The benefits of love are beyond measure.

For more wonderful articles go to www,cre8wellness.com

Tips for a better Brain right now

2009-07-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

Could'nt we all use a better memory and less of the brain fog? Here are some great tips to help you think more clearly!

Eat Brain Food

If food is the most powerful medicine, then what you put on the end of your fork will have a major impact on the health of your brain.

You need to eat brain foods and avoid eating poisonous, brain-damaging junk foods. Follow these tips, starting with the one listed just below.

Tip #1: Avoid Brain-Damaging Foods

The list of brain-damaging foods you need to avoid is short. Those foods are:

1.Processed, refined carbohydrates and sugar

2. High-fructose corn syrup

3.Toxic fats - especially trans fats

5.Food additives and preservatives

6.Alcohol

7.Caffeine

8.Food allergens (the two most common are gluten and dairy)

Support Your Brain Chemistry

Nutrients are like fertilizer for your brain. They are little helpers that improve communications and connections.

In a perfect world, no one would need supplements. But given the stresses of our modern world, the poor quality of the food supply, and the high load of toxins in our brain, everyone needs them.

Here is what to take.

Tip #2: Take a whole food multi-vitamin

In addition to what is in your multivitamin, you should take vitamin D3 because it is significantly deficient in so many people.

Live a Brain-Enhancing Life

Tip #3: Push the Pause Button

Many people today are so chronically stressed out, they don't even know how to push their pause button. Here are some ideas that may help. Try the following:

1.Yoga

2.Massage

3.Tense and relax

4.Biofeedback

5.Meditation

6.Pray, chant, dance, and celebrate

7.Practice Tai Qi Quan or Qigong

8.Write in a journal

9.Experience nature

10.Listen to music

11.Be creative - paint, draw, sculpt, etc.

Detoxify Your Brain

The only things as important as eating the right foods for brain health are limiting your toxic exposure and enhancing your detoxification system. Follow these tips to start doing just that.

Tip #4: Eat Detoxifying Foods

You need more glutathione, a sulfur-like substance that transports toxins out of your body via your urine and stool. To naturally increase your glutathione, increase your intake of the following foods:

1.Cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, collards, kale, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, arugula, radish, wasabi, watercress, kohlrabi, mustard greens, rutabaga, turnips) - at least one to two cups, cooked, daily

2.Curcuminoids (turmeric, curry)

3.Garlic

4.Green tea, one to two cups a day (boosts liver detoxification)

5.High-quality, sulfur-containing protein (eggs, garlic, onions).

Protect Your Brain

Unnecessary trauma and other potentially brain-damaging exposure can negatively affect brain health. Take this simple step to protect your brain.

Tip #7: Reduce Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) Exposure

Though we can't completely eliminate exposure to EMR in today's world, it is possible to reduce our exposure. Try some or all of the following:

1.Minimize your exposure to wireless communication devices.

Have a great day.

Dr Pia

Andrew's top ten

2009-07-08T21:15:00.000-07:00

Andrew is a patient of mine who has been struggling with weight gain despite being a Triathlete. He has been basically carbo loading to the max, and hence has slowly been putting on weight over the last fews years. Andrew came to me for help. We reworked his diet and Andrew has lost an impressive 11lbs so far. He is also feeling a lot better health-wise. Andrew is the CEO and what works for him is to take the information that we discussed and put it into simple keys that he can review easily everyday to help keep him on track. I have attached Andrew's top ten as they might be helpful for you too!

11. Hydrate

Drink more than 2 liters of water (8 glasses) and 2 cups of coffee or less. No soft drink.

22. Eat Fresh

Eat 5 cups of Vegetables and 3 cups of Fruit. Eat nutrient dense whole foods, Organic Foods. No simple carbohydrates such as bread, rice and pasta.

33. Supplement

Overcome some of the vitamin and mineral deficiencies – Take Omega 3 for cardio, B Vitamins for energy and sugar balance, Magnesium Lactate for muscle relaxation and Multi-Vitamins for energy.

44. Top Ten Vegetables

Spinach, Greens, Carrots, Peas, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Asparagus, Tomatoes, Capsicum, Sweet Potatoes and Zucchini.

55. Top Ten Fruits

Berries, Apples, Pears, Grapes, Bananas, Orange, Avocado, Grapefruit, Peaches, Plums and Pineapples.

66. Breakfast

Eat more fiber and protein. Eat Oatmeal with fruit and nuts. Eat Yoghurt. Eat more before a long bike ride.

77. Lunch

Eat Salad and Fruit. Eat protein – eggs, fish, chicken in small quantities (125g)

88. Snacks

Eat nuts or fruit during the morning and afternoon. Small quantities – piece of fruit or ½ cup of nuts such almonds.

99. Dinner

Eat Vegetables and protein (small quantities – 125g). Eat a good base of green vegetables.

110. 80/20 Rule

Be good 80% of the time. Enjoy a meal off. Maximum 1 day off – try and make it all in one day. Notice the impact.

Do we really know what is on our supermarket shelves

2009-06-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

Last night my husband and I went to see the film Food Inc.. The film is a inside look at our food industry. It is very compelling, educational and disturbing. The film won rave reviews in all the major publications and was released on a limited schedule... I thought I would have to wait for the film to come out on DVD but fortunately and to my surprise it is playing at the Flower Hill Cinemas... yeah! right in my backyard. Click on the link below to view the trailer... I encourage you all to see this film and use your buying power whenever you buy food to ensure you and your family stay healthy and put quality back on our market shelves.

http://www.foodincmovie.com/trailer-and-photos.php#atabc

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults

Eat Junk and Go Hungry

2009-06-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,

Today I thought it would be interesting for you to see how 1800 cal per day can look based on food choices...

First the " Junk Food Plan" 1800 calories

Breakfast at Krispy Kreme: one glazed doughnut filled with custard and a 16oz latte

Lunch at Mcdonalds: A crispy chicken california cobb salad and a small reg coke

Dinner at pizza Hut: two slices of hand tossed meat lovers pizza and a 12oz beer.

Only 6 items of food can add up to 1800 cals... The above food choices also provided 85 grams of fat, 209 grams of carbs and 3216 grams of sodium!

Second the" Meat Eater Nutrient Dense Plan" 1800 calories

Breakfast: 8oz low fat yogurt with 1 and 1/2 cups of fresh black berries, 1 egg and 1 slice of whole grain bread and 1/2 teaspoon butter

Snack: 1 small apple

Lunch: 5 ozs of broiled wild salmon, 2 cups spinach, 1/2 cup tomatoes, with olive oil and balsamic dressing

Snack: handful of raw almonds, cup of low-fat milk

Dinner: 5oz broiled of lean beef filet , with 5 cups of raw veggies, ( Lightly steam broccoli etc)

Assume that you are drinking herb tea and lots of water.

The above nutrient dense plan gives you a lot more food and and almost all of the nutrients needed for good health.

I encourage you to begin to eat a more healthful diet today. Begin to make better choices!

If you would like more information please do not hesitate to contact me at pia@cre8wellness.com, or 214 8696404. Mention this email and enjoy a free 30 min consult.

2009-05-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

I am often asked the question... What should I eat? How do I get the nutrients I need for optimal health?

With that I mind I wanted to share my recipe for the Super Food Salad. You will get all the vitamins and minerals you need and this salad and it is packed with fiber!

SUPER FOOD SALAD

Dr Pia Martin

In a large salad bowl add the following ingredients:

5 big handfuls of mixed organic greens (can be found precut and washed at most markets)

2 big handfuls of baby spinach raw

1½ cups of chopped red peppers

6 lightly steamed Brussels spouts. (cut in quarters)

5 lightly steamed asparagus stalks (cut into 2 inch pieces)

1½ cups of broccoli flowers ( lightly steamed or raw)

3 hard-boiled organic eggs chopped or 5 oz. of grilled salmon flaked

1 cup of cooked black beans

¾ cup of chopped organic tomatoes

1 cup of shredded raw carrots

½ cup of radishes sliced

¼ cup of dried sunflower seeds, or sub ½ cup of walnuts

Toss in olive and balsamic vinegar, add some ground pepper or chili pepper if you like. Serves 4-6 people.

Serve immediately in large bowls or plates and eat as a main meal. (note eat with chopsticks so you slow down and chew your food)

The super food salad contains foods that are nutrient dense. That means they have a significant amount of nutrients relative to the number of calories.

This is the ultimate fast food; it tastes delicious and contains all the vitamins and minerals needed for great health.

Dr Pia Martin

cempia1996@aol.com

http://www.cre8wellness.com

ph 760 632 8785

2009-05-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,

David Kessler is the former commisioner for the FDA... he is a medical doctor, lawyer and former dean of a medical school... A smart man to say the least. I encourage you to take the time to read the whole article and share it with your friends.

Have a healthy day!

Dr Pia

Kessler was on a mission to understand a problem that has vexed him since childhood: why he

can't resist certain foods.

His resulting theory, described in his new book, "The End of Overeating," is startling. Foods high in fat, salt and sugar alter the brain's chemistry in ways that compel people to overeat. "Much of the scientific research around overeating has been physiology -- what's going on in our body," he said. "The real question is what's going on in our brain."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/26/AR2009042602711.html

Dr James Chestnut

2009-04-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

Dr Chestnut is one of my favorite speakers... and author of four books. He tells it like it is more

In A Grim Economy Americans are finding comfort in candy

2009-03-24T07:39:00.000-07:00

I'll attach the article for those of you who would like to read it. Essentially it says "that for many Americans sugar lifts the spirit." When will we learn! We know that sugar and derivatives of sugar like high fructose corn syrup cause a multitude of health problems. Nobody really believes that comfort comes in the form of candy do they? Here's how it works... need comfort... eat candy... get sugar high... followed quickly by a sugar crash and the blues... oh then you feel fat or actually get fat from all that chocolate and candy.. Yuk. Now you feel even worse and more depressed than before. Not to mention the increase in health problems. Sugar is like shards of glass for the arteries and causes major inflammation in the system. Please please stop making bad choices today in the hope that it will have no effect on your tomorrow. It will come back to bit you in the .... you know what in more ways than one. If you are feeling like you need comfort in these times.. choose a hug, choose laughter with friends..meditate... go for a long walk with the dog.. etc... These choices are better for you and don't impact your health in a negative way. Take control and live a better life tomorrow.

"Let Food Be Thy Medicine" Hippocrates

2009-03-08T09:07:00.000-07:00

An enlightening article published in the Washington Post.. Here's a quote that shocked me..
"You are what what you eats eats too"
cattle that fatten on feedlots rather than grass cut up to 75% of the time it takes from birth to slaughter. They are fed corn that is nourished on by petroleum based fertilizers. A beef cow consumes almost a barrel of oil in its lifetime. This article has much more to say about agriculture and our farming industry...more on this articleI can't agree with Hippocrates more... think of food as functional nutrition ...

The Bacon Explosion

2009-01-28T13:02:00.000-08:00

Do we really need a creation that provides us with 500 grams of fat and 5,000 calories. Personally I think the number of calories quoted is off by quite a bit. With more than 75% of Americans overweight and the cost of health care rising.. couldn't we use our creativity in more productive ways ! For more on this heart attack waiting to happen meal....

Vitamin Water has almost as much sugar as Soda

2009-01-25T14:51:00.000-08:00

A nutrition advocacy group has filed a class action law suit against Coca-Cola over deceptive claims about Vitamin Water. As consumers it is important that you read the labels that list the ingredients and not get caught up in marketing hype. The label on Vitamin water lists that it's three main ingredients are water, sugar cane, and cystalline fructose. The ingredients on labels are listed from most to least staring from the top of the label. If you are looking for water... drink filtered water. If you are looking for Vitamins .. talk to you nutritionist, or health and wellness professional to see what you need and choose whole foods and whole food supplements.

Read the full article

The evidence is mounting that diet and exercise are the best cures for our worst afflictions

2009-01-12T13:13:00.000-08:00

A great article in the wall street journal on Jan 9th. A must read for all. Our Health care system is broken! Good news is that you can take control of your health starting now! Invest in your health so you don't spend on your sickness.

How to save money on my Pet

2009-01-10T07:22:00.000-08:00

It's the weekend and I am reading the Union Tribune... Pretty lite on Saturdays, however there is a new section called Smart Living. Smart Living is about your time your money your life. The article " How to save money on my pet is great!!! Who would have thought that such great advice could be found. I was astonished to read that author Dennis Davidson is suggesting that you buy " Quality food is better than the cheap stuff. Pay now for premium food or later with vet bills" or "Grow your own food for your pet" This is exactly what we should all do! This advice is not only good for pets but good for people. Unfortunately many pet owners have been feeding their pets the same junk food that they eat! ... "Invest in our health so we do not spend on our sickness"

San Diegio's Elephants shed tons with diet and exercise!

2009-01-05T17:10:00.000-08:00

The elephants at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park lost a total of 11,314 pounds with diet and exercise! Wow. What I loved about this article was that the keepers were looking to improve the animals health and ability to produce viable off spring, so that learned that being lighter and getting exercise would improve the health of the elephants. Not only that, they fed them a diet that is natural to elephants (Hay)and a small amount of fruit and veggies. Gone were the Candy Bars, chocolate and bread! Can we even believe that anyone thought that these types of foods were good for elephants.
The article goes on to share some analogies on how not all the Elephants were good dieters... rather like us.

Greenversations

2008-12-30T12:59:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a good holiday. While I was conducting research on an article I am writing related to the environment, I came across this great blog on the USA Environmental Protection Agency's website. ( epa). The blog is called "greenversations", and there are some very use full tips on how to dispose of all that holiday trash, such as Xmas trees if in fact you are still buying the real ones. Enjoy and look around this great site.

When your Laptop is a big pain in the neck

2008-12-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

This is a great article which was published in the Wall Street Journal on December 15th. 2008.
Pictures are worth a thousand words, so you can view this interesting video that goes along with the article.

I encourage you to make the necessary purchases to make your laptop more ergonomic or you could suffer health problems down the road. For more you can also read my article "Tech Neck" which is posted on my website.

Consumers are doing everything they can to lower food costs

2008-12-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading an article in the San Diego Union Tribune that states that Grocery prices are up 7.5% this past year. The article goes on to say that 40 percent of shoppers are buying more frozen or boxed foods than fresh meats, fruits and vegetables than the previous year due to decresesd economics. The executives at Hormel the makers of Spam say that they have doubled shifts to meet the increase in demand for Spam. As a health professional I see huge problems with this type of diet down the road. The body needs genuine replacements parts to regenerate and thrive. That means that as humans we need to eat whole non processed fresh food. I might suggest that before folks go out and buy spam or boxed mashed potatoes etc that they look for alternative ways to buy whole fresh foods. Check local farmers markets, and ethnic food stores for great prices on whole foods. Also if you have a patch of ground start growing vegetables. Seeds are very cheap. Get together with neighbors and start a coop are buy dry items like beans, seeds, and nuts in bulk.
If you do not invest in your health by providing the body with the nutrients it needs you will have to spend much more later on sickness and disease management.

Reflections on a loss of my dear friend Peggy

2008-11-20T16:09:00.000-08:00

My dear friend and renowned Hawaiian water color artist died last night from ALS. She has lived and boy did she live with the disease for six plus years. Peggy was able to live at home till her last breath because of this wonderful group of people called Pegs Legs. For her unique story go to www.pegslegs.blogspot.com . I will miss you Peggy, and I feel so blessed to have known you.
Rest my friend.
Dr Pia

Beat the "Bah Humbug" Blues!

2008-11-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

With the holiday season quickly approaching, you CAN have the best holiday ever, even in these stressful times. Get back to what it means to celebrate an old fashioned holiday before it became all about the expenses, excess and the shopping malls, with a little holiday S.P.I.R.I.T:

1. S

Save: With the decline of the economy, be financially smart and savvy during the holiday season. Create gift ideas for friends and family in an economically friendly way, by getting crafty. There are lots of ideas at your local craft shop or to save time, you can search the Internet. This year agree to only buy gifts for the kids in the family.

Share: Money isn’t everything, so spend time with your loved ones. Find places to bond and create memories during the holiday season. Take pictures of these cheerful moments and use them for a scrapbook or homemade picture frame. These gifts will pass the test of time and mean more than any material item. The thought is always what counts, so use this philosophy when thinking about your loved ones and come out on top with a little extra cash in your pocket.

Secret Santa: Choose one member of your family or one coworker to buy for this year. Not only will you save but also you will have the time to really think about that person and their interests. It is also fun because of the element of surprise.

2. P

Personal Time: During the hectic holiday season, it is even more important to set aside a few moments for yourself. Put “me time” in your schedule and stick to it. This can be as simple as meditating before bed, taking a few deep breaths at tough times, getting enough sleep and of course keeping a positive outlook. Stress is the number one killer and to fight it we must think about our sanity and try to put aside all the holiday craziness to re-center the mind, body, and soul.

Possibilities: Take a moment to look forward to the year ahead and see the possibilities in all facets of your life. Dream big! Write down those dreams and possibilities and then take action to make them a reality.

3. I

Indulgences: The holiday season is notorious for office treats and crazy calories coming from every direction. Do not fret! You can beat the bulge this season with a little planning ahead. Pick one night when you allow for a splurge but limit the other nights to healthy good for you options. Stress at the holidays often causes us to overeat and drink too much…doing this actually causes more stress for the body! Remember, you are in control of your choices.

4. R

Reach Out: Through all the indulgence that comes with the holiday season, there is also the perfect opportunity to reach out to those less fortunate. Taking time to help those in need is fulfilling in more ways than one. It can center the heart and re-focus the philosophy of the holiday times. Volunteer at a shelter, or bring Christmas joy to the elderly. However you decide, the rewards of reaching out will surely erase any Bah Humbug of the upcoming holiday season!

Reconnect: It has been a tough year for most of us. It is hard to stay insulated from all of the negative energy. Make the time to reconnect with old friends that you haven’t spoken to or seen in a while. Make time to spend a little one on one time with a family member. Most importantly reconnect with what’s important in our lives, our health and our relationships.

5. I

Invest in your Health: Yes, it’s a fact- many us gain a few inches over the holidays. If you do find yourself in an over-bought calorie situation, don’t stress, just invest a little extra time to your health! Walking is one of the best exercises and it is cost effective, play with your kids, put up the Christmas tree or decorate the house. All of these activities will burn those extra holiday calories.

6. T

Thankful: If you find yourself hearing that negative inner voice, stop and take a moment and make a mental list of the things in your life that you are thankful for.

Counting your blessings each day is good for the soul.

Talk: Share your feelings and memories of past holidays and times spent with loved ones. Talking about your feelings around the holidays, and in general, is a great way to free them from your mind, and can be a gift to those with whom you are sharing.

Take Action: Last but not least, make this next year great! Take action! Don’t just dream about, do it! Don’t like it, change it! Make everyday count! Get into the spirit of healthy thinking. A positive mental attitude is your most powerful tool to get you through the additional stress of the holidays.

Happy 2009!!!!

Avoiding the Dreaded "Tech Neck"- Staying Healthy in the Workplace!

2008-11-12T12:56:00.000-08:00

The human body craves alignment. When we are properly aligned, our bones, not our muscles, support our weight, reducing effort and strain. The big payoff with proper posture is that we feel healthier, have more energy, and move gracefully. So while the word "posture" may conjure up images of book-balancing charm-school girls, it is not just about standing up straight. It’s about being aware of and connected to every part of your self.

Let’s start with the problem- poor posture distorts the alignment of bones, chronically tenses muscles, and contributes to stressful conditions such as loss of vital lung capacity, increased fatigue, reduced blood and oxygen to the brain, limited range of motion, stiffness of joints, pain syndromes, reduced mental alertness, and decreased productivity at work. According to the Nobel Laureate Dr. Roger Sperry, "the more mechanically distorted a person is, the less energy is available for thinking, metabolism, and healing." Therefore, posture ranks right up at the top of the list when you are talking about good health and vitality.

Ideally, our bones stack up one upon the other: the head rests directly on top of the spine, which sits directly over the pelvis, which sits directly over the knees and ankles. But if you spend hours every day sitting in a chair and hunch forward, such as at work in front of a computer, it can affect you not only physically, but emotionally, too- from the predictable shoulder and back pain to headaches, short attention span, and depression.

In today’s technologically advanced “e”-environment, many of us spend a good amount of time sitting in front of a computer. If the core muscles of the back are not strong, most of us after a period of time tend to slump forward. First the head, followed by the hunched and rounded shoulders then as a consequence we tilt the low spine backwards. These mechanical changes to the spine put undue stress on the discs, and joints. The ligaments and muscles are lengthened anteriorly in the neck and posterierly in the upper back. They are subsequently shortened in the back of the neck and the front of the chest. This is called Upper Crossed Syndrome. The action of the head forward of the shoulder girdle even by one-inch puts 10 times the stress on the anatomical structures of the neck. The result is muscle contraction of the neck muscles followed by impaired blood flow and decreased oxygen. The body tries hard to compensate but gets overwhelmed and we experience headaches, neck pain, back pain, fatigue and a variety of other ailments such as sinus problems. The nerves in the neck are also compromised and adequate nerve supply to the structure of head and neck is also compromised.

What can we do to combat this problem? First make sure you have a good, supportive chair and your desk and computer are at the correct height for your body frame. Your legs should be at right angles, your back straight and the arms at right angles to your keyboard. The chest open, the shoulders soft and away from the ears and the computer screen high enough so that your eyes hit the middle of the screen.

Now that you are sitting in a proper position, it is important to get out of your chair every hour to get the blood moving. A good rule of thumb is to get up and get a drink a water, so not only do you get the body moving but you also stay well hydrated. Fatigue is often caused by dehydration. Set a timer to remind you. Next a routine of simple stretches will ease muscle tension. These can be done in 60 seconds. For example, roll the shoulders back and down, door way pushes to open up the front of the chest, moving thee spine through its full range of motion etc… The most important factor when it come to correct posture is your awareness of your body position and responding to it when you feel yourself slump, and your shoulders rise when you are exposed to stressors etc…Take a minute, take a few deep breaths, stretch a little and relax the muscles. A strong core is extremely helpful when it comes to good posture. Pilates or Yoga are wonderful disciplines when it comes to increasing core strength and putting the spine through its full range of motion.