Archive | February, 2015

To Smoke or Not to Smoke…

It has been pretty widely accepted that long term daily use of cannabis affects our health in some adverse way.

We know it can weaken our immune system, affect our adrenals, affect our lungs in a similar way tobacco can, and be psychologically addictive.

Most studies on pot use have been on subjects who smoke a lot, every day all day.

But what about the casual user?

What affect, if any, with the person who smokes only once or twice a week?

A recent study by Harvard and Northwestern researched the brains of 18-25 year olds, half of whom smoked pot recreationally and half who did not smoke at all.

Participants were chosen who showed no adverse affect to their casual smoking.  They attended classes, got good grades, had good relationships, and were generally seen as ideal students.

With new advances in brain neuroimaging, the researchers were able to look at the nucleus accumbens and the amygdala of the participants.

The amygdala is responsible for emotions, emotional behavior, and motivation.

It is part of the Limbic system and is involved in many emotions particularly those related to survival and for processing emotions such as fear, anger, and pleasure.

It is also responsible for determining what memories are stored and where.*

For example when we hear a disturbing noise, the amygdala heightens our perception of the sound.  If this perception is deemed distressing a memory is formed associating the noise with unpleasantness.

These memories can then trigger PTSD attacks anytime.**

The nucleus accumbens play a role in the reward circuit involving both dopamine and serotonin levels.

To everyone’s surprise, every person in the marijuana group, even those who only smoked once a week, showed some abnormalities in the density, volume, and shape of the nucleus accumbens and the amygdala.

So what do we do with this information?

Clearly using cannabis is very helpful for some.  It can relax anxiety and help stimulate an appetite.

But for some it is going to cause more anxiety in the long term and this research is helping us understand the whys.

We are still so young in understanding our brain and what is good for it and what harms it.

To Smoke or Not to Smoke, that is the question!

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy
thelymphguy.com
thelymphguy@gmail.com

*Memory loss has been associated with smoking pot for some time.

**Increased paranoia has also been associated with smoking pot.

Get To Know Your Pancreas

The pancreas is located deep in the abdomen sandwiched between the stomach and the spine.

It is because it is so deeply situated that it is not palpable making it very hard to diagnose it’s state of health.

Most tumors are not detected until they grow large enough to interfere with the functioning of the pancreas.

The pancreas is a vital part of the digestion process and an important controller of blood sugar levels.

The exocrine function helps in digestion and the endocrine function regulates blood sugar.

The pancreas produces enzymes from the exocrine glands important to digestion.  When food enters the stomach, pancreatic juices are released through the Pancreatic Duct that joins up with the Common Bile duct from the liver.

The combination of enzymes from the pancreas and the bile from the liver are what digest fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.

Much of this digestion takes place in the duodenum that is the first segment of the small intestines.

The endocrine component consists of cells that create and release important hormones directly into the blood stream.  Two of the main pancreatic hormones released are insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels, and glucagon, which raises blood sugar levels.

Also produced in the pancreas is Gastrin that aids digestion in the stomach by stimulating the acid producing cells of the stomach to produce digestive acids.

Caring for our pancreas is directly linked to the overall health of the body.

Too much alcohol is one common factor that affects the health and wellbeing of the pancreas.

Another factor are Gallstones.  Gallstones are formed in the gallbladder and as they migrate down the common bile duct they can also clog the Pancreatic Duct.

High levels of triglycerides in the blood as well high levels of calcium can contribute to the blockage of the pancreatic flow of enzymes.

The pancreas is sensitive to viral infections, bacterial infections, and hereditary diseases that all can be linked to pancreatic damage.

Healthy foods for the pancreas include kale, swiss chard, endive, spinach, asparagus, apples, buckwheat, fennel, blueberries, cranberries, and arugula.

Drinking an amble supple of water daily is also very important.

D is an important vitamin for a healthy pancreas.

Aloe Vera juice can revitalize damaged cells.

Including a piece of fresh ginger with lunch and dinner helps pancreatic function.

Avoid combining sweet food with meals.  As the sugar ferments it creates alcohol and alcohol is (as was mentioned) a leading factor in pancreatic problems.*

Eating slowly, watching food combinations, chewing thoroughly, smaller meals, and being relaxed all contribute to a healthier pancreas.

You might be noticing a trend here as the newsletters are repeating many of the same components for a healthier life.  What aids in the health of one organ is many times the same formula for other parts of the body.

For example the simple morning Liver Flush of a tablespoon of olive oil, juice of a lemon, and water is also a remedy for the pancreas.

And again stress is a leading contributor to pancreatic problems.

A lack of digestive enzymes from the pancreas are being directly linked to Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and MS.

For some taking a pancreatic enzyme with meals can be very helpful.

Some more food for thought!

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy
thelymphguy.com
thelymphguy@gmail.com

*This is very important.  Even if you do not drink alcohol you might be making alcohol in your system with the foods and the combinations of foods you are eating.  You might be damaging your pancreas without even realizing it.  Be aware of the sugar content in foods and condiments, as well food combining.  Remember mixing fruit with a meal can create an environment ripe for fermentation with alcohol as a byproduct.

Gotta Love This Heart…

The heart is the first organ to form in the embryo.

It will beat more than two and a half billion times during an average life span without taking any time off.

It has one very simple task, to pump blood.

And yet this one simple task affects everything from our being able to be alive to how our nervous system is behaving.

Clearly we all know that if our heart stops our lives’ also end.

We all also know what it feels like when our heart begins to race and how this affects us.

There is so much information out there about diet, exercise, meditation, and supplements that can help a heart to stay healthy.

Some of the supplement recommendations to keep our hearts healthy include:
CoQ10 recharges the energy production furnaces in cells known as mitochondria.  Since heart cells produce more energy than any other organ this supplement can offer quite a bit of support.
Magnesium helps to widen and relax blood vessels making it easier for the heart to pump more blood and thereby reducing blood pressure.
Omega 3 reduces the risk of heart attacks.  This fatty acid helps to reduce inflammations, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels.
Vitamin C also reduces the risk of heart problems.
Vitamin D reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Curcumin not only is a great anti-inflammatory but also provides antioxidant, antithrombotic, and cardiovascular protective benefits as well as reducing bad cholesterol.
Resveratrol is an anti-aging nutrient found in red wine and the skin of dark grapes.  It protects the arteries from blood clots while also improving elasticity.  It also is a powerful antioxidant.  Resveratrol inhibits certain inflammatory enzymes that can cause heart disease.
Garlic helps to keep the arteries clear of plaque.
Vitamin K & K2 can help keep calcium in the bones and out of the arteries where it only causes problems.
Here are some wonderful heart healthy foods:
Salmon is a rich source of Omega-3
Flaxseed is another rich source of Omega 3
Oatmeal contains Omega 3, magnesium, B vitamins, niacin, calcium, and fiber.
Almonds contain Omega 3, vit. E, magnesium, fiber, heart healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats, as well as phyosterols.
Walnuts also contain Omega 3, vit. E, fiber, and heart healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats.
Red Wine contains Resveratrol.
Tuna contains Omega 3 and niacin.
Tofu contains niacin, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
Brown Rice contains B-complex, niacin, magnesium, and fiber.
Blueberries, cranberries, strawberries and raspberries are all heart healthy supports.
Also included in a Heart Healthy list are carrots, spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, red bell peppers, asparagus, oranges, tomatoes, acorn squash, cantaloupe, papaya…

And Dark Chocolate!

Which brings us right back to this being the Season Of The Heart.  Happy Valentines Day…..

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy
thelymphguy.com
thelymphguy@gmail.com

Let’s Start At The Beginning…

Did you know that digestion begins in the mouth?

The action of chewing does so much more than just break down big food pieces into smaller ones.

In our mouths there are three large salivary glands and numerous smaller ones.

The largest of these glands is the Parotid Gland that is located in our upper cheek area near our ears with the ducts opening near our molars.

The submandibular glands are under the jaws and open behind our lower front teeth.

The sublingual glands are beneath our tongue and open into the floor of our mouth.

There are actually hundreds of smaller salivary glands interspersed around our mouth, lips, inner cheeks, sinuses, and throat all producing and releasing saliva.

The salivary glands produce not just saliva but mucous as well.

Saliva is a clear fluid made up of water and proteins that also includes the digestive enzyme amylase.

The mucous is a thicker slimier liquid.

Saliva has different roles from keeping the mucous membranes in the mouth from drying out, to moistening our food for chewing and swallowing, to mixing the enzyme amylase in with the masticated food.

The saliva also protects our teeth from decay.

The mucous from the submandibular and sublingual glands helps to lubricate the foods we ingest as well as to bind the foods as we chew them.  The mucous holds the chewed food into a slippery mass coating it as to make it easier to pass down the esophagus on its journey to the stomach without harming the esophagus.

Not only does the saliva mix in the enzyme amylase which begins digestion of starches breaking them down into a sugar called maltose, it also makes dry food more soluble so that our taste buds can detect the flavors.

There is one more process that begins in the mouth and that is the process of elimination.

As we chew we are stimulating the peristaltic movement of the large intestines.  A message is being sent that more food is coming in so make room and dump the waste that is ready to be evacuated.

There are so many things that can get in the way of nature’s digestive process from eating too fast to not chewing well enough.

I remember an old saying: “Chew your Drink and Drink your food!”

For anyone with a sensitive digestive system the foods we combine in a meal can make a huge difference.

Mixing protein, starches, and fruits in one meal can create havoc in this digestive process.

Drinking with our meals washes down food particles that have not yet been chewed sufficiently and mixed with enough of the saliva/mucous combination.

It also cools the digestive fires in the stomach needed for the digestive process.

Understanding how our bodies’ work is so helpful in knowing how to care for ourselves with such basic and daily tasks as eating a meal.

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy
thelymphguy.com
thelymphguy@gmail.com