Yes! Score One For Biochemical Individuality!

Scientist are struggling to map the human metabolism with a project called the Metabolome (click here for full article). They hope to map the precursors of all of the complex chemical processes that make up our individual metabolisms and thereby understand better why medications and foods effect people in different ways. In fact, they see a day when we take our metabolic barcode to the grocery store with us for a high-tech, customized shopping experience.
In my eyes, striking thing about this project is not the Jetsonian view of grocery shopping but rather that mainstream science accepts the fact that everyone is different metabolically...that foods DO affect different people in different ways. SO the question that begs to be answered is "Why do we still have the FOOD PYRAMID?" Why are we still treating everyone as if they should eat the SAME? The answer, in my opinion, is that so many people are married to the idea and bureaucracies are slow to change paradigms. Fortunately, we have William Wolcotts work in "The Metabolic Typing Diet" to rely on as a map for determining our unique food profiles until these guys in the Metabolome project get it all sorted out. With the help of current metabolic typing and holistic lifestyle change we really don't need a lot of research to tell us what our bodies need...OUR BODIES WILL TELL US! Imagine that, our bodies actually have feedback devices to let us know what it wants and when...humm...that mother nature sure is a clever one isn't she? The key is to get all of the junk out of our diets and lives so that we can trust that our feedback signals haven't been hijacked by parasites, blood sugar issues, or fungus. With those issues out of the way, we can learn to trust our bodies and give it what it needs when it needs it. Ahh simplicity...no calorie counting, no stressing, just giving your body the good stuff it asks for when it asks for it. Isn't that nice?


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Killer Fungus!

Most holistic practitioners are well aware of the dangers of fungal infections and damage caused by something called mycotoxins (fungal toxins). In reality, we are all aware of the most infamous "black mold" and some of the horrific stories on the news about how it can eat cavernous holes in your face. However, most of us are not aware that there are much more common sources of mycotoxins in corn, peanuts, wheat, alcoholic drinks and other common foods.

Prolonged exposure to these toxins can build up and cause raging fungal infections which become symptomatic causing a myriad of diseases that are traditionally linked to other causes. See the list below for a full list of disease.
Some may be skeptical as to some of the entries on this list and I always encourage my clients to keep a healthy skepticism. However, what if only %50 or even %10 of the disease below where caused by fungal and mycotoxin problems? Isn't it worth investigating and cutting toxin-containing sources in your diet rather than continuously poisoning yourself over time? I will provide you more information over time but recommend you read the article below for a good "beginner's Course" on Fungi.

This list is compiled by David Holland MD.

In an article from Dr. Mercola

You can visit his site at http://www.knowthecause.com for more great information of Fungal toxicity

*Diseases caused by fungi and their mycotoxins (Costantini, A. et al. The Garden of Eden Longevity Diet. Fungalbionics Series. 1998):

AIDS Alcoholic cirrhosis Alzheimer’s Amyloidosis Anorexia Nervosa Atherosclerosis Balkan Nephropathy Bechet’s Biliary cirrhosis Cardiomyopathy Crohn’s disease Cushing’s disease Diabetes DIC Muscular Dystrophy Encephalopathy

Ergotism Familial Mediterranean Fever Gout Heart failure Hyperactivity Syndrome Hyperaldosteronism Hyperlipidemia (high lipids) Hypertension Infertility IgA Nephropathy Kidney stones Leukocytoclastic vasculitis Inflammatory bowel disease Mollaret’s meningitis Multiple Sclerosis Nephritis (kidney inflammation)

Obesity Osteoarthritis Osteoporosis Precocious puberty Psoriasis Pulmonary Hypertension Raynaud’s Syndrome/disease Reye’s syndrome Rheumatoid Arthritis Sarcoidosis Scleroderma Shoulder-hand syndrome Thrombocytopenic purpura (low platelets) Vasculitis

Big Bad Electromagnetic Fields

Today, I am posting a disturbing article from the Daily Mail in the UK .
The woman who needs a veil of protection from modern life
By VICTORIA MOORE
It tells the story of a woman plagued by electrosensitivity--physical symptoms caused by electromagnetic fields from cell phones, wireless connections and appliances.
As our world becomes increasingly complex and our technology increasingly more wireless, we are beginning to fill our airwaves with immense electronic pollution. As this pollution becomes more prevalent, it has become very difficult to deny that it has some impact on our bodies. More people are stepping forward complaining of symptoms such as nausea, headaches, pain and mental confusion due to this "electrosmog." Usually these are people who already have a great deal of stress on their autonomic nervous system and have began to develop chemical toxicity sensitivities as well. Since these types of symptoms are generally brushed aside as hypochondria or chronic fatigue, the patients are often marginalized and rarely receive a proper diagnosis.
Though many of us have plenty of "reserve" to deal with electromagnetic fields, it is wise to limit your exposure as much as possible. This is particularly important in our bedrooms where EM fields can disrupt our sleep. So, to maximize your sleep, it is recommended you remove your television from the bedroom and get an alarm clock that does not plug in and keep it far from your head when you sleep. You may also want to rearrange your bed so that it is away from electrical outlets.
If you still have problems, it may be worth while to hire someone to evaluate the EM fields in your home. If this seems far fetched to you, ask yourself why almost EVERYONE has a reluctance to live under power lines. Then remember that power lines are not the only thing in your home emitting EM fields.

Strength Training and Joint Pain

Strength Training May Reduce Joint Pain
From Elizabeth Quinn,
Your Guide to Sports Medicine.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Strong Muscles Take the Stress Off Joints
Research published in the Journal of Rheumatology suggests that relief from joint pain is linked to certain simple strength training routines.
In this study individuals with arthritis engaged in a four month-long exercise program consisting of simple weight bearing exercises, such as squats and leg extensions, in their own homes. The exercisers experienced a 43 percent reduction in pain and a 44 percent improvement in physical functioning. The exercisers were able to walk, climb stairs, sit, and stand more easily than their non-exercising counterparts.
The authors comment that exercise is effective because muscles act as shock absorbers for the joints; they are able to spare a person’s joints the impact of their body weight during activity such as walking. The better shape the muscles are in, the better they are able to absorb this shock.
According to the findings, individuals who are self-motivated may be able to manage their arthritis pain with exercise and reduce the pain medication they need. And even though pills help pain and stiffness, they don’t rebuild muscles or protect the joints like exercise can.

_______________Keizer's Comment_______________________

This is not a new concept to Corrective Exercise Specialists but is not often a recommended by many doctors I deal with. In fact, many physicians expressly prohibit weight lifting activities for their clients with joint pain.
I believe that this is largely due to the fact that many trainers simply do not know how to deal with this population and can end up doing more harm than good. I can't count the number of clients I have to had to sort out after injuries caused by another trainer.
Unless one has had specific training in post-rehabilitation, corrective exercise or an advanced Kinisiological approach such as that learned by CHEK Practitioners, joint conditions can be confusing and difficult to work with. Muscle imbalances from under active and overactive muscle groups cascade down the kinetic chain to cause all kinds of different joint dysfunction and pain conditions which are not usually obvious.
So, finding a corrective exercise specialist to assess your condition and write a corrective exercise prescription to address the root problem is essential
Once the initial imbalances are corrected, any good trainer can encourage proper form and prevention of any further exercise-related injury. I would recommend finding a trainer with an ACSM, NASM ACE or comparable certification and experience working with your condition.

Is the Price of Lasting Youth Too High?

I have to admit that I am at a bit of a cross-roads professionally. I had a vision of bringing health and vitality to the masses and have run up against a problem. No, I have a program which is reproducible, effective and comprehensive..in effect, I have busted my hump to learn from the greatest trainers and holistic practitioners in the world so that I can to bring my dream to fruition..I can help people. I even have a team of like-minded, immensely talented, coaches. No, that is not the problem. The problem seems to be that the average person just doesn't want to make the changes necessary to be well.

Yes, you can have a body like mine AND energy AND and sense of well-being..but it takes work and a bit of time. No, I'm not talking about work wasting hours on a treadmill or depriving yourself of calories at every turn. I'm talking about the work it takes mentally to comprehend that SO MUCH of what we do every day is effecting our bodies...almost everything we eat now is garbage, we are stressed to the hilt, sleeping like crap and generally treating our needs and health as afterthoughts in our busy days. This is difficult to hear, every defense mechanism in our brains rails against the idea that what we are doing could actually be CAUSING degeneration and chronic illness that a pill or a cream isn't going to reverse.

Really, it's no so much our fault. Our lifestyles, habits, food supply, and water supply have all changed so drastically over a few short centuries that our slowly evolving bodies simply can not keep up with it. Our systems literally do not recognize so much of the things we eat because they DID NOT exist even 50 years ago!

So do you suppose we are ready to make the changes for better bodies, less disease and more energy? Some are...for those I will pour out every ounce of my knowledge and energy. However, I find these clients hard to come by in the average population.
I find myself straying ever further from the general population and that dream of bringing health to the masses. Instead, an increasing number of people are finding me at a time in their lives when they are ill, desperate, and fully aware that their life needs to change if they are to have a life worth living. Many gifted people at my stage of development work ONLY with these people because it is a gift..they are compliant, appreciative, and make great strides..it gives me a lot of pleasure to help them too.
However, I have this nagging voice in my head that keeps pushing me to make this work more accessible to the average person..to help people eradicate the diet roller coaster that rolls over hundreds of millions of Americans each year...to make Holistic "Sexy". I am committed to finding a way through my clinics or otherwise. There will be a tipping point sometime soon when the AVERAGE person looks at the four rows of fad diet books at Barnes and Noble and scoffs: "WOW..I can't believe anyone still buys those."
Until then, I will spread the word here, enjoy changing lives one at a time, and keep watching for my opportunity to reach the rest of you ...

Holistic Lifestyle Confusion!

This post is dedicated to my holistic lifestyle class from last night (and could provide amazing resources for the rest of you too!).
Now that I have thoroughly confused, confounded and contorted your thinking regarding eating, diets, and strategies for remaining fit and healthy, it's time to breath. We have created a space in your brain where you have started to let go of much of the garbage that has been fed into it by the enormous diet economy of our country. Marketing has filled you with garbage and strange thoughts concerning food, lifestyle, supplements...its not your fault but you chose to take the red pill when you stepped into my class and NOW you are deep down the rabbit hole so to speak.
Next week, it gets even crazier but for now sit in that space we created and take this opportunity to re-educate yourself concerning fats, metabolic eating, cholesterol, and calorie deficit diets. Remember that I am not attached to what you conclude, you must make up your mind about what you choose to believe, but I am committed to giving you the information you need to make the right choices for you. Here are a group of links which show the "other side" of the story . The choice is always yours, and there is not real right or wrong but if you are ready to abandon a paradigm which has failed so many (like yourselves), then this is the place to start: My associate Dr. Mercola has a saying on his site it goes like this:

All Truth Goes Through Three Stages

• First it is ridiculed

• Then it is violently opposed

• Finally, it is accepted as self-evident
  

Please note: Dr. Mercola (listed in many links below) takes articles from medical journals and tons of other sources. He has you register to read his articles...DO IT!! You will thank me when you realize that this guy's site is an enormous repository of information..an email address is a small price for access!

Concerning Cholesterol:

Cholesterol is NOT the Cause of Heart Disease by Ron Rosedale, MD

Common Cholesterol Drug Lowers Cholesterol but Not Death Rate

Concerning Dietary Fat:

Moderate-Fat Diet Superior to Low-Fat Diet for Heart Disease

Quality Fat, Not Low-Fat, is the secret to weight loss

Concerning Gluten-Free:

Dangerous Grains

Celiac.com

Concerning Metabolic Eating:

Modify Your Diet so You Feel Terrific

This should get you started. Remember that you are on a journey, take on what you can...the rest will come in it's own time.

The "Pumpod"

I think I have found a tech gadget that I can relate to: The convenience of an i-pod and the know-how of top trainers. Now, several companies have jumped into this format with exercise podcasts and different programs which allow you to customize your exercises before downloading your program onto the ipod. Most show proper biomechanics and feature "famous" trainers in the viewfinder..or hot guys and gals to demonstrate..enough to get me motivated already.

The upside? Convenience and it may help those who would not seek out a trainer to hone their workout skills and avoid injury. If it can get that dude in the corner of the gym to quit doing squats with his knees touching..I'm on board.

The downside? All of these programs treat each client as if they are the same...with predetermined, one-size fits all work outs OR they allow the client to customize their own work outs. The only problem here is that unless a person is able to perform a true exercise assessment on themselves, it is impossible for them to know which exercises or routines will benefit them? The result will probably be guys (with already slumped shoulders and ridiculously out of balance pectorals) choosing even more chest and bicep curls because that is what will make them look good. This is fine until the muscular imbalance reaches a point where it causes shoulder injury or chronic forward head syndrome.

The solution? An assessment by a great exercise coach (yup, I'm pretty partial to CHEK practitioners...with me being one and all..) who can assess postural issues and then CHOOSE your exercises and upload them onto your ipod for you. I think I smell a product idea for my clinic! I am all for anything that makes exercise more accessible and my programs easier to implement! In effect, we can turn this gadget into a tool!