Berry Good News

February 3, 2013 by

photoA study published in the the American Heart Associations’s journal  Circulation, has revealed that women who consume at least three servings per week of blueberries or strawberries per week have a 30% reduced risk of a heart attack. While it is not new news that berries are good for us, it is good to hear it confirmed (especially at the cost of berries). I like this research for two reasons. One, the subjects were young women (in many studies the subjects were men) and two, the researchers “controlled” for variables such as weight, exercise, family history, blood pressure, caffeine and alcohol intake.

It is believed that the active ingredient in the berries is anthocyanin, the researchers caution that it is not possible to know for sure which of the many components of a blueberry is the one responsible for the good effects. It could be another component, or all of them. So eat whole foods, not dietary supplements !

Other good news: research has indicated that the nutrients in blueberries are fairly well preserved in the freezing process.

Click http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/MyocardialInfarction/36838 for the full story.

 

Filed Under: Acupuncture Milwaukee, Environmental factors and Infertility Tagged With: , ,

YUK

January 1, 2013 by

gatoradeMy patients have heard me say that it is OK to count all liquids when assessing whether they have reached a good intake for the day. HOWEVER, if they walk in with a brightly colored “Power Drink”, they will have points deducted and will  get a mini-lecture.

Drinks such as Powerade and some citrus drinks made by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group contain brominated vegetable oil, which is used to keep the fruit flavor evenly distributed in the drink.  Known as “BVO”, it is also used as a flame retardant, in upholstery fabric, and in children’s products. BVO builds up in our tissues and some human studies have linked high levels to neurological impairment, reduced fertility, thyroid changes, and early puberty.

Approximately 10,000 chemicals are used in prepared foods, and only about 3,000 of them have FDA approval. This is because there is a law allowing the FDA to allow use of a chemical based on data from a company’s own “expert”. Brominated vegetable oil is one of the chemicals that lacks adequate testing and is not approved by the FDA. Europe and Japan have banned it already banned its use. So be your own FDA (Fertility Drug Assessor !) and read the labels of your drinks. And since they also contain artificial coloring and often come in plastic bottles, you should pass on them anyway !

Filed Under: acupuncture infertility male factor, Acupuncture Milwaukee, Environmental factors and Infertility, Fertility Tagged With: , ,

More Evidence that BPA is an Endocrine Disruptor, and May Affect Infertility

September 27, 2012 by

A new study on fetal exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA) completed by Washington State University geneticist Dr. Patricia Hunt, and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has revealed that exposure to this plastic additive can cause denseness in the mammary tissue. Dense mammary tissue has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Although the study was completed on monkeys, and not humans, it exposes yet another issue that may have serious implications on fertility. That is, this is more evidence that BPA disrupts the processes of hormones and the endocrine system.

During your first visit, I will teach you how to eliminate BPA from your life in as many ways as possible, which will help enhance your fertility and increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

To read more about my approach to acupuncture and fertility, click here.

Filed Under: Environmental factors and Infertility Tagged With: