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Articles by Bette Dowdell

Browse published articles attributed to Bette Dowdell, with full-archive search.

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Showing 101–140

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

***Facing Down Ebola

I tell you true, this Ebola thing is a mess, and the reactions to it are not promising. Medicine has nothing to offer, so they’re in a panic. Which means the media is beating a very loud drum about death and mayhem marching in shortly. Meanwhile, the President has sent soldiers, trained to defeat the enemy with guns and tanks, into Ebola-stricken lands where, apparently, they’re expected to win the war against a virus. Sayeth the brass, “Training? We don’t need nostinkin’ training!”

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,478 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

The Mercury Contradiction

Did’ja ever get the feeling you’re in Wonderland looking for Alice? Where two plus two doesn’t equal four any more, and too much of what you see offers only puzzlement? For instance, our powers that be outlawed mercury thermometers. Better you shouldn’t know your temperature than risk breaking ...Did’ja ever get the feeling you’re in Wonderland looking for Alice? Where two plus two doesn’t equal four any more, and too much of what you see offers only puzzlement?

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,451 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Do-It-Yourself Brain Damage

Every day of every year, people across the fruited plain engage in do-it-yourself brain damage. Sadly, they have no idea. How can this be? I’m glad you asked. First, some background: Along the bottom of the brain is a small, sort of pancake-shaped thingy called the hypothalamus. And although ...Every day of every year, people across the fruited plain engage in do-it-yourself brain damage. Sadly, they have no idea. How can this be? I’m glad you asked.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,448 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

The Standard of Care Catastrophe

The latest Big Thing in medicine is “Standard of Care.” It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? The name alone makes you believe that no matter what doctor you go to, there’s a Standard of Care ensuring a quality outcome. What a comforting thought. Clever name, that. The sad truth is ...The latest Big Thing in medicine is “Standard of Care.” It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? The name alone makes you believe that no matter what doctor you go to, there’s a Standard of Care ensuring a quality outcome. What a comforting thought.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,440 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

How Good Timing Affects Your Health

Figuring out what we need to do for good health can get pretty complicated, but here are a few, easy-to-implement tips that pay big dividends for not so much effort. • If you’re still trying to lose the Freshman Fifteen after all these years, you’re more likely to get the job done if you start the day with a high-fat breakfast. Scramble eggs in plenty of butter, for instance. Maybe add a small steak. Top it off with a few cups of coffee, and you’re good to go. The fat tells your body all’s well with the world, and it doesn’t have to hoard fat ‘just in case.’ Well, who knew?

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,425 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

***We Are Seriously Doomed

A while back, Dr. Steve Nissen, president of the American College of Cardiology, along with ten other prominent physicians, offered an outstanding proposal that would immeasurably improve medical care in this country. And what is this great idea? Take control of medicine back from Big Pharma, who have all but destroyed it, and let doctors practice medicine with excellence. See, a most admirable idea. So excellent an idea, in fact, that it doesn’t stand a chance. Zip, zero, nada, as they say.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,409 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Is It Endocrine Problems?

Chances that you have endocrine problems are fifty-fifty. It could well be that’s why you feel lower than a snake’s belly. How can that be? How do endocrine problems happen? Let me count the ways. First, let’s look at the pituitary, the master of the endocrine system. The Pituitary Society says 20% of us have pituitary tumors, most of which, thankfully, are benign. As if that’s not bad enough, study in Europe says 25% of us have pituitary tumors.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,408 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

The Cause of Constant Fatigue

I’ve been dealing with an underperforming pituitary gland most of my life–possibly from a seemingly minor head injury when a drunk driver hit my parent’s car during my eleventh month. However it happened, the deal is this: When the pituitary ain’t happy, ain’t ...I’ve been dealing with an underperforming pituitary gland most of my life–possibly from a seemingly minor head injury when a drunk driver hit my parent’s car during my eleventh month.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,396 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

A Shortage of Grownups

Babies show the world what selfish looks like. On a whim, they set up a wail loud enough to wake the dead–or at least it sounds that way at 2:00 a.m. No matter that others may be tired or sick or have to go to work. Babies want what they want when they want it. So stop sniveling. Some ...Babies show the world what selfish looks like. On a whim, they set up a wail loud enough to wake the dead–or at least it sounds that way at 2:00 a.m. No matter that others may be tired or sick or have to go to work. Babies want what they want when they want it. So stop sniveling.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,388 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

One-Diagnosis-Fits-All Medicine

Here’s the scene: You go to the doctor dragging your patooty behind you. Your body got fat, but your hair got thin. Overwhelmed by a whole new definition of tired, you find yourself doing beached whale impressions while life goes to pot. Well, who could cope anyway? For all you know, your brain ...Here’s the scene: You go to the doctor dragging your patooty behind you.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,385 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Job's Comforters

So there you are in the middle of one of life’s train-wrecks–dazed, wounded, wondering what shoe–or bomb–will drop next, and up walks Job’s comforter. You may remember Job from the Bible. A rich, powerful man, a great father and good in every way was Job ...So there you are in the middle of one of life’s train-wrecks–dazed, wounded, wondering what shoe–or bomb–will drop next, and up walks Job’s comforter.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,368 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Coffee: The Health Drink

Conventional wisdom says coffee’s bad. Doctors agree. Magazines second the motion. You can hardly find a kind word about coffee. Which is just a tad bizarre because coffee is a health drink. Since nearly 90% of the U. S. population drinks the stuff, this comes under the heading of good ...Conventional wisdom says coffee’s bad. Doctors agree. Magazines second the motion. You can hardly find a kind word about coffee. Which is just a tad bizarre because coffee is a health drink. Since nearly 90% of the U. S. population drinks the stuff, this comes under the heading of good news.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,354 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Parkinson's Disease Ain't For Sissies

My mom lived with Parkinson’s Disease the last seventeen ears of her life, Let me tell you for sure and for certain that Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is more like scaling Everest than walking in the park. It’s uphill all the way, with no certainty about the about the twists and turns you’ll ...My mom lived with Parkinson’s Disease the last seventeen ears of her life, Let me tell you for sure and for certain that Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is more like scaling Everest than walking in the park.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,347 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Is Your Liver Talking to You?

Liver disease is on the warpath–from sea to shining sea and around the world. If you have endocrine problems, the liver tsunami probably hit you. Perhaps your endo problems whacked the liver. Or maybe vice versa. It’s kind of like a tag team of misery. And since liver problems put a world of hurt on your immune system, I thought I’d let you know some of the symptoms of a liver in trouble.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,345 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

The Sorry Truth About Soy

There’s a huge soy bandwagon roaring down the tracks. It’s everywhere; 60% of prepared foods contain soy. Even some vitamins, too. Can we talk about this? Of course it’s everywhere; it’s the cheapest and easiest crop to grow. Farmers make some money. Food manufacturers ...There’s a huge soy bandwagon roaring down the tracks. It’s everywhere; 60% of prepared foods contain soy. Even some vitamins, too. Can we talk about this?

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,327 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

***The Power of Garlic

Well, now, you probably think I’m talking about the odor, but no. Powerful as it is, the smell of garlic can’t hold a candle to all the wonders this homely herb can do. And garlic’s no newcomer on the block. Back in 3748 B.C., Egyptian slaves went on strike when they didn’t get their ration of garlic–which they believed gave them courage and strength. About 2500 years ago, Hippocrates recommended garlic for infections, wounds, cancer, leprosy and digestive disorders. The Talmud says good things about garlic as well.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,325 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

***Your Connected Body

When it comes to our bodies, everything affects everything because everything's connected. And our endocrine system sits smack dab in the middle of all this connecting that's going on. Here's a quick look at the parts of the endocrine system and what they do (24/7, I might add):

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,323 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Salting Your Way to Energy

So, let’s talk about salt. Poor salt! It pours out its very life to benefit mankind and gets only disdain in return. Well, maybe that’s a little over the top, but salt doesn’t deserve the bad rap it gets. It’s not manna from heaven, but it’s good stuff. Essential to life stuff. Here’s something ...So, let’s talk about salt. Poor salt! It pours out its very life to benefit mankind and gets only disdain in return. Well, maybe that’s a little over the top, but salt doesn’t deserve the bad rap it gets. It’s not manna from heaven, but it’s good stuff. Essential to life stuff.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,323 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

What to Do When Life Dumps Lemons All Over Your Head

We’ve all heard the old saying that goes, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." Now there’s a thought. We surely have to do something with the lemons as they come along. Sucking on lemons takes the enamel right off your teeth, so we don’t want to do that. Letting them ...We’ve all heard the old saying that goes, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." Now there’s a thought. We surely have to do something with the lemons as they come along.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,318 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Earning A Praise And Worship Brown Belt

Pity the poor novice who innocently walks into a ‘with it’ church to worship. They expect to hear a little music, perhaps a reading from the Bible and somebody talking about God. But in the ‘Church of What’s Happnin’ Now,’ these stunned, would-be ...Pity the poor novice who innocently walks into a ‘with it’ church to worship. They expect to hear a little music, perhaps a reading from the Bible and somebody talking about God.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,317 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

***Three More Health-Improving Tips

1. Today's first tip is you should breathe. Well, that sounds pretty obvious, but there's breathing and then there's breathing. Most people, especially those in less than tip-top health, take shallow breaths. And that's part of why they're dragging their patooty day after day. With every breath, their bodies ask, "Is that it? That's all you've got?" People can miss the message, though, because shouting takes energy, so it's more like easy-to-miss quiet pleading.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,314 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Is Your Hand Lotion Doing You In?

The incidence of thyroid disease doubled in the last thirty-or-so years. Auto-immune diseases, which relate to the endocrine system, are skyrocketing. So, too, are diseases of the brain, such as autism, Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer Disease. A significant part of the problem is the dangers ...The incidence of thyroid disease doubled in the last thirty-or-so years. Auto-immune diseases, which relate to the endocrine system, are skyrocketing. So, too, are diseases of the brain, such as autism, Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer Disease.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,309 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

***Thyroid, Metabolism and All That Jazz

Thyroid, Metabolism and All That Jazz Kelly asks, “How can my husband jumpstart his metabolism to lose weight? His TSH is ‘in normal limits’ at 1.1 and his Free T3 is low at 2.3, but his doctor won’t treat him since his TSH is normal.” Well, Kelly, before I launch, let me explain your question to those fortunate enough not to be battling thyroid problems or tests.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,308 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

In Praise of Strong-Willed Children

Cervantes said, "Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." As a matter of fact, a faint heart never won much of anything. But put a little determination and will into that heart, and it can shoot the moon. What you hear, though, is that parents should prefer the faint heart, that is, the passive heart. ...Cervantes said, "Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." As a matter of fact, a faint heart never won much of anything. But put a little determination and will into that heart, and it can shoot the moon.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,305 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

***Body Connections

Quite a few of you responded to the 2014 “What Should Bette Write About” Contest saying you wanted me to continue to write about how the endocrine system works. Well, murder mysteries never go out of style, and neither do the mysteries of the endocrine system. According to studies, 50% of us have endocrine problems of some sort--rarely diagnosed, even more rarely successfully treated, meaning we’re on our own. We can either stay in our misery or learn how to get out of the ditch.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,294 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

The Road to Death Goes through Tolerance

Tolerance. It’s a good thing, a socially desirable thing, isn’t it? What could possibly be wrong with tolerance? I’m so glad you asked. Here’s what’s wrong: The magnificently sold idea of tolerance is, in fact, destroying our highest and best values in life. Twenty-five years ago, had you described our society as it now exists, nobody would have believed that we would ever fall so far.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,281 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

What's the Truth About Cholesterol?

Now that you’ve all been taught that saturated fat is bad because it raises your cholesterol level and gives you heart attacks, give me a few moments to unlea you. Cholesterol is your friend. Your brain, being mostly cholesterol, doesn’t do much of a job when it runs short of the good stuff. Plus, your endocrine system needs ample cholesterol to work. Every endocrine gland–thyroid, adrenals, the works–creates hormones to keep your body keeping on. And they make those hormones from cholesterol.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,281 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

***Three Easy-Peasey Health Tips

You deserve a break today, so let’s talk about some things you can do for your health that don’t require heavy lifting, grunting, panting or any other sort of exhaustion. Some people like extreme exercise, but most don’t. Either way, healthy living shouldn’t feel like punishment. And here are some tips to help. 1. Mom probably hit the “stand up straight” button upon frequent occasion during your youth, and she was right! Well, who knew posture had anything to do with health? Perhaps even Mom didn’t know that part of it.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,273 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Planeturine.com

You know life is not all you hoped it might be when you find yourself spending time at www.planeturine.com. Pray let me tell you a story of staggering to triumph through, over and around adversity. Once upon a time a girl named Bette thought it good to move from Tucson to Phoenix. Bette, you ...You know life is not all you hoped it might be when you find yourself spending time at www.planeturine.com. Pray let me tell you a story of staggering to triumph through, over and around adversity.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,250 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

***A Close Look at a Multi

A doc from Harvard Medical School published some findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association a while back. The two top-notch names like Harvard and AMA aside, you’ll want to know a few things before you start believing all the article said. This study says multivitamins don’t help men prevent heart diseases. Meanwhile, other studies jump up and down, saying “Oh, yes, they do!” I probably don’t need to tell you that both can’t be right. So, let’s have a look-see.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,243 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

***Introducing Your Immune System

As your body’s official Defense Department, the immune system protects against all enemies. Toxins in the air. Viruses and bacteria that get into the body. Everything. And immune system headquarters is smack-dab in the middle of the most interactive, butt-into-everybody-else’s-business system known to man, the endocrine system. Neither, I might add, is a system in the sense of being separate from other systems. In our bodies, everything affects everything else, and we have systems within systems within other systems, all acting and interacting at the same time.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,237 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Learning Pain's Lessons

I talk to pretty much everybody. Starting conversations with strangers is my normal modus operandi. I mean, why stand in a line mute, an island unto myself, when I can have a perfectly lovely conversation with somebody I haven’t yet met? And I don’t talk about the weather. I talk ...I talk to pretty much everybody. Starting conversations with strangers is my normal modus operandi. I mean, why stand in a line mute, an island unto myself, when I can have a perfectly lovely conversation with somebody I haven’t yet met?

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,226 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

The Perfection Myth

You're not perfect. I'm not perfect. Nobody's perfect. Give it up. Nobody likes their nose. Or their knees, for that matter. Everybody finds annoying lumps, bumps and wrinkles, typically invisible to others, in various and sundry locations on their body. And if you have kids, ideas of ...You're not perfect. I'm not perfect. Nobody's perfect. Give it up. Nobody likes their nose. Or their knees, for that matter. Everybody finds annoying lumps, bumps and wrinkles, typically invisible to others, in various and sundry locations on their body.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,204 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

***The Blank Slate of Seeing What Isn’t There

In my articles, The Blank Slate Myth and The Dietitian's Blank Slate, I wrote about the blind spot of seeing only what you want to see so you can do what you want to do. Today, let's talk about the blank slate of doctors. With so many examples and so little time, where do I start to talk about the blank slate of doctors, seeing what isn't there? Or, in other words, continuing to practice what medical school taught them even when it consistently fails to heal.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,180 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

***Medicine’s View of the Immune System

Our thymus gland, located behind our breast bone, leads the immune system into battle against evildoers intending to snatch our health away. So we know where it is and what it does. And that about sums it up for most of us. It seems like we should know more about such a big-time player, but we don't. At least, doctors and patients don't.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,143 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Death by Label

The whole world's in the label business. Every time we turn around, somebody's jamming a label on us. Not those “Hi, My name is” stick-ums, Not any sort of tangible, visible label, in fact, but psychological Post-It® notes. Even early on in life, we’re covered with ...The whole world's in the label business. Every time we turn around, somebody's jamming a label on us. Not those “Hi, My name is” stick-ums, Not any sort of tangible, visible label, in fact, but psychological Post-It® notes.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,122 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

What Vitamins Actually Work?

There’s a lot of to-do going on about natural vitamins having an edge on the synthetics. And, truth to tell, going natural sure sounds good. The way God intended and all. But like with so many things, the devil’s in the details. The major sources of natural vitamin B vitamins are wheat and yeast. Well, if you have candida–a constant conce with thyroid or adrenal problems–you don’t want to throw yeast down the old hatch. Same thing if you have a mold allergy.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,122 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

Emotional Strength Through Muscle Building

It’s a much mourned fact of life that watching exercise videos doesn't build muscles. Couch potatoes who can legitimately boast about six-pack abs don’t exist. Reading bodybuilding books doesn't get the job done, either. Reading can take us on many wondrous journeys of the mind, ...It’s a much mourned fact of life that watching exercise videos doesn't build muscles. Couch potatoes who can legitimately boast about six-pack abs don’t exist.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,108 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

How To Make It Through Life's Train Wrecks

Somehow, despite all our hopes, dreams and efforts, life became a train-wreck. We may or may not have had an inkling of the impending doom. Perhaps we were in denial or maybe completely unaware of what was swirling around just out of sight. We may have seen it coming but didn’t realize its ...Somehow, despite all our hopes, dreams and efforts, life became a train-wreck. We may or may not have had an inkling of the impending doom. Perhaps we were in denial or maybe completely unaware of what was swirling around just out of sight.

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,106 views

By Bette DowdellRecently published1 topic

It's Always About the Timing

So, here’s the situation: We’re thinking about making some changes in life, and we’re wondering how to spot the perfect time to act. Perfect timing means perfect success, right? Here's a news flash. There are no perfect times. There are bad times, good times, even excellent ...So, here’s the situation: We’re thinking about making some changes in life, and we’re wondering how to spot the perfect time to act. Perfect timing means perfect success, right?

Primary topic: Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

Immune System and Immunity Enhancement

1,065 views

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