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Browse published articles attributed to Isaac Eliaz, with full-archive search.
The heart is an important muscle, responsible for circulating blood that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the entire body. Since your body needs a constant supply of blood in order to function properly, it is critical to maintain optimal circulation through diet, exercise and supplementation.
Whether you’re talking about a cold or the flu, there are various recommendations for preventing and treating them. If you start early on prevention, you'll likely be among the lucky people who sail through the winter without catching either. By far the best defense is prevention. A strong immune system will prevent a cold or the flu and speed up recovery time if you do in fact get sick.
Happy New Year! The holiday excitement is over and now we can move into the stillness of the winter season. It’s a perfect time to become more introspective, set new goals, and nourish your entire being according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM is rooted in the philosophy that people should live in harmony with their environment – so during winter, this means slowing down in the colder months, deeply nourishing yourself, and keeping warm and well rested in order to plant the seeds for renewed vitality in the new year.
More and more research is showing just how important vitami D is to your overall health. It is vital for the immune system, regulating inflammation, calcium absorption, and decreasing the risk for chronic diseases. It is estimated that 70 percent of the U.S. population is deficient in vitami D.
In today’s ever health-conscious world, the Raw Food Movement is on the rise, gaining new devotees as well as critics.
Even though we are well into spring, some of us may still be experiencing the winter blues, while for others, fighting off depression remains an uphill battle. That’s why I was struck by a December 2009 preliminary study in the American journal of Clinical Nutrition, which found that regular consumption of a popular tea may be able to cut your risk of depression nearly in half.
In a new important research study out of the UK, scientists found that Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) of the correct molecular weight interrupts deadly kidney fibrosis by binding to and blocking galectin-3 molecules. By disabling the galectin-3 molecules, MCP decreased the effects of inflammation and fibrosis in a kidney injury model. New uses for MCP
Americans are overweight. It’s not just what we eat, but how we eat that contributes to the obesity epidemic.
As the nuclear crisis escalates in Japan, people across the world but particularly in the US are asking what they can do to protect themselves from exposure to nuclear radiation fallout. Self-medicating with ongoing high doses of potassium iodine is strongly discouraged because of the negative health effects that large doses of this supplement can have on thyroid and overall health. While potassium iodine is useful in the prevention of thyroid cancer from radioactive iodine exposure, high doses are only necessary if there is an imminent threat of acute exposure.
With all of the stresses of today’s modern world, depression is unfortunately becoming a common household word for many people in this country and abroad. During the cold winter months, many also struggle with seasonal depression or “winter blues,” known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Depression can be caused by any number of factors, such as chronic stress, inactivity, hormone or neurotransmitter imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, medication side effects, chronic inflammation, or lack of adequate sunshine exposure, among others.
When practiced regularly, meditation can promote physical, psychological and spiritual well-being. Many Westerners use meditation as a way of improving overall health, and to improve issues ranging from cardiovascular disease, inflammation and immune activity, to pain, anxiety, depression, and mental imbalances. Here’s how meditation can help you:
Your cells are your foundation for health. If your cells begin behaving or functioning abnormally, your foundation will begin to crumble, leaving you vulnerable to a wide range of health problems. The body is incredibly resilient and efficient, but over time, a poor diet and lifestyle may weaken the health and vitality of your cells. The food you eat is also the food your cells consume, so by eating nutrient-dense food, you provide your cells with the support they need to keep your entire body healthy.
There are dozens of heavy metals that are common in our environment and diet, including mercury, lead, cadmium, aluminum, and others. Significant exposure can cause acute or chronic toxicity and can lead to numerous serious health problems such as cognitive and central nervous dysfunction, energy deficiency, and damage to vital organs. Over time, exposure can result in systemic, muscular and neurological degenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis among others.
Pomegranates are an ancient Mediterranean fruit which have recently been recognized as one of the many "new" super foods offering a myriad of health benefits. Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants, which are natural compounds that protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
A recent study from Harvard University shows the health benefits of tai chi, especially for those with heart conditions that prevent them from engaging in rigorous physical exercise.
The holidays are over and we are now deep into the winter season. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the winter is about conservation of energy, efficiency and slowing down our pace in concert with nature. As nature slows down and everything grows slower or stops, the potential for new growth in the spring is already taking place. A beautiful place to see this is inside a beehive. While the bees are dormant and less active, the queen bee is already laying drone eggs.
Herbal ingredients and natural nutrients are often capable of supporting different functions within the body, and current research is showing that a certain kind of honey may be useful in fighting drug-resistant germs.
Spring is here, and along with all the natural beauty of this season comes another common component: spring allergies. One of our readers asked a question about the development of allergies during menopause, any time of year. This is a complex area with many possible connecting threads.
Many of us, especially women, are deficient in calcium and magnesium. In fact, having a magnesium deficiency actually decreases the amount of calcium in your body! That’s because magnesium is necessary for calcium absorption. Supplementing with calcium won’t drastically improve your calcium levels if you don’t have adequate magnesium levels. So what is magnesium, and why is it so important?
Vitamin K is one of those vitamins that you do not seem to hear a lot about in the media or in the doctor’s office. So what is vitami K and why should you care about it?
The use of bio-identical hormone therapy is becoming more popular with the increasing awareness of its potential benefits in the aging population. There is an intense interest in finding ways to make this therapy as safe as possible, and an exciting avenue for this is looking at how hormones are metabolized.
We tend to think of ourselves as highly independent creatures that interact with others in our environment. But some very interesting new research puts another twist on our self image. As it turns out, the “lowly bacteria,” may turn out to have more “say” in who we are than we would like to believe. “Microbiome” is the new term used to describe the complex communities of bacteria and other organisms which live in our bodies, and this new area of research is revolutionizing the way we think of ourselves and our health.
Of all the recommended strategies for fighting disease and promoting overall health and well being, few are as critical and profound as the practice of healthy eating. Healthy eating is a lifelong process of nourishing our bodies, minds and spirits. It is not about depriving ourselves completely of foods that we enjoy, because even when a specific medical condition dictates such restriction, there are a number of healthier alte atives to many of our favorite foods that are available on the market today.
Following an organic, whole foods-based diet that contains a variety of fresh vegetables is essential for maintaining optimal health. Vegetables have significant phytochemical (plant nutrient and antioxidant) profiles and are many are rich in fiber, which contribute to gastrointestinal health as well as the detoxification of toxins and heavy metals. While it is important to include these nutrient-rich staples in your diet, some vegetables may actually feed your body with another element that you might not be aware of – sugar.
Cardiovascular disease is a growing epidemic in this country. Estimated costs of treating heart disease in the United States will increase by approximately 545 billion dollars over the next two decades.
To successfully treat breast cancer therapies must be designed individually and strategically in order to outsmart the disease and restore a patient’s health. The problem is that many treatments are so invasive and aggressive that they can destroy the health of the patient along with the disease. However, new developments in breast cancer treatment are showing promise as less invasive options that can help a patient fight cancer and protect the integrity of their health at the same time. New targeted radiation therapies kill cancer cells and protect healthy tissuer
Acupressure is an ancient healing art that relies upon the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) concept of energy meridians in the body, and is the practice of applying pressure to specific points of the body along these meridians. Acupressure achieves the same goal as acupuncture, which is to open up blocked or compromised energy pathways within the body, but they differ in that acupressure does not use needles. The TCM philosophy behind acupressure and acupuncture is that we all have energy meridians, or internal lines, that guide the flow of energy within the body.
The iceberg has melted in the medical world as scientists begin to unlock the mysteries of our genetic codes. The old way of thinking – that you are destined to experience a particular disease or condition because it “runs in your family” – is now an outmoded view of how the body works. Genetics certainly play a part in determining all sorts of characteristics and tendencies, but the new findings in the emerging field of “epigenetics” offer a far more hopeful and truly exciting message for us all.
Diet is one of the single most important factors in health and healing. The Western diet places heavy emphasis on concentrated animal proteins and processed, grain-derived carbohydrates, which have a relatively low nutritional value. This way of eating is sometimes referred to as the Standard American Diet (SAD), and produces a chronic low-grade, overly-acid state in the body, according to many well-documented studies.
As an integrative physician, some of the most important recommendations I make for my patients are centered around healthy eating habits. But what about healthy cooking? The right cooking techniques which increase nutrient availability are certainly an important part of a healthy diet, but many people don’t consider the fact that some cooking methods also increase the presence of toxins in your food as well.
What you eat can drastically affect how you sleep, so in order to get a good night’s rest, it is essential to choose foods that calm your mind and body rather than those that stimulate you. Certain types of foods will naturally promote rest and relaxation, particularly those that contain tryptophan – the amino acid that the body uses to make serotonin, the neurotransmitter that slows nerve activity within your brain. Tryptophanr
The Power of “Cortical Folding” aka “Gyrification” In terms of brain health, what exactly is “cortical folding” or “gyrification” and how does it increase your mental capacity? These questions may seem to address complex issues best left to neuroscience, except for one simple practice that directly relates to them: meditation. Researchers have been studying the effects of meditation on the brain for decades, and have come to some important conclusions that may offer further motivation and inspiration for regular—and certainly for aspiring—practitioners of this time-honored healing art.
Accurate breast imaging technologies have been a hot political issue in the world of medicine for the last decade. With the re-evaluation of the effectiveness of mammograms by the American Cancer Society in 2009, experts have begun to debate whether mammography is indeed a flawed technology, providing less than accurate diagnostic information in many cases. In addition, annual mammograms subject the patient to damaging levels of radiation and often steep health care bills.
A non-toxic botanical formula controls aggressive human prostate tumors in mice, according to a peer-reviewed study in The International journal of Oncology. Researchers at Indiana University, Methodist Research Institute, revealed that this formula significantly suppresses tumor growth in aggressive, hormone-refractory (androgen-independent) human prostate cancer cells. This study is a milestone in the research of this formula, demonstrating its safety and effectiveness in treating human prostate cancer in an animal model.
Sea vegetables are not common staples in the Standard American Diet, but they have been enjoyed for thousands of years in the Asian diet. Whether sea vegetables are brown, green, purple or red, they all contain a number of beneficial nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, B complex, including B12, as well as calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and trace minerals. Some sea veggies even provide protein, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.
Spring is finally here, and along with the gorgeous weather comes pollen. Many allergy sufferers know all too well the symptoms of hay fever, caused by pollen released from budding trees and plants. The airbo e pollen is easily inhaled through the nose and mouth, and for sensitive people, it can cause a series of miserable symptoms, such as itchy watery eyes, sneezing and a scratchy throat.
The informatio I am about to share with you represents one of the biggest medical breakthroughs in decades and one that can save your life. It is the direct involvement of a molecule called Galectin-3 in chronic and life-threatening diseases, and how to control it using all natural Modified Citrus Pectin. Galectin-3 can be referred to as a “rogue” molecule in the body, as it is now proven to be a major cause of nearly every chronic disease.
While your body is designed to defend against a host of environmental invaders, it cannot completely withstand the adverse effects of poor diet, chronic stress and toxic build-up. These common factors can contribute to a group of serious health epidemics including autoimmune (AI) disease, which is rising to the top of the list.
There are five prevalent toxins in our environment that many of us now carry in our bodies. These five chemicals are possibly linked to certain illnesses, developmental problems, and behavioral problems. They are: bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates, PFOA, formaldehyde, and PDBEs.
If spending even a half-hour at the gym after a long day just sounds too unbearable, you may be in luck. Exercising may not be the golden ticket to staying slim after all. We all know that one person who just never seems to gain much weight, regardless of what they eat or physical activity. Some credit genetics, but Dr. James Levine, a researcher at the Mayo Clinic, wanted to better understand why some people never struggle with obesity even though they consume the same amount of calories as those who do gain weight.
Many health and beauty products boast using antioxidants to fight free radicals. But just what are free radicals and why are antioxidants so important for maintaining your health? Free radicals are unstable molecules that occur in the body from normal body processes as well as from exposure to toxins. Antioxidants are substances that lessen or neutralize these free radicals. In order to fully understand how antioxidants work, you need to know how normal molecules become free radicals.
What is Integrative Medicine and how does it compare to Biomedicine? Integrative Medicine and Biomedicine are both relatively new terms within the field of health and healing; however, Biomedicine appears to be a more recently evolved term, used loosely to describe medical doctors who take nutritional and even naturopathic approaches to treating patients.
Inflammation is your body's natural response to threats from germs, harmful toxins, environmental pollutants, injury and stress, and others. The process involves immune, vascular, and cellular biochemical reactions which work to remove the offenders and protect tissues from damage. Symptoms of inflammation are usually characterized by redness, swelling, pain, and stiffness, but sometimes, the effects do not manifest outwardly until there has been significant damage.
To understand how to achieve good metabolic health, it is important to understand the hormones that influence your metabolism, which include insulin, ghrelin and leptin. While insulin is made in the pancreas and allows cells to use glucose from the bloodstream for energy, ghrelin is made primarily from stomach cells and makes you feel hungry. Leptin, which is made in stored fat tissues, sends the message that you are full and prevents you from overeating. All three of these vital hormones work synergistically to create either a balanced or chaotic metabolism. Hormonesr
Timing is everything. Time is of the essence. Perfect timing. Humanity’s captivation by temporal reality goes much deeper than the unifying framework of schedules, calendars, rituals and histories –it goes straight to our DNA. We live in a universe of cycles, nature’s clockwork, shaping and directing us since the literal “dawn of time.”
I recently gave a keynote presentation on Galectin-3 as a breakthrough biomarker for numerous life-threatening diseases, and shared new research on the critical role of Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) as the foremost Galectin-3 blocker. My presentation was given to more than 1,000 physicians, health practitioners and scientists during the 19th Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine and Regenerative Biomedical Technologies (A4M). The conference was held from December 8-10 in Las Vegas, where more than 80 world-renowned experts presented key clinical findings in human aging intervention.
It is common knowledge that healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables contain certain nutrients that promote good health -- namely antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are essential to the body. However, once these compounds enter the body and become digested, do they still possess the same healthful qualities? Do they still perform the desired action to create a positive result?
You may have noticed an increasing number of stories in health news recently about wheat, gluten, and digestive disorders. Many are claiming that wheat is bad for us. But how can this be?
I recently attended Medical Week in Baden-Baden, Germany, where I presented the principles of integrative medicine and the latest research on the role of Modified Citrus Pectin in the treatment of cancer. Medical Week is Europe’s biggest medical congress for complementary medicine. The main message I shared with my audience is that integrative medicine and integrative oncology is first about the patient and then about the disease. It’s understanding both and integrating them that allows for profound healing to take place.
According to the CDC, a coronary event occurs in the United States every 25 seconds. This sobering statistic is indicative of the unhealthy state of American hearts, both for men and women. Becoming aware of what you can do to maintain and promote a healthy cardiovascular system is the first step to proactively caring for your heart health.