Simple Painless Test for Food Sensitivities

You may be suspecting food sensitivities. You have noticed that certain foods don’t agree with you, or you have symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, constipation, mood changes, sinus issues, or skin rashes like eczema. There may be other symptoms that you do not associate with foods. Here is a quiz you can take for yourself. https://www.foodintol.com/should-you-test-for-food-intolerance

Our modern farming practices, filled with pesticides and chemicals, have altered how the very DNA of many foods so that we are eating proteins and toxins that did exist previously. And they can cause many symptoms that you may not have associated with food sensitivities. But finding out your own sensitivities can make a world of difference. One of my patients visited five different dermatologists seeking treatment for the flaking skin all around her eyes. When I found that her daily yogurt was the cause, the flaking started to clear up in a couple of days.

These symptoms are unsightly and uncomfortable, but there may also be more serious immune problems with food sensitivity for some people. Long term food intolerances tax the immune system and may set up an internal environment that makes you more susceptible to auto-immune diseases, weight gain or a weakened immune system that is unable to handle serious challenges from bacteria and viruses. https://cellsciencesystems.com/education/research/inflammatory-symptoms-immune-system-and-food-intolerance-one-cause-many-symptoms/

Skin prick tests, where different types of food are tested on your skin, may give you false positives, meaning that you are not really allergic to the food tested. Blood work or IgG or IgE testing may not be accurate, either. Many people will show a reaction to a laundry list of foods, which can make dietary planning very difficult and eliminate more foods than are really necessary.

Allergy testing with blood may also produce a long list of foods to avoid, and can be expensive. So, I have been on the lookout for food sensitivity testing that is non-invasive, and reasonably priced. I just performed my own sensitivity test and was impressed with the results.

My test results paralleled the more costly blood testing I did a couple of years ago. And this new test revealed more items that made sense to me. This test also checks for non-food items that may be in your environment, and it checks for nutritional deficiencies. My test results indicated a lack of B12 and, based on what I know about my own digestion, that makes sense to me. B12 can only be absorbed when digestion is strong. You can also test for metal toxicity with this testing.

So, I am very excited to be able to offer this new Food Sensitivity test. If you are trying to lose weight, sleep better, handle digestive issues like gall bladder or intestinal symptoms, or improve skin, this could open some doors to understanding and more precise treatment. Because it is painless, it is easy to test kids. One of my colleagues is having great results helping people lose weight by avoiding the foods they are sensitive to.

It gets better! If you are wondering if you are missing vital nutrients, this test also identifies what vitamins and minerals you need to increase. This can be very important information that is hard to determine without expensive blood work.

And most people in the United States have exposure to toxic metals. If your levels are high, it is a concern because metals cause cellular damage. A program to eliminate metals can be done, giving cells a chance to heal and regenerate.

You can do this test at home, or it can be done in the office. A hair sample is collected and mailed to a lab and results are sent to me. We go over the results, with advice about any dietary changes, or supplements. You can retest down the road to see how those changes are making a difference. You should feel better and see the results, but sometimes changes in the body are occurring silently, and by the time we notice, damage has been done. Remember the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This gives us a peek inside the body in a non-invasive way. All you have to lose is a few strands of hair. And identifying metal toxicity, a food sensitivity, or lack of a nutrient might even help grow more hair if yours is thinning! https://www.verywell.com/allergy-related-causes-of-hair-loss-4060505

Email me at anne@annedunev.com or text to 818-863-6346 if you are interested in ordering the test or have questions. 

Check Your Brain Strain

Using your brain is not like using a muscle. So, you can’t strain it like you can a leg muscle. It does seem true that those who don’t use it seem to lose it! So, if your memory is not what it used to be, what’s up with that?

The brain could be said to be an electronic computer system that gathers data from the nervous system and interfaces and co-acts with the endocrine (hormonal) system to increase or decrease body functions.

Because nerve cells have protective fat membranes, the brain is about 60% fat. And it needs the correct dietary fats to function properly. The fats and oils needed for nerve cell protection are not the fats the brain gets in the average American diet. Trans-fats (think French fries, donuts, and mayonnaise) and Omega 6 fats (corn oil) are associated with inflammation. As Yoda might say, that leads to the dark side; pain, heart disease, Diabetes, risk of stroke, and cognitive decline (as in memory and mental sharpness) such as Alzheimer’s or Dementia. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20329590

In fact, researchers consider Alzheimer’s to be Diabetes Type III. So, when your doctor tells you that your blood work says you are at risk for Diabetes Type II you may also be at risk for other diseases that result from blood sugar dysfunction. In addition to Alzheimer’s, these include stroke, heart disease and possibly cancer. All of these diseases of modern civilization are associated with inflammation caused by our high dietary intake of sugar and carbs and insufficient quantities of the types of fat that regulate blood sugar and provide the brain with the right fat it needs to function properly throughout our life. Vegetarian lifestyles bring further risk to the brain because fats occur in fatty-acid chains, and the longer fatty-acid chain fats from animal fats are more brain protective than plant sources of fats. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15129302   Yes, that means bacon and butter (along with fish oils) are better for the brain than plant oils, although most natural, unrefined sources of fat have nutrient value.

Usually, by the time that we find out there is brain function decline, it may be too late to restore full function. Add to that the risks we take from contact sports and car accidents and recently brain strain has risen to epidemic levels.

I am always looking for true prevention, and I am very happy to let you know that there is now a lab test called BrainSpan to give you a precise measure of your brain health. A blood spot is analyzed for various markers of whether you are getting the correct fats needed for brain health, and if you are eating too many carbs that lead to inflammation. This is also invaluable data if you are trying to lose weight or handle pre- or existing Diabetes.

The second part of the testing is cognitive (memory and perception and processing speed) performed on a tablet or smartphone, to assess your current state of function. I don’t believe we think with our brains, but they do monitor much of our processing and functionality regarding the body. So, keeping the brain healthy will greatly assist the demonstration of our mental ability. Remember how hard it is to think if you are sick or in pain? A great quality of life has so much to do with the keeping the entire body healthy and whole.

To learn more and view a short informational video go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZN0bIkHhsI

I have a very special reason to be concerned about healthy brain function. My dad had a very high IQ and extensive vocabulary from reading thousands of books. But in his later years, he developed dementia, lost his ability to communicate completely, and eventually died of a stroke. There were early signs, but his doctors did not know what was really wrong, nor did they have any effective treatment plan except psychiatric medication. Watching a loved one deteriorate so badly is not something I wish on anyone.

Now there is a way to measure brain health as a baseline, and take any measures needed if there is a risk area. Natural medicine and lifestyle changes can improve test results in 12 weeks.  We can re-measure after a few months, and then on a yearly basis, to ensure long lasting improvement and health. This is a great test for each of us over 40, and a way to test elderly parents for risk, also. And, if your child has any symptoms of cognitive issues, or signs of ADHD, this test will provide helpful information. Kids with food sensitivities can exhibit symptoms when there is nothing physically wrong with their brain. But foods can trigger inflammation that may cause kids to act out.

You don’t need to fear any kind of diagnosis from this test. This is a wellness tool, designed to give you a way to measure your lifestyle choices against the best science on healthy brain aging. Researchers know so much more than your MD or the media. The system is geared towards costly disease-care, not prevention. The science is there, as you can see from the links in this newsletter.

Email me for your kit, or talk to me at your next visit to the office. The test costs $159 for first time testing, and $139 for follow up in six months.

Find out how you are doing, and find out early how to reverse things if there is a problem. We can develop a lifestyle, diet, and supplement program geared exactly to your results.

This test takes the strain our of brain health. You don’t have to worry if your misplacing your car keys is an early sign of Alzheimer’s.  Now you can find out if you will be able to use your noodle when you are dangling grandkids on your knee. Some smart guys figured out how to look beyond the grey matter so we won’t lose our marbles.

My test results are on the way. I’m in this with you.

Springing Into Summer and My Schedule

Springing Into Summer And My Schedule

Memorial Day is just around the corner. Although not the summer solstice, the day with the most daylight hours, it is still the unofficial start of summer. I hope you have wonderful and healthy plans for the Memorial Day weekend and warmer days ahead.

May 30th through 4 June I will be in LA seeing patients, with the exception of Saturday. Please let me know if you would like an appointment at the Toluca Lake Tennis Club, 6711 Forest Lawn Drive, Suite 104. Email, text or call 818-863-6346.

This week I was able to help some football players at an NFL Alumni Golf Classic. It is amazing to me how much beating up some people can take. One handsome former Captain of 2 NFL teams had pins and plates in his neck, and he was still smiling and looking forward to a round of golf.

We all take knocks of one kind or another, and it is so easy these days to reach for a bottle of pain pills. With Oxycontin one of the most abused and dangerous drugs around today, you could easily jump from the frying pan into the fire trying to manage and relieve pain.

More than 194,000 people have died from the overdose of opioid pain relievers. Because of the highly addictive nature of these drugs, mobs and gangs have gotten in on the action, using unethical doctors to prescribe for bogus reasons, and reselling the prescriptions. http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-oxycontin-part2/  More people die from opioid overdose than from automobile accidents, according to the FBI. http://flatheadbeacon.com/2017/02/18/law-enforcement-opioid-addiction-crisis/

And one-third of drug addicts start with prescription medications.

Opioids have a long history in medicine. Derived originally from opium poppies in ancient Mesopotamia 3000 years before Christ, opium was used “recreationally” for centuries before a Swiss-German alchemist made it into pills for pain relief in the 1500’s. In the 1800’s morphine was isolated from opium, concentrating the pain relief elements and morphine products were a mainstay of medicine for years. It was highly addictive and one of the aftereffects of the American Civil War was the number of soldiers who were hooked. Heroin is a synthetic form of morphine, and was touted as safer, but we all know how hollow that promise proved to be. Bayer (the aspirin company) called heroin non-addictive morphine and used it in a cough-suppressant formula.

Oxycodone, another synthetic derivative, was developed after WW II, to help returning soldiers with pain. It has been a source of abuse and problems ever since. Oxycontin, developed by Purdue Pharma, is a time-release form of oxycodone, heralded as ushering in a new era of pain control.

http://www.narconon.org/blog/narconon/two-dangerous-painkillers-which-is-worse-oxycodone-vs-oxycontin/

In 2007, Purdue pled guilty to charges of misleading the public about the dangerous addictive nature of Oxycontin and paid $635 dollars in penalties. https://sobernation.com/the-history-of-opioids-in-america-pain-patients-or-prescription-addictions/

Millions of people are using Oxycontin or Oxycodone for non-medical purposes, and are trapped by the addictive nature of these drugs.

But people who have pain do need relief. In the natural world there are a number of things that can help. Here are a few:

Stop sugar and high carb foods. These cause inflammation, which can aggravate pain. Food allergies and poor digestion can cause pain in other parts of the body, disguising the real problem.

A massage therapist, chiropractor, physical therapist or other practitioner who helps with manipulation of connective tissue may provide relief.  There are tools on the market for home use that may help with release of the fascia or connective tissue. https://www.anatomytrains.com/blog/2015/04/27/foam-rolling-and-self-myofascial-release/

There are some herbal remedies that can help, especially if used long term. Email me and I will be more specific if you have some pain you are trying to handle. Or book an appointment with me and let me know how I can help. Encourage your friends and loved ones to seek non-addictive help. Even drugs like Tylenol have long term harmful effects when taken regularly, and can be deadly when over-dosed. With natural medicine the cure is never worse than the disease.

Warmly;

Anne

Boobs, More or Less

Breasts are one of those things that rarely satisfy their owners. We either have too little, too much, or they are too saggy or the wrong shape, etc.

About 7 Million women have had breast augmentation surgery in the United States. The majority of these ladies live in the Western states and comprise 5-6% of the female population. Other women have had breast lifts, without augmentation. About 40,000 women a year have breast reduction surgery for cosmetic purposes and about 25,000 men a year have breast reduction surgery for “man boobs”.

With so much attention on the size and shape of breasts, we may forget how wonderful the breast is for its biological function of converting the mother’s blood into a sweet milk for nursing, as well as being a nerve center tied to pleasure and arousal. There is no replacement for mother’s milk that we can create in a lab and we don’t yet know all the components that not only feed the baby for growth, but also build the developing immune system.

Because breasts are influenced by hormones, and comprised of fatty tissue, they are susceptible to disease. Keeping breasts healthy is dependent on good thyroid function, hormone balance, and maintaining a body and lymphatic system that is free of toxins that may store in breast tissue and cause mutation in the cells.

Doing a regular general or liver cleanse is a good defense against breast cancer. Thyroids, and therefore breasts, do well with generous levels of the mineral iodine. Taking an iodine supplement is smart. I like Mintran from Standard Process, which contains calcium and magnesium in the correct forms and ratios, along with iodine. I also like Lugol’s liquid Iodine available online, and can be applied topically to belly or leg.

For men or women who wish to reduce breast size, one thing that influences tissue is excess estrogen, which is also a cancer risk. Of course, maintaining a normal weight, and thus avoiding sugar and carbs is a first defense. Eating cruciferous vegetables helps the liver to metabolize and break down excess estrogen. These include cabbage, Kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. Think of the ones that are smelly when cooked! They contain sulfur, which is vital for full liver detoxification processes.

There is a supplement called DIM, which contains the extract from cruciferous vegetables, and is a smart supplement to take. Men needing more testosterone can take it, and women who use estrogen hormone replacement can benefit from DIM. Here is a good source of DIM.

Hormone balance is not just dependent on what and how many hormones you are making, but also what happens to them afterwards. And that is where the marvelous liver comes in. No matter what kind of health or cosmetic issue you are battling, supporting liver health is vital.  Livers process out junk, and they also process out excess things like hormones, so they are no floating around in the body. For more on info on liver detox programs, let me know. Spring is the best detox time.

So, for the Mom’s in our lives, thanks for being the hubs to the family wheels and the anchor points of our lives.  Happy Mother’s Day! For me personally, thanks to my sons for letting me be your mother, because being a Mom is awesome and I wouldn’t have missed it for anything!

Warmly

Anne