Health Match Body Systems

Winnepeg University bans plastic bottled water

admin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:10:08 +0000

News Release

Water: Not For Sale

UWinnipeg to be first university in Canada to ban plastic water bottles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2009

photo by: Boris Minkevich/Winnipeg Free Press. Reproduced with permission. Students Vinay Iyer and Stephanie Chartrand.

WINNIPEG, MB – The University of Winnipeg is listening to its student body, which voted to ban the sale of plastic water bottles last week. The ban will be phased in over the coming months, making UWinnipeg the first university in Canada to adopt the eco-friendly policy.

Approximately 38,400 plastic water bottles are currently sold in the cafeterias and vending machines on UWinnipeg campus annually. Students will also be encouraged to refrain from bringing retail, disposable bottles on campus and to switch instead to reusable bottles. To encourage this practice, The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association will partner with UWinnipeg to provide all first year, incoming students with reusable bottles for free as part of their orientation package.

Last week, during student elections, The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association held a referendum on campus asking students if they would support the elimination of plastic water bottles. Almost three quarters, or 74.8 per cent, of those who voted said, “Yes”.

Water security

“There is a growing awareness internationally, one that is increasingly embraced by the next generation, that water security is a basic human right,” said UWinnipeg President & Vice-Chancellor Lloyd Axworthy. “We are committed to a comprehensive Sustainability Management System at The University of Winnipeg, unique among Canadian universities, and the initiative shown by our students to reduce needless plastics on campus is consistent with that policy. We are proud to support this student-led initiative.”

The water-bottle ban builds on other important green initiatives at UWinnipeg including the campus-wide composting program introduced in August 2008. Together with its recycling program, UWinnipeg is now diverting over 70% of materials that would be lost to landfill as “waste”.

“While plastic bottles are not environmentally sustainable, they also undermine the quality of public water,” said Vinay Iyer, University of Winnipeg Students’ Association President. “We encourage our students to drink safe and free public drinking water as an alternative to expensive bottled water.”

In 2005, President and Vice-Chancellor Lloyd Axworthy committed to a comprehensive Sustainability Management System for The University of Winnipeg, the first of its kind in Canada in a university setting. A commitment was also made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the short-term goal of making The University Kyoto Protocol compliant, and the long-term objective of achieving zero net emissions.

As evidence of the importance of sustainability and to raise the profile on campus, UWinnipeg recently became the first university in Canada to place sustainability at the executive table by adding responsibility for this initiative to one of its Vice-President positions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Diane Poulin, Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, C: 204.293.1167, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca

The Glycemic Index of Carbs

admin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:21:05 +0000

Knowing the glycemic response of food is just as important as knowing its micronutrient content, its caloric value and its acid to alkaline ratio. Successful body composition management relies on this knowledge, and for athletes, it is crucial to performance.In many ways, food is like a drug. It is composed of chemicals, albeit natural chemicals, which influence hormone responses, neurotransmitter activity and in fact, the entire biochemistry of the body. Carbohydrates for example, represent a potential fuel source. But long before they’re converted into ATP or stuffed into fat cells (after conversion into fatty acids) when over-consumed, they must go through a complex digestive process, find their way into the blood stream, swim up river to the liver and then connect with insulin.

The fiber and chlorophyll content of carbohydrates makes them unique, but even more interesting is the fact that although they are advocated as the primary calorie source in the western diet, they possess no known minimum essential value (we’re not talking about the vitamins and minerals they contain). In other words, if you eliminate all the carbohydrate foods (sugar, flour, plant starches & fruit) from your diet forever, you will not die or demonstrate any symptoms related to any known disease, although you may experience some fatigue, depending on your activity level and whether or not you are addicted to refined sugars or bread. Keep in mind that although fiber has proven health value, no research council yet has discovered a minimum requirement for it either.

The human body can make glucose (blood sugar) from other raw materials present in the body without ever receiving it directly from dietary sources. Just pickup any textbook on human physiology or nutritional biochemistry and read it for yourself. Through a process called gluconeogenesis, our bodies can convert the carbon skeletons of amino acids, glycerol, pyruvate and lactate into glucose. Glucose also combines with amino acids to form structural components known as mucopolysaccarides which are crucial to joint and membrane function.

We need dietary fat to supply fatty acids and we need dietary protein to supply amino acids. These macronutrients we cannot live without. This explains how hunting societies have survived without any plant life for extended periods of time, especially the Inuit and the Greenland Eskimo, who traditionally consumed walrus, seal and fish exclusively for months on end (eaten raw or sun-dried) without symptoms of deficiency.

In the absolute sense, we need 2 essential fatty acids, 8 essential amino acids, about 22 minerals and approximately 13 vitamins. All of these can be obtained without eating carbohydrates. And we do require calories for fuel and energy. So where do carbs fit in? After all, the main function of carbohydrates is to serve as an energy fuel, particularly during exercise.

My premise is not to discourage the consumption of carbohydrates such as organic green leafy vegetables, organic multi-colored vegetables, moderate quantities of starch (yams, squash, lentils, legumes) and organic fresh fruit. I do however, advocate a standard which avoids and/or minimizes the use of carbohydrates known to be destructive to health and human performance, such as muffins, buns, bagels, bread and pasta (made from refined, bleached and/or rancid grains & flour), commercial breakfast cereals, sucrose, fructose, corn syrup, French fries, potato chips, etc… Besides quality, I’m also concerned with the amount of carbohydrates each individual consumes, as even “natural carbs” concentrated in naturally occurring sugars and low in water volume (like brown rice, beans and squash) can be easily over consumed to the point of obesity, especially if one is inactive.

What is a Carbohydrate?

Carbohydrates are composed of carbon and water. Classified as one of three primary macronutrients (fats, carbs and protein), atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen combine to form sugar molecules known as monosaccharides. More than 200 monosaccharides or simple sugars have been identified in nature, the most common of which is glucose (dextrose) or blood sugar. Fructose, or fruit sugar, is the sweetest of the simple sugars.

When two monosaccharides join together, they form a disaccharide or a double sugar. Lactose, composed of glucose and galactose, is commonly known as milk sugar. Maltose or malt sugar is present in beer and cereals. It is composed of two glucose molecules joined together. Sucrose is common table sugar, composed of glucose and fructose. Known also as “white death” in its refined form, it is highly addictive and consumed at an estimated national average of 33 teaspoons per day per person. I think its vernacular name is appropriate.

Complex carbohydrates are technically known as oligo or polysaccharides. These carbs contain at least 3 sugar molecules linked together, but more often they contain thousands. Starch and fiber are two common forms of plant polysaccharides. Animal flesh contains no fiber. Fiber is basically a complex form of carbohydrate which resists digestion in the human gut. It passes through our digestive system in two basic forms, soluble and insoluble. Research concerned with gastrointestinal health and medicine demonstrates a very important relationship between intestinal flora, gut bacteria and fiber. When fiber is broken down in the gut through bacterial fermentation, a special metabolite called butyric acid is formed, which influences immune function and even gene expression.

Maltodextrin is a complex carb derived from corn and grain starch. Known also as a glucose polymer, maltodextrin is common to many sport nutrition powders and drinks. It has a very high glycemic index (100) so caution should be applied to its use and timing, especially if you are diabetic, hyperglycemic, hypoglycemic or hyperinsulinemic. It’s best to use maltodextrin in relation to physical exercise, like during or after a workout, practice or game, when the demand for carbohydrate replenishment is high.

Glycogen is an animal polysaccharide. It’s kind of like a potato starch. Glycogen is stored in our muscles and liver, and is a major source of carbohydrate energy (glucose) during intense exercise. After we whittle our way through the cell’s small supply of stored ATP and creatine phosphate, glycogen comes to the rescue. It is synthesized from the glucose in our blood, which comes directly from eating carbohydrates, or as mentioned, from endogenous (internal) supplies of glycerol and amino acids.

If the diet is totally carb-free, as observed in some hunter/gathering groups or in the design of a pre-competition bodybuilding diet, glucose can be obtained from the breakdown of protein and the glycerol portion of fat. Eventually we reach a “ketogenic” state. As the body burns fat as a fuel source, ketone bodies accumulate which can lead to acidosis, depending on the quality and form of fatty acids present in the body. A constant glucose level within a narrow range is important, since glucose is the primary energy source for the nervous system and the brain.

All dietary carbohydrates are not equal, as their rate of digestion and absorption varies. Simple sugars, other than fructose, tend to enter the bloodstream quickly, causing a sharp rise in blood-sugar. This produces an elevated insulin response. Complex, long-chain and fiber-rich carbohydrates enter the bloodstream more slowly. A moderate rise in blood sugar occurs, causing a moderate insulin response. Both responses are favorable, but with athletic performance in mind, timing is crucial. Athletes should ingest low-glycemic carbs prior to training and high-glycemic carbs for 2-4 hours after. Once carbohydrate (glycogen) stores are restored, one should then return to low-glycemic carbs combined with healthy fats and high-quality undenatured protein.

The Glycemic Index

The glycemic index of carbohydrates was developed initially for diabetics. Knowing the effect of food on blood sugar is important for monitoring a diabetics glucose levels. Foods that lead to a slow increase in blood glucose have a low glycemic index. Those that induce a rapid rise in blood sugar have a high glycemic index.

The glycemic index measures the extent to which blood glucose increases after eating a 50g portion of carbohydrate. This increase is then compared to glucose, which is given the value of 100. Knowing the glycemic index of different fruits, vegetables and starchy foods is important because a rapid rise in insulin, except after a workout, can ruin your fat-reducing objectives, increase serum cholesterol levels, encourage the onset of fatigue, intensify joint inflammation and set you up for hyperinsulinemia. Athletes need blood sugar stability to perform well. We all do.

Carrots, white potatoes, bananas, bread, rice cakes and white rice cause a rapid rise and fall in blood-sugar. These foods should be avoided before you workout. Pre-workout meals should consist of foods that have a low glycemic index (under 50), such as slow-cooked oats, grapefruits, green apples, cherries and plums, or a yam/protein combination.

Glycemic Index of Selected Whole Foods

Oatmeal	55
Whole-grain pasta	45
Wild rice	55
Baked potato	95
Carrots	85
Yams	50
Kidney beans	30
Spinach	15
Pineapple	65
Grapefruit	25
Yogurt, plain, no sugar	15
Honey	75

You can reduce the glycemic response of food by combining it with an essential fat or a high quality protein, both of which have low glycemic indexes. Fats delay the gastric-emptying time of carbohydrates. This is why I add 2 scoops of Whey Protein Isolate and and some essential fatty acids- BiOmega, with my morning freshly squeezed grapefruit juice a couple hours before training. Whole grapefruits have a glycemic index of about 25, the juice about 35. Juicing removes most of the fiber, but because grapefruit and orange juice contain mostly fructose, they still have a low glycemic effect.

I prefer grapefruits because of their “zesty” effect early in the morning, and because they also contain HMB, naringenin (which extends the thermogenic effects of ephedrine and synephrine) and good quantities of the carotenoid lutein. Grapefruit juice is alkaline forming, but only when freshly squeezed and consumed raw without pasteurization. The Colgan Institute advocates grapefruit juice mixed with grape juice (50:50) as an ideal medium for enhancing the uptake of creatine monohydrate. Grapefruit juice contains an enzyme that reduces stomach acidity.

Ideally, each one of your six meals per day should consist of the three macronutrients, the quantity of which is modified according to your lean body mass, the frequency and intensity of your workouts and your metabolic rate. After working out, when your metabolic window of opportunity is wide open, indulge yourself with 50-100g of a high glycemic carb matrix, 2-5g of creatine monohydrate, 2-5g of L-glutamine and up to 25% of your total daily requirement of high quality protein, all in a blended liquid slurry.

This approach will encourage glycogen replenishment which 1) aids recovery from exercise 2) dampens cortisol activity, which protects your lean mass, muscle base and immune system from erosion and 3) enhances the IGF-1, testosterone, insulin and growth hormone rectangle. Eat well and prosper!

For a comprehensive list which details the glycemic index of a great variety of foods check out WWW.MENDOSA.COM/GILISTS.HTM

Are you Chronically Dehydrated?

admin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:04:55 +0000

Phillip Day | Food Matters by Phillip Day
Investigative Journalist & Founder of “The Campaign For Truth In Medicine”
As Featured in Food Matters

“Chronic pains of the body which cannot easily be explained as injury or infection, should first and foremost be interpreted as signals of chronic water shortage in the area where the pain is registered. These pain signals should first be considered and excluded as primary indicators for dehydration of the body before any other complicated procedures are forced on the patient.” - Dr F Batmanghelidj

The human body is a bio-electrical water machine that requires a quart a day for every 50 lbs of body weight. The blood alone is made up of a large percentage of watery serum. The lymph fluids which transport waste and nutrients, comprising four times the volume of blood in the body, are made from the water we consume. Every cell that makes us who we are literally owes its life to an adequate supply of fresh, clean water. When the body does not receive a constant, reliable supply of water, it has to ration what is available and cut back on certain functions to make the supply go round. Essential systems like the brain are prioritized; others are impaired or cut back until the brain has decided a reliable source of water has been garnered.

Here’s the rub. Most citizens have become chronically and dangerously dehydrated (especially the elderly), since we decided water was too bland to drink and ignored it in favor of tea, coffee, beer, wine, addictive sodas, flavored water and other chemical-laced water alternatives. A disastrous and dangerous move for the body and society’s health in general, to be sure, compounded further since most doctors today cannot readily identify the many water-deficient diseases and associated pains. Thus the underlying dehydration process continues to wreak its havoc while the inevitable drugs given will switch off the warning signals (symptoms).

Consider the following conditions:

Heartburn, arthritis, lupus, asthma, ‘high cholesterol’, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer formation, hot flushes and menstrual problems, obesity, allergies, bulimia, chronic fatigue syndrome, ME, angina, lower back pain, gout, kidney stones, skin disorders, diabetes, fungal/yeast overgrowths, multiple sclerosis, allergies, migraine headaches, general aches and pains, morning sickness, depression, heavy/burdensome periods, colitis, dyspepsia, peptic ulcers…

Are all of these conditions linked to a chronic state of dehydration?

World-renowned water expert Dr Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, in his latest bestseller, Water and Salt - Your Healers From Within, maintains that the above conditions are the body’s many cries for water, complaints dramatically improved with a consistent and long-term intake of the fresh, clean water. Dr Batman’s timely work has helped thousands quash long-term health problems effortlessly and inexpensively. He writes:

“The report of my having successfully treated with water more than three thousand people with symptoms and clinical signs of peptic ulcer disease was published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology in June 1983. I came away from that experience with the understanding that the people I treated were thirsty, and I uncovered the phenomenon that ‘pain’ in the body indicates thirst, even though the condition is classified as a disease.”

Water is used by the body for digestion, detoxifying cells, watering the lungs, lubricating joints, keeping the body alkalized and a host of cleaning duties. Many warning signals (’symptoms’) arise out of the body’s inability to neutralize or rid itself of acid, a common enough complaint given the number of antacids sold around the world each day.

‘I drink coffee, tea, diet sodas, beer and a host of other liquids. They contain water, don’t they?’

This is a common and dangerous misconception. Many of today’s designer drinks are diuretic in their effect (water-expelling) because their mostly acidic compositions require the body to give up water and alkalizing minerals to eliminate their harmful residues. Diet sodas especially are harmful in that they require large amounts of body-water to neutralize the phosphoric acid component (2.8 pH). Cells that started off healthy and ‘plum-like’ shrivel to prunes as water, the stuff of life, is progressively denied them. The sick in our hospitals are fed the sodas, tea and coffee they ask for in woeful ignorance of the damage wrought to the micro cell-world within them.

Batmanghelidj’s extraordinary work should rightly be considered by a mainstream medical community ever fixated on the drug cure.

Below is a summary of body functions and that rely on an adequate intake of water:

Brain function: The brain comprises 2% of the body’s total weight, yet receives 15-20% of the blood supply, mostly comprised of water. Dehydration will affect cognitive ability drastically, and, through histamine’s action, can create depressive states (many anti-depressant medications are anti-histamines).

Bone function: Bones require plentiful supplies of water. 75% of the weight of the upper body, for instance, is supported by the water core contained within the fifth lumbar disc, the remaining 25% by muscle fibers around the spine.

Nerve function: Microstreams exist along the length of nerves which transport nutrients and conduct energy along microtubules to the synapses to transmit messages. Dehydration disrupts proper nerve function, resulting in the sensation of pain.

Hydrolysis: Water, far from being an inert solvent, is intricately involved in the body’s water-dependent chemical reactions. Lack of water means incomplete or faulty metabolic processes, with obvious implications for continued health and well-being. Proteins and enzymes, for instance, do not function as well in acidic solutions of higher viscosity (stickiness) where the body is dehydrated.

Cellular energy: As water is drawn through the cell membrane, its osmotic flow generates a voltage gradient which can be used in the manufacture of ATP and GTP energy. Dehydration will obviously affect the proper functioning of cells and even kill them.

Histamine: This neurotransmitter plays a major role in activating systems which encourage water intake when dehydration is detected. Functions in the body which consume large quantities of water are cut back, namely the bronchial tubes constricted to cut down on water use in the lungs; increased peristalsis in the bowels to wring more water out of fecal material, and so on. Other signs of histamine’s activity, namely allergies, asthma, depression and chronic pains, are interpreted by the physician as ‘disease’ and treated with anti-histamines, pain-killers (analgesics), etc. Thus the signals of thirst are turned off and the dehydration state continues unabated.

Dyspepsia (heartburn/reflux): Over time, this can lead to ulceration and even cancer. Dr Batmanghelidj recommends that these conditions - also gastritis and duodenitis - be treated with water alone as they are one of the body’s major thirst signals. Arrested in his native Iran by the Revolutionary Council during the troubles of the late 1970’s, Dr B was confined to Evin prison, Tehran, during which time he successfully treated with water alone over three thousand people complaining of dyspeptic pain and associated symptoms.

Digestion: Requires plentiful supplies of water. The stomach relies on mucus lining the walls to shield it from the effects of the stomach’s hydrochloric acid. A bicarbonate solution is produced from the cells in the lining which neutralizes any acid attempting to break through the mucus. Water is needed to maintain this effective defense system. Too little water, and the mucus barrier is ineffectual, the acid will penetrate and will lead to pain. Ideally, water should be consumed half an hour before a meal, in time to anticipate the production of digestive acid from glands in the stomach wall.

Ulcers: Often located at the valve between the stomach and duodenum. Said to be caused by curved bacteria known as helicobacters. Yet many people have helicobacters in their small intestine, yet not all of them suffer from ulcers. Histamine-producing nerves are located at this site, which monitor the through-put of acidic food chyme from the stomach into the intestine. Histamine has growth-hormone effects on these micro-organisms, resulting in small intestine bacterial overgrowths (SIBOs). Once again, an adequate regime of water intake will allow all the functions relating to digestion to normalize. Prolonged water intake should therefore be considered before more drastic drug treatments are entered into.

Lean for Life

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:41:14 +0000

If you want to remain lean for life you must follow a program that keeps your basal metabolic rate revved up. Sitting will sabotage your fat-burning potential. Your thyroid will adapt by adjusting your internal thermostat and turn you into a fat storing machine. So will eating too many carbs. Inactivity also accelerates the loss of lean mass and cardiac function. You lose what you do not use, and inactivity also dulls the brain, which negatively affects muscle and nerve function. Strength, stamina and bone density decrease as high blood pressure, cholersterol and triglycerides increase.

You strengthen and condition your body so you can use your body without limitation according to its natural design. If you don’t, it slowly erodes. The best diet in the world cannot get you in shape or prevent the loss of lean functional body tissue caused by sedentary living. By itself, whole organic food cannot raise your vital capacity, preserve bone mass, strengthen your biceps or save your neuromuscular system from premature degeneration. YOU MUST EXERCISE and you must do it right. Without motion, you will lose the battle against oxidative damage and gravity long before your time.

So, if you’re looking to remain lean for life, consider these elements:

1. Resistance Training AND Exercise

2. Clean Eating- preferably organic

3. Supplementation

4. Rest and Recovery

Ionic Water

admin — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:21:56 +0000

Rediscovering Wellness in Alkaline Water

“You are not sick, you are thirsty!” F. Batmanghelidj, M.D.

“Just about every condition I can think, from arthritis to diabetes, to cancer is associated with acidity.” Dr. Robert o. Young

Over acidity is a choice!

Good reasons to drink ionized alkaline water:
1. Increased hydration- The process of ionization reduces the size of the water molecular clusters allowing the clusters to better penetrate the cellular membranes and therefore increasing absorption rates, enhance tissue repair and waste removal.
2. Balance Body pH- The ionized alkaline water is able to balance the body by neutralizing and excreting acids and toxins that result from the highly acidic diets and stressful environments of today’s society.
3. Increase Blood Oxygenation- According to experts, drinking ionized alkaline water on a regular basis will increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the blood. Stable oxygen provides us with mental alertness and is invigorating and energizing to the body.
4. Neutralize Free Radicals- Ionized alkaline water, with an abundance of hydroxyl ions (OH-), provides extra electrons that neutralize destructive free radicals circulating throughout the body. Ionized alkaline water carries a high negative ORP (Oxidation-Reduction Potential) when it is first produced, making it a potent anti-oxidant.

Facts about bottled water:
• Billions of plastic water bottles a year end up in the trash and 90% end up in land fills
• Over 250 million barrels of oil per year are used to produce plastic bottles
• Plastic bottles can leach dioxin, a known carcinogen, into it’s fluid contents
• Over 40% of bottled water is from municipal water sources and some is more contaminated than municipal water
• Almost all bottled water is acidic, neutral at best
Using tap water as an alternative:
• Tap water contains up to 90 legally allowable chemicals because it is mandatory for the municipals to provide neutral water pH. This means adding chemicals, such as chlorine as one example, to neutralize the water.
• Chlorine and chlorine by-products have been linked to bladder, breast cancer, and other cancers.
pH Levels of Common Drinks:
Soda 2.5
Sports Drinks 2.5
Distilled Spirits 2.5
Beer 4.0
Distilled Water 5.8-6.5
Reverse Osmosis Water 5.5-6.3
Orange Juice 5.0
Coffee 5.0
Wine 5.5
Mineral or Spring Water 6.0-8.0
Municipal Tap Water 6.7-7.1
Alkaline Water 8.5-9.5
What happens when the body is too acidic?
In addition to low energy and poor digestion, having an acidic pH can lead to other health issues such as:
• Weight gain (increased cortisol which lays down abdominal fat)
• Free radical oxidation (premature aging)
• Inefficient absorption of the essential nutrients
• Poor bone density, leading to Osteoporosis
• Internal toxicity
• Frequent colds and headaches
• Poor skin and hair health
• Fatigue

In Japan, hospitals and clinics have used ionized and alkaline water for over 30 years to treat a number of conditions and diseases. Drinking the ionized alkaline water has the ability to:
• Release excess body fat and stored toxins
• Normalize blood sugar and insulin
• Normalize blood pressure
• Support healthy colon function
• Resolve urinary tract infections
• Relieve asthma and chronic respiratory infections
• Stop abnormal gastro-intestinal putrefaction
• Reduce chronic pain
• Improve wound healing

In 1931, Otto Heinrich Warburg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery of the oxygen-transferring enzyme of cell respiration. In this proven research, he concluded that the prime cause of cancer is the replacement of the respiration of oxygen in normal body cells by a fermentation of sugar, causing acidosis. So, in summary, an acidic body is likely to develop cancer as opposed to an alkaline body which is receiving antioxidants to combat the free radicals causing cell oxidation.

pH and Weight Loss
Instead of eating processed and acidifying foods that overload your body with toxins, an alkaline-friendly diet feeds your body whole, natural foods for best energy, digestion and metabolism. An alkaline diet and drinking ionized alkaline water will also cleanse your colon and digestive tract, allowing more efficient digestion and absorption to prevent nutrient deficient diseases and promote better overall well-being. Consuming a diet heavy in acidifying foods also promotes the production of the stress hormone cortisol, which promotes the building of abdominal fat.

pH and Sports Performance
When we exercise, the increased use of muscle glycogen for energy produces lactic acid, pyruvic acid and CO2, which decreases muscle pH. The harder you exercise, the quicker your muscles become more acidic, and the quicker you fatigue, which in turn inhibits your contractile ability of your muscles. The benefits of drinking ionized alkaline water are:
• The micro clusters of the molecules are smaller; therefore their permeability is increased, reaching better hydration at a much faster rate.
• Because of this improved permeability, the absorption of nutrients is also that much more efficient, which is vital for energy production and recovery for the muscles.
• Often, athletes do not consume enough of an alkaline-rich diet and instead consume more acidifying foods such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy. This, in addition to muscle breakdown and lactic acid production, positions them to suffer from a more severe case of acidosis than non-athletes, making it that much more important to them to pay closer attention to their body pH and drinking ionized alkaline water.

How to become more Alkaline
The most important step to increasing your alkalinity is to reduce the intake of acid-forming foods and to increase the intake of alkaline-forming foods. The ideal diet is comprised of 75% alkaline-forming foods and 25% acid-forming foods. A large part of this in today’s society, is reducing the intake of processed and fast foods, sugar and sodas, all of which are extremely acidic and are to blame for the record high obesity rates and other associated diseases.
Other proven ways to become more alkaline include:
• Reduce or eliminate stress
• Exercise regularly
• Reduce or eliminate medication and pharmaceuticals, and substitute for quality natural supplements
• Practice deep belly breathing to increase oxygen intakes

Halibut with Lemon & Caper Sauce

admin — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:47:30 +0000

Halibut with Lemon and Caper Sauce

If using fish steaks, chill them in the freezer for 1/2 to 1 hour so they will be easy to slice. Fillets of sole, orange roughy, ocean perch or catfish are delicious cooked this way but do not need to be sliced before cooking.

Makes 4 servings

ACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

1/2 lemon or more to taste
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 pound halibut fillet (about 1 1/2 inches thick), cut into 1/4-inch-thick diagonal slices
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/3 cup fish stock or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon capers (optional)
2 teaspoons butter
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1. With a sharp knife, remove skin and white pith from lemon and discard. Cut the segments of the fruit away from their surrounding membranes into a bowl (discard seeds). Strain and reserve juice. Chop fruit coarsely.
2. Combine flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Dredge fish lightly in the flour mixture. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the fish until the outside is golden brown and the interior is opaque, 1 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plates or a platter and keep warm.
3. Add garlic to the pan and cook, stirring, for several seconds. Add fish stock or broth and bring to a boil, stirring. Add lemon and juice, capers (if using) and butter, swirling the pan until the butter has melted. Spoon the sauce over the fish. Sprinkle with parsley and grind more pepper over top.

NUTRITION INFORMATION:

Per serving: 196 calories; 7 g fat (2 g sat, 3 g mono); 42 mg cholesterol; 7 g carbohydrate; 25 g protein; 1 g fiber; 365 mg sodium; 546 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Selenium (63% daily value), Magnesium (25% dv), Vitamin C (20% dv), Potassium (16% dv).
1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Top 7 Upper Back Exercises

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 22:54:06 +0000

The Top Seven Upper Back Exercises
by Charles Poliquin

For some reason unbeknownst to me or probably anyone else (with the possible exception of those TV psychics who, for a small fee, will tell you that your wife is cheating on you with the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker), back training is an enigma. Given the form that I see most trainees use in the gym, it’s a wonder that any of them can start a lawnmower without throwing their entire lumbar spine out of alignment.

I’m equally puzzled by most of the exercises performed by the majority of trainees. If they were enrolled in a mime class, they would no doubt get high grades for their impression of a man lifting a fat woman out of mud puddle. I, however, would give them a failing grade for their workout technique.

It doesn’t have to be difficult, though. Take the following exercises, for instance. In my estimation, they are the top seven upper back exercises that should make up the core of your upper back training. They are the exercises that give you the most bang for your training buck.

Without further ado, here they are:

1) Sternum chin-ups

This variation of the chin-up, which was popularized by Vince Gironda, involves leaning back throughout the entire movement. In this variation, the lower portion of the chest should touch the bar.

You can use either a supinated or pronated grip, and the grip can vary from narrow to shoulder-width (the latter being more indicated for the stronger trainee).

As you pull yourself to the bar, have your head lean back as far away from the bar as possible and arch your spine throughout the movement. At the upper end of the movement, your hips and legs will be at about a 45-degree angle to the floor. You should keep pulling until your collarbone passes the bar and your sternum touches it. By the time you’ve completed the concentric portion of the movement, your head will be parallel to the floor.

If you’ve never seen anyone do it before, that’s because it’s damn hard. I consider this movement the king of compound movements for the upper back because it works more than just the lats. It also creates a great overload on the scapulae retractors.

The beginning of the movement, however, is more like a classical chin, while the midrange resembles a pullover motion. Finally, the end position duplicates the finishing motion of a rowing movement.

If you’re an advanced trainee pressed for time, I would make the sternum chin-up a staple of your back routine. If you’re particularly strong and you still find it easy, you may want to slow your concentric tempo. One of my female assistants — Josée Tremblay from Montreal — can do them using a 5050 tempo (that’s five seconds on the way down and five seconds on the way up). Who ever said that women can’t do chins?

By the way, one of the ways that I assess the quality of a coach or personal trainer is by a simple test. If qualified, a coach or personal trainer should be able to get a female trainee to do 12 shoulder-width supinated chin-ups in 12 weeks — that is, of course, assuming that her bodyfat is within normal range. This test, as you can imagine, clearly indicates that there are very few personal trainers out there who know what they’re doing.

2) Narrow parallel-grip chin-ups

This variation of the chin-up provides most people with a strong mechanical advantage, as the semi-supinated grip is the strongest elbow flexion grip. Therefore, you can probably lift the most load in this particular variation. Many gyms are equipped with V-handle chin-up stations that are set 6-8 inches apart, and this is just about perfect.

Focus on bringing your lower sternum to the handles as you pull yourself up. In other words, lean back as you near the top of the concentric range.

Since the grip is narrow, the inferior fibers of the latissimus are hugely recruited. These fibers have been shown to have a higher fast-twitch make-up than the superior fibers and, therefore, they should be trained using lower reps.

3) Subscapularis pull-ups

In this variation of the pull-up, assume the starting position of the wide-grip pull-up and pull yourself to the bar until the upper pecs make contact with the chin-up bar.

So far, so good — just like normal. However, once you get to the top of the range of motion, push yourself away from the bar, and lower yourself under control.

Believe me, your subscapularis muscles will curse you for the next three days because they’re strongly activated as you attempt to control the descent. I often prescribe these to athletes who overuse variations of power snatch exercises. This movement will, in the long run, help provide some structural balance.

4) Seated rope cable rows to neck

Most people will agree that the vast majority of trainees devote far more time to chest work than they do back work. As a result, they start to look like Neanderthals. Seated cable rows to the neck will help balance the equation.

Set the adjustable pulley so that it’s directly in front of your pecs. Use a rope — it will reduce the stress on your forearms and wrists and allow you to concentrate on the task at hand (which is upper back work, just in case you forgot).

Grab the ends of the rope as if you were grasping a pair of hammers. Start with the shoulders protracted and the forearms extended. Begin the movement by retracting the shoulder blades, and immediately bend the elbows to continue the movement until the forearms make contact with the upper arms.

Make sure to eliminate the lower back from the equation by keeping it perpendicular to the floor at all times. If the development of your rhomboids is lacking, you may choose to pause for a moment when the shoulder blades are retracted.

5) One-armed eccentric chin-ups

I find this one particularly good in overcoming sticking points in strength development for the lats. For this exercise, I like to use one of those assisted chin/dip units like the ones made by Cybex Eagle or Atlantis.

Depending on the brand of machine that you use, you may be supported at the knees or the feet. For the purposes of this exercise, it matters little which one you use. Pull up with two arms, pause, and slowly transfer the load to your non-dominant arm.

From this point, lower yourself under control until the lats and elbow flexors of the working arm are fully stretched. Reset your dominant hand on the handle and pull yourself up for another repetition, and repeat the process until you reach eccentric muscle failure.

Initially, I recommend that you use very slow eccentric lowering, as in 8-10 seconds per rep. If you’re unable to go down that slowly, you’ve achieved eccentric muscle failure. The stronger you get on this exercise, the lighter you’re going to make the weight stack that’s assisting you through the concentric range. I hope, however, that this last fact doesn’t come as any shocking revelation to any of you out there.

For this exercise, I prefer to prescribe at least six sets of two to four repetitions per set.

Warning: If you experience shoulder discomfort at the bottom of the range of motion (the hanging position), it’s a warning sign that you may have less than optimal shoulder mechanics. You may want to consult a shoulder specialist that can evaluate and correct your shoulder mechanics.

6) One-armed arc dumbbell rows

These differ from your standard one-armed dumbbell rows by the trajectory of the weight. In this modified version, instead of bringing the dumbbell to the chest, I instruct the athlete to bring the dumbbell to the hip.

In arc dumbbell rowing, because of the rearward trajectory used, the lat performs more of a shoulder extension movement. Of course, the weight will have to be drastically reduced, sometimes by two thirds.

Remember, though, that the elbow should come up as high “over” the hip as possible. Range of motion, particularly in this movement, is crucial.

As far as the standard version goes, I find that people use far too much weight, which is clearly shown by the tendency of most trainees to either bounce the dumbbell off the mat or bring the upper body down to meet the dumbbell.

7) Strive machine rows

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Strive, it’s a brand of equipment that allows you to overload the range of motion in three different segments and, thus, match the strength curve of a typical human. The way the handles are designed on this machine removes almost all of the stress on the elbows, forearms, and wrists.

One method of training that’s particularly effective is to do 6-8 reps on the Strive machine with a pronated grip, keeping the upper arms parallel to the ground.

Once concentric failure is reached, the athlete is then instructed to immediately switch to a semi-supinated grip and go to muscle failure by doing another 6-8 reps.

Of course, other brands of seated rowing machines are also superior to the standard fare found in most gyms. I like the bilateral machine made by Magnum, and the Flex machine also has sound biomechanics.

You might realize, after reading this article, that I’m particularly partial to chin-up and pull-up movements. That’s true. In fact, I think that most athletes could build an impressive upper back by using the chin station alone.

Regardless of which of these particular movements you decide to adopt — and I hope you adopt all of them — I think you’ll find that they’re far more effective than the usual movements.

At least, that’s what the psychic hotline told me.

This article was taken from charlespoliquin.com, authored by Charles Poliquin.

Motivation for Life

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 22:50:20 +0000

Motivation for Life

What is the key that unlocks the energy, the drive and the incentive from within? What motivates us to get physically active and more importantly, to stay committed to a lifetime of functional exercise and a healthy diet reinforced with natural health products? Why do only 16% of Canadian adults train semi-routinely, while less than 3% workout 3-5 times per day, 52 weeks a year?

Ever wonder why someone you know, perhaps a close friend or a member of your own family, just doesn’t seem to care? Is it because they don’t understand the benefits of training? Why do they need to be convinced? Isn’t the truth ‘out there’? Perhaps they don’t believe in the significance of optimum nutrition or dietary supplements as a defense against disease. Many still believe the lie that environment and lifestyle play little or no role in the disease process. Is it just plain ignorance, or do these people live in denial? How can you make someone appreciate the multiple health advantages of living logically?

Why are some people so apathetic while others appear to be highly disciplined and committed? Whatever the reason, and with very few exceptions, it boils down to choice. Like it or not, your body is genetically designed for physical movement and is dependent on a micronutrient-rich whole food diet. Muscles, nerves, bones, blood and brains function far more efficiently when conditioned through the most powerful medicine known - physical exercise. Let’s put it another way. It’s simply not possible to stay well if you’re not fit.

Exercise and proper diet requires discipline, a unique form of discipline that goes way beyond following orders without question. It’s a special kind of discipline that creates order by living in obedience with lifestyle principles based on the science of wellness. In general, discipline is a very important and necessary thing. Without discipline the mind and body become soft. But balance is the key word here. Too much discipline can rob a person of the joy of living, while no discipline at all causes erosion of mind, body and character.

Influence Matters

Influence is a form of power which is able to produce an effect or change without apparent exertion of force or direct command. Positive influence can produce positive changes in an individual. Influence can stir the emotions and stimulate the mind through logic. Influence has to do with association. The people you work with, play with and chum around with ‘rub off’ on you. Are your friends winning in life and pursuing excellence in their own personal development, or do they lack motivation, direction and goals? Be careful how and with whom you spend your time. High-energy people can lift you up and encourage you not to waste your life. The best kind of influence comes from optimistic people who exude enthusiasm and exhibit a natural talent for seeing the best in everyone.

Knowledge

We can define knowledge as a range of accessible information, the condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience, the ability to apprehend truth or fact. Knowledge is associated with logic, numbers and science. It is antithetic to human emotion. We know for example that physical activity and a wholesome diet are essential to the economy and health of the human body. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Loss of vitality, energy and life is the result of longstanding inactivity and poor eating habits. So why do so many continue to ignore what seems so obvious?

Knowledge is power, but only when applied. Without application it is limp and powerless. This is evident by the fact that even intellectual eggheads who know exactly what to do may still have zero follow through. Thus it is clear that simply ‘knowing’ what must be done to stay well and free of degeneration throughout life, although essential to the process, involves more than the acquisition of knowledge alone. There is a philosophy in the message of wellness that must be embraced.

State of Mind

Napoleon Hill wrote a fabulous little book called Think and Grow Rich. Throughout the novel, Hill frequently eludes to one of the most important keys for successful living, “We become what we think about.”

If we think in positive terms, we will get positive results and likewise, if we think in negative terms, we will get negative results. All action is preceded by thought. If we set worthwhile goals and follow through with action, chances are we will accomplish those goals. On the other hand, if we think about nothing concrete and allow worry, fear and doubt to control our thoughts, our potential to excel in life will be hindered.

Our greatest limitations are those we create within our own mind. If we decide not to work out, eat better or get into shape, so be it, but this decision is not based on a rationale of logic or science. How can it be! Functional medicine is based on a paradigm of health and healing. It’s designed to compress morbidity and save life, not destroy it. Negative emotions can play a powerful role in our decision making process, often they are more an expression of how we feel about ourselves and how we define our purpose in life. Each one of us must find the courage not to conform to convention. Think clearly about your goals and share them with positive people who will support and encourage you.

In Heavy Duty I, author and pro bodybuilder Mike Mentzer describes motivation in terms of value. He explains that value is that which we strive to gain or maintain, and that motivation, which is the inner drive that causes us to take action, is fueled by our desire to keep or gain a certain value.

Mentzer believes that to stay motivated, one must learn to crush negative thought patterns by consciously choosing to focus on the positive outcome of a perceived experience. The key is to achieve mental and emotional harmony by reminding ourselves of the value of the pursuit, and to utilize both our gifts of rationality and the ability to conceptualize. If we study the facts, understand and accept our genetic limitations, avoid the misuse of negative thinking, and set realistic short-range goals, it is possible to stay committed to a life-long fitness and training endeavor.

Abraham Maslow, who wrote Motivation and Personality in 1954, was a U.S. psychologist and philosopher. He felt that everyone functions from a ‘hierarchy of needs’ pattern, which ranges from basic physiological requirements to love, esteem and self-actualization. The needs at one level must be at least partially obtained before those at the next level can function as motives to action. For example, food, shelter and safety are more important for survival than artistic desires. In societies where people struggle for life’s basic necessities, scientific and contemplative habits seldom flourish.

Maslow believed that truly healthy people seek to satisfy their highest psychological needs and were self-actualizers, fully integrating the components of their personality, or self. On the other hand, Sigmund Freud believed that most of our actions are determined by inner forces and impulses, which often originate from the subconscious level. Still other experts think our behavior is learned by exposure to the environment, that what we see and experience ultimately dictates our habits of motion. Anthony Robbins feels that each one of us is motivated to action by our desire to gain pleasure or to avoid pain. His books and 30-day personal power audiocassette program describe this concept in detail.

My own theory includes a synthesis of all of the above, plus one which is seldom, if ever considered. For nearly one hundred years now, our society has been living on a highly refined, processed diet. When you compare the amount of sugar and chemically altered fats we currently eat to what we did a century ago, the statistics are mind-boggling. If you can’t build a healthy fit body on junk, then how can you build a healthy mind? Our gene pool has been corrupted now for over four generations…that’s enough time to cause a serious amount of damage.

Lack of motivation is a form of mental illness, in fact, a type of depression. I believe that it’s not only intimately connected with our self-esteem and emotions, but also a function of nutritional biochemistry. In the same way that cartilage and bone are affected by mineral supply… I think our brain, which houses our mind, is enormously sensitive to the presence or absence of essential fatty acids, eicosanoids, neurotransmitters, amino acids, and fluctuating levels of nutrients in our blood.

By controlling our diet and consuming optimum quantities of the correct raw materials, we can definitely change our mental outlook. Of course, the motivation to move your body has a lot to do with the simple process of ‘burning fuel’ in your combustion chambers. Eat the wrong stuff at the wrong time and you’ll crash! Unless the food is delivered with precision and a sense of purpose, beyond just filling your gut or satisfying your palate, it’s hard to stay well in the game for life and really enjoy the process.

Motivation is a critical factor. It’s what keeps us going when everything looks grim, when the rest give up and quit. Behavior therapists believe that motivation cannot exist without a goal. The more strongly one feels about achieving a specific goal, the more apt they are able to achieve it.

Three factors influence motivation in this regard:

1. The degree of wanting
2. Visual clarity
3. The ability to break the goal down into smaller, accomplishable tasks

The incentive to achieve, to pursue excellence and to realize our fullest potential is both a function of body and mind. To get motivated, focus on the benefits: how will you look and feel when you achieve your goal? To stay motivated, read books, listen to educational audiocassettes or CDs and watch motivational videos. Design a high-quality supplement program, and eat as much whole, poison-free organic food as possible. Learn to model other successful people, and don’t strive for perfection…it doesn’t exist. Strive for improvement day by day. Strive for progress.

Motivated people are happy, high-energy people. They know what they want, and they are willing to pay the price. They understand who they are (relatively) and manifest the confidence and ambition that comes from knowing. Remember, personal power is the ability to take action, to set straight once and for all what it is you want to do. It’s overcoming the hurdles and disregarding the doubts and fears, driving onward and upward against all odds…now that’s motivation!

The human mind is the last unexplored continent. Besides the computer-like functions of the cerebral cortex, the cells of the brain control emotion, imagination and the creative juices of ideas and invention. Through meditation and relaxation, many athletes get in touch with their subconscious mind and use visualization techniques to enhance their performance. Creating the correct mindset necessary to remain properly motivated takes planning and mental insight.

Think about looking good and feeling stronger. Focus on your goals and let the discipline of training permeate into every component of your life. Read fitness and nutrition magazines and watch less television. Feed your mind with mental protein. As you make progress and incorporate new changes for the better, training and nutrition will become second nature, like a good habit. Physical fitness has to fit in with work, eating and sleeping. It must be practical. The longer you train, the more you will benefit, and believe me; the rewards will be worth all the effort. You’ll create a beautiful, lean body that is highly resistant to disease, and as you age chronologically, your body will remain young biologically.

Remember that our state of mind is always up to us. We can’t always control what happens around us, but we can control how we respond to every situation. What we feed our mind will determine the extent to which our mind can grow and develop. It’s like nutrition for the body. The body loves natural food and the mind loves to be stimulated and challenged. That’s how it grows! Knowing that we can alter our behavior by altering our state of mind is a wonderful thing. We have control over what we feed our mind most of the time. We pull the strings. So feed your mind with the highest quality information you can find, and educate yourself in the art and science of sports nutrition. Become an expert on your own body and personal health.

Sports and athletics build discipline and can teach us much about dedication and the value of persistence. Training and good eating habits will carry you through the times when life is difficult to bare. No matter how tough things get, you can always go to the gym and release the pressure, instead of losing control and destroying the body with prescription drugs and alcohol. Involvement in sport will introduce you to many positive people who will help motivate and show you that just about anything is possible if you really want it badly enough.

On a personal level, my primary source of motivation to train and play sport is very simple. I love to work out. I guess I’m a gym rat by nature. Applied nutrition feeds the machine and provides the fuel the body needs to work hard and recover quickly. That part makes perfect sense and cannot be denied. Fitness and nutrition go hand-in-hand, and when used correctly, supplements are an unbelievable asset. Training feels great and helps keep everything in check, including what and when you eat. It’s like a stabilizer. Exercise will add to your self-confidence and keep your anabolic drive alive. This will give you the sensation of power and inner vitality. A strong, flexibility body that is well-conditioned will provide you with a certain quality of living unattainable any other way. Think of it. You give an hour or two a day and in return you receive 22 hours of pain-free, high energy living. Now that’s a better return than any other kind of investment.

Every one of us has tremendous potential and value. It’s been said that each of us has a genius inside, something unique to our existence. It’s important to believe in yourself and to recognize what your special quality is. Part of our design and makeup is dependent on using our bodies creatively in a physical fashion, in balance and with a sense of purpose. Therefore, one can reasonably assume that for total development of personality and self, routine exercise and an optimum natural diet should become a facet of our everyday lifestyle. Embrace training as a gift, learn as much as you can about nutrition and be thankful for the opportunity you have right now to make a difference!

The Optimist’s Creed

Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. Make all your friends feel there is something special in them. Look at the sunny side of everything. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give everyone a smile. Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others. Be too big for worry and too noble for anger.

Motivation is a function of incentive born out of necessity and desire. It is fueled by enthusiasm, driven by passion, governed by positive emotion, compelled by logic and sustained by clarity of vision.
-Cory Holly, DN

BioSignature Modulation

admin — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 23:24:02 +0000

What is BioSignature and how can it HELP YOU?

BioSignature goes beyond standard body fat testing and REVEALS your BLUEPRINT for FASTER FAT LOSS! It’s scientific SPOT REDUCTION!

The novel concept of Biosignature was developed by world-renowned strength coach Charles Poliquin after noticing trends and correlations while working with athletes for nearly 30 years. BioSignature is a system based on scientific evidence that where people store their body fat is an indication of their hormonal profile.

This means that your body fat levels and corresponding imbalanced hormones can be effectively managed through a combination of diet, exercise, a targeted supplementation program, and lifestyle modifications. PPC trained BioSignature practitioners will develop that plan for you based on YOUR unique biological signature. This means FASTER results and FEWER supplements than is possible with the industry’s typically more random and haphazard approach.

For example, the thickness of a person’s umbilical skin fold (your gut) is a direct reflection of cortisol (the stress hormone) output. A relatively fat midsection indicates stress levels are high and/or the ability to handle stress is low. The good news is that 1) it’s not your fault and, 2) it can be changed.

The result is improved performance in ALL areas of your life - physical,mental, and intellectual. By following your personal plan, you will emerge leaner, stronger, healthier, happier, and more energetic.

Find out how to put in less effort and achieve greater results by booking an appointment to find out more about your BioSignature and discover the secrets that have previously only been available to top athletes. Isn’t it time you heard the truth about how to avoid needless years of disappointment and get rapid results NOW — even faster than those popular reality shows!

Here is what the experts say about BioSignature:

“BioSignature is one of the most advanced noninvasive methods available to rapidly and accurately identify insulin resistance and cardiovascular risks. This allows for onsite effective medical treatment decisions.”

Dr. Mark Houston MD,MS,FACP,FAHA
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Director, Hypertension Institute, Saint Thomas Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee

“BioSignature is a revolutionary tool for the clinician who wants to individualize metabolic healing by designing protocols that have the greatest success.”

Dr. Suzanne Mack, M.D., North Texas Institute of Functional Medicine.

“BioSignature offers a rapid assessment tool of one’s hormonal health to individualize and monitor the patient’s protocols to achieve optimal metabolic health. It combines the best of Ayurvedic, Chinese and Western medical systems has to offer to the patient.”

Dr. Abbas Qutab, M.D., D.C., N.D., D. Ac.