Category: Articles

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    ABC Health and Nutrition Tips for the Holidays


    Holistic Nutrition During The Holidays





    By Christine Andrew, C.N.C.

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    Is Gallbladder Surgery the Answer?

    Symptoms of Gallbladder Problems – Acute pain in the upper abdomen, pain in the back between the shoulder blades, nausea, bloating, frequent burping, loss of appetite, fatty stools that float, skin itching, pain often following a fatty meal. Do these sound familiar at times? They could be signs of gallbladder problems and incomplete fat digestion. More than 20 million Americans are affected by this problem yearly.

    What is the Gallbladder and is it necessary?

    The gallbladder sits next to the liver and acts as a storage unit for bile made by the liver. When fat is consumed, the stomach signals the gallbladder that fat is on the way. The gallbladder in turn contracts, sending bile into the small intestine to emulsify the fats. Bile also helps the absorption of fat soluble vitamins of A, D, E and K. Another use of bile is that it helps the gastrointestinal tract reabsorb cholesterol, and increase peristalsis.

    For those who eat the Standard American diet of excessive hydrogenated oils and fatty diets of French fries, fried foods, salami, pastrami, pepperoni, chicken skins, marbled beef, greasy hamburgers, etc., the bile can concentrate and thicken. This creates inflammation at the bile duct which is terribly painful. Even baked foods are offenders. Crackers and cookies are not fried foods, but the oil in the cracker or cookie has been heated to a high temperature because it has been baked. Highly heated oils initiate destructive free radical cascades, stressing and aging the liver. When the liver is subjected to this dietary stress over time, the bile becomes thick and forms sludge, which can form small clay-like balls and stones which lodge in the bile ducts, liver, and elsewhere. This is why “baked” over “fried” choice is not any better a solution.

    Doctors believe stones form when there is an imbalance in the bile. It may contain too much cholesterol or not enough bile salts. Or, stones may form if the gallbladder does not empty correctly. Gallstones form in the gallbladder and are composed primarily of cholesterol, which have separated out of solution in bile and formed crystals, much as sugar may form in the bottom of a jar of honey. Gallstones may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball, and the gallbladder may contain any- where from one stone to hundreds. With these gallstones, bile flow is reduced and much less cholesterol leaves the body. Consequently, cholesterol levels may rise. The typical allopathic solution to this is statin drugs. A consequence of these bile salt binding medications results in deficiency of bile salts, or a reduction in gallbladder contractions which causes incomplete emptying of bile—leading to stone formation. A vicious cycle.

    Gallbladder problems are common in people who are on non-fat diets. If the body doesn’t have the good, healthy fats, then bile is not produced. If there is not adequate bile, then the essential fatty acids won’t be absorbed. Women over 40 and who are often overweight are also more likely to experience gallbladder problems. Studies also show that women on HRT have an increased risk of gallbladder problems.

    What are the Gallbladder treatments?

    Traditionally, the treatment of choice has been surgery. Some doctors believe that once the gallbladder disease is rampant and the gallbladder is filled with gallstones that the gallbladder isn’t needed and surgery is the only answer. According to the American Gastroenterological Association, even with surgery abdominal pain can persist in up to 50% of patients. Other complications may occur. Stones could be left over in the bile duct. Bile could leak from the gallbladder bed in the liver which could cause abscess formation requiring further surgery. A cystic duct “stump” could be left behind becoming a mini-gallbladder and still form stones later.

    According to the Journal of American College of Radiology, from 1994-2009 annual gallbladder surgeries increased 567%. By 2011, this amounted to nearly 800,000 surgeries at a cost of $6 billion annually. This statistic is astounding. But given the fact that so many Americans consume a large amount of fatty foods, it is not surprising and yet largely preventable. Diet and lifestyle play a key role in prevention of gallstones.

    Are there alternatives?

    There are alternative approaches that are just as effective and correct the underlying problem. One approach is Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM. This is an ancient system of medicine that originated in China thousands of years ago. Acupuncture, which uses hair-thin needles to stimulate points throughout the body to unblock energy channels, has been shown to be effective at relieving pain, a common symptom associated with gallstones. Acupuncture also may be helpful to patients whose gallbladder issues cause spasms or inhibit bile flow to the liver.

    Another approach for gallbladder support is using herbs. Herbs come in a variety of forms, including dried extracts dissolved in glycerin and tinctures. Although many herbs are generally considered safe, patients should discuss all forms of herbal therapy with their health care provider before consumption.

    One well known herb for liver and gallbladder diseases is milk thistle, or Silybum marianum. This flowering herb from the Mediterranean region, is thought to provide gallbladder detoxification support.

    Another herb that may be beneficial for gallbladder problems is turmeric. Officially named Curcuma longa, turmeric is an herb that’s native to India and other parts of Asia. It has been used for centuries as an anti- inflammatory, but needs to be used with caution and with supervision in those with gallstones. Other herbs with bile salts, hydrochloric acid, plant enzymes, as well as pepper- mint oil are also beneficial to support the gallbladder.

    Another alternative and preventative approach to dealing with gallbladder problems involves food. People with gallstones or other gallbladder conditions should avoid any suspected food allergens such as dairy, wheat, soy, corn and eggs. Food allergies and sensitivities can cause inflammation and swelling of the bile duct. Those looking to reduce gallstone symptoms also should not only avoid overeating, but also avoid:

    • Fried foods

    • Foods that contain saturated fats or trans-fatty acids

    • Commercial oils such as canola, cottonseed, margarine, mayonnaise, salad dressings and peanut oil

    • Soft drinks

    • Onions

    • Coffee

    • Tobacco

    • Pork

    • Beans

    • Alcohol

    • Sugar

    Instead, patients should eat foods that are high in B- vitamins and iron (whole grains and dark leafy greens), as well as those high in antioxidants, like fruits and vegetables. The more fiber from vegetables the better, and remember to cook with healthy oils such as olive oil or coconut oil. Certain foods are known to improve bile flow. These include beets, fresh artichokes, radishes, cucumber juice, carrot juices, organic apple juice, organic dandelion greens and olive oil. Flaxseeds help reduce inflammation in the gallbladder. There is also sufficient evidence to suggest that eating a diet with plenty of vitamin C rich foods and rich in calcium such as dark greens may decrease the risk of forming gallstones in the first place.

    Dehydration is also a contributing factor in gallbladder problems, so it is essential to drink plenty of fresh filtered water daily.

    In addition, another alternative remedy is castor oil packs, which can help ease gallbladder pain and abdominal swelling. According to Robert Marshall, PhD, the castor oil is theorized to induce a high frequency resonant effect which allows the castor oil to deeply penetrate through the skin, helping to trigger a release of waste particles.

    An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure. Gallbladder pain can be severe, and can lead to complications if it persists. If a patient has any gallbladder problems, most likely the liver is toxic and not working efficiently as well. It is advisable to see a healthcare practitioner knowledgeable in digestive disorders for an accurate diagnosis before considering any surgery or alternative therapies.

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    Hormones: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle

    September 28 marks the annual National Women’s Health and Fitness day. Our society does many things to honor women’s health—health fairs, health screenings with annual Papand Mammograms, and other tests, all with the goal of encouraging women to have vibrant health due to the screenings. This is commendable, but often misses the mark on what is truly underlying a potential major health problem. Most of these tests do not routinely take into consideration women’s hormones.

    Obesity is one of the top current health issues of our time. Current research indicates 33% of adults and 17% of children are obese. And according to AARP, 70% of the nation is regarded as overweight. Standard care of treatment has been diet and exercise. As simplistic as this sounds, it does not work for the majority of people. $40 million are spent on some kind of weight loss diet annually, yet statistics continue to stagger upwards. Weight loss schemes abound promising unsuspecting women to lose weight quickly, only to gain it back later.

    If diet and exercise alone were the answer, why have the statistics not decreased? What is the missing piece of this puzzle? There are many factors to take into consideration. The standard American diet, overeat- ing, medications and sedentary lifestyles are several of these factors. However, the crux of the missing piece of this health issue puzzle, that is rarely assessed, are hormones.

    What are the hormones and how do they affect weight gain?

    There are various hormones categorized by their deriva- tives. They are either derived from cholesterol, glycopro- teins, amino acids, long chain fatty acids or derived from neurotransmitters. All hormones are chemical messen- gers in the endocrine glands. They regulate rebuilding and use of chemicals and keep metabolism working. The main cholesterol derived hormones are estrogen (three

    forms), testosterone, progesterone and DHEA. Glyco- protein derived hormones are FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone). An amino acid derived hormone is TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).

    As estrogens are cholesterol derived, if we eliminated cholesterol from the diet what would happen to our hormones? In order to maintain optimal metabolism, all hormones have to be kept in balance. You can’t have one out and not affect the others. Nutrition that addresses and balances one hormone will help balance the others. A low or non-existent hormone may be the reason that health and weight is not improving. Take estrogen. Estro- gen stores fat. The biosynthesis of estrogen occurs in fat tissues. Extra estrogen causes an increase in the size of estrogen-sensitive fatty tissue. Enlarged fatty tissue pro- duces more estrogen which induces more fat gain. Too much estrogen, called estrogen dominance, compared

    to progesterone leads to weight gain and is also impli- cated in breast cancer as shown in many studies. One of these studies in a post by Dr. Steven Hotze, explains the results of a study conducted by John Hopkins University’s School of Public Health. The study was originally set up to research infertility in a group of women who were having trouble conceiving. The group was divided in two; those whose fertility issues were caused by non-hormon- al reasons and those who were deemed infertile because of progesterone deficiency and estrogen dominance. For more than 30 years, the researchers also recorded the cases of breast cancer among the women. The end result? The premenopausal women with estrogen dominance turned out to have a whopping 540% greater risk for developing breast cancer than the other women.

    Where are these extra estrogens coming from?

    We call these xenoestrogens and they come from hormone injected meat and dairy, parabens in cosmetics and lotions, soy, pesticides, petroleum based chemicals, artifi- cially scented products, dryer sheets, sunscreen, Bisphe- nol A, phthalates in plastics (such as in water bottles), food containers, protein powder cans, PVC, solvents or adhesives. These synthetic estrogens metabolize into estrone which can damage DNA. Low estradiol with low testosterone may also lead to weight gain.

    Why is soy considered a xenoestrogen? First of all, soy is one of the top Genetically Modified (GMO) food crop. Our bodies do not recognize genetically altered foods and sees these foods as foreign invaders. When this occurs, the body will naturally launch an attack and a by-product of this is inflammation. According to Leo Galland, MD, soy is also considered to further accelerate the existing harmful effects of xenoestrogens. The body recognizes the highly bioactive form of soy isoflavones as harmful toxins that need to be neutralized and eliminated. High intakes of soy may rob the liver from its pool of glucuronic acid leaving it vulnerable to the ongoing assault of other environmental and endogenous estrogens.

    Another piece of this puzzle of estrogen dominance is that it affects another hormone; the thyroid. Estrogen dominance affects the thyroid receptor making it less sensitive to thyroid hormone. Low thyroid means less thyroid activity, which means less body activity, which means more fat, which equals weight gain.

    In addition, melatonin, a hormone produced after one falls asleep, plays a part in the puzzle. The Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests that chronic sleep deprivation may cause women to gain weight by affect- ing the way we process and store carbohydrates and may impact the hormones that affect appetite. Accord- ing to this study, too little sleep can also ultimately alter

    immune function, making one more susceptible to disease. According to Sherrill Sellman, ND, melatonin inhibits the release of estrogen. If there is low melatonin, then there is the possibility of higher estrogen levels. High estrogen levels, weight gain.

    As part of a woman’s healthcare screening I advocate having women’s hormones tested as a way to measure cur- rent levels of hormonal health so that early intervention can support imbalances. Hormone assessment panels are helpful for women with fertility concerns, weight gain, carbohydrate cravings, fatigue, dry skin or other pre- peri- or postmeno- pausal symptoms. Nutritional support for hormone imbal- ances may include the following:

    • Reduce xenobiotics (environmental pollutants or foods that mimic estrogens or contain synthetic hormones).

    • Consume whole foods such as seeds, raw nuts, brown rice, greens, chicken, fish, turkey, eggs, healthy fats, colorful fruits and vegetables for hormonal health

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    Help! Am I Methylating?

    Are you suffering with diabetes, multiple chemical sensitivities, hypertension, fibromyalgia, insomnia, frequent miscarriages, thyroid dysfunctions, fatigue, anxiety, chronic viral infections, ADD, Lyme’s, cancer, or other issues that don’t seem to resolve? It could be that you have a methylation deficiency and methylation defects, or traits, reduce a person’s ability from properly detoxifying, repairing damage, and from fighting infections due to the deficiency of glutathione and CoQ10.
    Knowing a little about the liver and its Liver process of detoxification helps in understanding the importance of methylation. The liver converts toxic chemicals into less harmful ones through reactions of oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis during Phase 1 detoxification. During this process however, free radicals are produced. This is okay unless there is an excess which can damage the liver. Fortunately, we have foods and nutrients that contain powerful antioxidants that reduce the damage caused by the free radicals.
    On the other hand, many toxic chemicals such as pesticides can interrupt the liver enzymes if consumed in excessive amounts. If the toxins are not further broken down by Phase 2 “conjugation,” they may cause damage to proteins, RNA and DNA within the cell. Medications, heavy metals, sugars, trans-fats, and toxic compounds from the gut also inhibit Phase 1 detoxification. In Phase 2 of liver detoxification, the conjugation process attaches compounds to the toxin to neutralize the toxin and makes it more bioavailable for ease in excretion through the bile or kidneys during Phase 3 process. Six enzymes are needed for this to take place in Phase 2. One of these is methylation.What is methylation? – This is a chemical reaction that occurs in every cell and tissue in our body. It is the process of taking a single carbon and three hydrogens, known as a methyl group, and applying it to countless functions in the body. Enzymes, hormones, and genes are proteins. Adding methyl groups to a protein, for example, changes how that protein reacts to other substances in the body. This affects how the protein behaves and is also important in the detoxification process.Methylation is responsible for thinking, repairing DNA, turning on and off genes, fighting infections and getting rid of environmental toxins. It is also important to help enzymes, hormones, and vitamins work efficiently. For example, if a person can’t break down estrogen and get the excess out of the body, all sorts of disorders follow such as weight gain, and breast cancer. Folate and choline are considered methyl donors. How well our body can methylate is important to our overall health.Other factors that interfere with Methylation pathways:

    •  Poor diet, poor probiotic status, digestive issues, medical conditions like Crohn’s or Celiac
    • Xenobiotics which are chemicals found in air, water, food, home, work, schools, parks, beds, cosmetics and many more
    • Medication, which steal methylation nutrients, such as methotrexate, metformin, antacids, acid blockers, proton pump inhibitors, corticosteroids, estrogen-containing drugs
    • Alcohol. Yes, alcohol will pretty much shut down your methylation and wipe out your glutathione stores, says Suzy Cohen, M.D.
    •  Green Coffee Bean Extract. Yes, all those glorified weight loss supplements promising you quick weight loss has a dangerous side effect. This extract is high in catechols and these use up your methylation pathway nutrients quickly. So while losing those unwanted pounds your methyl groups are losing too.
    •  Lyme disease germ uses up magnesium. Magnesium is one nutrient that busts up biofilms. With low magnesium status, the germs hide out in biofilms and reduces one’s ability to methylate.
    • Heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic
    • Anxiety or high stressWhat is folate?Folate is a very important brain food and is needed for energy production and the formation of red blood cells. It strengthens immunity by aiding in the proper formation and functioning of white blood cells. It is important for healthy cell division and replication, which is needed during fetal development to avoid neural tube defects.How would I know if I have a folate deficiency?If you lack zinc, B2/riboflavin, magnesium, B6, B12, due to dietary intake or gut disorders such as Celiac, the body’s ability to drive the methylation pathway is limited. It is these nutrients that are needed to help make the most active form of folate in body known as methylfolate. Some signs of end stage folate deficiency are sore red tongue, insomnia, memory loss, anemia, fatigue, premature gray hair. Inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables or lack of fresh food due to overcooking or microwaving food, oral contraceptives, or alcohol use are some other causes of folate deficiency and are the prime justification a person needs to engage in a detoxification and folate support program. Additionally, increasing consumption of folate rich foods will be helpful.What sources have folate?I don’t recommend taking Folic Acid supplementation. The body uses methylfolate, not folic acid. Consume natural folate from foods. Folate is a water soluble nutrient found in pinto beans, navy beans, asparagus, spinach, broccoli, okra, Brussels sprouts, beef, brown rice, brewer’s yeast, cheese, chicken, dates, green leafy vegetables, lamb, legumes, lentils, liver, mushrooms, oranges, split peas, pork, tuna, and whole unrefined grains.What are some solutions?Have you ever heard of MTHFR? Chances are most have not. I am sure you might be familiar with Genotyping, however. Gene testing has become quite popular. Most people think that this has to do with genes and the common thought is that genes can’t be changed. New research is now showing that we can change or turn off “bad” genes. We can also turn off “good” genes as well. A common excuse, “It’s in my genes to live a long life,” or “It’s in my genes to be a diabetic,” or any other disease process, ignores the fact that we all have a responsibility with our own health regardless of our ancestry.MTHFR is an enzyme that converts folic acid into a usable form of folate that our bodies need. It is a key enzyme in the detoxification process. It converts homocysteine to methionine. If detoxification is impaired it can lead to high homocysteine levels damaging arteries and blood vessels leading to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. If the MTHFR gene is impaired, other methylation reactions are compromised as well affecting neurotransmitters, migraines, fertility, birth defects, and possibly cancer. The MTHFR gene controls how well this enzyme works.

    How do you know if you have the MTHFR gene or a gene mutation? Why is it important to know?

    Gene typing is one important way to determine if the enzyme is efficient or not. If it is not, then your body will not methylate efficiently. Adding more specific B vitamins or other nutrients will compensate as well as changing dietary habits. But, determining what genes you have gives you the ability to compensate accordingly and correctly. Blood chemistry to test homocysteine levels is another test available, especially if you have risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, have been on oral contraceptives, cancer therapy, or have any other signs of folate deficiency.

    MTHFR gene testing is not generally done in a doctor’s office. It is a simple low cost test, covered under insurance, and done in the privacy of your own home.

    Another solution is to support the methylation pathway deficiency with detoxification using specific nutritional compounds in supplement form. If you have any questions about the assessment tool available or wish to get started on a detoxification program, call us at 707-451-4058.


    Phillips, Theresa, PhD. (2008) The role of methylation in gene expression. Nature Education 1(1) DNA Methylation. Premier Biosoft

    Cohen, Suzy, M.D. Methylation Problems Lead to 100s of Diseases. www.dearpharmacist. com/2013/08/08

    By: Christine Andrew, CNC


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    Vacaville Thermography

    Breast Thermography is one of the best early warning systems available today. Alternatives to mammography can be found in breast thermography and Center For Holistic Health & Nutrition promotes the precision and lack of risk you can find in breast thermography technologies. Based out of Vacaville California, we offer breast thermography for anyone in Northern California seeking a productive capacity to identify thermal signs known to be correlated with cancer symptoms.

    • Breast Thermography doesn’t necessitate x-rays – This means no radiation or compression.
    • Thermography is F.D.A. Approved
    • Thermography is Painless and Harmless – Non-invasive, safe and painless.
    • Only 10% of cancers are missed with breast thermography as opposed to 20% and 40% for mammograms.
    • Thick breast tissue does not pose a problem with breast thermography technology.

    What is Breast Thermography?

    breast thermography is a breakthrough imaging procedure utilizing infrared images of the breast to analyze and detect asymmetrical blood vessel circulation (physiology) within the breast. By doing so, we are able to determine the breast health. Breast thermography is non-invasive, radiation-free and safe. The infrared imaging process allows you to see the range and amount of heat or thermal energy emitted from the body.





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    Milk: It Doesn’t Do a Body Good

    The Lord in scriptural reference describes the “land of promise” as the land flowing with milk and honey. Today, America could be referred to as the land of soda and chips. USDA reports that Americans consumed an average of 1.8 cups of dairy per person, per day in 2005, and drink an average of 56 gallons of soda per person, per year. So, in spite of high soda consumption, Americans still con- sume milk…thinking that it is doing their “body good.” It is not surprising with all the cute milk ads displaying happy cows and beautiful women with milk mustaches influencing consumers into believing that milk does their “body good.”

    Is this milk the same milk that was consumed thousands of years ago or even a hundred years ago? Not in the least. Today’s milk is altered, stripped and reconstituted leaving it no longer the pure viable nutritious product it used to be. “With all the processing and additives involved, guarantees that you’ll be consuming a mixture of substances from all over the country, not just from the one cow it originally came from,” says Kristin Wartman. Today’s milk consists of cow’s milk, raw milk, almond milk, rice milk, soy milk, Similac, and all varieties of 1%, 2%, low-fat, non-fat and skim.

    The subject of adult humans consuming cow’s milk today is a very controversial one. Many scientific studies have linked milk intake with intestinal colic-irritation-bleeding, anemia, allergies and Salmonella infections in infants, Bovine Leukemia Virus, and childhood diabetes, as well as many other disorders. Dr. Hugo Rodier warns that even a half liter of milk consumed daily increases risk of diabetes three times.

    How is it that milk is not what it used to be?

    It’s called Food Politics. – Media deception – Money. From ancient civilizations up to even one hundred years ago, milk went from the cow to the table in its raw form and provided healthy proteins, enzymes, calcium, vitamins and met the caloric needs of the individuals. The process from cow to table now involves many steps.

    One step is homogenization which is the process of passing it at high speeds through very small holes to create a uniform texture and prevents the cream from separating and rising to the top. This high pressure smashes the milk molecules so hard that it splits and exposes the molecules to oxygen. When molecules are exposed to oxygen the fats become oxidized. Oxidized fats are the main culprit for high cholesterol, atherosclerosis and high LDL. This damaged cholesterol is much different than the good cholesterol that is found in eggs, butter and whole or raw milk. These foods raise HDL. According to Kristin Wartman and other research studies, it is the oxidized cholesterol that raises the LDL.

    In addition, the milk is pasteurized and heated to at least 145 degrees. Pasteurization destroys all enzymes, growth factors and vitamins which makes milk very difficult to digest, and can lead to lactose intolerance and other intestinal disorders. Dr. Bernard Jensen states that up to 32 percent of available calcium is destroyed when food is heated above 150 degrees F. Consequently, this pasteurized milk is a limited source of calcium. In some states, non-fat milk solids are added to the milk in order to thicken it and give it a better mouth feel. Since the nutrients have been stripped, synthetic vitamin A and D are added. Consequently, contrary to popular belief that you need milk for vitamins, the body does not absorb synthetic vitamins well. Americans drink skim milk or low-fat milk due to the media frenzy alerting consumers that whole milk will make them fat, on the other hand they are consuming more milk fat in the form of ice cream, processed foods or half and half with their coffee and then they wonder why their cholesterol levels are so high.

    According to Dr. Rodier, milk has been found to have 80-200 toxins, hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, sugar, etc. These excess hormones can contribute to estrogen dominance and weight gain. It can also increase the risk of gluten allergies.

    The Benefits In Raw Milk

    Raw milk, on the other hand, is non-pasteurized, from animals that eat fresh grass and other fodder. Raw milk has all of the nutrients and enzymes needed to digest it and be fully assimilated in the body. Raw milk is very difficult to buy, especially in California. It is best to try to find a farmer that will sell fresh milk directly. If not, use only cultured milk products such as: kefir, whole milk yogurt, cultured buttermilk, raw cheeses and cultured cream. Grass-fed, or pasture-grazed cow milk is also an alternative

    Is low-fat, non-fat, 2%, or skim milk healthy?

    First of all, the milk our ancestors ate (recent ancestors as well) was whole raw milk. It wasn’t homogenized or pastuerized. There wasn’t a cholesterol or heart disease problem such as what we are experiencing in today’s society. Second, there is no such thing as a two percent, low-fat, non-fat or skim milk cow! Period! Again, this is food politics. It is media hype and dairy industry generated. Third, it goes back to deception. Non-fat milk solids are created through a process of evaporation and high heat drying which removes the moisture from skim milk. Exposure to high heat and oxygen causes fats to oxidize. In low-fat or skim milk, powdered milk usually is added. And powdered milk contains oxidized fats. According to Michael Pollan, “the low-fat campaign coincided with a dramatic increase in the incidence of obesity and diabetes in America. There is a growing body of evidence that shifting from fats to carbs may lead to weight gain.

    These refined carbs interfere with insulin metabolism in ways that increase hunger and promote overeating and fat storage in the body.” And, to make dairy products low-fat, the fat is removed. Then great lengths are taken to preserve the creamy texture by working in all kinds of food addi- tives. That means powdered milk for low-fat or skim milk. Because this milk is now oxidized, the food makers add antioxidants to the milk to compensate; further adulterating the milk. “Removing the fat makes it much harder for your body to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins that are one of the reasons to drink milk in the first place,” continues Michael Pollan. Blinded to the fact that kid’s waistlines are not growing from drinking whole milk, but rather from the fast-food and sugary eating habits, The Doctors recommend low-fat milk for children because…“it has only 100 calories.”

    Dr. Schwartzbein of The Schwartzbein Principle adds, “Eating a low-fat, low-calorie diet over a period of years is one of the surest ways to develop a lifestyle-based endocrine and mood disorder. Hair loss may not be due to a biotin deficiency, it may just mean to get off low-fat foods.” Since the brain is mostly made from fat, you need fats to help your brain produce neurotransmitters. Eating healthy fats is essential to mood and a healthy brain. Again, if the milk product is anything other than whole milk, it has been altered from its original state. The body doesn’t recognize the foreign or synthetic sub- stances and reacts accordingly by launching an attack. This sets up the cascade of inflammation in the body and can lead to food allergies or other disorders.

    Lastly, remember that media and marketing are central in deceiving people into consuming low-fat or non-fat dairy. With all the valuable nutrients stripped, synthetic vitamins added, diabetes and mood disorders increasing, milk does not “do the body good.”

    Reasonable Milk Strategies

    1. Drink raw milk if available and raw cheese products.

    2. Hemp milk and coconut milk are good alternatives as well as organic almond and rice milk in moderation.

    3. Consume cultured organic milk products in moderation. Organic Pastures is a California based milk company that sells good quality milk. Drink only whole milk.

    4. Consume processed milk products very sparingly, if at all. This includes processed cheeses and yogurt. Purchase hormone free milk and milk products, as well as Greek yogurt.

    5. Remember, calcium is derived from other non-dairy food sources such as: lamb, amaranth, broccoli, kale, greens, sardines, seeds and nuts.

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    Holistic Post-Surgery Recovery

    Post-surgery recovery requires care from the individual recovering and guidance from the professionals assisting the individual with recovery. With the right supplements, the individual’s time of improvement can drastically advance. We here at Center For Holistic Health & Nutrition understands this and we work alongside our clients to insure their Post-Surgery Recovery is holistic.

    The first important factors to evaluate when recovering from a surgery is stress levels, diet and proper supplements, nutrition and the amount of rest you are receiving. As you see from this post regarding Holistic Health, the direction you must take is huge.

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    Energy Medicine: The Health Care of the Future?

    ©2011 by Christine Andrew, CNC


    most truly fundamental leaps forward in scientific understanding are shunned at












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    What’s All the Fuss About Gluten?

    by Christine Andrew, CNC, CFDM


    • Is this truly a healthy choice?









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    pH Explained

    Christine Andrew, CNC










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    The New Addiction

    Cell phone usage is out of control for people of all ages in our society. In the early 1900’s smoking was fashionable. After 40 years there were many brands from which to choose. It was the “in” thing to do; no one ever thought about the health risks or possible addictions.










    With any addiction cessation program, support is vital for success.



    Tips to protect yourself:

    2. Reduce the number of minutes spent on the phone.
    4. Switch the phone off at night.
    6. Use speaker phone as much as possible.


    Christine Andrew, CNC, CFDM is a certified nutrition consultant and certified functional diagnostic medicine consultant. She operates a holistic healthcare practice at Individualized Nutrition Services at 348 Cernon St. Ste A in downtown Vacaville.

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    The Colonoscopy Prep Process; Safe?

    Christine Andrew, CNC 2009




    Chicken broth— Okay

    Strained fruit juices without pulp—Okay






    Soda—ingredients: sugar, phosphates



    Ingredients: (5 mg.)

    Acetylated monoglycerides


    Carnauba wax—Used as a glaze


    Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate


    Magnesium stearate

    Confectioner Sugar, sucrose


    Titanium dioxide

    Bees wax

    Microcrystaline cellulose

    Next, mix Flavor Packet into “HalfLytely”-

    Contents of Flavor Packet:

    “Natural” and artificial flavor powder


    gum arabic

    sodium saccharin

    silicon dioxide

    food dyes (See colorings above)

    Last, drink 2 liters of “HalfLytely” every 10 minutes






    Sodium chloride

    Sodium bicarbonate

    Potassium chloride

    Warning contained on the HalfLytely container:

