Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Plastics

Plastic is made by combining toxic synthetic chemicals together. The belief is that these chemicals are bonded so tightly that the toxicity does not rub off onto that with which it comes in contact. The reality is that the bonding process, called polymerization, is never 100% perfect. It is virtually impossible for plastic to stay contained, not leaching into food, air, water, and you.

Unsafe plastics are those which contain the highly toxic chemicals like BHA. This chemical and others have not only been known to cause cancer, but have been shown in recent studies to disrupt the endocrine system of both animals and humans. In essence they are hormone disruptors and therefor have an effect on virtually every bodily function. Such an effect is often times permanent. Toxic chemicals are most readily released when these plastics are heated, scratched, scarred or used. Do not use unsafe plastics in the microwave or dishwasher and be sure to discard those which appear damaged.

Unsafe Plastics (AVOID)
#3, #6, #7

Safe Plastics
#1, #2, #4, and #5
This includes Handiwrap and Glad plastic which contain #4 only

Friday, June 01, 2007

Candida

All About Candida

Candida Albicans has become a household word for many health-conscious Americans. Candida is a yeast that lives in the human digestive system. Candida is kept at low levels by the friendly bacteria that also reside in the digestive tract. The friendly bacteria feed on the Candida, and thus a balance in the body is maintained. However, antibiotics, birth control pills, cortisone and chemotherapy can kill this friendly bacteria.

Once this friendly bacteria has been destroyed, the yeast begins to overgrow and take over the digestive system. Left untreated, it becomes a fungus and grows into a plant-like structure complete with roots. These roots can break through the intestinal walls, allowing the yeast to travel to other areas of the body such as the sinuses, throat, reproductive organs, the lungs and skin - just to name a few.

Candida is capable of producing over 100 symptoms. This makes it extremely frustrating for anyone with this condition to find out exactly what is wrong with them. Billions are spent each year on antibiotics, creams, nasal sprays, unnecessary hospital visits, operations, antidepressants, etc. due to misdiagnosis of this disease.

Look over the list of all the possible symptoms Candida can cause, and you will see why symptoms alone can mislead a doctor into treating a “major symptom” and miss the true culprit.


POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF CANDIDA

Allergies and allergy symptoms, chemical sensitivities
Anxiety, Hyperactivity, Attention Deficit Disorder
Avoiding food helps to alleviate symptoms
Chronic inflammation and irritation of the eye and conjunctivae
Diarrhea, chronic gas, and abdominal cramps alleviated by bowel movements, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Extreme lethargy
Eye fatigue
Facial rash
Frequent urination
Frequent yeast infections in women
High sugar or mold foods drastically increase symptoms
Hives
Inflammation of the hair follicles (candidiasis folliculitis) of various parts of the body (feet, legs, arms)
Lactose intolerance
Muscle weakness and bone pain
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Panic attacks
Psoriasis/seborrheic dermatitis/dandruff, dry, itchy skin
Rectal itching
Sinus problems
Swollen lips/face
Symptoms worse after waking
White tongue and a white coating

As you can see, the symptoms are numerous and varied. Many times people give up on ever finding out what was wrong with them because some of these symptoms seem so unrelated.
If you think you have Candida it is wise to come and get checked out. Dr. Sheppard carries a variety of supplements used to treat candida and fungus overgrowth. Her treatments, combined with the anti-candida diet, completely eliminate candida from the intestinal tract. Symptoms begin to disappear almost immediately and by the completion of Dr. Sheppard's protocol many patients have achieved better health than they have experienced in years.

Parasitic Invasion

There can be over 100 different types of parasites, ranging from large to microscopic, living in human bodies. These common organisms can be found in the air we breath, in the water we drink, and in the food we eat. Parasites secrete toxins and rob our bodies of vital nutrients. They often irritate or exaggerate health problems we may already be experiencing. People with intestinal parasite infections are usually under-nourished and weak, infected with viral, fungal, or bacteria, and have various types of chemical and metal poisoning. Human intestinal parasites can be present in any person no matter their age.
These topics are very important for detoxification and your well-being. We create the perfect host for parasites when the bowel becomes ineffective as a result of constipation due to the amounts of junk food, chemicals, bad fats and sweets we consume.

Some parasites trick our bodies into thinking they are a normal part of the tissue or organ they have invaded. In this case the immune system will not fight off the intruders. Symptoms of Parasitic invasion include:
Allergies : Many allergies are caused by worm infections.
Anemia : Worms leach nutrients from bodies causing anemia.
Constipation : Some worms can obstruct certain organs like the colon causing constipation, liver and the bile duct.
Diarrhea : Diarrhea is nature's way of removing toxins.
Fatigue : Symptoms include tiredness, flue-like symptoms, apathy, depression and lack of concentration.
Gas and Stomach Bloating : Some parasites live in the upper intestine, which can cause both gas and stomach bloating.
Immune Dysfunction : Parasites depress the immune system by decreasing immunoglobulin.
Nervousness : The waste products from parasites irritate the nervous system, resulting in anxiety and restlessness.
Dr. Sheppard has many years experience with clearing people of parasites. Here at Angel Chiropractic we offer programs to attack small, medium and large parasites. Dr. Sheppard's protocol incorporates the necessary nutritional support in order to expediate die-off and alleviate unwanted side effects. Her program has returned many patients to optimal health.