Are You Magnesium Deficient?

Are You Magnesium Deficient? by Bette L. Hall CMA, NHC

Over 300 biochemical reactions in the body depend on magnesium and is known for its healing effects. 1 Deficiencies in magnesium leave people vulnerable to developing acute and chronic conditions due to not getting the minerals needed from their daily food intake.

Magnesium Carbonate is used as a dietary supplement for weightlifters and gymnasts to improve their grip on the bars.

Magnesium Hydroxide is used in Milk of Magnesia for the treatment of constipation.

Magnesium Chloride and Magnesium Sulfate are used in Epsom Salts which is used as a cathartic. Magnesium Chloride has also been known to fight infection.

Magnesium Citrite is used in medicine.

Magnesium Stearate is used in pharmaceutical technology to manufacture tablets. It prevents the tablets from sticking or caking to the equipment during the manufacturing process. It is also used as a binder in the process of making candy.

Magnesium is a crucial nutrient when it comes to proper body functioning. Magnesium ions play a major role in cellular function and strongly influence cardiovascular and neuromuscular excitability.

How do you know if your body is deprived of this valuable nutrient? These signs can be indicators of magnesium deficiency:

Cardiac Arrhthmias: Irregular heart beat, palpitations.

Leg Cramps and foot cramps that are especially bothersome at night.

Tremors: Tremors usually involve the hands, but can sometimes the head, face, voice, and legs.

Anxiety

Muscle Weakness: Lack of strength

Chronic Fatigue: Overwhelming exhaustion both mentally and physically.

Depression: Sadness, fear, hopelessness.

In a clinical trial involving thirty-two (32) patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, fifteen (15) were given magnesium and seventeen (17) were given water. Twelve (12) of the (15) patients who received the magnesium saw improvement in their energy levels, sleep patterns, and physical mobility. 2

This metallic element is not readily available in foods, therefore magnesium supplementation could help prevent high blood pressure and the other indicators listed above. 2

Magnesium supplementation can help people avoid serious disease or recover from ones they already have. There are many reasons, scientific studies, and professional medical and scientific data that sustain this statement. 2

A study documented in the International Journal of Cardiology in 1996 found that taking 600 mg of magnesium daily lowered the systolic blood pressure by almost 8 points and the diastolic pressure by almost 4 points. 1

It is difficult to get enough magnesium from the diet. In 1900 the average American diet consisted of approximately 450 mg of magnesium per day. By the year 2000, that figure dropped to about 200 mg of magnesium each day. 1

The need to increase magnesium in our diet is so strong that a gentleman by the name of Paul Mason has petitioned the government to add magnesium to bottled water and other bottled drinks. 3

“Paul Mason is telling the world that consuming more magnesium could save 21 million lives a year.” 3

Reference:

Life Extension Magazine: The Ultimate Source for New Health and Medical Findings September 2004. “Magnesium in Hypertension” By Jay S. Cohen, MD. Pgs 40-48

MagnesiumForLife.com “Magnesium and Medicine”

Life Extension Magazine: The Ultimate Source for New Health and Medical Findings September 2005. “As We See It: How Many Americans Are Magnesium Deficient” By William Falloon.

Smoking Causes More Deaths than Murder, Suicide, and AIDS Combined.

Nicotine Addiction and Withdrawal By Bette L. Hall

Cigarette smoking is responsible for more deaths than murder, suicide, and AIDS combined.

In 1984, the US Surgeon General believed we could become a “smoke-free society” by the year 2000. Programs have been implemented to help lead our nation to a smokeless society by healthcare providers and government officials.

However, cigarette smoking leads to nicotine addiction and it’s the addiction that needs to be treated.

Enforcing non-smoking facilities, hospitals, and restaurants is a great way not to subject non-smokers to second-hand smoke, but what good does it do to help the smoker deal with addiction?

With every addiction comes withdrawal symptoms when attempting to abstain from cigarette smoking or other tobacco products. Kicking the habit will not be easy. Nicotine addiction is both chemical and psychological, meaning it can negatively affect you in your body and your mind.

Some of the withdrawal symptoms include headache, irritability, insomnia, and restlessness. Symptoms can last up to three or four weeks.

Joel Spitzer, a smoking cessation specialist, says patients need to know “why they need to quit and how to do it.”

Cigarette smoking is responsible for more deaths than murder, suicide, and AIDS combined.

Every year in the US, premature deaths from smoking rob years from the potential lifespan of those who have died. Strokes are the third leading cause of deaths in the US and cigarette smoking is a major cause. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death and is attributed to cigarette smoking. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and most cases are caused my cigarette smoking.

There are several products on the market today that will help alleviate symptoms. Most of them are nicotine replacement products that are administered in a less lethal manner.

Some of those products include nicotine spray, nicotine gum, nicotine patch, and nicotine inhaler. There is also an antidepressant pill that helps alleviate withdrawal symptoms which is a non-nicotine product–Zyban.

Zyban is an antidepressant that helps eleviate irritability and restlessness. It’s been used to treat depression and other problems. Zyban is a prescription medication that works on the neurological level to reduce the nicotine craving.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in to assist you by alleviating withdrawal symptoms, then discus it with your personal physician. Treatment with Zyban is generally initiated while the patient is still smoking

With the help of one of the above products and your healthcare provider, you’ll be on the road to better health. One last help for those desiring to quit smoking is the support group or counseling. Becoming smoke-free is truly within your reach.

Reference: CMA Today. “Smoke Out” by Tamara Matthews. Jan/Feb 2006 Pages 10-15

7 Pillars of Weight Loss:

7 PILLARS OF WEIGHT LOSS
Get Up And Do Something About Your Weight by Bette L. Hall CMA

Spring is almost here alas! It’s a time when everything becomes fresh and new. Flowers begin to bloom, love is in the air, and our thoughts turn toward shedding those unwanted winter pounds.

Short dark days have led to inactivity and the pounds have piled on. Hoards of beautiful bodies will be heading to Waikiki, Newport, Malibu, Santa Monica, Padre Island, and Pompano Beach. Will you be one of those headed for fun in the sun or will that winter fat keep you too embarrassed to show yourself in a bikini?

These words of wisdom are meant to encourage and help those who want to reduce ten or fifteen pounds and that little tummy pooch that was gained during the winter blahs.

Pay close attention and follow this advice and you will see results. The things I’m about to share with you aren’t just empty words. They are words of wisdom that require action on your part. Don’t just read these words and think “it’s good advice” and then forget about them. Get up and do something about it.

1. Lighten up on your salt intake. That doesn’t just mean to limit your use of the salt shaker at the table. It also means not to eat food with high salt content such as bacon, ham, cheese, chips, popcorn, corn nuts, etc.

2. Add yogurt, whey, or the dietary supplement Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) to your daily intake.

3. Drink water–lots of water!

4. Exercise–start walking and using that ab-doer you have stashed away in the closet. Do any exercise you want. The important point here is to start moving.

5. Limit your calories at snack time to no more than 200-250.

6. Don’t eat for four hours prior to going to bed. If you go to bed at midnight, then don’t eat after 8pm. Never go to bed feeling full!

7. Keep a journal. This isn’t the “write-down-everything-you-eat-journal.” It should be a journal where you write your thoughts and feelings, successes and failures, weights and measurements. It’s your “everything-journal.” You can record the foods you eat if you want, but that is not the sole purpose of this journal.

Look for future articles where there will be more detail about the following subjects: salt intake, yogurt, water, calories, and journaling will be the topics of discussion.

The Latest Treatments for Obesity

The Latest Treatments for Obesity by Bette L. Hall CMA

The treatments listed here, “Mesotherapy” and “Flavor-Themed Meals,” are for your information only. Always consult your physician before embarking on any weight loss program.

Basically, mesotherapy, also known as lipodissolve, is a form of body sculpting that promises users that they’ll lose weight and cellulite. It involves injecting tiny medicinal bullets of certain substances under the skin for the purpose of breaking down fat cells to produce weight loss. One of those substances is phosphatidylcholine which is required by every cell membrane in the body.

Currently there is not enough data to support mesotherapy as safe and effective; however, studies are being performed by the Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery at this time. The results will be published later this year.

The second fad is “flavor-themed-meals.” Obesity researcher Dr. David Katz says, “Forget counting carbs and calories, the way to lose weight is to limit flavors.”

Katz doesn’t suggest eating just a particular food for each meal, but rather, foods prepared with the same food for each meal. An example would be sliced apples with your cereal for breakfast, an apple/grape/walnut salad for lunch, and applesauce and pork chops for dinner. Maybe even a little slice of apple pie for dessert would be okay. He even advocates a chocolate themed day once in a while.

The theory here is that if you combine many flavors in one meal, it could lead to eating more. Katz’s new book, “The Flavor Point Diet,” is based on sensory-specific satiety. Katz is a nutrition columnist for Oprah Winfrey’s magazine “O.”

This sensory-specific satiety diet was tested on 20 people for 12 weeks. The average weight loss was 16 pounds. This diet has been compared to the soup diet or the grapefruit diet and other diets that recommend eating just one thing.

According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary a fad is a “practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal: CRAZE.” Craze means to become insane. So before jumping into the latest fad or craze, watch for the results of the research and consult your physician. Weigh the pros and cons and make an informed decision regarding the mesotherapy and the Flavor Point Diet.

REFERENCES:
CBS News (cbsnews.com). Lose Weight By Limiting Flavors 2006
Scout News – Health Day. News for Healthy Living April 2006

Arrest The Aging

Arrest the Aging Process by Bette L. Hall CMA

The word aging conjures up negative images in our minds of forgetfulness, restlessness and sleepless nights, and wrinkled skin with dark spots on the face and hands. We no longer need to stand by and accept these things as part of the natural aging process. Scientific studies show us that it is possible to enhance both the length and the quality of life.

The length of our life or the number of years we live is not important if we cannot have quality of life also. Who would want to live to be eighty or ninety years old if we cannot sleep or think right and you don’t even know the names of your family members? So what we need to do is to arrest the aging process.

A specific amino acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, can sharpen the mental abilities and stimulate the growth of new neuritis. Robert Crayhon, M. S. recommends that we take carnitine and acetyl-Lcarnitine along with Co-Q10 and folic acid for improved cognitive function.

Restless nights and insomnia are often associated with aging. Lack of sleep has been associated with cytokines which have been linked to degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland and controls our wake/sleep cycle. As we age, the body’s natural production of melatonin is slowed. Supplementation with melatonin has shown to regulate sleep as well as slow brain aging.

Hyaluronic Acid (HLA) is a vital component of our skin’s structure that diminishes as we age. HLA is responsible for moisture, suppleness, and elasticity of the skin and will improve the appearance of the skin when HLA is used both internally and externally.

In summary, the use of acetyl-L-carnitine, carnitine, Co-Q10, omega 3 fatty acid, melatonin, and hyaluronic acid can help you arrest the aging process. You can be mentally alert, cognitive, rested, attractive and full of life at any age.

Don’t Be A Slave To What You Crave

Don’t Be A Slave To What You Crave by Bette L. Hall

Positive and Negative Aspects of Chocolate and other Sweets

You aren’t going to be told to give up the chocolate. Chocolate can be good for you. There are, however; some things you need to know about the chocolate and sweet cravings you experience.

When blood sugar levels drop below 65 milligrams, a sweet toot and sugar craving is the result. If the blood sugar level is allowed to continue below the 65 mg., headache, weakness, and even heart palpitations can occur. Thinking becomes slowed and confused which leads to grouchiness and irritability.

Many scientific studies have shown that well being and a positive disposition result when the blood sugar levels remain above the fasting level.

The average American begins the day with high sugar content foods. Think about it. You’re running late for work. You skip having breakfast. You stop at the nearest 7-11 or QT on your way to work and what do you buy? Sugar laden coffee and a couple of donuts! Or maybe you drive through Winchell’s Donut Shop or Crispy Cream for your morning donuts and sugar-laden coffee.

If you are in a big hurry but not that late, your breakfast consists of the quick and easy. How about pop tarts, toaster strudel, frozen waffles, or coffeecake? And sugar-laden coffee, of course.

All that sugar that’s consumed in the early morning hours causes the blood sugar to skyrocket, but in an hour or so it drops to a low level again. The result? Inefficiency and fatigue! The real function of sugar is to efficiently produce energy not fatigue.

The key to maintaining an even blood sugar level for hours after consumption is by adding protein to your breakfast. Drink a glass of milk or eat some yogurt or cottage cheese with breakfast. Another name for cottage cheese is curds and whey. There have been some excellent studies performed recently on the benefits of whey including increased hormone levels and lowered body weight. By adding milk, yogurt, or cottage cheese to your morning meal, you’ll be taking a healthy step in the right direction.

If you feel you need a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack, eat a protein bar. I didn’t say to skip the chocolate. The important point is to add some protein.

Mrs. A was bragging, “I can eat chocolate and still lose weight.” It was learned that Mrs. A skipped breakfast and had only a chocolate candy bar for lunch.

She went on to say, “I have to have my chocolate. I would rather starve myself all day than to give up my chocolate.”

Studies have shown that chocolate consumption is healthy because of its polyphenol and anti-oxidant properties. “Chocolate is a mild stimulant and mood elevator.”1 It tastes good too. In fact, chocolate is delicious. According to a study at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, five out eight women crave sweets. The most prevalent craving being the craving of chocolate.2

Mrs. A would be functioning at a more efficient level by replacing the candy bar with a protein bar. The craving for chocolate and sweets disappears or is at least diminished when the blood sugar level is kept high. That is accomplished by eating protein foods – NOT sugar foods.

What Mrs. A didn’t realize is that when a craving becomes so intense that you think you can’t live without it, it’s become an addiction.

Many women crave chocolate every month during either PMS of their menstrual cycle. In addition to a blood sugar level, this craving could also be the result of a nutritional deficiency. Many “chocolate-addicts” crave chocolate because of a chromium and magnesium deficiency.

Chromium helps stabilize blood sugar levels and makes better use of insulin. This action lessens the urge to indulge in those delicious tempting morsels of chocolate.

Another supplement that helps to naturally suppress chocolate and sugar cravings is the amino acid L-Glutamine. Glutamine is known as the essential “non-essential amino acid.” It is known to alleviate hypoglycemia.

In summary, chocolate and other sweets can become an addiction for these reasons: 1. Low Blood Sugar Levels 2. Nutritional Deficiency

Supplements that help curb the craving:
1. Chromium
2. L-Glutamine

The best way to curb the craving:
1. Add Protein Foods to Your Meals
2. Eat Protein Foods for Your Snacks
3. Take Supplements

References

1. Zand, Janet, Allen J. Spreen, James B. LaValle. Smart Medicine for Healthier Living. New York, Garden City Park. Avery Publishing Company. 1999 p. 449

2. Studenmund, Gabrielle. Fitness Magazine May 2001. “Retrain Your Appetite” G & H USA Publishing, A Garner and Jahr Company. New York, N. Y. p. 55

Migraine Headaches Explained

Migraine Headaches Explained

by Bette L. Hall CMA, NHC

Migraine headache has the longest history of not being understood and there are more women who suffer from this disorder than men. Boys and girls are affected equally until they reach puberty and the migraine incidence increases in girls. Young women are three times as likely to have a migraine than men. 1

The suffering from migraine headaches can be traced back 9000 years during a time when the treatment was trepanation–the practice of drilling a hole in the skull to relieve pressure on the brain.

By the time the new millennium came around, the controversy was whether or not a migraine is vascular or neurological and there is no data to discredit either theory. And so…the neurovascular hypothesis was born. 2

Now it is known that migraine headaches are a “complicated complex issue involving hormonal balance, neurochemicals, and metabolic integrity,” according to Dr. Dzugan.3 The new hypothesis is the Neurohormonal and Metabolic Dysbalance conclusion.

From May 2001 until May 2004 a scientific study was conducted on 23 patients who had tried without success to prevent or treat migraine by the use of various medications for anywhere from 2 to 36 years. The 21 women and 2 men ranged in age from 29 to 66. 100% of these patients had the concurrent illness of fatigue and 95.7% suffered from depression. 3

The treatment consisted of four entertwined components that cannot be separated.

Hormone Restoration which consisted of pregnenolone, DHEA, triestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Correction of the ratio between calcium and magnesium.

Resetting the pineal gland by use of melatonin.

The use of probiotics to restore normal intestinal flora.

All of the patients responded to migraine management during the study–100% success rate. Ultimately the concurrent illness of fatigue, insomnia, and depression were resolved. There were no complications or side effects and their quality of life was remarkably improved. 3

According to the Life Extension Foundation, drugs rsed to treat Migraine:

• Anti-nausea drugs
• Anti-anxiety drugs
• Anti-inflammatories
• Ergot
• Steroids
• Tranquilizers
• Narcotic Pain Relievers
• Serotonin Promoters

According to the Life Extension Foundation, drugs used to prevent migraine:

• Beta-Blockers
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Antidepressants
• Serotonin Blockers
• Anticonvulsants

There is hope in sight. Don’t let your migraines go untreated. You don’t have to suffer from the debilitating pain anymore. Contact your primary care physician and discuss your options. Also, lifestyle changes can help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines. Many people find relief from exercising and by giving up cigarettes. Get a good nights sleep and try some stress reduction techniques.

Reference:
1. MayoClinic.com Tools for Healthier Lives. “Migraine Headache.”

2. Current Vascular Pharmacology, 2003, Pgs. 1, 71-84 71 “Migraine: Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Treatment and Future Trends” Carlos M. Villalón*, David Centurión, Luis Felipe Valdivia, Peter de Vries1 and Pramod R. Saxena1

3. Life Extension Magazine: The Ultimate Source for New Health and Medical Findings September 2004. “An Innovative New Treatment for Migraine” By Dr. Sergey A. Dzugan Pgs 65-73

Origins of Obesity

Origins of Obesity

 by Bette L. Hall 

Obesity is a leading health problem in America. At least one third of American adults are obese. Obesity is defined as anyone whose body fat is above 25%. A sedentary lifestyle and modern conveniences are the culprits that leads to obesity. In days of old, men and women both worked the land. Think about it – they churned butter, milked cows, chopped wood, bailed hay, dug wells, built their own homes, washed clothes on a scrub board, pumped water, and much more. In other words, the people of our American society were physically active.

Today, everything is instant and convenient. We have couch potatoes and couch tomatoes with their remote controls and sweet and salty snacks.

At the end of the great depression of the 1930’s, many modern conveniences were introduced into our society to make our life easier. All for what? I’ll tell you, it’s so we don’t have to work so hard. All so we can take it easy. All so we can sit down and do nothing. We think all the labor saving devices are saving us time and effort. In reality, they are making us lazy. In our laziness, our bodies are deteriorating, our muscles are diminishing, our bowels don’t function properly, we don’t think clearly, and we are more nervous than ever.

Even our jobs are sedentary. Secretaries and receptionists aren’t the only ones who sit all day long. Computer programmers and webmasters sit at their computers all day. Scientists and lab technologists sit in a lab all day. Other people who are sedentary on the job are researchers, authors, poets, artists, insurance agents, telemarketers, and telephone operators. And the list goes on and on.We aren’t as active as our grandparents were when they were young. Therefore, we need to look for ways to be active. Physical activity not only helps you to become a slimmer you, but also provides many health benefits. Walking should be your best friend.

Becoming a Slimmer You is a lifestyle not a fad diet, nor a quick fix. Rather, it is a spiritual matter. It’s about changing habits and believing in your self.

What we eat and drink along with the level of physical activity is what determines whether you’ll be a slimmer you or not.

About the Author

Bette has been writing articles in the weight loss, diet, and nutrition arena for over twenty years. Her degree is in applied science with a major in Medical Assistant, clinical/back-office. She is a member in good standing of the (AAMA) American Association of Medical Assistants.