It is almost a daily “battle” to try to defend the validity of other perspectives on eating such as the “Paleo Diet”,
Modern Day Hunter Gatherers, or simply just eating REAL FOOD.

While the China Study and many recent documentaries have certainly increased awareness of the general population
about the connection between diet and health, the details of their studies / research should not necessarily be taken as
“the gospel”, where any other possibilities are immediately refuted as harmful or wrong.

There are truly many inconsistencies and shortcomings of The China Study, but the overall benefit of encouraging people
to eat more fresh, green, alive, nutrient rich foods is far more important than dismissing the entire study and the benefits
people have experienced.  On the other hand, the “Eat Right for Your Blood Type” diet may also provide some useful information
in that some people may do better without animal protein, while others may not.  Adapting the information from the China Study
to apply to other blood types leads us to something like the Paleo Diet again.

In the documentary Forks Over Knives – again an excellent message to add significant quantities of fresh, alive, green, colorful, fruits
and vegetables to your diet – they advocate almost no animal protein at all, and almost villain’ize’ any consumption what-so-ever.  One
detail they seem to pass over is the type of animal products they are truly referring to.  The villains are PROCESSED milk, PROCESSED,
dairy products, PROCESSED beef / chicken / fish, as compare to WHOLE, RAW milk and dairy products, GRASS FEED and FREE RANGE
beef and chicken and WILD fish.  It is the processing of our food supply (whether for safety (ex. pasteurization) or for profit) that has adulterated
the nutritional content of animal protein and products.

It seems to me that Forks Over Knives also discusses the issue in two extremes – all meat and no meat.  In their opinion people either ate dairy products
and meat ONLY at every meal and then they were sick.  Or they ate NO MEAT or DAIRY – ONLY – and then they were healthy. There was no discussion of
plentiful consumption of fresh, local, green, alive, nutrient rich, colorful foods (9-11 servings of fruit and vegetables), AND healthy animal products (grass fed,
free range, minimally processed).

If you do well on a low animal product nutrition program – that is excellent – however, this may not be the best thing for your spouse, your child, your neighbor,
your co-worker, your mother….  If you have a chronic or terminal disease, avoiding animal products (for a period of time) might be beneficial for you…. I am not
saying there is no benefit to a vegetarian or vegan diet, but at the same time I am not saying that everyone has to consume massive amounts of (processed) animal
products.

Although the sweeping generalizations gather media attention – the beauty is in the details.  If you are concerned about a nutrition program that is right for you and
your lifestyle, especially if you have a history of disease, or family history of disease it is likely in your best interest to consult with a knowledgeable practitioner to
determine where you are today, and what might work for you today and possibly plan for how to modify your nutrition in the future.  Your life situation is always
changing, your stress, your exercise, your daily demands, your goals….. your nutrition might need to change to help support you during your different life stages!

For a detailed analysis of the China Study and why it may not “extrapolate” and apply as simply as Campbell ascertains please see:

http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/08/03/the-china-study-a-formal-analysis-and-response/

Vitamin D also behaves more like a hormone than a vitamin, and is often called a pro- or pre-hormone.  Research confirms that
Vitmain D functions as a unique hormone that can modulate pain and inflammation, support blood sugar regulation, cardiovascular
health, immune system function, as well as mood modulation.  While low to moderate levels of Vitamin D in the blood can help to
prevent the severe skeletal disorder Rickets, higher concentrations of this fat soluble molecule have been shown to be effective /
preventative for several types of cancers.  Serious disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, Autism, and Diabetes have also been associated
with Vitamin D deficiency.

The attached graph has a very useful, simple outline of blood levels that have been associated with preventative and therapeutic
outcomes from Vitamin D supplementation.

Since Vitamin D is one of the “fat soluble vitamins” (- remember that from biology class) – it can be important to take it along with the other fat soluble vitamins – A, E and K.
Specifically, Vitamin K2 has been shown to be necessary for maintaining calcium deposits in the tissues at a normal level.  Vitamin K is also known for it’s ability to improve
the utilization of Vitamin D.

(If you are on any blood thinning medications or agents; or if you have parathyroid disorder or elevated calcium levels in your blood- it is critical that you talk with your
doctor before adding any supplements or medications to your regimen – especially Vitamin D and Vitamin K.)

If anyone else is interested or willing to write a review in return I would like to offer a discount
off your next visit AND supplement order!

Thank you again – I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT!

She came across an article on Gluten Free Society .com, and was seeking my input
on the “validity / quality” of the information.

In a nutshell the article and the study it referred to seems to present the perspective
that serious health consequences are not associated with “Gluten Sensitivity” (GS),
but only with true “Celiac Disease” (CD).

They state that only Celiac Disease is associated with other autoimmune dysfunction
and disease or more severe issues like cancer.  I would have to challenge this opinion
in a bitter fight, since I know that I have what are considered the Non-Celiac-Gluten-
Sensitivity genes.  (The HLA-DQ genes 2 or 8 are considered the Celiac Gluten-Sensitivity
genes, in that most people who develop Celiac Disease have at least one gene of the 2 or the
8 variety).  Having Non-Celiac-Gluten-Sensitivity genes simply means it is more likely that
you will not develop “Celiac Disease” as defined by 1) testing positive for certain antibodies,
and 2) testing positive to a biopsy of the small intestine (showing atrophy of the small finger-
like projections called villi).

Both of these tests commonly used in traditional medicine have several shortcomings.  If you
are interested in additional details on how these test produce many “false negatives” I would
be happy to go into detail in another post, or directly with you.  For now I will stay focused on
the above mentioned article / study.

The study goes on to say that the “Gluten Sensitive subjects do not test positive for transglutaminase…..”
This is a very interesting statement since just yesterday Cyrex Labs – the true GOLD STANDARD for
gluten testing and research announced that they are adding two additional transglutaminase tests to
their packages.  Highlighting the fact that there is indeed more than one transglutaminase!

Transglutaminase is best known for its connection to Celiac Disease in that gluten stimulates and an
anti-transglutaminase antibody (ATA), which leads to the autoimmune attack on the gastrointestinal tract.
Even Wiki mentions that the common transglutaminase (TG) that is associated with Celiac Disease and the
gut is TG2 – which is expressed in epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tissue_transglutaminase

The other transglutaminase enzymes are tTG3 (dermis) and tTG6 (neuronal). It is well known that there are
several neurological and skin disorders associated with Celiac disease AS WELL AS non-Celiac disease gluten-reactivity.

I personally do not test positive for tTG2 but do have anti-bodies for BOTH tTG3 and tTG6!

On January 17, 2012 the Wall Street Journal published an article A Gut Check For Many Ailments where they state the following:

“New research indicates problems in the gut may cause problems in the brain, just as a mental ailment, such as anxiety, can upset the stomach”

So, what do I say to my confused well informed patient about the “accuracy / quality of the info” of a study performed
by Anna Sapone, Karen M Lammers, Vincenzo Casolaro, Marcella Cammarota, Maria T Giuliano, Mario De Rosa,
Rosita Stefanile, Giuseppe Mazzarella, Carlo Tolone, Maria I Russo, Pasquale Esposito, Franca Ferraraccio, Maria Carteni
Gabriele Riegler, Laura de Magistris, Alessio Fasano published in BMC Medicine 2011, 9:23    doi:10.1186/1741-7015-9-23?

I would have to say there is still a lot of information that is not commonly well known out there, and perhaps sometimes there
are people who have agendas to publish research that is in line with some other theory….. However, you cannot lie with chemistry,
and you cannot lie with physiology.  It is what it is.  If there is more than one transglutaminase (which there is) and only one is tested,
it might not be prudent to make generalized conclusions as if other molecules in the human body did not exist…

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tissue_transglutaminase

http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/gluten-free-society-blog/the-many-heads-of-gluten-sensitivity/

http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/wp-content/uploads/Dr-Fasano-BMC-Study.pdf

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204468004577164732944974356.html

Cyrex Labs – Important Array 3 and 4 Announcement, February 7, 2012

There were almost 450 posts and very few pursued a gluten issue or Celiac Disease, which
is what the case turned out to be, even though previous testing did indicate elevated antibodies
to gluten.  The issue that seemed to throw people off was that it was stated that the patient had
tried a gluten free diet and did not experience any improvement.  This is where a detailed intake
and not rushing through a history can be so important.

This patient did try removing some gluten foods from her diet, but perhaps did not understand
the various sources of gluten, nor the hidden sources.  Additionally, many people with Celiac Disease
or gluten sensitivity are also sensitive to other grains that are often used as substitutes for gluten
containing grains.  If these “non-gluten” grains do react (even to a lesser degree), the patient may
not experience the improvement expected and gluten will be ruled out.

Wheat in the United States has been dramatically modified over the past 5 or so decades and is not
the ancient grain it used to be.  The way wheat is stored and processed also contributes to why more
people are experiencing symptoms when consuming wheat products.

Symptoms can be extremely varied, leading to an increased complexity in diagnosis.  Common symptoms
include:  headache, stomach pain, bloating, gas, belching, brain fog, mental sluggishness, acne, obesity,
diarrhea, constipation, skin rash, neurological dysfunction, depression, anxiety, moodiness, muscle pain,
poor digestion, nutrient deficiencies, seizures, migraines, thyroid and sex hormone dysfunction, PMS, the
list is virtually endless.

Just because you have been tested (in the NYT case the patient had an upper endoscopy – thought to be the
gold standard in medicine), and the results come back negative, it does not really mean that you don’t have
a gluten issue or possibly even Celiac Disease.  There are many reason why antibody levels may not be elevated,
why biopsies may not be accurate, or even why the results were misinterpreted.  There are many more false negatives
with gluten or Celiac testing than false positives.

If you continue to have symptoms that do not resolve, or your doctors begin to tell you it’s “in your head”, visit with
another professional who can help you understand the complexities of gluten sensitivity and Celiac Disease.

Dr. Slavin is an adviser to the Eagle County Gluten Free and Celiac Disease Support Group.  She has extensive training
in gluten sensitivity and other bowel dysfunction.  If you are experiencing digestive problems, call Functional Wellness
today to talk with Dr. Slavin.

The details of the case:  http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/26/think-like-a-doctor-ordering-the-right-test/

The case solved: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/think-like-a-doctor-the-right-test-solved/

Many of you know one issue that can get me fired-up faster than Sarah Palin, is vaccination.  While I am not against
all vaccination, I believe feel it is important is to understand the dosage schedule and your options.

Immediate reactions to vaccines tend to be the only data reported to the CDC and available in the VAERS (Vaccine
Adverse Event Reporting System), however long term reactions are not.  Many health care professionals even dismiss
the possible correlation due to poor reporting records.

While vaccinations have often been devilishly implicated in Autism, I do not feel it is the single CAUSE for severe disorders
associated with vaccination.  Understanding the patient’s family history, physiology, gestational environment, medical history,
diet, nutrition and lifestyle, all play important factors in determining possible reactions to vaccinations.

If you would like to investigate options for vaccinating your child, or yourself with a safer protocol, please contact Functional
Wellness for more information.

For full results and details of the study with diagrams

http://www.vaccineinjury.info/vaccinations-in-general/health-unvaccinated-children/survey-results-illnesses.html

Additional information

http://healthfreedoms.org/2011/10/14/big-study-vaccinated-kids-2-5-more-diseases-than-unvaccinated/

This new documentary looks behind the fear, hype and politics that have polarized the vaccine debate in America today.
The film re-frames the emotionally charged issue and offers, for the first time, the opportunity for a rational and scientific
discussion on how to create a safer and more effective vaccine program.

Really!  I had a 20 year old patient call me in tears as I had just recommended magnesium to her the previous
week for constipation, stress, anxiety, muscle pain, difficulty sleeping, and headaches.  She felt better within
3 days, but after learning about this study broadcast on local news stations, emblazoned on newspaper front
pages and all over the internet, she stopped taking the supplement.

This study has MANY flaws in the data, as well as manipulation of the numbers that makes it ridiculous that
major news carriers wanted to cover it.  Details of the untruths and shoddy data gathering can be found here:

http://www.anh-usa.org/shame-on-ama-archives-of-internal-medicine/

and here:

http://www.anh-usa.org/shame-on-ama-part-two/

http://drdavidbrownstein.blogspot.com/2011/11/vitamin-study-flawed.html

Regardless of the poor clinical trials and adverse reactions to the vaccine, most cervical dysplasia (which the vaccine claims to prevent)
has actually been linked to nutrient deficiencies caused by birth control. This article even goes so far as to say that there is increased risk
of heart disease in women with HPV. As we know correlation does not imply causation – PERHAPS the heart disease is also related to the
nutrient deficiencies.

There are other options for HPV “vaccination” and simple steps you can take to address nutrient depletion from birth control and many
other common medications.  Call Functional Wellness today to learn more.

Despite repeated warnings, the Marine Corps leadership took no action to protect their Marines and their families.
Worse yet, many still remain unaware of their exposures. Today, Camp Lejeune has the shameful distinction of being
the largest male breast cancer cluster ever identified – 73 men – and families who lived and worked on the base are
suffering from various rare cancers, chronic disease and birth defects.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Functional Wellness held a donation based informational talk about Gluten.
All donations were sent to the local Shaw Regional Cancer Center for the Pink October theme.