The Intelligencer Journal (PA) - Going coconutty - (Sunday, March 11, 2012) -

When it comes to cooking Dr. Ann Lee of Health for Life Clinic Inc. in Lancaster might turn to coconut oil for its healthy properties.

But the naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist says coconut oil can be used for so many other things outside the kitchen.

"People might think of coconut oil as being one of the healthiest oils to eat and it's great for cooking especially for cooking things on high heat" she said. "But a lot of people don't realize that coconut oil can be beneficial in so many other ways too."

Peninsula Clarion (AK) - Medical care options, alternatives should be respected - by Annette Pankoski - (Friday, March 9, 2012) -

My husband and I have both been very pleased with the services of our Naturopathic Doctor over the years. We have had many ills remedied by simple measures and without prescription drugs. We are self employed and have a high deductible insurance policy, therefore, we are "self-pay." We have never filed an insurance claim. We try to work efficiently with our health care and not pay for unnecessary appointments or medications. We feel we should have the right to pursue the health care we desire and receive the services that are granted to those directed under the Medical doctors by our hospital, Central Peninsula Hospital such as a bone density scan or a sonigram. 

We still, on occasion, see our Medical Doctor that we think very highly of. However, the CPGH Inc. board of directors consisting of medical doctors has decided without written policy to deny access to those sort of tests to us by denying the scripts of our Naturopathic Doctor. In my opinion that is discrimination. CPH is losing revenue because of this "policy" that, for which, there is no document. CPH is the only hospital in the state to not honor the scripts of the NDs. 

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI) - Laws unfairly place limit on integrative therapies - by Ira Zunin - (Saturday, March 10, 2012) -

Hawaii has a long-standing tradition of insurance coverage for injured workers and those involved in automobile accidents that includes acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathy and massage therapy. More than 70 percent of workers' injuries and the majority of complaints among those involved in motor vehicle accidents are musculoskeletal in nature. These services can offer substantial support toward the resolution of such pain and suffering in combination with or, at times, instead of modern medical care. Tens of thousands of research studies have been done to evaluate clinical outcomes from such care options, and responsible guidelines can be derived from this information. All four of these professions have Hawaii state boards that provide licensure and monitor scope of practice.

Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which pays for medical care after a motor vehicle accident, underwent substantial reform in the state Legislature during the late '90s. In part, based on perceptions of abuse by the chiropractic profession, a bill was passed mandating that for all PIP policies the total maximum combined number of visits offered by acupuncture, chiropractic and naturopathy be capped at 30. The bill further mandated that all PIP carriers pay a maximum of $75 per visit for all three professions. No provisions were made for cost-of-living increases. What police officer, what teacher, what office worker would continue to work for 12 to 15 years without any cost-of-living increase, let alone additional compensation for longevity and performance? 

Dynamic Chiropractic (dynamicchiropractic.com) - How You Can Impact the Chiropractic Profession's Role in Health Care Reform - by Keith Overland - (Saturday, March 10, 2012) -

As election season moves into full swing this time of year, I am moved not only by observing true democracy in action, but also by the symbolic nature of new beginnings and new opportunities.

Our profession is at a crossroads - a "chiropractic spring," so to speak. Some would say that for 100 years, we have been an oppressed profession; one that has faced discrimination at almost every turn. Yet time and again, we have frustrated those who would have the chiropractic profession "wither on the vine." However, finally the community as a whole is seeing the damage caused by decades of a monopolistic and incestuous health care system. 

It is now quite clear to those willing to have an open mind that change is the only option. Runaway costs, millions of uninsured, limited access and the overuse of pharmaceuticals and invasive procedures over the decades have brought us to a precipice that must no longer be ignored.

The New York Times (NY) - Reasons That Vitamin D May Matter - by Jane Brody (Monday, March 12, 2012) -

At least once a week, someone, usually a woman over 50, asks me about vitamin D. Perhaps a routine checkup has revealed a deficiency, prompting the doctor to recommend an over-the-counter supplement or, in severe cases, large prescription doses to correct the problem.

Often, though, the concern is bone health. Without vitamin D, the body cannot properly absorb calcium, and bones become fragile. At the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons last month, researchers reported that among 889 adult patients treated for a fracture at a Missouri trauma center, blood levels of vitamin D were "insufficient" in 78 percent and "frankly deficient" in 39 percent. The study group excluded those with known risk factors forvitamin D deficiency.

A second report, by doctors in Seoul, South Korea, found vitamin D levels were "significantly lower" among 104 postmenopausal women who had broken a wrist than among 107 age-matched controls without a fracture.

HealthDay (healthday.com) - More Insight on Possible Role of Vitamin D Against Alzheimer's - by Robert Preidt - (Monday, March 12, 2012) -

Scientists have pinpointed how vitamin D3 works with some of the body's cells to help clear the brain of amyloid beta, the main component of plaques that are seen in Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers took blood samples from Alzheimer's patients and healthy people and then isolated immune cells called macrophages, which consume amyloid beta and other waste products in the brain and the body.

They found that vitamin D3 may activate certain genes and cellular signaling networks to trigger the immune system to clear amyloid beta, according to the study published in the March 6 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

CNN (cnn.com) - Study: Too much red meat may shorten lifespan - by Anne Harding - (Monday, March 12, 2012) -

Want to live longer? Trade some of the red meat in your diet for fish, nuts, whole grains, and other healthier protein sources, Harvard researchers say.

That's the conclusion of a new study, published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine, that found that the risk of dying at an early age -- from heart disease, cancer, or any other cause-rises in step with red-meat consumption.

Eating too much red meat, which is high in saturated fat and cholesterol, has long been seen as unhealthy, especially for the heart. The new study, however, is the first to estimate the effect of swapping out red meat on a person's lifespan.

The New York Times (NY) - Small-Picture Approach Flips Medical Economics - by Bruce Jaspen - (Monday, March 12, 2012) -

Even as she struggled to manage her Type 2 diabetes, Fannie Cline's condition spiraled downward. It was not uncommon for Mrs. Cline, a 69-year-old retiree, to have dizzy spells, some so bad that they landed her in a hospital emergency room near her home here on the South Side.

But last May, she began to receive extra attention from Gwlie Lloyd, aregistered nurse and care manager at Advocate Health Care, which operates a number of Chicago hospitals and clinics. Ms. Lloyd frequently calls to check on Mrs. Cline; she offers advice on diet and exercise, schedules appointments, orders meals for delivery and arranges appointments with a social worker.

As a result, Mrs. Cline's health has markedly improved. She is more active, the dizzy spells have subsided and she has not been hospitalized since May. Now she spends her days visiting friends.

Portland Business Journal (OR) - College of Natural Medicine economic impact: $55.8M - by Matthew Kish (Tuesday, March 13, 2012) -

Portland's National College of Natural Medicine had a $55.8 million impact on the local economy in 2011, according to a new study by ECONorthwest.

Among its 2011 economic activity:

• $25.8 million in direct spending on payroll and other operating costs.
• $10.9 million in indirect spending on goods and other services.
• $19.2 million in other spending related to the increased purchasing power of households impacted by the college.

The economic activity generated 613 jobs.

The study notes that the college is the only naturopathic medical school in Oregon so it generates spending that otherwise would not occur in Portland. It also estimates that every $1 million the college spends generates an additional $1.2 million spent by others.

HealthDay (healthday.com) - Cooler Hands Might Boost Your Workout, Study Suggests - byKathleen Doheny - (Monday, March 13, 2012) -

Looking for a exercise edge, a way to stay faithful to regular workouts? Try chilling out -- literally.

Cooling the palms of the hands while working out helped obese women exercise longer, reports researcher Stacy Sims, a research scientist and exercise physiologist at Stanford University School of Medicine.

She was to present her findings Tuesday at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism scientific sessions in San Diego.

"If you think about adipose [fat] tissue, it's a great insulator," Sims said. For people who are obese, that means they often get too hot while exercising.

Shape Magazine (shape.com) - My 10 Fave Products From the Natural Products Expo - byCynthia Sass - (Tuesday, March 13, 2012) -

I live, sleep, eat, and breathe nutrition, so I would rather spend time at a farmer's market or health food grocery than a department store or mall any day. When I discover brand new, healthy (and delicious) products I feel like a kid in a candy shop. That's why I was so excited to attend the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California over the weekend, where thousands of natural products were featured. I scoured the booths so I could share my 10 favorite finds (note: while not all of these products are available nationwide, awareness and demand can change that-if you're interested in a product ask your local grocer about it).

Nasoya Black Soybean Tofu Plus
If you read this blog you know I'm a huge fan of organic tofu, and this one is truly unique. Made from both black and yellow soybeans, traditional tofu is made from yellow only, its speckled look adds a beautiful aesthetic to any meal. And the pigment that gives black soybeans their hue adds an extra dose of antioxidants to each serving (check out my previous post on the health benefits of black foods). The ingredients are also clean and natural, just water, organic whole yellow and black soybeans, calcium sulfate (a vegan form of calcium), nigari (sea water extract), and vitamin E. I know what's going in my next stir-fry! 

The Oregonian (OR) - You Docs: Gout solutions; it's deja vu all over again - by Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen - (Wednesday, March 14, 2012) -

David Wells, former pitcher for the Yankees and the Blue Jays, says his first gout attack left him screaming like a 6-year-old girl, writhing on the floor and holding his big toe. And he's joined in gout agony by several million Americans (mostly men), as well as actor Jared Leto (who developed it when he put on 60 pounds for his role as Mark David Chapman) and, most famously, King Henry VIII.   

Don't join that team! We YOU Docs want you to know that there's a lot you can do to prevent flares and pain.
  
Gout comes on when your body either makes too much or excretes (in your urine) too little uric acid -- a byproduct of purine, a chemical that's in almost all human tissues and some foods. It's those uric acid molecules that cause trouble when they get together and form sharp, pointy crystals that lodge in joints and tissue. So to dodge gout flares: