Sunday 30 June 2013

Candida and ADHD

Is that why todays offenders are so violent, Candida is a bigger problem than anyone realises.

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Attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

by Leyla Muedin, MS, RD, CDN

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a condition whose principal characteristics are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD is usually diagnosed in children where the primary symptoms are difficulty controlling behavior and/or paying attention. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it is estimated that approximately 2 million children in the United States have ADHD. This means in a classroom of 25 to 30 children, one will likely have ADHD. It affects all races and cultures, and boys are three times more likely to be diagnosed than girls.
How do we know it's ADHD?
Not everyone who is impulsive, hyperactive or inattentive has ADHD. Actually, ADHD is not easy to diagnose, especially when inattentiveness such as daydreaming is the primary symptom. It is when a child's distractibility, hyperactivity, poor concentration, or impulsivity affects performance in school, behavior at home or in social relationships with other children that ADHD may be suspected. The diagnosis of ADHD requires that such behavior be demonstrated to a degree that is inappropriate for the individual's age.
Approximately 20 to 30 percent of children with ADHD have a learning disability. In preschool years, these disabilities may present as difficulty understanding words or sounds and/or difficulty in self-_expression. As children grow up, this can manifest as spelling or reading disabilities, and writing or arithmetic disorders.
Research estimates that between 30 and 70 percent of children with ADHD continue to exhibit symptoms in adulthood. For many, symptoms of ADHD do not become apparent until adulthood. Typically adults are unaware that they even have the disorder. They just feel that it's almost impossible to get organized, keep an appointment or stick to a job. Distractibility, restlessness and impulsivity are often the characteristic symptoms in adults. Some may have a history of school failures, problems at work, or have been involved in frequent car accidents.
Scientists are now moving toward looking for a physiological basis for ADHD. Lately, an area of attention is the brain, particularly the frontal lobes of the cerebrum. This area of the brain allows us to restrain our impulses, solve problems, and plan ahead. The left and right frontal lobes communicate with each other through the corpus callosum (nerve fibers). The basal ganglia are the interconnected gray masses in the cerebral hemisphere that connect the cerebrum and the cerebellum which, together are responsible for motor coordination. These parts of the brain have been studied through various imaging methods such as the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET-scan), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). A study conducted in 2002 of 152 boys and girls with ADHD showed a 3 to 4 percent smaller brain volume in all regions; the frontal lobes, cerebellum, and temporal gray matter. (It is important to note that these imaging techniques remain research tools and cannot be used to diagnose ADHD in individuals.)
Catecholamines/neurotransmitters
Speaking of the brain, one area of focus in Intelligent Medicine and Nutrition is on deficiencies of the all important catecholamines. The catecholamines are dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine (commonly known as adrenaline). These "cats", so cleverly termed by author Julia Ross, M.A., also function as neurotransmitters. Catecholamines arouse and excite us mentally, emotionally and physically, and help us to focus and be attentive. They keep us alert to the important events taking place around and within us so we can act quickly and decisively. These "cats" are said to be sleeping in an individual with ADHD. Low calorie, high carb diets cause catecholamine depletion due to inadequate protein intake. Our brains need amino acids from high protein foods such as eggs and salmon. Additionally, protein rich animal foods are high in the crucial amino acid tyrosine. For example, there are about 900 milligrams of tyrosine in a chicken breast, 840 milligrams in three scrambled eggs, and 400 milligrams in a 4 ounce hamburger, but you would have to eat 24 almonds to get a scant 150 milligrams of tyrosine. Unfortunately, vegetable protein cannot compete. Vegetarians run the risk of catecholamine deficiency due to the typical low-protein nature of the diet. In fact, soy, a mainstay of a vegetarian diet, tends to inhibit the conversion of tyrosine into the catecholamines. Depletion of other micronutrients such as the B vitamiins, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins C and D also contribute to the problem. They are critical to adequate catecholamine function.
Perplexingly, some kids and adults with ADHD show features of both catecholamine insufficiency as well as catecholamine surges, made worse by hypoglycemia. This leads to a state of imbalance in the involuntary nervous system-something we call dysautonomia.
External and internal toxins
Environmental toxins from heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium are certainly not to be overlooked in investigating and treating the causes of ADHD. Leaky gut from dysbiosis can initiate food allergies (most commonly to cow's milk, wheat, corn, yeast, soy and eggs) as well as inhalant allergies---often a significant factor in many children diagnosed with ADHD. The noted allergist Dr. Doris J. Rapp points out a fascinating group of physical characteristics common among children with allergies, including red cheeks, red ears or ear lobes, dark or red circles or wrinkles under the eyes, and a horizontal crease in the nose that develops from what she calls the "allergic salute," when a child with a runny nose rubs his nose upward with the heel of his hand.
The usual suspect initiators of leaky gut syndrome which usually precede food allergies are gluten and/or candida. Candida overgrowth is often the "master control" for food allergies, as well as a source of neuroactive endotoxins which can make kids feel "stoned." Other neurotoxins are MSG, aspartame (NutraSweet), and food colorings and additives. These can perpetuate ADHD symptoms to such peaks as to deem an individual behaviorally abnormal. Children appear to be particularly susceptible as their little bodies may be overwhelmed by "normal" doses of these toxins that are packaged in such innocuous substances as breakfast cereal and juice boxes. Detoxifying diets such as The Feingold Program which removes artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and salicylates often bring about a significant decrease in symptoms, if not total abatement. Improved behavior can be observed in as little as one to six weeks (www.feingold.org). Helpful supplements to optimize nutrition status, initiate detoxification, and address the deficiencies associated with ADHD are essential fatty acids (EFAs) such as Coromega or Orthomega (importance of this is discussed below), magnesium, calcium, probiotics, olive leaf, Pectasol, l-glutamine, B complex, vitamin C, theanine, phospatidyl choline, phosphatidyl serine, zinc, B6 and its metabolite P5P (pyridoxal 5 phosphate).
Essential fatty acids are of critical importance in growth and brain metabolism. EFAs are present in cold-water fish and fish oils and in some vegetable sources such as flaxseed oil, borage and evening primrose oils. Studies have indicated that some children with ADHD have an altered fatty acid metabolism. EFAs, particularly DHA is critical in brain development and IQ. Deficiencies of EFAs are associated with allergies, asthma, dry skin and hair, eczema, growth retardation and delayed puberty. Children on frequent antibiotic treatment for recurrent ear infections may develop EFA deficiencies. Supplementation as described above is beneficial.
The sugar/hypoglycemia connection
Pizza, bread, rice, French fries, spaghetti, sugared high-carbohydrate breakfast cereals and juice drinks are common dietary staples among young children. Not to mention the usual sweet treats children enjoy. Many children survive the sugar onslaught without discernable behavioral issues but a smaller percentage of these children may be susceptible to behavioral reactions like powerful mood swings and physiological sensations as a result of their (and their parent's!) chosen fuel. The oversecretion of insulin in response to eating these foods causes hypoglycemia which then sets off the adrenals to secrete epinephrine in an effort to restore blood sugar levels. This is a major hormonal wallop for kids causing them to go bouncing off the walls on a hypoglycemic roller coaster ride.
The short list of symptoms of hypoglycemia includes weakness, fatigue, spaciness and an inability to concentrate. In adults, this hormonal cascade can cause symptoms ranging from short attention span to a full blown panic attack.
For children and adults, restabilization of blood sugar is mandatory and includes tossing the refined "junk" carbohydrate food and drinks (a great opportunity to make a donation to your local food bank), and incorporating high quality protein and fat at every meal. For the very symptomatic, five to six smaller meals every two to three hours throughout the day is therapeutic. I have patients who undergo personality changes if they don't strictly adhere to this regimen. Supplements to complement a therapeutic diet in achieving stable blood sugar levels are chromium, l-glutamine, GPLC, 5-HTP and tyrosine (to wipe out stubborn cravings), B complex, and Wellbetx PGX.
Current mainstream medical management of ADHD includes the use of stimulants such as Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, Dexedrine, Focalin, Cylert, and Metadate. Stimulants primarily work on the neurotransmitter dopamine. A recent addition to the list that is not a stimulant is Strattera. This medication works on norepinephrine. What these drugs do is physiologically push the individual into the normal range of behavior by rendering the individual more able to focus on one activity at a time. What these medications do not do is address the underlying problems that may be causing the abnormal behavior. It is important to remember that many of these drugs have side effects such as reduced appetite (not good for a growing child!), headaches, and trouble falling asleep. It is worth noting that the NIH recommends that Cylert not be considered a first-line drug therapy due to its potential serious side effects affecting the liver.
Given the options offered by both complementary and mainstream medicine, there is much to be said for "first do no harm" where natural therapies are undertaken prior to falling back on more powerful but side effect-causing medications. True successful outcomes with symptom resolution can be brought about by first uncovering the underlying cause(s) of ADHD in the individual patient, and then implementing the least harmful, most beneficial treatment.
References:
1. National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Mental Health (On-line). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (2003). Accessed May 5, 2006. Available at: www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm.
2. Ross, J. The Mood Cure. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam; 2002.
3. Boris M, Mandel FS. Foods and additives are common causes of the attention deficit hyperactive disorder in children. Annals of Allergy. 1994;72:462-8.
4. Hoffman, RL. The Natural Approach to Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Los Angeles, CA: Keats Publishing; 1997.
Leyla Muedin is a clinical nutritionist and lecturer at the Hoffman Center and is available for speaking engagements for private and public sector wellness programs. Please call (212) 779-1744 for more information.

neurological conditions such as MS and Parkinson's and Atlas subluxation



THE ANATOMY OF THE ATLAS SUBLUXATION

The atlas subluxation is so common yet so easily missed by mainstream medical practitioners. This problem is not very difficult to detect, in fact my daughter has become quite adept at picking out people walking down the street who exhibit the hallmarks of this upper cervical subluxation. There are maybe two reasons why most medical doctors do not detect this phenomenon. One could be that they doubt completely the existence of such subluxations and the other is maybe that their training is focussed on looking for major problems like dislocations, fractures, tumours and the like. The purpose of this section is to summarise what an atlas subluxation looks like and what actually happens to one's body when one does sustain such a misalignment of one's atlas. There is a wealth of information in medical texts, on websites and in scientific papers that provide more in-depth information. Hopefully, my summary will assist the layperson to understand the phenomenon, which is "the atlas subluxation".
The term 'subluxation' means 'minor misalignment' however the affects on the human body as a result of a subluxation of the first cervical vertebra (C1 or atlas) with respect to the skull can be far from 'minor'. To understand what the 'anatomy of an atlas subluxation' looks like it's first important to understand the anatomy of the atlas. The following graphic depicts the atlas (C1) vertebra articulating with the axis (C2) vertebra below it. The spinal cord with exiting spinal nerves can be seen tethered by dentate ligaments to the inner margins of the vertebral foramen. The human skull via the occipital condyles at the base of the skull sits on top of (or articulates with) the superior articular condylar surface of the atlas. According to Gray's Anatomy[1] "This articulation is a double condyloid joint. Its ligaments are the Anterior Occipito-atlantal, Posterior Occipito-atlantal, two Lateral Occipital-atlantal and two Capsular." There is a passage on each side in the Posterior Occipito-atlantal ligament to allow penetration of the vertebral arteries and 1st cervical nerves. The vertebral arteries exit the foramen in the atlas transverse processes; penetrate the ligament and then loop up into the brain. A number of strong ligaments support the skull and its contents and attach it to the cervical spine. Many other ligaments and muscles enable movement, bending, twisting and head rotation. There are other key structures within the vicinity of the atlas and supporting ligaments. These are 4 pairs of cranial nerves, namely the vagus, spinal accessory, glossopharyngeal and hypoglossal. The common carotid arteries, which run underneath the sternocleidomastoid muscle and jugular veins, are also present in the tissues of the neck. At the base of the neck near the junction of the shoulders there are some deep muscles known as the scalenes. These are the posterior, middle and anterior scalenes. The anterior scalenes are of particular interest as they are in very close proximity to the brachial plexus of nerves and the origin of the vertebral arteries where they leave the subclavian arteries. Even though the atlas is at the top of the cervical spine and the above-mentioned structures are near the base of the neck, a subluxation of the atlas and skull can result in these scalenes compressing the brachial plexus and/or the vertebral arteries. This is due to altered weight bearing from a shift in the centre of gravity of the skull, which in causes the muscles of the head and neck to strain in maintaining the head upright on the cervical spine. Also the phrenic nerve, which runs between anterior and middle scalenes on its path to the diaphragm, can be likewise affected by muscle and ligament compression and/or traction.
Atlas-C1 and Axis-C2 Superior viewsubluxation

Figure 1: Upper Cervical Spine - No subluxationFigure 1: Upper Cervical Spine – No subluxation
Figure1 opposite is a drawing of the upper cervical spine articulation between the occiput (C0), the atlas (C1) and the axis (C2). The 'usual' anatomy is for the occipital condyles (cream) of the skull to sit on the atlas condylar surfaces and for the atlas lateral masses (white) (shown cut away) to articulate with the facet joints of the axis (brown) below it. The odontoid peg or dens of the axis should sit about central to the foramen magnum. This is the front (anterior) view, if you were looking directly at the face of this person. The double condyloid joints are represented in this drawing by the 'gaps' between the occiput and atlas lateral masses.
Figure 2: Upper Cervical Spine - Skull to atlas subluxation Figure 2: Upper Cervical Spine – Skull to atlas subluxation
Figure 2 opposite shows what can happen to the 'usual' anatomy in Figure 1, when a force is applied to the skull on one side. The blue arrow indicates the direction of trauma, which in this case is from the left side of the person's head. This trauma can take many forms. In my case it was my head striking the ground in a football tackle. For one little girl it was falling out of bed and hitting her head on the bedside table and for another lady playing basketball, it was a direct hit to the jaw. The force is enough to push the skull sideways as it slides along the atlas condylar surface. The occipital condyles of the skull can slide off (over or underlap) the atlas condylar surface, however the anatomy and the restraining ligaments limit this over and underlapping. The result in this example is a head tilted to the left, and an atlas that's high (elevated) on the right. The axis dens is no longer central to the foramen magnum. See then animation OCCIPUT TO ALTAS SUBLUXATION to view the mechanism of injury. The actual slope of the atlas condyles will determine whether or not the atlas will actually rotate a little with respect to the occiput (skull) and to the axis (C2). Flatter condyles will result in slight rotation of the atlas, whereas steep angled condyles will most likely not produce a great deal of rotation. The skull is quite heavy thus any change in the centre of gravity will most likely produce undesirable stresses on structures within the tissues of the cervical spine. This situation has important implications for the spinal cord, which leaves the foramen magnum and travels through the foramen (holes) in the atlas and other skeletal vertebrae to the base of the spine. This also has important implications for the vertebral arteries, which travel through the cervical spine from C6 to the atlas, for the carotid arteries, which travel beneath the sternocleidomastoid muscles, and for the cranial nerves leaving foramen in the skull base. All of these structures have the potential to be trapped, compressed, stretched or otherwise interfered with by the taught muscles and ligaments involved in maintaining the skull and its contents on top of the cervical spine. The resultant stresses on arteries could yield reduction in oxygenated blood flow to the brain, and on cranial nerves could result in attenuation of nervous system signals to and from the brain. The cranial nerves which are potentially involved are the vagus, spinal accessory, glossopharyngeal and hypoglossal. Of course these arteries and nerves are of major importance to proper functioning and maintenance of the human body.
Figure 3: Even Death does not hide the proof! Figure 3: Even Death does not hide the proof!
(Source: The Chiropractic Story silently told in a medical museum – William G. Blair D.C., Ph. C., F.I.C.A., ©1973)
Copyright permission granted by Mrs Blair and Dr. E. Addington, Blair Chiropractic Clinic, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
Website: http://www.blairchiropractic.com
Figure 3 opposite is the skeleton of a soldier from the Spanish American War (1898). He developed chronic rheumatoid arthritis, the disease progressing and fusing most of his joints from his skull to his sacrum. His teeth had to be removed in order to feed him since the rheumatoid arthritis had also fused his jaw. Following his death and in accordance with his will his body was given to the Army Medical Museum. His family honoured his request and the skeleton is today displayed in the museum. Dr. William G. Blair was given permission to examine and photograph the skeleton. Figure 3, shows the head inclination as a result of a subluxation in the upper cervical spine. Since rheumatoid arthritis does not progress in death it is demonstrably obvious that the "spinal joints are fixed in the same position they occupied at the time of fusion occurred" and "since fusion can take place only in a living person, the present position of these spinal vertebra in death are the same as they were during life". These images are powerful and help to prove the existence of such subluxations of the upper cervical spine, which are the focus of specific upper cervical chiropractors like Dr. Blair and of my website. I suggest that it would be interesting indeed to hypothesise that rheumatoid arthritis is one sequelae of subluxations like this of the upper cervical spine. Fusing of joints may well be the body's way of protecting the spinal cord, brainstem and surrounding neurological and vascular structures from damage, by allowing no additional movement, which would compromise them further. Certainly it would not be the only disease process, which would be initiated if someone sustained such a condition! This injury is so high up and so close to the human central processing unit and other structures, as mentioned earlier, that it's not hard to visualise such subluxations may well be a root cause of human illness.
Figure 4: A close look at the subluxation!Figure 4: A close look at the subluxation!
Page 9 of Dr. Blair’s document (The Chiropractic Story silently told in a medical museum – William G. Blair D.C., Ph. C., F.I.C.A., ©1973) shows the photograph in Figure 4 opposite. Let’s have a closer look at the anatomy of this subluxation. The numbered structures are: 1. Right mastoid process; 2. Right styloid process; 3. Right side occipital bone; 4. Right occipital condyle; 5. right lateral mass of the atlas (C1); 6. Right side posterior arch of atlas; 7. Right lamina of axis (C2).
According to Blair, "You will note the fusion of all three cervical vertebrae. These vertebra are fused not only at the usual joints but also at an unusual union of the posterior arch of first cervical (6) with the right lamina of the second cervical (7). Since the growing together process can take place only in the living body, every structure is fused in the exact position it occupied during life.
Continuing our examination of Figure 4, note the two arrows. The arrow on the left points to the outside (distal) margin of the right occipital condyle (4). The arrow on the right points to the outside (distal) margin of the right lateral mass of the first cervical vertebra (5). These are the margins of the adjoining joint surfaces. Without misalignment the two arrows would line up, instead there is displacement. The first cervical vertebra is decidedly misaligned with the skull. By actual measurement on the skeleton this displacement amounts to 3/8 of an inch (approx. 1cm). The second and third cervical vertebrae have followed the first cervical vertebra to the misaligned position."
Figure 5: An even closer look at the subluxation!Figure 5: An even closer look at the subluxation!
Page 10 of Dr. Blair's document shows these numbered structures: 1. Right mastoid process; 2. Right styloid process; 4. Right occipital condyle; 5. right lateral mass of the atlas (C1); 6. Right side posterior arch of atlas; 9. Right jaw (ramus of mandible). According to Dr. Blair, "Note the two arrows. The arrow on the left points to the front (anterior) margin of the right occipital condyle. The arrow on the right points to the front (anterior) margin of the right lateral mass of the first cervical vertebra. Again these margins are of adjoining joint surfaces. If there were no misalignment, the two arrows would line up. Again there is displacement. Again the first cervical vertebra is decidedly misaligned with the skull. The actual amount of misalignment on the skeleton is 5/8 inch (approx. 1.6cm). Also note the bony fusion of first cervical lateral mass, number 5, to the body of the second cervical vertebra below and to the occipital condyle above, number 4. These structures having grown together during life are found in exactly the same position after death as they were during life. The body of the second cervical vertebra has followed the atlas to the misaligned position and is aligned (juxtaposition) with the atlas."

Figure 6: The Effects of the Atlas SubluxationFigure 6: The Effects of the Atlas Subluxation
(Figure 6 - reprinted with permission from Daniel O. Clark D.C., Website: www.uppercervicalillustrations.com).
Figure 6 opposite provides information about the effect an atlas subluxation will have on the surrounding ligaments and muscles. In this case the head is tilted to the right, the chin will be rotated to the left and the neck will be in a left inflexion. The ligaments and muscles in the sub-occipital area and those holding the head on to the cervical spine will now be under stress and/or go into spasm. The spinal cord (brainstem just above C1) will be 'kinked' at the craniocervical junction (skull to atlas articulation). See the animation KINK SUBLUXATION to view the mechanism of injury. The average human skull and its contents weigh in at around 4.5 to 6 kg (approx. 10 to 14 pounds), and under normal circumstances one can bend and rotate their neck without compromising the critical neurological structures at this level. However, when this 4.5kg (10 pounds) 'bowling ball' is shifted the whole centre of gravity throughout the cervical spine changes and this altered weight bearing will have negative effects on neurological and vascular structures at the base of the skull and throughout the neck, especially those structures which are in close proximity to the muscles under stress. Remember that the vertebral arteries and 1st cervical nerves pierce the posterior occipito-atlantal ligament and it is highly possible that this and other ligaments will irritate both these structures. The sub-occipital and cervical ligaments and muscles implicated in this situation include but are not limited to the rectus capitus posterior minor and major, obliquus capitis superior, obliquus capitis inferior, sternocleidomastoid, leveator scapula, trapezius and scalenes (in particular the anterior scalenes). Go to a bowling alley and pick up a 10-pound bowling ball. Balance the ball on your fingers and then tilt your hand so that the centre of gravity is now altered. You will soon find out how hard it is to maintain this position for very long. I know that in my own circumstance, my trapezius muscles were so painful that I found it relieving to allow my head posture to go forward, although over time the only relief was through putting my head down on a surface or laying down in a bed. The stressed muscles and those in spasm will begin to waste and over time this is very noticeable in sick people. Their posture can be used as window into their health. There is so much atrophy in the neck and shoulder muscles of people with obvious atlas subluxations that part of the healing process or approach, after the correction of the atlas subluxation, must include rehabilitation of these muscles. This atrophy is very noticeable in people suffering from Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological diseases. For further information on a suggested rehabilitation process for sufferers of an atlas subluxation see my section "A NEW APPROACH TO WELLNESS"
Figure 7: The Effects of the Atlas SubluxationFigure 7: The Effects of the Atlas Subluxation
(Figure 7 reprinted with permission from Daniel O. Clark D.C., Website: www.uppercervicalillustrations.com).
Figure 7 opposite explains what happens to your body if you unfortunate enough to sustain a head injury which shifts your skull on your atlas and results in a skull to atlas subluxation. Make no mistake for this is exactly what happens. The ramifications of the subluxation can extend to all parts of your body. In the most benign of these subluxations you may only experience a little lower back pain and in the more serious your whole body can be racked with pain and dysfunction. The tight sub-occipital ligaments and cervical spine muscles can be responsible for headaches or migraines as well as neck pain.
Figure 8: Myodural Bridge
Some years back Gary Hack D.D.S. et al 1995. "Anatomic relation between the rectus capitus posterior minor and the dura mater" Spine 20 (23): 2484-2486 discovers a previously unknown ligament directly attaching the posterior arch of the atlas to the dura mater of the brainstem and cerebellum. This attachment has become known as the myodural bridge and it is shown following in Figure 8.
The structures numbered in this dissection are as follows; 1. Posterior arch of the atlas; 2. Posterior occipital bone; 3. Rectus capitus posterior minor (RCPMI); 4; Dura mater of brainstem and cerebellum. The arrows indicate the myodural bridge attaching the posterior arch of the atlas to the dura mater of the brainstem & cerebellum. It is not difficult to see that any misalignment of the atlas with respect to the skull could traction the dura mater of the brainstem and cerebellum area. What would be the effects of such traction? Certainly it is possible for headaches and migraines to be an effect, but also there may well be other consequences. Researchers at Michigan State University; "College of Osteopathic Medicine" suggest "that the function of the RCPMI muscle is to provide static and dynamic proprioceptive feedback to the CNS (central nervous system), monitoring movement of the head and influencing movement of the surrounding musculature." In fact amongst other joints, the joints of the upper cervical spine are rich in proprioceptors, which provide positional feedback to the brain, in order for the brain to understand where the joints and therefore the head are in space and to make appropriate adjustments during movement. Close your eyes and point your first fingers on both hands. Now try and touch the tips of these fingers without opening your eyes. Your ability to touch your fingertips is an indication of your proprio receptive abilities. Any problems in this area may well be responsible for over and under corrections made by your brain, which would manifest as dizziness or balance disorders. Atlas subluxations, especially because they go hand in hand with some atrophy of these sub-occipital cervical muscles, could manifest as dizziness and/or balance disorders. Meniere's Disease has been associated with cervical dysfunction in a number of medical papers, and I have personally witnessed and know of other people diagnosed with Meniere's Disease who have had dramatic reversal of the disease's symptoms following upper cervical correction to their atlas vertebra by specific upper cervical chiropractors. This deserves further investigation as Meniere's Disease and other balance disorders are highly distressing to sufferers.
Now looking at Figure 7 further you will note that because the skull is tilted the pelvis will pull up on one side to compensate for the body imbalance and pull that leg off the ground. This is known as a functional short leg as opposed to an anatomical short leg. Of course, the leg is not off the ground because the weight of the body keeps it on the ground during walking. With the pelvis pulling up on one side the spinal column will now twist into scoliosis. Now the back muscles are contracting on one side which creates trigger points mainly at the 's' bend points in the scoliosis, lower back pain is evident and now hip problems can be a result. Leave this for long enough and the result may be surgical replacement of a degenerated hip. Knee, ankle, groin and calf problems can be a direct result, which people normally pass off as an aging thing or an accident. For me this explains the back pain all the way down my back and my ankle and knee problems, which corrected following correction of my atlas subluxation. The brain is the key initiator of this lifting of the pelvis, in order to align the pelvis and skeleton underneath the skull. There are cases of scoliosis that have resolved completely or at least improved considerably following upper cervical specific chiropractic correction of an atlas subluxation. Re-position the skull on top of the atlas, and thus cervical spine and the pelvis will be realigned directly underneath the skull.
Figures 9 & 10: NUCCA Types
Figures 9 & 10 reprinted with permission of National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association - see Website www.nucca.org with special thanks to Robert Goodman, D.C. NUCCA

Figure 9

Figure 10
These graphics from the NUCCA site also show further the types of subluxations that can occur at the upper cervical spine level.
Which one actually occurs in each individual really depends upon their prevailing anatomy at that level and the direction and amplitude of the force imparted during the trauma they received. While it is not always the case, I have noticed that some people who have particularly large misalignments in their upper cervical spine sometimes can exhibit only minor symptoms, whilst others who have less of a misalignment can be in a very bad state in terms of the symptoms they are experiencing.

heat intolerance replies on MS website


Heat Intolerance

17 posts / 0 new
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Heat Intolerance
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mrbobowen
29 Sep 2011 at 7:55PM
Did anybody else get affected by heat intolerance today. I felt quite unwell and knackered going out to pick up my wife this afternoon. Cant believe how quickly it went once I got back inside and into the cool.
skippysprite
29 Sep 2011 at 8:12PM
Hi
Yes, it always has the same effect on me, unfortunately.
Take care and keep as cool as you can.
Pam.
keith31
29 Sep 2011 at 8:15PM
Yep, me too, I've been overheating all day even in the shade... I use my 2 cold packs used for my copaxone injections on my head!!! haha Works a treat :)
denisekang
30 Sep 2011 at 10:11AM
hi me too i will just hide and shut all the curtains too keep the house cool xx
rizzo
30 Sep 2011 at 10:25AM
I had to do a nearly 90mins journey in the Tube in that heat yesterday.... Off the scale fatigue, nausea, brain fog, mobility shot to hell,... HORRIBLE!
My wonderful wonderful parents gave me the money to buy an air con unit earlier this summer - it is a godsend! So straight into the living room, closed the curtains, put the air con on, collapsed on the couch. Phew!
Karen x
tessbaby
30 Sep 2011 at 10:58AM
I sweat so much in hot weather, and if i do to much can feel quiet sick!!! and might have to take a cold shower then am ok again. Also if i go on holiday love the sun but need a pool handy to cool off.
But the cold weather is much worse for me in other ways my legs and feet never ever get warm! getting out and about i hard but in the bad weather much much worse. I really hate winter i have legs that feel like they are going to snap with every movement. I think i get cabin fever in the dark cold days of winter.
hcd
01 Oct 2011 at 11:40AM
I've been getting up at stupid-o'clock in order to get jobs done before it gets too hot. I always seem to be worse in the afternoon, usually around 4-5pm, until it cools back down. Just standing up for a few minutes can be hard work.
Heather
jms
01 Oct 2011 at 3:20PM
i used to love summer and the sun but the heat just dose me in these days. The last few days iv had no energy what so ever and have just wanted to sleep all day and today has been no better
gcfc40
01 Oct 2011 at 4:06PM
Hi,
I have posted this before on the old site. I suggest getting a cooling vest from arctic heat . They are quite dear to buy but are the lightest around and easy to use. Just wet them and the beads soak up the water. dry the vest and put it the fridge or freezer depending how cold you want it. It gives you about two to three hours of cold which i find good.
have a look at them on line. Graham
debsgen
01 Oct 2011 at 4:57PM
I am also very affected by heat and humidity.it totally throws my body off :( in the summer I keep keep the AC in my house on all the time!
Swimming really helps too, it cools me off and gives my legs a good workout. :)
Byrony
01 Oct 2011 at 5:28PM
I too am affected by this sudden heat. My legs are like lead and my balance has gone to pot!! :( Because I have ppms I thought I had suddenly progressed but am now certain it is the heat. Got my fan going constantly. I am just relaxing as much as possible and keeping cool 8-)
Take care everyone,
Sarahx
Ashlee
01 Oct 2011 at 6:03PM
That's a thing I don't need to worry about living on the west coast of Scotland- we've had torrential rain the past few days :!:
carol63
01 Oct 2011 at 6:09PM
Yes feel like a right misery everything hurts so much,thought id take dog for a short walk and i do mean short,someone said isnt this sunshine lovely which it is but not the heat!
Virginia
01 Oct 2011 at 8:30PM
Heck yeah, it's awful. I try to cope with an air-purifier and fan, and don't usually mind it too much (not as bad for me as the cold), but if I get stressed or someone annoys me... Well, that's when it gets noisy round here!
Thinking of you.
Virginia
heaven
02 Oct 2011 at 12:19AM
I am glad to read others feel sick from the heat. I thought that was just me!!
The heat can have an almost instant adverse affect on me. I get off balance, my speech slows down, my thinking is affected (forget words, what I was going to say). I get slower and slower like a clockwork toy running down. I get fizzing in my legs and arms, aches and pains etc.
Funny how it never seems so bad when on holiday abroad. I need a breeze to survive though.
I have to regularly sit in front of a raging fan to get my body back into some sort of working order.
Sue
Philip2
09 Oct 2011 at 12:43PM
Hi, I suffered heat intolerance for approx 10 years it has gone completely after successful CCSVI procedure in December can now go out and enjoy the sun.
Good luck
Philip
trish44
09 Oct 2011 at 3:16PM
I live in Scotland so the recent good weather didn't come our way. But I happened to say that we had a good summer, received some odd looks but in realty it was a good summer for me not too hot. , ah back to temperature i can cope with

Bacteria and "MS"

Gut Bacteria & MS

A study released in 2010 from the California Institute of Technology backs up the connection between gut lining and health, adding environmental factors to the picture. The study demonstrates a connection between MS (multiple sclerosis) and microbes, specifically microbes in the digestive tract.
According to this article appearing on the ScienceDaily website:
Although the cause of MS is unknown, microorganisms seem to play some sort of role. "In the literature from clinical studies, there are papers showing that microbes affect MS," Mazmanian says. "For example, the disease gets worse after viral infections, and bacterial infections cause an increase in MS symptoms."
On the other hand, he concedes, "It seems counterintuitive that a microbe would be involved in a disease of the central nervous system, because these are sterile tissues."
And yet, as Mazmanian found when he began examining the multiple sclerosis literature, the suggestion of a link between bacteria and the disease is more than anecdotal. Notably, back in 1993, Caltech biochemist Leroy Hood—who was then at the University of Washington—published a paper describing a genetically engineered strain of mouse that developed a lab-induced form of multiple sclerosis known as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, or EAE.
When Hood's animals were housed at Caltech, they developed the disease. But, oddly, when the mice were shipped to a cleaner biotech facility—where their resident gut bacterial populations were reduced—they didn't get sick. The question was, why? At the time, Mazmanian says, "the authors speculated that some environmental component was modulating MS in these animals." Just what that environmental component was, however, remained a mystery for almost two decades.
But Mazmanian—whose laboratory examines the relationships between gut microbes, both harmful and helpful, and the immune systems of their mammalian hosts—had a hunch that intestinal bacteria were the key. "As we gained an appreciation for how profoundly the gut microbiota can affect the immune system, we decided to ask if symbiotic bacteria are the missing variable in these mice with MS," he says.
To find out, Mazmanian and his colleagues tried to induce MS in animals that were completely devoid of the microbes that normally inhabit the digestive system. "Lo and behold, these sterile animals did not get sick," he says.
Then the researchers decided to see what would happen if bacteria were reintroduced to the germ-free mice. But not just any bacteria. They inoculated mice with one specific organism, an unculturable bug from a group known as segmented filamentous bacteria. In prior studies, these bacteria had been shown to lead to intestinal inflammation and, more intriguingly, to induce in the gut the appearance of a particular immune-system cell known as Th17. Th17 cells are a type of T helper cell—cells that help activate and direct other immune system cells. Furthermore, Th17 cells induce the inflammatory cascade that leads to multiple sclerosis in animals.
"The question was, if this organism is inducing Th17 cells in the gut, will it be able to do so in the brain and central nervous system?" Mazmanian says. "Furthermore, with that one organism, can we restore to sterile animals the entire inflammatory response normally seen in animals with hundreds of species of gut bacteria?"
The answer? Yes on all counts. Giving the formerly germ-free mice a dose of one species of segmented filamentous bacteria induced Th17 not only in the gut but in the central nervous system and brain—and caused the formerly healthy mice to become ill with MS-like symptoms.
"It definitely shows that gut microbes have a strong role in MS, because the genetics of the animals were the same. In fact, everything was the same except for the presence of those otherwise benign bacteria, which are clearly playing a role in shaping the immune system," Mazmanian says. "This study shows for the first time that specific intestinal bacteria have a significant role in affecting the nervous system during MS—and they do so from the gut, an anatomical location very, very far from the brain."
Mazmanian and his colleagues don't, however, suggest that gut bacteria are the direct cause of multiple sclerosis, which is known to be genetically linked. Rather, the bacteria may be helping to shape the immune system's inflammatory response, thus creating conditions that could allow the disease to develop. Indeed, multiple sclerosis also has a strong environmental component; identical twins, who possess the same genome and share all of their genes, only have a 25 percent chance of sharing the disease. "We would like to suggest that gut bacteria may be the missing environmental component," he says.
For their part, Th17 cells are needed for the immune system to properly combat infection. Problems only arise when the cells are activated in the absence of infection—just as disease can arise, Mazmanian and others suspect, when the species composition of gut bacteria become imbalanced, say, by changes in diet, because of improved hygiene (which kills off the beneficial bacteria as well as the dangerous ones), or because of stress or antibiotic use. One impact of the dysregulation of normal gut bacterial populations—a phenomenon dubbed "dysbiosis"—may be the rising rate of multiple sclerosis seen in recent years in more hygienic societies.
"As we live cleaner, we're not just changing our exposure to infectious agents, but we're changing our relationship with the entire microbial world, both around and inside us, and we may be altering the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory bacteria," leading to diseases like MS, Mazmanian says. "Perhaps treatments for diseases such as multiple sclerosis may someday include probiotic bacteria that can restore normal immune function in the gut... and the brain."

Candida and Cystic fibrosis 10 month old

J Med Microbiol. 2011 Oct;60(Pt 10):1542-5. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.031757-0. Epub 2011 May 19.

Osteoarticular infection by Candida albicans in an infant with cystic fibrosis.

Source

Children's Hospital University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. Radike_K@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de

Abstract

Invasive candidiasis is rare in children after the neonatal period, but can occur in children with (secondary) immunodeficiency with a damaged gastrointestinal or skin barrier, or when receiving antibiotics. A 10-month-old girl was diagnosed as suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF) when showing failure to thrive, pulmonary symptoms and hypoproteinaemia. At that time, Candida albicans was identified from blood culture and treated intravenously with liposomal amphotericin B for 13 days. Six weeks later, the girl presented with osteoarticular infection of the left knee caused by C. albicans. The infection showed insufficient response to therapy with liposomal amphotericin B, but the patient recovered after therapy with fluconazole and flucytosine. Follow-up over 4 years revealed no sequelae. In conclusion, invasive Candida infections may occur in patients with CF, and preventive measures might be considered in patients at risk. In the case of an invasive infection, prolonged treatment with a combination of antifungal drugs may be required.
PMID:
21596911
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

L

Heat intolerance

I used to suffer badly with heat intolerance, it was like my internal regulator did not worked, I also noticed that I didnt sweat only on my top lip, I felt so bad in hot weather. If the sun hit my head, I very often wanted to go for a wee (if that's relevant, I think it might be)

Anyway several years ago I had Acupuncture along the bladder line, I think my bladders density improved, it became stronger and less sensitive as accidents were very common, and frequency was probably every hour, it was a terrible problem.

The heat would even affect me indoors, I would have to have a tepid bath to bring my body temperature down.

Temperature intolerance affects many many others. This will be the 5th year that heat doesnt affect me anymore.

The conclusion that I have come to is heat energy is wasted through the bladder, and mine before Acupuncture was not working.


Candida and its many complex symptoms explained

Your Candida Albicans Symptoms Can Be Misdiagnosed For Years

Candida albicans symptoms indicate the presence of an organism which is as dangerous as it is difficult to diagnose. Thank God there are home remedies which are effective against it.The challenge is to recognize the symptoms.
Candida albicans symptoms are so diverse and are involved in so many different conditions that diagnosis is very difficult. Candida symptoms are not only diverse but are seemingly unrelated too.
It is for this reason that you may go from doctor to doctor who will often tell you with a straight face, that nothing is REALLY wrong with you, and that it is all in your mind.
It is for this reason that you may experience chronic yeast infection and yet the doctors will continue to prescribe topical anti-fungal treatment, which does not address the REAL problem
To add to the confusion, many persons, including doctors, seem to think that candida albicans largely manifests in relatively minor health conditions such as vaginal yeast infections or oral thrush, which can easily be dealt with, they advise, with a treatment of anti-fungal medications.
While candida albicans can cause yeast infections and oral thrush, its existence in its pathogenic or disease-causing form (or hyphal form) and the widespread effects of its overgrowth is not given much attention.
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Candida Albicans Symptoms- The Real Story Behind It All

Candida albicans is a fungus which can exist as yeast or as an organism which has long branches called hyphae, by which it feeds and extends its growth.Candida albicans is one form of yeast, and it resides quite harmlessly on our bodies and in our intestines. The harmless existence of candida is ensured by the proper functioning of your immune system and the correct balance of yeast and other microorganisms within your GI (gastrointestinal) tract.
If conditions cause a disruption of the balance in such a way that your “friendly “ bacteria are overwhelmed by other bacteria, or all intestinal flora are killed off, yeast takes the opportunity into change to its pathogenic, or disease-causing form and grows its hyphae.
This can occur for example, after prolonged antibiotic use. Antibiotics destroy not only unfriendly bacteria, but also friendly bacteria. In this newly created space, and environment,candida albicans will opportunistically overgrow.
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Birth control pills, too much sugar in the diet and a compromised immune system are also factors which can alter your internal environment.
In the hyphal form candida produces toxins into your blood stream which can affect the functioning of every organ and system in your body.
In addition, candida can permeate your intestinal walls and thus cause undigested food, bacteria and toxins to enter your bloodstream. Your immune system tries to deal with these foreign bodies and soon you are suffering from food allergies and other inflammatory responses wherever the foreign bodies may be located.
It has been determined that Candida produces as many as 79 different toxins.
As if that is not bad enough, the candida fungus can enter your blood stream and make its home in any place in your body. After a while your entire body can be overloaded with not only the yeast itself but also the toxins from it.
Yeast can also overgrow in warm surfaces on your body such as in your mouth, the genital areas, under the breasts. Treating the outbreak at the site is not a permanent solution as the fungus will continue to return. The answer is to seek to maintain the bodily pH at a level which discourages the overgrowth of candida and bring about candida albicans symptoms.
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Candida Albicans Symptoms

Given the nature of Candida, how can you even begin to think that problems which occur in your body may be candida albicans symptoms?A good answer is that the very fact that you are experiencing symptoms which are unrelated may be, in and of itself, a Candida albicans symptom.
And if tests return "Normal" and you KNOW you are not 100% well, this is another red flag. A test for an overgrowth is inconclusive as candida albicans is normally resident in your body, and it is hard to tell there is an overgrowth from clinical tests alone.
In order for you to make some sense of the diversity, let us organize the symptoms (and we cannot name all of them) according to the functions they affect or where they occur, knowing that it may be just an indication of wider systemic disorder.
The main areas of candida albicans activity are:
• The Gastrointestinal Tract (or GI Tract)
• The Genito–urinary Tract and Reproductive System
• Emotional and Hormonal /Nervous System
• The Respiratory System
As you peruse the following symptoms, try to recall when your symptoms occurred and how you felt as no one could say conclusively, why it was happening.
Some have been given tranquilizers as their doctors felt they may be neurotic.
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Symptoms In The Gastrointestinal Tract

In the gastrointestinal tract or digestive tract (which extends from the mouth to the anus) is one area where you will experience candida albicans symptoms. Common symptoms include:
• Belching, bloating, acid reflux, Nausea, indigestion, gastritis
• Diarrhea, gas, colitis, Food allergies and food cravings and abdominal pain
• Bad breath, white coating on your tongue, mouth blisters and bleeding gums

Symptoms in The Genitourinary Tract And Reproductive System

Candida albicans symptoms in the genito-urinary tract (includes all the muscles and organs which produce, store and remove urine) and the reproductive system:• Painful intercourse, burning during urination, impotency, itching of the genitals and rectum
• Infertility, irregular menstruation, vaginal yeast infection, premenstrual syndrome(PMS)
• Redness and soreness of the vulva, vaginal discharge, kidney and bladder infections

Symptoms of An Emotional Or Mental Nature

You may experience candida albicans symptoms that are of an emotional or mental nature such as:• Anxiety, confusion, depression, foggy thinking, panic, irritability, apathy
• Bumping into things, frequent headaches, mood swings, memory problems,
• Unreasonable anger, dizzy feelings, loss of concentration, autism
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Symptoms in Your Respiratory System

Candida can also affect your respiratory system with the following candida albicans symptoms:• Sneezing, wheezing, congestion, coughing, shortness of breath
• Bronchitis, Asthma, Repeated bouts of sinus infection, Pneumonia

CAndida Albicans Symptoms On Your Skin

Your skin is another organ which may be subject to candida albicans symptoms which include:• Athlete’s Foot, fingernail and toenail fungus, skin rashes, scaly skin
• Scaly scalp, Diaper rash, eczema

Candida Albicans And Disorders It May Be Associated With

Candida albicans tends to permeate the membranes of your tissues. Your immune system has to also deal with the toxins produced and everyday attacks from your environment.Eventually your immune system is overwhelmed and pathogens will be going after different organs in your body. Had it not been for the overload caused by candida, your immune system would have been able to withstand the other attacks.
The situation can become life-threatening as it can cause septic shock. It is in this way that candida can be associated in the development of the following (and

Candida and Autism

Candida and Autism

Candida and Autism have many strong associations. The link between these two is discussed on several autism websites and even on Oprah, where actress and advocate Jenny McCarthy shared her experience of her son coming “out of autism completely after I killed Candida.” Many doctors have found great success when treating children with autistic symptoms through the use of candida treatments. I myself have seen wonderful results in our office with the Candida Plan. Dr. Shaw at the Great Plains Laboratory has been a strong advocate of testing autistic spectrum disorders for links to candida. A search on the US National Library of Medicine PubMed site brings back just 5 results and an additional 3 results are found when searching under Candidiasis and Autism. Not a whole lot of scientific research has been established in this area, but an expanded perspective reveals many common links.
Both conditions can be traced back to the impact of antibiotic use. A very strong link between the gut-brain axis/association exists. The health of the intestinal flora has been demonstrated to play a role in autism. Antibiotics cause drastic changes in the health of the intestinal flora which has been described by scientists as being “crucial” “essential” “vital” and “critical” to the health of humans. A 5-day course of antibiotics is enough to destroy all the bacteria within the body, leaving it void of these vital organisms for as much as a year or more. The intestinal flora has been designated as important an “organ” to the body as the liver. Would you live without your liver for 12 months or more?
Changes in the flora create the ideal conditions for the development of fungal candida, which then controls which bacterial species will grow back into the intestinal tract and body’s tissues. A study by researchers in Poland links the make-up of the intestinal flora  and the presence of candida to autism. Another researcher and former Research Fellow of the National Institutes for Health, Dr. Paris Kidd, states that in addressing autism “Gastrointestinal improvement rests on controlling Candida and other parasites, and using probiotic bacteria and nutrients to correct dysbiosis and decrease gut permeability.”
Given that candida can shape and alter the make-up of the intestinal flora after antibiotics, the role of candida takes on added significance. Research into the relationship between the gut and brain states that, “Regulation of the microbiome–gutbrain axis is essential for maintaining homeostasis (balance), including that of the CNS.” Other researchers point out the “ability of gut microbiota to communicate with the brain and thus modulate behavior.” The link between the brain and the gut is well known by most clinicians, or should be, as treatment of the intestinal flora for hepatic encephalopathies is well documented.
The link between candida and autism becomes even stronger when we look at inflammation. Candida is known to promote inflammation in the body, and inflammation further promotes the growth of candida. Candida also promotes dysregulation of the immune system towards a response that favors the development of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune Rheumatoid Arthritis in a mother can increase a child’s risk of autism by 80%. Candida promotes and worsens Rheumatoid Arthitis. Celiac Disease has a strong relationship to candida via the candida cell wall proteins that resemble gluten proteins. The presence of Celiac in a mother can cause a 350% risk of autism in the child. Asthma and Allergies during pregnancy have also been shown to increase  autism risk in one study where, “A greater than 2-fold elevated risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders was observed for maternal asthma and allergy diagnoses recorded during the second trimester of pregnancy.” Candida can play a significant role in both asthma and allergies.
Inflammation and autism can also be related back to antibiotics which create a massive flooding into the blood and tissues of bacterial cell wall components that affect brain inflammation. These substances, Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) have been shown to induce sustained levels of inflammation in the brain through pro-inflammatory cytokines that can be as much as 10-1000x the levels of inflammation in the body. Candida’s pro-inflammatory responses could create similar levels of increase.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine “demonstrated a marked increase in neuroglial responses, characterized by activation of microglia and astroglia, in the brains of autistic patients. These increased neuroglial responses are likely part of neuroinflammatory reactions associated with the central nervous system’s (CNS) innate immune system.”
The debate about an exact cause behind autism is likely to continue and is probably going to be fruitless. Evidence points to a combination of factors that most likely includes antibiotics and disruption of normal tissue flora, vaccines, environmental toxins, and candida. A child who is predisposed by the health of the parents, and then has exposures to environmental toxins, is vaccinated, and then given antibiotics has the odds stacked against them

Candida-cows and methane-food chain

I think Candida has been allowed to enter the food chain through beef

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The Health Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef

The Candida Diet and Grass Fed Beef There has been a new food revolution in the past two decades which has changed the way we eat forever. Health-conscious farmers have begun to turn away from traditional corn- and grain-based diets for cows and let them eat grass in pastures, just as nature originally intended.
The result is healthier, more nutritious beef with healthy levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins. With a taste that rivals any cut of grain-fed beef, pastured cows are becoming increasingly popular around the country.
The Truth About Feedlot Cows
Feeding cows a steady diet of grain and antibiotics is a relatively new phenomenon. Not so long ago, raising cows on pasture from beginning to end of life was the norm. It wasn't until farmers and scientists discovered they could raise a cow more quickly with antibiotics and fatten them with a grain-based diet that cattle farms went from pasture to feedlot. Cows that normally took four or five years to reach an appropriate size and weight for slaughter are now raised in 14 to 16 months. They are able to gain a tremendous amount of weight by consuming corn and grains, which is not a native diet for the cows. Cows belong to a group of animals called ruminants, which means their delicate two-stomach digestive system is meant to process grass in a way that most mammals cannot. They are also pumped full of antibiotics and growth hormones in order for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to produce as many fat cows as they could in the shortest amount of time.
Feedlots often house less-than-favorable conditions for cows. Since many cows are often raised at once, it's not unusual for their waste to be left untended and diseases to fester unnoticed. Since they are not fed a natural diet, cows on grains often have problems with the pH balance in their rumens and can develop ruminitis, liver abscesses, or acidosis. Quick cattle processing can often mean less humane slaughtering methods, as well.
Health Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef
Aside from deplorable living conditions and unnatural diets, grain-fed cows also lack the health benefits of cows raised on grass. One of the most notable benefits of grass-fed beef is that it has an ideal ratio of omega; grass-fed beef has an omega 6:3 ratio of 0.16 to 1, while grain-fed beef can often have an omega 6:3 ratio higher than 20:1. The ratio of fats in grass-fed beef is perfect for our bodies and lower in saturated fat than grain-fed beef.
Another benefit of grass-fed beef is something called conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA. Ruminants that are raised on grass have three to five times more CLA than animals that are raised on grain. Studies have shown that CLA has antioxidant properties, and has even been known to prevent some forms of cancer. This powerful information is just another reason to introduce grass-fed beef into everyday diets.
Grass-fed beef also has higher levels of beta carotene and vitamin E.
Environmental Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef
In addition to the health benefits of grass-fed meat, it's also better for the environment. First and foremost, cows raised on pastures use far less fossil fuels since they harvest and fertilize the grass. Feedlot cows are fed corn and grains which are fertilized with precious fossil fuels, and are often sprayed with pesticides. Rain runoff from the manure of feedlot cows can spread pesticides and antibiotics to other farms, crops, and public water sources.
Studies have also shown that pastured animals can help reduce soil erosion and even reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. While grass-fed cattle produce more methane than grain-fed cattle, pastures and paddocks create a phenomenon called "carbon sequestration" which offsets the amount of methane released by cows in the fields. Pastured cows also release less ammonia in their waste, which further protects the atmosphere.