Cell Regeneration & Healing

Peanut Protien Shows Up In Mother's Milk Says New Research

Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that peanut proteins transferred to mother's milk in 8 out of 11 lactating women who ate peanuts. This is very significant information considering that peanut allergies have become more common and are potentially life threatening. We already know that proteins from other common allergens such as cow's milk, eggs, and wheat, transfer into mother's milk after ingestion.

If you are not sure if your nursing baby is allergic, an allergist can perform a simple allergy test to detect, or to rule out such allergies. In the event that your baby has food allergies, the nursing mother can simply remove the offending foods from her diet and safely continue to breast feed her nursling.

I have done it, and can attest that all my sons allergies have disappeared since I removed the allergens he tested positive for, cow's milk, eggs and peanuts. He has not undergone allergy shot treatments. And as a side-note, I have had a great side-effect from removal of the offending foods, losing all the baby weight just 8 months after my son was born!

Here is the link to the JAMA research paper.

Octuplets to be Breastfed, Says Mother

Hello from Juliette Aiyana. As most of the readers of this blog know, I am a lactivist. That is someone who promotes breast feeding, defends breast feeding and works toward legal protections for breast feeding moms. I heard about the mother of octuplets wanting to breast feed. I wondered how that would work for the monther when infants need to eat every two hours; when would mommy ever take a shower, let alone feed herself? I love that she wants to breast feed and I pray that she has the support around her to allow that to happen and the help with raising 8 premature infants. I found this blog post below about the media frenzy surrounding this families story and wanted to share it. Even thought the details about the family are still a secret hopefully we can all help by sending them money, donations and if anyone out there in the blogosphere personally knows the family, will help them out by cooking, cleaning and babysitting etc. I am infuriated that these parents fertility doctors transfered so many eggs into this womans body. It is a new law on England that only one egg at a time may be transferred. The law was made based on ethics. America, let's get it together.

"This story about octuplets being born in Ca. will be splashed around thepapers for about a week, and, then when it's old news, the celebrating willbe over and the nightmare will continue for this family. The nightmarebegan when they found out that more than two embryos "took" and the doctorsbegan trying to persuade them to abort some of the babies. They undoubtedlyunderwent tremendous pressure to have this procedure which the doctors havenamed "selective reduction".

No fertility doctor wants to be associatedwith having produced an octuplet pregnancy. His/her peers think he/she isan idiot right now.Medical people know the death and damage that happen in these multiplepregnancies and they know the poor prognosis for these babies. It is considered very bad form to implant this many fertilized ovum and, yes, thiswas a fertility experiment. Prior to all this fertility nonsense, themaximum natural number of babies in utero was quintuplets and naturalquintuplets were one in a million.

The mother is very wise to let the hospital staff know that she doesn't wantthem leaking information about her. The press will sniff it out anyway andmake the family's life a goldfish bowl but, at the very least, she's makingthe reporters earn their salaries. Every aspect of this family's life willbe examined under a magnifying glass by people who will judge whether or notthe parents are "good enough" but those same people will never offer onenight of babysitting assistance.Eight premature newborns is more than any family unit can handle.

Add to that a mother recovering from major abdominal surgery and you have to wonderhow they will ever cope, let alone breastfeed. At the best of times, with a new baby who is full term and a natural birth, the new parents are completely exhausted and overwhelmed. I can't even imagine how theseparents will begin to provide quality care for all these children.

So, when you read the dreamy-eyed nonsense in the newspaper about this event, think about the reality behind the scenes. Know that fertility specialists are shaking their heads at the embarrassment that this has happened. Know that these babies have a future that is compromised by being this small and this early. Know that these parents are at high risk for a nervous breakdown in the next two years. Demand that your local news agencies ask the difficult question and do some fundraising to help thisfamily with the astronomical expenses they are going to have. Yes, the birth of a child is always a blessing but this story is not something that any sane person would want to have happen in their own family". Posted to my blog www.glorialemay.com/blog

Quit exercising to lose weight!

Quit Exercising To Lose Weight!
By Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

Tired of exercising to lose weight? Bored with your routine? Not motivated to move and stay moving?

We all know that exercise can help us reach long-term goals like losing 10 pounds, or preventing heart disease, arthritis and osteoporosis. Yet sometimes that is not enough to get us off our duffs and stay active. That is why I titled this article "Quit Exercising To Lose Weight." Okay, okay, I don't really mean, quit exercising. Rather, instead of always focusing on exercise, focus on fun. And instead of focusing on some long term goal like losing 25 pounds, which in the beginning may seem difficult to achieve, we could shift our focus inward into the here and now of exercise or sport. Focusing inward can actually become a powerful enough tool to help you climb out of your Lazy Boy and turn the drudgery of ordinary exercise into a fun and satisfying experience. Of course the long-term goal is a good idea to keep in mind. Author of The Courage to Start, John Bingham, talks about his experience as a runner, yet I believe it relates to all styles of exercise:

"For running {exercise} to become a part of your life for the rest of your life then there has to be a way of finding a reward in the activity itself that is both immediate and sustained. Running has got to feel good right now. It must allow you to feel good in the afterglow of the effort. And it's got to do that on a regular basis... It may do all sorts of things for your heart and lungs but in the end it's got to be fun."

One of my acupuncture patients suffers from chronic back pain and depression. She finds immediate reward in her activity: "After about ten minutes on my elliptical trainer, my body goes euphoric. I turn on the music really loud, and I just go."

Both running and training on an elliptical trainer at home can be solitary events which may be boring for some. So instead, join a club. There are hiking, biking, running, walking clubs and more. The social aspect of your activity can be oodles of fun, and members keep each other motivated. You begin to feel a team spirit connection to the exercise. You could also try out local community classes such as yoga, kung fu, tai chi, belly dancing, hula-hoop, cardio sculpting, water aerobics, or join a baseball, softball or basketball league.In NYC some gyms and community centers offer free fitness classes for all levels and ages- including kids! For schedule and locations check out www.nyc.gov/parks or call 311. Outside of NYC, call the Parks and Recreation department in your community.

Some people lack the energy to exercise. To restore and build energy, get acupuncture, take Chinese herbs, and eat a nutritionally and energetically balanced diet. These treatments build and circulate the energy you need for fitness. For acupuncture, herbal and nutritional treatment sessions, call us for an appointment: 212-894-0767.

Working out in small classes or with a trainer can help transform your exercise routine from a mindless experience into a mindful experience. When an instructor notices a mistake you are making or a way to enhance an exercise that you already do well, it opens your eyes, deepens your experience and your connection to your body. That inner connection often reflects outward into other aspects of our lives. The more you work one-on-one with an instructor or trainer, the better, but for those with tight budgets even a few times a month can make a big difference. Don't be afraid to ask questions of your teacher in class.

Other ways of changing our mindless exercise into mindful exercise on our own is to turn off the T.V. Focus on your breathing. How does it feel before after and during the exercise? Does your sense of smell, touch or taste change? How does your body feel before during and after each exercise or your entire routine? Is one side of your body more stable then the other?

An additional way to take the stress out of exercise is stop comparing yourself to others around you, in the class or on the team. Just be the best you can in each moment. It is also helpful to avoid comparing your self to yourself. One day may be harder then the next or one exercise may be easier one day but more challenging the next. Just notice these changes and avoid labeling them as bad or good. This technique is also a good one to apply in other areas of life.

If you are still bored after you have taken the steps I have discussed, try a more challenging sport. Instead of running with members of a club, try training for marathon. Instead of hiking or biking basic trails, try mountain climbing or biking.

Are you sore from your new work-out routine? Get Acupuncture. It Works! 

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Happy Chinese New Year!

The Chinese New Year celebrates the arrival of spring. In fact, in China the Chinese New Year is still called the Spring festival. It is celebrated after the fall harvest and before the spring planting season.

The Chinese culture has a unique way of representing the New Year through animals. Twelve different animals represent each year of the 12 year -cycle and the order remains the same throughout with the year of the rat beginning the cycle and the year of the boar/ pig ending the cycle. The Chinese year 2008 was signified as the year of the rat, and 2009 is going to be the year of the ox. Chinese New Year of Ox, 2009 fell on January 26th and marked start of the 15 day long festivities that go on until the 9th of February. Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality.

Preparations for the Chinese New Year of Ox, 2009 began months in advance so that the celebrations could be observed in the highest magnitude and splendor. As the different years of the 12 year cycle are characterized by different animals, people born on the different years also feature different traits and characters and most often then not, they are believed to be influenced and inspired by the animals of the particular year they are born in.

All years ending in an odd number are Yin and the those ending with an even number are considered to be the Yang forms according to the Chinese methods of the calender cycle. Therefore the Ox year 2009 will have Yin forms along with the character of the Ox, which is characterized as dependable, patient, methodical and calm, hardworking, materialistic as well as an ambitious character. The Ox years so far have been 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and now 2009 followed by 2021 (according to the 12 year cycle).

Click here to find your Chinese zodiac sign!

Posted by Sharon Wyse L.Ac.

New Year's Diet Resolutions

New Year's Diet Resolutions
How to Make Them and How to Keep Them

by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.
© 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Throughout the holidays many people have over consumed rich, fatty, sugary foods more than they should have. To bring in the New Year, many people have resolved to go on another diet. Are you one of those people? Those extra holiday pounds added to the rest of the weight you want to lose makes dieting seem like an overwhelming task. Which diet will you chose: Atkins, Fit for Life, The Zone, Weight Watchers, Raw Foods, Juicing, Cabbage Soup?

It's usually with an anguished moan that we declare we are going on a diet. But, weight loss doesn't have to be a chore. We can make it much easier to lose weight and keep it off when we shift our perception about dieting. The most important shift is the realization that dieting doesn't have to be about deprivation. You don't have to live on bland salads, eating only soups or prepackaged diet plan meals, or go on controversial induction or crash diets to lose weight. Traditional Chinses Medicine (TCM) advises quite the opposite. We advise balance, not deprivation, as the best way to achieve and maintain a healthy body.

In fact, even Western nutritionists agree with the TCM  viewpoint. Dr. Dean Ornish, author of Eat More, Weigh Less comments on the unhealthiness of high protein diets, "You can lose weight from fen-phen, too, but that doesn't mean it's good for you."

Katherine Tallmadge, nutritionist and author of Diet Simple, says, "I've found the biggest cause of overeating is under-eating. Most overeating is due to poor planning. It is amazing what a well stocked refrigerator full of delicious prepared foods does for preventing that stop to the fast food joint. Most of your cravings and uncontrolled overeating will be conquered when you feed your body what it needs regularly during the day and have the food at your fingertips when you need it. Studies show that you are most likely to eat whatever is in your environment. If you surround yourself with delicious, healthy, wholesome foods, that's what you'll end up eating."

I can vouch for the wisdom of Katherine Tallmadge because I prepare several meals to have at my fingertips. Every Sunday, I teach a yoga class in the morning, then I go food shopping. I stop at the health food store, the grocery store and maybe even the local Italian market. Then I go home, put on really loud music that makes me move, sing and dance around the kitchen while I get cookin'. I cook several meals in large batches that last me the week offering myself a variety of foods and flavors. Then I freeze some servings and store servings in the refrigerator to eat over the next few days and take to my office. I plan the meals and shopping list ahead of time. Experimentation with new recipes from some of my favorite magazines like Food and Wine and Gourmet keep my discriminating palate satisfied. Believe it or not those magazines have many healthful recipes. I also get recipes from Vegetarian Times ,www.foodtv.com and my new favorite magazine Eating Well, which accepts no advertising and has wonderful recipes and informative articles. It also rates the degree of difficulty of the recipes as Easy, Moderate or Labor Intensive and gives you the caloric value, fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, protein, fiber and sodium per serving.

What To Eat

TCM teaches us to eat whole cooked foods and avoid raw foods diets and juicing for every meal. Avoid overeating dairy products, many of which we westerners consider healthy diet foods like cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt.

The reason TCM does not advise eating raw foods and juices and dairy products is because they are classified as cold and damp. It is said in Chinese Medicine that "The Spleen hates cold, the Spleen hates dampness." Cold and damp foods harm the Spleen qi. The Spleen is viewed as the vital organ for the digestion and assimilation of food. It's job is to transform and transport food. It transforms the food into qi and transports the qi to other organs. When the other organs receive qi, they can properly perform their functions in preserving physiological balance and harmony. When organ systems do not receive enough qi it causes disharmony which can lead to disease. We also want to avoid fatty, greasy fried foods, and over consumption of alcohol, (anyone out there have a beer belly?), white flour products and sugar, all of which are classified as cold or damp foods.

Don't Skip Breakfast

Many of my patients skip breakfast and wait until late in the day to eat lunch or even miss it, blaming a busy day at work. Then when they finally eat they gorge on whatever is fastest. But what happens physiologically when we regularly deprive our bodies of food then finally binge? Our body goes into a state of emergency and thinks that it has to store the calories we ate for future use. So it stores these calories as fat, an efficient fuel because it is hard to burn. And what if we eat a quick sugary pick me up like a candy bar or Powerbar instead of a meal?

Sugar Facts

The American Heart Association's Committee on Nutrition recently informed healthcare professionals that sugar consumption promotes obesity and raises triglycerides (blood fats). Sugar is a fuel that delivers calories with great efficiency, and any extra calories are converted into body fat for storage. Extra fat on the body usually produces extra fat in the blood along with added body weight (Eating Well, Fall 2002, p20). But if we eat regularly and avoid massive amounts of sugar consumption our bodies won't need to store as much. The body will use or burn the most of the calories instead of storing them.

Sugar is hard to give up because we love and crave sweets. It is in so many products we want to eat, even in some brands of bread!

Our sugar cravings date back 2 million years when we would seek out sweet foods dense with energy, like ripe mangos hanging from the tree, berries clustered on the vine and honey seeping from the comb. Thousands of years later, in a land of overabundant processed foods and sedentary lifestyles, that primitive impulse works against easy weight control and healthy energy balance. (Eating Well Fall 2002, p19). Our sedentary lifestyle is one of the reasons why I advise my patients that they must combine an exercise program with the dietary change. There is just no getting away with evading exercise to lose and maintain weight loss.

The USDA recommended daily allowance of sugar is 40 grams, but the average American over the age of 2 eats two times that quantity. Sugar addiction is a real and important issue. If you eat lots of sugar it is best to reduce your intake rather than go cold turkey. Sugar stimulates the brain to produce the opioid chemicals which in turn stimulates elevated dopamine levels. Elevated dopamine levels cause us to seek out more sweets, like a drug. This is same chemical process that a morphine or heroin addict's brain experiences. Fortunately for sugar addicts it is not as hard to quit. Although I have a theory that it is harder for people who are in recovery from drugs or alcohol to quit sugar, it can still be done. Try to reduce your intake by half for a few weeks then by half again for a week then in half again until you reach at least the USDA recommended allowance (or lower).

When I decide to eat sweets I go all out to satisfy my craving by going to a local bakery, gourmet or specialty chocolate shop. This way instead of buying a whole pie or cake I can buy one slice, or just 2-3 chocolate raspberry truffles instead of a whole box of cheap chocolate from the drug store. The result is that I lower the potential sugar and caloric intake and the superior quality chocolate or baked delicacy substantially satisfies my craving more than low quality grocery store or quickie-mart junk food. So basically I don't have to eat sweets as much or as often.

Be Kind

As you embark on a new way of eating, be kind to yourself if you slip into an old habit. Just acknowledge the awareness that you slipped and explore why. Don't beat yourself up. Instead ask yourself questions like: Was it because I had no food in the house that I went to a fast food joint? How can I prepare my refrigerator to avoid fast food? Was I feeling emotionally vulnerable when I ate that entire box of cookies? What else can I do to feel better in the future?

I'd like to direct you my book, Chinese Medicine & Healthy Weight Management An Evidence-based Integrated Approach  as well as my article Our Food Relationships, which offers many other important recommendations for dietary change.

Good luck, be well, and remember that moderation and balance are the keys to a successful, healthful and balanced diet.

Salute!

Written by:
Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac., Herbalist, Author
(212) 894.0767 

Find Your Life Purpose with Dr. Wayne Dyer, Live, Online.

Find Your Life Purpose:
How to Transition from Ambition to Meaning
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Hay House Live Online Event
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm PST

Register Here

Don’t die with your music still in you,” says Dr. Wayne Dyer. At a certain point, he says, we all hit a wall—that point in our lives when we transition from wanting all those things we’ve been told we should have or become, to wanting something more fulfilling. We seek a purpose—something meaningful that will define our lives and fulfill our inner longing to express ourselves to the world.

In this two-hour workshop, Dr. Wayne Dyer explores this elusive idea of life purpose and why so many of us seem to stumble at some point in life, feeling uneasy and confused about where we’re going. He helps you understand this transitional period, and shows you how to rise from it like a phoenix. 

You’ll be prompted to ask yourself:

• What is my purpose? Do I know it already, or how can I find out what it is?
• Why has my dream taken so long to come true? What am I doing wrong?
• Can I return to a career or lifestyle I dreamed of having, but put away years ago when it seemed impractical?
• How is my ego holding me back, and what can I do about it?

And finally,

• How can I reconcile my need to be successful and ambitious with this idea that I can also “let go and let God?” Where is the balance between making things happen, and simply allowing God’s will to happen?

You’re sure to draw many connections between your own life and Dr. Dyer’s teachings. As a participant, you can even call in with your personal question, and may be selected for an on-air consultation with Dr. Dyer during the workshop.

Join us for this amazing opportunity to call in and speak with Dr. Dyer as he helps you find meaning, and passion, in your life. 

Register Here.