Health News
James Talks: Cruise to Lose
I just got back from a beautiful Alaskan cruise. I hadn’t been on a cruise since the Fat Flush Cruise in 2009. Ann Louise Gittleman would host these great cruises full of people working to get healthy and lose weight, and I really enjoyed them. We had contests to see who could lose the most weight that week, and people routinely lost 10 pounds or more. I was really inspired by some of the people I met on those cruises. Let me tell you, this Alaskan cruise was a different experience altogether. Culture Shock What really made an impression on me during this cruise was how unhealthy a lot of the passengers were. The cruise director made jokes about how the average passenger gains a pound a day on their trip. That got me looking around, and I’ve never seen so many obese people as I did on that boat. I realize it’s a vacation and we all like to indulge a little, myself included. But, it seemed like everyone was eating all the time, with a few desserts at each meal, plus pizza and ice cream in-between meals. What I don’t understand is who wants to go on vacation and gain weight then go home and feel miserable? It made me curious, so I made a point to really watch what all these people were doing for their health. I’d say over half of the people on the ship were in their fifties or older and they ate more food than I’ve ever seen before. I’m in my sixties, too, and I understand how much health issues change as we age. We can’t afford to sit around and gorge ourselves on too much food and alcohol without it catching up with us. On the first day, I walked down the hall and noticed there was a crowd, so I went to see what it was all about. Turns out they were all just waiting for the elevator, because no one wanted to take the steps. I was able to walk up several flights of steps before many of them even got their turn on the elevator. I took a walk through the gym and the few people who were in there were young and already in shape. It’s so important to stay moving and keep our mobility. We spend so much time sitting – at home, in our cars, at our desks at work. We don’t have to pump iron, we just need to walk and get moving. I’d sit and eat with people I didn’t know and all they’d talk about were their doctors and their health problems. Full-blown diabetics sat in front of me eating multiple desserts – really gorging themselves – while they told me about all the problems they had from their blood sugar not being controlled. I didn’t see anyone taking digestive enzymes or HCl supplements with their meals to help them digest all that food. I asked a server if she’d noticed anyone besides me taking supplements with their meals and she hadn’t. http://blog.unikeyhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/21892428_1840579772831228_4167898133042298880_n.mp4 Health Doesn’t Take A Vacation When you go on vacation you have to find ways to have fun that don’t compromise your health. Decide to move more so you can burn it off when you do indulge. Keep a healthy balance. I actually lost a few pounds on this trip from all the walking I did, even though I ate a few foods I don’t normally eat at home. There were probably a dozen floors on that cruise ship and sometimes I walked 8-10 flights of stairs at a time, with my heart racing and my legs burning by the time I reached the top. Did you know 15 minutes of stair climbing has the same health benefits as 30 minutes of running? If you’re feeling sluggish in the afternoons, instead of taking a nap try taking a walk. I find I’ll come back to life if I just get moving. Also, don’t underestimate what a good multivitamin can do for you. Your energy could be low from a mild vitamin or mineral deficiency. Stress depletes more than just vitamins and minerals, it can affect your adrenal glands if it goes unchecked for too long. A good adrenal formula might be the boost you need to carry you through that afternoon slump. I’ve had too many of my friends and family getting sick and dying of diseases that can be treated or prevented with a healthy lifestyle. Don’t be a walking time bomb or a doctor’s Christmas present. Keep one foot on the path to health all the time. Ask for more vegetables, watch the fruit, bread and desserts, and keep moving. Drink water with lemon or the Fat Flush cranberry water to wake up your metabolism. Avoid sugary drinks and too much alcohol. If you move a lot you can eat more and your body will burn it – your metabolism will increase. Challenge yourself and set goals to stay healthy and keep focused on your healing, even while you’re on vacation. I made the goal to never ride an elevator on the cruise, and it paid off with weight loss and plenty of energy as the rewards.
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The DOs and DON’Ts of Healthy Dairy Consumption
Do you eat dairy? According to the California Milk Advisory Board, 90% of Americans enjoy ice cream on a regular basis, and that number hasn’t changed in over 30 years. However, because of lactose intolerance, the milk you put on your cereal or the ice cream you eat in front of the TV at night probably isn’t sitting well with you and is causing gas, bloating and other digestive issues. Not only that, but certain types of dairy products can increase your risk of allergy, Type 1 Diabetes and Coronary Artery Disease. How do we make our dairy consumption healthy? Here are the pros and cons for healthy dairy consumption. Americans Love Dairy – But Does It Love Us? According to USDA data, the average American adult eats about 1 ton (2,000 pounds!) of food per year, and out of that ton about 630 pounds is dairy products. While the amount of red meat we’re eating is decreasing, the amount of cheese and yogurt we’re eating is on the increase. Why is it specifically yogurt and cheese that are on the rise? The answer is found in the lactose content. Lactose is a complex sugar found in milk, which has to be broken down into simple sugars to be absorbed. The enzyme that breaks this sugar down is lactase, and lactase deficiency causes lactose intolerance. Worldwide, 75% of people are lactose intolerant. Some ethnic populations, especially African, Middle Eastern, Southern Asian and Jewish, are more prone to lactase deficiency with lactose intolerance rates higher than 90% in some cases. The good news is you can still enjoy fermented dairy like yogurt, kefir and some cheeses even with lactose intolerance. DO: Eat Dairy Rich in Enzymes and Probiotics to Aid Digestion Which forms of dairy are the most easily digested? Fermented milk products like yogurt, kefir and cheeses have the lowest amounts of lactose and contain enzymes and probiotics, which help your body break down the lactose. Raw milk cheeses aged more than 60 days are preferred over pasteurized cheeses because they contain more active enzymes and probiotics. The aging is important; the acids and salts naturally present need time to break down any harmful pathogens that could cause illness. Yogurt and kefir made at home can be fermented until the lactose is almost completely gone, making these the most well-tolerated forms of dairy for lactose intolerant people. DON’T: Drink Ultra-Pasteurized and Homogenized Milk Also important to think about is ultra-pasteurization and homogenization. Most milk commonly available in stores has been through these processes. Ultra-pasteurization heats milk to 280 degrees for 2 seconds then rapidly cools it. Milk proteins are fragile and change their shape during this process. These flattened proteins are no longer digestible, and because the proteins look foreign to our bodies we mount an immune response to them, which turns into an allergy. The issue with homogenization is similar; it changes the size and shape of fats in the milk so they stay suspended instead of the cream rising to the top. These foreign fats can also cause inflammation and milk allergy. DON’T: Consume Low Fat Milk Products Milk is composed primarily of water, fats and sugars (lactose). Simply put, when we remove the fats from the milk, we are left with lactose sugar water – the enemy of lactose intolerant individuals. In addition, these products often contain added sugars to enhance the flavor. If you have read any of the Fat Flush family of books from Ann Louise Gittleman, then you know these high sugar, low fat milk products will not help with weight loss, and can contribute to heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. DO: Discover the A2 Milk Marvel When it comes to milk proteins, there is a class that stands alone in reducing risks of allergies, Type 1 diabetes, and heart disease. This protein is A2, and is a proline-rich, anti-inflammatory health superstar. The A2 protein is the easily digested, more ancient form of casein, found in human breast milk, goat’s milk, sheep’s milk, and milk from Jersey cows and African and Asian breeds. The French commonly use A2 to milk to make their world-renowned cheeses; they never made the switch to the A1 form simply because of taste and texture. Because of its limited availability in the US, Fat Flush Whey Protein made from A2 milk is the most accessible form of this high quality protein. DON’T: Consume A1 Milk Products Detailed in Keith Woodford’s book Devil in the Milk: Illness, Health, and the Politics of A1 and A2 Milk, the A1 protein is actually a histidine-rich mutated form of casein, and is commonly found in US dairy products. The big problem with the A1 protein is its inability to bind a strong opiate called BCM7, which when loose in the human GI tract can cause immune response issues leading to Type 1 Diabetes and other autoimmune diseases, inflammation in arteries leading to coronary artery disease, and neurologic issues in humans including autism and schizophrenia. DO: Choose a High Quality Whey Protein Powder The most popular protein powders in the market are whey-based, and for good reason – whey is rich in glutathione, the second strongest antioxidant in the body. It supports the immune system, helps with energy and maintains healthy blood pressure. Whey protein also contains leucine and CLA, both of which help you lose weight. Finally, the A2 protein in it can increase metabolism and boost weight loss. But not all whey protein powders are created equal. Some are A1 protein-based, heat treated, high in carbohydrates, and may contain chemicals, heavy metals, and artificial sweeteners. Hallmarks of a high quality whey protein include: Whey protein concentrate, not protein isolates Free of GMOs – whey sourced from New Zealand is non-GMO Free of hormones, chemicals, pesticides and heavy metals Cold processed, to preserve delicate proteins Made from A2 milk Naturally sweetened with no artificial sweeteners UNI KEY’s Fat Flush Whey Protein meets all of these high standards and has been rated as the best quality whey protein on the market. References https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md/beltsville-human-nutrition-research-center/food-surveys-research-group/docs/dmr-food-categories/ http://www.californiadairypressroom.com/node/356 https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/lactose-intolerance#statistics https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3475924/ https://www.westonaprice.org
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Protecting Yourself from Cell Phone Radiation and EMFs
By James Templeton People pretty much live on their cell phones now which leaves us to the effects of cell phone radiation and EMFs. Everywhere I go I see people interacting with their phones instead of talking to the people they’re with. Coming from the heart and having a real conversation is important, and I’m concerned it’s a dying art. As a businessman, I wonder how people can be successful and advance in their careers if they don’t know how to communicate and be outgoing in-person. As a health conscious person, I’m concerned for the health effects and cancer risks from so much phone use, especially in children. A Little History Cell phones were originally created for military use and made it to the mainstream without any testing of health effects, because the only criteria necessary for their type of EMF radiation to meet was that the phone not burn or shock you during use. It took a court case involving a woman who died from a brain tumor – on the side of her brain right where she held her cell phone talking for hours a day – to spark research into the safety of cell phones. And most of that research has been biased. In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, commissioned an expert working group to examine the research, and they concluded cell phone use is “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” They found the research was biased, limited and results were inconsistent. So where does that leave us? We have to dig deeper to find the truth. The Cancer Risk Ann Louise Gittleman wrote a book called Zapped: Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn’t Be Your Alarm Clock and 1,268 Ways to Outsmart the Hazards of Electronic Pollution. She analyzed the available data and found the cancer connection: cell phone EMF radiation – even below safety standards – damages cellular DNA. Damaged DNA leads to mutations, which can cause cancer, even in our offspring. This radiation leads to free radicals being formed, which are normally counteracted by antioxidants like melatonin, glutathione and SOD (superoxide dismutase), but these EMFs suppress their production. She also found studies that show these EMFs can cause a leak in the blood-brain barrier, allowing toxic chemicals to pass through. All of these effects are magnified in children, because their bones aren’t mature and radiation passes through to deeper tissues more easily. Protect Yourself The good news is there are ways to limit our exposure to EMFs and detox the effects of radiation in our bodies. Limit Exposure: Distance matters. EMF radiation gets weaker the further you get from the source, which includes your phone, WiFi device, or cell tower. Keep your phone away from your body as much as possible, carry it in a purse or briefcase instead of your pocket. Don’t charge your phone (or other electronics) near your bed, and turn off your WiFi at night to give your body a break. Pay attention to your signal strength. A weaker signal means an increase in EMF radiation coming from your phone. Put your phone on airplane mode or turn it off whenever possible. Consider an EMF reducing case. Currently, the best-rated cases are SafeSleeve and RF Safe, which block about 99% of EMFs. Third rated is a Pong case, which blocks about 67% of EMFs. The majority of EMFs come from the back of the phone, so carry the phone with the screen facing you and the back facing away from your body. Detox Radiation Effects: Mind your minerals. Minerals are more important than vitamins when it comes to cellular health. Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulfur, Chromium, Manganese, Selenium, and Zinc all have DNA protective effects. A Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a non-invasive test, which measures mineral levels and their ratios in the body and will help you adjust your intake through food or supplements. Sweating, especially during sauna and exercise helps with the detox process. If you use FIR sauna, know its EMF ratings and make sure you aren’t being exposed to more harm than good. Consider supplementing with Whey Protein Powder, Daily Greens Formula, Melatonin, S-Acetyl Glutathione or N-Acetyl Cysteine, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Ultra H-3, Milk Thistle, Alpha Lipoic Acid, SOD, CoQ10, Bee Propolis, and Sea Buckthorn for antioxidants and detox support. References International Agency for Research on Cancer.Non-ionizing Radiation, Part 2: Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields. Lyon, France: IARC; 2013. IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, Volume 102.
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Naturally Boost Immunity to Beat Back-to-School Bugs
It’s the back-to-school time of year again and it’s not long before kids are bringing artwork, homework and germs home to share. What more can you do besides staying hydrated, covering those coughs, and a lot of handwashing? Here’s a list of take-home work you and your kids can do to stay healthy and naturally boost your immunity. Top Ten Herbal Allies Astragalus is a good immune booster and can be taken throughout the cold and flu season. This root can be added to soups and stews or brewed in a tea once or twice daily for best results. If you have autoimmune disease or chronic infections, this is not the herb for you. Cleavers is an herbal ally for the lymphatic system. At its peak in the Spring, fresh cleavers is much stronger than dried, and either form is best used in a tea. This herb was the inspiration for Velcro and those sticky little “hairs” will irritate the throat if not made into a tea first. Drinking one cup of this tea twice a day is enough to help move lymph and fight infection. Echinacea has been used for colds and flus by Native Americans for centuries. This bright purple coneflower was easy to spot in fields until it was over-foraged, creating a shortage of the wild form. The leaves are commonly used in capsule and tincture form to fight colds and boost the immune system for not more than 6 weeks at a time. It’s readily available in a glycerin-based tincture made for children. You can take it as often as every two hours at the first sign of a cold and taper down to twice a day once cold symptoms are under control. Elderberry is a bush native to North America with dark berries ripe in late summer and early Fall. This potent anti-viral is a favorite flu fighter. Whether you buy Sambucol or make your own syrup with cloves, cinnamon and honey, elderberry can be taken up to 4 times daily when a virus attacks. Garlic contains allicin, a powerful sulfur-based antimicrobial that enhances immune function. It can be supplemented in odorless pills, but will not be as effective. The best way to get enough garlic is to chew a raw clove. But, if you’re not that hard core, then add generous amounts to food at the onset of a cold or flu at least once or twice daily. Honey in its pure, raw form is antimicrobial. Manuka is the most potent form but any raw honey will help. A good way to soothe sore throats is to stack alternating slices of lemon and fresh ginger in a small glass jar and fill with honey. Store in the refrigerator and take 1 teaspoon twice daily. Remember, children under a year old should not be given raw honey. Mullein Leaves are a good respiratory tonic. It’s one of the few herbs that cleanses the respiratory system without causing a decreased respiratory drive. So while it won’t suppress your cough, it will make your cough more productive, helping you through the illness more quickly. Take as a tea twice daily and breathe in deeply as you drink to inhale the oils escaping in the steam. Mullein is also the active ingredient in earache oils, which are quick and effective at soothing painful ears even in the middle of the night. Take care to not use these oils if the eardrum is ruptured. Olive leaf is an antiviral especially effective against Epstein-Barr virus, also known as infectious mononucleosis, the “kissing disease.” Taken as an extract in capsule form twice daily, olive leaf has been shown in studies to stop viral replication, lessening the severity and duration of Mono. Oregano Oil is a broad spectrum antimicrobial with a strong taste and odor. While it is effective on its own, it also helps other herbs do their job better so will pack a more powerful punch taken in combination. This strong tasting herb is best taken as an oil in gelcap form twice daily. Thyme is a popular cooking herb that also has antiviral properties. Thyme supports the thymus, the master gland of the immune system. Thyme is an aromatic herb that is best taken as a tea once or twice daily to get over the viruses that seem to keep holding on. Immune Boosting Vitamins Vitamin A is especially important for the gut’s immune system and increases the overall tolerance of the immune system, which is important for health. 10,000 IU is generally considered safe to supplement. Vitamin C is naturally antibacterial and antiviral, and can decrease the frequency and duration of colds, and also thins mucus for easier drainage from the sinuses. Because Vitamin C is water soluble, it needs to be taken more often or in a time-released formula to stay effective. Supplement to bowel tolerance or at least 2,000mg daily. Vitamin D is the newest superstar in immune function and a blood test can determine your levels. If you can’t get regular sunlight to exposed skin to boost your levels, then 5,000IU daily is recommended to get levels back to normal and increase immunity. Vitamin E is the most overlooked immune system boosting vitamin. It stimulates production of natural killer cells in the tonsils, which seek and destroy germs. Supplement 400 IU daily to raise your levels and support your immune system. Minerals that Heal Iodine is an often overlooked but great germ fighter. Important for immunity, Lugol’s solution can be painted on tonsils daily to fight infection at the source. 95% of the body’s natural killer cells are located in the tonsils, so supporting these important immune structures is essential for healing. Selenium and Zinc are antioxidant minerals important for immune system function. 200mcg of Selenium and 50mg of Zinc daily can be taken daily to ward off colds and flus. Zinc throat sprays are also effective relief for sore throats. Salt is an antimicrobial best used in a gargle for not just pain relief but infection fighting. Packed full of minerals, the best forms of salt to use are Celtic, Himalayan and RealSalt from Utah. Move That Lymph Steam and sauna during a cold are great allies if you are well hydrated. Both help move lymph and stimulate the immune system to fight infection. Neither are advised with a fever present. Alternating hot and cold showers also move lymph and can be done even with a low-grade fever (under 101 degrees F). Shower for 2 minutes as hot as you can stand, then 30 seconds as cold as it goes. Repeat this cycle 4 times and end on cold in the morning and hot in the evening. The Nose Knows Known by many different names and steeped in folklore, the Thieves blend of essential oils is an effective antibacterial and antiviral whether diffused, used as a cleaner or diluted in carrier oil and applied to the skin. The story goes that thieves from the middle ages who worked in the perfume factories would put this oil blend on a cloth over their noses and mouths to loot the villages of people affected by the plague and did not get sick. Whether that’s true or not, it does seem to help the pain of strep throat when applied to the neck in a carrier oil. One trick of modern herbalists to make breathing easier is to put a drop of peppermint essential oil in the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, then place hand over nose and mouth and inhale deeply several times until the nose clears. Be careful to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water afterward so you don’t get the peppermint oil on sensitive skin. Neti Pots are an ancient sinus support brought into the modern era. Studies show they’re effective against sinus infections by flushing germs and allergens. Sinus rinse bottles are also effective. If you don’t feel comfortable flushing your sinuses, a saline nasal spray with xylitol will also help fight infection and mildly rinse sinuses. Support Your Adrenals In our fast-paced lives, it can be hard to rest and recover with so many places to go and things to do. Supplement with an Adrenal Formula with Spleen and Thymus glandulars for those worn out, stressed out times you just can’t seem to get ahead of it all. Tired adrenals suppress the immune system and can lead to repeated illnesses or colds you just can’t shake.
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Common and Dangerous Chemical Exposures
By James Templeton I remember as a boy lying in bed in the Houston heat with the windows open. We didn’t have air conditioning, just windows and fans to keep us cool. Around midnight I’d hear the mosquito trucks come through, leaving that fog behind them. I don’t know if they sprayed DDT, Malathion or another organophosphate, all I know is when I’d smell it coming in the windows even as a boy I thought it can’t be good to breathe that year after year. Chemicals and Cancer I started thinking back on all the chemical exposures I had because I read studies that found a link between chemical exposures and melanoma cancer. In fact, there are recent studies that say petrochemical exposure is a cause of melanoma, especially when it occurs on areas of the body that haven’t been sun exposed. When I started thinking about living in Houston, I realized it’s a pretty toxic area. A lot of refineries and chemical plants are located there because of the shipping channels. I used to work construction outside on summer breaks during college and when I’d breathe deep I’d start coughing from all the chemicals in the air. Workplace Exposures I had pretty significant petrochemical exposures, too. From the time I was in college I worked in full service gas stations. I worked my way up to being the owner at 25 years old, and took pride in providing full service to my customers until I was diagnosed with cancer at age 32. I wanted people to have a clean, honest business to go to and went out of my way to give good service. So I breathed gas fumes for many years, pumping gas for everyone that came through. I also worked for a sprinkler installation company as a pipefitter through high school and college and couldn’t help but inhale the solvents and PVC glues when I worked with them. How do you get away from chemicals like these when you have to work for a living? Common Sources of Hidden Chemicals While you may not have control over the air pollution you’re exposed to, you do have control over the agricultural chemicals you come in contact with. Pesticides and bug sprays on food are one of the most common sources of chemical exposure. Choosing organic produce not only cuts down on your chemical exposures but also helps you detoxify the chemicals you’ve already been exposed to and need to eliminate from your body. Synthetic fragrances are another common and dangerous source of chemicals. Found in soaps, shampoos, deodorants, air fresheners, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, wax melts, candles and more, these neurotoxic chemicals cross the blood-brain barrier and go directly into the limbic system of the brain when you breathe them in. Not only do they disrupt hormones and cause allergies, they harm the central nervous system and cause cancers. It’s important to read labels; even labels that claim to be unscented contain these chemicals listed simply as “fragrance” on the label. Templeton’s Top Ten Tips To Detox Chemicals We’re all exposed to chemicals daily and while we can’t always control being exposed, we can help our bodies detox and get rid of them. Here are 10 techniques I use to get the chemicals out: Create a pollution-free zone with a good air purifier in your home. Stay hydrated with good, clean water. Getting at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day will help flush toxins and chemicals out through your kidneys. Eat organic and biodynamic whenever possible. Take a good greens supplement like our Daily Greens Formula. Support the detoxification process with S-Acetyl Glutathione or Liposomal Glutathione, a potent antioxidant. Coffee enemas will also stimulate glutathione production in the body. The liver bears most of the burden of detox, so help the process along with a supplement like our Liver-Lovin Formula. Vitamin C is my go-to antioxidant for anytime my body needs a helping hand. I recommend taking it to bowel tolerance. Take proteolytic enzymes between meals to help the digestive system break down toxins for elimination. Use skin brushing, massage and clay baths to stimulate removal of toxins through the skin. Frequent sauna and moderate exercise will stimulate you to sweat out toxins and chemicals through the skin. Niacin can help this process, though I personally have not used it.
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Avoiding Illness After A Flood
Here at UNI KEY, our hearts and prayers are with the flood victims in South Texas. Our founder, James Templeton grew up in Houston, and many of us have family and friends there. We are deeply saddened by your loss and stand beside you – Texas Strong. During the initial shock of a natural disaster like a hurricane or severe storm that causes flooding, we don’t consider the health implications of what those high water levels really mean. We assume we have the technology and resources to keep things clean. But the reality is even the water seeping into million dollar homes is contaminated with everything from pesticides to sewage, and there are health risks associated with flooded conditions we need to protect ourselves from. Gastrointestinal Illness Floodwater is often contaminated with sewage and animal wastes, and contact with this water commonly causes gastrointestinal illness from the bacteria, viruses and parasites present in the water. Floodwaters have been found to contain parasites like Giardia and amoebae; bacteria including E.coli, Salmonella, and Shigella; viruses including Hepatitis A, Rotavirus, Parvovirus and the viruses that cause what we commonly call the stomach flu. Even after the waters recede, these pathogens can still be present in areas that flooded, including your home. Strengthening your digestive system is key to avoiding these GI flood illnesses. The stress of a tragedy like this causes inflammation in the lining of your intestines, so supplementing is a good idea for everyone. Start with the basics, a good quality probiotic in higher than normal doses to populate your intestines with the health-protective good bacteria. Take an anti-parasitic supplement like Para-Key to help your immune system fight off anything you do come in contact with. And as always, frequent hand washing with clean water goes a long way to preventing disease of all kinds. Respiratory Illness Many microbes grow in damp spaces besides mold and are easily transmitted airborne or through insects like mosquitoes, whose population explodes after a flood. Aerosolized bacteria like Legionella from floodwaters grows well in damp HVAC units and ductwork, causing serious respiratory infection and illness. Other sources of respiratory illness are often allergic or irritant in nature, especially in asthma-prone people. Indoor use of gas-powered generators, pressure washers, water pumps, and more can cause carbon monoxide poisoning without adequate ventilation or against manufacturer warnings for outdoor use only. Strengthen your immune system with a good quality probiotic, and protect your respiratory system with Vitamin C and a liposomal glutathione supplement. Consider a broad spectrum anti-infective like colloidal silver when infection potential is high. A good natural insect repellent is a must when mosquitoes swarm. An N-99 respirator mask filters out airborne chemicals and particles including mold that you can come in contact with while cleaning up after a flood. Affected ductwork often needs to be replaced by a professional. Our trusted source for air purifiers is CWR and they will make recommendations based on your individual needs. Mold Illness Mold counts are extremely high both indoors and outdoors following a flood. Exposure should not be taken lightly. Mold illness ranges in severity from the irritation of a rash or nagging cough to more serious symptoms including pneumonia, extreme weakness and tachycardia. Do not cut corners remediating a flood damaged home; mold can grow in such hard to reach places as insulation in the wall behind cupboards. It doesn’t have to be seen to be deadly, the most toxic mold – stachybotrys has been known to grow inside walls and cause illness without ever becoming visible. Pine oil-based products are the most effective natural choice when cleaning up after mold remediation. Though there is conflicting advice regarding the use of bleach solutions, research shows it causes mold to sporify as it dies which creates more airborne mold-related illness. Rather than bleach, consider a borax detergent solution or pine oil cleaner. For your personal health, consider supplementing with oregano oil capsules, Vitamin C, a binder like zeolite, and Y-C Cleanse to help your immune system fight off the mold you inevitably will come in contact with. Eat foods rich in quercetin like apples and pears to reduce irritation and inflammation. Foods like garlic, leeks and onions are rich in allicin and a good addition to the diet, as a potent antioxidant and antimicrobial. If you know you are sensitive to mold, follow an anti-candida/mold diet and avoid sugars, fruits and fermented foods until the mold issues have been resolved and counts are lower. The Importance of Clean Drinking Water It’s never more important than after a flood to protect the quality of your drinking water. Heavy metals, sewage residue, pesticides and other chemicals, organic compounds like petroleum, and the pathogens already mentioned can be present in the water supply, and municipal filtration systems are not always equipped to handle these contaminants. This is where a good quality water filter comes in, one that requires no electricity and gives you safe drinking water. Even bottled water can be contaminated and is in short supply during a severe weather situation. Whether you decide to install a whole house filtration system or a portable tabletop filter attached to the kitchen faucet, clean water is essential to staying healthy in the aftermath of a flood. Resources to Help With Your Clean-up: CWR for air purifiers: cwrenviro.com UNI KEY offers a variety of water filters here. References “Fact Sheet: Flood Cleanup – Avoiding Indoor Air Quality Problems,” EPA Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/flood.html Creating a Healthy Home: A Field Guide for Cleanup of Flooded Homes, National Center for Healthy Housing and Enterprise Community Partners, http://www.centerforhealthyhousing.org/FloodCleanupGuide_screen_.pdf “Dealing with Mold & Mildew in your Flood Damaged Home,” FEMA, http://www.fema.gov/pdf/rebuild/recover/fema_mold_brochure_english.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-08/documents/flood-related_cleaning_report.pdf
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The Importance of Clean Water
By James Templeton Water is the most important thing you take into your body. Your body is 60-75% water, depending on your hydration and muscle mass. We are told to drink half our body weight in ounces of water per day, to fully hydrate and flush toxins out. Unfortunately, water quality is a major issue in our country and is a source of toxins and cancer-causing compounds. Flint, Michigan made headlines with the dangerously high lead levels in their water, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. The Environmental Working Group found 50,000 US public water systems are contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals. If you want to see how contaminated yours is, go to their National Tap Water Database and enter your zip code for the report. Bottled water is no exception. According to Roy Speiser, PhD, Vice President of Clean Water Revival and an expert in water quality, 40% of bottled water is contaminated, and water packaged in plastic bottles contains xenoestrogens leached from the plastic, which cause hormone disruptions and are linked to prostate and breast cancer. We'll discuss the importance of clean water below. Water Quality Issues – An Expert Weighs In I’ve known Roy for about 25 years now, and he’s been helping people with health issues get good water quality for 40 years. I called him for his input on current water contamination issues and his extensive knowledge of water filtration. He had this to say: “Water quality issues are much more severe and toxic than they were 10 or 20 years ago. Four years ago, we started detecting pharmaceuticals, and there are new heavy metals and chemicals like chlorate from fertilizers in the water supply. Municipal water systems have changed from using chlorine to chloramine, which is chlorine plus ammonia. This has new byproducts and requires new technology to be filtered out. Filters with 30 year-old technology, like the carbon filters you can buy in pitchers or as faucet mounts, only remove chlorine, a little bit of lead, bad taste and odor. Reverse Osmosis only takes care of chlorine and heavy metals, another 30 year-old technology.” I’ve come to understand there are a lot of overpriced and underperforming water systems out there. It’s impressive to watch the video of someone pouring a bottle of cola into a water filter and see it come out as clear water on the other side, but the truth is that’s 30 year old technology in the form of a tabletop reverse osmosis filter. And reverse osmosis filters out the good minerals you want in your water along with the heavy metals, but leaves behind the pharmaceuticals. Getting Clean Water At Home The best water filtration system is the one customized to the water issues in your area. If you live in a farming area, you may need filters for nitrates and pesticides. In some areas of the country, uranium is an issue. In larger metropolitan areas there may be more pharmaceuticals in the water. The point is one water filter does not serve all. The first step is to get a good water report to know your water issues. Look up the report on the EWG website, or order a test kit for your well if you have well water. You can call us at UNI KEY and we can walk you through it. Then with Roy’s help, we’ll match your water issues with the filters that will work for you. If you’re on a budget or just renting, there are countertop and portable filters that are available and work just as well as permanent ones. Here at UNI KEY’s offices, we have a filtration system that includes filters with a ceramic exterior and a specialized compressed carbon core called Metalgon. This filter takes care of bacteria and different types of sediment, plus iron, fluoride, heavy metals, lead, chlorine, chloramine and pharmaceuticals. At my home I also have a filter that filters out Uranium, because our water tested high for it. If you’re renting, our countertop filter doesn’t require any permanent installation. You don’t want to absorb chlorine through water on your skin in the shower or bath, so if you don’t have a whole house water system, get a showerhead filter and a tub faucet filter. I even travel with a showerhead filter that I use in hotel rooms. Alkaline Water A word about alkaline water systems. They do contain a basic filter, usually carbon, but their main job is to raise the pH of the water, not filter it. I tried one a few years back and didn’t feel good drinking the water. I think people feel better on it initially because they are drinking more water and getting hydrated, but I’m concerned for people who have acid reflux and low stomach acid it’s making things worse instead of better. I personally feel it’s a better investment to have clean water than it is to have alkaline water. For more about water quality, watch my video:
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Insomnia SOS
Having trouble falling asleep, not sleeping deeply or waking up frequently during the night? You’re not alone, 1 in 3 people struggle with insomnia in their lifetime. Reasons for insomnia can be as straightforward as a stressful day or as complicated as hormone changes. But before you turn to that prescription for a quick fix (and a host of side effects), check out these common reasons for insomnia and their natural solutions. Hormone Havoc The Problem: Hormone changes can wreak havoc on sleep. The hormone changes that come with perimenopause and menopause in women, and andropause in men can bring on trouble falling asleep, frequent night waking, or poor quality of sleep in general. If your problem is falling asleep, then low progesterone is the first place to look. Symptoms of low progesterone like trouble falling asleep can be the first sign of hormone changes, because progesterone is both a stress hormone and a sex hormone and tends to be depleted more easily. Trouble staying asleep is often the result of fluctuating estrogen levels, and when estrogen drops lower than progesterone, it wakes you. If your issue is daytime sleepiness and poor quality sleep, then low testosterone may be to blame. Low testosterone can also cause sleep apnea. The Solution: The first step to hormone balance is test, don’t guess. UNI KEY offers saliva hormone testing to help you determine your individual needs. Once you are armed with this information, if you are a woman who wants to do more research, Ann Louise Gittleman’s newly revised Before the Change: Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause can help you feel sexy, slim and sleeping better with simple lifestyle changes and bioidentical hormone support. Before you turn to hormone supplementation for low testosterone, consider High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Intermittent Fasting to raise testosterone levels and lose belly fat. Insulin Interruptions The Problem: Eating too many carbohydrates (carbs) and not enough protein and fat leads to blood sugars cycling up and down all day, and this causes excessive eating, weight gain, and a rise in insulin levels. High insulin levels and insulin resistance are linked to poor quality sleep and insomnia. The Solution: Simple changes in diet lead to big changes in blood sugar. Eating more protein and healthy fats and not eating carbs alone helps level out blood sugars and eliminates the spikes in both blood sugar and insulin. Avoid sugary drinks and limit alcohol intake, start your day with a good quality protein powder in a smoothie, replace high carb snacks with protein like nuts and seeds, and add mild to moderate exercise like walking to burn the carbs you do eat. Night Light The Problem: Late night scrolling through social media, binge watching Netflix, reading an e-book, or watching the news right before trying to sleep are all robbing you of this essential sleep hormone – melatonin. Those screens all have one thing in common – a higher concentration of blue light than natural light – and this wavelength of light suppresses your levels of melatonin more than any other. The body’s natural clock, its Circadian rhythm, is ruled by light exposure, and blue light at night can delay your ability to sleep well into morning. Repeated exposure can cause a reset of your Circadian rhythm causing long-term insomnia. The Solution: Unplug your bedroom and keep it as dark as possible. No blue light exposure for 2 hours prior to when you want to sleep. If you can’t live without a screen before bed, some devices have blue light blocking apps you can install for evening viewing, or you can buy blue-blocking glasses to wear. Help reset your Circadian rhythm by supplementing with melatonin. Doses of 3-6 milligrams at bedtime can help you fall asleep, and a time-released formula like UNI KEY’s can help you stay asleep all night. Wired But Tired The Problem: If you have daytime fatigue but get a second wind in the evening and stay up late wide awake, adrenal fatigue is behind your symptoms. In this case, cortisol levels are often low in the morning and afternoon but high in the evening, which is the opposite of what they should be. Adrenal fatigue comes from long-term emotional or physical stress causing wear and tear on the adrenals, the small glands that sit on top of the kidneys. The other cause of this wired but tired syndrome is excessive use of stimulants like caffeine and nicotine. Their use late in the day is especially problematic for sleep. The Solution: Cut the caffeine and nicotine, or at least limit use to mornings only if you can’t quite kick the habit yet. Practice stress-relieving techniques like deep breathing exercises, meditation, prayer, yoga, and walking. Lavender essential oil diffused in the bedroom can calm cortisol levels and relax you for sleep. Supplement with an Adrenal Formula with Vitamin C, pantothenic acid, adaptogenic herbs and glandular extracts to support adrenal health and bring Circadian rhythms back online. References http://www.pnas.org/content/112/4/1232 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110502151427.htm
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Toxic Heavy Metal Exposure
By James Templeton As our environment becomes more polluted, we are exposed to more toxins that our bodies need to process and eliminate. Babies now are born with over 200 cancer-causing chemicals in their bloodstream, there’s rocket fuel in breastmilk, lead in drinking water, and the list goes on. This early and constant bombardment of toxins takes its toll on our ability to detox and ultimately can cost us our health. Once I decided to treat my cancer naturally, I started to take these exposures very seriously and help my body do its best to eliminate this toxic soup we’re all exposed to. Over the past several weeks in this blog, I’ve introduced what I feel are root causes or contributing factors to the Stage IV Melanoma cancer I was diagnosed with over 30 years ago: diet, parasites, toxic mold, candida yeast, toxic sunscreen and need for healthy sun exposure, dental amalgams and root canals, radiation, lack of healthy exercise (in my case over-exercise), and adrenal fatigue (see them here). Today I want to go more in-depth on heavy metal exposure, a topic I introduced in the Dental Health article. Test, Don’t Guess Here at UNI KEY, we do Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) testing, and heavy metals are a primary reason people ask to have this test done. Hair is one of the tissues the body deposits metals in after exposure, and it’s non-invasive to test. The average sample represents 3 months of hair growth and metals elimination, so if you do a HTMA and heavy metals are elevated, it’s good to repeat it 3 months later to monitor progress if you’re trying to detox. If you’d like to try our HTMA testing, I’m happy to offer 10% off with coupon code TMA10 now through 9/8. The Dirty Eight I’d like to go through the top 8 heavy metals we see elevated on the HTMA test, and where you most commonly come in contact with them. All except nickel are neurotoxins and they can be a root cause of neurologic illnesses like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Chronic Fatigue, and even Peripheral Neuropathy. Mercury is found in dental amalgams (fillings), fish, seafood, high fructose corn syrup, vaccines, coal and hydroelectric power plant emissions, fossil fuels, mining and paper mills. It gets in the air then it settles in lakes, streams, ocean, and our water supply. As I mentioned in my previous article, my health improved a lot once I had all my dental mercury properly removed. Aluminum is commonly found in drinking water, cookware and utensils, coffee pots, aluminum cans and foil, deodorant, antacids, infant formulas, processed cheeses, table salt, baking powders (and baked goods), bleached flour, cake mixes, pickled foods, and non-dairy creamers. We also see aluminum high on our testing when dental work has recently been done. Replace your aluminum pans with porcelain finish, enamel, glass or cast iron. Certain types of stainless steel used in cookware contain nickel, which you want to avoid. If you’ve read many murder mysteries, then you’ve probably heard of arsenic being used as a poison. Arsenic is in drinking water, rice, chicken, infant formula, treated wood and old plastic toys. There is no safe level of lead exposure. Lead is found in drinking water, soil, paint, cosmetics, some herbal and Ayurvedic remedies, batteries, bullets, solder, lead-glazed pottery, window blinds, crafts and old furniture. If you are a sushi lover, then it’s a good idea to have your Cadmium levels checked on HTMA. Nori seaweed, the wrap around sushi rolls, is high in cadmium. Other sources include pesticides used on produce, rice from China, bolts and nuts, batteries and industrial pollution. This is why you choose organic produce over conventionally grown, so you can bypass the pesticides and heavy metals and still get the nutrients you need from the fruits and vegetables. Do you use dry shampoo? We had one young lady test very high in uranium, and the source was her dry shampoo. Uranium is also found in drinking water, root vegetables, and nuclear testing residue in the soil. Yet another good reason to eat organic produce and drink filtered water. Tin is one of the metals used in dental amalgams and can register very high after a visit to the dentist. It’s also found in cans, rodent poisons, and dyes. Nickel is everywhere, from snaps on baby clothing to drinks and foods like chocolate and nuts; from cigarettes to diesel fumes. It’s in batteries, jewelry and dental materials. Nickel makes the immune system hypersensitive, so it overreacts and causes allergies, sensitivities and rashes to a variety of foods and other substances. Heavy Metal Detox Once you know you’ve been exposed and your levels are high, there are a lot of options to support healthy detox and ongoing elimination of heavy metals that are toxic to humans. When my teeth were being repaired and I realized heavy metals were an issue for me, I created my own detox program from alpha lipoic acid (ALA), bentonite clay, our Daily Greens Formula with chlorella, a lot of organic leafy greens and fiber in my diet, infrared sauna, sweating, exercise (regular walking), and plenty of good quality water. Other good additions include S-Acetyl Glutathione, NAC, probiotics and cilantro. Resources https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics
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