Total Health Breakthroughs: Free Natural Health Newsletter and Alternative Health Articles

In This Issue:

Natural Bladder Health to Avoid Incontinence

By Mark Rosenberg, MD

Although it is an issue that no one enjoys talking about, over 13 million Americans are suffering from urinary loss or incontinence. Many patients are reluctant to bring up embarrassing matters, such as the urgent need to go, frantically searching for a restroom or resorting to products like adult diapers. While bladder weakness often comes with aging, it can also be related to separate conditions.¹

For men it could be related to your enlarged prostate. And for women who are twice as likely as men to have this condition, the complications can be caused by female-related infections, irritations, and surgery of reproductive organs.

The good news is, with breakthrough research, it is now possible to naturally treat many underlying problems and restore a healthy bladder.

Men and Prostate Health

Bladder problems in men range from always feeling like you have to go, to weak stream, to incomplete evacuation of the bladder. All of these symptoms can get in the way of living an active life. While sometimes triggered by the aging process, these issues are often the result of an enlarged prostate. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, a tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. When the prostate becomes enlarged, it sometimes blocks or puts pressure on the urethra.

An enlarged prostate is also known as BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia. BPH may be caused by hormonal changes and cell growth and sometimes leads to prostate cancer. However, in most cases, an enlarged prostate can result in urinary retention, urinary tract infections and kidney stones.

To deal with an enlarged prostate, see your doctor. Everyone has different symptoms and therefore, different treatment needs. There are many ways to naturally manage your BPH. I suggest that you even eliminate or limit your use of alcohol and caffeine. They act as diuretics causing the body to release fluids faster than normal.

Another effective technique is to try “double voiding.”² After urinating, relax for a few moments, then try to go again in order to ensure you have emptied your bladder completely. You should also check with your doctor to make sure any medications you take are not to blame for BPH. Some over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants (including nasal sprays) and allergy pills can cause symptoms.

Some natural ingredients are highly effective for treating bladder weakness and BPH. Look for an herb called Uva Ursi leaf. While strengthening the urinary system and the prostate, it also contributes to kidney health.  Another helpful nutrient is Uncaria tomentosa, an herb known to reduce swelling of the tissue in the prostate and urinary tract. This may relieve pressure on the urethra and lessen urine loss.

Women and a Healthy Urinary Tract

Many women struggle with urine loss, which impacts their freedom and can make once pleasant social interactions a source of stress. In many cases, infections of the urinary system, commonly called UTIs, can often go untreated because they are usually mistaken for other problems and misdiagnosed.

If you have a history of urinary tract infections or experience urinary loss that’s erratic and accompanied by pain, I suggest you see your personal doctor for a definitive diagnosis. He or she can treat a current infection and develop a plan to make your urinary system less susceptible to harmful bacteria.

Many women who experience urine loss or pelvic pain due to infections tend to over wash the vaginal area or douche frequently. This over washing can often encourage bacteria growth, especially if scented products are used.

For both women and men fighting urinary infections, cranberry extract is frequently recommended. Studies have proven its effectiveness at reducing UTIs by up to 50%. This anti-bacterial can reduce harmful E. coli and other bacteria in the urinary tract. Look for bladder supplements with at least 800 to 1200 mg of cranberry extract.

Probiotics are natural substances that promote the growth of flora in the digestive tract and urinary system. This “good bacteria” is essential for bladder health and balances any bad bacteria in the body. FOS is a powerful probiotic proven to restore this delicate balance. Another effective natural treatment is the herb, cornsilk. Found in some bladder supplements, it supports overall health and soothes irritation and inflammation of the urethra in women. For men, cornsilk may support prostate and kidney health.

I have seen these natural remedies improve the bladder health of many of my own patients. If you have difficulty leading a full and active life due to bladder problems, you owe it to yourself to explore the natural treatments that have been proven to benefit this embarrassing condition. Managing urinary loss and supporting a healthy bladder will leave you free to enjoy friends, family and all the things you love.

References

1. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/urinary-incontinence/DS00404/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies.
2. http://men.webmd.com/prostate-enlargement-bph/tc/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-bph-topic-overview?page=2.

[Ed. Note: Mark Rosenberg, M.D. is director of the “Institute for Anti-Aging” in South Florida. He is a highly sought-after speaker for lectures on topics such as integrative cancer therapy and anti-aging medicine. Dr. Rosenberg is avidly involved in supplement research and is nutritional consultant for Vitalmax Vitamins.]

Healthy Nutrition:

Water and Your Health: A Doctor’s Perspective

By Dr. David Kamnitzer

Sometimes the most important pieces of a puzzle are right in front of us, and we still don’t seethem.  As a practicing doctor in the natural healing arts, I am consistently amazed how making one or two simple changes can have a huge impact on one’s health and well-being.

It could be asking yourself a different question, or taking a couple of slow deep breaths, or forgiving someone, or cutting out or adding a certain food to the diet.  It might even be improving your water.

When people start consuming the right amount of life-giving water, changes are virtually instantaneous!

Most people I meet are chronically dehydrated (and don’t even know it).  They are simply not drinking enough water that is harmonious with the body and will properly hydrate the cells.

If you are drinking water that is highly chlorinated, fluoridated, and has been sitting in a tank or pipe for a long time, there is much room for improvement — and it is EASY to make some changes that will make a BIG difference and don’t cost a lot of money.

Here some suggestions:

1. First, remove the chlorine from all water you drink, shower, or bathe in.
2. Then, add an ionic mineral solution (from natural sources) to your drinking water.
3. Finally, re-introduce MOTION into the water you drink.

Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

If you can afford it, get a system that will filter the water in your entire house.  Many different systems exist for this purpose and some of them use cutting-edge technologies that barely require any maintenance.

If you don’t want to invest in a large system, for under $200, you can purchase a countertop model to filter small amounts of water at a time for drinking.  You can also get a shower head with a de-chlorinating water filter for about $50.

If you like hot showers, you REALLY need a chlorine filter for your shower.  Chlorine vaporizes during a hot shower, and chlorine gas is even more dangerous than the liquid form!

Moving on to the ionic mineral solutions, I am not a big fan of these expensive units that produce very highly alkaline water.  I consider myself a naturalist observer, and I never see such a process occurring in nature.

A better and less expensive solution to remineralize your drinking water is to add liquid ionic minerals.  The ionic minerals I recommend to my patients come from natural mineral beds rich in fulvic and sulfuric acid that interact with the body and produce a normalizing function.  The company I like to use is Adya Water (adyawater.com).  They are passionate about their work and are sticklers for quality.

My favorite products are Adya Awaken and Adya Gold.  A 16-ounce bottle will last one person for about nine months.  Just add 5 drops per glass of drinking water.  I consistently observe immediate changes in my patients’ energy fields when they ingest water to which the ionic mineral solution has been added.

Finally, restoring motion to water helps the water to be more energetically compatible with the cells of our body.  Successful hydration at the CELLULAR level requires that we not only drink the correct amount of water (approximately one ounce of water per day per two pounds of body weight), but that we also drink water that RESONATES with the vibration of our cells.

Research done at the Fenestra Institute demonstrates that when motion (along with proper mineralization) is introduced into water for human consumption, cellular hydration is dramatically improved.  My favorite method for introducing motion is to use a StirWand.

This device (made of an excellent plastic filled with certain specially-treated minerals) lasts for years and has been shown by Fenestra Research to consistently return individuals to ideal hydration levels and, over a period of 90 days, to dramatically reduce toxicity levels in the body.

Our understanding of water and how it impacts human health will increase dramatically over the next few years.  Water has always been viewed as a feminine element.  The increasing importance of, and respect for the feminine principle in our lives will most certainly lead us into an increasing respect for the importance and power of water to impact the quality of our daily existence.

May these thoughts and suggestions contribute to the well-being of you, your family, and your friends.

[Ed Note:  David Kamnitzer, D.C. is an expert at helping people achieve high levels of health and well-being -- far beyond what is available simply through drugs and surgery alone.  He combines his 20-year clinical experience and extensive knowledge in structural, nutritional, and energetic balancing to offer individuals cutting-edge approaches to healing.  To learn more, click here.]

Healthy Recipes:

Mediterranean Sardine Pâté

By Kelley Herring

This pâté is rich in flavor… but even richer in mood-boosting nutrients. Sardines are packedwith essential omega-3’s (EPA and DHA) that comprise brain tissue and also a compound called DMAE that builds neurotransmitters. A recent study found that DMAE helps to reset the electrical patterns of brain activity and promote a sense of well-being.¹ Serve this “happetizer” with thin crackers (try low calorie, extra crunchy Mary’s Gone Crackers) or raw vegetable slices.

Time To Table: 5 minutes
Serves: 4

The Benefits
Excellent Source of: Vitamin B12, Omega-3
Good Source of:  Protein, Selenium, Vitamin D
Preferences: Low Carb, Gluten Free

Ingredients
1 can Portuguese sardines in olive oil (try Bel-Olhao)
1 Tbsp chopped organic red onion
1 Tbsp sliced organic Kalamata olives
2 pieces organic sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped

Preparation
In a small bowl, mash sardines with a fork to uniform consistency. Add in onion, sun-dried tomatoes and olives.

Nutrition Information
54 Calories, 3 g Total Fat, 0 g Saturated fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 1 g Monounsaturated fats, 1 g Polyunsaturated fats, 33 mg Cholesterol, 155 mg Sodium, 1 g Carbohydrate, 0 g Fiber, 0 g Sugars, 6 g Protein

Reference

1. Dimpfel W. et al. Eur J Med Res. 2003 May 30;8(5):183-91.

[Ed Note: Who says dessert can't be healthy? Nutrition expert Kelley Herring's brand-new recipe e-book, Guilt-Free Desserts, reveals 40 easy-to-make, mouthwateringly delicious, 100% healthy dessert recipes you can make at home. Order today, and you'll receive the e-book Healthy Holiday Hors d'Oeuvres for free.]