Detoxification

The Anxiety Summit – Our environmental toxin exposures promote anxiety

November 7, 2014 By Trudy Scott 3 Comments

Tom A. Malterre, MS, CN author of Nourishing Meals: Healthy Gluten-Free Recipes for the Whole Family was interviewed by host of the Anxiety Summit, Trudy Scott, Food Mood Expert and Nutritionist, author of The Antianxiety Food Solution.

Our environmental toxin exposures promote anxiety

The drastic spike in ADD/ADHD and autism and increase in anxiety and depression
Air pollution as an environmental toxin: concerns and sources (mercury, the brown cloud)
Mercury in fish and fish meal for animals
EDCs/ Endocrine Disrupting Compounds: BPA, phthalates and anxiety
Pesticides and the effects on folates in the colon and the production of serotonin
TILT /Toxicant-induced loss of tolerance
What to do: nutritional and lifestyle tips

Here are the quotes from The Journal of Environmental Health paper co-written by Dr. Steven Genuis:

Toxicity and nutritional deficiency states often receive insufficient attention as common source causes of chronic disease in the developed world

it’s evident that a reevaluation of conventional wisdom on the current construct of disease origins should be considered

Here are some snippets from our interview:

Now 74 billion pounds of chemicals are being imported or produced in the United States every single day, that doesn’t include pharmaceuticals, it doesn’t include fuels and food additives. It doesn’t include some of the primary things like pesticides that we’re exposed to on a daily basis so that number is conservative and still, to me, it’s completely and totally overwhelming

Excessive levels of chemicals like BPA can inactivate Vitamin D which is one of the key components for turning off inflammation in the central-nervous system. Excessive inflammation can lead to increased excitatory glutamate and anxiety.

Here is the 2012 study co-authored by Stephen Genuis: Human Excretion of Bisphenol A: Blood, Urine, and Sweat (BUS) Study

Biomonitoring of BPA through blood and/or urine testing may underestimate the total body burden of this potential toxicant. Sweat analysis should be considered as an additional method for monitoring bioaccumulation of BPA in humans. Induced sweating appears to be a potential method for elimination of BPA.

The Environmental Working Group SkinDeep site is a great resource for checking out safe cosmetics

Here is some of the research on Vitamin D and inflammation that is being conducted by Colleen Hayes and colleagues

If you are interested in learning more about broccoli’s superhero powers, watch Tom’s TED talk here on YouTube! “Broccoli – the DNA whisperer”

Cauliflower is also a good source of sulforaphane and here is a yummy Coconut lemon garlic cauliflower recipe from one of Tom’s books Nourishing Meals: Healthy Gluten-Free Recipes for the Whole Family.

If you are not already registered for the Anxiety Summit you can get live access to the speakers of the day here www.theAnxietySummit.com

The Anxiety Summit – The hidden master organ: Why treating your liver is fundamental to anxiety and depression

November 6, 2014 By Trudy Scott 32 Comments

Dr. Ameet Aggarwal ND psychotherapist and author of Feel Good: Easy Steps to Health and Happiness was interviewed by host of the Anxiety Summit, Trudy Scott, Food Mood Expert and Nutritionist, author of The Antianxiety Food Solution.

The hidden master organ: Why treating your liver is fundamental to anxiety and depression

Why the liver is the hidden master organ and defining a sluggish liver
The role of lactate and the liver and how this contributes to anxiety
How the liver affects thyroid hormones
Dietary factors that improve the liver and the ones that make it more sluggish
A form of breathing that massages the liver
Homeopathics, antioxidants and herbs for a sluggish liver
The benefits of using a castor oil pack
The importance of organic psychotherapy, family constellations, de-stressing, meditation, and exercise

Here are some snippets from our interview:

We call the liver the master organ because it’s really responsible for most of the functions in your body, including blood purification, detoxification of drugs and toxins, and also detoxifies the toxins that are produced by your body itself. The liver also creates a lot of enzymes, produces bile, so it’s responsible for a lot of your digestion, hormone production, protein production, and it also helps with blood sugar storage and regulation. Not only that, it helps with immune cell activation and storage of vitamins and iron.

When you have a sluggish liver, less bile is produced and digestion is poor leading to constipation, toxin buildup, inflammation and less absorption of important nutrients. You can then have neurotransmitter deficiencies and be more susceptible to anxiety.

Your liver also controls hormones, so if your liver is imbalanced, you will see a progesterone deficiency and usually estrogen dominance. As you know, Trudy, progesterone deficiency directly affects the function of GABA in your brain, and so with liver qi stagnation, leading to progesterone deficiency, we will see increased levels of anxiety.

Here is the Neuropsychopharmacology paper called Neural pathways underlying lactate-induced panic where they connected high lactate levels to panic attacks. We discussed how sugar, alcohol, caffeine, food sensitivities, low levels of niacin and vitamins B6 may contribute to elevated levels of lactate in the blood.

Here is the paper that addresses the liver-thyroid connection: The relationship between the thyroid gland and the liver. Basically, thyroid hormones are processed by the liver. Some of the conversion of T4 into active T3, which is a thyroid hormone, requires healthy liver function.

Ameet shared this at the end of our interview and I want to share it here because I’m inspired by what Ameet is doing, because I love Africa and Kenya (my husband and I honey-mooned there) and because I’d love to inspire you to get involved and consider a trip to Kenya (why not!):

I actually live at the bottom of Mount Kenya right on the equator, a little town called Nanyuki. My dream was to come back to Kenya after Canada to start mobile clinics for remote communities and supervise students and doctors from around the world, which I started through a program called FIMAFRICA/Foundation for Integrated Medicine in Africa. Basically, we go to remote villages that don’t have medical services and treat them for chronic diseases or acute diseases using naturopathic medicine, mainly homeopathic medicine, which works really well, because a lot of these communities suffer from just a lot of chronic disease but all they’re given is antibiotics or antimalarials, which don’t necessarily treat the root cause of the issue. So, they love homeopathy because a lot of chronic disease is disappearing, and they really notice the difference between the two types of medicine. So it’s my passion, and yeah, I hope to continue doing it for the rest of my life. My aim is hopefully one day to sell a million copies of my book and just do mobile clinics all day.

Watch this short video of Ameet talking about it and then tell me you’re not excited about the idea of going to Africa and getting involved!

If you want to help, check out the FIMAFRICA site above, contact him about going there and volunteering or buy a few copies of his great book Feel Good: Easy Steps to Health and Happiness

Here is a nice video of Ameet giving an overview of Feel Good

And get your free chapters from the Feel Good book (on emotions, better sex and liver health)

If you are not already registered for the Anxiety Summit you can get live access to the speakers of the day here www.theAnxietySummit.com

Miso, seaweed and more: protection from radiation and other toxins

March 18, 2011 By Trudy Scott 14 Comments

With regards to what is happening in Japan, here is some sensible advice from Dr Elson Haas, MD: “While none of us really knows exactly what we are facing or what will truly protect us from radiation exposure, we can offer a few suggestions here. We encourage people to eat seaweed and miso soup, which may offer some protection and nourishment. Also, liquid trace minerals to help protect us and detox from heavy metals. Herbal adaptogens such as ginseng, especially Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), schizandra and ashwaganda may be protective as is milk thistle (silymarin), which supports liver detoxification. Also, the antioxidant nutrients that include vitamins A, C and E, as well as zinc and selenium may provide further protection.” Dr Haas also shares this important point: “Please realize that none of this is necessary at this time since we (here in California) are not being exposed directly to the problems occurring currently in Japan. If concerns about radiation levels increase in Japan, you are closer to the fallout, or we are finding increased levels here, we may need to become more proactive.”

While none of this is necessary (right now) when it come to the radiation in Japan, the above suggestions are really things you should consider always – to offer you protection from all heavy metals, environmental pollutants and toxins. We are exposed on a daily basis! And also consider the above suggestions if you fly a lot. You are exposed to radiation during flying. Whenever I’m doing a trip somewhere I eat plenty of miso before and afterwards. And make sure your detoxification pathways are working well by doing a detox a few times a year.

Eating real whole food will, of course, provide you with an abundance of minerals and antioxidants. Include are garlic and onions (high in sulfur) and veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. Here is some additional information on miso and seaweed…

Seaweed is naturally rich in minerals, including iodine, iron, and magnesium. Try adding dulse or kelp to soups and stews. Nori is the seaweed used in sushi and is a great snack!

Miso is a fermented soybean paste. You can also find miso made from rice, barley, and other beans if soy is an issue for you. Just make sure it’s organic and raw. And don’t heat miso, as this destroys its beneficial properties. Mix about 1 tablespoon into some water and add it to your food, such as a bowl of soup or stew, just before serving. It’s also great as a warm beverage.

This Japanese event is awful beyond words – doing a blog this week just didn’t feel right – but we need to take care of ourselves and our families, give thanks for what we have, don’t panic, do what we can to help in the way of donations, and send our blessings to the Japanese people.

Detox, get healthy and lose weight

January 30, 2010 By Trudy Scott 19 Comments

It’s good to get in the habit of doing a detoxification program at least twice a year – early in the year and Fall being the perfect times. Why detox? We are exposed to so much pollution, heavy metals and so many chemicals, we often eat a less-than-perfect diet and more often than not, we are stressed out.

Consider these great detox tips:

Participate in a guided gentle 3-4 week detox program – enjoy the group support and benefit from the expertise of a nutritionist (healthy eating, nourishing whey protein shakes/smoothies and liver-supporting nutrients make it safe and enjoyable)
Quit the junk food, sugar, caffeine (and dairy and gluten while on the detox program)
Nourish yourself with alkaline mineral-rich veggie broths
Try a sauna session or Bikram yoga class – and sweat away those toxins
Try a rebounder or mini-trampoline – and get your lymph drainage going
Use a dry skin brush before you bath or shower
Enjoy a warm Epsom salts bath – and relax and wind down
And drink plenty of water!

Your body will thank you with increased energy and focus, a great mood, less cravings, less aches, less allergy symptoms, improved digestion and overall better health. Our bodies have an amazing ability to restore and renew, given the right resources. A big plus for many of us doing a detox program is weight-loss, and although this is not the main objective, it’s often a big motivating factor! Detox, get healthy and lose weight!