Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D. Naturopathic Doctor in Israel
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Dr. Anders Nerman’s Vitamin and Supplements Guide Part 1

5/1/2014

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People often ask me what I think about taking supplements. In truth, I honestly believe that supplements are not the best way to get our vitamins and minerals. I prefer to help my patients understand how to get the critical nutrients they need from the foods they eat. The problem is however, that people are not eating well. It is a reality of our culture. Our modernized society and time pressured lives have created a lifestyle where we eat a lot of easy to obtain refined, whitened, processed foods that are much more deficient in vitamins, nutrients and minerals than the whole food diets of the past. The recognition of this deficiency led many world governments to mandate that vitamins like riboflavin and folic acid be added to the foods we eat. We don’t seem to have the time or the money to prepare nourishing foods. It’s a major problem. So with that in mind and based on evidence based scientific research I offer you this quick reference guide to taking vitamin and supplements.

One Caveat:

I do not talk much in this blog about dosages because I feel that vitamin dosages are patient specific. That being said, one can easily obtain a list of the recommended daily intake (RDI) values.  These values differ if you are male or female, a child or pregnant. I would suggest however, that everyone talk to their naturopathic doctor, nutritionist or medical doctor specifically about what they would like to try and why before starting to take supplements. This is because vitamins can be dangerous when taking with certain medical conditions and some vitamins interact with other medications you might be taking. This is why it is always important to discuss your supplements with your doctor. So please be cautious when taking supplements and get guidance from a licensed professional.

I wrote this article to help educate about some common deficiencies, and possible medical benefits that can be found by using vitamin and mineral supplementation.


The Multivitamin


Although this is the most popular supplement, it is considered by many alternative medical practitioners as one of the most overrated. Multivitamins are a good idea in theory but multivitamins have some major drawbacks. A multivitamin usually does not contain enough of each vitamin for that vitamin to have any effect. As well, taking a multivitamin might provide you with more than enough of certain vitamins like Vitamin C which is already very plentiful in most peoples diets and not enough of the vitamins many people are deficient in like Vitamin D. I don’t recommend multivitamins unless a patient has a very restricted diet and really cannot afford to purchase more than one supplement.


Common Vitamin Deficiencies

The following are a list vitamins people are commonly deficient in:

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is currently a very popular supplement and this is for good reason: most people are deficient in Vitamin D and it is very important for our health.  Vitamin D is different from other essential vitamins because our own bodies manufacture it through our exposure to sunlight.  Since sunshine is somewhat limited during certain months in the UK and since most peoples bodies are not uncovered most of the time, Vitamin D can be somewhat difficult to acquire.

The main function of vitamin D is to regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in our bones (bone health). It also plays a critical role in healthy immune function. If you or someone you know has constant colds and flus it may be due to low Vitamin D status. It has also been shown to help maintain healthy body weight, reduce the risk of heart attacks and some cancers. Interestingly, it has been shown to prevent the natural cognitive decline in aging. Ask your doctor to test your Vitamin D levels and if deficient take it as a supplement.


Calcium

Calcium deficiency tends to be common in older people and those that don’t consume much dairy. Calcium is crucial for bone health. I prefer if patients focus on getting their calcium from non-dairy sources if possible. Foods like Bok Choy, Spinach, Collard greens, Almonds, Salmon and canned sardines are high in Calcium. If however, you do not think you can eat these very often then perhaps take a calcium supplement.



Magnesium

Magnesium has a role in the body in helping with the proper function of many of  our enzymes, it also works as a muscle relaxant. In fact, magnesium deficiency is often associated with muscle pain and spasm; especially back pain.

Magnesium is hard to obtain in our diets, because it is mainly removed with processing - so only whole unprocessed food contain it. Good magnesium sources are nuts, tofu, soybeans, figs, and unrefined whole wheat or rye bread. If your diet is lacking in magnesium, definitely consider supplementation. It also works wonders in helping people suffering from constipation get relief. As well magnesium is depleted by stress and coffee. Magnesium deficiency has been found in people suffering from Fibromyalgia and they will benefit from it in its magnesium malate form or a mixture of citrate and malate. I prefer Magnesium citrate as the supplement form of choice for most people.



It is important to note that people can often get Magnesium, Calcium and Vitamin D in one supplement. In my opinion this may be a better supplement to take than a multivitamin since it is these vitamins in which we are most likely deficient.

Iron

One of the most common mineral deficiencies in the world is iron. A direct consequence of iron deficiency is iron deficiency anemia. Iron works is a part of the molecule hemoglobin and therefore is crucial to proper red blood cell function.

People suffering from iron deficiency mostly tend to be women. It is usually low in vegans and some vegetarians as well.   Symptoms of iron deficiency are tiredness, moodiness, restless leg syndrome, muscle weakness, hair loss and impaired concentration. Some good food sources are meat, poultry, fish, leafy green vegetables, beans, whole grains, and blackstrap molasses. Iron supplementation is usually handled medical doctors, as overdosing can be toxic. Ask you doctor to test your iron and if low make sure to take a supplement.

Zinc

Zinc is involved with over 200 enzymatic reactions in the body and is critical for proper genetic expression and cellular division. Zinc deficiency is not rare because Zinc is hard for many people to absorb. It is critical for fertility in men, and for immune function in general. Signs and symptoms of Zinc deficiency is often loss of taste and smell. Excellent sources of Zinc are Meats, Eggs (mostly in the yolk), wheat bran, buckwheat, millet rice bran, whole wheat flour, oatmeal, brown rice and corn meal. It can also be found in black-eyed peas, green peas, garbonzos, lentils, limas, pumpkin and peanuts seeds, Spinach, Sweet corn, and Onions. The best form of zinc is the highly absorbable zinc picolinate. Zinc and copper compete in the stomach for absorption so any supplement you take of zinc longterm should also include a small amount of copper.


In my blog next article (Part 2) of Dr. Anders Nerman’s Vitamin and Supplements Guide, I will be discussing some other important supplements to consider taking for general health and will be identifying some supplements that are a fad and do not work. I will also be giving information on targeted supplementation for specific disorders.

To Health,

Dr. Anders Nerman, ND

Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor with an Integrative Family Medical practice in Wolfson Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel. For more visit www.drnerman.com or call 972-54-427-8667.

Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or adopting any treatment for a health problem.


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Passover Special: The Health Benefits of a Yeast-Free Diet

4/5/2014

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Passover is a time when Jewish people do not eat Chometz (bread that has risen for less than 18 minutes) – with this Torah command we indirectly ingest much less yeast. Most people commonly complain of increased constipation during Passover, but for a select few out there they are astonished that stomachs have never felt better. They say they have less bloating and gas, and less pain. They also tend to describe feeling as though they have more energy and much less joint pain and or headaches. I have often wondered why this is the case.

The answer to this question may be due to the fact that their diets are pretty much “yeast free” and a yeast free diet is one component of what is called a “Candida Cleanse”. The Candida Albicans yeast is a part of our normal gut flora, a group of microorganisms that live in your mouth and intestine. When the amount of Candida Albicans gets too high in our bodies we tend to experience stomach problems such as bloating and gas. As well, we can experience symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, weight gain and joint pain. In this Passover special article I would like to investigate the health benefits of yeast free diets and how it relates to Candida overgrowth.

Why does Candida get out of hand?

Almost everyone has Candida Albicans in their gut, and a significant proportion of us may have Candidiasis, or an overgrowth of Candida. Candida Albicans starts to cause trouble when there is some change in your body that allows it to overgrow. This change could be anything from a few courses of antibiotics or a prolonged diet rich in carbohydrates and sugar. (Anyone who has ever made Challah certainly knows how sugar immediately causes Yeast to growth and become active!)

What’s the problem with having too much Candida?

So why is Candida a bad thing? Ordinarily it isn’t – the Candida Albicans population is kept under control by the friendly bacteria in our gut. However, when your immune system is down or you have taken too many antibiotics, Candida starts to multiply and can quickly take over.

The overgrowth of Candida Albicans produces toxins that your body has problems coping with. The wide-ranging side effects of this battle may range from headaches and fatigue to abdominal pain and depression. The theory is that the problem stems from the metabolic byproduct of Candida called acetaldehyde, which happens to be toxic to humans at high levels. It is what causes the hangover symptoms one might get from drinking too much alcohol.

The occurrence of Candidiasis has actually been increasing rapidly over the last few decades. Our modern diet of processed food and sweets is partly to blame, but also the increased prevalence of obesity and diabetes, plus the much more frequent use of antibiotics.

Symptoms common with Candida Overgrowth

Hypoglycemia: Because Candida yeast is in our guts and eat the sugar we ingest, we actual get less of it when we eat it! Then we will crave it, and in a vicious cycle, we need to eat a lot more sugar. Then our pancreas works harder than normal to produces insulin, sugar rushes out of the bloodstream and into the cells, and then finally our blood sugar crashes. We then might feel shaky, irritable and have a headaches!

Brain fog:  As mentioned a byproduct of its sugar metabolism, candida produces acetaldehyde – the same toxic byproduct your liver produces when processing alcohol. So effectively, candida can make you feel a little bit drunk!  People usually describe it as poor memory, fuzzy thinking, or poor word recall.  Acetaldehyde can also leads to headaches.

Gas and bloating:  Candida ferments the sugar you eat, and one of the byproducts of fermentation is carbon dioxide.  Great in your lungs, but pretty unpleasant in your gut.

Itching: Patients usually have some kind of skin involvement when they have too much Candida, but occasionally a patient will describe itching at some other body orifice, such as the ears or throat.

Food sensitivities.  Candida byproducts irritate the gut lining, and over time this can cause inflammation.  If the inflammation is severe enough, it can lead to food molecules prematurely coming in contact with the bloodstream, and this can trick your body into thinking the food is a foreign invader.  Then you end up becoming sensitive to a lot of foods you love eating!

The Candida Cleanse in a Nutshell:

So how do you lower you Candida levels? I have a particular protocol I designed which is about 7 pages in length and refers precisely to what a person can and can not eat and exactly what to do --- but for brevity in this article this is the basic concept: 

1.     Cut out all refined sugars, refined carbohydrates and fruit sugars (all of which Candida likes to eat and grow from)

2.     Cut out Yeast, Fungi and fermented foods (like vinegars and alcohol)

3.     Kill the Candida -- There are some excellent over-the-counter natural antifungal products. Garlic is one of the most potent of all.

4.     Repopulate the gut with a probiotic.  Bacteria like bifidobacillus to lactobacillus are generally used. The increase of good bacteria will crowd out the Candida.

What are some other Benefits of a Yeast free diet?

Obviously a decrease in eating sugar leads to eating more vegetables and fiber to replace the processed food you used to be eating. This will help regulate your blood sugar. Eventually this will lead to a more constant level of energy. Eventually one will lose weight. The higher level of fiber you will likely get in your diet will improve the efficiency of the digestive tract.

Are there side effects to the yeast free diet?

Many people who have decreased or eliminated yeast report feeling healthier and more energetic in about three to six weeks. It is important to note that a sudden drop in yeast and sugar in the diet could make one feel very sick for up to one week; this result is generally considered normal but is not really that fun. It is called a “candida die-off reaction.” As the yeast dies off from the lack of sugar it tend to release toxins as it dies. A good way to avoid this is to make sure you are eating enough food throughout the day and drinking plenty of water to flush the toxins out of your system. Also eating ground flax seeds (due to the fiber content) can help to bind up some of the toxins. 1-2 tsp of freshly ground flax seed in a large cup of water a day will definitely help improve the situation.

The bottom line:

Many sufferers of Candidiasis remain undiagnosed by their doctors and unaware of their condition. Unfortunately, many doctors don’t recognize the systemic problems that Candidiasis causes. They only treat the symptoms when it appears to be an obvious infection like thrush. Some healthcare professionals don’t believe in systemic Candida infections, so you need to find a doctor with an open mind, or see a naturopath like myself, a homeopathic doctor or another holistic practitioner. Try to see if you are one of the few people that feel better from the yeast free “Passover diet” this year. If you do see a decrease in your symptoms and more energy you might want to look into doing a full Candida Cleanse! Feel free to contact my office for a Candida Cleanse Consultation. I would be happy to share my Advanced Candida Cleanse Protocol with you and help you kill the yeast once and for all! Have a Happy, Healthy and Kosher Passover!

Dr. Anders Nerman, ND.

Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor with an Integrative Family Medical practice in Wolfson Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel. For more visit www.drnerman.com, call 972-54-427-8667 or email drnermansoffice@gmail.com.

Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or adopting any treatment for a health problem.




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Overcoming Seasonal Allergies: A Natural Approach to Dealing with Hay Fever

3/4/2014

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Allergy season is upon us. For those who suffer from Hay fever or seasonal allergies (medically termed allergic rhinitis) this time of year can be extremely frustrating and debilitatiting. Itcthy or burning eyes, stuffed up or runny noses, with constant sneezing that returns on a yearly basis are the classic signs of hay fever. Allergies are becoming a modern era pandemic. Research shows that the incidence of allergies is on the rise in most developed countries. The number of sufferers from seasonal allergy has tripled in the last 20 years. Allergies are a long-term health problem; typically beginning between 8 and 12 years of age and lasting for decades if not for a lifetime.

What causes seasonal allergies?

Hay Fever/Seasonal allergies are caused when the body makes allergic antibodies (IgE) to a substance such that occurs at specific times of year such as tree pollen, grasses and weeds (these are known as allergens). Symptoms of allergy that continue all year long are called perennial allergic rhinitis and commonly relate to indoor allergens, such as house dust mites, pets and indoor moulds.

In people sensitive to these allergens, exposure causes the release of chemicals (such as histamine) from special cells (called Mast cells) in the nasal passages, eyes or airways. Chemicals such as histamine released from these mast cells then trigger inflammation and irritation to the lining of the eyes, nose and throat.

Hay fever or seasonal allergies is actually an immune disorder characterized by an inappropriate allergic response to pollen and these other allergenic substances mentioned above. Inflammation is normally a beneficial and essential event in the body. It is the immune system's response to tissue injury and infection, and ensures that the body recovers from damage and continues to function properly. However, this response is meant to be short lived but for people with seasonal allergies it can go on for months on end.

The Best Defense - Avoid the Triggers

The best way to combat an allergen assault is to avoid coming in contact with the allergens.  Symptoms can be often be prevented if you can directly control your environment and avoid the allergen “triggers.” Here are a few helpful tips on how to do this:

1) Close your windows and doors; use your air conditioning.

2) Pollen levels are highest in the morning, so schedule your outdoor activities for afternoons or evenings.

3) Change your clothes after you come in from outside.

4) Bathe before bed to keep pollen off pillows and sheets.

5) Wash your hands if you pet an animal that’s been outside.

What if I do not know what I am allergic to?

Allergy testing is not usually required in simple hay fever because the trigger substances can be easily identified from the history of when and where symptoms occur. However, in certain cases a doctor or allergist might use a skin prick test or blood test to find out exactly what you allergic to. This is especially important in certain desensitization treatments that allergists use. If you want to find out what you might be allergic to ask your doctor for a test or a referral to an allergist.

What can be done about Hayfever naturally?

Naturopathic medicine has many tools to help you with your Seasonal Allergies. The following are some of the natural treatments options available:

Supplementation Therapy: Various nutritional supplements have shown to greatly reduce seasonal allergies.  At my clinic in Jerusalem we use supplement protocols that have shown to be effective in reducing allergic symptoms. Our supplement therapy often includes a few supplements. I will speak hear of two notable superstars to be aware of:

Quercetin:

Quercetin an antioxidant derived from apples and onions and it has been shown to prevent the release of histamine, which is responsible for many allergic symptoms. It also decreases the number of cells in the blood that contribute to allergic responses. In animal models, Quercetin has been shown to inhibit elevated levels of IgE, the antibody responsible for allergic reactions, and to inhibit bronchial obstruction in a model of allergic asthma.

Vitamin D:

Another important supplement to be aware of for people with hayfever is vitamin D. If you suffer from Hay fever it is crucial to investigate your Vitamin D status. Researchers out of Korea found that adults with low levels of vitamin D are at greater risk of hay fever.  Ask you doctor for a vitamin D blood test and if low make sure to take Vitamin D.

Homeopathic Treatment:

Homeopathic medicine can be taken as a preventive medicine before allergy season to avoid the onset of allergies.  As well, they can be used when a person is already suffering from allergies.  Going to a trained homeopath for allergy treatment can often help reduce hay fever greatly.

Special Anti-Allergy Diet:

As a general rule adding Omega 3 oils to the diet can be very helpful in lessening seasonal allergy symptoms. Excellent omega-3 fatty acid sources include flaxseeds, cabbage, cauliflower, walnuts. brussels sprouts, French beans, broccoli, turnip, collard greens, and of course fish and their oils.

Refined sugars should be avoided as they are mucus forming.  As well, Dairy products are also mucus forming and they contain omega-6 fatty acids, which are believed to worsen allergy symptoms. Cutting out dairy altogether would probably significantly benefit your hay fever, but it is not recommended unless you are familiar with ways to get calcium outside of dairy and willing to do so. Calcium rich foods include nuts, vegetables and fish (such as collard greens, bok choy, spinach, almonds and Salmon to name a few) as the calcium in dairy foods is essential for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. Children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis need substantial amounts of calcium and in our communities often dairy is the best option. If you do choose to avoid dairy you can also use almond milk and rice milk, which if fortified with calcium, can be used as a replacement. Unless you belong to one of the groups mentioned above, try to limit your consumption of animal milk products or cut them out altogether.

Desensitization therapies – Some allergists can identify your allergen and help you desensitize to it through various modern techniques. There are a few different kinds of desensitization therapies. Ask your allergist what test might be right for you.

Conclusion:

Hay fever is growing problem for people in westernized countries and the number of sufferers is getting worse each and every year. There are however many ways to deal with hay fever naturally. It is my sincerest hope that by heeding some of the advice given here in this article that this year and years to come will be ones free of the frustration of seasonal allergies for you or someone you know. Refuah Shelaima!

Dr. Anders Nerman, ND

Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor with an Integrative Family Medical practice in Wolfson Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel. For more visit www.drnerman.com or call 972-54-427-8667.

Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or adopting any treatment for a health problem.


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 Hydrotherapy for Colds and Flu:  The Magic Wet Sock Trick! 

2/18/2014

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Hydrotherapy for the Flu:  Magic Wet Sock Trick! 

What is Naturopathic Hydrotherapy? It is the application of water in any form, (hot or cold) either externally or internally, in the treatment of disease and maintenance of health. 

Hydrotherapy is a cornerstone treatment in Naturopathic Medicine. Infact, it was the first treatment used by the early pioneers in the field of Naturopathy. Sadly, hydrotherapy has much been forgotten today by most practitioners of Holistic Medicine.  Hydrotherapy is a simple set of treatments with water that when used can have amazingly positive results for a persons health and vitality. 

Check out this trick!

If you have a head cold or flu and you want to improve you condition I suggest trying this classic hydrotherapy trick. 

Preparations: In the evening before going to bed, prepare by having a pair of cotton socks and a pair of wool socks. They must be at least 90% cotton and 90% wool, respectively. 

Step 1: Soak the foot part of the cotton socks in cold tap water and wring them out thoroughly. Place the socks close to the basin or bathtub used in the next step. Note: If your feet are already warm (e.g., you have already been in bed) you can skip to Step 3.

Step 2: Put your feet into a basin or bathtub of hot water to warm up your feet. Soak them for a few minutes until they are hot and pink.

Step 3: Remove your feet from the hot water and quickly dry them off. Immediately put on the cold wet cotton socks, and then over them, put on the dry wool socks.

Step 4: Go directly to bed and keep the feet covered through the night. The therapy does not work if you or your feet are uncovered, such as when walking around or sitting in a chair uncovered.

Over time your feel will heat up and blood flow will be directed to your feet which will help your immune system and cold tremendously.  Note that this treatment works best when combined with other remedies for flu and colds like a honey remedy, increased fluid intake, sleep, and immune-boosting supplements such as garlic, vitamins A, C, D and E, and zinc.


Warning! This trick is not suitable for everyone:

Powerful medicine requires responsible use - I want to impress upon you clearly that hydrotherapy is a powerful medicine and as such must be practiced with care and with the supervision of a trained hydrotherapist. It really must be appropriate for the person’s medical condition.  Applied properly hydrotherapy will produce great results, but applied inappropriately to the wrong person can be damaging, if not life threatening. People who have high blood pressure, heart disease or are on heart medication, people with a weak or debilitating condition, acute injuries (within 24 hours), tuberculosis, peripheral vascular disease, Raynauds, diabetic neuropathies, hemophilia, diabetes, pregnancy or have any cancer or malignancies should not do hydrotherapy including this abovementioned sock treatment -  infact it can be extremely dangerous, so consult your local naturopathic physician or you western physician to see if hydrotherapy is appropriate for you.

This is not the only trick up my sleeve:


The example above is just one of many hydrotherapy techniques. There are others methods of using water that can address chronic headaches, fatigue, laryngitis, cough, respiratory issues, hemorrhoids, insomnia, and anxiety. I suggest that if you are interested in hydrotherapy that you seek to find a qualified practitioner of hydrotherapy in your area (myself included) or read up on the topic. I truly wish more people knew about hydrotherapy because as hard as it is to believe, water can make a major difference in improving ones health.  

Dr. Anders Nerman, ND. 

Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor with an Integrative Family Medical practice in Wolfson Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel. For more visit www.drnerman.com or call 972-54-427-8667.

Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or adopting any treatment for a health problem.

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Are Oats OK to eat on a Gluten Free Diet?

1/23/2014

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Lets face it. Gluten free diets are tricky. No Wheat, No Barley, No Rye. We want something to make bread out of! We know that the those processed gluten free breads are full of garbage like xantham gum, guar gum, potato starch and corn starch so we would love some kind of alternative. The question I get asked almost every day is...are Oats ok?

Historically, gluten-free diet (GF diet) used to forbid oats.  Oats were believed to trigger the celiac disease.  However, many studies from Europe and the U.S. revealed that consumption of some oats is safe for adults and children with celiac.  Based on this research, a growing number of health professionals and celiac organizations around the world now allow consumption of moderate amounts of pure, uncontaminated oat products.

Health Canada has issued a paper on the safety of oats in celiac disease. The Canadian Celiac Association Professional Advisory Board, in consultation with Health Canada, says that adults with celiac can safely consume half to three-quarters of a cup (50 to 70 grams) of dry rolled oats per day. For children, it’s one-quarter cup (20 to 25 grams) per day.

However there is a problem because
most commercial oat products on the market have been cross-contaminated with wheat, barley and/or rye, which occur during harvesting and processing. So oats do not have gluten intrinsically....but they are often cross contaminated with grains that do have it!

The good news is there are specialty companies in North America and Europe who produce pure, uncontaminated oat products that are grown on dedicated fields and equipment and packaged in dedicated gluten-free facilities. Lara’s brand and Only Oats brand are the Canadian companies. The American companies include Bob’s Red Mill, Gluten-Free Oats, and Gifts of Nature to name a few.

So there you have it! Go have some Oat bread my gluten free friends!!

Dr. Anders Nerman, ND

Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor with an Integrative Family Medical practice in Wolfson Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel. For more visit www.drnerman.com or call 972-54-427-8667.

Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or adopting any treatment for a health problem.




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Alternative Treatments for Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

12/31/2013

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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by altered bowel habits (diarrhea and or constipation) and often-severe abdominal pain, bloating and gas. According to most western medical literature IBS is a chronic disorder of unknown cause.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal disorder. As well, IBS is one of the most common medical problems seen by physicians and accounts for up to 12% of total visits to primary care providers. Since IBS is such a common problem, I thought it was important to discuss the many clinically proven alternative medical treatments naturopathic medicine has to offer people with IBS.

How is IBS diagnosed?


IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion given by medical doctors when it is clear that a patient does not have a more serious gastrointestinal problem like Irritable Bowel Disease (Crohns or Ulcerative Colitis), Celiac disease or a dysenteric infection. Once more serious possibilities are ruled out, a person will likely be given the catchall diagnosis of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Is IBS real or all in the head?


There is clear evidence that IBS is real. Research has shown there to be measurable differences between a person with IBS and a person without it:

·       Low grade inflammation: Irritable Bowel syndrome patients show no identifiable inflammation when samples of their colonic tissue is looked at under the microscope, however some people do show increased production of inflammatory chemicals suggesting low grade inflammation is present but not seen.

·       Altered gastrointestinal tract motility:  Studies have shown that there are significant delays found in the mechanisms involved with the movement of food through the digestive tract in people who suffer from IBS.

·       Altered Bacteria in the Gut: Studies have found patients with IBS produce significantly more hydrogen in their stomachs than people without IBS. The colonies of bacteria found in IBS patients have less “good” bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli and higher concentrations of the bacteria enterobacteriacae.

·       Enhanced Internal Stomach Perception: Patients with IBS have been found to more awareness of sensations in their guts than people without IBS.

Are Some People More at Risk than Others for Developing IBS?

The following are a few risk factors that have been shown to increase the likelihood of acquiring IBS.

·       Genetic: It has been shown that people have a genetic predisposition to acquiring IBS.  IBS is not predisposed by having a parent with IBS, but by having a parent with alterations in their nervous system’s response to external stimuli.

·       Previous Gastrointestinal Infection: It appears to that about 10% of people with IBS acquired it following an episode of dysentery.

·       Antibiotics use: Two studies have found an association between antibiotic use and increased frequency of IBS symptoms. This may be because the antibiotics altered the gut bacteria or that the antibiotics caused damage and inflammation to the gut lining.

·       Stress: Stress and traumatic life events have frequently been reported to have preceded the initial onset f IBS symptoms and symptom flare ups in patients suffering from IBS. Additionally IBS has consistently been found in patients with depression, panic disorders, and generalized anxiety disorder.

What do Western Doctors do for IBS?

Many agents are currently being used in western medicine for the treatment of IBS and no one agent has been proven particularity effective. The therapeutic gain (difference in treatment response between placebo and the active therapy given) has been minimal with these agents. As well, there are adverse side effects to many of the drugs given and therefore it is worthwhile to investigate natural medical treatments as a possible alternative to pharmaceutical agents. 

What Are Some Alternative Solutions to IBS?

Probiotics:

As mentioned above, there has been shown to be colonies of abnormal gut bacteria in the intestinal tracts of people with IBS. This is occasionally due to heavy antibiotic use where the concentrations of beneficial bacteria decrease and the numbers of harmful bacteria rise. Bad bacteria cause gas and putrefaction of food, and diarrhea.  Therefore one of the key therapies now being regularly employed in the treatment of IBS is the use of probiotics (good bacteria).

Probiotics which contain good bacteria such Lactobacillus acidophilus are a useful choice in IBS as was shown in studies as early as 1955. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials found probiotic use to be associated with improvements in IBS symptoms compared to placebo and to produce a real reduction in abdominal pain. Efficacy in IBS has been shown to be dependant on the type of bacterial strain. L. fermentum and L. plantarum are two strains that have shown in studies to be very helpful in IBS.

Where can I get Probiotics?

Fermented foods (yogurt, kim chi and sauerkraut) are a great natural source of probiotics.  One can also simply take probiotics in capsules, tablets and powder form.  In my opinioned power form probiotcs are the most effective for results in IBS as they work in the upper intestinal tract, don’t have binders, and can be incorporated into food and drinks easily. Unfortunately, they have a much higher cost than fermented foods.

Fiber:

A recent systemic review and meta-analysis found fiber to significantly improve IBS symptoms especially in IBS where constipation is the predominant symptom. Note however that it did increase abdominal pain somewhat. Soluble fibers like ground flaxseeds, slippery elm powder, psyllim husks, and oat bran have been found to be most effective.

Fluid Intake:

Adequate fluid intake is very important in the treatment of IBS. This would be 2-2.5 litres of water/fluid a day.

Exercise:

Has been shown to significantly lessen the constipation associated with IBS. It also relieves stress and improves mood.

Herbal Medicine:

There are many herbs that are very helpful for the treatment of IBS. Some are used to help stop the diarrhea or alternatively to increase motility or act as a laxative in constipation. Others herbs help sooth the digestive tract in general.  It is also possible to use herbs that help deal with stress by supporting the nervous system, which can decrease the intensity of the IBS symptoms. A proper herbalist or Naturopathic Doctor trained in herbal prescribing can come up with the right formula to manage the symptoms of IBS for each individual case.

Special Herbal Note: Tumeric

Turmeric, the common spice, acts as anti-inflammatory agents in the gut. Turmeric in particular, was found to significantly reduce abdominal pain and discomfort in IBS.

Diet:


It is not surprising that people who come to me with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) want to know if a food they consuming might have some influence on the IBS symptoms. Many people know already that their signs and symptoms worsen when they eat certain foods. The verdict is not out on the role of food intolerance in irritable bowel syndrome. From my clinical experience however, and the clinical experience of many practitioners in my profession it is clear that eliminating problem foods from ones diet is essential in the treatment of IBS. There are good blood tests (IgG Antibody Food Intolerance Blood Tests) that can help a person find their problem foods by identifying which foods their bodies are having an immune response to. I use this test on a daily basis with my patients in my practice in Jerusalem.

Stress Reduction:

Yoga, Deep breathing exercises and mediation are all good ways to reduce stress which lessens the severity of IBS.

In conclusion, IBS is one of the most common complaints seen in a doctors office and yet it is one of the least understood problems. Western medicine offers very little in the way of solutions to this problem and the pharmaceutical drugs given have very little effect and adverse side effects. As noted, there are lots of evidence based clinically proven alternative treatments to IBS. If you have IBS maybe it is in your best interest to try some of the many natural alternatives available to help you resolve this issue once and for all!


Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D.

 

Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor with an Integrative Family Medical practice in Wolfson Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel. For more visit www.drnerman.com or call 972-54-427-8667.

Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or adopting any treatment for a health problem.


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Dr. Anders Homemade Honey and Onion Cough Elixir!

12/17/2013

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Tired of paying money for a cough syrup that is full of chemicals? Want to make one yourself at home? Now you can! 

All you need is an onion and some honey. 
  • Slice a large onion into rings and place them in a deep bowl. 
  • Cover the onion slices in organic or Manuka honey and let it stand overnight. 
  • In the morning, strain off the mixture of honey and onion juice, and you have yourself a simple cough *elixir! 

The honey itself is often included in cough mixtures, because it has antimicrobial and expectorant properties.



Manuka honey is especially good because it has been scientifically shown to kill and protect against drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly called MRSA.

Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D.



Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor with an Integrative Family Medical practice in Wolfson Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel. For more visit www.drnerman.com or call 972-54-427-8667.

Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or adopting any treatment for a health problem.


*Important Note: Honey is not appropriate for children younger than 1 because they are at risk for infant botulism.

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How to Eat in the Winter to Avoid Colds and Flus

12/17/2013

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I am writing this from my home in Jerusalem. We have just encountered the most intense snow storm in the last 100 years. People are without heat and power and it has been like this for days. I have had time to reflect on how grateful I am for electricity, for heat and for food.

Winter is the time when we are most vulnerable to getting sick most due to the cold weather. Chinese medicine was well aware of the seasonal changes and they knew how to adapt to prevent illness. Their perspective was to keep the body strong during the winter and to avoid colds. Chinese medicine suggest avoiding raw foods during the winter as much as possible, as these tend to cool the body, and which weaken our immune system. 


During winter you should emphasize warming, nurturing foods like:


·       Soups and stews 

·       Root vegetables

·       Beans

·       Miso and seaweed

·       Garlic and ginger

Eating warm hearty soups, whole grains, and roasted nuts can help to warm the bodies core and to keep us healthy. 

Chicken soup in particular has been clinically proven to be help improve immune function. A study showed that chicken soup increased the number of white blood cells (our immune cells). 

If you keep this advice in mind you will definately improve your chances of having a winter without illness.

To Health this Winter,

Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D.





Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor with an Integrative Family Medical practice in Wolfson Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel. For more visit www.drnerman.com or call 972-54-427-8667.

Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or adopting any treatment for a health problem.



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Chanukah Health Exclusive: The 8 Miraculous Properties of Olive Oil

11/27/2013

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Oil is of major importance to the celebration of Chanukah. We customarily eat “oily” potato pancakes (latkes) and “oily” donuts (Sufganiyah). As well, it is a preferable custom to use “olive oil” when lighting the Chanukiah. 

Keeping on this Chanukah theme, I would like to share what I consider to be the 8 miraculous properties of olive oil.  Many scientific studies have shown that there are exceptionally good reasons to include more olive oil in our diets and I would like to talk about why that is the case.

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Health Miracle #1: Olive Oil Lowers Risk of Heart Disease by Lowering Cholesterol:

Traditionally doctors prescribed a low fat diet to prevent various diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. While studies did show that high fat diets could increase the risk of certain diseases such as cancer and diabetes, it appears we now know that it is the type of fat that counts rather than the amount of fat.  

When looking for the right source of fat one should definitely consider olive oil. Olive oil is unique in that it is the plant highest in a type of fat called monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). Nuts and seeds also contain MUFAs but not as much as olive oil.  MUFAs are considered a healthy dietary fat and if your diet emphasizes monounsaturated fats like MUFAs instead of saturated fats (red meat and whole-milk dairy products, including cheese, sour cream, ice cream and butter) and trans fats (in some processed food products) you may gain certain health benefits.

We now know that MUFAs found in olive oil may improving the major risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. For instance, MUFAs may lower your total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. As well, recent studies indicate that regular consumption of olive oil can help decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Try choosing MUFA-rich foods such as olive oil instead of other fatty foods like butter and stick margarine to get the best results. It may take some getting used to but Extra Virgin olive oil tastes really good schmeared on your toast, bagels, or corn on the cob!

Health Miracle #2: Olive Oil reduces Inflammation and this can lower the risk of developing Breast and Prostate Cancer:  

The phytonutrient in olive oil oleocanthal has similar chemical effects to that of ibuprofen making it particularity good in reducing inflammation. Investigations showed that oleocanthal was actually substantially more potent in vitro.

Inflammation causes many problems in the body. It is likely that this oleocanthal compound is the reason for much of olive oils health benefits.  If an olive oil consumer ingests an average amount of olive oil/day the amount of the oleocanthal consumed only equates to a relatively low (10%) equivalent dose of ibuprofen (recommended for adult pain relief). Chronic low doses of ibuprofen and other COX inhibitors such as aspirin are known to have important health benefits in the prevention of cancer development (e.g. colon and breast) and Cardiovascular Disease. Therefore, long-term ingestion of oleocanthal via EVOO consumption may contribute to a reduction in chronic disease development and certainly emerging evidence supports this idea.  

Studies on oleocanthal have shown it to be effective in fighting certain types of cancer.  Studies have reported that oleocanthal possesses anti-proliferative effects in human breast and prostate cancer lines in vitro.

Health Miracle #3: Reduces Oxidative Stress:

Extra virgin oil is rich in plant antioxidants, especially vitamin E, a potent antioxident. Monounsaturated fats, (MUFAs) are particularly interesting in that they do not oxidize in our bodies. This is unlike polyunsaturated fat (PUFAs) that do oxidize. The oxidization of a fat creates what are called Lipid Peroxides that are formed mostly in polyunsaturated fatty acids in the presence of oxygen and put a lot of oxidative stress on the body. Please note however that does not mean that polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) (found in foods such as Walnuts, Sunflower Seeds, and Sesame Seeds) are bad for you but it just means that MUFAs may be a better choice in providing less oxidative stress. PUFAs have other major benefits to our health so to cut them out would be a mistake.

Consuming olive oil as a replacement to other oils will decrease the total oxidative stress on your body that will likely reduce the risk of heart disease and cancers and will promote longevity.

Health Miracle #4: Lowers the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

Studies were done that showed significant findings demonstrating that oleocanthal inhibits tau fibrillization. The fibrillization of tau proteins leads to neurofibrillary tangles in the brain which are inherently associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Without getting too technical – it has been postulated that since olive oil’s unique compound oleocanthal has been shown to slow down this process of tau fibrillization it could be said that it may also prevent or slow the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. Further studies still need to be done to prove this hypothesis but it does seem likely.  

Health Miracle #5: Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

It has been demonstrated that a diet called the Mediterranean diet (a diet indigenous Mediterranean region) that is rich in olive oil, low in saturated fats, moderately rich in carbohydrates and soluble fiber from fruit, vegetables, and grains is the most effective approach for diabetics. It appears that this diet improves blood sugar control and enhances insulin sensitivity.

A recent Spanish study published in the scientific journal Diabetes Care showed that a Mediterranean style diet can reduce type 2 diabetes by almost 50 percent compared to a low fat diet. Type II diabetes is the most common and preventable form of diabetes.

Health Miracle #6: Good for Osteoporosis:

A high consumption of olive oil appears to improve bone mineralization and calcification. It helps calcium absorption and so plays an important role in aiding sufferers and in preventing the onset of Osteoporosis.

Health Miracle #7: Reduces the Chances of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis:
Although the reasons are still not fully clear, recent studies have proved that people with diets containing high levels of olive oil are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.

Further as mentioned above the anti inflammatory properties of oleocanthal draws attention to it as potential therapeutic compound that may be of interest in the quest to find suitable natural NSAIDs for the treatment of joint degenerative disease. This has still yet to be proven outside of laboratory studies however.

Health Miracle #8: Lowers the Risk of Stroke

A recent study from France showed that the “intensive” users of olive oil, those that used for both cooking and dressings had a 41 percent lower risk of stroke compared to those that did not use olive oil at all. These results were noted even after considering weight, diet, physical activity and other risk factors.

How much Olive Oil Should I consume?

I recommend up to two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil a day is needed to be beneficial to your health and wellbeing. Having said this, note that it is essential to replace the other “bad” fats you are consuming with good ones like those found in olive oil to really achieve any health benefits. If one just adds olive oil without reducing the bad oils, then one may just be adding unnecessary calories into their diet. Olive oil is quite high in calories so don’t go over do it!

Proper Storage:

Be aware that light, air and heat can affect the taste of olive oil and effect its health-promoting compounds. Store olive oil in a dark, room-temperature cupboard, or even in the refrigerator. The fats and healthy phytonutrients in olive oil can slowly degrade over time. Always use Extra Virgin Olive Oil as it is the one richest in these compounds.

Can I cook with Olive Oil?

There is a bit of a machlochet (debate) out there in regards to if it is good or not to cook with olive oil. Many natural health practitioners claim that cooking with olive oil creates toxic byproducts or converts the olive oil to a bad oil.  However, when I researched this myself I found that this is not totally scientifically accurate. As mentioned previously monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) do not oxidize easily at room temperature.  Several studies have shown that extra virgin olive oil produces fewer oxidation products than polyunsaturated oils when heated – so it really is a very good choice for cooking. The smoke point for olive oil (the point when real toxic biproducts are released) is 200°C. It is possible that at frying temperatures for prolonged periods of time with little food in the pan one could reach this temperature, but being mindful of this and making sure to not overcook the food or leave the oil burning in the pan that one would be quite safe in using olive oil. I therefore think that it is not a problem to cook with Olive oil despite what I had heard as long as one is careful.

Conclusion:

I believe that the evidence has made it apparent that if one chooses to make Olive oil a regular part of ones diet while at the same time reducing their consumption of saturated and trans fats, one has a much greater chance of reducing the risks of some of the greatest health concerns of our era. Olive oils ability to help us do this, in my opinion, is truly miraculous.  Happy Chanukah!

Dr. Anders Nerman, ND

Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor with an Integrative Family Medical practice in Wolfson Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel. For more visit www.drnerman.com or call 972-54-427-8667.

Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or adopting any treatment for a health problem.


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 What to Eat This Winter to Avoid Getting Sick

11/25/2013

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Winter is a time when many people tend to naturally reduce their activity and exercise. One should therefore consider reducing the amount one eats during the winter. Weight gain is a real issue during the winter and has a substantial effect on health.

Research shows that most people gain an extra pound during this time. This doesn’t sound like much, but research shows most people do not lose this weight the following year. Over time, this pound-a-year weight gain can quickly add up to the 15-20 pounds that many of us struggle with. What makes this a real concern is that being overweight has been shown to be one of the leading risk factors associated with developing heart disease, diabetes and many cancers. So in the winter it’s important to minimize the amount of food you eat to avoid gaining this one-pound weight unnecessarily. Try to continue or increase exercise if possible.

Aside from eating smaller portions, here are a few tips on what to eat from a Chinese medical perspective to keep the body strong during the winter and to avoid colds. The Chinese very much understood the nature of the seasons and its effect on the body.  They suggest avoiding raw foods during the winter as much as possible, as these tend to cool the body, which weaken our immune system. During winter you should emphasize warming, nurturing foods like:

·       Soups and stews

·       Root vegetables

·       Beans

·       Miso and seaweed

·       Garlic and ginger

Eating warm hearty soups, whole grains, and roasted nuts can help to warm the bodies core and to keep us healthy!

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    Dr. Anders Nerman, N.D. is a Canadian-trained Naturopathic Physician living and practicing in Jerusalem, Israel.

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