Health
10 By Carolyn Maul ave you ever had a sneaky suspicion that you would feel a lot better and probably lose quite a bit of weight if you could just quit eating so much sugar? Do you feel frustrated because you constantly think about food and crave sugary snacks? Have you gotten to the point where your desire to feel better is outweighing the relative ease of staying the same? In my experience, when people decide once and for all to eliminate sugar from their diet, they usually start to freak out about how hard it’s going to be. It is easier if you have a strong, compelling reason to step outside of your comfort zone. If you are considering a sugar detox, you are probably struggling with one of the following: 8 Pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes (90 percent of Americans have not been diagnosed) 8 Belly fat that you would like to lose 8 Being overweight and having low energy 8 Craving sugar and carbs 8 Trouble losing weight on conventional diets 8 Eating when you’re not hungry 8 Withdrawal symptoms when you cut down or stop eating sugar or flour If any of these sound like you, what follows is a comprehensive guide to your sugar detox. I highly recommend you detox for a full 10 days.
B1 July 31–August 6, 2015
Fitness
Steps to Detox From Sugar 1. Make a Decision to Detox There are lots of other symptoms you may be dealing with, including bloating, gas, reflux, irritable bowel, joint or muscle pain, brain fog, memory or mood problems, sinus or allergy symptoms, and more. You know intuitively that these conditions are not normal and are somehow tied to sugar consumption, so by choosing to detox from sugar, you are making a decision to feel healthy and happy.
2. The Tried and True ‘Turkey’ Approach The tried and true turkey is cold turkey. You have to go all the way. There honestly is no halfway for this one if you want to reset your body’s neurotransmitters and hormones. Sugar, as we know, is highly addictive and lights up the same centers for pleasure in your brain as cocaine and other drugs. It’s a sugar “detox” for a reason. Stop consuming all forms of sugar, flour products, and artificial sweeteners, which cause increased cravings, slow metabolism, and lead to fat storage. Ideally, for 10 days, you avoid any food that comes in a box, can, or package, and any food that has a label. Stick to real, whole, fresh food.
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3. Detox Your Drinks We forget that juices, sports drinks, and sweetened teas are just as bad as solid food with sugar or flour. In fact, when we drink sugary sodas and juices, all that glucose goes very quickly into your bloodstream, raises your blood sugar, causes your body to release insulin, and ultimately begins the cycle that leads to belly fat and high triglyceride levels. Stats: A 20-ounce soda has 15 teaspoons of sugar. Gatorade contains 14 teaspoons of sugar in one bottle. See Sugar on B2
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Health & Fitness
B2 July 31–Aug. 6, 2015
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A 20-ounce soda has 15 teaspoons of sugar.
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4. Protein Power Lean, clean protein at every meal, especially at breakfast, works wonders for balancing blood sugar and insulin and cutting cravings. Traditional breakfasts based on pancakes, waffles, cereal, and fruit are not part of this equation. You are better off with whole eggs in an omelette with veggies, or even a high-quality protein shake. You will have to plan ahead so you can have nuts, seeds, eggs, fish, chicken, or grassfed meat on hand for protein at every meal. 5. Eat Green Carbs Did you know that vegetables are carbs? You get to eat as much as you want. Yep, unlimited green carbs—non-starchy veggies such as spinach or dandelion greens, anything in the broccoli family (cauliflower, kale, collards), asparagus, green beans, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, tomatoes, fennel, eggplant, artichokes, and peppers, to name a few. Go sparingly with things like sweet potatoes and beets. 6. Fat Is Your Friend It’s been said about a million times, but here I go again. Fat doesn’t make you fat—extra calories and too much sugar does. Fat makes you feel satiated, helps balance your blood sugar, and is necessary for healthy hormone production. Along with protein, I encourage you to include good fats at every meal or snack. Sources of good fats include nuts and seeds (which also contain protein), extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, and omega-3 fats from fish.
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7. Be Prepared for the 911 To set yourself up for success, you need to think ahead and avoid a food emergency when your blood sugar is dropping and you find yourself in a food desert such as an airport, the office, or a maze of convenience stores, fast food joints, and vending machines. You will need to pack yourself a collection of good snacks that will rescue you when things look grim. Look for foods like these:
When you are stressed, your cortisol levels go up. This makes you hungry.
6 Nut butters that come in single-serve packets 6 Almonds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds in ziplock bags 6 Salmon jerky or turkey jerky 6 Fresh fruit or veggies 8. Stress Less There is a direct link between stress and the hormone cortisol. When you are stressed,
Taking deep breaths activates a nerve that shifts your metabolism from fat storage to fat burning. your cortisol levels go up. This makes you hungry, initiates that belly-fat storage pattern, and leads to Type 2 diabetes. The trick here is to be aware that you are feeling stressed out and learn to pause. Breathe. Breathe deeply. Studies show that taking deep breaths activates a special nerve called the vagus nerve, which shifts your metabolism from fat storage to fat burning and quickly moves you out of the stress state. All you have to do is take a deep breath. 9. Don’t Fuel the Flames Food allergies and stress can cause inflam-
Fat makes you feel satiated and helps balance your blood sugar.
mation, which in turn triggers blood sugar imbalances, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and Type 2 diabetes. The most common sources of inf lammatory foods are sugar, flour, trans fats, gluten, and dairy. We often crave the foods we’re allergic to. This might be the perfect time for you to eliminate gluten and dairy for 10 days. Getting off them isn’t easy, but after just two or three days without them, you’ll have renewed energy, relief from cravings, and will see many of your common symptoms disappear. 10. Sleep It Off Have you ever experienced not being able to lose weight, being stuck on a plateau even though you’ve been doing all the right things, and then all of a sudden, you take a couple days off and get plenty of sleep only to find you lost 5 pounds overnight? Sleep is exactly what you need for your body to heal, reset hormones, and decrease stress and inf lammation. Let’s be honest, most of us are not getting enough sleep. Without the recommended eight hours of sleep, you experience a rise in hunger hormones, a decrease in appetite-suppressing hormones, and big cravings for sugar and refined carbs. You literally can sleep your cravings and your weight away. Carolyn Maul writes for Organic Lifestyle Magazine, where this article was originally published.
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Health & Fitness
B3 July 31–Aug. 6, 2015
www.TheEpochTimes.com COURTESY OF NATIONWIDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
E.D. medication not working? Laundry pods are convenient, but keep them out of children’s reach. Every hour in the United States, a child swallows, inhales, or otherwise comes into contact with the highly concentrated chemicals inside laundry detergent pods.
Parents: Laundry Pods Easily Poison Children Despite manufacturer safety measures, plastic laundry pods still dangerous By Conan Milner Epoch Times Staff The latest thing in clean clothes is laundry pods—a detergent-delivery system designed for convenience. For adults, they’re great— no measuring, spills, or mess. For many children, however, laundry pods have caused serious harm. Available since 2012, laundry pods are pleasantly squishy, brightly colored plastic packets filled with detergent. Toddlers often mistake them for something sweet. Once they bite down on the plastic membrane, detergent can squirt in their eyes or mouth. During the first two years pods were available, poison-control centers took more than 17,000 calls, about one an hour, from parents whose kids bit open a pod. About 45 percent of the children end up in the emergency room. Most injuries are minor, but over 4 percent have been hospitalized, and nearly 8 percent experienced a moderate or major medical outcome, including one confirmed death. According to Henry Spiller, director of Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, children have been sampling detergent for years with little harm. Pods, however, can cause major tissue injury, such as mouth and throat burns. “Sometimes it squirts back and gets into the lungs, and we would see pulmonary issues. We also saw rare cases of coma—very significant central nervous system changes,” Spiller said. “These were different [from] what we saw with
powder or liquid laundry detergent.” Spiller contributed to the latest study tracking laundry pod poisonings. While numbers have fallen since pods were released in 2012, they’ve leveled off at a high number—nearly 12,000 cases per year. This follows a three-year campaign designed to warn parents of the dangers.
Pods can cause major tissue injury, such as mouth and throat burns. Because the number of events remains high, Consumer Reports released a statement last week: “Given the continued danger, we have made the decision to not include pods on our list of recommended laundry detergents. (None makes the cut in our latest tests, but some have been picks in the past.) And we strongly urge households where children younger than 6 are ever present to skip them altogether.” Change of Formula It’s not clear how the pod formula differs from regular detergent. Unlike food and cosmetics, which require a label with a detailed list of ingredients, cleaning-product manufacturers don’t have to divulge formula details,
and companies prefer to keep their recipes secret. “When we talk to them, they say these are not ionic or non-ionic surfactants, but that’s a very broad category,” Spiller said. Laundry pod manufacturers have tried various strategies to prevent children from putting the product in their mouths, including less attractive colors and adding a bittering agent to the packet. But poison control experts say the most effective fix is child-proof containers that require two adult hands to open. “Once they bite into it, they don’t go back for a second or third one. By the time the bittering agent would have a deterrent effect, they’ve already ingested this. So I don’t know that the bittering agent has a significant impact,” Spiller said. Critics say imposing changes to pod packaging is another manifestation of an over-regulated nanny state—creating an inconvenience for adults who use the product responsibly. As part of the effort to reduce pod injuries, poison control centers and product manufacturers have tried to educate parents of the potential dangers. But Spiller says that many parents still haven’t received the message. “We’ve been talking about this for three years, trying to educate parents, but every year there’s literally a whole new crop of parents who a year ago weren’t listening to us,” he said. “If Mom is going to a laundromat, she may put two or three in her purse or in the laundry basket. Then they’re out and available to the child. All they need is one. That’s the problem.”
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PAIN IN LESS THAN AN HOUR When nerves fail to interact properly with muscles, whether through overuse, injury or age, the nerve can get stuck, no longer allowing for normal motion. From this loss of quality of life from pain, chronic pain or other sensations can develop. This often leads to major long-term pain management methods and medications, or even surgery.
Cinnamon Versus Ibuprofen for Menstrual Pain BHOFACK2/ISTOCK
By Sayer Ji New research reveals that cinnamon powder is more effective than ibuprofen at reducing symptoms of painful periods (primary dysmenorrhea) in college-age students. Published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research and titled “Comparative effect of cinnamon and ibuprofen for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized double-blind clinical trial,” the study by Iranian researchers evaluated the effect of either 420 milligrams of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), 400 milligrams of ibuprofen, or a starch placebo, in three groups of 38 females. Both pain intensity and duration were monitored in all groups, with the results reported as follows: “The mean pain severity score and mean duration of pain in ibuprofen and cinnamon were less than the placebo group respectively. Four hours after the inter-
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Did you know Hydrodissection can treat: • Neck problems - also known as double crush syndrome, • Carpal tunnel syndrome • • Saphenous nerve entrapment • Peroneal nerve entrapment
Researchers who studied the effect of cinnamon for treatment of menstrual pain found it to be safe and effective.
vention, there were no statistically significant differences between the cinnamon and placebo group. “Eight hours after the intervention, the mean pain severity in the cinnamon group was significantly lower than the placebo group. At various time intervals, the mean pain severity in the ibuprofen group was significantly less than the cinnamon and placebo groups.” The researchers con-
cluded: “Cinnamon can be regarded as a safe and effective treatment for primary dysmenorrhea. More research is recommended to study the efficacy of cinnamon on reducing menstrual bleeding.” Sayer Ji is the founder of GreenMedInfo.com, where this article was originally published. Join their free GreenMedInfo.com newsletter.
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Coconut flour is a great addition to a healthy diet.
How to Cook With Coconut Flour By David Jockers Coconut has been traditionally cultivated for its raw coconut meat, oil, milk, water, and most recently for its flour. The Philippines is now the largest coconut-producing country and was first to produce flour as a byproduct from its production of coconut milk . The growing demand for the use of natural, non-toxic plants as medicinal aids to prevent and treat illness has highlighted the various health benefits of consuming coconut products. Many researchers now recommend the addition of coconut flour to supplement any healthy diet because of its many benefits, including antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Coconut flour is derived from grating the meat of fresh coconuts.
Whether you are on a strict paleo diet, want an allergyfree flour source, or you simply desire to stimulate your digestive and immune system, coconut flour is an excellent addition to your meals and a pantry staple. What Is Coconut Flour? Producers of coconut flour originally sold the nutritious coconut milk byproduct to farmers in the form of coconut meal. Farmers understood that coconut meal was an excellent source of organic fertilizer and animal-feed supplement. In the past few decades, as more research emerged supporting the numerous health benefits of coconut flour, human consumption of the valuable superfood also increased. Coconut flour is derived from grating the meat of fresh coconuts. The meat is then dehydrated and defatted, which means the oil is extracted. The result is a fine powder that
looks and feels similar to wheat or grain flours. The most pure and organic form may even fool a seasoned foodie because of its lack of coconut flavor. Coconut Flour Is Gluten-Free Coconut flour has different health benefits from those of other coconut products, such as the oil, and it offers a great alternative to conventional flour. Considered a functional food, coconut flour exhibits properties that significantly benefit health, and it is a valuable source of nutrition. This functional food is a great source of dietary fiber, is high in protein, does not contain gluten, and has a low glycemic index (GI). Coconut flour is especially recommended for those with inflammatory issues that result when wheat or gluten is consumed. Coconut flour is safe for consumption in individuals with celiac disease or gluten
sensitivity, leaky gut syndrome, as well as those with diabetes. How to Use Coconut Flour Despite the fact that coconut flour may look, feel, and perhaps even smell like conventional refined flours, coconut flour can be frustrating and costly to cook with without some guidance. Coconut flour is like a sponge, and cooking with such an absorbent food provides its own challenges to be overcome. A few tips follow on how to achieve success in substituting 100 percent coconut flour in recipes for wheat flour: Thickening Agent. Due to the high absorbency, coconut flour is an excellent thickening agent for soups, stews, and even smoothies. For this reason, it is also recommended to store coconut flour in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer to avoid moisture clumps.
The Right Amount. In general, for every 1 cup of traditional flour, you need only approximately 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of coconut flour. You may like it with a little more or less flour, so try experimenting to see what gives you the desired texture. Binding Ingredient. Recipes commonly include an additional protein source such as extra eggs or hemp powder to make up for the binding properties that gluten normally would provide. Flax seed is also an excellent binder and contributes it own health benefits to your coconut flour recipe. Do you enjoy, cookies, pizza, bread, blueberry muffins, and donuts? Try making them with coconut flour next time. David Jockers DC, MS, CSCS, writes for Organic Lifestyle Magazine, where this article was originally published.
Ovarian Hormones May Fuel Binge−Eating Risk By Mackenzie Kastl A complex relationship among genes, hormones, and social factors can lead to eating disorders in women. New research shows that during the menstrual cycle, ovarian hormones turn genetic risk on and off in the body. “Our previous studies were some of the first to examine shifts in eating disorder risk across the menstrual cycle,” says Kelly Klump, professor of psychology at Michigan State University. “We found that changes in ovarian hormones drive increases in binge eating and emotional eating across the cycle, which can be highly problematic for women, particularly since the cycle reoccurs monthly.” Emotional Eating Researchers have now zeroed in on how and why this phenomenon occurs. Ovarian hormones act on genes within the brain and body to trigger physical changes in the body. These hormones can
Researchers have now zeroed in on how and why this phenomenon occurs. change genes that trigger psychological symptoms in women, such as emotional eating. Not only did rates of emotional eating change across the menstrual cycle, but also the degree to which genes influenced eating patterns changed as well, Klump says. This increase in genetic effects was remarkable considering that it occurs over the course of just days, not months or years. “Following the same sample of women across the menstrual cycle, we found that the influence of genes on a binge eating behavior was up to four times higher in the high risk phases of the menstrual cycle than the low risk phases,” Klump said.
Highest Risk The study, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, expands on previous research on genetic influences of eating disorders. Klump’s lab was the first to discover that ovarian hormones have an effect on genetic risk for psychiatric disorders in women. With this information, treatment providers can now pinpoint specific days within a patient’s cycle when risk of these behaviors is highest, allowing them to provide more targeted treatment options. These same types of genetic effects might be present for other disorders that occur more often in women, such as depression and anxiety, Klump said. “This may be the tip of the iceberg in terms of the role of ovarian hormones in genetic risk for mental illness.” This article was originally published by Michigan State University. Republished via Futurity. org under Creative Commons License 4.0.
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The ovarian hormones can change genes that trigger psychological symptoms in women, such as emotional eating.
Health & Fitness
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Melons cool and hydrate you.
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ummer is hot. Don’t let heat stress leave you feeling irritable and fatigued. High five the summer with the help of a handful of cool, quick health tricks. 1. Snack Wisely Ditch the chips and pretzels at the BBQ party for frozen grapes, homemade 100 percent pure fruit juice popsicles, or slices of melon. Not only are these treats fun for all ages, they are refreshing, hydrating, and a great source of antioxidants. You need lots of antioxidants in the summer to help you keep damaging free radicals under control. Why? In the summer, stress on your body from the heat, being more physically active, and eating more BBQ foods all cause your cells to be host to more free radicals. 2. Savor Your Skin Glorious sunshine-filled summer days expose your skin to harmful ultraviolet rays. Vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can help protect your skin. According to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, when researchers compared the diets of some people in Greece, Sweden, and Australia, they found those that ate more vegetables and olive oil had fewer wrinkles. Eat lots of delicious seasonal foods like leafy greens and vegetables (and supplement if you fall short) to support your sundrenched skin this summer.
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Heat stress can be damaging to the kidneys, heart, and other body systems.
3. Minerals on the Menu The radiant heat of summer brings with it sleeveless fashions, sockless footwear, and sweat. Sweat is a combination of water and electrolytes meant to cool the body. When you sweat, don’t forget to recharge: Seek out foods rich in minerals (peas, green vegetables,
DON’T LET SHOULDER PAIN HOLD YOU BACK
bananas), use multivitamins, drop an electrolyte tablet in your water bottle when being active for more than 60 minutes, and try smoothie mixes that include vegetables. 4. Toast the Day Drinking plenty of water when it’s warm outside is an easy way to keep you feeling your best. Dehydration happens quickly in the summer, and even faster when you’re being physically active. According to research published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, being even just a little dehydrated affects your ability to physically perform. Stay hydrated— start by toasting the morning with a glass of water. Follow your morning “toast” with an all-in-one daily foundation smoothie, and you’ll be ready for any kind of day. 5. Cool Off Ugh, sweaty! As the thermometer rises, our bodies cool off by increasing blood flow to the skin and by sweating. As it gets even hotter, people experience irritability, fatigue, and reduced physical performance. Find a seat in the shade, get a cold drink, and cool off. Heat stress can be damaging to the kidneys, heart, and other body systems. And the older you get, the sooner you need to take a seat in the shade. Research studies have found that with age, the body is less efficient at recognizing and adjusting to heat. Allison Tannis is a registered holistic nutritionist and author of four books on healthy living. This article was originally published on NaturallySavvy.com
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Scanning electron micrograph of a number of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. P. aeruginosa is naturally resistant to several antibiotics and can acquire resistance to numerous others.
Antibiotic Resistance Doesn’t Just Make Bacteria Harder to Kill, It Can
Actually Make Them Stronger By Gerald Pier & David Skurnik
A
ntibiotics are wonderful drugs for treating bacterial infections. Unfortunately, disease-causing bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics that are meant to kill them. This is called selective pressure—the bacteria that are susceptible to the drug are killed, but the ones that withstand the antibiotic survive and proliferate. This process results in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Once a bacterial strain is resistant to several different antibiotics, it has become a multi-drug-resistant (MDR) microbe. When there are virtually no antibiotics available to treat an infected patient, a microbe is said to be “pan-resistant.” These strains are becoming more and more common in hospitals and in the community at large. You might have heard of some of them: for instance, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). Bacteria can become drug-resistant in two ways: Resistance can be natural, meaning that the genes conferring resistance are already present in the bacterial chromosome, or they can be
acquired through mutation or by picking up antibiotic-resistance genes from other microbes. It is now possible to use new DNA-sequencing technologies to take a closer look at how the antibiotic resistance can make some bacteria weaker or stronger. And in a new study, we found that—contrary to conventional wisdom around antibiotics—resistance can actually make some bacteria fitter and even more virulent. Is Fitness Always a Cost of Antibiotic Resistance? For decades, an established dogma in the field of infectious diseases has been the so-called “fitness cost of antibiotic resistance.” We believed there was a trade-off for bacteria between antibiotic resistance and how well they could carry out their regular tasks of living. The idea is that while antibiotic-resistant strains cause infections that are more difficult to treat, they are also less hardy. Either they are less able to survive within an infected host or they’re less virulent, causing less severe infection, with a reduced ability to be passed along to another human. And we know that this picture is true for some bacteria. Both Mycobacterium tuberculosis (which causes tuberculosis) and Mycobacterium leprae (which causes leprosy) can become resistant to the drug
rifampicin, which is one of the main antibiotics used to treat these diseases. For M. tuberculosis and M. leprae, resistance to rifampicin comes thanks to a mutation in one gene. The mutation buys the bacteria the ability to fend off antibiotics, but it interferes with their normal cell physiology and the factors that make them virulent. As we’d expect, resistance comes with a clear fitness cost in this case. But what if resistance actually makes some bacteria stronger and deadlier? Our team used DNA sequencing techniques to tease apart the relationship between antibiotic resistance and fitness cost in infections in laboratory animals. It turns out that for some bacteria, drug resistance actually makes them fitter. Using ‘Jumping Genes’ to Compare Resistance and Fitness We analyzed a bacterium called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It’s a major cause of infections in people with cystic fibrosis, as well as very ill patients in intensive care units (ICU) and people with weakened immune systems. P. aeruginosa is naturally resistant to several antibiotics and can acquire resistance to numerous others to become multi-drug-resistant or even pan-resistant. To find out if there was a AP PHOTO/KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH
A senior biomedical scientist examines slides showing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn, England.
fitness cost from resistance, we created mutant strains of P. aeruginosa using “jumping genes” to insert mutations into the bacteria. Because we wanted to see what the cost of resistance was, we made two kinds of mutant strains. Some mutant strains lost their natural-resistance genes, while other mutant strains acquired resistance due to inactivation of genes that made them susceptible to antibiotics. This meant that we could use DNA sequencing to determine how loss of each mutated gene affected the overall ability of P. aeruginosa to cause an infection in mice and the bacterium’s overall fitness. Antibiotic Resistance Doesn’t Always Come at a Cost With an organism like P. aeruginosa, physicians often turn to a class of antibiotics called carbapenems to treat infections. Carbapenems kill P. aeruginosa through a channel or pore in the bacteria’s outer wall made by the protein OprD. That pore lets carbapenems in, which kills the cell. In more than 70 percent of human infections with carbapenem-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa, the bacterium has stopped making the OprD pore—meaning the killer antibiotic now cannot get inside the cell. We created mutant strains of P. aeruginosa that could not produce the OprD protein, giving them an acquired resistance to carbapenems. In our experiments, it turns out the fitness is not a tradeoff for resistance in P. aeruginosa. We found that the most fit mutants were those that had become carbapenem-resistant because the OprD protein was no longer made. In mice with P. aeruginosa infections in their gastrointestinal tracts, the OprD mutants initially represented less than 0.1 percent of the strains used to establish infections. But after five days, the OprD mutants comprised more than 40 percent of the strains we recovered from the mice’s GI tracts. The “mutant” bacteria didn’t just spread because they were
hard to kill (we did not give any antibiotics to the mice), but because they were fitter than the other bacterial strains infecting the mice. We saw something similar when we used the mutant strains to give the mice bacterial pneumonia. The OprD mutants once again emerged as the predominant strains, but many of them were also resistant to another common antibiotic called fosfomycin. Like carbapenem resistance, fosfomycin resistance is also due to a single gene. Overall, when bacteria-acquired resistance to fosfomy-
Handwashing and related measures can control the spread of resistant bacteria. cin and carbapenem antibiotics, they became fitter and more virulent. This counters the more commonly accepted concept that there is a fitness cost due to antibiotic resistance. In fact, we found that the mutant strains that lost their natural antibiotic resistance became less fit. So acquiring resistance made the bacterial cells stronger, while losing resistance made them weaker. What About Other Kinds of Bacteria? To see if this effect was limited to P. aerginoa, we decided to look at two other bacterial species to see if antibiotic resistance made them fitter as well. We looked at another multidrug and even pan-drug antibiotic resistance organism called Acinetobacter baumannii, which causes many types of severe infections in the lungs, blood, and skin, and a non-drug-resistant bacterium, Vibrio cholerae, which causes cholera. V. cholera also has
some natural antibiotic-resistance genes. Along with co-authors Drs. John Mekalanos and Stephen Lory at Harvard Medical School, we found that for A. baumannii and V. cholerae, the loss of antibiotic resistance was associated with loss of fitness and a weakened ability to cause infection. But when the bacteria acquired antibiotic resistance through a genetic mutation, they became more virulent and had a stronger ability to cause infections in preclinical laboratory models of infections. We do not expect these findings to be true for every kind of bacteria. But even if they apply to just some organisms, it means that resistant strains will not go away if we simply reduce or control antibiotic use. There is a general belief that if antibiotics are used only when needed, the antibiotic-susceptible strains will outcompete the less fit—but resistant—strains. But this strategy might not be enough to combat bacteria that get stronger when they become drug-resistant instead of weaker. Handwashing and related measures can control the spread of resistant bacteria. But we also need vaccines and pre-made antibodies that can be given to people who are at risk for, or actually infected with, drug-resistant microbes. That is something our research team from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital is pursuing. We are investigating the development of a potentially very broad-spectrum vaccine along with another product, a human antibody that could provide immunity to most drug-resistant bacteria, including tuberculosis and the feared MRSA strains, and perhaps even organisms causing diseases such as malaria. Gerald Pier is a professor of medicine at the Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology of Harvard Medical School. David Skurnik is an assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School. This article was previously published on TheConversation.com
Health & Fitness
B7 July 31–Aug. 6, 2015
www.TheEpochTimes.com REDCURRYDUCK/ISTOCK
FREE INTRODUCTORY CLASS For Everyone
After the cups are removed, many people feel a release of tension and tightness.
Why You Should Try Cupping By Jennifer Dubowsky Cupping is an ancient technique that involves using cups on the skin, creating suction to enhance circulation, relieve pain, and provide many other benefits. In the last few years, cupping has become increasingly popular. I definitely have more people in my office requesting to try it and reaping the benefits. I’ll admit, some of the rise in popularity is due to the many celebrities and athletes who use cupping therapy and show off their unique round marks to the press. But believe it or not, Gwyneth Paltrow didn’t develop cupping. Cupping is thousands of years old and it is not exclusive to the Chinese. Variations of cupping therapy were used by ancient Egyptians, in other African countries, by North American Indians and Greeks, and in other parts of Asia and Europe. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how ancient
Egyptians used cupping therapy in 1550 B.C. Cupping is based on simple ideas. Specially made glass, bamboo, or plastic jars are placed on the patient’s skin to create suction. Traditionally, this was done with fire, but in the more modern version, a hand pump is used to create the vacuum inside the cup. This action causes the underlying tissue to be sucked partway into the cup, how much depends on the amount of suction used. You will probably feel a tight sensation in the area of the cup, which often feels good and relaxes aching muscles. If it is too tight, let your practitioner know so he or she can adjust the amount of suction to your comfort. After I remove the cups, everyone talks about feeling a release of tension and tightness—it feels great! Cupping is also the type of treatment from which almost everyone benefits. There are exceptions: It is not for pregnant women and patients who bleed easily or cannot stop bleeding.
In addition, cups should not be applied to areas of the body with skin ulcers, edema, infection, or large blood vessels. Everyone else, enjoy! Cups can be applied for a very short period of time (30 seconds to 1 minute) or left in place for 20 minutes. This depends on your wishes, the condition to be treated, and of course, your practitioner’s judgement. Cupping is used for these purposes: : Enhances circulation : Helps relieve pain : Pulls toxins from your body’s tissue The treatment often gets good results for patients who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, flu, colds, back pain, coughs, allergies, muscle pain, fevers, bronchial congestion, arthritis, and anxiety. If you have seen the photos of “celebs who cup,� you already know that cupping may cause your skin to temporarily turn red, blue, or purple. The skin discoloration can last anywhere
from a few days to a couple of weeks. In warm weather, when more skin is exposed, it will be a conversation starter. You may also experience some mild soreness, but don’t worry, this is normal. In my practice, I always recommend patients take an Epsom salt bath after a cupping session (use at least 2 cups of Epsom salt). These salts are anti-inflammatory and can relieve potential discomfort while enhancing the benefits. You will feel looser and enjoy the relief from tense muscles. It is easy to understand why cupping has lasted for centuries and is now attracting people from all over the world. Jennifer Dubowsky, LAc, practices acupuncture in Chicago. She earned her Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from the University of Illinois and Master of Science in oriental medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Colorado. She completed an internship at the Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital in Beijing. For more information, visit TCM007.com
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Healthy Pizza Recipe By Derek Henry
' 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Pizza is undoubtedly one of our favorite takeout foods. However, it has also become a very difficult food for many to digest due to the combination of refined wheat, sugary sauces, contaminated cheeses, and nitrate-filled meats. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to give up pizza, but we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t continue to eat it the way it is typically prepared and expect our bodies to feel good about it. The good news is pizza can still be as good as you remember it by making a few simple switches so that your ingredients are not as harmful to your gut. We start with a more easily digested grainâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;quinoaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and substitute the toppings with something a bit more nourishing, while still remaining delicious. For this dish, you will need a good-quality blender and a 12-inch skillet
RECIPE
Crust ' 1 cup quinoa (cover with enough water to soak) ' 1/4 cup grape seed oil or olive oil ' 1/2 cup filtered water ' 1/2 teaspoon sea salt ' 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Sauce ' 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked for two hours and drained ' 1 medium tomato ' 3 tablespoons coldpressed olive oil ' 2 large pitted dates ' 1 clove garlic ' 1 teaspoon salt ' 1 teaspoon Italian dressing ' 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper Place quinoa in a bowl and pour in enough water to cover. Let it soak for eight hours. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush a large, 12-inch skillet with oil and preheat it in the oven. Drain quinoa, rinse thoroughly, and place it in a blender. Add most of the water and seasonings and blend. Add more water as needed until the batter resembles that of pancakes. Once the oven is heated, pour the batter onto the skillet and quickly spread it out evenly across the bottom. Place the skillet back in oven and bake for 10 minutes or
until the underside is wellbrowned and starting to crisp. Use a large spatula to carefully flip the crust. Bake for another 10 minutes and remove it from the oven. Place all sauce ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Add sauce to the top of the pizza crust and spread evenly with a spatula. Add veggies and organic chicken breast or grass-fed beef if desired. Add Daiya, feta, or goat cheese on top if desired. Put the pizza back in the oven for an additional five to seven minutes or until the cheese is melted.
If you make a number of pizza crusts in advance, this healthy pizza recipe can be enjoyed in a matter of minutes.
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If you make a number of pizza crusts in advance, this healthy pizza recipe can be enjoyed in a matter of minutes at lunch or dinner.
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Health & Fitness
B8 July 31–Aug. 6, 2015
www.TheEpochTimes.com WORKOUT OF THE WEEK
4 Post-Workout Stretches to Steal From Yoga
Stretching isn’t only a great way to cool down from a workout, but can also help expand your range of motion and help muscles repair more quickly for another workout. Perform static stretches at the end of your workouts when muscles are still warm and hold each stretch for 20 to 40 seconds to reap the benefits. Take a nod from our yogi friends and try using some tried-andtrue yoga poses as part of your post-workout stretching routine.
Downward-Facing Dog
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This stretch improves flexibility in calves, hamstrings, and shoulders; stretches the back; and elongates the cervical spine, relieving tension in the body and head. / Come to your hands and knees with hands directly below your shoulders and knees directly below your hips. / Lift your hips toward the ceiling until your body makes an inverted “V.” / Draw your heels down to the floor. / Keep a slight bend in your knees if needed. / Press your hands firmly into the mat and draw your shoulder blades down. / Press your chest toward your thighs. / Keep the head between the arms (don’t let it hang). / Take deep breaths the entire time.
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Pigeon Pose The best hip-opener exercise there is, the pigeon pose should be performed on both sides. / Start on all fours. / Slide the left knee forward toward your left hand and place on an angle on the floor (be mindful of your knee). / Lengthen your right leg behind you as back as far as your hips will allow it to open and place the top of your foot facing the floor. / Keep your hips square to the floor and keep your body weight in your pelvis. FIZK
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Extended Child’s Pose This pose stretches your lower back and shoulders. / Start on all fours. / Push back with your hands and bring your rear to your heels. / Keep your forehead on the mat. / Extend your arms above your head and reach them out as far as you can.
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Butterfly Stretch
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This is a great stretch for the inner thigh and groin area. / Seated, put the soles of your feet together. / With your elbows on the inside of your knees, gradually lean forward and gently press your knees toward the ground.
From the Life Fitness blog. For more health and fitness information, visit LifeFitness.com/Blog