Category: Health Concerns

Travel Health During the Holidays

December 21st, 2010 by Paula Gallagher

This information was posted back in the summer, but I figure that it applies to this time of year as well. Be well and stay healthy!

It’s a busy time of year for many of us, and while traveling should be relaxing and enjoyable, unfortunately, it can also be hard on your body. Recycled air on flights exposes you to cold and flu germs and jet lag can make you lose valuable days of vacation time. Eating foods that you are not used to can also cause digestive distress. Being prepared before you travel can make the difference between a miserable trip and a memorable one.

Here are some essential products for travel health:

Melatonin

Plane travel may interfere with the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycles. This might explain why airplane travel disrupts our sleeping patterns and why it takes a while for us to adjust to a new time zone. Studies suggest that Melatonin doubles the speed at which your body adjusts to the new time zone. Continue reading “Travel Health During the Holidays”

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Prebiotics (Say What?)

December 20th, 2010 by Paula Gallagher

We have heard plenty about probiotics and how important these beneficial bacteria are for your health, but compelling studies show that prebiotics are equally important. Prebiotics are certain types of soluble fiber that help probiotics multiply.

So what to prebiotics do? Well, here are just a few ways that prebiotics keep us healthy.

Intestinal Health: Constipated much? Prebiotics increase bulk in your stools and shorten the transit time in the intestines. They may also help those with Crohn’s and other inflammatory bowel diseases because they reduce inflammation and encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria (lactobacilli and bifidobacteria).

Cholesterol Support: Research suggests that prebiotics enhance the cholesterol lowering actions of probiotics by helping break down cholesterol in the GI tract. And since some prebiotics are forms of fiber, they have the same effect as soluble fiber on lowering cholesterol.

Immune Health: Studies suggest that prebiotics may improve resistance against infection by providing food for probiotics, which makes the immune system function more efficiently. Continue reading “Prebiotics (Say What?)”

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The Sinus Survival Program

December 14th, 2010 by Paula Gallagher

Imagine life without headaches, sinus pressure, post-nasal drainage, frequent colds and sinus infections. What if you could  get rid of that irritable, run-down , tired, mental-fog feeling and be alert and invigorated every day?

The Sinus Survival Program is a new Village Green exclusive, created by Dr. Rob Ivker, best-selling author of Sinus Survival.

For the seasonal sinus and cold sufferer, there are all-natural products to help with sinus pains, headaches, stuffed-up noses, allergies, colds and the occasional sinus infection. When used as a daily preventative measure, Sinus Survival can help to minimize or avoid the cold-to-sinus infection cycle, build your immune system, and support your optimal sinus and health to feel great.

If you are a chronic sinus sufferer, this program can also help. There are over 30 products for sinus health, so contact Village Green Apothecary now to learn which product(s) may be best for you.

And as a reminder, Sinus Survival products are 25% off until December 31, 2010.

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Village Green Newsletter: December 2010

December 9th, 2010 by Paula Gallagher

Village Green’s last newsletter of 2010 is out now. It is full of information and tips about dealing with stress over the holidays. Four supplements that will help your body handle stress, as well as yummy recipes are just some of the offerings in this month’s newsletter.

Here are some fun facts about foods also in the newsletter.

Healthy foods that are natural stress fighters:

Citrus: Winter fruits like oranges, grapefruit, and kiwis are all excellent sources of vitamin C, a potent stress-busting vitamin. And the vitamin C found in citrus fruits is involved in the production of collagen, which helps keep your skin firm and reduces wrinkling.

Cranberries: Rich in antioxidants, these berries may help keep the pounds off. Studies have shown that the sweet tart scent of fruits helps curb cravings caused by stress. Just the aroma of cranberries can stimulate your hypothalamus, controlling your urge to eat too much.

Chocolate: Now don’t go crazy, but do consider indulging occasionally in dark chocolate. Studies have shown that it can reduce levels of cortisol (“the stress hormone”) as well as hormones known as catecholamines (the “fight-or-flight hormones”) in highly stressed people.

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Better Approaches to Treating Breast Cancer

December 9th, 2010 by Paula Gallagher

Dr. Jerry V. Teplitz offers this information about new studies regarding breast cancer treatment.

A study reported in Annals of Surgery found that for certain women with breast cancer, a lumpectomy which includes the removal of many lymph nodes may not be necessary. When cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, the current standard cancer treatment is removal of all the other non-cancerous nodes in the region. This study found that removing all these lymph nodes has virtually no impact on survival or disease recurrence. As a matter of fact, reducing the number of lymph nodes removed reduces the patient’s levels of pain and debilitation.

Another study found that if a lumpectomy is performed, then a single dose of radiation delivered directly to the site of the tumor right after the surgery was as effective as 6 weeks of daily radiation treatments.

After five years, the survival rate for those who had all the lymph nodes removed was 82.2%, while the survival rate for those who did not have this surgery was a little better at 83.8%.

Please be sure to consult with your own health care practitioner about what options are best for you.

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    Paula Gallagher
    Paula is a highly qualified and experienced nutrition counselor on the staff at Village Green.
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