The Integrative Health Blog

Vitamin D May Decrease the Risk of Death: Study

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:23:03 +0000

Low levels of Vitamin D may increase the risk of death from all causes by 26 percent, suggests a study with 13,000 initially healthy men and women.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, highlights the importance of maintaining healthy Vitamin D levels.

”Further observational studies are needed to confirm these findings and establish the mechanisms underlying these observations. If confirmed, randomized clinical trials will be needed to determine whether Vitamin D supplementation at higher doses could have any potential benefit in reducing future mortality risk in those with 25(OH)D deficiency,” wrote lead author Michal Melamed from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Methotrexate Raises Cancer Risk

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:25:10 +0000

Methotrexate has been tied to an increased risk of melanoma, as well as other malignancies, for rheumatoid arthritis

patients treated with the medication. An Australian study compared 459 rheumatoid arthritis patients (309 women and 150 men who started taking methotrexate before June 1986) to the general population to determine cancer risk.

Whoopi Weighs In On High-Fructose Corn Syrup

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:52:42 +0000

It's official, Whoopi Goldberg is now my new girlfriend. Here's why:

It's about time something like this hit the media! The people "in charge" of addressing our nation's obesity epidemic have been asleep at the wheel on this subject.

High-Fructose Corn Syrup = Weight Gain, Type II Diabetes

Don't worry, I'll be addressing this in more detail in subsequent posts. Until then, go through your cupboards and find how many things you eat or drink contain HFCS. Getting rid of them, is a good first step to losing weight.

Wellness vs. Sickcare

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:51:28 +0000

You may not be aware but there are two competing paradigms within healthcare. The first focuses on symptom-management, emergency medicine, and empowering the doctors. The second involves taking care of yourself, the conservative use of healthcare, and empowering the individual.

One says perform "diet and exercise" (whatever that is) and when it fails we have all the drugs and surgery you'll need to get well again. If there are no symptoms and none of the tests are positive then you have a "clean bill of health." The emphasis here isn't on prevention it's on diagnosis and treatment.

Dark Chocolate, Green Tea, Red Wine

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:00:48 +0000

Have you heard of the health benefits of Dark Chocolate, Green Tea, and Red Wine? Each of these items has been shown in clinical studies to be helpful in enhancing and protecting human health. Dark Chocolate, Green Tea, and Red Wine contain compounds called "Polyphenols."

Negative Media and Your Health

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:11:48 +0000

In our 24-hour news society we now can potentially overdose on bad news. After 9/11 much of the US suffered from a collective depression. I think much of that can be attributed to the continuous coverage of such a tragic event. It was like a car accident, horrible to watch, but impossible to turn away. Maybe for our own health, we should have. Maybe we should have kept an eye on our own health and mental state and made the conscious decision to turn the TV off.

Learn About "Generation Rescue"

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:55:11 +0000

Our country is suffering an epidemic of autism. Austism rates have gone from 1 in every 250,000 to one in every 150 children.

Medicine is failing to address this issue and is actively trying to cover it up. When you notice an article or news piece on Autism possibly be caused by vaccines you then have 3 studies (often from the vaccine industry) that show they are safe. We are reaching a tipping point, everyone knows it. The word is getting out, despite the extensive effort by Medical Public Relations companies to cover this up.

If you have a child with autism, you should view this site: http://www.generationrescue.org/

Much of this sort of work can be done in our office.

Springtime and Rebirth

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:19:11 +0000

It's hard to not be emotionally and spiritually moved by springtime. It seems as if everything is suddenly being reborn. At first you notice the air doesn't have the same bite to it. Shortly after that, the trees start coming to life again and sprout buds that will soon become leaves. Plants in the ground start to sprout, and soon the ugly tan of late winter is replaced with the vibrant green of springtime. The birds return and start building nests. Animals of all shapes and sizes breathe a little easier knowing that the harshness of winter is gone.

The Importance of Rest

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:55:28 +0000

You may have noticed a lag in my posting. I've been grabbing some much needed rest. Which brings me to a point that I think is rarely made in today's fast-paced world, Rest.

Why push it when you're exhausted? Wouldn't it make better sense to take some time and rest? You would probably find that you would be more productive if you took the time to rest up and then started again.

When we look at behavioral patterns in those with chronic fatigue we often see a history of the person ignoring their own need for rest. This may be out of a sense of obligation to work or loved ones.

High Levels of Arsenic Found in Chicken

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:20:50 +0000

BETHESDA, Maryland, January 20, 2004 (ENS) - People who eat chicken may be taking in greater amounts of arsenic than anyone has previously thought. Arsenic concentrations in young chickens are three times greater than in other meat and poultry products, U.S. government scientists report in the January issue of "Environmental Health Perspectives."

Arsenic is an approved animal dietary supplement and is found in specifically approved drugs added to poultry and other animal feeds. It is fed to broiler chickens in the form of Roxarsone (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl arsonic acid) to control intestinal parasites.

A Progressive Relaxation Exercise

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:11:10 +0000

Here's a simple 5-minute exercise you can use in times of stress and anxiety---

"Please sit comfortably in a chair or on the floor. Close your eyes and to take 2-3 deep breaths in and make your exhalations twice as long as your inhalation. Then I want you to visualize a warm light shining on the top of your head. You can feel it warm where ever it shines. The light penetrates your skin, relaxes and soothes all areas it shines on...
As it shines on the top of your head you feel all the muscles in your scalp and temple begin to relax. The light begins to move down to your neck and you feel all the muscles in the neck and underneath your skull relax, unwind, and release. The light shines on your face all your facial muscles relax and just hang there. Your jaw, temples, and facial muscles are perfectly relaxed.

You have the sensation of it being summer and you're in a quiet meadow. With each breath you inhale peace and calm and exhale anxiety and stress. You are becoming more and more relaxed.
The light continues to grow with each breath. It eventually shines over your shoulders and upper arms. Then with another breath it grows to include the forearms, wrists, hands, and fingers. The muscles of your torso, the back and all the muscles inside your tummy relax unwind and release. You feel bloodflow increase to your abdominal organs. You feel your stomach and intestines perfectly relax.
Continue this to the muscles in the legs, ankles, and feet, every body part one after another. In doing so each group of muscles relaxes and unwinds. After relaxing your mind and body from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes, take 5 deep slow breaths in and open your eyes. You have just practiced Progressive Relaxation. This is a tool to control your anxiety and you can do it as often as you need to feel better

Please consider practicing other Mind/Body Medicine Techniques like Yoga, Chi-Gong, Tai-Chi and always Prayer and Meditation. These activities will bring you back to a center and focus your mind and spirit. Enjoy!

Discovering Deep Peace, Tranquility and Healing Through the Practice of Classical Yoga

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:27:11 +0000

Here is an article by a good friend of ours, Julie Halevan on the benefits of yoga:

Discovering Deep Peace, Tranquility and Healing Through the Practice of Classical Yoga

In the fast-paced world we create for ourselves, scurrying here and there, trying desperately to get all the stuff done and feeling drained in the process, I believe at some point we come to this understanding that we’re really not living at all. Our minds, like untamed monkeys, are constantly in motion; often dwelling on the past or fretting about the future. It begs the question – When are we ever really living in present-time? And, let’s face it- being in a state of frenzy does indeed affect our biology.

2008 Flu Shot Propaganda Season Has Started!

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:04:08 +0000

Panel Recommends All Kids Get Flu Shots
By MIKE STOBBE

ATLANTA (AP) — All children - not just those under 5 - should get vaccinated against the flu, a federal advisory panel said Wednesday. The panel voted to expand annual flu shots to virtually all children except infants younger than 6 months and those with serious egg allergies.
That means about 30 million more children could be getting vaccinated. If heeded, it would be one of the largest expansions in flu vaccination coverage in U.S. history. The flu vaccine has been available since the 1940s.

Health Care Spending Surge Seen in Next Decade

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:55:49 +0000

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health-care spending will devour an expanding share of the U.S. economy during the next decade, almost doubling to about $4.3 trillion in 2017, government officials forecast on Tuesday.

Economists at the government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, known as CMS, forecast that health-care spending will account for 19.5 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product by 2017, up from 16.3 percent in 2007.

How To Improve Your Gut: Part I

Dr. Michael L. Johnson — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:13:58 +0000

You may not realize it, but the health of your stomach and intestines is a vital component to your overall health. Seventy percent of your immune system resides around your gut. That means that the health of your bowels and stomach largely controls the immunity of your whole body!
Most people don't even know the simple basics about how to keep their gut healthy. We each come into the world without an owner's manual, unfortunately. So here's what information I've been able to absorb through my years of clinical experience and research. This isn't a replacement for treatment if you have a condition, but if you're looking to improve your overall gut function try a few of these things: