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Sleep Health

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Dr. Llana Call Smith Sleep…. Wonderful when it’s good and massively disruptive when it’s not!   Sleep is one of those necessities in life.   You must have it to have good health but many people have a problem with sleep. Sleep issues can be grouped into four main categories. 1.       Problems with falling asleep and staying asleep, also called insomnia.   Common causes are physical illness, stress, anxiety, depression, drugs/medications, and poor sleep environment. 2.       Problems staying awake, also called hypersomnia.   Examples include narcolepsy, sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.   All of these can result in daytime fatigue. 3.       Problems with sticking to a regular sleep schedule.   Traveling and shift work make this a big issue. 4.       Unusual behaviors during sleep such as sleep terrors and sleep walking. Even though more than 100 different disorders of sleeping and waking have been identified, there are several things that can be done to he
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The Check Engine Light

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By Dr. Llana Call Smith Most of us have heard of the “check-engine” light in our vehicles.  Some of us have seen it!  When it comes on in your vehicle, it is telling you that a problem is occurring and it needs to be addressed.  We always pray it is nothing, but the way to find out is to take it to a mechanic and have them use a code reader to find out what might be going on.  The “check-engine” light itself does not tell you what the problem is, just that there is a problem.  The code reader is a diagnostic tool that allows the mechanic to help determine what is wrong with your engine.  If you have a problem in the engine that causes the “check-engine” light to come on and it is not addressed, it WILL get worse. Just like the “check-engine” light in your car, the body has many symptoms that signal that something is out of balance and needs to be addressed.  If the problem is not addressed it WILL get worse.  Just as a car will break down eventually without proper maintena
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Now What?! (Food Substitutions)

Your health is important.   You know you need to change but where do you start?   Here are some suggestions for the top four food sensitivities to help make changing your diet an easier transition for you. Sugar —while all sugar can cause problems, white sugar is usually the most commonly not tolerated sugar.   Brown sugar is just as bad as it is usually just white sugar with some molasses mixed back in. Instead , try using honey, maple syrup, palm sugar, coconut nectar, or Stevia.   Just remember to use these in moderation.   When you have that sugar craving—stick with these and leave the other sugar alone.   Most recipes can be altered fairly easily but may take some trial and error to find what you like best.   Avoid using artificial sweeteners (Splenda, Equal, Sweet n low) as they are chemicals and put loads of unneeded stress on the body. Wheat —it seems like it’s everywhere!   It’s in many processed foods—read all labels!   Most breads and breading, crackers, cook
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Healthy Tip - Caution with Diet Foods

Be careful with all the ‘diet’ foods on the grocery shelves.   Many are sweetened with chemicals—aspartame (Equal), sucralose (Splenda), and saccharine to name the common ones.   They are toxic to the body and nerves, can cause headaches, prevent weight loss, and even mimic Multiple Sclerosis!   Stevia is a better option for no calories.   Honey is also a great sweetener to use with a lower glycemic index.
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An Apple A Day

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We’ve heard the old saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” and it really is true.  When we eat real, whole foods like apples, we are feeding our bodies genuine replacement parts.  Our bodies can take these nutrients and repair our bodies so they can continue to function at their best. Try to aim for veggies, meats, seafood, nuts and seeds, fruits, and dairy (in moderation).  Add in clean water each day; usually about ½ your body weight in ounces.  Try to avoid processed foods.  You can recognize these by their labels.  Products usually have really long labels!  Asking yourself if you could have found this item 100 years ago is another trick to finding out if it is processed. While “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” it only does so if you eat it!  Remember that this real food is likely to spoil faster than product foods so you’ll want to remember they are in the refrigerator and eat them while they are fresh.  Experiment with different recipes and learn what you
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Healthy Tip - Organic or Not?

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Wondering what foods you should really be buying organic?  Here is a list of the “Dirty Dozen” which have the highest pesticide load.  This makes these foods the best place to spend a little extra to help keep you healthy.  From worst to best:  Apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, sweet bell peppers, nectarines (imported), cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, snap peas (imported), potatoes.  Want to know the good ones?  Search for “Clean 15” online!
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Thoughts on the Flu Vaccine

Here are some tidbits from “The Truth About Vaccines” docuseries on the flu vaccines.  My own comments are italicized.  Neil Miller states that the CDC and FDA often claim that 36,000 people die every year from the flu.  The issue with this particular number is that flu deaths and pneumonia deaths are grouped together.  When you separate the two in any given year, the average number of deaths for the flu is from 750 to 2000.  Deaths were as low as 500 in 2010. If you have been wondering why the inhaled version of the flu vaccine is no longer recommended by the CDC it is because it was only 3% effective last year!  It was actually spreading the flu! Dr. Bark mentions that studies the Cochrane Collaboration looked at that showed in any given year that for every 100 patients who were told they had the flu, 7 actually had flu. When the flu vaccine is created, they take an educated guess as to what flu strain will be circulating in the next flu season.  We don’t actually kn
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