If your child is overweight, discussing that problem can be one of the most difficult conversations you’ll face as a parent. Sarah Stone lists several reasons why parents are hesitant to have the “weight talk” and presents compelling reasons for

overcoming that reluctance.

If you’re the parent of an overweight child, you probably feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, you know that your child’s health is in jeopardy and that you should take the lead in addressing this problem. But on the other hand, bringing up this touchy topic—not to mention figuring out how to make important lifestyle changes—is difficult, uncomfortable, and potentially embarrassing for all involved. If you’re like most parents in this situation, you probably find yourself putting off the “weight talk” for just a little while longer…and a little longer after that…and a little longer after that.

According to Sarah Stone, though, you’re making a big mistake. It’s time to stop stalling and start talking—for the sake of everyone involved.

“Communication is an essential part of effective parenting—but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy or enjoyable,” says Stone. “It certainly doesn’t help that most parents are never trained in this critical skill—especially when our children and sensitive topics are involved. And children’s weight in particular is too often the elephant in the room.”

The good news is, as the current director of operations at MindStream Academy (www.mindstreamacademy.com), a co-ed health and wellness boarding school for teens who want to get fit, lose weight, build self-esteem, better manage stress, and take control over their health and wellness destinies, Stone can shed some much-needed light on this tough topic.

First, she says, it’s helpful to understand that you’re not alone in feeling reluctant to discuss your child’s weight. In fact, a recent study conducted by FIT, a partnership of WebMD and Sanford Health, showed that about 5 percent of parents struggle when talking to their kids about drugs and alcohol and that 10 percent are uncomfortable talking about sex, but 25 percent are hesitant to discuss their children’s weight issues. In fact, many parents of eight to seventeen year-olds admit to avoiding the weight conversation altogether.

“These statistics are not surprising, but they are tragic,” says Stone. “The developing years are when the brain learns habits that will last a lifetime. So right now is when a lasting change can be made relatively easily. Frighteningly, though, if parents don’t act, the health habits of today’s children will only get worse from every conceivable angle—increased disease risk across the spectrum, poorer quality of life, and massive public and private expenditures that will weigh heavily on the economy and on the lifestyle of almost every citizen.”

No parents want their children to experience any of the problems Stone describes. To help you get over your reluctance to have the weight discussion, here are five reasons she says parents are likely to hold back when it comes to talking about their children’s number one health issue…and why you need to stay the course regardless.

They maintain complete radio silence (on parenting issues, anyway). When your child is small, it goes without saying that you’ll tell her what to do in most areas of her life—or at least make strong suggestions. But as kids grow into their tweens and teens, this autocratic approach often falls by the wayside. Since teens are supposed to start making their own decisions and growing into their independence, some formerly-involved moms and dads believe that they can stop being parents and start being friends. And “friends,” their reasoning goes, would accept one another as-is instead of bringing up sensitive issues like excess weight.

“There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to cultivate a fun, positive relationship with your kids, but never forget that being your child’s buddy is not your primary function,” Stone insists. “A parent’s job is to provide guidance, love, support, and effective preparation for life, even if that causes temporary resentment. Good parenting means recognizing that children have issues and then guiding them lovingly to effective solutions. And while good parents listen to their children’s input and take their feelings into account, they also know that raising a child isn’t a democratic process.”

They want to spare their children’s feelings. It’s something of an understatement to say that your child’s wellbeing is important to you. The last thing you want to do is cause him any sort of hurt. For that simple reason—a reluctance to see their children in emotional pain—many parents avoid telling their kids that their weight is unhealthy. They are unwilling to, as the saying goes, be cruel in order to be kind.

“Just as effective parenting isn’t about being a friend, it’s also not about sparing feelings,” asserts Stone. “On some level, parents know that if a child is very sensitive about a subject, that’s exactly why we should be talking to them. Letting children continue to feel shame, humiliation, and embarrassment because they (or you) don’t want to talk is only compounding the problem. In other words, avoidance is a symptom that you don’t want to reinforce. It’s a bit like locking the door on a house that’s on fire and pretending it isn’t burning. Remember, not facing a fire doesn’t put it out.”

They know that food isn’t a clear-cut “bad guy.” Remember those statistics on parents who avoid tough talks? Twenty-five percent are reluctant to discuss weight problems, while 10 percent avoid the sex talk, and only 5 percent struggle with addressing drugs and alcohol. There’s a good reason for the disparity in those numbers: sex, drugs, and alcohol are choices that don’t have to be pursued, whereas everyone has to eat. Talking about food in negative terms is much more dicey.

“It’s a lot easier to talk about drugs rather than weight because there’s a moral structure to the discussion,” points out Stone. “Using illegal drugs is wrong, and therefore the guideline is much more concrete for parents to set forth and enforce. But neither weight nor eating are moral choices; they are a function of everyday decisions. St. Augustine said that ‘Abstinence is easier than perfect moderation,’ and of course, he was right.”

They don’t know how to help. Knowing that your child’s weight is unhealthy is one thing. Knowing how to make positive changes is another. Understandably, many parents are reluctant to broach the subject of their kids being overweight because they simply don’t know what to say to effectively guide their children. After all, with incredibly lucrative industries revolving around health and weight loss, parents (as well as kids) are faced with a massive amount of often-conflicting information about how to best proceed.

“It’s one thing to address the issue, but being unsure of where it’s going and what advice to give can certainly inhibit the discussion,” admits Stone. “It’s important to understand that in reality, weight management is about many aspects of lifestyle ranging from sleep to stress management, not just food and exercise. Meanwhile, the average parent is still stuck in a ‘fat culture’ that revolves around the concept of diet, rather than understanding that this is about more far-reaching behaviors and the whole person. That’s why MindStream Academy rejects the concept of being an extended fat camp for children to drop weight, and instead focuses on teaching a healthy lifestyle. Parents can take a page from MindStream’s book by researching and learning about holistic health.”

They have their own weight issues. In a culture in which 70 percent of people are overweight if not obese, many parents struggle with the problem of carrying extra pounds themselves. If that’s the case in your family, you—the pot—may be (understandably) reluctant to call the kettle black. Plus, you probably know that the “do as I say, not as I do” strategy doesn’t tend to work over the long term. And, toughest of all to admit, you might realize that doing something about your child’s weight will force you to tackle your own as well.

“Parents inevitably bring their own feelings about weight to the table, which can certainly prevent meaningful discussion,” points out Stone. “Often, they too feel helpless and thus not in a position to give advice. Also, raising your own child can elicit emotionally fraught memories from your own childhood. If weight has been a lifelong issue for you, you’ll instinctively try to avoid those resurrected emotions. Remember, though, while you cannot change the past, you do have the power to create a better future for yourself and for your child.”

“Once they realize that it’s dangerous to put off the weight talk, many parents believe that they can safely leave the discussion to the family doctor, pediatrician, or other health professional,” adds Stone. “Getting professional input is a great idea, especially if nothing else is working. But know, though, that research suggests that health professionals also have difficulties raising sensitive issues with their teenage patients.

“Ultimately, while others might talk to your children about weight, the most important discussion they can have is with you. That’s because parents control the health environment at home and establish the wellness culture in the family. They are in a position to actually do something about the obstacles their kids are facing. And given that your children’s lives are quite literally on the line, avoiding the subject is a terrible abrogation of parental responsibility.”

Read Part Two: Eight Tips for Approaching the “Weight Talk”

By Dr. Julie Chen

Are New Year’s resolutions truly meant to be broken or are we supposed to just make more realistic ones? Every year, my patients come into my clinic with summaries of their goals for their health in the upcoming new year…but unfortunately, the same staunch resolution in their voices start to sound like waning interest when discussed again months later. So, how can we possibly get ourselves to stick to our health resolutions for 2012?

The most common reason why we can’t stick to our New Year’s resolutions is typically because they are not specific enough. Another reason is that because they are too vague (and hence too difficult to execute to the point where you are consistently getting positive feedback in the form of tangible improvements), that lack of measurable advancement causes you to lose interest in the initial goal.

For example, if you created a company and your resolution is to “make it be successful and make a lot of money,” you would have a hard time making that happen without more specifics right? Like, how will you make it successful, what will you do for marketing, what is your product, what is your budget for each department, and how will you make money, just to name a few issues.

Health resolutions are the same…you need to clarify the specifics. For example, when you say you’ll “eat less junk food,” you need to change that resolution to something more achievable and less vague. Such as, “I will not buy junk food to keep in the house” or “I will give myself 10 minutes before giving into a craving and drink a cup of water first” or “I will always go for a walk or do jumping jacks or do push-ups for five minutes before I give in to a craving to see if I can bypass that craving with exercise.”

These more specific examples of health resolutions will allow you to actually work towards one goal and be able to achieve that instead of saying “I will eat less” or “workout more.” Because what is “less” or “more”? When the resolution is vague, people are less likely to stick to it. But when it is specific, such as “I will always eat vegetables and drink a glass of water at the beginning of every meal before I eat anything else,” it is easier to make sure you do exactly that…and these little habit changes amount to a lot of health improvement in the long run.

So, when you are surrounded by friends and family or if you are cozy in your pajamas on New Year’s Eve as you ring in the New Year, just remember that your resolution doesn’t have to be a grand gesture of any kind…just a simple specific promise to yourself will be enough.

Ultimately, simple, practical, and most importantly, do-able changes in your life are the changes that will lead you to tremendous health benefits. And as you see tangible health improvements and feel your clothes becoming looser on your more toned and trim body, these measurable benefits will help you to maintain that staunch resolution and excitement you get in January well into the summer months and beyond!

Dr. Julie T. Chen, M.D. an integrative medicine physician who is board-certified in internal medicine and is also fellowship-trained and board-certified in integrative medicine. She has her own medical practice in San Jose, CA, is the medical director of corporation wellness at several Silicon Valley-based corporations, is on several medical expert panels of websites as well as non-profit organizations, is a recurring monthly columnist for several national magazines, and has been featured in radio, TV, newspaper, and magazine interviews. She incorporates many types of healing modalities into her practice including, but is not limited to, medical acupuncture, Chinese scalp acupuncture, clinical hypnotherapy, strain-counterstrain osteopathic manipulations, and biofeedback. To learn more about Dr. Julie, you can check out her website at www.makinghealthyez.com.

By Dr. Dean Ornish

The holidays are a time for…overeating? It would seem that way, given the latest statistics.

• • Americans gain 1 to 1½ pounds annually during the holiday season

• • Leading health experts believe most midlife weight gain comes from poor holiday eating habits

To help fight holiday weight gain, best-selling author and health expert Dr. Dean Ornish created this list of 16 Steps to Healthy Holiday Eating.

“How to Indulge During the Holidays”

• 1. Eat something beforehand. If you don’t eat all day, you may arrive at holiday meals and parties ravenous and lose control.

• 2. Put 20 percent fewer high-calorie foods and 20 percent more fruits and vegetables on your plate. Studies show that you probably won’t notice the difference.

• 3. Eat the healthier foods first – they will fill you up somewhat, so you’ll be less likely to overeat the more indulgent foods.

• 4. Choose foods that leave evidence – e.g., keep the shrimp tails and chicken wing bones on your plate after you’ve eaten them. Studies show that if you have cues to see how much you’ve eaten, you’ll eat less.

• 5. Try not to put more than two or three items on your plate at one time. We eat more when food is in front of us.

• 6. Eat more slowly. The faster we eat, the more we eat. Sip water between bites. Holiday meals last longer than typical meals. If you wolf down your food, your plate may be clean while others are still eating, which will lead to seconds.

• 7. If you have a choice, use a smaller plate!

• 8. If you’re at someone’s home, try to serve yourself instead of allowing your relative to heap your plate full.

• 9. Arrive a little late and make a grand entrance. More of the indulgent foods will be gone by then.

• 10. If you go to a restaurant, ask your server not to put bread on the table beforehand. If it’s there, you’ll probably eat it. Leave more room for your favorite holiday foods instead.

• 11. Substitute cranberry sauce for gravy, which is usually high in fat and calories. Cranberry sauce is nutritious and loaded with antioxidants.

• 12. If you eat baked potatoes and yams, avoid toppings such as butter, cheese, bacon and sour cream. If possible, substitute low-fat yogurt or nonfat sour cream.

• 13. Watch the alcohol, which is high in calories and slows your metabolism. Also, too much alcohol can impair judgment, so the more you drink, the more you’re likely to eat.

• 14. Close your eyes and savor the food periodically during the meal. You’ll consume fewer calories and experience more pleasure.

• 15. Have just a few bites of dessert. The first and last bites are always the best, anyway.

• 16. Take a walk after dinner. You don’t have to hike five miles. A stroll around the block is a good start. Walking not only burns calories, it also helps relieve bloating and prevent heartburn.

For more information, and additional tips from Dr. Ornish on how to make healthy choices throughout the holiday season, visit www.marshealthyliving.com. I’m reaching out on behalf of Mars.

By Dr. Julie T. Chen, M.D.

Throughout my clinical practice years, I have always said to my patients that I don’t believe in cookie-cutter medicine. Every person and body is different and hence treatment regimens should be individually tailored to every patient. A recent study has made it easier for me to further ingrain that idea into the minds of my patients when they come into my clinic with the idea that if their friend is taking something, then that’s the only thing that would work for them.

In a recent study at Duke University, scientists recently found that how we respond to certain medications, such as the cholesterol-lowering medication called simvastatin, may be determined by our gut bacteria. The results were published in PLos ONE on October 13, 2011 and it demonstrated that gut bacteria can cause differences in how people digest and metabolize different drugs and substances; hence drug effectiveness can differ from person to person based on that.

Within this study, they identified three bile acids produced by gut bacteria that altered medication response such that the effectiveness of the drug differs. What is ground-breaking about this study is the idea that drug effects differ from person to person and is personalized because we are all physiologically somewhat different and a medication effect on any given patient is in fact not going to be cookie-cutter or identical amongst various patients.

This concept is called ‘metabolomics.’ It’s the science of examining the multitude of biochemical components involved in cellular metabolism and its effect on health. It is essentially an examination of personalized medicine and how every person may respond differently to various treatments due to the uniqueness of each of our individual physiological factors. The reason we may respond differently to any given treatment or medicine may be more than our genetics; it may also be due to other physiological factors such as our microflora.

What is interesting about this finding is that we may be looking forward to an era where drugs will target specific sub-populations instead of assuming all of our physiology is cookie-cutter.

We may be seeing a growth in the industry of diagnostic studies that help us to fine-tune our medication regimens toward more personalized physiological factors; as well as pharmaceuticals that derive optimal results from our body’s individualized micro-environments instead of medications that are presumed to function the same in every body.

It’s comforting to finally see medicine take on the obvious assumption that we all know when we interact with other people in our life; that every person we meet is slightly different and hence our relationships are different from person to person.

So, if inherent differences in people are easily recognized in social interactions, isn’t it about time that these obvious inherent differences seen in people are taken into consideration when we choose medications and treatment regimens? I think it’s a long time in waiting to finally see medicine catch up to the concept that our bodies just like our personalities are not cookie-cutter; thus medications and treatments shouldn’t be either.

Dr. Julie T. Chen, M.D. an integrative medicine physician who is board-certified in internal medicine and is also fellowship-trained and board-certified in integrative medicine. She has her own medical practice in San Jose, CA, is the medical director of corporation wellness at several Silicon Valley-based corporations, is on several medical expert panels of websites as well as non-profit organizations, is a recurring monthly columnist for several national magazines, and has been featured in radio, TV, newspaper, and magazine interviews. She incorporates many types of healing modalities into her practice including, but is not limited to, medical acupuncture, Chinese scalp acupuncture, clinical hypnotherapy, strain-counterstrain osteopathic manipulations, and biofeedback. To learn more about Dr. Julie, you can check out her website at www.makinghealthyez.com.

It is also a time that reminds us to be mindful of our health before diving headfirst into the cookie jar. A vegetarian diet presents a lot of advantages because many meat-free foods such as fruits, vegetables, and legumes are high-fiber, and low-fat and free from harmful chemicals. In addition, a vegetarian diet can protect your heart and keep you trim in the process. Chicago Healers Practitioner Tiffany Triner, Assistant Nutritionist at Nutrition Connection Balance, LLC offers some great tips for avoiding your “fat jeans” this fall, by introducing a bounty of naturally healthy foods into your diet.

Here are some ways to revamp your diet and fight heart disease simultaneously:

Veg Out – 10 plates of salad, an entire head of broccoli, go crazy! Alright maybe that’s a bit overboard, but fresh or frozen produce contain phytonutrients that help to prevent and repair cellular damage and as an added bonus they taste delicious. Throw veggies in everything to add flavor and fill you up. Onions, broccoli, beets, artichoke hearts – whatever you like! Lightly steamed vegetables are a tasty, low-calorie way to add bulk to soup, a rice dish, pasta, or even sprinkled on top of pizza dough while packing a punch of antioxidants.

Trade in your Hamburgers– for fresh fish. The American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish like salmon at least twice a week. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish help to lower the risk of heart disease and reduce high triglycerides.

Replace Fodder with Fiber – Whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds also throw a heavy punch in the fight against heart disease. These foods are full of fiber, which is important in maintaining or reaching ideal cholesterol levels. Soluble fiber’s job is to bind to LDL (bad) Cholesterol which is eventually excreted out of our systems.

Sprinkle Smart – Trade your sour cream and mayo in for flavorful spices that won’t cost you any calories or overdo it on sodium. Certain spices can provide heart-boosting benefits and a flavor kick:

• Raises HDL (good) cholesterol: Fenugreek

• Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol: Caper, coriander, cinnamon, fenugreek, garlic, ginger

• Lowers homocysteine levels: Mustard, wasabi, horseradish

• Anti-inflammatory: Bay leaf, garlic, ginger, oregano, rosemary, thyme, turmeric

• Inhibit platelet aggregation (prevents blood clots): Clove, ginger, onion, oregano, rosemary, thyme

By adding in a variety of fresh nutrient-rich foods such as the ones mentioned above people can help to protect their heart.

About ChicagoHealers.com-Chicago Healers (www.ChicagoHealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy. Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website. With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications. For more information, visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.

Female pattern baldness, or hereditary hair loss usually occurs later in life and impacts approximately 50% of the female population. By using magnification on the scalp, a medical professional can examine if a woman’s follicles vary in size – with some thick and others thin. These are two telltale signs of female pattern hair loss, also called androgenetic alopecia.

A lot of women also suffer hair loss in their younger days during pregnancy. During the months of being pregnant, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, hair falls out more drastically, often causing women the anxiety of going bald. After this stage, hair growth cycle returns to normal, which means hair will fall out and re-grow at a normal pace.

Differences between genders:

Men and women have different hair loss patterns. Men’s hair tends to recede from the forehead or the crown of the head while women tend to notice thinning on the top third to one half of the scalp. More women have underlying medical conditions that may cause hair loss then men. These include treatable conditions like anemia and thyroid disease. In particular, women with a form of thyroid disease called Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis may suffer from hair loss because of it. These conditions are diagnosed by your physician and confirmed by blood tests. If you notice drastic or sudden hair loss, it could not hurt to pay a visit to the doctor to find out the cause. It is one thing to be suffering from female pattern baldness, but another to be balding from a medical condition or disease.

Causing further anxiety to women experiencing hair loss, are the many myths on why women (and men) lose their hair. For the most part, these myths are what they sound like- slightly ridiculous and scientifically unproven. But some hold degrees of truth in them, which is probably how these myths became so exaggerated in the first place. Some common myths on hair loss in women are: Frequent shampooing contributes to hair loss. Frequently washing or shampooing your hair does not make you bald. Too much washing can, however, strip the hair of its natural oils and thus may weaken the hair strands and follicles. Hair should still re-grow normally. If it keeps falling without growing back, there could be some other underlying conditions causing the hair loss.

Hats and wigs cause hair loss. Wearing hats and wigs cannot cause hair loss directly. Constantly covering your head with hats or wigs does, however, cut circulation to the hair follicles. This should not bring about sudden hair loss, but the hair can begin to thin from the lack of “breathing” so to speak. Ease up on the hat and wigs and you should be fine.

Brushing your hair 100 strokes each day creates healthier hair. This is unfounded, as no amount of hair brushing can make the hair healthier or grow faster, any more than it can make you bald.

Perms, colors, and other cosmetic treatments cause hair loss. An occasional perm, coloring or having extensions would not make one bald. However, perms and coloring solutions contain a lot of chemicals, and mostly toxic. If not administered and applied properly and professionally, the harmful chemicals can harm the scalp, and hair follicles residing in it. Weakened hair follicles can cause hair to fall out. Prolonged perms and coloring to your hair can cause visible damage. Protect yourself from permanent damage to your hair by taking precautions when getting these hair jobs done.

Healthy women are expected to develop significant hair loss. Healthy women are expected to have normal hair cycle, which means losing and growing hair in repeating cycles in their lives. Significant hair loss, not brought on by pregnancy, can be warning signs to a more serious condition.

Shaving one’s head will cause hair to grow back thicker. There is no proof that shaving the head can make hair grow faster and healthier, just as there is no proof that doing so can damage the follicles enough to stunt any growth. Best to leave that head alone!

Standing on one’s head increases circulation to the scalp and stimulates hair growth. Aside from dizziness, standing on your head does nothing to stimulate hair growth.

Dandruff causes permanent hair loss. Dandruff is on-the-surface condition that has to do with the scalp, and not the hair follicles. Dandruff has not found to be the cause or symptom of hair loss.

Some cosmetic products will cause the hair to grow thicker and faster. Some products intended for eyelash growth, might work on hair. But so far there hasn’t been any conclusive findings on such products. Then there are hair loss topical solutions, like Rogaine for women, which might help slow down hair loss and help regrow a little bit of hair back.

Stress causes permanent hair loss. Stress can strain a person emotionally, mentally and physically. While it is not the direct cause of baldness, stress can alter the chemical and hormonal balance in the body, causing hair follicles to weaken and hair to fall out. Once the stress is gone, the body should return to normal and hair should fall out less.

Hair loss does not occur in the late teens or early twenties. Hair loss can happen to anyone, at any age. The age of onset, and the degree of hair loss varies from person to person. A genetic predisposition to baldness can bring about hair loss earlier in life.

Hair loss affects only intellectuals. Hair loss can affect anyone, from any walks of life.

Androgenetic Alopecia (or male/ female pattern baldness) can be cured. Male/ female pattern baldness cannot be cured. No amount of medication or treatments would prevent it. They might be slightly effective in slowing down the balding, but hair lost due to androgenetic alopecia cannot be regained. The only proven solution to this is permanent hair restoration- hair transplantation.

The first key in finding a solution is admitting a problem exists, and not being ashamed of it. We encourage those who think they might be experience hair loss should talk to their physician first to eliminate any medical conditions. Once you find out the cause of your hair loss, and determine it is of an irreversible nature, Bosley suggests that you make an appointment for a free consultation with a Bosley Professional or contact Bosley by calling 1-888-820-4247.

By Susan E. Kolb, M.D., F.A.C.S, A.B.I.H.M.

Many of the holistic physicians in the United States have become proficient in developing effective detoxification programs that greatly aide the health of their patients with functional disorders due to impaired detoxification pathways and toxic overload secondary to environmental exposures. When a patient fails to respond as predicted, there may be a reason other than compliance.

I am a board certified plastic surgeon and a founding diplomat of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. Like many of my holistic colleagues, I became ill with a serious and unknown disease that required me to learn about holistic and functional medicine in order to regain my health. Then, like many of the holistic doctors I have met, I then was able to help large numbers of patients with the same illness. This is the path of the wounded healer and may be one of the best ways for a doctor to explore a new disease that has yet to be characterized by medical science. In my case, the political reaction against this disease was remarkable, and still to this day is vehemently denied by the majority of plastic surgeons despite a great deal of scientific information that would support my theory of this illness.

In 1985, I was spiritually guided in meditation to get Dow Corning breast implants. This was easy to do as I was a major in the Air Force and my friend and mentor at a neighboring Air Force base was happy to perform this for me for free. I had no problems for about 8 years and then began to have immune problems, endocrine disruption, and neurological issues. Only my left breast implant was leaking silicone gel, so it was easy to know that the problems were coming from the implants, as the symptoms were primarily on the left side. Also, I had a waiting room full of women with the same illness. I had to delay my explantation (removal of breast implants and scar capsule) until early 1997 as there was a deadline for rupture proof which required surgery in one of the breast implant settlements (3M). When I was explanted by my plastic surgeons (I had two for good measure), they did not completely remove the scar capsule around the implant; this led to an exacerbation of the illness for many months after, as the chemicals from the leaking implants went into my system faster than they could be removed by detoxification.

For a complete description of the silicone, chemical, and bio-toxicity that silicone breast implant patients may experience, and the bio-toxicity, sick building syndrome inside the patient’s chest wall, please see the information at www.thenakedtruthaboutbreastimplants.com. There is also a paper describing what a holistic doctor can do for these patients (besides surgery which is always needed) called “The Silicone Treatment Protocol” which is available on the internet as well. Detoxification and immune and endocrine support is needed as well and is outlined in “The Silicone Immune Treatment Protocol” also available at www.plastikos.com under protocols. Other papers such as “Silicone and Saline Implants: Frequently Asked Questions”, “The Silicone Breast Implant Controversy”, and “Doctor, Are You Listening: The Silicone Catastrophe” are there as well.

About the Author: Susan Kolb, M.D., FACS, is the Founder of Millennium Healthcare and Avatar Cancer Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a recognized authority on energy healing and spiritual medicine as well as one of Atlanta’s leading plastic surgeons. Dr. Kolb incorporates holistic, spiritual, Traditional Chinese Medicine and the teachings of ancient healers into her modern surgery practice. For more information, visit www.templeofhealth.ws

Dr. Kolb is also the author of The Naked Truth About Breast Implants: From Harm to Healing. Visit www.TheNakedTruthAboutBreastImplants.com to learn more.

Running and walking are two of the most accessible, beneficial forms of exercise. You don’t need a gym membership or expensive equipment – just a pair of sneakers and a path to travel on. In fact, more than 24 million people in the U.S. alone run, but studies show that annually more than half of all runners incur an injury that disrupts their training. Millions more quit or avoid running because of injury or the fear of causing long-term damage. It’s unfortunate that one of the simplest ways to stay fit can also be one of the most painful.

But, the Chi Running and Chi Walking techniques prove that running and walking don’t have to hurt. For over ten years now, Chi Running and Chi Walking have helped thousands of runners and walkers of all levels avoid and recover from injury, move more efficiently, and reach their fitness goals. Chi Running and Chi Walking, founded by Danny and Katherine Dreyer, incorporate elements of T’ai Chi to use gravity, proper body alignment, relaxation and core strength to reduce the impact running and walking can have on joints, bones, and leg muscles.

Danny, a student of T’ai Chi for over 20 years, began running ultra-marathons in 1991. When he experienced subsequent knee pain, he applied the T’ai Chi concept of rotating around his central axis and using his larger core muscles for propulsion instead of his legs. Since then, he hasn’t had a single injury.

Danny certainly isn’t the only one who has seen first-hand results. “Every week we receive success stories from clients expressing gratitude for Chi Running and Chi Walking. Over the years we’ve gotten thousands of letters. We love hearing these testimonials, so we wanted to get quantitative results to find out how Chi Runners and Chi Walkers are doing overall,” says Danny. A 2011 Satisfaction Survey (view both 2008 and 2011 survey results here), conducted by ChiLiving, Inc. and Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, in conjunction with West Virginia University, collected data from 3,000 experienced recreational Chi Runners between the ages of 35-59. 97% of participants reported that they were probably/definitely able to change their running mechanics with Chi Running/Chi Walking, and 92% said Chi Running/Chi Walking has played a role in preventing injuries.

Chi Running and Chi Walking also help improve performance and endurance. Before practicing Chi Running, 44% of respondents said their perceived exertion/discomfort while running was hard or very hard. After practicing the technique, less than 7% reported that their perceived exertion was hard or very hard. 74% feel their speed has increased with Chi Running, and 96% believe Chi Running has helped them overall. It’s clear these techniques make quite a difference.

To those who’ve been injured, are fearful of injury, want to run farther and/or faster, or want to actually enjoy running, Chi Running and Chi Walking offer new possibilities. The Dreyer’s have created a line of instructional products to help users learn the techniques, including the Chi Running and Chi Walking books and DVDs, as well as training programs for 5K to Marathon distances. The Dreyer’s, along with over 140 Certified Instructors, teach workshops worldwide. With the help of Chi Running and Chi Walking, thousands who have been sidelined with injuries are now able to get back in the race. As Danny says, “It’s not running that hurts your body, it’s the way you run.”

Danny Dreyer is the creator of ChiRunning® and ChiWalking®, revolutionary forms of moving that blend T’ai Chi with running and walking. ChiRunning and ChiWalking by Danny and Katherine Dreyer are No. 1 sellers with over 350,000 copies sold. The ChiRunning marathon book, published by Simon & Schuster, is due out in early 2012. As an accomplished Ultra Marathon runner, Danny has spoken at prestigious wellness events across the country. He has taught training groups including the AIDS Marathon, Team in Training, USA/FIT, and many others. Danny, along with more than 140 Certified Instructors, holds capacity-filled clinics around the world.

Earth Day for some of us is everyday. This is because we work close to the earth- gardening, farming, raising cattle and poultry in a sustainable manner that does not involve chemicals and artificial means of growing and producing. Still, it is good to have one day on the calendar that we can circle and committee to a special action that will make an impact on some level.

All of the millions of people upon this earth, takes it for granted at some point in time, and many for all time…that it will always be, always supply us with what it has always supplied us with…..abundance in water, healthy soil, fresh air, and the ability to use those resources to the good of our well-being.

And….just because I do not believe this to be so…does not make it a fact…but…facts are this:

Our air is becoming more and more polluted with each passing day.

Our soil is dead over thousands upon thousands of acres all around the world.

Water is , in my opinion the worst of the three. If one makes it a mission to really look at the water negatives in this country alone ( USA ) the results will make you a bit sick and the water itself will do the same.

What are the choices and are their real fixes for the damage already done, and ways to avoid future damage that can’t be undone…..depending on where one goes for information, will dictate what answers you come away with.

Many blame big industry…and rightfully so…with clarification….we all must take responsibility for where the issues are and how best to rebuild that which is broken.

Supply and demand powers industry, the more we demand , the more they produce…regardless what the product is.

So, Earth Day is and should be about individuals taking a day to stop, assess our surroundings, take note of how and where we can make changes that will downsize our use of, and stop the waste of, any and all of the resources that makes our beautiful earth spin.

Have and show a respect for nature, Don’t Litter. This action alone caused more water and air damage than one can imagine with a simple thought.

Take a hard look at your chemical use…from inside the home to the back yard, there is a natural, and safer method of doing all we do.

One change or many will leave a footprint…so the choice is yours and mine…and Earth Day is the time to committee ~

To our Earth and the fine tuned plan she functions from ….

Bea Rigsby-Kunz

Sage Hill Farms

Tennessee

http://www.sagehillfarmsandvintagestore.com