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THIS May Reduce THYROID Problems and Improve Thyroid Health

June 8th, 2016 at 6:37 pm

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Image: Theinstitutefornaturalhealing.com

New research suggests that regularly drinking chamomile tea may help to keep the thyroid gland healthy and reduce the risk of thyroid cancer. Dr Athena Linos, an environmental health researcher at Prolepsis in Greece, and colleagues examined cancer rates and dietary habits in 113 patients admitted to 2 Athens area hospitals for thyroid cancers between 1990 and 1993. They compared those patients to 138 people without thyroid cancer who were either healthy or had other unrelated diseases, and also to another 286 people with benign thyroid disease. After accounting for age, gender, and body mass index, the results showed the odds of developing any type of thyroid malignancy dropped dramatically as consumption of chamomile tea increased. In fact, participants who drank chamomile tea 2 to 6-times a week were about 70% less likely to develop thyroid abnormalities, whilst 30-years of regular consumption reduced the risk by about 80%. Linos is keen to point out that while the study doesn't prove that chamomile tea prevents thyroid cancer, it does add to a growing body of evidence pointing to the potential health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. "The finding was not surprising to me because many aspects of the Mediterranean diet have been shown to be protective towards cancer in general," Dr Linos concluded.

This is wonderful information for any of you who have or are struggling with thyroid issues or adrenal fatigue or exhaustion. I began drinking it about a year ago religiously and I really do enjoy it. I also believe it greatly helps with many other issues.

The only people who should avoid chamomile tea are those who are allergic to it.

I have written about chamomile's many benefits before right here. It is VERY popular in Germany where Naturopathic Medicine originated.

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Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Dietitian

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

We specialize in Acne, Skin, and Digestive disorders! Please contact us for a free consultation! I do work long distance. Thank you from the bottom of our cart! We truly appreciate your product purchases, visits, and referrals! They enable us to give people the help they need and continue our valuable work.

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This ONE Simple Thing May FIX Anxiety

June 1st, 2016 at 7:38 pm

theodysseyonline

Anxiety is a mental health concern that can debilitate a person's ability to complete routine daily activities, anxiety can also cause physical complaints ranging from difficulty breathing to irregular heartbeat to headaches and muscle aches digestive problems and MORE. Anxiety affects about 20% of the U.S.population between the ages of 18 and 54 according to the National Institute of Health. Of these only 10% receive effective help.

NOW, Megan Teychenne, from Deakin University (Australia), and colleagues completed a meta-analysis of published studies involving sedentary behavior and risk of anxiety. Sedentary behaviors – such as watching TV, working at a computer, playing video games – that involve sitting down are associated with an increased risk of anxiety. The study authors submit that: "our findings suggest a positive association (i.e. anxiety risk increases as [sedentary behavior] time increases) may exist (particularly between sitting time and risk of anxiety)."

I have found for most clients 20-30 minutes of cardio DAILY is sufficient to reap benefits but it can take a week to one month. Do yourself a favor and try it.

Next week: A simple trick to avoid or eliminate thyroid trouble.

Don't miss our Calendar of Events for June:

LIKE: YOU CAN REVERSE MS and much, much more.

“The association between sedentary behaviour and risk of anxiety: a systematic review.” BMC Public Health. 2015 Jun 19;15:513.

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Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Dietitian

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

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Latest GUT research will AMAZE you!

May 25th, 2016 at 7:09 pm

nianow

Image: Niacom.com

Last month, Scientific American published some brand new European research findings. Several of these studies were the largest studies on the microbes that inhabit healthy peoples large intestines. The microbiome that inhabits the intestines assists with everything from digestion to immune processes and many other things.

In one study, researchers learned that preferences for dark versus milk chocolate had slightly different microbiology which influenced these differences though they don't know why. They also learned that there were major differences which occurred with drug usage, such as the diabetes drug Metformin, female hormones, or antihistamines.

In another study, 14 different microbes were found. Researchers had hoped to glean enough information to manipulate the microbiome for greater health but the study offered more questions than answers. Especially with regard to prescription drugs and their effect on bacteria levels. They postulated that these levels would have major impact on prescription drugs and the side effects they can cause.

There is also the correlation of vaginal birth versus C section in newborns. Healthy microbes from the mother are thought to coat their babies leading to a more robust bacterial starting point in non C section mothers.

Another study highlighted stool transit time or the time it takes for food to digest. They found that variations in this transit time significantly alters the microbiology in the gut.

For example, Parkinson's patients have a signature microbiome that may be helpful in the early stages of the disease. They also learned that two types of IBS have specific signature transit time variations. Still, transit times it is important to recognize can also be results of not causes of illness.

Researchers also learned that antibiotic usage in the first three years of a child's life are quite damaging. They noted that this factor will heavily impact their gut ecology and immune systems later on. They also noted that our obsession with germs deprives us from the microbial diversity that promotes long term health.

Low bacterial diversity was heavily implicated in inflammatory bowel disease and in Type 1 Diabetes.

Lastly they noted that genetics play some role in the microbiome but they expect much more to be revealed as research progresses. Most of the researchers support supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics.

If you would like to learn more about your intestinal microbiology please contact us for an appointment.

This is our last May forum. We have some exciting topics for June. Next time a new study demonstrates that something very simple may totally impact anxiety. Visit us again on June 1st when we will post our upcoming events!

EXCITING NEWS we, my clinic and online store have been accredited A+ Rating by the BBB. Look for more about this soon! I consider it an honor and really big deal.

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Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

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Clinical Nutritionist

Dietitian

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

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An OTC Skin Remedy that is Truly Powerful Stuff

May 18th, 2016 at 7:12 pm

vitamina Image: ColoradoStateEdu

What if I told you that ONE skin item could and does benefit skin in a myriad of ways including:

Stimulating Collagen Production IE Reducing Sagging!

Reducing Wrinkles

Fading Discoloration

and Treating ACNE?

Even though it sounds TOO good to be true it is true and the ingredient is:

Retinol

Retinol is just another name for vitamin A. Retinol in its simplest explanation tells skin how to perform. So it can tell skin to behave like much younger skin or to repair damage such as breakouts and sun damage.

Before retinol can be beneficial to skin it has to do through a conversion process. This creates the active form which is necessary to repair the above skin conditions.

But Isn't Retinol a Prescription Only Product?

Retin A and Renova as well as newer products like: Tazorac and Differin are prescription forms of the vitamin. Retinol, or the very similar retinyl palmitate, on the other hand stands heads and shoulders above prescription versions because pure retinol functions exactly the same but without the side effects: burning, peeling and skin dryness. So this means that efficacy is exactly the SAME!!!!

To locate a good product retinol or retinyl palmitate should be the first ingredient on the product label. Both my products Fix Up and Nourish Up contain these as the first ingredient. Best results on either is achieved when either is used twice a day. Otherwise, check your own product label and use as directed.

IMPORTANT

It is extremely important that in using any retinol product or prescription that an SPF suncreen of 25 or better be used!

NEXT WEEK: Latest GUT Research WILL AMAZE YOU! DON'T MISS IT! SIGNUP!

BTW I took some pictures of before and after of a scar that I eliminated using our amazing Scar Serum. Check it out!

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Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Dietitian

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

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This EATING Disorder as well as IBS and CFS May Be Caused By Something You Will NOT BELIEVE!

May 11th, 2016 at 6:43 pm

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Image courtesy of wewontsing.blogspot.com

A devastating eating disorder may be caused by bacteria which confuse the immune system, leading it to attack the brain and trigger feelings of personal disgust, scientists reported recently according to latest British research. Furthermore, this bacteria is also linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome!

The theory is the first time that the eating disorder has been linked to a physical infection, in contrast to the traditional view which blames psychological, environmental and social factors.

These Experts from Lancaster University and Morecambe Bay NHS Trust say it ‘stretches credibility' to think that such serious conditions are simply the result of mental trauma or psychosocial problems.

The researchers point to the fact that women are far more susceptible to auto-immune diseases – such as pernicious anaemia – where the body's own immune system begins to attack healthy cells.

Likewise, women are around ten times more likely to suffer from anorexia, IBS and CFS suggesting the cause may be similar.

Dr Quenton Wessels, of Lancaster University, states the diseases begin when the body encounters a certain bacteria and switch on an immune response which accidentally begins to attack healthy parts of the body.

“It's really a case of misidentification,” he said. “The immune system responds to something that is foreign by producing an antibody which then attacks something else.

“Auto-antibodies acting on the brain's limbic system could induce extremes of emotion including disgust and fear.

“These then become linked, in the minds of adolescent girls, to culturally determined ideas of what is, and what is not, the ideal body shape and size. It is then a small step for disgust and fear to be directed to food and obesity which the fashion industry currently demonizes.

“We think specific bacteria is setting it off. It is almost like the microbes within you can determine you mood, which is profound in itself.”

Around 750,000 people in Britain suffer from an eating disorder and around 75,000 from anorexia. Some seven million people in Britain have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, while 250,000 have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or ME.

Previous research has suggested that IBS and CFS may have a bacterial origin. The onset of IBS commonly follows an episode of infectious diarrhea while chronic fatigue syndrome can be triggered by infectious mononucleosis and viral hepatitis.

Writing in the journal Medical Hypotheses, Dr Jim Morris from the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, Dr Sue Broughton and Dr Wessels from Lancaster University said that the current explanations for why the diseases occur are unsatisfactory. “Psychological factors might be important, but are unconvincing as the primary or major cause,” they write.

“There might, for instance, be an increased incidence of physical and sexual abuse in childhood in those who go on to manifest functional disorders.

“It is easy to see how this could influence symptoms in adults but it stretches credulity to imagine abuse as the sole and sufficient cause of the functional disorder.”

If proven, this out of the box hypothesis opens up new avenues for treatment and potentially cures for disorders which have, historically, proven exceptionally difficult to treat, much less cure.

Changing bacteria in the gut to remove the original disease culprit could also cure IBS and CFS.

Now the team want to test their theory on animal models to find out if they can spot the exact bacteria responsible.

Dr Wessels added: “If we can isolate the culprits perhaps we can restore the correct bacterial balance. We hope to move into the lab over the summer, and hopefully have an answer by the end of the year.”

Andrew Radford , the Chief Executive of eating disorder charity Beat, said: “Beat welcomes any new research which might add to our knowledge of the causes of and triggers for eating disorders.

“Anorexia nervosa claims more lives than any other mental illness, and eating disorders cost the UK economy over £16 billion a year, so the need for more knowledge and better treatment is acute.

“While the cause of an eating disorder is still unknown, current evidence suggests that they result from a genetic predisposition triggered by a particular event in the sufferer's life. We look forward to hearing more as this research strand is pursued further.”

This is exciting research and I hope you will continue to follow this and once again realize how important the gut microbiome is to all facets of health. This is the very reason I specialize in this area.

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Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Dietitian

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

**Share the HEALTH!**
FREE Shipping and Save 10-20% on over 500 TOP Professional Products	Like US? Join us on FB!	We LOVE to Tweet! Join us on Twitter!	Visit our Natural Health Library for many GREAT Articles!	Don't Miss a thing! Subscribe now to get our new articles via email.	Send this article to a friend!

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Why Are You So BLOATED?

May 4th, 2016 at 6:20 pm

sohormonaldotcom

Image: SoHormonal.com

Many people have the daily experience as pictured above. Many people experience discomfort on a daily basis. In fact, it is one of the most frequent complaints our clients have and a most common reason for them to schedule a visit with me. While the majority of our clients have a MAJOR bacterial imbalance creating this bloating problem there are some other little known reasons for bloating that you can experiment with and find out if they are relevant in your case.

#1 Carbonated beverages. While I adore carbonated mineral waters ahhhh Perrier, San Pellegrino, Nateczowianka et al I do know for a fact that these and others soda I can't even discuss, it is sooooo unhealthy period can and do create bloat. To my mind, this occurs because in Chinese Medical Theory, TCM, the stomach meridien is supposed to descend. When you drink carbonated beverages you are encouraging it to ascend. This is called "rebellious qi". Rebellious qi causes this symptom as well as heartburn, belching, and reflux.

#2 Chewing Gum. The Central Nervous System, CNS, initiates peristalsis the smooth wavelike action of food moving through the system via chewing. When repeatedly chewing and no food appears this sytem is disrupted causing bloating.

#3 Artificial sweeteners are undesirable in all respects but they also lead to bloat. This occurs because they are digested/fermented in the colon not the small intestine leading to odorous gas and bloating.

#4 OTC Painkillers-NSAIDS. It is widely recognized that these drugs wreck havoc on the gut. One of the signs is bloating. Consider acupuncture or mindbody therapies.

#5 Sports drinks or other sweetened beverages will feed inappropriate bacteria in your gut causing them to explode... You may also feel like you will explode.

#6 Cruciferous vegetables and beans contain carborhydrates and fibers that may be tough for your body to digest especially if you eat them infrequently.

#7 Soy Protein Isolates. In many "health" bars and foods, these are not natural foods and can cause bloating in susceptible people.

Hopefully, this information helps. If not, definitely consider getting to the cause as bloating is besides uncomfortable as all heck a definite sign your digestion needs attention.

Next week's forum is "This eating disorder may be caused by something you will NOT believe." Eating disorders are notoriously difficult to treat. This may be the missing link. Sign up so you don't miss IT! You can also "Like" us on Facebook or Twitter to receive notifications. Thank you!

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Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Dietitian

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

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Food is NOT The Enemy!

April 27th, 2016 at 7:29 pm

Image courtesy of picturequotes.com

I have become increasingly concerned about how restrictive many people's diets are. It has become Paleo this and allergy that or elimination this or that for millions of people. What is troubling to me about all this is the reason behind it for many people. Many people start noticing not feeling well when they eat blah and this leads them to try various methods of food elimination. Problem is, as I have found both personally and professionally, food is not usually the culprit, but your declining health is.

One IMPORTANT sign your health is in trouble is the inability to digest certain foods you previously had no trouble with like dairy...I am not saying that anyone needs to eat dairy but I'd like to use it as a common example. So in order to counter this dairy is eliminated and then often you start to eliminate all foods containing dairy, then eggs, and so on...

Pretty soon, you have eliminated 50% of your diet and while your symptoms may have improved for a bit they in time become even worse. At this point too, many people start noticing many other health changes such as fatigue or anxiety or both.

At the same time, your relationship with food is becoming strained and stressful. Many folks lose all enjoyment of eating at this point and their symptoms become even worse and their diet even more restrictive. Needless to say, an already compromised digestion is tremendously hampered by tension and anxiety. Many of my client's experience difficulty living any type of normal life when they begin treatment since they, are tyrannized by what they will eat and their worlds become smaller and smaller. This is difficult for their friends and family relationships as well. Most of our clients reach a health crisis around this time and finally seek the help they need instead of trying to figure things out for themselves.

When they reach me on an initial visit and I am able to illustrate to them what is actually going on in their bodies whether it be a liver problem, bacterial imbalance, emotional problem or excess inflammation somewhere and on and on their first reaction is relief.

This relief stems from two things: 1.Not having to be in charge of their problem

any longer. 2.Understanding the actual disorder they have and leaving their "management" of it behind.

I think that food has become a convenient and popular place for people to vent all their heath frustrations has become extremely popular within the internet. It's because it is something we all can manipulate and control. There is also safety in numbers and entire communities on the internet devoted to various eating lifestyles.

Outside of the relatively small percentage of people who have real food allergies I think this is unhealthy and preventing most of them from receiving real bona fide professional help for their problems.

One of the most gratifying things to me as a Naturopathic clinician is watching people begin to liberalize their diets, lose their anxiety and develop once again a healthy and enjoyable relationship with food as their health problems recede.

Join us on Saturday for all new events!

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Interested in saving a TON on awesome, professional products with FREE shipping and Volume discounts??? Then:

Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Dietitian

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

**Share the HEALTH!**
FREE Shipping and Save 10-20% on over 500 TOP Professional Products	Like US? Join us on FB!	We LOVE to Tweet! Join us on Twitter!	Visit our Natural Health Library for many GREAT Articles!	Don't Miss a thing! Subscribe now to get our new articles via email.	Send this article to a friend!

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Could THIS supplement be the key to clear, healthy skin?

April 20th, 2016 at 6:24 pm

yaletownnaturopath

Image:Yaletownnaturopaths

Psoriasis, Acne, Eczema, even wrinkles could they all be linked to just one thing? And could this key be linked to a remedy for digestion?

According to CBS news in New York that might well be the case. CBS recently interviewed some sufferers of these conditions who had recovered from these various conditions and they ALL reported one thing in common...

That one thing?

PROBIOTICS

Probiotics are live bacteria that regulate the ecosystem of the intestine. When the gut is overrun with too much "bad" bacteria it can and will lead to systemic inflammation which can contribute to a host of health adversities including skin disorders.

Inflammation due to this bacterial imbalance often manifests in the skin because the skin is one of the most important organs of detoxification.

Therefore, reducing that inflammation will assist in reducing those inflammatory conditions in the skin.

Food sources of probiotics include leafy greens, plain yogurt, and fermented foods such as sauerkraut.

Often, people need to take a probiotic supplement for a fairly long period of time. I have developed our Maxbiotic with this in mind after specializing in skin and digestive disorders for 15 years.

Here's what our Acne client Joe Salvia said recently. "I was skeptical, but I gave the program a shot and I'm glad I did because it certainly worked".

I could not possibly suggest that just taking probiotics will solve the bacterial imbalance but it may help to the extent that people are then willing to actually do what they need to to recover. That is my hope.

Next week I will discuss why food is not the enemy so many people think it is and why your are really so sensitive to foods....don't miss it. Sign up if you haven't already! You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter! We'd love to have you!

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Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Dietitian

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

**Share the HEALTH!**
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BEST ways to Save your SIGHT!

April 13th, 2016 at 6:25 pm

blender.org

Image: Blender.org

Today's article will cover several chronic eye problems and their natural solutions. But before I get into that let me tell you three things. One: I have completely reversed my own astigmatisms...and they were severe. Second: My nearsightedness, also quite severe which I have had since birth has improved with every single eye exam over the last decade. Three the following is a summary of a recent abstract regarding cataracts and B Vitamins.

B vitamins serve many purposes throughout the body, including functioning as cofactors in the enzymatic activation of antioxidants. Now brand new research from Tanya Glaser, from the US National Eye Institute (Maryland, USA), and colleagues analyzed data collected on 3000 150 men and women, age 55 to 80 years, were involved in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group (AREDS), and followed for an average of 9.6 years. Both Vitamins B2 and B12 were inversely associated with lens opacity. Participants who had the highest dietary intake of B2 were at 22% lower risk of mild nuclear cataract and 38% lower risk of moderate nuclear cataract, as well as 20% lower risk of mild cortical cataract, as compared to people with the lowest B2 average intakes. Subjects with the highest average B12 intake displayed 22% lower risk of mild nuclear cataract and 38% lower risk of moderate nuclear cataract, and a 23% reduced risk of mild cortical cataract. The highest average B6 intake associated with a 33% decreased risk of moderate nuclear lens opacity, as compared to the lowest average intake. The study authors write: "These findings are consistent with earlier studies suggesting that dietary intake of B vitamins may affect the occurrence of age-related lens opacities.” A B-complex vitamin is good insurance. Here is one I prescribe frequently in my practice.

Beyond this latest research, vision problems in the US have increased exponentially since 2000. Not getting the right nutrients plays a HUGE role, too—and the right foods and supplements can make a big difference as they certainly have with me.

While people with eye symptoms or a diagnosed eye disease should work closely with their doctors I am confident that the following tips may be helpful as well.

Here are common eye problems and the foods and supplements that can fight them…:

Dry Eyes

Dry-eye syndrome—a chronic problem with the quantity and quality of tears—often is due to nutritional deficiencies. Poor nutrition can permit damaging free radicals to accumulate in the glands that produce tears.

One-half teaspoon of cod liver oil twice a week may help. It's an excellent source of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid) and vitamins A and D, nutrients that improve the quality of tears and help them lubricate more effectively.

Hyaluronic Acid: A normal constituent of the eye can be low as well. A few months of supplementation can resolve this problem.

Cataracts typically are caused by the age-related clumping of proteins in the crystalline lens of the eyes. More than half of Americans have cataracts by the time they're 80.

Eating spinach, kale, spirulina, seaweeds and other dark leafy greens every day may prevent this. They contain lutein, an antioxidant that reduces the free-radical damage that increases cataract risk. (Lutein and zeaxanthin, another antioxidant, are the only carotenoids that concentrate in the lenses of the eyes.)

Important: Cook kale or other leafy greens with a little bit of oil…or eat them with a meal that contains olive oil or other fats. The carotenoids are fat-soluble, so they require a little fat for maximal absorption.

I also advise patients to take 2 grams vitamin C in divided doses or as a time released formula. One study found that those who took vitamin C supplements for 10 years were 64% less likely to have cataracts.

Computer Vision Syndrome

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health reports that 88% of people who work at a computer for more than three hours a day complain of computer-related problems, including blurred vision, headaches, neck pain and eye dryness.

Taking a supplement that contains about 6 mg of astaxanthin, a carotenoid. It reduces eyestrain by improving the stamina of eye muscles.

Also helpful: EYE EXERCISES!!!!

The 20/20/20 rule. After every 20 minutes on a computer, take 20 seconds and look 20 feet away.

Reduced Night Vision

True night blindness (nyctalopia) is rare in the US, but many older adults find that they struggle to see at night, which can make night driving difficult. Vitamin A deficiency may be a contributing factor to this.

What to do: Take a daily supplement that includes one-half mg of copper and 25 mg of zinc. Zinc deficiencies have been associated with poor night vision—and you'll need the extra copper to “balance” the zinc. Zinc helps the body produce vitamin A, which is required by the retina to detect light. Also helpful:The foods for AMD (below). Take a mixed carotenoid supplement every other day as well.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

This serious disease is the leading cause of blindness in older adults. Most people with AMD first will notice that their vision has become slightly hazy. As the disease progresses, it can cause a large blurred area in the center of the field of vision.

What to do: Eat several weekly servings of spinach or other brightly colored vegetables, such as kale and yellow peppers, or egg yolks. The nutrients and antioxidants in these foods will slow the progression of AMD. The National Eye Institute's Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) reported that patients who already had macular degeneration and had adequate intakes of beta-carotene, zinc, copper and vitamins C and E were 25% less likely to develop an advanced form of the disease.

If I can assist you in any way please ask!

Best of Vision! Next week's topic: Could this ONE supplement be key to clear, healthy skin. Sign up so you don't miss a thing. You can also follow us on twitter or facebook for updates, see below.

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Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Dietitian

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

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by	Taryn DeCicco, ND

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Surprise! You're DEHYDRATED! Unusual signs you need more water.

April 6th, 2016 at 6:46 pm

Water Image: Vilcap.com

It is truly amazing that plain old H2O is involved in over 200 biochemical tasks in the human body each day. Consider also that your body is almost 70% percent water.

Major physiologic processes that require proper hydration include:

blood circulation
metabolism
waste removal or detoxification
regulation of body temperature

At the point that your body loses from 1-2% of its fluid content it begins to signal you to drink by activating the thirst mechanism. Trouble is,by the time this occurs you have already become dehydrated.

Important signs that you may not be drinking enough water are:

#1 Bad Breath or Body Odor: patients often ask me about these problems and often these issues can be resolved by encouraging them to drink more.

#2 Muscle Cramps: I recall as a hospital intern many sleepless nights where foot and leg cramps would keep me awake or wake me from a sound sleep. I eventually figured out that the intervals I would go were causing dehydration and even drinking a lot after my shift would not avert this.

#3 Chills or Overheating. There are other reasons for this of course, but dehydration is a culprit for many folks. Your body simply cannot response to climate issues if it is dehydrated to any extent.

#4 Chronic Headaches. If the fluid sac your brain resides in loses fluid your head loses its cushioning against the skull. This can result in chronic head pain.

#5 Constipation. When you are not drinking enough fluid, your large intestine will extract the water from the food you eat in order to meet its needs. This will cause stool to become compacted, hard and dry.

#6 Dry Skin and Deep Wrinkles. Your skin in 64% water and your body will remove fluid from the skin in order to provide it to other organs as needed. There are stories all over the net about people who completely changed their appearance due to drinking more water.

#7 Fatigue. Fatigue, sleepiness and poor performance are all related to dehydration. The central nervous system cannot operate correctly without water so it shuts down. Symptoms of this involve sleepiness.

SOOOOOOO How much do you need?

There's no hard and fast rule so you need to figure it out for yourself. If you exercise you will need more definitely due to sweating but also due to increased respiration. Clues to help you are urine color. Urine should be light yellow or paler but this may not be attainable if you take vitamins.

The second is that you should urinate with a good volume several times throughout the day.

It WILL take some work and trial and error to figure this out for yourself. But very much worth the effort. Your body and health will thank you. Next week I will discuss nutrients to save your vision. Don't MISS it! Sign up!

Join our weekly heath blog for FREE natural health tips!

Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Dietitian

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

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**Share the HEALTH!**
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by	Taryn DeCicco, ND

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