Are MRI tests safe?
The usual MRI contrast agent is Gadolinium-based, and is not radioactive. MRI machines themselves use magnetic fields and not radiation. Fortunately, it's not possible to have an “overexposure” of magnetism. CAT or PET scans are a much different story, though, since they do use radiation.
I’ve had a number of MRIs, and I consider them to be the safest of the available imaging technologies. If you are having symptoms that warrant the test, then in my opinion it would be foolish to deny the use of a contrast agent if the study was ordered using one. I’m not saying contrast is zero-risk, but the risk of misdiagnosis without contrast (when needed) seems to me to be much higher than the risk of the contrast itself being a problem. I asked a radiologist about the risks once, and he said that although they have everyone sign a liability waiver form due to the theoretical risk, that he personally had never seen anyone react adversely to the contrast agent, nor had any of his co-workers.
The issue is that without contrast, many physical structures and details simply aren’t visible. That also means that a more correct response to not seeing anything with a non-contrast test would be to order one with contrast, not to just say that you’re all done. And if they do see something without contrast, they would have generally seen more details and therefore know more about what’s happening if it had been done with contrast.
However, not all exams require contrast; it depends on which part of the body is being imaged.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Managing allergies
I went through a number of years of having severe allergies. However, I was eventually able to largely cure myself; today I’m 90% better than I used to be. A few things I learned along the way that might be helpful:
- Allergies are, of course, an immune system issue; immune system support is therefore essential. In addition to avoiding allergens, it's also critical to reduce your exposure to toxins. Even micro amounts that wouldn't bother a healthy person can be very damaging to the immune system. This includes things like pesticides, formaldehyde, perfumes, cleaning compounds, etc.
- Long-term allergies are almost always associated with poor nutrient status. Magnesium, in particular, is extremely important, but so are all micronutrients. "Natural Calm" is a good source of magnesium. A good broad-spectrum multivitamin can be extremely helpful, even though they can take a very long time to have a full effect (on the order of several years). "Beyond Any Multiple" (BAM) is a good one.
- The combination of the above two items means that supplement and food selection is very important: organic, pesticide-free food is crucial. The issue with supplements is one of purity and freedom from microcontaminants. Brands such as Thorne, Jarrow, Carlson, Now and Country Life are good. I’ve had terrible luck with Twin Labs and Allergy Research Group.
- Myself and many of my highly-allergic friends (but not everyone) have found certain "neutralizers" to be extremely valuable. These are temporary quick-fix things you can do to turn off an acute allergic reaction. The one that works best for me is Alka Seltzer Gold. It works is by rapidly alkalinizing the body, which has a normalizing effect on the immune system. I can be feeling absolutely terrible, exhausted, brain fogged, ready to collapse, and 5 minutes after consuming the Alka Gold, I feel completely normal.
- You might consider having yourself checked for heavy metals. High levels can have a very damaging effect on the immune system.
- Yeast overgrowth can be another issue. The yeast can cause the gut wall to become leaky, so that small particles of food enter the blood, which then provokes allergies. A very low carb or even zero carb diet (Paleo or Paleo-like) can be a big help there, although you may also need to take an anti-yeast medicine such as Nystatin for a while to completely clear yourself out.
- Hormone levels are another thing that often seems to get tweaked when allergies flare up. In my experience, they often seem to be a precursor to more severe health issues. Thyroid issues, in particular, are very common—probably in part as a result of not getting enough iodine, which is already low in most people’s diet. There’s a negative feedback loop here, because you also need adequate levels of thyroid hormone in order to be able to absorb nutrients from your food. Testing and diagnosis of thyroid levels is (surprisingly) a bit controversial. One easy at-home test is to measure your basal body temperature, before you get out of bed in the morning. If it’s more than a degree low, that is almost certainly indicative of a thyroid problem.
- Active detox programs can help to significantly speed up recovery time. They aren’t fun, though.
[[MORE]]
Monday, 4 January 2010
Sugar headaches
There are several different reactions that happen in the body when you consume carbs that can result in headaches. The most common one goes something like this (for refined carbs or sugars): when the carbs first hit your body (starting even with a sweet taste), it causes insulin to be released, in preparation for the upcoming glucose load. As you continue to eat, your blood sugar and insulin levels go up together for a while. The insulin works to move the glucose out of the blood into cells to be used or into storage (fat).
[[MORE]]However, because high-GI foods like sugar and refined carbs cause such a rapid increase in blood glucose (BG), the amount of insulin released can be more than the body really needs. As a result, your BG levels can over-correct, and you can end up hypoglycemic. It is that state of having a low BG that then causes headaches in some people (often along with sudden fatigue). Somewhat paradoxically, the high BG levels that hit before the insulin fully takes effect can also cause headaches in some people. You can get a hint as to which one is affecting you by the time interval between when you eat and when it hits, since BG tends to peak about a half hour or less after you eat, where the low might be two hours or so afterwards.
What happened for me when I first switched to Paleo is that my baseline insulin levels dropped as a result of not consuming carbs, but my body retained insulin sensitivity. That meant that if I did try to eat carbs, I would often over-correct to the low side. However, after maybe six months or so, I became more insulin resistant; the over-corrections to the low side stopped and my baseline BG level increased slightly. From what I've heard, this seems to be a common pattern.
Another sugar-related cause of headaches can be candida overgrowth. Consuming sugar feeds the yeast, which then give off a burst of toxins, which causes a headache. Fortunately, the Paleo diet is also basically an anti-Candida diet, so I would expect that effect to fade over time as well. Candida seems to respond equally badly to low-GI carbs (like berries) that don't produce the big spikes that sugar or refined carbs do.
[[MORE]]However, because high-GI foods like sugar and refined carbs cause such a rapid increase in blood glucose (BG), the amount of insulin released can be more than the body really needs. As a result, your BG levels can over-correct, and you can end up hypoglycemic. It is that state of having a low BG that then causes headaches in some people (often along with sudden fatigue). Somewhat paradoxically, the high BG levels that hit before the insulin fully takes effect can also cause headaches in some people. You can get a hint as to which one is affecting you by the time interval between when you eat and when it hits, since BG tends to peak about a half hour or less after you eat, where the low might be two hours or so afterwards.
What happened for me when I first switched to Paleo is that my baseline insulin levels dropped as a result of not consuming carbs, but my body retained insulin sensitivity. That meant that if I did try to eat carbs, I would often over-correct to the low side. However, after maybe six months or so, I became more insulin resistant; the over-corrections to the low side stopped and my baseline BG level increased slightly. From what I've heard, this seems to be a common pattern.
Another sugar-related cause of headaches can be candida overgrowth. Consuming sugar feeds the yeast, which then give off a burst of toxins, which causes a headache. Fortunately, the Paleo diet is also basically an anti-Candida diet, so I would expect that effect to fade over time as well. Candida seems to respond equally badly to low-GI carbs (like berries) that don't produce the big spikes that sugar or refined carbs do.
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Reducing your use of soap
I stopped soaping "all over" about 15 years ago. Now I use an organic olive oil based soap only under my arms; I've tried skipping even that part for months at a time, but it just doesn't work for me -- everywhere else is fine. Otherwise, I find warm water and some gentle washing action to be all I need. No bad side effects, people haven't shunned me due to bad odors, etc. Actually, to the contrary, I've had complements on how I smell ("what are you using?"), and my skin looks and feels fine; not too dry or oily.
[[MORE]]I've also used baking soda as a soap for extended periods. It cleans fine; I just don't particularly care for how it makes my skin feel afterwards.
Almost anything you put on your skin will get absorbed to some degree into your body (that's how nicotine and hormone patches work). Unfortunately, most commercial soaps and cosmetic products are full of artificial chemicals, some of which are known carcinogens. Perfume doesn't come from some beautiful crushed flower; it's an artificially created chemical.
Basically, if you wouldn't eat it, you shouldn't put it on your skin or in your mouth.
FWIW, the same idea holds true for clothes, many of which are coated with toxic formaldehyde sizing to help discourage wrinkles and prevent mildew. Some kids clothes are even worse, being coated with fire retardants. You can minimize potential health issues related to fabric treatments by washing them thoroughly before you first wear them. For kid's clothes, I would was them more than once. Of course, this assumes that you're using a good, non-toxic, perfume-free laundry detergent!
[[MORE]]I've also used baking soda as a soap for extended periods. It cleans fine; I just don't particularly care for how it makes my skin feel afterwards.
Almost anything you put on your skin will get absorbed to some degree into your body (that's how nicotine and hormone patches work). Unfortunately, most commercial soaps and cosmetic products are full of artificial chemicals, some of which are known carcinogens. Perfume doesn't come from some beautiful crushed flower; it's an artificially created chemical.
Basically, if you wouldn't eat it, you shouldn't put it on your skin or in your mouth.
FWIW, the same idea holds true for clothes, many of which are coated with toxic formaldehyde sizing to help discourage wrinkles and prevent mildew. Some kids clothes are even worse, being coated with fire retardants. You can minimize potential health issues related to fabric treatments by washing them thoroughly before you first wear them. For kid's clothes, I would was them more than once. Of course, this assumes that you're using a good, non-toxic, perfume-free laundry detergent!
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Proper dental care
After reading an article online about it, I decided to try brushing with soap.
I use an organic olive oil based soap. To my surprise, the taste isn’t unpleasant at all.
Part of the idea behind it is that most toothpastes contain glycerin, which doesn’t easily rinse off completely. While the teeth still have a film of glycerin on them, they don’t remineralize easily. With the film removed, they do.
[[MORE]]Another aspect of using soap is that it has a natural antibiotic character to it, which helps limit plaque.
I’ve tried using a variety of conventional toothpastes over the years, and while they’ve kept gum disease and cavities at bay, I still had some slight persistent inflammation at my gum line, with gum pocket depths that were less than ideal. About two weeks after switching to using bar soap, the inflammation went away—for the first time ever.
I’m a quick plaque/tartar maker, though, and I’ve found that soap alone isn’t quite enough to keep the tartar under control, so I alternate with a baking soda based toothpaste without any additives. The slight coarseness of the baking soda is enough to remove any built-up tartar.
I think that if we ate food that required much more biting, chewing and natural friction over the tooth surfaces, so that plaque and tartar were naturally removed, that we probably wouldn't need to brush -- but that's not a feature of modern diets, even of the Paleo variety. I actually see this easily with my dogs; when they have chew toys, bones, etc, their teeth stay healthy. Without them, the tartar builds up quickly.
To brush with baking soda, I usually pour some dry powder in a small bowl and then scoop it up with a wet toothbrush. It doesn't take that much. When I brush with soap, I just rub a wet brush back and forth against a bar several times, and then let the bar dry out before next use.
Another thing about conventional toothpastes: because they tend to be sweet, they can trigger a release of insulin. One of the goals of Paleo should be to keep your insulin levels low, so they’re incompatible with the diet in that way.
BTW, in case you're not aware, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which is in most toothpastes, can cause outbreaks of canker sores. This was explained to me by my dentist years ago after I told him I was having regular outbreaks. Since stopping all toothpastes containing SLS, I haven’t had another sore. Also, the reason they add SLS in the first place is simply to make the toothpaste foam; it doesn’t improve its ability to clean your teeth in any way.
The soap I use is made near where I live here in New Zealand. It's called Clean Earth Soap (the Basic Olive Bar):
http://www.cleanearthsoap.co.nz/collections/soaps
If you can't find anything equivalent locally, they do ship overseas.
It's great for skin, too, not just teeth!
I use an organic olive oil based soap. To my surprise, the taste isn’t unpleasant at all.
Part of the idea behind it is that most toothpastes contain glycerin, which doesn’t easily rinse off completely. While the teeth still have a film of glycerin on them, they don’t remineralize easily. With the film removed, they do.
[[MORE]]Another aspect of using soap is that it has a natural antibiotic character to it, which helps limit plaque.
I’ve tried using a variety of conventional toothpastes over the years, and while they’ve kept gum disease and cavities at bay, I still had some slight persistent inflammation at my gum line, with gum pocket depths that were less than ideal. About two weeks after switching to using bar soap, the inflammation went away—for the first time ever.
I’m a quick plaque/tartar maker, though, and I’ve found that soap alone isn’t quite enough to keep the tartar under control, so I alternate with a baking soda based toothpaste without any additives. The slight coarseness of the baking soda is enough to remove any built-up tartar.
I think that if we ate food that required much more biting, chewing and natural friction over the tooth surfaces, so that plaque and tartar were naturally removed, that we probably wouldn't need to brush -- but that's not a feature of modern diets, even of the Paleo variety. I actually see this easily with my dogs; when they have chew toys, bones, etc, their teeth stay healthy. Without them, the tartar builds up quickly.
To brush with baking soda, I usually pour some dry powder in a small bowl and then scoop it up with a wet toothbrush. It doesn't take that much. When I brush with soap, I just rub a wet brush back and forth against a bar several times, and then let the bar dry out before next use.
Another thing about conventional toothpastes: because they tend to be sweet, they can trigger a release of insulin. One of the goals of Paleo should be to keep your insulin levels low, so they’re incompatible with the diet in that way.
BTW, in case you're not aware, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which is in most toothpastes, can cause outbreaks of canker sores. This was explained to me by my dentist years ago after I told him I was having regular outbreaks. Since stopping all toothpastes containing SLS, I haven’t had another sore. Also, the reason they add SLS in the first place is simply to make the toothpaste foam; it doesn’t improve its ability to clean your teeth in any way.
The soap I use is made near where I live here in New Zealand. It's called Clean Earth Soap (the Basic Olive Bar):
http://www.cleanearthsoap.co.nz/collections/soaps
If you can't find anything equivalent locally, they do ship overseas.
It's great for skin, too, not just teeth!
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Eating raw beef
I have a close friend who loves raw beef, and had been eating it for several years when he became ill. It turns out he had been infected by not just one, but several different hard-to-diagnose parasites. I don’t know exactly where he got his meat or what precautions he took, but the story still gives me pause.
In addition, there’s good evidence that cooking our food was a key factor in our evolution from Homo habilis into Homo erectus, partly since cooked food requires less digestive effort and results in more complete digestion and energy extraction, which in turn allowed our guts to shrink and our brains to grow. In keeping with the rest of the Paleo diet philosophy, I think that’s a good reason to continue cooking my food, regardless of my personal taste preferences.
There’s a good book that discusses this subject in detail: Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human, by Wrangham.
In addition, there’s good evidence that cooking our food was a key factor in our evolution from Homo habilis into Homo erectus, partly since cooked food requires less digestive effort and results in more complete digestion and energy extraction, which in turn allowed our guts to shrink and our brains to grow. In keeping with the rest of the Paleo diet philosophy, I think that’s a good reason to continue cooking my food, regardless of my personal taste preferences.
There’s a good book that discusses this subject in detail: Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human, by Wrangham.
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Endorphins
I recently heard that eating fat causes the release of endorphins (the body’s natural opiates). It seems to me that this might explain a few things that I’ve observed about myself since switching to Paleo. It could be why my mood has improved: endorphins relieve aches and pains and have a mood-elevating effect. Endorphins are also an appetite suppressant, which could explain why I now only feel the need to eat once a day.
[[MORE]]Since vigorous exercise also releases endorphins, I’m wondering whether some synergy is possible there. Chocolate and caffeine also release endorphins.
I started looking into this because I take low-dose Naltrexone for my arthritis. Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist. In low doses, it blocks the opiate receptor sites for just a few hours, which then causes the body to release more of them in response. The resulting increase in endorphin levels can modulate immune system function, and thereby help a wide range of immune system-related conditions ranging from arthritis to MS to cancer to Chron’s.
Apparently, there is some mounting evidence that an “endorphin deficiency” is prevalent in modern society. Is it possible that low fat intake is responsible? Perhaps low fat intake leads to low endorphins which leads to increasingly common immune system dysfunction? Could it also be part of why people crave chocolate and “can’t live without” their morning caffeine?
[[MORE]]Since vigorous exercise also releases endorphins, I’m wondering whether some synergy is possible there. Chocolate and caffeine also release endorphins.
I started looking into this because I take low-dose Naltrexone for my arthritis. Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist. In low doses, it blocks the opiate receptor sites for just a few hours, which then causes the body to release more of them in response. The resulting increase in endorphin levels can modulate immune system function, and thereby help a wide range of immune system-related conditions ranging from arthritis to MS to cancer to Chron’s.
Apparently, there is some mounting evidence that an “endorphin deficiency” is prevalent in modern society. Is it possible that low fat intake is responsible? Perhaps low fat intake leads to low endorphins which leads to increasingly common immune system dysfunction? Could it also be part of why people crave chocolate and “can’t live without” their morning caffeine?
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