Increase Your Bodies Ability to Burn Fuel

Abundant evidence tells us that oxygen therapies can be very beneficial to the body. So why haven’t you heard about them? I believe that the politics of medicine and money often cause a stifling of information on therapies that could be useful but are unprofitable. I believe that this may be the case with oxygen therapies.

In 1888, the Journal of the American Medical Association printed an article on oxygen as a therapeutic agent. Since then, many more studies have been conducted, and many articles printed, on the benefits of using oxygen as a therapeutic agent. Nowadays, hyperbaric oxygen tanks are used by medical practitioners to treat some patients. These tanks utilize oxygen at a high pressure. Lower pressure oxygen tanks and tents are used for others. It’s rare, however, for doctors to recommend oxygen supplements.

Oxygen has been used to treat diseases. It appears to inhibit the growth of bacteria and viruses in the body, and to speed healing. Some alternative clinics use it for treating cancer, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue. Many claims have been made for the validity of oxygen’s use in such chronic diseases as rheumatoid arthritis.

If you want more information on oxygen therapies for a specific disease treatment, please see the “Further Reading” suggestions at the end of this chapter. What I want to address here is the use of oxygen supplements to aid energy production, and/or when lung function is reduced.

Oxygen is one component of the fuel needed by the body. Oxygen molecules must be present in abundance for your basic body function systems to work. Oxygen is required for the complex chemical reactions that allow your body to produce energy from food components. If the amount of oxygen available is less than the body needs for the chemical reactions that produce energy, the body will be fatigued.

Your body’s primary source of oxygen for these energy-producing reactions is the air you breathe. If that air is extremely polluted, if you live at a very high altitude, if you have a physical condition that inhibits your lungs’ ability to function fully—or any combination of these—you may not be getting enough oxygen. If you lack oxygen, your body may be fatigued, you may heal slowly or not sleep well, and you may not think clearly. You may need an oxygen supplement.

If your body is deprived of oxygen, it will die. The fact that oxygen is so important to the body on a cellular level indicates that even a minor lack of oxygen can be damaging. In the case of altitude sickness, the lack of oxygen is not complete, but it’s enough to make a person anywhere from a little dizzy to very ill. I think a chronic minor oxygen deficiency can be damaging as well. It’s like starting a fire and not giving it enough wood: Your body is functioning, but not at its highest potential.

In my opinion, the facts that oxygen is necessary for energy production, and that a lack of oxygen can make you fatigued, are good reasons to use an oxygen supplement when needed. As I’ve said before, self-diagnosis and self-treatment are very risky—I advise against them. Remember, good health does not come from a bottle. Oxygen supplements should be used under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner familiar with their use.

If you feel you don’t have enough energy, your diet or other lifestyle factors should also be looked at. Fatigue can be caused by many things, lack of sufficient oxygen is just one of them. If your lung function is reduced, which can be the case with lung diseases such as bronchial asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema, you are probably already under the supervision of a doctor. Talk with him or her about supplemental oxygen. As with any supplement, your daily requirement will depend on your body weight, your health concerns, and your lifestyle. Your healthcare practitioner should address all of these.

If you do choose oxygen supplements, become familiar with your options. For many years, food-grade hydrogen peroxide was the standard choice. Now there are supplements that range from cherry-flavored aloe vera juice and oxygen liquids to oxygen in a tablet.

The liquids usually need to be refrigerated; the tablets do not. You probably won’t find oxygen supplements over the counter at your local drugstore. You may have to call local alternative healthcare providers and ask if they work with oxygen supplementation, or ask at your health-food store.

I advise patients to take these supplements early in the day because they often increase the patients energy levels to the point that use at night could interrupt sleep. I suggested oxygen supplements for my Mom at one point. After an especially long and cold upstate New York winter, she had the ”post winter blahs” and couldn’t seem to find her usual spring “get up and go”. The next time I spoke with her, which was about two weeks later, she felt totally rejuvenated. In fact, she had been outside getting the gardens ready for spring planting and was talking about adding more rose bushes to her already humongous garden.

I believe that oxygen supplementation is underrated and under-utilized. It’s similar to homeopathy—people in this country are just becoming aware of the possibility of its existence and the benefits of its use. As the public becomes better educated, and relies less and less on drugs to cover up symptoms of illness, such therapies will be commonly used for a variety of conditions. Find out more about this topic; it may be just what you’ve been looking for to help you live a longer, healthier life.

Further Reading

Journal of the American Medical Association, March 4, 1988, Vol. 259, No. 9

O₂xygen Therapies, by Ed McCabe

Oxygen Healing Therapies, by Nathaniel Altman

Bringing your Body to Balance

I’m a believer in the benefits of orthotics. Orthotics being devices made of rubber, plastic, cork or other materials that are placed in the shoes to add balance and stability to the wearers feet, ankles, hips and back. After living for years with daily foot discomfort, I tried a pair of custom-built orthotic walking shoes. What a difference they made! I felt as if I was walking on clouds. The shoes felt funny at first, a little bumpy, but once I got used to them I found I no longer had tired, achy feet at the end of a day spent on my feet. Once I try something and find it really works, I start recommending it to my patients as well. I now rarely wear any other sort of shoe, and many of my patients have been thrilled at the comfort level achieved by using custom orthotic footgear.

It’s wonderful to go through the day on your feet and still feel good. However, comfort is not the only good reason to use orthotics. In order for your body to be as structurally balanced as possible, a good foundation is necessary. A good foundation means proper alignment of the bones of the foot, and proper support for the arch. Most people wear shoes that do not fit properly, that do not support the feet as well as they could. Off-the-rack shoes cannot accommodate the many variations in foot size and structure that we see in the population. On top of that, many people put style before function and wear beautiful but uncomfortable or ill-fitting shoes.

If you spend much time on your feet, if standing is a part of your job, or walking and/or running make up a large part of your daily exercise, then it’s even more important that you use orthotics to support your body. Orthotics can help eliminate or avoid such problems as heel spurs, scoliosis, shin splints, and foot, back, knee, and hip pain. Not only do orthotics help to eliminate such problems, they can also help to increase performance levels. One study showed that golfers consistently hit the ball farther when wearing orthotics.

If you try custom-made orthotics and find that your back or foot problems persist, be sure to tell the practitioner who fit you. They may have to change the fit, or give you other recommendations for care. You may need to see a chiropractor to be checked for alignment problems in the back, hips, knees, and feet.

Orthotics come in many shapes and forms, and can range in cost from the very reasonable to a major investment. But if you compare the cost to that of a really good pair of dress or athletic shoes, I think you’ll find that orthotics are affordable. One thing to remember when shopping for orthotic shoes is that, ideally, they’ll be made specifically for you.

Some stores sell pre-made orthotic inserts to put in your shoes. I don’t recommend these, because everyone of a given foot size gets the same “fit.” Everyone’s orthotics should be as individual as their feet. A variety of healthcare providers measure, cast, or fit their patients for orthotic inserts; I recommend you have the fitting done by one of these professionals.

When you’re fitted, talk to your healthcare provider about the various orthotic materials available. I’ve seen many patients who’ve spent large sums of money on orthotics, only to find that the hard-plastic inserts were much too uncomfortable to wear. If possible, opt for an orthotic made from a more flexible material—you’ll be more comfortable, and though you’ll have to replace them more often (generally once a year), they tend to cost less than hard-plastic inserts.

Once your foot is measured or a mold of your foot is taken, you can then choose: inserts to slip inside your shoes, or a custom-made pair of orthotic shoes. And no, orthotic shoes do not have to be unattractive. One company I deal with makes some very nice men’s and women’s dress shoes.

If you’re going to use orthotic inserts, remember that you must not put them in shoes that are already well-worn. After you get your inserts, it’s best to go out and buy new shoes that fit the inserts. That way, there’s no wear on the bottom of the shoe that could throw off the balance of the insert. Also, be aware that your inserts are built with specific heel heights in mind: the inserts for your tennis shoes won’t work in high heels. I don’t recommend high heels, but if you’re going to wear them, get inserts made especially for them.

Orthotics work only if you wear them. Most people have some type of dress code or requirement for work. Tennis shoes are permissible at some jobs; at others, dress shoes are required. Buy orthotic shoes appropriate for the type of work you do, then wear them every day. Get inserts for the shoes you wear on other occasions, or not as frequently. If you have these two choices available to you, there’s no reason to ever go without your body-balancing, foot-pampering, structure-enhancing orthotic shoes.

Napping is not "just for kids".

When we’re children, we kick and scream “I’m not tired!” when our parents put us down for a nap. Thirty years later, we wish we could just lie down on the couch in the middle of the day and sleep for a few minutes without feeling guilty. Interesting, isn’t it?

Our society has programmed us to get up and stay up all day. Most of us are taught that, once we reach adulthood, it’s OK to rest during the day only if we’re sick, lazy, unemployed, or (insert your favorite negative adjective here). In a society that prizes hard work and productivity, the very act of being kind to yourself, of taking care of your body’s needs, can be interpreted as negative. But there are places in the world where taking a break in the middle of the day is considered not an indulgence, but normal, healthy behavior.

I have good news: You don’t have to move to another part of the world to nap. Recent scientific studies show that napping is good for you, and can actually help increase your productivity. I am not kidding. All of a sudden, napping has been scientifically validated: It’s OK to nap. What a relief.

Taking a short break in the middle of the day can recharge your batteries. By “a short break,” I mean a nap that lasts from fifteen to thirty minutes—enough time to “rest your eyes” but not enough for your body to go into deep sleep, which could leave you feeling groggy when you wake. If you’ve heard the term power napping, that’s what I’m talking about.

When you power-nap, I recommend you choose the couch or other non-bed sleeping area. Don’t get too cozy—it might be difficult for you to get up again. Turn off the lights, but don’t shut out any natural daylight that may be entering. Once you get used to napping, you’ll probably be able to wake up automatically after your necessary sleep time, but in the beginning you may want to use an alarm.

           Each of you is probably aware of a time of day when your energy level seems to lag, when you feel groggy. For most people, it’s the mid-afternoon. That would be a good time to take your nap. If you’re under a lot of stress or didn’t get a good night’s sleep, your need to nap will probably be greater. Learn to listen to your body, and give it the rest it needs. If you do, you may very well find that that afternoon slump in your productivity disappears.

Napping is a wonderful supplement to your regular sleep schedule. It should not, however, be a substitute for a good night’s sleep. Napping late in the day, or for too long, can interfere with your normal sleep patterns. To avoid that, take your naps at least four

to six hours before your normal bedtime, and make sure they last no longer than forty-five minutes.

Further Reading

The Art of Napping, by William Anthony, Ph.D.

Power Sleep, by Dr. James Maas

Eat Your Bacteria! ( pro-biotics)

We tend to think of bacteria as invaders of the body that must be destroyed. Yet one of the healthiest things you can do for your digestive system is to eat bacteria—friendly bacteria, that is, commonly called Pro-biotics.

Think of your digestive system as a compost pile. In a compost pile, bacteria help break down the organic material, turning it into healthy nutrients for your garden. In your digestive tract bacteria help break down the food you eat, as well as fight invaders and keep the chemical balance you need to be healthy.

You were born with lots of friendly bacteria in your system that, all your life, have been reproducing themselves. But if you’ve ever used antibiotics, taken digestive aids or over-the-counter medicines for your stomach, had a yeast infection, drink alcohol, or eat unhealthy foods—I think that covers just about everyone—your balance of bacteria may be off. Adding bacteria on a daily basis will ensure that your digestive system has what it needs to stay healthy.

Think about it: A healthy digestive system will increase your longevity by processing your foods better. This means extracting more nutritional value from food and more efficiently getting rid of waste products. But to add healthy bacteria, you really do have to eat it. There are several forms that work well—choose the one that tastes best to you.

One way to get your pro-biotics ( friendly bacteria)  is yogurt. But don’t confuse yogurt with the commercially popular “yogurt” you see in grocery stores. Originally conceived as diet food, most big-brand yogurts are full of sugar or, even worse, artificial sugars, as well as artificial coloring, fruits, gelatin, and other ingredients designed to make them tasty, guilt-free treats for those who want to be slim.

That’s not what I mean by yogurt. I’m talking about milk and yogurt cultures in a jar, with nothing added. And no, you don’t have to eat the whole jar. A tablespoon or two of yogurt each day is all you need to meet your friendly bacteria needs. If you like the taste, eat it alone. If you need to disguise it, put it in a protein shake, or mix with milk in a blender.

Yogurt was originally invented to preserve dairy products with no refrigeration. Now, I hope, it will be seen as a helpful supplement to your food intake. When you shop for yogurt, get the real stuff. Pick a brand with live yogurt cultures, little or no sugar, no artificial sugars or colors, and no growth hormones. You may have to get it at the health-food store; while you’re there, check out the kefir.

Kefir products are another good way to get friendly bacteria. Kefir is another cultured milk product. You will find it near the yogurt in the refrigerated section. Kefir comes in the forms of a soft cheese (like sour cream) and a flavored milkshake-like drink. It may be just the thing for you if yogurt is not to your liking.

Next, look in the refrigerated supplement section for friendly bacteria ( pro-biotics) in pill form, or a liquid that you can take by the teaspoon. A high quality pro-biotic supplement will be kept in the refrigerated section as it needs to be kept cold.(The last two are for those of you who can’t stand the taste of yogurt.) If you’re lactose-intolerant and want to avoid dairy, you can take the pills, a teaspoon of liquid, or try soy yogurt.

 

Further Reading

 

How to Get Well, by Paavo Arola, M.D.

www.aboutyogurt.com