Your Life-Your Choice December, 1998 ===================== issue 20A Question & Answer Supplement As 1998 draws to a close, I'd like to share with you my early New Year's resolution. I am also going to ask for your help in fulfilling it. In North America we have a number of holidays that we celebrate... Mother's Day, Father's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and so on. Your Life-Your Choice has subscribers in over 49 countries. I know that each of these countries have their own special holidays. All of you are important to us, and Your Life-Your Choice would like to recognize your celebration in our newsletter. Please send me an email indicating the Holidays of your country, and when they are celebrated. If you like, you can even include a brief history of how and why each are observed. Your Life-Your Choice will then compile a calendar containing special events from around the world. Thank You in advance for your contributions. We're always anxious to hear YOUR story. Many Your Life-Your Choice readers share the same or similar health issues. By sharing your experiences with us you help thousands of others. Tell us what helped you through a particular situation. What modality did you use to resolve your health issue. Help others find relief the way you did. Send in your testimonials and encourage your friends to send in theirs. Send your testimony to mailto:testimony@life-choices.com with "Testimony Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading. Size limitations prevent us from publishing all the questions & answers. If your question is time sensitive, Dr. Abrams is extending an offer for you to call him on his toll free number to ensure a timely response. This is a toll free call from anywhere in the U.S.A and Canada; 1-800-777-1328. I encourage you to take advantage of this generous offer. Brigitte Synesael Your Life-Your Choice Editor Traditional Medicine Needs Our Help! Your life is your choice-don't make it the doctor's choice! http://www.Life-Choices.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This newsletter is meant to educate and inform. It is not intended to diagnose or prescribe. As the editor of Your Life-Your Choice, I encourage you to consult with a reliable professional in your area in regards to any specific health issue. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subscribe: You can subscribe by using the form at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com. Unsubscribe: You can unsubscribe by using the form at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com. Copyright 1997-1998 by Brigitte Synesael All rights reserved ********************************************** Please take a moment and visit our sponsors: Icemall is giving away $199.00 worth of FREE e-books and reports! Check it out today! http://www.icemall.com/free_gift.html ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Is there a "Missing Link" Between Our Health Practices and Results? Thousands of years ago, essential oils were considered more valuable than gold because of their effectivness against disease. Four different essential oils will kill 100% of the bacteria and viruses in any room where these oils are being diffused. Do you know which ones they are? Do you think the Wise Men knew that thousands of years later clinical research would show that frankincense oil has very high immuno-stimulating properties? Young Living Oils can and do enhance life physically, emotionally and spiritually. Visit http://1second.com/Nirvana.htm for answers to these and other questions. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Your Life-Your Choice's Questions & Answers supplied by Dr. Norman R. Abrams 1-800-777-1328 see his background at http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html 1. I Think I Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. How Do I Know For Sure? In March of 1988, the U.S, Center for Disease Control (CDC) released criteria for the diagnosis of CFS, which it revised in 1994 to encompass the broader symptom spectrum of those afflicted. In order to be diagnosed with CFS, a person has to be suffering from: 1. new unexplained, persistent or relapsing chronic fatigue which is not a consequence of exertion, not resolved by bed rest and severe enough to significantly reduce previous daily activity, and 2. four or more of the symptoms below for at least six months: - unexplained or new headaches - short term memory or concentration impairment - muscle pain - pain in multiple joints unaccompanied by redness or swelling - unrefreshing sleep - postexertion malaise which lasts for longer than 24 hours - sore throat - tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpits If you fit into this picture, it is very possible that you have CFS. One important thing to remember if you do, is that you can not just treat the symptoms of this condition, In most cases this type of health problem is usually associated with a weakness of the immune system. There can also be a connection to chemical exposure or a high level of body toxicity, due to poor liver detoxification. These are the areas that have proven to be the most effective areas to concentrate on when caring for an individual with CFS. Other factors that can generate fatigue include: 1. Adrenal Insufficiency 2. Anemia 3. Candidiasis 4. Cardiovascular Disease 5, Chronic ill-health 6. Depression 7. Diabetes S. Headaches 9. Hypoglycemia 10. Obesity 11. Premenstrual Syndrome 12. Sleep Disturbance or Inadequate sleep 13. Stress 14. Underactive Thyroid Gland You should also be aware that a number of the causes of CFS are also symptoms of CFS. Depression is both a symptom and a cause of fatigue, as are headaches, candidiasis, PMS, poor stress-coping and sleep disorders. The presence of these factors can cause an increase of fatigue and make it very difficult to tell which came first, the fatigue or the other symptoms. 2. Is it Possible to have a Marginal Vitamin Denciency? If you don't get a particular vitamin for a long time, you develop a deficiency. If the deficiency goes on long enough, you develop a deficiency disease. A classic example of a deficiency disease is scurvy, caused by a lack of Vitamin C. But, long before you start having any of the signs of a deficiency disease, and long before the deficiency shows up in the usual medical tests, you could have a marginal deficiency in a vitamin or mineral. Here's avery good example. Many older adults are marginally deficient in Vitamin B12. The main symptom of a classic B12 deficiency is anemia, which a doctor can easily diagnose with a simple blood test. But, long before anemia sets in, marginal B12 deficiency leads to depression, confused thinking, and other mental symptoms that seem and look like senility. So, is this individual loosing it due to old age, or is this person just low on B vitamins because of poor digestion, inadequate eating habits, and consuming over-processed, over cooked food in a hospital or nursing home? The chances are good that poor diet is playing a bigger role in this persons mental condition than you or the doctor might realize, The chances are also very good that a good vitamin supplement containing all the B vitamins could do a lot to restore this individual to a normal mental state. 3. I'm trying to follow a Gluten Free Diet, can you help me? Gluten is a protein found in some cereal grains, mainly wheat, oats, rye. triticale, barley, spelt, and buckwheat. It is responsible for making bread springy. As the dough is kneaded, the gluten molecules join together forming long chains that make it elastic-like. Gluten is the major source of protein for many people who live on a wheat-based diet. However, gluten does not agree with everyone. Some digestive problems have been found to be associated with an intolerance to gluten. Fortunately there are non-gluten grains that are tasty and delicious. Here are a few of the most common: Gluten-free grains - Amaranth - Brown Rice - Millet - Quinoa - Wild Rice Gluten-tree flours - Arrowroot - Amaranth - Brown Rice - Garbanzo (chick pea) - Soybean* - Potato* - Nut* and Seed - Legume* Gluten-free pasta - Corn* - Quinoa - Rice - Amaranth - Soy* * Due to the higher possibility for allergy or intolerance to these foods, please check with your health care professional prior to introducing them into your diet if you have been on a detoxification-elimination dietary program. 4. Is proper rest important in the healing process? In order to answer this question let me first define the term PROPER REST. Ideally it means: freedom from work or physical activity; freedom from disturbance of mind or spirit, peace of mind. The purpose of proper rest is to restore - to bring back to a former or original condition. There are presently many theories as to why we require rest or sleep, what happens both mentally and physiologically while we sleep and even how much each individual really needs. Based on the inforination that we have, a rational approach serves to unravel some of the mystery surrounding sleep and the essentials of proper, adequate rest. When individuals are sleep-deprived their most common complaints are mental fatigue or confusion and musculoskeletal discomfort. These conditions are relieved by subsequent rest. We therefore may assume that sleep is essential to maintain mental clarity and to neutralize structural stress. Rest assists the nervous system in its ability to cope with the variety of stresses imposed upon it, and assists the physical body in compensating for the wear and tear of manual activities an the effects of gravity. Proper Rest refers to "those inactivities which serve to aid restoration of optimal mental and physical function" (i.e. good health). 5. I'm confused about my nutritional needs, does everyone need the same amout of nutrients? Good question. The first thing I think each individual must understand is that we all have a Biochemical Individuality. Each individual is as unique biochemically as he/she is physically (and bioenergetically). Thus biochemical/nutritional needs vary considerably among our population. The main factor to be considered include: - Genetotropic Factors - Lifestyle - Environmental Pollution in the area you live in - Food Processing Techniques used on the food you consume - Agricultural Techniques to raise crops - Food Treatment - Food Harvesting, Storage and Transportation - Your Personal Health and Health Conditions you may have Remember food is not as adequate today as it was 100 years ago. 6. I have stomach problems and I take antacids that contain calcium. Is that a good source of calcium? NO!!!!! That is not a good way to meet your calcium needs. This is the reason. Ordinarily your stomach acid separates the calcium from the carbonate. Antacid tablets however, are designed to neutralize your stomach acid, thus most of the calcium won't be released and will just pass through your body instead. You'll also get other ingredients you may not want, like aluminum and sugar. You need to find a better way to get a more adequate supply of calcium. The antacid you are taking will also decrease the ability of your digestive system to digest all foods you consume and decrease you ability to absorb numerous other nutrients for the foods you eat. *************************************** If I haven't answered your question, call me on my personal 800 HOTLINE, it's a toll free call and I'll be happy to answer your question. The HOTLINE is 1-800-777-1328. It's available in the U.S.A. and Canada. I'll be looking forward to talking with you, just for the health of it. This call is totally FREE to you, just remember to tell me that you are a Your Life-Your Choice subscriber! Dr. Norman R. Abrams /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Enjoy back issues of Your Life-Your Choice in our Library of Archives at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com/archive.html While your there vote for your favorite issue and article! *********************************************** Subscribe: You can subscribe by using the form at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com. Unsubscribe: You can unsubscribe by using the form at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com. ****************** Remember to visit Your Life-Your Choice's Wellness Locator! Find a practitioner near you. Visit Your Life-Your Choice's Wellness Locator! http://www.Life-Choices.com/directory.html Visit often and list your practice, there will be new additions regularly. Help us make this the most comprehensive directory available. Visit http://www.Life-Choices.com/promote.html for listing details. ****************** Ask Dr. Abrams your personal health questions. Let him share his 31 years of wellness expertise with you. mailto:questions@life-choices.com Type "Questions Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading. For sponsorship & advertising information, visit http://www.Life-Choices.com/promote.html or mailto:promote@life-choices.com SUBJECT: Send Your Choice Advertising Rates Send in your testimonies, mailto:testimony@life-choices.com with "Testimonies Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading. This is YOUR newsletter! Share your thoughts, what you'd like to see by emailing, mailto:feedback@life-choices.com with "Feedback Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////