We don’t often stop to think about our oral health until something goes wrong such as a toothache, bad breath, bleeding gums, or mouth sores. In the U.S., tooth decay affects more than 90% of adults over age 40, and advanced gum disease affects 5%–15% of adults. An astonishing 25% of adults over age 60 have lost all of their teeth—primarily because of tooth decay. The good news is that almost all oral diseases can be prevented.

Dr. Weston A. Price (1870-1948), a Cleveland dentist, traveled the world to prove that suspected-nutritional deficiencies were the cause of dental caries and deformed dental arches resulting in crowded, crooked teeth and unattractive appearance. When Dr. Price analyzed the foods used by isolated primitive peoples he found that they provided at least four times more water soluble vitamins, calcium and other minerals, and at least 10 times the fat soluble vitamins from animal foods such as butter, fish eggs, shellfish and organ meats than the diets in developed nations.  He concluded that these societies with healthy reproduction, emotional stability and freedom from degenerative ills were in sharp contrast to those societies subsisting on the “impoverished foods of civilization -sugar, white flour, pasteurized milk and convenience foods filled with extenders and additives.” The diet of most traditional peoples and the ideal ratio of grains to vegetable to animal foods in the human diet is 5:2:1. Evolution has predisposed us to eating a diet composed of five parts grains, two parts vegetables, and one part animal or protein foods. 

The process starts before we are even born. Good strong teeth during childhood and adulthood reveal a healthful diet rich in fresh vegetables, essential fats and proteins that were eaten by their mothers during pregnancy. Teeth that are weak or suffer from cavities reveal that the mother’s diet during pregnancy lacked minerals, weakening her own condition. Dr. Price found that special foods were often given to pregnant and lactating women, as well as to the maturing boys and girls in preparation for future parenthood. These foods to be very rich in fat soluble vitamins A and D, nutrients found in high quantities in certain animal fats. Refined foods, especially sugars, cause the mouth and blood to become rich in acid, which causes tooth decay. Acid-rich blood is a host for many viruses and colds, causing poor health in children. In addition, tongue problems can arise from protein-calorie malnourishment, nutritional deficiencies, or marginal nutritional deficiencies of several vitamins and minerals.

Dr. Ralph Steinman, M.D., a researcher for Loma Linda University in California has proven that dental decay is an active, biological process under the direction of endocrine glands in our body.  In turn, the endocrine glands that control decay are under the influence of how much protein, fat, and carbohydrate we consume. Dr. Steinman showed that a high-sugar diet created decay at the same rate in animals fed through a stomach tube, where food never touched the teeth. So the dentists and toothpaste manufacturers are being misleading when they tell us that the cause of decay is food left sitting on the teeth.The following are nutritional and lifestyle recommendations for optimum oral health:

Did you know that we have over one hundred trillion bacteria living in our digestive systems at any given time? That’s roughly 4 lbs. of little critters hanging out throughout the entire digestive tract, including the mouth, stomach, small intestines and the colon.

These bacteria survive by either having a symbiotic or an antagonistic relationship with each other, and they manufacture substances that affect either positively or negatively our risk of disease, nutritional status and rate of aging.  Some bacteria are “harmful” and can cause disease, while other “friendly” bacteria protect the body from harmful invading organisms. The friendly bacteria are known as both intestinal flora and probiotics, which means healthful to life.  Probiotics offer us protection and have nutritive properties.

Many modern diets include caffeine, sugar, simple carbohydrates, preservatives and overly processed foods. Lots of people are taking medications and antibiotics regularly. This can lead to reduced levels of probiotic bacteria in the intestinal system providing an environment for putrefactive bacteria to dominate.  One of main ingredient for maintaining a healthy digestive tract is to keep these different groups of bacteria in balance. 

How do you keep your gut from becoming a disordered microbial ecology that causes disease? 

• Make sure you get enough fiber every day - approximately 30 grams. It’s not that hard to do. Just make yourself a dish that includes 1 cup of pinto beans (12 g), ½ an avocado (7.8g),  2 corn tortillas (5 g), 1 cup shredded lettuce (.5g) and ½ cup of salsa (2g) and you’ve almost met your quota for the day! Also add a healing fiber supplement (5g) to your daily routine – look for one that that helps lubricate the intestines and has no harsh, depleting or irritating ingredients. 

• Stop eating refined sugars, food made with white refined flour, and processed carbohydrates with low nutritive value. Both good and bad bacteria feed on sugar. Avoiding refined sugars and simple carbohydrates will starve the harmful bacteria of a food source. The beneficial bacteria will then derive energy from “real food.”  Follow an Alkaline Diet – 80% of your foods should be Alkaline-forming, and only 20% should come from Acid-forming foods.

• Take a daily Probiotic supplement. These are active sources of friendly bacteria and vitamins. Probiotics produce vitamins A, biotin, Thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), cobalamine (B12), and folic acid, plus vitamin K. Two of the most well-known probiotics, acidophilus and bifidus, secrete lactic acid which increases the bioavailability of minerals requiring acid for absorption. These minerals include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and manganese. Probiotics taken regularly may help replenish the supply of probiotic bacteria and replace those lost through normal body functioning.  It is usually recommended that you take 1billion to 7 billion CFU (colony forming units) per day.   

Probiotics benefit the body in many ways:

• Prevent colonization of harmful bacteria and fungus.
• Manufacture essential fatty acids, and increase the number of immune system cells.
• Protect the body from heavy metals, pesticides, radiation, and harmful pollutants.
• Help regulate and normalize bowel movements.
• Help to lessen the side effects of antibiotic therapy.
• Help our body to improve nutrient absorption.
• Help prevent vaginal and urinary tract infections.
• Help regulate hormones.

If you think that you have intestinal dysbiosis, including putrefaction, fermentation, deficiency and sensitization of bacteria, you can contact the Ask Dr. Lindsey department to inquire about the Intestinal Flora Profile. This test kit measures serum concentration of IgG and IgM antibodies specific to six common microbes of the human gut: Escherichia coli, lactobacillus fermentum, streptococcus faecalis, Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium perfringens, and Candida albicans. The presence of high levels of antibodies directed against some or all of these organisms indicate an imbalance in the intestinal flora and that the gut wall has become more permeable; constituting the link between gut imbalances and systemic illness.

So far, we have been giving you information we think is useful. But, what is it that YOU want to know? Give us some ideas! E-mail Tracy at tlathrop@askdrlindsey.com with your ideas. We will discuss them with Dr. Duncan and choose the next few topics based on your feedback. We always want to know what’s on your mind! Thanks for your wonderful support!

In Glowing Health and Beauty,

The Ask Dr. Lindsey Team

Does this bring up images of the Wicked Witch of the West melting or hostile aliens wielding laser beams? The sad truth is that the endocrine system, the system of ductless glands regulating bodily functions via hormones secreted into the bloodstream, is under attack. 

One of the first alarms was sounded by naturalist Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962. Her brave radical exposure documented the extent of pesticides and untested chemicals released in the U.S. and the damaging effects on the smallest of organisms all the way up to humans. It is true that levels of various hormones decline as we age, but it is documented that this decline is a direct result of physical stress and environmental assaults, as well as emotional stress. 

A few of the glands most affected by toxins and stress are the pineal, pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, and the ductless glands known as the ovaries and testicles. The pituitary is a small, pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain that functions as “The Master Gland.” It sends signals to the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, ovaries and testes, directing them produce thyroid hormone, cortisol, estrogen, testosterone, and many more. These hormones have dramatic effects on metabolism, blood pressure, sexuality, reproduction, and other vital body functions.  What happens if the pituitary produces either too much or too little of these hormones? An imbalance occurs, leading to more than a dozen disorders of the endocrine system. Deficiency of thyroid hormone, cortisol or antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) is rapidly life-threatening. In patients with abnormalities of the other hormones, quality of life is significantly compromised. Factors that can cause glandular disorders and hormone imbalances: 

A toxic environment: exposure to radiation, fluoride, mercury, cigarette smoke, and preservatives are just a few.  For instance, Dr. Jennifer Luke, from the University of Surrey in England found that animals treated with fluoride had lower levels of circulating melatonin (a hormone necessary for sleep). This reduced level of circulating melatonin was accompanied by an earlier onset of puberty in the fluoride-treated female animals. The pineal gland is a major target for fluoride accumulation in humans. Source: Luke J. (2001). Fluoride deposition in the aged human pineal gland. Caries Research 35:125-128.   

Medications: corticosteroids, sulfa drugs, contraception, hormone therapy, and other prescriptions can interfere with hormone balances. A Toxic Diet: synthetic and genetically engineered hormones in meat, dairy products, poultry, and eggs, which block the release of thyroid hormones and raise the leves of estrogen in both men and women.  Stress: The hormones released by stress, adrenaline and cortisol, interfere with the body’s ability to convert the thyroid hormone T4 into T3. As T3 levels decrease, the body produces even more adrenaline and cortisol in an attempt to speed up the metabolism, which further inhibits the conversion. If the adrenals glands become exhausted, they will shrink in size. (Suggested Reading: Adrenal Fatigue: The 21^st Century Stress Syndrome by James L. Wilson, N.D., D.C., Ph.D.)  What should you do to protect your endocrine system?
·Wash produce thoroughly to reduce hormone disrupting pollutant residues and buy organic.
·Follow a 75% fresh foods diet for a month to rebalance metabolism.  Have a green salad daily.
·Get your hormones levels tested using a simple saliva kit at home (ask our Nutritional Consultants for more information.)
·Remove as much stress from your life as possible, including food allergies, cigarette smoke, and harmful chemicals.
·Enjoy fresh air, exercise, sleep and regular healthy meals!

Celiac disease is one of the most widespread and underdiagnosed diseases known. It is estimated that 1 in 133 people have it and that 80% of those people go undiagnosed. What is it, you ask? It is a genetic digestive disorder where the body is unable to break down the protein Gluten. When the body is chronically ingesting Gluten (found mostly in wheat, rye, barley and oats) and not able to assimilate it, it wreaks havoc on the digestive system, specifically the small intestines.

 An intact mucosal lining in the digestive system is our best line of defense against the many bacteria, toxins, and foreign elements in our food and water supply. For those who are intolerant to the Gluten protein, it is perceived as “foreign bodies” when ingested. The immune system launches an attack on this invader, creating antibodies and subsequent inflammation. This damages the tissue in the small intestine and flattens the villi, which impairs absorption and assimilation of nutrients in our food. When this inflammation becomes chronic from repeated intake of Gluten the damage can become systemic as large particles of undigested food escape the intestines through the damaged lining and circulate throughout the body. This causes many secondary problems or associated auto-immune diseases that can mask the true root of the problem.

Common misdiagnoses of Celiac Disease:

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Eczema or unexplained dermatitis
• Fibromyalgia 
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Nervous stomach (non-ulcer dyspepsia)

Common associated illnesses where Celiac Disease is the cause:

• Many autoimmune disorders
  1. Thyroid disease (hypo/hyper)
  2. Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1)
  3. Sjogrens syndrome
  4. Chronic liver disease
• Lactose intolerance
• Osteopenia and/or osteoporosis
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Small intestinal cancer
• Psychiatric disorders or depression
• Anemia (iron deficiency)
• Infertility

Here’s the good news, Celiac Disease is totally treatable. Adhering 100% to a Gluten-free lifestyle is the only way to do it. In time, the lining will heal and all the secondary symptoms will begin to diminish. To learn more about this disease or to hear how to begin to heal your digestive tract through diet and nutritional supplementation, just call and speak to any of the nutritional consultants. I’d love to speak with you personally as I have first hand experience not only with the pain and discomfort of Celiac Disease, but also with overcoming it by healing the damage it incurs.

 -Sarah Sherwood   

Headaches and other problems associated with Constipation.

If you aren’t eliminating properly, you could be poisoning your body. Ideally, one should fully eliminate two to three times per day. If we eat three meals a day, then we should be evacuating our bowels just as many times each day.

If you are experiencing headaches, lethargy, bad moods, and other undesirable symptoms, it may just be that you are constipated. How does that work?

When you haven’t evacuated your bowels, waste material from your digested food sits in your colon and ferments. Toxins are reabsorbed through the blood 2 and 3 times over, causing the colon to become gassy from this breeding ground of putreactive bacteria, viruses, parasites, yeast, and more.

What can you expect to occur when you are poisoned by constipation? The toxins can cause everything from nausea to fatigue, even bad breath! Your intestinal system is only second in importance to your mind. It feeds your entire body the nutrients it needs to sustain a healthy human being. Everything is connected and nourished by those same nutrients that are being transported from your bowel.

Elimination is your body’s way of cleaning house. If you don’t clean house properly, the dirt (here posing as headaches, bad breath, body odor, etc.) will just keep coming back until you have had a good house cleaning. Don’t wait until spring to start cleansing. Start the new year healthfully by cleaning the body from the bowel up!

-Tracy Lathrop

It is an embarrassing topic, but one that must be discussed: Elimination! It may be awkward, but every one does it, and it’s truly vital to your health. You are only as strong and healthy as your weakest muscle. So, let’s talk about your bowel system.

Proper cleansing of the bowel is extremely important to every organ and system in the body. The bloodstream, however, is the hardest hit because it brings nutrients from the digested food in the intestines to the rest of the body. If the bowels are dirty, the blood is dirty, and so are the all the tissues that are fed by the blood. The poisons rob your body of energy and good health, making you feel old and tired. The bowel must be cleansed before any healing can occur.

A good cleanse is extremely important to overall health. It involves cleaning out the 7 channels of elimination. This includes the bowel, kidneys, lungs, skin, blood stream, liver and lymphatic system.  If done properly, a cleanse will get rid of impacted fecal matter, clean out the bowels, and allow you to eliminate properly. This will enable blood to come to the intestinal lining to pick up nutrients and deliver them to the rest of your body. It will eliminate toxicity and you will begin to feel on top of your game!

So now the question is — how can you clean your bowels?

A good cleanse involves eating organic whole foods, exercising, and hydrating your body. You’ll want to choose a cleanse that features ingredients such as buffered Cascara Sagrada which promotes peristalsis (the movement of the gastrointestinal tract that allows us to eliminate). Try to include calcium as well, which can bind to harmful toxins and help to carry them from the body. Avoid products that contain magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia), or other harsh chemicals that force your body to eliminate.

Start today — take the step towards a stronger, cleaner, healthier colon, and ultimately a healthier life!      -Tracy Lathrop

Welcome to Ask Dr. Lindsey’s Journal. A few times each week we will let you know what’s on our minds and share with you our thoughts about health and healing. We hope that these journal entries will provoke, inform, amuse and inspire you. You are invited to drop us an email with a nutritional topic you would like us to write about. We are always grateful to be of service to you. Blessings and Vibrant Health to you!

- Dr. Lindsey and the ADL Nutritionists.