You can have it all – but not all at once

One of the addictions of the past two decades is the term that has pervaded society - that you can have it all right now. It appears to have been mainly related to women to encourage them to work, to build a career and to raise a family as well.

There is also that eternal debate that women can multitask and men cannot.

Jim Rohn has said:

“Life is a process of accumulation. We either accumulate the debt or the value. The regret or the equity.  The degree of our success is directly related to the degree in which we excel in and balance certain segments of our life.”

There is no question that we are each born for a purpose – it gives us the meaning in our life. The sooner we determine this purpose – the sooner fulfilment and happiness become part of our life.

We are also born with certain talents and skills. Which we are challenged to use, to develop, to share and to achieve our purpose and build the legacy we wish others to acknowledge.

We build a life then by:

•        Determining our Purpose – why was “I” born.
•        Planning – having a set of timed and achievable goals we work towards each day.
•        Persistence – is our determination and discipline to ensure we follow this plan and act on it.
•        Patience – we need to believe that if we follow the plan towards our purpose – we will “have it all”. We need to accept that life does not always play fair. Things will go “ape shit”. During these times the qualities of Humility, Gratitude, Service and Patience – will get us through.

So – as I believe it – life is a journey and we need a purpose to give meaning to this life. We can build the life we choose – through this purpose – with the gifts and talents we have been born with. And whatever challenges and successes we obtain or encounter – it is the meaning we give to these that allows us to accumulate the value or the regret. The debt or the equity.

Yes – believe – each of us can have it all. Can build and live the life we choose. I do not believe we can have it all - all at once. But we can accumulate “all” we determine – in time.

Take Care………………..Mario

A view on Lap Banding - MAY 2015

The idea of lap banding and/or other surgical procedures that limit food intake or absorption have been in the news recently. This technique involves placing a band around the stomach to reduce intake and absorption of food.

Some feel that obesity is best addressed with diet and exercise, whereas others advocate these surgical procedures.  As obesity in Australia has doubled since 2005 1, and has other associated problems, such as diabetes. The question arises whether the cost of lap banding be born by the individual having the procedure or by society through Medicare?

Obesity is due to two interconnected causes:

•        Regularly consuming more food than the body needs
•        And a dysfunctioning hormonal system.  

One basically leads to the other. The body produces energy from food, mainly from fats and carbohydrates. What it doesn’t use - it stores as fatty tissue. A sophisticated system of hormones regulates this process. When the intake regularly exceeds personal needs, not only does the storage increase, but the fatty tissue itself produces hormones.  Another factor in derailing our hormonal system is high glucose levels in the blood by eating too much carbohydrate such as sugar, pasta, bread, cakes and processed foods.

The body produces insulin to help transport glucose into our cells. The lower the blood glucose, the more sensitive the body’s cells are to insulin and the more efficient is the transport of glucose into the cells. The higher the blood glucose, the less sensitive the cells are to insulin and the less glucose is transported into the cells occurs.

If blood glucose is maintained at a constant high level, the cells eventually lose their sensitivity to insulin, becoming insulin resistant. The glucose stays in the blood, and the cells starve, causing the brain to think the body needs more food, particularly more high sugar foods. We then eat when we actually don’t need any more energy.

The trend towards obesity and associated diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, is driven by poor hormone regulation. The more we eat, the worse it gets. So obesity can be seen as a sliding scale of hormone function, ranging between health and disease, and it is driven by how much and what we put in our mouths. This is why the cure for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity is based on the same idea: reduce the intake of refined carbohydrates and increase exercise.

Because obesity has reached a certain critical mass, it is now classified as morbid obesity, and this entitles an individual to lap banding under Medicare. Body Mass Index (BMI) is defined by the ratio of an individual’s height to his or her weight. Normally ranging from 20-25, an individual is considered morbidly obese if he or she is 40 klg over his/her ideal body weight, has a BMI of 40 or more, or 35 or more and experiencing obesity-related health conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. 2  

By projecting the cost to society of morbid obesity and associated diseases, medical economists have reasoned that it is cheaper for the society to pay for lap banding individuals in this category, than pay for their diabetic and cardiovascular treatments.3 There are several reasons why this is an impractical suggestion.

•        An adult is responsible for their health choices, not the community.
•        It is the individual, not television or advertising or social media who dictates what goes in their mouth.
•        It is the individual who  dictates whether they spend their time in the pub or on the playing field.
•        As a parent, there is a further responsibility to teach your children how to be healthy.

The lap banding procedure itself is a very poor investment, because it fails to achieve weight loss in over 50% of cases, and then may need to be removed!4  This is because the individual fails to increase their exercise and reduce their calorie intake, which was the original problem.  In addition, to increase eligibility for lap banding, the BMI is being downgraded. As a result more and more individuals will be eligible for the procedure under Medicare.

Given that the levels of obesity in Australia have doubled since 2005, lap banding is an expensive and ineffectual approach that doesn’t address the causes of obesity; it is simply the wrong approach.  

Written by: Luis Miguel Trapaga B.HSc; M.App.Sc

Calanna Pharmacy North Cairns Naturopath

References

1. Taft, P; Guinea, A; Guthrie, W:  “The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and
Lifestyle” The Lancet 2:125–128, 1971.

2. What is Morbid Obesity - Bariatric Surgery Centre - Highland Hospital:

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/highland/bariatric.../morbid-obesity.aspx

3. O'Brien,P;  Brown, W; and Dixon,J:  “Obesity, weight loss and bariatric surgery”

 Medical Journal Of Australia

https://www.mja.com.au/journal/.../obesity-weight-loss-and-bariatric-surg...

4. Braun W:  www.bariatic surgery-sourse.com.

Cold & Flu Season is almost here - Prevent it Now! - APRIL 2015

What is a Cold?

The common cold is caused by  a viral infection and commonly effects the nose, throat and respiratory system. There are dozens of different cold viruses, once the body is exposed to one, generally, in a healthy person, that virus would not case an infection a second time around. However, because there are so many different types of viruses that cause the common cold or flu this is why we may be subject to acquiring a cold once or twice each year.

How can I prevent a Cold?

The common cold is generally passed on from person to person via droplet infection. This means that person that has a cold may cough or sneeze and droplets from this may come into contact with another person’s nose or respiratory system and this is how the virus is spread.

Practical ways to prevent contracting and passing on a cold include:

• Wash our hands regularly with soap and water and/or use hand sanitiser gel
• Minimise contact with people that may have cold or flu symptoms
• Keeping your mouth and nose covered when coughing or sneezing to help prevent the virus being passed onto others

Help boost your immune system to reduce the severity and duration of cold & flu symptoms by doing the following:

• Get plenty of rest. The body and immune system can function better on a good night’s sleep which usually consists of 8 hours each day
• Diet - eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. Keep well hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day

Important supplements to support your immune system during the winter months include;

• Zinc - an integral mineral in the functioning of the immune system efficiently and effectively
• Echinacea - herbal supplement shown to help enhance white blood cell activity in the body, it may assist in reducing the severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms
• Vitamin C - an oldie but a goodie. Vitamin C is a potent anti-oxidant along with enhancing immune response.
• Vitamin A - helps to support a health surface barrier for the respiratory and digestive tracts
• Olive Leaf Extract - another potent anti-oxidant with antiviral properties.

Should I see the Doctor?

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms you should consider seeing your GP as soon as possible:

• Breathlessness or chest pain
• An increase in asthma like symptoms
• Ear-ache or facial ache
• Rusty coloured or blood-stained mucous from the nose or chest
• High fever (fever 38 degrees Celsius or above)
• Cough which persists for greater than 1 week

Did you know?

Should you be unwell and unable to attend work, Calanna Pharmacy can provide you with a Medical Certificate for Personal Leave for up to two (2) consecutive days!

No need to book an appointment - pop in or call - quick easy and only $20.00

Written by Matthew Calanna - Pharmacist - Calanna Pharmacy Group

"Change appears to equal "Better" - APRIL 2015

Over 100 years ago, GK Chesterton wrote:

“Now this is the attitude which I attack. It is the view that because we have got into a mess we must grow messier to suit it; that because we have taken a wrong turn some time ago we must go forward and not backwards; that because we have lost our way, we must lose out map also and because we have missed our ideal we must forget it”

We are bombarded today with problems, fears, information and research that continue to increase our financial, emotional and physical security problems.

Experts and supposed leaders encourage us to believe that the total answer lies in creating more rules and charging more taxes to ‘make individuals’ conform and behave as the exports believe is right.

Over the last 30 years society more has acquired more diseases, more emotional and more financial insecurity than ever before. Despite the enormous innovation in communication, health, inventions and other technology - we continuously are bombarded with “change.”  We must ‘change’. 

‘Change’ is inevitable. You must find new ideas to stay ahead. We need more time saving devices so we can have a better life balance.

“Change appears to equal Better”

Despite all this ‘Change’ - there is more fear, more worry, more scarcity, less hope, less ambition, less belief that we can choose how we think and act.

We change Governments, employers, businesses - to find something better. Instead of working on ourselves and planning a better life and making the ‘changes’ that suit us, our family, our health and our finances.

Over the past 30 years Governments of all types have worked on the same ideas and dabbled in asset sale, higher, taxes, amalgamations, interest rates, borrowing to achieve a surplus and to increase jobs. 

Sadly, we are still in debt - our welfare increases - as does our poverty.

Perhaps the ‘change’ we need is to look back on better times. See why they were better and adjust our mindset and policies so that we can apply them to today.

We must have taken some wrong turns to get to where we are. And we will never achieve the harmony, justice and security we are entitled to unless we re-access our present dilemma with an eye on how this has occurred.

Perhaps it is time that as individuals, we read and take note of what Chesteron wrote 100 years ago. Perhaps it is time to rethink our values, behaviour and priorities and make the turns that will lead us back to the ideals and with wisdom that worked so well 30-50 years ago.

Take care, Mario

Written by: Mario Calanna

CEO Calanna Pharmacy Group

Is the Flu, the REAL Flu?

In a CBS news study 3-17% of flu like symptoms are influenza

Viruses and bacteria cause the other 83-97%

The cause of Colds and Flu are viruses. These viruses trigger your cold and flu symptoms but are NOT the real cause of the illness. So what is the REAL CAUSE?

The underlying cause of catching colds and flu is a Vitamin D deficiency and an impaired immune system. I hear you. We live in the tropics, we get plenty of sunshine (Vitamin D), how is this possible?

Firstly let's start with a weakened immune system;

• Vitamin D deficiency
• Eating too much sugar and grains
• Too little restorative sleep
• Too little exercise
• Not managing emotional stress

If you feel the signs of flu and cold coming on, it is Not the time to eat sugar, processed foods and artificial sweeteners. Sugar depresses the Immune system, instead we need to wind it up to combat any infections. At the first sign of a Cold or Flu try some of these immune building strategies:

• Wash your hands often
• Drink plenty of pure water, get more sleep and do regular gentle exercise
• Eat coconuts and cook with coconut oil
• Mushrooms especially Reishi, Maitake and Shiitake contain Beta glucans and are immune enhancers and anti-viral agents
• Herbs and spices such as turmeric, oregano, cinnamon and cloves are powerful anti-oxidants
• Long term emotional stressors can be aided by Vitamin B complex and extra Magnesium
• Olive leaf extract used by ancient Mediterranean cultures, builds a healthier immune system
• Vitamin C is a potent anti-oxidant, together with Zinc reduce cold & flu symptoms even quicker especially recurrent colds and flu. Combinations with Vitamin A and E multiplies the positive effects
• Other immune boosting herbs are: Echinacea, Andrographis, Astragalus and Elder
• Mucus busting foods such as: Horseradish, Chilli and Wasabi

Let's get back to the Sunlight Vitamin D. This amazing vitamin affects 200 to 300 Antimicrobial peptides in your body to kill bacteria, virus and fungi. As you know, direct sun exposure is the best source, however did you know that Vitamin D is only formed on the skin that has enough natural oil on its surface and if it stays on the skin long enough after sun exposure.

Chlorine from swimming pools, baths and showers strip away natural oil, as does soap. So after washing with and chlorinated water, apply unrefined coconut oil to your skin. This allows natural ois to start building up on the surface. It may take between 24-48 hours for vitamin D to be formed after sun exposure.

Other factors affecting Vitamin D absorption:

• Lack of sunshine
• Air pollution
• The colour of your skin: Darker skin has more melanin and competes for Ultra violet B rays in the skin
• Temperature: Warmer temperatures result in greater Vitamin D
• Your body composition: Fat tissue sops up Vitamin D from the skin and afects bioavailability
• Age: Older people have lower levels of precursors in the skin that convert UVB into Vitamin D
• Health conditions such as; Coeliac Disease, Chronic pancreatitis, Crohn's and Cystic Fibrosis mean less absorption of Vitamin D in the gut from food sources
• The health your liver and kidneys: liver disease, kidney disease, no gall bladder, or in fact anything that reduces normal bile flow affects Vitamin D metabolism
• Consumption of unnatural fats and oils: best to stick to cold pressed oils in glass bottles

When people come down with colds and flu, there is usually a combination of contributing factors. So before your immune system crashes from poor food and life style choices, tweak your diet, choose your favourite supportive supplements that will allow you to sail through the cold and flu season, free from encountering stormy waters.

References:

Balch PA Prescription for Nutritional healing New York: Penguin Group 2010

Hechtman L. Clinical Naturopathic Medicine Sydney: Churchill Livingstone 2012

Written by: Kathleen Faile Naturopath - Calanna Pharmacy Atherton