The Care Group

In an effort to help them cope with the drastic change in elevation, I suggested my family take rhodiola a week before they arrived in Colorado. Rhodiola is a natural herbal remedy also known as rhodiola rosea. As an adaptaptogen, rhodiola helps balance the body during physical stress by allowing it to use less oxygen on a cellular level. It has been studied extensively by the Russians and is utilized by many of their athletes to give them a competitive edge.

Fortunately, rhodiola worked wonders for my relatives. They were able to enjoy all that Colorado has to offer without incurring any of their previous symptoms. Acute mountain sickness can affect anyone, regardless of fitness level or age. If you have a trip planned to the mountains, be sure to bring your rhodiola. We suggest taking the herb before breakfast so it does not interfere with your sleep. If you know anyone who is heading to the mountains for a vacation, particularly if they are coming from a lower altitude , please share this tip with them.  They will be sure to thank you for it!

I am delighted to share the story of a 77 year old patient of mine, Betty Lou. Betty has suffered from psoriasis (a common skin condition that causes redness and irritation) for the past three years. When the suggestions of her dermatologist and two holistic doctors failed, The Care Group was able to identify gluten as the source of Betty’s ailment. Within one week of adopting a gluten-free diet, her condition cleared.
Experts now estimate that 1 in 5 Americans have some form of gluten sensitivity and, as a result, we have seen countless other success stories similar to Betty’s. In eliminating gluten, patients have boosted their body’s immune system, decreased a variety of chronic gastrointestinal problems, decreased the severity of their anemia, and even increased bone density.
While the benefits of getting rid of gluten are now readily apparent, eliminating it from one’s diet can seem overwhelming, as it is found in: bread, candy, lunch meat, pasta, cereal, ketchup, pancakes, tortillas, and many other sources of processed foods.
The first step to overcoming gluten is being able to recognize which foods it is present in. Although the full list is exhausting, here are some common ingredients to help you spot gluten:
Wheat
Flour (Enriched, Bleached, Durum, Bulgur, Semolina, etc.)
Malt (Flavoring, Syrup, Extract, Vinegar, etc.)
Barley
Bran
Food color, artificial flavors, seasonings, soy sauce, vitamins, etc. may or may not contain gluten. It is necessary to check with each manufacturer to determine if gluten is used.
In order to make the transition toward a gluten-free diet as painless as possible, we have provided this forum in which we encourage patients to share recipes, cooking tips, and other various information to help one another avoid the downfalls of gluten.

Manufacturers of many food items today boast that their products contain sea salt. Is this
a claim worth making? Does sea salt provide benefits that ordinary table salt doesn’t?

Many people also wonder whether it is important to buy salt that contains iodine.
These are all questions that I frequently hear from patients. I hope this article helps
clarify some of the issues and answer your questions.

Ordinary table salt is a highly processed and bleached form of sodium chloride. Minerals
that are of benefit to your health, including zinc, iron and magnesium, are usually
stripped away during processing. The natural taste of salt also is typically stripped away
during processing.

In contrast, unrefined sea salt contains 40 or more minerals and trace elements that aren’t
found in ordinary table salt. Often, our bodies are deficient in many of these minerals.
Perhaps the most popular brand of unrefined sea salt is Celtic Sea Salt, harvested off the
coast of France. The methods used to harvest Celtic salt leave the beneficial minerals and
the natural taste intact.

As many of you know, I enjoy cooking and have found that unrefined sea salts are much
more flavorful than ordinary table salt is. Although unrefined salts also are more
expensive than table salt, they are well worth the price.

Keep in mind, however, that the term sea salt can refer to any salt that comes from the
sea. Some sea salts are refined and adulterated and may not be any better for your health
than is ordinary table salt.

This leads us to the question of iodine, a trace element that is essential to sustain life.
Your body can’t manufacture iodine, so you must ingest it. One reason that this is critical
is that the thyroid hormone molecule is composed of iodine, and iodine deficiency may
produce enlargement of the thyroid or goiter. In addition to thyroid disorders, iodine
deficiency has been associated with chronic fatigue, autoimmune disorders, sinus
congestion, cysts of the ovaries and breast, and various cancers (including breast,
prostate, thyroid and ovarian).

In recent generations, iodine deficiency has tended to occur largely only in developing
countries; however, a resurgence of this once-common problem is occurring in developed
countries as a result of decreased salt intake and the removal of iodine during commercial
bread making.

The problem historically has been less common in coastal areas, where iodine is plentiful
in the soil, and rare in countries such as Japan, where intake of foods from the sea is high.
Seafood and sea vegetables (such as seaweed) are the major natural dietary sources of
iodine.

As growing numbers of health-conscious consumers switch to sea salt, which isn’t
commonly fortified with iodine, the problem has grown in the United States and other
developed countries. As I predicted with vitamin D deficiency, you can expect to hear
more about iodine deficiency in coming years.

One key reason salt intake has been on the decrease is that, for years, Americans have
been led to believe that dietary sodium can cause an increase in hypertension and
cardiovascular disease.

Medical researchers today are finding that salt probably isn’t as harmful as we once
believed. On the contrary, there might be some health benefits associated with intake of
unrefined sea salt. This doesn’t mean that unrestrained use of salt is a good idea. What it
means is that, with a doctor’s guidance, you might rethink your use of salt. But be
careful what you buy.

I recommend that you use an unrefined sea salt for cooking. A high-quality unrefined sea
salt is more flavorful than table salt and offers potential health benefits as well.
However, you may need to take supplemental iodine.

With guidance from your physician, you should be able to obtain sufficient iodine to
offset the risk of health problems associated with iodine deficiency. A word of caution:
Excessive iodine ingestion may cause problems with an overactive thyroid gland, also
referred to as hyperthyroidism.

A study published in the November 2011 issue of the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that low vitamin D levels are associated with depressive symptoms; these symptoms are especially likely in persons with a history of depression. The study included 12,594 participants between November 27, 2006 and October 4, 2010. Serum vitamin D levels were analyzed and patients were screened for depressive symptoms. The results of the study lead the Mayo Clinic to conclude that, “Higher vitamin D levels are associated with a significantly decreased risk of current depression”, giving even more evidence that vitamin D is a beneficial supplement.

Many experts feel that the higher incidence of depression in the winter months, so-called seasonal affective disorder or “SAD” occurs as the result of lower vitamin D levels as a result of less sun exposure.

If you are feeling a little blue around the holidays don’t forget to take your vitamin D or take a vacation to a warm, sunny destination. Doctor’s orders.

Integrative Internal Medicine

GERARD L. GUILLORY, M.D.

Board Certified Internal Medicine

The CareGroup, PC “Your Partner in Health”

| www.thecaregrouppc.com | 303-343-3121

Shop for Vitamins and Minerals at The Care Group

Please share with us your thoughts, knowledge and comments!