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April 1, 2009
Focus on Vitamin D
|  | Starved for Sunlight?
Are you experiencing fatigue, chronic infection, depression, and aching muscles or joints? There may be a common link to all of these ailments. Vitamin D is essential to the optimal functioning of our bodies, especially in regards to our energy level, immune system, strength of bones, muscles and joints, and overall mental and emotional health.
Vitamin D is synthesized by our skin when it is exposed to sun. Though sun block is important to protecting our skin against damage and risk of skin cancer, it also blocks over 90% of our skin's ability to synthesize vitamin D. High vitamin D levels have been linked with lower rates of 17 different cancers, including colon, prostate, breast, ovarian, esophageal and pancreatic cancer. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect, thus playing a role in preventing heart disease and autoimmune disorders.
Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University School of Medicine says, "You're more likely to live longer and you're less likely to die of serious chronic disease if you have adequate Vitamin D on board. It may well be the most important nutrient of the decade."
If you have not had your vitamin D levels checked, ask your ICM doctor at your next visit to ensure adequate levels of vitamin D to enhance your health!
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Alleviate Your Anxiety with Acupuncture
 Who isn't stressed in these uncertain times? No better time than the present to create peace, serenity and calm in your life.
If you feel stressed or anxious, take some time to identify the stressors in your life and become empowered to manage the effects that such stressors may have on your body. Stress is an internal reaction to outside stimuli. Changing how we react to our triggers can allow for improved health and well-being.
Our mental and emotional health are key players in the overall health of our body, mind and spirit. Emotional and physical reactions to stress are due in part to the sensitivity and reactivity of your sympathetic nervous system.
This creates the fight or flight response; our hearts pound, we sweat, breathe faster, think faster and feel like we can run a marathon.
But under chronic stress we can't turn off the switch and over time we can become depressed, anxious and increase our risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's, cancer and other chronic diseases. If you feel like the tiger has you by the tail, then your health is at risk!
Studies in China and Europe demonstrate that a combination of body and ear acupuncture can reduce stress symptoms and help patients who suffer from depression and anxiety. Acupuncture creates a sense of harmony in mind, body, and spirit.
Spring clean your mind, de-stress yourself, change how you react to external stimuli, become more relaxed and less anxious.
See Dr. Karp to determine if acupuncture is right for you.
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Sleep
Is it really all it's cracked up to be?
We have all heard about how important sleep is to our mental, emotional and physical well-being. Here's a another tidbit to support adequate sleep. It has long been known by the military that there is a connection between sleep and weight. Research has shown that the hormone leptin increases when you don't sleep enough, which causes you to consume more calories and then gain weight.
So, the question is...how long are you sleeping? How is the quality of your sleep; are you making every minute count? If you are sleeping less each night than you should, need an alarm clock to wake up, or are having interrupted or unrefreshed sleep, then you may have insomnia or another sleep problem.
Naturopathic medicine provides many different approaches to establishing healthy sleep.
Consult your ICM doctor and augment your health through good sleep.
Sweet dreams...
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April's Coupon
Print this coupon (click to open in new window) for a discount.
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