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Magnesium: The Spark of Life

Written by Gabriela Segura, MD
Tuesday, 4 January 2011 11:13

Magnesium, just like magnetite and manganese, owes its name to the greek word Magnesia, a place name derived from the tribal people known as Magnetes. Physicians and therapists have paid scant attention to this crucial element which is one of the most important minerals for all living organisms. Magnesium has a relaxing, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect on our organism. It is critical for metabolic processes, cell growth and reproduction and is involved in hundreds of enzyme processes affecting every aspect of life. It is not only essential for maintaining good health, but also for detoxification and the treatment of numerous diseases.

Unfortunately, magnesium is one of the most depleted minerals in our soil. In fact, a U.S. Senate document from 1936 stated that fruits and vegetables being raised on millions of acres of land no longer contained enough of certain minerals, therefore starving the population of their nutritive effects no matter how much they ate. While some foods are enriched with calcium and vitamins, magnesium is usually ignored. Reseachers actually found that the recommended daily allowance for magnesium is inadequate to prevent magnesium deficiency. In addition, drugs such as painkillers, antibiotics, diuretics, anti-depressants and others further deplete magnesium and other vital nutrients in our bodies, worsening the symptoms for which they were prescribed in the first place. Stressful situations such as surgery, injuries, malnutrition, diseases and psychological stress also increase our daily requirements of this important mineral. This translates into a widespread magnesium deficiency problem among the population which then causes or contributes to numerous conditions including degenerative chronic diseases: Read more…

Tags: detox, magnesium
Posted in Health Education | 2 Comments »

Argan Oil – The Golden Oil

Written by Gabriela Segura, MD
Sunday, 2 January 2011 12:12

Beauty products are often full of toxic chemicals, such as hormone disruptors, glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, and mercury (which is the second most toxic substance known to man), yet for some reason, they are added to a very wide range of skin and hair care products. It is increasingly difficult to find something safe that you can put on your skin – the largest human organ – in order to keep it healthy.

Skin problems are often a good indication of who may benefit from EFA supplementation. We know that fatty acid problems are very common and nearly everybody suffers from an imbalance in some way. Many clues to a deficit of EFAs often fall in the theme of skin dryness which manifests in different ways, for instance:

- Cracking fingertips or toes (worse in winter)
- Patchy dullness of the skin (especially on the face)
- Mixed oily and dry skin
- Chicken skin (rough bumps on the back of the arms A.K.A. phrynoderma or hyperkeratosis follicularis)
- Alligator skin (usually on the lower legs)
- Stiff, dry, unmanageable or brittle hair
- Seborrhea, cradle cap, dandruff, hair loss
- Soft or brittle fingernails that fray with horizontal splitting Read more…

Tags: beauty, skin
Posted in Health Education | No Comments »

GMO Frankenfoods and What You Can Do to Improve Your Health

Written by Gabriela Segura, MD
Monday, 15 November 2010 13:16

I had the pleasure to join my colleagues at SOTT.net for a new podcast where we discuss the lies and truths surrounding our diet today, genetically modified foods including the infamous frankenfish, the enviropig, and the importance of organic farming. Don’t miss it!

SOTT.net podcasts return with a discussion of toxic foods. From the hidden truth of Genetically Modified Organisms, gluten, and fats, to the sharing of research that can literally end your physical pain and help you recover your health, this one’s got it all! Heart surgeon and researcher Dr. Gabriela Segura interviews David and Erika Burt, Organic Farmers dedicated to educating the public about food safety and security in Hawaii, and Doug DiPasquale, a trained Chef and Holistic Nutritionist practicing in Toronto, Canada. Together they share their research and professional experience in helping people become aware of the myths about diet and the solutions available to each one of us. After listening to this podcast, whether you suffer from a serious illness or from aches you consider to be normal, you will have the tools you need to feel better than you’ve ever felt in your life!

Running Time: 01:00:58

Date: 2010-11-15

Streaming

Large Download - 20.9 MB

Small Download - 10.5 MB

Tags: dairy, fats, gluten, GMO, podcast
Posted in Health Education | No Comments »

The Day the Water Died: Detoxing after the Gulf Oil Spill

Written by Gabriela Segura, MD
Thursday, 16 September 2010 14:43

The excitement of the season had just begun, and then we heard the news: oil in the water, lots of oil killing lots of water. It is too shocking to understand. Never in the millennium of our tradition have we thought it possible for the water to die, but it is true.

Chief Walter Meganack
Traditional Village Chief
Port Graham NativeVillage, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
(National Wildlife Federation, 1990)

Psychopaths Rule Our World

We are now part of a giant experiment on massive chemical toxicity exposure, where insanity, wishful thinking, denial, and outright lies run the show. Where our leaders are completely out of touch with reality and rather than guidance, protection and healing, they offer us disinformation and manipulation. How on earth did we allow this to happen? Then again, what do we expect in a world where psychopathic corporate interests dominate almost every area of life?

An invasive cancer has spread throughout our global society. Mother nature too has succumbed to the effects of this destructive ideology and now carries the seeds of ecological disaster in her womb. Despite all their machinations and carefully laid plans, the hubris and supreme self-interest of the psychopaths that rule our world have set humanity on a course for extinction. Who benefits when there are no people left to rule and control?

In the words of psychologist Andrew M. Lobaczweski:

[W]hat happens if the network of understandings among psychopaths achieves power in leader-ship positions with international exposure? Goaded by their character, such people thirst for just that [...] They do not understand that a catastrophe would otherwise ensue. Germs are not aware that they will be burned alive or buried deep in the ground along with the human body whose death they are causing.

If such and many managerial positions are assumed by individuals deprived of sufficient abilities to feel and understand most other people, and who also betray deficiencies as regards technical imagination and practical skills–faculties indispensable for governing economic and political matters–this must result in an exceptionally serious crisis in all areas, both within the country in question and with regard to international relations. -Andrew M. Lobaczewski, Political Ponerology: A Science on the Nature of Evil Adjusted for Political Purposes.

It is often said that if we don’t learn from our history, we are doomed to repeat it, and it saddens me to have to say that, as a species, humanity today finds itself on the evolutionary cliff-edge once again. But times of great crisis and tragedy also present an opportunity to finally wake up to the reality of the world around us and the forces that would prefer human beings to go quietly and ignorantly into the cold, dark night of oblivion. Knowledge therefore is crucial, but to acquire and use knowledge, we must first ensure that we have healthy bodies, minds and emotions through which that knowledge will be expressed. It is for this reason that there has been a concerted effort by our political and corporate leaders to ensure that humanity remains caught in the grip of physical, psychological and emotional illness.

The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

The Exxon Valdez disaster spilled millions of gallons of oil in Prince William Sound, Alaska in 1989. As tragic as it was and still is, it pales in comparison to what happened this year in the gulf. It has been estimated that the BP oil spill poured the equivalent of the Exxon Valdez oil spill every 8 to 10 days. What most people don’t know is that federal records show a steady stream of oil spills between 1964 and 2009 that dumped 517,847 barrels of petroleum – which would fill an equivalent number of standard American bathtubs – into the Gulf of Mexico. The spills killed thousands of birds and soiled beaches as far away as Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Altogether, they poured twice as much oil into U.S. waters as the Exxon Valdez tanker did when it ran aground in 1989. Now with the Gulf Oil Spill we are facing a disaster of epic proportions and consequences, an event that represents a point of no return. Read more…

Tags: detox, gulf oil spill, multiple chemical sensitivity, sensitivity, toxicity, toxins
Posted in Health Education | 4 Comments »

Boosting Your Happy Brain Chemistry with 5-HTP

Written by Gabriela Segura, MD
Friday, 3 September 2010 03:26

Many of us suffer from a variety of symptoms that we disregard as part of our personality or karma. You might think that it is just how things are, so you may as well accept it and deal with it as best as you can. Or perhaps it gets so tough, that you just can’t deal with it!

For instance, do you often…

Have problems falling asleep or staying asleep?
Find yourself edgy, irritable or angry?
Lack motivation or feel depressed most of the time?
Prefer to be left alone?
Have ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) in your head?
Worry, get anxious and find it difficult to concentrate or make decisions?
Have feelings of low self-esteem and lack of confidence?
Feel self-critical and guilty?
Tend to be shy or fearful?
Tend to be obsessive, inflexible, a control freak, or a work addict?
Particularly dislike the dark weather?
Have PMS or menopausal moodiness?
Have a sweet tooth or crave carbs and starchy snacks or alcohol?
Are all achy and/or have jaw pain?
Find some relief of all of these symptoms when you exercise…if you happen to get around it?
Do you have a family history of fibromyalgia and/or treatment with SSRIs (serotonin boosting antidepressants)?

These are all manifestations of serotonin deficiency. If you felt identified with some or all of them, then 5-HTP—an over the counter and natural supplement—can change your life forever.

5-HTP stands for 5-hydroxytryptophan, a form of the amino acid tryptophan which is found in foods like red meat, turkey, fish, or seeds. 5-HTP comes from the seeds of the African plant Griffonia simplicifolia and when taken correctly, it turns into serotonin—a brain chemical which regulates our sleep, raises our pain threshold, and elevates our mood.

We all have a right to healthy levels of serotonin, but we live in a highly stressful world where we are exposed to all kinds of toxins and pollutants, where our modern foods are often nutritionally deficient and toxic, and where people often have to turn to stimulants or anti-depressants in order to cope with life’s demands and stressful situations. We live in a world where life can be quite hard and nothing is certain except death. All of this takes a high toll on our serotonin levels, and thus on our bodies and our psychological well-being. In addition, genetic predispositions might leave you vulnerable to low levels of serotonin. Helping the body to top up the serotonin tank when you are faced with a stressful situation is exactly what you might need. Read more…

Tags: 5-HTP, depression, mental disorders
Posted in Health Education | 10 Comments »

MMS: Miracle Mineral Solution or Trojan Horse? Your Body and DNA Decide

Written by Gabriela Segura, MD
Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:20

This article was first published in issue #10 of The Dot Connector Magazine, official publication of Sott.net.

The Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) is marketed feverishly as a miraculous alternative treatment for AIDS, hepatitis, malaria, herpes, tuberculosis, cancer and many more of mankind’s most feared diseases. The truth is that MMS is a dangerous poison, and as such it has no business whatsoever in the alternative health arena.

Many people do not know that MMS is essentially bleach. It’s very effective for killing bacteria in toilets, but you certainly shouldn’t be swallowing it. The active ingredient in MMS is not a mineral, but chlorine dioxide (oxygenated chlorine), which is formed from the chemical combination of sodium chlorite and acetic acid (vinegar) or citric acid. MMS as a poison does kill intrusive germs in your body, but it would be naïve to believe it to be carefully selective in what it kills and destroys, or to think that the damage done has only limited consequences. It is shocking that MMS is recommended so widely, that it is recommended to already weakened individuals AND that it is recommended for long-term use. In truth, the potential long-term and dangerous side effects of regular MMS use should give anyone the shivers. Read more…

Tags: toxins
Posted in Health Education | 17 Comments »

Autism and Mercury Poisoning

Written by Gabriela Segura, MD
Monday, 19 July 2010 09:17

So, there is a new study which shows that mercury-based vaccines can cause brain changes found in autism. It supports the data found in the following compelling charts which juxtapose mercury toxicity symptoms versus the symptoms of autism:

Autism: a Novel Form of Mercury Poisoning
Autism Research Institute

Table I: Summary Comparison of Traits of Autism & Mercury Poisoning (Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) references in bold; Mercury poisoning (HgP) references in italics)

Psychiatric Disturbances

Social deficits, shyness, social withdrawal (1,2,130,131; 21,31,45,53,132)

Repetitive, perseverative, stereotypic behaviors; obsessive-compulsive tendencies (1,2,43,48,133; 20,33-35,132)

Depression/depressive traits, mood swings, flat affect; impaired face recognition (14,15,17,103, 134,135; 19,21,24,26,31)

Anxiety; schizoid tendencies; irrational fears (2,15,16; 21,27,29,31)

Irritability, aggression, temper tantrums (12,13,43; 18,21,22,25)

Lacks eye contact; impaired visual fixation (HgP)/ problems in joint attention (ASD) (3,36,136,137; 18,19,34)

Speech and Language Deficits

Loss of speech, delayed language, failure to develop speech (1-3,138,139; 11,23,24,27,30,37)

Dysarthria; articulation problems (3; 21,25,27,39)

Speech comprehension deficits (3,4,140; 9,25,34,38)

Verbalizing and word retrieval problems (HgP); echolalia, word use and pragmatic errors (ASD) (1,3,36; 21,27,70)

Sensory Abnormalities

Abnormal sensation in mouth and extremities (2,49; 25,28,34,39)

Sound sensitivity; mild to profound hearing loss (2,47,48; 19,23-25,39,40)

Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion (2,49; 23,24,45,53)

Over-sensitivity to light; blurred vision (2,50,51; 18,23,31,34,45)

Motor Disorders

Flapping, myoclonal jerks, choreiform movements, circling, rocking, toe walking, unusual postures (2,3,43,44; 11,19,27,30,31,34,39)

Deficits in eye-hand coordination; limb apraxia; intention tremors (HgP)/problems with intentional movement or imitation (ASD) (2,3,36,181; 25,29,32,38,70,87)

Abnormal gait and posture, clumsiness and incoordination; difficulties sitting, lying, crawling, and walking; problem on one side of body (4,41,42,123; 18,25,31,34,39,45)

Cognitive Impairments

Borderline intelligence, mental retardation – some cases reversible (2,3,151,152; 19,25,31,39,70)

Poor concentration, attention, response inhibition (HgP)/shifting attention (ASD) (4,36,153; 21,25,31,38,141)

Uneven performance on IQ subtests; verbal IQ higher than performance IQ (3,4,36; 31,38)

Poor short term, verbal, and auditory memory (36,140; 21,29,31,35,38,87,141)

Poor visual and perceptual motor skills; impairment in simple reaction time (HgP)/ lower performance on timed tests (ASD) (4,140,181; 21,29,142)

Deficits in understanding abstract ideas & symbolism; degeneration of higher mental powers (HgP)/sequencing, planning & organizing (ASD); difficulty carrying out complex commands (3,4,36,153; 9,18,37,57,142)

Unusual Behaviors

Self injurious behavior, e.g. head banging (3,154; 11,18,53)

ADHD traits (2,36,155; 35,70)

Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing, staring spells 3,154; 11,23,37,88)

Sleep difficulties (2,156,157; 11,22,31)

Physical Disturbances

Hyper- or hypotonia; abnormal reflexes; decreased muscle strength, especially upper body; incontinence; problems chewing, swallowing (3,42,145,181; 19,27,31,32,39)

Rashes, dermatitis, eczema, itching (107,146; 22,26,143)

Diarrhea; abdominal pain/discomfort, constipation, “colitis” (107,147-149; 18,23,26,27,31,32)

Anorexia; nausea (HgP)/vomiting (ASD); poor appetite (HgP)/restricted diet (ASD) (2,123; 18,22)

Lesions of ileum and colon; increased gut permeability (147,150; 57,144)

Table II: Summary Comparison of Biological Abnormalities in Autism & Mercury Exposure Read more…

Tags: autism, mercury, vaccines
Posted in Health Education, In the News | No Comments »

Speaking Out Against Gluten

Written by Gabriela Segura, MD
Thursday, 10 June 2010 11:58

Food sensitivities can manifest not only in a myriad of diseases. Not only that, but chronic illness often involves a state of inappropriate vigilance of our immune/defense system in which food allergy gets involved even if it is not the cause of the problem, leading then to chronic inflammation – which translates into disease.

Most people, including doctors, do not receive any formal nutrition education, so they simply will not believe that something as ordinary as our daily bread will wreak so much havoc on our health. They won’t believe that a lot of people have difficulty with the digestion and biochemical processing of the gluten found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye.

Approximately one out of a hundred people has gluten intolerance, which can be manifested in about any possible symptom you can think of – and it is estimated that milder forms of gluten sensitivity may affect up to one-third of the American population. The incidence of gluten sensitivity is actually on the rise.

Sensitivity to gluten involves a delayed reaction involving the IgG antibodies of our immune/defense system, meaning that you won’t necessarily get an immediate reaction to gluten. In fact, you can get a reaction to gluten three days after eating it. Or you can eat gluten one day and nothing happens, but when you eat gluten later on, you will have symptoms. Because wheat and other gluten containing foods may involve a delayed immune/defense reaction, alleviating gluten’s effects on your health may take weeks – or even months – after you stop eating such foods. Eliminating gluten from your diet not only helps to improve mood symptoms, but autistic children and people with schizophrenia will often improve enough on a gluten-free diet to the extent that more practitioners everyday consider it a priority treatment as more research emerges about the dangers of gluten sensitivity. In fact, there is evidence of a causative association between gluten intolerance and migraine headaches, fatigue, depression, any sort of chronic digestive problems (like abdominal pain or discomfort, diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel, undigested food in stools, gastroesophageal reflux), difficulty gaining or losing weight, osteoporosis, infertility, complications of pregnancy such as miscarriage, diabetes, thyroid problems, schizophrenia, autism, psoriasis and other skin problems, abnormal hair loss, anemia, mouth sores, arthritis, cancers (especially of the small bowel, lymphomas, esophageal), liver disease of unknown origin, malabsorption of nutrients and nutritional deficiency such as iron, folic acid, calcium, magnesium and fat soluble vitamins, neurological symptoms such as peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, epilepsy, cognitive dysfunction, depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, dementia. Add to that list systemic lupus erythematosis, type 1 diabetes, vascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome and other autoimmune diseases. Read more…

Tags: autoimmune, gluten, inflammation, lectins, schizophrenia, video
Posted in Health Education | 3 Comments »

Why Milk Is So Evil

Written by Gabriela Segura, MD
Saturday, 5 June 2010 14:01

Dairy products – including all milk products, milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir, ice-cream, etc. – are related to all kinds of diseases including cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer, allergies, asthma, digestive diseases, thyroid problems, neurological diseases, etc. The list is unlimited and I wish I could include it here, but for sake of space let us concentrate on why this is so.

Milk can cause problems in several ways:

- through sensitivity to the protein casein which creates great havoc similar to the way that gluten from wheat and other grains does.

- through milk allergies which can juxtapose with the previous problem.

- through lactose intolerance.

- through the food livestock eats which can have, among other things, toxic lectins from consumed grains or GMO foods. Livestock can have hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, infections, etc.

- through other problems as well

Let us cover the basic principles of each problem. Read more…

Tags: allergies, dairy, lactose, milk, sensitivity
Posted in Health Education | 2 Comments »

Stats for thought

Written by Gabriela Segura, MD
Friday, 18 December 2009 21:49

Autoimmune, Cancer and Heart Disease

Up to 40 million Americans suffer from autoimmune disease [Stephen Edelson MD and Deborah Mitchell, What your Doctor May Not Tell You About Autoimmune Disorders]. Of that number, about 75% are women, making it the fourth largest cause of disability in women.
Autoimmune disease is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in female children and women in all age groups up to 64 years of age.

Researchers have identified 80-100 different autoimmune diseases and suspect at least 40 additional diseases of having an autoimmune basis. These diseases are chronic and can be life-threatening.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates up to 9 million Americans have cancer and 22 million have heart disease.In the U.S. alone…

Toxins

We are exposed to 6 million pounds of mercury and the 2.5 billion pounds other toxic chemicals each year.

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