Diabetes is becoming more widespread in the United States each year. With an estimated 17 million people in the United States diagnosed with diabetes, almost everyone knows at least one person who has this serious, lifelong condition.

Do you know your status?

Did you know that EVERY 24 HOURS in the US:
- 2,700 people are diagnosed with diabetes
- 1,200 people die from diabetes (one person every 1-3 minutes)
- 180 amputations are performed because of diabetes
- 120 people begin treatment for end-stage kidney disease because of diabetes
- 75 people lose their eyesight because of diabetes

Fast Facts About Diabetes
- 1 million new cases each year in people over the age of 20 in the US
- One-third of diabetics are undiagnosed
- Diabetes was the 6th leading cause of death in the US in 1999
- Diabetes kills more people every year than AIDS or breast cancer
- Greater than 450,000 deaths occur each year among people with diabetes aged 25 years and older
- Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20-74 years old
- Diabetes is the leading cause of treated end-stage renal disease
- People with diabetes have the same cardiovascular risk as if they have already had a heart attack
- Over 80,000 amputations are performed each year among people with diabetes

Everyone should be screened for diabetes!

Below is a list of some of the high-risk factors of diabetes:
- Being more than 20% above your ideal body weight
- Having a family member with diabetes
- Having blood pressure at or above 140/90 mmHg
- Having abnormal blood lipid levels (cholesterol)
- Having abnormal glucose tolerance when previously tested for diabetes

Have you ever wondered why your physician, especially your naturopathic physician, looks at your hands, nails, tongue, and skin during the physical exam portion of your office visit? Are we just nosy, or do we actually gain valuable medical knowledge by performing such simple tasks? Of course, the latter is true. In fact, before the advent of modern technology and the varied blood/lab tests available today, physicians relied solely on the patient's history and physical exam to make a medical diagnosis. A large part of this overall physical exam is the Nutritional Physical Exam. Considering what is happening on the outside of our physical body is a mirror image of what is happening on the inside of our physical bodies, finding subtle physical signs provides us with an enormous amount of information. The full Nutritional Physical Exam includes 15-20 categories with greater than 50 nutritional signs examined. Some of the most common physical signs and their potential associated nutritional causes include:

· Dry skin, hair - possible hypothyroidism, essential fatty acid deficiency
· Premature hair loss - possible parasite infection, heavy metal toxicity
· Dandruff - possible low stomach acid, excess refined carbohydrate diet
· Excess ear wax - possible food allergies
· Multiple skin tags (usually on neck) - possible blood sugar abnormalities
· Ridging of nails - possible decreased mineral absorption from gut
· Flabby tongue with teeth marks - possible food allergies, poor digestion

In a society where chronic illness is all around, it is time for us all to get healthy. The first thing to do is to become aware of you! So the next time you are in front of the mirror, I invite you to take a few minutes to assess your nutritional status. Perform the above Nutritional Physical Exam on your self and answer the question… just how healthy are you?

Eating fish is good for you…but is it good for the environment? A sharp increase in the consumer demand for fish and seafood is rapidly depleting the fish stocks around the world and harming the health of the oceans. Today, nearly 70% of the world's fisheries are fully fished or over-fished. This over-fishing is causing major habitat destruction and causing certain fish species to become dangerously close to becoming extinct.

It is the cold-water fish that contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for you and your cardiovascular health. These cold-water fish include salmon, mackerel, herring, cod, tuna, and halibut.

Salmon - California/Alaska wild caught is great; OR/WA wild caught is ok; Avoid all farmed Salmon as it contains less omega-3 oils and it is extremely damaging to the environment.

Halibut - The best choice is Alaskan Halibut; be cautious with CA/OR/WA halibut

Cod - Avoid Atlantic cod, but all others are ok to consume

Tuna - Pacific Albacore tuna is the best choice; be cautious with Yellowfin and Ahi tuna;
Avoid Bluefin tuna

Approximately 30 million tons of fish, sharks, seabirds, and endangered sea turtles die each year as "wasted catch" - animals caught accidentally and discarded, dead or dying. This, along with the habitat and fish population destruction, is an environmental problem whose solution is in your hands. The wise choices you make when you buy seafood in restaurants and grocery stores can help assure healthy oceans and a clean environment for the future. For more information about recommendations for fish choices and for a free Seafood Watch Pocket Guide, visit the website www.montereybayaquarium.org.
Choose wisely and eat with a conscious!!!!!

Did you know that the human body can survive without food for 5 weeks,
but it cannot survive without water for longer than 5 days?!

Water is the basis of life! In fact, water is the most plentiful substance in our bodies, as it constitutes 65-75% or our body weight. It is second only to O2 in the necessity for life. We need water to maintain equilibrium in our systems, to lubricate our tissues, to flush wastes and toxins from our cells, to hydrate our skin, to regulate our body temperatures, to aid digestion and assimilation, to act as a shock absorber for our joints, bones, and muscles, and much more.

Every day, up to 3 quarts of water are lost from our bodies through perspiration, urination, and exhalation. Because the body has no reservoir for water, it must be steadily replaced throughout the day. But while most people know they should be drinking greater than 8-10 glasses of water each day, the average American drinks only 4.6 glasses daily…not nearly enough! In fact, chronic dehydration is as common in the United States as it is in many dry regions of the world, including developing countries where water is difficult to find.

Research reveals the well-documented roles of water in treating allergies, constipation, hypertension, headaches, asthma, arthritis, and more. If you suffer from any of these conditions, you may just be chronically dehydrated. Replacing your water stores may be all that you need in order to feel better. You can accomplish this by drinking your body weight in ounces of water each day or by drinking at least 1 gallon of water each day.

We live in a very dry climate, and therefore, require much more water intake than many other areas in the US. I recommend keeping plenty of good bottled water near at hand and drink a few ounces every 15-20 minutes to keep your body cells hydrated. Remember…by the time your mouth is dry and you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated!! So, take control and Drink Water for Life!