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(Naturopath)
Maria Augustyn - BLOG
Blog
Children's Language Impairment and Vitamin D
| Posted on March 21, 2012 at 9:35 PM |
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 Maternal vitamin D supplements may help languageVitamin D deficiency during early pregnancy is associated with an almost two-fold higher rate of language impairment in the offspring; a study from WA has shown. In a long term follow up study of children born between 1989 and 1991, researchers found that maternal serum vitamin D levels at 18 weeks of pregnancy were related to language difficulties in the children at five and 10 years. However, contrary to other studies, vitamin D insufficiency during pregnancy was not linked to offspring behavioural or emotional problems at any age, according to the findings published in Pediatrics (online Feb 13). Researchers from the Telethon Institute for Child Health in Perth say one of the intriguing findings from their research was the suggestion of a threshold for serum vitamin D levels. Rather than a dose-response relationship, they found that there was a cut-off level of 50nmol/L for circulating 25 (OH)-vitamin D levels, below which the language impairment was seen. This threshold effect was similar to that seen for vitamin D levels and other health outcomes such as bone density and colorectal cancer risk, they note. They say the developing fetus is completely reliant on maternal vitamin D stores, and vitamin D performs a number of physiological and endocrine roles fundamental to neurodevelopment. “Maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may reduce the risk of developmental language difficulties among their children,” they conclude. Michael Woodhead 6 minutes |
Osteoporosis drugs: fractures and jaw rotting disease.
| Posted on May 24, 2011 at 9:43 PM |
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)Drug holiday advised for bisphosphonates  Good nutrition applies to the health of your bones.Do you know what you need to do to safeguard your health? Have a personal, unique and holistic prescription that will help you get the most out of your life: |
Menopause: the love deficiency disease.
| Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:38 PM |
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 When menopause is a diseaseMenopause has never been a disease that needed to be treated until our 'modern' age. Additionally, primitive cultures of the world don’t even have a word to describe ‘menopause’. They view a woman that is not menstruating any more as a more powerful being, that possesses wisdom and knowledge, someone to be respected and revered. The medical establishment, generally speaking, considers a menopausal woman as a patient deficient in this or that drug. But, the drug will make you deficient in another drug, and the multiple uses of drugs create other states that are unknown and not even studied yet. Most drugs are subjected to scientific studies before being used in the general public singly and by and large in healthy people. There is no study of multiple drugs being used on sick or fragile people. The synergistic effect of multiple drugs is unknown. Our culture promotes the devaluation of our older people, instead of cherishing their wisdom they are seeing as mindless, useless burdens that need to be medicated and kept out of sight. It is true, often menopausal women present themselves with multiple issues that reflects a weak organism, frail nerves, unsettled emotions, pains and complaints. Why are menopausal women feeling sick?  During the reproductive years a woman’s busy stressful life takes a big toll on the function of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are the ones that secrete hormones that make her get up fast in the middle of the night to look after a crying infant. Those hormones also are very active during the long days of a working mother attending to a full time job (often not paid well), demanding children/teenagers, a husband that has little time to participate in family life, a household…the shopping…the cooking…the washing…and…while doing all that she must look pretty, gentle, happy and attractive…When menopause comes the adrenal glands are exhausted. When the ovaries stop functioning the adrenal glands should be taking over the job of the ovaries, but they are fatigued. Therefore she is less capable of feeling strong and healthy; she has given up all her ‘juices’ in the process of bringing up a family.Can you see the need for support for working mothers? Is it reasonable what we expect of our young women? Lifestyle intervention is the most efficient way of promoting health during menopause. Exercises, good food, sun, laughter, purpose in our lives are the best promoters of health. Weight bearing exercise promotes bone health and muscular health. A busy purposeful mind with the ability to relax and be peaceful, promotes optimism and health. Menopause is not a disease, is a passage of woman into wisdom, freedom from the reproductive responsibilities and even more enjoyment out of life. Why are many menopausal women feeling unhealthy, nervous, and fragile? I think the extended family is the natural environment for the bringing up of a family; unfortunately an extended family is not the norm in our society. Migration between cities and continents in search of material benefits has made the typical family structure fractured. If you are a young woman, please make time in your life for relaxation, nourish yourself well, and make sure you laugh regularly. Many of my patients have commented that they feel guilty if they relax or have a little time off from their multiple responsibilities. Spending some ‘me’ time can make you a better mother, spouse, worker, a better manager of your multiple complex business that you run every day.  Further more, you will be investing in your future health (mental and physical) and thus becoming a more productive grandmother, a stronger pilar of our society, more able to support the young women that your daughters and granddaughters will be. Please consider a health promoting program appropriate for the stage of your life that you are at: http://www.mariaaugustyn.com/Clinic-Programs.html |
Calcium supplements may cause heart infarction
| Posted on April 26, 2011 at 2:37 AM |
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Calcium supplements  increases risk or heart disease Fresh evidence has linked calcium supplements to an increased risk of cardiovascular events, reigniting safety concerns over their use. A meta-analysis published today in the BMJ concludes that calcium supplementation – with or without vitamin D – increases the relative risk of MI (myocardial infarction) and stroke. The authors said the relative risk increases were modest, at about 25-30% for MI and 15-20% for stroke, but could have a significant impact on a population level. “These data justify a reassessment of the use of calcium supplements in older people,” wrote Professor Ian Reid, of the University of Auckland, and colleagues. Professor Phil Harris, head of cardiology at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, said the link was plausible, and doctors should think twice before recommending calcium supplements to certain patients. “If patients have significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease, then we need to evaluate whether there is a risk in continuing [with calcium supplementation], or whether it is best to stop treatment,” he told Australian Doctor. While there was not yet enough evidence to cease supplementation altogether, Professor Harris said more research was needed to define in which patients the risks outweighed the benefits. Louise Wallace 6minutes What is a good calcium supplement : The formula I use for my patients is a calcium supplement which contains Calcitite Hi-Strength. This is a well-rounded calcium supplement designed to be taken on an ongoing basis to maintain optimal bone mineral density and prevent osteoporosis.  We need not just calcium. Microcrystalline hydroxyapatite is a comprehensive whole bone concentrate that delivers calcium, magnesium, and a full spectrum of trace minerals (e.g. boron, silica, zinc), in their natural ratios. It also delivers organic factors such as collagen protein, bone derived growth factors, glycosaminoglycans and amino acids which have been shown to positively impact bone density. This formula also contains vitamin D, which facilitates the active absorption of calcium in the intestine by stimulating the synthesis of calcium binding protein (calbindin), and vitamin K, which assists in the function of proteins important for bone building. Bioavailability (how easily is absorbed by our body) of calcium supplements varies depending on the form of calcium used, therefore it is important to select forms of calcium that have proven bioavailability. Microcrystalline hydroxyapatite has consistently shown superiority over other forms of calcium supplementation. Prevention of osteoporosis through slowing of postmenopausal bone loss has been found to be achieved more significantly with hydroxyapatite than with calcium carbonate. In a two year study involving 60 post-menopausal women, only the group given hydroxyapatite maintained bone mineral density, while other groups encountered a significant reduction in bone mineral density. Make an appointment today to ensure good bone healt: |
Vitamin D defficiency...is your baby at risk?
| Posted on April 20, 2011 at 11:09 PM |
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 Are you vitamin D defficient?Current guidelines to ensure adequacy of vitamin D levels in pregnancy are failing to prevent serious deficiencies in both mothers and infants, research suggests. Screening of more than 300 pregnant women at Westmead Hospital in Sydney found moderate to severe vitamin D deficiency in 22% of Australian born women. Severe deficiency was especially common in dark skinned women, affecting 70% of African women, 44% of women from the Indian subcontinent and 22% of women with a Middle-East background. The high levels of deficiency suggest that routine antenatal screening is needed, said the study authors at the annual meetingof the Perinatal Society of Australia and NZ in Hobart this week. In a study of 89 infants whose mothers had vitamin D deficiency, researchers from the Mercy Hospital for Women in Melbourne found that despite maternal supplementation, 55% of at-risk babies had vitamin D deficiency at birth. Vitamin deficient babies showed a good response to supplementation over 20–60 days with 400IU cholecalciferol daily. Michael Woodhead 6minutes When the prospective parents (both of them) are in the pick of their health, it is a marvellous experience to welcome into the world a child that is the best that they can produce. A supportive treatment for the parents planning to have a child can maximise the health and even the intelligence of the baby. A comprehensive nutritional plan and supplementary regimen can ensure that you are doing your very best for the health of your baby and even for the health of your baby’s babies. Please visit: www.mariaaugustyn.com/clinicprograms (Conceiving a healthy baby) Vitamin D is important for everybody. Deficiency in vitamin D can result from avoiding the sun. the results affect the mineralization of the bones, and causes bone softening diseases such as rickets and osteomalacia. People at risk of vitamin D deficiency are those that do not consume animal products, wear clothing that covers most of the body, and are dark skinned. Adequate vitamin D is also associated with the good health of our hair, good circulation to the legs, cancers, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile diabetes, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, depression, hormonal issues. Where do we get Vitamin D from? The sun  Vitamin D is manufactured on our skin when we are in the sun. It is believed that sunscreen interferes with this mechanism, and that the sun we need is the strong one, that our shadow should be shorter than ourselves. Obviously, we need to use the sun in moderation, and in short sessions, never letting it burn our skin. Dietary sources Fatty fish: catfish, salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, eel. Beef liver Fish liver oils like cod liver oil Eggs Butter and whole milk |
Fatter oldies...less hip fractures!
| Posted on April 4, 2011 at 6:07 AM |
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 Fatter oldies...fewer hip fracturesRates of hip fracture are in decline in Australia, with adiposity rather than anti-fracture drugs being cited as the key factor. Women have seen a 30% fall in hip fracture rates between 1994 and 2007, while men have seen an 8% decline in hip fracture rates, Victorian researchers report in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research this week. However, the studyalso shows that the absolute number of hip fractures is still on the increase, due to the ageing of the population. The Geelong Osteoporosis Study, which has been following almost 500 women since 1993, shows that rates of hip fracture peaked in the 1990s. Factors related to the subsequent decline may include an increasingly healthy elderly population with better strength and stability that would help avoid falls. The reversal in hip fracture rates also coincided with a decline in HRT use following the negative findings of the Women’s Health Initiative study in 2002, while use of anti-osteoporosis drugs increased in Australian women. There was also an increase in adiposity among women, and this could have a significant protective effect against hip fracture the authors say. Michael Woodhead, 6minutes  Our bones are continuously regenerating and changing. The cells of our bones (osteocytes) have the same needs as any other cell of our body, and are affected by the same problems that rob us of vitality and health. Our basic needs are:
Do you know which foods are essential every day for good nutrition?Do you have unusual needs that are not been met by normal nutrition?Make an appointment today, and protect every cell of your body with a personally tailored nutritional regimen.Your health is your greatest asset. What can you do today to optimise this? Email inquiry |