Don't Forget: Fall Fitness Festival This Thursday 10/15/09 from 5:30-7:30pm.

• Extra $10 off every purchase of $100 or more (pre-tax)
• Win a facial rejuvenation laser treatment, 6-week healthy living class, 5 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy visits, and much more!

Teaming Up to Win the Fight Against Cancer:

Oasis of Hope Comes to the Center for New Medicine

The war on cancer has a new ally! The Center for New Medicine is joining forces with Oasis of Hope, one of the most respected cancer care centers, with more than 45 years' experience treating cancer patients.

Founded by Dr. Ernesto Contreras, Sr., and now operated by his son, Dr. Francisco Contreras, Oasis of Hope is revolutionizing cancer care in several different ways.

First, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, patients work hand-in-hand with a team of professionals, including physicians, surgeons, radiologists, nurses, researchers, applied nutritionists, physical therapists, counselors, educators and prayer partners. One of the team's key goals is to help each patient stay focused on positives, overcome anxiety about illness and move forward with an action-oriented agenda.

Second, at Oasis of Hope the emphasis is not on the disease, but on the patient. Instead of concentrating efforts on eliminating the tumor, the team works toward a different goal -- managing the disease, while protecting the patient from the stress and fear that can weaken immunity and increase the likelihood of the tumor spreading. Stopping tumor growth -- or even reversing or eliminating it -- while maintaining a high quality of life are foremost concerns.

Third, by combining remedies from natural medicine with conventional and high-tech treatments, experts at Oasis of Hope create a synergy that results in a better outcome than any single method can achieve on its own. So conventional medicine may be used for tumors that are too aggressive to be treated with alternative therapies alone. Meanwhile, alternative remedies are employed to minimize negative side effects, preserve the immune system and to keep tumors treatable by interfering with their cells' ability to mutate and become stronger.

The Oasis of Hope protocol, known as Integrative Regulatory Therapy (IRT), is designed to destroy cancer cells, delay their growth and mutation and prevent their spread for as long as possible. This approach can maximize the amount of time a patient enjoys a high quality of life.

IRT involves eight elements. Several of them make conventional treatments like chemotherapy more effective, safer and easier to tolerate. Others boost the immune system, so that the body can take advantage of its own arsenal of anti-cancer weapons. And last -- but far from least -- emotional and spiritual support elements provide important connections that encourage the healing process.

In his book, Hope, Medicine & Healing, Francisco Contreras summed up Oasis of Hope's philosophy this way:

“We embrace the knowledge gained from close to four decades of research. We accept the honest assessment that it is highly unlikely a ‘wonder cure' is about to appear from some pharmaceutical laboratory. We believe we must intervene simultaneously in as many ways as feasible to promote the death of cancer cells and halt the spread of tumors. Our Integrative Regulatory Therapy represents a credible, innovative strategy to achieve this. It is the hope, medicine and healing that we seek to provide.”

Watch future issues of the newsletter for more information about the Oasis of Hope clinic's arrival at the Center for New Medicine. Meanwhile, additional details about the Oasis of Hope program are available at www.oasisofhope.com. For a free copy of the book, Hope, Medicine & Healing, which describes the program more thoroughly, visit the website, or call 1-888-500-HOPE. And if you'd like to provide your own cancer-fighting immune system with the support it needs, consider supplements designed for that specific purpose (a few of our options can be found below).

ASK DR. CONNEALY …

Q: What can I take to promote hair growth? I recently had a brow, face and neck lift. It was an 8-hour surgery and I think that as a result of the anesthesia and stress I lost a good amount of hair. I normally have very thick hair, so this is very unusual for me.

A: There are a few products that may be helpful. One is essential fatty acids, which you can find in fish, flaxseed, and supplements like cod liver oil and Udo's Choice Oils (both available from our very own perfectlyhealthy). Another is Hair Revive 5 by Ridgecrest Herbals. One more that may be helpful is a silica supplement. Finally, it's good that your stress levels are reduced, because that can be helpful to hair regrowth, as well.

Vision Quest

Are you taking your eyes for granted? These six simple steps can help strengthen eyesight now and ward off problems in the future.

Our eyes are highly sophisticated, intricate organs that provide us with a steady stream of essential information about the world around us.

Because our eyes are so important, we need to take good care of them. What exactly does that mean? Fortunately, the answer is relatively simple. Healthy eyes need exactly the same things that keep our bodies in good shape: a nutritious diet, appropriate supplements, moderate exercise, adequate rest, weight management and regular checkups. Here's how these six steps can help keep your vision stronger longer:

ONE: Good eyesight and a good diet go hand in hand. Fast and processed foods, too much saturated fat, salt and sugar – in other words, the Standard American Diet (SAD) -- can be harmful to vision. Our eyes thrive when they have ample supplies of nutrients. Fruits and vegetables, the healthy fats found in cold water fish (salmon, herring or albacore tuna), nuts, whole grains and lean protein all support good vision. The Mediterranean diet, repeatedly shown to be one of the healthiest – and tastiest -- around, is the perfect starting point.

Building meals around fruits and vegetables is easier than you might think. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Add a small bowl of fruit salad to breakfast.
• Snack on fresh, nutrient-rich treats like apples, pears, berries and bananas.
• Add a leafy green salad and produce like tomatoes, corn and other colorful fare to meals to take advantage of their carotenoid content. Carotenoids are a family of health-promoting, antioxidant compounds found in the pigments that color fruits and veggies.

There are hundreds of different carotenoids, but the ones your eyes like best include lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin. Leafy greens, like spinach, collard and kale, are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, while red fruits and veggies – including tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit and guava – contain lycopene. All three substances protect against circulatory changes that can harm eyesight. Dozens of clinical trials have shown that these nutrients help support healthy vision.

• Aim for a small portion (4 ounces, roughly the size of a deck of cards) of fish like salmon, herring or albacore tuna in meals three times a week. Not a fan of fish or worried about heavy metal contamination? Purified fish oil supplements are an excellent alternative.
• A small, one-quarter cup portion of peanuts, walnuts or almonds provides good fats, fiber and minerals, plus studies show snacking on a small amount of nuts is a great way to stop hunger pangs that can destroy a healthy eating plan.

TWO: Use eye-friendly supplements to super-charge your diet. A good starting point: a multivitamin that includes protective antioxidants, like vitamins A, C and E, plus vitamin B complex, and vitamin D, all of which benefit the entire body as well as eyes.

Nutrients enhance vision in different ways. Some are involved in the complex information exchange that occurs between the eyes and the brain. Others are directly linked to cardiovascular health and boosting blood flow, an essential element for good vision, along with overall health.

In addition to a good multivitamin, consider supplements that combine ingredients specific to eye health, such as lutein, lycopene and zeaxanthin, mentioned earlier.

Furthermore, research has shown that the herb bilberry, a member of the blueberry family, can be useful for strengthening blood vessels, making it a popular remedy for circulatory disorders and eye health. Just as importantly, bilberry shields cells in the eyes from damage. That fact could make it a potent ally for individuals with diabetes, or older people at risk for cataracts or macular degeneration, conditions that can have serious consequences on vision.

Finally, the omega-3 fatty acids, also known as “good fats,” are vitally important when it comes to preventing such eye health issues as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and dry eyes, particularly in women. Circulation also benefits from omega-3s. Fish oil supplements are loaded with these good fats. Look for a product that is purified or molecularly distilled to remove heavy metals.

THREE: Regular, moderate exercise -- walking, yoga, biking, dancing, and swimming, for example -- benefits the eyes, as well as your entire body, by boosting circulation. Healthy circulation delivers oxygen and nutrients to cells throughout the body, helps with weight management and reduces the risk of developing diabetes, the culprit behind many vision problems. Diabetes can cause eye problems because the disease harms the small blood vessels in the eye.

FOUR: Give your eyes a rest. A good night's sleep is a great way to give eyes some time off. In addition, try these tips to help eyes stay refreshed.

• Avoid eyestrain by working and reading in a well-lit space.
• Protective eyewear is a must for anyone whose job or hobby involves anything that could damage the eyes.
• Keep secondhand smoke exposure to a minimum. And if you smoke, consider quitting. Smoke limits circulation, preventing eyes – and other organs -- from getting the nutrients they need.
• Going out? Don't forget your UV-protective sunglasses. Eyes that are exposed to too much ultraviolet light are at risk for developing cataracts and macular degeneration.
• Look! Up in the sky! Or anywhere, as long as you look away from your computer screen or reading material long enough to give your eyes a break. Just a few seconds gazing out the window now and then can go a long way toward avoiding eye fatigue.

FIVE: Maintaining a healthy weight and keeping blood sugar levels low are other good ways to support your vision, as well as reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

One good way to keep blood sugar levels in check is to follow a low-glycemic diet. Simple carbohydrates are high on the glycemic index, a method of measuring food's effect on blood sugar. High glycemic foods include sugar in all its many forms, white rice, potatoes and foods made with processed white flour, to name just a few. Research has shown that limiting intake of high glycemic, simple carbohydrates benefits vision, and is especially useful in protecting against and slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

SIX: Have your vision checked as frequently as your eye doctor recommends. Not only do these visits help catch eye problems early, when they're most treatable, but other health problems are often visible (no pun intended) in the eyes. Heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancer and other conditions often can be detected with an eye exam.

A LOOK AT AGE-RELATED EYE DISEASE

Age-related eye disease (ARED) is a broad category of conditions that are associated with aging. Cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration are some of the most common. Here are brief summaries of each.

Cataract: Clouding in the lens of an eye, interfering with vision. Cataracts are normally related to aging. More than half of all Americans age 80 and above have had cataract surgery or are living with cataracts.

Glaucoma: Actually, glaucoma is a number of different conditions that all involve an increase in fluid pressure inside the eyes. The increasing pressure affects the optic nerve and may lead to loss of vision as well as blindness. Early treatment of glaucoma is the best way to preserve vision.

Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetes can damage blood vessels in the retina, causing abnormal growth or swelling and fluid leakage. Because diabetic retinopathy is common, individuals with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes need annual eye exams.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): The leading cause of vision loss in individuals age 60 and above. Loss of vision in the eye's macula affects central vision and the ability to see fine details, making driving and reading difficult.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS FOR IMMUNE SUPPORT AND EYE HEALTH*

Immune Health*

For more details or to order products, visit our website at: www.cfnmedicine.com

This is just a small sampling of the many products we have available. Contact our Product Specialists at (949) 680-1880 or orders@cfnmedicine.com for more information and to order. Don't forget, you receive $5 off when you purchase 2 of any product!

*Please see below for full disclaimer

Quote Of The Month

Schedule for October 2009