Ted Ray talks about late night eating

 

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Dear Alan, October 2013 From the Desk of Ted Ray I love the fall! Not just because my dad makes a killer pumpkin cheesecake (no he cannot make one for you too), but because it's a great time to get down to business. October is the perfect time for new projects, for planning next year's goals, and focusing on personal health and fitness.   Why not plan a new health goal? Sign up for a half-marathon, join a masters swim club, or try a new class at your gym. Keeping this commitment will not only improve your health and your mood- it will always increase your confidence and affirm your ability to achieve your goals.   Also make sure you're as healthy as possible by taking herbs like echinacea and astragalus and getting an acupuncture tune-up every 4-6 weeks. That way you'll be healthy and fit when winter break rolls around.   Yours in Health,   Ted Ray, L.Ac.   Cold & Flu Season is Here! Save 10% on any cold flu formula from MayWay or KW Botanicals when you come in for an acupuncture treatment. Expires Oct 30th. Mint- A Seriously Dangerous Herb, Seriously. If you thought mint was good for you, you’re right. It can help lower a fever and relieve stress. But mint has significant risks too. Here’s why:   The minty part of mint, or menthol,  only accounts for about 2-3% of the herb. But its strong flavor, masks a much more caustic component of mint known as tannic acid, which accounts for about 10-11%.   Here’s how mint can hurt you: Mint is a powerful hypothermic. The amount of menthol in one cup of tea will lower core body temperature by up to 1 degree. Drinking several cups of mint tea can lead to impaired heart function in those susceptible and leave you feeling chilly on a winter day. Menthol temporarily paralyzes the esophageal sphincter, thus allowing stomach acid to reflux into the esophagus. Those with ulcers and acid reflux should avoid mint. Tannic acid will bind the intestines, inhibiting the ability to absorb nutrients causing serious conditions like anemia. Will mint kill you? Probably not:-) But with mint-everything on the grocery store aisles, you should consider how much mint you take.   How Late Night Eating Makes You Fat Nerd Alert! This article is a bit technical, so please skip it if you're adverse to words like "neuron" and "circadian rhythm."    This month’s issue of The Scientist magazine has an interesting article on how our bodies are designed to eat at certain times of day and rest during others. Break this pattern and there are serious consequences.   “Originally, it was thought that our circadian rhythm” (sleep-wake cycle) “was attributed entirely to about 20,000 neurons in the brain known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN was believed to be the master clock that dictated the body’s 24-hour rhythms.” But new research indicates that many of the body’s tissues can tell time as well."   The significance of this is that the master clock tells the body how and when to burn or store energy (think metabolism).    You want your body to burn reserves like fat during the day and store energy at night.   But if you eat at night when the body should be sleeping, your cells gets confused and your body get’s conflicting messages.   The end result is that your body ends up storing excess energy (i.e. fat) and doesn’t burn it as efficiently during the day. More research needs to be done to determine which part of your body is really in charge (your brain or the individual tissues), but it’s clear that the master clock needs to be honored for your metabolism to work as it was designed.   Grens, Kery. The Scientist, pp.32-37, September 2013 v27, 9.   Mountain Lions & Natural Mosquito Repellent. Nepeta or Catnip as it is commonly known, is loved by the cats around the world. But what you didn't know is that this herb is commonly used in natural mosquito repellents. It seems that mosquitos are not fans of this common herb.   So natural manufacturers of mosquito repellents will often include catnip in their formulations. Unfortunately, small cats aren't the only ones who love catnip. Big cats (like lynx and mountain lions) like catnip as well and can smell it from over a mile away! That's because catnip mimics the natural pheromones that signal a mate in heat.   So think twice and check the label the next time you decide to go camping and use a natural mosquito repellent. You might just attract a unexpected visitor:-)    Ted Ray, L.Ac. Mountain View, CA 94040 Ph: 650-564-9002 info@peninsulaacupuncture.com Peninsula Acupuncture is a patient-focused clinic offering a full range of Traditional Chinese Medical techniques including acupuncture, herbs, cupping and tui na.   © 2008-2009 Peninsula Acupuncture, Ted Ray, L.Ac., DNBAO 2500 Hospital Drive, Bldg. 3, Mountain View, CA 94040 (650) 564-9002

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