Tag Archives: Substance dependence

Giving Your Mitochondrial Health a boost by IV NAD

August 11, 2014

Restoring Mitochondrial Health by IV NAD

What are mitochondria?

They are membrane bound organelles which are found in most of the cells (eukaryotic cells) that make up living things. They are also sometimes termed to as the powerhouses.

Why are mitochondria vital in our bodies?

Mitochondrial HealthAs we have just mentioned, mitochondria are also referred to as powerhouse due to the functions that they do in our bodies. Their main work is to generate the energy that our body cells require in order to execute their jobs. One of such cells which need a lot of energy is the brain cells. The brain cells are responsible for the communication to all the other parts of the body and thus these mitochondria must be transported along the cells.

Mitochondria generate chemical energy similarly to the one we normally get from batteries. This energy which is generated by the mitochondria in the form of chemical is referred to as Adenosine Triphosphate or simply ATP. This is an energy currency that every ling thing cell can use and this is what makes it possible for us to be kept alive.

What are mitochondrial diseases?

These are diseases which result from the failure of mitochondria. As we already know, mitochondria are responsible for supplying energy to the cells. Mitochondria themselves are present in all the cells except in the red blood cells. They produce about 90 of the energy that the cells use. In the case when the mitochondria fails to work, then the energy that the cells get decline and consequently cell injury or even cell death follow. If the process occurs all over the body, then the whole system fails and the life of the person in which it is happening becomes threatened.

These mitochondrial diseases commonly cause damage on critical organs such as the brain, heart, skeletal muscles, kidney and sometimes the respiratory system.

Symptoms of a mitochondrial disease watch out for

The symptoms of a mitochondrial disease vary depending with the cells that are affected. Generally they may include the following:-

  • There may be loss in motor control
  • Muscle weakness and pain may also be another symptom
  • Visual or hearing impairment, especially if their system cells are the ones affected.
  • Gastro-intestinal disorders & Swallowing difficulties may be evident when the respiratory cells are affected.
  • Another symptom of mitochondrial disease is poor growth, since for growth to occur, cell multiplication must occur and it is a process that requires a lot of energy.
  • The victim may also become diabetic
  • Cardiac disease
  • Liver disease
  • Respiratory infection
  • Seizure among many other symptoms.

Which principle is used in mitochondrial restoration?

Mitochondrial HealthMitochondrial restoration is a natural process that seeks to restore the various body organs which have been previously cellularly affected to their normal working state. The mitochondrial restoration targets the organs that have been affected by the decline in energy supply and hence whose functional capacity has been also been affected and then restores its functional state.

Mitochondrial treatment involves measures that restore cells to their normal working condition by ensuring they get the energy necessary for them to function. These measures involve ensuring that there are sufficient mitochondria in the body and they are working correctly. Therefore, the treatment seeks to eliminate the cause of mitochondrial failure which had previously occurred.

Why is IV NAD preferred in mitochondrial restoration treatment?

What is NAD? NAD refers to Nicotinamide adenine Dinucleotide, which is a metabolic co-enzyme responsible for every aspect of life. There are basically two classes of these co-enzymes, digestive and metabolic enzymes. NAD treatment bases on the metabolic enzyme, as this enzymes are responsible for restructuring, repair and remodeling of the cells. The metabolic enzyme provide an advantage in that they operate in every cell, every organ and every cell. NAD is essential in the production of ATP, which is the basic energy molecule in our bodies.

Advantage of IV NAD therapy in mitochondrial health restoration

As we have seen, mitochondria are very important since they are responsible for the production of energy that the cells use. When the cells do not get enough energy due to failure in mitochondria, this is a death threatening disease since it may cause all the cells to fail in their function and consequently failure in the entire systems which may pose the patient to death.

If the situation of energy deficiency occurs as a result of mitochondrial failure, this situation needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Prescription can be given to the patient in response to the situation, but this method has limitations. Some of the medications that are administered to mitochondrial failure patient are known to be habit forming and may cause dependency. This makes the patient rely on the medication on daily life and in case of withdrawal; withdrawal symptoms and craving for the drugs may follow.

IV NAD therapy is a treatment that is natural and is based on the principle that, “body has ability to heal on itself as long as the necessary conditions are maintained.” This means that even after the therapy is administered to the patient, there cannot be addiction to the drug. Another advantage is that the therapy generally contributes to the well-being of a person by ensuring the mitochondria are working correctly as well as the NAD co-enzymes.

Restoring Mitochondrial Health by IV NAD

 

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Natural Food Alternative to Adderall Treatment

August 10, 2014

Natural Food Alternative to Adderall Treatment

What is Adderall?

AdderallThis is a medication that combines amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. These are chemicals which stimulate the central nervous system by affecting the chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.

This medication is used in the treatment of narcolepsy and also attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It also in some instances unofficially been used to treat obesity, severe depression and sleep related disorders.

Is Adderall friendly to my body?

Despite the fact that Adderall gives a medicinal value, it may cause more harm to you than benefit, especially when you abuse it. As we had earlier mentioned, Adderall works by affecting the brain and nervous system chemicals and causing stimulation. This stimulating effect can be habit forming and hence making the drug addictive and patients resulting dependent on the drug. This medication also has side effects which may make it difficult for some people to use it for medication.

Which side effects can Adderall have?

The side effects of this medication are arguably many and they vary from one person to the other. There are also side effects which are common and others that are rare. It is advisable that whenever you are using this medication and you find that you are have any of these side effects, you should stop taking the medication and report to your doctor as soon as possible.

Some of the rare side effects may include:-

  • Burning effect and pain when one is urinating
  • The heartbeats are high and irregular
  • Un usual talking and feeling of extreme happiness or sometimes sadness
  • Hallucination or tremor feelings
  • Unusual erection, which may be painful or lasts for long which may be up to 4 hours.

Apart from these rare side effects, there are some others which have been commonly reported from the users of the drug. These may include:-

  • Prolonged dryness in mouth
  • Nausea or loss in appetite and sometimes stomach pain.
  • The person may face sleeping problems (insomnia)
  • Irregular headache, weakness and dizziness, especially shortly after the medication is administered.

Nutritional Alternative To Adderall Treatment

The main reason why a doctor will prescribe an Adderall treatment is because there will be need to increase the level of neurotransmitters in the brain. As we have seen above, one of the likely prescriptions that the doctor may give is the Adderall treatment. Unfortunately, this medication has very many side effects and it is a habit forming and hence it can cause dependency or addiction.

A better alternative is to use a medication which addresses these symptoms while leaving little or no side effects at all. The medications that have proven to qualify this point are the herbal and nutritional treatments. In this case, let’s look at how nutrition can be a good alternative to cure the symptoms of similar to those cured by Adderall.

Choline

This is a vitamin B for ADD which is soluble in water and must be consumed with the foods that we eat for our bodies to remain healthy. This vitamin is essential in our bodies as it act as a precursor in the production of neurotransmitter acetylcholine which is highly involved in the functioning of the brain.

Which are the foods which contain this Vitamin for add choline?

Researches have shown that as we grow older, the general capacity of our bodies to output choline declines and at the same time, some other factors can also contribute to this decline. This eventually results to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or sometimes narcolepsy. It is advisable therefore to eat foods that contain choline to increase the production of acetylcholine and hence improve our brain power and mental focus.

Apart from boosting the brain effects of the foods rich in vitamin for add choline; they also have numerous health benefits which includes; allowing the cells to keep functioning properly, prevention of buildup of harmful chemical in the blood known as homocysteine which is associated with osteoporosis and cardiac diseases. Finally they allow nerves communication with muscles.

Adderall Treatment

These foods rich in vitamin for add choline include: –

  • Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and also broccoli.
  • Peanuts
  • Soybeans
  • Black and kidney beans
  • Eggs can also be another goods source of this nutrient, especially the egg York.

Sugar And Its Side Effects

Researches have been done to find out whether sugar has any effects in our bodies. The recent researches have shown that sugar is a “new tobacco”, worse than many addictive drugs we know and a secrete killer! It is argued according to the research done by Dr. Mark Hyman et al, that sugar is over eight times more addictive than cocaine.

The negative effects of sugar may include; addiction, non-alcoholic liver disease, diabete, belly fat among many other negative effects.

Foods Rich In Tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine And Tryptophan

These are amino acids also known as Aromatic amino acids. They are essential nutrients and they should be present in our diets. They are known to be precursors of neurotransmitter which is an essential chemical in our brains.

Some of the foods rich in these nutrients are:- meat, fish, soy proteins, eggs, vegetables, fruits just to mention a few.

Natural Food Alternative to Adderall Treatment

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Manage Addiction: Drug Addiction Withdrawal Diet

August 10, 2014

Drug Addiction Withdrawal Diet

What is a withdrawal diet?

A withdrawal diet refers to a program of food(s) which have been devised to counter the effects caused by the addictive drugs in the addict’s body. The nutritional values of the foods form the basis on which the diets are chosen from. These foods provide the body with ingredients which it requires to fight the effects of the drug such as craving for the drug and side effects during the period of recovering from addiction. Another important role of the diet should be to help heal the damaged parts of the body or organs.

Before a diet is devised to help in recovery from addiction, there is need to first understand the substance which is causing the addiction. This will help to assess the harm it is likely to cause in the body and the various organs likely to be affected. The most affected body organ by almost all the addictive substances is the brain. Brain controls the functioning of all the other body organs and if it is affected by the drug, the functioning of the other body parts may change. A good recovery diet should focus on the affected areas and restore them to their functional states.

How do I understand the effects of a drug addiction?

Before choosing a diet, it is important to first understand the effects that the addictive substance has to our bodies. Most of the addictive substances have two major effects on our bodies. These are:-

  • The substance itself may affect the body, due to its chemical compounds.
  • The substance addiction may cause negative lifestyle changes, such as irregular eating, poor dieting, uncontrolled consumption of the addictive substance despite negative effects it has, among other effects.

What should my diet include to help me in recovery?

In the process of recovery, you may not be able to reverse all the damage caused by the drug. The good thing though is that a good nutrition can go a long way towards rebuilding a body that is stronger, healthier and even more attractive. There are key nutrients that these foods should have, in order to be able to offer the recovering power needed. In this guide, we will look at the general important nutrients which can help you recovery from varieties of addiction from different drugs. The following are some of these nutrients:-

  • Take foods rich in protein- proteins are the building blocks for our brains. Any recovering brain should therefore be supplied with sufficient amount of proteins. In the cases when the drug has affected the liver, if not too badly damaged, quality protein can help make it work efficiently. The choice of these proteins is equally important, as you should choose proteins that are easy to digest. Such sources of easily digestible proteins are fish, poultry and beans. Apart from the easy to digest proteins, the withdraw diet must include abundant potassium. For the potassium eat lots of easiest protein to digest and
    also if you’re a vegan take a few spoons of amino acid powder with your meals. What I recommend is cooking tasty chicken vegetable soup with lots of ginger etc.
  • Take foods rich in fiber – most of the addictive substances, especially alcohol interferes with your digestive system, fiber intake is vital during recovery. Try to gradually start replacing your floor foods with whole grain foods. Foods such as brown rice, black beans, peas, artichokes and whole grain pasta will provide your body with valuable roughages for restoration of your digestive system functioning.
  • Try going decaf – it is a fact that the caffeine which is found in drinks such as sodas, tea and some other drinks is stimulating. While you are trying to recover from a stimulant addiction, it may trigger hard to resist cravings due to moods fluctuations. This makes it difficult to avoid taking the drug. It is also important to note that the stimulant found in such drugs can also be a habit forming and addictive. Avoid them!

Withdrawal Diet

  • As much as possible, avoid sugary foods and refined carbohydrates – in the same way as caffeine, sugar and refined carbohydrates can cause mood fluctuations hence causing harder to resist cravings for the substance. They also have another disadvantage in that they give your body empty calories hence making you less likely to eat nutrients that your body desperately needs.
  • Eat foods rich in antioxidants – these nutrients play a big role in restoring your immune system. They do this by protecting cells from free radical damage that can lead to cancer. Foods rich in these nutrients are fruits and vegetables. Consider including some of the following fruits in your diet:- apples, strawberries, blueberries etc, or vegetables like; broccoli, peppers, carrots etc in every daily meals.
  • If your addiction had something to do with the diet you were taking, consider a diet do-over: look back and see the damage that the addiction has caused to your body and see whether it was triggered by your diet. If the diet played a role, consider completely doing and overhaul and begin eating healthy. Ensure that you are supplying your body with the correct nutrients that it requires.

Are you struggling with recovery from addiction? Or are you an addict and you feel it’s time to seek your help? All you need to do is to call or visit: Awaremed wellness and resource center (www.awaremednetwork.com)

Drug Addiction Withdrawal Diet

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All you need to know About Alcohol

August 8, 2014

All you need to know About Alcohol – Drug Addiction

Alcohol

All you need to know about alcohol is based on how it affects you negatively. This knowledge will help you feel safe from all alcohol related complications.

Alcohol being the most abused substance the world over sends likeminded people thinking on the possible remedies to correct this uncalled for habit. We are living in a world where alcohol consumption is the order of the day despite the known risks involved. Have you ever thought of a society free from alcohol! If you haven’t then you need to start visualizing that in your mind. To help you get the clearer picture of how that society will be I want to propose for you something, an assignment you can do on your own at your convenient time. Take some time and visit a bar where revelers drink all kinds of alcoholic drinks, smoke all kinds of smoke-able substances kindly don’t drink or smoke while there, just observe sit and observe and record all that you see for a day or two. Then do the same thing in a restaurant where there is no sale of any alcoholic drinks or smoking. Go to that hotel where smoking and alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited and make the same observation recording what you see happening there.

After the observations analyze the findings and you will get the sharp contrast of the two, there will be peace and harmony where there is no smoking or drinking compared to that bar. Your findings may not miss fighting, recklessness, prostitution, sound pollution, theft, other substance abuse and many inhuman activities. That is the society we live in when alcohol consumption is the order of the day a complete contrast of the other side where there is harmony and i deal communication when alcohol consumption is not in the picture. With that brief understanding of alcohol we want to further on this discussion by finding out more about this substance. What is this substance called alcohol?

There are several ways of defining alcohol but for the purpose of this article we will say that “alcohol is a drug that slows down parts of your brain, consumption of alcohol can make you feel more relaxed at times and It can also make it harder for you to think clearly, make good decisions and do various tasks.” Alcohol is made by fermenting (and sometimes distilling) fruits, vegetables or grains. Alcohol itself is a clear liquid. The colour in beer, spritzers, wine and other alcoholic drinks comes from other ingredients and from the process of fermentation.

Who uses alcohol?

Most adults drink alcohol, and do so responsibly. But because alcohol is a drug, there may be risks if you drink any amount of alcohol. According to studies conducted in 2005 in Canada, about two-thirds (62%) of all Ontario students (grade 7—12) reported drinking at least once in the past year translating to about 603,400 students. One in 10 students (10%) drank alcohol once a week.

  • One in four male students (25%) and one in five females (20%) reported binge drinking (five or more drinks at one time) in the past month.
  • More than half of the alcohol consumed in Canada is beer, the most popular alcoholic drink followed by other liquor rum and vodka at 26 per cent and wine at 21 per cent.
  • Canadians spend about $12.4 billion a year on alcohol.
  • About 10 per cent of Canadians are dependent on alcohol at some time in their lives.

True or false

  • If a female and a male both have an average body type and weigh the same, drinking the same amount of alcohol will have the same effect on each of them. This is not true “males have more water in their bodies than females. This means the alcohol gets more diluted in males, and so a male will notice less effect than a female of the same body weight and body type who drank the same amount of alcohol.”
  • Coolers and regular strength beer contain the same amount of alcohol. This is not true either because “most 12 oz/341 mL coolers are 6.9 per cent alcohol, while a regular 12 oz/341 mL bottle of beer is five per cent alcohol meaning that there is nearly one-and-a-half times as much alcohol in a cooler as in a regular strength bottle of beer.”
  • Some people can drink a lot without seeming to get drunk. This is actually true in the sense that “a person who often drinks a lot may not look drunk because his or her body is used to the alcohol. But even if a person doesn’t look drunk after drinking, the alcohol still has an effect. The person still has too much alcohol in his or her blood to deal safely with risky situations, such as braking quickly while driving. You should never be a passenger in a car when the driver has been drinking. When possible, you should also try to stop the person from driving or getting into dangerous situations.”
  • Drinking coffee, working up a sweat, or having a cold shower will sober you up. Many people would want to believe this but it is not true “because it is only time which will make you sober. Your liver eliminates alcohol at a certain rate and nothing will change that rate. Your liver needs about 1.5 hours to eliminate one standard drink from your body.”

Alcohol and its effects

Is alcohol addictive? Yes, alcohol can be addictive. About one person in 20 who drinks is dependent on alcohol. People with an addiction may have difficulty stopping by themselves, even if they want to, and even if other negative effects (such as financial or other personal problems) begin to outweigh the positive effects. Alcohol dependence can also cause major problems with friends, family, school, work, emotional and mental health, the law and money!
What is a standard drink? Each of these drinks contains the same amount of alcohol (a “standard drink” or 13.6 grams of alcohol):
  • A 1.5 oz/43 mL shot of liquor (sometimes known as spirits; e.g., rye, rum, whisky, vodka).
  • A 3-oz/85 mL glass of fortified wine (e.g., sherry, port, vermouth)
  • A 12-oz/341 mL can or bottle of regular strength beer
  • A 5 oz/142 mL glass of table wine

Alcohol is found in different amounts in different kinds of drinks. For example:

  • Regular strength beer contains five per cent alcohol (some beers contain higher or lower percentages)
  • Table wine contains about 12 per cent alcohol
  • Fortified wine contains 16 to 18 per cent alcohol
  • Most liquor contains 40 per cent alcohol.

An average adult can discharge alcohol from the body mostly by passing urine about two-thirds of one standard drink per hour which is 10 grams of alcohol. If such a person consumes two standard drinks, it will take about three hours for his or her body to be free of alcohol again indicating that if you were to get drunk then it is only passage of time can make you sober again. We will continue discussing this topic in our subsequent articles but for now I want to draw your attention to the services of Dr. Dalal Akoury who is an addiction professional of several decades and the who founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center where she is offering her exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to other physicians and health care professionals through training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars. Your alcohol problems will be very safe in her care and you and any of your friends can now be a part of this truly successful and fast addiction recovery treatment.

All you need to know About Alcohol – Drug Addiction

 

 

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Drug Addiction and Mental Illness

August 7, 2014

Drug Addiction and Mental Illness – Dual Diagnosis

Addiction

Drug Addiction and Mental Illness put together will bring your life to a halt. Seek for help and get your life back, it is possible all is not lost for you.

Dual means two and so when we talk of dual diagnosis we refer to a term used to denote people with mental illness and at the same time suffers from drug addiction and alcohol. The combination of the two is very complex and administering treatment to persons suffering from both mental illness and drug addiction is difficult and more complicated compared to when both were to be treated separately. It is very worrying that people suffering from mental illness are also struggling with drug addiction concurrently. The environmental factors greatly influence how people get infected with these two health conditions. For instance people with low socioeconomic status, military veterans and those with multiple general medical illness tends to bear more risk of abusing drugs, alcohol and other stimulants. Dual diagnosis is so common this day’s that statistics indicate that one-third of all alcohol abusers and more than one-half of all drug abusers are also battling mental illness.

Drug Addiction and Mental Illness – Relationship between substance use and mental illness

The relationship between mental illness and substance abuse or dependency is complex and is often considered in the following ways:

  • Drugs and alcohol may be used for self-medication. In such cases, people with mental illness may have untreated or inadequately treated conditions (such as anxiety or depression) that may “feel less painful” when the person is high on drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, while drugs and alcohol may feel good in the moment, abuse of these substances doesn’t treat the underlying condition and almost without exception makes it worse.
  • Drugs and alcohol can deteriorate the underlying mental illnesses. This can happen both during acute intoxication (e.g., a person with depression becomes suicidal in the context of drinking alcohol) and during withdrawal from a substance (e.g. a person with panic attacks experiences worsening symptoms during heroin withdrawal).
  • Drugs and alcohol can cause a person without mental illness to experience the onset of symptoms for the first time. For example, a twenty-year old college student who begins to hear threatening voices inside of his head and becomes paranoid that his chemistry professor is poisoning his food after smoking marijuana could represent a reaction to the drug (potentially called a “substance-induced psychosis”) or the first episode of psychosis for this individual.

Drug addiction and alcohol always results in a worse prognosis for a person with mental illness. People who are actively using drugs are less likely to follow through with the treatment plans they created with their healthcare providers they are not likely to follow their medication regimens and may not be consistent in keeping their appointments. If this continues over time it may lead to more psychiatric hospitalizations and other adverse outcomes. Active users are also less likely to receive adequate medical care for similar reasons and are more likely to experience severe medical complications and premature death. Drug addicts with mental illness are also at increased risk of impulsive and potentially violent acts. Perhaps most concerning is that people who abuse drugs and alcohol are more likely to both attempt suicide and to die from their suicide attempts. Individuals with mental illness and active substance or alcohol abuse are less likely to achieve lasting sobriety. The consequences of their addiction may be lead to severe complications like having legal problems with the authorities.

Drug Addiction and Mental Illness – Treatments for individuals with dual diagnosis

As indicated above treatment for dual diagnosis is very complicated and it will be very important to first address any life threatening complications due to intoxication. For instance the following conditions may require immediate medical care in the confinement of a health facility:

  • Extreme cases of alcohol intoxication may necessitate prompt medical treatment and can result in death if not arrested in good time.
  • Use of amphetamines, crack, cocaine and other drugs can result in heart complications like arrhythmias, heart attacks, stroke and even death.
  • Use of benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam, clonazepam), opiates (e.g., oxycodone, oxycontin) and other downers can result in extreme sedation and potentially death in overdose.

Drug and alcohol withdrawal can lead to medical emergencies requiring immediate treatment. This can occur when a person who has been regularly using a particular substance has become addicted to that substance (the body has become physically dependent on the substance) and abruptly stops using. The following may necessitate immediate medical care in the hospital setting:

  • Alcohol withdrawal can result in heart problems (e.g., arrhythmias), seizures or delirium tremens (an acute delirious state), all which can be potentially fatal.
  • Benzodiazepine withdrawal can result in tremors (shakes), seizures and potentially death.
  • Under normal circumstances opiate withdrawal is not considered to be life-threatening but it can be a very traumatic and painful experience.

It is important that those struggling with drug addiction and alcohol seek help through processes like inpatient detoxification either by admission to a hospital or a detoxification facility where appropriate medications can be done to avoid serious complications of acute drug and alcohol withdrawal. Scientific studies has established that psychiatric treatments very effective in individuals who are not actively abusing drugs and alcohol and therefore total healing from substance abuse must be achieved and once this is done the underlying mental illness may be more successful. It is important to note that mental illness treatment is more effective when the patient is sober though it can still be done along detoxification process. There are many working options for recovering addicts to help them keep on the course and to avoid relapse on drugs and alcohol like rehabilitation centers or supportive housing besides these you may choose to return home to your friends and family who can be helpful in supporting you to continue the efforts. This can be critically important as a significant majority of people will relapse into drug and alcohol abuse at some point in their lives, even if they are eventually able to achieve long-lasting sobriety. I will further recommend seeing an addiction expert from time to time for evaluation. Doctor Dalal Akoury who founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is an expert of more than two decades and has been helping people globally get well from their addiction problems in the most natural way. This is one experience am sure you do not want to miss and so when you visit this facility doctor Akoury together with her team of experts will focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

Drug Addiction and Mental Illness – Dual Diagnosis

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