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The topic of Urinary Incontinence (UI) and “Overactive Bladder Disease” is a little bit of a hot
potato. The simple act and inconvenience of Urinary Incontinence has been elevated to an
“Overactive Bladder Disease” status for a marketing reason – now that it is an official disease,
there are lots of drugs that can be administered.
And, of course, that was the whole point.
So….Let’s continue our discussion that 66% of all women have a challenge with:
Urinary Incontinence & Overactive Bladder Disease:
(cont’d)
Many experts feel that in UI, also called Stress
Incontinence, the sphincter muscle (the valve that
controls the flow of urine from the bladder) and the
pelvic muscles, which support the bladder and
urethra, are weakened. This sphincter (valve) is not
able to prevent the flow of urine when there is
increased pressure from the abdomen (such as when
you cough, laugh, sneeze, lift something heavy,
jump, etc.) – that is the explanation most women are
given. And it seems very plausible, even believable.
I mean, it almost makes sense.
Almost.
Incontinence occurs because of problems with the
muscles and nerves that help to hold or release the
urine.
The body stores urine - water and wastes removed by the kidneys - in the bladder, a balloon-like organ.
The bladder connects to the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body.
During urination, muscles in the wall of the bladder contract, forcing urine out of the bladder and into the
urethra – much like squeezing a water balloon. At the same time, the sphincter valve muscles surrounding
the urethra, relax, letting urine pass out of the body.
Incontinence will occur if your bladder muscles suddenly contract or the sphincter muscles are not strong
enough to hold back urine.
And urine may escape with less pressure than usual if the muscles of the bladder wall are damaged
somehow.
Women are told that Stress Incontinence may occur as a result of weakened pelvic muscles that support
the bladder or because of a malfunction of the urethral sphincter – the valve that controls the flow of urine
from the bladder. And why would this sphincter malfunction? Read on…
What are the types of Urinary Incontinence:
Stress incontinence - This is the most common type of
incontinence in women.
Urge incontinence - This is sometimes called "overactive
bladder." Leakage usually happens after a strong, sudden urge
to urinate.
Functional incontinence - People with this type of
incontinence may have problems thinking, moving, or speaking
that keep them from reaching a toilet. For example, a person
with Alzheimer's.
Overflow incontinence - Urine leakage happens because the
bladder doesn't empty completely. Less common in women.
Mixed incontinence - 2 or more types of incontinence together
(usually stress and urge incontinence).
Transient incontinence - Urine leakage happens for a short
time due to an illness
But there is another incredibly simple and much overlooked cause to this problem that no one seems to
talk about. And I really want you to be with me on this:
The sphincter valve that controls the flow of urine from the bladder is a ring of muscle around the urethra –
the tube that empties the bladder. And that ring of muscle is under the direct control of the nervous system
– that incredible computer central command system that runs you!
And to complicate things just a little bit, the sphincter muscles are under the direct control of two types of
nerves – one is voluntary – you pee when you want to. The other is under the control of the Autonomic
part of the nervous system – like being on auto-pilot – you have no control over that one. It is automatic.
These two types of nerves are in complete balance and talk to each other continuously.
Let’s make sense of this: Why would the muscles that are designed and programmed to perform that
very special function, suddenly decide that they simply won’t do it? That they will slack off? That they will
not take orders any longer. The answer is quite simple. It is not their decision. The muscles of your body
do not decide what to do on their own.
They are literally ordered (or not ordered) to do their job. In most cases, it is the fault of the nervous
system, which controls that very function. The muscles of the sphincter valve either receive proper input
from the nervous system to do their job, or they do not. In those cases I have found that the culprit is most
often a Vertebral Subluxation, generally in the lower part of the spine, which interferes with the manner in
which the sphincter muscle contracts to hold urine or allows it to leak. Simple!
Consider being on your cell phone – your reception and transmission is suddenly poor – you are not
receiving your message. That exact same situation can affect the muscles of the sphincter valve – it is not
receiving the proper messages and input from the nervous system. As a result, it does not close the
urethra tightly and any stress on the bladder produces leakage. Not a good thing!
As a Chiropractor, my goal is to locate areas in the spine where there is an interference to the messages
the bladder should normally receive. Oftentimes, this interference may be caused by a long-standing
Vertebral Subluxation that has created other health problems – arthritic degeneration, disc degeneration,
etc. It is rare for the bladder to be the sole problem – it is most often associated with other health issues
that those same nerves also control.
My mission is to correct this communication so that normal function is restored and you are on your way!
Simple!
No drugs, no surgery and no nonsense!
Why lard is healthier than you think:
This old-school grease was once vilified. But
could the high-calorie food be healthy?
This rendered pig blubber is not a typical
saturated animal fat. With an unusual
chemical composition, pure lard contains no
trans fat.
And in terms of its fatty acids, it’s better than
butter: lard is 60 per cent monounsaturated fat,
which is associated with a decreased risk of
heart disease. Butter is 45 per cent
monounsaturated fat.
You are thinking; WOW!
Most of lard’s monounsaturated fat is oleic acid, a heart-healthy essential fatty acid found in olive oil
and associated with decreasing LDLs, thus lowering “bad” cholesterol. Lard contains about double the
amount of oleic acid found in butter, says Nick Bellissimo, assistant professor at Ryerson University’s
Department of Nutrition.
Lard’s smoke point is high, about 190C (375F), sources say, making it the ideal frying oil.This offers
lighter, fluffier, flakier and crispier battered chicken and pie crusts fried in a shorter time, without burning
and turning carcinogenic. Pig fat is odourless and tasteless when rendered properly.
Lard and butter have the same trace amounts of cholesterol – about 95 milligrams per 100 grams of fat,
says Bellissimo
Lard has about half as much saturated fat as butter, but about double the saturated fat found in olive
oil.
Saturated fat raises LDLs, the bad cholesterol. It’s associated with heart disease, hypertension,
diabetes and obesity, but it is also vital to metabolism and cell function. Lard is a source of linoleic
acid, an omega 6 fatty acid most North American diets get too much of, but also associated with our
body’s normal inflammatory response.
The quality of lard depends on a pig’s diet. As omnivores, swine eat everything from mice to worms to
grain to grass.
Lard is fattening. Like any fat, it boasts about nine calories per gram.
But lard, like butter, isn’t as bad as you think it is. But lard, in its pure form, is hard to get.
Since the trend toward plant-based oils began more than two decades ago, lard has been vilified and
all but vanished from supermarket shelves.
Commercial lard, which comes packaged as a solid substance, is often treated with chemicals and
hydrogenated fats, which are associated with heart disease, says registered dietitian Shauna Lindzon.
Rendering lard, boiling it to a liquid from a hunk of pink fat supplied by the butcher, takes time and
effort. If you’re a big foodie, it might be worth the work.
For everyone else, choose liquid oil high in monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil or organic, nonGMO canola oil, which are trendy now and healthy, says Lindzon, even for baking your next birthday
cake.
“The bottom line is change your grandmother’s recipes that call for butter and lard,” she says.
In society’s move toward all-natural, organic foods, lard has a place on our plates, says Bellissimo, if
eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet. “It tastes great, it works well, it’s a very user-friendly
fat,” he says. “Small amounts of pork fat are functional.”
100 Ways to live to 100:
27. Cook with electricity
Nitrogen dioxide, spewed out by gas cookers and gas and oil-burning boilers, often stays
concentrated in the home particularly in this age of double glazing, and is implicated in arthritis, asthma
and other allergies. One American study concluded that gas cookers generate concentrations of
nitrogen dioxide of 200-400 ppb (parts per billion); this means the average kitchen with a gas cooker
has an atmosphere comparable to levels of pollution usually accompanied by government health
warnings.
28. Minimize your exposure to volatile organic compounds
Derived from petrochemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene and
formaldehyde can be found in plywood, particleboard (chipboard), wood paneling, insulation, ordinary
house paint and adhesives. All ‘outgas’ a stew of toxic vapours at room temperature, causing eye and
respiratory irritation, memory impairment and possibly even cancer. Choose eco-friendly paints and
real wood over MDF and other ‘wood compounds’. Blast VOCs out by turning the heat up to 100
degrees F (38 degrees C) and opening the windows. Repeat for two or three days.
29. Check your water-supply pipes
Although lead pipes have been banned since the 1970s, most of the water in old cities still runs
through rickety old Victorian pipes.
30. Consider wood floors and area rugs
Carpets in homes trap more allergens, are doused with dangerous pesticides and outgas more
chemicals than do uncarpeted floors.
31. Minimize your exposure to indoor EMFs
Keep the TV and computer screens at a reasonable distance. Place beds and chairs six to
eight feet away from domestic sources of EMFs like electricity meters and TVs, and keep bedside
electrical or battery-operated appliances at least two feet from your head. Don’t keep electric blankets
on while you sleep, and also unplug all electrical devices in your bedroom at night (like TV, telephones,
and computers).
32. Make sure all family members use computers safely
If you’re a man, don’t use Wi-Fi with the computer in your lap as it may adversely affect your
sperm and fertility. Consider wired over wireless technology, and set up a network for your household
computer using the electrical system.
33. Choose safer household cleaning products
Most ordinary cleaners contain a cocktail of chemicals toxic to people and plant life. Choose
cleansers free of sodium lauryl sulpahte (SLS), phenols, formaldehyde, naphthalene and other widely
used chemicals. Avoid air fresheners, which are just chemical cocktails. Ditto for materials
impregnated with flame retardants.
34. Watch out for lead in house paint
House paint containing lead is largely banned in the US, but could be present in older houses.
Leaded paint is an often-ignored source of lead in the blood and the greatest source of lead poisoning in
children.
35. Clean up your ‘dirty electricity’
Surges of high-frequency voltages or EM radiation in 50-60 Hz power lines can cause a variety
of disorders like asthma, multiple sclerosis, tinnitus and electrical hypersensitivity; all improve when
exposure is reduced. Buy a Graham-Stetzer (GS) filter (www.stetzerelectric.com), which is specially
designed to clean up power from inside and out by shorting out high-frequency spikes.
I will continue this topic over the next issues until we reach 100 points. Please enjoy!