Cereset
Comrade Brewing
Non-Invasive Practices Offer Enlarged Prostate Solutions For Men Over 50
by Luke Schmaltz
The cruel hand of time spares no one and is well known for putting the squeeze on the nether regions of older men. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) — aka an enlarged prostate — is a fact of life for many but does not have to be the case for all.
Symptoms include an abnormally frequent need to urinate, especially at night, as well as difficulty beginning the urination process, along with a weak stream and inability to fully empty the bladder. The prostate surrounds the urethra, and as it enlarges it applies increasing pressure which can hinder urinary flow and control.
Modern medicine is vague when citing causes for BPH, but according to mountsi nai.org, “The actual cause of prostate enlargement is unknown. Factors linked to aging and changes in the cells of the testicles may have a role in the growth of the gland, as well as testosterone levels.”
Western institutional medicine is quick to champion pills and surgery as the premier solutions to BPH. Yet, for those who distrust big pharma and scalpel-happy surgeons, there are a variety of ways to reduce an enlarged prostate and to possibly avoid the condition entirely.
Saw Palmetto Extract
Supplement containing extract from the saw palmetto plant can reduce an enlarged prostate.
The NIH (National Institutes of Health) recently studied the effects of two different preparations of this plant on BPH. The separate tests showed results which were more effective than a placebo. This isn’t entirely convincing, yet American Family Physician (aafp.org) reports, “Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of saw palmetto in reducing symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Saw palmetto appears to have efficacy similar to that of medications like finasteride, but it is better tolerated and less expensive. There are no known drug interactions with saw palmetto and reported side effects are minor and rare.”
Stinging Nettle
The Mt. Sinai Health Library reports that stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years, primarily in Europe, to treat early symptoms of BPH as well as other urinary tract problems. The Stinging Nettle web page reports, “Studies in people suggest that stinging nettle, in combination with other herbs (especially saw palmetto), may be effective at relieving symptoms such as reduced urinary flow, incomplete emptying of the bladder, post urination dripping, and the constant urge to urinate.”
Hydrotherapy
Men over 50 can choose natural, non-invasive options for treating an enlarged prostate.
A hot-and-cold immersion practice known as a sitz bath, as reported by Prostate Cancer 911, is a time-tested method for shrinking an enlarged prostate. Men are instructed to prepare two baths side by side. The first bath is heated to 105-155 degrees F and treated with 1/2 cup of Epsom salt while the second is maintained at a chilly 55-85 degrees F and treated with several drops of lavender essential oil. You enjoy the hot bath for three minutes, then endure the cold one for one minute and repeat two more times.
The report also states, “This is a natural way to shrink the prostate and soothe it. Hydrotherapy is commonly used as a method of prostate enlargement treatment, especially for relieving symptoms. A sitz bath increases blood circulation in the pelvic area and eases the constriction of the urethra.”
Exercise
Kegels are simple muscle contractions used by men and women to strengthen musculature in the pelvic region. For men, the practice can help strengthen the prostate and surrounding tissues, and thus increase bladder control. To perform a Kegel, simply squeeze your bladder as though you are attempting to stop the flow of urine mid-stream. Hold for five seconds and repeat 10 to 20 times per day.
Men are encouraged to begin a moderate daily regimen and slowly increase the amount of reps per day rather than overdoing it at the onset — just as with any other type of new exercise. In a report titled Kegel Exercises for Men, UCLA Health states, “Building up the strength in your pelvic floor muscles can help you gain better control of your bladder and urine flow.”
As for comprehensive exercise which engages the entire body, Harvard Health reports, “Based on questionnaires completed by more than 30,000 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, researchers found an inverse relationship between physical activity and BPH symptoms. Simply put, men who were more physically active were less likely to suffer from BPH. Even low- to moderate-intensity physical activity, such as walking regularly at a moderate pace, yielded benefits.”
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)
According to a May 2019 Endocrine Extracts report published by Bio Scientifica, “Recent evidence shows that low, rather than high T [testosterone] is associated with BPH/lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).” The report discusses results of a TRT trial in 120 men awaiting BPH surgery.
The subjects who received daily applications of T gel for six months showed improvement; “TRT arm was characterized by a significant decrease in ultrasound markers of prostate inflammation, including arterial velocity and acceleration.” The study concluded, “Testosterone replacement therapy is able to reduce prostate inflammation in men with BPH, metabolic syndrome, and hypogonadism: preliminary results from a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.”
Diet
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) recommends a diet of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, cauliflower, etc.), berries, fish, plant-based protein (soy), beans, nuts, green tea, coffee (two cups per day), and cooked tomatoes. The PCF also cautions men over 50 against sugar in any form and processed carbohydrates while opting for moderate consumption of animal-based protein.
Essentially, this is known as the Mediterranean diet. The report also states, “PCF-funded epidemiologist Lorelei Mucci, M.P.H., Sc.D., at Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health notes that people in Mediterranean countries not only eat more vegetables and fruits… they also eat less fatty foods, processed food, and red meat – categories that can ‘increase insulin resistance, increase inflammation, raise cardiovascular risk, and be a part of a dietary pattern that may increase obesity, as well.’”
All You Have To Do Is Ask: How To Seek Help For Mental Health In An Increasingly Crazy World
Distressed, Depressed? Ask For Help! “One of the biggest defects in life is the inability to ask for help.”
- Robert Kiyosaki
by Luke Schmaltz
According to Science.org., the human brain has changed very little over the last 35,000 to 100,000 years. Yet, the degree and variation of stimulation and stress it is currently being subjected to has increased exponentially — especially over the last century.
In effect, the human brain is being bombarded by the wholesale results of its own sophistication run amok.
Our brains get overloaded, the veritable bandwidth therein gets saturated, and some people’s minds become sick. The circumstances can be equated to overeating and getting a stomach ache, but the consequences of a “mind ache” are far more devastating.
Crisis Created
Seek Safe Space: Achea Redd warns constant rumination on the same thought can cause you to go into hyper focus, heart racing, and lack of focus.
Brain Game: Our brains get overloaded, the veritable bandwidth therein gets saturated, and some people’s minds become sick.
The human race, particularly Western society, is in a mental health crisis. More and more people are finding themselves unable to cope with the pressure, responsibility, confusion, misinformation, and a myriad of other stimuli which are rampant in everyday life.
Yet, the mess can’t be unmade by dumping prescription pills into the void. We have to dig ourselves out of this hole with the same tool that got us here in the first place — our humanity.
People from any walk of life, at any time, can become saddened, distressed, depressed, and yes — suicidal. When the walls close in and you’re all alone, when life doesn’t seem worth living but a tiny part of you wants to turn the ship around and find a way out of the darkness, the best course of action is to ask for help.
How To Begin
Dr. Arin N. Reeves, author of “In Charge,” a guide for women tired of being tired, offers a guide to exhaustion as it relates to mental health. She says the problem is it’s hard to tell when exhaustion is not just exhaustion. While more open about mental health, “we still aren’t forgiving or patient with people who are in that gray zone. People are pressured to be okay instead of being okay with not being okay long enough to figure out the problem.”
The top roadblocks stopping people in crisis are stigma and shame, suggests Dr. Bill Howatt. The three types of shame, the psychological expert says are, “Self, peer, and organizational.” When a person doesn’t feel “good enough” they get caught in shame. Thus, they don’t have empathy for self and others.
Motivated to get away from pain, they focus on symptom relief such as drinking. The CEO of Howatt HR says we need to educate people that mental health is no differ than the flu. “We can have a physical flu, and with support it will pass. An emotional flu can pass as well with rest and support,” he enlightens.
When To Act
Warning signs of a looming mental health crisis are many and vary in individuals. Achea Redd, author of the recently published book titled, “Be
coming Your Own Safe Space,” suggests what to watch for based on personal experience.
She says to watch for these indicators: Sudden sleep pattern changes (either too tired or not able to sleep), change in appetite, not enjoying the things you used to, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, or stomach pain.
“Constant rumination on the same thought can cause you to go into hyper focus, heart racing, and lack of focus,” Redd warns.
Where To Turn
Licensed Social Worker Tina Rushing says, “I always say professionals are vital in a crisis. Loved ones can help [and] be there for you but mental health professionals have the proper tools to make the difference.” The PRSL website posts an extensive list of international resources available at any time, anywhere for those in crisis.
For example, the Crisis Text Line can be accessed in the U.S. by simply texting “HOME” to 741741, and the person will be connected (for free) to a mental health support network. “I have personally used it when I was spiraling into a panic attack after a fight with a loved one,” Rushing says. “They helped me navigate my thoughts and emotions and worked with me to sort out why I was spiraling afterwards.”
Resources on the PRSL website also include help lines for veterans (1-800-273-8255 press#1), domestic violence (text START to 88788), rape abuse and incest (1-800-656-4673), eating disorders (1-800-931-2237), suicide prevention (text TALK to 741741); LGBTQ+ (text START to 678678); plus many more options.
What To Say
Mental Tune-Up: The music community is noted for taking care of one another. Punk Rock Saves Lives focuses on health and wellness, with emphasis on mental health.
Dr. Howatt offers sound advice for those ready to voice their need for help. Begin with the understanding that a mental health crisis is an intrapersonal impairment of emotions and thoughts that drive behavior. The person does not need to know what is wrong or why they feel the way they do. “All they need to do is say ‘I am struggling w
See A Doc: Mental illness is no different than the flu, says Dr. Bill Howatt. Getting help is a good choice, so go see a doctor. Copyrighted Kayla Hannaford
ith my emotions and thoughts, and I am not sure what to do. I need some help [in order] to figure out what I can do.’”
Dr. Arin N. Reeves adds: “It’s helpful to have one person you really trust who you can share your plan with and ask them if they can do some of the communicating for you. If not, and you are trying to explain the crisis, focus on concrete things that can help you describe what you are going through.”
It’s tough for professionals to grasp your feelings in crisis. They need to hear facts they can wrap their arms around. Examples: “I haven’t been able to eat in two days, or I have not been able to sleep for more than two hours at a time, or I cannot make myself get out of the bed.”
Solving The Stigma
Western society’s obsession with perfection and the pursuit of an unattainable status quo, by default, places judgment, shame, and condemnation on those suffering from mental health conditions.
“Mental health has been looked at as a moral weakness for many years. To change the culture requires education and senior leaders to make mental health prevention and mental illness a priority,” explains Dr. Howatt. His point: There is nothing wrong with getting help. It is a good choice and no different than going to the ER, if you have a broken arm.
So, get to a doctor. Assess yourself. Pay attention to how you are feeling and take pain seriously. You are not a hero for hanging on when you should be letting go and getting help.
2022 Summer Brew Fest: A Relaxed Fest With Many Great Beers
by Mark Smiley & Jeff Stiglic
Cerveza: Marble Brewery from New Mexico, had a booth at Summer Brew Fest featuring a few different beers, including Cerveza, a crushable take on a Mexican-style lager.
WeldWerks: WeldWerks Brewing Co. from Greeley is a mainstay at the Summer and Winter Brew Fests at Mile High Station in Denver.
Two Standouts: Uhls’s Brewing from Boulder had Smoothie Phizz, a sour smoothie beer, and Coconut & Strawberry Daiquiri, a sour wheat ale.
For craft beer enthusiasts, there are many choices of beer fests throughout the summer. Summer Brew Fest held over two sessions on July 23, 2022, at Mile High Station is one not to miss. Over 25 craft breweries from around the state and a few from outside of Colorado were on hand each session to pour their summer beers.
The event featured live music, which added to the already festive atmosphere. The afternoon session had Chili Powder —a tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who played later that evening at Empower Field.
The first Denver Brew Fest by RightOn Productions was created in a parking lot near Coors Field. Since then, the Summer and the Winter Brew fests have developed into an annual Denver tradition at Mile High Station and now the celebrations have been expanded to Avon, Colo., as well.
Some standouts from the fest included Uhl’s Brewing Company in Boulder, who brought Smoothie Phizz, a sour smoothie beer, and Coconut & Strawberry Daiquiri, a sour wheat ale. They also had a Buffalo Trace bourbon barrel aged tripel they released at 2 p.m.
Steep Brewing and Coffee Company from Keystone was also in attendance with Pau Hana, a coffee coconut porter, with 30 pounds of toasted coconut and infused with smooth cold brew coffee that was brewed using their freshly roasted in-house Free Trade-organic brazil coffee beans.
Marble Brewery from New Mexico, had a few beers to try. Cerveza is their crushable take on a Mexican-style lager. WeldWerks from Greeley, was also on hand with its flight of beers.
For more information on all of the fests including the Winter Brew Fest in January, visit www.brewfestevents.com.
Expect Xcel Energy’s Summer Bills To Soar
Families Struggle To Pay Bills As Electric Prices Rise; Three-Rate Surge To Jolt Rates $16.49 A Month By Year’s End
by Glen Richardson
Costs Up In The Air: Volatility of global energy market is making it harder for homeowners to keep costs down. A utility helicopter is used to string conductor on a Colorado project.
Are you staring at your electric bill and starting to swelter?
You’re spot-on: The average electric bill from Xcel Energy went up $5.24 a month beginning April 1, a 6.4% increase. Rates for the average small commercial customer went up 6.2%, or about $6.62.
Xcel Energy – Colorado’s largest utility with more than three million electricity and natural gas customers — has also filed an overall natural gas rate increase, seeking a $8.14 price hike beginning November 1. More: Xcel is also asking for a temporary rate increase to recoup $550 million in extra electric and natural gas costs due to a 2021 winter storm. Bottom line: The three-rate increase will jump your energy bill by $16.49 a month by year’s end.
Summer Costs Cook
Coal Closure: Closure of Xcel Energy’s Pueblo coal plant is major factor in rising rates. Utility plans to shutter the Comanche 3 Plant by 2031, ending coal-fired electricity in the state.
This month marks the official beginning of summer as the sun’s rays strike Earth at a more direct angle. Summer solstice begins here at 2:13 a.m. on June 21. Use of electricity will soar in the weeks following. As usage jumps due to summer’s heat, utilities add more expensive generation sources to meet the increasing demand.
Weather is the biggest factor for fluctuation in utility bills. On average 50-60% of summer bills are made up of cooling costs. If your HVAC system runs on electricity, then you’ll see higher totals on your electric bill, especially if you place a higher demand on your HVAC system.
Given the surge in Xcel Energy’s rates already, energy bills this summer are increasingly likely to burn a hole in your wallet. That includes energy produced by solar and wind sources.
“Volatility of the global energy market is making it harder for homeowners to keep control of how much they pay for energy,” states Denise Stepto, communications officer for nonprofit Energy Outreach Colorado. The nonprofit helps those facing “utility shutoff” with programs to halt the crisis and assist them to get back on their feet.
Time Of Use Rates
Cutting down on home energy costs is no longer simply just switching off the lights or insulating the attic. Thus, since March, Xcel Energy has offered “Time of Use Rates” that base prices for electricity on when customers use energy. Prices are higher when customers use more energy and lower when they use less.
The system is divided into three rates: Off-Peak hours — before 1 p.m. and after 7 p.m. each day — the price is just 9.9-cents per kilowatt hour. Mid-Peak hours —between 1 and 3 p.m. — costs are 18.9-cents in the summer and 13.6-cents in the winter. On-Peak hours — between 3 and 7 p.m. — costs are 27.9-cents in the summer and 17.3-cents in the winter.
Weekends and holidays count as Off-Peak times. Summer rates run from June through September; winter rates from October to May. “Summer rates are higher because of the large amount of energy it takes to run air conditioners,” explains Xcel Energy regional VP Hollie Velasquez.
Controlling Bills
Beat The Heat: Keep your thermostat just cool enough to be comfortable, and then bump it up a degree. Each degree above 75ºF saves 10-15% in amount of energy used.
Here are tips from energy experts to help you beat the heat and save money: Get an air conditioner checkup or replacement. Cleaning a clogged AC unit filter alone can save 5-15% in energy cost. Keep your thermostat just cool enough to be comfortable, and then bump it up a degree. Each degree above 75ºF saves 10-15% in amount of energy used.
When home, close doors and AC vents in rooms that are not in use. When it cools off at night, turning off your cooling system and opening the windows lets cool air in plus hot air out. Keeping blinds drawn and windows closed helps keep heat from warming your interior. Also, fans use 1/60th the energy of an air conditioner. More: Ceiling fans can cut back the need for air conditioning, saving up to 40% on electricity.
Xcel Energy also urges users to follow these behavioral changes to contain costs: Run dishwashers at night plus wash and dry clothing during the weekend. Also bake major meals in ovens on weekends, then reheat the food.
Activists Aim At Profits
High Wire Rates: Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest utility, is jolting homeowners with a sky-high three-rate increase that will jump residential electric bills $16.49 per month by year’s end.
As residential energy rates keep going up, Xcel Energy’s profits in Colorado are in the crosshairs of advocates for senior citizens and taxpayers. AARP says the rate hikes hammer residents who can least afford higher energy bills.
AARP asserts the utility is being allowed to add up to 1-1/2% to a clean energy “revenue rider” on the annual electric bill of monopoly members, including surcharges and franchise fees. The organization also says Xcel can add up to 1/2% of their revenue requirement to develop electric vehicle charging stations. Plus, the utility can add the cost of providing those facilities to their base rates.
Moreover, they argue the utility is entitled to a higher rate of return from electric appliances, furnaces, and hot water heaters. Plus, they also get an accelerated depreciation and are
Cool Summertime Idea: Get an air conditioner checkup or replacement. Denver’s Cooler Company is one of many providing air conditioning system service and repair.
able to retain part of the net economic value.
Profit Sharing?
What’s more, the Independence Institute is proposing an initiative that would require investor-owned utilities to share their annual profits by returning to taxpayers at least 5% of the company’s sales in the state.
Institute president Jon Caldara, head of the conservative think tank says, “Colorado’s system of regulating utilities is broken.” He wants to fix it by creating a proposal to make companies share some of their profits with customers.
His proposal would apply to all utilities that are regulated in exchange for being allowed to recover their costs and receiving an okay for a return on their investments. He makes it clear, nevertheless, that Xcel Energy is the target.
