Burp! How to prevent & stop GERD

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) isn't just miserably uncomfortable, it's also a serious disorder that can lead to cancer of the esophagus. If you have acid reflux, how do you stop it? Antacids such as Tums and Rolaids? H2 blockers that prevent acid production? Proton pump inhibitors that block the pumping of acid? Or, do you use something else? With so many different methods to stop acid, it's obvious that medical science has no idea how to cure GERD or acid reflux.

Alkaline substances neutralize stomach acid
You might remember from your high school science class that acid is the opposite of alkaline. To counteract or neutralize acid, you must introduce an alkaline substance or create an alkaline environment. OTC antacids try to do that but often don't contain enough of the alkaline substance and are quickly overwhelmed by the acid production of your stomach.

An alkaline substance that requires no prescription, is inexpensive and has no side effects is readily available in your pantry: baking soda. I've used it in the following recipe to completely neutralize occasional bouts of acid reflux: put a teaspoon of baking soda into an 8-oz. glass of water, mix it thoroughly and drink it down. If you have huge amounts of acid, you might want to increase the baking soda to a tablespoon and possibly reduce the water to 4 or 6 oz. Even better, I know of a simple diet that will end the acid reflux and create a permanent alkaline environment in your stomach.

An alkaline diet that ends GERD and acid reflux
When your stomach breaks down food, the end product is either alkaline, acid or neutral (this is a greatly simplified explanation!). What you want to do is eat enough alkaline-producing foods to counteract the acid-producing ones.

You might think that citrus fruits create an acid environment. In fact, lemons, limes and grapefruits are some of the top foods for creating an alkaline stomach! Breads made with any type of flour create acidity, while breads made from sprouted grains create alkalinity. Anything that's very sweet is acid - including fresh, frozen and dried fruits.

Did you know that water can cause an acid stomach? If you've been guzzling lots of water, that may be the total cause of your acid reflux problem! I drink Ozarka natural spring water, but it sometimes causes too much acid if I'm really thirsty and drink a lot at one time. If I mix in some baking soda, I get no acid reflux. There are some alkaline waters and some machines that can generate alkaline water in your kitchen, but both options are more expensive than adding baking soda.

These books might free you from GERD drugs!
I would suggest you check out the following books at Amazon to help you develop a realistic alkaline diet. I have these in my library and have found them to be immensely helpful. While I didn't start out following the exact diets in the books, I have converted now! I have discovered that incorporating many of the foods and leaving out some others (and adding baking soda to my water) turned my stomach from acid to alkaline in short order. With great and almost immediate success, I completely switched over to the pH Miracle diet because of the health benefits.

It may not happen overnight for you, but it should happen relatively quickly if you initially follow any of the suggested diet plans. Once you have switched your stomach from acid to alkaline, you can start adding back some of the acid-producing foods, if you like. If acid reflux happens again, you'll know that you should add fewer acid foods. Here are the books:




Buy as many of these books as you can afford. If you can only buy one, the pH Miracle book at the top left should be your choice.

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Is homocysteine killing you?

Homocysteine is an amino acid that you need for normal cellular function, but too much of it can kill you - and you may not even know it's happening.

High blood levels of homocysteine are implicated in a number of serious, life-threatening illnesses. While the dangers of elevated homocysteine are well known, not all doctors test for it. If you have high levels or you're not sure and would like to take a precautionary measure, there's an ordinary supplement that may help.

High homocysteine levels can deteriorate your entire body
If you've been diagnosed with high homocysteine levels, you may be damaging your arteries, kidneys, heart, immune system, joints, nerves and tissues. You'll also increase your chances of having a stroke or getting cancer. And, you'll be aging faster. Not a pretty picture!

There are several ways to reduce homocysteine, including pharmaceutical drugs. However, they can be expensive and come with a buffet of unpleasant side effects. If you'd like a less-drastic method - but just as effective, try plain old vitamin B.

You're eating less B vitamins than ever before
Vitamin B was commonly found on every grocer's shelf - in bread, but modern man's love of white bread, which is virtually devoid of nutrient value, helped put an end to nutritious breads. Bleached flour is nothing more than simple carbs accompanied by a very low level of artificial vitamins that are inadequate for maintaining good health.

Even if you eat whole wheat bread, you may not be getting sufficient B vitamins. In this low-carb world, most of us don't eat as much bread as our great-grandparents did. Even if we did, you wouldn't get enough B vitamins. Today's food has a lower nutrient value due to topsoil erosion, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, acid rain and environmental toxins.

If you're under stress, your body has an even greater need for vitamin B. Just getting older also robs you of vitamins because your digestive system doesn't function like a teenager. Poorer digestion results in fewer nutrients being extracted.

25 percent reduction in heart attacks & more with vitamin B
Imagine taking a harmless pill that could reduce your chance of heart attack by 25 percent. According to Austrian doctors at the Universitatsklinik für Herzchirurgie in Salzburg, that's exactly what vitamin B will do for you. They found that reducing homocysteine levels could prevent up to 25 percent of "cardiovascular events." They suggested taking vitamins B6 and B12 because "supplementation is inexpensive, potentially effective, and devoid of adverse effects," giving it "an exceptionally favorable benefit/risk ratio."

The Framingham Heart Study is a long-running study conducted on a large population. It is highly respected in the medical community, as it gives immense insight into the connection between diet, exercise, lifestyle and health. Researchers at Tufts University's Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging found that study participants had an increased risk of occlusive extracranial carotid stenosis (closing or collapsing of the carotid artery) if they had high levels of homocysteine, which could be "attributed to vitamin status," specifically vitamins B6 and B12.

Even if you take just vitamin B12, you can expect to lower your homocysteine levels up to 15 percent, according British doctors at the Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit at Oxford University. Their conclusions are based on reviewing clinical studies involving 20,000 subjects.

It's generally not a good idea to take only one of the B vitamins as a supplement, because it can throw your vitamin B balance off kilter. It's best to take a supplement that has all the B vitamins in it.

I've been taking inexpensive B-100 complex vitamins for over 40 years. Many people prefer to take brewer's yeast, as it's rich in vitamin B. That's a great way to take it (not expensive, either), although I find it's not always convenient and may cause digestive upset.

Below is a link to the brand I take.



Additional sources:
Z Kardiol. 2004 Jun;93(6):439-53
Kidney Int. 2000 Aug;58(2):851-8.
Public Health Rev. 2000;28(1-4):117-45
Semin Vasc Med. 2005 May;5(2):215-22

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Soothanol X2 makes pain evaporate

Ever believe in something so much that you can't wait to tell others about it? That's how I feel about Soothanol X2.

It's a liquid that you apply to any area that's painful. I've used it on a stiff neck, sprained ankle, sore knee, aching back, tender wrist, black-and-blue spot, pulled muscle...and the list goes on. And, that's not even the best part! Soothanol X2 also has the unique ability to help your body ignore the pain even when you don't apply it anymore. This is great for people suffering from chronic pain.

Pain evaporates
My husband was the first to use Soothanol. He hurt his lower back and couldn't stand up straight. I applied a small amount to his back, and he immediately felt the heat, which is caused by the cayenne pepper ingredient. The pain-relieving ingredients started to penetrate his back and the pain stopped. This happened within a minute or so. Other than anesthesia or drugs administered by IV, I cannot think of any supplement or prescription drug that relieves pain so fast.

I first used Soothanol for a stiff neck. Ever wake up with a neck so sore that you couldn't lift your head off the pillow? That's what hit me one morning. After applying Soothanol to my neck and upper back, I was back to normal. I wish the word miracle wasn't so overused, because it certainly applies to Soothanol!

It's all natural & non-addictive
Soothanol's oils work together to make pain nothing more than...well, a painful memory. Arnica oil, calendula oil, emu oil and even St. John's wort oil have been used historically as naturopathic analgesics. They use different methods to penetrate the body and relieve pain. Modern scientists continue to research the pain-relieving properties of these oils.

Arnica oil is used to relieve post-operative pain, osteoarthritis and muscle pain from physical exertion and has been used by Brazilian, Norwegian and German doctors in clinical trials. British doctors discovered that calendula oil, which is derived from a flower, was more effective than a prescription painkiller. You've probably seen the infomercial ads for "blue" products that are almost pure emu oil, which is rich in linoleic acid. This is serious painkilling medication. It "teaches" your body to turn off the pain receptor. It "dulls" the perception of pain to your nervous system, even when the oil isn't being applied anymore!

DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide), MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) and limonene oil (extracted from orange peel) send the pain-relieving oils down into your body, right to the source of pain - whether it be muscle, tendon or joint. In fact, these ingredients are also heavy-hitting painkillers, adding to the overall response of Soothanol.

Easy to buy, easy to use
The amount of Soothanol you use is VERY small. In fact, you'll be surprised how long a bottle lasts! Just a couple drops on a spot is all that it takes. For larger areas, such as your back, you'll use a bit more.

Visit the Soothanol X2 site and lay in a supply for your family. We keep two bottles on hand. You never know when you might sprain or injure something!

Additional sources:
J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan 15;96(3):545-9. Epub 2004 Nov 2
Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd. 2003 Oct;10(5):242-7
Homeopathy. 2003 Oct;92(4):187-9
Adv Ther. 2002 Sep-Oct;19(5):209-18
Altern Ther Health Med. 2002 Mar-Apr;8(2):66-8
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001 Jul;155(7):796-9
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Nov 1;90(21):1034

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Vitamin C makes strong bones & helps prevent osteoporosis!

You've been flooded with info about vitamin C and its ability to fight off germs and colds. It's even better at building collagen. What does collagen have to do with building bones? Everything!

Vitamin C builds the foundation for your bones
When your body makes bones, it does it by laying down the bone mineral content onto a foundation or matrix. That matrix is collagen. Your body also makes the collagen, and it needs vitamin C to do that. If you have low levels of vitamin C, your bones will suffer. It could mean broken bones won't heal quickly or that osteoporosis is in your future.

It's never too early to start preventing osteoporosis
A British study at the University of Cambridge found that women in their 70s and 80s with low levels of vitamin C lost bone mineral density (BMD) significantly faster than women with lower levels. Loss of bone mineral usually shows up when you're older. Starting vitamin C supplementation as early as possible helps diminish bone loss later in life.

The School of Allied Health at the University of Connecticut supports the findings of the Brits. In a study involving 136 postmenopausal subjects, they found that vitamin C, among other "critical nutrients," had "a significant relationship with BMD." Dutch doctors went a step further and said that increasing vitamin C "may lead to considerable reduction or even prevention of bones loss, especially in late menopausal women and the elderly."

Don't become a victim to a broken hip
You could probably cope with a broken leg or arm, but a broken hip is totally incapacitating. Besides being painful, it keeps you in bed for weeks or even months, limiting your independence later in life. The Center for Health Studies at the Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound in Seattle found that long-term use of vitamin C supplements (about 10 years) resulted in higher bone mineral density in the hip bone among women who were postmenopausal.

Plan for the future and start taking vitamin C today to protect your bones years from now. Start with a low dose of 250-400mg and build up. If you have diarrhea after starting your new regimen, it may mean your dosage is too high. Back off and take a lower dose, building up little by little.

Other ways to increase bone mineral content
Vitamin C isn't the only important contribution to bone health. You also need weight-bearing exercises (e.g., lifting weights), a calcium supplement and some sunshine (a 20-minute stay in the sun a few times a week is ample for most of us).

Stay strong!

Additional sources:
Clin Calcium. 2005 Sep;15(9):1529-34
Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1999 May;69(3):194-7
Osteoporos Int. 2003 Jun;14(5):418-28. Epub 2003 Apr 16
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003 Jul;57(7):8
Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2001 May;41(4):225-49
J Epidemiol Community Health. 1997 Oct;51(5):479-85

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Do you have "broken heart" syndrome?

If you've recently been assaulted by a sudden emotional issue, you may not be suffering from normal, everyday stress. In fact, you may have stress cardiomyopathy. According to Dr. Ilan Wittstein, a cardiologist at the Heart Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, this is commonly called "broken heart" syndrome.

Death, crime or a car accident may be the cause
Broken heart syndrome results from highly emotional issues, such as the death of someone close to you, being the victim of a crime or being in a car accident. Dr. Wittstein mentioned that one patient suffered from broken heart syndrome at her surprise party! Whatever causes your adrenal glands to pump out huge amounts of adrenalin and noradrenalin can lead to this syndrome. It's most common in middle-aged women, but anyone can have it.

Broken heart syndrome stuns your heart, causing you to have chest pain, shortness of breath and other symptoms of a heart attack. If your doctor DOES treat you for a heart attack, the results could be deadly due to inappropriate medication.

A homeopathic solution that's 95 percent effective!
If you've recently had a sudden shock to your system and are seeking medical attention for symptoms of a heart attack, tell your physician about the emotional situation you've experienced and ask if you have broken heart syndrome. He should be able to tell the difference between the syndrome and a heart attack.

You'll most likely stay in the hospital for observation or further testing and may be treated with a well-known homeopathic solution called St. Ignatius bean or Ignatia amara. Ignatia is traditionally used for its ability to calm sudden, extreme emotional disturbances. According to Polish researchers in the Department of Psychosomatics at the Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education in Warsaw, ignatia has an effective rate over 95 percent! This is impressive, as I cannot think of one prescription drug that has anywhere near that level of efficacy.

Ignatia is so effective in highly charged emotional situations that the Israelis have used it to calm terror victims and survivors. The Center of Integrated Complementary Medicine at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem used ignatia to successfully reduce the effects of a "multiple-casualty construction disaster." Within one day, victims receiving the solution experienced an 89 percent decrease in anxiety.

Amazon and all the vitamin retailers listed in the left margin carry ignatia. Enter ignatia in the search box on that site, and you'll have a choice of many brands. Pick whichever best suits your needs and pocketbook.

If you're dealing with ordinary stress and need some long-term solutions, you can find supplements in my Stress relief! blog.

Additional sources:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2005/02_10_05.html
Sci Eng Ethics. 2004 Jan;10(1):179-88
Homeopathy. 2003 Jan;92(1):44-7

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Ginger destroys ovarian cancer

Go to the grocery store and buy some ginger. Put some on food at every meal, and you'll kill ovarian cancer cells growing in your body. Science-fiction? Maybe not.

An ordinary spice with extraordinary properties
According to recent research conducted by Dr. Rebecca Liu at the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Michigan, ordinary powdered ginger from the grocery store may be the next big "drug" for ovarian cancer.

Dr. Liu put ordinary ginger into cultures with various lines of ovarian cancer cells and killed all of them. These lab experiments are important for several reasons. One of the most stunning is that different types of ovarian cancer cells were killed. Each line of cancer has a unique cause and growth mechanism, and drugs usually target one type of cancer. Ginger doesn't care why the cancer is there or how it grows, it kills all with equal authority.

Better than chemotherapy
Cancer cells are highly adaptive and often mutate to avoid destruction by chemotherapy. The Michigan researchers found that ovarian cancer cells did not successfully mutate when treated with ginger. In fact, the spice made the cells die by autophagy. This is different than normal cell death, known as apoptosis. Autophagy means the cells turned on their own and destroyed them. The cancerous cells became part of the solution!

Dr. Jennifer Rhode, one of Dr. Liu's colleagues, stated that ginger performed BETTER than "platinum-based chemotherapy drugs typically used to treat ovarian cancer." Better than drugs - and cheaper. Unlike chemotherapy, ginger has no known side effects.

Don't wait for the clinical trials - start taking ginger now
The experiments conducted by Dr. Lui were not on animals or humans. These are to follow. Do you want to wait to hear the results in five or ten years? I didn't think so. Ginger is inexpensive, available everywhere and it's delicious. Get some - but be sure to buy organic. At least one of my approved retailers listed in the left margin will have organic ginger.

You can also buy ginger root and grate it fresh every day. However, the tests were conducted with dried ginger powder. It is unknown if fresh ginger will have the same results as powdered ginger.

Additional sources:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-04/uomh-gco033106.php
http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2006/ginger.htm

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Are the drug companies killing us?

A recent TV ad from pharmaceutical giant Merck caught my attention. The black-and-white commercial was intended to engender confidence in their company as well as the entire industry. The speaker tried to give you a warm fuzzy feeling about the competence of the company. He also used the word "ethics."

If the drug companies ARE ethical, why are they speaking about BEING ethical? Have there been so many drug recalls and issues with medical devices that they're trying to save face?

How many recalls before things change?
From Vioxx to defibrillators, the FDA has been busy issuing recalls. The recalls are usually a reaction to serious side effects of the product - sometimes resulting in death.

With the years of research and testing of drugs and medical devices, you would expect to see tighter controls and fewer recalls. According to the Worst Pills website, we've had 48 drug recalls between Jan. 1 and June 14, 2006. That doesn't include the medical devices that were recalled, such as the Automatic External Defibrillator, which might not do the only job it's supposed to do - resuscitate!

YOU are paying for drug research
The US government pays for 60 percent of the testing and research to get drugs to the market. Of course, this is funded by your tax dollars. Surprised?

Drug companies receive government research grants, and the researchers are often given stock in drug companies as compensation for their work. It isn't unusual for a researcher who has successfully ushered a drug to the market to be hired by the drug company as a reward for his hard work and service. Since many researchers work in university settings, the opportunity to make a lot of money at a drug company and get a nice piece of the stock-option pie is very tempting. How many researchers have compromised their ethics - and your health - to grab the brass ring of success?

Even more alarming, the FDA board that passes or fails a drug's final release to the market is frequently stacked with scientists who will be hired by the drug company IF the drug is approved. A classic case of the fox guarding the hen house!

Are there safer alternatives to drugs?
If conflicts of interest and backhanded bribes aren't enough to give you second thoughts the next time you fill your prescription, then the recalls should cinch things. That doesn't mean you have to give up good health. Instead, it could mean that you may experience increased good health! Natural alternatives have worked for thousands of years. In fact, prescription drugs are frequently based on herbs or natural cures. Because we live in an impatient world, where we want things NOW, the drug companies are providing "instant" cures. For me, the price is too high. I don't mind waiting a little longer for a natural (and safer) alternative to take away a pain or bring me back to health.

Read my blogs to find safe, proven and inexpensive alternatives to drugs. Besides saving money, you just might save your life.

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

White willow bark is the "mother" of aspirin

Before the invention of pharmaceutical drugs, plants were medicine. Of course, man cannot leave good enough alone - he has to improve on nature. That's where the drug companies come in. They take natural medicinal substances and turn them into powerful drugs that deliver lots of side effects that are not found in the original plant. Aspirin was derived from white willow bark and is a prime example of man's "improvement" on Mother Nature.

2,500 years of use can't be wrong
According to the Department of History at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, man first extracted white willow bark's medicinal properties about 2,500 years ago. Its use may actually go back much further, as we don't know when it was first used by cultures that had no written language.

Even with the widespread availability of aspirin, white willow bark is still being used today. Because aspirin is a highly concentrated extract, it delivers a huge wallop to your stomach. White willow bark may upset your stomach, but it's less likely to do so. That doesn't mean white willow bark is less effective than aspirin.

I've taken white willow bark for headaches and other pains and have never been disappointed in the speed and delivery of the pain-relieving constituents. Aspirin delivers pain relief just as fast, but at what cost?

Even low-dose aspirin causes ulcers
Do you take aspirin every day for back pain, arthritis or for vascular problems? If so, you may have ulcers. According to a research study conducted by the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne in Australia, about one in ten patients on low-dose aspirin (75mg-325mg daily) has aspirin-induced ulcers - without realizing it!

If you've been taking aspirin for years or even just for months, you may have already created an ulcer. If you continue to take aspirin, your ulcer may start bleeding. You will open yourself up to infection and possibly compromise your health.

You may be able to skip the ulcer
White willow bark is tolerated much better than aspirin, and you may reduce your risk of getting an ulcer.

If you already have an ulcer from aspirin, check with your healthcare professional to see if you can switch to white willow bark. Depending on the severity of your ulcer, even white willow bark may be too harsh for you.

You don't have to take white willow bark as a tablet or capsule. You can drink it as a tea. In fact, this is how it was administered for thousands of years. White willow bark tea is quickly absorbed and delivers pain relief in short order. This may be a more stomach-friendly way to take your medicine - slowly and over time.

My capsules are 400mg each, but I've seen much higher dosages online. If you decide to try this supplement, I suggest that you start with a lower dose. If you find you need a higher dose, you can always take a second pill. NOW brand of white willow bark is available through Amazon (click on the link below).



Additional sources:
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2002;505:89-94
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2005 Nov 1;22(9):795-801

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Gesundheit! How to prevent colds

What if you could take an herb that would help your body's own immune system fight colds better? If that's of interest to you, then you'll want to get some andrographis paniculata.

Andro what?
Andrographis paniculata is legend in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It's been used for hundreds of years to fight colds, fever, diarrhea, infection and inflammation.

Unlike prescription antibiotics, andrographis doesn't kill germs, bacteria or anything else. It helps your body fight its own battles by stimulating your immune system. That means your immune system's performance as a natural protector can be increased - all it needs is a little natural help.

Andrographis demolishes colds
Besides centuries of successful use in TCM, andrographis has been tested by medical researchers and performed remarkably well in a number of clinical trials. Let's take a look at some of them.

Doctors in Chile treated students with andrographis for three months to see if it would prevent colds. They divided 54 students into two groups. One group received a placebo, while the other took a daily andrographis supplement. During the test period, only 30 percent of the students taking andrographis got sick - compared with 62 percent of the control group! Colds were cut in half by taking andrographis!

In an even larger study, Russian doctors took 130 children with colds (ages 4 to 11) and divided them into three groups. All groups received standard medical treatment for colds, but one group also received echinacea, while a second group also received andrographis. Over a period of 10 days, the children taking andrographis recovered faster and had less severe symptoms, with noticeably less nasal secretion and congestion.

There are several other clinical trials. Let me give you the short version on a couple of them. A double-blind study in Chile took 158 adults with colds and gave half a placebo and half andrographis for five days. By the second day, the andrographis group's symptoms were less prevalent and less severe than the placebo group. Another double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study involved 90 patients taking either andrographis or a placebo for five days. Doctors found that the herb had a "positive effect in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections" and also relieves sinusitis.

The next time somebody sneezes on you, start taking andrographis!
There are plenty of companies that make andrographis paniculata. After doing some research, I found a very potent formula by Planetary Formulas. This formula is standardized and delivers a significant amount of the extract that stimulates your immune system. Click on the links below to stop colds in their tracks! The left one is 60 tablets, the right one is 120 tablets (a real deal!).



Hope you feel better!

Additional sources:
J Cell Biochem. 2005 Aug 1;95(5):970-8
Planta Med. 2005 May;71(5):429-34
Phytomedicine. 1997;4(2):101-4
Phytother Res. 2004 Jan;18(1):47-53
Phytomedicine. 1999 Oct;6(4):217-23
Phytomedicine. 2002 Oct;9(7):589-97

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Tocotrienols: a tastier & healthier vitamin E!

True or false: All vitamin E supplements are the same.

False! Most vitamin E supplements contain various types of tocopherols. Tocotrienols are another type of vitamin E, but they're more expensive and not as common. However, tocotrienols offer many more health benefits than tocopherols.

Are tocotrienols really that much better than tocopherols?
Tocotrienols by themselves may not be any more potent than tocopherols. What they are better at doing is getting into your cells. Isn't that the whole point? Here are a few ways tocotrienols can benefit your health. For your convenience, each section includes the referenced scientific journal.

Anti-aging: "One hallmark in the origin of disease and aging is the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Tocotrienols possess excellent antioxidant activity in vitro and have been suggested to suppress ROS production more efficiently than tocopherols." [J Nutr. 2005 Feb;135(2):151-4]

Fights breast, liver & lung cancers: Tocotrienols "inhibited growth of [breast cancer] cells by 50%." [Lipids. 1995 Dec;30(12):1139-43] Tocotrienols are powerful fighters of new breast cancer cell growth and have been shown to cause the cancer cells to die without any harmful effects on normal cells. [J Plant Physiol. 2005 Jul;162(7):803-10] "Experimental evidence strongly suggests that dietary supplementation of tocotrienols may provide significant health benefits in lowering the risk of breast cancer in women."[Front Biosci. 2005 Jan 1;10:699-709. Print 2005 Jan 1] In a rodent study, "Oral administration of tocotrienols resulted in significant suppression of liver and lung carcinogenesis." [Cancer Lett. 2005 Nov 18;229(2):181-91. Epub 2005 Aug 10]

Neuroprotective: In a study involving spontaneously hypertensive rats, tocotrienols proved to be protective of stroke-induced neurodegeneration. [Stroke. 2005 Oct;36(10):2258-64. Epub 2005 Sep 15] "Dietary supplementation studies have established that tocotrienol, fed orally, does reach the brain. The current findings point toward tocotrienol as a potent neuroprotective form of natural vitamin E." [Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1031:127-42] Tocotrienol is "a natural antioxidant supplement capable of protecting the brain against oxidative damage and thereby from the ensuing adverse alterations." [Neurosci Lett. 1995 Aug 11;195(3):179-82]

Lowers cholesterol: Nineteen type 2 diabetics were given tocotrienols for 60 days, and their LDL (bad) cholesterol was reduced 42%. [Atherosclerosis. 2005 Oct;182(2):367-74. Epub 2005 Apr 20]

Add tocotrienols to your diet without taking another pill
A very rich source of tocotrienols is coconut oil. It's been given a bad rap in decades past because food manufacturers hydrogenated it to give it a longer shelf life. UNhydrogenated coconut oil is now commonly available, and that's the type you should buy.

We added coconut oil to our family's diet about 10 years ago. We use it for all types of cooking. If you freeze it before use, you can substitute it for butter or lard when making pie crusts. I've also used it to coat the outside of my Thanksgiving turkey. It's not quite liquid at room temperature, so you have to warm it up a little if you need to measure it as a liquid - although, it's extremely pliable and easy to work with at room temperature.

I've read in some articles that coconut oil is not recommended for frying, but I don't think that's universally accepted. In fact, I've read that it's highly recommended by many nutritionists specifically because it's one of the few oils that's very well suited to high-temperature cooking. While many oils break down (and may cause free radicals) when exposed to high heat, coconut oil isn't one of them.

Organic coconut oil doesn't have to be expensive
Coconut oil is pretty common these days, so you should be able to find it at your local grocery store or health food store. Whatever brand you buy, it should be virgin, organic and unrefined. Below is a link to Nutiva, which is the brand I use.



Eat well!

Additional sources:
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1031:368-75
J Nutr. 2005 Feb;135(2):151-4
Lipids. 1995 Dec;30(12):1139-43
J Plant Physiol. 2005 Jul;162(7):803-10
Front Biosci. 2005 Jan 1;10:699-709. Print 2005 Jan 1
Cancer Lett. 2005 Nov 18;229(2):181-91. Epub 2005 Aug 10
Stroke. 2005 Oct;36(10):2258-64. Epub 2005 Sep 15
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1031:127-42
Neurosci Lett. 1995 Aug 11;195(3):179-82
Atherosclerosis. 2005 Oct;182(2):367-74. Epub 2005 Apr 20

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

High-fructose corn syrup may be killing you!

Today, I won't be telling you about any new or wonderful supplement you should consider taking. Instead, I'm going tell you about something you should stop taking.

Fat, calories, sodium & carbs aren't the ONLY things that lead to obesity
Most food manufacturers are savvy enough to make sure that the four important reference points on their labels are enough to convince you that their food is healthful. These reference points are the product's calorie content and the grams of fat, sodium and carbohydrates. If the product doesn't have hydrogenated oils, that's an added bonus for the company (with a prominent announcement on the label!). I suggest that you also see if there's high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in it.

Even if you don't eat sweets, you'll find HFCS in condiments, cereals, desserts, snack foods, salad dressings, frozen dinners, prepared vegetables dishes, almost all fast foods and other foods too numerous to list here. If you stick to diet foods and think you're getting off scott-free, you'll be surprised to find out that HFCS is frequently found in low-cal, sugar-free and other dietetic foods.

We're drowning in a tidal wave of high-fructose corn syrup!
HFCS is also in beverages, and that is probably the largest part of our consumption. With the exception of a few small manufacturers, the soda industry switched from sugar to HFCS during the last half of the 20th century. It's during this period that we started getting fatter and the diabetes epidemic started to spread rapidly. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the "consumption of HFCS increased over 1000% [from 1970 to 1990], far exceeding the changes in intake of any other food or food group."

Worse than sugar, it's almost like a food cult
HFCS generates changes in your body not normally found when you eat sucrose (table sugar). For one thing, high-fructose corn syrup gets converted to fat in your liver. If your liver is layered with fat, which seriously compromises the organ, you will find it hard to lose weight. A fatty liver can cause many other health issues, which I'll address in a future blog.

When you eat table sugar, your pancreas produces insulin to counter it. When you eat HFCS, your body doesn't have the correct insulin response. The Clinical Biochemistry Division of the Hospital for Sick Children at the University of Toronto states that HFCS "perturbs glucose metabolism and glucose uptake pathways," leading to insulin-resistance and possibly diabetes. With an improper insulin response, your body doesn't have the right amount of circulating leptin, a substance that helps regulate normal body weight and appetite. HFCS is telling your body it's hungry and that you haven't had enough to eat or drink. Your metabolism is being brainwashed!

HFCS can lead to gout
Fructose (including high-fructose corn syrup) increases uric acid, a by-product of metabolism, and high levels can lead to gout.

Gout used to be an illness of the rich and famous. Not anymore. It's a painful disease caused by too much uric acid. When uric acid accumulates in the body, usually the joints (often the big toe), the associated pain is excruciating. The slightest pressure or even a mild breeze can cause agony. The number of people who are limping, having foot pain or suffering a variety of joint disorders may actually be suffering from gout.

HFCS may also be related to kidney disorders & high blood pressure
High-fructose corn syrup affects the body in ways that we're just now discovering. In rodent tests, researchers in the Department of Nutrition at the University of California (Davis) found that HFCS also increases triglycerides. The accumulation of uric acid also causes high blood pressure, so we're back to the HFCS-induced uric acid increase. Your kidneys remove excess uric acid. If you have too much uric acid, your kidneys may not be up to the extra load. That might explain why kidney disorders are also on the rise, and high-fructose corn syrup, through the increase of uric acid, may be the culprit.

Avoidance is the only sane answer
Stop eating and drinking anything that contains high-fructose corn syrup! It's that simple.

Start reading labels. Prepare only fresh vegetables and meat. Everything you need for a healthy and satisfying diet requires virtually no manufacturing process. You won't have to worry about what's been added to your food - because you're in charge!

The food industry and the manufacturers of HFCS are greasing political palms with so much cash that it would be political suicide to fight the industry. So, it's up to you and me. Our lives depend on it!

Additional sources:
Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Apr;79(4):537-43
Nutr Metab (Lond). 2005 Feb 21;2(1):5
Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Apr;79(4):537-43
Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2005 Oct 18
Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2005 Jun;7(3):235-41
Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Nov;76(5):911-22
J Am Soc Nephrol. 2002 Dec;13(12):2888-97

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Start killing colon cancer NOW!

In my June 13 blog, I wrote that lactoferrin, a milk constituent, has been shown to kill and prevent cancer. It's not the only milk derivative that can do that.

A third of us will get colorectal cancer
Calcium supplements have been shown to be a potent adversary of colorectal cancer, which kills 11% of all cancer victims. Even more surprising is that a third of all cancer in the U.S. will be colorectal cancer. While the dairy industry has aggressively promoted its "Got Milk?" campaign, it hasn't touted the benefits of milk when it comes to cancer. That's because you'd have to drink a lot of milk to get cancer-killing benefits - more milk than most people are willing to consume.

Calcium makes colorectal cancer cells die!
Researchers in the Calcium Polyp Prevention Study found that calcium supplements reduced the occurrence of colon polyps by interrupting the life cycle of the cancer cells. Your cells have a natural lifespan that includes death, but cancer cells don't die when they should. By adding more calcium to your system, you will short-circuit the unnaturally long life of colorectal cancer cells and make them die.

Your body's natural immune system knows how to kill cancer cells. If your immune system is overwhelmed by air and water pollutants, pesticides and chemicals in foods, it may not have the ability to protect you from cancer and disease because it's busy protecting you from these other things. Once this natural disease prevention breaks down, cancer cells start growing rapidly instead of dying while still in the early stages. If you had sufficient amounts of calcium, you could help your immune system kill off polyps, which are early markers of colorectal cancer.

How to make sure you're taking the right calcium combination
Calcium supplements are inexpensive and commonly available. Don't be fooled by claims about high-priced calcium derived from unusual sources or made by foreign manufacturers. Many websites that sell these oddball formulations are simply quoting statements from research studies that cannot be found or verified.

I take 250mg of calcium with each meal. Each capsule has 125mg of magnesium (this has long been considered the ideal proportion) and a low dose of vitamin D. Both vitamin D and magnesium aid your body's absorption of calcium. In fact, if you don't have vitamin D in addition to the calcium, there's a good chance you won't be getting the cancer-fighting benefits of calcium. Here's a link to the brand I use.



Additional sources:
J Nutr. 2004 Dec;134(12 Suppl):3463S-3471S
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2005 Feb;14(2):525-8
Carcinogenesis. 2005 Sep;26(9):1581-9

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Got cancer? Get this!

The "Got milk?" campaigns have it partially right. Milk IS good for you. However, one of the most beneficial constituents of milk won't be in your dairy case anytime soon.

The answer to your prayers!
Lactoferrin is made by humans, cows and other mammals as part of the first milk produced by mothers to feed to newborns. It endows the new baby with immune-building strength at a time when the baby is most vulnerable.

Since it helps the young fight off disease, scientists wondered if it could do the same for older people. Indeed, it can. It's been shown to fight many types of normally deadly cancers, and it may be the answer to your prayers.

Lactoferrin kills cancer in many ways
When I started my research to see which types of cancer lactoferrin can kill, I was surprised that it helped stop the advance of cancer by so many unique methods. This is unusual, because most cancer-killers work just one way.

In a Japanese study involving rats, doctors found that even low amounts of lactoferrin were effective at inhibiting the reproduction of bladder cancer cells. They weren't exactly sure why it was effective, but they suspected it was due to the presence of lactoferrin in the rat's urine. Most supplements that are washed out with urine are thought to be cast off from the body and not useful for anything. With lactoferrin, its presence in urine appears to be the reason bladder cancer couldn't get a foothold.

Lactoferrin's main healing mechanism is through your own immune system, making it so strong that it fights off cancer by itself. By activating your body's own natural killer cells, it appears to inhibit "lung metastatic colony formation." That means your own immune system may be able to stop your cancer from spreading to other organs.

In an animal study published in 2004, researchers stated that lactoferrin prevents angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels in cancer cells. Cancer can't survive unless it builds new blood vessels to feed its rapidly increasing supply of new cells. If you prevent the growth of blood vessels, your cancer will starve to death.

Cervical cancer is caused primarily by the human papilloma virus. It turns out that lactoferrin inhibits this microbe. By preventing the papilloma virus from getting a foothold now, you may be able to prevent it from developing into cervical cancer later in life.

In the final study I'll mention today, researchers stated that lactoferrin increases the production of Interleukin 18, which is part of your natural immune system, and appears to fight the hepatitis C virus, which is a cause of liver cancer. Liver cancer is extremely deadly. Your liver cleans your blood and removes toxins, germs, viruses and cancer cells so they can't accumulate and establish a colony. If your liver is compromised, then there's no way it can stand guard and protect you from other invasions. Lactoferrin's ability to fight the hepatitis C virus holds much promise for the millions of people who already have it but do not have much hope for a cure.

If you're not a newborn, here's how you can get lactoferrin
You can't get human lactoferrin unless you're drinking breast milk, but you can get it from cow's milk. In fact, all the research cited above was conducted with bovine lactoferrin.

Colostrum, of which lactoferrin is a part, is sold in capsules and tablets as an immune booster. But, if you've got cancer, you want as much lactoferrin as you can get. Why waste your time taking colostrum supplements that have 3% or 7% lactoferrin when you can get 100% lactoferrin?

One of the few sources of 100% lactoferrin is from Symbiotics New Life. It's a 250mg capsule. Here's a link to it. Get it and get well!



Additional sources:
Jpn J Cancer Res. 2000 Jun;91(6):582-8
Cytokine. 2004 Jan 7;25(1):36-44
Int J Cancer. 2004 Aug 10;111(1):111-6
Antiviral Res. 2004 Oct;64(1):63-8
Biochem Cell Biol. 2002;80(1):131-6

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Curcumin: a delicious spice that kills cancer cells

Curcumin is a constituent of turmeric, a spice found in curry dishes in India and Asia. It's also been used for thousands of years in Ayruvedic medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties. One of its most promising uses is as a potent cancer killer and preventive.

Certain types of cancer have a common basis for growth - nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). If you could control or suppress NF-kappaB, you would be able to stop cancer or prevent its spread. Curcumin can do that!

Curcumin stops lung cancer in its tracks
Cigarette smoke has been implicated in a number of diseases, including lung cancer. When doctors exposed lung cancer cells to cigarette smoke, NF-kappaB was activated PERSISTENTLY! Once it's been activated, it doesn't need additional prodding to keep going. However, when cancerous cells were first exposed to curcumin, the herb "abolished" the effect of smoke and prevented the activation of NF-kappaB!

When drugs & surgery don't stop breast cancer...
Like lung cancer, breast cancer may be controlled if NF-kappaB expression can be suppressed. Doctors recently discovered that breast cancer resistant to Taxol (a powerful pharmaceutical) was not resistant to curcumin. The spice inhibited NF-kappaB and prevented metastasis (spread of cancer) to the lungs. Researchers concluded that dietary supplementation with curcumin "has a therapeutic potential in preventing breast cancer metastasis."

Curcumin slays even more cancers
Human mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that is very aggressive. It's resistant to chemotherapy, leaving its victims with few options. When researchers treated MCL cells with curcumin, they found that it inhibited NF-kappaB, suppressed the spread of the disease and forced the cells to die.

The prognosis for pancreatic cancer isn't good, with less than 10% of victims surviving. Because NF-kappaB plays a significant role in this type of cancer, scientists attempted to "modulate NF-kappaB activity." They found that curcumin supplementation reduces NF-kappaB, which is "accompanied by marked growth inhibition and apoptosis [cell death]."

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is another cancer that has been shown to cave in to curcumin. Doctors found that it inhibited the spread of cancerous cells and forced the cells to die. Again, this was accomplished by inhibiting NF-kappaB expression.

A cheap supplement that may help you fight off deadly diseases
You could start adding turmeric to your diet, but you may not get enough curcumin to have an effect on any health issues. Fortunately, curcumin supplements are relatively inexpensive because the plant is prolific and readily available. You should be able to find curcumin at your local health food or supplement store. If not, click on the Amazon link below to get a pharmaceutical-quality supplement!



Be well!

Additional sources:
Carcinogenesis. 2003 Jul;24(7):1269-79
Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Oct 15;11(20):7490-8
Biochem Pharmacol. 2005 Sep 1;70(5):700-13
Cancer. 2004 Nov 15;101(10):2351-62
Int J Cancer. 2004 Sep 20;111(5):679-92

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

DHEA: Blessing or curse?

Ever since the book What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Menopause was published, women have been led to believe that natural hormone supplementation was a cure for many post-menopausal symptoms. While I agree that natural hormones are better than synthetic ones, they still shouldn't be used without medical consultation and testing.

Get tested before supplementing with any sex hormone
Higher estrogen levels are common after menopause, while going through menopause or when approaching menopause. Among other things, it's often responsible for a reduced libido and that extra weight you can't shake later in life. If your DHEA levels have dropped - allowing more estrogen to get a foothold, the current thinking is that taking DHEA supplements is a sure-fire cure.

Before taking DHEA, get tested to find out where your hormone levels stand. It could be that your hormones are in proper balance and that your problems are not related to them. There are a number of home test kits that collect your saliva to test your hormones, and you send your saliva (in a special container) to a lab. The results are mailed back to you, and you can share them with your doctor, if you like.

You can also get saliva and blood tests through your physician, but they're often hesitant to give you the results. There's also a chance that they'll work with you to correct an imbalance with natural hormones. Many doctors have been brainwashed by the pharmaceutical companies and prefer to prescribe synthetic hormones, which are made from horse urine. Yes, you read that right - horse urine!

Side effects can wreak havoc with your health
Some side effects have been noted with DHEA supplementation. In one study involving women suffering from adrenal failure (DHEA is made by the adrenal cortex), 89% of the subjects experienced side effects, in particular increased sweat odor and scalp itching." The researchers also stated that "premenopausal androgen levels can be restored with 25mg DHEA daily in most female patients."

Another medical article indicates that there are potentially more serious side effects associated with DHEA supplementation. These include "unfavorable effects on lipid metabolism (a cardiovascular risk factor) and a possible growth-stimulating effect on hormone-dependent malignancies (prostate, breast)." These were general findings based on a search of clinical trials and not a result of one trial or test of DHEA supplementation.

Because DHEA is produced in miniscule and almost immeasurable amounts in animals, testing on humans is the only reliable way to determine what happens with supplementation. The going is slow, making it all the more difficult and frustrating to get good guidance.

No matter which type of hormone supplementation you select - natural or synthetic - get tested every few months to be make your hormones are still in proper balance.

Additional sources:
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Mar;88(3):1112-8
Prescrire Int. 2002 Aug;11(60):118-23

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Holy basil works like aspirin & ibuprofen without stomach irritation!

If you take over-the-counter painkillers for pain or for your heart, holy basil may work as well and not irritate your stomach. In fact, it's been shown to protect your stomach!

Just like aspirin, but no stomach irritation
Taking aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen on a daily basis can slowly eat away your stomach lining, resulting in irritation or even bleeding ulcers. Coated or buffered products sometimes alleviate this, but long-term use can still lead to stomach problems. There's a better way.

Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) is an Ayurvedic medicine that's been used by millions of people for over 3,000 years. The Hindus consider the herb to be holy, hence the name. You don't have to ascribe the same status to it, but you can still benefit from its healing properties.

Scientists analyzed holy basil and found that there were six constituents. The largest was eugenol, which was shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities. It was concluded that all six constituents "were comparable to ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin."

In a study involving rats, doctors found that holy basil possesses "significant antiulcer" protection against ulcers induced by aspirin, indomethacin and stress.

Protect your heart and blood vessels
Holy basil has significant antioxidant properties that have been shown to protect your arteries. It protects your vascular system by preventing oxidation of cholesterol by free radicals. If LDL (bad) cholesterol is allowed to oxidize, it's the first step in coronary artery disease. Researchers concluded that holy basil provides "significant liver and aortic tissue protection."

In a rodent study, doctors found that holy basil was of "therapeutic and prophylactic value" for treating myocardial infarction (heart attack). When rats were treated with a chemical that induced heart attacks, holy basil’s antioxidant properties prevented damage to lipids. If you DO have a heart attack, it would be comforting to know that you've been taking a supplement that will help prevent further damage. And, it didn't compromise the health of your stomach!

Diabetics may also benefit from holy basil
Controlling blood sugar is a no-brainer for most of us, but diabetics ride a daily seesaw to regulate their blood sugar. Holy basil may be able to help them, too.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover single blind trial, researchers found that holy basil supplementation resulted in "a significant decrease" in blood glucose levels during fasting and after eating. The results were so significant that they recommended basil leaves as an "adjunct to dietary therapy and drug treatment in mild to moderate" non-insulin dependent diabetes.

High-quality holy basil
Himalaya USA imports the highest-quality Ayurvedic supplements I've found. They are pharmaceutical-grade supplements that work as intended. Click on the link below to buy it at a discounted price through Amazon.



Additional sources:
Phytomedicine. 2000 Mar;7(1):7-13
J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Apr;65(1):13-9
Life Sci. 2004 Nov 19;76(1):21-8
Mol Cell Biochem. 2001 Sep;225(1-):75-83
Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1996 Sep;34(9):406-9

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Irradiated food may be deadly

I remember when there was a big push for irradiated meat to be sold in the supermarket - but no one bought it because it had a funny color and it was substantially more expensive. To protect their interests, companies that irradiated food tried to make it a law that you couldn't say food was NOT irradiated - and that irradiated food would not be marked as irradiated. They wanted the public to believe that irradiation wasn't any different than pasteurization. It's NOT the same.

The Chinese lead the world in irradiated foods AND liver cancer!
When the Chinese Institute of Food Safety Control and Inspection, which is under the direction of the Ministry of Public Health in Beijing, wanted to prove that irradiated food was safe, they set up eight clinical trials to prove their point.

They fed 439 human volunteers irradiated rice, potatoes, mushrooms, peanuts and Chinese sausages. Their diet was between 60 percent and 66 percent irradiated food. After two to three months, they found "no adverse effects on body weight, blood pressure, ECG, hematology, blood enzyme activities, serum lipids or blood or urine...and no chromosomal aberration of peripheral blood lymphocytes." On the basis of this short-term test, they started wholesale irradiation of the Chinese food supply.

Two to three months is too short to test the effects of irradiation. Genetic mutations take longer. Within 10 years, China became the world leader in liver cancer deaths. About 10 percent of their population dies of liver cancer - compared to 0.05 percent in the U.S. The difference between these two statistics is magnified even more when you consider that the Asian diet is supposed to be extremely healthy! According to the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, "China alone accounts for 54% of the liver cancer deaths worldwide".

Why irradiation may contribute to liver cancer
The purpose of irradiation is to extend the shelf life of food. If you kill all the microbes that could deteriorate food, then food will last longer. Irradiation kills harmful microbes as well as beneficial ones. Beneficial bacteria help limit the growth of harmful microbes such as aflatoxin, which is known to cause liver cancer. Could the increased presence of aflatoxin in China's food supplies be the cause behind China's liver cancer epidemic?

Irradiation might kill harmful bacteria, but you're still eating fecal matter and urine
A major selling point of irradiation supporters is that it'll make the meat supply safer. Food that is contaminated with vermin carcasses, fecal matter and urine won't endanger anyone's health because the dangerous toxins inherent in these non-food items will have been cooked out of the food. You can eat rat feces, but it won't make you sick!

If you want more reasons why irradiated food is bad for you, visit Dr. Joe Mercola's site.

You can avoid irradiated food by reading labels
I don't buy irradiated food. Spices, produce, eggs, meat, tea, juice, nuts and seeds must carry the international radiation symbol indicating that it's been treated. Irradiated food served in restaurants do not have to be labeled. You may be eating it without knowing it.

Additional source:
Biomed Environ Sci. 1989 Mar;2(1):1

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Do vegetables and fruits reduce colorectal cancer risk?

By now, you've heard hundreds of medical authorities state that fruit and vegetable consumption will help reduce your susceptibility to colorectal cancer. It makes sense, and most of us have bought into this concept. Is there proof to the contrary? Maybe.

Some studies show no relationship between produce and reduced colorectal cancer rates
A Portuguese study shows that fruits and vegetables may not be as protective against colorectal cancer as doctors claim. The researchers did not conduct any clinical trials or test any patients. Instead, they reviewed the results of other studies that examined the relationship between colorectal cancer and certain foods and beverages.

They found that in 12 out of 15 studies, there was "no significant relationship between vegetable intake and colorectal cancer risk." Furthermore, there was "no relationship with fruit consumption" when they examined the results of 11 of 14 studies.

In three out of six studies, they determined that the combined consumption of both vegetables and fruit reduced the risk of colorectal cancer. However, the results were inconsistent because the studies involved both men and women. Because of gender differences, differing proclivities to colorectal cancer and anatomical differences, they could not state with assurance that consuming both vegetables and fruits reduces colorectal cancer risk.

Another surprise - eating meat does NOT increase your risk of colorectal cancer
The doctors also stated that eating white meat, fish, seafood, dairy products, coffee and tea "was mostly unrelated to colorectal cancer risk." They did find that eating smoked or salted fish increased your cancer risk.

The food you eat may not be as important as originally expected when it comes to colorectal cancer. Continue to enjoy eating a wide variety of foods. No need to become a vegetarian or to have meals that exclude meats. Vegetables and fruits are important because they provide fiber and essential nutrients such as antioxidants. Balance is the name of the game.

Man has always been omnivorous. Your stomach makes enough hydrochloric acid that it's unmistakably designed for digesting meat. Eating animal protein can still be a safe and important part of your diet. Enjoy!

Additional source:
Clin Nutr. 2005 Nov 11

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

The spice diabetics need

Regulating blood sugar is a 24/7 juggling act for diabetics, and cinnamon may be able to help keep it level.

Several years ago, researchers at a government facility in Beltsville, Maryland, discovered that ordinary cinnamon helped regulate blood sugar levels in diabetics. It didn't replace or increase insulin - it just made it work harder by enhancing insulin's natural ability to control blood sugar levels.

Diabetics can control their lipids with drugs - or cinnamon!
In a study involving rodents, researchers conducted a six-week test comparing lovastatin (cholesterol-lowering drug) to cinnamon to determine which did a better job of controlling cholesterol.

Two groups of rats received one or the other of the supplements, while a control group received no supplements. All were fed a high-cholesterol diet. After the study, doctors found that rats getting cinnamon had "significantly higher" levels of HDL (good) cholesterol than the control or the drug group! Even better, the cinnamon group showed less tendency to form plaque on arterial walls than the rats getting lovastatin! Cinnamon also lowered cholesterol levels in the liver and prevented lipid oxidation through its natural antioxidant activity!

In a clinical trial involving 60 people, half received a cinnamon supplement, while the rest received a placebo. After 40 days, doctors discovered cinnamon "reduces serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL [bad] cholesterol and total cholesterol in the diet of people with type 2 diabetes." They even claimed it "will reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases."

Use organic cinnamomum cassia
There's no sense in taking a pill when you're dealing with something as delicious as cinnamon! Sprinkle it on your food and beverages. I add 1/4 tsp. to my hot carob drinks, sprinkle it liberally on yogurt and cottage cheese, toss it into Chinese dishes, use it to season some meats (especially beef stew) and sprinkle it on cooked cereals. It's not expensive, even if you buy organic - which is the only type you should buy. NEVER buy non-organic spices, as they are usually irradiated (more about irradiation here).

If you can't find organic cinnamon at your local health food store, there are plenty of places to buy it online. One last word of advice: there are two kinds of cinnamon. The most common kind and the kind used for all the studies listed above is cinnamomum cassia. Don't buy another type of cinnamon because it won't have as strong a flavor and may not deliver the same health benefits. You'll need to take about half a teaspoon a day to get any noticeable health benefits. Remember to check with your doctor before trying something that lowers your blood sugar naturally - especially if you're already experiencing blood sugar problems!

Additional source:
J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Jan 14;52(1):65-70
J Med Food. 2003 Fall;6(3):183-91
Diabetes Care. 2003 Dec;26(12):3215-8

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

The gift of the Magi may also be a gift to you

If you know the story of the birth of Jesus, you'll recall that the three Magi (wise men) brought gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense.

You already know what gold is. What about the other two? Myrrh is dried tree sap and was used to cover smells at funerals. Frankincense, on the other hand, is an herb that has a remarkable ability to heal and relieve pain. While you may not readily find frankincense on your store shelf, you'll probably find boswellia, which is the active constituent of frankincense.

Shut down the pain of osteoarthritis
One of the areas where boswellia's power is most evident is in its ability to relieve joint pain. Many herbal joint remedies usually contain boswellia as one of the ingredients, adding to the synergistic effect. However, by itself, boswellia is quite powerful and able to provide significant relief.

In a study of 30 patients suffering from osteoarthritis, doctors gave half the patients a placebo and the other half boswellia. After eight weeks, the group receiving the herb reported decreased knee pain, increased flexing of the knee and increased walking distance! While X-rays showed no difference, the differences between the groups were "statistically significant [and] clinically relevant."

In another study involving animals with induced arthritis, doctors found that the anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory effects of boswellia were a result of "suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines." In essence, boswellia goes to the cause of the pain and shuts it down.

71% of dogs with osteoarthritis improved with boswellia
People aren't the only ones living longer these days. Dogs are, too. With age comes age-related illness. If your dog is suffering from stiffness or doesn't get around very easily, you'll be interested in the following study that demonstrates the remarkable healing power of boswellia in canines.

Twenty-nine dogs with chronic joint and spinal disease were tested, with 25 of the dogs having confirmed osteoarthritis. They received boswellia for six weeks. After just two weeks, 71% of the dogs had a "statistically significant reduction of severity." A few dogs had a brief bout of diarrhea and gas during the study, but it was reversed in short order.

It matters how and when you take it
Boswellia won't do you any good unless it enters your bloodstream in significant quantities. Researchers found that it reached peak plasma concentrations when taken with a high-fat meal. While the study didn't state what constitutes a high-fat meal, it's obvious that taking it on an empty stomach won't do you much good.

Source Naturals makes an excellent high-potency boswellia supplement, available in bottles of 50 and 100 tablets. When you check the dosage of their product and compare it with the dosage of other brands, you'll see that it's the best value.

If you plan to give boswellia to your dog, please check with your veterinarian first.

You can buy Source Naturals Boswellia Extract from Amazon. Here's the link.



Additional source:
Phytomedicine. 2003 Jan;10(1):3-7
J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Oct 3;101(1-3):104-9
Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. 2004 Feb;146(2):71-9
Planta Med. 2004 Dec;70(12):1155-60

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.

Milk thistle teaches your liver to fight illness

Do you have indigestion, burping, a roll of fat below your breast/pectorals and/or hot flashes? If so, you may be suffering from a fatty liver, which is a type of chronic liver disease.

You could die if your liver isn't functioning properly
Keeping your liver healthy should be as important as keeping your cardiac system in top condition, because your liver is the foundation of your immune system. Your blood is cleaned by your liver, removing toxins, microbes, cancer cells and a host of other damaging things that could make you very sick or even kill you.

Besides regular exercise and eating a healthful, balanced diet of raw vegetables and (low-sugar) fruits, unprocessed and organic grains, seeds and nuts, you should consider taking a liver-specific supplement to help your liver get fit.

Milk thistle is the ONLY herb safe for chronic liver disease
One of the most potent and safest liver herbs is milk thistle (Silybum marianum), a common weed that's been used for thousands of years. Because your fatty liver is already compromised, you have to be very careful to avoid herbs and drugs that could make it worse or cause toxicity. According to researchers at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, milk thistle is the ONLY herb that "can be used safely in patients who have chronic liver disease."

The herb also stimulates your liver's own immune system to make it work harder and better. Doctors found that milk thistle supplementation increased interferon gamma and interleukin IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines. These are your body's natural illness fighters. Milk thistle arms them so they perform better.

Once your liver is functioning better, you may not need to take milk thistle after obtaining optimum health. However, if you have repeated lapses or find that you're always sick or have a lot of allergies, taking the herb regularly may help you stay healthier. No significant drug interactions have been reported, and only occasional mild digestive problems appear to be a side effect.

It's so cheap, anyone can afford to take it!
Because it's so easy to cultivate, it's one of the cheaper herbs on the market. Even the finest-quality milk thistle is moderately priced when compared to other herbs.

You can avoid taking more pills by drinking milk thistle tea. Taking it as a tea means the liquid will quickly enter your bloodstream and get to your liver faster than capsules or tablets. The tea is delicious, and I drink it daily to maintain good health. If you like, you can add stevia or honey to your tea. I take mine plain because I like the taste.

Drink up!

Additional source:
Am Fam Physician. 2001 Nov 1;64(9):1555-60
Med Sci Monit. 2002 Nov;8(11):BR439-43
Am Fam Physician. 2005 Oct 1;72(7):1285-8

* * * * * * * *
I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
treatments or exercises mentioned on this blog.