Gluten Intolerance ? Rheumatoid Arthritis ?

Gluten intolerance may cause rheumatoid arthritis

(Health Secrets) Gluten has gotten a bad rap for a reason. Eating foods containing gluten may lead to rheumatoid arthritis, a disease characterized by inflammation and pain in the joints. In addition, gluten intolerance leads to damage in the small intestine when products containing gluten have been eaten.

Gluten is a protein found in most grains. Bread, pasta and pretzels are just some of the foods that contain it. Many people who are gluten intolerant experience side effects from eating it, but some people do not have symptoms and could unknowingly be increasing their risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Gluten intolerance

Having a gluten intolerance means that the body has a hard time digesting the gluten found in grains like wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats. If not managed, this intolerance may lead to serious conditions such as diabetes and intestinal cancer. A gluten intolerance may cause aching joints, which is also a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. Additional symptoms include muscle cramps, hair loss, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, mouth ulcers and seizures.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning it causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy tissue. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but it is found most commonly in middle-aged women, though men can get it too. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include pain and stiffness in the joints on both sides of the body. Most often this affects the fingers, wrists, knees, feet and ankles. Joints may also feel tender or warm during periods of inactivity. Deformity in the joints can occur over time.

Autoimmune attack

When bacteria enter the body, the immune system recognizes the invader as something foreign. It attacks this invader to prevent illness. Unfortunately, in people with rheumatoid arthritis, the body thinks that their own body tissue is an invader and attacks it. The intestinal lining gets damaged during autoimmune attacks, which allows large food particles to pass through the damaged intestinal wall and get into the body. This condition is known as leaky gut and it is an autoimmune response. It may contribute to rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, according to Robb Wolf, a former research biochemist and the author of the New York Times bestselling book The Paleo Solution. For someone who is gluten intolerant, the body attacks grains that contain gluten, leading to intestinal damage. This allows the gluten particles to get into the bloodstream and to the joints, which the immune system then attacks and damages as well.

Dietary therapy

Dietary therapy may reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms by eliminating foods that trigger an autoimmune response, according to an article published in the British Journal of Rheumatotology. This therapy may even slow the progression of the disease by eliminating all trigger foods from the diet. Dietary therapy is also useful as a diagnostic tool to discover unique food triggers. The therapy begins with eliminating every possible food trigger for arthritis from the diet, such as beef, eggs, wheat, oranges, milk, peanuts, malt and soy. Food is then reintroduced one at a time to see if a person reacts to a particular item.

For more information:
http://robbwolf.com/faq/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001280/

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The big connection between thyroid and heart disease

The big connection between thyroid and heart disease

(Health Secrets) Having optimal levels of thyroid hormone is essential for  preventing and recovering from heart disease says Dr. Kathy Maupin, a pioneer in anti-aging medicine and founder of BioBalance Health. While many conventional physicians seem to think that elevated thyroid is a risk factor for heart disease, the real culprit is actually low thyroid.   When the thyroid gland does not make optimal levels of thyroid hormone, a downward cascade is set off in the body that can lead to death.

The connection between thyroid and heart disease

Hormones are the great communicators of the body. They are chemical messengers that transfer signals and instructions from one set of cells to another.  Thyroid is the most important hormone because it simulates energy production. Thyroid strengthens muscles, and the heart is the most important muscle in the body. Thyroid also works to keep your heart healthy by:

  • Keeping weight in the normal range
  • Reducing water retention and swelling
  • Powering a robust heartbeat
  • Normalizing blood pressure
  • Maintaining body temperature in the normal range
  • Speeding up sluggish metabolism
  • Helping the heart muscle achieve optimal functioning
  • Providing more blood and oxygen when you are exercising

The chemical messages sent by the thyroid to the heart tell it to beat at a normal rate, which is between 60 and 80 beats per minute.  The heart works like a pump, and this is the pumping rate necessary to ensure blood fully circulates throughout the body oxygenating tissues and organs. Any number above or below this range signals malfunctioning.  The objective is to maintain a steady and consistent blood flow to all the parts of the body, without fluctuation. Thyroid promotes a positive ejection fraction, the measure of how much blood goes out of the heart with each beat and is available for oxygenating.

The low functioning heart is the most dangerous heart

Many practitioners worry about heart arrhythmias, but Dr. Maupin stresses that the low functioning heart is the real sleeper, and hypothyroidism (low thyroid) is the culprit. There are four kinds of damage a heart can undergo:

Arrhythmia is a cadence issue in which there is inability to fill up the atrium and ventricle so that blood can be effectively pushed out of the heart. If this goes on long enough, it can cause damage to the heart and also the tissues and organs because they cannot become fully oxygenated.

Narrowing of blood vessels is the result of plaque build up. Normally the heart (think circulating pump again) is strong enough to send blood to nourish the lungs and the rest of the body, and return it to then nourish the heart itself. But if blood vessels are blocked or occluded, the vessels at the end of the line will die because not enough blood can get to them. The longer this goes one, the more in danger the whole body becomes.

Heart attack occurs when blood vessels become completely occluded, and no blood is able to reach the heart. It’s sort of like a garden hose with a kink in it allowing pressure to build up but the water is trapped. This can cause the heart to stop beating, and can cause long term damage in which parts of the heart become dead. The heart a person is born with and had all their life becomes no longer capable of pushing blood out, and the ejection fraction plummets. Without a healthy ejection fraction, a person is no longer healthy.

Poor muscle tone can occur without a heart attack. This can happen from years of low thyroid as your life force drifts away. The heart without adequate thyroid becomes lax, the pulse is slowed, and nothing in the body is getting quite enough blood. It is why you are tired, cold and out of breath if your thyroid is low.

Symptoms of low thyroid as it relates to the heart include weight gain or loss, slow heart rate, dysregulated blood pressure, swelling of the hands and feet, and feeling abnormally cold. Thyroid keeps the body warm, and all the bodily functions work better when you are warm.

Documenting low thyroid

In addition to presenting your symptoms anecdotally and being observed by your practitioner, there is a simple blood test that can determine low thyroid. This test measures thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and provides and indirect look at thyroid function. The theory behind it is that when the body is producing enough T3 and T4 (the two types of thyroid hormone the body naturally produces), TSH should be within a defined optimal range. However, when the thyroid gland has become sluggish and levels of T3 and T4 decline, the body mounts an effort to get the thyroid gland to produce more hormone. This is the function of TSH, and its elevation is a marker for low thyroid.

If a woman’s TSH reaches 2.5 on the lab test, it means tyroid hormone replacement is needed. The tipping point for men is higher, at 4.0. Yet most doctors still do not replace thyroid in women until their TSH is at 4.0, the men’s value. They say if they go to 2.5 they would be treating too many people! Lab reports still show only the 4.0 value as normal, dating back to the 1940s when male medical students were tested to determine a reference range. Later, it was determined that the sexes were different in their thyroid needs, but most doctors don’t seem to care. As a result, women can present with all the symptoms of low thyroid but are told by their doctors that their thyroid function is adequate unless their TSH reaches 4.0. If the woman persists, the next step is usually for the doctor to treat her with antidepressants.

Another way to determine low thyroid is through basal body temperature, which should be taken orally first thing in the morning before you get out of bed. A temperature reading below 97.9 indicates the need for attention to be paid to the thyroid. Start by supplementing your diet with iodine, a mineral sorely lacking in our food supply. Iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormone, and you must have adequate iodine to produce healthy thyroid hormone. If this does not produce results, thyroid hormone replacement is indicated.

There is a tendency not to treat low thyroid because it is seen as having no relationship to the cardiovascular system by the medical establishment. But replacing it is critical to heart health, and overall health and well being. Replacement is easily done orally with natural thyroid hormone, the form of thyroid replacement that suits most women best. This form replaces both T3 and T4, unlike the synthetic replacement drugs which replace only T4 and assumes the body can convert T4 to T3, a situation that becomes more iffy as we age. And when women become stressed physically or mentally, they lose the ability to convert T4 to T3. At the cellular level, T3 is the more active form and it actually simulates everything that the body’s own thyroid hormone once did, but it needs to be balanced with T4 to make us as we were meant to be. The natural thyroid is pig thyroid, harvested from pigs raised strictly for medical use. It is well accepted by almost all women.

“There is a lot hanging on this,” says Dr. Maupin. “When all those symptoms are getting better, I know the heart is getting better. They [her patients] won’t be out of breath when they work out and the heart muscle is not getting lax, like an old pair of hose you just keep wearing and it doesn’t form on your legs anymore, it just hangs.”

Diet, acidity, and the microbiota and their impact on urinary tract infections

Diet, acidity, and the microbiota and their impact on urinary tract infections

According to a recent study in The Journal of Biological Chemistry, diet and the acidity of urine may impact how well bacteria can proliferate in the urinary tract. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections and are often caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli).  The standard of care has been treatment with antibiotics; however, increasing bacterial resistance has lead researchers to search for alternative treatments.

Many physicians see patients who are particularly susceptible to urinary tract infections but they often don’t know the reason behind their increased susceptibility. Antibiotics have worked very well for quite some time, but over the last ten to fifteen years there has been a significant increase in bacterial infections that are resistant to many of these antibiotics.

As a result, researchers investigated how the body naturally fights bacterial infections. They cultured E. coli in urine samples and noted major differences between them. The urine samples that prevented bacterial growth promoted more activity of siderocalin, a key protein that the body naturally makes in response to infection. Previous research has suggested that it helps the body fight infections by depriving bacteria of iron, a mineral necessary for bacterial growth.

Of all the factors assessed, the only one that was significantly different between the two groups was the pH of the urine. The urine samples that were less acidic (closer to a neutral pH) demonstrated an increased activity of siderocalin and were more effective at restricting bacterial growth than those with higher acidity.

After analyzing thousands of compounds in the samples, the researchers discovered that the presence of small metabolites called aromatics, which vary depending on an individual’s diet, also contribute to bacterial growth. Samples that restricted bacterial growth were shown to have more aromatic compounds present. Researchers suspect that some of these aromatics are good iron binders, depriving the bacteria of iron, and are produced by a person’s gut microbes as they process the food they eat.

This study suggests that the body’s immune system harnesses dietary plant compounds to prevent bacterial growth that are associated with specific dietary components and with gut microbes.

Their results suggest cranberries as one possible dietary intervention. D-Mannose, an active component in cranberry, enhances the removal of bacteria from the urinary tract and bladder by blocking their adhesion to the mucosal walls. Also, Hibiscus sabdariffa has powerful antimicrobial and bacterial anti-adhesive properties, especially against E. coli.

Researchers also studied the bacteria’s methods for resisting the body’s innate immunity. E.coli makes a compound called enterobactin that binds strongly to iron. This study demonstrated that enterobactin is particularly good at binding iron in urine, therefore, discovering ways to block it may open up new opportunities for developing alternatives that work differently than traditional antibiotics.

Bacteriophages, a forgotten therapy, is the ideal option here. With the growing levels of antibiotic resistance and the exit of major pharmaceutical companies from antibiotic development, phage therapy becomes a great treatment of choice for the growing number of infections. They are not very well known but are one of the most abundant naturally-occurring organisms on earth. They can be found everywhere from the soil to drinking water. They only prey on bacteria, never human cells, and the bacteria have a difficult time becoming resistant to them. Phages are great because they are species specific – meaning different strains attack different bacteria. This makes them harmless to human cells and even to non-targeted bacteria. This is much different than antibiotics that can wipe out all the beneficial bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract along with the harmful bacteria. Phages are classified as prebiotics, and there are specific phages that can infect and inhibit the growth of E. coli only.

Phages can be used to support overall urinary tract health and can be used for both prophylactic and therapeutic applications against bacterial infections. Phage therapy has an 80 to 90 percent success rate against bacteria likely to show antibiotic resistance, such E. coli. In contrast, many antibiotics fail against evolved forms of these pathogens.

Watermelon — A Summertime Staple

Watermelon — A Summertime Staple

Summertime picnics and holiday celebrations would hardly be complete without watermelon. But this brightly colored perennial favorite fruit offers up more than a juicy, thirst-quenching snack in hot weather.

It is well known that women’s risk for cardiovascular events increases after menopause. Compounds in watermelon may help to improve arterial stiffness and hypertension in this susceptible population. Consumption of a watermelon extract rich in L-citrulline and L-arginine (6g/day for 6 weeks) resulted in small but significant decreases in aortic and radial systolic blood pressure compared to placebo in post-menopausal women. Studies in obese adults with hypertension and pre-hypertension lend more evidence for a role for watermelon in lowering blood pressure. A small, placebo-controlled crossover study involving 14 adults (age 58 ± 1 year) showed that, compared to placebo, supplementation with watermelon extract led to significant decreases in ankle and brachial systolic & diastolic pressure, as well as mean arterial pressure.

The effects of watermelon on cardiovascular health might also be due to the fruit’s relatively high citrulline content. (In fact, citrulline was first isolated from watermelon, and the compound takes its name from the plant’s botanical name, Citrullus lanatus.) Citrulline is a metabolic precursor to arginine, with arginine influencing synthesis of the vasodilator, nitric oxide. Subjects who consumed either 780g or 1560g of watermelon juice per day for three weeks had increases in plasma arginine concentrations of 12% and 22%, respectively. Citrulline might be even more effective for supporting cardiovascular health than arginine, itself. As researchers explain, “intestinal and hepatic metabolism of L-arginine to ornithine and urea by arginase makes oral delivery very ineffective…In contrast, L-citrulline is not metabolized in the intestine or liver and does not induce tissue arginase, but rather inhibits its activity. L-citrulline entering the kidney, vascular endothelium and other tissues can be readily converted to L-arginine, thus raising plasma and tissue levels of L-arginine and enhancing NO production.”

The benefits of watermelon compounds on hemodynamics and the cardiovascular system make watermelon a nice addition to post-workout recovery for athletes. Fresh and pasteurized watermelon juice both had helpful effects on muscle soreness in healthy young men 24 hours after a maximum effort cycle ergometer test.

Watermelon is a good source of the antioxidant lycopene, also found in other red/pink fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes and guava. In a crossover study with healthy adults, supplementation with watermelon juice resulted in significant increases to plasma lycopene, compared to no supplementation. There was no dose-response effect when the dose of watermelon juice was doubled, which suggests that there likely reaches a point when the body’s lycopene stores are replete and cannot be elevated further. It’s a nice coincidence that watermelon—a summertime staple—is so rich in lycopene, since lycopene may be protective against UV-induced photo-damage to the skin. In other words, to a certain degree, watermelon might be nature’s sunscreen!

A cup of watermelon (152g) provides 21% of the daily value (DV) for vitamin C, and 17% of the DV for vitamin A (as beta-carotene). The natural sweetness of watermelon might make those concerned about their sugar intake refrain from this delicious summer treat. However, a one-cup serving of watermelon has just 11g of carbohydrate. Compare that to a large bagel, weighing 131g (less than the watermelon), which delivers a whopping 70g of carbohydrate. Moreover, while the glycemic index of watermelon is relatively high, the glycemic load is quite low. After all, it’s not called watermelon for nothing: of the 152g by weight, 139g are water!

The peppery bite of bitter greens, such as arugula, and the saltiness of cubed feta cheese, make a classic salad to complement the sweetness of watermelon. And the bright pink flesh of a watermelon isn’t the only edible part. Nose-to-tail cooking doesn’t apply just to animal foods; you can use all parts of a watermelon in culinary applications. Pickled watermelon rind is a good way to make use of something that is typically discarded. In fact, the rind contains more citrulline than the pink flesh, and more of the phenolic compound, chlorogenic acid.

And don’t forget about the seeds! Watermelon seeds are good for more than spitting out onto the grass at family picnics. Although we don’t typically think of eating them, they’re a good source of natural fats, and they’re high in magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and manganese. Plus, watermelon seeds contain triterpene compounds that may have mild cytotoxic properties against human leukemia cells.

Vitamin D Crohn’s Disease

Vitamin D impacts intestinal barrier dysfunction associated with Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease (CD) is an autoimmune condition where part of the digestive tract becomes inflamed, ulcerated, and marked with sores. Along with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease is part of a group of diseases known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Crohn’s disease may involve the immune system. The immune system of a person with CD may treat bacteria, food, or other substances as foreign invaders, leading to chronic inflammation from the accumulation of white blood cells in the lining of the intestines, and resulting in ulcerations and injury to the tissues.

Data is emerging which shows that vitamin D supplementation may lengthen the remission in CD. A new study just published in this month’s edition of United European Gastroenterology Journal suggests that vitamin D supplementation may impact the intestinal barrier dysfunction associated with Crohn’s disease and play a role in the treatment of the condition.

The researchers assessed changes in gut barrier function and disease markers in CD in response to vitamin D supplementation. In this double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study, 27 CD patients in remission were given 2000 IU/day of vitamin D or placebo for 3 months. They found that patients treated with vitamin D were more likely to maintain their intestinal barrier integrity, whereas intestinal permeability increased in the placebo group. Increased intestinal permeability has been demonstrated to predict and precede clinical relapse in CD patients. In addition, those with the highest blood levels of vitamin D showed signs of reduced inflammation, measured by C-reactive protein and antimicrobial peptides.

A previous study had shown a clear chain of cellular events, from the binding of DNA, through a specific signaling pathway, to the reduction of proteins known to trigger inflammation. The vitamin D receptor appears to bind directly to DNA and activate a gene known as MKP-1. MKP-1 interferes with the inflammatory cascade triggered by lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which includes a molecule known as p38, and results in higher levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha.

Autoimmune disorders occur when the body’s immune system is tricked into producing antibodies that attack its own tissues. Vitamin D helps autoimmune disorders by regulating T cells in the immune system. This makes the body more tolerant of itself and less likely to mount autoimmune responses.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to many autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn’s disease, as research shows a higher prevalence of these diseases in those who are deficient in vitamin D. The severity of Crohn’s disease has been linked to the lowest vitamin D levels.

There is plenty of evidence regarding the benefit of vitamin D supplementation for a multitude of health benefits besides autoimmune disorders. Given the fact that supplementation of vitamin D in its natural form is harmless and inexpensive, many patients may benefit by having their vitamin D levels checked regularly and supplementing accordingly.

Mitochondria

Mitochondria: Use Them or Lose Them

Adenosine triphosphate: Textbooks tell us ATP is the universal energy currency for life on Earth. In plain English, it’s how organisms get things done. In human terms, ATP is required to accomplish just about everything. From the macro level—running a marathon, for example—to the micro level—powering sodium-potassium pumps in cell membranes—ATP is what makes it all happen. And except for the small amounts of ATP created through glycolysis, the majority of ATP is generated inside mitochondria. Considering the myriad requirements for ATP throughout the body, mitochondria that malfunction or decline in number present a cellular energy crisis that, when amplified to the level of the whole body, may contribute to some of the chronic illnesses that are currently reaching epidemic levels.

A growing body of evidence now links mitochondrial dysfunction to cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and neurodegenerative disease in general. With this in mind, cultivating healthy mitochondria can be considered an important part of maintaining energy generation and cellular signaling from the bottom up. Fortunately, the biosynthesis of mitochondria isn’t a matter of luck or chance. Deliberate activities can lead to mitochondrial biogenesis—the building of new mitochondria. If “necessity is the mother of invention,” as the saying goes, then necessity is also the mother of functional mitochondria. If we give the body a reason to make more—impart a need for more mitochondria—the body will make them.

Exercise is one of the most effective stimulators of mitochondrial biogenesis. Animal models show that exercise and stimulation of muscle contractions increase levels of mitochondrial enzymes employed in the ATP-generating citric acid cycle and fatty acid oxidation pathways, resulting in proportional increases in cells’ capacity to oxidize fuel substrates and generate ATP through the mitochondrial electron transport chain.

High intensity training seems to be especially beneficial for strengthening mitochondria. In a study of young males doing interval training involving one-legged cycling (to isolate findings to the exercising muscles only), just two weeks of high-intensity activity led to increases in mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle. An interesting finding to note is that these beneficial changes were independent of detectable increases in mitochondrial synthesis. This suggests that the bouts of exercise made existing mitochondria more effective at generating higher amounts of ATP, rather than this being a result of an increase in the total number of mitochondria.

The benefits of exercise on mitochondrial biogenesis and maintenance aren’t limited to the skeletal muscles actually performing the work. Animal studies have shown that exercise can induce the generation of new mitochondria even in the brain. This could be a boon for addressing age-related dementia and other forms of cognitive decline and impairment. Researchers speculate that brain mitochondrial biogenesis might be a two-way street: exercise leads to synthesis of new mitochondria, and the resulting improvements in brain mitochondrial respiratory capacity may lead to increased exercise endurance. Reaching exhaustion may not be solely the result of physical fatigue. With the brain being such an energy-hungry organ, with constant requirements for high amounts of ATP, “hitting the wall” may be due to central fatigue as well as physical exhaustion. Central fatigue is “the progressive reduction in voluntary drive to motor neurons during exercise, which can include both mental and physical factors. Decreases in cerebral metabolic ratio, impaired oxygenation, reduced central motor drive, altered neurotransmission, and impaired mood state have all been implicated in the development of centrally mediated fatigue.” Thus, increasing brain mitochondrial capacity might increase physical endurance capacity, too.

It is possible to get too much of a good, thing, however. Like many things that support good health, exercise has a U-shaped curve. That is, too little isn’t good, but too much can be harmful. Some is helpful; more isn’t always better. Appropriate levels of exercise promote health, but over-training can have the opposite effect. Too much exercise—whether in volume, intensity, or frequency—without adequate rest, recovery, and nutrient replenishment—can lead to levels of oxidative stress that overwhelm the body’s capacity to repair and regenerate.

When it comes to mitochondrial function, a good rule of thumb might be: “Use ‘em or lose ‘em, but don’t abuse ‘em!”

Men, Myths and Misinformation

Men, Myths and Misinformation

As with women’s hormones, there are many misconceptions and myths when it comes to men’s hormones. Women have an obvious marker of hormone decline when their menstrual cycles begin to change and eventually stop all together. For men, the changes in their hormones are often more subtle and less specific, leaving room for confusion, misdiagnosis and lack of treatment. Though not a myth, the first misconception about men’s hormones is the lack of understanding of the symptoms of testosterone decline and the incredible prevalence with which it happens. Studies indicate that nearly 40% of men over the age of 45 have overtly low testosterone levels. Recent pharmaceutical advertising campaigns have brought this subject some much needed attention, although there are still many common misconceptions when it comes to testosterone and men’s health.

Myth #1: The primary symptom of low testosterone is erectile dysfunction or low libido.

FALSE: Though low or suboptimal testosterone levels can contribute to changes in libido and the ability to achieve or maintain an erection, symptoms are varied and often include fatigue, apathy, difficulty concentrating, weight gain, depression, sleep disturbances and, most importantly, changes in metabolism including an increased risk for metabolic and cardiovascular disease.

Myth #2: Testosterone replacement increases risk of adverse cardiovascular events.

FALSE: There were two articles published at the end of 2013 and in the early part of 2014 which purported that men on testosterone supplementation had an increased risk of heart attack, however neither of these studies was particularly well run. They were both observational and retrospective, which severely limits the ability to control variables and is not sufficient to establish causation. Furthermore, one of the studies found that the mean level of men who were ON SUPPLEMENTATION was still only 332 ng/dL, and nearly 40% of the cases didn’t even have post therapy levels measured. While there is no agreed upon “low” for serum testosterone levels, most labs have a reference range that goes from approximately 300-1100 ng/dL, so a measurement of 332 is quite low. Conversely there exists a multitude of studies that link LOW testosterone to increased cardiovascular disease, and furthermore that testosterone replacement improves cardiovascular and metabolic markers. The NIH conducted one of these studies for the express purpose of investigating the findings of the JAMA study that linked testosterone replacement to increased risk. This follow up study looked at over 24,000 patients and found no increased risk of heart attack in those treated with testosterone.

Myth #3: Men should only be treated with testosterone if their measured levels are overtly low.

FALSE: As is typical with laboratory medicine, the reference range parameters don’t always equate with the optimal clinical outcomes. Studies indicate that men who maintain their testosterone levels in the mid to upper range have reduced incidence of cardiovascular events compared with those in the overtly low, or high ranges. The threshold of benefit appears to be greatest when levels are maintained above 500 ng/dL in serum.

Myth #4: Testosterone supplementation causes or contributes to prostate cancer.

FALSE: In the 1940s it was observed that castration reduced the incidence of prostate cancer. From this observation, it was extrapolated that testosterone must play a role in the pathophysiology of prostate cancer. The testicle produces several hormones other than testosterone, and it is now believed that the improvement seen in those patients was due to a decrease in estrogen production rather than testosterone. Prostate cancer is uncommon in young men, who generally have higher levels of testosterone, and becomes more prevalent with age, as testosterone levels fall. Over the past decade or so, there have been many investigations that have disproven the link between testosterone and prostate cancer.

Myth #5: The only way to increase testosterone levels is with hormone replacement.

FALSE: Though testosterone replacement can be a very powerful and effective treatment, there are many natural ways to boost endogenous testosterone production. For many men, weight loss will go a long way to boost testosterone levels. This is further improved with the building of muscle mass, therefore weight or resistance training is highly recommended. Short term, moderate intensity endurance training can also significantly increase testosterone levels. There are several nutritional and herbal supplements that improve testosterone levels including zinc, Tribulus terrestris, and Epimedium grandiflorum. Additionally, supplementation with DHEA, a hormonal precursor to testosterone can be effective in many cases.

 

Eyes wide shut toward vaccine junk science

Eyes wide shut toward vaccine junk science

(Health Secrets) What is vaccine junk science?  A recent outbreak of mumps surprised many because virtually all those infected had been vaccinated for the diseases. Most of those afflicted had received the required two shots of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. But amazingly, regional health authorities’ answer was to recommended a third dangerous shot as the solution, a logic that defies reason.

Questioning medical authority

Even a CDC vaccine FAQ site admits that mumps in children is a mild disease, and once they’ve had the mumps, they won’t get it again. This is because they’ve been immunized by having it!

In rural communities years ago, parents intentionally exposed their kids to children with measles, mumps, or chickenpox to confer future immunity, often successfully and without exposing them to toxins and side effects.  Today, we have to wonder if the risk of immediate or future negative effects from vaccinating against usually harmless childhood diseases makes sense.

Mumps and measles used to occur naturally in children well before puberty. In this recent outbreak among completely vaccinated youngsters, the average age for the afflicted was 15, leading to the conclusion that they came down with mumps as a result of being vaccinated.

Administering a third MMR shot raises the stakes that injury or long term health issues will occur as the result of vaccination to purportedly prevent this mild childhood disease. Vaccines are loaded with toxic ingredients such as thimerasol (mercury), aluminum and formaldehyde. The immune system is bypassed when live attenuated viruses are directly injected into the blood stream. Many vaccine authorities have concluded that a three phase vaccination provides the greatest risk of a cytokine storm, which occurs when an overly stimulated immune system feeds on the host with terrible, often life crippling and even lethal consequences.

Double speak and double think

In his novel 1984, George Orwell explained double speak as expressing contradictory comments in one statement. Later the notion of double think arose to describe the ability to hold contradicting views simultaneously.

An example of contradicting views held at the same time: Newborns are required to receive hepatitis B vaccinations; hepatitis B is transmitted sexually or by sharing needles. 

Obviously newborns are not having sex and sharing needles.  And hepatitis B vaccinations have caused nightmarish consequences for many inoculated in the past. That’s with short term results. Longer term side effects remain to be seen.

The CDC has told mainstream media (MSM) reporting the mumps outbreak that the MMR vaccine was not 100% effective against mumps, but actually only 75% to 85% effective. And strikingly, the percentage range of the mumps victims who did receive both MMR vaccinations was 75% to 85%! These two statements were printed very near each other in the same body of an MSM report, a blatant case of double speak.

Think about it.  When an attenuated live virus is injected into the blood stream, the very disease vaccinated against can be contracted. So if a third shot is administered, maybe closer to 100% of the “immunized” will come down with mumps!

Vaccine industry scientist blows the whistle

Sanitizing vaccines by removing the preservatives thimerosal (mercury) and formaldehyde, or even withholding the squalene and aluminum (both dangerous neurotoxins) from vaccines simply won’t do. Those who truly understand the immune system and vaccinations will tell you that vaccination science is flawed at its foundation. Investigative journalist Jon Rappaport has interviewed a former vaccine scientist who used the pseudonym Dr. Mark Randall to avoid harassment and pension loss since he was once of the inner circle. Here’s a small sampling of Mark Randall’s remarks from this revealing interview:

“The decline of disease is due to improved living conditions. [After investigating] I realized I was working in a sector based on a collection of lies. Most dangerous?  The DPT shot.  The MMR.  As far as I’m concerned, all vaccines are dangerous.  They can actually cause the disease they are supposed to prevent. They can cause other diseases.”

Whether you think those who oppose vaccinations are conspiracy nuts or you’re sitting on the fence regarding vaccinations, and even if you already know they’re dangerous, it may be helpful to read the complete interview of Dr. Randall by Jon Rappaport, which is available at the following link:  http://www.alternative-doctor.com/vaccination/rappaport.htm

For more information:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/08/mumps.outbreak.northeast/?hpt=Sbin

http://www.vacfacts.info/the-mechanisms-of-vaccine-injury-and-via-cytokine-storm.html

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm

Poor Sleep = Alzheimer’s

Poor sleep associated with buildup of toxic Alzheimer’s protein

Restful sleep is required for us to store and save our memories. If you are not getting enough sleep each night, you may be at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This is something that I feel equally applies to many other chronic diseases as well.

I previously wrote about the connection between Sugar and Alzheimers with Alzheimers often referred to as Type 3 Diabetes.  I am worried about this for myself and my patients. This article is a continuation of additional information and insights to help us never to get Alzheimers /Dementia to begin with.

I have also mentioned using sleeping medications does not allow the brain to go into the correct and proper REM cycle and therefore you may in fact be sleeping but your brain is not regenerating and rebuilding as intended.

In a recent study published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers at University of California, Berkeley, found evidence that poor sleep, specifically a deficit of deep sleep, is associated with a buildup of the beta-amyloid protein. Excessive deposits of beta-amyloid are the primary suspects in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease, as this toxic protein ends up attacking the brain’s long-term memory.

This correlation between sleep, beta-amyloid, memory, and Alzheimer’s disease has been growing stronger. Sleep is when our body repairs itself. Quality sleep prevents these toxic proteins from accumulating and destroying brain cells. A buildup of beta-amyloid protein has been found in Alzheimer’s patients as well as in patients with sleep disorders. A study from University of Rochester in 2013 found that the brain cells of mice shrunk during non-rapid-eye-movement (non-REM) sleep to free up space for the cerebrospinal fluid to wash out toxic metabolites such as beta-amyloid protein.

Overall, the results of the new study demonstrated that the more beta-amyloid you have in certain parts of your brain, the worse your memory. In addition, the less deep sleep you get, the less effective you are at clearing out beta-amyloid protein. Researchers do not know yet which of these two factors – the poor sleep or the build-up of beta-amyloid protein – begins the cycle that triggers this cascade.

This is a new pathway linking Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss, which is significant since we can do something about it, since poor sleep is treatable and can be improved by modifying sleep habits. It is important that you go to sleep around the same time every night. When the timing of your sleep is shifted even if the duration of sleep is the same, it’s not going to be as restorative. In addition, avoid watching TV or using your computer before bed. Computer screens (smartphones and laptops) emit light in the blue part of the spectrum. This doesn’t cause a problem during the daytime, but at night, this blue light limits the production of melatonin. As a result, it disturbs your sleep-wake cycle. There are free apps you can install on your computer if you absolutely need to be on your computer at night that adjusts colors in a way that reduces the stimulating effects of blue light at night.

Caffeine and other stimulants can also keep you up and interfere with sleep. It is best to avoid these four to six hours before bedtime. Finally, try to workout earlier in the day. Exercise increases cortisol and can make falling asleep very difficult.

If behavior and lifestyle modifications are not enough, there are nutrients and botanical agents that can significantly promote restful sleep. Melatonin is a hormone whose primary role is in controlling the body’s circadian rhythm. While adequate levels of melatonin are essential for quality sleep, its production declines significantly as we get older, often causing sleep difficulties associated with aging. Thus, supplementing with melatonin has been shown improve sleep quality. In addition, 5-HTP can further support endogenous melatonin production during the night to help with staying asleep.  Inositol is a member of the B vitamin family that promotes relaxation and helps maintain the proper metabolism of serotonin. In addition, L-theanine provides calming neurotransmitter production clinically proven to reduce stress and improve the quality of sleep.

Valerian root, German chamomile, passion flower, and lemon balm are all calming botanicals used for centuries to help with insomnia. They have all been shown to decrease the amount of time it takes to fall asleep as well as improve sleep quality.

However, although taking herbs to aid in sleep is far better than toxic pharmaceuticals, the bottom line is to find out why we are not sleeping well to begin with.

In addition to eliminating sugar and foods that break down into sugar, I highly recommend Meditation twice daily, Qigong and the powerful Mindfulness Technique.  Doing the above is almost a sure shot of getting a good nights sleep.  So take one of these up, practice makes perfect and before a year is out, if not sooner, you will be sleeping beautifully and as such re-setting our brains circuitry.

B12-

B12 – the Vitamin for All Ages

We have long appreciated the role of particular vitamins in contributing to the physical structure of the body. There’s vitamin D for healthy bone turnover, and vitamin C for hydroxylation of proline and lysine, required for the synthesis of collagen. Vitamin B12 is another of these key factors, and it contributes to the building and maintenance of myelin, the protective covering that surrounds neurons. Severe B12 deficiency results in a number of signs and symptoms that affect multiple body systems. Among these are the hematological changes categorized as pernicious and megaloblastic anemias, decreased methylation and elevated homocysteine, and compromised neurological function. The last of these is especially concerning, because some of the adverse effects may be irreversible, even upon repletion of B12 stores.

One group commonly at risk for B12 insufficiency is the elderly. Many older people may be taking stomach acid blocking medication, which will inhibit the body’s ability to absorb this vitamin. Additionally, due to decades of guidance from government nutrition authorities to reduce consumption of foods rich in saturated fat and cholesterol, people may be avoiding some of the primary dietary sources of B12, including red meat (liver, in particular), egg yolks, and shellfish. (Older people might also steer clear of these foods if they find them more difficult to chew, and reduced stomach acid will make them harder to digest, as well.)

It is especially troubling that older people may be deficient in this nutrient, because B12 is critical for healthy cognitive function. It is well known that a B12 deficiency can result in memory loss, disorientation, and dementia. It would be tragic if some older patients were misdiagnosed as having Alzheimer’s disease when the cause of changes in their cognition and behavior was actually a vitamin deficiency. Researchers say that low vitamin B12 status “is an important risk factor for loss of brain volume in older community-dwelling adults. These findings suggest that plasma vitamin B12 status may be an early marker of brain atrophy and thus a potentially important modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline in the elderly.” (Emphasis added.)

Compared to patients with other types of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease patients have lower levels of B12 in their cerebrospinal fluid. The resulting reduced availability of methyl groups is believed to lead to decreased synthesis of myelin, membrane phospholipids, and the neurotransmitter  —all of which would have disastrous consequences for cognitive function. After recognizing that elevated plasma homocysteine was associated with cognitive decline in older adults, researchers who set out to determine whether it was insufficient folate or insufficient B12 that was responsible, found that it is B12 that influences healthy cognition. A doubling of holotranscobalamin (bioavailable or “active” B12) concentration was associated with a 30% slower rate of cognitive decline, whereas a doubling in homocysteine or methyl-malonic acid (markers for B12 insufficiency) was associated with greater than 50% more rapid cognitive decline.

Other groups that may be at risk for low B12 status are vegetarians and vegans, since the most concentrated sources of this nutrient are animal proteins. Lacto-ovo vegetarians may get sufficient amounts from eggs and dairy products, but those who avoid animal-sourced foods altogether may have difficulty remaining nutrient replete without careful supplementation. Children of strictly vegetarian parents have experienced developmental difficulties resulting from decreased myelination due to B12 deficiency. These include severe psychomotor retardation, frontoparietal cranial atrophy, and the more general catch-all, “failure to thrive.” Most disturbing is that even when hematological signs of deficiency are corrected, there may be some degree of long-lasting neurocognitive defects later in child development. Researchers familiar with B12 deficiency in infants emphasize that strict vegetarian parents should be made aware that some of the resulting compromises in development during fetal and neonatal life may be irreversible, and, thus, it would be wise to take precautions to ensure adequate maternal B12 levels during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

 NOTE: Many of you have heard me talk about “Aunt Sadie” who beginning in the 1950’s gave B12 injections to our entire family and everyone else who lived in the neighborhood.  She had a booming B12 practice.