“The evidence is mounting that diet and lifestyle are the best cures for our worst afflictions.”

In mid-February, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and the Bravewell Collaborative are convening a “Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public.” This is a watershed in the evolution of integrative medicine, a holistic approach to health care that uses the best of conventional and alternative therapies such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture and herbal remedies. Many of these therapies are now scientifically documented to be not only medically effective but also cost effective.

President-elect Barack Obama and former Sen. Tom Daschle
(the nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services) understand that if we want to make affordable health care available to the 45 million Americans who do not have health insurance, then we need to address the fundamental causes of health and illness, and provide incentives for healthy ways of living rather than reimbursing only drugs and surgery.

Heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, breast cancer and obesity account for 75% of health-care costs, and yet these are largely preventable and even reversible by changing diet and lifestyle.

As Mr. Obama states in his health plan, unveiled during his campaign:

“This nation is facing a true epidemic of chronic disease. An
increasing number of Americans are suffering and dying needlessly from diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and HIV/AIDS, all of which can be delayed in onset if not prevented entirely.

The latest scientific studies show that our bodies have a remarkable capacity to begin healing, and much more quickly than we had once realized, if we address the lifestyle factors that often cause these chronic diseases. These studies show that integrative medicine can make a powerful difference in our health and well-being, how quickly these changes may occur, and how dynamic these mechanisms can be.

Many people tend to think of breakthroughs in medicine as a new drug, laser or high-tech surgical procedure. They often have a hard time believing that the simple choices that we make in our lifestyle — what we eat, how we respond to stress, whether or not we smoke cigarettes, how much exercise we get, and the quality of our relationships and social support — can be as powerful as drugs and surgery. But they often are. And in many instances, they’re even more powerful.

These studies often used high-tech, state-of-the-art measures to prove the power of simple, low-tech, and low-cost
interventions. Integrative medicine approaches such as plant-based diets, yoga, meditation and psychosocial support may stop or even reverse the progression of coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, prostate cancer, obesity, hypercholesterolemia and other chronic conditions.

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that these approaches may even
change gene expression in hundreds of genes in only a few months. Genes associated with cancer, heart disease and inflammation were downregulated or “turned off” whereas protective genes were upregulated or “turned on.” A study published in The Lancet Oncology reported that these changes increase telomerase, the enzyme that lengthens telomeres, the ends of our chromosomes that control how long we live. Even drugs have not been shown to do this.

Our “health-care system” is primarily a disease-care system. Last year, $2.1 trillion was spent in the U.S. on medical care, or 16.5% of the gross national product. Of these trillions, 95 cents of every dollar was spent to treat disease after it had already occurred.

At least 75% of these costs were spent on treating chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, that are preventable or even reversible.

The choices are especially clear in cardiology. In 2006, for example, according to data provided by the American Heart
Association, 1.3 million coronary angioplasty procedures were performed at an average cost of $48,399 each, or more than $60 billion; and 448,000 coronary bypass operations were performed at a cost of $99,743 each, or more than $44 billion. In other words, Americans spent more than $100 billion in 2006 for these two procedures alone.

Despite these costs, a randomized controlled trial published in April 2007 in The New England Journal of Medicine found that angioplasties and stents do not prolong life or even prevent heart attacks in stable patients (i.e., 95% of those who receive them).

Coronary bypass surgery prolongs life in less than 3% of patients who receive it. So, Medicare and other insurers and individuals pay billions for surgical procedures like angioplasty and bypass surgery that are usually dangerous, invasive, expensive and largely ineffective. Yet they pay very little — if any money at all — for integrative medicine approaches that have been proven to reverse and prevent most chronic diseases that account for at least 75% of health-care costs. The INTERHEART study, published in September 2004 in The Lancet, followed 30,000 men and women on six continents and found that changing lifestyle could prevent at least 90% of all heart disease. That bears repeating: The disease that accounts for more premature deaths and costs Americans more than any other illness is
almost completely preventable simply by changing diet and lifestyle.

And the same lifestyle changes that can prevent or even reverse heart disease also help prevent or reverse many other chronic diseases as well. Chronic pain is one of the major sources of worker’s compensation claims costs, yet studies show that it is often susceptible to acupuncture and Qi Gong. Herbs usually have far fewer side effects than pharmaceuticals.

Joy, pleasure and freedom are sustainable, deprivation and austerity are not. When you eat a healthier diet, quit smoking,
exercise, meditate and have more love in your life, then your brain receives more blood and oxygen, so you think more clearly, have more energy, need less sleep. Your brain may grow so many new neurons that it could get measurably bigger in only a few months. Your face gets more blood flow, so your skin glows more and wrinkles less. Your heart gets more blood flow, so you have more stamina and can even begin to reverse heart disease. Your sexual organs receive more blood flow, so you may become more potent — similar to the way that circulation-increasing drugs like Viagra work. For many people, these are choices worth making — not just to live longer, but also to live better.

It’s time to move past the debate of alternative medicine versus traditional medicine, and to focus on what works, what
doesn’t, for whom, and under which circumstances. It will take serious government funding to find out, but these findings may help reduce costs and increase health Integrative medicine approaches bring together those in red states and blue states, liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, because these are human issues. They are both medically effective and, important in our current economic climate, cost effective. These approaches emphasize both personal responsibility and the opportunity to make affordable, quality health care available to those who most need it. Mr. Obama should make them an integral part of
his health plan as soon as possible.

Another recent article stated that in economic hard times, people will try and solve their medical problems using alternative methods which are relatively inexpensive and without side effects.

]]> http://glycodocs.org/blog/2009/05/alternative-medicine-is-mainstream/feed/ 0 http://glycodocs.org/blog/2009/05/what-form-of-co-enzyme-q-10-do-i-need/ http://glycodocs.org/blog/2009/05/what-form-of-co-enzyme-q-10-do-i-need/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 14:58:41 +0000 admin http://glycodocs.org/blog/?p=110 Delivering co-enzyme Q10 in its reduced form (Ubiquinol) and in a soft gel capsule may increase the bioavailability of the nutrient, according to a new study.

Researchers from Canada’s KGK Synergize compared CoQ10 formulations
(usually called Ubiquinone) from hard and soft gel capsules, and found the reduced form from the latter resulted in a 3.3-fold higher blood level of CoQ10 than the former.

The findings of the study, supported financially by Soft Gel Technologies, are published in the first issue of the newly launched Journal of Functional Foods.

“The reduced [ubiquinol form of Co-Enzyne Q-10] preparation was found to be far superior to the commercial formulation for bio-availability and warrants consideration not only as a dietary supplement, but also for clinical application,” wrote lead author Malkanthi Evans in the January issue of Journal of Functional Foods.

There is an ever-growing body of scientific data that shows substantial health benefits of CoQ10 supplementation for people suffering from angina, heart attack and hypertension. Clinical trials have also reported benefits for cardiomyopathy andcongestive heart failure.

However, the formulation of the CoQ10 is known to play a key role in its bio-availability. Since the coenzyme is lipophilic (fat-loving) its absorption is enhanced in the presence of lipids. Therefore, when taken as a supplement apart from meals, the absorption of some formulations is lower.

Trials with CoQ10 supplements in powder and oil-suspension forms are
reported to result in small or negligible responses in plasma CoQ10
concentrations. Blood concentrations of CoQ10 (ubiquinol in soft gel form) showed that the higher levels were received after intake of the reduced co-enzyme at five, six, eight, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours.

Indeed, a 430 per cent increase in levels was recorded in the subjects receiving the reduced form, compared to subjects receiving the standard commercial form, said the researchers.

“In the current study, both formulations studied were presented as capsules; however, [the reduced form] was formulated using reduced
CoQ10 with stabilizing ingredients in a soft gel capsule compared to the typical commercial formulations,” wrote the researchers. “It can be inferred that the product maintained integrity leading to an increased rate of absorption, resulting in greater bio-availability.”

Importance of CoQ10

CoQ10 has properties similar to vitamins, but since it is naturally synthesized in the body it is not classed as such. With chemical structure 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decaprenyl-1,4-benzoquinone, it is also known as ubiquinone because of its ‘ubiquitous’ distribution throughout the human body. The coenzyme is concentrated in the mitochondria – the ‘power plants’ of the cell – and plays a vital role in the production of chemical energy by participating in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body’s co-called ‘energy currency’.

A role beyond the mitochondria is also acknowledged, with CoQ10 acting as a potent antioxidant. The coenzyme plays an important role in preserving levels of vitamin E and vitamin C.

Source: Journal of Functional Foods

January 2009, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages 65-73

“A randomized, double-blind trial on the bioavailability of two CoQ10 formulations”

Authors: M. Evans, J. Baisley, S. Barss, N. Guthrie

You did notice I said “grandmother” in my opening remarks. In all the years I have practiced pediatric medicine, I learned quickly that the advice of a grandmother was very important. As I look back at the advice I gave to parents who called in the middle of the night, I realized that most of the advice I gave was common sense. The “home remedies” worked as well as the “pharmaceutical” ones most of the time with some exceptions, of course.

So I have researched the “literature” and come up with some of the most common remedies. As I have grown older, I now realize that these “remedies” have a scientific basis. So here’s the next best thing: all-natural, expert-recommended ways to treat ailments quickly, safely, and effectively at home. So clear some space in your bathroom cabinet, refrigerator, and kitchen cupboard for these surprisingly effective (and inexpensive) remedies. They’re like having a doctor or grandmother on call 24 hours a day.

To Prevent a Headache

Try relaxing magnesium (200 to 400 mg) to reduce the muscle tension and spasms that can cause your noggin to throb. But not any type will do. Make sure the supplement contains at least 200 mg of active elemental magnesium. Because magnesium is more preventive than curative, the treatment works best on, say, premenstrual headaches because you can predict when they’re coming and take a dose a day in advance. Those with kidney problems should consult a health care practitioner before taking magnesium. This also helps you sleep at night and may help reduce muscle spasms. (Source: Ronald Hoffman, MD)

To Stifle Hiccups

Swallow 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar. The dry granules stimulate and reset the irritated nerve that is causing the spasms of the diaphragm. Any coarse substance, such as salt, can work in a pinch, but sugar tastes best. I can’t tell you the number of times this has been recommended to me as a physician. (Source: Jacob Teitelbaum, MD)

To Soothe a Sore Throat

Gargle twice daily with a solution of six pressed garlic cloves mixed into a glass of warm (not hot) water. Follow the regimen for 3 days. A recent study shows that fresh garlic juice has antimicrobial properties that fight pain-causing bacteria. The warm liquid soothes inflamed tissue. I had never heard this one until recently, but I used to recommend honey and lemon which contains the biological sugars and vitamin C. These both help the body’s immune system. (Source: Ronald Hoffman, MD)

To Quell Nausea

Try frozen ginger chips. Infuse fresh ginger in hot water. Strain, then freeze the concoction in ice cube trays. Crush the cubes and suck the icy chips throughout the day to provide your tummy with a steady soothing dribble. Ginger’s anti-nausea properties are particularly effective during pregnancy or after surgery. (Source: Eric Yarnell, ND)

To Heal Dry Skin, Rashes (like Chickenpox), and Eczema

Bathe in your breakfast! Although oatmeal is a centuries-old skin soother, researchers only recently recognized the avenanthramides in oats as the key compounds that calm inflamed, itchy skin. Put whole oats in a clean, dry sock. Seal the open end with a rubber band, and then drop the sock into a warm or hot bath. Soak yourself for 15 to 20 minutes. I recommended it thousands of times for chickpox and dry skin.

(Source: Laurie Steelsmith, ND)

To Cool a Fever

Sip linden flower tea, which works in two ways: It stimulates the hypothalamus to better control your temperature, and it dilates blood
vessels, inducing sweating. Steep 1 tablespoon of dried herb (available in health food stores) in a cup of hot water for 15 minutes, then sip.

Drink three to four cups a day. If you still run hot after a day of sipping tea, seek medical attention. For a high fever (above 102F), take a tepid bath, which simply cools the body to match the water temperature. Bathe until your temperature decreases to 101 to 102F, and then sip linden flower tea to lower it even more. (Source: Eric Yarnell, ND)

To Curb a Cough

Indulge in a square or two of dark chocolate. Researchers found that chocolate’s theobromine compound is more effective than codeine at
suppressing persistent coughs without the side effects of drowsiness and constipation. To calm a nagging cough that keeps you awake at night, take 2 teaspoons of honey (1 to 2 teaspoons for kids; don’t give to children younger than 1), along with 500 mg of Ester C 30 minutes before bed. The vitamin C (nonacidic Ester type won’t upset stomachs) boosts the immune system in the early stages of your cough. Better yet, get your vitamin C and associated “ascorbagins” from a whole food source like Zrii. Recent research shows that honey works better than either a cough suppressant or no treatment at all for relieving children’s nocturnal cough and promoting sleep. (Source: Jacob Teitelbaum, MD; Mark Moyad, MD, MPH)

To Cool a Burn

If you grazed your skin with a hot-from-the-oven holiday cookie pan, apply aloe vera gel to the burn as needed. The soothing and anti-inflammatory gel creates a second skin to protect it from air, which irritates exposed nerve endings. The gel also contains certain biological sugars important in the healing process. (Source: Laurie Steelsmith, ND)

To Relieve Menstrual Cramps

Take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of crampbark tincture (love the name-almost as if mother nature had a plan!) every 2 hours on the days of your worst cramps. Test-tube studies show that this North American plant works as a muscle relaxant to quickly relieve painful spasms. (Source: Eric Yarnell, ND)

To Quiet Flatulence and Gas

Take two enteric-coated peppermint capsules (500 mg each) three times daily. Peppermint kills bacteria that cause bloating and relaxes gastrointestinal muscles for smoother, spasm-free digestion. Enteric
coating prevents capsules from opening in the stomach and increasing
discomfort by causing heartburn and indigestion. The peppermint then
releases and goes to work lower in the gastrointestinal tract, where gas-plagued people need it most. (Source: Ronald Hoffman, MD)

To Stop Foot Odor

Soak feet nightly in 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water to eliminate odoriferous bacteria. Or take a daily foot bath in strong black tea (let it cool first) for 30 minutes. Tea’s tannins kill bacteria and close the pores in your feet, keeping feet dry longer; bacteria tend to thrive in moist environments. You’ll see results in a few days to a week. One caution: Only do the soak when your feet are free of cuts.

(Source: Laurie Steelsmith, ND)

To Cut Short a Cold

Sip a faux hot toddy. Cut a vitamin C-rich (organic) lemon in half and squeeze the juice from one half into a cup. Studies show that vitamin C taken before the onset of a cold shortens its duration and severity. Drop the lemon half shell into the cup. Add boiling water and a teaspoon of organic raw honey, an immunity booster that also coats painful throat tissues. Breathe in the healing vapor to open sinuses, and sip a cupful two or three times daily to fight the bug. (To make a traditional hot toddy, add a half shot of brandy.) (Source: Ellen Kamhi, PhD, RN)

To Sweeten Bad Breath

Gargle with a small cup of acidic lemon juice to kill odor-causing bacteria. Then eat a bit of plain unsweetened yogurt, which contains beneficial lactobacillus bacteria. These so-called probiotics compete with and replace the reeking bacteria. The lemon-yogurt combo instantly neutralizes odor and lasts 12 to 24 hours. (Source: Mark Moyad, MD, MPH)

To Soften Chapped Lips

Rub on anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and moisturizing olive oil two or three times a day to soothe, soften, and lubricate. Your lips will feel immediately better, but it will take a few days before they start to heal on their own. Preliminary research on mice shows that applying extra virgin olive oil to skin after sunbathing may prevent skin cancer. (Remember, olive oil is the first oil mentioned in the Bible because of all of the wonderful things it can do) (Source: Laurie Steelsmith, ND)

To Relax a Stiff Neck

A stiff neck results from slowed circulation and lymph flow to muscle tissues. Use contrast hydrotherapy–a quick blast of hot, then cold water–to get the blood pumping again. In the shower, first run hot water over your neck for 20 seconds to increase blood flow, then switch to cold for 10 seconds to constrict blood flow. Alternate three times, always ending with cold water. When you get out of the shower, your body will send the blood back out to the skin and this results in a final dilation of blood vessels. Voilà!–a looser neck. (Source: Laurie Steelsmith, ND)

To End Snoring

If you snore mostly when on your back, put a tennis ball in a shirt pocket cut from an old T-shirt and sew it to the midback of your tight pajama top. The discomfort forces you to roll over and sleep on your side–without waking you up. (Source: Jacob Teitelbaum, MD)

Whiten Stained Teeth

Crush a few fresh strawberries into a scrubbing pulp that you mix with a pinch of stain-removing baking soda and enough water to make a paste. Apply the mixture to a soft-bristled toothbrush and polish for a few minutes once every 3 or 4 months. (More often can erode tooth enamel.) The astringent malic acid in strawberries helps buff coffee and red-wine stains from teeth. (Source: Mark Moyad, MD, MPH)

To Revive Puffy, Tired Eyes

Black tea is chock-full of astringent compounds called tannins that can help deflate and tighten the bags under your eyes. Activate the tannins in a tea bag by dipping in a cup of hot water for several minutes. Cool in the fridge, then apply the damp bag as a compress to the closed eye for 10 minutes. (Source: Ronald Hoffman, MD)

To Beat Insomnia

Before bedtime, eat a handful of cherries, which scientists discovered are jam-packed with melatonin, the same hormone created by your body to regulate sleep patterns. Then steep yourself in a hot bath to relax your muscles and your mind. In bed, rest your head on a lavender-filled pillow–the fragrance induces sleepiness. (Source: Mark Moyad, MD, MPH; Jacob Teitelbaum, MD)

To Sidestep a Hangover

Because excess alcohol depletes the body of essential B vitamins
(they help break down alcohol in the body), before going to bed, take a B-50 complex supplement, which will ensure the metabolism of alcohol
continues apace. Also, rehydrate by drinking plenty of water. Just ask
your college-aged children about this one! (Source: Laurie Steelsmith, ND)

Treat a Cold

A University of Nebraska study found chicken soup really does cure a cold! It affects the movement of white blood cells called neutraphils that fight infection. Scientists are not sure exactly why this happens, but they do know that ingredients like parsley, pepper and garlic have antibacterial compounds. Plus chicken has an amino acid that chemically similar to a prescription drug that clears mucus from the lungs. A study I saw when I was in medical school showed that “made-from-scratch” chicken soup worked while the packaged types were not as effective. (Source: Steven Chang, M.D.)

Stop Asthma with Coffee

When you drink a cup of coffee, it opens airways and promotes breathing well enough until you get to your asthma medicine according to researchers in Scotland. Studies show that the caffeine in coffee and the theophylline in used in asthma treatments are chemically similar. And coffee can prevent asthmas attacks altogether. A Harvard study of 20,000 people found simply drinking coffee daily can reduce asthma symptoms by a third and decrease wheezing by 13%. You cut your risk further by drinking three or more cups a day.

Strengthen Your Eyesight with Carrots

There really is something to the adage that carrots are good for your eyes! A University of Chicago study of 3,000 people found eating just one carrot a day slashes your risk of macular degeneration (MG) by half. MG is the leading cause of blindness. It’s the beta-carotene, a type of vitamin A that strengthens and protects the rods, cones and nerves in the eye. Besides carrots, sweet potatoes and cantaloupe have beta-carotene in them. (Source: University of Chicago study)

]]> http://glycodocs.org/blog/2009/05/natural-remedies-for-common-conditions/feed/ 0 http://glycodocs.org/blog/2009/05/how-important-is-zinc/ http://glycodocs.org/blog/2009/05/how-important-is-zinc/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 14:36:02 +0000 admin http://glycodocs.org/blog/?p=105 One or twice a year, my wife and I get together with a group of friends I made when I trained or taught at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Last night we got together to celebrate Hannukah, eat latkes and play “Dreidel” on the fifth night of the festival. Before dinner, Dr. John Belmont, Ph.D. asked me if zinc was really important when someone was ill. I told him that all of the studies I had seen suggested it. This morning I came across an article that pretty much tells the whole story.

The article was entitled: “Researchers Uncover Secret to Staying Pneumonia-free This Winter.” In this review, it stated that low levels of zinc can kill more than just your sex drive-not having enough of this important trace element/nutrient can increase your risk of dying from pneumonia!

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that zinc plays an important role in either preventing or limiting the damage done by pneumonia. Researchers from the USDA, Tufts University, and Boston University studied nursing home residents (averaging 84.6 years old) over a 12-month period. When the researchers
measured the zinc levels at the end of the study, they discovered that
those with low levels had an increased incidence of pneumonia, had it for a longer period of time, and needed to take antibiotics for longer as well. This was important to know because with the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs like MRSA, the less you use antibiotics, the better you are.

But the most important part of the study was this: Those who had a normal zinc level had a 39-percent lower mortality rate than those who were low in zinc. It just makes sense-if you don’t develop pneumonia, chances are pretty good you’re not going to die from it and you don’t have to take antibiotics. The study didn’t merely show that adequate levels of zinc can help prevent pneumonia – it showed that supplementing with zinc is an effective way of reducing your risk!

Quite a switch from the supplement-bashing studies (no doubt funded by Big Pharma) popping up in medical journals. Zinc is responsible for helping you maintain a healthy immune system, so it’s no big surprise zinc would mount such a strong defense against a disease like pneumonia. It increases the production of your infection-fighting white blood cells-plus it gives them the extra boost they need to fight more aggressively and also increases the number of your infection-fighting T-cells.

You can get all the zinc you need by including plenty of meat in your diet. At two milligrams per ounce, a nine-ounce steak would put you right in the middle of the recommended 15 to 25 mgs per day. But what if you are a vegetarian? The study showed that supplementing Zinc was also important. So where can you get a biologically active form of zinc? There are many fruits that have adequate levels of Zinc. One such fruit is Amalaki (or Amla). It was been used in Ayurvedic medicine for over 5,000 years. A good source of Amalaki is in Zrii, a liquid nutritional supplement that I have talked about in the past.

But be careful. Zinc can easily fall into the “too much of a good thing” category. If you take too much zinc, it can actually inhibit your immune function. Your best bet is to go to an alternative doctor and have a test done to determine if you’re deficient in zinc – and to tell you how much you should supplement with.

The first topic comes from a friend of mine, Ellen Dorshow-Gordon, an Epidemiologist nurse for the Jackson County, Missouri, Health Department. She sent me an email about a University of Minnesota study that has burst the bubble on organic produce. If you remember, I have
written in the past that organic produce gives you about 40% more nutrition than regular produce. And if it comes from local growers, the
ripened produce actually has more of the essential nutrients our bodies
need. I also wrote that there are no artificial chemicals added to the soil or pesticides or chemical fertilizers used in this produce we consume. But what do these farmers add to the soil for fertilizers?

Read on…

It seems that produce can absorb antibiotics from the soil. This makes sense since that is where the nutrients also come from that we eat in the produce. Small doses of antibiotics over time can help bacteria adapt and become resistant to common antibiotics. In the long run, this may cause human disease from the food we consume.

We have long been concerned about our exposure to antibiotics in meat and milk and a number of us who do not eat organic meat or drink organic milk have been exposed to antibiotics fed to our animals to keep them disease-free. Now, new research shows that they also may be ingesting them from vegetables, even ones grown on organic farms.

For the last 50 years, meat producers in this country have fed antibiotics to farm animals to increase their growth and stave off infections. Now scientists have discovered that those drugs are sprouting up in unexpected places. According to tests conducted at the University of Minnesota, vegetables such as corn, potatoes and lettuce absorb antibiotics when grown in soil fertilized with livestock manure where the animals were fed antibiotics.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, close to 70 percent of the total antibiotics and related drugs produced in the United States are fed to cattle, pigs and poultry. Although this practice sustains a growing demand for meat, it also generates public health fears associated with the expanding presence of antibiotics in the food chain. Now people also may be ingesting antibiotics from vegetables, perhaps even ones grown on organic farms.

What Does the Research Show?

The Minnesota researchers planted corn, green onion and cabbage in manure-treated soil in 2005 to evaluate the environmental impacts of feeding antibiotics to livestock. Six weeks later, the crops were analyzed and found to absorb chlortetracycline, a drug widely used to treat diseases in livestock. In another study in 2007, corn, lettuce and potato were planted in soil treated with liquid hog manure. They, too, accumulated concentrations of an antibiotic, named Sulfamethazine, also commonly used in livestock. They also found that as the amount of antibiotics in the soil increased, so too did the levels taken up by the corn, potatoes and other plants.

“Around 90 percent of these drugs that are administered to animals end up being excreted either as urine or manure,” said Holly Dolliver, a member of the Minnesota research team and now a professor of crop and soil sciences at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. “A vast majority of that manure is then used as an important input for 9.2 million hectares of (U.S.) agricultural land.”

Manure, widely used as a substitute for chemical fertilizer, adds nutrients that help plants grow. It is often used in organic farming. The scientists found that although their crops were only propagated in greenhouses for 6 weeks — far less than a normal growing season — antibiotics were absorbed readily into their leaves. If grown for a full season, drugs most likely would find their way into parts of plants that humans eat, said Dolliver.

So What Does This Mean to Us?

For highly processed plants such as corn, the drugs would most likely be removed, added Dolliver. But many food crops such as spinach and lettuce are not processed, only washed, allowing antibiotics to remain. “Nobody particularly eats corn or soybean directly,” said Satish Gupta, a University of Minnesota professor of soil science and study leader. “But there are crops I am much more worried about, like cabbage and lettuce, because these are leaves we eat directly and consume raw.”

One finding that particularly worries food scientists is the accumulation of antibiotics within potato tubers. Tubers are an enlarged, underground stem that uptake and store nutrients from the soil. In crops like potatoes, carrots and radishes, it is the part humans eat. “Since these tubers and root crops are in direct contact with the soil, they may show a greater propensity for (antibiotic) uptake,” said Gupta.

The bottom line is that health officials fear that eating vegetables and meat laced with drugs meant to treat infections can promote resistant strains of bacteria in food and the environment. Such health concerns led the European Union in 2006 to ban antibiotic use as feed additives for promoting livestock growth. But in the United States, nearly 25 million pounds of antibiotics per year, up from 16 million in the mid 1980s, are given to healthy animals for agriculture purposes, according to a 2000 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Tainted manure can impact more than just the soil. Once applied to the land, antibiotics can infiltrate water supplies as water seeps through the soil into aquifers or spills into surface water due to runoff, explained Dolliver. “The other thing to remember is that the field is not a sterile environment. Mice, rabbits and foxes traverse farmland while other animals graze, all with the potential to become vectors for the resistant bacteria organisms and spread them throughout different animal populations,” said Pat Millner, a U.S. Department of Agriculture microbiologist based in Maryland.

The presence of antibiotics within the food chain is likely to increase as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has permitted greater use of controversial drugs on farm animals. For example, this past October 2008, the FDA dropped plans to halt use of cefquinome, a potent antibiotic, after it said in July 2008 it would push against its use in animals.

While there are restrictions on use of raw manure in U.S. organic farming because of concern over bacteria, no such rules are in place regarding antibiotics or hormones. Not all organic growers use manure with antibiotics, but many do, said Gupta. Even if a product has the USDA organic label, it still might harbor traces of antibiotics.

What About Toxins in Other Foods We Eat?

Mercury is back in the headlines! Chicago actor Jeremy Piven has unexpectedly left the cast of the Broadway revival of “Speed-the-Plow”
because of a mercury count that his doctor said was the highest level he’d ever seen. Dr. Carlon Colker, who had been treating Piven, said Piven was suffering from “extreme mercury toxicity” and that “a test revealed that Jeremy had … six times a healthy amount of mercury in his system.” Piven has long been a sushi eater, often twice a day, which may be the ultimate cause of the problem.

A major symptom of mercury poisoning is extreme fatigue. Piven was also experiencing neuro-muscular dysfunction, which resulted in his having trouble lifting his arms and legs. This announcement comes just weeks after the U.S. FDA began arguing that pregnant women should eat more fish, even if it contains mercury! Although no definitive link has proven that Jeremy Piven’s twice-a-day sushi habit is what caused his excessively high mercury levels, common sense would indicate that there is likely a connection. Recent testing of sushi bars show that sushi does often appear to be contaminated with mercury, and in some cases worse so than other fish. Laboratory tests in New York released last year found so much mercury in tuna sushi that two or three pieces a week at some restaurants could be a health hazard. Last year, the Chicago Board of Health began requiring that all sushi restaurants post the amount of mercury in the fish they served. The New York Time purchased sushi from some of the restaurants in NYC and found that eight out of 44 pieces they purchased for testing had mercury levels so high that the FDA could take legal action to remove the fish from the market. And the problem is certainly not isolated to New York.

Sushi samples from 10 high-rated sushi restaurants in Chicago showed:

* 70 percent exceeded the Illinois Environmental Protection agency’s
(IEPA) special advisory threshold for methylmercury. At that level,
women of childbearing age and children are advised to eat no more than
one serving per month

* 14 percent had a concentration higher than 0.730 ppm — a level that no women or children should ever consume

* 10 percent of the tuna samples were unsafe for all consumers, because
they contained mercury levels above 1.0 ppm, which is the legal action limit for fish sold in the U.S.

The dangers of consuming too much mercury are often focused on children and pregnant women because of the known damage it can pose to a baby’s developing central nervous system.

What are the Risks of Mercury Poisoning?

Thousands of tons of mercury are released into the air each year through pollution and waste. In the environment the mercury can transform into organic mercury, which is known as methylmercury, and accumulate in streams, oceans, water and soil. Methylmercury accumulates in the food chain, so each fish absorbs the mercury from other fish and organisms it eats. For this reason, larger and older fish such as shark, tuna and swordfish contain the highest levels of methylmercury. In fetuses and developing infants it can also have negative effects on attention span, language, visual-spatial skills, memory and coordination. It is estimated that nearly 60,000 children are exposed to methylmercury exposure in the womb.

Mercury is especially damaging to your central nervous system (CNS), and studies show that mercury in the CNS causes psychological, neurological, and immunological problems including:

* Arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies

* Insomnia

* Tremors

* Weakness

* Personality changes and irritability

* Headaches

* Blurred vision

* Unsteady gait

* Slowed mental response

But there is another problem with mercury; it bonds very firmly to structures in your CNS. Unless actively chelated, mercury has an extremely long half-life of somewhere between 15 and 30 years in the CNS!

]]> http://glycodocs.org/blog/2009/05/how-safe-is-organic-produce/feed/ 0 http://glycodocs.org/blog/2009/05/gender-bender-toxins-are-everywhere/ http://glycodocs.org/blog/2009/05/gender-bender-toxins-are-everywhere/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 14:12:04 +0000 admin http://glycodocs.org/blog/?p=100 Funny name for a topic, right? Not really. When I was in my last year of training as a Chief Resident in Pediatrics who was doing a years worth of training in Pediatric Endocrinology, I saw a number of children referred to the KU Children’s Center for early-onset puberty.

I thought I had learned all of the reasons why children begin to mature early. A number of years later, I had a new patient show up in my office with early-onset breast development, with significant breast development. Problem was, she was only four years of age. Also significant was the fact her mother had also experienced a 2-cup enlargement of her own breasts during the same time span. It was pretty obvious that they were both taking something that influenced the size of their breasts. It didn’t take long to find the common source–they were both eating meat from a local farmer who used hormones to “beef up” his cattle. The problem went away after they switched to a different meat supplier.

So what is the significance of the story I just told you? Various studies are indicating that unregulated chemicals released into the environment are causing male animals and humans to take on feminine characteristics. These waste-product chemicals, nicknamed “gender-benders,” are causing the males in many species to become feminized. In British British lowland rivers, 50 percent of male fish were found to be growing eggs in their testes. Hermaphrodite polar bears have also been born. In Lake Meade in the US, male fish are trying to lay eggs because of the concentration of estrogen or estrogen-like chemicals in the water.  Six months ago, former Vice-President Al Gore said that the polar bear population was decreasing due to global warming. But studies have shown that there is significant estrogens in the polar ice caps down to at least 3 feet. This may be the real reason. Since all vertebrates have similar sex hormone receptors, the feminization of other animals could indicate a similar pattern in humans.

One of the things we have discovered in the past couple of years are that endocrine disrupting chemicals are everywhere these days. You are exposed to them from a variety of sources, including countless common
household products, toys, and personal care products.

So What are These “Gender-Bender” Agents?

Phthalates

Exposure to phthalates can lead to incomplete testicular descent in
fetuses. Phthalates are found in vinyl flooring, detergents, automotive plastics, soap, shampoo, deodorants, fragrances, hair spray, nail polish, plastic bags, food packaging, garden hoses, inflatable toys, blood-storage bags, and intravenous medical tubing.

Bisphenol A or BPA

A common ingredient in many plastics, including those in reusable
water bottles and resins lining some food cans and dental sealants, can change the course of fetal development in a way that increases your risk of breast cancer.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)

Found in grease- and water-resistant coatings like Teflon and Gore-Tex, is a likely carcinogen.

Methoxychlor and Vinclozin

An insecticide and a fungicide respectively, have been found to
cause changes to male mice born for as many as four subsequent
generations after the initial exposure.

Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs)

Known to be potent endocrine disrupters, these chemicals affect
gene expression by turning on or off certain genes, and interfere with the way your glandular system works. They mimic the female hormone estrogen, and have been implicated as one reason behind some marine species switching from male to female.

Bovine Growth Hormones

commonly added to commercial dairy has been implicated as a contributor to premature adolescence.

MSG

A food additive that’s been linked to reduced fertility and migraine headaches

Fluoride

This chemical in the U.S. water supply has been linked to lower fertility rates, hormone disruption and low sperm counts.

But what these various substances all have in common? They can affect your and your children’s endocrine system and reproductive health. The glands of your endocrine system and the hormones they release influence almost every cell, organ, and function of your body. It is instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function, metabolism, as well as sexual function and reproductive processes.

So is this all hype or is it true that males are “slowly disappearing” or morphing into females? Many studies now indicate these toxins may indeed be wreaking silent havoc within our male population.

Male infertility is on the rise, and, about 250,000 fewer boys have been born in the last 30 years in the United States and Japan. Scientists are linking these phenomena to a body accumulation of these types of gender-bending toxins.

Let’s Look Closer at Phthalates

Phthalates, or “plasticizers,” are a group of industrial chemicals used to make plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) more flexible and resilient. They’re one of the most pervasive of the endocrine disrupters. They are common in toys, food packaging, hoses, raincoats, shower curtains, vinyl flooring and wall coverings, lubricants and adhesives, detergents and beauty products (nail polish, hair spray, shampoo and purfumes).

Although the Chem TRUST’s study focused on the ill effects of various endocrine disruptors on wildlife, their disturbing findings are also relevant for humans, because all vertebrates have similar sex hormone receptors. The feminization of other animals, such as polar bears, deer, whales and otters, just to name a few, could very well indicate that a similar pattern is taking place in humans as well.

Their study listed the symptoms found in each of the numerous species tested, which included testicular cancer, hermaphrodites, genital
deformations, low sperm counts, and infertility. And, in fact, numerous
studies over the past eight years confirm that similar dangers are posed to human health.

So what’s the evidence that these chemicals may affect humans? One study found that pregnant women who are exposed to phthalates gave birth more than one week earlier than women who were not exposed to them. And, the more a pregnant woman is exposed to high levels of phthalates, the greater the risk her son will have smaller genitals and incomplete testicular descent, leading to impaired reproductive development. The chemical also appears to make the overall genital tracts of boys slightly more feminine. It is believed that the mechanism by which phthalates have these adverse effects is the reduction of testosterone synthesis by interfering with an enzyme needed to produce the male hormone.

So if phthalates can disrupt this endocrine pathway, can they also affect other pathways too? Other studies have linked the chemical to thyroid problems in both women and men, and researchers have also suggested a link between phthalates and illnesses like allergies, asthma, and contact dermatitis, all of which are on the rise in children.

For more information about the various health hazards inherent with each of these agents, please click on the individual links below.

Sources:

• Finding Dulcinea, December 9, 2008
• ChemTRUST

  (Free Full-Text Report), “Effects of Pollutants on the Reproductive

  Health of Male Vertebrate Wildlife—Males Under Threat”

• Globe and Mail, October 7, 2008
• Environmental Research, October 2008; 108(2):177-84

What Can We Do?

• Drink filtered tap water instead of bottled or unfiltered tap water.

• Mix infant formula with filtered, non-fluoridated water.

• Carry water in safe, reusable containers.

Scientific research shows that eating fruits and vegetables every day reduces the risk of:

• Cancer
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Elevated cholesterol levels
• Vitamin deficiencies

One of the wonderful things that happens when you eat fruits and

vegetables every day is the consumption of the beneficial chemicals

they contain. These include:

• the vitamins and minerals (plant-based)
• Antioxidants
• Phytochemicals (the darker the color, the better disease-fighting and protective effects)
• Fiber (soluble and insoluble)

What Are These Beneficial Chemicals Found in Fruits and Vegetables?

• Vitamins (including C, A, K, Folic Acid)
• Minerals (including Potassium, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium)
• Antioxidants (helps reduce and prevent oxidative stress and free radical formation)
• Phytonutrients or Phytochemicals (Carotenes, Lycopenes, Anthrocyanins, Limonoids and Flavones)
• Fiber
  • Insoluble (roughage-the incredible stuff that gives bulk to the diet)
  • Soluble (digestible, acts as a prebiotic and helps remove LDL-Cholesterol, bile acids and sugars)

]]> http://glycodocs.org/blog/2009/05/eat-your-5-9-colors-everyday/feed/ 0 http://glycodocs.org/blog/2009/05/an-apple-a-day/ http://glycodocs.org/blog/2009/05/an-apple-a-day/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 13:57:31 +0000 admin http://glycodocs.org/blog/?p=93 Ever wonder where the expression “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” comes from? Well, there may be some good scientific evidence that this is valid. The results of an animal study published by The American Physiological Society found that Quercetin, a powerful antioxidant present in apples and other fruits and vegetables, may have protective effects against the influenza virus and that eating an apple a day could help reduce our risk of getting the flu this year, especially during times of stress.

The study was done in mice, but it appears the protective health benefits of Quercetin appear to apply to people too. A recent human study showed that individuals taking daily doses of the flu-fighting antioxidant suffered
fewer respiratory illnesses following three days of exhaustive exercise
compared to those who did not take the plant compound.

There are additional benefits of this powerful antioxidant too. These include:

• Researchers at Cornell University in New York found that the
  naturally occurring antioxidant may protect brain cells from oxidative stress, a tissue-damaging process associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative disorders of the brain
• Scientists have found that regular Quercetin intake can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
• Quercetin is well known for its powerful anti-inflammatory
  effects, making it useful in the prevention and treatment of arthritis
  and other chronic inflammatory diseases
• Quercetin may be a viable alternative to some
  over-the-counter and prescription medications in people with allergies. The antioxidant compound has impressive antihistamine actions, making it useful in the treatment of hay fever, eczema and hives.

In addition to apples, Quercetin may be found in other fruits and vegetables like Amalaki (Zrii), grapes, blueberries, broccoli, tea and red wine. Red apples have more of it than green or yellow ones. And most importantly, it is predominant in the skins, so peeled fruit has less Quercetin and unpeeled.

Supplementing Glutathione has been difficult. Research suggests that glutathione taken orally is not well absorbed across the GI tract. In a study of acute oral administration of a very large dose of oral glutathione, it was found that it is not possible to increase circulating glutathione to a clinically beneficial extent. But tissue and serum glutathione concentrations can be raised by increased intake of the precursor cysteine, or in chronic conditions, by S-adenosylmethione (SAMe). Glutathione precursors rich in cysteine include N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and undenatured whey protein. These supplements have been shown to increase glutathione content within the cell.

Our Glutathione level actually indicates our state of health and can predict longevity. Although there are more than 60,000 published papers on the beneficial effects of Glutathione replacement, it is still largely ignored by mainstream medicine. In the near future the importance of Glutathione will be widely recognized because it has the ability to boost the immune system and fight off the damage of free radicals on the cells.

So How Important is Glutathione?

Modern research has shown that individuals who have low levels of glutathione are susceptible to chronic illness. Decreased levels of glutathione can be brought about by continual stress upon the immune system. As we now know, a lowered immune system can bring about illness and disease. This is a ferocious cycle. While you need glutathione for a productive immune system, a weakened immune system hampers the production of glutathione.

Glutathione has been shown to slow down the aging process,
detoxify and improve liver function, strengthen the immune system, and reduce the chances of developing cancer. Glutathione also works to help improve mental functions, increase energy, improve concentration, permit increased exercise, and improve heart and lung function.

* Chen
Y, et al. (2007). “Hepatocyte-specific GCLC deletion leads to rapid
onset of steatosis with mitochondrial injury and liver failure”. Hepatology 45: 1118.