… Tinnitus

Neck problems

Effects of statin drugs

General anxiety

Alternative to xanax

Food allergies

Arthritis

Addictions

Curve in back

Xanax and anxiety

Phobias

Silica

This discovery opened the minds of scientists as it now became apparent that it may be possible to lengthen our lives by simply cutting back on the amount of food that we eat. After the discovery of the connection between caloric intake and lifespan, researchers set out to discover why animals that ate between 25% and 50% less than normal enjoyed such significant improvements in longevity. What they discovered gave them great hope that they could discover a drug that ultimately could lead to longer lives, possibly adding 10, 20 or even 30 or more years to our lifespan. Fortunately, it appears that nature had already produced such a product…
Enter Dr. David Sinclair of Harvard University

Dr. Sinclair pioneered the work that led to the discovery of a longevity gene called the sirtuin gene. They discovered that a special enzyme called “SIRT1″ is normally responsible for guarding and regulating the activity of certain genes associated with longevity and youth. It turns out that SIRT1 is also called into action when the DNA is damaged by everyday free radical stress. When this DNA damage occurs, the SIRT1 must devote its attention to repairing and regeneration and in turn ignores its role of promoting longevity and youth. The result is an unwanted acceleration of aging!

Food is potential energy and the role of digestion and metabolism is to turn the food material into energy. During this conversion, oxygen is used and free radicals are released. When free radicals are released in excess, this can result in damage to the DNA. The more food that your body has to metabolize the more free radical stress will be produced. Other things like toxins, exercise, stress and poor food choices can result in even more free radical stress. Controlled fasting appears to decrease the oxidative stress and thus allow SIRT1 to promote longevity and youth rather than be dedicated to repair of damaged DNA. In addition, the controlled fasting or calorie restriction could possibly result in an activation of the genes that promote the production of SIRT1.

What if we could promote more SIRT1 enzyme with a drug?

This is precisely the hope of scientists, to discover a drug that could be marketed as the fountain of youth. However, as I mentioned previously it appears that nature is way ahead of us. A natural compound known as resveratrol, appears to activate the SIRT1 gene thus promoting the production of more SIRT1 enzyme! This was a breakthrough discovery which has led to the development of resveratrol supplements which may help us live longer and healthier lives.

So how do we know that resveratrol will slow aging?

Well, we don’t know. Resveratrol’s benefits are still in the theory stage. Scientists have been able to genetically engineer mice to produce more SIRT1 enzyme. These mice live longer and appear to be protected from cancer when scientists inject mice with cancer-causing compounds. We also know that normal mice who are fed resveratrol also appear to achieve the same degree of protection and longevity as the mice who are genetically engineered to produce more SIRT1. Other animal studies have confirmed that resveratrol supplementation protects against other diseases such as heart attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes while also promoting longevity. Do, these results translate to benefits in humans? We hypothesize that they will, but given the evidence available we cannot be sure. Human trials are underway to help answer some of these questions.

Do I take resveratrol?

In short, yes, I do. I wrote an article about the benefits of whole food antioxidants and talked about the antioxidant formula that I use in my own program called Botanical Treasures by Natura Health Products. This formula contains 20 mg of resveratrol per two capsules and I take six capsules daily which will provide 60 mgs of resveratrol daily. In the animal studies, it has been determined that a human dose as low as 2 mg and as high as 2432 mg is considered safe and effective. As you can see, there is a wide discrepancy in dosage between the studies. Many of the studies found that a human-equivalent dose between 30 and 300 mg would be sufficient to have a therapeutic benefit. As human trials are completed and more light is shed on human dosing I may change this recommendation, however, for now it stands at 30-300 mg. Within the next month, Natura Health Products will be releasing a new resveratrol formula that will combine a pure resveratrol formula with other synergistic nutrients. We will alert you when it is released for those who want to supplement with extra resveratrol.

Summary:

Although I would love to say that resveratrol will absolutely prolong life and slow aging in humans, the research is quite preliminary. This places resveratrol into the class of supplement that is what I call a “supplement luxury” which means if money is no object, feel free to add it to the program based on the positive animal research to date. If money is tight, then I recommend that you dedicate those resources to more proven tools such as vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids and whole food antioxidants. If the resveratrol happens to come along with other supplements, such as the Botanical Treasures, well then that is icing on the cake. Admittedly the research is intriguing and resveratrol is considered safe, who knows, it may one day prove to be the discovery of the century.

To be or not to be… Vegetarian?

In the six and a half years that I have been doing my radio show I have had the opportunity to interview, and study the works of, the leaders and innovators in the field of nutrition and health… people like Harvey Diamond (Fit For Life), Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw (Life Extension) and Eric Braverman (The Healing Nutrients Within). Over the years I have used myself as the guinea pig to “try out” almost everyone’s theories about health, nutrition and diet.

I tried on several occasions to eat a vegetarian diet. After about 3 days I would begin to feel washed out and low in energy, and invariably, would give up and go back to my carnivorous ways. I just figured that I’m a high protein kind of guy, and that the mix of fuel that my body needed had to include proteins from animals. However, there was one exception… when I was hiking out in the woods (usually on the Apalacian Trail) I could be out for a week, eat a completely vegetarian diet, and my energy would go up and up. I was never able to make any sense of this…

Until, in the summer of 1996 I spent a couple of weeks in the Andes Mountains in Ecuador with a Shaman named Don Alberto Taxzo and the people of his village. I went there to learn about his form of energy healing and way of life. He and his family, like many of the Indians of the Andes, eat a vegetarian diet. Someone in our party asked Don Alberto about being vegetarian and this was what he said:

“If you need to go to war you better eat meat because you will need to have the aggression that you will get from it. But, if you want to be a feeling, thinking, sensitive person, don’t eat meat, it gets in the way.”

At that moment it was like a hammer hitting me square on the head, I finally understood. For me, the life I was living, the life of trying to get ahead in the business world, having a big house and a 2 car garage, was my own little war. How many of us are waging war every single day?

On that day, I made a very important decision for myself. I simply decided that I was not going to be part of that “war” any more. I would not play that game any more. And I have been vegetarian ever since! And my energy just keeps going up and up!

Don Alberto gave me a totally new perspective about diet… energy! His concern was not about proteins and carbohydrates and fats… it was about the energy that we get from certain kinds of food. Long has been the tradition to pray over food. I think that prayer over food and appreciation shown for food helps instill a positive energy into that food so that our bodies actually get more energy, positive energy, from the food.

Now I am not saying that we should ignore what we know about proteins, carbohydrates and fats. In fact, just the opposite is true… and being a vegetarian who requires a lot of protein in my diet, I have to work darn hard to make sure I get all the protein that I need. I know many very unhealthy vegetarians who just substitute pasta for meat in their diets.

There are 8 to 10 “essential” amino acids. Any time you see “essential” before a nutrient it means you must get it from your diet, your body can not make it from other parts. Any animal product (eggs, dairy, red meat, fish, chicken, etc.) is a complete protein, meaning that you get all of the essential amino acids. There are only two non-animal protein sources that give you all of the essential amino acids by themselves. They are soy and a grain called quinoa (which, coincidentally, is native to the Andes). You can also get all of the essential amino acids by properly combining certain foods, like beans and rice.

Being the high protein, high fat kind of guy that I am, I make sure that I get plenty of soy, quinoa, and nuts and seeds in my diet. And what about my sensitive, feeling, thinking side? There is no question that I am 10 times more in touch with my intuition than I was before I gave up eating meat. Just ask my patients that marvel at my ability to tell them things about themselves before they tell me.

There have been countless news stories recently decrying the fact that Obesity has become so prevalent in our society today. Government officials and agencies have declared a “war on obesity” with the advent of all sorts of programs aimed towards both adults and children. These programs are educational and/or physical activity related in nature. Finally, the powers that be are willing to admit that having a percent body fat that is too high is likely the real cause of many of the chronic diseases that we suffer from today, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

I find it interesting, and not really at all surprising, that it is this very same government of ours that is truly responsible for the obesity epidemic of today.

One of the ways that our “Uncle Sam” (or the local equivalents that seem to govern our lives) is contributing to our expanding waistlines is obvious… when I was a grade-schooler we had Physical Education every single day. It wasn’t an option; it was required. Today, P.E. only happens every other day in many elementary school systems, and a child can actually graduate high school without having to have any physical activity for years.

The other way, the more pervasive and deleterious way, is much more subtle… and yet it is the crux of the real problem. If you come to comprehend this connection you will then have the information needed to make the changes necessary to really improve your health.

This story really begins back during the Nixon administration. Remember when the price of beef went out of control? At that time, a policy was changed in a way that, little did we know, would eventually lead to our ever expanding girths. At that time, our government changed the way that it supported the slumping corn farming industry.

It does not take an accounting degree or a masters in economics to understand this concept. If you grow a crop that no one really wants (or too many people are already growing), meaning that you can’t get paid enough for growing it, then you will have to switch to growing something that someone does really want, or you will end up starving. That is, unless, you find a government that is willing to support your efforts in the form of a guarantee to buy whatever you grow.

Now really think about this… let’s say we have a farmer that grows corn. Let’s say he has 1000 acres to his farm, but he only plants corn on half of that land because that is all that corn that he can manage to sell. Now enter an entity to say to our farmer, “I will guarantee that you will get $2 per bushel of corn. If you can only get $1.50 per bushel on the open market, I’ll make up the difference. Or, if no one wants to buy your corn, I’ll buy it from you.”

The first thing that the farmer is going to do is plant the other 500 acres with more corn. A guarantee is a guarantee… and this is exactly what happened. The result was that we had more corn than ever… again, this was corn that no one really wanted. All of a sudden, a crop was available to buy that actually cost less than it cost to grow it, thanks to government subsidies. When that situation occurs, people become very inventive, finding unique uses for the suddenly cheap commodity.

One of those uses became feeding that corn to livestock. All at once a rancher could get his cattle ready for market quicker by feeding them more corn… and he could do this without increasing his costs.

Another of the uses for this suddenly cheap commodity was to make High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) out of it. In fact, because of government subsidies, HFCS became a cheaper, more easily transported sweetener than even simple sugar.

Of course, anytime the word cheaper comes into the economic picture, it gets the attention of the bean counters at all of the companies. The food industry responded with a great “hurrah” at the news and instantly started substituting HFCS for sugar in many foods. But the economics went further than just the cost of the raw material. The soda industry learned that HFCS goes into liquids much easier than table sugar does… so not only was it a cheaper material, but their work became easier, meaning less labor costs. Today, HFCS is the only caloric sweetener used in the soda industry. It is also a common sweetener is fruit juices, canned fruits, baked goods, dairy products cookies, gun, jams and jellies.

And, the benefits went even further than that. The food industry people quickly surmised that having High Fructose Corn Syrup on their labels somehow seemed different that having sugar there. Apparently, John Q Public did not pick up on the fact that HFCS was actually sugar in a different form. Label readers were sort of fooled into using foods that they didn’t realize had sugar in it.

So what’s the big deal, really? Sugar is sugar, right? Table sugar or fructose… they are all the same, right? Wrong! And this is the key. The body responds to fructose differently than sucrose in many ways.

First of all, the presence of fructose does not cause the release of insulin from the pancreas like table sugar does. This means that any fructose in the bloodstream that does not get used for energy right away will be stored as fat. Secondly, fructose does not cause the formation or release of certain substances and hormones that tell the body that it has eaten and turns off hunger. In other words, when you consume a cookie sweetened with HFCS instead of sugar, your brain never gets the message that you have eaten something. That, in turn, makes it more likely that you will continue to eat, even though you shouldn’t still be hungry.

Furthermore, in the liver, fructose is converted into the chemical backbone of triglycerides more efficiently than table sugar. Elevated triglycerides have clearly been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. HFCS has also recently been implicated in altering magnesium balance in the body, which can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and may be related to osteoporosis.

Combine these last 2 facts together… a sugar that leads directly to fat with never getting the signal to stop eating… and you end up with exactly what you would expect, an Obese Society.

So what is the solution to this problem? Exercise is a part of the answer… giving your body the means to burn the HFCS right away is important. But the best answer, of course, is to avoid the HFCS in the first place.

But that is much more easily said than done. I challenge you to start reading labels and see just how prevalent corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup have become in our diets. And I promise you; it shows up in foods that you wouldn’t necessarily expect it to… like different canned soups and stews, marinades, even seasoned croutons.

We live in a society that has told us that fat is bad and should be avoided. Regular readers of this column know how wrong that message is. Unfortunately, many people still eat a “low-fat” diet. But because we want our foods to taste good, low-fat often translates into high sugar… we just don’t realize it because the sugar comes in the form of High Fructose Corn Syrup. Furthermore, HFCS is sweeter than sugar is, and as our taste for “sweet” gets over-stimulated, we require more of it to feel like we are eating something sweet.

We have become HFCS junkies… and believe me, the food industry loves that fact and ultimately, our own government is the cause, regardless of how much you hear them tell us to trim those waistlines!

By Ray Hinish, Pharm.D., CPT, LWMC

www.illnessisoptional.com | 410-356-2169

What you will learn:

• Why colds and flu seem to strike during cold weather. (Hint: The cold weather doesn’t cause cold!)
• Why you should NOT get the flu vaccine.
• What the New York Garbage Strike has to do with the flu.
• A powerful herbal supplement that can safeguard you against the negative effects of stress.
• The most important flu preventing supplement on the market (Hint: It costs pennies a day)
• Why regular old vitamin C won’t do and which form of vitamin C to choose!
• My Top supplement picks for preventing the flu.
• What you can do in the next 60 seconds that may dramatically improve your primary defenses and prevent cold and flu.

As you know, the newspapers and government health agencies have begun pushing the theoretical benefits of the flu vaccine.  These organizations suggest that the flu vaccine is completely safe and wildly effective without offering a shred of proof to either argument.  They suggest that this super villain, called the flu, mysteriously rears its ugly head during the months of October through January and supposedly kills 10,000 people every year. Sure enough, people herd like “sheeple” to the local Wal-Mart where nurses poke away at people’s arms and send them on their way with a false sense of security.

Is all of this true?

Do the influenza viruses really take a nap through the spring and summer months only to wake up with the dastardly intention to make us all sick in October through January? Does it really kill 10,000 people every year? Is the flu vaccine really helpful?

The simple answer is “No” on all counts. The influenza virus does not take a nap, it does not kill 10,000 people every year and the flu vaccine is generally not helpful. We will talk about why the flu hits during these months in the paragraphs below. As to the 10,000 per year death rate, the CDC lumps flu and pneumonia into the same statistic, one that is quoted by newspapers all over the United States. What this means is that 10,000 people per year die from flu and pneumonia together and the majority of these people perish from pneumonia, which is labeled as a “complication” of flu. In addition, those people who die are usually people who may be nearing death anyway. They include those with other severe and chronic illnesses, people with poor immune function, as well as unhealthy seniors who reside in nursing homes. If you are in this group, then you may need to worry about catching the flu and subsequently developing pneumonia. If you are not in this group then the flu will likely mean a few days of discomfort and a few days off from work; not ideal, but a whole lot better than impending death! You should also know that this year’s vaccine combines the standard influenza vaccine with the H1N1 vaccine.

The second question is, “does the flu vaccine work?” and the answer is “we don’t know for sure” but probably NOT! Because the flu vaccine is a “best guess” medication, there is a bit of a gamble on whether or not we will vaccinate against the right bugs. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we get it wrong but you can rest assured that the cards are stacked against us.

Let me reiterate an important point, the influenza virus exists in the population year round while influenza (the flu) seems to rear its symptomatic little head during the months of October through January. Now, let me tell you a true story.

RECAP: The flu vaccine is a “best guess” medicine – meaning we can never say for sure that it will be beneficial. Recent research shows that there is little if any benefit to getting the annual flu vaccine. In addition, the flu vaccine contains a significant amount of mercury that can cause nerve and brain problems that may not show up until years or even decades later. Some research suggests that those who get a yearly vaccine are at increased risk of Alzheimers.

The New York Garbage Strike and the Flu

Years ago, garbage men and women went on strike in New York. Needless to say, it wasn’t long before the trash piled up. The city looked like a wasteland with mountains of trash appearing on practically every corner. Shortly thereafter, the rats arrived. Big, fat, hairy rats took over the city, seemingly invading as though they had been patiently building an occupying force underneath the streets over the years, waiting for the day that the garbage people would go on strike. So, here is the million-dollar question…

Did the rats bring the trash?

Of course not! The trash brought the rats. The rats were a symptom of poor trash management. Allow me to challenge you with another question; would it be a successful course of action to try exterminating the rats? The answer again is “no” (by the way, they tried without success) because as long as there is trash on the streets then rats will come much faster than we can get rid of them. The solution is to get rid of the trash and the rats will go shortly thereafter! So how does this apply to the cold and flu? Simple, don’t fill your body and life with trash and the bugs that cause sickness will not be able to grow!

Stress: The Great Immune System Poison and What to do About It

Stress is perhaps one of the most important factors in health and is not given nearly the attention it deserves in a balanced lifestyle. Chronic stress causes the immune system to shut down, which opens the door for infection. Stress begins with the Halloween season where we choke down enough sugar and artificial colors and flavors to send a horse into diabetic shock. We know that sugar poisons the immune system and this may be a reason why the cold and flu season begins in October.

If you make it through the Halloween period without getting sick we are greeted at October’s exit by the Thanksgiving season, which again involves stuffing our faces with high sugar and high fat foods. Then after we are fattened up like turkeys for the Thanksgiving season, in rolls the Christmas/Hanukkah season full of more stress and sugary treats. And finally, let’s top off this triple layered stress season with the cherry on top… New Year’s. Is it any wonder why the flu season peaks in January? Maybe this isn’t the whole story, but you can rest assured it certainly sets the table and invites the flu in for dinner!

Stress acidifies the system and poisons the immune system. It depletes the body of vital nutrients, kills the good bacteria in your gut, ruins digestion and fills your body with stress hormones that turn immune system off. I realize that you cannot always get away from the stress, however, you can learn to cope with stress in a different way and there are supplements that will help your body adapt to stress in a much healthier way. Herbs, called adaptogens, help to balance the biochemistry of the body during stressful times. Vital Adapt is an herbal liquid tincture that combines some of the most powerful adaptogens on the market. An adaptogen is an herbal complex that works within the body to normalize the stress hormones and bring the body back into balance. This means that you will respond better, feel more focused, have a stronger immune system and sleep better at night even though you may have an excessive amount of stress in your life. The recommended dosage is 2 droppersful two to three times daily. You can increase the dose to 3 droppersful three times daily during heavy stress. If you enjoy a good book, I would recommend the book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie. This book is one of my favorites on the subject of stress and worry.

Bottom Line: Stress poisons the immune system. To decrease the impact of stress on your life use the tools taught in the book “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living” by Dale Carnegie, use Vital Adapt herbal tincture daily (2 droppersful twice daily).

Now let’s discuss products that will work to keep the rest of the body healthy during the cold and flu season. First, vitamin C plays an important role in keeping the white blood cells healthy (white blood cells contain more vitamin C than any other cell in the body). Whole-food vitamin C is preferred over ascorbic acid supplements. Sources of whole food vitamin C include rose hips and a rainforest herb called camu camu. I recommend a whole food formula called Pure Radiance C by The Synergy Company; each capsule contains 120 mg of true whole food vitamin C complex. The term “vitamin C” and “ascorbic acid” are often used interchangeably; however, in nature vitamin C is much more complex than just a molecule of ascorbic acid. In fact, ascorbic acid is a small fraction of the true vitamin C molecule. Whole food vitamin C is much more potent and requires smaller quantities to obtain an equal or better result than ascorbic acid supplements. The recommended dose is 2 capsules twice daily year round.

The Most Important Flu-Preventing Supplement on the Market

Starting in October, sun exposure drops significantly which depletes vitamin D levels. The levels are likely at their lowest near the end of December. Vitamin D is most popular for its role in keeping bones strong; however, a lesser-known role of vitamin D is in the immune system. When vitamin D levels are low your risk of infection increases significantly! This considerable drop in vitamin D during these cold and flu months may be a significant cause to the higher rate of viral infection and recent research confirms this link. One paper published in a recent issue of Journal of Hygiene suggests that the vitamin D/influenza connection explains the following observations:

1.       Flu rates are highest after the winter solstice and virtually disappear after the summer solstice

2.       Children who are exposed to sunlight have lower incidence of influenza

3.       Influenza is most common in peoples of the tropics during the rainy season

4.       The colder the temperature outside the higher the rate of influenza infection

5.       The elderly who live in areas of highest vitamin D intake are less likely to die in the winter

6.       Why cod liver oil (a source of vitamin D) protects against respiratory infection

7.       Why African Americans are more likely to die of influenza and pneumonia than Caucasians. (African Americans produce less vitamin D due to the higher pigment in skin)

The recommended dose of vitamin D is 2,000 – 4,000 iu during the winter season. Our goal is to increase blood levels to 50-80 micrograms per deciliter.

Top Supplements for Preventing the Cold and Flu

There are three specialty supplements that can be added to your arsenal of cold and flu fighting tools. They are especially good for prevention of cold and flu. The first is a homeopathic flu vaccine called Influenzinum. This homeopathic product uses the flu vaccine to make an extremely dilute formula, which can convey all of the benefits of the vaccine without the side effects. By gently nudging the immune system into action against the flu virus, Influenzinum keeps the body’s defenses mobilized. We have used this formula for many years and have received a lot of positive feedback regarding its efficacy.

The second product is a brand new version of a very old remedy for cold and flu. The product, called Immunity Take Care, is produced by New Chapter and is used to protect the body from all enveloped viruses such as the influenza virus. By binding to and inactivating the influenza virus, this nasty bug is unable to enter the cell for reproduction. This halts the infection and allows the immune system plenty of time to scoop up the neutralized the influenza bugs for disposal. Immunity Take Care uses a special extract of the Elderberry herb in a lozenge form. The recommended dosage is 1 -2 lozenges daily for prevention and 2-4 tablets daily for active flu infection.

The final product, which is especially for people who have a stubborn immune system, I recommend a formula called Pure Defense with NAC by Pure Encapsulations. This product combines some very powerful supplements for supporting immune function and respiratory health. The ingredients of this formula include:

• Vitamin D 2,000 iu: One of nature’s most important vitamins for immune function and respiratory defense
• Epicor: A fermented yeast product that stimulates immune function. Research suggests that this product can decrease the onset of cold and shorten its duration.
• Elderberry: Acts as a first line of defense against infection from enveloped viruses.
• Zinc: A deficiency of this vital mineral can prevent the immune cells from functioning on all cylinders.

The recommended dose for this formula is 2 capsules twice daily throughout the season. I personally feel that this formula offers the most comprehensive support to the immune system during the cold and flu season.

How to Shore Up Your Primary Defenses in the Next 60 Seconds

Your mucous membranes make up your primary defenses against invading organisms. These mucous secretions contain many different defense factors that bind to and inactivate viruses and bacteria that are trying to sneak in through the nose, mouth or eyes. Unfortunately, these mucous membranes are the first to dry up when the body’s water supplies are low. We have discovered that most people do not drink enough to keep this primary defense functioning optimally. To add insult to injury, we turn on the heaters in our home, which produces dry heat that further dries up the mucous membranes and inhibits proper mucous flow. The one thing that you can do in the next 60 seconds to significantly improve your primary defenses is drink a couple glasses of water and maintain this hydration by sipping at it throughout the day!

Final Conclusions:

1.       The flu is not as dangerous as the press and the medical community makes you think.

2.       The flu vaccine is not nearly as effective as you are led to believe and may even cause significant side effects.

3.       How healthy you are, your internal terrain, determines your risk of cold or flu. The bug (virus or bacteria) is the least of your worries. They cannot thrive in a healthy system.

4.       Control stress because stress is a potent poison to the immune system. If stress is a big problem, take Vital Adapt, 2 capsules twice daily.

5.       Use whole food vitamin C such as Pure Radiance C by The Synergy Company. Two capsules two to three times daily.

6.       For further protection use Immune System Take Care by New Chapter (1 tablet dissolved in mouth one to two times daily) to add an additional level of defense against viruses.

7.       Pure Defense with NAC is a great way to stimulate immune function throughout the season. This formula is the most comprehensive and is taken 2 capsules twice daily.

8.       Drink plenty of water to keep your mucous membranes healthy. These membranes are your primary defenses against offending organisms.

The bottom line is that cold and flu is optional this season! There are many things that we can do to promote health and ward off disease. By eating healthy, exercising, controlling stress and supplementing properly it is entirely possible to get through this season without using even one sick day!

For more tips and articles, visit us at www.illnessisoptional.com. Visit our wellness center, Your Prescription for Health at 10210 S. Dolfield Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117. 410-356-2169

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Have you ever stopped to wonder who taught a monkey what to eat? I realize that you are here to learn about the benefits of potassium, bare with me a moment, I promise I will give you the answer. for now,, back to the monkey question, it will all make sense in a second…

I am willing to bet that you’ve never given it much thought because, admittedly, the question is quite ridiculous. Monkeys just seem to know what to eat. Through this mysterious force we call “instinct”, most animals exit the womb and just know exactly what to put in their mouths.

Although humans are more than animals, we do have instincts, like our monkey ancestors.

In recent years scientists have been trying to understand what man consumed when we didn’t have government agencies to tell us what to eat. During this time, approximately 50,000 to 100,000 years ago, Paleolithic man was comprised of hunters and gatherers who consumed a diet motivated by instinct. Then approximately 10,000 years ago began the Neolithic Revolution.

The Grand Mistake

During this new age of human development; we adopted more of an agriculture and animal husbandry practice. I imagine this is about the time when those nasty little creatures called “food scientists” came into existence. A “food scientist” is someone who thinks they can make food better, tastier, and more nutritious than nature.

Although the study of the Paleolithic lifestyle is quite complex, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what kinds of foods our ancestors consumed. It’s no surprise to see that most experts in the area of Paleolithic eating suspect that these people consumed primarily fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and some wild game. If you’re reading this list and feel that this is common sense, that “knowing” that you are experiencing is the remnant of your Paleolithic instinct.

Our abandonment of the Paleolithic way has resulted in a number of harmful and even life-threatening nutrient deficiencies…

Potassium Deficiency and the Benefits of Potassium

One nutrient that many scientists believe was much more abundant in our diet during Paleolithic times was potassium.

The Stone Age humans likely consume approximately 15 grams of potassium on a daily basis. Compare that to the recommended daily allowance of 4.7 grams per day. A ridiculously low level, I may add, that most of us never achieve.

In addition to a deficiency of potassium, the average American consumes a large excess of sodium. The sodium to potassium ratio is important for proper function of the body; when this ratio gets imbalanced the body suffers. Our Stone Age ancestors only consumed less than a gram of sodium (0.6 g) and it is estimated that the average American now consumes approximately 3.5 g of sodium and an embarrassing 2.8 g of potassium.

Why Should We Be Concerned With Our Sodium/Potassium Balance?

The balance of sodium and potassium is crucial for the function many cellular systems; some signs of potassium deficiency include:

1. Fatigue
2. Heart arrhythmias
3. Heart failure
4. Muscle weakness
5. Constipation
6. Delayed emptying of the stomach

Isn’t Potassium Dangerous?

Contrary to popular belief, potassium is a safe nutrient when taken properly. In healthy adults without heart or kidney problems, daily potassium intake should not exceed 8 grams.

If you suffer with kidney and/or heart disease, or you are on certain medications for blood pressure, potassium toxicity can occur at lower dose. For this latter group, ask your doctor before taking potassium supplements.

When supplementing with potassium, you must take into account how much potassium you are taking in through diet. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, legumes are all good sources of potassium. It is possible to get sufficient potassium levels from your diet, however, it requires discipline and a hefty appetite for fruits and vegetables.

For the rest of us, supplementation may be required in order to achieve healthy potassium levels.

Who’s At Risk of Potassium Deficiency?

Before we get into the benefits of potassium, let’s talk about the risks of potassium deficiency.

It is important to realize that certain lifestyle habits, medications, and conditions can lead to an increased risk of potassium deficiency, these include:

1. The use of diuretics
2. Diarrhea or vomiting
3. Chronic dieting
4. Chronic kidney failure
5. Magnesium deficiency
6. Strenuous exercise

Keep these variables in mind when considering supplementation. See our Daily Potassium Requirements for Optimal Health for more information on supplementing with potassium.

What Are the Benefits of Potassium?

Potassium is essential for regulating fluid balance, acidity within the body, blood pressure, and muscle function. There are numerous outward benefits of supplementing with potassium, including:

1. Lowering blood pressure – An analysis of 33 published studies have demonstrated potassium supplementation to be of benefit in people who suffer with hypertension. The effective dose used in the research was 2,400 mg daily. (JAMA 1997;277:1624–32
2. Protection from Cardiac Arrhythmias – Studies show that people with low potassium levels are at a heightened risk of arrhythmia. Supplementation with 1,000 mg of potassium was shown to decrease the risk of arrhythmias in people who were prescribed a potassium-depleting blood pressure medication called hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). (Int J Cardiol 1989;25:93–8)
3. Prolonged life and Improved Quality of life – One study demonstrated that men who consumed high levels of potassium had a longer life. More importantly, those with higher potassium intake enjoyed an improved quality of life. See the article: Potassium for a Longer and Healthier Life – Benefits of Potassium for Seniors
4. Improved energy – Electrolytes, such as potassium, can allow the body to manufacture needed energy. Potassium deficiency can cause physical and mental exhaustion.
5. End to muscle cramps and charlie horses – Potassium deficiency can promote muscle cramps, as can calcium or magnesium deficiency.

Some health experts claim that nutrient deficiencies are a thing of the past and supplementation is unnecessary in today’s day and age…they are dangerously mistaken!

In fact nutrient deficiencies are quite common, and such deficiencies are the direct cause of many health problems that result in hospitalization and even death.

One such nutritional deficiency is potassium and in today’s article, we will talk about the benefits of potassium supplementation as well as the daily potassium requirements for optimal health. Published research shows that potassium deficiency can be a direct or indirect cause of many health problems, including:

• Cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heart beat)
• High blood pressure
• Fatigue and muscle weakness
• Constipation

Benefits of Potassium

Potassium can be an important part of any supplement program. Studies have shown that potassium supplementation can result in significant decreases in blood pressure, improvements in constipation, decreases in cardiac arrhythmias, and improvement in fatigue and muscle weakness.

Daily Potassium Requirements

The majority of your potassium should come from your diet; supplementation should be used as a means of optimizing your dietary potassium intake. I recommend reading the article on the Benefits of Potassium for a discussion of dietary potassium from the perspective of our evolutionary history. Although the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of potassium is 4.7 grams (4700 mg), our Paleolithic ancestors consumed between 10-15 grams per day from fruits and vegetables!

For most healthy people, taking up to 1,000-2,000 mg of potassium daily in supplement form should be very safe (depending on diet). If you are on medications, such as loop diuretics or ACE Inhibitors, or suffer with heart or kidney disease, check with a health care provider prior to supplementing with potassium.

The Potassium Supplement That I Recommend

K+2 Potassium is a high potency potassium formula that provides 300 mg of potassium per capsule. In addition to providing 300 mg of potassium per capsule, this formula provides two impressive forms of potassium…

Potassium glycinate is a chelated form of potassium that mimics food sourced potassium in absorption and utilization.

Potassium bicarbonate provides a source of bicarbonate, which helps to alkalinize the body. This advanced combination makes this one of the most potent and powerful potassium supplements on the market. This form would be especially good for people who have bone loss and/or those who eat a high meat diet.

As an alternative, Potassium Amino Acid Complex by Your Prescription for Health is an inexpensive and high-quality form of chelated potassium. Each tablet provides 99 mg of potassium in a form that mimics potassium found in food. Potassium chelate by Your Prescription for Health is considered the most cost-effective form of potassium. The only negative to this potassium supplement is it is limited to 99 mg per tablet.

Summary:

As I mentioned in the article, Benefits of Potassium, we are designed to consume far more than the ridiculously low amounts suggested by the RDA. So if you are a healthy person, with normal kidney function and currently not taking any medications for blood pressure or heart problems, eat as much potassium as you can from fruit and vegetable sources. If you have difficulty getting large quantities of fruits and vegetables, try 4-6 capsules of K+2 Potassium by Designs for Health.

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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, also known as GERD, is one of our society’s most common health complaints with one in ten Americans having daily episodes of heartburn.  Researchers estimate that GERD is experienced by 25%-35% of the population, which makes Proton Pump Inhibitors, a popular medication used to treat GERD, the third best-selling class of drug in the United States.

There is mounting evidence that drug treatment for GERD does not come without potentially serious risk. Such studies suggest that these drugs increase the risk of osteoporosis, depression, serious digestive tract infection, flu, irritable bowel disease and nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin B12 as well as important minerals. Although research has demonstrated these potential consequences, it does not take a multi-million dollar study to be able to reason that medications that interfere with acid secretion in the stomach will also interrupt nutrient absorption while making it easier for harmful organisms such as C. difficile to grow and cause havoc in our digestive tracts.

GERD occurs when the digestive juices back up into the esophagus, which results in an irritation to the fragile lining of the esophagus. The chronic irritation to the esophagus potentially results in a pre-cancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus and then, left unchecked, to esophageal cancer. This process of progression sounds horrible and, drug companies would have you believe, imminent if left untreated.  Research, however, does not support this seemingly rational and unquestionable connection. In fact, a recent review of the data suggests that the connection between GERD and Barrett’s esophagus is so weak that the reviewing scientists felt that the widespread practice of screening patients with GERD, using endoscopy, was not warranted. Other researchers found that patients who were suffering with nighttime symptoms, as well as obese patients, were at a higher likelihood of having GERD progress to Barrett’s and ultimately to cancer. These patients may be the ones who require endoscopy as a screening tool.

What causes GERD?

A common characteristic of GERD is what is known as a relaxed lower esophageal sphincter (LES Valve). This sphincter acts as a door between the esophagus and the stomach. In a healthy person, the door slams tightly shut after food enters the stomach; however, in someone with GERD, this door may not shut snuggly, which can lead to reflux of stomach contents and ultimately irritation of the esophagus. The better question is, “what causes this doorway to remain slightly ajar?”  There are number of reasons for this:

1. Portion size – People who eat large quantities of food can cause the stomach to expand well beyond the normal stretched size. Regular exposure to this degree of stretch can cause a deformity in the doorframe so that a gap remains, even when the door is shut. Portion size of food can have an immediate and a more long-term effect. If you eat a large meal right now, the stretching of the stomach can immediately cause symptoms; long-term exposure to such large portion sizes can result in a deformity in the doorframe even when the stomach is empty. Both of these situations can be remedied by eating smaller quantities.
2. Mint – Mint has a relaxing effect on the esophageal sphincter, you may want to avoid using mint candies and gum if you suffer with GERD.
3. Deep fried food – These foods slow the movement of food from the stomach to the intestines, this increases the likelihood of contents moving into the esophagus.
4. Late night eating – This increases the likelihood that food will be in the stomach while your body is in a horizontal position.
5. Medications – There are many medications that can cause problems with GERD: Calcium channel blockers, beta blockers (metoprolol, Toprol XL, etc.), NSAIDs (Ibuprophen, Naproxen, Advil, Aleve) , aspirin, nitrates, anti-depressant medications, bisphophonates (Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, etc.) and progesterone.
6. Excess weight, especially central obesity.
7. Food allergies and sensitivities. Although this is an underappreciated cause of reflux disease, it is important to note and it may be worthwhile to look for offending foods and precede with eliminating these foods from the diet.  These food sensitivities can be worsened by acid suppression through the use of medications like Nexium, Prevacid, Tums, etc.
8. Stress is a major cause of GERD. When you are stressed, the digestive tract does not function properly. This can result in a poorly functioning LES valve and more reflux.
9. Other factors – There are other factors that have been linked to GERD such as: Smoking, spicy food, citrus, tomato products, caffeine, alcohol and chocolate.

Isn’t GERD Caused by Too Much Acid in the Stomach?

Although there is a condition, called Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, where the stomach produces excess acid, this condition is quite rare. In fact, many doctors have discovered that 9 out of 10 people, who suffer with reflux, actually do not produce enough acid to trigger the closure of the LES valve. In addition, when stomach juices do not reach a particular acid level, the food contents sit stagnant and the food begins to putrefy and rot. As the food sits, it ferments and causes excess gas to form. This bubbling action can further worsen reflux by pushing the contents of the stomach into the esophagus.

So what do we do about it?

1. Have a careful assessment of medications and request your doctor remove or alter any medication listed above that may be linked to reflux. Please note, most doctors and pharmacists do not know about the link between these medications and reflux.
2. Learn about and implement a food elimination diet to try and pinpoint certain food triggers. Wheat, gluten and dairy are common culprits.
3. Replace acid in the stomach. It is a little known fact that a lack of acid in the stomach may be responsible for the reflux. This goes contrary to the conventional belief about what causes GERD; excess acid and poor sphincter tone. See our article about Betaine HCl Therapy for GERD. Taking an enzyme along with the Betaine HCl could result in further improvements.
4. Take an Enzyme – Plant enzymes work throughout the entire digestive tract to break down the food that we consume. Through the use of enzymes, we can decrease the time it takes to move the contents of the stomach from the stomach to the intestines. A potent enzyme that we commonly recommend is OrthoDigestzyme V. What makes these enzymes so powerful is the fact that they work through a broad range of acid levels. If the pH within your digestive tract is off, these enzymes will still work. This will often improve transit times and decrease gas and bloating.
5. DGL Ultra – This is a chewable form of licorice that helps to coat, soothe and stimulate healing in the esophagus and stomach. Chew 1 tablet before each meal and at bedtime.
6. Acid Assist – For symptomatic relief and/or in serious cases of GERD, Acid Assist is a chewable tablet that forms buffered foam on top of the stomach acid. This allows normal digestion to occur beneath the foam while preventing acid from jumping into the esophagus. This is to be used as needed to control symptoms while you are working to rebalance the body.