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… cause of many health problems, including:

Cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heart beat)

High blood pressure

Fatigue and muscle weakness

Constipation

Benefits of Potassium

Potassium …

The Breakthrough Discovery

Back in the early nineteen sixties, a navy surgeon, by the name of Dr. Judah Folkman, happened upon a discovery that would revolutionize the way that we view cancer development in the human body. While testing the impact of preserved blood on fast growing tumor cells (a model used to mimic fast growing tissues of wounds) he noticed that cancer cells that would normally ravage the body of a living mouse, could only seem to grow to the size of the tip of a ball point pen in a Petri dish. He wondered why the same tumor cells didn’t replicate with the same level of aggression in a Petri dish as they did in a living creature. After all, he had taken great care to mimic the conditions of living tissue.

After dissecting the large tumors from the living creatures and comparing them to the tiny tumors from his Petri dish experiment, he noticed only one difference between the two tumors; the large tumors from the mice were filled with thousands of tiny networks of blood vessels while the tumor cells from the Petri dish experiment had no such blood supply. From this experiment, he hypothesized that the cancer cells could not develop into a large tumor mass unless and until it had developed a network of small blood vessels called capillaries to feed the cells.  This process of blood vessel development was named “angiogenesis”.  Said another way, if we could prevent cancer cells from developing a blood supply of their own, we could stop cancer growth in its tracks and even cause existing tumors to regress! Furthermore, if tumor cells could not develop a blood supply, they would not be able to metastasize.

Dr. Folkman’s hypothesis and experiment was met with ridicule and rejection from the medical community. In fact, after discussing with a colleague his worry that his research would get picked up and stolen by other researchers, his colleague replied, “You are totally protected against intellectual theft. Nobody will believe you!”

Dr. Folkman continued his experiments, and over the years, his hypothesis went on to be accepted.  His research led to the development of a new class of medication called anti-angiogenesis drugs. Since then, other anti-angiogenesis medications had come to market. Unfortunately, the clinical results were somewhat disappointing; some tumors responded quite well, while others responded partially or not at all.

William Li, founder of The Angiogenesis Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of anti-angiogenesis therapies and lifestyles, believes that the main reason that the medications are not living up to their potential is because we are getting to people too late in the game, after the cancer is fully developed and situated.  He believes that if we can use non-toxic tactics to prevent the small cluster of cancerous cells from forming a blood flow in the first place, we can prevent tumors from developing altogether. This would be what Dr. Folkman calls, “Cancer without disease”.

We All Have Cancer

It is a well-known fact that we all have these microscopic cancer cells throughout our bodies. In fact, research that looked at healthy men and women who had died in car accidents, discovered that 40% of women between the ages of 40-50 have these microscopic tumors within their breasts and 50% of men, between the ages of 50-60, have these micro-tumors in their prostates. It is even more disturbing that virtually 100% of men and women in their 70s have micro-tumors in their thyroid! The only thing preventing these people from developing the disease of cancer is the fact that the tumor cells had not developed a blood flow yet. The question is, “what can we do to prevent those harmless micro-tumors from ever developing a blood flow?” Dr. William Li believes that he has the answer…

Eat to Starve Cancer

The anti-angiogenesis medications, used to treat existing tumors, do not come without side effects. These side effects, although fewer than conventional chemotherapy, would make them inappropriate tools for preventing angiogenesis in micro-tumors. There is good news, however, researchers discovered that nature offers an abundance of natural compounds with potent anti-angiogenesis activity. Best of all, rather than blocking angiogenesis altogether, they normalize it. Disease begins when the growth of blood vessels occur unimpeded by the natural systems of checks and balances within the body. These natural anti-angiogenesis compounds appear to regulate and normalize the angiogenic balance within the body.

Angiogenesis is Essential to Health

Once we reach adulthood, it is generally accepted that blood vessels stop growing. There are three situations, however, that seem to defy this rule: menstruation, pregnancy and injury/wounds. During menstruation, pregnancy, and injury, the body produces protein chemicals that act as fertilizer for blood vessels; this stimulates the growth of new capillaries. When we injure ourselves, blood vessels grow beneath the scab to bring nutrients and oxygen to the damaged area in order to repair the damage. After the wound has healed, the body produces anti-angiogenesis compounds that stop the growth and prune back the blood vessels if needed. This process is tightly controlled; when angiogenesis is not well controlled, many diseases can arise.

Angiogenesis Gone Haywire

There are two ways that angiogenesis can become problematic; you can either have too few or too many blood vessels growing in a particular area of the body. In the case where there is too little angiogenesis, you see diseases such as:

• Wounds that won’t heal
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Neuropathy
• Hair loss
• Erectile Dysfunction

In cases where there is too much angiogenesis, you see diseases such as:

• Cancer
• Blindness
• Psoriasis
• Endometriosis
• Obesity
• Rosacea
• Alzheimers

Cancer – The Ultimate Disease of Excess Angiogenesis

Although there are many diseases that can be connected to angiogenesis, abnormal blood vessel growth is a hallmark of all solid tumors. It is an accepted theory that one key to controlling cancer growth, especially metastatic and aggressive cancer, is to shut down the process of angiogenesis within the diseased tissue without affecting the healthy tissue.

Cancer’s Weakness

Generally speaking, blood vessels are stable and resilient tissues. Blood vessels found in tumors, however, appear to be built in a hurry. Their structure and architecture is disorganized and fragile, which makes them more susceptible to anti-angiogenesis therapies than normal tissues. This weakness may prove to be one of the greatest advantages that we have over this deadly foe.

Nature’s Advantage

When the scientists discovered the presence of proteins that promote angiogenesis, they realized that nature, with all of its systems of checks and balances, must also make proteins that inhibit angiogenesis. They first discovered these compounds in the urine of mice, which were resistant to cancer; they named this compound angiostatin. They then began to find compounds with similar activity in the foods that we eat, such as fruits, vegetables and tealeaves. Researchers have made great strides in defining which foods appear to have the most potent anti-angiogenesis activity. A non-exaustive list is provide below:

1. Green Tea
2. Strawberries
3. Blackberries
4. Blueberries
5. Raspberries
6. Oranges
7. Grapefruits
8. Lemons
9. Apples
10. Pineapples
11. Cherries
12. Red grapes
13. Red wine
14. Bok Choy
15. Soybean
16. Ginseng
17. Maitake
18. Licorice
19. Turmeric
20. Nutmeg
21. Artichoke
22. Lavender
23. Pumpkin
24. Sea Cucumber
25. Tuna
26. Parsley
27. Garlic
28. Tomato
29. Olive Oil
30. Grape Seed
31. Dark Chocolate

Of these foods, the ones that appear to have the most potent anti-angiogenesis activity include (in order of potency):

1. Soy extract
2. Artichoke
3. Parsley
4. Berries
5. Soy
6. Garlic
7. Red grapes
8. Brassica
9. Citrus
10. Lavender
11. Green tea
12. Glucosamine
13. Turmeric
14. Tea

(Lists taken from a lecture by Dr. Li during a TED conference)

Power Resides in the Synergy

According to Dictionary.com, “Synergy” is defined as “The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.” In a study on the anti-angiogenesis activity of tea, researchers tested the ability of three different types of tea to inhibit blood vessel growth. In this study, they determined that they all had anti-angiogenesis activity, however, of the three, Earl Grey appeared to be the most potent. The researchers then decided to combine the two weaker teas and test the anti-angiogenesis activity of the mixture. They discovered that the combination of the two weaker teas resulted in more inhibition of blood vessel growth than the stronger Earl Grey tea. According to Dr. Li, this shows the presence of what is called “Nutritional Synergy” meaning, smaller quantities of many different nutrients and phytochemicals is likely superior to high quantities of fewer nutrients.

Future of Anti-Angiogenesis Studies

Currently, there is mounting laboratory and animal research that is confirming the anti-angiogenesis activity of foods. Using a special test tube model of blood vessel growth, Dr. Li and his organization is working to map the anti-angiogenic activity of common fruits, vegetables, herbs and teas. The ultimate goal is to form a menu of foods that are likely to inhibit this key step in the growth of abnormal cells into metastatic tumor masses.

One study, published by Harvard Medical School, tested the effect of dietary lycopene (a red pigment found in foods such as tomatoes, berries, etc) on the risk of prostate cancer. They determined that men, who consumed the most lycopene-containing foods, enjoyed the lowest incidence of prostate cancer. The researchers then tested the tumor biopsies for the presence of blood vessels. They discovered that of the men who went on to develop prostate cancer, the more lycopene they consumed, the lower the density of blood vessels in the tumor. This finding suggests that even when lycopene fails to completely inhibit angiogenesis, is appears to slow the growth and potentially decrease the virility of the existing tumor mass.

Obviously, more research needs to be performed to confirm the legitimacy of the laboratory and animal findings. I believe that there is sufficient data, in combination with epidemiological research showing an inverse relationship between fruit/vegetable intake and cancer risk, to start to incorporate larger quantities of the foods, which have anti-angiogenesis activity.

Using These Findings

The rules are simple:

1. Consume many servings of vegetables, fruits, and spices
2. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables; choose them based on color and spectrum
3. Choose fruits that are lower on the glycemic index (lower sugar content)
4. Drink a variety of teas including: green tea, Earl Grey, jasmine and white tea.

Supplements for Prevention of Angiogenesis

Many people have been asking me about herbs and nutritional supplements that may give them a leg up on this issue. Although we do not have research on specific supplements, as they pertain to angiogenesis, I suspect that whole-food, freeze-dried extracts of fruits, vegetables and herbs will provide a spectrum of concentrated anti-angiogenesis compounds. I personally use a variety of whole food fruit, vegetable, mushroom and nutritional extracts for their broad benefits. This research has solidified these products as part of my long-term supplement plan. Below I list the supplements that I feel would provide the greatest anti-angiogenic activity; it should be noted that every one of these food-products offer multiple health benefits, in addition to being great means of protecting against angiogenesis:

1. Berry Greens by New Chapter – There are many whole food formulas on the market, I chose this formula because it is highly concentrated, has a good number of plants with certified anti-angiogenic activity, can be found in either capsules or powder and is readily available. I recommend 6 capsules per day or one tablespoon per day as a supplement to a healthy diet. If you get few fruits and vegetables in the diet, or you have a history or high risk of cancer, I would recommend doubling this dose.
2. PolyResveratrol-SR by Thorne Research – This formula combines resveratrol, pterostilbene, a highly absorbed curcumin, a highly absorbed green tea extract and quercetin. These compounds have anti-aging, anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic activity. The recommended dose is one capsule twice daily (although higher doses may be even more effective).
3. Vitamin D – Aside from vitamin Ds other anti-cancer qualities, it also appears to inhibit angiogenesis. Recommended doses are 2,000-4,000 iu per day.

Conclusion:

Normalizing angiogenesis within the body appears to be a critical step in the maintenance of healthy cells. After listening to a 20-minute lecture by Dr. William Li of the Angiogenesis Foundation, and researching the topic in depth, I am convinced that this may be one of the most important findings in medical history. I look forward to the results of Dr. Li’s research on the anti-angiogenesis activity of various foods and will continue to keep you updated as new research is published on the subject. 

As this fat builds up it damages the delicate machinery of the cell, ultimately leading to complications and disease. While reading various studies on how this fat gets into places that it shouldn’t, I came across a study that was investigating the impact of high fat versus high carbohydrate intake on the burning of fat. While reading the study I was fascinated and horrified by the method used to block the burning of fat in the healthy subjects who took part in the study. How did they do it? How did they block the healthy participants’ bodies from burning fat?

They gave them a popular blood pressure medication.

That’s right, they gave them a medication called a “beta blocker” that is very commonly prescribed to overweight, obese and diabetic patients with high blood pressure. This class of medication is, more accurately, called a beta adrenergic blocker. This means that the medication blocks certain receptors which bind to adrenaline, a hormone produced by the body which causes the heart to race, the blood vessels to constrict and thus blood pressure to increase. By blocking the beta adrenergic receptors of the body, the heart does not beat as strongly or as fast and the blood vessels relax thus lowering blood pressure. Unfortunately, the beta adrenergic receptors on fat cells get blocked as well and thus a decrease in fat loss occurs as well as an increased propensity to store fat.

Does anyone see a problem with this?

As I mentioned previously, the people who are most prone to high blood pressure are people who already have too much fat in their bodies. These include diabetics, people with pre-diabetes, as well as the overweight and obese. We give these people a medication which further inhibits fat use thus stoking the fire of their metabolic difficulties. Perhaps this is why many studies on these medications have resulted in an increased risk of disease and premature death. That’s right, not only have studies not proven these medications to prolong life, many have even shown them to shorten life.

It never ceases to amaze me how the medical establishment can turn a blind eye to the side effects of their treatments. The use of beta blockers to inhibit fat loss is apparently a standard practice in research studies and yet medicine just brushes it aside and convinces themselves that this class of medication is safe to use in overweight and obese people who are already afflicted with fat-clogged cells.

We need to open our eyes and accept the fact that medications are not nearly as effective as they are made out to be. We need to convince ourselves that the right approach is to take the reins of health into our own hands and although it is not as easy as popping a pill in the morning it is far better than the delusion that there is a medication for every disease…that, ladies and gentlemen, is nothing more than a mirage created by the drug industry.

For those of you who have high blood pressure and may have been prescribed a beta blocker such as propranolol, metoprolol or any other generic medication ending in “olol” I am not recommending that you stop your medication. In fact, to do so may cause a rebound elevation in blood pressure that could put you in the hospital or worse. I am simply saying, perhaps there is a better way to control blood pressure. In our experience, people can start living the right lifestyle can find that the need for the medication decreases or goes away as they get healthier. At this time you can work with your doctor to start weaning yourself from the medication. If you would like to learn more about natural methods for controlling blood pressure, check out our article onHigh Blood Pressure. If you are looking for help developing a healthy lifestyle, learn about First Line Therapy that we offer at our wellness center.

According to the research, damage was present in greater than half of those who reported myopathy (muscle pain).

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
Muscle pain and weakness is a common side effect of statin medications and should be taken seriously. Although severe muscle damage is rare, it appears that a mild-moderate muscle injury is much more common and can persist for years after stopping the statin medication. To decrease the risk of muscle damage associated with statins, I recommend that those who take statin medication take 100 mg of Ubiquinol twice daily. Ubiquinol is an activated form of coenzyme Q10 and may be better absorbed and utilized. It is also recommended that those who take statins also supplement with a potent multi-vitamin and fish oil.

Researchers looked at the blood tests of 3,289 Chinese subjects between the ages of 50 and 70. A blood test called serum ferritin, a measure of stored iron, was determined to be an independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome and diabetes. In fact, the group who had the highest ferritin level was more than 300 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and nearly 300 percent more likely to develop metabolic syndrome. This connection held even when the study controlled for other potential risk factors such as obesity, markers of inflammation, adipokines and other risk factors.
(Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2008; 93(12): 4690-4696.)

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
First, it is unlikely that iron overload is the primary cause of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Clearly, the most prevalent cause of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome is a diet full of refined carbohydrates and a lifestyle devoid of activity. With that said, it is interesting to see how other factors that are not normally associated with diabetes may in fact play a role with insulin resistance and blood sugar control. Iron overload can cause problems for the body by causing the production of high levels of free radicals, basically leading to a “rusting” of the cells. This rusting effect may cause important receptors, such as insulin receptors, to lose function. If you suspect metabolic syndrome or suffer with diabetes, it may be helpful for to have your doctor order a test for ferritin to determine if you have an issue with iron overload.

While reading various studies on how this fat gets into places that it shouldn’t, I came across a study that was investigating the impact of high fat versus high carbohydrate intake on the burning of fat. While reading the study I was fascinated and horrified by the method used to block the burning of fat in the healthy subjects who took part in the study. How did they do it? How did they block the healthy participants’ bodies from burning fat?

They gave them a popular blood pressure medication.

That’s right, they gave them a medication called a “beta blocker” that is very commonly prescribed to overweight, obese and diabetic patients with high blood pressure. This class of medication is, more accurately, called a beta adrenergic blocker. This means that the medication blocks certain receptors which bind to adrenaline, a hormone produced by the body which causes the heart to race, the blood vessels to constrict and thus blood pressure to increase. By blocking the beta adrenergic receptors of the body, the heart does not beat as strongly or as fast and the blood vessels relax thus lowering blood pressure. Unfortunately, the beta adrenergic receptors on fat cells get blocked as well and thus a decrease in fat loss occurs as well as an increased propensity to store fat.

Does anyone see a problem with this?

As I mentioned previously, the people who are most prone to high blood pressure are people who already have too much fat in their bodies. These include diabetics, people with pre-diabetes, as well as the overweight and obese. We give these people a medication which further inhibits fat use thus stoking the fire of their metabolic difficulties. Perhaps this is why many studies on these medications have resulted in an increased risk of disease and premature death. That’s right, not only have studies not proven these medications to prolong life, many have even shown them to shorten life.

It never ceases to amaze me how the medical establishment can turn a blind eye to the side effects of their treatments. The use of beta blockers to inhibit fat loss is apparently a standard practice in research studies and yet medicine just brushes it aside and convinces themselves that this class of medication is safe to use in overweight and obese people who are already afflicted with fat-clogged cells.

We need to open our eyes and accept the fact that medications are not nearly as effective as they are made out to be. We need to convince ourselves that the right approach is to take the reins of health into our own hands and although it is not as easy as popping a pill in the morning it is far better than the delusion that there is a medication for every disease…that, ladies and gentlemen, is nothing more than a mirage created by the drug industry.

For those of you who have high blood pressure and may have been prescribed a beta blocker such as propranolol, metoprolol or any other generic medication ending in “olol” I am not recommending that you stop your medication. In fact, to do so may cause a rebound elevation in blood pressure that could put you in the hospital or worse. I am simply saying, perhaps there is a better way to control blood pressure. In our experience, people can start living the right lifestyle can find that the need for the medication decreases or goes away as they get healthier. At this time you can work with your doctor to start weaning yourself from the medication. If you would like to learn more about natural methods for controlling blood pressure, check out our “Health Issues” section of this website. If you are looking for help developing a healthy lifestyle, learn about First Line Therapy that we offer at our wellness center.

There are trillions of biochemical reactions going on in your body every second of your life. Some reactions are tearing and some are repairing, in order for you to remain healthy the net total of reactions must equate to more repairing than tearing. Do you follow me thus far?

I once saw a funny tee shirt that reads “Eat well, exercise daily…die anyway.” Admittedly, this statement is a true statement, in the end something always gets us. The part that is left out of this witty testament, however, is what happens in between birth and death.

There is a story of a widow who was bringing her great-grandchild to visit her husband’s grave. When they arrive at the site she says to her great grandchild, “what do you think is the most important piece of information on the grave stone?” The child says, ” well his birth year, because if he were never born then we would not be here today.” She smiles and says, “no, try again.” He thinks for a second and says, “the date of his death then, because that is the day that we all remember him?” She replies, “no, but they are all good answers,” she continues, “the most important information on his grave stone is the little dash in between his birth year and the year of his death because it is how we live that matters!” There is great wisdom in that statement and that wisdom applies to our health. We cannot control our birthday, nor can we control the fact that one day we will leave this life, but we do have control over how long we stay and how we feel while we are here!

So let’s talk a bit about aging…

There are many theories about what causes us to age, some believe it is free radicals, some believe it is predetermined in our genetics, some believe it is the toxins and others believe it is stress. The truth of the matter is aging is likely a normal process that is controlled by all of the above mentioned factors and then many others that we have not yet described.

Researchers have not discovered a way to stop aging but they have discovered ways of slowing the process and in many situations reversing some of the ravages of premature aging. As with any situation, the first thing to do whenever we find ourselves in a ditch is to stop digging! Today’s article, is dedicated to one of the most important ways that we dig our hole deeper and thus speed the process by which we age. In addition, when we control this process we can actually see reversal of many of the signs of aging! So let’s get started with our discussion on a process called GLYCATION!

Glycation occurs when the body’s proteins react with sugar forming a substance in the body called Advanced Glycation End Products, AGEs for short. While glycation is a normal process of everyday metabolism, the rate of glycation and thus aging is significantly increased by the Standard American Diet (SAD) and lifestyle. We will talk more about this later. For now let’s continue with our discussion about what glycation is and why it is so devastating to health…

To help you visualize the process of glycation, imagine a fresh hamburger patty. When the patty is uncooked the patty is soft, pink and malleable, however, if we cook it, the patty turns brown and becomes harder and less shapeable. That browning effect comes from the proteins reacting with the sugars in the meat in a process similar to what happens in the body. That’s right, the meat gets “glycated” by the cooking process. In the body, glycation causes tissues to become harder, thicker and less pliable. This process results in:

1. Cataracts – The lens becomes cloudy and thicker until vision is impeded. This process is similar to the process of cooking an egg white. It starts out clear, but becomes white and cloudy after the proteins in the egg become glycated by the cooking process.
2. Hardening of the arteries
3. Wrinkles and loss of skin suppleness
4. Kidney damage and failure
5. Loss of muscle flexibility
6. Nerve damage

You can see how widespread and potent the aging effects of glycation can be to the tissues of the body. Because proteins make up a large percentage of the body’s structures, there is no tissue or organ that is safe from the process of glycation.

Glycation occurs more aggressively in diabetics and that is what makes this disease such a devastating condition. In fact, Lancet, a well respected, peer-reviewed journal, estimates that diabetes ages the average heart by 40 years. The majority of this problem is directly related to the glycation process. So what do we do about it?

Preventing and How to Reverse Glycation

Advanced Glycation End Products occur from many different reactions in the body. To achieve the most dramatic decrease in the glycation stress of the body we will want to implement a multifactor approach. With that said, we start with the most powerful way to decrease the formation of these powerful aging agents.

In chemistry, one way to decrease the number of chemical reactions that occur in a test tube is to simply add less of one of the chemicals. In the situation of glycation, the more sugar that is available, the more likely glycation is to occur. Simply decreasing the amount of sugar in the blood will decrease the amount of glycation that can occur, no other change in lifestyle will have such a dramatic effect on glycation.

For those of you who are saying, “but I don’t eat a lot of sweets!” you are not safe either if your diet is filled with carbohydrates like bread, pasta and cereals. In the body, these carbohydrates are digested and absorbed as sugar. So the first step is always, limit the amount of sugar AND carbohydrates in the diet (especially refined carbohydrates).

The second step to controlling glycation is to enhance the body’s ability to process and utilize sugar so that it doesn’t hang around and wreak havoc in the blood. This means EXERCISE! The more you exercise, the more sugar your body is able to burn away and the less sugar that is available to lead to glycation.

Now that we have talked about the bread and butter of controlling glycation we can talk about things that we can do to reverse glycation that has occurred before it causes permanent changes. Scientists have found that a number of nutritional components in the diet play a very important role in controlling glycation and even reversing it! These compounds include:

1. Carnosine, a combination of two amino acids beta-alanine and histidine. Research has found carnosine to be a potent inhibitor of glycation. In test tube studies, carnosine has been able to reverse aging damage to cells resulting in more youthful and efficient function. In one human study, 15 healthy subjects were given histidine and carnosine. The researchers found that these compounds protected the LDL (bad cholesterol) from glycation and oxidation. In order to achieve a significant blood level, it is recommended that 1,000-1500 mg of carnosine be used in a supplement program.
2. Benfotiamine is a fat soluble form of thiamine. Aside from benfotiamine’s anti-glycation effect it also appears to protect enzymes, heal damaged nerves and decrease inflammation which is triggered by elevated blood sugar. 150 mg once or twice daily.
3. Beta-alanine is an amino acid which is the precursor to carnosine. While carnosine appears to work on the fast forming glycation compounds, beta-alanine acts on slower forming glycating products. Recent studies suggest that beta-alanine significantly increases carnosine production in the muscles. Recommended dose is 1,000 mg twice daily.

Glycation is, no doubt, one of the most powerful promoters of the aging process and although we may not be able to stop it entirely; using diet, exercise and cutting-edge supplements we can significantly inhibit it and even reverse some of the damage caused by already existing Advanced Glycation End Products.

If you have metabolic syndrome or diabetes then you will want to take an aggressive stance on fighting these harmful compounds. Although the science of these supplements is in the early stages of discovery, I feel that there is sufficient scientific evidence to warrant their use. I feel that we can expect to see a decrease in complications associated with diabetes and possible a slowing of the aging process in otherwise healthy people. I look forward to confirming this hypothesis as more research comes to light.

The items described in this article have been combined into one formula called Mitochondrial Optimizer by Life Extensions.

Low testosterone is a problem for many people; even when symptoms are not noticed, a low testosterone level can promote a number of diseases. When levels drop significantly, symptoms may develop. It is not uncommon for low testosterone to go undiagnosed until a severe deficiency develops. Although both sexes require testosterone, women have much lower levels and the effects of low testosterone are more pronounced in men.

The Some of those symptoms include:

1.An inability to build muscle
2.Loss of muscle mass
3.Low libido or impotence
4.Heart disease
5.Obesity
6.Diabetes
7.Osteoporosis
8.Depression

Some of these symptoms may not be recognized immediately. A drop in muscle mass or libido may be attributed to the aging process, not realizing that testosterone levels have dropped below the normal range of 300 nanograms per deciliter. Unlike women’s menopause, men’s hormones tend to drop gradually over a number of years so the symptoms are also gradual. The symptoms of low testosterone cannot be assumed to indicate that testosterone levels have dropped below normal. Blood or saliva tests are necessary to determine actual levels.

There are many reasons for testosterone levels to drop aside from the natural aging process. These include:

1.Alcohol
2.Eating beef with hormones
3.Exposure to pesticides in large amounts
4.Drinking from plastic bottles & heating food in plastic

How Lifestyle Impacts Testosterone
Lifestyle changes can have a positive effect on testosterone. The most important factors that promote a healthy testosterone level include:

1.Proper sleep is beneficial for both testosterone and human growth hormone levels. Aim for 7-8 hours every night.

2.Proper diet including adequate protein and fat. It is a little known fact that a low-fat diet can result in a testosterone deficiency. Never decrease fat intake below 20% of your caloric intake.

3.Resistance Training – Lifting weights helps to build and protect your muscle while stimulating the production of testosterone and growth hormone.

Standard Treatment for Low Testosterone

The standard treatment for low testosterone is hormone replacement with bio-identical hormones. There are potential risks to this treatment as there is with any hormone replacement therapy. The degree of benefit varies from person to person. About 10% see little to no improvement in their symptoms, 90% see some improvement and approximately 1% see significant benefit. There are some other options that can be used as an alternative to hormone replacement. There are specific contraindications to testosterone therapy such as having prostate cancer, prostate hypertrophy, congestive heart failure, sleep apnea and high red blood cell count. Generally speaking, bio-identical testosterone treatment can be a safe and effective means of increasing testosterone levels, when not contraindicated.

Supplements for Increasing Testosterone

DHEA is a precursor to testosterone and can be taken in supplement form. It is not uncommon for people to have a deficiency of this important building block; correcting the DHEA deficiency can sometimes allow the body to resume production of testosterone. A standard starting dose is 25 mg, however, it is recommended that you have a blood test for DHEA-S in order to properly dose and monitor its effects.

A comprehensive formula, known as Night Gain by Natura Health Products contains a number of products to balance the testosterone levels. This formula contains L-Arginine, which assists in the natural production of testosterone. DIM and Chrysin which helps to prevent the testosterone from being converted into estrogen (a problem for older men). Three powerful herbs that help to stimulate the production of testosterone: Longifolia jack, Tribulus terrestris and Macuna pruriens. For best results, take 3 capsules before bed and 3 capsules in the morning.

Protecting the Prostate During Testosterone Replacement

As testosterone levels normalize, the body may inadvertently produce more of a compound called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a more potent form of testosterone the can promote prostate enlargement. It is recommended that men on testosterone replacement therapy take a comprehensive prostate formula to prevent the DHT from triggering prostate growth. I recommend Ultra Natural Prostate , by Life Extension Foundation, 1 capsule twice daily. A suitable alternative is New Chapter’s Prostate 5-LX formula.

Article Written by: Ray Hinish, Pharm.D.,CN,C.P.T.

According to conventional medicine, cholesterol is the cause of our heart disease epidemic. I have heard of some cardiologists telling patients that if it were possible they would lower their patient’s cholesterol levels to zero. This type of comment shows how the most advanced medical system in the world is based on antiquated ideas and philosophies. If we develop a drug tomorrow that would lower people’s cholesterol to zero and administered that drug to 100,000 people in a clinical study, we would have 100,000 dead people on our hands. Cholesterol is an important compound in the body, we need it to make important hormones and compounds such as vitamin D. When cholesterol is elevated, it is because the body is out of balance and is producing excessive levels of cholesterol. As with most things in life it is the dose that makes the poison and cholesterol is no different.

An important question to ask, however, is at what dose does something become a poison? We have discussed cholesterol in other articles…Today’s article is not about cholesterol, rather we are going to discuss cholesterol’s nasty little brother called triglyceride. Just as cholesterol plays an important role in the body, triglycerides also are important and necessary for survival. Triglycerides are your body’s way of transporting fat to the organs and tissues to be used for energy. Triglycerides are also stored in the body so that when energy is needed there is an abundant supply. Like cholesterol, the majority of triglycerides that are floating through the blood are produced by the liver. When your lifestyle is out of balance, the liver loses the ability to sense that the body no longer needs to produce triglycerides and these levels begin to rise in the blood stream. Once the triglycerides in the blood reach a level greater than 100 mg per deciliter then health begins to suffer.

A study that was published in the journal Circulation discovered that high triglycerides cause more damage to the blood vessels than having an elevated LDL (bad cholesterol). Another study that followed showed that patients with a high triglycerides level (over 200 mg per deciliter) had three times the risk of heart attack compared to patients with normal triglyceride levels. In that same study scientists found that people with the highest ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol suffered a 16 time higher risk of heart attack compared to people with the lowest ratio of triglycerides to HDL. This ratio is calculated by dividing your triglyceride number by your HDL number, this ratio determines if you are suffering from a condition called metabolic syndrome. For more on this condition see the article on FirstLine therapy.

Metabolic syndrome occurs when the body produces too much insulin in response to a diet that is high in carbohydrates. This elevated insulin causes many problems for the body such as elevated cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure. Elevated triglycerides can also be a sign of an omega-3 fatty acid deficiency.

So what do you do if your triglyceride levels are elevated?

Occasionally, triglycerides are extremely high which can place the patient at risk of a painful and dangerous condition called pancreatitis. In these people, who can have triglycerides in excess of 1,000, medications are likely needed to prevent complications. With that said, medications are not the answer for 99% of the population. They simply cover up the real problem, which is poor diet and lack of exercise. The first step is to look at your diet. As with many other conditions and diseases, carbohydrates are the most common culprit. If your triglycerides are elevated it is likely that you are eating too many refined carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, cereal, sugars and sweets. Exercise is also very important because exercise burns excessive fat and sensitizes the body to insulin.

The next step is to optimize your omega-3 fatty acid intake. People who have elevated triglycerides can often drop their levels in half simply by adding omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil to their supplement program. It is important that you take enough fish oil to provide 1800 mg of EPA and 1200 mg of DHA per day. Recently, the FDA approved fish oil as a drug. This drug form of fish oil is ridiculously expensive and no better than the less expensive, non-prescription fish oils available. I will caution you to be very picky with your brand choice to assure that it is free of heavy metals and other contaminants. In our practice we use the Your Prescription for Health brand of fish oil for those who prefer capsules (3 capsules twice daily) or Carlson Labs Finest Fish Oil for those who prefer liquid (1 tablespoon daily).

It is my preference that you start with these two changes and give them a good 2-3 months before you retest. If after this period your triglycerides are still elevated above 100 then I would recommend that you try a special form of a B vitamin called pantethine. This is an effective tool for normalizing triglycerides and cholesterol. The recommended dosage is 450 mg two to three times daily. Niacin is also an effective tool against elevated triglycerides, however, given the possibility of severe side effects I would recommend that you reserve this as a last defense. To lower triglycerides, doses in excess of 2,000 mg may be necessary and regular blood tests to assess liver function will be needed on a fairly regular basis.

Although triglycerides appear to be an independent risk factor for premature heart disease, we must not lose sight that elevated triglycerides are an indicator of a more serious condition called insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome. IF you correct the insulin resistance, the triglycerides usually correct themselves. In addition, by correcting insulin resistance, you will also enjoy healthier cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Why do we spend so much time talking about lowering “bad” cholesterol and almost ignore its fraternal twin brother (arguably a more important player in risk of cardiovascular disease)? The answer is quite simple, there are basically two ways that a pharmacologist can impact a biological system, they can either work to add something back to the body (such as thyroid hormone) or they work to decrease the amount of a compound in the blood (such as an antihistamine for allergies). It is extremely difficult for the scientists to produce a drug that gets the body to make more of a particular substance. On the flip side, it is easier to make a compound that inhibits the production of a particular substance. With cholesterol, pharmacologists have designed medications called statins that decrease the amount of cholesterol that the liver can produce. HDL, however, is different than LDL cholesterol in that more HDL is better. Thus, scientists would have to produce a substance that was capable of stimulating the liver to build and release more HDL particles. Not an easy task.

As mentioned earlier, there are two types of cholesterol. LDL, is called “lousy” cholesterol because it is the form that is found in the nasty plaques of the arteries. HDL is considered “happy” because it carries cholesterol from the tissues, such as the arteries, back to the liver where it can be disposed of. That is an oversimplified, albeit sufficient, description of the two main forms of cholesterol.

Once again, the goal with HDL is to achieve a higher level. When I was in pharmacy school, we were told that there were two main ways to impact HDL: exercise and moderate alcohol. I remember my professor jokingly saying “therefore, it would be in our patients’ best interest for them to run from bar to bar.” So for the remainder of this email I will discuss natural ways to increase your body’s own production of this important cholesterol particle. I will start with a discussion on specific lifestyle recommendations because these clearly have the most important and significant benefit to HDL levels and then I will conclude with a discussion of the supplements which act to top off our HDL levels.

Cut Carbohydrates! When we get a significant amount of carbohydrates in our diet, such as, bread, pasta, cake, candy and cereals, our body produces high levels of insulin. Elevated insulin triggers a condition called insulin resistance which has been shown to be a key factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. Part of the risk may be associated with the impact of insulin on the liver’s ability to produce HDL cholesterol particles. A low HDL is a classic presentation in people with insulin resistance and diabetes. By controlling carbohydrate intake you will have a positive impact on all lipids including HDL.
Exercise…LONGER. It is no secret that exercise has a positive impact on HDL cholesterol, however, until recently we didn’t have a clear idea as to how much of an increase could be expected. A Japanese study looked to answer this question. It was determined that the length of an aerobic exercise session was what determined the amount by which HDL would raise. In fact, for every 10 minutes above 20 minutes of aerobic exercise the subjects would enjoy a 1.4 mg/dl increase in HDL. Intensity and frequency were not nearly as important as the length of each exercise session. It is my recommendation that we each get 60 minutes of activity at least 5 days a week. I know it is a tall order, however, if people want extraordinary results in their lives they need to put in extraordinary effort.
It is Time to lose the weight. This one is cut and dried. Even small amounts of weight gain can have dramatic impacts on HDL cholesterol.
Good News for Smokers! The good news is…if you quit, you will enjoy a significant elevation in your HDL cholesterol.
Check Your Medications. Some medications can have a negative impact on HDL such as beta blockers and certain cholesterol lowering medications.
Oils can help. If you do use oils in cooking or salads use extra virgin olive oil as this has been linked to higher HDL cholesterol.
Your Chia Pet May Save Your Life. Chia seeds are a wonderful whole food and may help you achieve a higher HDL. Soluble fiber, found in chia seeds, has been shown to increase your HDL and help protect you from insulin resistance. In addition to the large amount of fiber found in chia seeds, they are also full of healthy HDL-raising fatty acids, nutrients and minerals. Try 1 tablespoon twice daily.
Fish Oil Increases HDL By Two Mechanisms – Omega-3 fats found in fish oil have many positive benefits to the body. One such benefit is increasing HDL cholesterol by increasing production while simultaneously decreasing the body’s dismantling of HDL cholesterol that has already been produced. We recommend 1 tablespoon daily of Carlson Labs or 6 capsules daily of Super Omega-3.
Niacin – No discussion of natural approaches to increasing HDL is complete without a discussion about B3, also known as niacin. Currently there are three main forms of niacin on the market: standard niacin, inositol hexanicotinate and niacinamide. Plain niacin is the form most commonly prescribed or recommended for cholesterol and it has very potent benefits to HDL and has also been shown to decrease heart attack risk and cardiovascular death. Unfortunately, niacin comes with side effects including uncomfortable rash/hot flash and potential liver damage (which occurs more often than I feel comfortable with). If you do use niacin, you should use a slow release and have your doctor test your liver on a regular basis. Inositol Hexanicotinate is a form of niacin that is bound to inositol. This form is believed to enter the blood where it is slowly releases the niacin to the body and may impact cholesterol. The cholesterol lowering benefits of inositol hexanicotinate (no-flush niacin) are inconsistent. It works well for some and is useless for many. There is no way to determine who no-flush niacin will work, for so it has fallen from favor with us. Those who use no-flush niacin with good result should continue, it appears to offer little risk to the liver. Niacinamide does nothing for cholesterol but can be a useful tool for those who suffer with inflammation.

Now I would like to shift directions a bit and move from a discussion of increasing the number of HDL particles that are floating through your blood to a discussion about how to improve the ability of your HDL to pull unwanted cholesterol from the plaques of the arteries. A very interesting study on genetically modified mice shed some light on how HDL works to inhibit plaque formation. HDL is not just a glob of cholesterol, it actually carries numerous enzymes which appear to offer much of the benefit. One such enzyme, called paraoxonase, appears to play a very important role in the blood vessels. When scientists genetically engineered mice to produce HDL cholesterol without this vital enzyme, the mice suffered significant inflammation within the blood vessels. This research suggests that HDL actually becomes harmful and inflammatory when it loses paraoxonase. In humans, acute stress such as surgery or trauma can cause the HDL to be depleted of this anti-inflammatory enzyme. Paraoxonase also appears to play an important role in detoxifying the LDL cholesterol, making it much less likely to deposit into the arteries. So what can we do to protect the paraoxonase and is there anything that can be done to increase the production of this powerful enzyme? The answer is yes! A Greek study evaluated vitamin E’s ability to protect the HDL cholesterol from losing its paraoxonase enzyme after intense exercise in 10 healthy basketball players. Initially the researchers tested the paraoxonase content of the basketball player’s HDL before and after intense exercise and found the enzyme levels plummeted after the exercise. They then began having the players supplement with vitamin E. After one month of supplementation with alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) the researchers tested the blood before and after intense exercise and found that the supplementation protected the HDL from losing the paraoxonase. This certainly does lend support to the protective effect of vitamin E for cardiovascular disease. If you do supplement with vitamin E, I recommend that you take a natural formula such as Unique E. 1 softgel (400 iu) daily should be plenty.

Recently, scientists have found that a class of compound found in many natural foods may actually activate your genes to produce more paraoxonase! This class of compound called polyphenols is found in many fruits, herbs and teas. Two specific polyphenols stand out in the research literature for their ability to increase the production of this enzyme: quercetin and resveratrol. These two products can be found in a formula called Resveratin by Xymogen. I recommend 1 capsule twice daily. This area of research is a very exciting one and may prove to me a much more important factor than the HDL number. We will continue to follow this issue and report on any new data that comes out.

One final note on cholesterol. As more and more research comes out we are seeing a change in the thought process of cholesterol and its impact on heart disease risk. The most recent literature suggests that the quantity of the cholesterol is far less important than the quality of the cholesterol produced. On your next doctor’s appointment, ask your doctor to order a blood test that assesses the quality of the cholesterol produced in addition to the quantity. This test is called the VAP test and it is available at most labs. If your doctor is not familiar with this test then it may be in your best interest to contact a holistic minded physician to follow this and other tests that may give you insight into your true risk of heart disease. To see a listing of these tests, please see the Heart Disease protocol in our Health Issues section.