Posts Tagged Stomach irritation & spices

… drinking large quantities of fluid with meals, we dilute the digestive juices. This results in a stomach environment that does not permit optimal digestion.

Eating on the run or in a stressed …

1. Stomach Cancer
2. Breast cancer and estrogen blockers
3. Pancreatic cancer
4. Loss of vision
5. Baclofen
6. Cataracts
7. Macular degeneration
8. Pure Encapsulations Macular Support
9. Blood Pressure Take Care
10. CoQ10
11. Zyflamend
12. Sunlight and chronic disease
13. Ministroke
14. Ovarian cancer
15. Fuch’s disease of the eye

1. Use of niacin for cholesterol
   
2. UTIs and use of cranberry
   
3. Stomach/digestive issues
4. Sinus drainage
5. Leaky gut/gluten sensitivity

1. CoQ-10 & Ubiquinol
   
2. Gout
   
3. Krill Oil
4. Cranial Sacral
5. Vitamin D
6. Parasites – pinworms
7. Sinusitis
8. Canker sores & stomach virus
9. Reflux
10. Valium
11. Bowels

In a recent double-blind study of 24 patients diagnosed with dry eye syndrome, researchers gave one group an antioxidant blend while the other received placebo. After 12 weeks of supplementation, the group receiving the antioxidant blend showed significant improvements in stability of tears and significant decreases in symptoms such as itching, burning and the sensation of a foreign body in the eyes.
(Eur J Opthalmol, 2009 May-June; 19(3): 337-42.)

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
I have a number of patients who suffer with this condition and any relief that we can provide to them is welcome. The current conventional treatment includes lubricating drops and a topical immunosuppressant called cyclosporine, which is being used to force the eye to produce tears. From a nutritional perspective we want to significantly increase the lubricating ability of the tears while trying to maintain the moisture. This study used an antioxidant blend called Oxyviane™ which unfortunately is not available here in the states. I feel, however, that we can achieve similar benefits by using other antioxidants and essential fatty acids. See my protocol for Dry Eye under our “Health Issues” section.

The researchers determined that fish oil resulted in a 23% decrease in risk of death from all causes while statin medications resulted in only a 13% reduction. For death rates from heart disease related conditions, fish oil decreased the death rates by 32% while statins decreased the rate by 22%. Overall, the fish oil provided the most benefit compared to other treatments.
(Arch Intern Med., April 11, 2005; Vol. 165, 725-730)

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
When we look at studies for medications and supplements that impact a condition such as heart disease we want to know how that product benefits funeral rates (death rates). If a medication lowers rates of heart attack and has no benefit to longevity then it begs the question “why not?” This is the type of situation that we see with aspirin. Aspirin decreases death rates from heart attack, however, the side effects from the medication increase risk of death from other causes such as bleeding in the stomach or brain. In the end it is a wash because overall funeral rates are the same in the group who received the aspirin or the sugar pill. Said another way, people who take an aspirin a day don’t live a day longer than someone who doesn’t take an aspirin a day. Fish oil appears to decrease cardiovascular related deaths as well as death from all causes. In fairness, statins appear to achieve a decrease as well. There are two differences though, first fish oil worked better than statins and second, fish oil has almost no side effects while statins can cause pain, muscle weakness, and liver damage. I know which one I will choose, how

This treatment uses a hormone produced by the placenta during the development of the fetus. Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin, triggers the sex glands of the fetus to develop. He talks about Dr. Simeons, a doctor in Rome in the 60’s who found that hCG could also help people who are on very low calorie diets lose more fat with less symptoms such as hunger, headache, etc.
Kevin Treudeau gives testimonial to the process when he describes how he lost 50 pounds in 60 days. He then goes on to guarantee a weight loss of 30 pounds in 30 days. Quite a guarantee, although one that you will see in practically every infomercial dedicated to weight loss. When you look into the hCG treatment of obesity you find some pretty disturbing facts that Kevin Treudeu “doesn’t want you to know about”.
First, many people think that hCG is all that is required in order to lose weight. In fact, you have to do a lot of work in order to make hCG therapy work for you. This includes a very strict diet and supplement regimen that is nearly impossible to stick with. Now Kevin Treudeu does not keep this info from you in the book, the problem is you have to buy the book first and read it before you will decide not to do it! I believe that he is banking on the proven fact that only 1-2% of people go through the hassle of sending back an item.
Second, most physicians who actually treat patients with the protocol do not find the same “magical” results that are reported in the advertising materials for the book. These doctors see it as an adjuvant to the entire weight loss program. This means that they find that fat loss proceeds at a faster rate but not at a magical rate.
Now is the big question. Can we get similar result without the need to take the hCG? I believe the answer is yes! You must remember that this program was designed during a time when we did not know about Leptin and dozens of other hormones produced by the stomach and fat cells. With a better understanding of these hormones and how to regulate them we are now able to help our system regulate the hypothalamus rather than looking to hCG to do it. This is an exciting area of research and one which we will cover in detail in later sections. For the time being, let’s just leave the book on the bookstore shelves.

In this study, which was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers evaluated the effect of a lon- term (5 years or longer) adult dose (greater than or equal to 325 mg daily) of aspirin on risk of cancer. The study, involving over 150,000 older men and women, found a 32% lower risk of colorectal cancer, a 19% lower risk of prostate cancer and a 17% decrease in the risk of breast cancer which could be attributed to chance.

Those who know me, know that I am not a fan of regular aspirin use for prevention of any disease. In my opinion, the risks simply do not outweigh the benefits. Daily aspirin is most popular for its use in prevention of heart disease, however, it is a little known fact that aspirin has never been shown to prolong anyone’s life! But you say, “Aspirin prevents heart attacks!” According to the research this is technically true, heart attack rates appear to be less for those who take a baby aspirin daily. The problem is, funeral rates are exactly the same! In fact, senior citizens who take aspirin daily have higher funeral rates meaning they die sooner! Let’s follow the logic, the fatal side effects of low dose aspirin cancel out the protective effect of aspirin on the nation’s number one killer – heart disease. Higher dose aspirin will most certainly have a higher risk of side effect, and cancer does not kill nearly as many people annually as heart disease. My belief is that the fatal side effects of daily, adult-dose aspirin will far outweigh the benefits. This doesn’t mean that we cannot make use of the information from this study!

Wherever there is chronic inflammation you have a significantly increased risk of cancer. We see this in the colon when people have chronic autoimmune conditions of the colon, with liver cancer in those with hepatitis, with cervical cancer with HPV infection and with esophageal cancer in those with chronic heartburn. We have a very fundamental understanding of the negative effects of inflammation on the DNA that may lead to mutations in cells which can result in a tumor over time. It then makes sense that if we can decrease inflammation, there should be a decrease in cancer risk and this is what we see. There are certain herbs and plant chemicals that have known anti-inflammatory effects without the potential side effects of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, naproxen and Celebrex. These herbs include ginger, turmeric, boswellia and rosemary, just to name a few. These compounds are commonly used for everyday aches and pains and seem to have significant anti-cancer benefit. A formula that we use which combines potent forms of these and other herbs can be found on www.illnessisoptional.com by clicking Here. Otherwise, use herbal formulas and cooking spices that contain more of these anti-cancer compounds. One other extremely important natural anti-inflammatory that we discuss often is omega-3 fish oil. The essential fatty acids found in fish oil are well known for their benefits in correcting inflammation. These essential fatty acids are also important for regulating cell division in addition to their anti-inflammatory effect. A suggested dose is at least 1800 mg of EPA and 1200 mg of DHA daily. Click here to get a product suggestion.

These cancer-causing compounds are called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Yes, they are as bad as they sound and no, I am not going to spend this article trying to convince you to throw away your beloved grill. Instead we are going to discuss ways to limit their production during the grilling process so that we can make the meal as healthy as humanly possible given the data we have to date.
Before I continue, I do feel it necessary to make the following statement. Grilling does promote the production of these cancer causing compounds and although we can decrease their production significantly through the following tips, you should still limit the grilling to special occasions rather than regular daily cooking. There I said it, so let’s continue with the tips for grilling as safely as possible.
First, let’s understand the simple formula for the formation of the harmful compounds. The formula is: Protein + Fat + Open Flame + High Temperature = Nasty Cancer-Causing Compounds.
When animal flesh is grilled at high temperatures, the first class of nasty compounds called HCAs are produced through chemical reactions in the meat. As the fat from the animal flesh falls onto the hot coals and smokes away, they form the second class of nasty compounds called PAHs which are then deposited back onto the meat through the smoke and flares in the grill. These PAHs form in the charred outer layer of the meat.
Tips for decreasing the formation of HCAs and PAHs:
Use low fat meats to decrease the formation of PAHs in the cooking.
The American Institute for Cancer Research has found that marinating your meat prior to grilling can significantly decrease the production of HCAs and PAHs. In fact, one such marinade decreased HCA formation by 92-99 percent. The following marinade ingredients may provide the most protection from these nasty compounds.
Citrus
Rosemary
Sage
Garlic
Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar
Use tongs or a spatula rather than a fork to flip meats. When the meat is punctured and compressed with the fork, fat is pressed from the meat which drips onto the coal and could promote PAHs
Blacken your meat with blackened seasoning. The seasoning protects the outer layer from damage during the grilling process. The antioxidant qualities of the spices further protect the meat from damage.
Flip the meat every minute to prevent the outer layers from reaching excessively high temperatures that will promote the production of these compounds.
HCAs form at temperatures above 325 degrees, cooking meat at temperatures below this will help to prevent the formation of these compounds. This is hard to implement on the grill, however, flipping every minute will help to cool the surface. Remember, use a meat thermometer to make sure the inner temperature reaches a high enough level to kill bacteria. They are as follows:
Ground beef, lamb and pork – 160 degrees
Poultry – 165 degrees
Beef and lamb steaks – 145-160 degrees
Fish – 145 degrees
Microwave your meat – Normally I am not a fan of microwaves, however, there is good evidence that precooking your meat in the microwave will significantly decrease the formation of these harmful compounds. Microwave the meat on medium setting for 1-2 minutes prior to grilling. Note: this may make the meat a little dry so marinades would be a good idea.
Add 1-2 Tablespoons of black cherry concentrate per pound of ground meat prior to cooking. This actually adds extra flavor and decreases the formation of HCAs. You can also squeeze one 400 iu capsule of vitamin E per quarter pound of ground meat for added protection.
For those who eat cooked meat on a regular basis, there is a wonderful supplement that works to prevent these harmful compounds from damaging the cell. The product is called chlorophyllin. Chlorophyllin is a special form of chlorophyll, the cleansing compound that gives plants their green color. Chlorophyllin works to intercept cancer causing compounds and toxins such as hetercyclic amines before they can damage the DNA of the cell. Over 20 years of research has confirmed chlorophyllin’s powerful ability to protect the body from over 50 cancer-causing agents. The recommended dosage is 1 softgel three times daily with your meals.

A little background…

You see, as soon as you fall asleep your body begins a cycle where it flows through different levels from wakefulness – simplified stages include: REM sleep (where you dream), deep sleep and light sleep. Scientists have discovered that each stage of sleep has a different purpose as it pertains to health. For example, Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is a stage where the brain discards useless information learned throughout the day and helps to file important memories. People who do not get enough REM sleep have difficulty with cognition and memory. Deep sleep is a stage where your body repairs and regenerates body tissues and people who are deprived of deep sleep feel run down, lack energy, vitality and are prone to sickness and disease. Ok, enough background, onto my discovery.
Needless to say, finally the machine was released to market and of course I was one of the first to get it. The machine, called the ZEO, is based on the same technology used in sleep labs which monitor brainwaves through special wireless electrodes. At night, I wear a headband containing electrodes that wirelessly transmit my brainwaves to a small clock-like unit next to my bed. Maybe, I’ll talk more about the ZEO in a future blog…for now just know that the unit shows me how much time I spent in each stage of sleep allowing me to know where I am deficient and where I am abundant. The unit also wakes me during a time in the cycle when I am more likely to feel awake and vital. So, let me tell you how I did last night.

Last night I was surprised that I spent a lot of time in REM sleep and little time in deep sleep. In fact, last night I spent almost a third less time in deep sleep than I did every other night since the unit arrived. In addition, I admit that I felt a bit run down this morning. It is important to note that if I had this same sleep pattern night after night, my body would not fully repair and over time my tissues would become dysfunctional, resulting in sickness or chronic illness.
Good thing for me, this lack of deep sleep is the exception and not the rule. So what went wrong last night?

I knew immediately what had occurred that caused me to have a deficit of rejuvenating deep sleep. Last night was a bit of a late night for me, however, this was only a small part of the problem. I know this because other nights had been late nights and I had not suffered the same degree of deep sleep deficit as I had last night. What made this night different was I had eaten a large, unhealthy meal prior to bed. I am too embarrassed to give details of just how unhealthy the meal was but just know for now, it was not a shining moment of health for me. Anyway, here is what happened…

Your body has limited resources and thus it must dedicate precious resources to various systems at one time. At night, your body wants to dedicate as many of these resources to repair and regeneration. Eating a big meal before bed forces the body to dedicate many of these resources to digestion rather than repair and thus your body suffers. Night after night I noticed that the majority of the deep sleep would occur in the first third of sleep. After the first few hours of sleep, very little deep sleep occurs and more is devoted to REM sleep. This makes good sense as our prehistoric body really does not know if sleep will be interrupted by attacking lions or village drama and thus it needs to get the majority of repair done as early as possible. This, unfortunately, does not benefit the person who eats before bed as these first few hours, when deep sleep occurs, will be dedicated to digestion. By the time digestion is complete, the optimal deep sleep time has passed. So what is the moral of this story?
Don’t eat before bed! For the love of your body, refrain from eating 3 hours before bed so that you can enjoy more rejuvenating sleep. I learned my lesson last night and I hope that you will benefit from the wisdom that has been entrusted to me by my ZEO Sleep Machine. This lesson alone was worth the nearly $400 dollar price tag that I paid to quench my high tech appetite. I hope that I will continue to learn how my lifestyle impacts the quality of sleep and overall health. As I learn more, I will bring these lessons to you.

What if you suffer with severe hunger pangs at night?

Please know that it is unnatural for your body to want food at night. This indicates biochemical imbalances that need to be addressed. Often people’s hunger is really a sign of dehydration and simply drinking a big glass of water will ward off these stomach knots. If this does not do it then I would recommend playing with different foods. I feel that a little fruit or veggies before bed will not interfere too much with deep sleep as these foods digest easily and quickly. I plan on testing this in the future by eating some fruit or veggies before bed and testing how my sleep pattern is affected. I will also test a high protein meal prior to bed. I will let you know how things turn out. For now, try not to eat 3 hours before bed and if you must eat, have a food that is easy for your body to digest so that deep sleep is not affected.

Do I recommend people get their own ZEO?

Believe it or not, I do not recommend people get a ZEO sleep system as of yet. It is an interesting unit and personally I love it but I am a bit more geeky and motivated than the average bear. The head band is a bit uncomfortable (although much more comfortable than expected) and the unit is quite expensive. I will report back to you in the future after I have more experience with it.