Here we go again making new year’s resolutions. Among the
most common resolutions include losing weight, stopping unhealthy
habits such as smoking or drinking, and starting an exercise
program. Whatever a person’s new year’s resolution is, it is
important to be patient and give ourselves a break when things
don’t go as planned. Anyway, I’d like to discuss the issue of
addictions, whether it’s smoking, drinking, gambling, you name it.
Oftentimes, these addictions are brought about by nutritional
imbalances. To put it simply, people oftentimes crave certain
things because they lack nutrients such as vitamins, minerals,
amino acids, essential fatty acids, and trace elements.
Fortunately, there are tests available that could tell us exactly
what we’re lacking. These tests could be done through the blood,
hair, and the urine. Of course, these tests are not mainstream yet,
so your conventionally-trained doctor may not be aware of these
tests. However, a simple CBC and serum chemistry can tell us what’s
going on with a person nutritionally, although indirectly. A CBC
for instance, can tell if there’s iron, B12 or folic acid
deficiency. High blood sugar could be due to lack of vitamin B1 or
thiamine. Low creatinine could be due to protein insufficiency or
impaired digestion. Low uric acid could be due to copper or
molybdenum deficiencies. Low CO2 can also be due to a lack of
vitamin B1 or thiamine deficiency. Low albumin could be due to a
need for more vitamin C. Low AST/SGOT and low ALT/SGPT could be due
to vitamin B6 deficiency. Low GGTP could be due to B6 or Magnesium
deficiency. High total/free T-3 could be due to iodine deficiency
while low total /free T-3 could be due to selenium deficiency. Low
total/free T-4 could be due to iodine deficiency. In summary,
“normal” tests don’t really mean anything because it’s mostly based
on statistics. Low normal or high normal mean something, especially
if a person is symptomatic. It goes back to individualizing
treatment or a more personalized medicine.
New Year’s Resolutions
Toxins Are Making You Fat…
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It’s that time of the year again when people make New Year’s resolutions (that they can hopefully stick with until the motivation goes south). Perhaps, the best thing to do is to plan ahead but take things a day at a time. If things don’t go your way or to put it another way, if you blow it, just forget about it and go back on your merry way. No use crying over spilt milk, as the old saying goes.
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight. It’s not as easy as it used to be when simply cutting down caloric intake could do the trick. Nowadays, one has to consider the role that toxicity, stress, hormonal imbalance, inflammation, food sensitivities, and yes, even chronic pathogens, play in people’s health problems, including that of obesity.
Let’s first discuss the role of toxins in the obesity epidemic. Toxins are natural or man-made products that could wreak havoc on our physiology. With well-functioning organs of elimination, it’s not usually a problem. However, since we’re dealing with so many toxins in our food, air and water, it’s important that we assist these organs of detoxification and elimination in any way we can. Vitamins, minerals, herbs, essential oils, and homeopathic remedies are among the things we could use to facilitate that. Other activities that could help include exercise, fasting, massage, dry skin brushing, enemas/colon hydrotherapy, and Ayurverdic practices such as pranayama and abhyanga.
Toxins, if not metabolized and excreted, could accumulate and affect every system in the body. The once thought to be impenetrable blood-brain-barrier (protecting the brain) could actually be “infiltrated” by circulating toxins.
One popular theory behind the accumulation of fat in certain areas of the body is that these fat cells are actually trying to protect vital organs from these toxins. It’s a adaptive mechanism, if I may put it that way. Toxins are basically stored in fatty tissues. These toxins are subsequently released during a weight loss program. This explains why most people feel bad in an unsupervised, non-holistic weight management program. A holistic approach would consider adding a liver support protocol, among other things. It’s also wise to have someone’s baseline body composition measured prior to starting a program. Doing this initially and at regular intervals during the program guarantees that a person is losing fat and not muscle tissue.
Anyway, a natural result of detoxifying the body is fat loss. Therefore, anyone considering losing weight should begin with getting rid of junk internally (from their bodies) and from their environment (basic clean food, air and water).
Autoimmune Diseases: Immune System Gone Loco?
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One of the most interesting concepts that I’ve learned is that so-called “autoimmune diseases” are caused by accumulation of toxins in the whole body (that means including the brain, which, we are led to believe is impermeable like an iron curtain because of the blood brain barrier). This is in contrast to the general belief that autoimmune diseases are caused by an “immune system gone haywire”. Standard treatments include the use of anti-inflammatories such as NSAID’s and steroids. If they don’t work, then the use of immuno-suppressive agents are next in line. Makes sense if you just want to address the symptoms of inflammation. However, doesn’t it make more sense to try to find out the cause of why the immune system’s gone haywire? Toxins from the environment including heavy metals, pesticides, synthetic hormones and microorganisms, as well as toxins produced from internal metabolism, all contribute to these toxic burden. Well-functioning detoxification organs help our bodies eliminate these toxic build up. However, there are those people who just aren’t able to keep up with the elimination of these wastes. Thus, symptoms of toxicity start to appear. These include allergies, asthma, digestive problems, fatigue, headaches, insomnia, joint pain, mood swings, skin problems and weight changes. Therefore, it makes sense to help rid the body of toxins and these can be done in different ways. Simple detoxification “procedures” that someone could easily incorporate include fasting, drinking more water, eating a plant-based diet, deep breathing and exercise. Other detox programs may need the guidance and support of a nutritionally-minded physician or other holistic practitioners. Nutritional supplements to support the organs of elimination and drainage such as kidneys, liver, lymphatics, lungs, colon and skin, all go a long way in improving someone’s over-all health. As far as auto-immune illnesses are concerned, natural anti-inflammatories can be used for symptomatic treatment while waiting for the “detox treatments” take effect. These include your essential fatty acids (from fish oil or krill oil or for vegetarians, flax seed oil), curcumin, and peppermint oil, among many others.
Related Articles
- Scleroderma: An Autoimmune Disease (brighthub.com)
- Mark Hyman, MD: 5 Steps to Kill Hidden Bugs in Your Gut That Make You Sick (huffingtonpost.com)
- Detoxify (bestofmotherearth.com)
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- Detoxify (bestofmotherearth.com)
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Are you stressed out because of the coming holidays? With the economic recession practically affecting everyone nowadays, it’s a good time to re-examine why we’re celebrating this season. The Christmas holidays usually invoke images of family, fun and laughter. In recent years however, this season has become more equated with gifts and/or shopping, otherwise known as consumerism. This is widely promoted in all forms of media, unfortunately. How do you avoid this often-times self-induced stress and really enjoy this very important time? First off, it’s good to remember the reason why we’re celebrating (“Jesus is the reason for the season”, as others have aptly put it). Secondly, it’s a time to be thankful for all the blessings in one’s life. It helps to focus on the positive in life. Additionally, there are things that you could do to manage stress better. These include having nutritious meals, eating slow cooked meals (rather than fast food), getting enough rest and/or sleep, and taking “adaptogens” or nutrients that help the adrenals such as rhodiola, ashwaghanda, holy basil and ginseng. Nutrients such as B complex (pantothenic acid in particular), vitamin C and Magnesium all help with adrenal function. Other activities that could help reduce stress include massage, exercise, meditation, prayer, volunteering and socializing with family and friends. Finally, there’s a book called “The Art of Doing Nothing”. In this book, it gives suggestions on how to use your time productively, whether you’re at home or at work.
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- Stressed Out by the Holidays? Find Some Relief With These Resources (psychology.about.com)
Acetyl L-carnitine: Powerful Stuff!
Image by BASF - The Chemical Company via Flickr
One of the nutrients that has been used to improve memory is acetyl L-carnitine, a vitamin-like nutrient that is derived from L-carnitine. It plays a major role in the healthy functioning of the mitochondria, the energy powerhouse of the cell. Acetyl L-carnitine also acts as a transport mechanism for free fatty acids as well as act as an acetyl-group donor for energy metabolism. It is primarily found in skeletal and cardiac muscle.
Among the many different functions of acetyl L-carnitine are: it improves concentration, memory and focus; supports nerve cell function; enhances cardiovascular health; enhances sperm cell health in men; and supports antioxidant defenses to promote healthy aging.
A typical starting dose is 500 mg/day, taken on an empty stomach. The usual maximum dose is 2000 mg/day, taken in divided doses. It is generally safe to take but caution should be exercised if a person’s pregnant, nursing, has a history of seizures or taking prescription drugs. Always consult with a nutritionally-minded physician before incorporating this into your healthcare program.
Antioxidants: Your Defense Against Premature Aging
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ORAC what? Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity is a test developed by USDA researchers at Tufts University in Boston to measure the antioxidant levels of foods and supplements. Why is this important? First, let’s explore what antioxidants are. These, in a nutshell, are substances that destroy free radicals. What are free radicals? Free radicals are unstable molecules that have a free electron. What free radicals do is that they steal electrons from other molecules such as our cells to make themselves stable. In the process, they damage our cells and their components. One of the most vulnerable parts of our cells is the mitochondria, the energy powerhouse of our cells. No wonder, once there’s mitochondrial damage (which is another cause of aging), one of the earliest symptoms a person could experience is fatigue or weakness. Antioxidants should ideally be coming from our food. Other sources include nutritional supplements such as vitamins, minerals and therapeutic-grade essential oils. Rich food sources of these antioxidants include prunes, wolfberries, acai berries, blueberries, pomegranates, apricots, kale, etc. Among the essential oils, clove scores the highest at 1,078,000, followed by myrhh at 379,000 and citronella at 312,000.
Related Articles
- Holiday Food Is Brain Food (psychologytoday.com)
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“Chi”, otherwise known as “prana” is what we all know as energy. Energy, being intangible, is sometimes a very difficult concept to accept in modern society. However, we see the evidence of energy all around us. This is even evident in allopathic medicine in the form of ultrasound machines, EKGs, CT and PET scans, MRIs and EEGs, among many others. Why is it then that more evidence is being required of certain forms of energetic treatment that have hundreds or thousands of years of use such as homeopathy and acupuncture respectively? Just wondering.
One interesting concept I have learned regarding chi is that the higher your chi (or energy or frequency), the healthier you are. Once your chi or life force goes down, then that’s when chronic illness may surface. A good analogy I’ve heard over the years is the growth of mushrooms (fungus) on decaying matter, similar to what you see in humans. People with fungal infections oftentimes have immune system challenges like AIDS or chronic diseases like diabetes. The key then, to prevent this, is to improve a person’s chi in different ways like a healthy diet and lifestyle, nutritional supplements as well as energy exercises like chi gong, taichi or yoga.
By the way, the March 5, 2009 article in Time magazine called “The Health Crisis Hits Home”, is a revelation that has come of age (although many people already have realized this idea several years or even decades ago). “Realign Doctor’s Incentives” , meaning that “our system pays doctors to diagnose, test and treat, not necessarily keep people healthy.” It’s why chronic disease like diabetes absorb 80% of our health care dollars. Pay for holistic success! Nutrition and self-care should be part of our educational system. Doctors ideally should learn about complementary systems of medicine that are practiced around the world such as TCM and Ayurvedic medicine and successfully integrate these into their practices.
Related Articles
- For Health Benefits, Try Tai Chi (health.usnews.com)
- Move Slowly, Think Deeply (psychologytoday.com)
- A Down Side to Tai Chi? None That I See (nytimes.com)
Ebola, AIDS, MRSA, Vancomycin-resistant Pseudomonas, chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium (cause of Malaria). These are just a few of the super bugs that we could all possibly encounter in our world that’s rapidly getting smaller every day due to air travel. In recent times when sea travel was the main mode of transportation, people who were still asymptomatic would usually show signs and symptoms before they arrive at their destination. In today’s world of faster air travel, people infected may not show signs and symptoms until they arrive somewhere. This can cause the rapid spread/transmission of communicable diseases. This is especially true in a stressed-out, nutritionally-deficient, and unhealthy population.
What is the traditional answer to this issue? I think that we all know the answer to that. Suffice it to say, this reactionary approach (the race to find cures) doesn’t work well because these bugs are smarter than we think. By the time so-called cures are available, they’ve already mutated to a form that’s resistant to the “cure”. That’s one of the reasons why we have MRSA and Vancomycin-resistant Pesudomonas, among many others.
There is no one to blame for this scenario. Health care practitioners (by indiscriminate use) and patients (by insisting that they be given a medication) alike are responsible for the proliferation of super bugs.
What then can we do about it? I would say that we adopt what the traditional Chinese medicine practitioners did in earlier times. A doctor at the time would only get paid or compensated when their clients are healthy. If their clients get sick, the doctors don’t get paid. It does make a lot of sense to do this. This preventive approach would save billions of dollars in health care.
What are the things we can do to fortify our immune system? Let’s start with the basics before we even discuss specifics. Having a healthy diet, adequate water intake, enough exposure to sunlight and the earth’s electromagnetic energy, rest, exercise, good relationships and stress reduction all go a long way in building our immune defenses.
There are ways to strengthen the immune system with the use of dietary supplements. Here are just a few examples;
mixed carotenoids (natural vitamin A)- good for the mucous membranes (respiratory and intestinal tract protection)
vitamin C complex (natural vitamin C with bioflavonoids)- traditionally used to boost the immune system against infections and tumors but also good for formation of collagen, along with L-lysine and L-proline
vitamin D3- studies show that it could protect against the flu (low levels of exposure to sunlight during the winter months make one vulnerable to the flu) and against certain forms of cancer
selenium- one of the co-factors in the formation of glutathione, which is abundant in the spleen and lymphocytes, both involved in immune system health
zinc- has antimicrobial properties and also good for prostate health in men
manganese- helps in the production of SOD, one of the antioxidants endogenously produced in our bodies
probiotics- an essential nutrient especially if one has taken antibiotics in the past, helps prevent bacterial and fungal overgrowth in the intestine
clove- has the highest ORAC (antioxidant levels) level among all natural substances, has antimicrobial properties as well
thyme- its constituent thymol has antifungal properties
lemon- has d-limonene which has anti-carcinogenic properties, has anti-viral properties as well (along with other citrus oils)
cinnamon- has antibacterial properties, also regulates blood sugar
rosemary- antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory
oregano- antimicrobial
chlorella and spirulina- immune stimulants
raspberries- rich in ellagic acid, which has anti-carcinogenic properties
apricots- rich in vitamin B 17, also has anti-carcinogenic properties
wolfberries- also stimulates release of HGH from the pituitary
broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables- lowers xenoestrogens, cleanses liver
frankincense- helps repair DNA
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- What is the definiton of aromatherapy (wiki.answers.com)
- “Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Nutrition for Breast Health” and related posts (natural-holistic-health.com)
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Besides looking at the mirror, another objective way of telling how fast a person is aging is through telomere testing. Before anything else, what are telomeres? Telomeres are sections of DNA at the end of each chromosome that serves as a cap to your genetic material. Every time a cell replicates, its telomere will become shorter. Shorter telomeres imply a shorter life span for the cell.
What effect does telomere length have on my health and wellness? Age adjusted telomere length is the best method to date to assess biological age using structural analysis of chromosomal change in the telomere. Serial evaluation of telomere length is an indicator of how rapidly one ages relative to a normal population. Therapies directed at slowing the loss of telomere length may slow aging and age-related diseases.
Does diet have any effect on telomere length and repair? An inflammatory diet, or one that increases oxidative stress will shorten telomeres faster. This would include refined carbohydrates, fast foods, processed foods, sodas, artificial sweeteners, trans fats and saturated fats. A diet with large amount and variety of antioxidants that improve oxidative defense and reduces oxidative stress will slow telomere shortening. Consumption of 10 servings of fresh and relatively uncooked fruits and vegetables , mixed fiber, monounsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, cold water fish and high quality vegetable proteins can prevent premature shortening. In addition, caloric restriction is advised combined with an exercise program. Fasting for 12 hours each night at least 4 days per week may also be protective.
What lifestyle modifications are likely to be helpful? One should achieve ideal body weight and body composition with low body fat (less than 22% for women and less than 16% for men). Decreasing visceral fat is very important. Regular aerobic and resistance exercise for at least one hour per day, sleeping for at least 8 hours per night, stress reduction, discontinuation of all tobacco products and bioidentical hormone therapy may decrease the rate of telomere loss.
How do you measure telomere length? The Patient Telomere Score is calculated based on white blood cells (T-lymphocytes). This is the average compared to telomere length on lymphocytes from a sample of the American population in the same age range. The higher the telomere score, the “younger” the cells. A Telomere Score that is above the average line is desirable.
What can I do to reduce my rate of telomere loss? Shorter telomeres have been associated with metabolic abnormalities, obesity, and several degenerative diseases including cancer, dementia, and cardiovascular disease. In vitro studies have shown that telomeres are highly susceptible to oxidative stress, which will shorten telomere length and enhance cellular aging. Minimizing associated risk factors that are linked to shortened telomere activity is recommended and include:
Reduce oxidative stress
Correct micronutrient deficiencies, especially vitamin D
Change sedentary lifestyle, increase physical activity
Avoid weight gain or obesity
Correct insulin resistance
Related Articles
- The New Science of Reverse Aging (thedailybeast.com)
- Meditation Beneficial for Cell Health–May Slow Down Aging Process (grantlawrence.blogspot.com)
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One of the common issues associated with aging is chronic inflammation. This manifests as symptoms a lot of people are so familiar with, such as arthritis, allergies, headaches, asthma, weight gain, etc. Inflammation in general, is a natural process that protects us in certain situations. Chronic, unregulated inflammation however, could cause more harm to our selves more than we all know. It is a major factor in all chronic degenerative diseases or the aging process in general.
One of the reasons behind this surge of inflammatory disorders lies in our diet. A deficiency in omega 3 fatty acids due to the process of refining our foods, has led to this epidemic. Studies show that a person needs at least 4,000 mg. of EFAs to prevent symptoms of deficiency. In my practice, I’ve recommended 8,000 and upwards of EFAs for cardiovascular and neurological problems. I always start with dietary recommendations like the avoidance of hydrogenated oils or trans-fats. I recommend primarily a plant-based or anti-inflammatory diet. There are those people who actually do better with animal protein in their diet (small, cold-water fish; organic, free-range poultry; grass-fed beef; wild game; etc.). What this really means is that, we need to consider each person’s biochemical individuality when it comes to making dietary and supplement recommendations (even exercise recommendations, for that matter). Regarding the use of EFA’s, the key words to look for when purchasing them are “molecularly distilled” and “free of PCBs and heavy metals”. It’s best to refrigerate the bottle once it opened. More info on this in future blogs.
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Hot Tips, News and Trends for Healthy Aging By Dr. Joel Lopez, M.D. 
Written
on December 1, 2010