Throw Out The Medications Forever

Monday, April 30, 2007

Common Drugs Deplete Nutrients

Acidophilus: To replenish and replicate the friendly bacteria. It is suggested to take lacitobacillus acidophilus each time you take the antibiotic, and possibly take it for five to seven days after the course of antibiotics is finished to ensure normalization. (Yogurt is a good natural source of acidophilus, but it may be a problem for people sensitive to lactose intolerance).
Fruclo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and Other Prnbiotic Support: To help restore other gastrointestinal problems that the antibiotics may induce (especially the stronger, third-generation type) and help offset the imbalance or the Gl flora.

Antidepressant Drugs

Includes drugs used to stimulate the mood of a depressed patient. Some are used in eating disorders, treating obesity, and panic disorders. Drugs include tricyclic and SSRI medicines such as Amitriptyline, Elavil. Trazodone, Desipramine, Pamelor, Nortriptyline, Serzone, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft and Imipramine.

B-Complex Vitamins: Additional B-\itamins are critical when taking antidepressants for short or extended periods. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are especially necessary. There may also be an additional need for riboflavin (B2).
Selenium: Stores of selenium are compromised with extended use of these drugs. A suggested supplementation dose would be 50 to 100 micrograms daily.
Zinc: Depletion of this antioxidant can slow wound healing reduce the sense of taste. Supplement with a dose of 10-35 mg per day.
L-Gluthathione: An important amino acid that decreases free radicals and helps to protect your liver.
Calcium/Magnesium: Take for nutritional support, along with additional minerals.
Vitamin C

Diabetic Medications

Includes sulfonylurea drugs such as Diabinese and Tolinase; second generation drugs Glynase and Diabeta; and miscellaneous diabetes drugs such as Metformin and Acarbose.

Chromium: This mineral is essential for the body's metabolism of glucose. Low levels may lead to insulin insensi-tivity and abnormal insulin usage.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C improves all aspects of diabetes, and is often depleted due to free-radical destruction and increased urinary excretion.
Magnesium: There is a direct relationship between magnesium deficiency and insulin resistance.
Magnesium also improves all aspects of diabetes aiding in arterial strength, normalizing blood pressure, and aiding in glycolysis. Most diabetics have an 80 to 85 per cent deficiency.
Vitamins B6 and B2: B6 may aid in healthy eye support and proper vision. Bilberry, lutein and other bioflavonoids may be supplemented when vision problems, diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration are present. (Note: these herbs would be contraindicated with warfarin use.)
Folic Acid: A deficiency is especially noted with Metformin use.

Estrogen and Progesterone

Includes oral contraceptives agents and estrogen compounds (Premarin, Estratest) and estrogen-progesterone combinations (Prem-pro).

B-Complex Vitamins: B vitamins are important to maintain healthy skin, nails, nerves, hair and cells. They are also critical in the production of energy. An increased requirement for vitamin B6 may be even more acute. Folic acid may be required, especially with oral contraceptives.
Calcium/Magnesium: Perhaps there are no two more important minerals for women (especially menopausal or post-menopausal). Calcium supplement with vitamin D are especially recommended.
Vitamin C, E and Beta Carotene: These three essential anti-oxidants are valuable in reducing a woman's risk of post-menopausal breast cancer. They help to reverse free-radical destruction and boost the immune system. Additional supplementation with vitamin E may ease hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.
Essential Fatty Acids: The omega-3 and omega-6 essential oils aid in anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. They can be depleted in a typical North American diet of high saturated fatty foods.

Arthritis Medications

Includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs such as Aspirin. Ibuprofen and Advil.

Calcium/Magnesium: These two critical minerals are essential when taking arthritis medicines. Both are needed to build bone, muscles and nerves all through life, especially in your senior years. Long term depletion can lead to high blood pressure, heart irregularities, muscle cramps and asthma-like symptoms. Since bone loss can ensue with continued steroid use, vitamin D should be supplemented to prevent osteoporosis.
Vitamin C: NSAID medicines can cause increased urinary excretion of Vitamin C. This vitamin is essential for maintaining connective tissue, reducing the levels of free radicals that weaken the immune system and synthesizing collagen to strengthen bones.
Folic Acid: Lower levels of this important nutrient, aiding in the inhibition of uric acid.Glucosamine: Although not an anti-inflammatory, glucosamine and chondroitin play a role in stimulating cartilage cells, regenerating cartilage and binding with collagen so that cartilage can be strong. It relieves the pain of arthritis and may decrease the need for NSAIDs.
Essential Fatty Acids: The omega-3 and omega-6 essential oils aid in anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. They "lubricate" the joints.

Corticosteroids

Steroid drugs are used as anti-inflam-niiilorics and for a wide range of diseases, including dermatitis, autoimmune diseases, aslluna and allergic disorders. Drugs include costisonc. hydrocortisone. prednisone. triamci-nolonc. dexamalhasone and azulfidine

Vitamin C: Steroid overuse can deplete vitamin C stores, leading lo easy bruising, lower immunity, asthma and allergy-like s\mptoms. and poor wound healing.
B-Complcx Vitamins: Tolic acid depletion can lead to anemia and cardiovascular disease. Steroid use can also raise blood sugar: chromium might he needed as an additional supplement.
Potassium: Loss leads to edema, irregular heartbeat and muscle weakness. Supplementation amount are determined by blood levels.
Zinc
Selenium
Calcium/Magnesium

Diuretics

Includes all drugs used in the management of edema associated with congestive heart failure and renal or liver disease, including furosemide. I .asix. hydrochlorothiazide, Dyazide, humelanide, Bumex. spironolactone and chlorthalidone.

Potassium: All of the loop diuretics and the thinzides can contribute to severe potassium deficiency that can lead to defects in the kidnevs, skeletal muscle, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and heart muscle. Excessive loss loads to edema, irregular heartbeats and muscle weakness.
Calcium/Magnesium: Long term use of diuretics can eliminate those essential minerals vital for cardiac function, along with potassium.
B-Complex Vitamins: Diuretics can especially deplete thiamin (vitamin B.) and pyridoxine (\ilamin B,). This, depletion can elevate homocvsluinc levels, leading to harm to the heart.
Zinc
Vitamin C

Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook, 1999-2000

by Ross Pelton, James B. Lavalle, Ernest B. Hawkins, Daniel l Krinsky

Our Price: $34.95

Paperback - 485 pages 1st edition (June 15, 1999)Lexi Comp; ISBN: 091658979XAvailability: This title usually ships within 4-6 weeks. Please note that titles occasionally go out of print or publishers run out of stock. We will notify you within 2-3 weeks if we have trouble obtaining this title.Amazon.com Sales Rank: 46,147

This book is a vital addition to the library of anyone who is taking Prescription Drugs. The authors, all pharmacists with holistic orientation, have put together a very valuable resource. It allows the reader to reference the prescription drug they are taking to the probable nutrient deficiency this drug could be causing in the body.

What is ironic (I would like to use a harder adjective) is that the prescription drugs deplete the very nutrient that is needed by the body to repair the organ or system in the body the drug is being user to "cure". For instance, statin drugs such as Lovastin and Prevastatin appear to lower the amount of CoQ10 in the body, perhaps the most critical nutrient needed to repair the heart and provide energy to the rest of the body. The typical "running on empty" feeling experienced by users of beta-blockers could easily be explained by the lack of CoQ10.

These problems are called "side effects" by the Drug companies, and are usually glossed over by the FDA as an "acceptable" risk. If you are the user, there is no such thing as being an "acceptable" statistic.

Anyone with any experience in nutritional healing will confirm that, given time, good nutrition will help the body cure its problems. Prescription drugs only suppress the symptoms, and with this book, we have a better idea of what damage they do in the process of suppression.

To purchase this book direct through Amazon Books

Cherries & Fibromialgia Pain, Melatonin, Alzheimer's...

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LE (Life Extention) Magazine March 2006
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/mar2006_cover_cherries_01.htm

Why Is the FDA Picking On Cherries?
(Author's name withheld due to the controversial nature of this article.)

The Truth About Cherries

George Washington cut down one tree. Bureaucrats in Washington, DC, are trying to pull up the whole orchard. On October 17, 2005, letters went out from the Food and Drug Administration warning cherry purveyors that they had better quit telling people that cherries have health benefits or dire things are going to happen. The lucky recipients were warned that it's illegal to say things like, "The same chemicals that give tart cherries their color may relieve pain better than aspirin and ibuprofen." Testimonials such as "I no longer take any drugs!" had better cease-or else.

Although most of the 29 letters were aimed at Michigan cherry growers, some were fired off to growers of other berries in other states. What prompted the berry attack is still at large. Inquiries to the office of Judith Putz, compliance officer for the FDA's Detroit district office, didn't yield answers beyond that the FDA had become aware that people were "making claims." The action is not unprecedented, however. Back in 2001, somebody at Food and Drug got bugged about a different berry-the cranberry.

At that time, a letter was fired off to the king of cranberries, Ocean Spray, telling the company that, despite recommendations of the Surgeon General and the National Research Council, it had better quit repeating the story that eating foods high in plant nutrients may protect against some types of cancer and strokes. The alleged criminal acts had occurred on Ocean Spray's website. Normally, the FDA has no authority over websites, but the company had put its website address on its products, and the agency does have authority over labels. On the theory that the website was now part of the label, the agency moved to censor what Ocean Spray was saying. In response, the company moved its health and anti-aging data to the Cranberry Institute's site, thus separating product from information. Today, however, the site contains a lot of scientific data about how the proanthocyanidins in cranberries prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract.

Unlike the cranberry situation, however, the recent attack on cherries is aimed at statements made on websites not linked to labels. Since the FDA has no authority to dictate website content-which is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission-I asked the agency by what authority it was threatening to seize property and stop people from selling cherry products. The agency responded that websites are part of the legal definition of "label." A reading of the legal definition, however, reveals that a label is, well, a label-something stuck to a product or its package. The definition also allows Food and Drug to regulate things that come with the product, such as a package insert. But no mention is made of websites.*

THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF LABEL
* The definition of label and labeling (21CFR1.3): (a) Labeling includes all written, printed, or graphic matter accompanying an article at any time while such article is in interstate commerce or held for sale after shipment or delivery in interstate commerce. (b) Label means any display of written, printed, or graphic matter on the immediate container of any article, or any such matter affixed to any consumer commodity or affixed to or appearing upon a package containing any consumer commodity. Source: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Section 1.3.

What the Supreme Court Says

Not surprisingly, some in the cherry industry are talking about their First Amendment rights. "Tart is smart," according to King Orchards, and it's not rolling over. Neither, apparently, is the Supreme Court. In sharply worded opinions, the Court has repeatedly rebuked the FDA's "highly paternalistic approach" to keeping information from people for their own good. When the FDA tried to keep compounding pharmacies from advertising, the Court warned the agency that whether a person wants alternative choices is not the government's decision to make. The searing verdict: Bans against truthful, nonmisleading commercial speech . . . usually rest solely on the offensive assumption that the public will respond "irrationally" to the truth. The First Amendment directs us to be especially skeptical of regulations that seek to keep people in the dark for what the government perceives to be their own good.1 The Court further admonished the agency to quit trying to protect favored markets by suppressing information. According to these and other Court opinions, the FDA appears to have more bureaucratic bark than legal bite.

Government Studies

Incredible as it seems, part of the information on cherries that the FDA wants to censor was funded by a different governmental agency. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) gave the cherry industry a $141,210 grant to investigate the health benefits of cherries so the industry could increase its sales. Tom Dorr, special assistant to the Secretary of the USDA, had high hopes when he handed over the funds that were used to explore the nutritional and nutraceutical aspects of the berry, enthusing that cherry growers "know how to best develop new markets for the cherry industry."

The FDA does not want the cherry industry to tell people that recent studies show that cherries contain substances that are potentially 10 times stronger than aspirin or ibuprofen for relieving pain. It does not want the public to know that substances in cherries may kill cancer cells and prevent cancer. It makes no difference whether these statements are true. What's important is that the public not be told that a natural substance (cherries) has been shown to work as well as or better than an unnatural one (ibuprofen). Only drugs, according to the FDA's legal doctrine, can prevent, treat, mitigate, or cure disease. If something does those things, it's a drug. And if it's a drug, it has to be tested for its ability to do those things. In this double-speak world, no natural substance can do anything significant against disease-that is, unless it undergoes testing as a drug. Attempts at slaying this many-headed monster of convoluted truths have only made it grow new heads.

For example, when backed into a corner over whether the public can be told of scientific studies showing the benefits of folic acid, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants, the agency grew four new heads, each looking into the validity of the data for each of the four products. Should people selling cherry concentrate want to say something like, "Cherries may protect your brain from Alzheimer's disease," the agency will grow another new head to determine whether it's legal to say that.

Allowing "claims," as the agency calls them, is a tortuous process. First, somebody at the agency pulls all the scientific studies. (We don't know who, since my request to Barbara Schneeman, director of the Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, went unanswered.) Then each study is rated according to criteria created by the agency (good study, bad study, etc.). Then all of the data are taken together and given an FDA "grade" (A, B, C, etc.). How "good" the studies are determines whether or not the public is allowed to hear things such as cherries may help prevent type II diabetes.2-4 Only data from large, controlled studies with findings that are "not likely to be changed by new and evolving science" will receive the FDA's highest "A" rating and be unleashed on the public.5,6 It's hard to resist saying that most drugs would fail this test, since evolving "post-marketing surveillance" is exactly what the Food and Drug Administration relies on to pull killer drugs off the market. Without updated data, the FDA couldn't act to protect the public.

It might be quicker and cheaper for the cherry industry to file "new drug applications" than to deal with a new monster head every time someone in industry wants to inform the public about a potential health benefit. Although Food and Drug told me that it "supports giving consumers as much information as possible to make the best dietary choices," its "warning letters" to the cherry industry make clear it wants the opposite

Let's slice through the cobbler and look at some cherry science. First, the USDA-funded studies determined that:

cherries have a low glycemic index;
cherries are fat-free, sodium-free, and high in vitamins C, B6, E, and folic acid;
cherries rate high on the ORAC antioxidant scale (128 units per gram).

The sellers of cherry products would also like people to know that cherries can relieve arthritis pain and may be good for blood sugar. Are these statements true?

In 2004, researchers from Johns Hopkins Hospital reported that phytocompounds in tart cherries suppress pain caused by inflammation about as well as the drug Indocin® (indomethacin).7 Indocin® is a powerful nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can cause many side effects. The Hopkins report on tart cherries confirms reports from other countries showing that the same substance that makes cherries red makes inflammation subside.8-13 That substance is called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are related to proanthocyanidins found in grapes and other berries, but they're not the same thing. Anthocyanins are the red pigment in berries. They also make blueberries purple and blue corn blue. Anthocyanins (and there are many) compare favorably to ibuprofen and naproxen for pain relief.12,13 Except for the Johns Hopkins study, which was done on rodents, most studies show the effects of anthocyanins in cells, not clinical effects in people. Do they work in humans as well as they do in rats?

The cherry industry gets letters saying things like, "I have been using the cherry concentrate for my extremely debilitating fibromyalgia pain for about three weeks and have noticed a significant difference." Is it true? Is it false? Who should be the judge? The FDA says it, the agency, should be the judge of the validity of such statements-that it will decide what's healthy and what's not healthy, not the consumer. I asked the Food and Drug Administration if it could tell us about any adverse reactions being reported for cherry products. I was instructed to file a request for that information under the Freedom of Information Act.

Cherries and Melatonin

In 2001, a leading researcher reported that tart cherries contain relatively high levels of melatonin, a natural factor previously associated with sleep but now known to be a factor in immunity and much more.14-17 A recent study shows how important melatonin is to health. For the first time ever, researchers report that people who have heart attacks have very low levels of melatonin. At the same time, they have very high levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) when measured at night.18

Eating cherries increases levels of melatonin. Researchers in Spain, China, and other countries have documented that melatonin suppresses cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which plays a role in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease where it does damage, yet augments COX-2 in situations where it's needed, such as healing stomach ulcers.19-22 In other words, melatonin is a "smart" compound in cherries.

Fast-Acting Phytochemicals in Cherries

Anthocyanins in cabernet sauvignon grapes reach the brain within minutes of ingestion.23 Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants. Could this be why people in Bordeaux, France, who drink three to four glasses of wine a day can reduce their risk of Alzheimer's disease by 70%?24 Yes, says another study-flavonoids slash the risk of dementia by half (cherry anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid).25

And by accident, another potential benefit has been discovered. While looking for something in seeds that might cause Parkinson's disease, researchers in New Jersey instead found that eating plums may prevent it-reducing risk by 76%.26 Is it the anthocyanins again?

USDA researchers at Tufts University confirm that anthocyanins cross the blood-brain barrier. They fed them to aging rodents and were able to track exactly which part of the brain the anthocyanins ended up in.27 Further, they showed that animals that were given anthocyanins in their diet could get out of water faster and better than those that were not given anthocyanins.27 When the animals were tricked by the exit ramp being moved, anthocyanins reduced confusion and slowness. It's believed that anthocyanins actually made the brain work better. This government-sponsored research documents that factors in cherries go far beyond simply protecting against free radicals.

Anthocyanins protect against free radicals related to proteins as well as those related to lipids.28 This means that cherries can protect heart muscle, skin, arteries, the fluid in joints, and more. It's "noteworthy" that although tomatoes are also red, their color comes from a different source. Their pigment is lycopene, a type of carotenoid. Lycopene blocks fat-related free radicals such as those that damage LDL.29

Unhealthy Politics

The FDA has a legitimate interest in protecting the public from dangerous drugs and adulterated food. On any given day, it might decide, for example, that the danger of developing life-threatening liver failure from use of an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder drug called Cylert® outweighs the benefits (as it recently did). Or it might get a mislabeled anticoagulant monitoring unit called VeriCal® Calibrator Set off the shelves, as it also recently did. The mistakes and potential disasters are many-antibiotics put into the wrong capsules, asthma inhalants containing nothing but air-these and more have been intercepted by the agency.
But cherries? Given their potential benefits and lack of toxicity, it's reasonable to ask why the agency is spending enormous public resources threatening Michigan's cherry growers. The recent explosion of FDA-approved killer drugs suggests that the agency's overzealous approach to cherry products might be better directed at pharmaceutical manufacturers whose products are one of the leading causes of death in America. Adverse drug reactions cause more than 100,000 fatalities each year and send a million and a half people to the hospital annually.30 Those are the documented cases; the actual number of people who become sick, hospitalized, or die from drugs is unknown.31 Resources might be better spent requiring that drug manufacturers warn people that statin drugs deplete coenzyme Q10, which can cause deadly complications-something the agency recently refused to do.

At the same time the agency sent warning letters to people selling cherry products, it was poised to approve another new, potentially dangerous drug called Pargluva™. That approval has been suspended because concerned researchers at the Cleveland Clinic reevaluated the manufacturer's data and found that it increased the risk of dying 300%, and the Journal of the American Medical Association had the fortitude to publish those findings.32,33

References
1. Thompson v. Western States Medical Center (01-344) 535 US. 357:2002.
2. Lindstrom J, Tuomilehto J. The diabetes risk score: a practical tool to predict type 2 diabetes risk. Diabetes Care. 2003 Mar;26(3):725-31.
3. Hanamura T, Hagiwara T, Kawagishi H. Structural and functional characterization of polyphenols isolated from acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) fruit. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2005 Feb;69(2):280-6.
4. Montonen J, Jarvinen R, Heliovaara M, et al. Food consumption and the incidence of type II diabetes mellitus. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005 Mar;59(3):441-8.
5. Available at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/hclmgui4.html. Accessed December 5, 2005.
6. Available at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/lab-qhc.html. Accessed December 5, 2005.
7. Tall JM, Seeram NP, Zhao C, et al. Tart cherry anthocyanins suppress inflammation-induced pain behavior in rat. Behav Brain Res. 2004 Aug 12;153(1):181-8.
8. Hou DX, Yanagita T, Uto T, Masuzaki S, Fujii M. Anthocyanidins inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 expression in LPS-evoked macrophages: structure-activity relationship and molecular mechanisms involved. Biochem Pharmacol. 2005 Aug 1;70(3):417-25.
9. Ueda H, Yamazaki C, Yamazaki M. A hydroxyl group of flavonoids affects oral anti-inflammatory activity and inhibition of systemic tumor necrosis factor-alpha production. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2004 Jan;68(1):119-25.
10. Rossi A, Serraino I, Dugo P, et al. Protective effects of anthocyanins from blackberry in a rat model of acute lung inflammation. Free Radic Res. 2003 Aug;37(8):891-900.
11. Wang H, Nair MG, Strasburg GM, et al. Antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of anthocyanins and their aglycon, cyanidin, from tart cherries. J Nat Prod. 1999 Feb;62(2):294-6.
12. Seeram NP, Momin RA, Nair MG, Bourquin LD. Cyclooxygenase inhibitory and antioxidant cyanidin glycosides in cherries and berries. Phytomedicine. 2001 Sep;8(5):362-9.
13. Seeram NP, Zhang Y, Nair MG. Inhibition of proliferation of human cancer cells and cyclooxygenase enzymes by anthocyanidins and catechins. Nutr Cancer. 2003;46(1):101-6.
14. Burkhardt S, Tan DX, Manchester LC, Hardeland R, Reiter RJ. Detection and quantification of the antioxidant melatonin in Montmorency and Balaton tart cherries (Prunus cerasus). J Agric Food Chem. 2001 Oct;49(10):4898-902.
15. Wu YH, Swaab DF. The human pineal gland and melatonin in aging and Alzheimer's disease. J Pineal Res. 2005 Apr;38(3):145-52.
16. Carrillo-Vico A, Guerrero JM, Lardone PJ, Reiter RJ. A review of the multiple actions of melatonin on the immune system. Endocrine. 2005 Jul;27(2):189-200.
17. Baydas G, Reiter RJ, Akbulut M, Tuzcu M, Tamer S. Melatonin inhibits neural apoptosis induced by homocysteine in hippocampus of rats via inhibition of cytochrome c translocation and caspase-3 activation and by regulating pro- and anti-apoptotic protein levels. Neuroscience. 2005;135(3):879-86.
18. Dominguez-Rodriguez A, breu-Gonzalez P, Garcia-Gonzalez M, et al. Elevated levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein and impaired nocturnal synthesis of melatonin in patients with myocardial infarction. Atherosclerosis. 2005 May;180(1):101-5.
19. Hattori A, Migitaka H, Iigo M, et al. Identification of melatonin in plants and its effects on plasma melatonin levels and binding to melatonin receptors in vertebrates. Biochem Mol Biol Int. 1995 Mar;35(3):627-34.
20. Mayo JC, Sainz RM, Tan DX, et al. Anti-inflammatory actions of melatonin and its metabolites, N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) and N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AMK), in macrophages. J Neuroimmunol. 2005 Aug;165(1-2):139-49.
21. Konturek SJ, Konturek PC, Brzozowski T. Prostaglandins and ulcer healing. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2005 Sep;56 Suppl 55-31.
22. Dong WG, Mei Q, Yu JP, et al. Effects of melatonin on the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in rat models of colitis. World JGastroenterol. 2003 Jun;9(6):1307-11.
23. Passamonti S, Vrhovsek U, Vanzo A, Mattivi F. Fast access of some grape pigments to the brain. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Sep 7;53(18):7029-34.
24. Letenneur L. Risk of dementia and alcohol and wine consumption: a review of recent results. Biol Res. 2004;37(2):189-93.
25. Commenges D, Scotet V, Renaud S, et al. Intake of flavonoids and risk of dementia. Eur.J Epidemiol. 2000 Apr;16(4):357-63.
26. Golbe LI, Farrell TM, Davis PH. Case-control study of early life dietary factors in Parkinson's disease. Arch Neurol. 1988Dec;45(12):1350-3.
27. Andres-Lacueva C, Shukitt-Hale B, Galli RL, et al. Anthocyanins in aged blueberry-fed rats are found centrally and may enhance memory. Nutr Neurosci. 2005 Apr;8(2):111-20.
28. Viljanen K, Kylli P, Hubbermann EM, Schwarz K, Heinonen M. Anthocyanin antioxidant activity and partition behavior in whey protein emulsion. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Mar 23;53(6):2022-7.
29. Visioli F, Riso P, Grande S, Galli C, Porrini M. Protective activity of tomato products on in vivo markers of lipid oxidation. Eur J Nutr. 2003 Aug;42(4):201-6.
30. Lazarou J, Pomeranz BH, Corey PN. Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. JAMA. 1998 Apr 15;279(15):1200-5.
31. Gruchalla R. Understanding drug allergies. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000 Jun;105(6 Pt 2):S637-44.
32. Stein R, Kaufman M. New diabetes drug poses major risks, panel says: review finds FDA overlooked data on life-threatening cardiovascular effects of Pargluva. The Washington Post. 2005 Oct 21;A02.
33. Nissen SE, Wolski K, Topol EJ. Effect of muraglitazar on death and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. JAMA. 2005 Nov 23;294(20):2581-6.
34. Available at: http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-documented&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020241.Accessed December 5, 2005

Monday, April 16, 2007

Sugar Intake & High Cholesterol

1. "In diabetic patients, the higher the blood sugar level the lower is the phagocytic (white cell) index.

2. "In the non-diabetic subjects it was shown that glucose taken orally will raise the blood sugar level after 45 minutes with a resulting decrease in the phagocytic index." - The Journal, Southern California State Dental Association, Vol. XXXII, No. 9, September, 1964. Too much sugar results in too little body defense against bacterial disease. Sugar lowers the immune system.

Sugar Weakens White Blood Cell's Ability To Destroy Bacteria

Teaspoons of Sugar/Number Bacteria Destroyed

0 teaspoons ~~ 14.0
6 teaspoons ~~ 10.0
12 teaspoons ~~ 5.5
18 teaspoons ~~ 2.0
24 teaspoons ~~ 1.0

Hidden Sugars In Foods
(Teaspoons)

Malted milk (12 oz) ~~ 42
Soft drinks (12 oz) ~~ 10-12
Canned fruit (1 serving) ~~ 8
(light syrup)
Chocolate cake (1 - 4oz slice) ~~ 8
Chocolate candy (1 oz) ~~ 7
Fruit pie (1 slice) ~~ 7
Ice Cream (1 scoop) ~~ 5
Donut, glazed (1 each) ~~ 4
Jam, jelly (1 Tbs) ~~ 3

One 12 oz can of soda and 1 candy bar will plummet the immune system for several hours, leaving your system completely defenseless against germs and illness.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

"Who Else Wants The Truth About Lowering Cholesterol?"

Copyright 2007 © Terri L Wood

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Cholesterol is only found in animal foods. I know that comes as a big surprise, but bad cholesterol is truly only found in animal foods such as meat, fowl, fish, egg yolk and milk products. It comes from saturated fat. Most fats from animals are predominantly saturated.
Fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts contain no cholesterol. That is because the fats are polyunsaturated. The exception is Coconut oil with a high level of saturated fat (not cholesterol) that will raise your cholesterol level up if not used in moderation.

You can tell the difference because one is solid (saturated) and the other is liquid (polyunsaturated).

Chicken and Fish and Fowl (Turkey) have as much cholesterol in them as red meats do. In fact: One 3 oz serving of pork has just a little more cholesterol (76mg) than the chicken breast without the skin (73mg). Switching one kind of meat for another is not the ultimate solution for cholesterol control.

Meat, fowl and fish account for 35% of the cholesterol in the american diet equal to 35% from egg yolks and followed by milk products (ice cream, cheese, milk...) 16%, cooking fats 6% and other 8%.

A study done by Loma Linda Medical University shows that those who consumed nuts less than once per week had the highest risk of heart attack. Those who consumed nuts one to four times per week lowered their risk about 25 percent and those who consumed nuts more than 5 times per week cut their risk of heart attack in half. Many health professionals warn of high fat from nuts and were shocked at this studies results. By the way, walnuts and almonds are the best. Peanuts are not nuts, they are a legume (bean).

Another study showed, women who eat 4 or more teaspoonfuls of margarine a day have a 66% greater risk of heart disease than women who have margarine less than once a month. It's the trans fats. "Vegetable oils should be used in their natural state," said the lead researcher.

High fiber is another very important key to reducing cholesterol. The more fiber the better. Heart disease is directly linked to a low fiber diet. This diet would be rich in fruit, vegetables, nuts and grains.

One thing you should know, stored foods like ice cream, cakes, cheese and milk...with cholesterol in them from the animal products used to make them have a lethal damaging effect on arterial walls. This is due to the oxidation to the cholesterol caused by the air it is exposed to, "Oxidized Cholesterol". This may turn out to be one of the most important dietary factor that influences heart disease risk.

This world wouldn't be much fun if we couldn't have our cake/ice cream and eat it too!
Good news! Your local health food store has wonderful egg replacers (I like Ener-G, it's powder and it comes in a box). I am amazed at how good the cake is using these. You won't miss the real eggs at all.

As far as ice cream goes, there are some very tasty soy alternatives on the shelf these days. Companies have been waking up to the consumers demand for heart healthy and tasty alternatives for some time now and they are getting pretty good at it. I should know, I'm very picky myself and so is my 15 year old daughter. Experiment and find out which ones are best for you.

Just think, if you have to throw one or two in the garbage, it's better (and cheaper) than throwing the only heart you'll ever have in the garbage by continuing to eat the real thing.

Healthy Ice Cream Tip: Freeze your favorite fruit ahead (organic banana's have a sweeter taste). Pour some of your favorite soy milk or water in the blender, add some sweatener to taste along with enough fruit to make an ice cream consistency. Yum!

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

"Mental Disorders. What Is The Cause & What Can I Do About It PART II?"

Copyright 2007 © Terri L Wood

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In my previous article "Mental Disorders. What Is The Cause And What Can I Do About It? Part I" on the frontal lobe we saw some amazing and eye opening lifestyle choices that threaten our ability to make good personal judgments.

Scientific studies show the frontal lobe is the seat of, spirituality, morality and the will.

“And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.” Revelation 22:4

Frontal lobe size of humans vs. animals

Cats – 3.5%
Dogs – 7%
Chimpanzees – 17%
Humans – 33%

To maximize the efficiency of our frontal lobes we must focus on both the positive things we should be doing and the negative things we should be avoiding. By better understanding the importance of the frontal lobe and how it works we can better appreciate how the healthful factors can aid us in expanding brain capacities. Drugs that damage our frontal lobes: (see previous article “Mental Disorders. What Is The Cause? What Can I Do About It?” Part I) Illicit drugs, certain prescription drugs: alcohol, caffeine, nicotine. Caffeine impairs the brain several ways.

In a study done by Scandinavian researchers on 143,000 men and women found a significant increase in depression in women who were heavy coffee users (but not in men who used similar amounts of coffee).

"For several years I was stuck using anti-depressants due to my bout with depression. I tried and tried to get off those darn pills, but to no avail. That was until someone told me that caffeine was directly linked to depression. As soon as I gave up the caffeine, I was off those darn anti-depressants and I’ve never looked back. I continued to learn more and as I did and adjusted my lifestyle, even the SAD (seasonal affective disorder) that mildly affected my moods in the Northwest winters I live in, went completely away."

One interesting note: Caffeine and Gossip – “When these tea and coffee users meet together for social entertainment, the effects of their pernicious habit are manifest. All partake freely of their favorite beverages, and as the stimulating influence is felt, their tongues are loosened, and they begin the wicked work of talking against others. Their words are not few or well chosen.”

One last light to shed on diet and the damaging effects on the frontal lobe.

Large amounts of sugar in the diet have been demonstrated to impair frontal lobe functions in school age children. It is suggested and necessary for those suffering from mental disorders such as ADD/ADHD, depression, anxiety…should discontinue all white sugars in their diet. Children have shown amazing changes when this was done for them. It’s never pleasant to take candy from a baby, but it’s not any more fun watching these precious children suffer under the effects of the mind altering drugs.

You might be asking, if carbohydrates are our brains fuel then why is this so?

Our bodies were designed to function on whole foods, foods with everything intact. This includes fiber. Apples, oranges, bananas, mangos…all have sugar, but they also have fiber. One of the roles of fiber is to slow down the bodies processing of the sugars. Without the fiber, the sugars go straight to the blood stream and play havoc on the body, including but not limited to the brain.

Amazing fact: One 20oz bottle of soda pop includes 1 Cup of pure sugar. Did you catch that? Go get one of those bottles out of the fridge and fill an 8 oz cup full of white sugar. Now put those next to each other. Would you serve your child a cup of sugar with his dinner or anytime purposefully?

It’s not necessary to drink one drop of alcohol in order to be an alcoholic. Processed and refined sugar turns to alcohol in the body. If you have ever been to an AA meeting, just remember what was on every table. Jars and bowls full of candy.

Hurray and applause for all the schools in the country that are taking the candy and soda pop machines out of the schools! After the Columbine tragedy, all of the Denver schools removed the candy and soda machines next Los Angeles and not too long thereafter followed Dallas/Ft Worth. They began to recognise the legal ramifications that would result. It's too bad when it takes tragedy to wake us up.

FACT: From 1990-1995 The number of people diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the U.S. rose from 900,000 to more than 2 million. Imagine what that is now in 2007.

What are we going to do about this? Are you as outraged as I am? These are our kids!

A liberal supply of fruits, vegetables, and grains provides the best nourishment for the frontal lobe.

My daughter and I used to be the queens of junk food junkies. Now that we have made a determined effort to change our diet to include the fruits, vegetables and grains, we can hardly stand the foods we used to love. Just the other day, someone bought pizza and invited us. Of course we couldn’t refuse, our brains told us (yeah, bring it on!) but our stomachs and system said, "yuk"! I can honestly tell you, I am functioning better (much better) mentally, physically and spiritually now at 45 years young than I did at 35.

Daniel 1:8"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the kings meat, nor with the wine which he drank...Daniel 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians [and] astrologers that [were] in all his realm.

In my next article on mental disorders, I will expose some areas of lifestyle that are stealing your children’s futures.

Monday, April 2, 2007

"Mental Disorders, What Is The Cause? What Can I Do About It?"

Copyright © 2007 © Terri L Wood

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September 13, 1848 was a day like any other day for everyone except a man by the name of Phineas P. Gage, a well respected, 25 year old railroad construction foreman for Rutland and Burlington railroad. The routine was well established: drill a long hole into the rock, fill it partially with sand. A tamping iron was used to pound down on the sand, consolidating the charge. Finally, a fuse would be lit to detonate the explosion. On that day everything was going as planned, until a glitch was discovered. Gage was standing at the hole unaware that no sand was covering the explosive charge. The unwitting Gage began tamping directly over the powder. Apparently the rod generated a spark as it grazed a stone inside the hole. The uncovered powder ignited and set off a powerful explosion. The 13 lb tamping iron, about 1” thick and 3 feet long, was hurled directly at him. With the force of a missile, the iron went under his left cheekbone, behind his left eye, through his brain, and then out again. You would assume that the dramatic explosion ended Phineas’ young life, but it did not. Briefly stunned, but within a short time he regained full consciousness and was able to talk and even walk with the assistance of his workers. The only physical traces that remained were his loss of vision in the left eye, a scar under his left cheekbone where the iron entered and a scar on the top of his head where the iron exited. There was just one problem, Phineas was no longer Phineas. Before the accident Phineas was a well respected, loved, responsible, an intelligent worker and husband. He was known as a person with high morals and was described according to one account as “a pious and reverent church goer”. He was even lauded as “the most efficient and capable foreman” After the accident his moral decline was quickly evident. He became very emotional about things and would get angry quickly. He lost interest in church and spiritual things. He became irreverent, and prone to excessive profanity. He lost all respect for social customs and became totally irresponsible. He ended up leaving his wife and family, joining the circus and dieing 13 years later.

What happened? The frontal lobe of his brain was severely damaged. The frontal lobe is where a person’s judgment and personal will take place.

Physical assault is not the only way the frontal lobe can be damaged. Diet and lifestyle play a significant roll in the functioning of the brain and most especially the frontal lobe.

In the old days, one way of treating mental disorders was to perform a frontal lobotomy and that was to disable the frontal lobe of the brain, thus quieting down a disturbed patient. Take away a persons judgment and will and what do you have left?

Effects of surgical removal of frontal lobe: Before lobotomy: Extremely efficient operating room nurse, very fond of books and belonged to the nurses’ literary circle.
After lobotomy: Lost much of her ambition, lost interest in her work, and lost sympathy with her patients, could only perform subordinate work. Her attitude: “I do not care if I make a mistake; it will turn out all right in the end.” She lost interest in books.

Are we a walking brain dead society and we don’t even know it?

Results of frontal lobe damage of a child

Temper outbursts when frustrated
Verbally and physically assaultive in an abrupt, unpredictable, and short-lived manner
Sexually promiscuous from early teens
No sustained friendships
Intermittent heavy user of alcohol and marijuana
Impulsively attempted suicide twice
Compromised frontal lobe
Memory impairment (especially of recent events)
Distractibility and restlessness
Flight of ideas (fantasies, emotional instability)
Apathy (lack of initiative)
Indifference to one’s condition (happy go lucky)

Frontal lobe diseases

Mania
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Appetite increase
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Depression

Does it make much sense to have a brain disorder in the frontal lobe and then make matters worse, add more brain altering drugs? Are we creating a society of zombies?

"I used anti-depressants for a few years. I tried to get off of them every which way I could. Every time I tried, I found myself right back in my depressed angry setting. That was until someone told me the connection between caffeine and depression. I loved my diet coke, but I wanted my sanity back with out the drugs more. As soon as I got rid of the caffeine, within 30 days I was off the anti-depressant medication and I haven't been back. That was about 8 years ago."

Drugs that damage our frontal lobes

Asthma medications – Beta agonists, blood pressure medications – beta blockers, calcium channel blockers
Centrally acting agents ( Clonidine, Methyldopa, etc.)
Tranquilizers and sleeping pills—benzodiazepines, antidepressants (Note: tricyclic antidepressants are also used for headaches, insomnia, etc.)
Anti-ulcer pills—H2-blockers (Tagamet, Zantac)
Anti-inflamitory drugs—NSAIDS—ie: Ibuprophine
Pain relievers, narcotics, cold and allergy medications—antihistamines (also used for insomnia, etc.)
Decongestants (especially in children; e.g., pseudoephedrine as in Actifed)

Are we performing lobotomies on ourselves unknowingly by the lifestyle choices that we make everyday? How many Phineas’ do you know or should I say, you don’t recognize anymore?

Lifestyle in contrast to drug treatment – “Many are living in violation of the laws of health, and are ignorant of the relation that their habits of eating, drinking, and working, have on their health. They are not aware of their condition until disease occurs. If, at this point, the individual would make the appropriate lifestyle changes: “…the patient will generally recover without being debilitated.” However, instead of changing lifestyle, medications are generally employed. “The liver, heart, and brain, are frequently affected by drugs, and often all these organs are burdened with disease.”

In Part II of "Mental Disorders, What Is The Cause? What Can I Do About It" I will continue exposing the factors in our daily lives that harm and even destroy our ability to make wise judgments and think rationally. I will also share how to make better, simple choices that can give your brain what it needs to regenerate itself so you can stop the endless and senseless cycle.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

"Exposing The Big LIE! Your Momma Ain't A Cow And You Weren't Meant To Graze"

Copyright © 2007 © Terri L Wood

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Gastroensophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Barrett's Esophagus, Delayed Gastric Emptying (Gastroparesis), Duodenal Ulcers, Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis,Gas, Heartburn, Indigestion…

Do any of these sound familiar to you? Are you suffering from one or a few of them? Are you sick and tired of all the medications and getting absolutely no where?

Actually the answer may be very simple!

All of these diseases have one thing in common and that is digestion. We are not digesting our food properly.

Here’s the problem: We chomp three times – sling it off the tonsils - slam it down the esophagus and the stomach say’s thanks, but can you send down some teeth down here to chew this stuff up with?

Digestion starts in the mouth from the moment you put anything with flavor in it. That’s right! Chewing gum is a teaser to the digestion. Keep reading and find out what problems this is causing.

Starches are broken down in the mouth, they require the special enzymes in the saliva to break them down that is not present in the stomach.

After you swallow, the food goes down the esophagus and comes to a balloon type thing called the stomach just under the ribcage. The food is moved from side to side until it is digested or turned to liquid and then the sphincter muscle starts squirting the food out of the stomach to the intestines.

That’s what is supposed to happen.

Let’s say I go to work…10:00 am I go to the break room and there’s a box of donuts, I can’t resist so I grab one or two.

The sphincter muscles are still working on emptying the stomach of breakfast and guess what happens when the donuts are put into the mouth where the digestion starts?

That’s right! The sphincter muscle shuts off to wait until the donuts are taken care of. The stomach can’t continue emptying out from breakfast.

Two hours later…lunch and the whole thing starts over. The breakfast sausage and eggs are still in the 98.6 degree stomach and isn’t going anywhere. Now a couple of hours later a candy bar and soda pop…two to three hours later there’s dinner and a couple of hours later…snack before bed. Now the lights are turned off and the digestion system shuts down for the night while you are asleep. Guess what is still in your stomach...yesterdays breakfast and all the other food you ate that day...now the whole thing starts over today.

It's no wonder the average person has 12-15 pounds of fecal matter compacted in the intestines, and that is just the average. Some of us have alot more, and you're worried about germs?

A study conducted with nurses…They were told they could eat two bites of chocolate between every meal. Three days later they sent a scope down to take a look in the stomach and found traces of the very first meal from three days ago. Guess what kind of condition that food was in?

Putrefied!

Putrefied food is absorbed into the blood stream therefore causing bad blood.

Here’s a money saving tip for you, just go to your local McDonald's dumpster for your next meal. It won’t make a difference to the body because the body doesn’t care if it’s rotten going in or becomes rotten as it sits there.

You know what would happen if you left a piece of meat on the counter for the day right? Well, take that same piece of meat and leave it in a 100 degree oven for a day or two or three.

With the knowledge of how the body really works and digestion happens, it doesn’t make since to graze all day, does it?

Eating a diet rich in fiber, with lots of whole grains your body won’t need any food for 3-5 hours.

Think about it, the white bread and the white sugars don’t have any fiber in them. And while we are on this subject, check your labels carefully. If it says “100% Whole Wheat” buy it, if it just says “Wheat”, check the label. Chances are it will say “Enriched Wheat”. That simply means that 30 nutrients have been stripped and 4 have been added back. It’s the “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. What I give you 4 dollars for your 30 dollars?

Enjoy the pizzas, sandwiches, pasta’s **TIP**(boil the whole wheat pasta longer) this was a mistake I made in the beginning, I almost didn’t go back. I’m glad I did.

Use whole wheat and your body will repay you generously. You’ll also enjoy the way your clothes will fit. Less food = Less pounds. Those who eat whole wheat don’t have to worry about eating too much, it’s impossible.

Put the antacid companies out of business. Give your stomach a rest between meals and…

You will get better. GUARANTEED! 5 hours is the best, but go ahead and start out with 3, then move up from there.

**TIP**To get your digestion system off to a good start in the morning, drink a quart of warm water one hour before you eat. If you aren't used to drinking water, start off with two 8oz glasses. The water will give your body the fluid it needs to generate saliva, which is used to start digestion in the mouth. If you drink enough warm water just after rising, it will give your collin a good flush to start the day.

"Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day." "For they are life unto those that find them, and health unto all their flesh." Deuteronomy 32:46; Proverbs 4:22

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Whole Wheat Bread

5C Boiling Water

Add:

1C Oats
2/3C Oil
2/3C Honey
4t Salt

Wait until mixture is cool enough to add yeast. It's safer to use a candy thermometer to measure temp at 110-115 degrees.

Add:

2T Dry Yeast and wait for yeast to proof or mixture to bubble up. Maybe 15-20 minutes.

Add:

1/2t Vitamin C Powder (Health Food Store)
1/2 - 2/3C Gluten Flour (Health Food Store)
10C Flour = 8 Whole Wheat & 3 White

If you are using a Kitchen Aid or Bosch Machine, the sides will come clean when you have added enough flour. Mixing by hand, forget the spoon, get your hands in there and mix it together until the dough forms a ball. Kneed 10 min. Divide into two oil sprayed loaf pans, shaped like a football in the middle. Cover with a towel. Place in oven that has been heated to 170 degrees and turned off. Wait for the dough to rise double the size you started with (20-30 minutes) and then turn on the oven to 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.

You can use this bread receipe for pizza dough, just take some and roll it out to a very thin crust and raise it.

Don't worry if you don't get it perfect the first time. Usually it will take a practice or two.
You can do it and you will love it! You'll never want to go back to store bought again!

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