Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load

Glycemic Index

In the past, carbohydrates were classified as simple or complex based on the number of simple sugars in the molecule. Carbohydrates composed of one or two simple sugars like fructose or sucrose (table sugar; a disaccharide composed of one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose) were labeled simple, while starchy foods were labeled complex because starch is composed of long chains of the simple sugar, glucose. Advice to eat less simple and more complex carbohydrates (i.e., polysaccharides) was based on the assumption that consuming starchy foods would lead to smaller increases in blood glucose than sugary foods (1). This assumption turned out to be too simplistic since the blood glucose (glycemic) response to “complex” carbohydrates has been found to vary considerably. A more accurate indicator of the relative glycemic response to dietary carbohydrates should be glycemic load, which incorporates the relative quality and quantity of carbohydrates in the diet.

Measuring the Glycemic Index of Foods
To determine the glycemic index of a food, volunteers are typically given a test food that provides 50 grams of carbohydrate and a control food (white bread or pure glucose) that provides the same amount of carbohydrate on different days (2). Blood samples for the determination of glucose are taken prior to eating and at regular intervals after eating over the next several hours. The changes in blood glucose over time are plotted as a curve. The glycemic index is calculated as the area under the glucose curve after the test food is eaten, divided by the corresponding area after the control food is eaten. The value is multiplied by 100 to represent a percentage of the control food. For example, a baked potato has a glycemic index of 76 relative to glucose and 108 relative to white bread, which means that the blood glucose response to the carbohydrate in a baked potato is 76% of the blood glucose response to the same amount of carbohydrate in pure glucose and 108% of the blood glucose response to the same amount of carbohydrate in white bread (3). In contrast, cooked brown rice has a glycemic index of 55 relative to glucose and 79 relative to white bread (4). In the traditional system of classifying carbohydrates, both brown rice and potato would be classified as complex carbohydrates despite the difference in their effects on blood glucose levels.

Physiological Responses to High- versus Low-Glycemic Index Foods
By definition, the consumption of high-glycemic index foods results in higher and more rapid increases in blood glucose levels than the consumption of low-glycemic index foods. Rapid increases in blood glucose are potent signals to the beta-cells of the pancreas to increase insulin secretion (2). Over the next few hours, the high insulin levels induced by consumption of high-glycemic index foods may cause a sharp decrease in blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia). In contrast, the consumption of low-glycemic index foods results in lower but more sustained increases in blood glucose and lower insulin demands on pancreatic beta-cells (5).

Glycemic Load

The glycemic index compares the potential of foods containing the same amount of carbohydrate to raise blood glucose. However, the amount of carbohydrate consumed also affects blood glucose levels and insulin responses. The glycemic load of a food is calculated by multiplying the glycemic index by the amount of carbohydrate in grams provided by a food and dividing the total by 100 (1). Dietary glycemic load is the sum of the glycemic loads for all foods consumed in the diet. The concept of glycemic load was developed by scientists to simultaneously describe the quality (glycemic index) and quantity of carbohydrate in a meal or diet.

Disease Prevention

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
After a high-glycemic load meal, blood glucose levels rise more rapidly and insulin demand is greater than after a low-glycemic load meal. High blood glucose levels and excessive insulin secretion are thought to contribute to the loss of the insulin-secreting function of the pancreatic beta-cells that leads to irreversible diabetes (6). High dietary glycemic loads have been associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in several large prospective studies. In the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS), women with the highest dietary glycemic loads were 37% more likely to develop type 2 DM over a 6-year period than women with the lowest dietary glycemic loads (7). Additionally, women with high-glycemic load diets that were low in cereal fiber were more than twice as likely to develop type 2 DM than women with low-glycemic load diets that were high in cereal fiber. The results of the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS), which followed male health professionals over six years were similar (8). In the NHS II study, a prospective study of younger and middle-aged women, those who consumed foods with the highest glycemic index values and the least cereal fiber were also at significantly higher risk of developing type 2 DM over the next eight years (9). The foods that were most consistently associated with increased risk of type 2 DM in the NHS and HPFS cohorts were potatoes (cooked or French-fried), white rice, white bread, and carbonated beverages (6).The Black Women's Health study, a prospective study in a cohort of 59,000 U.S. black women, found that women who consumed foods with the highest glycemic index values had a 23% greater risk of developing type 2 DM over eight years of follow-up compared to those who consumed foods with the lowest glycemic index values (10). In the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II, which followed 124,907 men and women for nine years, high glycemic load was associated with a 15% increased risk of type 2 DM (11). Further, in a cohort of over 64,000 Chinese women participating in the Shanghai Women's Health Study, high glycemic load was associated with a 34% increase in risk of type 2 DM; this positive association was much stronger among overweight women (12).


A U.S. ecological study of national data from 1909 to 1997 found that increased consumption of refined carbohydrates in the form of corn syrup, coupled with declining intake of dietary fiber, has paralleled the increase in prevalence of type 2 DM (13). Today, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is used as a sweetener and preservative in many commercial products sold in the United States, including soft drinks and other processed foods. To make HFCS, the fructose content of corn syrup (100% glucose) has been artificially increased; common formulations of HFCS now include 42%, 55%, or 90% fructose (13). When consumed in large quantities on a long-term basis, HFCS is unhealthful and may contribute to other chronic diseases besides type 2 DM, including obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular Disease
Impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance are known to be risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 DM. In addition to increased blood glucose and insulin concentrations, high dietary glycemic loads are associated with increased serum triglyceride concentrations and decreased HDL cholesterol concentrations; both are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (14, 15). High dietary glycemic loads have also been associated with increased serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation that is also a sensitive predictor of cardiovascular disease risk (16). In the NHS cohort, women with the highest dietary glycemic loads had a risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) over the next ten years that was almost twice as high as those with the lowest dietary glycemic loads (17). The relationship between dietary glycemic load and CHD risk was more pronounced in overweight women, suggesting that people who are insulin resistant may be most susceptible to the adverse cardiovascular effects of high dietary glycemic loads (1). A similar finding was reported in a cohort of middle-aged Dutch women followed for nine years (18). More recently, a prospective study in an Italian cohort of 47,749 men and women, who were followed for almost eight years, found that a high glycemic load was associated with an increased risk of CHD in women but not in men (47). Yet, studies to date have reported mixed results, and more research is needed to determine if low glycemic index diets decrease the risk for CHD (19).

Obesity
In the first two hours after a meal, blood glucose and insulin levels rise higher after a high-glycemic load meal than they do after a low-glycemic load meal containing equal calories. However, in response to the excess insulin secretion, blood glucose levels drop lower over the next few hours after a high-glycemic load meal than they do after a low-glycemic load meal. This may explain why 15 out of 16 published studies found that the consumption of low-glycemic index foods delayed the return of hunger, decreased subsequent food intake, and increased satiety (feeling full) when compared to high-glycemic index foods (20). The results of several small, short-term trials (1-4 months) suggest that low-glycemic load diets result in significantly more weight or fat loss than high-glycemic load diets (21-23). Although long-term randomized controlled trials of low-glycemic load diets in the treatment of obesity are lacking, the results of short-term studies on appetite regulation and weight loss suggest that low glycemic-load diets may be useful in promoting long-term weight loss and decreasing the prevalence of obesity. A recent review of six randomized controlled trials concluded that overweight or obese individuals who followed a low-glycemic index/load diet experienced greater weight loss than individuals on a comparison diet that was either a high-glycemic index diet or an energy-restricted, low-fat diet (24). The length of the dietary interventions in these trials ranged from five weeks to six months.

Cancer
Evidence that high overall dietary glycemic index or high dietary glycemic loads are related to cancer risk is inconsistent. Prospective cohort studies in the U.S., Denmark, France, and Australia have found no association between overall dietary glycemic index or dietary glycemic load and breast cancer risk (25-28). In contrast, a prospective cohort study in Italy reported a positive association between breast cancer risk and high-glycemic index diets as well as high dietary glycemic loads (29). A prospective study in Canada found that postmenopausal but not premenopausal women with high overall dietary glycemic index values were at increased risk of breast cancer, particularly those who reported no vigorous physical activity (30), while a prospective study in the U.S. found that premenopausal but not postmenopausal women with high overall dietary glycemic index values and low levels of physical activity were at increased risk of breast cancer (31). In a French study of postmenopausal women, both glycemic index and glycemic load were positively associated with risk of breast cancer but only in a subgroup of women who had the highest waist circumference (median of 84 cm [33 inches]) (28). Higher dietary glycemic loads were associated with moderately increased risk of colorectal cancer in a prospective study of U.S. men, but no clear associations between dietary glycemic load and colorectal cancer risk were observed in a prospective studies of U.S. men (32), U.S. women (32-35), Swedish women (36), and Dutch men and women (37). However, one prospective cohort study of U.S. women found that higher dietary glycemic loads were associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer (38). One meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies suggested that glycemic index and glycemic load were positively associated with colorectal cancer (39), but a more recently published meta-analysis did not find glycemic index or load to be significantly associated with colorectal cancer (40). Two separate meta-analyses reported that high dietary glycemic loads were associated with increased risk of endometrial cancer (39, 41). Although there is some evidence that hyperinsulinemia (elevated serum insulin levels) may promote the growth of some types of cancer (42), more research is needed to determine the effects of dietary glycemic load and/or glycemic index on cancer risk.

Gallbladder Disease
Results of two studies indicate that dietary glycemic index and glycemic load may be positively related to risk of gallbladder disease. Higher dietary glycemic loads were associated with significantly increased risks of developing gallstones in a cohort of men participating in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (43) and in a cohort of women participating in the Nurses' Health Study (44). Likewise, higher glycemic index diets were associated with increased risks of gallstone disease in both studies (43-44). However, more epidemiological and clinical research is needed to determine an association between dietary glycemic index/load and gallbladder disease.

Disease Treatment

Diabetes Mellitus
Low-glycemic index diets appear to improve the overall blood glucose control in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). A meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials that included 356 diabetic patients found that low-glycemic index diets improved short-term and long-term control of blood glucose levels, reflected by clinically significant decreases in fructosamine and hemoglobin A1C levels (45). Episodes of serious hypoglycemia are a significant problem in people with type 1 DM. In a study of 63 men and women with type 1 DM, those randomized to a high-fiber, low-glycemic index diet had significantly fewer episodes of hypoglycemia than those on a low-fiber, high-glycemic index diet (46).

Lowering Dietary Glycemic Load

Some strategies for lowering dietary glycemic load include:
• Increasing the consumption of whole grains, nuts, legumes, fruits, and nonstarchy vegetables
• Decreasing the consumption of starchy high-glycemic index foods like potatoes, white rice, and white bread
• Decreasing the consumption of sugary foods like cookies, cakes, candy, and soft-drinks
See the table below for the glycemic index and glycemic load values of selected foods (4). Foods with higher glycemic index values are at the top of the table, while foods with lower glycemic index values are at the bottom of the table. To look up the glycemic index values for other foods, visit the University of Sydney’s GI Web site.

Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Values for Selected Foods (Relative to Glucose)
Food	Glycemic Index (Glucose=100)	Serving size	Carbohydrate per serving (g)	Glycemic Load per serving
Dates, dried	103	2 oz	40	42
Cornflakes	81	1 cup	26	21
Jelly beans	78	1 oz	28	22
Puffed rice cakes	78	3 cakes	21	17
Russet potato (baked)	76	1 medium	30	23
Doughnut	76	1 medium	23	17
Soda crackers	74	4 crackers	17	12
White bread	73	1 large slice	14	10
Table sugar (sucrose)	68	2 tsp	10	7
Pancake	67	6" diameter	58	39
White rice (boiled)	64	1 cup	36	23
Brown rice (boiled)	55	1 cup	33	18
Spaghetti, white; boiled 10-15 min	44	1 cup	40	18
Spaghetti, white; boiled 5 min	38	1 cup	40	15
Spaghetti, whole wheat; boiled	37	1 cup	37	14
Rye, pumpernickel bread	41	1 large slice	12	5
Oranges, raw	42	1 medium	11	5
Pears, raw	38	1 medium	11	4
Apples, raw	38	1 medium	15	6
All-Bran™ cereal	38	1 cup	23	9
Skim milk	32	8 fl oz	13	4
Lentils, dried; boiled	29	1 cup	18	5
Kidney beans, dried; boiled	28	1 cup	25	7
Pearled barley; boiled	25	1 cup	42	11
Cashew nuts	22	1 oz	9	2
Peanuts	14	1 oz	6	1

 

References

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Written in December 2005 by:
Jane Higdon, Ph.D.
Linus Pauling Institute
Oregon State University

Updated in February 2009 by:
Victoria J. Drake, Ph.D.
Linus Pauling Institute
Oregon State University

Reviewed in February 2009 by:
Simin Liu, M.D., M.S., M.P.H., Sc.D.
Professor and Director, Program on Genomics and Nutrition
Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine
UCLA School of Public Health

Last updated 4/38/2010  Copyright 2003-2011  Linus Pauling Institute

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Disclaimer

The Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center provides scientific information on health aspects of micronutrients and phytochemicals for the general public. The information is made available with the understanding that the author and publisher are not providing medical, psychological, or nutritional counseling services on this site. The information should not be used in place of a consultation with a competent health care or nutrition professional.
The information on micronutrients and phytochemicals contained on this Web site does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, and interactions. It is not intended as medical advice for individual problems. Liability for individual actions or omissions based upon the contents of this site is expressly disclaimed.

Alzheimer's and Dementia

Dementia is almost a certainty if you live long enough. Statistics tell us that as many as 2/3 of the population over the age of 90 suffers from some form of dementia or depression. Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. There is no known cure for Alzheimer's and dementia. There are certain drugs on the market which offer some encouragement in that they slow the progression of the disease. Alternative medicine, a good healthy lifestyle and exercise also offer some benefit.

The medical approach to dementia should include an assessment of the aspects of life style somewhat unique to the elderly. Therefore, we should consider the following as possible contributory causes of dementia: oxidative stress, lack of exercise, poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, and need for food supplements.

Seniors are notorious for getting little to no exercise. Yet, it has been established that they live longer, healthier and happier if they get regular exercise, even as little as a 20 minute walk a day.

Seniors are also known for their diet of tender roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, some Jello and green beans or corn with a cup of coffee or tea. This, of course, falls pathetically short of the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables, preferably raw, a day. This is where the oxidative stress enters the picture. Oxidative stress or the formation of free radical molecules in our bodies is a chemical process that leads to aging. The antidote for this oxidative process is consumption of "antioxidants". Antioxidants such as vitamins and certain minerals are nutrients found in food, especially fruits and vegetables.


Studies published in the June, 2002 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association" have shown certain antioxidant supplements to be of benefit in reducing the risk of Alzheimer's. The most commonly recommended is folic acid at a dosage of 2.5 to 10 mg. per day. The herb ginko biloba is also commonly used and is a good antioxidant for the brain and entire body. Other supplements including vitamins B12, C, E, zinc, beta-carotene and phosphatidyl choline are also beneficial.


Your approach to combating Alzheimer's and dementia involves three components:
A. Alteration of lifestyle as much as possible.
B. Good nutrition.
C. Dietary supplements.

NOTE: If you are dealing with a younger person with dementia, pay close attention to the related pages of this report which are listed below.

Since most dementia patients are elderly, there probably isn't too much we can do to realistically alter the lifestyle. However, there is one thing, albeit it controversial, that should be addressed. That is the matter of aluminum which has been shown in some studies to be a causative factor in Alzheimer's disease. The main sources of aluminum in our environment are cookware, cigarette filters, and antiperspirants. These sources of aluminum should definitely be eliminated from the environment. If there has been excessive exposure to aluminum in the patient's life, it would be a good idea to have a hair analysis for toxic metals. If high in aluminum or other toxic metals, you can follow protocols for their removal.
 See Metal Toxicity

Another lifestyle problem for seniors is the lack of exercise. Please study carefully the Benefits of Exercising
The second concern for most senior citizens is good nutrition. The Center for Disease Control says we all should eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, preferably raw, a day. Very few of us do that, let alone seniors. An excellent dietary supplement which is comparable to the five servings is called Juice Plus . It is fruits and vegetables juiced, dried and condensed into a capsule. You may visit www.juiceplus.com for more information on Juice Plus. Fruits and vegetables are nature's source of antioxidants. Our antioxidant status deteriorates with age and the need is compounded in patents with Alzheimer's.


Your third concern is food supplements. The nutrients which have been found deficient and helpful in Alzheimer's and dementia are listed below.

Folic acid is a vitamin found commonly deficient in patients with a variety of psychiatric illnesses. Your physician can test your blood level. If deficient, a supplementation of 2-10 mg. daily or as directed by your physician or nutritionist should help.

Vitamin B6 is commonly deficient in Alzheimer's patients. There are little to no risks with B6 supplementation at a level of 100-200 mg. per day.

Vitamin B12 has been found to be helpful. You should have your physician measure the blood B12 and supplement, probably with injections or sublingual tablets accordingly.

Antioxidants including Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) at 400-800 i.u. per day, Vitamin C at 1000-5000 mg. or bowel tolerance per day, and zinc have been shown to be of benefit .

Phosphatidyl choline or lecithin has been associated with Alzheimer's and dementia and supplementation may be of benefit. Choline is an important brain chemical and should be a part of every patient's supplement regimen. You should be careful to read the label because there is a great variation in the content of different products. The usual dose of phosphatidyl choline in the studies was 20-25 grams in divided doses per day.
Another promising supplement is glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC) . GPC is a choline precursor which means it is involved in one of the steps of choline metabolism. It has been found to be effective in improving patients' clinical conditions in a number of studies. It is sold as a prescription drug in Europe but as a food supplement in the U.S.

In some studies estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) has been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's in women. A natural approach to ERT without the risks of prescription estrogen replacement includes the use of the herb Black Cohosh, indole-3-carbinol extracted from broccoli and natural progesterone crème made from the wild yam. All these products should be taken under the direction of a clinical nutritionist.

Recommended Supplements

Listed below are supplements we recommend for our patients Alzheimer's and dimentia. Metagenics sells pharmaceutical-grade nutrition products not available in stores. They are available only through healthcare providers. Products we commonly recommend for this condition include:

Vessel Care
Multigenics (Order without iron for men)
Glycogenics
Ginko-RoseOx
E-400 Selenium
Ultra Potent-C
Phyto Complete

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The September, 2002 issue of the "Life Extension" magazine published by the Life Extension Foundation www.lef.org offers a few articles on the subject of Alzheimer's and dementia. They also offer products containing these and other nutrients.

Resources
Comprehensive Health Assessment 

Alzheimer's and Dementia Related Pages of this Web Site
Benefits of Exercising
Yeast and Candidiasis
Adrenal Axis Stress and Cortisol Imbalance
Hypoglycemia Treatment
Wilson 's Syndrome
Hypothyroidism Treatment

Source: http://www.rxalternativemedicine.com/articles/dementia.html 

DHEA Restoration Therapy - Men & Women

DHEA Restoration Therapy
Hormone Replacement Therapy

It's no accident that youth is associated with high levels of hormones. Produced throughout the body, sex hormones are critical to maintaining vibrancy and good health. In recent decades, scientists have begun to understand the powerful benefits of replacing hormones lost to aging. However, there are serious questions about the safety of conventional hormone replacement therapy, which relies on hormones that are synthesized from animals (Premarin ®) or created in a lab (Provera ®). Most recently, the widespread prescribing of these two hormones among menopausal women has come under scientific scrutiny because of the increased risk of stroke and heart attack.

As an alternative, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may be one of the best things aging people can do for themselves because of the wide-ranging benefits of bioidentical hormones on everything from the cardiovascular system to the aging brain and bones. What is required, however, is an approach that harnesses the wisdom of the body and relies on bioidentical hormones to replace those that decline with age.
In 1981, Life Extension introduced dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in an article that described the multiple anti-aging effects of this steroid hormone. At the time, DHEA replacement therapy was almost unheard of. Today, however, DHEA replacement therapy has been studied extensively, and decreased DHEA levels have been implicated in heart disease, high cholesterol, depression, inflammation, immune disorders, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, HIV, and osteoporosis (Hauffa BP et al 1984; Valenti G 2002; Valenti G et al 2004).


But what is DHEA exactly, and how does it work? DHEA is the most common steroid hormone in the body. It is produced mainly by the adrenal glands, and to a lesser extent, elsewhere in the body (including fat cells). DHEA is metabolized from pregnenolone, the body's “master hormone,” which itself is metabolized from cholesterol. DHEA can be metabolized into other sex hormones, including testosterone and the estrogens, and up to 150 individual metabolites.

Although there are still important research questions to answer, there is no question that youthful DHEA levels are closely associated with good health, and that low levels have been connected to various diseases. Unfortunately, after about age 35, DHEA begins to decline (Pavlov EP et al 1986; Nafziger AN et al 1998). Women, who tend to have lower levels, lose DHEA much more quickly than men as they age. Concentrations remain roughly 30% higher in men (Orentreich N et al. 1984). DHEA levels also vary according to ethnicity (Orentreich N et al. 1984; LaCroix AZ et al. 1992; Hornsby PJ 1995). By age 70, DHEA may be only 20% of young-adult levels (Belanger A et al 1994).

Modern hormone replacement therapy strives to recreate the youthful balance of hormones in the body—and this is where DHEA's value really stands out. Because it is metabolized into other hormones, supplementing with DHEA may allow the body to choose which hormone is needed, then synthesize that hormone from the available DHEA. This may account for the astonishing range of benefits that many researchers attribute to this hormone. DHEA's separate metabolites, including 7-Keto DHEA, have also been shown to have individual benefits, including lowering cholesterol, burning fat, and boosting the immune system.

There are many provocative theories that may one day help explain DHEA's role in certain diseases. For instance, many elderly people suffer from high cholesterol levels, which are a risk factor for heart disease. In this age group, the rate of heart disease rises much more rapidly among women than men, partly because of the loss of hormones during menopause. Clearly, there is a link between heart disease and sex hormones, and this phenomenon raises an intriguing possibility. Because sex hormones are synthesized from cholesterol, perhaps elevated cholesterol levels represent the body's attempt to supply more of the raw materials for hormone production. Indeed, one study showed a drop in cholesterol levels after comprehensive natural hormone therapy (Dzugan SA et al 2002).

As part of a comprehensive approach to fighting the diseases of aging, Life Extension recommends that people monitor their blood levels of DHEA and strive to reproduce hormone levels of a healthy 21-year-old. Fortunately, DHEA is well tolerated as a supplement, with only minimal side effects even at relatively high doses.

What You Have Learned So Far DHEA is a hormone that is produced from the synthesis of pregnenolone. It may be metabolized into testosterone or estrogen. DHEA is the most prevalent steroid hormone in the body. Low DHEA levels are clearly associated with a range of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, inflammation, Alzheimer's, and others. DHEA levels drop dramatically as people age. There are pronounced differences in the average DHEA levels of men and women, with women on average having lower DHEA levels. DHEA replacement therapy can restore youthful DHEA levels.

DHEA: Fighting Inflammation

Inflammation is an insidious condition, and we are learning more every year about its association with a host of diseases. Inflammation is caused by internal chemicals called inflammatory cytokines that are released as part of the immune system response. These chemicals, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin 1(beta) [IL-1(β)] and/or leukotriene, are present in greater concentrations as we age. Reducing the concentration of inflammatory cytokines to reduce the risk of serious disease is one goal of nutrient and hormone therapy.

DHEA supplementation has been shown to improve several aspects of the immune system―cytokine production and T-cell, B-cell, natural killer cell, and monocyte function―in postmenopausal women and elderly men (Khorram O et al 1997). DHEA appears to be especially valuable against IL-6 and TNF, both of which are elevated in patients with inflammatory arthritis (James K et al 1997; Straub RH et al 1998; Straub RH et al 2002a; Leowattana W 2001). Systemic lupus erythematosus is another chronic inflammatory condition, affecting approximately 1 in every 700 women, usually younger women (Sullivan KE 1999-2000). Treatment of this type of lupus with DHEA (50 to 200 mg daily) caused clinical improvement and decreased lupus flares by 16% (van Vollenhoven RF et al 1998; Chang DM et al 2002).

DHEA in Women

Throughout their reproductive lives, women experience higher levels of estrogen produced by the ovaries. This estrogen has a cardioprotective effect, which accounts for women's lower rates of heart disease. However, around age 50, women undergo menopause, or the failure of the ovaries and the cessation of menstruation. This period is distinguished by a rapid drop in the level of sex hormones, including estrogen, DHEA, testosterone, pregnenolone, and progesterone. Various diseases have been connected to this rapid loss of hormonal protection, including heart disease and osteoporosis (Lock 1994). While many of the symptoms of menopause are caused by the loss of estrogen, there are also side effects associated with the drop in DHEA and testosterone among menopausal women, including:

• Decreased libido
• Decreased strength
• Decreased muscle mass
• Decreased bone density
• Decreased energy (Braunstein G 2002)

In menopausal women, DHEA therapy is sometimes androgenic. In other words, it tends to raise the blood levels of male sex hormones such as testosterone (Belaisch J 2002), which accounts for the small risk among some women of increased hair growth (Stomati M et al 2000). However, there is growing evidence that a modest increase in testosterone benefits women. For example, it appears to improve bone metabolism and decrease menopausal symptoms (Davis S 1999), as well as increase sexual desire (Turna B et al 2005).
One analysis of existing studies found the DHEA had these benefits among postmenopausal women:

• A 30 mg to 50 mg daily dose improved mood, sense of well-being, and sexual appetite and activity among women with adrenal insufficiency (Buvat J 2003).
• A long-term trial of women over 60 reported significant increases in bone mineral density (Buvat J 2003).
• A study among women aged 70 to 79 showed improvements in sexual desire, arousal, and enjoyment (Buvat J 2003).

DHEA in Men

Studies of men have shown that DHEA replacement therapy is an important complement to testosterone therapy. Among aging men, the amount of “free” testosterone, or testosterone that is available to the body, falls more quickly than the level of total testosterone. Thus, it is important to design a hormone replacement program that raises the level of free testosterone. In a 1997 study, DHEA levels were shown to parallel the levels of free testosterone in the blood. The study authors suggested that DHEA might help raise free testosterone. If this conclusion is correct, then DHEA replacement therapy would not only raise the blood level of DHEA, but also the level of free testosterone (Morley JE et al 1997).

Still, other studies have shown that DHEA may be an effective therapy for erectile dysfunction. Although there are conflicting studies in this regard, a few have shown that among men without heart or vascular disease, DHEA has been able to improve erectile dysfunction (Belaisch J 2002).

Cancer: Hope and Caution

In any discussion of hormone replacement therapy, the question of cancer will naturally arise. Certain cancers, especially breast and prostate cancer, may be hormone mediated. In other words, supplementation with hormones may cause cancer cells to proliferate. For this reason, men and women with histories of hormone receptor cancers, or with existing tumors, are warned away from hormone therapy that might aggravate their conditions.

The situation, however, is not clear-cut. In numerous lab studies, DHEA has shown anti-cancer properties (Schwartz AG et al 1993; Yang S et al 2002; Yoshida S et al 2003; Jiang Y et al 2005). Similarly, low levels of DHEA are associated with cancer (Gordon GB et al 1988; Leowattana W 2001). According to studies using animal models and cell cultures (both animal and human), DHEA has been shown to inhibit cancer development in a number of tissues, including:

• Mammary gland (Schwartz AG 1993; Lubet RA et al 1998)
• Skin (Schwartz AG et al 1993)
• Colon (Nyce JW et al 1984; Osawa E et al 2002; Pelissier MA et al 2004)
• Liver and thyroid (Moore MA et al 1986)

DHEA and breast cancer. Because DHEA may be converted into estrogen, women with breast cancer are advised not to begin DHEA therapy, which may theoretically increase the severity of their cancer. To date, no large studies have been conducted on the use of DHEA in women with breast cancer. Healthy women taking DHEA should also monitor their blood levels of estrogen and free testosterone to make sure that DHEA is creating youthful hormone balance.

DHEA and prostate cancer . Men should not begin DHEA therapy before having their prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels tested and undergoing a digital rectal exam, to measure the size and consistency of the prostate. Men with prostate cancer or severe benign prostate disease are advised to avoid DHEA because it can be converted into testosterone, which may promote cell proliferation or cause an increase in DHT (dihydrotestosterone). However, among healthy men, one study showed that DHEA did not increase PSA levels (Jedrzejuk D et al 2003). To make sure DHEA is tolerated, men should consider having their DHEA bloodlevels tested every 6 or 12 months after beginning therapy, along with testing levels of free testosterone, estrogen, and DHT. The DHT form of testosterone plays an important role in the development of benign prostatic enlargement, and is believed to contribute to the progression of prostate cancer.

What do the Studies Say?

Many of the studies examining DHEA have found an overall benefit among study subjects, especially among the elderly. Nevertheless, it's helpful to understand some of DHEA's chemical interactions to gain insight into its many roles inside the body.

DHEA owes many of its beneficial properties to its ability to inhibit an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). DHEA's anti-cancer properties are due at least in part to its ability to inhibit G6PD (Williams JR 2000; Arlt W 2004). DHEA's cardioprotective properties may also be partly due to G6PD inhibition (Tian WN et al 1998; Schwartz AG et al 2004).

Beyond its broad benefits, however, a survey of studies on specific diseases found that DHEA was active in fighting many of the most frightening, including:

Alzheimer's Disease. Patients with Alzheimer's disease have higher levels of cortisol (the “stress” hormone) (Rasmuson S et al 2002) and imbalanced cortisol/DHEA ratios (Murialdo G et al 2000). In a group of severely afflicted Alzheimer's patients , Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels were significantly lower (Murialdo G et al 2000). Other studies have examined the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) among Alzheimer's patients. VEGF has been shown to protect the brain, and scientists now believe that low VEGF levels may be connected to the progression of Alzheimer's disease. DHEA-S was shown to significantly increase the bioavailability of VEGF in the brain, leading the study authors to conclude that it could be a valuable treatment for Alzheimer's and aging (Solerte SB et al 2005).

Cardiovascular Disease. There is a clear relationship between DHEA levels and cardiovascular disease: as DHEA decline, the incidence of cardiovascular disease rises in men (Barrett-Connor E et al 1987; Herrington DM et al 1990; Hautanen A et al 1994; Barrett-Connor E et al 1995; Feldman HA et al 1998) and in women (Johannes CB et al 1999). Diabetic men with the lowest DHEA levels have a significantly greater chance of developing coronary heart disease (Fukui M et al 2005). The risk of death is higher among those with the lowest levels of DHEA in men less than age 70 (Mazat L et al 2001).
DHEA play a protective role in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (Gordon GB et al 1988; Eich DM et al 1993), especially among men. Several mechanisms are involved: inhibition of G6PD, which can modify the lipid spectrum; suppression of platelet aggregation; and reduced cell proliferation (Porsova-Dutoit I et al 2000). Men with lower DHEA-S are more likely to have atherosclerosis (Herrington DM et al 1990) and calcified deposits in the abdominal aorta (Hak AE et al 2002) . Because cortisol increases the risk of heart attack and the severity of atherosclerosis in men ( Laughlin GA et al 2000), raising DHEA levels to increase the DHEA/cortisol ratio has promise for reducing cardiovascular risk (Barrett-Connor E et al 1995). However, the same associations are lacking in women (Barrett-Connor E et al 1987) .

• Myocardial Infarction. Low DHEA is related to premature heart attack in men (Mitchell LE et al 1994). Severely ill cardiac patients and those with acute heart attack have lower DHEA levels for as long as 3 to 4 months after the event (Slowinska-Srzednicka J et al 1989; Ruiz Salmeron RJ et al 1992).
• Metabolic Syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome is characterized by several conditions that are all associated with elevated risk for heart disease, including increased insulin resistance, obesity, and abnormal cholesterol levels. In metabolic syndrome, these individual risk factors act synergistically, raising the risk of heart disease higher than their individual risk levels alone. Although research is still continuing, scientists have linked elevated cholesterol to lower DHEA levels ( Nestler JE et al 1992). Long-term DHEA supplementation improves insulin sensitivity by 30%, raises high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 12%, and lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 11%, and triglycerides by 20% (Lasco A et al 2001). The lowering of low density lipoproteins (LDL) by DHEA has an antioxidant effect, which could have anti-atherogenic consequences (Nestler JE et al 1988; Nestler JE et al 1991; Kurzman ID et al 1990; Khalil A et al 2000). DHEA also decreases abdominal fat, an important characteristic of metabolic syndrome (Villareal DT et al 2000; Villareal DT et al 2004).

Cognitive Decline. One of the most distressing elements of aging is the loss of mental "sharpness." Once again, DHEA has been shown to improve measures of cognitive function in laboratory studies (Roberts E et al 1987; Flood JF et al 1988). Abnormal balances in the brain between DHEA-S and cortisol have been shown to decrease brain function (Kalmijn S et al 1998; Ferrari E et al 2001).

Depression. DHEA has been extensively studied in depression. DHEA levels are reduced in major depressive disorders in both adolescents and adults, and an elevated cortisol/DHEA ratio predicts a delay in recovery (Herbert J 1998; Ferrari E et al. 2004). Women lacking detectable DHEA have an increased
 occurrence of depression (Yaffe K et al. 1998).

DHEA has also been a useful remedy for depression (van Broekhoven F et al 2003). A well-conducted study by the National Institute of Mental Health found DHEA to be quite effective in treating midlife long-lasting, mild depression (dysthymia). The symptoms that improved most significantly were inability to gain pleasure from normally pleasurable experiences (anhedonia), loss of energy, lack of motivation, emotional “numbness,” sadness, inability to cope, and worrying (Bloch M et al 1999). In another study, 3 months of DHEA supplementation improved self-reported physical and psychological well-being in age-advanced individuals (Morales AJ et al 1994). These results were supported by a recent study that showed DHEA therapy improved depression among middle-aged people (Schmidt PJ et al 2005).

Diabetes. DHEA appears to increase insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance is an early indicator of type 2 diabetes and is closely associated with obesity, which are both major risk factors for heart disease. A decrease in DHEA-S is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes (Kameda W et al 2005). Among women with deficient adrenal glands, DHEA supplementation was shown to significantly increase insulin sensitivity, and the study authors concluded that DHEA might be a valuable treatment for type 2 diabetes (Dhatariya K et al 2005). DHEA has also been shown to increase insulin sensitivity among obese women (Villareal DT et al 2004).

HIV/AIDS. HIV-positive men with lower DHEA levels have comparably lower CD4 cell counts (Dyner TS et al 1993) and are 2.3 times more likely to progress to AIDS (Jacobson MA et al 1991; Ferrando SJ et al 1999). HIV-positive men have a dramatically elevated cortisol/DHEA ratio that parallels their nutritional and disease status (Jacobson MA et al 1991; Christeff N et al 1997; Christeff N et al 1999; Chriseff NA et al 2000; Ferrando SJ et al 1999).

Immune system. DHEA has been shown to enhance the immune response against a wide range of viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens. In one animal study, DHEA supplementation showed a significant reduction in the level of internal parasites (Dos Santos TD et al 2005).

Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis (bone thinning) affects millions of late-middle-aged to elderly individuals of both sexes, but is more common in women than men. In women, a major contributing factor is the loss of estrogen at menopause, which parallels the decline in DHEA. DHEA appears to exert a positive role in bone metabolism by inhibiting bone resorption and stimulating bone formation (Labrie F et al 1997; Haden ST et al 2000). It also seems to aid calcium absorption (Carlstrom K et al 1988; Taelman P et al 1989). DHEA has proved effective in clinical trials treating osteoporosis (Villareal DT et al 2000). However, a correlation between DHEA and bone mineral density appears variably in women and not at all in men (Brody S et al 1982; Nordin BE et al 1985; Deutsch S et al 1987; Wild RA et al 1987; Barrett-Connor E et al 1993).

Stress. DHEA levels are closely tied to stress. Studies have shown that traumatic events such as burns or illnesses significantly decrease DHEA, testosterone, and androstenedione levels, while increasing the level of cortisol (Parker LN et al 1985; Lephart ED et al 1987; Wade CE et al 1988). Calmness, such as seen in individuals practicing transcendental meditation, is associated with higher levels of DHEA (Glaser JL et al 1992). In one study, participants in a stress-reduction program increased DHEA by 100% and reduced stress hormone production (cortisol) by 23% (McCraty R et al 1998).

7-Keto DHEA: The Perfect Partner

Among DHEA's many metabolites, one has attracted significant attention for its unique ability to lower cholesterol, burn fat, and improve the immune system. This metabolite, known at 7-Keto DHEA, is not converted into estrogen or testosterone, so it may be safely used among people with hormone-dependent diseases, including cancer.

Scientific studies have shown that 7-Keto can help people burn fat through a process known as “thermogenesis.” This means the body's metabolic rate is accelerated, generating heat and energy that consumes calories and burns fat. 7-Keto accomplishes this by boosting the levels of three liver enzymes that stimulate fatty acid oxidation.


In one study of 30 overweight adults, study subjects either received 100 mg of 7-Keto twice daily or placebo. They also participated in a supervised exercise and diet program. At the end of the study, those taking 7-Keto had lost 6.3 pounds on average, versus 2.1 pounds for the control group (Kalman DS et al 2000).

7-Keto has also been studied for its immune-boosting and cholesterol-lowering properties. In a study on cholesterol levels, human volunteers applied a gel containing 25 mg of 7-Keto for five consecutive days. At the end of the study, the subjects taking 7-Keto had experienced a rise in good HDL cholesterol and a slight reduction in harmful LDL cholesterol (Sulcova J et al 2001).

Another study looking at immune function found that four weeks of 7-Keto supplementation improved immune function in elderly men and women. In this study, subjects over age 65 took 100 mg of 7-Keto twice daily or placebo. The subjects on 7-Keto experienced a significant decrease in immune suppressor cells and an increase in immune helper cells (Zenk JL et al 2004).


Because 7-Keto is not converted into estrogen or testosterone, it may be the perfect complement to DHEA therapy, as well as providing an option for people who have hormone dependent cancers. In some women, high doses of DHEA may cause the growth of unwanted hair or acne. By adding 7-Keto to a daily program, it may be possible to lower the dosage of DHEA.

Life Extension Foundation Recommendations Because of the overwhelming evidence connecting low levels of DHEA to the degenerative diseases of aging, Life Extension suggests that all people over age 40 begin DHEA therapy. For most people, the starting dose of DHEA is between 15-75 mg, taken in one daily dose. Many studies have used a daily dose of 50 mg. One recent study showed that doses under 30 mg were not enough to significantly raise blood levels of DHEA in young adults (Cameron DR et al 2005). At these levels, DHEA has shown no major side effects. Ideally, DHEA replacement therapy should begin with blood testing to establish a base range. Since almost everyone over age 35-40 has lower than optimal levels of DHEA, most people begin supplementation and test their blood DHEA levels later to make sure they are taking the proper dose. Normal serum reference ranges and ideal ranges of DHEA-S are:   Normal (depending on age) Ideal Men 16.2-492 μg/dL 350-490 μg/dL Women 12-407 μg/dL 275-400 μg/dL After 3 to 6 weeks, another test is recommended to measure serum DHEA. All individuals react differently to DHEA replacement therapy, so it's a good idea to closely monitor your blood levels and side effects. If side effects appear, it may be possible to add 7-Keto DHEA and reduce the dose of DHEA. Those with liver disease should use DHEA sublingual tablets, which bypass liver metabolism. Otherwise, capsules containing the more common micronized DHEA are quite effective in restoring DHEA to youthful ranges.

DHEA Safety Caveats An aggressive program of dietary supplementation should not be launched without the supervision of a qualified physician. Several of the nutrients suggested in this protocol may have adverse effects. These include: DHEA (DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE) Do not take DHEA if you could be pregnant, are breastfeeding, or could have prostate, breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer. DHEA can cause androgenic effects in woman such as acne, deepening of the voice, facial hair growth and hair loss. For more information see the Safety Appendix Source: http://www.lef.org/protocols/metabolic_health/dhea_restoration_01.htm

Targeted nutrients naturally extend telomere length and provide anti-aging effect

Many factors are known to contribute to human lifespan. Many natural health followers carefully control their diet to include organic choices of fruits and vegetables in their natural, uncooked state, while remaining physically active and maintaining body weight within a healthy range.

The science of how lifestyle habits and nutrition promote health and longevity, known as Epigenetics, has dramatically advanced our knowledge base by providing a solid understanding of telomeres: telomeres are the tiny strands of DNA akin to a zipper that shorten with poor dietary choices, inflammation and everyday stress. Researchers reporting in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry show that reducing oxidative stress, cellular inflammation and improving DNA methylation pathways can extend telomere length and slow the biologic aging clock. Specific nutrients provide the necessary building blocks to support DNA health and extend your natural lifespan.

Genetic expression is not set in stone, and our genes are continually under the influence of our environment, lifestyle and dietary choices. Gene settings are made initially from our time in the womb, based largely on the nutritional status and lifestyle of the mother. As we age, our genes instantly read micronutrient and environmental cues in an effort to ensure short term survival. Every morsel of food energy we consume results in an alteration in gene expression, either promoting optimal health or eventual illness.

The methylation pathway is critical to maintain DNA integrity and to prevent telomere shortening. Foods and nutrients that donate methyl groups are essential to prevent genetic mutations that result in cancer. Researchers reporting in The Journal of Nutrition found that men with the highest levels of folate in their blood have the longest telomeres when compared to those with the lowest levels. In addition to folate (800 mcg each day), vitamin B12 (500 to 1000 mcg daily) and the entire B-vitamin family are associated with longer telomeres. Sulfur-enriched proteins from nuts and seeds are also important methyl group donors.

Independent research projects have concluded that the minerals zinc (25 to 50 mg per day) and magnesium (400 to 800 mg each day) are necessary to accurately complete DNA sequencing during cell replication. A lack of these cofactors leads to DNA strand breakage, premature cell destruction and acceleration of the aging process. Vitamin C (1 to 3 grams per day) has been shown to slow the loss of telomeres in human vascular endothelial cells, an important element in preventing cardiovascular disease. Vitamin E tocotrienols (400 mg per day of a full-spectrum supplement) have been shown to restore the length of telomeres while reducing DNA damage, making it possible for a nutrient to reverse the shortening of telomeres and reverse an underlying cause of aging.

Stress and inflammation are two controllable factors that independently shorten telomere length and increase cell aging. Stress management is essential to lower the release of chemical messengers that fuel the flames of inflammation. Additionally, researchers have identified a host of polyphenol compounds (resveratrol, grape seed extract and curcumin) that lower systemic inflammation, help to maintain telomere length and extend healthy lifespan.

Sources for this article include:
http://www.wellnessresources.com/he...
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/139...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...
http://www.ajcn.org/content/90/2/32...

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/034513_telomeres_longevity_nutrition.html#ixzz1hxYnz7I6

Supplement Suggestions...

BRAIN FUNCTION Piracetum, vinpocetine, hyperzine, DMAE, fish oil, flax oil, Rhodiola rosa, taurine, glutamine, acetyl L-carnitine, ginkgo, rosemary, pine bark/grapeseed, Gotu Kola, Calamus root, Kudzu root, Bacopa, Vitamin C and Phenylalanine. CONTRACTION PHASES Herbs for calming nerves, insomnia, neuralgia, pain, shock, die-off and depression of the down cycles, for tea, baths or capsulating: Borage, Burdock leaves, Chamomile, Catnip, Gorse flowers, California poppy flowers, Comfrey, Cowslip, Evening primrose, Gelsemium, Ginger root, Goldenrod, Hop flowers, Juniper berries, Kava kava, Lemon balm, Linden flowers, Lobelia. Peppermint, Plantain, Meadowsweet, Motherwort, Mullein, Nettle, Oatstraw, Passion flower, Red clover flowers, Rosemary leaf, Skullcap, St John’s Wort, Valerian, Yarrow, Yellow dock. White willow can be used as an anti-inflammatory for nerve pain and headaches. Wood Betony is good for all head, neck and face pain including headaches. For migraine headaches: Fenugreek, Thyme and Feverfew. Fever: Dandelion, Elder flowers, Parsley seeds, Nettle, Sage, Yarrow. SPASMS~TICKS Black cohosh, Black haw, Blue cohosh root, Chaste berry fruit, Dong quai, Feverfew, Hops, Kava kava, Lobelia, Motherwort, Passion flower, Peppermint, Skullcap, Valerian, Wild Yam. B6, Magnesium. TINNITUS (Ringing in the Ears) Dong Quai, Feverfew, Ginkgo, Gotu Kola, Ginger root, Ginseng, Hawthorne Berry, Horsetail, Kudzu root, Neem Leaf, Propolis. Don’t forget to add the Ginger root because this helps with Vertigo (dizziness) aspect of tinnitus. Inflammation can have a significant effect on tinnitus: Goldenseal, echinacea, garlic, peppermint, calendula, plantain and turmeric. Flax oil/fish oil along with Vinpocetine in a small dosage, acting as a cerebral vasodilator, may be effective in reducing tinnitus. Patients with tinnitus may have low blood zinc levels; other vitamins & minerals include: Magnesium, Potassium, Maganese, Vitamins A & C, bioflavonoids, pantothenic acid. VERTIGO AND NAUSEA Basil, Butcher's broom, Cayenne, Chaparral, Chickweed, Cloves, Cramp bark, Dandelion root, Fennel, Ginger, Gingko, Hawthorne Berry, Lavender, Lemon balm, Licorice, Mullein, Pepperment, Wild Yam. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Drink the full water requirement (2 times body weight (lbs) in ounces per day) and take a few hypertension herbs like Ashwagandha, Basil, Black cohosh, Calamus, Cayenne, Celery seeds, Garlic, Ginger, Gotu kola, Hawthorne berry, Kelp, Maitake Mushroom, Mistletoe, Neem, Passion Flower, Papaya enzymes, Skullcap and Valerian. L-Theamine in green tea is also used for regulating blood pressure and may reduce glutamate induced excitotoxic damage in the brain. For high blood pressure consider taking the anticortisol measures in the Exhaustion Protocol and relaxation practices in the Kundalini Skills List. Regular exercise will lower blood pressure, resting heart rate and increase lung capacity. ANXIETY AND HYPERTENSION TEA FORMULA Gotu Kola, Hop flowers, Skullcap, Wild Oat leaf, Raspberry leaf, Tulsi-holy basil, Alfalfa leaf, Passion flower, Valerian leaf, Green tea, Chamomile flowers, Ginkgo leaf, Olive leaf, Nettle leaf and Violet leaves (you can harvest and dry yourself.) Cardamom seeds and Hawthorn berries crushed with a hammer. Cut-and-sift of Cinnamon sticks, Ginger root, Dong quai, Ashwagandha, Licorice Root; you may have to crush these yourself with a hammer.  I suggest you make a tea formula that you can take throughout the day to calm the nervous system, open the blood vessels and reduce hypertension. Use any or all of the following to make up a tea...you can brew it at home and take to work in a thermos... You can buy most of the ingredients here www.mountainroseherbs.com/ ENERGIZERS Wheatgrass juice gives the most immediate pick-me-up. Spirulina (bluegreen algae) gives substantial energy and is a complete food. Kelp provides the iodine to fire up the thyroid and metabolism. Green tea or yerba mate is good for energy also and it is not over stimulating like coffee. Nori rolls are perhaps the most energizing high enzyme food there is: grind up slightly sprouted “hulled” sunflower or buckwheat seeds, add tahini, garlic, miso, Tom Yum Thai paste, lemon juice and mix this into a paste. Then put several tablespoons of this onto a nori sheet and cover with tomatoes, avocado, cilantro and cucumber, then roll up. ADRENALS Chronic inflammation and infection exhausts the adrenal glands. To build up your adrenals to recover from fatigue take 6-8 gms per day of buffered vitamin C//Vitamin C ‘Ester’ with plenty of water between meals. This high dosage will reduce symptoms when withdrawing from any addictive substance whether it be food and food allergens, drugs, coffee or nicotine. The adrenals are the site of the highest concentration of vitamin C in the body. Pantothenic acid or B5, vitamin B1 and vitamin B6 work synergistically to nourish and strengthen the adrenals. Herbs to rebuild the adrenals are: Suma, ginseng, licorice, chaparral, Ma huang and ashwagandha. IMMUNITY Echinacea, Garlic, Aloe, Shitake mushroom, Sarsaparilla, Suma, Barberry, Basil, Boneset, Chamomile, Ginger, Goldenseal, Licorice, Marshmallow, Mistletoe, St Johns Wort, Astragalus, Ligustrum, Chaparral, Pau D Arco. Note: Herbs that help neutralize toxins: Echinacea, Elecampane, Garlic, Fennel, Neem, Plantain. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY Angelica, Avocado leaves, Basil, Black haw, bone set, Chamomile, Chaparral, Echinacea, Fenugreek, Flaxseed, Gentian, Ginger, Goldenseal, Grapeseed extract, Horsetail, Juniper, Larch, Licorice, Marshmallow, Meadowsweet, Mistletoe, St John’s wort, Tumeric. RADIATION PROTECTION Olive leaf, Neem, Ginkgo, Ashitaba, Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Chaparral, Uva Ursi, Yucca Root, Bladderwrack, Noni Fruit & Seed, Jojoba, Tumeric, Graviola. Bentonite, zeolite, Pyrophyllite clay, kelp, algae, goji berry and all colorful berry foods. ANTIBACTERIAL/FUNGAL Antibacterial herbs: Elecampane, garlic, olive leaf, lobelia, mullein, thyme, and cayenne. CANDIDA YEAST: Pau D'Arco, oregano, gentian, Sodium Caprylate, grapefruit seed, barberry, goldenseal, chamomile, Biotin, Colloidal Silver, olive leaf, black walnut, probiotics, echinacea, suma, chaparral, graviola, siberian ginseng, aloe and garlic. Assisting: cardamom, ginger, fennel seeds, and fenugreek seeds. Take a stress multivitamin and a chelated mineral supplement daily. Plus vitamin C 1000mg, vitamin B6 200Ð600 mg, vitamin E 800iu, Propolis 500 mg 3 times per day, take Garlic pills or fresh, and Primrose, Borage or Linseed oil. Use digestive enzymes or raw food with every meal. Take at least one teaspoon per day of Bentonite clay in a glass of water. COLLOIDAL SILVER: As a general antibacterial solution colloidal silver tends to reduce the intestinal bacteria populations. Alternatively colloidal silver made by using your own battery setup with wires of these pure precious metals can be sprayed onto sprouts grown in trays of soil. In this way the plant uptakes the metal and it chelates it for you. The colloidal silver kills fungal growth on the sprouts also. SPLEEN Astragalus root, Atractylodes rhizome, bupleurum root, black cohosh, Barberry bark, cardamon, Codonopsis, Cinnamon bark, Chaenomeles (quince) fruit, Citrus peel, dandelion root or yellow dock root, Dolichos seed, Dong Quai, Fennel seeds, Galanga rhizome, ginger root, Ginseng, Horseradish root, Jujube Fruit licorice root, magnolia bark, milk thistle, parsley, Prickly Ash fruit, Poriae cocos, red beet root, rose hips, Costus Root (saw-wort), wild yam, DIGESTION Irritable bowel syndrome and leaky gut syndrome is most often caused by or associated with candida. Cleansers: Bentonite clay powder + Psyllium husk powder—mix together and take one heap teaspoon in juice, per evening. Or put into 000 capsules and take 3 with a pint of water 2 hours after your last meal. Bentonite will ionically remove the biproducts of free radical decay. It is said that “regular” internal use of clay should be avoided in leaky gut conditions to avoid the assimilation of excess aluminum. However one is more likely to get brain damage from the toxins produced during maldigestion than contracting Alzheimer’s from aluminum. Bentonite is very soothing and antiputrifying in the digestive tract. Note: Rich Andersons book Cleanse and Purify Yourself, is the best place to start for ultimate cleansing. Toxic Relief: Restore Health and Energy Through Fasting and Detoxification, by Don Colbert M.D. is also great. REPAIR AND REBUILD: To rebuild the function and tone of the digestive tract after a kundalini awakening: White Oak Bark, cranesbill root, black cohosh, licorice root, peppermint. Two parts each of kelp powder, spirulina and one part slippery elm put into capsules will help ease digestive problems that arise with kundalini. SOOTHERS: Herbs that have mucilage properties that soothe the digestive tract are--Mullen, chickweed, comfrey, borage, couch grass, chamomile, Marshmallow, Slippery elm and ground flax seed. THINGS TO AVOID: Coffee, Salt, Sugar, Alcohol. Avoid cooked food in general, especially breads, pastries, flour products, meats, processed, preserved, pickled and frozen foods...ie: avoid all foods that are not raw as much as possible. Foods dehydrated or warm to around 110¡F are better, for this preserves the enzymes. Note: I enjoy cooked food, especially at this time of the year. However, at times the choice of cooked food is good for my Spleen (as in Chinese Medicine), but not good in other areas of my being. So, when I know I will be eating more cooked (dead) food I also add in small amounts at different times during the day fresh salad, fresh herbs, fresh spices, and also fruit when eating a protein if possible. So every time I eat dead food, I also incorporate fresh/live enzyme food, to balance each meal out, and my body. Things To Adopt: GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! Green leafy vegetables and cabbage. Cabbage is so affective I would recommend daily carrot/cabbage/celery juices with wheat grass. Dandelion greens are as potent as cabbage and can be incorporated in carrot juice. You might have to grind nuts and seeds in a coffee grinder depending on your digestive power. Soak all nuts and seeds up to 8 hours before consumption to make digestion easier. Almonds are the safest nuts, the rest are questionable due to their tendency to go rancid (free radicals).  Soaked/sprouted sunflower seeds are one the best protein and iron sources. But find a source of "fresh" seeds, those in the shops are usually pretty old...Jaffe Brothers is a great catalog company. Eat daily raw salads, especially cabbage/caulslaw...chew well. Buckwheat greens are a sweet gentle easily digestible green to include in salads. Buckwheat is the grain par excellence for irritated GI, is soothing and alkalinizing. Soak hulled buckwheat 4 hours and sprout it in the fridge in a colander over a bowl covered with plastic. Ground up these sprouted seeds can be made into humus. Buckwheat sprouts can be used in salads, as a rice raw-substitute, and as a breakfast cereal over chopped fruit and soaked nuts with Kefir or yogurt. Kefir can also be made out of raw seed or nut milks. ANTACIDS: Apple, Caraway, Catnip, Cloves, Parsley, Peppermint, Lemon balm, yucca root. PROBIOTICS: Friendly intestinal bacteria are one of the body's first lines of immune defense. The type of bacteria that inhabit the colon depends not only on the kind of food digested but also on the over all health and emotional state. Our health is dependent on the quantity and quality of the bacterial activity in both our soil and our intestines and these microbes are fed by vital organic material not from chemical fertilizers and inorganic vitamins and minerals. SKIN: Exfoliant--ground rolled oats; chemical exfoliant--papaya juice; face pack and lymphatic gland pack--wheat grass juice mixed with bentonite clay and spirulina. Crude lanolin is the most effective skin treatment out there. I starting using it on my chapped feet, and it was the only thing that worked. But it has to be the sticky yellowish crude stuff, you don't want the white refined version that is mixed with mineral oil and who knows what.

Therapeutic Benefit of Sea Salt

Think Epson salts are the number one salt to bathe in? Yes, both provide multiple benefits, however sea salts are mineral rich. Even though Epson salts help reduce swelling and ease muscle tension just like sea salts do, the main difference is that Epsom salts are only magnesium. Sea salts, on the other hand, contain multiple minerals from the ocean. In addition to being a natural preservative and popular seasoning, sea salt is prized by some for its curative properties.The Salt Institute notes that there are 14,000 known uses for salt.

Mineral Content

For centuries Dead Sea salt has been utilized for its cleansing, restorative and curative properties. According to saltworks.us, Dead Sea salt contains ten times more salt than other ocean waters, plus sulfur, magnesium, calcium, iodine, potassium, chlorine, and high bromides. These naturally occurring elements make Dead Sea salt the choice of many high end spa therapies and skin care products. Dead sea salt is also the medicinal salt of choice for dry skin disorders, acne, and musculoskeletal related pain and swelling.

Skin Soothing

Saltworks asserts that sea salt pulls toxins out of the body. Use a plain sea salt and water mask the next time you have an acne breakout to see if your skin texture and complexion improve. Sea salt is used dry skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis. The authors at the website Eczema Natural Cure specifically recommend Dead Sea salt. Twenty to 30 minutes of soaking in lukewarm water containing sea salt is said to calm the itching and redness associated with those disorders.

Nasal Cleansing

Sea salt solution is beneficial for nasal cleansing and can be utilized in a neti pot as a different and effective method for cleansing your sinuses. Practitioners of Ayurveda, yoga and holistic health advocate using this Indian device. Dissolve enough sea salt in warm water to make a slightly salty solution and pour it through your nostrils.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Whether you suffer from sports related injuries, or just have aches and pains from aging, sea salt tub soaks are recommended by physical therapists, and holistic health advisers. Saltworks suggests that if you suffer from arthritic pain and swelling, add sea salt to a tub of hot water and soak for at least 20 minutes daily for relief.

Oral Rinse

Use a warm sea salt water rinse regularly for general oral care. However, salts are not chemically the same. Refined salt is 99.9% sodium chloride, whereas sea salt contains 98.8% sodium chloride and 1.2% of the other essential elements according to curezone.com.

CAUTION: Celtic Sea Salt and other designer so-called natural or raw, evaporated seawater sea salt products are not good sources of some trace elements, particularly iodine, iron, copper, and selenium. This is unfortunate since just plain sea salt is basically healthier than the modified commercial table salts.

References

• Saltworks: Benefits of Bokek Hydrotherapy,and Hydrotherapy
• CureZone: Unrefined Sea Salt vs. Refined Table Salt
• Healing Daily: Neti Pot for Sinus Health
• Eczema Natural Cure: Sea Salt for Eczema
• Salt Institute: Uses-benefits

Source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/257422-theraputic-benefits-of-sea-salt/#ixzz1hx8UDd

Shaking Parkinsons and Other Tremor Diseases

Contrary to popular belief that PARKINSON'S is genetic and an 'old age' disease, the AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION has just declared that the culprits for these devastating tremors are pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and various chemicals. (American Medical Association Publication 27 January 99).
Add to this stunning admission the fact that in my overcoming terminal cancer of the breast, throat, and liver, my friends and I discovered that the underlying poisons in my death-inviting disease were heavy metal toxicity (basic substances in pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides). In 1990 - 1991, lab analyses of my blood and urine revealed a thriving mass of poisons in my body including: Dioxin, Mercury, Aluminum, and Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead and several other chemicals. This factual revelation led me to a determined exploratory in several directions at once. During the period 1994 - 1996, a unique means of ridding me of these invasive metals emerged: an unprecedented combination of clays, herbs and spices that provided a natural means of drawing these vicious poisons from my body. My life was given back to me. To finally become 'clean' again was an ultimate experience incomparable to anything else in my life. To pay back this gift that gave me these extra years, I've taken all that special knowledge, expanded on it, and now share it with others.

As most of us know Parkinson's shaking palsy or, in extreme cases, paralysis is a progressive disease of the nervous system in which essential nerve cells are destroyed. The symptoms are initiated by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain so that messages between nerve cells that control muscle function become confused. In Parkinson's this disorientation results in muscular rigidity, cramping, involuntary tremors, impaired speech, a staring facial expression, drooling, a short shuffling gait and a characteristic 'pill-rolling' movement of the thumb and forefinger as they rub against each other.

Finally, the FDA approved Deprenyl, a drug which slows the progress of the disease for about a year. The head and hand tremors are the most noticeable improvement. However, Dr. Kurt W. Donsbach DC, ND, PhD in an article in Wellness Lifestyle (May, 1990) reported that an extensive exploratory into the effect of nutrients on Parkinson's was made with a control group in which mega doses of vitamins E and C were given. It appeared to postpone the effect on the incapacitating tremors and other symptoms. The evaluation revealed that the drug, Deprenyl, worked only 40% as well as the nutritional supplements.

THE PESTICIDE CULPRIT

Realize that 1.3 MILLION TONS of Pesticide, involving 50,000 pesticide combinations, are used each year in just the U.S., we are bound to be affected by them: by the air we breathe, the water we drink and, certainly, the food we eat. Many of the pesticides are used only for cosmetic purposes: i.e. making redder apples, unblemished peaches; redder tomatoes and more beautiful and more salable oranges.

In the book "Truth About Where You Live", by Benjamin A Goldman, he reports extensive studies of pesticides and chemical toxicity related to Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's disease. He also points out that the insidious motor neuron disease has been correlated with rural farming throughout the country. He says, "Symptoms of neurological impairment can range from drowsiness, depression, dizziness and confusion, to death. Pesticides can also cause immune system malfunctions. In 1980, the Environmental Protection Agency set up a SuperFund Program to dispose of 1,200 toxic waste locations that were 'potentially injurious' to man. In ten years, only 50 of these sites have been cleaned up. At the present rate, it will take another 230 years to dispose of the 1,150 remaining except that since 1990, there have been another 32,000 such waste dumps classified as potentially hazardous! Is there any wonder why we are faced with the challenges of polluted bodies!

In our continuing research, we have found many diseases DIRECTLY related to the toxic presence of chemicals and metals, not only identified with tremor-illnesses, but associated with severe allergic response and anti-immune diseases. (Sharma 1981)

THE MERCURY CULPRIT

Mercury poisoning, among others, often has several of the characteristics of Parkinson's: shakiness in the hands, feet, head, along with the twitching of the face, numbness and tingling in the extremities. It has, similarly, been associated with Candidiases, Epstein Barr, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFID) and occasionally, Fibromyalgia. In "God Helps Those That Help Themselves", by Hannah Kroeger., Edmund Fink says, "Mercury poisoning can cause damage to the basic ganglia of the brain which can make 'Parkinson-like symptoms.' Mercury can cause coarse, jerky movements, gross in coordination and can interfere with precise movements such as writing and eating." Although dental amalgams in the past have been considered safe, many are known to have generated allergic reactions, usually in the form of skin rashes. Of even greater concern are the cases of immune suppression and numerous toxic effects. One dentist experimentally removed amalgam fillings from three patients and observed an increase in the proportion of T-cells. When the amalgam was restored, the T-cell percentages dropped again. This study suggests that an amalgam filling chronically depresses these vital fighting cells in the immune system. (Eggleston 1984). (Reduced T-cell percentages increase the risk of cancer, other infectious and anti-immune diseases.)

PLEASE NOTE: Nickel, a known carcinogen (cancer-producing) metal, is also used in dental work and likewise has an adverse effect on T-cell percentages. (Maximum Immunity by Michael A. Weiner, Ph. D.)

THE ALUMINUM CULPRIT

In the Harvard Health Letter, (Oct. 1990, Vol 15, No. 11), studies found that "Aluminum accumulates in lesions in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. It builds up in degenerating nerve fibers (neurotic plaques) and shriveled filaments inside the cells (neurofibrary tangles).

According to Louise Gittleman in HOW TO STAY YOUNG AND HEALTHY IN A TOXIC WORLD, The major areas where aluminum accumulates is in the brain, kidneys, and GI tract. And in his book, FIGHTING RADIATION, Steve Schnechter, N.D. not only indicates aluminum's connection with Alzheimer's, depression, constipation and Schiziphrenia, but says "Like many of the other environmental toxins, aluminum has cumulative effects in the human body - what started out at age fifteen as occasional headaches may by age fifty be Parkinson's disease." He adds that people who eat animal foods such as meats, poultry, and dairy are regularly ingesting higher concentrations of aluminum.

THE ARSENIC CULPRIT

Arsenic exposure causes numbness of the limbs and loss of coordination as part of its long list of symptoms. It is found in heavy industrial areas in the air, water, pesticides, and insecticides and is associated with Epilepsy, Arthritis, and Arteriosclerosis. (Arsenic and Your Environment, Dr. Bara Fischer, 1986).

THE LEAD CULPRIT

Pesticides, paint, water and a long list of domestic products commonly contain lead and long exposure to it leads to tremors, twitching of the face muscles, jerking of the limbs, confusion, mania, seizures; a tremendous list of symptoms. The metal affects more than 1.7 million young children. In 1991, lead poisoning was referred to as the most common and socially devastating environmental disease of young children. Even in small amounts, lead poisoning damages children's brains, slowing their mental capacities and lowering their intelligence level. Note particularly, that it is directly associated with Epilepsy and kidney cancer.

THE CADMIUM CULPRIT

Cadmium, like, is dangerously pervasive in our air, food, and water and is also a cumulative poison that can cause a wide range of toxicity symptoms. A principal source is again, the pesticides. Significant amounts are found in cigarette smoke. Other common sources are smoke from burning of wastes, wood, garbage, etc.; industrial effluents, plastics, fertilizers, auto exhaust, refined foods, coffee, and be forewarned: The first water out of the tap each day, hot tap water, and water from galvanized or black plastic pipes contain cadmium. It is also associated with hypertension (high blood pressure).

THE FLUORINE/FLUORIDE CULPRIT

The Parkinson's-like tremors are, likewise, also associated with the toxic substance, Fluorine/Fluoride. It particularly affects the kidneys and promotes low blood pressure. It causes the muscles to become flabby and degenerated. Fluoride destroys our will to live! "Many commercial toothpastes contain cavity-fighting fluoride. Each one of these tubes contains 1,000 - 2,000 mgs. of fluoride, enough to kill a small child who might eat the whole contents." (Journal of Pediatrics 1987) People taking tablets containing one-half of one milligram of fluoride per day (the amount found in 1 to 2 pints of fluoridated water) can expect to experience: Black tar-like stools, stiffness, bloody vomit, diarrhea, faintness, nausea and vomiting, shallow breathing, stomach cramps or pain, tremors, unusual excitement, unusual increase in saliva, watery eyes, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite, pain and aching bones, skin rash, and sores in the mouth and on the lips. (US Pharmacopia Volumes on Drug Information 1983 quotes Hannah Kroeger's book, GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES.)

THE INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS CULPRIT

Seven children in Woburn, MA died of leukemia because of industrial chemicals in their drinking water. (A CIVIL ACTION by Jonathon Harr). Children seem more susceptible to these toxic chemicals than adults. Virtually all industrial pollutions, metals, chemicals, pesticides, insecticides play a major role in depressing and breaking down our immune system and are the source of 85% - 95% of all diseases. (Dr. Bara H. Fischer, 1986, On Arsenic In your Environment.)

THE POLLUTION SOLUTION

In recent years, alternative means of protecting or ridding the body from these toxic poisons has begun to prove a natural means of protecting us from these hazards.

RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS
- Get a reputable water filter and a well designed air ionizer for your home and your office. The air and water elements are of extreme importance in generating a poisonous-free lifestyle.

- TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR RESEARCH. Start clearing toxic poisonous substance from your body. Great success has been achieved with very special clay baths where the poisons are magnetically (naturally) pulled from your body. The metals in your system are naturally positively charged which means that our negatively charged clay formulae automatically attract the metals and chemicals, pulling the injurious substances out through your pores to bind with the clay and its various herbs and spices. (PLEASE NOTE: There are several hundred types of clay. Most of them do not have the magnetic action we have found in ours.)
- Environmental Detox Clay Bath: assists in removing industrial and chemical poisons including DDT, lead, pesticides, insecticides, vaccination poisons and radiation.
- Arsenic Detox Clay Bath: assists in clearing arsenic.
- Aluminum Detox Clay Bath: assists in removing aluminum and other metals.
- Mercury/Dental Detox Clay Bath: assists in removing mercury.
- Smoker's/Drug Detox Clay Bath: assists in removing numerous chemicals and drugs found in tobacco, smoke; especially cadmium.
- Tox-Away assists in clearing radiation, Lead, Acid Rain, & toxic metals.
- Clear-Out assists in cleaning situations associated with metal and chemical toxicity.

FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE

We suggest the Environmental Detox Clay Bath to remove the pesticides and in certain cases, the Dental/Mercury Detox Bath. We also suggest your checking on the Manganese in your diet! In Louise Gittleman's book, HOW TO LIVE LONGER AND STAY HEALTHY IN A TOXIC WORLD: "Manganese is essential to the formation of certain enzymes, helps the reproductive system, assists in blood sugar regulation and supports ligaments, discs, and bones. IN EXCESS, however, manganese can be toxic and develop 'manganese madness'. The initial symptoms include exhaustion, a trance-like hypnotic state, tremendous irritability and erratic behavior with wild emotional swings, hallucinations and impotence. Some develop symptoms resembling those of Parkinson's disease," says Louise. Too much manganese may be a big clue to check out for Parkinson's and related tremor diseases. According to Hannah Kroeger, Master Herbalist, sage herb is excellent for reducing salivation in Parkinson's disease.

DIETS FOR PARKINSON'S

"A diet of fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products and fluids to promote good digestion. Soft or pureed foods to ease swallowing. If taking levodopa, cut back on high protein foods." (Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal by Reader's Digest) A periodic cleansing diet is a simple 3-day diet using green beans, zucchini, parsley, and celery. Check out our section on recipes & also refer to the Toxic Metal Level Chart listing the toxic metals associated with various diseases and the antidotes that assist in eliminating the metals or chemicals.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WITHOUT YOUR GETTING RID OF THE METALS AND CHEMICALS IN YOUR BODY THE DISEASES WILL CONTINUE TO BE CHRONIC. THE BODY CANNOT HEAL ITSELF. YOU HAVE TO HELP! THEY MUST BE REMOVED!
Source: http://www.magneticclay.com/parkinsons.php

Environmental Clay Bath Detox

We want to know about all sorts of substances useful in the management of radiation detoxification, so we now come to the topic of edible clays.

Clays are particularly known for their ability to remove toxic metals from the air, water, and soil because of their unusual structure of “pores” (channels and holes) that allows them to absorb huge amounts of contaminant materials.

Toxic gases, chemicals, mold, heavy metals, and other toxins are drawn by the natural negative electrical charge into the crystal micro pores of the clay. The unique structure of clay provides literally millions of pores or sieves - “shape-selective catalysts” - that catch only molecules small enough to fir into the cavities while excluding larger molecules.

The unique structure of clays therefore gives them unusual filtering capabilities for absorbing toxic wastes, including radioactive contaminants. In just one gram of Zeolite clay, for instance, the three dimensional structure of the channels in its crystalline structure provide up to several hundred square meters of surface area on which absorption (and channel reactions) can take place. The Zeolites are particularly useful for removing heavy metals and radioactive species from water.

While you can take an Epson salt or Clorox bath, you can also take a radiation detox bath of Zeolite clay that’s formulated with special herbs for the process.

Clay has been used as a medium for air filters and water filters for ages. It is environmentally friendly for waste dumpsites and has been used as a filter medium not only for the removal of heavy chemical toxins and heavy metals such as iron, zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper from individuals but for the removal of radioactive wastes. Clay has been successfully for the extraction of radionuclides from human beings and animals as well.

All nuclear waste is mixed with Zeolite clay before packaging and stored underground because it helps prevent radioactivity from seeping into the ground after prolonged storage. Surprisingly, the Zeolites are stable even under the highest levels of radiation, a fact proven after the fissions reactor meltdowns at both Three Mile Island and Chernobyl where Zeolites were used to mop up the waste caused by the accidents.
The British Nuclear Fuels (BNF) also uses a specific type of Zeolite clay to remove radioactive strontium and cesium - 137 and, therefore, reduces the radioactivity of liquid waste discharged into the Irish Sea. The Hanford, Washington nuclear weapons facilities are lined with clay to prevent contamination. A Swedish study showed another kind of Zeolite could decontaminate live animals and meat affected by the Chemobyl disaster.

Most people know about the dietary or edible clays (Bentonite, Kaolin, Red Clay (Morocco), Fuller’s Earth, French Green clay, Montmorillonite, etc.) and in particular Bentonite clay, which is often part of colonic detoxification regimes because it can absorb heavy metals and contaminants in the intestines.
There are over 200 different types of Bentonite clay, and the problem with many of these Bentonites is that they have extremely high aluminum content. So you don’t want to be ingesting the clay without knowing what is in it. Years ago the same problem existed with various colloidal mineral solutions in that they were choked full of alumina and heavy metals that people were ingesting. Some Bentonite clays are composed of 65-75% aluminum!

Putting that particular concern aside, the composition of the Bentonite clay particles creates a large surface area in proportion to the volume of the clay and the greater the surface area, the greater its power to pick up positively charged particles or toxins (including heavy metals) and to suck them out of the body.

I’m told that Russian scientists used Bentonite clay to protect their bodies from radiation when working with nuclear materials. What I heard is ingenious. They would first coat their hands and bodies with hydrated Bentonite mush mixture before donning radiation suits, and presumably the clay would help trap and stray radiation particles. Afterwards they would just wash it off.

Bentonite absorbs radiation after chemnobyl in other countries was so great that livestock kept out in some areas were deemed not eatable at the radiation level. By feeding the cattle Bentonite for some time before “harvesting,” farmers were able to get the level down to normal and acceptable levels.

U.S. Army studies also show that Bentonite may be a successful treatment for exposure to chemical warfare and one Army emergency livestock protocol calls for immediate administration for Bentonite internally to counter effects of radiation poisoning in livestock. As a side comment, I have also seen recipes for dogs and cats composed of water, aloe vera juice, powdered dulse or kelp, Brewer’s yeast, apple cider, ground rosemary and vitamin E that are recommended as a radiation detox cocktail, too.

Bentonite will bind and take out a great number of nasty stuff from anything living, but you have to be careful about using clays for baths or internal consumption that have a high aluminum content.

LL’s Magnetic Clay Baths has a superior Environmental Detox Bath, composed of Bentonite clay with very trace amounts of aluminum content and are used for heavy metal detox and also to remove radiation. As with all clays, the more you use, the quicker you tend to detox. The Environmental Detox Bath is another possibility for heavy metal detoxification that is stronger than Zeo-Rad Bath, and is usually taken just once a week.

Internal clays have been used for a detoxification supplement for hundreds of years to remove disease symptoms. It has the ability to remove toxic metals and chemical residues, bacteria, and blood toxins with virtually no side effects of constipation, diarrhea, or stomach cramping and is also known to remove radiation, arsenic, lead, mercury, and aluminum amid other toxic metals in less than six weeks. It’s said that after the meltdown of the Chemobyl Soviet nuclear power plant in 1986, the Soviet Union put French Green clay in chocolate bars and dispensed them freely to the masses to remove radiation they may have been exposed to.

Whether it was truly French Green clay or Zeolite or Bentonite clay I cannot confirm, but the point is that clay ban be consumed for internal detoxification of radioactive particles because it tends to trap the particles in the gut, which is what has been known to do for centuries. The problem with most French Green clays is the frequently high aluminum content once again, which most people do not check for yet which can create problems for environmentally sensitive people.

If I had to ingest an internal clay, I would use a very pure pascalite clay for internal detoxification consumption, or Aulterra clay when available. Aulterra Clay, which you can buy from www.spirtsupplements.com is also said to assist in the removal of the effects of radiation. You only need a few capsules or one teaspoon in a glass of water for internal detoxification purposes.

So there you have it - another way to help detox after radioactive exposure is to eat the consumable clays which will bind radioactive particles in your intestine. This is done for livestock, and the consumption of clays has been used for centuries to help remove toxins from the body. It certainly won’t hurt, and offers the potential to trap some materials, especially when other alternatives are not available.

One more thing - a few more words on clay baths…

In Using Energy to Heal, Wendall Hoffman claims that a special Bentonite clay used in a bath can actually draw out toxic chemicals through pores of the skin and after many experiments, he came to the same conclusions as Hazel Parcells in that the optimum results are obtained by soaking in a tub of very warm water mixed with a special Bentonite clay for 20 minutes!

For a clay bath to be of any use, not just any clay will do. There are hundreds of different Bentonite clays - ranging from health store brands such as AZTEC Healing Clay to expensive green clays - and each one has different chemical compositions and purposes. Many clays sold at health food stores contain chemical emulsifiers, defeating the whole purpose of the bath and many clays are very high in aluminum. Bentonite clays can vary tremendously in their ability to pull out toxic metals and chemicals.

Which one is best?

Without studies in front of me, all I can tell you is that specially formulated clay baths have been shown to be able to literally pull pollutants out like a magnet, getting rid of years of toxic accumulation in just one bath. Usually you’ll see dark residue in the clay after the very first time you use it in a bath, and people normally take 6-10 baths (once per week) for regular detoxification purposes.

Detoxification symptoms are less than from internal chelation methods, and results can happen much more quickly. These clay baths have been scientifically proven to release toxic metals and chemicals from the body, and they are so inexpensive that anyone can afford to take them.

Source: http://www.magneticclay.com/radiation_clays.php

Leptin Prescription

READERS SUMMARY:
1.  How do I start?
2.  What are the guidelines to remain mindful of?
3.  The fuel is the food, but how you eat that fuel is more important
4.  How does Leptin tie into the quilt survivability index?

I have been asked by many to put a short post out about how I reverse Leptin resistance in my own clinic for my patients.  After reading all of the comments left here, at MDA, and on Jimmy Moore’s forum, I decided that it was a good idea.

1.  First make sure you really are Leptin resistant (LR) to begin with.
The easiest way to do this if you are heavy is to look in the mirror.  If you’re overweight you definitely are Leptin resistant.  If you still have a large appetite and crave carbohydrates, especially at night, these are also signs that you are likely Leptin resistant.  If you are fit or in decent shape and not sure based upon the above symptoms, I would tell you to go get a blood test and check your reverse T3.  It will be elevated.  I also recommend simultaneously checking a salivary cortisol level.  With LR, you will always see higher cortisol levels later in the day.

2.  To regain Leptin Sensitivity (LS) follow a strict Paleolithic diet as outlined in The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf or The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson.
The type of fuel you eat is important in eliminating the foods that cause Leptin receptors to become nonfunctional.  These two books clearly outline a solid reference point to achieve this.

A.  Try to eat as soon as possible upon rising in the AM, ideally within 30 minutes of waking.  Make sure that breakfast has little to no carbs (less than 50 grams), and has a lot of protein and fat.  I use as a general rule 50-75 grams of protein with most patients.  Some patients can use less and some need more.  The key point of knowing how much is right for you is your hunger later in the day.  If you remain ravenous throughout the day, you need to eat more protein in the AM.  If you can hold off eating until dinner you probably are at homeostasis for you.  If you can skip both meals you likely are overdoing it at breakfast.  As for sources, I suggest pastured or organic eggs first, served with left over dinner scraps of grass fed meats, poultry, or fish. A third option, although less ideal, would be whey protein or protein shakes.

B. Try to limit carb intake to 25 grams if you are overweight by more than 30 lbs.  If you are fit and have a small amount of weight to lose, (less than 30 lbs.) you can titrate up your carb loads.  Even then, I do not advocate potatoes or rice as some Paleo diets allow for.  You will be able to eat them eventually, but try to avoid starches until you have mastered your cravings and hunger.  Do not count calories; it is not needed at this point.  Any time I eat carbs I use liberal amounts of butter, heavy cream, coconut or palm oil.  I do not recommend other oils initially such as olive oils or industrial seed oils.  I would also avoid nut oils at the initial stages.  My personal favorite is coconut oil because of the great metabolic effects of MCT, and how it helps heal the guts of LR folks.

3.  How you eat your fuel is MORE IMPORTANT than any other factor, including the food itself.
A.  Never snack at all.  This is meant initially and forever.  Snacking completely stresses the liver’s metabolism and is just not recommended.  Your liver needs to re-learn how to use gluconeogenesis normally again when you are asleep and awake.  Snacking just destroys the timing and circadian clocks that work in unison with Leptin.
B.  Try to eat three meals a day initially; but as your hunger and cravings fade you can adapt to two a day.
C.  Try to eat breakfast as early as possible from rising.
D.  Do not work out before or after breakfast.
E.  Try to allow 4-5 hours between dinners and sleep time.
F.  If you decide to incorporate working out, do it after 5 PM.
G.  Within an hour of sunset try to make your surroundings as dark as possible.
H. If you have trouble falling asleep I suggest 3-5 minutes of body weight exercises right before bed (pushups or air squats are fine, but avoid this if your PM cortisol is high).
I.  If you’re inclined to, try becoming mindful when you first lay down.  I use transcendental meditation techniques to help me clear my mind and concentrate on improving my thinking.  (Optional; but this is awesome if your PM cortisol is high).

4.  Most people will notice a change in their cravings and hunger within 4-6 weeks. 
Other changes I advise of my patients, is to supplement with prescription grade fish oils.  The dose depends upon their HS CRP and salivary cortisol levels.

5.  Signs that you are becoming Leptin Sensitive (LS) again
A. Men will notice quick weight loss.
B. Women will notice mood changes first (calmer/sleepy) and their sleep will improve.  Their clothes will fit differently but weight may not change drastically initially because of effects on the pituitary.  This will change too if they continue moving forward.
C. You will notice a change in your sweating pattern.
D. You will notice you have better recovery from exercise and your energy levels seem to have risen.
E. Your hunger is gone and so are your cravings.
F. When you awaken you will feel very refreshed like you slept well.
Generally when the signs are all present, I then really push HIIT exercise with heavy weights.

6.  (QUILT SURVIVABILITY) = (Total Energy – Growth and immunity expense) X (RESOURCES) X (efficiency) X (awareness of our environment).
Stated in levee form where:
Cell longevity = LS – IGF-1 + immunity X Food Quality X leakiness of Mitochondria X environmental cues

Source: http://jackkruse.com/my-leptin-prescription/

Note: I've been considering following one these two dietary protocols: Paleo Diet or Primal Blueprint? I am leaning towards Primal Blueprint. Reason: primal Blueprint allows for good fats such as Coconut oil, and butter. Yes, butter, maybe Paula Deen is onto something, Interestingly enough, The Paleo Diet allows for diet soda and Canola oil, two items on the food list which I do not ingest nor stock in my kitchen pantry - and that is my choice and opinion only. I personally use extra virgin olive oil, small amounts of flax seed oil, coconut oil for baking and animal fats (lard or butter) for frying on occasion. 

Mobile Fluoride Vans to Target Communities...

(NaturalNews) Back in October, the Pinellas County, Fla., Commission voted 4 – 3 to stop adding artificial fluoride chemicals to the county’s municipal water supply, which serves roughly 700,000 residents (http://www.naturalnews.com/033801_f…). But now local health officials are suggesting that the county purchase a mobile fluoride van as an alternative, which would drive around town and administer fluoride and other conventional dental services directly to children.

Believe it or not, the St. Petersburg Timesreports that the Pinellas County Commission will soon vote on whether or not to purchase this mobile fluoride van for $532,339 in taxpayer funds, which is more than twice the $205,000 a year the county has been spending to purchase fluoride chemicals for the water supply. The Commission had asked the county’s Health and Human Services department to come up with a new way to use the $205,000 for other dental purposes, and the mobile fluoride van was their proposal. “There’s no way I’m going to support a $532,000 item,” said Commissioner John Morroni, who was one of the members who voted in favor of ending water fluoridation. “You can buy a lot of toothpaste and help the dentists disburse it.”

Morroni is right, of course — if the county is persistent in making sure as many children as possible are fluoridated, there are much less expensive ways to distribute it than to purchase a half-million-dollar van. But the van’s proponents say it is the “most efficient option” for making sure children do not escape getting their fluoride.

Never has it been proven that consuming fluoride in any way helps improve teeth, though, despite what health officials claim. And adding fluoride chemicals to water, which is their preferred method, is a very poor method of delivery even if the chemical did help teeth. This is because 99 percent or more of flouride ends up on lawns or flowing down the drain, rather than actually being ingested.

There is also no way to regulate the ingestion of the so-called “optimum” level of fluoride because individuals drink varying amounts of fluoridated water, and are also exposed to it in unknown amounts through their skin whenever they wash their hands or take a shower. In other words, water fluoridation is one of the most unscientific, unsubstantiated, and ridiculous “public health” schemes to ever be devised, and it is nothing more than forced medication of the masses.

Be sure to check out the laundry list of diseases and health conditions that can develop as a result of fluoride exposure:
Author: Ethan Huff/NaturalNews
Source: http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/

Foods Containing B17 (Nitrilosides)

Vitamin B17 appears in abundance in untamed nature. Because B17 is bitter to the taste, in man's attempt to improve tastes and flavors for his own pleasure, he has eliminated bitter substances like B17 by selection and cross-breeding. It can be stated as a general rule that many of the foods that have been domesticated still contain the vitamin B17 in that part not eaten by modem man, such as the seeds in apricots. Listed below is an evaluation of some of the more common foods. Keep in mind that these are averages only and that specimens vary widely depending on variety, locale, soil, and climate.

Fruits Range*
blackberry, domestic low
blackberry, wild high
boysenberry med.
choke cherry high
wild crabapple high
market cranberry low
Swedish (lignon) cranberry high
currant med.
elderberry med. to high
gooseberry. med.
huckleberry med.
loganberry med.
mulberry med.
quince med.
raspberry med.

Seeds Range*
apple seeds high
apricot seed high
buckwheat med.
cherry seed high
flax med.
millet med.
nectarine seed high
peach seed high
pear seeds high
plum seed high
prune seed high
squash seeds med.

Beans Range*
black low
black-eyed peas low
fava high
garbanzo low to med.
green pea low
kidney low to med.
lentils med.
lima, U.S. low
lima, Burma med.
mung med. to high
shell low

Nuts (all raw) Range*
bitter almond high
cashew low
macadamia med. to high

Sprouts Range*
alfalfa med.
bamboo high
fava med.
garbanzo med.
mung med.

Leaves Range*
alfalfa high
beet tops low
eucalyptus high
spinach low
water cress low

Tubers Range*
cassava high
sweet potato low
yams low

Range*

High:  above 500 mgs. nitriloside per 100 grams food

Medium:  above 100 mgs. per 100 grams food

Low:  below 100 mgs. per 100 grams food