AUGUST 7, 2018 – HOW TO CHANGE YOUR MIND

"In my experience, psychedelic mushrooms … have the potential, if used carefully with knowledge and awareness, to be useful for developing sensitivity to the cycles of nature, to learn how we c an be in harmony with its processes." -Christopher Hobbs

These mushrooms have a variety of uses. In traditional Chinese medicine, these were used to treat a form of polyarthritis, Kashin-Beck disease, which was believed to be caused by another fungus on the grain.

You must read about these mushrooms. If you want the latest book to mention these, I would suggest none other than author Michael Pollan's new book - How to Change Your Mind. He is the best selling author of Omnivore's Dilemna, Foods Rules and In Defense of Food. My favorite book by Mr Pollan is Botany of Desire. To borrow a from a review, it is  "[a] brilliant and brave investigation into the medical and scientific revolution taking place around psychedelic drugs–and the spellbinding story of his own life-changing psychedelic experiences."

Until tomorrow...

AUGUST 6, 2018 – CHARLES C MILLER

CC Miller was a physician who gave up his practice of medicine to become one of the famous producers of comb honey. He wrote many books, but his most famous (of which I retain an original copy) is Fifty Years Among the Bees. I am not giving up my practice yet to devote time to my bees.

He was not an inventor, but there is a sugar feeder named after him.

This year, the American Apitherapy Society will be offering the Charles Mraz Course in Providence, Rhode Island on October 26 - 28, 2018. Pleaes check out www.apitherapy.org

Until tomorrow....

AUGUST 4- 6, 2018 – UNHEALTHY FOODS

Is there such a topic: Unhealthy Foods. Of course there are unhealthy foods. These are the simple carbohydrates as bread, pasta, crackers. All foods that contain simple sugars can be considered unhealthy. We know that a dietary lifestyle of simple carbohydrates will lead to diabetes and obesity which are directly linked to heart disease. So how can a sandwich at your local SUBWAY be considered healthy. Recently an article appeared comparing healthy and unhealthy choices are food chains as McDonalds, Starbucks, Subway, and many more.

The healthy choice - according to the article - at SUBWAY

is the six-inch turkey breast sandwich, which contains just 280 calories and 4.3 grams of fat (with one gram of saturated fat, 20 milligrams of cholesterol, and 760 milligrams of sodium) when served on nine-grain wheat bread. Load it up with all the vegetables you want, just stay away from the cheese and creamy dressings. The Veggie Delite, which contains just vegetables, has just 230 calories and 2.5 grams of fat.

I can only say choose wisely at these food chains.

Until tomorrow....

AUGUST 3, 2018 – MEAT SENSITIVITY

A new study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, published by the American Heart Association, reveals that plaque buildup in coronary arteries is greater in those who have an allergy to red meat. The high level of saturated fat levels in red meat has long been recognized as a contributor to heart disease, but this new study indicates that some people may have a  higher  risk for a different reason –allergenic sensitivity to meat.

Lead researcher Coleen McNamara, M.D., of the Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Virginia says, “This novel finding from a small group of subjects from Virginia raises the intriguing possibility that allergy to red meat may be an underrecognized factor in heart disease. These preliminary findings underscore the need for further clinical studies in larger populations from diverse geographic regions and additional laboratory work.”

It has long been suspected that the allergic response of the body can trigger immunological changes that might be associated with plaque buildup and artery blockages, but  no specific substance that could be tested for was known until now. The blood marker they identified is a type of antibody (immunoglobulin or IgE) that is specific to the alpha-Gal allergen.

The researchers took blood samples from 118 study  subjects  and tested for  antibodies to alpha-Gal, indicating sensitivity to red meat. Using an imaging procedure, the researchers found that the quantity of plaque was 30 percent higher in the alpha-Gal sensitized patients. The type of plaque also tended to be more structurally unstable, meaning that they have an increased likelihood of causing heart attack and stroke.  The only recognized treatment known for red meat allergy  is strict avoidance of red meat.

“While more studies are needed, the current work provides a potential new approach or target for preventing or treating heart disease in a subgroup of people who are sensitized to red meat,” said Ahmed Hasan, M.D., Ph.D.,program director in NHLBI’s Atherothrombosis & Coronary Artery Disease Branch.

From an article on NIH.gov.

Until tomorrow...

AUGUST 2, 2018 – THE FISH OIL DILEMMA

The ongoing fish oil dilemma is whether fish oils are good or bad for cardiovascular disease.

"COCHRANE an organization that compiles and evaluates medical research for the general public, released a meta-analysis – a study of studies – to determine whether or not omega-3 pills, one of the world’s most popular dietary supplements, reduced the risk of coronary heart disease. After comparing 79 trials involving 112,059 people, the researchers could find “little or no difference to risk of cardiovascular events, coronary heart deaths, coronary heart disease events, stroke or heart irregularities.”

I cannot say I agree with this. I see the points and read them carefully. I have seen patient's benefit from the use of fish oils for a variety of conditions. Who will suffer ?  The pharmaceutical industry with their product VASCEPA or the many nutraceutical companies that produce fish oil such as Nordic Naturals, Metagenics, Douglas Labs and Designs for Health.

I urge you to do your own reading . I recommend...

Paul Greenberg is the author of The Omega Principle: Seafood and the Quest for a Long Life and a Healthier Planet.

Until tomorrow... 

AUGUST 1, 2018 – SUGAR CRAVINGS

Well, the summer is nearly over but I still wanted to write about beating sugar cravings. There are many supplements I use to halt sugar cravings. These include gymnema, vandadium , bitter melon, and chromium.

The list of the following foods can beat sugar cravings. These include

1. Coconut oil - 1 tablespoon
2. A handful of spiced nuts - especially Brazil nuts as high selenium decreases cravings
3. Sauerkraut - reverses body cravings for sugar
4. Peppermint or green tea

Until tomorrow...

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JULY 31, 2018 – BRAIN TANYCYTES

What is a tanycyte? Tanycytes regulate our appetite and respond to two key amino acids found in  more than 20 different foods. 

Manipulation of tanycyte biology could provide a valuable tool for modulating hypothalamic functions such as energy uptake and expenditure in order to tackle prevalent eating disorders such as obesity and anorexia.

Adding these foods to your diet sends messages to the tanycytes which tells us we are full. Other foods can be filling but won't send these messages.

Some of the foods that make us full as they stimulate tanycytes are sesame seeds, sweet potatoes, walnuts, almonds, mackerel, archoves, plums, pistachios, avocados, figs, and much more.

More research needs to be done on foods that stimulate tanycytes.

Until tomorrow...

JULY 30, 2018 – CORALBERRY

Ardisia crenata is an evergreen shrub, native to east and southeast Asia and parts of India, which grows as an understorey forest species. It has attractive red berries, which has led it to be widely used as an ornamental plant in shady conditions. (From the Invasive Species Compendium.)

However when researching coralberry I came up with the species Symphoricarpus orbiculatus from the Honeysuckle Family. 

The species Ardisia crenata contains a substance known as FR900359 which could be used to treat bronchospasm, asthma, and several other respiratory diseases according to the University of Bonn. Some believe it could be as effective as some of the selective beta blockers for the lungs. 

More studies need to be done.

Until tomorrow...