APRIL 6-7, 2019 BLACK TEA

Do you consume black tea ? Some examples of black tea are Assam, Darjeeling and even Earl Grey A study has shown that balck tea showed a reduction in low density lipoprotein ( LDL) and triglycerides and a significant increase in the high density lipoprotein ( good cholesterol ) when administered black tea polyphenols. The black tea polyphenols are theaflavins and thearubigins. A cardiac risk factor which is well known is homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine is associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It has been found out that there is a link between high homocysteine levels and drinking black tea among patients with hypertension. I found this very interesting., Those who drank oolong or white tea did not have high homocysteine levels.

More interesting was a study found that combining black tea with the chemotherapy drug cisplatin had a synergistic benefit to killing cancers cells in patients with ovarian cancer. This can be used for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. There are many studies on the benefit of polyphenols and its positive effect on cancers.

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 5, 2019 THE GUT BRAIN CONNECTION

If you didn’t know your gut health is linked to how you feel—you have not kept up with the literature in the last 5 years. There is a gut-brain connection as many of the neurotransmitters in the brain are sent to the brain via the gut pathways. New research now provides more evidence that the gut microbiome may play a role in the etiology of Alzheimer’s Disease ( AD)

Studies have proven that there is an association between change int he gut microbiome produced bile acids and AD related structural biomarkers, as well as CSF biomarkers of amyloid. This supports the theory that bile acids pathways are important in AD.

I hope that this new research with lead to new therapies on using gut microbiome to help AD

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 4, 2019 MOLD

Exposure to mold can result in sinus issues, congestion or a sore throat or sometimes it can be very severe as causing alopecia( hair loss), malaise and fatigue and aches in the joints. For those patients with mold sensitivities or genetic predisposition ( especially if you have a MTHFR gene), being tested for exposure to mycotoxins can help you better understand how these toxins affect your body. Not all mycotoxin testing is available in every state.

I utilize Great Plains Laboratory at my office in tIhe state of Connecticut. The office is the Connecticut Integrative Medical Center in Fairfield. There is some tests that be ordered by the physician and sent to the patient’s home. This is done by Green Works Environmental . There are two panels- a urine test for mycotoxins which tests for the presence of Ochratoxin A, Aflatoxin Group, Macrocyclic Trichothcenes and Gliotoxin. There is also a blood test via Ig E and IgG which is a modified RAST test to detect specific IgE antibodies to a variety of allergens. The later could be covered under your health insurance. The first test which is urine is not usually covered by insurance.

I feel mycotoxin testing is essential for a work up for patients with a variety of symptoms.

Consult you health care practitioner today

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 3, 2019 HEALTH BENEFITS OF TEA

We do not drink enough tea in this country. In China tea was the first beverage made and around 2700 BC. It is the second most common beverage consumed in the world. The most popular is Green tea (Camilla sinensis)which is an evergreen shrub with strongly scented flowers. Today China produces 38 % of the world’s tea followed by India and then Kenya. China consumes 1.6 million ton of tea and only 127.000 tons consumed in the United States. So you see we need to consume more tea. There are six types of tea from C. sinensis: White, Green, Yellow, Black, Oolong and Pu’erh. Each of these tea have other names. For example Green can be called Sencha, Matcha or even Dragon Well.

Green tea has a positive effect of coronary artery disease and stroke due to its content of flavinoids. Total intake of flavonoids is associated with a lower risk of CAD. Flavinoids affect flow mediated dilation thus lowering blood pressure. We believe that tea drinking may enhance endothelium dependent vasodilation. In animal studies it was found that green tea protects against lead and cadmium oxidative stress.

The benefits of green tea goes well beyond the positive effects on the cardiovascular system. It has been studied and research for its positive effects on neurodegenerative disease, cancer and kidney disease.

Until tomorrow

APRIL 2, 2019 SUPER FOODS FOR INFLAMMATION

Your immune system triggers some physical reactions which are caused by inflammation in response to a physical injury or an infection. Inflammation is at the root of most disease including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease.

Foods high in sugar and saturated fat are linked to inflammation - so STOP these foods

The following foods are some examples of foods to be CONSUMED

One food, bell peppers especially the bright-red ones are low in starch and high in antioxidants. Sweet bell peppers which are similar to spicy peppers contain the chemical compound called capsaicin that helps you reduce inflammation

The high fat found in mackerel and sardines helps fight disease which are related to inflammation like Alzheimer’s and heart disease. This fish is also a great source of vitamins D and B12

Spinach is a great source of vitamin E which protects your body from inflammation-causing molecules that are called cytokines

Stop your inflammation by eating these foods and many more

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 1, 2019 MUSHROOMS

Mushrooms have extraordinary health benefits. I feel these are superfoods and should be implemented into a dietary regimen with the highest regard. Mushrooms are the most health promoting food on this planet. More than 50 % of edible mushrooms are considered functional food meaning they have a positive or beneficial effect on our health

There are many peer view studies and research articles proving that mushrooms can prevent and treat some serious health conditions as cancer, autoimmune disease and memory issues.

Mushrooms improve a person’s overall health. Research has identified more than 200 health conditions that benefit from mushroom consumption.

I recommend reading books my Paul Stammetts, as Mycelium Running as well as Kuo - “ 100 Edible Mushrooms. “

Until tomorrow…

MARCH 30-31, 2019 HONEY

The health benefits of raw, unprocessed honey are well known, but in Australia, scientists made a startling discovery – that one particular, obscure type of honey is capable of killing just about everything scientists throw at it, including some of the worst bacteria known to man.

The findings were published in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and Frontiers in Microbiology , and could hold special significance at a time when many of the world’s top antibiotics are failing, especially against resistant “superbugs.”

The honey in question is known as Manuka Honey, which is produced in New Zealand and also goes by the name of jelly bush honey. It originates from the Manuka bush ( Lepospermum scoparium )

There are many research articles that site the benefits of honey for wound healing. There are light colored, medium colored and dark colored honey, Manuka is a dark colored honey like Buckwheat ( from New York and Minnesota)

Honey has been used medicinally for cough/colds, hangovers and ulcers. Some use honey to make Mead . Mead is essentially honey and water with added yeast, yeast nutrition, tannin and citric acid

Until tomorrow…

MARCH 29, 2019 FIBER AND MORE FIBER

There are many guidelines printed discussing the increasing consumption of vegetables, fruit and whole grains. There are few regarding sources of dietary fiber and starch. Everyone talks about the carbohydrate intake. This was told to me for years when working closely with the late Robert Atkins MD .One should realize that the different carbohydrates as sugar , starches and fibers perform different roles in the body. It is not that simplistic to the total amount of carbohydrates. Much needs to be considered.

So more studies need to be done. Also the clinical outcomes were studied using systematic reviews and meta analysis of all prospective studies up to April 2017

A lot of information was obtained. In a nutshell ( no pun intended) those eating more dietary fiber and whole grains protects against noncommunicable diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke , type II diabetes and cancer, specifically colon cancer. A simple increase in whole grains changed outcomes. For every 15 gram of increase in whole grains there was a 2%to 19% decrease in incidence of coronary heart disease, type II diabetes and colorectal cancer

Until tomorrow…