MAY 3, 2019 PROTEIN DRINKS
Many consumers use protein powdered shakes as well as many are prescribed by functional medicine physicians. Extra protein about 30 - 50 grams from a powdered drink can help athletes buiuld muscle, as well as help other individuals prevent age related loss of muscle. There are many type sof protein drinks on the market- There are whey, casein, soy, pea, hemp, egg, and brown rice. Whey is the most commonly used . I have seen some dairy sensitive patients have a problem with whey protein. I usually prescribe pea or hemp protein
Patients tend to ask me What brand? of protein shake I would use or recommend. There are many on the market., I do that Consumer Labs selected some to be reviewed. 20 % of what they selected failed to pass the tests. This was discouraging. I recommend Sun Warrior and Total Vegan I do not recommend one as a meal replacement unless it is medically prescribed. There are some on the market by experienced nutraceutical companies that have vitamins, minerals and other supplements in their protein shake. These companies can be Metagenics , or Orthomolecular One of the most popular consumer shakes was mentioned in the Consumer Lab Review. This was Shakeology. It received an overall good rating and content
Studies do show that increasing protein in the way of a shake without exercise does NOT help build muscle or increase strength. If you already consume ample protein the additional protein won’t help
Consult with your health care provider
Until tomorrow….
MAY 2, 2019 WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS
There are many supplements that have been touted to weight loss. The loist is large. Some of these can include, Hoodie ( from the cactus like plant, Hoodie gordonii), ephedra, bitter orange, chromium and much more
The amount of evidence that supports the various weight loss ingredients varies so much. For example 7 Keto DHEA is used as a weight loss supplement but there are only short term clinical studies found. Bitter orange when used orally contains a stimulant which can help. This stimulant, synephrine also can cause hypertension and tachycardia.
Raspberry ketones have been touted to cause weight loss in people by promoting fat breakdown. Sounds good . There are no weight loss studies in humans, only mice. It is safe as a food additive, but no studies as a supplement.
There is lack of information on many of these weight loss supplements. What happened to exercise and dietary changes in one’s lifestyle.
Until tomorrow…
MAY 1, 2019 VITAMIN D
The pivotal role of Vitamin D in calcium homeostasis is well established and accepted. We do know that Vitamin D has an anti inflammatory and immune modulating effects. We also know that vitamin D receptors are present in many tissues including the heart
From observing and reading current studies I think we have to say this- we do know that a low vitamin level of 30 -0 50 is associated with some mortality. There are some studies that are less consistent with this belief
There are randomized trial of vitamin D having no role of the effect of cardiovascular risk factors as arterial stiffness, blood pressure and intimal lining thickness. After reviewing a study published in Clinical Endocrinology Journal in January 2018, there is a statement that must be seriously taken into account
In this Australian cohort study, baseline Vitamin D below 55 are predictive of all cause mortality cardiovascular death and heart failure.
Period.
Until tomorrow…
APRIL 30, 2019 DOG ROSE FOR UTI
Re: Dog Rose for the Prevention of Postpartum Urinary Tract Infections
Seifi M, Abbasalizadeh S, Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi S, Khodaie L, Mirghafourvand M. The effect of Rosa (L. Rosa canina) on the incidence of urinary tract infection in the puerperium: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Phytother Res. January 2018;32:76-83. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5950.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs), inflammatory responses of squamous urinary tract tissue to bacteria, are divided into asymptomatic bacteriuria and symptomatic UTIs including cystitis and pyelonephritis. Higher risks of UTIs exist for pregnant and post-partum women, elders, children, and patients with spinal cord injury, catheterization, AIDs or HIV, or underlying urological disorders. Among post-partum women, prevalence of UTIs for 40 days following delivery range from 3-17%. Endogenous or exogenous factors may cause UTIs, with catheterization during Caesarean section (CS), a major exogenous risk. A systematic review reported that restricting unindicated catheterization reduced incidence of UTIs by 53%. The prevalence of CS in Iran is on average three times that of other countries. It has been recommended that all women undergoing CS be given prophylactic antibiotics. Herbal medicines may offer alternatives. Dog rose (Rosa canina, Rosaceae) fresh fruit (rosehip) has about 880 mg/100 mL antioxidant vitamin C and total phenolic content of about 96 GAE/g dry weight. Dog rose also contains several minerals. Its antibacterial activity is mostly attributed to the flavonoid quercetin. Quercetin inhibits bacteria including Escherichia coli, the most common UTI agent. This triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) is the first of the effects of dog rose on incidence of post-partum UTI in women who have undergone CS
Other clinical studies of the effect of vitamin C supplementation on incidence of UTIs have had conflicting results in different populations but most of them, as well as in vitro studies, tend to support this RCT's results. Dog rose fruit powder has also been studied in osteoarthritis and irritable bowel syndrome, both with positive results. Given this RCT's findings, it is likely that administration of dog rose powder can reduce UTIs following CS. Longer studies with more frequent follow-up visits are urged.
THIS WAS RE POSTED FROM THE AMERICAN BOTANICAL COUNCIL ARTICLE IN HERBALGRAM
Join the American Botanical Council today
Until tomorrow…
APRIL 29, 2019 A DETOX PROTOCOL
So you want to clean your slate. You can do it with a Detoxification protocol. There are many detox protocols given out by integrative doctors. Some of them work and some do not. Some of them such as a Master Cleanse will work but not many individuals can drink 1 gallon of salt water, lemon, cayenne and strap B molasses. There is the fat flush program also.
Then there are countless detox programs on the internet or in the hundred and one newsletters you receive. Everyone touts their own.
I do not !
Many of used the Hu-Mana Tea, a formula used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
I know patients who have used this formula during their bout with cancer and even as a prevention. I have seen remarkable results. I did not know what the protocol name was but I knew the herbs in the protocol as these 4 herbs are commonly known Western Herbs.
These are:
1. Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra )
2. Burdock Root (Arctium lappa)
3. Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
4. Turkey Rhubarb (Rheum officinale) In Chinese, "da huang"
The three herbs other than Slippery Elm are Old World Medicinal Plants.
Only one of these herbs is mentioned in James Duke's Medicinal Plants from the Bible:
Sheep Sorrel.
"The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs." Numbers 9:11 (KJV)
"And the cattle and full grown asses cultivating the ground will eat fodder seasoned with sorrel." Isaiah 30:24 (NWT)
Until tomorrow…
APRIL 26- 28, 2019 BEE VENOM
https://www.wsj.com/articles/nyc-beekeepers-are-making-honey-but-little-money-11556029801
This past week, Ann Kadet, a writer published an article in The Wall Street Journal. It discussed two apitherapy products from the hive, One was honey ; the other was bee venom She discussed harvesting honey from bee hives with my friend/ colleague/beekeeper Andrew Cote. Andrew sells his honey at the Green Market in Union Square and President of the NYC Beekeeper’s Association.
She discussed with me in an interview, the use of bee venom therapy. I discussed the use of bee venom over the centuries and the use in modern day medicine for a number of health conditions. Some of these conditions are autoimmune disease as arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, as well as for other autoimmune conditions and chronic Lyme Disease.
A NYC based physician, Bodog Beck, MD wrote a book called Bee Venom Therapy in 1935 published by the prestigious publisher D Appleton-Century Company. It was reissued some forty years later in 1981 by an osteopath , LA Doyle of Iowa. To date it is the stand alone book on Bee Venom.
I would encourage for all to read the article above and support your local bee keepers. I would also support the American Apitherapy Society (www.apitherapy.org) for which I am Vice president. I believe if we do not support such organizations and their efforts what was predicted by Rudolf Steiner in 1920 may happen—the disappearance of honeybees.
Until tomorrow…
APRIL 25, 2019 POTIONS
I MAKE A LOT OF POTIONS EVERY DAY. A herbal tea is an example of a potion. It is usually made with water and the leaves, or flowers are infused. If it is a decoction then the infused materials are thicker like twigs, branches and barks
The teas or potions I make are for health benefits. These are medicinal teas. I use only fresh, organic fair trade herbs I usually use 1 teaspoon for one cup of boiling water. The longer you let it simmer, the stronger the potion
For example if you have digestive problems I would encourage you to obtain GUTSY tea from Botanical Bounty
One heaping teaspoon of GUTSY tea to 1 one cup of water
Bring to a boil and pour over diffuser/ cup
Let simmer for 10 minutes
For a stronger potion let sit for another 5 minutes
Sip it throughout the morning