FEBURARY 16, 2021 SPLENDA

Many people turn to artificial sweeteners in an attempt to cut calories from sugar out of their diets and lose weight. However, some of these sugar substitutes have been controversial for decades. There have been negative side effects to Sweet n Low ( pink packet) and Equal ( the blue packet ) Is there concern about Splenda ( the yellow packet )?

Before I begin I want to say it does depend on how many splenda packets you use per day.

For some people, it may raise blood sugar and insulin levels. It may also damage the bacterial environment in your gut, but this needs to be studied in humans. The safety of sucralose at high temperatures has also been questioned. You may want to avoid cooking or baking with it, as it may release harmful compounds

Splenda isn't bad for you, but it can cause some negative health effects like an increase in sugar cravings which may lead to weight gain. Some preliminary studies in animals have shown that Splenda may affect gut health and cause GI issues. An excess of Splenda may also cause you to have higher blood sugar which could lead to diabetes. If you are already a diabetic or pre diabetic I would NOT recommend using Splenda.

The FDA states — capping the recommended maximum intake at 23 packets a day, or about the equivalent of 5.5 teaspoons is safe. I total;ly disagree from what I have seen in my patinets and I have read. I would cap it at 3 packets per day.

Today most of my patients use no sugar or if they need an artifical substitute they use Truvia or better yet raw honey

Until tomorrow…

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 ASPARTAME

The main sweetener in diet soda is aspartame. It is marketed as Nutrasweet or Equal. It is the BLUE packets. Aspartame is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener used as a sugar substitute in some foods and beverages. In the European Union, it is codified as E951. Aspartame is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide. It was first sold under the brand name NutraSweet and since 2009, it also has been sold under the brand name AminoSweet. It was first synthesized in 1965 and the patent expired in 1992. There are some people who are genetically and or metabolically susceptible to the dangers of aspartame. Many do not know that aspartame is the culprit behind many of their health concerns. Imagine BEING POISONED SO SWEETLY.

Aspartame was originally approved for use in dry foods in 1974 by then FDA Commissioner Alexander Schmidt after review by theFDA'sCenter for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.Searlehad submitted 168 studies on aspartame, including seven animal studies that were considered crucial by the FDA. Today there is still a medical controversy regarding its use. The safety of aspartame has been studied extensively since its discovery with research that includes animal studies, clinical and epidemiological research, and post-marketing surveillance, with aspartame being one of the most rigorously tested food ingredients to date. I can tell you that when I ask a patient to stop ingesting aspartame, their physical and mental symptoms get better. I have no scientific proof, only clinical (patient) proof. In my limited medical experience of 17 years, I have seen patients with a multitude of symptoms get better when they stop the ingestion of Aspartame. You make your own conclusion!

dO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE YWLLOW PACKET - SPLENDA

I have seen people literally get better when they stop drinking diet soda. Those cramps, vision and hearing problems, memory loss and being overweight can be a result of consuming too much diet soda. STOP! If you are sick with anything and consume diet soda do this -- Stop drinking diet sodas. It is one of those other addictions you have. Before you grab your next soda, think about the medical downward spiral you are entering. Diet soda with aspartame interferes with your calcium absorption, your acid base balance, your kidney function and your glucose. First of all do not have any diet soda in the refrigerator. The first step is to remove the diet soda from your house. The next step is either you or the household shopper stop buying it. If these are done there is no way that the diet soda is in front of you. When you go out, think before ordering your next loaded machine gun or diet soda. There is a childhood obesity epidemic in the United States and diet soda is one of the major contributing factors.

Until tomorrow

FEBRUARY 12-14, 2021 ASTAXANTHIN

Have you heard about astaxanthin ? is a reddish pigment that belongs to a group of chemicals called carotenoids. It occurs naturally in certain algae and causes the pink or red color in salmon, trout, lobster, shrimp, and other seafood. The molecuylar structure of cartenoids make them exceptional antioxidants- which quench or remove free radicals from the body. Cartenoids also remove oxidative stress from the body.

There are human studies on astaxanthin. Studies have shown that daily use of astaxanthin have reduced triglycerides. In addition to reducing triglycverides ( a risk factor for both heart disease and diabetes), the total amount of an tioxidants increased in the body

Astaxanthin has been used in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease, stroke, high choesterol, and age related macular degeneration

It is used in patients with metabolic syndrome ( also known as syndrome X, insulin resistance) This is one of the major caiuses of diabetes and heart disease in this country

There are many health benefits to taking astaxanthin to your daily vitamin regimen.

Until tomorrow…

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 INTERMITTENT FASTING

It is the biggest craze or fad right now. It is even bigger than drinking 16- 32 oz of celery juice first thing int he morning. Studies have shown that intermittent fasting is superior to constant eating in many ways. Most of my patioents have tried intermittent fasting. This is not eating after dinner until 12 noon to 2 pm the next day. It is not for everyone. I would consult your health care practitioner. The New England Jounral of Medicine disucssed in an article various types of fasting which have proved to be beneficial to your health.

Most studies have shown that intermittent fasting improves metabolism, and does reduce important risk factors in diabets and heart diesase. There is a 3- 8 % reduction in body weight over 3 to 24 weeks. Some studioes have seen a 4 % of their fat mass lost in only 22 days.

Studies also have seen in a reduction in inflammation with intermittent fasting Since inflammation is the precorsor to atherosclerosis, then intermittent fasting can help and reduice heart disease. More studies need to be done in this area. We do know that calric restriction in anaiml studies leads to less growth of cancer

Consult your health care practitioner about intermittent fasting. I feel there are no bad side effect only beneficial ones.

Until tomorrow…

FEBRUARY 10, 2021 VITAMIN k AND OSTEOPOROSIS

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to weaken, get brittle and then are prone to fractures. The body constantly absorbs and replaces bone tissue. With osteoporosis, new bone creation doesn't keep up with old bone removal.

Many people have no symptoms until they have a bone fracture.

Treatment includes medications, healthy diet, and weight-bearing exercise to help prevent bone loss or strengthen already weak bones

The vitamin K2 can be used,. There are excellent studies on Vitamin K2. The studies use 45 mg of Vitam in K2 in the form of MK-4. This leads to improvement in bone health. The human trials with K2 have maingtained and even inbcreased bone mineral density.

Other studies have revealed less bone fractures with K2 as compared to those with no Vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 works by restoring a healthy balance of the cells - osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

So add vitamin K2 to your regimen. Consult your health care practitioner

Until tomorrow…

FEBRUARY 9, 2021 FISETIN

FISETIN is a plant flavinoid that has been the subject of much research. The research has shown many different properties that help cancer.

When you discuss cancer the word “ apoptosis “ is often brought up. The ter, apoptosis is the programmed elination of cells in the body that are old and mutated. Cancer cells override these normal processes of apoptosis that remove dameged cells allopwing cancre cells to proliferate and thus spread.

Fisetin restores normal apoptotic processes which is good to control the malignant abnormalities that are seen in patients with cancer. In a triple negative study with patients with breast cancer, the fisetin reduced migration by 76 % whcih inhibited metastatic spread. More studies need to be done on this plant flavinoid.

Fisetin also inhibits many inflammatory factors such as TNF alpha, IL -1 and IL -6 If fisetin inhibits these factors there will be a reduction in inflammation.

Until tomorrow…

FEBRUARY 8, 2021 VITAMIN C

Vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients your body needs on a daily basis to maintain optimal health and well-being. While this essential vitamin is best known for its ability to support the healthy function of the immune system nearly all the organs in your body can benefit from vitamin C.

I use Vitamin C both orally and by infusion- - intrabvenously. There are studies to support high dose Vitamin C for cancer prevention and cancer support.

Since the body can't store or produce vitamin C on its own, you need to acquire it from the foods you eat. Vitamin C supplements provide a convenient way to get your daily dose of this essential nutrient. There are mnay foods that contain Vitamin C. Amla contains a high quantity of Vitamin C. Non-GMO origins and manufactured under exhaustive standards for purity and safety are the best Vitamin C products available.

Ask your health care practitioners for the best vitamin C products available. Call Botanical Bounty at 646 723 1823 for the Vitamin C best to suit your needs…

Until tomorrow…

FEBRUARY 5-7, 2021 THEOBROMA

Chocolate (Theobroma cacao) is enjoyed throughout the world. Flavinoids, potent antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables, are also found in significant amounts in cocoa , chocolate, red wine and certain teas. Yes there are health benefits to consuming dark chocolate

Researchers have found that consumption of foods containing flavonoids can lower blood pressure, reduce cardiovascular disease, and lessen the risk of strokes.

More than 15 years ago I, Herbalgram, the journal of the American Botanical Council published an article entitled, "The Health Benefits of Chocolate" that explored the role of chocolate in reducing hypertension (high blood pressure) among different cultures around the world. Here is an excerpt:
"The anti hypertensive role of chocolate is a relatively recent finding. In the early 1980s, Norman Hollenberg, a Harvard physician, discovered papers of Dr. B.H. Kean, who worked among the Kuna Indians on the San Blas Islands off the southern end of Central America. Dr. Kean had noted remarkably low rates of hypertension among aging Kuna adults. Dr. Hollenberg, who was involved in hypertension research and its genetic aspects, decided to see whether the Kuna Indians were still experiencing low rates of hypertension. Instead of finding a protective blood pressure gene, Dr. Hollenberg found an environmental effect: the Kuna Indians who left the San Blas Islands and resettled in Panama City had rates of hypertension comparable with other Indians and, more importantly, rising rates with aging. Dietary changes appeared to be responsible for the findings. For example, as Dr. Hollenberg noted, the more traditional Kuna diet included very lightly processed flavonoid-rich cocoa, consumed five times a day, whereas those living in Panama City drank several cups of highly processed cocoa."

Other studies have been conducted on the cardiovascular benefits of chocolate. One study researched the vasodilation effect of chocolate. It concluded, " The results demonstrated that the consumption of dark chocolate "markedly improves coronary vasodilation," which indicates an increase in the bioavailability of nitric oxide and a decrease in platelet reactivity. Furthermore, the improvement in coronary vasomotion and decrease in platelet adhesion after dark chocolate consumption coincided with an increase in serum epicatechin concentrations. These findings are evidence that epicatechin is a probable and likely dominant mediator of improved coronary vasomotion, along with procyanidins. This study was also reviewed by and published in the Herbalgam.

Today there are a great number of published articles on the health benefits of chocolate for other diseaes. Each one piec e of dark chocolate every day for yopur sweet tooth- Just one piece not a whole bar.

Until tomorrow…