FEBRUARY 23, 2021 ZINC

We need zoinc. It is an essential element to our wellbeing. I have many of my patients taking opti-Zinc as a protection against COVID 19. Zinc in our body is a catlyst for about 100 different enzyme reactions in our body. Since zinc is not stored in the body it must be taken every day.

Zinc deficiency is seen in most patients with a low or under active thyroid called Hypothyroidism. Zinc deficiency prevents the conversion of hormone T4 into the active T3 hormone. Zinc is also needed to form th thyroid stimulating hormone ( TSH) There are food sources of zinc as oysters, chicken, beef and lobster. So a vegetarian or vegan would have a zinc deficiency and must supplement. Zinc absorption is also impaired in many patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IUBS) or rather best termed “ Leaky Gut “ Any insult to the gut such as food allergies, heavy metals intoxication, chronic infections et al can cause gut disturbance which would lead to a zinc deficiency.

A good clinician ( doctor) can defect zinc deficiency on the liver function tests ( AST , ALT , and Alk phos) A low alkaline phosphatase can be the first sign of a zinc deficiency.

Zinc is required for all. Ask your doctor to check zinc, copper and selenium levels especially if you have a thyroid problem. You must take 1 mg of copper for every 15mg of zinc you take

Get your zinc level checked today

Until tomorrow…

FEBRUARY 22,2021 DIVERTICULITIS

Diverticulosis is a common condition characterized by the formation of small pouch like herniations along the wall of the GI tract. These are called diverticuli They usually appear in the large intestines but there can be diverticuli along other areas in the GI tract. If one of these pouches get inflammed or infected , you now have divericulitis. This usually requires a visit to the ER, blood tests, CT scans and intravenous antibiotics.

I have used herbal teas or tonics on my patients to alleviate gas, bloating , nausea and pain in their abdomen

I use three to four herbs ( fresh if possible) licorice root , marshmallow, root , raspberry leaves and plantain leaves You boil the water and add the roots first, then add the leaves. You use 1 tablespoon of each herb to 1 1/2 quarts of water.

Strain you should take 1 cup 4 to 5 times a day with 1/4 tsp or either maple syrup or raw honey.

This will help your diverticulosis and prevent and support divericulitis

Until tomorrow…

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 CANCER and TEA

In 2018, over 1.7 million people were diagnosed with cancer. At least 35% of those diagnosed will die from cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.

According to the National Cancer Institute, tea’s antioxidants may stall cancerous growth. In animal studies, tea catechins prohibited cancer cells from invading the body. I have discussed green tea and other teas, as white tea in the past. The herb Camilla sinensis ( green tea) contains EGCG , a potent antioxidant. This herb has been extensively studied on diseases as cancer, autoimmune disease, diabetes and heart disease.

Black tea contains more antioxidants than green tea, but fewer catechins. Green tea offers more catechins and less caffeine than black tea.

I would include one of these in your daily regimen. It is healthy and it tastes good. Add a little raw honey and sip away..

Until tomorrow…

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…