AUGUST 2, 2022 VITAMIN C

Do you get enough vitamin C in your dietary lifestyle? I always recommend Vitamin C either as liposomal Vitamin C or intravenous Vitamin C if the patient is deficient. How do you know if you are deficient ? There are signs of vitamin C deficiency

Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins for the human body. It helps to boost the immune system, protect against cellular damage, and promote wound healing.

One of the most common symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency is feeling exhausted all the time. Th exhaustion could be from hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid ) or even from a reactivation of the Epstein Barr virus. In the last two years since the pandemic many individuals have a had a reactivation secondary to either having COPVID or having the vaccination.

If you don’t want to take Vitamin C orally ( as many have a sensitive stomach or vitamin C can cause loose stools) get it from food. Luckily, Vitamin C deficiency is easy to treat – simply increasing your intake of Vitamin C-rich foods (such as oranges, strawberries, and broccoli) can help to improve your energy levels and overall health.

If you have recurrent or frequent colds —this could be associated with a vitamin C deficiency. We always think of vitamin C as helping colds but it is good for wound healing as slow wound healing and easy bruising is associated with low vitamin C

Every individual should take extra vitamin C daily 1- 3 grams

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 1, 2022 CRAMPS

Who doesn't get a cramp now and then. I do ! A cramp is a painful muscular spasm which occurs most frequently in the feet and legs. My father used to get plenty and used to scream He called them ' Charlie Horses' These cramps can occur int he abdomen, arms and hands. In the hands this is sometimes called 'writer's cramp' ( not writer's block)
Some of the causes is excessive salt loss through sweating, prolonged sitting or standing, lying in an unusual position and even strenuous exercise, Those that get tingled int he hands are probably sleeping on the wrong kind of pillow, or you have some cervical ( neck) arthritis.
The muscle contractions in the legs are short lived but can be prolonged. You need to gently massage the muscle
You are most likely in the need of minerals. You should use Gatorade as this has too much sugar. You could use a children's Pedialyte formula. There are also folk or home remedies that have been used for years.
One is to apply a compress of apply cider vinegar. The other is a sip of lemon juice before bedtime for night cramps. The third is my favorite because it involves HONEY. Take 1 tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of vinegar. Place in hot water and drink. This formula distributes calcium throughout the bloodstream thus relieving cramps.

My favorite herb for cramping is so easy to remember It is crampbark. This can be taken as a tea five times / day or as a tincture or capsules. It is also good to massage the ointment of cramp bark into the area.
Let’s discuss cramp bark. It is Viburnum opulus. this bark is from the wild form of the guelder rose. It has been used for centuries to treat spasms of the colon. It also is a mild sedative and acts as a relaxant. When you buy cramp bark, it is usually sold in thin strips. It has quite a smell which you will eventually be able to tell it is cramp bark. I caution those with blood pressure issues or those on blood pressure

medications as too much cramp bark can lower your blood pressure. Recently I am starting to add Cramp Bark OR Black haw bark to my irritable bowel formulas as it helps as a spasmodic. Always consult with a health care provider. I have spoken to a pediatrician who uses cramp bark when bed wetting is associated with tension and anxiety.

The flower essence, rescue remedy is great to relieve cramps as it relieves anxiety. Lavender essential oil can be used to massage the muscle.

In traditional Chinese medicine, ( TCM ), Gan Caseo is used to stop spams.

Until tomorrow…

JULY 28, 2022 ALLIUM

As you know I have become quite the gardener int he last few years. On my small property I have planted many berry trees and bushes, as well as a wide variety of flowers. About two years ago I planted Allium as I love the globe purple flower. Garlic ( Allium sativum) is a special plant/herb. Years ago I wrote a paper with two colleagues on the benefits of Garlic

Garlic is one of the healthiest foods on the planet, and offers a wide variety of health benefits.

Garlic contains a compound called Allicin, which has powerful medicinal properties.

Allicin is released when garlic is chopped or crushed, and it is this compound that gives garlic its unique smell. Allicin has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. It can be effective in treating infections, boosting the immune system, and reducing inflammation.

As a cardiologist I am always using herbs to reduce blood pressure, support and treat arrythmias, and to support and treat atherosclerosis. The active compounds in garlic can reduce blood pressure by relaxing the smooth muscles in the walls of blood vessels. This helps to widen the vessels and improve blood flow. Additionally, garlic is a rich source of antioxidants that help to protect against cell damage. Garlic has also shown to improve cholesterol levels.

There are shown improvements in bone health using Garlic as well as improving your overall health and longevity. Garlic could be considered a Superfood. I would learn to cook with garlic at every meal

Until tomorrow…

JULY 27, 2022 INTERMITTENT FASTING

ARE YOU DOING INTERMITTENT FASTING ? It seems it is all the rage today on both coasts. There are good health benefits from intermittent fasting

If you’re looking to live a longer life, intermittent fasting may be the answer. Numerous studies have shown that this dieting strategy can help to extend lifespan and protect against age-related diseases. Intermittent fasting involves periods of fasting, followed by periods of eating.

During the fasting periods, you abstain from all food and drink For most of my patients that want to discuss this - I recommend 8 pm to 12 noon - the next day which is a 16 hour fast

Intermittent fasting is good for diabetes prevention and reduction in belly fat. For me as a cardiologist, intermittent fasting has shown to lower cholesterol There are some studies to suggest it is good prevention from cancer. During fasting the body and its cells undergo autophagy. This ensures strong cells. There is a mood boosting effect from intermittent fasting as well as preventing any inflammation.

For those that want to try You must do for at least 2 weeks. One or two days will not show the benefits that are discussed.

Until tomorrow…

JULY 26, 2022 GREEN COFFEE EXTRACT

Green Coffee Extract ( GCE- Coffea canephora ) is mostly obtained from green or raw coffee. It has been reported to have anti oxidant potential. The purpose of Onakpya review et al was to assess the clinical efficacy of GCE as a weight loss supplement. After Dr Oz's show it became the most natural weight loss supplement of 2012. This is wrong ! Since then there are many other supplements for weight loss

The study mentioned above did use endpoint of mean changes in body weight. From this review it does indicate that GCE can promote weight loss. The magnitude of this weight loss was moderate but there were very few trials and limited small groups. I agree with the authors that larger trials are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of GCE especially if this is to be used on a long term basis. This is why I object to discussing this on a television broadcast. I am afraid that might be long term side effects which have not been studied and it is possibly not right for every overweight individual.

In 2007 Blum and others studied GCE ( Coffea canephora robusta Pierre) .The authors did conclude the green coffee extract can modulate glucose metabolism which may impact weight management. I did not put patients on this supplement at that time nor now, because the population studied was 18 men and women from Bangor, Maine. This is not a large patient population and jelly beans were used as the glucose load. An innovative approach which has much merit, but this does not mean I tell the world to use Green Coffee Extract

More studies need to be done on this

Until tomorrow

JULY 25, 2022 BERRIES

Berries are known as superfoods. The reason for this is that they are high in cancer fighting phytochemicals. These phytochemicals are called flavonoids. Berries contain a specific bioflavonoid called anthocyanin. This phytochemical function as a plant pigment in plants which gives berries its blue-purplish color.

I love berries. I love all berries Some you might not of heard of or eaten have eaten as Wolfberries, Gooseberries and Chokeberries. Berries is a big business not only for food , but in the health and cosmetic/beauty products. I recall that when a dermatologist, Nicholas Perricone promoted Acai berries on the Oprah Winfrey Show - the sales of powdered acai berries on his website were staggering.

In my small property in Black Rock, CT ,I decided to plant High land Blueberry bushes, mulberry tree, strawberries, 3 elderberry trees and a Gooseberry bush. I especially use elderberry as a tincture or cough syrup during the cold and flu season

I drink Blueberry Juice from Weyman’s daily Though berries are diminutive never underestimate the power of the berry.

Until tomorrow…

JULY 21, 2022 PAPER BIRCH

While in Savannah Georgia this past weekend I admired all the botanical species in the parks and squares on this historic city. I saw Leopard plants ( Farfugum japonicum ), Shell ginger ( Alpinia zerumbet ), multiple species of Magnolias and even a Paper Birth.

Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) bark is white with beige horizontal streaks that peel back and shed naturally.

All part of the Betula family, the paper birch tree has many siblings. Silver birch, yellow birch, gray birch, sweet birch, black birch, or the river birch tree, are all a set of very impressive tree species. They can produce sap just like the sugar maple (which can then make birch syrup ), they all have relatively white bark, their flowers are catkin

Native Americans used paper birch sapwood to eliminate toxins, soothe headaches, control menstrual bleeding, and stop wound bleeding by inducing coagulation. Decayed birch wood was mixed with labrador tea and powdered to treat skin irritation. Today, it’s used in natural remedies as an astringent, diuretic and anti-inflammatory ingredient.

My interests are varied. I became interested in trees after reading The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben and The Secret Language of Trees by Gill Davies. There are many good books on trees. You can read about Black or White Spruce being used as an antimicrobial by Native Americans and other fascinating facts

Until tomorrow

JULY 20, 2022 PROTECT YOUR HEART

You have only one heart - protect it well. WE all have our heart broken at one point- ending a relationship, death of a loved one or ending a career. I am not talking about your emotional heart but the physical structural heart There are lifestyle changes you can make to protect your heart .

First you should eat a balanced diet. You should avoid simple sugar or anything white as bread, pasta, and even cereals. Eat a Mediterranean diet without the pasta and the bread. A healthy diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and limits saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, and added sugars.

Second, you should exercise Exercise helps to keep your heart muscle strong and promotes healthy blood flow. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity 3 days of the week This reduces your cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by 38 %

Obviously quit smoking and drinking high amounts of alcohol. Alcohol is myocardial toxic. Excessive alcohol can not only predispose you to diabetes and liver disease , but it can cause a cardiomyopathy

Finally manage your stress levels. This can be done by starting yoga, block therapy, acupuncture and regular massages. I also advocate starting a new hobby or a fun project you wanted to do as a child and never did. This could be Lego building, finger painting, knitting, and model building. This will increase your self-esteem and decrease your stress. Remember IT ISPROGRESS NOT PERFECTION

Until tomorrow…