February 11, 2010 at 5:20 am (Health News)
Tags: antioxidant, Cancer, Cardiovascular, cholesterol, curcumin, diabetes, glutathione
Curcumin is the active ingredient in the tumeric herb and has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Today studies continue to confirm the benefits of this amazing compound.
Researchers in the United States and Korea recently published a study which found curcumin lowered blood glucose levels, cholesterol and triglycerides in diabetic mice after being supplemented with curcumin for just six weeks. No changes were observed in the the healthy non-diabetic mice. The researchers concluded: “These results suggest that curcumin seemed to be a potential glucose-lowering agent and antioxidant in type 2 diabetic db/db mice”.
A 2009 study released by the Department of Internal Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Michigan observed that curcumin enhanced with piperine decreased the number of cancerous cells in breast tissue. Once again no changes or toxicity were observed in normal healthy cells.
“This shows that these compounds are not toxic to normal breast tissue,” researcher, Kakarala says. “Women at high risk of breast cancer right now can choose to take the drugs tamoxifen or raloxifene for prevention, but most women won’t take these drugs because there is too much toxicity. The concept that dietary compounds can help is attractive, and curcumin and piperine appear to have very low toxicity.”
Some products add piperine to boost the absorption of curcumin because curcumin typically has low bioavailability. Bioavailability is the extent to which a substance can be absorbed. How much you consume of a supplement is less important than how much you absorb.
Curcumin Extreme™ is a unique product formula containing a patented form of enhanced bioavailable and 100% natural curcumin called BCM-95® . BCM-95® is six times more readily absorbed than standard curcumin.
Curcumin Extreme™ promotes liver detoxification, healthy glutathione levels and normal cell regeneration. In addition, Curcumin Extreme™ contains broccoli seed extract known as another antioxidant that supports immune system function.
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January 3, 2010 at 8:23 am (Health News)
Tags: antioxidant, Cardiovascular, cholesterol, CoQ10, depression, digestion, statin, Vitamin D
The Physician’s Desk Reference along with the “Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook” are the sources for the following information on nutrients that are blocked or reduced by some common medications.
Medication is often a logical and appropriate choice to treat many health conditions. However, opting for a nutritional or more holistic approach can also make very good sense. Either way, knowing how to offset these vitamin and essential nutrient deficiencies is empowering and practical information in re-establishing overall health.
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September 26, 2009 at 6:11 am (Health News)
Tags: arthritis, bone, calcium, Cardiovascular, cholesterol, insomnia, isotonic, osteoporosis, peridontal disease, statin, Vitamin D
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body with 99% of it stored in the bones and teeth. Beyond skeletal structure calcium impacts multiple systems including the cardiovascular, nervous system, immune response, hormone and enzyme function and healthy cholesterol levels.
44-87% of the U.S. populace are deficient in calcium. Using the steroid Prednisone leaches calcium from the bones, which greatly increases calcium requirements.
So the question is, what form of calcium is best? Frequently, people complain that they have tried supplementing with calcium or other nutrients and noticed no benefit. In the past, I had the same experience. What I found out was that it wasn’t that the compound didn’t work. The problem was that my body could not extract the benefits of the compound due to the form it was delivered in.
That is why isotonic absorption is so significant.
Many calcium supplements are made from calcium found in eggshell or oyster shell, which is difficult for the body to absorb. Other brands use calcium tablets that possess a binding agent called DCP, which does not break down in the body. Just because a brand lists a large amount of calcium on the label does not mean that your body will be able to utilize it.
Isotonix® Calcium Plus delivers results because it is isotonic.
Isotonix® Calcium Plus is a powdered form that, when mixed with the amount of water indicated, becomes isotonic. An isotonic solution is extremely easy for the body to absorb and will begin entering into the blood stream in less than five minutes. This highly efficient and active product will get to the receptor sites in the small intestine unlike many other brands of tablets which have been jokingly referred to as “bedpan bullets“.
Benefits that distinguish Isotonix® Calcium Plus are:
- It’s isotonic – (is ready to be absorbed by the intestines)
- It’s very affordable – ($18.50 for a 45 day supply)
- It’s drinkable – (and tastes good)
- It’s bioavailable – (delivers highly concentrated and active nutrition)
- It’s synergistically blended – (contains vitamins D3, C, and B2, magnesium, boron, potassium, & manganese)
Results always speak for themselves. Here are a few comments on Isotonix® Calcium Plus:
By Ann the Marathon Runner and P.T. from Poulsbo, WA on 6/6/2009
I’ve tried various types of daily calcium products. This is far and away the easiest to use and it tastes good too. I’ve found that I really notice a difference in how I feel when I use the product and after just one month. I will buy it every month from now on.
By LK from Northern NH on 8/4/2009
I really like this product- it is a thousand times better than the calcium “horse pills” that you buy at the store. This powder is easy to take, and you can take just half a dose if you are drinking a lot of milk or use milk products. I would recommend it to any woman.
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August 16, 2009 at 6:42 am (Health News)
Tags: Alzheimer's, anti-aging, antioxidant, Cardiovascular, cholesterol, CoQ10, depression, multiple sclerosis, OPC-3, statin
The Wall Street Journal published the first allegations of cholesterol lowering statin drugs being associated with dementia. In the article, Dr. Orli Etingin (vice chairman of medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center) stated that Lipitor “makes women stupid.”
Dr. Etingin was referring to several of her patients using statins that were unable to focus, recall words and displayed other cognitive deficiencies. According to Dr. Etingin, the impairments vanished when use of the statin drug was discontinued and returned when the statins were reintroduced.
Two British experts in Alzheimers and dementia, Louise Morse and Roger Hitchins, note that the most common causes of memory loss they see in both men and women are due to depression, poor nutrition and statin drug use.
Some doctors have suspected that certain cognitive disruptions are triggered when statin drugs (like Simvastatin) cross the blood brain barrier and interfere with the central nervous system. Another possibility is that because the brain is composed largely of cholesterol, lowering cholesterol could slow thought and memory connections. Statins have also been linked to abnormal tau proteins forming in the brain, as seen in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease.
A new study may provide even more disturbing evidence as to the impact statins have on cognitive function.
This fascinating study published July 2008 in Glia by Dr. Steven Goldman and Dr. Fraser Sim discovered that statin drugs inhibit a specific type of brain cell.
These specialized brain cells are called glial progenitor cells. Glial progenitor cells function much like stem cells. They spring into action when the brain has experienced some type of distress and transform into any type of cell needed by the brain. These adaptive cells help restore white matter after strokes, infection, trauma, or inflammation brought on by the aging process, or diseases like multiple sclerosis.
Statins negatively impact glial progenitor cells by switching off their adaptive capabilities. After statin exposure the glial progenitor cells permanently became oligodendrocytes cells.
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August 3, 2009 at 8:56 pm (Health News)
Tags: anti-aging, antioxidant, bone, Cardiovascular, cholesterol, CoQ10, Omega-3, OPC-3, osteoporosis, statin, Vitamin D
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like substance naturally secreted by liver enzymes in our bodies. CoQ10 initiates cellular energy production. Critical systems (like the heart, brain and liver) rely on this energy to maintain proper functioning. CoQ10 is a biochemical catalyst that supplies vital energy.
The interesting thing about a catalyst is that it initiates an event, but is not consumed nor incorporated into the activity. Consequently, a biochemical catalyst can perform its function repeatably. Over 90% of the cellular energy generated in the human body is produced this way.
The energy that CoQ10 initiates becomes an organic molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is known as the ‘energy currency of life’ because all cellular functions need ATP to store or transport their energy requirements.
Cholesterol is a soft waxy substance that composes over 50% of all cell membranes. Cholesterol is necessary for regulating hormone activity, breaking down fats, building bone, enabling immune response, plus absorbing vital nutrients like vitamin D and calcium. We get cholesterol from food and from enzymes produced by the liver.
Statin drugs lower cholesterol by blocking the production of a natural liver enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme enables cholesterol and CoQ10 production. Statins work by attacking HMG-CoA in the liver, which forces the liver to pull cholesterol requirements from the blood. Dr. Gerald Gau (a cardiologist and cholesterol management expert at Mayo Clinic) states that “When you start a statin, your coenzyme Q10 level in your blood drops by 50 percent.” This may explain why 72% of U.S. cardiologists polled recommend dietary supplements.
A common side effect for people who use statins is muscle pain and weakness called ‘myalgia‘ or ‘myopathy‘. A double-blind study published in 2007 found that supplementing with coenzyme Q10 for 30 days reduced myopathy by 40%. Researches at the University of California in San Diego found that the second most common reported complaint was memory problems.
Statins definitely reduce unhealthy cholesterol levels, but they also reduce very healthy and desirable CoQ10 as well. Insufficient levels of CoQ10 may be a contributing factor in the high rates of congestive heart failure among statin drug users. Additional adversaries to cardiovascular health are oxidation and arterial inflammation.
Karl Folkers was a chemist for Merck (a large pharmaceutical supplier of statin medications). Dr. Folkers warned that prescribed statin drugs should include supplemental CoQ10 to prevent unintended damage to the patient.
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Curcumin is the active ingredient in the tumeric herb and has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Today studies continue to confirm the benefits of this amazing compound.
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