Natural Health International

This Nutrient Improves Night Driving

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:01:00 +0000

Eyes function differently based on the level of light in the environment. In normal daylight the eye primarily uses cones to focus the light. In near darkness, the eye primarily uses rods to focus the light. Low light conditions such as driving at night require both mechanisms. Lutein is an orange-red carotenoid pigment produced by plants and is present in the diet in colorful fruits and vegetables. One of the best sources of lutein is kale which provides more than 20 mg per cup. Cooked spinach, collard greens and turnip greens also pack a similar punch. This compares to romaine lettuce and raw spinach which have less than 4 mg of lutein available for use.

In the body, lutein is one of the predominant pigments concentrated in the macula, a specialized area of the eye that is responsible for central vision. In addition, it is known to be deposited in the skin. It is thought that lutein’s functional role in these vulnerable tissues is to protect against sunlight-induced free radical production.

Ever since the Blue Mountain Eye Study reported that higher dietary lutein and zeaxanthin intake reduced the risk for incident of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) over 5 and 10 years, significant interest has been placed on these particular carotenoids.[1]

In an interesting study, middle-aged adults who drove for a living (i.e. taxi drivers) were given 20 mg of lutein or a placebo for one year. Researchers measured a variety of outcomes including something called macular pigment optical density (MPOD) [2] MPOD has been associated with improvements in visual function in those with age-related macular degeneration.[3]

This study showed that supplemental lutein, at this dose, increases serum levels of lutein. However, of key importance is the length of the study and the measurement of vision performance. Under low light conditions, the group receiving treatment of lutein performed better at testing of contrast sensitivity and glare sensitivity. MPOD was also increased.

No significant side effects were reported in this study. Carotenodermia is one concern of large doses of carotenoids and while transient and relatively harmless, it was not seen in this study. Previous studies have considered doses of 6 and 12 mg and showed peak serum lutein levels after 3-6 months^{.[4],
[5],
[6],
[7]} However, in this research, peak levels were seen after just 30 days. This was attributed to the higher dose and good compliance among participants. While following serum levels of a specific carotenoid often does not typically have clinical value, uptake of lutein by the macula can take several months following peak levels. Indeed, this effect was seen in this study as well. Despite seeing a six-fold increase in serum levels after only one month, visual performance did not improve until three months after initiation of lutein administration. While 6 mg did not improve macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in previous studies, this study confirmed increases in this valuable biomarker.⁴Several hypotheses remain about how macular pigment plays a role in the health of the eye but a leading theory is that antioxidants in the pigment reduce oxidized products produced by the interaction of light and tissues.

One of the challenges of the study was that serum levels of lutein in the participants at baseline were found to be lower than expected. It is thought that profession or economic status could play a role in this. Unfortunately, it creates another question. If a person already has adequate lutein levels in serum, will they not benefit from supplementation? This remains to be determined.

Another question that may arise concerns other carotenoids. The family of carotenoids (including beta carotene, alpha carotene, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin and others) may compete for absorption and excess dosing of a single carotenoid may hypothetically lead to insufficiencies among the other phytonutrients. Unfortunately, serum levels of these other carotenoids were not measured at baseline or throughout the study.

Essentially, participants taking lutein in this study could not read a Snellen chart, the tool with the large E at the top that optometrists and physicians use, any better than the placebo group after a year of use. Visual acuity was not significantly different. However, seeing movement in the periphery under low light conditions was improved. This is interesting because visual performance is more of a real-life analysis. Especially in this demographic studied, those whose job requires long hours of driving, even minor improvements in vision can result in improved driving performance and safer roads. Up to 23% of car accidents have been associated with reduced visual performance.[8] The challenge of the results of this study is the age-group that was studied. Young to midlife adults are not often the ones commonly complaining of decreased night vision. More often than not, the aging person no longer trusts their ability to navigate in low light conditions and this may result in decreased activity and a lower perceived quality of life. As people age, reduced participation in activity is a concern for incidence of depression. Those who continue to drive despite declining vision are putting themselves and others at risk. It would be curious to see if similar results could be replicated in an older population. Until that result is published, people may find this relatively inexpensive and safe intervention worth a one year trial for themselves.

[1] Tan JS,Wang JJ, Flood V, Rochtchina E, SmithW, Mitchell P. Dietary antioxidants and the long-term incidence of age-related macular degeneration: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Ophthalmology 2008;115(2):334–41.

[2] Lutein supplementation improves visual performance in Chinese drivers: 1-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Nutrition (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2012.10.017

[3] Weigert G, Kaya S, Pemp B, Sacu S, Lasta M, Werkmeister RM, Dragostinoff N, Simader C, Garhöfer G, Schmidt-Erfurth U, Schmetterer L.Effects of lutein supplementation on macular pigment optical density and visual acuity in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011 Oct 17;52(11):8174-8. doi: 10.1167/iovs.11-7522.

[4] Sasamoto Y, Gomi F, Sawa M, Tsujikawa M, Nishida K. Effect of 1-year lutein supplementation on macular pigment optical density and visual function. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2011;249:1847–54.

[5] Ma L, Lin XM, Zou ZY, Xu XR, Li Y, Xu RA. 12-week lutein supplementation improves visual function in Chinese people with long-term computer display light exposure. Br J Nutr 2009;102:186–90.

[6] Nolan JM, Loughman J, Akkali MC, Stack J, Scanlon G, Davison P, et al. The impact of macular pigment augmentation on visual performance in normal subjects: COMPASS. Vision Res 2011;51:459–69.

[7] Olmedilla B, Granado F, Blanco I, Vaquero M. Lutein, but not alpha-tocopherol, supplementation improves visual function in patients with age-related cataracts: a 2-y double-blind, placebo- controlled pilot study. Nutrition 2003;19:21–4.

[8] Ranny T. Psychological factors that influence car-following and car following model development. Transportation Res 1999;Part F 2:213–9.

Melatonin and Type II Diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 18:58:00 +0000

In a study observing 370 women (nurses) who developed diabetes between 2000 and 2012 and 370 women (also nurses) who did not develop diabetes during this time frame the major urinary metabolite of melatonin (6-sulfatoxymelatonin) was measured against urinary creatinine. This was a part of the Nurses' Health Study cohort.[1]

This study provides a correlation between the lowest level of melatonin metabolite secretion and the development of type 2 diabetes. Women with the highest excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin developed diabetes at a rate of 4.27 cases per 1000 while women with the lowest excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin developed diabetes at a rate of 9.27 cases per 1000. This provides 2.17 times the risk for development of type 2 diabetes for those with low excretion.

Upon the initial publication of these results, two immediate camps developed. One camp, excited to explore the therapeutic uses of supplemental melatonin and then another that dismissed the data due to the nature of the study. It is correct to indicate that this information alone does not allow for mass medication of those with type 2 diabetes or for use in prophylaxis. However, researchers did an excellent job of addressing confounding issues within the scope of known physiologic mechanisms.

With diabetes on the rise, and 1 in 10 American adults wielding the diagnosis, this information is welcomed if it is interpreted correctly and cautiously.

The first question that must be addressed is if urinary excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin is an adequate surrogate for nocturnal melatonin secretion from the pineal gland. Secretion of melatonin follows a daily pattern peaking 3-5 hours after sleep onset when it is dark with almost no production during daylight. Fortunately, the urinary excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin when normalized to urinary creatinine has been used to estimate overnight melatonin secretion. This is good news since nocturnal plasma evaluation is impractical in the outpatient setting.[2]^,[3] Of interest is that this same biomarker was used to provide evidence for a statistically significant inverse association between melatonin levels, as measured in overnight morning urine, and invasive breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women.[4]

The next question may be in regards to the relationship between disrupted sleep and type 2 diabetes.[5] Researchers noted sleep disruption by two factors: snoring and sleep duration. Both of these factors were self-reported which may lead to limitation of information.

Another question arises in regards to the mechanism of how melatonin, a hormone typically associated with sleep directly affect glucose metabolism. Researchers suggest it may have to do with insulin secretion but human studies are lacking in this area. Most research is done on rodents and this is potentially problematic. Rodents are primarily nocturnal creatures and have different circadian patterns. While rats and mice may derive specific health benefits from exogenous administration of melatonin, it doesn’t always mean that humans will derive the same benefit to the same magnitude. However, the work that has been done so far piques curiosity. Oral consumption of melatonin protected rats prone to diabetes from developing increased cardiovascular and diabetes risk markers while being fed a high-calorie diet.[6] Melatonin administration to insulin-resistant mice reversed insulin resistance and improved glucose metabolism.[7] Human in-vitro studies have pointed to a kinase pathway that supports pancreatic islet cells.[8]^,[9],[10]

While some may discount summarily the study because it is done with nurses, all women, mostly (97%) Caucasian, and prone to shift work, that may be a premature dismissal. Interestingly, the nurses involved in this nested group of the Nurses’ Health Study reflected very little shift work perhaps due to age and seniority. It is true though that results can only be attributed to women and a limited racial heritage.

So while it is too early to suggest the use of melatonin as adjunctive care to glucose metabolism, it will likely be several years before type, dose, and timing of administration will be available in the peer-reviewed literature. One thought in integrative medicine is to normalize levels similar as how vitamin D is often recommended rather than a set dose. However, no agreed upon reference range has been established for urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin: creatinine although the highest quartile in this study had a median ratio of 67.0 ng/mg. Because melatonin is a hormone from outside of the body, the recommendation of lowest effective dose may apply similarly to the recommendation of hormone therapy.[11]

While melatonin may not be ready for the lime-light in diabetes, low-dose melatonin is something to keep in mind when caring for those patients at risk or suffering from the condition.

Natural Health International is the proud manufacturer and distributor of Herbatonin the first plant-based melatonin available in 3 mg and 0.3 mg

[1] McMullan CJ, Schernhammer ES, Rimm EB, Hu FB, Forman JP. Melatonin secretion and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. JAMA. 2013 Apr 3;309(13):1388-96. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.2710.

[2] Lang U, Kornemark M, Aubert ML, Paunier L, Sizonenko PC. Radioimmunological determination of

urinary melatonin in humans: correlation with plasma levels and typical 24-hour rhythmicity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1981;53(3):645-650.

[3] Baskett JJ, Cockrem JF, Antunovich TA. Sulphatoxymelatonin excretion in older people: relationship

to plasma melatonin and renal function. J Pineal Res. 1998;24(1):58-61.

[4] Schernhammer ES, Berrino F, Krogh V, Secreto G, Micheli A, Venturelli E, Sieri S, Sempos CT, Cavalleri A, Schünemann HJ, Strano S, Muti P. Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.J Natl Cancer Inst. 2008 Jun 18;100(12):898-905. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djn171. Epub 2008 Jun 10.

[5] Wagner, Kelly. "Sleep Laboratory Finds Insomnia With Short Sleep Duration Is A Risk Factor For Diabetes." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 11 Jun. 2009. Web.

13 May. 2013. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/153361.php>

[6] Prunet-Marcassus B, Desbazeille M, Bros A, et al. Melatonin reduces body weight gain in Sprague Dawley rats with diet-induced obesity. Endocrinology. 2003; 144(12):5347-5352.

[7] Cuesta S, Kireev R, Garcı´a C, Rancan L, Vara E, Tresguerres JA. Melatonin can improve insulin resistance and aging-induced pancreas alterations in senescence-

accelerated prone male mice (SAMP8). Age (Dordr). 2012.

[8] Kemp DM, Ubeda M, Habener JF. Identification and functional characterization of melatonin Mel 1a

receptors in pancreatic beta cells: potential role in incretin-mediated cell function by sensitization of cAMP signaling. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2002;191(2):157-166.

[9] Ramracheya RD, Muller DS, Squires PE, et al. Function and expression of melatonin receptors on human pancreatic islets. J Pineal Res. 2008;44(3): 273-279.

[10] Picinato MC, Hirata AE, Cipolla-Neto J, et al. Activation of insulin and IGF-1 signaling pathways

by melatonin through MT1 receptor in isolated rat pancreatic islets. J Pineal Res. 2008;44(1):88-94.

[11] http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/byaudience/forwomen/ucm118624.htm

Caffeine Withdrawal Now a Mental Disorder

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 18:53:00 +0000

While many of us thought that paying $5 for a tasty herbal beverage was the real mental disorder, we’ll have to wait for the next psychiatric manual for that diagnosis because a new one is on the table.

If you are a committed coffee drinker or enjoy a few too many caffeinated sodas or drinks on the weekends and are considering modifying your habits, your morning routine and entire world as you know it now has new implications. You may be crazy.

The DSM-V (American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version five) has a quirky new diagnosis that may affect you. It is called withdrawal from caffeine intoxication. The diagnosis is well meaning. People who consume 250 mg of caffeine can experience caffeine intoxication and can fundamentally change their brain chemistry and the withdrawal period of this drug, yes drug, is now a listed and recognized diagnostic mental disorder. How much is 250 mg?

· 12 ounces (Tall) Starbucks Coffee

· 32-56 ounces of green tea, brewed for 3 minutes

· 100 ounces of most sodas (5 – 20 ounce bottles)

· 1.5-16 ounce cans of most energy drinks

· 1.9 ounces of 5-Hour Energy (contains about 208 mg)

Caffeine-related disorders include intoxication which first made it into the DSM-IV in 2011 with symptoms of restlessness, nervousness, excitement, insomnia, flushed face, excessive urination (diuresis), gastrointestinal disturbance, muscle twitching, rambling flow of thought and speech, tachycardia or cardiac arrhythmia, periods of inexhaustibility or unintentional motion (psychomotor agitation).

Caffeine withdrawal and its inclusion as a mental disorder started rumbling almost 10 years ago when an article appeared in Psychopharmacology where researchers from American University (Washington, DC a bastion of caffeine consumption) wrote about the symptoms of withdrawal including

· Headache

· Fatigue

· Decreased energy/activeness

· Decreased alertness

· Drowsiness

· Decreased contentedness

· Depressed mood

· Difficulty concentrating

· Irritability

· Foggy/not clearheaded

· Flu-like symptoms

· Nausea/vomiting

· Muscle pain/stiffness

With a list of symptoms like this, I’m starting to believe this should be included in the manual. They go on to say “the incidence of headache was 50% and the incidence of clinically significant distress or functional impairment was 13%.” Those are high numbers for withdrawal from a widely available, freely distributed, and highly utilized drug.

During the first few days of withdrawal, those who drop caffeine cold turkey display all of the tell-tale signs of an addict. They often search for every version of “coffee-methadone” they can find. Yes, the symptoms are transient, but they are intense. Headache and irritability top the symptom list.

What is interesting to me is that they noted that these symptoms of caffeine withdrawal tend to occur 12-24 hours after the high and continue for 2-9 days.

And this may come as no shock, but the higher the daily dose of caffeine, the worse the symptoms. What I found really curious is that symptoms were caused by doses as low as 100 mg. They concluded, mind you, this is 2004, “The caffeine-withdrawal syndrome has been well characterized and there is sufficient empirical evidence to warrant inclusion of caffeine withdrawal as a disorder in the DSM and revision of diagnostic criteria in the ICD.” It is 2013 and now it is included. So instead of being shocked, maybe we should be appalled at how long this inclusion took!

There is a take home point. For those who are embarking upon a new detoxification program, a new health habit, or simply shifting your gears in relation to the food, supplements, or medications you are using, please remember that it is not always the addition of a substance that causes symptoms, but it can also be the removal of substances that causes symptoms (or improvements). So, don’t just tell your healthcare practitioner what you started to fix your problem, but also tell them what you stopped.

Reference: Juliano LM, Griffiths RR. A critical review of caffeine withdrawal: empirical validation of symptoms and signs, incidence, severity, and associated features. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2004 Oct;176(1):1-29. Epub 2004 Sep 21.

Thinking Twice About Testosterone Replacement

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:48:00 +0000

Testosterone replacement therapy can be a necessary medical intervention in some men for conditions such as sexual dysfunction, depression, and chronic fatigue. However, there are known risks. Popularity of testosterone prescriptions are skyrocketing, but who is it safest for and who is at the greatest risk of early cardiovascular death and heart attack? How do consumers make decisions in combination with their doctor without knowing the consequences? Ultimately you have to rely on the experience and knowledge of your provider, but having the right information in front of you can only help the decision process.

In a recent publication from Endocrine Today, evidence suggests that a new subset of men should not use testosterone replacement therapy. Men with obstructive coronary artery disease have higher risk of death and heart attack when using testosterone replacement therapy.

But that leaves some questions, doesn't it? What if you've had a coronary angiograph which confirmed obstruction or perhaps had an angioplasty or stent to correct obstruction and also have confirmed or suspected low testosterone levels? Are you just out of luck with no therapy for the hormone imbalance?

Symptoms of hormone imbalance in aging men are not limited to sexual dysfunction. Rather, depression, poor sleep, poor recovery from activity, poor stamina, libido (sex drive), lack of energy, and decreased strength and performance may all be symptoms of hormone imbalance. We also note that stress and poor blood sugar control can deteriorate men's hormones at an accelerated rate as well. Does this sound familiar? If so, read on.

We often suggest lifestyle modification such as weight loss, stopping smoking, and increasing exercise, especially activities such as weight training and sprinting to improve hormone balance in aging men, but the reality is that besides stopping smoking, these are quite tall orders for those who have obstructive coronary artery disease. Thirty minutes of weight lifting or daily sprinting probably isn't going to be approved by the cardiologist or cardiac rehab therapist. Not to mention that poor hormone balance often makes losing weight difficult.

Getting back to the basics of health, the pillars of good living, may be the answer along with specific products to support hormone balance.

From a diet perspective, adequate protein is an absolute must to stop the breakdown of muscle in aging men. Supplemental protein shakes are often a good way to go if appetite isn't great or cooking isn't your strong suit. If you can tolerate whey protein, it seems to be one of the best sources. It raises glutathione levels which is important from an antioxidant perspective and also contains branch chain amino acids which support muscle health. Vegan protein powders are a bit easier on the body. These contain hemp, pea, and/ or rice but often times are much lower in protein content. Shoot for 20 grams per shake. Nuts and seeds provide excellent protein from plant sources as well. Vegetable and plant nutrients cannot be understated for general heart health and all doctors and practitioners should be encouraging this behavior.

From a dietary supplement side, Revolution Macalibrium is a tested formula of specific phenotypes of maca (Lepidium peruvianum). Maca has a rich history of supporting men's hormone health; however, research has shown that there are specific phenotypes ideal for men’s hormonal health. Revolution Macalibrium not only has these exact phenotypes but has concentrated levels of the full spectrum of active constituents ten to twenty times higher than the levels found in raw maca which is why doctors and patients are getting such strong results quickly. This is a foundational product that works through the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis to help a man make his own hormones versus relying on hormones from outside of the body. A man's own hormones made by him is much safer since nothing is more natural than your own hormones.

Omega-3 fatty acids, especially those rich in EPA and DHA are recommended. If a man has high triglycerides, the American Heart Association suggest 2.4 grams of EPA + DHA per day. This seems like a prudent suggestion for all men facing either hormone imbalance, obstructive coronary artery disease, or life in the modern world. Reducing inflammation and supporting cell membrane health are just two well known mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acids and since the human body doesn't make its own omega-3's it has to rely on us to ingest them every day. I prefer high EPA products. Some products contains as much as 1060 mg of EPA and 274 mg of DHA per 2 capsules. Two capsules twice per day is ideal to hit this goal dose of 2.4 grams. Be wary of lower doses or you'll end up taking 8 capsules per day. Many products will contain 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA. This is perhaps suitable for the percentage of the population that gets nearly adequate dietary omega-3 fatty acids and is already healthy.

Other interventions and supplements may be indicated given your history and complicating factors, and in that case we recommend working with a doctor who understands your condition and also natural approaches. Click here to find a practitioner close to you.

So, if you know a man considering testosterone replacement and also has obstructive coronary artery disease, arm them with this important information so he can make an empowered decision.

On Your Feet, Thyroid?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 20:31:00 +0000

If you have a thyroid condition, you probably wish you could whip it into shape in a few weeks of hard work, like a Boot Camp. But drill sergeants and obstacles courses are not what your thyroid needs. Think of your thyroid gland as your friend who cries at movies and hems and haws over rather small life changes. It is, like your friend, sensitive to feedback.

When the thyroid is screaming for trouble, don't forget about its compadres (other organs) that offer direction and guidance to the thyroid gland.

Gall bladder function impacts the thyroid gland because poor gall bladder function keeps the all important fat soluble vitamins from working. (Lots of thyroid sufferers have had gall bladder surgery). The gall bladder secretes bile, a necessary substance to take in vitamins A, D, E, and K. If your gallbladder is bile deficient or you have had it removed, you may not be absorbing enough fats resulting in a lack of fat soluble vitamins like Vitamins A, D, E, and K. Your thyroid and adrenals needs vitamin A to work correctly and efficiently. Not just beta carotene but good old-fashioned, preformed vitamin A! Check your multivitamin as to the source of its Vitamin A. Post-surgically, I recommend micellized forms of vitamin A, D, E, and K.

Digestive function modulates thyroid function as well as it is intimately involved with the immune system (lots of gluten sensitivity in thyroid sufferers). If you have any type of digestive dysfunction from heartburn to gas, diarrhea or constipation, addressing the root cause of it is important. Oftentimes, a pH balanced diet, probiotics, and stress reduction are the first steps to fixing a busted digestive system.

Hormone balance is also key in both men and women with thyroid dysfunction. Low progesterone can actually hide the fact that a sluggish thyroid is actually a more sinister form called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. As estrogen declines so too does thyroid function. So much so that a reported 30% of postmenopausal women suffer from hypothyroidism.

Belly fat. That's right, fat is an organ too. Extra weight around the middle negatively impacts thyroid function. The more fat you have on your frame, the more inflammatory signals you release to the rest of your body.

So where do you start? Well, you can't send your friend to Boot Camp and yell at them to be tough....you have to strengthen them. Revolution Macalibrium for men and Femmenessence for women are ideal foundational products to strengthen the stress response system in addition to meditation, proper sleep, and a diet rich in plant nutrients. Femmenessence has specific formulations for perimenopausal women and reproductive-aged women as well. These products help your thyroid gland but supporting a myriad of hormones in the body. Every hormone imbalance including stress hormone imbalance directly impacts thyroid function.

Realize that this is a place to start with thyroid conditions. Reducing fat through a primarily plant-based diet, resistance training, and supporting all organs through stress reduction and proper supplementation are all pieces to a potentially complex puzzle. For more information about these products or concepts, contact corey.schuler@naturalhi.com

Updated evidence on menopause hormone therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 02:55:00 +0000

A recent panel has re-evaluated the scientific literature since the 2001 publication of the Women’s Health Initiative in order to determine if hormone replacement therapy is safe long term and for chronic conditions such as bone loss, cardiovascular risk, and / or mood health. The results of this panel are from critical review of 51 published articles and will guide the standard of care for postmenopausal women. Frankly, we’ve learned a lot in the last 11 years and I think this panel did an excellent job of culling the data albeit falling short of offering reasonable and safe solutions to the challenge of increased risk of chronic disease beginning at menopause. But that's okay. It wasn't their goal.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/05/28/hrt-update-therapy-may-reduce-fractures-boost-some-risks

In full disclosure, I’m an advocate of natural products so my first inclination is the cheer the panel’s recommendation. It has been my read of the last decade of literature as well. However, it is oversimplified to come to the conclusion that HRT is good or HRT is bad. That binary way of thinking is ruinous. I strongly believe there is a definite place for Hormone Replacement Therapy. I also believe it cannot be used as the panacea it once was thought to be. In the case of bone health, we must be ever mindful of the complete physiology. Sure, estrogen inhibits osteoclastic activity and helps to maintain bone mineral density, but other hormones have a role in osteoblastic activity such as progesterone and testosterone. Growth hormone and cortisol have their own effects partially independent of sex hormones and partially dependent on their levels. Furthermore, we now have evidence that bone morphogenetic proteins, progenitor cells for bone, have cross talk with estrogen and there may be other unknown interactions to other hormones and signals. Some authorities now place osteopenia and osteoporosis, especially precocious bone loss in the inflammatory disease marker, causing us to work through the contribution of cytokines and prostaglandins whose pathways are influenced by estrogen levels. And this is just bone health, not to mention cardiovascular health and other quality of life issues that are also influenced by hormone status. Why is this important to say? Because, we haven’t heard the last of HRT. We will likely come to understand a further undeclared subpopulation that has little to no risk of cancer and cardiovascular incident. However, we aren’t there yet and we have patients in front of us that need our help. This panel’s recommendation brings us one step closer to the truth. What is missing from the conversation and really outside the scope of this article is the reason for hormone imbalance and potential less risky recommendations that clinicians can make today to support not only the symptoms of menopause but also the long term consequences of hormone loss. Personally, I’ve been involved in understanding this exact mode of action. That is, improving the function of what has become known as the HPA or hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. In fact, there are several axes that we should be aware of that are influenced by an aging hypothalamus. These axes, but particularly the HPA, when supported can stimulate the body’s own production and balance of hormones. In essence, improving this system allows the feedback and control of hormone production to be self-regulating without the burden to liver biotransformation that exogenous hormones appear to have. When a post-menopausal woman can improve her ability to produce her own hormones with changes in menopausal symptoms, bone mineral density scores, and cardiovascular support, then we have something to write about. This approach can be used in conjunction with hormone therapy in order to be in line with the recommendation of smallest dose, shortest duration of time. This is the question that should be asked. “What can we do, today, for women to be on the smallest dose of hormone replacement for the shortest amount of time and still retain quality of life?” The question should not be “is HRT good?”. More research into patient selection criteria is warranted. However, what I’m afraid will happen, at the expense of quality patient care, is disregard for these recommendation with some clinicians refusing to prescribe and others continuing to over-prescribe. We want something with a broad therapeutic window with no history of safety concerns. Something that supports endogenous hormone production so that lowest dose, shortest duration can be honored. We want something that has clinical trials that support efficacy in a broad spectrum of conditions the way HRT does. What we want exists and is available on the market as a natural product. Femmenessence (Maca-GO®) is that commercially available natural product. The following is a technical/ White Paper on the evidence of Femmenessence (Maca-GO®) http://naturalhi.com/downloads/WhitePaper_MacaGO.pdf and links to the abstracts of the peer-reviewed journal articles referenced http://naturalhi.com/Post-Menopause.aspx

They make you fat…and they aren’t food!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:36:00 +0000

What do new car smell, your favorite fragrance, and a plastic bottle have in common? Well, while it sounds like a bad joke, it is quite serious. Each of these and many other common products contain substances called obesogens. That’s right, chemicals that initiate or propagate obesity. Of course, diet and exercise are still real contributors to weight, but the body composition equation runs a coefficient of hormone balance and obesogens disrupt hormone balance….sometimes in a big way! And don’t think that just because you maintain healthy body weight that this doesn’t apply to you. Obesogens are endocrine disruptors and are the same chemicals that contribute to hormone issues such polycystic ovarian syndrome, amenorrhea, low testosterone, infertility, increased perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms, and certain cancers regardless of what the scale says.

Plasticizers leach from carpets and newly installed car interiors, thus providing that ever so pungent new car smell. In fact, when working with a hormone imbalance patient, I ask questions about exposure to new carpets and cars and after the weird looks, I get the story and excitement of a new “thing”, and then another weird look. Although, more often than not symptoms started or got worse after the new purchase.

If you’re thinking this is just another made up term to scare us or another excuse to rationalize dietary indiscretion, you would be misinformed. Obesogen is a term first coined in 2002 and since then has been cited in 19 peer-reviewed articles, with 6 of those published in 2011 and 4 already in 2012. It is gaining understanding and isn’t going away.

Much like we are learning that certain phytonutrients speak directly to our own genetic material, the hypothalamus, our master gland, and may either potentiate or interfere with enzymes, so too do these environmental chemicals.

The following are four truths as found in the Journal of Andrology:

“Obesogens are chemicals that directly or indirectly lead to increased fat accumulation and obesity.
Obesogens have the potential to disrupt multiple metabolic signaling pathways in the developing organism that can result in permanent changes in adult physiology.
Prenatal or perinatal exposure to obesogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals has been shown to predispose an organism to store more fat from the beginning of its life.
This suggests that humans, who have been exposed to obesogenic chemicals during sensitive windows of development, might be pre-programmed to store increased amounts of fat, resulting in a lifelong struggle to maintain a healthy weight and exacerbating the deleterious effects of poor diet and inadequate exercise.”[1]

So it really may be true that some people are literally programmed to be fatter. However, that doesn’t mean that it is inevitable or uncontrollable. We are all dealt a different deck. Not all of us have the genetic material to be Olympic athletes and some that do, do not participate in the required training to compete, thus illustrating the contributions of both how we were made and what we’re exposed to. Where this becomes vitally important is during the reproductive years. Preconception programs often address helping moms-to-be and dads-to-be engage in healthy behaviors, optimizing hormone levels, improving detoxification, and reducing exposures to toxins. This is one such sensitive windows where obesogens can wreak havoc on metabolism…prior to conception!

The list of obesogens include phthalates also known as plasticizers are also found in personal care products such as shaving creams, colognes, and lotions, Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in plastic bottles and polyvinylchlorides found in shower curtains.

Recent changes at Whole Foods Market address possible concerns with obesogens. Dr. J. Renae Norton describes these changes in a two part series (Part I and Part II).

However, you can drive yourself crazy thinking about avoiding these chemicals. Most of them are released for absorption through your skin or ingested when plastics are heated. Avoiding hot plastics is a good step in the right direction but total avoidance is likely not possible with these nearly ubiquitous chemicals. Additionally, though, you can support the excretion of these chemicals through supporting liver, kidney, and bowel function on a daily basis. Glutathione levels are perhaps most important if we zoom in single markers of the body. Glutathione acts as a free radical scavenger and also supports liver function. Without the bowel and kidneys functioning at their best, these chemicals cannot be eliminated. Supporting kidney function can be done with Sole therapy using Original Himalayan Crystal Salt and pH Quintessence on a daily basis. The pH Quintessence product also supports liver function, glutathione levels and bowel motility, making it a versatile and easy to use product. While obesogens may have programmed you to gain weight faster than normal and caused hormone imbalance, supporting the hypothalamus, the master gland, can help send the right signals to the right glands that need help the most while your body restores homeostasis. The hypothalamus talks to the pituitary gland and these two partners then communicate to the thyroid gland, pancreas, adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes. Natural Health International has introduced products for men well as different stages of life for women (Premenopausal, Perimenopausal, and Postmenopausal) to support comprehensive endocrine balance without introducing hormones from outside the body but rather supporting hypothalamus and pituitary function and all their downstream metabolic effects.

Obesogens are a serious chemical insult, but with some awareness of their effects, can be minimized and our bodies fully supported.

[1] Janesick A, Blumberg B. Obesogens, stem cells and the developmental programming of obesity. Int J Androl. 2012 Feb 28. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2012.01247.x.

Tuning Metabolism: Melatonin’s Role in a Rapid Weight Loss Program

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:02:00 +0000

Most individuals following a medically guided weight loss program will lose weight. However, the operative word here is following. The number one reason why programs fail is poor compliance. The old adage frequently attributed to Benjamin Franklin applies “Failure to plan is planning to fail.”

Practitioners hear the excuses, “I’m too tired…”, “I’m too stressed….”, or “I’m too busy….” to plan and coordinate the right foods and exercises into my lifestyle to stick with the program. Even the simplest plans can end in failure due to a poor night’s sleep or perceived decreased energy during the day.

Programs can focus on reduced calories, increased activity, detoxification, or hormone balance. The best ones have a contribution from all of these and will also pay particular attention to the stresses that are placed on a body that is decreasing in total mass!

Most weight loss patients expect to feel better when starting a “get healthy plan,” but more times than not one or more predictable yet overlooked stresses derails a well-meaning patient and frustrates a well-intentioned doctor. Most people feel a bit worse before they feel better.

Stresses on the weight-loss body include

Changes in circadian rhythms
Oxidative stress
Toxic release from adipose (fat) tissue

Waking up early, going to bed earlier, or staying up later to accommodate a new lifestyle can be disastrous to the normal diurnal cycles that the body clings to for natural adaptation and survival. Any change (even healthy ones) to the status quo causes additional stress to the body in an attempt to restore homeostasis. Melatonin is the most commonly suggested therapeutic for entrainment of circadian rhythm. Most often studied in shift work disorders, jet lag, changes in season, and among the blind, little doubt exists between the connection between this powerful hormone and daily cycles. A 3 milligram dose is often used over the short term to correct for changes and ease the body into adapting to the new healthy patterns. If not addressed up front during a weight loss programs, many patients will seek conventional medical intervention for sleep such as prescription hypnotics. However, this can have potential ill results as reported in the British Medical Journal which associated these medicines with increased mortality. [1]

With melatonin’s reputation as a sleep product, many practitioners forget that melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that crosses the blood-brain barrier. Most patients have never even been introduced to this concept. Rapid weight loss patients may experience increased oxidative stress due to exercise, increased protein intake, and even reduced calorie intake can be seen by the body as an oxidative stress event. In fact, even healthy fats including fish oils which support the reduction of systemic inflammation can increase an individual’s need for antioxidants. Oral melatonin has the potential to reduce this oxidative stress load.[2] Melatonin at 0.3 milligrams can effectively be used for long-term support in the event that a rapid weight loss program is expected to take a longer time frame. For example, individuals needing to lose more than 30 pounds may require three or more months and low, physiological-dosed melatonin (0.3 mg) is appropriate for supporting this process.

Toxins, whether environmental or excess intermediate metabolites from normal metabolism, are often sequestered in adipose tissue to protect vital tissues and organs from free radical damage. During rapid weight loss, adipose tissue decreases in size (the desired outcome of the program), yet this eliminates valuable storage for these toxins. Weight loss releases these toxins into the blood stream and must be handled effectively. Fecal elimination must be supported as well urinary excretion. Liver support, antioxidant support, and bowel and kidney support are all necessary to safely and effectively master a rapid weight loss plan. When dietary antioxidants and alkalization are not enough, simple supplementation of pH-supporting greens and melatonin can be useful. In fact, melatonin has been used to support bowel motility among those with those further into the dis-ease state of irritable bowel syndrome[3] and pain in those with inflammatory bowel disease.[4]

In the context of weight-loss, it is rare to find a patient seeking this type of support without other comorbid conditions. Addressing these personalized needs are key to success. Sleep challenges are pervasive affecting up to 30% of the population. Gastrointestinal disturbances and hormone and/ or stage-of-life related conditions also affect a majority of weight loss patients. Thus, using a combination of interventions to support hormone balance, gastrointestinal health, and healing sleep is simply good lifestyle medicine and prudent to support compliance in a medically supervised weight loss program.

[1] Kripke DF, Langer RD, Kline LE. Hypnotics’ association with mortality or cancer: a matched cohort study. BMJ Open 2012;2: e000850.
[2] Reiter RJ, Tan DX, Osuna C, Gitto E. Actions of melatonin in the reduction of oxidative stress. A review. J Biomed Sci. 2000 Nov-Dec;7(6):444-58.
[3] Lu WZ, Gwee, KA, Moochhalla, S, Ho, KY. Melatonin improves bowel symptoms in female patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2005; 22: 927–934.
[4] G H Song, P H Leng,K A Gwee,S M Moochhala, K Y Ho. Melatonin improves abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome patients who have sleep disturbances: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study. Gut 2005;54:1402-1407 doi:10.1136/gut.2004.062034

Maca and Sexual Function by Tori Hudson, N.D.

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:08:00 +0000

Maca is a traditional plant common to the Andes Mountains and has been used for centuries to enhance fertility, improve sexual function, improve energy and more. Maca (aka Lepidium Peruvianum and Lepidium meyenii) belongs to the mustard family and is considered an adaptogen—helping us to adapt to a variety of stressors.

A systematic review was done to assess the clinical evidence for or against the efficacy of maca for sexual dysfunction. The review included only randomized clinical trials comparing maca to a placebo in men or women with sexual dysfunction. Four randomized controlled trials (RCT) met the inclusion criteria. Two of these trials suggested a positive effect of maca on sexual dysfunction or libido in menopausal women or adult. One other RCT did not show effect of maca in cyclists. The fourth study assessed the effects of maca in men with erectile dysfunction and did show significant effects.

While the evidence is limited, there does appear to be some effectiveness of maca in improving sexual function.

For more blogs by Dr Hudson go to http://drtorihudson.com

In addition for more information on maca, men and sexual function go to http://www.naturalhi.com/Products/Macalibrium.aspx

Reference

Shin B, Soo Lee M, Jin Yang E, Lim H, Ernst E. Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2010;10:44

Japan, Radiation and iodine

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:07:00 +0000

While we do not think this will be an issue a number of our customers have been ring up and asking about Original Himalayan Crystal Salt's benefit in relation to minerals and iodine due to the threat of possible radiation.

A lot of interest has been focused on iodine and iodine supplementation to prevent harm to thyroid glands and other systemic problems.

To give you a bit more information: Iodine 131 is released with radiation. Where ever a receptor for iodine is needed, there is susceptibility for Iodine 131 to attach and prevent "regular" iodine from binding.

It is important to note that Iodine supplements do not stop other effects of radiation. It only keeps iodine 131 from binding and causing the loss of function (mostly at the thyroid). Also certain people cannot or should not take iodine supplements. The following is from the Food and Drug Administration.

According to the FDA:
Adults – including women who are breastfeeding – should take 130 milligrams of stable iodine. Children aged 3 to 18 should take 65 milligrams. Children who weigh more than 150 pounds should take the adult dose, regardless of age. Nursing and non-nursing infants between 1 month and 3 years of age should take 32 milligrams. Nursing and non-nursing newborns should take 16 milligrams.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU TAKE IODINE TABLETS?

Most often a single dose of iodine – which protects the thyroid gland for 24 hours – is all that is needed. Officials may request that the public take a dose of stable iodine every 24 hours for a few days if radioactive iodine will remain in the environment for a prolonged period of time. Pregnant and breastfeeding women and newborns should avoid taking multiple doses.

RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS

When officials advise the public to take iodine pills following a nuclear event, the benefits outweigh the risks. Taking a higher dose than is recommended will not provide more protection and can cause severe illness or death. People with thyroid disease should take iodine pills only under a doctor’s supervision. General side effects include intestinal upset, rashes and inflammation of the salivary glands.

And that’s where the FDA stops.

Yes Original Himalayan Crystal Salt will be of benefit in relation to iodine but if it does become an issue you would want to look at an iodine supplement like Tri Iodine. Please note you only absorb about 10% of the iodine in iodized salt therefore do not look to that for your source.

But, iodine isn’t the whole story. Toxic metabolic products are generated under conditions of exposure to radiation (whole body reacting to radiation stress). PH Quintessence holds unique properties to purify blood from these unwanted toxins. With a blend of chlorophyll, beta carotene, and xanthophyll and 2.5% total potassium, pH Quintessence purifies the blood and aids in biotransformation or detoxification. http://www.naturalhi.com/Products/Quintessence.aspx

Hydration is also of paramount importance when it comes to radiation. Therefore, many customers have turned to Original Himalayan Crystal Salts for its ability to improve absorption of water into cells especially using Sole http://www.himalayancrystalsalt.com

One of the major side effects of therapeutic radiation is dehydration. Hydrating patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation has a lot of empirical evidence behind it. Patients, doctors and nurses all stress hydration and fluids during treatment. Patients ALWAYS know when they haven't had enough.

Radiation will cause free radical damage, some of which is dealt with at the cellular level, but the creation of toxic metabolites, involving the liver require hydration due to the detoxification pathways are mostly hydrolytic (use up water).

To further the detoxification concept, the kidneys, need adequate hydration to excrete toxic metabolites created by radiation or otherwise. N.B. Therapeutic radiation and nuclear radiation are very different, but beyond proximity to epicenter, hydration and general health status will be best predictors of an individual's outcome.

By Dr Corey Schuler DC, MS, LN

St. John's Wort and Menopause

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:58:00 +0000

St. John’s wort products and extracts have been used for a wide range of medical conditions, the most common being depressive disorders. The most robust research is in the area of mild to moderate depression, with some additional research in anxiety, severe depression, seasonal affective disorder, premenstrual syndrome, and perimenopause/menopause. St. John’s wort is the most thoroughly researched natural antidepressant, but the majority of these studies have not been conducted on menopausal women.

A study of St John’s wort liquid extract showed a statistically decline in hot flashes severity, duration and frequency in the SJW group compared to placebo at week 8.[1]

Another double blind randomized clinical trial demonstrated that after 3 months of treatment, women in the St. John’s wort group reported significantly better quality of life scores, and significantly fewer sleep problems compared to placebo. [2]

About ten years ago, a non placebo controlled, drug monitoring study was conducted in women with menopause symptoms using 900 mg of St. Johns wort for 12 weeks. About three quarters of the women experienced improvement in both the self-rating scale and the physician rating, and significantly improved in psychological and psychosomatic symptoms as well as a feeling of sexual well-being.[3]

The first of three studies using St. John’s wort and black cohosh was published in 1999. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial used St. John’s wort and black cohosh made by the makers of Remifemin.[4] The Kupperman index for the combination product decreased from 31.4 to 18.7 compared with a decrease in the placebo group from 30.3 to 22.3. Psychological symptoms also improved significantly in the black cohosh/St. John’s wort combination group.

A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study was done using a combination trial of black cohosh and St. John’s wort. The mean Menopause Rating Scale score decreased 50% in the treatment group and 19.6% in the placebo group.[5] The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score decreased 41.8% in the treatment group and 12.7% in the placebo group. In both testing measures the St. John’s wort + black cohosh group was significantly superior to the placebo group.

Another black cohosh/St. John’s wort trial was carried out in peri or postmenopausal Korean women, and was published in 2007.[6] Mean Kupperman index scores at 4 and 12 weeks were significantly lower in the treatment group (P < 0.002). At the end of the study, the average decrease in the Kupperman Index was 20 points in the treatment group and only 8.2 points in the placebo group (P < 0.001). Vaginal dryness and low libido were two symptoms that did not improve, but the average hot flash scores were significantly lower in the black cohosh/St. Johns wort group.

Finally, a study was done in which a combination of black cohosh with or without St. John’s wort was used in 6141 women at 1287 outpatient gynecologists in Germany in a prospective, controlled open-label observational study.[7] The greatest changes occurred with the combination therapy for nervousness/irritability and mood swings, but in the area of depression, there was a reduction in both treatment groups.

St. John’s wort is emerging as an important clinical tool in treating perimenopausal/menopausal women—for hot flashes and/or depression and/or mood swings, as a single agent, or in combination with other therapies.

For more blogs and information from Dr Hudson go to http://www.drtorihudson.com

References

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] Abdali K, Khajehei M, Tabatabaee R. Effect of St. John’s wort on severity, frequency, and duration of hot flashes in premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Menopause 2010;17(2): 326-331.

[2] Al-Akoum M, Maunsell E, Verreault R, Provencher L, Otis H, Dodin S. Effects of Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort) on hot flashes and quality of life in perimenopausal women: a randomized pilot trial. Menopause. 2009 Mar-Apr;16(2):307-14.

[3] Grube B, Walper A, Whatley D. St. John’s wort extract: Efficacy for menopasual symptoms of psychological origin. Adv Ther 1999;16:177.

[4] Boblitz N, Schrader E, Henneicke-Von Zepelin H, et al. Benefit of a fixed drug combination containing St. John’s wort and black cohosh for climacteric patients-results of a randomised clinical trial )poster presentation from 6th Annual Symposium on Complementary Health Care, Exeter, England, December 2-4 1999). Focus Alt Comp Ther 2000;5(1):85-86.

[5] Uebelhack R, Jens-Uwe Blohmer, et al. Black cohosh and St. john’s wort for climacteric complaints. Obstet Gynecol 2006;107:247-255.

[6] Chung D, Kim H, Park K, et al. Black cohosh and St. John’s wort (GYNO-Plus) for climacteric symptoms. Yonsei Med J 2007;48(2):289-294.

[7] Briese V, Stammwitz U, Friede M, et al. Black cohosh with or without St. John’s wort for symptom-specific climacteric treatment- Results of a large-scale, controlled, observational study. Maturitas 2007;57:405-414.

Vitamin D and Ovarian Cancer Risk Reduction by Dr Tori Hudson

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:33:00 +0000

Women with ovarian cancer and control subjects were analyzed for their vitamin D status as measured by serum 25(OH)D3 level in 7,243 women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES).

A high and low status of levels of serum vitamin D was defined as above or below 23 ng/mL (57.5 nmol/L). After adjusting for age, diet and body mass index, ovarian cancer cases were over three times as likely to have inadequate 25(OH)D3 levels compared with the controls.

Previous research has shown that vitamin D induces apoptosis in ovarian CA cell lines, ovarian cancer has been inhibited by vitamin D in animal studies and although studies are mixed–ovarian cancer rates appear to be higher in areas with less sun exposure.

Other research on vitamin D consistently observes that a long list of chronic diseases and cancers are associated with lower vitamin D status, with some showing risk reduction when levels are above 30 ng/mL, 40 ng/mL and even 50 ng/mL. Despite this large and growing body of evidence, the Institute of Medicine recently released its Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D based on a target level of 20 ng/mL and randomized controlled trials, rather than the cornucopia of observational studies. This resulted in recommended doses of 600-800 I.U. per day depending on age. As I stated in a January blog, it is too bad… that these observational studies were not considered, and once again, we may not have optimal prevention and risk reduction guidelines from our government agencies. Many if not most alternative minded practitioners are recommending a routine dosing of 2,000 I.U. of vitamin D per day, in individuals who do not have a history of kidney stones nor elevated serum calcium levels. However, most women will achieve a minimum serum level of 23 ng/mL (as stated in this current ovarian cancer prevention study) at doses of 600 I.U.-1,000 I.U. per day. A simple blood test will confirm. This would be a logical step in women with risk factors for ovarian cancer or a personal history of ovarian cancer.

For more posts by Dr Hudson go to https://www.drtorihudson.com

Reference: Bakhru A, Mallinger JB, Buckanovich RJ, Griggs JJ. Casting light on 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in ovarian cancer: a study from the NHANES. Gynecol Oncol 2010;119:314-8.

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients by Dr Tori Hudson

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 03:14:00 +0000

A prospective observational study was carried out in 50 breast cancer patients on tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen therapy that can also induce or worsen menopausal symptoms. All 50 women were post surgery, 87% of them were post radiation treatment and approximately half of them had received chemotherapy as well. Each patient was treated with an isopropanolic extract of black cohosh (1-4 tablets, 2.5 mg) for 6 months. Symptoms were recorded before therapy and after 1, 3 and 6 months using the menopause rating scale (MRS II).

Results: The total MRS II score for women while on black cohosh treatment reduced from 17.6 to 13.6, a statistically significant reduction. Symptoms of hot flashes, sweating, sleep problems, and anxiety improved, but vaginal dryness and body aches/pains did not change. Twenty two patients reported adverse events, but none were linked with the black cohosh; 90% of the women reported the tolerability of the black cohosh extract as very good or good.

Commentary: This is one more positive study using black cohosh extract for menopausal symptoms and even more meaningful, women on tamoxifen can have more problematic menopause symptoms and so a significant benefit of black cohosh is especially needed. Readers will also want to be reminded that we do have safety data on black cohosh in breast cancer patients—there is no estrogen in black cohosh, no phytoestrogens in black cohosh, no ability to stimulate breast cancer cells and laboratory data showed that black cohosh inhibited proliferation of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells and augmented the anti-estrogen effect when using black cohosh with tamoxifen. Black cohosh is clearly the first choice herb for menopause symptoms in breast cancer patients, and in breast cancer patients on tamoxifen.

Reference:

Rostock M, Fischer J, Mumm A, et al. Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients with climacteric complaints – a prospective observational study. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2011 Jan 13;

For more information about Dr Hudson go to http://www.torihudson.com

Calcium/Vitamin D, IOM guidelines by Dr Tori Hudson ND

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 03:56:00 +0000

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released their assessment of current data on health outcomes as they related to calcium and vitamin D after being commissioned by the U.S. and Canadian governments. The new reference values, expressed Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), are based on an abundance of information and higher quality published studies than were available for the 1997 government values.

A committee of experts evaluated more than one thousand studies and reports as well as listening to testimony from scientists and others. This committee considered that studies about the health benefits beyond bone health were most often from studies that provided mixed results, inconclusive results, or were not from randomized controlled trials. Thus, these were not considered reliable. Their focus then was on the bone growth and bone maintenance data.

Their new Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is now 600 IU per day for people ages 1 to 70 and 800 IU per day for those 71 and older. The old guidelines from 1997 were 200 IU per day through age 50, 400 IU per day for ages 51 to 70 and 600 IU per day for 71 and older. While I would consider these guidelines conservative to the extreme, (really a one year old and a 70 y.o. need the same amount????) they at least increased a new safe upper limit of 4,000 IU a day for those 9 years old and above, pregnant or not. The greatest concern I have with these guidelines is that they based their bone dosing guidelines on a target blood level of 20 ng/ml per day, rather than 30 ng/ml per day minimum published in most research about levels needed to suppress the parathyroid gland and avoid unnecessary bone loss.

Most practitioners and a studious group of consumers realize that there are scores of studies on other potential health benefits found in observational/epidemiological studies including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, select autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease and much more. It is too bad… that these were not considered, and once again, we may not have optimal prevention, risk reduction guidelines from our government agencies.

For a full list of the dosing guidelines by age group, gender, and pregnancy status, you can find these at www.iom.edu/vitamind

For more information on Dr Hudson go to www.torihudson.com

Cranberry and Bladder Infections by Dr Tori Hudson

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:36:00 +0000

A small study was conducted in 10 Greek postmenopausal women who had at least 3 documented urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the previous year or at least 2 UTIs in the last 6 months prior to the start of the study. Women were given 400 mg of cranberry extract twice per day (2 caps in the morning and 2 in the evening) over 6 months. Urine cultures were taken and proven normal before the start of the study and then every month during the study.

While taking the cranberry extract, none of the women had a UTI over the course of the 6 months and almost all of the urine cultures were sterile (normal). Three women reported mild gastrointestinal problems and their dose was reduced to 2 capsules per day and as a result, their gastrointestinal problems subsided.

Commentary: Cranberries, in the form of juice and capsules have been shown to be effective in previous prevention and treatment of bladder infections. Both cranberries and blueberries belong to the Vaccinium species which are rich sources of dietary flavonoids, including anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. While the exact mechanism of the benefits of cranberries has not been clearly established, it is thought that the inhibition of adherence of the main bacteria causing infection, Escherichia coli, to the uroepithelial cells that line the wall of the bladder is the main action.

Reference:

Karefilakis C, Mazokopakis E. Efficacy of cranberry capsules in prevention of urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women. J Altern Complement Med 2009;15(11):1155.

For more from Dr Hudson go to www.torihudson.com

Curcumin and Knee Osteoarthritis

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 02:48:00 +0000

One-hundred and seven patients with primary osteoarthritis of the knee were studied and included those with knee pain on a scale of at least a 5-10 in intensity, radiographic osteophytes and at least one of the following features: > age 50, morning stiffness < 30 minutes in duration and crepitus on motion. The majority of the individuals were overweight women with a BMI > 25. Study individuals were asked to discontinue their knee pain medications and were randomized to either ibuprofen 400 mg twice daily or Curcuma domestica extract, 500 mg four times daily for 6 weeks.

Fifty-two patients received C. domestica extracts and 55 patients received ibuprofen with 45 patients in the curcuma and 46 patients in the ibuprofen group completing the study. The mean scores of pain on level walking, pain on stairs, and functions of the knee were significantly improved when compared with the baseline values in both groups. There were no significant differences in those measurements between the patients receiving ibuprofen and C. domestica extracts, except pain on stairs was more favorable with curcumin and a greater degree of moderate to high degree of satisfaction with treatment in the curcumin group (90.1%) vs. 82.8% in the ibuprofen group. There was a bit better compliance with the ibuprofen at twice daily than the curcumin four times daily, but there were no patients who reported dissatisfaction in the curcumin group.

by Dr Tori Hudson

For more Blogs by Dr Hudson go to http://drtorihudson.com

Reference

Kuptniratsaikul V, Thanakhumtorn S, Chinswangwatanakul P, et al. Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts in patients with knee osteoarthritis. J alternative and Complementary Medicine 2009;15(8): 891-897

Organic Foods Versus Non Orgnaic - the latest research

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:35:00 +0000

I want to premise this by saying that the below ONLY relates to fruit and vegetables. As Michael Pollan’s best selling book the Omnivore’s Dilemma points out organic animal farming in the United States is in many cases as bad if not worse than conventional farming from a health standpoint, let alone an ethical one. Grass feed (NO vegetarian feed is NOT the same as you can see from lots of the Whole Foods Market recent postings) and free range are the terms you want to look for when shopping for meat and eggs which show similar results to the below.

You know there is often a lot of debate around organic versus non organic fruit and vegetables, especially due to the higher cost. As has been shown some pesticides have carcinogenic properties and on a more subtle note they also have compounds which inhibit our body’s ability to absorb some of the minerals in food. On top of this we are also starting to see (as this study is evidence) that the nutritional benefits in organic foods far outweigh non organic most probably due to the health of the soil and different farming methods. As an example a study our medical team often quotes by Rutgers University showed that non organic spinach had 2% the level of iron found in organic spinach. Now if we start to look at food from a functionality or nourishing perspective (not just to satiate our hunger) and look at it as fuel for our engine, then the quality of what we put in becomes extremely important (not to mention removing the impurities mentioned before from pesticides).

Commercially speaking if the organic spinach mentioned above was a fuel and had 50x the concentration of its competitor we would not balk at paying an additional 20%. In fact economically we would still see a cost benefit from paying 5000% more! If we starting looking at food slightly differently and asking the question:

“Will this taste good and feed my hunger? Will it do anything bad to my body? And how much good proportionately will it do compared to that cheaper version?” In many cases our purchase decision will change. I know now I personally can’t even buy anything non organic because I know what they put in there and because if I am going to eat something I want the ultimate health benefit from it…. And my monies worth!

But that isn’t were the benefit ends. By moving your purchase dollar to organic farming we start to impact our planet. Like everything it comes down to money, but if food starts to be valued on nutrition or quality versus quantity farmers (as many of them already are) will need to pay attention. There is a reason Walmart has moved to Organic! And from a more universal perspective we start to see the perfection in the process where by nourishing the soil, not polluting the crops with chemicals we not only get healthier food but improve our environment. When we truly look at it long term and from everyone’s mutual benefit it is not only a logical solution but perfect.

http://www.grist.org/article/new-study-weighs-in-on-organicconventional-debate/

Become a fan of http://www.facebook.com/himalayancrystalsalt

By James Frame

How Hormones Affect Heart Health for Women

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:46:00 +0000

While many women know that cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke) is the number one cause of death in women in the United States, most do not know how significant it is. If you add the 2nd, 3rd and 4th causes of death together they do not add up to the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease. Another important detail is that this increased risk does not really become a factor until a certain stage in life called menopause. Consequently, the majority of women go from having a very low risk of cardiovascular disease throughout their life until menopause, when it jumps significantly.

So why such a big jump in risk? What happens at menopause?

You are still eating the same foods, doing the same amount of exercise, and taking the same supplements! Many women can attest that more often it is not until they reach menopause that issues related to cholesterol, blood pressure or body weight become a concern. It begs the question, what happens?

It is the body’s declining production of hormones that significantly affects a woman’s health.

Due to the Women’s Health Initiative results in 2002 indicating that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) could increase the risk of breast cancer and stroke, many women have been concerned about hormones in general. HRT was introduced over 40 years ago by doctors who knew the importance of a woman’s own hormones on health and believed that re-introducing them into the body, either synthetic or equine formulation, was the best way of reversing the ill effects from loss of hormones. Since then, we have seen that foreign hormones introduced into the body may have side effects, as well as concern over the amount of hormones introduced into the body, the form of administration and/or how long they should be taken. Another issue is the body needs to metabolize foreign hormones in order to make them available; consequently this can have an impact on liver and kidney function, in essence inversely affecting our body’s ability to detoxify. Also HRT is often just two hormones: estrogen and progesterone. It is typically not a patient-specific combination of all the hormones, which a woman may need.

What is understood and accepted is that throughout our life the body’s OWN hormones have supported a healthful state. This ability to support the body’s production of hormones is what makes Femmenessence so unique and exciting. Without introducing hormones into the body, it naturally supports the body’s own production of not one or two hormones, but ALL hormones.

So what do our own hormones do:

• Estrogen increases HDL “good cholesterol,” which reduces plaque build up and possible blockage in arteries.

• Estrogen reduces LDL “bad cholesterol,” which can cause plaque build up and possible blockages in arteries.

• Estrogen also maintains the elasticity of arteries and blood vessels. Triglycerides may contribute to hardening of the arteries or thickening of the artery walls, which increases the risk of heart disease.

• Progesterone protects arteries from spasms. Women’s arteries are much smaller than a man’s and spasms of heart arteries can adversely affect blood flow to the heart.

• Adrenal hormones like cortisol, testosterone, and DHEA, affect sleep, energy, hair growth, muscle growth, and weight just to name a few. Adrenal fatigue and the biological effects of stress, mediated by hormones produced in the adrenal glands, plays a major role in obesity and its deadly consequences, including inflammation, insulin resistance, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and other conditions that together constitute “metabolic syndrome.”

• Thyroid Hormones control how quickly the body burns energy, makes proteins and how sensitive the body should be to other hormones.

Not only does Femmenessence™ create the optimal hormone balance by positively impacting estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, adrenal levels, and reducing FSH levels, but in our double blind placebo controlled clinical trials we saw it increase HDL, reduce LDL, reduce body weight, reduce triglycerides, and empirically we have seen it improve blood pressure from long term use.

It is important to note that there is no such thing as a magic bullet and Femmenessence isn’t the sole answer. Exercise, healthy diet and emotional support are also important. Dr Christiane Northrup in the Wisdom of Menopause talks about the part emotional stress plays in this equation. “Emotions such as depression, anxiety, panic, and grief have been shown to cause constriction in blood vessels, thereby impeding the free ﬂow of blood. And anything that causes constriction in your blood vessels makes your heart and your vessels work harder to do their job. I’ve seen happy, joyful women with high cholesterol counts live healthy lives into their eighties and nineties, while much younger women whose lives were characterized by depression, anxiety, or hostility might have the ﬁrst sign of heart disease symptoms in their early fifties despite normal cholesterol levels.”
Using Femmenessence™ for 3-4 months continuously should be the first step in creating the balance that promotes a healthy heart. Ideally it would be combined with emotional support, a stress reduction therapy like meditation, and a top quality fish oil, Niacin, and possibly CoQ10 .

• Fish Oil: Decreases the risk of irregular heartbeats that can lead to sudden cardiac death. Improves blood vessel function, decreases triglyceride levels, lowers blood pressure, and decreases the growth rate of plaques that clog arteries.

• CoQ10: Used mainly in heart conditions: congestive heart failure (CHF), heart attack, heart valvular disease and heart muscle disease.

• Niacin: Very effective in supporting lipid levels.

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St. John's Wort and Menopause by Dr Tori Hudson

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Several studies of St. John’s wort alone and St. John’s wort with black cohosh have been able to demonstrate that these products are good options for perimenopausal and menopausal women with hot flashes, mood issues, sleep problems and quality of life.

In the newest of the St. John’s wort studies in perimenopausal/me nopausal women, a total of 100 Iranian women with an average age of 50 participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial comparing St. John’s wort with placebo in the treatment of hot flashes.[1] 50 women received 20 drops three times daily of St. John’s wort extract (Hypericin) that contained hypericin 0.2 mg/mL and 50 women received a placebo of distilled water. The study duration was two months. Clinical exams and interviews were performed at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Treatment effectiveness was measured evaluating frequency, duration and severity of hot flashes as the main objective of the study.

In women taking St. John’s wort, the frequency began to decline during the 1st and 2nd months, but showed more improvement during the 2nd month. There was no statistical change in hot flash frequency during the first month of placebo but did improve during the second month. Women who used St. John’s wort showed more improvement in hot flash frequency than placebo. The decline in duration of hot flashes was statistically significant at week 8 and the decline was much more evident in the St. John’s wort group. The severity of hot flashes was relieved in the St. John’s wort group during the 2 months of treatment and was more significant in the second month. Women in the placebo group did not show any significant decrease in severity of hot flashes during the 1st month, but they did have some improvement during the 2nd month, but not as great as those women in the St. John’s wort group.

Comments
St. John’s wort has emerged as an important clinical tool in treating perimenopausal/menopausal women—for hot flashes and/or depression and/or mood swings, and/or sleep problems either as an encapsulated standardized extract from 300 mg twice per day to three times per day, or a tincture/liquid extract ½ tsp 2-3 times per day, or in combination with other menopause therapies such as black cohosh, maca extract, kava or others.

Reference
[1] Abdali K, Khajehei M, Tabatabaee R. Effect of St. John’s wort on severity, frequency, and duration of hot flashes in premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Menopause 2010;17(2): 326-331.

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:59:00 +0000

As big supporters of Dr Northrup's work we are happy to announce that she has just revised her best selling book Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom which we often refer to customers to increase their understanding on how the body works. To get the most up to date version go to http://bit.ly/cCUjS7

Maca - as posted on the forum What Nobody Tells You About Maca Root Powder – Dangers And Side Effects

Sat, 29 May 2010 23:22:00 +0000

Firstly thank you for your input Nan and Tim. Also I want to make a disclaimer that I am the CEO of Natural Health International www.naturalhi.com and we produce Maca-GO which is the ingredient in Femmenessence our women’s product and Maca-OG the ingredient in Revolution Macalibrium our men’s product. FYI these are NOT normal maca products they are concentrated, pre gelatinized and specific phenotype combinations of maca.

I think this blog is very interesting as it taps into all the good, bad and ugly in our industry in one. The below is not meant to be an advertisement for NHI but instead giving you some real insights into our industry and what we do, to try and do everything right. Our products only cover certain areas of health so I am a consumer just like you and I pick companies apart before I buy their products because I know what they can do if they chose to and are willing to go the extra mile. I am also going to post this on our blog http://naturalhealthint.blogspot.com so please feel free to ask me additional questions there.

The first point I would like to address is that statistically in medicine they estimate that no matter what product you use around 5-10% of the population will either have no reaction or an adverse reaction. So straight away even the best product on the planet 1 out of 20 people or even slightly higher it wont work. What we see with many products is even lower - say for example looking at women’s health – Black Cohosh (60% success rate), Red Clover and Soy (45%-55%) and many others which are even lower. Also these success rates fail to point out that while they may be 60% effective (ie 6 out of 10 women they work for) but they may only reduce symptoms statistically significantly eg 50%-60% instead of highly significantly. As an aside Hormone Replacement therapy has a 90% success rate and 80%-100% reduction in symptoms which is why so many women use it. Obviously it has lots of risks but when you see those statistics and understand how people can play with them it gives you an idea of the huge variance between natural products and pharmaceutical products. In relation to Femmenessence (Maca-GO) we had an 84% success rate and highly significant reductions over 80%. The other aspect that isn’t pointed out is which symptoms? Black Cohosh, Red Colver and Soy we see reduce hot flashes and night sweats but in Bio identical and Femmenessence we see changes in mood, vaginal dryness, mood and many other areas of health which relate to hormones.

Secondly who’s research. Let me assure you 99% of ALL research is paid for either directly or indirectly by a company. The question is who conducted the research? Was it a doctor in a clinic who works for the company or was it done by a third party who does not have a financial interest in the success of the product and has their own credibility to consider like a University. How many people was it done on? Did they do pharmacology and toxicology? Was there an ethics commit and credible board determining the methodology? What was the methodology of the trial and was it not just subjective like many herbal clinical trials are – by that I mean was there actually something tangible that we could measure like cholesterol, hormones, bone density instead of just how do you feel? Also was the research actually done on that exact product or someone else’s and they used it. And most importantly where was this research published? Was it in a peer reviewed credible medical journal or just written up by the company. Which third party doctors have then reviewed the research and given positive comments or even use the product with patients? What you will find with maca is nearly all the research was done on someone else’s product and companies are piggy backing off that research. The credible research you will see has been done by Dr Gonzales in Peru primarily on men and Dr Meissner on women. This research has been published in international medical journals. As an aside we had an ethics commit of over 12 experts in Europe, our trial was conducted by the Institute of Medicinal Herbs in Europe and our double blind placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted on hundreds of women measuring every hormone from estrodiol, progesterone, LH, FSH, thyroid etc to lipid, cholesterol, bone density and all menopausal symptoms. It was conducted at three geographically displaced hospitals with different socio economic groups. The research has been published in Menopause (which is published by the North American Menopause Society and group funded by mainstream and pharmaceutical companies which as you can imagine would be very discerning of natural products like ours) also Pharmacology and Toxicology and the International Journal of Biomedical Science. Taking it even further some of the most influential doctors in women’s health in the world have reviewed it and written about it such as Dr Christiane Northrup (Oprah’s Women’s Health expert), Dr Tori Hudson regarded as the top Naturopathic Doctor in the US for women’s health, Dr Toru Tabei in Japan, Dr Maryon Stewart in the UK and Jan Roberts best selling author, practitioner and expert in fertility in Australia.

Thirdly as Tim has emphasized where do the companies get their products? Most of the companies in our industry are marketing companies. They don’t do their own research, don’t have their own manufacturing and don’t grow their own herbs. Know who you are getting products from and where they get their products. Also are they organically certified, kosher, GMP, fair trade etc. depending on your beliefs and what is important to you. Natural Health International is vertically integrated in that we have our own fields, manufacturing and control the whole process. We are USDA, European Union and Japanese Organically certified as well as GMP, Kosher and Halal. We have joint ventures and mutually beneficial relationships in every country where we co own with the local people all operations. We value add in each country instead of exporting simple raw materials which increases the revenue into those countries and creates industries not just trade.

And finally what are the claims companies made based on? Which products, what research or what anecdotal evidence. In relation to maca anecdotally we have seen that if Peruvian’s with their genetics and gastro intestinal profile consume cooked, high quality maca, in food amounts (ie higher doses) for extended periods of time ie years - yes their hormones will be in balance (although there is no scientific evidence of this), they will experience improved fertility, energy and health. What we have seen with American’s is that generally they will see the same benefits (if they take it longer term as mentioned above) with the caveat that SOME will have gastro intestinal reactions, some will have other adverse reactions, some need much lower doses, many have other conditions which need to be addressed first. The important fact to point out is NO research on normal maca has been able to prove scientifically effects on hormones in peri and post menopausal women, increases in bone density, improvements in cholesterol and lipids except Maca-GO (Femmenessence). Why? We believe that to date the combinations of maca types used have been focused on men’s health, low concentrations and low bio availability. This doesn’t mean that we wont have research from other companies in the future like ours, it is just to date no one has been able to mirror our results which is why we have doctors, pharmacists and medical groups talking about and using Femmenessence and such mixed results with normal maca. But again as mentioned Femmenessence is only 84% effective which means 3 women out of 20 it doesn’t work for or have reactions.

I hope this information helped. I am definitely trying to get our information out there because I too believe this is an amazing herb and don’t want people to be disheartened if they get the wrong product for them. Personally I believe any women wanting to use maca for women’s health issues should use Femmenessence (there is one for younger, peri and post menopausal women). Any woman or man wanting to increased energy and a general super food for smoothies look to an organic, gelatinized maca powder specifically black maca as Tim pointed out. Any man with low hormone levels and cardiovascular health – Revolution macalibrium.

Regards,

James Frame
CEO
Natural Health International

St. John's Wort for treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) by Dr Tori Hudson

Mon, 24 May 2010 22:00:00 +0000

The results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial using St. John’s Wort for PMS sufferers were recently published. 36 women with regular menstrual cycles who were diagnosed with mild PMS were randomly assigned to receive St. John’s Wort tablets (900 mg/day and standardized to 0.18% hypericin and 3.38% hyperforin) or placebo for two menstrual cycles. After a one month no treatment cycle, women were crossed over to the opposite group, for two additional cycles.

Symptoms were rated using the Daily Symptom Report, The State Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Aggression Questionnaire and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Numerous hormones and physiological markers were also measured in the follicular and luteal phases: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, testosterone, cytokine interleukins= IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha.

St. John’s wort was statistically more beneficial than placebo in food cravings, swelling, poor coordination, insomnia, confusion, headaches, crying and fatigue. There were no significant effects of St. John’s wort compared with placebo in any of the biochemical blood measurements. St. John’s wort was not statistically more beneficial in anxiety, irritability, depression, nervous tension, mood swings, feeling out of control and pain-related symptoms during two cycles of treatment. However, these pain-related symptoms appeared to improve more than placebo towards the end of each treatment period.

Commentary: The results of this PMS study demonstrate once again, the benefit of St. John’s Wort for the treatment of PMS. In this study, it was determined their PMS was mild. The benefit received by women taking St. John’s Wort was achieved during the first menstrual cycle in which it was taken. While St. John’s Wort did not prove to be statistically better than placebo for mood and pain-related PMS symptoms, the pain symptoms did appear to improve more than placebo towards the end of each treatment period, implying that there may be more pain benefits with St. John’s wort after a longer duration of treatment. Several other studies have shown benefit with St. John’s wort.

Reference: Canning S, Waterman M, Orsi N, et al. The efficacy of Hypericum perforatum (ST John’s Wort) for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome. CNS Drugs 2010; 24(3):207-225.

Are you using the right type of Maca

Fri, 14 May 2010 20:10:00 +0000

By Peter Bablis D.C., N.D., LAc, Dip. Medical Herbalist, Homeopathy, Dip. Clinical Nutrition, PhD
As a college lecturer, integrative doctor, and medical herbalist, I have used as well as keenly followed the research into the herb Maca (Lepidium peruvianum) over the past five years. In my practice, and in keeping with the research of the late nineties, my focus has always been Maca’s use for men in relation to fertility and energy. I used a standard Maca powder for this application with fair success but had never really seen strong or consistent results in women except for improved general energy and wellbeing. However over the last five years, the focus of my lectures and use of particular products has shifted as I have become aware that not all Maca is the same.

About Maca

Maca is an adaptogenic herb cultivated exclusively in the central Peruvian Andes at 12-14,000 feet under harsh natural growing and weather conditions. Adaptogens are an extremely rare class of herb that modulates the body’s response by supporting it in dealing with physiological, biochemical, and psychological stressors1. So rare in fact that Russian researchers studying the mode of action of over 4000 plants found only 12 true adaptogens amongst them. Other common adaptogenic plants include Ginseng, Ashwagandha, Eleuthero, Holy Basil, Licorice, Rhodiola and Schisandra.

Maca has a wide range of active constituents including amino acids, glucosinolates, phytosterols, and alkaloids. But rather than trying to break down and standardize individual active constituents within Maca, it is more interesting to investigate the full spectrum of active constituents of specific phenotypes (Phenotype: the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, as determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences) and the natural synergies of all the active constituents that exist in the individual
phenotype. Research has demonstrated that there are in fact 13 different phenotypes within the species Lepidium peruvianum (Maca) that exhibit different colors, have different analytical profiles and even in some cases elicit different physiological effects on the body2.The Importance of the Phenotypes of Maca Dr. Gustavo F. Gonzales from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru has published some very interesting research regarding different Maca phenotypes in relation to men’s health1. As an example, his research has demonstrated that while the red Maca phenotype will reduce the size of a prostate, other phenotypes won’t, or may even increase the size, while black Maca is considered the strongest in energy-promoting properties3. In addition, Dr. Henry Meissner (Director of Research and Development at Natural Health International San Francisco CA) has published some potentially ground breaking papers on specific, concentrated Maca phenotype combinations. Known as Maca-GO® (or commercially
as Femmenessence), these combinations specifically affect hormone levels in post menopausal women4,5. In the double blind, placebo crossover human trials conducted by Meissner, he found that specific phenotype combinations and concentrated levels of all the active ingredients are critical to ensuring actual, measurable physiological effects on hormones, lipids and bone density6,7. Meissner’s research has further evolved this concept of different phenotypes by introducing three concentrated phenotype combination products for women depending on their stage of life. The Femmenessence MacaPause phenotype combination is designed to improve a
post menopausal women’s hormone production. This combination has resulted in statistically significant increases in estradiol (P<0.001), increases in progesterone and reductions in FSH (P<0.05), with highly significant reductions in menopausal symptoms as well as increases
in HDL “good cholesterol”, reductions in LDL “bad cholesterol”, triglycerides and body weight as well as increases in bone density8. The Femmenessence MacaLife phenotype concentrated combination is designed to reduce menopausal symptoms and modulate mood associated with peri menopause and the fluctuation of hormones during this stage of life and Femmenessence MacaHarmony is for younger women to address hormone imbalance and PMS and improve fertility9,10,11,12.

My Clinical Experience

In my clinic, I have seen first-hand the effect of using specific Maca phenotypes for specific populations. As opposed to just “feeling better”, my female patients have experienced actual physiological changes in hormone levels after using the different Femmenessence phenotype combinations. Addressing conditions ranging from amenorrhea, PMS and adrenal fatigue to menopausal symptoms and heart and bone health6. It is within this range of benefits, derived from combining individual phenotypes in specific ratios and concentrating the full spectrum of active constituents, that I have found surpasses normal adaptogenic Maca products, which are generally random combinations of the different phenotypes mixed together. Furthermore they are not concentrated, which may be beneficial for general wellbeing and energy but not for specific clinical uses. Alternatively, I have also used a different phenotype combination in men to reduce prostate size and another combination to counter adrenal fatigue2.

Quality Matters

Another factor in relation to Maca is the bioavailability and concentration of the active ingredients required to elicit physiological effects4,5,13. Quality of seed sources and soil content, as well as organic or biodynamic growing strategies and drying methods, all play a part in maximizing the quality of all active constituents. Interestingly, the higher elevation, region-specific quality soil (not necessarily from certain regions of the depleted Junin Plateau), and traditional sun-drying the crop at elevation over a period of three months (not in tobacco dryers in Lima), have all been shown to contribute to the highest quality raw material. In relation to manufacturing, Maca is a tuber and is naturally hard to digest raw. For that reason the native Peruvians traditionally cooked Maca the same way we would a potato. Scientifically this process of improving bioavailability has been addressed through gelatinization, with Meissner (Natural Health International) and La Molina University being the leaders in developing their own processes. Meissner has perfected the process to such a degree that Maca-GO® (Femmenessence) is 99.9% water soluble4.

As the natural products industry continues to evolve, it is critical that we combine the best of traditional knowledge, organic and biodynamic-type farming practices with the highest levels of science, manufacturing and quality control. All herbs are not created equal therefore it is important to investigate them in detail, support their use with pharmacology, toxicology and human placebo controlled clinical trials and use efficacious products with therapeutic levels that elicit real health benefits.

Reference:
1 Winston D, et al. Adaptogens. Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief. Healing Arts Press 2007
2 Gonzales GF, et al. Red Maca (Lepidium meyenii) reduced prostate size in rats. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2005, 3(5) 14
3 Skyfield Tropical: Free Online Botanical Encyclopedia Maca (lepidium peruvianum): Botanical Characteristics
4 Meissner H.O., Mrozikiewicz P.M., Bobkiewicz-Kozlowska T. et al. Hormone-balancing effect of pre-gelatinised organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon):
(I) Biochemical and pharmacodynamic study on Maca using clinical laboratory model on ovariectomised rats. I. J. B. S., 2006; 2: 260
5 Meissner H.O., Kapczy_ski W., M_cisz A. et al. Use of Gelatinised Maca (Lepidium peruvianum) in Early--Postmenopausal Women - a Pilot Study. I. J. B. S., 2005; 1: 33
6 Carter R. Clinical Effects of a Proprietary, Standardized, Concentrated, Organic Lepidium Peruvianum Formulation (Maca-GOÆ) as an Alternative to HRT 2007
7 Meissner HO, et al. Use of Gelatinized Maca (Lepidium peruvianum) in Early Postmenopausal Women—a Pilot Study. IJBS 2005, 1(1):33-45
8 Meissner HO, et al. Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon): (II) Physiological and Symptomatic Responses of Earlypostmenopausal
Women to Standardized Doses of Maca in Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multi-Centre Clinical Study. IJBS 2006, 2(4):360-374
9 Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Gonzales C, et al. Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improved semen parameters in adult men. Asian J Androl 2001, 3(4):301
10 Obregon LV. “Maca” Planta Medicinal y Nutritiva del Peru. 1 Edition Lima: Instituto de Fitoterapia Americano. 2001, 1-182
11 Chacon de Popovici, Gloria. Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon), Millenarian Peruvian Food Plant, With Highly Nutritional and Medicinal Properties. 1st Edition.
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Lima, Peru. 2001, 1-337
12 Chacon G. Pytochemical study on Lepidium meyenii. PhD Thesis. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Lima, Peru. 1961, 1-46
13 Meissner H.O., Kedzia B., Mrozikiewicz P.M., et al. Short- and Long- Term Physiological responses of Male and Female Rats to Two Dietary Levels of Pre-Gelatinised Maca
Lepidium peruvianum Chacon). I.J.B.S., 2006; 2: 15

Why the right Salt is essential to your health

Tue, 11 May 2010 20:16:00 +0000

Comparing Table Salt, Sea Salt and Himalayan Crystal Salt

John F. Kennedy once said,

“All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea… we are going back from whence we came.”

As you know, all life evolved from the ocean and just like the ocean, your blood and every cell in your body contain salt and water. In fact, millions of years ago the ocean’s salt water, untouched by humankind and pollution, had an almost identical content and ratio of minerals that exist in your body today. Your body and the ocean’s salt water, as it was in the beginning, contain 84 minerals in what is believed to be the ideal ratio for your body’s optimal function. Each mineral in your body performs a variety of important roles, with the synergistic combination of all 84 minerals forming the foundation for true health and wellbeing. However, depleted mineral reserves in soils, non-sustainable farming practices, and pesticides that inhibit the uptake of certain minerals, mean that vegetables, fruit and animal produce are no longer the complete source of minerals that they once were.

Historically, people would add mineral-rich salts to their diet, but the salt that we add to food today is very different from those traditional salts, which contained a plethora of minerals. Instead common table salt contains just two minerals - sodium and chloride. Not only does table salt lack the full mineral profile that your body needs, but the structure, and the various chemicals that are mixed with sodium chloride, are actually detrimental to your health. Table salt is refined at extremely high temperatures, which alters its chemical structure and bio-availability. Furthermore it is chemically cleaned, bleached and treated with anti-caking agents. These anti-caking agents prevent salt from mixing with water and clumping in the jar. However, they have the very same effect in your body, hence won’t dissolve easily, which frequently results in a buildup of salt deposits in your organs and tissues. But there’s more - the two
most common anti-caking agents are sodium alumino-silicate and calcium aluminosilicate, both sources of aluminum, which is a heavy metal associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other health issues.

Instead of the mineral-rich salt that supports life, common table salt, a refined and impoverished version of the original, is actually harmful to your health. Its use has been linked to conditions including: high blood pressure, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis, kidney stones, and stomach ulcers. The body must use a lot of its water reserves to metabolize refined table salt, leading to chronic dehydration on a deep cellular level. What’s more the body recognizes refined salt as poison and tries to excrete it as quickly as possible, causing a further burden on your body’s detoxification organs, especially the liver and kidneys. Knowing the vast array of health problems caused by common table salt, millions of people now avoid salt completely or look for healthier alternatives. However, avoiding salt is not the answer. Lack of salt and all the key minerals the body requires can also affect your health adversely. Linus Pauling, PhD, winner of two Nobel prizes said,

“All diseases of humanity can be attributed to the lack of minerals in our bodies…
You can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailment, to a mineral deficiency.”

Essentially, every cell in the human body is dependent on the presence of sodium and potassium. These two minerals need to be in constant, dynamic balance so the cells can exchange energy. Your body is constantly monitoring these minerals and working to maintain their delicate balance.

Minerals are also a vital part of your cells, blood and lymphatic fluids. They are critical for all body functions, including muscular contraction, electrolyte balance, blood sugar regulation and pH balance - but you need all minerals, and in a form which your body can readily use.
Many people have started to use other types of salt such as sea salt or Celtic salt. However, while many sea salts may have more minerals than just sodium and chloride, rarely do they contain the full complement that your body needs. Nor are the structures and mineral ratios of sea salts ideal, with clinical research demonstrating that sea salt, like table salt, increases acidity and blood pressure. More importantly, sea salt harvested from today’s polluted oceans has the potential to contain petro-chemicals and unacceptable levels of heavy metals. Furthermore, many sea salts are refined in a similar process to table salt.

But there’s good news! Recently re-discovered is one of nature’s purest and most complete mineral salt sources on Earth. In the remote reaches of the Himalayan Mountains are the mineral salt crystals which were created 250 million years ago. A legacy of ancient oceans, trapped after tectonic plate movement and subsequent evaporation, Himalayan Crystal Salt contains 84 minerals vital for human health. These minerals include sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iodine, iron, zinc, manganese and many more. Additionally, these minerals exist in ionic form, which means they can be easily absorbed. In order for your body to benefit from the minerals you take in, they must be extremely small. Their size is measured in angstroms. As a reference point, a sheet of paper is 1,000,000 angstroms thick. Even though minerals with larger molecular size will eventually be absorbed into your blood, the angstromsized minerals can be readily absorbed into individual cells and that’s where they are most effective. The best way for you to absorb these minerals is in a liquid form of Himalayan Crystal Salt called Sole. Sole (so-lay) is a super-saturated solution of Himalayan Crystal Salt in purified water - providing the ultimate infusion of ionized minerals in a highly bio-available liquid form. The minerals are now small enough to be able to pass into the cells, being immediately available as electrical potentials, or ENERGY. In German, the word Sole, which is derived from the Latin word “sol”, means sun. Sole means fluid sunlight or fluid light energy. More scientifically, this can be explained as better overall availability of electrolytes or charged ions, which conduct energy between cells and improve cellular function. Use of Himalayan Crystal Salt as a condiment or as Sole can lead to electrolyte-balance, balanced blood pressure, improved gastrointestinal function, balanced pH levels and increased energy.

It is important to point out that there are many salts which claim to be the Himalayan Crystal Salt, yet these may actually come from South America, Europe or exhibit a very different mineral profile. The easiest way to feel secure, knowing you have the Himalayan Crystal Salt with the exact mineral combination, the proven research and ultimate health benefits is to ask your supplier to provide you with an analytical profile of their salt which shows all 84 minerals in the proportions indicated in the Water & Salt book; also make sure that the source of the salt is Pakistan and that it bears the official seal of the Royal family to denote its region of origin.

By Carlin Saldanha N.D., MPH
Dr. Saldanha is a naturopathic doctor, nutritionist, herbalist, wholefoods chef, and yoga teacher practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area. Carlin also holds her Masters in Public Health and has dedicated herself to the fields of wellbeing, health education, prenatal healthcare, natural medicine, fertility, and women’s health for over 10 years.

Tender Breasts and Vitamin E by D Tori Hudson

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:12:00 +0000

Cyclic breast pain, called cyclic mastalgia is one of the most common problems in menstruating women. A recent study has determined once again, the therapeutic value of vitamin E as a safe and effective treatment for cyclic mastalgia.

This study was a double blind clinical trial in 150 women in Iran. Two groups of 75 women each were evaluated for severity and duration of breast pain which was measured according to a breast pain chart and something called a Visual Analog Scale.

Chewable tablets of either vitamin E 200 mg tablets or a placebo were given twice a day for 4 months, and again, the severity and duration of breast pain was evaluated at the end of the second and fourth month. The results at two months for vitamin E were dramatically better than placebo in severity and duration, and appear to be achievable in about 70% of the women. The improvement was seen as soon as two months, and no continued improvement after 4 months.

Commentary: Other studies have been conducted in vitamin E and breast pain. In 1997, Khanna et al compared vitamin E with a drug called Danazol. Vitamin E reduced pain in 41% of the women in the studies and Danazol had similar pain reduction in 72% of the women. Clearly the drug helped more women, but the side effects of that drug are significant and one third of the women developed other side effects. Meyer et al did a study in 1990 but did not show any benefit from Vitamin E. Ernester in 1985 studied 201 women with mastalgia as it relates to fibrocystic breast disease. He concluded that vitamin E was not effective, but he was not evaluating breast pain as a distinct issue. In 2004, Bespalov et al studied 66 women with a combination of beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C and garlic powder. There was a reduction in the severity of mastalgia, premenstrual syndrome, infrequent menses and menstrual cramping as well as a reduction in symptoms of fibromatosis in 75% of the women compared with 45% of women on placebo.

If vitamin E alone is not sufficiently helpful in reducing mastalgia, evening primrose or borage oil should be considered, as well as carotenoids, iodine, eliminating caffeine, lowering saturated fats in the diet and increasing fiber.

References
Parsay S, Olfati F, Nahidi S. Therapeutic effects of vitamin E on cyclic mastalgia. The Breast Journal 2009;15(5):510-514.

For more Blog's By Dr Hudson go to http://drtorihudson.com/