Whole Earth Health

Prescription Drug Abuse: A Worrying Trend

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:18:24 GMT

h2>Prescription Drug Abuse: A Worrying Trend

Very often we're familiar with seeing and reading in the news, stories about drug and alcohol addictions, and in some cases the growing numbers of celebrities who are succumbing to treatment for such things. What is not often talked about are the rising numbers of cases of people becoming addicted to prescription medications, that is to say, perfectly legal drugs that can be obtained from the doctor and the drug store.

Common drugs

The most common types of drug which are open to abuse from people are painkillers, either in opiate form such as Hydrocodone or Vicodin or also NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen or Diclofenac.

Very often, these are taken legitimately to start with; perhaps the person taking them has had severe back pain, or an operation that required strong pain relief. The patient discovers they like the feeling the medication gives them and find that when the time comes for them to stop taking them, they can't.

It might be that on perhaps a one off occasion they needed something to calm them down, took a dose and found it made life easier to cope with and thus continued.

Drugs such as opiates and NSAIDS taken in either of these ways can soon become very addictive and the person taking them finds that they need more and more to get the same effect of relaxation or floatiness because they develop a tolerance.

For this reason, other medications such as cough preparations and medicines to treat cold symptoms and anti-histamines can also have a similar effect.

What happens to cause prescription medication addiction?

When someone takes a medication that is opiate based, it affects the pain receptors in the brain and blocks them. Opiates tend to give a feeling of calmness and numbness, which is aided by the release of the chemical dopamine around half an hour to an hour after they've been ingested. This feeling will continue to last for a good few hours, before more is needed to replicate the sensation again.

Similarly, medications that are given to treat ailments like allergies also have a similar effect. Anti-histamines do a very good job of blocking nerve receptors and calming the nervous system down, which often goes into hyper-drive when a reaction occurs.

Why is addiction to prescribed medications happening?

While many doctors are responsible and only prescribe drugs of any kind when absolutely necessary, in some cases, doctors are over prescribing or writing out scripts perhaps without always carrying out proper checks. Thus it becomes easy to suddenly have a stock of opioids or other similar medications to hand. In cases where people buy preparations over the counter they may be able to visit a number of different drug stores wherever they live and obtain packets of the drugs they need, which enables them to continue their addiction more or less in secret and without suspicion from anyone.

Another major problem is the fact that many drugs can now be bought online without the need of a script or face to face consultation with anyone. It means that virtually any medication that is required can be accessed, bought and delivered to someone's home without the need for a conversation or any proper health checks. This is quite a worrying trend.

What to do if you think you’re addicted

First of all it’s important to make contact with a properly trained medical professional who can help you. Intervention Specialists can help tailor a program of withdrawal and detoxification from whatever it is you or perhaps a loved one has become addicted to. Specialist drug abuse intervention programmes set up and run by trained counsellors and psychologists can help with every single aspect of recovery from addiction.

Very often, with an addiction to something like prescription medication, a slow, tailored withdrawal is preferred to minimise side effects and symptoms.

When looking at something like detoxification or withdrawal it can sometimes be good to look at a “whole person” recovery, that is to say a recovery that takes on board ideas about nutrition, exercise and relaxation to really help with any side effects that might occur.

Looking into supplementation and dietary aids to accompany a programme of recovery could include something like MAX NFUZE, which can help in situations where immune system function has been depleted by addiction or in cases where extra nutrients are required after a period of recovery from the stress of withdrawal.

Everyone Needs Good Bacteria and Probiotics

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:56:09 GMT

Do you have any idea how important a supply of friendly bacteria are to your health?

Colonies of “friendly” bacteria must say in the colon for it to function properly. Without an abundant supply of friendly bacteria, we are vulnerable to harmful yeasts, dangerous bacteria, viruses, intestinal toxemia, and a wide spectrum of other health issues. Why? Because without the work of beneficial bacteria to support the elimination of the waste resulting from insufficiently digested food, the toxins and undigested food particles can work their way into the circulatory system and put extra pressure on the immune system to eliminate them. As far as your immune system is concerned, these tiny bits of undigested food are foreign invaders to be either changed into something usable or purged from the body . Over time this unnecessary work can weaken the immune system and render it useless in the face of a serious illness

The toxins born of digestive waste can spread everywhere. They can actually poison you. Your under nourished and toxin riddled organs and organ systems are put under increasing stresses which can weaken them up to the point where they will fail to function properly. Have you ever heard the phrase, "death begins in the colon" ? It reflects the belief of many, many researchers and scientists. Good intestinal health is vital to our well being.

Communities of “friendly or probiotic” bacteria must be in the colon for it to work properly . They help hold a balance in your gut by holding down the proliferation of bad bacteria like E. coli and salmonella .

The friendly bacteria that should be in our colons to control these problems are subjected to a constant assault by an increasingly diverse array of enemies. These include things you might not see as a problem like; chlorinated water, antibiotics- the ones we take for illnesses and the ones we get from meat and dairy products-, alcohol , chemicals in our environment, as well as radiation and chemotherapy . Because our society is creating such a problem for our healthy bacteria stores, it's advisable to supplement with probiotics.

These “friendly” intestinal bacteria used to be passed naturally from mother to baby . But , in the last fifty years, in our blind desire to remove all bacteria, we didn't just kill the bad. That’s why it is so important to regularly reintroduce good bacteria into our system to ensure we keep them healthy. Probiotics supplements may also be necessary right after taking antibiotics or other medications aimed at killing bacteria or viruses.

Lorraine Craymer

Phytonutrients

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 03:26:37 GMT

A Peek Into the Wonderful World of Phytonutrients

by Lorraine Craymer

In addition to amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, you need an adequate supply of phytonutrients in your diet. What exactly are these chemicals, and how do they help you maintain a healthy diet? Here is a little of what you need to know about them, and good sources of phytonutrient rich foods.

Phytonutrients are actually a form of antioxidants, which means that the more you can get the better off your body will be at fighting off disease and infection. 'Phyto' comes from the Greek word for 'plant' and phyto nutrients are completely and totally natural. They boost the immune system, and are found in most fruits and vegetables, but some foods are superior sources.

There are several different types of phytonutrients:
Lignan, one of the phytonutrients found in grains like rye and barleysupports a healthy colon, and it's also found in oatmeal and flax seed.
Polyphenols, are found in purple grapes, red wine, soy products, and cranberries. Cranberries help to cleanse the liver, and soy milk and tofu have the protein you need to build strong bones and muscles. Herbal and green teas which are rich in vitamins and minerals are are also great sources of phytonutrients and can make it easier for the kidneys and liver to rid themselves of toxins.

Fruits that are pink or red in color contain lycopene, which is another important phytonutrient with the chemicals that are necessary to protect against prostate and other cancers. Be sure to eat plenty of fresh tomatoes (about three servings a week should be fine), as well as pink grapefruit and watermelon for great skin, more energy, and healthy brain function.

There are also vitamins and nutrients that combine well with phytonutrients and should be included in your diet. For instance, you may want to take Coenzyme Q10 supplements to help you better digest your food, since this substance assists the adrenal glands in processing nutrients. You may also want to supplement your phytonutrients intake by boosting your glutathione production though the use of a precursor, but not with a supplement.

You Can Cut the Toxic Load on Your Liver

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 02:45:12 GMT

Take a Toxic Load Off Your Liver

By Lorraine Craymer
Your liver acts like a washing machine for the whole of your body and without it, your bloodstream and every other organ in your body would be hopelessly clogged with an array of countless toxins like smoke, bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, chemical food additives, environmental pollutants and even impurities from the water you drink.

You liver also protects you from toxins that your own body makes which can happen as a result of nutritional deficiencies which are now very common with our terrible eating habits and the bad farming practices that send nutritionally deficient foods to our markets. Did you know what humans can retain the toxins we ingest by storing them in our fat?. They can stay there for years until we hit an event like stress, or a fast or diet or even simply exercising which finally enable us to metabolize (aka burn) the fat, which unfortunately serves to release those toxins back into our bloodstream. The sudden influx of toxins puts great pressure on our livers and cal also trigger events like headaches. (Have you ever experienced a headache when you're losing fat?)

And of course, if we're going to talk about the liver, it's pretty hard to ignore the perils of alchohol and Cirrhosis, end stage liver disease resulting from years of chronic inflammation. It's not always caused by alchohol, but chronic alcohol use will often lead to this condition which features and extensive build up of scar tissue. what that means is that there simply isn’t enough of the healthy functioning liver left to do its job. It kills you. Liver Disease is the 4th leading cause of death among 30-50 year olds.

Along with avoiding toxins, antioxidants are vital for a healthy functioning liver in two ways- they help to remove toxins from our body and protect the liver.

Antioxidants help the liver clear toxins from your blood, directly supporting on the livers main functions. The liver releases an abundance of enzymes and antioxidants including glutathion , during the second phase of detoxification, which neutralize those toxins not already modified by the liver directly in the first stage. the pressence of antioxidants help the liver clear toxins and free radicals before they can build up.

When the level of glutathione in your body falls, which can happen from a sustained intake of toxins - as in- for example a case of chronic alchohol abuse, the liver can't work properly and can be damaged by free radicals leading to a state of oxidative stress which can lead to the kind of chronic inflammation that creates the scar tissue of Cirrhosis.

Unfortunately, there are many sources of toxins beyond alchohol that can damage your liver. Our lives are loaded with stressors toxins, so taking steps to look after your liver is important.

Boost your levels of antioxidants - especially glutathione to help your liver clean toxins from your blood and protect itself. A stressed, inflamed liver affects the health of every organ in your body.

Choose a diet, filled with raw fruits and vegetables. Reduce your use of stimulants like caffeine and depressants like nicotine and alcohol. Drink lots of water - at least 2 quarts each day. Consider consider supplementing your diet with digestive enzymes like Protease, Lipase or Amylase to aid in your digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. When your digestive system works more effectively it will also serve to reduce the toxins that your liver needs to manage.

Are We Really that Stupid?

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:38:21 GMT

Are We Really That Stupid?

The parents of a 14 year old girl - who had a pre-existing heart condition- are suing the energy drink Monster for the girls wrongful death. Apparently their daughter drank 2-24 oz cans of this caffeine loaded drink within 24 hours of her death. Don't get me wrong, as a parent, I bleed for the unrecoverable agony of losing a child. As a supporter of natural products, I'm appalled at the crap that companies are allowed to sell and pass off as a legitimate energy product (or for that matter the poison passed off as food).

But, really? Are they living in a cave not to realize that energy drinks are overwhelmingly loaded with caffeine? Clearly they were aware of what their daughter was drinking, so how could they have allowed this to continue? If, understandably, you respond that a fourteen year old will do whatever they please, then I can only ask instead, how could they not have communicated to their daughter the incredible dangers presented by massive amounts of caffeine - or any stimulant for the matter - if you already (at 14) have a heart condition?

Among the well known side effects of this type of drink- which is sold in variety and grocery stores all over- with no form of warning or regulation - are anxiety, hypertension, elevated heart rates and disrupted sleep patterns. A recent piece of research from the University of Miami points to the possibility of even more serious consequences like strokes, heart palpitations and sudden death. According to ABC News energy drinks after only five days of repetitive consumption will create unrecoverable damage to tooth enamel.

Alzheimers and Dementia

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 23:33:02 GMT

Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

Learning that someone you care about is experiencing the early stages of Alzheimers and dementia can be a devastating experience, but there are resources available to help make caring for that person a little easier to manage for a while. You'll need resources available to you that will balance a continued desire to nurture independance with a scaleable level of caring and support.. Here are some facts about the condition that will let you know if you need to seek further treatment.

Alzheimers and dementia often go hand in hand, since Alzheimers is the overall condition of memory loss, coupled with other symptoms like lack of attention and depression, and dementia is an overall deterioration of the mind. During the early or mild stages of Alzheimers, you will likely notice an increasing occurance of forgeting the names of friends and common words used pretty much every day. when it happens only a few times it doesn't present a problem but when you can tell that words are being made- up and substituted as a way to cover up or if they become increasingly quiet in order to avoid 'messing up' during conversation, you may be witnessto the early stages of Alzheimers and dementia.

Less motivation to complete some tasks, or even changes in personality can be a sign of Alzheimers and dementia. When a person is experiencing dementia, finishing everyday tasks can be a more of a challenge, which means that simple chores like making breakfast, tying shoes, and getting dressed in the morning may be skipped more often as the condition deteriorates. The brain slows down, and neurotransmitters do not do their job as frequently. If you notice that your parent or grandparent has started to put things in strange places around the house, such as finding a wallet in between sofa cushions, or find a toothbrush in the dishwasher, this could be a sign that it's time to meet with the doctor.

During the more severe stages of Alzheimers and dementia, you may find that it is hard for your loved one to organize their thoughts and feelings, and it may be increasingly difficult to recognize old friends and family members. Once you meet with your doctor, you will be able to create a treatment plan to help to meet his or her needs--studies have shown that most patients live about 10 years after the initial diagnosis, but some even live twenty years after the disease has been detected.

If you want to know more about Alzheimers and dementia so that you can provide the right Alzheimer care, visit www.alz.org.

Free Radicals and Aging

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 18:22:33 GMT

Free Radicals and Aging

I never used to think much about aging and the Free Radical Theory of Aging wasn't on my mind 20 years ago, but the older I get the more I think about it . I used to think that free radicals had something to do with politics. I was wrong about that, but they're still bad news. So, what are free radicals? They're unstable or damaged molecules that need to steal an electron from another nearby molecule in order to restablize themselves but doing that creates another unstable molecule and the cycle repeats. It sets off a chain reaction that inevitably damages first the cells and eventually damages the organ systems in your body.

One easy place to spot the correlation between free radical damage and aging is on the face of a life-long sun worshipper You can see the impact of free radicals on their skin, but you can't see what happens to your liver, lungs or intestinal system . Even arteries get clogged - with cellular junk - and joints become swollen and painful with chronic inflammation- which is a condition directly caused by free radicals.

Antioxidants are nature's answer to free radicals . They're are molecules that are capable of donating an electron to a free radical without becoming unstable themselves. They arrest the chain reaction and prevent the damage.

But, where do free radicals come from? There are two main sources of free radicals - one source is the outside surroundings - think of pollution and cigarette smoke and all the chemicals and toxins we regularly ingest . We also make free radicals ourselves . There are four separate ways that our bodies produce free radicals - oxidants.

Every day living - I can't spell the scientific expanation. But let's just say that our body, uses oxygen as fuel and converts it to water. In the process, the oxygen molecule is not completely and cleanly utilized. There are by-products called oxy-radicals- our own version of nuclear waste- So that's one - huge source of free radicals- metabolic waste.

Oxidants are not all bad, our immune system uses them to fight chronic infections, bacteria and parasites. Unfortunately, there can be some collateral damage. We fight fire with fire and sometimes manage to burn ourselves in the process . We also produce hydrogen peroxide- another free radical version of oxygen - when we metabolize some fatty acids.

These processes never stop and are happening in millions of cells at once . It's not surprising that antioxidant supplements are so popular and no small miracle that our body also produces some superb antioxidants like glutathione and CoEnzymeQ10 to help us deal with them.

In a final irony, an enzyme called cytochrome P450 is used by our bodies to protect us against toxins like drugs, other foreign chemicals and pesticides. In the process of creating this enzyme, our body will also produce free radicals. You could say that this makes the external toxins doubly damaging.

If you're interested in helping your body combat the ageing effects of free radicals, you need to increase your supply of antioxidants. Some antioxidants, like Vitamins C and E can be supplemented and decidedly a good diet is very important. Other antioxidants like Glutathione cannot be supplied as an oral supplement, although you can provide your body with the precursors -raw materials- to produce it yourself. MaxGXL, MaxONE and Cellgevity are all glutathione precursors.

Enzymes Work with Probiotics

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:49:24 GMT

Enzymes Working with Probiotics

Probiotics are getting a lot of attention in the market today, but do you realize that there are many plant based digestive enzymes that you can take as supplements to improve your health as well. Enzymes can work wonders for helping you to feel better--here is some information about how the enzymes work, as well as some information on what we think are about the best digestive enzymes on the market

Enzymes are the building blocks of just about every bodily function. there are- in fact- some antiaging theories are actually built around enzyme depletion- They work with hormones in order to help you digest foods, achieve muscle and bone strength, and can even help to relieve stress. Many health professionals recommend that enzymes be taken with probiotics as a complete supplement. Combining with probiotics can further assist in the digestion of foods and balance the activity of the gut. Each of the enzymes perform a different job, and some of these substances are naturally created in the human body. However, there are some enzymes that humans have to get from food, and this is why many people have digestive problems.

Most of the enzymes that we need have to come from 'live' food, which means the diet should consist of a number of raw fruits and vegetables. Cooking vegetables kills the enzymes making them harder to digest and leading to problems with heartburn and indigestion. Enzymes such as protease are used to digest proteins in the body, which means that you'll need this substance for digesting whole grains and beans. Lactase, the enzyme that helps the body to digest milk and milk products, is also necessary for digestion, but people tend to lose this enzyme as they age. Some digestive enzymes, such as papain and bromelain, also come from fruits, and eating these fruits before they are completely ripe could aid in nutrient absorption.

The probiotic activity with enzymes is also very important, since this 'good bacteria' will work with the enzymes to help your body to use the food for the energy it is intended for. Acidophilus is one probiotic in many of these supplement combinations, and this helps to balance the intestinal flora in the gut, as well as prevent infections and viruses. Enzymes probiotics have also helped individuals to rid themselves of chronic fatigue, and some people have reported having clearer skin after taking the supplements. This is largely due to the fact that the supplements will remove toxins from the body much quicker, which makes for glowing skin, as well as weight loss in some individuals.

Risk Factors for Cancers

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:25:14 GMT

Risk Factors for Cancer

It seems that everywhere we look, there are risk factors for different types of cancer. Avoiding some of the biggest risk factors like smoking, excessive use of alcohol and failure to get any good exercise is something well within the ability of everyone. One little tip I read, which I found to be very interesting was marinade food you intend to grill on the bbq and it also mentioned that the longer you grill your food, the more carinogens you're taking in.

Have you heard of the term "silent killer"? Many of the diseases in the world today are described that way. The term refers to a disease that often goes undetected because there are no obvious warning signs. Pancreatic cancer is one of deadliest diseases to fit this description. Both the Center for Disease Control and the Mayo Clinic report pancreatic cancer as the number one cause of cancer death. Located behind the stomach, the pancreas helps the body break down and use carbohydrates. It produces special enzymes that work in co-operation with the digestive system. The pancreas is probably best known as the source of insulin which it secretes into the bloodstream to regulate the body's sugar (glucose) level.

It's important to know if there is a family history of cancer in any form. Research has proven there are higher risks for those individuals that have a common genetic link or predisposition to acquiring cancer. It does not mean that cancer is inevitable; just that there is a higher risk. Individuals without a family history of cancer can develop cancer as well and should also pay attention.

Unfortunately pancreatic cancer prevention is often difficult due to the very nature of discovering the cancer. By the time symptoms manifest, the disease is advanced and surgical removal may no longer be an option. There are certain symptoms that might be present such as: pain in the abdomen from the growth pressing on nerves, jaundice, weight loss that is not intended and even itching. Should these symptoms present themselves, it is very important to contact the physician as soon as possible. My personal observations of people in my life who have died from pancreatic cancer point to a rapid and pretty much unexplained weight loss. This simply cannot be ignored and even though a cursory check up which shows that nothing is wrong could be exactly what you want to hear, please keep checking. Another possible sympton is dark urine and clay colored stools.

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include age- the average age of diagnosis is 72 years old. Smoking, lack of exercise and diabetes are other risk factors. Some consider race and gender to be risk factors namely male and African American, however it's possible that in early studies these two groups simply had a higher likelihood of smoking and being overweight. Some more recent information points to women having a higher rate of this cancer than men. Liver damage and chronic exposure to some pesticides and industrial chemicals as well as a genetic predisposition all play a role as pancreatic cancer risk factors. Chronic Pancreatitis - long term inflammation of the pancreas is another significant risk factor.

Treatment for pancreatic cancer is complicated. Surgery is the only way to remove it yet by the time most people are diagnosed the disease has spread to other areas of the body. Radiation therapy in conjunction with chemotherapy remains one of the most prevalent means for treatment although the prognosis is still very poor. 95% of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will be gone within 5 years.

In the event that the cancer is too far advanced for surgical or therapy options, pain control and pain prevention becomes the number one focus. There are many viable pain treatment plans that the doctor can discuss and numerous books on pain control.

Studies are continuously performed in the hopes that pancreatic cancer prevention can one day be a reality.

Burn More Body Fat

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:40:54 GMT

Burn More Body Fat

Most people are looking for ways to burn fat. Foods with a reputation as those which can help your body to burn fat, like cayenne pepper and brown seaweed can become instantly popular for that reason alone.

Because I love things that help me to burn more fat I was really interested in a wonderful research study that was conducted on a nutritional supplement called ASEA. It's a fairly new product on the market and it's claim to fame is that it provides stabilized redox signaling molecules.
It's pretty unusal to find a dietary supplement (drink) that isn't built on a combination of juices or superfoods. Instead ASEA uses a purified saline solution (Yes salt) that has been physically altered to carry stabilized signaling molecules. Redox signally molecules are produced by our bodies, but like all too many things, our ability to maintain production drops sharply with age. The technology to produce these molecules outside the body and stabilize them is very recent and quite revolutionary. If you're interested, you can read more about the Science of ASEA, for today, I'm wirting about and investigation conducted at the Human Performance laboratory of Appalacian State University under the direction of Dr David Nieman. The Human Performance Lab has conducted numerous studies on exercise, exertion and supplements.

The study was designed to measure the shift in metabolites among top athletes who exercised after using ASEA Redox Signaling Supplement for seven days. Metabolites are tiny molecules in the blood that are affected by the process of metabolism- which is the cellular chemical reactions that come about to sustain life.

Our body draws fuel in a specific order when we are working out. First, we use blood sugar (glucose) as our fuel source, then we turn to muscle glycogen and when we have depleted these two resources, our bodies finally start to burn fatty acids from adipose tissue – also known as body fat. Tryglicerides from fat are converted into free fatty acids and sent into the blood stream to where they are finally burned as fuel. Once our system successfully starts to use free fatty acids, elite athletes can sustain their performance. for the rest of us, we can finally accomplish a major exercise goal- we can lose more fat and usually that means burning abdominal fat

What makes the results of this research particularly valuable is that a significant increase of free fatty acids in the blood was measured prior to the start of any exercise. In other words, for the subjects taking ASEA in this study their bodies could immediately start to utilize fat as soon as they started to work out and therefore burn more of it. (The dosage for this study was 4 ounces daily for seven consecutive days.)

Take ASEA.Workout. Burn fat.

Why Your Heart Needs Protection

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:26:33 GMT

Why Your Heart Needs Extra Protection

The human heart is certainly a wonderous organ . Before you're born your heart is already hard at work, pumping oxygen rich blood to reach every organ in your body and then returning the oxygen depleted blood back to your lungs. Every year of your life, your heart will beat an average of 37,869,120 times, and it will keep that up year after year. That's about two and a half billion heartbeats in a lifespan.

I think you'll agree that htis wonderful workhorse could use a little bit of protection because you won't survive without a beating heart. In fact, forty percent of all the deaths in the United States are from heart disease, killing an average of 2 people every 69 seconds and the main problem is called Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).

What is unique about your heart is that it is the hardest working muscle in your body, requiring a lot of energy and it's this high requirement for energy creation which makes the heart vulnerable to the attack of free radicals, which in this case are metabolic by-products. Because of this, your heart has a high demand for antioxidants, the most valuable one is Glutathione.

Your Heart's Relentless Energy Production

The heart's incredible capacity for energy production is based inside each cell's power plants known as Mitochondria and these mitochondria produce a compound known as ATP or adenosine triphosphate. Every cell in every organ possesses these little energy production sites, but while an average cell will have a few hundred mitochondria, the cells in the muscles of your heart have about 5,000!

But, energy production has a price. The by- products of creating energy are damaged molecules called free radicals. With the large numbers of energy producing mitochondria in heart cells, there is an equally high production of by-products. Without help from antioxidants to clear out free radicals before they accumulate, they will damage theheart cells and eventually kill them and their components – like cellular DNA.

CAD and Heart Problems

Arteriosclerosis – Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) better known as hardening of the arteries or loss of arterial elasticity is one of the principle causes of Heart Disease. It's been linked to condition known as lipid peroxidase, which is what when the lipids (fat molecules) in your heart become free radicals. Lipids, are a molecular group that includes waxes, sterols, fats and the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E & K. Along with elevated levels of Free radicals, patients with CAD also experience depressed levels of antioxidants like Glutathione. Without a sufficient reserve of antioxidants to clean out free radicals in your heart, this organ and the arteries in the system will eventually suffer from oxidative stress.

Our systems are designed to deal with free radicals resulting from normal processes, but most people are exposed to extra stressors that aren't natural . They include environmental chemicals ( like tobacco smoke!), lousy diets, the hectic pace and emotional stress of our busy lives and poor conditioning of our bodies from a lack of exercise. We have put our antioxidant resources at a distinct disadvantage.

Why it Makes Sense to Increase your Antioxidant intake and Boost your Glutahtione Levels

We naturally begin to slow down as we age. The mitochondria in our cells slowly lose the ability to produce energy and we also manufacture less glutathione – which is vital for a healthy heart. Increasing your glutathione reserves won't make you live forever, but out of respect for the work your heart does, it only makes sense to try to eat better, live a healthier lifestyle and make a deliberate choice to increase your glutathione.

Oral Glutathione supplements are not effective, but you can increase your glutathione with a glutathione precursor like MaxONE, Cellgevity or MaxGXL and you can help to mobilize the glutathione in your system with a redox signaling supplement called ASEA . Another incredible product to help support your healthy cardiovascular system is called ProArgi-9Plus which is a supplement based on L-Arginine which is itself another precursor for Nitric Oxide which has been shown to help relax blood vessels and inprove blood flow.

Inflammation

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:56:49 GMT

Inflammation Can be A Major Pain

Inflammation can be a real pain. But's that's a by product because inflammation is a process which uses your body's white blood cells and chemicals to provide protection from infection and substances like viruses, toxins and bacteria . But, in the case of auto immune diseases, the immune system wrongly initiates an inflammatory response without reason and creates damage to itself Your body attacks healthy tissues as if they are infected or contaminated. When that happens, chemicals from your white blood cells are wrongly released to attack foreign toxins. These chemicals increase the blood flow to the immediate area and can cause redness, warmth and swelling . Also, the resulitng inflammation can stimulate nerves and result in a lot of pain.

Arthritis is a general condition that describes inflammation in joints . Some, but not all, types of arthritis are the result of wrongful inflammation. Some types of inflammatory arthritis include:rheumatoid arthritis, shoulder tendinitis, bursitis and Gout.

While not all need to be present , the basic symptoms of inflammation are swelling, redness, pain and stiffness and a loss of function in the joint In addition to that, inflammation might also be connected with general “flu-like" symptoms like fever, feeling chilled, headaches and a lack of energy, a lack of appetite and muscle stiffness.

Although the immediate discomfort created because of inflammation is bad enough, the extra cells and fluid can, in the long term, damage the cartilage (cushions at the end of bones) and joint lining. Inflammation can also affect organs. The type of symptoms depends on which organs are inflamed.

An inflamed heart (myocarditis) may cause shortness of breath or leg swelling
Inflammation of the narrow tubes that move oxygen to the lungs might cause an asthma episode
Inflamed kidneys (nephritis) can result in high blood pressure or kidney failure
An inflamed large intestine (colitis) might lead to cramps and diarrhea.

Pain might not be a primary symptom an inflamed organ , since many organs don't have a lot of pain-sensitive nerves.

There are a variety of treatment alternatives for inflammation , but typically , the medical community will depend on prescription anti-inflammatories, pain medication, rest, exercise, and surgery to correct joint damage.

Medical objectives of treating inflammation are to:

Skip or change the behaviors that aggravate pain

Relieve pain through analgesics (pain-relief drugs ) and anti-inflammatory drugs

Aid joint mobility and muscle strength through physical therapy

Decrease stress on the joints by using braces, splints or canes as needed

But, what's missing? For one thing, what's missing are any preventative steps or actions designed to help your body deal with inflammation by:
boosting antioxidant levels
making dietary improvements
reducing stress levels
neutralizing everyday toxins (which truly are everywhere).

Antioxidants in your diet and through intelligent use of supplements will aid your body to fight toxins and reduce the ongoing problems that can be caused by chronic inflammation. Among the best supplements are the glutathione precursors like Cellgevity and also a new product called ASEA. It doesn't help your body produce glutathione, but does seem to help your body to better mobilize this important resource.

Why Are We Overweight?

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:51:46 GMT

Why Are We Overweight?

Why We're Overweight The incidence of being overweight and/or obese is growing at an alarming rate worldwide and in particular in countries like the United States. thank about this- In October 2002, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 31% of the population in the USA were considered obese in the year 2000 versus 14.4% in 1980. It';s more than doubled in only 20 years. Additionally, around 15 percent of kids and teens were overweight in 2000 – three times the level in 1980.

When Does Overweight become Obese?

BMI is a measure of body fat based on your height and weight. It is worked out by dividing body weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared.To make it easier, use this online BMI calculator: Obesity is having a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30. Overweight is having a BMI of 25–29.9

In 2001, the U.S. Surgeon General warned that the weight we are carrying could soon kill more Americans than smoking. Understand this: With all of the advancements we have made in cleanliness, diet and disease control, the generation living now will be the first in American recorded history with a lesser life span than their parents. We are murdering ourselves and our children with the habits that have made us overweight.

What's behind this fat trend?

Data collected from around the globe display that different environmental and cultural conditions lead to weight problems in City and rural people. Experts say that rising rates of obesity among children and adults may be attributed to a mix of these things:

Watching Television
Sitting at a computer
Driving long distances (for example, commuting)
Working long days at sedentary jobs
Conveniences which further limit our physical activity (think "drive-through" banking)
Not enough decent playgrounds for our children
Emotional overeating, brought on by increased stress
Repeated dieting
Greater acceptance of obesity in selected ethnic groups
Consumption of soft drinks

And the profit motive isn't helping us much either since many business-driven factors stimulate overeating:

Larger portion sizes in restaurants
Increased sizes of individual food items (such as soft drinks, candy bars, bagels)
Increased prevalence of vending machines
Increased number of inadequate food choices
Pervasive marketing of high-calorie foods
Company methods that stimulate ordering larger serving sizes

Although many complicated cultural and environmental factors contribute to the obesity trend, in the majority of circumstances, the calculation is simple: too many calories consumed and too few calories expended (too little activity) leads to obesity.

The obesity epidemic is just one of the many health problems we face with aging. On a slightly different note, as we age, our bodies simply don't perform as efficiently as they once did. We don't manufacture glutathione as well as we did before and our production of redox signaling molecules also declines steeply with age.

Lets Get Circulating

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:28:52 GMT

Let's Get Circulating

I understand that the blood in my arteries delivers nutrients and oxygen to my cells, but I never appreciated that the blood in my veins was not simply being returned to my lungs for more oxygen. It's also carrying cellular trash - the garbage run. When I think about waste elimination I think of the kidneys and intestines, but our body is far more complicated than that. Our blood flow goes two ways. Good stuff in - bad things out.

We think of cold hands and cold feet as a sign of poor circulation, but it's entirely possible that you can have lousy circulation without any obstructions in your veins or arteries. In that instance the offender might be stress. It constricts your veins and cuts into your blood supply to the extent that it could prompt a heart attack. Don't every under estimate the effect that stress can have on your health.

Here's another frequent culprit behind bad circulation - hardening of the arteries. Caused by cholesterol and debris, arterial plaque gets stuck to the sides or wall of your artery and bit by bit blocks the blood flow, frequently pinching it off totally. You don't usually get much - if any- warning that this condition is developing and if part of the plaque breaks off suddenly it can lead to immediate and sometimes deadly problems - like heart attack or a stroke.

All the fuss about erectile disfunction products has probably done more to prevent heart attacks for men over forty, allowing for an earlier diagnosis of PAD than would otherwise have happened. A non drug option for better blood flow is at a product called ProArgi9Plus.

If you choose to improve the wellness of your circulatory system and keep your blood flowing properly here are a few tips to try:

To lower the influence of stresson your health and on your circulation, learn deep breathing exercises. Try it for 10 minutes a day or learn Yoga breathing.
Avoid overeating and foods with a high glycemic index. When you over eat and/or eat foods that spike your blood sugar it sets off the release of insulin which among numerous other things contributes to inflammation, poor circulation and prevents your system from processing fats.
Increase your consumption of water. Most individuals are really rather dehydrated and don't consume nearly enough water.
Get more deep sleep. When you don't get ample rest, you stress your systems.
Keep away from trans-fats. You cannot process transfats and they simply get stored and junk up your organs.
Be certain that you have enough antioxidants in your system to help battle inflammation and clear out free radicals.
Eat plenty of high fibre vegetables and Fruits with lots of water to help you reduce cholesterol.
Get off the couch and into the gym. Exercise is essential to enhanced circulation.
Be happy. Happier people are healthier people and remind yourself about all the wonderful things you have to live for. Better circulation, stronger cardio vascular health, a healthy diet and exercise will not usually happen unless you're willing to work for them.

Love your life. Plan to live to 100.

Glutathione and the Chronic Diseases of Aging

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 14:49:00 GMT

Glutathione and the Chronic Diseases of Aging

I'd like to write a number of posts about the "chronic diseases of aging" and take a look at the relationship between these conditions, the effe

ct of free radicals or oxydative stress and the possible mitigating effect of the Master Antioxidant - Glutathione. As lots of us Boomers are aging, it might not be a bad idea to take a look at some of these relationships and decide if what we've done for the first half of our lives will successfully sustain us through the second.

One of the disease

s to look at is Parkinson's Disease which is a progressive and escalating dysfunction of the central nervous system. Parkinson's Disease is a life changer for those who have it and for their families as well. Among the first noticable signs of Parkinson’s disease is that peoples movements start to slow down. Loss of balance is another early symptom along with

a degree of muscular rigidity. One of the most widely recognized signs of the disease is tremors.

At the root of Parkinson's Disease researchers have found exceptionally low levels of a particular neurotransmitter that's called dopamine. In case you're wondering, a neurotransmitter is a chemical that facilitates communication between the neurons in our brain. It is a type of signaling molecule. There have been many studies that point to a connection between Parkinson's Disease and a significant reduction of levels of glutathione in the brain cells.

Oxidative stress and damage to cellular mitochondria contribute the the minimal presence of dopamine in the brain which is the direct resut of the death of the necessary cells. Given that glutathione levels are also unusually low, oxidative stress does seem to be indicated as a contributing factor. Also, when cellular mitochrondia are damaged, this will also increase the presence of free radicals which further contribute the the damage. The more free radicals the worse the condition of the mitrochondria and the worse the condition of the mitrochondria, the more free radicals leading to oxidative stress.

Four fifths of the dopamine transmitting neurons in Parkinson's patients are dead and the loss of dopamine dovetails with a substantial increase in the amount of oxidized glutathione (which is glutathione that has already removed a free/oxy radical). This high level of "used" Glutathione isanother sign that oxidative stress caused by oxyradical damage functions in the development history of Parkinson's disease.

Other research which supports this has demonstrated a conclusive link between the qualtities of oxidized glutathione a.k.a. glutathione peroxidase and how long afflicted patients have suffered from the disease. As time passes the levels of antioxidant (free radical fighting) activity in the brain continues to diminish.

There is sufficent research available to definately connect high levels of free radicals, low levels of glutathione, extensive mitochondrial damage and cell death impeding the neurotransmitter dopamine with Parkinson's disease. But what is worth noting is that a reduced level of glutathione was one of the early symptoms measured and it happened before the cellular mitochondria were damaged and/or the dopamine cells died.

I didn't find an article that draws what to my mind would be an obvious conclusion - that there is potentially value in boosting the levels of glutathione in the brain, but by the standards of scientific research that hypothosis requires further examination,

However, if you're interested in increasing your own level of glutathione in your body there are some products to help you do that. They're not glutathione supplements - which are unfortunately not effective when taken orally. Instead, these products are in a class called glutathione precursors. The difference is that a precursor provides your body with the correct building blocks required to enhance its own production of Glutathione- The Master Antioxidant. The products are Max GXL, MaxONE and Cellgevity which you can find at these links :
http://www.wholeearthhealth.com/cellgevity

http://www.wholeearthhealth.com/product/MAXGXL1

http://www.wholeearthhealth.com/maxone-l

Another product that is worth having a look at belongs to a different class of supplements. It's something new called a Redox signalling supplement and you can get more information about it via this link http://www.redox-wholesale.com