〉Wealth is a Decision
- A Prosperous Heart & Moneyby Judy on January 11, 2024
Did you know that you have prosperity hidden in your heart? Did you also know that the heart is a treasure house of everything good or evil? There are people with an evil heart who tries to control life, but reap devastation on their own life. An evil heart destroys it’s very own life. However, The post A Prosperous Heart & Money appeared first on Wealth is a Decision.
- Habits Transform Lifeby Judy on August 1, 2023
Some people believe forming habits makes life monotonous! Habits reduce our mental output. Can you imagine having to decide every morning if you should brush your teeth and comb your hair? What is a habit? Habits are mental shortcuts you develop after you have discovered a formula that is beneficial to your life. Having found The post Habits Transform Life appeared first on Wealth is a Decision.
- Your Mind is a Powerful Forceby Judy on June 29, 2023
We can change our conversation, but how many of us will change our thoughts? We live in a good world with bad people wanting chaos and good people wanting peace and harmony. Each person live in their own world and their thoughts determines the outcome of life. What kind of decisions and thoughts does it The post Your Mind is a Powerful Force appeared first on Wealth is a Decision.
- The Power of Thoughtsby Judy on June 27, 2023
You are the architect of your own life. It’s yours to construct or to dismantle. By the power of thoughts you are either building up or destroying yourself. The question is are you building the right house? Our mind is always at work constructing mental images it never stops working for or against us. The The post The Power of Thoughts appeared first on Wealth is a Decision.
- Putting the Pieces Togetherby Judy on January 9, 2023
There are wonderful meaningful years in every person life. Times were heroic medallions are achieved. Only you know the sacrifices and training it took to reach the goal. If, you haven’t reached the place of achieving the goal now is a good time to develop a few new skills. During the years, I’ve established myself The post Putting the Pieces Together appeared first on Wealth is a Decision.
〉Moral Issues
- Attacks Against Our Founders Are a False Witnessby Andrew Wommack on August 20, 2024
Several years ago, I was in Washington, DC, with my friend David Barton of WallBuilders. David occasionally leads tours of the Capitol and Statuary Hall, and he shared how many… Read More
- By Ignoring Netanyahu, Harris Broadcasts Shameful Inability to Leadby Richard Harris on July 30, 2024
Israel is America’s closest ally in the Middle East and the only democracy in the region. Last week, responding to an invitation from both sides of the political aisle, Israeli… Read More
- People Are Taking a Stand Against Pride and Perversionby Andrew Wommack on July 1, 2024
We’re in the time of year when we are preparing to celebrate the birth of this nation and everything it stands for on July 4, Independence Day. We’re also coming… Read More
- Resist Lies with the Truth of God’s Wordby Andrew Wommack on May 28, 2024
There are a lot of different ways you can distinguish between God and the devil. One of those ways is over in John 8:44, which says, Ye are of your… Read More
- Christians Need to Stand Up and Speak Upby Andrew Wommack on April 4, 2024
Let me be blunt. There are a lot of woke ministers out there these days who are misusing the Bible to say Jesus would approve of abortion, homosexuality, transgenderism, and… Read More
〉Politics & Policy
- Kamala Harris Is Priming Democrats For Violent Resistance If Trump Winsby John Daniel Davidson on October 17, 2024
The purpose of constantly invoking the specter of a dictatorship under Trump is to condition Democrats to react violently if Harris loses.
- Hoo Boy: 'To Be Clear, That Is Plagiarism'—NY Times Expert Revises Analysis of Kamala's Book Scandalon October 17, 2024
- Social Security and Democrats’ Illusion of Concernon October 17, 2024
- How Democrat Activists Buy Elections By Taking Over Local Newsby Mark Hemingway on October 17, 2024
In recent years, hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment has poured into local media, but the lion’s share is coming from left-wing activists with overtly ideological and partisan agendas.
- U.S Strikes Houthi Installations in Yemen With Stateside-Based B-2 Bomberson October 17, 2024
〉The Stream
〉Family Values
- TODAY: FRC and FRC Action to Hold Fourth Annual Pray Vote Stand Summiton October 3, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Family Research Council and FRC Action will hold the fourth annual Pray Vote Stand Summit, which replaced FRC Action's previous flagship event, the Values Voter Summit. The Pray Vote Stand Summit will gather Christians from across the nation to pray for our nation, Israel, and the upcoming election. In addition to addressing policy issues of concern to SAGE Cons (Spiritually Active, Governance Engaged Conservatives), the Summit will include various discussions with political and theological experts on topics such as Understanding the Times, Israel: Past, Present and Future, and A Conversation about Global Governance and the WHO, to name just a few. The Summit will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., October 3-6, 2024. ...
- FRC and FRC Action to Hold Fourth Annual Pray Vote Stand Summit This Weekon October 2, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Later this week, Family Research Council and FRC Action will hold the fourth annual Pray Vote Stand Summit, which replaced FRC Action's previous flagship event, the Values Voter Summit. The Pray Vote Stand Summit will gather Christians from across the nation to pray for our nation, Israel, and the upcoming election. In addition to addressing policy issues of concern to SAGE Cons (Spiritually Active, Governance Engaged Conservatives), the Summit will include various discussions with political and theological experts on topics such as Understanding the Times, Israel: Past, Present and Future, and A Conversation about Global Governance and the WHO, to name just a few. The Summit will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., October 3-6, 2024. ...
- FRC Releases Updated Map and Issue Brief, Born-Alive Abortion Survivorson September 10, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Family Research Council's Center for Human Dignity released today an updated issue brief, Born-Alive Abortion Survivors: Just the Facts, and an updated Born-Alive Protections Map....
- FRC's Tony Perkins' Statement on Idaho v. U.S.on June 27, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court failed to uphold the right of Idaho to protect the unborn in the case of Idaho v. U.S. The case was a challenge to an Idaho law which "prohibits abortions unless necessary to prevent a pregnant woman's death." ...
- FRC President Tony Perkins' Statement Regarding SCOTUS Rejection of Pro-Life Doctors' Abortion Pill Challengeon June 13, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Family Research Council president Tony Perkins released the following statement in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous decision holding that the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine lacked standing to challenge the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the abortion drug mifepristone. ...
〉Natural Health
- PUFAs and Endotoxins Drive Alzheimer’s While Tau and Amyloid Beta Protect Brainby Dr. Mercola on October 17, 2024
You've likely heard that the accumulation of tau and amyloid beta proteins in the brain cause Alzheimer's disease. However, emerging evidence suggests these proteins may be protective responses to underlying issues, rather than the root cause of the disease. Research published in Nature Neuroscience adds additional insight to the role of tau protein in brain health, challenging long-held beliefs about its involvement in Alzheimer's disease.1 The study revealed that tau protects your brain cells from oxidative stress and toxic lipids. Tau protein, it turns out, is essential for the formation of lipid droplets in glial cells — the support cells that surround and protect your neurons. These lipid droplets act as a defense mechanism, helping to neutralize harmful oxidized lipids that damage your brain cells. When researchers increased tau levels in glial cells, it disrupted this protective process, making the cells more vulnerable to toxic lipids produced by stressed neurons. In other words, the tau accumulations seen in Alzheimer's disease may be your brain's attempt to combat ongoing damage, rather than the primary culprit. The Positive Role of Tau in Brain Health Your brain's glial cells are important for maintaining your cognitive health and have developed a fascinating mechanism to protect your brain from oxidative stress. When your neurons experience high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), they produce and put out toxic peroxidated lipids (LPOs) as a self-preservation strategy. LPOs are what happens to PUFAs once they are damaged. Your glial cells then come to the rescue, taking up these dangerous lipids and storing them in lipid droplets.2 This process is like a cellular recycling program, where your glial cells safely contain and break down the toxic lipids that could otherwise harm your neurons. The study found that tau protein is crucial for this protective mechanism to function properly. Without sufficient tau, your glial cells struggle to form these protective lipid droplets, leaving your neurons more vulnerable to oxidative damage. This discovery highlights the importance of maintaining a delicate balance of tau in your brain — too little is just as problematic as too much. Accumulation of Amyloid Beta Is a Protective Mechanism A prevailing theory about Alzheimer's disease has focused on the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques as the primary culprit behind cognitive decline. However, accumulating research suggests Aβ plays a protective role in the brain.3 One study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia,4 found a correlation between Aβ accumulation and glucose metabolism in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Contrary to popular belief, regions with higher average glucose metabolism showed greater Aβ deposition. This suggests that Aβ may accumulate more readily in areas of the brain with higher metabolic activity as a protective measure. Think of Aβ as your brain's attempt to shield itself from damage in its most active regions. However, this protection appears to have limits. In individual brain regions of Alzheimer’s patients, higher Aβ levels corresponded with lower glucose metabolism, indicating that excessive Aβ accumulation may eventually impair normal brain function. This dual nature of Aβ — protective at first but potentially harmful in excess — could explain why Alzheimer’s treatments targeting Aβ removal have been largely unsuccessful.5 Despite this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to approve risky Alzheimer’s drugs, including Leqembi, which bind to amyloid beta in the brain. Reliance on drugs to reduce amyloid beta is, at best, misguided and, at worst, exposing patients to potentially life-threatening adverse effects for no benefit. Alzheimer’s disease is a complex disease that requires a holistic approach for prevention and treatment. Rather than being the primary causes of neurodegeneration, tau protein and Aβ appear to be your brain's response to underlying damage. Tau, in particular, has been associated with stabilizing microtubules in neurons and may play a role in protecting against oxidative stress. Similarly, Aβ may act as an antioxidant and help seal damaged blood vessels. Your brain produces these proteins as a defense mechanism, but when the underlying causes of damage persist, their accumulation becomes excessive and potentially harmful. This perspective shift emphasizes the importance of addressing root causes like metabolic dysfunction and inflammation rather than focusing on removing tau and Aβ. How Seed Oils and Endotoxins Drive Alzheimer’s Disease A thriving gut ecosystem is essential for your overall health, including brain function. This diverse community of microorganisms plays a crucial role in protecting you against various diseases, including Alzheimer's, but diets rich in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), including linoleic acid found in seed oils, destroy your gut health, leading to a cascade of harmful effects. Bioenergetic researcher Georgi Dinkov explains:6 "The [Nature Neuroscience] study7 opined that the ROS seen in AD [Alzheimer’s disease] can be caused by excessive lipid accumulation (like diabetes), and such accumulation (even when localized by the brain) can itself easily be caused by a low-carb/high-fat diet." Fostering beneficial oxygen-intolerant bacteria in your gut, including important species like Akkermansia, strengthens your intestinal defenses and promotes overall wellness. These beneficial bacteria ferment dietary fibers to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate. Notably, butyrate-producing bacteria like Eubacterium and Eisenbergiella were associated with lower Alzheimer's risk.8 Butyrate nourishes your colonic epithelial cells, reinforcing the intestinal barrier. SCFAs also stimulate mucin production, creating a protective shield against harmful bacteria. The Dangers of Leaky Gut and Endotoxemia A reduction in oxygen-intolerant bacteria leads to increased intestinal permeability, or leaky gut. This allows toxins, undigested food particles and harmful microbes to enter your bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation and chronic health issues. This inflammation may contribute to the underlying damage that prompts the protective accumulation of Aβ and tau in the brain. Oxygen-intolerant bacteria are vital for converting indigestible plant fibers into beneficial fats. They thrive in an oxygen-free environment, which requires adequate cellular energy to maintain. However, factors like seed oil consumption, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) impair this energy production, making it difficult to sustain the ideal no-oxygen gut environment. Further, the toxic lipids that tau helps neutralize are often a byproduct of excessive consumption of PUFAs and exposure to endotoxins. These factors trigger chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in your brain, leading to the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's. A leading cause of death is, if not the number one cause of death, in my view, endotoxemia resulting in septic shock. This occurs when you secrete endotoxin from facultative anaerobes, also known as oxygen-tolerant bacteria, which shouldn't be in your gut. These pathogenic bacteria produce a highly virulent form of endotoxin, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which cause inflammation if they cross your compromised gut barrier into systemic circulation. I am about to introduce a new easy term into the vocabulary to identify this concept which is Mighty Shock. Mighty is short for mitochondria and describes the target of endotoxin, your mitochondria. The reason why endotoxin release is so dangerous is that it poisons and shuts down your mitochondria. I will discuss this topic much more in the future so be prepared for more articles on Mighty Shock. This chronic low-grade inflammation contributes to the metabolic dysfunction that precedes Aβ accumulation in Alzheimer's disease, as discussed in the earlier study. Thus, leaky gut, or a disturbed microbiome, is one of the fundamental causes of all disease, including neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's. Improving mitochondrial function and maintaining a healthy gut ecosystem promote beneficial bacteria growth while reducing harmful endotoxin effects. This approach mitigates factors contributing to dementia and other chronic diseases by addressing the root causes of inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, rather than focusing on removing Aβ and tau proteins. Holistic Approaches to Brain Health Understanding the protective roles of Aβ and tau, along with the importance of gut health, opens up new avenues for Alzheimer's prevention and treatment. Instead of targeting these proteins directly, future therapies may focus on supporting your brain's natural protective mechanisms while addressing underlying causes of neurodegeneration. This includes strategies to reduce inflammation and optimize brain metabolism through gut health interventions. By nurturing a healthy gut microbiome and addressing factors that disrupt the balance of oxygen-intolerant and oxygen-tolerant bacteria, you may be able to maintain the protective effects of Aβ and tau while preventing their excessive accumulation. Armed with this new understanding, you can take proactive steps to support your brain health and reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease. By adopting a holistic approach to brain health that addresses these underlying factors, you support your brain's natural protective mechanisms and maintain cognitive function as you age. In addition to optimizing your mitochondrial function, the strategies below may also help reduce your Alzheimer’s risk. Avoid gluten and casein (primarily wheat and pasteurized dairy, but not dairy fat, such as butter) — Research suggests there's a link between gluten and neurodegenerative disease.9 Gluten also makes your gut more permeable, which allows proteins to get into your bloodstream, where they don't belong. This sensitizes your immune system and promotes inflammation and autoimmunity, both of which play a role in the development of Alzheimer's. Optimize your gut flora by regularly eating fermented foods and lowering your LA intake, including from processed foods. High LA consumption impairs energy production, resulting in the proliferation of pathogenic gut bacteria that produce endotoxin. Optimize your vitamin D level with safe sun exposure — Low levels of vitamin D in Alzheimer's patients are linked with poor outcomes on cognitive tests. In one study, vitamin D reduced dementia risk by 40%.10 Keep your fasting insulin levels below 3. Eat a nutritious diet, rich in folate — Vegetables are your best form of folate, which you can get by eating plenty of vegetables every day. Avoid supplements like folic acid, which is the inferior synthetic version of folate. Avoid and eliminate mercury and aluminum from your body — Dental amalgam fillings, which are 50% mercury by weight, are one of the major sources of heavy metal toxicity. Make sure you use a biological dentist to have your amalgams removed. Sources of aluminum include antiperspirants, cookware and vaccine adjuvants. Make sure your iron level isn't elevated, and donate blood if it is — Iron accumulations in the brain tend to concentrate in areas most affected by Alzheimer's, namely the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Magnetic resonance imaging tests have revealed elevated iron in brains affected by Alzheimer's. Eat blueberries and other antioxidant-rich foods — Wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content, are known to guard against neurological diseases. Avoid anticholinergics and statin drugs — Drugs that block acetylcholine, a nervous system neurotransmitter, increase your risk of dementia. These drugs include certain nighttime pain relievers, antihistamines, sleep aids, certain antidepressants, medications to control incontinence and certain narcotic pain relievers. Statin drugs are particularly problematic because they suppress the synthesis of cholesterol, deplete your brain of CoQ10 and neurotransmitter precursors, and prevent adequate delivery of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble antioxidants to your brain by inhibiting the production of the indispensable carrier biomolecule known as low-density lipoprotein.
- Do You Know Why Mulberry Trees Were Banned?by Dr. Mercola on October 17, 2024
Editor's Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published November 14, 2016. Depending on where you live in the U.S., it’s possible you have wandered in some wooded areas or even your neighborhood, stopping occasionally to snack on mulberries growing in abundance, since mulberry trees are very hardy and grow just about anywhere. Many people have seen and arguably tasted at least one mulberry, but very few people know anything about these little clusters that don’t seem very high up on the scale of important fruits. Maybe it’s because they’re so accessible. All you have to do to harvest mulberries is place a blanket under a tree and shake the branches until the fruit falls. Mulberries are similar to raspberries but grow in a longer cluster that clings to the stem rather than being easily plucked. The leaves are finely scalloped and usually heart- or mitten-shaped. There are more than 100 varieties of mulberry trees and bushes. The Morus rubra is the American version, but there are many others, including the Russian mulberry, and white and black mulberries from Africa and Asia. The trees grow very fast but are slow to bear fruit depending on the type. Buzzle reveals: “Mulberry trees have a lengthy growing season, which in turn, ensures abundant crop. Having said that, if you are planning to grow mulberry trees for their fruits, you will have to be patient as it will take at least 10 years for the trees to start bearing fruits.”1 Facts About Mulberry Trees Mulberry trees grow in every state but Nevada and Alaska, hinting at their climate preference. This woody berry producer will reach 40, 60 and even 80 feet in height, depending on the variety. The red mulberry lives as long as 75 years, but the black variety lives and produces fruit for centuries.2 Depending on how ripe the berries are, several colors are represented on one tree. Mulberry trees will grow 10 feet in a single season and produce strong, tough roots. The little fruit clusters contain a single seed, which makes mulberries a drupe. Mulberries are used to make breads, muffins, pies, jam, wine and ice cream, just like other berries, or dried and added to salads. They have a unique set of healing qualities as well. Mulberries — Humble, Inexpensive Fruit Used in Traditional Medicine A review published in India noted that a mulberry-based tonic has several health benefits:3 “The raw mulberry juice is squeezed out of the mulberry fruit with delicate fragrance and taste. This juice will enhance the health, such as yin nourishing, enriching the blood, notifying the liver and kidney, calming the nerves, promoting the metabolism of alcohol, balancing internal secretions and enhancing immunity.” These little fruits have been used by a long line of traditional health practitioners over hundreds and probably thousands of years. As far back as the Roman Empire, mulberries were used to treat diseases of the mouth, throat and lungs. Native Americans discovered them to have a laxative effect and used them to treat dysentery.4 Nutritionally, mulberries contain an assortment of high-powered nutrients, such as vitamins C, K, B-complex, A and E, each bringing their own constituents for health. They also contain iron, potassium, folate, thiamine, pyridoxine (vitamin B6), niacin (vitamin B3) and magnesium. One of the most beneficial resources in mulberries is resveratrol, said to “promote heart health and overall vitality.”5 A study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine notes:6 “Traditionally, mulberry fruit has been used as a medicinal agent to nourish the yin and blood, benefit the kidneys and treat weakness, fatigue, anemia and premature graying of hair. It is also used utilized to treat urinary incontinence, tinnitus, dizziness and constipation in the elderly and the anemic.” Other claims linked to eating mulberries range from strengthening eyesight to nourishing the blood to “blackening” hair. Modern Mulberry Health Advantages Medical News Today reports that one breakthrough regarding the health aspects of mulberries is their ability to increase brown fat. What’s brown fat? White fat is the calorie-stuffed substance you don’t want while brown fat has the ability to burn calories and help fight obesity. Scientists used to think only babies had brown fat, but in 2009 it was found in adults, particularly those with a low body mass index (BMI). Live Science7 lists five little-known facts about brown fat: Time spent in the cold, be it a refrigerated warehouse or the frozen tundra, has a tendency to produce brown-fat cells and makes those you have more active. Brown and white fat is often mixed, but it’s detected in CT (computerized tomography) scans. It’s hard to find, though, which is why it took so long to discover it. Everybody has some brown fat, some more than others. It sometimes shows up in unexpected places, such as your neck and shoulder region, the most typical area. Other times it’s in your chest, spine or abdomen. Scientists project that before too long, a pill will be able to activate brown fat — the same drug used to combat an overactive bladder, but there are natural ways to increase brown fat. In regard to obesity and overweight, suffered by a staggering 1 in 3 U.S. adults and 1 in 6 children and adolescents, the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke and cancer are much higher. Scientists also say that a lifestyle change is an efficient and effective way to increase your brown fat and, simultaneously, lower your disease risk. Rutin Mimics Brown Fat to Cut Obesity Rates Rutin is a flavonoid found in a selection of fruits and vegetables that helps your body boost its ability to produce collagen, your skin’s most important building block.8 In one study,9 researchers added rutin, a natural compound extracted from mulberry, to the drinking water of two groups of mice, one group being genetically obese and the other with diet-induced obesity. Medical News Today reported:10 “In both groups of mice, rutin was found to activate brown adipose tissue, or brown fat (BAT), which led to increased energy expenditure, better glucose homeostasis — the balance of insulin and glucagon to maintain glucose levels — and fat reduction.” As a result of the study, scientists concluded that rutin is a key therapy to help people combat obesity and the health problems associated with it. Additional Advantages of Eating Mulberries Especially for our forebears, wild mulberries and even the leaves represented a welcome and necessary part of their diets. They contain a plethora of valuable ingredients, including protein and fiber. Nowadays they’re even offered in health food stores and farmer’s markets. Eating mulberries helps aid digestion, build bone tissue, protect vision, improve metabolism and increase blood circulation.11 There are many ways the nutrients they contain will help improve health. Mulberry consumption also helps: Support your immune system due to the presence of alkaloids that kick-start macrophages, the white blood cells that stimulate your immune system, to be on guard against conditions that threaten your health12 Cleanse and enrich your blood and help prevent blood clots13,14 Lower your blood sugar, scientists believe, due to compounds that suppress blood glucose levels15 Flood your body with antioxidants, including resveratrol, which one study revealed has positive effects on fighting early aging and promoting longevity16 Protect your brain, according to an animal study in Thailand that focused on brain damage and memory impairment, as subjects came away with both improved memories and reduced oxidative stress17 Prevent colds and flu via vitamin C and flavonoids Cleanse your liver and optimize your kidney function Decrease inflammation due to the compound oxyresveratrol18 and, according to one study, act as a key ingredient with curcumin to lower this effect in vascular cells19 So, Why Would Mulberry Trees Be Banned? As healthy as mulberries have been shown to be, the City of Tucson, Arizona, took it upon itself to ban the humble mulberry tree a few decades ago, claiming that the immense amount of pollen it produces is harmful to humans. What’s up with that? The fruit develops early and drops quickly, which is messy. Mulberries are very popular with birds, which, when aloft, scatter the seeds widely, making the tree’s proliferation even greater. Buzzle says that’s another reason for whole cities to run them out of town: “While definitely helpful, mulberry trees are notorious for their pollen production, which can well exceed the admissible count of 1,500 in the spring season. It was precisely for this reason that the city administration of Tucson, Arizona, banned it in 1984. The city of Las Vegas, Nevada, followed suit citing the same reason in 1991, and El Paso, Texas, followed a year later in 1992.” History of Mulberries and Silk Production Many people associate mulberry trees with silk, since for centuries in China, Japan and, later, a number of European countries, mulberry leaves were, and still are, the sole food for silkworm moths. After laying about 300 eggs, the moths spin cocoons of silk thread that are hundreds of feet long for five days. It was a long but perpetual process. For that reason alone, cultivation of mulberry trees, especially the white variety, has been a big business. Silk Road20 reveals how important silk was to China, which kept their elaborate production process a secret for about 1,000 years. By the 5th century, several provinces were involved in silkworm production and subsequent weaving, dyeing and embroidering. During the Han Dynasty, silk had a trade value not unlike that of gold or grain. You’d think that silk as a textile would have waned considerably since synthetic silk, aka rayon, as well as nylon, polyester, acetate, spandex and a dozen other man-made materials are so easy to come by. Many people tried to imitate it over the centuries. Not just the silk, but the actual tree came in handy for these new fabrics. But silk production is just as healthy as it once was, with China, again, in the lead. Once the truth came out about mulberry leaves being the key for silk production, the news spread, as did mulberry tree propagation on nearly every continent. That’s why there are so many types of mulberry trees throughout the world today. Next time you see one, give the berries a try.
- How Vitamin A Deficiency Promotes Leaky Gut and Alzheimer'sby Dr. Mercola on October 17, 2024
Your gut microbiome plays a crucial role in your overall health, including brain function. Recent research has uncovered a fascinating connection between vitamin A, gut health and Alzheimer's disease risk. A study using mice genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer's-like symptoms reveals that vitamin A deficiency leads to significant changes in the gut microbiome.1 These alterations contribute to increased intestinal permeability, often referred to as "leaky gut," and promote inflammation throughout the body. The researchers found that mice fed a vitamin A-deficient diet had lower diversity in their gut bacteria compared to those receiving adequate or supplemental vitamin A. Specifically, vitamin A deficiency led to an increase in proinflammatory bacteria like Parabacteroides and Tannerellaceae, while reducing beneficial anti-inflammatory bacteria such as Akkermansia and Verrucomicrobiales. This shift in microbial balance creates an environment that's more conducive to inflammation and contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Leaky Gut and Inflammation: A Gateway to Alzheimer's? Your intestinal barrier serves as a critical defense mechanism, preventing harmful substances from entering your bloodstream. The study demonstrated that vitamin A deficiency significantly increased intestinal permeability in the genetically engineered mice. This was evidenced by elevated levels of D-lactate and diamine oxidase in their blood, both indicators of a compromised intestinal barrier.2 As a result of this increased permeability, proinflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were found at higher levels in the vitamin A-deficient mice. These inflammatory markers are known to play a role in Alzheimer's disease progression. For instance, TNF-α stimulates the production of amyloid-beta peptides, the primary component of the plaques found in Alzheimer's patients' brains. IL-1β has been linked to increased brain amyloid-beta deposition, while elevated IL-6 levels are associated with cognitive decline and amyloid-beta aggregation. By maintaining adequate vitamin A levels, you help preserve your intestinal barrier function and reduce systemic inflammation, lowering your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.3 Vitamin A's Impact on Cognition and Amyloid-Beta Pathology The study's findings highlight the significant impact of vitamin A on cognitive function and Alzheimer's-related brain changes. Mice fed a vitamin A-deficient diet for 12 weeks showed impaired cognition in maze tests compared to those receiving adequate or supplemental vitamin A.4 Further, the vitamin A-deficient mice exhibited increased amyloid-beta deposition in their hippocampus, a key brain region involved in memory formation. This suggests that maintaining proper vitamin A levels helps preserve your cognitive abilities and slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). As noted by bioenergetic researcher Georgi Dinkov:5 "It took only 12 weeks of vitamin A restriction to establish AD pathology, while the same amount of time supplementing vitamin A was sufficient to produce strong beneficial effects. Crucially, vitamin A restriction elevated biomarkers of gut permeability (D-lactate and DAO), which matches with the post I just did on endotoxin/LPS [lipopolysaccharide] being a major causative factor in AD. Conversely, vitamin A supplementation was effective at restoring the gut barrier, and subsequently preserving cognition even in animals with already established AD." In other animal studies, vitamin A deficiency also led to increased production of amyloid-beta peptides and tau phosphorylation — two hallmarks of AD. Interestingly, vitamin A can directly block the production and clumping of amyloid-beta, helping to prevent the formation of harmful plaques in your brain.6 Interestingly, while vitamin A supplementation showed benefits compared to deficiency, excessive supplementation (at the upper tolerable intake level) resulted in slightly higher amyloid-beta deposition than the normal intake group. This underscores the importance of maintaining optimal vitamin A levels without overdoing it. Your body's vitamin A status influences Alzheimer's pathology through multiple mechanisms, including its effects on gut health, inflammation and direct impacts on brain function. Optimizing Your Vitamin A Intake for Brain and Gut Health Given the study's findings, ensuring adequate vitamin A intake supports both gut and brain health. Vitamin A plays essential roles in neuronal plasticity, cognitive function and maintaining immune homeostasis in your intestines. To optimize your vitamin A status, focus on consuming a variety of vitamin A-rich foods. Good sources include liver, egg yolks, butter from grass fed cows, and orange and yellow vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots. These foods provide either preformed vitamin A or provitamin A carotenoids that your body can convert to active vitamin A. While supplementation may be beneficial if you're deficient, it's important not to exceed recommended intake levels, as the study suggests potential negative effects from excessive supplementation. If you're concerned about your vitamin A status, consider having your levels tested before starting any supplementation regimen. The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Combating Alzheimer's While there's no cure yet for Alzheimer's disease, research is uncovering how essential micronutrients help delay its progression. Let's explore how specific vitamins and minerals, beyond vitamin A, could be your allies in maintaining cognitive function and potentially staving off neurodegenerative decline. Vitamins C and E: Your Antioxidant Shield Your brain is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, which is why antioxidants like vitamins C and E are crucial for cognitive health. Vitamin C, beyond its well-known immune-boosting properties, has shown remarkable effects in animal studies of neurodegenerative diseases.7 In Parkinson's disease models, oral vitamin C significantly reduced the loss of dopaminergic neurons and decreased inflammation. For AD, vitamin C's antioxidant effects, combined with vitamin E and selenium, improved synaptic and cognitive functioning.8 Vitamin E, another powerful antioxidant, has been found at lower levels in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of AD patients. Studies have shown that higher vitamin E intake is associated with a lower incidence of AD. In mouse studies, vitamin E deficiency worsened lipid peroxidation and caused amyloid-beta accumulation in the brain, while supplementation increased cholinergic neurotransmission and decreased inflammation. The combination of vitamins C and E creates a potent antioxidant defense for your brain cells, slowing the progression of cognitive decline.9 B Vitamins: Your Brain's Metabolic Support Team The B-complex vitamins also play crucial roles in your brain's health and function. Vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of developing AD, with lower B12 levels associated with higher levels of inflammatory markers that promote tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid-beta production. Supplementation with B12 and folate has shown improved cognition and reduced inflammation in AD patients.10 Vitamin B6 is essential for neurotransmitter production and homocysteine regulation. While its effects on cognitive decline in healthy older adults may be subtle, B6 deficiency in animal studies has been shown to exacerbate oxidative stress, amyloid-beta deposition and neuronal death.11 Vitamin B3 (niacin) is crucial for DNA repair and energy metabolism. In animal studies, niacin supplementation reduced tau phosphorylation and improved cognitive performance. Vitamin B1 (thiamin) is vital for glucose metabolism in your brain. Thiamin deficiency has been linked to increased amyloid-beta production, while supplementation has shown promise in delaying cognitive decline in AD patients.12 Minerals: The Unsung Heroes of Brain Health While vitamins often take the spotlight, minerals play equally important roles in your brain health. Iron, for instance, is crucial for oxygen transport and neurotransmitter production. However, iron overload leads to oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain. An imbalance of iron in your body can lead to ferroptosis, a programmed cell death pathway known to play a role in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.13 Zinc, however, is essential for numerous enzymes and plays a role in neurotransmitter release. Zinc deficiency has been linked to cognitive decline, while proper levels help protect against amyloid-beta toxicity.14 Selenium, another important mineral, has shown neuroprotective effects in animal studies, potentially through its antioxidant properties. Magnesium is involved in numerous biochemical reactions in your brain, and increased dietary intake has been associated with a decreased incidence of cognitive impairment.15 It's worth noting that imbalances in these minerals can also affect your gut health, leading to leaky gut. By maintaining proper mineral balance, you're not only supporting your brain health directly but also indirectly by promoting a healthy gut-brain axis. More Ways Your Gut Microbes Influence Alzheimer's Risk A study analyzed genetic data from thousands of people to identify specific gut microbes that help protect against or increase vulnerability to Alzheimer's.16 The researchers found that the abundance of certain bacterial genera in the gut was genetically linked to Alzheimer's diagnosis. Specifically, higher levels of bacteria like Eubacterium, Eisenbergiella and Prevotella were associated with lower Alzheimer's risk. On the flip side, greater amounts of Collinsella, Bacteroides and Veillonella correlated with increased risk. These findings provide some of the strongest evidence yet that your gut microbiome composition plays a role in brain health and cognitive decline as you age. While more research is needed, this study opens up exciting possibilities for using gut bacteria analysis or probiotic therapies as part of Alzheimer's prevention and treatment strategies in the future. Butyrate-Producing Bacteria Protect Your Brain Several of the bacterial genera found to be protective against Alzheimer's in this study are known to produce butyrate, an important short-chain fatty acid (SCFA).17 Butyrate has anti-inflammatory properties and helps maintain the integrity of your gut lining. The researchers identified Eubacterium, Eisenbergiella and related bacteria as potentially beneficial. These microbes metabolize dietary carbohydrates into butyrate in your colon. By reducing inflammation and supporting gut barrier function, butyrate-producing bacteria help prevent harmful substances from entering your bloodstream and affecting your brain. This adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that nurturing beneficial gut bacteria through your diet and lifestyle support cognitive health. Inflammation-Promoting Bacteria Linked to Higher Alzheimer's Risk On the other hand, some of the bacterial genera associated with increased Alzheimer's risk in this study are known to have proinflammatory effects.18 For example, Collinsella was identified as a particularly significant risk factor. Previous research has found higher levels of Collinsella in the guts of people with inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. This genus increases the production of inflammatory compounds and reduces the expression of proteins that maintain a healthy gut barrier. Similarly, some Bacteroides species secrete lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an inflammatory molecule that contributes to dysfunction of the gut lining and neuroinflammation.19 By promoting chronic low-grade inflammation, these types of bacteria increase vulnerability to neurodegenerative processes over time, highlighting the complex interplay between your gut microbiome, systemic inflammation and brain health. Intriguingly, this study also uncovered connections between gut bacteria and known genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. The researchers found that the abundance of certain bacterial genera was correlated with variants in the APOE gene, one of the strongest genetic risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's.20 For instance, people carrying the high-risk APOE ε4 allele tended to have higher levels of Collinsella. This suggests there may be interactions between your genetic predisposition and the composition of your gut microbiome that influence Alzheimer's risk. While more research is needed to understand these relationships, the findings point to the gut microbiome as a potential avenue for personalized prevention strategies. In the future, it may be possible to tailor dietary and probiotic approaches based on both genetic risk factors and gut bacteria profiles to optimize brain health as you age. AFU vs CFU: The Probiotic Measurement Controversy Navigating the world of probiotics can be overwhelming, especially when faced with countless options, each claiming to be the best. You may have come across probiotics boasting high colony-forming units (CFUs). It's a common belief that the higher the CFU count, the better the probiotic. However, I want to shed some light on this misconception and help you understand what truly makes a high-quality probiotic supplement. CFUs are indeed a unit of measurement used to determine the number of viable bacterial cells in a probiotic. When you browse the shelves at your local health store, you'll notice a wide range of CFU counts, with some supplements advertising numbers as high as 100 billion or more. It's easy to assume that these sky-high CFU counts are the ultimate indicator of a superior product, but that's not the whole story. While CFUs are important, they are just one piece of the puzzle. A probiotic's effectiveness depends on several factors, including the specific bacterial strains used, the delivery mechanism, and the existence of clinical studies supporting its efficacy. Let's take a closer look at how CFUs are measured. In a microbiology lab, a bacterial culture is added to an agar plate, and after a few days, the colonies that grow are counted. However, it's crucial to understand that not all these colonies will survive the journey through your digestive system. Many probiotic bacteria are sensitive to stomach acid and bile, which means that a significant portion of the CFUs you swallow may not even reach your gut alive. As if all this wasn't already confusing enough, we have a new variable to contend with. You may have noticed that some probiotic companies use AFU (Active Fluorescent Units) instead of the more traditional CFU (Colony-Forming Units) to measure the bacteria in their products. I want to shed some light on why this practice can be misleading and potentially detrimental to your health goals. When you're looking for a probiotic to support your gut health, you want to ensure that you're getting a product filled with live, active bacteria that can colonize your gut and provide the benefits you're seeking. This is where the CFU measurement comes in. CFU is the gold standard in the industry, counting only the viable bacteria that can grow, multiply, and form colonies within your digestive system. It's a direct reflection of the bacterial cells that are alive and ready to work their magic. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends buying only probiotics that list the CFU at the end of the product's shelf life.21 Now, let's talk about AFU. While AFU offers a more rapid assessment of bacterial populations compared to traditional CFU methods, it presents significant limitations in accurately determining probiotic potency. Unlike CFU, which exclusively counts viable bacteria capable of forming colonies, AFU detects a broader spectrum of cells, including those that may be injured, non-viable, or even dead. This overestimation can mislead consumers and healthcare professionals about a product's actual probiotic content. Additionally, the reliance on fluorescence for bacterial detection can introduce variability and potential inaccuracies in the final count. Consequently, AFU might not be the most reliable indicator of a probiotic's efficacy. You might be wondering why a company would choose to use AFU instead of CFU. Unfortunately, the answer often lies in marketing. Higher numbers look more impressive on the label, making the product appear more potent and effective than it really is. However, those dead or inactive bacteria won't do anything for your gut health. They're just taking up space in the capsule, and you're not getting the full value of what you've paid for. This is a significant issue in the supplement industry, as it can mislead consumers who are trying to make informed decisions about their health. Regulatory bodies such as the FDA and EFSA recognize CFU as the standard measurement for probiotics, so when a company deviates from this norm, it's essential to question their motives and be cautious. If you come across a probiotic using only AFU count, don't be afraid to ask questions. A reputable company should be transparent about their labeling and willing to explain what these numbers mean. They should ensure that you, as the consumer, understand the difference between AFU and CFU and how it impacts the product's effectiveness. At the end of the day, using AFU instead of CFU can inflate the perceived potency of a probiotic, leading you to believe you're getting more than you are. It's crucial for companies to be honest and clear in their labeling, so you can make an informed decision and get the most bang for your buck. As you continue your journey to better gut health, remember to look for probiotics that use CFU as their primary measurement. If a company isn't being transparent about their labeling or relies heavily on AFU, it might be time to look for a more trustworthy product that prioritizes your well-being over marketing tactics. Although complex carbs and foods with fiber nourish these bacteria you need to be very careful about using them until you have increased your cellular energy. This is because most people have far more dangerous disease-causing bacteria and the same food that nourishes Akkermansia will nourish the disease-causing bacteria. This will increase endotoxin and cause you to get sick. In my new book, "Your Guide to Cellular Health," which comes out in October, I review a green, yellow, red, classification system of carbs. Green are carbs like white rice and dextrose that nearly everyone can tolerate as they are absorbed in the upper intestine and do not stimulate endotoxin production. Red carbs are typically what are considered some of the healthiest food. However, they have fibers that need to be avoided by most unless they have a pristine gut that has very low pathogenic bacteria. Maintaining a Healthy Gut Ecosystem Is Key to Brain Health A flourishing gut ecosystem is home to a diverse array of microorganisms that work in harmony to protect your health. Nurturing beneficial oxygen-intolerant bacteria, including crucial species like Akkermansia, strengthens your intestinal defenses and fosters an environment that promotes overall wellness. This ties directly to the findings discussed earlier, where certain bacterial genera were found to be protective against Alzheimer's disease. These beneficial bacteria ferment dietary fibers to produce SCFAs, particularly butyrate. As mentioned, butyrate-producing bacteria like Eubacterium and Eisenbergiella were associated with lower Alzheimer's risk. Butyrate nourishes your colonic epithelial cells, reinforcing the intestinal barrier. SCFAs also stimulate mucin production, creating a protective shield against harmful bacteria. A reduction in oxygen-intolerant bacteria leads to increased intestinal permeability, or leaky gut. This allows toxins, undigested food particles and harmful microbes to enter your bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation and chronic health issues. Oxygen-intolerant bacteria are vital for converting indigestible plant fibers into beneficial fats. They thrive in an oxygen-free environment, which requires adequate cellular energy to maintain. However, factors like seed oil consumption, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) impair this energy production, making it difficult to sustain the ideal no-oxygen gut environment. Moreover, a leading cause of death is, in my view, endotoxemia resulting in septic shock. This occurs when you secrete endotoxin from facultative anaerobes, also known as oxygen-tolerant bacteria, which shouldn't be in your gut. These pathogenic bacteria produce a highly virulent form of endotoxin, or LPS, which can cause inflammation if they cross your compromised gut barrier into systemic circulation. Thus, leaky gut or a disturbed microbiome is one of the fundamental causes of all disease, including neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's. Improving mitochondrial function and maintaining a healthy gut ecosystem promote beneficial bacteria growth while reducing harmful endotoxin effects, helping to mitigate factors contributing to dementia and other chronic diseases. Further, as the featured study suggests, by maintaining optimal vitamin A levels, you also help support a healthy gut microbiome, reduce inflammation and lower your risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.
- Can Dopamine Treat Breast Cancer?by Dr. Mercola on October 16, 2024
Recent research has uncovered an intriguing link between certain hormones and neurotransmitters and breast cancer treatment. This connection involves four key players: estrogen, serotonin, dopamine and progesterone. Each of these substances plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, but their impact on cancer growth and treatment is now coming into sharper focus. Estrogen, primarily known as a female sex hormone, regulates reproductive processes, bone density and cardiovascular health. However, it's also recognized for its ability to promote cancer growth. Many breast cancers, for instance, are classified as estrogen-receptor positive, meaning they grow in response to estrogen. Serotonin, often misleadingly called the "feel-good" neurotransmitter, is an antimetabolite, meaning it suppresses your body's ability to create energy in the electron transport chain of your mitochondria. Recent studies suggest serotonin also stimulates the growth and spread of cancer cells.1 On the other hand, dopamine, another neurotransmitter, is showing promise in cancer treatment. Typically associated with pleasure, motivation and reward systems in your brain, dopamine is being investigated for its anticancer properties. Research indicates that it may help inhibit tumor growth and enhance the effectiveness of certain cancer treatments.2 Progesterone, another sex hormone crucial for reproductive health and pregnancy, is also emerging as an ally in cancer treatment, because it’s not only anti-estrogen but also inhibits cortisol and improves mitochondrial production of cellular energy by blocking estrogen and cortisol. Dopamine's Cancer-Fighting Potential A study published in Applied Sciences examined how drugs that affect dopamine and serotonin receptors could improve the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy drugs like paclitaxel when used together.3 The researchers tested several repurposed drugs that act on dopamine and serotonin pathways, looking for those that could reduce breast cancer cell viability. Two drugs showed particular promise — benztropine and thioridazine. Benztropine is typically used to treat Parkinson's disease, while thioridazine is an antipsychotic medication. When combined with paclitaxel, both of these dopamine-targeting drugs demonstrated a synergistic effect, meaning they enhanced paclitaxel's ability to kill breast cancer cells beyond what either drug could do alone. The study found benztropine and thioridazine were able to reduce breast cancer cell viability on their own, even without paclitaxel. This suggests these dopamine-modulating drugs have inherent anticancer properties. Importantly, benztropine and thioridazine target different pathways than standard chemotherapy drugs. They may help overcome chemotherapy resistance and attack cancer through multiple mechanisms. Some research indicates they even target elusive cancer stem cells that often evade conventional treatments. While dopamine shows promise for fighting cancer, the study results suggest serotonin may play a more harmful role.4 Drugs that increase serotonin activity or block its reuptake did not demonstrate anticancer effects in this research. In fact, some evidence indicates serotonin may stimulate cancer cell growth and proliferation.5 As bioenergetic researcher Georgi Dinkov explains:6 "I discovered a multitude of studies demonstrating serotonin (5-HT) is both a cause and promoter of cancer, and that dopamine activates the progesterone receptors … with the final conclusion being that estrogen/serotonin cause and promote cancer, while progesterone/dopamine are therapeutic." Understanding Dopamine's Anticancer Mechanisms The study's findings provide compelling evidence for dopamine's cancer-fighting abilities. While the exact mechanisms are still being investigated, several factors contribute to dopamine's potential as an anticancer agent:7 1. Direct tumor suppression — The study showed that dopamine-modulating drugs like benztropine and thioridazine could reduce breast cancer cell viability on their own. This suggests that increasing dopamine activity may directly inhibit tumor growth. 2. Targeting multiple pathways — Dopamine-modulating drugs affect cancer cells through different mechanisms than conventional chemotherapy. This multi-pronged approach could help overcome drug resistance, a common problem in cancer treatment. 3. Affecting cancer stem cells — Some research indicates that dopamine-targeting drugs may be effective against cancer stem cells, which are often resistant to conventional treatments and lead to cancer recurrence. 4. Counteracting serotonin's effects — Given that serotonin may promote cancer growth, dopamine's anticancer properties could be partly due to its ability to balance or counteract serotonin's effects in your body. These findings suggest that dopamine plays a more complex role in cancer biology than previously thought. By leveraging dopamine's cancer-fighting abilities, researchers may be able to develop more effective and less toxic cancer treatments in the future. However, more research, including animal studies and human clinical trials, is needed to fully understand and harness dopamine's anticancer potential. Expanding on Dopamine's Role in Fighting Cancer While the previous study discussed benztropine and thioridazine, another drug has also shown promising results in this field. Selegiline, also known as L-deprenyl, is an antidepressant that belongs to a class of drugs called monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors.8 A study conducted by Indian researchers found that selegiline might be effective as an anticancer therapeutic for breast cancer.9 What's particularly exciting about this finding is that selegiline was effective against various types of breast cancer cells, including the notoriously difficult-to-treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Selegiline works by inhibiting monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), which increases dopamine levels in the brain. Selegiline induces cell death in cancer cells through pathways that don't rely on reactive oxygen species (ROS). This is significant because many conventional cancer treatments focus on increasing ROS to kill cancer cells, but this approach also damages healthy cells. While selegiline is a prescription drug, there are natural compounds that may have similar effects. Naphthoquinones, such as vitamin K, and eugenol, the main constituent of clove oil, have been shown to be potent and selective MAO-B inhibitors.10 These findings, along with the earlier research on benztropine and thioridazine, paint a compelling picture of dopamine's role in cancer biology. They suggest that maintaining healthy dopamine function in your body could be a valuable part of a holistic cancer prevention strategy. The research on dopamine's role in cancer treatment opens up exciting possibilities not just for breast cancer but for other types of cancer as well. The fact that dopamine-modulating drugs have shown effectiveness against different breast cancer subtypes suggests that this approach might be applicable to a wide range of cancers. Furthermore, this research underscores the complex interplay between neurotransmitters and cancer biology. It highlights the need for a more holistic approach to cancer treatment and prevention, one that considers not just the cancer cells themselves, but also the broader physiological context in which they develop and grow. Dinkov adds:11 "… All in all, the evidence continues to accumulate that pro-metabolic, anti-estrogenic, anti-serotonin, progestogenic and dopaminergic pathways are highly beneficial not only for a large number of very serious degenerative conditions, but they make one slim, happy, frisky (due to the antiprolactin effects) and long-living. And since estrogenic (PUFA, birth control, endocrine disruptors, etc.) and serotonergic (SSRI) substances functionally approximately opposite to selegiline, you can imagine what their effects are." Natural Dopamine in Cancer Prevention While the Applied Sciences study focused on pharmaceutical drugs that modulate dopamine, it raises intriguing questions about the role of your body's natural dopamine in cancer prevention and treatment. Could boosting your dopamine levels naturally help lower your cancer risk? The study's findings suggest that increased dopamine activity may indeed have anticancer effects. Your body produces dopamine naturally, and there are several ways to increase your dopamine levels without medication: Exercise — Regular physical activity has been shown to boost dopamine production and release in your brain. Sleep — Getting adequate, quality sleep helps regulate your body's dopamine systems. Diet — Consuming foods rich in tyrosine, a precursor to dopamine, may help. These include bananas, beef, eggs and green tea. Sunlight exposure — Sunlight not only helps your body produce vitamin D but may also increase dopamine levels. Music — Listening to music you enjoy has been linked to increased dopamine release in your brain. Meditation and stress reduction — Chronic stress depletes dopamine, while meditation and other stress-reduction techniques may help maintain healthy levels. Estrogen Is a Known Human Carcinogen Estrogen’s carcinogenic properties are well-established. The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) studies, which began in 1991,12 showed estrogen replacement therapy in menopausal women significantly increased the risk of breast cancer and cancer of all female reproductive organs, as well as raising the risk of heart attacks, strokes, dementia and Parkinson's disease. The publication of the WHI results led to a significant decline in estrogen replacement therapy, starting in the late 1990s, early 2000s, until about 2015, when studies refuting those earlier results started coming out. Scientists argued estrogen could be safely used if dosed and timed better. Cancer rates don’t bear that out though. The biochemical role of estrogen is to support wound healing. In cases of tissue trauma, estrogen reverts the differentiated cells in that specific tissue back to a stem cell-like condition, to repair the damaged tissue. In young, healthy women, progesterone turns off estrogen’s activity. Progesterone declines with age, but estrogen synthesis typically does not. Hence, if your estrogen is high and progesterone low, your cancer risk will rise. Progesterone is the antidote because it is not only anti-estrogen but also inhibits cortisol and will improve mitochondria production of cellular energy by blocking estrogen and cortisol. Detailed information on how to use progesterone is below, but additional commonsense strategies to help you limit your estrogen exposure and lower your estrogen load include: Avoid synthetic estrogens — Minimize exposure to synthetic estrogens, such as those found in hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives. Consult with a qualified health care professional about alternative treatments and/or contraceptive methods with lower estrogen content. Avoid endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) — Exposure to EDCs from sources like microplastics is over activating your estrogen receptors. To reduce your exposure, filter your drinking water, swap plastic bags, bottles, straws, utensils and food containers for non-plastic options and choose food with minimal natural packaging or glass packaging instead of plastic. Avoid linoleic acid (LA) — Omega-6 polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) like LA functions very similarly to estrogen as they both increase your risk for cancer and decrease metabolic function. Read my comprehensive LA article for more details. Choose natural products — Opt for natural and organic personal care products, including makeup, skin care and hair care items, to reduce exposure to synthetic chemicals like parabens and phthalates, which have estrogenic properties. Limit pesticide exposure — Choose organic produce whenever possible to reduce exposure to pesticides, many of which have estrogenic effects. Washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly helps remove pesticide residues. Rethink your household products — Many household cleaning products, laundry detergents and air fresheners contain chemicals with estrogenic properties. Swap them out for natural, nontoxic alternatives or make your own cleaning solutions using vinegar, baking soda and essential oils instead. Avoid plastic containers — Minimize the use of plastic containers and food packaging, which leach estrogenic compounds into food and beverages. Instead, opt for glass or stainless steel containers for food storage and water bottles. Maintain a healthy weight — Aim for a healthy weight and body composition through a balanced diet and regular exercise. Excess body fat, particularly around your thighs, hips and buttocks, contributes to higher estrogen levels. Support liver health — Support liver function, as your liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing and eliminating excess estrogen from your body. Eat a nutrient-rich diet, avoid alcohol consumption and consider incorporating liver-supporting herbs and supplements, such as milk thistle or dandelion root. Promote hormonal balance — Explore natural approaches to promote hormonal balance, such as consuming cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower and kale), which contain compounds that help support estrogen metabolism and detoxification. Reduce stress — Manage stress through relaxation techniques like meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga or spending time in nature. Chronic stress disrupts hormone balance, including estrogen levels, so prioritizing stress reduction is essential.
- Indications of PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' in Contact Lenses — Reportby none on October 16, 2024
Do contact lenses contain indications of PFAS "forever chemicals?" This was the question posed to us by members of Mamavation on Facebook. We didn't know the answer to this, so we sent 18 different soft contact lenses off to an EPA-certified lab to have them tested for indications of PFAS. You've trusted Mamavation to bring you other consumer studies like indications of PFAS in dental floss, yoga pants, and sanitary pads, now join us for a consumer study on indications of PFAS "forever chemicals" inside eye contact lenses. What our lab found was a bit concerning because 100% of the popular contact lens products we sent came back with various levels of organic fluorine, a marker for PFAS. So which contact lenses do we recommend? Based on the levels reported from our lab, we are sharing this data with you in hopes you will share it with your eye care professional. This information can help you and your eye care doctor make educated decisions about your eye care. Disclosure: This consumer study is released in partnership with Environmental Health News. Scientific reviews were performed by (1) Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry and Director of the Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, (2) Linda S. Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program and Scholar at Residence at Duke University, North Carolina University, and Yale University, (3) Pete Myers, Chief Scientist at Environmental Health Sciences, Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, and co-author of Our Stolen Future, and (4) Scott Belcher, Associate Professor with the Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS at North Carolina State University. This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. Donations were provided by Environmental Health News and Mamavation community members. Mamavation has only "spot-checked" the industry and thus we cannot make predictions about brands and products that we have not tested. Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice so buyer beware. This post contains affiliate links, with some to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales and we will use that to pay ourselves back for the testing. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Click "yes" when asked if the gift is in honor of someone and type "Mamavation." Thank you! Mamavation's Lab Finds Indications of PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Inside 100% of Eye Contacts Tested Contact lenses are medical devices that correct refractive vision errors like as nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia). Community members asked us whether there were any indications of PFAS "forever chemicals" inside contact lenses, so we sent the most popular pairs off to our EPA-certified lab to find out. PFAS "forever chemicals" are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances used for many decades as stain-resistant, oil-resistant, and water-resistant chemicals in commerce. These chemicals reside in many places in our lives and are linked to serious health effects. PFAS chemicals were used for decades inside consumer products, as manufacturing aides, and inside building materials. Because they are so toxic, Mamavation has commissioned our own consumer studies on indications of PFAS in order to make consumer recommendations for which eye contacts are the least problematic. For this consumer study, Mamavation sent 18 different types of soft eye contact lenses from three major brands off to an EPA-certified laboratory and discovered 100% of those products had indications of toxic PFAS "forever chemicals." Here's what our EPA-certified laboratory found: 100% of contact lenses sent to our EPA-certified laboratory had indications of toxic PFAS "forever chemicals." 18 soft eye contact lens products were found to have detections of organic fluorine, a marker for PFAS. Ranges of organic fluorine reported by the lab were from 105 to 20,700 parts per million (ppm). The most popular brands of eye contacts — Acuvue, Alcon, and CooperVision — were all found to have indications of PFAS "forever chemicals" at different levels. 22% of contact lenses tested had over 18,000 parts per million (ppm) of organic fluorine. That's 4 out of 18 products. 44% of contact lenses tested had over 4,000 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine. That's 8 out of 18 products. Linda S. Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program and Scholar at Residence at Duke University, North Carolina University, and Yale University had this to say: "Your eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of your body. Therefore, it's concerning to see the presence of organic fluorine, which is likely a type of PFAS, found in all soft contact lens products tested. What about the idea of doing no harm? Do we have proof these products are safe? A lack of safety studies does not qualify as 'safety,' which is what is happening here." Health Effects Linked to PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' PFAS "forever chemicals" are problematic to human health and the environment. They are considered ubiquitous, persistent, and toxic. Many of these chemicals can last for years or decades in our bodies. Therefore, it's imperative to reduce the amount of PFAS you are exposed to from food, water, and personal care products such as eye contacts. Below are listed health impacts from exposure to PFAS in general: Reduction in immunity Reduced vaccination response Increased risk of allergies and asthma in young children Affected growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children Increase cholesterol levels Metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes Cardiovascular disease Lowered a woman's chance of getting pregnant Lowered male fertility Increased risk of kidney and testicular cancers Causes endocrine disruption Disrupted normal thyroid function We may not be able to tell you if or how much PFAS will leach into the body from exposure to the eyeball, but we do know that PFAS exposure is possible based on some studies looking at dermal exposure in animals. It's also very clear based on biomonitoring evidence from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that PFAS are in essentially all Americans. According to Pete Myers, chief scientist for Environmental Health Sciences, "The presumption that these organic fluorine levels measured in contact lenses are safe is laughable. Last summer the EPA issued health advisories in drinking for four common PFAS, ranging from 0.004 parts per trillion (ppt) to 2,000 ppt. EPA considers exposure beneath these thresholds to be safe for drinking water. While comparing drinking levels in water to concentrations in contact lenses is like comparing apples to oranges, it's worth noting that all of the contact lenses tested exceeded 100 ppm, which is equivalent to 100,000,000 ppt, or 50,000 times higher than the highest level deemed safe in drinking water by the EPA." Can Exposure to PFAS Through the Eyeball Be Problematic? In order to get contact lenses, you need a contact lens prescription from an ophthalmologist or an optometrist, so this isn't something you can purchase easily. An eye care professional will give you an eye exam that evaluates your eye health and the quality of your vision. After this is done, they may recommend eyeglasses or a type of contact lens. The types of contact lenses they recommend can be soft lenses, permeable lenses, decorative contact lenses, multifocal contacts, toric lenses, daily contacts, extended-wear contacts, etc. If you decide to go the route of having contact lenses, you'll also get a contact lens exam to ensure you can wear them effectively. Then you must make sure you are practicing good hygiene in order to avoid eye infections such as washing your hands, taking them out before you sleep, and never reusing eye contact solution. The eye is one of the most sensitive areas of the human body, so it's concerning to think that contact lenses are one of the many exposures to PFAS that are found inside consumer products in the United States. Based on our laboratory findings, the type and brand of contact lenses you select with your eye care doctor may have an impact on your health. According to researchers in China, people who had higher levels of PFAS in their blood were more likely to have ocular eye diseases. But what happens when you are exposed to high levels of PFAS from contact lenses? Does the PFAS break down within the eye? We are not sure and couldn't find studies looking into this situation, but it's common sense to operate the precautionary principle when selecting the right contact lens with your eye care professional. However, we did find plenty of instances of PFAS exposure in drinking water being linked to eye diseases. Members of the military and their spouses who were exposed to PFAS on military bases had some of the following conditions according to plaintiff attorneys: • Myopia — A vision defect when far objects appear blurred and objects that are nearer are seen more clearly. In this instance, the eyeball is too long or the refractive power of the lens is too strong. This is also referred to as nearsightedness. • Hyperopia — Hyperopia occurs when people have difficulty seeing things close to them, but can see objects far away easier. This is also referred to as "farsightedness." This occurs because the eyeball is too short or the refractive power inside the lens is weak. • Astigmatism — This vision defect is apparent when you are looking at a pattern of lines and the lines running in one direction look sharp while those in other directions appear blurred. This eye defect happens when light rays do not meet at a certain focal point on the retina. This is caused by non-uniform curvature of the cornea. • Presbyopia — Usually this vision defect happens with old age and it's defined as the gradual loss of focus on nearby objects over time. However, this process can be sped up with exposure to certain chemicals like PFAS. Can Throwing Away Toxic Contact Lenses Be Problematic to the Environment? According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 45 million Americans wear contact lenses. As of 2018, 35% to 46% of all patients wear daily disposable contact lenses and 2/3rds of those contact wearers are female. Of those wearers, 90% are using soft and disposable contact lenses. It's estimated on an annual basis, 2.5 billion contact lenses weighing approximately 44,000 pounds are thrown out and enter wastewater treatment plants in the United States because 15% to 20% of contact wearers throw their contact lenses into the toilet or sink. This ends up creating somewhat of a nightmare for wastewater treatment plants because, for every two pounds of sludge, they find a contact lens. Contact lenses are also very hard to see because they are clear and small. Ultimately anywhere from 6 to 10 metric tons of plastic lenses end up in wastewater in the U.S. every year. Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry and Director of the Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University added some insight. "Fluoropolymers improve the technical performance of contact lenses at attractive price performances and customers are naturally attracted. But the other key performances for safe and sustainable chemical products, the health, environmental and fairness performances, are not given adequate attention by manufacturers, legislators, or regulators. If you use fluoropolymer-containing contact lenses, you are likely to become permanently contaminated. No one today can tell you that fluoropolymer exposures are safe, because no jurisdiction has been demanding the development and scrutiny of appropriate safety testing. Your body cannot process fluoropolymers to safe products to protect you and nature is just as helpless when you throw the lenses away. But we know enough about PFAS chemicals to guess and fear that fluoropolymers in human cells or in the environment are anything but a pretty safety picture. I advise that such contact lenses be rigorously avoided." How Does PFAS Get Into Contact Lenses? According to the American Chemical Society, contact lenses are typically made with a combination of poly(methylmethacrylate), silicones, and fluoropolymers (which are usually PFAS) to create a softer material. These materials allow oxygen to pass through the lens to the eye. Based on the levels of organic fluorine we found in contact lenses, between 105 to 20,700 parts per million (ppm), we can assume fluoropolymers are used in different ways and in different amounts based on the function of the contact lens. This means that contact lens companies are adding these chemicals because they provide a special function, such as enhancing oxygen permeability to an extent greater than water alone. Reporting from our lab indicated that the brand Alcon had the highest level of organic fluorine found. These products with a higher detection ranged from 18,400 ppm to 20,700 ppm. Researchers who have studied "safety" claims on fluoropolymers and their use have concluded, "Given fluoropolymers' extreme persistence; emissions associated with their production, use, and disposal; and a high likelihood for human exposure to PFAS, their production and uses should be curtailed except in cases of essential uses." Are contact lenses an "essential use?" More to the point, are the uses of fluoropolymers in contact lenses essential to the proper functioning of the lenses? It would be very helpful if contact lens designers were to provide information about how the addition of fluoropolymers to contact lenses enhances their performance. Are they essential? Are there replacement chemistries? This should become a high-priority discussion among optometrists. Ask yours. Other Categories of Products We've Tested for Indications of PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Before we launch into the raw data from our lab, we wanted to remind you about all the other studies we have done on indications of PFAS "forever chemicals" inside the food and consumer products you bring inside your home. Soft contact lenses Green beauty makeup Dental floss Toilet paper Period underwear Tampons Sanitary pads, pantiliners, and incontinence pads Powdered electrolytes Butter wrappers Pasta and tomato sauces Nut butters (peanut butter, etc.) Cooking oils (olive oil, almond oil, canola oil, etc.) Ketchup Activewear (yoga pants) Sports bras Parchment paper Cupcake liners Plastic-free straws Fast food packaging Children's probiotics Kids' backpacks Baby strollers Mamavation's Raw Data on Indications of PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' in Contact Lenses To recap, Mamavation sent 18 soft contact lenses from 3 major brands to an EPA-certified laboratory looking for indications of PFAS "forever chemicals." In order for our lab to do this, they have to perform special testing. They do not look for PFAS compounds directly, because that's simply impossible. There are over 12,000 PFAS compounds and assays available for less than 100 compounds exist in a really good commercial lab. Testing: Mamavation's lab uses marker testing to identify the potential presence of PFAS "forever chemicals" in contact lenses. Organic fluorine is a marker for PFAS because all PFAS chemicals are carbon-based compounds that contain fluorine. The specific lab method used by Mamavation tested for total fluorine was the Determination of Total Fluorine by Oxygen Flask Combustion and Ion-Selective Electrode. If total fluorine was observed at a detection level of 10 ppm, the lab did the Determination of free Fluoride Ion in the product by Ion-Selective Electrode and then subtracted that from the Total Fluorine to determine the amount of organic fluorine. This type of marker screening test is likely to show the presence of PFAS. Along with PFAS, other organic fluorine can also capture other fluorochemicals, non-PFAS fluorine-containing pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. None of which you want around your eyes! Scott Belcher, Ph.D. and Associate Professor with the Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS at North Carolina State University says "fluoropolymers are extremely common forms of PFAS that are contributing to the organic fluorine found in contact lenses. Methods used for detecting individual PFAS, such as PFOA or GenX, cannot directly identify fluoropolymers. However, the analysis of total organic fluorine does account for all PFAS contaminants in contact lenses, including the copolymers approved for use in contact lenses. Therefore, this method of testing serves as a good 'spot-check' for fluoropolymers and a screen for PFAS in consumer products." What We Tested: We tested close to every brand that was recommended by the Mamavation community, which were also considered some of the most popular products. In total, we tested 18 contact lenses. These contact lenses were donated to us by someone working inside an ophthalmologist's office in the fall of 2022. The packages were not opened and sent directly to the lab to be analyzed. • Not our favorite eye contact lenses — These products were sent to an EPA-certified lab and found to have 1,000 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine or more. Acuvue Oasys with HydraLuxe 1-Day — 6,096 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine Acuvue Vita Astigmatism Senofilcon C Brand Contact Lenses — 5,537 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine Alcon AIR OPTIX (No HydraGlyde) Soft Contact Lenses for Astigmatism — 20,000 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine Alcon AIR OPTIX Colors Contact Lenses with Smartshield Technology — 20,700 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine Alcon Dailies Colors One-Day Contact Lenses — 18,400 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine Alcon Total 30 Contact Lenses for Daily Wear — 20,400 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine CooperVision Biofinity Toric Contact Lenses — 4,751 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine CooperVision Comfilcon A Multifocal Tinted Soft Contact Lenses — 5,613 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine • Better eye contact lenses — These contacts were sent to an EPA-certified lab and found to have between 200 parts per million (ppm) and 1,000 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine. ◦ Alcon Dailies TOTAL 1 One-Day Contact Lenses Water Gradient — 625 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine ◦ Alcon MULTIFOCAL Dailies AquaComfort Plus One-Day Contact Lenses — 346 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine ◦ Alcon Precision 1 One-Day Contact Lenses with SmartSurface Technology — 302 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine ◦ Alcon TORIC Dailies AquaComfort Plus One-Day Contact Lenses — 914 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine • Best eye contact lenses — These contacts were sent to an EPA-certified lab and found to have less than 200 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine. Unfortunately, there were no products that were non-detect. Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus Brand Contact Lenses with UV Blocking — 113 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus for Astigmatism — 105 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine Alcon AIR OPTIX plus HydraGlyde with Smartshield Technology — 119 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine Alcon Dailies MULTIFOCAL TOTAL 1 One-Day Contact Lenses Water Gradient — 183 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine Alcon Dailies TOTAL 1 One-Day Contact Lenses Water Gradient for Astigmatism — 106 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine Alcon AIR OPTIX plus HydraGlyde for Astigmatism — 173 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine Additional Mamavation Investigations to Help Your Family Mamavation works hard to bring our readers relevant public health information to assist in choosing more nontoxic products. Over the years, we have ranked tens of thousands of consumer products and food that are brought into the home. Here are some of the investigations that we thought you may also be interested in: Best yoga mats Best infrared saunas Best organic mattresses Best air purifiers Best cookware Best plant-based milks Best water filters for PFAS filtration Best collagen Best electrolyte replacement drinks, sports drinks, and coconut water Best infrared saunas Best bubble bath Click here for a complete list of product investigations. About the Author Leah Segedie is the President and Founder of Mamavation.com. Mamavation produces award-winning content and independent consumer studies examining the intersection of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and everyday products brought into American households. She's been referred to by many as "the real FDA." Since 2008, Mamavation has been helping everyday moms navigate the grocery store by commissioning consumer studies on food, beverages, personal care products and other such products and thus democratizing science and testing for everyone.
- What Are Guavas Good For?by Dr. Mercola on October 16, 2024
Editor's Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published November 14, 2016. Mostly everyone in the U.S. has heard of a guava. Many have never tasted one, however, with all the apples, bananas and grapes available. But like virtually every other plant-based food, besides being delicious, this one has its own set of health qualities, and they’re quite impressive. From the Myrtle family, guavas are common as shade trees, because they can grow to more than 30 feet high in South and Central America, indicating they like a warm climate. In Florida, where they’re more like 20 feet high, it’s advised that growth be curtailed because they’re invasive. Guava trees are grown in Malaysia, Vietnam, Hawaii, Peru, Mexico, China, India and the extreme Southern U.S. They can have a single trunk or several to create a canopy, with flowers that look like a tiny, white firework explosion, and oval or teardrop-shaped leaves. With a different name in every port (such as “amrood” in India), the exterior of the pale green, pink or white, round or oval fruits (considered berries by botanists) depends on the variety. Inside, they’re generally one of the same colors, with small, edible brown seeds. The taste is sweet to tart, similar to both a pear and a strawberry. Guavas are used in desserts and smoothies, as well as sauces and savory dishes, but what’s added determines how good they are for you. Prepared so they’re both tasty and healthy, they impart dramatic improvement in a number of diseases and disorders. And like so many other foods, eating them fresh brings about the most extraordinary benefits. Additionally, unlike other exotic fruits, guavas are seldom sprayed with pesticides and other chemicals.1 Nutrients in Guavas Improve Immunity Guavas contain several nutrients your body can’t do without. In every 1-cup serving you get 21% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin A and 20% each of potassium (about the same amount as a banana) and folate. While that’s impressive, it’s the vitamin C that outstrips the others to a staggering degree: Each serving imparts 628% of this bacteria-buster, so it’s no surprise that it fights disease so powerfully. Guavas are even recommended for dengue fever.2 The same serving size nets 20% of the RDA of folate, which is good for brain health and crucial for ensuring a healthy nervous system for unborn babies. Those nutritive benefits translate to the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases through improved immune function.3 Traditional uses for guava over centuries included alleviating pain from toothaches and canker sores4 and helping wounds heal when the juice is applied topically. Guavas were said to treat epilepsy and convulsions by making them less frequent. Guavas Improve Skin, Fight Coughs and Colds The astringents in guavas, particularly fruits that are not quite ripe, help treat acne and smoothen the texture of your skin. This benefit comes through both eating them and rinsing your skin with an emulsion of the pulp, juice and leaves, which serves to tighten, tone and detoxify.5 In fact, studies show guavas work even better for this purpose than the leading lotions, creams and potions. Guavas also prevent wrinkles and slow other signs of aging while removing dead skin cells and brightening your complexion.6 It’s predominantly vitamins A, B and C together that pass along these benefits, along with potassium, as they all have antioxidant properties. The vitamin C combined with biotin also remedies hair loss. Vitamin C is one reason traditional treatments for coughs and colds in Mexico, South America and India relied heavily on guavas. However, it’s important to note that it was the juice from immature guavas, not the ripe fruit, because ripe guava is said to make respiratory and cold problems worse. Not-quite-ripe guavas relieve symptoms such as sore throat while reducing mucus in the respiratory tract, and also inhibit microbial activity from spreading germs. Fiber — One of the Most Important Guava Nutrients Most of the fiber in guava is insoluble fiber,7 which means it’s more adept at moving waste through your colon than most other foods. This is important for staving off bowel trouble, such as constipation and even colon cancer. Guavas have been useful as a folk medicine to treat both diarrhea and dysentery. Astringents contained in raw guava fruits, as well as their leaves, make your gums feel “tighter” and your mouth fresher. This same effect takes place in your bowels due to alkaline content, which is both antibacterial and disinfectant. Dysentery, which involves microbial growth, is inhibited while excess mucus is eradicated from your intestines. The vitamin C in guavas, as well as potassium and carotenoids, support the digestive system and are useful for improving hemorrhoids and symptoms of gastroenteritis. At the same time, constipation takes a back seat when you eat guavas, in part because of laxatives in the seeds, whether they’re chewed or eaten whole. The seeds are responsible for some of the most advantageous health benefits. Both the seeds and skin contain carotenoids, glycosides and other phenolic and flavonoid elements. You may have heard that “death starts in the colon.” That’s because constipation is linked to more than 70 different ailments, so getting rid of waste quickly is critical. Fiber also helps your body retain water, improving bowel movements by flushing everything through. Guavas also help your body by regulating your metabolism and aiding in the absorption of all those minerals and vitamins. Fiber in Guavas Positively Affects Your Blood Pressure and Heart Health By keeping your blood from thickening too much, guava consumption lowers your blood pressure. A study in India involved 120 participants with high blood pressure who were given guava to eat before meals for 12 weeks. This brought about an overall decrease in study subjects’ blood pressure levels. They also had higher intakes of total and soluble fiber as well as vitamins and minerals.8 Heart health is another benefit of eating this tropical fruit, and in several ways. Antioxidants play an important part, as they zap free radicals that cause oxidative stress and damage. One study reported that the leaves “inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation and cell death.”9 The potassium and fiber content also support cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of stroke, which is closely interrelated with your heart function.10 Fiber in Guavas Linked to Lowering Blood Sugar Fiber also balances the sugar your body absorbs, which lowers the risk of either a spike or drop in glucose and insulin levels. A clinical study indicated that drinking tea made from guava leaves lowered the blood sugar levels of 19 people and was effective for up to two hours.11 Further testing by the same group in Japan, using 20 participants with Type 2 diabetes, revealed that when study participants drank guava-leaf tea after a meal, their blood sugar levels dropped by more than 10%. Multiple animal and test-tube studies have shown guava extract to decrease blood sugar levels, improve its control in the long term and reduce insulin resistance. One study observed:12 “Although PG [Psidium guajava leaves] is known for its beneficial role in diabetes mellitus, for the first time we report its potential in the management of lifelong pathologies arising from high fructose intake initiated during developmental years.” Guava Consumption and Cancer Prevention If anything can be proven to be a dramatic game-changer in a plant-based food, its effect on cancer will do it. Not wanting to disappoint, guavas have been shown to have dramatically positive results in cancer studies, by inhibiting cancer cell growth and metastasis, in particular. Lycopene works with flavonoids, lutein, quercetin and cryptoxanthin to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. According to Organic Facts: “There have been numerous studies done ... on guava’s effects primarily on prostate cancer, breast cancer and oral cancers. Guava leaf oil is extremely successful as an anti-proliferative substance, and has actually been shown to be more effective than some leading modern medicines in reducing cancerous growth. Guavas are also rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to be wildly successful in reducing prostate cancer risk. That same antioxidant has also shown to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells, although further human trials need to be done.”13 Guavas have been shown to lower the risk of cancer of the skin, colon and lungs.14 A study in the Journal of Functional Foods15 also mentions apoptosis in gastric cancer cell proliferation. Other Health Problems That Guavas Help Improve All the other nutrients in this exotic fruit certainly don’t go to waste. Your body uses them to fight disease and help you in numerous ways: Thyroid — Copper, another mineral found in abundance in guavas, has the ability to regulate your thyroid metabolism in two ways — production and absorption. It helps regulate hormones throughout your body and optimizes the function of your organs. Eyesight — Vitamin A, or retinol, one of the most prominent nutrients in guavas, is known for its ability to improve eyesight, and in several different ways. It’s been shown to improve cataracts, macular degeneration and other maladies affecting your vision, and even reverse damage that’s already been done. Scurvy — Also known as the “scourge of sailors,” vitamin C is the only treatment for this condition. Luckily, the vitamin C in guavas eclipses even that of most citrus fruits. Guavas contain around 125 milligrams (mg),16 while oranges have 69.7 mg,17 grapefruits have 31.2 mg18 and lemons around 34.4 mg.19 Brain health — Vitamin B3 (niacin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) improve the function of the nerves of your brain, which in turn increases blood flow and stimulates cognitive function, improving your ability to focus. Weight loss — The roughage from fiber is one of the reasons why guavas are good for anyone wanting to slim down. They’re also very filling, which translates to eating less, and contain less sugar in comparison to fruits like apples and grapes.20 Painful Menstrual Cramps Relieved by Eating Guavas Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for the painful menstrual cramps women experience during their period, a problem that affects more than a few. But studies show guava consumption helps relieve the pain. In one study, 197 women with this problem were given 6 mg of guava leaf extract every day, which reduced the pain even more than conventional treatments.21 Researchers determined that pain relief comes about via the “spasmolytic” or spasm-lowering effect the extract has on the uterus.22
- Beef Spikes Insulin More Than Pastaby none on October 15, 2024
In the world of health and nutrition, few topics have sparked as much debate and confusion as insulin. This hormone, essential for regulating blood sugar levels, has become the subject of countless diet trends, health theories, and heated discussions. But why is there so much confusion surrounding insulin, and what's the truth behind the hype? I completely understand why so many are interested in the topic — as many people are not metabolically healthy. Estimates suggest that about 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. may be insulin resistant. And 2024 CDC data indicates that the obesity rate in the U.S. is around 42% to 43% among adults. Insulin resistance is a condition where the body's cells become less responsive to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar levels. When insulin resistance occurs, more insulin is needed to help glucose enter the cells. Over time, this can lead to higher insulin levels in the blood and may contribute to various health issues. Having insulin resistance is certainly not desirable and is a real problem in modern society. However, is insulin something we should fear? The Insulin Dilemma: Why Are We So Confused? It's easy to see why many people feel overwhelmed when it comes to understanding insulin's role in our bodies. On one side, we have health gurus promoting the "carbohydrate insulin model," suggesting that insulin is the primary culprit behind weight gain and metabolic issues. On the other side, we have scientific research that paints a more nuanced picture. So, how did we get here? The carbohydrate insulin model, promoted by figures like Dr. Jason Fung, presents a seemingly straightforward explanation for weight gain and metabolic problems. According to this model, the consumption of carbohydrates can lead to insulin spikes that promote fat storage and contribute to obesity. Insulin tells your body to store calories. Carbohydrates cause insulin spikes. Therefore, high carbohydrate diets lead to weight gain and metabolic issues. This explanation is appealing in its simplicity. It offers a clear villain (carbohydrates) and a simple solution (reduce carbs to reduce insulin). For many people struggling with weight or health issues, this model provides a sense of control and a clear path forward. The carbohydrate insulin model then suggests that a higher protein and higher fat intake is best because it doesn't increase insulin. It also causes many people to fear carbohydrates and can lead to eating-disorder like behaviors for others. While a diet higher in fat may keep insulin levels lower, it doesn't fix the underlying metabolic problem (which is the inability to use carbohydrates). And when it comes to protein, did you know that protein actually spikes insulin as well? In a study where researchers gave subjects 240-calorie servings of 38 different types of foods and measured insulin levels, they found that while higher carbohydrate foods generally caused greater insulin secretion, the results weren't as clear-cut as many would expect.1 Surprisingly, beef caused a greater insulin release than white pasta! This finding challenges the common belief that only carbohydrates significantly impact insulin levels. Other studies have shown that whey protein powder also stimulates the release of insulin following intake.2 So, if protein-rich foods like beef and whey can stimulate insulin release, does that make them "bad" according to the insulin fear-mongering logic? Of course not! This realization helps put the insulin debate into perspective. Reality: It's More Complicated Than That The carbohydrate insulin model is an oversimplification of a much more complex system. Recent research has shown that the relationship between insulin, carbohydrates, and body fat is far more nuanced. Like every other hormone in your body, insulin has a specific purpose and isn't inherently good or bad. In fact, insulin plays crucial roles in our body beyond just regulating blood sugar. Insulin facilitates glucose and amino acid uptake into muscle cells, promoting muscle growth and preventing muscle protein breakdown. So, if insulin isn't the primary villain, what is? Again, having elevated insulin and insulin resistance is not a good thing. But what is the reason for the elevated insulin? The inability to utilize carbohydrates. Consider this: Some bodybuilders inject significant amounts of insulin, yet remain extremely lean. On the flip side, if someone consumed large quantities of pure fat, they would gain substantial body fat despite having very little insulin increase. Research demonstrates that obesity and inactivity are the biggest contributors to insulin resistance, not carbohydrates themselves. In fact, high-fat diets have even been shown to negatively impact insulin sensitivity. These examples illustrate that the relationship between insulin and fat gain isn't as straightforward as some would have us believe. Carbohydrates Are Not the Enemy You Think They Are Contrary to popular belief, high carbohydrate and sugar intakes are not associated with insulin resistance and diabetes.3,4,5,6,7 In fact, increasing carbohydrate consumption can actually increase insulin sensitivity.8,9,10,11,12 This doesn't mean that all carbohydrates are created equal or that unlimited consumption is advisable. However, it does suggest that demonizing all carbohydrates based on their effect on insulin is misguided. Interestingly, avoiding carbohydrates can actually induce physiological insulin resistance. How? When we drastically reduce carb intake, our bodies downregulate the enzymes and metabolic machinery important for proper carb metabolism. Additionally, elevated levels of fatty acids can interfere with insulin signaling pathways. Again, removing the trigger instead of fixing the underlying problem. A study comparing high-fat and low-fat diets found that participants on the high-fat diet experienced a decrease in glucose disposal rates during insulin infusion, indicating reduced insulin sensitivity.13 There's also evidence suggesting that low-carbohydrate intake in healthy individuals of normal weight might lead to dysfunctional glucose homeostasis over time.14 One of the key players in the development of insulin resistance is often overlooked: free fatty acids. When we avoid carbs, our bodies can rely more on stress hormones like adrenaline to regulate blood sugar. This adrenaline release triggers the release of free fatty acids from our stored fat into the bloodstream. Higher circulating free fatty acids prevent our cells from effectively using carbohydrates. As one study notes: "Dysregulation of free fatty acid metabolism is a key event responsible for insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. According to the glucose-fatty acid cycle of Randle, preferential oxidation of free fatty acids over glucose plays a major role in insulin sensitivity and the metabolic disturbances of diabetes mellitus ..."15 Another study adds: "Elevated plasma FFA levels have been shown to account for up to 50% of insulin resistance in obese patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lowering of FFAs in these patients or interfering with steps in the pathway through which FFAs cause insulin resistance could be a new and promising approach to treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus."16 In fact, did you know that Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased total plasma free fatty acid concentrations?17 The root cause is often an alteration in oxidative phosphorylation (the process of using oxygen to produce energy from glucose — burning carbs the 'right' way) and an increased reliance on glycolysis (breaking down glucose without oxygen, the least efficient way).18 Oxidative phosphorylation leads to more ATP production and more CO2. While glycolysis leads to less ATP, less CO2, and more antimetabolic breakdown products like lactic acid. When carbs aren't being used efficiently to produce energy, it builds up in the cells. This excess sugar blocks more sugar from entering the cells, which prevents insulin from doing its job.19 At the heart of insulin resistance lies an inability to effectively use carbohydrates to produce energy. This impairment inhibits the function of insulin. Simply avoiding carbohydrates may reduce insulin levels, but it doesn't fix this underlying problem — it merely removes the trigger. The Long-Term Effects of Carb Avoidance If you're thriving on a low-carb diet, there's no need to change your approach. Stick with what works for you and makes you feel your best. However, some people experience frustrations with this dietary style despite being told it is the answer to all of their problems. They may struggle to lose weight, notice thinning hair, have difficulty digesting certain foods, or face issues with sleep and digestion. (The result of poor energy production.) For others, they may feel great at the beginning or for a few years, until their health starts to take a turn, or they re-gain their weight. It feels good, until it doesn't. Removing carbohydrates from your diet can force your body to produce more adrenaline and cortisol to compensate, which can actually worsen carb metabolism over time. This is why some individuals with hypothyroidism who follow a low-carb diet long-term may see their blood sugar "stabilize" initially, only to have it increase again later, regardless of how few carbohydrates they consume. (Why you see some on a low carb diet have elevated fasting glucose levels, despite eating little to no carbs.) It's crucial to understand that when you don't eat carbohydrates, your body will make it from your own tissues or dietary protein to provide for the cells that require glucose. The only way to truly solve the problem of metabolic dysfunction is to address the underlying dysfunction that causes it. So, what's the solution? As with many aspects of health and nutrition, the answer lies in balance and individualization. Here are some strategies that can help improve insulin sensitivity and overall metabolic health: 1. Eat 3 to 4 balanced meals a day, focusing on whole, minimally processed foods — Fasting all day in the name of 'health' is not going to improve metabolic function. On the flip side, you don't need to be snacking all day. 2. Minimize eating out and avoid heavily processed foods. 3. Exercise consistently, incorporating both strength training and cardiovascular exercise — Remember, rest days are important too, but complete inactivity isn't the answer. Muscle mass is inversely associated with insulin resistance.20 So the more muscle mass you have, the more insulin sensitive you will be. More muscle means a greater capacity to take up glucose from the bloodstream. 4. Aim for 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day to increase nonexercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT). 5. Reduce consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which can impair proper glucose oxidation21,22 and potentially damage insulin-producing beta-cells in the pancreas.23 6. Remain mindful of total dietary fat intake — Dietary fat is not 'bad', but overconsuming fat is not required to reap the hormonal and micronutrient benefits. Remember, excess fat consumption can negatively impact carb oxidation, especially when in an insulin resistant state. 7. Include animal protein sources, eggs, and dairy for B vitamins and the micronutrients required to properly oxidize carbohydrates — It is best to choose collagen-rich cuts of meat to get a boost in beneficial amino acids like glycine, which further help your body regain metabolic function. (Example cuts would be slow cooked beef shanks, bone in roasts, beef cheeks, tendons, oxtail, pork hocks, lamb shanks, etc.) Embracing Metabolism for Better Health The journey to optimal health and metabolic function isn't about finding a single villain to eliminate from our diets. It's about understanding the complex interplay of various factors — including diet, exercise, stress, and sleep — and how they affect our individual bodies. Insulin, far from being the enemy, is a crucial hormone that plays multiple important roles in our bodies. By focusing on overall metabolic health rather than demonizing specific nutrients or hormones, we can develop a more balanced, sustainable approach to nutrition and health. Remember, if you're feeling confused or overwhelmed by conflicting health information, you're not alone. The key is to focus on foundational healthy habits and listen to your body. If a particular approach is working for you — you feel great, have good energy levels, and maintain a healthy weight — then stick with it. But if you're still struggling, don't be afraid to reassess and try a different approach. Ultimately, the path to health is a personal journey. By arming ourselves with accurate information and maintaining an open, curious mindset, we can navigate the complex world of nutrition and find what truly works for our individual bodies. Transform Your Health — One Step at a Time >>>>> Click Here <<<<< Ashley and her sister Sarah have put together a truly groundbreaking step-by-step course called “Rooted in Resilience.” They have compiled what clearly is the best application of Dr. Ray Peat’s work on Bioenergetic Medicine that I have ever seen. It is so good that I am using the core of their program to teach the many Health Coaches that I am in the process of training for the new Mercola Health Clinics I am opening this fall. It took these women working nearly full-time on this project for a year to create it. This has to be one of the absolute best values for health education I have ever seen. If you want to understand why you struggle with health problems and then have a clear program on how to reverse those challenges, then this is the course for you. It is precisely the type of program I wish I would have had access to when I got out of medical school. I fumbled around for decades before I reached the conclusion they discuss in the course and share with you so you can restore your cellular energy production and recover your health. Select and eat the right foods to heal your metabolism and improve glucose utilization Balance your hormones to help reduce anxiety, weight gain and sleep disturbances Use reverse dieting to increase your calories without gaining weight and tanking your metabolism, all while improving your energy levels Heal your gut for proper immune function, mood and weight management Tweak your diet and lifestyle habits to improve your mindset and mental health Crush your fitness goals with ease and get your life back on track Master the most essential habits for health with bonus guides, including over 100 meal plans to take the stress out of meal time planning and shopping, and so much more! Learn more about Rooted in Resilience here. >>>>> Click Here <<<<< About the Author Ashley Armstrong is the co-founder of Angel Acres Egg Co., which specializes in low-PUFA (polyunsaturated fat) eggs that are shipped to all 50 states (join waitlist here), and Nourish Cooperative, which ships low-PUFA pork, beef, cheese, A2 dairy and traditional sourdough to all 50 states. Waitlists will reopen shortly.
- New Alzheimer's Test Claims 90% Accuracyby Dr. Mercola on October 15, 2024
Scientists from Lund University in Sweden have unveiled a new blood test that could transform how Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed. This test, which measures specific proteins in the blood, boasts an impressive 90% accuracy rate in detecting Alzheimer's pathology. A study, conducted across both primary and secondary care settings, demonstrated that this blood test outperforms conventional clinical assessments by a significant margin.1 Currently, diagnosing Alzheimer's often relies on expensive and invasive procedures like positron emission tomography (PET) scans or spinal taps. However, this new blood test offers a simpler, more accessible alternative that could be implemented in your local doctor's office. The test focuses on two key biomarkers: phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217) and the ratio of amyloid-β 42 to amyloid-β 40 (Aβ42:Aβ40). These proteins are closely associated with the hallmark brain changes seen in Alzheimer's disease. By measuring their levels in the blood, doctors could identify Alzheimer's with unprecedented ease and accuracy, years before symptoms become apparent. Early Detection Enables Prompt Intervention, Even Before Symptoms Start Current treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are most effective when started early, before significant brain damage has occurred. This new blood test could enable doctors to initiate treatment at the earliest stages of the disease, slowing its progression and preserving cognitive function for longer. As researchers explained in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience:2 "Early diagnosis of AD is essential in order to facilitate the development of disease-modifying and secondary preventive therapies prior to the onset of symptoms. There has been a notable shift in the goal of the diagnosis process, transitioning from merely confirming the presence of symptomatic AD to recognizing the illness in its early, asymptomatic phases." By the time memory problems become noticeable in typical Alzheimer's, significant brain damage has often already occurred. Many experts believe that treating the disease in its earliest stages, before widespread brain cell loss, offers the best chance of slowing its progression. Moreover, early detection opens up opportunities for lifestyle interventions that may help stave off or mitigate the effects of Alzheimer's. Imagine being able to make informed decisions about your brain health years before any symptoms appear. This test could empower you to take proactive steps, such as adjusting your diet, increasing physical activity or engaging in cognitive training exercises, all of which have shown promise in maintaining brain health. Additionally, early diagnosis allows for better planning and preparation for the future, giving you and your family more time to consider care options and make important decisions while you're still in full control of your faculties. Improving Diagnosis Across Health Care Settings The new blood test could improve Alzheimer's diagnosis across different health care settings, as the study showed that the test performed consistently well in both primary care clinics and specialized memory clinics.3 In primary care settings, where misdiagnosis rates for Alzheimer's can be high, the blood test achieved an accuracy of 89% to 90%, far surpassing the 58% accuracy rate of primary care physicians using conventional diagnostic methods. Even in specialized memory clinics, where expert neurologists typically diagnose Alzheimer's, the blood test outperformed clinical assessments, achieving 91% to 92% accuracy compared to the specialists' 71%.4 This means that whether you visit your family doctor or a specialized clinic, you could receive a more accurate diagnosis using this blood test, and ultimately more patients could be correctly identified early in the disease process, reducing the stress and uncertainty of misdiagnosis and ensuring that appropriate care and support are provided from the outset. Detecting Alzheimer's Before Symptoms Appear In a separate study published in Biomedicines, researchers found that p-tau217 levels start rising in the blood over two decades before cognitive symptoms emerge, outpacing other tau biomarkers like p-tau181 and p-tau205.5 This provides an unprecedented window for early intervention, allowing you to take steps to slow or prevent the disease's progression long before irreversible brain damage occurs. The test's ability to detect Alzheimer's in its preclinical stage could be transformative for individuals at risk. In cognitively unimpaired individuals, p-tau217 correlates strongly with amyloid and tau PET status, as well as with CSF Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios. Importantly, p-tau217 can distinguish amyloid-positive tau-negative individuals from non-AD controls, suggesting it may detect the earliest stages of AD pathology. The unique association of p-tau217 with the CA1 region of the hippocampus, which is important for memory, and its localization in granulovacuolar bodies — small, bubble-like structures in brain cells — help explain its early rise in the disease process. Visual Symptoms: Another Key to Earlier Alzheimer's Detection You may think of memory loss as the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, but a lesser-known variant could also help detect the condition much earlier. Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a form of Alzheimer's that initially affects vision rather than memory. An international study involving 1,092 patients shed new light on this condition.6 PCA typically strikes around age 60, nearly a decade earlier than classic Alzheimer's. Its first symptoms are visual — trouble with depth perception, recognizing objects or navigating spaces. You might struggle to park your car, read a clock or locate items right in front of you. These visual issues often lead to misdiagnosis, with patients seeing multiple eye doctors before getting the right answer. By understanding PCA, you could potentially spot Alzheimer's years before memory problems surface. MRI scans revealed characteristic shrinkage in the back of the brain in 85% of PCA patients. Even more telling was PET scanning, which showed reduced brain activity in posterior regions in 97% of cases. Amyloid PET scans, which detect the buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain, were positive in 94% of PCA patients. Spinal fluid tests for these same proteins were positive in 81% of cases. In fact, the researchers suggest PCA might be the most predictive clinical syndrome for Alzheimer's pathology. This means if you're diagnosed with PCA, there's a very high likelihood you're dealing with Alzheimer's, even if your memory is still sharp. These biomarker tests can provide clarity and help guide treatment decisions much earlier in the disease process. An intriguing finding from this study is that PCA affects women more often than men. About 60% of PCA patients were women, compared to a more even split in classic Alzheimer's. This sex difference might offer clues about risk factors and potential prevention strategies. The researchers speculate that women may have a greater "cognitive vulnerability" in the brain regions affected by PCA. They noted that mathematical and visuospatial learning difficulties are more common in girls, and these same skills are often impaired in PCA. This raises questions about whether certain cognitive patterns throughout life might influence your risk of specific types of dementia later on. It's a reminder that Alzheimer's is not a one-size-fits-all disease. Your sex, along with your unique cognitive strengths and weaknesses, shape how the disease manifests. Risky Alzheimer's Pill Linked to Life-Threatening Side Effects The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for the Alzheimer's drug lecanemab (Leqembi). The drug, a monoclonal antibody, binds to amyloid beta in the brain. An 18-month study published in the New England Journal of Medicine7 found Leqembi reduced markers of amyloid in early Alzheimer's disease and led to "moderately less decline" in cognition and function compared to placebo. Lecanemab has been hailed as a breakthrough, but a closer look reveals significant risks that outweigh its modest benefits. The most alarming side effect observed was ARIA (amyloid-related imaging abnormalities), which occurred in a substantial number of participants. ARIA-E, involving brain edema, affected 12.6% of those taking lecanemab compared to just 1.7% in the placebo group. While most cases were reported as mild to moderate, 2.8% of participants experienced symptomatic ARIA-E, with symptoms including headache, visual disturbance and confusion.8 ARIA-H, involving brain hemorrhages, was even more common, affecting 17.3% of lecanemab recipients versus 9% in the placebo group. Beyond ARIA, lecanemab was associated with a high rate of infusion-related reactions, affecting 26.4% of participants compared to 7.4% in the placebo group. These reactions, while mostly mild to moderate, led to a significant number of participants experiencing discomfort during treatment. The study also reported higher rates of serious adverse events in the lecanemab group (14%) compared to the placebo group (11.3%). Risks Outweigh Lecanemab's Modest Benefits Other concerning side effects included a higher incidence of falls (10.4% vs 9.6%) and headaches (11.1% vs 8.1%) in the lecanemab group. More worryingly, macrohemorrhages occurred in 0.6% of lecanemab recipients compared to 0.1% in the placebo group. These larger brain bleeds pose a significant risk and could have severe consequences for patients. It's worth noting that adverse events led to discontinuation of the trial agent in 6.9% of lecanemab recipients, more than twice the rate in the placebo group (2.9%). This high dropout rate due to side effects raises questions about the drug's tolerability in real-world settings. Further, while lecanemab showed some efficacy in slowing cognitive decline, the benefits were modest. The difference in cognitive decline between the lecanemab and placebo groups on the primary outcome measure — Clinical Dementia Rating — Sum of Boxes score, a tool used to assess the severity of dementia — was just 0.45 points on an 18-point scale. This small difference must be weighed against the significant risks associated with the drug. The study was also limited to 18 months, leaving questions about long-term efficacy and safety unanswered. Given the chronic nature of Alzheimer's disease, patients would need to take lecanemab for years, increasing their exposure to these risks over time. As investigative journalist Maryanne Demasi wrote:9 "Now that the drug has been approved, advocacy groups like the Alzheimer's Association, which are heavily funded by the drug industry, have welcomed the news, saying the FDA made 'the right decision.' But critics doubt the benefits of lecanemab outweigh its harms, and are dismayed that the FDA approved the drug without input from its own advisory panel." Tips to Protect Your Cognitive Function As a blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's moves closer to widespread clinical use, it has the potential to reshape the landscape of Alzheimer's care and research. The availability of a simple, accurate diagnostic tool could lead to more widespread screening, potentially catching the disease earlier in millions of people. This could shift the focus of Alzheimer's care from managing symptoms to preventing their onset. While the test is not yet available for clinical use, its development represents a significant step forward in the fight against Alzheimer's. Prevention, however, is still better than treatment. You can lower your risk of chronic diseases, including dementia, and help prevent cognitive decline by enhancing your mitochondrial function. Research published in Neurology10 indicates that an inflammatory diet is linked to a higher dementia risk, a condition rooted in mitochondrial dysfunction.11 Three major toxins impair your mitochondrial function by affecting intracellular calcium and overall cellular health. Elevated intracellular calcium leads to increased superoxide and nitric oxide levels, which combine to form peroxynitrite, a potent reactive oxygen species that contributes to poor health. These toxins include: 1. Excessive linoleic acid (LA) consumption — LA, an omega-6 polyunsaturated fat abundant in seed and vegetable oils and processed foods, is among the most detrimental components of the Western diet. Overconsumption negatively impacts your metabolic rate and gut microbiome, two crucial factors for your health. 2. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) — EDC exposure, often from microplastics, overstimulates your estrogen receptors. Microplastics are so prevalent that you might ingest a credit card's worth of plastic weekly.12 This plastic contains phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which activate estrogen receptors. Estrogen increases intracellular calcium levels, leading to peroxynitrite formation. 3. Excessive electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure — Daily EMF exposure, such as from cellphones, has hidden health consequences. EMFs activate voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) receptors within cells, triggering calcium influx and catalyzing peroxynitrite production.13 Chronic exposure to these toxins damages your microbiome, setting the stage for chronic disease. Therefore, in addition to maintaining a healthy diet throughout life, including avoiding excess LA, minimizing exposure to EDCs and EMFs will protect your brain health as you age.
- Broccoli May Slow Age-Related Decline and Promote Longevity by Reducing Chronic Health Risksby Dr. Mercola on October 15, 2024
Editor's Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published November 14, 2016. Eating plenty of fresh vegetables (ideally organic to avoid pesticides) is a foundational aspect of a healthy diet, and can help lower your risk for many chronic diseases, including Type 2 diabetes,1 heart disease, stroke and certain cancers. Besides being rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, vegetables also contain antioxidants and disease-fighting compounds you won't find in other foods, especially not processed foods. Some phytochemicals (plant chemicals) help reduce inflammation and eliminate carcinogens, while others regulate cell reproduction, apoptosis (programmed cell death) and DNA maintenance. Certain plant compounds also have potent antiaging effects. Broccoli, for example, which is probably best known for its anticancer activity, also contains an enzyme researchers believe may slow age-related decline in health by restoring your metabolism to more youthful levels.2,3,4 One basic premise of aging is that, as you age, your cells' ability to produce energy declines. With less available energy, cell repair and maintenance declines as well and, with that, degeneration sets in. Broccoli Enzyme May Slow Aging The enzyme in question is called nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which plays a role in producing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a compound involved in mitochondrial health and energy metabolism. Previous research has shown that, with age, your body loses its capacity to create NAD — an effect thought to be related to, or the result of, chronic inflammation. Studies have shown that taking NAD directly is ineffective, however, which is what led the researchers to look for a precursor. Indeed, they found that when NMN is dissolved and administered in water, it takes just three minutes for the compound to appear in the blood. Once there, the NMN is quickly converted into NAD in multiple tissues. As reported by Time magazine:5 "When they gave normal aging mice infusions of NMN, they made more of that energy-fueling compound and some of the biological problems associated with aging went away. The NMN-treated animals did not gain as much weight, they were able to convert food into energy more efficiently, their blood sugar was better — even their eyesight improved. The mice receiving NMN were also able to prevent some of the genetic changes associated with aging." Eat Your Greens if You Want Health and Longevity The results were encouraging enough that the researchers are now planning further studies in humans, using NMN supplements. As explained by senior author Dr. Shin-Ichiro Imai, professor of developmental biology and medicine at Washington University:6 "We are losing the enzyme NMN. But if we can bypass that process by adding NMN, we can make energy again. These results provide a very important foundation for the human studies." Besides broccoli, NMN is also found in cucumbers, cabbage and other green vegetables. While it remains to be seen whether all of these effects hold true in humans, it certainly wouldn't hurt to add more greens to your diet. Overall, studies have shown that people with higher vegetable intake have: Lower risks of high blood pressure and stroke Lower risks of certain types of cancer Reduced risk of kidney stones and bone loss Higher scores on cognitive tests Higher antioxidant levels Lower biomarkers for oxidative stress Lower risk for Alzheimer's disease7Lower risk for eye diseases Fewer digestive problems The Role of NAD and Adipose Tissue in Whole Body Energy Metabolism A related study8 by this research team, published in August 2016, revealed more about NAD's influence on glucose metabolism and body fat specifically. As reported by Science Daily:9 "In that study, the mice had a defect in the ability to manufacture NAD only in the body's fat tissue. The rest of their tissues and organs were normal. 'Even though NAD synthesis was stopped only in the fat tissue, we saw metabolic dysfunction throughout the body, including the skeletal muscle, the heart muscle, the liver and in measures of the blood lipids,' Yoshino said. 'When we gave NMN to these mice, these dysfunctions were reversed. That means NAD in adipose tissue is a critical regulator of whole body metabolism.' Added Imai, 'This is important because … if you mess up NAD synthesis only in fat tissue, you see insulin resistance everywhere. Adipose tissue must be doing something remarkable to control whole body insulin sensitivity.'" Broccoli Provides Many Health Benefits Broccoli is one of the most widely studied foods, and research has revealed a long list of health benefits associated with this cruciferous vegetable, including a reduced risk for:10 Osteoarthritis11,12,13,14 Cancer High blood pressure15 Heart disease Kidney disease16 Diabetes17 Neurodegenerative diseases18 Allergies19 Broccoli and other water- and nutrient-rich veggies also support healthy liver function, which in turn promotes optimal functioning of your natural detoxification systems. Broccoli sprouts, in particular, have been shown to help detox environmental pollutants such as benzene.20,21,22 This is important for virtually everyone these days, but especially women of childbearing age. Autistic children are known to have higher levels of environmental toxins in their system, and this underlying toxic burden plays a significant role. Healthy liver function also helps promote healthy, beautiful skin, making broccoli a good antiaging food. What's more, the sulforaphane in broccoli also helps repair skin damage. The sulforaphane found in broccoli also helps raise testosterone levels, inhibits the retention of body fat and helps protect your muscles against exercise-induced damage.23 Broccoli — A Good Source of Healthy Fiber Broccoli contains an array of beneficial compounds, including fiber, which is broken down into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by your gut bacteria. SCFAs, in turn, have been shown to lessen your risk of inflammatory diseases.24 Your liver converts SCFAs into ketones that nourish your body and perform important signaling functions. Fiber also promotes health by nourishing beneficial gut bacteria, and by activating a gene called T-bet, which is essential for producing immune cells in the lining of your digestive tract.25 These immune cells, called innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), help maintain balance between immunity and inflammation in your body and produce interleukin-22 (IL-22), a hormone that helps protect your body from pathogenic bacteria. ILCs even help resolve cancerous lesions and prevent the development of bowel cancers and other inflammatory diseases. The Anticancer Effects of Sulforaphane As mentioned, broccoli is perhaps most well-known for its anticancer activity, an effect attributed to a naturally occurring sulfur compound called sulforaphane. Broccoli sprouts are the most potent in this regard. Three-day-old broccoli sprouts can contain anywhere from 20 to 50 times the amount of chemoprotective compounds found in mature broccoli.26,27 Some researchers have suggested broccoli may be a key part of an anticancer diet.28 Judging by the following study results, chances are broccoli may certainly improve your odds of dodging a dreaded cancer diagnosis. In one study, three or four servings (about 10 spears) of broccoli per week was found to reduce men's risk of prostate cancer by more than 60%.29 Higher intake of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli also lowered the risk of bladder cancer in men by as much as 50%.30 Men with detectable amounts of isothiocyanates (sulfur compounds such as sulforaphane) in their bodies had a 36% lower chance of developing lung cancer over 10 years.31 Eating broccoli three to five times per week has been shown to lower the risk of liver cancer, and help prevent the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).32,33,34,35,36 There are a number of mechanisms behind this anticancer effect. Research has shown sulforaphane: Can kill cancer stem cells, thereby slowing tumor growth. Helps detoxify carcinogens.37 Causes apoptosis in colon,38 prostate,39 breast40 and tobacco-induced lung cancer41 cells. Reduces the number of reactive oxygen species (ROS), molecules that cause cell damage, by as much as 73%.42 Plays a role in activating more than 200 different genes, activating some genes that fight cancer and switching off others that fuel tumors.43 Normalizes DNA methylation, which plays a role in a number of diseases, including hypertension, kidney function44 and cancer. DNA methylation45 is the process by which a methyl group is added to part of a DNA molecule. This is a crucial part of normal cell function as it allows cells to "remember who they are and where they have been." DNA methylation also suppresses viral- and other disease-related gene expression. Sulforaphane May Benefit Autistic Children Sulforaphane influences bacteria as well. For example, broccoli sprouts have been shown to inhibit Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the bacteria thought to cause gastric ulcers. Interestingly, H. pylori may also play a role in autism. Gastrointestinal (GI) problems are common among autistic children, and those with the worst GI problems often have more severe autism. Preliminary research suggests sulforaphane may improve verbal communication and decrease repetitive behaviors in those with autism.46 This effect is thought to be related to sulforaphane's ability to trigger a heat-shock response — a biological effect that protects cells from stress during a fever. Previous research has shown that, in some autistic people, repetitive behaviors decline during fevers. In this study, 80% of the participants had a history of this fever effect. Positive results from sulforaphane were observed within as little as four weeks. Communication improved, as did symptoms of hyperactivity and irritability. By the end of the 18-week study, about 50% of those receiving sulforaphane experienced improved ability to interact socially. However, about one-third of the treatment group did not have any noticeable results, so more research needs to be done to ascertain how and why the compound works in certain cases. That said, the study still supports the notion that food is an important part of the treatment plan for autism, and can have a significant impact on behavior. I believe part of the reason for its beneficial effect on autistic symptoms may be related to its ability to affect gene expression, inhibit detrimental gut bacteria and promote detoxification of harmful environmental pollutants. All of these factors play a role in autism, and pretty much anything that will have a beneficial effect on them is likely to be useful to some degree. Other Health-Promoting Compounds Found in Broccoli While sulforaphane typically receives the most attention, broccoli also contains a number of other health-promoting compounds, including: • Glucoraphanin, a glucosinolate precursor of sulforaphane that also influences the process of carcinogenesis and mutagenesis.47,48 Compared to mature broccoli, broccoli sprouts can contain up to 20 times more glucoraphanin. • Phenolic compounds, including flavonoids and phenolic acids, which have a potent ability to eliminate damaging free radicals and quell inflammation,49,50,51 resulting in a lower risk for diseases such as asthma, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.52 One of the ways phenolic compounds slow the encroachment of disease is by defending against infection, most dramatically by zapping ROS linked to atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. • Diindolylmethane (DIM) — Your body produces DIM when it breaks down cruciferous vegetables. Like many other broccoli compounds, DIM has shown multiple potential benefits, including boosting your immune system and helping to prevent or treat cancer.53,54 • Vitamins and minerals — Broccoli has twice the vitamin C of an orange, and almost as much calcium as whole milk (with a better rate of absorption). It also contains folate and iron, and all of these nutrients are important for a healthy pregnancy. Lightly Steam Your Broccoli to Boost Sulforaphane Content The "secret" to cooking broccoli is to lightly steam it. Not only will it taste better this way, but it will also optimize its nutritional value. When you eat raw mature broccoli, you only get about 12% of the total sulforaphane content theoretically available based on the parent compound. In the video above, Elizabeth Jeffery, Ph.D., a researcher and professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois, explains the research55 showing that steaming your broccoli for three to four minutes is ideal. Do not go past five minutes. Steaming your broccoli spears for three to four minutes will optimize the sulforaphane content by eliminating epithiospecifier protein — a heat-sensitive sulfur-grabbing protein that inactivates sulforaphane — while still retaining the enzyme myrosinase, which converts glucoraphanin to sulforaphane. Without it, you cannot get any sulforaphane. Boiling or microwaving your broccoli past the one-minute mark is NOT recommended, as it will destroy a majority of the myrosinase. If you want to boil your broccoli, blanch it in boiling water for no more than 20 to 30 seconds, then immerse it in cold water to stop the cooking process. Also beware that frozen broccoli has diminished ability to produce sulforaphane as the enzyme myrosinase,56 which converts glucoraphanin to sulforaphane, is quickly destroyed during the blanching process.57 So ideally, use fresh broccoli. The sulforaphane content can be further optimized by adding a myrosinase-containing food to it,58 such as: Mustard seed59 Daikon radishes Wasabi Arugula Cole slaw Adding a myrosinase-rich food is particularly important if you do not steam or flash-blanche raw broccoli. As mentioned, frozen broccoli typically has a reduced amount of myrosinase as it's already been blanched as part of the processing. Boiling or microwaving it further can easily lead to it being more or less devoid of sulforaphane. So if you're using frozen broccoli, be sure to add a food that contains myrosinase (see list above). Another option is to eat broccoli sprouts. They don't need to be cooked, and are FAR more potent than whole broccoli, allowing you to eat far less in terms of quantity.
- Poor Oral Health Wreaks Havoc on Your Heart and Brainby Dr. Mercola on October 14, 2024
Keeping your teeth clean and gums healthy isn't just a cosmetic concern. Apart from giving you a bright and pleasant smile, proper oral hygiene also influences your overall well-being. Think of your mouth as a window to your physical and mental health — it can give you a peek of what's happening in the rest of your body. A recently published study1 gives additional insight into how your oral health can have a profound effect on your well-being, particularly your heart health. According to the researchers, the fewer natural teeth you have, the higher your chances of developing cardiovascular disease. Gaps in Your Smile Can Also Indicate Gaps in Your Heart A systematic review published in the Journal of Endodontics2 sheds light on how the state of your oral health can influence your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The researchers analyzed data from 12 research papers and found that people who have already lost all their natural teeth or only have fewer than 10 natural teeth remaining were 1.66 times more likely to die from heart-related issues compared to those with more teeth. Even when other factors were taken into consideration, such as the participants' age, habits (such as smoking) and gender, there were no significant changes to the results. In a TIME article,3 Anita Aminoshariae, a professor of endodontics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and one of the study authors, likens the teeth to sand dunes — just like how they protect inland areas from the sea, your teeth shield your body from foreign substances. Once gone, your body's primary defense weakens. "The mouth is not disconnected from the rest of the body. Quite the opposite — studies suggest that oral health is associated with everything from heart health to lifespan, even if many people don't realize it," she explains.4 People with 'Poor' or 'Fair' Oral Health Have a Higher Risk of Mortality However, this isn't an entirely new discovery, as there have been various studies that explored this phenomenon, called the "oral-systemic link." According to the TIME article, the first findings on this topic were related to diabetes; when diabetic patients were treated for gum disease, their blood sugar levels improved. Conversely, when their diabetes worsened, their gum disease also worsened.5 A separate study, published in The Journal of the American Dental Association in March 2024,6 gives more insight into the link between oral health and overall mortality. The researchers studied two independent data sets, one from the Women's Health Study and another from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). They found that people who rate their oral health as "fair" or "poor" have a higher risk of developing severe health problems. "Self-rated fair or poor oral health was independently associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (odds ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.69; P < .001), diabetes (odds ratio, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.43; P = .028), and osteoporosis (odds ratio, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.38 to 1.84; P < .001)," the researchers reported.7 Yau-Hua Yu, an associate professor of periodontology at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and one of the study authors, reiterates the value of proper oral hygiene to prevent these conditions from arising, saying: "When you don't clean your teeth properly, allowing food and other debris to sit on and in between the teeth, the bacterial communities in your mouth can change, potentially contributing to gingivitis and gum disease over time."8 But how do harmful organisms on your gums find their way to your organs, like your brain and heart? It turns out they sneak into your system via your blood vessels, which are actually "leaky." Pathogenic Organisms Can Spread Infections via Your Bloodstream According to Yvonne Kapila, a professor and associate dean of research at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry, when you have gum disease and your gums are inflamed, the leaky nature of the blood vessels paves the way for viruses, bacteria and other pathogenic organisms to enter your body.9 Once inside, they can spread to various areas via the bloodstream. When these harmful microbes reach your organs, they can lead to inflammation and trigger disease. As TIME reports, "Bacterial matter from the mouth has been found in cancerous tumors, diseased heart valves and livers, and brain tissue of people who died from Alzheimer's disease, to name a few notable examples." Kapila, along with a team of researchers, conducted a study on how gum disease is related to brain health.10 They found that the bad bacteria that cause gum disease travels to your brain where they increase the amount of harmful proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease. However, when the researchers used an antioxidant peptide called nisin to treat the infection, they were able to reverse some of the issues, mitigating the harmful effects of gum disease. Gum Disease Can Also Shrink Your Brain A 2023 Japanese study11 echoed the findings of Kapila's team. Published in the Neurology journal as part of the Ohasama study (a prospective cohort study about hypertension and cardiovascular disease), the authors found that periodontitis (gum infection) can cause hippocampal atrophy — meaning it can cause your hippocampus to shrink, which is a marker of Alzheimer's disease. The study involved 172 participants aged 55 years old and above who did not have any cognitive decline. The researchers conducted dental exams and memory tests. They also measured the participants' hippocampus at the start of the study and four years later.12 They discovered that in participants with mild gum disease and fewer teeth, their left hippocampus shrunk faster. Having one less tooth increased brain shrinkage at a rate equivalent to nearly one year of brain aging. Meanwhile, participants who had more severe periodontitis also had a faster rate of brain shrinkage — every tooth lost was equivalent to 1.3 years of brain aging. According to study author Satoshi Yamaguchi, Ph.D., DDS, of Tohoku University: "These results highlight the importance of preserving the health of the teeth and not just retaining the teeth. The findings suggest that retaining teeth with severe gum disease is associated with brain atrophy. Controlling the progression of gum disease through regular dental visits is crucial, and teeth with severe gum disease may need to be extracted and replaced with appropriate prosthetic devices."13 Good Oral Hygiene Can Protect Your Heart and Brain Health Gum disease is preventable, but you need to take the necessary precautions and practice good dental hygiene. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),14 gingivitis can be reversed, while severe periodontitis can be managed and slowed down with professional help. Hence, it's never too late to make significant changes to your oral hygiene routine. Regular brushing (using a nonfluoridated toothpaste), flossing and tongue scraping, along with getting regular cleanings with a mercury-free biological dentist, can all go a long way toward keeping your teeth and gums healthy. It's also essential to follow a healthy lifestyle that includes a diet composed of fresh, whole foods to help keep your mouth naturally clean. The American Dental Association (ADA)15 advises brushing twice a day using a soft bristle brush. Instead of doing so immediately after finishing a meal, however, they recommend waiting 30 minutes before brushing. Store your toothbrush properly to prevent bacterial growth — ideally, position it upright and open to air, so it can dry completely. Make sure to replace it every three to four months. For toothbrushing tips, follow this guide:16 1. "Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. 2. Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes. 3. Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces and the chewing surfaces of the teeth. 4. To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes." What's Your 'Flossophy'? Keep in mind that there are some places that your toothbrush may not reach, particularly the spaces in between your teeth, which is why it's best to include flossing as part of your oral hygiene routine. The ADA advises flossing at least once a day. You can do it before or after brushing, whether in the morning or at night — the choice is yours.17 In the video above, Heather Brown, the director of oral health and professional relations with Delta Dental of Idaho, shares her "flossophy" — her ideal flossing philosophy, saying: "When you are just brushing the tooth surfaces with your toothbrush, you're brushing about 60% of your teeth. Flossing covers the other 40%. So, don't fool yourself in thinking that you have done a great job in cleaning your mouth if you haven't flossed. I've seen people that start to floss and they become habitual about it they actually feel better about themselves. Their next check-up is much easier. And so, people are motivated by that, and they basically want to be healthy." Brown advises flossing in an up-and-down direction, on each side of the tooth. She also cautions against doing the "see-saw" technique, which can cause pain and may harm your tissue. When buying dental floss, make sure to look for those that do not contain toxic chemicals like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are usually added so the floss can glide smoothly in between your teeth. Instead, look for products that use vegan vegetable waxes, which give a smoother glide between your teeth. And just as with your toothpaste, choose dental floss that does not have any added fluoride; ideally, choose nylon instead of chemically treated silk dental floss. You may also consider using a water flosser, which sprays a powerful jet of water into your mouth. While many choose a water flosser over floss, your best option may be to learn how to use both. Wrap Up Your Oral Hygiene Routine with Oil Pulling As its name implies, oil pulling refers to the practice where you use swish oil around your mouth to "pull" and eliminate bacteria from your teeth and gums. Oil pulling is an ancient technique, and in traditional Indian folk medicine, it's a valuable strategy to help reduce the risk of tooth decay, bad breath and bleeding gums, and to strengthen your teeth and gums. Oil pulling is not rocket science — just measure a tablespoon of coconut oil and place it in your mouth. Swish it around using your cheeks and tongue, "pulling" it through your teeth so it can break down bacteria. Relax your jaw muscles to avoid muscle fatigue and make sure not to swallow the oil or use it as a gargle. Instead, spit it out. The coconut oil will be thick and milky white, because of the bacteria it has accumulated. If you feel the urge to swallow, just spit out the oil and start again. After 20 minutes, spit out the oil into the garbage bin or in your yard (but not on your plants). Don't spit it in your sink, as it may coat your plumbing and lead to problems. Increasing the pH in your mouth after oil pulling may reduce bacterial growth even further. Simply mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 6 ounces of water and gargle. This will alkalize the pH of your mouth, and since bacteria thrive in an acidic environment, the increased pH will discourage growth. Opt for Biological Dentistry Biological dentists have undergone training that equips them to view and treat your oral health as an integral part of your overall health. They're also trained in how to safely remove mercury fillings. Ideally, find a biological dentist to care for all your dental needs, as they're far less likely to perform procedures that will cause problems later on. You can find a mercury-free dentist among the resources below: Consumers for Dental Choice Dental Amalgam Mercury Solutions (DAMS). Email them here or call 651-644-4572 for an information packet Holistic Dental Association Huggins Applied Healing International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine (IABDM) International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) International Association of Mercury Safe Dentists Talk International
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