Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health Tip is on Natural Alternatives to Toxic Household Cleaners.
Tag: Dr Jocelin Whitaker
Vitamin D Equals Healthy Pregnancy
Proper nutrition is key to the health of any individual, but perhaps most important to pregnant mothers. The health of women during pregnancy determines the future health of her child, and there is evidence that her health affects the next generation as well.
Unfortunately, today’s standard diet, and even one of whole foods, often does not provide all of the nutrients in the amounts necessary to support all aspects of health at a functional level. This is especially true for vitamin D—the sunshine vitamin—that is not easily found in the foods we eat, and must be obtained through supplements for most people.
Something Unique about Vitamin D and Pregnancy
Pregnancy presents a unique and exaggerated example of the body’s need for vitamin D. There’s something very unique concerning the metabolism of vitamin D that occurs only during pregnancy and at no other time in the human life cycle. While the conversion of vitamin D is normally directly related to serum calcium levels, during pregnancy there is an uncoupling of vitamin D metabolism from calcium. If a pregnant woman has adequate levels (40-60 ng/ml or 100-150 nmol/L) of 25(OH) vitamin D, the precursor to active vitamin D, her body will convert twice the normal amount of active 1,25(OH) vitamin D by the end of the first trimester, and over three times the normal amount by birth, with her calcium levels remaining normal. This could potentially indicate a physiological need for greater availability of vitamin D during pregnancy more than any other time, and for reasons other than bone and calcium homeostasis.
80% or More of Pregnant Women are Vitamin D Deficient
Unfortunately, United States statistics reveal nearly 80% of pregnant women, and virtually 100% of African American women, have vitamin D levels below 40 ng/ml. This clinical finding potentially can preclude to a 30-50% increased risk of preterm birth and an increased risk of other perinatal morbidities including gestational diabetes, infections, preeclampsia, low birth rate, and cesarean delivery.
The Grassroots Health Nutrient Research Institute panel of scientists recommends a vitamin D serum level of 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L). Research published by Grassroots Health and others has shown that when these levels are achieved, there exists a potential 40-60% reduction in preterm births. Other articles have shown such results as a 50% reduction in influenza rates in children, an 80% reduced risk of Type 1 diabetes, and an 83% reduction in breast cancer risk. Keep in mind that, due to a large variation in the response each individual has to supplementation, testing the vitamin D serum level is essential. In other words, one cannot assume that supplementing with a certain recommended dose of vitamin D will get them to their target level; therefore it is important to test.
Due to the overwhelming evidence supporting vitamin D during pregnancy, specifically reaching a minimum vitamin D level of 40 ng/ml, Grassroots Health helped implement a first-of-its kind study for pregnant women at MUSC. The goal of the project was to help all prenatal patients to achieve a vitamin D serum level of at least 40 ng/ml, which has been demonstrated to be the threshold for benefit in previous randomized trials, as described above. This nutrient field trial included 1,064 pregnant women who, over a 16-month period, received vitamin D screening at their first prenatal appointment, supplementation and education about vitamin D, and re-testing to ensure a vitamin D level of 40 ng/ml had been achieved. Results found that those who achieved a vitamin D level of at least 40 ng/ml had a 60% lower risk of preterm birth compared to those with levels less than 20 ng/ml. For those women who had previously experienced a preterm birth (who are also at a higher risk for subsequent preterm birth), their chance of having a recurring preterm birth was reduced by 80%. During implementation there were no incidences of toxicity due to any vitamin D intake. An impressive result, especially considering the only intervention was vitamin D screening, supplementation, and education. The MUSC project has run continuous analysis on the implementation of the protocol in practice since the original paper and continues to show consistent results.
Be sure to talk to Dr Jocelin about having your Vitamin D levels monitored during pregnancy and checking out our large selection of Vitamin D supplements at Whitaker’s Natural Market.
Weekly Health Tip – Organic Turkeys
Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health Tip is on Turkeys for Thanksgiving and why Organic is Important.
Better Than Zoloft for Depression: Rhodiola
Will doctors ever opt for an herb over a drug for depressed patients? It may sound unlikely but researchers from the University of Pennsylvania think they should consider it
In a randomized placebo-controlled trial doctors tested the herb rhodiola rosea against the conventional antidepressant therapy sertraline (Zoloft) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).
A diagnosis of MDD means a patient exhibited two or more major depressive episodes, depressed mood, and/or loss of interest or pleasure in life activities for at least 2 weeks. In addition, they show signs of significant unintentional weight loss or gain, insomnia or sleeping too much, fatigue, diminished ability to think or concentrate, and recurrent thoughts of death.
The study looked at 57 adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder. The patients received treatments of either rhodiola rosea extract, sertraline, or placebo.
After 12 weeks there was no statistically significant difference between the rhodiola and the Zoloft.
In the Penn study the researchers concluded that rhodiola may possess a more favorable risk to benefit ratio for individuals with mild to moderate MDD because it produced only half the side effects of Zoloft. In fact, a whopping 63% of patients on Zoloft reported side effects – most commonly nausea and sexual dysfunction. That compared to only 30% of patients on rhodiola.
The authors suggested that “herbal therapy may have the potential to help patients with depression who cannot tolerate conventional antidepressants due to side effects.”
Rhodiola rosea is a hardy yellow flower native to the arctic mountains of Eastern Siberia. It’s sometimes called the “Root of the Arctic” or Tibetan ginseng.
Ancient healers used rhodiola to treat infections, anemia, stomach upset, and depression. In the old Soviet Union scientists used rhodiola to help soldiers improve mood, brain function, and physical performance.
Human studies show that just one 200 mg dose of rhodiola helped volunteers improve their exercise endurance.
It’s also been shown to relieve mental fatigue. In one study of doctors on night call just 170 mg of rhodiola per day for two weeks helped the doctors think and remember better, concentrate, calculate, and respond to audio and visual cues.
And taking 100 mg of rhodiola every day for 20 days helped students improve their capacity to work, their coordination, and their general sense of well-being. Their learning ability increased 61% and their fatigue levels dropped by 30%.
Another study showed rhodiola may be helpful in smoking cessation.
Be sure to check out our Rhodiola Supplements at Whitaker’s Natural Market!
Weekly Health Tip – Dry Skin
Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health Tip is on dry skin and how to keep it hydrated in this cold Ohio weather.
Organic apples are better than conventional apples for gut health, new study reveals
As we understand more and more about the importance of gut health, many people are making food choices to feed a healthy microbiome in the gut. If you’re working to keep your gut healthy, organic apples offer a far better choice than pesticide-treated, conventional apples. In fact, a new study supports the benefits of going organic, specifically when choosing your apples.
Thankfully, a team of Austrian researchers took a closer look at both organic apples and pesticide-treated apples, publishing their findings in Frontiers in Microbiology.
It’s just one of the latest studies comparing organic agriculture and chemical-intensive agriculture to dig deeper into the benefits of organic farming. According to the study results, organically managed apples are a far better choice for people who want to eat a diet that supports optimal gut health.
Organic apples offer a more distinct and diverse bacterial community
Researchers reported that organic apples that are freshly harvested offer a significantly more distinct, even, and diverse bacterial community when you compare them to conventional apples. Scientists took a look at both conventional and organic apples, looking at the complete apple microbiome, including the fruit pulp, stem, peel, calyx, and seeds. Apples were all weighed, divided up, and put through multiple tests to find out the diversity and number of the microbiota.
While both types of apples had about the same number of bacterium – about 100 million – most of those microbes were found in the seeds, calyx, and stem of the apple. This means that if you want to enjoy the great benefits for your gut’s microbiome, you need to eat the whole apple instead of tossing the core.
When comparing the organic apples to conventional ones, every area of the organic apple had great bacterial diversity, and the distribution of microbes was more even in the organic apples. The organic apples also were dominated by Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus – which are both known to benefit gut health.
While conventional apples had about the same number of bacterium, the most common type was Buckholderiarles, which can be pathogenic to people. Conventional apples also contained low amounts of Escherichia-Shigella, another human pathogenic kind of bacteria.
Study supports the benefits of organic agriculture for health and more
The study supports the many benefits of organic agriculture for health. When compared to foods grown in chemical-intensive agriculture, organic foods are shown to be better for the human microbiome based on this and other studies. It supports the positive impact of switching to an organic diet as a method of reducing cancer risk, lowering levels of pesticides within the body, and improving overall health.
Beyond the health benefits, organic agriculture offers several other benefits as well. It helps boosts local economies, aids our environment, and can even help boost the bottom line for farmers. Overall, purchasing organic foods doesn’t just promote gut health and overall well being, it’s an excellent choice for the local environment and the success of local economies – that makes going organic a win-win for everyone.
Be sure to check out our selection of Organic Apples at Whitaker’s Natural Market!
Imbalance of fatty acids linked to most common age-related diseases
Chronic disease is on the rise. Right now, 133 million Americans – nearly half the population – have at least one chronic illness such as diabetes or heart disease. With so much illness prevalent – and with the aging of the population overall – it’s no wonder many individuals are worried about healthy aging. But, could consuming the proper amount of omega 3 fatty acids be part of the solution?
Research shows most Americans are not consuming enough omega 3 fatty acids in their diets. Turns out this is hugely problematic, and not just because people aren’t getting enough of these healthy nutrients. People also aren’t consuming the right ratio of fatty acids – which is believed to be a major driver of age-related health problems.
Adding more omega 3 fatty acids to the diet holds the key to better health, research says
Omega 3 fatty acids, including EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), are healthy nutrients found abundantly in fatty fish. Another kind of fatty acids are called omega 6 fatty acids. These are primarily found in foods containing sunflower, cottonseed, soybean, and corn oils – in other words, processed foods.
This is exactly why the modern diet (which is heavy with processed foods) causes humans to consume way more omega 6 fatty acids and not enough omega 3 fatty acids. In ancient history, our ancestors’ diet included a more balanced omega 6 to omega 3 ratio of about 4 to 1. Today’s typical human has a ratio of 20 to 1!
Why is this extreme ratio so bad for health and believed to be driving age-related diseases?
Well, the most common type of omega 6 fatty acid (called linoleic acid) gets transformed in the body into a substance that promotes inflammation and blood vessel constriction. While this isn’t necessarily “bad,” it is bad when so much omega 6 is being consumed that these inflammatory and blood vessel changes becomes chronic and widespread, which we see in things like heart disease.
Meanwhile, omega 3 fatty acids are powerful anti-inflammatory nutrients. So by taking in too much of one and not enough of the other, we’re wreaking pure havoc on our health!
This is why supplementing with omega 3 fatty acids protects against and helps manage so many disorders – cardiovascular, neurological, dermatological, psychiatric, and more. Depression and anxiety, heart disease, cancer, fetal development, ADHD, autoimmune diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and other ailments have ALL been shown to benefit from these tiny omega 3’s.
Discover the “right amount” of omega 3 + some great natural sources
Currently, there’s no one recommended dosage for omega 3 fatty acids. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), adult women and men should consume between 1.1 and 1.6 grams of omega 3 fatty acids per day.
However, these recommendations only refer to alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), since ALA is technically the only “essential” fatty acid, meaning the human body can’t make it.
But the NIH acknowledges that even though the body can convert ALA into EPA and DHA, it’s only able to produce very small amounts. And, by the NIH’s own account, we’re not consuming enough ALA to begin with!
This is why many scientists and health organizations recommend consuming more than that, especially more DHA and EPA. And many studies safely show health benefits of taking anywhere from 1,000 to 4,000 mg of DHA plus EPA daily.
You can increase your DHA and EPA intake by eating fatty fish (like sardines, anchovies, and salmon) at least twice per week, adding a high quality omega 3 fatty acid supplements to your routine, and snacking on a few other natural sources of omega 3 fatty acids including chia seeds, flaxseeds, and walnuts.
Just remember: it’s not only about adding MORE omega 3’s to your diet. It’s also about eliminating excessive omega 6’s – so avoid those processed foods containing substances like soybean and corn oil.
Be sure to check out our large selection of Ohio made Wiley’s Finest Fish Oils at Whitaker’s Natural Market! They are the only fish oil brand that is 100% USA harvested and manufactured!
Why 80% of Us are Deficient in Magnesium
Magnesium deficiency is often misdiagnosed because it does not show up in blood tests – only 1% of the body’s magnesium is stored in the blood
Most doctors and laboratories don’t even include magnesium status in routine blood tests. Thus, most doctors don’t know when their patients are deficient in magnesium, even though studies show that the majority of Americans are deficient in magnesium.
Consider Dr. Norman Shealy’s statements, “Every known illness is associated with a magnesium deficiency” and that, “magnesium is the most critical mineral required for electrical stability of every cell in the body. A magnesium deficiency may be responsible for more diseases than any other nutrient.” The truth he states exposes a gaping hole in modern medicine that explains a good deal about iatrogenic death and disease. Because magnesium deficiency is largely overlooked, millions of Americans suffer needlessly or are having their symptoms treated with expensive drugs when they could be cured with magnesium supplementation.
One has to recognize the signs of magnesium thirst or hunger on their own since allopathic medicine is lost in this regard. It is really something much more subtle then hunger or thirst but it is comparable. In a world though where doctors and patients alike do not even pay attention to thirst and important issues of hydration, it is not hopeful that we will find many recognizing and paying attention to magnesium thirst and hunger, which is a dramatic way of expressing the concept of magnesium deficiency.
Few people are aware of the enormous role magnesium plays in our bodies. Magnesium is by far the most important mineral in the body. After oxygen, water, and basic food, magnesium may be the most important element needed by our bodies; vitally important, yet hardly known. It is more important than calcium, potassium, or sodium and regulates all three of them. Millions suffer daily from magnesium deficiency without even knowing it
In fact, there happens to be a relationship between what we perceive as thirst and deficiencies in electrolytes. I remember a person asking, “Why am I dehydrated and thirsty when I drink so much water?” Thirst can mean not only lack of water but it can also mean that one is not getting enough nutrients and electrolytes. Magnesium, Potassium, Bicarbonate, Chloride, and Sodium are some principle examples and that is one of the reasons magnesium chloride is so useful.
You know all those years, when doctors used to tell their patients ‘it’s all in your heads,’ were years the medical profession was showing its ignorance. It is a torment to be magnesium deficient on one level or another. Even if it’s for the enthusiastic sport person whose athletic performance is down, magnesium deficiency will disturb sleep and background stress levels and a host of other things that reflect on the quality of life. Doctors have not been using the appropriate test for magnesium – their serum blood tests just distort their perceptions. Magnesium has been off their radar screens through the decades that magnesium deficiencies have snowballed.
Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency
The first symptoms of deficiency can be subtle – as most magnesium is stored in the tissues, leg cramps, foot pain, or muscle ‘twitches’ can be the first sign. Other early signs of deficiency include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weakness. As magnesium deficiency worsens, numbness, tingling, seizures, personality changes, abnormal heart rhythms, and coronary spasms can occur.
A full outline of magnesium deficiency was beautifully presented in a recent article by Dr. Sidney Baker. “Magnesium deficiency can affect virtually every organ system of the body. With regard to skeletal muscle, one may experience twitches, cramps, muscle tension, muscle soreness, including back aches, neck pain, tension headaches and jaw joint (or TMJ) dysfunction. Also, one may experience chest tightness or a peculiar sensation that he can’t take a deep breath. Sometimes a person may sigh a lot.”
“Symptoms involving impaired contraction of smooth muscles include constipation; urinary spasms; menstrual cramps; difficulty swallowing or a lump in the throat-especially provoked by eating sugar; photophobia, especially difficulty adjusting to oncoming bright headlights in the absence of eye disease; and loud noise sensitivity from stapedius muscle tension in the ear.”
“Continuing with the symptoms of magnesium deficiency, the central nervous system is markedly affected. Symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, hyperactivity and restlessness with constant movement, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and premenstrual irritability. Magnesium deficiency symptoms involving the peripheral nervous system include numbness, tingling, and other abnormal sensations, such as zips, zaps and vibratory sensations.”
“Symptoms or signs of the cardiovascular system include palpitations, heart arrhythmias, and angina due to spasms of the coronary arteries, high blood pressure, and mitral valve prolapse. Be aware that not all of the symptoms need to be present to presume magnesium deficiency; but, many of them often occur together. For example, people with mitral valve prolapse frequently have palpitations, anxiety, panic attacks, and premenstrual symptoms. People with magnesium deficiency often seem to be “uptight.” Other general symptoms include a salt craving, both carbohydrate craving and carbohydrate intolerance, especially of chocolate, and breast tenderness.”
Magnesium is needed by every cell in the body including those of the brain. It is one of the most important minerals when considering supplementation because of its vital role in hundreds of enzyme systems and functions related to reactions in cell metabolism, as well as being essential for the synthesis of proteins, for the utilization of fats and carbohydrates. Magnesium is needed not only for the production of specific detoxification enzymes but is also important for energy production related to cell detoxification. A magnesium deficiency can affect virtually every system of the body.
One of the principle reason doctors write millions of prescriptions for tranquilizers each year is the nervousness, irritability, and jitters largely brought on by inadequate diets lacking magnesium. Persons only slightly deficient in magnesium become irritable, high-strung, and sensitive to noise, hyper-excitable, apprehensive and belligerent. If the deficiency is more severe or prolonged, they may develop twitching, tremors, irregular pulse, insomnia, muscle weakness, jerkiness and leg and foot cramps.
If magnesium is severely deficient, the brain is particularly affected. Clouded thinking, confusion, disorientation, marked depression, and even the terrifying hallucinations of delirium tremens are largely brought on by a lack of this nutrient and remedied when magnesium is given. Because large amounts of calcium are lost in the urine when magnesium is under supplied, the lack of this nutrient indirectly becomes responsible for much rampant tooth decay, poor bone development, osteoporosis, and slow healing of broken bones and fractures. With vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), magnesium helps to reduce and dissolve calcium phosphate kidney stones.
Magnesium deficiency may be a common factor associated with insulin resistance. Symptoms of MS that are also symptoms of magnesium deficiency include muscle spasms, weakness, twitching, muscle atrophy, an inability to control the bladder, nystagmus (rapid eye movements), hearing loss, and osteoporosis. People with MS have higher rates of epilepsy than controls. Epilepsy has also been linked to magnesium deficiencies.
Another good list of early warning symptoms suggestive of magnesium insufficiency:
Physical and mental fatigue
Persistent under-eye twitch
Tension in the upper back, shoulders, and neck
Headaches
Pre-menstrual fluid retention and/or breast tenderness
Possible manifestations of magnesium deficiency include:
Low energy
Fatigue
Weakness
Confusion
Nervousness
Anxiousness
Irritability
Seizures (and tantrums)
Poor digestion
PMS and hormonal imbalances
Inability to sleep
Muscle tension, spasm, and cramps
Calcification of organs
Weakening of the bones
Abnormal heart rhythm
Severe magnesium deficiency can result in low levels of calcium in the blood (hypocalcemia). Magnesium deficiency is also associated with low levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia). Magnesium levels drop at night, leading to poor REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep cycles and unrefreshed sleep. Headaches, blurred vision, mouth ulcers, fatigue, and anxiety are also early signs of depletion.
We hear all the time about how heart disease is the number one health crisis in the country, about how high blood pressure is the “silent killer”, and about how ever increasing numbers of our citizens are having their lives and the lives of their families destroyed by diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and a host of other chronic diseases.
Signs of severe magnesium deficiency include:
Extreme thirst
Extreme hunger
Frequent urination
Sores or bruises that heal slowly
Dry, itchy skin
Unexplained weight loss
Blurry vision that changes from day to day
Unusual tiredness or drowsiness
Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
Frequent or recurring skin, gum, bladder, or vaginal yeast infections
But wait a minute, aren’t those the same symptoms for diabetes? Many people have diabetes for about 5 years before they show strong symptoms. By that time, some people already have eye, kidney, gum, or nerve damage caused by the deteriorating condition of their cells due to insulin resistance and magnesium deficiency. Dump some mercury and arsenic on the mixture of etiologies and pronto we have the disease condition we call diabetes.
Magnesium deficiency is synonymous with diabetes and is at the root of many if not all cardiovascular problems.
Magnesium deficiency is a predictor of diabetes and heart disease both; diabetics both need more magnesium and lose more magnesium than most people. In two new studies, in both men and women, those who consumed the most magnesium in their diet were least likely to develop type 2 diabetes, according to a report in the January 2006 issue of the journal Diabetes Care. Until now, very few large studies have directly examined the long-term effects of dietary magnesium on diabetes. Dr. Simin Liu of the Harvard Medical School and School of Public Health in Boston says, “Our studies provided some direct evidence that greater intake of dietary magnesium may have a long-term protective effect on lowering risk,” said Liu, who was involved in both studies.
The thirst of diabetes is part of the body’s response to excessive urination. The excessive urination is the body’s attempt to get rid of the extra glucose in the blood. This excessive urination causes the increased thirst. But we have to look at what is causing this level of disharmony. We have to probe deeper into layers of cause. The body needs to dump glucose because of increasing insulin resistance and that resistance is being fueled directly by magnesium deficiency, which makes toxic insults more damaging to the tissues at the same time.
When diabetics get too high blood sugars, the body creates “ketones” as a by-product of breaking down fats. These ketones cause blood acidity which causes “acidosis” of the blood, leading to Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), This is a very dangerous condition that can lead to coma and death. It is also called “diabetic acidosis”, “ketosis”, “ketoacidosis” or “diabetic coma”. DKA is a common way for new Type 1 diabetics to be diagnosed. If they fail to seek medical advice on symptoms like urination, which is driving thirst they can die of DKA.
Oral magnesium supplements reduce erythrocyte dehydration. In general, optimal balances of electrolytes are necessary to maintain the best possible hydration. Diabetic thirst is initiated specifically by magnesium deficiency with relative calcium excess in the cells. Even water, our most basic nutrient starts having a hard time getting into the cells with more going out through the kidneys.
Autism and Magnesium Deficiency
When dealing with autism spectrum and other neurological disorders in children it is important to know the signs of low magnesium: restless, can’t keep still, body rocking, grinding teeth, hiccups, noise sensitive, poor attention span, poor concentration, irritable, aggressive, ready to explode, easily stressed. When it comes to children today we need to assume a large magnesium deficiency for several reasons.
1) The foods they are eating are stripped of magnesium because foods in general, as we shall see below are declining in mineral content in an alarming way.
2) The foods many children eat are highly processed junk foods that do not provide real nutrition to the body.
3) Because most children on the spectrum are not absorbing the minerals they need even when present in the gut. Magnesium absorption is dependent on intestinal health, which is compromised totally in leaky gut syndromes and other intestinal problems that the majority of autism syndrome disorders.
4) Because the oral supplements doctors rely on are not easily absorbed, because they are not in the right form and because magnesium in general is not administered easily orally.
Modern medicine is supposed to help people not hurt them, but with their almost total ignorance of magnesium doctors end up hurting more than they help for many of the medical interventions drive down magnesium levels when they should be driving them up. Many if not most pharmaceutical drugs drive magnesium levels into very dangerous zones and surgery done without increasing magnesium levels is much more dangerous then surgery done with.
The foundation of medical arrogance is actually medical ignorance and the only reason ignorance and arrogance rule the playing field of medicine is a greed lust for power and money. Human nature seems to be at its worst in modern medicine when it should be at its best. It is sad that people have to suffer needlessly and extraordinarily tragic that allopathic medicine has turned its back on the Hippocratic Oath and all that it means.
If you have any of these symptoms, please be sure to browse our large selection of Magnesium supplements, rehydrating blends, and mineral drops at Whitaker’s Natural Market!
Osteoporosis warning: How bone loss promotes inflammation and increases the risk of disease
Osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become brittle and prone to breakage, is so widespread that fully 50 percent of all women over age 50 (and 25 percent of all over-50 men) will eventually suffer an osteoporosis-related bone fracture.
Unfortunately, the consequences of osteoporosis extend even beyond the pain and disabling effect of broken bones. In fact, recent research highlights a shocking connection between osteoporosis and life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
Fortunately, a combination of natural nutrients may help prevent osteoporosis – and offer protection against the devastating diseases that can accompany it.
The creation of bone is regulated by the actions of the body’s osteoblasts (bone cells which create new bone) and osteoclasts (cells that break down bone).
At about age 35, the “balancing act” begins to shift – and the rate of bone breakdown starts to overtake the rate of bone development, leading to bone loss. Researchers are now learning that aging bones contain more cells that are “senescent” – meaning they have stopped reproducing themselves, and now exclusively promote the breakdown of bone tissue.
In the process, these senescent cells release pro-inflammatory molecules into the bloodstream, laying the groundwork for disease. Senescent bone cells have been found in plaque deposits in heavily calcified arteries.
And, having large numbers of senescent cells in the bones is linked in studies with accelerated aging – particularly affecting the brain. Finally, people with osteoporosis have an increased risk of cancer.
The antioxidant vitamin C plays a critical role in preventing bone loss – which it does by preventing the oxidative stress that destroys bone structure. By forming collagen and developing other bone proteins, vitamin C also plays a pivotal role in the formation and structure of bones.
If the body’s need for vitamin C is not met, insufficient production of collagen can result – leading to easily fractured bones. In fact, many natural health experts believe that osteoporosis is really a type of vitamin C deficiency, or “scurvy of the bones.”
Bone-building vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries and bell peppers. However, supplementation may be necessary – especially if you have osteoporosis. By the way, for superior bioavailability (absorption), natural health experts advise using a liposomal form of vitamin C.
Mighty mineral: Boron reduces the loss of indispensable calcium from the bones
This little-known trace mineral packs a powerful punch when it comes to supporting bone health.
Simply put, boron helps the body produce and use vitamin D – which is a mainstay of bone health. The mineral also helps to regulate levels of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus – all “MVPs” of bone maintenance and support.
A study published in Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal showed that 3 mg of boron a day helped prevent calcium loss and bone demineralization in postmenopausal women.
Natural health experts may advise dosages of 3 to 6 mg of boron a day. You can increase your dietary intake of boron by eating organic nuts, beans, avocados and whole grains.
Calcium: The primary structural component of bones
Bones contain 99 percent of the body’s stores of calcium – which is integral to bone building.
But, in order for your body to use calcium to build bone, you must have sufficient levels – along with adequate amounts of vitamin D. Deficiency in both minerals can cause bone loss – as well as symptoms of muscle pain, muscle cramps and weakness.
Calcium exists in sardines – that include the bones, dark leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts. Most adults require between 1,000 and 1,200 mg of calcium a day.
Researchers say: Magnesium deficiency a cause of “incalculable” suffering
Magnesium works in concert with calcium to suppress hormones that break down bones – while activating enzymes needed for the production of new bone. Unfortunately, experts estimate that about half of all Americans fail to consume enough of this important mineral.
In fact, more than 40 percent of post-menopausal women have low magnesium blood levels, which can trigger excessive bone breakdown.
In one landmark study on magnesium benefits, the researchers lamented that the deficiency of such an “inexpensive, low-toxicity nutrient” is currently causing diseases that are a source of untold “suffering and expense” worldwide.
Eating dark leafy greens, potatoes, raisins, chocolate, pumpkin seeds, nuts and avocados can help ramp up your dietary intake of magnesium. Of course, your integrative healthcare provider may recommend supplementing with magnesium to avoid shortfalls.
Most natural healers recommend dosages in the area of 250 to 750 mg a day. And, magnesium citrate, magnesium glycinate, and magnesium taurate are considered the most bioavailable forms.
Vitamin D helps improve calcium absorption
Vitamin D reduces the activity of the pro-inflammatory signaling molecules that are released from senescent bone cells during bone breakdown. Unsurprisingly, vitamin D shortfalls are bad news for your bones – and for the rest of your body.
Vitamin D deficiency has been identified as a major contributor to osteoporosis – as well as to cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and lowered cognitive functioning. This fat-soluble vitamin is found in cold-water fatty fish (like wild-caught salmon), as well as in mushrooms and egg yolks.
Because the body manufactures vitamin D in response to sunlight, many natural health experts advise getting 20 minutes of direct sunlight three or four times a week. However, supplementation may be necessary to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D, especially if you live in a northern climate.
Just remember to opt for vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) over vitamin D2.
Vitamin K2 directs calcium in the body
Vitamin K2’s job is to route calcium where it belongs – in the bones and teeth – while keeping it out of blood vessel walls (thereby helping to prevent heart disease).
Vitamin K2 improves bone mineral density, and is particularly beneficial for improving bone mineral content of the femoral bone – which is particularly susceptible to fracture during falls. Researchers have found that vitamin K2 is synergistic with vitamin D3 – meaning that each nutrient enhances the beneficial effect of the other.
In an influential study published in Maturitas, supplementation with a combination of vitamins K2 and D3 protected and increased vertebral bone mass in postmenopausal women.
Food sources of vitamin K2 include liver and egg yolks.
Your doctor may recommend 100 mcg per day of vitamin K2 in the form of menaquinone-7, a highly available form of the nutrient.
Warning: Prescription drugs can jeopardize zinc supply
Zinc is needed for bone cells (osteoblasts) to create bone tissue – and is crucial for the entry of vitamin D into cells. And, yes, patients with osteoporosis have been found to have low levels of zinc.
Ironically, pharmaceutical osteoporosis drugs – such as Boniva and Reclast – actually rob the body of this important trace mineral. The RDA for zinc is 8 mg for women and 11 for men.
You can raise your dietary zinc intake by eating organic pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, nuts, yogurt, and cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables.
Grass-fed beef and poultry are also rich in zinc.
As with the other vitamins and minerals, consult your integrative doctor before supplementing with zinc.
With 54 million people in the United States either suffering from osteoporosis – or at serious risk – it’s time to fight back. And, your best weapons in the battle to slow and reverse bone loss could be these non-toxic, natural micronutrients.
Be sure to browse our large selection of these crucial vitamins and minerals as well as our special bone supporting formulas and bone structure support multivitamins on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market!
Energy drinks have life-threatening side effects
According to the National Institutes of Health, “a growing body of scientific evidence shows that energy drinks can have serious health effects, particularly in children, teenagers, and young adults.” So, why are these products still being sold – to this day?! After reading this report, you’ll understand why we think these products are a big mistake.
Thousands of people to date have faced serious, sometimes deadly side effects as a result of consuming energy drinks, and an alarming number of these victims have been children. In fact, the lead author of research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has said, ‘the public should be aware of the impact of energy drinks on their body, especially if they have other underlying health conditions.”
The severe side effects from these drinks included seizures, elevated blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat. And, the fact remains: most of these kids didn’t even know what they were consuming. They simply found them left around the home by an adult.
To be blunt, most of these beverages are loaded with sugar and caffeine – a recipe for disaster.
However, the manufacturers also blend in other compounds such as l-carnitine, taurine, guarana, amino acids, and ginseng. Despite this veritable mystery punch of ingredients, studies have not found that these drinks boost energy, focus, or stamina any better than having a cup of coffee.
In truth, the marketing hype of these beverages don’t tell the whole (ugly) story.
Along with this lack of efficacy, the drinks come with very real dangers. Dr. Steven Lipshultz and his colleagues have been examining the effects of these drinks for a number of years, and in 2011 noticed a marked surge in reported illnesses linked to their consumption.
A separate study conducted by the United States government found emergency-room visits between 2005 and 2011 that were related to energy-drink consumption surged as well. A host of alarming side effects were also reported, including seizures, liver damage, heart issues, and in some cases, premature death.
Drinks with additives like plant extracts and amino acids were found to be worse for people than those with just caffeine. Some theories hold that these assorted extracts might have components with unknown, undocumented effects, especially when combined with caffeine and other food additives.
A great number of the people who consume these energy drinks simply aren’t aware of their potentially dangerous side effects and their specific hazards to children. This causes adults to consume copious amounts of them while sometimes leaving the beverages unattended and accessible to young children.
Dr. Lipshultz recommends that even as these energy drinks are studied more closely, they should be affixed with a label similar to the Surgeon General warning placed on alcohol and cigarette packages. Doing so could alert adults to protect children (and themselves) from exposure to these controversial drinks.
Experts warn about the dangers of energy drinks:
The World Health Organization (WHO) says, “the full impact of the rise in popularity of energy drinks has not yet been quantified, but the aggressive marketing of energy drinks targeted at young people, combined with limited and varied regulation have created an environment where energy drinks could pose a significant threat to public health.”
The extreme level of caffeine (mixed with other suspicious ingredients) can cause palpitations, hypertension, vomiting, convulsions, and in extreme cases heart failure leading to sudden death. An even greater risk is the mixture of these energy drinks with alcohol and food additives – which many younger people tend to consume in excess.
In August 2014, professor Milou-Daniel Drici, from France, gave a presentation to the European Society of Cardiology in which he said:
”So-called ‘energy drinks’ are popular in dance clubs and during physical exercise, with people sometimes consuming a number of drinks one after the other. This situation can lead to a number of adverse conditions including angina, cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), and even sudden death.”
Dr. Steven Lipshultz, pediatrician-in-chief at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, in Detroit, says ‘although the target markets for energy drinks are typically teens and young adults, more than 40 percent of reports to U.S. poison control centers in a three-year period involved children under the age of 6.’
Young or old, energy drinks are putting both children and adults at risk. Regardless of age, the potential dangers are the same: seizures, heart issues, high blood pressure, and kidney problems. With coffee providing a similar benefit, it’s hard to see how the health risks are worth the chemically-induced “boost” that energy drinks provide.
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