Tag: Dr Jocelin’s Health Tip of the Week

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Selenium and Our Health

What does selenium have to do with your health?  The answer may surprise you (and motivate you – in a whole new way!)

Let’s start with a discussion about cancer – the second leading cause of death in the United States, right behind heart disease.  Experts predict that cancer will soon surpass heart disease as the leading killer of American adults.

An essential trace element found in various foods, soil, and water, selenium helps to prevent cancer by enhancing our immune system, increasing protection against stress and disease plus suppressing the growth of cancerous cells.

Selenium enhances the power of a “master antioxidant” to help detoxify the body.

One of selenium’s most vital functions is to help create antioxidant enzymes, or selenoproteins, that recycle glutathione, the body’s “master antioxidant” and detoxifier.  In this way, selenium strikes a blow against the disease-causing oxidative stress – which contributes to chronic degenerative disease.

But selenium also has many more “tricks up its sleeve” when it comes to fighting cancer.
Unlike therapies that address only one specific stage or type of cancer, selenium is pleiotropic. This means that it combats cancer through multiple pathways and mechanisms, allowing it to target the disease in various forms and stages.

So important is selenium that low levels are linked with an eight-fold increased risk of cancers of the bladder, lungs, stomach, esophagus, and liver.

And, supplementation has been shown to lower cancer risk, particularly cancers of the bladder, lung, and colon.

Selenium’s extensive therapeutic “toolkit” allows it to prevent cancerous cells from developing into tumors

In addition to preserving the selenoproteins that recycle antioxidants, selenium regulates inflammatory molecules that contribute to cancer growth.

This versatile nutrient also helps to boost the immune system, detoxify carcinogens and heavy metals, protect DNA from cancer-causing mutations, and inactivate molecules crucial to the development of cancer cells.

In addition, selenium induces apoptosis – the programmed death of cancer cells – meaning it may help check the uncontrolled reproduction that can help cancer spread so swiftly.

Finally, selenium regulates sex hormone receptors used by some cancers, thereby helping to suppress tumor invasion and growth.  Peer-reviewed research has documented reductions in cancer risk through selenium supplementation.

Be sure to check out our amazing food based Selenium that is practitioner grade meaning we can only carry it because of our own Dr. Jocelin!

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Blueberries for Arthritis and Gout

Inflammatory arthritis and gout sufferers, take note. You may be able to fight the inflammation related to your condition with something that is already in your kitchen. That’s right, blueberries, which we already know are a healthy superfood, are associated with a considerable reduction in inflammation.

As its name suggests, a major symptom of inflammatory arthritis is an inflammation of the affected joints and sometimes other tissues. Some of the most common conditions under the umbrella of inflammatory arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

All of these are autoimmune diseases, meaning that the immune system goes haywire and begins attacking healthy tissue in the joints. It results in the telltale symptoms of swelling, stiffness, and pain in any joint affected. The dysfunctional immune response produces inflammation in the lining of the joints.

Arthritis is defined as a painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. Gout, then, is actually another type of inflammatory arthritis, but it develops in individuals with abnormally high levels of uric acid in their blood. People with a family history of gout or those with kidney problems may be more prone to the condition. As the uric acid accumulates, it produces sharp crystals within the joint. This causes pronounced, often sudden bursts of pain, swelling, and tenderness.

Most likely to occur in the big toe joint, gout can also show up in the ankles or knees. It typically strikes men more than women, and men may develop symptoms between the ages of 30 and 50, while women tend to develop gout after menopause.

When your physician gives you a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis or gout, chances are, one of the first things that will be recommended is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to relieve swelling and pain. But even over-the-counter versions of these pharmaceutical medications are not safe, especially as a long-term treatment, which would be necessary to manage a chronic condition.

NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, can provide some quick relief for the symptoms, but they are also linked to serious problems including stomach ulcers, headaches, dizziness, and liver problems. Another common form of medical treatment is the use of corticosteroid pills or injections to reduce inflammation, but these may also bring on side effects such as osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, and cataracts. Even worse, for more severe cases of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, doctors sometimes prescribe drugs that block immune system responses, which elevates the risk of developing infections and makes them much harder to treat when one develops.

Blueberries are chock full of both antioxidants that can help repair damage at the cellular level and polyphenols, which reduce inflammation throughout the body. A 2017 study at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia showed that a diet rich in blueberries is associated with a reduction of markers of inflammation in the blood.

The polyphenols in blueberries achieve a reduction in inflammation that is ideal because it is natural, with no potentially harmful reactions or side effects. What’s more, when blueberries reduce inflammation in the joints they eliminate symptoms at their source rather than just treating the symptoms for a short period. This can prevent conditions like arthritis and gout from worsening over time.
 
Extra Health Benefits of Blueberries

In addition to their anti-inflammatory properties, blueberries will benefit your health in a number of other ways as well:

  • Reducing high blood pressure
  • Relieving post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Helping to shrink tumors
  • Improving cognitive function and possibly reversing dementia

Now is the perfect time to take advantage of these sweet little gems. Blueberries are in season, and July is even National Blueberry Month, so stock up on fresh locally grown blueberries and freeze whatever you don’t eat. Once frozen, you can enjoy them for up to 10 months.

Be sure to pick up your fresh organically grown blueberries on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market. 

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Zinc

Zinc is an essential trace mineral. Zinc is the second most common mineral in your body and is found in every cell, although its concentration is 10-15 times higher in the male prostate than in any other body tissue. Proper zinc levels offer a defense against the entrance of pathogens. In the 1800’s, noting its many healing properties, surgeons used zinc as an antiseptic/antibiotic after surgery. When zinc was used, wounds would heal as quickly as 24 hours after an operation, without swelling, and scarring was barely noticeable after a short period of time. Like colloidal silver, liquid zinc is anti-bacterial and anti-viral.

Today, supplemental zinc has been found to hinder the progress of macular degeneration, which is an eye disease that affects the part of the retina responsible for central vision. Zinc has also been used with other natural health remedies as it has shown to speed up the healing of stomach ulcers, and help combat zinc deficiencies in those with sickle-cell disease.

In low doses, zinc lozenges have been shown to reduce the time it takes for individuals to get over colds, and also to lessen the severity of cold symptoms.  A study reported by Reuters in 2008 showed that zinc acetate lozenges shortened the duration of colds in study subjects. Led by Dr. Ananda S. Prasad from Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, the study looked at the impact of the lozenges on 50 volunteers with colds. All of the volunteers had cold symptoms for less than 24 hours before taking part in the study. Among the group who received the lozenges, 56 percent were completely “cold free” within four days, as compared to an average of seven days for the placebo group.

Zinc is present in all the body’s organs and fluids, but the prostate has a higher concentration than any other tissue except bone. Scientists don’t know why it has so much zinc. Among other functions, though, the metal has a role in regulating the balance between testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, the two male hormones that stimulate the growth of prostate cells, both benign and malignant. Although normal prostate tissue has lots of zinc, cancerous tissue has much less. That may be the reason zinc is turning up in so many supplements for men.

Meats like beef and lamb also contain high amounts of zinc. The best common plant sources of zinc are legumes, nuts, seeds, and oatmeal. The amount of zinc present in these foods tends to run about 2 mg per serving. Obviously, it’s much less than found in meat; but you will get some.  This is also where supplementing Zinc especially if you are deficient or showing signs such as frequent colds may be beneficial.

Be sure to check out our zinc lozenges and zinc supplements on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market. 

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Censorship of Natural Health Information

Earlier this month, in one devastating algorithmic stroke, Google removed many of the top natural health and health freedom websites from their organic search results — some losing as much as 99% of their traffic. In fact, the term “organic” should no longer be used to describe Google’s referral traffic, as a jaw-dropping undercover investigation by Project Veritas reveals: Google surreptitiously manipulates its search results and auto-suggestions to conform to a very specific set of sociopolitical and economic agendas intended to manipulate elections and promote private interests.

We live in amazing times, albeit intense, filled with incredible darkness and light.
But thanks to the power of the internet, we have a level of freedom of information never enjoyed before by any previous generation on Earth — and that information is the very life’s blood of democratic ideals, and the necessary ingredient for informed consent and health freedom, our primary advocates.

But what happens when the gate-keepers of the content that flows through this incredible invention, like Facebook and Pinterest, censor and shadow ban certain of its users or content, or their ability to send you messages via email service provider platforms? Where do we go for information then?

Why not skip the social media filtering and email platform censorship and go back to using Google, you might ask. Aren’t they the very archetype and modern-day oracle of fairness, having become synonymous with looking for and finding objective answers.

After all, wouldn’t you expect that if you typed in turmeric research to find the top articles that people are reading on the many clinical study results supported by independent natural minded researchers?

Instead, today, you find first page google results on turmeric like: “Turmeric May Not Be a Miracle Spice After All” from Time.com, or “Turmeric: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage, and Warning” from WebMD.com, which overlook much of the research we have gathered, and make turmeric sound like it’s just another drug that you have to be very careful to take.

Apparently, this is entirely by design! On June 3rd, in fact, Google rolled out its latest core algorithm change, which obliterated the organic search results for the majority of the top sites in the natural health and health freedom advocating sector of the internet. Sites like DrAxe.com and Naturalnews.com saw most of their traffic removed overnight.

Mercola.com, perhaps the most heavily hit of all, broke the story in its two-part report: “Google buries Mercola in their latest search engine update, Part 1 and 2.”

Mercola.com has been a source of whistle-blowing information about Big Pharma and Big Tech collusion for decades, so it is no surprise why Google would take this action against his platform, and similar ones. In fact, signs of the coming purge came back in 2016, when GlaxoSmithKline signed a $715 million contract to partner with Google, and with increasing partnerships with pharmaceutical companies in 2019 like Sanofi.  Google’s parent company Alphabet is heavily invested in a vaccine company, Vaccitech, founded by scientists at Oxford University. Google, it appears, has become a pay-to-play operation, and contains a specific sociopolitical and economic agenda that is built directly into its search algorithms.

Until Google is held accountable for their actions, and there is industry reform, it will be difficult to get around their full spectrum dominance (gmail, google, youtube, google calendar, google documents, etc.) unless we find better, privacy-secured, platforms.  And there are quite a few you may not have heard about, including the internet browser alternatives to Google Chrome, such as Brave Browser and Opera, search engines like Startpage.com, duckduckgo.com or ecosia.org, and email programs like protonmail.com. You can also use the communications app Signal, which provides a level of encryption that may be the best out there.

But the safest option, stop in at Whitaker’s Natural Market and talk to Dr Jocelin for honest direction on how to find the information critical to achieving health naturally! 

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The Probiotic Miracle

When you are healthy, over 100 trillion microorganisms, from some 400 different species, flourish in your intestinal tract, aiding in digestion, absorption, and the production of significant amounts of B vitamins and enzymes. 

Unfortunately, the levels of beneficial bacteria decline dramatically as the human body ages. Some of the reasons for this decline include:

  • Over time, the colonies of friendly bacteria just naturally age and lose their vitality.
  • Disruptions and changes in the acid/alkaline balance of the bowels can play a major role in reducing the growth of beneficial bacteria. In addition, these changes tend to favor the growth of harmful viral and fungal organisms as well as putrefactive, disease-causing bacteria.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like Advil, Motrin, Midol, etc. are destructive to intestinal flora.
  • Chlorine in the drinking water not only serves to kill bacteria in the water; it is equally devastating to the colonies of beneficial bacteria living in the intestines.
  • Radiation and chemotherapy are devastating to your inner bacterial environment.
  • Virtually all meat and chicken and dairy that you eat (other than organic) is loaded with antibiotics, which destroy ALL of the beneficial bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract.
  • Constipation, of course, allows harmful bacteria to hang around longer, which allows them to proliferate.
  • Cigarettes, alcohol, and stress are also major culprits.
  • And if you’ve ever been subjected to a round of “medicinal” antibiotics, you can kiss your beneficial bacteria good-bye. The problem is that antibiotics indiscriminately destroy both bad and GOOD bacteria — allowing virulent, mutant strains of harmful microorganisms to emerge and run rampant inside the body. Antibiotics (both medicinal and in our food supply) are the #1 culprit in the overgrowth of HARMFUL pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract (a condition called dysbiosis) that may be at the root of many autoimmune disorders and certain cancers.

A properly functioning intestinal tract is one of your body’s first lines of defense against invaders and a healthy immune system. In a healthy colon there are, on average, anywhere from 100 billion to 1,000 billion beneficial bacteria per milliliter (about 1/5 of a teaspoon) that literally consume harmful bacteria and other invaders. In the typical American, because of poor diet and neglect of the colon, the beneficial bacteria count may be as low as 4 or 5 per milliliter. Just compare 1,000 billion to 4, and you’ll have an understanding of the scope of the problem. Many researchers now believe that declining levels of friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract may actually mark the onset of chronic degenerative disease and a suppressed immune system. Our goal is to strengthen the immune system.

The benefits of a probiotically optimized intestinal tract include:

  • Lowered cholesterol
  • Inhibition of cancer
  • Protection against food poisoning
  • Protection against stomach ulcers
  • Protection against lactose intolerance and casein intolerance
  • Enhanced immunity
  • Protection against many harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi
  • Protection against candida overgrowth and vaginal yeast infections
  • Prevention and correction of constipation and diarrhea, ileitis and colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and a whole range of other digestive tract dysfunctions
  • Improvement in the health and appearance of the skin
  • Better nutrition from improved absorption and the internal generation of B vitamins.

There can be no true health or recovery from disease unless you have colonies of over 100 trillion beneficial microorganisms flourishing in your intestinal tract, from your mouth to your anus, aiding in digestion, absorption, the production of significant amounts of vitamins and enzymes, and working to crowd out all harmful bacteria — allowing them no place to gain a foothold. Supplementation with a Good Probiotic is Mandatory to raise your baseline of health and strengthen your Immune System.

Be sure to check out our large selection of high quality probiotics on your next visit to Whitaker’s.
 

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Glyphosate Causing Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide, has been making headlines for its potential to cause cancer, but another serious disease has also been linked to this ubiquitous chemical: nonalchoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), particularly the most advanced cases.

Staggering amounts of glyphosate have been applied worldwide in recent decades. Since 1974, for instance, more than 1.6 billion kilograms (or about 3.5 billion pounds) of glyphosate have been used in the U.S. alone, accounting for 19% of its overall usage worldwide.

Two-thirds of the total volume of glyphosate applied in the U.S. from 1974 to 2014 was applied in the last 10 years — a time during which rates of NAFLD also increased.
As more and more glyphosate has been sprayed on agricultural lands, parks, and backyards, entering our food and water supplies, NAFLD rates have trended upward, from a prevalence of 15% in 2005 to 25% in 2010. Is there a connection? The answer increasingly appears to be yes.

Those with a more severe form of NAFLD called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, had significantly higher residues of glyphosate in their urine, an association that held true regardless of other factors in liver health, such as body mass index, diabetes status, age or race.

That exposure to glyphosate may lead to more severe forms of liver disease is concerning, since those with NASH are at increased risk of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and higher liver-related and non-liver-related mortality than the general population.

In a UC San Diego news release, lead study author Paul J. Mills, Ph.D., explained “There have been a handful of studies, all of which we cited in our paper, where animals either were or weren’t fed Roundup or glyphosate directly, and they all point to the same thing: the development of liver pathology. So I naturally thought: ‘Well, could it be exposure to this same herbicide that is driving liver disease in the U.S.?’”

According to Mills, “The increasing levels [of glyphosate] in people’s urine very much correlates to the consumption of Roundup treated crops into our diet,” although he acknowledged that we’re exposed to many synthetic chemicals on a regular basis, and the study only measured one. Still, it’s not the first time glyphosate has been linked to problems with liver health, including NAFLD and NASH.

“Glyphosate is also a patented antibiotic (Patent No.: US 7771736),” the researchers said, “and can inhibit the growth of susceptible bacteria by inhibition of the shikimate pathway and could cause dysbiosis in the gastrointestinal tract,” and added:

“Our observations may have human health implication since NAFLD is predicted to be the next major global epidemic. Approximately 20-30% of the population in the United States carry extra fat in their livers. NAFLD is associated with the recent rapid rise in the incidence of diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.

Overall, it is acknowledged that NAFLD is mostly caused by excess caloric intake, but also from the consumption of processed foods … as well as sedentary lifestyles.

However, many suffer from NAFLD but which do not have any high risk factors and thus other contributors to disease, such as exposure to physiologically active environmental pollutants via contaminated food, cannot be excluded.”

Just yet another reason to make sure that you are eating Certified Organic!  Be sure to browse our constantly growing Organic options especially local Organically grown produce available at Whitaker’s!
 

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Poison Ivy – No Fun!

Now is the time of year that everyone is enjoying being outside, being in the garden, and cleaning out the flower beds.  It is also the time of year that unfortunately many people start to get into Poison Ivy!  Did you know there are a few different all natural ways to help you quickly recover from that exposure?!?

First of all, begin by coming inside, removing your clothing, and immediately putting them in to wash.  This limits re-exposure to them via the oils that remain on your clothing.

Then jump in for a shower with the amazing Jewelweed Soap that we offer at Whitaker’s.  Jewelweed helps to prevent the spread of the rash and dry out the blisters that do form.  So continue to shower and wash with this soap for as long as you have Poison Ivy or anytime you think you may have come in contact with it.

Then spray the entire affected area with Soothing Oak and Ivy Spray by Herb Pharm also available at Whitaker’s.   Specifically designed for allergic contact dermatitis associated with the plants Poison Oak, Poison Ivy, and Poison Sumac. It helps relieve the itching and can prevent or lessen the occurrence of blisters. When first applied, there is an overall soothing feeling and relief of the itching. Continued use can minimize the intensity and spread of the dermatitis and speed up the healing process.

Finally, make sure to take Hyland’s Homoepathic Poison Ivy/Oak Tablets also found at Whitaker’s to help calm the allergic reaction, prevent systemic spread, and speed up the healing time.  

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Resveratrol’s Health Benefits

Many people wonder, “what is resveratrol?” For many years, grape seed extract was a hot seller (packaged as OPCs). In an interesting twist, it turns out that an important part of the grape was being left behind! The skin, which was being discarded in favor of the seeds, actually contains a powerful phytoalexin antioxidant known as resveratrol.

Resveratrol Health Benefits

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring antioxidant that decreases the “stickiness” of blood platelets and helps blood vessels to remain open. In addition, resveratrol appears to have estrogen-like properties and may be helpful in the treatment of breast diseases. Also, studies indicate that resveratrol can profoundly inhibit glucose uptake in HL-60 and U937 cells. Thus, resveratrol may prevent or abate metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Resveratrol for Cancer Prevention

In controlled studies, the benefits of resveratrol have been shown to reduce skin-cancer tumors by up to 98% and to stop the production of leukemia cells. In addition, it works as a Cox inhibitor, thus halting the spread of cancer throughout the body.

Resveratrol for Increased Longevity

And in 2003, the results of a study were released that showed that the benefits of resveratrol extended the lifespan of yeast cells by 70% by activating a “longevity gene” expressed during caloric restriction. Since mammals have the same “longevity gene” and since caloric restriction is known to extend the lifespan of mammals, scientists speculated humans might be able to receive the longevity benefits of caloric restriction simply by supplementing with resveratrol. And in fact, subsequently, resveratrol hit the news big time for its suspected ability to extend life and emerged as “the” hot antioxidant of the day, both in its supplement form and as a component of red wine, its most commonly identified natural source.

So be sure to pick up a bottle of 
Now Natural Resveratrol 50mg Capsules 
on your next visit to Whitaker’s 
Resveratrol is a polyphenol naturally found in the skin of red grapes, certain berries, and other plants. Recent research has shown that Resveratrol can help to support healthy cardiovascular function. Resveratrol is best known for its cellular anti-aging properties, as well as for its ability to promote a healthy response to normal biological stress. To complement the activities of Trans-Resveratrol, this product includes proanthocyanidins (OPCs) from grape seed extract and catechins from green tea extract.

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Papaya For Digestive Help!

Papain is a proteolytic enzyme found in concentrated amounts in unripe papaya fruit. It is similar to bromelain (found in pineapple) and has many of the same health benefits. However, there are a few medicinal traits unique to papain that can help improve the body’s overall health.

Papain for Digestive Issues
For instance, if you cook with red meat, you may know that papaya is a well-known fruit used as a tenderizer. This is because the enzymes in the fruit help break down the proteins in the meat. The papain in papaya does the same thing in the body. However, what makes papain a bit more special is that it doesn’t require a certain level of acidity or alkalinity within the body.

This is of vital importance for those with enzyme deficiency problems, as well as for those with low hydrochloric acid output in the stomach. It is important to understand that pepsin produced in the stomach to aid in protein digestion is activated only in an acid medium. This requires a healthy output of hydrochloric acid that is insufficient in many people—especially as they age. Since papain does not require hydrochloric acid, many people with digestive problems will be helped by daily supplementation with papain. In fact, you’ll often find papain in digestive enzyme formulas for this reason.

Papain as an Anti-Inflammatory
While papain is certainly effective as a digestive enzyme, it is also just as effective as a systemic enzyme. If papain is taken between meals, it makes its way into the bloodstream where it helps reduce pain and inflammation, as well as fluid retention following trauma and surgery. In fact, studies have shown that papain possesses strongly marked anti-inflammatory activity, and this ability is no less than that of the pharmaceutical drugs butadion and indomethacin.

We are pleased to offer two digestive enzyme blends that feature Papain as a main ingredient.

NOW® Super Enzymes is a comprehensive blend of enzymes that supports healthy digestion. Formulated with Bromelain, Ox Bile, Pancreatin and Papain, Super Enzymes helps to optimize the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates and protein.  Also, excellent for someone having early stage gallbladder and pancreas issues!

NOW® Plant Enzymes is a comprehensive blend of enzymes that helps to support proper digestion. This product’s combination of enzymes assists in the breakdown of fats, fiber, proteins, and carbohydrates, thus optimizing the availability of nutrients in the food you eat. NOW® Plant Enzymes also includes lactase to support the digestion of dairy products for those who are sensitive to lactose.

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Recipe – Whole Wheat Pancakes

These are some of our favorite pancakes.  We love to make them and top with butter, fruit such as peaches, and whipped topping.  Yum!
 
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp sugar
2 eggs
5 Tbsp applesauce or oil
1½ cups milk
 
Place all ingredients in a bowl.  Whisk together until smooth.  Cook on a hot griddle.