Nutritionalert

Exercise to Remember - Remember to Exercise

vtmnldy — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:39:00 -0500

What is the best treatment for painful joints? Exercise! For depression? Exercise!

However, as those of us who have been there know, when you are hurting, or down mentally, it is difficult to make that commitment.

Now, however, comes a study which shows that just moderate exercise can protect memory and guard against Alzheimer's. And that won't hurt at all.

Exercise delays Alzheimer symptoms.

The Vitamin lady writes about natural ways to protect Memory.

A Crown for Olive Leaf

vtmnldy — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:47:00 -0500

Olive Leaf extract has many health properties. Some of the first research into this substance goes back to the 1800s, when it was used as an anti-malarial. In fact, it was generally acknowledged to be superior to Quinine for this, but since Quinine was easier to administer it became the treatment of choice.

In the 1960s, the active ingredient in Olive Leaves was identified, and some exciting results began to emerge, above and beyond its antimicrobial and anti viral properties. It seemed as though Olive had an effect on heart function in that it relaxed the arteries - very helpful in cases of hypertension. It also increased blood flow to the coronary arteries, relieved arrythmias, and inhibited the oxidation of low density lipo-proteins. This was just icing on the cake, however, compared to the electrifying results experienced with conditions resulting from any virus, retrovirus, bacterium or protozoan!

A list of such conditions would include influenza, tuberculosis, urinary tract infections, meningitis, as well as the serious diseases mentioned in the first paragraph above. Dr. Walker Morton D.P.M. claims " There is no better anti-protozoa remedy: it even chases out worms. And if someone suffers with chronic fatigue syndrome, the yeast syndrome, fibromyalgia, psoriasis or heart disease, olive leaf extract should be part of that person's armamentarium."

Now, new research confirms Olive Leaf's beneficial effect on High Blood Pressure.

My entire article on the Olive Leaf

The Vitamin Lady's Own Olive Leaf Extract

P.S "Crown" and "Coronary" come from the same root. A bot of a stretch, perhaps, but still acceptable as a pun!

O Frabjous day - no more chocolate guilt for me!

vtmnldy — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:58:00 -0500

One more year, and I will be able to eat all the chocolate I want without ANY guilt - for now, at 71, I am in the home straight. "Regular intake of chocolate." That certainly sounds good. Now, I wonder who commissioned this study ... for once, I don't think I care!

"Cerebral blood flow response to flavanol-rich cocoa in healthy elderly humans," Sorond FA, Lipsitz LA, et al, Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 2008; 4(2): 433-440. (Address: Farzaneh A. Sorond, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Neurology, Stroke Division, 45 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. E-mail: fsorond@partners.org ).

Summary:

In a study involving 34 healthy elderly subjects (mean age: 72 years), regular intake of flavanol-rich cocoa (FRC) was found to increase mean blood flow velocity in the cerebral artery by 8% after 1 week and by 10% after 2 weeks, as compared to subjects consuming flavanol-poor cocoa. Furthermore, after one week, significantly more subjects consuming the flavanol-rich cocoa experienced improvements in cerebral blood flow velocity, as compared to those consuming the flavanol-poor cocoa. These results suggest that consumption of cocoa rich in flavanols may have a role to play in "the treatment of cerebrovascular ischemic syndromes, including dementias and stroke." Additional research is warranted

Coffee coffin? Coffee and Cholesterol

vtmnldy — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:11:00 -0500

Good for you - bad for you - the debate over coffee rages on.

Two words - individuality and moderation. Coffee is good for some and bad for others, but bad for everyone in excess.

However, if you are at risk for high cholesterol this research from Baylor College of Medicine suggests that the best thing you can do, if you HAVE to have your coffee, is not to drink it black, not to choose decaffeinated, but to use a paper filter.

Researchers discover how Coffee raises Cholesterol

Double trouble - antacids and osteoporosis

vtmnldy — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:53:00 -0500

If I had just one dollar for every time I have given the little lecture about the fact that TOO MUCH stomach acid presents with almost exactly the same symptoms as TOO LITTLE, and how Doctors are primed to believe it is the former when it is often the latter - I would be living in Maui.

It is especially perturbing when you consider the health risks attendant on going in exactly the wrong direction. Many major and important nutrients have their absorption affected by this mistake, among them calcium, magnesium, zinc, B6 and B12 - also protein.

Some time ago I posted a link about the connection between the use of antacids and cancer. Now a study in the Canadian Medical Journal shows a DOUBLED risk of osteoporosis for people using antacids (proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec and Nexium) for longer than 7 years. I am not exactly saure where the magic cut-off date is for safe use!

Long term use of antacids and Cancer

Long term use of antacids doubles osteoporosis risk

Ben who?

vtmnldy — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:55:00 -0500

While the general overall benefits of good nutrition have been acknowledged for some time, even by skeptics, it is only over the last 20 years or so that we have seen an acceleration of research into the effect of singular nutrients on specific conditions. Fish oil for heart health and cognition, for example. Or chromium and diabetes.

Now comes a well designed study that shows 2 nutrients can head diabetic complications off at the pass, by normalizing the formation of AGES ( ) and reducing inflammation.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid plus Benfotiamine May Benefit Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

And we have both of these substances:

http://www.vitaminlady.com/vitamin_research_products/benfotiamine.asp

http://www.vitaminlady.com/the_vitamin_lady/alpha_lipoic_acid.asp

http://www.vitaminlady.com/jarrow/Alpha_lipoic_acid.asp

Young at Heart

vtmnldy — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:04:00 -0500

I am still trying to cope with the thought that girls as young as 12 are being given the unproven vaccine Gardasil over their parents' objections, and despite its unproven and suspect safety record.

Now, certain medical professionals are recommending that children as young as 8 with high cholesterol should be put on statin drugs.

Never mind that at that age, exercise and diet are a far more logical approach, let alone more successful, more healthy and less expensive, never mind that there is a risk that lowering a child's cholesterol may affect brain development. Ignore what kind of a lesson will be taught by addressing a lifestyle issue with a pill at such an early age - bring on the medication!

Our Children as Guinea Pigs?

Red Yeast Rising

vtmnldy — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:39:00 -0500

If you are not concerned about the side effects, then Zocor is the route of choice for you to control your cholesterol.

If, however, you are interested in a more natural approach to body chemistry AND you would like to lose a little weight
into the bargain AND lower your triglycerides at the
same time - have I got news for you!

Fish Oil, Red Yeast Rice cut cholesterol

Carlson Labs Fish Oil

Red Yeast Rice formulas

The Annual Absence

vtmnldy — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:34:00 -0500

I will be leaving tomorrow for the Natural Products Association's annual convention, and will be gone for about a week. Considering my aversion to flying, it will surprise noone that I will be driving, so my beautiful Camaro (VTMN LDY) will be on the road again - watch out for us, and wave if you see me!

Resveratrolling - red wine and breast cancer

vtmnldy — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:19:00 -0500

The latest good news about red wine, is that one of its most noted ingredients, Resveratrol, may be helpful in preventing breast cancer.

"Scientists know that many breast cancers are fueled by increased estrogen, which collects and reacts with DNA molecules to form adducts.

Professor Rogan and her colleagues found that resveratrol was able to suppress the formation of these DNA adducts and she says this is dramatic because fairly low concentrations of resveratrol were used.

Although the researchers experimented with up to 100 µmol/L of resveratrol, the suppression of DNA adducts was seen with 10 µmol/L... a glass of red wine contains between 9 and 28 µmol/L of resveratrol."

I also notice that Glaxo Kline has purchased a company that's developing a drug based on resveratrol ....

Full text - compound in red wine may prevent breast cancer

All the wonderful health benefits connected to Grape extracts

Buy local - Resveratrol from Muscadine grapes, made in the USA.

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty

vtmnldy — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:08:00 -0500

Vigilance, but also action! Many drug companies are coming to the realization that there is potential for great healing in many natural substances, and they have the power AND the money to move our legislators in their favor. Their latest target is the most absorbable form of B6, known as P-5-P.

If you are concerned about a) your personal access to natural remedies and b) the larger question of government being influenced to restrict our liberties, please follow this link, read the details, and let your representatives and the FDA hear from you.

Take action on the issue of Government and our Health Freedoms

Who does YOUR Doctor work for?

vtmnldy — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:59:00 -0500

It would be reassuring to be able to assume that when your Doctor prescribes a drug, it's because he thinks it is the best one for your condition, guaranteed to help you get better. But that is only a dream of the ideal. In actual fact, quote:

In the world of medicine, "key opinion leader" is the somewhat Orwellian term used to describe the senior doctors who help drug companies sell drugs.

Read the report in the British Medical Journal, and listen to the revealing video of a former drug rep plumbing the depth of this disgraceful shill. These influential Doctors are PAID to represent to their peers that recent medications are effective and safe - when all they may be is new and unproven.

Key opinion leaders: independent experts or drug representatives in disguise?

D-ficient hearts - Vitamin D and heart attacks

vtmnldy — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:20:00 -0500

Scientists noticed that heart attacks in men seemed to vary according to whether they lived in higher latitudes, or were enduring the winter months - and they attributed this to the availability of sunshine - and the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D3.

The authors of the study write: "This pattern is consistent with an adverse effect of hypovitaminosis D [vitamin D deficiency], which is more prevalent at higher latitudes, during the winter and at lower altitudes"

Even when other risk factors were taken into account, the researchers determined that men with high levels of vitamin D had approximately half the risk of heart attack as men whose levels were inadequate.

I'd take odds that the same is true for women. Perhaps they won't be so sexist next time!!

Men With Vitamin D Deficiency May Have Increased Risk Of Heart Attack

Fool me once ...

vtmnldy — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0500

There is a new product available called “Obecalp”, which happens to be the word “placebo” spelled backwards. It consists of cherry-flavored dextrose. Yup, that's all. It is for children, and is intended to make them feel they are being treated for something, wihout actually giving them any medication.

Because they contain no active drug, the pills will not be sold as a drug under Food and Drug Administration rules. They will be marketed as dietary supplements, meaning they can be sold at groceries, drug stores and discount stores and discount stores without a prescription.”

And the Ethics. This is wrong on so many levels, I hardly know where to start.

First, what parent would interact with their child so deceptively? I find I intuitively make a distinction here between the kind of charming mothering that says "a kiss will make it better" and a commercial produt that LOOKS like real medicine. Second, either the child is sick or it is not. If it is not, why lead it to believe that a pill, any pill, is what will help? If it is sick, who would want to take a chance on treating it with fake medicine? Third, dosing the child with a delicious pill at the first sign of trouble, will contribute to the "take a pill for any ill" mentality which has led to the over-medicated society we live in.

HSI comments thusly:

Traditionally, mommies make owies go away with a kiss or some other form of TLC. But one day when Jennifer (Buettner) was trying in vain to cope with a hypochondriac niece, she asked her husband to pick up some placebo pills at the drugstore. This must have amused his local druggist, and of course Mr. Buettner returned home with no placebo.

That's when a light bulb blinked on over Jennifer's head.

Instead of simply giving her "ailing" niece a baby aspirin and telling her it was a new miracle drug, Jennifer started thinking big and developed Obecalp (spell it backwards) - a standardized, pharmaceutical grade, chewable, cherry-flavored pill, sweetened with just a bit of dextrose (sugar).

A legal look at this

Read what the Quackometer has to say

What do YOU think??

Forgetting Statins - cholesterol and Alzheimer's

vtmnldy — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:05:00 -0500

I have been warning for years of the effects of blood pressure medication and cholesterol lowering medication on the function of the brain. Now comes a theory explaining WHY lowering cholesterol in particular may affect function to the point of being a causative factor in the increase in Alzheimer's.

The villain in the onset of Alzheinmer's disease is now known to be tangles of amyloid plaque; it appears that this amyloid is an emergency response on the part of the body to a lack of sufficient cholesterol.

If you would like an accurate road map, Dr. Lorin's book will provide it:

Author/dentist Henry Lorin watched helplessly as his wife's father developed Alzheimer's disease, while his own father did not. The two men were the same age and very similar medically, except for one key health factor. Dr. Lorin then spent years studying all the medical research, utilizing the clues and insights gained from his family's experience. The result? He is able to show that this one factor is the true key to Alzheimer's. Dr. Lorin's book reveals that factor and the simple steps needed to prevent the disease.

A little beauty for your day ..

vtmnldy — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:55:00 -0500

I am very proud of this Beauty. I cherished it through the winter when it was nothing but leaves, and now look at its burst of splendor. I photographed it by the little pond at the end of our garden.

No natural help for the "Disease " of Obesity

vtmnldy — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:56:00 -0500

CITIZEN PETITION OF THE AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION, THE OBESITY SOCIETY, SHAPING AMERICA'S HEALTH, AND GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER HEALTHCARE

REQUESTING THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO DETERMINE THAT CLAIMS THAT DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS PROMOTE, ASSIST, OR OTHERWISE HELP IN WEIGHT LOSS ARE DISEASE CLAIMS UNDER SECTION 403(R)(6) OF THE FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG AND COSMETIC ACT

Isn't it comforting to know that GlaxoSmithKline, makers of that unppleasant drug Alli, are looking out for us? Seconded by several groups (quite coincidentally) supported by GSK?

Please go to the Citizens for Health website to oppose this unconscionable attack on our health liberties. If this passes, the stage would be set for challenges to other types of claims leading to what would constitute irreparable damage to the dietary supplement industry and irrevocable losses to consumer choice.

Oppose the GlaxoSmithKline petition here.

The Chicken and the egg - ADHD, Ritalin and cardiovascular risk

vtmnldy — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:52:00 -0500

For a number of years, there have been serious and convincing indications that the main drugs used for ADD/ADHD, Ritalin and Adderall, were dangerous to the heart health of children.

ADHD drugs and cardiovascular Risk

ADHD update - new data on the risks of medication

However, to a certain mentality, this spells OPPORTUNITY. In an amazing Alice through the Looking Glass approach, authorities are now suggesting monitoring (expensively) ALL children for heart problems, before putting them on the medication.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/573314

Yup: definitely we should make sure their little hearts are healthy before we weaken them!

Surely the fact that this danger is inherent in the drugs, will cause parents and grandparents to consider other approaches?

The Vitamin Lady writes about Natural approaches to ADD/ADHD

A down-hearted Frail - B12 and the elderly

vtmnldy — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:44:00 -0500

There has been a good deal of research connecting low B12 levels in the elderly to confusion, depression and apparent senility - one of my very favorite nutritional physicians, Dr. Jonathan Wright, cites the case of an older woman whose confusion, depression and forgetfulness had caused her to be referred to a psychiatrist: but who responded 100% to injections of B12. He tells of a study of 228 residents in a nursing home, with an average age of 87. Despite good diets, and supplementation, 39% were deficient in one or more vitamins: most commonly B6, followed by Niacin and B12.

Its importance for cardiovascular health is also well-known. Now it would appear that a B12 deficiency is actually part of the over-all frailty that afflicts some elderly people.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency May Contribute to Frailty in Elderly Women

Remember, anyone whose health problems suggest deficiencies of B12, would do well to consider a possible HCL deficiency as the cause. The symptoms of too little and too much stomach acid are almost identical, and rushing to take antacids will make a bad situation worse.

Evidence? What evidence?

vtmnldy — Sun, 11 May 2008 15:55:00 -0500

I have commented before on how easy it is to discredit something by setting up your own criteria, and then announcing that it has failed to meet them. Just off the top of my head, consider the study that found St. John's Wort failed to help major depression . What a lot of publicity that got, with not one of the reporting entities thinking to mention that - wait for it - NO-ONE EVER CLAIMED IT DID. That's right - St. John's Wort has only ever been recommended for minor depression, and as the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine says:

An analysis of the results of 37 clinical trials concluded that St. John's wort may have only minimal beneficial effects on major depression. However, the analysis also found that St. John's wort may benefit people with minor depression; these benefits may be similar to those from standard antidepressants. Overall, St. John's wort appeared to produce fewer side effects than some standard antidepressants. (my emphasis).

In much the same way, the words "evidence based medicine" are often used to discredit alternative treatments, the implications being that since they cannot pass the same standard as allopathic medicine, they are not effective.

That is why I found this report in Dr. Moss's newsletter so interesting: talk about payback! The British Medical Journal of Clinical Evidence has found that of around 2500 prescription treatments evaluated by a panel of experts, only 13% were definitely beneficial, while an amazing 46% showed no evidence of usefulness whatsoever. Take that, big Pharma!

Are most current medical treatments backed by solid evidence of effectiveness?

Breast stroke - hormone therapy and the risk of stroke

vtmnldy — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:29:00 -0500

I thought we had heard the worst about synthetic hormone replacement, but it would appear not. Whether a women is using estrogen alone, or estrogen and progestin, the results are in and they are not pretty.

Bottom line ,whether you started young or after menopause, whether you have taken it for a long time or a short time, the risk of stroke increases by about 39%. If you are on high doses, the increased risk is 62%

"The advice to women is, if you are on HRT, you should be on the lowest dose that will control your symptoms," Liu said. "In addition, you should be monitored and evaluated, and if you are going to continue on it; you need to understand what the risks are."

We need to make everyone aware that there is another option, without the grief, and that is a NATURAL approach to hormonal imbalances.

The Vitamin Lady writes about Menopause - first class passage.

HRT increases stroke risk

Progesterone cream with herbs

Estrogen Cream

Fooling all of the People all of the Time -

vtmnldy — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:54:00 -0500

I know of nothing that makes me angrier than having the Goverment step in to regulate against information.

It really makes me wonder where this is all going to end - even the most inconsequential problems are being codified. As an example, they are introducing legislation in California to make it illegal to drive with your dog in your lap - can they really believe it possible to legislate against all manifestations of lack of intelligence?? - do they have data on pooch-in-lap-caused accidents?

What set me off this time is far more serious, however - Monsanto (incredibly rich makers of recombinant bovine growth hormone) feels that it is UNFAIR to label milk that is not hormone laced, hormone free - why? Because it may suggest that the hormone free milk is in some way BETTER. We certainly feel that it is better, but that is not the point: we have the right to know!

Citizens for Health has more information about this attempt to flummox us, together with a little reward (for those of us who eat Ben and Jerry's ice cream) for doing the right thing.

Find out more about it here.

Death by Vitamin - more lies, damn lies & statistics

vtmnldy — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:27:00 -0500

These attacks on supplementation are getting to be so old hat, I almost didn't react to this one. But I know some people must be wondering whether to give up vitamins, or give up reading, so I am posting a rebuttal which I hope will lay those fears at rest.

Bad science+ bad media+vested interests=confused consumers

And on the positive side:

Health Impact Study Shows Dietary Supplement Usage Could Save Billions in Health Care Costs

Health Impact II Study Finds Seniors Who Take Certain Dietary Supplements Live Longer, More Independent Lives - posted by a Senior who is living a long, independent life taking LOTS of vitamins! Moi-meme.

Health Impact Study IV Updates Previous Studies, Shows Select Dietary Supplements Could Save $24+ Billion In Health Care Costs

Milk and the hand of man

vtmnldy — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:49:00 -0500

I have been saying for years that the more the hands of people interfere between the original food and our mouths, the worse off we are. Seldom, however, do I come across quite such an excellent illustration.

In my article on Prostate health I wrote"There is a connection between drinking milk and prostate cancer - and the worst offender is low fat milk, as researchers at the Fox Chase Cancer Center (Philadelphia) discovered. Men who reported the highest intake of low-fat milk were 1.5 times more likely to develop prostate cancer compared to men who had the lowest intake, but whole milk intake was NOT found to be linked to increased risk."

Now it appears that whole fat milk is not only not connected to increased risk, but is found to reduce risk.

Dietary intake of vitamin K and risk of prostate cancer

Effect of food composition on human absorption of Vitamin K

Even better would be whole, RAW milk - got REAL milk?

Minding the Pump - proton pump inhibitors and B12 status

vtmnldy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:56:00 -0500

In view of the truly astonishing number of people who are taking antacids, this research is of great importance: as we know, many elderly people are being diagnosed with mental deterioration, when a B12 deficiency should be suspected.

Keywords:	HEARTBURN, ACID REFLUX, STOMACH ULCER - Vitamin B12, B12 Deficiency, Proton-Pump Inhibitors, PPI, Histamine(2) Receptor Antagonists, H2 Blockers
Reference:	"Do Acid-lowering agents affect vitamin B12 status in older adults?" Dharmarajan TS, Norkus EP, et al, J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2008; 9(3): 162-7. (Address: Department of Medicine, Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA. E-mail: dharmarajants@yahoo.com ).
Summary:	In a cross-sectional study involving 659 elderly subjects, aged 60-102 years, results indicate that prolonged use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) may be associated with a significant decline in serum vitamin B12 levels. Patient demographics, serum B12 levels, use and duration of use of histamine(2) receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) and PPIs, and oral vitamin B12 supplementation were assessed. Acid-lowering agents (H2 blockers and PPIs) were used by 54% of the participants, where the average duration of use was 18.2 months. No association was observed between the use of H2 blockers and serum vitamin B12 levels. On the other hand, PPI use was associated with diminished vitamin B12 levels. Additionally, oral vitamin B12 supplementation (RDA) during PPI use was observed to slow the decline in B12 status, but not prevent it. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "B12 status declines during prolonged PPI use in older adults, b ut not with prolonged H2 blocker use; supplementation with RDA amounts of B12 do not prevent this decline. This report reinforces that B12 deficiency is common in the elderly and suggests that it appears prudent to monitor periodically B12 status while on prolonged PPI use, to enable correction before complications ensue."

B12 Status Declines during Prolonged Use of Proton-Pump Inhibitors (Acid-Lowering Agent)

The liquid B12 (Methylcobalamin) I personally use and recommend.

The Vitamin Lady writes about helping indigestion naturally

D pain, Boss - D Pain!

vtmnldy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:32:00 -0500

The Institute for Functional Medicine, always an excellent source of information, can be reached and supported here.

Can Low Vitamin D Cause Pain?

Clearly yes. One study showed that 93% of persons 10-65 years of age who were admitted to a hospital emergency department with muscle aches and bone pain--and who had a wide variety of diagnoses, including Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression--were deficient in vitamin D.¹

A second study confirmed a strong correlation between low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels in the blood and higher rates and longer duration of generalized bone and/or muscle aches and pains.²

A third study looked at chronic pain patients at a tertiary care pain clinic. They documented that those patients with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels </=20 ng/mL used almost twice as much morphine, were on opioid medications almost twice as long and generally were in more pain then those with higher vitamin D levels.³

Understanding the antecedents, triggers and mediators of pain is one of the most important things a clinician can do to help their patients. The origins, manifestations and treatment of pain cuts across disciplines and organ systems. Appreciating the underlying pain processes from a functional medicine perspective allows the clinician to better treat a variety of pain disorders.

1. Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. Jul 19 2007;357(3):266-281.

2. Erkal MZ, Wilde J, Bilgin Y, et al. High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, secondary hyperparathyroidism and generalized bone pain in Turkish immigrants in Germany: identification of risk factors. Osteoporos Int. 2006;17(8):1133-1140.

3. Turner MK, Hooten WM, Schmidt JE, Kerkvliet JL, Townsend CO, Bruce BK. Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Vitamin D Inadequacy among Patients with Chronic Pain. Pain Med. Mar 11 2008.

Protect your access to natural hormones

vtmnldy — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:19:00 -0500

The FDA is after the bio-identical hormones again. For an interesting review of what has been going on, and links to contact Congress, go to the American Health Freedom site:

Act Today to Preserve Your Access to Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy!

Resveratrol and Pancreatic Cancer

vtmnldy — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:31:00 -0500

In 2008, a study at P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center showed for the first time that a natural antioxidant found in grape skins and red wine can help destroy pancreatic cancer cells by reaching the cell's core energy source, or mitochondrion, and crippling its function. The study is published in the March 2008 edition of the journal, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology.

The study also showed that when the pancreatic cancer cells were doubly assaulted (pre-treated with the antioxidant, resveratrol, and then irradiated) the combination induced a type of cell death called apoptosis, an important goal of cancer therapy.

Mounting evidence shows red wine antioxidant kills cancer

Appendix to the appendix

vtmnldy — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:49:00 -0500

I am proud to say I still have my appendix - and since my 71st birthday was yesterday, I think I am probably going to hang on to it on a life long basis.

I remember how they used to casually whip out tonsils when I was a child, assuming (such hubris!) that nature had hiccuped and tonsils had no function to speak of in the human body.

Despite the debunking of the "useless tonsils" theory, the same attitude has prevailed for appendixes (I know - it should be appendices, but this is English as she is spoken).

Now, finally, the function of the appendix may have been discovered:

The Appendix Has a Purpose After All: Repopulating the Gut with Friendly Flora

60th Earth Hour

vtmnldy — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:48:00 -0500

Visit this link to make your mark - each of us can make a small contribution to the growing swell of environmental concern!

http://www11.earthhourus.org/