More Information on Propolis
Recently, Medical news today posted an article on the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of bee propolis. The authors reported on a study demonstrating that propolis showed inhibition of various fungi, bacteria, yeasts, and free radicals (the measurement of antioxidant capacity).
Phenols and various flavonoids were determined to be responsible for most of these medicinal properties of propolis.
Excerpt:
The results coincided with what was expected, as this product has a high quantity of biologically active components, outstanding amongst these being the flavonoids (known for their high antioxidant power). The flavonoids are in fact most responsible for all the medicinal properties attributable to propolis: antibacterial, antimycotic, antifungal, antiviral, antitubercular, cytostatic, antiallergic, antioxidant, antitoxic, hypotensor, haemostatic, immunogenetic and antiparasitical.
Bee propolis has other uses as well. It has been found to be helpful in preventing dental plaque by inhibiting certain enzymes. It is also a good dietary source of amino acids, the building blocks from which your body uses to rebuild itself and stay healthy. It can even be used for wound care.
Excerpt (Mercola):
Good quality honey offers several topical wound-care benefits: - It draws fluid away from your wound
- The high sugar content suppresses microorganism growth
- Worker bees secrete an enzyme (glucose oxidase) into the nectar, which then releases low levels of hydrogen peroxide when the honey makes contact with your wound
- A chemical reaction between the honey and tissue also makes healing wounds smell good
It is important to note that not all honey is equal in quality. Refined, processed honey actually contains fillers and added sugars which mute its therapeutic effect.
In a society with antibiotic resistance increasing and increased exposure to toxins, it's good to note that there is a natural anti-microbial and antioxidant in one.
Sources: Mercola, J. This Bee Product Has Enormous Benefits for Your Health. November 17, 2009. Mercola.com Medpage today. (online) Propolis Has Proved To Be A Product With Ability To Have Beneficial Effects For Health. October 28, 2009.
The Importance of Omega 3s
Recently, the EFSA confirmed the importance of ALA and DHA for babies. Many studies have linked cognitive and vision impairment in newborns to lack of these two Omega 3 fatty acids. This makes sense considering that 30-60% of the retina is made of DHA and 15-30% of the cerebral cortex. DHA is also important for immune and nervous system health.
Due to the fact that babies still rely on mom's for the conversion of DHA from ALA, and most moms are deficient, it is wise to recommend supplementation.
The food source of these essential fatty acids are best found in seafood; however, due to their high heavy metal content, fish might not be the best place to obtain these nutrients. Instead, a high quality fish or krill oil which is purified of toxins may be the best bet for mom and baby.
Source: Mercola, J. Omega 3 Benefits Your Babies Brain and Eyes. Mercola.com. (online) November 17, 2009.
Medical Myths (webmd)
Some highlights of untruths debunked: Nuts and seeds cause an increased risk of diverticulitis, hernias arecaused by heavy lifting, if you're lactose intolerant you can't have yogurt, fiber doesn't help diarrhea, and celiac disease symptoms are only in the gut.
Swine Flu: Fact or Fiction (NVIC)
This is a fantastic video for an overall summary (a little over 11 minutes long).
Immune Support Protocol (Dr. Mercola)
Dr. Mercola provided an excellent article on the importance of basic immune support such as: eating whole foods, exercising, getting adequate sleep, stress relief, washing your hands after going to the bathroom, and digestive health. He also explained the importance of high quality supplements, specifically NS-GMP certification, and using whole food ingredients.
Some top immune supporters in supplements highlighted were vitamin C, oregano oil (with carvacrol), propolis, yarrow, boneset, peppermint, elder flower (anthocyanins and quercetin), DMG (vitamin B16), vitamin D3, & olive leaf.
Highlight on Propolis: "Because it contains phagocytes (white blood cells) that initiate the activity and cleansing action to protect your white blood cells.* Many hospitals, clinics and universities throughout Europe are now testing propolis for its immunity benefits.* One report alone, recently translated by two doctors in America, shows that propolis has been successfully used in more than 70 different studies over the last 17 years."
Exercise May Prevent Flu
A new study with mice showed promising signs that exercise could protect against a more severe immune reaction to the flu. Regular exercise decreased the severity of symptoms in regular exercisers throughout the course of the whole infection. Even exercise just before the infection showed less severe symptoms and offered some protection from the flu. Mice who exercised showed less inflammatory compounds in their lungs and less virus in their lungs.
Source: Reuter's Health. Regular Exercise May Help Battle the Flu. October 23, 2009. (online)
Vitamin D: Protection for the Flu
This pubmed abstract shows how low vitamin D levels predispose children to respiratory infections. Vitamin D modulates the immune response and decreases inflammation. Source: Carnell, JJ. et al. Epidemic influenza and Vitamin D. Epidemiology and Infection. December 13, 2006. (Online)Dr. Mercola. www.mercola.com. November 10, 2009.
Perochlorate was found in 87% of infant formulas tested by the EWG. Milk based infant formulas were the worst followed by lactose-free, soy, and elemental. Perocholorate is linked with lowered thyroid function. Soy formulas have been found to contain the equivalent amount of estrogen as 5 birth control pills!
Sources: Mercola, J. Rocket Fuel Found in Infant Formula. Mercola.com. November 5, 2009. (online) EWG. CDC:Rocket Fuel Chemical in Most Powdered Infant Formula. November 5, 2009. (online).
Protein Pump Inhbitors linked to Weight Gain
Proton Pump inhibitors such as prevacid, prilosec, and nexium used in the treatment of GERD (reflux disease) have been linked to weight gain in one study.
Excerpt: CONCLUSION: Long-term PPI treatment was associated with BW gain in patients with GERD. Reflux patients receiving PPI should be encouraged to manage BW through lifestyle modifications. Source: Yoshikawa, I. Long-term treatment with proton pump inhibitor is associated with undesired weight gain. World J of Gastroenterology. October 15, 2009. (online).
Swine Flu Update (2)
Dr. Mercola recently interviewed neurosurgeon and researcher, Dr. Baylock, MD. Dr. Baylock is an expert in the swine flu who seeks to use peer reviewed journals and governmental reports to report unbiased findings. Dr. Mercola's article highlights Dr. Baylock's CDC reports and various statistics on the H1N1 virus. His summaries included that hospitalizations and death rates were lower than expected, that H1N1 was less virulent that suggested, that pregnant women and children were not at increased risk, and that massive vaccination may actually be more harmful than the virus.
Excerpt:
Number of People Admitted to the Hospital each Year with Viral Pneumonia5
- 57 people in 2005
- 33 people in 2006
- 69 people in 2007
- 69 people in 2008
- 37 people in 2009
So we see that in 2009 they had 32 fewer people admitted with actual viral pneumonia. The CDC and other public health agents of fear like to imply that mass numbers of people are dying from "flu", that is, actual influenza viral pneumonia, when in fact, most are dying from other complications secondary to underlying health problems -- either diagnosed or undiagnosed.
They also found that the average person's risk of ending up in the ICU was one in 35,714 or about three thousandths of one percent (0.00285%), an incredibly low risk. When they looked at actual admission to the ICU, they found that it was people aged 25 to 49 who made up the largest number admitted. Infants from birth to age 1 year had the higher admission per population, and had a high mortality rate.
Sources: Mercola, J & Baylock, R. Swine Flu-One of the Most Massive Cover-ups in History. Mercola.com. November 3, 2009. (online)
Science to Study How We Heal!
In this month's edition of Natural Medicine Journal, Wayne Jonas, MD was interviewed to explain how the healing process can promote health and wellness. Dr. Jonas is a professor at Georgetown Univeristy Medical Center and has published more than 150 articles and 5 books. He is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Samueli Institute, an institute which is using sound scientific methods to study how the body heals.
Excerpt: We define healing as the process of recovery, repair, reintegration, and the return to wholeness, also called salutogenesis; it's the reverse of pathogenesis. Pathogenesis is how things break down and become diseased. Salutogenesis is how they get built up, how they recover, how they come back into balance. The methods and the metrics are parallel in terms of developing a science, but healing itself is complex because it is an emergent property of whole systems.
Source: Gazella, K. Wayne Jonas, MD Explores How the Healing Process Can Promote Health and Wellness. Natural Medicine Journal. November 2009.
Swine Flu Update: Common Link in 36 Children Deaths
According to the October 5th article in Star Tribune: "A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that of the 36 children who died from H1N1 from April to August, six had no chronic health conditions. But all of them had a co-occurring bacterial infection." The common co-infection was staphylcoccus aureus. The article further stated: "The vast majority of people who become infected with H1N1 recover, Lynfield said, "but some do get severe disease."
It has been estimated that there is a 99% recovery rate from the H1N1 virus and that most cases of diagnosed swine flu are not labatory confirmed. The best way to stay safe from H1N1 this season is make your immune system healthy and strong. Please see my link on natural ways to protect yourself.
Sources: CDC. www.cdc.gov Marcotty, J. Star Tribune. Boys Death Deepens H1N1 Worry. October 5, 2009. (online) Mercola, J. Common Links in Swine Flu Deaths. October 31, 2009. (online)
Good Bacteria in Bread
The bacteria, Bifidobacterium, helps digestion of grains by inactivating the enzyme phytase. This helps with fiber absorption. Adding fermented food into the diet is a very good option to keep the balance of bacteria in your gut healthy. Some examples include yogurt, natto, miso, olives, and sauerkraut. Friendly bacteria protect the body from infectious organisms, decrease inflammation, and aid the immune system.
Sources: Mercola, J. Friendly Bacteria Blunt Ant-Nutritive Action. Mercola.com. October 31, 2009. (online) Dr. Trent Nicholas. DFH Clinical Rounds.
The Importance of CoQ10
Here's a link from pubmed on the importance of coQ10 for heart function and it's depletion by statin drugs.
Chocolate Can Be Good For You!! :)
Dr. Mercola's article on dark chocolate was good news for many sweet tooth health junkies.Organic dark chocolate (70% or higher) doesn't contain the lead, HFCS, added sugar, MSG, milk, soy, or the artificial ingredients other chocolate bars contain and it is good for you!
Real chocolate, made from cacao beans, actually contains high levels of resveratrol, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound. It is also being studied as a protective factor in obesity. Dark chocolate also contains high levels of the polyphenols catechin and epicatechin which are important anti-inflammatory compounds. These compounds have been found to boost immunity and help lower cholesterol.
So, make sure you find some nice dark chocolate and enjoy a few squares to get your recommended dose of resveratrol and polyphenols this weekend. There's only one caution for eating large quantities of dark chocolate, if you are hypertensive (dark chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine), you may want to be cautious with eating dark chocolate on a regular basis because dark chocolate can be stimulating. However, one or two squares on a holiday should be safe.
Really, this is no trick, just a treat! Have a wonderful and safe holiday!
Happy Halloween!
My best,
Dr. Sarah
Source: Dr. Mercola. How to Actually Choose Health Treats for Halloween. (online). October 29, 2009 David Wolfe. Longevity Now. (website). Hyman, Mark. MD. Ultra-Metabolism.
This link will lead you to a vitamin D calculator for how much sunshine you need for your optimal vitamin D levels. It also reviews how Vitamin D status in expected mother's is related to decreased risk of preterm births, birth defects, and low for gestation weight.
The Use of Acetaminophen in Children after H1N1 Vaccine
Dr. Mercola recently posted a follow up article on the swine flu due to President Obama's declaration on the epidemic last Saturday. The reported article from foodconsumer was that children who had been given acetaminophen to reduce fever and immune response after the H1N1 vaccination had a lower immune response than those not given the medicine. Foodconsumer reported that fevers had been reduced amongst the children receiving Tylenol; however, their immune system were not as effective after the vaccine as those who hadn't taken the Tylenol. (When I tried to log into Lancet, the original report could not be found).
This article summarizes one philosophy of Naturopathic and functional medicine, the body's innate healing capacity. A fever serves a purpose-to make it too hot and inhospitable to those nasty critters that shouldn't be taking residence in your body. The body has an ability to protect itself. The fact that the immune response would kick into high gear after a vaccination demonstrates how vaccinations up-regulate your immune response. This makes me question if this unnecessary stimulation causing fevers is the best thing for little ones.
Reporting of the Swine Flu: Laboratory Confirmation Not Needed
Excerpt from CDC website: Will tracking of 2009 H1N1 hospitalizations and deaths after August 30 be the same as it was in the spring and summer?No, tracking of 2009 H1N1 hospitalizations and deaths will not be the same after August 30, 2009. In an effort to add additional structure to the national 2009 H1N1 reporting, new case definitions for influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths were implemented on August 30, 2009. The new definitions allow states to report to CDC hospitalizations and deaths (either confirmed OR probable) resulting from all types of influenza, not just those from 2009 H1N1 flu. This is a broader set of data than states were previously reporting as it now includes 1) laboratory-confirmed influenza for all types of influenza, and 2) pneumonia and influenza cases identified from hospital records, most of which will not be laboratory confirmed.
Source: Dr. Mercola: The New Twilight Zone: President Obama Declares Swine Flu Emergency. 10/27/2009. (online).
IBD Medications Linked to Skin Cancer
According to a recent report from WebMD, certain medications increase the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer in IBD patients. Although the mechanism is not suggested, many of the IBD medications work by suppressing the immune response. A healthy immune response is needed to prevent overgrowth of cells.
Excerpt from article: IBD Patients OnlyLong's team took a closer look at just the IBD patients in the study and the specific medicines they took. Several types of medications are used to treat IBD, with a goal of decreasing excess activity of the immune system. Long compared 742 IBD patients with skin cancer to 2,968 IBD patients without skin cancer. Among the findings: - Use of any immunosuppressant medicines in the past 90 days increased risk of skin cancer by 3.2, she found.
- Thiopurine medicine boosted the risk the most, followed by biologics. Among thiopurines are mercaptopurine (Purinethol) and azathioprine (Imuran). Biologics include infliximab ( Remicade) and others.
- Long-term use, defined as a year or more, was more strongly associated with risk of skin cancer. Those who had taken the thiopurine medicines for more than a year, for instance, had a fourfold increased risk of skin cancer; Crohn's patients on long-term biologics had a twofold increased risk.
Exactly why the medications seem to boost the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancers, Long says, isn't certain. Source: Webmd. Some IBD Drugs May Raise Skin Cancer Risk. (online). October 27, 2009.
Air Quality In Your Home
A recent article in Integrative Practicioner by Jillian Capodice, LAc highlighted some basic techniques to evaluate air quality in the home. Poor air quality and environmental pollution has been linked to an increase in various chronic diseases, including asthma and neurological disorders. Therefore, simple steps to eliminate and evaluate of indoor air pollution can help improve your health! Dr. Capodice suggested the following assessments to monitor if air quality in your home may be compromised: 1. An increased amount of time stale smells and cooking odor lingers 2. Mold growth in wet areas 3. Any signs and symptoms of family members that suggest poor air quality including: dizziness and headaches, shortness of breath, itchy eyes, sinus congestion 4. Outdoor construction is taking place outside your home.
The following are tips to Green Your Home:
1. Reduce toxic/chemical based cleaning and personal care products and replace them with natural cleansers. (Hint: look for caution or warning signs on the backs of bottles. If ER visits from swallowing the cleanser is recommended, it's probably not natural).
2. Do not smoke inside 3. Exhaust and clean stoves 4. Use HEPA filters 5. Brighten your rooms with green plants to increase ozone and clean the air Source: Copodice, Jillian, LAc. Air Quality and Traditional Oriental Medicine. Integrative Practitioner. (online). October 27, 2009. Rosen, Lawrence. MD. Children's Health and the Environment: A Call to Action. Integrative Practitioner. (online). October 27, 2009.
CBS Reports :
This link provides a CBS investigative report on swine flu statistics. According to their findings, the swine flu has been dramatically over-estimated. In fact, in California, confirmatory labs suggested that that less than 15% of the people assumed to have swine flu actually did. This is related to the fact that during a epidemic, confirmatory results were being bypassed as a waste of resources. Dr. Mercola's article provides a summary of the findings.
Excerpt: "If you've been diagnosed "probable" or "presumed" 2009 H1N1 or "swine flu" in recent months, you may be surprised to know this: odds are you didn't have H1N1 flu. In fact, you probably didn't have flu at all."
Bugs or Humans?
According to a recent article from Autoimmunity Reviews, 90% of the cells in human are microbial in origin. Due to the fact that gene transcription may be affected by this microbes, it was suggested that this discovery could lead to new insights in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
It has been hypothesized that autoimmune antigens may not be attacking only human DNA at all-but these bugs are interfering with their own destruction via DNA modulation at receptor sites in humans! It sounds like science fiction, doesn't it??
Source: Science Direct. Autoimmune Disease in the Age of the Metagenome.( online abstract) . Autoimmunity Review. Volume 8, 8. July 2009.
Do We Really Need More Convincing on the Health Benefits of Green Tea?
Apparently so....
Green Tea was found to reduce damage from cigarette smoking, according to an abstract from Respiratory Medicine. The authors proposed that the antioxidant activity of green tea was the key player.
Source: Science Direct. Chinese Green Tea Ameliorates Lung Injury in Cigarette-Smoke Exposed Rats. (online abstract) Respiratory Medicine. Volume 103, 11.November 2009.
AND...
Green Tea was found to reduce risk of Cancer.
Source: Oxford Journals (Online Abstract). Green Tea Consumption and Hematologic Malignancies in Japan. American Journal of Epidemiology. Volume 170, 6. July 2009.
CoQ10 And Inflammation
A recent study found that high fructose corn syrup consumption increased inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in mice resulting in a link to glucose intolerance and obesity. CoQ10 was found to modulate gene expression on liver tissue decreasing inflammatory and metabolic stress markers.
Source: Science Direct. (online abstract). Coenzyme Q10 supplementation lowers hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation resulting associated with diet induced obesity in mice Biochemical Pharmacology. Volume 78, 11. December 2009.
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Reisa Mehlman
Dr. Sarah Lobisco
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