Meet the naturopathic doctor

We are surrounded by chemicals. In fact, toxic chemicals have been detected in EVERY American tested in recent years. And it’s no wonder, in the US alone, we produce over 500 billion pounds of synthetic chemicals each year – that’ s more than four pounds of man-made chemicals for every person in the country EACH DAY. This post will give you some natural alternatives to use to cut down on you and your family’s exposure to toxic chemicals.

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Including something new in a food isn’t always a good idea, especially when it comes to your health. Here are 12 additives to subtract from your diet:

1. Sodium Nitrate (also called Sodium Nitrite) – This is a preservative, coloring, and flavoring commonly added to bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, smoked fish, and corned beef. Studies have linked eating it to various types of cancer.

2. BHA and BHT – Butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydrozyttoluene are used to preserve common household foods. They are found in cereals, chewing gum, potato chips, and vegetable oils. They are oxidants, which form potentially cancer-causing reactive compounds in your body.

3. Propyl Gallate – Another preservative, often used in conjunction with BHA and BHT. It is sometimes found in meat products, chicken soup base, and chewing gum. Animals studies have suggested that it could be linked to cancer.

4. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) – MSG is an amino acid used as a flavor enhancer in soups, salad dressings, chips, frozen entrees, and restaurant food. It can cause headaches and nausea, and animal studies link it to damaged nerve cells in the brains of infant mice.

5. Trans Fats – Trans fats are proven to cause heart disease. Restaurant food, especially fast food chains, often serve foods laden with trans fats.  They are also found in highly processed foods. You should also be careful with polyunsaturated fats. They are very easily damaged with heat and light, turning rancid.  The following oils are examples of polyunsaturated fats: soy, canola, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, grapeseed, walnut and flaxseed. Only use these types of oils for cold applications; don’t cook with them. Even if the oil is sold for cooking it’s still dangerous!

6. Aspartame – Aspartame, also known by the brand names Nutrasweet and Equal, is a sweetener found in so-called diet foods such as low-calorie desserts, gelatins, drink mixes, and soft drinks. It may cause cancer or neurological problems, such as dizziness or hallucinations.

7. Acesulfame-K – This is a relatively new artificial sweetener found in baked goods, chewing gum, and gelatin desserts. There is a general concern that testing on this product has been scant, and some studies show the additive may cause cancer in rats.

8. Food Colorings: Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; Yellow 6 – Five food colorings still on the market are linked with cancer in animal testing. Blue 1 and 2, found in beverages, candy, baked goods and pet food, have been linked to cancer in mice. Red 3, used to dye cherries, fruit cocktail, candy, and baked goods, has been shown to cause thyroid tumors in rats. Green 3, added to candy and beverages, has been linked to bladder cancer. The widely used yellow 6, added to beverages, sausage, gelatin, baked goods, and candy, has been linked to tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney.

9. Olestra – Olestra, a synthetic fat found in some potato chip brands, can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and gas. Olestra also inhibits healthy vitamin absorption from fat-soluble carotenoids that are found in fruits and vegetables.

10. Potassium Bromate – Potassium bromate is used as an additive to increase volume in some white flour, breads, and rolls. It is known to cause cancer in animals, and even small amounts in bread can create a risk for humans.

11. White Sugar – Watch out for foods with added sugars, such as baked goods, cereals, crackers, sauces and many other processed foods. It is unsafe for your health, and promotes bad nutrition.

12. Sodium Chloride – A dash of sodium chloride, more commonly known as salt, can bring flavor to your meal. But too much salt can be dangerous for your health, leading to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

Resource: MSN Health Link

13. Carrageenans or carrageenins – Carrageenan is a polysaccharide extracted from seaweed.  It is used as a thickener in many products such as: cheese, ice cream, desserts and beer. Degraded carrageenan is a known carcinogen in animal models. There is evidence from studies performed on rats, guinea pigs and monkeys which indicates that both degraded and undegraded carrageenan (poligeenan) may cause ulcerations in the gastro-intestinal tract. Guar gum is found in similar foods and can have the same irritating affects to the digestive system.

Resources: Wikipedia link

Stuffy head, runny nose, pressure behind the eyes, maybe a tickle in the throat; these are all common allergy symptoms that plaque a growing number of people. This post will focus on simple ways to naturally eliminate your symptoms and breathe easy.

Allergies are one of the most common health conditions in America. In fact, more than 1 in 5 people suffer from allergies, and the number is growing every year. Common causes of allergy symptoms include food allergies such as peanut allergy or milk allergy, and seasonal allergies resulting from grass, weed, tree pollen, or various molds. Cat allergies and dog allergies can also cause miserable symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and wheezing. Allergic skin conditions can cause a rash and itchy skin.

Nailing Down the Source of Allergies

Almost anything can cause an allergy, but the most common underlying cause is an imbalance in the immune system. Most people shouldn’t react to pollen, grasses, animal dander, etc., but for some reason, they do. That reason is often excessive stress put upon the immune system via stress, improper food choices, and lack of sleep or illness. Long term allergy control depends on correctly these underlying lifestyle factors. However, we must also identify the things a person is reacting to so that we can minimize them in order to allow our immune system to rebalance.

• Skin testing is the most widely used; there are several different methods, but all involve exposing the skin to small amounts of various substances and observing the reactions over time. Blood tests (RAST) generally identify IgE antibodies to specific antigens. Both of these tests can help identify specific reactions to certain substances, but often miss most immune reactions and are of little clinical value to many people.

• The most accurate testing available today is called a lymphocyte response assay (LRA); it is a simple blood test that looks at every immune reaction a person can have against a substance (except IgE reactions). It is more comprehensive and accurate than any testing currently available (find out more at www.elisaact.com). You can test a variety of substances; most people begin with either a Basic or a Comprehensive profile. Once we receive your test results, we work with you to identify where you may be being exposed to these substances and how you can eliminate them from your life while your immune system readjusts.

Relieving Symptoms

You don’t have to wait in anguish as your immune system rebalances; Mother Nature has provided several options that have been combined to provide quick, effective relief without the side-effects many over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications provide.

• Sinatrol contains several components to help thin and drain mucus, support optimal immune function and reduce sinus pressure and pain. We have had countless clients use and benefit from this formula taking just 1 capsule 3x/day (ideally between meals).
• Natural D-Hist provides key factors to help address and support the underlying nasal and sinus imbalances that can lead to so many symptoms. It also helps balance the immune system and provide fast relief if your allergies have really kicked in. Most people start with 2 capsules three times daily for 7-10 days, then reduce to the lowest amount possible to control symptoms. Kids can use D-Hist Jr, which provides the same formula in a kid’s strength chewable that tastes great!
• Another incredibly effective therapy to use in conjunction with the supplementation above is to use a Nasaline to help clear the sinuses. All you do is make a saline solution, using either the Nasaline Salt or sea salt (start with ½ tsp in 1 pint of warm water; you can add ¼ tsp baking soda if you have any inflammation in the sinuses) fill the Nasaline with water and push it into one of your nostrils. The water will fill the sinuses, decreasing pressure and inflammation and killing any bacteria that could be causing the pain, and drain through your other nostril. Do this twice on each nostril and you are done with the whole procedure in about 3 minutes from start to finish! Using the Nasaline 1-2x/day is a great way to keep the sinuses clear and healthy any time of year.

Allergies can affect every aspect of your life, but they don’t have to. Using the simple steps above to identify and address the reasons you have allergy symptoms can naturally alleiviate your symptoms and allow you to get back outside again and enjoy breathing fully again!

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In the US, approximately one in three adults has high blood pressure, totaling more than 72 million people. Additionally, more than half of Americans over the age of 60 have hypertension.¹

Blood pressure medications have helped a lot of people reduce a condition that can damage their cardiovascular systems. However, recent research has also shown that these medications can have serious health consequences. Here we will explore alternative, natural ways you can use to help lower your blood pressure and support your overall health.

Blood pressure medications, diabetes and cholesterol

Recent research indicates many high blood pressure medications may substantially increase your risk of diabetes as well as adversely affect your cholesterol levels.² Take thiazide diuretics (also known as ‘water pills’), for example. Often considered the first choice drug for hypertension, not only do they disturb the balance of key electrolytes – including potassium, sodium and magnesium – they increase your risk of dehydration (which has a myriad of health consequences), as well as increase your risk of diabetes – by as much as 45 percent!³

What’s worse, thiazide diuretics aren’t the only blood pressure drugs that studies have associated with this serious disease – calcium channel blockers (e.g.,  verapamil,  nifedipine, etc.) and ACE inhibitors (e.g., enalapril, lisinopril, etc.) have also been shown to increase mean blood sugar levels within five years of use.⁴ Another long-term study showed that as many as 20.4 percent of patients treated with blood-pressure medications will develop diabetes – which in turn poses a greater risk of stroke, heart attack and death.⁵

In addition to diabetes, anti-hypertensive medications are associated with adversely impacting cholesterol (blood lipid) profiles. Studies have shown that beta-blockers reduced the ratio of beneficial HDL to total cholesterol by nearly 12 percent and increased serum triglyceride levels by nearly 26 percent.⁶ Diuretics can cause an increase in total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels while beta-blockers can decrease HDL cholesterol and increase triglyceride levels.⁷ Some beta-blockers also have been found to decrease levels of CoQ10.⁸

Furthermore, it has been shown that death caused by coronary artery disease and sudden death is not significantly reduced by the use of antihypertensive medications in hypertensive patients, despite the evidence that hypertension is a major risk factor for heart attacks.² Some researchers suggest that this is due to the adverse metabolic effects caused by the drugs that counteract the benefits of lower blood pressure.²

Natural Approaches for Lowering Blood Pressure

Hypertension can have serious consequences and patients should never stop taking their blood-pressure lowering drugs without a doctor’s guidance. However, for individuals who want to explore other options, there are a number of natural approaches.

There are a number of simple dietary measures that have been shown to significantly decrease blood pressure. British researchers have discovered that drinking two  cups of beet juice daily can decrease blood pressure 10 points.⁹ That’s because beets are loaded with the nutrient nitrate. Spinach, lettuce, and other green, leafy vegetables also have high levels of nitrate, so eating and juicing these daily can provide significant blood lowering benefits.

Antioxidants have also shown significant benefits. A Finnish study has found that eating just ½ cup of berries twice daily can decrease blood pressure 7 points and increase HDL cholesterol.¹⁰ Berries contain particularly high levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols; other polyphenol-rich foods include chocolate, tea, and red wine, which also have been linked to lower heart disease risk.

Vasotensin provides peptides from bonito fish (related to tuna and mackerel) that have demonstrated significant blood lowering effects due to angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. In fact, the bonito peptides in Vasotensin are the strongest commercially available natural ACE inhibitors ever reported.¹¹ Clinical research suggests that bonito peptides are approximately 64% effective in reducing blood pressure (compared with approximately 50% for drug treatments) with no known side effects.¹²

Nattokinase is an enzyme derived from a fermented bean called natto, and has been shown to be effective in dissolving blood clots, preventing plaque build-up and lower blood pressure.¹³ Nattokinase helps dissolve fibrin, which is a protein in the blood that decreases blood flow and causes blood clots. In addition, researchers have confirmed the presence of ACE inhibitors in Nattokinase and demonstrated an approximate 10 percent reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure with regular use.^14,15

High dose EPA and DHA fish oils have also demonstrated significant reductions in blood pressure.¹⁶ Orthomega is a great source of purified, high-potency fish oil, containing therapeutic amounts of EPA and DHA in 2 softgels 2-3x/day (with meals).

In addition, many lifestyle factors can significantly reduce blood pressure, including smoking cessation, increased exercise and weight reduction. If you would like assistance with weight reduction, our Optimal Body Balance program can help you uncover the reasons why weight loss or maintenance may be difficult for you and help you address these areas to help you attain and maintain your weight goals.

You can reduce your blood pressure and improve your overall health by following this simple plan. If we can be of further service, don’t hesitate to contact us.

References

1. National Institutes of Health. Who is at Risk for High Blood Pressure? Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbp/HBP_WhoIsAtRisk.html.
2. Morgan TO. Metabolic effects of various antihypertensive agents. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1990;15 Suppl 5:S39-45.
3. Shafi T, Appel LJ, Miller ER 3^rd, et al. Changes in serum potassium mediate thiazide-induced diabetes. Hypertension. 2008 Dec;52(6):1022-9.
4. Barzilay JI, Davis BR, Cutler JA, et al. Fasting glucose levels and incident diabetes mellitus in older nondiabetic adults randomized to receive 3 different classes of antihypertensive treatment: a report from the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT). Arch Intern Med. 2006 Nov 13;166(20):2191-201.
5. Almgren T, Wilhelmsen L, Samuelsson O, et al. Diabetes in treated hypertension is common and carries a high cardiovascular risk: results from a 28-year follow -up. J Hypertens. 2007 Jun;25(6):1311-7.
6. Leren P. Comparison of effects on lipid metabolism of antihypertensive drugs with alpha- and beta-adrenergic antagonist properties. Am J Med. 1987 Jan 5;82(1A):31-5.
7. Hunninghake DB. Effects of celiprolol and other antihypertensive agents on serum lipids and lipoproteins. Am Heart J. 1991 Feb;121(2 Pt 2):696-701.
8. Kishi T, Watanabe T, Folkers K. Bioenergetics in clinical medicine XV. Inhibition of coenzyme Q10-enzymes by clinically used adrenergic blockers of beta-receptors. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1977 May;17(1):157-64.
9. http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20080208/beet-juice-lowers-blood-pressure.
10. http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080215/berries-good-for-heart.
11. Fujita H, Yasumoto R, Hasegawa M, Ohshima K. Human volunteers study on antihypertensive effect of “Katsuobushi Oligopeptide” (I). Jpn Pharmacol Ther 1997;25(8):147-51.
12. Fujita H, Yasumoto R, Hasegawa M, Ohshima K. Human volunteers study on antihypertensive effect of “Katsuobushi Oligopeptide” (II) – a placebo-controlled study on the effect of “peptide soup” on blood pressure in borderline and hypertensive subjects. Jpn Pharmacol Ther 1997;25(8):153-7.
13. Barron J. Health Science Institute Members Alert. March 2002.
14. Maruyama M, Sumi H. Effect of natto diet on blood pressure. JTTAS, 1995.
15. Sumi H. Healthy Microbe “Bacillus natto”. Japan Bio Science Laboratory Co. Ltd.
16. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1990;322:795-801.

This time of year brings sniffles, colds, coughs and more into the home.  Nothing is more important to a parent than keeping their children healthy. Luckily, there are two very simple things that have proven extremely effective at improving kids’ immunity and substantially reducing illness. Those two things are vitamin D and probiotics.

Vitamin D – Super Protection

Vitamin D is getting a lot of press these days, as low levels have been linked to numerous disorders including rickets, depression, pain, cancer and immune suppression. Even more telling is that research is showing that the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) is nowhere near high enough to protect against a majority of these illnesses. For example, an analysis of the medical literature found that at least 1000-2000 IU of vitamin D3 per day is necessary to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.¹

One of the challenges with taking the necessary amount of vitamin D is the outdated acceptable upper limit for vitamin D3 consumption, which was set at 2000 IU. However, researchers point out that more recent studies have shown that 10,000 IU is the safe upper limit.² Sunshine is a great source of vitamin D – research shows that you need at least 30 minutes of sunshine on your bear arms, legs and face without sun block at least 3 times per week to get adequate vitamin D3. For most of us, this simply isn’t possible from autumn to spring, so high quality vitamin D3 supplements can fill in the gaps.

Vitamin D levels can and should be monitored to insure optimal levels and to adjust supplementation. This is a simple blood test that can be done at any hospital or clinic. The test you should request is called 25 (OH) Vitamin D and ideal levels are between 40-60 ng/ml.

Probiotics to Supercharge the Immune System

Most people don’t think of probiotics or the health of their gastrointestinal system (i.e., GI tract or gut) as an integral part of their immune system. However, it is probably the MOST important component. Research has shown that as much as 70% of your immune function originates in your gut, and a major component of that system is the organisms that live in your GI tract. These organisms (mainly bacteria and yeasts) not only help you digest and absorb nutrients, they protect you from most of the bacteria and viruses you may be exposed to.

In fact, research has shown that daily probiotic supplementation is a safe, effective way for children to reduce fever, runny nose, cough duration and incidence and antibiotic prescription use, as well as the number of missed school days due to illness.³ The numbers are even more amazing.

Relative to placebo, kids taking a combination probiotic reduced their incidence of fever 73%, coughing by 62%, and runny nose by 59%. Antibiotic use was reduced 84% relative to placebo, and kids taking probiotics missed almost a third fewer days of school than those that did not.

What this all means is that you can help your kids be much healthier, especially during the cold and flu season, by giving them the right amount of vitamin D and a high quality, multi-strain probiotic. Here’s what we use:

Bio-D-Mulsion Forte – 1 drop (2000 IU) every other day for children 3-5 years of age; 1 drop daily for children 5-12 years of age; 1 drop twice daily for kids older than 12 years old as well as for adults.

FloraBoost – 1 scoop daily (mixed with juice or water on an empty stomach) for kids between 15-60 lbs.; 1 scoop twice daily for kids 60-100 lbs.; adults should use Ortho Biotic – 1 capsule 1-2 times daily on an empty stomach.

Please feel free to contact Dr. Chad if you have questions regarding this post.  Be healthy – be happy!

References

1. Gorham ED, Garland CF, Garland FC, Grant WB, Mohr SB, Lipkin M, Newmark HL, Giovannucci E, Wei M, Holick MF. Optimal vitamin D status for colorectal cancer prevention: a quantitative meta analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2007 Mar;32(3):210-6.
2. Hathcock JN, Shao A, Vieth R, Heaney R. Risk assessment for vitamin D. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jan;85(1):6-18.
3. Pediatrics. August 2009;124(2):e172-9.

Studies show that birth control depletes key nutrients

Several studies have shown that hormonal birth control, whether it be oral (i.e., birth control pills), vaginal (i.e., vaginal ring) or transdermal (i.e., patches) deplete the body of several key nutrients.

Nutrients depleted

A study done published in Obstetrics and Gynecology International, August 2010, showed that women that used any of these hormonal birth control measures for at least 4 months had significantly less coenzyme Q10, vitamin E and total antioxidants than women that did not use hormonal birth control.

Other studies have shown that oral contraceptives can deplete many of the B-vitamins, including B6, B12 and folic acid; vitamin C; magnesium; calcium; selenium; and zinc. Any one nutritional deficiency can lead to short and long term health consequences. And considering many people using birth control have a diet that is far from ideal, the problems associated with nutritional deficiency are compounded.

I’m not pregnant, but I am…

Unfortunately, there is a long list of side effects that are common with taking hormonal birth control. Nausea, breast tenderness, weight gain, changes in mood, and breakthrough bleeding are the most common ones. However, one look at the drug index shows a number of other side effects, including blood clots, heart attack, stroke, gallbladder disease, visual disturbances and high blood pressure as well as increased risk of liver cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer. These forms of birth control are effective, but at what cost?

Getting the nutrients you need

A high-nutrient diet is the best prevention for many of these problems. Eating a whole food diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and seeds is important. Eating lots of vegetables along with seeds is the best way to prevent many mineral deficits and also maintain weight.  Extra virgin, cold-pressed olive oil should be used daily to provide essential fatty acids that are crucial for hormone balance. Lastly, be sure to get in adequate protein, particularly from cold water fatty fish (not fried) and legumes with a touch of red meat now and then to give the body the building blocks it needs to repair. The Vital Life Diet can be very useful.

Supplementation can also play a role, and should if the diet is or has been deficient. We recommend Wellness Essentials for Women – 1 packet 2x/day with meals along with CoQ10 – 1 softgel 1-2x/day with meals.

The only truly natural form of birth control is abstinence; however, there are other forms of birth control that can be used, such as condoms, which do not cause any biochemical or nutritional imbalances. There are many factors to consider before deciding to take, or continue taking, hormonal birth control. The effect on your nutritional status and your long term health should be one of them.

References and Resources

Abstract: Obstet Gynecol Int. 2010;2010. pii: 925635. Effects of oral, vaginal, and transdermal hormonal contraception on serum levels of coenzyme q(10), vitamin e, and total antioxidant activity.

Palan PR, Strube F, Letko J, Sadikovic A, Mikhail MS.

Full article: Effects of Oral, Vaginal, and Transdermal Hormonal

Contraception on Serum Levels of Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin E,and Total Antioxidant Activity

http://www.leaflady.org/bcpillnutrition.htm

The Solution for an Over Active Immune System

So now you know what the immune system is, what it does and what happens if things go wrong. In this last installment of our four part series on the immune system we’re going to cover what you do about it.

Follow the Research

Vitamin D – Super Protection

Vitamin D is getting a lot of press these days, as low levels have been linked to numerous disorders including rickets, depression, pain, cancer and immune imbalances. One of the challenges with taking the necessary amount of vitamin D is the outdated acceptable upper limit for vitamin D3 consumption, which was set at 2000 IU. However, researchers point out that more recent studies have shown that 10,000 IU is the safe upper limit. ¹ Sunshine is a great source of vitamin D – however, research shows that even in the sunniest areas of the world, vitamin D deficiency is common as most of us cover up the majority of our skin. Therefore, a high quality vitamin D3 supplement can fill in the gaps.

We generally recommend Bio-D-Mulsion Forte – 1 drop (2000 IU) every other day for children 3-5 years of age; 1 drop daily for children 5-12 years of age; 1 drop twice daily for kids older than 12 years old as well as for adults.

Vitamin D levels can and should be monitored to insure optimal levels and to adjust supplementation. This is a simple blood test that can be done at any hospital or clinic. The test you should request is called 25 (OH) Vitamin D and ideal levels are between 40-60 ng/ml.

Probiotics to Rebalance and Support Proper Immune Function

As we discussed in part 2 of this series, research has shown that as much as 70% of your immune function originates in your gut, and a major component of that system is the organisms that live in your GI tract. These organisms (mainly bacteria and yeasts) not only help you digest and absorb nutrients, they protect you from most of the bacteria and viruses you may be exposed to.  This is especially true for children.

In fact, research has shown that daily probiotic supplementation is a safe, effective way for children to reduce fever, runny nose, cough duration and incidence and antibiotic prescription use, as well as the number of missed school days due to illness.² The numbers are even more amazing.

Relative to placebo, kids taking a combination probiotic reduced their incidence of fever 73%, coughing by 62%, and runny nose by 59%. Antibiotic use was reduced 84% relative to placebo, and kids taking probiotics missed almost a third fewer days of school than those that did not.

What this all means is that you can help your kids be much healthier, especially during the cold and flu season, by giving them the right amount of vitamin D and a high quality, multi-strain probiotic. We generally use FloraBoost – 1 scoop daily (mixed with juice or water on an empty stomach) for kids between 15-60 lbs.; 1 scoop twice daily for kids 60-100 lbs.; adults should use Ortho Biotic – 1 capsule 1-2 times daily on an empty stomach.

Calming Yourself and Your Immune System

What does stress have to do with immune function? Everything! If you take a minute and think about it, everybody has experienced this – you have a deadline approaching, you start sleeping less, worrying more, not watching what you eat and drink, over use stimulants or other non-health promoting substances and – whamo, you get sick. Stress affects immune not only through the biochemical changes that occur in your body due to your reaction to the stress itself, but also through what you do to your body during times of stress (like getting less sleep/rest, polluting the body with caffeine, nicotine, sugar, alcohol, etc.). The result is often decreased immunity.

Daily stress reduction doesn’t have to mean you practice yoga or tai chi for 2 hours every day (although that would certainly be beneficial!); simple strategies practiced regularly can add up to big benefits. Try taking a nice, deep breath every time you send or receive an email or phone call. Take a sip of water or tea every 10-15 minutes. Get some form of exercise in everyday (something you really like). Take 5 minutes to do something you really enjoy each day. None of these things take much time, but they will pay huge dividends if you practice them every day.

Nature has provided many substances to help calm your stress response and support immunity. Ashwagandha is a plant native to India and parts of Africa. For more than 4000 years it has been used as an immune system rebalancer and remedy for nervous disorders.  Rhodiola, ginseng, and skullcap root have also shown to help support the immune system during times of stress. We use a great formula called AdreneVive – 2 capsules 1-2x/day, to help reduce the overload on the body during times of stress, calm the mind and help maintain healthy immune status.

Ideal Immune Health

Optimal immune health will allow you to enjoy a long and fulfilling life. It doesn’t mean that you will never become ill, but it does mean that you immune system will respond appropriately when challenges arise.

If you have other things that you have found useful, please share them in the comments section below. We look forward to hearing from you!

References

1.       Hathcock JN, Shao A, Vieth R, Heaney R. Risk assessment for vitamin D. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jan;85(1):6-18.

2.       Pediatrics. August 2009;124(2):e172-9.

A System Gone Bad – When a Good (Immune) System Does Bad Things

Scientific advances have provided great insights into how the immune system functions.  The immune system is a complex network of different functions, which operate together to defend us against infectious agents like bacteria and viruses and helps us recover and repair from injury. A properly functioning immune system does a good job of recognizing potential harmful agents and killing them off; however, when the system is out of balance it can lead to an array of dismay for us.

Confusion Leads to Over-Reaction

If the immune system is put under too much stress, it may lose its ability to differentiate ‘self’ from ‘non-self’ and begin to attack its host, mistaking ‘self’ cells for invading organisms. This can result in debilitating  autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

The rise of autoimmune diseases results from a loss of what is called ‘immune tolerance’, which is the immune system’s ability to ignore ‘self’ and react to ‘non-self’. When we lose immune tolerance, our immune system loses its ability to discern what it should and should not attack; the reason(s) why this happens is currently a hot topic and there is much research being done in this area. What appears to happen in many cases is that a foreign antigen bears remarkable resemblance to a ‘self’ antigen and the confused immune system attacks the ‘self’ antigen as if it were a foreign invader.

As we talked about in the first post, the adaptive immune system ‘remembers’ this and starts a continual process of attacking the ‘self’ antigens as if they were an invading army. This can cause damage not only to the tissue being attacked, but also the tissues and cells surrounding the target tissue. You can quickly see that this can spiral out of control and cause a lot of damage over time.

Another example of an immune system that may be over-reactive is seasonal allergies. These reactions  can result when the immune system mistakes a harmless particle such as pollen for an invading organism. When this happens, it triggers an immune reaction and the production of antibodies. These antibodies migrate to immune cells lining the nose, eyes and lungs and these cells release a whole slew of chemicals that irritate and inflame the moist membranes lining the nose and produce the symptoms of an allergic reaction: scratchy throat, itching, sneezing and watery eyes.

Finally,  chronic low level inflammation is another very common indicator of an out-of-balance immune system and can contribute to many diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Because of these and other challenges, there is an ever-increasing need to keep the immune system in balance – not just boost it temporarily or suppress it. Natural products have the greatest chance for helping people maintain healthy, balanced immune systems with minimal or no side effects. We’ll cover those in the final installment of this four part series.

The Gut-Immune Connection

The gut is a key part of the immune system – this is where the body is constantly exposed to toxins and foreign antigens, including those originating from foods as well as those from the environment. In fact, recent studies have shown that the gut flora (the trillions of bacteria, yeasts and other microbes that reside in your gut) is paramount in the development and regulation of the immune system. It is estimated that the gut accounts for up to 70% of your immune function, so paying attention to your gut health is a key component to optimizing overall health.

Good Bugs, Bad Bugs

Large clinical studies have shown the potential for probiotics to strength the immune system; these are the ‘good bugs’ that help keep the GI tract running smoothly. Balancing gut flora will lead not only to a reduction in common winter infections, but also decreased inflammation in general because inflammation is an immune response (we’ll have a blog on this coming soon). Unfortunately, gut flora can be disrupted by many factors, including many medications, improper diet, fever or illness, alcohol consumption, and many others. Keeping the flora in balance can be aided greatly by the use of probiotic and prebiotic supplements.

There are a million probiotics on the market, some are good, most are crap (pun intended). Unfortunately, a good quality probiotic is hard to distinguish from a poor-quality probiotic just by looking at the label. However, a couple things you can look for:

• Be sure the probiotic has multiple strains of live organisms. Even though lactobacillus acidophilus and bifido bacterium are the most prevalent in the small and large bowel respectively, there are other strains that have proven beneficial.  One in particular is saccharomyces boulardii, which is a yeast that has been shown to eliminate potentially pathogenic microbes in the gut.
• Live cultures and enough of them. Probiotics are live cultures, so product freshness is top priority. The label should list the bacteria strains in ‘CFU’ (colony forming units) or state ‘live organisms’. If it lists them in ‘mg’ the product is unlikely to be much use to you. In addition, you lose a LOT of good bacteria on a daily basis (in fact, about 60% of each bowel movement is dead gut flora), so a good supplement should provide at least 15 billion live organisms/CFU per dose.
• Guaranteed potency at ingestion – because no matter what the label says, you need a guarantee (backed up by testing) to insure that you’re getting what you paid for.  A good product should give you this guarantee and be able to back it up with test data (if requested).

We recommend Ortho Biotic – it is a high-potency, multiple strain probiotic that has guaranteed potency at ingestion; in addition, it doesn’t require refrigeration (you should still keep it in a cool place – like your countertop out of the sunshine), so it makes remembering to take it much easier.

No matter what probiotic you choose, be sure to take it on an empty stomach – remember these are live cultures made up of protein, so if you take them with food, they will be digested like food, leaving very little of the probiotic left to help with balancing your gut flora.

Feeding Time

Prebiotics, like fructooligosaccharides (FOS) provide food for the ‘good bacteria’ in your gut. Many foods contain prebiotic fibers, including chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, dandelion greens, raw garlic, leeks, onion, asparagus and wheat bran. Alternatively, one can supplement Prebiotics (this can be especially important in cases of active infection and/or diarrhea) – we recommend Probioplex Intensive Care (powder or tablet).

Chew-chew!

The final component of a healthy GI tract (and therefore optimal immune function) is to make sure you are breaking down your food properly. This means that you chew your food enough and produce enough digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid. This insures not only proper digestion, but the acid and enzymes also kill any unwanted bacteria or microbes in or on the food you are eating (washing the food before you eat it doesn’t hurt either).

In general, you should chew every bite of food you put in your mouth until it is a liquid. For most foods, that means you should chew at least 30 times before swallowing, and before you put any more food in your mouth. This takes some getting used to for many people, but it can make a world of difference, not only for your digestion, but also for your immunity.