7 Basic Tips to Lower Your Risk Of Breast Cancer

EAT A LOW FAT DIET

Research shows a modest decrease in invasive breast cancer for women with a low-fat diet. Limit the polyunsaturated fat (in corn, safflower, and sunflower oils) and saturated fat (in meat and dairy) in your diet. There is evidence that certain western lifestyle factors particularly our high fat diet – appear to increase the risk of the disease. For example, scientists found that although Japanese women have a much lower risk of developing breast cancer than women in the West, when they moved to the USA the women’s risk was almost equal within two generations. Try to eat no more than 70g of fat a day

GET MOVING
Physical activity is thought to lower estrogen in the body. Make exercise a part of your daily life. Working up a sweat or taking a brisk walk for 30 minutes or more, 5 days a week can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. Add weight-bearing exercise, and you’re also protecting your bones!

Exercise can extend your life

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT
It’s important to maintain a healthy weight because there’s a clear link between obesity and breast cancer due to the excess estrogen production in fatty tissue. Researchers found that women who gained 44 to 55 pounds after the age of 18 had 40 per cent higher risk of getting breast cancer than women who fluctuated by only four or five pounds throughout their adult life. Animal studies have shown that reducing calorie intake by 30 per cent can lead to a 80 – 90 per cent reduction in the risk of breast tumors.

CUT BACK ON ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
Though researchers don’t really know how strong, there seems to be a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer due to the fact that alcohol increases oestrogen. But experts disagree about how much alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer. Some say that even moderate amounts are unsafe, while others claim that drinking up to 14 units a week – more than two bottles of wine – might even improve your chances of avoiding the disease. Until more research is done, doctors generally claim that drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week (14 small glasses of wine) over a long period of time can damage your overall health.

EAT YOUR SUPER VEGGIES (CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES)
Health agencies recommend that you eat several servings a week of cruciferous vegetables (cabbage family) such as broccoli, broccoli sprouts, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, kale, cabbage, and bok choy. They all contain certain phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and fiber that are important to your health. Various components in cruciferous vegetables have been linked to lower cancer risks. Some have shown the ability to stop the growth of cancer cells for tumors in the breast, uterine lining, lung, colon, liver, and cervix, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. Note: Combining broccoli with broccoli sprouts nearly doubles the cruciferous vegetables anti-cancer effects. Overcooking broccoli and other vegetables results in the elimination of up to 90 percent of the vegetable’s anti-cancer compounds.

STOP SMOKING
The younger girls are when they start smoking, the greater their chances of developing breast cancer before menopause. Other studies suggest that women with a family history of breast cancer may increase their own risks if they smoke, and that smokers (past and present) who develop breast cancer are twice as likely to get an aggressive form that isn’t dependent on estrogen to develop and grow. A recent report from the California Environmental Protection Agency also designated secondhand smoke as a cause of breast cancer, mainly in younger women.

LEARN TO RELAX
It’s well documented that stress can cause all kinds of health problems. But a British survey in 1995 concluded that women who reported severe stress in the previous five years were 50 per cent more likely to have breast cancer. Although there is still some debate over these findings reducing your stress levels will undoubtedly be beneficial for your overall health.

For healthy living, prevention is key. These are all common sense habits that can prevent breast cancer and improve your overall health and well being.

Best of Health,

Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S

Low Calorie & Zero Calorie Drinks – Are They Healthier?

Low Calorie or Zero Calorie Beverages… Are They Really Healthier Options?

I have written many articles about just how fattening and unhealthy the sugary beverages that so many of us consume with our meals are. In an attempt to save calories, avoid the sugar and “do the right thing health wise” millions of people are switching to the low calorie or zero calorie drinks that line the shelves of our supermarkets.

In order for sweet tasting drinks to have low or zero calories, many of them have substituted the sugar for artificial sweeteners like aspartame or Splenda (sucralose).

Aspartame is probably toxic to brain cells and as you will read below, Splenda is probably no better and not a healthy choice either.

The article below written by Sayer Ji of Greenmed Info reviews some of the potential problems with Splenda. At the end he goes on to recommend choosing drinks that are sweetened with low or zero calorie natural sweeteners.

Of the natural sweeteners, though all of them are better and healthier choices than the synthetic, artificial sweeteners, my favorite is erythritol.

Read the printed ingredient labels on the bottles of the beverages you are thinking about purchasing and look for those that use only these natural sweeteners.

Curt Hendrix B.S. M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.

Please read this informative article: The Bitter Truth About Splenda by Sayer Ji.

If you were told to ingest a biologically alien synthetic chemical whose presence on this planet did not predate 1976, and whose structure is only a few atoms away from the deadly pesticide DDT, and you knew that not only were there no long term human safety studies performed on it, but that it had been already proven in tests to have following adverse health effects:

· Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage)

· Enlarged liver and kidneys.

· Abnormal histopathological changes in spleen and thymus

· Increased cecal weight

· Reduced growth rate

· DNA Damage

· Adverse changes to gastrointestinal bacteria

· Abnormal Pelvic Mineralization

· Decreased red blood cell count

· Hyperplasia of the pelvis

· Aborted pregnancy (Maternal & Fetal Toxicity)

· Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights

· Bowel inflammation/Crohn’s Disease

· Triggering migraine

· Increase glycosylation of hemoglobin (HbA1c) for diabetics

…would you still consume it? Of course not! And yet, millions of Americans (including our precious children!) are doing exactly that by consuming Splenda. So, what is sucralose, chemically speaking?

Like “Splenda,” the term “sucralose” is a cute little marketing ploy. The true name of this ugly little chemical is actually too long for the human tongue to comfortably pronounce (which is usually an excellent indication that it is not safe to ingest!) Go ahead and see if you can wrap your vocal chords around this phonetic monstrosity:

1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-BETA-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside

Despite the intended insinuation, sucralose is not a form of sucrose (cane sugar). Sucralose/Splenda is produced through artificially substituting three hydroxyl groups (hydrogen + oxygen) with three chlorine atoms in the sugar (sucrose) molecule. Natural sugar is a hydrocarbon built around 12 carbon atoms. When transformed into Splenda it becomes a chlorocarbon, in the same family as deadly pesticides like DDT, insecticides, biocides, disinfectants like Chlorox Bleach, and WWI poison gas like dichlorourea.

The makers of sucralose/Splenda argue that this “remarkably stable” chemical passes unchanged into the urine and feces, when in fact, up to 11% to 27% is absorbed into the body (FDA, 1999). In fact, the varying degrees to which sucralose is absorbed is used as a marker for gut and intestinal permeability to determine certain disease states. Once absorbed, some portion of this chlorocarbon accumulates in the body (between 1.6% to 12.2%). What effects will these accumulated chemicals have? According to James Bowen, M.D:

“Any chlorocarbons not directly excreted from the body intact can cause immense damage to the processes of human metabolism and, eventually, our internal organs. The liver is a detoxification organ which deals with ingested poisons. Chlorocarbons damage the hepatocytes, the liver’s metabolic cells, and destroy them. In test animals Splenda produced swollen livers, as do all chlorocarbon poisons, and also calcified the kidneys of test animals in toxicity studies.”

How can this be true for an FDA approved sweetener?

FDA approval does not in any way guarantee safety… sadly enough, in many cases, it guarantees the exact opposite. Take aspartame for instance. Aspartame (Equal/NutraSweet) contains 10% methanol, which is broken down in our body into two extremely toxic substances: formaldehyde and formic acid. There are over 30 known adverse health effects associated with its consumption! This sweetener gained FDA approval in 1981, despite appalling evidence linking it to cancer, particularly, brain cancer.

So, if Splenda is not a viable alternative to sugar, what can we use instead?

When one uncouples the experience of “sweetness” from caloric content, the body becomes confused because it does not receive nourishment and therefore will not attain satiety – this, in turn, leads to overindulgence. Indeed, new studies have shown exactly this: those who consume synthetic sweeteners are more prone to obesity. What this means is that when we ingest something sweet, it should also have caloric and nutritional content. Anything less than this equation is a recipe for failure and ill health.

Thankfully Nature provides us with a veritable cornucopia of healthy sweeteners: honey, stevia, xylitol, erythritol, and dehydrated organic cane juice, all of which are available at your local health food store. Next time that sweet tooth calls, remember not to succumb to advertising hype which would convert poisonous chemicals into “magical” no-calorie sweeteners. Use both common sense and a sense of moderation, and your body will thank you.

Dangers of X-Rays and Electronic Imaging Procedures

Enough Already! It’s Time to Say “No” to All Except the Most Urgent of X-Rays and Electronic Imaging Procedures Like CT-Scans and Pet-Scans

I have been writing and telling readers and friends for many years that the amount of radiation that we are exposed to by physicians and dentist is getting WAY out of hand and causing harm.

We are at the point that 2-3% of all new cancers may be due to the radiation that you are being exposed to. Some cardiac patient’s get one CT-Scan per year, not knowing that one scan is equal to 2000 chest x-rays of radiation.

Dr. Eric Topol of the Scripps Institute speaks about this problem and what you can do about it. I strongly suggest that you listen to and watch his short video.

Runaway Use of Radiation Harming Patients

Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.

Omega-Essential Fatty Acid Supplementation and Aging

Many of you have read about the health benefits of eating fish due to the levels of omega-3 fatty acids they contain. Benefits for heart, eyesight, and brain function are just a few of the areas reported in the scientific literature.

Now, a study from Ohio State University, published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, reports that a part of our chromosomes (a cellular component that contains our genes) called the telomere may be protected when omega-3 oils are consumed.

The telomere is located at the end of the chromosome and protects it from decaying or unraveling and malfunctioning. The telomeres tend to decrease in length as we age thus rendering our chromosomes more susceptible to damage and not being able to reproduce our gene sequences efficiently or correctly.

Decreased telomere lengths are associated with the chronic diseases of aging and death rates. Some researchers think that the decrease in telomere length is due to low levels of chronic systemic inflammation that circulates throughout our bodies and may be responsible for many chronic diseases as well as decreased telomere lengths. This inflammation can be measured by various markers that indicate the level of inflammation in our bodies. The omega-3 supplementation reduced the levels of some of the better-known markers.

It was fascinating to read that taking 1.25 to 2.50 grams a day of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, the two important omega-3’s found in fish and Krill oil), reduced systemic levels of inflammation in humans but also increased the telomere lengths as well. (Suggesting that the loss of telomere length may be reversible, indicating a possible anti-aging benefit).

A word to the wise is to be very careful when purchasing omega-3 supplements. In many products, the total omega-3 content may be listed as 500-1000mg per soft gel or more, which would make one tend to think that by taking 2-3 soft gels a day, you would be getting the 1.25-2.5 grams a day found to be helpful in the study.

This is not the case, because the therapeutic omega-3’s EPA and DHA are often only a small percentage of the total amount of omega-3’s listed on the label. For example, the supplement panel on the label of an omega-3 supplement may state that each soft gel has a total of 1000mg of omega-3 in it. But if you read further is may state that EPA and DHA only represent 25% of that total or only 250mg. of EPA and DHA.

Salmon is high in Omega 3 fatty acids

At 250 mg total EPA and DHA in each soft gel, to get 2.5 grams you would have to take 10 of the soft gels, not the 2 or 3 you might think.

A good omega-3 product should have at least 40% EPA, DHA of the total omega-3 listed in each soft gel. The higher the percentage the better and the purer the product.

Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.

Overcosumption of Salt in Kid’s Diets

Kids are Eating as Much Salt as Adults and It May Not Bode Well for Their Blood Pressures

The above chart, which was included in an interesting article I recently read about salt consumption in children and adolescents, effectively show how intelligent food choices, can keep our salt consumption down.

A study just published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the journal Pediatrics, found that kids are consuming salt at the same daily rate as adults, over 3,300 mg per day. Recent government guidelines suggested adults keep salt consumption to no more than 2,300 mg per day and people over the age of 50 keep consumption to no more than 1,500 mg/day. I will discuss later on in this article just how realistic and achievable these recommendations are.

(more…)

Statin Cholesterol Lowering Drugs – What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You!

How long will most physicians continue to ignore the problems with cholesterol lowering “statin” drugs like Lipitor and Zocor. It is astonishing that physicians widely recommend these drugs to patients who have no personal or family history of heart disease or heart attacks, solely based upon high cholesterol levels which have continuously and conveniently been lowered over time in order to make everyone afraid and believe they need these medicines.

Here is a link to a previous article I have written on the subject.

(Do Not Take Another Statin Drug for Lowering Cholesterol Until You Read This!)

The following article published by Sayer Ji of GreenMedinfo is well worth reading.

Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.

New Research: Statins Increase Risk of Polymalgia Rheumatica 14-Fold

Few drugs are as toxic to the organ they are prescribed to “treat” as statins. There are already hundreds of studies indicating that statin drugs are muscle-damaging (myotoxic) and nerve-damaging (neurotoxic), and yet they are somehow still legally allowed to be sold to millions of patients worldwide, ostensibly to protect the human heart — which is, mind you, a muscle with an exceptionally high density of nerves.

After research published back in 2009 in the journal Cardiology found that statin drug use was associated with impaired heart muscle function, there is little doubt remaining that they do far more harm than good. In fact, no less than 300 adverse health effects have been linked to this chemical class of drugs.

Some of the most consistently observed effects listed below

Liver Damage
Rhabdomyolysis
Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency
Type 2 Diabetes
Cataract
Pancreatitis
Cognitive Decline/Dysfunction
Erectile Dysfunction
Peripheral Neuropathies
Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Recently published research reveals another way in which the obvious damage caused by statin drugs is being covered up, whether by ignorance or intention. Statin drug-induced symptoms have been renamed in Greek as a newly minted, seemingly unrelated disease: Polymyalgia Rheumatica.

Polymyalgia translates from the Greek “pain in many muscles,” and rheumatic means “flux.” Published in the journal PLoS, researchers analyzed the World Health Organization’s Global Individual Case Safety Database, and found that of the 327 cases of PMR reported, “statins were more frequently reported as suspected agent (29.4%) compared to non-cases (2.9%).”

They found a 14-fold increased relative risk for PMR in statin users:

After adjustment for several covariates, statins were significantly associated with reports of PMR (ROR 14.21; 95% CI 9.89-20.85)

Research like this reveals a likely possibility, namely, that the well-known muscle soreness (myalgia) and inflammation (myositis) associated with statin drugs is far from a rare “side effect” and is likely universally present, the difference being only the degree to which the damage and subsequent adverse effects are experienced. So, instead of calling statin-induced muscle damage by its proper name, the medical establishment projects a “new syndrome,” dressed up in Greek, onto the symptom picture.

Should You Take Statin Drugs for Cholesterol?

Collectively the revenues generated by statin cholesterol lowering drugs, like Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor, and Pravachol are in excess of 10 billion dollars a year!

Is taking these drugs a risk unto itself?

The answer is a resounding….YES!

Though these drugs are shown to reduce certain cardiovascular risks in people who have cardiovascular risk factors such as; hypertension, low HDL cholesterol, insulin resistance, high triglycerides, physicians are now recommending these drugs to people who don’t have any of these risks despite the fact that few if any studies show that there are any long-term benefits in people who have no cardiovascular risk factors.

The way statin drugs work is by blocking an enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) that interferes with the synthesis of cholesterol. The fact that cholesterol is an essential building block of cellular membranes and that the average person who lives to be 100 years old or more, usually has much higher than recommended levels of total cholesterol, raises some very interesting questions and will be addressed in a subsequent article.

So where does the risk come in? Well, in blocking the action of HMG-CoA reductase, the statin drugs also block the synthesis of a compound necessary for production of energy in the muscles (including the heart muscles) and for other crucial bodily functions!

The compound, Co-Enzyme Q10 is an essential nutrient that is involved in energy production that occurs in the mitochondria. (The energy producing factories in our cells). The heart requires high levels of Co-Q10.

Side effects of CoQ-10 deficiency

Statin drugs often cause muscle pain and weakness. This is a condition known as rhabdomyolysis. Often because many people taking statin drugs are older, they think the pain is due to something else like arthritis, or soreness from exercise and very often goes unreported.

Rhabdomyolysis, if severe, can result in death related to acute kidney failure. The statin drug, Baycol, caused dozens of deaths due to rhabdomyolysis and was taken off the market.

Though not present on the labels of statin drugs when they were first released, all statin drug labels now carry the following warning – “Unexplained muscle pain and weakness could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect and should be reported to your doctor right away.”

Not So Rare

Dr. Beatrice Golomb of San Diego, California, reported in her study findings, that contrary to the 2-3 % that the pharmaceutical industry reports for occurrence of muscle pain, that as many as 98% on some statin drugs experience this problem.

Memory Loss

Some patients taking statin drugs report memory loss and inability to concentrate. Accumulated data indicates that 50% of these cognitive issues occur within 5-60 days of starting statin treatment. Though most patients seem to recover after stopping the drug, it seems a small percentage may not. The actual percentage of statin users who experience these cognitive issues is not well established.

Nerve Pain and Dysfunction

It is estimated that 10-20% of people taking statin drugs will get neuropathy, resulting in feelings of fatigue, pain while walking and nerve tingling. A study from Denmark reported that long-term use of statin drugs (2 years or more) could increase the risk of developing neuropathy from 400-1400%. Individuals who are highly susceptible could experience neuropathy much sooner.

I urge my readers who are taking statin drugs to lower their cholesterol to supplement a minimum of 100 mg. per day of Co-Q. For those of you who are in major discomfort or have other heart issues regarding function or blood pressure, 300 mg. per day of Co-Q-10 is recommended.

CRESTOR

I wrote an article in 2010 about recently released Crestor and stated that 598 out of every 600 people would needlessly take and pay for a newly approved drug that would do nothing for them except potentially introduce side-effects they did not have before. For those of you who are interested, here is a repost of part of my article;

The FDA recently approved the use of the statin cholesterol lowering drug Crestor, in healthy people whose cholesterol was not elevated. The alleged benefit of taking the drug is to reduce heart attacks and strokes in healthy people who had 2 risk factors – High C-Reactive Protein (which is a measure of inflammation) and high blood pressure or smoking.

The FDA based it’s approval to use Crestor preventively to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke because a large study showed about a 50+% risk reduction in this group of patients. WHAT COULD BE BAD ABOUT THAT?

It is very hard to understand why the FDA allows this 50% number to be used, without significant explanation to patients of the real meaning, benefits and risks of this statistic.

HERE IS THE EXPLANATION AS TO WHY ALLOWING THIS STATISTIC TO BE QUOTED IS SO MISLEADING.

The group of patients who were studied and to whom the medicine will be recommended, are basically healthy people who have no history of heart disease or stroke. If they smoke or have high blood pressure + show high C-Reactive protein, they qualify for the drug. The absolute risk of this group of patients for having a heart attack or stroke is 1/3 of 1 percent if they do nothing and don’t take the drug. In other words for every 600 patients in this group who do nothing, only 2 will ever have a heart attack or stroke. (and because they are healthy even those 2 heart attacks or strokes will probably not be life threatening).

Fast forward -A pharmaceutical giant conducts a study and gives thousands of these patients Crestor which costs $3.50 per pill per day and the study found that instead of 2 heart attacks or strokes occurring in every 600 patients, only 1 heart attack or stroke will occur in every 600 patients. Yes this is a reduction of 50% but 50% of a number that was so tiny, that it was an insignificant risk of occurring in these patients had they done nothing.

Another way to look at this is that the pharmaceutical company convinced the FDA to approve a drug (with potential serious side-effects) that needlessly put 598 people on a medicine they didn’t ever need and expose them to side-effects like liver toxicity and muscle problems, and increased risk of diabetes, to eliminate 1 (ONE) heart attack or stroke in 600 people. 598 people out of 600 pay for a drug that they not only didn’t need but could introduce serious health issues they didn’t have before.

To complicate the picture even more, the physician who receives a royalty on every C-reactive protein lab test run in the country, was the physician who convinced the drug company to do the study.

Many well known and respected physicians are concerned at the prospect of giving statin drugs to healthy people for such a ridiculously small benefit and other potential problems.

When it comes to your health, remember to do the research, and ask the right questions, so you can always make an informed decision.

To the Best of Health,

Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.S., C.N.S.

Natural Medicine for Indigestion, Heartburn, Acid Reflux

Some people live on acid blocking drugs like Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid to treat their symptoms of indigestion and heartburn/acid reflux. These drugs work by preventing the production of stomach acid which is crucial to many important bodily functions.

Last year the FDA placed a warning on these drugs stating that their use can lead to low magnesium levels. Proper magnesium levels are important to prevent heart arrhythmias, seizures, and muscle spasms. In addition magnesium is important in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and in protecting against weak bones.

Many users ignore the fact that these drugs are only to be used for 14 days at a time and no more than 3 times a year.

Before resorting to the use of the drugs, read about all of the potential negative health consequences of reducing the production of stomach acid and a natural ingredient that can really help. This article was written by Sayer Ji, of GreenMed info.

Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S

ARTICLE – Sayer Ji

“Did you know that the multi-billion drug category known as “acid blockers,” despite being used by millions around the world daily, may not work as well as the humble ginger plant in relieving symptoms of indigestion and heartburn?

Ginger is a spice, a food, and has been used as a medicine safely for millennia by a wide range of world cultures. Research on the health benefits of ginger is simply staggering in its depth and breadth. In fact, the health benefits of ginger have been studied extensively for over 100 health conditions or symptoms, making it one of the world’s most versatile, evidence-based remedies.

The biomedical literature on acid blockers, on the other hand, is rife with examples of the many adverse health effects that come with blocking stomach acid production with xenobiotic, patented drugs, i.e. proton pump inhibitors and H2 antagonists. What started out as “heartburn” – which in its chronic form is now called “acid reflux” or “gastroesophageal reflux disorder” – soon becomes stomach acid barrier dysfunction, when these drugs remove the acid which protects us from infection, helps to break down food, and facilitate the absorption of minerals and nutrients.

The list of 30+ harms is extensive, but here are a few of the most well-established adverse effects you may not be aware of:

Clostridium Infections
Diarrhea
Pneumonia
Bone Fractures
Gastric Lesions and Cancer

Back to our friend – our “plant ally” – ginger. What happens when Pharma meets Farm in a biomedical face-off? When acid-blocking drugs are compared in efficacy to our little spicy ginger root? Well, this is what the journal Molecular Research and Food Nutrition found back in 2007.

Titled, “Inhibition of gastric H+, K+-ATPase and Helicobacter pylori growth by phenolic antioxidants of Zingiber officinale,” the study set out to determine the anti-ulcer and anti-Helicobacter plyori (a bacteria commonly implicated in ulcer formation) capacity of ginger extracts versus conventional acid-blocking agents, such as lansoprazole (trade name Prevacid).[i] Researchers found that one fraction of ginger exhibited six- to eight-fold better potency over lansoprazole at inhibiting acid production (specifically, gastric cell proton potassium ATPase activity).

But, this was not all. Ginger was also found to have potent antioxidant properties, protecting both lipids from peroxidation (rancidity) and DNA damage, leading the researchers to conclude that specific fractions within ginger have “potential in-expensive multistep blockers against ulcer.”

Also, whereas drugs which interfere and/or remove the stomach acid barrier also deactivate acid-dependent protein-digesting (proteolytic enzymes) such as pancreatic protease, and increases the risk of infection as a result of the loss of the anti-infective effects of the stomach’s acid, ginger actually has an exactly opposite set of benefits: it contains a proteolytic enzyme several hundred times more potent than the one found in papaya (papain) and has broad-spectrum antibacterial, antiviral and antiparasitic properties, to name, but only a few of its 40+ distinct pharmacological actions.

While this study focused on specific isolates of the whole ginger plant, it must be remembered that whole plants are not drugs, nor should be reduced to “nutraceutical” magic-bullets in order to become new palliative drug alternatives, which is to say, symptom-repressors, leaving the real healing job of changing the underlying nutritional, environmental, emotional context to lead to the problem in the first place, unchanged.

While taking a ginger pill is usually a better choice than a chemical one, for most folks, ginger should be consumed in whole forms, in moderate and balanced quantities, along with a nourishing, organic, whole-food and traditional foods diet, in order to move beyond the paradigm of popping pills, or proprietary fractions of herbs in order to balance out the pendulum of extremes.

Either way, I think it is time we awaken from the sorcery-like spell of pharmacia (Greek word meaning: drug, potion, charm, spell, poison), and realize everything we already need is likely in our backyard, our refrigerators or cupboards – if not altogether within ourselves.”

Is Your Child Coughing at Night? Try a Sweet Natural Option

IS YOUR CHILD COUGHING AT NIGHT? THIS SWEET, NATURAL OPTION MAY REALLY HELP!

A recent study just published online in the journal “Pediatrics” and carried out by Israeli researchers, examined the effect of giving 312 children between the ages of 1-5, who had coughs associated with upper respiratory infections (URI’s), either, 10 grams of honey (1/2 tablespoon) or placebo, 30 minutes before bedtime.

Parent surveys reported back to the physicians as to whether or not coughing frequency in the children changed. The parents were also asked to report back as to whether coughing was less severe and if there was a change in sleep for both the child and the parents?

The results indicated that for the group of children taking honey there were significant improvement in all outcomes being measured and it didn’t make a difference as to what kind of honey was given. (Citrus, eucalyptus, labiatae)

The World Health Organization also recommends the use of honey for cough in young children associated with upper respiratory tract infections.

Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.

Researcher Calls for Doubling of Vitamin C RDA

RESPECTED RESEARCHER AT THE LINUS PAULING NUTRITION RESEARCH INSTITUTE CALLS FOR DOUBLING OF VITAMIN C RECOMMENDED DAILY ALLOWANCE

I am of the opinion that many of the recommended daily allowances that are recommended for many vitamins and minerals are WOEFULLY too low.

The days of some physicians saying you don’t need to take higher levels of some vitamins because you will just urinate them out, are thankfully disappearing as more and more physicians actually make an effort to learn something about nutrition, instead of “parroting” age old positions that were based upon ignorance.

The outdated recommendation of 400 IU of vitamin D has increased by as much as 5-10 times. Who knows how many people could have been spared from chronic disease had they been taking the higher levels of vitamin D that many naturopaths and experts in clinical nutrition have been recommending for decades.

Should you double up on Vitamin C?

There is substantial published data suggesting that taking much higher levels of vitamin C, than the 75-100 mg currently recommended for women and men, can strengthen your immune system, reduce systemic inflammation in our bodies, reduce blood pressure and increase collagen production, just to name a few of this vitamins health protective benefits.

Conservatively, Dr. Balz Frei director of the Linus Pauling Research Institute has recommended that the RDA be doubled to 200 mg/day. He stated “Levels should be raised from the current levels of 75 mgs per day for women and 90 mg per day for men to an optimum level that ensures cell and tissue saturation, that poses no risk, and that may have significant effects on public health at almost no expense – about a penny a day if taken as a dietary supplement.”

I applaud his bringing attention to this issue, but personally I think 1000-2000 mg/day is a great deal more therapeutic.

Here are just a few vitamin C studies that support this position:

An analysis (systemic review or meta-analysis) of 29 humans (not mouse or other preclinical models) found that taking 500 mg of vitamin C daily significantly reduced blood pressure. Human studies concluded that daily supplements of 500 milligrams of vitamin C significantly reduced blood pressure, which is a primary cause of both heart disease and stroke.
When the blood plasma concentrations of 20,000 European patients were studied, researchers found that those patients in the top 20% with the highest vitamin C levels had a 60% lower risk of dying from heart disease when compared to people in the lowest 20%.
Another study found that men with the lowest serum levels of vitamin C had a 62% higher risk of dying from cancer over the next twelve to sixteen years of their lives, when compared to men with the highest levels of vitamin C.
Another research effort found that men with the lowest serum vitamin C levels had a 62% higher risk of cancer related death after a 12-16 year period, compared to those with the highest vitamin C levels.

Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.

Could This Vitamin Improve Cancer Survival Rates in African Americans?

It is known by many nutrition oriented healthcare professionals, that African Americans tend to produce less Vitamin-D and tend to have lower circulating levels of vitamin-D in their bodies because of their darker skin pigmentation, which interferes with vitamin D production from sunlight.

Cancer researchers note that African Americans have an increased risk of dying from certain types of cancers when compared to Caucasians. They postulate that these increased risks of dying from certain cancers may be due to their relative vitamin-D deficiencies.

There are many different types of scientific studies that can be conducted. Most of us are most familiar with studies either done on animals or humans, but other studies known as “systematic reviews” or meta-analyses are studies that study groups of studies on the same subject.

In this case the researchers analyzed the results of 17 other published studies on the association between cancer and vitamin D levels.

Meaningful associations were found between having higher vitamin D levels and better cancer survival for almost all cancers including, breast, prostate, lung, colon, and lymphomas.

Also in 37 other studies which compared cancer survival rates of blacks vs. Caucasians, again lower vitamin D levels in blacks vs. Caucasians helps to explain away much of the disparity in risk between the two groups.

The benefits of vitamin D do not stop at improving cancer survival rates, please refer to the other previous articles that discuss the other benefits.

I strongly suggest that everyone, not just African Americans, consume a minimum of 2000 IU of vitamin D-3 a day. Your physician or other labs can measure your serum vitamin D levels which should ideally be somewhere between 50-70 ng/ml (or 125-175 nmol/L). If 2000 IU per day doesn’t get you up to these optimal levels then increase to 4000IU/day.

Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S.

Olive Oil Consumption Decreases Risk of Dying

OLIVE OIL CONSUMPTION DECREASES THE RISK OF DYING FROM ANY CAUSE BY 26% AND FROM HEART DISEASE BY 44% OVER THE NEXT 13 YEAR PERIOD OF YOUR LIFE

The well respected Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study in its June edition that found that of over 40,000 men and women between the ages of 29-69 who were followed for 13.4 years, those who consumed the most olive oil, were 26% less likely to die for any reason and 44% less likely to die from heart disease during that period.

Why is olive oil so healthy for us?

Olive oil contains monounsaturated fats, which are less susceptible than polyunsaturated fat to damage that can render them unhealthy. Olive oil also contains vitamin E and antioxidants that are healthy in addition to the monounsaturated fat health benefits.

Olive oil has been shown to reduce systemic inflammation (a contributor to the development of chronic degenerative disease), help with blood sugar control, which when out of control as in Type II diabetes, can contribute to heart disease and possibly even certain types of cancer. It has also been shown to lower bad LDL cholesterol and normalize blood clotting.

Many of you probably know that olive oil is one of the ingredients that researchers think contributes to the life extension benefits of the Mediterranean diet.

It is important to remember that just because it contains healthy fats, it should not be consumed in excess, if for no other reason the high calorie count. Also, olive oil should replace the other store bought oils that you may use for salads or low temperature cooking. IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSUMED IN ADDITION TO THE LESS HEALTHY OILS YOU MAY BE CURRENTLY USING. (For moderate temperature cooking, it is probably best to cook with canola oil).

So, it is suggested that you consume about 25 milliliters (8 tenths of an ounce or about 2 tablespoons) of virgin olive oil a day. Store your olive oil in a cool, dark place (a cabinet is fine) to protect it from being damaged by heat or light.

Add some exercise, eat more green and yellow vegetables, reduce your sugar intake, reduce your waistline (central adiposity), don’t smoke and who says……… “There Isn’t a Fountain of Youth?”

Curt Hendrix B.S. M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.