The Immune System and RA and your Gut, yes GUT!

The Immune System and RA and your Gut, yes GUT!
The entire physical healing process is engineered by the immune system. It truly is the healing power within. This complex network of cells and biochemicals is the front line defense system against viruses, fungi, and bacteria. The immune system is the key to fighting every insult to the body, from a little nick to a deadly virus like HIV. Poor diet, daily stress, and exposure to toxins in food, water, and the environment all cause a decline in immune system activity.
Many different disorders, including allergies, lupus, pernicious anemia, rheumatic heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and, possibly, diabetes have been linked to inappropriate immune system activity. Consequently they are know as "autoimmune, or self-attacking-self, disorders".
An association between bacterial flora in the bowel, diet and intestinal mucosal permeability and joint disease in patients with RA and AS has been suggested by several authors and researchers, that link the GI tract and inflammatory joint disease. What you put in your mouth matters. And the inflammation is your body trying to tell you that it does not like certain foods. It is reacting, the cells are going haywire.That's why I always explain to my clients the importance of an elimination diet. YOUR GUT IS YOUR SECOND BRAIN! Believe it!
https://www.holistichealthhouston.com/

Lets Talk Collard Greens

Lets talk Collards! Collards improve the function of the glands and the nervous, respiratory, skeletal, and urinary systems. They protect against Estrogen related cancers, retard growth, and minimize the effects of cigarette smoke. They stimulate anticancer enzymes and retard the growth of carcinogens related to cigarette smoke; improve immune response; protect against lung, colon, esophageal, and prostate cancers; and reduce the risk of age related macular degeneration. Collards may not only reduce the risk of certain cancers, but may also prevent the metastasis of breast cancers. And if that's not enough, they protect against osteoporosis and strokes as well as minimize the neurological damage resulting from a stroke.
https://www.holistichealthhouston.com/

Belly Fat poses REAL Problems

Belly Fat -- Studies show that adults who carry a lot of weight around their midsection during middle age face an increase risk of developing dementia later in life. Abdominal fat is more dangerous than excess fat around your hips and thighs because it specifically triggers a chain of harmful metabolic reactions that increase inflammation, raise insulin and blood sugar levels, promote plaque formation in the arteries, and increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. A waist circumference for men 40 inches or greater is considered high risk and for women 35 inches or greater is considered high risk. To take your measurement, place just above the hip bone, relax, exhale and pull the tape measure so it is snug but not squeezing in to the skin. (NO sucking it in or holding your breath allowed!) https://www.holistichealthhouston.com/shop-by-health-concern/weight-loss.html

Sage The Medicinal Herb

By Michael Downey

A wealth of compelling evidence has revealed sage (Salvia officinalis) to be an easy way to spice up not only your meals, but your health. Sage provides an array of complex compounds such as chlorogenic acid, tannic acids, resins, estrogenic substances, and potent flavones.  Research points to sage’s power to help lower glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in diabetics,  enhance mood and cognitive performance,  inhibit inflammation, and reduce the hot flashes of menopause.  But perhaps most remarkable, experts now recognize the memory-enhancing capacity of sage in individuals with7 and without Alzheimer’s disease.

A Multitude Of Protective Compounds

Sage, with its grayish-green leaves that give off a unique, pleasant aroma, is native to the Mediterranean area. A relative of the mint family, this herb has been valued for thousands of years in that region for its broad range of uses in cooking and medicine.

Sage contains a wide assortment of bioactive compounds. Its essential oil cont

ains cineol, borneol, and thujone. Its leaves contain tannic acid; resins called oleic acid, ursonic acid, and ursolic acid; bitter substances called cornsole and cornsolic acid; estrogenic substances; and fumaric, chlorogenic, caffeic, and nicotinic acids—as well as a powerful class of bioflavonoids known as flavones.

Sage flavones include apigenin, diosmetin, and luteolin.   Apigenin may stimulate adult neurogenesis—the generation of neuronal cells in the adult brain—by promoting a process called neuronal differentiation.  Diosmetin may inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells,  and it has been suggested that it may be protective against cardiovascular disease.   Luteolin has been shown to exert various pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities—including cancer chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic potential.   In fact, evidence suggests that luteolin may help inhibit the development of UVB-induced skin cancer.

Natural Improvement Of Alzheimer’s Symptoms

Sage may offer a novel natural treatment for Alzheimer’s disease by improving memory and information processing.

In research published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, scientists conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the effectiveness and safety of 60 daily drops of either liquid sage extract or placebo on patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Subjects were aged 65 to 80 years old.

After four months, sage produced significantly better cognitive outcomes as measured by two standardized tests known as the cognitive subscale of Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog) and the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR).2

There were no significant differences in side effects, although agitation was less frequent in the treatment group.2

But scientists wondered: Does sage improve memory only in those afflicted with memory-destroying Alzheimer’s disease—or can it provide similar memory enhancement for individuals who do not have this disease?

Boosting Memory Performance In Healthy Individuals

Researchers set out to determine sage’s effects on memory and cognition in healthy individuals without memory problems.

First, they examined sage’s memory effects on older individuals. They set up a clinical trial of a most rigorous type: a randomized, balanced, placebo-controlled, five-period, varying dose, crossover study. Twenty volunteers, all of whom were over 65 years of age, were given a placebo and different doses of sage extract—167, 333, 666, and 1,332 mg—on four days. There was a seven-day washout period between each of the testing days. On testing days, cognitive performance was measured, using the Cognitive Drug Research computerized assessment system, at baseline and at one, two-and-a-half, four, and six hours after treatment.

Memory performance after placebo treatment characteristically declined throughout the day. However, after treatment with sage, participants showed significant memory enhancement at all assessment times throughout the testing days, most especially on the 333 mg testing day. Results demonstrated that sage improves accuracy of attention and delivers a significant benefit to memory consolidation in older patients without Alzheimer’s disease.16

Next, a group of British researchers investigated whether sage boosts memory in young adults without memory problems.

They set up two crossover studies, which were balanced, placebo-controlled, and double-blind. In the first study, 20 participants were given placebo and sage essential oil extracts in doses of 50, 100, and 150 microliters. In the second experiment, 24 participants took 25 and 50 microliters of the sage extract and placebo. The sage used was Spanish sage (Salvia lavandulaefolia), and there was a seven-day washout period between the different dosage days. On test days, the Cognitive Drug Research computerized assessment system was given prior to treatment and again at one, two-and-a-half, four, and six hours after treatment.

In both of these crossover trials, the researchers found that the 50 microliter dose of sage essential oil significantly boosted immediate word recall. In the journal Pharmacological Biochemical Behavior, the study authors wrote, “These results represent the first systematic evidence that Salvia (sage) is capable of acute modulation of cognition in healthy young adults.”8

Enhancing Mood And Alertness

Sage has long been associated with a calming and spirit-lifting effect.

Intrigued by this potential, scientists conducted a double-blind crossover study in which they gave 30 healthy participants, with an average age of 24.4, three different treatments: dried sage leaf in 300 and 600 mg dosages and placebo. This occurred on three separate days, each seven days apart. On each of these dosage days, mood was assessed pre-dose, plus both one and four hours after treatment.

Measured by the Bond-Lader mood scales, the higher dosage of sage resulted in improvements—at both one and four hours post-dose—in all three of the factors assessed by these scales: alertness, contentedness, and calmness.3

Published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, the study report concluded that, “The results of the current study confirm that acute administration of S. officinalis (sage) can beneficially modulate mood in healthy young participants.”3

Inhibiting Inflammatory Diseases

Potent anti-inflammatory sage components such as luteolin and rosmarinic acid may help inhibit inflammation in conditions such as arthritis, asthma, and inflammatory acne.

Luteolin has shown exceptional inhibition of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), an enzyme believed to play a role in the development of inflammatory diseases. Published in Biochemical Pharmacology, a study reported that luteolin had the strongest inhibitory activity against TBK1 among six tested natural anti-inflammatory compounds.17

The rosmarinic acid in sage supports this anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting enzymes linked to inflammatory responses.18

A 2013 study reported in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology examined the published research on 71 herbs and found that sage provides an array of critical anti-inflammatory properties.19

Sage extracts have been shown to inhibit NF-kB, a protein complex that controls many genes involved in inflammation and that is chronically active in many inflammatory diseases ranging from atherosclerosis to inflammatory bowel disease.19

This review also found that sage extracts can:19

• Decrease pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6),
• Inhibit release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a), cell-signaling proteins that were involved in systemic inflammation,
• Inhibit formation of pro-inflammatory leukotrienes,
• Increase the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), and
• Reduce COX-2, an enzyme that is elevated during inflammation.

Reducing Glucose Levels And Improving Lipid Profiles In Diabetics

A team of researchers in Iran demonstrated that, in patients with type II diabetes, sage provides antihyperglycemic effects and improves lipid profile.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled study, half of a group of 80 hyperlipidemic type II diabetics were given a 500 mg capsule of sage leaf extract three times a day, while other participants were given a placebo.

After three months, the sage treatment showed various beneficial effects on blood sugar and blood lipids. Sage lowered fasting glucose by 32.2%, lowered glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by 22.7%, reduced total cholesterol by 16.9%, decreased triglycerides by 56.4%, lowered LDL cholesterol by 35.6%, and raised HDL cholesterol by 27.6%.2

No adverse effects were reported.

Decreasing Menopausal Hot Flashes And Sweating

In traditional folk medicine, sage was long used a remedy for excessive sweating and hot flashes. In recent years, scientists have investigated this potential benefit.

Menopausal women with at least five daily hot flashes were given a once-daily tablet of fresh sage leaves for about two months.

With each week that passed, the participants experienced a significant drop in both the number and severity of hot flashes. After the eight-week period, the mean number of mild hot flashes had decreased by 46%, moderate hot flashes by 62%, severe hot flashes by 79%, and very severe hot flashes had decreased by 100%!

Other menopausal symptoms—including psychological and urogenital problems—were also greatly reduced by the sage therapy. Treatment was well tolerated.6

Summary

Sage is a source of powerful acid compounds, resins, and flavones. Published studies now recognize that sage provides memory improvement both in Alzheimer’s patients and in young and old healthy persons. It inhibits inflammatory diseases, diabetic factors, and menopausal hot flashes. Sage not only spices up main dishes—it protects your memory, mood, and health.

Blueberries

This entry was posted on March 12, 2015 by naturallyheal.

By Walter Deriggio

Cellular DNA endures relentless injury through internal and external factors.  A fundamental problem with aging is faulty DNA repair.  As we lose our ability to repair DNA, illness and death ensues. If we could perfect internal DNA repair processes, we would become incredibly resistant to degenerative disease.

Blueberry extracts have demonstrated robust DNA repair properties.

The memory-boosting and brain-protecting benefits of blueberries have long been a promising area of research.

Newer studies are showing that blueberries delay the aging process through a variety of mechanisms, includingrepairing DNA damage and favorably modulating genes associated with aging.3-7

The ability to repair DNA is an essential longevity mechanism. A fascinating laboratory study found that the compounds in blueberries could increase mean life span by 28%. In humans, that is equal to over 22 years!3

Particularly impressive is a study indicating that when added to a calorie-restricted diet, the compounds found in blueberries significantly increased life span beyond that of calorie restriction alone.

All of this adds up to a powerhouse fruit that could help us live longer and healthier.

Early Indications That Blueberries Promote Longevity

When scientists began investigating blueberries, they first discovered the fruit’s impact on reducing the age-accelerating effects of oxidative stress on tissues.8-11Blueberries are unique among fruits with their ability to not only quench destructive oxygen free radicals, but also to directly modulate genes that impart cells with their own protective mechanisms. Those genes produce enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase that endow cells with the ability to capture and detoxify free radicals, producing harmless water molecules instead.12-14

Blueberry constituents do much more than fight oxidation. Studies are now revealing the powerful ability of blueberry polyphenols to modulate genes associated with aging itself, such as the Methuselah gene, which can promote an extension of up to 35% in the life span of fruit flies, a commonly studied organism in aging science.12,15,16

Studies in no fewer than three different species illustrate the value of blueberries in decelerating the aging process to produce significantly longer life spans.

The simplest multicellular organism used in aging research is the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, a minute worm measuring about 1.3 mm long, which is one of the most versatile animal models of aging.17,18

Studies reveal that treating C. elegans worms with blueberry polyphenols increased the animals’ mean life span by28%.3 In human terms, that’s the equivalent of adding more than 22 years to the life of a 79-year-old person (the mean life expectancy of a male child born today).

C. elegans worms are extremely sensitive to temperature variations, and blueberry treatment increased the animals’ survival during acute heat stress.3 Treated worms also were much better able than non treated animals to resist induced aging stresses.

Indeed, blueberry treatments can prolong the life of the classic laboratory organism, the insect Drosophila melanogaster, better known as the fruit fly. Flies fed on blueberry extracts lived on average 10% longer than did control animals.12 This increase was accompanied by an increase of multiple beneficial genes, including protective enzymes and reduction of age-shortening genes. These healthy effects were apparent when flies were treated with an herbicide called paraquat, which normally imposes fatal age-accelerating changes in the flies’ metabolisms.12,19

Life Span Extension Beyond Calorie Restriction

Of course, roundworms and insects are far removed from human beings, and studies that show benefits in such animals must be reproduced in higher organisms in order to be applicable to humans. That has recently been done in laboratory mice.

In one study, the polyphenols from blueberries, pomegranate, and green tea extracts were combined into a nutrient cocktail added to mouse chow and the effects on the animals’ life span and biochemistry were examined.20 Middle-aged mice were placed on one of three dietary patterns:

• Control mice were allowed to eat as much as they wanted;
• An “intermittent feeding” group was fed only every other day to simulate the life-extending properties of calorie restriction;
• A third group received the polyphenol mixture in addition to calorie restriction.

As expected, both the calorie-restricted and the calorie-restricted-plus-polyphenol groups significantly outlived the control animals. What was remarkable, however, was that the calorie-restricted group that also was fed the nutrientpolyphenols significantly outlived those on calorie restriction alone.20 This demonstrated the additive effect of the polyphenol mixture onto the known life-extending effect of calorie restriction. The brains of the polyphenol-supplemented animals showed reduction in the expressions of deleterious life-shortening genes.

What makes this study so noteworthy is that the longevity benefits of calorie restriction are so robust that it is difficult to improve on them. Yet adding extracts from blueberry, pomegranate, and green tea enabled life span extension in a mammal greater than calorie restriction alone.

Of course, in this study it is difficult to discern which of the extracts (blueberry, pomegranate, or green tea) may have been responsible for the observed life-extending effects. All three are rich in the anthocyanins that individually extend the life spans of “lower” laboratory animals. They also have specific effects that counteract age-related diseases that contribute to shortening life spans.20

Mechanisms Of Blueberries’ Life-Extending Properties

How do blueberries manage to prolong life and improve function so dramatically? We’re nowhere near a definitive answer, given the complexity of the berries’ biochemistry, but some key points are beginning to emerge, centered on the body’s own ability to repair itself.

Blueberries and their polyphenol components appear to be exceptionally good at promoting repair of DNA strandsand at optimizing immunity at the cellular level.7,21,22 Both of these functions are essential for preventing senescent and environmental impacts that lead to cancer,23,24 cardiovascular disease,25,26 and loss of metabolic control,27,28that underlies obesity and diabetes.

DNA, the molecular blueprint that contains instructions for all life functions, is a delicate molecule that, despite many protective mechanisms, readily suffers damage from oxidation, radiation, toxic chemicals,29,30 and other sources of stress. All living cells have evolved mechanisms to identify and repair broken DNA strands, which if left unrepaired, promote cancer and early cell death.31 Numerous studies now reveal that blueberry extracts both prevent DNA damage and promote its rapid and accurate repair.7,32-40

What You Need To Know

Blueberries Boost Longevity

• Blueberries and blueberry extracts have been proven to augment memory and cognitive abilities, but new research shows their effectiveness at decelerating the aging process in many organs.
• Studies in at least three animal species, including mammals, demonstrate compelling increases in longevity following blueberry supplementation.
• Cardiovascular diseases arise from many different factors; blueberry supplementation directly counteracts many of the most dangerous factors, including lipid disturbances, blood vessel stiffness, and vulnerability to infarction, thereby reducing the size and impact of tissue damage related to atherosclerosis.
• Metabolic syndrome, a collection of the consequences of modern lifestyles, threatens millions of lives each year through insulin resistance, high blood sugar, lipid anomalies, and hypertension. Blueberry constituents directly oppose each of metabolic syndrome’s components.
• Laboratory studies show that blueberry supplementation prevents or mitigates virtually each step in cancer development, from DNA damage to invasion of distant organs through metastasis.
• If you are seeking supplements to augment your body’s own natural defenses, to raise your disease resistance, and prolong your health span, give strong consideration to starting a blueberry extract supplement.
• 
  

Human Study Corroborates DNA Protection

In an impressive human study, healthy volunteers ingested either 300 grams of ground blueberries or a control jelly with no blueberry components.41 Blood samples were taken before, and one, two, and 24 hours after the subjects took the study supplement. At the end of one hour, the amount of oxidation-induced DNA damage in blueberry-supplemented volunteers fell by 18% compared with control subjects. What makes this study particularly impressive is that this single, albeit large, serving of blueberries was able to suppress this amount of DNA damage so quickly.

Protecting Against Ultraviolet DNA Damage

Ultraviolet (UV) light produces DNA damage that plays an important role in causing a variety of diseases.

When scientists exposed cells in culture first to UV light and then to blueberry extracts, they found both a reduction in reactive oxygen species and reduced DNA damage.42

Closer examination showed that cells were protected even after DNA damage had occurred, the mechanism being related to decreased genetic expression of stress-induced signaling proteins. This study showed that blueberry anthocyanins protect DNA from damage and protect cells from the consequences of DNA damage that did occur.

Boosting Natural Killer Immune Cells

The actions of many immune system components decline with advancing age, in a degenerative process calledimmunosenescence.43,44 Controlling and slowing immune senescence is an attractive means of prolonging life and health. Blueberry extracts have been shown to have powerful anti-aging impacts on both cellular and molecular components of the aging immune system.

At the cellular level, blueberry extracts boosted the actions of natural killer (NK) cells charged with identifying and destroying abnormal cells such as those infected by viruses and those showing malignant components of the aging immune system.

At the cellular level, blueberry extracts boosted the actions of natural killer (NK) cells charged with identifying and destroying abnormal cells such as those infected by viruses and those showing malignant changes.21,44,46

At the molecular level, blueberry anthocyanins sharply decreased activation of nuclear factor kappa-beta (NFk-b), an inflammation-generating molecule associated with cancer,47 heart disease,48 and other manifestations of chronic inflammation.49

Cardiovascular Health

Successful longevity requires more than just DNA repair and slowing immunosenescence. Increasing cardiac health and reducing the risk of cancer and diabetes are also part of the equation. Blueberry compounds play an active role in reducing these risks as well.

Increasing one’s intake of berry polyphenols is a proven means of protecting the heart, blood vessels, and brain against cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke, which remain among the top causes of death in American adults.50,51

Blueberries contain one of the highest concentrations of such polyphenols among common fruits, and these compounds have been shown to inhibit the dangerous oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL), the so-called “bad” cholesterol.50 Lipid oxidation constitutes one of the first steps in developing “plaques” that grow and become cholesterol-filled, inflammatory lesions that ultimately block blood vessels.52,53

In rats, a year-long diet regimen containing 2% blueberry supplement following experimentally induced heart attacks (myocardial infarction, or MI, produced by tying off one of the heart’s main arteries) was able to completely arrest expansion of the damaged area of heart tissue.54 Expansion of the MI area55 is a leading cause of the heart failure56,57 that so often follows a heart attack and produces much of the death and disability we associate with heart attacks. In this study, the death rate over the one year of the study was 22% lower in the supplemented animals compared with the control group. Blueberry-supplemented animals’ hearts showed less of the deleterious remodeling of the heart chambers that is also a hallmark of heart attack damage in humans.58,59

Another seminal study in rats showed that a three-month blueberry-supplemented diet produced a 24% increase in a measure of the resistance of energy-releasing heart mitochondria to stress.60 Remarkably, in animals then given a heart attack by tying off their coronary arteries, the size of the infarction (dead area) in the heart was 22% less in the supplemented than in the control animals, while the number of inflammatory cells was reduced by an impressive 40%.

When supplemented rats were put back on a regular diet (devoid of the blueberry extract), their infarcted (dead) heart lesions grew. When control rats were put on the blueberry supplement, their infarctions stopped expanding. This study indicates that if one suffers a blockage to their coronary artery when taking blueberry extract, the damage to their heart muscle will be lessened. If one suffers heart muscle damage from a coronary blockage, damage to their heart muscle might be halted if they initiate blueberry supplementation.

Blueberries and their polyphenols relax blood vessels, which in turn reduces blood pressure and may help to slow atherosclerosis. Human studies demonstrate reductions in both systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) blood pressures.61 A decrease in systolic blood pressure is observed when animals are fed blueberry-supplemented diets, even when the diets are very high in fat.62,63 These effects could be related to blueberry polyphenol-induced modulation of nitric oxide, the signaling molecule that blood vessels use to relay information about blood flow and pressure, and to shift mineral ions such as potassium across cell membranes.62,64,65

There’s also growing evidence that blueberry polyphenols can induce favorable structural changes in blood vessel wall composition. This results in arteries becoming more elastic and less stiff, further reducing blood pressure and lowering atherosclerosis risk.50, 66

These kinds of favorable vascular changes have been shown in human studies when blueberry polyphenols were administered to healthy people.67 When a fairly high dose of 766 mg total blueberry polyphenol intake was given to human subjects, blood vessels smoothly dilated within an hour of the dose. Another study showed that in sedentary adults, a blueberry supplement produced reductions in aortic systolic blood pressure and in aortic stiffness.21 All of these changes are highly desirable for prevention of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in general.

Indeed, in humans, a sharp reduction in cardiovascular risk factors was shown in people with metabolic syndrome, the cluster of obesity, blood sugar intolerance, and lipid disturbances that tremendously increase risk of a heart attack or stroke.68,69 After eight weeks of either blueberry supplementation (either 50 grams freeze-dried or 350 gramsfresh berries), or control, subjects had a modest 6 and 4% reduction in average systolic (top) and diastolic blood pressures, compared to smaller reductions of 1.5 and 1.2% in control patients.61 Supplemented patients also showed a reduction in oxidized LDL cholesterol seen in the earlier animal studies.

Metabolic syndrome poses a major health threat for all of us, consisting as it does of the deadly combination of obesity with disturbances in metabolism of both fats and sugars. Blueberries and their extracts offer world-class protection in this area, as we’ll now see.

Reversing Markers Of Type II Diabetes

The epidemic of obesity has spawned a similar global rise in type II diabetes, with the resulting deadly condition often referred to as “diabesity.”70 Coupled with the consequences of a high-fat diet and little exercise,71 these preventable conditions produce metabolic syndrome, (abdominal obesity, glucose intolerance or “prediabetes,” elevated blood pressure, and abnormalities in lipid profile).51

Metabolic syndrome is now known to increase the risks for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. Inflammation is an inevitable characteristic of metabolic syndrome, which further increases the deadliness of its impact.69,72 Blueberries, with their high content of polyphenols, offer a potent and natural antidote to metabolic syndrome.

At the cellular level, blueberry extracts (including those of root, stem, leaf, and fruit) appear to improve glucose transport into cells, a critical mechanism for lowering blood sugar.73 Blueberry fruit extracts also enhance formation of new, insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells, which would otherwise die off as a consequence of high glucose levels.73

Specifically, the researchers measured the critical ability of cells in the pancreas to produce insulin in response to high glucose levels in the bloodstream. Scientists have discovered that high blood glucose levels damage insulin-producing cells in the pancreas over time, but if these same cells are treated with blueberry stem, leaf, and fruit extracts, the number of viable cells increases.73 This is a very desirable feature especially for people with early type II diabetes, in whom some sensitivity to native insulin production still remains.

Furthermore, the researchers tracked the source of the improved insulin response to a remarkable increase in replication of the remaining, growth-arrested beta cells by nearly 3-fold. In addition, they found that blueberry extracts from stem, leaf, and fruit could prevent the glucose-induced toxicity and subsequent death of neuronal cells by up to33%. This finding has tremendous implications for prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, which has been called “type III diabetes” to acknowledge the important role played by glucose toxicity.74

The benefits of these effects can be seen in a human study, in which obese subjects, not yet diabetic, but with proven insulin resistance, consumed either a smoothie containing 22.5 grams of blueberry bioactive molecules or a smoothie of equal nutritional value but without blueberries, twice daily for six weeks.75 In the blueberry group, insulin sensitivity (the ability to remove glucose from the blood in response to insulin) rose to more than 4-fold that of the plain smoothie group, even without significant changes in adiposity or energy intake. Simply put, blueberry supplementation gave this high-risk group of patients vastly better natural control of their blood sugar.

Other studies in animals reveal powerful effects of blueberries on the other components of metabolic syndrome as well. In obese rats on a high-fat diet, adding freeze-dried whole blueberries to the diet reduced not only blood sugar and insulin resistance, but also lowered abdominal fat mass and triglyceride levels in blood.

Should You Eat More Blueberries?  Continue reading>

• .

Antarctic Krill Oil Complex, A Dietary Supplement Breakthrough

Krill Oil’s Vital Lipids Offer A Range of Benefits

Krill oil is sometimes compared to fish oil as an omega-3 dietary supplement. But authentic krill oil complex contains a greater range of nutrients, and its benefits far exceed those of fish oils. Most of the DHA and EPA of krill oil occurs linked into larger phospholipid molecules (pronounced fos-fo-lip-ids). These are preformed building blocks for the cell membranes that drive life processes. In fish oil, by contrast, all the DHA and EPA occurs as triglycerides, which are storage forms of fatty acids (“fat”). The DHA and EPA has to be removed from the triglycerides, then linked into phospholipids prior to inserting them into cell membranes.
Krill oil gets its red color from astaxanthin, a carotenoid nutrient. Astaxanthin is a potent membrane antioxidant and helps ensure krill oil’s exceptional shelf life stability. Fish oils lack astaxanthin and are vulnerable to premature rancidity—oxidative degradation of the fragile DHA and EPA molecules. Krill’s phospholipids, DHA, EPA, astaxanthin—all can be readily inserted into cell membranes.
Krill oil has produced impressive benefits in clinical trials, superior when compared against fish oil.

Superior to Fish Oil for Premenstrual Challenges

In a large proportion of women, premenstrual problems affect life quality by negatively affecting mood and other mental state and by generating pain and other physical problems. In a double blind trial, krill oil was compared against fish oil for the relief of ten well recognized premenstrual complaints. Seventy (70) women of childbearing age consumed 2 grams of either a krill oil or a fish oil, daily for the first month. Then for the next 2 months, they took the assigned supplements for just eight days prior to menstruation and another 2 days subsequent. They filled in detailed questionnaires and kept track of their daily analgesic (painkiller) medication use.
After the first 45 days the women taking krill oil had significant improvements in all 10 complaints, including irritability, depression, stress, and “feelings of being overwhelmed.” The physical complaints that improved included breast tenderness, joint pain, weight gain, abdominal pain, swelling, and bloating. Those taking fish oil reported improvements in just 2 physical complaints—weight gain and abdominal pain. From day 45 to day 90 all the krill oil benefits were sustained while for the fish oil group only relief of swelling was added.
The superior benefits from krill oil also showed in the women’s lowered reliance on painkillers. By day 90, those receiving krill oil were able to reduce their daily consumption of ibuprofen or acetaminophen by more than half. Those receiving fish oil reduced ibuprofen by 33 percent and acetaminophen by 41 percent. The women taking krill oil also avoided the unpleasant reflux regurgitation experienced by two-thirds of the women who took the fish oil.

Superior Support for Cholesterol, Triglyceride and Blood Sugar Management

Blood lipid abnormalities including elevated LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol, reduced HDL cholesterol, and high triglycerides, are proven risk factors for cardiovascular disease and are also linked to premature memory decline. In a randomized clinical trial, 120 men and women with hyperlipidemia (abnormally high total cholesterol and triglyceride levels) received either krill oil, fish oil or a placebo for 90 days. The krill oil dosages ranged from 1-3 grams per day and were tailored to body mass index (BMI); the fish oil dosage was 3 grams per day. The trial went for 90 days.
Krill oil significantly lowered total and LDL cholesterol, and elevated HDL cholesterol, at dosages of 1 gram and higher per day. At 2 and 3 grams per day, krill oil also significantly lowered triglycerides. Krill oil at 1 gram per day and higher also significantly lowered fasting blood glucose. The fish oil failed to lower total and LDL cholesterol, raised HDL cholesterol only marginally (by 4 percent), and failed to lower triglycerides or blood glucose. Krill oil’s superior cardiovascular benefits in this trial are nicely complemented by its benefit against another major cardiovascular risk factor CRP (C-reactive protein),8 as described in the next section.

Support for Joint Health and Lowering of CRP

In a double blind trial, 90 subjects with severe joint complaints and/or cardiovascular problems were randomized to receive either krill oil (300 mg per day) or a placebo. They were assessed at baseline, then after 7, 14 and 30 days. They were allowed to use only acetaminophen for pain. Already at day 7, krill oil significantly improved joint pain (by 29 percent), stiffness (by 20 percent), and functional impairment (by 30 percent). By day 30, pain was down by 38 percent in the krill group, stiffness was 39 percent improved, and function was 36 percent improved, versus no improvement in the placebo group. The subjects receiving krill were able to lower their acetaminophen intake by 32 percent, while those on placebo reduced theirs significantly less (6 percent).
Another finding from this trial was that krill oil significantly reduced CRP. This blood protein is a useful marker for inflammatory activity occurring virtually anywhere in the body. Ongoing inflammation is a risk factor for poor health, wherever it occurs, in the gums for example. Best measured by an inexpensive test called “highly sensitive CRP” test (hsCRP), elevated CRP is a strong predictor of future risk for cardiovascular or brain “adverse events.” Assessing cardiovascular risk via CRP testing is a useful complement to cholesterol testing, especially since cholesterol assessment falls far short of predicting all cardiovascular risk.
In this trial krill oil reduced CRP by 19 percent at day 7, compared to a 16 percent increase in the placebo group. The increase in the placebo subjects likely was related to their being taken off their anti-inflammatory medications (except for acetaminophen). At day 30 CRP was reduced by 31 percent in the krill group but was increased by 25 percent in the placebo group. The ability to lower CRP is a valuable contribution of krill oil to healthy immunity and cardiovascular function, and therefore to health overall.

Krill’s Vital Lipids Build Cell Membranes, Ensure Cell Functions

Every cell has a membrane system that performs most of the necessary life processes. Membranes are thin, interconnecting molecular sheets that define the cell’s outer border and extend into the cell interior. The membrane’s foundation or matrix consists mostly of phospholipids with fatty acids attached (DHA and EPA, for example). Numerous catalytic proteins are inserted into this matrix, and these must be free to move, which requires the matrix be semi-fluid. The omega-3 phospholipids of krill provide this natural fluidizing effect.
For humans as well as for krill, omega-3 phospholipids are natural cell membrane fluidizers. They also drive metabolism: since fluidity facilitates the membrane proteins, the higher the omega-3 phospholipid content in a membrane the higher its metabolic activity. PhosphatidylCholine (PC) is the most common phospholipid in all human cells, and krill oil complex is an excellent dietary source of omega-3 PC carrying DHA and EPA.

Antarctic Krill Oil Complex, A Dietary Supplement Breakthrough

Fish stocks worldwide are threatened with depletion, due to unsustainable fishing practices. Krill stocks are not. A visionary international cooperation begun in 1982 continues to ensure that Antarctic krill harvesting remains sustainable. In that year the CCAMLR, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, was founded as a multinational organization to exclusively set and regulate “precautionary” catch quotas for the krill and other Antarctic fisheries.
Real Krill comes from Antarctic krill fished using proprietary eco-harvesting techniques. Developed in close cooperation with the World Wildlife Fund, these advanced techniques virtually eliminate “by-catch” problems, combat illegal fishing, and facilitate scientific documentation of the krill fishery. The post-catch krill processing is also a major advance, using a nontoxic solvent (ethanol) to help produce krill oil with the highest available levels of omega-3s and phospholipids, free of environmental chemical contamination.
Fish oils are a popular dietary supplement category, yet they do not predictably improve cholesterol management or lower CRP, nor do they consistently benefit mood management as seen in the premenstrual trial. Krill oil provides a broader spectrum of benefits than does fish oil, and at much lower daily intakes.

How to Use Real Krill

Each softgel capsule of this breakthrough dietary supplement provides 350 mg of highest-grade Antarctic krill oil complex. As maintenance intake, take 1 softgel daily with a small meal. To support healthy mood management, take 2-3 softgels per day. To support healthy blood lipid management and joint health, take 3 softgels per day. This supplement is not vegetarian and may not be suitable for individuals with seafood allergies.
Cell membranes are fundamental to life processes, and Real Krill is a cell membrane supplement remarkable for its superior support of the brain, circulation, immune system, joints, heart, and liver, and for health and wellbeing overall.

Man Boobs, Diet Drug Alli Linked to Severe Liver Damage, Pet Health

ROLLING BACK PRICES! Walmart isn't the only one Rolling Back Prices Daily. We're Slashing Pricing on 1000's of Products site wide. NOW and Forever you'll get our Lowest Possible Prices Guaranteed!

Thank you for Shopping with Holistic Health Houston & Origins Whole Foods. Where the Sale Never ENDS!

Sincerely,
Holistic Health Houston
Origins Whole Foods
______________________________________

Diet Drug Alli Linked to Severe Liver Damage
The FDA has started an investigation into whether the diet drug orlistat, marketed as both Alli and Xenical, has been causing serious liver damage in some patients.

Prescription-strength Xenical was approved by the FDA in 1999. Half-strength Alli was approved as the first (and to date, only) over-the-counter weight loss drug in 2007.

Since 1999, there have been 32 adverse event reports linking orlistat to severe liver damage. Twenty-seven patients have been hospitalized for liver problems, and six suffered from outright liver failure. Both of the cases involving Alli took place within the United States, while the other 30 cases, involving Xenical, all took place in other countries.

The FDA discussed its concerns with orlistat at an April meeting of the agency's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Drug Safety Oversight Board, then eventually decided to further investigate the issue. It is also reviewing data on other potential cases of liver damage submitted by GlaxoSmithKline, which markets Alli, and Roche, which markets Xenical.

"The issues here are complex, but the FDA has benefited from the input of the Board, including comments from representatives from three FDA Centers and several other agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services," said Steven Osborne, executive director of the Drug Safety Oversight Board.

Orlistat has been a big hit for both Glaxo and Roche, which reported $123 million and $472 million in sales of the drug last year, respectively. A Glaxo representative denied that the drug was responsible for the cases of liver damage, noting that the overweight are already at risk for liver disorders.

But the FDA has cautioned that all people taking Alli or Xenical contact their doctors immediately if they suffer any symptoms of liver damage, including fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, brown urine or stomach pain. Loss of appetite, itchiness and light-colored stools may be signs of more advanced liver damage.

Surgeons report surge in "man boob" operations
Breast reduction operations are becoming rapidly more popular among men, according to data released by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

The figures show that the operations increased 80 percent, from 323 to 581, between 2008 and 2009. In 2004, just 22 male breast reductions were performed.

The actual numbers are almost certainly higher -- most likely closer to 1,000 in 2009 -- as only one in three British aesthetic plastic surgeons are members of the association.

The overall rate of plastic surgeries increased by 6.7 percent between 2008 and 2009, with only a 5 percent increase among women. The rate of cosmetic surgeries in men, in contrast, increased by 21 percent.

"There's a lot of pressure on men now to shape up," said researcher Rajiv Grover. "Men's grooming is on the rise, and big fashion houses are using half-naked men, such a David Beckham, to advertise."

In the United States, male breast reduction operations have not increased so drastically, and there was actually a slight drop in 2008, perhaps due to economic hardship. But according to Robert Cattani of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, the overall trend is still upward.

"We've seen an increase," Cattani said. "In the last five years, I personally have done 200 to 300 male breast reductions per year."

Breast reduction is the fourth most common form of male cosmetic surgery in the United States, following nose jobs, eyelid surgery and liposuction.

Excess mammary tissue in men, known as gynecomastia, can be caused by a variety of underlying conditions including obesity, breast cancer and the use of illegal or prescription drugs.

"Most of the time, it's just normal variance but you have to rule out underlying causes," said breast surgeon Sharon Rosenbaum-Smith, of St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York. "Guys' boobs do go up and down in size as they gain or lose weight, just as women's do. But if you're a pot smoker and you are overweight, just changing your lifestyle may mean you wouldn't need to have a breast reduction."

Two of the best and greenest reusable food container brands
Many health-conscious individuals understand the value in preparing healthy food at home for both themselves and their children. Not only is this practice economical, but it provides a superior option to fast food and school lunchroom fare. In response to this growing trend, many companies have begun to spring up that make reusable eating ware.

Plastic bags and containers, which are most commonly used to tote food on-the-go, are now known to leech dangerous chemicals into food. So are there any practical, safe alternatives? In this review, I have evaluated two of the top reusable eating ware brands that are safe, environmentally-friendly, plastic-free and practical.

Eco Ditty makes sandwich and snack bags that are composed of 100 percent organic cotton. The idea was birthed out of the discovery that the founder's daughter was allergic to PVC plastic and that a suitable alternative was needed.

The variety of unique exterior designs are printed with low-impact inks and dyes while the interior liners that come into contact with the food are un-dyed. (Although low-impact dyes are still petroleum-derived, they are the best available alternative to conventional dyes when printing vibrant colors on fabric. Low-impact dyes are commonly used on organic fabric products and are generally considered to be safe and non-toxic.)

The neat thing about Eco Ditty's bags is that they are fully adjustable in size and can be washed in the dishwasher, by hand or in the washing machine. Because they are organic, you do not need to worry about GMO or pesticide contamination, which earned this company the top pick status in this category.

ECO Lunchbox makes handmade lunch bags, napkins, stainless-steel food containers and sustainable bamboo and steel utensils, all of which can be purchased separately or in a single kit. All the pieces are lead-free, BPA-free, PVC-free and vinyl-free, and there are many different styles from which to choose. Founder Sandra Harris originally developed the products to provide a practical, safe and environmentally-friendly way to pack lunches for her children.

The neat thing about the company's stainless-steel food containers is that even the lids are made from steel, ensuring that food does not come into contact with any plastic. At the same time, they are not 100 percent leak-proof like some other brands that use plastic are, so there is a trade-off involved. However aside from glass which is breakable, stainless-steel seems to be the best option for safe food containers.

The products are sustainably-produced, but the only current drawback is the company's use of non-organic cotton in its napkins. Sandra Harris, founder of ECO Lunchbox, indicated that she is actively working towards bringing in a quality source for organic cotton to be used in the future.

Overall, both the company ethic and the product quality are impressive, so ECO Lunchbox earns a top spot for highly recommended reusable eating ware.

Your Pet Needs Healthy Food Too
Pet owners must realize just how important nutrition is to the health of their pets, and they are beginning to pay more attention to what they are feeding their cats and dogs. To keep your pet healthy, extend your pet's life and save on vet bills, it's just as important for your pet to eat healthy as it is for you. A perceptive owner is aware that a healthy pet has clear bright eyes, brilliant coat sheen, clean teeth, good breath, and a playful happy attitude. Unfortunately, many pets are unhealthy, attributed to their diet, and suffer from health problems, such as allergies, diabetes, cancer, ear infections, irritable bowel, urinary tract infections, bladder stones, scratching and skin and coat issues.

Holistic vets believe that the harmful ingredients in most pet foods are factors that lead to various illnesses and chronic problems in the lives of pets and they advise pet owners to provide natural dog and cat food. Many well-known large commercial pet food companies advertise that their food is natural and healthy and contains fresh vegetables and lean cuts of meat. But a look at the ingredients is a different story. Questionable potentially harmful ingredients are: animal by-products, artificial colors and flavors and chemical preservatives like BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin, a cancer-causing preservative. Many pet medical conditions are believed to
be directly linked to diet since pet foods contain wheat, corn and soy---- the top three allergy-causing grains; in addition, by-products, partial grains and unidentified meat sources are problem-causing also.

Dr. Sandra Sargent, vet dermatologist at Pittsburgh Vet Specialty and Emergency Center in Ohio Township says, "The vast majority of food allergies in pets are sensitivities to beef, dairy, wheat, corn, soy, chicken, turkey and eggs. A smaller percentage is to preservatives and dyes." She also states that if your pet is sensitive to chicken, then any diet containing chicken will cause problems. Only 10-15 percent of skin conditions are pure food allergies. A higher percentage is thought to be a combination of food and environmental allergies (pollen, dust, mold etc.).

Dr. Doug Knueven of Beaver Animal Clinic, near Pittsburgh, one of the few holistic vets in the area, recommends supplementing processed pet food with a small amount of people food (meats and vegetables, not pizza or fatty table scraps.) Dr. Knueven recommends switching foods every month to avoid nutritional deficiencies or toxicities.

Why is all-natural pet food so healthy? It contains no rendered by-products such as intestines, heads, feet or feathers, no harmful fillers and no chemical additives, and it only contains human-grade ingredients. Healthy natural food has quality ingredients, nutritional adequacy and no harmful chemicals. It has meat amino acids and basic building blocks for muscle, skin, coat, bone, blood and immune system. In addition, it contains essential fatty acids, all natural preservatives and a combination of mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E) and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).

Pet food companies are self-regulated and food from reliable companies is tested voluntarily on pets of all ages. Various aspects of the animals' overall health are monitored including age, weight, activity level, stool and urine, allergy sensitivity, and hair and skin conditions.

According to the National Pet Owners Survey in 2005-06, 63 percent of all U.S. households owned pets----73 million dogs and 90 million cats. The pet industry is big business. In 2008 $41 billion was spent on pet food, shelter, healthcare and luxuries, double what was spent just ten years ago.

If you are into healthy eating, why not do the same for your pet? Check the ingredients in your pet's food and see if it is healthy. Your pet's health is your choice.

The best organic pet food brands revealed
A stroll down the pet food aisle at the local pet store can be overwhelming. The shelves are full of countless brands all claiming to have the best formulations for your furry friend. Many brands are now selling "natural" and organic lines in order to attract discerning shoppers who are concerned about finding the healthiest food for their pets. So which brands truly deliver?

While some people may argue that fresh or raw foods are the best route to take when feeding your pet, not everyone has the time to prepare these kinds of meals, or access to affordable ingredients in order to make them. While many premium pet food brands can be quite expensive themselves, it is often the more practical choice for people who care about their health of their pets but prefer the convenience of dry kibble.

In this review, I will highlight a few of the best organic dry pet food brands I have found based on the quality and source of their ingredients. While I would highly recommend investigating them for yourself, these are some of the best formulas that use at least 95 percent organic ingredients, and the companies seem to embody principles that are in line with our philosophy here at Natural News.

Also, it is always good to sample these products first to make sure your pet will eat them. If your pet is used to some of the cheaper brands that use additives to improve palatability, it may not like some of these premium formulas which often do not smell or taste the same.

Another excellent organic dry pet food is the Castor & Pollux Organix line of pet foods. The first ingredient in every Castor & Pollux dry food is certified organic, free-range chicken. Most of the ingredients are organic and the ones that are not are still reviewed and approved by an organic certifying agency.

Like PetGuard, none of the Castor & Pollux Organix products contain any ethoxyquin, and they are free of common allergens like corn and wheat. Some of the formulas do contain organic soybean seeds, however, so make sure your pet is not allergic to them before buying.

My dog happens to love Castor & Pollux Organix canned chicken formulas more than any other brand I have tried thus far. And I feel good knowing that the ingredients are mostly organic and do not include dangerous chemicals and preservative.

Natura's entire line of pet foods is truly remarkable, but its Karma organic line for dogs is even better. Made from over 95 percent certified organic ingredients, Karma is made of organic chicken and a variety of organic whole grains. It also contains no wheat, soy or corn.

Natura's manufacturing process is also quite impressive, as the food must undergo over 100 quality-control checks before being shipped to stores. Natura also utilizes unique cooking and processing techniques that cook the food as gently as possible, preserving more natural nutrients than most other brands. This is noteworthy because most pet foods are cooked at extreme temperatures which strip them of most of their nutrients and enzymes

The company is also highly committed to sourcing only the best ingredients available. It uses no artificial chemicals or preservatives, and its products do not contain ethoxyquin.

PetGuard is one of the few pet food makers that produces a line of certified organic foods. That certification alone sets this brand apart from most other brands by ensuring that superior ingredients are used in these formulations. The company is family-owned and operated and sources all of its ingredients from the U.S., which is an additional plus. Not every company can make this claim, and when speaking with them directly, I got a real sense about their commitment to quality.

PetGuard's organic line is made with more than 95 percent organic ingredients. Its all life stages dog formula does contain whole ground soybeans, which I consider to be a negative, but at least they are organic. The company also makes an organic vegetarian formula for dogs that is free of soy.

PetGuard uses "human grade" ingredients, though it cannot legally say so. There are no GMOs in any of its formulas and the company uses only natural preservatives like vitamins C and E. There are no animal by-products in any of its formulas and the company does not use ethoxyquin, a dangerous chemical preservative made by Monsanto, in any of its formulas.
We will have most of these Brands available for purchase very soon. So check back!


As always, thanks for reading! We look forward to bringing you the latest in Natural News.

The Team at
Holistic Health Houston

Call us now! (713) 677-3999
Or visit http://www.holistichealthhouston.com/