Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Is Vitamin D Deficiency The Cause Of Obesity ? Find Out.




                                                               Pure Raw Food Multi-Vitamin


 
One third of Americans are obese.  While much of that epidemic is surely due to playing Nintendo instead of baseball, or the consumption of soft drinks instead of water, does that explain it all?  Is it a coincidence that the twin epidemics of obesity and vitamin D deficiency are occurring together? 

Take this short quiz to test your knowledge of the scientific literature concerning vitamin D and obesity.  Remember, alternative explanations exist for all of these findings.  However, in the end, the answer is really quite simple.
1.         Which of the following is true?
A.        Weight increases with higher latitude,
B.         Weight increases with lower altitude,
C.        Weight increases in the winter,
D.        All of the above

D, all of the above are true.  While the seasonal variation in weight is well known, the variations with latitude and altitude are less well known.  Different explanations exist for all three associations but vitamin D provides a parsimonious explanation as vitamin D decreases with higher latitude, lower altitude and with the winter.  


2.  When aboriginal populations migrate from high altitude to low altitude, without significantly changing their diet, body fat increases.
A.        True.
B.         False.

True.  As vitamin D production is less at lower altitude, a vitamin D theory of obesity would predict such a change.


3.         Studies show that populations whose religious customs dictate that the skin be covered, such as Arabs, do not show variations in weight based on altitude.  Populations that do not cover the skin, such as central Asians, show variations in weight based on altitude.
A.        True
B.         False

True.  Saudi Arabians, who often cover their skin and make little vitamin D, show no associations between altitude and weight, while central Asians, who do not cover their skin, are leaner at higher altitudes where more vitamin D would be made in the skin.
 

4.         Current scientific literature makes it likely that vitamin D reduces weight. 
A.        True
B.         False

True.  Higher calcium intake is consistently associated with lower body weight, a topic recently reviewed by Heaney.  As vitamin D significantly increases calcium absorption, it seems likely that higher intakes of vitamin D would decrease body weight, even if the vitamin itself had no direct effect on weight.


5.         Vitamin D and calcium, when taken together, suppress spontaneous food intake and burn fat.
A.        True.
B.         False 

True.  This month, two human feeding studies using calcium (543 mg) and vitamin D (349 units) indicated that the combination of both reduced subsequent spontaneous food intake and increased the metabolism of fat.


6.         Genetic abnormalities of the vitamin D receptor (called VDR polymorphisms) are associated with body weight and fat mass.

A.        True
B.         False

True.  Patients with VDR polymorphisms have reduced vitamin D activity at their receptors and usually show an increased incidence of vitamin D related diseases.  Although VDR polymorphism studies are often contradictory, they tend to show associations with body weight.


7.         Blood parathyroid levels, which are elevated in vitamin D deficiency, predict obesity.

A.        True
B.         False

True.  Vitamin D deficiency is associated with elevated parathyroid hormone levels.  If vitamin D deficiency caused obesity, than obese patients should have elevated blood parathyroid hormone levels.  In fact, the association between obesity and elevated parathormone levels is well known.

8.         Scientists have found that vitamin D blood levels are lower in obese subjects than in thin subjects.

A.        True.
B.         False.

True. Only two studies examined actual vitamin D levels in obese subjects. One found dramatically lower levels in obese subjects.  A South Carolina study found all of the obese subjects had levels below 2.2 ng/ml while all of the nonobese subjects had levels above 8 ng/ml.  (These are vitamin D levels, not 25(OH)D levels.)


9.         If vitamin D deficiency explains some cases of obesity, then studies have consistently shown that 25(OH)D levels are lower in obese subjects.
A.        True.
B.         False.

True.  Starting in 1981, at least ten studies have shown exactly that, some of which are listed below.  Some studies have also shown a linear association, that is, the higher your 25(OH)D levels, the less you weigh.  Not only weight, but percentage of body fat, increases as 25(OH)D levels fall.

10.       Obese subjects obtain lower 25(OH)D levels when exposed to ultraviolet light or when they take supplemental vitamin D.
A.        True.
B.         False.

True.  Obese subjects appear to deposit some their vitamin D in their excessive fatty tissue, thus impairing their ability to raise their 25(OH)D levels. 

11.       The theory that vitamin D deficiency contributes to some cases of obesity, would mean that obesity is linked with other diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency, such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. 
A.        True.
B.         False.

True.  Obesity and vitamin D deficiency are comorbid with numerous diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, depression and even periodontal disease.  This is consistent with the theory that vitamin D deficiency plays a role in obesity.

12.       As obesity is associated with early death, and low vitamin D levels are more likely in the winter, then you are more likely to die in the winter.
A.        True
B.         False
True.  Scientists have known about and debated the cause of excess winter deaths for years. 

13.       If vitamin D deficiency is one of the treatable causes of obesity, then a study has shown that the more vitamin D in your diet, the less you weigh.
A.        True.
B.         False.
True.  Last year, a Norwegian group reported just that.  The authors concluded, “placebo-controlled intervention studies with calcium and vitamin D, in which the primary end point is weight change, are warranted.” 

Conclusions:
Will taking vitamin D cause you to lose weight?  No one knows.  Is it a coincidence that the twin epidemics of obesity and vitamin D deficiency are occurring together?  Alternative explanations exist for all the above findings.  A vitamin D feeding study designed to answer that specific question is needed, using physiological doses of vitamin D (5,000 units) or, alternatively, enough vitamin D to raise 25(OH)D levels into the high normal range.  In addition, both the study group and one of the control arms needs to get adequate supplemental calcium, at least 1500 mg/day, to assure calcium cannot explain any findings. 
In the meantime, what should you do?  If you are overweight, make certain you are not vitamin D deficient.  And if you are slim, make certain you are not vitamin D deficient.  It is really quite simple.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

5 things you never knew about diabetes

1. At any time of the day anyone can have high blood sugar

2. Diabetes can be induced by being under too much stress.

3. Anyone that is 20 pounds or more overweight is considered pre-diabetic.

making dietary lifestyle changes which includes removing carbohydrates from your diet is key to weight loss.

4. The best exercise is walking for 20-30 min. It is important to wait 60 min after a lunch or evening meal to reduce blood sugar and increase metabolism to lose weight. Exercising soon after a meal does nothing. Insulin is still in the bloodstream. You have to wait for the insulin hormone to decrease after eating in order to gain the maximum benefit form exercise.

5. A bagel contains just as much sugar as a donut. Both can hike up your blood sugar. If you are overweight it is best to substitute nuts or vegetable snacks instead of eating carbs to lose weight.

Friday, October 28, 2011

The Five Fastest Fat Burning Foods

Fat burning foods are foods that work to help you lose weight. For example, let’s say you eat a cup of pudding for dessert and it contains 100 calories. Your body may only burn off 25 calories and you will have 75 calories just sitting there waiting to be converted into fat. Fat burning foods are low in calories and take even more calories to burn off. They are also known as negative calorie foods. For example, if you eat an average sized apple, it contains 45 calories. Because of the consistency of the apple it takes about 80 calories to work and process that apple. By eating the apple you have burned off 35 extra calories. When you are dieting you want to add foods to your list that have the properties to work with you to help burn off excess and stored weight. As a general rule, it’s good to do everything in moderation. There are some die hard fitness guru’s out there that advise people to load up on fat burning foods. If you did that, you would not be happy because it would be a boring and flavorless diet.
Mix it up a little and combine it to your own taste with healthy foods that you enjoy.
5. Salmon
Salmon contains digestible proteins, also known as amino acids. Many medical researchers recommend it for its pure source of Omega 3 fatty acids. The Omega 3 helps to reduce cholesterol. The fatter the Salmon is, the healthier it is to eat. Salmon lowers blood sugar. I have seen diabetic patients eat salmon and then an hour later feel an extreme blood sugar drop. It works fast because it increases the influence of insulin in the body.
4. Turkey
When you remove the skin, Turkey becomes a protein filled lean fat burner. Because of its high protein content, you feel more satisfied and full after eating. Turkey naturally contains tryptophan which also helps you to feel more relaxed. When eaten in large portions, turkey can make you feel sleepy. Turkey also contains Leucine an amino acid that helps your muscles to use glucose instead of storing it as fat. In addition, Leucine triggers the ability to feel fuller faster without consuming large quantities of food. All the top diet books incorporate turkey into their meal plan.
3. Green Tea
I do not mean the sweetened Green Tea sold in bottles and cans. A warm cup of plain green tea fires up the metabolism with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a natural fat burner. Some diet companies add this to diet pills and they dump extra caffeine in there to stoke the fire. Store bought diet pills with Green Tea are unnecessary. You will receive better healthful benefit by just drinking a warm cup. Under the principles of Ayurvedic and Oriental medicine, the warmth of the tea accelerates your body’s natural fat burning furnace.

2. Hot Pepper
A dash of jalepeno, habanero or cayenne pepper can help increase your ability to burn fat by 25%. The owner of my favorite Thai restaurant in Chicago has had eight children and has maintained her same weight since the age of 16. Her secret, she adds a dash of cayenne pepper sauce to her hot soup. These peppers contain Capsaicin. When you eat a bit of hot pepper with your meal, you break out in a sweat because it revs your metabolism. Eating pepper with a meal also helps you to reduce your appetite and feel satisfied on eating less food. No need to go overboard, just a dash to comfortably flavor your meal should do the trick.

1. Lemon
Lemon is a natural alkalizer. A squeeze of lemon in water in between meals helps to reduce acid in your body. Dr. Michelle Schoffro- Cook, author of the “Ultimate Ph Solution”, advises all people, dieting or not, to drink a fresh lemon wedge squeezed in water. The lemon coverts the fresh water into an alkalizing beverage that detoxifies and removes impurities from the blood. There are people who wake up very congested where lemon would help eliminate the mucous. Getting in the habit of drinking lemon and water would help remove harmful acids caused by eating processed food. The harmful acid robs the body of being able to absorb healthy nutrients. Lemon also breaks down and emulsifies fat deposits as well as the toxins that inhibit weight loss.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Why Everyone Should Take Digestive Enzymes. Important and Essential.

Digestive enzymes are essential for life all cells require enzymes to survive and function. Enzymes create chemical reactions in the body and are vital to the body's ability to correctly break down and process the food we eat. As a body ages, enzyme production decreases. Many people do not realize that not being able to eat spicy foods, dairy products, and food in general is a sign of enzyme deficiency. I have heard many people say, " Why can't I eat the same foods anymore ?" or " I can' t eat as much anymore. " The reason is enzyme deficiency. Further, they do not realize that a lack of enzymes can contribute to an increase in body pain and a lack of stamina as well as hindering the body's ability to heal a wound.

Enzyme deficiency occurs for many reasons including : poor diet, fast food, and excessive intake of fats and sugars. These "reasons" require excessive enzymes to break down the food in the body. The body gets tried of producing enzymes so fast. The digestion of food is a large drain on the body. Ideally, when you digest your food your body should break down what you eat into small, energy producing particles to fuel your body with what it needs to run. when there is a lack of enzymes, food doesn't really digest. Instead you get gas ,indigestion, and bloating. It may also drain and clog your system with hazardous by-products producing food allergies, yeast, bacteria, and other undesirable factors. Stress, environmental pollution, illness, and chemicals diminish the body's capacity to effectively produce enzymes.
Many researchers now view the aging process as nothing more than a severe enzyme deficiency that leaves the body unable to maintain optimal function, The aging process can actually be delayed by taking enzyme supplements.

Since Enzymes are a crucial function in the body, a deficiency can also lead to more serious illnesses or diseases. Enzyme Deficiency Conditions are seen in people who suffer from:
Sugar Intolerance, Hypoglycemia, High cholesterol, Leaky Gut Syndrome, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Chronic Fatigue, Diabetes, Arthritis, Obesity , Cancer, Decreased Mobility, Lowered Immunity, Ulcers.

Many people who experience the following illnesses have turned to medication for relief. These medicines may alleviate the symptoms but it does not solve the root of the problem, enzyme deficiency. A digestive enzymes deficiency can increase the likelihood that undigested food will enter the colon. which cause the formation of bacteria, gas, and toxins. Poor digestion can increase the undigested nutrient build up in the blood stream, which has been associated with : Burping, Gas, Heartburn, Acid Reflux, Diarrhea, Nausea, Constipation, Gurgles, Fatigue, Food Allergies, Cramping, Acid Reflux, Bloating, Water Retention and Acne..

I have found a product to replace the enzymes balance in the body safely and naturally, It is called digestive enzymes . This product is based from natural plants making it truly 100% natural.
Digestive enzymes contains several types of enzymes:

Protease - to break down the protein in the body. This is VERY important to building and repairing muscles ( including the heart) Research has shown that swollen joints contain protein rich fluids which are the cause of the joint swelling. Protease can help people with arthritis and joint pain to break down the protein before it reaches the blood stream and settles into the joints. Protein build up in the body has also been associated to decreased libido, clogged arteries, and free radical damage.

Lipase - The fat digester ! A Lipase deficiency results in only a partial breakdown of fats which can cause the formation tryglycerides. The nasty tryglycerides bond together to form fat cells, and worse yet, they convert into Cholesterol which gets deposited in the arteries. However., fats are essential in creating a healthy body. Taking Digestive Enzymes can actually help to lower cholesterol and break down ingested fats into essential fatty acids, resulting in beautiful hair, skin and nails.

Amylase- Digests Sugars and starches in the body. This helps control blood sugar levels.
" hypoglycemia" , and breaks down starches into usable energy. This breakdown is essential for today's high - carbohydrate diets which include alot of hard to process junk foods. The body converts undigested carbohydrates and sugar levels into fat. By adding, Digestive Enzymes to your diet, you will effectively prevent excessive absorption of fat.

Lactase: Digests the milk sugar lactose. hundreds of thousands of people are lactose intolerant. this leads to unwanted gas and uncomfortable indigestion after eating ice cream, milk, cheese, and some yogurts. The lactase in Digestive Enzymes will help curtail these symptoms and many more.

Cellulase : the only enzyme that the body does not manufacture itself. Although you may be eating a high fiber diet, the fiber does not benefit the body unless it is broken down. Only then it can be effective in lowering cholesterol or helping reduce the risk of colon cancer.
Acidophilus: The friendly bacteria. Your body needs acidophilus to fight off infections while boosting your immune system.

How Are Enzymes Measured?
The Food Chemicals Codex ( F.C. C.) regulates enzymes and is published by the National Academy Press, funded by the Food and Drug Administration, through the Food Nutrition Board of the National Research Council. The F.C.C. is the only standard for evaluating fungal enzymes( The kind used in Nu- Zymes). Nu- Zymes is manufactured in and F. D. A and F.C. C.
approved facility.

What can I expect?

Many people suffering from stomach discomfort, like gas, bloating, heartburn, cramping, fatigue after eating a meal, cravings or upset stomach have reported improvements in these symptoms after a few meals of adding digestive enzymes to their diet.

People suffering from chronic stomach problem, like acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome or ulcers, results take longer to notice and will depend on the severity of the physical condition. Many people notice results from these conditions within 2-3 weeks of taking digestive enzymes according to the directions.

An adequate supply of enzymes in the body is essential for the body to keep youthful and healthy. According to some researchers, enzymes fight the aging process by increasing the blood supply to the skin, which delivers nutrients while carrying away waste products which can make the skin look dull and wrinkled.

People who are overweight will notice a reduction in food cravings and increased energy with weight loss. Can I take digestive enzymes while I am on medication?

Digestive enzymes are 100% natural. It has not been shown to interact with any medications. If you are on a prescription medicine it is best for you to first consult your physician to see digestive enzymes is appropriate for you.

Can I take digestive enzymes with my vitamins?

Enzymes actually help to activate the vitamins you are taking by breaking them down into the blood for the cells to absorb the nutrition before your body eliminates them.

I want to give digestive enzymes to my kids is there an age limit?

Digestive enzymes can be given to children. Children eat the same enzyme deficient foods as adults and can benefit from enzyme supplementation. many parents have reported seeing improved physical symptoms and increase concentration in their children. However, it is best for you to first consult your physician to see if digestive enzymes are appropriate for you.

Can I take digestive enzymes if I am Nursing?

digestive enzymes do not have an negative effect on breast milk. And with your doctors permission, digestive enzyme may even be added to infant formula to help with colic.

What if I have trouble swallowing pills?
Digestive enzyme capsules can be opened and sprinkled on an adult or child's meal or added to water for a liquid supplement.

Top Digestive Enzymes Sold:



Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Lose 20 pounds in 30 days

Before you think this sounds like a tabloid article or a story to sell Women’s magazines. There are many articles that claim to have the answer on how to lose weight fast. The diet industry is a 40 billion dollar a year industry. It is not in their best interest to help you. They try to hook you with auto shipment of products and maintaining on plans.
I speak to many patients at HealthCore Clinic (Streamwood, IL) who afraid of putting on weight after being on a shake or packaged food diet plan. They live in terror with every morsel they put in their mouth.  I hate to see people living in fear. No one I ever speak to is completely satisfied with how their body looks. My goal in writing this article is to share with you the keys to the city of weight loss and health. Where you exist not living in fear if your meal or shake did not arrive on time.
I will outline some simple strategies that help weight melt off and keep off.
The power of breath
 When we breathe, we burn calories. When we burn calories, we lose weight.  When we exercise to lose weight we are forcing our bodies to breathe at a different pace which speeds the calorie burning process. The power of deep breathing acts as an extreme oxygen builder to stoke your body’s furnace to lose weight. By taking ten simple breaths before you eat each meal you can create the same effect of turning up your body’s furnace to lose weight. Simply inhale through your nose for 10 seconds. Hold your break for 40 seconds. Then, exhale slowly through your mouth for 20 seconds. This may take some practice. Breathing in what is called a 1:4:2 ratio ( 10sec/40sec/20sec) by inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth works just like exercise. The power of breath can help you lose weight. When you try this, notice how your heart speeds up and you are breathing more fully just like you worked out.
The power of eating early
 Research has shown having your biggest meal early in the day either by having a big breakfast then light lunch and light dinner or alternating to having lunch being your biggest meal can help you lose weight. Eating too late before going to sleep only piles on pounds. It is best to eat earlier in the day where you have enough time for your food to digest and burn off through your daily activity. Most people make this simple adjustment and notice the weight loss in their first week.

The power of food combining.
 Proper food combining helps you digest food faster. There are certain foods that do not go together.It is a bad idea to eat meat with potatoes or bread. Meat is acidic in nature and potatoes are alkaline.  Meat is best digested when eaten solely with vegetables. This helps speed the digestion and calorie burning process of your meal. Potatoes are best eaten with vegetables.  Fruit is best eaten first thing in the morning or two hours after dinner. Fruit does not mix well with meat or vegetables and can cause a digestive slump that delays the calorie burning process. Cheeses, Breads and Pasta clog your digestive system and are best eaten every three days. It takes three days to burn of the carbohydrate content in two slices of bread or a bowl of rice. Our bodies do not thrive well on eating breads and dairy daily when you are trying to lose weight. When you lose the weight you desire you can slowly re-introduce breads and dairy in moderation.

The power of no sugar
Notice how I did not say “sugar free”. If you Google the ingredients in sugar free products you will have to assess if the intake of sugar free additives are worth the health risk. I interviewed several people who simply cut their normal sugar intake to 50-75 mg per day total (including all food and beverage) and lost a whopping 20-30 pounds in one day. The average person consumes a little over 100 grams of sugar per day in their diet. Overweight individuals consume 400 or more milligrams of sugar in one day.  I have written in other articles that back in the early 1700’s and 1800’s the average person consumed less than 25mg of sugar per day. With today’s food it is a big challenge. If you reduce your sugar intake, your weight will melt off, guaranteed. Out of all the steps I outlined. This is by far the fastest and most effective. Once you reduce your sugar intake, your body will start tapping into your fat stores for energy and you will burn fat and become lean. The hardest part is getting used to the taste of missing sugar.
I will also guarantee once you get off sugar for one week and you try tasting it, your mouth will cringe because you will have become sugar sensitive and what you used to enjoy will now taste too sweet.
Ways we can reduce sugar is by eliminating juice and high sugar fruits from our diet.  You can eliminate soda. You can try a lemon or lime wedge with sparkling water.  You can try tasting iced or hot herbal teas that taste good without any sugar or honey (for example, berry teas, peppermint tea, orange blossom teas).   Before you eat a packaged food , look at the sugar grams. Try having snacks and beverages in their more natural state. There is a food glycemic index list (http://www.glycemicindex.com/) where you can check the amount of sugar in food items.  All foods contain some form of sugar through carbohydrate content or glucose, fructose or sucrose. Your goal is to first be aware of how much sugar you currently consume and then decrease it by substituting for better alternatives.  Reduce your sugar and you will see the results happen.



Tuesday, October 18, 2011

B12- 1,000 mcg methylcobalamin, recommended for hCG Diet Support


Dosage : One dropperful per day will provide the daily nutrition requirements
My Story: Why Do I Sell This Vitamin?
Methylcobalamin is offered in many health food stores and on websites. But just like buying most things, there are standards of quality. I have been researching alternative health since 1993 and have read over 3100 books. I am also published online and in news articles as an expert in alternative health and wellness. I researched to offer the highest grade of vitamin currently available.
It’s a one ounce bottle bottle that will last you 30 days!
We offer a professional strength quality of Methylcobalamin in B-Complete. Our bottle is blue and our label is customized to keep light out. B-Complete is best stored in a cool place.  This product is manufactured in an FDA approved lab that only produces products to be sold at clinics. Therefore the price of the grade ingredients is much higher because you are receiving the condensed real product with no artificial fillers. Most companies who manufacture B vitamin supplements use overseas components and ingredients and assemble them in the USA. The lab that produces this product uses vitamins only manufactured under FDA inspection in a USA lab. The difference is we know that we have not cut ingredients with rice powder or other syrup fillers and you are receiving a pure dosage quality. We also know you are receiving the best quality of ingredients available.
One dropperful goes a long way to fulfill your daily needs.
My Personal Vitamin Success
Long story short, 3 years ago I was over 70 pounds overweight after a pregnancy and I had high blood pressure. I became frightened when I literally had a menstrual cycle for 3 months straight. Conventional medicine only offered surgical solutions. I had contacted a provider of saliva and hormonal testing at Sabre Sciences in California. I was what was called a “Methylhylater”, which meant the regular B vitamins that contain Cycanocobalamin, were causing me to retain water weight . They were also causing me to bleed severely.  Cycanocobalamin leaves a cyanide residue in the blood stream. It is often used in regular B- vitamins. The best option was to use the Methylcobalamin form of Vitamin B. I used this in a transdermal crème and I still do. I offer the crème if you are interested. Please let me know. The purpose of using the crème is for the vitamins to go right into the blood stream by, bypassing the liver, in order to help heal the adrenal glands. After much more research, I also found the oral benefit of taking B-complete that works very well in full vitamin B absorption without the side effects of traditional Vitamin B.
I also researched a homeopathic protocol because I was advised to take hCG injections to lose weight. But they were painful and expensive. Instead, I lost weight and kept it off with a homeopathic format of hCG drops that are manufactured in a USA approved lab.

We provide them on our website www.hcghealthshop.com.  I welcome you to read about the drops and how they work very well to help influence weight loss of .5-  2 pounds a day. Our company is founded on people who have lost 50 pounds or more and have kept it off.
If your current diet regime is working for you, Great ! We want you to experience the added benefit of using the B-Complete supplement. The ingredients help your maintain optimal vital organ health. Taking a pure format of B vitamins relieves stress of weight loss on the heart, pancreas, and kidneys.  It also influences weight loss without having the hanging flab.
Here are other benefits of using B- Complete Vitamin Supplement:
Methylcobalamin is a biologically active  form of Vitamin B12 . This means that your body can use it immediately  without going through any metabolic steps to make it “body friendly”.

Methylcobalamin is considered the most potent form of Vitamin B12 found in nature and the only active form of Vitamin B-12 in the brain outside the mitochondria. We need methylcobalamin for the healthy development and sustenance of our circulatory, immune and nervous systems.
Used in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, and as a preliminary treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Methylcobalamin plays an important role in the environment. It is produced preferentially by some bacteria. In the environment, it is responsible for the biomethylation of certain heavy metals.
Supplementation with megadoses of methylcobalamin has been advocated to protect the cognitive function of patients suffering chronic fatigue syndrome, stroke, depression, Alzheimers disease and other neurological diseases. The rationale is that methycobalamin may help to remove brain-damaging levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate. Methylcobalamin has reported to have been used to reduce neurotoxicity and lower excess glutamate levels, resulting in the reduction of fatigue, stabilisation of mood, improvement of memory and executive function.
It is an important part of regulating the waking and sleep cycle factors in daily rest. Acts as a cofactor for methionine synthase in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine, thus lowering blood levels of homocysteine. Methylcobalamin acts as a methyl donor and participates in the synthesis of SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine), a nutrient that has powerful mood elevating properties.

3.       ^ J. C. Fontecilla-Camps, Patricia Amara, Christine Cavazza, Yvain Nicolet, Anne Volbeda





Sunday, October 9, 2011

Raising "Good" Cholesterol Levels Reduces Heart Attack & Stroke Risk in Diabetes Patients

Our natural research tip:

Are you raising your Good Cholesterol ? Easy tip. Take Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. It raises good cholesterol and lowers blood sugar.

 

Kaiser Permanente Study Also Finds Heart Attack & Stroke Risk Increase when "Good" Cholesterol Levels Go Down

PR Newswire
PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Increasing levels of high-density lipoproteins, better known as HDL or "good" cholesterol, reduced the risk for heart attack and stroke among patients with diabetes. That's according to a new study appearing online today in The American Journal of Cardiology.
The observational study, one of the largest of its kind, examined the medical records of more than 30,000 patients with diabetes and also found that patients whose HDL levels decreased had more heart attacks and strokes.
Researchers studied patients with diabetes because they are more prone to heart disease with a lifetime risk as high as 87 percent, according to a paper from the landmark Framingham heart study published 2008. While there is considerable evidence that reducing the amount of low-density lipoprotein, also known as LDL or "bad" cholesterol, can reduce the risk of heart disease, the relationship between HDL cholesterol and heart disease is less clear.
"Our study adds to the growing body of evidence that raising HDL levels may be an important strategy for reducing heart attack risk," said study lead author Gregory Nichols, PhD, senior investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore.
"This is promising news for patients with diabetes, who already have an increased risk for heart problems. Raising their good cholesterol may be one more way for these patients to reduce their risk," said Suma Vupputuri, PhD, co-author and investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Atlanta.
The study included 30,067 patients who entered Kaiser Permanente diabetes registries in Oregon, Washington and Georgia between 2001 and 2006. These patients had at least two HDL cholesterol measurements between 6 and 24 months apart. Most patients (61 percent) had no significant change in HDL levels; in 22 percent of patients, HDL levels increased by at least 6.5 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter of blood); in 17 percent of patients, HDL levels decreased by at least that same amount. After obtaining the cholesterol measurement, researchers followed the patients for up to 8 years to see if they were hospitalized for a heart attack or stroke. Patients whose HDL levels increased had 8 percent fewer heart attacks and strokes than patients whose HDL levels remained the same, while patients whose HDL levels decreased had 11 percent more heart attacks and strokes. This study was observational so there was no intervention to change HDL levels, and although many patients were on statins to reduce their "bad" cholesterol, very few were on medications to improve HDL.
Past studies on this topic have reached contradictory conclusions. A study published in 2009 in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that for every 5 mg/dl improvement in HDL cholesterol level patients saw a 21 percent decrease in heart attack risk.  But a systematic review of more than 100 clinical trials published in the British Medical Journal in 2009 found that increasing HDL cholesterol did not reduce the risk of heart disease or death.
Earlier this year the National Institutes of Health stopped a clinical trial using large doses of the B Vitamin niacin to boost HDL levels because the patients, who were already taking statins to reduce their "bad" cholesterol, saw no added reduction in heart attacks when they added niacin.  Niacin is one of very few medications to increase HDL, but it can also have side effects such as flushing, vomiting, dizziness and itching.
People can raise their HDL levels without medication by keeping their weight down, changing their diet, avoiding tobacco smoke, and increasing exercise. Medical experts believe that HDL or "good" cholesterol carries the "bad" cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver where it is processed and passed from the body. According to the American Diabetes Association, a good target for women should be at least 50 mg/dl of HDL and for men at least 40 mg/dl.  Levels of 60 mg/dl or higher are thought to protect against heart disease.
The study was funded by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, which makes a diabetes medication called Actos (pioglitazone) that other studies have shown modestly raises HDL. Authors include Gregory A. Nichols, PhD, and A. Gabriela Rosales, MS, from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore., and Suma Vupputuri, PhD, at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Atlanta.
About the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research ( http://www.kpchr.org/ )
The Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, founded in 1964, is a nonprofit research institution dedicated to advancing knowledge to improve health. It has research sites in Portland, Honolulu, and Atlanta.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.8 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: http://media.prnewswire.com/Documents%20and%20Settings/sawyersma/Local%20Settings/sawyersma/Local%20Settings/Temp/Local%20Settings/Local%20Settings/sawyersma/sawyersma/Local%20Settings/sawyersma/Local%20Settings/sawyersma/sawyersma/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLKCF/www.kp.org/.
F or more information
Emiyl Schwartz, eschwartz@goilnharis.com, 415-318-4371
Mary Sawyers, mary.a.sawyers@kpchr.org, 503 335 6602
SOURCE Kaiser Permanente