Articles by Donna DiMarco

Healthy bones are needed for support, protection of vital organs (like the brain, lungs and heart), movement, storage of minerals, and formation of blood cells.  And yet, with these important responsibilities, many people don’t address what is really needed to maintain bone health, and end up with osteoporosis.  Osteoporosis affects men almost as much as women.  There is a simple test you can ask your doctor for, called N-telopeptide.  This simple urine test measures how much bone is being broken down and excreted. 

We have all been told that it is because we lack calcium and now the savvy say we lack vitamin D as well, but I say there is a lot more involved.  For instance, vitamins K and A are necessary to make the bone protein called osteocalcin, which is needed in bone health.  Osteocalcin plays a role in weight control and insulin reception.  Maybe healthy bones are needed for the maintenance and prevention of diabetes and obesity.
Vitamin K is found in many green vegetables.  Vitamin A, along with essential fatty acids are found in fish oils.

Inflammation can affect bone health since it promotes the body to produce cortisol, which stimulates the breakdown of bone.  If you have any inflammatory process that requires anti-inflammatory meds like aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc. on a regular basis, you may be losing bone density.  Regular use of prednisone or any cortisone-like medication will stimulate bone loss.  Instead of masking the pain, find out what is causing the inflammation and fix it.

Studies show that people with elevated homocysteine (an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease) have an increased incidence of osteoporosis.  We are not sure if it is the homocysteine itself that affects the bones or the deficiency of vitamins B-6, B-12 and Folate, all of which help keep homocysteine low.  Be sure to test your own homocysteine level; it should be 7 or less.

Of course, vitamin D’s main purpose (and it has many) is to maintain a calcium balance in the blood so that the heart will function properly. But vitamin D helps prevent hypertension, cancer, immune disorders and controls many other important body functions.  I find most people are significantly low so I recommend at least 2000 IU’s of Vitamin D each day.  Check your vitamin D OH-25 level, which should be above 40.

Hormones play an important part in bone health.  Men need sufficient testosterone and women need sufficient estrogen, and both must have enough progesterone for the bone-building cells to work properly.
But with our sugar-laden diets and the increased incidence of diabetes and pre-diabetes (insulin resistance) we are finding that in men, the testosterone converts into estrogen and in women, the estrogen converts into testosterone, which is responsible for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hair loss.

The function of the thyroid, which produces calcitonin, and the parathyroid, which produces parathyroid hormone, are important players in maintaining calcium balance in the blood.  They must be considered when addressing bone health.  These hormone levels are only tested if there is abnormal calcium levels so don’t run off asking for these tests yet.  Keep them in the back of your mind.

We must not forget the role lifestyle plays in bone health.  Exercise, especially weight bearing exercise, strengthens the bones.  Lack of exercise causes weak bones to get weaker.

Diet is important too.  Not just for the consumption of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients needed for bone health, but for maintaining the proper pH in the body.  (See my article on the Power of Hydrogen)
If you consume foods on a regular basis that make you more acid the body will try to neutralize the acid by pulling calcium out of the bones to act as a buffer.  These acid-forming foods are: red meat, white flour, sugar, dairy, coffee, soft drinks, processed foods, etc.; all foods found in the typical American diet.  The foods that alkalinize the body are mostly green leafy vegetables, which many of us lack.

Most importantly, we must remember the importance of magnesium, which is found in green leafy vegetables (yes, the same ones that help your pH).  Calcium and magnesium must be in balance, but unfortunately, many of us take in lots of calcium and not enough magnesium so the bones suffer.  EAT YOUR VEGGIES!!!
A red blood cell (RBC Mg) magnesium test is a good way to check this, NOT a serum magnesium level, which only shows deficiencies if severe.

 We forget that the body, although comprised of many organs and systems, must be viewed as a whole and that many of these organs, systems and functions affect other organs, systems and functions.  So before you start popping calcium to prevent bone loss, check if you are breaking bone down, your inflammation is addressed, your nutrient levels are fine, your diet contains fish, fruit and vegetables in sufficient amounts, your hormones are in balance, and you are  exercising regularly.

Stay Healthy,
Donna
 

By Donna DiMarco

Remember when we all used IODINE? Every family had a bottle in the medicine cabinet. I remember always being afraid of the burning sensation it caused so when given the choice, I opted for mercurochrome. (We didn’t know about mercury toxicity then.) What we did know was that iodine was the best to kill germs but mercurochrome didn’t hurt. What happened? How did iodine, a historically safe substance, become a bad guy while mercury, a known toxin, is still being used in dental amalgams and certain vaccines?

Back in 1948, Wolff and Chaikoff published a paper based on a study they did on rats. Basically, they stated that after injecting a certain threshold amount (20 to 35 ug percent) of potassium iodide into the rat’s peritoneum, the iodine would no longer be bound to the thyroid, causing hypothyroidism and goiter (Wolff-Chaikoff Effect). They erroneously concluded that the inorganic iodine was stopping the thyroid from working properly. This was totally untrue. The truth is that the thyroid iodine level reached its maximum. No more was needed. Wolff and Chaikoff went on to conclude that if it happened in rats, it should happen in humans as well. And so began the bad rap for iodine. Dr. Guy Abraham, M.D. calls it “Medical Iodophobia …the unwarranted fear of using and recommending inorganic, non-radioactive iodine/iodide within the range known from collective experience of three generations of clinicians to be the safest and most effective amounts for treating symptoms and signs of iodine/iodide deficiency (12.5-50 mg./day)”

But history and experience tells a different story. Way back in the early 1900’s, the mid-western states noticed an increased incidence of goiter in their population. But some determined scientists came across the research of both Coindet and Boussingault who each identified the correlation between iodine and goiter. As a result, in 1924 the state of Michigan, decided to add iodine to salt so the population would have a minimal source in their daily diet. The results were amazing. The incidence of goiter was reduced by 75% by 1928 and by 1951, less than .5% of school-aged children had goiter. Shortly after, the rest of the United States and Switzerland followed suit and the incidence of goiter reduced significantly, along with cretinism and myxedema. What a great solution! Or was it?

This minute amount of iodine prevented goiter but what about all the other cells and organs that need iodine? The rest of the body was never considered. If a small amount eliminated goiter, that was all the body needed. Not true! This marvelous body of ours will do what it can to survive. Like a wilted flower that perks up after a little watering, the thyroid stops complaining (goiter symptoms) with a little iodine, but that small amount is insufficient for growth and wellness. In fact, we later learned that iodine is needed all over the body. The organs with the greatest demand quickly light up when radioactive iodine 131 is injected into the body.

As a result, the RDA was set at the amount needed to prevent goiter without concern for other body tissue requirements. Those levels still stand at 150 mcg/day for adult men and women, 220 mcg/day during pregnancy and 290 mcg/day during lactation. Still believing that goiter prevention was the gold standard for determining sufficient intake, little was done to insure sufficient iodine for the masses until the1960’s when iodine was added to baked goods as an anti-caking agent.

This provided a great iodine supply since 1 slice of bread supplied up to 150 ug of iodine (the RDA‘s magic number!). Since so many people ate bread even if they didn’t eat salt, all was well.

Not so fast! In 1980’s some brilliant minds felt that the amount of iodine in baked goods might be dangerous so they took all the iodine out and replaced it with bromide. Bromide is a halogen (from bromos, the Greek word for “stench” due to its strong odor). According to the PDR for Nutritional Supplements, it has no known actions for dietary supplements and no known supplemental use. It use to be sold in an effervescent granule form for upset stomachs but is no longer available. As I stated, bromide is a halide, which means that it is in the class of elements with fluoride, chloride and iodide. The similarity of these four elements presents us with a problem; they are able to fill the iodine receptor sites (dressed up as iodine if you will), but do not offer the benefits that iodine offers. In fact, some people have so much of the halides that the iodine is rendered helpless. With iodine being taken out of bakery products and the increased consumption/exposure to halides, it’s no wonder that the National Health & Nutrition Survey (NHANES) showed that iodine levels in the United States declined 50% while thyroid illness, thyroid cancer and other autoimmune thyroid disorders, breast, prostate, endometrial and ovarian cancers increased.

Iodized salt wasn’t enough. Salt is sodium chloride. Yes, chloride is a halide that blocks the iodine receptors so only 10 % of the iodine is bio-available. Total body iodine deficiency was eminent, but not as visible since goiters disappeared.

The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that an iodine deficiency is the world’s greatest single cause of preventable mental retardation. We know that iodine is essential for normal growth and development. Deficiency can result in cretinism, mental deficiency, delayed physical and intellectual development and ADHD, but what are we doing to insure every pregnant mother, every child gets an adequate iodine intake?

Our schools are filled with increasing numbers of students with hyperactivity disorders. A recent Italian study demonstrated that if a woman is iodine deficient during pregnancy she has a greater chance of having a child who will suffer from ADHD. High incidence of ADHD was unheard of years ago! Maybe removing the iodine from bread provoked the deficiency that lead to ADHD. A strange coincidence indeed.

The relationship between breast cancer and thyroid problems dates back over 100 years, but even with breast cancer in high numbers today, thyroid function and/or iodine levels are rarely mention, if ever checked. Yet the countries where iodine consumption is the highest has the fewest incidence of breast cancer. This was always attributed to their increased consumption of soy, the lack of hormone-rich beef and dairy, and/or the greater consumption of vegetables, but these may not be the only reasons. Maybe it is the increased consumption of fish and seaweeds, both high in iodine.

When iodine is ingested, approximately 6 mg. of iodine is taken up by the thyroid; the rest of the entire body takes up 8 mg. approximately. Research has shown that of that remaining 8 mg. approximately 5 mg will go to the breast leaving 3 mg. for all other organs. They also found that the larger the breasts, the greater amount of iodine is needed. Well, if there is a correlation between iodine deficiency and thyroid function, and a correlation between thyroid function and breast cancer, and the breast is the second largest storer of iodine it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that women with iodine deficiency may have a greater incidence of breast cancer.

Some doctors believe that iodine is stored in the prostate, like the breasts store it in women. If that is true, then the rampant iodine deficiency would explain the increases in prostate cancer.

Even if doctors ignore this information and never test for iodine levels, surely some check the thyroid at least! The problem is that too many doctors think that testing T4 and TSH levels correlate to sufficient iodine levels. This is incorrect. A recent study conducted in Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC stated it this way “…TSH and T4 are not appropriate markers of UI (urine iodine) concentrations in this population. Monitoring the status of iodine nutrition of individuals in the United States may be important because serum TSH and T4 concentrations do not indicate low iodine status.” In fact, just the opposite may be true. Dr. Guy Abraham, M.D., the man who brought iodine supplementation into the forefront, brought to my attention that by suppressing TSH we are decreasing the amount of iodine that can get into the cell. There is a feedback mechanism that works this way: If the thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones, TSH levels will increase to stimulate more production, but that same TSH also allows more iodide to get inside the cells since a deficiency was sensed. When the thyroid hormones increase, the pituitary reduces the amount of TSH released and the amount of iodide allowed into the cells diminishes. So by giving thyroid hormones supplementally may actually be depleting the cells of iodine.

72% of the world’s population is affected by iodine deficiency, but why?

There are many reasons why iodine deficiency still occurs. Less than 50% of households in United States use iodized salt. Many people with hypertension are afraid to use salt so on medical advice they avoid it. Dr. David Brownstein, M.D., the author of the book Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, (and whose lectures and conversations contributed greatly to this article) recommends Celtic Sea Salt for those who use salt. Be sure to look for his latest book on the benefits of salt entitled Salt Your Way to Health. In it he states that most of the nutrients are processed out of regular table salt but Celtic Sea Salt maintains a good mineral supply. It is also free of sugar and not processed (color is not as white as table salt). If you look carefully at your own brand, you might find that the second ingredient is dextrose-a sugar!

A goitrogen is a substance that decreases iodine uptake as well as inhibits iodine from binding where it is needed. Goitrogens have become commonplace in our lives and are major causes of iodine deficiency.

Goitrogens include:

• Chlorine derivatives in pools, cleaning products, water supply, steam from dishwasher, sucrolose (Splenda).

• Fluoride in water supply, toothpaste, dental treatments, mouthwash.

• Bromide in some soft drinks (Mountain Dew & some Gatorades), baked goods, pesticides, hot tubs, fumigants used on produce, and some medications.

It takes large amounts of iodine/iodide to displace these imposters. This must be done with a careful eye. In some cases detoxification symptoms can occur once iodine intake begins mobilizing them.

Other reasons for iodine deficiency include:

• Declining mineral levels due to soil erosion and poor farming techniques.

• Failure to eat sufficient iodine-containing foods.

• Exposures to chemicals and toxins.

• The use of radioactive iodine used in diagnostic testing, which exacerbated an iodine-deficient state.

• A combination of any or all of these.

•  Whatever the cause, iodine deficiency must be identified and corrected.

How Can We Test Iodine Levels?

In the past we would paint a spot of iodine on the stomach in the evening, wait until morning to see if it disappeared. If it was all gone we needed iodine. If it remained, we would interpret that to mean that the body had enough so the iodine wasn’t absorbed. We now realize that iodine can be stored in the skin so residual staining may only mean that the skin has a supply while the body is lacking.

Here’s a better way. Iodine deficiency can be detected by an iodine overload test developed by Dr. Guy Abraham M.D. of California and is offered by FFP Laboratory in North Carolina. It is very user friendly so compliance is high. Simply, urine is collected first thing in the morning and saved for a spot test. (Dr. Jorge Flechas, M.D. just shared at a lecture that this spot test showed that women with breast cancer retain more iodine than women without breast cancer). Then 50 mg. of potassium iodide and iodine in combination is ingested. Urine is then collected throughout the day until the first urine of the next morning. A small sample, plus the first sample (spot test) is shipped to the lab.

If the body has sufficient iodine at least 90% will pass out of the body in the urine. If the body is deficient, some of the iodine will remain in the body to compensate for the deficiency. The more that remains, the greater the need for iodine/iodide. I have had several people have a level of 10% and one person even lower. After iodine/iodide supplementation, their health status was significantly improved. Without an initial baseline test and follow-up tests to monitor progress I would have no idea how great the need for iodine was, how long to give it and how much to give. So first establish baseline levels. Then supplement with liquid, capsules or tablets of iodine/iodide combination.

Be sure to monitor levels every 3-4 months to adjust the dose. Be aware of some possible side effects like runny nose, increased salivation, sinus headaches and metallic taste. These symptoms are temporary and due to the fact that iodine is mucolytic (breaks down of mucous), and they typically disappear after 2 weeks. Drinking lots of water can help. There are some people who are truly allergic to iodine, but Dr. Brownstein states that of the 3000 or so people he treated with iodine, he only had a few with a true iodine allergy; most people who react to shellfish or iodine in contrast solutions used in x-ray procedures react to the organic forms of iodine, not the inorganic form. Use care here.

Here’s what iodine can do:

• Elevate pH- a typical American diet tends to leave us in a more acid state. Oxidative stress, bacteria, and other opportunistic infections tend to thrive in an acid environment. Iodine can help bring the serum pH up to 7.4 so the body can maintain optimum function.

• Is needed to produce thyroid hormones- T3 is called triiodothyronine.

• Prevents goiter, autoimmune thyroid conditions, thyroid and other cancers, hypothyroidism

• Is antibacterial, antiviral and antiparasitic

• Is a mucolytic agent (breaks up mucous)

• May effect the pituitary-adrenal axis recovery in response to stress

Therapeutic Actions:
• Antibacterial
• Anticancer
• Anti parasitic
• Antiviral
• Mucolytic Agent
Conditions treated with Iodine
• Breast disease
• Dupruyten’s contraction
• Excess mucous production
• Fatigue
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Hemorrhoids
• Heachahes and migraine headaches
• Keloids
• Ovarian Cysts
• Parotid Duct stones
• Peyronie’s
• Sebaceous cysts
• Thyroid disorders
Taken from Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, Medical Alternative Press, 2004, Pages 20, 38-39
As you can see, iodine has a history of beneficial use and physiologic need. Some old information cast a shadow on this important mineral. Fear drove the exclusion of iodine from the standard diet. The addition of goitrogens in the food supply and the environment, along with depleted soil, fear of salt, goitrogenic medications and medical imaging methods added to the problem. People like Dr. Guy Abraham, Dr. David Brownstein, and Dr. Jorge Flechas have paved the way to put an end to all the misinformation in the medical community, to make public the more aware of the importance of iodine for vibrant health, and to prevent medical problems that might affect future generations. I choose to join the cause as well. It is important to know that if you have auto-immune thyroiditis iodine could make it worse. Have your doctor run a TPO (Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies) blood test. DO NOT TAKE IODINE IF IT IS POSITIVE. Talk to your doctor about how to deal with that issue. I hope that this article will open some eyes, stimulate some questions, but ultimately result in better health for you and your patients
1. Abraham, Guy, The Safe and Effective Implementation of Orthoiodosupplementation in Medical Practice. The Original Internist, 11:17-36, 2004. Also, conversations and fax.
2. Abraham, Guy, The Wolff-Chaikoff Effect: Crying Wolf? www.optimox.com
3. Brownstein, David, Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, Medical Alternative Press, Pages 20, 38-39, 80-81, 2004. Also conversations and lecture notes.
4. Flechas, Jorge, Iodine Seminar, given at Bio-energetic Conference in Orlando Florida, May 22, 2005.
5. Oketlund M.D., The Clinical Utility of Fluorescent Scanning of the Thyroid. In Medical Applications of Fluorescent Excitation Analysis. Editors Kaufman and Price, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL pg 149-160.
6. PDR for Nutritional Supplements; First edition, Medical Economics, 2001, p 73
7. Soldin OP, Tractenberg RE, Pezzullo JC. Do Thyroxine and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Levels Reflect Urinary Iodine Concentrations? Ther Drug Monit. 2005 Apr;27(2):178-185.
8. Vermiglio F, et al, Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders in the offspring of mothers exposed to mild-moderate iodine deficiency: a possible novel iodine deficiency disorder in developed countries.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Dec;89(12):6054-60.
9. Wolff, J. and Chaikoff, I.L., Plasma Inorganic Iodide as a Homeostatic Regulator of thyroid Function. J. Biol. Chem, 174:555-564, 1948.

By Donna DiMarco, CN, LNC

Coenzyme Q10 was first called Ubiquinone because it is found in virtually every cell in the body, It is so important to body function that some people, including CoQ10 pioneer Dr. Karl Folkers, believe it should be called Vitamin Q. Folkers stated “CoQ10 is necessary for human life. Morbidity is associated with a deficiency of CoQ10 of about 75%, and death may occur somewhere between 75 and 100%. Low tissue deficiencies of CoQ10 may be subclinical, but somewhere between 25 and 75% deficiencies, overt disease may appear.”

In 1978 Peter Mitchell developed the hypothesis that CoQ10 is an electron donor needed for energy transfer. Ubiquinone is important for the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in the mitochondria of all cells. Co Q10 transfers electrons in the oxidated phosphorylation chain for ATP to be produced. This ATP provides the energy to the cell so it can function as intended. This becomes paramount, especially in the cardiac muscles, since the demand for energy is constant

It is believed that the ability to produce sufficient amounts of CoQ10 diminish with age. In order for the body to make CoQ10, assuming it is functioning properly, it needs a complex 17 step process which requires at least seven vitamins (vitamin B2 - riboflavin, vitamin B3 - niacinamide, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and pantothenic acid) and several trace elements, and all this must be put together precisely in the correct amount. The problem is that most people have a hard time meeting the minimum daily requirements, so how could they possibly have the necessary nutrients to make sufficient CoQ10.

“But if it is found in every cell why do we need to take it?” Simple, many people are taking statin and super statin drugs to reduce cholesterol and now as a preventive of cardiac disease (so we are told), and these drugs deplete CoQ10 levels. In fact, diminished levels of CoQ10 have been linked to the use of statin drugs and heart failure.

Here in the United States, the FDA does not require statin manufacturers to alert doctors or patients about this important health risk. According to recent studies, CoQ10 deficiencies in statin users can cause muscular, cognitive and cardiovascular problems as well as other implications. On the other hand, studies also demonstrate that these problems can be corrected by supplementing CoQ10. Canada requires that statin drugs state the potential danger of CoQ10 deficiency. Why doesn’t EVERY country?

Statins belong to the group of medicines called 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors. They work by blocking the enzyme needed for the body to make cholesterol in the liver. If less cholesterol is made, the serum levels drop. The problem is that that same enzyme is also necessary to make coenzyme Q10. When you prevent the manufacturing of cholesterol you also prevent the manufacturing of much needed CoQ10.

Dr. Peter Langsjoen of East Texas University has been studying the reports on humans and animals involving statin drugs and CoQ10 depletion. He published his findings last year (Biofactors. 2003;18(1-4):113-24.) He wrote “The depletion of the essential nutrient CoQ10 by the increasingly popular cholesterol-lowering drugs HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) has grown from a level of concern to one of alarm.” “With ever higher statin potencies and doses, and with steadily shrinking target LDL cholesterol, the prevalence and severity of CoQ10 deficiency are increasing noticeably.” Dr.Langsjoen further states that we are in the middle of a congestive heart failure epidemic in the United States and physicians may be partially responsible for not recommending supplemental CoQ10 along with statin drugs.

Co Q 10 has been found in larger quantities in the heart and liver. This seems to make sense since these organs require a high energy supply. But that doesn’t mean that other organs are not affected by deficiencies. Dr. Janos Feher in Rome Italy was able to stabilize the progression of macular degeneration by supplementing CoQ10 and other nutrients. Researchers at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York found a correlation between CoQ10 levels and cerebellar ataxia and/or atrophy. Another research study found CoQ10 present in semen. Dr. Antonio Mancini, in Rome, Italy believes that CoQ is related to sperm motility and infertility. One study in Ecuador found that women with pre-eclampsia had severely depressed CoQ10 levels, according to Dr. Enrique Teran. We have known for years that infections, some pathologies, and even aging can deplete levels of CoQ10. So it appears to be unfolding that the entire body requires sufficient amounts of CoQ10 to function properly.

Older research has concluded that periodontal disease, immune response, hypertension, cancer, weight loss, healing, oxidative stress, and energy supplies all benefit from supplemental CoQ10.

But the next issue is which one do you use?

CoQlO is fat soluble so it follows the same absorption pathways as other fats. As you recall, fat is emulsified in the intestine (with the help of bile salts) to form micelles (tiny particles) so as to enhance absorption. When taken supplementally, CoQ10 requires other factors to be absorbed properly, including: particle size, degree of solubility and the type of food ingested at the time the supplement was taken. These criteria makes supplemental CoQ a bit more difficult to get into the blood and cells to do its important work.

Most CoQlO capsules available contain either oil-based suspensions (softgels) or dry powder blends (hard gels). Some tout that they are superior because they are imported from Japan, but require you to consume oil when you take the product. I have had a hard time getting compliance with that type of product, especially for those who are counting calories (protein and carbs each have 4 calories per gram but fat has 9). In addition, some of these products, when tested in the laboratory, showed a total lack of dissolution according to current USP methodology. This lack of dissolution often indicates poor absorption and bioavailability.

Fortunately, now there is a hydro soluble CoQ10 available. Several human studies have been carried out to compare the relative bioavailability of this type of CoQ with other available dosage forms (softgels, tablets and capsules). These studies clearly demonstrated superior (several times higher relative bioavailability than all other dosage forms tested). These data were presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Nutritional Sciences/Experimental Biology in New Orleans on April 9, 1997. The increased bioavailability and absorption makes it the most economical CoQ10 available. I’m not saying that the other forms of CoQ10 are not effective, just remember that you need to take approximately three times the dose of the hydro soluble form, so adjust accordingly.

The important thing is that you restore functional CoQ10 levels, regardless of which product you use.

Unfortunately, a blood test, although available, is not a great way to determine CoQ10 status since it only measures the level in the blood at a specific time. Remember that different organs require different amounts of CoQ based on their energy demand. This information is not provided by a simple blood test; therefore, you must assess lifestyle, medications (especially statin drugs), age, and health status to make a determination. Unfortunately, I find a large number of my clients can benefit from CoQ10 supplementation and that number is growing, especially since statin drugs are being recommended so frequently. To quote Dr. Langsjoen in his Introduction to Coenzyme Q10, “Karl Folkers argues that suboptimal nutrient intake in man is almost universal and that there is subsequent secondary impairment in CoQ10 biosynthesis. This would mean that average or “normal” levels of CoQ10 are really suboptimal and the very low levels observed in advanced disease states represent only the tip of a deficiency “ice berg”.”

A clinical study of the effect of COENZYME Q on congestive heart failure.

Jpn Heart J (JAPAN) Jan 1976, 17 (1) p32-42

Bliznakov, E.G. and Hunt, G.The Miracle Nutrient Coenzyme Q10. Bantam Books, 1978

Langsjoen, Peter H. INTRODUCTION TO COENZYME Q10, http://tishcon.com/coenzymeq10.html

Langsjoen, PH, Langsjoen, AM. The clinical use of HMG CoA-reductase inhibitors and the associated depletion of coqnzyme Q10. Biofactors. 2003;18 (1-4): 101-11.

Langsjoen H; Langsjoen P; Langsjoen P; Willis R; Folkers K
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77551, USA.
Mol Aspects Med (England) 1994, 15 Suppl ps165-75

Langsjoen PH; Langsjoen PH; Folkers K. Isolated diastolic dysfunction of the myocardium and its response to CoQ10 treatment.
Clin Investig (Germany) 1993, 71 (8 Suppl) pS140-4

Okamoto H; Kawaguchi H; Togashi H; Minami M; Saito H; Yasuda H. Effect of coenzyme Q10 on structural alterations in the renal membrane of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Biochem Med Metab Biol (United States) Apr 1991, 45 (2) p216-26

Protective effects of various drugs on adriamycin (doxorubicin)-induced toxicity and microsomal lipid peroxidation in mice and rats.

Biol Pharm Bull. 1993 Nov. 16(11). P 1114-7

Samson, KJ. Innovative Research and Applications for CoQ10. Life Extension; Vol 10, No 8. Aug, 2004, 46-55.

By Donna DiMarco, CN, LNC

If you’ve been following my articles in sequential order, you would have learned many of the basic principles of healthy eating. I wrote about drinking with meals, sugar and milk consumption, and even chewing. If you’ve incorporated these tips into your lifestyle, you should have noticed your energy increased, your skin cleared, your mental clarity improved, and your digestion is better. My goal is to help you be your own nutritionist. Today I’ll discuss the importance of fiber.

What comes to your mind when I mention fiber? Grapenuts®? Metamucil®? Most people haven’t a clue as to what fiber really is, what it does, or why we need it, but we really do need it for optimum health.

Fiber, by definition, is the particular composition or structure of something made up of filaments. In our diet, fiber is comprised of the connective strands and vasculature found in plant foods. It is a bulk-forming agent that helps sweep out intestinal debris by soaking up liquids and fats from the diet, then expanding. The expansion of the intestines due to the fiber swelling and the increase in intra-intestinal pressure stimulates the contractions (peristalsis) of the muscles around the intestinal tract, which then promotes evacuation. Plainly speaking, fiber is a form of carbohydrate that doesn’t get absorbed into the blood stream.

Picture a long balloon (like the kind a clown twists into animal shapes); as you squeeze one end, the other expands as the air is forced further down. Like the balloon, peristaltic contractions start squeezing near the top of the intestinal canal, then gently move down, causing wastes to get into position to exit, hence the term “to move your bowels”. Without adequate fiber, wastes remain in the gut to putrefy and to produce toxins. Those who eat little fruits and vegetables are usually consuming a low fiber diet and typically suffer from constipation.

Most people on a low fiber diet have a bowel transit time of 48 to 96 hours, but Abram Hoffer, MD, Ph.D. states in his book, ORTHOMOLECULAR MEDICINE FOR PHYSICIANS, that the normal bowel transit time should be 24-48 hours. He believes that even regular bowel movements aren’t necessarily a sign of good bowel health. “The normal range is probably one to three movements a day and that the fecal mass should be the consistency of toothpaste so it is expressed easily without the need for excessive strain by the abdominal wall.”

Many years of improper diet ultimately can cause toxic matter to collect in the intestinal wall forming a hard, putrefied shell that can possibly cause colitis, diverticulitis, prolapsus, or more frightening, cancer. It has been stated that up to 80% of colon cancers could be prevented by dietary changes. Some researchers believe that fiber helps prevent colon and rectum cancer because the food stays in the bowel a shorter time; the bacteria in the large intestines has less opportunity to convert fecal material into carcinogens. Many studies indicate that fiber has other benefits as well. It can give some relief to allergy sufferers by binding toxins in the intestinal tract. It also helps prevents hemorrhoids and may lower blood pressure by as much as 10 percent, it can help lower cholesterol and triglycerides, it can help prevent hormone related cancers. Fiber can help blood sugar problems, including diabetes, by slowing, stabilizing, and preventing sugar absorption.

There is soluble and insoluble fiber found in our diet, each serves a specific purpose. Insoluble fiber, which is not dissolved in water, absorbs liquids causing the fiber to swell and increasing the bulk of stool. This helps increase transit time through the bowel, which reduces the chances of putrefaction and fermentation that release poisonous gases. Dr. Linda Berry, a chiropractor in Berkeley, California, who promotes internal cleansing and colon health, believes that organs surrounding the colon can be irritated by these poisonous gases, causing low back pain or even the common headache.

Soluble fiber breaks down in the digestive tract but is not absorbed into the blood stream. Good sources would be oat bran, psyllium and beans, along with fruits and vegetables (one third of their fiber content of fruits and veggies is soluble). Soluble fiber is believed to prevent bile acid re-absorption and prevent cholesterol production by almost completely fermenting into short chain fatty acids. James Anderson MD., professor of clinical nutrition and medicine at the University of Kentucky states that soluble fiber lowers cholesterol without the harmful side effects of drugs that can cause constipation, heartburn, abdominal pain and nausea.

Soluble fiber will not cleanse the intestines as well as insoluble fiber, but it produces benefits of equal importance in the heart by its aid in reducing cholesterol 11 to 32 percent, according to Dr. Anderson.

Soluble fiber sources include: dried white beans, dried split peas, cooked rolled oats, and of course, oat bran and psyllium.

Good sources of insoluble fiber include: shredded wheat, barley, wheat bran, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, green beans, carrots and broccoli.

The National Cancer Institute advises us to increase our fiber intake to 30 grams a day, including 5 grams of soluble fiber from a concentrated source of fruit, beans or oat bran.

Fiber should initially be taken in a small amount and gradually increased to prevent sudden onset of bloating, gas and diarrhea. The maximum intake should not exceed 60 grams a day to prevent interference with vitamin and mineral absorption. The easiest way to insure adequate fiber intake is to increase those fruits and veggies. Be sure to get at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and by the way, french fries and corn chips DO NOT count. Try to eat whole fresh fruit between meals. It will help carry you until your next meal, provide you with the much-needed fiber, and nourish your body with a plethora of nutrients needed for health. Be sure to add a serving of veggies and even a small salad with lunch and dinner. It will help provide all the important nutrients and add good amounts of fiber as well. Be sure to drink large amounts of water throughout the day. It will help the intestines evacuate more readily, but it will also dilute toxins, cleanse the liver, bathe each cell, and help transport nutrients through the cell membranes.

Fiber is one more tool to restore and maintain good health.

Donna

By Donna DiMarco, CN, LNC

Any fat makes you fat, so it should be eliminated, right? Wrong!  While it is true that fat contains more calories than protein or carbohydrates, fats are really important to good health. If all the fat were eliminated, health would be compromised. Fat is important for the production of hormones, the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, the integrity of the nervous system and more. Jean Barilla, co-author and editor of The Nutrition Superbook, Volume II, The Good Fats and Oils, stated some of the reasons we need fats in our diets. “ We need fats to produce energy, to pad and protect our internal organs, to conserve body heat, to transport the oil soluble vitamins, A, D, E, & K, into our blood, to act as an intestinal lubricant to keep things moving smoothly, to join with phosphorus to produce the phospholipid walls of each cell, to insulate the nerves by helping to produce the myelin sheath around each nerve, and to help us feel satiated when we eat, as well as adding flavor to our foods.”

Fats are not only found in most meats, but hidden in things like salad dressings, mayonnaise, cake icings, baked goods, fried foods, chips, gravies, some cheeses, some dairy, margarine, butter, cooking oils, nuts, seeds, produce like avocados, coconut, etc. Some of these are really bad for us, but others are not.

I frequently hear people say that they stay away from nuts, avocados, seeds, etc. because they are high in fat. While it is true that fat contains 9 calories per gram while protein and carbohydrates contain only 4 each, some fat sources are so nutrient-rich that they are worth the added calories. The task then becomes distinguishing between the good and the bad fats. If you learn which fats to stay away from and which fats to consume, your body may be able to restore balance and provide you with a better quality of life. This is not an easy task since we have saturated, unsaturated, trans, cis, essential fatty acids, etc. Let’s try to make some sense of it.

There are saturated, unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.  Whether a fat is saturated or not depends on the number of hydrogen atoms in the molecular structure of the substance. Saturated fats are found in meat, coconut oil and palm kernel oil.  It has generally been believed that saturated fats are the culprit of heart disease. These fats are used in manufacturing candy, icing or chocolate because they are inexpensive and they don’t melt at room temperature.  Saturated fats stimulate the liver to make more LDL’s (low density lipoproteins) or bad cholesterol. 

Unsaturated fats usually stay liquid at room temperature and are broken down into polyunsaturated fats, found in many vegetable oils, and monounsaturated fats (MUFA’S), found in olive, peanut, canola and avocado oil.

Polyunsaturated oils have more than one carbon-to-carbon double bond in their molecular structure. They are oils like safflower, sunflower and soybean oils. For many years it was thought that polyunsaturated fats were the way to go because they reduced LDL’s.  It was later discovered that they also reduced HDL’s as well and also increased the susceptibility to gall stones. For this reason polyunsaturated oils should be limited in the diet.

Monounsaturated fats (MUFA’s) have only one carbon-to-carbon double bond in their molecular structure. Unlike Polyunsaturated oils, MUFA’s reduce only the LDL’s and protect them from oxidative damage.  It was also found that MUFA’ s can help non-insulin dependent diabetics, more so than low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets.  Research indicates that MUFA’s have an effect on hypertension also.  Studies are presently in progress to confirm the positive effects of MUFA’s on rheumatoid arthritis.

I recommend that my clients consume cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil daily. “Cold-pressed” means that when the olives are pressed to extract the oil, a good amount of heat is generated. This heat has a tendency to turn the oil rancid, so a cooling system is used to dissipate the heat, keeping the oil from oxidative damage. Virgin and extra-virgin refers to the purity. Since oil is so susceptible to peroxidation (rancidity) I suggest you always keep your oil in the refrigerator after it has been opened. This will reduce the oxidative damage for a while. Some people choose to put a little vitamin E in their oil for the same reason. It’s wise not to buy the large gallons of oil unless you use it quickly, because even when refrigerated, oil will eventually turn rancid. Get it fresh.

Another important factor in choosing fat wisely is whether a fat contains trans-fatty acids or not. Trans-fatty acids are unsaturated fats that have additional hydrogen molecules attached to it. The un-natural process is called hydrogenation and is always man-made. This is what is often used in restaurants but since it has been linked to cardiovascular disease it is being banned by New York City and other cities around the country.

By hydrogenating any oil, say corn oil, which is a liquid, and make it solid at room temperature. Voila, margarine! We use to think we were really smart by eliminating butter and replacing it with margarine, but studies indicated that trans fatty acids raise LDL’s (the bad cholesterol) and lower HDL’s (the good guys). Therefore, all those who switched from butter to margarine to lower their cholesterol may actually be raising it and changing the ratio of bad cholesterol to good cholesterol, and not for the better. Listen carefully, BUTTER IS BETTER THAN MARGARINE! Stay away from all hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. You can find them in most junk food, but sometimes, even in some health foods. Learn to read labels.

Let’s now talk a little about essential fatty acids, which are the basic building blocks of fats and oils. They are called “essential” because they are essential to life but cannot be produced in the body, but must come from either diet or supplementation. The three groups of essential fatty acids are Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9.

Omega-3 fats are found in cold-water fish like tuna, mackerel, salmon, sardines, cod and herring. The few vegetarian sources of omega-3’s are flax seed and perilla oil. This essential fatty acid has been known to slow tumor growth, boost the immune system, reduce pain and inflammation, reduce the symptoms of allergies, promote healthy skin, prevent strokes, reduce cholesterol and increase mental acuity. Fish oils have demonstrated to be particularly important for those with heart and circulatory disease. It has been said that eating 2-3 fish meals (of these particular fish) a week may reduce your chances of heart disease by as much as 50%. Why aren’t we doing this? That’s better odds than what’s offered by some drugs, and without the side effects!

Omega-6 fats can be saturated (like meats and dairy), unsaturated (like in nuts and seeds), or trans-fatty acids (like in fried foods, junk food and margarine). Omega-6 fats can convert to a substance (prostaglandin E-2) that impairs the immune system, increases pain and inflammation, stimulates metastasis, promotes allergic responses and skin disorders. We can’t eliminate all omega-6’s, nor should we. Some is beneficial, but we get far too much in our diet. We must make an effort to reduce these types of fats and increase the more beneficial omega-3’s.

Omega-9 fatty acids are not precursors to prostaglandins and are considered neutral. They may even have some beneficial cancer prevention effects. Omega-9 is found predominantly in olive oil.

So let’s re-cap: Some fats are good for us. Do not eliminate all the fat in your diet, eliminate the sugar instead; that will be more effective in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides. Stay away from hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils and all the foods that contain them. Replace your cooking oils with cold-pressed virgin or extra virgin olive oil and keep it refrigerated after opening it (place the bottle under hot running water to soften it for easy pouring). Eat at least two fish-containing meals a week using cod, salmon, tuna, mackerel or sardines to increase omega-3’s. Limit the amount of omega-6 fatty acids and the foods that contain them. Don’t be afraid to eat natural foods like avocados and nuts because of their fat content; focus on eliminating processed foods that contain the more dangerous fats. If you do this, you may soon notice your skin glowing, your hormones balanced, your energy boosted, your immune system stimulated, your arthritis and allergies diminishing, and your cardiovascular system strengthened. Give it a try, you’re worth it!

Donna

By Donna DiMarco

Hormones are a hot topic these days since the Women’s Health Initiative cut off their study before it was complete (after 5 years-instead of the planned due to overwhelming evidence that PremPro, a Premarin/progestin hormone replacement therapy, caused increased incidence of breast cancer, heart disease and strokes.

As a result of all the media attention, many women have stopped their hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in search of a safer, more natural method of avoiding hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and all the other lovely symptoms of menopause. Hopefully, the days of blindly trusting the doctor to prescribe something to make us quickly feel better is behind us and women will be better informed so that they can play a part in deciding what risks, if any, to take regarding hormone replacement. The body does need a perfect balance of hormones to function properly, but at what cost? And should hormone-like substances be substituted for the real thing?

Estrogen is produced mainly in the ovaries, but some is also made in the adrenal glands; minor amounts are produced in other places as well. The ovaries also produce progesterone in the corpus luteum (the ruptured sac on the ovary from which an egg has erupted). Since we are born with a finite number of eggs and have been releasing one each month throughout our lives, the supply diminishes near menopause. Without the ruptured sac to produce a sufficient amount of progesterone, we become estrogen dominant. Unopposed estrogen (without progesterone) increases our chances of breast cancer. Also, the proper ratio (estradiol to progesterone) is important in preventing hot flashes and other menopause symptoms, not just the lack of estrogen. And most importantly, synthetic progestin won’t do.

More women have estrogen dominance than you would imagine, but many of them are given estrogen anyway. And, unfortunately, those who need progesterone are given progestin instead. Progestin is synthetic progesterone created in a laboratory to mimic the real McCoy. The molecular structure of progestin is just a tiny bit different than natural progesterone, just different enough to allow it to be patented and to make lots of money for the pharmaceutical companies. You see, most hormones start with a molecular structure similar to that found in the component of soy or wild yam; it’s called diosgenin. (It’s for this reason that soy helps with hot flashes) This molecule can be manipulated to conform to the structure of the hormone being prepared, not just progesterone, but others as well. If this molecule is identical to that found in the body (bio-identical) it cannot be patented since it is a natural substance, but if it is similar, yet with a unique structure, drug companies can name it, patent it, and rake in the bucks—providing it doesn’t cause obvious damage. These synthetic hormone structures look so much like the real hormones that they are able to enter the receptor sites and imitate some of the hormone’s functions within the body. But the body is not easily fooled and will eventually respond, often with disease. That’s what has happened with the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in this study. Here are some differences in natural progesterone vs. synthetic progestin.

Progestins: increases sodium and water retention in body cells and cause loss of mineral electrolytes from cells, cause depression, Increase risk of birth defect, cause facial hair, cause thrombophlebitis, embolism risk, decrease glucose tolerance and cause allergic reactions

Progesterone: Protects against endometrial and ovarian cancer, normalizes libido, reduces facial hair while stimulating re-growth of scalp hair, improves lipid profile and new bone formation (progesterone is better than the drugs recommended for osteoporosis), decreases risk of coronary vasospasm, helps thyroid hormone action, eases symptoms of PMS, is essential for myelinization of nerves, restores normal sleep patterns, is a precursor of other steroid hormones, and is essential also male health.

Which would you rather have, the decision is truly yours? The Women’s Health Initiative Study used progestin along with Premarin, which is (pregnant mare’s urine) horse estrogen, not human. Ah, ah, ah! You can’t fool Mother Nature! She fights back. They tried to fool the body into thinking it had what it needed, instead it provoked serious responses– heart disease, cancer and stroke. The sad part of this story is that the same diosgenin can easily be converted into bio-identical progesterone- the kind the body can use. It is readily available in many of the creams sold in health food stores and is used by alternative practitioners with great success.

Medical doctors are solicited by the drug company reps; they are given gifts and incentives, provided with pre-printed prescription pads and lots of free samples, in order to promote the sale of the pharmaceuticals. It’s big business. Women often feel that if the doctor recommended a drug, it must be what’s best. As someone who acts as a consultant to medical doctors, that isn’t always the case. I have met many doctors who didn’t even know the difference between progesterone and progestins. In doctor’s defense, many of them are so overwhelmed with keeping up with the latest advances in their specialty that they have little time for in-depth study, so they accept the erroneous information they are fed (often by the drug companies. How many years have they been recommending Prem-Pro? Remember Fen-Phen? What about Thalidomide?).

What can you do? Take control of your own health. Become empowered with knowledge to make intelligent decisions as to how your healthcare progresses. Take the time to learn about alternative methods. The body has the uncanny ability to heal itself if given the materials to do so. Learn how to give it what it needs.

One of the best ways to empower yourself is to read any of the books by Dr. John R. Lee, M.D. John is most noted for his dedication to teaching medical doctors about the difference between natural and synthetic hormones. His books include : “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause”, or “…Peri Menopause”, and his latest “…Breast Cancer”. Susan Love, Betty Kamen and Christine Northrup are also good providers of reliable information about women’s health issues.

Your next step should be to test your hormone levels. This could be done by a simple saliva test without a prescription (except for New York and California). Saliva is used instead of blood because it measures the free form hormone, that which is not bound to protein but available to do its work. Blood tests measure bound hormone only.

Check with your health practitioner or go to www.salivatest.com and check out what ZRT Labs has to offer. They will send you a simple collection kit so you can spit in a tube first thing in the morning and mail it to them with a check. Your results will be returned with an explanation of what it means.

Now comes the hard part, take your results to a practitioner who can help you balance your hormones naturally. Your practitioner can have a compounding pharmacy make up any combination of NATURAL estrogens or progesterone. Your prescription should be based on you and your hormone levels as well as your clinical information; it should not be a cookie-cutter formula handed out to all equally. This should be done only AFTER exploring all pathways to find out why you are not producing the hormones yourself. Often it is a simple remedy and HRT is not needed.

Diet is important. Try to give your body what it needs to make hormones naturally. Essential fatty acids are important to hormone production so forget the fat free diets, instead, consume nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil, salmon, mackerel, etc. Small amounts of soy can help with symptoms. Please don’t over do it since studies link soy to other complications. Avoid dairy, since cows are often given hormones to maintain milk production. Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables for their ability to encourage “good” hormone ratios.

Avoid plastics and pesticides whenever possible. They too have a similar structure to estrogen (xenoestrogens) and are linked to breast cancer (some studies have also linked them to homosexual behavior in animals, hmmm!). Avoid tight-fitting bras, especially with under wires. Some believe that the restriction of lymphatic flow can cause breast cancer; no bra is best.

Always check your breasts monthly and have an annual exam at your gynecologist. Be sure to have a baseline mammogram, but remember that x-rays CAUSE cancer, so don’t be too quick to have your breasts irradiated too often. Early detection is NOT prevention or protection. If they detect it, it’s too late–you got it already.

Take cancer-fighting supplements- antioxidants and a multi vitamin-mineral to make up for what may be lacking in the diet. Let your body do its job. We all have abnormal cells in our bodies. But if we help our bodies’ function at optimum level, it will destroy those cells. If it has to spend all its energy detoxifying junk food and toxins, it has hindered ability to keep us healthy. Give it a try, health is easier to attain than you think. Just care enough about yourself to do it.

Donna