Articles by Donna DiMarco

It’s that time of year again.  We’ve all indulged over the holidays and we are starting our “getting healthy” routine. 

I am pleased to offer a new weight loss program that is inexpensive, easy to follow and healthy.  This program was designed by a doctor in California who catered to the movie industry, those with little time, who ate out a lot but wanted to lose weight and get healthy.

This program will support adrenal health, liver detoxification and fight inflammation much like my 6 week detox plan but in a more gentle and subtle way.  This program is designed for those who don’t like to take a lot of supplements.  The program is packaged in 2 month units.  You can continue on as long as you want to achieve your goal. 

The approximate weight loss is 4-8 pounds per month for women and 10-12 pounds per month for men, although results vary with each individual. 

Each 2-month supply of nutrients costs $320 and they will be delivered right to your door. You will get the required supplements, a shaker and pill box to start you on your way. The instructions are self explanatory but

 if you want more personal attention and guidance from me there will be an additional charge. 

It is suggested that you check with your physician or health care practitioner before starting this or any other weight loss program.

What better way to start off the New Year!  Contact me for more information.

Stay Healthy!

Donna

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
 

Everyone is gearing up for the Swine Flu.  You have all heard how important it is to wash your hands, avoid touching your eyes and nose, cover your mouth when you cough, and most importantly, if you feel ill DO NOT go in to work or school.  We don’t have to succomb to it though.

The good news is that we have a natural defense against foreign invaders.  Our skin and mucous membranes in our gut and respiratory tracts are loaded with natural fighters to protect us from anything that my hitch a ride on what we ingest, inhale, or touch. 

Inevitably, something will get in and we have another defense- we produce natural killer cells, interleukins and interferon.  A lot of the flu symptoms you feel is caused by the increase in interferon.  The fever we get is the body’s way to kill off the invaders. This can begin rather quickly.  The sweating we experience is how the body gets rid of viruses and toxins.  Both are good so don’t be too quick to stop these reactions; they are just doing their job.  Of course too high a fever must be addressed.  Use common sense.

A third defense is the body’s ability to tag the offenders so they can be easily identified and killed by other cytokines so if ever this type of invader comes in the body knows just where it is and how to kill it.  This is what vaccines are; we inject a small amount to tell the body to fight anything that is tagged as this pathogen.  There are some problems with this: the body may actually get the disease from the inoculation, often there are boosters needed, it takes some time for the body to build its defenses to the tagged item and the invaders change and mutate so often they get by the previous vaccine. This is what happened with this new Swine Flu, it is a combination of other viruses so flu vaccines offer no protection.  So what do we do? 

Well, a healthy body has a strong immune system and can usually fight off the invaders.  Unfortunately, sugar knocks out a lot of your immune system and we are presently consuming 150 pounds per year each in the United States.  Diabetes and pre-diabetes is rampant, even in children.  Stop the simple carbs!

Eat lots of fresh, organic vegetables and fruits and a bit of protein with each meal.  This will give your body what it needs to keep the immune system up to the fight.  Vitamin A, in particular, supports the gut and respiratory immune system.  The precursor, beta carotene is found in yellow and orange vegetables and fruits.  Cold water fish also supplies a lot of vitamin A.  Nuts and seeds, especially pumpkin, supply the zinc that has been shown to fight viruses (remember zinc lozenges?).  Fruits and veggies are loaded with vitamin C, which we all know helps the immune system.

Many of us run to the doctor for antibiotics, which are useless when a virus hits.  But there are some natural things that can be done.  First, reduce your consumption of sugar, refined products and dairy products. 
Be sure to get some exercise to keep the circulation going but also to move the lymphatic vessels, which are the vacuum system of the body.  They search around for invaders and toxins and carry them out to be disposed of.  A swollen gland is an indication that the vacuum bag is filled and needs to be emptied.  Exercise helps it empty so it can collect more debris.  A mini trampoline is excellent to stimulate lymphatic drainage.

Drink lots of pure water, never tap water unless it is filtered to remove the chlorine and fluoride and other chemicals.  Good quality water dilutes the toxins and helps the body eliminate them quickly.  Try to drink at least 8 glasses per day.  This is especially important if you get the flu and sweat a lot or lose a lot of fluid by having diarrhea.  Water with fresh squeezed lemon juice is great.

Far infrared saunas are the best to remove viruses and toxins through the sweat glands.  Be sure to remove the sweaty cloths and launder well before re-use.  The immune system is up-regulated by taking a hot shower first then immediately turning the water cold.  Europeans are quite familiar with this technique, especially around the hot springs in Northern Europe.

There are herbs like andrographis paniculata, elderberry, echinacea, oregano, olive etc., which help stimulate the immune system.  Supplements like zinc, selenium, vitamin C and vitamin A have all been shown to boost the immune system.  I carry products that have a combination of these substances in one product and at the first sign of exposure I take it to boost my resistance.

There is also a great selection of homeopathic remedies available to help prevent the flu from getting hold and for relieving the symptoms.  There are even homeopathic flu prevention remedies that are formulated each year to prevent the expected viruses.  Many people choose this instead of flu shots and they are very effective.  But when a pandemic strikes there is very little time to build the protective defenses so act now.

If you get the flu be sure to stay home and isolated.  Rest and drink lots of fluids, especially water.  One way to stimulate the body is to take a hot soak in a tub filled with water in which ½ cup of baking soda and ½ cup of Epsom salt has been added.  Soak for at least 15 minutes and wrap yourself up to sweat.  Be sure to change the sheets and pajamas if they become wet.  Don’t let them dry and wear them again, they are contaminated and need to be laundered.  Eat and drink warming foods like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, garlic and cayenne.  Tomato juice or soup with garlic and Tabasco is a good remedy to induce sweating.  But if your fever is too high, the body must be cooled.  I generally don’t try to reduce a fever until it is over 102°.  Please stay in touch with your doctor and follow his instructions. 

Take advantage of this flu threat to gather some of these preventive remedies so that you have them immediately if you need them.  You can contact me for the homeopathics or any of the immune boosters.
Hopefully, you won’t have to use them, but if you do, they are there. 

If you follow these simple recommendations you will grab Swine Flu by the tail.

Stay Healthy!
Donna
 

I was watching the DVD, Food Matters, with my class and something jumped out at me.  The statement was made twice that if we ate a 51% raw food diet we would not have digestive leukocytosis.  Digestive leukocytosis is a condition where the body responds to an improperly digested food as if it were a foreign invader.  The immune system becomes activated and the body reacts as to any other stressor; the white blood cells “beef up” to fight the invaders. Cortisol is produced to fight the inflammation response. This puts a strain on the immune and endocrine systems.  If consistently over-worked the immune system can get locked into an over kill mode where the body cannot distinguish self from non self; that’s an autoimmune disease.  In addition, if the cortisol requirements remain high from constant inflammation, the adrenals become exhausted and are not available when we really need them.  This is why some people develop a sensitivity to a food or environment that they were consistently exposed to but without ever having a reaction.  They tired adrenals can’t hold back the reaction any more so symptoms manifest.

Raw foods contain enzymes that help break down the food into more digestible nutrients, which are then used to nourish the body.  When we cook food we destroy the enzymes.  Here are some examples:
A green banana is not very sweet; the carbohydrates are not broken down into simple sugars.  As the banana ripens the fruit is sweeter.  That is the results of enzymes.  If you’ve ever made Jell-O with fruit added, you know that you must only use canned pineapple, not fresh.  This is because the fresh still has active enzymes that can breakdown the protein in the Jell-O so much that it doesn’t set.  The heat from canning the pineapple destroys the enzymes so that it has no affect on the Jell-O.  Well, this is a benefit when making Jello but not for health. 

In the same manner, cooking foods over 105 degrees destroys the enzymes in the food.  As we age, we produce fewer enzymes in our bodies so that these external sources of enzymes become essential.  In fact, without them, our nutrient intake is significantly diminished, and nutrient deficiency leads to illness. 

Consider how few people really try to eat enzyme-rich foods.  Not many!  Our diet is mostly cooked, processed, powdered, canned, concentrated, frozen, reconstituted and nutrient depleted.  Obesity and illness is still climbing and the United States is the most over-fed and under-nourished country in the world.  Healthcare costs are rising and our research dollars are mostly directed to drugs to stop the symptoms, rather than prevention of disease.  Eating more raw foods is a way to stay healthy so that the drugs (and their side effects) are not needed.

How do we eat 51% raw food diet?  We can all eat more salads; but not just one a day!  Some of my clients only think of salads as some sort of lettuce based dish with a dressing of sorts.  They are surprised to learn that  there are many other types of salads.  Think about fresh fruit salads.  I recently made a raw salad from beet, white and sweet potato, carrot and onion.  Think coleslaw; raw cabbage with mayo, vinegar and spices.  Get a book of Raw Food recipes.  You’ll be surprised at the variety and ease of preparation.

Think about dehydrated foods, which are available at health food stores or you can make yourself if you have a dehydrator.  How about fresh made vegetable juices? Canned and bottled juices are lacking enzymes and pasteurization insures enzyme deficiency. 

Think about dried fruits, nuts, seeds; you can make wonderful snacks from raw nut butters, seeds and carob- see my recipes tab on my home page!

You can make a wonderful chocolate ice cream (without dairy) from bananas, raw cocoa, dates and ice cubes.
How about a chocolate pudding made from a ripe avocado mixed with cocoa powder and stevia; coconut milk is a great addition to a raw food diet. 

Be creative.  Getting in more raw foods is easier than you can imagine.  I will add a link to some books I recommend. 

Until next time, stay healthy!
Donna

The New Year is here and resolutions are being made.
Why not start the New Year off with a resolution to do a three week cleansing program?

This program involves eliminating foods that are known to cause sensitivities and inflammation, while supporting the body with supplements and nutrients that help eliminate the toxic loads we’ve all accumulated.  It will also help rid the excess weight we put on over the holidays. But the main reason to do this program is to feel better.  Aching muscles, swollen hands in the morning, allergy symptoms, tiredness, foggy brain function and more may clear up in just three weeks…if you don’t cheat!

Toxins may be just an accumulation of excess hormones, cholesterol, metabolic wastes, pesticides, medications, environmental toxins, etc.  The elimination of these antigens and toxins allows the inflammatory response to wind down and usually diminishes symptoms significantly.

The process is simple; just modify your diet and add nutritional support; then gradually add foods back in to identify the offenders.  A reoccurrence of a symptom indicates a sensitivity that needs long term elimination.

One of the main ingredients of this program is the addition of functional foods, usually in the form of ahypo-allergenic rice protein powder, which is designed to support the gastrointestinal tract while prompting the liver and kidneys to release toxins. This is NOT just a protein powder, but a scientifically designed compound that functions as a multivitamin-mineral supplement, nutrient- absorption-enhancer, intestinal supporter, liver and kidney cleanser, and more!

In addition, supplements to support specific detox functions are taken to quicken the process and make the functional foods work a bit better.  It is so simple!

It is important to drink copious amounts of water to wash the toxins out of the body.  It is also important to have regular bowel movements for the same reason.  Saunas are a great way to remove toxins through the process of sweating.  Speaking of sweating, remember to exercise; the increase in heart rate helps to get the blood flowing.  That extra flow rate carries nutrients into the cells for repair and maintenance, while carrying toxins and wastes out of the body.  It also increases bowel transit time, helps to stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce stress.

Just think, by February 1, 2009 you could be symptom free, have enhanced energy, more restful sleep, clear thinking, better skin and better bowel habits, not to mention you possibly could have lost weight .
Wouldn’t you like to make THIS New Year’s resolution?
Health is right around the corner- GO FOR IT!
Contact me to get started.
Donna

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It is the time of year we hear how important it is for all women to examine their own breasts; and for those in the high risk category or in their forties it is the time where we are encouraged to begin getting mammograms. 

The premise is that if we detect breast cancer early enough we could prevent dying.  I don’t know about you but I think that finding out you have something is NOT preventing it.

Did you ever notice that we rarely hear about how to prevent breast cancer?  Think about it, how many times this month have you read that there is a correlation to iodine deficiency and breast cancer?  How many times have you been encouraged to have adequate vitamin D levels to prevent breast cancer?  According to a study in the Annals of New York Academy of Science, breast cancer death rates in white women also rise with distance from the equator and are highest in areas with long winters (Ann N Y Acad Sci 1999;889:107-19.). 

What about the fact that obesity, especially belly fat, acts to produce more estrogen, which increases the risk of breast cancer in some women?  I haven’t heard that mentioned this month.  I’ve also never heard any organization warn against hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills, both which are known to increase the risk of breast cancer.  This month have you read that many countries are banning the use of Bovine Growth Hormone from the food supply? 

I’ve never heard it mentioned that that the use of pesticides, plastics, and other xenoestrogens (toxic estrogen mimickers) can lead to additional hormone imbalance.

What about the toxic load from our polluted environment that may activate a genetic predisposition to breast cancer?  Have you been warned about this lately?  Have you been warned about the hazards of toxic cosmetic ingredients, air fresheners, paints, dry cleaning, cleaning products, etc? 

Let me clarify myself; detecting cancer early increases the chances of survival up to 98% but this is NOT prevention.  And as I mentioned in a previous article, mammograms increases the risk of breast cancer significantly, so why expose yourself to a carcinogen to prevent the disease?

Maybe if some of the money used in developing more ways to slash, cut and burn breast cancer victims were earmarked to telling the public about what really causes breast cancer, we would see the numbers decline.

A great resource is The Florida Breast Cancer Resource Network.  Sandra Blank, the Executive Director, is a wealth of information.  If you, or anyone you know, has been told they have breast cancer I suggest you give her a call at (800) 696-8349.
 

Let me suggest an important book by Dr Sherry Rogers called Detox or Die.  Dr. Rogers outlines a direct relationship between toxins and cancers of all kinds.  This is an important book for those who seek health and wellness.  She also gives you step by step instructions how to identify toxins, where to look, what to avoid and how to detox your life.

Stay Healthy,
Donna

I am home recovering from a cold that came upon me quite quickly.  I want to share some of how I dealt  with it so that you can be prepared and apply this method yourself.

I want to start by saying that a cold and the flu are caused by viruses, not bacteria, therefore antibiotics are ineffective.  In fact, taking antibiotics often can help develop “smart germs”,  but especially when the antibiotics are given for a virus.  This means that the germs mutate so that antibiotics have no effect on them.  This has been a problem in the general population simply because our food supply (animal sources) is routinely treated with antibiotics to overcome the deplorable conditions in which the animals are raised.  As a result, antibiotic-resistant infections are developing faster than we can find new drugs to fight them.  The use of antibiotics for the cold and flu only add to the problem.

Here’s what I did:  a bio-energetic scan indicated that a virus was trying to invade me.  This was identified before I experienced any symptoms.  My weak spot, as indicated by this scan, was my sinuses.  Since I was symptom free, I disregarded the warning.  Seven days later I came down with a severe sinus infection that turned into a cold. 

I immediately used my Neti pot.  A Neti pot looks like a ceramic watering can.  It is designed to irrigate the sinus passages with water.  I must admit that it takes some getting used to (detailed instructions are included in each pot).  I filled the pot with pure, luke-warm water and a small amount of Celtic sea salt.  As I lean over the sink, I turn my head in one direction and place the tip of the Neti pot in the higher nostril.  I then pour the water into the nostril.  You could feel it filling the sinus cavities and may even drip a bit down the back of the throat, but with minimal adjustment of the angle and turn of the head, the water quickly drains out the opposite nostril taking any dust, pollen, dirt, etc. out with the water.  As I finish pouring in one side, a short, abrupt blow of air through the nose expels any remaining mucus and water.  I then proceed to repeat this on the other nostril.

I routinely ask clients with allergies and sinus issues to rinse their sinuses daily to clear out any allergens like animal dander, dust and pollen from sticking to the mucous membranes and causing constant irritation.  It works really well.  But in my case, when I had a cold, I repeated this nasal lavage many times throughout the day.  This dislodged much of the mucus and kept my sinuses open.  As the cold progressed toward healing, this method eliminated much of the constant blowing of the nose and actually helped me sleep comfortably each night. 

I strongly encourage you to buy a Neti pot.  They are available for $13-$20 at health food stores, drug stores and on-line.  It is a must if you suffer from sinus problems or allergies; use it once daily.  It takes about three minutes for me to do this each morning.  You will feel the difference immediately.

If you have a cold, consider using the Neti pot more often to clear the sinuses and nasal passages.
Be sure to use a good water, not tap water.  Celtic Sea Salt should be in each home for seasoning; use a little in the Neti pot as well.  It really does get easier with practice.  This is better than vaporizers, ocean spray, humidifiers or inhales steam.  It incorporates the naturopathic beliefs of using water to help heal.  While you are at it, drink copious amounts of water to thin out the mucus and replace the water lost from sweating. 

Stay well,

Donna

If you’ve read my previous article on allergies and sensitivities, you know that there is a difference, and you also know that these sensitivities cause inflammation and can eventually lead to adrenal burn out. Food sensitivities can be a reason that diabetics are unable to get a grip on their blood sugar levels; even if they stick to a low carb diet. Food sensitivities can cause arthritis and achy joints to become more inflamed and can also result in sinus problems, achy back, high blood pressure and a myriad of other issues. One of the best ways to prevent developing sensitivities is to rotate your food at least every other day; every fourth day is better still. Those who eat the same thing every day are at highest risk. What if you have sensitivities already? One way to check is to avoid the suspected food for at least three weeks in order to see how your symptoms improve, then eat a lot of that food and take notice of how you feel. The problem is that there are often many food sensitivities simultaneously, so avoiding one or two does not bring significant relief or improvement of symptoms. One way to get results is to have a blood test taken. Many doctors do an IgE test, which only identifies immediate reactions, like eating a strawberry and getting a swollen throat and tongue. This is important but it does not measure those offending substances that have a delayed reaction. This delayed reaction is measured by an IgG test. I find this to be the most accurate way to identify the offenders.This test is offered by many labs and if your doctor orders this test, it may be covered by insurance. It usually requires a blood draw and takes about a week or so to get the results. This test changed my life and ended many years of allergy suffering since all my doctors told me it was pollen and dust. Yet, when I removed these offending foods, I was able to tolerate the pollen and dust. After 30 years of allergy shots and treatments, like magic, my symptoms were gone.The latest development is the availability to do these tests by a simple finger stick at home. This test is quick and easy and less expensive than the other types of allergy testing. It doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles that help you incorporate food rotation and avoidance into your diet, but if you are creative and determined, this finger stick test is for you.In many cases, I can support the body so it can restore balance to the adrenals and immune system. Sometimes, other factors affect the results; food sensitivities are one of those factors. Unless these sensitivities are addressed and eliminated the body cannot completely heal itself.I strongly encourage you to consider doing this simple, inexpensive test to identify any sensitivities before they become an issue. Until next time…Stay Healthy!Donna

I was on vacation sitting by the pool and watching the obese adults and children enjoy the most awful snacks as they “live it up”.   I was absolutely amazed that people were drinking beer at 10 a.m. as they sat in the sun.  Of course intermittent smoking just topped off the perfect week of relaxation and leisure.

Maybe everyone else’s dietary habits were so obvious because I was fasting for the week.  I try to go away when I fast because it is easier to be away from the familiar places where I cook and eat.  This is a week of relaxation, meditation, cleansing and rejuvenation; it works for me. 

While cooling off in the pool, I overheard 4 women discussing their diabetes and other health problems.

One was bragging that her blood sugar level was over 800 before the doctor made a diagnosis and prescribed medicine.  She was the winner; the other women only had a sugar level of 600.  This was quite a lot to be proud of.

One suggested that the other try Metformin since her husband takes Metformin and eats “whatever he wants”.  That’s an endorsement if ever I heard it!

A bit earlier there were three young people discussing hangovers.  The girl said she doesn’t like the feeling so she drinks a bottle of water with each drink.  The boy stated that he never gets hung over since he was able to “do 22 rounds of Captain Morgan and not get hung over”.   He had a great suggestion for her:  besides drinking the water, she should take some B12 and vitamin C before bedtime.  That would prevent the hangover.  Well, my head turned to see this health conscious young man with real wisdom of preventing hangovers.  He was over 300 pounds with an enormous belly hanging over his swimsuit…he was only 20 years old.

What are we coming to?  Are we so numb to health that an arsenal of drugs is a normal way of life?

Have we accepted the Big Pharma lies that sickness is a deficiency of a drug and what we eat has nothing to do with it?

I start teaching a new nutrition class next week.  I have seventy students enrolled.  I have the privilege of sharing with them information that will hopefully change their lives and as evidenced by my last classes, it is significantly for the better. 

A student from my last class wrote me recently:

Dear Valued Prof, I sincerely believe that (this class) remains the most relevant course not just in US, but (for a few of us not from US) even right up to other countries. It is to me a crusade that whoever has come across should ensure that he/she keeps passing on the good news. I wish you will stay longer on the scene so as to keep the flame ever on. God bless you for all your efforts towards ensuring a healthier society. Thanks.Peter Ugwuozor  

This is why I teach.  This is why I encourage you to pass the information on.  There are too many people who don’t know, don’t believe, or don’t care that they are literally killing themselves.  

Please, just for one day a week, think before you eat!  Ask yourself if the food you will eat will make you healthier.  Let’s change the world into a healthier place.

Donna

It has been said that you are not what you eat, but rather what you digest, absorb and assimilate.  This is true.  Health begins with the food choices, but I frequently find people who make significant dietary changes, yet the issues still remain.  One of the first places I look is in the gut.  Is the food moving along the GI tract at the right speed?  Is digestion occuring?  Are the pathogens interfering?  Is there “leaky gut”?  Is there a significant amount of probiotics?  Are the wastes being eliminated?  Is the immune system in the gut functioning properly? Each of these aspects must be investigated thoroughly and must also work properly in order to restore and/or maintain health.

The stomach needs to be acid in order to break down food which will then trigger the release of bicarb from the pancreas.  If you take a lot of antacids, there won’t be enough acid to trigger the bicarb release.  Bicarb is alkaline.  The small intestines must be alkaline in order to digest food further.  When you upset the stomach, you upset the small intestines.

The GI tract is where 70% on your immune system resides.   If you are someone who gets frequent colds and is susceptible to catch whatever someone else has, you may want to support your gut.  Secretory Immunoglobulin A is a good indicator of gut health. 

 ”Leaky gut” is a term used to describe intestinal permeability.  Tiny junctions between the cells that line the GI tract become separated.  This leaves a pathway for partially digested food or pathogens to enter the body.  If it is partially digested food, it may manifest as a food sensitivity.  If it is a pathogen, it may mean an infection.  Either way, it will stimulate an immune response and send your body into an alarm state.  This causes adrenal stress and could lead to the development of an autoimmune disorder.  Leaky gut is caused by a high refined diet, steroid hormones, birth control pills and some other medications. Unfortunately, it takes a long time to reverse.

Probiotic are the good bacteria that live in your gut and help keep the bad bacteria in check, they help absorb nutrients and help provide vitamins like the B vitamins and vitamin K.  If you take an antibiotic and you get a yeast infection, it means your gut flora (probiotics) is low. A normal, healthy gut can withstan 8-10 days of antibiotic therapy without having the good guys die off enough to cause the yeast to grow.  Everyone should be on a good probiotics formula, always.  Lack of probiotics is often the cause of constipation.  Sometimes I find that food is improperly digested.  This can easily be remedied by supplementing with digestive enzymes.  There are different enzymes produced in different parts of the GI tract.  I suggest a broad spectrum digestive enzyme to skip the guess work.  But ultimately, you need to get your body producing enzymes again.  If you have indigestion and pain after eating, consider enzymes.

This is especially true of  hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is produced in the stomach.  This strong acid keeps pathogens from infecting our bodies; it helps digest food, absorb minerals and triggers the bicarb release from the pancreas.  It can be hindered by poor diet, medications, especially proton pump inhibitors, which are given for acid reflux and heartburn. There is also a bacterium called H. Pylori that can cause low HCl, but I find that the most common cause is a deficiency of niacinamide.  Low HCl sufferers typically have gas and bloating  after a meal and foul smelling stool and flatulence.  They may also have symptoms very similar to too much acid, like reflux and indigestion.  Simple supplementation with niacinamide in a hefty dose helps the body produce enough acid.  I have found that this works when nothing else does.  Be sure to use niacinamide; niacin actually works but it causes a flush and itching response to occur. Fiber is another important part of good GI health.  Fiber bulks up the waste material, which triggers the bowels to expel the stool.  Fiber also absorbs toxins, cholesterol and excess hormones released from the liver to be excreted.  Lack of fiber allows these wastes to be re-absorbed back into the body to further hinder proper function. Pathogens, parasites, yeast and fungus can all be found in the gut.  Parasitic worms are often picked  up from walking barefoot outdoors, from kissing and sleeping with pets, from casual, and of course intimate contact.  Any of these can cause the immune system to respond in an effort to get rid of the offender.  These “bugs” must be identified and destroyed so health can be restored. 

There is only one sure way to check for most of these issues– polymerase chain reaction/DNA stool test.  This state of the art exam can help you identify all these factors at one time, and with considerable accuracy.
If you have some of the symptoms described, consider this GI test for yourself.

Stay Healthy!

Donna

Dysglycemia  is a term given to the many blood sugar dysfunctions. It is in epidemic proportions in this country. Our children, young people and adults are severely over weight. Our fast food diets and high carbohydrate meals are to blame. Diabetes is a totally preventable disease, in most cases and is rampantly growing. It accounts for much of our health care costs. Let me explain what happens.

When we eat a sugars (or carbohydrates) the pancreas produces insulin to help the sugar transport into the cells to produce energy. When we eat a lot of carbohydrates we produce a lot of insulin. This sends much of the sugar into the cells, leaving little left to keep the brain happy. This is Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar- all the sugar is sent into the cells- none left for the brain.  Symptoms of hypoglycemia are you get shaky if meals are missed, along with light headedness, foggy thinking and irritability.

If we ignore these symptoms and continue to eat a high-carbohydrate diet, the pancreas will continue to produce an excess of insulin. The cells try to compensate for the abundance of insulin showering upon them so they “down-regulate”; they close up some of their receptors. This is called Insulin Resistance or  Syndrome X. The signs of insulin resistance are: craving something sweet after a meal, needing a nap after you eat and awakening after you fall asleep at night. This is the step before diabetes.

In men, insulin resistance leads to testosterone being converted to estrogen (low libido and men developing breasts) and in women it leads to  estrogen being converted into testosterone, which leads to polycyctic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and infertility.  It is suspected that if this happens to a pregnant woman, the increase in testosterone may affect the development of the blood brain barrier in the unborn baby. This protects toxins from getting into the brain. If compromised, and the baby is exposed to a toxin (like in a vaccination) it may lead to the development of autism.

Now the insulin resistant body needs more insulin to force the glucose into the cells. The pancreas puts out insulin at a frantic pace until it wears itself out and says “I quit!” This is Diabetes (type II), the pancreas is burned out from making insulin so insulin shots or pills are given to stabilize blood sugar levels. Some medications force the pancreas to work harder. This only exacerbates the issue.

Here’s the problem: insulin is very irritating to the lining of the blood vessels (even if given by injection) so it promotes inflammation but the body tries to patch it up by putting LDL’s in the arteries. This only leads to arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. This is why so many diabetics have heart disease and lose feet or toes due to poor circulation. Diabetes also causes kidney problems, blindness, and a myriad of other degenerative diseases, all of which could be prevented.

One way to avoid these disorders is to avoid the high carb diet. Eat whole, fresh fruits and vegetables with lots of fiber to slow the blood sugar level down. Whole grains, not refined must be eaten. They contain many of the glycemic factors. Avoid any packaged food, even cereals. They have been known to raise blood sugar considerably. Meals that contain protein, fat and carbs cause a slower rise in blood sugar levels than those with just carbs alone. Remember that alcohol, even wine is going to raise your blood sugar level a lot. In fact, most people with alcoholic tendencies are hypoglycemic.

Another way is to make sure you maintain a sufficient level of nutrients that help insulin to work. They include: chromium, magnesium, vanadium, alpha lipoic acid, Conjugate Linoleic Acid (CLA), etc. These are called glycemic factors. These nutrients are used up by continuous consumption of sugars and need to be repleted.

One more way to avoid dysglycemia is to eat every three hours so your blood sugar level doesn’t get too low. The worst thing you could do is skip a meal, especially breakfast. That sets up a whole new set of problems. If you just can’t handle food first thing in the morning,, you must start slowly and gradually build up to a good high-protein meal for breakfast.

If we give our bodies what it needs it will heal itself. If we continuously abuse it it will quit working properly.

Stay Healthy,

Donna

I was sent this link to pass on.  I believe not enough women understand about inflammatory breast cancer.  This news brief does a good job of getting the word out.  Please view it and have all your female friends view it as well.

http://komonews.s3.amazonaws.com/ibc/komo_ibc.wmv

Thanks,

Donna

Natural Healing is really a simple process; if there is not enough nutrients—replace them; if there are too many toxins—eliminate them; if functions like digestion, elimination, immune protection, etc. are not functioning properly—support them; and if inflammation is wreaking havoc—identify and quench it.

How simple can it be? Then why aren’t we all doing it? Because these issues often make themselves known by producing symptoms like gas & bloating, foggy thinking, constipation, weight gain or loss, headaches, joint pain, allergies, frequent illnesses and many more. Our medical mentality has been to relieve the symptom. Cover them up. If we make you feel better quick you can go on with living your life.

This may work for a while but not for long. I just got off the phone with a pilot. I explained it this way: suppose you are cruising at 30,000 feet and an alarm goes off on the control panel. Do you take out the fuse that controls the alarm or take out the light bulb that lights up the alarm? Of course not! The annoying noise and flashing light is there to get your attention to address something that is not functioning properly. There are specific alarms for different areas of the plane. Each area of the plane has its own specific function and each of these functions together keep the plane in flight. A malfunction in any one area may affect other functions so it must be addressed quickly to keep the plane safe until proper repair is made.

Our bodies are more complex than a plane, yet when the symptom alarm goes off we immediately look to take out the light bulb or silence the alarm. We are totally unconcerned that the improper function that caused the alarm may eventually hinder other functions.

A good example of this is a fever. Some people panic at the slightest rise in body temperature and immediately seek ibuprofen and such to lower their temperature. In reality, a fever is the body’s way of killing off pathogens, kind of like pasteurization, where high heat kills the germs. If we keep the fever from getting high enough to kill the germs we are actually giving them a chance to proliferate and we end up with a full blown infection. Now I am not saying that all fevers should go unaddressed. No, I am saying that a slight temperature means that the body is working properly and is trying to protect you without the need of antibiotics. This is a good symptom.

What about stomach issues? Many people take over the counter antacids to deal with indigestion. They sometimes get some relief but find they can’t function well without them. Are their bodies suffering from an antacid deficiency? I doubt it. But it is easier to cover the symptom than to identify and correct the cause.

In many cases, people who take antacids actually suffer from not enough stomach acid. This leads to the proliferation of bacteria, fungus and other pathogens like H. Pylori, which cause ulcers. The GI tract is lined with a mucosal membrane that helps keep pathogens out. It also protects the stomach from being irritated by the strong stomach acid. This acid is needed to insure proper digestion. If we are deficient in zinc or chloride or other nutrients, the stomach acid production diminishes and actually produces symptoms much like too much acid. In addition, the improperly digested food ferments and produces irritation to the GI tract. If a person is on an anti-inflammatory Cox inhibitor, they may end up with thinned mucosa, which may lead to an ulcer. If they take antacids for the gastric symptoms without determining the cause, they may actually be making the stomach worse.

Even natural health methods may fall short. Many people believe that if they take a natural remedy for a symptom that it is better than taking a drug. In some ways it is since natural methods rarely have side effects if taken correctly. But how does this help find the cause? The underlying problem still remains. Health practitioners need to be familiar with how the body functions and must be able to trace the symptoms to the cause of the issue. Fix the pathway, fix the function and the symptom will go away.

I recently had someone come to me for help because after working with several practitioners, his stomach issues still remain. Each practitioner did gastrointestinal testing. Some natural remedies were given to stop the symptoms, yet they remain. The cause of the alarm was not found.  After assessing the person I was able to trace back to the ultimate imbalance, in this case lack of stomach acid.  After this was addressed the symptoms went away. 

Think about this before you reach for the next over the counter remedy. 

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.

Don’t Lie Down!

By Teresa Biber M.S., CCC-SLP

Remember when our mothers used to warn us to “wait thirty minutes before going into the water before eating or you might get a cramp and drown.” Fortunately for those rebellious youngsters who refused to listen, there has yet to be a documented death attributed to swimming right after eating. Yet to this day most people probably will refrain from doing so. What our mothers should have told us was, “Don’t lie down for at least 2 hours after eating.” That warning would have been much more biologically correct and ultimately saved a lot more lives! I am amazed at the number of patients I encounter daily, both young and old, who admit to lying down right after eating. The simple truth is, this is not only unwise but potentially very dangerous. 

By Donna DiMarco. CN,LNC

Yes, I know that the title was a sneaky way to get your attention, but the information I have to share is important. MASTICATION is not to be confused with the other similar sounding word that we are all so familiar with. It is something that we do every day, several times a day, in fact. Some do it more than others; some are better at it. Some of us do it even without the proper equipment. Those who don’t do it well or regularly may compromise their health as a result. I once witnessed the autopsy of someone who did not do it this one time and it caused his demise. Most people only do it for themselves, but I have heard of certain cultures that ritualistically do it for each other. Get mind out of the gutter, it’s chewing.

“Everyone knows how to chew”, you say. Not so. Most people (myself included) don’t take the time to let the mouth do its job in aiding in the digestion of food. We are all in a hurry to get through our day and we don’t take the time to enjoy our meal, chew our food properly, and allow proper mixing of the food with saliva to occur in our mouth.

In this day and age, meals are commonly taken on the run, leaving little thought as to why we eat in the first place. Our busy schedules leave us little time to partake in three daily meals in the relaxed, but purposeful way it was intended; this leaves food partially digested and important nourishment locked in. As a result, we feel the need to take in additional amounts of food, but still remain undernourished. The body, with its natural wisdom, identifies the need for nourishment and signals us to eat more. But if again we don’t chew properly, the cycle will continue and obesity can result.

Thorough chewing also allows time for the “I ate enough” signal to be received in the brain. If we pay attention to this important feedback loop, we might reduce obesity significantly. This is such an effective technique that many weight loss centers suggest their clients to eat slowly, and to pay careful attention to chewing, as well as to wait 15 minutes or so before you reach for a second helping or the next course. In that time, the brain will realize it’s full and the appetite will subside. I’m sure we all experienced waiting so long in a restaurant that we weren’t interested in eating any more. Just allow yourself 15 or twenty minutes before you reach for a snack or a second helping. You’ll find you don’t really feel hungry. Try it; it works.

Chewing is the act of taking large bites of food, grinding it up into small particles that can be mixed with saliva and digestive enzymes. It is so important in providing our bodies with all the fuel it needs. Here’s a good analogy of how it works: take a whole, fresh lemon; squeeze it really hard. Unless you’re really strong, no juice will come out of it. Next, cut it in half; take one half and squeeze it hard. You’ll get a good amount of juice but more will remain inside the lemon. Finally, take the remaining half and cut it into four pieces. Take each piece and again, squeeze it hard. You’ll find that much more juice can be extracted from the smaller pieces. This is what happens with food. Large pieces of unchewed food leave lots of nutrients trapped inside, much like the lemon juice. The smaller the pieces become, the more nutrients (lemon juice) can be extracted. All those nutrients are vital for good health.

After food is chewed and the digestive process begins, food is called chyme. Chyme is a smooth, homogenous substance we all get grossed out to look at, but it is essential for good digestion Chewing begins with carbohydrates being broken down into simple sugars. Here’s a fun experiment to try. Take a bite of a bagel or a piece of bread. Chew it the way you normally do. Remember the taste and the texture before you swallow it. Then take another bite, but this time chew it 30 times, rolling it around with your tongue to mix it well. Notice the additional sweetness? That’s because ptyalin in the saliva helped release the sugar. This could work to our disadvantage if we are not careful. Remember that if you don’t brush your teeth, especially at bedtime, tiny particles of food may remain stuck between your teeth. These food particles may be broken down into sugars, which promote dental caries. If left untreated, caries, or cavities as we commonly call them, can result in pain and eventual loss of teeth. Then we are back to poor chewing again.

In addition to the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth, chewing initiates the digestion of fats as well. Lingual lipase starts the process of fat digestion. It acts similarly to soap by breaking the bonds of the fat molecules causing glycerol and fatty acids to separate, making the fat more readily available for further digestion to occur. Although the digestive process begins in the mouth, it continues on to completion in the intestinal tract, resulting in nutrients entering the bloodstream to fuel our bodies.

We rely on these nutrients to keep us alive. Many of the disorders we experience are caused by lack of nutrients. We can spend lots of money on supplements to provide them (which is sometimes necessary), but the simplest way to maintain good health and to insure that our bodies function properly is to make wise food choices (foods that are nutrient rich, whole and fresh) then to chew that food well in order to release all the nutrients that nature has provided for us.

Take the time to care for yourself; care enough to sit down to your meal in a relaxed manner. Chew slowly and purposefully. Savor the flavors. Notice the textures. Inhale the aromas of the foods. Studies indicate that the sight and smell of food stimulates the digestive juices. Haven’t you ever had your mouth water (that’s saliva) at the sight of your favorite dish or the smell of fresh bread hot from the oven? That’s part of the process. Don’t deny yourself that; you’re worth it!

Follow these tips and you will notice gradual improvements in your health including your energy, your immune system, your endurance, your mental attitude and mental acuity, but it all begins with you. Until next time, I challenge you to chew.

Donna

By Donna DiMarco, CN, LNC.

Everyone is familiar with the inflammatory response. At some time in our lives we’ve had a sprained ankle, an insect bite, a cut or sprain. Typically, we would notice a red area, maybe some swelling, and it might be warm to the touch, as well as painful. This is the body’s way of protecting itself. White blood cells are activated and sent to the area, muscles may stiffen to prevent movement that might injure further. These are all inflammatory reactions. Nerve endings in the affected area respond (pain) to make us aware of the assault so that we might take better care. Our response might be to wrap or bandage it, put ice on the area, elevate it, possibly use a topical antibiotic or anti inflammatory like hydrocortisone, and these remedies would be appropriate. As healing takes place, the symptoms subside and we gradually restore full function to the affected area. Inflammation is a normal part of the healing process. It is a good thing.

But what do you do if the inflammatory healing process goes awry? What if the body’s method of attack turns on itself? Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common nowadays. Research has documented what many of us had known all along, that the inflammatory process is a key factor in cardiovascular disease, arthritis, cancer, psoriasis, kidney problems, in fact, many diseases. This is the basic cause of many autoimmune diseases. If the body attacks the nerves, we call it multiple sclerosis, if it attacks the digestive system, we call it Crohn’s or Irritable Bowel Disease, if it attacks the connective tissue, we call it Lupus, if it attacks the mucous membrane, we call it Sjorgren’s Disease, if the joints are attacked, we call it Rheumatoid Arthritis. The list goes on and on. In these and other autoimmune diseases there is a common factor, the body attacks itself or stimulates an inflammatory response inappropriately.

Some of these diseases manifest symptoms that signal a problem, but this is usually after a long time of enduring an inflammatory response. When the pain or symptom occurs, we go to a doctor and ask for a medicine to make the pain subside. And it works! We get allergy relief if we take the right allergy pill. We get pain from arthritis if we take the appropriate NSAID (Non steroidal anti-inflammatory) like aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc. If we stop the medicine the symptoms return. That’s because we are not getting at the cause as to what causes the inflammation initially.

What if the inflammation occurs inside your body in a place with few pain nerve sensors? You wouldn’t feel pain or see the swelling or redness. How would you tell if there is inflammation if you don’t feel or see it? This is the case behind most cardiovascular disease. Inflammation of the veins and arteries stimulate a protective mechanism (plaque, fat or calcium deposits) to protect the injured vessel from further damage. As a result, it lines the vessel in an effort to insulate the injury. This inappropriate protective response can lead to narrowing of the blood vessels causing high blood pressure, stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Well, fortunately, there are now simple blood tests available that should routinely be performed by your practitioner that can help you make wise decisions to act preventively before an autoimmune or other disease takes hold. Here’s a few:

CRP (C-Reactive Protein) is a special type of protein produced by the liver that is only present during episodes of acute inflammation. CRP rises as a nonspecific response to tissue injury and inflammation.

Those with an elevated CRP have a 2-3 times greater risk of stroke, an increased risk of cancer and are three times more likely to get Alzheimer’s Disease or suffer from dementia. They are also more likely to develop macular degeneration.

Homocysteine, although not really an inflammatory indicator it is an important test. It is a by-product of protein metabolism and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is produced when protein is eaten and the necessary nutrients of B-12, folic acid, and B-6 are missing. These nutrients are necessary for the homocysteine to be transformed into a harmless form. If these vitamins are missing, homocysteine would not be rendered harmless and could promote aging and calcification of the blood vessels. Dr. Kilmer McCully found that supplementation with B-6, B-12 and Folic Acid can prevent the elevation of homocysteine, and can lower these levels in a relatively short time. This is a great reason to make sure you are taking a high quality, high potency B vitamin daily.

Interleukin -6 Elevated IL-6 serum or plasma levels may occur in different conditions including sepsis, autoimmune diseases, lymphomas, AIDS, alcoholic liver disease, and in patients with infections or transplant rejection. But a person with an elevated IL-6, regardless of the cause, is more likely to develop diabetes, especially if there is also an elevated CRP. Thus, we can now conclude that there is a definite relationship between inflammation and diabetes. If these indicators are corrected early, maybe a life of insulin shots would be prevented. Lack of sleep can cause a 40-60% rise in IL-6

TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor-a) Tumor necrosis factor is a cytokine which is involved in the inflammatory process. Cytokines are chemical substances which deliver messages between cells in the body.

TNF- serum or plasma levels may be elevated in sepsis, autoimmune diseases, various infectious diseases and transplant rejection. TNF elevation may be indicative of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythmatosis, and Systemic Sclerosis.

Sed Rate (Sediment Rate) has a lot of names. It is also called Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate; ESR; Westergren Sedimentation Rate but it is all the same thing. It is a measure of the how quickly red blood cells set in a tube over a given period of time. It use to be the most popular test for inflammation but now CRP has taken over that slot.

ANA- stands for Antinuclear Antigen and is measured in dilutions. A positive result is more common in older women. It is an indicator of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogren’s Syndrome and several other disorders. The bottom line is it measures inflammation and inflammation is behind all these disorders.

I suggest you have your doctor check these levels at your next visit. It is NOT routinely done, even though it is helpful in preventing disease, so don’t be afraid to ask for them. If they are abnormal, make sure your doctor will do something to correct the underlying problem. On my insistence, a friend of mine asked her doctor for these tests and when the results came back abnormal he didn’t know what to do for her so he told her they just won’t test for them anymore. She was just released from the hospital where they diagnosed her with arteries in her brain, legs and arms so severely occluded that a pulse or blood pressure couldn’t be found on her limbs. Her doctor just offered an apology since the vessels are too far gone to be stented or by-passed.

In the mean time, stay away from over-cook and processed food, foods high in polyunsaturated oils, high in sugar and an over consumption of meat and dairy. Stay away from fried foods. Be sure to get sufficient sleep. Take some melatonin or 5 HTP if needed, but please be supervised. Take a good quality omega-3 fish oil with each meal. It is well documented to reduce inflammation, as is antioxidants like vitamin C and E. Green Tea, Nettle and Turmeric are anti-inflammatory. The herb Stephania works to reduce IL-6. The amino acid, N-acetylcysteine not only helps fight infection, but gets rid of toxins, which are generally the cause of the inflammation in the first place. Other nutrients that fight cytokines are: DHEA, a precursor to many hormones, Vitamin K, the clotting factor, GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid). Be sure to drink pure water, never tap water. Eat organic as much as possible. Have your teeth filled with composite fillings instead of mercury, which is a known cause of inflammation. Stay away from pesticides and chemicals in cleansers and plastics. Pay attention to your body and it will serve you well.

Donna

By Donna DiMarco, CN, LNC.

During the summer months, sun protection becomes foremost on our minds, well maybe after weight loss. Years ago, when life was simpler, food was nutrient dense and water was pure, even though people spent much more time in the sun, there was less skin cancer. Many types of work were done outdoors without protection, and people looked forward to outdoor activities, even after working in the sun all day. We have been recently taught that if we are to survive exposure to the harmful rays of the sun we should lather ourselves with the highest SPF factor we could find, wear protective clothing, hats and glasses and still run from the sun like the
plague was approaching, but is the sun the real cause?

During the summer months, sun protection becomes foremost on our minds, well maybe after weight loss. Years ago, when life was simpler, food was nutrient dense and water was pure, even though people spent much more time in the sun, there was less skin cancer. Many types of work were done outdoors without protection, and people looked forward to outdoor activities, even after working in the sun all day. We have been recently taught that if we are to survive exposure to the harmful rays of the sun, we should lather ourselves with the highest SPF factor we could find, wear protective clothing, hats and glasses and still run from the sun like the plague was approaching, but is the sun the real cause? 

Now here’s our dilemma: we are deficient in vitamin D because we avoid sunlight and block out its powerful rays, and we are deficient in antioxidants that would allow us to get our vitamin D from the sun as nature intended and with suffering its damage.

Again, there is no doubt that the sun can cause severe damage to the skin but only IF certain nutrients (antioxidants) are lacking. By blocking out the sunlight we block the body’s ability to make much-needed vitamin D. Sunrays offer much more than just the catalyst for vitamin D production. They help regulate our circadian rhythm, promote the feeling of well being, and facilitate better learning and higher productivity.

As a result of avoiding sunlight and blocking out its rays, the incidence of osteoporosis, prostate and breast cancer, and even high blood pressure have risen.

Vitamin D is needed for bones to develop properly and to allow calcium to maintain bone integrity. We originally believed gross vitamin D deficiency only resulted in rickets. As a result, vitamin D was added to milk in small amounts, which prevented rickets but fell far short of our bodies need for vitamin D ( much like iodized salt prevented goiter but left the body iodine deficient). Recently, we have come to realize that vitamin D is important for many other functions. As far back as in the 1940s researchers noticed that individuals living in the temperate zones were more vulnerable to hypertension, colon, prostate, and breast cancer. Only later was the connection made to reduced sun exposure and vitamin D.

Vitamin D is found in fish and fish oils and fortified foods, but according to the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-94, the median intake for children is above the Adequate Intake (AI), but the below the AI for women over 12 years of age and for men over 50 years. This may be due to the increased fortified milk consumption by children. Yet, recent studies indicate that fortification practices in both the U.S. and Canada are not effective in preventing vitamin deficiency. Our food choices are still poor and we still avoid the sun.

Other conditions that may be prevented by optimal intake (or body production) of vitamin D are lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and even Type 1 diabetes. In one study, it was reported that children who were given 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily had a reduced risk of developing Type 1 diabetes by 80 percent.

Another study determined that large doses of vitamin D taken only every four months produced reduction in the incidence of breaking bones among seniors (65-85 year old). Swiss researchers also found that older people who took supplemental vitamin D for 9 months cut their risk of falling by about 50%. In 1989, when a vitamin D precursor (25-hydroxy D) was measured in the blood, it was determined that subjects with higher levels had 50% less risk of colon cancer than those with lower levels. How many of these older people would benefit by sitting out in the sunlight just 20-30 minutes a day?

Although many health care practitioners use to limit their vitamin D supplement recommendations to 400 IU per day, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a couple of articles re-evaluating the safety range of vitamin D and concluded that the current 2,000 IU daily safe limit should be increased by at least 5 fold (1999). They revisited the subject in 2001 with the addition that… “we consider 4,000 IU vitamin D to be a safe (daily) intake for adults.”

The best choice for obtaining vitamin D should be from moderate exposure to sunlight. Supplementation should be the second choice when sufficient exposure to sunlight is not an option, as in areas north of the equator who experience seasonal sunlight deficiency.

Recent research indicates that topical and internal supplementation with selenium and vitamin E, both are powerful antioxidants that protect us from the damage of the sun’s rays. So the simple solution appears to be loading up on antioxidants in diet and topically and enjoy the sun. I always apply an antioxidant rich cream after sunbathing and I do not use sunscreen, but I have an olive complexion and take antioxidants daily.

Try to spend some time exposing your eyes to the daylight (without glasses or contact lenses) to allow the pineal body to receive the full spectrum light it needs. Sunrise is a great time to get that light. This won’t give you vitamin D but may help your circadian rhythm. If your living environment or working area restricts exposure to sunlight or if you are really fair-skinned, try full spectrum light bulbs. Unlike regular light bulbs they offer a light source that is similar to the spectrum of rays of sunlight. They are rated by their Color Rendering Index (CRI), where a rating of 100 would represent natural sunlight at noon in the middle of the summer. Bulbs with a rating of 90-95 are available. Check on line for suppliers.

Be sure to follow the guidelines for healthy eating. Moisturize your skin daily and use a cream that provides adequate antioxidant nutrients like vitamins A, C, E and selenium. If you are fair skinned, you may not want to go without any protection if you are to be exposed to the sun’s rays for any length of time. Small, gradual steps may help you tolerate it better. Please do not get sunburned. That is a sure way to damage your skin. Moderation is the key. Use common sense when outdoors. Allow some time to get the sun you need, then cover up of lather up. Consider taking a vitamin D supplement, but check with your healthcare practitioner first.

Until next time…Donna

By Donna DiMarco, CN, LNC

Most people think that cholesterol, LDL’s, and triglycerides are the main culprits in cardiovascular disease. We came to believe this because back in 1913 a Russian scientist, Nikolai Anitschkow, fed a group of rabbits a diet high in cholesterol and when the animals were examined, their blood vessels were clogged with plaque. This was the beginning of the cholesterol fear. It didn’t matter that the amount of cholesterol given to each rabbit was equivalent to a human eating 50 eggs a day. It was also not considered that rabbits are inherently vegetarian and incapable of breaking down and utilizing the high concentration of cholesterol. Since that time we realized that less than one third of the cholesterol in our bodies comes from food. We also found out that the body produces LDL’s (the bad cholesterol) to plug the leaks in the blood vessels due to vitamin C deficiency. Most recently, we have realized that there is another important factor not previously considered in calculating cardiovascular risk. That factor is homocysteine levels.

Homocysteine is a by-product of protein metabolism an amino acid called methionine, which is found in protein. It is first converted into homocysteine then into harmless by-products but there must be enough B vitamins present, especially Folic Acid, B6, and B12, for this to happen. If there is not enough of these vitamins, the process stops after the production of homocysteine. The problem is that homocysteine causes irritation to the linings of the blood vessels, which then promotes the formation of plaque. The statistics indicate that 30-40 percent of strokes and heart attacks are completely preventable with simple supplementation of a B complex, and especially folic acid and B12.

There is a direct relationship between arteriosclerosis and homocysteine levels: the higher the amount of homocysteine, the higher the incidence of heart attack, stroke, and clogged blood vessels in the extremities. But an INVERSE relationship occurs between homocysteine levels and B vitamins: the lower the vitamin level, the higher the homocysteine level. In a recent study based on information from the Framingham study, “67% of the cases of high homocysteine” had low levels of one or more of the B vitamins. Researchers now believe that homocysteine levels are 40 times more effective than cholesterol levels when calculating the risk of cardiovascular disease.

There are indications that genes play a part in this picture. It has been found that the enzymes necessary to metabolize homocysteine are linked to a specific gene. Often there is a defect in that gene or, in the case of 12 % of the people, an extra gene that results in an increase of homocysteine; here’s how it happened.

More than 30 years ago a pathologist, Dr Kilmer McCully, M.D. working as a pathologist at Harvard, was performing an autopsy on an infant and was surprised to find the child had the arteries of a seventy year old person. Shortly afterwards he came across a 12 year old with the same “old-looking’ blood vessels. In his examinations, he found both of these bodies had a genetic defect that prevented homocysteine from being neutralized. In other research he found adults with “aged arteries” were deficient in folic acid and B vitamins. Further research and experiments resulted in him writing a paper for his peers, in which he hypothesized that folic acid, B12, B6, and B3 were necessary to prevent arteries from “aging” and that if there is a genetic defect in homocysteine metabolism, B vitamins could compensate. The medical community was outraged. They still believed in the bunny experiment. Harvard fired him and he was blacklisted. Out of work for 3 years, he finally was offered a job at the VA hospital where he remains today. A few years ago, Lancet published an article, written by doctors at Harvard, citing Dr. McCully and stating that folic acid, B12, B6, and B3 are necessary to prevent arteries from “aging”. How ironic!

 What can we do to insure “young arteries?” If we increase our consumption of dark green, leafy vegetables, we will increase our intake of some of the necessary B vitamins, especially folate. If we limit our amount of meat intake, reduce our saturated fat levels, while maintaining good levels of essential fatty acids, if we reduce our sugar intake (along with our refined and processed foods), and eat a wholesome and natural diet, our chances of cardiovascular disease are greatly reduced. The most important step to preventing arteriosclerosis is taking a good potency of a natural multivitamin, preferably bought in a health food store (there is a difference). This will usually contain at least 400 mcg. of folic acid, 10-50 mgs. of B6, and at least 500-1000 mcgs. of B12. If you are severely deficient in B vitamins, you may need higher doses to bring the levels up. B deficiency often shows up as grooves or pits on the surface of the tongue. If your tongue isn’t smooth and even, look for the co-enzymated forms that go under the tongue to assure good absorption, but talk to your licensed nutrition counselor to determine your body’s needs. Remember, good health is within your reach. Until next time… Donna

by Donna DiMarco, CN, LNC.

In the last articles, I offered methods to improve your health status yourself by incorporating simple changes. If you applied these steps into your lifestyle, you probably noticed a significant change in your energy, appearance, mental clarity, and resistance to disease. But no health program can really be successful without addressing the subject of pH, which means power of hydrogen. In layman’s terms it is the measurement of how acid or alkaline the body is. The higher the number, the more alkaline (or base) one is; the lower the number the more acid one is. Neutral pH is 7.0, which means that it is neither acid nor alkaline.

We test the pH in the body by placing litmus paper in saliva and/or urine. Litmus paper can be purchased at a health food store or a pharmacy for about $8-$10. The paper should measure a range between 4.5-7.5. One would simply collect urine in a small cup, then place a small piece of litmus paper in the urine. It will change color to correspond to the pH (much like the way you test pH in a swimming pool). Match up the color with the chart on the paper to determine what your pH is. Saliva is tested the same way. In a healthy body, pH of both urine and saliva should be neutral (7.0). Neutral pH in saliva and urine usually reflects an arterial blood pH of 7.4; at this level the body can function optimally.

Unfortunately, few people maintain a neutral pH. Acid pH is usually the result of diet (cola, coffee, milk, white flour, red meat and sugar), lack of exercise, protein deficiency, environmental toxins, and stress. This condition of low pH is called ACIDEMIA, or acid blood. Acidemia has been linked to chronic inflammation, anemia, anaerobic metabolism, active infection or tendency to get infections, plaque on teeth, tendency to get caries, decreased bone density, breakdown in connective tissue and build up of free calcium within the body. Clinically, one would identify acidemia not only by low pH in saliva and urine, but by white blood cells and bacteria in the urine, a low oxygen saturation and an elevated free calcium risk index. But you can use pH as a good indicator as to the tendency in your own body.

Let me explain a little about the pH in the digestive tract. When we eat food, the stomach produces acid to help with digestion; the stomach is supposed to be a very acid environment. This acid (HCl) kills bacteria and yeast, helps to denature protein for further digestion, and sets the stage for the food to pass out of the stomach. In the small intestines (duodenum), the low pH of the mixture of food and acid (chyme) triggers the pancreas to release bicarbonates (alkaline), which neutralizes the acids making the pH of the chyme more alkaline. An alkaline pH in the small intestines is necessary for the digestive process to continue properly so that all nutrients can be extracted and absorbed. If the stomach isn’t acid enough, the trigger in the small intestines doesn’t respond and the bicarbonate fails to be released. The chyme will remain acid and digestion may be hindered. The result is evident when the pH of the body, as reflected in the urine, is more acid.

The body is really smart; it tries to neutralize the acid in the blood by pulling a buffer (calcium) from where ever it is available- the bones and teeth are the usual sources. If the body maintains acidemia for a length of time, the free calcium will be left to circulate in the blood stream (hardening of the arteries). If a proper pH is maintained, bacteria, yeast and cancer cells have a hard time proliferating and calcium can remain in the bones and teeth to serve its function in structural integrity.

We can do things to change our pH to a more health-promoting level: Moderate regular exercise improves the lung function and pH. Some people have clamed that salivary pH has changed after simple deep breathing exercises. Exercise helps us breathe deeply. We can avoid things that turn the body acid, things like milk, sugar, white flour, sodas, red meat, and other junk foods (Just one more reason to eat a more healthy diet!) We can eat protein for breakfast to maintain good serum protein and albumin levels.

Throughout the day, but especially first thing in the morning, we can drink fresh squeezed lemon juice in water. The citric acid in the lemon helps make the stomach pH acid enough to trigger the release of bicarbonate in the small intestines. I know it sounds strange to consume acid to become more alkaline, but if you remember how the body functions it makes total sense. Lemon and/or lime juice work the best, grapefruit is also effective, but orange juice has a high sugar content so it doesn’t work to change pH as well. Whenever you go out, ask for lemon or lime in your water or drink. Many cultures use lemon, lime, and sour orange on foods because it helps digestion as well as enhance flavor.

Malic acid found in raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar is also effective; Try to use this on your salads. Malic acid is also found in apple cider, so I start my day with lemon-lime juice in 2 ounces of apple cider and pure water. To this, I add vitamin C (ascorbic ACID) powder (be sure it does NOT contain calcium). This refreshing drink helps set the stage for proper pH and provides me with sufficient vitamin C to produce collagen, connective tissue and energy. After a time in the gym, I follow it with high protein breakfast like eggs, or fish, which help with energy and muscle building and provides the mood-lifting amino acids for neurotransmitters.

If you drink coffee, do so after breakfast and never on an empty stomach. It may change your pH drastically.

Measure your pH (saliva and urine) first thing in the morning, two hours after breakfast, and before bedtime. Keep a chart of your progress. When you are maintaining a steady pH of 7.0, you can begin testing only 2 hours after breakfast. You should notice an increase in energy and mental clarity, but most of the benefit will occur without you noticing it. The rewards will pay off in the long run with fewer colds, fewer degenerative diseases, and better quality of life. Remember, you’re worth the effort!

Donna