Eating Right for Healthy Aging

Any time there are spikes in blood glucose levels, there are abnormal reactions between sugars and proteins, which produce pro-inflammatory products that accelerate aging in the body. Everyone seeking to delay age-related diseases should adopt an anti-inflammatory eating plan for life.

high glycemic foods high glycemic foods

FDA and Intravenous Vitamin C Cancer Therapy

If FDA officials actually listened to patients, they wouldn’t be trying to cut off the use of intravenous ascorbic acid (IAA) as a cancer-fighter..

orange slices orange slices

10,000 IU/day Vitamin D Needed for Therapeutic Benefit

According to this article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, pregnant women have an even greater need for Vitamin D supplements than non-pregnant women. http://www.ajcn.org/content/79/5/717.full If she were my wife, I would have her on two Vitamin D 5000 IU gel caps — one in the morning and one in the evening 12 hours later. Vitamin D works slowly.

Vitamin D 5000 IU softgels Vitamin D 5000 IU softgels

Persistently high HbA1C levels even on a low glycemic index diet

Later this year I may try Carnosine, which has been shown to reduce or eliminate advanced glycation end products. But Carnosine is somewhat expensive, and it helps with cleaning up the effects of too much serum glucose, but does not actually lower the glucose levels.

LCarnosine500mg LCarnosine500mg

Natural Sulforaphane from Broccoli Sprouts: A Supplement with Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Anticarginogenic, and Anti-Inflammatory Functions

Researchers at the University of Michigan (U of M) Comprehensive Cancer Center believe that sulforaphane could become both a novel and highly effective treatment for breast cancer. Current chemotherapy treatments attack rapidly dividing cells but do nothing to stop cancer stem cells — the small number of specific cells responsible for fueling the growth of cancerous breast tumors. [2] In laboratory experiments, sulforaphane was shown to target and kill cancer stem cells and prevented new malignancies from growing.

broccoli sprouts broccoli sprouts

Supplements for Endothelial Health

Posted by Michael A. S. Guth on May 18th, 2012

Michael Guth:   I am curious whether you are taking any supplements to improve your endothelial health.  I take two supplements, but I want to see if you take anything before I tell you about them.

Primary Care Doctor With Specialty on Hormone Therapy:   Mike, the question that my article will attempt to answer is “Why are we being so rapidly affected by this change in diet? “ What is the metabolic defect that is causing the obesity and diabetes when we overload with sugar and carbs. The answer to this is the gene polymorphism associated with thiamine metabolism , the MTHFR. Twenty percent of people are homozygous and 70% hetro in a white population, and 90 -100% in indigenous populations. And so the supplements I take are to avoid the endothelial consequences of carrying this polymorphism are folinic acid 500 mg and DIM 300 mg . I also take testosterone and run my levels at 25 nmols/lt (25 year old levels) and use human growth hormone at night . We eat low carb , high protein , use a lot of olive oil and cumin and enjoy a glass of beautiful South Australian red wine every night. If I could just convince my wife the benefits of having sex three times a day, then life would be perfect ( she thinks 3 x a year too much!). I am in my mid 60’s now and my colleagues and friends are all talking about retirement and dying, and I’m excited about going back to University and doing another course (Archaeology) . I’m interested to hear what you take and why.

Michael Guth:   I used to take DIM as an estrogen modulator, but I found I needed a stronger prescription-type drug, so I now take Anastrozole.  I have never heard of folinic acid, but I will have to look it up.

I take 1000 mg of Arginine AKG three times per day — roughly 6 hours apart.  You can read about the enhanced bioavailability of the AKG form of arginine here:  http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWU341/ItemDetail

According to the Sloan-Kettering Memorial website (which is one of the top cancer treatment and research hospitals in the USA), “Arginine is unique among amino acids for its vasodilatory properties (11). Arginine acts as a precursor for the synthesis of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) via the action of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Nitric oxide’s functions as a paracrine-signaling molecule mediating vasodilation and inhibition of platelet activation, monocyte and leucocyte adhesion, and smooth muscle cell proliferation. Nitric oxide also helps to control vascular oxidative stress and redox-regulated gene expression (22). Arginine is also needed for the synthesis of creatine which is important in muscle contraction (22). In colorectal adenoma cells, arginine reduces the expression of survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis, and induces iNOS expression (23).”

http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/arginine

Furthermore, I take Pine Bark Extract (also sold as brand name Pycnogenol) at the same time as the Arginine AKG, because it somehow stimulates the body to produce more nitric oxide.  I am not sure what enzyme it activates, but I have seen research studies where Pycnogenol had a synergistic effect on Arginine to increase nitric oxide production — thus dilating blood vessels.

“Pine bark extract acts as an antioxidant by scavenging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and suppressing production of peroxides (21). It increases the activities of antioxidant enzymes by increasing the intracellular glutathione levels (22). In addition to increasing NO production which induces vasodilation (2), pine bark extract also blocks the NF-kB activation stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and inhibits production of adhesion proteins that cause inflammation and atherosclerosis (22). An in vitro study suggests that Pycnogenol induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells and not in normal breast cells although the mechanism is not clear (23). Other in vitro studies have also shown that it reduces neuronal apoptosis, an important feature of Alzheimer’s disease, by decreasing free radical generation (24). In animal studies, pine bark extract exhibits a protective effect on cardiotoxicity caused by antitumor drugs, such as doxorubicin, due to its ability to act as a free-radical scavenger (20).”

http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/pine-bark-extract

Concerning endothelial health, the Life Extension website says:

“Endothelial Dysfunction and Stroke Risk

Most strokes are caused by blood clots that form as a result of atherosclerosis (Gorelick PB 2002). Once known as “hardening of the arteries,” atherosclerosis occurs when the arteries become clogged with plaque deposits and the structure and function of the inner arterial wall (the endothelium) are compromised. If atherosclerotic plaque deposits become brittle and rupture, blood clots can form that lead to stroke. Scientists have spent decades unraveling the complicated biological processes that lead to atherosclerosis. We now understand atherosclerosis as a long-term disease, one that accelerates as we age, raising the risk of heart attack and stroke.

For many years, conventional science has depicted the arteries as pipes, often using plumbing analogies to describe procedures such as balloon angioplasty or endarterectomy, an operation in which plaque is stripped away from the linings of arteries. The problem with the plumbing analogy, however, is that the arteries are actually muscular, complex organs that play an active role in regulating blood pressure and other biological functions.

Arteries are composed of three layers. The outer layer is mostly connective tissue and provides structure to the layers beneath. The middle layer is smooth muscle and contracts and dilates to help blood flow and maintain blood pressure. And the inner layer is a thin layer of endothelial cells and provides a smooth, protective surface. Endothelial cells prevent toxic, blood-borne substances from penetrating the smooth muscle of the artery. They also respond to changes in blood pressure and release substances into the cells of the smooth muscle that help change the tone of the artery. Furthermore, endothelial cells secrete chemicals that provoke a protective response in the artery after an injury.

In the event an artery is injured, the endothelium signals smooth muscle cells to gather at the site of the injury. Endothelial cells also signal white blood cells to congregate on the injured vessel wall, provoking an immune response. As we age, however, the endothelium becomes leaky, allowing lipids and toxins to penetrate the endothelial layer into the smooth muscle cells. As a result, smooth muscle cells gather at the site of the injury, and the artery in turn loses some flexibility. In response, the endothelium signals white blood cells to congregate along the cell wall. The endothelium is further weakened by the pro-inflammatory immune response, in which leukotrienes and prostaglandins contribute to inflammation, which aggravates the abnormal smooth muscle tone of the arterial wall (Touyz RM 2005). Toxins soon begin to penetrate into the arterial wall. Inside the artery, lipids such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides accumulate and gradually become oxidized.

At this point, the atherosclerotic process has begun in earnest. In response to the oxidized lipids, the body mounts an immune response that causes more white blood cells to attack the fats, producing more inflammation within the arterial wall. In an attempt to heal the injury, smooth muscle cells begin to produce collagen to form a cap over the injury site. The mixture of oxidized lipids, white blood cells, and smooth muscle cells forms a plaque deposit. Over time, calcium accumulates on the deposit and forms a brittle cap. If this calcified plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form.

All the processes described above, in which the arterial wall is damaged and normal endothelial function is compromised, are collectively referred to as endothelial dysfunction. Risk factors that aggravate endothelial dysfunction include high blood pressure, smoking, elevated LDL and triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, diabetes, elevated insulin levels, obesity, lack of exercise, and several recently identified risk factors, such as elevated levels of homocysteine and C-reactive protein. Each of these contributes to endothelial dysfunction of cerebral arteries and the subsequent increased risk of stroke.

High blood pressure, for example, is very strongly associated with stroke; in fact, high blood pressure is associated with about half of ischemic strokes. It is known that high blood pressure contributes to endothelial dysfunction. Cigarette smoke is another major risk factor because the smoke contains many toxins that contribute to endothelial injury, while homocysteine has been shown to cause the initial injury to the endothelium that begins the atherosclerotic process (Sainani GS et al 2002). Similarly, a Physician’s Health Study found that men in the highest quartile of levels of C-reactive protein (an inflammatory marker that signals inflammation somewhere in the body) had twice the risk of ischemic stroke of those in the bottom quartile (Ridker PM et al 1997). Other studies have found that C-reactive protein is a strong independent predictor of a reduced survival rate after ischemic stroke (Di Napoli M et al 2001).

If researchers can identify drugs or supplements that support healthy endothelial function, it may be possible to slow the relentless advance of atherosclerosis and reduce the risk of the most common kind of stroke. One common therapeutic focus is nitric oxide, which causes arteries to dilate and improves blood flow. A nutrient or drug that improves the production of nitric oxide may have the potential to reduce the risk of stroke or other atherosclerotic insults.

It also makes sense to modify as many other risk factors as possible, including high blood pressure, cholesterol, and even infection. Studies have linked certain common infections to increased stroke risk, including Chlamydia pneumonia, Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus, and C Pneumonia (Winkelstein JA et al 2001; Meier CR et al 1999; Nieto FJ et al 1999). The first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that periodontal disease, though treatable, is a risk factor (Wu T et al 2000). Other studies indicate that patients hospitalized with bacterial and viral infections had increased risk of stroke within one week of the infection, highlighting the importance of infection, even in younger people (Grau AJ et al 1995, 1998, 1999).”

http://www.lef.org/protocols/heart_circulatory/stroke_cerebrovascular_disease_01.htm?utm_utm_source=eNewsletter

I began taking Arginine and Pine Bark Extract after reading about clinical experiments with those two supplements and their impact on endothelial health in Life Extension Magazine.  It thus comes as a surprise to me when I checked whether Life Extension produces an endothelial health supplement, the do indeed have one, but its active ingredients do *not* include either arginine or pine bark extract.

Instead, their product recommends “Endothelial Defense™ with Full-Spectrum Pomegranate™ supplies standardized pomegranate and an orally active form of superoxide dismutase to support endothelial health. Both of these components (pomegranate, SOD) have been clinically shown to help with blood flow and age-related changes in endothelial function.2-8

  1. Pomegranate supports healthy blood flow. In a group of aging humans with risk factors for cardiovascular events, pomegranate or placebo was ingested on a daily basis. After 12 months, the mean intima media thickening improved 44% in the pomegranate group, whereas carotid blood flow worsened by 9% in the placebo group.2 Both groups continued taking conventionally prescribed medications. In another study on patients with ischemic coronary heart disease, pomegranate or placebo was ingested daily. After only three months, coronary artery blood flow improved by 18% in the pomegranate group, but worsened by 17% in the placebo group.2 A standardized pomegranate extract is one of the active components of Endothelial Defense™.
  2. SOD protects against nitric oxide degradation. Aging results in a reduction of our body’s production of the critical antioxidant called superoxide dismutase (SOD). One consequence of SOD depletion is excess degradation of endothelial nitric oxide. An orally active superoxide dismutase called GliSODin® has been clinically shown to support healthy arterial function and structure … while boosting levels of the body’s most powerful antioxidant enzymes (SOD and catalase).4-7 Studies show that carotid artery thickness increases by 0.04 mm every 10 years. However, a 2007 GliSODin® study suggested that 2.8 years of supplementation may turn back the clock on 10 years of age-related changes due to carotid artery wall thickening.6 Endothelial Defense™ contains the patented GliSODin® in the identical dose.
  3. Pomegranate flower extract and seed oil blend. This blend of pomegranate flower extract and seed oil contains potent polyphenols that provide support for youthful lipid and glucose metabolism and help with inflammatory factors.8″

http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01498/Endothelial-Defense-with-Full-Spectrum-Pomegranate.html?source=search&key=endothelial%20health

What is your opinion about the importance of taking a SOD supplement?  Also, how could I rank the relatively importance of arginine, pine bark extract, SOD, pomegranate, DIM, and folinic acid to endothelial health?

Mike

P.S.  I’m sure you already know daily ejaculation promotes prostate health.  Did you know the supplement Icariin found in Horny Goat Weed Extract is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor?

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Eating Right for Healthy Aging

Posted by Michael A. S. Guth on May 17th, 2012
high glycemic foods

Within the medical community, a field has arisen called biogerentology, in which scientists are studying every aspect of aging.[1] The evidence has shown that as we age, our bodies accumulate errors in the DNA code [2], accumulate waste products both in and out of cells, [3] accumulate damage to cell membranes, [4] lose integrity in body structures, [5] and accumulate damage from oxidative stress. [6] In fact, the story of life played out in our bodies is a constant battle between oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses. Ultimately, oxidative stress wins, and some would contend that it is futile to try to prevent this inevitable outcome.

While reversal of aging is impossible, it may be possible to reduce the risk and delay the onset of age-related diseases. The big three age-related diseases are (1) cardiovascular, (2) cancer, and (3) neurodegenerative diseases. These diseases can make the last years of one’s life miserable. But are they necessary consequences of aging, or can people adopt eating and healthy lifestyle changes to prevent these diseases?

Nature designed our bodies at the species level for us to live long enough to reproduce and rear our young. [7] Beyond that point, the body normally starts to decline, and we are left to our own devices as to how quickly that decline occurs. Modern preventive medicine has shown the value of monitoring and maintaining blood pressure and cholesterol levels and screening tests for the early detection of cancer. Beyond medical testing, people can eat foods that promote health. For example, vegetables that lower blood sugar are good. Keeping fasting glucose levels low (80 mg/dL or lower) and stable (postprandial glucose levels that increase no more than 40 mg/dL before dropping back to fasting levels in the low 80s) may be one of the secrets to longevity. Any time there are spikes in blood glucose levels, there are abnormal reactions between sugars and proteins, which produce pro-inflammatory products that accelerate aging in the body.

An Anti-Inflammatory Eating Plan for Life

Nutrition and diet are the foundation for good health and delay the onset of age-related diseases. Everyone seeking to delay age-related diseases should adopt an anti-inflammatory eating plan for life. Inflammation is the way the body sends more nourishment and immune activity to an area that is injured. But inflammation needs to be kept in control. If inflammation persists in areas where it is not needed, then it produces disease. Chronic low-level inflammation is the root cause of each of the age-related diseases. For example, coronary heart disease begins as inflammation in the linings (endothelia) of arteries. [8] Alzheimer’s begins as an inflammation in the brain. For cancer, the same hormones that increase inflammation also stimulate cells to divide more frequently, which increases the risk of malignant transformations. [9] Therefore, healthy food consumption aimed at controlling inflammation could stave off age-related diseases across the board.

Our diet has a profound influence on inflammation. Our bodies make prostaglandins, the hormones that regulate inflammation, from polyunsaturated fatty acids. [10] Some of the fats that promote inflammation are margarine, vegetable shortening, and polyunsaturated oils. It is better to cook with and ingest olive oil, which is 75% monounsaturated fat, than the less expensive canola oil, which is typically 58% monounsaturated fat. Foods containing monounsaturated fats – the good form of fat — include avacados, nuts, seeds, and oatmeal. One exception to the rule of preferring monounsaturated fats over polyunsaturated fats are the essential fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which are Omega 3 fatty acids found in certain oily-tasting fish and in fish oil supplements. These two nutrients, but especially DHA, play a vital role in promoting health in the cardiovascular and neurological systems of the body by reducing oxidative stress without adding to inflammation. [11] With the advent of DHA-500 mg supplements, people should strive to get 1,000 mg of DHA/day (approximately equal to ten of the typical discount store 1,000 mg fish oil supplements containing only 100 mg DHA/capsule).

Eat Good Carbs But Avoid Bad Carbs to Control Inflammatory Responses

From fatty acids, we move on to carbohydrates, which are another source of inflammation. As with fats, there are good carbs and bad carbs. Bad carbs digest quickly and rapidly boost serum glucose levels: the high glycemic index fruits (apricots, peaches, watermelon), vegetables (carrots, white potatoes), and especially processed sweet foods such as donuts, cookies, pastries, and other sugar-laden snacks. These sugary complex carbohydrates can promote abnormal reactions with proteins when digested. Cancer cells feed off the excess sugar (high serum glucose levels) in the body. [12] So the next time you give yourself permission to indulge in brownies, cakes, pies, etc., remember that you are directly feeding the cancer cells living within your body.

The abnormal reaction between sugars and proteins also spawns diabetes, which is the perfect model of accelerated aging. Diabetes brings forward by several decades the period of disability and decline in health that we would normally experience in the final year of our lives. Diabetes follows as a pro-inflamatory response to unstable glucose levels. Fasting serum glucose levels, like blood pressure levels, follow an undulating path of highs and lows over the course of a day. To check whether their healthy food consumption plans are controlling glucose levels, Life Extension members should obtain periodic hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) tests with a goal of achieving 5.0% or less of glycated hemoglobin levels to prevent a host of age-related diseases. Lab Corp defines the normal range as HbA1C in the interval [4.8%, 5.6%], increased risk of diabetes [5.7%, 6.4%], diabetic at > 6.4%, and glycemic control for adults with diabetes as < 7.0%. Part of the protocol for keeping HbA1C levels consistently low is choosing good carbohydrates over bad ones.

If fast digesting carbohydrates are bad, then slow digesting carbohydrates are good. These good carbs can be found on an index of glycemic foods: whole grains, sweet potatoes, cruciferous vegetables, etc. In fact, the web site http://glycemicindex.com lists 2,602 foods with glycemic index scores of 55 or less. However, even those foods must be eaten with moderation, particularly fruits and berries, or they will become high glycemic, pro-inflammatory when ingested in large volumes.

Eating Foods Across the Color Spectrum

Another factor to consider in choosing fruits and vegetables to consume, aside from their glycemic index values, is their pigment color. Pigments protect plants from oxidative stress, and when we consume these pigmented fruits and vegetables, our bodies absorb the benefits of these protective phytochemicals. We should eat fruits and vegetables across the color spectrum: bright red foods, orange foods, purple foods, green foods, blue or blackberries. Organic foods tend to have higher pigments than those sprayed with pesticides, because plants left to their own defenses against insects and fungi produce higher levels of pigments and antioxidant compounds as natural defenses, i.e., organic tomatoes tend to have more of the red-pigmented nutrient lycopene than those sprayed with a fungicide/insecticide.

Because most people normally would not consume foods across the color spectrum each day, supplements may be used to fill in the gaps in nutrition. However, supplements are not designed to replace healthy eating. The two herbs with perhaps the most widespread scientific study as anti-inflammatory agents are curcumin (turmeric) and ginger. 6-Gingerol, a natural component of the herb ginger, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antitumorigenic activities. [13] The same is true for curcumin. [14]

Summary

Spikes in blood glucose levels trigger inflammatory responses within the body that over time increase the risk for diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. Adopting an eating plan for life that emphasizes low glycemic index foods will help keep fasting glucose levels low and prevent postprandial spikes in glucose levels. That is good news for everyone who wants to delay or even prevent the onset of age-related diseases. By taking an ounce of prevention in avoiding high-sugar content foods, we can save a pound of cure in the form of cost savings that would otherwise be spent on treatment for diseases triggered by chronic inflammatory responses to the food we eat.

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerontology#Biogerontology Viewed on Sept. 20, 2010. (“Biogerontology is the subfield of gerontology dedicated to studying the biological processes of aging. . . . Biomedical gerontology, also known as experimental gerontology and life extension, is a sub discipline of biogerontology that endeavors to slow, prevent, and even reverse aging in both humans and animals.”) There is even a professional journal called Biogerontology.

2. Schuiling Gerard A, “Reproduce and die! Why aging? Part II,” J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 26 (2): 147-50 (June 2005); Srivastava, V. K., Miller, S. D., and Busbee, D. L., “Aging and DNA polymerase alpha: modulation by dietary restriction,” J Nutr Health Aging 3 (2): 111-20 (1999). These errors could be thought of as entropy or disorder associated with the Second Law of the Thermodynamics.

3. Hirsch, H. R., “The waste-product theory of aging: cell division rate as a function of waste volume,” Mech Ageing Dev. 36 (1): 95-107 (September 1986).

4. Pentimone, F, del Corso, L, and Laghi, G., “Vitamin E in the aged,” Clin Ter. 144 (6): 521-5

(June 1994)(“Aging is a multifactorial process still incompletely known. The role of oxidative damage to cell membranes, as an important phase of the process, is underlined by the recent literature.”).

5. Lombardi, G., Di Somma, C., Rota, F., and Colao, A., “Associated hormonal decline in aging: is there a role for GH therapy in aging men?,” J Endocrinol Invest. 28 (3 Suppl): 99-108 (2005).

6. Op cit., Ref. 4.

7. Schuiling Gerard A, “Reproduce and die! Why aging? Part II,” J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 26 (2): 147-50 (June 2005).

8. Manabe, Ichiro, “Obesity and atherosclerosis–two faces of chronic inflammation,” Nippon Rinsho. (a Japanese journal) 67 (2): 417-25 (Feb. 2009).

9. Theoharides, Theoharis C., et al., “Impact of stress and mast cells on brain metastases,” J Neuroimmunol. 205 (1-2): 1-7 (Dec. 15, 2008); Gumbs, Andrew A., “Obesity, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer,” Obes Surg. 18 (9): 1183-7 (Sept. 2008).

10. Aly, A., Green, K., Johansson, C., “Prostaglandin synthesis in the human gastrointestinal mucosa,” Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl. 127: 35-8 (1987).

11. Mori,Trevor A., et al., “Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in treated-hypertensive type 2 diabetic subjects,” Free Radic Biol Med. 35 (7): 772-81 (Oct. 1, 2003).

12. It is a well-known fact that cancer cells have a strong affinity for glucose, with the higher the elevation of serum glucose, the better for the cancer cells to grow. See, e.g., Zhou, Heling, et al., “Dynamic near-infrared optical imaging of 2-deoxyglucose uptake by intracranial glioma of athymic mice,” PLoS One, 4 (11) (Nov. 30, 2009) (“It is recognized that cancer cells exhibit highly elevated glucose metabolism compared to non-tumor cells.”); Hitosugi, Taro, et al., “Tyrosine phosphorylation inhibits PKM2 to promote the Warburg effect and tumor growth,” Sci Signal. 2 (97) (Nov. 17, 2009) (“The Warburg effect describes a pro-oncogenic metabolism switch such that cancer cells take up more glucose than normal tissue and favor incomplete oxidation of glucose even in the presence of oxygen.”).

13. Jeong, Chul-Ho, et al., “[6]-Gingerol suppresses colon cancer growth by targeting leukotriene A4 hydrolase,” Cancer Res. 69 (13): 5584-91 (July 1, 2009).

14. Saw, Constance Lay Lay, Huang, Ying, and Kong, Ah-Ng, “Synergistic anti-inflammatory effects of low doses of curcumin in combination with polyunsaturated fatty acids: docosahexaen-oic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid,” Biochem Pharmacol., 79 (3): 421-30 (Feb. 1, 2010).

Michael A. S. Guth, Ph.D., J.D.

September 2010

high glycemic foods

high glycemic foods

 

UPDATE May 18, 2012

Dr PETER TUNBRIDGE has sent you a message.

Date: 5/17/2012

Subject: RE: Thank you for finding me on LinkedIn

Michael, later this year I will be publishing a new paradym in that we are not made up of individual organs that have a tubular fuel supply and waste collection, but we are in fact the tubes themselves, and these have become highly specialised and have grown their own factories( every cell in the parenchyma of every organ is attactched to an endothelial cell.) It is the endothelial cells that produce the cascades of inflammation due to their inability to be able to control the intraluminal glucose load. And so you are absolutely right. But because everybody is looking at the model back to front (this is why ultimately nothing works or makes sense) it will be a massive task to change current thinking! Good to hear from you, kindest regards, Peter

On 05/16/12 8:33 PM, Michael A. S. Guth, Ph.D., J.D. wrote:
——————–
I specialize in prevention of the age-related diseases known collectively as the Metabolic Syndrome and also use of bioidentical hormones for hormone replacement therapy. There is growing evidence that cardiovascular disease, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases all share a common origin in system inflammation. I would be interested to hear some preliminary details from your forthcoming book. Do you believe diets too high in glycemic foods is the primary cause of systemic inflammation?

Michael Guth

 

 

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Pink Slime and Meat Processing Additives

Posted by HSI Online on May 14th, 2012

A few months ago, the idea of eating “lean finely textured beef” probably seemed appealing. Lean beef? That sounds good. And the texture is fine? Okay! Fire up the grill!

But when ABC News broke the story of LFTB, they used the less formal name for this meat filler: “pink slime.”

And it was all downhill from there.

Many grocery store chains immediately banned LFTB, even though they’d used it for years.

During this uproar, I couldn’t help but think: “This is not the only scandalous secret of meat prep. It’s not even the worst of it.”

A few years ago I told you about “modified atmosphere packaging.” With MAP, gasses help preserve meat. One of those gasses is carbon monoxide. It helps give the slime, er…I mean “meat” a fresh red color.

That’s right — carbon monoxide. In your LFTB-enhanced ground beef! Yum!

The newest revelation of meat trickery is transglutaminnase. Meat preparers refer to it as “meat glue.”

This “glue” is just an enzyme that permanently bonds proteins. So, for instance, you can take two scraps of meat and bond them into a larger portion. The bond is seamless, so customers like us never know.

But some meat producers get creative with meat glue. They might take beef scraps and form them in the shape of filet mignon. Presto! Meat scraps that would sell for next-to- nothing become high-priced, “gourmet” cuts.

All this makes me wonder what other meat surprises are in store. Chances are, we’ve only scratched the surface of dirty little meat secrets.

Want to avoid slime and glue in your meat? Find a good old-fashioned butcher and watch him cut it himself.

 

www.hsionline.com

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Questionable Financial Donors to American Diabetes Association

Posted by HSI Online on May 14th, 2012

Imagine you’re the one hearing the news from your doctor. “It’s diabetes. And it’s bad. We need to get aggressive about treatment right away.”

What would you do next? The same thing we all do these days when we get any diagnosis…head to the internet.

And when you search “diabetes” or “diabetes treatment,” you’re likely to end up on one of the most dangerous sites for you or anyone suffering with blood sugar issues: The American Diabetes Association website.

Be afraid…be very afraid…

———————————————————————
Smoking gun
———————————————————————

Last week, I told you about Steve Cooksey. As I mentioned, Steve’s type 2 situation was severe. In addition to diabetes medication, he also began taking four insulin injections each day.

Two different nutritionists steered Steve to the American Diabetes Association for dietary guidelines. But he soon realized that the ADA carb-loaded path was a road to ruin.

After embracing a strict non-carb diet, Steve was soon able to control his diabetes without insulin or type 2 medications. He started a blog to share the details of his success.

Throughout this process, Steve learned more and more about the ADA. And the more he learned, the less he liked.

In one post, Steve writes that the ADA, “promotes a meal plan that creates more and more drug usage… while they receive MILLIONS from the companies that profit from the meal plan.”

That’s a brazen charge. Of course, when I read it, I didn’t doubt it for a second. Nevertheless, I wanted to get evidence to back it up. All it took was about half-a-dozen mouse clicks.

First, we’ll look at donations. On the ADA website, I found a page titled “Our Corporate Sponsors.” And there they are, corporate logos and all! Here are some of the drug companies that donate at least a half million dollars per year to the ADA…

  • Merck
  • Lilly
  • Abbott
  • Sanofi Aventis
  • Takeda
  • Novo Nordisk

Okay, but does the ADA really advocate dietary choices that promote drug use?

On the website of Diabetes Forecast (the ADA magazine), I found an article titled, “Are Carbs the Enemy?”

And there it is — the smoking gun.

The article weighs the pros and cons of carb intake. And the question is “settled” with the observation that diabetes patients can eat their favorite foods in moderation. But that good news is qualified with this: “…as long as they lower their blood glucose with medication and exercise.”

Exercise? Absolutely.

Control portions? Excellent advice.

Eat what you want and balance that with medication? APPALLING! (Unless you’re a Merck executive.)

The wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing that is the ADA website is an abomination. And it is the last place any diabetic should go for advice on how to safely and effectively manage or cure diabetes.

Want to take the danger out of your surfing? You can find plenty of tips for living drug-free with diabetes on Steve’s blog: diabetes-warrior.net.

 

www.hsionline.com

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Berberine for Glucose Control

Posted by mgadmin on May 10th, 2012

I have tried all but one of those ingredients, in much larger doses that GlucoLogic has.  Berberine is the only supplement I have not tried yet to reduce glucose levels.  Please answer the following questions:

1.  Should I order berberine and give it a try, thus adding it to my existing 45+ supplement regimen?

2.  Do you think it requires a special combination of all 6 ingredients to obtain results?  Otherwise, I am skeptical that chromium or vanadyl sulfate or Cinnulin PF is going to have much effect, as I have tried those in very high doses and obtained diddily results.

3.  What is berberine?  Your lef.org web page has an article in which it claims berbine is able to inhibit the COX-2 enzyme without inhibiting the beneficial COX-1 enzyme.  That sounds great.  But how is that going to lead to weight loss and a reduction in abdominal fat as claimed on the logicalhealth alternatives web site?

Dr. Michael Guth

 

Berberine is a natural alkaloid compound found in different herbs such as Goldenseal and Californian poppy. Berberine demonstrates a variety of benefits in research studies such as supporting healthy glucose and lipid levels, promoting liver health, and easing inflammation. If any of these matters concern you, then berberine is something to consider.

Different clinical studies show that berberine taken by itself maintains glucose serum levels; therefore to reap its intended effects it may not have to be taken with other herbs. A supportive dose for glucose maintenance is 1 gram. Here are links to studies:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20298851

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19800084

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18397984

Berberine has demonstrated fat blocking activity in cell culture studies. We saw one study in which berberine administration promote weight loss in mice. However, we have not seen this effect in humans. Here is a link to the study on mice:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16873688

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Diabetes in the News – May 7, 2012

Posted by mgadmin on May 9th, 2012
Dear Friends and Valued Customers:Some 25.8 million children and adults in the United States are diabetic. That’s eight percent of the population, according to data presented in the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet on the American Diabetes Association (ADA) website.The fact sheet reports that 1.9 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older in 2010 and predicts that there are approximately 79 million people who can be termed pre-diabetic.

We know that diabetes can cause complications. In 2004, heart disease was noted on 68% of diabetes-related death certificates among people aged 65 years or older. That same year, stroke was noted on 16% of diabetes-related death certificates for people of the same age group.

According to the ADA, adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about two to four times higher than adults without diabetes and the risk of stroke is two to four times higher among people with diabetes.

Diabetes is also related to high blood pressure and is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20 to 74 years. Of course diabetes can also affect the kidneys and nervous system and lead to amputation of lower limbs.

Diabetes is an expensive disease, too. Total costs of diagnosed diabetes in the U.S. in 2007 totaled $174 billion. Some $116 billion was spent on direct medical costs and $58 billion was spent on indirect costs (disability, work loss, premature mortality).

With the incidence of diabetes on the rise, much of it tied to the obesity epidemic in this country, researchers continue to seek the best ways to treat or even prevent the disease, and it appears that scientists in Taiwan are making headway.

A study published in the Journal of Food Science reports that supplementing with astaxanthin appears to help prevent or alleviate complications associated with diabetes. See my first report today for more details.

In other news, several studies published in three different journals support the daily use of multivitamin supplements for improving cognitive performance. Check out my second report.

Finally, researchers have found a correlation between the intake of supplements containing BLIS K12 and the inhibition of oral thrush. See my third report.
Astaxanthin Shows Diabetes Potential
Supplementation with astaxanthin could help prevent or alleviate complications associated with diabetes, new research in rats suggests.
Click to Continue…
Multivitamin Supplements Help Boost Brain Function
Researchers in the United Kingdom say taking a daily multivitamin supplement can improve cognitive performance in both children and adults.
Click to Continue…
Probiotic BLIS K12 Protects Against Oral Yeast Growth
BLIS K12 may inhibit the growth of the yeast responsible for oral thrush, suggests new in vitro data that supports the oral health potential of the ingredient.
Click to Continue…

__________________________________________

If you have type 2 diabetes, FDA officials have an important message for you. When it comes to drug safety, they want you to know that drug company executives are under great pressure to generate revenue.

Wait. What?

Yes, you read that right. Drug safety goes on the back burner. Drug profits? Front burner all the way!

I wish I were exaggerating. I wish I could tell you that FDA officials bend over backward to protect type 2 patients.

They don’t. In fact, quite the opposite. And you might not believe how despicable it gets.

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It’s hard out there for a drug company
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In 2010, I mocked FDA officials for approving the type 2 diabetes drug Victoza. (That’s right. Me mocking the FDA! Hard to believe, isn’t it?)

They completely deserved it, of course.

Several members of an agency review panel said Victoza wasn’t safe. In animal studies, Victoza caused thyroid tumors. In human studies, many patients developed pancreatitis — a dangerous inflammation.

In addition, the market has no shortage of type 2 drugs. Nobody was clamoring for a new one. Except, of course, Novo Nordisk, the maker of Victoza. Oh, and also maybe Paula Deen. She promoted Victoza when she announced her type 2 diabetes.

So the agency gave Victoza the green light, dismissing the advice of panel members.

And to nobody’s surprise, just one year later, FDA officials issued a warning. They linked Victoza use to an increased risk of pancreatitis, thyroid cancer, and kidney failure.

Recently, Public Citizen petitioned the FDA to ban Victoza immediately. And their petition includes a little surprise. You might not believe these two stunning comments from the director of the FDA’s Office of Drug Evaluation.

The director explained why he dismissed the safety warnings. He started by noting the pressures on drug company executives to generate revenue. And he added, “With most classes of drugs, there are similar drugs in development from competitors which places even more pressure to generate profit.”

Have you ever heard anything so clueless? Here’s the head of drug evaluation candidly revealing that the focus on profits overrides safety. It’s beyond despicable!

But Novo Nordisk must have found this encouraging.

They quickly moved ahead with even bigger plans. Already, two trials have been completed that tested Victoza as an anti-obesity drug. In both trials, Victoza dosage was significantly higher than the dosage given to diabetics. No surprise that gastrointestinal adverse effects were also higher.

Would you care to guess how the FDA will respond when Novo applies to the agency for Victoza anti-obesity approval?

I’ll give you a hint. Novo profits will rise.

“Public Citizen to FDA: Pull Diabetes Drug Victoza From Market Immediately” Public Citizen press release, 4/19/12, citizen.org

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Health Care News Update May 5, 2012

Posted by mgadmin on May 5th, 2012

  Health Watch USA Newsletter
www.healthwatchusa.org  May 5th, 2012
   
Member of the National Quality Forum and a designated “Community Leader” for
Value-Driven Healthcare by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

High Cost of Healthcare.   

A report which estimates that if employers drop health insurance in favor of exchanges they will save 422 billion dollars over 10 years.  The employer pays a $3000 penalty per employee and the Government, depending upon the employee’s income, would then provide subsidized health insurance.   This will substantially drive up the bill for healthcare reform.  (This possibility has been extensively covered by Health Watch USA in past publications and communications.}

“The penalties for the employers who drop coverage are very low, and the subsidies for the workers in the exchanges are very high,” said James Capretta, with the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/01/employers-could-save-billions-by-dropping-workers-from-health-plans-report/?test=latestnews#ixzz1teSfq54h

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In a recent study published in the April 23, 2012 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, Dr. Renee Hsia, et al., performed a market study on the cost of an appendectomy.  For 2009 in the State of California, the cost of an appendectomy varied from $1500 to $182,955.  67% of the cost variation could be explained by patient or hospital factors.  However, 32.2% of the variation in the charges were unexplained.  County hospitals had a 36.6% lower charge than non-profit hospitals.  For-profit hospitals had a 16.3% higher charge than non-profit hospitals.  As pointed out in the article, one is in a poor position to shop for care when having to undergo an emergency appendectomy for appendicitis.  Below is an ABC news report on this issue.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/healthcare-cost-shock-23000-appendectomy-16198878

The Commonwealth Fund:  Prices of healthcare vary widely and because of high co-pays, consumers, employers and advocates are wanting greater healthcare price transparency.    http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Newsletters/Quality-Matters/2012/April-May/In-Focus.aspx

A blue book medical app helps consumers compare healthcare prices among different providers: http://healthcarebluebook.com/ 

Health insurers are estimated to give 1.3 billion dollars in health insurance premium rebates to policyholders for monies not spent on patient healthcare services.  The new healthcare reform law limits an insurance company’s profit plus overhead to 15% to 20% of the insured’s policy premium.  If the remainder is not spent on patient care it must be returned as a rebate to the policyholder.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/04/26/151461360/health-insurers-set-to-pay-1-3-billion-in-rebates?goback=%2Egde_49480_member_111154397

Senator Grassley questions the charity care and CEO salary of non-profit hospitals.
Senator Grassley Comments:  http://htl.li/aweAB
IRS Study of CEO Salaries:   http://htl.li/awezM

The Commonwealth Fund Reports that Healthcare Spending is Unsustainable
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Newsletters/Washington-Health-Policy-in-Review/2012/Apr/April-23-2012/Health-Spending-Growth.aspx

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Healthcare Coverage Gaps Still Persist
    
Commonwealth Fund:  Gaps in healthcare coverage affects 1 in 4 adults 19 to 64.
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Newsletters/Quality-Matters/2012/April-May/In-Focus.aspx 

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Healthcare Acquired Infections

The lack of a National Reporting Mandate for Hospital Infections Hurts Consumers
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gerganakoleva/2012/04/05/lack-of-national-reporting-mandate-for-hospital-infections-hurts-consumers/

Surgical Site Infection Monitoring:

There is significant variation in Surgical Site Infection Monitoring and Reporting by State.   Only 14 states publicly report healthcare acquired infection data.  21 States have passed laws mandating such reporting.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Variation%20in%20Surgical%20Site%20Infection%20Monitoring%20and%20reporting%20by%20State

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/04/02/prsb0402.htm

Below is what we feel is an example of the resistance to Public Reporting of Healthcare Associated Infections: 

Missouri Department of Health:  “Why aren’t such infections as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) or Clostridium difficle reported” on the Missouri Department of Health’s Website.  Here is one of the reasons “….. Additionally, the resources of the facilities and the DHSS had to be taken into consideration: Facilities could not feasibly report every infection and the DHSS would not have been able to accommodate this volume of data.”    http://health.mo.gov/data/hai/faq2.php

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Medical Overuse

Kentucky is listed as having the 7th highest rate of cesarean delivery in the nation at 35.4%.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/states/CESAREAN_STATE_2010.pdf

During the April 27, 2012, TMIT Safety Leaders Teleconference it was presented that doctors who own their own imaging equipment are 4 to 7 times more likely to order a imaging test than a doctor who does not.
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Next Health Watch USA Meeting is on May 16, 2012 in Lexington, Kentucky.   To attend please call:  Kevin Kavanagh at 606–875-3642

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REASONS TO OPPOSE FDA REGULATION OF SUPPLEMENTS

Posted by Michael A. S. Guth on May 2nd, 2012

I sense Wayne Gorsek is unfairly being forced to defend the supplement industry, when instead the focus should be on defending consumer rights to obtain medications (called supplements) to manage their own health. Anyone interested in personal autonomy should recognize that with the power to regulate comes the power to restrict and thus prevent consumers from having access to valuable supplements. The proponents of supplement regulations claim they are needed to remove harmful products from the marketplace. Are you aware that regulations with even the best of intentions have unintended consequences? What if your regulations inhibit or raise the cost of my already expensive Ubiquinol supplement? No one wants supplement prices to skyrocket along with drug prices. So before we talk regulation, let’s be sure that we have adequate restraints on the FDA and other regulators so that there is not even the possibility of the FDA (which has extremely close ties and constantly rotating personnel to and from the pharmaceutical industry) using the power of the government to favor one industry (pharmaceuticals) over another (supplements).

Because the proponents of supplement regulation have not been able to identify any, not even one, built-in constraint on abuses of power in these regulations, I have no choice but to oppose these regulations in their current form. Consumer access to affordable supplements is far more important than singling out a few supplements here and there that should be banned. Actually, the FDA already has the power to ban supplements that it can prove are harmful — as Wayne Gresak stated repeatedly, but apparently his message fell on deaf ears.

___________________________________________

May 2, 2012

“I have some good news. This is apparently a victorious moment for everyone who takes dietary supplements.

I say “apparently” because I’m also talking about the FDA and Congress. You can never really be sure what’s going on with these two nests of snakes.

But we do have reason for optimism. And you’re a big part of that.

Thanks to you, me, and many others, Congress rebuffed an FDA attempt to impose harsh new controls over dietary supplements. And the frosting on the cake: the FDA also got a public scolding.

You’ve got to love THAT!

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Imprudent course of action
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Last November, I told you about the FDA revised guidelines for new dietary ingredients (NDI). These proposed guidelines would put severe new restraints on dietary supplement makers. Many supplements would vanish from the market. New supplements would be much harder to bring to market.

In the end, the FDA action would chill the supplement industry. Supplies would dwindle. Supplement makers would need to charge higher prices to meet FDA demands. Many companies would simply go out of business.

In short, the guidelines read like a drug industry wish list. If you’re a drug maker, what better way to sideline competition, right? Get your cronies at the FDA to impose harsh new rules and regs.

That’s why I asked you to join me in writing to the FDA and our representatives in Congress. And it now appears that all our efforts were successful. At least for the moment.

After Congress heard from us, FDA officials heard from Congress.

Just a few days ago, several members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee sent a letter to the FDA. The letter calls for a “significant reworking” of the NDI guidance, because it “appears to undermine” DSHEA “in a number of critical respects.”

DSHEA is the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. DSHEA put regulations in place to keep the FDA from overstepping its bounds. So the committee’s letter basically said, “We already took care of this. This is our turf. Back off.”

But the committee wasn’t quite finished.

Here’s another quote from the letter… “Imposing these regulatory requirements on products that have a long history of safe use will increase costs on manufacturers at a time when we should be encouraging, rather than hindering their efforts.”

That’s just stunning! And the subtext is clear: “This is ridiculous. Are you out of your minds?”

And here’s the slammer… “Given the FDA’s current workload, it does not seem prudent to follow this course of action.”

Hysterical! Allow me to translate one more time… “You have MORE than enough to do, FDA. Get back to work and regulate something that actually NEEDS regulating.”

This is a little bit hard to process. I’m actually experiencing a warm feeling about Congress.

Okay — back to reality.

No doubt, this letter is a solid win for our side. But notice that the committee members didn’t tell the FDA to drop this topic forever. They asked for a “significant reworking.”

That means it’s still alive. And it means the FDA will regroup and develop another strategy. They’ve been trying to put the screws to dietary supplements for decades. One letter from Congress isn’t going to bring that to a halt.

But it is empowering to know that we played a part in this victory. We raised our voices. Congress heard us and took action.

Best of all, the next time this comes up, there will be no question about how powerful we can be when we all work together.”

www.hsionline.com

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Health Benefits vs. Elevated Glucose Health Risks of Consuming Bananas

Posted by Michael A. S. Guth on May 1st, 2012

Life Extension:

I quit eating bananas, because they seemed to elevate my serum glucose levels.  Please read the email shown below and tell me if you agree that bananas confer many benefits for overall health.  Do the benefits of eating bananas outweigh their costs for someone on a low glycemic diet?

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas.  He said the expression “going bananas” is from the effects of bananas on the brain.  Read on:


Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.
After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again.


Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit.It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.


Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia :High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.


Brain Power: 200 studen ts at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn:Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.


Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness

Mosquito bites:Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.


Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips… Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohyd rate foods every two hours to keep levels steady..

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control:Many other cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.


Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use:Bananas c an also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance.. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts:Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!


So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and i s one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!”

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe…polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Dear Customer,

Thank you for your recent correspondence.
Bananas can be a great source of nutrition. It provides potassium which is needed for healthy blood pressure and cardiac function. It also has nutrients which maintain beneficial gut bacteria. Bananas, however, may raise blood glucose levels.

If you want to enjoy the benefits of bananas without experiencing significant rises in glucose, consider eating half a banana or less. In addition, try eating it with a protein rich food such as nuts or non-sweetened yogurt. The protein in these foods slows down digestion and helps to blunt any potential spikes in blood sugar.

The trick to eating a diet to prevent blood sugar elevations is eating the right portions and combining carbohydrate containing foods with fats, fiber, and proteins to minimize the glycemic effect.

If you have any additional questions, please e-mail us or call the advisor helpline at (800) 226-2370; international customers dial 001-954-202-7660. We will be glad to assist you.

Visit Life Extension on the web: www.lef.org
_______________________________________________________________

If I take 1/2 a banana at the same time that I am drinking a whey protein shake, will that slow digestion and help reduce glucose spikes?   Whey protein powder contains medium- and long-branched amino acids, but not protein.  In order to get the slow digestion effect, do I need actual protein in nuts or meat?

Mike Guth

________________________________________________

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your recent correspondence.

Proteins do indeed vary in their ability to decrease post-prandial glycemia. For instance, the protein in nuts, chicken, dairy, and beans are all absorbed at different rates in the body and contain a variety amino acid profiles, therefore they will have a different impact on the body’s post-meal glucose levels.
Studies have shown, however, that whey protein contains a particular amino acid profile that seems to inhibit glucose spikes after ingestion of high glycemic-index foods (such as a banana, in your case). These amino acids are leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine and threonine. Whey protein is also rapidly absorbed, therefore, providing a quicker glucose-lowering response. Here is the link to one particular study that illuminates the benefits of whey protein and its ability to lessen the burden of glucose in the body:

http://www.nutritionj.com/content/8/1/47

For Longer Life,
Life Extension
Health Advisors

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Sarcopenia: loss of muscle mass associated with aging

Posted by mgadmin on April 28th, 2012
After a person reaches age thirty, he or she can expect gradual muscle tissue loss called sarcopenia to slowly set in.   The term “sarcopenia,” which derives from the Latin roots “sarco” for muscle and “penia” for wasting, is the natural and progressive loss of muscle fiber due to aging.   Every person aged thirty and above has sarcopenia to some degree.

Sarcopenia and osteoporosis are related and often occur simultaneously, because use of the body’s muscles provides the mechanical stress needed to put pressure on the skeletal structure and maintain bone mass. Inactivity leads to loss of both muscle mass and bone mass and can put older adults on a downward health spiral that is exacerbated by surgery, traumatic accidents, or even illnesses that cause prolonged rest.  Fat storage also plays a role in sarcopenia and thus osteoporosis as well.

If muscle tissue is marbled with fat, it will be less strong than lean muscle tissue.  Muscle function is inversely related to increases in intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), which may be just as insidious as visceral fat, the abdominal “spare tire” that increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and early death.  Excessive fat storage in muscles can be a sign of systemic inflammation.  Researchers at the University of Utah’s Health Sciences Center’s Skeletal Muscle Exercise Research Facility are trying to find the connection between sarcopenia and chronic systemic inflammation, which is increasingly recognized as the root cause of all degenerative diseases.

Aging translates into a loss of muscle mass, loss of muscle function, and possible infiltration of fat into the muscle tissue.   Yet the University of Utah researchers now have evidence that what we have long attributed to aging may be due to inactivity.  That possibility raises interesting questions such as “is the loss of muscle mass preventable with more activity?,” and “is the loss of muscle mass reversible with more activity?”  Intermuscular fat no doubt reduces strength as the fat literally gets in the way of blood vessel and nerve functions in the muscle tissue.  But researchers are continuing to see if some inflammatory factor also connects IMAT and sarcopenia.

To combat the effects of sarcopenia, middle-aged adults will benefit most from a workout that emphasizes strength building and weight-bearing exercises.  To combat the overall loss of energy effects with aging, adults need exercise routines that build endurance, instead of those requiring quick bursts of energy.  Combining these elements would yield an exercise routine that incorporates, e.g., walking long distances (one mile or more) or using the treadmill and also some days set aside for lifting weights.  Walking can maintain one’s fitness level, but walking will not enable a person to recover muscle mass from a prolonged absence of exercise due to illness or inactivity.  Developing strength requires resistance training and weight-bearing exercise  — not just the physical activity of walking.  Strength reserves need to be built in a wellness environment.

Around age forty-five, most people first experience the onset of aging: energy levels go down, it takes more effort to do physically demanding work, and it takes longer to recover from sickness.   As a whole the older population tends to neglect their bodies.  It is difficult to instill a health and fitness ethic in older adults if they have not developed life-long habits of daily exercise.  The best regimens will strike a balance between exercises in cardio-respiratory, endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility.  The more a person ages, the more his or her body needs exercise.

The resistance exercises should target the primary muscles of the legs, trunk, and arms.  Initial sessions should start out at a moderately low level of effort, with progressive increases in weight loads and difficulty over time.  For those without fitness center memberships, these exercises need not require large and expensive machines as body weight, stretch cords, and dumbbells will generally suffice.  Performing push ups on (carpeted) stairs at home is an excellent way to build or maintain pectoral, bicep, tricep, and shoulder muscles as well as tighten the abdominal core.

Yet despite these home conveniences, Americans do not get enough exercise and instead have a sedentary lifestyle, which is often the first step in a vicious cycle.  Unless people stay active, particularly senior citizens, their joints, which already are losing their density and becoming more vulnerable to breakage over time, will grow stiffer, making movement even more difficult.  Prolonged rest will also lead to a decline in aerobic capacity, and thus people become easily fatigued.  People usually experience a rapid deterioration in muscle mass and energy levels in their mid-sixties.

Muscle protein production begins to slow down naturally in people when they age.  Both the age at onset for muscle protein production decline as well as the rate of decline will depend on genetics as well as the level of physical activity. We know muscle fibers decline with age and that fewer muscle fibers translate into reduced muscle capacity.  Thus the stage is set for muscles to become fatigued more easily and for sarcopenia.

While weight-bearing exercise is the most important treatment for sarcopenia, a recent study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition shows that the amino acid leucine may improve muscle protein synthesis and combat the onset of sarcopenia.   I personally consume 4 or 5 glasses of whey protein isolate shakes (combined with water, not milk), and each 25 g scoop of whey protein isolate powder contains 2200 mg of Leucine.  Drinking whey protein isolate is an effective of way of obtaining the body’s daily need for Leucine.

A 2004 study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society looked at sarcopenia in the United States and determined the estimated direct healthcare cost attributable to sarcopenia in the United States in 2000 was $18.5 billion ($10.8 billion in men, $7.7 billion in women).  The excess healthcare expenditures were $860 for every sarcopenic man and $933 for every sarcopenic woman. The study suggested a 10% reduction in sarcopenia prevalence would result in savings of $1.1 billion (dollars adjusted to 2000 rate) per year in healthcare costs.  Therefore, aging adults have both health reasons and financial reasons to take steps now to combat sarcopenia.

But companiesandmarkets.com estimated the market size of sarcopenic drug therapies to be just $10 million.   The low valuation of the potential drug market comes from the fact that drug therapy is not recommended as a first-line treatment for sarcopenia.  At present, no drug has been approved for treating sarcopenia.  The current competitive environment comprises only generic and off-label drugs such as testosterone, estrogen, and growth hormones.  There are no promising drugs in the late stages of any pharmaceutical firm’s pipeline for treatment of sarcopenia.  Thus, we would not expect new drugs for sarcopenia to reach the market until after 2018.  Instead, the market value for this therapeutic area will remain low due to competition from generic forms of hormones that cost as little as $20 for a monthly supply.

Yet despite that low market assessment, the pharmaceutical industry is slowly developing therapies for sarcopenia.   GlaxoSmithKline, GTx, Inc., Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc., are all focused on developing selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), a new class of drugs with the potential to prevent and treat muscle wasting in patients with cancer, and other musculoskeletal wasting or muscle loss conditions, including chronic sarcopenia.  In fact, GSK and Five Prime Therapeutics have a collaboration agreement.  Similarly, Radius Health, Inc., received a patent on its SARM candidate drug.   But I am most interested in Betagenon AB and Baltic Bio AB collaboration to produce a new pipeline drug (currently named “0304”) that activates AMPK, metabolizes fat as heat energy rather than storing it, and has been shown to reverse sarcopenia in lab rat experiments.

 
Leucine Supplements May Help Combat Muscle Loss in Older People
The amino acid leucine may help older people synthesize muscle in response to lower protein meals, a new study suggests.
Click to Continue…
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