March 2010

Hello, and welcome to this little late edition edition of my Natural Alternatives Newsletter!

I hope you will enjoy reading this issue.

If you like this e-zine, please do a friend and me a favor and pay it forward!

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“The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.” ~Hippocrates

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IN THIS ISSUE:

1)NUTRITIONAL MEDICINE

2)NATURAL ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE AND CHOLESTEROL

3) THE EFFECTS OF CINNAMON IN TYPE 2 DIABETES

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1) NUTRITIONAL MEDICINE

Nutritional Medicine is unknown to most physicians as well as the public. The benefits of a good exercise program and a healthy diet are well known. Few however, especially physicians, have any knowledge of the health benefits of taking high quality nutritional supplements. Vitamins are a hot issue within the medical field.

But the verdict is in. What your doctor doesn’t know about nutritional medicine may be killing you. Only about 6% of the graduating physicians in America have received any training in nutrition. Doctors believe that you don’t need supplements and that you get all the nutrients  you need from a good diet.

Doctor and patients alike must take a long hard look at how they approach health care to-day. Numerous studies prove that a healthy diet, a good exercise program and high quality nutritional supplements is the absolute best way to maintain your health and to regain your health after you have lost it.

There are records of amazing results by practicing nutritional medicine. Patients with multiple sclerosis, who have gone from wheelchair-bound to walking again. Some cancer patients have gone into remission, patients with macular degeneration have found significant visual improvement and fibromyalgia patients have regained their lives.

Oxidative stress is the underlying cause of all chronic degenerative diseases, like coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and macular degeneration. Heart disease is not caused by high cholesterol, but the inflammation of blood vessels, which can be reduced and even totally eliminated by taking nutritional supplements.

Antioxidants and there supporting nutrients have become our new weapon in the war against our number one killer: heart disease. Fruits and vegetables contain thousands of extremely potent bioflavanoids. They also have some anti-allergic and anti- inflammatory properties.

Red whine and grape juice contain polythenols, which has been proven to reduce the formation of oxidized LDL cholesterol.  Grape seed extract is known as the best antioxidant to prevent chronic inflammatory disease.

Vitamin E is the best antioxidant for the cell wall, vitamin C for the plasma and glutathione is the best intra cellular antioxidant.

All of these antioxidants need the so-called antioxidant minerals and B-cofactors to do their job. These ingredients work together in synergy as they accomplish the ultimate goal of defeating oxidative stress.

Doctors are content to let the pharmaceutical companies determine new therapies when they develop new drugs. But our natural antioxidant and immune system are the best defense against the development of chronic degenerative diseases.

There is some good news however, medical research is beginning to support the idea of supplementation with a mixture of antioxidants and supporting nutrients. This mix can enhance traditional chemo and radiation therapy and at the same time protecting normal cells from toxic effects.

But you don’t have to be a physician to start practicing nutritional medicine, you as a patient can become proactive about preserving the health you have. Cellular nutrition is defined as providing all of the nutrients to the cell at optimal levels or to those levels which provide a health benefit according to medical literature.

Your life and health depends on it. They are far more superior to any drugs your doctor prescribe. 
Source: healtharticleslibrary.com

2) NATURAL ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE AND CHOLESTEROL

High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels affect a great number of Americans.  Many people do not wish to take serious medications with unknown ramifications for a condition that may very well plague them for the rest of their lives if they are not careful.  Of course, these same people can limit the effects of high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels by getting proper exercise and changing their diet to eat more healthily.  If this is not enough, however, there are some natural remedies and alternative health care measures to be taken.  Many of these measures come in the form of supplementation.

Garlic is a well known natural food that can help to lower blood pressure.  Of course, nobody wants to eat as much garlic as it would take for this to help!  Luckily, it is available in convenient supplement form and is very easy to obtain.  Consult your doctor before starting a garlic supplement regimen, as it acts as a blood thinner similar to the way aspirin does.  If your doctor gives you the green light to supplement with garlic, you can find capsules in your local health food store or vitamin shop that come with all of the benefits of ‘the real thing’ but without the negative lingering taste or smell that some people don’t enjoy.

Coenzyme Q, or CoQ10, is a supplement that has really gained in popularity over the last few years. It, too, can be helpful in reducing blood pressure levels.  Unlike most other supplements mentioned here, CoQ10 is an oil-soluble supplement as opposed to a water-soluble supplement.  It is widely touted as a powerful antioxidant, and has been known to help with migraine headaches.  It is most widely known for its positive effects on the heart, however. 

Some manufacturers combine this supplement with the herb hawthorn to help prevent high blood pressure and/or lower cholesterol.  Hawthorn is an herb that is used by herbalists and those in holistic medicine all the time for the treatment of high blood pressure.  It is a small shrub that actually bears edible berries, the fruit of which is used in herbal tinctures and remedies.

Another treatment for high blood pressure as well as high cholesterol sounds almost backwards:  It is fish oil.

  Many people would be surprised to hear that any type of oil is good for reversing high cholesterol or lowering blood pressure, but it’s true.  There are two types of cholesterol, one of which is ‘bad’ and one of which is ‘good’.  Supplementing with fish oil helps to lower ‘bad’ cholesterol levels, and it is difficult for many people to east enough fish to do this without taking a supplement.  This is one reason among many that fish oil supplements have become so popular.  Fish oil contains DHA, which is critical for proper brain functioning, but has also been studied for its use in lowering blood pressure.

Fish oil capsules should be chosen carefully, as some people do report having a problem with ‘fish burps’ or unpleasant aftertaste. Also, they do expire more quickly than some other supplements, and many times fish oil should be refrigerated depending on the manufacturer and the type of capsule or oil.  Be sure to read the label carefully so you can store your supplement properly.

A calcium-magnesium-potassium blend can also help with high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels.  This supplement combination can be found in your local health food store or vitamin shop, and it is beneficial to buy the complex so that you have no problem remembering to take these three supplements together, which is how they work best for this purpose.  Calcium has the added benefit of fortifying and strengthening bones and teeth, while magnesium is helpful for maintaining a sense of calm and well-being.  Potassium is a key mineral that helps muscles in the body to contract.  It also helps with regular brain and nerve function, and with balance between the body’s cells and their important fluid.

Folic acid, which is a B vitamin, is also important for regular blood pressure levels and proper cholesterol levels.  Folic acid is essential for a number of bodily functions, and is especially important in times of cell growth and stress to the body.  Pregnant women in particular must make sure to maintain high levels of folic acid.  Along with helping to lower blood pressure, it helps reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, and has been known to promote better memory function as well.

Of course, neither this nor any other supplement will really help much if you do not exercise and watch what you eat.  Get on a good exercise program and tailor your diet according to your physician’s recommendations if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or high cholesterol.  Then, start a healthy supplement regimen like the one indicated above and you will be on your way to better heart health, less stress, and an overall better sense of well-being.
Source: healtharticleslibrary.com

3) THE EFFECTS OF CINNAMON IN TYPE 2 DIABETES
By Debra Manzella, R.N., About.com

There has been a lot of talk these days about cinnamon. According to some studies, cinnamon may improve blood glucose and cholesterol levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. The results of a study from 2003 in Pakistan showed lower levels of fasting glucose, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol after 40 days with levels continuing to drop for 20 days after that.

The study was made up of 60 people with Type 2 diabetes who were divided into 6 groups of 10. Three groups received cinnamon in the form of capsules totaling 1, 3 or 6 grams of cinnamon a day. The other three groups received placebo capsules. The capsules were taken three times a day, after meals. All three levels of cinnamon showed results, leading researchers to believe that as little as 1 gram a day of cinnamon may benefit people who have Type 2.

There has been some debate in this country on whether "true" cinnamon was used for the study. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are two types of cinnamon sold in the United States; cinnamomum zeylanicum nees or cinnamomum cassia (L.) blume. Most of the cinnamon sold in our grocery stores is cinnamomum cassia. The Pakistani study does list cinnamomum cassia as the cinnamon that was used.

Richard A. Anderson, Ph.D., CNS, of the the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center (BHNRC), is one of the original researchers in the Pakistan study. The BHNRC is under the United States Department of Agricuture (USDA). From results of his continued study of the components of cinnamon and their effect on blood glucose and cholesterol, he states:

"We have also shown that the active components of cinnamon are found in the water-soluble portion of cinnamon and are not present in cinnamon oil, which is largely fat-soluble. In addition to ground cinnamon consumed directly, one can also make a cinnamon tea and let the solids settle to the bottom or use cinnamon sticks, which make for a nice clear tea. Cinnamon can also be added to orange juice, oatmeal, coffee before brewing, salads, meats etc. The active components are not destroyed by heat."

Based on these studies, it seems that cinnamon may lower blood glucose, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in people with Type 2 diabetes. The fact that studies so far have involved a small amount of people and have not yet explored the long term benefits of cinnamon, would lead to the conclusion that there may not be enough evidence gathered yet, to support cinnamon as a major player against Type 2. But adding more cinnamon to already healthy lifestyle changes probably wouldn't hurt either.

Sources: Khan, MS, PHD, Alam, Safdar, MS, Mahpara, Ali Khan, MS, PHD, Mohammad Muzaffar, Khattak, MS, Khan Nawaz, and Anderson, PHD, Richard A.. "Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People With Type 2 Diabetes." Diabetes Care 26(2003): 3215-3218.
Anderson, Ph.D., CNS, Richard A.. "Cinnamon, Glucose Tolerance and Diabetes." Agricultural Research Service. 08 Aug 2005. United States Department of Agriculture. 17 Nov 2006.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!

Thank you for reading.

Livia
https://www.natural-health-and-healing.com
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

P.S. If you have a comment or suggestion, just reply to this e-mail. Your feedback is important to me.

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This newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is your right to educate yourself in health and medical knowledge, to seek helpful information and make use of it for your own benefit, and for that of your family. You are the one responsible for your health. You must educate yourself in order to make decisions in all health matters. My views and advices are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medicine, but simply a help you to make educated changes in order to help your body heal itself. If you have a medical condition or concern you should consult your physician.