The Secret On How To Lose Weight

July 23, 2009 By drhusbands Leave a Comment

Millions of Americans are having trouble losing weight. Many have tried different weight loss programs with little or no success. In my opinion, the secret on how to lose weight is a healthy weight loss program that includes detoxification. Why?

Environmental Toxins May Be Largely Responsible For Obesity

An article published in the April 2002 issue of The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine stated that:

The number of obese people worldwide has escalated recently, revealing a complex picture of significant variations among nations and different profiles among adults and children, regions, and occupations. The commonly held causes of obesity – overeating and inactivity – do not explain the current obesity epidemic. Because the obesity epidemic occurred relatively quickly, it has been suggested that environmental causes instead of genetic factors maybe largely responsible.

What are the environmental causes cited that could be contributing to the pandemic rise in obesity? The exponential production of and exposure to synthetic chemicals in the environment.

Earlier this month, an article in HealthDay News stated that:

That obesity rates have continued to significantly increase during the past year, particularly in children aged 10 to 17, irrespective of increasing public programs and awareness campaigns. The proposition of environmental toxins as a significant potential cause of ever increasing obesity rates must be given serious consideration.

Everybody Has Environmental Toxins

In a 2004 study, between 213 to 287 chemicals were found in all the studies newborn infants umbilical cord blood samples taken in U.S. hospitals. Many of these compounds are known industrial pollutants which are linked to birth defects, developmental delays and cause cancer in humans or animals. Many of these compounds also have activity which increases propensity for obesity.

From 1967 to 1990, the Centers for Disease Control working with the Environmental Protection Agency conducted the National Human Adipose Tissue Survey (NHATS). The NHATS program collected adipose tissue samples from elective surgeries and autopsied cadavers from all regions across the country. The findings of the NHATS survey were alarming. Of the 54 different environmental chemical toxins screened for, 5 of these chemicals were found in 100% of the samples. The 5 chemicals are:

Styrene
1,4-dichlorobenzene
Xylene
Ethylphenol
OCDD (dioxin)

Not only are these chemicals carcinogens, they promote weight gain because toxins are stored in fat cells. Furthermore, because your brain and nerves have high amounts of essential fatty acids, these chemicals are likely in the nerve cells, too. This could be a big factor in the increasing rates of dementia.

Solution: Detox

Because people around the world, particularly growing children and teenagers in the United States, are loaded with toxins stored in their fat cells. Weight loss programs that previously worked may no longer be effective. Detoxification is a vital component of a successful weight loss (fat loss) program. The problem is many people do not know how to effectively and safely detoxify from these chemicals. In common weight loss programs, these chemicals are often mobilized from fat cells, circulated in the blood, and dropped off into the nerve cells. This is an even greater problem. These chemicals need to be excreted from the body.

In my clinic, we have safe and effective weight loss programs that help your body detoxify, as well as permanently promote and maintain a healthy weight. Contact Dr Husbands if you have any questions, or to schedule a nutritional consultation for weight loss and detoxification.

Here are some weight loss success stories:

From a patient from Mountain View, CA

I am 54 and thanks to your care, I don’t remember feeling as healthy as I do today! I am exercising regularly and have effortlessly reached my healthy body weight (reducing by about 25 lbs). I have lost my craving for starches and am surprised that I now typically cook meals without them. When I started treatment with you, I had discomfort from extreme vaginal dryness and that has also healed thanks to the supplements I have been taking. My cholesterol has dropped without medication or a change in diet (other than reduction in starches). I appreciate your thoroughness in designing my treatment plan and your patience when I wasn’t able to follow your instructions to a “T”.

From a patient from San Jose, CA

Since I was a teenager, I had been waking up an average of 6 times a night with insomnia. I finally chose to do something about it and consulted with Dr. Husbands. He designed a custom diet and supplement plan to suit my individual needs. After only a couple of weeks I found that I was sleeping a full eight hours a night. Now I have more energy and I’m healthier. I’ve also shed twenty pounds of excess weight. Thank you Dr. Husbands!

From a patient from San Francisco, CA

Early last year I attended a brief class held by Dr. Husbands…and his new program to assist in regaining health and losing weight. I found the class informative and decided to try it out. By following his program I found that my health began to improve. In the first month I lost four inches in my waist measurement and after two months I dropped my cholesterol by 35 points. I would definitely have no problem with recommending his treatment and program to anyone. In addition, we began treatments for my allergies and after only a very few treatments I found an improvement in my allergies. In fact they cleared up as long as I followed his program.

Dr Husbands is a Chiropractor, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor.

Filed Under: Other Health Issues

Alternative Medicine Treatments for Pain

July 17, 2009 By drhusbands Leave a Comment

The two main categories of pain are acute pain and chronic pain.

Acute pain is that which comes on quickly, can be severe and lasts a relatively short time. It is usually attributable to a specific injury and usually responds to treatment more quickly than chronic pain. Here’s an example of acute pain and its cause:

A person bends over to lift a heavy object from the ground with their knees straight, resulting in sudden sharp lower back pain with radiating leg pain. This describes the pain characteristically resulting from an acute lower back disc protrusion. This spine pain is often called sciatica because the disc injury irritates the sciatic nerve.

Chronic pain is that which persists and progresses over a long period of time. It usually responds to treatment more slowly than acute pain. Chronic pain is usually multifactorial. In other words, it typically stems from a number of different causes. Here are some examples of chronic pain:

Fibromyalgia, a condition in which a person suffers multiple areas of severe muscle tenderness, numbness and tingling, and anxiety.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or CFS, which shares many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia along with extreme fatigue aggravated even by minimal physical activity.

There are multiple alternative medicine treatment options for acute and chronic pain. For acute pain involving muscles and joints, I have had exceptional results using various types of chiropractic treatments, manual massage and physical therapy procedures and modalities. turmeric, cayenne, and proteolytic enzymes are effective for quick relief of acute musculoskeletal and chronic inflammatory pain. For acute digestive tract pain, digestive enzymes, probiotics, aloe vera juice or aloe vera leaf extract, slippery elm extract, mastic gum and calcium/magnesium citrate can provide quick pain relief. For chronic pain relief, turmeric and cayenne herbal extracts are highly effective due to their powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Ribose and co-enzyme Q10 are also helpful for chronic pain because of their effect on providing the cells with energy. Cells with low energy secrete inflammatory substances that cause pain. Chiropractic, massage and acupuncture are very effective for chronic pain relief.

These are just a few of the options for pain relief using alternative and complementary health care methods. Contact me if you have any questions on treatment for your acute and/or chronic pain. If you have chronic fatigue and/or fibromyalgia, here’s a patient testimonial on Yelp. Additional patient testimonials can be found on my website.

Filed Under: Adrenal Fatigue, Chiropractic, Other Health Issues

How Can I Help Heal Your GI Tract

July 14, 2009 By drhusbands Leave a Comment

Do you suffer one of the common gastrointestinal disorders, such as chronic indigestion, GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), constipation, bloating, or food intolerances? Can these be resolved, instead of just getting relief from their symptoms? Absolutely!

In conventional medicine, the clinician typically knows how to suppress a particular symptom, such as acidic symptoms, or depression, or high cholesterol. In Functional Health Care, we determine the origins of the symptoms, the underlying causes, and the types of treatment to restore proper function in order to restore optimal health. Once the problem is resolved, symptoms naturally cease or disappear. Furthermore, it is quite possible that other seemingly unrelated health problems get resolved. What a nice side effect! One patient that consulted me for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, saw great improvement of her PMS symptoms and got pregnant sooner than expected. Read her testimonial in my Gut Health = Great Health article.

How can a Functional Health Care physician like me help heal your GI tract?

The first step is to assess the condition of your gut and how it is affecting other systems in your body. This is done through advanced lab tests which we call Functional laboratory testing. These tests identify the underlying causes of problems, not just pathology.

The next step is to put together a customized 4R Program according to your health history and lab results. The 4R Program is the Functional Medicine therapeutic approach for the GI tract. It consists of the following:

Remove pathogenic bacteria, parasites, pathogenic yeasts, food allergies, etc – Are any pathogenic bacteria like H. Pylori present? Are parasites present? Are there any pathogenic yeasts present such as Candida? Are there any foods that temporarily need to be eliminated, such as gluten-containing foods which can cause autoimmune responses? Are food sensitivities or food allergies present requiring temporary removal of offending foods from the diet?
Replace HCL, digestive enzymes, amino acids – Is the stomach producing enough HCL? What about digestive enzymes? Are tissue stores of basic nutrients, like amino acids very depleted?
Reinoculate with beneficial bacteria – Are the levels of beneficial bacteria present in the gut depleted? How long has it been depleted? How frequently has it been depleted by use of antibiotics, antacids, anti-inflammatory medicines or corticosteroids?
Repair the mucosal lining of the GI tract – Are certain foods, such as high sugars, inhibiting repair processes? Is there impairment of nerve function affecting the ENS, requiring chiropractic or acupuncture? A variety of specific nutrients and supplements, properly dosed and timely given are required for repair.

This approach is very effective in getting to the root cause of the problem and resolving it. For comprehensive functional diagnosis and resolution of your GI tract problem, contact us. If you want to make an in-office or phone consultation, start by filling out our medical forms. Print them, complete the first 3 forms, and then send them back to us. We look forward to helping your GI tract heal.

Dr Husbands is a Chiropractor, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor. For more information, visit http://www.drhusbands.com.

Filed Under: Digestive Disorders, Other Health Issues

Gut Health = Great Health

July 13, 2009 By drhusbands Leave a Comment

Do you have frequent indigestion and burning in your stomach or chest after eating? Is constipation a frequent problem? Do you almost always get a cold or flu at certain times of the year? Do you lack energy and feel worse, even after eating “healthy” foods? Do you have high cholesterol? Are you losing weight for no apparent reason? Have you often felt overwhelmed with depression or ever taken anti-depressants?

All of the above could be due an unhealthy Gastrointestinal Tract (GI Tract). The health of your gut influences all bodily systems and all aspects of your health.

I’ve Got a Gut Feeling About This

There is bi-directional communication between the brain and the gut. Research confirms that a component of depression is in the gut, and a component of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is in the brain. Nutrients or drugs influencing brain function will influence gut function, for better or for worse, and visa versa. 95% of serotonin, the “feel good” hormone is produced in the gut. Anyone with an anxiety disorder, depression, insomnia, or even dementia should have GI tract function consult a Functional Medicine trained doctor who understands the neurological and biochemical associations between the gut and the brain.

Something’s Bugging Me

A healthy GI tract has trillions of beneficial microscopic bacterial species lining the entire gut. Within a healthy gut, there are about 400 microbial species. These beneficial bacteria come in different strains, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. casei and various strains of Bifidobacteria. When they come an outside source, such as from yogurt, vegetables or nutritional supplement, they are called “probiotics”. When they reside inside the gut they are called “microflora”. Both serve multiple purposes, including:

prevent the overgrowth of yeast such as Candida
resist disease-causing bacteria and fungi by producing antimicrobial substances
inhibit disease-causing antibiotic resistant, bacteria-laden films lining mucous membranes called “biofilms”
produce enzymes which help with detoxification
produce some B vitamins and vitamin K
aid in digestion and absorption of nutrients
combat diarrhea
assist in proper immune system balance between innate and acquired immunity
help fight cancer
help maintain the tight-junction lining of the intestines
participate in processes that prevent depression

Thus, when the balance of the gut microflora is disrupted it will profoundly affect gut health and overall health.

Recurrent Colds or Flu? Check Your Gut

60% of your immune system resides in the GI tract. Upper respiratory and parasitic infections are more likely to occur with inadequate beneficial bacteria and impaired sIgA in the small intestine. Many people with constant sniffles and runny nose may actually have imbalanced GI microflora. This is very often the result of the overuse of antibiotics.

High Cholesterol? What’s Gut Got to Do With It

Also more likely to occur with imbalanced GI flora is a regional inflammatory condition in the small intestine called Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is characterized not only by abdominal symptoms (pain, diarrhea or constipation, vomiting and weight loss), but also skin rashes, arthritis and eye inflammation. Because intestinal inflammation is a hallmark of Crohn’s disease, inflammation elsewhere commonly occurs. Inflammation within the circulatory system is associated with increased cholesterol. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for elevated cholesterol to occur with Crohn’s disease. Many people with Crohn’s disease are given cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, the underlying problem causing elevated cholesterol may be the inflammation. Using herbal substances such as Turmeric (Curcuma longa) which supress systemic inflammation, and probiotics can be an option for decreasing elevated cholesterol with Crohn’s Disease.

Acid Stomach? Take Antacids. Don’t!

The stomach produces stomach acid, called hydrochloric acid (HCL), to break up large food particles into smaller ones. HCL also prepares food for delivery to the small intestine. It also helps close the lower esophageal sphincter to prevent gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD), prevent food allergies, and kill pathogens. Too little, not too much stomach acid is often the cause of an acidic feeling in the stomach and indigestion. Frequent antacid use hinders secretion of HCL and the hormone gastrin. This results in predisposing to low tissue amino acids (with immune system impairment and muscle tissue wasting), acid reflux, low vitamin B12 (with elevated blood cholesterol and homocysteine levels), greater propensity of food allergies and other allergies, and an increased chance of parasitic and bacterial infections. The solution to most problems of GERD is to use supplemental HCL and digestive enzymes.

For a more complete explanation of gut function and the diagnosis and treatment methods we use, please see the article from my December 2007 newsletter.

I’ve treated many patients with various health problems that significantly improved by clearing up gut dysfunction. Here’s a good example:

“… I started seeing Dr. Husbands with the initial intention of addressing what western medicine classified as “Irritable Bowel Syndrome” or IBS (that’s the code when they have no idea what is wrong with your gut). Dr. Husbands was able to address my IBS by changing my eating habits, and introducing high quality and relevant supplements, all of which he recommended after taking several diagnostic tests. What I didn’t expect, was that by changing my diet and supplement intake, I would reap other benefits as well. My husband and I had decided that we wanted to try and have a family. Based on my history, I was petrified to go off the pill. However as per Dr. Husbands recommendation, I did, and I couldn’t have been happier or more surprised. My cycle was exactly 28 days, cramping was minimal, and menstrual flow was completely ordinary. Even though the results were so great, I still didn’t believe Dr. Husbands that I would get pregnant quickly. After only 3 months though, that is exactly what happened!! My husband and I couldn’t be happier. Hearing the baby’s heartbeat is the highlight of every month. Dr. Husbands thank you for giving me my health back, and for affording us the opportunity to have a family of our own!” – patient from Redwood City, CA

Contact Dr Husbands for solutions for health problems associated with gut problems.

Filed Under: Digestive Disorders, Other Health Issues

Get Rid of Your Chronic Headache

July 9, 2009 By drhusbands Leave a Comment

Headaches are not normal, yet very common. They often keep us from performing our daily tasks, and from enjoying life. A lot of people take pain medication for their headache, however, if the headache is chronic, they also have to deal with the side effects of the medication. The more frequent you take the medication, and the more consistent over a period of time, the greater the impact of the side effects. A patient from Redwood City, who had been having headaches for 2 years, comes to my mind as I write this.

I’ve treated many patients for headaches for different reasons. Below is a list of common reasons I’ve come across in my years in practice. Use the information below as a starting point for getting rid of your headaches.

Are you dehydrated? Inadequate water intake is common and dehydration headaches are more common than realized. Drink at least 1/2 ounce of water per pound of body-weight each day.
How’s your posture? Slouching while sitting is a habit of many people. Your head weighs about 13 pounds, and the bones of your neck are relatively small. Many small muscles along your spine in the back of your neck holds your head erect. Slouching causes your head to jut forward. This puts a lot of stress on these muscles. This is often the cause of headaches on the back of the head. Obviously, the solution is to correct your posture. Pretend you have a string attached to the top of your head, being pulled straight up. Doing this elongates the spine and helps you keep good posture. You may need chiropractic adjustments to decrease chronic nerve irritation and restore normal motion to the spine.
Did you start getting headaches after you fell or hit your head? Do you have stiff neck? Minor injuries sometimes include irritation of the spinal nerves. If your body is out of alignment, it could cause slight muscle, cartilage and nerve irritation in the neck and upper back. Consult a chiropractor.
Do you have seasonal and/or chronic sinus congestion? Your headache may be sinus headache. Using proteolytic enzymes between meals to thin the mucous and decrease allergenic responses could be helpful. Consult a clinical nutritionist.
What about food allergies? These are often hidden causes of headaches. For example, many people are sensitive to monosodium glutamate (MSG) but don’t realize it. I recommend two effective solutions. The first is a modified elimination diet. Eliminate the most common allergenic foods from your diet for a week, and then gradually reintroduce them one at a time. Wait 3 days before reintroducing another possible food allergen. If you get a headache within 3 days, then you need to avoid that food. The second is undergoing allergy elimination testing and treatment through the BioSET Allergy Elimination method. We use either of these solutions in our clinic.
Artificial sweeteners or food colorings could be causing your headaches. Eliminate or limit intake of artificially colored and artificially flavored foods. For the extremely sensitive person, BioSET Allergy Elimination has been helpful in many cases.
Got stress? High blood pressure? Hypertension headaches are characterized by high blood pressure and pain in a “hairband” distribution or at the back of the head. The headache is often most severe in the morning, diminishing later in the day. The most effective treatment option is to resolve the underlying cause of hypertension. Chronic stress, adrenal dysfunction, or hyperthyroidism can be underlying causes of hypertension. Stress reduction and coping techniques are great for tension headaches.
Heavy metal toxicity? Any dental fillings recently done or removed? If you have been to multiple doctors, had multiple diagnostic imaging tests and lab tests, and still could not determine the cause of your headaches, go see a doctor who is trained to check for heavy metal toxicity. This is done through hair mineral analysis or with a urine toxic metals challenge test. This test is available in our office, as well as detoxification treatments, if needed.
Hormonal problem? Many women get headaches near the time of their periods, and most of them are not aware that they could get rid of the headache and other associated symptoms. Often, some nutritional alterations and key supplemental nutrients can normalize premenstrual symptoms. We’ve had many cases of headaches associated with menstrual cycle irregularities completely resolved.

If you need additional help, contact me.

Filed Under: Chiropractic, Other Health Issues, Women's Health

How Not to Gain Weight

July 3, 2009 By drhusbands Leave a Comment

Yesterday, the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released the annual report on obesity in America. Several news outlet reported this. The HealthDay News article said “The rates of adult obesity in the United States increased in 23 states during the past year and did not decrease in any state.” You can read the full article here.

As you get older, do you find it harder to maintain your weight? Is it more difficult to lose weight now than when you were younger? I would like to share my tips on how not to gain weight so you all don’t become part of this growing problem. More importantly, do the following so you can prevent the health problems that are associated with being overweight or obese, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Don’t skip breakfast. Waiting to eat until later in the morning or lunch time will slow your metabolism and destabilize your blood sugar.
Have at least 20 grams of protein at breakfast. To have long-lasting energy and stable blood sugar, you need protein with some carbohydrates.
Eat frequently throughout the day. As long as you are exercising, supplying your body with healthy meals and snacks 5 to 6 times a day helps to maintain or build muscle tissue while increasing fat burning, stabilizes blood sugar, your moods, and your energy.
Avoid staying up late at night. Growth hormone is released in 10 to 20 minute pulses about every 1-2 hours during deep sleep at night. The longer you stay asleep the more total growth hormone output. More growth hormone release will rejuvenate your body and help with fat burning. Consistent good night’s sleep results in less cortisol production, which causes less fat deposited around your waist.
Exercise an hour 5-6 days a week, preferable in the morning. Through exercise food is used for energy rather than stored as fat or glycogen. When you exercise in the morning, your body cannot store fat as easily because it is using more energy for the rest of the day.
Take a multi-vitamin. Many food cravings are due to lack of adequate nutrients.
Take L-carnitine. L-carnitine is an amino acid that helps bring circulating fat from the blood into the cells to be used for energy.
Take digestive enzymes. These improve absorption of nutrients from foods and ease digestion. The more necessary nutrients you absorb from your food, the less cravings you will have.
Take fish oils. The essential omega-3 oils in fish oil helps stabilize blood sugar, decrease inflammation and keep a healthy metabolism.
Avoid anti-inflammatory corticosteroids drugs. These tend to promote fat gain, particularly around the waist.
Avoid synthetic hormone replacement drugs. Besides causing an increased risk of cancer, stroke, and heart attacks, these tend to contribute to weight gain. I recommend bio-identical hormones instead of synthetic hormone. Consult a functional medicine or anti-aging doctor.
Drink enough water. Drink at least 1/2 ounce of water per pound body weight daily. This will promote health and stable weight. It also helps keep your appetite under control.
Do not drink soda and other sugary drinks. These are “liquid sugar”. You end up drinking more calories than you realize. Even the low calorie soda’s are bad due to the artificial sugars and colorings. Go with water or green tea instead.

Filed Under: Other Health Issues

Lower Your Cholesterol and Heart Disease Risk Using Food Supplements

July 1, 2009 By drhusbands Leave a Comment

We know that generally, the higher your cholesterol is, the higher your risk of coronary heart disease. Blood cholesterol is one of the blood markers for risk assessment for cardiovascular disease. Other blood markers include:

total cholesterol
triglycerides
HDL (high density lipoprotein)
LDL (low density lipoprotein)
high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)
homocysteine
fibrinogen
very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL)
lipoprotein a [Lp(a)]

Alteration of these blood markers towards increased cardiovascular disease risk is called dyslipidemia.

Numerous research studies and clinical trials show that niacin, pantethine, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids are effective in positively influencing dyslipidemia. In many cases, the effects are comparable to or better than the effects of cholesterol lowering drugs. Below is a list of these nutrition supplements that lower cholesterol and triglycerides with their therapeutic dosages from research studies and clinical trials. The list is for information only, and it does not cover the potential drug or nutrient interactions or disease related contraindications. Thus, it is not meant for self prescription. Consult a health professional trained in functional medicine or nutrition for therapeutic benefit.

Niacin (Vitamin B3 or Nicotinic Acid)

Niacin’s effects on dyslipidemia were first published in 1955. Since then numerous clinical trials, peer-reviewed published research, and clinical practice have shown its efficacy for dyslipidemia.

Clinical study results of taking 1500 to 2000 mg/day of niacin:

lowers total cholesterol by between 13.3 and 18.4%
lowers LDL by 19 to 26%
lowers triglycerides by 20 to 50%
lowers Lp(a) by 15 to 25%
raises the beneficial HDL by 15 to 35%

The conclusions from the ADMIT study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2000 state: “Our study suggests that lipid-modifying dosages of niacin can safely be used in patients with diabetes and that niacin therapy may be considered as an alternative to statin drugs or fibrates for patients with diabetes in whom these agents are not well tolerated or fail to sufficiently correct hypertriglyceridemia or low HDL-C levels.” In other words, they recommended using niacin instead of statin drugs if the statins don’t work in lowering triglycerides or raising HDL.

When starting to use niacin at therapeutic dose, many people experience flushing and tingling in their face, shoulders and chest. Some also experience a little itching within 30 minutes of taking niacin. This is the result of niacin opening up the small blood vessels with increased blood flow. This is not a bad thing. However, sometimes people find this sensation uncomfortable. You can avoid the flush by taking smaller doses more frequently. Typically, after a couple of weeks of using niacin, this sensation decreases. Some people start to enjoy this sensation and look forward to it once they know what causes it.

Niacinamide, another form of niacin, does not work as well for lowering cholesterol levels as niacin.

Pantethine (Vitamin B5)

Pantethine is the precursor to the B-vitamin pantothenic acid. The majority of studies show that between 600 to 1200 mg/day results in the following effects on dyslipidemia within 2 to 4 weeks:

total cholesterol reduced by 10 to 25%
LDL decreased by 10 to 39%
triglycerides reduced by 15 to 31%
slight increases in HDL

Tocopherols (Vitamin E)

Tocopherol is the technical name for vitamin E which includes the alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocopherols. Tocopherols have an effect on decreasing the oxidation of LDL, thereby having a beneficial effect on dyslipidemia. When LDL is oxidized, LDL particles become even more damaging to the arteries.

In the Cambridge Heart Antioxidant Study, over 2000 patients with coronary disease received between 266 to 533 mg alpha-tocopherol/day. This range is equivalent to 400-800 IU. After one year those given vitamin E had about half the risk of death from heart attack as those who did not.

Fish Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Numerous research studies show that between 2 to 6 grams of fish oil per day have the following effects on dyslipidemia:

triglycerides reduced by about 25%

For additional articles on other nutraceuticals effects on dyslipidemia, see my 3-part article titled “Fitting Into Your Genes” published in 2005.

Filed Under: Other Health Issues

The Truth About Antioxidant Use With Chemotherapy

June 29, 2009 By drhusbands Leave a Comment

Since late 2008, there’s a growing number of articles from the mainstream media about the proported dangers of nutritional supplements and the greater need for more regulations and restrictions. However, almost all of them are biased, citing poorly designed studies. Furthermore, most of authors misunderstood the conclusions of the studies.

The objective seems to be to restrict access to supplements, rather than to protect the public. My impression is they’re equating the miniscule risks of supplements with the significant dangers of prescription drugs, which by the way, cause an estimated 106,000 deaths/year in the US alone.

Some of these articles cover the supposed dangerous responses from nutritional supplements including:

* antioxidants showing no benefit for decreasing cancer risks
* antioxidants increasing the risk for cancer
* antioxidants interfering with chemotherapy treatment

These are biased summaries of the few studies which anyone having a good grasp of nutritional biochemistry would recognize as being poorly-designed.

Most oncologists believe that antioxidants interfere with chemotherapy treatment. In fact, this is taught in medical schools. This is absolutely wrong! In a recent 2-part paper published in the Jan/Feb and Mar/Apr issue of Alternative Therapeutics in Health and Medicine:2007;13:40-47, researchers reviewed the medical literature from 1965 to 2003 regarding antioxidant use with concurrent chemotherapy. They concluded that:

“Since the 1970’s, 280 peer-reviewed in vitro and in vivo studies, including 50 human studies involving 8521 patients, 5081 of whom were given nutrients, have consistently shown that antioxidants do not interfere with therapeutic modalities for cancer. Furthermore, non-prescription antioxidants and other nutrients enhance the killing of therapeutic modalities for cancer, decrease their side effects, and protect normal tissue. In 15 human studies, 3738 patients who took non-prescription antioxidants and other nutrients actually had increased survival.”

This implies that many patients at their greatest time of need are being given wrong information with deadly consequences. This also implies that many oncologists are not reading the research literature.

The vast majority of research points to the benefit of antioxidants for prevention, safety and benefit for nutritional support required for cancer control.

Filed Under: Other Health Issues

Holistic Protection and Defense from the Swine Flu

April 29, 2009 By drhusbands Leave a Comment

As of April 28, 2009, there are 66 confirmed cases of the swine flu in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In addition, besides Mexico, cases have been reported in Spain, Scotland and Canada.

Has the swine-flu virus pandemic got you worried? Do you know how to protect yourself and your family from getting this vigorous mutant flu virus? What if you get it, what can you do to boost your ability to recover? What about flu shots? Knowing that most of them contain mercury, should you set aside the mercury concern in favor of protection from this virus? What about the Tamiflu drug? Should you set aside concern about its side effects?

On April 27, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the alert level for the swine-flu to Phase 4. This means there is sustained human-to-human transmission causing outbreaks in at least one country. Knowing your options and implementing them are essential since this is an especially virulent flu with a combination of pig, bird and human viruses. (This begs the question: “Is this a man-made biological weapon?”) The following are my recommendations for adults and children.

Adults

For prevention, use the following dietary, lifestyle and nutritional supplement recommendations:

Have the recommended total of 9 servings of vegetables and fruits per day. These foods contain many essential vitamins, minerals and phyto-nutrients for proper immune system function. If you cannot realistically eat 9 servings of vegetables and fruits, you must supplement with some type of “green drink”. Many of these contain dehydrated concentrated vegetables and fruits, chlorophyll, and beneficial algae. You can purchase the various brands of powdered drink mixes at a local health food store or various online nutritional supplement stores.
Avoid table sugar, sugary foods, and all artificially-sweetened foods at all cost. These significantly suppress your immune system function. Ditto all artificial colors and flavorings.
Get plenty of sleep, and get in bed by 10 pm at night at the latest. The hormones melatonin and growth hormone, in particular, are released primarily at night during deep sleep and have many very powerful recuperative and restorative benefits. You can use supplemental phosphatidylserine to lower night time cortisol levels to help you sleep. A combination of the amino acids arginine, ornithine, glutamine and lysine taken before bedtime can also help boost night time growth hormone release. This combination is best used under the supervision of a trained functional health care doctor, especially if you are on any prescription or non-prescription medicines
Exercise regularly to help support proper immune system function.
Get enough Vitamin D. Vitamin D in a dose of at least 4000 IU per day is necessary for most adults for proper immune system function. Vitamin D is also made by the skin through exposure to sunlight, particularly UVB radiation in sunlight. The people with more deeply pigmented skin, such as Blacks, Latinos, etc., require more time of direct sunlight exposure to make adequate Vitamin D through the skin. In the late spring or summer, if you have less than 15 minutes of direct sun exposure (without sunscreen) with at least your face, arms and legs exposed for 4 days each week, then you need to supplement with Vitamin D to get the required amount. A glass of milk only has 100 IU of Vitamin D. You would have to drink 40 glasses of milk each day to get enough Vitamin D from milk! We all know that is not going to happen.
Get enough Vitamin A. The mucosal barriers of the digestive, respiratory and urinary tracts need sufficient Vitamin A for proper immune system response to the flu. Dietary Vitamin A from free range eggs, grass fed and free range dairy products and many fruits high in Vitamin A are essential. Those not getting enough Vitamin A must supplement to get 2500 to 5000 IU per day, with 10,000 IU mixed carotenes. Pregnant women should get no more than 4000 IU Vitamin A per day, but may take the higher amount of mixed carotenes.
Take colostrum. Colostrum is an excellent immune system stimulant. Colostrum contains numerous factors that stimulate the immune system and help to prevent illness. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) coats the intestinal lining preventing attack by pathogens. Colostrum helps keep IgA at healthy levels
Take mushroom extracts. Various types of mushrooms have significant immune stimulating effects. Each contains high percentages of polysaccharides, long chain sugar molecules that regulate immunity. They stimulate antibodies and activate white blood cells. The most helpful mushroom extracts are Reishi (ganoderma), Maitake (grifola), and shiitake (lentinus). You can often get mushroom formulations for immune system support at a local health food store or an online nutritional supplement store.
Take additional zinc. Zinc has beneficial immune-protective properties. Use supplemental zinc glycinate in a dose of about 15 mg/day with about 1.5 mg copper for prevention.
Take Omega-3 fatty acid supplements in the form of fish oil capsules or liquid fish oil. This helps establish healthy cell membranes that prevent inflammation, resist toxins and help prevent attack by pathogens. Between 4 to 6 grams of Omega-3 fatty acids per day is recommended.
As a preventive measure (or if you are exposed to the flu), use the homeopathic medicine Influenzinum (in 9C, 12C, or 30C dilutions). Follow the dosage specified on the container. In the U.S, as of April 28, 2009 the states where cases of this flu have been reported by the CDC are California, New York, Texas, Ohio and Kansas. Using this homeopathic as a preventive option is especially judicious for anyone in these states. You can get this at your local health food store or at various online nutritional supplement stores.
If you have taken any antibiotics or used any corticosteroid containing drugs or creams, or used any antacids within the last 5 years and have not replenished your system with a dose of at least 15 to 20 billion of the beneficial bacteria (various lactobacillus and bifidobacter strains) for at least 2 months, you must immediately do so!
Get mercury-free flu shots. Sanofi Pasteur makes one that is mercury-free.

In addition, consider getting chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture to help support healthy immune system function (due to the beneficial effect on the autonomic nervous system).

If you get this flu, do the following:

If you are still able to eat, try to eat easily digested vegetable soups or stews with some chicken or lamb. You can also use some powdered green drink mixes mentioned earlier to get the necessary vitamins and minerals into your system.
Additional selenium is recommended in fighting viral infections. The normal dose is 200 mcg but you can go as high as 1,000 mcg for short -term use. Here’s one reference for this.
Take up to 300,000 IU per day (except for pregnant women and children) of Vitamin A for short-term use for optimal mucous membrane function.
Take 10,000 to 20,000 IU per day of Vitamin D (short term use).
Take Vitamin C. It decreases histamine release. Viral infections stimulate release of histamine, which is immunosuppressive. Dosage should be as high as bowel tolerance. In other words, as high as you are able take just before you get runny stools. This varies for each person, but for many, it is between 4000 to 8000 mg.
Take mushroom extracts. There are some very good brands of mixed mushroom extracts that you can get from many local health food stores or online nutritional supplement stores that are pre-formulated for immune system support.
Take zinc capsules or lozenges. Zinc has potent immune protective effects. Use 25-30 mg of zinc per day, in the form of zinc glycinate. Note that if you take above 20 mg of zinc per day for an extended period of time, you will also need to take copper to prevent a deficiency. A good zinc to copper ratio is 10:1. For most cases, you should get a supplement that contains both.
Take Myer’ s Intravenous Cocktails three days in a row. These are a combination of nutrients delivered intravenously (IV) that have been used for the last 50 years. It is named after the physician John Myers from Maryland who treated many patients with this IV nutrient combination with good results. Many functional medicine centers across the country often use this. You must have this performed by a knowledgeable doctor. Most conventional doctors are not even aware of this. Learn more about this here. To find a doctor who is trained in functional medicine visit: www.functionalmedicine.org.
If you are well enough to get to your local chiropractor for an adjustment a few times during the course of this flu, by all means do so. Acupuncture is also highly beneficial.
I highly recommend consulting a functional medicine physician. To find one in your area, see item 8 above.

Children

All the recommendations for adults can be beneficial for children with adjustments in dosages based on the child’s age and size.

Regarding Vitamin D, for sustaining proper immune system function, infants need at least 1,000 IU of Vitamin D and older children need at least 2,000 IU. For acute infections you can go up to 6000 IU on a short term.

Regarding Omega-3 fatty acids, 1 to 2 grams per day is recommended for children under 12 years old.

Children respond particularly well to chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture.

My Final Comments

Worrying or panicking benefits no one. Keeping informed and taking action to protect yourself and your family are essential at this time.

If you or someone you know have questions about non-pharmaceutical, effective evidence-based natural immune boosting and flu prevention options, do not hesitate to contact us. For those interested in purchasing the supplements, we can recommend online stores that carry high-quality products with some at a significant discount. Contact us here.

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