Harmony Health and Longevity

Too little of HDL (high density lipoprotien), one type of cholesterol, has been linked to memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists studied more than 3,500 civil servants to investigate how levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol were associated with memory. HDL cholesterol can influence the formation of the beta-amyloid “plaques” that are a distinctive feature in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

Higher levels of HDL are also believed to protect against damage to blood supply caused by the narrowing of the arteries.

After the five-year study period, the researchers found that people with low levels of HDL were 53 percent more likely to suffer memory loss than people with the highest levels of HDL.

Those with impaired memory are at an increased risk of developing dementia later in life.

Women who have used Fosamax are nearly twice as likely to develop atrial fibrillation (quivering of your heart’s upper chambers), which is the most common kind of chronically irregular heartbeat.

Fosamax is the most widely used drug treatment for the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis. The FDA approved the first generic version (called alendronate) in February.

The drug was associated with an 86 percent higher risk of atrial fibrillation compared with never having used the drug. Atrial fibrillation can cause palpitations, fainting, fatigue, or congestive heart failure. They can also lead to embolic strokes.

The following is written by Dr. Mercola

Every year, more than 2 million Americans suffer from serious adverse drug reactions. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these reactions cause about 100,000 deaths per year, making prescription drugs the fourth-leading cause of death in the country.

Compare this to the death toll from illegal drugs — which is about 10,000 per year — and you begin to see the magnitude of the problem.

However, if you dig a little deeper you find that these reported reactions only skim the surface of what’s really going on. You see, drug side effects are not always recognized as such. Doctors often attribute them to other causes, people downplay them or do not report them altogether. And when you add in other medical errors, unnecessary procedures, and surgery-related mishaps, well the modern health care system actually becomes the LEADING cause of death in the United States. Consider, for instance, that:

• The recorded error rate of ICU’s is like the post office losing more than 16,000 pieces of mail every hour of every day, or banks deducting 32,000 checks from the wrong bank account every hour, 24/7.

• The recorded medical errors and deaths equate to six jumbo jets falling out of the sky each day, 365 days a year.

• Since 2001, a recorded 490,000 people have died from properly prescribed drugs in the United States, while 2,996 people died on U.S. soil from terrorism, all in the 9/11 attacks; prescription drugs are therefore 16,400 percent more dangerous than terrorism. If deaths from over-the-counter drugs are also included, then drug consumption leaps to being 32,000 percent more dangerous than terrorism. And conventional medicine viewed as a whole is 104,700 percent deadlier than terrorism

Your Body is Not a Petri Dish

How can it be that clinically tested, FDA-approved drugs that are supposed to “cure” diseases are ending up hurting, and in some cases killing, so many people?

Because even under the BEST circumstances, such as a drug going through unbiased, stringent, long-term testing, when it is released into an uncontrolled environment (your body), anything can happen.

You may be taking another drug that interacts badly with it. Or perhaps a food you eat causes an unforeseen reaction. There are countless possibilities, and only a tiny fraction has been “tested for” in a lab.

And that is under the best circumstances. Often, studies are biased, results are skewed, and drugs are put on a fast-track to be approved before anyone really knows whether they’re safe. In a sense, it is all a gamble, and there are no 100-percent safe drugs.

This is why just about every time you open a newspaper or skim the news online, there is a new headline about another drug disaster: an unforeseen side effect that has harmed innocent people.

It’s YOUR Body

The take-home message from all of this is to remember that, ultimately, it’s your body, and your decision what to put in it. If your doctor suggests you take a drug, do some research before you take it, because once you do, it could be too late.

Make sure you are aware of the potential side effects of the drug, read the package insert, and remember that even if it lists a side effect as rare, it can still happen to you.

Many, many drugs are vastly over-prescribed and unnecessary. So make sure that you make drugs a last option, not a first choice. For example, all of the following conditions can be treated or prevented with LIFESTYLE CHANGES, yet if you go to a typical doctor, you will likely be prescribed a potentially dangerous drug instead:

• Diabetes 
• Heart disease 
• High blood pressure 
• High cholesterol
• Insomnia    

I realize that it takes a massive shift in thinking to realize that your body can heal itself, and that often drugs only hinder the process. But I believe that you, and society as a whole, are ready for it.

But here’s the thing: don’t wait until you’re sick or slowing down to make healthy changes. Do them NOW. Become an active participant in your health, and leave the horrific drug side effects behind for good.

By: Dr. Jeffrey S. Bland, PhD

 Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, periodontal disease, coronary heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and type-2 diabetes — these common and very different diseases typically require separate and different medical protocols.

 In August 2007, a collaborative group of medical scientists from Columbia University, University of Cambridge, Penn State Medical Center, Northwestern University School of Medicine, and the Laboratory for Endocrinology Research in Lyon, France, authored a research paper that caught the attention of the medical world.

Their conclusion: The skeleton is an endocrine organ and has an effect on insulin signaling and adiponectin expression in adipocytes (fat cells). (1)

 This extraordinary discovery links obesity, insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease to bone physiology and the bone-derived hormone osteocalcin that regulates energy metabolism and the insulin/glucose axis.  Osteocalcin “speaks” to adipocytes and insulin secreting beta-cells of the pancreas, and influences both insulin action and insulin-sensitizing and the anti-inflammatory protein adiponectin.  In essence, the report defined skeletal health and function as principle factors in the risk to diseases of metabolism and demonstrated a direct relationship between skeletal health and the prevention of diabetes and heart disease.

 BEYOND ‘WEAR AND TEAR’

Skeletal health is dependent upon lifestyle, genetic, structural, and nutritional factors.  The lack of weight-bearing activities reduces the activity of the bone rebuilding osteoblast, in turn reducing the release of osteocalcin.  The reduction in osteocalcin adversely influences insulin signaling and increases the risk to many chronic diseases. These same factors play important roles in maintaining the functional health of the bone remodeling cells: osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

The complex interconnections among these various cell types help explain the recent recognition of the connection between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.  We now know osteoarthritis is not simply the result of “wear and tear” on the joint.  Rather, it results from an inflammatory process that engages bone, synovium, connective tissue, and joint lubricant substances.

 Inflammatory processes are found in the joint space with increased osteoclastogenesis and angiogenesis, the hallmarks of progressive osteoarthritis. (2)  Musculoskeletal integrity is critically important in reducing the risk to inflammation.  The problem in osteoarthritis is not just wear and tear; it is how the musculoskeletal system responds to stress factors influencing the release of inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, or tumor necrosis factor alpha.  That these characteristics are also factors in the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis suggests a common therapeutic approach to the prevention and management of both conditions.

 MODIFYING KINASE ACTIVITY

The inflammatory signaling process connecting the etiology of these seemingly disparate diseases is, to a great extent, regulated by the activity of a family of enzymes termed “kinases.”  Produced in every cell, kinases regulate the translation of events that occur outside the cell to the genes of the cell, triggering various cellular events, such as the inflammatory response.   The activation of the inflammatory family of kinases may result in a variety of clinical effects, such as type-2 diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and even certain forms of cancer. (3)

 Certain phytonutrients and other natural compounds have been found to modulate kinase function and serve as “brakes” that help prevent the inflammatory process from running out of control. (4)  Well-publicized examples of such compounds include hops-derived reduced iso-alpha acids and O-methylated catechins from tea leaves. (5, 6)

These compounds may be used in supplementary form to “reset” inflammatory kinase signaling, thereby influencing any cell types that have enhanced inflammatory functions.  Their role in regulating the signaling that induces the primary cause of the disease suggests these compounds have promise as a new class of therapeutics that treats the intersection of the cause of a family of chronic diseases with a shared mechanism of origin. (7)

 CROSS TALK AND SYSTEMIC DISEASE

Altered mechanical signaling through the connective tissue and fascia has been found to increase the production of inflammatory mediators that may contribute to the potentiation of the underlying cause of diseases as far ranging as arthritis, type-2 diabetes, and bone loss of osteoporosis. (8)  This discovery suggests a mechanistic role for physical medicine, structural medicine, and acupuncture in the treatment of these conditions. (9)  Interesting, too, is the fact that in September 2007 the National Institutes of Health provided funding for the first international conference on fascia. (10)  This conference brought together bodywork practitioners with basic scientists to better understand the role of fascia in chronic disease and what can be done to improve its function.

 Out of the conference emerged the recognition that the extracellular matrix, with its component connective tissue, serves not only a structural role, but also a signaling role, translating outside information to various cells.  The translation of these messages through the fascia affects kinase signaling and different inflammatory responses.

This once again demonstrates the “cross talk” that occurs among different tissues that sets up the potential for many different diseases.  In another example, it is increasingly accepted that obesity, in and of itself, does not cause diabetes and heart disease. Rather, obesity is an effect of a process associated with the infiltration of various tissues, such as the fat tissue, with pro-inflammatory immune cells. (11)  This inflammatory process triggers the pathology of obesity and relates to the cause of type-2 diabetes and heart disease.  For obese patients, a treatment plan that seeks to nutritionally modulate kinases associated with the inflammatory process while improving body composition may be a more effective approach than weight loss alone.

 CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

These extraordinary recent advances in the understanding of the etiology of chronic diseases that previously seemed so different from one another have now created the understanding that they all share common mechanisms of etiology.  Rather than treating the disease effect, the new medicine is to treat the cause.   Additionally, environmental factors, such as chronic infection, xenobiotic or heavy-metal toxicity, or intestinal dysbiosis and food allergy can increase the inflammatory response.  These are modifiable if the practitioner asks the patient the correct questions, including questions about family history, personal health history, diet, environment, lifestyle, and exercise patterns.

 Consequently, a patient with a history of chronic inflammatory disorders would be a candidate for a personalized intervention program that incorporates regular musculoskeletal therapy and a healthy diet, plus nutritional intervention that might include a low-allergy-potential diet; supplementary intake of anti-inflammatory phytonutrients that modulate kinase function; fish oils containing omega-3 EPA/DHA; and botanicals, such as Curcumin, Boswellia serata, and ginger.

Supplementation with probiotics, such as specific strains of Lactobaccilli and Bifidobacterium, might also be administered to improve gastrointestinal immune function and reduce inflammation.

 These are exciting times related to the advancement in the understanding of the mechanisms of origin of chronic disease.  These advancements are timely because, if a new model for the prevention and management of chronic disease is not soon found, the rising tide of age-related chronic disease will economically drown the aging baby boomers in healthcare expenditures.  The news from the latest research indicates a new paradigm in healthcare is evolving, and with it, a validation of the importance of a functional medicine approach to chronic disease that integrates lifestyle, environment, physical and structural medicine, diet, and nutrient therapies, with the focus on managing the intersection of the root cause of the diseases.

 Jeffrey Bland, PhD, FACN, is the chief science officer of Metagenics Inc. and president of MetaProteomics in Gig Harbor, Wash.  In 1991, he founded the Institute for Functional Medicine.  He can be reached at (800) 692.9400 or through the Web site, www.metagenics.com.

 References

1 Lee NK, Sowa H, Hinoi E, et al. Endocrine regulation of energy metabolism by the skeleton. Cell. 2007;130(3):456-469.

2 Bonnet CS, Walsh DA. Osteoarthritis, angiogenesis and inflammation. Rheumatology. 2005;44:7-16.

3 Bain J, McLauchlan H, Elliott M, Cohen P. The specificities of protein kinase inhibitors: an update. Biochem J. 2003;371(Pt 1):199-204.

4 Suzuki T, Miyata N. Epigenetic control using natural products and synthetic molecules. Curr Med Chem. 2006:13(8):935-958.

5 Minich DM, Bland JS, Katke J, et al. Clinical safety and efficacy of NG440: a novel combination of rho iso-alpha acids from hops, rosemary, and oleanolic acid for inflammatory conditions. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2007;85(9):872-883.

6 Maeda-Yamamoto M, Inagaki N, Kitaura J, et al. O-methylated catechins from tea leaves inhibit multiple protein kinases in mast cells. J Immunol. 2004;172(7):4486-4492.

7 Lila MA. From beans to berries and beyond: teamwork between plant chemicals for protection of optimal human health. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007;1114:372-380.

8 Langevin HM, Churchill DL, Cipolla MJ. Mechanical signaling through connective tissue: a mechanism for the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. FASEB J. 2001;15(12):2275-2282.

9 Langevin HM, Yandow JA. Relationship of acupuncture points and meridians to connective tissue planes. Anat Rec. 2002;269(6):

257-265.

10 Grimm D. Cell biology meets rolfing. Science. 2007;318:

1234-1235.

11 Segenès C, Miranville A, Lolmède K, Curat CA, Bouloumiè A. The role of endothelial cells in inflamed adipose tissue. J Intern Med. 2007;262:415-421.

According to the US Surgeon General’s report, regular physical activity:

• Improves your chances of living longer and living healthier
• Protects against heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
• Helps protects against certain cancers, including colon and breast cancer
• Helps prevent or control type 2 diabetes  
• Helps prevent arthritis and may help relieve pain and stiffness in people with this condition
• Helps prevent the insidious loss of bone known as osteoporosis
• Reduces the risk of falling among older adults
• Relieves symptoms of depression and anxiety and improves mood

Exercise is about making your body’s well being a priority in your life.  The hardest part is finding the time right?  Well, time is a funny thing, there is always enough of it for the truely important stuff.  So if you find yourself saying “I just didn’t have time to do that.”  Please be honest with your self and restate this as “That just wasn’t important enough for me to spend the time doing it.”  This can be difficult at first, but being honest with yourself will take you several steps towards a happier healthier life.

Commit to 30 minutes each day to stretching and strengtheing your body.  This time a A+ priority, and nothing can replace it.  In a few short weeks you will begin to reep the rewards of a vibrant body and the the joyous life that comes with it.

Happy Easter everyone

 From my friends at Whole Foods Farmacy

Some “chocoholics” who just couldn’t give up their favorite treat have inadvertently done their fellow chocolate lovers - and science - a big favor.
 
A recent study at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine was focused on blood platelets and blood clots. The study participants, some of whom were fond of eating chocolate, were given a list of foods to avoid - the list included chocolate.  It seems that some of them ended up indulging their cravings for chocolate during the study.

Amazingly, their indulgence led to researchers to an important discovery which is believed to be the first of its kind.  Through biochemical analysis, the researchers are now able to explain why just a few squares of chocolate a day can reduce the risk of heart attack death in some men and women by almost 50%. 

It turns out that the chocolate decreases the tendency of platelets to clot in narrow blood vessels. “What these chocolate ‘offenders’ taught us is that the chemical in cocoa beans has a biochemical effect similar to aspirin in reducing platelet clumping, which can be fatal if a clot forms and blocks a blood vessel, causing a heart attack,” says Diane Becker, M.P.H., Sc.D., a professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Becker cautions that her work is not intended as a prescription to gobble up large amounts of chocolate candy, which often contains diet-busting amounts of sugar, butter and cream.  But as little as 2 tablespoons a day of high quality dark chocolate - the purest form of the candy, made from the dried extract of roasted cocoa beans - may be just what the doctor ordered.

Here is another study in a long line of research that confirms ancient wisdom that there is an inverse relationship between food intake and longevity.

“People who skip meals once a month are 40 percent less likely to have clogged arteries as those who do not fast regularly, according to Utah researchers.

About 70 percent of Utah’s population are Mormons, who fast during the first Sunday of each month.

Religion, however, was not behind the benefits of fasting. Even non-Mormons who skipped food occasionally were less likely to have clogged arteries.

The study came about after researchers discovered that only 61 percent of Mormons had heart disease compared with 66 percent of non-Mormons. After surveying 515 people about Mormon’s typical religious practices, which included a weekly day of rest, not drinking alcohol or smoking, donating time and money to charity, avoiding tea and coffee, and monthly fasting, only fasting made a significant difference in heart risk.

Only 59 percent of those who skipped meals regularly were diagnosed with heart disease, compared with 67 percent of non-fasters.

The researchers suggested that periodic fasting forces your body to burn fat and also gives it a break from making insulin to metabolize sugar. Fasting may therefore help to resensitize insulin-producing cells and make them work better.

Garlic & Your Heart