FrankenWheat is here......

GMO wheat, or as I call it "FrankenWheat", is here, or I should say in the fields of America. Perhaps you have heard of this discovery, perhaps not. It has not made the mainstream media, and I doubt that it will. Hopefully I will be proven wrong in this case.

It seems that our old friends Monsanto have been experimenting with wheat since 1998. Now, this still unapproved, wheat has made its escape and has been found in the wheat fields of Oregon. Where else is it going to be found, hard to tell since it was planted in experimental crop areas of 15 or more states. What damage can it do? Again, hard to tell since it has never been studied. Maybe that is why the rest of the world is freaking out and banning shipments of U.S. grown wheat. The latest is South Korea which joined with Japan and is stopping imports of our wheat http://tinyurl.com/me8cwog.

Even our FDA, here is the 'official' response:

"WASHINGTON, May 29, 2013 –The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced today that test results of plant samples from an Oregon farm indicate the presence of genetically engineered (GE) glyphosate-resistant wheat plants. Further testing by USDA laboratories indicates the presence of the same GE glyphosate-resistant wheat variety that Monsanto was authorized to field test in 16 states from 1998 to 2005. APHIS launched a formal investigation after being notified by an Oregon State University scientist that initial tests of wheat samples from an Oregon farm indicated the possible presence of GE glyphosate-resistant wheat plants. There are no GE wheat varieties approved for sale or in commercial production in the United States or elsewhere at this time."

From my standpoint it looks like Jeannie is out of the bottle. Question is, what will it do to us? One thing we know for sure it involves and unknown, and unknowns can present with some very unusual and complicated problems. And don't expect your PC (Primary Care) physician to look very hard. Your insurance company has him or her hamstrung.

For these other countries to decline shipments of our wheat does not bode well. Besides the possible health issues that might come of this, the financial hit for our farmers has to be hard. and that is going to hurt us all here in the USA. 

What about the health issues? Good question. We now know that Monsanto has been experimenting with this unapproved crop since 1998 there is no telling how much it has invaded our wheat crops. One thing we do know is that G.I. problems have been on the rise in the recent past. How many people do you know that is not taking some med for G.I. problems? The actual number is astounding. In our practice we see in the neighborhood of 7 out of 10 that have G.I. complaints. These complaints may be secondary to other concerns, but they are plentiful.

One of the most common complaints we see is those thinking they are celiac, which is due to gluten handling problems. After testing we find that there are many who are actually celiac, but there are many more that are gluten sensitive. Being sensitive to gluten can be a very problematic with gas, bloating, indigestion, etc. All the more reason to avoid wheat and other grains at all costs, and yes corn is a grain, not a vegetable.

Many times simple dietary changes, like avoiding grains, can alleviate many of the G.I. issues. With this 'FrankenWheat' on the loose there is no way of knowing just how far the ramifications will go. This is the problem with GMO's in that we really don't know what damage they can do.  As far back as 2010 there was implications that gluten sensitivity and celiac were linked to psychosis and possibly even schizophrenia http://tinyurl.com/ku9h82a . No wonder these other countries don't want our wheat. We shouldn't eat it as well.


If you follow the links provided and perhaps Google it for further reading, I am sure you will just as concerned as I am.  In the mean time, stop all grains. You will be better for it in the long run!

Scandel lurking in Obama Care??????

Since the beginning days of the Affordable Care act, aka, Obama Care, we have been told by the administration and their media wizards that it would make health care more affordable and accessible. The reality is not so far.

A recent article from Fox news, http://tinyurl.com/nk7bbox , makes clear that there are some serious issues with the law. We were told by the then speaker of the house, Pelosi, that they had to pass the law so they could find out what was in it. I have yet to find anyone that thought that was a good idea, but obviously our congress and senate went along with the insanity. Now that we are reading it, it isn't reading well at all.

The article points to things like costs, which have gone up, not down. One of the more serious unintended consequences that we at Doctor's Nutrition have noticed is the reduction in what the insurance companies are willing to pay for. We have had many patients come in that have health insurance, and have had for many years, and recently they were told by the insurance company that they would no longer pay for routine testing that had been done in the past. As one lady said, 'that was a shock'.

Also we were told the costs for insurance would go down. Ask yourself this question; have my premiums gone up or down? Up? I thought so. Mine too. And from what we are being told by insurance agents, don't expect anything but upward movement in that area.

So, typical government double speak, and less than what we bargained for.

Berberine Max

Berberine may be something you are not familiar with, but you should be, and now you will be. Berberines have been used in Chinese and Ayruvedic medicine for thousands of years. In that part of the world they haven't forgotten that we were provided with all the natural medicines needed for good health. Unfortunately, here in the West, we have overlooked many great remedies due to our reliance on synthetic medicines.

These Berberines have been used to help with immune problems as well as microbial issues, bacterial and parasitic. Recent research has brought light to its relationship to cardiovascular support due to its ability to support normal homocysteine levels. This is very important now that we know that homocysteine can cause damage to the interior of our blood vessels. So maintaining normal levels can be life prolonging even.

Other recent research has shown that Berberines can help with the dreaded metabolic syndrome which includes insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes. Berberines were shown to increase the insulin receptors on our cells more sensitive so that the insulin can do a better job of getting the glucose into the cells for energy use. It has even been implicated in weight management due to these effects. They even seemed to help metformin, one of the drugs used for diabetes, work better.  Again more recent research shows that the Berberines can help lower cholesterol, specifically LDL, and that too can be very good for the heart.

As you can see Berberines are very promising in a lot or areas, and that is why we decided to formulate a new compound using Berberine as the back bone. Since it is so good for the heart and homocysteine levels, we added another great ingredient that can be super beneficial in this area, Quatrefolic®. This is a patented form of folic acid, or 5 Methylhydrofolate (5- MTHF). This happens to be the usable form of folic acid that our body needs to quench or reduce the homocysteine to a harmless compound.

Now that we  were compounding something special we decided to add a little R-Lipoic acid, a known super antioxidant. This goes well with the Berberines as they have a natural antioxidant activity all their own. R-Lipoic recycles other antioxidants, both water soluble and fat soluble. That is indeed something special. Recent research has focused on R-Lipoic's support of the LDL cholesterol. Other similar studies suggest it may facilitate HDL, the good cholesterol, synthesis in the liver. Another good thing for sure.

It is a know fact that much research has been done on the benefits of grape seed extract and its ability to provide antioxidant activity as well as protection of the lining of or blood vessels. But, we can take that one more step and increase the bioavailability by combining it with phosphatidylcholine. This makes the extract much more bioavalable. In this case we chose LeucoSelect® Phytosome™ as the best ingredient.

Now we have a great formula that can provide all the benefits of Berberines with added  ingredients to make it a super formula. Our philosophy is simple, if you are going to do it, do it right. And in this, case we have it right.

Here is the formula of our Berberine Max:

1 capsule:
Folate as Quatrafolic®  200 mcg
Berberine (as Berberine HCL) 500 mg
LeucoSelect® Phytosome™ Grape seed extract 50 mg
R-Lipoic acid   25 mg

Now we have another tool to help with metabolic syndrome, cardiovascularsupport, cholesterol support, homocysteine support and great antioxidant activity. As always, we are constantly
striving to bring the best formulas to you. So, stay tuned and we will share with you something new very soon!

Super-Oxy-Pro

Super-Oxy-Pro

We have had many requests for an all-around antioxidant formula. You spoke and we listened. Here is our new formula, Super-Oxy-Pro. It combines several antioxidants as well as some herbs for stress handling, and all in a convenient capsule formula.

One Capsule contains:

Milk Thistle seed extract.......300 mg (helps keep the liver humming along and provides antioxidants)

Bacopa monnieri Leaf extract.....175 mg ( helps the brain function better as well as handle stress and
  even helps hte thyroid work better)

Ashwaghanda Root extract....175 m,g ( an adaptogenic herb that has been used for over 4,000 years.
   Helps us adapt to stress as well as improve our immune function and memory )

Green Tea leaf extract.....100 mg ( great antioxidant, and even helps with energy at a cellular level )

Turmeric Root extract....100 mg ( great antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory. Promotes proper   detoxification )


Resveratrol.......10 mg ( Great antioxidant and helps in cardio {heart} protection. It can even help in proper fatty acid metabolism )

As you can tell here we have a great all around antioxidant and stress management formula. For more information on this or any of our formulas, give us a call so we can discuss your personal needs. 1-800-824-0194............we're waiting....

Trust in food supply?

Can we trust our food supply? Honestly, NO! That is unless you grow your own.

A recent warning from the Organic Consumers Association is a case in point. Santa Cruz Organic, which is owned by Smuckers, the jelly folks, was recently asked about their stance on GMO's. What they said is very interesting. "Due to the expanded use of biotechnology by farmers and the commingling of ingredients in storage and shipment, it is possible that some of our products may contain ingredients derived from biotechnology". Did I read that right? Their products may contain ingredients from GMO's? Wow!

So, as a consumer what are we supposed to do? The Internet, that dreaded Internet, has some very good resources for us. One is the above mentioned group, Organic Consumers Association, and another is The Environmental Working Group. A Google search will take you to these organizations that their sole purpose is to help us, the consumer, know more about what we consume. I highly recommend taking a tour of both.

On a more local approach I suggest looking for local farmers that are into organic farming. Ask questions of that farmer to make sure he or she truly understands your goals, less chemicals in your food. I was at a local garden show a few years ago and ran into a vendor selling "organic fertilizer". Upon questioning about the sources for the materials they were using I was astounded to find out the were using chicken liter, poop and wood shavings, from some of the large corporate chicken farmers. Upon further questioning the vendor realized where I was going in my questioning and quickly added that they were sure the chemicals used in the feeding process had biodegraded before they used. Really? Have you done the chemical analysis to prove that? The answer might surprise you, it was no. Ask questions. Then ask more.

If you have the available space, as in yard or acreage, starting to produce your own is a great opportunity. You are in control of what goes into your food production. It makes for a great hobby and very rewarding. The health benefits are one thing, but the improved taste of your veggies, etc. make it worth the effort.

The enduring question that you might have is; can I trust Big Agra? Probably not. The above excerpt about Santa Cruz is a good example. Most of the large corporate agribusinesses are more interested in the bottom line than your health. Small, mom and pop, businesses are best. They are usually very passionate about health and healthy production methods. Support them when possible.

Nothing can beat your personal involvement in living healthy and being healthy. And knowing what you are putting in your body is step one. Stay tuned and I will try to help you stay informed on ways to live healthy and be healthy.

You can listen to our radio show live on Saturday mornings at 104.9 FM from 9 am til 10 am. My promise is that you will learn something helpful and be informed.

Dr. Jim

Alpha Lipoic acid & Type 2 Diabetes

Alpha Lipoic acid & Type 2 Diabetes

 

Alpha Lipoic acid (ALA) has long been known to be effective as an antioxidant, and there has been some very interesting research with it pertaining to the type 2 diabetic patient. Much of the research has demonstrated the effectiveness of Lipoic acid's ability to protect the diabetic patient from the ravenges of high glucose levels. This is due to the fact that high levels of glucose produce high levels of oxidative stress which can damage tissues.

 

 

Alpha Lipoic acid is unique in that it can quench both fat soluble and water soluble oxidative ions. Most other antioxidants work on one or the other, but not both. Over the years we have recommended Lipoic acid for those who only want to take one antioxidant. Lipoic acid covers both fats or lipids as well as the water soluble O2 radicals.

 

 

In the latest study on Lipoic acid, as published in Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, patients were evaluated for glucose status and oxidative  markers. These included fasting glucose, Hgb A1c, and other markers. The patients were given randomly assigned doses of ALA ranging fro 300 mg/day to 1200 mg/day. The researchers observed beneficial results on glucose levels as well as oxidative stress levels in a dose dependant progression. Only slight side effects were observed in the higher doses.

 

 

So, if you are a type 2 diabetic or have been told you are insulin resistant, pre-diabetic state, you can benefit form taking ALA. One thing to note if you decide to take ALA, if you take it for a prolonged time you will want to also take biotin as the ALA will interfere with your ability to absorb and utilize biotin, which is a very necessary nutrient for the hair, skin and nails.

 

 

Something else to be aware of with Lipoic acid is the different forms. The most common form you will encounter is the alpha form. There is also the R or reduced form. Research has demonstrated that the R form is more beneficial for the neuropathies due to diabetes. Clinically we have seen some very good results with helping the neuopathies with the R Lipoic acid. The alpha form has been effective in the management of glucose and HgbA1c levels. 

Gut Microbes & Health

Gut microbes, or more commonly known as probiotics, are a very diverse group of microorganisms that reside in our intestines. It is estimated that between 10 to 14 trillion organisms reside there. Until recently it was mostly a realm of the alternative medicine world, and did not get any respect form mainstream medicine.

We in the alternative medicine camp have advocated strong support for the probiotic content for many years. Emerging science has proven that we were correct in our quest to keep the gut healthy via probiotics or friendly bacteria. Recently there has been much interest in the gut microbes and their link to our immune systems. Research shows that approximately 70% of our immune function resides in our gut via these remarkable creatures that coexist within us.

One of the emerging problems that our gut has in keeping a good quantity of these beneficial bacteria is the over use of antibiotics and the increasing use of antibiotics in the food supply. And, then there is the hygiene hypothesis. In the hygiene hypothesis researchers are led to believe that we are too clean. Lets explore both of these.

It is common knowledge that there is a problem with overuse of antibiotics and the growing number of resistant pathogenic bacteria. Americans, as well as other countries, are running to the doctor and demanding antibiotics at the first sign of even the common cold. Once the patient takes the antibiotic they fail to reestablish the beneficial bacteria in the gut. This leaves them more prone to further infections due to an improper functioning immune system. It is imperative to reestablish good or friendly bacteria back in the gut to have a properly immune function. Also, these good bacteria aid us in our digestive process as well. Without them there are many foods that we cannot properly digest, so we don't get the 'good' out of what we eat.

Next we have the overuse of antibiotics in the food supply. It is common practice to feed animals antibiotics to encourage faster growth and keep down infections due to overcrowding. This is why it is important to buy meats that are marked "grown without antibiotics". These antibiotics, even in trace amounts, can destroy our 'good' bacteria and adversely effect our immune system.

Now we come to the hygiene hypothesis. what is meant here is that we are to paranoid about cleanliness, use too many hand sanitizers, etc., and therefore do not get any beneficial microbes that we normally would. Now, for sure, we are not advocating not ever washing hands, etc. That would be folly that would not be beneficial. Lots of 'bad' or pathogenic organisms can be passed into our bodies without proper cleaning in the kitchen when preparing meats, etc. This is a normal pathway for beneficial bacteria to enter our bodies, via foods that we eat.

As I stated there is increased activity in this area and much research is emerging that point to the many benefits of proper microbes content in our guts. This is why alternative practitioners have advocated taking a probiotic formula, one with diverse content, to maintain proper immune function and overall health for many years. Now it is coming to the mainstream and hopefully more will take advantage of this new knowledge and increase their health one step at a time.