Category: Integrative Healthcare

Cardiovascular disease kills almost one million Americans each year. This number accounts for 41 percent of all deaths in the United States. In fact, cardiovascular disease claims more lives than the next eight leading causes of death combined, including cancer, accidents, and AIDS. And, despite an aggressive campaign launched by the American Heart Association to counter the epidemic of heart disease, one person dies every 33 seconds. For nearly four decades, we have relied on medical myths to guide us in our attempts to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. We have been told to reduce our cholesterol, saturated-fat intake, and to take lipid-lowering medications. Unfortunately, these recommendations have been shown to actually increase the risk of premature death, strokes, heart attacks, depression, suicide, senile dementia, and congestive heart failure.

Medical Myth Number One

Most health organizations and the public at large are sold on the idea that high cholesterol is the main cause of arteriosclerosis and heart disease.

However, a growing body of research is dispelling this medical myth. The prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, reported in 1994 that most individuals with coronary artery disease have normal cholesterol levels! Forty percent of all heart attacks occur in individuals with normal cholesterol levels. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that there is no evidence linking high cholesterol levels in women with heart disease. In fact, low cholesterol levels, especially after the age of forty-seven, increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, depression, and early death. As reported in The Journal of Cardiology, “low cholesterol increases the risk of a heart attack.”

To cite the medical experts from the famous Framingham study: For each 1 mg/dl drop of cholesterol there was an 11 percent increase in coronary and total mortality (death from all sources).

Your body needs cholesterol. Cholesterol makes up eight percent of brain-matter. It is essential for proper brain function. The importance of cholesterol is far reaching. Cholesterol is the precursor to vitamin D and other hormones that are needed for sustaining a healthy life. Cholesterol is one of the key substances at nerve synapses needed to transmit information. Cholesterol helps regulate brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Low cholesterol can cause depression, fatigue and neurological disorders (nerve pain, tingling and numbness).

Individuals with low cholesterol are three times more likely to suffer from depression as normal adults.

Medical Myth Number Two

Cholesterol lowering drugs are a safe and effective way to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Over the last twenty years, the pharmaceutical companies have promoted cholesterol-lowering statin drugs with such fervor that they’ve become household names: Lipitor, Crestor, Vytorin, Zocor, and others. Sixteen million Americans take Lipitor, the most popular statin drug. Statin sales in the U.S. alone are over 12.5 billion dollars a year.

No doubt, the statins lower cholesterol levels and perhaps do lower the risk of dying from a heart attack, at least in patients who already have had one; but the size of the effect is unimpressive. In one of the experiments, for instance, the CARE trial, the odds of escaping death from a heart attack for a patient with manifest heart disease was 94.3%, which improved to 95.4% with statin treatment. This is a difference of 1.1 percent—surely not worth all the hype these medications have received, especially since the potential side effects from these drugs may include congestive heart failure.

The acknowledged side effects of statins include muscle pain and weakness, nerve damage, and a potentially fatal muscle-wasting disorder called rhabdomyolysis. One statin, Baycol, has been withdrawn because it was linked to thrity-one deaths from rhabdomyolysis. Interference with production of CoQ10 by statin drugs is the most likely explanation. The heart is a muscle and it cannot work when deprived of the essential nutrient CoQ10. A deficiency of CoQ10 can lead to nerve damage and congestive heart failure.

While heart attacks have slightly declined, CHF (congestive heart failure) has more than doubled since Lipitor and other statins were first prescribed in 1987.

Taking statins for one year raised the risk of nerve damage by about 15 percent. Researchers studying CoQ10 have estimated that as little as a 25 percent reduction in bodily CoQ10 will trigger various disease processes, including high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, cancer, immune dysfunction, and fatigue.

Medical Myth Number Three

The drugs used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, and congestive heart failure are safe and effective.

Nothing could be further from the truth. These drugs are dangerous. Calcium channel-blocking drugs (Cardizem, Procardia, Calan, Norvasc, and others) increase the risk of having a heart attack by five-fold.

Beta-blocking drugs (Atenolol, Inderal, Toprol, Tenormin, and others) may cause congestive heart failure, heart block, depression, type II diabetes, tingling in the hands and feet, fatigue, and many other unwanted side effects.

Diuretics increase the risk of developing type II diabetes by 50 percent.

Medical Myth Number Four

Heart surgery, including coronary bypass and angioplasty, are safe, effective, and proven procedures.

In fact, neither surgery has been subjected to double blind placebo controlled trials. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has estimated that 90 percent of Americans who undergo bypass surgery receive no benefits. A Swedish study revealed that 12 percent of those undergoing bypass suffered obvious brain damage, including strokes. Other studies have shown that the majority of patients are more likely to die from the surgery, up to 10 percent, than a heart attack. Studies also show that patients who elected not to have the surgery actually lived longer than those who did have surgery.

Medical Myth Number Five

The test to determine if someone needs heart surgery, known as an angiogram, is a safe and accurate diagnostic procedure.

Over one million angiograms are performed each year, costing over $10 billion. These tests use a long catheter with a tiny camera for the purpose of observing arterial blockages. A study that measured the blood flow in 44 blocked arteries, as demonstrated by angiogram, found that heart arteries with up to 96 percent blockage had the swiftest blood flow, while arteries with only a 40 percent blockage had a reduced flow. The authors concluded the angiogram is an unreliable diagnostic tool and should be considered worthless.

Medical Myth Number Six

Traditional medicine continues to promote these five medical myths while perpetuating the greatest myth ever; nutritional supplements are unregulated, aren’t proven, and are dangerous.

This is probably the most unscrupulous myth of all. The medical journals are overflowing with studies (over 1,000 of them) that demonstrate the effectiveness of various nutritional supplements for treating high blood pressure, alone. The Federal Drug Association fought for 20 years and spent millions of dollars to prevent the following statement from being used on bottles of fish oil supplements: “Consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.”

Fortunately, truth and justice prevailed. A recent American Heart Association’s study showed that individuals who took 1,000mg of fish oil a day had a 41 percent reduction in heart disease and sudden death. CoQ10 supplements have been proven to be more effective in reversing congestive heart failure than traditional drugs. Normally, class IV or terminally ill congestive heart patients live only a matter of days. The majority of those receiving CoQ10 survived two years or more.

A number of studies have shown that vitamins help prevent heart attacks and strokes. Vitamin E has been shown to cut subsequent heart attacks by 77 percent. In fact, taking vitamin E reduced the chances of death from all causes by 42 percent. B-vitamins have been shown to decrease the amount of plaque in the carotid (neck) arteries by 10 percent.

Traditional medicine and its political organizations, including the American Heart Association, have failed to stop the rising epidemic of heart disease. Given heart disease’s epidemic proportions and that most of the traditional therapies commonly used to treat it may actually cause more deaths than the illness itself, it’s time to put these dangerous myths to rest.

What can you do to reduce your risk of developing heart disease?

Well, first of all, please quit being stressed out about fats and cholesterol. Stress will kill you, literally. Eat all the free-range eggs, meat and butter your heart desires. Increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables. Avoid hydrogenated oils and excess sugar. Supplement your diet with a good multivitamin and, at least, 1,000mg of fish oil each day. Above all, avoid falling prey to the medical myths of heart disease.

Dr. Rodger Murphree, D.C. has been in private practice since 1990. He is the founder and past clinic director for a large integrated medical practice located on the campus of Brookwood Hospital in Birmingham Alabama. He is the author of Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Heart Disease What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You and Treating and Beating Anxiety and Depression with Orthomolecular Medicine.

He can be reached toll free at 1-888-884-9577 or at 205-879-2383 His website is at www.Treatingandbeating.com.

References
1. Cardiovascular disease: Comparisons. American Heart Association. Statistics fact sheet, 1997.
2. Murphree, Rodger H. Heart Disease What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You. Harrison and Hampton Publishing Inc 2005.
3. The Lancet 1994, 344:1182-86.
4. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1995:274(14): 1152-58.
5. Krumholz HM. Lack of association between cholesterol and coronary heart disease mortality and morbidity and all-cause mortality in persons older than 70 years. Journal of the Amer Med Assoc 272, 1335-13340, 1990.
6. Jacobs D. Report of the Conference on Low Blood Cholesterol: Mortality associations. Cir 86, 1046-1060, 1992.
7. Sacks FM, Pfeiffer MA, Moyle LA, Rouleau JL, Rutherford JD. The effect of pravastatin on coronary cholesterol levels. N Engl J Med 1996; 335:1001-9.
8. Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD, The Cholesterol Myths. New Trends Publishing, Washington D.C. 2000.
9. Smith DJ, Southern Medical Journal 96(12):1265-1267, Dec.2003.
10.Gaist D, Neurology 2002 May 14; 58(9): 1321-2.
Complete references are listed online.
Visit www.theamericanchiropractor.com
11. Furberg CD, Patsy BM, Meyer JV, Nifedipine dose-related increase in mortality in patients with coronary heart disease. Cir 1995:1326-31.
12.People’s Pharmacy, 1997 AND 1998.
13.Monthly Prescribing Guide Nov 2004.
14.Peter. Sawick, correspondence, British Medical Journal, 1994:308:855.
15.New England Journal of Medicine, 1992:326:10-16.
16.Torkel A, Scandinavia Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Supplement 15, 1974.
17.Harold and Arlene Breecher. Forty Something Forever. Health Savers Press 2000;pg6.
18.Hueb W. Two to eight year survival rates in patients who refused coronary bypass grafting. Am J Cardiol 1989; 63:155-159.
19.White CW, Wright CB, Doty DB. Does visual interpretation of coronary angiogram predict the physiologic importance of a coronary stenosis? New Eng J Med 1984; 310:819-824.
20.Judy WV, Hall JH, Dugan W, Folkers K. Coenzyme CoQ10 Reduction of Adrianmycin Cardiotoxicity. Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of Coenzyme Q10, Vol.4, pp.231-241, Elsevier Science Publ B.V., 1984.
21. Bellizzi MC, etal. Vitamin E and coronary heart disease: the European paradox. Eur J Clin Nutr 1994; 48:822-831.

Adequate Blood Flow
The most important thing the brain needs is an excellent supply of oxygen, and this only comes from adequate blood flow, since your blood cells carry oxygen to your brain and the rest of your organs. Your brain’s energy, as well as the energy in the rest of your body, is made by energy powerhouses found in each cell, called the mitochondria. Oxygen enables mitochondria in your brain cells to pump out an energy chemical known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Without adequate levels of ATP, your brain has an energy drain and its function decreases.  

As you age, the mitochondria become less efficient at pumping out ATP, and a primary reason that this happens is because of decreased blood flow to the brain. Although the brain represents only about 2 percent of your total body mass, it accounts for more than 25 percent of the blood flow. Without adequate blood flow, your brain is deprived of oxygen and, thus, is unable to manufacture enough ATP to operate at peak efficiency. Below a critical level of ATP production, brain cells can begin to die.  A stroke is an extreme example of this: Blood flow and oxygen are restricted to a portion of the brain, and brain cells in that region die off.

The best way to increase blood flow to the brain (and every other organ for that matter) is to generate more “good” eicosanoids (which are powerful vasodilators that widen the opening of arteries, veins and capillaries) and fewer “bad” eicosanoids (which are powerful vasoconstrictors that have the opposite effect).   The long-chain Omega-3 fatty acid EPA contained in fish oil will increase the production of those “good” eicosanoids by decreasing the levels of arachidonic acid (the building block of “bad” eicosanoids). The higher levels of EPA in the diet, the more your cells will be induced to make more “good” eicosanoids.  

Stable Blood Sugar
Even if you have adequate oxygen flow to the brain, you still need a stable supply of glucose, since the brain also needs this fuel to make ATP.  The only way to maintain a steady supply of glucose to the brain is by controlling insulin levels. Having a spike in your insulin levels (which comes from eating too many carbohydrates) can drive glucose levels down so low that your brain function is compromised. That’s why you feel so sleepy two hours after eating a huge pasta meal. Your thinking becomes fuzzy, you have difficulty concentrating and all you want to do is take a nap.

At this point, your brain, deprived of adequate levels of blood sugar to make ATP, is desperately seeking any way possible to get more blood sugar.  As a result, you are driven by an almost manic urge to eat carbohydrates.  That’s your brain’s way of telling you that you have to get some glucose into the blood stream quickly or else.  The more carbohydrate rich that food is, the faster the carbohydrates can reach the bloodstream and make it to your brain. The candy bars, soft drinks, or other types of junk food are just a quick way to self-medicate the low blood sugar induced by elevated insulin levels from your last meal. These carbohydrate fixes temporarily solve the low blood  sugar problem but now create a new cycle of increased insulin levels, and you soon find yourself with one carbohydrate-craving bout after another. To keep yourself off this vicious cycle, you need to prevent your brain from sending out this distress call in the first place. The way to do that is to keep your brain supplied with steady amounts of glucose by keeping insulin levels within a defined zone that is neither too high nor too low.  

The only way to stabilize blood sugar levels is by maintaining a relatively constant protein-to-carbohydrate balance every time you eat.  You need some insulin to drive glucose into your cells for storage, but too much insulin lowers blood sugar to such low levels that brain function is impaired. By stabilizing insulin in the blood, you won’t have a dizzyingly drop in blood sugar.  You also get an added benefit: Steady insulin will enable your body to maintain a steady level of the hormone glucagon, which releases stored blood sugar from the liver, allowing a constant supply of blood sugar for the brain. Carbohydrates stimulate the release of insulin, and protein stimulates the release of glucagon, which is why I always recommend eating a balance of these two nutrients at every meal and snack.  

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
The final thing the brain loves is an adequate level of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).  This is one of the two long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil (EPA is the other).  More than 60 percent of the weight of the brain is composed of fat, and most of the long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids in the body are concentrated in the brain.

Virtually all of this long-chain Omega-3 fat, however, is in the form of DHA, since the brain contains very little EPA.  One reason why the brain demands such high levels of DHA is that the critical cell membranes in the brain are very rich in this long-chain Omega-3 fatty acid.  These critical membranes include the synapse (to transfer information), the retina (to receive visual inputs), and the mitochondria (to make ATP). Thus, the key brain cells can’t perform at peak levels without adequate DHA in their membranes.

Without adequate amounts of DHA, your brain can’t function adequately and certainly can’t form new neural connections, let alone maintain old ones. Trying to maintain your brain function without adequate DHA is like trying to build the sturdiest brick house in town without bricks. You might have the best architect, the best location, and the best contractor but, if you don’t have enough bricks, the dream house will never be built properly.  DHA can be considered the building brick for the brain.  You better have enough if you want to maintain brain function, let alone improve it.   

 Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil (EPA is the other).  More than 60 percent of the weight of the brain is composed of fat, and most of the long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids in the body are concentrated in the brain.

Virtually all of this long-chain Omega-3 fat, however, is in the form of DHA, since the brain contains very little EPA.  One reason why the brain demands such high levels of DHA is that the critical cell membranes in the brain are very rich in this long-chain Omega-3 fatty acid.  These critical membranes include the synapse (to transfer information), the retina (to receive visual inputs), and the mitochondria (to make ATP). Thus, the key brain cells can’t perform at peak levels without adequate DHA in their membranes.

Without adequate amounts of DHA, your brain can’t function adequately and certainly can’t form new neural connections, let alone maintain old ones. Trying to maintain your brain function without adequate DHA is like trying to build the sturdiest brick house in town without bricks. You might have the best architect, the best location, and the best contractor but, if you don’t have enough bricks, the dream house will never be built properly.  DHA can be considered the building brick for the brain.  You better have enough if you want to maintain brain function, let alone improve it.  
 

Dr. Barry Sears, leading authority on the dietary control of hormonal response, author of the New York Times #1 best seller, The Zone, is a former research scientist at the Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For more information about The Zone program call 1-800-404-8171 or visit www.drsearszonefast.com.

 

Phytonutrient, within the context of natural health and nutrition, has come to refer to certain bioactive plant chemicals that humans eat and have, or may well have, significant positive effects on human metabolism.

Most phytonutrients are not essential for life, but more and more they appear to be essential for optimal health and longevity! They, therefore, may properly be classified as micronutrients, along with vitamins and minerals. The technical classification of the major groups of phytonutrients found in our diets includes terpenes, amines, organosulfurs, phenols, polysaccharides, and organic acids.

One food can contain several classifications of phytonutrients. For example, an orange contains terpenes (carotenoids and limonoids) and phenols (bioflavonoids). In this introductory article, we will briefly examine the major groups and sub-groups of phytonutrients and how they may contribute to optimal biological function.

The Terpenes-Carotenoids, Limonoids, Saponins and Chromonals: Powerful Antioxidants for Cancer Prevention, Optimizing Cardio-Vascular Dynamics, Protecting Vision

Terpenes are any of various unsaturated hydrocarbons, C10H16, found in essential oils and resins of plants.

Carotenoids, a fat-soluble group of naturally occurring plant pigments of the yellow, orange, red spectrum, are perhaps the most familiar of phytonutrients. Carotenoids function as powerful antioxidants and immuno-potentiaters. Carotenoids are considered potent membrane antioxidants due to their reactivity with singlet oxygen. Diets rich in carotenoids are linked with a decreased risk of heart disease, cancer, and degenerative eye diseases, such as macular degeneration and cataracts.1

Alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and cryptoxanthin, as found in carrots, oranges, sweet potatoes and squash, are the main vitamin A precursors. Leafy green vegetables contain mostly lutein and zeaxanthin. Lycopene is most abundant in tomatoes, with smaller amounts in pink grapefruit, watermelon, guava, and rose hips. Astaxanthin, found mostly in red yeasts and red algae, is now fed to salmon, trout, crabs, krill and shrimp in “fish farms.”

Of note, some carotenoid-rich foods, like carrots and tomatoes, yield more beta-carotene and lycopene, respectively, when cooked. Lutein and lycopene require fat for optimal uptake of carotenoids, whereas dietary fiber inhibits absorption of lutein, lycopene, and beta-carotene by 40 percent to 75 percent.2,3

Limonoids are found in yellow/orange citrus fruit peels. Limonoids may be chemo-preventive agents, especially directed toward protection of the lungs.4,5,6 Eight ounces of orange juice usually contains approximately 19 mg of d-limonene.

Saponins are found abundantly in many beans, alfalfa, aloe and quinoa (keen-wah) seed. Saponin-containing plants tend to have a soapy texture, and are often called “natural detergents,” due to the foam that develops when heated, as when heating beans. Saponins form a complex with cholesterol, which is then excreted from the body. Saponins also inhibit the multiplication of cancer cells by interfering with their DNA.7

The most familiar chromanols are the vitamin E complex tocotrienols and the tocopherols. These two naturally occur in palm oils and whole grain germ and/or bran, yet research has shown that the biologic functions of tocopherols and tocotrienols are unrelated. Tocotrienols appear to inhibit breast cancer cell growth, whereas tocopherols have been most studied for their cardiovascular health effects.8

The Phenol Group: Flavonoids, Anthocyanidins, Catechins, and Lignans
Anti-inflammatory, Anti-clotting, Antioxidant, Immune Enhancers and Hormone Modulators

Phenols are a class of chemical compounds consisting of a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to an aromatic hydrocarbon group. The simplest of the class is phenol (C6H5OH). It creates the blue, blue-red and violet colorations seen in berries, grapes and purple eggplant. Phenols protect plants and humans from oxidative damage. They block specific enzymes that cause inflammation and allergies, modify the prostaglandin pathways and, thereby, protect platelets from clumping.9 They help the liver detoxify and inhibit specific enzymes, such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) that raises blood pressure.10

Although they were once lumped together as vitamin P, science has now discovered well over 1,500 phenol flavonoids! They are perhaps best known for their ability to enhance the effects of ascorbic acid. Along with vitamin C, flavonoids are well known for their ability to protect the vascular system by strengthening, maintaining and repairing capillaries.11 Flavonoids, including the isoflavones, may reduce the risk of cancer, either by enhanced detoxication or, as in the case of isoflavones, by occupying estrogen receptor sites.12

Anthocyanidins are phenols that provide cross-links that connect and strengthen intertwined strands of collagen protein. Collagen protein is the most abundant protein in the body, as it makes up a large proportion of muscle sheaths, skin, tendon, ligament, and bone matrix. Its blue pigment, as in blueberries, helps protect the retina from macular degeneration.13 Anthocyanidins are also powerful water-soluble antioxidants.

Larger doses are often useful in conditions wherein there is a profuse free radical cascade, such as trauma, inflammation, allergic reactions, and heavy exercise.

Catechins are the polyphenolic compounds that provide the antioxidant activity of black, green and white tea. The most common catechins are gallic esters. The most potent is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Protective benefits are thought to include promotion of apoptosis of cancer cells in prostate, stomach, skin, lung, breast and colorectal tissues.14

Lignans are found in seeds and grains, especially flaxseed. The lignan found in flaxseed is called secoisolariciresinol glucoside (SDG). Lignans are weak phytoestrogens that also have antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and immune enhancing properties.15

Lignans are not to be confused with lignins, which are non-carbohydrate dietary fibers that, along with polysaccharides, occur in the cell walls of plants.

Polysaccharides Fiber, Glyco-Nutrients and Phytosterols: Modulate Cholesterol Absorption, Alimentary Transit Time, Glycemic Response, Hormone Metabolism, Immune Function, and Inflammatory Physiology

Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates, made up of chains of multiple sugar molecules. Examples of polysaccharides include cellulose, starch, and dextrin. Both soluble and insoluble fibers are made from polysaccharides. The former absorb cholesterol and lower glycemic response, while the later promote bowel movements. The immune enhancing effects of ginseng, aloe vera or beta glucan from oats or mushrooms come, in a large part, from sugar-protein-receptor complexes on their cell walls, now called glyco-nutrients.

Phytosterols are polysaccharide-lipid complexes known particularly for their cholesterol lowering abilities.

Nuts and seeds are the richest source of phytosterols in the Western diet. Phytosterols are poorly absorbed. They lower cholesterol by interfering with its absorption in the small intestine. Just three grams of phytosterols daily shows significant lipid lowering effects.16 Phytosterols can also mimic hormone precursors or modulate hormones. For example, Swedish tree pollen, pumpkin seeds, pygeum, and saw palmetto are all used in cases of benign hyper-trophic prostate disease (BHP) and prostatitis. These phytosterols inhibit the conversion of testosterone to dehydroxytestoterone (DHT).17

The Organosulfur Group: Indoles, Isothiocyanates, and Thiosulfonates
Detoxifiers, Cardiovascular Risk Reducers, and Non-Specific Immunity Supporters

Organosulfurs are organic compounds containing sulfur (-SH). As phytonutrients, they provide sulfur vital for Phase II enzyme activities. Specifically, organosulfurs provide glucosinolates which are converted into several bio-transformation products in the human body, particularly indole-3-carbinol, isothiocyanates, and thiosulfonates.

The indoles and isothiocyanates are most especially found in the cruciferae family of brassica and mustard plants. These include horseradish, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, arugula, bok choy, cauliflower, mustard seeds and greens, watercress, turnip greens, daikon, wasabi, and kohlrabi. These help the liver break down toxins and potential carcinogens, especially toxic estrogen metabolites.

The thiosulfonates are predominant in the allium family, where garlic, onion, leek, asparagus, shallots, chive and scallion are representative.18 Though the thiosulfonates are also able to assist Phase II detoxication and, thereby, enhance protection against carcinogenesis, they are perhaps better known for their ability to promote a more favorable HDL-LDL ratio, lower blood pressure and stimulate non-specific immunity.

Organic Acids: Antioxidant Cancer Preventives, Liver Protectors, and Inflammatory Mediators

An organic acid is an organic compound that is an acid. Perhaps the most common example is the carboxylic acids, whose acidity derives from a carboxyl group-COOH. Phytochemicals in this group are commonly found in grains, herbs, teas, a few vegetables and some fruits.13 They include oxalic acid found in spinach, rhubarb, tea and coffee; tartaric acid in apricots and apples; cinnamic acid in aloe and cinnamon; caffeic acid in burdock and hawthorn; ferulic acid in oats and rice; gallic acid in tea; coumaric acid in turmeric; salicylic acid in spearmint; and tannic acid in nettles, tea, and berries. They are powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and support liver detoxication.19

Perhaps of most current interest is ellagic acid, which is found in guava, currants, apples, grapes, strawberries and, most particularly, in red raspberries and wild chart cherries. According to the Hollings Cancer Institute at the University of South Carolina, ellagic acid is a proven anti-carcinogen, anti-mutagen, and anti-cancer initiator!20

The Amines: Carcinogen Deactivators and Enzymatic Therapy

Amines are organic compounds that contain nitrogen (-NH) as the key atom of the functional group. The amines include both chlorophyll (as in chlorella, spirulina, hydrilla, and the leafy greens and grasses) and plant enzymes (as in papain and bromelain). Chlorophyll is well known to detoxify carcinogens found in cooked muscle meats (heterocyclic amines), smoked or barbecued foods (polycyclic hydrocarbons), and peanut mold (aflatoxin).21 Chlorophyll has also been recognized for its anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and antioxidant properties.22,23

Chlorophyll has been cited as strengthening the immune response, therapeutic for inflammation of the ear and the mucous membrane of the nose and sinuses, supportive of normal kidney function, accelerating wound and ulcer healing, and reducing fecal, urinary, and body odor in geriatric patients.24,25

Plant enzymes are well accepted as useful in assisting digestion, having the advantage of being active in a wide PH range.26 Taken in between meals, they assist in injury resolution by increasing the blood enzymes available to digest proteins related to fibrolytic and inflammatory process and immune responses.27

In Conclusion

We have made a very cursory review of the major phytonutrient compounds, namely the terpenes, polysaccharides, phenols, organosulfurs, organic acids, and amines. These can be grouped into families based on their chemical structures. Phytonutrients have many salubrious physiological effects. These effects are likely a major factor in the well-documented reduction in the incidence of the common diseases of aging in those who consume a largely plant-based diet, abundant in fruits, vegetables and greens, as the United States Department of Agriculture recommends.28

John H. Maher, D.C., oversees physician and consumer education for BioPharma Scientific, creators of NanoGreens10. Dr Maher maintained an active chiropractic practice for 25 years. He has taught nutrition to health professionals nationally for the past 15 years. Dr. Maher is past post-graduate faculty of NYCC Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, a Diplomate of the College of Clinical Nutrition, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Integrative Medicine. To learn more visit www.nanogreens10.com

References
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3.Roodberg AJ, et al. Amount of fat in the diet affects lutein esters but not of alpha carotene, beta carotene, and vitamin E in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 2000 May; 71(5):1187-93
4.Wattenberg LW, Coccia JB., Inhibition of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone carcinogenesis in mice by D-limonene and citrus fruit oils. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.Carcinogenesis. 1991 Jan;12(1):115-7.
5.Nair, P., et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 40 (4 Suppl): 927-30, Oct. 1984
6.Vigushin DM, Poon GK, Boddy A., et al., Phase 1 and pharmanokenetic study of d’limonene in patients with advanced cancer, Cancer Chemother Pharmacol, 1998; 42: 111-117
7.http://www.molbio.princeton.edu/courses/mb427/1999/projects/9918/phyto.htm
8.Hayes, K.C., et al. Exp Biol Med, 202: 353-359, March 1993
9.Hertog, M.G., et al. Lancet, 342: 1007-11, Oct. 23, 1993.
10.Murray, R.K., et al. Harper’s Biochemistry, 23 ed.: 196. New York; Appleton & Lange, 1994
11.Kinsella, J.E., et al. Food Technology, 47: 85-90, April 1993
12.Northrup, C. Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom: 305. New York; Bantam Books, 1994.
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14.Huber, L.G., ND, Green Tea Catechins and L-Theonine in Integrative Cancer Care, Focus, May 2003, p. 4
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17.Buck AC, Phytotherapy for the prostate. Br. J Urol. 1996:78:325-6
18.Teyssier C, Amiot MJ, Mondy N, Auger J, Kahane R, Siess MH., Effect of onion consumption by rats on hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes, Food Chem Toxicol. 2001 Oct;39(10):981-7.
19.Craig W. Phytochemicals: guardians of our health. J Am Dietetic Assoc 1997;97(Suppl 2):S199-204
20.http://www.ellagic-research.org/ http://www.ellagic-research.org/clinical_studies.htm
21.Ziegler, Jan. It’s not easy being green: chlorophyll being tested. J Natl Cancer Inst 1995 Jan 4;87(1):11
22.Harttig U, et al. Chemoprotection by natural chlorophylls in vivo: inhibition of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-DNA adducts in rainbow trout liver. Carcinogenesis 1998 Jul;19(7):1323-6.
23.Gentile JM, et al. The metabolic activation of 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine by chlorophyll-containing plant extracts: the relationship between mutagenicity and antimutagenicity. Mutat Res 1991 Sep-Oct;250(1-2):79-86.
24.Duke, J.A. Handbook of phytochemical constituents of GRAS herbs and other economic plants. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Inc. 1992. p 28.
25.Ibid. 21
26.http://www.enzymestuff.com/digestion.htm
27.http://library.advanced.org/24206/enzyme-therapy.html
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/chapter5.htm

Despite what unduly positive individuals might believe, there is no wellness revolution….  We are currently aging and developing age-related diseases at a rapid pace. Leading killers remain heart disease and cancer, and we now live in a nation where the average adult and adolescent is either overweight or obese. Where is the wellness revolution in this picture?

Not surprisingly, the lifestyle factors that are known to be anti-aging, are also those that promote wellness and prevent the development of degenerative diseases. Nicklas, et al., explain that obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, low fruit/vegetable intake, and low omega-3 fatty acid intake leads to the development of a pro-inflammatory state, which promotes heart disease, osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes mellitus, and age-related disability.1  The opposite is also thought to be true. That is, eating fewer calories, eating anti-inflammatory foods (fruits, vegetables, omega-3 meat, fish, eggs), and regularly exercising is thought to slow aging and promote wellness.

Let’s assume we are old rats for a moment, and consider some basic science research on the subject.

“In old rats (vs. young rats), mitochondrial membrane potential, cardiolipin level, respiratory control ratio, and cellular O2 uptake are lower; oxidants/O2, neuron RNA oxidation, and mutagenic aldehydes from lipid peroxidation are higher. Ambulatory activity and cognition decline with age. Feeding old rats acetyl-L-carnitine plus alpha-lipoic acid for a few weeks restores mitochondrial function, lowers oxidants, neuron RNA oxidation, and mutagenic aldehydes, and increases rat ambulatory activity and cognition.” 2

This research by Ames, et al., suggests that old rats and, presumably, this means humans and other animals, produce less cellular energy and more free radicals, which leads to reduced mobility and cognition. Ames and his colleagues have pioneered anti-aging research with acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) and alpha-lipoic acid (LA), which have been used to improve ATP production and reduce free radicals.2

They estimate that humans should take 200 mg of LA and 500 mg of ALCAR twice per day. See their website for details (www.juvenon.com). Ames also urges us to get adequate omega-3 fatty acids and he is quite adamant about our taking multivitamins,3 as certain minerals and B-vitamins help to reduce mitochondrial aging.2

Reduced ATP, excessive free radicals, and pro-inflammatory cytokines and eicosanoids have all been associated with the development of age-related diseases, which is the opposite of wellness. A recent review article states that “emerging pathological evidence indicates that major chronic aging-related diseases, such as atherosclerosis, arthritis, dementia, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases, are inflammation-related.” Clearly, the enemy of aging and wellness is inflammation.

We have known for many years now that there was a relationship between inflammation, age-related disease promotion, and the associated deterioration of wellness.5 It is impossible to keep up with the explosion of research in this area. Despite the massiveness of the literature, a very obvious trend is noticeable; we need to stay focused on maintaining an appropriate body weight by eating anti-inflammatory foods and taking some basic supplements: a multivitamin/mineral, magnesium, fish oil, coenzyme Q10, ginger/turmeric, and, perhaps, vitamin D. Additional supplements such as lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine may be a wise choice. Making it more complicated than this seems to be unnecessary.

Being open to new ideas is always good. However, having a mind that is too open can be detrimental, as well. I was once told by Dr. Len Faye of Motion Palpation fame that “having an open mind is good, but not so open that our brains fall out.”

When it comes to nutrition, there always seems to be a new supplement on the market that will cure everything. We should guard our minds regarding such claims, as they are likely to be untrue. The basic diet and supplement ideas discussed in this article have stood the test of time, and continue to do well in new research trials. Accordingly, sticking to, and being highly motivated about the fundamentals of appropriate nutrition is good practice, and can help keep your patients focused on the pursuit of wellness, which is a reasonable goal.

Dr. Seaman is the Clinical Chiropractic Consultant for Anabolic Laboratories, one of the first supplement manufacturers to service the chiropractic profession. He is on the postgraduate faculties of several chiropractic colleges, providing nutrition seminars that focus on the needs of the chiropractic patient. He is also a faculty member at Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida, where he teaches nutrition and subluxation theories. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

     For the past ten years, I’ve specialized in using nutritional therapies to treat the “medical misfits.” These are the patients who have been to numerous doctors, tried dozens of drugs, even alternative therapies, and still don’t feel well. These patients can be rather complicated, but very rewarding. The majority of my patients are taking inappropriate medications that cause nutritional deficiencies, numerous side effects and poor health.

     The public assumes that, since the Food and Drug Administration scrutinizes prescription drugs, they must be safe. This isn’t necessarily true. Three million Americans are admitted to hospitals each year due to adverse drug reactions. Over a lifetime, the average American has a 26 percent chance of being hospitalized from drug injury. Over 113,000 Americans die each year from the negative effects of prescription drugs. Only cancer, heart disease, and accidents claim more lives each year.

      Americans now spend over 200 billion dollars a year on prescription drugs, and this spending continues to increase by an average of 12 percent a year. We now take an average of 10.4 prescriptions per person per year. And, with drug companies spending over 200 billion dollars a year to promote their wares, this number is likely to increase. Drug therapy may be causing your patients to become “medical misfits.”

      A case in point involves sleep drugs, especially the inappropriate use of benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, etc.). Each year, Americans consume over 5 billion sleeping pills. Sadly, over 15,000 people die each year from these same pills. Benzodiazepines or tranquilizers are often used to treat anxiety, sleep disorders, and muscle tension. Benzodiazepines belong to a group of drugs called central nervous system (CNS) depressants. These drugs are associated with numerous side effects, including confusion, fatigue, insomnia, tremors, tinnitus, depression, memory loss, and tics. Addiction may occur within two weeks of beginning the medication.

     Unlike other sleep drugs, benzodiazepines don’t promote deep restorative sleep. They, along with other drugs, including NSAID’s, beta-blockers (Toprol, Tenormin, Inderal, etc.), Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s, such as Paxil, Prozac, Lexapro, etc.), and calcium channel blockers (Cardizem, Procardia, Verapamil, etc.) actually decrease the natural sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin.

     Benzodiazepines produce their effects by modulating gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA receptors. To counter anxiety, I recommend my patients take the amino acid L-theanine, which increases GABA levels. L-theanine boosts the brain waves associated with meditation. It can be very calming and doesn’t have the side effects associated with benzodiazepines.

     The sleeping drugs, Ambien and Lunesta, promote deep sleep and are often used by those with fibromyalgia. However, the common side effects associated with these drugs are similar to the symptoms of fibromyalgia, including fatigue, achy muscles, headache, poor sleep, memory loss (fibro fog), and anxiety. For those with fibromyalgia, restoring deep restorative sleep is the most important step in helping them feel better. Studies show that individuals with fibromyalgia are deficient in the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin helps reduce pain, brain fog, irritable bowel symptoms, anxiety, depression, and promotes deep restorative sleep. It also boosts melatonin levels by 200 percent.

     For these reasons, I recommend my fibromyalgia patients take the amino acid 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP). 5HTP, along with synergistic B vitamins and minerals, produces serotonin.

     The newest sleep drug, Rozerem, works by increasing the uptake of melatonin. Common side effects include headache, daytime sleepiness, dizziness, lethargy, nausea, insomnia, and increased colds. Wouldn’t it be better to try taking melatonin first? Absolutely.

     I encourage my patients with insomnia to take 3-6mg of sublingual melatonin at bedtime. I recommend 3-6mg timed-release melatonin for individuals who easily fall asleep, yet wake up throughout the night.

     For patients who can’t sleep due to anxiety and or depression, or who suffer with fibromyalgia, boosting serotonin levels with 5HTP often yields better results than taking melatonin alone. I recommend taking up to 300mg of 5HTP at bedtime on an empty stomach. Melatonin may also be added if needed.

     The next time you encounter a “medical misfit,” take time to investigate their prescription drugs. You may find, as I do, that less is best.

Dr. Murphree is a board certified nutritional specialist and chiropractic physician who has been in private practice since 1990. He is the founder and past clinic director for a large integrated medical practice located on the campus of Brookwood Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. He is the author of five books for patients and doctors.

In 2002, Dr. Murphree sold his medical practice and now maintains a busy solo practice specializing in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disease, mood disorders, and other chronic illnesses. 

He can be reached toll free 1-888-884-9577 or at 1-205-879-2383; by email at [email protected]; or visit www.TreatingandBeating.com.

References
1.    Journal of American Medical Association, September 14, 1994
2.    Public Citizen Congress Watch,  2002 Drug Industry Profits: hefty Pharmaceutical Company Margins Dwarf other Industries, June 2003.
3.     Drs. Peter M. Brooks and Richard O. Day, New England Journal of Medicine 1991:324(24):1716-25.
4.    Juneja LR, Chu D-C, Okubo T, et al. L-Theanine a unique amino acid of green tea and its relaxation effect in humans. Trends Food Sci Tech. 1999; 10:199-204.
5.    Monthly Prescribing Guide November 2004.
6.    Functional Assessment Resource Manual, Great Smokies Diagnostic, 1999.
7.    Zhdanova, IV, Wurtman RJ, Linch, HJ et al. Sleep inducing effects of low doses of melatonin ingested in the evening. Clinical Pharmacological Therapeutics 1995;57:552-558.
8.    Moldofsky H. Fibromyalgia, sleep disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome.  CIBA Symposium 173, 1993, pp 262-279.
9.    Russell I, Vipraio G, Lopez Y et al. Serum serotonin in FMS and rheumatoid arthritis and healthy normal controls. Arthritis and Rheumatism 1993, 36(9):S223.
10.Birdsall T., 5-Hydroxytryptophhan: A Clically Effective Serotonin Precursor.  Altern Med Rev 1998;3(4):271-280.

Chiropractors, in comparison to conventional medical doctors, undergo similar instruction during their professional training. They both learn that the functions of the body are regulated by two major control systems: (1) the nervous system, and (2) the hormonal system. The nervous system, in particular, is of special interest to chiropractic.

Why is this nervous system important to chiropractic? Chiropractors recognize that the nervous system controls and coordinates the functions of the body. Chiropractic philosophy teaches that, if you interfere with the signals traveling over these nerves, parts of the body will not get the proper nerve messages and will not be able to function at 100% of their innate abilities. In other words, some part of the body will not be working properly.

Interestingly, a recent study published in the September 2000 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics showed that chiropractic adjustments have an effect on the autonomic nervous system. This is a division of the central nervous system responsible for the control and function of internal body organs and glandular control via hormonal chemical mediated responses.

This research was designed to measure the changes in Edge Light Pupil Cycle Time (ELPCT), which is one of the light reflexes of the eyes controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The results showed a decrease in the Edge Light Pupil Cycle Time. The implications of this research may go well beyond the study itself. This is because chiropractors have said for over 100 years that interference to the nervous system creates a situation whereby various parts of the body will not be functioning at their fullest innate potential. This study demonstrates a direct link between a chiropractic adjustment and a response in the autonomic nervous system.

Chiropractic is based on a vitalistic philosophy, which recognizes that life and, therefore, health, is an expression of an inner wisdom—an innate intelligence orchestrating every cell within our bodies. So, then, how does the body truly “get” the proper nerve messages? One system in general may provide some additional answers to innate intelligence.

It is this author’s contention that the hormonal system, and its role in chemical messengers, may equally serve a significant role in innate intelligence.

In general, the hormonal system is concerned, principally, with the control of the metabolic function of the body, rates of control of chemical reactions in the body, substance transport through cell membranes, growth, and secretion. Some hormonal effects occur in a matter of nanoseconds, while others over an elaborate process of several days to months or even years.

Many interrelationships occur between the hormonal system and the nervous system. For instance, the posterior pituitary gland, some of the anterior pituitary and the adrenal medulla, secrete their hormones only in response to nerve stimuli. All of the major anterior pituitary hormones besides growth hormones exert their effects by stimulating “target glands:” the thyroid gland, the adrenal cortex, the ovaries, the testicles, and the mammary glands.

A hormone, simply defined, is a chemical substance that is excreted into the body fluids by one cell or a group of cells that, in turn, exerts a physiological controlling effect on other cells of the body. A hormone, then, is a chemical messenger.

For our purposes, hormones may be divided into local and general hormones. An example of a local hormone would be acetylcholine, released at the parasympathetic and skeletal nerve endings, causing a specific local effect. On the other hand, the general hormones, located at specific endocrine glands, are secreted directly into the blood and they cause a physiological effect at distant body tissue sites.

The endocrine gland hormones almost never act directly at a local site to control cellular reactions; instead, they combine with hormone receptors at the membrane surface or inside a cell. The combination of hormone and receptors will exert a cascade of reactions in the cell. Either all or nearly all hormone receptors are large proteins and each receptor is almost highly specific for a single hormone. Many hormones exert their effects on the cells by first causing cyclic 3”, 5”-adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) to be formed in the cell. Once formed, the cyclic AMP acts as a second messenger for hormone mediation, the first chemical message being the original stimulating hormone.

Today, there are also many recent medical studies that demonstrate the beneficial effects of hormones in disease protection, improved function and healing and providing a better quality of life. For example, studies indicate that progesterone in women affects our blood vessels, improves our lipid profiles, our bones, our brains and even our estrogen activity. Progesterone does so much more than manage fertility, and its decline can produce a lot of dramatic effects.

Progesterone down regulates estrogen receptors, protects against endometrial cancer and enhances protection against osteoporosis.¹ Progesterone is synergistic to estrogen’s effect on bone, and has been found to stimulate osteoblasts to build bones. Women using progesterone experienced significant improvement in vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes thought to be result of dopamine decline), somatic complaints and anxiety and depressive symptoms.²

One study indicated that all women on natural progesterone had a decrease in total cholesterol and an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Those on (synthetic) conjugated estrogens and progestin had no significant change from baseline in total cholesterol.³ The physiological levels of both estrogen and progesterone are associated with reduced foam-cell formation, consistent with a protective effect against early atherosclerosis.^4,5

For a long time, in women’s natural healthcare, progesterone wasn’t as well known when it came to its sister hormone, estrogen. We, instead, have always known progesterone simply as the hormone of pregnancy. Recent medical research is now telling us a different story and, perhaps, even demonstrating a complementary role concerning the hormonal system, its chemical messengers and the chiropractic link.

Dr. Molina is the Clinical Chiropractic Consultant for Sarati Laboratories, offering a progressive new concept in hormone support and re-balancing solutions for men and women. Dr. Molina provides nutritional and technique seminars that address the Chiropractic Management of Aging and the Effects of Hormonal Therapies on Quality of Life Issues. She maintains a group chiropractic practice in San Juan Capistrano and may be reached at [email protected].

References
1. Hargrove J, Osteen K, et al. An Alternative Method of Hormone Replacement Therapy Using Natural Sex Steroids. Menopause. 1995: Vol 6:5:653.
2. Fitzpatrick L, Pace C, Wiita B et al. Comparison of regimens containing oral micronized progesterone or medroxyprogesterone on quality of life in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study. Mayo Clinic. J Women’s’ Health Gend Based Med 200 May: 9(4):381-7.
3. Hargrove J, Maxson W, Wentz A et al. Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy. Am J Obstet Gynecol Jan 1999: 180:42-8.
4. McCronhon J et al. Estrogen and progesterone reduce lipid accumulation in human monocycte-derived macrophages. Circulation. 1999 Dec 7:100:2319-25.
5. Rosano G et al. Natural progesterone, but not synthetic, enhances the beneficial effect of estrogen on estrogen-induced myocardial ischemia in postmenopausal women. J Am Cardiol 2000 Dec; 36 (7):2154-9.

Inflammation
As important as providing your brain with what it needs, you also have to avoid giving it what it hates. And your brain absolutely despises inflammation. Inflammation appears to be the underlying condition associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. All inflammation is ultimately caused by the increased production of “bad” eicosanoids. What’s more, many of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (proteins produced by immune cells) lead to the production of more “bad” eicosanoids and vice versa. So bad begets worse, and the inflammation cycle continues unabated.

The best way to stop this cycle is to consume high-dose fish oil to provide adequate levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Not only will you choke off the production of “bad” eicosanoids (by decreasing the production of arachrondric acid), but you’ll also decrease the production of inflammation-promoting cytokines. This is a real win-win situation for your brain.

Loss of Key Neurotransmitters
The second thing the brain hates is any loss of key neurotransmitters. Those are the chemicals that control the flow of information transfer from one nerve cell to the other as they cross the gap (synapse) between different nerve cells. Without adequate levels of neurotransmitters, information slows dramatically. Two of the most important neurotransmitters are serotonin and dopamine. Consider serotonin to be your stress adaptation hormone and dopamine to be your action hormone. When serotonin levels are low, depression becomes more likely, as does violent or impulsive behavior. When dopamine levels are low, there’s an increased likelihood of Parkinson’s disease (decreased motor skills) or attention deficient disorder (decreased ability to focus on immediate tasks).

A multi-billion dollar drug industry is based on providing a wide variety of pharmaceuticals that are intended to increase either serotonin or dopamine. Unfortunately, if a drug increases one of these neurotransmitters, it often depresses the other. There is, however, one natural “drug” that can increase both dopamine and serotonin simultaneously. That “drug” is high-dose fish oil. By taking high-dose fish oil, you can maintain adequate levels of both neurotransmitters.

Excess Cortisol
Your brain also detests excess cortisol. Cortisol is the hormone that your body releases in response to long-term stress. The more stress (which includes chronic pain or inflammation) that you have in your life, the more cortisol is released to control it. Unfortunately, nothing kills brain cells (especially those in the hippocampus, where memories are stored) faster than excess cortisol levels. Excess cortisol also inhibits short-term memory, like remembering where you put your keys.

My dietary recommendations reduce excess cortisol production in two ways. First, EPA in fish oil decreases the production of arachidonic acid which, in turn, decreases the production of “bad” eicosanoids. As the levels of “bad” eicosanoids decrease, the need for the body to produce cortisol also decreases. Second, the same dietary program stabilizes insulin levels, which shuts down production of excess cortisol. Cortisol is sometimes released to stimulate the release of stored sugar into the blood when blood sugar levels dip too low. This occurs if you are not producing adequate levels of glucagon (the primary hormone to stimulate the release of stored carbohydrate), which can be suppressed by high levels of insulin. Although cortisol gives your brain what it needs (more blood sugar) for the moment, you then have the problem of excess cortisol levels flowing through the bloodstream, causing damage to the memory center in the hippocampus in the brain.

Below is a chart summarizing your brain’s desires and aversions and what impact insulin and fish oil have on these .

 

Brain Loves and Hates
	Impact of Insulin Control	Impact of Fish Oil Intake
Brain Loves
Blood Flow		+
Stable Blood Sugar	+
DHA		+
Brain Hates
Inflamation		+
Less of Neurotransmitters	+	+
Excess cortisol		+

As you can see, insulin control accounts for about 25 percent of your brain function, whereas eicosanoids control accounts for about 75 percent. Thus, you need a combination of dietary measures (balancing carbohydrates and protein) and high-dose fish oil supplementation to give your brain what it loves and to, simultaneously, avoid the items it hates. This is the foundation of my dietary program.

 

Dr. Barry Sears, leading authority on the dietary control of hormonal response, author of the New York Times #1 best seller, The Zone, is a former research scientist at the Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For more information about The Zone program call 1-800-404-8171 or visit  www.drsearszonefast.com