A recent news release reported C-REACTIVE Protein is a superior diagnostic tool than cholesterol for predicting cardiovascular disease risk! C-REACTIVE Protein is the subject of my June, July and August, 2007 Health Gallery Nutrition Center Newsletters.
CONTINUE LARGER PRINT
Mainstream medicine has adopted cholesterol-lowering therapies as its first-line defense as its first-line defense against heart attack. Millions of people swallow drugs each day to keep their cholesterol low, and drug companies continue to campaign aggressively to get more people to take these medications. A review of the scientific evidence, however, shows that measurements of an inflammatory marker in the blood called C-reactive protein can yield better diagnostic information than measurements of cholesterol.
The C-reactive protein test is inexpensive and simple, but most physicians don't yet prefer it. Why? Because they have no protocol to treat it. Another words there is no drug treatment to lower C-reactive Protein. When doctors for George W. Bush measured his C-reactive protein levels, they had to consult with a research team to find out how to analyze his results!
A chronic inflammatory state, as evidenced by elevated C-reactive protein, results in significant damage to the arterial system. Inflammation accelerates the production of free radicals. When inflammation is limited, free radicals can be controlled by antioxidant defenses, in fact, the free radicals help the body get rid of pathogens and make way for healing. But when inflammation is chronic or intense, free radicals can do more harm than good. They can do significant damage to tissues and set in motion harmful chain reactions.
Allergies, asthma, eczema, autoimmune disease and some types of arthritis are chronic forms of low-grade inflammation. The immune system mounts defenses that go beyond what is necessary, reaching an elevated plateau where inflammation becomes damaging to otherwise healthy tissues.
Inflammation may explain why women taking Premarin have slightly increased risk of heart attack; Premarin causes C-reactive protein levels to climb. Data from the Framingham cohort correlated high C-reactive protein with calcification of the coronary arteries.
Research on C-reactive protein indicates that cholesterol-filled plaques in blood vessels may not pose any real danger unless they are affected by inflammation. Inflammation weakens plaques, making them more vulnerable to bursting or pinching off a clot that can then block coronary vessels.
What is the source of this inflammation? One theory is that plaques are actually an attempt on the part of the immune system to repair some sort of damage to vessel walls. Other theories implicate pathogens, including Chlamydia pneumoniae and the ulcer-causing Helicobacter pylori. Well-established cardiac risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension and chronic periodontal disease all increase inflammation and C-reactive protein levels in the body. Fat cells literally pump out C-reactive protein, which could explain why being over-weight is so bad for the heart.
What can you do to control C-reactive protein? An anti-inflammatory diet includes abundant fresh vegetables and fruits, small servings of whole grains and protein from fish (especially salmon, mackerel, cod, sardines and other deep-sea-dwelling species). Pumpkin seeds, walnuts and flaxseeds are excellent sources of omega-3 fats. Stay away from hydrogenated oils and trans-fats. If you must use butter, do so moderately. A low-glycemic diet and fasting both lower C-reactive protein levels.
Exercise and activity is critical to control C-reactive protein. At least 30 to 60 minutes of walking daily can be helpful.
Vitamin E and aspirin are thought to protect against heart disease because their blood-thinning (anti-platelet) effect to which this decrease in risk has been attributed. However, they both have anti-inflammatory activity which may be their true value in reducing heart disease. Vitamin C and Omega 3 fish oil supplements taken daily are also helpful in controlling inflammation. All antioxidant supplements help to control free radicals produced by inflammation.
In addition to my daily supplements listed in my June newsletter, SerraPhase by Sedona Labs was the product I used to lower my high C-reactive protein which was 6.25 at the time of my first blood draw. SerraPhase is an all-natural, potent systemic protein enzyme that supports the body's normal inflammation response. Serratiopeptidase has been used in Europe and Japan for over 30 years as a safe, natural way to maintain a normal level of inflammation. Contact me at the Health Gallery, 1-541-247-7077 for more SerraPhase info.
LARGER PRINT VERSION
Hours are 10
am - 5 pm PST, Tuesday through Friday.
Appointments may be made by calling
(541) 247-7077
Walter J. Edwards, Ph.D
29820 Ellensburg (PO Box 283)
Gold Beach OR 97444
Email: drhealth@getwel
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Risk of Autism,ÊResveratrol, Chelation, and CoQ10 By Walt "dr health" Edwards 
Autism... The Mitochondria is the powerhouse that fuel your body's cells.Ê It has been implicated in at least one case of regressive autism. Some researchers estimate that the number of people suffering from the mitochondrial dysfunction, which may lead to autism, is much more common than the current estimate of 1 in 4,000 people. In fact, it could be as lowÊas 1 in 50, which would be staggering.
In the recent landmark Hannah Poling case, federal officials conceded that Hannah's autism was caused by an underlying mitochondrial dysfunction that was aggravated by vaccine injections. At the time, CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding claimed that Hannah's case was a rare incident with little relevance to the other autism cases pending in the federal "vaccine court." Since then, however, Dr. Gerberding and other CDC officials were made aware of a Portuguese study reporting that 7.2 percent of children with autism had confirmed mitochondrial disorders. Some now estimate the rate of mitochondrial dysfunction in autism to be 20 percent or more, and the rate among children with the regressive sub-type of autism is likely even higher. If mitochondrial dysfunction can convert into autism in large numbers, then the connection between vaccines and autism could be quite strong. Some experts believe a trigger, such as vaccines, a viral illness or even inflammatory corn oil and corn syrup in the American diet, is triggering underlying mitochondrial dysfunctions into autism. The CDC is reportedly looking into making changes in the vaccine schedule to address this newfound connection. The most difficult decision is how and when to vaccinate children with proven mitochondrial dysfunction. What About Resveratrol? Scientists found evidence of this "longevity gene" about 20 years ago. Turns out that if you starve mice, giving them a diet with one-third fewer calories than they would like to eat, their lifespan increases by about 30 percent. Later studies revealed that this effect wasn't limited to mice: Calorie-restricted diets produced similar results in many life forms, from single-celled organisms to plants and mammals. Very recently, scientists found an explanation for this mysterious phenomenon: a family of genes called sirtuins ("silent information regulator proteins"). Sirtuins kick in under conditions of severe stress, bringing about an evolutionarily advantageous transformation. They transmit signals to every cell in your body, and the processes that lead to cell death slow to a crawl, buying your body more time to wait out the famine until things improve. The discovery of sirtuins pointed to another amazing fact: Certain genes can be awakened and called upon to change your body in the course of your lifetime.Ê The problem of how to "wake up" sleeping sirtuin genes had scientists stumped for years. They had to find some other way to flip the aging "off switch." That's where certain foods come inÉ because the natural compound resveratrol has been found to unleash the anti-aging power of sirtuins. Grapes, plums, blueberries, and cranberries contain resveratrol in the highest concentrations. Many other plants produce smaller amounts. Resveratrol's power to enhance your life goes beyond anti-aging. Years of research have shown that it combats cancer, ramps up energy levels, limits the inflammation that causes arthritis, and benefits a number of major organs, including the heart, liver, and pancreas. It also has the remarkable capacity to halt cell "malfunctions" that can be lethal, like tumor generation. Concerned About The Use of NSAIDS! Ê Consider taking Omega 3 fish oil.Ê One source is cod liver oil once or twice a day. According to Dundee University researchers, Omega 3 and/or cod liver oil are known to reduce the need for painkillers in people with rheumatoid arthritis,.Ê A 10g daily dose of cod liver oil reduced the need for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by 30 percent. Patients in the study were given either cod liver oil or a placebo. After 12 weeks, they were asked to gradually reduce their use of NSAIDs. Among those taking cod liver oil, 39 percent reduced their daily dose of NSAIDs, compared with 10 percent taking a placebo. The reduction in drug use was not associated with any worsening of pain or of the disease. It is thought that the fatty acids in the fish oil have anti-inflammatory properties that are responsible for the beneficial effect.Ê NSAIDs are associated with many side effects, including stomach bleeding, heart attacks and strokes. The researchers believe the study offers hope for many rheumatoid arthritis patients who would like to reduce their NSAID use. What About Chelation?Ê An Alternative To Bypass Surgery! Initially, physicians believed that the primary benefit of chelation therapy with EDTA was to remove lead from the body.Ê They discovered that it lowers blood calcium, which contributes to plaque build-up in our arteries. According to Dr. Garry Gordon, M.D.,D.O., a pioneer in Oral Chelation, EDTA doesn't just float through the blood stream but works its way through the tissues, the capillary bed and through the tissue fluids, extracting toxic metals from the body's 60 trillion cells. As calcium is pulled from the plaque, its 'cementing' action is lost and the cholesterol and other substances are free to again join the blood stream to be eliminated later from the body.Ê Ê What Are The Differences Of Ubiquinone And Ubiquinol (CoQ10). Ubiquinone is the fully oxidized form Ð the form generally sold commercially. Once ingested and absorbed in the body Ð more than 90% of the ingested Ubiquinone is converted into its "active" antioxidant form called Ubiquinol. More than 90% of the circulating CoQ10 in our body is present as Ubiquinol. The body has reductase enzymes which take the ingested CoQ10 in food and supplements and convert most of it into Ubiquinol.Ê This process is reduced as you age and that is one reason for the added supplementation. Research, (in animals and humans), has shown Ubiquinol to be absorbed better than Ubiquinone. Therefore, Ubiquinol might afford an advantage over ubiquinone in individuals who do not absorb regular CoQ10 from supplements too well. However, there are no studies to show the superiority of unsolubilized ubiquinol over Q-Gel¨ CoQ10, HydroQSorb¨ CoQ10, (as ChewQ¨ or H2Q CoQ10) or Liquid Q¨.. More About CoQ10... It is required to convert fats and sugars into cellular energy, yet the natural production of CoQ10 declines with advancing age. When the body has an ample amount of CoQ10 the mitochondria can work most efficiently throughout the entire body, in cells everywhere, including the most densely populated area, the heart.Ê Coenzyme Q10 is incorporated into the mitochondria of cells throughout the body where it facilitates and regulates the transformation of fats and sugars into energy. A large body of scientific evidence shows that CoQ10's ability to restore mitochondrial function has a profound effect on one's overall health and reducing the aging process. Thought For The Day: All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as self-evident!Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Have a great day! Please contact me using this number: 1-541-247-7077 Past issues available on my web site: getwel-newsletter. |
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