HealthBeat News

Author: Wellness Club

  • Vitamins Linked to Increased Risk of Death ?

    Is The Case for Dietary Supplements Collapsing ?

     

    By Dr. Dana Myatt

    Do vitamin supplements increase the risk of death as current headlines would have us believe?

    Before you give up your daily supplements, let’s take a careful look at the “science” behind the headlines.

     

    First, “consider the source.”

     

    Conventional medicine and medical researchers have been “gunning” for natural remedies and supplements for decades. This current “study” (and I use the term loosely) behind the headlines is brought to you by the same conventional researchers who gave us Premarin (which increases breast cancer risk), Vioxx and Avandia (responsible for 47,000 cardiac deaths since its introduction in 1999).

     

    Second, did you actually read the original study?

     

    I’m BETTING YOU DID NOT, and neither did the “reporters” from the Wall Street Journal. How do I know? Because the study is only available for pay — $30 to be exact — from the Archives of Internal Medicine. No one has access to the original study for free except for doctors who already subscribe to the magazine.

    As a doc who actually reads medical journal articles much of the day, I can tell you that “abstracts” (“the short course” at the beginning of articles) frequently say one thing while the actual conclusion of the article says something very different. In order to know what was really said, the original article needs to be read. How many “reporters” (another term I use loosely) bother to do this? Would they understand what they were reading even if they did purchase the original medical journal article?

     

    Third, can you remember what supplements you were taking and in what amounts, say, six years ago? No?

     

    Interesting, because this “study” did exactly that: asked participants to recall from memory what supplements they had taken for the past six years, times three. This means that eighteen years of vitamin and supplement intake “data” was collected from memory. What could possibly go wrong with a study like that?!

     

    Fourth — without boring you with research jargon such as “hazard ratios” and “multivariant analysis”, let me tell you what else the study showed:

     

    B complex vitamins were associated with a 7% reduction in mortality

    Vitamin C intake associated with a 4% reduction in mortality

    Vitamin D intake associated with an 8% reduction in mortality

    Magnesium intake associated with a 3% reduction in mortality

    Selenium intake associated with a 3% reduction in mortality

    Zinc intake associated with a 3% reduction in mortality

    Hundreds of well-conducted studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of nutritional supplementation. This statistically massaged collection of “from my distant memory” numbers doesn’t qualify as a real study in my book, and not in the mind of any genuine scientist.

    I’d be ashamed to put my name on a pseudo-study such as this. The fact that it has been misrepresented by the Lamestream media (do these folks actually “do” real journalism any more?) is an insult to thinking people everywhere.

    I wouldn’t even remotely consider giving up my daily vitamins based on such a pitiful “study,”  especially in view of the many studies showing their benefit.

  • Sen. Durbin Is Still After Your Vitamins – In ‘Stealth-Mode’.

    After our recent Legislative Alert article FDA Says: We’re Baaaack! No Vitamin Is Safe! we received a note from one of our readers:

     

    I sent the petitions and…

    ….got receipts and promises of further responses from both: AL GREEN –  Member of Congress and JOHN CORNYN – U.S. Senator

    ¡¡¡ Let us never give up !!!

    [] George

     

    Thank you George, and congratulations on the success of your efforts – for your efforts, and the efforts of others like you have meant that Senator Durbin’s draconian bill is not getting very much “traction” in Washington.

    So, does that mean he’s giving up? Heck No!

    According to a report from The Alliance For Natural Health Senator Durbin has proposed an amendment to an appropriations (budget) bill that will allow his dictatorial dreams to become a reality – just a little more slowly, and a little bit at a time. Think “frog-in-pot-of-hot-water-getting-hotter”…

    This is a sneaky way of getting controversial laws passed without too much attention and we invite you to visit the Alliance For Natural Health website and learn more. You can use their website to send a message to your senators and your representative with just a few keystrokes and mouse-clicks. Please join George and all the other concerned consumers out there and defend your right to free access to dietary supplements!

     

    Click here to visit The Alliance For Natural Health.

  • Dr. Myatt Promises No Flu For You This Winter – GUARANTEED!

     

    Big Pharma’s annual Flu Vaccine advertising campaign is once again in full swing –  with all the usual parties being trotted out to shill for the continuing profit picture of the Big Guys.

     

    Unfortunately for Big Pharma it doesn’t seem to be working as well this year as it has in the past and they are even resorting to giving the stuff away for free. Perhaps Americans are becoming wise to these vaccination scams – or maybe just getting jaded and tired of the annual bleating about the dangers of not being seasonally injected and tired of the ongoing sky-is-falling warnings from those who would legislate vaccines-for-all.

     

    Here are a random selection of recent headlines:

     

      • Flu vaccine: It’s not too late to help prevent seasonal illness

      • FDA rejects new needleless flu shots

      • 300,000 doses of flu vaccine Preflucel withdrawn in alert over side-effects‎

      • Flu Shots Not As Effective As Previously Thought

      • Protect yourself and loved ones by getting flu shot

      • Flu Shots Less Effective for the Obese

      • Would You Like a Flu Shot With Your Order? Free Drive-Thru Flu Shots a Hit in Kansas City

      • FDA warns against needleless flu shots

      • Baxter issues precautionary recall of flu vaccine

      • It’s No Guarantee, But You Should Get the Flu Shot Anyway

      • Flu Shot Only 59 Percent Effective, Analysis Finds

         

        So… let me see if I have this right: It’s not too late (hurry! hurry! hurry! calls the carnival barker), but don’t get one of the no-needle shots – and be sure it isn’t one of the recalled ones… And even though some big medical journals are reporting that the darned things don’t really work all that well anyway I really must protect myself and my loved ones – unless they are overweight, in which case the shots are even less effective… But hey, maybe I can get my shot at the drive-through when I go to get my daily junk-food fix. Oops! that isn’t one of the recalled shots is it? Oh, well, who worries? Maybe I should just take a chance – no guarantees that it will work though, and no guarantees that I won’t have some nasty side effects either…

         

        Whew! Is there anybody out there who makes sense on this subject?

         

        Sure there is – read what Dr. Myatt has to say about the flu…

         

        Flu Vaccinations: A Shot in The Dark?

         

        By Dr. Dana Myatt

         

        When I was 8, one of my friend’s dad died suddenly, at the ripe old age of 35, of the flu. Not cancer, not a heart attack, not a car wreck — the flu.

        One day he was sick in bed with fever, chills, and headache. The next day he saw the family doctor who prescribed an antibiotic (which is worthless for the flu). He had an anaphylactic reaction (severe allergic reaction) to the antibiotic and died that same day. Even at the tender age of 8, it just didn’t seem right for someone to die of such a “garden variety” illness. But he did, and people still do.

        As old-fashioned a disease as “the flu” (influenza) is, 24.7 million people in the US contract the flu each year and over 100,000 of these cases require hospitalization. An average of 41,400 people die from complications of the flu in the US alone every year. Notice I said “complications.” People don’t die of the flu directly. They die of pneumonia or other “flu-related” diseases.1, 2 But don’t expect a flu shot to protect you. That’s because the effectiveness of the “flu shot” is in serious question.

        Why The Flu Vaccine is a Bust

        The flu is caused by over 200 different viruses and infective agents; colds are caused by over 700 viruses. Vaccinations against the flu protect against only THREE influenza A and B — that’s right — three of the 200 known A & B viruses, and A and B influenza viruses comprise only a small fraction of all causes of the flu.

         


        Influenza vaccines are designed to protect against 3 Influenza viruses A & B         (solid pink piece of the pie graph). Graph courtesy of the British Medical Journal.

        So, the flu vaccine protects from only a small percentage of the known causes of flu and flu vaccines may be effective as little as 39% (some studies show 0%) of the time in healthy adults.3 According to the FDA, “The shot doesn’t do as well at preventing flu in older adults and people with certain medical problems.” 4

        Great. Flu vaccines only protect against a small number of viruses, are effective 39% or less of the time and work even less well in people who need it most, the elderly and immune-weakened folks. I’d say the flu vaccine is a real shot in the dark. Worse than ineffective or benign, the influenza vaccine is still preserved with thimerosol (mercury), a known neurotoxin. (Mercury-free vaccines exist but you won’t get it unless you specifically request it).

        Of course, the flu isn’t the only malady we are more susceptible to in Winter months. Plain ol’ colds and sinus and respiratory infections also increase in the Winter, not because of cold temperatures directly but because viruses spread more easily in cold, dry air.5

        If the thought of getting sick, or possibly really sick, this Winter doesn’t inspire you, and if feel like I do —- totally underwhelmed by the effectiveness of the flu vaccine — what can you do?

        Fortunately, Mother Nature has more immune-boosting strategies than modern medicine will EVER think of. Here are 4 simple, proven recommendations for keeping yourself “bullet proof” against not only the flu, but colds, sinus infections, pneumonia and all manner of Winter-time maladies.

        How to Make Yourself Flu-Proof:  “Winterize” Your Immune System in Four Easy Steps

        1.) Eat an Immune-Boosting Diet. The two major dietary causes of immune suppression are sugar intake and food allergies.

        I.) Dietary sugar. Sugar suppresses the activity of white blood cells (neutrophils) — an important part of the immune system — for up to 5 hours.  Even fruit juice contains enough sugar to cause this immune-suppressing effect. Sugars which cause immune suppression include glucose, fructose, sucrose, honey, and orange juice.6,7,8 Although original studies showed an immune suppressing effect at 100 grams of sugar other studies have shown that even much lower intakes of dietary sugar have immune suppressing effects. 9,10. The USDA and the Center for Science in Public Interest (CSPI) agree that 40 grams of sugar is an acceptable daily limit.

        Imagine a “healthy” (not!) day of eating that can actually keep immunity suppressed for the entire day.

        Breakfast: glass of orange juice (1 cup has 21 grams of sugar), oatmeal with raisins (2 TBS. has 20 grams of sugar), 1 tsp. of sugar (4 grams of sugar) and lowfat milk (1 cup has 13 grams of sugar). That’s a whopping 58 grams of sugar just for breakfast! Expect a suppressed immune system for the next 5 hours.

        Snack: Nonfat fruit-variety yogurt (1 cup has 47 grams of sugar) Immune suppression for up to 5 hours.

        Lunch: Subway Chicken Teriyaki Sanwich (6 grams of sugar) with 2 oz. fat-free French dressing (12 grams sugar) and 1 oatmeal raisin cookie for desert (16 grams of sugar) [32 grams total].  Immune system still suppressed from breakfast and snack.

        Dinner: green salad with 2 TBS. fat-free french dressing (6 grams), 1 serving Weight Watcher’s chicken enchiladas (33 grams) with 2 TBS fat-free yogurt topping (2 grams) [41 grams total] Immune suppression until bedtime.

        Dessert: 1/2 cup Breyer’s no sugar added vanilla ice cream (only 4 grams), but it’s the “cherry” on the immune-suppression-day cake!

        There you have it. “A day in the life” of someone who thinks they are eating fairly well, with more than enough sugar to cause all-day immune suppression. Notice that fruit juice and flavored yogurt are major offenders. Avoiding sugar is the most important dietary step you can take to strengthen your immune system. Period. II.) Food allergies. Food allergies weaken the immune system. White blood cells and other aspects of immunity get “distracted” taking care of internal annoyances (allergens) instead of protecting against outside “bugs” like the flu virus. Check out the symptoms of food allergy to see if this might be a problem for you. Check Food Allergy Symptoms Here

        2.) Practice simple home and hygiene techniques.

        I.) Wash your hands frequently. Flu and cold viruses can survive on surfaces, including hands, for hours. Every time you touch a doorknob or anything touched by another, you can pick up a virus. And don’t rub your eyes or face, thereby transmitting the virus to yourself from unwashed hands.

        II.) Cover your mouth and nose — preferably with a tissue — when you sneeze or cough. Remember, flu and cold viruses are transmitted primarily through airborne droplets.

        III.) Take the day off! If you’re suffering from a cold, do co-workers and friends a favor and quarantine yourself at home until you’re no longer sneezing and hacking. Of course, if you’ve got a bona fide case of the flu, you WILL be taking the day off. Flu symptoms are almost always severe enough to cause prostration.

        IV.) Keep your house humid. Indoor fountains (even the little table-top varieties), humidifiers and live plants all help keep indoor Winter air moist. Viruses spread more slowly in higher humidity because airborne water droplets “grab” the viruses and pull them out of circulation. In dry air, viruses are left to float around from one sneezing, coughing host to another.5

        3.) Strengthen your immune system with supplements.

        I.) Take an optimal potency vitamin/mineral supplement every day. If you only take one supplement to strengthen your immune system, it should be a good multiple formula. Studies have shown that seniors who take a multiple have stronger immune systems and are less likely to get a respiratory tract infection or the flu.11,12,13  A deficiency of any single vitamin, mineral or trace mineral can lead to weakened immunity. 12-23

        Improved nutritional status by supplementation can also improve the body’s response to vaccinations. 24

        Notice I said optimal potency, not “minimal.” Studies have also shown that a one-per-day formula does virtually nothing to improve immunity. That’s because you can’t fit enough nutrients into one tablet or capsule to do anything but prevent severe deficiency diseases (like just enough vitamin C to prevent scurvy but not enough to strengthen the immune system). In the nutritional industry, we call that “pixie dust.” An optimal-potency multi vitamin will require at least 6 caps per day (in divided doses). My Maxi Multi recommendation is 9 caps per day, which also includes a full dose of calcium and magnesium (which take up a lot of space in a capsule).

        Here are the nutrients of particular immune-enhancing importance, and they should all be found in a good multiple nutrient formula.

        * vitamin C – people with daily intakes of 500-1,000mg per day are less likely to catch colds, respiratory tract infections and pneumonia. Vitamin C also shortens the duration and severity of these infections.25-29,45

        * vitamin E – 200IU or more per day reduces the rate of common colds and upper respiratory tract infections 30,31 and increases resistance to influenza in seniors.18, 32-35,44

        * beta carotene – seniors with a high plasma beta-carotene concentration have a lower occurrence of acute respiratory infections.36

        * vitamin A – needed to maintain normal “barrier” function of skin and mucous membranes, thereby preventing entry of viruses. Normal levels improve immunity and disease resistance.14,23,29,37-38

        * vitamin D – Improves immunity and may enhance response to vaccinations.14,23,37,39

        * zinc – normal zinc status lowers the risk of pneumonia by nearly 50% 40 and decreases the incidence, duration and severity of upper respiratory infections and pneumonia.18,38,41,45 Improved zinc status also enhances the body’s response to vaccinations.11,29

        * selenium – Decreases the risk of respiratory tract infections. Improved selenium status also enhances the body’s response to vaccinations.11,18,35,42-43

        If you are not getting these target doses in your multiple vitamin, then add them separately OR switch to a better multiple vitamin/mineral formula. You can take a lot of “separate stuff” to achieve immune-boosting “target doses” of nutrients, but why would you want to work that hard?

        SHAMELESS PITCH HERE: my own Maxi Multi’s contain target doses of all these immune-boosting nutrients. Check to see how your multiple stacks up: Optimal Doses of Vitamins and Minerals for Good Health (scroll to the vitamin and mineral charts toward the bottom of the page)

        II.) Supplement with additional immune-boosting herbs. For additional protection, add an immune-enhancing formula throughout the colder months (recommended Nov.-April). There are literally hundreds of herbs that can be used to strengthen the immune system. Some work better — and some work MUCH better — than others. I’ve put together my own formula of the most “tried and true” (and proven) immune enhancing herbs including Echinacea, astragalus, medicinal mushrooms (Maitake, Shiitake, Reishi), Ligustrum, Goldenseal and Garlic. Learn more about my Immune Support formula here: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/immunesupport.htm

         

        I Guarantee You Won’t Get The Flu This Winter

         

        I’m so confident that Immune Support formula, when used in combination with an optimal potency multiple like Maxi Multi, will help you avoid the flu that I offer a “guaranteed no flu this Winter” money-back guarantee. How confident is that?! Did your local doctor promise if you got a flu shot you wouldn’t get the flu or your money back? (Hahahaha….)

        >>> See my “No Flu for You” Guarantee here <<<

        And for Goodness sakes, don’t wait until you feel fever and chills coming on to start taking supplements or eating better (although even late in the game, studies show you can shorten the severity and duration of a winter infection). Prevention is surer and safer than cure, and looks to me to be surer and safer than the flu vaccine, too!

        In Health,

        Dr. Myatt

        References

        1.) J. Dushoff, J. Plotkin, Cc Viboud, D. Earn, L. Simonsen. Mortality due to Influenza in the United States—An Annualized Regression Approach Using Multiple-Cause Mortality Data. American Journal of Epidemiology 2006 163(2):181-187
        2.) Molinari NA, Ortega-Sanchez IR, Messonnier ML, Thompson WW, Wortley PM, Weintraub E, Bridges CB. The annual impact of seasonal influenza in the US: measuring disease burden and costs. Vaccine. 2007 Jun 28;25(27):5086-96. Epub 2007 Apr 20.
        3.) Demicheli V, Rivetti D, Deeks JJ, Jefferson TO. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;3: CD001269.
        4.) The Flu. US Food and Drug Administration Fact Sheet, Aug. 2005.
        5.) Lowen AC, Mubareka S, Steel J, Palese P (2007) Influenza Virus Transmission Is Dependent on Relative Humidity and Temperature. PLoS Pathog 3(10): e151. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.0030151
        6.) Sanchez A, et al. Role of sugars in human neutrophilic phagocytosis. Am J Clin Nutr 1973; 26: 1180-84
        7.) Van Oss CJ. Influence of glucose levels on the in vitro phagocytosis of bacteria by human neutrophils. Infect Immun. 1971 Jul;4(1):54-9.
        8.) Ringsdorf WM jr, Cheraskin E and Ramsey RR jr. Sucrose, Neutrophilic Phagocytosis, and Resistance to Disease. Dent Surv 1976; 52 (12): 46-48
        9.) Sanchez A, et al. Role of sugars in human neutrophilic phagocytosis. Am J Clin Nutr 1973; 26: 1180-84
        10.) Ringsdorf WM jr, Cheraskin E and Ramsey RR jr. Sucrose, Neutrophilic Phagocytosis, and Resistance to Disease. Dent Surv 1976; 52 (12): 46-48
        11.) Girodon F, Galan P, Monget AL, Boutron-Ruault MC, Brunet-Lecomte P, Preziosi P, Arnaud J, Manuguerra JC, Herchberg S. Impact of trace elements and vitamin supplementation on immunity and infections in institutionalized elderly patients: a randomized controlled trial. MIN. VIT. AOX. geriatric network. Arch Intern Med. 1999 Apr 12;159(7):748-54.
        12.) Langkamp-Henken B, Bender BS, Gardner EM, Herrlinger-Garcia KA, Kelley MJ, Murasko DM, Schaller JP, Stechmiller JK, Thomas DJ, Wood SM. Nutritional formula enhanced immune function and reduced days of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in seniors. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004 Jan;52(1):3-12.
        13.) Winkler P, de Vrese M, Laue Ch, Schrezenmeir J. ffect of a dietary supplement containing probiotic bacteria plus vitamins and minerals on common cold infections and cellular immune parameters. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2005 Jul;43(7):318-26.
        14.) Wintergerst ES, Maggini S, Hornig DH. Contribution of selected vitamins and trace elements to immune function. Ann Nutr Metab. 2007;51(4):301-23. Epub 2007 Aug 28.
        15.) Beck MA, Handy J, Levander OA. Host nutritional status: the neglected virulence factor. Trends Microbiol. 2004 Sep;12(9):417-23.
        16.) Beck MA. Nutritionally induced oxi
        dative stress: effect on viral disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Jun;71(6 Suppl):1676S-81S.
        17.) Chandra RK. Impact of nutritional status and nutrient supplements on immune responses and incidence of infection in older individuals. Ageing Res Rev. 2004 Jan;3(1):91-104.
        18.) High KP. Nutritional strategies to boost immunity and prevent infection in elderly individuals. Clin Infect Dis. 2001 Dec 1;33(11):1892-900. Epub 2001 Oct 25.
        19.) Sebastian RS, Cleveland LE, Goldman JD, Moshfegh AJ.Older adults who use vitamin/mineral supplements differ from nonusers in nutrient intake adequacy and dietary attitudes. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Aug;107(8):1322-32.
        20.) Chandra RK. Nutrition and immunology: from the clinic to cellular biology and back again. Proc Nutr Soc. 1999 Aug;58(3):681-3.
        21.) Maggini S, Wintergerst ES, Beveridge S, Hornig DH. Selected vitamins and trace elements support immune function by strengthening epithelial barriers and cellular and humoral immune responses. Br J Nutr. 2007 Oct;98 Suppl 1:S29-35.
        22.) Harbige LS. Nutrition and immunity with emphasis on infection and autoimmune disease. Nutr Health. 1996;10(4):285-312.
        23.) Wintergerst ES, Maggini S, Hornig DH. Contribution of selected vitamins and trace elements to immune function. Ann Nutr Metab. 2007;51(4):301-23. Epub 2007 Aug 28.
        24.) Wouters-Wesseling W, Rozendaal M, Snijder M, Graus Y, Rimmelzwaan G, De Groot L, Bindels J. Effect of a complete nutritional supplement on antibody response to influenza vaccine in elderly people. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002 Sep;57(9):M563-6.
        25.) Sasazuki S, Sasaki S, Tsubono Y, Okubo S, Hayashi M, Tsugane S.Effect of vitamin C on common cold: randomized controlled trial.Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Jan;60(1):9-17.
        26.) Van Straten M, Josling P. Preventing the common cold with a vitamin C supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey. Adv Ther. 2002 May-Jun;19(3):151-9.
        27.) Carr AB, Einstein R, Lai LY, Martin NG, Starmer GA. Vitamin C and the common cold: using identical twins as controls. Med J Aust. 1981 Oct 17;2(8):411-2.
        28.) Anderson TW, Beaton GH, Corey P, Spero L. Winter illness and vitamin C: the effect of relatively low doses. Can Med Assoc J. 1975 Apr 5;112(7):823-6.
        29.) Romieu I. Nutrition and lung health. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2005 Apr;9(4):362-74.
        30.) Meydani SN, Han SN, Hamer DH. Vitamin E and respiratory infection in the elderly. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1031:214-22.
        31.) Meydani SN, Leka LS, Fine BC, Dallal GE, Keusch GT, Singh MF, Hamer DH. Vitamin E and respiratory tract infections in elderly nursing home residents: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2004 Aug 18;292(7):828-36.
        32.) Meydani SN, Han SN, Wu D. Vitamin E and immune response in the aged: molecular mechanisms and clinical implications. Immunol Rev. 2005 Jun;205:269-84.
        33.) Han SN, Meydani M, Wu D, Bender BS, Smith DE, Viña J, Cao G, Prior RL, Meydani SN. Effect of long-term dietary antioxidant supplementation on influenza virus infection. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2000 Oct;55(10):B496-503.
        34.) Meydani SN, Meydani M, Blumberg JB, Leka LS, Siber G, Loszewski R, Thompson C, Pedrosa MC, Diamond RD, Stollar BD. Vitamin E supplementation and in vivo immune response in healthy elderly subjects. A randomized controlled trial. Vitamin E supplementation and in vivo immune response in healthy elderly subjects. A randomized controlled trial.
        35.) Beck MA. Selenium and vitamin E status: impact on viral pathogenicity. J Nutr. 2007 May;137(5):1338-40.
        36.) van der Horst-Graat JM, Kok FJ, Schouten EG. Plasma carotenoid concentrations in relation to acute respiratory infections in elderly people. Br J Nutr. 2004 Jul;92(1):113-8
        37.) Mora JR, Iwata M, von Andrian UH. Vitamin effects on the immune system: vitamins A and D take centre stage. Nat Rev Immunol. 2008 Aug 8. [Epub ahead of print]
        38.) Molina EL, Patel JA. A to Z: vitamin A and zinc, the miracle duo.Indian J Pediatr. 1996 Jul-Aug;63(4):427-31.
        39.) Hayes CE, Nashold FE, Spach KM, Pedersen LB.The immunological functions of the vitamin D endocrine system. Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2003 Mar;49(2):277-300.
        40.) Meydani SN, Barnett JB, Dallal GE, Fine BC, Jacques PF, Leka LS, Hamer DH. Serum zinc and pneumonia in nursing home elderly.Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Oct;86(4):1167-73.
        41.) Wintergerst ES, Maggini S, Hornig DH. Immune-enhancing role of vitamin C and zinc and effect on clinical conditions. Ann Nutr Metab. 2006;50(2):85-94. Epub 2005 Dec 21.
        42.) Beck MA. Antioxidants and viral infections: host immune response and viral pathogenicity. J Am Coll Nutr. 2001 Oct;20(5 Suppl):384S-388S; discussion 396S-397S.
        43.) Beck MA. Selenium and host defence towards viruses. Proc Nutr Soc. 1999 Aug;58(3):707-11.
        44.) Burton A. Fewer colds with increased vitamin E intake. Lancet Infect Dis. 2004 Oct;4(10):600.
        45.) Wintergerst ES, Maggini S, Hornig DH. Immune-enhancing role of vitamin C and zinc and effect on clinical conditions. Ann Nutr Metab. 2006;50(2):85-94. Epub 2005 Dec 21

      • That Little Pink Ribbon Has Me Seeing Red

        Bogus Breast Cancer Research

         

        (Why the Little Pink Ribbon Has Me Seeing Red)

         

        By Dr. Dana Myatt

         

        October is “Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” and little pink ribbons are as plentiful as Halloween candy.

        Have you ever given money to breast cancer research or purchased a “little pink ribbon” to show your support and solidarity? If you have, I believe you’ve been duped by Big Pharma’s and Big Government’s bogus “research projects,” and thrown good money toward a losing game.

        Before you shoot the messenger, let me explain why the “little pink ribbon” has me seeing red.

        Problems abound with breast cancer fund-raising and research:

        1.) Money often doesn’t go to actual research.

        As much as 90% of revenues can be spent on “administrative” and “fundraising” costs. Depending on which charity your money goes to, the actual money generated for gifting can be less than 10%. That’s ugly.

        To find out which charities retain most of their revenues for genuine research contribution, check out your favorite charity at http://www.charitynavigator.org/

        For example, the Coalition Against Breast Cancer spends 78% of it’s budget hiring for-profit fundraisers:

        The American Breast Cancer Foundation spends 50% of it’s income on administrative and fund-raising costs:

        The United Breast Cancer Foundation spends 59% of revenues on admin and fundraising:

        And “Think Before You Pink,” a service of Breast Cancer Action, offers some additional tips and insider information about donating to breast cancer research:

        When you “give to the cure,” you might want to verify where your money is going and how much of it is actually being spent on breast cancer research.

        2.) Money funds more conventional cancer research, but conventional research, diagnosis and treatments are not improving cancer mortality rates significantly.

        I.) Conventional breast cancer treatments don’t work. At least not very well. Cancer research organizations that put money into Big Pharma are betting on the wrong horse.

        Despite press releases and proclamations which tell us that we’re “winning the war on breast cancer” (thanks, of course, to all of our collective millions of giving), the truth is that conventional cancer diagnosis and treatment have gotten us next to nowhere.

        According to statistics published by the National Cancer Institute, the breast cancer rate has declined 1.7% between 1998 and 2007. That, they say, is a “significant” change.(1)

        Of course, we are led to believe that this 1.7% drop is due to improvements in diagnosis (mammograms) and conventional treatment. But the statistics show otherwise.

        Instead, the single biggest drop in breast cancer rates of all time occurred in 2002-2003 when women flocked away from conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after news “broke” that it increased breast cancer risk. According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer rates fell 6.7% — a heck of a lot bigger drop than the 1.7% being touted – when over 40 million women stopped taking conventional hormone prescriptions. (2) Actually, the association between HRT and breast cancer was known as early as the 1960′s. (3) For shame.

        In Canada, a 9.6% drop in breast cancer rates was noted when hormone replacement therapy use declined.(4)

        Whether it be a 6.7% or a 9.6% drop, that’s a much bigger improvement that our 1.7% “statistically significant” decrease claimed in the US as a result of millions of dollars of mammogram screenings and expensive chemotherapy.

        The single biggest drop we’ve seen in recent years in breast cancer happened when women flocked away from conventional hormone therapy in droves. In other words, the best thing that conventional medicine has done to stem the tide of breast cancer is to have women “just say no” to a breast-cancer-causing conventional hormone treatment!

        So, the “significant” 1.7% decrease in breast cancer rates in over a decade includes the 6.7% drop in breast cancer due to women discontinuing conventional hormone replacement therapy. Instead of a new drug or surgical treatment being responsible for this modest decline in breast cancer rates, the decline is actually due to women avoiding a dangerous conventional drug.

        This also begs the question — if we are to believe that a 1.7% drop in cancer incidence is “significant,” how come the 2.7 increase between 1995-1998 was not also “significant”? And how come the 6.7% drop when millions of women stopped conventional HRT isn’t WAY significant? (1) Are we perhaps over-selling the “winning the war” statistics in order to give people a warm fuzzy and encourage them to keep contributing?

        II.) Much more is known about how to prevent cancer than how to cure it.

        Of the millions of dollars raised and donated to conventional cancer research, how come none of this money — nay, not even a little bit of it — is spent educating women on prevention? After all, an ounce of prevention really IS worth a pound of cure.

        Forget the measly 1.7% decline in breast cancer rates over the past 9 years, let’s talk about what is known about prevention. The preventive aspects of breast cancer, and how much the risks can be lowered, make the “statistically significant 1.7%” look even more ridiculous. Consider the truly huge improvements in breast cancer rates that could be achieved with known preventive measures.

        Overweight/obesity. Fat cells manufacture estrogen. We already know about the estrogen/breast cancer connection. The fatter a woman, the more breast cancer risk, at least for post-menopausal females. How big is this risk?

        Women who gain 55 pounds or more after age 18 have a 50% greater risk of breast cancer compared with those who maintained their weight. A gain of 22 pounds or more after menopause was associated with an increased risk of 18%, whereas losing at least 22 pounds after menopause and maintaining the weight loss was associated with 57% lower breast cancer risk. In case you missed this, let me repeat, a whopping FIFTY-SEVEN PERCENT DECREASED RISK by losing 22 pounds. (5)

        This is incredible news. Instead of putting pink ribbons on buckets of fast-food chicken, why aren’t these “concerned” cancer organizations telling women to back away from the fried chicken, shed a few pounds and drop their risk of breast cancer like a rock?

        Exercise. Invasive, estrogen-receptor negative cancers (less common, more deadly) can be reduced 55 percent by long-term, strenuous physical activity or 47% by long-term moderate physical activity. This amounts to 5 hours of exercise per week. (6) Let’s see…. a 47% drop compared to a 1.7% drop? “Long-term means you start exercising when you are a young woman and continue weekly exercise throughout life. Shouldn’t some of the “little pink ribbon” money be spent educating young women about the profound reduction in cancer risk from a modest amount of exercise, instead of just selling annual mammogram screening?

        Even if you didn’t start exercising as a younger woman, it’s never too late to benefit. In one study from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) as little as 1.25 to 2.5 hours per week of brisk walking reduced a woman’s risk by 18%. (7) Let’s see… 18% vs. 1.7%… Did you hear any of this from the “little pink ribbon” sponsors?

        Alcohol contributes a small additional risk. Women who drink 2-5 drinks per day have 1 1/2 times the risk as non-drinkers. The effect is magnified in women who use conventional hormone replacement therapy. (8) This amounts to a small increase in risk, but remember — all the millions of dollars of “little pink ribbon” money have amounted to only a small decrease in risk.

        3.) Why should you and I fund Big Pharma’s search for newer, deadlier, ineffective drugs that they are going to profit from? Fund your own darned drug studies I say …

        Alrighty, so you run your butt off in a “race for the cure,” to raise money to assist drug companies in researching more drugs. Some of these drugs cost upwards of $10,000/month to the patient (while costing the drug companies a pittance).

        And then YOU get breast cancer. Do you get a discount because you helped Big Pharma fund a drug that might increase your survival by 8 weeks? NO. You, or more likely your insurer, will be paying full price for your treatment.

        Mike Adams sums this warped situation up succinctly:

        “For most diseases, the race for the cure is really just a way for drug companies to shift R&D costs to suckers. You fund the R&D, and then you get to pay full price for the drug they drummed up thanks to your generous donation. “ – Mike Adams

        Dr. Myatt’s Summary: millions of dollars spent over the last 3 decades and what do we have? A mere 1.7% reduction in breast cancer mortality. And most if not ALL of this decrease is due to declining use of conventional hormone therapy.

        On the other hand, we already know simple ways to slash breast cancer risk by up to 50%

        Until some of the “little pink ribbon” money goes toward public education about how to reduce risks, and some of the money goes to research non-toxic treatments, and until the “little pink ribbon” folks don’t whore their honor by allowing their icons on junk food, I’m keeping my money closer to home.

         

        References

        1.) Altekruse SF, Kosary CL, Krapcho M, Neyman N, Aminou R, Waldron W, Ruhl J, Howlader N, Tatalovich Z, Cho H, Mariotto A, Eisner MP, Lewis DR, Cronin K, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Stinchcomb DG, Edwards BK (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2007, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2007/, based on November 2009 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, 2010. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html#incidence-mortality

        The joinpoint trend in SEER cancer incidence with associated APC(%) for cancer of the breast between 1975-2007, All Races Female

        Trend Period

        -0.5 1975-1980

        3.9* 1980-1987

        -0.1 1987-1995

        2.7 1995-1998

        -1.7* 1998-2007

        If there is a negative sign before the number, the trend is a decrease; otherwise it is an increase. If there is an asterisk after the APC then the trend was significant, that is, one believes that it is beyond chance, i.e. 95% sure,

        2.) NCI website accessed 10-26-10:

        http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/2007/breastincidencedrop

        3.) McCarthy JD. Influence of two contraceptives on induction of mammary cancer in rats. Am J Surg. 1965 Nov;110(5):720-3.

        4.) Breast Cancer , accessed 10-26-10: http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/new_research/20100924.jsp

        5.) Morimoto LM, White E, Chen Z, et al. Obesity, body size, and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer: the Women’s Health Initiative (United States). Cancer Causes Control. Oct 2002;13(8):741-751.

        6.) NCI website accessed 10-26-10:

        Ref: http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/ncicancerbulletin/archive/2008/102108/page8

        7.) http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/DetailedGuide/breast-cancer-risk-factors

        8.) http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/DetailedGuide/breast-cancer-risk-factors

      • We Get Questions! How To Become Female?

        We Get Questions – Wow, Do We Get Questions!

        A writer asks us by email:

        please advise on initial hormones i can buy to become female

         

        Whoo-ee! What a question!  Not because it is an unusual request – after all, “gender re-assignment” therapies and treatments are not all that uncommon these days, thanks to the miracles of modern medicine – but because of the degree of complication involved.

        We have written before about hormones – sex hormones, neuro hormones, hormones that control and regulate everything from our blood pressure to our blood sugar to our feeling of satiety after we eat. Whenever we write about hormones it becomes painfully obvious that the endrocrine system – the body’s chemical messenger and control system – is an incredibly, exquisitely complicated, delicate, and important part of our physiology.

        Almost every time we write about hormones it is in response to a question like this – someone asking for a simple, easy answer to very complicated problems. Invariably the writer is asking for an easy, quick, “take these two herbal supplements” kind of answer.

        This is somewhat akin to asking how to drive a car blindfolded – on unfamiliar roads in heavy traffic no less!

        This writer knows where he wants to be: he wants to be a she.

        He understands that a large part of being female is in having a full compliment of female hormones.

        But he doesn’t know where he is right now in terms of his current hormone balance.

        You see, we all – male and female – have both male and female hormones in our bodies; just in different ratios and balances.

        In order to safely and meaningfully effect the desired change, this person will need to know where he is starting from and more importantly, how he will get to where he wants to be without putting his health at serious risk or wasting massive sums of money on things that don’t work – no matter how easy it might sound on the internet forums.

        For those that want a small sample of how “simple” sex hormone analysis and regulation can be please see the following simplified diagram: Metabolism of Select Steroids – this is one of the worksheets that Dr. Myatt uses when she is doing hormone replacement or balancing work with a patient.

        As you look at this chart you can see that cholesterol (yes, that evil substance that Big Pharma wants to medicate out of existence with their statin drugs!) becomes pregnenolone (which most folks think of as a female hormone) which goes on to become any number of other hormones, including that most male of hormones, testosterone!

        So you can see that it is not quite as easy as just “taking a female hormone” in order to become female – it just won’t work.

        My first suggestion to the person who sent us the inquiry would be to start out by performing a Comprehensive Hormone Analysis to see where he is at in terms of a start point. Then he will want to consult Dr. Myatt to get an idea what might be involved in making the hormonal changes that he desires.

        This will be a long, difficult, and trying road for this person to travel – and unless this person is very-well trained and experienced in working with hormones, it could be filled with risk if he chooses to travel it alone.

        My second suggestion to this person is that he should evaluate carefully his nutritional status and overall health and begin using the basic healthy optimal-dose supplementation using things like Maxi Multi, Maxi Greens, CoQ10, and Maxi Marine to ensure that his body is as healthy as possible to undergo what may well be some stressful times to come.

        Fortunately most of Dr. Myatt’s patients are satisfied with the gender that has been assigned to them, and her work with them is much easier – though no less complicated – when she works with them to optimize and balance their hormones for optimal health and well-being.

        If you feel like your hormones “just aren’t right” – if you are easily fatigued, easy to cry or become emotional, have inappropriate anger or sadness, are overweight and unable to lose weight, losing hair or having unwanted hair, or having hot flashes or other symptoms of hormonal imbalance you may want to consider performing a hormone analysis and consulting with Dr. Myatt too.

        Hormone balancing is a small investment in good health that has a huge payoff!