HealthBeat News

Author: Wellness Club

  • Special Report On Vitamin D

     

    Our last issue of HealthBeat News was devoted entirely to a Special Report On Vitamin D prepared by Dr. Myatt and Nurse Mark. This report went out to our HealthBeat Subscribers first – as a HealthBeat Subscriber you will always get the latest, most up-to-date information and research – and you’ll get it before anyone else!

    Since that time we received a lot of feedback – most of it very positive with folks saying that this report went a long way toward clearing up the confusion surrounding this in-the-news and surrounded-by-hype vitamin. A few folks said that they had a hard time reading it in their email programs. To remedy that we have placed it onto a page on The Wellness Club website – it can be found here: Special Report On Vitamin D

    Here are the “Cliff Notes” for those who just can’t wait or who don’t want to read the fully scientifically referenced article:

    Vitamin D — The Short Course

    1.) Vit D is produced in our bodies in response to sun exposure. Vit D is also available from food and supplements.

    2.) Vit D is FAR more important to health than was previously realized. I’m talking FAR more important.

    3.) Vit D deficiency is widespread, including North America, even in sunny climates like Arizona. Many people who think they are getting enough Vitamin D from sunlight are mistaken.

    4.) How to Optimize Vit D Levels for Good Health:

    I.)  Vit D test, supplement accordingly, re-test

    II.) Supplement at 5,000IU for 3 months, then test your levels.

    III.) Don’t test, run the risk of being deficient, but take at least 2,000IU total per day. (This is still an extremely conservative dose, but much higher than the RDA of 400IU which hasn’t been changed yet to reflect the newer findings about Vit D). 

    5.) Natural ways to obtain Vit D: Foods, supplements and sun exposure.

    Read the full article here: Special Report On Vitamin D

  • Warning – Vit A Blocks Vit D Absorption – NOT!

    There is no shortage of misinformation and breathless warnings out there in the various popular natural health websites and blogs. Sometimes it seems like some of the natural health writers get a significant part of their daily exercise from all of the jumping to conclusions that they do!

    Julie recently wrote, following our recent Special Report On Vitamin D to say that she has seen an article, written by one of the “bigs” in the natural health field who enjoys a large and faithful following, that seemed to warn that by taking Vitamin A at the same time as taking Vitamin D would result in interference of the absorption of the Vitamin D. Fortunately, Julie knows that when Dr. Myatt makes a statement it is backed up by solid scientific research, and that research is never squeezed, massaged, or misrepresented to make it say what she wants it to say rather than what it actually does say.

    Julie was concerned that Dr. Myatt’s Maxi Multi Vitamins contain both Vitamin A and Vitamin D.

    Here is what Dr. Myatt had to say to Julie:

    Hi Julie:

    Hope this finds you and Yours feeling well and enjoying some emerging Springtime weather!

    It wounds like you read Dr. Xxxxxxx? Wherever you found this information, the article in Dr. Xxxxxxx’s blog was misleading (as I find many of his articles are). If you were to look up the references he provided, you’d see that the problematic doses of Vit A occur at 30,00-50,000 IU per day for long stretches of time. These are not doses that anyone would or should take except under the guidance of a physician! Smaller doses of vitamin A, under 5,000IU, do not appear to interfere with anything including vit D absorption.

    Also important is the fact that some parts of the body require pre-formed vitamin A, not beta carotene, in order to function normally. Pre-formed vitamin A is especially important to the eyes, skin and immune system.

    I am ever-watchful of our supplements including Maxi Multi to make sure our formulas reflect the best and most current science. And yes, I DO read and check out all of our references, something it does not appear to me that all newsletter-writing docs do!

    Although Maxi Multi’s contain 800IU of vitamin D, I find that many people who are deficient may need up to 10,000IU of vit D to get up to “optimal” levels. You will want to consider having your vit D levels tested so you know what ballpark of daily vit D intake you should be aiming for. Even people who live here in Arizona are turning up deficient, probably because of sunscreen, clothes and not spending enough time in the sun.

    Hope this answers your question but if not, let me know and I’ll try again!

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

  • Aspirin Or Grapeseed For Blood Thinning?

    Aspirin Or Grapeseed For Blood Thinning?

     

    By Dr. Myatt with Commentary by Nurse Mark

     

    Modern medicine is awfully quick to whip out the ol’ prescription pad and alter someone’s ability to clot their blood. Coumadin (AKA warfarin – rat poison – it’s other use) is perhaps the most popular of the prescription anticoagulants with a relative newcomer Plavix nipping at Coumadin’s heels in popularity among doctors. Since Coumadin is such an old drug and the patents have long expired and generic versions of the drug all fight for profits. Plavix on the other hand is still under patent meaning that drug giants Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis still get all those lovely profits.

    For non-prescription “blood thinners” – most doctors will recommend “an aspirin a day” for just about anything – despite recent findings that this is not only outdated but is actually downright dangerous according to a recent article in the British Medical Journal.

    Fortunately, many folks are catching on to this “you gotta take a blood-thinner” scam that conventional medicine and Big Pharma pushes on us – but the subject is still fraught with confusion and misinformation. After all, if your conventional doctor paints pictures of doom and gloom for you if you don’t follow his advice and just take that little aspirin each day… well, most folks just take it. “After all, my doctor must know what he’s doing, right?”

    Personally, as a Nurse I really dislike the term “blood thinner” – because that is not really what we are trying to do. The term “blood clotting inhibitor” would be more accurate, and what we really need to accomplish is normalization of the clotting pathways so that our blood can clot when it should and not clot when it shouldn’t.

    Here is a recent letter that is an example of the confusion and uncertainty that we see about this subject.

    Wendy writes:

    I recently went to emergency diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack. The doctor prescribed one full strength aspirin per day, which from what I have found seems a large dose. They found no reason for the TIA in all their tests. Heart & arteries are good, no brain damage they were able to detect, cholesterol levels are all below normal, no high blood pressure, blood sugar okay. I am a smoker and I have been under a great deal of personal stress. I have been taking 100 mg of CoQ10, 600 mg of L-Carnitine, Vitamin E, and I started taking grape seed extract, but got concerned when a small shallow cut bled copiously. I picked up some low dose aspirin and need to know if it is safe to take the aspirin and grape seed together. Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

    Wendy is on the right track – and here is Dr. Myatt’s reply:

    Hi Wendy:

    Here’s the full scoop on preventing TIA and blood viscosity problems: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/stroke.htm

    The whole purpose of taking aspirin (or grape seed) is to thin the blood, so if you noticed that you were bleeding more easily with grape seed, that what it is SUPPOSED to do! You are at far less risk of excess bleeding using herbs like grape seed, bromelain, or ginkgo than with something nasty like rat poison… uh, I mean coumadin (or even aspirin).

    As you will see on the stroke info. page, smoking is a HUGE risk factor for such an event. If you’ve ever though of quitting, now would be the time.

    You will also note the long list of imbalances than can cause such an “event.” Conventional medicine does not evaluate for all of these risk factors. I am available for consultation by phone if you would like to examine why this happened to you and how to prevent any future such events.

    Hope this helps and I hope you Kick Butt!

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

    Finally, the whole aim of the game really shouldn’t be to just “thin the blood” to somehow prevent it from clotting – it should be to normalize the blood’s ability to clot and to prevent it from clotting inappropriately. There are many herbs that will accomplish this very safely and effectively. High-dose Fish Oil like Dr. Myatt’s Maxi Marine O3 can also contribute to healthy normal blood viscosity as well as providing a host of other health benefits.

    Another supplement recently developed by Dr. Myatt is Maxi Flavone –  a superior broad-spectrum blend of antioxidant flavonoid herbs that is highly protective against a wide variety of radical oxygen species (ROS) and will also serve to normalize blood viscosity and clotting pathways.

    All this without the risk of hemorrhaging from the slightest cut or injury – just imagine what might happen if you were taking a drug like Coumadin or Plavix or aspirin- and you were involved in, say, an automobile accident…

    With that in mind, remember that Vitamin K – the “clotting factor” is essential to keeping our blood clotting mechanisms normal and healthy. Vitamin K does not make blood clot – it makes it possible for blood to clot when it needs to. Vitamin K is also important to healthy bones and deficiencies are associated with osteoporosis as well as with blood that clots poorly.

    As always, please feel free to follow the links within this article to find further information and references regarding those items.

  • What About HGH – Again!

    What About HGH – Again!

     

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Our friend Ron asks us some good questions: As a bodybuilder he is always looking to improve his physique, and like so many people he is looking for that “magic bullet” that will take the hard work out of it. We hear this often – variations of “I don’t want to change my diet, I don’t want to have to exercise, and I don’t want to have to remember to take all those vitamins – don’t ask me to change my lifestyle, just give me a pill or a shot that will make me slim and strong and young!”

    Here is Ron’s question:

    Hey Doc, as always I ask you first… Tell me about HGH. A friend of mine takes the injectable type. $400.00 a month. Is the stuff good / bad?? He does get it from a Doc. But I do know not all Docs are created equal…   Thanks  Ron

    Hi Ron,

    Here we go again with the hGH… We’ve talked about hGH before, and our thoughts on this subject have not changed – while hGH is not necessarily harmful, there are far better ways to spend $400 a month.

    Here is a tidbit taken from the Wikipedia website – a good source of information for so many things:

    Some old scientific articles have demonstrated that hGH supplementation does not significantly increase muscle strength or aerobic exercise capacity in healthy individuals. While it is possible that there are some advantages, such as an increase in lean body mass, it is also evident that benefits are being exaggerated by some for commercial gain and ineffective products are being sold to unsuspecting consumers. [emphasis added]

    Newer studies have shown that hGH supplementation in adults can improve body composition by increasing muscle mass and decreasing fat mass. It may also improve bone density, improve muscle strength, improve cardiovascular parameters such as LDL cholesterol, and improving the quality of life. In my opinion it is highly likely that these improvements are as much a result of the exercise and workouts that the people who use hGH do as they are to the hGH alone. In other words, if you diet, exercise and work out you are going to see improvements – hGH or not!

    The use of moderate doses usually has no side effects. However – BUT – and this is a big BUT – hGH is not a “magic bullet.” You cannot be given an injection of hGH and expect to be miraculously transformed into some sort of real-life “Incredible Hulk” as Lou Ferrigno was in the movies. You cannot expect to lose fat mass without reducing your dietary intake, and you cannot expect to increase muscle mass and strength without exercising. It just ain’t gonna happen!

    Now, as for your friend:

    Fortunately he is being sold “the injectable type” – so he is not being totally “ripped off.” The pills and sprays and other potions that claim to provide hGH are bogus. The hGH molecule can ONLY be absorbed into the body when it is injected. When it is “snorted” in a spray it is too large to be transported across the mucous membranes into circulation and when it is ingested orally it is simply broken down and digested. Taken from the DEA website:

    Various oral preparations (e.g., sprays and pills) purported to contain hGH are also marketed and distributed. However, hGH is only bioavailable in the injectable form. The hGH molecule is too large for absorption across the lining of the oral mucosa and the hormone is digested by the stomach before absorption can occur.

    Now, you remember that I said moderate hGH use usually has no side effects – but not always. Some side effects reported by previously healthy adults after taking high hGH doses include:

    • Edema (fluid retention and swelling)
    • Joint pain
    • Carpal tunnel syndrome (possibly related to edema)
    • Hypertension (possibly related to fluid retention)
    • Insulin resistance, diabetes and other problems with glucose metabolism
    • Gynecomastia (enlargement of male breasts) This is “man boobs” and NOT larger pecs!

    Long-term hGH use is not well studied, except in children for acute growth deficiencies. An increase in colon cancer and Hodgkin’s Disease has been observed with long-term use in children.

    The bad news for your friend, or more correctly for your friend’s doctor, is that unless he is prescribing and dispensing hGH for a proven deficiency of hGH (beyond the normal decrease in levels that comes with ageing) he is doing a very risky dance with the DEA, the FDA and with his medical licensing board. The government and medical boards have absolutely no sense of humor when it comes to the use of hGH for athletic performance enhancement and consider it to be a very serious offense. Here is a quote regarding “legal” uses of hGH taken from the DEA on their “drug diversion” webpage:

    Accepted medical uses in adults include but are not limited to the treatment of the wasting syndrome of HIV/AIDS and hGH deficiency.

    I’m certain that I would not want to put myself in a position where the “friendly, helpful folks” from either the DEA or the FDA might visit me to ask questions about how and why I was being given this drug – again from the DEA webpage:

    Human growth hormone is not controlled under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). However, as part of the 1990 Anabolic Steroids Control Act, the distribution and possession, with the intent to distribute, of hGH “for any use…other than the treatment of a disease or other recognized medical condition, where such use has been authorized by the Secretary of Health and Human Services…and pursuant to the order of a physician…” was criminalized as a five-year felony under the penalties chapter of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act of the FDA.

    Yikes! A federal felony conviction and five years in the slam!

    So, just what could a person do with that $400 a month that might be more effective and legal than hGH injections?

    (As always, be sure to follow the links for more detailed information and references on each of these items.)

    Start with the basic foundation of a good optimal-dose multiple vitamin like Maxi-Multi : $39.95

    Add a high-potency, top quality fish oil like Maxi Marine O3 to provide Omega-3 essential fatty acids important to muscle and heart health and for their anti-inflammatory effects : $54.95

    Be sure to take CoEnzyme Q 10 – a supplement that has solid research showing that it increased athletic performance. It is important for cellular energy and vital for heart health : $35.95

    Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Alpha Lipoic Acid are both proven to be extremely important in the transport of free fatty acids into the cells and in the proper utilization of carbohydrates as energy – something that is necessary for anyone wanting to reduce fat mass and build muscle mass : $24.95 and $19.95 each.

    There you have it – a basic supplement regimen for fat loss and muscle-building for just $175.75 a month.

    Whether you supplement with hGH or not, you are going to have to work out to build muscle. hGH will not make muscle magically appear out of nowhere. Without some raw materials what will you build that muscle with?

    That leaves plenty for some add-ons like Super Shake fixin’s – the pure high-quality protein and other ingredients will go a long way to supplying you with the raw materials your body needs to build muscle without extra carbs that will be simply stored as fat. Two Super Shakes a day for a month will set you back $231.60 and your body will thank you.

    So, for about the same as the cost of hGH injections which aren’t going to magically increase muscle mass (at least not the way body-builders want muscle mass!) you can nourish your body with fat-burning, muscle-building-specific supplements. You can give your body the raw materials and the energy-transporting machinery it needs when you do your workouts.

    Why would anyone take the chances involved with hGH steroid use for athletic performance enhancement?

    One last tidbit from the DEA:

    hGH is listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Olympic Committee as a performance enhancing drug barring athletes from using it.

    So, Ron, here is my thought on the issue: Do it right, do it honestly, do it legally, and when you have the physique that you want you can know that you have done it “fair and square” – no tricks, no drugs, no cheating.

  • Eczema – An Itchy Childhood Problem

    Eczema – An Itchy Childhood Problem

     

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Our recent article on Psoriasis generated some feedback – who knew that this would be so important for so many? There were some heart-wrenching letters – like this one from an obviously at-wits-end mom:

    Robin wrote:

    Please help me help my daughter. She will be 8 in February and suffers from horrible eczema. What she has been through with this ailment, I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. She itching is the worst and the rash caused by scratching looks so bad. Any ideas you could offer to help her would be appreciated.
    Thank You.
    Robin

    Well Robin, here are some thoughts for you on eczema:

    Eczema, while it may seem similar to psoriasis, is actually quite different. It is also a disease that can leave a parent feeling helpless and frantic to find relief for their child.

    Fortunately, eczema tends to be a disease of childhood – most kids outgrow this itchy problem. Unfortunately, they can be miserable until they do outgrow it.

    There is little agreement in conventional medicine about causes and treatments for eczema beyond those offered by the drug companies – that is, antibiotics, corticosteroids, and antihistamines – all of which have undesirable side effects.

    So, what can be done? Is there some natural substance or herb that will relieve the itch and help clear up the problem quickly?

    Sadly, no. Eczema is a complicated condition, and there is not a simple solution.

    Since there are so many things that can cause or contribute to the problem, there are a number of things that should be looked at when seeking relief. I’ll do my best to offer some places for a parent to start.

    Allergies: Perhaps the first place to look is at diet – for dietary allergies and eczema seem to go together frequently. Food allergy testing can be very helpful, and a good-old-fashioned elimination / challenge diet can be revealing. Either form of food allergy testing – the high-tech blood-test or the elimination / challenge diet – will offer best results when interpreted with the assistance of a knowledgeable doctor. For little people, the elimination / challenge diet testing may be less distressing and challenging, though more time consuming, than the blood test. More information about food allergies can be found here.

    Other allergies can trigger eczema symptoms as well. Pet dander, dust mites – anything which can trigger an allergic reaction – all should be carefully sought out and exposures reduced or eliminated if possible.

    Sugar – Many scientists and dermatological researchers feel there is a strong connection between sugar intake and eczema symptoms. Many parents report that a sugar-free diet goes a long way toward lessening their child’s suffering. Sugar is well known to compromise immune function for several hours after ingestion, and sugar intake can contribute to both candida and bacterial overgrowths. For kids this means that fruit juices, sweetened cereals, sugary jams and jellies, syrups, and other sweet treats are a definite no-no. Moms, do your kids a favor and read the labels on foods: Cut out the high-fructose corn syrup, evaporated cane juice, natural cane sugar, or whatever other misnomer the Big Food Corporations use to disguise dextrose / sucralose / fructose / lactose – sugar. Your kids may complain at first that they are being deprived of their sugary junk, but if you persevere you will be rewarded with a big improvement in overall health and behavior as well as with reduced eczema symptoms.

    Drugs and Alternatives: Conventional doctors will suggest antihistamine drugs – Benadryl is one popular suggestion – but these can be sedating and have other undesirable side effects. Grape Seed Extract is a far more natural choice with excellent antihistamine properties and no known side effects – it is well worth a try.

    Often, after children have been prescribed a round or two of antibiotics (and what child hasn’t had antibiotics!) the normal intestinal flora (the good gut bugs that help us to digest and assimilate our foods) can be seriously compromised. A good probiotic like Suprema-Dophylus can help to restore this balance.

    Bathing can dry the skin – and especially during the winter when kids are indoors (and not getting as dirty while playing) daily bathing may not be necessary. Brief baths (what we nurses call “top and tail”) using minimal soap may be all that’s needed. Brisk rubbing and scrubbing of irritated areas is definitely not what you should be doing –  try a brief gentle wash, using warm water not hot, mild unscented soaps,  gentle drying (blotting dry, not rubbing) and mild unscented moisturizers applied to the whole body to help keep that nice moist skin from drying out. Some parents have reported good results using zinc-oxide based creams such as diaper rash creams applied to irritated areas to promote healing. Just remember, as always, unscented is best!

    Humidity – or more precisely a lack of humidity as can occur during the winter heating season – can be problematic. A whole-house humidifier can have whole-family benefits, but if that is not possible then a small humidifier wherever the child spends the most can be helpful. Even simple pans of water on or near heating sources can help increase humidity and provide relief.

    Temperature – Many parents report that an overly-warm child is an itchy child – especially at night. A slightly cooler sleeping area, and not being heavily bundled may be helpful to reduce nighttime itching. Wool can be itchy even to those not sensitive to it – as can some synthetics. Cotton is often the best for children’s pajamas, and loose-fitting PJs can be more irritating than the snug-fitting knit variety.

    Clothing and bedding should be washed in unscented detergents, and double-rinsed to ensure that no soaps remain to cause irritation. Dryer sheets and other softeners should be avoided since they impart potentially irritating scents and chemical residues to clothes.

    Fingernails must be kept short and edges and corners rounded to prevent damage when the child scratches – and babies and children will scratch no matter how often you tell them not to! Clean mittens or socks to cover a baby’s hands can be helpful – but children may not be so tolerant and may be less likely to keep them on for long.

    When scratching does happen, cool compresses to itchy areas can be soothing – this is nothing more complicated than just a washcloth soaked in cool water and wrung out and held to the area.

    Finally, many parents report that stress plays a part in triggering or exacerbating symptoms – too busy a schedule, too many activities, stress at school or with homework – remember, kids need someone to talk to about stress. Also remember that your stress rubs off on your children! Try not to nag at them about scratching at the rashes and try to not be too stressed about the rashes themselves.

    Eczema in kids can be a challenge – but with patience and perseverance almost every case can be improved.