Healthy by Nature radio show this week: Join the show in person this week! We will broadcast live from the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo at the Westin Park Central Hotel in Dallas (SE corner of Coit and LBJ, just West of Central Expressway). We’ll be right there in the lobby interviewing several exhibitors. My co-host for the day is Certified Nutritionist and Health Coach, Betty Murray. Darlene and I will also participate in both days of this important event. Last week Dr. O’Bryan discussed the important topic of gluten. If you didn’t catch it, please listen to the archive. Call the live show with questions at 1-800-281-8255. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and ways to listen nationwide.
 
Be one of the “lucky” ones
Stay well–even when you are threatened by infectious diseases, including common viruses. These rules apply to viruses named after geography (e.g. West Nile), animals (e.g. bird flu), numbers (remember H1N1?) or that unnamed crud that makes the rounds.

Avoid the infectious agent. The most obvious protection is to never come in contact with the virus spread by a mosquito bite or that guy at the office who coughs in your face. Just stay away from him (and maybe keep him busy by telling everyone that he is the best one to attend to the copier).  As for mosquitoes, Howard Garrett has the best information about natural means of stopping their spread and killing them without damaging the beneficial insects, pets and humans (most of whom are also beneficial). LINK. Most importantly, rid your yard of all standing water. For example, make sure sprinkler water isn’t collecting in low spots or plant saucers.

Maintain your internal defenses. With any outbreak there are always some people who don’t get sick. Be one of those “lucky” ones by keeping your immune system strong:

    Optimize Vitamin D status. Lack of the sunshine vitamin during the winter may be the reason that colds and flu have their own “season”. It is hard to get enough D from sunshine or food. Grandma may have only known that cod liver oil is good for you, but science now shows that its content of vitamin D (and vitamin A) are part of the reason she was right. Get a blood test and make sure your Vitamin D blood levels are in the optimum range (50-70). Most people apparently need to supplement upwards of 4,000 IU per day.

Keep your intestinal bacteria in good shape. As much as 60-80% of your immune system is in the intestinal tract. These friendly bacteria also make immune-supporting vitamins like Vitamin A. Learn more about probiotics.

Say “no” to immune zappers. If you do come in contact with a pathogen, your immune system should keep it from getting out of hand. Don’t let these factors reduce its ability to fight:

Sugar disables your immune system for hours. Refined starch (e.g. flour) almost immediately digests into sugar. (That sugar-fest that starts at Halloween and goes till Easter may contribute to their being a “colds and flu season”.)

Stress depletes important disease-fighting nutrients such as magnesium, zinc and vitamin A.

Dehydration inhibits the function of all our cells including immune cells. (Of course, filtered water is best because toxins sidetrack immune cells.)

Sleep deprivation keeps the body from making needed repairs and building strength.

Antibiotics kill off those beneficial intestinal bacteria. (Most upper respiratory issues are caused by viruses that don’t respond to antibiotics anyway.)

Call for reinforcements.  A review of a large number of scientific studies (LINK) concluded this: “nutritional supplementation and immune-stimulating and antiviral botanicals can support the body’s natural defenses, potentially decreasing the incidence of colds and flu, shortening the duration and decreasing the intensity of symptoms, and preventing complications.” They looked at nutrients like zinc, vitamin C, vitamin A and colostrum whey. Herbs included garlic, olive leaf extract, astragalas, andrographis and echinacea. One of the herb standouts is elderberry extract which appears to bind to viruses, keeping them from binding to us.

I was particularly excited by their discussion of the hormone DHEA. I use DHEA for its well-known help with energy, mental focus, mood, sleep quality, skin hydration and because it improves leanness and reduces belly fat. I never thought of as also being immune-boosting and anti-viral. As we’ve discussed on the show, our DHEA levels drop steadily after age 30. Therefore, low levels of this hormone may be a major reason why viruses cause older people so much more trouble. Apparently, supplementing DHEA substantially increases the number of many types of immune cells. In fact, one study saw a 62-percent increase in B-cell activity and a 40-percent increase in T-cell activity, along with significant increases in both natural killer cell numbers and activity. I believe that Twist25 cream is more effective than pills.
 
Consumer Reports September Cover Story, cont’d
I have been discussing one per week of the 10 reasons the magazine proposed
for worrying about supplements. Almost finished!

#9 – “Some natural products are anything but.” “Bio-identical” is the term used for hormones created in the laboratory but which are identical to those our bodies make. Vitamins can also be made to be identical to those from nature and have the same effects. It is odd that CR mentioned this issue unless perhaps they were just struggling to build a list of 10 items. (What they didn’t say but should have is that, when synthetic vitamins are NOT made identical, as is the case with dl-alpha type vitamin E, they don’t work as effectively.) Minerals cannot be synthesized. Neither can complex herbs.  A large percentage of pharmaceutical drugs were originally made in an attempt to imitate the effects of herbs. The drug package warnings show that the drugs are not as safe as the herbs they were trying to replace.
  Last Week
LINK to Archive. A food ingredient that you most likely eat every day might be causing you big trouble. And that trouble could be more than symptoms you might suspect such as heartburn, gas, or irritable bowel. Surprisingly, this food can also cause fatigue, headaches, joint pain, weight gain, osteoporosis, infertility, lupus, skin problems and much more. Dr. Tom O’Bryan talks about gluten, the cause of 55 diseases, testing and the solution. My special co-host for the day is Certified Nutritionist and Health Coach, Betty Murray.

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My first book : Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers. Subtitle: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments.

My latest book: Aloe Vera-Modern Science Sheds Light on an Ancient Herbal Remedy

The information contained in this newsletter has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The contents are for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

Copyright 2012 Martie Whittekin, CCN