Archive for the ‘general’ Category

Coronavirus—Bill Sardi Answers Listener Questions #1

One positive thing about the covid-19 crisis is that we’ve been forced to learn more about how our immune systems work and how nutrients protects us. That knowledge will be helpful next year for avoiding the seasonal flu. This year, the flu has reportedly claimed 24,000 American lives. (Why no official panic and quarantine about that you might ask?) Most of those are always from pneumonia and among elderly people with underlying conditions…exactly the type of problems we’ve been working to solve in the recent blogs, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Bill Sardi answered listener’s emailed questions on the show last Saturday. But, we didn’t have time to get to them all, and so he agreed to finish them up by email. I will cover more next week. If I answered the question, I’ve shown it this way [MW = in brackets].

Dave: [I asked this question at the very end of the show Saturday, but we just didn’t get to it]: “ordering take out at restaurants during the COVID-19 epoch-Can the virus (any virus/cold) be transmitted via food? Say an infected person touches the food and you eat it a half hour to an hour later. [MW = The CDC says, “Currently, there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food.”.]

SARDI: “The current insanity is to run and hide from the virus, which was obviously in circulation last year but erupted when the earth turned on its axis away from the sun (winter solstice).  The answer can’t be “never eat food again.”  We don’t eat sterile food.  Stomach acid is our last line of defense before germs get to the blood circulation and then the white blood cells take over.” [MW = Please remember that heartburn drugs block the stomach acid that is critical for this protection.]

How long is the virus contagious for?

SARDI: “Too long” [MW = the guidelines change. The most common current advice is to “ask the doctor if it is okay to go out in the community”.]

Trudy: “how to stay safe when someone in the house has it?”[MW = “the CDC lists prevention tips.”]

SARDI: We can wash and wash; disinfect and disinfect; go hide in the bathroom and let others shove your meals under the door.  This is almost useless when these viruses are highly transmissible and ubiquitous (everywhere).  The coronaviruses were contacting you in summer but because of your immunity, largely due to higher vitamin D levels, you never got ill.  The incidence of the flu is cited at 65% in winter and just 1.5% in summer.  Source: Vaccine, Volume 38, Issue 2, 2020.

And are there products for stopping the virus from giving you pneumonia?”

[MW = “The best way to avoid pneumonia is to build your immune system’s ability to defeat the virus before things go that far. The nutrients we’ve discussed extensively in recent weeks are key—especially vitamin D, Vitamin C and zinc. Some are covered in this helpful Bill Sardi article (one of many on that site). I recommend Formula 216 for the vitamin C and Molecular Multi for routine zinc nutrition. (Also, Mr. Sardi has created a genius zinc formula which can be preordered.) As for vitamin D, the best source is sun exposure. My favorite supplement is the liposomal spray D/K2 product on this page. But, if taking capsules, at least take enough.”

Gayle: “I have been told the zinc supplements I take are blocked. What can I do to get the zinc to be used in my body?”

SARDI:  “Zinc is tightly controlled in the human body by binding to its protein metallothionein.  Taking the trace mineral selenium will knock off some zinc and make it more fully available.” [MW = I think the amount in Molecular Multi is enough for that purpose.]

Cathie: “If I am taking Longevinex and Molecular Multi (2 tablets) every day, do I need to get more quercetin during this time?” [MW = Those two products contain quercetin which among other benefits enables zinc to enter infected cells. That Hydroxychloroquine also does that and may actually be the reason the drug has some positive affect against the coronavirus.]

SARDI: Quercetin would be appropriate once you have a cold or flu.

Martie Whittekin asks: The drug Hydroxychloroquine is being touted as an experimental cure for covid-19. I made this page with its potential side effects. Also, more than one study shows that Z-Pack (Azithromycin) used in combination increases the risk of fatal heart attack among those already at risk. This is an example of a tough risk/benefit call because that drug does reduce deaths from pneumonia in the elderly. Is there a safer alternative we can ask [beg] doctors to give a patient who is in serious trouble?

SARDI: “Hydroxychloroquine is far less problematic than Chloroquine which is fraught with side effects.  While chloroquine has side effects, this drug is not for daily prophylaxis (prevention) but for treatment once shortness of breath and chronic cough have set in.  Not for long-term use without a doctor monitoring, but this drug is widely used in the 3rd world for malaria and is not considered unusually troublesome.  Chloroquine is a zinc ionophore (meaning that it helps zinc enter virally infected cells), so effectiveness is dependent upon the person having enough zinc.  Azithromycin antibiotic can be mimicked with cinnamon oil or oil of oregano.  I give this advice for home-based self-care recognizing there is no way government can provide enough medicine for all even if there is a cure.” 

Next week’s questions are about long-term immunity, antibody testing, NAC and more.

Coronavirus, What to Do Naturally—Part 3

First a brief list of natural approaches, then a list of great resources about covid-19. One resource noted below is a new article I wrote on drugs we should be careful of regarding the virus.

More on zinc. It has been demonstrated in the following link that the trace mineral zinc inhibits the replication of coronavirus in infected cells through zinc’s ability to block virus RNA synthesis. Coronaviruses are RNA type viruses. Zinc also plays a central role in the prevention and treatment of coronavirus because it is required by the thymus gland to make certain immune cells (T-cells) that fight respiratory viruses. Daily maintenance of zinc is important. 

Zinc as a remedy has recently “come out of the closet” as a last resort.  Yet it has been available for decades.  Research noted that only zinc acetate lozenges that deliver a given amount of zinc have been found effective at reducing the length and severity of upper respiratory infections such as colds once you have one.  Most zinc lozenges on the market do not deliver sufficient dosage to quell a viral infection.  About 75-92 milligrams a day has been shown to be effective when given in a slow-release lozenge.

Quercetin  and EGCG.  Quercetin, an extract from red apples, and EGCG from green tea improve zinc utilization and facilitate zinc entry into cells. Details in this journal article. That is also one of the actions of chloroquine, which is now being tested against coronavirus infections. 

CBD Oil. Stress hurts immune function. Watching the news or picking up a newspaper these days can be a major source of stress. Meanwhile, several anti-anxiety drugs are linked to increased pneumonia (the main concern with Covid-19). Hemp-derived CBD oil may be best known for helping pain and inflammation, but it has also been shown to relieve stress and even anxiety. We recommend PlusCBD because of its quality. (As a bonus, PlusCBD gives our listeners 20% off with the code: NATURE.)

Aloe vera. As Sherry Rogers, MD told us, disease comes from only two issues—reduced nutrient levels and/or increased toxicity. That rule applies to infectious diseases because those factors weaken the immune system. Studies show that Lily of the Desert aloe vera helps both elements of that health equation—it improves nutrient uptake and detoxification. Note: the page at that link also tells how to make your own hand sanitizer with Lily of the Desert Aloe Gelly! (It will be better for your hands than commercial products.)

More on vitamin D. Sunshine on our skin was the original plan for acquiring vitamin D. As you know, that isn’t as practical in the winter…hence we supplement. Some vitamin D supplements are better absorbed and utilized than others. Dr. Michael Einsohn introduced me to the vitamin D offered in the Thermography Center online store. (phone consultations available.) Besides being a sublingual spray, it is micellized. That makes the D more easily accepted into your bloodstream. Vitamin D is also balanced in that product with vitamin K2 that is so important for getting calcium into bones and keeping it out of arteries. This is the vitamin D our family uses…but if not this one, please take vitamin D. We previously wrote that 5,000-8,000 IU is typically needed to move blood tests into the healthy range. Read more.

Humidity. Studies show that coronaviruses do not like heat or humidity. That is one reason they usually wane in the spring. They don’t like indoor humidity either and that is something you can control. Think humidifiers, a pan of water on the stove, keeping water in the bathtub, etc.  Even a facemask helps keep your airways more humid. (Seems especially useful for the dry contaminated environment of an airplane.)

USEFUL CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES

Coronavirus What to Do Naturally—Part 2

OPTIMISM.  Do you like the “I survived Corona Virus 2020” t-shirt in the photo? (You can buy one at this link – note, we are not affiliated with them.) Virtually everyone reading this blog will have soon earned the right to wear one because the odds of contracting the virus are very low and the chance of it being fatal are even lower. Be comforted knowing that because of incomplete and unreliable data, the guesses about the lethality of the disease are just that. Surely, the percentage is lower than what has been publicized because those who are seriously ill are being tested in much greater proportions.  The cruise ship Diamond Princess is not a great example because people were quarantined on board in huddled in their cabins (away from sunshine). The death rate there was 1%, but remember that the infected were almost all elderly folks with other health conditions. Some experts believe the death rate will ultimately turn out to be less than half of that and similar to the annual flu.

Another reason for optimism is that summer is coming soon and with it, we are told, RELIEF from the coronavirus.  By the way, you may have heard a rumor that you can protect or cure yourself by heating up your nose and sinuses with a hair dryer. I could find no science supporting that DIY idea, but I did find this debunking video.

I’ve been collecting tidbits to help us withother ways to keep the coronavirus at bay and more importantly get our immune systems up to the challenge of the times. You’ll see that I often quote Bill Sardi. He was well informed to begin with but has been very diligently researching these topics.

NEXT WEEK: I will provide a list of good resources and give details on several medications that require extra caution in a virus outbreak.

Vitamin D UPDATE. I discussed this crucial immune vitamin last week, but I didn’t mention fully that at the first sign of illness, we should take 50,000 IU of D, but also continue that level for 3-5 days.

Intravenous Vitamin C. This quote from Bill Sardi’s what to do article is exciting.  “In China, 50 cases of moderate to severe COVID-19 coronavirus infections were given intravenous vitamin C.  Hospital stays were shortened by 3-5 days.  There were no side effects with vitamin C therapy.  ALL PATIENTS IMPROVED – NO MORTALITY!” Also, there were no negative side effects. It is much harder to get good blood levels with oral supplements.

Oral Vitamin C – For prevention of the flu, the average person probably thinks first of vitamin C and he or she is on the right track. Most animals make their own vitamin C internally and are therefore less prone to infection. We should increase our daily supplements of vitamin C and Mr. Sardi advises “If ill, increase oral vitamin C to 3000 milligrams every 4 hours until improved.”

Vitamin B1 – Check out this interesting journal article: Is Parenteral Thiamin a Super Antibiotic? According to Bill Sardi wrote “Supplements of vitamin B1  an excellent but overlooked natural fever buster, germ-killer and lung crackle-sound. The superior forms of B1 in dietary supplements are benfotiamine or allithiamine which are preferred over thiamin hydrochloride.”  He went on to point out that refined sugar, alcohol, tea, coffee, carbohydrates (bread, pasta, cereal) deplete vitamin B1.

Diet. Of course, eating healthful foods prevents future disease, but it also helps right now build resistance to whatever is going around. Keeping it simple: vegetables and spices = good / sugar = bad. We might crave comfort foods but should remember that sugar suppresses immune function for hours.

Eggs. Mr. Sardi suggests “you might add eggs to your diet, and the diet of your kids.  An egg contains 100-150 milligrams of immunoglobulins – proteins in blood serum aka antibodies that bind to antigens such as bacteria and viruses, resulting in their destruction.  Egg yolks are actually an alternative to antibiotics.  Whereas specific monoclonal antibodies are what modern medicine relies upon, polyclonal antibodies in eggs provide broad protection against all strains of flu viruses and cold viruses, like coronavirus.  Egg yolk powder is also an alternative.  You can read about the history and application of egg immunoglobulins at Knowledgeofhealth.com.  Egg yolk powder is also widely available.”    

AVOID the danger of immune overreaction. In some cases, an immune system that is supersensitive can respond too strongly and cause big trouble. (Think of chasing a mosquito in the house with a flame thrower.) In one of Bill Sardi’s articles, he states “To normalize the immune response so that white blood cells called neutrophils don’t over-respond to produce inflammation themselves which then results in your lungs filling up with fluid [that in turn can lead to pneumonia], vitamin D and the red wine molecule resveratrol combined normalize the immune response.”

Resveratrol by itself is a potent anti-viral agent against coronavirus.  In a lab dish, resveratrol “completely blocked viral replication even at a low concentration.” 

Hydration. There are many health reasons to stay hydrated, but I’ve seen a suggestion that taking a few sips of water every 15 minutes will wash viruses down through your throat and into the stomach. Once there, your stomach acid should kill all viruses—unless you are taking acid-blocking heartburn drugs. (Those meds have been shown to increase the risk of pneumonia.)

Strengthen your cell membranes. Sherry Rogers, MD told our radio audience that if the membranes of our cell are functioning properly, viruses cannot attach and get inside to replicate. Her advice: cod liver oil, phosphatidyl choline and the whole vitamin E family. See a recent blog for details such as brands and dosage.

Stem Cell Therapy.  Since stem cells support immune function, it stands to reason they would be helpful for prevention and even in case of dealing with infection. In the past, we’ve highlighted some remarkable results using human umbilical cord stem cells even with advanced cancer. I recently got stem cell therapy for general health. There are now at least 3 clinical trials underway in China studying stem cell therapy specifically for covid-19 pneumonia, Here is one example. Read more about stem cell therapy in my Library article.

Negative Ions. A listener asked me if a negative generator would be a good idea these days and suggested taking one to the hospital for a relative. I was a bit embarrassed that I hadn’t thought of that because I know that negative ions remove bacteria and allergens. In searching PubMed, I found that there has been a lot of research on negative ions as a way of reducing airborne transmission of viruses. Here is an example (and it lists 46 other studies in the notes). Ionbox is the brand I use.

Good sleep and exercise. Those along with a good diet are among the virus preventive recommendations of the Kotsanis Institute which is also preparing hydrogen peroxide mixtures for their patients to use at home in their nebulizers.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

  • “If you need 144 rolls of toilet paper for a 14-day covid-19 quarantine, shouldn’t you have been seeing a doctor long before this?”
  • Day 2 without sports: “Found a young lady on my couch. Apparently, she is my wife. She seems nice.”

Do you think it is insensitive to tell jokes during a pandemic? Well, consider this: the idea “Laughter is the best medicine” goes back at least as far as Henri de Mondeville, a professor of surgery in the 1300s. Many studies have demonstrated the health benefits of laughter. Laughing helps with pain, sleep loss, depression, stress, blood pressure, blood sugar and it protects the heart. More to the point for the times, laughter increases natural killer cell activity and in other ways improves our immune defense against respiratory infections.

HBN Coronavirus Tips and Review-PART 1

I am NOT happy that I need to write about this topic again. But, as you may have noticed, this pandemic is still spreading and there is currently no end in sight.

We get lots of advice from the usual news channels about how to slow the spread of the virus. (Here is an excellent short video explaining how pandemics occur and why the new rules are not an overreaction.) So far, I have not heard a peep about keeping our immune systems in good shape so that we don’t become one of the statistics.* Eventually, we will probably all be exposed to covid-19, so immune support is crucial and this blog seems needed. At the end, I have a joke because laughter is good medicine too (see today’s photo).

The main symptoms of this coronavirus are fever, tiredness, dry cough, and shortness of breath. Please forward this blog link to friends and family that are concerned about covid-19

Conventional advice that may make sense. Efforts to slow the spread of the virus are logical…for one thing, we want to avoid a surge in cases that could overwhelm hospitals. One common suggestion is to avoid people who are sick. That isn’t too hard. But it is trickier to stay away from virus “carriers” who are contagious, but who do not show symptoms (A clinic in China reported that 80% of infected individuals experienced NO symptoms whatsoever) or even know that they have been exposed. So far, young and healthy folks like college kids have shown little interest in protecting others by practicing “social distancing”—e.g. staying 6 feet (cough zone) away from others and avoiding crowds of all sizes. Recent news that there has been an increase in serious consequences of covid-19 among the young might get their attention.

However, since those under age 25 seem to feel that they are invincible, I’m not holding my breath. Husband Bill and I (like many of you I suspect) are in the statistical “high-risk age group” and so will continue staying away from crowds and work to improve our immune systems!

Sunshine. The news reports make it sound as though the virus itself is afraid of warm weather. It may actually be heat-sensitive and that makes one wonder if keeping the rumors about aiming a hairdryer up your nose is a good idea. (I could find no proof and It is apparently not useful or safe.). However, I agree with respected experts who believe that the more compelling reason such diseases wane in the summer is that because the earth has tilted the northern hemisphere (us) toward the sun again, there is more sunshine. Also, people are outdoors more often with fewer cloths and with increased sun exposure, make more vitamin D. (See next item).

Vitamin D. Because vitamin D is so crucial for immune function against viruses, please get sun exposure when you can and supplement vitamin D—more during the winter. If you’ve been tested and know what amount it takes to keep your blood levels at or above 75-80 ng/ml, great! If not, consider taking a 5,000 to 8,000 IU supplement per day. Also, at the first sign of illness, take a whopping dose of 50,000 IU for 3 days. Learn more about vitamin D. Some scientists estimate that if vitamin D deficiency was routinely treated, that could cut the covid-19 death rate in half!

Zinc. The trace mineral zinc is required to produce T-cells [one type of immune cells] which produce long-lasting immunity from exposure to a virus. We even need zinc to make vaccines effective! Because most Americans do not eat enough of the foods that are high in zinc and encounter zinc blockers like alcohol and copper, I recommend taking a zinc supplement. Molecular Multi is a great way to get 30 mg of zinc in a good form along with many other important nutrients.

Garlic. Garlic was found to be very protective during the bubonic plague (the “black death that devasted Europe in the 14th century). Bill Sardi formulated Garlinexto release antimicrobial allicin like what you’d get from eating fresh garlic. (Other garlic supplement brands that say they have allicin really do not.) Kyolic garlic does not claim to have allicin. Kyolic garlic is aged to increase potency, to create new therapeutic compounds and to eliminate odor. It does its fine work for the whole body in a more indirect long-term way which has been proven in hundreds of studies. Check out their immune supporting formulas.

Pamper your gut bacteria. Because something like 75% of our immune function is in the gut, we need to make sure our probiotic army is in full force. In addition to supplementing with unique Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics, please avoid killing off your good guys with chemicals. Drugs, especially antibiotics, are prime offenders—remember that antibiotics do NOT help with viruses. There are also probiotic-damaging chemicals in tap water (e.g. chlorine), processed food (think residues of pesticides and Roundup as well as added preservatives and traces of mercury which we now know can come from high fructose corn syrup). Essential Formulas, Inc. which brought us Dr. Ohhira’s, also offers a Bee Propolis product that is immune supportive.

NEXT WEEK, Part 2 will cover diet, lifestyle, medications and advice from some of our HBN experts including how to keep your immune system from overreacting…and I have another joke to lighten the mood which threatens to be somber.

* OOPS, I found an exception to the rule…According to the Washingtonian whose expert is the same Dr. Anthony Fauci (director of NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Trump spokesperson who you see constantly on TV) surprisingly said this: “Take vitamin C. It can enhance your body’s defense against microbes. I take 1,000 milligrams a day. Many people also do not get enough vitamin D, which affects a lot of body functions, so that would be helpful, too.” Too bad he didn’t say that on a bigger platform such as network news.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Boredom. With sporting events canceled, and folks being warned away from movie theaters, restaurants, bars and parties, folks are bound to be looking for other activities. Just like as is the case with blackouts, we can like assume that 9 months from now there may be an increase in births. It has been suggested that just as millennials were named for the times, these kiddos might be called “Coronials”.

Sherry Rogers, MD Interview Notes

Dr. Rogers is the most brilliant and accomplished woman I have ever known. She is so far ahead of the pack that sometimes it is a little hard to keep up with her. This past Saturday’s show was one of those times. She discussed a fundamental reason that some people are more susceptible to the coronavirus and other diseases. These are my notes about that show:

  • Dr. Rogers claims to be no smarter than other docs (don’t believe that) and that she just followed a different path out of an urgent need to cure herself of several diseases. She ultimately learned that they had resulted from earlier diet and lifestyle missteps.
  • In fact, because her approach to healing is so very different from the mainstream, whenever she has had to take the required re-certification exams for her various specialties, she learned she had to take a week off from her practice to review her old textbooks. She prepared to give what she now knows are the wrong answers to avoid failing. I.e. conventional medicine thinks it is impossible to cure the diseases which Dr. Rogers routinely does such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc. As I’m sure you know by now, the norm is to use drugs, devices and surgery to do little more than manage the symptoms of disease.
  • None of the medical specialties look for what Dr. Rogers says are the only two causes of disease—(1) nutrient levels go down and (2) toxicity levels go up. We’ve essentially said that for many years on HBN, but I now suspect I probably got that originally from her.
  • The mainstream medical approach is fantastic in a crisis, but ineffective for overall health. Although the US spends about double the $ that any other country does on sickness care, we rank just 43rd in the world in wellness because of our unprecedented levels of chronic disease!
  • Rogers said that the first thing to do in getting well or staying that way is to get rid of the 7 toxic M’s which she says are: Mercury (we now get it from corn syrup and sugar), Meds (she said statins guarantee Alzheimer’s), Mycotoxins (from yeast overgrowth), Mangled fats (like trans fats), Manufactured toxins (like Teflon), Managed Care and Monsanto (the chemical giant that brought us aspartame and now pushes GMO’s and the toxic herbicide glyphosate in Roundup® (Note, American’s blood levels of glyphosate are 7 times higher than those of Europeans!) These contribute to the unhealthy cell membranes covered next.
  • Step 2 is to fortify your cell membranes. The cells in every tissue and organ of our bodies are protected by cell membranes. The membranes keep pathogens out and prevent virus DNA from getting in and using our cells’ machinery to create more viruses. Membranes also make substances that fight cancer cells, allow nutrients into the cell, and flush the wastes out.
  • Now to her unique take on covid-19 and cell membranes: This part gets technical for me too, but I’m excited that Dr. Rogers broke this story on HBN even before it showed up yesterday in the online science NEWS. Cell membranes create receptors (docking sites or locks) for various molecules. Healthy cells do NOT make receptors for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). That is the “lock” for the spikes on the coronavirus which act as keys—opening up the cells so that the virus can enter. The fact that unhealthy folks cells will have made many of these ACE2 receptors explains why we hear that “those with underlying health conditions are at greater risk”. Dr. Rogers then discussed why (besides the 7 M’s above) the cells become unhealthy and therefore create the unwanted receptors.
  • Because of a change in the food supply and the American diet, the composition of our cell membranes has undergone a massive shift in recent decades. As a society, we now have an imbalance in fatty acids—20 times more pro-inflammatory omega 6 than the anti-inflammatory omega 3. They should be equal! The cause is excess use of cooking oils like soy, corn, canola and the need for more omega-3 as found in fish and cold weather plants. She recommends 1 tablespoon of cod liver oil (e.g. Carlson bottled in glass) per day. 
  • Cod liver oil needs to be anchored in the cell membranes by phosphatidyl choline. (Natural food stores carry supplements.)
  • Cell membranes also need protection provided by the 8 members of the vitamin E family. Example I like. (Note, if you have heard of negative results from vitamin E studies, it is because they used only one form instead of the 8.)
  • Disease can be caused by the lack of any single nutrient and we may have no idea we are low in it. That is why Dr. Rogers recommends the Cardio/ION “crystal ball test” and analyzes the results of it during her phone consultations. (She is the only one I would trust to properly interpret the test.)
  • Regarding vitamin D blood tests. She said not fall for the outdated idea that normal is a level of 30. You want to be above 80 for good health!

Listen to that show for more information she gave about blood pressure, glaucoma, potassium levels, a-fib and more, but this already seems to be a LOT to digest in a blog, so I’m calling it a day!

ACTIVE AGING–Sarcopenia’s Enemy!

This blog was submitted by Julio A. Salado, a previous guest on Healthy by Nature. He is a popular fitness trainer in the Boston area as well as an author and an educator. I thought the topic was very important. Sarcopenia is the muscle wasting condition that is all too common with aging. Who wants to become frail?

The human body is a marvel of nature and is designed to adapt and move. Our introduction to movement begins when we are born by first being able to hold our head up, then rolling over, sitting up, crawling, squatting, and finally walking! 

Throughout each developmental phase, we progressively develop muscular strength and conditioning specific to a movement pattern. For example, crawling requires strength in the upper body, lower body, core, and stimulates brain activity. Similarly, the deep squat is a total body functional exercise that requires lower body and postural muscles and necessitates joint mobility and flexibility. 

As we move on to adolescence, the act of play becomes a training ground for muscular and cognitive development. Hanging from monkey bars strengthens our upper body, jumping and sprinting contributes to building the cardiovascular system, joint integrity and bone density. We may also get introduced to competitive sports or group activities that challenges both our physical potential and mental acuity. 

What I have described above is based on the S.A.I.D. principle: Specific Adaptation on Imposed Demands. Whether the activity is dumbbell training, calisthenics, swimming, or cycling, the body will change on a physiological and neurological level to adapt to the activity. 

We are hardwired to move because it is rooted in our species’ history. To understand the importance of moving, look back at the prehistoric age and you will realize how our species would have become extinct if we did not get moving!

The transition from teenage years to adult life brings changes that may limit our physical activity; studying, commuting, family and work demands to name a few. For some us, we’ve had to postpone or limit our own workouts but may experience gentle reminders to initiate and commit to a fitness program. Some signs could be recurring low back pain from playing with the kids, getting winded taking the stairs at work, weight gain or having a family history of high blood pressure.

Thus, we experience the downside of inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle, namely the loss of muscle strength and muscle wasting also known as Sarcopenia. Over time, muscle loss may get progressively worse and affects quality of living, especially as we age.

The good news is that the body has an innate ability to rejuvenate!  

Sarcopenia can be addressed at any age through a safe and result driven strength regimen.  

Health related benefits of resistance training:

  • Increase metabolism. Yes, you can increase your metabolism by building muscle. You will also burn more calories at rest.
  • Injury prevention. Building muscle is conducive to bone density and joint integrity.
  • Fall prevention. As you strength train, you will develop motor skills and improve balance.
  • Brain plasticity. Exercising with weights stimulates brain activity.
  • Self-empowerment and confidence to resume or explore new activities.

You’ve heard the old saying, “Age is nothing but a number”. Your chronological age does not reflect your ability to work effectively towards building a stronger and fitter you. 

Whether you have previous experience in exercise or are new to fitness, just like when you were a baby, let’s take first steps toward your goal while developing skills and lifestyle changes conducive to long term results.

There is no better time than now to experience the benefits of strength training, the secret weapon for anti-ageing.

Need some inspiration? Here’s a twenty second video clip of 89 year old pulling a sled and using battle ropes!  YouTube Video Link: https://youtu.be/_yVybryHiWY

To get started with exercises, please visit my YouTube Channel. I have over 175+ exercise videos and Playlist for Over 40,50,60,70,80+ years of age!  Link: https://www.youtube.com/fitnessfoundry

Stroke—Even the middle-aged are vulnerable—Know the signs and what to do!

It is a myth that strokes are only a risk for the elderly. Case in point, actor Luke Perry (star of Beverly Hills, 90210‘ and ‘Riverdale’ died from one at age 52! Stroke can happen at any age and apparently fame and fortune don’t protect you.

A stroke is when the brain is deprived of oxygen when either a clot travels to the brain and stops the blood flow (87% of the cases) or when a weakened blood vessel ruptures and blood floods the area. In either case, it is estimated that 1.9 million brain cells are at risk every minute the brain goes without oxygen. The area of the brain affected will determine what functions might be lost. For example, a block on the right side of the brain might make the left side of the body unresponsive or cause impulsive behavior and poor judgement. Another brain area would affect speech, vision or cause memory trouble.

Prevention is optimal and we will get to that. However, since fast action in case of a stroke can save the life of someone near you or at least lessen disability, I’d like to start with an alert to the warning signs. Getting to the emergency room FAST can make all the difference in a full recovery versus a life dealing with paralysis and disability. If you aren’t sure, err on the side of calling 911—NOT waiting and watching. And, it is probably better not to drive the person to the ER. The 911 emergency personnel will get there fast and can start treatment on the way!

SYMPTOMS. These are important clues that a stroke has occurred (from Stroke.org):

  • Face Drooping. Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven or lopsided?
  • Arm Weakness. Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  • Speech. Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
  • Time to Call 9-1-1. If the person shows any of these symptoms and even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

You will notice that the first letters of the bullets above form the word: ”FAST”. Not only is that a simple tool to help remember what to check, it is also a reminder to act quickly. (Seconds count!) Everyone in your home and office should be familiar with these signs.

Sophisticated and effective treatments include IV’s of medications to dissolve clots and a procedure called a thrombectomy whereby the medical team feeds a device from the groin through an artery and removes the offending clot.

PREVENTION

Keeping the circulatory system in general healthy helps prevent both kinds of stroke. For example, strong vessels won’t spring a leak and avoiding high blood pressure also improves the odds of having such an event. Buildups of plaque will avoid clots. Another cause of clots appears to be atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat.

Risk factors (the very type of things we talk about so frequently on the Healthy by Nature Show:

  • High blood pressure (135/85 or higher)
  • Excess weight around the waist (measuring more than 40” in men and 35” in women)
  • Triglyceride level at 150 mg/dl or greater
  • LDL cholesterol above 100
  • HDL cholesterol below 40 mg/dl for men and below 50 mg/dl for women
  • High blood sugar
  • Stress that is poorly managed

After a stroke: Stroke treatment is one area where modern conventional medicine shines. They really can work near miracles, especially if you get to them promptly. Then there is physical and occupational therapy to return diminished functions. I would certainly add the Brain Light Pro to the list of tools. It helps repair the circulation to the affected part of the brain.

Medications that interfere with nutrients and good bacteria

When Dr. Ross Pelton was on the show last Saturday, he offered our listeners a copy of his FREE Quick Reference Guide to Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletions. Click the title to download it.

One of the topics he covers is the number drugs that damage our friendly gut bacteria. My most recent book, The Probiotic Cure: Harnessing the Power of Good Bacteria for Better Health discusses the myriad ways that our gut buddies determine our health, immune function, emotional state, weight and much more. Here is Dr. Pelton’s list of the classes drugs that disrupt our collection of helpful bacteria (our microbiomes):

  • Antibiotics (well, duh!)
  • PPIs, H2 blockers & Antacids (heartburn drugs)
  • NSAIDs (pain killers)
  • Statins (cholesterol)
  • Metformin (blood sugr)
  • Opioids (pain killers)
  • Corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory)
  • Atypical Antipsychotics (mental illness)
  • Chemotherapy Drugs (cancer)
  • Estrogen meds (OCs & HRT)

Fortunately, there are gut friendly natural alternatives to most of those meds as you learn about from HBN’s guests and in the library. If you must take the drugs, at the least, make sure you supplement with Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics. To protect the bacteria from the meds, allow a couple of hours between them.

Coronavirus—facts, fiction and what to do

When should you worry about coronavirus? Worry if you are trapped indoors in Wuhan, China with people who already have the virus; you have a seriously compromised immune system; and do not have access to sunshine, supplements, or US medical care.

Why “Hair on fire”? That is a colorful term to describe unjustified panic. I do not minimize the loss of hundreds of lives in China or the 3 deaths so far in the rest of the world. My aim is to simply put the issue into a realistic perspective; calm the panic that the media promotes and remind readers of what they can do to protect themselves or failing that, recover. I’ll start there, then detail the facts relating to the media coverage.

What I should do? Don’t plan your vacation in Wuhan any time soon. Get sufficient vitamin D or at least sunshine year-round and extra in the winter because it is so crucial for immune function. (Note that an aggressive amount of vitamin D can help greatly at the first sign of symptoms. Check out those instructions and other remedies on this Library page.) To maintain immune strength, take zinc all year. Eat organic foods for many reasons and to avoid Roundup (which depletes zinc and is hard on our beneficial bacteria). If you begin to feel ill, quickly take natural antivirals like quercetin, resveratrol, elderberry, olive leaf. Eat chicken soup. (Seriously, there is science on this.)

Bill Sardi found a 2003 study showing that glycyrrhizin from licorice root was effective against the similar SARS virus in 2003. Most licorice supplements for regular use remove that component because of side effects which include elevating blood pressure. Here is a product that still contains glycyrrhizin to use short term if you contract a coronavirus-like virus.

Religious healers in India recommend you spread cow dung on your body. I’m not buying that, but it reminded me that our gut bacteria represent 70%+ of our immune competence and so we should protect them; feed them vegetables and fiber; and supplement with fermented foods and Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics.

Media, why aren’t you telling us about these important preventive and natural remedy factors???

Why spread panic? We are warned of a “grave threat for the rest of the world” that “could infect up to 60% of the global population.” One big reason to say the sky is falling is that they are covering their behinds…no authority wants to be blamed for not having warned the public. And there is no real price for them to pay if they hit the panic button in error. The general attitude will be “better safe than sorry”—never mind the damage done to world economies or having caused the creation of virtual concentration camps or having added yet one more unhealthful stress to people who already have plenty. (In 2014 the Ebola scare caused the very expensive monitoring of 30,000 people and found no positives.) Agencies and governments love an excuse to exert more control. Pharmaceutical giants stand to gain from creating a market for vaccines. Sometimes it is just politics. The media, of course, delight in a good panic (or hint of scandal) because they want our attention for their 24-hour news cycles—more viewers means more ad dollars.

The facts:

  • The coronavirus appears to be less dangerous than the annual flu or SARS which caused panic in 2003. And, like the flu, the danger is in complications experienced by a tiny percentage. Those are mostly people who are chronically ill, take immune-suppressing drugs (even aspirin deplete vitamin C which helps immune function) and those who have weak or underdeveloped immune systems—mainly because they are undernourished in immune support. Even dehydration increases the risk of complications. Being toxic certainly makes us more vulnerable. Bill Sardi mentioned that “68% of early coronavirus cases were men which is precisely the exact same percentage of Chinese males that smoke tobacco.”
  • So far, in the United States, there have been zero deaths among the 13 cases—that is 1 case in every 25 million people. (The odds of winning the Texas lottery is about the same! So far, you are about twice as likely to be struck by lightning as to even come down with the coronavirus.) Here is an article I wrote discussing in part the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic scare.
  • The death rate from coronavirus is said to be 2%. That is based on Chinese numbers and the real rate is likely very much lower because they have not been counting the mild cases who were not tested or those who never went in at all. It is hard to rely on their numbers.
  • Also, the conditions in Wuhan are less favorable for recovery than here. For example, forcing Wuhan citizens to stay indoors makes matters worse because they cannot get sufficient vitamin D. That can lead to pneumonia which is a bigger problem.

Will a vaccine save us? Don’t hold your breath. (1) it won’t be available for a year. (2) by the time it is here, the threat will likely be something else (this year, as is often the case, the vaccine isn’t a match with what is going around). (3) the toxins in the vaccine create are statistically more deadly than the typically mild symptoms of the disease. (4) the immune-compromised individuals who are likely to develop complications from the virus are also less able to do what the vaccines require—make antibodies against the disease. Interestingly, in one study, 60% of doctors don’t take the annual flu shot.

Bill Sardi Interview Review

Bill Sardi answered questions on last Saturday’s program. Nothing beats hearing him, but below is a quick review of topics covered:

  • Hangover. The Super Bowl is commonly called “National Hangover Day.” I always advise alternating alcoholic beverages with water and taking extra vitamin C. Mr. Sardi told us about a natural substance, myricetin, which you can buy in a health food store. It stops the hangover problems by blocking the GABA (relaxation) receptor in the brain. After taking myricetin for a while you might not even want to drink. I asked about sugar, but that is another pleasure receptor. He brought up the problem of yeast which causes sugar cravings.
  • Vertigo. The middle ear canal fluid determines your balance. When calcium particles build up and collect in the wrong place, it can cause loss of balance. This seems to happen more in winter when we aren’t getting enough vitamin D from sunshine and are less active. The “Epley Maneuver” is a series of positions that help the crystal move to where they aren’t a problem. Search the web or YouTube for DIY instructions or ask your doctor if he or she can do it for you. If you feel like the room is spinning, that might be a problem in the inner ear such as an infection.
  • The coronavirus. The media is in panic mode about this disease. Here is math to help put the issue into context—the 400 deaths in China, while sad, represent only 1 death in every 3.5 million Chinese citizens. Even the epicenter, Wuhan, that translates to 1 death per 27,700 people. The current disease is not as deadly as previous coronavirus outbreaks like SARS and MERS. The odds are greater for dying of the garden variety annual flu. And, as is the case with flu, being on immune-suppressing drugs increases the odds of trouble.

Mr. Sardi pointed out that coronaviruses are common all year long but can cause more disease in the winter when folks are low in vitamin D and/or malnourished as might be the case in China. Bill Sardi wrote an article covers many things you can do to improve your resistance. (Also check out my library page.) Bill said we must have enough vitamin D to activate the immune cells called neutrophils that destroy virus-infected cells. Also helpful for that are garlic and resveratrol.  Zinc is needed to allow the thymus gland to make the T-cells which create memory immunity to the virus (much better than vaccination) should it return any time during your life.

He says even vaccines don’t work right without sufficient zinc. Most people are low in zinc. That is due in part to the use of Roundup in agriculture. It contains arsenic which depletes zinc from crops. We need 30 mg a day to stay even and Molecular Multi has that in the right form. In conventional treatment, steroids deplete vitamin C, so take more in that case. Summing up, you and your kids need vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc and selenium for proper immune function.

  • Baking soda remedy. The protocol of taking baking soda on an empty stomach is for autoimmune conditions.
  • Osteoporosis. Deficiency of estrogen is the problem with bone weaking. Ask your doctor to test you and prescribe bio-identical hormones if needed. Resveratrol (only 200-300 mg) safely mimics estrogen and helps hold calcium in the bone and rebuilds. Without that (and vitamin K2 and D), supplemental calcium may go into arteries instead. Although the attention is always on calcium, these minerals are also important for bone: magnesium, zinc, manganese and boron to name a few.
  • De-aging. One proven cause of aging is the accumulation of unhelpful minerals. Removing them is one of the ways that resveratrol (BTW, I misstated the name of the Harvard expert…it is Dr. David Sinclair.) Sardi told an interesting story about someone he knows who improved remarkably after a stroke and said his memory was better than before the event.
  • Budget supplement plan: A listener asked how to maximize the effect of a vitamin program and cut costs/ Molecular Multi—buy 3 bottles and get 2 free. That gets the price down to about $1.00 a day. If need be, just take ½ the recommended dose. Vitamin D is not expensive. Magnesium citrate is not expensive. This vitamin C product protects you around the clock which makes it a bargain. Longevinex is the best form of resveratrol. Take it every other day and still get protection.

We did not get to heart disease, but here is his new article on the topic.

The picture above was borrowed from thehill.com.


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