Sherry Rogers, MD on thyroid, glaucoma, pancreatic cancer and more

My radio show last week with Sherry Rogers, MD was so dense with information that I listened to it again in the archives. These are my notes. First, was our discussion of the thyroid and at the end I list caller questions and her answers. (After the program, Dr. Rogers said to mention our show for a great discount on books and her newsletter. Last time it was 20%.)

Dr. Rogers began by mentioning that billionaire, Oprah, went to many doctors trying to feel better and stop her heart palpitations. It turns out that the problem was under-active thyroid. An integrative, functional medicine or naturopathic doctor would have discovered the cause much sooner.

A great number of people will continue to be Fat, Fatigued or Forgetful (or even worse) they don’t normalize their thyroid function. Below are 9 factors that are getting in the way. (Details and literature references in the last couple years of her newsletter.)

1. Commercial testing labs use standards of “normal” that are 25 years old and were not based on healthy people. She says the goals should be “TSH” under 2 and “Free T3” over 3.5.
2. Most docs prescribe synthetic thyroid, Synthroid or the generic levothyroxin. Those only contain T4, the storage form of thyroid hormone. More effective thyroid drugs contain both T3 and T4. Most people feel much better on them and additional blood tests will convince the doctor that they are doing the job.
3. Even the best medical centers do not run a test for red blood cell selenium. The conversion of T4 to the active T3 is by way of an enzyme that depends on selenium.
4. Even the best thyroid hormone will not work if you don’t have good cell membranes. Repairing those membranes requires phosphatidyl choline, all 8 forms of natural vitamin E and cod liver oil.
5. Plastics in foods, environment, home and furnishing materials and even in medical tubing damage the thyroid-binding globulins that carry thyroid hormone around the body.
6. If there is a yeast overgrowth in the gut (e.g. Candida), we make antibodies (immune attackers) against the thyroid and the brain!
7. The increasing levels of toxicants that we are exposed to like heavy metals (e.g. mercury from corn syrup) and GMO foods not only create leaky gut (that heads us toward autoimmune disease) but are also known as “endocrine disruptors” because they damage glands like the thyroid.
8. It has also been shown that you can’t heal thyroid without adequate vitamin D. Also, if vitamin D levels are low, there is higher likelihood of autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Dr. Rogers noted that it is no surprise that studies using a dose of 400 IU which is even less than the silly RDA of 800 IU. Vitamin D at that level doesn’t show benefit because it is barely enough to protect against rickets. The researchers also didn’t check blood levels. Our vitamin D blood levels should be between 60 and 100 ng/mL. The healthiest people Dr. Rogers sees have levels between 80 and 90. (The dangers of believing what you read on the internet. WebMd says “A level less than 12 ng/mL indicates vitamin D deficiency. Hah! I think that means you are staring death in the face!) To get to healthful levels usually takes supplementation of 7,000 IU per day or more. (If it is more convenient, you can do 10,000 on weekdays.) Bile and pancreatic enzymes are required to absorb vitamin D. The body needs vitamin K2, magnesium and other nutrients to tolerate high blood levels of D. (Are you beginning to see why I recommend starting with a great multivitamin?)
9. Healthy cell membranes are the key to wellness. For example, receptors on our cells for Vitamin D and thyroid are the same. Too often they are not working because their fats are not balanced. They suffer from being too high in omega-6 (vegetable oils), omega-9 (e.g. olive, safflower, canola) and plasticizers, but are desperately low in omega-3 (e.g. fish oil and flax oil). Note that the 6’s and 9’s knock out the 3’s, so you can’t just add fish oil on top of an excess for those others. Rogers recommends cod liver oil in glass. Phosphatidyl choline is also required. She says use non-GMO because GMO’s cause autoimmune disease. Also required is vitamin E, but with all 8 forms as is found in Jarrow’s FamilE.

LISTENER QUESTIONS

Antibiotics vs. Probiotics. Dr. Rogers listed scary side effects of Z-pak and praised probiotics.

Glaucoma – She said the eye is not draining properly. She advised to strengthen blood vessels that line the eye canals (and in the process those everywhere in the body). Improve with sulfur, molybdenum, sunshine, and the oil change discussed above.

Pancreatic cancer. Dr. Rogers noted that cancer cells have a protein coating that prevents our immune cells from detecting and destroying them. Enzymes that would digest that coating are made in the pancreas. However, when it is the pancreas itself that is sick, there is an obvious problem. Supplementing with high doses of pancreatic enzymes is key. Learn more in her book, Wellness Against All Odds. And then read her books on the macrobiotic diet.

Oral Chelation to clean arteries– She said those are great because we are all so toxic. The oral or rectal versions of chelation avoid exposure to the plastics from intravenous tubes. Read Detoxify or Die. And to attack the problem from both ends, read about a rectal suppository version in the Blood Pressure Hoax. She likes the far infrared sauna for this and other reasons.

Calcium supplements are given in some studies. Dr. Rogers says that is stupid because aging is calcification of arteries, kidneys, etc. (If for some reason you need to take calcium, be sure to get magnesium and vitamin K2.)

T.H.I.N.K. Dr. Rogers said that if you are told you need a treatment you don’t want to take, the answer to your problem can probably be found in the acronym, T.H.I.N.K. What that means is reviewed in my blog reviewing her December interview. Listen to that interview or any other show in our archives.

Science shmience — “Evidence-based” medicine’s dirty secrets

This irony is a bitter pill. (Pardon the too-easy pun). Dietary supplements are routinely bashed as “unproven”.  No amount of epidemiological (population) evidence; hundreds of studies or thousands of consumer reports (testimonials) can convince the critics. What the medical experts claim to need is called by the reassuring name “evidence-based medicine”. That jargon means show studies that have proven that such and such (nearly always a drug) is safe and effective. Okay. Sounds good…assuming that the studies are unbiased and thorough. As it turns out that is not a safe assumption!

We’ve known for a long time that the pharmaceutical industry had too much influence with the Food and Drug Administration and Congress. (There are more than twice as many drug lobbyists as elected officials.) And, well, there is also a problem with state legislatures and state medical regulators. Oh, and then there are doctor’s offices. (Have you ever seen a vitamin C rep bringing lunch for the medical staff or delivering a commission check?) But, at least the studies are science and therefore good, right?

The quotes below are from a wonderful article about corruption in the conduct and publication of studies:

• “Richard Horton, editor in chief of The Lancet said this in 2015…much of the scientific literature, perhaps half, may simply be untrue. ”
• “Dr. Marcia Angell, former editor in chief of NEJM [perhaps the world’s most prestigious medical journal] wrote in 2009: It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines. I take no pleasure in this conclusion, which I reached slowly and reluctantly over my two decades as an editor.”
• “ Dr. Relman another former editor in chief of the NEJM said this in 2002: “The medical profession is being bought by the pharmaceutical industry, not only in terms of the practice of medicine, but also in terms of teaching and research. The academic institutions of this country are allowing themselves to be the paid agents of the pharmaceutical industry. I think it’s disgraceful.”
• While I was being interviewed for a podcast hosted by Ronald Hoffman, MD (a doc I greatly respect) we discovered that we both wrote blogs along the same lines at about the same time. Click here to read his blog and discover the important resources he offers.

Examples of the issues:

• A review paper in the NEJM found that the osteoporosis bisphosphonate drugs (e.g. Boniva) were only rarely associated with fractures. That is not the case and it is scandalous that this “article” was published as scientific fact rather than labeled an advertorial. It should have been a clue that among the article’s sources were doctors that were paid big consulting fees by the drug companies and that three of the authors were full time employees.
• More than ½ of the editors of medical journals have been shown to be on the take from drug companies. As Medium.com states in the article, “Each editor of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology received, on average $475,072 personally and another $119,407 for ‘research’. With 35 editors, that’s about $15 million in bribes to doctors. No wonder the JACC loves drugs and devices.”
• Studies done by industry have been documented to have positive results much more frequently than those completed by independent parties. Oh, by the way, over 60% of drug studies are done by the manufacturer. Think they might have a bias?
• Almost 1/3 of trials showing no benefit of drugs are abandoned. (Perhaps to fudge the study guidelines for a better showing.) Even completed studies, if unfavorable, are not likely to be published. (The companies hide them even from their buddies at the journals.)
• Until 2000 when the government applied restrictions, companies would do a bunch of studies without saying what they were even looking for. When they found something that seemed to work, then they’d announce the goal. According to medium.com article quoted herein, “Prior to 2000, 57% of trials showed a positive result. After 2000, a paltry 8% showed good results.”

Talk about fake news! To us mere mortals and even to dedicated doctors, the drugs appear to be much more beneficial than they are. Ignoring the fact that there is a con game running, anyone skeptical of the “science” is mercilessly belittled.

Whom do we blame? Well, the problem is NOT the drug industry. Their sole job is to serve their stockholders. That means they should make their products look good and sell them by whatever means is necessary. They are not public servants. As further evidence, I cite a CNBC article. It quotes Wall Street as callously advising that it is not a good business model for companies to develop a drug if it cures a disease permanently. What they love are drugs like statins that people can be instructed to take the rest of their lives.

So, if it not the drug companies, who is at fault? Universities, government and the medical journals must root out the corruption. (But who will do that since they are all on the take?) Doctors need to be legally prevented from earning commissions on drug sales. (Again, who can do that who isn’t compromised by the same corrupt system?) As consumers, we can significantly reduce the problem by finding natural non-pharmaceutical ways to prevent and reverse disease. By not using the system, we can drain its life blood–money!

Quotes for the week

“Follow the money” from the movie All the President’s Men

“Show me the money” from the movie Jerry Maguire

Will the FDA consider nutrition for disease prevention?

Those of us in the nutrition and natural medicine fields believe that we can be healthy if we give the body the all nutrients it needs for optimum function and don’t upset our systems with chemicals and other things it can’t handle. Probably most people who haven’t had the common sense beaten out of them can understand that principle. However, the US Food and Drug administration has long held an obvious love of pharmaceuticals despite their often-dangerous side effects. They also show consistent bias against claiming any benefits from foods or supplements. (Below I recount my personal one on one experience with that agency in a congressional hearing.)

That history in mind, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that current FDA Commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, MD, recently stressed the importance of improvements in nutrition as a key way to fight the rising burden of chronic disease. [Source article.] In the speech this month, he stated that improvements in diet would lessen the burden of chronic diseases, especially diabetes, heart disease and cancer even more dramatically than any medical discovery could. He said that, for example, 20% of deaths from heart disease can be attributed to diet. He advocates helping people make better food choices by improving health claims and labeling. He also wants to update what can be considered “healthy”.

Fingers crossed that they get it right this time. In the past, the FDA pushed carbohydrates and bashed all kinds of fat. For example, they told KIND snack bars that they couldn’t call them “healthy” because they contained too much fat. Fortunately, the agency relented because the fat was from nuts. Hooray!  And kudos for Gottlieb’s efforts to limit sugar and smoking. On the other hand, FDA has come down too aggressively on salt. At least Dr. Gottlieb mentioned the need for balancing salt with potassium. He wants to educate on the “nutrient density” of food which is a new and welcome thought. Dr. Gottlieb is known to be at least open to dietary supplements. Forgive my reluctance to get very excited, given that the pharmaceutical industry has such a big hold on the agency. Healing people with natural products is bad for their business.

PERSONAL NOTE: I was once in the unusual position of debating then FDA Commissioner David Kessler, MD. It was during a private hearing of the Appropriations Committee of the US House of Representatives. At the time, I was President of the trade association representing the manufacturers, distributors and retailers of the natural foods industry. Then Congressman (now Senate Minority Whip) Richard Durbin presided as I argued that dietary supplements should be allowed to disclose the scientific evidence that supports the benefits of dietary supplements. Dr. Kessler and two dozen of his top FDA officials argued that there wasn’t convincing science on nutrition…never mind that I brought as evidence several banker boxes of studies just on garlic.

We reportedly won the day. That was probably because I spoke to the Congressmen in plain English about their constituents’ needs and interests. In contrast, the FDA used science-speak and obscure legal technicalities. They did not attempt to hide their comfort with drugs and strong bias against supplements.

Dr. Kessler was a guest on my radio show in 2009. To keep the show focused on his book about overeating, I thought better of reminding him about that debate. (He was not happy that day.) I also resisted the urge to blast him for having mocked DHA in his book. He apparently didn’t know what it was. DHA (along with EPA) is a components of fish oil that is absolutely critical for the development of children’s eyes and brain. For goodness sakes Dr. Kessler is a pediatrician! Unfortunately, the vast majority of medical schools don’t yet teach nutrition.

Bill Sardi Tackles Tough Topics

On last Saturday’s Show, we answered calls, discussed some of the following topics and touched on the 3 incredible articles listed at the bottom. Here is a brief review of the show as promised.

 TOPICS:

• The resveratrol life. Bill Sardi lives the resveratrol life and credits that in large part to the fact that at 72 his eye exam revealed: No cataracts; crystal clear lenses; No glaucoma; No retinal drusen (yellow blobs. 91% of adults have retinal drusen); Vision is 20/30 both eyes uncorrected because of astigmatism (oval rather than round-shaped corneas). Note: I know he takes resveratrol as Longevinex because it is the right form, in a dose that is not too high and comes with synergistic ingredients. 23 people have reported their color blindness vanished when taking Longevinex.
• Resveratrol is truly amazing. It is anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-bacterial. It reduces blood platelet clumping, helps eliminate existing clots and retards cancer at all three stages: initiation, growth, metastasis or spread. (Take it at night?) It is good for hair growth, mental acuity, mood, “chemo brain” and pain relief. Resveratrol facilitates the disposal of cholesterol and beta amyloid plaque from the brain. It switches genes on or off in the ways we would hope for. In fact, it is more effective than the lifespan-doubling, healthspan-doubling effect of calorie restriction. Resveratrol improves 225 genes, but Longevinex affects 1711 genes which is more than calorie restriction. This link is my article on resveratrol, but I really need to update it with the newly discovered benefits.

LISTENER CALLS:

• David. His wife has fibromyalgia. Sardi suggested benfotiamine (a special B vitamin), vitamin D (even a few days at 50,000 IU), magnesium and improving gut bacteria. I suggested taking the thyroid survey because thyroid might be connected to fibromyalgia.
• Jan. Her husband is bipolar. She asked if he can take Longevinex. Bill answered yes, but 2 hours away from the medication. Also suggested adding magnesium and fish oil.

• John. His wife has hot flashes at an age when they should be over with. Mr. Sardi said to get bioidentical hormones (not synthetics or those from horse urine as commonly prescribed). Resveratrol acts as a plant estrogen that does not promote cell growth. Bill also recommended reducing sugar and carbohydrates in the diet. I suggested asking a compounding pharmacy in your area for a doctor recommendation.

ARTICLES:

• Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff): The “Count Dracula Bacterium,” Is Fast Becoming A Household Word. This a dangerous and potentially lethal intestinal infection. The whole article is very interesting and important. One critical takeaway: Those who are deficient in vitamin D are 5 times more likely to contract C-diff!
• Closing in On Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Any progress against this horrible degenerative disease is welcomed. Genes may be part of the reason for being a victim of ALS. However, I was struck by how many other degenerative conditions are affected by the same factors linked to ALS:
  • Increased risk and worsened by – antibiotics, vitamin D deficiency, nerve toxins (like mercury, pesticides, herbicides and vaccines), statin cholesterol drugs, heartburn drugs, C. diff infection, high red meat intake and corn syrup.
  • Improved by or risk lowered – Mediterranean Diet, magnesium, vitamin B1, good gut bacteria, multivitamin, resveratrol (working with quercetin and IP6), and hyaluronic acid.
• A Corner in Aging Has Been Turned; Population Reductions in Biological Age Now Being Reported. The factors listed above for ALS would all apply. Also consider the information at the top about resveratrol and genes.

It is just me saying this, but I believe that starting with a supplement base of Molecular Multi, added vitamin D (to get blood levels to 75 to 100), magnesium, fish oil, and probiotics (Dr. Ohhira’s) would be helpful for any of the above and pretty much anything else I can think of. Add Longevinex if you wisely want the benefits of resveratrol we discussed above.

Dangers lurk in the center of the grocery store

The “foods” on which industry makes the most profit are displayed in the boxes, packages and cans displayed in the middle of the store. Interestingly, that is also where we find the products we should avoid to become or stay healthy. For example:

• Cereals, cookies, crackers, breakfast and energy bars, candy, starchy snacks, lunch cakes, pastries, pancake mix and so on. As I’m sure you know, those contain refined flours and sugar that play havoc with our blood sugar leading to prediabetes. They are also fattening. Not only is the starch and sugar harmful to our important gut bacteria, so are the artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and manufacturing ingredients in them.
• Breads and other grain products present a variety of challenges. Read this blog on 12 reasons to cut back and this one on moldy corn.
• Do I really have to discuss the soft drink aisle? (Sigh. I suppose you know someone that needs to be told.) High fructose corn syrup and chemicals provide a jolt to our blood sugar and pH. Also, as we discussed during the interview with Dr. Seneff from MIT, corn syrup is typically contaminated with mercury. Then there are the “diet” sodas. Except for those sweetened with stevia, the low-calorie drinks are really no better for weight loss. See Splenda® in the next item.
• In the juice aisle, some of what is marketed to look like fruit juice is really a bunch of chemicals and high fructose corn syrup. Even the fruity looking drinks that are real fruit deliver a lot of sugar that is hard for the body to handle. The ones that are “lite” are often sweetened with Splenda® (sucralose). The makers of that artificial sweetener poo-pooed early reports that it was hard on intestinal bacteria. A new study shows the problem is worse than we thought. It promotes the wrong kind of bacteria and worsens the imbalance that creates trouble for those dealing with Chron’s Disease.
• Cans are lined with BPA which is a hormone disruptor. Inside many of them are foods that have had the life processed out of them and contain many added chemicals.
• I could go on. While there are certainly good products in the middle of the store, we must be a lot more careful and read labels.

But then, we should be careful around the perimeter as well. Produce is usually produce, but dairy is a mixed bag. Sugary strawberry milk sits next to plain milk. Yogurt can have a lot of sugar or Splenda. (See above.) American “processed cheese food” sits next to healthier Swiss. In the meat section, we should watch out for processed meats with additives.

And, all that is before we start upgrading to organic produce and pasture-raised animal products and wild caught fish. Getting healthy is indeed a journey, but hopefully we are headed in the right direction. If you know someone just getting started, maybe refer them to ABC’s of Healthy Eating,

Even tiny doses of poison will add up to big trouble

In murder mysteries, sometimes the villain adds a drop of poison to someone’s daily tea or muffin. The damage silently accumulates over time and then the poor victim dies “suddenly” of unknown causes. No one suspects the culprit.

Unfortunately, the same thing is happening to all of us and there are many villains. Multitudes of entities are responsible for chemicals in tap water; herbicides and pesticides on produce; antibiotics in chicken; hormone disruptors in plastic bottles; cans and register receipts; formaldehyde and other chemical fumes coming from new furniture; pesticides sprayed in neighborhoods (by the city); dangerous lawn treatment chemicals; heavy metals in vaccines and secondhand smoke; mercury in sodas; and industrial chemicals spewed into the air we must breathe. As you will see below, body care products can also be trouble. The list goes on and on and on.

None of the many culprits will take their share of the responsibility when we turn up with obesity, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, thyroid trouble, dementia, infertility, and so on. Each perp says, “who me?” and declares that the amounts are too small. They also point to short term animal studies of low amounts and claim there is not harm. Not only are there scant long-term studies, I have seen none that look at the combinations of toxicants or at their negative effect on our critical but delicate gut bacteria.

Humans are made to detoxify normal stuff.  But, never in our time on earth has it been necessary to get rid of soooo much crap constantly. To make matters worse, not all of us have sufficient nutrients that the body requires to complete the detoxification processes. Therefore, the junk accumulates in our cells and tissues. That breaks Healthy by Nature’s “prime directive #2”—Don’t gum up the works. (Directive #1 is to give the body everything it needs for optimum function.) We can end up like the camel graphic. (My friend, the late William Crook, MD allowed me to tweak it.)

We discuss detoxification on the radio show periodically (and in my Digestive Wellness Course). However, it is obviously best to avoid as many toxicants as possible thereby lightening the body’s load. But, we need to know where the poisons are lurking. I am fond of the Environmental Working Group for their broad, in-depth coverage of chemical threats and their activism. They offer a list of the “Dirty Dozen” most pesticide-contaminated types of produce and the “Clean 15”. The government site, Consumer Product Safety Commission covers all kinds of hazards…even safety problems with “fidget spinners”.

ConsumerSafety.org is a helpful site that provides information about dangerous products, recent recalls and even lawsuits. Lawsuits can compensate victims (if there is money left after the lawyers cut) and they can nudge companies into making products safer. The Consumer Safety folks called my attention to an article about the risks of ovarian cancer and lung disease from talcum powder. Talc is used in baby powder, eyeshadow, bronzer, blush and lip balm. Some products contain heavy metals and asbestos. (Article) Other worrisome ingredients are included in some brands of moisturizers, shaving creams, shampoo, and mascara. Another scary example is lead that is found in 61% of lipsticks even though it is not listed on the label! List of lead’s health effects.

The Consumer Safety site and EWG.org both offer details of specific ingredients to avoid. At least we should control the things we can. Going natural makes a lot of sense.

Healthy by Nature only supports products that do not use those dangerous ingredients. The personal care products from Lily of the Desert are a good example of ones we recommend. Visit DirtDoctor.com to learn about non-toxic materials for house and garden.

Bill Sardi answers tough questions

Yikes! I can’t take notes fast enough when Bill Sardi is the guest—especially when we take several listener calls…each with a different health issue. I imagine that many listeners have the same problem and so I listened to the show again and summarized his advice in this blog. This also gives me a chance to ad lib a few tidbits that I might not have been able to squeeze into the show.

• Intro. Bill Sardi said he is frustrated with the mercenary and often callous nature of modern medicine. Even though the supplement industry suffers a lot of bashing and bullying, he thinks that it has the high moral ground because, although money is made, everyone wins.
• Natural killer cells. These powerful immune agents kill cancer cells and viruses. Certain drugs have been created to boost their effectiveness, but sadly they are withheld until the later stages of disease. They also have side effects. However, nutrition can also keep natural killer cells active throughout life. And they have fringe benefits instead of side effects. For example: a great multivitamin/mineral, resveratrol, quercetin, Ip6, and ample amounts of the right type of zinc. Link to his article.
• Needless hysterectomies. Abnormal pap smears can result in hysterectomies. Birth control pills deplete the B-vitamin folate and that can cause the cervical abnormalities that show up on pap smears. Supplementing folate (which helps repair the damaged DNA) and vitamin C can reverse the problem and avoid surgery. He says that science indicates that most abnormal findings reverse eventually…at least by menopause. Read his article.
• Vertigo. Bill discussed mainly the type where you roll over or stand up dizzy and/or lose your balance. It is caused by calcium crystals in the ear canal. He suggested that older folks stay off ladders! One solution is the Epley maneuver (video). Persons low in vitamin D are at 23 times the risk for this problem. With some types of vertigo, there may be a connection to the same factors that cause migraine headaches. (An example is low magnesium. And by the way, vitamin D is needed to absorb magnesium. We are generally too low in vitamin D.) As we age, diet alone (even if it is good) is usually not enough to supply magnesium (and other nutrients). The US is a dairy country, so we get plenty of calcium, but not enough magnesium. Consider as a supplement BASE: an iron free multi, plus extra magnesium and omega 3.  I would add probiotics (Dr. Ohhira’s), Extra vitamin D, Jarrow’s Famil-E, a Kyolic garlic supplement, vitamin K2 and Longevinex. With a foundation like that, you will need fewer extras. Write him for a review of your program: [email protected].
• Digestive infections. Ruth’s 84-year old mother is battling C. Diff (an ugly GI infection that causes hard to treat diarrhea) and a urinary tract infection. Rounds of antibiotics have not solved the problem. (Plus, in my book, The Probiotic Cure, I discuss a lot of the serious problems these drugs cause. Last week’s blog reveals that some antibiotics can kill heart patients.) Ruth says her mom is on probiotics, but it may not be the right kind or enough. I suggest S. Boulardi (a friendly yeast that is not killed by the antibiotics), Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics (I’m waiting on an answer about the paste form) and another multi-strain for good measure. Do this for at least 3 months (C. Diff leaves seed-like spores behind and it takes a while to rebuild balance anyway). Give her vitamin D, up to 50,000 IU per day for a few days because it so critical for the immune system. It revs up our production of internal antibiotic activity. Mr. Sardi suggested these natural antibiotics to get off the roller coaster: oil of oregano (at her age, 3 caps 3 times a day), zinc of 30 mg., 25 mg of B6, and the mineral selenium which keeps the zinc from being bound up. There is 120 mg in Molecular Multi. Single supplements are usually 200mg. Even a marginal shortage of selenium causes big problems. These nutrients help rev up the thymus gland so it will make the naïve T-cells needed to recognize a new threat like C. Diff.
• Osteoporosis. Kathy asked about this and said she takes Jarrow’s Boneup. Unless you do not eat dairy, I recommend taking ½ the dose. Bill says the problem is lack of estrogen to keep minerals in bone. One can use bioidentical hormones from the doctor. Or use plant estrogens (phytoestrogens) such as from soy or better yet, resveratrol. It protects bones but does not stimulate unwanted growth like estrogen drugs of yore. It is really important to get adequate vitamin D (sensing a theme here?) and vitamin K2 to get calcium into the bones, not the arteries. He discussed a twin who was losing height but gained ¼ inch back when taking Longevinex.
• The calcium cancer protocol. Terry asked how to take the supplements discussed when he was on the show in February. He wrote this article that involves flooding cancer cells with calcium. You can get 1000 mg size calcium without the added D and magnesium making it easier to control the dosage of the various nutrients. He says to take the calcium, vitamin D3, selenium and IP6 rice bran all together basically on an empty stomach. We suggest also going to knowledgeofhealth.com and searching “cancer” for more articles on other approaches. He says that after chemo resistance sets in you are on your own and have nothing to lose by trying alternatives.
• Whooping cough vaccine for grandparents. Audrey is being blessed with her first grandchild but is being pressed to get the vaccine. Sardi says the disease (and some others) are not usually a problem except in high immigrant areas where folks are undernourished. If Mom is breast feeding, it is important for her to get a good supply of zinc to keep her immune system up. (Really all of us should.) The baby may not benefit from vaccine because its immune system not ready.
• Folic acid genetic variant. Ruth had a follow up question. Can she take folic acid if she has a particular genetic defect? Bill said she (and most of us) should take the “folate” form because it is not a problem like folic acid can be. Folate is the type in Molecular Multi..

So that you don’t have to go back and hunt for it, here is what I recommend as a supplement BASE: an iron free multi (Molecular Multi), plus extra magnesium and omega 3. I would add probiotics (Dr. Ohhira’s), Extra vitamin D, Jarrow’s Famil-E, vitamin K2, a Kyolic garlic supplement and Longevinex. I don’t think Bill will object.

3 noteworthy revelations from recent research

What if a drug could do this? A new study shows that in just 30 days of restoring low levels of the mineral magnesium, the following were significantly improved: poor memory, sexual energy, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, asthma, hand tremors, headaches, muscle weakness/cramping/spasms, craving of salt or chocolate and a lot more. (Can you just imagine the hoopla and pressure to take it if a drug were found with this kind of power?) We know that magnesium is involved roughly 500 processes in the body. So, that list of benefits is probably just a small sample. Unfortunately, the investigators noted that low magnesium levels are a widespread problem. I’ve always suggested magnesium as a foundational supplement. (E.g. along with a great multivitamin, probiotics and fish oil at least.) Study abstract. As for types, magnesium oxide is cheap, but poorly absorbed. Magnesium citrate is better but taking 400-800 mg a day may cause a loose stool. I like to mix it up. I use a magnesium malate in the morning and an asporotate form at night because it is more likely to be transported to the cells.

Antibiotics are a double-edged sword. We’ve talked in the past about the gastrointestinal trouble and yeast infections that can result from antibiotic use. Now, a 10-year study links an antibiotic to increased risk of death in heart patients. The drug, clarithromycin (or Biaxin), is commonly used to treat infections of the lungs, ears, sinus and skin. Article about it. Another antibiotic, Z-Pak, was previously shown in a 14-year study to more than double the risk of death among heart disease patients. Yes, these studies were of heart patients, but if it can kill them, surely there are also dangers to the rest of us. I have a major section on many antibiotic side effects in my book, The Probiotic Cure.

An alternative to Tamiflu.  Studies funded by drug companies show a modest shortening of symptoms (a day or so) with use of the antiviral Tamiflu. However, independent studies do not confirm any benefit. That is especially disheartening in light of the side effects which can include hallucinations, seizure-like events, deterioration of the disease and even death. Article. Natural antivirals are much safer. I list some in my Colds and Flu Remedy Kit article. This article by Bill Sardi discusses licorice to alleviate the lingering symptoms of the flu. (No, a box of Good & Plenty candy won’t do. He is talking about an herb.)

You should throw a party for your gut buddies

My mom used to remind me that “statistics don’t lie, but statisticians do”. Keep that in mind while trying to better understand the dire proclamations we hear about deaths attributed to the flu. As it turns out the government agency in charge of keeping track (the Centers for Disease Control) doesn’t really know.  By their own admission, they use mathematical models to come up with their best guess. The numbers are greatly inflated because if a person was assumed to have had the flu (i.e. many aren’t tested) and they die, they are counted as a flu fatality (well, maybe not if they are hit by a bus). If they died from heart disease, a kidney condition or lung cancer that they already had, theirs is counted as a “flu death”. Likewise, with pneumonia and sepsis discussed below.

If you do not get the flu or one of the conditions below, you may have your intestinal bacteria to thank. (Hence the party). We know that 75% or more of our immune function is in the intestinal tract, so our probiotic bacteria are logically involved. In my book, The Probiotic Cure, I list a number of studies that show how, with good intestinal microbe balance, your risk of contracting an upper respiratory disease (like the flu) is dramatically reduced. A new review of studies showed that the use of supplemental probiotics could save Canadians millions of dollars each year by preventing respiratory infections. This link is to an article about the study and this one to the study itself.

• Pneumonia. This seems to be the most common cause of death directly related to influenza. However, during the flu season, it may not matter if the person’s pneumonia was caused by bacteria or fungus and not a virus—it is still likely to be classified a flu death. In my first book, Natural Alternatives to Nexium & Other Acid Blockers I show that people are much more likely to catch pneumonia if they take heartburn drugs…even if given in the hospital. On the other hand, folks taking probiotics are much less likely to have heartburn to begin with.
• Sepsis. This condition kills more than 258,000 Americans a year and only a tiny fraction of those are related to the flu. With sepsis the immune system gets so overwhelmed that it releases more protective chemicals than the body can handle. Sepsis can be caused by pneumonia, so again the gut bacteria connection above. Sepsis can also be caused by infections in the GI tract and blood stream. It is fairly obvious how probiotics would help prevent a generic “gastrointestinal infection”. New research goes further stating that supplemental probiotics can prevent sepsis in infants. Article and Study.

We know that if the bacteria in the gut are out of whack (e.g. after a course of antibiotics), the lining of the intestinal tract can become “leaky”. Then pathogenic bacteria can enter the blood stream. Sounds like a way to acquire a blood infection doesn’t it?

Our good gut bacteria also protect us from other diseases; improve our mood; help manage our weight; and even improve our appearance. The list of benefits is very long. So, about that party…what would they like? Well, the good bacteria HATE typical party food such as cake, Doritos and alcohol. They would love a nice salad and a fibrous vegetable. They would appreciate some fermented foods. I give mine a daily boost from Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics. (It is made from dozens of fermented foods).

Media ignores a natural cancer breakthrough

I couldn’t resist the irony of the photo above. Plastic bottles like these are made with the hormone-disrupting plasticizer, BPA or its equally worrisome cousin, BPS. Animal studies have linked those chemicals to cancer. Therefore, using them in breast cancer fundraising is akin to selling donuts to raise money for diabetes! The media has no trouble promoting the party line of regular cancer treatments, but either doesn’t notice or is afraid to mention nutrition even if it alters the course of cancer. Thank goodness Bill Sardi noticed the studies and is brave enough to tell us about them.

Science has long proclaimed that toxins (like those from pesticides and smoking) are “associated with” cancer. It is much less clear exactly how they do so. Researchers are quite clear that dietary sugar fuels cancer’s growth. They also believe that a breakdown in connective tissue may allow it to spread to other tissues. Bill Sardi explains this more fully in his articles to which I will link shortly.

Mr. Sardi also helps us understand that all cells must have the mineral calcium to function. If normal cells are damaged (e.g. from toxins, radiation or some such), they release calcium to surrounding cells. Some neighboring cells absorb that extra calcium which then spurs them to become cancerous. (Extra amounts of calcium in a cell is one way a scientist knows it is cancerous.)

So, it stands to reason, if we can somehow disrupt the way a cancer cell manages its calcium, we can cause it to die. Pharmaceutical companies have tried to create drugs to either stop the flow of calcium inside the cancer cell or to flood the cell with calcium. So far, they have not succeeded in finding something effective for which they can charge 10’s of thousands of dollars per treatment. However, Bill Sardi found research into a natural method of disrupting cancer cells’ calcium metabolism using combination of inexpensive supplements.* Note, this procedure, although in quantities routinely taken for other purposes, is not for offered as prevention, but rather to fight back after a diagnosis. Obviously, we will never hear about the natural approach from the drug companies (or the government experts that they control). Fortunately, Mr. Sardi’s article gives the scientific backing and a lot of supplemental information. Anyone with cancer should read the whole article (and maybe more than once). Link to his simpler article here, What Initiates Cancer? For those who want more detail, he also wrote this article. (For general cancer information, you can also read my articles in the Library such as this one on Cancer Prevention and Treatment.)

* To help anyone in a hurry to start, I copied this from Bill Sardi’s longer article: Calcium (1200-1500 mg/day), Selenium (100-200 mcg/day), Vitamin D3 (8000-10,000 IU/day), IP6 rice bran extract (800+ mg/day), Peppermint oil for menthol (optional). He advised to “take these dietary supplements daily on an empty stomach if possible to induce cancer cell death via overwhelming release of calcium within tumor cells.  Healthy cells will not be harmed.” You should tell if you feel better and at your next checkup you can get verification that things are headed in the right direction. (I should remind you that he is NOT selling anything. He is merely sending people to health food stores for any good brand of these specific individual supplements.) Usually I recommend lots of magnesium for prevention of trouble, but since it keeps balance with calcium, maybe just during this treatment it might make sense not to go out of your way to take more than what is in your multi.

I trust his expertise and sincerity. For my general good health I personally take his Molecular Multi and Longevinex.