Is the flu shot hysteria based on hard science?

The influenza news reports would have us believe that the sky is falling. There is no question that the flu can be nasty to endure and can be dangerous. This flu “season” may be more deadly than usual in part because the dominant strain, H3N2, is strong. Of course, no one wants the flu, but the question is this: to what extent does the vaccine keep us from getting it. The media gives no hint that this is even a legitimate question! The points below show that it is not a black and white issue.

• It is alleged that, on average, 36,000 Americans die annually from the flu. However, most all fatalities attributed to the flu are really from other problems such as pneumonia, secondary infections and dehydration. Clearly, the type of care given the flu patient is critically important. Most who succumb are elderly; are suffering with chronic diseases; and are already in fragile health. Those folks have damaged immune systems and therefore may be the least likely to respond to even the stronger vaccines given to them. (They are also more likely to suffer side effects of the shots.) Similarly, infants do not yet have fully operational immune systems and therefore cannot properly fight the disease or react as hoped to the flu vaccine. Sometimes apparently healthy young adults die from the flu, but for the rest of that story, see the next bullet point.
• Obviously, not everyone who is exposed to the flu gets sick and others have only a mild case. Those “lucky” ones have stronger immune systems. So, when it is said that a “healthy” person died of the flu, unseen factors are being ignored. For example, vitamin D is exceedingly important for immune function and yet we never hear if victims’ blood levels were adequate. Maybe they are low in zinc which is also critical to immunity. Since up to 75% of immune function is in the gut, we can guess that many of these people didn’t have good strong intestinal probiotic protection. Or perhaps they have lowered their immune function by eating a lot of sugar or failed to get enough sleep.
• Many health experts are rightly concerned about unintended effects of some of the additives in the vaccines such as mercury, formaldehyde, antibiotics and MSG.
• Hearing the experts push the shots, we would assume that the science supporting safety and efficacy is unequivocal. However, this article, The Shocking Lack of Evidence Supporting Flu Vaccines, summarizes a review of 75 studies over 40 years. It concludes that there is not convincing evidence for the flu vaccine regarding “children under 2, healthy adults, the elderly, and healthcare workers who care for the elderly”. Gee, that covers a lot of ground and includes the populations warned most strongly to get immunized! Of even more concern are 4 studies showing that in Canada during the 2008-2009 season, persons who had been immunized were 1.5-2.5 times more likely to need medical attention for the flu.
• I have had a little trouble with the logic in one official justification for the flu shot. As part of making us feel like criminals if we don’t get the shot, they talk about “herd immunity”. The story goes that the vaccine might not keep YOU from getting the flu, but if most people get the shot, maybe there won’t be an epidemic. [Wait, if it doesn’t work for most people, how would it…?] Then I saw an article on a shocking new study. It concluded that persons who develop symptoms and had received the flu vaccine the previous two years, spread the flu 6 times faster than those who had not gotten the shots! Yikes! Turns out there were more viruses in the air they exhaled.
• Each year, manufacturers must basically guess which strain of virus to include in the vaccine for the next season. The protection varies yearly from 10% to 50% effectiveness. This year’s drug effectiveness has been pegged variously at 17%. It was not targeted to H3N2 which also can mutate into different forms.
• Oddly, the vaccine seems less effective this time for baby boomers. One TV doctor speculated that the boomer’s immune systems had “imprinted on” [become fixated on] strains of flu that they had experienced earlier in life. Therefore, their immune systems didn’t have the flexibility to recognize and attack the H3N2. [Or, was it that their immune systems were fixated on the strains used in previous vaccines?]
• In an interview on our show, Russell Blaylock, MD, explained how excitoxins added to flu vaccines overstimulate brain immune cells and lead to dementia.

It is not appropriate for me to tell you to avoid the flu shot. I will just say that I’ve never had one and “luckily” I have never had the flu. I do enthusiastically recommend:

• Keep your immune system in fighting form by making sure that you take plenty of vitamin D (8,000 to 10,000 IU for most adults according to new research); get sufficient zinc daily (e.g. at least the 30 mg of a good form like what is in Molecular Multi): take a garlic pill daily with your biggest meal to ward off viruses; keep your tummy immunity nourished with Ohhira’s Probiotics; stay away from sugar and get a good night’s sleep.
• Read my article on what to do and not to do if you feel sick. (Most importantly, do not take antibiotics for conditions caused by viruses.) Be prepared by shopping ahead of time for the items listed in my article, Colds and Flu Remedy Kit. Bill Sardi reminds us that “everyone should have a bottle of zinc lozenges (ideally acetate form) handy as they have been proven to dramatically shorten a bout with the flu or a common cold.” 
• Consider Homeoprophylaxis (also known as “HP”) a safe, non-toxic and proven alternative to vaccinations. 

Good luck figuring out what is right for you. But, please don’t assume there isn’t fake news regarding health. It is promoted by the drug industry, the medical establishment they have influenced and follow the leader media that do not dig deep enough into the science.

Drowning in drugs – can we really poison our way to health?

Disclaimer: Some medications save lives (if used properly in a crisis). For people who are unwilling or unable to change their diet and lifestyle, drugs can help manage their chronic conditions. Of course, nothing I say below means that I recommend you stop a medication without your doctor’s advice. Note: psychiatric medications are the most dangerous to stop suddenly.

Understand that I’m not taking aim at the type of prescription that merely supplements low levels of something natural the body needs. Examples of that type are insulin for a type 1 diabetic and thyroid hormone. My worry is about chemical concoctions that have not been on the planet before. The human body has had no experience with them and those drugs typically interfere with a bodily process to calm a symptom. Unfortunately, in the process they also usually interfere with a process we need. Have you ever closed your eyes during a TV drug commercial, so that you aren’t distracted by the pretty pictures and can hear the potentially lethal side effects they mention so casually? I am also frustrated with the way drugs are marketed and prescribed. Doesn’t it seem unnatural and dangerous to you that 20% of the population take five or more drugs each day? The main reason is likely that the pharmaceutical industry has been proven to have undue influence on the FDA, the US Congress, state regulators / attorneys general, medical schools and medical journals.

Drugs may keep a symptom under control, but they rarely (if ever) cure a problem. Meds are too often prescribed when there is no proven necessity, when there are less toxic alternatives, in doses that are arbitrarily too high, for longer than makes sense, and in combinations that have never been tested (polypharmacy). Author pharmacist, Suzy Cohen, taught us in her book, Drug Muggers, that nearly all these obviously potentially toxic chemicals contribute to nutrient deficiencies. As I point out in my book Natural Alternatives to Nexium, acid-blocking heartburn drugs are only safe to use for a few weeks. One reason is that because they interfere with absorption of several nutrients (including critically important vitamin B12 and magnesium), long term use can be life-threatening.

Antibiotics have been routinely overused. Up to 50% of the time they aren’t even useful (e.g. they do not help colds caused by viruses or sinus trouble caused by yeast). They kill our good gut bacteria. Those are so amazingly beneficial that I wrote a whole book about them (The Probiotic Cure). Because tons (literally) of antibiotics are used in farming, many bacteria have become immune to their effects. That may leave us without antibiotic protection when major illness strikes.

Too many medications are only marginally more helpful than placebo or watchful waiting. Some obscenely expensive ones are no better than the cheaper variety that came before it. Many will change a test result, but precious few have been shown to prolong life.

In contrast, natural remedies are typically very safe and, because they enhance the body’s natural processes, they usually provide fringe benefits…helping something you weren’t even working on.

Check out this Library Page which lists links to save money on drugs, guides to drug safety (e.g. interactions, identify a pill, side effects, patient comments), statistics on use, evidence of willful wrongdoing by the pharmaceutical industry, vaccine info, radio interviews and helpful books on the topic.

The rest of the calcium story

For many decades starting in the 1950’s, radio broadcaster Paul Harvey would tell a story. Then, after a commercial, he would dramatically tell “The Rest of the Story”. The history of official pronouncements about the mineral calcium feels a bit like that. We were told something simple minded that sounded logical to those who didn’t study physiology. It went like this: the bones contain a lot of calcium. Therefore, to prevent osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) consume lots and lots of calcium.

Then, came the rest of the story:

• There is a considerable amount of calcium in foods such as those shown in the picture above (thank you, Reader’s Digest). Americans have access to such foods and calcium is added to orange juice, etc. They also supplement. So, we have been consuming more calcium than any country on earth and yet, oops, have the highest rates of osteoporosis.
• Then studies linked an excess of calcium to cardiovascular disease. We interviewed Thomas Levy, MD, JD author of Death by Calcium. (Some think the problem found was due more to low magnesium. Journal article.)
• It takes many minerals to build bone and, yet the authorities never mention a need for even magnesium, manganese and zinc. It also requires vitamins, but the geniuses have only recommended vitamin D. (The official dietary guidelines recommend only the amount of D they guessed was needed for bone. Unfortunately, that is just a fraction of the levels required for other processes in the body. I’ve written a lot about vitamin D. Sufficiently high doses helps head off the flu. Recently, I learned that high levels help insomnia.)
• Then, recently a review of studies failed to show significant benefit of calcium and vitamin D for bone health for seniors. Of course, the amount of vitamin D used was too low to show much of anything, but that didn’t stop the authors from telling us that we should stop worrying about supplements. Not surprisingly, the media only reported the headlines not these details.
• Despite the very negative studies and those showing no benefit, the government (and vitamin companies) continue to recommend rather indiscriminately that folks supplement calcium.
• In his terrific interview January 6, 2018, Bill Sardi said that the only people who should consider calcium supplements are those who do not eat dairy and other calcium-rich foods. He explained that loss of estrogen is the main culprit in bone thinning. Sardi said that functional medicine doctors can normalize estrogen using bioidentical hormones. A more conservative approach is to use plant estrogens. The only one of that category shown to help satisfy the body’s estrogen needs without also promoting cellular growth (e.g. of cancer cells) is one I have written about, resveratrol.
• I recommend reading Bill Sardi’s detailed article about calcium, osteoporosis and resveratrol.

How could we have seen the “rest of the story” coming? We might get a clue from the Dr. Suess quote: “Sometimes the questions are complicated, and the answers are simple.”  In the eons of human history, we didn’t have osteoporosis, but we ate only whole real foods that come from nature nicely balanced in calcium and magnesium. The foods also contained plenty of plant estrogens. These days, our food supply has been depleted and corrupted despite our best efforts to eat for health. Therefore, we need to supplement. However, we need to do so in proper balance.

Highlights of Sherry Roger MD’s recent advice

Sherry Rogers, MD blew us away on last Saturday’s show with so much great information that most of us could not take notes fast enough. Also, a few points were a bit technical, so I listened to the show again to provide the highlights below. I’ve arranged the topics we covered using her T.H.I.N.K. acronym, but as you will see they are all interrelated. And, they help explain why Americans spend more on health care than any country on earth and yet rank only 37^th in health!

Toxins. We talked about two guests we’ve had on HBN. One, the FDA whistle blower, Renee Joy Dufault, PhD had exposed the toxins (like mercury) in food. We often warn listeners about metal dental fillings that are composed largely of the toxic heavy metal mercury. Dr. Rogers computed that Americans consuming the typical amount of corn syrup are getting an amount of mercury equal to having a new mercury dental filling installed every day!  Dr. Rogers is also a fan of Stephanie Seneff, PhD from MIT, an expert in GMO’s and the weed killer glyphosate (e.g. Roundup). Dr. Rogers pointed out that this poison causes disease (including cancer) and that Americans have 6 times higher blood levels of that toxin than Europeans! A listener asked about acne and sweaty hands. Dr. Rogers said that when anything is coming out of the body (including diarrhea, rosacea, etc.) it is the body trying to detoxify. Detoxifying must become a way of life daily because the flow of toxins never stops.

Hormones. A reader just asked about her increase in facial hair. Perhaps that is due to menopause-related reduction in estrogen which is now too low to balance the androgens (male hormones). She also asked about losing eyebrow hair. That is most likely due to another low hormone—thyroid. The toxins noted above, pesticides, PFOA’s from Teflon, BPA (and the BPS used to replace it) all disrupt our hormone systems. They can cause thyroid problems as well as breast and prostate cancer. In our discussion of the all-important thyroid hormone, Dr. Rogers told us that many people do not effectively turn the inactive storage form (T4) into the active (T3) thyroid hormone. (The body needs the mineral selenium for that function.) Docs too often use thyroid tests that do not accurately portray the adequacy of thyroid hormone. They also seem unaware of that conversion problem and therefore don’t prescribe the most helpful drug. Those with an interest in thyroid health should probably read my blog and library article on the subject. Two listeners asked about whether biopsies of thyroid nodules were a good idea. The main risk is that they are often inconclusive and doctors believing they are being cautious, recommend removal of the thyroid. Only 5-10% of nodules are malignant.

Intestinal. Dr. Rogers told us that overgrowth of pathogens (such as yeasts boosted by antibiotics) create leaky gut. In response to foreign material entering the bloodstream, the body responds by making antibodies that may also attack organs. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an example. Thyroid antibodies besides attacking the thyroid, also attack the brain and can create dementia. Intestinal yeasts make an enzyme that destroys B1 and that leads to memory trouble. Yeasts also deplete our magnesium. Among the 500 or more processes in the body that magnesium is needed for, it protects us from heart attack, stroke, dementia, depression, seizure, back pain and so on. Dr. Rogers also told us that antibiotics (and other drugs) can lead to MS, Lupus or ALS.

“I” could also stand for interference. Our bodies run on current. Dr. Rogers said she has known people to reverse leukemia, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure and more with something as simple as getting rid of a bad root canal on the acupuncture meridian that links energy to that struggling organ. I found this handy chart on the website of a holistic dentist in California. (Our DFW holistic dentist is Dr. Philip Kozlow. In Austin we recommend Dr. Griffin Cole.)

Nutrients. A caller asked for help because she is on 6 blood pressure medications. Dr. Rogers advised for her: magnesium, vitamin E, cod liver oil liquid in glass (NOT the prescription type), and phosphatidyl choline (Non-GMO) powder which is needed to anchor the cod liver oil’s EPA and DHA so that it can benefit the brain, arteries and the thyroid. She said that cardiologists don’t seem to know about the crucial nature of tocotrienols or that there are 8 important forms of vitamin E. Unfortunately, drug store vitamins contain synthetic E that blocks the rest of the E family and tocotrienols. (I recommend Jarrow’s Famil-E.)

Knowledge gap. Learning this stuff is hard, but we must fight back against the misinformation coming from mainstream drug-driven medicine. For example: statins (cholesterol drugs) poison the main starting point for all hormones, cell membranes and mitochondrial membranes (the powerhouses in our cells). Dr. Rogers says prescribing these will go down in history as the worst medical mistake ever. Another example: NSAIDS (pain drugs such as Advil, Aleve, Celebrex, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Naproxen, and even aspirin) promote leaky gut thereby setting us up for autoimmune diseases. That is also true of PPI’s (popular heartburn drugs). Taken for more than a couple of weeks, those drugs deplete B12 and magnesium. Knowing these facts will help you press your doctor to find natural solutions. To make learning a little less costly, Dr. Rogers offered our listeners 15% off books and newsletters through January. Prestige Publishing. 800-846-6687 (To schedule phone consultations with Dr. Rogers: 315-488-2856) 

Important books for your library

It probably shows in the photo that I’m very proud of my granddaughter, Kayla Leggett. She just graduated magna cum laude from Texas A & M University (TAMU). On the show website there is a LINK to a closeup picture of the cake I made for her. (BTW, everything you see on my cakes is edible, but not necessarily health food.)  If you know any Aggies (that’s what they call grads of TAMU), you might forward this link to them. Perhaps they will subscribe to the newsletter and learn more about being healthy.

Kayla’s degree is in biomedical sciences and she intends to go to medical school. As you might imagine, I am eager to “brain wash” her myself before the drug-company-indoctrinated medical school does their thing. Only a smattering of nutrition is taught in medical school. With a basic appreciation of the powerful effects of good nutrition and harmful toxins, she will more likely maintain her common sense and come out with a balanced view. So, we gave her 4 books, each with a coupon offering a hefty cash rebate when she reads that book. (Sneaky, right?) Not sure when she will get to them because she is studying for the entrance exam. But, when she needs money, she’ll find time!

That reminded me to list 11 books that I wish everyone would read. (No cash reward for you, just the benefit of the knowledge. Maybe gift ideas too.)

• Prescription for Natural Cures (Third Edition): A Self-Care Guide for Treating Health Problems with Natural Remedies Including Diet, Nutrition, Supplements, and Other Holistic Methods by James F. Balch M.D. and‎ Mark Stengler N.M.D. This is a good comprehensive reference. Use it to look up any health problem for information about it as well as suggestions for natural remedies.
• Your Blood Never Lies: How to Read a Blood Test for a Longer, Healthier Life by James B. LaValle, PhD, CCN. Everyone gets blood tests from their doctor, but few people know what they mean. With this “cheat sheet” from the brilliant Jim LaValle, you can not only understand what is going on, but why and what to do about it.
• Could It Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses by Sally M. Pacholok, RN. This book is important because, so many people are diagnosed with diseases (e.g. dementia, MS and Parkinson’s) when the symptoms are due to a deficiency of vitamin B12.
• Unsafe at Any Meal: What the FDA Does Not Want You to Know About the Foods You Eat by Renee Joy Dufault, PhD. Nothing is more basic to health than what we eat. This FDA whistle blower’s book is packed with good information about where toxins hide in the food supply.
• Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think by Brian Wansink, PhD. I love this book! I found it really fun to read because of the creative studies they did into our eating behavior. Knowing how our behavior is affected by many external factors, we can painlessly reduce our food intake.
• The Probiotic Cure. I had to put in my own book because we now know that the microorganisms in our gut are a crucial part of our human instruction manual and control thousands of biological functions in our bodies. We need to know how to protect them.
• Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox: How a Little-Known Vitamin Could Save Your Life by Kate Rheaume-Bleue, ND. Few people even know there is a vitamin K2, let alone its power to guide calcium out of the arteries where it can cause cardiovascular hardening and into bones to strengthen them. (It has many more key functions.)
• The Magnesium Miracle (Second Edition) by Carolyn Dean M.D. N.D. I acquired the nick name “the magnesium queen” because I am so impressed with the importance of this mineral. It is at least as powerful as the popular calcium, but often overlooked.
• Cancer Free! Are You Sure? 4th Edition by Jenny Hrbacek RN. Or better yet, her astonishingly informative video course wherein she interviews dozens of alternative experts. Video Link. (Use the code hbn20 for 20% off of this or any course on the site.)
• For cardiovascular problems or diabetes, Sherry Rogers, MD has a number of extremely well-researched books. Prestige Publishing.
• For very serious chronic illnesses, The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain. The books is fascinating and would benefit anyone, but the change in diet is so great that the average person may not wish to comply.

The big vitamin D mistake

It seems that the government and big medicine have exactly an upside-down approach to dietary supplements. For the most part, they just warn us about any potential harm that they can dream up. These influence leaders should be telling us that supplements might save our lives. Studies of benefit are abundant, but ignored. There is a built-in prejudice, a belief that normal health requires medication. Drug company staff and paid consultants who come and go through government and academia reinforce that concept.

For years, the nonprofit Vitamin D Council has monitored the science and informed us that higher blood levels of D (50-100 nmol/L) were of benefit for immune function, muscles, heart function, lungs, brain, depression, breast cancer protection and so on. However, the government has said that abysmal blood levels as low as 20 was good enough. They also steadfastly warned about getting more than small supplemental doses (e.g. 800 IU) acted as though the D2 added to milk was as good as the D3 used in pills. The FDA recommendations for daily intake were supposedly based on science. Really?

At first, I was excited when Bill Sardi sent me a journal article entitled The Big Vitamin D Mistake. The article reported that “a statistical error in the estimation of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin D was recently discovered.” It went on to say, “The largest meta-analysis ever conducted of studies published between 1966 and 2013 showed that 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels <75 nmol/L [below 75] may be too low for safety and [are] associated with higher all-cause mortality.” Deficiency is killing us! These scientists recommended that the RDA for adults be amended to 8,000 IU daily. Children age 3 and older should be given 3,000. Their recommendation for children over age 1 drinking enriched formula is 1,000 IU and for breastfed children older than 6 months, 1, 500 IU.

As noted, initially I was excited to get this improved information. Then I became angry. This article was published in July (5 months ago) and the error was discovered even before that! This is big news! Even generously assuming the error was just incompetence rather than mischief, why haven’t we heard about this from the FDA, AMA and media? Were they all just too busy browbeating us to get flu shots?

Are they as wrong about the vaccine as they were about vitamin D? As it turns out, the flu vaccination this year is about 10% effective! In contrast to the party line that especially seniors and children should get them because they are more likely to suffer more, the vaccine is less effective in seniors and infants because their immune systems are not capable of as hearty a response.  Wait a minute. Ten percent? Wouldn’t 10 out of a hundred people resist the flu even without shots? Because of the multiple toxic substances they contain (mercury, formaldehyde, antibiotics, aluminum, etc.) I just don’t believe that these injections should be taking willy nilly…but, that is a discussion for another day.

High blood pressure remedies revisited

When Bill Sardi was my guest on the radio program Saturday, he helped us understand the recently revised guidelines for blood pressure that suggest 46% of the population needs treatment. (Read Bill Sardi’s detailed explanation and expert analysis on that topic.) Below  I review some of the points he made, but first, here is a link to my updated article, 6 ways to lower blood pressure.

• Blood pressure drugs. It often takes several drug types to reach the standard goals. Typical side-effects include: chronic coughs, nausea, dizziness, mental depression, heart failure, fatigue and gastric irritation. A new study shows that one drug ingredient in many BP medications increases the risk of skin cancer. That is not surprising since diuretics deplete zinc which is important for immune function.
• Zinc for hypertension. Sardi explained that adequate zinc in the body is critical to maintaining normal blood pressure. Read his article on that.
• Zinc is also NEEDED for: (in alphabetical order) Aging, Immunity, Antioxidant/anti-inflammatory, Atrial fibrillation repair, Cancer fighting, Diabetes prevention, Digestion, Eyesight, Fertility, Hair / skin / nails, Hormone balance (e.g. making progesterone), Muscle growth, Senses of taste / smell, Wound healing and more.
• Zinc dose. Of course, everyone is not the same, but typically 30 mg. a day of a well absorbed form. (NOT zinc oxide! Almost any other form is better, e.g. zinc citrate)
• Zinc status is often LOWERED by
  • Low intake: to get 30 mg you would need to eat 20 cups of cooked spinach, or 4 cups of pumpkin seeds or 4 chicken steaks a day
  • Drugs: Acid blocking heartburn drugs and blood pressure drugs
  • Age-related low stomach acid
  • Poor absorption / utilization. For example, taking a poorly absorbed form like zinc oxide. Or inadequate intake of B6 which greatly increases zinc absorption and/or selenium which makes it more useable. (Molecular Multi contains 30 mg and avoids these problems. Those are just two of the many reasons I recommend it.

The bottom line of the above and my article is to start with diet and lifestyle improvements, supplement zinc and hope you can avoid the drugs and their side effects. (Reminder, you need zinc for many, many important processes in the body and if you are low, taking blood pressure meds will only make that worse.)

Newsy Tidbits

These mostly have in common  that they came to my attention recently and that they all relate to our health. (Aren’t we complex creatures?)

• The head of the American Heart Association had a heart attack this week. Cardiologist John Warner, 52, is now recovering and we wish him well. Since he is based in Dallas, perhaps he can listen to our radio show and pick up some heart-protective tips that he will not likely get from his organization. Considering his family history of heart disease, Dr. Warner might do well to take Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract, Longevinex, Reg’Activ Cardio Wellness, Molecular Multi, and fish oil for starters. Also, vitamin D has been linked to increased cardio risk markers. Study.
• Women exposed to 8-Hours of electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation from computer monitors experienced a significant decline in thyroid hormones. However, that effect was reversed by zinc supplementation. Bill Sardi article.
• You might recall that glucosamine supplements for joint pain have been controversial. One review of studies did not find benefit, but for some reason did not include recent data from 15 studies that did show benefit. Here is an example of a recent study that showed benefit.
• Any level of alcohol consumption can increase the risk of many types of cancer. Read more.  Previously, it was believed that moderate intake of alcohol was not an issue and that red wine was healthful. (The healthful part of red wine is the phenol it contains, which is the same one as in resveratrol. Read my article on that.)
• Drug companies are in a race to patent specific probiotic bacteria for many purposes, including the fight against cancer. These companies can make big money with a bacterium that becomes a prescription drug. Their market will be people who become sick perhaps from a steady diet of alcohol…and at least in part because they did not maintain a robust diverse assortment of normal bacteria in their intestinal tracts. Since we are host to thousands of strains, it is likely that some of our native bacteria do the same jobs as the prescription product. In my book, The Probiotic Cure, I predicted that this issue would arise. But, I guess it is better that pharma companies are at least helping docs cut their usage of dangerous chemicals. Reuters article.
• A cute animated video very effectively shows how our gut microbes affect our health. Video. (Oops, it does describe the womb as sterile which it is no longer thought to be, and the video fails to mention the profound benefit of fermented foods and probiotic supplements. Remember that Ohhira’s Probiotics is the result of dozens of fermented foods.)
• A great example of a strain of bacteria with a special talent is Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3, which produces the master antioxidant, glutathione. Glutathione is protective of all the body’s systems. Fortunately ME-3 does not require a prescription. It is the principle power in Reg’Activ Detox & Liver Health. In 2017, for the second time, this innovative product was just awarded Better Nutrition Magazine’s 2017 “Best of Supplements” Award.

The better informed we are, the healthier we can choose to be.

Flipflops—no wonder we stay confused

Most of us must depend on our doctors, the media and the government for health information. That is a problem if what a former dean of Harvard medical school, Sydney Burwell, proclaimed is true. He reportedly told students “Half of what you are taught in medical school will be wrong in 10 years’ time. And the trouble is that none of your teachers know which half.” From all appearances, he was right. Below is a small sample of why I tend to take “doctor’s orders” and official government pronouncements with more than a grain of skepticism:

• Wisdom teeth. I had mine out and I’ll bet you did too. Now they say that routinely doing so if there isn’t a problem is likely to cause one.
• Acid blockers. We have been reassured by doctors and the impression left by commercials that the 24-hour proton pump inhibiting acid-blocking heartburn drugs are safe to take for months and even years. (The package directions said they were only proven safe to use for a couple of weeks periodically.) As I predicted in the first edition of my book, Natural Alternatives to Nexium, long term users pay a heavy price. In addition to increased risk of hip fracture, dementia, heart disease, kidney disease, pneumonia and other problems, the latest news is a doubled risk of stomach cancer. Study.
• Drug side effects. It isn’t just acid blockers to worry about…all drugs have side effects. Many are hidden by drug companies to gain FDA approval. Others don’t appear until the medicine is in common use. Some side effects are tolerable like say fatigue or dry mouth. (Even those may be a sign of bigger trouble under the surface.) Others are tougher to swallow. For example, the diabetes drug Metformin depletes vitamin B₁₂ which in turn leads to cognitive decline. (If you are on this med, work to reverse your diabetes naturally and meanwhile supplement with B) Januvia and several other diabetes drugs increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. (Yikes!)
• Fluoride. Although literally forced down our throats since the 1940’s, many experts still question whether the practice really does markedly prevent dental cavities. What isn’t questioned is the fact that consuming fluoride interferes with the mineral iodine. Iodine is needed to make thyroid hormone. Normal levels of thyroid hormone are needed for proper brain function and development. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that a recent study showed that the more fluoride moms were exposed to during pregnancy, the lower their child’s IQ scores.
• Autism, learning and behavior. Mercury was supposed to be safe in dental fillings and vaccines and was ignored after it was routinely found in high fructose corn syrup consumed so frequently by children. People were declared wild-eyed wackos for daring to suggest that toxins like mercury and food colorings and/or a deficiency of nutrients (e.g. zinc, selenium and omega 3 fats) might cause learning or behavioral problems in kids. Oops – check this study which is one of many.
• More Flipflops. The following and many, many more chiseled-in-stone procedures have fallen out of favor because, after research, it turned out that they didn’t work as expected.
  1. Shaving hair around a surgical site to prevent infection (but it apparently doesn’t)
  2. Giving shots in the butt muscle
  3. Doing an episiotomy. That incision is made during childbirth assuming it would prevent tissue tears but instead made them more likely.
  4. Stretching before beginning exercise (do it after warmed up)
  5. Telling us that we are not more likely to catch a cold if we are out in the cold (turns out we are)
  6. Warning that modest amounts of vitamin A weaken bones
  7. Testing, testing, testing. Many tests like biopsies, PSA, mammograms and other scans have been scaled back because it was found they led to overtreatment and the fact that some involving radiation create

So, what is a person to do? Well, if something doesn’t make sense in the context of human history, be skeptical. Ask questions and push for the least harmful alternative. Ask what is the worst that can happen if you do nothing?

Bill Sardi on natural support for autoimmune issues

On last week’s program, Bill Sardi discussed thyroid problems. In case you just joined the conversation, you might want to look at last week’s blog for an introduction and short list of symptoms that can be caused by an underactive thyroid gland. To follow up:

• Several folks asked where to buy Armour thyroid pills. That contains both the active (T3) and storage (T4) forms of thyroid hormone. Although it is a natural product, a prescription is required, so it is necessary to ask your doctor.
• As we noted, the body requires iodine to make thyroid hormone. However, that mineral is less available in the American diet than it is in most cultures and is more scarce than it used to be here. Table salt in the box usually has iodine added, but not so the type uses in processed foods and that is where people get most of their sodium. Iodine used to be added to bread. Since the 60’s bromides are used instead (cheaper?). Too bad because bromides interfere with iodine. Fluoride (e.g. in tap water and dental products) also interferes with iodine.

Mr. Sardi noted that as much as 90% of underactive thyroid is due to autoimmune activity. I asked him for a summary statement to clarify and to expand on autoimmune problems. He said:

• It is very plausible that a shortage of zinc and its co-factors B6 (required for absorption) and selenium (required for zinc release) may result in vulnerability to autoimmune disorders…that is, the immune system attacks various organs such as the eyes (uveitis, macular degeneration), kidneys (nephropathy), liver (hepatitis), pancreas (type 1 diabetes), colon (colitis, leaky gut). [We know that imbalances in the gut bacteria and leaky gut also foster autoimmune trouble.]
• Zinc is crucial for proper function of the immune system (and so much more). Zinc deficiency is rampant in the American population. Anyone who doesn’t get enough zinc or can’t use it properly is prone to autoimmune reactions. It is possible to get enough zinc in the diet, but it takes adequate selenium to release the zinc from its binding protein. And you should know that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) depletes zinc. Given the high consumption of HFCS in the US, the increasing incidence of autoimmune disorders is not surprising.
• Some autoimmune conditions start as something else. Take, for example, Lyme disease. An infection (Borrelia burgdorferi) may or may not result from a tick bite. Such an infection may or may not be quelled by antibiotics. If people are low in zinc, the medication is less likely to be effective. If they are low in critical nutrients and/or have an imbalance in gut bacteria, they be more prone to autoimmune reactions.  So, seemingly out of nowhere, an infection from a tick bite mysteriously becomes an unremitting chronic problem. That effect is reported more frequently among those who are zinc-deficient. Tick bites and the infections have been around throughout human history. The new element may be zinc deficiency made worse by a craving for sugar that is too often satisfied with high fructose corn syrup.
• Modern medicine is dealing with over 100 autoimmune conditions and trying to calm the symptoms with steroids and treat the disease with medication called monoclonal antibodies. Sadly, that process interferes with normal wound healing and restorative processes.
• The over-reliance on monoclonal antibodies to treat “wet” macular degeneration is an example of this issue. Anti-growth factor drugs (Avastin, Lucentis, Eyelea) totally block the development of new blood vessels which can become destructive to the visual center (macula) of the eyes. However, in so doing, they interfere with growth factors needed for wound healing. Startlingly, there is a significant increase in the risk of death down the road after injections of Avastin [Study] and lawsuits because of increased stroke risk. Eye researchers now propose the use of the red wine molecule resveratrol* which inhibits the growth of the destructive blood vessels, but allows normal healing to still take place.  (See Scientific Reports Sept 25, 2017)

Drug store brands of multivitamins contain little that is worthwhile and too many chemicals. Even health food brands skimp on nutrient amounts and use cheap forms. Among the many reasons I take Molecular Multi is that it delivers ample amounts (30 mg) of zinc and in a particularly beneficial form. The multi also includes the co-factors needed for absorption and usability of zinc. Those co-factors are in the active forms needed—vitamin B6 as pyridoxyl 5 phosphate and organically-bound selenium.

I believe that most people will save money with Molecular Multi because they can eliminate several other supplements (e.g. no longer need for a B complex). I compared Molecular Multi to a popular health food store brand that had ½ as much zinc and did not have the superior forms of most other nutrients. The list price of that store product in stores is $53.45 for a month’s supply. HAH! I purchase 4 bottles of Molecular Multi at a time and that reduces its price to only $41 per month—less than the store brand. And get this—I think taking even ½ the recommended dose (which would obviously cut the price to a bit over $20) you would still be better off than with a full dose of any other vitamin I’ve seen!

* Not all resveratrol products are created equal. Please read my article.