On the Healthy by Nature radio show this week we shake things up. E.g., we talk to a lawyer rather than the usual doctor. Scott Tips is President and Legal Counsel for the National Health Federation, the world’s oldest health freedom organization. He represents our interests to the Codex Alimentarius committee, an international body supposedly aiming to protect the health of consumers and create some uniformity in the regulation of food and supplements. Its actions are widely regarded as threatening our access to nutritional supplements because, for example, they tend to set ridiculously low recommended daily intake of vitamins. I’ll also ask Scott about scary new activities of the FDA. In another first, he will call in from France!

Jim Rizzuto will join us to talk about an interesting treatment for relieving sinus problems, lung conditions and even upper respiratory infections. To top off this unusual show, we will play an original inspirational song created by a listener, John Lee Boyer. Call the live show with questions at 1-800-281-8255. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and how to listen nationwide.
 
Onion rumors smell funny
Jan asked: “There is an article circulating about onion safety especially after cutting/slicing and causing food poisoning.  Is there a way to check this out and get some real answers? Thank you for all you do……jan”

A. Well, Jan, thank you for listening. That onion idea did not sound reasonable to me and it turns out to be false. LINK. There is also a rumor floating about that leaving onions laying around the house will prevent colds and flu. Likewise, it seemed outlandish and is. LINK. (The site snopes.com is handy for checking the truth of internet stories.)  On the bright side, raw onions are antibacterial, at least on contact. LINK. Onions are also rich in sulfur-containing compounds and flavonoids that are anti-inflammatory and provide a variety of health benefits. They just might help prevent the flu, but only if you eat them.
 
Collagen Details
I was quite interested last week in what nutritionist/educator, Tim Mount, from NeoCell had to say about collagen–especially that supplementing the right type of this structural protein can thicken hair, help the skin retain moisture and even reduce facial aging. (What a great internal complement to Ezzilift!) Here is a good overview article on the benefits of collagen: LINK.

After the show,I followed up with Tim to better understand how I should take the NeoCell products (which come as pills, powders, liquids and chews). Figuring that others mght want this info, I’m including the correspondence here. In this case, the Q’s are from me and the A’s are from Tim. Note: copy that is [italicized in these square brackets], represents my additions and attempts at translation.

Q. Tim, you said to take the collagen on an empty stomach. Why? Is it that other proteins compete with the collagen for digestion or absorption?

A. It’s not so much that they compete. Collagen supplements supply the raw material for the body to make its own collagen and signal it to get busy building collagen. Receptors on the cells that produce the body’s collagen (like fibroblasts, osteoblasts and chondrocytes) need to have certain amino acids [building blocks of protein] at a sufficiently high concentration in the blood to trigger that collagen production. A pair of rare amino acids found in collagen supplements, proline & hydroxyproline, are especially important. So, if the collagen supplement is diluted by other amino acids [e.g. in a protein drink], those key aminos won’t be concentrated enough to start the collagen-building process. That is a bit simplified, but hopefully will work for your purposes. [Simplified? Well, at least fascinating facts I didn’t know.]

Q. So, if we ad collagen powder to a vegetable juice, that would be okay because it contains so little protein?

A. Yes, vegetable or fruit juice would be okay. We recommend tomato juice or a fruit juice like orange juice because they contain vitamin C, a co-factor in collagen production. A small amount of protein may be okay, such as the amount found in almond milk.

Q. NeoCell Collagen Sport Recovery Complex contains a whey isolate. Why isn’t that too much protein?

A. The whey isolate doesn’t dilute the collagen because it is almost instantly absorbed. Collagen, even though it is hydrolyzed to facilitate digestion, still takes longer. So, the isolate clears out while the collagen remains and is absorbed second. That way you get the benefit of both. Here’s a cool testimonial from an Olympic Gold Medalist about our Sport product. LINK.

Q. Is it possible to overdo collagen?  For example, is there any problem if I take a collagen capsule in the morning and eat a couple of the chews in the evening when my sweet tooth kicks in? [I keep them on the end table in the living room.]

A. No, it would be like eating too much steak. It’s just a protein and there are rarely, if any, side effects. As little as 2-6 grams, depending on weight/age/need would probably help a lot. I speculate that up to 15-20 grams per day may be beneficial. Beyond that, you may be just spending too much for protein because, even with a lot of stimulation and an abundance of raw materials, the body can only produce collagen so fast.
 
Last Week
LINK to Archive. Nutritionist educator, Tim Mount, gave us insight into helping the body build collagen, the structural component that holds us together and makes us retain our youthful good looks. He is with our sponsor, NeoCell. Pharmacist, Naturopath, Certified Clinical Nutritionist and author of Cracking the Metabolic Code, Dr. Jim LaValle, discussed “metabolic syndrome”. He is a big fan of products like this blood pressure formula by our sponsor, Kyolic.

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

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

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

Copyright 2013 Martie Whittekin, CCN