The Flu Can Be a Brutal Enemy. Are You Relying on a Flu Shot Alone to Protect You? And How About A Money-Back Good Health Guarantee?

09/06/07

This Week In HealthBeat News:

• 3 Steps to A Natural Facelift - A More Youthful Appearance without Botox Or Surgery!
• Cancer In a Can - Are You Really Still Drinking This Stuff?!?
• More Great News For Grape Fans - Study Shows Prostate Cancer Benefit...
• Green Tea Gets A Boost - Yet Another Study Shows It Stops Colon Cancer Tumors...
• The Flu Can Be a Brutal Enemy. Are You Relying on a Flu Shot Alone to Protect You? And How About A Money-Back Good Health Guarantee?
• We Get Questions: Seizures In Children...
• We Get Questions: Hip Problems, Fosamax, Osteoporosis - And "Everything Hurts" For This One Senior - So, What To Do?
• Laughter is Good Medicine: Simple Truths And Knowledge From Our Canine Friends

3 Steps to A Natural Facelift

By Dr. Myatt

If you want your skin to look firmer, smoother and more youthful but can't afford (or don't want to risk) plastic surgery, there are proven natural options.

The skin is simply an external reflection of your internal state of health. If you're dehydrated, your skin will look wrinkled and dry. So, water (pure, and plenty of it!) is one of the first steps toward better skin.

If you are looking for a way to purify your water, I recommend this line of Aquasana Water Purifiers . They are among some of the most highly rated purifiers in the country, and affordable as well. Don't forget your shower water! When your pores are open, you can absorb toxins almost as easily as drinking them. A shower-head filter can make your bathing safe as well.

Skin has a high lipid (fat) concentration. Omega-3 fatty acids as found in fish oil and flax seed help decrease inflammation, lubricate the skin and protect from ultraviolet light-caused damage. EPA (the fatty acid from fish oil) increases collagen and elastic fibers in the skin.

A typical daily dose would be 2 caps, 3 times per day of fish oil (with meal) or 1 TBS. per day of flax oil (this adds great to a Super Shake). Be sure to eat fish, grass-fed beef and high Omega-3 eggs as well.

Alpha lipoic acid (A-LA), an antioxidant that is both fat and water soluble, enhances the removal of damaged collagen and protects undamaged collagen (support fibers) from free-radical damage. ALA also helps prevent advanced glycosylated end-products (AGE's), substances which build up in the tissues as a result of high dietary carbohydrate intake and permanently alter skin cells (not in a good way). Taking 200 to 400 mg daily of ALA and stop this skin degradation and even reverse some of the damage.

Things that are good for your body are also good for your skin. Sometimes you really CAN judge a book by it's cover!

References

Photoprotective and anti-skin-aging effects of eicosapentaenoic acid in human skin in vivo. J Lipid Res. 2006 May;47(5):921-30. Epub 2006 Feb 7.
Eicosapentaenoic acid inhibits UV-induced MMP-1 expression in human dermal fibroblasts. J Lipid Res. 2005 Aug;46(8):1712-20. Epub 2005 Jun 1.
Fructose diet-induced skin collagen abnormalities are prevented by lipoic acid. Exp Diabesity Res. 2004 Oct-Dec;5(4):237-44
Lipoic acid improves glucose utilisation and prevents protein glycation and AGE formation. Pharmazie. 2005 Oct;60(10):772-5.

Cancer In a Can

By Dr. Myatt

Bad news for diet soda drinkers: the sugar-free stuff may be even more deadly than the diabetes-causing, sugar-sweetened stuff.

A recent study reinforced what we already knew: that aspartame can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and incurable cancers. But this study also found that levels of NutraSweet (aspartame) similar to those found in diet soft drinks cause breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and malignant tumors in animals.

You'd think this would be big news, wouldn't you? But the FDA, protecting Big Industry (as usual), has been shamefully silent about the issue. They have also failed to issue ANY warning about this finding, in spite of the fact that aspartame accounts for 75% of all side effects reported to the FDA’s Adverse Reaction Monitoring System (ARMS). These reported symptoms include nausea, vertigo, anxiety attacks, migraines, arthritis, asthma, insomnia, memory loss, convulsions, vomiting, and chronic fatigue (among others).

Even more disturbing is that aspartame is an ingredient of over 5,000 food products. That's another good reason to read labels. Cookies, chewing gum, ice cream, and anything labeled “sugar-free” most likely contains a significant amount of aspartame. You may be eating big doses of this cancer-causing chemical without even realizing it.

My advice is to steer clear of any product that contains NutraSweet (aspartame, in the little blue packet). If you suffer from any of the symptoms I’ve mentioned, stop consuming “sugar-free” products containing aspartame for at least 60 days and see if your symptoms go away.

If you want to drink something sweet that's actually good for you, try Zip Fizz. It tastes like lemonade, contains vitamin B-12, potassium and ginseng for energy, and is sweetened with xylitol. You can find it (usually) at Costco and we'll also be carrying it very soon at The Wellness Club.

For sweetening coffee, tea or whatever without sugar, consider using stevia, xylitol, lo han or even saccharine.

In Health,
Dr. Myatt

More Great News For Grape Fans...

By Nurse Mark

Unique Grape Skin Extract Inhibits Prostate Cancer Cell Growth in the Laboratory

The National Institutes of Health recently made a press release to say that investigators from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), (part of the National Institutes of Health,) and their research partners have published a paper in the September 1, 2007, issue of Cancer Research showing that muscadine grape skin extract (MSKE) has been found in the laboratory to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells without affecting healthy prostate cells. The report also discusses resveratrol, another grape skin component that has been widely studied and shown to be of potential benefit in preventing prostate cancer growth.

This is wonderful news - and just as soon as Big Pharma can figure out how to patent these natural substances I'm sure that we'll be seeing some amazing new prostate cancer treatment drugs.

Meanwhile, this is nothing new to us here at The Wellness Club! We have long sung the praises of Grape Seed Extract for a variety of ailments - this just adds to the ever-growing list of good for this supplement - see our page Grape Seed for more information.

For those dealing with prostate cancer, this news and information must be used judiciously - proanthocyanidins, pycnogenols, muscadine grape skin extract and resveratrol are NOT one-pill cures for prostate or any other cancer! Instead, they can form a portion of an overall strategy for combating this disease.

For more good news on the cancer front, read on...

Green Tea Gets A Boost - Yet Another Study Shows It Stops Colon Cancer Tumors...

I've talked about green tea, and green tea extracts before, extolling the virtues of this substance, Back in November of 2003 I had this to say about green tea:

A nice cup of Oriental Green Tea can be a delicious, relaxing, soothing break in your day. But more than that, recent research is pointing out other benefits as well. A recent article in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that enriched green tea extract may be effective in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Subjects in a treatment study group showed decreases of 6.7% in total cholesterol and 9.6% in LDL-C after only 4 weeks of supplementation, and reductions of 11.3% and 16.4% after 12 weeks! Another study, done at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University and reported in the journal Carcinogenesis showed that green tea may be useful in the prevention of intestinal (colon) cancer in humans. Yet other studies show it useful in the prevention of heart disease, and there are studies suggesting it may be a potent antiviral, effective in combating HIV. It is further thought to have antimicrobial powers. What is so special about green tea? It is a rich source of catechins - flavinoid phytochemical compounds and polyphenols. Both are potent antioxidants, helping to prevent the damaging effects of free radicals. NurseBeat Update: Green tea

Now more recent research continues to confirm the health benefits of green tea: An article recently published in the journal Carcinogenesis says "Our results suggest that green tea specifically targets initial stages of colon carcinogenesis; the time of administration of green tea is pivotal for effective chemoprevention," and suggests that green tea may stop the growth of colon tumors in their infancy,

It must be noted that this is a lab study using mice (who were given colon cancer) and that it further suggests that green tea has little or no effect on already established large tumors.

Still, this is good news for green tea, and like grape extracts mentioned above, I'm betting that the boys at Big Pharma are working overtime to synthesize a patentable, profitable form of this natural substance.

Meanwhile, you can find out more about green tea, and even try our green tea extracts here: Green Tea - but again, remember, this is not a one-pill cure for colon cancer, or anything else! A person dealing with cancer of any kind should be working with an holistic physician - cancer care is not a "do-it-yourself" project! As always, Dr. Myatt is available for telephone consultations - for more information, see her Consultation Brochure.

Source:

Carcinogenesis Published online ahead of print, doi:10.1093/carcin/bgm161 "Green tea selectively targets initial stages of intestinal carcinogenesis in the AOM-ApcMin mouse model" Authors: A.Y. Issa, S.R. Volate, S.J. Muga, D.Nitcheva, T. Smith and M.J. Wargovich

The Flu Can Be a Brutal Enemy. Are You Relying on a Flu Shot Alone to Protect You?

By Dr. Myatt

The flu will strike over 300,000 US citizens this year according to CDC predictions (which are usually quite accurate because they are based on previous years’ statistics). Of these, an estimated 36,000 will die from complications of their infection.

If you are you relying on a flu shot alone to protect you from colds and flu this winter, the odds are not in your favor. With 200+ strains of flu viruses and over 700 different strains of cold viruses waiting to have their way with you, a flu shot aimed at protecting you from only 3 of these 900+ viruses can still leave you wide-open to life-threatening infection.

Even the majority of flu victims who recover still suffer from low energy, immune weakness and respiratory symptoms for weeks or months afterward. As “simple” and old-fashioned as the flu may sound, it is still a deadly disease.

A Healthy Immune System Is Your Best Safeguard Against The Flu

Your body has a built-in safeguard against viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungus and even cancer. This shield, called the Immune System, is far more effective than any vaccination or modern-day drug against a wide range of diseases.

Unfortunately, many factors “inherent to modern life,” such as nutrient deficiencies, smoking, stress, environmental pollutants, overweight, sleep deprivation, excess sugar and carbohydrates in the diet and even aging, all weaken this incredible defense system.

Renewing the Immune System to a youthful level of performance can do more for immunity than all the drugs of modern medicine combined.

Read The Rest Of This Article - Including Dr. Myatt's Money-Back Guarantee Of Good Health! >>>

We Get Questions: Seizures In Children...

Seizures in children are always frightening - but we need not feel helpless in the face of this problem.

Here is a recent question to Dr. Myatt, and her answer:

Hi Dana,
My friends daughter is nearly 7 years old and has been having mild seizures for the past 12 months. Is there any herbal remedy that I could recommend to her mum, or other dietary supplements? I wondered if Omega 3 supplements would be a good start!
kind regards
Judy

Hi Judy:

Omega-3's would certainly be a good start, since this is an extremely common nutrient deficiency and is especially needed in the developing brain and nervous system.

I'd also suggest adding magnesium (a calming essential mineral that is also grossly deficient in the US diet). In fact, an all-around high quality children's multiple such as Children's Basic Nutrients, plus additional magnesium glycinate and Omega-3, would be highly advisable. Learn more about these recommendations here:

http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/childrensvitamins.htm
http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/chelatedmagnesium.htm#Glycinate
http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/flaxoil.htm#MAX

High carbohydrate diets are well-known to trigger seizures in both adults and children, and low carb diets or even ketogenic diets (very low carb) are both safe and effective for treating seizure disorder. Ketogenic diets have been used successfully in pediatric seizure disorders for decades. I would also evaluate for food allergies.

There may be other factors, of course, and a personal telephone consultation with me is always the best advice I can give. However, these recommendations are an excellent starting place for discovering and correcting the cause of seizures.

Please do keep us posted as to this child's progress. Unless her mom explores natural (curative) treatments, this little one will simply wind up on a very nasty drug called Dilantin (phenytoin sodium).

In my opinion, seizure disorders should be cured, not masked with dangerous drugs. It is VERY RARE that drugs or surgery are actually required, especially in what you describe as a "mild case."

In Health,
Dr. Myatt
 

We Get Questions: Hip Problems, Fosamax, Osteoporosis - And "Everything Hurts" For This One Senior - So, What To Do?

Nanci wrote initially with an order and questions about osteoporosis and the drug Fosamax that her doctor had put her on after a hip fracture. Then she wrote again to ask what might be done for her mom...

Dr. Myatt wrote her back to say:

Hi Nanci:

We'll have your additional bromelain and strontium ready with your order. I suggest you take the strontium in addition to Fosamax. I can't tell you to stop taking Fosamax because I don't have benefit of a boat-load of patient intake information that I use to help someone heal their ailing joints. But strontium won't interfere with Fosamax (a really nasty drug in terms of digestion, by the way. Fosamax works by killing certain bone cells --- the osteoclasts --- that help remodel bone. What a great idea, huh?!) Besides, your doctor will be so pleased with his prescription when, in a year of so, he finds out you have added bone density!

As to your hip problem, if you were my patient, I'd make sure you were getting ALL of the daily intake of bone nutrients (Maxi Mult's if you are pre-menopausal (9 per day), Maxi Multi's plus 3 caps daily additional Cal-Mag Amino if you are post menopausal to give you the recommended 15). That plus strontium taken at a separate time.

I'd check your female hormone levels, (estoadiol, estriol, estrone, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA), and and all of which affect bone health AND the aging process in general. We'd keep those as close to "youthful" as possible, using natural, "bioidentical" hormone replacement if necessary, not cancer-causing Pregnant Mare's Urine (Premarin) or other synthetic hormones.

I'd also check your digestion, because decreased stomach acid (common past age 50) decreases the body's ability to assimilate calcium. You can learn more about gastric acid function (it was in a previous HealthBeat, too) at this link: http://www.healthbeatnews.com/GastricAcid.htm

We'd look at your "inflammatory markers," such as hs-CRP, because these relate to both heart-health, cancer and bone/joint health.

I'd make sure you weren't eating any foods you are allergic to, which can cause an entire cascade of nasty side effects from bowel and digestive problems to allergies, chronic sinus congestion, and also joint deterioration (because it impairs assimilation of nutrients). Any by the way, don't you have glaucoma? Food allergies can cause or contribute to that, too! Look here for a big list of problems cause by food allergies: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/foodallergy.htm. You will NEVER hear about this from a conventional medical doctor.

I'd look at all medications you were taking, many which can effect bone density either directly or by altering digestion and therefore assimilation.

In fact, if you want to see a fairly darned good summary of everything that needs to be looked at when one has osteoporosis and/or joint deterioration, please check out this page on The Wellness Club website:
http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/osteoporosis.htm

Bottom line: Osteoporosis and joint problems can almost always be corrected by natural means, but we have to get down to the "why" of it, not just put on a "band aid." So, use all of this freebie info. if you will, or better yet, schedule a telephone consultation with me so I can do all of this meticulous homework for you and get that hip fixed (and probably help a whole lot of other problems as a side-effect)!

In Health,
Dr. Myatt

Nanci tapped back to say:

Thanks for all the "freebie" info - I have read a lot of your related articles and found them to be interesting. I am not really having any problems with my hip since I broke it; it is getting stronger and stronger all the time since I started exercising regularly.
I was more interested in finding something to relieve the joint pain my 92 year old mom is having - it seems like everything hurts these days, and she does not want to take much of anything stronger than Ibuprofin. She is in generally very good health, sound as a tack, just hurts.
Hope to see you soon,
Nanci

Hi Nanci:

If the bromelain alone doesn't perk mom up (it probably will, but I don't know what-all ails her), then I'd add COX-2-Support AND bromelain together. Both totally non-toxic but I have Super Senior patients who swear by that combo!

You mom is smart not to "take anything" in the way on conventional drugs. Drugs and doctors kill far more people annually than we save, and that's a fact. And the older you get, especially if there's basically "nothing wrong," the more likely that you'll "check out" because of a medical error or drug reaction. All of my patients that are in their 90's are the ones who have, for the most part, shunned conventional medical treatment and drugs unless they were absolutely necessary!

Please tell "Mom" that I'm rooting for her!

In Health,
Dr. Myatt

Laughter is Good Medicine: Simple Truths And Knowledge From Our Canine Friends

 We can learn so much from our friends in the animal world - here are some simple truths such as your dog might pass along to you, passed along to us by a HealthBeat reader...

If a dog was the teacher You would learn stuff like:

• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them
• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy
• When it's in your best interest, practice obedience
• Let others know when they've invaded your territory
• Take naps
• Stretch before rising
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do
• On warm days, stop to lie on your back in the grass
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree
• When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body
• No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk
• Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough
• Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently