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Prostate Cancer


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Lecture Notes By Dr. Myatt

The text that follows is a transcript of the lecture notes for a lecture presented by Dr. Myatt in May of 2000 at the 2000 Pacific Northwest Herbal Symposium where Dr. Myatt was a featured lecturer speaking on several subjects. It is reproduced here in it’s entirety including annotations and references (as is expected of any lecture presented to a medical or scientific body) so that readers may verify the information for themselves and engage in further research. We hope that this will be information useful to persons with an interest in this disease.

Botanical and Nutritional Considerations in the Treatment of

Dana Myatt, N.M.D.

Abstract

Prostate carcinoma is a hormone-dependent cancer. Therefore, in addition to general immune enhancing and anti-cancer therapies, hormonal manipulation has a role to play in treatment of this disease.

Overview

Prostate carcinoma is the most common male cancer in the U.S. It accounts for an estimated 32% of all newly diagnosed cancers. (Other forms of prostate cancer, such as sarcoma, are rare and are not hormone-dependent). The incidence of disease increases with each decade of life over age 50. (1) Prostate cancer rates have risen 108% since 1950, believed due in part to earlier detection. Death rates from this disease have increased 23%. 
There is great debate in the medical community regarding the value of conventional treatment. Prostate cancer is, in most cases, slow-growing. Increased survival rates reported in some studies may be due to earlier detection, not treatment. Many newly diagnosed and early stage cancers in older men would never progress to morbidity or mortality. Considering the risk of impotence (50-60% with surgery), incontinence (from surgery or radiation) and other treatment side-effects, the value of conventional therapy must be questioned in all cases of cancer in older men.

Botanical and nutritional treatment for cancer can be considered an adjuvant therapy in all cases of prostate carcinoma and the sole therapy in many. Even when conventional treatment is deemed advisable, non-traditional uses of conventional drugs may be safer and more advantageous than standard therapy. This is because, in it’s early stages, prostate cancer is highly controllable with hormone-blocking therapy.

Laboratory Evaluation of

In additional to generalized immune testing and basic cancer workup (chemistry screen, CBC, TFT’s, etc.), several tests specific to prostate disease allow the clinician to track progression non-invasively and with greater accuracy. These tests include prostatic-specific antigen (PSA), free PSA, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), and prolactin. 

PSA is now used as the preferred screening test for both benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and prostate cancer. Because PSA may be elevated in both benign and cancerous prostate disease, the test is not specific for prostate cancer. Values in the “indeterminate” range (4-12) present a special diagnostic dilemma. It is further estimated that 25% of men with prostate cancer will have PSA’s less than 4. Taken together, the PSA test poses a significant number of both false-negative and false-positive results. The PSA is an accurate measure of cancer cell activity once the diagnosis has been established.

Free-PSA is a more recent marker that has not yet been universally embraced by conventional medicine. Current research suggests that the free-PSA is a useful “next step” for evaluating elevated PSA’s. In men with PSA’s ranging from 4.1-10, higher levels of free-PSA (18.9 median value) correlated with benign disease while lower levels of free-PSA (10.1 median) correlated with cancer. It is estimated that 95% of “indeterminate” PSA readings could be clarified non-invasively with the additional use of the free-PSA test. (3)

Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) was the prostate cancer screening test that preceded use of the PSA. An elevated PAP in a patient with known prostate cancer is indicative of lymphatic spread of the disease. (4)

Prolactin hormone is an additional growth factor to the prostate gland, and rising prolactin levels correlate with progression in advanced prostate cancer cases. Prolactin receptors are found on prostate cancer cells, and it is postulated that these receptors may facilitate the entry of testosterone into the cell. Even with hormone ablation therapy, detectable androgen remains in the blood from adrenal sources. Blocking prolactin secretion may there fore be another method for slowing progression of the disease. It is recommended that prolactin levels be kept below 3 in all patients with hormone-responsive cancers. (5)

Specific Goals of Therapy

Testosterone, prolactin, cortisol, insulin, and arachidonic acid-derived prostaglandins (especially PGE2) act as growth factors for prostate cancer. Cyclooxygenase is the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Decreasing circulating levels of these hormones and blocking inflammatory pathways should be undertaken in addition to non-specific cancer therapies such as immune enhancement.

References

1.) Beers, Mark M.D., Berkow, Robert M.D. , editors, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, Merck research Laboratories, 1999, p. 1918.
2.) Boik, John, Cancer and Natural Medicine, Oregon Medical Press, 1996, p. 87
3.) Faloon, William, Disease Prevention and Treatment Protocols, Life Extension foundation, Hollywood, FL, 1998, p. 192.
4.) Murphy, Gerald M.D., Lawrence, Walter Jr. M.D., Lenhard, Raymond M.D., Clinical Oncology, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, 1995, p. 315. [copies of this textbook may be obtained by calling your local branch of the American Cancer Society or call 1-800-ACS-2345].
5.) European Journal of Cancer, Vol 31A, No. 6, 1995.

Materia Medica classified by action

Reduce sex hormone bioavailability

Glycine max -soy
Linum ussatatissimum -flax
Arctium lappa -burdock
low dietary saturated fat
high dietary fiber

Decrease testosterone

Cannabis sativa- marijuana
Serenoa Spp.- Saw palmetto
Vitex spp
Rx: Casodex, flutamide, Lupron, Zoladex

Decrease prolactin

Vitex spp.
vegetarian diet
Rx: Bromocriptine, Pergolide, Dostinex

Botanical Materia Medica

Arctium lappa (Compositae)- Burdock

Burdock reduces sex hormone bioavailability, perhaps due to its lignan content.(1) In vitro, it induces differentiation and inhibits tumor cell proliferation. (2) Burdock is considered highly in both Western and Chinese medicine as a detoxifier and it is an ingredient in the Hoxey formula. it is thought to stimulate the removal of excess metabolic acids. (3)

Linum ussitatissimum (Linacea)- Linseed, flax seed

Flax seed is much higher in lignans than other plants. Lignans inhibit sex hormone availability. Antiinflammatory effects are attributed to the high omega-3 fatty acid content of the seed oil.

Glycine max (Leguminosae)-Soy

Soy beans contain protease inhibitors, fixed oils, coumestrol, isoflavones including daidzein and genistein, lecithin, protein, vitamins and minerals. Soy foods reduce hormone bioavailability and cholesterol levels through several possible mechanisms, including weak estrogenic effects of the phytoestrogenic isoflavones and fiber content. Genistein is cytotoxic, induces apoptosis and differentiation, inhibits angiogenesis and metastasis (4), and blocks protein kinase which is a cancer growth factor (11) . The isoflavones in soy are both antioxidant and antimutagenic.(5)

One study of 8,000 Japanese living in Hawaii found that men who had the highest intake of soy had the lowest incidence of prostate cancer. Soy-eaters diagnosed with prostate cancer nevertheless have the lowest death rate in the world from the disease.(6)

Cannabis sativa (Cannabinaceae)- Marijuana

Marijuana contains flavonoids, volatile oils, alkaloids and over 60 different cannabinoids including THC.(7) Smoking the herb reduced testosterone levels or inhibited testosterone receptors in both animals and humans. It is known that marijuana smoking decreases male fertility. (8,9,10)

Serenoa repens, S. serrulata (Palmaceae)- Saw palmetto

Saw palmetto blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (11) and there is evidence that DHT may be five times as potent as testosterone in stimulating prostate cancer cell growth. (12)

Vitex agnus-castus, V. negundo (Verbenaceae)- Chaste berry

Vitex spp. decreases testosterone production in vivo (13) and inhibits prolactin synthesis and release in animal models (14). As the name “chaste tree” implies, this herb was traditionally used by monks to reduce libido.

PC-SPEC

PC-SPEC is a new and novel Chinese herb formula used in the treatment of prostate cancer. “Spec” is Latin for hope, and the formula is reported to be effective in extending quality and length of life even in advanced, hormone-refractory cancers. The formula is cytostatic and cytotoxic, and regulates apoptosis (1). It may stimulate T4 (helper) cells and macrophages (2) and lower PSA levels (3). The popularity of the formula was enhanced by a recent mention in the New England Journal of Medicine which reported that:

“We found PC-Spec…. has potent estrogenic activity in yeast, mice, and humans. In patients with prostate cancer, it causes clinically significant reductions in serum testosterone concentrations, decreases PSA, and with side effects similar to those of pharmacologic doses of estrogen….. PC-SPEC may prove useful in the treatment of hormonally sensitive prostate cancer…..”(3).

The formula contains herbs which may address prostate cancer on a number of levels. According to the book New Guidelines for Surviving (4), the herbs and actions of PC-SPEC include:

1.) Isatis indigotica (da qing ye) contains beta sitosterol, a phytosterol which lowers the bioavailability of estrogen and reduces tumor yield in animals.
2.) Glycyrrhiza spp. (gan cao) stimulates the immune system and possesses in vitro antitumor activity. It also helps lower testosterone levels.
3.) Panax pseudo-ginseng (san qi) stimulates NK cell activity.
4.) Ganoderma lucidum (ling zi) contain polysaccharides that inhibit cancer cells and extend the lifespan of test animal with lung cancer up to 195%.
5.) Scutellaria baicalensis (huang qin) promotes apoptosis, stimulates the immune system and inhibits tumor-cell proliferation.
6.) Dendranthema morifolium Tzvel (Chu-hua) is a lesser-known Chinese herb with reported antiviral and detoxifying properties.
7.) Rabdosia rubescens (don ling cau) is a pain-relieving herb with multiple antitumor effects. Increased survival rates have been noted in patients with esophageal cancer.
8.) Serenoa repens or S. serrulata (Saw palmetto) decreases the bioavailability of testosterone and is widely used in the treatment of BPH.

The recommended dose is 6-12 capsules per day depending on the stage of the disease. This puts the cost of the formula at $300-$600 per month. (CHT averages $800 per month to give some perspective). Since the formula is a non-FDA approved herbal combination, it is available without a prescription.

Dr. Myatt’s comment: This formula has gotten a lot of good press lately. I’d like to see if the results will meet the hype. Unfortunately, since the formula is a non-FDA approved herbal remedy, I have found it challenging to get patients to take it with consistency in the doses recommended. I have yet to see results in two patients who have used it with regularity. PC-SPEC may indeed represent a breakthrough in the treatment of cancer. It could also be that some herbal product manufacturers are getting as clever as the drug companies in creating “buzz,” and getting journal space, about new products. How many “breakthrough” drugs have come and gone? Let’s hope PC-SPEC fares better than the current conventional treatments for prostate cancer.

References

1.) Halicka HD et al.: Apoptosis and cell cycle effects induced by extracts of the Chinese herbal preparation PC-SPEC. Intl J Oncology, 1997;11:437-448.
2.) Whittaker J: The Art of Alternative Medicine. ACAM Conference Proceedings Notes, Nov. 1998.
3.) DiPaola RS et al.: Clinical and biologic activity of an estrogenic herbal combination (PC-SPEC) in prostate cancer. New Engl J Med, Sept. 17, 1998;339(12);785-791.
4.) Lewis, James Jr.: New Guidelines for Surviving , Westbury, NY: Health Education Library Publisher, 1998.

Nutritional Materia Medica

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)

Vitamin D3 induces prostate cancer cell apoptosis by apparent translocation of the cancer cell androgen receptor. This makes the cell less susceptible to testosterone-induced proliferation (15). D3 induces differentiation, inhibits angiogenesis and shows antitumor activity. It may also upregulate vitamin A receptors. (16)

Because vitamin D has the potential to cause toxicity, doses over 1,000mg should be carefully monitored. Increased blood calcium levels can result from toxicity. In clinical practice, D3 appears to benefit metastatic bone disease in higher doses, perhaps because this vitamin is needed for normal calcification of bone matrix.

Food sources of vitamin D include cold water fish (salmon, mackerel, herring), butter, egg yolks and dark green leafy vegetables. Sunlight acting on the skin will also create vitamin D. In areas of decrease sunlight, increases of breast and colon cancer have been observed. (17)

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. It regulates circadian rhythms and plays a role in sleep regulation. It is also a more potent antioxidant than glutathione or vitamin E (19). In vitro, melatonin demonstrates antiestrogen activity and immune stimulation (18). Recent research shows that melatonin inhibits cell proliferation profoundly in vivo but only weakly in vitro. It is synergistic with IL-2 and increases the effectiveness of IL-2 treatment. (20)
 

CoQ10 (ubiquinone)

CoQ10 is a vitamin-like substance that is involved in mitochondrial energy production. The heart is a high user of CoQ10, and many chemotherapeutic drugs deplete body stores of this nutrient. CoQ10 has been used successfully to reduce chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.
In breast cancer patients, a dose of 90mg daily increase late-stage survival dramatically. Three cases of complete remission have been documented at higher doses (300-400mg) per day. (21)

Enzymes (multi enzymes)

Digestive enzymes, whether from animal sources (pancreatin, etc.) or botanical (bromelain, papain), have been shown to increase survival time, inhibit metastasis, and stimulate immune cells. Enzymes induce differentiation and inhibit angiogenesis (22), possibly through antifibrinolytic mechanisms. It has also been postulated that enzymes may help unmask tumor cells and make them more accessible to the immune system.

Dietary Guidelines

Low saturated fat diets decrease the body’s endogenous and exogenous hormone production. Conversely, diets high in saturated fats decrease NK cell activity and increase arachidonic acid, an inflammatory precursor. Rates of breast, colon, prostate, uterine, ovarian and testicular cancers are significantly higher in countries with high saturated fat intakes.

Saturated fats promote inflammatory prostaglandin synthesis while omega-3 fatty acids are antiinflammatory.

Low carbohydrate diets decrease the availability of glucose and insulin. Insulin is a growth factor for cancer and the primary metabolic pathway of cancer cells is anaerobic glycolysis, meaning that cancer cells thrive with a high glucose environment. In animal studies, even slight change toward metabolic acidosis resulted in tumor regression. A low carbohydrate diet which induces ketosis (metabolic acidosis) may duplicate this effect. Overweight patients can afford to lose weight on such a diet, to further reduce their endogenous hormone production. (Fat cells manufacture estrogen).
 

Foods of Special Benefit

garlic
lemon zest (the peel contains limonene)
fish
flax seed
soy and soy products
fresh vegetables (especially non-starchy, dark leafy greens)
olive oil
blueberries and other berries (high in flavonoids and low in sugars)
grains (whole grain only, to reduce insulin response and increase fiber content. Grains should be used sparingly. In patients with more than twenty pounds to lose, gains need not be used at all until desired weight is achieved)

Materia Medica References

1.) Boik, John: Cancer and Natural Medicine, Oregon Medical Press, 1995, p. 159
2.) Ibid., p. 177
3.) Tilgner, Sharol N.D.: Medicines from the Earth, Wise Acres Press, 1999, p. 44.
4.) Ibid, Boik, p. 184.
5.) Editors of time-Life Books: The Drug and Natural Medicine Advisor, time-Life Books, Alexandria, VA. 1997, p.704.
6.) Yeager, Selene, editor: Food Remedies., Prevention Health Books, Rodale Press, 1998, p. 494.
7.) Chevallier, Andrew: Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. DK Publishing, London, 1996, p.180.
8.) Barnett G.,Chaing CW, Licko V: Effects of Marijuana on testosterone in male subjects. J Theor Biol 1983 Oct 21; …104(4):685-92
9.) Fujimoto GI, Morrill GA, O’Connell ME, Kostello AB: Effects of cannabinoids given orally and reduced appetite on the male rat reproductive system. Pharmagology 1982;24(5):303-13.
10.) Purohoit V, Ahluwahlia BS, Vigersky RA: Marijuana inhibits dihydrotestosterone binding to the androgen receptor. Endocrinology, 1980 Sep; 107(3):848-50.
11.) Sultan C, Terraza A, Devillier C, Carilla E, et al.: Inhibition of androgen metabolism and binding by a liposteric extract of Serenoa repens B in human forskin fibroblasts. J Steroid Biochem 1984 Jan; 20(1):515-9.
12.) The effects of Flutamide on total DHT and nuclear DHT levles in the human prostate. Prostate, 1981, 2/3: 309-314.
13.) Bhargava SK: Antiandrogenic effects of a flavonoid-rich fraction of Vitex negundo seeds: a histological and biochemical study in dogs. J Ethnopharmacol 1989 Dec; 27(3):327-39.
14.) Bohnert KJ: The use of Vitex agnus castus for Hyperprolactinemia. Quarterly Review of Nat Med Spring 1997;19-20.
15.) Vitamin D and : 1,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptors and actions in human prostate cancer cell lines. Endocrin 1993;132(5):1952-60.
16.) Majewski S, Szmurlo A, Marczak M, Jablonska S, Bollag W: Inhibition of tumor-cell induced angiogenesis by retinoids, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and their combination. Canceer Lett 1993 Nov 30; 75(1):35-9.
17.) Murray M: Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Prima Publishing, 1996: p.40.
18.) reiter RJ, Melchiorri D, Swewerynek E, Poeggeler B, et al.: A review of the evidence supporting melatonin’s role as an antioxidant. J Pineal Res 1995; 57:125-28.
19.) Hill SM, Spriggs LL, Simon MA: The growth inhibitory action of melatonin on human breast cancer cells is linked to the estrogen response system. Cancer Lett 1992 Jul 10;64(3):249-56.
20.) Lissoni P, Barni S, Cazzaniga M, et al.: Efficacy of the concommitant administration of the pineal hormone melatonin in cancer immunotherpay with low-dose IL-2 in patients with advanced solid tumors who had progressed on IL-2 therpay alone. Oncology 1994b Jul-Aug; 51(4):344-7.
21.) Boik, John: Cancer and Natural Medicine, Oregon Medical Press, 1995, p. 71.
22.) 22.) Ibid., p.184.

 

Niacinamide (B3)

Potent Natural Help for Arthritis, Alzheimer’s, Anxiety and Type I Diabetes

Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide and nicotinic acid amide, is a form of vitamin B3 (the other form is niacin).

Niacin is converted to into nicotinamide in the body, but these two different forms of B3 have slightly different effects. Niacinamide does not lower cholesterol or cause the flushing that niacin does.(1)

Consider Niacinamide for:

  • Osteoarthritis – niacinamide has been shown to improve joint mobility, reduce inflammation and allow for a decrease in arthritis medication.(2,3)
  • Alzheimer’s disease – a recent study found that niacinamide completely reverses symptoms of the disease in lab animals (4), and human trial are now under way. (5)
  • Memory improvement – The findings were so dramatic in the Alzheimer’s study that researchers suggest that even people with non-Alzheimer’s memory changes may benefit.(5)
  • Diabetes Type I- niacinamide reduces glycosylated hemoglobin, retards beta cell death (beta cells produce insulin) and helps prevent cell damage by restoring NAD levels.(6-8)
  • Anxiety and Stress – niacinamide has benzodiazepine-like actions which help balance brain chemistry and relieve anxiety. Study participants also reported better sleep with niacinamide.(9-10)


Dr. Myatt’s comment: Although Big Pharma always tells us to “wait for more research” (which really means, “wait until we can figure out how to patent this as a drug”), I personally would not delay in starting niacinamide for early memory changes. The sooner corrective treatment is started, the greater the likelihood that it will help.

Niacinamide has been used safely since the 1940’s for arthritis and memory loss and it has an excellent safety profile.

Suggested dose: 1,000mg, 3 times per day with meals
Although it is rare, if this dose causes stomach upset, reduce to 500mg, 3 times per day and consult an holistic physician for guidance.

In both arthritis and memory loss, effects of niacinamide typically take 3-4 weeks to appear and 3-4 months to reach full effect.

References

1.) P Jaconello. Niacin versus niacinamide.CMAJ. 1992 October 1; 147(7): 990.
2.) Jonas WB, Rapoza CP, Blair WF. The effect of niacinamide on osteoarthritis: a pilot study. Inflamm Res. 1996 Jul;45(7):330-4.
3.) McCarty MF, Russell AL. Niacinamide therapy for osteoarthritis–does it inhibit nitric oxide synthase induction by interleukin 1 in chondrocytes? Med Hypotheses. 1999 Oct;53(4):350-60.
4.) Green KN, Steffan JS, Martinez-Coria H, et al. “ Nicotinamide restores cognition in Alzheimer’s disease transgenic mice via a mechanism involving sirtuin inhibition and selective reduction of Thr231-phosphotau.”J Neurosci 2008; 28(45): 11,500-11,510
5.) “Vitamin pill that may slow Alzheimer’s goes on trial,” The Guardian
(www.guardian.co.uk), 11/5/08
6.) Kolb H, Bukart V: Nicotinamide in type 1 diabetes. Mechanism of action revisited. Diabetes Care 1999 Mar;22 Suppl 2:B16-20
7.) Pozzilli P, Visalli N, Ghirlanda G, Manna R, Andreani D; Nicotinamide increases C-peptide secretion in patients with recent onset type 1 diabetes. Diabet Med 1989 Sep-Oct;6(7):568-72
8.) Vague P, Vialettes B, Lassmann-Vague V, Vallo J; Nicotinamide may extend remission phase of insulin-dependent diabetes. The Lancet Mar 1987 ltr
9.) Akhundov RA, Sultanov AA, Gadzhily RA, Sadykhov RV; [Psychoregulating role of nicotinamide]. Biull Eksp Biol Med 1993 May;115(5):487-91.
10.) Mohler H, Pole P, Cumin R, Pieri L, Kettler R; Nicotinamide is a brain constituent with benzodiazepine-like actions. Nature 1979 Apr 5;278(5704):563-5.

HealthBeat News

The Ten Most Dangerous Foods: Part II

For those of you who have been waiting for the other shoe to drop, here are the “other five” of my top ten list of most unhealthful foods. If you did not get the first half of this list, please refresh your memory by clicking here: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/HealthbeatV8I7.htm

6.) Margarine: no matter what it’s made from, margarine is largely “trans fat.” (Remember, trans fat is “Franken-fat,” the really bad stuff). Even good oils are converted into “trans” when they are made into margarine. There isn’t much “trans fat” in nature; the body is not well equipped to deal with this strange substance. Corn oil margarine has an Omega Ratio of 88.5, but even “good” margarine made with soy margarine has an OR of 12.9 (not to mention an unknown amount of “trans,” which all margarines have.

SUBSTITUTE: Butter, with an Omega Ratio of 1.5, is an absolute health food. I’m not sure how it got a “bad rap,” but it is totally undeserved. Use butter for a bread spread and for low-heat sautéing. DO NOT use margarine of any kind!

7.) Vegetable Oils: Some oils are bad, some are really bad. Corn oil and peanut oil take the prize for having such an unnatural Omega Ratio (82.9 & infinite, respectively), that the body simply does not have the capacity to use it properly. These high Omega-6 oils create inflammation in the body, predisposing to cancer, heart disease and over 60 other disease processes. Other unhealthy vegetable oils include: soy, sunflower, safflower, cotton seed and sesame. Olive oil is neutral, not healthful. Why use this when you can use flax seed oil with a positive health benefit?

SUBSTITUTE: For salad dressings and no-heat uses: Flax oil (Omega ratio: 0.23) is a health food, so is walnut oil (OR: 5.0) and canola oil (OR: 2.18). Be SURE to use organically processed canola (the label will brag about this). Most commercial canola oils are chemically processed and contain too many chemical residues to make them safe.

8.) White Sugar: This pseudo-food contains NOTHING but simple, “empty” calories. It has no fats, hence no Omega Ratio. (That’s the best news about white sugar). White sugar rapidly elevates blood sugar and taxes the pancreas tremendously. Can you say “hypoglycemia, Syndrome X and diabetes”? The calories in sugar have no food value but are stored rapidly as fat. White sugar requires B complex vitamins for its utilization, creating a B vitamin deficiency. Why does this matter? Low B-6, B12 and folate are major causes of depression, heart disease, ovarian cancer (and probably other cancers), and birth defects.

SUBSTITUTE: “brown sugar” and honey are NOT acceptable substitutes. Their nutritional content is only minutely better than refined white sugar. Try stevia (an herb) or artificial sweeteners, especially saccharine and Splenda.

9.) White flour: With an Omega ratio of 17.7 and no redeeming nutritional value except empty calories, white flour teams with white sugar as the top “white trash” foods. All of the B complex vitamin deficiencies occurring with white sugar also happen with white flour. Now think a minute: why is it white? Because it has been BLEACHED. No fiber, no nutrients (except carbohydrate calories), a huge tax on the pancreas, PLUS bleach. What a bargain!

SUBSTITUTE: whole grain flour (which usually has a lot of refined flour), or skip flour products altogether. Soy flour products make the most tastefully and healthfully acceptable products.

10.) Non-Dairy Creamer: Made from “pseudo-edible oils” (see # 7 above), creamers have a lot of trans fats. Why do I call the “Franken-fats”? “Trans” is the REALLY BAD kind of fat; Franken-fats are from Trans-silvania, get it?

SUBSTITUTE: want cream in your coffee? Use cream! Or half-and-half! With an Omega Ratio of 1.55 and no trans fats, the “real deal” is much more healthful than these “Franken-fakes.”

HealthBeat News

Dear Members and Friends:

As I have discussed with you in the past, your freedom to purchase and use nutritional and herbal supplements is under serious threat. The evidence of benefit for such supplementation is huge, the likelihood of harm is miniscule, but people getting well or staying well by taking supplements is encroaching on pharmaceutical sales. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the regulatory agency for drugs AND the lapdog of the pharmaceutical industry, is working in conjunction with other special-interest groups to make easy access to supplements a thing of the past.

I subscribe to a great health newsletter, one that feeds me a collection of important health news from around the world. A further discussion of today’s topic can be found here. I encourage you to use the provided link and read the entire article. I also recommend that you subscribe to this newsletter. It’s sharp, relevant and costs nothing but your sign-up.

In Health,
Dr. Myatt

Efforts to Reregulate Nutritional Supplements Gain Momentum
By Peter Barry Chowka

(June 1, 2004) The relative freedom that Americans have had to access a wide
variety of nutritional supplements in recent years may be coming to an end.
From a number of different directions, forces are moving forward quickly
and seemingly inexorably to strengthen the government’s regulation of
nutritional supplements. The result will be that the ability of individuals
to purchase and use supplements – vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids,
and so on – freely and without excessive restrictions may soon be in
jeopardy.

(Read more at http://www.naturalhealthline.com )

 

Insurance FAQ


How Our Office Handles Insurance

Q: Does Dr. Myatt Accept Medicare or Medicaid?

A: No. Dr. Myatt “opted out” of Medicare years ago. Without a UPN number (Universal Provider Number – required by Medicare), there is no way for Medicare to cover Dr. Myatt’s services. Further, Medicare rarely covers the type of progressive, alternative care that Dr. Myatt and other holistic physicians provide.

Q: Does Dr. Myatt accept insurance?

A: No. Services are due and payable on the day they are rendered.

Q: Will Dr. Myatt fill out insurance paperwork if I file a claim myself?

A: Yes. Dr. Myatt will gladly complete any necessary insurance paperwork including writing letters of medical necessity, as required by your insurance company for you to file a claim yourself. However, all time spent completing insurance paperwork or writing such letters is billed at the Doctor’s usual hourly fee of $240. For example, if it takes Dr. Myatt one-half hour to complete insurance paperwork, the patient will be billed $120.

Q: Why does Dr. Myatt charge for filling out insurance paperwork? My other doctor does this for free.

A: Your other doctor spends 5-10 minutes with you and charges for a complete office visit. Dr. Myatt charges for the office visit (typically one hour, the entire time of which is devoted to your care), then spends an average of 2-6 hours in “case study” following your exam or phone consultation. This additional time spent on case study is not charged for but is included in your visit. Very few physicians spend so much time and attention on an individual patient.

Insurance paperwork is incredibly complex and time-consuming. This is valuable time that Dr. Myatt prefers to spend studying the patient’s case in order to get the patient well, not shuffling papers.

When you consider the true amount of time Dr. Myatt spends on an individual case, you will see that her fees are a bargain. When you find yourself recovering from an “incurable” illness, you will further understand why Dr. Myatt’s case-study time is so valuable and why we charge for the non-wellness time spent on paperwork.

 

HealthBeat News

Why Alternative Medicines Don’t Work
by Dr. Dana Myatt

North Americans spend over $30 billion annually on Complementary and Alternative Medicine according to the office of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM).  Still, many skeptics believe that Alternative Medicines don’t work. As an holistic physician trained in alternative medicines, I must agree. Here’s why.

Although many alternative medicines available today have been better-researched than a number of FDA-approved drugs, the failure rate of alternative medicine remains high. If these alternative medicines are well-researched and proven, why the failure of many alternative treatments to produce the desired healing results? The problems may not be in the remedies themselves, but in mistakes made in their use. I offer these five reasons for the failure of alternative medicines and treatments:

1.) Lack of a treatment plan. In medical practice, doctors are supposed to develop a treatment plan that serves a specific purpose. Many laymen tell me they have “a bunch of vitamins and herbs in my cupboard — I could start my own pharmacy.” And therein lies a problem. People purchase a number of disjointed vitamin supplements and herbs with no definitive treatment plan or strategy. Just because someone has twenty bottles of vitamins in their cupboard that are supposed to be good for arthritis is no certainty that these supplements will work together to effect the desired condition. “A bunch of stuff” doesn’t cut it, not with alternative medicines and not with drugs. Patients need to have a concerted plan for health improvement, regardless of the chosen form of treatment.

2.) Buying inferior products. The FDA could do something helpful when it comes to nutritional supplements and herbs: they could oversee quality control. As it stands today, the FDA’s only mission is to outlaw all nutritional supplements, not keep them legal and verify quality. There is no “watchdog” group or bureau that oversees quality control in the alternative medicine industry, and this is a second major problem. What the label on your supplement or herb bottle says and what you may actually have can be two very different things. Consume Reports proved this in spades a few years ago when they “spot tested” supplements from the health food store shelves. The bottom line: buyer beware. Some natural and alternative products are cheap for a good reason. Know your source or take your chances.

3.) Not taking products as recommended. This is a perpetual problem in medicine, whether we’re talking about alternative medicines or drugs. If studies show that taking 1,000mg of a substance produces positive results, and the patient takes 500mg per day with no results, the problem may not the remedy but the patient. If a medical study shows that glucosamine sulfate produces beneficial results in arthritis and the patient instead takes glucosamine hydrochloride, again, it may be the patient and not the remedy that is the problem.

4.) Getting medical advice from the dog-catcher (or the butcher, baker or candlestick maker). There is a reason that doctors are required to attend school for 8+ years after high school in order to be licensed as physicians. Diagnosis and treatment of the human body is intricate work. When patients get spurious medical information from their next door neighbor (who has no medical or science background), the dog-catcher, country-western singers (this really happened), or anyone else without medical training, it’s anyone’s guess as to the outcome. Most people wouldn’t dream of taking their Caddy or BMW to anything less than a trained professional for care, yet people rely on untrained friends, family and people they don’t even know for health advice. Go figure.

5.) Using unproven remedies. There are so many alternative medicines that have more scientific study than drugs that it is difficult for me to understand why people choose to use unproven natural remedies. Perhaps it has to do with clever marketing combined with laymen naiveté. Whatever the cause, there are in fact many bogus “natural cures” around, diluting the importance of the true and proven alternative treatments and delivering disappointing health results.

6.) Expecting alternative medicines to work like drugs. For the most part, drugs treat symptoms, not problems. No one suffers from depression because of a Prozac deficiency, or a headache because of a Tylenol deficiency. Drugs don’t attempt to correct the underlying causes of illness, they are designed to give symptom relief — and many do so quite quickly. As soon as the drug wears off, the problem remains.

Although they can be used like drugs, alternative medicines are best used to correct the underlying cause of illness. They may not necessarily give symptom relief in one or two doses, but when they finally do their work, the problem is corrected, not simply masked. Patients who take one or two doses of an alternative medicine and quit because they do not experience symptom relief misunderstand the corrective action and benefit of this form of treatment.

So, I totally agree with skeptics who question the positive effects of alternative medicines. There is indeed an arguable failure rate, but this is due in large part to how these “medicines” are used, not in the medicines themselves. When used correctly, alternative medicines are the preferable way to prevent and treat disease. Isn’t a true correction better than a band-aid?

 

The Flu Can Be a Brutal Enemy.

Are You Relying on a Flu Shot Alone to Protect You?

The flu is expected to strike 24,700,000 people in the US alone this year according to CDC predictions (which are usually accurate because they are based on previous years’ statistics). An estimated 41,4000 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 three 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.

Meet Your Mighty Immune System

Your body has an entire “army” to protect you from foreign invasion. It is called the Immune System. Like any good military, each “division” of this army has a specific duty to perform — far beyond just the white blood cells you learned about in biology class.

The immune system is one of the most complex and crucial systems in the body. It is composed of organs, cells and immune factors. Your body’s cellular army includes:

  • Natural Killer (NK) cells,
  • T-cells,
  • B-cells,
  • macrophages,
  • Polymorphonuclear Cells (PMN’s),
  • dendritic cells

The body also produces a variety of “immune factors” that direct the activity of the immune cells. These immune factors include:

  • antibodies
  • cytokines
  • interferon
  • interleukin
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF).

The bone marrow, thymus, spleen and lymph nodes are also part of the immune system.

Each of these organs, cells and immune factors work in together to protect the host (that’s you!) from infection by viruses, bacteria, parasites, protozoans, funguses and cancerous cells. Because each part of this system works as part of the whole, when even a single “platoon” of this complex army goes AWOL, the entire immune “military” is compromised, along with the health of the body it is designed to protect.

Beyond Vaccines and Antibiotics: Boosting Immunity Naturally

Vaccines like the “flu shot” activate only a small part of the immune system and only against a few viruses, leaving the door wide-open for hundreds of other viruses, bacteria, funguses, and parasites to infect the host. Antibiotics are only effective against certain bacteria; they do nothing to prevent or cure viral or fungal infections. And neither vaccines nor antibiotics improve overall immunity. In fact, overuse of antibiotics can cause “Super Bugs,” deadly bacteria that are resistant to all known antibiotics. In certain instances, these drugs can be life-saving, but for overall protection from viruses and bacteria, they pale compared to the body’s own immune system.

Fortunately, many herbs and nutrients are proven to stimulate immune function. Not only do a number of these nutrients and herbs have a direct “kill” effect like antibiotics, many of them also increase various aspects of immune response in general, a feat that vaccines and antibiotics just can’t do.

Here’s the Good News: Proven Nutrients and Herbs to Boost Immunity

  • Vitamin A. One of the most highly documented nutrients necessary for normal immune function, vitamin A increases neutrophil phagocytosis, cell- mediated immunity, humoral response and interleukin-2 production. Recent research has found a strong link between vitamin A deficiency and upper respiratory infections.
  • Vitamin C. Like vitamin A, vitamin C has been the subjects of hundreds of scientific studies. Vitamin C is antiviral and antibacterial, but its most potent effect is to enhance immunity. It increases white blood cell activity, interferon production, and thymic hormone secretion. Levels of vitamin C are quickly depleted during infection. Other studies have shown that people who take higher doses of vitamin C are less likely to contract colds and flu, and if they do get sick, their illnesses are less severe and of shorter duration.
  • Zinc The essential mineral zinc is an enzyme activator that is necessary for normal immune function. Unfortunately, it is a mineral that is often lacking in the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.). Optimal zinc intake helps boost immunity and also serves as an antioxidant.
  • Echinacea (Echniacea angustifolia) With over 400 scientific studies to its credit, Echinacea is one of the most widely studied medicinal herbs. It’s value in enhancing immunity well-proven. Echinacea activates NK, T-lymphocyte and neutrophil activity, and stimulates interferon production. It also increases non specific defense mechanisms including alternate complement pathways. In animal studies, Echinacea is anti-tumerogenic.
  • Astragalus (A. membranaceus) Human and animal studies have shown that Astragalus is a potent antiviral, able to provide protection from the viruses that cause influenza and the common cold by increasing T-cell activity and stimulating interferon, interleukin-2, and IgA and IgG antibodies.
  • Medicinal Mushrooms (Maitake, Shiitake, Reishi) act as immune stimulants and anti-tumorogenic agents. They have been used by the Chinese for this purpose for thousands of years and modern research has verified their immune-stimulating benefits. Beta 1,3 Glucan, a constituent of medicinal mushrooms, actives T-cells and stimulates cytokine production.Studies conducted in Japan with lentinan (a beta-1,3-1,6-glucan from the shiitake mushroom) have shown an increase in immune Natural Killer (NK) cells and an increased survival time in cancer patients, sometimes by more than five years. In fact, Lentinan is considered a drug in Japan and is approved for clinical use.

    Although medicinal mushrooms (and their active ingredient, beta-glucan) have been most widely studied as immune-stimulating anti-cancer agents, they have also been shown to be effective immune stimulants in a variety of infectious diseases (including anthrax) as well.

  • Ligustrum (ligustrum lucidum) Ligustrum has been used in combination with astragalus in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Studies conducted in China show that ligustrum stimulates the immune system, decreases inflammation and protects the liver.
  • Goldenseal (hydrastis canadensis) Goldenseal has both antibiotic AND immune-stimulating properties. The active ingredient in Goldenseal, berberine, is a broad spectrum antibiotic that is effective against variety of bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. Bacteria that are vulnerable to berberine are Staph, Strep, and Enterococcal species. Berberine also inhibits the growth of yeasts (such as Candida) which often overgrow as a response to antibiotic treatment. Berberine further boosts immunity by increasing the blood supply to the spleen and activating macrophages.
  • Quercetin is a flavonoid found in many plants including apples, onions, green and black tea. Small amounts are also found in green leafy vegetables. Flavonoids occur in nature in combination with vitamin C, and appear to protect and enhance vitamin C’s action.
  • Garlic (Allium sativum) As a food and a medicine, garlic comes close to being a true panacea. Research has proved garlic’s immune-stimulating ability, including activation of NK and T-cells. Garlic has potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against alpha and beta Strep, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella, Staph aureus, Mycobacteriaum and Proteus spp. Unlike drug antibiotics, there is no evidence that bacteria cen become “immune” to garlic’s effects.

Safeguard Your Health Before It’s Too Late

By the time you feel the first symptoms of a cold or the flu, the virus is already active in your body. Even at this stage, immune-boosting nutrients and herbs can help shorten the duration and severity of infection. But why risk even a mild infection when you can safeguard your health all season long?

Adding a variety of immune-stimulating nutrients and herbs to your supplement program can help you increase your body’s immune response by up to 200% or more — and protect yourself from ALL the season’s “bad bugs” and viruses — not just a few.

Will You Make This Dangerous Mistake?

I don’t know why some people do this, but I’ve seen it many times. They learn about immune-boosting herbs and nutrients. They decide it would be wise to add them to their supplement program in order to protect their health, especially during the height of cold and flu season. But they don’t follow through.

Instead, they wait until the fever and chills begin — and by then, they’re often too sick to run around town trying to find these healing nutrients. Even those who manage to crawl to a local health food store can’t be sure of what they are getting, and are often too miserable at this point to do good research on the available products.

Do your “due diligence” NOW — while you’re feeling fine — then lay in a supply of immune-boosting nutrients and herbs and take them all Winter long. You’ll be glad to spend the season infection-free, even when those around you are laid up with colds, flu and other seasonal maladies.

Are These Proven Immune-Boosting Nutrients  in YOUR Healing Arsenal?

I’m called “The Dragon Lady” in the nutritional foods industry. Why? Because my standard for herbs and supplements is uncompromising. I believe that “the most expensive supplement is the one that doesn’t work.” You can buy a cheap formula that you know nothing about and hope for the best. Personally, I don’t trust my own health to any nutritional formula unless I am convinced of it’s potency, purity and scientific formulation. That’s why I felt compelled to make my own immune formula — so I could be confident of it’s effectiveness.

I’ve taken the most well-researched immune-boosting vitamins, minerals and herbs and put them into a single, easy-to-take formula called Immune System Support. Just two capsules a day delivers the therapeutic doses of the herbs and nutrients documented to improve immune system function. When added to a daily program of nutritious diet, moderate exercise and optimal vitamin/mineral supplementation, Immune System Support will do more to protect you from infection than any vaccination or antibiotic could ever do. Although Nurse Mark and I are exposed to sick people are year long, we rarely ever “catch” anything because we keep our immune systems in shape with the simple, natural strategy outline above.

If you want to do more to keep yourself infection-free all year long, and especially during the “flu season,” you should be taking a proven immune formula that looks a lot like my Immune System Support. Better yet, just take Immune System Support. I’ve already done all the “heavy lifting” of research, formulation and quality control for you. Here’s what I’ve come up with:

Immune System Support

Each (two) capsules contain

Echinacea angustifolia root (4% echinacoside) 100 mg

Astragalus membranaceus root extract 250 mg

Maitake mushroom TD-fraction extract 25 mg

Maitake mushroom powder 100 mg

Shiitake mushroom powder 200 mg

Reishi mushroom powder 100 mg

Ligustrum lucidum fruit extract 100 mg

Goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadensis) 10 mg

Quercetin 50 mg

Garlic (Allium sativum) bulb powder 50 mg

Vitamin A (as beta carotene) 2,500 IU

Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 100 mg

Vitamin B-6 5 mg

Folic acid 400 mcg

Vitamin B-12 5 mcg

Pantothenic acid 5 mg

Zinc 10 mg

Suggested dose: 2 capsules per day for general immune enhancement. May be increased to 2 caps, 3 times per day for acute infections or additional immune support.

 

The Money Back Guarantee
My Accountant Says I’m Nuts to Offer

Nobody — I mean NOBODY — guarantees that you won’t get the flu. Did your doctor promise you a money-back guarantee if you get the flu in spite of having a flu shot? Hahahaha. When it comes to seasonal viruses, nothing is a sure bet. But I’ve scoured the medical literature with a fine-toothed comb. I’ve put the highest quality nutrients into my Immune System Support formula. And I’ve used this power-house of herbs and nutrients for years in my clinical practice, so I know what results to expect. I might be crazy, but I’m not stupid. I want you to stay infection-free this Winter, especially from a life-threatening case of the flu. So here’s how I’m going to entice you to take Immune System Support all Winter long.

If you promise to faithfully take just two capsules per day of Immune System Support, plus the daily multiple vitamin/mineral supplement equivalent of my Maxi Multi formula*, I’m confident the flu won’t be able to touch you. If you get the flu while you are taking Immune System Support and Maxi Multi’s, I’ll refund your entire season’s cost of both products. (I can’t guarantee the effectiveness of someone else’s multiple formula). All you have to do is promise to take your Maxi Multi’s and Immune System Support faithfully. I don’t think you’d try and fool me about having the flu — it’s far too serious a matter.

Now you have access to the most powerful immune-boosting herbs and nutrients on the planet – all in one place. These are the nutrients and herbs that will activate your immune system and make you “bullet proof” to colds, flu and other “seasonal maladies.”

* studies show that a ‘once-per-day” (one pill per day) vitamin supplement is worthless for increasing immunity, but that an optimal daily dose of vitamins and minerals (such as found in Maxi Multi), significantly increases immune function. These immune-enhancing effects are most pronounced in seniors over age 65, although they apply to all age groups.

I’ve taken all the risk. You don’t have anything to lose except your susceptibility to colds, flu, bacterial infections and a whole host of other nasty infectious diseases. How can you lose?

Please Order Today: Supplies Are Limited

I don’t want you to be disappointed, so please order today to avoid missing out on this offer. Our supply of Immune System Support is limited because we use only the highest quality raw materials in this formula. Inferior herbs are easy to come by, but herbs of the highest quality are like vintage wines — there’s only so much available each year and when it’s gone, it’s gone. I won’t compromise my standards in order to keep pumping out an inferior formula. I’ll just have to tell you that we are “backordered” until more becomes available. But that won’t help keep you safe through flu season, will it?

Rather than selling junk, I’ve chosen instead to limit the number of people I can make my “all winter long” guarantee to — which includes making the formula available continuously. My private practice patients who already take this formula get “first dibs,” of course. Wellness Club Members also have priority. After everyone in these two groups is locked in to their winter supply (I recommend taking this at least through the end of April), I’ll make the rest available to those few folks who see the wisdom in taking charge of their own immune health. Those who sign up for “auto-order” will have their supply shipped every month and will be guaranteed to “get the goods.”

Don’t wait a minute longer…start boosting your immune system NOW before the flu season hits.

In Health,
Dr. Dana Myatt
Dana Myatt, N.M.D.

Click Here to find and order MaxiMulti

Click Here to find and order Immune System Support

HealthBeat News

The Truth About Cholesterol, Part I

Dr. Myatt and Nurse Mark field a lot of questions from Wellness Club Members, many concerning cholesterol. They have asked me to devote this newsletter to answering some of those questions.

Cholesterol seems to be a subject on everybody’s lips recently, with medical scientists recommending even lower standards for cholesterol, and the pharmaceutical companies promoting an ever-increasing number of powerful cholesterol-lowering drugs. But what is this cholesterol that everyone talks about, why do we have it, do we need it, and what can we do about it?

You might be excused if you think because of all the “bad press” about the evils of cholesterol that it is a nasty, deadly foreign substance that should be avoided at all costs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Let’s get clear on one thing: cholesterol is essential to life. We cannot live without it. It makes up approximately 80% of our body’s cell walls! This vital substance is synthesized by the liver and is used by the body as a building block for such essential things as steroid hormones and bile acids in addition to cell membranes. Cholesterol is a precursor to Vitamin D in the skin, and without cholesterol we could not absorb the essential fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K from the food we eat. Cholesterol also gives the skin it’s ability to shed water and is essential to the growth and maintenance of the nervous system. So we really do need cholesterol – it is not the bad thing that some would have us believe it is. Having said that, it is important to know that there are several kinds of cholesterol.

First is the “bad” cholesterol that we have all heard about, LDL or Low Density Lipoprotein. LDL carries most of the cholesterol in the blood, and this is the form of cholesterol that is now thought to be the main source of blockage and damage in the arteries. (I say “thought” because we keep changing our opinion on this. Not too many years ago, modern medicine “knew” that total cholesterol was the bugaboo). The higher the LDL level,  the greater your risk for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), or so we think.  VLDL (Very Low Density Lipoprotein) performs the same tasks as LDL in terms of transporting fats (triglycerides and cholesterol) from the liver to the body’s cells and so may be dangerous when elevated.

Next is the “good” cholesterol, HDL (High Density Lipoprotein). It might be described as the “anti-cholesterol” because its job is to collect cholesterol in the blood and transport it back to the liver where it ends up being eliminated from the body. HDL seems to keep LDL from building up on the walls of the arteries, so HDL / LDL ratios are considered by many to be a better indicator of “cholesterol health” and CHD risk than overall cholesterol levels. Exercise and niacin are two potent agents for keeping HDL levels high.

Finally, there are Triglycerides (TG’s), which aren’t exactly cholesterol – they are a form of sugar carried by a fat— a fat/sugar molecule—-that circulates in the bloodstream. High levels of triglycerides are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. TG levels primarily become elevated by high intakes of dietary carbohydrates.

Humans manufacture cholesterol in the liver – remember, it is an important substance for normal body functioning. Conventional medical wisdom would have us believe that we should limit our dietary intake of cholesterol for this reason. That may be partially true, in that if the body is not producing enough HDL or “good” cholesterol to prevent the buildup of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol with it’s atherosclerotic effects or if the LDL receptors in the liver are not functioning properly then it might be wise to limit intake of cholesterols. In particular, dietary trans fats have been found to be extremely harmful, creating a whole cascade of damaging effects throughout the body.

There are a number of mechanisms that the body uses to control cholesterol production and therefore blood levels of cholesterol. The most important of these is in the liver where a chemical receptor senses LDL, and when it has detected “enough,” tells the liver to stop manufacturing more. Damage to this important feedback control mechanism can occur through normal aging which reduces the number and efficiency of the LDL receptors, and several disease states – most importantly diabetes, and also low thyroid function. This feedback mechanism (when functioning properly) means that eating foods high in cholesterol is not risky – the intake of dietary cholesterol simply tells the liver to stop making so much of it’s own! In many people, eating TOO LITTLE cholesterol causes the liver to manufacture MORE!

Summary:

1.) Cholesterol in it’s various forms— LDL,HDL, VLDL and TG’s, exerts various effects. We currently “think” that LDL is the most dangerous cholesterol and that HDL is protective. Keep in mind that medical opinions about cholesterol and it’s effects change regularly.

2.) LDL and TG’s appear to be independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

3.) TG’s become elevated by primarily by excess carbohydrates in the diet, not by high fat or cholesterol in the diet.

4.) HDL levels can be increased by exercise, niacin, and maintaining youthful sex hormone levels.

5.) Decreased dietary cholesterol often does NOT lower total cholesterol levels; the liver simply manufactures more when it senses less intake from diet.

In Part II, Next Issue:  Natural Cholesterol Cures, featuring a review of both drugs and natural substances that can be used to lower cholesterol.

Until Next Time, Be Well!

Jamie Jameson-White

Editor, HealthBeat Newsletter

 

Fertility Knowledge Center – Naturally


Fertility-Relarted Medical Conditions

PCOS / PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome

Cytokines: A Simplified Look At Messenger Molecules

Nutrition and Diet

The Mediterranean Diet – Is It All It Claims To Be?

Vegetarian And Fertile – Is It Possible?

Gluten and Casein – The Modern Poisons In Your Diet

Fertility Supplements Questions and Answers



Using Flavones to Lower IL-6: Which is better – Luteolin / Diosmin or Maxi Flavone?

Milk Thistle – is it safe?

Green Tea – Causes Inflammation?

“#Myo”>Myo-inositol in the Treatment of PCOS and Non-PCOS Infertility


What’s So Special About Maxi Greens?

PreNatal Supplements – Questions and Answers

PreNatal Vitamins: A Review and Discussion

35 Billion Probiotic 30 caps

Friendly Gut Bacteria

Acidophilus and related species are the “friendly” gut bacteria, naturally-occurring bacteria of the colon that help protect us from many conditions including candidiasis, allergies, constipation, and B12 vitamin deficiency. These good bacteria are damaged or destroyed by dietary imbalances, antibiotics and other drug use. Replacement of good bacteria results in improved colon function. Lactobacillus acidophilus is the best known probiotic species, but there are many other “friendly species” native to the GI tract.

Latest research is confirming the importance of healthy gut flora to our overall immunity.

Dr. Myatt has revised her recommendations to suggest that one capsule of 35 Billion ProBiotic, taken twice a day, with meals is best for maintenance of healthy gut flora and strong immune function.

Read more, including references, in Dr. Myatt’s healthBeat News Article:
The Most Important Immune Supplement Ever

35 Billion ProBiotic

“Supremadophilus on Steroids”

Sometimes, bigger really is better. Our new super-high-potency Supremadophilus has 35 billion viable probiotics compared to 5 billion in Supremadophilus. Recommended during and after antibiotic treatment  and for those times when a more vigorous gut bacterial replacement is indicated.

Suggested dose: one to two capsules per day with meals or as directed.

 

Nutrition Facts Box for 35 Billion Probiotic 

35 Billion Facts Box