Archive for July, 2010

Dr. Ray Hinish was joined by Personal Trainer Blythe Alberg to discuss weight loss and wellness. In this show, we gave you a step by step system for building a lifestyle that promotes the three pillars of health: body composition, health & energy.  Using these tactics you will be able to reverse diabetes & pre-diabetes, decrease cholesterol and enjoy the energy you need to pursue a life full of adventure.

Interview with Mark Sisson, author of The Primal Blueprint.

1. Coca Cola conspiracy – caffeine, sodium, diuretic effect creates thirst
2. Food industry
3. Fish Oil – omega 3 & 6, omega 3
4. Alzheimer’s disease
5. Autism spectrum disorder
6. Detox
7. Water contamination
8. Sodium benzonate and leukemia
9. Refluxing bile
10. Parkinson’s disease
11. Dairy products – casein protein
12. Tetanus
13. Raw foods and sensitivities
14. Sunblocks
15. Protein bars & casein
16. Lyme disease
17. 5 hour energy drink
18. No interest in food

Orthorexia nervosa – being nervous about correct eating (people who focus on healthy eating)
Supplements (vitamins)
Amount of omega 3s to take daily
Coumadin & vitamin K
When to take fish oilBlood platelets
Coumadin & Levaquin
Medication and eye problems
Omega 3, 6, 9  & osteoporosis
Stomach irritation & spices
Cholesterol medications
Plavix
Nose bleed
Cingular
Blood pressure & turmeric
Calf muscle spasm
Curcumin & inflammation
Anemia
Omega 3

Although most cases are women, we also come across men and seniors who are prone towards infection of the urinary tract or prostate. For the purposes of this article we will discuss infections of the lower urinary tract which occur in the urethra and the bladder. It should be noted that UTIs can become a chronic problem for many women resulting in a nearly constant need for antibiotics to keep the bacteria in check. There are a number of subgroups of women who are prone towards developing UTIs, these include:

1. Pregnant women –  UTIs are considered the most common infection in pregnant women and can place the fetus at risk of complication. Infections in pregnancy must be treated immediately in order to prevent such complications.
2. Women in college – Frequent sexual activity is certainly linked to risk of UTIs and a number of studies have found college-age women are at increased risk.
3. Women with extenuating circumstances – Such situations as neurogenic bladder, post-menopausal women with diabetes, poor health, vaginal dryness or previous UTI.

Why do UTI Infections Occur?

Guess what, every woman has a urinary tract infection! No urinary tract is sterile and that is a good thing. In a healthy urinary tract, a number of bacterial species act as its defenders. When the healthy bacteria are killed off then the tract is left defenseless and other, less friendly bacteria, can grow unchecked and a UTI occurs. The most common cause of UTIs in otherwise healthy women is E. Coli, a common bacteria found in the intestines, which has long appendages that attach to the bladder and urethral wall. There are a number of factors that can set the stage for bacterial infection of the urinary tract:

1. Exposure to spermicide which can kill the normal flora of the urinary tract
2. Chronic low-grade dehydration
3. Previous antibiotic use
4. Chronic stress
5. Poorly functioning immune system
6. A swing in urinary pH

A step by step approach to preventing urinary tract infections:

1. Keep well hydrated. Your first defense from infection is a regular flow of urine. If you urinate on a regular basis, any bacteria that may be trying to colonize in the urinary tract may not have an opportunity to attach to the wall of the urethra or bladder. Keeping well hydrated will also prevent the pH of the urine from becoming hospitable to the unwanted bacteria.
2. Add cranberry concentrate to your water. If you like sipping on something with a little flavor, try adding Cranberry Concentrate from Genesis Today to your water. This is a highly concentrated cranberry juice that is high in plant compounds that prevent adhesion of E. Coli to the lining of the urinary tract.
3. Take a probiotic daily. Probiotics are encapsulated bacteria that help to colonize the intestinal system and urinary tract. One such probiotic formula appears to be especially beneficial for those who suffer with chronic urinary tract infections. This formula is called YC-7 by Sedona labs and is taken 2 capsules daily for the first week and then one capsule daily thereafter for 6 weeks. After this 6 week period we can switch to a more broad spectrum product called iFlora for maintenance which is taken 1 capsule daily.
4. In situations where UTIs seem to occur after sexual intercourse, I would recommend taking a product that we will discuss in the following section, this product is a sugar called D-mannose. The recommended dose to prevent intercourse-induced UTIs is 1 teaspoon of D-Mannose mixed in water and taken orally after intercourse. Take another teaspoon of D-mannose 4-6 hours later. This can help to prevent a UTI from occurring.

When you have a UTI…

If you are reading this article then you likely either have a UTI or you are prone towards UTIs. For those who have not had a UTI, common symptoms include:

1. Frequent urge to urinate
2. Pain or burning sensation on urination
3. Bladder pain (even when not urinating)
4. Difficulty urinating

It is important to note that if the pain reaches the lower back or you have fever, nausea or vomiting it could indicate that the infection has moved into the kidney which is a much more serious situation. It is also important to note that children usually do not present with the same symptoms as adults. Often children can present with irritability, fever, lack of appetite and incontinence.

At the first sign of symptoms, it is important to begin right away to get the infection kicked before it has an opportunity to take hold. Follow the instruction below:

1. Mannose – Mannose is the active sugar found in cranberry, now that this compound is available, cranberry has become nearly obsolete as it pertains to dealing with an existing infection. Cranberry is still of great value for people who are looking to prevent infection, however, if an infection exists then we recommend the mannose. Mannose works by preventing the E. Coli bacteria from being able to hold on to the bladder and urethra wall. It is not uncommon for people to see significant improvements within the first 24 hours of taking the D-mannose powder. Take 2 scoops for the first dose, then take 1 scoop every 3 hours. Often times the symptoms begin to subside within hours. It is recommended and this alone is all that people need to take care of the infection.
2. Berberine – This is a plant chemical called a plant alkaloid that is present in many plants such as goldenseal, barberry and Oregon grape. This compound appears to prevent the bacteria from forming those long appendages that permit them to hold to the urethral and bladder wall. Berberine also appears to inhibit the first stage of bacterial development and has shown activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including the E.Coli. I recommend the Berbercaps by Thorne research: 1 capsule three times daily.
3. Potassium/Magnesium Citrate – The citrate helps to alkalinize the urine which can enhance the effect of other natural products such as berberine and mannose. In one study, sodium citrate improved symptoms of a UTI in 80% of the women in the study. The citrate salts can also protect from Candida infection in the urinary tract. Take potassium/magnesium citrate 2 capsules two to three times daily for 7 days.

It is important to note that in many situations with UTI infection, D-mannose is usually sufficient to correct the issue. I have given two other options that can be used in situations when you do not have access to mannose or you want to take an aggressive stance against the infection.

If you are debating whether or not to fill that prescription for a statin medication, you may want to read this article first.

I remember when I was learning to defend against a knife attack in my blackbelt class. My instructor, a former special forces soldier, looked at us with a solemn look and said, “when defending against a knife attack, the question is not whether or not you will get cut, because you are going to get cut, the question is how serious will the wound be. Your job, in defending a knife attack, is to position yourself to limit the damage when you do get cut while disarming your attacker.” That wisdom can be applied to prescription medications as well.  As with any medication, the question isn’t whether or not side effects will occur, but do the reported benefits outweigh the numerous and almost certain risks associated with the drugs? Every day, medical doctors are forced to decide whether or not the risks of a medication are outweighed by the benefits, and how to dose and treat so that the risks of side effects are lowest while disarming the disease. Not exactly as dramatic as the knife attack, however, the outcome can be just as damaging and deadly if the wrong decision is made. The question at hand is, “are the risks of statin drugs outweighed by the benefits?”

A recent study sheds more light on the potential harm of popular cholesterol medications known as statin drugs. In this study on over 2 million men and women, researchers discovered that statin drugs significantly increased the risk of these serious side effects.
1. Moderate to severe liver damage
2. Moderate to severe muscle damage
3. Cataracts
4. Kidney damage

Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

That is what the PR firms keep telling us; but is it true? After crunching the numbers, the researchers found that you would have to treat 37 women and 33 men for five years to prevent one case of heart disease. They also discovered that stains prevent esophageal cancer; but you would have to treat 1266 women and 1082 men for five years to prevent one case.

So what about the potential side effects?

Scientists use a statistical calculation called “Number Needed to Harm” (NNH) to show risk. Let’s find out how many people will be harmed by statins in a five-year period.
1. One person will develop moderate to severe muscle damage for every 259 statin users
2. One person will develop moderate to severe liver damage for every 136 statin users
3. One person will develop kidney failure for every 434 statin users
4. One person will develop cataracts for every 33 statin users

Let’s use these numbers to figure out what we can expect per 10,000 patients who use statins for 5 years.
1. 271 fewer cases of diagnosed heart disease
2. 8 fewer cases of esophageal cancer
3. 74 cases of liver damage
4. 23 cases of kidney failure
5. 39 cases of debilitating muscle damage
6. 307 cases of cataracts

Doctors accept these risks because they assume that statins actually prevent heart disease, at best, they delay it, that is, for a few people. Based on this study, this means that 9721 out of 10,000 patients would gain no benefit from taking statins for five years. That is astoundingly dismal. Perhaps we should be looking for better options…

Cholesterol is an important component for the proper functioning of the body. When the cholesterol numbers are out of range the first option for treatment should be lifestyle changes. This audio program includes supplement and lifestyle recommendations for controlling cholesterol without drugs.

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