Posts Tagged energy

… Potassium for a Longer and Healthier Life – Benefits of Potassium for Seniors

Improved energy – Electrolytes, such as potassium, can allow the body to manufacture needed energy. …

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

A little background…

You see, as soon as you fall asleep your body begins a cycle where it flows through different levels from wakefulness – simplified stages include: REM sleep (where you dream), deep sleep and light sleep. Scientists have discovered that each stage of sleep has a different purpose as it pertains to health. For example, Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is a stage where the brain discards useless information learned throughout the day and helps to file important memories. People who do not get enough REM sleep have difficulty with cognition and memory. Deep sleep is a stage where your body repairs and regenerates body tissues and people who are deprived of deep sleep feel run down, lack energy, vitality and are prone to sickness and disease. Ok, enough background, onto my discovery.
Needless to say, finally the machine was released to market and of course I was one of the first to get it. The machine, called the ZEO, is based on the same technology used in sleep labs which monitor brainwaves through special wireless electrodes. At night, I wear a headband containing electrodes that wirelessly transmit my brainwaves to a small clock-like unit next to my bed. Maybe, I’ll talk more about the ZEO in a future blog…for now just know that the unit shows me how much time I spent in each stage of sleep allowing me to know where I am deficient and where I am abundant. The unit also wakes me during a time in the cycle when I am more likely to feel awake and vital. So, let me tell you how I did last night.

Last night I was surprised that I spent a lot of time in REM sleep and little time in deep sleep. In fact, last night I spent almost a third less time in deep sleep than I did every other night since the unit arrived. In addition, I admit that I felt a bit run down this morning. It is important to note that if I had this same sleep pattern night after night, my body would not fully repair and over time my tissues would become dysfunctional, resulting in sickness or chronic illness.
Good thing for me, this lack of deep sleep is the exception and not the rule. So what went wrong last night?

I knew immediately what had occurred that caused me to have a deficit of rejuvenating deep sleep. Last night was a bit of a late night for me, however, this was only a small part of the problem. I know this because other nights had been late nights and I had not suffered the same degree of deep sleep deficit as I had last night. What made this night different was I had eaten a large, unhealthy meal prior to bed. I am too embarrassed to give details of just how unhealthy the meal was but just know for now, it was not a shining moment of health for me. Anyway, here is what happened…

Your body has limited resources and thus it must dedicate precious resources to various systems at one time. At night, your body wants to dedicate as many of these resources to repair and regeneration. Eating a big meal before bed forces the body to dedicate many of these resources to digestion rather than repair and thus your body suffers. Night after night I noticed that the majority of the deep sleep would occur in the first third of sleep. After the first few hours of sleep, very little deep sleep occurs and more is devoted to REM sleep. This makes good sense as our prehistoric body really does not know if sleep will be interrupted by attacking lions or village drama and thus it needs to get the majority of repair done as early as possible. This, unfortunately, does not benefit the person who eats before bed as these first few hours, when deep sleep occurs, will be dedicated to digestion. By the time digestion is complete, the optimal deep sleep time has passed. So what is the moral of this story?
Don’t eat before bed! For the love of your body, refrain from eating 3 hours before bed so that you can enjoy more rejuvenating sleep. I learned my lesson last night and I hope that you will benefit from the wisdom that has been entrusted to me by my ZEO Sleep Machine. This lesson alone was worth the nearly $400 dollar price tag that I paid to quench my high tech appetite. I hope that I will continue to learn how my lifestyle impacts the quality of sleep and overall health. As I learn more, I will bring these lessons to you.

What if you suffer with severe hunger pangs at night?

Please know that it is unnatural for your body to want food at night. This indicates biochemical imbalances that need to be addressed. Often people’s hunger is really a sign of dehydration and simply drinking a big glass of water will ward off these stomach knots. If this does not do it then I would recommend playing with different foods. I feel that a little fruit or veggies before bed will not interfere too much with deep sleep as these foods digest easily and quickly. I plan on testing this in the future by eating some fruit or veggies before bed and testing how my sleep pattern is affected. I will also test a high protein meal prior to bed. I will let you know how things turn out. For now, try not to eat 3 hours before bed and if you must eat, have a food that is easy for your body to digest so that deep sleep is not affected.

Do I recommend people get their own ZEO?

Believe it or not, I do not recommend people get a ZEO sleep system as of yet. It is an interesting unit and personally I love it but I am a bit more geeky and motivated than the average bear. The head band is a bit uncomfortable (although much more comfortable than expected) and the unit is quite expensive. I will report back to you in the future after I have more experience with it.

When someone is initially diagnosed with heart failure they are classified according to the New York Heart Association Classification System depending on severity. There are four classes from mild to severe. The group in the most severe class has a death rate of 74% within a 6 month period and a 94% death rate within a 12 month period. I would consider that a very grim outlook.

Coenzyme Q10 is a vital nutrient produced by the body that plays a very important role in the formation of energy within the cell. It has been noted that the organs which require the most energy production, such as the heart, are most susceptible to becoming deficient in coenzyme Q10. Such a deficiency has been closely linked to the development and/or worsening of heart failure. Studies have also demonstrated improvement in heart failure patients who are supplemented with coenzyme Q10.
There is one big problem, however…
People who wait until the heart failure is at its worst level can’t seem to absorb enough coenzyme Q10 to energize the heart. One result of heart failure is a buildup of fluid in the body called edema and it is believed that a backup of fluid in the intestinal system decreases absorption of coenzyme Q10 and thus limits the usefulness of this nutrient in people who need it the most.
There is new hope…
A recent study evaluated the effect of two forms of coenzyme Q10 on patients diagnosed with the worst form of heart failure (class IV). First they gave the 7 patients an average dose of 450 mg of standard coQ10 called ubiquinone. Coenzyme Q10 blood levels only increased marginally which was insufficient to improve the ability of the heart to beat stronger. Then the researchers switched the patients to the newer form of coenzyme Q10 called ubiquinol. This form is believed to be better absorbed, retained and utilized by the body. The results were amazing! The coenzyme Q10 blood levels shot up to where we would expect significant clinical results, and that is exactly what we got. The heart ejection fraction, a measure of how much blood the heart is able to pump to the organs, nearly doubled from 22% to 39%! The researchers described the clinical improvements as “remarkable” as every one of the patients improved significantly decreasing in class from level IV to level II. All seven patients started out in the worst stage of heart failure and at least 6 out of 7 of the patients would not have been expected to survive the 12 month study, however, after 12 months 6 out of 7 patients were still alive and listed as “stable”. The one patient who died had stopped the new coQ10 after three months despite improvements in his heart function.
Although this study is very small, the results are significant enough for me to recommend the ubiquinol form of coenzyme Q10 for anybody who has been diagnosed with heart failure. The cost of this nutrient is higher than standard CoQ10, however, it is worth the expense if the difference is a working heart. Although this study used an average of 580 mg of ubiquinol, a smaller dose will likely suffice due to its increased bioavailability. I recommend that anybody who has been diagnosed with heart failure use between 200 and 300 mg of ubiquinol, more if your symptoms are more severe.
Shouldn’t everyone use the ubiquinol form?
If you are healthy, you can likely use the standard coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) supplement. If you have particular conditions that may require a more aggressive program then I recommend switching to the ubiquinol. If you don’t know which would be more appropriate for you, please feel free to drop me an email at drray@illnessisoptional.com.
(BioFactors. December 2008;32:119-128)

Taking a ride on the Sugar Land Express is likely a one-way trip to “Illsville.”

For decades now, as medical consumers and medical professionals, we have been trained to look at certain parameters to measure our health status. We all know about getting our blood pressure or cholesterol checked. We’ve been told time and again to keep our weight under control and to get some exercise, some of us even keeping track of our percent body fat. We’ve been coerced into getting a mammogram, PSA test and/or a colonoscopy on a regular basis.

We also get our fasting blood glucose checked when we have a physical exam (which may not be often enough for some of us), the results of which we rely on to tell us whether or not we have diabetes. Unfortunately, it may be that the standards we use as “acceptable” for blood sugar are actually too high… and it seems that there is another blood test that should be much more frequently used called hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).

Currently, the HbA1c test is only routinely done for diabetics as a long-term measure of their blood glucose. Sugar absorbed through the digestive system circulates in the bloodstream. When there is too much circulating sugar, some of it attaches to the hemoglobin in the red blood cells, forming hemoglobin A1c. Red blood cells live for 90 to 120 days, meaning that once the sugar combines with the hemoglobin, the HbA1c stays in the blood for 3 to 4 months. So measuring HbA1c tells us about high blood sugar levels over the past 3 months. It is not affected by the immediate diet, so no fasting is required.

Unfortunately, the only people who get their HbA1c tested are those already identified with a sugar problem. The sad fact is that it can take up to 10 years of having “sugar issues” before someone actually makes the diagnosis of diabetes. Furthermore, during those 10 years all sorts of other biochemical changes are happening as a result of the high sugar levels (and the consequent increased insulin levels that it causes) in our blood. This leads to other diseases that we have not yet adequately attributed to high blood sugar levels… heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and cancer, whose treatments are the source of countless prescriptions, tests and other costly interventions.

Here are some sobering facts concerning disease and death rates in the United States:

· A total of 63% of men and 55% of women over the age of 25 are either overweight or obese, and more than 280,000 deaths are ascribed to this.
· More than 60 million people have one or more types of cardiovascular disease, which represents the leading cause of death, more than 40% of all deaths.
· 50 million people are hypertensive.
· 10 million people have type 2 diabetes.
· 72 million adults maintain total cholesterol/HDL ratios of 4.5 or greater.

So what is the common link between all of these chronic diseases or conditions? You guessed it… our body’s inability to properly handle sugar. This particular set of circumstances is known as Syndrome X or Metabolic Syndrome.

Here is what happens in the body… we eat food that contains sugar and complex carbohydrates (chains of sugars connected together). These sugars are converted into glucose by enzymes in the G I tract. In the following two hours the glucose is rapidly absorbed and elevates plasma glucose concentrations. The resulting “hyperglycemia,” along with other chemicals secreted in the gut, causes the pancreas to secrete insulin, resulting in an immediate rise in plasma insulin concentrations, hyperinsulinemia.

Insulin’s job is to tell muscle, liver, fat and endothelial cells (cells that line the blood vessels) to take up the glucose molecules and use them for energy. When these cells resist this process (insulin resistance) then the sugar stays in the bloodstream and causes the pancreas to release more insulin, thus making the hyperinsulinemia worse.

The degree to which hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia occur depends upon the glycemic index and the glycemic load of the carbohydrate ingested. Glycemic Index is a measure of a food’s ability to increase blood glucose levels quickly and the glycemic load of a particular food is the glycemic index multiplied by the carbohydrate content per serving size.

This concept of glycemic load is important to understand. There may be a high glycemic index food, like a baked potato (glycemic index = 97) which has a glycemic load of only 18.4, because of the relatively low amount of carbohydrate within a serving of baked potato. Contrast this with a seemingly harmless rice cake, which has a glycemic index of 82 (lower than the potato) but a glycemic load of nearly 67. Think about all of those diet plans that have you eating rice cakes as snacks… you might as well go ahead and have the Snickers bar, at least that would be enjoyable!

The historical facts are indisputable… sugar and processed/refined carbohydrate consumption was nearly non-existent a mere 200 years ago. After the Industrial Revolution these foods became available to the masses in large quantities, and thus began the sad story of chronic disease as we know it today. High glycemic load foods comprise 36% or more of the daily energy in the Standard American Diet (SAD).

A high glycemic load diet combined with certain “susceptibility” genes allows for a hormonal cascade of events (starting with the insulin, which is a hormone) that leads to the unregulated or enhanced growth of many tissues in the body. This effect is particularly directed towards body tissues with a rapid turnover rate, like the epithelial cells. Ultimately, this process leads to all of the diseases mentioned above.

So, finally we have come to the actual likely cause of all of the heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and certain cancers. It is interesting to note that other health conditions and trends have also been linked to or explained by this process, including: increased height, puberty occurring earlier in girls, earlier onset of near-sightedness, acne, ovarian cysts, skin tags, skin discolorations and male baldness. All of these diseases have genetic components, but what allows for the specific genes to express themselves in the worst possible manner is the biochemical changes that occur because of too much insulin circulating around in bloodstreams.

Now that we are armed with some accurate “cause and effect” information, how do we begin to make changes that will finally lead to better health? Well, the obvious answer is to get the sugars and refined/processed carbohydrates out of the diet. That is something that should start right away and you will reap the rewards for years to come. And please note that breads and cereals are included, not just the cakes and candies.

Along those lines, it would be very helpful to have your hemoglobin A1c done so that you can know what your average blood sugar has been over the past 3 months. I can not stress enough how important this is and also how much more useful this is than the fasting blood glucose test that is typically done… we want to know what has been happening with your blood sugar 24/7 for the past 3 months, not just a snapshot at one time on one day.

When you do get the results, please ignore what the labs, and apparently the medical community at large, deem as “good” results. An HbA1c of 7% is considered “good,” which coordinates to an average blood sugar of 140… and that is just ridiculous. We want to shoot for an average blood glucose level of 110 at the very highest, and would be that much healthier if it were even lower. An HbA1c of 6% equates to blood glucose of 110 and 5% to 80.

If you have any of the health conditions I’ve mentioned already, or a family history of such (and I want to meet the person who can answer no to that) then this is likely the most important information you have ever seen. Am I saying to stop taking your prescription medicines? No, of course not. But I am saying that the best possible way for you to eliminate the need for those medicines is to get your body’s response to sugar and your body’s overproduction of insulin under control.

And the really exciting news is that you no longer need the “permission” of your doctor to check your HbA1c. A home test is now available, and affordable, so that you can monitor this most important of parameters all by yourself. As far as I’m concerned, this is the opportunity for you to finally take the reins of responsibility for your own healthcare firmly into your own hands, and begin to get healthier and continue to prove what I’ve been saying all along…that illness truly is optional!

Gina has over 23 years experience as a registered nurse, research nurse and acupuncturist. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Delaware in 1988, and a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture from Tai Sophia Institute in 2007. She has practiced nursing at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, King Edward Memorial Hospital in Bermuda, and at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Additionally, she was a research nurse with Johns Hopkins University, studying heart failure and cardiomyopathy. She has been practicing acupuncture for nearly 4 years in her private practice.

Gina has been a guest lecturer at the Community College of Baltimore County introducing students to acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.  Additionally, she has been a guest on the radio talk show hosted by Dr. Ray Hinish, owner and pharmacist at Your Prescription for Health.

I believe the body, mind and spirit are intimately linked, and cannot be separated. Unprocessed pain or trauma can wound our spirit in ways that later manifest in dis-ease within the body. Acupuncture is an holistic way to heal these issues, by addressing your whole self. Our symptoms are our teachers and we must learn to listen to their wisdom. For example, if you have back pain, and no structural abnormality exists, your body is telling you something. Often, it is telling you to rest. If this is ignored, as a way to prevent severe illness, it will stop you. Acutely, you have difficulty standing straight or walking, and you wonder what is happening. This is the nudge you needed so you will pay attention to your body, mind and spirit. Waking up your internal observer is one of the keys to wellness.

Acupuncture is a continuation of the healing I have offered during my years as a nurse. Now, I am excited to have the opportunity to combine Eastern and Western modalities into a deeply holistic wellness approach. I will assist you in connecting with the powerful healing energy that you already possess.

She can be reached at 410-979-1498.

Acupuncture Treatment

Raised RBP4 levels were found in people with a condition called insulin resistance, which develops when the body’s tissues lose the ability to respond to the hormone insulin. Because insulin is necessary to enable the body to take up sugar from blood and convert it into energy, this impairment results in a build-up of glucose in the bloodstream. The measurement was tested on both healthy and diabetic populations and seems very reliable. It may become really useful as it will enable people to show their risk of diabetes before the symptoms set in, so they can take preventative measures early, possibly altering their life style to less sedentary and more healthy-diet oriented.

Of course, if RBP4 protein is elevated, there are drugs in place to lower it….but let’s not get there! (Summary by Kasia Kines, MS, CN, CNS, LDN)

Dr. Ray Hinish’s Comments:

This is nice but we already have a number of good markers for insulin resistance and diabetes. Some of these tests include fasting insulin levels, triglycerides, HDL, body fat percentage & blood pressure. Just for the record, I would like to point out that the “person at risk of diabetes” is everyone! We all hold the potential to become diabetic provided that lifestyle conditions are right for the proliferation of this health-state. For simplicity purposes lets just assume that if you eat a lot of refined carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, cake, candy, etc you are a good candidate for insulin resistance and ultimately diabetes. If you do not exercise on a regular basis, you are a candidate. If you are overweight, even a little, you are a candidate. Life is not so complex as to require complicated and expensive tests to determine your health, look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself “Am I healthy?” If the answer is “no” then do something about it. If it is “yes” then reward yourself with a pat on the back and a nice relaxing jog. It the answer is honestly, “I don’t know…” Then look to these tests for clarification.

Physician | 1-888-794-432

Dr. Pawluk is board certified in the United States and Canada in family practice medicine.

“As a healer-type physician, my highest goal is your best interest – an ancient Hippocratic and shamanistic-type approach. My simple philosophy is no one “hammer” is effective, since not all problems are “nails.” No single system of healing or health care solves all problems. Used together in combinations, all these systems can solve many more problems. Since I have training in medicine, psychotherapy, acupuncture, mind-body medicine, homeopathy, bodywork, vibrational and energy medicine, nutrition and supplements, I will see the best solutions and choose among them. This will get you to your goals the fastest.”

What You Will Learn In This Section:

1. The Foundation Program for Intermediate/Advanced Nutrition Programs
2. Learn About Coenzyme Q10
3. Learn About Our Choice Bone Mineral Formula
4. Learn About REAL Vitamin C

So you already know that you should be on a multi-vitamin, an omega-3 fatty acid and a digestive enzyme. So, what’s next? First, let me list the specific products that we suggest for the intermediate/advanced program:

Foundation Program for Intermediate/advanced:

1. Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950 3 Capsules Twice Daily
2. Wholemega by New Chapter
3. Tyler Similase Digestive Enzyme

Now let me discuss some of the supplements that many people can benefit from. These products are generally considered optional add-ons to the above mentioned foundation program. I will provide a thorough description of each supplement.

1. CoQ10 - Coenzyme Q10 is called ubiquinone by scientists because it is so ubiquitous in the body being found in significant quantities in every living cell. The cells concentrate the coenzyme Q10 within the mitochondria in order to catalyze the production of energy through the burning of oxygen. CoQ10 is such an important cofactor that when levels are not optimal the cells begin to lose their function and disease settles in. At a 75% deficiency your body can no longer sustain life and you die. The organs that are most vital to our survival are usually the ones that are the first to suffer. This occurs because these organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys and immune system all require the most energy to function. Incidentally, you will find very high concentrations of CoQ10 in a gelcap for best absorption. Certain medications such as statin drugs and certain blood pressure medications decrease the body’s ability to produce CoQ10. If you are on these medications, you may require much higher doses in order to prevent a deficiency. Of these meds, the statins are the greatest culprit. You may require 300-400 mg to prevent disease. In recent months a new, advanced form of CoQ10 hit the market called ubiquinol . This form of CoQ10 absorbs better and may get into the mitochondria more readily where it can do its most good.
2. Progena Osteo Plus - This formula contains all of the minerals necessary to feed the bone building cells. By providing the right forms and doses of calcium, magnesium, boron, silica, and other trace minerals this formula will support healthy bones and joints. The sophisticated nutrition enthusiast understands that the bones require more than just calcium alone. In fact, the bones are equally dependant on minerals and proteins such as those minerals listed above. Progena has formulated a product that combines calcium and magnesium at nearly 1:1 which is optimal for our diet which is highly biased towards calcium.
3. Food Souced Vitamin C - Vitamin C is a very important nutrient in our body. At some point in our evolution, we had lost the ability to produce this vital nutrient as we became dependant on vitamin C in our diet. Vitamin C probably plays thousands of important roles in our bodies and thus tops the list of important nutrients. The vitamin C that works best in the body is not the ascorbic acid found in most health food supplements. In fact, the ascorbic acid is not vitamin C, rather it is the protective shell of the vitamin C molecule which is comprised of bioflavonoids, minerals and enzymes. To get the full benefit of true vitamin C, you will want to get your vitamin C from food sourced products such as a supplement called Pure Radiance C by the Synergy company.  This is a concentrateof various fruits and herbs that contain high levels of true whole food C.