Posts Tagged organ donation

Poison ivy

Omega 3 spread

Organ donation

Sea iodine

Parkinson’s

Toxicity

Diabetes – diabesity

Here’s a fact that most people are not aware of… the skin is the largest organ of the body. People don’t generally think of their skin as an organ at all. The skin has several functions that are vital to survival as well as physical and emotional health. It works to maintain fluid and mineral balance. It also plays a major role in regulating body temperature, which we all experience as perspiration on hot days. Nerve endings enable us to gather information from our environment through pain and thermal receptors that are located on our skin. It also enables us to enjoy the pleasure of touch experienced in a massage or the hug of a close friend. Without the skin, our bodies would not have a barrier to the outside world… it protects us against toxins in the environment and prevents harmful microorganisms from entering the body. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, the skin is an organ of elimination, as are the liver, kidneys and lungs.

The skin is composed of two main layers: the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis, the outer layer, is further divided into 4 or 5 layers, depending on location on the body. Generally speaking, skin cells work their way up from the deeper layers to the surface, as they die, only to be sloughed off and replaced by newer cells from underneath. The rate of new skin cell production is directly related to the rate of dead cell loss from the uppermost layer. This is why facial scrubs seem to be effective at promoting younger appearing skin. The dermis is the deepest layer of skin. It contains the various glands and a micro vascular system to help regulate the skin’s function. The sebaceous glands secrete oil, sebum, that keeps the hair supple and skin soft. Sebum protects the skin from heat and water loss. The sweat glands help to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance and also regulate heat loss. The dermis also contains hair follicles, sensory nerve endings and a capillary system for bringing nutrients and oxygen to the tissues.

The condition of the skin can be affected by external and internal factors, and this understanding is key to finding the best way to treat various skin disorders. Allopathic medicine views such skin disorders as psoriasis or eczema as isolated conditions of the skin. To the typical “Western” practitioner, these problems are easily treated with topical steroid creams. Often, this approach will help in the short term, but when treatment stops, and even as treatment continues over longer periods of time, the condition comes back, and usually worsens. A holistic approach is to see these skin disorders as “symptoms” of a deeper problem originating in the internal tissues of the body. For instance, one of the functions of the liver is to clear the body of toxins. If the liver is not functioning properly, or becomes stagnant, then toxins build up in the body. The body then attempts to shed the toxins through an alternate root, and the skin is used for that purpose. The outward symptom of this inward problem can manifest as acne, boils, psoriasis, eczema or a variety of other skin “diseases.” Alternately, eczema and psoriasis may be a symptom of a lack of essential fatty acids in the diet, which will be discussed later. Lastly, all of the above mentioned skin maladies may actually be symptoms of emotional stress.

A healthy lifestyle is one important factor for maintaining healthy skin. Stress management is key to many aspects of health. Controlling stress and reducing stressful situations can reduce anxiety and tension related health problems. Exercise is one way to reduce stress and increase blood flow to the tissues. A diet of vitamin A rich foods will promote healthy skin. These foods include yellow-orange foods such as carrots and sweet potatoes, and green foods such as spinach. Drinking plenty of clean water keeps the body from becoming dehydrated. Processed foods should be avoided… these foods lack vitamins and minerals that are necessary for health skin and many also contain partially hydrogenated oils that are not recognized by the body as true fatty acids. The high-refined sugar content found in processed foods also stimulates the skin to produce excess oil, which can aggravate acne and other skin problems.

As previously mentioned, a stagnant liver can result in a variety of skin disorders. One of the best treatments for liver dysfunction, or lack of optimal function, is an herb called Milk Thistle. It has been used for centuries to restore the liver’s ability to detoxify the blood. The main active ingredient in Milk Thistle is silymarin. It protects the liver against toxic chemicals and it increases the production of glutathione, one of the key chemicals that the liver uses to break down toxic chemicals. I like to use a standardized Milk Thistle along with Tumeric and Artichoke to enhance liver function.

There are several other herbs that also work to cleanse the body. Burdock root hasbeen used since the Middle Ages to treat skin disorders. It works by purifying the blood of toxins and enhancing lymph drainage. This cleansing reduces the load of toxins that are excreted from the body through the skin. Dandelion, the menace of gardeners in North America, but a salad ingredient to Europeans, has been used for centuries to treat jaundice. It cleanses the liver and flushes the kidneys. Yellow Dock and Red Clover are two more herbs that cleanse the blood and have been used successfully in the treatment of skin disorders.

In addition to the removal of toxins, the skin needs the proper nutrients to maintain optimal functioning. Essential fatty acids (EFAs), fats that must be obtained from the diet, are often forgotten in this “fat free” society. Linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) are also known as omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs. Our bodies cannot produce them. LA deficiency symptoms include eczema, hair loss, liver degeneration, excessive loss of water through the skin, and failure to heal wounds. LNA deficiency symptoms include growth retardation, weakness, and tingling in the extremities.

Having the proper balance of these healthy fats in our diet is vitally important for skin health. Since the 1850s, omega-3 EFA intake has steadily decreased and consumption of omega-6 EFA has skyrocketed. The best way to off set this imbalance is to supplement with omega-3 fats. Flax seed oil is a high quality, cost-effective source of omega-3s. It can be taken in capsule form or as the liquid right off the spoon, or in applesauce, juice, or salad. Heating flax oil will destroy its beneficial properties. I have had patients with 20 year histories of eczema clear their skin completely within 2 months of taking one tablespoonful of flax oil daily! Walnuts are another source of omega-3s. Fish oil contains eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are constituents of our cells and are metabolized from omega-3 fats in our bodies.

Vitamins and minerals are necessary for the health of skin. Vitamin C is needed to form collagen and healthy connective tissue that keeps the skin from wrinkling. It is also a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the skin from the assaults of environmental toxins and over-exposure to sunlight. Vitamin E fights against free radical damage and slows the aging process. Biotin (vitamin H) is necessary for cell growth and replication. Zinc is needed for the proper healing of wounds and sulfur (the best form to supplement with is MSM) is needed for strong connective tissue. Silica can also be taken to promote healthy skin, hair and nails. Overall, many nutrients play important roles in the function of healthy skin, so instead of grabbing a box of gelatin to improve the skin, a well-balanced multivitamin would be a better choice.

Sun, smoking, environmental toxins and extreme weather conditions also assault the skin on a daily basis. Although the best defense against these is avoidance, thankfully we don’t live in a bubble and there are alternatives. Using a good sun block is important for extended exposure to the sun. A minimum of SPF 15 is required.

For days when the sun gets the better of us, aloe vera is the best remedy. Historically, it has been used to treat burns, whether from the sun, chemicals or fire. It works to fight off infections that can result from invasion through broken skin and also heals the damaged skin and promotes new skin growth. Fresh aloe is the best to use… it is always beneficial to have an aloe plant at home for such occasions. These plants are easy to maintain for those of us that have not-so-green-thumbs

Comfrey has been used historically to treat wounds. It contains a compound called allantoin that promotes cell proliferation and skin repair. Comfrey should not be taken internally because it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are toxic to the liver. Because of the possibility of absorption through broken skin, comfrey should not be used topically on open sores.

Calendula and Chamomile are two more herbs used historically to treat skin disorders. Research shows that Calendula has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. It has been used historically to heal stubborn wounds and ulcers. Chamomile is a potent anti-inflammatory that is used in Europe for many inflammatory conditions.

It is important to keep in mind that the skin is not an isolated organ. The appearance of the skin can reveal signs of too much sun exposure, stress and internal toxic buildup. The best way to treat a skin condition is through a holistic approach. A well-balanced diet, internal cleansing program, stress reduction, exercise and a moisturizing sunscreen will promote healthy skin and an energetic lifestyle.

In conventional medicine, everything is compartmentalized. For example, when you walk into a cardiologist’s office, they have a tendency to view you as a heart with legs. They do not see a connection between the health of your heart and the inflammation in your joints or anywhere else in the body.

In holistic medicine, everything is viewed as connected, which means that every symptom has a message from the entire body. To a holistic practitioner, the joint inflammation may also indicate inflammation in the arteries of the heart. This is just one example of the interconnectivity of the body.

So, what message does body odor send? More importantly, how do we fix it naturally?

First, offensive body odor is not something to be ignored or brushed off as nothing more than personal hygiene neglect. One interesting hypothesis in natural medicine is that the skin is a backup detoxification organ, which is called into action when the liver and kidneys are overwhelmed. Another hypothesis may explain why offensive body odor is such a hush-hush topic in society and why you simply can’t ignore it…

People who have offensive body odor often suffer with chronic illness. It is possible that body odor is an evolutionary defense against spreading disease. Let me explain…

When an individual in the tribe is sick or riddled with disease, the evolutionary processes would want to contain the damage in both a long-term and short-term way…

For the short term, by producing body odor, the rest of the tribe will know that you are sick, which would result in a temporary social quarantine. In other words, people will avoid you. When you are no longer sick, the body odor will dissipate and people will want to be near you again.

For the long term, if you are chronically sick and thus have sustained body odor, nature will prevent you from mating and spreading your sickly genetics. In other words, the opposite sex will avoid you and you could be ousted from the tribe.

My point is, body odor is far more serious than a social roadblock. It speaks to the health of the body in a general sense.

So, what can we do about body odor?

2.      Replace good bacteria. When certain foodstuff is not fully digested, specific organisms will ferment the material into toxic substances, which can be absorbed into the blood and emitted through the skin. Good bacteria, such as those found in iFlora by Sedona Labs, will help to balance the ecology of the gut.

3.      Try cranberry concentrate. One case report, published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, found that one glass of cranberry juice per day resulted in the elimination of body odor in one individual. Make sure you choose a cranberry concentrate, such as the Cranberry Concentrate by Genesis Today, rather than a high-sugar cranberry cocktail. (Call 888-7944325 for more information on this product).

4.      Try zinc. In one study, zinc was shown to help control body odor. Try Opti-Zinc 20 mg once per day.

5.      Drink water. Water hydrates the skin and prevents pores from clogging with bacteria.

Whenever you have a symptom, such as offensive body odor, always assume that there is a particular reason for the symptom and try to get to that underlying cause. Body odor is so easily dismissed as a superficial problem. Hopefully, I have convinced you that it likely has far deeper roots within your overall health.

In 1918 a horrible pandemic swept the globe and supposedly claimed the lives of 500,000 Americans and 20,000,000 people worldwide. Even though many experts feel that these numbers are likely wildly exaggerated due to poor record keeping of this time period, we will continue as though they are accurate.

This would represent worst case scenario. It is also worthwhile to note that at that time, it was common practice to bathe once a week. Now, it appears that a similar strain of this virus is sweeping the globe again. The CDC has already issued a pre-pandemic alert, readying the government for the possibility of widespread infection to rival the pandemic Spanish flu of 1918.

We believe that health is a continuum illustrated by a scale of 0-10, zero (0) is the complete lack of health (known as death) and 10 is what we call “optimum health.” Most people linger between two extremes, around 5. This is just above being sick. Physicians work to keep patients at this point where they have no or minimal symptoms of disease.

We believe that giving attention to the whole person and functioning at the level of l0 increases the functions of each organ or system within the body. Body, mind and spirit need to be in sync to find permanent answers to our health challenges.

We firmly believe that any physical malady is preceded by an energetic imbalance. Our goal is to find the root of this imbalance and make it go away forever. We recognize that getting optimum health is a journey.

We honor the place amidst that journey that each client is located. We strive to identify and point our patients in the right direction through our products and service. We do not expect them to necessarily become vegetarians, marathon runners or meditate two hours a day-but to recognize that optimum health is a journey and requires consistent good care.

Our goal is to help you achieve an extraordinary level of health, a level of health that meets your expectations, not ours. It is your life, you get to choose how much you put in and therefore how much you get out of it. We just want you to be as healthy and energetic as you care to be.



Little did they know that one of these rare mice would radically change the way that we view that glob of fat that hangs out around your midsection, butt or thighs.

In 1902, a French researcher named L. Cuenot began to research a special yellow mouse that was popular among mouse enthusiasts. This mouse, known for its peculiar propensity to gain fat, began a domino effect in the science world that ultimately led to one of the most important discoveries in the study of fat!

As researchers continued to study naturally fat mice, they happened upon a mutant strain of mouse that seemed to suffer many of the same complications attributed to obesity in humans. This mouse, referred to as the “ob” mouse suffered with:

1. High insulin levels
2. High stress hormones
3. Low sex hormones (estrogen & testosterone)
4. Low body temperature
5. Low thyroid
6. Lots of body fat
7. High levels of infertility

The investigation of this strain of mouse led researchers to believe that there was some compound that was lacking in these mice that caused them to gain fat. That labeled this compound a “satiety factor”. Then in the 1970s, a researcher performed some of the most interesting and bizarre research that I have ever heard about. He surgically joined a “normal” mouse to one of his ob mice. The mice were attached in such a way to mimic Siamese twins where the two mice share a blood circulation. When he did this, the normal mouse stayed normal and the fat mouse got skinny. This proved that there was some sort of chemical that the fat, ob mouse was lacking. When the mice were sharing the blood circulation, the “satiety chemical” from the normal mouse entered the ob mouse and thus he became “normal”. That chemical came to be known as “leptin” which is now believed to be the greatest discovery in the bariatric sciences. Scientists were excited because they felt that they could purify this compound and inject it into overweight people to literally “cure” their obesity! They succeeded in purifying it and proceeded to clinical studies.

You can imagine their dismay when they discovered that leptin injections had no effect on overweight subjects. When further study was performed on overweight subjects they discovered that they were not deficient in leptin but instead had far more leptin in their blood than their skinny counterparts.

This just didn’t make sense. If leptin eradicates hunger and stimulates metabolism, why would it not cause weight loss? The only feasible explanination was that the body had somehow lost its ability to register the leptin that was floating through the circulation. This same phenomenon occurs when too much insulin is floating through the system which leads to insulin resistance and ultimately diabetes.

What is leptin and why is it important?

Your body, which is really a community of trillions of smaller individual living cells, must be perfectly orchestrated in order to maintain life. This orchestration is coordinated by certain compounds called “hormones”. Hormones allow the trillions of cells within the body to communicate with each other. Leptin is one such hormone, in fact, leptin appears to be the mother of all hormones. This means that if leptin gets out of balance then other hormones such as insulin, cortisol, thyroid, testosterone and estrogen also follow.

Leptin’s main jobs are to regulate eating, metabolism and reproduction.

If the brain is the President of your body then leptin is her chief of staff. When resistance to leptin occurs, it appears to prevent leptin from getting signals to the brain. The brain then gets a constant signal that the body is starving for food and nutrients. This results in a number of physical manifestations to PERCEIVED starvation:

1. Decreased metabolism – To slow your demise due to starvation
2. Insulin resistance – To enhance fat storage when food is once again available.
3. Thyroid deficiency – Slows metabolism to prevent starvation.
4. Infertility – Reproduction requires lots of energy. If the body feels that you are starving then it does not deem you suitable for reproduction. After all, if you can’t feed yourself how will you feed a little one?
5. Hunger and cravings – This motivates you to find food.

So where does leptin come from?

Scientists use to think that fat cells were nothing more than a depository for fat. The discovery of leptin forever changed fat from an annoying blob of goo to an endocrine organ on par with such big players as the thyroid, testicles, adrenal gland, ovaries and pituitary gland. Now fat is known to produce many hormones that play important roles with everything from fat storage to reproduction. In fact, fat may become known as the most important endocrine organ to ever be discovered!

Leptin, is the fuel gauge of the body. It continuously reports to the brain to tell the brain how much fat we have stored up and thus how likely we are to starve to death should famine rear its ugly head. The more fat we have the higher the leptin levels go and the more leptin signals reach the brain. In an ideal world, as fat builds up the brain gets the signal to stop sending hunger signals and start metabolizing fat.

Having fat stored up protects the body from starvation and thus improves its chances of survival during famine. The body, however, does not want to be “fat” or “obese”. Remember, our body is an outdated model. It is built for Paleolithic days where food was scarce and danger seeming lurked behind very bush. It wants some fat to prevent starvation, however, it doesn’t want you to be the slowest creature in the herd because that would make you more likely to get caught and eaten by a lion. Leptin, therefore, must continuously balance fat stores with being lean and agile. Leptin resistance would never have occurred in Paleolithic days because food was just too scarce.

Now, you can see how important the regulation of leptin is in your fat loss efforts as well as the quest for youth and vitality. Once you understand leptin and what causes leptin resistance to occur you will be better suited to achieve the body and health that you desire!

How do I balance letpin?

1. Cut carbohydrate intake – Carbohydrates cause an increase in insulin levels which can ultimately cause insulin resistance. Anytime insulin resistance occurs, so too does leptin resistance.
2. When you eat carbohydrates choose carb sources that have a very low glycemic load- Low glycemic-load foods decrease the amount of insulin produced.
3. Exercise daily – There is no faster way to improve leptin sensitivity than to start exercising regularly.
4. Try not to eat 3 hours before bedtime – Leptin levels should be highest in the evening and lowest in the morning; thus you should be hungry in the morning and not in the evening. If you are hungry in the evening; this suggests leptin resistance.
5. Sleep at least 7-9 hours a night – Sleep deprivation causes lower leptin and higher ghrelin–the perfect storm for overwhelming hunger.

In this blog-post, I wanted to touch on the impact of probiotics on allergy reactions, specifically in reference to pollen allergies. In a study on 44 subjects with allergies to a cedar pollen, researchers supplemented the subjects with probiotics, good bacteria that reside in the digestive tract, to evaluate how they impact allergy symptoms. After 13 weeks, subjects who were taking the probiotics noted significant decreases in all symptoms of allergic reaction including inflammation and blockage of the sinuses. When they looked at the blood of the subjects who took the probiotic supplement, they noted a significant decrease in certain chemicals that trigger allergic reactions and an increase in cells which are responsible for calming inappropriate immune reaction.

It is fascinating to see how bacteria that reside in the gut impact allergy symptoms that seem unrelated to gut function. The fact is, the body is complicated and connected. No organ or process can survive without interaction from millions or billions of other cells. It is no secret that probiotics play a very important role in healthy tone to the immune system, this research helps to shed some light on yet another connection that can help millions of people who suffer with allergies.

In this article, I hope to prove to you the importance of vitamin K in your diet and supplements.
First, it is important to note that vitamin K exists as two main forms; vitamin K1 and K2. Vitamin K1, called phylloquinone, comes from vegetables and is converted into vitamin K2 by intestinal bacteria. Vitamin K2 is the activated form of vitamin K and is found in organ meats, egg yolks and some fermented foods such as natto. We get much more vitamin K1 in the diet then we do vitamin K2.
In the body, vitamin K activates two enzymes: osteocalcin and matrix GLA-protein. I realize that those two words may be Greek to you but they are important to know because they have two different impacts on the body. When vitamin K activates osteocalcin, the result is more calcium and minerals get deposited into the bones resulting in stronger bones. When vitamin K activates matrix GLA-protein the result is less calcium is deposited into the arteries. Some research suggests that matrix GLA-protein may even decrease the calcifications of the arteries that are already present . Now that you know how important these two enzymes are to the body you can see how devastating a vitamin K deficiency can be. In addition, it should be noted that vitamin K2 is much more active in the body and is the only form that can activated these two critical enzymes.

Why are we deficient in vitamin K?

This deficiency likely occurs for three main reasons.

1. We don’t eat enough vegetables. Most vitamin K in the diet comes for plant sources in the form of vitamin K1. The vitamin K1 is then activated by intestinal flora and absorbed as K2.

2. Our intestinal bacteria are out of balance. Many of us are deficient in healthy bacteria that play important roles in the conversion of vitamin K1 into the active K2. Many things can decrease the number of healthy bacteria in the gut such as: antibiotics, chlorine, stress, etc.

3. We do not eat organ meats, fermented foods or egg yolks. These foods are the primary sources of vitamin K2.

Knowing that both factors are important in the maintaining healthy vitamin K levels, you can see that it is important to get more vitamin K in the diet and to make sure that your intestinal bacteria are in good balance.

How do we do this?

In our society, I believe that it is necessary to supplement with vitamin K in order to optimize the vitamin K levels in the body. You can find vitamin K supplements in both the K1 and K2 form. It is generally recommended that you opt for the vitamin K2 as the research confirms that it is far superior for the prevention of bone loss and the protection from artery calcification. If you are generally healthy, I recommend a low-dose vitamin K2 from Jarrow formulas called MK-7 which provides 90 mcg of vitamin K2 from natto. This is a small dose that meets your daily vitamin K needs which may suffice to maintain healthy bones and arteries. If you suffer with bone loss or calcification of the arteries I recommend a therapeutic dose of 15 mg (15,000 mcg) three times daily. This dose has been studied and proven to be safe and effective for improving bone loss while normalizing carboxylation to activate the osteocalcin and matrix GLA-protein. You do not need to worry that vitamin K will cause excessive clotting unless you are on a medication called Coumadin (warfarin) which works by blocking vitamin K in the body. If you are on Coumadin, research has shown that a small dose of vitamin K2 such as the dose found in the Jarrow MK-7 can actually help you to achieve more consistent INR levels while possibly preventing complication of long term Coumadin use which includes bone loss and artery calcification. Always discuss vitamin K supplementation with your health care practitioner prior to starting as you will likely need to increase the dose of the Coumadin to account for the effect of the K.

Yes, this process is as damaging and tragic as it sounds. . .

In this article I will discuss how to prevent and even reverse lipotoxicity. If you have not read the first article, I highly recommend that you go back and read through it. You can view the article by clicking the following link: Lipotoxicity: Could this be the Cause of Your Fatigue and Disease? For those who have already read it, allow me to list the key points of the previous article in order to jog your memory:

1. Lipotoxicity occurs when fat enters non-fat cells and builds up to toxic levels
2. Lipotoxicity leads to diabetes, fatty liver, heart disease, heart failure, fatigue and kidney dysfunction
3. Lipotoxicity occurs almost entirely due to poor diet and lifestyle

The three main causes of lipotoxicity are:
1. Too much unhealthy fat in the diet
2. Too many unhealthy refined carbohydrates in the diet
3. Too little exercise and activity

Before we get into the prevention and treatment of this condition, how do you know if you are suffering with lipotoxicity?

There are many signs and symptoms of lipotoxicity, however, it is important to note that you do not necessarily have to have symptoms in order to be in a lipotoxic state. This process likely starts off as a symptomless state. As fat accumulates in cells of organs and tissues, you likely reach a “tipping point” where symptoms such as fatigue and exhaustion during activity begin to show up. Then the process of lipotoxicity may begin to show up as “named diseases” such as heart disease, diabetes, fatty liver, hypertension, etc. Below I list the key ways to tell if you may be suffering with lipotoxicity:

1. If you are overweight or diabetic, you can assume with near certainty that you suffer with some degree of lipotoxicity.
2. If you have been diagnosed with heart disease
3. If you have been diagnosed with fatty liver
4. If your cholesterol numbers are out of balance
5. If you have elevated triglycerides
6. If you suffer with fatigue with no known cause
7. If you find it difficult to exercise for prolonged periods of time

Now that you know how to identify it, how do you reverse it?

The study of lipotoxicity is in its infancy. We are just now learning why it develops and how it triggers damage in the cell. In the body, fat can exist in two main forms: free fatty acids or triglycerides. When fat is carried into the cell as a free fatty acid, it is typically changed into a storage form of fat called a triglyceride. Fat cells have a nearly endless ability to convert free fatty acids into triglycerides, however, other cells, such as the muscle, pancreas, kidney, liver and heart are limited in the rate at which they can convert free fatty acids into triglycerides. It appears that it is the accumulation of free fatty acids in the cell that leads to disease and death of that cell.

If we could potentiate the conversion of free fatty acids into triglycerides within the cell then we could interrupt the damage caused by fat accumulation.

In fact, there is a way to achieve this which leads us to the first technique that I will suggest to limit the damage that free fatty acids can cause in the cell. Scientists discovered that one way to combat toxicity from fat was to fight fire with fire. They discovered that by providing the body with healthy fats, specifically omega-9 (extra virgin olive oil) and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oil/flax oil) then you could enhance the body’s ability to turn free fatty acids into triglyceride and prevent lipotoxicity from damaging and ultimately killing the cell.

This may be one reason why the Mediterranean diet and omega-3 fatty acids protect the body from disease! More on this when we talk about supplements.

The battle does not stop there because although I believe that these healthy fats will significantly limit the damage caused by the buildup of unhealthy fats in the cell, if your diet continues to remain high in bad fats you will ultimately overwhelm the defenses provided by healthy fat. I lead with this tip because it is easy to implement and could provide rapid protection while you work on your lifestyle and diet.

The next tip is to begin to exercise aerobically for as long as you can. By exercising aerobically, you are doing three things:

1. Burning fat while you exercise which will IMMEDIATELY begin to unclog the cells of the muscles and organs
2.Triggering the body to build more fat burning and metabolizing enzymes throughout the body.
3. Building more mitochondria of the cell (the engines that burn fat for energy)

Basically, you are turning the body into a fat metabolizing machine! In order to optimize these results the key here is to exercise for as long a period of time as possible at a rate that does not leave you overtly breathless. You should be able to maintain a conversation fairly comfortably. If you exercise too aggressively you will shift the fuel that your body is using for energy from fat into carbohydrates. In addition, you will cause the body to build more sugar burning enzymes rather than fat burning enzymes. Although building more sugar burning enzymes is not a bad thing for health, for the purposes of reversing lipotoxicity we want the body to build more fat burning enzymes in order to burn away the fat that is clogging up the cells. Your ultimate goal is to build up to at least 45 minutes of walking every day. I realize that many of you can hardly get up the stairs, this is because of the lipotoxicity! You must realize that the very problem of lipotoxicity is your biggest obstacle to reversing it. You are tired due to fat clogged cells, you will have to push through the fatigue in order to get to the other side.

The next step is to tackle the diet. You must cut out refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats. Refined carbohydrates are foods such as:

1. Bread
2. Pasta
3. Rice
4. Cake
5. Candy
6. Cereal

Unhealthy fats include:

1. Butter
2. Margarines
3. Vegetable Oils (canola, safflower, peanut)
4. Red mea

These foods cause insulin to be produced in excessive levels which causes fat to enter the cells at a high rate. You must limit the intake of these refined carbohydrates in order to reverse lipotoxicity. Instead, reach for more low glycemic carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables. It is also wise to eat lean proteins.

Now let’s discuss supplements that we can use to reverse lipotoxicity.

1. Fish oil – You should be taking fish oil with each main meal of the day. 2 capsules with each meal should be sufficient to counteract some of the negative effects of lipotoxicity. You may also benefit by combining the fish oil with a vegetarian formula called Udo’s 3,6,9 Oil Blend by Flora. This formula will provide more omega-3 fatty acids along with omega-9 fats. Take two softgels with each meal. You may be able to get away with fish oil alone, however, if you have significant problems then I recommend combining the two.

2. L-Carnitine tartrate – Carnitine helps the cells to metabolize fat in the mitochondria. The recommended dose is 1,000 mg twice daily. (Call 888-794-4325 for this product).

3. Hepatopro by Life Extension Foundation – This formula contains a special form of phosphatidylcholine which helps to emulsify fat and reverse some of the fatty buildup in the liver, an organ that is crucial in the metabolism of fat. Take 1 softgel with each meal.

Conclusion:

Liopotoxicity is a direct cause of poor vitality and disease that is the result of excessive intake of unhealthy fats, refined carbohydrates and lack of sufficient activity. The fix will not come from a prescription pad, you must change your diet and lifestyle in order to fix the problem. This article covers a number of tools and techniques for freeing your cells from the oppression of fat and lipotoxicity.

Well, I will be the first to admit that we do not know all of the answers and, in fact, the only thing we know for sure is that we don’t know anything!

There is good news though…we are learning at an alarming rate and slowly but surely putting together pieces of the puzzle of health and disease. I want to discuss one such piece of the puzzle that seems to explain why some organs lose function and could explain a key factor in the development of diabetes, heart failure and kidney failure to name a few. This process is known as…
Lipotoxicity.

The body has a nearly endless supply of storage bins for fat called “fat cells”. When we eat a meal that has more calories than we can use, it stores the excess away into little “baggy” cells called adipocytes (fat cells). Our bodies, as wondrous as they are, are outdated models for today’s modern world. They were designed under the stimulus of famine and are unable to handle the onslaught of fat and carbohydrates that define the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.).

Fat, as it turns out, is the least well metabolized form of energy in the body. This means that it is very easy to overwhelm the body with too much fat. When this happens the fat finds its way into cells of the muscle, pancreas, liver, kidneys and heart and thus been closely linked to a number of common health conditions:

1. Diabetes
2. Heart failure
3. Kidney failure
4. Fatty liver
5. Unexplained fatigue

These conditions can be attributed to what scientists have described as lipotoxicity, a term used to describe cells that are so full of unwanted fat that their function is severely compromised leading to disease. When left unchecked, lipotoxicity leads to another process called “lipoapoptosis” where the cells of organs literally die through a process I call “death by fat”. In a minute, I am going to discuss why this is happening and how to fix and prevent it from occurring.

Why does this happen?
Scientists are still piecing together the variables that must happen for lipotoxicity to occur. From what I can tell, there are two main culprits…

1. A diet high in omega-6 and long-chain saturated fats.
2. A diet high in carbohydrates that causes an increase in insulin levels
3. A sedentary lifestyle

The worst cases of lipotoxicity occur in people who combine all three of these variables. With that said, it is possible to develop lipotoxicity by taking in too much fat even in the absence of the other two variables. It is much more common, however, to see lipotoxic people who are guilty of all three violations of the above mentioned variables. Let’s talk about what happens with each…

When the body was developing, carbohydrates and proteins appeared to be fairly readily available. Thus the body found little need to store energy from these sources. So, when we eat a lot of calories from carbohydrates and protein, the body has no problem burning away excess energy from these two sources. Fat, however, is a prized commodity to our “Model T” bodies. This means evolution appears to have developed plenty of tools for storing fat, but few for burning it away. Thus, fat builds up very easily. Remember, humans of the Paleolithic years were likely quite skinny, not because they wanted to be but because food just was not that easy to come by. Humans, however, were not the only skinny creatures on earth. The animals that we killed for food were likely quite lean as well. Think about it, when was the last time you saw a fat deer? Fat just was not a very abundant source of energy so the body sopped it up like a sponge when we did wander upon an animal with some fat.

Today, however, fat is everywhere and the body cannot metabolize it fast enough. In fact, we take in so much fat that our bodies cannot even store it in fat cells fast enough. Thus, it ends up entering cells such as the muscles where it causes insulin resistance, the liver where it causes fatty liver, the heart where it causes heart failure and the kidneys where it leads to kidney dysfunction. The primary way that scientists develop rats afflicted with lipotoxicity is to feed them high fat diets.

So what do carbohydrates have to do with lipotoxicity? Well, carbohydrates are directly and indirectly responsible for lipotoxicity. In fact, I would consider carbohydrates to be the great multiplier for lipotoxicity. When we eat a lot of refined carbohydrates, two things happen…

1. Carbohydrates get converted into fat, thus adding to the “lipo-load” or “fat-load” of the body
2. Carbohydrates cause insulin to be secreted which acts as a carrier for fat to enter into fat cells as well as muscle and organ cells.

That one-two punch results in a multiplication of the lipotoxicity problem. The Standard American Diet is notorious for combining carbohydrates with fat. Examples include (just to name a few):

1. Hamburger (source of fat) and hamburger bun (source of carbohydrates)
2. French fries (source of carbohydrate and fat)
3. Pizza (Crust is a source of carbohydrate while cheese and pepperoni are a source of fat)
4. Steak (source of fat) and mashed potatoes (source of carbohydrate and fat)

Now I am seeing some health experts suggesting that you combine carbohydrates with fat in order to slow the absorption of the carbohydrates (lowering the glycemic index). That is the wrong approach!

To complete what can be described as the “perfect storm of lipotoxicity” we add to the mix a lifestyle almost devoid of activity. Aerobic activity kicks up fat burning, it literally liberates fat from muscles and organs helping to clear the pumps. When we are sedentary it is very easy to buildup fat stores in fat cells as well as muscles and organs. Exercise, in any form, kicks up a process called oxidation which burns fat away.
One final note about lipotoxicity. Our society is dealing with an epidemic of fatigue. It appears that our spunk has left us and it turns out Lipotoxicity could be to blame. The mitochondria are small organelles of the cell that are responsible for powering your body. When the cells get clogged up with fat, these organelles lose their function and can no longer power your body efficiently. When you are lipotoxic, you are running on reserve systems. These systems will keep your life support running but will not let you enjoy spunk and vitality.

In next week’s column I will talk about how to prevent and reverse lipotoxicity. If you are anxious to get started with reversing your lipotoxicity today, I will give you a hint…re-read the three variables that lead to lipotoxicity and do the opposite. Next week I will tell you about diet, lifestyle and supplements to reverse thus debilitating process that is responsible for so much disease and death in our society.