Posts Tagged quercetin

The double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study found that subjects who took 730 mg of quercetin daily enjoyed blood pressures that were 7 mm/Hg lower for systolic (upper number) and 5 …

The Breakthrough Discovery

Back in the early nineteen sixties, a navy surgeon, by the name of Dr. Judah Folkman, happened upon a discovery that would revolutionize the way that we view cancer development in the human body. While testing the impact of preserved blood on fast growing tumor cells (a model used to mimic fast growing tissues of wounds) he noticed that cancer cells that would normally ravage the body of a living mouse, could only seem to grow to the size of the tip of a ball point pen in a Petri dish. He wondered why the same tumor cells didn’t replicate with the same level of aggression in a Petri dish as they did in a living creature. After all, he had taken great care to mimic the conditions of living tissue.

After dissecting the large tumors from the living creatures and comparing them to the tiny tumors from his Petri dish experiment, he noticed only one difference between the two tumors; the large tumors from the mice were filled with thousands of tiny networks of blood vessels while the tumor cells from the Petri dish experiment had no such blood supply. From this experiment, he hypothesized that the cancer cells could not develop into a large tumor mass unless and until it had developed a network of small blood vessels called capillaries to feed the cells.  This process of blood vessel development was named “angiogenesis”.  Said another way, if we could prevent cancer cells from developing a blood supply of their own, we could stop cancer growth in its tracks and even cause existing tumors to regress! Furthermore, if tumor cells could not develop a blood supply, they would not be able to metastasize.

Dr. Folkman’s hypothesis and experiment was met with ridicule and rejection from the medical community. In fact, after discussing with a colleague his worry that his research would get picked up and stolen by other researchers, his colleague replied, “You are totally protected against intellectual theft. Nobody will believe you!”

Dr. Folkman continued his experiments, and over the years, his hypothesis went on to be accepted.  His research led to the development of a new class of medication called anti-angiogenesis drugs. Since then, other anti-angiogenesis medications had come to market. Unfortunately, the clinical results were somewhat disappointing; some tumors responded quite well, while others responded partially or not at all.

William Li, founder of The Angiogenesis Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of anti-angiogenesis therapies and lifestyles, believes that the main reason that the medications are not living up to their potential is because we are getting to people too late in the game, after the cancer is fully developed and situated.  He believes that if we can use non-toxic tactics to prevent the small cluster of cancerous cells from forming a blood flow in the first place, we can prevent tumors from developing altogether. This would be what Dr. Folkman calls, “Cancer without disease”.

We All Have Cancer

It is a well-known fact that we all have these microscopic cancer cells throughout our bodies. In fact, research that looked at healthy men and women who had died in car accidents, discovered that 40% of women between the ages of 40-50 have these microscopic tumors within their breasts and 50% of men, between the ages of 50-60, have these micro-tumors in their prostates. It is even more disturbing that virtually 100% of men and women in their 70s have micro-tumors in their thyroid! The only thing preventing these people from developing the disease of cancer is the fact that the tumor cells had not developed a blood flow yet. The question is, “what can we do to prevent those harmless micro-tumors from ever developing a blood flow?” Dr. William Li believes that he has the answer…

Eat to Starve Cancer

The anti-angiogenesis medications, used to treat existing tumors, do not come without side effects. These side effects, although fewer than conventional chemotherapy, would make them inappropriate tools for preventing angiogenesis in micro-tumors. There is good news, however, researchers discovered that nature offers an abundance of natural compounds with potent anti-angiogenesis activity. Best of all, rather than blocking angiogenesis altogether, they normalize it. Disease begins when the growth of blood vessels occur unimpeded by the natural systems of checks and balances within the body. These natural anti-angiogenesis compounds appear to regulate and normalize the angiogenic balance within the body.

Angiogenesis is Essential to Health

Once we reach adulthood, it is generally accepted that blood vessels stop growing. There are three situations, however, that seem to defy this rule: menstruation, pregnancy and injury/wounds. During menstruation, pregnancy, and injury, the body produces protein chemicals that act as fertilizer for blood vessels; this stimulates the growth of new capillaries. When we injure ourselves, blood vessels grow beneath the scab to bring nutrients and oxygen to the damaged area in order to repair the damage. After the wound has healed, the body produces anti-angiogenesis compounds that stop the growth and prune back the blood vessels if needed. This process is tightly controlled; when angiogenesis is not well controlled, many diseases can arise.

Angiogenesis Gone Haywire

There are two ways that angiogenesis can become problematic; you can either have too few or too many blood vessels growing in a particular area of the body. In the case where there is too little angiogenesis, you see diseases such as:

• Wounds that won’t heal
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Neuropathy
• Hair loss
• Erectile Dysfunction

In cases where there is too much angiogenesis, you see diseases such as:

• Cancer
• Blindness
• Psoriasis
• Endometriosis
• Obesity
• Rosacea
• Alzheimers

Cancer – The Ultimate Disease of Excess Angiogenesis

Although there are many diseases that can be connected to angiogenesis, abnormal blood vessel growth is a hallmark of all solid tumors. It is an accepted theory that one key to controlling cancer growth, especially metastatic and aggressive cancer, is to shut down the process of angiogenesis within the diseased tissue without affecting the healthy tissue.

Cancer’s Weakness

Generally speaking, blood vessels are stable and resilient tissues. Blood vessels found in tumors, however, appear to be built in a hurry. Their structure and architecture is disorganized and fragile, which makes them more susceptible to anti-angiogenesis therapies than normal tissues. This weakness may prove to be one of the greatest advantages that we have over this deadly foe.

Nature’s Advantage

When the scientists discovered the presence of proteins that promote angiogenesis, they realized that nature, with all of its systems of checks and balances, must also make proteins that inhibit angiogenesis. They first discovered these compounds in the urine of mice, which were resistant to cancer; they named this compound angiostatin. They then began to find compounds with similar activity in the foods that we eat, such as fruits, vegetables and tealeaves. Researchers have made great strides in defining which foods appear to have the most potent anti-angiogenesis activity. A non-exaustive list is provide below:

1. Green Tea
2. Strawberries
3. Blackberries
4. Blueberries
5. Raspberries
6. Oranges
7. Grapefruits
8. Lemons
9. Apples
10. Pineapples
11. Cherries
12. Red grapes
13. Red wine
14. Bok Choy
15. Soybean
16. Ginseng
17. Maitake
18. Licorice
19. Turmeric
20. Nutmeg
21. Artichoke
22. Lavender
23. Pumpkin
24. Sea Cucumber
25. Tuna
26. Parsley
27. Garlic
28. Tomato
29. Olive Oil
30. Grape Seed
31. Dark Chocolate

Of these foods, the ones that appear to have the most potent anti-angiogenesis activity include (in order of potency):

1. Soy extract
2. Artichoke
3. Parsley
4. Berries
5. Soy
6. Garlic
7. Red grapes
8. Brassica
9. Citrus
10. Lavender
11. Green tea
12. Glucosamine
13. Turmeric
14. Tea

(Lists taken from a lecture by Dr. Li during a TED conference)

Power Resides in the Synergy

According to Dictionary.com, “Synergy” is defined as “The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.” In a study on the anti-angiogenesis activity of tea, researchers tested the ability of three different types of tea to inhibit blood vessel growth. In this study, they determined that they all had anti-angiogenesis activity, however, of the three, Earl Grey appeared to be the most potent. The researchers then decided to combine the two weaker teas and test the anti-angiogenesis activity of the mixture. They discovered that the combination of the two weaker teas resulted in more inhibition of blood vessel growth than the stronger Earl Grey tea. According to Dr. Li, this shows the presence of what is called “Nutritional Synergy” meaning, smaller quantities of many different nutrients and phytochemicals is likely superior to high quantities of fewer nutrients.

Future of Anti-Angiogenesis Studies

Currently, there is mounting laboratory and animal research that is confirming the anti-angiogenesis activity of foods. Using a special test tube model of blood vessel growth, Dr. Li and his organization is working to map the anti-angiogenic activity of common fruits, vegetables, herbs and teas. The ultimate goal is to form a menu of foods that are likely to inhibit this key step in the growth of abnormal cells into metastatic tumor masses.

One study, published by Harvard Medical School, tested the effect of dietary lycopene (a red pigment found in foods such as tomatoes, berries, etc) on the risk of prostate cancer. They determined that men, who consumed the most lycopene-containing foods, enjoyed the lowest incidence of prostate cancer. The researchers then tested the tumor biopsies for the presence of blood vessels. They discovered that of the men who went on to develop prostate cancer, the more lycopene they consumed, the lower the density of blood vessels in the tumor. This finding suggests that even when lycopene fails to completely inhibit angiogenesis, is appears to slow the growth and potentially decrease the virility of the existing tumor mass.

Obviously, more research needs to be performed to confirm the legitimacy of the laboratory and animal findings. I believe that there is sufficient data, in combination with epidemiological research showing an inverse relationship between fruit/vegetable intake and cancer risk, to start to incorporate larger quantities of the foods, which have anti-angiogenesis activity.

Using These Findings

The rules are simple:

1. Consume many servings of vegetables, fruits, and spices
2. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables; choose them based on color and spectrum
3. Choose fruits that are lower on the glycemic index (lower sugar content)
4. Drink a variety of teas including: green tea, Earl Grey, jasmine and white tea.

Supplements for Prevention of Angiogenesis

Many people have been asking me about herbs and nutritional supplements that may give them a leg up on this issue. Although we do not have research on specific supplements, as they pertain to angiogenesis, I suspect that whole-food, freeze-dried extracts of fruits, vegetables and herbs will provide a spectrum of concentrated anti-angiogenesis compounds. I personally use a variety of whole food fruit, vegetable, mushroom and nutritional extracts for their broad benefits. This research has solidified these products as part of my long-term supplement plan. Below I list the supplements that I feel would provide the greatest anti-angiogenic activity; it should be noted that every one of these food-products offer multiple health benefits, in addition to being great means of protecting against angiogenesis:

1. Berry Greens by New Chapter – There are many whole food formulas on the market, I chose this formula because it is highly concentrated, has a good number of plants with certified anti-angiogenic activity, can be found in either capsules or powder and is readily available. I recommend 6 capsules per day or one tablespoon per day as a supplement to a healthy diet. If you get few fruits and vegetables in the diet, or you have a history or high risk of cancer, I would recommend doubling this dose.
2. PolyResveratrol-SR by Thorne Research – This formula combines resveratrol, pterostilbene, a highly absorbed curcumin, a highly absorbed green tea extract and quercetin. These compounds have anti-aging, anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic activity. The recommended dose is one capsule twice daily (although higher doses may be even more effective).
3. Vitamin D – Aside from vitamin Ds other anti-cancer qualities, it also appears to inhibit angiogenesis. Recommended doses are 2,000-4,000 iu per day.

Conclusion:

Normalizing angiogenesis within the body appears to be a critical step in the maintenance of healthy cells. After listening to a 20-minute lecture by Dr. William Li of the Angiogenesis Foundation, and researching the topic in depth, I am convinced that this may be one of the most important findings in medical history. I look forward to the results of Dr. Li’s research on the anti-angiogenesis activity of various foods and will continue to keep you updated as new research is published on the subject. 

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Why do we spend so much time talking about lowering “bad” cholesterol and almost ignore its fraternal twin brother (arguably a more important player in risk of cardiovascular disease)? The answer is quite simple, there are basically two ways that a pharmacologist can impact a biological system, they can either work to add something back to the body (such as thyroid hormone) or they work to decrease the amount of a compound in the blood (such as an antihistamine for allergies). It is extremely difficult for the scientists to produce a drug that gets the body to make more of a particular substance. On the flip side, it is easier to make a compound that inhibits the production of a particular substance. With cholesterol, pharmacologists have designed medications called statins that decrease the amount of cholesterol that the liver can produce. HDL, however, is different than LDL cholesterol in that more HDL is better. Thus, scientists would have to produce a substance that was capable of stimulating the liver to build and release more HDL particles. Not an easy task.

As mentioned earlier, there are two types of cholesterol. LDL, is called “lousy” cholesterol because it is the form that is found in the nasty plaques of the arteries. HDL is considered “happy” because it carries cholesterol from the tissues, such as the arteries, back to the liver where it can be disposed of. That is an oversimplified, albeit sufficient, description of the two main forms of cholesterol.

Once again, the goal with HDL is to achieve a higher level. When I was in pharmacy school, we were told that there were two main ways to impact HDL: exercise and moderate alcohol. I remember my professor jokingly saying “therefore, it would be in our patients’ best interest for them to run from bar to bar.” So for the remainder of this email I will discuss natural ways to increase your body’s own production of this important cholesterol particle. I will start with a discussion on specific lifestyle recommendations because these clearly have the most important and significant benefit to HDL levels and then I will conclude with a discussion of the supplements which act to top off our HDL levels.

Cut Carbohydrates! When we get a significant amount of carbohydrates in our diet, such as, bread, pasta, cake, candy and cereals, our body produces high levels of insulin. Elevated insulin triggers a condition called insulin resistance which has been shown to be a key factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. Part of the risk may be associated with the impact of insulin on the liver’s ability to produce HDL cholesterol particles. A low HDL is a classic presentation in people with insulin resistance and diabetes. By controlling carbohydrate intake you will have a positive impact on all lipids including HDL.
Exercise…LONGER. It is no secret that exercise has a positive impact on HDL cholesterol, however, until recently we didn’t have a clear idea as to how much of an increase could be expected. A Japanese study looked to answer this question. It was determined that the length of an aerobic exercise session was what determined the amount by which HDL would raise. In fact, for every 10 minutes above 20 minutes of aerobic exercise the subjects would enjoy a 1.4 mg/dl increase in HDL. Intensity and frequency were not nearly as important as the length of each exercise session. It is my recommendation that we each get 60 minutes of activity at least 5 days a week. I know it is a tall order, however, if people want extraordinary results in their lives they need to put in extraordinary effort.
It is Time to lose the weight. This one is cut and dried. Even small amounts of weight gain can have dramatic impacts on HDL cholesterol.
Good News for Smokers! The good news is…if you quit, you will enjoy a significant elevation in your HDL cholesterol.
Check Your Medications. Some medications can have a negative impact on HDL such as beta blockers and certain cholesterol lowering medications.
Oils can help. If you do use oils in cooking or salads use extra virgin olive oil as this has been linked to higher HDL cholesterol.
Your Chia Pet May Save Your Life. Chia seeds are a wonderful whole food and may help you achieve a higher HDL. Soluble fiber, found in chia seeds, has been shown to increase your HDL and help protect you from insulin resistance. In addition to the large amount of fiber found in chia seeds, they are also full of healthy HDL-raising fatty acids, nutrients and minerals. Try 1 tablespoon twice daily.
Fish Oil Increases HDL By Two Mechanisms – Omega-3 fats found in fish oil have many positive benefits to the body. One such benefit is increasing HDL cholesterol by increasing production while simultaneously decreasing the body’s dismantling of HDL cholesterol that has already been produced. We recommend 1 tablespoon daily of Carlson Labs or 6 capsules daily of Super Omega-3.
Niacin – No discussion of natural approaches to increasing HDL is complete without a discussion about B3, also known as niacin. Currently there are three main forms of niacin on the market: standard niacin, inositol hexanicotinate and niacinamide. Plain niacin is the form most commonly prescribed or recommended for cholesterol and it has very potent benefits to HDL and has also been shown to decrease heart attack risk and cardiovascular death. Unfortunately, niacin comes with side effects including uncomfortable rash/hot flash and potential liver damage (which occurs more often than I feel comfortable with). If you do use niacin, you should use a slow release and have your doctor test your liver on a regular basis. Inositol Hexanicotinate is a form of niacin that is bound to inositol. This form is believed to enter the blood where it is slowly releases the niacin to the body and may impact cholesterol. The cholesterol lowering benefits of inositol hexanicotinate (no-flush niacin) are inconsistent. It works well for some and is useless for many. There is no way to determine who no-flush niacin will work, for so it has fallen from favor with us. Those who use no-flush niacin with good result should continue, it appears to offer little risk to the liver. Niacinamide does nothing for cholesterol but can be a useful tool for those who suffer with inflammation.

Now I would like to shift directions a bit and move from a discussion of increasing the number of HDL particles that are floating through your blood to a discussion about how to improve the ability of your HDL to pull unwanted cholesterol from the plaques of the arteries. A very interesting study on genetically modified mice shed some light on how HDL works to inhibit plaque formation. HDL is not just a glob of cholesterol, it actually carries numerous enzymes which appear to offer much of the benefit. One such enzyme, called paraoxonase, appears to play a very important role in the blood vessels. When scientists genetically engineered mice to produce HDL cholesterol without this vital enzyme, the mice suffered significant inflammation within the blood vessels. This research suggests that HDL actually becomes harmful and inflammatory when it loses paraoxonase. In humans, acute stress such as surgery or trauma can cause the HDL to be depleted of this anti-inflammatory enzyme. Paraoxonase also appears to play an important role in detoxifying the LDL cholesterol, making it much less likely to deposit into the arteries. So what can we do to protect the paraoxonase and is there anything that can be done to increase the production of this powerful enzyme? The answer is yes! A Greek study evaluated vitamin E’s ability to protect the HDL cholesterol from losing its paraoxonase enzyme after intense exercise in 10 healthy basketball players. Initially the researchers tested the paraoxonase content of the basketball player’s HDL before and after intense exercise and found the enzyme levels plummeted after the exercise. They then began having the players supplement with vitamin E. After one month of supplementation with alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) the researchers tested the blood before and after intense exercise and found that the supplementation protected the HDL from losing the paraoxonase. This certainly does lend support to the protective effect of vitamin E for cardiovascular disease. If you do supplement with vitamin E, I recommend that you take a natural formula such as Unique E. 1 softgel (400 iu) daily should be plenty.

Recently, scientists have found that a class of compound found in many natural foods may actually activate your genes to produce more paraoxonase! This class of compound called polyphenols is found in many fruits, herbs and teas. Two specific polyphenols stand out in the research literature for their ability to increase the production of this enzyme: quercetin and resveratrol. These two products can be found in a formula called Resveratin by Xymogen. I recommend 1 capsule twice daily. This area of research is a very exciting one and may prove to me a much more important factor than the HDL number. We will continue to follow this issue and report on any new data that comes out.

One final note on cholesterol. As more and more research comes out we are seeing a change in the thought process of cholesterol and its impact on heart disease risk. The most recent literature suggests that the quantity of the cholesterol is far less important than the quality of the cholesterol produced. On your next doctor’s appointment, ask your doctor to order a blood test that assesses the quality of the cholesterol produced in addition to the quantity. This test is called the VAP test and it is available at most labs. If your doctor is not familiar with this test then it may be in your best interest to contact a holistic minded physician to follow this and other tests that may give you insight into your true risk of heart disease. To see a listing of these tests, please see the Heart Disease protocol in our Health Issues section.

Even “health foods” can be harmful to the body if you have developed food allergies to them. There are different types of food allergies, from serious reactions to the more common reactions that go undiagnosed.

Here is a question that we probably never think to ask ourselves… Is it possible that the foods that we eat (even supposedly healthy foods) are the cause of our chronic illnesses?

Migraine Headaches, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Asthma, Depression, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue, Panic Attacks, Eczema, Chronic Allergies, Arthritis, Sleep Disorders including sleep apnea and snoring all may have a common cause… hidden food sensitivities. Attention Deficit Disorder, Chronic Ear Infections and even Autism in our children have also been linked to foods that they may be sensitive to.

All of us are familiar with overt food allergies… this is the kind of allergy where the food is consumed and within minutes or hours a reaction occurs, which can range from hives all the way to anaphylactic shock. This is known as a Type 1 food allergy, which involves the IgE antibody, and is very easy to self-diagnose… you eat the food and you have a reaction.

The IgE antibodies attach themselves to “mast cells” which, when activated by the offending food, release histamine and other chemical mediators producing classic allergic reactions such as hives, wheezing, swelling, stomach cramps, diarrhea, or more rarely, anaphylaxis. These cells are located in the linings of the digestive tract, urinary tract, skin, and airways, and surround small blood vessels.

Less well known and much harder to self diagnose are the Type 3 food allergies. A different antibody causes these reactions… IgG. The mechanism by which IgG antibodies evoke their allergic reactions is through the formation of immune complexes of antibody attached to food particles. The complexes circulate through the body via the bloodstream, rather than being attached solely to mast cells; they may affect any tissue, organ or system of the body.

Whereas the Type 1 allergies only occur in 2-3% of the population and are obvious when they happen, the Type 3 allergies may occur in up to 95% of us, and may not show up for 2 to3 days, sometimes up to a week, later. This is why they are known as “delayed-onset” allergies or sensitivities.

There are two main difficulties encountered when figuring out what is really going on with the foods that we eat and which ones we are reacting to negatively. First, because there is not an immediate response, it is difficult to pinpoint which food caused the problem… was it the broccoli that you ate 3 days ago or the bread you’ve had every day for the past week or the sesame oil that was used to prepare the stir-fried chicken and vegetables from the carry-out the other night?

The second complicating factor is that the actual reaction that you have may be in a form that you do not normally associate with an allergy. You know those cluster headaches you’ve had since you were a teenager? Or that irritable bowel issue that seems to crop up at the weirdest times? Or that low-level depression that your doctor keeps telling you is just a Prozac deficiency? Or that skin condition that prescription creams don’t seem to work for anymore? The list goes on and on… and the reason goes back to a keen understanding of the complex nature of how the body works… it all happens because these IgG antibodies can attach themselves to any tissue or organ that you have… and then disrupt normal functioning!

A disturbing fact is that most of us are reacting to anywhere from 3 to 10 different foods in this manner, sometimes up to 20 foods. And they are often foods that we think of as being healthy for us… milk, wheat, vegetables, fruits, nuts. Foods implicated in type 3 allergies are frequently favorite foods commonly eaten in large amounts.

It is important to note that a food intolerance, for example lactose intolerance due to insufficient lactase enzyme to digest milk sugar, is not a food allergy; however, intolerant individuals often suffer from allergy to cow’s milk. Casein, a milk protein, is one of the most common allergens in the Standard American Diet (SAD). Soy protein is also high on the list of common offenders, making soy products a poor substitute for dairy, unless testing has deemed it a “safe” nonallergen.

Other common food allergens include gluten (from wheat and other grains), yeast, corn and eggs. Chemical food additives, preservatives, and food colorings can also contribute to the problems of food allergy.

You may ask why it is that we come up with these allergies in the first place. I believe the answer is found by closely examining our dietary habits today compared to those of the vast majority of our history. Throughout history, we have eaten foods that were grown locally, picked fresh, and did not contain additives, preservatives, colorings, flavorings, etc. Furthermore, we ate the foods that were available to us according to our climate and the particular time of year.

Today, we eat what is known as a “monotonous” diet, even though we may not really be aware of this fact. Monotonous means repeating the same foods over and over again; not necessarily boring. There are many foods that we eat that appear and taste different, even though the base ingredients are the same… thus is the magic of modern food technologies. Many of the prepared foods that we eat use the same ingredients as flavorings. Furthermore, our diets today contain a large percentage of grains, compared to ancient cave man diets, which had no cereal grains.

Of course, none of us eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables, and you can usually count on two hands the variety that we do eat. In other words, our repertoire of foods becomes less and less varied as time goes on. The constant, repeated exposure to the same food is the reason the body creates a mechanism to make you change your habits… the creation of the IgG antibodies is your bodies attempt to make you pay attention and make a change in your diet.

Unfortunately, in today’s medical climate, we respond to the health problems we have by prescribing pills instead of making substantive changes in our lifestyles, including changing what we eat. In fact, we are so far removed from that process now that we don’t even realize what is occurring.

So how do we find out which foods may be the ones to avoid? Skin testing, by the scratch test, as well as certain IgE blood tests identify type-1 food allergies only, but not type 3. Delayed type food allergies require an ELISA blood test that detects IgG antibodies to the problem foods.

Once the hidden food allergies have been identified, then the hard work begins… these foods need to be avoided! When tested, food allergies get reported in two levels… foods to avoid and foods to rotate.

The foods to rotate are ones that have registered a minor allergy and should be eaten no more often than every 3 days. Foods to avoid need to be avoided for up to 6 months, then reintroduced one at a time to test for continued reactivity. Retesting is sometimes warranted. Occasionally, there are foods that need to be avoided for longer periods of time.

Sometimes avoiding these foods may produce cravings and withdrawal or increased suffering instead of relief. There are often times strong emotional ties to certain foods, and the breaking of these cycles can be a trying experience. Eventually the withdrawal symptoms will subside and then you start feeling better. If cravings occur, they will usually only last a few days!

At the same time, care should be taken not to eat a monotonous diet consisting of “safe” foods, or new allergies may develop to these foods.

There are a whole host of nutritional and herbal supplements that may be helpful in dealing with these hidden food allergies and your body’s response to these food. They include:

Digestive Enzymes – a plant based digestive enzyme will help your digestive tract be more efficient at breaking down foods into their smallest parts.

Methyl Sulfonyl Methane (MSM) – this is a naturally occurring form of sulfur that helps to calm your body’s over-reaction to inhaled or ingested allergens.

Essential Fatty Acids – these “healthy” fats are anti-inflammatory in nature and help with overall gut and immune system function.

Quercetin – this bioflavanoid works to stabilize mast cells, thus it is known as the natural anti-histamine.

Probiotics – these “good bacteria” play a vital role in the normal functioning of the gut and help with digestion and assimilation of food. They also play an important role in proper elimination and immune function.

Glutamine – this amino acid is basically “fuel” for the gut cells to help them reproduce and function properly.

A Multi Vitamin – including Vitamins A, B-6 & C and Minerals like Magnesium & Zinc, which all play important roles in proper gut function and repair.

All of these supplements help to eliminate the food allergy, improve gut health, remove toxins from the body, fight inflammation, and improve immune system function.

So, as it turns out, there are many foods that you may think are healthy that actually are at the root of many of your chronic health conditions. Chances are that the foods you are reacting too are ones that you eat on a regular basis (maybe even have cravings for) and you likely have no idea that they are cause for concern.

Care to try an experiment? Determine which food is the most common in your diet and them completely eliminate it for 3 weeks. I’m willing to bet you start to feel better… and that may come in the form of better energy, better sleep, better mood, or the beginnings of control with your blood sugar, blood pressure or even a little weight loss.

By Ray Hinish, Pharm.D., CPT, LWMC www.illnessisoptional.com | 410-356-2169

Ahh, feel that? Spring is in the air. Ahh, the days are getting warmer. Ahh, the flowers are starting to bloom. And, ahh, ahh achoo! It’s allergy season again.

Blame global warming, blame antibiotics in our food, blame the Japan earthquake, but for those of us who suffer from allergies, the symptoms seem to be getting worse for Marylanders statewide. No matter whom you blame, our misery is real and so, by association, is the misery we inflict upon our loved ones who suffer through our suffering.

With most allergy medications now available without a prescription, you would think that we would be able to get through the season with little discomfort. Unfortunately, even with the most powerful drugs many of us continue to suffer through the Spring with puffy eyes, noses that flow like Niagara Falls, and miserable sinus headaches that guarantee that we will not enjoy the beautiful spring weather.

So, if medicqtions can only offer temporary and minor symptom relief, what are we to do?

Being an allergy sufferer myself, I have spent the last decade investigating some of the most powerful anti-allergy compounds available through nature’s laboratory. When you make use of these powerful compounds, you will typically enjoy fewer symptoms and the symptoms that do occur will typically be less severe.

And that’s nothing to sneeze at.

Allergies occur after exposure to some sort of trigger such as pollen, which we call an “allergen”. Once the allergen makes contact with the moist environment of the eyes, sinuses, and/or throat, the body senses the allergen and, being a natural worrier, mistakes the allergen for some sort of bacteria or virus that is trying to enter into the body.

In an attempt to prevent the perceived threat from entering the blood, the body sends out signals that cause mucous flow (to trap and expel the offending organism), sinus swelling (to prevent entry of the organism deeper into the respiratory tract), and watering of eyes (to expel anything that could pose a risk to sight).

As you can see, the body has your best intentions in mind when it mounts an allergy reaction, the problem is, the body is misperceiving a harmless allergen for a potential threat and thus the reaction is exaggerated and unnecessary.

Nature has manufactured many compounds to counteract this exaggerated allergy response. Interestingly, many of these compounds are produced in fruits and vegetables that occur in season with allergy symptoms.

It is almost as if nature was anticipating the allergy reactions and providing the remedy along with the cause. The problem is, we don’t consume these compounds in any volume in our diet any more.

There are many natural compounds that have proven themselves to be powerful allies in the fight against allergy symptoms.

Quercetin – Considered nature’s most powerful anti-histamine, quercetin is a bioflavonoid that is found abundantly in fruits, vegetables, and teas. Sources include apples, onions, parsley, citrus, grapes, dark cherries, and most berries. Quercetin helps to stabilize mast cells, immune cells that are known to leak histamine, the primary cause of most allergies. Most allergy medications work by inhibiting histamine release or by blocking histamine receptors. Quercetin works by a slightly different mechanism, virtually plugging up the holes in the mast cells that leak histamine. Recommended Doses are 1,000 mg to 3,000 mg in divided doses throughout the day.

Stinging Nettle – Stinging nettle is one of the most powerful anti-allergy herbs available and works very well when combined with quercetin. While quercetin works to prevent histamine release, stinging nettle works on other inflammatory compounds that impact allergy symptoms. Recommended dose: 1000 mg – 4,000 mg per day.

Rosemary Extract – This year I have added rosemary extract to my list of recommended supplements for allergy symptoms due to some compelling research that suggests that a natural compound found in rosemary extract, called rosmarinic acid, can actually balance the immune system in such a way that decreases inflammation in the body. The recommended dose is 50 mg of rosemarinic acid twice daily.

Conventional medicine’s model of disease treatment is to find and target one particular compound that is associated with a particular disease. In the case of allergies, the drug companies attempt to decrease histamine while ignoring other important inflammatory compounds and immune cells.

Natural products allow us to approach a health challenge from multiple pathways without risk of side effects. In fact, we have discovered that there is a synergistic effect from the use of multiple natural products. In other words, the benefits accomplished through the use of multiple herbs and nutrients are far greater than the sum of the individual parts.

Product Recommendations

There are many well-balanced natural allergy formulas on the market. For a foundation product containing quercetin, stinging nettle, and other powerful allergy-normalizing compounds, I recommend you try Natural D-Hist by Orthomolecular products (call our office about this product) or Aller-Res-Q by Natura Health Products. The recommended dose is 2 capsules two to three times daily. This year, I am also recommending a product called Butterbur with Standardized Rosemarinic Acid by Life Extension Products 1 softgel twice daily.

A bonus tip is to flush out the allergens. The sinuses are very good at trapping allergens; unfortunately they are not so good at kicking these offending allergens out. To flush them of these offending products, wash the sinuses every morning and evening with a neti pot or Nasaline nasal syringe. These tools are a powerful way to dramatically improve your sinus allergy symptoms. Admittedly, sinus rinsing is uncomfortable at first, however, like many of our patients who are resistant, you too will quickly find yourself addicted to the clean and open feelings that follow this morning and evening ritual.