Nutritional Healing + Brain Chemistry Balancing For Eating Disorders

I'll be speaking on Brain Chemistry Balancing through Target Nutrition Therapy® at the International Conference on Nutrition & Food Sciences, Valencia, Spain 23-24th of Sept 2014. Complete Speaker program will be up here.

 

How To Kickstart Health - there's an app for that!

I’ve got some great news today:  Sociidot just launched and I’m in the app as a featured expert!

Sociidot is a tool to help you visualize and achieve your dreams. The Sociidot team built the app with the innate understanding that while many people go after their “big” dreams, they may need some help and motivation to get there. Sociidot is designed to push you to spend time on the things that are really important to you.

As a featured nutrition expert in Sociidot, I provide the roadmap of how to get where you want to go. You simply take one tiny action at a time and move forward. Since I’m a food-as-medicine expert, I know the steps it takes to meet your health goals. So I’ve put together what I know and created a couple of roadmaps for Sociidot’s Health Maven category. The roadmaps outline how to achieve certain health goals, so anyone who really wants to can follow the dots and achieve the goal. Whether it be how to reverse diabetes in 30 steps, how to burn fat or simply kickstart a healthy lifestyle that makes you FEEL great in the skin you are in!

Sociidot is available for download here. Look for my roadmaps in the Health Maven category. It was a lot of fun putting them together, and now I’m looking forward to seeing people follow them!

Does Fish Oil Cause Prostate Cancer?

Odds are you've heard this outrageous headline somewhere the last couple weeks.
This has got to be one of the most ridiculous quoted studies, I've come across in a long time.

It seems that the scare going across the news these days, trying in vain to connect a link between fish oil and prostate cancer is based on some hidden agenda towards naturopathic medicine at worst, or just plain ignorance on how to interpret data at best.

First off the study quoted does not use fish oil nor look into whether the subjects took fish oil - they looked at their blood plasma DHA levels.

Second off, the study did not vary significantly in DHA values, so to draw any type of correlation here is fiction - the facts are quite clear in that. The difference in omega 3 fatty acid levels between non-cancer, total cancer, low grade cancer and aggressive cancer groups were 3.62%, 3.66%, 3.67% and 3.74% respectively, which is within normal variation - for the authors to suggest any type of correlation is extrapolating beyond the data. There is no variation.

And lastly - even if a study were to show a true correlation between high DHA blood plasma level and increased occurence of whatever disease, you would want to look into the source of DHA. Does the person even supplement with fish oil? If so, is the fish oil contaminated with chemicals and rancid.

It is VERY important - regardless of this study which results are of absolutely no value - that you do look into the source of fish oil in addition to supplementing with vitamin E. If you do not supplement with sufficient of antioxidant E, then the types of fats found in fish oil tends to oxydize and contribute to inflammation before they are able to heal on a cell level.

So yes, with supplements you also need to pay attention to quality and be aware of synergistic factors that must be taken into account to reap benefits.

Bottomline - should you avoid fish oil? No - you need those types of fats for healthy brain and cell membrane functioning. Should you look into the quality of fish oil you're taking and ensure it's not chemically processed and comes from small fishes such as sardines in addition to always supplementing with vitamin E to stabilize the fats from going rancid? Absolutely.

Think of it this way: just because blueberries can go molded, it doesn't mean that they're not good for you and you should only eat canned food. It simply means that you shouldn't eat a food that has gone bad, and with supplements there are some rules you need to be aware of as you can't determine from the look of it, whether it's a of bad quality similar as to mold on your fruit.

Using your common sense and working with someone who knows how to match natural medicine with your biochemistry blueprint solves any issues. Of course the (mis)information in the mainstream media and from pharmaceutical sponsored studies, is overwhelming and no one can expect to be an expert on human biochemistry from the one-diet-fits-all type of health magazines we're loaded with.

Be smart about your health and don't compromise quality-wise on it - wealth is worth nothing without health.

Got a question health a-z talk to me here.

Ref: J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013 Jul 10. Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acids and Prostate Cancer Risk

in the SELECT Trial. Brasky TM, D

Probiotics more efficient than antidepressants.

Probiotics have time and time again been found to be more efficient that antidepressants. Simply because the main neurotransmitter involved in happy mood - serotonin - 95% is found in your gut. Depression is directly related to malabsorption, food allergies etc. Changing what you eat, changes how you feel - naturally and long-term. 
One of my favorite breakfasts is berries with raw sour cream or just plain yogurt - raw yogurt has higher probiotics contents and thus the antidepressant effect is that much more potent. If I'm on the go I'll layer in a jar - so pretty.

Kill The Most Stubborn of Viruses + Bacteria with Oregano oil

Reference: Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012 June; 78(11): 4057–4061.

High candy intake linked to lack of impulse control.

Sugar addiction rewires your brain and affects
the neurotransmitters involved in impulse control.

A study comparing children’s candy intake to conviction of crime in adulthood suggests that there is a link. Children who ate candy daily at age 10 were more likely to have been convicted of crime at age 34 years.  69 % of people convicted of violent crimes at age 34 reported eating candy every day in childhood. In comparison only 42 % of the nonviolent study participants ate candy frequently. The scientists speculate that this correlation may be due to lack of impulse control, as they become used to instant gratification. 

Another explanation is that their brain chemistry suffers from a diet high in candy and low in nutrients; ultimately leading to poor brain functioning in impulsive behavior. The average person eats 153 pounds of sugar a year, which is equivalent to over half a cup a day. The average teenage boy eats twice as much sugar as any other age or sex group. Sugar is one of the major components of our diet, and any relation between sugar and behavior is of major interest. There is a plenty of information on sugar and children. However, much of it is controversial: some research shows that it does cause hyperactivity and aggressiveness. Other research shows that it does not seem to cause abnormal behavior. Research by Alexander Schauss, author of Diet, Crime and Delinquency, shows that when sugar is removed from children’s diet, their school grades go up. 

Basically, sugar cravings are a symptom of an imbalance in your brain chemistry. When you self-medicate on high-sugary foods you experience a short-term relief due to the release of serotonin as well as a spike in blood-sugar levels. Both of which makes us feel good instantly. However, this type of self-medication leads to a gradual nutrient depletion. Once the high of the sugar rush wears off, you will be craving your next fix – you are caught in a vicious cycle. 

There are certain associations with specific neurotransmitter deficiencies and food cravings. 

Here is an overview to determine what you might be lacking based on the symptoms you are experiencing:

Craving                   Symptom                          Brain Chemical               Natural Remedy
Sweet + Caffeine -> Weight + Low Energy->  Dopamine  -> Tyrosine, B12, Ginseng, Green Tea

Fatty Foods   ->  Memory + Attention issue->Acetylcholine -> Choline, Omega-3, B-complex

Carbs + Alcohol ->  Anxiety + Sleep issue -> Serotonin or GABA-> Inositol, NAC, Tryptophan

To pinpoint exactly which vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids that you might be running low on, along with determining the effective dosage for your specific biochemistry type, requires an in-depth diet analysis. However, loading up on some of the most basic nutrients in non-toxic doses is usually always a good idea. 

Always consult your doctor if you are on medication that may interfere with specific supplements.

Reference:

More S. et al: Confectionery consumption in childhood and adult violence. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2009;195(4): 366-7. 

What healthy mothers need to know.

Lack of sleep increases your body's nutrient demands.

The Biology of Your Cravings.

Cookie Monster is a perfect example of someone

with a low level of serotonin,

 and perhaps also an excess of dopamine,

making for an anxious, aggressive personality type 

of a carb-loving furry friend.

One of the most typical issues I deal with in my work as a medical nutritionist, is helping clients break addictive behaviors around foods - especially high-carb foods. Cravings and out-of-control eating is always, always linked to brain chemistry imbalances, along with a series of other potential triggers that vary depending on genetic blueprint.

If you fail to recognize the underlying biochemistry imbalances, then you will struggle with this for the rest of your life. One thing I can promise you, is that if left untreated, it will only get worse. That is why 95% of all diets fail - they are not balancing your brain- and biochemistry, rather they are worsening the existing biochemistry problem that caused you to gain weight in the first place! Whether it be an imbalance linked to low metabolic rate (your dopaminergic neurotransmitter system), or it be one associated with addictive and binge behavior patters (your serotonergic neurotransmitter system).

Brain chemistry imbalances and triggers are highly individual and can be pin-pointed according to your genotype via specific lab tests, of which I’ll take you through the most relevant to detect what is causing your cravings. Keep in mind, cravings may be due to an isolated factor or multiple imbalances/allergies, and each one needs to be addressed, before they completely vanish. But vanish they will, once you focus on the cause - which is an imbalanced biology, rather than doing the same thing over and over again. White-knuckling it on one fad diet or another, yet you continue to expect a different outcome. Maybe this time, maybe Monday - it is wishful thinking and you know it.

So let’s go over the most common triggers associated with cravings, and why that cookie jar is oh-so appealing in the late hours...(...)

Read the full shenanigans on FoodFacts here.

How much vitamin C to combat infection and fatigue?

Natural Sleep Aids.

The typical alpha male struggles with insomnia 

not only due to work place stress, 

but this type often shows severe depletion 

in their calming neurotransmitters

- namely serotonin and GABA.

Massage is one way of quickly creating a boost in serotonin.

The key, however, is to change your dietary strategies,

 so they support your chemical imbalances,

 and thus enables you to live the life you really want.

Sleep is one of the most important pillars to good health - during sleep is when your brain recharges, most of your fatburning takes place and collagen and cell renewal. Yet, most of us find it increasingly difficult to sleep without either numbing ourselves out with afterwork drinks or rx sleep medication (highly addictive and you do NOT enter those deep layers of REM sleep btw. - that's why you continue to feel groggy!).

Insomnia is just about always associated with an imbalance in your serotonergic neurotransmitter system; and this is something you can rebalance with the right nutritional therapy within 6 months time completely - depending on severity.

A couple of no side-effects natural strategies that I use initially, depending on the client's genetic make-up, are based on Ayurvedic principles on how to calm down an overexcited central nervous system - some work better on certain people than others.
I will use one or more while rebalancing their neurotransmitter system, depending on their unique genotype.

You can incorporate herbs with sedative properties into your daily routine similar to as most of us have gotten used to our coffee fix - change routines, and repeat it until it becomes a natural no-frills habit.

- A warm herbal bath with drops of essential oils of lavender, chamomile, neroli or rose before going to bed works wonders to loosen tense muscles and quiet an overactive mind.

- Stuffed herb pillows with catnip, lavender, lemon balm, or orange blossoms, have been used traditionally to aid sleep.

- Warm milk (preferably goat's or casein a2) with ground almonds and a piece of nutmeg or cardamom helps digestion and nerve system.

- Herbal teas or tinctures of some of the following herbs support proper sleep pattern: lavender, hops, passionflower, chamomile, skullcap, lemon balm, valerian root and kava. These can be used in combinations or alone as suggested by your practitioner.

- A powerful herb for cultivating balance in the central nervous system is ashwagandha. This well-known Ayurvedic herb is helpful in nourishing a depleted and worn out nervous system.

Do remember that which strategies and dosages that will enable you to finally sleep sound, all depends on your genetic make-up and how your brain is wired - that's why custom natural medicine works and generalized advice is hit and miss.

The Skinny on Skincare

When looking for a good skin care, that not only is free of skin junk food such as parabens, alcohol, mineral oil, perfume etc., there are a few proven key ingredients to look for, in order to get an actual effect from those often expensive beauty products out there. Most of those marketed ingredients do not penetrate the outer layers of the skin, making those great-sounding nutrients on the label completely worthless, unfortunately.

I'm going to give you the breakdown here of what to look for that actually has an anti-aging and naturally better-than-Botox effect when used more than 3 months (I don't ever recommend Botox btw. - it's a neurotoxin and makes your skin more saggy in the long run - so you literally will get addicted to Botox. And you're going to look like you came out of a plastic factory - not a good look).

First off, you must wash with a soap, that does not rid your skin of natural oils, so that your washing procedure is not damaging your skin daily. I recommend Dr. Broenner's soap for body and face as this match your skin pH perfectly, and it does not contain any obsolete garbage. And it's cheap. So we can spend more money on awesome stuff instead.

Anyway - here's my skinny on skincare list:

Vitamin A: One of the few anti-aging pharmaceuticals with a scientifically proven efficacy. When applied topically, it is transformed into retinoic acid by human keratinocytes. Retinol stimulates collagen production in the skin, and its application can result in a reduction of wrinkles and skin pigmentation.

Vitamin C: It stimulates collagen production and has a photoprotective effect (it minimizes damage from the sun). Its wrinkle-improving effect has been proven in clinical studies. One problem is its instability in various topically applied products, as vitamin C is prone to oxidation and may lose its efficacy this way. Furthermore, some topical products do not penetrate through the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin), and thus are not able to render the desired effects.

Vitamin E: More studies needed, but there is some indication of a reduction in wrinkle depth and decrease in skin roughness. Vitamin E is found in various cosmetic products, but in most at a way too low concentration to make any difference. I recommend opening a vitamin E capsule and applying it directly to skin beneath your daily moisturizer.

Flavonoids: Group of substances found in many foods e.g. green tea phenols. They have a photoprotective effect.

Copper: Copper peptides seem to have a positive effect on skin aging. Clinical studies have shown wrinkle reduction and improvement in elasticity.

CoenzymeQ10: A lipophilic antioxidant, which is reduced in the aging process. Little scientific data supports its clinical anti-aging effect at this point - additional double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are needed to establish its efficacy. However, oral supplementation is well-documented as part of a successful anti-aging regime for anyone over 30.

Emblica: This antioxidant is extracted from the plant Phyllantus emblica and is said to reduce free radicals and help with pigmentation.

Polypeptides: Studies have shown that topically applied polypeptides may induce an acceleration of collagen synthesis. A clinical study demonstrates a positive effect on skin thickness and skin density after the application of  product containing palmitoyl pentapeptide for three months.

RED ALERT: Over 90% of supplements contain this POISON!!!

“Stearic Acid inhibits T-cell dependent immune responses. Plasma membrane integrity is significantly impaired, leading to a loss of membrane potential and ultimately cell function and viability.”

Tebbey PW, Buttke TM, “Molecular Basis For The Immunosuppressive Action

of Stearic Acid on T cells”, Immunogy, 1990 Jul; 379-86

Stearic acid - same as magnesium stearate; pure poison.
In the trashcan it goes!

Over 90% of the vitamin/mineral products consumed today contain magnesium stearate, also known as stearic acid. Why is this a problem? Because research has shown that stearic acid suppresses T cells (your natural killer cells) which are a key component of your immune system.
This filler also stimulates your gut to form a biofilm; acting as a barrier to absorb every other nutrient that you ingest! Naturally, you are taking supplements to gain health, yet if you are taking a supplement containing magnesium stearate, you are getting the opposite end result - leading to malabsorption issues ironically; partly explaining why we are experiencing an epidemic of gut-related illnesses.

The FDA is looking into making magnesium stearate illegal as use for a supplement filler - until that happens, double check your label my friend!

Reaching for immortality with telomere lengthening

As you age, your telomeres shorten. Why is this something we want to prevent? Because the length of telomeres directly determines your life span and how well you age. If someone has great DNA - what they have really succeeded in doing is to take care of their telomeres and eat to prevent them for literally slicing up at the ends! A telomere is a region of repetitive nucleotide sequences at the end of a chromosome, which protects the end of the chromosome from deterioration.

Now there are several things that have come to light during the past decade as what you can do to maintain or even lengthen telomeres such as Human Growth Hormone therapy and short span high interval training along with that a growing body of research is pointing to some stand-out nutrients that directly impact the length as well. 

Dosage depends on your biochemistry type and needs to be determined via an assessment, as with anything you won't get the results you are looking for if what you are taking is basically a drop in the ocean, even if it's the right stuff.

Here are the 6 nutrients that have been shown so far to directly impact your telomere length and increase longevity:

• Vitamin B12
• Zinc
• Vitamin D
• Omega-3
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E

Reference: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition March 11, 2009: 89(6); 1857-1863

Calcium Supplements Increase Heart Risk (and NO you're not getting stronger bones either!)

Kate Moss  may be making milk addiction look sexy, but don't be fooled.
And did you know that milk products produce opiates and thereby qualify as narcotics?
May explain why many a drug addict like their cafe latte when not engaging in drugs;
unfortunately it keeps the pathways for addictive behaviors alive.
How's that for milk addiction.

Calcium supplements, usually taken to improve bone health, may increase risk of heart attack by as much as 30% according to the findings of the Women's Health initiative, a 15 year research project by the National Institute of Health.

Now how can this be? Well, what happens is that when your body is too acidic it takes calcium from your bones and puts it into your blood stream in an attempt to alkaline your body; and THAT is the reason why  most people get a decline in bone density as they age - it's NOT lack of calcium, rather it is a diet that does not match their unique genotype and thus favors a more acidic body pH!

If you take calcium supplements without addressing your body's pH balance and metabolic type, you build up excess calcium in your system that, coupled with mineral deficiencies and imbalances, can cause plaque built up in arteries, kidney stones, gall stones etc.

Does that mean you should never take calcium? No, but it does mean that you should be sure that you address all your mineral deficiencies simultaneously, otherwise yes: you will increase your risk of a stroke and the calcium will not go to your bones but only add further damage to your body!

What I recommend is taking a trace mineral supplement in ionic form to push your body pH more to the alkaline side and thus prevent calcium leakage from your bones. Also something like taking a green smoothie, containing collard greens, spirulina and add to that some apple or pear to sweeten it, in the AM is one of the best things you can do to change your body pH and build strong bones in a zap!

So, put down that pasteurized milk carton, cos it's got nothing to do with your bones, and it aint nothing but puss, hormones and dead bacteria.
And yes, that's pretty darn gross.

Reference:
M. J. Bolland, A. Grey, A. Avenell, G. D. Gamble, I. R. Reid. Calcium supplements with or without vitamin D and risk of cardiovascular events: reanalysis of the Women's Health Initiative limited access dataset and meta-analysis. BMJ, 2011; 342 (apr19 1)

Drink Your Shrink: Calming Lemon Balm Ice Tea

I love sipping this during the hot days of summer!
Lemon has an alkalizing effect on you body and thereby works anti-inflammatory together with the raw honey. Do remember that honey is one of those foods that absolutely must be taken raw (check the label, it should say raw on it). Excessive heating - as in pasteurization - changes its properties as it ferments; disabling your body from digesting it and turning into a sticky glue-like toxic substance in your body. This is also why pasteurized honey is a no-go in Ayurvedic medicine.

Lemon balm is one of those herbs that have been used since ancient times to calm an overexcited nervous system. Lemon balm has been found to reduce cortisol levels and also levels of an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter GABA -- an inhibitory neurotransmitter known for its calming effects on the nervous system, particularly an area called the hippocampus.
To notice a significant calming effect and boosting GABA measurably, you need dosage levels of 50- 200 mg/kg body weight daily for three weeks.

The results of lemon balm's actions in reducing cortisol and preserving GABA promote cell growth and development in the hippocampus, which is part of the limbic system and contributes to the control of emotions such as anxiety.

A great and healthy alternative to Xanax which is one of the fastest growing prescription drug addictions in the United States, by the way. Xanax is a benzo used to treat anxiety and panic disorders; the side effects are vast and range from irregular heart-beat to depression. Even though Xanax may be used in short-term scenarios, keep in mind that it does not boost your brain-GABA levels which is the real key to overcoming anxiety for good!

You are anxious because your body's stress filter is off - so you need to restore it rather than simply suppress the symptoms temporarily!

If this doesn't do it for you, know that anxiety can also be a symptom of other brain chemicals being out of whack - i.e. excessive high dopamine, low serotonin and/or a combination. That's why it's important to understand your unique biochemistry type, so you match your diet, supplements and lifestyle with your genetic profile - whether it be for preventative or treatment related purposes!

An online biochemistry testing incl. lab analysis and a health provider service will be launching at The Nutrition Doctor's site Www.ChristinaSantini.com end of August, so stay tuned!

Makes 8 servings.

What's in it?

• Big bunch of fresh lemon balm stalks with leaves
  
• 1/2 cup of raw honey
• 1/4 cup of lemon juice
• 8 cups water

What to do?

• Stuff as much rinsed lemon balm into a slow cooker as will fit and cover with 8 cups of water - let simmer for about 3 hrs on low heat.
• Drain the resulting liquid into a pitcher
• While it's still warm, add raw honey and lemon juice. 
• Add more water to taste
• Chill before serving

Reference:

Dae Yoo, Jung Choi, Woosuk Kim, et al. Effects of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) Extract on Neurogenesis Associated with Serum Corticosterone and GABA in the Mouse Dentate Gyrus. Neurochemical Research (13 November 2010), 

pp. 1-8, doi:10.1007/s11064-010-0312-2

Nutrient DEFICIENCY linked to heavy metal TOXICITY.

A case study on a 37 year old man suggests that multiple micronutrient deficiencies played a role in the cause of his multiple sclerosis. The authors state he had several key nutrient deficiencies, which they think impaired his ability to excrete harmful metals. They state that, "nutritional treatment may be an effective approach to this disease" due to the role of nutrients in various detoxification pathways.

Reference:

Curr Aging Sci. 2011 Aug 12. Influence of Essential Trace Minerals and Micronutrient Insufficiencies on Harmful Metal Overload in a Mongolian Patient with Multiple Sclerosis. Komatsu F, Kagawa Y, Kawabata T, Kaneko Y, Kudoh H, Otgon J, Chimedregzen U.

Iodine: The underestimated nutrient - and yes, YOU are NOT getting it! 95% Americans estimated deficient!

Seaweed is really the only significant
dietary source of iodine.
The Japanese average 50 mg of iodine.
Lowest rate of almost all cancers
and coronary heart disease to beat!

Today's medical establishment is wary of iodine - as they are of most naturally occurring, nonpatentable, nonpharmaceutical agents. Where's the money - show me the money. It's natural? No money, we can't patent it. Not interested - no let's call it off as a quark, and load them up with drugs instead. That's how it usually goes - guilty until otherwise proven.

As far as Rx drugs go - oh well, good to go, until we have too many death counts to count. Until then - do continue to add the profit to my Amex thank you very much. I need someone to pay off my Rolex no. 10, my Mercedes Benz and my Salmon caesar - the dressing? Oh on the side; just how I like my girlfriends. Integrity covers all aspects of life... for the side-viewer to watch like a domino effect. And when we choose to earn our money taking care of other people, it's imperative that we are able to say no to the temptation of selling lives for cool cash.

If one can't say no to temptation, then one should not work with human beings. Because one thing is the choices we make that hurt our own lives: We pay. But the effects on ourselves and others are far further reaching when playing god. When you hurt others, you not only hurt them: You hurt yourself - the scars go much deeper than the pain you inflict directly upon yourself. Hurting others, hurts YOU on a soul level. And Karma is a tricky mistress - she always gets the better end, no matter how smart we think we are; covering all our tracks. She finds a way to make us slip. Ah, so is the game of what we call life.

How many lies can one tell before one suffocates. I think many in big pharma finds it tough to sleep at night, even on a bed of money. But then there's always a pill for that.

Iodine - RDI sufficient to avoid mental retardation, but NOT cancer!

Everyone agrees that a lack of iodine in the diet causes a spectrum of disorders that includes, in increasing order of severity, goiter and hypothyroidism, mental retardation, and cretinism (severe mental retardation accompanied by physical deformities). Health authorities in the U.S. and Europe have agreed upon a Reference Daily Intake (RDI), formerly called the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), for iodine designed to prevent these disorders, which the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates afflicts 30 percent of the world's population. The RDI for iodine, first proposed in 1980, is 100—150 µg/day. Organizations advocating this amount include the American Medical Association, National Institutes of Health's National Research Council, Institute of Medicine, United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, WHO Expert Committee, and the European Union International Programme on Chemical Safety. These health authorities consider an RDI of 100—150 µg/day of iodine sufficient to meet the requirements of nearly all (97—98%) healthy individuals.

This consensus on iodine intake flies in the face of evidence justifying a higher amount. This evidence includes animal studies, in vitro studies on human cancer cell lines, clinical trials of iodine for fibrocystic breast disease, and epidemiological data. An intake of 150 µg/day of iodine will prevent goiters and the other recognized iodine deficiency disorders, but not breast disease. Prevention of breast disease requires higher doses of iodine. Indeed, a reasonable hypothesis is that, like goiters and cretinism, fibrocystic disease of the breast and breast cancer are iodine deficiency disorders (also uterine fibroids).

Case in point: The Japanese eat 12 - 200 mg of iodine. And they have the lowest rate of cancers in the world!

Of course this doesn't make for a causal relationship per se, but taken together with animal experiments where tumors have dissipated upon given high-dosage of INORGANIC iodine, one might speculate of a causal relationship here.

Dr. Guy Abraham, a former professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA, mounted what he calls "The Iodine Project" in 1997. The project's hypothesis is that maintaining whole body sufficiency of iodine requires 12.5 mg a day, an amount similar to what the Japanese consume. The conventional view is that the body contains 25—50 mg of iodine, of which 70—80 percent resides in the thyroid gland. Dr. Abraham concluded that whole body sufficiency exists when a person excretes 90 percent of the iodine ingested. He devised an iodine-loading test where one takes 50 mg and measures the amount excreted in the urine over the next 24 hours. He found that the vast majority of people retain a substantial amount of the 50 mg dose. Many require 50 mg a day for several months before they will excrete 90 percent of it. His studies indicate that, given a sufficient amount, the body will retain much more iodine than originally thought, 1,500 mg, with only 3 percent of that amount held in the thyroid gland.

Iodine has other extrathyroidal functions: It removes toxic chemicals — fluoride, bromide, lead, aluminum, mercury — and biological toxins, suppresses auto-immunity, strengthens the T-cell adaptive immune system, and protects against abnormal growth of bacteria in the stomach.

What about toxicity you ask?

A critical evaluation of some review articles on iodine-induced hypothyroidism and iodine-induced hyperthyroidism reveals that in most cases, organic forms of iodine are involved. However, the titles of those articles suggest that the review is about inorganic iodine/iodide. For example, in the published review on "iodine-induce hypothyroidism" by Markou, et al in 2001, the list of iodine-containing products causing hypothyroidism consisted predominantly of organic forms of iodine, such as amiodarone and radiology contrast agents. The title of that review should have been "Drug-induced hypothyroidism." In 1984, Leger, et al. reported 85 cases of "iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis." Amiodarone alone accounted for 50% of the cases. All the patients received organic forms of iodine-containing drugs. The title of that review should have been "Drug-induced hyperthyroidism."


References
Wartofsky L, Ransil BJ, and Ingbar SH. "Inhibition by iodine of the release of thyroxine from the thyroid glands of patients with thyrotoxicosis." J Clin Invest, 1970; 49:78-86.
Abraham GE, Flechas JD, and Hakala JC. "Orthoiodosupplementation: Iodine sufficiency of the whole human body." The Original Internist, 2002; 9:30-41.
Pennington JA and Schoen SA.,  "Total diet study: Estimated dietary intakes of nutritional elements, 1982-1991."  Internat J Vit Nutr, 1996; 66:350-362.
Vobecky M and Babicky A. "Effect of enhanced bromide intake on the concentration ratio  I/Br in the rat thyroid gland."  Kio Trace Element Research, 1994; 43:509-513.
Velicky  J, Titlbach M, Duskova J, et al.  "Potassium bromide and the thyroid gland of the rat: morphology and immunohistochemistry, RIA and INNA analysis."  Ann Anat, 1997: 179421-431.
Van Leeuwen FXR, Hanemaauer R, and Loeber  JG.   "The effect of sodmide bromide on thyroid function." Arch Toxicol Suppl, 1988; 12:93-97.
Abraham GE.  "Iodine supplementation markedly increases urinary excretion of fluoride and bromide." Townsend Letter, 2003; 238;108-109.
Shimomura K, Mullinix MG, Kakunaga T, et al. "Bromine residue at hydrophilic region influences biological activity of aplysiatoxin, a tumor promoter."  Science, 1983; 222:1242-1244.
Sangster B, Blom JL, Sekhuis VM, et al.  "The influence of sodium bromide in man:  A study in human volunteers with special emphasis on the endocrine and the central nervous system." Fd Chem Toxic, 1983; 21:409-419.
Markou K, Georgopoulos N, Kyriazopoulou V, et al.  "Iodine-induced hypothyroidism."  Thyroid, 2001; 11:501-510.
Leger AF, Massin JP, Laurent MF, et al, "Iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis: analysis of eighty-five consecutive cases."  Euro J of Clin Invest, 1984; 14:449-455.
Fradkin JE and Wolff J.  "Iodide-induced thyrotoxicosis." Medicine, 1983; 62:1-20.
Gaitan E, Nelson NC, and Poole GV. "Endemic goiter and endemic thyroid disorders."  World J Surg, 1991; 15:205-215.
Weaver DK, Batsakis JG, and Nishiyama RH.  "Relationship of iodine to 'lymphocytic goiters.'"  Arch Surg, 1968; 98:183-186.
Weaver DK, Nishiyama RH, Burton WD, et al.  "Surgical Thyroid disease." Arch Surg, 1966; 92:796-801.

GI disorders on the rise: The case for WHITE rice.

Of course the Asian cultures with their influence

from Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine

have chosen to make white rice a stable part of their diet for a reason.

And now the West is finally beginning to grasp a grain

of what they have known and implemented for centuries: white rice is better than brown!

Just don't expect your health care practitioner to recommend this tomorrow

- as with all break-throughs in medicine it takes decades for it to reach the mainstream.

Just when you thought there were certain things in the health field that would never change - i.e. a pint of Haagen dasz is never going to be on the bottom of the food pyramide nor is anything white: white flour, white rice, white sugar... and so on.
After all, all things white is the reason why the West is getting fatter yet more malnourished by the minute, is it not.

Well, turns out it's not that simple - and cutting out white rice in exchange for brown may only be leading to further GI disorders. Now hang on a second before you just write this off as wish-washy alternative nonsense.

Let's start from the beginning.

Gastro intestinal disorders and gluten intolerance issues have reached epidemic proportions.
This is a catastrophe, because our knowledge of gluten intolerance is still at a baby stage and conventional medicine simply does not know how to treat (and much less properly diagnose!) inflamed gut and damaged villis.

Many of the meds you may be taking for secondary reasons are preventing your gut from healing by thinning the mucosal lining along with the fact that every Rx leads to your blood pH being more acidic. Now I'm not saying that Rx is always a no-no, it is always a question of pros vs. cons. However, in cases of inflamed gut you will have a load of symptoms that are all secondary: Osteoporosis, low T3, hormonal imbalance, mood disorders etc. etc. And they will continue to be present until you heal the primary reason for your disease - which is your gut.

With GI disorders every other disease under the sun follows, which is why it is critical to first heal your gut and then focus on any other issues you may be having. Simply because if your gut isn't healed step 1, whatever goes into your body either adds toxins and ferments due to indigestion or simply just exists your system without you having absorbed any nutrients at all.

Now back to the white stuff. Brown rice (which Asian cultures only use for the poor or to feed the pigs) contains something called phytic acid. Phytic acid binds to minerals in foods and limit our digestion of the minerals.

What about the fiber you ask? Well, turns out that more fiber is not the cure we thought it once was. Especially not the sort of roughage that stems from grains - bran, which is a typical recommendation to bulk up your fiber intake, literally tears your insides to shreds and prevents nutrient absorption (mind you, you still have to eat your fruit and veggies - it is only the grain roughage that is an issue). Brown rice is white rice with a thick hull around it. It is kind of like eating a walnut and not taking the shell off. There are nutrients in the hull, but they have a very poor bioavailability. Our bodies spend a lot of time and effort trying to break down the shell, which will use up energy and slow our metabolism.

Ever been on a juice diet where you actually consume zero fiber? Point: You do not get constipated from lack of roughage in your diet, you get constipated when you eat things your system cannot digest properly - i.e. most conventional casein a1 milk products and gluten (if this does not match your genotype).

(White) rice is one of the least allergenic foods there is on the grain side, and it is especially great as part of your diet for people low on serotonin as they need some quicker carbs to help boost insulin so that it can transport competing aminos out of the blood stream to the muscles, leaving the larger molecule tryptophan (precursor of serotonin) free to enter the brain-blood barrier.

Note: Also why a strict vegan or high protein diet is a disaster for people with low serotonin - first diet does not contain the building blocks for serotonin, and the second contains too many competitors so tryptophan will never be converted into brain-serotonin - and that's why some people experience crazy carb cravings on the Atkins diet (only those low on serotonin)!

..And is there anything more comforting 

than eating a bowl of steaming hot 

Indian spiced basmati rice glistening 

with pasture butter. And then we can get into 

the whole discussion of why saturated fats 

are not all created equal etc. - that's for another post!

Bottomline: You are what you absorb - so eat your rice WHITE like the Asians do!
I recommend the long-grain variety as they are slightly more nutritious.

If you want a great easy-read on why white rice is better (yesyes, I know you're almost suffocating there on your coffee reading this, admittedly it took me some time to get comfortable enough to finally put this down in writing even), then I recommend you grab the book by Jason Bussell  MSOM, Licensed Acupuncturist, The Asian Diet: Simple secrets for eating right, losing weight, and being well.
Mind you, this book is not a magic key per se, and admittedly I'd have preferred some more brain chemistry explanations and insights to be included, as this is always a pet-peeve of mine when determining if something is worth it - that said, it is still great on getting insight on why white rice indeed is better than brown from a gut-perspective!

And if switching from brown to white makes all your alarms go off due to the glycemic index, then read my case for why the gi index is a useless tool.

References:

Pharm Dev Technol. 2010 Sep-Oct;15(5):526-31.
Gastro-intestinal sustained release of phytic acid by molecularly imprinted microparticles.
Cirillo G, Curcio M, Parisi OI, Puoci F, Iemma F, Spizzirri UG, Picci N

Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2009 Dec;60(8):688-93.
Iron absorption from brown rice/brown rice-based meal and milled rice/milled rice-based meal.
Trinidad TP, Mallillin AC, Sagum RS, Briones DP, Encabo RR, Juliano BO

Dig Dis Sci. 1990 Oct;35(10):1205-10.
Drug-induced esophageal injury. Histopathological study in a rabbit model.
Brewer AR, Smyrk TC, Bailey RT Jr, Bonavina L, Eypasch EP, Demeester TR

Drug Saf. 2000 Mar;22(3):237-49.
Drug-induced oesophageal disorders: pathogenesis, incidence, prevention and management.
Jaspersen D

Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2010 Apr;24(2):91-7.
Adverse effects of drugs on the esophagus.
Tutuian R; Clinical Lead Outpatient Services and Gastrointestinal Function Laboratory

Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2004 Apr;28 Spec No 3:C58-61.
[Esophageal complications of non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs].
Bigard MA, Pelletier AL

Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2004;18 Suppl:73-81.
Aging and upper gastrointestinal disorders.
Pilotto A

Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2012 Jan 31. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2011.01872.x. [Epub ahead of print]
Life style in persons with functional gastrointestinal disorders - large-scale internet survey of lifestyle in Japan.
Miwa H

BMC Gastroenterol. 2008 Sep 23;8:43.
The clinical overlap between functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome based on Rome III criteria.
Wang A, Liao X, Xiong L, Peng S, Xiao Y, Liu S, Hu P, Chen M

New Research Sheds Light on the Role of Manganese in Tumor Suppressor Gene

Hazelnuts are one of the few top scores in manganese.
 Other decent options include pecans, pumpkin seeds, mussels
....and let's not forget raw cocoa or dark chocolate.
A super decadent manganese-rich spread can be made
from raw honey, hazelnuts and dark chocolate that I'll be posting soon,
so stay tuned cos it's finger-licking good stuff!

A study on the powerful antioxidant manganese superoxide dismutase shows that this antioxidant is controlled by a gene - the so-called p53 gene - that actually switches on or off, depending on the stage of cancer - it turns off in early tumor growth and turns on in late stages of cancer.

The Nutrition Doctor uses a medicinal nutritional approach based on the science of nutrigenomics to starve off cancer cells - it is imperative to understand that different types of cancer actually thrive on different nutrients! Certain aminos and vitamins, otherwise thought healthy, can be deadly for certain types of cancer patients. Only if you understand the nutrient requirements for various cancers can you develop a successful cancer fighting program by depriving the cancer cells of fuel and shutting off gene expression.




Reference:

Cancer Res. 2011 Nov 1;71(21):6684-95. Manganese superoxide dismutase is a p53-regulated gene that switches cancers between early and advanced stages. Dhar SK et al.