Allergy season is early this year, and many folks are heading for the drug store for over the counter anti-histamines, etc. However, these medications have side effects and add to the chemical burden on our bodies. Below is most of an article written by a nutritional scientist who works for Pure Encapsulations, one of the companies in my supplement buying club. He does an excellent job of explaining the process of allergic reaction and gives some great herb and supplement advice. And yes, I can assist you in procuring the mentioned herbs and supplements. {Anyone who wants the footnotes, please email me.}

From early spring through November, more than 22 million Americans seek comfort as airborne pollens, grasses, weeds and fungi naturally reach their peak.  In the nasal lining and bronchial tubes of sensitive individuals, environmental particles enlist a multi-step process in which resident immune cells, known as mast cells, are activated by accumulation of immunoglobulin E (IgE). Active mast cells release prostaglandins, leukotrienes and other chemical mediators that modify local fluid and inflammatory balance.  Effective nutritional avenues that target multiple points in this process include polyphenols, botanicals and probiotics.* Polyphenols    Polyphenols, particularly quercetin, hesperidin and related flavonoids, have been extensively researched for nasal and upper respiratory homeostasis. It is well-established that quercetin and hesperidin maintain the integrity of mast cell membranes and moderate enzymes that direct the synthesis and release of inflammatory mediators.1 Support for mast cell membrane integrity is also an important mechanism of the complex flavonoid spectrum found in apple extracts.2  In contrast to the simple flavonoid structure of quercetin, apple extracts contain flavonoids linked together in chains to form oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs).  Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have demonstrated that apple polyphenols are highly effective in maintaining healthy vascular permeability and measures of nasal responses.2* Botanical extracts Nettle (Urtica dioica), guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) and butterbur (Petasites hybridus) have an extensive history of clinical and traditional use for maintaining immune balance.  In randomized, double-blind trials, each of these botanicals have provided significant support for immune homeostasis and subjective indices of nasal responsiveness and upper respiratory function.3-5

Cancer Studies: Fact or Fiction

NaturalNews) The vast majority of so-called scientific studies focused on cancer research are inaccurate and potentially fraudulent, suggests a new review published in the journal Nature. A shocking 88 percent of 53 “landmark” studies on cancer that have been published in reputable journals over the years cannot be reproduced, according to the review, which means that their conclusions are patently false.
C. Glenn Begley, a former head of global cancer research at drug giant Amgen and author of the review, was unable to replicate the findings of 47 of the 53 studies he examined. It appears as though researchers are simply fabricating findings that will garner attention and headlines rather than publishing what they actually discover, which helps them to maintain a steady stream of grant funding but deceives the public.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035616_cancer_industry_scientific_fraud_studies.html#ixzz1sWwaFhbS

I thought this was a telling piece of reporting, especially given how mainstream medicine has so disrespected alternative cancer therapies, and even adjunct therapies.

 I have been listening to webinars from Pure Encapsulations about a variety of subjects, and have found especially exciting all the research being done on polyphenols, a class of chemicals found in herbs. A particularly potent one, curcumin, found in turmeric, has shown promise in helping to treat a very long list of ailments, including cancer (through apoptosis, or programmed cell death). Many of these studies have been replicated….looks like the double-blind/placebo study is only a gold standard if those who are conducting the study have integrity….

Cancer Feeds on Fructose

This came to my attention this afternoon, and is the perfect complement to the sugar post: the twin evils of sucrose and fructose (especially high fructose corn syrup). The title of the article, cited on GreenMedInfo.com is:

Cancer Feeds on Fructose, America’s #1 Source of Calories

(and isn’t THAT a scary thought)

Post date:

Wednesday, April 11th 2012 at 6:00 am by Anthony Gucciardi

High-fructose corn syrup is the primary source of calories in the United States. In addition to containing mercury, a known carcinogen, cancer cells actually feed on high-fructose corn syrup after it is metabolized by the liver. A recent study, published in the Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, examined the link between refined sugar and cancer. The results add further evidence to the reports of many health experts and scientific studies that have drawn the connection between excess sugar consumption and the development of cancer.

The researchers highlighted the numerous ways in which fructose directly contributes to cancer risk and other health problems, including:

• DNA damage
• Inflammation
• Altered cellular metabolism
• Increased production of free radicals

According to Lewis Cantley, director of the Cancer Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School, as much as 80 percent of all cancers are “driven by either mutations or environmental factors that work to enhance or mimic the effect of insulin on the incipient tumor cells.”

To read the rest of this article, please go HERE.

Epigenetics: how environment affects gene expression. Our overuse of fructose and sucrose is ruining our health….

Low Doses of Pesticides Are NOT Safe

It’s been the official mantra of pesticide companies for decades: “The dose makes the poison.” While it makes intuitive sense — you’d think that the more of a chemical you’re exposed to, the sicker you’ll get — the science has, in fact, been saying otherwise for years.

A team of 12 scientists recently released a report calling on EPA to completely revamp the way they evaluate chemicals, to better reflect this now fully understood reality: Tiny amounts of certain chemicals can have devastating effects on human health.

It’s all about the hormones. Our systems are largely regulated by these powerful chemical messengers, and the intricate process of fetal development is all but completely orchestrated by them.

If you would like to finish reading this article from Pesticide Action Network, go HERE.

 

Is Sugar Toxic?

In case you missed the CBS 60 Minutes special on sugar, here is the transcript and a link to see the presentation….and how wonderful that some mainstream scientists were able to pull off the technical studies that actually prove what alternative folks have been saying for decades: Sugar Is Toxic.

Best Article on Osteoporosis I’ve Ever Read

Yes, this article is technical.

Yes, I had to stretch my mind to grok the technical details….however, the bulk of the article is easily understandable, and the conclusions reached are VERY interesting, cutting edge, you read it first here.  All that I’ve been studying about fruit and vegetable consumption, alkalinity, exercise, importance of co-factors not calcium, and inflammation as the precursor to just about everything “bad” is researched here with lots of studies cited. Major conclusions: taking lots of calcium is not the most important factor for healthy bones and bone density tests are just about worthless (and even worse are the drugs prescribed).

Instead of the mainstream (and that includes most alternative info as well) message of more calcium = strong bones, this heavily researched article shows the value of other minerals, a plethora of “nutraceuticals” (supplements besides vitamins and minerals) and “lifestyle” habits that all contribute to healthy bones in a healthy body.

Intrigued? GO HERE to read the entire article. If you are interested in putting together a supplement regime to address both your bones and your whole body, call me toll-free @ 877-286-2970. My 14-year-old “supplement buying club” has room for a few more folks.