Theaflavins: One more natural bullet in your preventive health pistol.

The health benefits of Green Tea have grabbed all the publicity over the last couple of years, even though many alternative and complimentry medicine practitioners utilized Green Tea for many years prior to its popularity swing. Hopefully it will not face another farce of a study like the one conducted years ago on Ginkgo Bilboa - six weeks, 100 people - and if it hadn't been such a travesty to a good medicinal herb - we'd all be laughing that any reputable institution would have even thought to publish it. Granted Ginkgo's tremendous popularity as a mind powder/clarity enhancer made it a big target of every Pharma funded institution in the U.S.. It still is as good a vaso-dialator (one of the few that provide blood to the brain - thus the reputation.) and should be a apart of any preventive health program.

But hold on, it appears Green Tea's traditional cousin Black Tea has revealed compounds known as Theaflavins that possess a unique ability to regulate the genes that produce inflammatory cytokines and other toxic factors related to degenerative disease and aging.

Theaflavin's are unlike the flavanoid epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is found in Green Tea and its ability to prevent disease. Theaflavin works in a process known as nutrigenomics, which is the science of dietary control of genetic expression. These Theaflavin extracts work to active genes which reduce the damage of inflammation-based diseases such as cancer, cariovascular disease, diabetes, and others.

As more is explored, let me just say this, drink a variety of Teas - The more we learn the more promising they look.

Guest Writer Weighs In: Medical Bias

I liked what Dr. Jim Fain had to say about this issue so much that I just had to get him to let me post it ver batim. We need to lead the blind to the truth with Facts, nothing but the Facts.

Medical Bias Plus Benefits of NAC
Jim Fain, PhD
The Natural Way Column Published 2/04/09 -The Lovely County Citizen
Can you imagine that the MD who writes a health column for the big newspaper basically believes supplementation to be useless, potentially harmful and irrational? Amazing isn't it that this sort of bias still exists and comes from a well educated science based professional. Trouble is his opinion still carries a lot of weight especially for those who don't think for themselves. Contrast this with what I found about the nutritional supplement N-Acetyl Cysteine also called NAC.
Over 10,000 published scientific studies came up when I did a search on PubMed for N-Acetyl Cysteine. You just can't say that using NAC is useless or irrational in all due respect to the MD columnist. I couldn't find anything that said it was harmful either. Rather, I found that it was very helpful for a very wide range of ailments and also for the prevention of some major illnesses.
Obviously, I didn't read every one of the 10,000 plus listings on PubMed but just listing the first two pages was an eye opener. NAC has been shown to have benefit for reducing tissue damage to the heart, radiation damage, surgical complications, X-ray contrast dye damage to the kidneys and for what's called pathologic gambling. To me, if it helps reduce pathologic gambling then it should reduce most other compulsions like smoking, spending, eating, etc. PubMed showed NAC beneficial for emphysema (COPD), bronchitis, cocaine abuse, lead and cadmium detox and overdose of Tylenol (R) aka acetaminophen. In terms of disease malaria, hepatitis C and HIV had studies done showing a profound impact. For instance, one study I read said that people exposed to HIV who had enough NAC and selenium in their systems didn't get the disease. This is important. NAC has anti-cancer benefits, too. I take two capsules (1200mg)/day with selenium and molybdenum. I'm 56 almost 57... just try to keep up with me.
MDs across the globe are aware of NAC. Many of the studies were done in people as well as in laboratories. The studies were not done with the intention of proving NAC as a prescription as it is a natural supplement and frankly wouldn't make big pharma much money. NAC is in the amino family group of natural health supplements. After digestion it does create glutathione in our liver. If we supplement with glutathione it has to be "reduced" and it isn't as effective as taking NAC and producing our own in our own system. NAC becomes a powerful antioxidant that our bodies need in order to stay healthy and to reduce negatives of living. Especially, the negatives of living that come with excess.
Deciding to take action to improve our lives and health with supplements isn't useless, necessarily harmful and certainly isn't irrational, in fact taking care of yourself with good supplement choice may be one of best things you can do.
Jim Fain, PhD can be reached at 866-210-1264 toll free - Fain’s Herbacy, Eureka Springs, AR

Priorities of Health in today's American Lifestyle

I live in a beautiful place. For those of you who do not know where Fayetteville, Arkansas is, or for that matter, have never heard of the place, take my word for it, Fayetteville is truly one of those special communities in America. If I had to make a summary description, I would say 1 part Arkansan, 1 part Rockwell with a splash of Warhol & Einstein. But even in this most progressive of Arkansas communities, prevention and wellness are not part of many of my beloved neighbors health priorities. Arkansas as a whole just needs to pick up the paper and read its collective health statitistics on Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Cancer to realize that whatever it is we are doing - ain't working.

That's not to say we're not trying, we're taxing tobacco, and other vices to help pay for a Trauma Center that is desparately needed in our state, and I suppose some of the money will most likely end up going toward post incident healthcare, and that will just add to the existing crisis that is healthcare in Amercia and most certainly Arkansas. The tobacco tax is two steps forward and the path the money could take is possibly one step back. Why? Because you will not ever be able to pay for the expense of today's healthcare on the back end. It's like trying to payoff one of those high interest credit cards with an income that can't keep up with the interest - you can't get there from here.

But there is hope, from Northwest Arkansas, Senator Bill Pritchard is leading the charge to divert some of the money to Substance Abuse, which is preventive -paying on the front end, common sense. Leave it to an old country boy from Washington County to understand the "pay me now or pay me later" of health and wellness. If he's successful and I pray he is, he may well have played the biggest role in reducing economic drain of healthcare costs to the state of Arkansas than any one leader in decades.

I had heard a rumor that there would be a bill introduced to tax energy drinks, you know those super sugar, caffeinated, amino-herbal abused drinks the kids (and many adults) are so crazy about. These are the same products many in my profession know are the next big precursor for any number of neuro-metabolic diseases to come. So at a political forum with all of the Washington Co. legislators hosted by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, I waited until I thought that all the questions regarding the hottest topics had been asked and then very hesitantly inquired if any of our Representatives or Senators had heard of any such bill being filed or proposed. They were all very polite, even though the question received some light hearted snickering in the audience, but none had heard anything regarding such a bill.

That's too bad, because such a tax on this scurge of products in this particular market segment could easily be used to help alleviate a host of future medical problems and increased costs. One thing is for sure, I believe Governor Mike Beebe will continue his work in prevention. His wife has taken on a number of health issues facing this state. Maybe one day we'll see funding for Community Wellness centers as well as Community Health Clinics as a way of reducing pressure on our Healthcare system. Pay me now - or pay me later, it really is that simple.

The economy of Health & Wellness

Wow, I really didn't realize how much of a Holiday Hibernation I had taken until I received a couple of comments from readers - I really didn't know anyone was following.
I guess like everyone else, between the Holidays & the state of the economy I lost track of my personal comittment to keep my thoughts going. My shock at my absence and a question posed by a reader brought me to my topic. Not that the readers question was in direct relationship to the topic but anyway, here we go.
If cheap gas prices destroy our will and desire to explore and develop new fuel and energy sources - how much will this economy which is looking more like a virus based plague than an estate of a free culture, destory our desire to continue the science and collective reason which has become the science of natural health alternatives. One of my readers asked about Acai berry, found in powder extract but most prevalent in the drink market.
First, let me say that your assumption that I would know more about Acai than you maybe giving me way too much credit. Some studies show that the acai berry may fight cancer, increase energy, aid in weight loss and more. Probably because of its extemely concentrated antioxidant compounds as well as a host of other very benefical nutrients. But Acai has only been mainstream in alternative health for a little over 4 years. And mainstream in alternative health circles is still a way from mainstream America, most of which think that preventive medicine is a treadmill and a prescription. It, like Goji and other exotic fruits that all hit the states about the same time, have brought new options for health and while they have collectively gained the notoriety necessary to fund beginning research, that's where it is right now - promising but just the beginning. Is it Good for you - absolutely, better for you than orange juice - most assuredly, Do you get Health Bang for your Buck - it's worth the cost of a 60 day self trial to find out.
Go for it.
Meanwhile, trying to introduce Natural Health and Wellness to an ever growing populace of working poor who are struggling just to get buy will be as challenging as reviving a desire for more effort in developing independent and affordable fuel and energy while gas is so cheap. Both are going to take some very deliberate leadership.

The Poison of a New Generation: HIGH-FRUCTOSE Corn Syrup

No, I'm not talking about simple Karo Syrup, the corn syrup substitute in many kitchens for decades and any industry group that would try to convince you otherwise should be charged with criminal deception because they know its not true. In the 1970's High-Fructose Corn Syrup was developed along with other sweetners like Maltodextrine as cheaper alternatives to Cane Sugar. Since that time HFCS has found its way into almost all processed foods like soft drinks, and salad dressings, commercially made cakes and cookies, and breakfast cereals and brand name breads. What has been discovered over the years and the increase in its use is a direct correlation to consumption of HFCS and obesity, diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Regular Cane Sugar has 50% fructose and 50% glucose. High-Fructose Corn Syrup can contain 80% fructose and 20% glucose, almost twice the fructose as sugar. Amazingly, both only have 4 calories per gram, that's not the problem, the problem arising in metobolism of excess amounts of fructose and the alarming increase in overall consumption. The potential direct consequences of excess dietary fructose consumption, as if the aforementioned diseases weren't enough, are: Accelerated aging, insulin resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, Diabetic complications; - retinopathy (may lead to blindness), - Nephropathy (may lead to severe kidney disease, requiring chronic dialysis), - Neuropathy (may involve numbness, pain, impotence, speech impairment, loss of bladder control, etc..), Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, abnormally high blood uric acid levels in gout and bursitis and abnormally high triglyceride levels.
As continued use of this enzyme treated sweetner increases, more and more diseases are being connected to it. Avoid or reduce you daily intake of HFCS by avoiding soft drinks and reading food labels - Go Home Made - Haven't you wondered why we're seeing so many increases in diseases we haven't seen in the past?

Vitamin Holds Promise for Alzheimer's Disease

Treatment cured memory problems in mice, researchers found
According to Randy Doting, (HealthDay News) -- Researchers report that huge doses of an ordinary vitamin appeared to eliminate memory problems in mice with the rodent equivalent of Alzheimer's disease. At the moment, there's no way to know if the treatment will have the same effect in humans. Researchers are beginning to enroll Alzheimer's patients in a new study, and scientists aren't ready to recommend that people try the vitamin on their own outside of normal doses. Still, "it's definitely promising, and if we combine this with other things already out there, we'd probably see a large effect," said study author Kim Green, a researcher at the University of California at Irvine. Alzheimer's disease affects an estimated 5.2 million Americans, causing senility and often leading to death. The Alzheimer's Association estimates that the disease will strike one in eight Baby Boomers. There's no cure for the neurodegenerative condition, and medications have only limited effects. In the new study, Green and colleagues looked at nicotinamide, a form of Vitamin B3 that is found in foods such as pork, peanuts, turkey, chicken, veal, fish, salmon, swordfish, tuna and sunflower seeds. Previous research has suggested that vitamins such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Vitamin B12 may help people lower their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, said Dr. Ralph Nixon, vice chair of the Alzheimer's Association Medical & Scientific Advisory Council. In the new study, researchers genetically engineered mice to develop the equivalent of human Alzheimer's disease. They tested their memory by putting them in a shallow pool of water and seeing if they could remember the location of a platform that would allow them to emerge from the water. The researchers then gave Vitamin B3 to some of the mice; the amount was equal to about 2 grams to 3 grams of the vitamin for humans, Green said. The mice were again tested in the pool. The findings were published online Nov. 5 in The Journal of Neuroscience. The forgetful mice who took the vitamin did well. "Cognitively, they were cured," Green said. "They performed as if they'd never developed the disease." The vitamin appears to work by clearing "tangles" of a protein known as tau in brain cells. In Alzheimer's disease, the protein becomes poisonous and contributes to dangerous clogging inside brain cells. The vitamin holds promise for people, because it's cheap -- Green bought a year's supply for $30 -- and appears to be safe. Even so, "until we've done the proper clinical trials, I wouldn't advocate people rush out and eat grams of this stuff each day," he said. Nixon said the new study is "intriguing," but people should be cautious and not assume that "more is better" when it comes to possible treatments, even ones that appear to be safe.

Bentonville Blessings - Marvin Shipman, ND - Ozark Herb & Spice

Sometimes when we're spiritually in tune, we know when its time to take a leap of faith. Eight or Nine years ago Marvin & Becky Shipman knew too that it was time to pick up their practice and health store and move across the the state line from Pineville, MO to Bentonville, AR. And is always the case, the spirit wasn't wrong.
I was introduced to Marving Shipman, N.D. and his lovely wife Becky in 2003, and even at that time they had their place up and running with additional practitioners working with them. Marvin works within the traditional disciplines of Naturopathy with several homeopathic treatments. His work in muscle testing, nutritional, natural and non-invasive health solutions have made him a much sought after practitioner in Northwest Arkansas, Southern Missouri and Northeast Oklahoma - His reputation is well established by his successes.
Like many natural health and alternative medicine practitioners, the Shipmans operate a really nice store with an incredible selection of natural health products.
Every in Bentonville? Go by and say "Hi" at 1501 SE Walton Blvd, #105, Bentonville, AR or call them at 479-254-9230 - http://www.ozarkherbandspice.com/.