Immune system

  • Adrenal Fatigue/ Autoimmune diseases/ Celiac/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Energy/ Fibromyalgia/ Hashimotos Disease/ Immune system - healing/ Inflammation/ LCHF diet/ Magnesium/ Mediterranean diet/ Mineral Depletion/ Paleo Diet

    Nurturing your Mitochondria to help all Chronic Disease….

    Nurturing your Mitochondria

    Mitochondria are the ‘power houses’ of our cells. They use the oxygen we breathe and the food we eat to produce energy. ‘We are what we eat’ and what we eat has changed dramatically in my lifetime. Chronic disease is now the scourge of the developed World, it is challenging our Health and Social Services to the limits. It is limiting our quality of life but I believe that by nurturing our Mitochondria we can help prevent or even reverse chronic disease.

    I am going to be controversial here and say that I believe the the way that we live, eat and drink is damaging our Mitochondria and disrupting normal bodily functions and natural healing. I do not believe that our bodies start attacking themselves – we are designed to self heal if given the right conditions but our mitochondria can become overwhelmed with toxins, bacteria, viruses, stress and at the same time not have the basic nutritional ingredients they need to provide enough energy to function correctly or repair. Diseases like Scurvy (lack of vitamin C) and Beriberi (lack of Vitamin B1) are easily cured by addressing those individual nutrients but Mitochondrial disease/dysfunction is affected by many nutrient imbalances that affect many different cells and systems.

    These mitochondrial dysfunctions maybe at the heart(no pun intended) of most ‘Auto-immune’ disease. Weakened mitochondria are passed from Mother to child and therefore chronic disease is exacerbated with each generation unless action is taken to restore good, balanced nutrition and lessen the toxins in our environment. There are approximately 200 diseases confirmed or with strong scientific evidence for auto-immune origins. (reference Sarah Ballantyne PhD) If you have one you are known to be much more likely to get another – ever thought why?

    Damaged Mitochondria trigger an immune response much like an infection, this can induce inflammation that if untreated can further damage Mitochondria. This vicious cycle continually worsens Mitochondrial and immune function, which promotes the occurrence of chronic conditions and severe disease.

    Chronic Mitochondrial Disease

    Take Reiter’s Disease, not often referred to these days but I was aware of it because of my Ophthalmic nursing -this is an Auto-immune disease that presents as a reactive arthritis, inflammation of the eye, inflammation of the urethra and also the skin. It is thought to have a genetic predisposition (HLA-B27) and may also be connected to infection in the gut. My son had all of these plus lichen planus, a skin rash that also affects mucous membranes and Erythema nodosum, painful nodules that appear under the skin – usually on the shins. I mention this because it is one of the few cases where a pattern of inflammation affecting various sites in the body was linked to a possible infection in the gut and and also a genetic disposition. This is frequently now said of many other ‘Autoimmune’ conditions but they are not usually linked by a name or described as a syndrome.

    Look at some of the labels given to Chronic diseases that are frequently linked or progress to other parts of the body.

    CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME * FIBROMYALGIA * LUPUS * HYPOTHYROIDISM/HASHIMOTOS * GRAVES DISEASE/ HYPERTHYROIDISM * DEPRESSION/ANXIETY * INSOMNIA * HEART DISEASE/ARRYTHMIAS * DIABETES * SKIN PROBLEMS * NEUROPATHY * DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S

    What if these are all problems with Mitochondrial dysfunctions that have developed due to inherited weakness and the trigger that is infection/stress/poor nutrition/toxins that have pushed our mitochondria beyond normal recovery levels resulting mainly in inflammation and failure of systems. This is chronic mitochondrial disease.

    Acute Mitochondrial disease

    There are some diseases that present as acute and the patient quickly goes into organ failure. As an illustration lets look at a Marathon runner where even a young healthy person can induce this – training takes weeks/months and the body gradually adjusts to the extra demands but on the actual race day less is within the control of the runner. The stress levels will be much higher, maybe the day is too hot or too cold, maybe only water is drunk rather than isotonic fluids and the runner pushes themselves beyond their physical limit. I remember the photos of David Wyeth at the end of the London 2017 Marathon when another competitor virtually carried him across the line and he has said since that he regrets putting himself at risk. He was lucky, several athletes have died during or following Marathons or Triathlons and the cause is often said to be ‘not known’, ‘possibly dehydration’, ‘heat stoke’ or heart attack but what we are seeing is the mitochondria cannot supply the necessary energy demanded, cellular energy is acutely stressed and the muscles, heart and brain demand the most so collapse is imminent. In this situation, or any acute mitochondrial situation, what can be administered is nicknamed a Banana bag or rally pack that is a bag of I/V fluids containing vitamins and minerals. Typically this is a litre of normal saline with

    • Thiamine B1 100mgs,
    • Folic acid 1 mg
    • multivitamin ampule (mainly other B vitamins and Vit C)
    • Magnesium sulphate 3g

    The Magnesium helps stop spasm and cramps and is essential for Mitochondrial function. It is known that many of us are Magnesium deficient due to modern diet already so any extra stress put on the body can deplete it rapidly.

    If you are considering entering a Marathon or similar event then I would suggest taking supplements that support your mitochondrial energy and boost ATP.

    Essential nutrients for healthy Mitochondrial function.

    • Oxygen
    • B Vitamins (needed daily because water soluble and not stored)
    • Thiamine B1 is especially important, nicknamed the spark plug to energy, but often ignored!
    • Minerals – including Magnesium, Potassium, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Sulphur and iron
    • N-Acetyl Cysteine
    • N-Acetyl Carnitine
    • Alpha Lipoic Acid
    • Co-Enzyme Q10
    • Vitamin C
    • D-Ribose (used by the body to synthesise and support the energy pool- essential to cellular metabolism.

    Vegetarians and Vegans frequently do not get enough CoQ10, L-Carnitine or B12 plus other B vitamins because our primary source is meat.

    It is possible to nurture our Mitochondria by eating a nutrient rich diet, low in processed foods, low in toxins and inflammatory foods like sugar and processed grains. Our modern diet has drastically increased input of processed and natural carbohydrates and reduced our Omega-3 anti-inflammatory fats and natural saturated fats while increasing substantially the Omega-6 and trans-fats in cooking oils, processed foods and margarines. Oxidised Omega-6 oils (trans-fats) are known to damage DNA.

    A healthy ratio Omega-6 – Omega-3 is considered to be 1:1 – 4:1 but in a diet full of processed food, Take-outs and fried foods this can easily go to 30:1 Healthy fats for Omega-3 are oily fish, seafood and flaxseeds and then Omega-9 fats in olives, olive oil, avocados and avocado oil, walnuts and macadamia nuts that all have anti-inflammatory properties. Some Omega-6 fatty acids are also beneficial – CLA come from grass-fed meat and dairy and GLA comes from green vegetables or supplements like Evening Primrose oil or Borage oil. The conversion of Fatty acids to anti-inflammatory Prostaglandins in the body is dependant on Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamins B complex and C.

    Diet choices

    There are so many promoted diets out there that everyone gets confused (including Nutritionists).  The basic aim is, as above, to reduce inflammation by reducing Carbohydrates and especially sugar while increasing healthy high quality fats.  The Mediterranean Diet has always been considered a good starting point and certainly it contains far more good fats, fish and shell fish, and more nuts, fruit and salad than most other diets.  They tend to use the whole animal and cook on the bone more than we do, they drink more coffee, wine and use garlic a lot – all things I love! They also get plenty of Vitamin D from the sun and plenty of social interaction in a more relaxed lifestyle than many places.

    The Paleo and Paleo AIP Diets definitely convey many benefits to Mitochondrial health but I still developed new Hypothyroid symptoms while on it and certainly going too low on carbs can predispose you to this plus low B Vitamins from not eating cereals/grains.  I would advise people to supplement with certain Vitamins and avoid gravitating towards too many processed ‘gluten-free’ foods if you are avoiding gluten and dairy on any diet.

    After 6 months of intensive research and a lot of ‘Bio-hacking’ myself I came up with a diet and supplement regime that has improved most signs and symptoms and feelings of well-being. As I didn’t especially want to ‘name’ yet another new diet or join the ever expanding choice of new diet books (although royalties from a book would have been nice!) I searched for comprehensive research already out there that would support what I have found works.

    First there is The Mito Food Plan from the Institute of Functional Medicine – this is available free online and is a full guide with explanations that are easy to follow.

    Secondly, I had a Eureka moment when I discovered ‘The Perfect Health Diet‘ by Paul Jaminet Phd and Shou-Ching Jaminet Phd who back it up with plenty of research and good personal testimonies. It is a low to moderate carb(20%), high healthy fats (65%) and moderate protein (15%) diet. It is available as a book with all the scientific back up or the basic principles are available free online with a fantastic ‘Apple Plate’ graphic detailing what to eat and what to avoid – print it out and pin to your fridge or kitchen cupboard! I love the fact that it includes dark chocolate(full of Magnesium), coffee, nuts and wine, in moderation. Be open to varying the portions slightly – I personally feel I need more protein – and sometimes chocolate 🙂

    Supplements to nurture mitochondria

    I started with (a) Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 100mg a day

    (b) BioCare  Methyl B Complex

    (c) CoQ10 100mg

    Vitamin D3 plus Vitamin K2 (to prevent calcium deposits)

    Food state Selenium

    Krill oil with EPA and DHA 500mg

    then I found

    BioCare Mitoguard  which contains a daily dose = (2 capsules) of

    Thiamine (B1) 100mg, Riboflavin(B2) 60mg, Niacin(B3)100mg, D-Ribose 1000mg, N-Acetyl Carnitine 200mg,         N-Acetyl Cysteine 100mg, Alpha Lipoic Acid 100mg, CoQ10 100mg, Korean Ginseng extract 40mg.

    so this replaced a, b and c above therefore not too many pills to take!

    I also bought some D-Ribose powder that I add to coconut milk yogurt most mornings and my energy both physical and mental has improved 10 fold.

    Summary

    My ‘Bio-hacking’ has resulted in 3 weeks on a Cruise where I actually lost 2lb despite eating plenty and drinking wine with my meal each night. My energy, mental clarity and general well-being has greatly improved. My resting pulse still drops below 45 and my blood pressure is low but my morning temperature has recovered from a dire 34C to a constant 36C – so a good indication of increased metabolism (Mitochondria) and my Peripheral Neuropathy has disappeared. The only symptoms to have not improved are pulse and Heart Arrhythmia and therefore I have an appointment with a Functional Medicine Doctor  to discuss starting on Natural Desiccated Thyroid treatment. Having been Hypothyroid for several years I know I should have sought treatment earlier but I at least know that I have optimised my thyroid production and Mitochondrial health – which I will continue to do. Hopefully other people will follow this regime to boost their Mitochondria and prevent or reverse chronic disease – whatever it’s origin.

    Taking responsibility for your own health is always a good step forward and I would love to hear from anyone in my comments section.

    I will update my progress in future posts.

    bodykind - supplements, beauty and wellbeing

     

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  • Exclusion diet/ Healthy Food/ Leaky Gut/ Nutritional Medicine

    Confused by all the nutritional advice? What should you eat??

    Nutritional advice

    Are you confused by all the nutritional advice out there? It is hardly surprising! Nutritional science is moving at an unprecedented pace and much of what we were told in the past and even advised by our Doctors, has been proved to be wrong.

    Any diet given a name seems to be either praised or condemned by someone. Some are aimed at fast weight loss and others more recently at reversing conditions that we previously thought had no cure.

    Atkins/SouthBeach/Dash/Paleo/AIP/LowFodmap/LCHF/  Flat Belly/Slim-fast/Weight Watchers/Slimmers World/Clean/RealFood ……….

    The list goes on and on…  and these days Doctors and Nutritionist are talking much more about Personalised Healthcare and plans that suit the individual – not just the condition. After all, if you are overweight it might be due to diet, lifestyle, hormones, Digestive Problems, Thyroid function, Insulin Resistance etc. and the important thing is to get to the root cause.

    Functional Medicine

    The Functional Medicine approach is based on finding the root cause of your health problems and supporting normal healing by making individual diet and lifestyle choices. It is a system strongly backed by science, evidence and a belief that we all have an ability to heal ourselves and have less reliance on drugs. It is also a system of medicine that believes that health is not just the absence of disease but a state of vitality and mental and physical energy.

    See this article for more information

    What Nutritional advice would I give?

    Modern technology means we can be more aware of our health, our heart rate, quality of sleep, exercise levels, steps taken, energy burnt and we might be more aware of anything not right about our health. Monitoring people and treating the person, not the symptoms is the future of medicine.

    I believe that no one diet suits everyone. For health and vitality you need the most varied diet you are able to digest and you need to work to improve your digestion for the optimum benefit. To get this right we need to let go of any previous beliefs and become aware of what our individual bodies like and need to thrive. Science is telling us that a lot of processed food contains substances that are damaging our health and therefore the ‘trend’ is towards cooking and much more fresh food than has been common over the past few decades. Your diet should not cause inflammation in your body and stress to your immune system but modern processed food diets are proven to do so in a large percentage of the population.

    Canada has just bought out new Nutritional advice and food guidelines based on fresh food and they have a new food pyramid.

    This is based on eating healthy fats, low carbohydrates, plenty of vegetables and some fruit. Good nutritional advice compared to most Countries guidelines.

    In the UK the NHS promotes “The NHS Diet Plan – Science has a go at Diet Plans” – just the title makes me wince!  Out of date Nutritional advice. They are still promoting cereals, bread and wholewheat pasta as a source of fibre and as the bulk of the diet with the emphasis on low fat foods as in the Eatwell Guide which also stipulates vegetable oils and low fat spreads. Functional Medicine Practitioners have been trying to educate people away from these choices for years!

    I do not promote the Low Fodmap diet (often suggested for IBS) as this is one of the most restrictive diets to stick to and doesn’t address healing the digestive system first. No diet should be so restrictive as to take all joy out of eating. Many people that follow this diet might get some digestive relief but will almost certainly suffer from nutrient deficiencies if not carefully monitored and supplemented. Where possible I always favour real food over supplements.

    So what is out?

    • Calorie Counting
    • Low fat diets
    • Meal replacement drinks and Bars
    • Low salt (better to have sea salt than processed sodium salt)
    • Low Cholesterol diets
    • using only egg whites
    • artificial sweeteners
    • MSG
    • other processed food additives and colours
    • all day snacking (harms the normal digestive process)
    • Long exercise sessions (HIIT training was proved to more beneficial many years ago – research Loughborough Uni 2013)

    Conclusions

    If you are free from any digestive problems, achy joints, autoimmune disease, disrupted thyroid hormones, skin problems, heart or blood sugar problems then I would suggest that you look at incorporating more fresh foods into your diet, more healthy fats (natural saturated fats, meat, fish, butter, cheese, olive oil, olives, coconut oil, nuts and seeds), plenty of fresh vegetable and some fruit. As you increase natural fats into your diet you become hungry less often and you do not crave snacks or sweet foods as much. You may feel you eat more and feel more satisfied than previously. Cut out as much sugar and processed carbohydrates as you can  and drink in moderation (wine and occasional spirits but less mixers).

    If you have any of the health  issues listed above then I always recommend an Elimination Diet for 4 weeks and the addition of supplements to heal the digestive tract. Probiotics, L-Glutamine, omega 3 oils, Licorice extract, and possibly Silicogel or Aloe Vera until your gut doesn’t bloat or feel uncomfortable and your bowel movements are easy and regular. Following on by very careful reintroduction of individual foods to see if your body reacts to them. This is because the root cause of many of these conditions is a damaged digestive system that might have been caused by infection, stress, antibiotics or intolerance to certain foods. If you can find and afford a Nutritional Practitioner then it would be best to work with them. They may be able to do blood, urine and stool tests as well as allergy and sensitivity tests that may speed the process. It is easy to get confused when doing it by trial and error. I tried going gluten free several times over the years and always felt better initially but it wasn’t until I carried out a proper Elimination diet that I discovered I also had intolerance to Dairy, Soy and oranges! I personally favoured using the Paleo AIP diet initially but have since been able to expand my choice of foods to include rice, gluten free oats, nuts and seeds – all in moderation. That is why I use the terms Paleo Approach, Clean and Real food. No one single diet should define what you eat or restrict foods that you do not have a problem with.

    I have many posts on how to do this, which foods most often cause problems and with ideas for healthy foods  so that it is not about deprivation but about making choices that satisfy you and nourish your body, brain and immune system while giving you abundant energy and good sleep.

    My main tip is to learn to listen to your body. Every day your body will require different food depending on the weather, your activity, your emotional state…(that’s where the chocolate usually comes in)

    One day I might fancy a succulent salmon steak, one day lamb and bacon burger with guacamole and occasionally I fancy this…

           Gluten free seeded toast, baked beans and free range eggs with Celtic sea salt and black pepper.

    Variety is the spice of life:-)

     

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  • Aging/ Arthritis/ Autoimmune diseases/ Collagen/ Energy/ Health/ Immune system - healing/ Inflammation/ Leaky Gut/ Nutritional Medicine

    Proven Nutritional Remedies for Ageing

    ageing

    There are certainly many personal and spiritual improvements that can come with age – more confidence, wisdom, understanding and courage to name just a few. Intolerance is not often considered to be a good trait but it can be what drives you to instigate change – it certainly is a strong factor that drives me into action. I do not accept that we have to suffer as we age. We have plenty of evidence that there are nutritional remedies for ageing and that in the ‘Blue Zones’ of the world, people live to be much older without the chronic ill health that is common during the last 20 years of life in the Western World. Most of us don’t want to live longer if it means being ill, immobile, lonely or mentally impaired and we don’t have to! There are natural proven Nutritional remedies for ageing, combating loss of energy, loss muscle strength and mobility, improving sleep etc.

    Our bodies slow down as we age,

    they don’t function quite as well as they used to but with the right knowledge we can minimise the effects. I am not going to tell you to get gym membership or run marathons as I have never been big on exercise myself. I am a nutritionist and so this is about optimum nutrition. Many of you  have probably already noticed changes that you either hate or have just tried to accept thinking that you can’t do anything about;

    • extra weight
    • fat tummy
    • lines, wrinkles
    • Bat-wing arms
    • loss of energy

    ….but here are a few more;

    • muscle loss and wasting
    • joint stiffness and pain
    • loss of flexibility and range of movement
    • poor quality sleep
    • breaking, fragile nails
    • thinning hair
    • inflammation
    • poor digestion
    • blood sugar problems
    • loss of strength and stamina
    • weakened immune system
    • bladder weakness
    • loss of memory and mental performance

    A depressing list and even with a positive mental attitude these are things that can seriously impact our quality of life.

    To illustrate the point I would like to tell you about my Mother. She was only in her 50’s when she started to suffer from the extreme pain and difficulties of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome (dry eyes, mouth, chronic cough, muscle pain and poor digestion). When I had my three children she was unable to hold them, play with them, bath them and even a cuddle could be painful. Now that I have grandchildren I realise the full extent of what she missed out on and it is because of her Autoimmune problems that I became interested in Nutrition and disease prevention.

    I have several friends of similar age to me (65) who also struggle to cope, have less energy, cannot get down on the floor, cannot lift anything heavy due to poor backs, knees or hips. Some my age have already had hip or knee replacement surgery. Weakness of grip and inability to open jars, inability to squat and get up again and lack of balance are all early warning signs and women tend to suffer this much more than men.

    Now the good news

    I have suffered from ALL of the symptoms above and at age 30 I seriously imagined being just like my Mum by the time I was in my 50’s. I was convinced that diet and lifestyle played a very large part and also that multiple doses of Antibiotics definitely worsened the symptoms. Nutrition became a passion that has grown year on year and while at work as a Nurse the talk was all about ‘evidence based Medicine‘ I was always bashing on about evidence based Nutrition!

    We are living through very interesting times when knowledge about nutrition, ageing and chronic disease is expanding daily and that there is plenty we can do to alleviate the symptoms of ageing with good, evidence based Nutrition.

    What we have to do is not only ignore but also undo the damage that decades of poor dietary advice – low-fat, low calories, high carbs have inflicted on our bodies. If you want to know more about this I have an article ‘ Why Low-fat diets damage your Health. ‘

    Weight gain, joint pain, loss of energy are not symptoms of old age anymore than a sudden penchant for pearls could be and simple changes can reverse all of these symptoms – as I have proved. I am now my ideal weight at 10st.7lbs and most of the symptoms I have suffered in the past have significantly improved or even disappeared. I do have a very poor memory for names but my ability to learn has increased, not diminished; I have more strength and energy than a few years ago and my bladder weakness has improved about 90% – no medications just good nutrition and nutritional supplements.

    The Journey to a Healthier Old Age

    Writing for women and men of 40+ I would like to share my knowledge and help you to prevent or reverse all these horrible symptoms that your Doctor will tell you are down to ‘getting old’ and we will start with…..

    Collagen.

    Collagen is an amazing substance made up of 3 main amino acids – Glycine, Proline and Hydroxyproline, that constitutes 30% of the total protein in our bodies. It is what strengthens tissues and holds us all together. When young the body consistently produces collagen but by age 40 collagen synthesis starts to decline, with a dramatic reduction in synthesis after the Menopause. By age 60 there is normally a considerable decline but with early or surgically induced Menopause this could be considerably younger. As it was for myself and my Mother. I had a Hysterectomy age 31 and what followed was poor digestion, multiple food intolerances, arthritis and fatigue. Collagen and especially Glycine helps to heal the gastrointestinal tract, it is needed for the production of Bile salts and digestive enzymes, strengthens the immune system and reduces chronic fatigue.  This is why it is one of the best nutritional remedies for ageing.

    Other lifestyle aspects that affect collagen production are high levels of stress, excessive exposure to UV light, smoking and a poor diet with high processed carbohydrates and sugar.

    Autoimmune disorders can also target Collagen.

    Increasing Collagen

    There are many ways you can increase your intake and production of Collagen and therefore increase the health of your joints, improve sleep and mood, improve skin elasticity, muscle strength and flexibility.

    With food

    Collagen is made up of several amino acids that all come from animal sources.

    1. Organ meat:- liver, kidney, heart, tongue, sweetbreads. Some people, children included, who have not been used to eating organ meat cooked on it’s own or in a casserole might prefer pâté, Haggis or it added to burgers and sausages.
    2. Connective tissue:- oxtail, neck, marrow – all cheap stewing or casserole cuts with plenty of bone. I find a Slow Cooker best.
    3. Bone Broth:- chicken, beef, ham – organic definitely best.
    4. Pork skin, chicken skin, fish skin.
    5. Eggs:- especially the whites but the yolk helps with the production of fibrinogen which is also important.
    6. Gelatin

    ‘Women of a certain age’ may get a lightbulb moment – did we eat far more of these foods growing up than we do now? Do we now spend a fortune on skin creams that claim to include or stimulate Collagen production and reduce wrinkles by including Retinol (Vitamin A) from animal sources?

    For Collagen to be well utilised in the body some other nutrients are required so these are also nutritional remedies for ageing and foods that increase vitality and a strong immune system.

    • Vitamin C – citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwis, tomatoes, leafy green vegetables, peppers and broccoli
    • Anthocyanidins – blackberries, blueberries, cherries and raspberries.
    • Copper – shellfish, nuts, red meat, avocados, liver, kidney.
    • Vitamin D – oily fish like tuna, sardines, herring, mackerel, salmon, egg yolks, mushrooms, small amounts in milk, cheese and yogurt. Sunlight on skin.

    Supplements

    If you are already showing signs of decreased Collagen in your body then as well as increasing all the foods listed I think you need to take a supplement for a minimum of 3-6 months. I was already eating all the right foods and taking a natural Plant Mineral daily but a supplement of powdered Collagen started to make a visible difference after just 1 month. They are not just for bodybuilders – although the adverts do supply a bit of eye candy! A useful site is here.

    Do check out the best supplements because many products with low doses are sold as beauty products.

    You can get Collagen as a powder that dissolves in liquid and is easily absorbed or in capsules or tablets. 3-6 grams a day is recommended. The Collagen usually comes from fish or bovine sources so check this if you have allergies. Some are made from concentrated bone broth. Some have Vitamin C added and some even have Hyaluronic Acid – which helps hydrate tissues and cushion joints.

    Better to spend your money on nutritional supplements that benefit the entire body than on expensive creams just for your face – most of which don’t work. Collagen is not easily absorbed by the skin. Most other treatments rely on stimulating production by removing the surface layer of skin cells (a konjac sponge is a great natural way to exfoliate) or damaging the deeper layers with needles or laser – definitely not something I would choose.

    ageing

    I would love your feedback and to know how you get on.   

     

     

     

     

     

     

    This article was first written by me  for Sally Canning’s website 2016.

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  • Cancer Prevention/ Cancer./ GcMAF

    Where are we now with GcMAF?

    GcMAF

    GcMAF has been around now for several years and has had a very bumpy ride. I first wrote about it in 2014 in the post GcMaf – A Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment.The Company First Immune has had to close it’s clinic, and also their centre in Guernsey had all it’s bank accounts closed and there is a ban on importing GcMAF, a production plant in the UK was closed down apparently due to unsafe practice with human blood but their website claims that they supply 8,000 patients through 350 Doctors in 30 Nations. So where are we now with GcMAF? 

    GcMAF is a natural human protein that our bodies make that activates macrophages (large white blood cells that engulf and digest foreign substances, viruses, bacteria and cancer cells).  Cancer and most viruses block the action of GcMAF with an enzyme called Nagalase so the the idea behind the treatment is to take GcMAF and also take Vitamins D3/K2 and additional nutrients to boost the immune system. High Nagalase has also been found in some children with Autism and the clinic also treats this, plus HIV and some other conditions. As well as GcMAF they have a product that is GcMAF combined with oleic acid (from olive oil) that is given by drops under the tongue and called GOleic . It is believed that the Gc proteins bind to fatty acids and therefore the diet can be supplemented with olive oil, coconut oil or MCT oil. Another product recommended in the treatment is Bravo Probiotic Yogurt that is made at home from a culture that is bovine milk and colostrum. This would improve gut flora and improve the immune system. It is possible to buy all these products on the internet from First Immune website.

    A Prof. Ruggiero who was a researcher for Immuno Biotech has now opened a lab in Arizona and is producing a new Immunotherapy treatment called Rerum which, instead of using blood, uses Chondroitin Sulphate with Oleic Acid and Vitamin D2 and D3 which he claims stops the growth of new blood vessels to the cancer. The Rerum protocol includes

    • Bravo Probiotic
    • A Ketogenic diet (one that is high in fat and low in carbohydrates) – the diet stops the growth of cancer.
    • Rerum kills the remaining cancer.

    This is a very different scientific claim to GcMAF -alerting the immune system and shrinking tumours the first week of treatment. Chondroitin thins the blood and so should not be taken with blood thinning medications. Immuno Biotech CEO David Noakes claims that Rerum has been tested in Labs alongside GOleic and was found not to activate Macrophages or kill cancer cells.

    So, back to the question “Where are we now with GcMAF?”

    I am not a Doctor or Scientist but a researcher and Nutritionist and I know that many people who have cancer themselves, or are related to someone who has been diagnosed, will be constantly researching and looking for answers. I was first researching GcMAF when my husband had cancer back in 2010 and before they had a clinic but it was expensive and although there are many research papers and many individual success stories the Company and the researchers have been consistently searched out and persecuted all over the World with conspiracy theorists blaming ‘Big Pharma’. I will leave you to draw your own conclusions but the Protocols do involve naturals products that cannot, as such be patented. My other problems with it involve the exclusivity of the clinics where only 8 patients were taken at a time and for the treatment it is 4.000 euros a week plus the cost of a hotel which is estimated at 1.000 euros with some people requiring a 3 week stay.

    There is plenty of HOPE

    A couple of years ago I was depressed by these findings but now I am confident that we are very close to finding out how we can prevent and reverse disease with nutritional therapy and supplements. In just a short time we have come to understand so much about the Microbiome and our immune systems. Here is what you can do.

    • We can awaken and strengthen our immune systems by: –
    • removing toxins from our environment, personal care products etc.
    • eating highly nutritious food(organic whenever possible), quality protein, plenty of fresh vegetables and some berries
    • avoiding all forms of sugar,
    • Eating LCHHF diet (Low Carb High Healthy Fats ) coconut oil, MCT, Olive oil, Avocado, nuts etc. essentially a Paleo-ketogenic diet (or as near to that as you can get without unwanted weightloss.)
    • supplementing plant minerals or using Celtic sea salt daily
    • Vitamins especially D3 ,K2 Vitamin C and Vitamin B Complex
    • Improve your immune system by Healing your Gut and taking L Glutamine, gelatin, bone broth and good Probiotics and possibly Colostrum.
    • Add more spices to your diet – Turmeric/Curcumin plus black pepper is anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer, Cinnamon and Golden Milk is a lovely way to do it.
    • Eat different types of mushrooms – they contain Vitamin D and have immune boosting properties
    • Get out in the air and sunshine when possible and increase your activity levels to increase oxygen supply to the cells. Do relaxing but energising exercise like yoga, chi gong, walking, swimming and mindfully practice deep breathing imaging the oxygen getting to every part of you.

    To regular readers of my blog you will recognise that this is the same protocol that I use for treating all Autoimmune Diseases from Rheumatoid Arthritis to Diabetes as well as Cancer. All these diet and lifestyle treatments that work to improve our immune systems and eliminate toxins and inflammation – the main causes of all Chronic disease and are in more detail in my eBook ‘TURN YOUR HEALTH AROUND‘ available for £12 or in your own currency by clicking at the bottom of that post.

     

    P.S. If anyone reading this would like to obtain GcMaf and associated products then please see the details in Comments.

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  • Energy, Immune system - healing, Leaky Gut, Mineral Depletion

    The importance of plant minerals for health.

    video
    Minerals
    www.thehealthvideo.com

    Take a few minutes to watch this video and find out why plant minerals are so vital for health and energy.

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  • Anxiety/ Blood sugar management/ Energy/ Health/ Sugar Detox/ Wheat and Dairy Intolerance

    Low Blood Sugar causes Anxiety

    low blood sugar

    Following on from my article on Overcoming Sugar Addiction I thought this excellent article and research findings from Trudy Scott (CN) would be of interest. As well as anxiety I have found that a diet high in processed Carbs and high glycemic foods that lead to low blood sugar episodes also cause inflammation in other tissues and can be a contributing factor to many conditions.

    One of the most helpful additions to your diet when transitioning to a healthier way of eating is a breakfast that includes protein, fat and fiber.  I like to make it easy for people that are not used to eating a healthy breakfast by preparing a highly nutritious smoothie the night before and popping it in the fridge. Here is one of my favourite recipes – I like it thick so that I eat it with a spoon and it does thicken slightly overnight so adjust milk accordingly. You can also vary it by adding cinnamon when you don’t have berries or use frozen fruit.

    Choco-loco Breakfast Smoothie

    Into a blender pop

    100-150 ml non-dairy milk like coconut or almond milk  

    a handful of berries, peeled and chopped pear or small slightly unripe banana

    1 scoop of whey free vanilla Protein Powder (or natural plus some vanilla essence)

    2 tsp. Almond Butter

    1 tsp. Coconut oil or MCT oil

    1 Tbsp. Cocoa powder

    1 tsp. Maple Syrup or honey

    50g gluten free oats

    Empty the contents of one Probiotic capsule and blitz until smooth. Cover and pop into the fridge overnight and then in the morning all you have to do is top with a few more berries and nuts for texture – almond flakes, pecans and walnuts all go well with chocolate. Enjoy.

    Article from Trudy Scott CN

    A paper published by the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine last month supports what I see with my clients on a daily basis: when it comes to anxiety caused by low blood sugar (or hypoglycemia) the correct diet can have a huge impact. And this means is the inclusion of enough protein, fats and fiber, especially at breakfast.

    Here is the abstract from the paper: Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Hypoglycemia Symptoms Improved with Diet Modification

    Observational evidence suggests that a relationship may exist between high glycemic index diets and the development of anxiety and depression symptoms; however, as no interventional studies assessing this relationship in a psychiatric population have been completed, the possibility of a causal link is unclear.

    AB is a 15-year-old female who presented with concerns of generalized anxiety disorder and hypoglycemia symptoms. Her diet consisted primarily of refined carbohydrates. The addition of protein, fat, and fiber to her diet resulted in a substantial decrease in anxiety symptoms as well as a decrease in the frequency and severity of hypoglycemia symptoms.

    A brief return to her previous diet caused a return of her anxiety symptoms, followed by improvement when she restarted the prescribed diet.

    This case strengthens the hypothesis that dietary glycemic index may play a role in the pathogenesis or progression of mental illnesses such as generalized anxiety disorder and subsequently that dietary modification as a therapeutic intervention in the treatment of mental illness warrants further study.

    Here are some details about this case report for AB, who was a 15-year-old female student of south-Asian descent:

    Read More →

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  • Cancer./ Health/ Immune System/ Immune system - healing/ Thymus Gland

    Immune Function – Thymus Gland

    Immune Function - Thymus Gland

    Immune function relies on a healthy Thymus Gland. The Thymus gland is situated under the breastbone at the top of the chest, just below the Thyroid Gland. It is the major gland of our immune system, responsible for many functions, including the production of T Lymphocytes – a type of white blood cell responsible for cell mediated immunity rather than antibody controlled immunity. Cell mediated immunity is extremely important in forming resistance to infection by mold-like bacteria, yeasts, fungi, parasites and viruses (including Epstein -Barr and Herpes Simplex). It is also critical in protecting us from the development of cancer and allergies.

    The Thymus gland also releases several hormones which regulate many immune functions and low levels of these are associated with depressed immunity and increased susceptibility to infection. Thymic hormones are frequently very low in the elderly, AIDS patients and cancer patients ( especially those who have undergone Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy) and high stress levels deplete them more.

    There are three main areas where you can do things to improve your Thymus function and boost your immunity. Read More →

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  • Cancer Prevention/ Cancer./ Health/ Nutrition and Cancer

    Cancer Prevention Month

    You might be wondering when Cancer Prevention Month is?

    So was I – apparently it is February.

    EVERY MONTH should be Cancer Prevention Month.

    At the moment each month has several Cancer Awareness campaigns – for instance November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness, Lung Cancer Awareness, Stomach Cancer Awareness and Carcinoid and Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness. The purpose of most of these Awareness groups is to inform patients about early signs and symptoms and/or raise money for Cancer Research – nearly all of them are sponsored by drug companies. Do we, as the general public take much interest or even look at their information until we are personally affected by a specific Cancer – I think not.

    We are bombarded by some particularly scary and depressing advertisements on TV, awful media stories and very frightening statistics on a daily basis all of which seem to be based on fear so I felt that if my blog post had the title Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month most people would not read it and yet apparently the Awareness campaign suggests “it is the perfect time to talk about this deadly disease”!

    This is not the way to go if you want to educate and change the lifestyle and habits of a population.

    Nor is it enough just to tell us to eat 7 a day.

    There are as many cancers as their are parts of the body and yet the guidelines for prevention are similar for each.

    “At least one-third of all cancers are preventable. Prevention offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of Cancer” – The World Health Organisation

    • Do not use Tobacco – we know that smoking causes many kinds of cancer and not just in the person smoking
    • Obesity – being overweight is linked to many types of cancers
    • Inactivity – leads to poor Lymph flow around the body and inefficient detoxification so exercise daily.
    • Diet – it is vital to have a variety of fresh foods, vegetables and fruits on a daily basis and to limit the intake of processed foods, sugars, toxins and chemicals. We know that fresh foods contain many cancer fighting agents including Ellagic Acid (Berries), Quercetin (apples, onions, red grapes, citrus fruits, Broccoli, tomatoes, cherries) and Curcumin (Turmeric) to name just a few.
    • Drinks – avoid sodas, sweetened drinks and artificial sweeteners. Drink alcohol in moderation, although red wine has been shown to have some cancer protective qualities alcohol use is a risk factor for many cancer types.
    • Environmental pollution – our air, water and soil and even the ambient air in your home can be toxic. Become aware of the toxins you are being exposed to at home or at work and minimise your exposure. Change your personal care products to non-toxic ones, open windows whenever possible, don’t use harsh chemicals or air fresheners to ‘clean’ your home.
    • Radiation – Ionizing radiation and Ultraviolet radiation are known to be cancer causing and so limit exposure especially in children. Educate yourself on the risks/benefits of Mammograms and other screening procedures. Educate yourself on the risk/benefits of PET Scans (where radioactive sugar is injected into you blood).
    • Heavy Metals – in dental work, antiperspirants, shampoos, vaccinations, drugs (especially chemotherapy), joint replacements, exhaust fumes etc. Try to avoid as much as possible and then help your body detox.
    • Detoxification – today we are exposed to very high levels of toxins and we need to help our bodies to eliminate them. Adequate sleep, exercise, sweating, drinking clean water, having good mineral intake and eating high water content fruit and vegetables (organic or home grown if possible) and herbal teas. If the body can’t eliminate the toxins coming in then we get cellular damage and this is the start of the disease process. Good cell renewal is a necessity to stay healthy and cancer free. There are supplements that can aid the detoxification process, Milk Thistle, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), Chlorella and Quercetin plus natural plant derived Vitamins and Minerals. Support your digestive system with Probiotics and heal it if you have digestive problems, inflammatory bowel problems or Leaky Gut as it is your major organ of absorption and detoxification and also the centre of your immune protection. If you have had chemotherapy and/or radiation then it is very important to support your detoxification processes.
    • Stress – affects the way our bodies function, exhausts us of vital nutrients, causes poor sleep and adds to inflammation in the body which is a precursor to disease. Learn how to manage your stress.

    So don’t be governed by fear.

    Don’t think that all you can do is donate and hope that they find ‘a cure’.

    Know that you can do plenty to lessen your chance of falling ill and to cope if you do.

    Be Pro-active. Get healthy.

    Think Positively and believe that the lifestyle you choose will reward you in many ways.

    For more information go to Contents List for

    Safe personal care and household products – Big Green Smile

    Plant Derived Sizzling Minerals – Mineral Depletion and Sizzling Minerals

    Nutrition and Cancer

     

     

     

     

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  • Big Green Smile.com/ Health/ Nutritional Medicine/ Supplements/ Toxin free products

    10 WAYS TO HELP YOUR LIVER

    10 WAYS TO HELP YOUR LIVER

    1. EAT PLENTY OF COLOURFUL VEGETABLES – especially lots green vegetables; broccoli; cauliflower; cabbage; spinach; kale; bok choy and fresh herbs. Beetroot; baby beet leaves; carrots; bell peppers; & chard. All help detoxify and provide antioxidants and minerals.
    2. ENJOY GOOD, UNPROCESSED FATS and OILS – Avocados; eggs; Olive oil; Coconut oil & grass fed butter/ghee. These are clean fats not changed by chemical processing or from over heating.
    3. ENOUGH GOOD SOLUBLE FIBRE – vegetables and fruits; seeds like sunflower, chia & flax; oats and beans.
    4. HAVE HIGH QUALITY PROTEIN – in moderate amounts, fish; seafood and meat.
    5. SPICE UP YOUR FOOD – Turmeric/Curcumin can be added to foods, soups and smoothies as it is anti-inflammatory and helps the bile flow.
    6. DRINK PLENTY OF SPRING OR FILTERED WATER – especially after alcohol and if you drink alcohol stick within safe limits and have with or after food. Start the day with warm water with a slice of lemon or lime.
    7. DON’T EAT TOO LATE as the liver needs to regenerate and detox for about 10-12 hours.
    8. HELP YOUR BODY DETOX in other ways, to take the strain off the Liver. Saunas, Steam rooms, lymphatic massage, exercise and rebounding.
    9. REDUCE TOXINS entering your body. Try to buy Organic wherever possible, avoid plastic food and drink storage, use safe cleaning products and safe air-fresheners, use toxic free skin creams, shampoo, conditioner.
    10. SUPPLEMENT with good Vitamin B complex, Selenium, Vitamin C and E. If you have chronic health problems you might also need L-Glutathione, N Acetyl Cysteine and Alpha Lipoic Acid. Silymarin (Milk Thistle) helps to detoxify and heal the Liver.



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  • Alternative Medicine/ Cancer./ Health/ Immune system - healing/ Nutrition and Cancer

    The Truth About Cancer – Review 3 Treatments

    GcMAF

    The Truth About Cancer video series discussed many treatment options and I will attempt to review most of them and give links to where you can find more information than was possible here. If I have omitted any then please add details and links in the Comments section at the end so that we can make the information complete. My aim with these 3 reviews was to present as many facts as possible from the video series and present them in a shortened form as a guide or for anyone who missed it. Or visit thetruthaboutcancer.com  where you can buy the series.

    The series quoted that ” 86% of Oncologists say they would not give themselves, or their families the drugs that they use” and then discussed the many and varied approaches that are being used.

    “We need to know how to work outside the box, how to get strategically creative and pursue better results than traditional methods are offering…” Andrea Nakayama Functional Nutritionist.

    They showed 7 key principle areas for helping patients tackle their cancer. Many of these overlap in treatments

    1. Alternative Cancer therapies
    2. Stimulation of the immune system
    3. Detoxification
    4. Nutrition
    5. Anti-microbial therapy
    6. Emotional support
    7. Oxygenation

    Cancer starts in a toxic body with a stressed or suppressed immune system therefore it is important to optimise physiology and to support the body in healing itself. This is obviously the opposite to conventional therapy of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy that all inflict more damage and damage the immune system but some people feel the way forward for them is to integrate conventional and healing treatments to improve the outcome. For instance surgery followed by therapies other than conventional.

    Here are a list of treatments that are designed to support the body:

    • Hyperthermia – heat kills cancer cells so warming the body and sweating help with detoxing and killing cells. Infa-red Saunas were recommended.
    • Parasite cleanse – Parasites if present can weaken the immune system and deplete nutritional status so a cleanse using herbs and spices such as Artemesia, cinnamon, garlic, black Walnut etc. can help.
    • Bowel health – establishing plenty of good bacteria in the gut with sufficient fibre and probiotics will improve detoxification and the immune system health.
    • Liver Cleanse – to optimise liver function, Epson salts, olive oil and fruit juice cleanses can help. See Liver Cleanses
    • Coffee Enemas – came highly recommended but this does not just mean taking your morning coffee by a different route! For more information go to Mind Body Green or for a video on how to use one.
    • 100% Raw Diet – for 90 days (organic) plus supplements to aid detox such as Glutathione and NAC
    • Hippocrates  Soup – Recipe
    • Pancreatic Enzymes – for an in depth explanation go to Dr.Sircus 
    • Fulvic Acid and Minerals – go to Fulvic Acid for information from Dr. Daniel Nuzum
    • No Sugar Diet – which also includes low carbohydrates so as to keep the blood sugar low. Cancer thrives on sugar and an acidic environment.

    TREATMENT PROTOCOLS

    1. The Gerson Therapy – Coffee enemas, juicing, rest and organic meals using these FOODS
    2. The Budwig Diet – Flaxseed oil and cottage cheese diet
    3. The Forsythe Immune Protocol here
    4. Montgomery Cancer Center Alabama where they use advanced Carmichael Imaging to target treatment.
    5. Dendritic Cell Therapy see info and canceractive.com
    6. Intravenous Vitamin C Therapy – info and canceractive.com
    7. Intravenous Laetrile or eating apricot kernels info at cancertutor.com/laetrile/
    8. Insulin Potentiated Low Dose Chemotherapy ( IPTLD) A low dose of chemo (10%) plus insulin to lower the blood sugar.  More info.
    9. Photo-dynamic Therapy  – uses photo-sensitizing drugs  along with light to kill cancer cells.
    10. Iscador Therapy – is mistletoe extract that is injected under the skin more info.
    11. Anti-neoplastic Therapy – Burzynski Clinic uses epigenetics to enhance the immune system but he is unable to say any more due to legal restrictions.
    12. GcMaf – see my previous Post on GcMaf or  https://gcmaf.se and more info GcMaf (Globulin component Macrophage Activating Factor) Treatment involves GOleic supplement, 10,000iu D3 a day, a diet of white meat, fish and vegetables with no sugar or carbohydrates plus a probiotic yogurt called BravoProbiotic. on their website they list the 5 main causes of cancer: 1. Too much sugar 2. Lack of Vitamin D3 3. Poor nutrition lacking in amino acids and minerals 4.Lack of oxygen and exercise 5. Severe shock or stress. There have been many clinical trials and several are ongoing in various parts of the world see Japan and as far as I can tell this is the most promising discovery so far in that it works with nutrition and a substance that is naturally in the body to activate the body to recognise and kill the cancer cells. It also follows the same principles that are now being used to treat a multitude of chronic diseases and GcMaf has also been used to treat diseases as diverse as Autism and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

    Disclaimer. I personally am not recommending any or all of these treatments, I am only reviewing the information that I have seen. I do have personal experience of some of these treatments but have not included that information because every patient and every cancer is different and everyone has to make their own decisions about the treatment that feels right for them.

    Many of these treatments do not have published scientific studies but do have testimonials over many years . Others have Clinical research papers but it appears that the more successful the treatments, the more they generate adverse publicity and counter claims by many agencies. This makes it extremely difficult for the cancer patient to know what is best but as The Truth About Cancer states – follow the money trail. Big Pharma do not want anyone to succeed with alternative treatments that they cannot get patents for. Do your on-line research but don’t waste your time reading Government agency reports or general media coverage. Try to find the places where the therapies are being offered, to how many patients, for how long and the standard of medical care and expertise in those clinics. The other factors that can influence your decisions are location and cost. Many of these treatments may not be available in your country or even if they are the cost may be prohibitive but there is much information here that you can take action on yourself. Support is also growing massively with organisations like The Truth About Cancer bringing together Professionals to educate us so that we can make more informed decisions and find the right professionals to help. Thank you to them and I hope that through my website I am able to reach the people that may not have had the chance to watch the original series.

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