Archive for May, 2009

You know, it’s not everyday a fellow like me gets to announce a major paradigm shift, much less concerning diabetes …or any other medical condition.

You don’t know what a paradigm shift is? Well, if I mentioned events and names like: Gutenberg, Copernicus, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Louis Pasteur, and Werner von Braun …you would probably guess a paradigm shift is major shift in thinking…and you would be right.

Back in the 1960’s, Thomas Kuhn wrote a famous book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. In it, he destroyed the common misconception so many of us have about science.

We tend to think scientific progress is ushered in by a slow, line upon line, piece by piece development of thought over time.

Thomas Kuhn showed that, historically, scientific progress occurs in leaps …and is always confronted by a struggle with an “old guard.” The old scientific theorists hold tenaciously to their (usually tenured or profitable) positions and array themselves against the new discovery, attempting to drive it away.

But, the new guard – the new discoverers, inventors, explorers- takes the new discoveries and advances it over the thinking of the old establishment. Rarely is the old guard converted to the new patterns of thinking (new discovery). They just die off. The new position wins by attrition …truth…and perseverance.

Diabetes: The $132 billion dollar pandemic

Diabetes is on the front edge of such a paradigm shift.

Diabetes now afflicts over 18 million Americans. That is double the number of people with diabetes just since 1991 alone.

According to the CDC, one in every three Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Let that sink in…one in every three Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime.

It is estimated over 40 million Americans can be classified as “pre-diabetes” meaning they have blood sugar levels higher than normal but still below the type 2 diagnosis level which helps to define diabetes.

By anyone’s standard that is pandemic (goes far beyond epidemic proportions). The cost for this carnage is over $132 BILLION DOLLARS. So much expense, grief and sorrow…and unnecessary.

Diabetes: A reflection of our culture.

We are a fast food, sedentary, “get-our-fix-now” generation. More than one in every two Americans are overweight. We don’t exercise as we should. All of which affects glucose levels. Diabetes is a lifestyle disease…and we’ve got the lifestyle.

Diabetes: The important announcement

That said, diabetes is a condition which CAN be turned around. Glyconutrition is the new discovery shaking the medical and scientific worlds. There are four Nobel Prizes and MIT testifying to the fact that glycobiology is one of the 10 technologies/discoveries which will shape our world.

Glyconutrition is more than just a promising new treatment for diabetes. Many are starting to whisper “VICTORY” over diabetes in their approach to disease.

Whether that is the case, time will tell.

Oh no… The problem is not a failure of glyconutrition. It is the building block VITAL to healthy cellular function and it is extremely vital to the proper functioning of the IMMUNE system. Those are known facts.

Diabetes is an auto-immune disease meaning, your body’s immune system gets misguided messages. Thus, it starts attacking the islet cells in the pancreas which produces insulin. Voila…diabetes!

But, the problem is NOT whether glyconutrition really works. Anecdotal evidence (market buzz!) is already overwhelming in favor of glyconutritional therapy for diabetes. As is the professional research.

No…the actual science is NOT the problem. The problem is the old guard again. Thomas Kuhn’s book is almost prophetic. The old guard, the medical and pharmaceutical establishment, just can’t accept the findings of (their own) research… “What! A nutrient… to treat diabetes?” “Hogwash,” one can almost hear them say.

Actually, I wish they were saying that out loud. The reality is, they just ignore the issue. You see, too much is at stake. Like billions of dollars…uh…a $132 billion dollars. All of that money (read, “business”) disappears if glyconutrition continues to “pan out” the way the research shows us. But, for now, the only thing “panning out” is a diabetes pandemic.

Yet, glyconutrition gets shunned as an official diabetes treatment approach.

A study published in the 1997 issue of the Proceedings of the Fisher Institute for Medical Research showed that people with type 1 diabetes who were given glyconutrients “…reported a dramatic improvement in their health, including a decrease in vision problems, better wound healing, less infections, and lower blood pressure.” (Miracle Sugars, by Rita Elkins, M.H., Woodland Publishing, p. 26)

“Glycobiology has achieved critical breakthroughs in the medical field, primarily by addressing what could be the greatest plague in health care today — auto-immune diseases. Multiple sclerosis, arthritis, diabetes, Crohn’s disease and colitis are just a few of these diseases.” – Dr. Neecie Moore, Ph.D. (cf. Rita Elkins, M.H.

Miracle Sugars, Woodland Publishing, p. 18.)

Also, mannose (one glyconutrient) can stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin “…thus lowering the amount of insulin needed to control this disease.” (Miracle Sugars, p. 27).

Reality Check: The lives of 1 out of every 3 Americans are affected directly by diabetes and there is a $132 billion dollar diabetes pandemic running amuck in our midst. So, I sure hope this paradigm shift – glyconutrition – gets less opposition from the “powers that be” (the “old guard”), and is given its rightful place in the sun…soon.

But, with the money being made by the pharmaceuticals and their drugs, and the astoundingly simplistic view of disease treatment (”Blast that disease with technology and drugs!”) it is doubtful if Thomas Kuhn’s “paradigm shift” will work out any differently for diabetes across the land.

The old guard will attack and ignore the discovery – arguably, the greatest in medical history in over a hundred years – and, a la Kuhn, they will simply go the way of the Dodo Bird and diabetes treatment will receive its due.

Dr. Robert Gamble is retired from a very successful Cardio-Thoracic surgical career spanning three decades. He is now active in researching medical issues such as glyconutrition and offers his insights for public benefit. This new science is sending shockwaves through the entire medical industry and may be the missing link between health and disease.

For information and business opportunity http://www.glycoshare.com or call toll free1-866-735-5871.

Find out why Dr Floras is number one in colon cleansing …

There was this guy who jumped off the 37th floor of a tall building. As he fell, people at each floor inside the building heard him say as he passed them, “So far, so good…so far, so good…”

Diabetes is a disease which cannot be “trusted.” I know that’s an odd way of putting it, but bear with me for a moment here. As a medical professional, I have dealt with countless cases of diabetes. I have always been amazed people will plan for the future as they build lives, careers, families, dreams…creating and pursuing commitments for the long term… And yet, one issue stands out consistently. People with diabetes tend to hope the disease will just “maintain itself,” that it will just stay at status quo for the long term.

Diabetes cannot be trusted to stay anywhere…much less at status quo. Like the guy falling from the 37th floor, people with diabetes tend to keep telling themselves… “So far, so good…so far, so good…so far, so good…” Folks, hope is NOT a strategy. It is a necessity, but it is NOT a strategy in dealing with a disease like diabetes.

Diabetes: The “fall out” is too great to ignore…

As I said earlier, I am amazed how well people can plan for the long term, creating and pursuing future commitments but do NOT plan long-term for diabetes. Of course, the natural question is: “What are the long term issues with diabetes?”

With diabetes, a person is two to four times more likely to develop cardio-vascular disease. Being a cardio-vascular surgeon, I saw this particular problem constantly in my field. And I saw it consistently in young and middle aged people with diabetes.

With diabetes, people are TWENTY-FIVE times more likely to develop retinopathy (deterioration of the retinas). Because of diabetes, 24,000 people lose sight every year!

With diabetes, 60-70% of those afflicted suffer nerve damage which can lead to non-traumatic lower limb amputations. This is due to the fact that open sores that do not heal, accompany diabetes. As they become ulcerated, the diabetic faces complications which can lead to amputation of limbs.

People with diabetes are AT RISK for kidney failure.

Diabetes is responsible for the increased risk for strokes…two to six times more likely because of their condition.

Diabetes: the good news or the bad news…

Well, which do you want…the good news or the bad news first?

As a doctor, having dealt with diabetes in many patients, it’s always best to know the BAD news up front. Why? Complacency is harmful to your health. The danger with diabetes is people get complacent. Nothing seems to happen until, suddenly, it seems to sneak up on you with its complications…

The bad news can be REALLY bad if you are someone who has any of the following conditions which terribly complicate diabetes. Complicating factors are:

1 smoking,

2 high cholesterol,

3 high blood pressure,

4 obesity,

5 physical inactivity

With these factors, predicting the progress of diabetes is very problematic. Simply put, they MUST be brought under control, if possible. Diabetes thus becomes very unpredictable.

By keeping your blood glucose under control, you can reduce the risk of complications of diabetes up to 76%. That’s good news.

More good news: By healthy eating, responsible dietary weight loss, regular physical activity, monitoring blood sugar… you can reduce risk in diabetes.

Bad news: Status quo again. You’re still “stuck” with diabetes.

Diabetes: Being hit by “friendly fire.”

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are auto-immune conditions. In type1 diabetes, the immune cells are mis-instructed to attack islet cells in the pancreas that make insulin.

Mind you, there is nothing wrong with the islet cells. There is MIScommunication by the immune system of the body. In other words, immune attack cells can get faulty messages and destroy healthy tissue. Isn’t it just awful that your diabetes can be caused by “friendly fire?” (Military terminology here. The good guys are hitting their own good guys with artillery fire.)

MIS-communication …. hum. Sounds like what’s needed is a healthier communication system at the cellular level so the body isn’t attacking its own healthy cells.

Now, for some really good news…

Glyconutrition is the nutritional provision which provides the body with healthy CELLULAR COMMUNICATION. In other words, for diabetes, this means less “friendly fire.”

A study published in the 1997 issue of the Proceedings of the Fisher Institute for Medical Research showed people with type 1 diabetes who were given glyconutrients “…reported a dramatic improvement in their health, including a decrease in vision problems, better wound hearing, less infections, and lower blood pressure.” (Miracle Sugars, by Rita Elkins, M.H., Woodland Publishing, p. 26 -Excellent quick reference incidentally!)

Remember, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are auto-immune conditions. Read carefully, this next statement by medical researcher, Dr. Neecie Moore:

“Glycobiology has achieved critical breakthroughs in the medical field, primarily by addressing what could be the greatest plague in health care today — auto-immune diseases. Multiple sclerosis, arthritis, diabetes, Crohn’s disease and colitis are just a few of these diseases.”

Research on glyconutrition is growing wonderfully. For example, the Ophthalmology Department of Harvard University in 1995 reported that one of the glyconutrients (mannose) can be an energy source for diabetes (instead of the damaging glucose), providing energy without risk of eyesight damage. (Miracle Sugars, p.27).

Also, mannose can stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin “…thus lowering the amount of insulin needed to control this disease.” (Miracle Sugars, p. 27. I told you this was a good book! In case you’re wondering, I receive no remuneration from it whatsoever. Remember, I’m a physician. Doctors “make money the old fashioned way”…they charge you.)

Oh yes. Glyconutrients are NON-prescription. Anyone can get them and they are non-toxic (they’re food!) Safe, NON-prescription, effective…That’s the stuff real medical discoveries are made of. Diabetes may very well become a scourge of the past.

Think of it. No more friendly fire.

No more diabetes “status quo.”

…So far, so good…

Dr. Robert Gamble is retired from a very successful Cardio-Thoracic surgical career spanning three decades. He is now active in researching medical issues such as glyconutrition and offers his insights for public benefit. This new science is sending shockwaves through the entire medical industry and may be the missing link between health and disease.

For information and business opportunity http://www.glycoshare.com or call toll free1-866-735-5871.

Curcumin is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that has the potential to provide far-reaching health benefits. It has been shown to be helpful in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, Alzheimers disease, heart disease, diabetic retinopathy, and cancer. All of these diseases share underlying inflammation that curcumin may help to diminish.

If you have ever eaten curry or cooked with the spice turmeric, youve consumed curcumin. It is obtained from the roots of Curcuma longa and consists of several curcuminoids. Turmeric is biologically related to ginger. Curcumin works as an antioxidant, boosting levels of glutathione S-transferase, which is one of the bodys principal antioxidants. This antioxidant blocks the formation of prostaglandin E2, which is a compound that promotes inflammation within the body. Curcumin also inhibits two inflammation-promoting enzymes: COX-2 and 5-LOX. Additionally, curcumin is able to prevent mutations to DNA, which is an effect that helps to maintain younger, healthier cells.

A study conducted at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson had researchers using a curcumin rich turmeric extract to treat rheumatoid arthritis in laboratory animals. The extract blocked joint inflammation as well as the breakdown of joint cartilage and bone. It did this by inhibiting the genes that are involved in inflammation. Curcumin also holds tremendous promise in preventing cancer, as well as an adjunct treatment. Studies on animals have found that curcumin can protect against colon, intestinal, oral, and skin cancers. Its benefits come from several mechanisms. First of all, it blocks the cell-growth cycle in cancer cells, which eventually leads to destruction. It also reduces free radicals and inflammation, both of which can lead to cancer-causing cell mutations.

Many studies have found that curcumin can protect the liver against a variety of toxic compounds, which is important news for those people who are suffering from liver diseases like hepatitis or cirrhosis. In a recent study, researchers reported that curcumin increased the clearance of creatinine and urea, which are signs of improved kidney function. Additionally, curcumin reduced liver damage from toxic chemicals and excess iron.

Another study found that curcumin has the ability to inhibit the activation and spread of the liver cells that play a role in the development of cirrhosis. Japanese doctors have recently used curcumin, drugs, or placebos to treat 89 patients that have ulcerative colitis. These doctors found that a combination of curcumin and conventional medications resulted in the greatest benefits over six months of treatment. Patients in this study took 1,000 mg of curcumin after breakfast and again after dinner.

Inflammation is the underpinning of all chronic degenerative diseases, making curcumin likely to be beneficial for many different conditions. So far, research has identified curcumins benefits for diabetic retinopathy, lung disorders, and skin problems such as psoriasis. A dose of 3.6 g of curcumin reduced PGE2 levels by two-thirds in only one hour. After consuming curcumin daily for one month, PGE2 levels were 57 percent lower than before supplementation began.

Turmeric has been used as a culinary spice for at least 2,000 years. It was listed in an Assyrian herbal in 600 BC, used by ancient Greeks, and widely recommended in Ayurvedic medicine. Native to India and other regions of South Asia, it may reduce the risk of Alzheimers disease and help maintain mental function. Curcumin is safe in amounts of 500 to 8,000 mg daily, with most supplements providing 500 mg of curcumin.

Turmeric has been proven safe in larger amounts, but is usually limited by taste as a spice. One should look for a standardized supplement that contains at least 90 percent curcumin. Standardized Turmeric can be found at your local or internet health food store.

*Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Curcumin from turmeric is not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional health care provider before changing any medication or adding Vitamins to medications.

More information on turmeric curcumin extract is available at VitaNet ®, LLC health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder with an unknown origin. It is often called iletis or enteritis and usually affects the lowest part of the small intestine. However, it can occur in other parts of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. Crohn’s disease is responsible for inflammation that extends deep into the lining of the intestinal wall. Infrequently, it can cause crampy abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

Commonly, blockage of the intestine may occur due to scar tissue narrowing the passageway. Crohn’s disease may also cause sores, or ulcers, that break through to the surrounding tissues. These tunnels are actually called fistulas. Although they can be treated using medication, surgery is sometimes required. Additionally, people with Crohn’s disease often suffer from nutritional deficiencies due to malabsorption in the intestinal tract.

Somewhere between 1.2 and 15 in every 100,000 people in the United States are affective by Crohn’s disease. This condition affects men and women equally and generally runs in families. Those people who have a relative with the disease happen to be ten times more likely to develop Crohn’s disease than the general population. This disorder affects people in all age groups, with the onset usually occurring either between ages fifteen and thirty or between ages sixty and eighty. Those children who have Crohn’s disease may also suffer from delayed development and stunted growth because of nutritional deficiencies.

Crohn’s disease is often hard to diagnose because its symptoms are very similar to those of other intestinal disorders, especially ulcerative colitis which is another inflammatory bowel disease that affects only the colon. Crohn’s symptoms can also appear sporadically, occurring every few months to every few years for some people. In rare cases, the symptoms may appear once or twice and never return. If the disease continues for many years, bowel function will gradually deteriorate. When this condition is left untreated, it can become extremely serious, even life threatening, and it may also increase the risk of cancer by as much as twenty times.

Many doctors believe that Crohn’s disease has a genetic basis. However, it does not appear until it is triggered by the presence of bacteria or virus that provokes and abnormal activation of the immune system. The onset of Crohn’s disease can be dramatic, with symptoms such as a sudden, high fever, sudden weight loss of more than five pounds in a few days, significant rectal bleeding, severe abdominal pain that persists for more than hour at a time, and persistent vomiting accompanied by a cessation of bowel movements. A series of tests may be necessary to confirm Crohn’s disease. If the tests show the presence of Crohn’s disease, the doctor may do more x-rays of both the upper and lower digestive tract to determine how much is affected by the disease.

As of now, there is no cure for Crohn’s disease. Therefore, the goals of treatment are to control inflammation, relieve symptoms, and correct deficiencies, which can help to keep the condition in remission. The following nutrients are very beneficial in dealing with Crohn’s disease: duodenal glandular, l-glutamine, liver extract, N-A-G, omega-3 essential fatty acids, pancreatin, taurine, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, vitamin K, zinc, an amino acid complex, garlic, calcium, magnesium, a multivitamin and mineral complex, quercetin, shark cartilage, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D3, aloe vera, burdock root, Echinacea, fenugreek, goldenseal, licorice, marshmallow root, pau d’arco, enteric-coated peppermint, red clover, rose hips, silymarin, slippery elm, and yerba mate.

Many natural anti-inflammatory formulas are available to help one control inflammation. Look to your local or internet health food store for the above mentioned vitamins and herbs as well as helpful formulas to control inflammation. Always consult your doctor before adding vitamins and herbs to your diet while on prescription medications.

*Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Vitamins, herbs, and fibers are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional health care provider before changing any medication or adding Vitamins to medications.

More information on anti-inflammation vitamins is available at VitaNet ®, LLC Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

Colon health is becoming exceedingly important; colon related diseases are some of the most prevalent diseases among Americans today. Colon health is dependent on the maintenance of beneficial intestinal bacteria and proper elimination. Colon therapy is a form of healthcare that in theory restores the function of the colon. Colon therapy refers to flushing water through the entire length of the colonor large intestine.

The therapy exercises colon muscles and helps reshape the colon and stimulates reflex points in the colon that relate to other body organs (similar to reflexology). A colon therapy session (colonics, colon hydrotherapy or high colonic as they are sometimes referred to) is used for cleansing, however there are many other benefits. And based on the type of high fat/low fiber diet contemporary Americans, (Heartlanders included,) typically follow, there seems no time more than the present that colonic therapy might be appropriate. Proper colon health is a very important part of a healthy body.

Diet

Where food is concerned, the typical western diet is loaded with pesticides, has been treated with artificial fertilizer and contains artificial preservatives. Conventional diets comprised of refined, processed foods, high in saturated fats, and low in fiber contribute to many problems associated with the large intestine. When the colon is packed with accumulated, hardened feces due to a poor diet, constipation, or some other gastrointestinal problem, waste can build up.

There are several general causes for this waste buildup to occur: Bad Dietary Habits: eating low fiber, high-fat foods; eating too much or too quickly; poor food combinations (eating foods that need combining digestive enzymes, like the classic American meat and potatoes dinner, so some of it sits and begins to decompose); and/or drinking large quantities of liquids at meals that dilute digestive enzymes. Most conventional doctors do agree, however, that avoiding red meat and other fatty foods, and eating a healthy, high-fiber diet, is the best way to keep the colon healthy.

Benefits

The practice of cleansing ones colon (lower bowel) is by no means, a new idea, and when you discover some of its many benefits, you may be encouraged to pursue this further. A problem with faecal matter is that it can become backed up in the colon, so keeping the colon cleansed is a major part of keeping it healthy, and gaining the benefits of a healthy colon for the rest of the body. Colon therapy offers many health benefits including detoxification, cleansing of the bloodstream and the stimulation of internal organs. Additional benefits can often be observed throughout the body in the form of clearer skin, more energy and mental clarity, fewer headaches, with circulatory, immune and weight problems often improving, amongst many other positive side effects.

Controling Weight

Difficulties controlling weight may be due to the excess garbage piled up in the colon. Did you know you can actually control or lose weight by removing the toxic build-up from your colon. it is interesting to note that many people who complete a series of colon hydrotherapy sessions, often report significant weight losses. Because you are used to carrying about the waste in your bowels, using a colon cleansing agent will get rid of the faeces impacted in the bowel hence, also getting rid of the excess weight that comes with the faeces. Along with weight reduction and folic acid supplementation, a good intake of dietary fiber is also essential.

Fiber

Fiber received little respect until the 1970’s when evidence began to emerge documenting its nutritional value. Fiber will increase the volume of stools, thereby increasing the frequency of evacuation. Aside from the benefits that fiber provides for your colon, it may also promote cholesterol health. Taking products and foods that have high amounts of fiber is a great start in cleaning the colon and can act as a real good cleanser. If the bowel is basically normal, dietary fiber increases the bulk of the stool, softens it, and speeds transit time.

Conclusion

Colon health is important and diet, fat consumption and fiber content can all impact the health of the colon. Good colon health is as much a function of the quality of food we eat, as it is our elimination status. It is believed that colon therapy can relieve a score of symptoms from gas, bloating, and constipation to depression, insomnia, and headaches. In practice, the herbal colon therapy has proved to be almost a specific for spastic colitis.

Aside from the benefits that fiber provides for your colon, it may also promote cholesterol health. Taking products and foods that have high amounts of fiber is a great start in cleaning the colon and can act as a real good cleanser.

Find out more about Natural Colon Health

Paul Rodgers specializes in marketing natural health and beauty products. Article Directory: Article Dashboard http://www.articledashboard.com

Find out why Dr Floras is number one in colon cleansing …