ETERNAL HEALTH MAY NEWSLETTER 2007

IMPOSING YOUR HUMAN FOOTPRINT

  In amongst the unbearable suffering of every human tragedy there are acts of inestimable bravery that go almost unnoticed.  Such was the case with Liviu Librescu, a Holocaust survivor and Professor at Virginia Tech who upon hearing the shooting confronted the danger rather than choosing to flee, by blocking the door to his classroom so that his students could escape.  Sadly it wasn’t Liviu Librescu’s Herculean heroism that achieved prominence on the evening news.

  I often do presentations to community groups on matters of health and wellbeing and I regularly enquire of my audience as to the effort they are making to optimise their health.  I’m curious about the awareness they have of the processes that are going on inside their bodies that are compromising their vitality and setting them up to develop a health catastrophe and whether they value this wonderful gift of wellness with which they have been blessed.  The same could be said of this glorious planet that we inhabit which is why the leader article in Time magazine April 9, 2007 that outlines 51 things that we can do to reduce global warming is so timely.

  Included in this list are suggestions that we invest in compact fluorescent lightbulbs.  These use one-quarter of the electricity gobbled up by conventional bulbs and last several years longer.  Drying your clothes on a line, riding a bus to work, opening windows rather than using air conditioning, installing low flow showerheads, carpooling if public transport is impractical and avoiding the use of plastic bags at the supermarket by taking a cloth bag are other simple activities that don’t require too much life-changing endeavour. 

  For those who love their beef, Time has some harsh truths to bring to your attention.  According to a report from the U.N’s Food and Agriculture Organisation in 2006, the international meat industry generates approximately 18% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions which believe it or not is more than transportation.  Much of these come from nitrous oxide in manure and the methane that the animals joyfully emit as a result of digestion.  Time indicates that methane has a warming effect that is 23 times as great as that of carbon and nitrous oxide exceeds carbon by a whopping 296%.  Switching to vegetarianism will reduce your carbon footprint by 1.4 tons of carbon dioxide per year while trading your much adored four-wheel drive for a hybrid will only diminish your contribution by one ton.

  Have you ever heard of cell transdifferentiation, gene reprogramming, nanotechnology and telomerase?  These are radical life extension technologies that will soon be coming to a theatre near you enabling you to rejuvenate your cells, change your genes and correct all those metabolic defects that set you up to develop the diseases of aging.  Imagine being able to commence a new career at the tender age of ninety. It’s inconceivable now but in the not too distant future this might be a reality that is pretty much taken for granted.

  In the meantime there are certain strategies that you can adopt to make yourself available for these revolutionary events.  Ensuring that you have  identified and eliminated all your heavy metal toxins such as those which have accumulated due to your exposure to lead, mercury and aluminium, getting enough B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin C, magnesium, essential fatty acids found in flaxseed and fish oil as well as zinc, exploring genetic testing, hormone therapies  and taking supplements like the antioxidants coenzyme Q10, alpha-lipoic acid, carnosine, acetyl-L-carnitine and the herbs gingko biloba and curcumin will help to minimise free radical damage and optimise the function of your mitochondria, the batteries of your cells where energy is generated.

  Bernie Siegel the best-selling author of Love, Medicine and Miracles, has some profound advice for all those who want to stay in touch with their youthfulness.  Here are some quotes from Dr Siegel.  ‘What you think, and what you believe, literally change your body chemistry. So if you have a pessimistic, hopeless outlook, yeah you’ll change your body, your immune function, and you can die a lot faster. I have literally seen this.  I think if you want to reverse the aging process, the number one thing that every doctor agrees upon is to exercise. Keep moving and keep active.

  Also, have some meaning in your life. What I find particularly helpful is to not think of yourself as an age. Don’t let the child in you die. See things through the child’s eyes, and it just makes life interesting and humorous.  I mean, I’m a real character. What I mean by that is, if I see a contract that says “sign here”, I write “here” on it (laughter). See, that’s the kid in me. Every time I see a sign that says “Depressed Drains”, I say let’s stop and try to cheer up the drain. (laughter) A study in Australia that was written up a few months ago in the paper showed that if you went home to a dog after your heart attack you had a six percent mortality rate that year . If you went home without a dog it would be closer to thirty percent. You say, what has a dog got to do with it? Again, it’s the relationship. The connection may be taking the dog for a walk, or whatever, but it means something to you. So those are the things I would say. Find meaning. Keep the child in you alive. Keep moving. Keep thinking. Be creative. Experiment. Do different things. It just goes on and on.’

Question: My 16 year-old (otherwise fit and well) son has been diagnosed with acute glandular fever.  I have been advised to give him olive leaf and zinc which I have been doing.  What are your thoughts - particularly the idea of intravenous vitamin C?

Answer: Unfortunately there is very little scientific research on natural treatments of glandular fever. The substances you mention might help including intravenous vitamin C which can be taken with oral vitamin E, an antioxidant called coenzyme Q10 and another antioxidant called alpha-lipoic acid which are also recycling agents by which I mean they recycle antioxidants which temporarily become pro-oxidants after they've done their work.  Zinc, garlic, selenium, vitamin A, glutathione and the herbs echinacea and astragalus might also be beneficial.  Practitioners of natural therapy are aware of these remedies. 

Question: I would be greatly appreciative if you could help me with the following: I have had an eating disorder (bulimia) on and off for about 15 years. I have been through many forms of therapy and until the beginning of this year I had made great progress. I adopted a lifestyle that included eating healthily as well as taking up triathlons. But at the beginning of the year I (for no apparent reason) started to lack motivation and revert back to binging and purging. There as been other changes (irregular periods, terrible moods swings, feelings of depression, hair loss, lack of energy, cravings especially for sugar and carbohydrates and weight gain). I have kept detailed records of all changes. I have work so hard to beat my eating disorder and will not give up but I do feel discouraged. Can you suggest what I should do or what could be wrong?

 Answer: It would be advisable to examine both the physical and psychological reasons for your condition.  Nutrient deficiencies including protein, zinc, magnesium and B vitamin deficiencies and yeast overgrowth in your bowel might be feeding your cravings which would be further compounded by binging and purging behaviours.   This would set you up to develop hormone imbalances which include a lack of thyroid hormones and an increase in testosterone levels which can be related to a metabolic disorder called insulin resistance. This then results in hair loss, depression and a lack of energy.  You would need to find a health practitioner who can perform those tests that identify nutrient deficiencies, hormone imbalances and yeast overgrowth and then institute those natural remedies that correct these underlying imbalances.  Psychological support would also be beneficial.  

Question: I have had blood work done to me and am still feeling extremely weak, severe dizzy spells, headaches and nothing helps. I have been sent to psych since they don’t know what’s wrong with me.  I have elevated homocysteine, blood sugar 105, high cholesterol 245 and low testosterone, normal but low Thyroid level. What do you feel would benefit me in natural supplements?  I seem to be allergic to most meds. I’m also super sensitive to smells, chemical, flowers, perfumes and colognes to the point I almost faint. Some stores I also get the same reactions to.
Do you have any input?

Answer:  Homocysteine is a protein that the body usually recycles to make healthy DNA and to facilitate liver function.  Elevated levels of this substance can be associated with headaches as can food intolerance.  Genetic mutations, which can be identified with the appropriate tests, can be performed by your doctor and these would provide you with the kind of information that would tell you why your body is unable to recycle homocysteine.   The fact that you are reacting to chemicals and medications suggest imperfect liver function and capacity to detoxify as well as heightened immune sensitivities. Underlying infection which can undermine the immune system can also be involved here.  A condition known as insulin resistance which affects blood sugar and raises cholesterol might also be implicated.  Inadequate production of the hormone cortisol which is made by the adrenal glands can lead to weakness and dizziness and this can be assessed by means of a 24-hour urine test.  These issues are discussed in detail in ‘You have the power.  Why didn’t my doctor tell me about this?’  Partnering with a physician who can help you to uncover these underlying problems would be helpful.

Question: I am after some Natural Interferon & quality health products for my Hepatitis C. Do you know of a reputable Australian company and do you have any solutions or a possible cure for hepatitis C?

Answer:  The standard of care for chronic hepatitis C infection is the combination of alpha-interferon (IFN) and ribavirin and is customarily administered by a liver specialist. The journal ‘Liver international, official Journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver’ has a review article in their February 2007, edition, volume one pages 17-25, which looks at the natural treatments for the management of hepatitis C including the use of herbal remedies like schisandra and the immune boosting agent lactoferrin.  The journal ‘Alternative Medicine review’ 2000 Aug;5(4):355-71 has a comprehensive review which examines all the natural treatments for managing hepatitis C.  You can access these two journal articles by going to Medline which you will find by using the Google search engine.