anti-aging

  If this is going to be the year of economic belt tightening perhaps it could materialise into the era in which we loosen the emotional shackles around our hearts.   Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have inadvertently shown us the way after their recent battle for the ages at the Australian open tennis finals.  Their conciliatory embrace after that epic struggle was an indication that life might be less about winning and losing and more about the yearning we have to feel each other’s common humanity-the soft connection of the open heart that revels more in compassion than confrontation.

  It comes as no surprise that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the west.  That heart attacks are preventable makes this statistic so disconcerting. We still don’t appear to be aware of the need to look after our hearts proactively.  If healthy emotional union is one of the strategies we need to adopt, the kind of diet which nurtures our hearts is another.  One of the easy ways we can do this is by consuming chia seeds a beneficial nutrient source that I’ve only recently discovered. Chia seed contains a high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids as well as a significant concentration of dietary fibre, protein, calcium, magnesium, iron, and antioxidants.  What chia does is lower triglycerides, another form of bad fat that sets you up to develop heart disease.  Chia also has the ability to lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation, both risk factors that compromise the function of the heart.  Chia seeds have a gritty texture and a neutral taste which means you can add them to your breakfast cereal or sprinkle them on your salad.

   If consuming chia does not appeal to you and looking after your heart in a preventive fashion eludes you then stem cells might come to your rescue. As I’ve indicated in a recent newsletter we no longer need the stem cells of embryos.  The leader article in this week’s Time magazine deals with the coming revolution of stem cell technology with research indicating that skin cells can be reprogrammed using genetic manipulation to make what is known as pluripotent stem cells or the kind of stem cells that can become any cell you want them to be-even heart muscle cells or the cells that line your blood vessels, also known as endothelial cells.

Question & Answer Segment ------ your queries answered

Question: Vitamin D we are constantly being told protects against certain cancers.  I've heard that much of our population suffer from vitamin D deficiency including labourers who work outdoors.  In spite of taking supplements my levels remain low. There is obviously a problem with the absorption of this vitamin.  Can you please explain how it is metabolised and is there a way of improving absorption?

Answer: You obtain most of your vitamin D from sunlight with only a small amount obtainable form oily fish and fortified foods like butter.  However in order to make vitamin D from sunlight you need magnesium and zinc together with an optimally functioning liver and here is where the problems might reside as many are deficient in these essential nutrients and liver function can be impaired. You also need to ensure exposure to the sun 2-3 times weekly for 20 minutes between the hours of 10-2pm in winter and outside of these times in summer.

Question: I am female, 47 and have tested that I have above normal range androgen hormone levels. I have symptoms such as difficulty losing weight, visceral and subcutaneous fat around the waist, light menstruation and facial hair. My cholesterol, liver, glucose tolerance tests are all very good with low levels of lipids. I do not have polycystic ovaries.  I’m on a weight watchers diet and have commenced exercising starting with walking at least 30 mins each day and will increase this to 2 X per day then start gym work and other exercise as my fitness increases. What mainstream and alternative methods are available to me to assist with reducing waist fat, androgen levels, facial hair etc. I have uterine fibroids so do not want to take anything that will accelerate their growth.

Answer: You might have an enzyme defect in the adrenal glands leading to excessive production of testosterone or you might have insulin resistance associated with abnormal glucose metabolism which can raise testosterone levels.  Therefore you would need to have these rechecked.  Underproduction of thyroid hormones can also make it more difficult to lose weight.  There is a herb you can take called saw palmetto which reduces androgen levels.

Question: Is Metformin damaging to the myelin sheath of nerves?

Answer: Metformin lowers vitamin B12 levels which can compromise the myelin sheath of nerves.  Have your B12 evaluated by means of a blood test if you are taking metformin.

Question: I have had my thyroid removed and have parathyroid damage resulting in me taking oroxine, caltrate, rocaltrol, magnesium and potassium daily.  I have also developed high blood pressure.  I have had reactions to two blood pressure medications and am wanting to cure this problem naturally as side effects from BP medications are worse that the hypertension.  What can you suggest?  I walk for 30 mins daily, have replaced one meal a day with a protein shake and meditate daily.  Could my thyroid not be balanced properly despite all bloods including T3 showing in the normal range?

Answer: You might be producing excessive amounts of reverse T3 which blocks T3 function.  This is explained in detail in ‘You have the power.’  Having excess reverse T3 makes it more difficult to lose weight which would raise your blood pressure.

Question: I’m a 23 year-old female from India and used to have more body hair than my friends. I checked my hormone levels (FSH, LH, TSH, testosterone) & they turned out to be normal. My doctor told me that it was familial & not hormonal. I admit that my mom and some of my aunts did have similar hair growth on their arms & legs, but I have some hair on my body & my back too, plus I have a few hard hairs around my nipples & navel. Then, I read an article saying that fennel seeds are rich in phyto-oestrogens and that eating fennel seeds would discourage body hair growth. So I ate a spoon of fennel seeds daily for around 3 weeks and I got a very severe burst of acne - I had never ever got pimples earlier. I stopped those seeds but still I continue to get acne - though not as severe as the first time. It is 10 months since the fennel seed accident happened still I'm not completely free from acne.

Answer: Your problems might be related to your liver, the function of which might be compromised leading to abnormal hormone levels and conditions like acne.  The herb st mary’s thistle can improve liver function.