Innholdsfortegnelse for December/January 2021 i What Doctors Don't Tell You Australia/NZ

For over 30 years, the What Doctors Don’t Tell You team has reported on cutting-edge holistic practitioners of every persuasion who are curing the so-called ‘incurable.’ A few years ago we had a big idea: what if we gathered these pioneers together into a single location where people with health issues—or those interested in finding out new solutions to chronic conditions—could meet these pioneers, listen to talks about their discoveries and find alternative treatments and products proven to work? Last February that dream became reality when we launched the Get Well Show at Olympia, London. We showcased some 70 practitioners across three stages and more than 80 stands exhibiting a vast array of treatments and products—everything from lifestyle changes to qigong and hands-free healing. The show was a huge success,…

Healthy Nordic diet. Higher content of plant foods, fish, eggs and vegetable fat, and lower content of meat products, dairy products, sweets, desserts and alcoholic beverages. High-fruit and vegetable diet. Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables. To further increase the polyphenolic load, some studies included regular dark chocolate content. High-fiber diet. Fiber is found in varying levels in all plant foods and is most prevalent in whole grains and legumes. For this reason, most high-fiber diets focus on increasing wholegrain and legume consumption. Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet. Excludes the consumption of all meat, poultry and fish but still includes the consumption of dairy and eggs. The main components include fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. DASH diet. Encourages the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and low-fat…

•Three eggs a day • Other protein sources, such as meat, fish, pork and poultry • Low-glycemic index sources of carbohydrates, including leafy greens, non-starchy vegetables and some fruits • Unprocessed high-fiber grains, with little or no added sugar • Other fat sources including olive, coconut and nut oils; butter; tree nuts and nut butters; cheese and cream; coconut milk; avocados Fats from: • Full-fat dairy produce • Saturated fat from red meat limited to less than 10 percent of daily caloric intake • Fats from monounsaturated fatty acids such as olive oil, and medium-chain triglycerides such as coconut oil and cream • Nuts and nut butters • Fresh fish…

Drug giant Pfizer could earn over $15 billion from its Covid-19 vaccine. It’s set a price of $19.50 per shot, and this is expected to be the industry standard for all pharmaceutical companies to follow. The US government has placed a $1.95 billion order for 100 million doses of the vaccine—but it’s all contingent on the vaccine working. If it does, Pfizer is set for “a windfall” of $15 billion, drug industry watchers predict. But revenues could be double that if Pfizer progresses with its plans for a two-shot Covid vaccine, which its researchers are currently working on. The two-dose shot will cost $39. US agencies are set to place an order for 500 million doses if the vaccine can be proven to work, and regulators will be setting the…

Every 30 minutes spent cycling instead of sitting reduces the risk by 31% Sitting around too much could have a big impact on cancer survival. The most sedentary among us have an 82 percent increased risk of dying from their cancer, say researchers from the University of Texas. Just getting up off your chair and doing something immediately cuts the risk. Every 30 minutes spent cycling instead of sitting reduces the risk by 31 percent, and walking by 8 percent. Even standing up for five minutes or taking the stairs instead of the elevator can all help lower your chances of dying from cancer, said researcher Susan Gilchrist. “It might not sound like a lot, but this study tells us even light activity has cancer survival benefits,” she said. The…

Eating all your meals in a short window of four or six hours is an effective way to lose weight. Either works well—provided you just drink water the rest of the time and don’t snack. People who followed the time-restricted diet lost around 3 percent of their body weight in 10 weeks. Even though they could eat as much as they wanted in the permitted time bands, both groups were eating around 550 fewer calories every day. The real key, say researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago, is not the window of time for eating but not eating anything else outside of that time, so snacking was forbidden. In the study, volunteers either ate in a four-hour window between 1 pm and 5 pm, or in the six…

It could be the wonder protein that determines our longevity and health. Levels of humanin G (HNG) have already been linked to age-related problems such as failing eyesight and Alzheimer’s, and new research suggests it also influences how long we live. HNG—a protein in our mitochondria, the “powerhouses” of our cells—seems to decrease as we get older, and this could be the key to aging and, eventually, our death, say researchers at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. Diminishing levels of HNG seem to be linked to the number of children we have. In other words, it’s a trade-off between reproduction and longevity, and so people who have large numbers of children may not live as long. It could be an evolutionary hang-over, says Kelvin Yen, one of the…

Eating chocolate at least once a week is good for your heart. It helps keep the arteries healthy and reduces the chances of a heart attack. The effect isn’t dramatic—it reduces your risk of developing cardiovascular disease by just 8 percent—but there’s definitively an association, say researchers from Baylor College of Medicine. Plenty of other studies have found that chocolate is good for the heart, but none had looked specifically at its effect on the coronary arteries, the ones that feed the heart. Using the data from six studies that had tracked more than 336,000 volunteers, the researchers discovered that the chocolate-eaters were less likely to develop coronary heart disease or suffer a heart attack. Eating chocolate less than once a week didn’t seem to have any protective effect. Eur…

Antibiotics affecting children’s behavior Taking antibiotics too early in life could affect the brain and social interactions, such as seen in children with ADHD. The drugs affect the growing brain’s signaling abilities that influence social behavior and the way pain is felt. It’s not thought that adult brains are damaged in the same way by antibiotics. The effects have been seen in experiments on young laboratory mice, and so researchers from Oxford University can’t be sure the drugs would cause the same problems in small children. Other researchers have seen that germ-free animals and those treated with antibiotics have social behavioral problems, and the Oxford team has discovered the processes that are going on. Antibiotics disrupt the microbiome in the gut, which in turn affects the development of the brain…

1 J Clin Epidemiol, 2020; doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.08.005; theconversation.com, Sep 2, 2020 2 The Truth about the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do about It (Random House, 2005) 3 “What Conclusions Has Clinical Evidence Drawn about What Works, What Doesn’t Based on Randomised Controlled Trial Evidence?” BMJ Evidence Centre, 2012; Mayo Clin Proc, 2013; 88: 790–8 4 Lancet, 2018; 391: 31–40 5 N Engl J Med, 2002; 347: 81–8 6 N Engl J Med 2013; 368:1675-1684; N Engl J Med, 2013; 369: 2515–2524 7 New York Times, December 25, 2013 8 JAMA Intern Med, 2015; 175: 1913–20…

Governments, health authorities and media should stop engendering fear of the virus and help people understand its impacts in context  Not in a million years did I ever think freedoms so hard won over the last century would be lost in a matter of months. Even more odd is that the trigger is a viral pathogen that for the vast majority of people causes few if any symptoms. That’s not meant to minimize the fact that around 5 percent of those infected by the virus suffer serious respiratory disease that appears to be on par with flu or pneumonia, which can be fatal in those least able to mount an appropriate immune response. I also value health, yet, like many others, I have no concern about the virus’ direct impact…

A review of 396 studies discovered 10 factors with strong evidence linking them to dementia. Nine are possible causes: Poor education Obesity, high body mass index (BMI) Hyperhomocysteinemia (high levels of homocysteine, an amino acid) Depression Stress Diabetes Head trauma Hypertension (high blood pressure) Orthostatic hypotension (sudden lowering of blood pressure upon standing up, causing dizziness) And one is a way to prevent dementia: Keep the mind sharp through reading, solving puzzles Seven more likely suspects The same review listed a further nine possible causes and preventative measures, but not supported by quite so much evidence: Midlife obesity Smoking Poor sleep Sudden weight loss in later life Cerebrovascular disease Frailty Atrial fibrillation And two more ways of preventing dementia: Exercise Vitamin C supplements…

Not exercising is a major risk factor for memory loss in large part because physical activity helps keep blood vessels healthy, and blood circulation is key to brain health, according to psychiatrist Daniel Amen. “Exercise helps to boost a chemical called nitrous oxide, which is produced in the walls of blood vessels and helps to control their shape. If blood vessel walls do not receive pulses of blood flow regularly from exercise, they begin to distort, flatten out and limit blood flow overall. As a result the body’s tissues including the brain do not receive the nutrients they need or have a good mechanism to rid themselves of the toxins that build up in the body.” Additionally, regular exercise has been shown to: • increase the size of the hippocampus,…

PREVENTION EAT THE PK DIET, high in fats and fibers, low in carbs. Eat probiotic foods like kefir and sauerkraut. No dairy or grains. Eat twice a day, and no snacking. TAKE VITAMINS. These include multivitamins, multiminerals and vitamin D. VITAMIN C. Take 5 grams last thing at night SLEEP WELL AND LONG, eight to nine hours between 10 pm and 7 am. Sleep more in the winter. ADD PLENTY OF HERBS, spices and fungi to your cooking. EXERCISE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. Push yourself to the limit; it produces lactic acid and stimulates new muscle fiber and mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouse. SUNBATHE as often as you can. Stay warm. USE YOUR BRAIN. Avoid obvious ways of transmitting viruses. TREATMENT EAT THE PK DIET. FAST. A day or so…

When I first started my journey to health, I thought I would have to map a program to make sure I got all the appropriate nutrients my body needed. Then I realized I was getting everything I wanted without even thinking about it. Almost all fruits and vegetables are packed with the nutrients you need to live a healthy life, but the following are some of the most nutrient-packed plants around: Spinach. A great source of iron, vitamins and antioxidants, spinach is particularly high in vitamin K (an entire daily requirement filled with just one cup) as well as folate and magnesium. Kale. In just one cup, kale has copious amounts of vitamins A, C and K. Kale may even help reduce your cholesterol. Black beans. Technically legumes, not vegetables,…

The ingredient label is the most important label on any product. That’s where you’ll find the truth about what’s inside. However, the food industry knows most people don’t read ingredient labels and instead are looking at the front of the packaging to see what they’re buying. Here are some common misleading labels you’ll find on food products and what these labels truly mean: “All-Natural,” “100% Natural” or “Natural” There’s no clear definition for what natural means on a label, so there is room for interpretation by food companies. This wording indicates that the product doesn’t contain added colors or artificial ingredients.1 However, this label absolutely does not mean that a product is organic, non-GMO, pesticide-free, preservative-free, humane or made with real food. Many products say they are “100% Natural,”even though…

“Constraint-induced therapy is all about achieving progress in small steps,” says occupational therapist Mary Bowman. The daily therapeutic tasks given to patients during the three-and-a-half to four-hour sessions can be very simple, like working on grasping with the index finger and thumb by flipping dominoes over on a table. Bowman describes what she wants people to do and shows them the movement, giving them encouragement, coaching and feedback of their results. Whether it’s flipping dominoes over, scooping beans into a bowl or making slices through a mock carrot made of putty, each exercise is performed 10 times, and each pass is timed. “They’re doing a lot of repetition and it can sound like it’s boring, but actually it’s not,” she says. “Most people get competitive with their own time. “It’s…

In Ayurvedic medicine, the five elements—ether, air, fire, water and earth—manifest as three very different types of energies that give rise to our individual physiological and psychological/emotional constitutions called doshas. Most people’s bodies reflect a combination of two or three doshas; rarely is someone a “pure” dosha type. Here is a brief overview of the three doshas. Vata: The vata dosha is aligned with the elements of air and ether. The main qualities of vata are highly mobile, quick, cool, dry, light, rough and subtle. These qualities show up in all areas of life: mentally, physically and emotionally. Vatadominant people tend to have these qualities: •Good at multitasking, can be scattered and have a nervous, fidgety constitution •Cold hands and feet, seeks out warm places •Dry skin, lips, hair and…

My mother has varicose veins and the early stages of chronic venous insufficiency. She’s mainly troubled by swelling and a heavy feeling in her legs. She has compression stockings but finds them uncomfortable to wear. Are there any effective alternative remedies? L.R., via email Some 20 percent of the population suffers from varicose veins1 —veins that have become twisted and swollen because blood isn’t flowing through them properly. They can develop anywhere in the body, but the legs are the most commonly affected, as they have to move blood along against gravity. For many sufferers, varicose veins are simply a cosmetic concern. But they can also be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a progressive condition in which the valves in the veins don’t function properly. Potential causes of…

I’ve just been diagnosed with vitiligo and am looking for natural remedies or holistic options to improve it or stop it getting worse. The white patches are on my knees and feet, and I’ve stopped wearing skirts and dresses as I hate how it looks. My doctor suggested a steroid cream, but I’m concerned about the side-effects. Is there anything else that can help? W.S., via email Vitiligo is nothing to be ashamed of, as celebrities like supermodel Winnie Harlow have proved. But despite growing awareness and acceptance, there is still a lot of stigma attached to the skin condition, and it’s well known to have a negative impact on self-esteem and quality of life.1 Affecting some 1 to 2 percent of the population, vitiligo is a puzzling, often progressive,…

I’ve had good success using nonsurgical therapies for torn cruciate ligaments Q Our 10-year-old female Cocker Spaniel, Millie, seems to have partially torn her right cranial cruciate ligament while playing chase with our new Labrador puppy. She is 17 kg [37 lb], and our vet says she is overweight. We are not keen on surgery. Can you suggest any alternative options? C.S., via email A Partial or complete rupture of the anterior or cranial cruciate ligament leading to instability of the knee—or stifle joint as it’s known in animals—is very common in dogs. The cranial and caudal cruciate ligaments (attached in a crisscross fashion), along with the collateral ligaments, work with the patella, or kneecap, to stabilize the knee joint and prevent excessive motion of the lower leg. Cranial cruciate…

Carpets can be a major source of pollution in the home. They typically contain hundreds of chemicals in their fiber-bonding materials, dyes, backing glues, latex binders, fungicides, and fire-retardant and stain-resistant treatments, including the infamous VOCs (volatile organic compounds)—a group of chemicals that readily release vapors at room temperature. These, which include recognized carcinogens like formaldehyde and benzene, can outgas for weeks or even years after installation and have been associated with all sorts of adverse health effects.1 Carpets also act like sinks for heavy metals, pesticides, dust mites, mold and other pollutants, which can be released back into the indoor environment and easily inhaled.2 And carpets in the home have been linked to long-term health problems such as asthma and recurrent respiratory infections, especially in children.2,3   For these…

Dr Damien Downing, a specialist in allergy, environment and nutrition, is current president of the British Society for Ecological Medicine, on the editorial board of Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, Chief Medical Advisor of cancer charity Yes to Life (www.yestolife.org.uk), and author of numerous books including The Vitamin Cure for Allergies. Dr Harald Gaier is a UK-registered osteopath, homeopath, acupuncturist, naturopath and medical herbalist. Former director of medical research at The Hale Clinic and a committee member of the Prince of Wales’ Foundation for Integrated Health, Dr Gaier has authored numerous scientific papers and The Encyclopedia of Homeopathy. Dr Michel Odent, a French-trained surgeon and obstetrician, is a pioneer of the natural birth movement, emphasizing home and water birth. Founder of the Primal Health Research Centre in the UK, he has…

A plant-based diet—fruits, vegetables, legumes such as peas and beans, nuts and seeds—reduces your blood pressure naturally, even if you’re also eating meat and dairy. One of the heart-specific diets, called DASH, had the biggest impact on blood pressure, reducing levels by 8.74/6.05 mmHg compared to a standard diet. This drop would translate into a 14 percent reduction in strokes and a 9 percent decrease in heart attacks. This doesn’t mean you have to go vegetarian or vegan, say researchers from the University of Warwick. Your diet can still include meat and dairy, but it’s important that plants take up a bigger share of the plate. The researchers looked at the impact on blood pressure levels of seven different plant-based diets, including DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), Mediterranean, vegetarian,…

US health agencies are testing different marketing messages to convince the maximum number of people to have a Covid-19 vaccination when it becomes available. A research team from Yale University has recruited 4,000 volunteers who will be given a range of marketing messages. The most effective is likely to be rolled out in national campaigns when a vaccine is launched. The standard message that vaccines are safe and effective will be tested against other marketing messages, such as how the virus is restricting personal freedom or limiting the way people can earn a living or the benefits to the wider social good. One message, called “social pressure–anger,” asks the participants to imagine how they would feel if they don’t get vaccinated and spread the disease to their family and local…

There’s a link between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s, and dementia. IBD sufferers are at least twice as likely to develop the problem, new research suggests. It’s further evidence that many diseases of the central nervous system and brain begin in the gut, and are determined by our gut bacteria, say researchers from Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan. They tracked the cognitive health of 1,742 IBD patients for 16 years and compared them to a similar group of 17,420 people who didn’t have the problem. During that time, 5.5 percent in the IBD group developed dementia or Alzheimer’s disease compared with 1.5 percent in the healthy group. Dementia was also diagnosed an average of seven years earlier in the IBD group, the researchers say, and the risk…

Morning sickness isn’t just for the morning—women in the first phase of pregnancy can suffer feelings of nausea at any time in the day. Although the morning is the most common time when women feel sick, nearly 20 percent suffer attacks of nausea and vomiting later in the day. That’s why it’s time to drop the “morning sickness” tag and instead change it to “nausea and sickness in pregnancy,” say researchers from the University of Warwick. They had 256 women keep a “sickness diary” for every hour of the day for the first 60 days of their pregnancy. Around 82 percent suffered from feelings of nausea, and 29 percent vomited in the morning, usually between 9 am and 10 am—but nearly 20 percent reported having nausea at much later times.…

The hidden dangers in “safe” drugs Why do so many “safe” drugs cause serious side-effects? Ingredients such as dyes and preservatives aren’t inert, as manufacturers claim, but are biologically active and cause reactions not being picked up by safety trials. Nearly 40 ‘inert’ ingredients in common prescription drugs have been identified as potentially causing harm to patients. The ingredients, known as excipients, extend the product’s shelf life or give the pill color—but haven’t been properly assessed for their safety. Nearly 40 ‘inert’ ingredients in common drugs have been identified as potentially causing harm to patients When researchers from the University of California at San Francisco examined more than 3,000 excipients used by drug manufacturers, they discovered that 38 of them interact with human enzymes and receptors. The effects can be…

Heart disease stubbornly persists as the world’s major killer despite the billions spent on low-fat foods and cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. Two years on since the introduction of tougher thresholds, with almost everyone over the age of 50 invited to start statin therapy, mortality rates have barely shifted. It’s not because the drugs don’t work: they are indeed lowering levels of the “bad”LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, the fats targeted by statins that, as the theory has it, deposit themselves around artery walls until blood flow to the heart is blocked, causing a heart attack. But nonetheless, statins aren’t achieving the ultimate aim of a reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and fatal heart attacks. That could be because the whole cholesterol and fats theory is wrong, as a new research paper suggests.…

Mary Ellen Williams looked at the doctor in shock when he told her the bad news: her husband Harold was losinghismemory. In one test he had been given, Harold had only three of been able to recall 30 words. “The doctor looked at me as if to say,‘How did you miss that he had such bad memory problems?’” Mary Ellen recalls. It wasn’t as if she had overlooked her husband’s trouble altogether, however; that’s why they were at the doctor’s office after all. Harold first began to notice he was having difficulty remembering things at about age 52. He would forget things he meant to pick up at the store or where he put things. He began writing lists, which he hadn’t done previously, but soon realized he was even…

For each risk factor, the number in red indicates the fold-change in risk it carries, e.g. 1.3 = 30 percent increased risk, 3.0 = 300 percent increased risk RISK FACTORS BLOOD FLOW • History of stroke 5.0 • History of cardiovascular disease including coronary artery disease/ heart attacks/heart failure/ arrhythmias 2.0 • Prehypertension/hypertension in middle age 2.0 • Low blood pressure in later life 1.3 • Erectile dysfunction • Age <50 1.7 • Age 50–64 6.1 • >65 years 7.2 • Exercise less than 2× per week 2.0 RETIREMENT/AGING • Age 65–84 2.0 • 85 and older 3.8 • More than 2 hours per day television viewing 2.0 • A job that does not require new learning, or retirement without new endeavors 2.0 • Loneliness or social isolation 3.2 INFLAMMATION…

1 AMA Neurol, 2020: e202831 2 LSE Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Projections of older people with dementia and costs of dementia care in the United Kingdom, 2019–2040. November, 2019 3 Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s and Dementia in Australia. www.alz.org 4 US National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet. www.nia.nih.gov 5 J Psychoactive Drugs, 2011; 43: 1–5 6 Indian J Nucl Med, 2014; 29: 210–21 7 J Postgrad Med, 2019; 65: 33–7 8 PLoS One, 2015; 10: e0129659 9 J Alzheimers Dis, 2018; 65: 1087–92 10 Int Rev Neurobiol, 2020; 155: 141–68…

Dr David Brownstein, a Michigan family practitioner, and colleagues have successfully treated more than 100 patients with COVID, some with serious symptoms and almost all in the “vulnerable” category with pre-existing conditions. Here are his recommendations for patients and practitioners: At the first sign of COVID symptoms, take orally: • 100,000 IU of vitamin A• 1 g of vitamin C per hour until bowel tolerance is reached• 50,000 IU of vitamin D per day• 25 mg/day of Lugol’s iodine (sometimes 50–100 mg/day) Use as a nebulizer: For each 259-cc bag of saline (salt water) inject: • 3 cc of food-grade hydrogen peroxide • 1 cc of magnesium sulfate The patient should then top up the mixture with one drop of 5% Lugol’s iodine and nebulize hourly until symptoms improve. If…

Here’s a list of some common foods and drinks and what to look for when doing your shopping. Generally, look for organic products and those without artificial additives. MILK POOR CHOICE: •Not organic •Not grass-fed BETTER CHOICE: •Certified organic •100% grass-fed NONDAIRY MILK POOR CHOICE: • Not organic • Added sugar • Added flavor • Unnecessary “gums” • Carrageenan BETTER CHOICE: • Certified organic • No added sugar • No added flavor • No added thickeners • Real food ingredients YOGURT POOR CHOICE: • Not organic • Not grass-fed • Added sugar • Artificial colors • Artificial sweeteners (such as sucralose or acesulfame potassium) • Added flavors instead of real fruit BETTER CHOICE: • Certified organic • Plain • No added flavors • No added sweeteners • No thickeners or…

Ischemic strokes happen when arterial blood flow to the brain becomes blocked by a blood clot. About 87 percent of all strokes are ischemic. Transient ischemic attack or TIA, often called a “mini stroke,” is caused by a temporary blood clot. TIAs are considered warning strokes, indicating that immediate lifestyle changes are necessary to avoid further issues. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery in or surrounding the brain leaks blood or ruptures. The pressure from the leaked blood damages the brain cells. Common causes of hemorrhagic stroke are high blood pressure and aneurysms—bulges in an artery that can stretch and burst. There are two types of hemorrhagic stroke: intracerebral hemorrhage, in which there is bleeding within the brain, and subarachnoid hemorrhage, a life-threatening type of stroke caused by bleeding…

Signs of stroke are the same in women and men: • A sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body • Sudden mental confusion • Trouble speaking or trouble understanding others’ speech • Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes • Sudden difficulty walking, accompanied by dizziness, loss of balance and/or lack of coordination • Sudden onset of a debilitating headache with no known cause If you suspect you or someone you know is having a stroke, get immediate medical attention. With strokes, time is of the essence. The most effective emergency medical treatments for stroke have to be administered within the first three hours of the start of symptoms to work optimally. Getting immediate treatment can reduce brain damage and make the difference between more…

There are plenty of online sites where you can take a test to determine your dosha makeup, such as the Chopra Center quiz: www.chopra.com/dosha-quiz Vata types are already high energy and on the go, so they do best eating foods that are soothing for their airy, dry natures. Heavy cooked foods served warm are most nurturing—warm soups, stews and cereals are a must. Vata types do well with foods cooked and eaten with fats and oils such as ghee, olive oil, avocado oil and coconut oil. They also do well with dairy products. Rice and wheat (if not gluten intolerant) are on the menu along with sweet and sour vegetables. Vatas should avoid cold foods, raw foods/greens and caffeine. Pittas are HOT, so eating foods that are cooling is a…

“Cynthia” was in her early 60s and overweight when she went for an Ayurvedic consultation and panchakarma with Dr Ed Danaher, the panchakarma director at the Ayurveda Institute in New Mexico. She complained of symptoms of joint pain and inflammation in the hands, wrists, knees and hips; lack of mobility; longstanding constipation; mental fog; foul breath; foul body odor; a thick, white coating on the tongue; negative, critical thinking and general malaise. “I gave her Triphala to help correct the constipation and help remove toxins and balance her doshas,” says Danaher. “In addition, she was instructed to follow a ‘kichari diet’ [see box, page 47], which consisted of organic basmati rice, yellow split mung beans and certain spices—turmeric, cumin, coriander, fennel, asafoetida [also called “hing,” a gum from a type…

My mother has been diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma, and I’d like to know if there are any natural treatments that can help. Are there any particular supplements she should be taking for example? T.R., via email Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, and some 5.7 million people have some form of visual impairment because of it.1 It’s actually a group of conditions that result in damage to the optic nerve and progressive vision loss, but the most common type is open-angle glaucoma, the type your mother has, which tends to develop slowly over time.2 Changes in the aging eye lead to less effective drainage of the aqueous humor (the clear fluid between the iris and cornea), causing a buildup of pressure within the eye. High internal eye…

Heart not in the COVID-avoidance fun? How about a few insults to get you in the mood for the pending vaccine, or the forcible injection of a psychoactive drug such as LSD to make you more of a socially responsible mask wearer? The virus is nasty, for sure, and like others from the corona family, it can be lethal. But we have very few hard-and-fast facts about COVID-19 and how to treat it, and so the information vacuum has been filled with fear and propaganda. These are perfect growing conditions for the skeptic, a broad church that includes doubters who maintain the virus doesn’t even exist and the patients we’ve seen on our televisions are actors, to those who claim the death rates have been made up. With propaganda and…

Supplement with care I was interested to read the glutathione cover story in your Oct/Nov 2020 issue. I practice nutrition, because it is safer and more effective than the alternatives, if used carefully. But there are pitfalls. Glutathione is oxidized in the process of detoxifying harmful chemicals, and has to be reduced back to its original state so that it can be used again. The safe way to keep glutathione levels up is to regenerate it with vitamins B2, B3 and the powerful antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. My clients with chronic problems often have low vitamin B2. Cysteine, a component of glutathione, is both useful and harmful. Viruses attach to sulfur to pull themselves into cells, where they can replicate. Having plenty of cysteine in the blood distracts the virus from…

Gum disease has already been linked to heart problems—but it could also trigger several digestive system cancers. People who have consistent periodontal (gum) disease are around 60 percent more likely to develop esophageal (gullet) or stomach cancer. Periodontal disease symptoms include inflamed and bleeding gums and tooth loss, and researchers believe it is the bacteria in the mouth that are causing the cancers. A research team from Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health analyzed the health records of around 150,000 people for a link between gum disease and the cancers. In the 28 years the data was tracked, 199 developed esophageal cancer and 238 gastric cancer. There was a 58 percent increased risk for esophageal cancer, and 68 percent increased risk for gastric cancer, if the person had…

People taking a multivitamin and high doses of zinc and vitamin C are healthier and recover from illness far more quickly, a new research study has discovered. Their immune markers are higher, and they have more white blood cells that kill invading viruses. They also have higher levels of vitamin C and zinc in their blood, say researchers from Oregon State University. The researchers gave supplements to a group of 42 healthy people between 55 and 75 years old and discovered that, in addition to immune system improvements, they had fewer days of sickness, less severe symptoms and a faster recovery time. The differences between those taking supplements compared to those not taking any nutrients was “striking,” said lead researcher Adrian Gombart. The need for supplements becomes greater as we…

Copper is already being used in some hospitals as a powerful antiseptic—and researchers believe it could also be effective against the Covid-19 virus. Taking copper supplements—or eating more copper-rich foods, such as leafy vegetables, nuts and organ meats—could protect against infection, say researchers from Oslo University in Norway. It’s a proven killer of other viruses and bacteria, such as polio, HIV, MRSA and bronchitis pathogens, and it could be just as effective against Covid-19. Copper could also be used as a cleaning agent on surfaces where the virus may have settled. In a separate study, researchers from Athens University are planning to test copper and NAC (N-acetylcysteine) in combination against the virus. They say that earlier studies have shown both to be effective virus killers. Medical Hypotheses, 2020; 142: 109814…

“Researchers gave the same meal to 20 volunteers either at 6 pm or 10 pm and discovered that the glucose levels in the late eaters were on average 18% higher, while they burned 10% less fat” Eating a late meal—and going to bed soon after—increases your chances of putting on weight and even developing type 2 diabetes. People eating their last meal of the day around 10 pm aren’t giving their body enough time to metabolize the food properly. They burn less fat and process glucose, or sugar in the blood, poorly, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, say researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. They compared the biological processes of people who ate at 10 pm or at 6 pm, with both groups going to…

Heart experts—including the American Heart Association—persist with the notion that eating saturated fats increases cholesterol levels. But yet another study has confirmed that the real culprit is carbohydrates, and especially those from fast and processed foods. A global team of cardiologists has concluded that saturated and animal fats, such as meat, eggs and cheese, have nothing to do with cholesterol levels and heart disease. Despite this finding, which has been the latest of many, the official line is that the fats should be avoided, especially among high-risk groups such as those with a genetic predisposition for high cholesterol levels, diabetes, obesity or high blood pressure. People with familial hypercholesterolemia, for example, can have cholesterol levels that are up to four times higher than average. But all these groups should be…

Only one in 10 of the drugs and treatments your doctor prescribes has solid proof it will work—and 20 percent of medicine may not work at all, with very poor evidence that it is effective. Applying the most exacting of measures, researchers from Oxford University have discovered that most of medicine is supported by only moderate to poor evidence, which throws into question the vast sums invested in healthcare around the world every year—the US spends $3.6 trillion and the UK £197 billion, for example. Just 10 percent of the scientific papers the researchers reviewed met the criteria of an evaluation system known as GRADE (grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation), while 37 percent had “moderate”evidence they could work, 31 percent had “low” evidence, and 22 percent had“very low-quality”…

If “bad” LDL cholesterol and trans fats aren’t causing heart disease, what is? Here are a few of the theories that have been put forward in recent years: It’s inflammation: Adding natural antiinflammatories to the diet—such as tomatoes, spinach and kale, fatty fish and berries—could reduce your risk of heart disease. Researchers monitored more than 10,000 heart patients, and those whose inflammation levels were lowered pharmaceutically were also less likely to suffer a second heart attack. Their risk dropped by up to 17 percent, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston found.1 It’s refined sugar: People who get a quarter or more of their daily calories from refined sugar triple their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered the…

In Daniel Amen’s study of 30 retired football players with brain damage and cognitive impairment from repeated head injuries on the field and substance abuse, the players were encouraged to lose weight and take nutritional supplements for six months. At the end of this time, 69 percent of them reported improved memory, 53 percent better mood and nearly half showed improvement on cognitive function tests and information processing times. Their supplement regimen included: • Omega-3 fatty acids containing 1,720 mg EPA and 1,160 mg DHA • A high-potency multivitamin/mineral supplement • A “brain enhancement supplement” containing: Ginkgo biloba. A 2016 review found “clear evidence” to support using Gingko biloba for mild cognitive impairment and dementia at a dose of 240 mg per day).1 Vinpocetine, a derivative of the periwinkle plant, used…

Add up the total number of risk factors you have plus the number of relative risk factors in bold Total Number of Risk Factors Relative Risk Factors TOTAL SCORE Interpretation: 0 to 6: Low risk of developing dementia 7 to 14: Moderate risk • Have a check-up with a healthcare provider • Address modifiable risk factors to try to lower your total score • Consider doing repeated brain testing online to monitor your progress. Amen’s clinic offers a free online assessment of your brain health at www.brainhealthassessment.com >=15: High risk • Eliminate or treat as many risk factors as possible. Amen’s book Memory Rescue explains how to tackle each risk factor in detail • Consider annual testing for cognitive impairment, as well as online monitoring, to catch any…

Not everyone died from the Black Death, or from the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918—and many of us will survive COVID-19. But why do some of us die, and, more crucially, why do so many who are infected suffer long-term symptoms, even if they are young and seemingly healthy, and how do we lower our chances of ever getting infected in the first place? Once infected, we can carry the COVID-19 virus for life, as we do the herpes viruses, which 95 percent of us carry, while 90 percent of people in the West carry the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which triggers glandular fever (also called mononucleosis) and drives multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Doctors and health agencies were taken by surprise by the COVID-19 outbreak. Many had…

If there’s a question I get asked more than any other, it’s this: Where do you get your protein? Most people will go on and on about how you have to get protein from meat and eggs. I simply reply, “I get my protein from the same place that cows get theirs: from plants.” Everyone can get all the protein they need, and more, from plant-based foods. In fact, Americans are eating way too much protein—about twice the recommended amount. This is terrible for health, leading to everything from kidney damage to weight gain, from constipation to an increased cancer risk, from heart disease to calcium loss. The recommended dietary allowance for protein is about 46 grams for women and 54 grams for men. Those levels are incredibly easy to…

Makes 3 servings Ready-to-use polenta is available in vacuum-sealed tubes, making it easy to cut into thin slices. Made with on-hand ingredients, this dinner can be assembled in minutes but looks (and tastes) great. Ingredients 18 oz (510 g) package precooked polenta 1 Tbsp olive oil 16 oz (473 mL) jar mild tomato salsa 15.5 oz (458 mL) can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels 2 Tbsp pickled jalapeños, drained 1 tsp chili powder ½ tsp onion powder Salt and ground black pepper, to taste 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced Method 1 Preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. 2 Cut the polenta into slices about ½-inch thick (you should…

These are the most important ingredients to avoid, as they’re associated with negative health issues. Acesulfame potassium Artificial flavors Aspartame (NutraSweet) Autolyzed yeast extract Azodicarbonamide BHA and BHT Bleached flour Blue 1 Calcium peroxide Calcium propionate Caramel color Carrageenan Cellulose Corn syrup Cottonseed oil DATEM Dextrose Dimethylpolysiloxane Enriched flour Erythritol Fructose or fructose syrup High-fructose corn syrup Hydrolyzed proteins Maltodextrin Methylparaben Monoglycerides and diglycerides Monosodium glutamate (MSG) Natural flavors Neotame Potassium benzoate Partially hydrogenated oils Propyl gallate Propylparaben Red 3 Red 40 Sodium benzoate Sodium nitrate Sodium nitrite Sodium phosphate Soybean oil Soy protein isolate Sucralose (Splenda) Synthetic vitamins TBHQ Titanium dioxide Vanillin Yeast extract Yellow 5 Yellow 6…

Everybody knows the word “arthritis”and what it means—stiffness, pain and swelling in the joints, reduced range of motion, less flexibility and impaired mobility. In comparison, rather few people in the West are familiar with the word “panchakarma”—a highly effective cleansing method used for treating both osteoarthritis (the common, “wear and tear”form of arthritis) and rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints) developed by Ayurvedic doctors in India sometime between 3,000 and 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that translates to “science of life.” In Ayurveda, health exists when five conditions are met: 1) the digestive fire (agni) is in a balanced condition, 2) the three dosha types (the energies of vata, pitta and kapha, see box, right) are in equilibrium, 3) the three…

Vamana: Emesis therapy Therapeutic vomiting is used to relieve congestion in the lungs and eliminate kapha imbalances triggering excess mucus creation. Virechan: Purgation therapy Using a therapeutic laxative helps relieve excess pitta in the gastrointestinal tract causing bile disturbances in the body. Basti: Enema therapy Medicated enemas given rectally move into deeper tissues, like bones, and correct vata disorders. Nasya: Nasal therapy Nasal massage relieves sinus congestion, migraine headaches, convulsions and certain eye and ear problems. Rakta Moksha: Blood therapy This may involve bloodletting (extracting a small amount of blood from the body, typically either in the same way as a medical blood draw or with the use of leeches) or other blood-purifying methods that use herbs, gems or colored water, which induce the spleen to produce anti-toxic substances to…

I’ve had tinnitus—a low-level whirring noise—for about six months now, and it’s driving me crazy. Can you suggest any effective treatments? S.W., via e mail Tinnitus—experiencing ringing, buzzing, whirring or hissing noises in one or both ears—affects most people from time to time, after attending a loud concert, for example. But for 10 to 15 percent of the population, it’s a chronic condition, and up to 6 percent find it seriously interferes with everyday life, causing problems like insomnia and trouble concentrating.1 Defined as the perception of sound in the absence of an external source, tinnitus affects all age groups, although it can be a feature of age-related hearing loss. Other potential causes include repeated exposure to loud noise, ear infection, Ménière’s disease, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (affecting the jaw…

Glaucoma patients typically have a weak antioxidant defense system,8 so boosting it with antioxidant supplements may be able to help. In fact, studies show the following can be beneficial: Vitamin C. Taking vitamin C to bowel tolerance (gradually increasing the dosage each day until you get loose stools, then reducing the dosage slightly) lowered eye pressure in all glaucoma patients in one study. The average daily dose was 10 g per day.9 Suggested dosage: start with 1 g/day in three divided doses and increase to bowel tolerance Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). Glaucoma sufferers taking this antioxidant experienced significant improvements in their vision.10 Suggested dosage: 150 mg/day Vitamin E. Although clinical trials are lacking, some evidence suggests that vitamin E and other fat-soluble antioxidants may prevent the eye’s drainage system from deteriorating…

“Fake news” and “anti-vax” are attack terms reserved for those who question the official medical line, especially in these Covid-crazy days. But there’s only one way we will ultimately know whether something is fake or true—and that’s with the passing of time. Until we have that perspective, it’s all so much censorship or propaganda. Right now, social media platforms are relying on position statements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) as their lodestar for navigating through the waters of Covid and vaccination-related posts and videos. But even without the benefit of time, we know they can be false friends. Journalist Jeremy R. Hammond has had Facebook posts about vaccines judged as being “unreliable” by the platform’s fact-checkers, and yet they are based…