Category: Featured Articles

by Chistopher Barr

“Vitamin pills don’t prevent heart disease,” prominently declared the AP (Associated Propagandaess) “news” headline representative of other “news” coverage given an annual meeting of the American Hurt, er, uh, I mean, Heart, Association.

Heart disease has primarily to do with mineral deficiencies – notably of chromium, selenium , silicon and magnesium – so well grounded nutrition researchers wouldn’t be looking in the direction of vitamin pills.

Specifically, the study noted in the report was on vitamins C and E.  Very few nutrition researchers would look to vitamin C for heart help.  A few more would look to vitamin E though that would be misguided.

The study much ballyhooed by the mainstream press in general is – to quote the bard – much ado about nothing, or at least not very much at all.  It was funded by the National Institutes of Health – your tax dollars at work and a wasted work at that.

Barely getting any attention at all was another study presented at the same meeting disclosing that daily aspirin therapy did not provide any benefit against heart problems.  The AP “news” service made not so much as a mention of it.

Aspirin studies that show heart benefit do not use plain aspirin – they use buffered aspirin.  The buffering agent in buffered aspirin is a hefty dose of magnesium – one of the primary minerals of which deficiency contributes to heart problems.

The benefit of magnesium supplementation to individuals with active heart problems was first documented half a century ago before the first buffered aspirin heart studies were conducted.

Aspirin as a benefit for the heart is a very old canard indeed.

Round and round and round it goes …

The AP article previously noted herein did in its conclusion report that another study with vitamins B-12 and folic acid showed no benefit to the heart.

The vitamins B-12 and folic acid reverse homocysteine to the amino acid methionine.

Homocysteine is a long time demonstrated heart risk indicator though it was long ignored until recent years.

Tragically, more often ignored to this day is that the key to homocysteine issues are pyridoxal compounds commonly known as vitamin B6.

Homocysteine builds up when there is insufficient vitamin B6 to properly metabolize the essential amino acid methionine.

In other words, using vitamin B-12 and folic acid to reverse homocysteine to methionine without addressing the vitamin B6 deficiency that caused the problem in the first place means that homocysteine will form again.  The homocysteine problem never really goes away but rather comes and goes back and forth in a not so merry-go-round and round robin of bird-brained medical minds lacking much in nutrition knowledge even as so many are lack much in nutrition.

Drug pushers protect their turf

Having drug pushers conduct nutrition research is like having foxes guarding chickens.

A straw man argument is when one sets up an argument, assigns it to another, and then burns up that argument while claiming to have discredited another who didn’t even believe that in the first place.

Straw man arguments are the stock in trade of medical men when they argue about nutrition.

Medical men push drugs that you have to appear before them and pay tribute (office vi$it) to get permission to access.  You don’t need their permission to access nutrition so they have no motivation for making use of nutrition.

Another case in point is the story this week that purports to extend statin drug usage even to those without high cholesterol levels.

Statin drugs are already the number one selling drug in America and the new push by these drug pushers would increase that almost 50 per cent.  Yet the study noted numerous side effects from the statins including higher levels of diabetics occurring in those taking the statins … oh, and by the way, diabetics have three to five times as much heart disease as non-diabetics.

Yet, for considerably less than half the cost of statins the ingestion of the essential mineral chromium in a 100 per cent whole food form in hearty (pun intended) amounts results in a decrease of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol that statins provide plus an increase of HDL (“good”) cholesterol that statins do NOT provide with none of the many serious side effects that statins provide.

No permission or tribute to doctors needed for a hearty nutritional approach.

Finally, at the same time as all these other storied medical studies comes word that the AMA has come out in support of trans fats bans.  No mention is made that the common place use of trans fats resulted from rigorous recommendations for many decades from the AMA for their use.  Meanwhile nutrition people who have cried out against trans fats these many decades that AMA has recommended them do not even get a mention.

The AMA declared that stopping use of trans fats would prevent 100,000 deaths per year in the United States alone.  If that is true then the AMA has just admitted liability for 100,000 deaths per year in the United States alone based upon their many decades recommendations of trans fats.

Read in NATURALLY Speaking about simple, plain truths years – even decades – ahead of the mainstream.

by David Gutierrez

(NaturalNews) Doctors in the United Kingdom need to drastically scale back on prescribing antibiotics for respiratory tract infections, according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

NICE, the agency responsible for deciding which treatments are most cost-effective for the United Kingdom's public health system, expressed concern that overuse of antibiotics could not only expose patients to unnecessary and risky side effects, but could also encourage the development of dangerous antibiotic-resistant strains of common pathogens.

"Management of respiratory tract infections in the past concentrated on advising prompt antibiotic treatment," said Paul Little of NICE. "However, as rates of major complications are much less common in modern developed countries, so the evidence of symptomatic benefit should be strong to justify prescribing antibiotics so that we are not needlessly exposing patients to side effects."

The majority of colds, sore throats and other respiratory infections are caused by viruses, and as such cannot be treated effectively by antibiotics, NICE said. It encouraged doctors to reassure patients that the drugs will not help them, or at least to wait before prescribing them. The use of antibiotics might still be justified in certain elderly patients or those showing symptoms of serious illnesses, however.

Respiratory tract infections account for 60 percent of the general practice antibiotic prescriptions in the United Kingdom, and approximately 25 percent of doctor's visits in England and Wales.

MRSA has a mortality rate three times higher than conventional S. aureus infections.

by Jo Hartley

(NaturalNews) Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone. This condition is a result of a dysfunction of the thyroid gland. The bad news is that there are many reasons that the thyroid can become impaired. The good news is that there are natural and effective options for combating hypothyroidism.

The thyroid is made up of two lobes connected together in the front of the neck. The hormones produced by the thyroid gland control the body’s metabolic rate. When the thyroid gland does not function properly, every organ of the body can be affected. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) creates a general depression of the cellular systems and thereby creates a situation of oxidative processes in the body. These systems are necessary for energy production. An underactive thyroid will cause the metabolic activities in these cells to go down. When this occurs, metabolic wastes then filtrate into the organs and this causes them to become sluggish.

This condition will leave a person feeling tired and low on energy. As one’s metabolism slows down, weight gain and constipation often occur. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism are fatigue, lack of energy, inability to tolerate cold temperatures, menstrual irregularities, depression, sluggish reflexes, hair loss, dry skin, brittle nails, and puffy eyes. Usually symptoms start slowly and it is easy to miss connecting these symptoms to a thyroid imbalance.

A common cause of hypothyroidism is an inflammation that damages the thyroid tissue. This damage causes the body’s immune cells to attack the thyroid and this then leaves them incapable of producing enough hormones.

If the thyroid gland is removed then the body is unable to produce any thyroid hormone. If the thyroid is partially removed, it may be able to produce enough thyroid hormone for some time, but eventually it will become overworked and will stop producing.

Hypothyroidism is common in post-partum women and is often misdiagnosed as post-partum depression. Some medications can also cause thyroid dysfunction.

Recommendations for Fighting Hypothyroidism Naturally

•Eliminate saturated fats from your diet. Saturated fats inhibit thyroid function.
•Reduce or eliminate altogether your soy consumption. Soy is known to depress thyroid function and can cause an enlargement of the thyroid gland in healthy people.
•Alkalinize your body. This is an effective way of preventing thyroid dysfunction.
•Vitamin B3 has been shown to lower thyroid hormone levels.
•Strive to balance estrogen levels because estrogen inhibits the thyroid gland.
•Women should consider a hormonal balancing program with progesterone cream to restore a healthy balance.
•Gentian can normalize the function of the thyroid gland.
•Eat kelp and other sea vegetables that are high in iodine. Iodine is necessary for producing the thyroid hormone.
•Radishes can help keep thyroid hormones balanced.
•If depression is an issue, try St. John’s Wort. It is a natural mood elevator.
•Chronic constipation can be alleviated by adding additional dietary fiber to your diet.
•Consider supplementing with zinc and selenium. Severe zinc or selenium deficiencies can cause decreased thyroid hormone levels.
•Coconut oil stimulates the thyroid gland and may help those suffering from hypothyroidism.

by Jo Hartley

(NaturalNews) Aloe Vera has been a known healer for over 3,500 years. This natural and miraculous gel is commonly accepted to be one of the best natural moisturizers in existence and Aloe is now being studied for its benefits for burn victims. The majority of health and beauty products today contain Aloe and it is not hard to understand why. Aloe is a miraculous plant with a versatility that makes it worth learning about.

Aloe is commonly used for sunburns, insect bites, scrapes, and scratches. It has a cool, soothing effect on distressed skin and its moisturizing affects will not only sooth injuries but also promote healing.

Aloe Vera is a very powerful first aid product. While Aloe Vera is not an antiseptic (and should not be used without additional antiseptic products if necessary), Aloe Vera gel can help stop the bleeding of minor cuts and scrapes and can also help protect and hasten the healing of minor cuts and scrapes.

Aloe Vera gel is the perfect treatment for children and is a beneficial addition to any first aid kit. Most Aloe Vera gels are non-toxic, however do check the ingredient list of any potential product and note whether Aloe is a primary ingredient (listed first or second).

Aloe is also a common ingredient in dental products because it is effective at soothing irritated gums.

Aloe can also be ingested internally and is a common treatment for constipation. It works as a laxative by preventing the absorption of water from the bowel. This increases the volume in the intestine and speeds the intestinal process of digestion. This also kills some bacteria and it is believed that a variety of viruses may be affected by Aloe, including herpes, chickenpox, and influenza. Aloe has been promoted as a treatment for coughs, ulcers, muscle pain, headaches, cancer, and HIV. Aloe can cause nausea, however, and should not be taken by pregnant women.

One should not combine Aloe with other medications that are used to eliminate water and potassium from the body. This includes diuretics (Lasix and Diuril) steroid drugs (Prednisone) and also the herb Licorice Root. Because potassium plays an important role in regulating the heart, long term use of laxatives may affect how well some heart medications work. The effects of some heart medications may be enhanced by supplementing with Aloe.

By growing your own Aloe Vera plant you can have easy access to Aloe gel any time you need it. Aloe plants are easily obtained and are easy to care for and grow. They grow well and do not need much water or special care.

When Aloe gel is needed, simply remove a leaf from the plant near the base and split it open. The Aloe gel is inside the exterior and can simply be applied directly to any injury. If there is more gel than needed, it can be refrigerated for later use.

by Mike Adams

(NaturalNews) The shutdown of the American economy has begun. Today Chrysler announced it would shutter 100% of its factories for one month as it seeks bailout money from the Federal Reserve. The Fed, meanwhile, slashes its interest rates to zero, even while promising to print unlimited trillions of new dollars in order to "save" the U.S. economy.

Meanwhile, the state of California has announced it would halt all infrastructure projects (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/us/18…), meaning that the construction and maintenance of bridges, roads and schools will be abandoned until new money can be found.

On the same day, the U.S. dollar plummeted to a 13-year low against the Yen. Investors around the world are realizing the dollar is doomed, and they're increasingly betting against it.

Earlier this week, an important international meeting of heads of state was held in Latin America. The most notable fact about this meeting is that the USA was not invited.

The power and influence of the United States of America is rapidly plummeting, and the closing down of Chrysler's factories is a major warning sign that the U.S. economy, which has long operated on financial vapor, has begun an unprecedented reconfiguration that could mean the end of the dollar as a world currency and the final gutting of America's long-doomed manufacturing industry.

Why the health of the People determines the fate of the economy
In other countries, workers are willing to work for less money, executives are aggressive and well educated, and companies aren't burdened with out-of-control health care costs that have been enforced by the Big Pharma / FDA conspiracy that seeks to keep Americans diseased and medicated.

The upshot is that, in many ways, America can no longer compete on the world stage, and it is now suffering the predictable effects of an economy built on mass consumer poisoning and the continuation of disease.

I've been warning NaturalNews readers about this for years, insisting that the disease economy would spell the economic doom of the nation. I am the original author of the story "The Town of Allopath" (http://www.naturalnews.com/008674.html), which describes the economic destruction of a town that tries to base its economy on disease. Dr. Joe Mercola used the story to create an animation that is now quite famous on the 'net.

I'm also the creator of the Business is Booming cartoon (http://www.naturalnews.com/021218.html), which paints the same picture of economic destruction from a different point of view.

What does health have to do with Chrysler and the U.S. economy? Everything! When a nation bases its medical system on disease and profits rather than health and abundance, that nation has no economic future.

The demise of Chrysler and GM, for example, is due in large part to health issues. It's not just that health care costs are bankrupting the companies, it's also that diseased, medicated workers have poor productivity, a high number of missed work days, poor cognitive function, slow recovery time after injury and are in every way lower-quality workers. A healthy employee is a productive and happier employee. An unhealthy employee is an expensive, non-productive burden on any company.

If you have two labor pools from two different nations, and one nation lives on a traditional diet with few medications while another nation lives on junk food and psychiatric drugs, which labor pool do you think will produce better-quality workers?

You don't even need to answer that question: The free market has answered it for you. Chrysler is bankrupt. Toyota is not. U.S. workers have become increasingly intellectually impaired over the last few decades while workers from nations like China and India have become remarkably well educated and capable. You simply cannot compete in the world if your nation is running on junk foods and medication!

How to save the U.S. economy
If we hope to have even a slight chance of saving the U.S. economy, we are going to have to abandon the business of disease and start creating a healthy population.

Specifically, we must end Big Pharma's patents on medicine, end all drug advertising, radically reform the FDA, legalize natural cancer treatments, end the censorship of nutritional supplements and arrest all the pharma executives, oncologists and cancer-industry pushers who are right now engaged in a form of legalized murder (chemotherapy).

You also need to strip power from corporations as a whole, ending their reign over politics, the media, science journals, med schools and legislation. Corporations need to be stripped of the powers that were only meant to be guaranteed to the People (such as freedom of speech). Corporations should have no free speech. Only individuals should be guaranteed this right. And with that, we could ban all corporate advertising of sodas, junk food, fast food, and anything that was unhealthy.

Grocery stores would need to be completely reorganized: Unhealthy foods go on the bottom shelves. Only the healthiest, most wholesome foods could be displayed on end caps and eye-level shelves. That way, shoppers still have the option of buying garbage foods, but it's not pushed on them like it is today.

We have to completely abandon the business of disease by taking the profit out of it. No more patents for Big Pharma to exploit. No more making money off keeping people diseased. No more payments to doctors and hospitals for running a battery of expensive diagnostic tests while ignoring the basic responsibility to teach patients how to eat right.

At the same time, we need an outright ban on all toxic food ingredients and contaminants (melamine, aspartame, MSG, sodium nitrite, petrochemical colors, trans fats, etc.) as well as a ban on dangerous chemicals in personal care products (fragrance products, skin care, cosmetics, shampoo, soap, etc.). These steps alone would slash cancer rates by perhaps one-third, saving tens of billions of dollars for the U.S. economy (and lives, too).

All companies that make poison should be shut down. Goodbye, DuPont. Goodbye, Monsanto. Goodbye, Merck. Your poisons are no longer welcomed in a health-conscious society.

And then we need a new, national campaign to teach the People about real health. All that empty ad space created by banning Big Pharma's advertising would be replaced by natural health-oriented public service ads that teach people how to eat right, how to get more Vitamin D, how to read food labels, what ingredients to avoid, how to shop smarter and eat healthier.

Since many people won't voluntarily invest in their own health, Government should issue each person a monthly health voucher that could be traded in for health-related products or services: A gym membership, some multivitamins, preventive chiropractic care or anything else they chose. This would be paid by the taxpayers, of course, but it's one of those things an advanced society should always provide (like a "free" education).

In less than one year, the death rate from cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other health conditions would plummet. In three years, the cognitive function of U.S. workers would be measurably higher. In five years, we might be able to effectively compete again on the international stage, and we would see companies expand their operations in the U.S. In ten years, with health care costs plummeting 90 percent, we could take all that money currently being wasted on "disease care" and use it to pay back the national debt. In less than one generation, we'd be a healthy, debt-free nation, with happy, productive workers and real hope for the future.

That's what we could create if any leaders in this country had any real backbone. You have to sacrifice the disease industry if you want to save this nation. You have to shut down Big Pharma and the overwhelming power of corporations if you want to return this nation to the People. You have to be willing to end those things that are destroying America if you want to find a way to save America.

And modern medicine is, without question, destroying America. It's destroying America's cost competitiveness, America's health and America's future. Our "profit at all costs" medical system, if it is not ended, will spell the financial destruction of this nation.

This is not conjecture. It's financial fact.

Consider this startling statistic: Did you know that reducing the cancer death rate by just 1% would be worth almost $500 billion to the U.S. economy in the long run? (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

If you reduce the cancer rate by just 10%, then, it's worth $5 trillion dollars to the economy.

We have the knowledge right now to slash cancer rates by 90%. Vitamin D alone can prevent nearly 80% of all cancers. By adding other anti-cancer nutrients to the mix, we can easily prevent 90% of all cancers. That's worth $45 trillion to the U.S. economy in terms of regained productivity.

Do the math and you'll realize that investing in health is the solution to our nation's economic crisis. A healthy population can earn its way out of debt and back into prosperity. A diseased population, however, has no such opportunity.

If you want to save this nation, you have to start by saving the health of its People. This is a fundamental law of nation building: The People's health must be the foundation upon which all national productivity and wealth is built. Without health, no nation has any real future.

Will America make the right choice?
Not on your life. America has become a nation of complacent, corrupt and incompetent decision makers. It is a nation running on legalized crime (Big Pharma) and the mass poisoning of the people (food companies, soda companies, drug companies, chemical companies, etc.). It is a nation that values short-term profits over long-term prosperity. It has sold out its money supply (to the Fed), its health (to Big Pharma), its honesty (to the highest corporate bidder) and its entire system of government (to the corporations).

As such, America as we know it will soon collapse. Its economy is headed towards ruin, its currency is increasingly worthless, its people are medicated beyond all reason and its politicians are almost universally crooks. What Blagojevich was arrested for in Illinois is taking place every single day in the halls of Congress in Washington. Selling out the People for personal gain is a way of life in Washington D.C.

There is no leader in power who can make the tough decisions to turn America around. And anyone thinking Obama can do this is in for a rude surprise. Obama's health plan is largely based on defending the status quo while requiring employers to continue paying for a diseased population. Nothing in Obama's health plan even pretends to make tough decisions like overthrowing the FDA or ending the monopolistic patent protection on Big Pharma's medicines.

America will ultimately be destroyed by its own greed and arrogance, following the inescapable cycle of nations as they move from abundance to complacency, then to apathy, then to dependence and bondage. (See below.)

The cycle of nations and the fall of Democracy
I leave you with the words of Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor who wrote in 1787 (yes, 1787!) these timely words that are far more coherent and honest than any words that have come out of the mouth of any U.S. politician in recent memory (except perhaps for Ron Paul, who echoes this theme):

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.

A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.

From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.

The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years.

During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:

1. from bondage to spiritual faith;
2. from spiritual faith to great courage;
3. from courage to liberty;
4. from liberty to abundance;
5. from abundance to complacency;
6. from complacency to apathy;
7. from apathy to dependence;
8. from dependence back into bondage."

Today, America is in stage 8: Dependence into bondage. The private sectors of America cannot exist on their own anymore, and they must turn to the government (the Fed, the Treasury, etc.) to be bailed out. Cities, states, companies and entire industry are now deep into dependence. (The U.S. government, for example, now owns 50% of the private homes in the country due to its nationalization of Fannie May and Freddie Mac).

Bondage is the next step in this predictable cycle, and it is a desperate stage in which the demoralized American people may dwell for a decade or more.

Are you ready for 2009 yet? I'll be publishing a checklist of what you need to take care of before the future unfolds. Do not be caught unprepared in a nation headed towards collapse.

Watch for an upcoming article in which I recommend a new source for gold and silver: Golden Lion Mint (www.GoldenLionMint.com), where you can currently get precious metals at a much lower price than buying official U.S.-minted coins (which are now inflated due to supply / demand pressures). I have no financial interest in Golden Lion Mint.

You may also want to consider joining my "Mindful Wealth" email list, which send out one email every two weeks or so, bringing you information on either protecting your wealth, or attracting new abundance, even during difficult economic times. You can join that list for free at: http://www.naturalnews.com/MindfulWealt…

Whatever you do, take action now to protect your savings, your home and your health from what's coming. The approaching years are bound to be tumultuous.

by Susanne Morrone, C.N.C

(NaturalNews) Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail, reports something is happening to men and boys which concerns scientists and researchers: fewer boys are being born than girls. How far-reaching is this problem? In a study by Dr. Devra Davis of the University of Pittsburgh, the combined figures for U.S. and Japan is a “staggering tally of 262,000 ‘missing boys’ from 1970 to about 2000 because of a decline in the sex ratio at birth.”

Scientists are also puzzled why there is a lopsided ratio of girls to boys being born in the Canada's Aamjiwnaang First Nation. Interestingly enough, this community is almost surrounded by petrochemical plants. In Canadian babies, hypospadiasis has increased by 60% since the mid-1970’s. This is a disfiguring defect, where the urinary opening is on the underside of the penis rather than its normal anatomical position. Other countries are seeing an increase in this condition as well.

From 1983 to 2005, young Canadian males in the 20 to 44 age bracket have seen a 54 per cent rise in testicular cancer. Testosterone levels in U.S. men have declined by nearly 20% over the past two decades. Both fertility and virility rates are down, including the shrinking size of male gonads.

There’s a definite parallel in the animal kingdom. Man-made chemical toxins frequently assault males of different species with fiercer effects. Amphibians such as male toads are being feminized.

University of Florida zoologist, Dr. Theo Colborn, author of “Our Stolen Future” and president of the Colorado-based Endocrine Disruption Exchange, offered her expert opinion. She fears some chemicals are impeding normal brain development, with greater impact on males. As an example, she cites attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as two to four times greater in boys than girls. She also feels chemical exposures could explain why enrollment at U.S. and Canadian universities favors females, currently at 60 to 40 per cent.

The environmental impacts of phthalates in plastic inhibit testosterone production and possibly may cause irregular genital development. Brominated flame-retardants may block the thyroid hormone critical to proper development of both the testes and the brain. University of Missouri professor, Dr. vom Saal, said, “This mishmash of synthetic hormones – leading to too much estrogen and too little testosterone and thyroid hormone – is making "a mess of sexual development in males." He conducted studies relative to sperm health comparing various geographic locations. A markedly lower sperm count in males from farming areas verses urban areas suggests pesticides are to blame.

Of the world’s 100,000 registered chemicals, many are endocrine disruptors, exhibiting toxic hormonal effects along with carcinogenicity. Even in mere parts per million, these chemicals can upset the intricate working of human hormones. Xenoestrogens are found in DDT and other organophosphate pesticides, PCB’s, plastics, bisphenol A, DES, as well as mercury and uranium. They’re in our food and the air we breathe. This continuing chemical assault from pesticide applications is taking a serious health toll. There is good reason to be pro-active in lessening these assaults as much as possible, and the effects upon men and boys is obviously a major one.
_____________
Source for this story: Canada’s National Newspaper, The Globe and Mail
“Humanity at Risk: Are The Males Going First?” September 20, 2008

December 7, 2008

"Over the past 20 years Congress has encouraged the U.S. military to supply intelligence, equipment, and training to civilian police. That encouragement has spawned a culture of paramilitarism in American law enforcement. The 1980s and 1990s have seen marked changes in the number of state and local paramilitary units, in their mission and deployment, and in their tactical armament." –Cato Institute

By Eric Carter, Phd

My idea of a perfect natural supplement (or even a perfect chemical medicine) is one that would not only provide broad spectrum immunity from disease, but would also come to the rescue in the event we did succumb to one of Pasteur’s nasty bugs or our own foolish lifestyle choices. While I seriously doubt that science will ever be able to create the perfect medicine, a significant amount of research indicates that Mother Nature has had such an answer all along.

You will read about Mother Natures perfect answer below, however, before I tell you about the wonders of “colostrum ”, I feel I would be quite remiss in my responsibility to tell the “whole story”, if I didn’t also tell you that the milk that follows colostrum from the mammary glands is just as powerful, unless it is pasteurized. Raw milk has a long history of success in treating virtually all diseases known, and many of the studies available on colostrum could just as surely be studies on raw milk.

Dr. Charles Sanford Porter, M.D. in his 1911 book “The Milk Diet as a Remedy for Chronic Disease" detailed patient cures for a variety of ailments using a regimented milk diet (and raw milk was the only milk at that time). Dr. J. R. Crewe, of the Mayo Foundation, forerunner of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, published in Certified Milk Magazine, January 1929 an article detailing successful treatments of patients using raw milk. Dr. Crewe is credited with curing many patients of many diseases, using only raw milk. Most medical professionals refused to “pay attention” to the “milk cure”, because as Dr. Crewe stated, “it is just too simple”. I urge you to consider researching the value of raw milk further, and including this “perfect food” in your diet and that of your children. You will likely be amazed at the health problems that may resolve !

But back to colostrum ; I have attempted to write the following information to be easily understood by the layperson as well as the doctor, however, it is necessary to add extensive references and scientific substantiation for doctors, and I apologize in advance if such “referencing” proves a little “tiring” to the lay-reader.

While the knowledge that colostrum is essential for newborns is “old news”, and aside from the vast amount of “hype” available from companies and retailers concerned with marketing their colostrum products, clinical trial and research over the past few decades show that colostrum truly is unquestionably one of nature’s most powerful contributions to health. While this article is certainly not an all-inclusive list of the vast amount of research available on colostrum, I hope to answer common questions in hopes of educating parents, the victims of chronic poor health, and caring doctors to go forth and satisfy themselves that colostrum may just be a perfect, safe and effective adjunct in the treatment of many of our chronic health woe’s at any age.  For those that believe colostrum holds value only for the “newborn”, keep reading !

About Colostrum (also called foremilk): Colostrum is a thin yellowish fluid secreted by the mammary glands at the time of parturition that is rich in antibodies and minerals, and precedes the production of true milk. Colostrum contains many substances that are important to immunity and health including; Immunoglobulin’s (IgG, IgA, IgD, IgE, and IgM), which are natural antibiotic factors, or substances that neutralize toxins, viruses, and bacteria, particularly in the digestive and respiratory systems. These antibodies specifically recognize any foreign compound that enters the body, then direct themselves to the invader and attack it; Cytokines, which are small proteins that affect the behavior of other cells; Lactoferrin, which is a substance that neutralizes bacteria and helps release cytokines; and Growth factors (IGF-I, IGF-II, EGF, TGF α & β), which are substances that aid in cellular, muscular and skeletal growth.

Research shows colostrum to be one of nature's most potent, broad-spectrum substances

Chiropractic Journal. Joseph M, Flesch A. (1998)14

Importance of colostrum factors: A study in 199712 shows the importance of colostrum for the newborn calf. Delaying colostrum intake by one day impairs plasma lipid, essential fatty acid, carotene, retinol and a-tocopherol status in neonatal calves12. We can likely deduce that the same holds true for humans. Kelly GS. (2003)15 reviewed the clinical uses of colostrum. He reported that Bovine colostrum has higher amounts of immunoglobulins, growth factors, cytokines and nucleosides than mature milk, and is also rich in oligosaccharides, antimicrobials, and immune-regulating factors.  Multiple research studies indicate that colostrum can have a beneficial effect on improving body composition, athletic performance, diarrhea (particularly in people with immune deficiency), gastrointestinal disturbances, and infectious diseases.

Safety: While multiple studies are available attesting to the safety of colostrum, common sense dictates that virtually every living human has consumed it without ill effects, therefore the safety of colostrum taken from healthy bovine and properly prepared is assured (individuals sensitive to lactose should consult with a health care professional). In one study, Davis, PF, Greenhill, NS, Rowan, AM, Schollum, LM. (2007)4 tested New Zealand bovine colostrum in rat chow and discovered no observable toxicological or histopathological abnormalities.

Oral absorption: A study conducted on newborn rats by Jochims K, Kaup FJ, Drommer W. (1994)1 1demonstrated that IgG molecules were absorbed primarily in the first portion, as well as further along in the small intestine, as opposed to the stomach. Another study by Petschow B, Talbott R. (1994)2 shows that gastric acid and pancreatic trypsin (a digestive enzyme) reduce the biological activity of bovine milk antibodies as they pass through the digestive tract. At the same time, Mother Nature has addressed this issue as was shown by Sandholm M, Honkanen-Buzalski T. (1979)3, who found that Colostrum contains a trypsin inhibitor that helps protect IgG and other components of colostrum from digestion in the gastrointestinal tract. If these same principles hold true for humans, absorption of active substances in colostrum may be enhanced when taken on an empty stomach, perhaps with a full glass of water to help dilute stomach acid.

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Below is a partial list of conditions colostrum shows success in treating:

Influenza: In a 2007 epidemiologic study in San Valentino5, colostrum was compared to anti-influenza vaccination for effectiveness in preventing the flu in healthy as well as high risk cardiovascular patients. The study found that 2 months supplementation with colostrum is at least 3 times more effective than vaccination in preventing flu. This study follows a 1990 study26.

Cancer: A study in 199725 may give hope for cancer patients. The study shows that conjugated linoleic acid, a component of cow's milk and colostrum, inhibits proliferation of human malignant melanoma, colorectal, breast and lung cancer cell lines. It also has been shown to reduce the incidence of chemically induced mouse epidermal tumors, mouse forestomach neoplasia, and aberrant crypt foci in rats.  It also inhibits mammary tumorogensis. While I would personally recommend avoiding pasteurized milk, this study makes a good case for raw milk, and particularly colostrum as an adjunct in cancer therapies.

Body Composition: A 2004 study6 of healthy young men in resistance training who were taking colostrum at the rate of 60 g/day for 8 weeks, showed a significantly greater increase in body comp/limb circumference than those taking whey protein6. Doctors that use body comp analysis in practice to provide a marker for health, take note – colostrum may be a tremendous boost to phase angle/cell heath in addition to its immune boosting qualities!

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection – Bronchitis – Viral Infections: Brink worth GD, Buckley JD. (2004)7 conducted a study that shows evidence that concentrated bovine colostrum protein may enhance resistance to the development of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (URI). A study by Tyrell D. (1981)8 shows that breast fed babies are much less likely to experience bronchitis due to RSV (respiratory syncitial virus) than bottle fed babies. The antiviral activity of breast milk and colostrum is partially due to antibodies (immunoglobulins) and partially due to other causes, possibly polysaccharides found on a number of the constituents of colostrum. The main effect of these components of colostrum and milk take place in the gut.

Rheumatoid and other forms of Arthritis: Several studies indicate that bovine colostrum may be a very successful treatment for rheumatoid and other forms of arthritis. In one 20049 study, it was found that Oral administration of bovine lactoferrin, a component of colostrum, inhibited the development of arthritis in a rat experimental system by suppressing TNF-alpha (pro-inflammatory cytokine) and increasing IL-10 (anti-inflammatory cytokine) production. Two other studies in 199621 and 199922 indicate that substances in colostrum may have a major impact on the inflammation seen in arthritis.

Physical Performance: Research in 200010 studied the effect of colostrum supplementation on maximal oxygen uptake and flight times in jump tests in 10 young athletes in a double-blind placebo study.  After 12 days, oxygen uptake in the placebo group declined 7% while remaining steady in the colostrum group.  Flight times declined for the placebo group in the counter movement and squat jumps while remaining the same or only slightly less for the colostrum group.  The results indicate that colostrum supplementation improves running and jumping performance in young athletes. Could colostrum also benefit those suffering lung disease ?

Anti-Inflammatory: Colostrum could possibly provide pain relief for injury and reduced healing time – In an experimental study in 199311, colostrum showed an anti-inflammatory effect on wounds by decreasing the number of white blood cells in the wound area.

Blood Pressure:  A study in 200413 shows that factors from milk and colostrum are potent ACE inhibitors. Several human studies associate these factors with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

Diarrhea/Intestinal Infection: Clostridium Difficile Bacterium (C Diff) is a toxin that causes diarrhea and intestinal infection. Research indicates that C Diff is primarily acquired during hospital visits, and largely due to over-use of antibiotics. In recent reports, C Diff is blamed for 7000 new infections daily, resulting in 300 daily deaths.  A study in 199816 indicates that the C Diff neutralizing factor in colostrum (IgG) survives the digestive tract, indicating that oral colostrum shows great promise as an effective treatment for this deadly toxin. Another study in 199227 shows that IgG from colostrum can help prevent nosocomial infections, i.e. infections which are a result of treatment in a hospital.

Rotavirus: One of the main reasons for hospital admission of infants and young children is infectious diarrhea usually caused by a rotavirus infection. Infants can also acquire rotavirus in hospital neonatal and pediatric wards; the infection can also be transmitted to adult members of the family. In a 1989 study20, the efficacy of a 10-day course of bovine colostrum with high antibody titre against the four known human rotavirus serotypes in protecting children against rotavirus infection was examined in patients admitted to hospital. Of the total group of children in the study, none of the 55 receiving colostrum acquired Rotavirus infection, while 9 in the control that did not receive colostrum did.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease/Crohn’s Disease: A study in 200417 showed that Mice with experimentally-induced inflammatory bowel disease, fed a diet rich in colostrum transforming growth factor beta-2 (TGF-ß2) gained more weight, did not develop diarrhea or prolapse, had lower pathological scores and lower serum amyloid (SAA).  This study supports the use of TGF-ß2 diets in the treatment of Crohn’s disease. This study follows a study in 199031 that shows that There is a direct correlation between increased intestinal permeability and Crohn's disease.

Helicobactor Pylori: H. pylori causes gastric and duodenal ulcers in humans. It was shown in a 1998 study19 that bovine colostrum blocks attachment of the pathogens to PE.  Colostral PE or PE derivatives also bind to the pathogens, inhibiting their ability to bind to target cells. Another study in 199523 shows that both serum and colostrum but not milk from cows was found to be highly bactericidal against H. pylori.

Leaky Gut: Multiple studies show that colostrum “heals” leaky gut. A 2004 study33 is but one example. Since the “gut” is the beginning of health, and since leaky gut is epidemic, it makes a great deal of sense to start your journey to better health with colostrum !
 
Allergy: Allergy is characterized by elevated levels of specific IgE in the blood, called “atopy”.  According to research in 200224 Therapy with anti-IgE has shown promise in inhibiting early and late-phase allergic reactions and asthma.  Colostrum contains both IgE and IgE-blockers. An additional study in 200528 suggests that colostrum may protect from both infectious disease and allergies mediated by Th2 type responses.

Antibacterial-Antifungal-Antiviral-Antitumor-Antialzheimers – Plus More: Colostrum and milk are rich in proteins and peptides which play a crucial role in innate immunity when transferred to the offspring, and may accelerate maturation of the immune system in neonates. The immunotropic properties of these proteins prompted investigators in 200518 to research their potential application in prevention and therapy. Lactoferrin (LF) exhibits antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitice, and antitumoral activities. It is protective with regard to intestinal epithelium, promotes bone growth, and accelerates the recovery of immune system function in immunocompromised animals. LF was tried in the treatment of hepatitis C infection and the intestinal form of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). A proline-rich polypeptide (PRP) demonstrated a variety of immunotropic functions, including the promotion of T-cell maturation and inhibition of autoimmune disorders. PRP, in the form of chewable tablets (Colostrinin) was recently found to improve or stabilize the health status of Alzheimer's disease patients. Casein and casein-derived peptides showed protective activities in enamel demineralization and as caries-preventing agents. The protein hydrolyzates were also protective in diabetic animals, reduced tumor growth, had antihypertensive activity and diminished colicky symptoms in infants. Glycomacropeptide (GMP), a peptide derived from kappa-casein, exhibited various antibacterial and antithrombotic activities. Alpha-lactalbumin (LA) demonstrated antiviral, antitumoral and anti-stress properties. LA-enriched diets were anxiolytic, lowered blood pressure in rats, prevented diarrhea, and led to a better weight gain in malnourished children. HAMLET, a complex of LA and oleic acid, was effective in patients with cutaneous papillomas. Lysozyme found application in infant formulas, the treatment of periodentitis, and the prevention of tooth decay. Milk enriched in lysozyme was used in feeding premature infants suffering from concomitant diseases. Interesting, antibacterial properties were exhibited by lactoperoxidase. Both lysozyme and lactoperoxidase required cooperative action with LF in combating bacteria. In conclusion, preparations derived from milk and colostrum are effective, easily bioaccessible, and safe, finding wide application in prevention and therapy for newborns and adults.

Prevention of intestinal damage from NSAIDS/Chemotherapy: NSAIDs given to animals have much the same effect as they do in humans, namely, increased intestinal permeability, increased enteric bacteria levels, villous loss, and loss of enteric protein and albumin.  A study in 200529 indicates that supplementation with bovine colostrum reduced the increase in intestinal permeability, the enteric bacteria overgrowth, the lose of proteins, and villous damage. This study follows finding in 199932 that taking colostrum prior to NSAIDs reduced gastric injury by up to 60%. Additional studies indicate that colostrum is protective against chemotherapy-induced mucositis.

Psychiatric Disorders: Certain chronic psychiatric disorders are characterized by a change in intestinal permeability30. This is another reminder that “health begins in the gut”

Conclusion: I could continue with several hundred more studies that show the value of colostrum for all humans, young and old, sick or healthy, but surely you “get the point” by now!  In a “perfect world”, a time before chemicals, pollution, processed food, mercury fillings and symptom depressing medications, colostrum at birth followed by a year or so of pure mother’s milk may have imparted the immunity for a lifetime. Today that is not possible and we can see from multiple research trials that colostrum is likely the most powerful supplement you can take to improve many area’s of health.

by Mike Adams

(NaturalNews) The death rates for heart disease and stroke among U.S. citizens has dropped 30 percent between 1999 and 2006, reports the Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers are hailing the report as a major success in the effectiveness of conventional medicine. "It's one of the most remarkable achievements of modern medicine to have this kind of decline," said Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a cardiologist at UCLA's Geffen School of Medicine, in an LA Times report.

It sure is remarkable, all right. What's remarkable is that conventional medicine thinks it deserves the credit for this decline. Putting all those people on statin drugs, blood pressure drugs and other dangerous pharmaceuticals must be working, they conclude. The death rate is down, see?

But as you'll see below, they are once again engaged in circular logic and self-imposed blindness on the real causes behind this trend.

Two reasons why heart disease deaths are declining
What's the real explanation for the decline in heart disease and stroke deaths between 1999 and 2006? There are two, actually:

Reason #1 – Consumers are turning to natural medicine and healthier lifestyles. The use of natural medicine by the U.S. population has risen substantially over the last eight years, reaching a point where thirty-eight percent of the population now uses one or more "alternative" medicine modalities.

Consumers are turning away from pharmaceuticals in droves. The drug companies are already laying off employees by the thousands, and as the fraudulent science behind Big Pharma is coming to light, more and more consumers are shunning dangerous pharmaceuticals. Perhaps one-third of drug-taking consumers are now actively looking for ways to get off dangerous drugs, and that's contributing to the fall in the death rate from heart attacks and strokes (many pharmaceuticals actually cause heart attacks and strokes).

Meanwhile, thanks to the efforts of the natural health community, consumption of heart-protecting omega-3 oils skyrocketed from 1999 to 2008, and it continues to rise. These omega-3 oils help support heart health and work to prevent heart attacks. Over the last eight years, consumers have become increasingly informed of the benefits of fish oil, krill oil, olive oil, flaxseed oil and even other omega-3-rich oils that provide substantial cardiovascular protection.

And thanks to the efforts of many consumer groups and natural health publishers, consumers are now well aware of the dangers of trans fatty acids and partially-hydrogenated oils, so they're actively reducing their consumption of these dangerous substances. That reduction is no doubt contributing strongly to the reduction in the death rate by heart attacks and strokes.

Consumers are now eating more whole grains, more oily fish, more raw foods and more heart-healthy nutritional supplements like CoQ10 and resveratrol. They're also eating fewer fried foods, fewer refined sugars and fewer processed meats. All of these contribute strongly to the reduction in the death rate.

Reason #2 – The really susceptible people had already been killed by modern medicine before 1999. Death rates by heart disease and stroke rapidly accelerated throughout the 1980's and 1990's as drug companies pushed their toxic chemicals onto the population. Many of the people susceptible to heart attacks and strokes had already been killed by pharmaceuticals by the time 1999 rolled around. That the death rate dropped in subsequent years doesn't mean modern medicine succeeded at all; it only means there were fewer patients left alive to have a heart attack at all! When modern medicine kills 783,000 Americans a year, it doesn't leave a lot borderline patients still breathing.

To invoke a gruesome comparison, the death rate of Jews in 1946 dropped substantially from the death rates recorded through 1939 – 1945. That's because the Nazis killed so many Jews during the war that far fewer were left in 1946. If the Nazis used the same thinking as drug-pushing doctors today, they would have claimed credit for "A reduction in the death rate of Jews!" from 1946 – 1950.

Modern medicine, you see, kills so many American every year that any attempt to take credit for a drop in the death rate is ludicrous to begin with. It's like a serial killer who claims he's saving lives because he took a month off from his usual killing spree. The reduced death rate is simply a reminder of how many people have been killed by pharmaceuticals, bypass surgery and other harmful medical procedures in the last two decades.

Taking all the credit
Hilariously, the conventional medical community gives zero credit to nutrition, natural remedies or lifestyle changes, claiming that its pharmaceuticals and "screening programs" (which are really just recruitment scams for putting people on pharmaceuticals) are solely responsible for the decline in heart attacks and strokes.

Even worse, the conventional medical community continues to actively attack natural medicine, fabricating fraudulent studies that claim Vitamin E is dangerous and actually causes heart attacks, for example. (They're fraudulent because all those studies used synthetic vitamin E chemicals rather than natural vitamin E. The synthetic chemicals are well known to be harmful.)

Through their attacks on vitamins, minerals and natural remedies the conventional medicine community has actually interfered with the reduction in heart disease deaths. In other words, if all these arrogant, drug-pushing doctors weren't running around claiming vitamins kill people, we would have seen a much greater decline in heart attack and stroke deaths by now!

In reality, then, conventional medicine is responsible for maintaining a high rate of death from these preventable health conditions, and if they weren't actively interfering with natural medicine, the death rates would have plummeted even further by now. By putting accurate information about nutrition into the hands of consumers, we could have seen the death rate drop by 50% or more, but those efforts have been blocked by the conventional medical community and the FDA, which continues to claim there is no such thing as a food or nutritional supplement that has any medicinal effect on the human body whatsoever. (Stop laughing. It's true.)

To put it simply, conventional medicine is the CAUSE of the high death rates, not the solution. The solution is to cast off the destructive, fraudulent and criminally-operated system of drug-based medicine and turn to nutritional therapies, healthy food choice, exercise and natural remedies that powerfully prevent heart disease and strokes from killing people in the first place.

But none of those commonsense solutions receive any support whatsoever from the pro-pharma drug-pushing medical community. And that's the real reason why death rates from heart disease and strokes remain unacceptably high in America today.

Want to see the death rate drop by 50% or more? Fire the doctors, arrest the drug company CEOs and ban the marketing of junk foods and fast food! That's what would really work to reduce the death rate in America.

Then again, the medical industry has never been interested in what works to keep people healthy. It has only been interested in what pays. And that's why the whole system remains focused on the most expensive (but least effective) treatments possible: Pharmaceuticals and surgery!

by Barbara Minton

(NaturalNews) Evidence abounds that lipoic acid may be protective of every organ in the body. Among the latest findings are that lipoic acid is a powerful protector of the brain. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and neuro-protective capabilities that make if effective in slowing the aging of the brain and treating Alzheimer's disease. Other recent research shows that lipoic acid prevents the development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and protects retina ganglion.

Lipoic acid (LA) , also known as alpha-lipoic acid and R-lipoic acid, is a sulfur containing fatty acid that's found inside every cell of plant and animal bodies. It helps generate the energy that keeps the organism alive and functioning. It's a key part of metabolic machinery, turning glucose (blood sugar) into energy for the body's needs.

Lipoic acid is a broad spectrum antioxidant,

The antioxidant capabilities of LA are legendary. It neutralizes many free radicals generated by metabolic processes as well as those produced by the body in response to environmental insults. But unlike other antioxidants, which work only in water or fatty tissues, LA works in both water and fat. As a comparison, vitamin E works only in fat, and vitamin C works only in water. This ability makes LA a broad spectrum antioxidant that has been shown to offer protection for the eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and pancreas. In addition, LA may be able to do the work of other antioxidants when the body is deficient in them. LA can get into all parts of a nerve cell thanks to its combined fat and water solubility. Future research may determine that LA exerts its antioxidant protection on all cells in the body, making it a highly significant factor in inhibiting the aging process.

Lipoic acid is a powerful protector of the brain

LA serves as a chelator of redox-active metal ions, such as free iron and copper, that can induce oxidative damage by catalyzing reactions that generate highly reactive free radicals. It's able to bind with these ions and escort them out of the body, inhibiting aging and reducing the possibility for neurodegenerative disorders.

In a study published in Redox Report, researchers monitored iron content in the cerebral cortex of rats and found that in 24-28 month old rats, levels were increased by 80% relative to 3 month old rats. Iron accumulation correlated with a decline in glutathione, one of the body's major antioxidants, indicating that iron alters antioxidant capacity in aged animals. They monitored whether supplementing LA could lower cortical iron and improve antioxidant status. Results showed that cerebral iron levels in the old rats supplemented with LA were lower when compared to controls and were similar to levels seen in young rats. Antioxidant status also improved markedly in the old rats verses the controls. These results support the conclusions that LA supplementation lowers the oxidative stress associated with aging.

LA was shown to have a variety of properties that can interfere with or inhibit cognitive decline in a study reported in Advanced Drug Delivery Review. Researchers looking for a therapeutic for Alzheimer's disease determined that LA increased acetylcholine production (a neurotransmitter) and down regulated the expression of pro-inflammatory proteins. They suggested that one large dose rather than more frequent low doses would be beneficial for delivery of LA to the brain. They also suggested that LA could be combined with such nutraceuticals as curcumin (from turmeric), EGCG (from green tea), and DHA (from fish oil) to synergistically decrease oxidative stress, inflammation, and plaque in the brain.

Researchers evaluated the neurotoxic effects of an induced poison and the protective potential of LA and vitamin E against this toxicity in a study reported in Journal of Neurological Science. The LA, vitamin E treatment significantly increased the level of glutathione, GABA and serotonin levels in the whole brain as well as in the regions of the olfactory lobe, cerebrum, hippocampus-hypothalamus, cerebellum and pons-medulla. This is quite a demonstration of the actions of these compounds in protecting the brain from environmental toxic assault.

Progressive Brain Research reported a study in which researchers hypothesized that since the death of retina ganglion cells (cells that help carry the visual message to the brain) in glaucoma is mediated by cellular energy insufficiency, agents targeted specifically at enhancing ganglion cell energy production would be beneficial for patients with glaucoma. They suggested that ganglion cell death in glaucoma follows a similar pathophysiology as numerous neurological disorders involving energy dysregulation and oxidative stress. Enhancing cellular energy production would slow down ganglion cell death and benefit glaucoma patients. Based on their laboratory studies, they recommended LA along with other nutrients (creatine, nicotinamide, and EGCG from green tea) to increase energy in the mitrochrondria of the ganglion. According to the researchers, the recommended nutrients counteract oxidative stress induced by light and other triggers, and are worthy of use in treatment as they can be taken orally to reach the retina without side effects.

Lipoic acid improves glucose utilization and prevents fatty liver

LA can get into all parts of a nerve cell thanks to its combined fat and water solubility. Since it is thought that nerve diseases are at least partially caused by free radical damage, LA is being studied for its potential benefit in treating diabetic neuropathy. It is already approved for such treatment in Germany. There is also evidence that LA can improve glucose utilization in individuals with diabetes.

Fatty liver is a common problem in people with insulin resistance. A study reported in the journal Hepatology found that LA prevents fatty liver disease through multiple mechanisms, and suggests that it can be used to stop the progression of the disease.

Researchers are discovering more amazing benefits of lipoic acid against aging

The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University is the site of much investigation into LA. Researchers there see aging as an inevitable process resulting from adverse changes in the body. While people are generally resigned to eventual death, there is a universal desire to maintain health and avoid degenerative disease.

Two research projects currently underway seek to define the mechanisms of mitochrondrial decay in the aging heart and elucidate the mechanisms leading to increased vulnerability to oxidative insults that result in aging.

The mitochondria is the furnace or power plant of the cell which converts food into energy to be used by the body. Mitochondria play major roles in calcium homeostasis and regulate programmed cell death and tissue renewal. Any impairment in mitochondrial function has significant consequences to the cell. Mitochondria become severely impaired with age, resulting in high levels of free radicals that continually damage it and other important parts of the cell such as DNA. This leads to a vicious downward spiral in overall cell function.

Researchers are examining the affect of mitochondrial decay on age-related loss of cardiac function, the leading cause of death in the elderly. They have identified compounds normally found in cells that decline markedly with age but can be replaced by dietary supplementation. They term these compounds 'age-essential' micronutrients and have shown that two of these compounds, acetyl-L-carnitine and LA, when fed to rats, significantly improve mitochondrial function and reduce many of the signs of aging. They are now determining whether these age-essentials can also improve overall human health.

Their other project involves study of the susceptibility of the body to a variety of oxidative insults. They have found that glutathione, a major cellular detoxicant, declines substantially with age. This loss is due to age-dependent lessening of activity and levels of gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase (GCL), the rate-controlling enzyme for glutathione synthesis. GCL expression is controlled by a transcription factor that becomes dysregulated with age, resulting in loss of GCL expression and potentially many of the nearly 400 other detoxification enzymes controlled by this transcription factor.

They have found that treatment with LA re-regulates these factors, thereby increasing glutathione levels and the ability to withstand oxidative insult. Their ongoing research is aimed at defining the exact mechanisms of these actions.

Using Lipoic acid supplements

Consumption of LA in foods has not yet been found to result in detectable increases of it in human plasma or cells. Supplemental doses of 50 mg. or more do result in significant but transient increases in plasma and cell levels. LA supplements should be taken on an empty stomach for better absorption.

Supplements of LA are widely available as alpha-lipoic acid, composed of a mixture of the naturally occurring R-lipoic acid with the synthetic form, S-lipoic acid, the molecular mirror image of R-lipoic acid. Alpha-lipoic acid is quite effective and inexpensive, but presents the body with a substance that does not occur in nature. As with any unnatural substance, the immune system will respond to it as a foreign invader. The liver will be required to deal with it as a toxicant, and the body may mount resistance to it.

R-lipoic acid is clearly the better choice and really doesn't cost that much more. It is available at the online retailers and through such nutrient boutiques as Wellness Resources.

If you plan to take only one antioxidant supplement, LA provides the greatest breadth of coverage in the body. It also serves as a foundation for other antioxidants that may be taken to target specific areas, and may fill in for them in the body when levels have run low.

Additional sources:

"Lipoic Acid", Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.

Tory M. Hagan, Ph.D. Principal Investigator and Jamieson Endowed Chair in Healthspan Research, Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.