According to the most comprehensive global analysis1,2,3 done to date, sepsis is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths worldwide each year, killing 11 million out of 56 million people in 2017 alone. The researchers call the finding “alarming,” as their updated figures are double that of previous estimates. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition triggered by a systemic infection that causes your body to overreact and launch an excessive and highly damaging immune response. Unless promptly diagnosed and treated, it can rapidly progress to multiple-organ failure and death, so it’s crucial to be on the lookout for its signs and symptoms4,5,6 whenever you’re ill or in the hospital. This includes cases of suspected influenza, as sepsis can mimic many of the signs and symptoms of flu. In fact, as discussed in “The Alarming Reason Some People Die From the Flu,” sepsis is one of the leading causes for influenza deaths.7 Vitamin C Protocol Lowers Sepsis MortalityThe good news is, a protocol of intravenous (IV) vitamin C with hydrocortisone and thiamine (vitamin B1) has been shown to dramatically improve chances of survival.8 This sepsis treatment protocol was developed Dr. Paul Marik, a critical care doctor at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in East Virginia. His retrospective before-after clinical study9,10 showed giving patients 200 mg of thiamine every 12 hours, 1,500 mg of ascorbic acid every six hours, and 50 mg of hydrocortisone every six hours for two days reduced mortality from 40% to 8.5%. Importantly, the treatment has no side effects and is inexpensive, readily available and simple to administer, so there’s virtually no risk involved. More recent research,11,12 published online January 9, 2020, found Marik’s sepsis protocol lowered mortality in pediatric patients as well. The study was performed at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, and as noted by Science Daily,13 the preliminary data from this study “supports the promising outcomes seen in adults.” Between January 2014 and February 2019, 557 pediatric patients with septic shock met the criteria for inclusion in the study. Forty-three received Mariks’s vitamin C-B1-hydrocortisone protocol, 181 received hydrocortisone-only therapy, and 333 received neither of these treatments. The 43 patients receiving the vitamin C treatment were matched based on clinical status with 43 untreated controls and 43 hydrocortisone-only patients. At the 30-day mark, controls and the hydrocortisone-only groups had a mortality rate of 28% while the treatment group had a mortality rate of just 9%. At 90 days, 35% of the controls and 33% of those receiving hydrocortisone-only had died, compared to just 14% of the treatment group.14 As noted by the authors, “Our results suggest that HAT [hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid and thiamine] therapy, when administered early in the clinical course, reduces mortality in children with septic shock.” Vitamin C Put to the Test Against CoronavirusIn 2009, IV vitamin C was shown to be a potentially lifesaving treatment against severe swine flu. Even before that, many studies had demonstrated the usefulness of vitamin C against infections of various kinds. For example, a randomized double-blind study15 published in 1994 found elderly patients given 200 milligrams of vitamin C per day while hospitalized for acute respiratory infection fared significantly better than those receiving a placebo. According to the authors, “This was particularly the case for those commencing the trial most severely ill, many of whom had very low plasma and white cell vitamin C concentrations on admission.” Now, vitamin C will be put to the test against coronavirus as well. The study,16 “Vitamin C Infusion for the Treatment of Severe 2019-nCoV Infected Pneumonia” was posted to ClinicalTrials.gov February 11, 2020, and has not yet started recruiting patients. According to the study description:17
The researchers intend to treat patients with 24 grams of IV vitamin C per day for seven days at a speed of 7 milliliters per hour. The placebo group will receive an IV of normal saline. The primary outcome measure will be the number of days without ventilation support during 28 days of hospitalization. Secondary outcome measures will include mortality, ICU length of stay, the rate of CPR required, vasopressor use, respiratory function, sepsis-related organ failure and more. Time will tell what the outcome will be, but chances are it will be favorable. Back in 2003 during the SARS pandemic, a Finnish researcher called for an investigation into the use of vitamin C, stating:18
He goes on to cite research showing vitamin C also protects broiler chicks against avian coronavirus, cuts the duration and severity of common cold in humans and significantly lowers susceptibility to pneumonia. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as though vitamin C was ever studied in relation to SARS, but it’s encouraging that China is now investigating its use against 2019-nCoV. Health Benefits of Vitamin C Are Vastly UnderappreciatedVitamin C has two major functions that help explain its potent health benefits. First, it acts as a powerful antioxidant. It also acts as a cofactor for enzymatic processes. One of the most famous forerunners of high dose vitamin C treatment for colds and other disease was Linus Carl Pauling (1901-1994), a biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1954. Despite that, many felt he was too far out of his field of expertise with his research into nutrition, and his advocacy for vitamin C was largely ignored or mocked by mainstream medicine and nutritional science — with medical bloggers leading the pack as self-appointed judges of Pauling’s findings.20 Others, however, have picked up on what Pauling was trying to point out, and are now trying to awaken the world to just how important vitamin C is for good health and vitality.21 As explained by the Linus Pauling Institute:22
According to Dr. Ronald Hunninghake, an internationally recognized expert on vitamin C who has personally supervised tens of thousands of IV vitamin C administrations, vitamin C is “definitely a very underutilized modality in infectious disease,” considering “it’s really a premiere treatment” for infections. In my interview with him, Hunninghake suggested one of the reasons why conventional medicine has been so slow to recognize the importance of vitamin C has to do with the fact that they’ve been looking at it as a mere vitamin, when in fact it’s a potent oxidizing agent that can help eliminate pathogens when given in high doses. There are also financial factors. In short, it’s too inexpensive. Conventional medicine, as a general rule, is notoriously uninterested in solutions that cannot produce significant profits. However, considering sepsis is now the most expensive condition treated in the U.S., costing $23.6 billion annually,23,24 the need for an affordable solution is becoming critical. This is particularly true for lower income nations, where an estimated 85% of sepsis-related deaths occur.25 Global pandemics like the coronavirus also call for lower-cost treatments that actually work. Recognize the Symptoms of SepsisWhen it comes to sepsis, which can result from just about any infection, time is of the essence. It’s really important to familiarize yourself with its signs and symptoms, and to take immediate action if you suspect sepsis. While the signs can be subtle at first, sepsis typically produces the following signs and symptoms:26,27,28 Many of these symptoms may be confused with a bad cold or flu. However, they tend to develop quicker than you would normally expect.
The Sepsis Alliance recommends using the acronym TIME to remember some of the more common symptoms:29
Another acronym you could use to memorize the signs and symptoms is SEPSIS, described in the video above:
Educational Resources for Your DoctorMarik’s sepsis protocol can be a lifesaver, so you’d be wise to discuss it with your doctor any time you’re hospitalized. Remember, sepsis is often the result of a secondary infection contracted while in the hospital, so it’s prudent to be prepared. This way, should you develop sepsis while you’re admitted, your medical team already knows your wishes and can act swiftly. According to Marik, the best results are obtained when the concoction is administered within the first six hours of presentation of symptoms.30 The longer you delay treatment, the less likely it will be successful. If your doctor refuses to consider it offhand, convince him or her to review the studies cited here.31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39 While there are certain situations in which the hospital may still deny this treatment, if you are an adult who is sick, you will usually have the right to insist on it. I will actually be interviewing Marik shortly and hope to work with him on developing a process to make it easier for patients to implement this strategy in their local hospital. In most cases, you’d probably just need to sign an “Against Medical Advice — Acknowledgment and Waiver” form (samples of which can be found in the references40), which states you’ve elected to not follow the standard of care recommended by your doctor. Contraindication for IV Vitamin C TreatmentThe only contraindication to high-dose vitamin C treatments such as Marik’s sepsis protocol is if you are glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient, which is a genetic disorder.41 G6PD is required for your body to produce NADPH, which is a cousin of NAD+ and necessary to transfer reductive potential to keep your antioxidants, like glutathione and vitamin C, functional. Because your red blood cells do not contain any mitochondria, the only way it can provide reduced glutathione is through NADPH, and since G6PD eliminates this, it causes red blood cells to rupture due to inability to compensate for oxidative stress. Fortunately, G6PD deficiency is relatively uncommon, and can be tested for. People of Mediterranean and African decent are at greater risk of being G6PD deficient. Worldwide, G6PD deficiency is thought to affect 400 million individuals, and in the U.S., an estimated 1 in 10 African-American males has it. 42 from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/02/24/iv-vitamin-c.aspx
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The ketogenic diet is beneficial for many people as it helps with weight control and management and offers protection against a number of health ailments. Approached incorrectly, however, it can actually be harmful. In this short video Dr. Eric Berg warns, "The last thing you want to do is get the benefits of the ketogenic diet but then have deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids." If you're following a standard ketogenic nutrition plan I recommend you focus on eating healthy fats and 1 gram of protein for every kilogram of body mass. You should also keep your net carbohydrates to not more than 10% of your daily calories. However, if you're not getting enough omega-3 fat it can be detrimental to your health. As Berg describes, your body uses fat for many reasons, including the lining and protection of cell membranes, the processing of fat soluble vitamins, the catalyzation of chemical reactions, and the production of hormones and bile. Without enough healthy fat, and the right kinds of fat, you may increase your risk for negative health conditions. Omega-3 fats are one type of polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) you must get from your food since your body doesn't make them.1 The second type of PUFAs are omega-6 fats. Your body needs both in a balanced ratio for optimal health. As the National Institutes of Health describes,2 "The three main omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is found mainly in plant oils such as flaxseed, soybean and canola oils. DHA and EPA are found in fish and other seafood." Omega-3 Fats Are Crucial to Heart HealthEPA, DHA and ALA each have unique functions. DHA is particularly important for your brain,3 as about 90 percent of the fat in your brain is DHA, while EPA appears to be of particular importance for heart health.4 ALA, found in plants, is the "parent fatty acid" and is used as a source of energy. However, while some may be converted to EPA and DHA in the body, conversion to EPA is restricted and unreliable, and conversion to DHA is severely restricted.5 Making lifestyle changes, such as exercising, stopping smoking and improving your diet, have a significant impact on your heart health. The authors of one study published in the New England Journal of Medicine6 analyzed the risk of a cardiovascular event while taking icosapent ethyl. The medication is a "highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester" that is "a synthetic derivative of omega-3 fatty acid."7 The data8 were based on information gathered from 8,179 participants who were followed over a period of 4.9 years. The researchers identified end points of the study as death from a cardiac event, or a nonfatal heart attack or stroke. The participants either had heart disease or risk factors for it and were taking statins. They were given either a placebo or 2 grams of icosapent ethyl twice a day. Those who took the medication had a significantly lower number of ischemic events than those taking the placebo. Although the drug had previously been approved in 2012 for people with high triglycerides, in December 2019 the FDA approved it for use alongside statins.9 Its mechanism of action has not been completely identified, but the American Heart Association lists the following reasons natural omega-3 may have an impact on lowering the risk of heart disease:10
As explained in a meta-analysis published in Circulation,11 scientists concluded there was a growing body of evidence that omega-3 fats can prevent sudden cardiac death by "modulating ion channels so as to stabilize the cardiomyocytes electrically." EPA and DHA Lowers Inflammation, Pain and DepressionEPA and DHA have been shown to improve blood pressure,12 reduce overall inflammation, reduce the effects of rheumatoid arthritis13 and depression14 and help to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.15 Other conditions linked to inflammation that are positively affected by omega-3 fatty acids are Hashimoto's disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Nutritionist Steph Lowe spoke with Starts at 60 about omega-3 fats, saying:16
Your Body Needs Cholesterol for Vital FunctionsFor decades you've been told that high cholesterol levels will increase your risk for heart disease. In fact, some in the health community continue to stress your level of cholesterol as a biomarker for heart risk, when in fact it's smarter to take a global view of cholesterol — how it affects your body and what you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease beyond the simple narrative which focuses on cholesterol as some kind of culprit. Cholesterol is vital to your overall health, as it helps with the manufacturing of hormones and vitamin D. About 80% of the cholesterol in your body is made in your liver and intestines, while the rest has to come from your food.17 There are two categories of cholesterol: The first is high density lipoprotein (HDL), which many know as the "good" type that moves cholesterol out of your arteries.18 The second is low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or what many know as the "bad" type that may build up and form plaque in the arteries. The American Heart Association focuses on your total cholesterol number, which they recommend you keep at 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).19 In the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, it's noted that the Institute of Medicine recommends20 "… individuals should eat as little dietary cholesterol as possible while consuming a healthy eating pattern." However, in the Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, it was acknowledged that "… cholesterol is not considered a nutrient of concern for overconsumption."21 It's troubling to know that the public hears one thing and something completely different is discussed at a medical advisory meeting. Using cholesterol as a sole marker for the risk of heart disease is inaccurate because, like most things related to your body, its mechanisms are complex and interrelated. Increasing amounts of evidence show that people with higher levels of cholesterol live longer lives.22 As summarized by the authors of one study:
While evaluating your heart disease risk, consider your fasting insulin and blood sugar levels, waist circumference and iron levels. I discuss the relationships of these factors to your heart health and the importance of differentiating the types of LDL in "Important Facts About Cholesterol and Heart Disease." There are a number of ways higher levels of cholesterol may have a protective effect on your health; these are discussed in "Higher Cholesterol is Associated With Longer Life." Instead of looking at simple levels, there are two indicators that are important: your HDL/total cholesterol ratio and your triglyceride/HDL ratio. Why Testing Your Omega-3 Level Is so ImportantAn omega-3 deficiency leaves you vulnerable to several chronic diseases and lifelong challenges. Optimizing your levels is truly a foundational strategy to attaining and maintaining good health. The best way to determine if you're eating enough food with omega-3 is to get tested. In fact, research23 supported by the National Institutes of Health suggests that an omega-3 test is a good predictor of overall health and all-cause mortality.24 Leaders of the study measured the omega-3 index in 2,500 participants; they found that those with the highest omega-3 index had lower risks of heart problems. The omega-3 Index is a measure of the amount of EPA and DHA in the membranes of your red blood cells (RBCs). As Berg mentioned, fat is a component of cell membranes. Your index is expressed as a percent of your total RBC fatty acids. The omega-3 index has been validated as a stable, long-term marker of your omega-3 status, and it reflects your tissue levels of EPA and DHA. I just had my omega-3 index done last week from GrassrootsHealth and it was 11.1% and my 6:3 ratio was 2.7. An omega-3 index over 8% is associated with the lowest risk of death from heart disease, while an index below 4% places you at the highest risk of heart disease-related mortality. Given its importance to your health, it is absolutely worth your time to complete the simple blood test required to determine your omega-3 index. I firmly believe an omega-3 index test is one of the most important annual health screens that everyone needs. Please note I make no profit from these tests. I merely supply them as a convenience for my readers. It's the same price whether you buy it from me or directly from GrassrootsHealth.25 Protect Your Heart and Brain With Animal-Based Omega-3You can get all three types of omega-3 fats from your food, but EPA and DHA come mostly from fatty fish, seafood and grass fed beef and dairy products. Grass fed beef and dairy products, incidentally, offer a nearly 1-to-1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids.26 Lowe points out the importance of where you source your fish:27
Your best sources of fatty fish are wild-caught Alaskan salmon, herring, mackerel and anchovies. The larger predatory fish, such as tuna, have much higher amounts of toxins such as mercury. As Berg stated in the video, steer clear of grain-finished beef as the omega-3 fatty acids are significantly reduced. As I touched on above, it's important to realize your body doesn't convert enough plant-based omega-3 to meet your needs. This means that if you're vegan, you must figure out a way to compensate for the lack of marine or grass fed animal products in your diet. While the authors of some studies28 suggest that algae products may be an effective alternative, the only way to know if you're on the right track is to test. If you are pregnant I urge you to check your vitamin D and omega-3 levels, as these two nutrients are vital for healthy fetal development and can dramatically reduce your risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery. If your test results are low, and you are considering a supplement, compare the advantages and disadvantages of fish oil and krill oil as you'll see in the infographic below. Krill are wild-caught and sustainable; krill oil is also more potent than fish oil and is less prone to oxidation. Embed this infographic on your website: Click on the code area and press CTRL + C (for Windows) / CMD + C (for Macintosh) to copy the code from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/02/24/omega-3-index-more-predictive-than-cholesterol-levels.aspx Although the common cold is generally considered to be a minor condition, it is responsible for most doctors’ office visits each year.1 For some, a cold will last about a week, but for children and the elderly, it can last longer. The common cold can be caused by more than 200 different viruses. The American Lung Association warns that colds are highly contagious and spread easily through droplets of fluid containing the virus. There are several factors that may increase your risk of getting a cold, including the time of the year, your age, your immune system strength and your exposure to a cold virus. Symptoms can include a sore throat, runny nose, coughing, headaches and sneezing.2 You have likely noticed that cold symptoms are close to those you may have with seasonal allergies or even flu. With seasonal allergies you may have a stuffy head and runny nose, but the symptoms are usually localized.3 However, with a cold and flu you often experience body aches and fatigue and you may generally feel miserable. Influenza is often acquired in the same season as colds, but its symptoms are often worse and may include a fever and body chills. People have long sought remedies to shorten the length or severity of a cold and prevent one altogether. Although Big Pharma may promise drug options to improve your symptoms, natural options offer effective treatment without the side effects associated with medications. Short-Term Zinc Can Curtail Your ColdUnfortunately, there is no cure for a viral infection. Antibiotics are not effective as they work on bacteria and not viruses. Since a virus is unable to replicate independently, it hijacks your normal cells, which in turn makes you feel sick. In most cases, supportive therapy is the recommended treatment as your immune system fights off the virus.4 The process your body uses to find, fight and destroy a virus is complex as it employs different types of cells.5 Zinc is an effective natural remedy that has demonstrated its ability to reduce the length of your cold by an average of 33%.6 An analysis of past studies showed that zinc can shorten the duration of the common cold between 28% and 40% using zinc gluconate or zinc acetate. While each was effective to a degree, the study’s authors didn't find a statistically significant difference in duration between those taking a higher dose and those taking a lower one. In another study7 scientists analyzed data published from 1980 to 2003 and found clinical trials that supported the use of zinc to reduce the duration and severity of the common cold. It was noted that zinc consumption is effective when it is started within the first 24 hours of experiencing symptoms. The action of zinc against the common cold was first investigated by Dr. Ananda Prasad in collaboration with James Fitzgerald, whose proficiency was in the design of research studies.8 Although Fitzgerald agreed to help, he was skeptical that zinc could influence the duration or severity of the common cold. The initial study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which people living in Detroit with the common cold were given either zinc lozenges or a placebo. Fitzgerald told NPR: "Lo and behold, when I did the analysis it indeed did shorten common cold symptoms by about two or three days. I was stunned by that result." While the most current studies also show a positive result in using zinc lozenges, the formulation of the lozenge used in the first study in Detroit isn't available, as Fitzgerald shared with NPR. Your Results May VaryBefore running out to pick up the first zinc cold lozenge you find, it’s important to recognize there will be differences in the product, which may impact your results. The author of the meta-analysis published in 2017, Dr. Harri Hemilä from the University of Helsinki, cautions it’s difficult to tell you what to purchase.9 Products sold at the local drugstore often contain more than zinc, which may interfere with the effectiveness of the product. Multiple ingredients have a way of interacting with each other, even when they are safe and effective when used on their own. For instance, Hemilä says the zinc products you purchase shouldn’t have citric acid in them because citric acid binds with zinc, so it’s not released into your body. As described in the 2017 meta-analysis,10 Hemilä found zinc gluconate performed as well as zinc acetate in shortening the length of a cold. In past studies it had been suggested that zinc acetate was the preferred method of delivery since the zinc doesn’t bind as strongly to acetate as it does to gluconate. The goal of this analysis was to compare the efficiency of zinc to reduce a cold duration after methodology problems were discovered in several past studies and a Cochrane Review of studies was withdrawn when multiple errors were identified.11 Hemilä was careful in the selection of clinical trials for the analysis.12 He didn’t include those in which ingredients in the product may have interfered with the results, such as one trial in which the product contained the sweeteners mannitol and sorbitol. There is some evidence that zinc binds with these sweeteners in the presence of saliva. Others were excluded since the products contained either citric acid, tartaric acid or sodium bicarbonate — all known to bind with zinc. In each of the studies participants were given more than 75 mg/day of elemental zinc, which you may want to consider if you seek out a zinc lozenge product. Zinc First Acknowledged as Essential in 1970sThe way zinc first came to the attention of science was again through the work of Prasad. NPR13 reports that in the 1960s Prasad was studying the lack of growth and development in young men from Egypt. He hypothesized that the issue may have been a lack of zinc. When given zinc supplements, the young men grew taller than Prasad anticipated. This began a journey into understanding zinc that Prasad continues to this day as a 91-year-old scientist.14 He writes of the deficiency, finding,15 that in the past 50 years nutritional insufficiency may have affected up to 2 billion people in the developing world. He points to one component of cereal proteins, phytate, which reduces the amount of zinc your body can absorb. Cereal proteins high in phytate include wheat bran, rice bran and wheat gluten.16 Prasad writes that zinc deficiencies may present with rough skin, impaired immunity, growth retardation and cognitive impairment.17 As NPR reports, it wasn’t until the 1970s that zinc was identified as an essential nutrient for human health.18 The National Institutes of Health recognizes the importance of zinc in relation to:19
Cold Remedies That WorkAlong with zinc, you could try other remedies with a positive track record for use during the common cold. A perfect example is the healing power of vitamin C. In one study the combination of vitamin C and zinc was more efficient than a placebo and it produced faster symptom relief.20 As I’ve written in the recent past, high doses of vitamin C act not only like an antioxidant when you’re sick, but also more like a natural drug without side effects. In the article, “Concerns About Diabetes or Heart Health? Optimize This,” Dr. Suzanne Humphries talks about her work with vitamin C and the importance of using liposomal C to reduce side effects and improve absorption. It is important to note that large doses of vitamin C or zinc — when taken on a regular basis — impact your copper levels.21 So, while temporary doses to combat a cold or flu are helpful, you could compromise your immune system by taking them year-round. Another simple remedy to help prevent a cold and speed healing is to get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is associated with a long list of disorders and life disruptions, including negative impacts on your immune system22 as well as dementia.23 The key to recovery is to support your immune system; getting adequate amounts of sleep will help. If you have trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep or feeling rested when you wake up, you may have developed a few habits that are causing trouble. To get yourself back to good sleep habits and feeling well rested each day, see my tips at “Top 33 Tips to Optimize Your Sleep Routine.” You may want to try adding apple cider vinegar to your routine for the benefits available from its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.24 It may also help boost your immune function by raising the alkalinity in your body. Be sure to seek out a natural, fermented brand with the “mother” intact. Care for Your Cold and Reduce Potential for Something WorseThere are more steps you can take to protect yourself during the cold and flu season. For instance, getting enough vitamin D is very important. Vitamin D offers powerful antimicrobial activity and is capable of fighting bacteria, viruses and fungi. Low levels can increase your risk of contracting a cold or flu.25 Another factor that influences your immune system is stress. You’ve probably noticed that when you’re stressed, you’re more likely to get sick. Whether the stress is associated with grief, relationship issues or projects at work, the result is the same — you’ll have trouble fighting off an infection. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University investigated why this happens,26,27 and found that those who reported being under stress were more likely to get sick when exposed to a virus and then quarantined for five days.28 When stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol, which temporarily suppress the immune system. Under chronic psychological stress you become less sensitive to cortisol, which increases your inflammatory response, also impacting the immune system. Lead researcher Sheldon Cohen commented on the results:29
from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/02/24/zinc-reduces-cold-duration.aspx 1 Which of the following supplements have effects similar to that of aspirin, lowering your risk of heart attack and stroke without the dangerous side effects of aspirin?
2 Big Tech companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon have a vested interest in:
3 Which of the following heavy metals is strongly linked to Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases?
4 Meditating for 20 minutes equates to:
5 Which of the following are the primary conditions that lead to road fatalities?
6 Which of the following is a time when it's most crucial to make sure you're in an EMF-free environment?
7 Which of the following nutrients is not found in animal foods and must be obtained from plant foods?
from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/02/24/week-118-health-quiz.aspx February 2, 2020, Richard L. Veech, M.D., Ph.D., passed away. He was 84. According to reports, he “died quietly in his sleep.”1 Veech has earned a place in medical history as a leader and pioneer of the ketogenic diet, having spent more than 50 years studying human metabolism as a biochemist. I deeply regret not having interviewed him as he was a giant in the field. I was intimated by his pedigree and vast knowledge of not only molecular biology but the thermodynamics associated with biologic reactions. However, I think we would have had a great dialog. Thankfully Dave Asprey did a great job in the interview above. The other person I regret never having interviewed was Robert Mendelsohn, the main pediatric leader that recognized the threat posed by vaccines. He died in 1988, shortly after I started practicing, and at the time I thought of him the way most view my position on vaccines today, as I had not yet done my homework. However, even if I were enlightened about vaccines dangers at the time he passed, it would be 20 years before I started interviewing leaders in the field. Still, I deeply regret never connecting with him, especially since we both went to the University of Illinois. Veech — A Leader and HeroVeech studied under Sir Hans Krebs (after which the Krebs Cycle was named) while at Oxford in the mid-‘60s. Veech also served as chief of the Laboratory of Metabolic Control at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism since 2000.2 As noted in the NIAAA’s announcement of his death:3
Veech was also known for his real-world heroics. In the fall of 1968, he’d flown from Oxford to Boston to give a research presentation. His return flight crashed into Moose Mountain in New Hampshire. Veech was one of just 10 survivors on the flight; 32 passengers and crew died. The death toll would have been even higher had it not been for Veech who, despite his own injuries, saved two other passengers trapped in the burning wreckage. In a 1968 news article about the crash, one of the survivors described Veech as “the real hero of this accident.”4 Veech’s Contribution to Public HealthVeech’s contribution to science and medicine, and indeed public health, cannot be overstated. He was the one who discovered the unique properties of the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate, which is generated in your liver when you fast or eat a ketogenic diet. I have interviewed Travis Christofferson, author of “Tripping Over the Truth: How the Metabolic Theory of Cancer Is Overturning One of Medicine’s Most Entrenched Paradigms,” twice previously and he wrote a terrific memorial to Veech February 5. A highlight of that is below, but if you have any interest in this area I would encourage you to read the full article on Medium:5
Ketogenic Diet — A Proverbial Fountain of YouthVeech, like me and many others today, was convinced that many of the health problems we now face result from never or rarely entering into nutritional ketosis. First of all, nutritional ketosis is a powerful yet simple way to improve your insulin sensitivity, thus minimizing your risk of a whole host of health problems, from Type 2 diabetes to heart disease and cancer. While fasting, time-restricted eating and a cyclical ketogenic diet all improve ketone production naturally, you can also take exogenous ketones and MCT products that are less expensive but very effective, like caprylic acid. Veech was a pioneer in developing a ketone ester that, when taken as a supplement, converts into the identical ketone bodies your body produces — thus allowing one to benefit from ketones even if you don’t fast or stick to a ketogenic diet. In the video above, Dave Asprey of Bulletproof.com interviews Veech about nutritional ketosis and the ketone ester he invented. Veech has also been featured on Ben Greenfield’s podcast,6 where he touched on the benefits of ketones for Alzheimer’s patients. In multiple studies, including those of Dr. Veech, ketones have been shown to be both neurotherapeutic and neuroprotective. They also appear to lower markers of systemic inflammation, such as IL-6 and others. Veech believed beta-hydroxybutyrate had the ability to treat just about every disease state and predicted beta-hydroxybutyrate would play a role in longevity, a hypothesis that more recent research7,8,9,10 has shown to be an accurate one. In the 2017 paper,11 “Ketone Bodies Mimic the Life Span Extending Properties of Caloric Restriction,” Veech and colleagues reviewed the current research and argued for exogenous ketone esters as a way to prevent and treat diseases of aging. In a nine-page letter sent out to Veech’s friends and associates, his colleague William Curtis, who has educated me on ketone biochemistry during many long phone calls, details Veech’s contributions to science and medicine “in simple terms.” Curtis writes:
In MemoriamIt’s with great sadness we say goodbye to one of the medical science’s great thinkers, researchers and inventors. While Veech had expressed frustration with the slow pace of change, being eager to share his knowledge with the world, I don’t foresee his contribution fading into the shadows anytime soon. Nutritional ketosis is here to stay, as more and more researchers are starting to investigate its power to radically improve health and reverse serious disease. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/02/23/honoring-brilliant-man-who-created-keto.aspx Dr. Paul Saladino trained at the University of Arizona with a focus on integrative medicine. He completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of Washington in 2019, and is a certified functional medicine practitioner through the Institute for Functional Medicine. In this interview, Saladino discusses the surprising benefits of the carnivore diet, which is the topic of his new book, “The Carnivore Code,” which is currently available for preorder. I view him as one of the leading experts on the health benefits of an animal-based diet. Saladino takes it to the extreme, though, advocating a carnivore diet to the exclusion of all vegetables or plant materials, which may strike many as debatable. The evidence he presents for it, however, is quite compelling. I don't know anyone personally who has reviewed the literature more carefully and can put together a coherent argument for this strategy. (This is in part a side-effect of having gone through the basic medical sciences twice, as he went through medical school to be a physician’s assistant and later an M.D.) Saladino is likely to challenge your beliefs in this interview. This is not meant to offend anyone. If you believe you should avoid animal foods for ethical reasons, that’s certainly your choice. If you’re struggling with health issues that a vegetarian diet has not been able to resolve, however, or perhaps even made your condition worse, you may want to listen to what he has to say. Busting Nutritional DogmaIn his book, Saladino states he’s going to bust nutritional dogma, which he does in spades. Saladino, who struggled with asthma and eczema, was actually a vegetarian and then a vegan for a time. It didn’t help. In fact, it made things worse. His health problems didn’t resolve until he went on an exclusive carnivore diet, and he recounts the various twists and turns in his personal journey at the beginning of the interview. After hearing Jordan Peterson talk about the carnivore diet and how it improved his daughter's autoimmune symptoms, Saladino was intrigued enough to look into it. The rest, as they say, is history.
According to Saladino, there’s a clear ancestral history of eating an animal-based diet, which he details in the interview. In a nutshell, the evidence suggests we are descendants of omnivores, and that the increase in brain volume coincides with a transition to hunting for animal game and eating large amounts of animal foods. Some vegetarian advocates have argued that it was tubers that caused our brains to grow. Saladino disagrees, noting that the levels of nitrogen and carbon in fossilized remains from 60,000 years ago are actually greater than those in hyenas, which suggests our ancestors were eating more animal protein than known carnivores. He also points out genetic evidence suggesting Homo sapiens were not eating significant amounts of starch, as they developed a salivary amylase mutation.
In the interview, Saladino also goes into the findings of Dr. Weston A. Price, a pioneering dentist who traveled the world to document the diets and health status of indigenous cultures. A big take-home point was that Price never found a culture that was thriving on plant foods alone.
The Problem With PhytonutrientsOne of the most controversial issues relates to the health benefits and hazards of phytonutrients, i.e., plant-based nutrients. I was under the belief that phytonutrients were largely responsible for activating profoundly powerful pathways for longevity. Saladino’s work caused me to seriously reevaluate my views on phytonutrient supplementation. As Saladino explains, phytoalexins are plant defense compounds that may be causing more harm than good. A corollary to this is the issue of xenohormesis, which Saladino covered in a November 5, 2019, podcast interview with David Sinclair, Ph.D.1
The Biochemistry of Plants and MammalsIn the interview, Saladino also offers a descriptive analogy that helps explain why plant nutrients aren’t necessarily necessary in human biochemistry. The biochemical difference between plants and animals can be likened to the operating systems of PC and Mac. While their apparent functions are the same, their operating systems are different and incompatible. Your body has its own antioxidant system, which is different from that of plants. Your immune system is your primary defense, and you have innate and adaptive immunity. Plants do not have that. They only make molecules to defend against invaders. The common belief is that plant molecules act as antioxidants in humans, but according to Saladino, plant molecules do not act as direct free radical scavengers in our body. They can trigger your antioxidant response system, however, which is hormesis.
The Unacknowledged Downside of XenohormesisSinclair, a professor of genetics at Harvard whom I have previously interviewed, and others have advanced the concept of xenohormesis, which means molecules that are outside of us are good for us because they contain tiny amounts of poison. Saladino’s problem with that theory has to do with the side effects. In the interview, he illustrates his objection using the example of sulforaphane, the primary glucosinolate in broccoli. When an enzyme called myrosinase degrades glucoraphanin, it becomes sulforaphane, which acts as a pro-oxidant, not an antioxidant. By acting as a pro-oxidant, it triggers the antioxidant response system — the Nrf2 pathway. NRF2 is transcription factor that controls the activation and deactivation of genes. It will activate genes such as glutathione peroxidase, involved in the antioxidant system. When NRF2 rises, glutathione rises, which is a good thing in the short term, as it decreases DNA damage. However, there is collateral damage.
The Unique Health Benefits of Animal FoodsAccording to Saladino, animal foods are uniquely healthy for humans, and this is a topic he covers in great depth in chapter 8 of his book. One example is vitamin B12. Research cited in the book shows that B12 levels appear to be related to brain size, with low vitamin B12 equating to smaller brain volume.
Saladino also covers “the three C’s,” which are entirely or close to entirely lacking in plant foods: • Creatine -- Creatine, found only in animal food, not plants, is part of the phosphagen system in your muscles. It stores a phosphate item as creatine phosphate and donates that phosphate to ATP when it gets used up during intense exercise. It's also part of your body’s energy metabolism. “There are incredibly striking studies that I talk about in the book where vegetarians and vegans were supplemented with 5 grams of creatine per day, which is the amount of creatine in 1 pound of meat; invariably they had improvements in working memory, intelligence, decision-making tasks,” Saladino says. • Choline -- Choline is important for the membranes of every cell in your body. It’s also been shown to protect against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, as explained in “Choline Is Crucial for Liver Health.” • Carnosine -- Carnosine is important because of its ability to limit oxidative stress by preventing the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and advanced lipoxidation end products (ALEs), both of which correlate to aging in humans. Carnosine is not present in plant foods, and in his book Saladino cites research showing vegetarians have higher levels of AGE formation in their bodies. There appear to be dozens of clinical conditions for which carnosine is useful. This includes heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s. It’s also a precursor for histamine, and mitigates damage caused by ALEs, which are even more destructive than AGEs, and helps combat mitochondrial dysfunction, which is at the heart of aging and chronic disease. Vitamins A and KAnimal foods are also a good source of retinol vitamin A, which is better absorbed than beta carotene from plants, which must be converted into retinol. Many lack the enzyme required for this conversion, which means they cannot break down the beta carotene to make the active form of vitamin A.
Vitamin K is another example. Vitamin K1 is primarily found in plants while K2 — which seems to provide most of the benefits — is found in animal foods and fermented foods. I go into greater detail about the different forms in “Are You Getting Enough Vitamin K?” As noted by Saladino, research shows a clear correlation between higher K2 levels and lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. No such correlation exists for vitamin K1. Unfortunately, most nutrition calculators look only at K1, which is why many are under the mistaken belief that there is no vitamin K in animal foods.
The same goes for vitamins E and C. Neither is properly measured in animal foods, thus leading to the mistaken belief that you need plant foods for these nutrients. However, Saladino presents ample evidence in his book showing meat and animal foods contain sufficient amounts of both vitamin E and C. A Note on SafetyImportantly, Saladino has performed extensive blood testing on himself and others who are on an exclusive carnivore diet, showing consistently good results and no adverse biochemical consequences. He explains:
Another important side note relates to meal timing. If you’re eating a carnivore diet 18 hours a day, you’re probably going to run into problems — just as with any other diet. Saladino covers the importance of time-restricted eating in his book as well. What About Gut Microbiome Diversity?In the interview, Saladino also covers the common perception that fiber and plant foods are essential for a healthy microbiome, and the prevention of constipation and cancer. This being an unusually long interview, I cannot cover all the details in this article so, for more in-depth information, please listen to the interview in its entirety. With regard to fiber and microbial diversity, Harvard researchers demonstrated that people eating an exclusive carnivore diet have the same alpha diversity of gut microbes as those eating an exclusive plant-based diet for one week. In fact, the carnivore diet increased beta diversity, which is another measure of diversity, so total diversity actually increased. Carnivore Diet Excels in Treatment of Autoimmune DiseasesWhile the carnivore diet may benefit anyone, it appears particularly useful for those with autoimmune diseases.
What About the Blue Zones?Saladino even dispels the idea that plant-based diets are what makes Blue Zones, areas where people are known to be particularly long-lived, stand out. Blue Zones include Ikaria in Greece, Sardinia in Italy, Loma Linda in California, Okinawa, Japan and the Nicoya region of Costa Rica. Crazy enough, these areas actually have the third highest consumption of meat per capita in the world, Saladino says. And they have the longest life expectancy. In the interview, Saladino delves into the specifics of each of these five areas, reviewing the local diets which, contrary to popular belief, are heavy on meat and animal foods.
The Problem With Epidemiological StudiesSaladino also goes into more detail about healthy user bias and the problem with epidemiological studies (which are observational, not interventional, and therefore cannot determine causation), both of which have contributed to the belief system that plant-based diets are better than meat-based ones.
More InformationI’ve only covered a portion of what we discuss in this interview, so if any of this has piqued your curiosity, please listen to the interview in its entirety. Saladino delves into many details that have not been covered in this text, including:
He also discusses the importance of nose-to-tail eating as radically exemplified by Glenn Villeneuve of Life Below Zero in his recent 3.5-hour interview3 with Joe Rogan. A carnivore diet is not just eating steak. You should eat the whole animal. This includes animal fats, organ meats and collagen from bone and marrow, for example. It’s also important to make sure the food is from grass fed and grass finished animals, opposed to factory farmed, as their diet differs tremendously, which in turn affects the nutrition you get from it. A carnivore diet also is not exclusive to bovines. You can include seafood, eggs, chicken, turkey, pork and dairy, including goat and sheep milk. If you cannot stomach the idea of organ meats, there are ancestral supplements that contain freeze dried organ components.
To get all the information Saladino discusses in this interview, and then some, be sure to pick up a copy of “The Carnivore Code.” It will be released February 2020 but is available for preorder. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/02/23/carnivore-code.aspx In this video, which is Part 2 of a two-part series, Brian Hoyer and I answer your questions about electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation. Brian is a leading EMF expert1 and a primary consultant for my new book, "EMF*D," which is being released today. In the video, Brian shares his personal journey and training, which includes nutritional therapy and continued education at the Klinghardt Academy.2 As a nutritional therapist, Brian would see patients that just didn't seem to fully recuperate. Once he began implementing EMF shielding techniques taught by Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, they'd suddenly experience significant improvements. In some cases, they didn't even need supplements or certain medications anymore. For example, many patients struggling with leaky gut significantly improved simply by sleeping in a shielded room every single night. Brian says:
Your EMF Questions Answered, Part 2We cover a wide variety of really good questions in this interview. Due to the length of the interview, we broke the video into two parts. Part 2 (above) tackles the next set of questions. A few basics are summarized below. You can download the free 55-page transcript to get all the details. This and much more is also detailed in my new book, "EMF*D." >>>>> Click Here <<<<< Three Areas of Priority When ShieldingYour bedrooms are clearly the most important part of your home in terms of needing EMF shielding. If you can create a shielded environment there, then you're essentially replicating the ancestral environment where there's no electricity for eight hours or so every night. This is a crucial time, as this is when your body needs to be in a parasympathetic state, detoxing, repairing and rejuvenating itself.
The area in which you eat is the second priority, as your body needs to be in a parasympathetic (relaxed) state in order for your digestion to function properly. An alternative strategy is to eat at your dinner table, and about an hour afterward, which is when your main digestion is taking place, go into your shielded space and relax for a while. "People who have digestive issues who do that have seen amazing results," Brian says. The third priority would be if you're using a sauna for detoxification. Making sure your sauna has low or no EMF is an important consideration, as it will impact your ability to detox. Working with Sauna Space, Brian has helped develop a shielded near-infrared sauna.
Remedial Strategies for 6 Types of EMF StressBrian tests homes for six primary stressors:
The testing and assessment Brian's company, Shielded Healing, offers takes about four hours, and starts at around $1,000 for a studio apartment. For larger homes, tack on $100 per bedroom and per 1,000 square feet. The fee includes a free retest, to make sure all of your remediation strategies are in fact working. The cost for remediation can vary widely, depending on what you need and whom you hire to do the job. For a typical 12 by 12-foot room, you can expect to pay about $1,000 to $1,500 for shielding materials, depending on how many windows you have, as shielding windows tends to be costly. While it's certainly a worthwhile investment that will pay dividends in terms of health, the cost may be too high for many. They still need a solution though. With Brian's help, my team has created an EMF-shielded sleeping tent, which will be among the most effective yet least expensive approaches available. We hope to have it available before the summer. After three years of development, the final prototype was recently finished. There's No Getting Around the Need to Measure Your ExposuresWhen looking to buy or rent a home, key areas to avoid would be near a cellphone tower or powerline. Higher elevations like hilltops are also typically higher EMF areas, while rural areas tend to have lower saturation (provided you're not near a cellphone tower). That said, you cannot identify low-EMF areas simply by looking at the location anymore. Regardless of where you live, you're likely to have one or more of the EMF stressors reviewed above, and will need to remediate them. In the end, the only way to tell if EMF is a problem in any given location is to measure it.
In an article on his blog, he adds:4
Everyone Needs EMF ShieldingA key take-home message here is that virtually everyone needs to consider doing EMF remediation these days. Everyone needs an EMF-free space, at least during sleep, in order to prevent accelerated aging and everything that goes with it. Remember, your body rejuvenates and detoxes during sleep, but if your body is bombarded with EMFs all night long, it won't be able to effectively perform those crucial cleanout and regenerative functions. To learn more, be sure to download the transcript of this discussion. We cover questions like:
For the answers to these and many other questions, be sure to watch Part 1 and Part 2 of this interview, or download the 55-page transcript. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/02/22/emf-home-remediation-part-2.aspx For many years gray hair was a symbol of knowledge and wisdom. For the most part, it was men who were considered wise. On the other hand, women with gray hair were often seen as “old” no matter their age. But, in the past decade there has been a growing trend to live with your natural color.1 For some, gray hairs begin appearing when they’re 12 and others find they pop up only as retirement approaches. The process is influenced by genetics, nutrition, illness and stress.2 After nutritional supplementation, most treatments for gray hair have centered on hair dyes. Thankfully, the growing trend to live with gray hair may lead to lowering exposure to toxins commonly found in over-the-counter hair care products. Whether you like gray hair or are trying to put off the day your first strand appears, you’ll find a few simple strategies can help make your head of hair healthier and stronger. Hair Loses Color From Chronic Stress ResponseLegend has it that on the night before Marie Antoinette was beheaded, her hair went completely white.3 Until recently, scientists have disagreed over whether stress is a contributing factor to prematurely graying hair. In a research article published in Nature4 scientists report they have found that stress levels may predict how much and how quickly you go gray. The study’s authors used an animal model to demonstrate how acute stress could quicken the production of gray hair by depleting the body’s supply of melanocyte stem cells.5 These cells are important in the production of your hair color.6 In 2011, researchers from New York University demonstrated that hair follicle stem cells and melanocytes collaborate in the production of hair color, but the underlying mechanism had not been identified. The color of your hair is determined by melanocyte stem cells that produce pigment. As you age, the number goes down. This means your hair doesn’t take on a gray pigment but loses pigment and becomes gray. After there is complete loss, your hair turns white.7 To test the theory that stress has an impact on whether you can become prematurely gray, scientists exposed mice to three different types of stressors, including psychological stress. During the testing of each one, they found that melanocytes were depleted, leading to white hair on the mice, regardless of the phase of hair growth. Melanocytes Take Flight Under the Influence of NoradrenalineIn the past, scientists suggested it was the influence of corticosterone during a stress response that caused hair to lose pigmentation and go gray. In this study, testing revealed that wasn’t the case. They discovered the melanocyte stem cells had receptors that respond to noradrenaline. This is a neurotransmitter produced by the body during a high stress response, commonly called a “flight-or-fight response.” Noradrenaline is produced by the adrenal glands, but even removing the adrenal glands did not prevent the mice from turning gray. It is also produced by the sympathetic nervous system, which the team showed supplies hair follicles. By blocking noradrenaline from the sympathetic nervous system, the researchers could prevent the graying of their hair.8 They also found that the hair turned gray in direct correlation with the level of sympathetic nervous system innervation. After tracking melanocyte stem cells, they discovered the cells became active and multiplied when exposed to a lot of noradrenaline. The movement of melanocyte stem cells away from the follicles under the influence of the neurotransmitter meant the hair had no available pigment. In an accompanying commentary, the author’s concluded:9
How Does Hair Grow?For a greater appreciation of the results of the featured study, it is helpful to understand how hair grows. Hair is a fibrous structural protein that grows out of a hair follicle anchored in the skin. At the base of the hair is a bulb where there are living cells that divide and build the hair shaft. The bulb is fed by the sympathetic nervous system as well as blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients. The rate of growth is somewhat different for everyone, but the average is half an inch per month. There are three cycles of hair growth. Melanocyte stem cells are most active during the anagen or growth phase; the effects of noradrenaline, as shown in the research, can happen in any phase. • Anagen -- This is the growth phase in which the matrix cells of the hair follicle are fully pigmented and undergoing vigorous growth activities. The length of each phase varies with the site on your body and your age. On your scalp, this phase may last as long as six years. Of all the hairs on the average person's head, approximately 90% of them are in the anagen phase at any time.10 • Catagen -- During this resting phase, the amount of activity decreases. During normal growth only 1% of hair is found in the catagen phase. • Telogen -- In this phase of inactivity, the hair detaches from the follicle and falls out. Approximately 9% of all hair is in this phase at any given time. A new hair growing in the follicle will force the growing hair out and the cycle begins again. Other Factors That May Increase Hair Loss and Color ChangeThere are other factors, in addition to stress, that can affect your hair color and increase your hair loss. For instance, the authors of one study of more than 6,630 Latin Americans were the first to identify genes that influence the graying of hair, as well as those that affect hair shape and balding patterns.11 Desmond Tobin, Ph.D., from the University of Bradford in England,12 has suggested that each hair follicle has something like a biological clock that either slows or stops the activity of melanocytes. He believes your genetics have a large influence on how quickly your hair loses pigment.13 Environmental factors, such as smoking, also influence how quickly you turn gray. Based on the results of one study,14 researchers suggested there was a significant relationship between those who smoked cigarettes and those who turned gray before they turned 30. Oxidative stress from free radicals may also cause damage that triggers gray hair.15 Hydrogen peroxide is known for its use in bleaching hair. You might not be aware, but your hair accumulates hydrogen peroxide. Researchers16 have learned that an increasing amount of hydrogen peroxide can induce oxidative damage and that it is “… a key element in senile hair graying, which does not exclusively affect follicle melanocytes.” According to Harvard Health Publishing,17 several illnesses can also increase the rate at which you turn gray. A vitamin B12 deficiency may speed the development of gray hair. Neurofibromatosis, thyroid disease, vitiligo, alopecia areata and tuberous sclerosis, an uncommon but inherited condition with characteristic benign tumors, can all increase the rate at which this happens. Can Supplements Affect Hair Growth?If you've ever walked the aisles where supplements are stocked, you've probably noticed the multiple combinations advertised to help your hair, skin and nails. Noticeably, they all contain various components they claim will help your hair health. But, growing healthy hair depends on more than what you put ON it; rather, providing your body with structural proteins such as keratin, collagen and elastin is an internal process, too.18 There are also factors in your body processes and environmental influences that may cause problems with hair health. Intrinsic issues happen inside your body, like processes that affect your levels of proteins, hormones and blood sugar. To that end, a healthy diet can help protect from or promote inflammation, which in turn can influence visible measurements of the health of your skin, hair and nails. Outside the body, certain external factors can also affect your hair health, such as your exposure to the sun or air pollution. Knowing this, you can see that, although the pharmaceutical industry promises you an easy answer through hair dye, pills and creams, these are just short-term fixes that often come with unwanted side effects. Seek out more natural methods instead, using foods to meet your body's nutritional needs and supplements only to fill in what you can’t achieve with a healthy diet. In "Do Hair, Skin and Nail Supplements Work?" I discuss specific supplements that may help hair loss and improve growth. Consider Natural Hair Care Strategies for Health and BeautyNow that scientists — and you — know the impact stress has on your potential to go gray early, consider taking precautions to reduce your stress levels. These strategies also protect your heart19 and help with weight management.20 One of my favorite strategies is the use of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) that can be done at home or even in public without drawing attention to yourself. Other options to consider are meditation, breathing techniques and music. You can learn more in my past article, “How Stress Affects Your Body, and Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Develop Greater Resilience.” Even if gray hairs have started to peek through, continue to practice stress reduction strategies as they may slow or stop the process and positively affect other aspects of your health. Ditch the Synthetic Hair DyeAlthough people have been using dye for centuries to change their locks — the Egyptians used henna to dye their gray21 — many of the processes involve the use of unnatural chemicals.22 Early in the development of synthetic hair coloring products, for example, hydrogen peroxide was used as a bleaching agent. Other methods have been proposed, but many manufacturers continue to produce hair color with either paraphenylenediamine PPD or a related compound, p-aminophenol. David Lewis, from the University of Leeds in the U.K., finds this concerning:
Instead of synthetic products, reach for coconut oil which you may have in your kitchen cabinet right now. You can use it as the base for an at-home hair coloring solution. Not only is it beneficial to your health and beauty when taken internally, it can also be used topically on your skin and hair. Discover how to use it for these and other purposes in my article, “How to Use Coconut Oil for Hair Health.” from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/02/22/stress-turns-hair-gray.aspx We may mistakenly believe that the chances of dying are greater in the air than on the road because the severity of aviation accidents can be devastating. Compare that to automotive accidents where the probability of dying in a given automotive accident is about one half of 1 percent. Here’s the rub, unfortunately: nearly 18,000 automotive accidents occur every day in the US, on average. This frequency multiplied by the low severity still amounted to nearly 37,000 automotive fatalities in 2018. To put this difference into perspective, between 2000 and 2018 there were 778 fatalities from US scheduled air travel. Over the same time span, there were 723,530 automotive fatalities — almost 1,000 times greater than the number of fatalities from scheduled air travel. These numbers should scare anyone. If I die in the next 10 years, the most probable “murder weapon” is my vehicle or another vehicle on the road. Is there anything I can do to lower the chances of dying in a car or from a car? Of course, never stepping foot in a car again would drastically lower my chances, but there are trade-offs in life. Before I get into my risk-reduction strategy, a few statistics are in order to inform it. Also, a caveat: for this analysis, I’m only interested in the driver and what he or she can do to lower the risk of death. I care a lot about pedestrians and other occupants in the vehicle, but to do this analysis, I must remove them from the equation. Of all drivers killed in US automotive accidents in 2017, 18% occurred on a freeway. This is actually lower than I expected. I think this speaks to a more controlled environment where an interstate must meet federal standards and includes fully controlled access (i.e., entering and exiting is confined to on and off ramps) and a median width of at least 50 feet. Perhaps the biggest reason why we don’t see more fatal crashes on freeways is that there are no intersections on them (with a few exceptions). In fact, there are more drivers killed in intersections (20%) than on freeways. After accounting for freeways (18%) and intersections and junctions (20%), we’re still left with more than 60% of drivers killed in automotive accidents left accounted for. It turns out that drivers killed on rural roads with 2 lanes (i.e., one lane in each direction divided by a double yellow line) accounts for a staggering 38% of total mortality. This number would actually be higher, except to keep the three categories we have mutually exclusive, we backed out any intersection-related driver deaths on these roads and any killed on 2-lane rural roads that were classified as “freeway.” So, to recap, 3 of out every 4 deaths in a car occur on the freeway, at an intersection/junction, or on a rural road with a single lane in each direction. Let’s double-click on each one of these categories and see if we can answer two very important questions:
If we can answer these questions, we may gain insight into what we can do to lower our risk of death (and the death of others) while driving. In the cases where drivers are killed on freeways, 31% of them have alcohol in their system and nearly 85% of these drivers were over the legal limit of 0.08 g/dL. Furthermore, 29% of all driver deaths involved speeding, and just under 1 in 10 involved distracted driving. It’s difficult to get mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive data here, and there are often multiple related factors. For example, it’s not uncommon for a driver to die on a freeway while speeding and over the legal limit of alcohol. The primary conditions that lead to fatalities, then, are: alcohol, speeding, and distraction leading to a loss of control or contact with another vehicle. Who is likely to be at fault on a freeway, the driver that was killed, or another driver on the road? It’s not exactly clear from the data, but that doesn’t change our strategy. Why? I think the steps below make it clear. Rule #1: Consider the conditions above as your not-to-do list to reduce the risk of accidental suicide: Do not drive with alcohol in your system, even if you are (or think you are) below the legal limit. Do not speed. Do not text and drive. Do not get behind the wheel if you are sleep-deprived. Rule #2: Assume others are not adhering to Rule #1. In particular, assume one person awoke today with the explicit instruction to kill you with their car. If you knew this, how vigilant would you be? How much more closely would you pay attention to each other driver around you? That person swerving around or braking too late? That person looking at their phone? That person speeding up behind you? Look for the killer. Be vigilant at all times, and make sure today is not his day. Let’s move to the next category of fatalities — intersections and T-junctions. I learned something from one of my best friends in high school who is a long haul truck driver. Talk about someone having a front-row seat to vehicular manslaughter. He told me many years ago that when approaching an intersection, with the right of way, he always looks left first, then right, before entering. Why? The data below show you what his intuition suggested and his experience crystalized. Let’s start with intersections. A driver is most likely going to be struck near the driver’s side by another vehicle, otherwise known as a broadside or T-bone crash. Figure 1 illustrates the different crash scenarios. If a driver is heading through an intersection, with the right of way, the most common cause of his death is the driver on his left, where both cars cross paths, as scenario #2 in Figure 1 most clearly depicts. Scenario #5, in which two cars go straight through the intersection, has the highest severity. While the figure shows the vehicle heading left to right struck by the one heading up, it’s often the case where the vehicle heading up is struck by the other heading left to right, running a traffic signal or stop sign. Figure 1. Schematics of, and percent of fatal crashes, Common Crossing Path Crash Scenarios. Fatal crashes include intersections and T-junctions. Figure from the US Department of Transportation. Legend: (1) Left Turn Across Path – Opposite Direction Conflict (LTAP/OD) (2) Left Turn Across Path – Lateral Direction Conflict (LTAP/LD) (3) Left Turn Into Path – Merge Conflict (LTIP) (4) Right Turn Into Path – Merge Conflict (RTIP) (5) Straight Crossing Paths (SCP) Who is most likely to be at fault when a fatal driver crash occurs at an intersection? It’s often the driver that dies who is the one not at fault. They’re more likely to be obeying the rules of the road, with the right of way, when someone blows a stop sign or traffic light and strikes the victim on the driver’s side, or at an angle. However, the fault is often shifted to the driver in fatalities occurring at T-junctions. In this case, the driver that’s going to be killed reaches the junction (i.e., traveling up the stem of the “T”) where the road intersects, and proceeds to make a turn before it is safe to do so and is most often struck on the left side by the car traveling in the lateral direction (i.e., heading left-to-right on the horizontal line of the “T”) with the right of way. This type of accident resembles scenario #2 in Figure 1. The second most common way to get killed is when traveling right-to-left on the “T” and turning left into the stem of the “T” and the vehicle is struck by another heading in the opposite direction. This accident looks like scenario #1 in Figure 1 (you need to rotate the figure 90 degrees left in your mind’s eye for it to match my “T” description for it). Lastly, let’s turn our attention to the final, and largest, category of deaths. Determining who’s more likely at fault in driver deaths on 2-lane rural roads may be a little bit harder to pinpoint, but we have some clues. In about 10% of drivers killed in this category, prior to the crash, also referred to as the pre-crash critical event, another vehicle heading in the opposite direction crossed the left lane (i.e., the double yellow line) into the victim’s lane. I think it’s safe to assume that the other driver was responsible for the crash. However, more often (17% of cases), a driver that is killed on this type of road is the one crossing the lane to his left and encroaching on the opposite lane of travel as the pre-crash critical event. In drivers killed on 2-lane rural roads, 50% involved a driver not wearing a seat belt. Close to 40% have alcohol in their system and nearly 90% of these drivers were over the legal limit of 0.08 g/dL. About one-third involved speeding, and 16% did not have a valid driver’s license. I think this suggests that driver error plays a larger role rather than another driver at fault. At the least, it suggests that there are some simple things we can do to lower the driver death rate. Which brings me to the larger point of this post. What are some of the things you can do to improve your chances of not becoming a statistic on the road? The first thing you should do is understand what you should not do.
These are not mutually exclusive factors. I would also argue that the numbers on distracted and drowsy driving (not included above because it’s reportedly involved in only 2% of driver deaths) are underestimated and don’t capture the influence of texting in the case of the former, and the impact of poor sleep in the latter, except in the most extreme cases. How can you drive more carefully? The best place to start is to look at the factors in the list above and take an honest inventory. As I discussed in the previous email, while there’s no assurance that what I do in a car will keep me alive, I think I can reduce the odds of that happening, beyond simply avoiding these factors, as important as they are. But, and here’s the key point, assume someone like this person is on the road at all times, and his sole purpose is to kill you. He’s a serial killer and uses his vehicle as his murder weapon. His killing statistics eerily resemble the overall fatal crash statistics. He does a lot of his killings at intersections, but isn’t shy about hopping on the freeway and taking people out there, too. On the freeways, he may suddenly leave his lane and enter yours within inches of your front bumper, or he’s side by side trying to make contact with your vehicle. Be on the lookout for this maniac. At intersections, he really likes being on your left and he loves running red lights and stop signs. If you’re going through a green light or a road that intersects with stop signs, look left before you enter and cross the intersection. If you’re at a red light that turns green or proceeding through a stop sign, first look left to make sure the killer isn’t there. On rural 2-lane roads, he’s been known on occasion to travel in the opposite direction of his victim, leave his lane and force his distracted victims, who traveled these roads so many times they think they can drive them in their sleep, into an avoidance maneuver that results in them driving off the road and rolling their vehicle. This is where you need to remind yourself that even though you’ve driven these roads countless times without a scratch, it does not give you a pass to be more complacent and lose your focus. Remind yourself every day to take these measures every time you get behind the wheel. Most of these are obvious and you’ve heard them before, but if you look at the data, my hope is that it makes the steps you can take more tangible. Here in Table 1, I summarize the primary locations of US automotive fatalities, the underlying causes, and most importantly, the steps you can take to reduce your risk of succumbing to them beyond the obvious (Rule #1, above, the so-called not-to-do list). Table 1. Common causes of driver deaths and additional strategies to reduce their risk. Before closing this morbid email, one of my patients, who is himself a very frequent helicopter passenger, sent me his rules of engagement for safer flying after reading last week’s email. With his permission, I’m listing them here.
About Dr. AttiaDr. Attia is the founder of Attia Medical, PC, a medical practice with offices in San Diego and New York City, focusing on the applied science of longevity. The practice applies nutritional biochemistry, exercise physiology, sleep physiology, techniques to increase distress tolerance, lipidology, pharmacology, and four-system endocrinology to increase lifespan (delaying the onset of chronic disease), while simultaneously improving healthspan (quality of life). from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/02/21/road-trip-safety.aspx Millions of people take acetaminophen, commonly known as the brand name drug Tylenol, frequently. People use acetaminophen for treating everything from fevers and muscle aches to headaches, hangovers and other pain. Because acetaminophen is available over the counter and is an ingredient found in many other preparations such as those for cold and flu, few people think twice about taking it. They should. Acetaminophen is the top cause of acute liver failure in the U.S.1 and overdoses are a leading cause of emergency department visits and hospitalizations.2 According to UT Southwestern Medical Center, more than 200 people a year die from acetaminophen poisoning in the U.S. and there are 15,000 hospital visits due to accidentally taking too much.3 Acetaminophen is also correlated with serious side effects4 such as certain skin conditions, abdominal and gastrointestinal problems and allergic reactions. As I mention later in this article, it also could be dangerous for pregnant women. And, if California state regulators are correct, the latest risk to be associated with acetaminophen may be cancer. The regulators are in the process of determining whether to classify acetaminophen as a carcinogen on the Proposition 65 list. Public Hearing on Carcinogenicity May Be in Spring 2020California's Proposition 65, enacted in 1986, requires the state to maintain a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Businesses are required to provide a warning if the products they sell or use expose the public to chemicals on the Proposition 65 list.5,6 California state regulators reviewed 133 acetaminophen studies in peer-reviewed journals and are considering whether to classify the drug as a carcinogen. They will hold a public hearing in spring 2020. According to The Associated Press, acetaminophen is:7
Since the drug is so popular, some fear that a warning will unnecessarily worry the public but Thomas Mack, chairman of the Carcinogen Identification Committee, the group appointed by the governor to identify chemicals linked to cancer,8 dismisses the fears. "That’s not what our mandate is," he says.9 In addition to the tremendous popularity of acetaminophen, inclusion of a chemical on the Proposition 65 list can pave the way for lawsuits, so industry is resisting the classification.10 For example, reports The Associated Press:
What Are the Possible Cancer Links to Acetaminophen?Suspicion of acetaminophen’s carcinogenic potential stems from the fact that it is a major metabolite of phenacetin, a drug connected with cancer more than three decades ago. In 2001, researchers in the International Journal of Cancer wrote:11
Still, the researchers added that they did not find what you would interpret as very strong cancer links with acetaminophen:12
Nearly 20 years later, in January 2020, the Los Angeles Times weighed in on the possible risks and downplayed them, saying the "standards for inclusion" for the Proposition 65 list are so low, even coffee was put on it.13 Acetaminophen Can Cause Liver DamageAs I wrote before, acetaminophen is the top cause of acute liver failure in the U.S. It can even be toxic to your liver at recommended doses when taken daily for just a couple of weeks.14 Part of the reason for the risk is that acetaminophen's recommended dose and the amount of the drug that causes an overdose are very close. There is not much margin of safety. In fact, studies reveal that taking just a little more acetaminophen than the recommended dose over a few days or weeks (referred to as "staggered overdosing") can be deadlier than one large overdose.15 Research in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology found:16
Acetaminophen Is Linked to Fatal Skin ReactionsFew people have heard of three serious skin reactions linked to acetaminophen, but they are concerning enough that the FDA issued a warning in 2013:17
The three skin conditions that the FDA warns of are very rare but also life-threatening:
No one knows why acetaminophen can cause these extreme skin conditions and there is no way to predict who may be at risk before they take the drug. Even more concerning, as the FDA points out in its warning, the reactions can occur in someone who has safely taken acetaminophen before. Acetaminophen Not Safe During PregnancyAcetaminophen is likely not safe to take for women who are pregnant. A study in JAMA Pediatrics found disturbing links between hyperkinetic disorders (HKD), a severe form of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and ADHD itself.18 The study found a 29% increased risk for ADHD in the children whose mothers had used acetaminophen during pregnancy in the first seven years of their lives and a 37% increased risk of being diagnosed with HKD.19 In a 2015 communication, the FDA cited the JAMA Pediatrics ADHD study. It also cited research that found a possible connection between the use of acetaminophen and other drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and miscarriage but found the evidence inconclusive.20 The fetal exposure of mothers taking acetaminophen during pregnancy may also increase a child's chances of developing asthma.21 Researchers analyzed data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, which includes many mother/child pairs, and found that prenatal acetaminophen exposure was associated with an increased risk of asthma in offspring.22 Finally, use of acetaminophen during pregnancy may cut levels of testosterone in the womb, negatively affecting males, according to research in mice.23 It's possible that this apparent testosterone reduction interferes with the development of the male reproductive system and explains genital birth defects, infertility and testicular cancer, according to other research.24 In addition to harm to male fetuses, a rat study found that the use of acetaminophen or NSAIDs in pregnancy could reduce the size of ovaries and follicles, and if applied to humans, might indicate that it could affect fertility of resulting daughters and granddaughters.25 Other Acetaminophen RisksAcetaminophen may not be safe to take when you are drinking alcohol. Research suggests it can greatly increase your risk of kidney dysfunction — even if the amount of alcohol is small.26 Combining alcohol with acetaminophen was found to raise the risk of kidney damage by 123% compared to taking either of them individually. Besides alcoholics, young adults are particularly at risk of kidney harm as they're more likely to consume both alcohol and acetaminophen.27 Acetaminophen can also affect the immune system. According to a study in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics,28 infants who received acetaminophen right after getting a vaccination experienced lowered immune response and developed significantly fewer antibodies against the disease they were vaccinated against. Acetaminophen's anti-inflammatory activity might explain the apparent effects by interfering with the body's immune system antibody response, say the researchers. Other risks that have been associated with the use of acetaminophen include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and reduced lung function, brain damage, increased blood pressure and hearing loss. Finally, acetaminophen may have psychiatric effects, according to research conducted by University of British Columbia researchers in 2016.29 The researchers found that use of acetaminophen may both lessen the ability of people to recognize errors that they make and their concern about whether or not they have made an error.30 Past research has also revealed subtle cognitive effects associated with acetaminophen use, like a 2010 study that indicated acetaminophen may reduce the pain of social rejection.31 Research also showed that acetaminophen had the ability to blunt both positive and negative emotions.32 Regardless of whether acetaminophen is added to California's Proposition 65 as a carcinogen, there are many reasons to avoid this drug when possible and use it cautiously. Further, there are many pain-relieving herbs and practices that you can use to replace acetaminophen for natural relief. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/02/21/california-considers-declaring-common-painkiller-carcinogenic.aspx |
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