Colloidal silver is a liquid with small silver particles that are small enough to be measured in nanometers.1 It may also be defined as any fluid containing silver, such as colloidal silver protein.2 Unlike water, it is usually opaque because of a high concentration of silver nanoparticles that block light from passing through.3 In European folk medicine, it was believed that wearing silver rings may help ward off illnesses, while mixing silver powder with plants was used to help alleviate rabies, nosebleed and edema4 (swelling caused by trapped fluid in the body’s tissues).5 Colloidal silver was also used to help alleviate various health conditions and diseases such as epilepsy, stomach ulcer and mental illnesses. In the form of colloidal silver supplement, it’s known today as an alternative all-around germ fighter.6 Colloidal Silver Sources: Where Does This Impressive Liquid Come From?Silver (Ag) can be found in compound formations that also contain lead, copper, gold and zinc. It is formed through hydrothermal processes in sulfide deposits. Other sources of silver are oxidized, weathered and decomposed rocks in iron caps (exposed part of an iron-containing deposit), where it precipitates through weathering.7 Unlike silver, which is a naturally occurring chemical element, colloidal silver is produced using a generator.8 By placing a DC voltage across two pieces of pure silver immersed in demineralized water,9 a high voltage will be applied to the electrodes to produce a colloidal silver solution.10 13 Colloidal Silver Benefits and Uses in Human Health CareColloidal silver is generally known to have antimicrobial effects, which is why it is considered an antibiotic. This is one of the most notable colloidal silver benefits because it is associated with a number of uses, such as:11
Colloidal silver supplements have also been gaining attention because of their positive health effects. While some undermine their potential, there are published studies to prove and support these claims. So what is colloidal silver good for? Here is a list of the various conditions for which colloidal silver can be used: • Pink eye -- Also known as conjunctivitis, this is an eye disease caused by the inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin layer of tissue on the inner surface of the eyelids that covers the white part of the eye.12 Colloidal silver may work as a natural antibiotic to help alleviate pink eye, and it may be taken orally or applied topically.13 • Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria -- Colloidal silver nanoparticles prepared using glucose as the reducing agent were found to exhibit an antibacterial effect against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria.14 To add, the antibacterial activity of antibiotics such as penicillin G, amoxicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin and vancomycin may be enhanced when used with colloidal silver.15 • Eczema -- This long-term condition causes you to have itchy and dry skin.16 Including colloidal silver in your daily skin care routine may boost its natural health by helping renew and soothe it.17 • Herpes -- Colloidal silver can be used for herpes treatment because it works as an antibiotic, along with enough folic acid and B vitamins in a diet. Herpes lesions may be treated using a colloidal silver compress.18 • Ear infection -- Silver sulfadiazine (SSD) is a safe formulation against otic infections (relating to the ears) caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses. An in vitro study found that this topical cream combined with fluorinated quinolone, an antibiotic, may help reduce the risk of ear infection and eardrum rupture in animals.19 To know more ways aside from using colloidal silver to help ease earache, read “Simple Home Remedies May Stop an Earache.” • Sinus infection -- When used as a nasal spray, a colloidal silver solution may effectively reach nasal passages and sinuses to help alleviate sinus infections and sore throat.20 Additionally, it is believed that colloidal silver supplements may help mitigate acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and diabetes.21 Colloidal Silver Studies Note Its Potential for Reducing Cancer RiskDue to colloidal silver’s low toxicity and high therapeutic activity against disease-causing microorganisms, it may be used as an alternative to antibiotics in chemotherapy. As noted by a 2007 study, colloidal silver’s tiny silver particles are responsible for its overall increased surface area, which helps them easily and quickly penetrate into the cell walls of bacteria. These minute silver particles attach to cell receptors and attack enzymes that help reproduce microbial cells.22 A 2010 Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research study also found that colloidal silver may help reduce your risk of cancer by triggering cancer cell death without affecting normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) control cells,23 which are essential immune system cells. Colloidal silver exhibited its toxic effect on MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line, which led to apoptosis24 or programmed cell death.25 What's the Difference Between True Colloidal Silver and Ionic Silver?According to the website Silver Colloids, silver colloid may be considered true colloidal silver if it contains more than 50 percent silver in nanoparticle form. On the other hand, if it contains only 5 to 10 percent nanoparticles, it is considered ionic silver. It may not be noticeable to the naked eye, but a visible characteristic of true colloidal silver is haze. Unlike ionic silver, which is clear like regular water, true colloidal silver solution is opaque. Also, it should not be labeled as mild silver protein or silver protein.26 Be Cautious of These Colloidal Silver Side EffectsSince there are no industry standards for colloidal silver producers,27 make sure that you purchase colloidal silver supplements or products from reputable sources to ensure their safety. You may also create your own colloidal silver solution by using a generator and twice-distilled demineralized water.28 Remember to ask for an alternative health practitioner’s advice before using this supplement, especially if you are dealing with any medical condition. Always choose high-quality colloidal silver products, which contain bioactive true colloidal silver. They should be free of contaminants such as salts, proteins, stabilizers and oxidizing compounds, which will help lessen your risk of argyria, one of the most common colloidal silver dangers.29 Argyria is an irreversible condition that may occur due to excessive exposure to silver and silver-containing products. Argyria can be characterized by a bluish grey skin discoloration, which may be more pronounced in sun-exposed areas. Although it is benign, the discoloration may less likely fade over time even if you have discontinued taking colloidal silver supplements.30 In severe cases, the liver and kidneys may be affected.31 Poor-quality colloidal silver may also cause long-term side effects in your renal, hepatic and neurologic functions.32 Other colloidal silver side effects include:33
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Colloidal SilverQ: Is colloidal silver safe? A: Yes, provided that you choose a high-quality product and it’s used in moderation, with the approval of your physician. Select colloidal silver products that contain high-quality true colloidal silver and are made from pure, twice-distilled or reverse osmosis water, which may help reduce your risk of argyria.34 Q: What is colloidal silver used for? A: Colloidal silver is used to help alleviate various health conditions such as sinus infection, pink eye, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, eczema, herpes and ear infections. It may reduce your risk of cancer by triggering cancer cell death. Colloidal silver is also used for water purification, wound dressings, bone prostheses, catheters, reconstructive orthopedic surgery, cardiac devices and surgical appliances. Q: How is colloidal silver taken? A: Colloidal silver may be taken orally or used topically. Q: Is colloidal silver good for cancer? A: Published studies noted that colloidal silver may have antitumor potential by helping induce cancer cell death. It may also be used as an alternative to antibiotics in chemotherapy due to its low toxicity and high therapeutic activity against pathogenic microorganisms.35,36 Q: Does colloidal silver kill good bacteria? A: No. Instead, its antibacterial action works against S. aureus, S. epidermidis (Gram-positive bacteria), and E. coli and P. aeruginosa (Gram-negative bacteria), which can cause various illnesses and diseases in humans, animals and plants.37 Q: Where can I buy colloidal silver? A: Colloidal silver is available online in supplement and solution forms. Remember to look for a high-quality product and to seek an alternative health professional’s advice before purchasing. Q: How do I make colloidal silver? A: Place a DC voltage generator across two pieces of pure silver immersed in water. Apply a high voltage to the electrodes to produce a colloidal silver solution. Remember to use twice-distilled demineralized water or water that has undergone reverse osmosis instead of tap water, which may chemically alter the solution because of its high salt content. Remember not to use metal or plastic containers because the colloidal silver may separate. Store the solution in a dark glass bottle at between 59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.38 from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/03/30/xdjm18-vitamins-supplements-18mcsa-colloidal-silver.aspx
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Catching a quick nap midday may be a simple, no-cost way to lower your blood pressure, according to researchers from the Asklepieion General Hospital in Voula, Greece.1 The research, presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 68th Annual Scientific Session, suggests midday sleep could be as effective at slashing blood pressure levels as other lifestyle interventions, like reducing alcohol intake or taking low-dose blood pressure medication. It's unclear whether the results vary depending on whether a person is sleep-deprived or typically gets a good night's sleep, but it could be that a nap may be particularly useful for people lacking in high-quality sleep. High blood pressure affects more than 1.13 billion people worldwide,2 including 1 in 3 U.S. adults. Another 1 in 3 have prehypertension, but many are unaware that their health is at risk from this "silent killer."3 Fortunately, beyond napping there are other powerful strategies to lower your blood pressure as well, such as improving nitric oxide levels, which I’ll discuss later. But first, it does appear that for some people a nap a day may help keep high blood pressure away. Napping May Lower Your Blood Pressure LevelsThe study followed more than 200 people with high blood pressure, monitoring their blood pressure levels, midday sleep time, lifestyle habits and pulse wave velocity, which is a measure of arterial stiffness. Those who napped had an average systolic 24-hour blood pressure reading that was 5.3 mm Hg lower than those who did not, while both blood pressure numbers were also more favorable among nappers compared to non-nappers. It appeared that, for each hour of napping, 24-hour systolic blood pressure was lowered by 3 mm Hg. "We obviously don't want to encourage people to sleep for hours on end during the day, but on the other hand, they shouldn’t feel guilty if they can take a short nap, given the potential health benefits,” Dr. Manolis Kallistratos told the American College of Cardiology (ACC). “Even though both groups were receiving the same number of medications and blood pressure was well controlled, there was still a significant decrease in blood pressure among those who slept during midday."4 The study may be a good representation of napping benefits, as those included in the study had well-controlled blood pressure. Whereas those with high, uncontrolled blood pressure levels may have more pronounced drops from interventions, by using a group with controlled levels "we can feel more confident that any significant differences in blood pressure readings are likely due to napping," Kallistratos said.5 The study also monitored the natural dips in blood pressure that occur during sleep, finding that the natural drops were similar across the participants. This suggests the reductions noted in the study could be due to the napping intervention. Kallistratos told ACC:6
Napping May Improve Function, Thinking and MemoryAside from lowering blood pressure, taking naps offers other health benefits, including to people over 60 years, who typically have shorter periods of deep sleep and more frequent waking at night. Taken together, older adults may sleep for nearly two hours less on average than young adults. It used to be believed that older adults didn't need as much sleep, but now it's thought that most people thrive on seven to eight hours of sleep a night. When researchers started a napping regimen among men aged 50 to 88, it turned out that midday sleep helped the men significantly increase their sleep over a 24-hour period, leading to enhanced cognitive performance.7 What's more, the naps — even up to two hours a day — did not negatively affect the men's nighttime sleep, but the researchers suggested one-hour naps may be easier for most people to accommodate. Napping has also been shown to facilitate memory consolidation and learning and support emotional processing.8 Napping Isn't Always a Good ThingParadoxically, there's also some research showing napping is associated with negative outcomes, even including an increased risk of high blood pressure,9 and the following, especially in older adults:10
While it’s unlikely that naps are directly causing these health problems, the association exists nonetheless, and more research is needed to determine who benefits from naps, who doesn’t and why. “An emerging hypothesis,” researchers wrote in Sleep Medicine, “suggests inflammation is a mediator between midday naps and poor health outcomes, yet further research is necessary."11 It’s also been suggested that the length of the nap may make all the difference, with those less than 30 minutes promoting wakefulness and enhanced performance and learning ability, and those longer being associated with health problems, including higher mortality in the elderly. "The benefits of napping could be best obtained by training the body and mind to awaken after a short nap," according to researchers in the journal Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine.12 The Most Profound Way to Lower Your Blood PressureWhile the jury's still out on whether naps are ultimately beneficial or harmful, it's quite clear that improving your nitric oxide (NO) is the most profound thing you can do to lower your blood pressure because it relaxes your blood vessels. NO is a soluble gas stored in the lining of your blood vessels, called the endothelium. NO is produced inside your endothelial cells from the amino acid L-arginine, where it acts as an important signaling molecule throughout your body. Along with promoting healthy endothelial function and heart health, NO supports healthy blood flow by helping your veins and arteries dilate. This, in turn, allows vital oxygen and nutrients to flow freely throughout your body — beneficial for your circulation and brain health. NO also improves your immune function, stimulates the thinning of your blood and decreases blood viscosity, which in turn decreases platelet aggregation — ultimately reducing your risk of developing a life-threatening blood clot. Callisthenic exercises, such as the Nitric Oxide Dump, can help increase NO production. It involves just four movements — squats, alternating arm raises, non-jumping jacks and shoulder presses — which are done in repetitions of 10, with four sets each. The workout takes just three or four minutes and should be repeated three times a day, with a minimum of two hours between sessions. I typically do a modified version of the one developed by Dr. Zach Bush, which you can view below. In addition, a comprehensive exercise program is essential to keep your blood pressure levels healthy. Research shows inactive individuals have a 30 to 50 percent greater risk for high blood pressure than their active counterparts, and "An evidence based literature analysis by the American College of Sports Medicine indicates that an isolated exercise session (acute effect) lowers BP [blood pressure] an average of 5-7 mmHg."13 Using Your Diet to Improve Blood PressureLeafy greens and beets are important dietary components if you have high blood pressure, as they're good sources of naturally occurring nitrates that are converted into NO in your body. Because beets are high in sugar, fermented beet juice, also known as beet kvass, may be a far preferable option, as virtually all of the sugar is eliminated during the fermentation process. I often include about 1 to 2 ounces of raw beets in my daily smoothie, in addition to taking a fermented beet root powder supplement. Eating garlic may also help, as although it’s low in nitrates, it helps boost NO production by increasing nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which converts L-arginine to NO in the presence of cofactors such as vitamins B2 and B3.14 Fennel seeds are another healthy food that increases your body's production of NO. Potassium also works in your body to relax the walls of your arteries, keep your muscles from cramping and lower your blood pressure.15 An analysis of over 29 trials demonstrated low levels of potassium resulted in higher systolic blood pressure readings.16 Leafy greens and avocado are examples of potassium-rich foods. On a larger scale, however, high blood pressure is often the result of too much insulin and leptin in response to a high-carbohydrate and processed food diet. A cyclical ketogenic, low net-carb, high-fat diet is the solution, as it will allow your body to burn fat rather than glucose as its primary fuel. Fasting is a natural partner to a ketogenic diet and is one of the most effective ways to normalize your insulin/leptin sensitivity. In one three-month study, the participants were allowed to eat whatever they wanted in any quantity between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. For the remaining 16 hours, they were only permitted water or calorie-free drinks. The outcomes were then compared to a nonintervention control group from a previous fasting trial. Overall, participants not only consumed about 350 fewer calories per day and lost just under 3 percent of their body weight, but systolic blood pressure also dropped about 7 mmHg.17 Healthy Lifestyle Is the Secret to Optimal Blood PressureYour blood pressure is one of many biological functions affected by your lifestyle, and leading a healthy one is the key to keeping your level in the optimal range. Sleep is definitely part of this equation, and for some people it may be that napping helps them to increase their sleep and results in overall health benefits. A strong link between sleep quality and a type of high blood pressure known as resistant hypertension, which does not respond to typical drug-based treatments, has previously been found, for instance.18 Women who had resistant hypertension were five times as likely to also have poor sleep quality. While the average length of sleep in this study was only 6.4 hours a night (and nearly half slept fewer than six hours each night), it was sleep quality, not quantity, that appeared to influence hypertension risk. So, getting a good night’s sleep is essential to healthy blood pressure, but so is eating right, exercising, addressing stress and even avoiding environmental toxins, like air pollution. For more details, you can find more information to normalize high blood pressure here. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/03/28/napping-may-lower-blood-pressure.aspx
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.) is an Australian tree species belonging to the Myrtaceae family. The species is wide-ranging, containing over 900 different variants, ranging from short, bushy plants to giant trees. Despite their differences, they are easily identified by their pungent aroma and exfoliating bark.1 Botanist David Nelson discovered the plant in 1777. He took a sample and brought it back to London, where it was given the name Eucalyptus obliqua by Charles-Louis L'Héritier, a French botanist, in reference to the plant's flower bud and the shape of the leaf, respectively. "Eu" means "well," while "calyptos" means "covered." "Obliqua," on the other hand, comes from "obliquus," which means oblique in Latin.2 In the following years, many other species of eucalyptus were discovered as more settlers and explorers began to explore the Australian landscape. James Edward Smith, another English botanist, discovered more species of eucalyptus between 1790 and 1802.3 You might be interested to know that the koala, an herbivore mammal native to Australia, is the only mammal that can survive on a diet consisting of eucalyptus alone. In fact, this plant species is their favorite food. Other animals can't digest or metabolize eucalyptus leaves, and it can even be poisonous to them. The koala has the advantage of having a specialized caecum, which is a section in the digestive tract containing millions of beneficial bacteria that can break down the eucalyptus leaves safely.4 Rainbow Eucalyptus: A Unique Tree That Will Surely Grab Your AttentionThe rainbow eucalyptus tree (Eucalyptus deglupta) is a standout in the eucalyptus family. It can grow up to 250 feet tall, and as the name implies, has a rainbow-colored bark. This occurs when the tree sheds its bark during the summer, creating pale green, red, orange, gray and purple-brown bark streaks.5 Rainbow eucalyptus is mainly used for decorative and shade purposes, but it has various practical uses as well. It is prized for its wood and bark, which is used to make paper.6 If you're wondering if it's possible to grow rainbow eucalyptus in your yard, you can — as long as you live in a frost-free area with an area that has access to full sun and plenty of moisture. However, you may want to think twice about planting a eucalyptus tree, as a mature rainbow tree can grow to be very tall and can quickly become a problem in your garden and your neighborhood, disrupting the soil and breaking up sidewalks. This tree is better suited to parks and fields that can be enjoyed by the public.7 4 Health Benefits of EucalyptusThe Australian aboriginal populations were the first to discover the health benefits of eucalyptus. Since then, more ways to use it medicinally have been discovered. Well-known benefits include helping: • Eliminate bacteria -- Eucalyptus was discovered to have antibacterial properties from early on. Toward the end of the 19th century, it was used in to disinfect urinary catheters, and recent research can support this claim.8 In a study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine (APJTB), researchers discovered that essential oil extracted from Eucalyptus globulus leaves is particularly effective against common strains of bacteria, such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.9 • Promote oral care -- The compounds found in eucalyptus may help promote oral health. In one study, participants who regularly chewed on gum containing eucalyptus extract had lowered levels of plaque accumulation, and had healthier gums overall.10 • Provide respiratory relief -- Eucalyptus may help provide relief from runny noses, coughs and colds to help you breathe easier, as well as loosening phlegm,11 which is why you'll find it as an ingredient in many products, such as cough syrups, rubs and vapor baths.12 • Relieve pain -- In one study, researchers applied eucalyptus ointment on participants and discovered that it was able to help provide temporary pain relief, making it useful for athletes after a game. Furthermore, findings suggest that it can be used as a passive form of warmup due to its ability to raise muscle temperature.13 Various Uses of EucalyptusAside from using eucalyptus for its healing benefits, the Australian indigenous populations found other practical uses for it. According to Woodland Trust, the wood was used to make tools, weapons, canoes and musical instruments to fit their needs. Today, eucalyptus is mainly used to manufacture paper and furniture. Its leaves are also used to create essential oils for aromatherapy.14 When planted in your garden, eucalyptus offers several advantages. The strong aroma of its oils can help act as a natural insect repellant, while the wood can serve as mulch to help improve soil conditions in place of other popular potting mixes, such as pine bark.15 To make the mulch, simply distribute chopped eucalyptus wood or bark on the soil. The oils in the mulch can help repel plant-eating pests as well.16 Growing Eucalyptus in Your HomeGrowing eucalyptus requires careful consideration. As mentioned, you need to ask yourself: Do you have a backyard that can accommodate a eucalyptus tree once it has fully grown? If not, you may want to choose a species that can fit into containers, so that it can be grown on your patio or another location in your garden. The guide below focuses on how to cultivate smaller types of eucalyptus. • Preparing to Plant Eucalyptus -- Most species of eucalyptus require full sun to reach their maximum capacity, but certain species can tolerate partial shade, such as E. neglecta and E. crenulata. According to Gardening Know How, another advantage of eucalyptus is that it can adapt to a wide range of soils, as long as the area has good drainage.17 Purchase seeds of your preferred eucalyptus species, sow them in a shady area in your soil during spring and then cover them in plastic. Once the seeds grow, transplant each seedling into small pots. You may sow seeds directly into containers as well.18 • Maintaining Eucalyptus -- Once the seeds start to grow, little maintenance is needed. Watering should be done in moderation, and only done when the soil becomes dry. If your area is currently experiencing drought, you will have to increase the amount to compensate for the high temperatures. Fertilizers are not recommended when growing eucalyptus, as they can destroy the quality of the plants due to their phosphorus content.19 Pruning is important when maintaining your trees. You must control the top growth or else the plants will become too heavy and will become unstable. You will also need to clean the area around the trees for safety reasons, because the bark is considered flammable.20 • Harvesting and Storing Eucalyptus -- You may cut the branches and leaves as the plant grows.21 Gathered leaves can be grouped into a bunch and air-dried upside down or wrapped in a paper towel. Once they're dry, store them in an airtight glass jar.22 Eucalyptus Recipe: How to Make Eucalyptus TeaOne of the most common foods you can create from eucalyptus is tea. It allows you to enjoy all the nutrients in an efficient manner and is very easy to make. Just follow the steps below:23 Ingredients
Procedure
Note: Only drink eucalyptus in minute amounts. Drinking too much can lead to eucalyptus poisoning, which is marked by stomach pains, dizziness and muscle weakness.24 Do not drink eucalyptus if you have experienced an allergy reaction to the leaves or oils. Eucalyptus Essential Oil Allows You to Enjoy the Benefits ConvenientlyEucalyptus essential oil is well-loved in the field of aromatherapy. There are around 500 different species of eucalyptus essential oil produced around the world, but "The Healing Art of Essential Oils" says these four are some of the most commonly used:25
Making Infused Eucalyptus OilThe great thing about eucalyptus oil is that you can make it in your own home, especially if you have leftovers from making tea. Below are a few things you need to make infused eucalyptus oil:26 Materials
Procedure
3 Benefits of Eucalyptus OilEucalyptus oil has diverse benefits when used in different ways. However, make sure you dilute this essential oil in a safe carrier oil before using. Areas it can benefit include:
Side Effects of Eucalyptus OilBefore using eucalyptus oil (or any essential oil), it's important to be aware of the side effects. Eucalyptus oil has been known to cause:30
Always make sure that your doses are controlled. Aside suffering from the above symptoms, some victims of eucalyptus oil poisoning have fallen into a coma, while others have unfortunately died.31 Always check with your physician before using or consuming eucalyptus or any essential oil. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/03/28/xdjm18-herbs-spices-18mcsa-eucalyptus.aspx Alzheimer's disease — the most common form of dementia for which there is no effective conventional treatment or cure — currently affects an estimated 5.8 million Americans,1 up from 5.4 million in 2016. By 2050, that figure is projected to hit 14 million.2 Research3 published in 2014 revealed Alzheimer's had risen to the point of being the third leading cause of death in the U.S.4 For clarification, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to list Alzheimer's as the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.,5 this ranking is based on death certificates, and the study in question found Alzheimer's was grossly underreported as a cause of death on death certificates. Recalculations based on the evaluation of donated organs from the diseased put the actual death toll attributable to dementia at 503,400, making it the third leading cause of death, right behind heart disease and cancer. According to CDC data, the death rate from Alzheimer's rose 55 percent between 1999 and 2014.6,7 Now, the latest report from the National Center for Health Statistics reveals the rate of death from dementia more than doubled between 2000 and 2017, from 84,000 to 261,914.8,9,10 Forty-six percent of dementia deaths in 2017 were attributed to Alzheimer's. Other forms of dementia included vascular dementia, unspecified dementia and other degenerative nervous system diseases. But again, this data is based on death certificates, which the CDC admits (and the 2014 study above demonstrated) underrepresents the true death toll. Could Your Memory Problems Be a Symptom of Alzheimer's?As noted by CNN, progression of Alzheimer's disease varies, but often begin with short-term memory lapses that later progress to speech problems and trouble with executive functions.11 If changes in your memory or thinking skills are severe enough to be noticed by your friends and family you could be facing mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is a slight decline in cognitive abilities that increases your risk of developing more serious dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. If your mental changes are so significant that they interfere with your ability to function or live independently, it could signal the onset of dementia. For instance, it's normal to have trouble finding the right word on occasion, but if you forget words frequently and repeat phrases and stories during a conversation, there could be a problem. The video above reviews 10 early warning signs of Alzheimer's, and compares these signs with examples of typical age-related cognitive changes that are not a major cause for concern. You can also find a similar list compiled by the Alzheimer's Association.12 Another red flag is getting lost or disoriented in familiar places (as opposed to needing to ask for directions on occasion). If you're able to later describe a time when you were forgetful, such as misplacing your keys, that's a good sign; a more serious signal is not being able to recall situations when memory loss caused a problem, even though your loved ones describe it to you. Other warning signs of MCI or dementia include:
If Your Memory Is Slipping, Switch to a Ketogenic DietIf your memory slips often enough to put even an inkling of concern or doubt in your mind, it's time to take action. A high-fat, moderate-protein, low-net-carb ketogenic diet is crucial for protecting your brain health and preventing degeneration that can lead to Alzheimer's. One of the most striking studies13 showing the effects of a high-fat/low-carb versus high-carb diets on brain health revealed that high-carb diets increase your risk of dementia by a whopping 89 percent, while high-fat diets lower it by 44 percent. According to the authors, "A dietary pattern with relatively high caloric intake from carbohydrates and low caloric intake from fat and proteins may increase the risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia in elderly persons." A ketogenic diet benefits your brain in a number of different ways. For example, it: • Triggers ketone production -- A cyclical ketogenic diet will help you convert from carb-burning mode to fat-burning mode, which in turn triggers your body to produce ketones, an important source of energy (fuel) for your brain14 that have been shown to help prevent brain atrophy and alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer's.15 They may even restore and renew neuron and nerve function in your brain after damage has set in. • Improves your insulin sensitivity -- A cyclical ketogenic diet will also improve your insulin sensitivity, which is an important factor in Alzheimer's.16 The link between insulin sensitivity and Alzheimer's is so strong, the disease is sometimes referred to as Type 3 diabetes. Even mild elevation of blood sugar is associated with an elevated risk for dementia.17 Diabetes and heart disease18 are also known to elevate your risk, and both are rooted in insulin resistance. The connection between high-sugar diets and Alzheimer's was also highlighted in a longitudinal study published in the journal Diabetologia in January 2018.19 Nearly 5,190 individuals were followed over a decade, and the results showed that the higher an individual's blood sugar, the faster their rate of cognitive decline. Studies have also confirmed that the greater an individual's insulin resistance, the less sugar they have in key parts of their brain, and these areas typically correspond to the areas affected by Alzheimer's.20,21 • Reduces free radical damage and lowers inflammation in your brain -- Ketones not only burn very efficiently and are a superior fuel for your brain, but also generate fewer reactive oxygen species and less free radical damage. A ketone called beta hydroxybutyrate is also a major epigenetic player, stimulating radical decreases in oxidative stress by decreasing NF-kB, thus reducing inflammation and NADPH levels along with beneficial changes in DNA expression that improve your detoxification and antioxidant production. I explain the ins and outs of implementing this kind of diet, and its many health benefits, in my new book "KetoFast." In it, I also explain why cycling through stages of feast and famine, opposed to continuously remaining in nutritional ketosis, is so important. What Do We Know About the Causes of Alzheimer's Disease?It's often said that the underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease are unknown, but there's no shortage of theories. Insulin resistance, discussed above, appears to be a really significant factor, but it's not the only one. Based on the available science, here are several other prominent or likely culprits that can raise your risk of Alzheimer's disease, and suggestions for how to avoid them:
Additional Alzheimer's Preventive StrategiesIn 2014, Bredesen published a paper that demonstrates the power of lifestyle choices for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's. By leveraging 36 healthy lifestyle parameters, he was able to reverse Alzheimer's in 9 out of 10 patients. This included the use of exercise, ketogenic diet, optimizing vitamin D and other hormones, increasing sleep, meditation, detoxification and eliminating gluten and processed food. You can download Bredesen's full-text case paper online, which details the full program.48 Following are a few lifestyle strategies that, in addition to those already mentioned above, can be helpful for the prevention of dementia and Alzheimer's.
from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/03/28/alzheimers-death-rate-doubled.aspx Nearly 95 percent of the world live in areas where pollution levels are higher than deemed safe by the World Health Organization (WHO).1 Fine particulate matter measuring less than 2.5 micrograms (PM2.5) is one indicator of outdoor air pollution. Concentrations exceed 10 micrograms per meters cubed (ug/m3) for 95 percent of the world and nearly 60 percent live in areas where particulate matter exceeds even the least stringent WHO quality target of 35 ug/m3.2 Air pollution is a complex mixture a fine particulate matter, droplets and gases. PM2.5 is one of the most widely studied components of air pollution as it is 20 to 30 times smaller than the width of your hair. These particles are important as they are small enough to be readily inhaled into the lungs and absorbed into the bloodstream.3 Once in your body, PM2.5 may deposit in any of your organ systems and is responsible for triggering inflammation leading to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease,4 obesity,5 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease6 and cancer.7 A recent study evaluating the ambient air pollution in Europe discovered the problem is far worse than previously measured.8 Extent of Air Pollution Far Worse Than ExpectedThe estimated number dying an early death from exposure to air pollution is nearly double the previous estimate.9 This new data shows air pollution caused 8.8 million premature deaths in 2015. Comparatively speaking, WHO10 estimates the global number of premature deaths from smoking is 7 million per year, less than the number killed by air pollution. The key focus was air pollution in Europe, where researchers found it triggered an estimated 790,000 deaths, nearly 80 percent of which were from cardiovascular disease. Co-author, Jos Lelieveld, Ph.D., from the Max-Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz and the Cyprus Institute Nicosia, Cyprus, commented:11
The study calls for a reduction in the upper limit allowed by the European Union, currently set at 25 ug/m3, which is 2.5 times higher than the WHO guideline. In a joint statement, co-authors of the study point out:12
Nitrogen-Based Fertilizer Considerable Contributor to Air PollutionThe greatest contributor to air pollution in much of the U.S., China and Russia is agricultural fertilizer, especially the nitrogen component used to supposedly enrich the soil and grow bigger crops.13 Emissions from farming far outweigh other sources of particulate matter. As nitrogen fertilizers break down, ammonia is released into the air. When it reaches industrial areas, it combines with fossil fuel combustion creating microparticles. Although nitrogen is found in the air, water and soil, reactive nitrogen, a primary component in nitrogen-based fertilizers, is processed using large amounts of energy from fossil fuel burning engines. This also contributes to industrial pollution.14 What's more, when nitrogen-based fertilizer is added to the soil it reduces the amount of sequestered carbon and affects the future ability of the soil to support plant growth.15 Excess fertilizer runoff is also one of the largest contributors to ocean pollution, creating dead zones where oxygen is eliminated and fish and other marine life can't live.16 Relentless Expansion of Chemical Use Threatens Human SurvivalAlso contributing to the decline in human health are the massive numbers of synthetic chemicals produced and released by manufacturers. Sales are expected to double in the next 12 years, according to a global study by the United Nations Environment Program. Key findings from the second Global Chemicals Outlook report include:17
Achim Halpaap, Ph.D., led the 400 scientists involved in the study. He told The Guardian that the fastest growth was in construction materials, electronics, textiles and lead batteries. Depending upon the degree of exposure, risks may include cancer, chronic kidney disease and congenital anomalies.18 According to the report, global chemical production, including pharmaceutical business, is the world's second largest industry and is expected to grow over the next decade. Despite the known negative effects on humanity, the projected rate of chemical production is expected to exceed population growth for at least the next 10 years.19 Pollution Damages Intelligence and Life ExpectancyIn a recent study20 collecting data from over 20,000 people living in China, researchers found exposure to toxic air triggered a large reduction in intelligence. Language and math skills were most affected, with the average impact on those tested equivalent to losing one year of education. The members of the team believe the effects may be even worse for the elderly, or those with a low education level. After calculating the loss to those individuals over several years, the study authors concluded:21
This has a significant impact, especially in the U.S., where the number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to double by 2060. This will increase the percentage of the population from the current 15 percent to 24 percent.22 In this study, language skills were more dramatically affected, and in men more than women. According to researcher Derek Ho, Ph.D., from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, air pollution likely affects cognition since23 "high air pollution can potentially be associated with oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration of humans." Children Bear a Greater Pollution BurdenThe burden of air pollution begins before birth. According to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress,24 data demonstrated tiny particles of carbon could migrate through the lungs and into the placenta. Research has also linked air pollution exposure in pregnant moms with premature birth,25 low birth weight,26 infant mortality27 and childhood respiratory conditions.28 Children are exposed to polluted air indoors and out. Emerging evidence demonstrates PM 2.5 may play a role in a number of diseases you may not automatically associate with air pollution, including:29
Children are more vulnerable than adults to the effects of air pollution as their bodies are still developing, placing them at greater risk for inflammation and other health damage. They also have a longer life expectancy, giving more time for diseases to emerge. A combination of behavioral, environmental and physiological factors make children particularly susceptible, as the WHO notes:30
Strategies to Help Mitigate Air PollutionWhile you might not have control over the pollution levels outside your home, you do have control over what you eat and may be able to improve the air pollution in your home originating from pressure-treated wood, household cleaners, carpeting, furniture and personal care products. Not only will you reduce your risk of developing chronic health conditions, research shows improving air quality also benefits your mental health by reducing psychological stress.31,32 Since certain dietary measures may have a protective effect, strive to eat a diet of whole foods, rich in anti-inflammatory vegetables and healthy fats. Most of the dietary suggestions and strategies listed below are very cost-effective in the short run and may help significantly reduce your health care costs long-term.33 For more strategies to reduce your indoor air pollution see my previous article, "Reduce Indoor Air Pollution." • Omega-3 fats -- These fats are anti-inflammatory and in a study of 29 middle-aged people, taking an animal-based omega-3 fat supplement reduced some of the adverse effects to heart health and lipid levels, including triglycerides, occurring with exposure to air pollution (olive oil did not have the same effect).34 • Broccoli sprouts -- Broccoli sprout extract demonstrated the ability to prevent a common allergic nasal response occurring with exposure to diesel exhaust. The researchers suggested broccoli or broccoli sprouts could have a protective effect against air pollution's role in allergic disease and asthma.35 A broccoli sprout beverage demonstrated the ability to enhance detoxification of some airborne pollutants among residents living in a highly polluted region of China.36 • Vitamins C and E -- Among children with asthma, antioxidant supplementation including vitamins C and E helped to buffer the impact of ozone exposure on their small airways.37 • B vitamins -- A small-scale human trial found high doses of vitamins B6, B9 and B12 in combination completely offset damage caused by very fine particulate matter in air pollution.38 Four weeks of high-dose supplementation reduced genetic damage in 10 gene locations by 28 to 76 percent, protected mitochondrial DNA from the harmful effects of pollution, and helped repair some of the genetic damage. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/03/27/air-pollution-is-worse-than-smoking.aspx This coming Wednesday, March 27, I'll be happy to answer your questions about my upcoming book, "Ketofast." Submit your questions now in the comments section below and I will select and answer as many as I can. >>>>> Click Here <<<<< I am absolutely convinced that fasting is one of the most profoundly effective strategies there is to improve your metabolic health, which is why I'm so excited for the book's release on April 30. The Most Important Health Book You'll Ever ReadThere are important details in "Ketofast" that I learned when developing this program that will make it really easy for you. Once you have read the book and understand the simple concepts presented, you can easily implement the strategies into your lifestyle and you will be amazed at what it can do to help you take control of your health. >>>>> Click Here <<<<< from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/03/27/ketofast-questions-answered.aspx Facebook and its founder Mark Zuckerberg are facing legal problems on multiple fronts these days. There's the class-action complaint alleging lax security measures increased users' risk of identity theft, following the 2018 hack of 50 million user accounts.1,2 Then there's the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) probe into Facebook's compliance with a 2011 consent agreement to safeguard users' personal information, which has been ongoing for the past year. According to Fortune Magazine,3 if the company is found to have violated the agreement, fines amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars may be levied. According to a March 4, 2019, report by Wired,4 the U.S. House Judiciary Committee is also conducting an investigation looking for links between Cambridge Analytica, Russia, President Trump and WikiLeaks. In addition to that, the FTC recently launched a second criminal investigation into the company's controversial data sharing practices. Top executives are also leaving the company — a sign that the rats are fleeing from Facebook's sinking ship. Among them are Facebook's chief product officer, Chris Fox, who has been with the company for 13 years, and Chris Daniels, vice president of WhatsApp, a position he's held only since May.5,6 FTC Probe No. 1The first, still ongoing, FTC investigation revolves around the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where it was discovered Facebook allowed a British political consulting firm access to some 87 million Facebook users' data, which was allegedly used in an effort to sway public opinion in the U.S. presidential election. As reported by Fortune last year:7
Facebook insists it did not violate the consent agreement, and that Cambridge Analytica obtained user data through an app developer who violated Facebook's policies.8 According to Facebook, Cambridge Analytica told them the data would be used for academic purposes only. However, according to a recent The New York Times report,9 "the fine print accompanying a quiz app that collected the information said it could also be used commercially." Facebook also does not appear to have had a verification protocol in place to make sure app developers were complying with Facebook's data sharing rules. New Criminal Probe UnderwayAll of that is now coming to a head as yet another criminal investigation into Facebook's data sharing deals gets underway.10 According to The New York Times,11 a federal grand jury is looking at partnerships that gave tech companies and device makers broad access to Facebook users' information," and Facebook may now be facing FTC fines in the billions rather than hundreds of millions.12 Facebook stands accused of providing "deep access to users' personal information" to a wide variety of business partners, allowing these companies to override privacy settings set by the user to access their data. This, despite Facebook claiming it discontinued this practice in 2015. According to The New York Times:13
Zuckerberg Reveals Plan to Morph Facebook Into Encrypted Messaging PlatformDespite a clear history of rampant privacy violations, Zuckerberg has now unveiled his latest plan for Facebook, saying the company will be shifting away from being a platform for public sharing, toward "encrypted, ephemeral communications,"14 meaning messages would not only be encrypted, but they would also be automatically deleted after a certain amount of time (unless the user opted to store it longer). As explained in the video commentary by Verge,15 above, there are benefits and drawbacks to the plan — if anything actually comes from it — and governments and law enforcement are likely to resist its implementation. Zuckerberg's plan was detailed in a March 6, 2019, blog post.16
Ironically, it was recently discovered that Facebook was storing millions of user passwords in readable plaintext format (opposed to hashed) on an internal data storage system — a truly basic security mistake. To protect your account, you may want to update your password, just in case. Wired writes:17
Zuckerberg's Views on Privacy Shift With the WindWhile that sounds all good and well, one has to seriously question the validity of what Zuckerberg is saying, as he has repeatedly demonstrated a complete lack of integrity when it comes to fulfilling promises of privacy. He doesn't even seem to understand the bare basics of privacy, and has been caught speaking out of both sides of his mouth on more than one occasion. For example, in a 2010 talk given at the Crunchie awards, he stated that "privacy is no longer a social norm,"18 implying that social networking online automatically meant you could no longer have an expectation of privacy, and that the company decided to change the privacy settings of its then 350 million users because "we decided that these would be the social norms now and we just went for it."19 Comments like that strongly suggest that he never took privacy seriously, and all his recent talk is merely a feeble attempt to rescue his deeply troubled company. Zuckerberg simply decided that zero privacy was the "new social norm" and "just went for it," implementing changes that stripped users of the right to expect privacy in the first place. Since then, Facebook has grown from 350 million users to 2.32 billion,20 all of whom are being invasively tracked across multiple platforms owned not just by Facebook but also its various business partners. And while some might argue that if you decide to join Facebook's "free" service, you simply have to expect and accept that you're going to be tracked and have your personal data sold in hundreds of different ways, the problem with that argument is that Facebook has become such a gigantic monopoly that if you want to communicate with a group of family or friends, you have little choice but to join Facebook, because that's where everyone is. Facebook also isn't just Facebook anymore. It also owns other massive platforms, including Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp. Last year, WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton told CBS News he "sold [his] users' privacy" when he agreed to sell the company to Facebook back in 2014.21 "I made a choice and a compromise. And I live with that every day," he said. According to reports, Facebook is now planning to merge the three platforms,22 which "will make Facebook more difficult to break up and spin off, as has been proposed by governments and regulators," Express reported back on January 26.23 Some suspect the March 13, 2019, outage that simultaneously took down Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp for about 14 hours may actually have been related to this as-yet unacknowledged metadata merger. Officially, Facebook blamed the outage on a "server configuration change" that ended up affecting the company's apps and services across the board.24 "Was the outage a result of Facebook trying to combine systems and get ahead of regulators, especially when this month, an open debate opened up over whether Facebook's takeover of Instagram and WhatsApp should be rolled back?" Packt asks.25 Similarly, The Register suggested:26
Privacy Emphasis Likely a Red HerringThe integration of Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram is a move that has been criticized by some tech experts, as it may further tighten the proverbial noose around users. As pointed out by Ari Ezra Waldman in a Slate article that is well worth reading in its entirety, although I'm quoting a larger than normal portion of it here for your convenience:27
Facebook's Monopoly Must Be Broken UpIn an MIT Technology Review article,28 Konstantin Kakaes also calls Zuckerberg's essay "a power grab disguised as an act of contrition," stating that "it's impossible to escape the conclusion that if privacy is to be protected in any meaningful way, Facebook must be broken up." He goes on to point out:
German Antitrust Regulator Puts the Brakes on Facebook's Unrestricted Data MiningFebruary 7, 2019, Forbes29 reported the German antitrust regulator, Bundeskartellamt, has become the first to prohibit "the cross-application data sharing that underpins Facebooks's advertising business model." According to Bundeskartellamt:
With this decision, none of Facebook's services will be permissible in Germany if or when the company integrates its three messaging platforms. Should other countries follow suit, the Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram messaging integration would fall through — as it probably should. As mentioned, Facebook is not only a national monopoly, it's a global one, and by integrating Instagram and WhatsApp, it further consolidates two additional monopolies into what you could call a global super-monopoly with unprecedented (and likely unfathomable) data mining capabilities, which hurts both consumers and industries. Facebook Caught Censoring Sen. Elizabeth Warren's PostsU.S. presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has become an outspoken proponent of breaking up monopolies such as Amazon, Facebook and Google, and has vowed to introduce "sweeping new regulation of Silicon Valley," should she be elected president, the Los Angeles Times reports.30 A detailed outline of her plan can be found in her March 8, 2019, article on Medium.31
As you probably know, Facebook has promised to combat "fake news" on its platform, but it appears this censorship doesn't end at blatantly fake news articles — far from it. Information that is unfavorable to Facebook (or its advertisers) keeps getting censored out as well — including Warren's campaign to break up Facebook's monopoly. Three of Warren's ads were reportedly removed by Facebook, with a message saying the ads were deleted because they went "against Facebook's advertising policies." Warren took to Twitter to comment on the removal, saying this is an example of why her proposal is so sorely needed. Facebook reinstated her ads with a comment saying they were removed because they included Facebook's logo, which violates Facebook's advertising policy. It's a rather lame excuse for what appears to be blatant censorship of information that would hurt the company. I've Decided — Mercola.com Will Leave FacebookA while back, I issued a poll to see how you felt about my leaving Facebook. The results are now in, with a majority agreeing with my decision to withdraw from the platform. While it will not take effect immediately, I am making plans to close my account, so, if you're not yet a subscriber to my newsletter, I urge you, your friends and family to sign up now. My newsletter is published daily, and subscribing will ensure you get three daily articles delivered straight into your email inbox (all listed in one email). >>>>> Click Here <<<<< At present, we have nearly 1.8 million Facebook followers and I'd like to give everyone some time to transition over to becoming newsletter subscribers before we close down shop on Facebook. The idea that I'm contributing to the invasive data mining of that many people has never sat well with me, and I feel leaving the platform and going back to depending on email is the responsible way forward. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/03/27/facebook-criminal-investigation.aspx Growing eggplant shouldn’t be intimidating when you’re anticipating spring garden planting. Getting your seeds off to a good start, then tweaking them if needed, will help produce a harvest of nutritious fruit. That’s what eggplant is, by the way, although many people think eggplants are vegetables. There are many beautiful varieties: large, purple Globe; Rosita, the 8-inch pinkish-lavender heirloom variety; long, thin Japanese eggplants and yellow, green and white-hued varieties with slightly varying flavors.1 Considered tropical perennials, eggplants can be grown as annuals in plant hardiness zones 5 through 12.2 They require full sun. Harvest times vary depending on the variety. Most require at least two months to mature. Some take 70 days or more, which is why starting seeds indoors helps get a jump on the season. How to Grow Eggplant InsideRegarding materials, you’ll need small pots, a seed-planting mix and seed packets. Always keep the packets as they often provide information about planting depth (which is deep), spacing, eggplant germination time and when to take the seedlings outside. This depends on your area’s last frost date, which your area’s planting zone will determine.3 Using garden soil might prevent your seeds and seedlings from draining properly and may expose them to unwanted bacteria, disease spores, plant-eating insects and a fungual disease known as “damping off.” A sterile seed planting mix will give your eggplants the best chance of survival4 and allow you to blend ingredients to amend the medium you’re working with, such as bark, a coconut fiber called coir and vermiculite.5 Avoid synthetic fertilizer. Organic gardening and natural growing hacks are far superior. Start seeds inside about eight to 12 weeks before your last frost date. Watering from the bottom up allows you to see the moisture levels and keep them even. Eggplants require lots of light and heat to grow properly. If there’s no natural sunlight from a south-facing window, artificial lighting is recommended. Even if using a heat mat, make sure you provide light as soon as the seeds begin germinating, which usually takes seven to 14 days. The ideal soil temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Indoor plants also need moving air; a fan at a low setting will help produce sturdier plants. Growing Eggplant in the GardenIn eight or 10 weeks, you’ll be able to transplant the seedlings into your garden. However, growing eggplant in containers6 is another option. According to The Spruce, soil pH7 of 6.5 to 6.8 (slightly acidic) is ideal, although the plants are not too particular.8 Either way, it helps to stake eggplants or use coated tomato cages to avoid disturbing established roots when the fruits get large. Mulch, straw or wood chips covering the soil around the plant will help keep it moist. How long does it take for eggplant to grow? Eggplants are ready to harvest when they’re glossy and “give” slightly when you press into the skin. Here are some key points you’ll likely find useful:
Health Benefits of EggplantOne reason to plant and grow eggplant at home is all the healthy nutrients. Besides vitamins, minerals, folate, potassium, manganese and vitamins C, K and B6, eggplant phytonutrients include:
Healthy Recipes Using EggplantWhen looking for eggplant recipes, possibilities abound, as it can be baked, roasted, stuffed and included with other ingredients. Baked Eggplant Caprese Stack — basically a stacked caprese salad — is easy and delicious, requiring few ingredients besides the basics: sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, eggplant, basil and olive oil. For extra protein, almond meal is used rather than wheat flour, which may cause digestive problems. Many healthy eggplant recipes can be found, such as eggplant moussaka and an eggplant sandwich, which makes growing your own eggplant even more fun. As always, organic ingredients make it even healthier. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/03/22/xdjm18-gardening-18mcsa-how-to-grow-eggplant.aspx 1 The following statement is False, having no scientific evidence to support it:
2 Estimates suggest how great a percentage of all processed foods contain genetically engineered ingredients?
3 The following is the only way to gain lifelong immunity against measles infection:
4 The following is not a sign or symptom of a stroke, requiring immediate medical attention:
5 Which of the following is not a sustainable form of agriculture?
6 The following strategy has been shown to effectively reverse desertification and restore fertility to unproductive land:
7 The following is key to sequestering excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in our soils:
from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/03/25/week-71-health-quiz.aspx When you experience symptoms like fatigue, numbness, faint nausea, foggy vision or an increased tendency toward forgetfulness, you might entertain many different scenarios. Some of them might be scary, but a possibility you may not consider is that of a vitamin B12 (aka cobalamin) deficiency. Nearly half of the American population has less-than-stellar blood levels of vitamin B12, but the symptomology is so varied that it’s hard to pin down just how many people suffer from it, according to Harvard Health, which describes the “sneaky” symptomology behind a 62-year-old man’s seemingly unrelated symptoms, developed over two months. According to his case report, published in The New England Journal of Medicine,1 he had:
It’s problematic that symptoms like the above may cause people to focus on treating them instead of investigating the source of the problem. Sooner or later, though, unless it’s met head-on, a shortage of vitamin B12 in your system can be so devastating that serious disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Crohn's disease and irreversible brain damage could take their toll. Low Vitamin B12 Symptoms Not so Unrelated After AllThe list of symptoms that could be placed on a B12 deficiency’s proverbial doorstep is a long one, but many symptoms are associated with your central nervous system. Too little B12 in your system might also resonate if you’ve experienced poor vision, weakness, tingling in your hands or feet and incidences of “clumsiness.” Eight common signs that indicate low B12 levels are:
But it’s also important to understand that several areas of the body can be adversely affected with a vitamin B12 deficiency, and that while many of the symptoms may seem unrelated, as the saying goes, one thing often leads to another. Low B12 Can Cause Anemia, Which Has Its Own Set of SymptomsAs is true for every human, vitamin B12 is necessary to keep your nervous system healthy, as well as to make DNA, which is the genetic material in all cells.3 B12 is also needed to produce red blood cells, which transport oxygen throughout your body. But with a shortage of B12, many of your red blood cells are abnormally formed and/or too large, so they can’t carry oxygen; the process is disrupted. Too few red blood cells or an abnormally low amount of hemoglobin in individual red blood cells causes anemia, one of the most common and noticeable signs that a shortage is becoming a problem.4 Anemia can cause some of the previously listed symptoms, such as weakness, fatigue, dizziness, cold hands and feet, pale skin and chest pain, which occur because your heart has to work harder to move oxygen-rich blood through your body, The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) reports.5 In turn, this can lead to irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia, enlarged heart and even heart failure.6 Recognizing B12 deficiency sooner rather than later is crucial, as left unchecked it can lead to permanent damage in your body.7 According to the Linus Pauling Institute,8 a B12 deficiency may also be culpable in several other serious diseases and conditions, including:
How Does Low B12 Cause ‘Pins and Needles,’ Jaundiced Skin and Dementia?Because B12 — and a lack thereof — is closely associated with your nervous system, the sign known as “pins and needles” is one that indicates a nerve issue that should be addressed as soon as possible, and shows how interconnected your body’s functions are. Because vitamin B12 is important for the maintenance of your central nervous system, including the conduction of nerve impulses and producing the myelin sheath, it protects and "insulates" your nerves. Without this protective insulation, your nerves can be damaged, leading to symptoms like “pins and needles” in your hands and feet, as well as central and peripheral nervous system damage.17 If you’ve noticed that your skin has a pale or jaundiced cast, it’s a warning sign that your body is unable to produce an adequate number of red blood cells. You may not have thought about it, but it’s the red blood cells circulating under your skin that give it its healthy color. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause megaloblastic anemia, which can weaken your blood cells, after which other symptoms begin appearing. When your liver breaks down red blood cells, it releases bilirubin, a brownish substance that lends your skin a jaundiced appearance, often seen in infants.18 As if these problems weren’t enough, people with low levels of B12 may also suffer problems with clear thinking, which later turns into the condition doctors call cognitive impairment or dementia.19 The symptoms often become evident when someone has reasoning difficulties and memory loss, but often, that is what is treated rather than exploring the possibility of a B12 deficiency, which could alleviate the symptoms if addressed. An all-encompassing review in Australia in 2012 revealed associations between low vitamin B12 levels and neurodegenerative disease. A total of 43 studies revealed that “subclinical low-normal ranges are associated with Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and Parkinson's disease.”20 Another study notes:
A B12 Deficiency Often Shows Up in Your MouthOne symptom of anemia that often shows up are mouth ulcers, sometimes known as canker sores or aphthous ulcers, small yellow or white ulcers that can appear on your gums or just inside your lip. While they usually clear up in a week or two, they’re often quite painful. But a B12 deficiency can cause other symptoms in your mouth as well, including on your tongue. One study relates the experience of a middle-aged female patient — a common demographic for her symptoms — with a persistent burning sensation on her tongue for several months. Diagnosed with glossitis, which causes a noticeably swollen, smooth, red tongue, she was given a single injection of vitamin B12, which “resulted in complete resolution of her symptoms and the normal clinical appearance of her tongue after three days.”22 Low B12 Carries Increased Risk for Infection by Two Potentially Deadly PathogensPeople with deficiency in vitamin B12 are at a higher risk of infections caused by two potentially deadly pathogens. Findings of a study published in the journal PLOS Genetics23 involved 1 millimeter-long (pencil tip-sized) nematodes or worms called Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), one of the world’s most basic organisms. Vital to the study was that nematodes share an interesting characteristic with humans: They can’t produce their own vitamin B12, either. As reported by MedIndia, the study involved two worm populations: one with and one without a diet sufficient in B12, showing that a B12-deficient diet harms the worm’s health at a cellular level by reducing its ability to metabolize branched-chain amino acids (BCAA):
Many labs around the world use C. elegans to study the effects of disease. By feeding the worms E. coli, a common and sometimes harmful gut bacteria, and switching between E. coli strain OP50 and strain HT115, the worms’ stress tolerance was “dramatically altered,” Kirienko said. “We found that switching between E. coli strain OP50 and strain HT115 dramatically altered the worm's stress tolerance.” Co-author Alexey Revtovich noted:
Significantly, the team also found that C. elegans on an HT115 diet had the ability to resist infection by another deadly human pathogen, Enterococcus faecalis, a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections and recognized by the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a superbug.26 Kirienko noted that the B12 finding surprised the research team. They noticed the effect when they studied “the mechanisms of pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), a potentially deadly disease in both worms and humans that infects some 51,000 U.S. hospital patients each year,”27 according to the CDC.28 Higher Risks and How to Optimize Your Vitamin B12 LevelsSome people have a greater risk than others for vitamin or mineral deficiencies, but in this case vegans and vegetarians are at particular risk because B12 is derived from animal products. Additionally, older adults and people with gastrointestinal and malabsorption issues are also at risk. Studies have also shown that those on metformin (for diabetes) and prolonged use of proton pump inhibitors (for stomach acid) are also at an increased risk for vitamin B12 deficiency, leading researchers to suggest “it seems prudent to monitor vitamin B12 levels periodically in patients taking metformin.”29 Because it’s not manufactured by your body, vitamin B12 must come from another source — namely food and supplements. That said, good sources for cobalamin or vitamin B12 include:
As for supplementation, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH),30 the average person age 14 and older should get 2.4 micrograms (mcg — one-millionth of a gram31) of vitamin B12 per day; pregnant women should get 2.6 mcg; and breastfeeding women should get 2.8 mcg. Newborns and children up to age 13 require between 0.4 and 1.8 mcg. The type of a vitamin B12 supplement you should take is also something to consider. Between cyanocobalamin, the synthetic form,32 and methylcobalamin, which is the naturally occurring form found in food, methylcobalamin is the better choice, one reason being that your body retains it in greater amounts.33 from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/03/25/signs-of-vitamin-b12-deficiency.aspx |
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