Featured Topic: Boswellia for Better Breathing (4 slides)
What is Boswellia? Boswellia is a tree that is native to India, Northern Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula The boswellia family contains over 20 distinct species The medicine is a resin derived from scraping the tree bark Tears of India
5-LOX and the Lungs 5-LOX is an enzyme that helps create inflammatory compounds: leukotrienes, which are associated with asthma and allergies, arthritis, and inflammatory bowel diseases Other compounds that interfere with the body s ability to kill cancer cells In a comparison study, people with asthma were found to have 5-LOX levels up to 50% higher than healthy controls Similarly, inflammatory compounds generated by 5-LOX activity were more than twice as high in COPD patients versus healthy controls Acetaminophen and NSAIDS like aspirin do not work on 5-LOX inflammation No doctor would prescribe Tylenol for an asthma attack In fact, one study found that children with asthma who received acetaminophen to treat a fever were more likely to have an asthma attack than children with asthma who received ibuprofen for fevers
Boswellia Fixes 5-LOX Resin from the boswellia tree has been used medicinally for thousands of years Boswellia opens airways, reduces bronchial and sinus swelling, and is a specific inhibitor of the 5-LOX enzyme 70% of asthma patients treated with boswellia had improved lung function versus only 27% of participants in the control group Additional Support Thyme, ravintsara, and myrtle reduce inflammation, keep cilica functioning effectively, and have antibacterial properties to prevent infection Thyme and Ivy are expectorants that help thin out mucous and clear it from the lungs
How to pick a boswellia extract Look for boswellia extracts which are labeled to contain less than 5% beta boswellic acids and at least 10% AKBA the most powerful compound in boswellia Boswellia has no known adverse effects Use in combination with oils of thyme, ravintsara, and myrtle for the respiratory system
Nutrient of the Day: Magnesium (3 slides)
The Mineral Magnesium 70-80% of Americans do not get the minimum recommended daily intake of magnesium (420 mg daily for men and 320 mg daily for women) Magnesium is needed for energy production, bone formation, nerve impulse conduction, muscle contraction, and normal heart rhythm Signs of low magnesium Fatigue Muscle cramps or spasms Muscle weakness Irregular heartbeat Anxiety
Uses for supplemental magnesium PMS symptom relief Magesium supplementation for 3 months reduced PMS symptoms by up to 35% (headache, tension, anxiety, mood swings, bloating) High blood pressure Supplemental magnesium reduced blood pressure by about 2-4 points Just a 2-3 point drop in blood pressure can reduce stroke risk by up to 12% Muscle spasms and cramping Magnesium stabilizes nerve fibers; low magnesium levels leads to hyper responsive neuromuscular activity in other words, muscle tremors, spasms and weakness [for example, restless leg syndrome] Carpal Tunnel syndrome and nerve pain Pair magnesium with P-5-P (active form of vitamin B6) and Zinc to relieve carpal tunnel syndrome pain
Forms of magnesium Magnesium, as a dietary supplement, is found in many forms Magnesium citrate (magnesium + citric acid) Magnesium oxide (magnesium + oxygen) Magnesium hydroxide ALSO known as Milk of Magnesia These forms of magnesium are poorly absorbed and in fact some of them have laxative effects Magnesium glycinate chelate is bound to an amino acid Very well absorbed No laxative effects Take up to 400 mg daily of magnesium glycinate chelate with P-5-P (active form of vitamin B6) and Zinc
New Benefit for Grape Seed Extract: Exercise (1 slide)
Grape seed improves physical function during exercise Researchers tested grape seed supplementation versus no grape seed (control) in animals [mice] for 28 days, measuring how long they were able to exercise Results Mice receiving grape seed extract could exercise longer than the control mice the animals getting grape seed were active for twice as long as the control mice Additionally, the grape seed group had antioxidant levels 16% higher and free radical levels 20% lower than the control group, and had inflammation levels almost 10% lower as well
New Research on Vitamin D Safety and Association with Obesity (2 slides)
Are you overweight? You might need more vitamin D New study looks at approximately 2,000 adults Researchers looked at their total body fat, abdominal fat, visceral adipose tissue [fat deep in the abdomen and around internal organs], and liver fat, along with their vitamin D levels Results: the higher the total body and abdominal fat, the lower their vitamin D levels compared to people with less fat in their bodies People with larger waistlines may be at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency, which can result in increased risk of cancer, dementia, osteoporosis and more
Long Term, High Dose Vitamin D is Safe For three years, researchers gave over 5,000 participants either a placebo or high dose Vitamin D (100,000 IU a month) At study end, 16% of the vitamin D3 group and 15% of the placebo group reported two or more adverse events In other words, no significant increase in adverse events for people taking high dose vitamin D for 3 years This finding is in agreement with a recent meta-analysis of almost 20,000 people that found no significant adverse effects associated with vitamin D use Most experts suggest about 5,000 IU daily of vitamin D3 for most people
What to have for breakfast? Milk! (1 slide)
Milk is great for breakfast Researchers gave 32 young, healthy adults oat-based breakfast cereal with either high protein milk or water in the morning, and then allowed them to eat pizza for lunch as much as they wished Measured each participant s blood sugar and appetite levels after each meal Results: participants in the high protein milk group had lower blood sugar levels after breakfast AND after lunch than the control group High protein milk group ate less at lunch then the control group and reported less hunger for up to 3 hours after lunch
A Closer Look at: Pancreatic Cancer (3 slides)
Deadly Cancer: Pancreatic Cancer The pancreas produces digestive enzymes, and secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar levels Pancreatic cancer is the third most common cancer after lung and colorectal cancers The lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer is 1 in 63 for men and 1 in 65 for women 95% of people with pancreatic cancer will die from it; the five year survival rate for the most aggressive type of pancreatic cancer is less than 5% In the early stages, when it is most treatable, pancreatic cancer has no symptoms By the time it is detected it is usually advanced and very difficult to treat
Reduce risk of pancreatic cancer Don t smoke: 20-30% of pancreatic cancers are associated with smoking Maintain a healthy weight: obesity increases risk of pancreatic cancer by 20% Avoid processed meat (hot dogs, bacon, ham, sausage): one study found that diets high in processed meat consumption increased pancreatic cancer risk by 67% versus low intake of processed meat Keep blood sugar under control: diabetes and metabolic syndrome are linked to increased risk of pancreatic cancer
Curcumin and Grape Seed can help fight pancreatic cancer Curcumin can make pancreatic cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs In pancreatic cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy (20% reduction in cancer cells with the drug alone), combining the drug with curcumin (BCM-95) resulted in a 95% reduction in cancer cells Exposure to grape seed extract increased the death of pancreatic cancer cells by up to 87% versus control in a cell study
3 Great Snacks for People with High Blood Sugar (2 slides)
Skip the sugary treats and snack on these #1. Mixed nuts: low in carbs, high in protein, fiber and healthy fats daily nut intake reduces risk of diabetes by 22% and a clinical trial found that eating nuts daily reduced HbA1c levels by 2 points Sprinkle with cinnamon or cayenne to add some zip #2. Eggs: carb-free, complete source of protein A 2015 study found that older men who ate 4 eggs a week had a 37% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes than men eating 1 egg a week Try them hardboiled with pepper, sea salt, or your favorite seasoning
#3: Apples (including the skin): high in fiber and antioxidants; fiber slows the absorption of carbohydrates One study found that women who ate an apple a day had a 28% lower risk of diabetes versus women who didn t eat apples Buy organic apples if possible Also consider: Beef jerky: concentrated protein from dried beef Don t buy gas station jerky full of additives, sodium, and chemicals Look for organic, grass-fed beef sugar free versions are available