I have an older friend who's in remarkable health. But she has one problem: She's in constant pain. She needs hip replacement surgery, but she's afraid of its consequences.
You see, she's read a lot of scientific studies that found that hip replacement surgery causes cognitive decline. And she'd rather be in pain than lose some of her ability to think and remember.
When she told me about this concern, I began to research the subject. What I found surprised me! I found that many people who have surgery – not just hip replacement surgery – do experience either temporary or permanent memory loss.
But that's not all I found. I spoke with a friend who used to work in a convalescent home. She told me that many people who came to the facility after surgery had a loss of memory. Some never regained it.
Then I received an e-mail from a subscriber saying that her brother had severe memory loss after major surgery and has been institutionalized ever since.
Memory loss after surgery is very common. In fact, if you have any surgery, major or minor, you're likely to suffer some memory loss.
But I also discovered that the problem isn't with the surgery itself. What I discovered can help all of you stay mentally sharp if you have any type of surgery. And if you've had surgery in the past and noticed a decline in your memory, this news is for you too. Even if your surgery was five years ago, and you haven't regained your memory, this treatment plan can work for you!
How to protect your brain function
It's normal for your brain to shrink a bit as you get older. And nearly every aspect of its functions change. But this doesn't have to be a problem. If you're healthy, you can still retain your ability to learn and remember. That's contrary to what doctors learn in medical school. But research shows that your brain creates new nerves, which are part of your memory circuit, even into your later years.
Physical and mental exercises improve brain function. That's why I keep encouraging you to make exercise a part of your daily routine. Crossword or Sudoku puzzles, and other games, are enjoyable ways to exercise your mind. But even with an active mind, exercise, and good nutrition, our age-related changes make us more vulnerable to memory loss after any surgery.
The medical name for this type of memory loss is POCD (postoperative cognitive dysfunction). It refers to a decline of mental function that can last for days, weeks, or months after surgery. It can also be permanent. That's just what worried my friend.
POCD is common after heart surgery, but now we're seeing it in patients who have other operations. So what is its cause? What common factor exists in both major and minor surgeries?
It's not the surgery itself
Doctors say they don't know what causes POCD, but I thought there was one obvious answer the doctors overlooked. I ran my theory by my friend, Dr. Isaac Eliaz, a medical doctor who specializes in integrative medicine. He knows a great deal about detoxification. In fact, he brought the oral-chelating product, PectaSol modified citrus pectin, to the U.S.
When I talked to Dr. Eliaz, I explained that surgery couldn't cause POCD. Scientists all agreed that there was nothing about the surgery itself that would cause it. So I told him my theory: I think it's possible the drugs used during anesthesia might be the culprit.
I had discovered that several anesthetics (ketamine, benzodiazepines, propofol, atropine, and scopolamine) can produce delirium. This is a form of POCD that can strike as much as 50% of older patients having heart surgery or hip replacement.
Sure enough, he confirmed my theory. He's found that there are many types of drugs that can cause memory loss. And anesthesia drugs are one of them.
So we began to discuss what could be done to protect your brain from the drugs prior to surgery. And we also looked at ways to remove residues from the drugs after the surgery. Just as I expected, he had all the answers. He's worked with patients to get rid of drug residues in the body – and he knew which substances worked the best.
These residues can stay in the body, especially the brain for the rest of your life. That's why it's vital to remove traces of anesthetics after any operation.
At my request, Dr. Eliaz designed a protocol to remove anesthesia residues after surgery. I'll give it to you at the end of this article. But anesthesia drugs aren't the only culprit.
What about pain medications?
Almost every surgery requires the use of pain medications. These can also cause POCD. This occurs primarily when your doctor gives them to you intravenously.
In a French study, researchers were able to lessen cognitive decline considerably simply by giving patients oral pain pills or epidural injections instead of through an IV. So talk to your doctor before any surgery and insist on getting your pain meds through an epidural or from oral pain pills. This alone can greatly reduce your chance of losing your mental sharpness.
The older you are, the more likely it is that you'll get POCD. This is because everything slows down as we age – including detoxification. Anesthetics and analgesics (pain medications) clear out of the body more slowly the older we get. So, after any surgery, be as physically active as possible and drink plenty of water. Massage, either full-body or just your hands and feet, can increase detoxification, as well. But they're not enough. You also need a good safe detox program.
A gentle, effective program
Most detoxification programs can't handle a difficult job like removing anesthesia and pain medications. Don't risk having memory problems for the rest of your life by using products that are not designed to remove pharmaceuticals. Most oral chelators aren't particularly effective. The one I'm including today is. Dr Eliaz has seen its effectiveness in his patients.
This is a two-stage program that increases circulation, enhances detoxification, and supports organ function. You take some of the supplements before surgery and some afterward. One formula eliminates the toxins in your digestive tract and bloodstream – the most recent toxins your body has absorbed. The second formula grabs the toxins that have made their way into your tissues. You need to use each both stages before and after exposure to anesthetics.
Stage one is based on PectaSol Chelation Complex, a product made from sodium alginate and modified citrus pectin that increases your body's normal detoxification system. It effectively binds to toxins in your blood and intestines, including residual anesthetics, before they can be absorbed in your tissues.
Stage two is based on PectaSol Detox Complete, which includes several herbal formulas designed to gently remove toxins that are trapped in your tissues.
Dr. Eliaz added a little Padma Basic herbal formula after the surgery. It's an excellent anti-inflammatory formula that supports the immune system – just what your body needs after surgery.
To get started, mark the following dates on your calendar: one month and one week before surgery, and four days and one week afterward. Then follow the instructions for each period of time (see the box on page 3).
You can buy a Detox Kit containing PectaSol Chelation Complex, PectaSol Detox Complete, and Padma Basic by calling 800-728-2288. It has all the bottles of each supplement you'll need. I've asked that you receive a special price for this kit. So you can get the detox kit for $60 off the retail price! The cost is $249.95, which is no small amount, I know. But it's the only known detox program that can protect you from cognitive decline. So it's worth the cost. You can find the other supplements for this detox program in any good natural food store. For a strong, supportive multivitamin, I suggest Vitality Plus, which is also available through the above phone number.
Eat plenty of protein after your surgery. Protein helps your tissues repair more quickly. Aim for 20 grams per meal – or one good serving three times a day. If necessary, make a protein drink for a mid-day snack.
If past surgeries have left you with some cognitive impairment, I suggest beginning with a three-month course of PectaSol Chelation Complex (take 3, twice a day). Then add PectaSol Detox Complete (take 2 with food twice a day) for two months.
This is the best way to protect your memory with any type of surgery. Please don't think of having any surgery – major or minor – without it. n
Cohendy, R., et al. ''Anaesthesia in the older patient,'' Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care, January 8, 2005.
Crosby, G., MD and D.J. Culley, MD. ''Anesthesia, the aging brain, and the surgical patient,'' Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, 50:R12 (2003).
Wang, Y., et al. ''The effects of postoperative pain and its management on postoperative cognitive dysfunction,'' Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, January 2007.
How to Cut Your Exposure to Pesticides in Half
We don't know exactly how harmful pesticides are because they're too dangerous to test on humans. And since we're exposed to thousands of chemicals, it's impossible to know what effect any one toxic chemical, or combination, has on our health. Still, we do know that researchers have linked eating foods laced with pesticides to cancer, a compromised immune system, kidney and liver problems, and dozens of other illnesses.
One solution, of course, is to buy all organic food. This isn't always possible. Organic foods may not be available, and when they are, their cost can be prohibitive.
What can you do? Here's one solution: Avoid non-organic foods highest in pesticides. I've found 12 foods that you should buy only if they're organic. If you do, you can cut your exposure to pesticides in foods in half!
I'll also tell you which 15 non-organic foods you can eat with minimum consequences, and where to find more information to help you choose the healthiest foods you can find and afford.
The organic dozen
Here are 12 foods that should be organic whenever possible, along with some reasons why. Hopefully, this will change some of your buying habits. It has already changed mine.
Strawberries are the most toxic of all conventionally grown foods. They may contain any of 65 different pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides including methyl bromide, a chemical that causes neurological damage (and is thought to deplete the ozone layer). I never eat conventionally grown strawberries any more. Not only are they extremely high in pesticide residues, they don't have much flavor. I recently bought a box of organic strawberries. All of them, even the large ones, were sweet and delicious. They tasted like the strawberries I ate as a child.
Red and green bell peppers are treated with insecticides two to six times during their growing season. Farmers frequently begin by spraying their fields with methyl bromide before planting them. This sterilizes the soil and kills the beneficial microbes as well as the pests.
Spinach — If spinach is not grown in sandy soil with a cool growing season, it tends to get aphids and mildew. That's when farmers reach for pesticides. More than 60% of conventional spinach tested by the FDA contains highly toxic pesticides.
Cherries are my favorite fruit. But they're a huge problem to farmers because they not only attract birds, they attract insects and are prone to fungal diseases and viruses. To grow cherries organically, you need to strengthen the health of the trees. It's easier to spray. So farmers tend to spray conventionally grown cherries heavily.
Peaches are a delicate fruit to grow. They're sprayed just about every week from March until July or August when they're harvested. Enough said.
Nectarines are similar to other stone fruits like cherries and peaches. All are sprayed for months with various pesticides. We have a peach and nectarine tree in the organic community garden I co-founded. They both have leaf curl and damaged fruit even after spraying them with non-toxic products. We may replace them with figs in another year. The fig trees in our area are doing well without sprays.
Celery sucks up water from the ground, and with it any toxins in the soil. When the FDA tested celery, it found the stalks to be more likely to contain pesticide residue than any other vegetable. At least several of these pesticides are thought to be carcinogenic.
Apples — I live in apple country, so I've seen first-hand some of the diseases apples are prone to get. These include apple scab disease and other fungal infections. Conventional farmers spray apple trees like crazy, often 5-10 times a season.
Pears — More than 50 chemicals are approved to spray on pear trees. Insects, scale, and fruit flies are just some of the pests that are attracted to pears. They're typically sprayed nine times a season.
Grapes — Lots of table grapes are grown in Chile where the climate is ideal. But various pests can hide in them. To keep these bugs out of our country, all grapes and stone fruit from Chile must be fumigated with methyl bromide before they enter this country.
Raspberries — We have four long rows of raspberries in our community garden that we water, mulch, and feed well with compost. We get a few pests, but not too many. Commercial raspberries are another matter. Farmers give them synthetic fertilizers to grow bigger berries. And they spray them with pesticides and fungicides to protect the plants from mildew and bugs.
Potatoes — Before they're planted, potato fields are sterilized with a soil fumigant. This kills off all the microbes and other critters that turn dirt into something we gardeners call "soil" — a nutritious medium in which to grow things. But that's not all. When the potato eyes are planted, farmers spray them with an insecticide to keep bugs from eating their tender shoots. Then they're sprayed with an herbicide to kill off weeds. Next, they apply synthetic fertilizers every week. They also apply insecticides and fungicides throughout the growing cycle. Make sure the potatoes you buy are organic!
15 safer foods
Organically grown foods are obviously the safest, but some conventionally grown foods are safer than others. Why? Because pesticides don't work well on them, so farmers can use smaller quantities of chemicals.
The following foods are least likely to contain pesticides even when they're conventionally grown: asparagus, avocados, bananas, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, garlic, kiwi, mangoes, onions, papaya, pineapple, peas, corn, and domestically grown watermelon.
For more information on whether to choose organic vs. non-organic fruits, vegetables, and meats, pick up Cindy Burke's excellent book, To Buy or Not to Buy Organic (Marlowe & Co, 2007). Her "Shopping Guide" alone is worth the price of the book. But her book has more information on specific grains, meats, poultry, and produce. With a little guidance you can make a few adjustments to your shopping and greatly reduce your consumption of pesticides.
Can Soy Prevent Diabetes? Only if You Eat the Right Form
You may know by now that inflammation is at the source of many chronic diseases including heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. Until recently, there have been no studies on inflammation with women who have metabolic syndrome or pre-diabetes.
A recent study published in Diabetes Care is the first of its kind. The participants were postmenopausal women who had all of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome, including C-reactive protein (CRP) – a marker for inflammation.
The researchers put the women on a healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy for two months. During this time, some were given either a small serving of soy (either in the form of soy protein or soy nuts) or red meat.
The results of this study were surprising. The women who ate half a cup of roasted soy nuts, those little hard snacks you can find in health food stores, had better results than women who ate either meat or soy protein.
In fact, soy nuts were better than either meat or soy protein in reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood sugar. They also improved blood vessel function best.
It doesn't surprise me that soy would outperform meat. After all, meat contains arachidonic acid, a fat that promotes inflammation. And all beans turn into sugar slowly and help regulate blood sugar. But why was there a difference between soy protein and soy nuts?
The researchers used soy protein isolate, a highly refined form of soy protein made from defatted soy flour that has most of its fats and carbohydrates removed. It's high in protein, but it's a manufactured food product. The key word is "refined." Soy protein isolate is a refined food, and soy nuts are whole dried soybeans that have been soaked in water and baked.
The combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fats found in soy nuts is associated with the lowest amount of inflammation. Soy protein has much of its fats removed. This study supports previous findings that plant foods contribute to healthier levels of blood sugar and inflammation. And that our health suffers when we tamper with Mother Nature.
Soy nuts are very dry, and they're so hard they can break a tooth or bridge. That's why I eat Edamame, green soybeans. Look for them in the freezer section of your local health food store. They're tasty and packed with the good fats and fiber you need to prevent inflammation, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
Azadbakht, L., et al. "Soy inclusion in the diet improves features of the metabolic syndrome: a randomized crossover study in postmenopausal women," Am Journ of Clin Nutr, March 2007.
Health Detective
Ginkgo Does Not Increase Your Risk for Bleeding
Ginkgo is an herb that increases circulation and can enhance your memory. It also thins the blood. This is good news if you want to avoid taking aspirin (aspirin can irritate the stomach lining and cause bleeding). If ginkgo thins your blood and you're already taking Coumadin, can this combination contribute to excessive bleeding?
Not according to several recent studies.
One huge study looked at over 320,000 patients who took ginkgo either alone or with anticoagulant and anti-platelet drugs. Researchers found that ginkgo did not increase a person's risk for bleeding even when they were taking blood-thinning drugs. They also found that ginkgo does not interfere with the action of drugs like Coumadin.
Another study looked at the bleeding time in older patients who were taking a ginkgo extract. Most, by the way, were women (so we know it's not something that's true just for men). All of the patients took 80 mg of a standardized ginkgo three times a day). And rest assured it came up safe after thorough testing.
Gaus, W., et al. "Identification of adverse drug reactions by evaluation of a prescription database, demonstrated for 'risk of bleeding." Methods Inf Med, 2005.
Halil, M., et al. "No alteration in the PFA-100 in vitro bleeding time induced by the Ginkgo biloba special extract, Egb 761, in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment," Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis, 2005.
Ask Dr. Nan
Q: I was taking Fosamax for my osteoporosis. They tell you not to bend over for an hour after taking it, as it will burn your esophagus. A family emergency required that I break that rule – and I'm still paying the price with terrible heartburn. What can I do to make the heartburn go away? I've tried taking more HCl, but that made it much worse. Please help. – L.P., Atlanta, GA
A: I'm so sorry you had to experience this painful side effect from a drug that doctors prescribe so frequently as a safe medication. Let's take this one step at a time. First, you may want to give your esophagus a rest from any irritation by taking an over-the-counter antacid (such Zantac) both morning and before bed for just one week. This can give your body time to heal. HCl is an acid and will just irritate you more.
Next, start eating oatmeal and barley. They're both soothing to the intestinal lining and accelerate healing throughout the digestive tract. Try making a pureed vegetable barley or chicken barley soup.
Slippery elm bark lozenges, which you can find in most health food stores, may calm down the irritation as well. They're used for sore throats, but should help your esophagus as well.
Hopefully, you won't sustain permanent damage from this incident. And if you or any other reader wants suggestions for osteoporosis prevention, my website has dozens of articles to help you choose safer, effective, alternatives to Fosamax, including the one I helped develop, Ultimate Bone Support. You can order it by calling 800-728-2288.
Q: Will taking probiotics cause excessive gas and cramping? Will the body adjust to the bacteria eventually? - B.J.P., e-mail
A: Let me end your confusion. Probiotics are friendly bacteria. They keep the pathogenic, or bad, bacteria in check. It's the pathogenic bacteria that cause gas and intestinal problems, not probiotics.
Occasionally, probiotics contain prebiotics — food for the live, friendly bacteria. These prebiotics are forms of sugar that could, conceivably, cause gas and bloating. This should pass quickly. But most people have only relief, not gas. Advanced Probiotic Formula (800-728-2288) contains only live, good bacteria and shouldn't cause any side effects.
Q: I have shingles on my head. How can I get relief from the jangled nerves that appear after the scabs and blisters? A little stress makes it even worse. - M.S., e-mail
A: You're describing post-herpetic neuralgia, a painful reminder of an even more painful condition. The problem with this neuralgia is that it can persist for months after the shingles blisters are gone.
One solution that I've seen work is to take 1,500 mg of l-lysine three times a day for three months after a herpes outbreak. This is an anti-viral amino acid that you can find in any health food store.
While you're there, look for an essential oil called Ravenserra. Take a Q-tip and apply a mixture of half oil and half essential oil on the affected areas. Olive oil, almond oil, or canola oil are fine. Often, Ravenserra stops pain from shingles immediately.
Shingles is a virus that's telling you you're under too much stress. So, eat the healthiest foods you can, get a little exercise every day, meditate regularly, and take your supplements faithfully.