One of the most common complaints I hear about is fatigue. From afternoon fatigue to chronic fatigue to just plain low energy — a lot of people are tired and are looking for effective natural solutions. I've given you suggestions on boosting your energy before. But none I've ever seen are like this one!
This formula wasn't designed for the average tired person like you and me. It wasn't designed for people with chronic fatigue or other illnesses, either. It was created specifically for professional athletes who push and fatigue their bodies continuously. It has improved their performance and recovery so much that some of them won't show up for a game without it! However, you won't find it in stores because it's been available only through doctors. Until now!
The timing for this expanded availability couldn't be better. We're heading into the holiday season with increased stresses. This means even more fatigue than usual. Caffeine is not the answer because it puts more stress on your adrenal glands and wears them down. Caffeine also interferes with insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels. If you rely on caffeine, eventually, you'll become even more tired.
Do this first:
Fatigue can come from many sources: blood sugar imbalances, heavy metal toxicity, poor digestion, an underactive thyroid, stress, surgery ... the list goes on. So the first step is to correct any known fatigue-related imbalances you can identify. If you're tired mid-afternoon from a blood sugar slump, avoid eating sugar and refined grains and limit alcohol and caffeine. Consider taking a supplement like Metabolic Defense (800-728-2288) to help regulate your blood sugar.
If you have a sluggish thyroid, you may need supplemental iodine or a thyroid medication. Check this out with your health professional, or have your iodine levels tested (call Hakala Research at 877-238-1779). For additional information on other energy-related conditions, check my website.
Next, don't accept low energy as being an inevitable part of aging. I've found a natural product that gently balances and supports the body, giving you more sustained energy. It's unlike any formula I've ever seen. I've given it to a number of people with a variety of fatigue-related problems and it worked beautifully for all of them.
This formula improves energy better than anything I've tried before. It was designed by Janet Zand, OMD, LAc, a doctor of Oriental medicine who's been formulating nutritional products for 30 years. This is her favorite energy formula. It's now mine, too.
Dr. Zand has been using this formula on herself, her patients, family, and friends. She was so excited about it that she called me to tell me about it. Am I glad she did. I used to doze off after dinner and fall asleep reading or watching TV at night. Now I'm awake until 11 p.m. with no desire to nap. And I'm up again with plenty of energy at 6 a.m. Nothing else in my life has changed. I'm still going to the gym and working out from one to two hours, five days a week. In case you didn't know, I just turned 70.
I also tried this formula on one of the trainers at my gym who complained of exhaustion. Within a week she felt better. And her energy has remained strong and improved. Both she and her husband take it before a heavy workout or soccer game.
Then I gave it to someone diagnosed with chronic fatigue. Within two weeks, she noticed a boost in her energy that remains today, months after she began taking this formula.
But what about older people with age-related fatigue? It's giving them increased, sustained energy, also. In fact, this formula, called Avatar Pro, improved energy in all of the people I gave it to. That doesn't mean it will work for everyone, but I believe it holds a great deal of promise for alleviating both short- and long-term fatigue. It contains an unusual extract made from a Peruvian herb, B12, and several adaptogens.
A foundation of Cat's Claw
The Peruvian herb is Cat's Claw. Three years ago, I wrote about an herbal extract called AC-11 made from Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa). While most Cat's Claw supplements are irritating or toxic when taken in large amounts, this extract isn't. In fact, this is the only form of the herb that scientific studies have found both repairs and protects DNA — molecules in our cells that carry our genetic traits.
AC-11 is an anti-inflammatory that's as effective as indometicin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It also boosts the immune system. All of these are qualities that become compromised as we age — sometimes by lifestyle and sometimes by genetics.
AC-11 rejuvenates your cells from the inside out and provides a foundation of improved energy. You can read more about it on my website ("Peruvian herbal extract reverses disease and aging," Women's Health Letter, September 2005). The extract increases energy when you use it by itself. But Dr. Zand boosted its effectiveness by adding two powerful adaptogens and vitamin B12.
More immediate energy
Eleutherococcus senticosus (known as Eleuthero) is an adaptogen that also energizes your body. Adaptogens help regulate body functions, which often results in a release of energy. You could feel its effects within a week — sometimes even on the same day. Russian Olympic athletes and cosmonauts used Eleuthero for increased alertness and energy. And numerous studies have found it protects against radiation — an energy-depleting cancer therapy. Dr. Zand included Eleuthero in this formula for immediate energy.
Doctors often use vitamin B12 (cyanocobamin), called the energy vitamin, to give an energy boost to seniors with fatigue. As we age, we're less able to metabolize B12. Dr. Zand added B12 to Avatar Pro for energy you can feel within days.
Longer, sustained energy
Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is another adaptogen that acts as a tonic to build energy. It helps restore immunity and circulation — resulting in more energy. In one large randomized study, it improved fatigue in a group of patients with neurasthenia when they took it for two months. Neurasthenia is a condition characterized by headaches, fatigue, and anxiety. Reishi is a powerful antioxidant that provides a long-lasting and sustained energy.
Bottom line
What's clear to me is that the combination of all four nutrients is greater than its individual parts. In fact, the manufacturers of Avatar Pro tested each ingredient separately on a group of people. They didn't work as well alone as they did together. So if you're more tired than you think you should be and you've tried everything you can think of, give Avatar Pro a try.
Begin by taking one capsule before breakfast. After one week, increase to either two capsules at once, or a second capsule before lunch. Dr. Zand had a patient with chronic fatigue who improved greatly on just one capsule a day. Most people notice a difference after the first week.
As I said earlier, until now you could get Avatar Pro only through a doctor. And it usually sells for $45 for 60 capsules. That's either a one- or two-month supply, depending on how many you take each day.
I asked my publishers to provide it to my subscribers and reduce the price. They did, and you can now get a box of Avatar Pro for $39.95 by calling 800-728-2288.
This price is less than you can find anywhere.
Blumenthal, M., et al. "Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs," American Botanical Council, 2000.
Lamm, S., et al. "Persistent response to pneumococcal vaccine in individuals supplemented with a novel water soluble extract of Uncaria tomentosa, AC-11," Phytomedicine, 2001.
Sheng, Y., et al. "DNA repair enhancement of aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa in a human volunteer study," Phytomedicine, July 2001.
Tang, Wenbo, et al. "A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract in neurasthenia," Journal of Medicinal Food, March 1, 2005.
This Sweetener Can Help You Lose Weight and It's Safe for Diabetics (Hint: It's Not Stevia)
I first heard about an amazing sweetener as an ingredient used in a diabetic-friendly ketchup. I must admit the idea of eating a strange-sounding sweetener in a familiar condiment sounded unappetizing to me at first. But I tried it. And to my surprise, it tasted delicious.
Then I heard it was in the non-dairy frozen dessert Coconut Bliss. Once again, it proved to be a delicious alternative to both sugar and honey. But this sweetener has an added benefit. It has a lower glycemic index than sugar, honey, maltodextrin, and other sweeteners.
Ever since Oprah's favorite doctor, Dr. Oz, mentioned it as his sweetener of choice for weight loss programs, it's been jumping off the shelves. Surf the Internet and you'll also read that it's safe for diabetics and can even lower cholesterol. Are these claims true?
Although this sweetener is new to most consumers, it's not really new at all. In fact, folks in Mexico have used it for thousands of years. The Aztecs called it the "nectar of the Gods." They not only used it in foods and beverages, but also as a topical antibacterial in wound care, like honey. Unlike honey, though, your body metabolizes it very slowly when you eat it. This slow metabolism explains its health benefits.
There are no scientific studies to back up any health claims. However, there's enough information on the composition of this sweetener to help you decide whether or not to use it. And if so, how much is safe for you?
I'm talking about agave nectar, a sweetener high in fructose and low in glucose.
Agave is low on the glycemic index — around 32 compared to 58 for honey and 64 for sugar. You may remember from past articles that the glycemic index is a way to measure how quickly or slowly various foods and sweeteners raise your blood sugar. Anything lower than 55 is considered safe for diabetics. But pay attention to how much you eat.
This ratio of fructose to glucose is the key to agave's usefulness. Glucose is metabolized quickly and can trigger an insulin response. Fructose, on the other hand, is absorbed so slowly that it doesn't cause this same spike and subsequent drop in blood sugar. It raises blood sugar levels gradually, which helps you burn fat, rather than store it.
Agave also contains inulin (not insulin). This is a carbohydrate high in indigestible fiber. It feeds friendly bacteria, reduces cholesterol, and blocks fat absorption in the intestines. In this way, agave plays a small, but significant part in any weight-loss program or diabetic diet — if you don't eat large quantities.
Because agave is 25% sweeter than sugar, you can use less of it (three-quarters of a cup of agave equals one cup of sugar). One tablespoonful contains just 25 calories and 6 grams of carbs.
Where it comes from
Agave nectar is the "juice" or sap of a plant that looks rather like a gigantic Aloe vera. A mature plant can be 7 to 12 feet in diameter! When you remove its spiky leaves, it leaves the heart of the plant, which looks like a huge pineapple. The nectar comes from the heart.
There are several varieties of agave. Most commercial syrup comes from the Blue and Salmiana Agaves, which are indigenous to Mexico. Farmers have to cook many blue agave plants to harvest the nectar. But some of the least expensive agave nectars you can buy are either not heated, or are heated at low temperatures. These come from the Agave Salmiana plant, from Madhava, a little company in Colorado. If you can't find their agave nectars in your local health food store, call them at 800-530-2900.
Cooking with agave
You can bake with agave or add it to cereals, smoothies, and your morning cup of coffee or tea. The lighter the syrup, the milder the taste. Darker agave nectars have a hint of maple syrup or caramel. Unlike honey, agave nectar dissolves easily in both cold and hot liquids.
If you like desserts and want to use agave syrup, you'll want Ania Catalano's cookbook, Baking With Agave Nectar (Celestial Arts, 2008). It contains decadent desserts like chocolate peanut butter mousse-filled cupcakes (1 ¼ cup agave) as well as one of my favorites, guilt-free shredded apple pie (with only ¼ cup of agave syrup).
Using agave for diabetes and weight loss
Can you really lose weight by using agave in place of other sweeteners? Is it safe for diabetics and people with metabolic syndrome or hypoglycemia? It depends on how much you use. Don't believe companies that say you can eat as much as you like. A representative from the Glycemic Research Institute (GRI) told me, "Agave can be used only in very small amounts or it affects diabetics and fat-storage." You may be able to eat more agave than sugar or honey, but you can't eat huge amounts without repercussions.
GRI is a non-profit organization that tests and certifies the glycemic index of various foods and ingredients. Their laboratory tested Madhava agave syrups and found they all fell into the "low GI category" (around 32 on the glycemic index).
Bottom Line: Without a doubt, agave is a healthy sweetener with a low glycemic index. But this doesn't mean you should, or can, con- sume a lot of it. Look for products with agave and use them sparingly. But consider making agave nectar your sweetener of choice — especially as we move into the holiday season.
www.coconutbliss.com
www.globalwaresimporting.com/agave_nectar.html
www.madhavasagave.com
http://pals2u.tripod.com/id28.html
www.wholemato.com
You Can Make Your Chemotherapy Safer and More Effective
I've counseled a lot of cancer patients over the years. And I've paid close attention to how the various therapies they used worked. My conclusion is that traditional medicine doesn't work nearly as well as a combined approach. By this I mean using traditional medical techniques (surgery, radiation, and chemo when necessary) along with integrative therapies (nutrition, intravenous nutrients, infra-red sauna, etc.).
Still, let me be very clear. I'm not a fan of chemotherapy. It ultimately hurts more people than it helps. This isn't surprising. Chemotherapy is simply another word for "poison." The toxic drugs used in chemotherapy not only damage cancer cells, but also healthy cells. This is one reason why chemo frequently doesn't work. Too much chemotherapy can threaten your life. Too little can allow cancers to survive.
When chemotherapy kills healthy cells, the result is hair loss, weight loss, nausea, anemia, and even death. With that said, it can play an important role in an integrative approach to cancer therapy. But only if its benefits outweigh its harm.
Scientists have been looking for a better way to get these drugs directly into cancerous tumors. This would make them more effective and less destructive. But I've found a better and simpler solution. One that's completely non-toxic. It could turn chemotherapy into a therapy that is more helpful than harmful. Of course, since you can't patent this approach, you're not likely to hear much about it. But preliminary studies show it works.
Instead of looking for a "better" drug, researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) lead by Valter Longo searched for a way to target chemotherapy at tumor cells and leave healthy cells alone. And they found it. What's more, it not only costs nothing, but it saves you money at the same time!
This solution is fasting.
That's right. All you have to do to get chemotherapy to attack only cancer cells and not healthy cells is not eat for two days before your treatment. Doing so actually protects your healthy cells from the toxic side effects. Amazingly, fasting doesn't protect tumor cells. They remained sensitive to chemotherapy drugs in several studies. This allowed the drugs to destroy malignant cells while leaving the healthy ones alone. Scientists found that this approach worked in laboratory cell studies, and it worked in animal studies. In fact, these studies all showed that short fasts protected healthy cells.
Dr. Longo, a researcher in anti-aging who works both in gerontology and biological sciences, understands why this idea took so long to be discovered. It didn't come from cancer research. "It had to come from the anti-aging field," he said, "because that's what we focus on: protecting all cells at once." This is why he says that fasting before chemotherapy should be just as effective in people as it was in laboratory animals.
Dr. Longo explains this phenomenon as being the difference in stress resistance between healthy and malignant cells. When you starve cells, they go into a hibernation mode and become resistant to stressors — including chemotherapy. Cancer cells, on the other hand, keep growing and multiplying uncontrollably.
Dr. Longo's team tested this theory on mice in a recent study. They published their results in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. They gave a huge dose of a chemotherapy drug to some mice they had starved for two days and to some mice that ate normally. The chemo killed 43% of the fed mice, but only one of the mice that had fasted. Dr. Longo believes that healthy cells become up to 10 times as resistant to chemotherapy as cancer cells — allowing them to remain healthy.
That's not all. The fasting mice regained any lost weight within a few days.
The implications are huge. This study suggests that a cancer patient could quickly gain back any weight lost through a short fast, while the fast would allow chemotherapy to do its job with a minimum of harm. Diet modifications and drugs, says Longo, could give the same results.
Time, and human clinical trials, will give us more information on starving cancer cells while allowing a person to take more chemotherapy. But you may not have enough time to wait for these studies.
I realize that some cancer patients may be too weak to avoid food for even two days. This has been more of a problem in the past than it is today, but it still exists. One oncologist I spoke with suggested that fasting for one day might also work. It could be worth trying.
Cancer cells can't live in an alkaline environment. A water fast would acidify the blood. Perhaps the answer is a fast using diluted juices — to alkalinize along with protecting healthy cells.
But before you begin even a one-day fast, talk this idea over with your doctor. If he or she believes you're strong enough to handle it, then try a one- or two-day fast before your next chemo treatment. Continue only if you're strong enough. One problem is that fasting for two days could exhaust an already-weakened cancer patient.
Anyone with cancer should strive to eat a diet that's alkalinizing. This means eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. It's possible that a juice fast could be a better answer for someone using chemotherapy who doesn't want to — or isn't able to — go on a water fast.
For now, consider the chemotherapy/fasting idea an interesting theory with some good science behind it. One thing I know. This approach won't hurt as many people as large doses of chemo.
Longo, et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, March 2008.
Swaminathan, Nikhil. "Fasting may bolster healthy cells' resistance to chemo toxins," Scientific American, April 2, 2008.
University of Southern California (2008, April 1). "New Way To Fight Cancer: Protect Healthy Cells With The Silver Shield," ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/03/080331172534.htm
Nutrition Detective
Yet Another Use for My Favorite Mineral
It looks like we're not going to run out of reasons to emphasize the importance of my favorite mineral: magnesium. It's the first nutrient to give someone after a heart attack. It relieves constipation, lowers blood pressure, relaxes muscles, and reduces your risk for heart disease and diabetes. Now we can add another application. It improves muscle strength.
In the first study of its kind, researchers randomly studied the muscle strength of nearly 1,500 older men and women. They specifically evaluated the effects of magnesium on their muscle strength. To do so, the researchers tested a number of muscles over a two-year period. They looked at their grip, lower leg strength, and the ability to extend their knees repeatedly. The researchers took into account the density of muscles and the difference between muscle strength in men vs. women. Then they looked at the blood magnesium levels of the participants.
They found that serum magnesium levels significantly improved muscle strength. Those with the highest levels of magnesium had the greatest muscle strength.
If you find it difficult to stand up, or you feel weaker after exercising than you once did, look to magnesium for a solution. As I've pointed out before, we use up more magnesium when we're under stress. A lack of stomach acids (or taking antacids) slows down the utilization of magnesium. And we tend to eat fewer foods high in this mineral (beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and dark green veggies).
Add to this the many supplements that emphasize calcium over magnesium — the opposite of what most bodies need — and you can see why you may need to take magnesium supplements.
Give them a three-month trial. Try taking magnesium to bowel tolerance (until your stools are soft, but not too soft). Use any magnesium except poorly absorbed magnesium oxide. And let me know how it helped you regain muscle strength.
Dominguez, L.J., et al. "Magnesium and muscle performance in older persons: the InCHIANTI study," Amer Journ Clin Nutr, August 2006.
Ask Dr. Nan
Q: I have hay fever and other seasonal allergies. Often, I feel worse the day after I'm exposed to allergens. Why is this and what can I do about it? — H.M.F., e-mail
A: You're experiencing a phenomena that researchers just recently identified. Stress could be the reason for your worsening allergies, not exposure to allergens. Even very mild stress or anxiety can cause your allergic reactions to be worse the day after exposure.
Researchers at Ohio State University found this association. This is an important discovery, since many people take antihistamines to relieve their symptoms of itchy eyes, runny nose, and congestion. Antihistamines may make you feel better at first, but they won't work the next day.
I have another suggestion: At the first sign of an allergy attack, treat your stress. One way would be to take an adaptogen, such as Rhodiola or Eleutherococcus. Adaptogens restore balance throughout the body and help reduce the effects of stress. You can find tinctures of these herbs in most health food stores. Take 20 drops of either herb in a little water, and drink it three or four times a day.
Support this with any stress reduction technique you can. These can include meditation, a warm bath, or just taking time off to read or listen to music. As surprising as it may seem, stress reduction may be the key to surviving allergy attacks. Especially on the day after your exposure to allergens.
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/118318.php.
Q: I have been diagnosed with H. pylori and would like to avoid taking antibiotics. Do you have any suggestions? — M.H.D., College Station, TX
A: Sure do. H. pylori is a bacterial overgrowth in the stomach that upsets the body's balance of good and bad bacteria. Left unchecked, it could lead to ulcers or stomach cancer.
Low stomach acid can contribute to this condition, so it's best not to take an antacid while you're treating the H. pylori. Bismuth subsalicylate, which you probably know as Pepto-Bismol, can also work. Doctors often use bismuth along with antibiotics. But you might be able to find a stronger bismuth formula than Pepto-Bismol at your local health food store. Follow the directions on the label.
Your best alternative to antibiotics is their opposite — probiotics, or friendly bacteria. To treat H. pylori, I suggest you take the strongest one I know, Dr. Ohhira's 12-Plus probiotic formula by Essential Formulas. Studies show it's effective in eradicating H. pylori. Take a probiotic that's had good testing.
For specific information on how much to use and for how long, call Gail Pruitt at 877-262-7843. Mention me or this newsletter for a nice discount. Chew two capsules twice a day, morning and night, on an empty stomach. It has a pleasant taste, and by chewing it, the probiotics get into your stomach, not just in your intestines.
Finally, mastic gum (500 mg twice a day after meals) and zinc-carnosine (75 mg twice daily between meals for two months) are often helpful in ridding the body of H. pylori according to Hyla Cass, MD. She discusses this at length in her excellent book, Supplement Your Prescription (Basic Health, 2007).
Because H. pylori is so difficult to control, even with antibiotics, I suggest you use as many of these natural products as possible for two months. Then have your doctor re-evaluate you. At that point, if you need to take a medication, be smart and take it.