Margaret, a long-time subscriber, had unsuccessfully battled an overgrowth of Candida albicans for over 10 years. She was desperate for help. Her Candida began as an overgrowth of vaginal yeast that progressed to a chronic systemic fungal infection. It caused exhaustion, brain fog, bloating, diarrhea, and a host of other uncomfortable symptoms.

What’s more, it suppressed her immune system. This led to a number of other complications. For instance, she seemed to catch every cold and flu bug that came around. Before she could regain her health, she needed to get her Candida under control.

At first, Margaret stopped eating sugar — Candida's favorite food. When that wasn’t enough, she resorted to everything she could think of: more restrictive dietary changes, supplements to support her immune system, anti-fungal herbs and essential oils, and, finally, anti-fungal medications her doctor prescribed. Nothing worked for long.

Margaret wanted her life back, so she contacted me.

After talking with her, I believed I knew what was going on. I was convinced that she had a little-known condition found in up to 60% of chronic infections. It’s caused by an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. I believed that with the right treatment, Margaret could recover. She did.

If you suffer from a chronic infection, this issue will give hope that you can recover, too. Here’s how:

I’ve discovered a little-known three-part therapy that stops many chronic illnesses in their track. A growing number of doctors also have found it works. As you know, I like to see the science behind a treatment before I write about it.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any studies on this therapy yet. But I’m hearing from so many women with chronic infections, that I wanted to get you this information now, not later. Until there are clinical studies, we can look at the evidence from these doctors’ observational studies, along with the research from a medical doctor who has developed this program.

So far there has been an exceptional response in people with a fungal overgrowth like Candida albicans and bacterial problems like H. pylori. There have also been excellent results in treating a number of other pathogens throughout the digestive tract.

If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), urinary tract infections, Candida, or digestive problems (including ulcers), and you can’t get better no matter what you do, this may be why.

What’s more, if you’ve found no lasting resolution to your Lyme disease, periodontal disease, cystitis, or esophagitis, don’t give up. In fact, if you have any chronic bacterial or fungal condition that hasn’t responded to other therapies, help could be three steps away.

Antibiotics make it worse

When infections become chronic, a war rages in your body. And the pathogenic bacteria and fungi are winning. Antibiotics and antifungals may alleviate some symptoms initially, but they don’t address the source of the problem. In fact, it turns out that antibiotics actually make these pathogens stronger!

This is why some people never get well. The bacteria and fungi that are keeping them sick are successfully able to survive no matter which antibiotics, antifungals, herbs, and other substances they use.

Here’s what’s going on: Free-floating pathogenic bacteria come together
to form a sticky substance, which encases them within a protective matrix. This prevents anti-inflammatory cells and antibiotics from reaching them. This substance is called biofilm.

The fascinating world of biofilm

You’ve heard about biofilm before, but maybe not by this name. In fact, you have it in your mouth and fight it every day. You know it as dental plaque. And it causes chronic infections from dental implants. This is why dentists are years ahead of medical doctors when it comes to understanding and treating oral biofilm. One of their treatments, ozone therapy, is very effective in treating oral biofilms. But it’s not as effective against those biofilms that live in the intestines where they’re more protected.

I recently heard about biofilms in the digestive tract — and how to eradicate them — from two of my trusted colleagues who find natural solutions to health problems. They teamed up with an expert in biofilm, Stephen Olmstead, MD, to find a solution to pathogenic biofilms in the gut. And it looks like they found it.
Most doctors, even doctors who practice integrative medicine, haven’t even heard about biofilm or its solution. But I predict that this will soon become more widely known and accepted, due in part to Dr. Olmstead’s research.

When it is, remember that you heard about it first, here in these pages.
Biofilms are substances, common in nature, that form when free-floating pathogenic microbes join together and stick to surfaces. They can be the slime you find coating rocks in a stream, the “gunk” in your drains, or dental plaque. Or they can live hidden in your digestive tract or genitals where they can impair your health.

Biofilms are complex communities of microbes living within impenetrable protective “cages” made from various sugars, minerals, and other substances. These shells keep antibiotics and antifungals from reaching and destroying biofilms’ pathogens.

These masses of microbes are tenacious. They stick to surfaces like the metals and plastics used in medical devices. They also stick to the intestinal lining, where they contribute to numerous chronic illnesses. Some people with invasive candidiasis have fungal biofilms from dental implants, catheters, and heart valves.

If your health has deteriorated after a medical or dental procedure and antibiotics haven’t worked, you may have an excess of pathogenic biofilm. If this is the case, you may not be able to get well until you get these biofilms under control.

Biofilms are innately more resistant to antibiotics than free-floating bacteria. How resistant? They can be from 10 to 1,000 times more resistant to antibiotics than free-floating bacteria! At best, antibiotics may work initially. But a relapse is sure to follow. Similarly, Candida is resistant to common antifungals like fluconazole.

Finding a program that works

Each type of biofilm responds to a slightly different protocol so an individualized approach is essential. Dr. Olmstead advises doctors on the best protocol for each patient. He has been collecting clinical reports on treatments to eradicate biofilm. This is no simple matter, because fungal biofilm need a different protocol than bacterial biofilm.

Here’s what you need to treat biofilm:

First, you have to disrupt the protective shell surrounding biofilm that prevents antibiotics and antifungals from killing the bugs.

Next, you need to use the right antimicrobials to destroy the particular microbes inside your biofilm. These may be antibiotics or herbs, depending on which bacteria or fungi you need to eradicate.

Finally, you need to add pre-and probiotics to increase colonies of friendly bacteria. These bacteria strengthen your immune system so it can better fight infection from pathogenic biofilm.

You need to have a doctor administer and monitor this program. Since few doctors know about biofilms, I’ve found a way for you to either get your doctor the information he or she needs, or to find a doctor who is familiar with this program.

Next month I’ll tell you about this three-step program in more detail and how to find a knowledgeable doctor to work with you. It will give you the hope you need to heal your body. Stay tuned.

Why Your Occasionally High Blood Pressure Is More Dangerous Than You Think

Susan’s blood pressure was high only at times. Her doctor wasn’t worried and suggested weight loss, a low-sodium diet, and relaxation exercises. These were all good ideas. But her doctor was missing an important clue to her health. He had overlooked the variability in her blood pressure. Susan had what we call episodic hypertension. And this increased her risk of having a stroke even more than constantly high blood pressure would.

It’s difficult to fault Susan’s doctor. Current guidelines advise doctors to just consider their patients’ average blood pressure over time. But it’s time for these guidelines to change. They are shortsighted in light of recent research. Three studies, along with a meta analysis The Lancet and The Lancet Neurology (March 13, 2010) recently published, found that variations in blood pressure were strong predictors of stroke risk.

One study looked at both high blood pressure and blood pressure variability in 8,000 people who had suffered mini strokes (transient ischemic attacks, or TIAs). Those with the greatest variation in blood pressure over seven visits to their doctors were six times more likely to have a stroke.

According to Dr. Peter Rothwell, a neurologist and lead author of these studies, “Some people have very stable hypertension, in which case simple hypertension is all that matters. But variability and episodic hypertension is very common and matters much more than mean blood pressure in some patients.”

The medical community considers high blood pressure a “silent killer” because there are no symptoms. There’s no warning. No pain or feelings of anxiety. That’s why so many people are surprised to find their blood pressure is higher than normal (120/80). It is easy to measure your blood pressure, either by purchasing a blood pressure cuff or by asking your doctor to check it regularly. Some drug stores offer free blood pressure monitoring as well. If your blood pressure is sometimes high and sometimes normal, don’t be complacent and think you’re fine. You may not be.

Both stable and episodic hypertension can lead not only to strokes, but to heart attacks, peripheral artery disease, and congestive heart failure. Fortunately, high blood pressure is one of the most treatable risk factors for serious conditions.

Is your hypertension drug raising your episodic blood pressure?

Not everyone needs medication for high blood pressure, but if yours is higher than 140/80, you may. First, determine whether or not you have either stable or episodic hypertension. Then discuss your options with your doctor. Here are a few of them:

Prescription drugs: All blood pressure lowering drugs are not the same, and some work better than others if your problem is occasionally high hypertension. Dr. Rothwell compared calcium channel blockers with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta blockers. The calcium channel blockers worked best in lowering episodic hypertension, while beta blockers increased it.

ACE inhibitors include Capoten, Prinivil, and Altace. Beta blockers include Lopressor and Levatol. The most effective blood pressure lowering drugs — calcium channel blockers — include Cardizem and Procardia.

When you look at how calcium channel blockers work, you quickly discover that there may be a better solution. Calcium channel blockers simply prevent calcium from getting into the heart and blood vessel muscle cells. This allows the cells to relax, which lowers blood pressure. If you’ve read Women’s Health Letter for long, you probably know there’s a better way to relax your blood vessels.

Magnesium: I’ve talked at length about magnesium, and how we need more of this mineral and less calcium. Remember, calcium causes muscles to contract, while magnesium causes them to relax. In fact, magnesium is nature’s natural calcium channel blocker.

You may be able to lower your hypertension simply by taking magnesium to bowel tolerance. It’s an inexpensive possibility. But I have another suggestion. If you’d like a natural solution that’s lowering blood pressure effectively, my recommendation is to use Dr. Isaac Eliaz’s heart formula Circutol.

Circutol is a multi-faceted formula to support good heart health. It turns out that it’s extremely effective in lowering all forms of blood pressure. I talked about this at length in the March 2010 issue. You can find the article on my website.

Basically, Circutol has reduced blood pressure in everyone I’ve given it to. My own blood pressure dropped from 134/90 to 112/64. No kidding!

Based on our clinical findings, I’m recommending two Circutol (available from Advanced Bionutritionals at 800-791-3395) morning and night on an empty stomach to lower blood pressure. And then take one capsule twice a day for maintenance.

Whatever you decide to do to lower your blood pressure, just know that variably high blood pressure is unsafe. Like constantly high blood pressure, it’s a warning we all should heed.

University of Oxford (2010, March 21). “Variability as well as high blood pressure holds high risk of stroke.” ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 22, 2010.

Vision Problems Can Cause Dementia — But I’ve Found an Inexpensive Solution

t’s sad but true. The older we get, the more likely it is for various parts of our bodies to show signs of aging. We can adjust to some of them: age spots, sagging muscles, and weight gain, for instance. Others are more disturbing, such as dementia and deteriorating vision. And it turns out that these two are connected to one another. If you have vision problems, you may be heading toward Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of memory loss.

According to a new study out of the University of Michigan Health System, older people with untreated vision problems are at an increased risk of developing dementia. In the past, doctors thought that dementia was just a symptom of poor vision.

Apparently not. According to this recent research, it looks like poor vision is an accurate predictor of dementia. This is actually good news for anyone who’s worried about losing their memory. Because although there are no early warning signs for some types of eye problems, such as glaucoma, the researchers found that treating vision problems lowered the risk for dementia. This included cataract surgery, as well as treatments for retinal deterioration, glaucoma, and other vision problems. It even included taking low-potency, synthetic supplements.

But there’s another option. It’s natural and it’s powerful. It’s green tea.

Green tea protects your brain

A few months ago, I told you about the role that green tea plays in protecting us from strokes and osteoporosis. But this ordinary beverage does more. It can make the difference between losing your memory and keeping it.

We’ve known for a long time that green tea is high in antioxidants called catechins. Scientists have speculated that these substances could reach the tissues in the eye. But until now it’s just been speculation. And doctors thought green tea was “just another antioxidant.” However, when it comes to your vision, green tea is more beneficial than we knew.

Now we have evidence that a significant amount of catechins in green tea are able to travel from the stomach and intestines and get into the various tissues and liquids in the eyes. What’s more, these powerful little substances move right into the parts of the eye that need the highest amount of individual eye-protective antioxidants.

But that’s not all. Green tea catechins reduced oxidative stress (oxidation) for up to 20 hours with the strongest effects lasting up to 12 hours. So drinking one or two cups of green tea twice a day, or taking green tea supplements morning and night, could help save your eyes. And it will help protect your memory at the same time.

Get your eyes checked

Glaucoma, and other conditions of deteriorating vision, are progressive and are often painless. This is why it’s so vitally important for you to have your eyes examined every year. You can slow down deteriorating vision best when you catch it early. So if you notice any changes in your vision, like the beginning of blind spots along the outer edges of your field of vision, make an appointment to see your optometrist or ophthalmologist immediately. Then increase your intake of antioxidants like green tea that feed your eyes.

I’ve been sensitive to vision problems long before I heard about the association with dementia. My mother and uncle both had macular degeneration. So I take Advanced Vision Formula from Advanced Bionutritionals (800-791-3395) every day. According to my optometrist, they have slowed down some of the normal aging in my eyes.

I also drink one or two cups of green tea every day. It’s one of the most healthful — and inexpensive — beverages in the world. And I’ve also decided to take Green Tea Extract capsules (also from Advanced Bionutritionals) on those days when I may skip my morning green tea, or just for an added nutritional boost.

Is this overkill? I don’t think so. My father was an optometrist, and I remember him telling me, “Take good care of your eyes. They’re the only ones you’ll ever get.” Thanks, Dad. I remembered.

“Green Tea Catechins and Their Oxidative Protection in the Rat Eye,” http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/
10.1021/jf9032602.

Rogers, et al. “Untreated Poor Vision: A Contributing Factor to Late-Life Dementia.” American Journal of Epidemiology, 2010; DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwp453.

NUTRITION DETECTIVE

Readers Join in on Dry Eyes Solutions

Recently, I answered a question about dry eyes. Several people wrote me with suggestions I thought might be of interest to anyone with this condition.
E.P. said, “I tried preservative-free drops and Omega-3 supplements. They helped, but not enough. Then I heard about a possible connection to Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease. My doctor tested me for antibodies to Sjogren’s and found I did, indeed, have this condition. I also have Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which 5-10% of people with Sjogren’s develop.”

This makes sense. Sjogren’s is an autoimmune disease where immune cells attack and destroy the glands that produce tears and saliva. Dry eyes and a dry mouth are symptoms of this disease. It always helps to find the source of a problem rather than just the symptoms. If you have dry eyes, consider getting tested for Sjogren’s syndrome.

G.G. wrote, “I used to suffer from dry eyes until I added GLA to my supplement program. The dry eyes disappeared, and I have had no further problem, except for a few times when I missed taking GLA for two or three days in a row.”
GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) is a fatty acid found in borage and black current seed oils. Several studies found that GLA relieves dry eyes caused both by inflammation and by Sjogren’s syndrome. It’s an inexpensive solution that’s worth trying. If you’re taking Women’s Vitality, you’re getting 20 mg of GLA daily.

Keep your comments and questions coming. While I can’t answer them personally, I read every one of them. And I’ll use more of them in future issues.

LETTERS

Q: I have Crohn’s disease and osteoporosis. Do you think there’s a connection between the two? — C.B., Las Vegas

A: Most certainly. In fact, the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology Nutrition (24(3), 1997) published a study that found poorer bone formation and more bone loss in children with either Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. Let me explain why.
Inflammation in the bowel produces pro-inflammatory cytokines, substances that prevent bones from absorbing nutrients. Over time, this results in bone loss.
The common element in celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is that they all have inflammation in the intestines.

If you have any of these conditions, you need to change your diet and lifestyle and get the inflammation under control. This means eliminating sugar, reducing stress, and taking an anti-inflammatory medication or supplement. I like, and take, Reduloxin (800-791-3395). You also can try InflaThera from ProThera (888-488-2488) or Zyflamend (found in health food stores).

Taking enzymes that digest gluten, such as Gluten Sensitivity Formula (800-791-3395) can ensure you are not adversely affected by eating small quantities of gluten by mistake. Gluten can cause inflammation. For more information on gluten, see my past articles available on my website.

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology Nutrition, (24(3), 1997.

Q: I recently started taking Ultimate Bone Support. The main ingredient is strontium. But in your material on detoxification, you say that strontium is a toxic substance, so I’m reluctant to take my Ultimate Bone Support. Is it safe to take? Am I getting a mixed message about this ingredient? — F.E., e-mail

A: You’re not getting a mixed message. It is confusing, because there are several kinds of strontium. Only one of them is toxic; the rest are safe minerals.
The toxic form is called Strontium 90. It’s a byproduct of nuclear fission. You can’t escape Strontium 90 because it’s in the air. In fact, it was one of the major pollutants from the nuclear accident at Chernobyl in 1986. That form of strontium doesn’t just “go away.” We’re all exposed to it.

Pectasol Chelation Complex (PCC) can remove stored toxic strontium from your body, which is why it makes sense to take PCC regularly. I take one capsule morning and night for continuous detoxification of Strontium 90, heavy metals, and traces of stored pharmaceutical drugs.

Strontium ranelate, citrate, and chloride are not only safe forms of strontium — they’re desirable. They help form dense bones and reduce cavities. That’s why it’s an ingredient in Ultimate Bone Support.

You may not know this, but I was one of the first people to create a bone-building formula using strontium citrate. It has become one of our most popular supplements — because it works. You can get it through Advanced Bionutritionals (800-791-3395).

If a supplement like Ultimate Bone Support uses strontium, it’s probably using strontium citrate. No supplements contain the toxic forms of this mineral.