info, Author at Inflammation Advisor

Wheat and Gluten Free Recipe – Applesauce Bread

May 3, 2014 by info Leave a Comment

If wheat gluten is a food that you need to avoid to reduce inflammation naturally, then this wheat and gluten free recipe may be a welcome treat for you. Sometimes you just want a comfort food to start your day or to eat as a snack.

This recipe does require eggs (look for substitutes if that is an issue for you), but it completely avoids using wheat flour.

The secret ingredient is yams or sweet potatoes. Great taste and texture!

Applesauce Bread – Flourless

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup almond butter
2 eggs
1 1/2cups mashed yams or sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey or equivalent agave syrup
1/4 cup unsweetened organic applesauce
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Combine all ingredients in food processor, mixing until smooth.
Pour batter into greased pan (size 13 by 9 inches).
If tolerated, add some pecan or walnut pieces over the top.
Bake for 40-45 minutes
Test with toothpick in center – if it comes out clean, it is done.
Cool before eating.

3 Top Anti Inflammatory Diet Books

April 27, 2014 by info Leave a Comment

Finding the top books to give you the basics on living an anti inflammatory lifestyle can be overwhelming. Let’s just focus on three of the best ones, including those invaluable recipe books that make it possible for you to know how to do it in a tasty way.

Chronic inflammation from diet, environment, and stress is an issue lurking around the corner for any of us. These may give you an insider’s advantage on knowing how to beat inflammation in your everyday life…

	The Inflammation Diet for Beginners is a great starting place for people who are not quite sure how to begin. You learn not only why you should care about inflammation to reduce your risk of major diseases, but also how to begin the meal plan. With 100 starter recipes and a 14-day program for relieving symptoms fast, this book is a no-brainer
	This Amazon #1 bestseller brings you an ultimate guide to the anti inflammatory diet. You can learn the best and worst foods to eat for reducing inflammation naturally. If you want relief from the pain associated with inflammation of joints, muscles, the GI tract, or any other area of your body, you owe it to yourself to check this one out
	If you want to keep variety in your anti inflammatory meal plans, this book will be a delicious addition to your recipe book collection. Written by the Inflammation Advisor’s own Susan Greenway, you will find plenty of ideas for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, as well as desserts to tantalize your taste buds

Very Healthy Recipe – Asparagus Salad

April 26, 2014 by info Leave a Comment

If you are always searching for an interesting way to get your daily veggies, check out this very healthy recipe for asparagus salad. If you tolerate wheat products, you can use couscous. If you are living gluten-free, then substitute quinoa. Wheat is often a food that people prone to inflammation do not tolerate. You can be careful about your food choices and still enjoy what you eat.

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen organic green peas

12 asparagus spears, cut into 1-inch pieces

2 medium organic carrots, peeled and cut into matchstick-size strips

2 ounces snow peas, trimmed and cut diagonally in half

1 onion, finely sliced

4 cups uncooked couscous (or quinoa)

2 organic tomatoes, diced into small pieces

4 tablespoons virgin olive oil

2 cups vegetable stock or organic vegetable broth

Directions

Combine the frozen peas, carrots, and asparagus vegetables in a pan of boiling water and cook 4 minutes. After cooking the vegetables, drain them.
Hold the snow peas on the side for now.
Next, heat the olive oil before adding the onion slices. Let the onion cook for 2-4 minutes to get tender.
Use the vegetable broth to cook the couscous or quinoa to add flavor to the salad.
Combine all ingredients together.
Season with low sodium soy sauce and/or lemon juice (no more than 1 tbsp). Add sea salt and pepper to taste if desired.

If you are into healthy eating and want a great cookbook full of more than 350 delicious recipes that focus on paleo eating (even less carb but lots of flavor and variety), check this out here.

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis

April 1, 2014 by info Leave a Comment

What is rheumatoid arthritis? Arthritis is a general term for a family of diseases that cause joint pain and stiffness. Over 100 types of arthritis have been identified. According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 50 million Americans suffer from some type of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most serious of these.

Rheumatoid arthritis is different from some other types of arthritis in that it is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the immune system of the body begins to act in a harmful way, attacking the body instead of helping it.

Scientists are unsure of the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis, although there seems to be a genetic connection. It is 2-1/2 times more prevalent in women than in men. The disease usually presents itself between the ages of 25 and 50, but it sometimes occurs in childhood.

Arthritis Symptoms

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may notice that your joints feel tender and stiff when you wake up in the morning.

Rheumatoid arthritis is usually worse in the morning. It often begins in the finger joints, then over time it can progress to other joints in the body such as the hips, knees or shoulders. In its advanced stages, rheumatoid arthritis can cause hard lumps to develop under the affected joints, impeding movement and causing pain.

One of the unusual symptoms of this kind of arthritis is that it is symmetrical. That is, you will feel pain in the same joints on opposite sides of the body at once.

What Causes Arthritis Pain

In this type of arthritis, the immune system begins to act abnormally, attacking healthy joints. Immune cells move from the blood to the joints, inflaming and irritating them. The irritating fluid builds up in the joints, and wears down the protective cartilage which provides cushioning between the bones. The buildup of fluid is what causes the feeling of inflammation, stiffness and tenderness.

What Helps Arthritis Pain: Diet And Exercise

There is significant help for the pain of rheumatoid arthritis.

Eating a healthy diet can help with RA symptoms. Fish and nuts are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which helps to reduce inflammation. Dark leafy greens and berries are high in anti-oxidants, which boost the immune system. Overall, a diet high in fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein is recommended as the best diet for people with RA. Supplement your diet with vitamin B6 and folate, which are often lacking in people with arthritis.

If you are overweight, losing weight will help with symptoms, since excess weight can make them worse. You should also stop smoking, since smoking has been suggested as a possible cause of this type of arthritis.

Exercise is medically proven to help with the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. Low-impact aerobic exercises are recommended, such as walking, dancing, stair-climbing and swimming. Isometric exercises are also a good choice. Stretching exercises help with hand and wrist pain.

Natural Treatments And Alternatives – What to Take for Arthritis

Conventional medical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis usually includes anti-inflammatory or corticosteroid medication to ease symptoms. Doctors also prescribe medications to stop the harmful action of immune cells by suppressing the immune system. Unfortunately, because the immune system is suppressed, infection and even serious illnesses can be side effects of the medication.

If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, there are a number of natural alternatives that you should consider trying. Natural treatments can help you gain control over your arthritis symptoms. More symptom relief can mean better quality of daily life for you to enjoy your family, friends, work, and hobbies.

Cold compresses can help to reduce swelling and inflammation at the very beginning of an arthritic attack, but they should only be used for a short period of time, about 15 minutes. Heat treatments are preferable, as they help with the stiffness of arthritis. Moist heat is the best, so try a warm shower or bath, or apply a moist heating pad or warm moist towel to the area.

Acupuncture seems to help some people with rheumatoid arthritis pain, as does the use of visualization techniques. In visualization, you close your eyes and picture yourself in a quiet, relaxing setting. This helps to reduce stress and can help to reduce pain levels as well.

Fish oil supplements can help defeat the effects of RA in your body. Fish oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which help with inflammation in the body. Green tea extract is another helpful anti-inflammatory. If you are taking prescribed medication, you should ask your doctor before taking natural supplements, to avoid any possible interactions with your medication.

A diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis may be frightening at first, but if you take proactive charge of your symptoms, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. There are many things you can do to help defeat your symptoms and enrich your life. You can even get specialized lab tests that go beyond what your doctor usually tests – these can look for the root causes of your inflammatory problems and help guide you to the best ways to fix them for your individual needs.

Frustrated by the dietary restrictions and other lifestyle changes that have become a regular part of your daily life?

I invite you to watch this special webinar presentation to find out the real reasons behind what’s going on with your health …

… and how to finally get relief from these symptoms once and for all!

–> Click Here To See A Preview Of This Event <- -

Curcumin – One of the Best Herbs for Inflammation

March 31, 2014 by info Leave a Comment

Curcumin is one of the best herbs for inflammation. What is curcumin? This anti inflammatory supplement is a phytochemical extracted from herbal turmeric root. Also known as the Curcuma Longa plant, which is a member of the ginger family. This plant grows in Southern Asia and in the Himalayas. Cucumin was used for thousands of years in Eastern Medicine Practice and is frequently used today in Ayurvedic medicine. Research is finding that curcumin has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Research is also suggesting it may have anti-cancer properties. Tumeric is a bright yellow-orange spice that is primarily used in Eastern countries.

Curcumin Health Benefits

Curcumin is a versatile anti inflammatory supplement. In the right form, research has shown that it…

Treating rheumatoid arthritis pain.
Relieves symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Improves cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Helps with symptoms of colitis.
Helps to prevent stomach ulcers.
Lowers high cholesterol.
Helps to relieve symptoms of HIV.
May treat Scabies.
May treat type II Diabetes
Helps to relieve upset stomach.
Boosts Immune System.
Benefits Cardiac System.
Boosts Brain Function.
Blocks mast cells from producing histamine which causes allergies.
Antifungal and Antibacterial properties.
Liver protective properties.

Anti-Cancer Properties

Ongoing research is studying the effects of curcumin on many types of cancers. Curcumin may help prevent or treat cancer because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is thought to be a factor in causing cancer. Curcumin has been shown to stop the growth of tumors. It also:

May stabilize colorectal cancer.
May make chemotherapy treatments more effective.
May slow the progression of cancer.
May protect healthy cells from damage from radiation.

Curcumin and weight loss

Curcumin aids weight loss because it regulates the formation of fat cells and lowers the production of leptin in fat cells. Leptin is an enzyme that encourages more fat cells to form. Too much leptin also causes too much fat to form around the liver which can result in type 2 diabetes. Cucumin protects your liver from the bad effects of leptin.

Another reason curcumin works as a weight-loss agent is because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have found that most people have food sensitivities to certain foods. When they eat the food which they are sensitive to it causes an inflammatory response, which results in a continuous cycle of negative responses which includes:

Your body retaining fluid as a result your body trying to flush the foreign substance out of your body.
Blood vessels become inflamed and swell.
Addictive cravings occur for the food you’re sensitive to.
Metabolic disruptions happen and cause discomfort

This continuous cycle leads to stubborn weight gain. Curcumin prevents this cycle because of its anti-inflammatory response in the gut and the rest of the body, which can result in losing weight, at least in losing water weight from allergic swelling.

Curcumin Absorption

Curcumin is not easily absorbed by the body; when buying curcumin make sure it has the following ingredients which helps to increase absorption:

Phospholipids
Meriva or “BCN-95”

Where to Buy Curcumin

Curcumin is sold at health food stores, drug stores and online at Amazon and other e-commerce sites.

Life extension Curcumin

Super Bio-Curcumin

Contains 100% natural curcuminoids and sesquiterpinoids for enhanced absorption.

Product Reviews

Mixed review with customer either loving it, disliking it and very neutral customers.

Relieved painful menstrual cramps.
Too expensive
No difference in inflammation.
No difference in pain.
Love the product.

Jarrow formulas curcumin 95

Contains curcumin and antioxidants (demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin) to support DNA integrity and protect cells from oxidative damage.

Product Reviews:

Same as Life extension curcumin. Mixed reviews, customers either loved the product or disliked it.

Unsure.
So far so good.
Not worth the money
Did not help arthritis

Curcumin supplement side effects

Side Effects and Contraindications

Consult your doctor first before using if you have a gallbladder or kidney disorder.
Consult with your doctor first if you have a bleeding disorder.
Nausea and diarrhea.
May cause ulcers in high doses.
Can cause skin irritations if used topically.
Use with caution is you have a history of gallstones or gallbladder disease.
Do not use if you are pregnant or breast children.
Not recommended for children.

May interact with the following medications: NSAIDS, painkillers, blood thinners, statins or blood pressure meds. Herbs which may interact with curcumin include ginkgo, ginseng and garlic.

If you tolerate it, this natural supplement may be a powerful tool for you in the fight against chronic inflammation. Turmeric and its constituent curcumin is one of the best herbs for inflammation. Talk with your own health care provider and see if curcumin is a good choice for you.

What Are Probiotics Good For – Reducing Gut and Whole Body Inflammation

March 30, 2014 by info Leave a Comment

What are probiotics good for? Are they good for gut inflammation? How about whole body inflammation? Probiotics are good microorganisms that you ingest in the form of food or supplements; they are also known as “friendly bacteria”.

Our bodies naturally produce “normal flora” which is good bacteria that protects you from yeast and fungal infections. Sometimes medications such as antibiotics, certain diets or environmental issues get rid the good bacteria in your body along with the bad bacteria, making you susceptible to fungal or yeast infections.

Certain diseases can also cause an imbalance of normal flora in your body. Ingesting probiotics either through food sources or supplements helps to keep a consistent amount of good bacteria in your body. Probiotics in Greek means “for life” or “pro-life.”

What Do Probiotics Do For Your Body? Why are Probiotics Good for You?

They support a healthy immune system.
Help to improves digestion, including “leaky gut” problems associated with autoimmune and food allergy problems
Helps to keep a balance between good and bad bacteria in your body.
Relieves diarrhea and constipation by regulating your system.
Studies show it helps to reduce bladder cancer recurrence.
Helps to balance your mind by relieving symptoms of anxiety and depression.

What are the best probiotics?

Lactobacillus
- Naturally found in the digestive, urinary and genital system.
- Found in yogurt, supplements and fermented foods.
- Used for treating yeast and fungal infections.
- It is also beneficial for urinary tract infections.
- Diarrhea related to antibiotics.
- Treats diarrhea related to C.difficile (a serious bacterial infection)
- Helps people who suffer from lactose intolerance.
- Helps to prevent respiratory infection.
- Wards off fever blisters and canker sores.
- Streptococcus thermophiles
  - Necessary for the production of the enzyme lactase in the body.
  - Helps with symptoms of lactose intolerance.
  - Lactobacillus acidophilus
    - Helps with yeast and fungal infections.
    - Helps to clear acne.
    - Helps with urinary tract infections.
    - Prevent and treat vaginal infections
    - Bifidobacteria
      - 90% healthy bacteria found in the colon
      - Supplements help symptoms from irritable bowel syndrome such as abdominal pain and bloating.
      - Helps to normalize glucose levels.
      - Lactobacillus casei
        
        Helps with anxiety and depression

What is a good probiotic?

Yogurt is a good probiotic. Live cultured yogurt made with goat’s milk that has added lactobacillus and acidophilus. Make sure to buy yogurt that doesn’t contain sugar since sugar feeds bad bacteria.
Kefir is a fermented dairy product made with goat’s milk and fermented kifir grains. This food is high in lactobacilli and bifidus bacteria.
Kombucha Tea is a fermented tea loaded with probiotics. Used for centuries in the east

What is the Best Probiotic?

Of all of the brands available, you will probably find that VSL #3 is the best probiotic for people with chronic inflammation. It has shown promise in treating people with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases. The amounts of bacteria are higher than in other products.

That said, you can find an excellent probiotic in the Nutri-West Probiotic Supplement

Total Probiotics.
Helps to balance normal flora to support a healthy immune system while decreasing harmful bacteria.
Maintains normal flora when taking antibiotic.
Free of gluten, corn and soy; and other allergy prone products.

Reviews

Average ratings of 4.6 out of a five-star review on Amazon:

Customer reported taking product for 2 years and has less bloating and gas; and stays regular.
A customer living in a foreign country reports that he takes this product and it helps his stomach out.
Customer comments that she had constipation issues for years and has been taking this product for two years now and does not have any more problems with constipation.
Customer reported that product enhances her mind.
A customer with celiac disease reports that it works well for her.
A customer notices a difference when she doesn’t take it; her abdomen feels better when she takes it.

The following list contains non-dairy probiotics, just make sure the containers state live and active cultures:

Rice, coconut and soy yogurt
Miso
Brewer’s yeast
Sauerkraut
Micro algae

Where can I buy probiotics?

You can buy probiotics can be purchased at a health food store or a whole foods market. Your local grocery store may have a health food section where probiotics can be purchased. Probiotics can also be bought online at Amazon.com and other ecommerce sites.

The following are a list of the best probiotic brands:

Renew-Life
Nutri-West
Garden of Life Raw Probiotics
Florastor
Culturelle
Yakult
Jarrow
Dr. Mercola’s Complete Probiotics
Bio K Probiotics
Udo’s Choice Probiotics

Side effects are rare but it’s best to consult with your doctor before taking probiotics. If you have a special GI problem, you may want to see a functional medicine doctor who is an expert in which probiotics work best for complicated health issues.

As mentioned above, you can buy probiotics useful for chronic inflammatory diseases at local health food stores. Some of the brands advertised on TV may not have enough good bacteria in them to make it worth your while. It is also important to realize that probiotics are living bacteria – they need to be refrigerated to stay helpful for you.

So, if a store does not store their probiotic products in a refrigerator case, they may not do much to help reduce inflammation in the body. You can buy probiotics online. Many companies will ship them with special packaging to keep them cool until they arrive. Other companies have tested their products and can get them to you by mail or shipping services without chilling them during transit – but then you are strongly advised to get them into your refrigerator once they get to you.

Finally, you can certainly get some probiotics from yogurt (avoid the sweetened ones that negate the value of the yogurt and the probiotic cultures). However, if you already have an inflammatory disease, you probably need a lot more of the good bacteria than you can get from eating yogurt, even daily. In addition, many people with chronic inflammation also have multiple food intolerances, which will take dairy products like yogurt out of the picture. Bottom line – take a close look at your natural probiotic supplement options.

5 Steps to a Healthier Inflammatory Response

January 25, 2014 by info Leave a Comment

Many people think that their chronic health problems are fixable with a simple magic bullet. While there is no such easy-button way to get to a healthier inflammation response, there are basic steps that you can take if your suffering motivates you enough. Let’s look at what causes inflammation and talk about action steps to take care of these issues. And, if you don’t tolerate a lot of medications or the drugs make you feel even worse, your body is telling you to pay attention. With that reality check in mind, here are 5 steps to healthier inflammatory response:

1. Clean up your personal environmental act.

Drink filtered water, eliminate major chemical exposures such as pesticides, toxic cleaners and solvents, and synthetic materials from your home and work environments, use air filters, buy organic cotton clothes and bedding. Many people with inflammatory conditions have chemical sensitivities and allergies. If you want relief, you are likely to have to look at not only dusts, molds, pollens, and grasses, but also pollutants in and around your home and workspace. Not sure where to start? Discover how to replace toxic products and medications in your life with over 215 healthier natural alternatives with this living natural plan.

Stop having routine pesticide treatment of your home. Find natural nontoxic alternatives to herbicides for dealing with keeping your yard in good shape. Buy real wood, glass, or metal furniture, not pressed board. Install tile rather than carpet. Do you commute on a congested freeway for hours every day? Live near a freeway? These kinds of things can make a big difference in your long term health.

Ask your medical doctor or naturopathic doctor to test you for heavy metal toxicity. If your levels of lead, mercury, cadmium or others are too high, find a health care provider who is experienced in helping people detox heavy metals safely with natural approaches. You may want to add in a program of bentonite clay or zeolite in water or cranberry juice to catch the toxins in your gut and carry them out of your system.

If you do not do this and hope that supplements alone will be enough, you are sadly wrong. It would be like not bathing for a month and expecting a high quality cologne or perfume to make you smell OK.

2. Revamp your daily diet.

This is not a crash diet. You have to find out which foods are your personal triggers and get them out of your diet. And you want to replace them with healthier foods that promote a healthier pH in your system that will countact the inflammation-causing effects of the junk foods and pollution that you do encounter. It will probably mean a gluten-free, sugar-free existence, but if you check things out, you are likely to discover many good alternatives to these types of foods. In the end, you will not feel deprived – you will just feel healthier. And if you happen to need to lose some weight, it will happen as a delightful “side effect” of eating healthier.

3. Boost your vitamin C levels.

While there are many outstanding antioxidants out there these days, vitamin C is a fundamental building block. If you have trouble with diarrhea if you try to take enough to matter, then look for either of two different forms of vitamin C that are easier on your GI tract. Those include buffered vitamin C (Ester-C is one good brand) and a special form that lets you get in thousands of milligrams per day – Bio Energ C. People who want to support their system with vitamin C every day through the challenges of a bout with cancer may need to try the special form.

4. Add a multi-herb antioxidant-antiinflammatory supplement.

Many companies offer products of from one to a dozen different herbs that have both antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects on many different tissues of the body. You want whole herbs when possible to take advantage of the fact that herbs are different from drugs in many ways. A key difference is that herbs can gently modulate the function of more than one biochemical function at a time. In other words, you get a bigger bang for your buck. One of the best such combination herbal supplements for inflammation is a brand called Zyflamend. You will find all of its ingredients in lists of beneficial antiinflammatory herbs. This is a natural supplement by a well-established company that has a commitment to putting out a good product. Another option is also based on a combination of several well-known herbs in a natural anti inflammatory product – it is called Defense Anti-Inflammatory Support Dietary Supplement.

5. Support your gut health with probiotic supplements.

Even mainstream doctors are beginning to recognize the importance of the good bacteria in our guts for maintaining immune and inflammation health. Most of the better products need to be refrigerated to keep the bacteria alive until you take them. There are many different good products on the market for this purpose, but likely you will want to take over 20 billion live good bacteria in a mix per day. Some are formulated specifically for children, seniors, pets, or people with certain types of GI disorders. If you have a serious inflammatory condition such as inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn’s disease, you may want to look into the medical probiotic supplement called VSL #3. Odd name, but a solid product with research related to its effects — and it delivers one of the highest amounts of good bacteria found in these types of products. This may be particularly important if you have any of a number of GI and related health problems associated with a “leaky gut” because of the losses of nutrients and beneficial bacteria that your health problems may cause.

Concluding Thoughts

If you think this is all optional, then the program is not for you. But if you are suffering from chronic pain, GI problems, fuzzy thinking, low energy, allergies and/or autoimmune conditions, including hypothyroidism, then your body has already made the choice for you. You can take more drugs and burden your liver and kidneys with the drugs themselves, or you can work through a drug-free program at your own pace – and notice the difference.

Given yourself 3-4 weeks and see how you feel. Then ask yourself what price you pay for saying that changing your daily habits is “just too hard.” It is up to you. You can do this. Get started today.

Earthing Products – Are They Useful for Inflammation?

January 23, 2014 by info Leave a Comment

Earthing products include mats, shoes, sheets, throws and disposable adhesive patches. Earthing as a strategy and a treatment modality gives you ways to re-establish contact with the earth. This can reduce inflammation, improve sleep, and help relieve chronic aches and pains. People with electromagnetic sensitivities may also benefit.

The main idea in earthing is that modern people spend most of their time out of contact with the actual ground (the earth). This lack of direct contact with the earth leads to a wide range of health problems, including many caused by increased inflammation in the body. The goal of earthing is simply to restore your body’s natural interaction with the earth and the beneficial environmental effects that this contact offers.

The easiest way to get in touch with the earth is to take off your shoes and socks and spend time with your feet in contact with the ground every day. For people who cannot do this type of activity enough, there are a number of options for improving your contact with the earth indoors.

What may surprise you is that there is some scientific research to back up these types of claims. For instance, a 2013 study demonstrated that the red blood cell stickiness that can contribute to abnormal clotting, heart attacks, and strokes was reduced in people who wore conductive patches grounded to the earth for a 2 hour period. Objective measurements of the electrical properties on the surface of the red blood cells (the ones that carry oxygen to your cells) showed that the grounding improved their ability to avoid clumping.

An earlier research study demonstrated that people with diabetes who did earthing had decreased blood glucose levels. Earthing had the opposite effect on calcium and phosphate balance in the blood to what astronauts experience during weightlessness in space. This improved chemistry balance in the body is better for maintaining healthy bones. Finally, this study found evidence for modulation of endocrine hormones and nervous system function, including thyroid hormone levels. Many people with inflammation from autoimmune thyroiditis may benefit from this approach.

Is the evidence definitive? Not yet. But it is worth a close look, especially for people who report experiencing sensitivities to multiple drugs, chemicals, and/or foods — and electromagnetic energy. Earthing is a drug-free alternative treatment that may be helpful as part of a total program of care. For people who want a good review, check out Chevalier et al at J Environ Public Helath 2012; 2012:291541 (open access free journal article).

If you have to be indoors a lot and still want to benefit from earthing, learn about the several different ways in which you can get yourself grounded with specific easy to use earthing products. Here are some options below:

Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we believe will add value to our readers.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids from Fish Oil in Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis

January 11, 2014 by info Leave a Comment

Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil are widely considered to be a useful way to help reduce inflammation in the body. Usually we think of omega 3’s (mainly ALA, DHA, EPA) in terms of preventing inflammation-related health problems, joint conditions, depression and bipolar disorder, and more. But inflammation can get out of control in acute health situations as well. One serious acute problem is sepsis, potentially including septic shock and death.

Ten percent of patients who end up in an intensive care unit can suffer from sepsis. Even more patients can have some lesser but still serious form of systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Now a study on patients in an intensive care unit who went into a life-threatening acute complication of infection, that is, sepsis, had better outcomes when treated with fish oils (Hall et al JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2014). Sepsis can lead to failure of multiple key organs in the body and death. It is something that needs everything Western medicine can bring to bear on the problem to keep the person alive and survive the crisis.

In this type of crisis, patients are not able to eat – they are too sick. But the doctors who performed this study gave the fatty acids by a means other than oral, i.e., parenterally. They looks at the extent of organ failure in persons who got standard conventional care versus those who got the same standard care with omega 3 fatty acids added.

They found that the severity of the sepsis and organ failure was signfiicantly less, with lower rates of death in comparison with standard care alone. This is very encouraging. They found the treatment to be safe and potentially able to save lives. Of course if someone had a history of severe allergic reactions to fish, this is not an option. While not tested, perhaps flax oil is an option for such people. It is important to note, however, that the relative proportion of fatty acids like ALA are higher in flax oil than in fish oil, so it would remain to be seen if this might help in sepsis.

Still, if you were ever to end up in this type of bad medical crisis, making sure that you started off supported over the long term by good anti inflammatory diet and natural supplements like fish oil before a problem like sepsis might ever become an issue for your health. Bacterial infections most often lead to sepsis. In a relatively younger and healthier person, sepsis may be relatively less likely, but not impossible, e.g., if you had a “burst appendix” or an infected wound in a diabetic that led to a huge immune response to the infection.

And, if you are diabetic, by all means optimize your nutritional status to reduce your risk of ever having to deal with a sepsis crisis in the hospital. Zinc status is key – if you don’t know if your zinc levels are OK, ask your doctor to get a simple blood test to check them. You probably need daily supplementation, as poorly controlled diabetes by itself can cause the body to lose zinc, making infections more likely in the first place.

Another natural remedy strategy in patients with sepsis is homeopathically prepared remedies. Researchers did a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of appropriate homeopathic remedies added to standard care. Over the long-term, people with sepsis had better survival rates 180 days after treatment began if they had homeopathic remedies added to standard care (Frass et al Homeopathy 94(2):75-80, 2005).

Bottom line – take care of yourself with an anti inflammatory preventive approach to health care. But, if you get into trouble, you and your family should ask about other natural supplements like omega 3 fatty acids to add to standard care. This just might give you an edge against life threatening inflammation.

3 Top Natural Remedies for Alzheimer’s Disease Inflammation

January 5, 2014 by info Leave a Comment

Three top natural remedies for Alzheimer’s disease inflammation show a lot of promise for a less toxic way to slow down and perhaps prevent the loss of memory and other cognitive problems. Options based on scientific research include natural anti inflammatories such as curcumin, high dose vitamin E, and vitamin D3. Actually, ginger, rosemary, and various other plant-based natural remedies may also help to improve memory function. Many natural remedies that are anti oxidants are also exceptional at anti inflammatory effects.

Curcumin and Memory

The anti inflammatory herbal derivative curcumin from turmeric is a powerful natural remedy to help protect brain cells from neuro-inflammatory changes that can lead to memory loss (Wang et al Neurosci Lett 2013). The ways in which it can work in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders are multiple. As with many herbs, curcumin appears to have a modulatory effect on different pathways involved in inflammation and oxidative stress.

One strategy for improving the biological availability and effectiveness of curcumin in the brain is to look for micro- and nano- size forms of the supplement. Nanoparticles are effective tiny carriers for herbs, nutrients and drugs that otherwise do not get out of the gut into the body or into the cells very well. Another somewhat larger but still more effective way to deliver curcumin is liposomes; this form is available more widely in commercial products as Meriva at health food stores and naturopathic offices.

Vitamin E and Alzheimer’s Dementia

A 2014 double-blind placebo-controlled study published in the prestigious medical journal JAMA found that high doses of alpha-tocopherol (2000 IU/day) were better able to slow functional deterioriation in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease compared with placebo or the drug memantine (Dysken et al JAMA 2014). The vitamin E alone group had fewer serious side effects than the groups who got drug alone or a combination of the drug plus the vitamin E. Caregiver burden was also less for longer in the vitamin treated participants.

This study highlights the common problem with past research on nutrients in which the investigators choose to test much lower doses of a given natural supplement and then find that it “does not work.” Yes, this type of research issue means that you would not be using a nutritional supplement in the amounts typically available from dietary uses. Still, acknowledge this fact and look at the wide safety margin and broad benefits that many of these natural supplements offer, in contrast with the dangerous side effects of many drugs.

Vitamin D3 and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Vitamin D3 is deficient or at sub-optimal levels in a large proportion of the population. This nutrient is more of an essential hormone for In older adults, lower levels of vitamin D3 is associated with poorer performance on tests of executive function (ability to make decisions, change course when things are not going well, adapt to changes in your environment – Annweiler et al Dement Geriatr Cogn Disorder 2013). Another study reported lower levels of vitamin D3 (25OHD) were associated with greater mild cognitive impairment in non-demented elderly with perceived memory issues (Annweiler et al Eur J Neurol 2012). Other studies have found similar issues in older women with cognitive impairment.

The criteria for deficient and for sub-optimal levels of vitamin D3 are not yet well-established. Some researchers believe that people want to titrate their blood levels up to the range of 50-80 ng/ml (where 20 or less might be deficient) and 100 or more would be toxic). As with many nutritional supplements, the goal is a Goldilocks goal — that is, the level that is just right, not too small and not too big for your needs and unique body. Recommended daily allowances can be too low for people with impaired gastrointestinal absorption for various reasons. Therefore, asking your doctor to test your vitamin D levels and to follow them as you increase your dose (starting around 1000 IU/day) until you achieve the optimal levels is the best strategy.

In summary, optimizing your intake of curcumin (liposomal or nano forms), vitamin E, and vitamin D3 (the more biologically active form of the vitamin) may help stave off inflammation-associated cognitive impairment and even progression of Alzheimer’s disease if you take the right doses and the right forms of each natural remedy.

« Previous Page

Inflammation Topics

Tags

Recent Posts