For instance, did you know enzymes control almost every function in your body?

• Digestion and absorption of nutrients.

• Production of energy.

• Repair of injuries, wounds, and DNA. This basic mechanism protects us from cancer, and if unhealthy, you may be at increased risk.

• Fighting infection by attacking bad microbes and dissolving their cell walls.

• Regulating your energy production, fat-accumulation and breakdown.

• Stopping the blood flow from an injury, after a paper-cut for example.

• Transmitting signals from our brain to the rest of our body.

• Thought processes and the ability to make logical conclusions.

• Emotions such as love or hatred.

• Having sex.

• Neutralizing poisons or toxic waste.

Enzymes help you keep up—till they let you down.

Those enzymes are pretty busy, aren’t they? Pretty important, too. Without enzymes, your body would be like a car without oil—it would stop running. In face, when you have certain symptoms, your body may be telling you it needs an enzyme tune-up…

• Bloating
• Constipation
• Gas
• Abdominal distention
• Heartburn
• Tingly or numb hands or feet
• Irregular heartbeats

Why are enzymes so important?

 
Whatever you ingest through your mouth will be digested by enzymes and absorbed into your body. That’s why it’s important to choose high quality foods, as well as minerals and supplements; these beneficial ingredients will be digested, absorbed and utilized by your body. The problem is our digestive systems, and the enzymes that rule them, don’t always work as we wish. As we age, our ability to digest declines significantly by the age of 75. But does it really matter? Yes!

Since our digestive prowess declines as we age, scientists have concluded that the effect known as ‘aging’ is in fact due to the loss of essential enzymes. The logic behind this is simple: with age we lose the ability to produce enzymes, which leads to an inability to absorb nutrients. Without these nutrients, our bodies can’t properly, produce enough energy, or fight infections and cancer.

The major enzyme types (5):
1. Metabolic enzymes, which are responsible for energy production, detoxification, etc. They are internal cells. Example: coenzyme Q10.
2. Digestive enzymes help in digesting our food. They break down the foods we eat to make it easier for us to absorb and utilize. Without the proper digestive enzymes, you won’t be getting nutrients.
3. Food enzymes, which assist our own digestive enzymes in breaking down foods. Because enzymes in foods are very delicate, they can’t tolerate the high temperatures associated with cooking. Therefore, these food enzymes are only found in raw foods.
Digestive enzymes are divided in 3 groups:

• Proteases – breaks down proteins.
• Lipases — digests fats.
• Carbohydratases — digests sugars.

Some facts to digest

Here’s how digestive enzymes work:

Step 1:
Digestive enzymes start working in your mouth: saliva has an enzyme known as amylase, for sugar digestion. That’s why chewing candy causes a sweet taste in the mouth as it breaks down the sugar. Saliva also contains haptocorrin, a protein that’s necessary for Vitamin B12 absorption.

Step 2:
From there, digestion proceeds to the stomach, where there’s the enzyme pepsin for proteins, as well as hydrochloric acid. This has some pivotal roles in digestion: it activates other enzymes, makes essential nutrients like iron and magnesium soluble and therefore available for absorption, and it denatures (breaks down) proteins and kills bad bacteria. Another important agent is called the intrinsic factor, which is responsible for vitamin B12 absorption.

Step 3:
Digestion reaches its peak in the small intestine. The pancreas provides the small intestine with an abundance of multiple enzymes, which complete the digestive task.

Step 4:
Digestion ends in the large intestine, which serves as a reservoir for feces before they are eliminated. Because digestion and absorption are the only natural ways to get nutrients, we cannot thrive if the system isn’t healthy.

What’s the good news here?

I believe that digestive enzymes could be used not only to treat problems of the digestive system, but also diseases that are unrelated to the digestive system, like cancer.

How might enzymes fight cancer?

• They support our immune system, which already fights cancer.
• Enzymes break down the cancer cells’ protective coverage, which helps them escape our immune system’s recognition; enzymes make cancer cells vulnerable to an attack by our immune system.

And the bad news?

As we age, we lose the ability to produce enough enzymes to benefit us. But it isn’t just our bodies slowing down. One reason we don’t have enough enzymes is our western diet of processed and cooked foods.

Another cause of decreased enzymes is pharmaceuticals like Nexium, Prevacid, Omeprasol, Pepcid, and so on, which shut down the natural path of enzyme activation and production.

 
Can this vicious cycle be broken — at least partially? Sure.

First, you need to be sure you’re getting enough hydrochloric acid in your stomach. Hydrochloric acid starts the main digestive process; without it, there won’t be any enzyme activation. But some people already have high acid secretion. Acid production should be checked before considering supplementation.
The same can be applied to the production of digestive enzymes — it should be checked and replenished if necessary, with prescription medications.
Medication isn’t the only way out

People aren’t the only ones with enzymes; food has them too. But as I mentioned, the enzymes in food are very delicate, so the foods containing them should be consumed raw, provided it’s a food that’s safe to eat uncooked.

Foods rich in digestive enzymes:

Papaya contains the enzyme papain, is known as a fruit filled with digestive enzymes. In South America, it has been used for thousands of years for cooking.

Pineapple is rich in the natural digestive enzyme bromelain. It’s been used for many years as a meat tenderizer because of its digestive enzymatic properties.

Other foods believed to be rich in enzymes:

Cantaloupe

Mango

Avocado

Bananas

Dr. K’s tips on how to boost your digestion with enzymes, naturally
1. Stick to raw food if your digestive system is healthy.
2. Add enzyme-rich foods to your diet, such as papaya and pineapple.
3. Try to avoid drugs that reduce your stomach acids like Nexium, Prevacid, etc. (Of course, if you have to take them, do so. Do not stop taking these drugs unless approved by your doctor.)

4. Decrease your calorie intake to an optimal level, to minimize the amount of enzymes needed.

Hygiene is the number one issue when it comes to keeping yourself healthy. Find out Why Toilet Paper Doesn’t Work.

But it’s not just about keeping clean. See what fashion increases your risk of infection.

One very common infection for women is urinary tract infection. Here are some tips to help prevent them.

• Don’t wait to urinate! Go when you need to go, instead of waiting.
• Take showers instead of baths.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid feminine hygiene sprays.
• Click here for more tips.

There are many other infections that can occur, from yeast infections to rashes and much more. It may not be your favorite subject—and the butt of a lot of jokes. But if you’d rather read about infections than visit your doctor because you have one, click here.

Why Toilet Paper Does Not Work

It’s a subject we cringe to think about, but it’s literally the doorway to so many possible infections. It’s your butt.

In general, we do not pay enough attention to the cleanliness and sanitary condition of our genitals and our anus. And while it might be embarrassing to read about, I’m sure it’s even more embarrassing to visit a doctor with an infection, so continue reading.

One of the most unsanitary things we as Americans do, is use toilet paper. In almost every other country, bidets are a popular and cleaner solution to wiping after we go.

It’s simple: when we wipe with toilet paper, the chances of us actually wiping off most of the fecal matter or urine is slim, because of the dry paper and the wiping motion, the chances are we are just moving it around a little, getting it on our hands, and not really serving the purpose.

But, bidets are not an option for many of us here in the States, so what can we do. Well, we can take better care of our privates!

First off, don’t wear g-strings. Having a piece of material that close to your anus does nothing but move fecal matter around, until you develop an infection.

Clean yourself well after using the bathroom. Women, make sure that you wipe away from your vagina, from front to back. Use wet wipes if you can. It’s not the perfect solution, but it’s something. If possible, bathe or wash the area after you use the bathroom.

Another way that we commonly transfer bacteria is during sex. Women are especially vulnerable to getting infections during sex because there is more chance of it getting pushed inside their bodies.

So those are a few good tips to incorporate into your life: Take care to stay clean, to wash up after using the bathroom. Don’t wear tight underwear, no g-strings, and always clean yourself after sex.

Some related links you may find interesting:

10 WAYS TO AVOID URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

http://womenshealth.about.com/od/urinarytractinfections/a/preventuti.htm

YEAST INFECTION IN MEN

http://www.livestrong.com/article/247867-symptoms-of-yeast-infection-in-males/

A TREND YOU DON’T WANT TO FOLLOW

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/advice/health/anal-bleaching-trend

CARING FOR AN ELDERLY PERSON WITH INCONTINENCE

http://www.elderlycaretips.info/Caring%20For%20The%20Elderly%20And%20Incontinence.php

Common sense tells us that it cannot be us. Than what is it?

Possible explanations why people can hurt their loved ones:

1.  Fear of dealing with a stressful situation or the inability to deal with possible stress can make you crazy and trigger the response you do not want.  This can happen if you have either a mild form of adrenal insufficiency called adrenal fatigue or full-blown adrenal insufficiency.  Reason: for coping with stress you need the stress hormone Cortisol that is produced in the adrenal glands. If you do not have enough Cortisol you are in trouble. Also, people with suboptimal cortisol levels tend to be pessimistic.

2.  You might have too much Adrenaline in your system.  It can keep you on high alert all the time so that even a simple life situation you can consider a dangerous one.  But why might you have too much adrenaline? Classic example: mercury toxicity. Do you have amalgam fillings (it contains mercury)? Most likely you do. So you might have mercury toxicity.

Remember the “Mad Hatter” from “Alice in Wonderland?”  That phrase actually came from professional hatters, who made their products with mercury and became insane, or mad, over years and years of toxicity.

But what is the connection between mercury and you adrenaline? Simple: Mercury blocks the enzyme Catecholamine O Mathyl transferase that breaks Adrenaline down, therefore allowing adrenaline to build up in your system.  As soon as its level goes too high — you start answer back.  You should keep in mind that there are plenty of other possible reasons why you might have elevated Adrenalin level.  High thyroid function for example.

How to balance your hormones naturally:

1.  Get enough sleep: early to bed early to rise… Dark room, no noise, decrease electromagnetic smog, etc.  During sleep your body repairs itself2.  Avoid unnecessary stress
2.   Find time to relax, go on vacation, meditate, etc
3.   Check your toxin levels like mercury, lead, arsenic, etc.  Get detox if needed.
4.   Make sure that you get enough nutrients: eat organic, raw food as much as possible.
5.   Make sure that you can digest the food you eat, because if you are not digesting properly nutrients from food are wasted.  You need to see a Functional medicine doctor to check and correct if needed.
6.   Stay away from poison sources like pesticides, lead, mercury poisoning sources, etc.
7.   Cut calorie intake if your weight is above optimal.
8.   Have more sex.
9.   Have more fun!

Whatever the reason is, there is no excuse for abusing or being abused by your spouse or partner. Seek help right away if you are the victim of abuse.

I recently saw a patient who came to me in tears. No, she hadn’t been diagnosed with a deadly disease. She wasn’t crying about the painful divorce she had been through, or about her business that had failed. She was crying because of exhaustion. She simply was not sleeping well. (More later about how we helped her.)

One sleepless night may not be too alarming. But one night can lead to two, and three and more. And that can lead to disaster.

Imagine this scenario…

You’re going through midlife. Life is stressful. You have restless nights, sometimes spending hours tossing and turning. You go to your primary care doctor, and he or she gives you a sleeping pill.

It works at first. But the next day, you don’t feel like yourself. The next night, you still can’t fall asleep. So you take another pill. Same thing the next night, and the night after.

You start to worry that you might be becoming addicted to a medication that isn’t even helping. You’re wondering if there’s a more natural way. Now what?

Well, you start looking for answers. But you can’t always get them from your primary care doctor. See, doctors are trained to go the pharmaceutical route to solve problems like insomnia. And the big pharmaceutical companies aren’t going to help you solve insomnia in a more natural way—they’re in business to sell drugs, not natural solutions.

That’s why I started doing my own investigation into natural solutions for insomnia. Here’s what I found out about the causes of insomnia.

WHAT’S MAKING YOU SLEEPLESS?

• Too much light can cause insomnia. Even the light from an alarm clock can be read by your skin and interpreted by your body as sunlight, and it will tell our body that it’s time to get up.
• Noise from a snoring spouse, traffic, even a ticking alarm clock can cause insomnia.
• Stress is a common cause of insomnia. When you’re stressed, you produce an abnormal amount of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal gland. Cortisol levels are normally low during the night, but when they peak during stressful periods, the result is sleeplessness.
• Your internal clock can get off-kilter. Mother nature wants us to be productive in the daytime, and sleep at night. If you go to bed late and wake up late, you can throw your internal clock off schedule.
• Fluctuating hormone levels can keep you awake. As estrogen, testosterone and cortisol levels drop, the body compensates by raising adrenaline levels.
• Infections can cause insomnia. If you have a urinary tract infection, you’ll be visiting the bathroom frequently during the night. Other infections such as Lyme disease can trigger sleeplessness, as can simple allergies.
• Stomach problems, from minor aches to serious concerns such as celiac disease, can inflame your stomach, upset your enzyme balance, and keep you awake.
• Sleeplessness can even be due to a lack of nutrients. If you don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, or you eat produce grown in poor soil conditions, you might not be getting the vitamins and nutrients you need. This may lead to too many neurotransmitters (chemicals that transmit signals) in the brain. Some kinds of neurotransmitters are known to agitate the brain.
• Environmental causes such as electromagnetic “smog”–emissions such as radio waves from cell phone towers–could be a contributing factor.
• Probably my most concerning finding: toxins can cause insomnia. For instance, mercury, the kind found in certain fish, prevents adrenaline and noradrenaline (a stress hormone) from leaving your system at night. It’s hard to sleep when adrenaline is rushing through your system! Toxins turned out to be the case with the patient I mentioned earlier. I started detoxification treatment, and she is on her way to normal sleep–and getting her life back.

SOME TIPS ON GETTING A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP.

1. Make sure that your bedroom is totally dark and completely quiet.
2. Get checked for metal toxicity. Detoxify if necessary. Use a seafood selector tool, available online, to determine which fish are safer to eat.
3. Get the right vitamins and micronutrients. Stay away from multi-vitamins, because pharmaceutical companies can’t know which vitamins and micronutrients you are lacking. Consult with a professional to determine what you need.
4. Have your hormones and neurotransmitters checked by a professional, and have them adjusted as necessary.
5. Manage stress. Use stress reduction techniques like meditation, and Emotional Freedom Techniques (a form of therapy that draws on alternative medicine techniques such as tapping on specific pressure points).
6. Shield yourself from electromagnetic smog. Turn off Wi-Fi and computers. Use foil under your mattress. Consider getting a special protective canopy (available online) to shield yourself from cell phone towers.
7. Stick with a “Paleolithic diet”: meat, poultry, fish, fresh vegetables and fruits. Go organic. Eat grass-fed beef. Stay away from wheat and dairy products.
8. Have enough fun!

 For more tips on managing insomnia, go to:

http://www.doctorkalitenko.com/insomnia

 For more on detoxifying, go to:

http://www.doctorkalitenko.com/detoxification-mercury-lead-toxicity

 For more on neurotransmitter balancing, go to:

http://www.doctorkalitenko.com/neurotransmitter-balancing

“Fat Head” 

Fat Head is a 2009 American documentary film directed by and starring Tom Naughton.[1] The film seeks to refute both the documentary SuperSize Me, a Sundance Film Festival award-winning film, and the lipid hypothesis, a bedrock of nutritional science for decades in the United States and much of the Western world.

The first part of Fat Head focuses on ways the film SuperSize Me stretched credibility or used questionable reasoning. Though the debate that the two films encapsulate will likely continue for a long time, Naughton employs transparency in his effort. An article in the Houston Chronicle reports: “Unlike Spurlock, Naughton has a page on his Web site that lists every item (including nutritional information)[2] he ate during his fast-food month.”[3]

The second part of the documentary focuses on the science and politics behind the nutrition recommendations given by the U.S. government – largely based on the lipid hypothesis which Fat Head claims is in error on all three of its main propositions.

The film claims that the lipid hypothesis has no basis in scientific fact. According to the film there has never been a single scientific study that has linked a high fat diet to increased rates of heart disease. During the film several doctors and dieticians were interviewed and they all stated that according to the latest research in heart disease it is inflammation and not a diet high in saturated fat that causes heart disease and heart attacks, some of whom say the inflamation is caused by high blood sugar.

The film makes many controversial claims,[4][dead link] but it details the scientific studies that support them[5] and it conveys and clarifies the often complex concepts in the scientific controversies it deals with in a way that is targeted to the general public.

During the film, Tom goes on an all-fast-food diet, mainly eating food from McDonald’s. For his daily dietary intake, he aims to keep his calories to around 2,000 and his carbs to around 100 grams per day, but he doesn’t restrict fat at all. He ends up eating about 100 grams of fat per day, of which about 50 grams are saturated. After a month eating that way, he loses 12 pounds and his total cholesterol goes down. His HDL does go down, often thought to be undesirable, and there has been speculation that this was due to trans fats used in fast food products[citation needed]. Other components of his lipid profile improved quite a bit[clarification needed]. His personal experiment does seem to agree with the evidence cited in the film that suggests that the lipid hypothesis is not only incorrect, but perhaps is contributing to the problem it seeks to remedy.

Watch Full Movie Here : http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi230135833/

“Super Size Me”

Super Size Me is a 2004 American documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker. Spurlock’s film follows a 30-day period from February 1 to March 2, 2003 during which he eats only McDonald’s food. The film documents this lifestyle’s drastic effect on Spurlock’s physical and psychological well-being, and explores the fast food industry’s corporate influence, including how it encourages poor nutrition for its own profit.

Spurlock dined at McDonald’s restaurants three times per day, eating every item on the chain’s menu. Spurlock consumed an average of 20.92 megajoules or 5,000 kcal (the equivalent of 9.26 Big Macs) per day during the experiment.

As a result, the then-32-year-old Spurlock gained 24½ lbs. (11.1 kg), a 13% body mass increase, a cholesterol level of 230, and experienced mood swings, sexual dysfunction, and fat accumulation in his liver. It took Spurlock fourteen months to lose the weight gained from his experiment using a vegan diet supervised by his future wife, a chef who specializes in gourmet vegan dishes.

The reason for Spurlock’s investigation was the increasing spread of obesity throughout U.S. society, which the Surgeon General has declared “epidemic,” and the corresponding lawsuit brought against McDonald’s on behalf of two overweight girls, who, it was alleged, became obese as a result of eating McDonald’s food [Pelman v. McDonald's Corp., 237 F. Supp. 2d 512].[3] Spurlock points out that although the lawsuit against McDonald’s failed (and subsequently many state legislatures have legislated against product liability actions against producers and distributors of “fast food”), much of the same criticism leveled against the tobacco companies applies to fast food franchises whose product is both physiologically addictive and physically harmful.[4][5]

The documentary was nominated for an Academy Award for Documentary Feature.[6]

A comic book related to the movie has been made with Dark Horse as the publisher. It contains stories about various cases of fast food health scares.[7]

Watch full  movie here :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Tv_mihMBA&feature=watch-now-button&wide=1

Enjoy!!

References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Head_%28documentary%29
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperSize_Me

Bad breath that isn’t related to food is usually worse in the morning, because during the night your mouth is usually inactive. This makes it easier for bacteria to flourish and hence produce waste containing sulfur, which is usually the cause of the bad breath. However, too much anaerobic bacteria are not the only cause of bad breath.

Below are the most important causes of bad breath:

1. An abundance of bacteria on the back of your tongue (1). Because of a lack of saliva there and relative inactivity, this is the ideal place of bacteria proliferation and hence producing the bad odor. Another commonplace are gingival pouches due to gingivitis.
2. Sinus infection. This is the second common place for bacteria to flourish, thanks to widespread allergies. Because of allergic inflammation and hence swelling of the mucus membranes, there is plenty of liquid exudates which are the perfect food for halitosis-causing bacteria. There is no drainage of this fluid because of swelling and hence the clearance of this fluid is blocked.
3. Liver disease. Without proper liver function you cannot clear your system of toxins.
4. Kidney failure. Same as liver problems.
5. Problems with the digestive system such as food accumulation in an esophageal pouch, which leads to food decaying and hence a bad smell.
6. Some metabolic and endocrine diseases like Diabetes Mellitus.
7. Cancer.
8. Lung infections.

So what can be done about Halitosis?

1. Go to your primary care physician to rule out sinus problems, kidney or liver disease, digestive system problems and cancer, endocrine and metabolic diseases.
2. See your dentist to check for gum disease or other teeth infections like an infected root canal. Get treated if necessary.
3. Avoid carbohydrates: simple carbs as well as complex ones. Carbohydrates are the best food for smell causing bacteria. If you do not feed them, they will die!
4. Floss every day religiously.
5. Stick with rough food like raw fruits and vegetables. This may help you to naturally clean the back of your tongue.
6. Brush your teeth every day preferably between meals, not just after. There is some data that your enamel may be softer and hence more vulnerable just after meals.
7. Make sure that your mouth isn’t dry. Proper chewing may help. Remember, that piece of regular food should be chewed about 20 to 28 times. Make sure that you drink enough water.
8. Mouthwash with herbs or essential oils may help because of their antimicrobial properties:

n Peppermint

n Eucalyptus

n Thyme

n Oregano

Good luck!

References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halitosis

Click Here to Watch the Trailer

I found the topic of this  documentary very interesting, yet shocking! This film is a great example of pharmaceutical company’s taking advantage and harming  women’s sexuality while trying to  pocket millions of dollars.

Here is what IMDB.com has to say about the movie
“Extraordinary behind-the-scenes access reveals a drug company’s fevered race to develop the first FDA-approved Viagra for women – and offers a humorous but sobering look inside the cash-fueled pharmaceutical industry.”

But we’re not all playing with laser pointers, so does this story about laser pointers matter to us? Maybe if we just don’t use laser pointers we’ll be safe? Not the case.

As time goes by, we learn more and more that the many things around us that we consider harmless, are in fact crippling us. Have you ever eaten bread? Pasta? Pizza? Sure you have, because we consider wheat and its products to be safe.  Did you know that its porting Gluten is linked to many diseases, including heart disease and cancer?
Are you using a cell phone? Probably. Did you know that using cell phones is linked to brain tumors?  Even World health Organization considers cell phones as probably carcinogenic, but not the organization that should protect us first — the American Cancer Society. The question is why? Is it cell phone industry lobbying?
Are you drinking tap water?  Do you know that recent study found arsenic tap water contamination? Are you going to drink tap water again?

Based on the above, do you think we’re surrounded by toxins that we mostly don’t know about? Lasers, noise, radio smog, air pollutants and food are all things we may not even notice on a daily basis. But the truth is, they can be causing more damage than the things we actively try to avoid.

We know to stay away from certain things, but what happens when we live in the city? We open our windows at night as we’re used to the noise of the city. Or the light of the alarm clock, the nightlight, or television glow? What about radioactive waves that we can be exposed to? How dirty is our air? How toxic is our food?

There are so many things that we need to see doctors for. We grow older, we get medicated, we get diagnosed, and we learn to live with ailments and diseases.

Below are several practical tips on how to stay away from unexpected crippling toxins:

1.   Don’t point a laser pointer at people or mirrors.
2.   Turn off fuses at night.
3.   Don’t use a microwave.
4.   When you sleep, use fabric that isolates and protects you from radio waves.
5.   Turn off regular lights at night like computer lights, alarm clock, etc.
6.   Stay away from electric lines with a high voltage.
7.   Avoid processed food.
8.   Use air filters and purifiers for air cleaning.
9.   Vacuum bedroom often to get rid of dust.

References:
1.  http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1005818
2.  Ludvigsson JF, Montgomery SM, Ekbom A, Brandt L, Granath F. Small-intestinal histopathology and mortality risk in celiac disease. JAMA. 2009 Sep 16;302(11):1171-8.
3.  Hardell, Lennart; Carlberg, Michael; Söderqvist, Fredrik; Mild, Kjell Hansson; Morgan, L. Lloyd (2007). “Long-term use of cellular phones and brain tumours: Increased risk associated with use for ≥10 years”. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 64 (9): 626–32. doi:10.1136/oem.2006.029751. PMC 2092574. PMID 17409179.
4.  International Agency for Research on Cancer (2011-05-31). “IARC classifies radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans” (PDF). Press release. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
5.  http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/OtherCarcinogens/AtHome/cellular-phones

• Flying in an airplane at high altitudes. The protective effect of the atmosphere is at its lowest point
•    here and you may get more radiation than you are supposed to.
• X-Ray machines and nuclear medicine procedures, airport scanners, etc.
• Industrial radiography.
• Nuclear plant radiation or radioactive contamination, and fallout from damaged reactors.
• Uranium mining.
• Eating food, even uncontaminated (It is called the ‘Banana Equivalent Dose’, informally defined as the
•    additional dose of radiation a person will absorb from eating one banana).

But if radiation is a part of our life, why is it so damaging? Without knowing why, you really can’t protect yourself properly. Scientists were looking for different explanations, but couldn’t find anything credible — then they got lucky. In 1956, scientists were trying to find out if radioactive exposure could sterilize canned food by killing all of the bacteria present. And kill the bacteria it did, except for one: ‘Deinococcus Radiodurans’. The microorganism’s resistance to radiation was a mystery. Eventually, it was discovered that this microbe was indeed damaged by the radiation, but could repair its DNA so fast that no damage was done to the cell. But the question was, how is this possible?

As it turns out, this bacterium has an unusually high concentration of enzymes (Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase) which simply de-activate free radicals. Since this discovery, it became apparent what was going on. The proposed mechanism is ‘free radical formation’: radiation creates small particles in our bodies which attack the main source of information — DNA.  The human body is still capable of repairing itself, but should your body and immune system be either exhausted or overwhelmed – you could be in trouble. Your DNA will be damaged and send the wrong signals to your body.
A frightening possibility, but is there a solution? Sure.

Here are several strategies that may help:

1. Reduce the time of exposure.  For example, if you are in the contaminated zone, get out of it ASAP.
2. Distance. The further you are, the less exposure you will have.
3. Shield yourself by using protective devices.  For example, if you need x-rays, protect your sexual organs with protective clothing.
4. Minimize the utilization of radioactive particles by your body. For example, take iodine supplements to protect yourself from radioactive iodine.
5. Introduce antioxidants!  They will help your body deactivate free radicals, caused by radiation.

What to take if exposed:
1.  Potassium iodide to prevent radioactive iodine from becoming incorporated into your thyroid.
2.  Trace elements like zinc and manganese, because Superoxide Dismutase and catalase cannot work
without them.
3.  Soy products. Preferably fermented as the isoflavones ‘Genistein’ and ‘Bowman – Birk’ inhibitor from
soy has been shown to be radio-protective.
4.  Curcumin from turmeric because of its antioxidant activity.
5.  Melatonin, Glutathione, Vitamin C and E from food, as well as N Acetil Cysteine may protect you from radiation.
6.  Other foods like garlic, ginger and ginseng are also useful.
References:
1.  http://www.ieer.org/comments/beir/beir7pressrel.html
2.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_equivalent_dose
3.  http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=deinococcus+radiodurans+SOD+catalase&pbx=1&oq=deinococcus+radiodurans+SOD+catalase&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1739l6931l3l7173l13l12l0l0l0l0l401l1916l4.5.2.0.1l12l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=9e80578f3bb9638a&biw=1440&bih=787
4.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidant

Whatever you ingest through your mouth will be digested and absorbed into your body, that’s self-evident. It’s why so many people are leaning towards minerals and supplements as well as high-quality foods – because these beneficial ingredients will be digested, absorbed and utilized by the body. This is to assume that their digestive system is working properly, but that may not be the case. As we age, our ability to digest declines so that by the age of 75, our ability to digest decreases significantly.  But does it really matter?

Enzymes control almost everything in our body:

1. Digestion and absorption of nutrients.
2. Production of energy.
3. The repair of injuries in our body, healing wounds and repairing DNA. This basic mechanism protects us from cancer, and if unhealthy — you may be at increased risk.
4. Fighting infection by attacking bad microbes and dissolving their cell walls.
5. Regulating your energy production, fat-accumulation and breakdown.
6. Stopping the blood flow because of an injury, after a paper-cut for example
7. Thought processes and the ability to make logical conclusions.
8. Emotions; such as love or hatred.
9. Having sex.
10. Neutralizing poisons or toxic waste.

Enzymes essentially work like the oil in the engine of a car: without oil; the car stops.

As you can see, enzymes regulate everything in your body; without them -you can’t function properly. Because of this, scientists have arrived at the conclusion that the effect known as ‘aging’ is in fact due to the loss of essential enzymes. The logic behind this is simple: with age we lose the ability to produce enzymes, which leads to an inability to absorb nutrients. Without these nutrients, our bodies are prevented from healing properly, producing enough energy, and fighting infections and cancer.
The major enzyme types (5):

1. Metabolic enzymes, which are responsible for energy production, detoxification, etc. They are internal cells.  Example: coenzyme Q10.
2. Food enzymes, which assist our digestive enzymes in breaking down foods. Because enzymes are very delicate, they can’t tolerate the high temperatures associated with cooking. Therefore, these food enzymes are only found in raw foods.
3. Digestive enzymes, which help in digesting our food. They break down the foods we eat to make it easier for us to absorb and utilize.  Without the proper digestive enzymes, you won’t be getting nutrients.

Digestive enzymes are divided in 3 groups:

1. Proteases – breaks down proteins.
2. Lipases — digests fats.
3. Carbohydratases — responsible for digesting sugars.

Digestive enzymes start working in our mouth: saliva has the enzyme ‘amylase’ – for sugar digestion.  That’s why chewing crackers leads to a sweet taste in the mouth. Saliva also contains ‘Haptocorrin’, which is necessary for Vitamin B12 absorption.
In the stomach, we have ‘pepsin’ for proteins, as well as hydrochloric acid. This has some pivotal roles in digestion: it activates other enzymes, makes essential nutrients ,minerals (like iron and magnesium) soluble (and therefore available for absorption), and it denatures proteins and kills bad bacteria. Another important agent is called the ‘Intrinsic Factor’, which is responsible for vitamin B12 absorption.

In the small intestine, digestion reaches its peak.  The pancreas provides the small intestine with an abundance of multiple enzymes, which complete the digestive tasks that started in our mouth and stomach. These enzymes are: Trypsin and Chymotrypsin for proteins, Pancreatic Lipase for fats, Pancreatic Amylase for sugars, Cholesterol elastase, phospholipase, nucleases, etc.

Digestion ends in the large intestine, which serves as a reservoir for feces before they are eliminated. Because digestion and absorption are the only natural ways to get nutrients, we cannot thrive if the system isn’t healthy. This is why digestive enzymes are used not only for problems of the digestive system, but also diseases that are unrelated to the digestive system, like cancer.

The proposed mechanism of how enzymes fight cancer are:
1.  They support our immune system, which already fights cancer.
2.  They may break down the cancer cells’ protective coverage which helps them escape our immune system’s recognition; enzymes make cancer cells vulnerable to an attack by our immune system.

Unfortunately, as we age we lose the ability to produce the amount of enzymes necessary to benefit us in this way.  A western diet, as well as pharmaceuticals can do the same by depriving us from food enzymes (western diet), by shutting down the natural path of enzyme activation and production (such prescription drugs like Nexium, Prevacid, Omeprasol, Pepcid, etc.). This starts the vicious cycle of the end of life.

Can this vicious cycle be broken — at least partially?

First; we may need to get enough hydrochloric acid in our stomach (it starts the main digestive process, together with ‘enterokinase’ produced by cells of the ‘duodenum’).  Without hydrochloric acid, there won’t be any enzyme activation.  But some people have a high acid secretion; therefore acid production should be checked before considering supplementation.
The same can be applied to the production of digestive enzymes — it should be checked and replenished if necessary, with prescription medications.

But this is not the only choice left: we also have food enzymes which aid in digestion. Because the enzymes are very delicate, the foods containing them hould be consumed raw. The same can be applied to vitamins: want to get everything out of your foods? Eat it raw, provided that it is safe.

Foods rich in digestive enzymes:

Papaya, which contains the enzyme ‘Papain’ is very well known as a fruit filled with digestive enzymes.  In South America, they have being using it for thousands of years for cooking foods.

Pineapple is rich in the natural digestive enzyme ‘Bromelain’. It is used for many years as a meat tenderizer because of its digestive enzymatic properties.

Cantaloupe, mango, avocado and bananas are also believed to have digestive enzymes.
How to boost your digestion with enzymes, naturally:
1.  Stick to raw food, provided it’s safe
2.  Incorporate enzyme-rich foods in your diet, such as papaya and pineapple.
3.  If possible, avoid drugs that reduce your stomach acids like Nexium, Prevacid, etc. Of course if you have to take them – do so. Talk to your doctor about any health care decisions; do not stop taking these drugs unless approved by your doctor.
4.  Decrease your calorie intake to an optimal level, to minimize the amount of enzymes needed.

Good luck!

References:

1.  Rafsky HA, Weingarten M. A study of the gastric secretory response in the aged. Gastroenterology 1947;May:348-352.

2.  Davies D, James TG. An investigation into the gastric secretion of a hundred normal persons over the age of sixty. Br J Med 1930;i:1-14.

3.  Baron JH. Studies of basal and peak acid output with an augmented histamine test. Gut 1963;4:136-144

4.  http://www.naturalhealthschool.com/6_5.html

5.  http://www.typesofenzymes.org/

6.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digestive_enzymes

7.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromelain
8.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10368805

Because traditional medicine does not offer a solution, I had to find one on my own. From the beginning it was not an easy task because this is not taught in medical schools. Obviously, history has shown that sometimes removing the tumor itself does not work well enough because even though cancer is removed, the root cause of the cancer was not even found and not eradicated.  The result: cancer recurrence.  According to some research, surgery may even promote the spread of cancer. (1)  During healing from surgery our body makes growth stimulators to promote healing; unfortunately, these stimulators actually help cancer to spread.  (Even large studies suggest that less invasive surgery offers at least the same survival rate as aggressive surgeries.) (2,3)  Therefore, removal of a tumor is not always the optimal single solution.  This hit me on a personal level because my father died of prostate cancer.  I desperately needed to find out if there was any holistic preventative protection from contracting cancer.  I began looking for the answer.

In 2008, the first breakthrough came. A study was published in European Journal of Cancer in June of that year which examined people with melanoma who were told by their doctors to avoid sun exposure.  The patients who disobeyed the doctor’s orders and got a lot of sun exposure were actually doing better than those who followed doctor’s orders and stayed out of sun! (4)  Even more revealing was the fact that the majority of melanoma patients did not have a sunlight signature mutation, making sunlight the unlikely cause of this deadly skin cancer. (5) This was puzzling because if we assume that cancer is caused by carcinogens or similar working agents like sunlight, then someone who already has cancer should stay away from those agents.  Obviously, this was not the case.  So, if it is not carcinogens or sunlight that caused the melanoma, what was the cause?  How can we explain that women, who never smoked, still have lung cancer?  Could the root cause of cancer be inside of us?

In this case, the logical explanation would be our own broken defense against cancer. Normally our body detects, kills, and then eliminates what could harm it. Bacteria or tumor cells are captured by body cells that first attack foreign enemies, namely the macrophage or dendrite cells. They release a unique signature called antigen to memory cells (lymphocytes), and then decide whether or not it is okay to let these cells live or be killed off.  If the foreign bacteria are bad, or it is a cancer cell, then our body mobilizes all its resources to kill the bad cells. But does this always happen in reality?  We know that it does not always occur. Somehow, our bodies do not recognize cancer cells as enemies and therefore it allows them to flourish rather than kill them. The Kitava study (6) found that people do not have cancer if they are not subject to the influences of modern civilization.

In the beginning, it appeared to me that something was really wrong with the cells that first attack the cancer cells, the lymphocytes. What could be wrong with them? Then, what I learned shocked me.  Vitamin D is activated not only in the kidneys but also in the part of the immune system I was interested in – macrophages. (7) Why would our body decide to activate Vitamin D in macrophages? Is it because macrophages need Vitamin D to function? (8)

According to National Institute of Health there is no relation between Vitamin D and cancer prevention (9). Moreover, we do not need that much Vitamin D because the recommended daily dose is only 600 units. Because some products, including milk, are fortified with Vitamin D, the majority of us are getting enough of it daily, as per the National Institute of Health.  Suddenly, I asked myself:  Why would melanoma patients fare better if they were exposed to sun? Would this fact relate somehow to Vitamin D and its effects on the body?  In its simplest form: What does sunlight do?  It makes Vitamin D!  Therefore, is it Vitamin D we need to get more of in order to be protected from cancer?  To further investigate I needed to prove that low Vitamin D levels were related to higher cancer rates or produced a bad prognosis. What I found was this:  Multiple studies showed that a lack of Vitamin D leads to either increased risk of cancer or decreased survival rates, especially for breast and colon cancer (10,11,12,13,14,15,and 16).  Isn’t this impressive?

Logically, however, if Vitamin D helps immune system to function, it should help to fight other immune system diseases.  Research found that low Vitamin D levels are associated with increased rates of such immune system diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and juvenile diabetes (17).  That’s not all. Vitamin D deficiency was linked to peripheral artery disease, known colloquially as “clogged arteries” (18).  What about the brain? Does it need Vitamin D to function properly? Apparently yes, because not getting enough Vitamins D was linked to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases (19).

At this point, it seemed to me that Vitamin D acts more like a prohormone, than a simple vitamin because it is needed for the successful operation of so many organs and systems.  Could this also be because it is regulating one of the most important minerals in our body — calcium? Is this because the chemical structure of Vitamin D resembles steroid hormones like cortisol, estrogen and testosterone?  It definitely circulates in the blood like a hormone to support multiple body functions.
Vitamin D may help you  to support:

1. Immune system (10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17).
2. Vascular system (18).
3. Brain (19).
4. Bones.

Isn’t it wonderful?
Because this vitamin is so important, we want to make sure that we are getting enough of it. Did Mother Nature forget to give us a reliable way to do this? Normally, our bodies make Vitamin D in the skin with help of ultraviolet light B (UVB).  This light we can get from sun or tanning lamps.  UVB is the most abundant in tropics and  is decreased in temperate regions and almost never detected in arctic circles.  These simple facts can explain why we may be deficient in Vitamin D—because we are mostly indoors and covered by our clothing. Unless we walk around naked and spend at least half a day on the beach every day to get enough vitamin D we have to rely on its food sources  (mercury-free fatty fish and fish oil, eggs, beef liver, etc.).  The question is: How much is enough?  According to the government, 600 units per day is enough (9).  Relying on the government recommendation, I advised my patients to take that dose daily to make sure that they have enough vitamin D.  I, myself, was taking about the same dose.
Still, I was puzzled.  Even though the patients were taking this government recommended dose, the majority of them were deficient in Vitamin D.  Moreover, even though some of them were taking as much as 50,000 units a month, they were still low in Vitamin D.  Obviously, the government recommendation was not working in real life, but why?   To get the answer I looked into two possibilities:  Vitamin D absorption problems and its metabolic abnormalities.

Normally, ingested food is digested mainly in the stomach and then in the bowels with the help of gastric- and pan-creating enzymes as well as hydrochloric acid, where it is then absorbed into our body.  Because vitamin D is fat soluble, lack of pancreatic enzymes, responsible for fat digestion, may cause low vitamin D levels.  Also, increased lead burden can interfere with the absorption of vitamin D.  According to the government, the toxic blood level of lead is 10.  If it is above this magic number, then treatment is warranted.  What if the lead level is 9?  Couldn’t this also cause Vitamin D problems?

How you could get enough Vitamin D to support your bones, brain, vessels and immune system:

1. Get your vitamin D level checked.
2. Talk to your doctor about the vitamin D dose that is right for you.
3. Recheck your vitamin D levels in the regular bases.
4. If despite taking a recommended dose of vitamin D your levels are still low, and your family doctor or/and specialist cannot solve the problem, then consult with a functional medicine doctor to find the root cause of your vitamin D deficiency problem.  The problem could be related to digestion or/and absorption issues, increased lead burden, etc.
   Make sure, that if you are sunbathing, you are not removing your skin superficial layer by scrubbing or using too much soap.

Best of health,
Dr. Kalitenko

References:
1.  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jso.20273/abstract
Surgery promotes implantation of disseminated tumor cells, but does not increase growth of tumor cell clusters†
2.   http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa020989
3.  http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/02/21/hlsa0221.htm
4.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18406602
Sun exposure prior to diagnosis is associated with improved survival in melanoma patients: results from a long-term follow-up study of Italian patients.
5.  http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v417/n6892/full/nature00766.html
Mutations of the BRAF gene in human cancer
6.  http://www.staffanlindeberg.com/TheKitavaStudy.html
7.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D
8.  When synthesized by monocyte-macrophages, calcitriol acts locally as a cytokine, defending the body against microbial invaders.[27]
Adams, J. S.; Hewison, M. (2010). “Update in Vitamin D”. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 95 (2): 471–8. doi:10.1210/jc.2009-1773. PMC 2840860. PMID 20133466.

http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/95/2/471

9.  Official point of view: vitamin D does not play a role in cancer prevention.  Institute of Medicine.

http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13050&page=R1

DRI DIETARY REFERENCE INTAKES Calcium Vitamin D
Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium
Food and Nutrition Board
10.   http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.10427/abstract;jsessionid=197D64935075DEF00BB69DC78EB054E2.d03t01
An estimate of premature cancer mortality in the U.. due to inadequate doses of solar ultraviolet-B radiation
11.  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.10196/abstract
An ecologic study of dietary and solar ultraviolet-B links to breast carcinoma mortality rates
12. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076005002451
Vitamin D and prevention of colorectal cancer
13.  http://www.annalsofepidemiology.org/article/S1047-2797(09)00105-7/abstract
Vitamin D for Cancer Prevention: Global Perspective
14.  http://www.annalsofepidemiology.org/article/S1047-2797(09)00010-6/abstract
Ecological Studies Of Ultraviolet B, Vitamin D And Cancer Since 2000
15.  http://www.annalsofepidemiology.org/article/S1047-2797(09)00014-3/abstract
Vitamin D and Breast Cancer
16.  Vit D and Cancer

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ilsi/nure/2007/00000065/A00108s1/art00007

What is the Dose-Response Relationship between Vitamin D and Cancer Risk?
17.  Vit D and Cancers, MS, RA, juvenile diabetes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15585788

Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease.
18.  Vit D and PVD

http://atvb.ahajournals.org/content/28/6/1179

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and the Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease
19.  Vit D Parkinson and Alzheimer

http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/65/10/1348

Prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency in Patients With Parkinson Disease and Alzheimer DiseaseDone

What’s in the box?

1. A soft drink, milk, chocolate milk, or juice.
2. Sliced apples.
3. French fries.
4. A hamburger, cheeseburger, or chicken nuggets with dipping sauce.

The problems here:

-The appetite suppressing hormone ‘Leptin’ is proportional to body fat, meaning that fat is actually a better appetite suppressant than carbs. Less fat in your meal means less Leptin, making fat-free products more likely to stimulate appetite than suppress it.

-Saturated fats aren’t a problem; the key is to use natural, unprocessed fat — like daily fat provided that it is safe.

- The soft drink is still there, meaning the artificial sweeteners and fructose syrup is still there. Consuming too much glucose at once overwhelms the body’s capacity to process it. When glucose enters the bloodstream, the body releases insulin to help regulate it. Fructose however, is processed in the liver – and when too much fructose enters the liver at once, it starts making fats and sends them into the blood as triglycerides – putting you at risk for heart disease.
Does that sound like something you’d want to feed your kids? What should you do instead? Try some natural alternatives:

1. Give kids apples, nuts, fruits.
2. Water instead of soft drinks.
3. Avoid foods rich in mercury, like tuna.
4. Use filtered water.
5. Eat organic.

References:
1.  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903999904576469982832521802.html?mod=djemHL_t
2.  http://www.ajcn.org/content/91/3/535.abstract

Even though conventional medicine is very well aware that smelly feet is a problem, it does not offer a long-term solution. Sometimes prescription drugs like DrySol work, but they can’t be used for extended periods of time. Needless to say, over-the-counter solutions don’t solve the problem in the long run.  Why it is so difficult to do something about the smell? We have the Internet and computers, we went to the Moon, we decoded the human genome, but we can’t do something about stinky feet?

Because conventional medicine does not offer an effective solution for smelly feet and because my patients were asking for help, I had to run my own investigation.  To get to the bottom of the problem I had to find out why feet smell in the first place. Is it really an offensive odor, or is it just our perception? Some people can’t tolerate even perfume because of an increased sensitivity to any odor. The most likely cause of this problem is an inflammation in the area where smell receptors are located. Normally, we sense a smell by special receptors called ‘olfactory bulbs’, located in the upper part of the nose. The molecule that’s responsible for odor binds to this receptor, creating the sense of a certain smell. But if the receptor is damaged (most often by an upper respiratory tract infection or due to an inflammation because of allergies), then even perfume can be sensed as an offensive odor. This is called Dysosmia. It’s comparable to someone you love caressing your hand. If it’s healthy — caressing is pleasant. But what if you have a paper cut or a fractured finger? Then even a gentle caress can cause pain.  Same here: a damaged nose cannot process odors properly.

But what if everything is supposedly ok with your nose, yet you still feel that your feet smell. What is producing this offensive odor? From the beginning it looked apparent: the cause of the smell is from the byproducts of the degradation of skin secretions, like sweat, sebum, dead cells, etc., by skin bacteria. Therefore, stinky feet have three components: the sweat itself, nutrients in the sweat to feed bacteria, and the bacteria themselves.  But why do some feet smell and some don’t? It’s perfectly normal to have bacteria on your skin, but it isn’t normal for feet to smell. Could it be much more than the simple smell? Could smelly feet portend something else more dangerous than just the smell?

Normally, odor is used for communication – our odor is caused by special substances produced by our body-Pheromone, which triggers social responses. What it means is that smells created by pheromones can attract or make other people run away (so called ‘alarm pheromones’). Pheromones are secreted by the individual himself. Is it pheromone that makes our feet smell?  Sounds unlikely, as alarm pheromones are produced to signal temporary danger from an approaching predator, not a constant threat.

Could it be something else?

Scientists believe that there are 7 primary odors:
1.  Musky: perfumes.
2.  Putrid: rotten eggs.
3.  Pungent: vinegar.
4.  Camphoraceous:  mothballs.
5.  Ethereal: dry cleaning fluid.
6.  Floral: roses.
7. Peppermint: mint.

Because stinky feet do not smell like perfume or roses, peppermint or vinegar, may be something is decaying and that’s the source of the smell?  What it is clear: sweat, dead cells and sebum. But why?
Then I learned something that shocked me. Normally our skin has an acidic environment which kills bacteria. Hence, if it is changed to a alkali, bacteria can flourish and start degrading dead cells, sweat and sebum. If we use soap (which is a alkali), our skin won’t be acidic anymore, losing the defense mechanism which protects our skin from a bacterial invasion. I’m not suggesting that soaps should not be used at all, but in my opinion their use should be minimized.

To help with smelly feet we need three things to happen:

1.  Decrease sweat production.

2.  Remove nutrients that are beneficial for bacteria from the sweat.

3.  Kill bacteria.

The first problem does not have an easy solution, because too much sweating can be caused not only by your genes, but most of the time -, by hormonal or neurotransmitter imbalances.  Classic example: thyroid or adrenal problems. Therefore, you need to consult your family doctor or a functional medicine doctor to find the root cause of the problem.  A quick fix would be Botox injections into the foot to reduce sweating. Consult your doctor before deciding about Botox.

The second issue is relatively easy to solve: avoid carbohydrates, because sugar is what bacteria want.

The third solution is easy to say, but difficult to achieve. You could try bactericidal soaps. Another solution was suggested by a friend of mine:  “People do not know how to get rid of smelly feet and spend a lot of money on it – but the solution is very cheap: put a half tea spoon of Boric Acid into your socks before going out and see what happens!”  What Boric acid does is: kill bacteria. Consult your doctor before considering using Boric Acid or bactericidal soaps for smelly feet.

Bottom line:
1.  Reduce your sweating by finding the root cause of it.

2.  Stay away from carbohydrates, especially refined.

3.  Try bactericidal soaps after consulting with your doctor.

If you have better ideas please share your knowledge and let us know, help other people to get rid of smelly feet. Good luck!

(1) http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/information/anatomy/question514.htm

(2) http://www.livestrong.com/article/309171-smelly-feet-boric-acid/

(3) (3)http://www.hotona.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2208:what-to-do-about-smelly-feet&catid=36:buzz&Itemid=80
(4)  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-robert-a-kornfeld/smelly-feet_b_851650.html
(5)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheromone
(6) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odor
(7) http://ezinearticles.com/?Importance-of-Your-Skins-pH&id=55208
(8) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_mantle

The Courage trial found that adding stents did not affect the rate of deaths and heart attacks at all. And yet, according to the Millenium Research group, stent usage is at peak level. So, what can we, as patients do?

We can make sure that we are educated and seek out a way to find out the root cause of our problems are, and work from the bottom up to fix it. And invasive procedures may not always be the best first option.

Let’s take, for example, coronary artery disease. Besides cholesterol there are plenty of risk factors that can lead to coronary artery disease and yet cholesterol remains one of the only things that is held responsible for it. Why? Well, because pharmaceutical companies have cholesterol medications for the rest of the patient’s life, while they can’t patent natural supplements to control other risk factors for coronary artery disease. What do you think they will look for first: how they can make money or how they can help a patient?

That is where you have to make a choice: to be treated by numbers or like a whole person.

See more information about the Courage trial here: http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2007/03/26/to-stent-or-not-to-stent/tab/article/

How about you?

Do you have coronary artery disease?

Are you at risk of coronary artery disease?

Have you ever been checked for other risk factors besides cholesterol?

Schedule an appointment with Doctor Kalitenko to find out more. 718-382-9200.

The most popular Bisphosphanates are: Actonel, Boniva and Fosamax.

Drugs always have side effects. That’s part of the game. We can watch a commercial about this medication or that medication and spend the last 30 seconds of it listening to all the scary, uncomfortable and/or fatal reactions that we can have. But the fact that a drug does totally the opposite of what it is supposed to do is shocking.

However, even with this shocking information, it didn’t stop the scientists from making this conclusion: “Although there was a high prevalence of current bisphosphonate use among patients with atypical fractures, the magnitude of the absolute risk was small.”

Really?

So I looked at the study again.  As all we know the most important part is on the bottom of the page.  And this was the case here.  The study cut off was 2008.  But  “drug use before 2005 was not measured.”  This means that is was only patients who used bisphosphanates no more than three years.  Why it that so important?   Because the abnormal bone usually starts developing after about 8 years of bisphosphanate use.

Does it mean that they just did not include patients that have real risk in their study? Why? Because the answers might then not work in the pharmaceutical favor?

I’m not against drugs but I believe that patients should know what will happen to their bones after long term bisphosphonate use.

What can support your bones in the fight with osteoporosis?

Vitamin D, but levels should be checked.
Plenty of green leafy vegetables.
Exercise naturally like walking, gardening etc. but not too much.
Bioidentical hormone replacement may be an option.
Stay away from smoking, caffeine and alcohol.

Good luck!

What about you?

Age your bones weak?

What do you do to support your bones?

References:
1.  http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1010650#t=article

2.  http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/71840

React properly to the sugar lowering hormone insulin.  It happens when you have too much sugar in your body.  You try to push it into your cells with insulin, but it’s like trying to push more garbage into a full can. You can’t do it, and your body won’t take in anymore and stops responding to insulin.

Produce enough insulin because while trying to push sugar into your cells your pancreatic gland, which produces insulin, becomes exhausted and cannot produce enough insulin to push sugar into your cells any more.

Does it have anything to do with genes? Absolutely.  When there was a severe food shortage people needed insulin resistance to keep their sugar from getting too low. They needed insulin resistance to survive.  But now that food isn’t a problem anymore, the genes that worked for our survival are killing us.

Can it also be the food we are eating?

First of all, drugs are not the best option because as soon as sugar goes down your appetite goes up, leading to increased food consumption and therefore weight gain, increasing insulin resistance and making you go in circles.

Second of all, the diet diabetics were told to follow for many years is giving you just what you’d rather stay away from: carbohydrates (1,2) especially simple sugars and artificial sweeteners (3) and tells you to cut down fat because it has too many calories in it.

The problem with carbohydrates is obvious: you cannot take food that you have a problem with.  It is like having food allergies: if you are allergic to oranges would you eat them?  Plus, why would bring your blood sugar level further up with carbohydrates if it is already elevated?

So, what about artificial sweeteners? It has been shown that instead of bringing your weight down, they actually cause weight gain (4).  The reason: artificial sweeteners cause insulin secretion increase, resulting in increased appetite.

How did it happen that our body, so perfectly designed, became prone to such thing like diabetes?

Your body weight is regulated by two hormones: Leptin and Insulin.  Leptin is produced by fat cells and is responsible for healthy weight maintenance.  More  fat  more Leptin  less appetite  weight down. Leptin works together with Insulin (5), which is responsible for bringing your blood sugar level down by bringing it into the cells.  So if you are resistant to these two hormones you have a good chance of getting Diabetes.  The cause of insulin resistance is obvious: our cells refuse to take in too much garbage (sugar).  But why is Leptin not working?

1. Lectins from certain foods like cereal grains and beans, as well as fructose (fructose syrup from various processed foods) are blocking Leptin action (6,7).
2. Eating palatable and/or high energy foods may also cause Leptin resistance — so called signal-to-noise ration theory (8).

So what is the main reason for Diabetes? Being overweight.  What is the reason for weight gain? Our food!

So what needs to be done:

1. Avoid or totally eliminate carbohydrates like grains, potato, cakes, soft drinks, etc.  What you can eat is fresh fruits (preferably organic).
2. Stay away from artificial sweeteners.
3. Make sure that you get enough healthy fat-like fish oil from cold-water fish (provided that it is not loaded with mercury), grass-fed beef, etc.
4. Get enough sleep: melatonin, released while you are sleeping, increases your Leptin level and decreases your appetite.  Sleep deprivation sauces decreased Leptin levels (9,10)
5. Try to increase raw food in your diet. Target is about 80% raw food in your daily diet.
6. Check your vitamin D level.  Make sure, that it is in optimal range.
7. Stay away from processed foods. Remember this: fat isn’t bad, processed fat is bad!
8. Exercise regularly.
9. Check if you have toxic levels of heavy metals.  Arsenic toxicity was linked to Diabetes.
10. Maintain a positive attitude and be happy!

Good luck!

What about you?

Are you overweight?

Are you diabetic?

What is your blood sugar level?

References:

1.  http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/carbohydrates.html
2.  http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/sweeteners-and-desserts.html
3.  http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/artificial-sweeteners/
4.  DeNoon, Daniel J. Reviewed by Charlotte Grayson Mathis MD. “Drink More Diet Soda, Gain More Weight? Overweight Risk Soars 41% With Each Daily Can of Diet Soft Drink”, WebMD Medical News (2005), accessed 2007-06-25
5.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptin
6.  Tommy Jönsson et al (2005). http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6823/5/10
7.  Alexandra Shapiro et al. Fructose-induced leptin resistance exacerbates weight gain in response to subsequent high-fat feeding
8.  Pilon B. “Leptin and Inflammation | Inflammation Theory”. Press75.com.
9.  Seaborg, E (2007). “Growing evidence links too little sleep to obesity and diabetes.”. Endocrine News: 14-15.
10.  Knutson KL, Spiegel K, Penev P, Van Cauter E (June 2007). “The metabolic consequences of sleep deprivation”. Sleep Med Rev 11 (3): 163–78. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2007.01.002. PMC 1991337. PMID 17442599.

• Excessive clothing: The first, and most common cause, is excess clothing. It is important to sleep in a cool room and wear breathable fabrics. Being over-dressed during sleep can not only cause night-sweats, but you can become dehydrated, and even get kidney stones because the urine gets too concentrated.

• Sleep apnea syndrome: sweating can also be a sign of sleep apnea, which can be deadly. The first step is to ask your partner if they have ever heard you stop breathing in your sleep, even for a second. This can be dangerous because of arrhythmias and even possible brain damage from lack of oxygen.

• Infections, like tuberculosis, can show symptoms like night sweats, and living in New York City, TB is very possible, especially on trains and other closed in areas. You need to be checked! See this article about how to protect yourselves from the basics: Click Here

• Tumors: night sweats are a classic symptom of lymphomas.

It’s very important to go see a functional medicine doctor to find out what can be causing your night sweats. As you can see, it is very dangerous to just say it is probably menopause and leave it at that. It can be deadly.

What about you?
Are you sweating a lot?
Do you wake up in the middle of the night with your clothes and sheets soaked with your sweat?
Does your partner tell you that you snore too much?

It means that they have hit a wall. Resources have been tapped and there’s nothing new and world-altering that the market really needs. Aside from looking for cures, the drug needs have been exhausted.
So, what’s next? Because the truth is that though medication may be exhausted, we are still suffering from the same problems. And if the pharmaceutical companies aren’t going to start moving to finding miracle cures, there has to be another way to make us feel better.
The answer is functional medicine. What you need to do is get to the root cause and fix the problem. This is now the only solution! Change your lifestyle and see a holistic doctor and see how much better you can feel. It may be able to give you the support to not only keep you from having to wait for new miracle medicines, but it may help you to get off some medications.

Our body knows how to heal itself. Give it what it needs and it knows what to do.

What you can do is commit to a healthier lifestyle.

Here are some things you can do:

1. Caveman diet. This means organic lean meats, plenty of green, leafy vegetables, and limited if any carbs and dairy.
2. Avoid carbs-as mentioned before, carbs can make the estrogen levels go up.
3. Detoxification if necessary.
4. Eat organic-this way you take less risk in the amount of toxins and additives in your food.
5. Prepare your food yourself if possible: no processed food.
6. Check your hormone levels and see if they need to be balanced. Neuroransmitters, too!
7. Better sleep. Make sure that you get a full night of uninterrupted sleep.
8. Less stress.

How about you? How many medications are you on? Are you getting more and more sick while hoping for another new medication?

References:

1.  http://www.drugs.com/news/fda-s-approval-down-2010-28669.html

How to protect yourself from toxins:

1. Stay away from mercury: fish, amalgams for fillings.
2. Stay away from lead, lead paints, etc.
3. Avoid MSG – eat food that you’ve prepared yourself.
4. Eat organic.
5. Eat raw food, provided it is safe.
6. Drink filtered water.

References:

1. http://www.livescience.com/15217-shrinking-brains-cost-longevity.html
2. http://www.msgexposed.com/msg-causes-rapid-brain-cell-death/

There are various prescription drug treatments, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and antidepressants -  but antidepressants have numerous side effects that may complicate treatment, and don’t target the root cause of the depression. For example, a study has found that about three-quarters of patients with Dysthyemia also suffer from other chronic illnesses or psychiatric disorders.

These prescription medications have been found to completely lift depression in about a third of patients who take them, lift the depression somewhat in another third – and for the last third – antidepressants don’t seem to work at all. The key to treating disorders such as Dysthyemia practically, is to first consider the root cause of the depression.

Some causes of depression:

• Hypothyrodism
• Low adrenals
• Infection
• Low sex hormones
• Substance or alcohol abuse

Brain imaging equipment show that depression is a disorder of the brain, but this technology cannot reveal why the depression has occurred in the first place.

“Regarding depression as “just” a chemical imbalance wildly misconstrues the disorder.” – Psychology Today, March 1999
Low serotonin levels are usually a symptom of depression, not a cause. Introspection causes a person to participate in fewer pleasurable activities – causing serotonin levels to drop even further. Our practical advice is to aim to work on the causes of this introspection, be it a poor diet, chronic stress, etc., not just the symptoms.

If any of the above symptoms might affect you for more than a month, try to remain active, exercise daily, and see a functional medicine to find the root cause of your depression, Dysthymia and Anxiety.