Everything You Need To Know About Histamine Intolerance

Everything You Need To Know About Histamine Intolerance

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11175/everything-you-need-to-know-about-histamine-intolerance.html

Do you experience unexplained headaches or anxiety? What about irregular menstrual cycles? Does your face flush when you drink red wine? Do you get an itchy tongue or runny nose when you eat bananas, avocados, or eggplants? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you could have a histamine intolerance.

What is histamine?

Histamine is a chemical involved in your immune system, proper digestion, and your central nervous system. As a neurotransmitter, it communicates important messages from your body to your brain. It is also a component of stomach acid, which is what helps you break down food in your stomach.

You might be most familiar with histamine as it relates to the immune system. If you’ve suffered from seasonal allergies or food allergies, you may have noticed that antihistamine medications like Zytrec, Allegra or Benedryl provide quick relief of your symptoms. This is because histamine’s role in the body is to cause an immediate inflammatory response. It serves as a red flag in your immune system, notifying your body of any potential attackers.

Histamine causes your blood vessels to swell, or dilate, so that your white blood cells can quickly find and attack the infection or problem. The histamine buildup is what gives you a headache and leaves you feeling flushed, itchy and miserable. This is part of the body’s natural immune response, but if you don’t break down histamine properly, you could develop what we call histamine intolerance.

Because it travels throughout your bloodstream, histamine can affect your gut, lungs, skin, brain, and entire cardiovascular system, contributing to a wide range of problems often making it difficult to pinpoint and diagnose.

Common symptoms of histamine intolerance include:

• Headaches/migraines
• Difficulty falling asleep, easily arousal
• Hypertension
• Vertigo or dizziness
• Arrhythmia, or accelerated heart rate
• Difficulty regulating body temperature
• Anxiety
• Nausea, vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Flushing
• Nasal congestion, sneezing, difficulty breathing
• Abnormal menstrual cycle
• Hives
• Fatigue
• Tissue swelling

What Causes High Histamine Levels?

• Allergies (IgE reactions)
• Bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Leaky gut
• GI bleeding
• Fermented alcohol like wine, champagne, and beer
• Diamine Oxidase (DAO) deficiency
• Histamine-rich foods

In addition to the histamine produced inside your body, there are also a variety of foods that naturally contain histamine, cause the release of histamine, or block the enzyme that breaks down histamine, diamine oxidase.

Histamine-Rich Foods:

• Fermented alcoholic beverages, especially wine, champagne and beer
• Fermented foods: sauerkraut, vinegar, soy sauce, kefir, yogurt, kombucha, etc
• Vinegar-containing foods: pickles, mayonnaise, olives
• Cured meats: bacon, salami, pepperoni, luncheon meats and hot dogs
• Soured foods: sour cream, sour milk, buttermilk, soured bread, etc
• Dried fruit: apricots, prunes, dates, figs, raisins
• Most citrus fruits
• Aged cheese including goat cheese
• Nuts: walnuts, cashews, and peanuts
• Vegetables: avocados, eggplant, spinach, and tomatoes
• Smoked fish and certain species of fish: mackerel, mahi-mahi, tuna, anchovies, sardines

Histamine-Releasing Foods:

• Alcohol
• Bananas
• Chocolate
• Cow’s Milk
• Nuts
• Papaya
• Pineapple
• Shellfish
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Wheat Germ
• Many artificial preservatives and dyes

DAO-Blocking Foods:

• Alcohol
• Energy drinks
• Black tea
• Mate tea
• Green tea

Whew! That was a long list. You might be wondering now what on earth you CAN eat, so I've made a list of low histamine foods as well. Remember that freshness is key when you have histamine intolerance!

Here's a list of low-histamine foods:

• freshly cooked meat, poultry (frozen or fresh)
• freshly caught fish
• eggs
• gluten-free grains: rice, quinoa
• pure peanut butter
• fresh fruits: mango, pear, watermelon, apple, kiwi, cantaloupe, grapes
• fresh vegetables (except tomatoes, spinach, avocado, and eggplant)
• dairy substitutes: coconut milk, rice milk, hemp milk, almond milk
• cooking oils: olive oil, coconut oil
• leafy herbs
• herbal teas

How do I break down histamine?

Once formed, histamine is either stored or broken down by an enzyme. Histamine in the central nervous system is broken down primarily by histamine N-methyltransferase (HMT), while histamine in the digestive tract is broken down primarily by diamine oxidase (DAO). Though both enzymes play an important role in histamine break down, the American Society for Clinical Nutrition found that DAO is the main enzyme responsible for breaking down ingested histamine. So if you’re deficient in DAO, you likely have symptoms of histamine intolerance.

Causes of Low DAO

• Gluten intolerance
• Leaky gut
• SIBO
• DAO-blocking foods: alcohol, energy drinks, and tea
• Genetic mutations (common in people of Asian-descent)
• Inflammation from Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
• Medications:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, aspirin)
• Antidepressants (Cymbalta, Effexor, Prozac, Zoloft)
• Immune modulators (Humira, Enbrel, Plaquenil)
• Antiarrhythmics (propanolol, metaprolol, Cardizem, Norvasc)
• Antihistamines (Allegra, Zyrtec, Benadryl)
• Histamine (H2) blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac)

Although histamine blockers, a class of acid-reducing drugs, seem like they would help prevent histamine intolerance, these medications can actually deplete DAO levels in your body.

Testing for Histamine Intolerance

Elimination/Reintroduction

Remove the above high histamine foods for 30 days and reintroduce them one at a time by following the guidelines in my eBook.

Blood Testing

I use a test through Dunwoody labs to test for histamine levels and DAO levels. A high ratio of histamine/DAO signifies that you are ingesting too much histamine and that you don’t have enough DAO to break it down.

Trial of DAO

If testing is unavailable to you, you could simply try a diet low in histamine and add DAO supplementation at each meal. If your symptoms resolve, you could have low DAO.

How to Treat Histamine Intolerance?

Remove the high histamine foods for 1-3 months. Add in a supplement of DAO by taking two pills at each meal. Most importantly, find the root cause for the histamine intolerance. If you're on a medication that is causing the intolerance, working with your physician to wean off of these medications is essential. The main causes I see in my clinic are SIBO and gluten intolerance, which cause a leaky gut. In this case, I suggest reading my post on healing the gut and over time you should be able to stop the DAO and go back to eating histamine-containing foods.

If you're currently suffering from histamine intolerance, you may not have to avoid these foods forever. It can be a short-term solution until your histamine or DAO levels return to their optimal ranges. Depending on your unique situation, you may find that you tolerate some foods better than others, so I encourage you to stay optimistic as you learn important information about your body!

 

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids Studied in Autism

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Studied in Autism

http://www.cpmedical.net/breaking_news_page/omega-3-fatty-acids-studied-in-autism?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ProThera,%20Inc.%20%28newsletters@cpmedical.com%29&utm_content=June+9+2015+BN+Med

A study epublished in March 2015 reports that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation benefits symptoms in subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that the prevalence of autism in the U.S. increased by 119.4% from 2000 (1 in 150 births) to 2010 (1 in 68 births). Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability, increasing by 6% to 15% each year from 2002 to 2010.

In this open-label trial, researchers supplemented 41 children and adolescents seven to 18 years of age diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder with omega-3 fatty acids for 12 weeks. The investigators measured levels of blood fatty acids at the beginning of the study and again after the intervention period. They also assessed the subjects using the Social Responsiveness Scale and the Social and Attention Problems Syndrome scales of the Child Behavior Checklist.

The subjects markedly improved on all subscales of the Social Responsiveness Scale and the Social and Attention Problems Syndrome scales of the Child Behavior Checklist. Increases in blood fatty acid levels also were associated with improvements in the primary symptoms of autism. Furthermore, concentrations of blood fatty acids at the beginning of the study predicted how well the children responded to the omega-3 supplementation. Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids was well tolerated without serious side effects reported.

The researchers concluded, "Our findings lend some preliminary support for the use of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in addressing ASD. Future randomized controlled trials of omega-3 fatty acids in ASD with blood fatty acid measurements with a larger sample and longer follow-up period is warranted."

Reference:

Ooi YP, et al. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2015 Mar 25. [Epub ahead of print.]

 

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The Epidemic of Breast Cancer and Thyroid Disorders: The Common Link

The Epidemic of Breast Cancer and Thyroid Disorders: The Common Link by Dr. David Brownstein

http://blog.drbrownstein.com/?utm_source=eblast&utm_medium=email&utm_content=blog_link&utm_campaign=blast_new_blog

A recent study found higher levels of free T3 (a thyroid hormone) as well as thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies in patients with breast cancer when compared to healthy controls. (1) Nearly one in seven (14%) U.S. women have breast cancer. Thyroid disorders are the most common endocrine disorder present in the U.S. There are estimates that from 10-40% of the U.S. adult population suffer from a thyroid disorder. Could there be a link between the 40-year epidemic rise of breast cancer and thyroid disorders?

The answer is “yes”.

And the link could explain not only the breast and thyroid connection but also why we are suffering from an epidemic of other glandular illnesses—including cancer—of the ovary, uterus, pancreas, and prostate. What is the link?

The link is iodine deficiency.

Our iodine levels have fallen over 50% during the last 40 years. I (along with my partners) have tested well over 6,000 patients for their iodine levels and have found that over 96% are deficient in iodine. Most are severely deficient. As I wrote in my book, Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, iodine deficiency is responsible for the epidemic of thyroid and breast disorders that we are seeing today. This includes autoimmune thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease, thyroid cancer and hypothyroidism as well as fibrocystic breast disease and breast cancer. Every cell in the body requires adequate iodine levels to function optimally. In the glandular tissue—the thyroid, ovaries, uterus, breast, pancreas, and prostate–iodine is responsible for maintaining the normal architecture of the glands. When iodine deficiency is present, it sets in motion a cascade of events. This cascade starts with glandular cysts forming. If iodine deficiency continues, the cysts become hard and nodular. The next step is the glandular tissue starts to assume a precancerous appearance—called hyperplasia. The final stage in this sequence is cancer. The good news is that in vitro (in test tubes) and in vivo (in animals and people) studies have found that iodine therapy can halt the progression of  glandular events and even reverse it.

What can you do? One of the most important ways to ensure your optimal health is to maintain adequate iodine intake. Unfortunately, our food supply is woefully lacking in iodine. Iodine can be found in seafood, but the levels vary depending on the pollution levels of where the seafood was harvested from. In today’s toxic world, I feel it is best to supplement with iodine. How much iodine is required? My research has found that most patients require 6-50mg/day of iodine to achieve whole-body iodine sufficiency. However, before starting to take iodine, it is best to work with an iodine-knowledgeable health care provider who can check your levels both pre- and post- iodine supplementation.

More information about iodine can be found in my book: Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without it. You may also click on the link: Iodoral by Optimox Corporation

Video on Vaccine Dangers: "54 Percent of Children Suffer Disabilities Caused by Vaccination"

Please take the time to watch this short video at this link http://immunizationalternatives.com/vaccine-dangers-videos/

"54 Percent of Children Suffer Disabilities Caused by Vaccination" 11:09 minutes

It is the very top video on this page with many other videos on the dangers of vaccines on my new website at www.ImmunizationAlternatives.com under Vaccine Dangers: Videos which includes many others on this topic. 

Please watch, share and increase your knowledge and others about the dangers of vaccination!

·            Share with your spouse.

·            Share with pregnant moms!

·            Share with moms of young children.

·            Share with moms of college bound students.

The only safe and alternative to toxic vaccinations is Homeoprophylaxis (HP) which has been used by millions of people, worldwide for hundreds of year to protect against all types of contagious diseases. 

This method has been found 90% effective in clinical studies. http://immunizationalternatives.com/homeoprophylaxis/clinical-research/

We now offer HP services in my homeopathic practice and I was trained and certified to provide Homeoprophylaxis (HP) by Dr. Isaac Golden, also a homeopath and the world's foremost authority on HP from Australia.
This HP Program is customized by client for people of all ages, from infants to adults, and is especially designed for partially vaccinated, selectively vaccinated or unvaccinated children.

Learn much more at www.ImmunizationAlternatives.com._,___

Great Article: Why Homeopathy Works!

Why Homeopathy Works!
http://alternative-doctor.com/body-stuff/why-homeopathy-works/?inf_contact_key=f4b70254f5070bfccaf94a7fb429f2fd2e24b62d8dbe88c0f4372a15b5ef1db0

by ProfKeith

I’ve been meaning to produce a short paper like this, which I can use to answer the many enquiries about homeopathy. Against the background that the FDA in America is investigating if homeopathy works (2015), I thought it was time to get down and write it!
The large numbers of holistic practitioners who don’t actually hold with homeopathy constantly surprises me. Many express surprise that I should champion it at all. When I tell them the evidence is abundant and clear, they seem to go through a shock moment. Doesn’t everyone know it’s a con; just dilute water with no actual substance left? It can’t work!
Right! Like the Earth can’t be round and heavier-than-air machines can never fly (so scientists assured us). Steamships could never carry enough coal to sail across the Atlantic Ocean, according to the science of the day! X-rays are a hoax said Lord Kelvin, the leading physicist of his time. Even Sir Isaac Newton was full of reactionary bluster and insisted that meteorites could not possibly fall from the sky. Man on the moon? Moonshine more likely (or not in my lifetime was one I remember hearing often).
The truth is that homeopathy has been the most effective and widely used Western medical model for over 200 years. The usurper doctrine of Big Pharma medications is costly, ineffective and a veritable hoax, yet they have the audacity and arrogance to claim theirs is the only valid model of treatment. Homeopathy is relentlessly challenged as fraudulent, because it threatens their very lucrative pretense of healing.
If you don’t know and don’t use homeopathy on a regular basis, you need to wise up! Here’s some compelling evidence, to help you make up your mind.

The 1994 Lancet Fiasco

Here’s stunning proof that homeopathy is effective, published in the prestigious and oldest medical journal: The Lancet. Since randomized, cross-over, placebo controlled trials show that homeopathy does actually work, there must be something wrong with the randomized, cross-over, placebo controlled trials, said the editor of The Lancet!
This is remarkable, to say the least. They are so far into their dogma that they cannot even admit that their own specified method of investigation shows homeopathy is highly effective.
Note that this trial was excluded from a recent so-called “systematic review” or meta-study. Don’t be fooled by the term “study”. Nothing is tested at all! It’s simply science fraud in which authors gather together papers which support their prejudice and ignore any which they don’t like because it contradicts their stance).
“No good-quality, well-designed studies with enough participants for a meaningful result reported either that homeopathy caused greater health improvements than a substance with no effect on the health condition (placebo), or that homeopathy caused health improvements equal to those of another treatment,” the Australian report states.
Check out this paper.
Now, look at what follows and you will know they are simply accomplished professional liars. ALL OF THEM.

Part 1. They Called It The Pilot

It shows the benefits of a homeopathic remedy over placebo. In this graph, lower is better (reduced airways obstruction or easier breathing). Hence the lower line, showing BIG improvement over the placebo).
Was that enough to convince the skeptics?
No. They decided to call that the “pilot” trial. They would follow up with the “main” study.
Here’s the result:

Part 2. The “Main” Study

Result? The same, great benefit over the placebo.

So they decided the result was so controversial (homeopathy works) that they had better to a “confirmatory study”.

Part 3. The Confirmatory Study

The result? Exactly the same. Marvelous benefit. But it is clear that if the third study had been doubtful or negative, that’s the only trial which would have been published.

That’s the bigotry and bias that holistic specialties have to put up with (you can see why this trial was ignored by the writers of a paper purporting to show that homeopathy didn’t work). Here is a great and irreproachable study, published in no less a journal than The Lancet and yet it was totally ignored¹.
There was no new investigation in such a review, just a gathering together of prejudice.
In fact, one intellectual idiot challenged the Cochrane Database, which had called for further studies into the validity of homeopathy. This person claimed that homeopathy is an obvious fraud and doesn’t work, so why do we need more studies? The writer referred to a “disregard for non-RCT evidence in Cochrane Reviews of homeopathy” and “Homeopathy is, in essence, a placebo in itself, with no plausible mechanism of action” and “Is it really not possible to comment on the use of homeopathy in dementia without an RCT?” (Meaning, we already know it’s a hoax).

Homeopathy Works Against Cancer

It’s quite a historic day when a study showing homeopathy works as well as a major (very expensive) drug gets published in a prestigious peer-reviewed journal (International Journal of Oncology). This 2007 trial, too, was of course ignored by authors of the Australian paper showing homeopathy was worthless.
So: what did this landmark paper show? Four homeopathic remedies, Carcinosin 30C; Conium maculatum 3C; Phytolacca decandra 200C and Thuja occidentalis 30C, had a pronounced cytotoxic effect against two breast cancer cell lines. All four remedies were capable of inducing apoptosis, the “cell suicide” effect that causes cancer cells to self-destruct.
Phytolacca is better known as pokeweed root, which grows as a towering weed in the US and elsewhere. Conium maculatum is poison hemlock, while Thuja occidentalis comes from the Eastern Arborvitae tree. Carcinosin is the only non-botanical in the group. It is made from a highly diluted extract of breast cancer tissue.
The trial was conducted by scientists from the Integrative Medicine Program, the Department of Molecular Pathology, and the Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology of MDA, and appeared in the February 2010 issue of the International Journal of Oncology. There were two Indian collaborators from the Banerji Homeopathic Research Foundation, Kolkata, India, where these same remedies are employed clinically with reasonable success.
What was especially interesting to me was that the cell-killing effects of Carcinosin and Phytolacca appeared similar to the activity of paclitaxel (Taxol), the most commonly used chemotherapeutic drug for breast cancer, when it was tested in the same two adenocarcinoma cell lines investigated in this study.²
The use of poisonous plants to treat cancer is commonplace in orthodox medicine. The periwinkle plant (Vinca) has given us vincristine and vinblastine, two very powerful chemo drugs. The aforementioned drug paclitaxel (Taxol) is derived from the bark of the Pacific Yew tree.
But these compounds are used at full strength and are very toxic to the patient, as well as the tumor. The great benefit of homeopathy is that it is so dilute (which is why orthodox doctors and scientists say “It can’t work”), that it is pretty harmless.

Finally, Homeopathy For Thyroid Disease

This 2014 study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of individualized homeopathy in these cases. The decision to treat subclinical hypothyroidism with or without autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) in children. TSH levels were studied (thyroid stimulating hormone, the one that comes on strong when thyroid hormone levels drop low), as well as anti-thyroid antibodies (looking for autoimmune attacks on the patient’s thyroid).
The results were crystal clear: homeopathy works!
Baseline characteristics were similar in all the subgroups. The post treatment serum TSH returned to normal limits in over 85% of those who took homeopathic medication, compared to 64% of controls, while anti-thyroid antibodies returned within normal limits in over 70% of those who took a homeopathic remedy, compared to only 27% of controls.
Eight children progressed to full-on hypothyroidism, all from the placebo control group.
Judge the worth of homeopathy for yourself. There are many hundreds of published trials of this sort.
So when you read “homeopathy is proven not to work” or “there is no credible evidence that homeopathy works”, well… you know what you are up against. Lies!

Please comment to FDA during public comment period about the importance of homeopathy to you! Open until 6/22/15

The next phase of the FDA hearing on Homeopathic medicine and its current use in the USA is a period of public comment, which is open until JUNE 22, 2015.
That means that we each have an opportunity now to make our opinions heard!
Please take the time to write your positive comments about the access and use of homeopathy in your lives at this link. You do not have to live in the USA to make a comment.

http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment%3bD=FDA-2015-N-0540-0001

 

 

Electrolytes: Finding Balance During Adrenal Fatigue

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Dr. Wilson's Adrenal Fatigue Team

Electrolytes are teeny, tiny things with big responsibilities. Fluid retention and balance, blood pH, transmission of nerve impulses, and muscle control are just a few jobs these electrically charged particles (ions) handle. Most people suffering from adrenal fatigue experience some level of electrolyte imbalance.

When it comes to electrolytes in the body, it’s all about balance. These particles work best when they’re in an ideal ratio of each other. There are many different electrolytes, but for the purpose of this blog we’ll be focusing on sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium and chloride.

Sodium

In the blood and interstitial fluid, sodium is the most dominant of the four minerals. The balance of sodium and potassium significantly affects the symptoms experienced by people with adrenal fatigue. People with adrenal fatigue often have strong cravings for salty and savory foods. A craving for salt in people with adrenal fatigue can be explained by low aldosterone (a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands). In fact, sodium is probably the most critical element in adrenal fatigue.

Aldosterone is responsible for the maintenance of fluid (water) and the concentration of certain minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride) in the blood, the interstitial fluid (area between the cells) and inside the cells. As circulating aldosterone levels fall, sodium is removed from your bloodstream as it passes through the kidneys and is excreted in the urine. When sodium is excreted it takes water along. Initially, there is some loss of volume of your body fluids but it does not become severe until your circulating sodium level drops to about 50% of its original concentration in body fluids. At this point, even a small loss of sodium begins to have severe consequences.

If you have an electrolyte imbalance, you must be careful how you rehydrate yourself. Drinking lots of water or liquid without adequate sodium replacement can make you feel worse because it further dilutes the amount of sodium in your blood. Avoid soft drinks or electrolyte-rich sports drinks because they are high in potassium and low in sodium, which only add to the imbalance.

For more on sodium and blood pressure, read this article by Dr. Wilson.

Calcium

More than 90% of your body’s calcium is found in the bones and teeth. That leaves little for the rest of the body, but this small amount is responsible for big things, like blood clotting, muscle action and hormone production. Calcium also helps settle your nervous system and create inner calm.

Like beta fish, it’s best to keep calcium and magnesium separated. They get along together in the body, but when taken together they can cancel each other out, inhibiting absorption and utilization. It’s generally best to take calcium during the day, and supplement with magnesium at night.

Potassium

Of the electrolytes, potassium has the highest concentration in the body’s cells. Like sodium, potassium levels are maintained by aldosterone. When too much salt or fluid is pulled from the interstitial fluids, the small amount of sodium in the cells begins to migrate out of the cells into the interstitial fluid.

The cell does not have a great reserve of sodium because it needs to maintain its 15:1 ratio of potassium to sodium. As the sodium is pulled from the cell, water follows the sodium out. This leaves the cell dehydrated as well as sodium deficient. In addition, in order to keep the sodium/potassium ratio inside the cell constant, potassium then begins to migrate out in small quantities. This creates even more electrolyte imbalance, leading to decreased adrenal function.

Chloride

Most of the chloride in your body comes from the salt in your diet. You need chloride daily to balance fluid levels, perform nerve transmissions, move muscles and maintain kidney function. If you’re sodium is out of balance, chances are your chloride is as well.

Maintaining Balance

Dehydration is the most common cause of electrolyte balance, so staying hydrated can often prevent an imbalance. With adrenal fatigue, maintaining this balance can be tricky. Drinking lightly salted water can help, especially in the morning when aldosterone levels are low. You may also want to avoid potassium-heavy foods at this time as well. You can continue to drink salted water 2-4 times during the day, varying the amount of salt according to your taste.

It’s also recommended to avoid electrolyte-depleting or diuretic foods and beverages such as alcohol and coffee, especially if you have been out in the sun or are otherwise dehydrated. One of the problems people with adrenal fatigue constantly deal with is mild dehydration and sodium depletion.

But even in adrenal fatigue, the body is still wonderful, beautiful and incredibly wise. It is our society, our maladaptation to the stresses of modern life, and our poor judgment that need to change. We may not be able to change society but we can learn to use better judgment when it comes to taking care of ourselves and to respond to stress in healthier ways.

References:

“Electrolytes: Get Facts On How Electrolytes Affect Disease.” MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2015.

“Electrolytes: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 07 May 2015.

“Fluid and Electrolyte Balance: MedlinePlus.” U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 07 May 2015.

Wilson, James L. Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome. Petaluma, CA: Smart Publications, 2001. Print.

 

Study finds link between vitamin D deficiency and chronic low back pain

Study finds link between vitamin D deficiency and chronic low back pain

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/vitamin-d-news/study-finds-link-between-vitamin-d-deficiency-and-chronic-low-back-pain/?mc_cid=4229d40f42&mc_eid=ec1651b17f

A recent study conducted by the Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry found low vitamin D levels were strongly associated with patients with chronic back pain of unknown etiology.

Chronic low back pain is a leading cause of disability, often resulting in a reduced quality of life. Up to 80% of individuals who suffer from back pain are unable to identify the cause, making it difficult to treat their pain.

Researchers started to question whether vitamin D levels relate to back pain due to the role that vitamin D plays in bone health. Several studies have evaluated the relationship; however, much of these findings were conflicting.

A recent study aimed to provide insight on vitamin D’s role in chronic low back pain in India, where sun exposure is plentiful but cultural trends often result in insufficient vitamin D levels. They recruited a total of 200 patients with low back pain and compared them to 200 healthy controls.

All participants in the study had their serum vitamin D, C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) factors measured. CRP is an indicator of general inflammation in the body. RA factors refer to an antibody level that rises with immune mediated arthritis.

Researchers found that patients with chronic low back pain had significantly diminished vitamin D levels when compared with healthy controls (p < 0.0001). Half of the patients with low back pain were vitamin D deficient. CRP and RA levels tended to be elevated in cases when compared to controls.

The researchers concluded:

“Our findings provide a plausible explanation as well as justification for advocating dietary supplementation as well as therapeutic medication to achieve euvitaminosis D in musculoskeletal pain patients..”

 

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Melatonin Related to Postmenopausal Weight Gain

Melatonin Related to Postmenopausal Weight Gain

http://www.cpmedical.net/breaking_news_page/melatonin-related-to-postmenopausal-weight?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ProThera,%20Inc.%20%28newsletters@cpmedical.com%29&utm_content=May+19+PT+BN

Melatonin deficiency may play a role in postmenopausal weight gain, researchers recently discovered. Previous research shows that melatonin secretion decreases with advancing age with significant changes in women after age 40.

The subjects included 90 pre- and postmenopausal women. The researchers divided the women into three groups: 1) women without menstrual disorders to serve as the control group, 2) postmenopausal women without change in appetite and body weight, and 3) postmenopausal women with increased appetite and weight gain. The investigators measured serum melatonin, 17-beta-estradiol, the pituitary hormone follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), and urine 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, a melatonin metabolite.

The level of melatonin and estradiol were lower and FSH was higher in the postmenopausal women compared to the control group. As body mass index increased, urine 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion decreased. The data also showed that FSH levels correlated with body mass index, particularly in the overweight women.

The investigators concluded, "The obtained results indicate a significant effect of melatonin deficiency on the process of weight gain in postmenopausal women and justify its use in treatment of these disorders."

Reference:

Walecka-Kapica E, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2015;16:1030-42.

Study: Autism and Gut Issues

Study: Autism and Gut Issues

http://www.houston-enzymes.com/blog/study-autism-and-gut-issues/

Scientists at Columbia University found that young children with autism had increased incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Results were published in in the March 25, 2015 issue of JAMA Psychiatry.

This article is one of many recently reported that underscore the importance of the gut microbiome in human health.  Potential diagnostic aids as well as therapies may well result once a more complete picture is obtained.  For example, since a mother’s gut bacteria is the primary source of baby’s bacterial inoculation, one could map out the mother’s bacterial genome prior to delivery and perhaps get an indication of the likelihood of gut problems occurring in the infant.

We also know that diet can cause changes in the number and types of bacteria in an individual’s GI tract.  Foreknowledge of the gut microbiome could prompt dietary changes to result in a more optimum bacterial population.

Regardless of future events, we do know that proper nutrition and maintenance of the GI tract is vital to proper gut function. Using enzymes to support the digestion of good foods can help in maintaining good digestive function.

 

Sign Petition - Congressional Investigation and Reform of the CDC

https://www.change.org/p/rep-bill-posey-congressional-investigation-and-reform-of-the-cdc

 

Petitioning Representative Bill Posey Congressional Investigation and Reform of the CDC

On Aug. 27, Attorney Frederick M. Morgan, Jr. of Morgan Verkamp LLC issued a press release with a statement by William W. Thompson, Ph.D., a senior scientist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where Thompson has worked since 1998.

Thompson inadvertently became a whistleblower when discussing information about an article examining the possibility of a relationship between MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine and autism.

According to Thompson, he and his coauthors "omitted statistically significant information" in a 2004 article they published in the journal Pediatrics.

Thompson stated, "The omitted data suggested that African American males who received the MMR vaccine before age 36 months were at increased risk for autism. Decisions were made regarding which findings to report after the data were collected, and I believe that the final study protocol was not followed."

This confession, paired with the %6000 increase in autism that has developed simultaneously as the CDC recommended vaccine schedule has increased, screams for a thorough investigation and reform of the CDC.  Parents of children diagnosed with autism after a round of vaccines have been telling the same story (see videos above) time and time again.  "My child was developing normally.  We went for the well-baby visit, had a round of shots.  My child has never been the same since that day."  These kids have lost crucial skills such as language and fine motor abilities.  Often their development slows or comes completely to a halt.  They also frequently suffer severe health consequences such as digestive disorders, food allergies, seizures, etc.  For years we have been told we are anti-vaccine fanatics and that it is just a "coincidence" in the timing of the diagnosis.  When you see it happen before your eyes to your child, you know the truth.  

Now someone is admitting to the fraud that has been going on for AT LEAST 10 years!   

Representative Bill Posey wants to call for investigation of the CDC, but he is asking for the public's support.  Please sign to show that we the people want a thorough investigation of those in power of these hugely impactful recommendations as well as a total vaccine reform.  Safer vaccines, fewer vaccines, a more reasonable schedule (further apart), as well as independent studies to determine the safety of all vaccines.  Accountablity and compensation should be the responsiblity of the companies who produce the vaccines as well, only then will they be motivated to ensure the vaccines are safe. No more blind faith in the "safety" studies that are carried out by the SAME people who are creating the vaccines!  This is a huge conflict of interest!  

Public pressure needs to be applied now to hold those responsible for this fraud accountable and to create long past due change.  Unless we act now to create change, the CDC will continue piling more and more vaccines on the recommended schedule.  They are even recommending that all pregnant women and elderly get the flu vaccine which contains thermasol, which is mercury - a known neurotoxin that is lethal to all life forms and even more lethal when combined with testosterone as scientific studies have proven.  This is no longer about "health" this is a huge business and about money.  The risks at this point far out out weigh the benefits.  Our children have a much better chance of recovering from the flu, whooping cough, the measles, etc. than they do from autism.  Parents who have had witness their child's develop regressive, preventable autism just after a round of vaccines are not anti-vaccine as they accuse -most of us followed the schedule religiously which is the exact issue we are trying to change.  If you read the vaccine inserts you can find the list of highly questionable ingredients as well as list of possible side effects, as you can see in some of the parent's videos on You Tube "Breaking the Silence on Vaccine Violence" it even clearly states "autism" in some of the vaccine inserts!  

The CDC has lost their credibiltiy and needs to be separate from the big pharma companies before their recommendations can be trusted.  

14 Ways Birth Control Pills Rob Us Of Our Health

 

14 Ways Birth Control Pills Rob Us Of Our Health by Dr. Izabella Wentz http://www.thyroidpharmacist.com/blog/why-women-with-hashimotos-should-ditch-the-birth-control-pill-and-choose-natural-family-planning 1. Birth control pills are described as "Drug Muggers" by Suzy Cohen, RPh, America's Pharmacist. Birth control pills deplete selenium, zinc and the amino acid tyrosine from our bodies. These are all vitamins and minerals that are necessary for proper thyroid function! Thyroid conditions affect 1 in 5 women at some point in life and are responsible for weight gain, depression and heart disease.  2. The hormones in birth control pills suppress our own body's production of estrogen and progesterone through a negative feedback loop mechanism. Birth control pills flood our bodies with high doses of artificial estrogen and progesterone leading our own production of natural hormones to turn off, preventing ovulation and thinning the uterine lining.  This can lead to a hormonal imbalances such as estrogen dominance.  3. Birth control pills increase the risk of blood clots and strokes. The risk greatly increases after age 35 and for women who smoke.  4. Birth control pills can thin our bones leading to osteoporosis.  5. Oral contraceptives, which stimulate pseudopregnancy simulate a shift from the Th1 to the Th2 Immune Branch. This can produce an imbalance of the immune system perpetuating autoimmune conditions.   6. Birth control pills can change our normal flora, allowing yeast and other pathogenic organisms to thrive.  7. Women who take birth control pills have an altered preference to mates.  8. Birth control pills increase the risk of breast, ovarian and liver cancers.  9. Birth control pills impair our ability to build muscle despite exercise.  10. Birth control pills can also decrease sexual desire by suppressing testosterone (Yes women produce small amounts of testosterone too).  11. High dose estrogen contained in birth control pills increases the activity of TBG (Thyroxine Binding Globulin). TGB binds thyroid hormone. More circulating TGB leads to lower levels of free thyroid hormone available for use by our body.  12. Many oral contraceptives contain lactose as an inactive filler. This may be an issue for many individuals with food intolerances and for women with Hashimoto's who often present with dairy and gluten intolerance issues. 13. Birth control pills lower our DHEA production. DHEA has been described as an anti-aging hormone. Many conditions, including autoimmune conditions have been associated with low DHEA. 14. Birth control pills deplete  our bodies of folic acid, B12 and B6 vitamins. A deficiency in any of these may result in anemia, birth defects, depression and other serious conditions.... So what's a girl to do? With all of these things in mind, I knew that it was time to kick the birth control habit. But what were my alternatives? Condoms have a 14-15% failure rate...that seemed like too big of a risk to take. And I wasn't too crazy about implants or any of the other birth control methods out there.  I then learned about the Fertility Awareness Method.  This method utilizes knowledge of the female reproductive cycles to predict days a woman will be fertile, and days that she isn't. There are only 6 days a woman can get pregnant within every cycle.  With a typical menstrual cycles lasting 28 days (Count day one as the first day of the menstrual period), on average women ovulate somewhere in the middle. But not every woman has a 28 day cycle. Also, not every woman with a 28 days cycle ovulates right smack in the middle of the cycle. And many women may ovulate at different times each month depending on lifestyle factors.  Fertilization can occur 5 days before ovulation, or on the day of ovulation....Thus the beginning and end of a menstrual cycle a woman will typically be infertile, and fertile for 6 days somewhere in the middle after she ovulates.  A thermal shift in basal temperatures, cervical position, and cervical fluids help determine ovulation.  Our temperatures go up by 0.4-0.6 degrees Fahrenheit after ovulation, and this thermal shift can be measured by using a very sensitive basal thermometer right after waking up. The temperatures, along with the other fertility signs are recorded daily in a fertility chart that will help the woman analyze where she is in the fertility cycle.  As a bonus, measuring your basal temperatures can help with measuring progress in your Hashimoto's treatment. Your pre-ovulatory temperature (usually the he first 10-15 days of your cycle) is key to determining how well your thyroid and adrenals are performing.  A pre-ovulatory temperature is normally between 97.0-97.7 degrees Fahrenheit.  Temps that are consistently lower than 97.3 degrees F may signal an under active thyroid,while temps that are consistently above 97.7 degrees F may signal an overactive thyroid. Also, temperatures that are low but inconsistent or all over the place may signal adrenal insufficiency. You can document your interventions on the same fertility chart where you document the daily temperatures and fertility signs.  I highly recommend the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility that gives an amazingly descriptive and thorough overview of the Fertility Awareness Method for pregnancy prevention and achievement. After reading this book cover to cover, I have purchased a copy for all of my girlfriends! While the Fertility Awareness Method can be very effective, I was still worried about doing it on my own....This method can fail in 25% of "typical" users, and I was afraid that I would fall into that category with my busy lifestyle.  That's when I found the LADY-COMP fertility monitor! This is a mini computer/alarm system that comes with an ultra sensitive thermometer. This mini computer learns your own body's normal temperatures and does the analysis for you, letting you know which days you are fertile with easy to read displays (red light-fertile, yellow light-learning, green light-infertile).  If you are super nerdy like me you can still make your own charts. I am currently running statistics on adrenal insufficiency temperatures and will share my templates soon.  I have been using the Lady Comp for over a year now, and it has been a really amazing tool that has taught me a great deal about my body. It has been an eye opener watching my temperatures change, as well as noticing that all of a sudden my husband smelled really really good after a jog around the time of my ovulation... (which is usually day 17 or 18 for me, not 14 as some would lead you to believe).  According to the manufacturer "Lady Comp is programmed with all natural family planning research data, it contains a database of more than 900 000 cycles and uses bio-mathematical forecasting calculations as well as the very latest computer techniques. It is a personal fertility monitor, which learns and adjusts to your individual cycle regardless of irregularities or cycle length. Lady- Comp is a one-time purchase without any recurring costs. Several clinical studies confirm its 99.3% accuracy." While this mini-computer is costly, fertility monitors are covered under Flex Spending and Health Spending Accounts. Very good to know for those who use it or lose it at the end of the year, or want to plan for next year.  It is also a one time purchase. One month of brand name birth control pills can cost an upward of $100, thus the monitor pays for itself within a few months! (I included this last sentence for those of you who have husbands who work in finance like mine does).  This monitor can also be used to plan a future pregnancy for when the time is right! Of course if the benefit of the oral contraceptives outweighs the risks, such as for certain serious medical conditions, a woman may need to continue taking the pill. In that case, supplementing with probiotics, magnesium, zinc, B vitamins and Vitamin C is strongly recommended. Please note...all supplements are not created equally, and throwing them all in one pill often does not lead to good absorption. I will soon be blogging about two of my favorite topics, drug interactions and supplements soon.

 

 

We need to ALL stand together to protect Vaccine Exemption Rights now! Read this email for Vaccine Bills in Your State!

We need to ALL stand together to protect Vaccine Exemption Rights now!

This is a Human Right! 

Parents are the rightful decision-makers for their children’s healthcare.  Please join us in protecting the fundamental right to decline or modify vaccines or other injections or treatments recommended by government for children.

Mass vaccination policies are made at the state level - where your action to protect your rights is urgently needed!   Click On Your State Below NOW to defend the right to make informed, voluntary decisions about vaccinations.  Join Washington, Oregon and Maryland in successfully convincing legislators to stop bills that would restrict the legal right to make voluntary choices about vaccinations.  Click on Your State Below NOW to tell your legislators that the right and responsibility for making medical intervention decisions for preventative care for your family belongs to you!

Click on Your State to OPPOSE These Bills that would take away your rights:

California - Hearing 4/28

Connecticut

Illinois

Maine

Minnesota

North Carolina

New Jersey SB 1147

New Jersey AB 1931

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Texas

Vermont

California SB 277, eliminating personal belief exemptions to vaccinations, will be heard in the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 1:30 P.M. in Room 112.  SB 277 was amended and passed out of the Education Committee on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 on a vote of 7y:2n.  The Education Committee heard SB 277 on April 15 but it postponed voting on the bill until April 22 to give Senator Pan more time to address several Senators’ unresolved concerns.  The amended bill now excepts pupils in a home-based private school and students enrolled in an independent study pursuant to specified law from the prohibition described in SB277.  SB 277 passed the Senate Health Committee, 6y:2n, on April 8.  Read the bill and check its status here.  Take Action Here.

Connecticut HB 6949, restricting religious exemptions to vaccination, was substituted in the Joint Committee on Public Health on March 18th.  The current version of the bill still requires exemptions to be notarized, but the section requiring education has been removed.  Read the current bill here.  Take Action Here.

Illinois SB 1410, originally severely restricting religious exemptions to vaccination, was amended on the Senate Floor and was passed out of the Senate, 42y:14n, on April 23.  The Senate floor amendment makes it clear that the bill does not give a health care provider grounds to determine a religious exemption but the bill still is mandating health care provider visits and education before using the exemption; read the floor amendment here.  After the Senate Public Health Committee passed the bill on April 14, 2015 (6 years; 3 nays), the bill received its 2^nd and 3^rd readings.  Now SB 1410 will head to the IL House.  Read the senate bill here.  Take Action Here.

HB 2560, now different from SB1410, would restrict the religious exemption to vaccination in IL by requiring parents present to the school authority a signed certificate detailing their grounds for objection to the immunization. The grounds for objection must set forth the specific belief that conflicts with the immunization. The certificate must also be signed by the health care provider and submitted every year. Philosophical and moral reluctance are not sufficient for an exemption. The local school authority would decide if the content of the certificate of religious exemption constitutes a valid religious exemption.

Maine LD 606 would eliminate personal belief exemptions to vaccination and was referred to the Health and Human Services Committee on 3/3/2015. Current law allows exemptions because of a person's philosophical beliefs from immunization requirements for students in elementary and secondary schools and postsecondary schools and employees of nursery schools and health care facilities. This bill would remove those exemptions. The bill also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to remove any immunization exemptions because of philosophical beliefs from its rules.  The bill is sponsored by Rep. Ralph Tucker. Read the bill here.  Take Action Here.

Minnesota SB 380/HB 393 would eliminate the conscientious belief exemption and replace it with a restricted personal belief exemption.  SF 380 passed the Senate Health, Human Services and Housing Committee, as amended, on March 18 and was read a 2nd time on March 23, 2015.  SF 380 is currently on general orders in the Senate and could be voted on any day.  H.B.393/S.B 380 would require a person to obtain a statement from a physician that provides immunizations verifying that the physician has reviewed with the parent or guardian, or the child if emancipated, information about the risks and benefits of the vaccines that is consistent with information published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Read the bill here.  Here

New Jersey SB 1147, restricting religious exemptions to vaccinations, is still awaiting a Senate floor vote after passing out of committee on March 9.   Both legislative chambers are currently on a budget break and so the earliest the Senate could vote on SB 1147 is May 18; the Assembly’s next voting session is on May 14.   Continue to contact your NJ State Senator and ask them to VOTE NO or ABSTAIN on S1147.  Read the bill here.  Here

New Jersey AB 1931, restricting religious exemptions to vaccinations, passed the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee, 9y:1n, on March 16 and is awaiting a full Assembly vote.  Both legislative chambers are currently on a budget break and so the earliest the Assembly could vote on AB 1931 is May 14; the Senate’s next voting session is on May 18.   AB 1931 requires a written statement "explaining how the administration of the vaccine conflicts with the bona fide religious tenets or practices of the student, or the parent or guardian."  As such it requires parents to explain and ultimately justify their deeply held personal and private religious beliefs to the government.  Read the bill here.  Take Action Here.

North Carolina SB 346, eliminating the religious exemption to vaccination, died on April 2!  Congratulations North Carolina!  The new law would have added new mandates for school children in NC.  If this passed children would have been required to receive hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, red measles (rubeola) and rubella.(rubeola), rubella, mumps, pneumococcal, influenza, varicella and meningitis vaccines, in addition to any other virus, disease, or condition against which the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends.  Current requirements do not include Hepatitis A, rotavirus, pneumococcal, flu or meningitis vaccines.  Read the bill here.  Take Action Here.

Pennsylvania HB 883, a bill to eliminate philosophical belief exemptions from vaccination requirements, was referred to the House Committee on Health on 4/6/2015.  The current exemption law in PA includes an exemption for "on the basis of a strong moral or ethical conviction" in addition to religious beliefs.  Read the bill here.  Take Action Here.

Rhode Island SB 381 would eliminate religious exemptions to vaccination requirements.  A hearing was held on SB 381 on 3/26/15 by the Senate Health and Human Services.  The current status of the bill is that it is being held in committee for further study.  Continue to contact members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and your own State Senator and ask them to oppose SB 381.  Read the bill here.  Take Action Here.

Texas HB 2006, a bill that would repeal conscientious and religious exemptions to vaccinations, was referred to the Public Health Committee on March 11.  Read the bill here.  Take Action Here.

Vermont HB 98 would eliminate philosophical belief exemptions to vaccination.  On April 22, the Vermont Senate approved an amendment on HB 98 to remove the philosophical exemption to vaccination 18y:11n and then passed the bill out of the Senate on Third Reading by vocal majority (no roll call taken).  Read the bill here.  Take Action Here.

Additional bills relating to vaccination exemptions and immunization registries for you to support and oppose can be found at NVIC.org, here.

Stand Up in Your State Today!  Schedule a face-to-face meeting with your state representatives.  Find out who your Representatives are here.

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