SAM-e – Take this and feel better all over!

SAMe is a biological compound that is found in every cell in the human body. It is important because it plays a key role in methylation which is a process that activates more than a hundred different processes in the body – from preserving joint health, protecting against heart disease, and producing neurotransmitters such as serotonin.
The average adult makes about 6 to 8 grams of SAMe per day. Most of this is made in the liver where it works to detoxify the body of poisons such as drugs, alcohol, heavy metals, pesticides and solvents. Numerous research studies have found that raising the level of SAMe in the body helps to reduce the age related biological processes that result in diseases such as depression, osteoarthritis and liver disorders.
Research has shown that SAMe stimulates cartilage to grow which is a component in reversing osteoarthritis. Cartilage is the spongy cushion between the bone and the joint which gradually deteriorates in osteoarthritis. Also SAMe has been shown to reverse damage in the synovial fluid in the joints caused by factors common in rheumatoid arthritis.
SAMe compares favorably to the pain relieving action of NSAID’s such as aspirin and Tylenol which are commonly used to relieve the pain associated arthritis. However, with SAMe, there are no side effects and the SAMe actually helps the liver.
The liver benefits greatly by the presence of SAMe. SAMe significantly reduces elevated bilirubin levels. It also helps to protect liver cells and preserve liver function in hepatitis C patients. SAMe inhibits alcohol induced liver damage, prevents and sometimes cures cirrhosis and helps prevent and cure fatty liver.
SAMe is also effective in alleviating all forms of depression. Studies have indicated that SAMe is roughly 15 percent more effective for the treatment of depression than traditional pharmaceuticals.
SAMe helps alleviate fibromyalgia – specifically in reducing the number of trigger points, reducing fatigue, reducing morning stiffness and improving mood.
SAMe is available as a supplement – usually in 200 mg tablets. It should be enteric coated so that it is not destroyed by the acid environment of the stomach. As with any supplement, the form is important. SAMe is expensive because of the processes needed to make sure that it is in what you buy. The cheaper versions tend to be the wrong form, or they were not manufactured correctly, and they do not perform as well. Do not be taken in by the cheaper brands if you want this supplement to work. If it does not say “S,S form” on the label, do not waste your money. For maximum benefit of SAMe, buy a reputable brand and take it with B vitamins.
Note that there are some contraindications for SAMe – these include bi-polar disorder, manic/depressive, and Parkinsons. If you have any of these, do not take SAM-e without medical supervision.

Processed Food – Or How the Food Companies Conspire to Kill Us and What to Do About It!

Processed food is everywhere. In some ways, we are fortunate to be living in a time when we can process and preserve our food so that our supermarkets are always full and we always have plenty of choice in what we have to eat; but in other ways, we are deprived of “real” food that is naturally tasty and full of nutrients that are good for us.
Food processing is a business that has become more and more sophisticated over time. Our food can be processed so that it can have a long shelf life, be easy to prepare and have the right taste and texture. The downside of this is the chemicals that are used.
Did you know that there are over 15,000 chemicals used in food processing that do not have to be listed on the label? Now you may be asking if this is bad. The short answer is yes. These chemicals along with some of the additives that are actually on the labels are unnatural which means toxic to the body. With continuous exposure over a long period of time, they suppress your immune system which makes it more susceptible to disease; they cause free radical damage, making you age more quickly; and they make the pH of your body more acid which makes you more prone to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, etc.
Let’s talk about the chemicals. Did you know that by the time a child is 5 years old, he/she has consumed 7.5 pounds of chemical food additives? The alarming part of this fact is that the human body was not meant to handle this type of chemical. Think about the pounds of chemicals you have consumed in your lifetime. If the 7.5 pounds per 5 years ratio holds, that means I have consumed over 80 pounds of chemicals in my life. The worst thing about these chemicals is that it is very hard for the body to eliminate them, so they tend to stick around particularly in fatty tissue.
One of the saddest things I see is that we have forgotten what real food tastes like. I was raised without mixes and highly processed foods – other than white bread, a few canned vegetables and occasional breakfast cereal. I still cook from scratch and am very picky about food that is too processed. I hate food that tastes like chemicals. If you think about it, there are many foods that taste like chemicals, not like food.
I think we can all be healthier if we look at the food we eat and try to step back up the processing chain and opt for foods that are less processed than what we would normally eat. For example, try a really good natural bread without all the dough conditioners and processing that is in normal commercial bread – better yet, make your own from scratch. Choose fresh vegetables instead of canned or frozen. For cereal, try oatmeal (old fashioned) rather than instant – or make your own granola. Eliminate mixes – especially anything with MSG. Eat raw fruit – preferably organic rather than drinking juice or eating fruit rollups.
Read labels. Even though there are many chemicals that are not listed, the ones that are tell a good part of the story. If it has names you have to work to pronounce, hydrogenated oils, artificial colors, artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup and / or aspartame, avoid it. And do regular cleanses. You can also take enzymes, trace minerals, and milk thistle to help your body eliminate the chemicals naturally. Your body will thank you.

Royal Jelly – Bee Healthy!

Royal Jelly is an old folk remedy that is often overlooked. It is also known as bee’s milk, and is a concentrated super food that is a powerful anti-aging tonic. Royal Jelly contains many essential nutrients for humans. These include B vitamins, vitamins A, C, D, E and K, 12 important minerals, 18 amino acids, collagen, and lecithin.
Royal Jelly is the milky fluid made of digested pollen and honey nectar that is mixed with a chemical secreted from a gland in the nurser bee’s head. This fluid is fed to the Queen Bees and is believed to be responsible for her stamina and longevity. (Queen Bees live 4 to 5 years compared to worker bees that live about 40 days.)
Health benefits of Royal Jelly are many. It is used not only for longevity, but for cardiovascular health, healing of the digestive tract, building the immune system, preventing cancer, lowering cholesterol and triglycerides, alleviating rheumatoid arthritis, and restoring skin health.
Research has shown that Royal Jelly lowers total cholesterol levels by 14 % and lowers triglyceride levels by approximately 10%. Royal Jelly has also been shown to help prevent atherosclerosis and to reduce fibrinogen levels, thereby helping to prevent abnormal blood clotting and strokes.
In the digestive tract, Royal Jelly is used to promote healthy tissue, to heal ulcers, and to protect the liver.
For the immune system, Royal Jelly stimulates the production of antibodies and suppresses Gram-Positive types of bacteria such as staphylococcus and streptococcus. It also helps prevent many forms of cancer, specifically leukemia and sarcomas. Royal Jelly enhances the function of the lymph nodes and stimulates the production of lymphocytes.
Because Royal Jelly is a concentrated source of Pantothenic acid, or Vitamin B5, it is used to nourish the adrenal glands, and therefore for energy. Royal Jelly strengthens the adrenal glands, helping to protect them from the stress of our busy lifestyles and our diets that include sugar, chocolate, caffeine and sodas which all deplete the adrenal glands.
Interestingly, Royal Jelly is also used to support women during the change of life. Our adrenal glands were intended to be our hormonal backup system after the change; however, some of us have so much stress in our lives that the adrenals cannot function normally. Royal Jelly helps to nourish and rebuild the adrenal glands so that they can perform as intended.
Royal Jelly can also help with allergies if the allergies are associated with adrenal stress. However, people with severe allergies should use Royal Jelly only cautiously as it may provoke severe reactions.
Royal Jelly is another natural way to bee healthy.

Parasites – Get rid of them now!

After last week’s article on cleansing, I thought it would be a good time to bring up parasites – the thought of which makes most of us queasy. In spite of that, they are an often overlooked cause of certain health problems today.
Parasites are actually very common in nature and more common in humans than we would like to think. Approximately one half of the population of the world carries at least one form of parasite. If you add yeast/fungus (another form of parasite) to that, it includes almost the entire world population.
Having good hygiene does not exempt us from parasites. In fact, our diet of refined foods tends to weaken our immune systems and make us more susceptible to parasitic infection. Remember, parasites are scavengers and poor diets (lots of white sugar and white flour products) give these critters plenty to scavenge.
Parasites are not just found in our intestinal tracts. They can infest any body part such as the lungs, the liver, the muscles and joints, the brain, the blood, the skin and even the eyes.
It is very easy to come into contact with parasites. Contaminated water, undercooked meats, improperly washed fruits and vegetables are just some of the common sources of parasitic infections. Transmission from pets, insect or spider bites, or other people is also common.
Symptoms of parasitic infection can include chronic digestive problems, gas, constipation, diarrhea, skin rashes, stomach pains, and or fatigue. Parasitic infections may contribute to a variety of major diseases including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Parasites can be very difficult to detect in conventional laboratory analysis. Of over 1000 species of parasites that could infect humans, only 40 to 50 have tests available to detect them. Medical testing procedures for parasites are not always accurate due to poor laboratory technique, not enough different stool samples, use of the wrong test, or not catching the parasite in a phase that is easily detected.
Over the years, many people have come into the store after having been to one or more medical doctors and their skin rash, or digestive issue, or whatever has not gone away with whatever they are prescribed. These problems, more often than not, resolve with a simple parasite cleanse that has no harmful side effects. Wow!
There are many good herbal products available that rid the body of parasites. Different formulas are used depending on the type of parasitic infection. Common herbs used include black walnut, artemisia or wormwood, cloves, garlic, oregano, grapefruit seed extract and olive leaf. Parasites are not affected by these herbs during certain stages of their life cycle, so it is helpful to repeat dosage after a 10 to 14 day break.
In my grandmother’s time, “spring tonics” were common. These “tonics” typically included herbs to rid the body of parasites or worms. Although these have fallen out of fashion, nature has not changed and parasites still find good homes in humans. People with pets and livestock routinely treat their animals for parasites but do not think about treating themselves.
Remember that parasites are part of nature and they can infect any living creature not just animals.