by Angela Mott | May 22, 2020 | General, Health, Nutrition, Wellness
No supplement or pill is going to cure or prevent COVID-19 at this time. What we need to do is be smart. Social distancing is important. They now believe that we need to be at least 13 feet away from people to prevent the spread of the virus. Also, if we are in the area of the virus, it can settle on our shoes. These also need to be cleaned. It is now being suggested that we wear masks wherever we go. Some stores will not let you in without a mask. We also need to keep our hands clean (washing with soap 20 seconds or more) and keep them away from our face.
Another important thing to keep in mind is to keep the immune system strong. Excessive sugar is never a good thing for anyone. Because most of us do not follow a good diet, in spite of what we think, taking quality supplements, along with eating fresh fruits and vegetables, will help boost the immune system. Some of the supplements recommended include the following:
- Vitamin D- It has been found that vitamin D may decrease the risk of respiratory infections. It has been suggested that people take 1000-5000 IUs per day. Those with major deficiencies will need to take more.
- Zinc- Zinc is helpful to the immune system. Zinc can prevent respiratory infections. A safe amount to take is 20-40 mgs. Too much zinc can affect copper absorption. Too much zinc can also cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and loss of appetite.
- Vitamin C- Vitamin C supports the immune system and is also an antioxidant. Taking vitamin C can decrease the time and severity of an infection. A recent study out of China found that those taking 1500 mgs/day had less severe symptoms of the COVID-19 infection. Vitamin C is best taken throughout the day and not all at one time.
- Selenium- This is an important mineral for immunity and it may enhance antiviral defense against influenza strains. It has antioxidant properties. You should not take more than 400 mcgs/day.
- Garlic- Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties and antiviral properties. An excessive amount can cause liver issues.
- Curcumin- It is an anti-inflammatory and may help with the immune system.
- Colloidal Silver- It can kill certain germs by binding to and destroying proteins. It is unknown exactly how it works, but it is believed that silver ions pass into germ cells where they interfere with the germ’s metabolic processes and damage its DNA. This leads to the cells death.
- Green Tea Extract- It is anti-bacterial and anti-viral. It helps the body fight respiratory and digestive infections such as influenza and diarrhea. Ingesting too much green tea can cause stomach problems, heartburn, diarrhea, headaches, palpitations and arrhythmia, anemia, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. Someone with low caffeine tolerance will suffer these symptoms.
Stomach problems will occur from the high tannins that increase stomach acidity. This can cause nausea or constipation. Beware of this, green tea is not consumed on an empty stomach in Japan and China. Green tea decreases the absorption of iron in food. By adding lemon into the tea, it will increase iron absorption.
Headaches occur with those people who have chronic daily headaches. Because it has caffeine, it can cause anxiety, nervousness, and sleep issues. It can cause an irregular heart beat.
Caffeine increases acid in the stomach and can cause heartburn. Caffeine has a laxative effect.
Dizziness can occur because caffeine can decrease blood to the brain.
Caffeine can increase ringing in the ears.
Caffeine can increase the risk of bleeding.
Green tea extract supplements can affect liver damage. Drinking it can also increase the amount of calcium flushed out in the urine.
These are just a few of the things you can take and follow to protect yourself in these difficult times.
by Angela Mott | Sep 11, 2019 | Health, Injury, Nutrition, Therapy, Wellness
We all know that when we have a headache, neck pain or back pain there are many options to help relieve that pain. Our initial response is to take a pill, but which one. There are Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, Excedrin, Aspirin. All these pills have side effects, some will affect organs like kidney and liver. Some may cause upset stomach or create ulcers if taken to long or incorrectly.
There is an alternate way to help with these pain symptoms. Chiropractic care and body work (various massage techniques, stretching) are natural ways to help decrease pain, inflammation and spasms. Best of all they will not have the harsh side effects like pills. These techniques used in conjunction with one another help to facilitate the healing process of the body. Here is a copy of an article written several years ago that states this fact.
MASSAGE THERAPY SUPPORTS CHIROPRACTIC FOR BACK PAIN, NECK PAIN, HEADACHE
Molly Kallenbach, D.C., says that the use of massage therapy enhances the effects of chiropractic spinal adjustments in the treatment of back pain, neck pain and headache.
Citing several recent studies from the American Massage Therapy Association demonstrating the effectiveness of massage against musculoskeletal pain, stress, and inflammation, Kallenbach says that her patients report that their conditions improved faster when massage and chiropractic care were combined.
The clinic offers several different types of massage designed to treat different conditions, including massage tailored toward helping expectant mothers, and also for patients going through rehabilitation for many types of injuries.
—Chiropractic Economics, nationwide, April 29, 2012
by Angela Mott | Jun 5, 2019 | Health, Wellness
A new study has shown that not only can high blood pressure increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, it can also increase the risk of dementia. Keep in mind that systolic blood pressure is the upper reading and represents when the heart is pumping blood while the diastolic blood pressure represents the lower number when the heart is at rest.
In 2015, researchers published results of a study on older patients that numbered 9361 who had a systolic blood pressure of 130 mmHg or higher and who also had an increased cardiovascular risk. The name of the trial was SPRINT. Two protocols were used: one with the strategy for a systolic goal of 120 mmHg and the standard at the time which was less than 140 mmHg. The study was stopped early because of the dramatic results. These benefits included a 25% reduction of risk of a heart attack, stroke or other coronary problem and a 27% risk reduction from dying from any cause.
Preliminary results of a subset of participants of SPRINT were presented in 2018 which showed that controlling blood pressure could reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment by 19%. The brains of people with dementia have blood vessel impairments that supply them. Studies have shown that white matter lesions predict stroke, dementia, and an increased risk of dying. Hypertension is the main reason for developing white matter lesions.
One group of the SPRINT participants had brain MRIs. Those in the systolic group of 140 mmHg or less showed an increase of lesions by 0.92 cubic centimeters (cc) while the 120mmHg group or less had an increase of 0.28 cc. This is a 3.25 times lower volume of white matter lesions. The results show that the new lower blood pressure target resulted in lower rates of mild cognitive impairment as well as neurodegenerative factors like white matter lesions that can lead to dementia.
For more information, please read the 2/19 edition of Life Extension magazine, pages 73-76, by Abby Gonzalez.
by admin | Mar 6, 2018 | Health, Nutrition, Wellness
Hardening of the arteries can affect any artery in the body and can contribute to heart disease and stroke. Stiffening, which is more than plaque formation, can damage capillaries which not only contributes to high blood pressure but can also contribute to heart attacks, strokes, cognitive decline, dementia, kidney failure, and other disorders as well. Vitamin D and vitamin K both contribute in slowing and even preventing arterial stiffening.
It has also been found that arterial stiffness can also contribute to kidney disorders, liver disorders, type II diabetes, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. The causes of arterial stiffness include diabetes, ageing, and calcification. Vitamins D and K both play an important role in calcium metabolism. Vitamin D helps in the absorption while Vitamin K keeps the calcium out of the arteries. Vitamin K also allows the proper deposition of calcium into bone which can help with osteoporosis.
In a study of middle-aged type II diabetics, subjects received either a placebo or 1000IU of Vitamin D daily for a year. After a year, the supplemented patients had a decrease in the measure of arterial stiffness; the placebo group had no change.
In another study, adults with high blood pressure and a Vitamin D deficiency were studied. After taking 4,000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily for 6 months, they had a 12.3% reduction in arterial stiffness. No changes were noted in the control group that only took 400 IU/day (the standard recommended dose).
A Danish study done in the winter months showed how 3000IU of Vitamin D3 reduced both the systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure in subjects who were Vitamin D deficient.
There is a protein called matrix Gla-protein that exists and Vitamin K is required to activate it and cause an inhibition of calcium from being deposited in artery walls. In a lab study involving diabetic rats, they were found to have a reduction of matrix Gla-protein of 36% compared with nondiabetic rats. This led to an increase in major artery calcium deposits of up to 56% and ultimately produced a 44% increase in arterial stiffness.
A recent human study that involved 244 healthy, post menopausal women ran for three years. Half received a placebo and the other half received Vitamin K2 in the form of MK-7. The study showed that supplementation of MK-7 significantly reduced (by 50%) levels of inactive matrix Gla-protein. This study showed how the Vitamin K supplemented women had significant reductions in arterial stiffness. An added benefit was that those with the highest stiffness at baseline experienced significant improvements list of other arterial parameters related to arterial suppleness as well.
Overall, Vitamins D and K are involved in how our bodies manage calcium, mainly with keeping it in our bones and out of the arteries.
To read the full article, please read Life Extension Magazine, March 2018, Reduce Your Risk of Arterial Stiffness by Celia Stanton, pp. 46-53.
Recent Comments