Archive for the Health News

Naltrexone–the generic name for the drugs Vivitrol, Revia and Depade–is a drug that is successfully used in the treatment of heroin and alcohol dependence. Seems it boosts endorphins-the feel good hormones–binding to receptor sites in the brain and blocking the addictive substances from getting in there. What doctors and researchers began to see is that endorphins play a central role in immune function, according to Bernard Bihari, MD of NYC who is known for his work with Low Dose Naltrexone or LDN.

When he tested AIDS patients with LDN, who have low circulating levels of endorphins, the results were incredible. These patients not only felt better, their viral counts went down, they gained weight, and their overall health improved.

Since that time studies have been turning up from all over the world that bring to light that low dose naltrexone can improve the condition of patients with a wide variety of diseases–some considered incurable. 

At UCAL San Francisco patients with MS were treated and improved in all markers and symptoms of the disease.

At Stamford U in CA researchers are working with sufferers of fibromyalgia, including pediatric fibromyalgia patients with such good results coming out of the clinical trials, participants asked to remain on the drug at the conclusion of the study.

Dr. David Gluck, MD, is responsible more than anyone for the advanced use of LDN says, ”LDN may well be the most important therapeutic breakthrough in over fifty years. It provides a new method of medical treatment by mobilizing the natural defenses of one’s own immune system.”

Dr. Julian Whitaker reports in this month’s issue of Health & Healing, that “we’ve just begun to scratch the surface when it comes to the therapeutic potential of this drug. It also helps those with allergies, Parkinson’s, chronic fatigue, leaky gut and other gastrointestinal problems, corneal ulcers, and overall immune support.”

Why don’t more people know about it? Naltrexone’s patent expired years ago so drug companies have no incentive to do research or promote it as there is no profit to be made. And it’s inexpensive, about $30/month for an average dose.

For more information you can look at http://www.ldners.org/

. I for one will be keeping an eye on the research and keep you updated with new info. If I was suffering with something I’d be calling my doc up now for a script. I spent an hour reading reports and results and success stories, and they are compelling. Oh and the best part? NO side effects reported. Now that’s my kind of drug!

You’ve heard it before and probably tired of hearing it but I must repeat and maybe add some info on walking you were not aware of.

First of all it is a free, easy on the joints and muscles, do anywhere way to get the blood flowing.

And blood flow is a good thing especially as we age and the circulatory system could use some help. Walking also tones the largest muscles of your body and. like any exercise, helps keep the weight off.

Did you know that if you wear a pedometer you are more likely to walk more during the day? They are myriad in price, style, functions etc. And with as much sitting as we all do between work, driving, television, reading, going to meetings, any motivator is a plus.

If you are pre-diabetic or have diabetes a walk after a meal, as short as 10 minutes, can help clear glucose from the blood stream.

The thing that keeps most pedometers in the package it is purchased in is setting the length of your stride. It’s not hard you just need either a very long contractor type metal tape measure or a buddy to help.

You simply mark a starting point and mark an end point and then walk the way you usually do, counting your steps in between the two points. If you are looking to power walk and will only wear the pedometer for those then the same thing applies. Walk at the speed you’ll walk for exercise.

If you cannot walk far right now, that’s ok, get a pedometer anyway and do what you can. I think you’ll find that you want to increase your steps per day as a little competitive game with yourself.

Most people will walk 1000 to 3000 steps per day just doing the usual stuff. Not bad. How many more could you add if you were keeping track and having fun with the game of adding steps?

So once again, exercise does not have to be brutal or debilitating. 

Let me know if the pedometer idea helps you.

I probably don’t have to tell you the diabetes rates are on the rise. If you don’t know me then you may not know that my mission is to reverse the rates of diabetes and heart disease in midlife women. So today I’m going to give you the skinny on what you want to add to your routine and what to leave out if you have diabetes or are pre-diabetic or just working on avoiding this dread lifestyle disease.

Did you just read “lifestyle” disease? Yes, and according to Walter Willett a known public health expert from the Harvard School of Public Health, “Diabetes is an almost totally avoidable disease. We estimate that 92% of cases could be avoided by diet and lifestyle.”

If you are clinging to the notion that you might just be in the 8% of people who will have diabetes regardless of how you choose to do your lifestyle, let it go sister. Even if you are, you are a smart woman so I know that you want to make healthy choices and get the old ticker pumping.

A number of studies, reported in this month’s Nutrition Action Health Letter zoloft paxil switching found that the most successful thing a person can do–they tested better eating with or without exercise or Metaformin, a diabetes drug–is loose weight. Those who exercised along with eating better had amazing results but just dropping an average of 7% of body weight, (which leveled off at 4.5 % after three years) It cut the rates of diabetes in half in over 3000 study subjects which was twice as effective as Metaformin.

Here’s some good news if the thought of losing weigh makes you want to drink–go for it. Other studies have shown–much to the dismay of some of the lifestyle police like researchers–that “moderate, not heavy, alcohol consumption–one or two drinks a day for men and one drink for women–is linked to a lower risk of diabetes” reports JoAnn Manson also of Harvard.

Booze not your thing? How about a nice cup of Joe? Evidence shows that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffees reduce diabetes risk.

An hour a day of brisk walking trims the risk of diabetes by 34%. On the flip side a study of 68,000 women found that just two hours a day spent couch potatoing with the TV on increased risk by 14%. Gotta let go of those Gossip Girls.

So I encourage us all to raise a glass or mug, take a walk, skip some chips, and get some support if you need it to shed a few pounds. I hate the thought of any of us losing our sight, a limb or our lives to this preventable/reversible lifestyle disease.

For more information, if you haven’t already, use the box above to grab my free report on how the midlife muffin top can help you prevent this and other lifestyle issues.

2.5 hours per week of brisk walking or other similar activity And because this disease can easily be avoided or controlled on its way to being eliminated 

Vitamin D has been in the news a lot lately. It is now known that sub-optimal levels of this fat soluble vitamin can pave the way for increases in osteoporosis, lowered immune function, and greater levels of inflammation throughout the body.
A new study out of the U of Toronto followed 500+ women who were diagnosed with breast cancer for 6 years or more, depending on when the women entered the study. They found that women who were vitamin D deficient at the time of their cancer diagnosis were 94% more likely to have their cancer spread, and 73% more likely to die compared to those women whose levels were optimal.
Cancer cells have vitamin D receptors and it is believed that supplementing with this vitamin can slow down the growth and aggressiveness of these cancer cells.

They are NOT encouraging women to just go out and start taking vitamin D to prevent cancer without getting some information first. Testing for vitamin D is safe and simple. Ask your doctor for a “25-hydroxy vitamin D” test to determine if you are deficient first. If your levels are low–there are three sources for vitamin D. You can combine them but most of us will have to add a supplement to get to the desirable level.

Continue reading ‘Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Breast Cancer’