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Stories 27th
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Nitric Oxide - The Molecule of Life Thougth For Food: The Contamination of the American Food Supply Diet, Energy and Hormone Regulation Liver Chi: Herbal Combination For Hepatits & Liver Repair ANMA 26th Annual Convention & Educational Semiar - Top Reasons To Attend ANMA Photo I.D. Membership Cards ANMA Embroidered Polo Shirts, Tote Bags, & Lapel Pins
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The President's Corner
By: Mary Dunlap, N.D. for Dr. Charles Curtis ANMA is proud to announce its 26th annual educational convention. This event is always well attended and successfully brings together members, ANMA officers and board of directors, including merchants and other interested parties. In our effort to constantly improve, we will have over 120 exhibitors with the very latest products for your practice. The main purpose for each annual convention is to offer continuing educational credits by presenting current updated health information to enhance your knowledge and practice abilities. This year the ANMA convention will be held July 27, 28, 29, 2007 at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. In past years there have been many discussions involving legislation, scope of practice rights, and qualifications necessary for such practice. This year the ANMA convention is no less important. Many changes nationwide are taking place in the naturopathic profession, and it’s imperative that you as a member be involved. This is an opportunity for the membership to voice opinions and suggestions to be discussed and considered. Additionally, we will be broadcasting live from our 2007 convention floor with up-to-the-minute interviews with our attendees. You could possibly be one of those interviewed, so I urge you to make your airline reservations now. Be sure to register with the ANMA office so your attendance will be a pleasant experience. For more information on our upcoming conference, please see our convention web page. Finally I would like to thank all those supporters who contribute regularly to the political action fund. This fund has increased the ability of ANMA to be active in legislative matters around the country. Through your support ANMA has played a major part in defending the rights of the Naturopathic profession for the past 26 years.
Foil To commemorate over 26 years of success ANMA has created a special membership certificate that looks as beautiful as a work of art. Our already attractive membership certificate is now even more mesmerizing. This special membership certificate is foil embossed with five vibrant and metallic colors. The price is only $75.00 and shipping is included. I guarantee the new ANMA Certificate will be the best looking certificate on your wall. If you are not a 100% satisfied and as crazy as I am about this membership certificate, ANMA will gladly refund your money after the certificate has been returned. To order please call Julie Morgan at 702-897-7053 or e-mail us at webmaster@anma.com.
Aloe Vera By:
Roy B. Kupsinel, MD INTRODUCTION I met my medicinal "friend" Aloe vera about fifteen years ago and my other long time Aloe vera friend and patient Warren Bridges of Aloes International here in greater Orlando, Florida about twenty years ago. On the weekend of March 6, 1992, I flew to Denver, Colorado to attend the Aloe Vera Banquet in nearby Thornton. Here I met several of the Aloe experts and began learning more about this medicinal plant. In HEALTH CONSCIOUSNESS – a holistic magazine, Volume 13, Number 1, 1992, I produced the 68 page ALOE VERA SPECIAL. Clinton H. Howard of Royal Body Care gave permission for me to reproduce a dynamic photo of an Aloe vera plant with a wine glass filled with juice in the right foreground. This HC issue was especially popular and widely distributed throughout the world. HC reached subscribers in thirty-two countries. Now, the idea came to me to write a concise Aloe vera article for you, my ANMA colleagues with my front cover photo and a back cover color ad from Warren Bridges, who has been known in Orlando as "Mr. Aloe Vera." Editor, Dr. Gregory West, was receptive and here you have this nutritional Aloe vera article sandwiched between the magazine covers. Enjoy your educational and hopefully consciousness raising meal. I plan to highlight some of the articles from the Aloe Vera Special, and then present a summary of conditions for which Aloe vera may be beneficial. Here goes! "The use of Aloe vera will be the most important single step forward in the treatment of diseases in the history of mankind." – H. Reginald McDaniel, MD "Aloe is to an AIDS patient such as insulin is to a diabetic." – the late Terry Pulse, MD WHOLE-LEAF ALOE VERA – ALMOST A PANACEA by Bruce Eric Hedendal, DC, PhD (excerpt) There is a voluminous amount of anecdotal evidence showing that authentic, properly prepared Aloe vera has powerful healing properties in humans and animals. The virtues of Aloe vera have been recorded for thousands of years by many ancient civilizations, including Egypt, Persia, Greece, India, and Africa. Although today it is found throughout the world as a common household plant, Aloe is, without a doubt, one of the most accepted yet misunderstood medicinal plants in history. It is not just "good for burns." Historical evidence indicates that Aloe vera originated in the warm, dry climate of Africa, although today the plant is found worldwide. From Europe, the Spanish carried Aloe to their New World possessions in South America and the Caribbean. Spanish missionaries in the west always planted Aloe around their settlements and carried it on their journeys to aid the sick. Today Aloe is used worldwide, particularly in the U.S. and Canada, both internally as a drink and in cosmetics and ointments. Japan currently imports over fifty million dollars of Aloe per year to treat people with ulcers and digestive problems. Although the modern medical community has given the health benefits of Aloe vera limited official standing, there have been numerous worldwide scientific studies by authoritative and respected medical researchers revealing Aloe’s ubiquitous health benefits for people and animals as well. Sidebars: Aloe vera’s mucopolysaccharides (MPS) are long-chain sugars found in large amounts in the plant and properly prepared whole-leaf Aloe juice and juice concentrates. We have just begun in the last few years to recognize the major role that MPS play in human and animal health. As discussed, "100% Aloe vera" can be put on the label of an Aloe beverage or product that only contains a fraction of Aloe. A manufacturer can put one gallon of pure Aloe in 100 gallons of water, mix it and call it "100% Aloe vera" and it’s legal. Where is the FDA when you really need it? Scientific studies on Aloe vera have been published for decades proving it effectiveness in a multitude of conditions: radiation and other burns, cancer in animals, HIV, digestive problems, skin ulcers and wound healing, immune modulation, infections (virus, bacteria, and fungus) toxicity, pruritis, hyperglycemia hypercholesterolemia, and inflammatory conditions (external or internal), to name a few. ALOE IN DENTISTRY by James Harrison, DDS, FAGD (excerpt) I had been using an Aloe vera product which cost approximately $23.00 a gallon, for the past six months, but had not noticed any particular benefit. I was using it simply because I had heard of Aloe’s legendary benefits. The bottle said "100% pure, tastes like spring water" and according to the Ritter report, it was water. I was skeptical that this whole leaf Aloe product would produce any more noticeable benefits than before, but that is what this article is about. Within two days of using the products, I noticed a tremendous increase in energy. I had been riding a hypoglycemic roller coaster for years, fueling up on caffeine and sugar to climb out of the slumps, only to find myself in another some hours later. The first week, I felt good, but I really was not paying attention to it. It was approximately two weeks into using the new Aloe that I noticed that I was thinner. Because my weight had been creeping up, I had been avoiding the scale; but that morning I had to check it out. To my surprise, I was a full five pounds lighter. It was only then that I realized why I had lost the weight. I was no longer feeding with sugar and caffeine the roller coaster slumps, but I was cruising nicely along near the top. I had been using Aloe on my forehead, which had many patches of recurrent actinic keratosis, a pre-cancerous condition, which had in the past been removed with cyrotherapy (liquid nitrogen). It took a month using the concentrate, but these patches have gone into remission. I have been an allergy sufferer my entire life, but the situation had been getting progressively worse over the last five years. When I first started using the new whole leaf Aloe the allergy symptoms got much worse, but then they started to clear. I have had a few bad days over the past five months, but generally I am greatly improved. I have also experienced another benefit worth mentioning. I have suffered with a painful shoulder for two years. The pain is gone. During this time, I mentioned these benefits to others, who also started using these products, and they report back (in most cases) equally enthusiastic stories. The next two incidents encouraged me to introduce the products into my practice of dentistry. The first was when a four year old boy fell onto some sharp oyster shells and cut his foot open. I reached him first and covered the wound with 5X Aloe gel. He stopped crying within seconds. It was a deep cut. We cleaned and bandaged it with an Aloe dressing and he was out playing in minutes. The second incident was in my dental practice. The patient needed his wisdom tooth extracted, and while the site was getting numb we talked about Aloe. He said his wife’s grandmother had married a Native American back in the thirties and had used Aloe ever since. He reported that she is now ninety-seven years old, looks like she is fifty, and acts like she is forty. He suggested that we try Aloe on his wound. I irrigated the socket with the whole leaf Aloe concentrate, and after the sutures were in place, I filled the socket with 5X Aloe gel. That evening I called to see how the patient was doing. His comments were that "if his tongue didn’t feel the space he would not be aware that anything had happened." He continued to apply Aloe for the week and when it came time to remove the sutures, the area appeared pink and healed over. I was quite impressed. We have since used Aloe for all surgeries with uniformly gratifying results. Side Bars: I suppose it is unusual for a patient to tell a dentist that he feels he had not even been treated by him. I honestly feel as if I had not been in your chair. I never felt pain at any time, nor any discomfort after leaving your office." Harold Gans, dental patient. Dr. Harrison continues the discussion of the often positive role of Aloe vera in numerous conditions, e.g. immune system enhancement, protozoa and fungi in periodontal disease, digestive and gastrointestinal problems, arthritis, skin lesions, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. ALOE VERA, THE MIRACULOUS HEALER, AN M.D.’S CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE by Lee Cowden, M.D. (excerpt) The beneficial healing effects of Aloe vera have been documented in ancient literature for thousands of years including the Old Testament of the Bible. I learned of the healing effects of Aloe vera from my grandmother long before I became a board certified internist and cardiologist. My grandmother kept an Aloe vera plant in her house year round, and when anyone would get a burn or other skin injury, she would cut off an Aloe vera leaf and open it up and lay it on the injured area of the skin, which prompted rapid healing. In medical practice, I have used Aloe vera preparations topically to rapidly increase the healing of burns, lacerations, surgical wounds, and various skin lesions, including psoriasis, pre-cancerous skin lesions, lupus erythematosis and discoid lupus, and a variety of rashes and contact dermatitis. Most infectious dermatitis, including bacterial and fungal sources appear to heal more rapidly with Aloe vera application than most other treatments topically available. It wasn’t until 1988 that I learned that Aloe vera could be consumed orally and also had very impressive healing powers internally. Before discussing the internal applications of Aloe vera, I think that it is important to say that I have found that not all Aloe vera is created equally. Of the various Aloe vera products that I have tested in clinical practice, both topically and orally, whole leaf Aloe vera appears to be superior to the rest, sometimes by a factor of sevenfold. Unlike many Aloe vera products, a whole leaf cold-processed Aloe vera product has the aloin removed from the preparations that are used internally. This type of Aloe is also stabilized for long shelf life and long effectiveness after opening. It has the highest, or one of the highest concentrations of biologically active glycoproteins, which appear very important in the healing process. When inadequate amounts of aloin are removed from other Aloe products, consumption of those Aloe vera products orally oftentimes will result in diarrhea, but I have not found that to be a problem with cold processed whole leaf Aloe vera products consumed orally. Dr. Cowden continues to discuss the uses of Aloe vera without side effects, in various conditions, e.g. esophagitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer, nasal and sinus congestion, mouth lesions, sore throats, dyspepsia, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, sleep improvement with treatment for other diseases, recurrent vaginitis. AIDS AND ALOE VERA EXTRACT by Joan A. Priestley. M. D. (Excerpt) Kup’s Komments: Joan C. Priestley, M.D. has been known as the AIDS Queen Physician of L.A. because she helps take care of three hundred AIDS patients. (Note: from article in HC 1992) Dr. Priestly refers to a four key area necessary for an integrated AIDS treatment program. 1. Antiviral Therapy. 2. Co-factors (yeast, herpes, hepatitis, parasites). 3. Nutritional and metabolic needs. 4. "Nutrition for the mind." Attitudinal and emotional work. Her five point empowerment program includes: 1. LIFESTYLE 2. DIET. 3. NUTRITION AND NUTRIENTS (Here Aloe vera concentrate may be used!) 4. DRUGS. 5. NUTRITION FOR THE MIND. Kup’s Komments: I received an article, "A To Z: Why Aloe Vera? And Why It Works" from Lee Ritter, ND. Currently, he writes for the web site www.aloeinformation.com. I met Lee and his wife Susan at the Denver meeting in 1992 (see beginning of article). Recently he gave me a copy of their book 21ST CENTURY MEDICINE: ALOE VERA - REDISCOVERED. I highly recommend this book. A TO Z: WHY ALOE VERA? AND WHY IT WORKS. (Excerpt) A: Allergies, abscesses, abrasions, asthma, acne, acid indigestion, allergic reactions, arterial insufficiency, arthritis, athlete’s foot, AIDS B: Bad breath, burns, boils, bursitis, baldness, blisters/blistering, bruises, bronchitis, body cleanser, bladder infections, blood pressure C: Corneal ulcers, contusions, canker sores (aphthous ulcers), cuts (lacerations), cataracts, chapped/chafed skin and lips, coughs, cold, colitis, carbuncles, colic, cradle cap, cystitis, candida, chemotherapy, constipation D: Dermatitis, dandruff, dry skin, denture (gum) sores, diaper rash, dishpan hands, dysentery, diabetes, depression E-F: Edema, erysipelas, Epstein Barr virus, exanthema, enteritis in fowl, eyes, earache, favus, fissured nipples, fever blisters, fungus G: Genital herpes, gingivitis, glaucoma, gangrene H: Heat rash/prickly heat, headaches of all kinds, hemorrhoids, heat burn, high blood pressure I: Impetigo, inflamed joints, insomnia, ingrown toenails, infertility due to anovulatory cycles, indigestion, insect bites J-K: Jaundice, joint aches, keratosis follicularis, kidney infections L: Leprosy, laryngitis, lupus, liver ailments, leukemia M: Multiple sclerosis, mastitis in dairy cattle, mouth irritations, muscle cramps/strains, moles N: Nausea O: Odor control of chronic ulcers, oral disorders P: Pin worms, psoriasis, prostatitis, poison ivy/oak, pancreas R: Razor burn, radiation burns, radiation dermatitis, rashes S: Stings, styes, sprains, senile moles, sores of all kind, seborrhea, stretch marks, sore throat, shingles, staph infections, sunburns, sciatic nerve, sickle-cell disease T: Tonsillitis, tendonitis, trachoma, tuberculosis U: Ulcerations of all kinds, urticaria, ulcers – peptic and duodenal V: Vaginitis, venereal sores, venous stasis, varicose veins W: Wind burns, wheal, wounds of all kinds, warts X-Y-Z: X-ray burns, yeast infections, zoster (shingles) I hope you have found this Aloe vera journey beneficial for yourself, your patients, your family and friends. You might like to put the A-Z in the form a questionnaire. Also, remember that Warren Bridges, "Mr. Aloe Vera" has a quality line of superior Aloe vera products (see ad on back cover). In addition, one more suggestion. My long time friend and dentist in New Mexico, Bill Wolfe, DDS, has a rather complete Aloe vera line of dental products. Check my web site: www.kupmed.com under Amalgam Directory and New Mexico for more on Bill’s products. P.O. Box 620550
BIO SKETCH Roy B. Kupsinel, M.D. graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1959 and interned at Martin Army Hospital, Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was a family physician in Hallandale, Florida, near Miami, from 1960 to 1971 when he moved to the Orlando, Florida area. For four years he was an Emergency Room physician and then reentered family practice with the emphasis on preventive medicine. As the "Transition Physician" he has become an holistic physician with considering the patient as a whole being - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. His current part time practice includes chelation therapy and a nutritional - metabolic drugless approach to helping the patient take responsibility in the healing process. Dr. Kupsinel is an inter/national speaker and teacher. He has appeared on numerous radio and television shows and hosted his own radio program in Orlando. For fifteen years, concluding in 1994, he edited and produced HEALTH CONSCIOUSNESS - an holistic magazine that was circulated in thirty-two countries. He also is author of the booklet A PATIENT’S GUIDE TO MERCURY-AMALGAM TOXICITY with over 32,000 copies distributed inter/nationally. It has been printed four times and revised with the 2001 and now 2004 edition. Dr. Kupsinel is a talented magician and often combines his magical skills with his health and medical talks. Becoming a magician in 1966, he is Past President of the Society of American Magicians, the world’s oldest magical organization (now 100+ years!), and has twice performed professionally in Hollywood, California at the Magic Castle the world’s mecca for magicians. In 1934 in Gloucester, MA, Dr. Kupsinel began his photographic hobby with his first photo of the famous Fisherman’s Memorial Monument. In the 1999 Spring PHOTOGRAPHER’S FORUM MAGAZINE contest Roy received for his" Red Hot Poker" photo the "Award of Excellence." In the Fall of 2000 he was a semifinalist in the contest of the INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY OF PHOTOGRAPHY with the photo of the Bok Tower, "Reflection;" in the summer of 2002 a semifinalist for his "Southern American Bald Eagle" photo and in the Spring of 2003, again a semifinalist with the "Oriental-American Garden" (at Bellingrath Gardens); and The Best Photos of 2003 with "Reflections-Bodie Ghost Town." His photo of "Horses at the Barn" in Faber, Virginia took Honorable Mention in the ORLANDO WEEKLY 2002 Photo Contest. At the California’s 10th ANNUAL NAPA VALLEY MUSTARD FESTIVAL PHOTO CONTEST 2003, he was awarded Honorable Mention for the "Lady Bug of Copia."
Nitric Oxide - The Molecule of Life By: Abbas Qutab, M.D., Ph.D.
The discovery of nitric oxide function in our body is, without a doubt, one of the major discoveries of this century. It brought the Nobel Prize for physiology to three scientists: Robert Furdhgott, Luis Ignarro and Ferid Murad in 1998. However, and more importantly, it brings better health and wealth to millions around the world. Nitric oxide is the most important signaling molecule in our body, and it affects a wide range of physiological functions including circulation, inflammation, and oxygen release in tissues from red blood cells. The scientific literature on nitric oxide is growing exponentially. Nitric oxide has been found to help conditions as diverse as high blood pressure, cancer, infections, heart disease, pain and wound healing. Nitric oxide is produced in our bodies in the process of converting L-arginine (one of the 20 amino acids) into citrulline. L-arginine, the source of NO, is released from proteins and small peptides in the small intestine and is then absorbed, along with other amino acids into the circulation. It is delivered to every cell in the body. Some L-arginine is metabolized for NO synthesis and some is used for protein synthesis. In endothelial cells, the small cells that make up capillaries and line every blood vessel and lymph duct in the body, L-arginine can be converted to NO. This occurs only if the enzyme that makes NO and its co-factors are available in adequate amounts. If the endothelial cell can’t take up L-arginine, then NO synthesis will be impaired. Moreover, if atherosclerosis disease is present, oxygen delivery to all cells is impaired. Molecular oxygen is one of the cofactors needed by the enzyme to generate NO from L-arginine. The NO diffuses into the smooth muscle cells that surround the endothelial lining of blood vessels cells causing a biologic chain of events that lead to smooth muscle cell relaxation. This results in more blood flow to the tissues. Tissues that are hypoxic (deprived oxygen), cannot produce as much NO as do normal, well oxygenated tissues. ISOFORMS OF NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) is the enzyme that generates NO from L-arginine. However, the enzyme exists in three different forms called isoforms. Each isoform synthesizes NO but does so under different conditions. Often all three isoforms will be found in the same cell but occasionally one cell will contain only one of the isoforms. This is important because many see or hear the term nitric oxide and assume that it refers to all cells under all conditions. This is not the case as outlined below. NOS1 is the enzyme isoform found in brain and nervous tissue. It is also found in skeletal muscle. NOS1 generates (produces) small amounts of nitric oxide which helps to improve nerve to nerve signals and also helps the signals from the nerve tissues to the brain and back. NOS2 (iNOS) takes several hours to be mobilized and the response is due to an injury or infectious process. NOS2, produced by macrophages, is responsible, in part, for their effects to repair injury and to ward off infections. In other words, when the body mounts an inflammatory response to injury, macrophages are attracted to the site of injury where they produce large amounts of NO. Extraordinarily high concentrations of NO (100 to 1000 times normal) are produced very locally by this isoform. In fact, reports suggest that wound (ulcer) fluid may contain levels of NO that are very high and can only be attributed to iNOS. Unlike NOS1, which is part of normal neurotransmission, there must be something very abnormal (a wound, tissue damage, hypoxia, bacterial infection, etc.) to induce this enzyme. For the wound community that event is usually anything that threatens integrity of the skin. The third isoform is ecNOS (or NOS3) which stands for "endothelial cell" NOS. This isoform is active at all times (it doesn’t need to be induced as does iNOS) and is found in endothelial cells, which are the cells that line the inner surface of all blood vessels and lymph ducts. ecNOS is activated by the pulsatile flow of blood through vessels. What does pulsatile mean? It is the stretching and relaxation of the blood vessel wall in response to each beat of the heart. Each time the heart beats, it leads to an acute increase in the diameter of the blood vessel, followed by an equally acute return to a normal diameter. This leads to a "shear stress" on the membrane of the endothelial cells as the column of blood in the vessel moves forward and then stops. This NO, produced by ecNOS, maintains the diameter of blood vessel so that perfusion of tissues (skin, muscle, nerves and bone) is maintained at optimal levels. In addition, ecNOS mediated NO causes angiogenesis, which is the growth of new blood vessels. This is especially important in healing an ulcer or wound on the skin. One interesting interplay of iNOS and ecNOS is in tissue repair. Initially, NO is generated from iNOS in order to ward off infection and to destroy and remove the irreversibly damaged, necrotic tissue. This is often referred to as the inflammatory stage of wound repair. This phase lasts only a short time (a few days with an acute wound) and then ecNOS is (or should be) mobilized to cause vasodilation and angiogenesis to induce the healing response. NO will relax smooth muscle cells and thus dilate veins, arteries, and lymphatics. This increases blood supply both to the repairing tissues and from the damaged region. The latter removes metabolic waste products, reduces edema, and prevents swelling that would otherwise compress capillaries. In the absence of adequate blood supply, tissue will remain hypoxic and heal only slowly, if at all. Moreover, since iNOS is produced in large part by white blood cells (WBC), vasodilation permits delivery of additional WBC to the area that needs to be defended from infection. There are wounds that do become infected and often only marginal reduction of the infection is seen even with high-dose and high-potency antibiotics. By now, most should realize that if the vascular bed (arteries, veins, and lymphatics) were dilated, more of the antibiotic would get to the site of infection. Thus, it is essential that ecNOS be activated to produce NO. Clearly, both ecNOS and iNOS play a role in wound healing; neither alone is sufficient to achieve full recovery. NO is an important signaling molecule conveying information from one nerve to another, including non-cholinergic, non-adrenergic (NCNA) nerves. NCNA nerves control smooth muscle cells, which regulate gastric emptying and intestinal motility. Nerves communicate with one another across synapses and several biochemical compounds diffuse from one nerve to the second nerve. NO is one of these biochemical "neurotransmitter" molecules and is produced by both brain tissue and peripheral nerves. NO has both a direct and an indirect effect on neurotransmission. The direct effect relates to permeability of nerve membranes regulating ion transport that is important for nerve signal transmission. Indirectly, NO enables nerves to properly function by causing increases in blood flow (vasodilation) allowing essential oxygen and nutrients to be transported to nerve cells. In laboratory animals (mice and rats), NO is released by neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and stimulated the NMDA receptors that are responsible for long-term potentiation (LTP)--a type of memory (and learning). Laboratory rats, treated with inhibitors of NOS synthesis, fail to develop and/or retain learned responses such as the conditioned response. Mice whose genes for nNOS have been knocked out are healthy but display abnormal behavior: e.g., they kill other males and try to mate with nonreceptive females. Humans are not the only species capable of producing nitric oxide. This amazing molecule has been found across the animal and plant kingdoms. Fireflies, for instance, use nitric oxide to light their lanterns, and many plants produce nitric oxide to help repair damage from free oxygen radicals in the process of photosynthesis to help guard off parasites, and even help pollination. Human-beings not only synthesize their own nitric oxide, but are capable of converting nitrites and nitrates from the diet into nitric oxide. This nitric oxide not only rapidly kills bacteria we may have ingested with our food, but also diffuses through the stomach wall into our blood stream, binds to red blood cells and travels with them all over our body.
Thought For Food: By:
Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer A crisis is currently unfolding. Don’t expect to get the full story from the media, or the government. A panic could easily ensue. It is up to intelligent people, who want to save themselves from being poisoned, to read between the lines. It started with pet foods. The announcement that wheat gluten, corn gluten, and rice protein imported from China is contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine made national headlines this Spring. Besides being a carcinogen, melamine causes kidney failure, and has no place in the food supply. Unfortunately, it seems that unscrupulous suppliers of these food products included melamine to boost the apparent protein content of their product, since protein assays look for nitrogen, and melamine is high in nitrogen. Once the melamine was found in the pet food, and there were dog and cat deaths from kidney failure that could be blamed on the contaminated feed, a recall of over 100 pet food brands was instituted. Meanwhile, the FDA, which can only inspect 1-2% of the foods imported to the US, suggested that the issue may go beyond the pet food market and into the human food chain. The primary human food issue concerned pigs that were fed discarded pet food that was contaminated with melamine. It was also mentioned that the wheat gluten in question may also have entered the human food chain directly into products, but this possibility was not elaborated upon. The result to date has been a call for more FDA funding and inspections of food imports. Of course, the real implications of the current food crisis are not being discussed. The truth is hard to swallow. Realize that you cannot know if food is uncontaminated by just looking at it. It would be nice if the FDA was armed with a device like a "tricorder" à la Star Trek. All you have to do is turn on the gizmo and it will tell you if the food is fine or laced with some poison. Unfortunately, in the real world you have to know what to look for when you analyze a food for contamination. Every contaminant has its own test. If you are looking for something in particular, such as melamine, then you can do a melamine test. But that won’t tell you about other chemicals in the food. You have to look for each one separately. With literally thousands of chemicals and chemical combinations in the world today, this would be a monumental, if not impossible task. This means that if you didn’t know what contaminant to suspect, then you would not know to look for it. Which brings us back to melamine. How did the FDA know to look for that chemical? According to one news article, a shipment of wheat gluten from China had a sack among the gluten sacks with the label "melamine" on it. The US importer tested for melamine in the gluten with zero contamination found, but follow-up tests by the FDA did find melamine in the gluten. Good for the FDA. But what if they weren’t tipped off to look for melamine? Kidney disease is one of the most common causes of death in dogs and cats, and is high in human populations, as well. If it weren’t for the accidental discovery of a melamine sack included among the gluten shipment, nobody would have suspected renal failure from melamine-contaminated food. This also means that pet and human food may have been contaminated with melamine for a long time, maybe for months or even years. Of course, the recall of pet food is supposed to reassure the public that something has been done, and the newly packaged food is now safe. However, a recall of contaminated human food containing melamine has not yet been done as of this writing, presumably to prevent a public panic and financial ruin for the companies using these ubiquitous food additives. This would not be the first time in history when public safety was subordinated to financial interests and the fear of creating a panic. What seems especially troubling, however, is the lack of discussion about other possible contaminants in our food, and how they would be discovered. Without a tip off as with the melamine, a chemical can go unsuspected in the food supply for years. Public health officials will have to notice an increase in certain diseases, such as cancer or kidney failure, and conduct epidemiological studies to show that the increase is real. They would then have to try to guess what is causing it. Given the multitude of potential factors, guessing a food contaminant would be difficult. Which foods and which contaminants? Is it a new poison lacing the food, or is it some other FDA approved poisonous chemical (such as certain food colorings, flavorings, etc.) that is causing it? Given the fact that recalls are expensive and create lawsuits, it will take overwhelming evidence to implicate anything in food. If it wasn’t for discovering the melamine sack, this crisis would still be unrecognized. So here is the reality we must now face as the 21st century begins. Our food supply comes largely from other countries where food safety is worse than in our pre-FDA days. Just as the US does not allow certain pesticides to be used on US grown foods, but allows these to be exported to other countries whose crops are then imported to the US, we now have stringent food safety measures in the US, but allow imported food from places like China where food safety measures are virtually non-existent. Then there is the issue that recent US foreign policy has alienated much of the world from the US. And, yet, we naively eat all the foods sent to us from these other nations. Food safety is really a national security issue. Can the FDA get us out of this mess? Of course, not. They cannot inspect all of the food that comes into the US. And the foods they do inspect can only be inspected for known contaminants, as discussed above. What poisons should they look for? Where do they begin? The list of potential poisons is endless. So it seems clear that we can’t rely on the FDA. What can you do? It’s a good time to start growing your own food, or finding local sources of food that you can trust. The most likely candidates for contamination are processed foods containing a long list of added ingredients. Even expensive, mostly organic foods can contain imported additives that can be contaminated. The current melamine crisis involves wheat, corn, and rice, and there have also been implications of soy products, too. And keep in mind that more than melamine can poison the food. If you want to be sure your food will nourish and not poison you, then keep it simple. Whole grains organically grown, fresh fruits and vegetables locally grown by organic farmers, as well as local, organic milk, eggs, meat and cheese, would be the best. Keeping your food supply local is safer than buying from unknown suppliers. Avoid packaged, prepared foods. Growing your own food is clearly the best. Get out of the city, buy a place you can farm, and grow your own food. Nothing tastes better, or is healthier, than home raised food. And when you think about how important food is to health, it is truly amazing that people trust other people with growing, processing, cooking, packaging, and delivering it to their local grocer or restaurant. The key word here is trust. Do we trust the FDA to protect us from all food contamination? Do we trust other nations to send us healthy, clean, fresh food? Do we trust that if there is a problem that we will be promptly notified by government officials and the private industries involved? Can we trust what we read on labels, and assume that everything is fully disclosed on the label (which is currently not the case for genetically engineered and imported ingredients)? Can we trust the organic certifiers, and assume they are above reproach? (Who certifies the certifiers?) Trust is the cement that holds our culture together. Unfortunately, we are living in a time of diminishing trust. When it comes to doubting the quality and safety of what we daily put in our mouths, trust has reached a low that demands personal responsibility. In the end, you and your family are responsible for what you eat. Perhaps this will require people to become more educated about food choices, with the outcome of improved health. Sydney Ross Singer & Soma Grismaijer are a husband-and-wife, medical anthropologist team internationally recognized for their research into the cultural causes of disease. They co-direct the Institute for the Study of Culturogenic Disease, located in Hawaii, with a website at www.SelfStudyCenter.org. They can be contacted at ssinger@coconut-wireless.net, or by phone at (808) 935-5563.
Diet, Energy and Hormone Regulation By: Jeannette Santino, PhDStatistical Analysis By: Kim Kelly, ND
ABSTRACT This study was concerned with the combined effect that a well-rounded, healthy, nutrient-dense food program while eliminating the use of selected substances known to alter hormones, such as alcohol, caffeine, soy, hormone-laced meat, common allergy foods, would have on the adrenal glands and specific hormones. Accepted into the study were six individuals that had never been on hormone replacement therapy and were on a less than optimal diet. One post-menopausal woman, four menstruating women, and one male volunteered to be test subjects. A salivary assay baseline was taken of the hormones: cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol before they began the eight-week dietary change. Participants were given a list of approved foods and a list of foods forbidden during the eight-week program. They kept a detailed list of foods they consumed on a daily basis during the eight-week program as well as the week prior to the study when they consumed their usual foods. They reported in a detailed journal any changes in their energy, sex drive, bowel habits, and mood changes. At the end of eight weeks, the same salivary assay was taken of the five hormones and the pre and post lab reports were evaluated. There was an increase in testosterone for five of the subjects and a slight decrease in the one test subject that was not 100% compliant. The male test subject was the only one that noted a substantial increase in sex drive in his journal. Even though four of the women test participants also had a rise in testosterone levels, they did not note an increase in their libido. Fifty percent showed a healthy increase in 8:00 a.m. cortisol. Four test participants began with erratic circadian cortisol rhythms. Of those four, three showed a return to normal circadian rhythms on the post-test. With respect to weight and body mass index (BMI), 100% lost weight and had a drop in BMI. There was no significant shift in DHEA-S, progesterone and estradiol in all six of the test participants. Although the study period was short and there were only six participants, there was indication of an improvement in adrenal function, an increase in testosterone, and a positive shift in weight and body mass index. A healthy well-rounded nutrient-dense food program can have a positive effect on the adrenal glands and the hormones they produce. Further investigation needs to be done in this area to see the effects a nutrient-dense diet would have on adrenal function and hormone production over a longer period of time and with a larger participant base. CONDENSED VERSION OF APPROVED DISSERTATION: Currently synthetic hormone replacement therapy and natural hormone replacement therapy are the two most used means of balancing hormones in the traditional medical model. Any hormone, natural or synthetic, has the potential for abuse and can cause unwanted side effects, especially if a trained practitioner does not monitor the person regularly. However, correcting any hormone imbalance is, in most cases, not just simply a matter of supplying the body with hormones. This study on diet, hormones and energy regulation sought to determine if the body’s natural ability to produce the necessary amounts of hormones for good physical and emotional health could be restored or aided by the use of nutrient-dense foods under reduced stressed conditions. An important aspect of this study is also to stop feeding the body substances that will deplete the body’s reserves of these hormones. Therefore, this study is not about how the body responds when given an isolated nutrient or hormone; neither is it about a drug given to suppress a symptom, but rather preventing a problem or possibly reversing the imbalance with essential nutrients alone. For many years the hormone supplement of choice in traditional medicine for women with hormonal issues was Premarin. The Journal of the American Medical Association, in July 2002, published the results of the first large randomized, placebo-controlled trial of conjugated equine estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone acetate in healthy women. This study, known as The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trial identified an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and deep venous thrombosis, prompting premature closure of the study1,2. As with most pharmaceutical drugs, while there may be some benefit, there are often risky side effects. With recent research findings, women are seeking alternatives that do not carry the risks associated with synthetic HRT. Some, to help with menopausal symptoms, use exercise, relaxation techniques, and dietary changes that incorporate whole foods and soy. Many women have used botanicals such as black cohosh and red clover to decrease the severity and frequency of hot flashes. Purpose of the Study The general purpose of this study was to determine from salivary tests if the hormones cortisol, DHEA-S, testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol can be brought back into balance by giving the body what it needs on a foundational level without using hormones or supplements of any kind, natural or synthetic. Specifically, the investigator was interested in: (a) Whether basic natural elements such as amino acids, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and essential fatty acids from nutrient-dense foods, can aid the body to restore hormones naturally without HRT (b) Can the adrenals return to a normal circadian rhythm and normal function by strict adherence to a healthy diet and lifestyle Nutrients, or the lack thereof, have an effect either directly or indirectly on human hormones. In designing this study, the investigator needed to consider several factors with respect to food intake amounts and food choices. This was not a weight loss plan; therefore, the amount of nutrient-dense food was not restricted and the subjects were encouraged to eat healthy foods to satisfaction. Substances such as alcohol, cigarettes, gluten foods (due to possible sensitivities), hormone-laced meat, soy, caffeine, refined carbohydrates, and refined sugar were prohibited during the eight-week study because of the possible influence they may have on hormones17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and stress they may place on the digestive tract and ultimately the adrenal glands. Bioidentical Hormones Fasting and Gut Flora and Hormones It is important to differentiate between synthetic hormones, natural hormones, and bioidentical hormones. Synthetic hormones are formulated in a laboratory. Natural hormones come from another animal species, such as Premarin, from pregnant mares’ urine. Natural hormones are processed with very few chemical changes and are not chemically identical with those found in humans. Bioidentical hormones are synthesized from plant sources, which are modified chemically to form products that are chemically identical with human hormones. Bioidentical hormones are preferable when hormone replacement is necessary because they are identical to hormones produced by humans. Integrative health care providers recommend bioidentical hormone replacement when other lifestyle, nutritional, or herbal supplementations are not effective in controlling hot flashes. According to one systematic literature review, black cohosh, exercise, and soy protein have been shown to be safe and effective in short-term use3. However, sometimes the hormone levels are so low, and the adrenal glands are so exhausted that they can no longer produce the hormones required for optimal health. It must be noted that to date, there have not been any long-term trials studying the use of bioidentical hormones for hormone replacement, as there has with the drugs Premarin and Progestin. Both menopause in women and andropause in men and the vast amount of symptoms they generate are due to a shift in adrenal and sex steroid hormones. A drop in hormones is normal as we age. It is the extreme drop and the resulting side effects that will cause many women, as well as some men to seek medical intervention. Lives may be healthier if hormones are maintained at healthy levels throughout our lifetime, even with advancing age. Since prescription drugs carry their own level of risk, it is beneficial to investigate the natural alternatives. It has been determined in many studies, a few of which are referenced here, that low dietary intakes will have an effect on various hormones. These various studies give indication that fasting or food deprivation will raise cortisol levels, that a low calorie or low energy diet will disrupt the menstrual cycle and decrease steroid sex hormones, and estrogens are reduced with high fiber diets4, 5, 6, 7, 8. These studies are mentioned here simply to express that what we ingest can have a positive or negative effect on our hormone production. Intestinal micro floras are involved in a variety of processes within the human body and are important for maintaining health; therefore it is this investigators opinion that individual differences in the ability to harbor certain intestinal bacteria might be associated with individual differences in health and/or disease susceptibility as well as hormone stability. Compared with the usual micro flora of a typical Western diet, the gut of macrobiotic or vegetarian subjects may be richer in lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. It has been noted that dietary supplementation with isolated phytoestrogen-rich products may be less effective than a comprehensive healthy dietary change9, which may in the process modify bowel function and micro flora to the good. There has been considerable interest in phytoestrogen intakes in relation to human health. Diadzein, an isoflavone phytoestrogen found in soy, is metabolized to equol and O-desmethylangolensin (O-DMA) by intestinal bacteria. Approximately 30%-50% of the human population produces equol and approximately 80% produce O-desmethylangoiensin10. There are substantial differences individually in the metabolizing of daidzein following the ingestion of soy due to the presence of gut flora. An individual’s ability to produce equol and O-DMA may be associated with reduced risk of certain disease including breast and prostate cancers. The primary roles of the intestinal micro flora include metabolic processes such as fermentation of non-digestible dietary components and metabolism of endogenous mucus and dietary compounds, control of epithelial cell proliferation, and a protective roll such as acting as a barrier to protect against pathogens10. However, relatively few studies in this area have been conducted to date. Isoflavones are structurally similar to the human estrogens and for this reason interest has focused on their effects on hormone production. However the effects of the isoflavones have not always been consistent. Individual differences in isoflavone metabolism based on gut flora could be a contributing factor. Intestinal bacteria play an essential role in diadzein metabolism. Young infants with underdeveloped gut micro flora do not produce either equol or O-DMA10. In vitro work with human intestinal bacteria has shown that estrogen metabolism is carried out differently by various species of bacteria, and in vivo manipulations or disturbance in colon micro flora can alter estrogen metabolism10. It is possible that the daidzein-metabolizing bacteria could be involved in hormone metabolism, although currently there is no substantial data to support this. The Effectiveness of Phyto-Estrogen SupplementsStudies, primarily comparing Asian and Western populations, have been interpreted to indicate that consumption of a diet rich in phytoestrogens in soy improves estrogen deficiency symptoms in postmenopausal women. This fueled a movement towards increased consumption of foods rich in phytoestrogens, and oral supplements of concentrated isoflavone extracts are still being heavily promoted. However, more recent studies, question the validity of the proposed benefits of phytoestrogen supplementation. Controversy exists about the benefit of soy for reduction of hot flashes and protection from heart disease or osteoporosis11. There are three classes of phytoestrogen or estrogen-like substances found in certain plants: isoflavones, found primarily in soy products; lignans, found in most fiber-rich foods such as flax; and coumestans, found in many plants. Two studies of an over-the-counter tablet preparation of isoflavones extracted from red clover versus a placebo in postmenopausal women showed that doses of both 40 milligrams per day and 160 milligrams per day had no greater benefit than placebos for vasomotor or other menopausal symptoms12, 13. Another study reported a positive impact of the use of soy protein on bone health in post-menopausal women who were not on hormone replacement therapy but not on those that were14. Davis (2001)15 concluded that phytoestrogens have not been shown to improve symptoms that characterize the menopausal transition, such as anxiety, mood changes, joint pain, muscle pain, and headaches. Women experiencing mild menopausal symptoms may gain relief by dietary modification and lifestyle changes, such as reducing smoking and consumption of caffeine and alcohol, managing stress, and increasing exercise. However, there seems to be no evidence to support the belief that even a very high intake of soy products will alleviate hot flushes, night sweats, and other symptoms such as dryness, mood changes, and musculoskeletal symptoms. Another study11 concluded that the phytoestrogens available as soy foods, soy extracts, and red clover extracts do not improve hot flushes or other menopausal symptoms. The researchers’ objective was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of phytoestrogens for treatment of menopausal symptoms. The study found that the adverse effects of consuming soy were primarily gastrointestinal and taste intolerance. This may be due to the level of healthy gut micro flora in the subjects studied or a possible allergy to soy. A more recent study16 showed that there are still gaps in the understanding of soy phytoestrogens and their impact on human health and safety. The researchers concluded that it appeared that phytoestrogens might exert both estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects, depending on circulating levels of endogenous sex hormones. Additional research is required to be clear on the effect of dietary isoflavones. Further, some adults lack the intestinal bacteria required to metabolize daidzein in soy products, which may be why soy does not have a positive impact on some women for the treatment or prevention of hormone dependent conditions. The results of the various studies of the effects of isoflavones on hormones in women are varied and conflicted. It is this investigators opinion that the differences may be due to differences in study design, the level of healthy gut micro flora in the test participants, any unknown food allergies of the individual test participants involved, their stress levels, and perhaps other factors yet to be identified. Therefore use of soy isoflavones and their effectiveness needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Research Design The investigator established initial baseline values from pre-tests on individuals that had not had hormone replacement therapy. Saliva levels of cortisol, DHEA, progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol as well as the minerals sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium were measured as the outcome variables. Other dependent variables such as height, weight, sex-drive, energy levels, moods, and stress levels were also measured. Excluded from the program was anyone who had been on any form of hormone replacement therapy, natural or prescription within two years. Also excluded were ones that had been on adrenal glandular supplements within two months of testing. The research participants were put on a program that included exercise, a diet of pure water, nutrient-dense raw foods, hormone-free poultry, fish, essential fatty acids, homemade kefir rich in beneficial flora, and fresh vegetable and fruit juices for sixty days. All non-prescription vitamins and herbal supplements were discontinued one week prior to and during this time. At the end of sixty days the research participants saliva was again tested on the same hormones and the change in values were evaluated. Measuring the change from pre-test to post-test may give an indication of what the human body is able to do with natural support only. Methodology This is a present-day study looking at what affect a healthy diet will have on hormone function. The method of choice in this case was to use a clinical trial to acquire data. Test participants were taken that had previously been on poor diets and evaluated in seventeen areas using a combination of objective data and even some subjective data as well as eleven different laboratory tests. They were then put on a carefully designed protocol to accomplish the following: a) The removal of stress from the digestive track, liver, and adrenal glands b) To incorporate nutrient-dense foods c) The elimination any foods known to alter hormone levels The Test participants were then monitored for eight weeks. At the end of the eight weeks the same saliva tests were run, data was collected, evaluated and compared to the original saliva tests to determine what shift, in any, had taken place in the afore mentioned hormones and what could be done in future trials to make the program more effective. Data Collection and Analysis The investigator established individual baselines by taking saliva samples at four-hour intervals in a twenty-four hour period. The saliva samples were taken at 8:00 a.m., noon, 4:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., midnight and 4:00 a.m. Volunteers consisted of one male age 48, one post-menopausal female age 58, and four cycling women between the ages of 44 and 48. The test participants went through a program of exercise, a diet of pure water, nutrient-dense raw foods and juices for 60 days. They were given dietary instructions for healthy eating and instructed to abstain from specific foods and to include other specific foods for 60 days. Participants kept daily, detailed journals on food intake, exercise, energy changes, fluctuations in sex drive, bowel habits, changes in physical symptoms, and emotions. Personal interviews were held on a weekly basis, where weight and body mass index were measured. Six test participants were accepted, both men and women were encouraged to apply, and no race was excluded. The only health issues that would have caused an exclusion from this study would have been diabetes and cancer. Diabetics were excluded from the program because of the need to be on a regulated diet, they might have been on medications, and because diabetes is a disease of the endocrine system. Participants with cancer were also excluded because the disease may prevent the body from showing an improvement in adrenal function and hormone levels in such a short time period. Also excluded was anyone that had been taking any form of hormone replacement therapy, or adrenal glandulars supplements, as these would skew the lab tests and not give an accurate indication of what the body itself is producing. Sabre Sciences, Inc., a saliva-testing laboratory specializing in research, evaluated the pre- and post-saliva samples. The tests included the minerals: sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg), taken at 8:00 a.m.; six periods of cortisol: 8:00 a.m., noon, 4:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., midnight and 4:00 a.m.; three time periods of DHEA-S: 8:00 a.m., 8:00 p.m. and midnight. Samples for the steroid hormones progesterone, estradiol and testosterone were taken at 8:00 a.m. only. The laboratory evaluated the saliva from the test participants against the median ranges of the general populace in the United States. This evaluation was done at the beginning of the program, prior to the test participants changing to a nutrient-dense food program, and again at the end of eight weeks of being on the nutrient-dense dietary program exclusively. Description of the Nine-Week Research Program Test participants weighed in at the beginning of the program and during this initial week, they were instructed to take the 24-hr. saliva test. Saliva samples were sent to the lab for processing. At the end of the eighth week, saliva samples were taken exactly as at the beginning of the program, and samples were sent to the laboratory for evaluation. Prior to beginning the nutrient-dense food program, the test participants were to keep a detailed food journal of daily foods eaten that was part of their typical dietary habits for a period of one week. They also recorded their energy levels and sex-drive at various times throughout the day, as well as any specific emotional and physical observation, and bowel habits. During every week, the test participants met with the Principal Investigator for weight and BMI checks. Week two they began the nutrient-dense phase of the program, keeping detailed journals exactly as they did in the week prior. The protocol was designed to remove as many substances known to be harmful to the body and replacing them with as many nutrient-dense foods as possible while giving the test participants a variety of good foods to choose from. Juicing was encouraged for its ease of digestibility and because it could provide a denseness of minerals and vitamins. Journals were designed to keep the test participants focused, to document bodily changes, and record subjective data such as libido, energy, and emotions. The time frame of eight weeks for the food program was chosen to keep the test participants compliant while still hoping for a measurable shift in adrenal function even though a relative short period of time was used. Ideally, it would be best to design the study for a longer period of time with more test participants. A test period of four to six months with at least 30 to 50 test participants would be closer to the ideal. Results and Findings After examining the baseline pre-tests and comparing them with the post-tests of the test participants, the investigator determined that there was over-all improvement in adrenal gland function and some of the hormones they produce, but in some areas, the shift was too small to be considered significant. There were aspects of the study that indicate that a nutrient-dense food program can have a positive impact on the adrenal glands and the hormones they influence. Five of the test participants were compliant with the entire program, and one of the female test participants did not comply with the protocol entirely. Rather than discount her results, the investigator included her in the final analysis because there were some significant aspects of her recorded results. Analysis of Data Collected Descriptive analysis was done on a pilot group of six people (five women and one man) over a nine-week period (Table 1). The variables included in the study are listed in Table 1. Table 1 – Demographic Characteristics of Study Participants Initial Period
The information gathered in the analysis was broken down into five different categories: Demographics, Electrolytes, Adrenal Hormones, Sex Hormones, and Well-being (Table 2). A 2-tailed paired T-test was run to look at differences in mean between baseline and end of study of the variables of interest listed below, using STATA version 7.0. The accepted level of significance for all tests was P<0.05. Table 2 – Areas Evaluated
* Females only tested at 8 a.m.; Males tested at 8 a.m., 4 p.m., 8 p.m., and 12 a.m.
Findings The investigator monitored the test participants throughout the entire study and the test participants kept daily journals as an additional aid in monitoring their progress. It was questionable if subject 19966-20741 was truly compliant in following the regulated diet 100%. However, she was still included in the analysis because she was compliant enough to show improvement in some areas and to help increase statistical power. There was a statistically significant difference in BMI, K, Cl, and Ca when comparing week eight of regulated diet to baseline data when patients were on an unrestricted diet (Table 3). There was a 2.12 decrease (p<0.0001) in BMI during the 8-week study period. The changes in the electrolytes, K, Cl, and Ca were in a favorable direction as it was more in the optimal range at the end of the study period. K and Cl showed a decrease (p<01), and Ca showed an increase (p<0.01) during the 8-week study period. There were slight changes in actual levels of adrenal and sex hormones but they did not differ significantly (Table 4). The changes in libido, energy, and emotions were not statistically significant but were clinically significant (Table 5). Table 3 - BMI, K, Cl, Ca Evaluations
Table 4 - Hormone Evaluation
Table 5 - Energy, Libido, and Emotions
This was not a weight loss diet, and the test participants were encouraged to eat to satisfaction as long as they ate foods from the approved list provided. All of the test participants lost weight and had a reduction in body mass index, including test participant #19666-20741 whose compliance is questionable (Table 6). Table 6 - Weight Loss and BMI
Half of the test participant’s bowel movements increased during the eight weeks of nutrient-dense foods, and the other half remained the same. Five of the six noted an increase in energy level during the eight-week program. The only notable increase in sex drive out of the six subjects was the male, and his testosterone levels showed a significant increase as well. (Table 7) Table 7 – Male Test Participant’s Testosterone Levels
The adrenal glands have a normal circadian rhythm that is at peak levels at 8:00 a.m., gradually decreasing during the day to the lowest point at midnight, arising again at 4:00 a.m. until reaching a peak at 8:00 a.m. the cortisol levels will reflect this rhythm on a 24-hour saliva test. If the circadian rhythm is off, (for example the cortisol level being low where it should be higher, or high such as at midnight when it is typically at its lowest output), it usually indicates a stress on the system at that time period. This stress response can come from a drop in blood sugar, an inflammatory response to pain, food allergy, or an emotional stress. Out of the six test participants tested, the pre-tests showed that four began with erratic circadian rhythms. Of those four, three showed a return to normal circadian rhythms on the post-test. One of the four test participants (#19966-20741) actually displayed more dysfunction perhaps due to non-compliance or consuming foods that stressed the system. (See Appendix B through G for complete results of all test participants) Out of the six test participants, 50% showed a healthy increase in 8:00 a.m. cortisol levels, two remained virtually unchanged, and one (again, subject #19966-20741) "forgot" to take the 8:00 a.m. saliva sample on the post-test, making it impossible to compare that time period with the pre-test. DHEA-S samples did not show significant improvement in the six test participants; however testosterone levels showed healthy improvement in all but one of the test participants, again this one being test participant #19966-20741 who was not 100% compliant. The progesterone and estradiol for the four cycling women were all within range for both the pre and post-tests. Because these two hormones fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle, the investigator considered where each woman was with respect to her cycle when analyzing the saliva tests, and the changes in these hormones were not significant. The one post-menopausal woman showed no improvement in her levels of progesterone or estradiol. She showed a level of depletion on her initial test and was still showing depletion at the end of the trial period; however her testosterone level went from sub-optimal to falling within the optimal range at the end of the eight-week trial. Summary There | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
