The Health Plus Letter
February 19, 2009 Vol. 7, No. 5
By Larry Trivieri, Jr. – founder & publisher
http://www.1healthyworld.com
Table Of Contents
New This Issue
Quote of the Day
Fast Fact
Your Weekly Health Tip: Boost Your Energy
CoQ10: Most Brands Are Virtually Worthless
Low-Dose Aspirin Not Answer For Heart Health by Philip Domenico, PhD
Recommendation
Medical Freedom
Contact Information
New This Issue
Welcome to another issue of The Health Plus Letter. This week I’m introducing a new regular feature to the newsletter—Your Weekly Health Tip. This week, learn how you can quickly and easily start to boost your energy levels.
Also in this issue, you’ll find two heart-centric articles. The first is on CoQ10 and why most brands of this supplement are not effective. The second marks the return of Dr. Phil Domenico to the newsletter. This time Phil tells us why aspirin is hardly the wonder drug Big Pharma would have us believe it is, and offers healthier, safer natural approaches for achieving the same benefits that aspirin provides. (And be sure to pay attention to what he has to say about calcium supplements; it’s information that could save your life.)
As always, please spread the word about The Health Plus Letter by passing it along to your friends and inviting them to subscribe.
Quote Of The Day
“We live in a world alienated from its sacred dimension.”
-- Alberto Villodo
Fast Fact
91 percent of all surveyed oncologists state that they would not use chemotherapy for themselves or for their loved ones if they were diagnosed with cancer.
Your Weekly Health Tip: Boost Your Energy
Here’s a tip that will help you to experience more energy throughout the day. First, get in the habit of going to bed and getting up in the morning at the same time each day. This will help your body to program itself to more easily fall asleep while at the same time making it easier for you to get out of bed without feeling tired. To create further benefits, as soon as you get up in the morning, try to expose yourself to sunlight for 30 minutes. You can do this by taking an outdoor stroll or by simply sitting by the window while you have breakfast. (If your job requires you to get up before sunrise, you can gain similar benefits by using a light therapy box, which mimics natural sunlight.) By exposing yourself to light each morning, you will be helping your body’s hypothalamus gland, which governs the 24-hour cycle known as your circadian rhythms, to provide you with energy throughout the day, and then prepare you for a restful night’s sleep. Try this for a few weeks and you may be surprised by the positive difference it can make in your energy levels.
Unabashed Plug
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CoQ10: Most Brands Are Virtually Worthless
Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10 for short, is one of the most important nutrients and widely recommended by nutritionally-oriented physicians because of its ability to protect against heart disease, high blood pressure, premature aging, gum disease, free radical damage and various other degenerative health conditions, and it helps safeguard the health of the brain and bolster immune function. CoQ10 also is important for healthy skin, and can help protect against skin cancer. In addition, CoQ10 plays a vital role in maintaining the healthy function of your cells’ energy factories, the mitochondria. According to Dr. Robert Jay Rowan, one of our nation’s top holistic physicians, the overall health benefits of CoQ10 have been proven by over 1,500 peer-reviewed scientific studies
CoQ10 is produced naturally by your body. However, peak production of CoQ10 occurs in one’s early 20s. After that, the body’s production of CoQ10 begins to decline, in most cases precipitously so once reaches age 40. Since CoQ10 isn’t readily found in food, and because it is so important for optimal health, it is not surprising that the use of CoQ10 supplements have dramatically increased during the last two decades, as more doctors and lay people have learned about the significant health benefits it provides. (Ironically, few cardiologists in the United States recommend CoQ10 to their patients despite the fact that CoQ10 plays such an important role in preventing and helping to reverse most types of heart disease.)
Unfortunately, in the majority of case, the CoQ10 supplements that people use today are virtually worthless unless they are taken in extremely high doses. That’s because the majority of CoQ10 supplements being sold today contain a form of CoQ10 known as ubiquinone.
What’s Wrong With Ubiquinone?
Two things, actually. First, ubiquinone is very poorly absorbed. In fact, only 4 percent of ubiquinone taken orally is able to be absorbed by the body. That means that 96 percent of the ubiquinone is not able to be used by your body. Instead, it simply gets eliminated in your urine. (Yes, this is one of the rare examples in which the “expensive urine” attack made against supplements by the pro-pharmaceutical drug camp is true.)
Because of how poorly ubiquinone is able to be absorbed and used by your body, you would have to take megadoses of it before you experienced the health benefits CoQ10 provides. Dr. Rowan states that the average person would need to consume 3,000 mg of ubiquinone a day to receive any benefit. Considering that CoQ10 supplements are usually in the range of 30 to 100 mg, you can easily understand why a daily intake of 3000 mg of ubiquinone would be a very expensive proposition.
But even if you can afford such an extreme measure, there is still another problem with ubiquinone. And that is that, before the small percentage of ubiquinone that your body is able to absorb can be used, it first must be converted into ubiquinol, the primary version of CoQ10 that is produced by your body. (CoQ10 found in blood has a composition that is 95 percent ubiquinol.) This conversion requires energy being used by your body that would otherwise be used for other purposes.
So What’s the Solution?
Although your body requires and produces both forms of C0Q10, it’s clear that ubiquinol is by far the most essential form. Based on that fact, you may wonder why manufacturers of CoQ10 chose to market ubiquinone formulas over ubiquinol. The answer to that question, until recently, was ubiquinol, when exposed to oxygen (oxidation), turns into ubiquinone as a direct result of the oxidation process. Given that fact, from a manufacturer’s standpoint, there would be little reason to bring ubiquinol to market when it would quickly turn into ubiquinone in the presence of oxygen. That’s why, today, most CoQ10 products on the market are made up of ubiquinone, not ubiquinol.
Fortunately, this trend is starting to change thanks to recent innovations that allows manufacturers to make a stabilized form of ubiquinol that effectively resists the oxidation process. In addition, researchers have proven that the human body is far better able to absorb this stabilized form of ubiquinol compared to ubiquinone. As a result, the studies show, amounts of ubiquinol that are nearly a tenth the amount of ubiquinone are able to provide the same benefits. In short, this means that you get far greater benefit from ubiquinol in lower doses than you do from ubiquinone. Just as importantly, the ubiquinol form of CoQ10 has been shown to be far more effective for protecting body cholesterol from oxidizing. (It’s the oxidation process, rather than cholesterol levels themselves, that is the reason cholesterol has been linked to heart disease; when cholesterol does not oxidize, it poses little to no threat for heart disease.)
Based on all of these facts, it’s clear that the best choice for CoQ10 supplementation is to use stabilized ubiquinol, not ubiquinone. Although such products typically cost more than the more common standard CoQ10 products, they are far more effective for providing the health benefits you want. So, the next time you buy a CoQ10 supplement, be sure that you check the label. Because if you’re buying ubiquinone, you are in effect throwing your money away.
Note: If you are on any of the following prescription medicines, please consult with your physician before using CoQ10: ACE inhibitors, anticoagulants, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, diabetes drugs, diuretics, dopamine-enhancers, insulin, and HMG Co-A Reductase Inhibitors. The use of CoQ10 benefits may require that the dosages o such drugs be changed. Pregnant women should also consult with their doctors before using CoQ10.
Also note that statin drugs significantly reduce CoQ10 levels in the body, thereby increasing the need for CoQ10 supplementation.
Unabashed Plug
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Low-Dose Aspirin Not Answer for Heart Health by Philip Domenico, PhD
If you listen to the reigning experts from the pharmaceutical world, aspirin appears to be the cure-all for everything. Now, a new Yale University study suggests that low-dose aspirin may prevent liver damage caused by side effects of drugs, alcohol, and obesity. Specifically, aspirin reduced mortality caused by Tylenol overdose in mice. Given together with Tylenol, it offered significant protection, increasing survival from 22 to 43%. Other drugs that block inflammation were also shown to protect the liver (Imaeda et al., 2009). As usual, no mention was made of anti-inflammatory vitamins and minerals in this study.
A number of pharmaceutical industry-sponsored studies support the use of aspirin for prevention. Low-dose aspirin is positioned as a widely available, inexpensive, and relatively safe drug regimen. Its anti-clotting effect is used widely to prevent heart attacks, strokes and blood clot formation. Given immediately after a heart attack, aspirin is said to reduce heart damage and the risk of another heart attack. Now, low dose aspirin may be promoted to inhibit liver inflammation from drug use. Consider, however, that higher doses may increase liver toxicity.
Thus, from one single mouse study, the authors conclude that aspirin should be taken daily to help prevent or treat liver damage from a host of non-infectious causes. They even suggest that drugs previously discarded due to liver toxicity might be resurrected if combined with aspirin. Soon enough, a new OTC drug combining Tylenol and low-dose aspirin is likely to show up in drugstores.
However, aspirin is not the cure-all that the industry makes it out to be. Aspirin is not recommended for those with intolerance or resistance to nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs, or by those with bleeding problems, asthma, kidney disease, peptic ulcers, diabetes, gout or gastritis. There is an increased risk of stomach bleeding when aspirin is taken with alcohol or warfarin. Up to 28% of patients who take low-dose aspirin to ward off heart attacks develop peptic ulcers, though often without symptoms (Yeomans et al., 2005). Factors that increase ulcer risk include old age or infection with H. pylori. Aspirin should also not be given to young people for colds or flu, as this has been linked with Reye`s syndrome. As with any drug, the benefits of aspirin should be carefully assessed before taking it for long periods.
Generally speaking, no drug is a solution for chronic degenerative disease. Aspirin is no exception, as it is in fact a metabolic poison. Indeed, aspirin`s side effects may far outweigh any benefits. Aspirin can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer (Schernhammer 2004), damage kidneys, and promote gastric bleeding. The WASH (Warfarin/Aspirin Study in Heart failure) study provided no evidence that aspirin is effective or safe in patients with heart failure. Indeed, there were trends toward a worse outcome among those taking aspirin, including heart failure (Cleland et al., 2004). It is likely that aspirin is not as safe as suggested. It may also not be as cheap as advertised, when calculating the costs of treatment for adverse effects. Perhaps the greatest detriment of aspirin is that it diverts attention away from treatments that are truly beneficial.
Nevertheless, it is not wise to go cold turkey with any medication. People who stop taking aspirin once they`ve been doing it for a while risk serious heart problems. More than 10% of people taking daily aspirin for heart reasons were hospitalized within one week of stopping the therapy. It`s a Catch-22 situation, since aspirin can increase the risk of heart damage, but stopping long-term therapy can do the same. Solutions? Start by asking your doctor to safely wean you off blood-thinners without shocking your system into a heart attack. In the future, take these drugs only when needed. There are many natural alternatives to aspirin that are heart healthy without the damaging side effects.
Healthy Alternatives
So, what are the best alternatives to aspirin? Simple lifestyle changes such as reducing refined carbohydrate and trans fat intake, eating more alkaline foods (low-carb veggies and fruits) and exercising can have a tremendously positive effect on your cardiovascular system. There are also natural supplements with blood-thinning properties, such as Fish Oil, Vitamin E, Nattokinase, and Bromelain. Among the spices, Basil is known for preventing blood clotting. Scientists caution not to take these potential blood thinners with aspirin, as the combination may thin the blood excessively. However, fish oil may safely enhance the anti-platelet effect of baby aspirin (Larson 2008). A basic supplement regimen for cardiovascular health includes a high quality multivitamin, natural mixed vitamin E and pharmaceutical grade fish oil. There are also many minerals and antioxidants from food and supplements that boost circulatory health. Remember to buy top shelf supplements, not the cheap drugstore junk produced by the pharmaceutical industry. The extra cost is well worth the investment. Remember also to stop taking all blood thinners at least a week before surgery to avoid internal bleeding.
Furthermore, be careful with excessive calcium supplementation. Too much calcium, without other nutrients to prevent its crystallization in the body, leads to hardening of the arteries and abnormal blood clotting. Reducing calcium intake to 800 mg daily combined with magnesium, vitamin K2, vitamin D3, boron and fish oil is by far a better bone building strategy that can also improve heart health. Unfortunately, most magnesium supplements come in the oxide form, which is not absorbed by the body. Take 100-200 mg magnesium daily as citrate or taurate (or another absorbable form) to soften calcium. Vitamin K2 (but not vitamin K1) has been shown to decalcify blood vessels (Beulens et al., 2008). Vitamin D3 should be on everyone`s list to improve calcium metabolism and reduce inflammation.
There are also special foods and supplements that prevent excessive blood clotting. Nattokinase is an enzyme made from fermented soybeans that can prevent or dissolve clots. It is comparable to aspirin in enhancing blood flow, without the side effects. Nattokinase provides longer lasting benefits than aspirin without the potential for abnormal bleeding. By increasing circulation, Nattokinase enhances tissue oxygenation and increases nutrient and supplement utilization. This, in turn, increases energy, supports vision, promotes bone and joint health, alleviates minor joint and muscle pains, and supports memory (Peng et al., 2005). Nattokinase in combination with appropriate lifestyle and dietary modifications can provide excellent protection from heart attacks.
Flavonol-rich cocoa drinks and dark chocolate also compare favorably with low-dose aspirin for healthy blood clotting (Mehrinfar 2008). Cocoa may be the preferred way to thin blood, since it tastes so good, and bolsters antioxidant defenses. In contrast, aspirin may reduce antioxidant activity by blocking Vitamin C entry into cells. Tomato extracts have also been shown to help thin blood, and may contribute to cardiovascular health. By reducing platelet activation, tomato contributes to a reduction in clotting events that lead to heart attack and stroke, as shown in clinical trials (O`Kennedy 2006). Garlic`s blood-thinning effect is part of an ancient tradition. It stems from garlic`s ability to lower blood triglyceride levels. Indeed, a wide variety of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds derived from fruits and vegetables work in synergy to promote cardiovascular health. Many of these phytochemicals are available as supplements, either separately or in synergistic blends.
If you insist on taking aspirin, consider that zinc and selenium may prevent aspirin`s impairment of antioxidant, liver and kidney function (Kesik et al., 2008). These antioxidant minerals can be found in ideal form and sufficient quantity in high quality multivitamins.
In conclusion, virtually all pharmaceutical approaches to health should be considered with caution. Drugs are not the best answer to improve health, and should not be anyone`s first choice. Furthermore, drug combinations are likely to cause more problems than they fix. Unfortunately, the pharmaceutical industry seems more concerned with profit than with health and welfare. Even well meaning doctors typically have no training in nutrition, and are not the best source of information in many areas of health. With so many beneficial nutrients available to improve blood flow and reduce inflammation, wholesome food and supplements are the cornerstone to health. Those who would recommend drugs for these purposes, especially to counteract the toxic effects of other drugs, have another agenda altogether.
References
Beulens JWJ, Bots ML, Atsma F, et al. High dietary menaquinone intake is associated with reduced coronary calcification. Atherosclerosis. 2008 Jul 19. [Epub ahead of print]
Cleland JG, Findlay I, Jafri S, et al. The warfarin/aspirin study in heart failure (WASH): a randomized trial comparing antithrombotic strategies for patients with heart failure. Am Heart J 2004;148:157-64.
Imaeda AB, Watanabe1 A, Sohail1 MA, et al. Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice is dependent on Tlr9 and the Nalp3 inflammasome. J Clin Invest Jan 26, 2009.
Kesik V, Lenk MK, Kurekci AE, et al. Do zinc and selenium prevent the antioxidant, hepatic and renal system impairment caused by aspirin in rats? Biol Trace Elem Res 2008;123:168-78.
Larson MK, Ashmore JH, Harris KA, et al. Effects of omega-3 acid ethyl esters and aspirin, alone and in combination, on platelet function in healthy subjects. Thromb Haemost 2008;100:634-41.
Mehrinfar R, Frishman WH. Flavanol-rich cocoa: a cardioprotective nutraceutical.
Cardiol Rev 2008;16:109-15.
O`Kennedy N, Crosbie L, Whelan S, et al. Effects of tomato extract on platelet function: a double-blinded crossover study in healthy humans. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;84:561-9.
Peng Y, Yang X, Zhang Y, et al. Microbial fibrinolytic enzymes: an overview of source, production, properties, and thrombolytic activity in vivo. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2005;69:126-32.
Schernhammer ES, Kang JH, Chan AT, et al. A prospective study of aspirin use and the risk of pancreatic cancer in women. J Natl Cancer Inst 2004;96:22-8.
Yeomans ND, Lanas AI, Talley NJ, et al. Prevalence and incidence of gastroduodenal ulcers during treatment with vascular protective doses of aspirin. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2005;22:795-801.
Unabashed Plug
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Recommendations
Websites
www.lifeclassroom.com - This membership site is still in its prelaunch stage, yet it already offers a wealth of empowering information one a wide range of topics, all from leading experts in their respective fields. Best of all, all of the information is available to you from your computer and the first level of membership is free. I’ve just accepted an invitation to join the site’s faculty and will let you know once I begin offering articles and trainings.
http://www.healingpeople.com - This is an excellent source of health care information, featuring contributions from a number of excellent physicians, including Dr. C. Norman Shealy.
Medical Freedom
Please contact and support the following organizations dedicated to protecting our health freedoms.
Citizens for Health - http://www.citizens.org
Alliance for Natural Health – http://www.alliance-natural-health.org (The leading organization fighting to preserve health freedom in England and the EU.)
Institute for Health Freedom – http://www.ForHealthFreedom.org
International Advocates for Health Freedom (IAHF) – http://www.iahf.com
And to learn how corrupt and extensive Big Pharma’s monopoly is, visit http://www.pnc.com.au/~cafmr/online/research/index.html the website for the Campaign Against Fraudulent Medical Research. In particular, read their in-depth report The Pharmaceutical Drug Racket that you will find there.
That’s all for this week.
Health and Blessings!
Larry Trivieri, Jr.
Contact Information: Due to the inordinate amount of spam my email account receives, I no longer use it to receive emails. To contact me, please visit www.1healthyworld.com/contactus
Disclaimer: The Health Plus Letter is a weekly eZine published by Larry Trivieri, Jr. and Library of Health, LLC (dba www.1healthyworld.com) 3 Greenwood Court, Utica, NY 13501. It is made available without charge for information purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical care. If you are experiencing a health problem, seek prompt medical attention.
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Legal Notice: The information in this eZine may be freely and widely disseminated so long as full attribution is made as follows: The Health Plus Letter, February 19, 2009, Vol. 7, No. 5. Copyright © 2009 by Larry Trivieri, Jr. All rights reserved.
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