Why underestimated? Well, even naturopaths seldom recommend it and most people who take natural food supplements have never even heard of it.

What is N-A-C?

N-A-C is a form of the essential amino acid cysteine, something used by the body to make glutathione (GSH), one of the body’s most important antioxidants. In fact, all the benefits of N-A-C are due to the fact that it boosts the blood levels of GSH. The major impact of N-A-C is on the immune system, liver protection, detoxification, and cardiovascular health. We all badly need its anti-inflammatory protection.

Read more about inflammation

How It Works

N-A-C modulates the expression of genes that affect the inflammatory process. It inhibits the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, suppresses NF-kappa B and regulates the gene for COX-2 thereby preventing inflammation and pain. These chemicals are involved in hundreds of inflammatory conditions and diseases. In other words, N-A-C is anti-inflammatory and can either blunt or reverse chronic inflammatory conditions.

Benefits of N-A-C

N-A-C Cardiovascular System Benefits

N-A-C prevents LDL-cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) from being oxidized and causing inflammatory damage to the blood vessels. N-A-C lowers the levels of homocysteine, which prevents the buildup of plaque in the arteries. The lower the homocysteine, the less likelihood of arterial blockage.

N-A-C is also effective at lowering the blood levels of lipoprotein a (Lp(a)), thought by many scientists to be a more accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease than blood levels of cholesterol. Diet changes and drugs do not lower Lp(a) anywhere as well as N-A-C.

N-A-C also improves insulin resistance and will improve metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and hypoglycemia.

Neurological Benefits of N-A-C

Since GSH has been documented to help numerous neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, hearing damage, ataxia and ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), it stands to reason that N-A-C would be helpful because supplementation of it raises the blood levels of GSH.

Immune System Benefits

Because N-A-C boosts the body’s levels of GSH, it can help to fight viruses. GSH is vital for optimal T and B-lymphocyte function.

One would think it might be a good idea to supplement the body with GSH, but the major problem here is that GSH is not absorbed intact from the gastrointestinal tract. Oral GSH supplementation is destroyed and inactivated by stomach acid. N-A-C is not.

Supplementation of N-A-C is, therefore, more desirable because the body will make much more GSH than if supplementing GSH orally in any form.

Aside from viruses, N-A-C protects the body from numerous pollutants, drugs, microbes and toxic heavy metals like mercury. N-A-C is mucolytic which means that it breaks up heavy and sticky mucous that can build up in conditions such as sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and cystic fibrosis. N-A-C is therefore indispensable in any condition that involves excessive mucous.

Evidence exists that N-A-C blocks the progression of most cancers and could be taken with chemotherapy to improve treatment outcomes.

Detoxification Benefits of N-A-C

N-A-C protects the body from many different toxins because of its content of sulfhydryl groups that can bind and inactivate herbicides, mercury, cadmium, lead, other toxic heavy metals, drugs like acetaminophen, environmental pollutants, microbes like E. Coli, carbon tertrachloride and aflatoxin. Although not a drug, N-A-C has government approval as a drug to prevent liver damage from acetaminophen (Tylenol) poisoning.

A very common condition that plagues more than 50 million people in North America is a condition known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this condition, the liver stores excessive amounts of fat mostly due to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome or diabetes. Liver function tests are usually elevated indicating damage to liver cells and the liver appears grossly fatty on an ultrasound. This condition is benefitted by the strict restriction of simple carbohydrates as well as a vigorous exercise program. Studies also show a significant improvement in liver function tests in those suffering from NAFLD with supplementation of N-A-C. Not only does it protect liver cells but it also helps heal a damaged liver.

Respiratory Tract Benefits

N-A-C is mucolytic (dissolves mucous). Many lung and bronchial issues can benefit from high N-A-C supplementation. N-A-C helps reduce the viscosity of mucous so that the body can more easily cough it up. A number of studies also conclude that N-A-C can help to prevent influenza, possible through this mucolytic mechanism.

N-A-C reduces both the frequency and duration of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) attacks and may blunt the ravaging clinical course of pulmonary fibrosis, a usually lethal lung disease.

In my practice, I have had a great deal of success using an N-A-C nasal spray to treat chronic sinus pain and congestion. Combining the spray with high dose oral N-A-C and vitamin C is often more effective than prescription antibiotics for chronic or recurrent sinusitis.

Stomach and Other Gut Benefits

The bacteria known as H.Pylori has been acknowledged to be the cause of ulcers, gastritis, reflux disorder discomforts and even different types of gastrointestinal cancer. N-A-C supplementation is capable of inactivating H. Pylori and is something worth adding to any resistance to antibiotics H. Pylori infections.

Kidney Disease Benefits

Kidney disease is greatly helped by N-A-C supplementation. Even dialysis patients can be helped by as little as 600 mg N-A-C daily to reduce inflammation occurring in chronic kidney disease.

Compulsive Hair Pulling/Psychiatric Illness Improvement

Trichotillomania is a bizarre obsessive-compulsive disorder in which victims pull out their hair for inexplicable reasons causing noticeable hair loss. The usual treatment is anti-depressant drugs or tranquilizers. Studies indicate that N-A-C significantly reduces the compulsive hair pulling.

Schizophrenia, autism, bipolar illness, and other obsessive-compulsive disorders may also be improved with N-A-C.

Athletic Benefits

Due to its antioxidant effects and benefits to the respiratory system, N-A-C improves athletic performance. Specifically, N-A-C reduces muscle fatigue and as proven in double-blind studies, enhances athletic endurance.

Read more about athletic performance

Anti-Aging Benefits

If you can effectively scavenge harmful free radicals it stands to reason that you can prevent premature aging. This phenomenon has indeed been proven in numerous scientific studies.

Drug Addiction Benefits

Studies also indicate that N-A-C may diminish the craving for highly addictive drugs. As such, it may be a useful adjunct in any drug detoxification program.

Ideal Dosages of N-A-C

There are no accepted ideal dosages for N-A-C. My advice is to start at 600 mg daily and gradually build up to a maximum of 3000 mg daily. Ideally, take with an equivalent amount of vitamin C for maximum free radical scavenging effects.

Side Effects

Despite more than 40 years of clinical use by naturopaths, holistic medical doctors and nutritionists of virtually every stripe, N-A-C has a well-established safety record even at very high dosages over long periods of time (you can take it virtually without worry for months and probably years).

Some people experience nausea when taking N-A-C on an empty stomach but the majority do not experience any side effects if they take it with food.

Bottom Line

N-A-C is an important amino acid I have made a part of my practice. Consider discussing it with your health care professional.

[Editor's Note: New Roots Herbals has a high-quality N‑Acetylcysteine (NAC) or check your local health food store.]

Read next: Amino Acid Supplements-Benefits and Hazards

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Acute inflammation prevents the spread of damaging agents, disposes of cell debris, and sets the stage for tissue repair that returns the body to its original state. Chronic inflammation often leads to tissue destruction (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, chronic bronchitis) and is now thought to be the most important factor in causing heart disease, Type II diabetes, obesity, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, neurodegenerative diseases, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as all autoimmune diseases.

Read more: Bring on Blueberries to Fight Alzheimer's Disease

Inflammation can be triggered by improper diet or food choices, stress, man-made chemicals in the air, food, water, cosmetics and drugs, pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Conventional medicine seems to acknowledge many of these causative agents but it's overwhelming “solution” is prescription drugs. While short-term use of steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) drugs can be very effective, long-term use of any of these drugs (beyond a few weeks) can lead to life-threatening side effects (hemorrhage, osteoporosis, heart disease, and premature death).

On a molecular level, the damage to tissues caused by inflammation is the result of free radicals, the highly unstable atoms or molecules possessing an unpaired electron that look to steal electrons from more stable molecules. Free radicals come from pesticides, microwave damage to our food, burnt foods, fried foods, rancid foods, irradiated foods, microbe contaminated food, trans-fats, hydrogenated oils, thousands of inhaled or transdermal chemicals and preservatives.

One defense against free radicals is antioxidants, a class of substances that can neutralize free radicals before they can cause any tissue damage. They prevent damage to our DNA. Antioxidants can be found in many foods, especially colorful fruits and vegetables. They go by names like lycopene, beta-carotene and vitamins A, C, E, and bioflavonoids. In general, the foods containing these antioxidants are alkaline-forming while more acid-forming foods (meats, dairy, most grains, especially gluten, sugar, and refined carbohydrates) are acid-forming and free radical generating.

Read more: The 5 Most Common Nutritional Deficiencies and How to Beat Them

Julie Daniluk’s book, Meals That Heal Inflammation, is one of the best of the books available that not only tells you what the best foods are for healing inflammation but also gives you many practical suggestions for meals.

Anti-Inflammatory Supplements

All antioxidant supplements are anti-inflammatory and all anti-inflammatory supplements are antioxidants. A good anti-inflammatory protocol is listed below. The severity of the inflammation involved dictates the number and dosages for all these supplements.

• Multivitamin and Mineral: this would be the bare minimum to provide antioxidants; avoid multiples containing iron since too much iron can be pro-inflammatory).

• B Complex Vitamins: essential for numerous beneficial effects for inflammation, especially in heart disease.

• Vitamins A, C, D, K, and E Complex: all demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory activity in all inflammatory conditions. Deficiencies make inflammation worse.

• Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone): a powerful antioxidant that is particularly useful for all cardiovascular problems including high blood pressure. CoQ10 is a must for anyone taking cardiac medications because most cardiac drugs destroy the body’s own production of CoQ10. CoQ10 has anti-cancer effects and is an effective therapy for Parkinson’s disease.

• Serrapeptase: an enzyme derived from the silkworm appears to be one of the most potent and effective of all the anti-inflammatory enzymes. In high enough doses, serrapeptase is capable of dissolving atherosclerotic plaque. It can also dissolve a cancer cell’s protective coat thereby making virtually any chemotherapeutic remedy more effective.

• Curcumin: from the spice turmeric is a potent natural anti-inflammatory agent compared in efficacy as an anti-inflammatory agent to prescription corticosteroids. Research also indicates curcumin could be an effective natural anticancer agent.

• Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA fractions): from fish oil are effective at suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines without side effects. Ideally omega-3 fatty acids work best with high doses of vitamin D. EPA acts as a substrate for enzymes called cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases. It competes with arachidonic acid (pro-inflammatory) for these enzymes. Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids thus reduces inflammation because arachidonic acid derivatives (prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes) are less active. The potency of these fish oils approximates those of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) with negligible side effects.

Read more: The Amazing Health Benefits of Serrapeptase 

If you wish to start an anti-inflammatory program of diet change and supplements, it’s highly recommended you see a natural health care provider to work with you on a personalized plan.

DISCLAIMER: This article contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, Naturally Savvy will receive a small commission so we can keep pumping out amazing articles like this one. Thank you so much for your support!

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If you are looking to improve your iron status through diet, here are the best sources from foods (5-18 mg/100 g food): liver, prune juice, kidney, heart, molasses, pork, beef, sunflower seeds, kidney beans, pinto beans, oyster, clam, lima beans, lentils, navy beans, sesame seeds, tahini, chickpeas, hummous, lamb, egg yolk, rice polishings, rice bran, millet, parsley, Jerusalem artichoke, buckwheat.

Less concentrated iron food sources (1-5 mg/100 g food): walnuts, mustard greens, soy milk, almonds, cashews, chicken, turkey, shrimp, tuna, mackerel, veal, wheat germ, sardines, dandelion greens, butternut squash, dates, prunes, tomato juice, split peas, liverwurst, tortillas, peas, brewer's yeast, raisins, Brussels sprouts, kale, collards, spinach, apricots, peaches, turnip greens, beet tops, whole grain cereals, lentils, kelp, tofu, tempeh, whey powder, watercress, elderberries, endive, cucumbers, chestnuts, chard, barley, Brazil nuts, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, persimmons, brown rice.

Iron supplements

Most medical doctors recommend 300 mg of ferrous gluconate or ferrous fumarate once or twice daily for iron deficiency. Many different brands of this type of iron supplement are available at a regular pharmacy. These would be fine if they didn't cause black stools, stomach irritation, and constipation in most people taking them. In addition, their absorption into the bloodstream is weak. In severe cases of diarrhea, they might have a role to play as alternatives to narcotics or other toxic constipating drugs. The constipation side effect can sometimes be ameliorated by taking the pharmaceutical iron with a hefty dose of vitamin C (1000 mg or more). As you may know, high doses of vitamin C can cause loose bowel movements.

If you would prefer to use more of a natural iron supplement, I recommend the health food store brand Floradix liquid iron and Floravital (the same, only yeast-free), made in Germany by Salus-Haus and distributed in North America by Flora. Constipation is usually not a problem with these because the iron is in a liquid form and also contains some vitamin B12 and fruit juice concentrates for better absorption. Floradix is also available in a tablet form. I have recommended the Floradix brand with excellent results for over 20 years.

In addition, numerous popular health food store brands make iron citrate, iron aspartate, and iron picolinate supplements, which are all much better tolerated and absorbed than the harsh pharmaceutical iron tablets. They are freely available in the USA; however, the laws governing nutritional supplements is considerably different in Canada, and the asparate and picolinate versions are hard to find there.

Iron can be a double-edged sword. If you are on any iron supplement, it's important to get your blood checked periodically in case of developing iron overload, a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and liver problems. This issue is especially important in men and post-menopausal women who do not have the opportunity of monthly iron loss through menstruation.

Dr. Zoltan Rona

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We are in the midst of an epidemic of age-related blindness known as macular degeneration (AMD). Globally, it is the leading cause of permanent vision loss.

According to the Macular Society, 20 million people will have the disease by the year 2040. Already, most estimates are that over 11 million people in North America suffer from AMD. Most of these victims are over the age of 60. And it’s not just older adults who will develop AMD but also smokers, those on poor diets with nutrient deficiencies, diabetics, and those on multiple drug prescriptions who do not supplement with the nutrients depleted by their drugs.

Aside from vision loss, some of the early symptoms of AMD include difficulty reading, seeing blank spots and color changes, and other visual distortions. For those who are experiencing any of these symptoms, an eye specialist can confirm the diagnosis.

AMD is thought to be the direct result of free radical damage to the macula, a small area located at the center of the retina responsible for fine vision.

The retina and lens of the eye are continuously exposed to oxygen and light radiation. This creates free radicals – volatile molecules with unpaired electrons that can damage the retina leading to AMD. The lens can also be attacked by these free radicals, creating a cataract. In normal circumstances, the body uses substances called antioxidants to protect itself from free radical damage. Unfortunately, as one ages, fewer and fewer of these antioxidants are produced by the body. And unless one can obtain these antioxidants from the diet or nutritional supplements, eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other eye disorders develop.

There are two kinds of AMD. One is called the ‘dry’ form which is the most common (90%), and the other is the ‘wet’ form which is more serious and follows the dry form after some time. There is no cure for either form, only prevention. Yes, there are expensive eye injections that could improve macular vision (e.g. Lucentis), but these are not cures. As of 2018, your best bet is to prevent the disease in the first place.

Dietary Strategies for AMD Prevention

AMD prevention involves focusing on a better diet along with vitamins and phytonutrients found in certain fruits and vegetables, herbs, and other natural health products.

1. Provided you are not intolerant of them, eat more legumes which have a cleansing effect due to their high content of sulphur-containing amino acids.

Read more about the 7 Healthiest Beans, Grains and Legumes

2. Consume more fresh fruits and vegetables, especially yellow vegetables. Berries are wonderful; particularly blueberries because of their high content of anthocyanidins, and cherries because they offer carotenes, flavonoids, and vitamins E and C. Carotenoids are most strongly associated with reduced risk of macular degeneration, especially lutein and zeaxanthin. The best sources are spinach, kale, and collard greens.

3. You are what you absorb. Look to gut health if dietary improvements and nutritional supplementation are not having much of an impact. Do you have malabsorption because of a gluten intolerance? Other food intolerances? Do you have leaky gut syndrome? Do you have fungal overgrowth or dysbiosis? Do you need digestive enzymes? Tests done by a naturopath or alternative medical doctor can reveal these issues so that good progress can be made.

Recommended Nutrients

Omega-3 fatty acids (from fish oil) – Omega-3 fatty acids consist of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Studies show that eating fatty fish which are high in these two omega-3 components, at least once a week, cuts the risk of AMD in half. I have found, however, that heavy fish eaters tend to develop high mercury blood levels. Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin which itself can cause optic nerve damage. (Fish are not as healthy a food choice as they once used to be.) In my view, consumers are better off supplementing with either liquid or capsule forms of DHA and EPA because the mercury and other toxins have been removed. An ideal dose is 4,000 mg of combined DHA and EPA daily. [Editor's Note: We recommend fish oil supplements from Barlean's, their Swirls are so delicious and come in a variety of flavors with no fishy after taste.]

Other healthy oils that could be added to the diet include olive oil, coconut oil, ghee, hemp oil, and black seed oil. Avoid trans fats, margarine, corn oil, and canola oil.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin – These are pigments that give vegetables like spinach their color. They are fat-soluble carotenoids found in the retina that offer antioxidant protection for the retinal cells.

Vitamin A – Deficiency of this vitamin causes blindness. The primary source of preformed vitamin A in the diet comes from animal sources. There is no vitamin A to be found in the plant kingdom. In vegans, the body uses zinc to convert carotene into vitamin A. Vegans would be wise to check their blood levels of vitamin A if experiencing eye fatigue, blurred vision, or other visual problems.

Vitamin D – Low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with a greater incidence of AMD. Most people living in the northern hemisphere who do not get enough sunshine exposure, or who do not take a supplement, are at higher risk. Those adults who don’t get enough sun need to supplement between 5,000-10,000 IU daily.

Green drinks – Most green drinks on the market contain large amounts of various carotenoids coming from algae like spirulina, chlorella, or super blue green algae.

Astaxanthin – This is one of the most powerful of the carotenoid antioxidants that can cross the blood-brain barrier and protect the macula from free radical damage. Astaxanthin has numerous other anti-inflammatory properties and so it has benefits for a wide range of chronic illnesses.

Read more about Herbal Remedies for Dry Eyes

Vitamin C – This vitamin is present in the vitreous humor of the eye in concentrations that are 25 times the normal serum level, and at 100 times the serum level in the retina. In other words, the body stores vitamin C in the eye where it is used as an antioxidant to prevent the lens crystallization that causes cataracts. Vitamin C in high doses also decreases raised eye pressures and has been proven to both prevent and even reverse glaucoma.

Resveratrol – Resveratrol from red wine is a potent antioxidant that can protect all your organs from free radical damage, including the eyes. If you don’t drink, use organic grape juice or supplemental capsules. These raise your good cholesterol (HDL) levels, prevent hardening of the arteries and increase longevity. Cheers!

Melatonin – One recent study showed that taking 3 mg of melatonin daily delays the onset of AMD. We know that melatonin, secreted by the pineal gland, declines as we age. At age 60 or higher, blood levels of melatonin fall to almost zero. Besides having a great impact on sleep, melatonin is a potent antioxidant that can prevent eye damage.

N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) – N-A-C is an amino acid that, in high doses, is converted into glutathione, the body’s major antioxidant that protects the retinal cells of the eyes. N-A-C is better known as something that dissolves excess mucous. It helps resolve sinusitis, bronchitis, coughs, and colds, and it will also protect the macula.

Selenium – This trace mineral works together with N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine to manufacture the important eye antioxidant called glutathione peroxidase.

Grape seed extract – This is a potent eye antioxidant that can improve eye circulation, reduce inflammation from allergies affecting the eye, and prevent most eye diseases.

Vitamin E – Vitamin E works synergistically with selenium in antioxidant protection of the eye.

Zinc citrate – Zinc is important for normal visual signal transduction in the retina. It is also a part of many enzymes involved in vitamin A-dependent light reactions in retinal cells. Several published studies support the use of zinc supplements to help reverse numerous eye disorders including macular degeneration. When supplementing with zinc, one should also use small amounts of copper (roughly in a ratio of 15:1 zinc:copper). Also, zinc is best absorbed when taking similar amounts of vitamin B6. As well, zinc, copper, and manganese are essential in the manufacture of an enzyme called superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant enzyme that removes dangerous superoxide free radicals in retinal cells.

Ginkgo biloba extract – Ginkgo has been used primarily in the treatment of cerebral vascular insufficiency, poor memory, depression, impotence, and low energy. Ginkgo improves retinal circulation and has a protective affect against free radicals and thus helps prevent visual loss.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) – This herb is used in Europe for cataracts, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and diabetic retinopathy. Bilberry also prevents further damage from glaucoma by working as an antioxidant in the eyes. Its anthocyanidins increase intracellular vitamin C levels (a critical nutrient for healthy eyes), and decrease capillary fragility.

Quercetin – This is a bioflavonoid found in onions that prevents damage to the fatty tissue in the eyes caused by UV light. It also inhibits histamine release and relaxes smooth muscles in blood vessels. Swelling in the eyelids caused by allergies can be reduced by high dose quercetin supplementation.

Rutin – This is another bioflavonoid with benefits for optimal vision because it strengthens and improves the integrity of collagen, a substance important in preventing glaucoma. Eye pressures have been found to be optimized by rutin supplementation.

Eyebright – Eyebright is a traditional herbal remedy used for centuries for successful treatment of inflammation (conjunctivitis), bloodshot eyes, and numerous other eye infirmities. Its ingredients are considered anti-inflammatory and its use is without side effects.

Taurine – This is the most abundant amino acid in the eye. It modulates photoreceptor activity and is crucial for normal vision. Taurine also has blood pressure-lowering effects, as well as improving abnormal ear noises (tinnitus). Epilepsy and gallstone production can also be treated successfully with taurine.

Conclusion

Even the most conservative of eye specialists now recommend assorted eye formulas containing at least a few of the above-named nutrients to both prevent and treat AMD. Ophthalmologists will gladly prescribe Big Pharma brands of these nutrients but I’m recommending natural health food brands instead. This is because most health food brands do not contain harmful additives, and have more nutrients than the Big Pharma varieties.

Remember that all drugs deplete nutrients, and if you are on medication you might need far greater nutrient supplementation than a person who is not on prescription drugs.

There are many combination vision support products containing some or all of these nutrients in one pill, available at most health food stores. None of these natural supplements have any serious side effects, beyond greater longevity, but if you have any other health concerns check with your natural health care provider for drug-nutrient interactions.

References

Vitamin D for preventing AMD. http://tinyurl.com/nqllgu8

Epidemic of macular degeneration. http://tinyurl.com/ybzoapye

Symptoms of Macular Degeneration. http://tinyurl.com/y7jywkox

Six Natural Treatments for Macular Degeneration. http://tinyurl.com/hqwxxgw

AMD helped with Astaxanthin. http://tinyurl.com/yaq9q2p5

Best kept secrets to prevent, halt or reverse macular degeneration. http://tinyurl.com/y7697l3z

Effects of melatonin on AMD. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16399908

Macular Degeneration Breakthrough. http://tinyurl.com/yansqfp8

On N-A-C for prevention: http://vitalitymagazine.com/article/the-amazing-benefits-of-n-acetyl-cysteine/

N-Acetylcysteine Amide (NACA) Prevents Retinal Degeneration by Up-Regulating Reduced Glutathione Production https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3081196/

Natural solutions for AMD. http://tinyurl.com/ybp86tpv

Amemiya, T. The eye and nutrition. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2000;44:320

Bron, AJ, Vrensen, GF, Koretz, J, Maraini, G, Harding, JJ. The ageing lens. Ophthalmologica 2000;214:86-104.

Cai, J, Nelson, KC, Wu, M, Sternberg, P, Jr., Jones, DP. Oxidative damage & protection of the RPE. Prog Retin Eye Res 2000;19:205-21

Cejkova, J, Stipek, S, Crkovska, J, Ardan, T. Changes of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the corneal epithelium after UVB rays. Histochemical and biochemical study [In Process Citation]. Histol Histopathol 2000;15:1043-50.

Chung, HS, Harris, A, Kristinsson, JK, Ciulla, TA, Kagemann, C Ritch, R. Ginkgo biloba extract increases ocular blood ow velocity. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 1999;15:233-40.

Giblin, FJ. Glutathione: a vital lens antioxidant. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2000;16:121-35.

Muth, ER, Laurent, JM, Jasper, P. The effect of bilberry nutritional supplementation on night visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Altern Med Rev 2000;5:164-73.

Ranchon, I, Gorrand, JM, Cluzel, J, Droy-Lefaix, MT, Doly, M. Functional protection of photoreceptors from light-induced damage by dimethylthiourea and Ginkgo biloba extract. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1999;40:1191-9.

Bone RA, et al. Lutein and zeaxanthin dietary supplements raise macular pigment density and serum concentrations of these carotenoids in humans. J Nutr. 2003 Apr;133(4):992-8.

Eye Conditions and Vitamin C. http://tinyurl.com/nrgcy5

This post originally appeared on vitalitymagazine.com

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If you are coping with some or all of these health problems, chances are high that you are suffering from varying degrees of adrenal stress.

How do the adrenals weaken?

Most commonly, different types of stress are involved. While some of these stresses are beyond our immediate control (nasty bosses, postal worker strikes, stock market crashes, unfriendly in-laws, hurricanes, etc.), many stresses weakening the adrenals are dependent on our diet and lifestyle choices. For example, a high caffeine and refined carbohydrate intake, cigarette smoking, heavy alcohol consumption and both over-the-counter and pharmaceutical drugs too numerous to list (not to mention the illegal kind), all stress the adrenals by causing a greater than normal secretion of adrenal hormones leading to eventual depletion of stress hormone reserves. Working long hours under fluorescent lights at a sedentary job and getting little to no exercise also weakens adrenal function. So does long hours of watching television, reading newspapers filled with bad news, and staring at computer screens.

Menopause is one major life event strongly connected to the adrenal glandular function.

In the healthy female, once the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, the adrenal glands take over production to maintain a comfortable balance. If this transition period does not occur smoothly, women entering the menopause will experience severe and often debilitating hot flashes, vaginal dryness, depression, loss of libido, accelerating osteoporosis, memory disturbances, and blood sugar control problems (hypoglycemia). Adrenal insufficiency can cause exaggerated or early menopausal symptoms that create the illusion that prescription hormone replacement therapy is needed.

The ability to deal effectively with physical, chemical, emotional and other environmental stressors such as viruses, ionizing radiation, and prolonged physical exertion depends largely on the health of your adrenal response.

The adrenals are a pair of glands shaped like Napoleon's hat that lie just above the kidneys. They secrete more than three dozen hormones derived from cholesterol directly into the bloodstream. Each gland, about one to two inches in length and weighing only a fraction of an ounce each, is composed of two distinct parts, the inner adrenal medulla, and the outer adrenal cortex. The outer region secretes hormones known as corticosteroids of which there are three types: mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and the 17-ketosteroids (sex hormones).

Adrenal cortical hormones are controlled by ACTH, a pituitary hormone. The inner adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine (adrenalin) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), the hormones that mediate the “flight-or-flight” alarm response to stress. Adrenal medullary hormones are controlled by the sympathetic nervous system.

The glucocorticoids (cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone) cause blood sugar levels to go higher, reduce inflammation, and dampen the allergic response.

Abnormal levels of glucocorticoids could be partially responsible for hypoglycemia or diabetes, exaggerated pain response, and poorly controlled allergies. The mineralocorticoids, the most important of which is aldosterone, cause the body to retain sodium while increasing potassium excretion. Abnormal aldosterone levels can, therefore, create imbalances between sodium and potassium and, consequently, fluid levels in the body. The major sex hormone produced by the adrenal cortex is the androgen, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) which is then converted into other sex hormones (testosterone, estrogens, progesterone).

Shades of Imperfection

Conventional medicine categorizes adrenal function as either normal, low (adrenal insufficiency a.k.a. Addison’s disease) or high (Cushing’s Syndrome, a rare disorder caused by an overactive adrenal cortex).

Most individuals affected by suboptimal adrenal function fall between these two extremes and are left without any medical solution to their health problems.

Adrenal weakness is at the bottom of poorly controlled stress conditions ranging from anxiety, allergies, and recurrent infections to hypoglycemia, depression, autoimmune disease, and chronic fatigue of unknown cause. If the initial screening tests fail to show either low or high levels of various steroids, reductionistic medical thinking, regardless of patient signs and symptoms, is that adrenal function is normal. Studies, however, show that adrenal function can be compromised long before abnormalities start appearing in such laboratory tests and that the use of adrenal glandular support reverses signs and symptoms and replenishes depleted organ reserves.

Signs and Symptoms of Weak Adrenal Function

The many signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency are often brushed off by conventional doctors as “nerves” requiring a prescription for anti-depressants, tranquilizers, or estrogen. Many of these signs and symptoms, however, should alert both doctor and patient to look deeper into organic sources with the use of special tests (e.g. glucose tolerance test, cortisol, DHEA, hormone challenge tests, etc.). The results of these tests could provide a more definitive diagnosis.

An inability to concentrate, excessive fatigue, nervousness, irritability, depression, and anxiety are the most common symptoms associated with poor blood sugar control (hypoglycemia or diabetes) and ultimately to adrenal glandular weakness.

Lightheadedness or dizziness, faintness or fainting, as well as insomnia, are also common problematic blood sugar control symptoms. So are cold, clammy palms, and red palms or fingertips.

Progesterone is one of the most important hormones secreted by the adrenal gland. Progesterone has a major role to play in healthy menstruation, bone-building, and fertility. Many women who suffer from hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and premenstrual syndrome symptoms (fluid retention, depression, food cravings, breast pain, and tenderness) are often suffering from relatively low progesterone levels which can often be corrected by normalizing adrenal function.

Read more about adrenal stress here.

The adrenal glands are responsible for blood pressure control

If you have access to a blood pressure measuring device there is a simple self test you can use if you suspect low adrenal function. Take or have someone take your blood pressure several times both reclining and standing. If your blood pressure is usually somewhat on the low side (postural hypotension) on standing (105/60) but elevated to (120 or 130/70 or 80) on reclining, chances are high that your adrenals are malfunctioning. There should be very little difference between standing and reclining blood pressures if adrenal function is optimal.

The Adrenal Insufficiency Connection

A long list of suboptimal health conditions and diseases are stress-related and stem from a weak or an exaggerated adrenal response.

The following is just a partial list of conditions requiring adrenal glandular support:

• Anxiety/Panic attacks
• Asthma
• Autoimmune diseases  (e.g. fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome,  Graves’ disease,  multiple sclerosis,  rheumatoid arthritis, etc.)
• Cancer
• Diabetes Mellitus (Type II)
• Depression
• Headaches (tension, migraine)
• Hypoglycemia
• Infertility
• Premature menopause
• Menstrual problems (premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, amenorrhea)
• Multiple chemical hypersensitivity/allergies
• Recurrent flu, colds, and other infections

Adrenal Glandular Support

The vast majority of cases requiring adrenal glandular support programs can help themselves without prescription hormones. A combination of diet and lifestyle changes with or without nutritional supplements is usually all that’s required.

Diet: Avoid foods and beverages that unnecessarily stress the adrenals, especially alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, fried foods, processed foods, pork, sugar, and refined carbohydrates. A high percentage of symptomatic individuals are allergic to gluten (wheat, spelt, rye, barley, oats) and casein (dairy products) and should avoid these foods altogether. Unless allergic to them, eat more deep water ocean fish, salmon, tuna, trout, fresh fruits, and green leafy vegetables, garlic, onions, shiitake or maitake mushrooms, olives, and legumes.

Lifestyle: Regular moderate exercise, meditation, biofeedback or other relaxation techniques to reduce stress; in more severe cases, consultation with a health care provider is required.

Nutritional and Herbal Supplements (dosages are dependent on the severity of symptoms and individual tolerances):

• Multiple vitamin and mineral supplement Green drink (spirulina, chlorella, barley, kamut, etc.)
• Bee pollen
• B complex vitamins with extra vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) or royal jelly
• Vitamin C and bioflavonoids
• Raw adrenal extract Raw liver extract
• Coenzyme Q10
• Astragalus
• Echinacea
• Licorice root (can raise blood pressure if used excessively)
• Milk thistle
• Siberian ginseng

Hormone replacement

In more severe cases that fail to respond adequately to the natural approach, low dose adrenal hormones could be prescribed for short periods of time. These include:

• DHEA Pregnenolone
• Cortisol
• Testosterone
• Progesterone
• Estrogens

The use of steroid drugs (e.g. prednisone) for extended periods of time can cause the shrinking (atrophy) of the adrenal glands and should be monitored regularly to prevent long-term side effects. This is far less likely to occur when one takes low dose DHEA, pregnenolone, or other natural steroids but should not be ignored as a remote possibility. For more information on reversing adrenal woes, see the references below and consult a natural health care practitioner for an individualized adrenal enhancement regime.

This article was originally published on Dr. Rona's website and has been edited for nsavvy.wpengine.com. See Dr. Rona's full article here.

DISCLAIMER: This article contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, Naturally Savvy will receive a small commission so we can keep pumping out amazing articles like this one. Thank you so much for your support!

References:
Cleare, Anthony, J. and Wessely, Simon, C., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Stress Disorder?British Journal of Hospital Medicine, 1996;55(9):571-574.
Freeman, Roy, M.D. and Komaroff, Anthony L., M.D., Does the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Involve the Autonomic Nervous System?" American Journal of Medicine, 1997;102:357-364.
Goldberg, Samuel, M.D., et al. Adrenal Suppression Among Asthmatic Children Receiving Chronic Therapy With Inhaled Corticosteroid With and Without Spacer Device, Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, March, 1996;76:234-238.
Rubin, Robert T., et al. Adrenal Gland Volume in Major Depression: Relationship to Basal and Stimulated Pituitary- Adrenal Cortical Axis Function," Biological Psychiatry, 1996;40:89-97.
Selye, H. Stress in Health and Disease. Buttersworth, London, UK, 1976.
Tintera, John W. HYPOADRENOCORTICISM, 1969; the Adrenal Metabolic Research Society of the Hypoglycemia Foundation, Inc., 153 Pawling Avenue, Troy, New York, USA 12180.
Tintera, John W. The Hypoadrenocortical State and Its
Management,: N.Y. State J. of Med., Vol. 55, No. 13, 7/1/55.
Wilder, Ronald, L. Adrenal and Gonadal Steroid Hormone Deficiency in the Etiopathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Journal of Rheumatology, 1996;23(suppl 44):10-12.

The post Adrenal Stress: What You Can Do About It appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

Inositol

This naturally occurring form of glucose has the ability to act as a neurotransmitter for serotonin, noradrenaline, and choline receptors in the brain. Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have shown that virtually all types of anxiety disorders can benefit from supplementing with inositol (12,000 mg daily in divided doses).

Kava Kava

This herb is a well documented and scientifically supported anti-anxiety and anti-insomnia herb that can help relieve acute and chronic anxiety without making you feel drowsy or fatigued. Kava kava has no addictive potential and is as effective as many benzodiazepine tranquilizers (such as lorazepam and diazepam).

Kava kava should be avoided if you drink alcohol or are taking benzodiazepines such as Valium or Xanax, sleeping pills such as Seconal or Halcion, or anti-depressants such as Prozac or Zoloft. Kava kava can worsen the tremors of Parkinson’s disease and should be avoided by anyone with this disorder.

At least seven studies showed kava extract was superior to placebo in the treatment of anxiety. These studies involved doses of kava from 100 mg three times daily up to 400 mg twice daily (60 to 240 mg of kavapyrones). No side effects have been reported at these dosage levels, but kava kava can enhance the toxicity of alcohol and just about all tranquilizing drugs if used in combination at dosages above the recommended levels.

St. John's Wort

Known mainly as an antidepressant, this herb also relieves chronic anxiety without addiction and significant side effects. Unlike kava kava, which usually works immediately, you must take St. John’s wort for four to six weeks before you feel its effects.

St. John’s wort lowers anxiety levels as well as benzodiazepine tranquilizers, but does so without the side effects, such as fogging thinking. St. John’s wort is thought to work by decreasing the uptake (rate of removal) of serotonin in the brain, thereby increasing serotonin levels, which induces calm feelings.

The usual effective dose is 300 mg of the fresh freeze-dried extract (of a standardized extract containing 0.3% hypericin, the active ingredient) taken three times daily.

St. John's wort is a very complex substance with over a dozen bioactive compounds. It contains agents with antibiotic and anti-viral effects, at least one anti-inflammatory compound, a weak phytoestrogen, coumarins, and possibly an MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor).

No adverse effects in humans have ever been reported for St. John’s wort in the scientific literature. St. John's wort can cause photosensitivity in certain animals.

Valerian

Valerian is a natural sedative containing ingredients similar to those found in benzodiazepine tranquilizers like Valium. It is useful for relieving anxiety because it helps you sleep, isn't addictive, and doesn't make you feel groggy the next morning as sleeping pills can.

The usual effective anti-anxiety dose is a 150 mg capsule twice a day. If it causes drowsiness when taken during the day, take one 300 mg capsule one hour before bedtime. Valerian takes several weeks before one notices an improvement in sleep.

If you are already using sedatives such as phenobarbital or benzodiazepines, avoid valerian.

GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid)

GABA, a non-essential amino acid, is a chemical compound found in the brain that helps decrease nerve impulses. It also facilitates sleep and has a calming effect for the anxious or jittery mind.

A dose of 2500 mg twice daily for most adults may provide immediate relief for acute anxiety or panic attacks. GABA works in the brain as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, keeping the brain and body from going into "overdrive." The highest concentration of GABA in the body is in the hypothalamus, a region of the back of the brain that regulates sleep cycles, body temperature, and the activity of the pituitary gland, the master endocrine gland effecting all hormonal functions of the body.

Another way in which GABA works to enhance muscle and nerve function is by boosting growth hormone (GH) levels significantly (about five times after 90 minutes of supplementation) if taken before bedtime. While real GH is only available by prescription and costs up to $15,000 for a year’s supply and must be injected, GABA’s growth hormone-elevating effects cost about 50¢ a day and rival that of potent pharmaceutical compounds.

Supplementation of GABA is quite effective for anxiety disorders as well as insomnia, especially the type of insomnia where racing thoughts keep the individual from falling asleep.

Undesirable effects of too much GABA may include tingling or numbness in extremities or trunk of the body and mild shortness of breath. These side effects are temporary and disappear if the dosages are reduced.

Calcium and Magnesium

These minerals are effective anti-anxiety agents, especially in those suffering from the effects of low blood sugar or caffeine-related anxiety.

Hair mineral analysis usually shows abnormally high levels of these minerals if the individual has a problem with blood sugar control. Paradoxically, what brings the very high calcium and magnesium levels back to normal is supplementation with high doses of calcium and magnesium.

Recommended doses are 1000-2000 mg of calcium and 500-1000 mg of magnesium.

L-Theanine

L-Theanine is another amino acid; this one occurs naturally in green tea. It works basically by increasing the alpha waves in the brain, allowing relaxation to occur naturally.

L-Theanine increases GABA production, an inhibitory neurotransmitter. It increases mental acuity, promotes concentration, improves learning, and decreases blood pressure if it’s too high. Side effects are virtually non-existent and the supplement is also non-addictive.

The dose is 1000-3000 mg daily.

Other Natural Tranquilizers

Black cohosh, chamomile, root, gotu cola, skullcap, and hops are other effective commonly used tranquilizer alternatives. Many homeopathic remedies are also quite effective for many people.

One or some combination of these natural alternatives should be effective for all but a minority of individuals suffering from anxiety disorders. For a personalized program, see your naturopath or holistic medical doctor.

References

American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

Benjamin J, Agam G, Levine J, et al. Inositol treatment in psychiatry. Psychopharmacology Bulletin 31(1):167-75, 1995.

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The post Natural Alternatives to Anxiety Medications appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

The good news is that within three or four weeks of making such changes, you’ll feel better than you’ve felt in years. The bad news is that some uncomfortable symptoms will show up during the cleansing process. Whatever your New Year’s resolutions, expect them to be challenging to implement. If you know what to expect while improving your diet, however, things could be considerably easier.

Read more about goal-setting versus resolution-setting

Why You Feel Rotten

The major reason for symptoms may best be summarized in one word: detoxification. Food may well be the most powerful drug you will ever experience. A high intake of refined carbohydrates, for example, will eventually lead to blood sugar control problems (hypoglycemia) and numerous symptoms. To feel better, most people suffering from low blood sugar will instinctively reach for a candy bar, soft drink, or caffeinated beverage. If they decide to eliminate sugar and refined carbohydrates, their blood sugar levels will immediately plummet even further, thus causing even worse symptoms.

The other reason why detox symptoms can suddenly arise is the addiction/allergy factor. Many people are unknowingly addicted/allergic to foods such as wheat, milk, citrus, eggs, chocolate, and sugar in any concentrated form. If you suddenly stop eating these foods, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms similar to those seen in alcoholism, cigarette addiction, or narcotic drug addiction.

Changing to a healthy diet will, in all likelihood, cause fat and some muscle cells to release their waste products into the circulation. Cells also release stored chemicals known as xenobiotics, which the body may not be fully able to detoxify in the liver, kidneys, lungs or skin. Drug flashbacks and all manner of mental and physical symptoms can present themselves. This can even occur in people who only give up sugar and refined carbohydrates without any drastic dietary changes.

In very rare, severely toxic cases, hospital admission for a nervous breakdown may be the end result of a combination of hypoglycemia, food addiction withdrawal, and release of xenobiotics. Certain people are thus poor candidates for a big change to their diets and can end up sicker as a result. If you think you might be one of those rare individuals, consult your doctor before making any major changes to your diet.

Common Nuisance Symptoms

The vast majority of people who improve their diets find that detox reactions are mild and temporary (four to ten days). Most symptoms are due to some combination of blood sugar problems, withdrawal reactions, food allergies, and xenobiotics. In my experience, the commonest of these nuisance symptoms are:

Reward for Persistence

I strongly encourage you to continue with your new, healthier diet. Remember, the annoying symptoms will gradually disappear. Almost everyone willing to persist through minor nuisance symptoms will be rewarded. After four to ten days, you’ll notice greater vitality and a sense of higher well-being, along with improved physical appearance.

Dealing with Mental Blocks

People who are relatively new to a natural diet and supplements often feel frightened by the changes that occur in their bodies. Some decide it’s best to abandon their new diets. Others might even make the mistake of going to the local hospital emergency room, walk-in clinic or family doctor. Most likely, they’ll be advised to stop the healthy diet and go back to chocolates, chips, soft drinks and fries.

I recall one woman who consulted me several years ago to treat her menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding). She was so shocked at the sudden cessation of bleeding resulting from dietary changes that she immediately came into the office to tell me she just had to stop because of “fear of what all this is doing to my body.” Another patient phoned to ask me if it was normal to feel “high” when going completely off sugar and would I advise him to stop the diet? What these two patients were really afraid of was change of any kind from the way they were used to feeling. Overcoming these types of psychological blocks is the first step towards better health. Just about everyone has to blow through some degree of mental resistance.

Read more about how calm down and reduce stress

If you decide to improve your diet, you will have to accept the fact that changes will occur in your body. Initially, these changes will be annoying but, with the passage of time, symptoms will lift and you’ll be on your way to high level wellness.

Image: Ben Grey

The post What to Expect When Improving Your Diet appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

Complementary Medicine and is the medical editor of The Encyclopedia of Natural Healing. He has also published several best selling books including Return to The Joy of Health. Each week he will be answering all of your health related questions. If you have a question for Dr. Rona, send us an email to info (at) naturallysavvy (dot) com, or tweet us with the hashtag #askdrrona. You can also submit a question on our Facebook page.

Dear Dr. Rona:

I’d like to go gluten-free, where do I start?

~ NG

Dear NG:

There are two excellent books on the subject that I highly recommend you read. Start with "Meals That Heal Inflammation: Embrace Healthy Living and Eliminate Pain, One Meal at at Time ” by Julie Daniluk. Going gluten free reduces general inflammation in the body and prevents hundreds of health problems. Julie’s book is great because it not only goes into the rationale of going gluten-free but also provides the reader with practical advice on how to get started and stay on course.

If weight control is an issue for you, look into Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back To Health by William Davis. This book shows the strong connection between the consumption of gluten and how it correlates with obesity.

Thirdly, if you are dealing with psychological, neurological or emotional problems, Dr. David Perlmutter’s book, “Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar–Your Brain's Silent Killers

” is an ideal place for you to start. The more information you have on the subject, the better your results will be.

Dear Dr. Rona:

I have chronic headaches. Could decaf coffee be causing these?

~ PC

Dear PC:

Decaffeinated coffee contains small amounts of caffeine. If you are allergic to caffeine your body will react adversely to even minute amounts of caffeine, and you could get headaches. When people withdraw suddenly from caffeine, they get a rebound headache as a result. The same thing can occur with decaffeinated coffee, but the reaction will usually not be that severe.

Dear Dr. Rona:

Is there fluoride in green tea and is it dangerous?

~ CL

Dear CL:

Yes, all brands of green tea contain fluoride. The more green tea you drink, the more fluoride you will be getting. Fluoride boosts bone density but this is false security because the type of increased bone density produced by high intakes of fluoride causes the bones to be more brittle and fracture more easily.

Fluoride excess can lead to a condition known as skeletal fluorosis, a condition characterized by bone pain, calcified ligaments, bone spurs, arthritis and fused vertebrae. In the 1970s, doctors in the mistaken belief that fluoride reverses osteoporosis gave their elderly patients fluoride in very high dosages. An epidemic of skeletal fluorosis ensued and the practice was abandoned.

Green tea has some favorable benefits for the immune system and in fighting cancer, but I have stopped recommending it due to the unpredictable amount of fluoride in the tea. There isn’t a single company on the market that lists the fluoride content of their tea.

We are already exposed to a large amount of fluoride in our drinking water, fluoridated toothpastes, dental procedures, coated cookware, chewing tobacco, some wines, certain sparkling mineral waters and prescription drugs (e.g. Prozac contains at least 14% fluoride). Why add green tea to this mix?

The post Ask Dr. Rona: How To Go Gluten-Free, Why Decaf Coffee May Cause Headaches, and Flouride in Green Tea appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

Do you recognize any of these symptoms of poor digestion?

• Bloating
• Belching
• Flatulence
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Fullness
• Nausea
• Rectal Itching
• Weak, Cracked Fingernails
• Acne
• Iron Deficiency
• Parasites
• Candida
• Food allergies
• Eczema
• Dermatitis
• Gallbladder disease
• Hives
• Psoriasis
• Rosacea
• B12 deficiency
• Arthritis

Probiotics – The Bugs You Don’t Want to Kill

At first, the thought of bugs in your intestines may make you feel a bit weird, but they are absolutely essential for good digestive health and immune function. These friendly bacteria, referred to as “probiotics” are becoming more and more mainstream among clinicians for both preventative and therapeutic reasons.

The literal translation of the word probiotic is “for life”. Probiotics work to offset bad intestinal bacteria that produce putrefactive and carcinogenic toxins. If harmful bacteria dominate the intestines, digestion suffers, candida yeast grows out of control, and essential vitamins and enzymes are not produced.

Without these critical nutrients, your immune system becomes weakened, leading to an increased risk of serious diseases ranging from diabetes to cancer.

Where Did All Your Good Bacteria Go?

In an ideal world, you would have billions of health-promoting beneficial bacteria in your gut. Unfortunately, our modern world is anything but ideal for our health and well-being. Everywhere you look, there is a synthetic toxin destroying your beneficial gut bacteria, leaving you vulnerable to myriad chronic diseases.

So, where did all your good bacteria go? In the past three decades, soil, water, air, and food quality have all gone downhill. The beneficial bacteria we used to get from our food isn’t available anymore and our diet and lifestyle choices further deplete what little friendly bacteria we do have.

Let’s look at the top 10 causes of good bacteria deficiency:

1. Processed-Food Diet

A processed-food diet filled with refined flours and synthetic sugars deplete your natural gut bacteria. These foods also feed candida yeast and encourage it to grow while severely depleting your beneficial gut bacteria. Convenience foods like microwavable meals, canned soups, soup mixes, snack chips, candy, and soda not only destroy your natural gut bacteria, they make your body too acidic, which can leave you at increased risk for cancer development.

2. Caffeine

Coffee and tea can be beneficial to your health in small, regulated doses. However, excessive caffeine use can turn your stomach too acidic and deplete your healthy gut bacteria. Also, if you use caffeine as a method to stave off chronic exhaustion, you may have adrenal burnout and make the problem that much worse. Too much coffee, tea or cola causes hyper-secretions in the stomach, which can lead to chronic gastrointestinal disease.

3. Antacids

Many of my patients are surprised when I tell them that the most common cause of their acid reflux is low stomach acid, not high. When stomach acid is low due to poor diet, excessive use of NSAID pain relievers or antibiotics, antacids only make things worse. Your stomach needs to have a high enough acid content in order to digest food. Each time you pop an antacid, it encourages your proton pumps to overproduce acid to counteract the effect of the pill. A combination of digestive enzymes and probiotics rebalance your gut and stop acid reflux at its source.

4. Tobacco

Clinical studies have shown that smoking greatly alters the health and vitality of your gut by depleting essential intestinal microflora.

5. Prescription Antibiotics

Prescription antibiotics were never meant to be used as liberally as they are used today. They were only designed for critical cases where all other methods had been exhausted. Excessive antibiotic use is one of the top causes of low intestinal flora because they do not differentiate between beneficial and harmful bacteria; they just eradicate everything! This is why so many women who take antibiotics end up with a yeast infection due to an overgrowth of candida.

6. Triclosan

A commonly-overlooked source of danger to your gut health is the synthetic antibacterial agent, Triclosan. Triclosan was first designed for use in the critical care units of hospitals. Doctors and nurses would scrub up with the chemical to ensure their patients would not contract a serious disease. It is now estimated that hundreds of grooming products, ranging from antibacterial soap to toothpaste contain this chemical. Like prescription antibiotics, Triclosan does not differentiate between bad bacteria and good; it just destroys everything in its path.

7. Steroids

Corticosteroids for pain and inflammation destroy your healthy gut bacteria over time. If you are taking this type of drug, it is imperative you add a high-quality probiotic supplement to boost your beneficial bacteria.

8. X-Rays

Excessive use of X-Rays can also damage your intestinal flora. If you have these procedures often, your depleted gut bacteria must be replaced.

9. Fluoride

Fluoride is not the healthy, cavity-preventing substance it’s been made out to be. It has been proven to cause severe neurological problems and chronic gastrointestinal complaints due to depleted gut microflora. Even if you make your own toothpaste or use a fluoride-free version, you’re still ingesting this synthetic chemical from your water, tea, coffee, and soft drinks.

10.  Aging

Gut bacteria changes as you get older, leaving you more susceptible to serious disease and gastrointestinal problems. The more mature gut will greatly benefit from probiotic supplementation.

How Probiotics Work

Probiotics boost your immune system and protect you from viruses, fungus, bacteria, allergens, and chemicals by surrounding and neutralizing the offending substances. These good bacteria form a barrier along your intestinal lining, preventing viruses from passing into your bloodstream. These beneficial bacteria tell your body to produce organic acids, hydrogen peroxide, and bacteriocins that neutralize bacteria and viruses before they can make you sick.

They are also able to resist translocation, preventing pathogens from passing from the GI tract to extraintestinal sites such as the mesenteric lymph node (MLN), spleen, liver, kidneys, and blood.

Probiotics stimulate your immune system by secreting various proteins both in your gut and throughout your entire body. These helpful organisms also enhance enzymes like lactase, sucrase, maltase, alpha-glucosidase, and alkaline phosphatase to ensure maximum nutrient absorption.

Prebiotics Work in Harmony with Probiotics

While taking a high-quality probiotic supplement will improve your digestion and overall health; it will not work as effectively without prebiotics. Prebiotics are non-digestible or partially-digestible food ingredients that encourage the growth and proliferation of good bacteria.

These foods “team up” with the healthy bacteria in your gut to stimulate peristalsis (intestinal muscle movements), which improve your digestion and elimination naturally.

Foods highest in gut-healing prebiotics include:

• Garlic
• Onions
• Asparagus
• Leeks
• Jerusalem Artichokes
• Legumes
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Collard Greens
• Kale
• Chicory
• Burdock
• The Dahlia Plant

The Health Benefits of Probiotics are Virtually Endless!

Think probiotics and prebiotics are just for your digestive health? Think again. The health benefits of beneficial bacteria are virtually endless. Everything from autoimmune disease to depression can be effectively treated with these beneficial bugs!

• Treats Autoimmune Disease

Your immune system is designed to protect you against foreign invaders such as pathogens, viruses, bacteria, and environmental chemicals. However, in certain cases, the immune system begins to mistake healthy tissue for a foreign invader and goes on the attack. Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, crohn’s disease, celiac disease, lupus, thyroiditis, and scleroderma often begin in the gut where bacteria is abnormal or critically-low.

Autoimmune disease affects nearly 2 million Canadians and the numbers are rising fast. High-quality probiotics have been shown to correct autoimmune disease by treating chronic inflammation, stabilizing an overactive immune system, and decreasing intestinal permeability.

In autoimmune disease, increased intestinal gut permeability is often overlooked. Chronic use of NSAID pain relievers, antibiotics, hormone treatments, and antacids can thin the protective lining of your gut, causing undigested food, bacteria, and other pathogens to leak into your bloodstream. This produces a strong inflammatory response that never turns off. Probiotics and prebiotics heal this damage, treating intestinal permeability, and decreasing inflammatory response.

• Mental Health

When most people think of their mental health, they don’t consider their gut but it plays a critical role. Contained in your gut is a “second brain” called the enteric nervous system, which regulates autonomic functions such as digestion, coordination of reflexes, motor functions, immune function, and localized blood flow. Though this “second brain” doesn’t think the way the brain in your head does, it does serve a strong sensory function that can have a negative effect on memory, impulse control, and emotion.

A controlled clinical study recently revealed that even a small amount of probiotics can have a profound effect on overall brain health and function. In one study, a group of women ate a yogurt containing probiotics, another ate a yogurt-like substance with no probiotics, and the control group was given nothing at all.

The women who ate the yogurt containing probiotics showed a marked improvement in their cognition, sensory process, and emotional control. The most unusual part of the study was that any yogurt at all seemed to do the trick; even the ones containing preservatives and sweeteners.

This means that a high-quality probiotic product may offer 10-20 times this benefit.

Regular probiotic supplementation has been shown to improve memory, behavior, and cognition even for those with developmental disorders such as autism and ADHD. Probiotics do this by decreasing chronic inflammation in both the brain and gut, which, in turn, heals the nervous system.

• Eliminates Chronic Candida Infection

Chronic candida infection is a problem for millions of women. Over-the-counter and prescription anti-fungals only work in the short-term because they do nothing to address the underlying cause of the condition.

Candida is a naturally-occurring yeast found in the digestive and vaginal tract. In small amounts, this yeast is actually beneficial to your health. However, chronic use of antibiotics, steroids, NSAIDs, and hormones as well as a high-sugar, high-refined-carbohydrate diet can cause this yeast to grow out of control and become systemic.

When yeast overgrows, it enters the bloodstream and vital organs, where it can cause chronic inflammation, chronic pain, and mental health symptoms. Regular probiotic supplementation helps counteract this yeast overgrowth, eliminating the need for ineffective anti-fungals and antibiotics that only make the problem worse.

• Treats Digestive Disorders

Judging by the wide array of digestive products you’ll find at the pharmacy, Canadians sure do suffer from an incredible amount of stomach problems. Inflammatory bowel disease, acid reflux, stomach ulcers, leaky gut syndrome, gas, bloating, flatulence, and H. pylori infection can all be treated using probiotics.

Regular probiotic supplementation activates your “gut protection system”, which prevents pathogenic bacteria from proliferating.

Many of my patients are surprised when I tell them that the most common reason for acid reflux is not high stomach acid but low stomach acid and low gut bacteria. Adding beneficial bacteria to the diet often clears this condition with no further need for antacids (which only worsen the problem by encouraging proton pumps to work overtime producing more acid).

Probiotics have been shown to reduce the gastric inflammation associated with H. Pylori infection and intestinal ulcers. Studies have shown that probiotics have an in-vitro inhibitory effect on H. Pylori, which can inhibit the pathogen long enough to heal intestinal ulcers and put them into permanent remission.

Those with inflammatory bowel disease and chronic intestinal upset due to food allergies can also benefit from regular probiotic supplementation. The probiotic strains, lactobacillus helveticus and streptococcus thermophilus have been shown to reduce the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

• Prevents Cancer

A diet high in processed meats can greatly increase your risk of developing both colon and bladder cancer. When you eat sausage, bacon, and other processed meats containing preservatives called nitrates, putrefactive gut bacteria (bacteroides) turns them into carcinogens called nitrites. Probiotics counteract this effect by inhibiting these bacteria.

In high doses, probiotics are naturally anti-cancer because they boost your immune system and encourage cancer cell apoptosis. They also encourage the uptake of vital nutrients, which further enhances the way your body responds to pre-cancerous tumor development.

Read more about cancer prevention

• Improved Skin Health

Skin and gut health are very closely linked, which means any kind of chronic skin condition is a symptom that something has gone wrong with your immune system. Conventional treatments for these skin conditions include topical antibiotics, steroidal anti-inflammatories, and benzoyl peroxide, which work in the short term but worsen skin problems over time.

Antibiotics and steroids further deplete your immune system, causing dependence and leaving you vulnerable to the development of more serious disease.

Allergic skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis all respond well to high doses of probiotics. Probiotics reseed your gut, boosting your immune system and encouraging your body heal itself. Its powerful anti-inflammatory benefits help cut down on embarrassing breakouts and rashes, leaving your skin looking healthier, younger, and more supple.

• Reduction in Allergy Symptoms

Over-the-counter and prescription antihistamines help reduce symptoms in the short term but they’re just a Band-Aid for a deeper problem. To truly reduce the symptoms of chronic rhinitis, post-nasal drip, and other sinus problems, you’ve got to start with the gut. Probiotics give your immune system the boost it needs to treat allergies at their source while providing relief from chronic sinus congestion and discomfort.

• Protects Against the Adverse Effects of Radiation Treatment

Studies have shown that the probiotic strain, lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, may protect against long-term intestinal side effects of cancer radiation treatment. Since radiation treatments do not differentiate between good bacteria and bad bacteria, all of the beneficial bacteria in the gut become severely depleted. This can lead to increased intestinal permeability and bouts of explosive diarrhea. In extreme cases, this intestinal leak can lead to sepsis; an often-fatal whole body inflammatory state. A high-powered probiotic can combat this condition and stabilize the digestive system before symptoms get out of control. .

• Stabilizes Blood Cholesterol

Studies have shown that probiotics bind to cholesterol in the lower intestine, preventing it from being absorbed into your bloodstream. Regular probiotic supplementation was shown to reduce LDL “bad” cholesterol levels by as much as 12 percent.

• Enhances Fertility

Research has shown that probiotic organisms enhance fertility through the management of pathogenic bacterial infections. Many women who are unable to conceive often have infections they are unaware of, which inhibits their ability to have a child. Probiotics not only improve chances of conception, they minimize complications during pregnancy by decreasing systemic inflammation and risk of premature birth.

Probiotics also support the future health of your child by providing a healthy dose of beneficial bacteria during birth. Certain strains of bacteria, namely lactobacilli, have been documented to reduce the incidence of postpartum complications.

• Prevents Osteoporosis

The health benefits of probiotics also extend to your bones. Without a good amount of beneficial gut bacteria, your digestive system cannot properly assimilate nutrients from food. If you’re not absorbing vitamin D3, calcium, and magnesium due to low gut bacteria or chronic intestinal inflammation, your bones could be at risk. Probiotics reduce this risk by healing your gut and decreasing damaging inflammation.

• Counteracts the Side Effects of Antibiotics

Common side effects of antibiotics include vaginal yeast infections, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Probiotics help counteract this effect by protecting your gut from candida overgrowth. These beneficial bacteria can also help eliminate your need for further antibiotic use by giving your immune system a much-needed boost.

• Aids in Weight Loss

Yes, probiotics can even be used to aid in your weight-loss efforts. The better you are able to absorb nutrients from food, the more full and satisfied you’ll feel after meals. Probiotics also treat chronic constipation, which can help cut down on belly bloat.

• Prevents Periodontal Disease

Poor gum health is a strong indicator that something is going wrong in your gut. Adding a probiotic supplement to your diet can help prevent the pain, discomfort, and halitosis associated with periodontal disease.

• Protects Against “SuperGerms”

More and more diseases are becoming resistant to antibiotics. This is largely due to an excessive use of antibiotics from both prescription and food sources. Conventionally-raised meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products are loaded with antibiotics, which make your immune system more naturally-resistant to them when you need them to treat a serious infection. In high doses, probiotics help prevent the spread of pathogenic bacteria while strengthening your immune system. This gives you a chance to build up a natural resistance to these ever-evolving superbugs.

Common Probiotic Myths

• “Yogurt is Enough”

Most commercial yogurts are very high in added sugar (13-17 grams) and other harmful additives. Also, a typical serving doesn’t provide even the minimum amount of 10 billion active bacteria required for probiotic effectiveness. Also, there is nothing that protects the friendly bacteria from being digested by the hydrochloric acid in your stomach before it reaches your intestines, where it does its best work.

• “HSOs are Best”

There is a cult belief that homeostatic soil organisms (HSOs) are safe and effective probiotics. These are usually much higher-priced than your usual brand-name products. HSOs originated in Japan and go by the names bacillus subtilis and bacillus licheniformis. Studies do indicate that they work for many people but the major problem with HSOs is that they can enter the bloodstreams of people who suffer from leaky gut syndrome or depressed immunity and cause a bloodstream infection called septicemia. This does not happen with lactobacilli or bifido bacteria unless the dose given is astronomically high.

• “Avoid Probiotics When Taking an Antibiotic!”

Another myth is that one should not take probiotics when using prescription antibiotics. This is completely false because most antibiotics destroy both friendly and pathogenic bacteria, thereby producing an immune-compromised state. If you take the antibiotics and probiotics at different times, both the antibiotic and the probiotic do their jobs, with the probiotic making up for the damage caused by the antibiotic.

What Makes a Probiotic Supplement Superior?

With so many probiotic supplements on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is best for your individual needs.

Here are some things to look for:

• Culture Count

Culture count is very important in choosing a probiotic supplement. I recommend 2-12 billions colony forming units for digestive and immune system maintenance.

• Number of Strains

In order for a probiotic to be effective, it must contain a varied number of strains as each strain is responsible for a different function.

• Delivery System

An investment in a high-quality probiotic supplement is an investment in your health. However, you could take a 50 billion colony forming unit probiotic supplement with all the right strains and still not receive the health benefits if you don’t have the right delivery system. That’s why I recommend my patients take probiotics in enteric capsules that will survive passage through your stomach acid.

• Additives and Preservatives

Many store-bought probiotic supplements contain unnecessary and sometimes dangerous additives and preservatives that do nothing to improve the quality of the supplement.

Probiotic Contraindications

Probiotics are generally considered to be very safe and well-tolerated in the usual dosages prescribed. However, highly-sensitive individuals have reported the occasional occurrence of indigestion (nausea, heartburn), which disappeared when the supplement was discontinued or the brand of probiotic was changed. Very rare cases of liver abscesses due to L. acidophilus have been reported in cases of chronic pancreatitis undergoing surgery.

More is Not Necessarily Better

When you’re struggling with digestive disorders or other chronic conditions, once you find the right supplement, it can be tempting to overuse it. More is not necessarily better in this case. Too high a dose of probiotics could actually be harmful to your health.

The safest and most effective dosage for most is 1-15 billion viable L. acidophilius, L. casei, or bifido bacteria organisms daily. Combinations of 10 or more species per capsule work best according to most studies.

Dosages in excess of 20 billion viable organisms can produce gut disturbances and are not recommended. Smaller amounts of viable organisms are usually sufficient for therapeutic effect. For example, studies indicate that a daily supplement of 1.5 billion colony forming units of L. sporogenese are adequate for all purposes.

The odd thing about this is that many supplement companies manufacture 40, 50 or even 70 billion live bacteria per capsule. Not only is this overkill and completely unsupported by medical literature, it could also be dangerous for many people with sensitive digestive systems.

Add L-Glutamine to Your Probiotic for Leaky Gut Relief

The lining of your intestines is only one cell-layer thick. Overuse of antibiotics, NSAID pain relievers, synthetic hormones, and poor diet can deplete this vital lining, allowing undigested food particles, bacteria, and viruses to enter into your bloodstream. This encourages chronic inflammation and allergies as well as mental and behavioral disturbances.

In addition to probiotics and prebiotics, I also recommend another supplement; L-Glutamine. L-Glutamine is a free amino acid found within skeletal muscle and blood. L-Glutamine improves gut integrity and water absorption in the gut, thus hydrating the entire body.

It is important to note that those with bipolar disorder may experience mania on an L-Glutamine supplement so it is contraindicated in this case.

Tri-Star Probiotic Supremacy – The Perfectly-Balanced Probiotic

Tri-Star Probiotic Supremacy is a perfectly-balanced probiotic you can trust. It contains varied probiotic strains to protect your health, boost your immune system, and treat your digestive problems encased in protective enteric capsules.

Since the intestinal micro-ecosystem typically carries up to 400 strains of bacteria, it makes sense to use a product that provides a broad spectrum of viable organisms. Some suppliers claim that the probiotic strains can only work if given one at a time. There is no evidence that this is true. Single strain probiotics are sufficient for individuals with healthy digestion and a relatively strong immune system who just want a little extra boost. Most individuals, however, could benefit from multiple strains. After all, certain single strains do not have the near-magical properties that some advertising hype would lead you to believe. The best advice here is to consult the knowledge and experience of health care practitioners familiar with probiotics.

Dr. Zoltan P. Rona practices Complementary Medicine in Toronto and is the medical editor of “The Encyclopedia of Natural Healing.” He has also published several Canadian best-selling books, including “Vitamin D, The Sunshine Vitamin.” For more of his articles, see www.mydoctor.ca/drzoltanrona and tristarnaturals.com.

References:

Dr. Joseph Mercola, One of the Most Important Supplements You Can Take; http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/24/one-of-the-most-important-steps-you-can-take-to-improve-your-health.aspx

Catanzaro, John A. and Green, Lisa. Microbial Ecology and Probiotics in Human Medicine.  Alt Med Rev 1997;2(4):296-305).

Chaitow, Leon and Trenev, Natasha.  Probiotics. Prescott, AZ:Hohm Press, 1995.

Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents: a neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal infections. JAMA. 1996;275:870-876.

Gilliland SE, Nelson CR, Maxwell C, Assimilation of cholesterol by Lactobacillus acidophilus. Appld and Envir Microbiol 1985; 49:377-81.

Gilliland SE, Speck MK, Antagonistic action of Lactobacillus acidophilus toward intestinal and food borne pathogens in associative cultures. J. Food Prod 1977; 40:830-33.

Gorbach SL, Chang TW, Goldin B. Successful treatment of relapsing Clostridium difficile colitis with lactobacillus GG. Lancet 1987; ii: 1519.

Gotz VP, Romankiewics JA, Moss J, Murray HW, Prophylaxis against ampicillin-induced diarrhea with a lactobacillus preparation. Amer J Hosp Pharm 1979; 36:754-57.

Hilton , Isenberg HD, Alperstein P, France K, Borenstein MT, Ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus as prophylaxis for candidal vaginitis. Ann Intern Med 1992; 116:353-57.

Kaufmann, Klaus.  Kefir Rediscovered. Burnaby: Alive Books. 1997.

Lidbeck A, Nord CE, Gustafsson JA, Rafter J, Lactobacilli, anticarcinogenic activities and human intestinal microflora. Eur J Cancer Prev 1992; 1:341-53.

Lidbeck A, Allinger UG, Orrhage KM, Ottova L, Brismar B, Gustafsson JA, Rafter JJ, Nord CE, Impact of Lactobacillus acidophilus supplements on the fecal microflora and soluble fecal bile acids in colon cancer patients. Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease 1991; 4:81-8.

Neu HC. The crisis in antibiotic resistance. Science. 1992;257:1064-1073.

Reid G, Bruce AW, Taylor M. Instillation of Lactobacillus and stimulation of indigenous organisms to prevent recurrence of urinary tract infections. Microecol Ther. 1995;23:32-45.

Salminen E., Eloma I, Minkkinen J, Vapaatolo H, Salminen S, Preservation of intestinal integrity during radiotherapy using live Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures. Clin Radiol 1988; 39:435-37.

Spiegel JE, Rose R, Karabell P, Frankos VH, Schmitt DF, Safety and Benefits of Fructooligosaccharides as food ingredients. Food Tech 1994: 85-89.

Wilson K, Moore L, Patel M, Permoad P. Suppression of potential pathogens by a defined colonic microflora. Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease 1988; 1: 237-43.

Rachel Mendleson. Probiot

The post Probiotics: The Best Cure for Poor Digestion appeared first on NaturallySavvy.com.

1. Poor technique in performing the test.

Solution: Talk it over with your doctor and see if she might consider a different way of doing the procedure. For example, she may want to use a warmed-up (in hot water) speculum plus more lubrication using vitamin E cream. A cold speculum in a dry vagina can be uncomfortable and occasionally painful because the cold can cause vaginal blood vessels to constrict and the dryness can cause unnecessary friction.

2. Not enough lubrication when inserting the speculum.

Solution: Use vitamin E cream in copious amounts. If that doesn’t work, use a low-dose bio-identical estrogen vaginal cream for a few weeks before the procedure. This can make speculum penetration more tolerable.

3. Too large a speculum.

Solution: Use a child-sized or adolescent-sized speculum. Some doctors like to think that one size fits all, but vaginas come in small, medium, and large (just like penis sizes). Size of speculum does matter.

4. Vaginal muscle spasm due to anxiety or calcium and magnesium deficiency.

Solution: Take large doses of calcium (1500 mg) and magnesium (500 mg) daily for at least three days before the procedure. If that doesn’t work, take some L-theanine (1000 mg) before the procedure. L-theanine is an extract of green tea and a natural anti-anxiety agent. Other remedies that could be used if anxiety is an issue are black cohosh, dong quai, St. John’s wort, and valerian.

5. Infection or other vaginal disease.

Solution: Ask your family doctor to order a pelvic ultrasound or see a gynecologist who will do the appropriate tests and treatments. Infections, tumors, and cysts can all cause Pap tests to be painful.

Dr. Rona

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