Author: Diogenes II

I am not a doctor in any way, shape or form — I’m a health enthusiast and an avid researcher! I try to do more in-depth research than anyone else on nutrition, supplements and health. I believe TRUTH is superior to facts — because facts change, but truth always stay the same. Science might come out with a double-blind placebo research study stating how great supplemental resveratrol is. That’s a fact! Then 10 years later, a researcher like me may come out with the TRUTH that supplemental resveratrol is a waste of time, money and health!

Irritable Bowel Syndrome May Be Both a Chemical and Mechanical Issue

Posted on by Diogenes II

When doctors narrow down and label your gastrointestinal issues as IBS, what they are really saying is, they don’t know what’s wrong with you! You cannot really blame them for being idiopathic — just the small and large intestine alone can stretch out to 27 feet! Finding what is causing your gastrointestinal issues can sometimes be like looking for a needle in a haystack! In this article, we will look at the chemical and mechanical processes that may lead to IBS, and find that needle in the haystack!

Why it’s so hard to heal gut issues?

The gastrointestinal complex is one big hole with a tube from the mouth to the anus. This hole is exposed to the outside world more than any other organ because, we have to constantly put things in it (including toxins). So it’s like a conveyor belt in a manufacturing facility that never gets a rest. To make things more complicated, this conveyor belt has two main hot regions — the stomach (acid) and the cecum. To make things more complicated, hot “lava” a.k.a. stomach acid, often infiltrate the beginning of the small intestine (the duodenum), and food tends to get stuck in the region between the end of the small intestine and beginning of large intestine (the cecum). Furthermore, the door that opens to the cecum often gets stuck, causing waste product to rot at the entrance of the doorway a.k.a ileocecal valve.

Gastrointestinal issues such as IBS do not start in the colon — they start in the mouth. It starts with what you put in your mouth and the pH of your mouth. If your saliva is too acidic (5.5) or too alkaline (7.5), there goes your problem. The gram-positive bacteria in your mouth cannot protect your stomach if your saliva pH is not ideal!

The food that enters your stomach cannot be broken down properly if your stomach pH is not acidic enough (less than 2.5). There are certain proteins, enzymes and factors in your gut that will not be released or will not work properly if your stomach is not acidic enough. These include, the intrinsic factor that releases vitamin B12, and the enzyme pepsin that helps break down proteins in food. Taking alkaline water or antacids like TUMS for acid reflux may make you feel better, but will surely deplete your stomach acid, leaving you vulnerable to bacterial infections and incomplete digestion of food.

As this broken down food moves down further the gastrointestinal tract, it encounters chemicals. One of the first chemical is bile from the gallbladder, used to alkalinize the acidity from the food coated with stomach acid. Bile release is activated by the existence of stomach acid. Thus low stomach acid equals low bile release. The next is sodium bicarbonate from the pancreas, also used to buffer food blessed with stomach acidity. Pancreatic enzymes are also released to further bread down food, namely pancreatin and protease, to help break down proteins further; lipase, to help break down fats; amylase, to help break down carbohydrates, and cellulase/hemicellulase, to help break down fiber.

Now this processed food or chyme now enters the first, second and third parts of the small intestine, called the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, respectively. There, an extraction process goes on, releasing minerals, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, fatty acid and other nutrients into the bloodstream through Intestinal finger-like projections called villi.

The remaining undigested food is welcomed at the door of the large intestine, called the ileocecal valve. Sometimes this door (that leads to the cecum) does not open all the way. This fully unopened door can sometimes make undigested food feel a little unwelcomed, causing some of it — because of waiting too long — to rot at this junction. This cascade of ileocecal valve incompetence may lead to all manner of evil: abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation and the birth of bacterial overgrowth.

The food that gets by the ileocecal valve on a timely fashion enters the acidic cecum. Some label the cecum (the beginning part of the the large intestine) as a second stomach, because of the high heat and acids it produces as food travels up the ascending colon.

In the colon, bacteria ferment undigested proteins, carbohydrates and fiber, producing the release of many gases, including hydrogen, carbon dioxide, sulfide, methane and ammonia. Much are recycled, while others are treated as waste product to be excreted.

Bacteria primarily in the colon also breaks down fiber from carbohydrates to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) — including acetate, propionate, and butyrate  — that nourish and keep colonic cell wall heathy and functional. Other SCFAs include formate, valerate, and hexanoate that are produced in lower amounts.

Water is also extracted from this undigested food and recycled back into the body. If there is some type of dehydration, for whatever reason, the result may become a mechanical issue, known as constipation!

Constipation

Diarrhea should not be labeled as the opposite of constipation — it may actually be a dramatic form of constipation, resulting from watery stool flowing pass impacted stool (or fecal impaction) too hard to move. The closest, official name for this diarrhea system may be called: paradoxical diarrhea.

There is acute constipation and there is chronic constipation. Acute constipation only lasts a short period of time throughout one’s life. But chronic constipation may persist for years, even decades. Chronic constipation can lead to other mechanical digestive malfunction, even after the initial constipation situation is resolved.

The devastating effects of chronic constipation:

During chronic constipation or even after it is resolved, almost permanent damage may be done to certain muscular system throughout the colon. It is called anismus aka dyssynergic defecation, specifically paradoxical puborectalis contraction (PPC). What all this means is the muscles of the rectum don’t work — they are unrelaxed and stiff. All of this appropriately falls under an umbrella term called: paradoxical puborectalis syndrome (PPS).

Paradoxical puborectalis syndrome

At the base of the rectum is the control center that regulates all gastrointestinal and urinary activity. It is called the pelvic floor muscles, with a huge sling-like muscle called, the puborectalis.

Many people who suffer from gastrointestinal issues from chronic constipation may have a tight, stiff puborectalis, and not even know it.

Paradoxical puborectalis syndrome encompasses not only a dysfunction of the puborectalis, which is the involuntary contraction and tightening of this muscle when it should be relaxing to allow bowel movement, but also the associated symptoms like bloating, straining, incomplete (stool) evacuation, tenesmus, rectal discomfort and self consciousness caused by this dysfunction.

Treatment for paradoxical puborectalis syndrome:

First, to confirm PPS, you must see a pelvic floor specialist at the PELVIC PHYSIOLOGY CENTER and perform what is known as Anorectal Manometry and/or a balloon expulsion test (BET). If PPC is confirmed, then a series of EMS Biofeedback training may be implemented to retrain and relax the puborectalis muscle and anal sphincter muscles. Additionally, a pelvic floor physical therapist may be recommended to teach relaxation and stretching techniques which target the pelvic floor muscles.

The success rate of the aforementioned techniques is either unknown or very low!

May Be Better Options for PPS:

PPS like most syndromes may be hard to figure out and treat. But these are the recommendations I’ve personally seen and studied success in:

  1. Intimate Rose Vibrating Pelvic Wand
  2.  Sea Buckthorn Oil suppositories 
  3.  Heather’s Tummy fiber
  4.  Various herbs: Andrographis, Punarnava and Bhumi Amalaki

An extreme medical procedure for PPS:

Upon medical request, Xeomin injections into the puborectalis muscle, must be done by a qualified practitioner of botulinum toxin type A — with sufficient hours of experience.

Simply put, this procedure temporarily weakens or paralyzes puborectalis muscle by blocking the release of acetylcholine. This, in turn, relaxes that muscle, and makes bowel movement easier and more complete.

Xeomin® is a purified form of botulinum toxin type A, which lessens the chance of allergic reactions, compared to BOTOX®, which is composed of a mixture of proteins.

Xeomin is a neurotoxin. Please read safety study: click here and here.

Stunt Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Forever

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Understanding gastrointestinal issues is in its infancy stage for BOTH medical doctors AND functional medicine. My gastroenterologist told me it may take another decade before her profession gets a grasp of it. And that includes bacterial overgrowth, specifically Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). In this article, I will discuss what SIBO is, how and why it is formed, current methods used to treat it; and what we need to do to stunt it, forever!

How is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth formed?

The three macronutrients the human body needs to maintain structure and energy are: protein, carbohydrates and fats. Of these three, one stands out in terms of SIBO development. When the gastrointestinal system cannot break down this certain nutrient in the intestines — in simple terms — it rots! That nutrient is called: protein — specifically, animal protein, like beef, fish and eggs. If the small intestine cannot break down these proteins into smaller digestible molecules called amino acids, then these undigested proteins leave the small intestine, then pile up in the large intestine. The body cannot do anything with these undigested proteins and is forced to either expell them through feces or break them down into a more desirable component. That is where bacteria comes in to play. The more abundant the protein pile up, the more the bacteria needed. If these proteins become unmanageably large in accumulation, then bacteria in the large intestines will proliferate. If these proteins back up into the small intestine, from whence they came, then bacteria is forced to follow. This sequence of events is what has become known as: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth!

Why is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Formed?

If there were no bacteria in the intestines, mankind would cease to exist. Intestinal bacteria has a strange way of keeping us alive. When the large intestine breaks down the protein we consume, nitrogen is released in the form of ammonia as a byproduct. It takes ammonia/nitrogen to build protein — and it takes the release of ammonia/nitrogen to free protein into its smaller amino acid component. This ammonia under ideal circumstances is then transported to the liver via the portal vein, to be processed.

The liver then uses a process called the urea cycle to convert ammonia into urea, which is then processed by the kidneys and excreted in urine.

However, this process does not always go as planned.

If the liver is damaged, it cannot effectively process and turn ammonia into urea, leading to a buildup of ammonia in the blood — a condition that can lead to severe ammonia accumulation, called hyperammonemia. A build up of this ammonia can actually lead to brain injury, and even death!

Now comes Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth to the rescue! Bacterial Overgrowth is actually a defense mechanism the body uses to prevent injury or death from high ammonia! Instead of being called Bacterial Overgrowth, it may be more appropriately called Bacterial Necessity!

This then causes hydrogen and methane gases to raise in the small intestine and colon, to buffer excess ammonia. In fact, there are three common tests to check for SIBO:

Hydrogen dominant SIBO

Methane dominant SIBO (n.k.a. Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth [IMO])

Hydrogen sulfide SIBO

As these names imply, hydrogen, methane and sulfide gases are produced and increased in the intestines due to bacterial, methanogen and even fungal activity. In fact, there is even Small Intestinal and Large Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth (SIFO/LIFO).

There is always a balance between bacterial and fungal ratio in the intestines just as there is in our soil.

So hydrogen is produced in the colon, but instead of being recycled back into the rest of the body as an antioxidant — which is what it should be doing — much of it is being used to fuel hydrogen dominant bacteria. Sulphate-reducing bacteria ((SRB) will use bile from the gallbladder and sulfur from our diet to produce hydrogen sulfide. Methanogens (anaerobic archaea, not bacteria) both in the small intestine and colon — often associated with bloating and constipation — turn existing carbon dioxide into methane. All of these gases are interchangeable!

Then doctors identify these excess hydrogen and methane production in the intestines to diagnose SIBO. It is called the hydrogen breath test — such as the trio-smart breath test — which introduces glucose or lactulose into the gut to stir up and determine if the levels of these gases rise unusually high.

How do doctors and functional medicine treat SIBO?

If you are diagnosed with SIBO, doctors will quickly try to treat the symptom rather than the cause. A combination of antibiotics is introduced — the most popular being Rifaximin and Neomycin. They may also prescribe Metronidazole, which systematically affects the microbiome not only of the gastrointestinal tract, but of the entire body. They may also prescribe medication such as Fluconazole to treat fungal overgrowth — a medication known for causing liver damage.

Functional medicine is not much different — they use a combination of natural antibiotics to treat the symptom rather than the cause. These include: allicin, oil of oregano, caprylic acid, monolaurin, grapefruit seed extract, pomegranate husk and a product called Atrantil, specifically designed for methane dominant SIBO.

How to stunt Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth forever?

Before even thinking about restoring microbiome, we must first make sure the back door is opened! That back door has a simple name — it is called, the anus. 

If you are chronically constipated, stunting  SIBO would be next to impossible. This is where peristalsis, the migrating motor complex (MMC) that pushes food from the small intestine to the large some every 90 minutes during fasting, and fiber, come in to play.

If your liver is damaged, stunting SIBO will also remain next to impossible, since a proper functioning liver is needed to turn ammonia into urea, for excretion by the kidneys and bladder.

If there is any congestion or chronic inflammation of the intestine, colon, urinary tract system or reproductive system (such as endometriosis), stunting SIBO permanently will also be next to impossible.

If you have chronic constipation, see: Healing Chronic Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome May Be Both a Chemical and Mechanical Issue.

If there is liver damage (just assume there is!), see: Deflate Fatty Liver disease.

If there is inflammation and/or congestion, see: Out Ulcerative Colitis Fire Forever, Histamine Intolerance Defused and, other topics soon-to-be announced.

Out Ulcerative Colitis Fire Forever!

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Science defines Ulcerative Colitis as an incurable, autoimmune, chronic, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). I have no idea what they are talking about — do you? I do agree that it is an inflammatory condition, often affecting different parts of the colon — but I have no idea what the phrase “autoimmune disease” means, and neither do they! In this article however, I will discuss that UC is much more than that and the ways to out the fire forever!

Ulcerative colitis is a devastating condition — when you hear inflammation of the rectum and colon, what that really means for some people is pain all over, abdominal cramps, loss of appetite, fever, fatigue, weight loss, bile duct scarring and intermittent bloody diarrhea! Some in desperation have tried fecal transplant from healthy donors in order to restore their own healthy microbiome. What ulcerative colitis really is is stress on fire — your stress level is so high, it’s setting the colon on fire. This could be physical, emotional or metabolic stress. When it is metabolic stress, combined with physical stress, HCL, stomach acid, is leaking into the intestines without being diluted by the bile from the gallbladder and the sodium bicarbonate from the pancreas. Both bile and sodium bicarbonate neutralizes stomach acid because they are alkaline. But in the case of ulcerative colitis, this process is greatly compromised, creating an abnormal acidic environment.

To heal ulcerative colitis is like healing histamine “intolerance “. Even microwave food may cause flare ups. Fermented foods will definitely cause flare ups. Cabbage juice will most likely cause flare ups. Eggs, dairy, onion, garlic and black pepper will cause flare ups. Even taking certain supplements will cause flare ups. Of course, toxins from hot plastic bottles and forever chemicals will cause flare ups. Vegetables should be mostly cooked…fruits should be taken away from other foods to prevent fermentation.

The hydrogen/sulfur connection

Ulcerative colitis can happen when there is a dysregulation of hydrogen and sulfur. We don’t hear about hydrogen being talked about often, nor sulfur. But hydrogen is everywhere — in stomach acid, in water, food and particularly in the colon, where it interacts with fiber and short chain fatty acids and is recycled back into the body. A dysregulation causes hydrogen to turn into the inflammatory hydrogen peroxide. Sulfur is also needed for cellular metabolism and waste clearing. There is even a medication called sulfasalazine used in UC.

So Ulcerative colitis can be compared to a volcano. The primary gases in a volcano are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), various forms of hydrogen, like hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) — essentially the same gases involved in UC. When there is a pressure build up of gases within the crater, then there is a volcanic eruption 🌋 When there is a pressure build up of gases from toxins in the colon, then there is an Ulcerative colitis “eruption”!

A dysregulation of hydrogen and sulfur is caused by a dysfunctional gut, liver, spleen and pancreas, not able to metabolize nutrients in food properly. Thus calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc and iron become nothing more than toxic metals, rather than the minerals they are suppose to be. Now we have inflammation of the colon and bloody diarrhea.

To heal, we need to fix the gut, liver, spleen and pancreas, and we need to make nutrients act like nutrients again.

This may be done by introducing controlled and pure hydrogen back into the body or the things that supports hydrogen production. It also includes adding sulfur without making it turn into the dreaded hydrogen sulfide.

Five great products I will recommend to do all these things are:

– Hydroxocobalamin (a B12 that contains hydrogen). It also turns hydrogen sulfide back into sulfate. For temporary use only!

– Hydra Shot by Healthy Hydration (a water machine that generates hydrogen while simultaneously removing toxins).

– Sulfur. But not just any sulfur — it must be 99.9% pure organic sulfur crystals (MSM).

People are afraid of sulfur because of sulfur sensitivity, but that is due to being low on molybdenum to break down sulfur properly. Foods high in molybdenum that you can include are: black beans, roasted sesame seeds, organic oats and durian.

– Clostridium butyricum (a bacteria that turns into SCFA and postbiotics in the colon). UC patients’ microbiome diversity is decreased by some 25% compared to healthy control. Butyrate from the bacteria listed above is the main source of energy in colonic epithelial cells, acting as a short chain fatty acid that feeds all microbiome in the colon.

– Anaerobityricum hallii (another butyrate producing bacteria, providing nourishment to the colonic cell wall and microbiome.) May break down acetate, lactate and glucose which then creates butyrate and hydrogen as the final byproducts for the colon.

 

Ulcerative Colitis is not a digestive issue

Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) is actually more than digestive disorders. In fact, they are not digestive disorders at all.

Hidden in the literature of science is that fact that all IBD affect somewhere else, or even started somewhere else. It is called:

Extraintestinal Manifestation (EIM)

What does “extra-” mean? Now what does “Manifestation” mean? In the case of UC, it means:

Blood!

Yes, Inflammatory Bowel diseases are blood issues — not digestive issues. That is why Ulcerative colitis is associated with anemia. Yet UC is manifested in an explicit way in gastrointestinal terms — but that does not mean it’s a gastrointestinal issue.

Ayurveda knew this all along!

That is why they emphasize herbs, to purify the blood.

It is this toxic and acidic blood, filled with micro-plastic, glyphosate, unbound iron, heavy metals and other things that are passing through many organs. That is why there is joint pain, resembling rheumatoid arthritis (or is it?); that is why there is inflammation and enlargement of the spleen, inflammation of the pancreas, liver, skin and eyes; scarring of the gallbladder and lungs. And that is why there is inflammation of the colon! An Ulcerative colitis colon can be 1000 times more acidic than normal!

There are at least six herbs ayurveda emphasizes to heal Ulcerative Colitis, namely:

Punarnava: very effective for UC and cleansing the blood and entire body

Andrographis: Andrographis paniculata acts as a bitters, which helps free the liver of stones and sludge. Gallstones are a major cause of UC.

Guduchi: reduces uric acid, and both alkalinize and detoxify the body

Manjistha: an Ayurvedic herb, will prevent the stomach from spilling undiluted HCL into the colon. It also helps alkalinize an overly acidic colon.

Turmeric: an ayurvedic herb that helps reduce unbound iron, and reduces inflammation.

Ginger: enhances the effectiveness of these other herbs.

 

Frozen or freeze dried Spirulina

As if all that wasn’t enough (or was it?), we have to add Spirulina! Spirulina acts like a sponge, mopping up toxins and anything undesirable that would foster the conditions necessary for UC to exist. While there is limited studies, Spirulina contains phycocyanin, a compound with strong anti-inflammatory effects, which may help reduce intestinal inflammation, a hallmark of UC. For temporary use only!

Where can you get frozen or freeze dried Spirulina?

SpiraVeg Spirulina

 

Raw Living Spirulina 

 

Tests to confirm Ulcerative colitis include: colonoscopy or (the less invasive) sigmoidoscopy, with tissue sample. Another reliable test is: stool calprotectin. All of these will examine and confirm the level of inflammation.

Deflate Fatty Liver disease!

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Many people have fatty liver and don’t even know it. When someone says, “fatty liver”, most people don’t know what that means — including the person saying it! To my understanding, it means everything: fatty acids, like triglycerides, phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol esters, bilirubin, dead red blood cell remnants, iron waste and water! In other words, it means lots of junk is building up in the liver! But the biggest junk is probably triglycerides filled with toxins, which is the main source of fat storage and fat accumulation — hence the term, fatty liver.

Anyone who has fatty liver, needs to look at their ferritin. My ferritin level was once over 280.

Yes, I have had fatty liver!

I have had fatty liver since fatty liver was not even in style — back in the 1980’s when I was 10 years old! I was blood poisoned (I believe) by painful injections in the buttocks, to supposedly manage my asthma condition!

 

Ferritin affects liver health:

To be clear, ferritin protein is where the body first stores excess iron. Do you know how much ions of iron one single ferritin complex carries? Up to 4500! So if your ferritin level is 50, multiply that by 4500 irons!
Now if your ferritin is 280, multiply that by 4500 iron ions!

Do you know what fatty liver is?: so much ferritin, that it turned into hemosiderin! Hemosiderin is the antarctic of iron waste. It is a graveyard of iron and dead lysosomes stuck in the south pole — actually, I meant, liver! In other words, when the body can no longer store excess iron in the ferritin complexes, it is forced to store it in this second option: hemosiderin. This hemosiderin storage system is hard on the body, especially the liver. And, it is hard to get rid of excess iron once it’s stored as hemosiderin.

Don’t get me wrong: low ferritin can also be distressing: it means the spleen is not recycling iron properly! But that can be simply resolved by consuming copper or wholefood vitamin C!
Does anyone know how to get out of the antarctic?

 

Enzymes affect liver health:

When doctors talk about liver enzymes, they are not only talking about the familiar AsT and ALt — they are also talking about such hardly ever tested enzyme(s) as GGT [Gamma-glutamyl transferase]. Actually, most doctors probably don’t even remember what GGT is! Often high when there is toxins in the blood such as from medication or alcohol or when there is hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatic obstruction or bile flow obstruction, GGT insures delivery of amino acids that make the powerful antioxidant glutathione. These amino acids include: glutamate, cysteine (cystine) and glycine.

 

Protein affects liver health:

What we also need to talk about is not only the liver enzymes, but also, the proteins produced by the liver. They also tell a lot by their too high or too low levels — such proteins as serum albumin and globulins! Abnormal numbers of these proteins may signal🚦 some type of dehydration, or worse, liver dysfunction. Chronic liver disease is characterized by a fall in serum albumin concentration and a rise in serum globulins.

 

Gallbladder health is affected by liver health:

Another thing needs mentioning is not only the liver — that very large organ, but its pipeline: the gallbladder!

Many people have liver issues because the gallbladder is stuck with sludge or gallstones! Can you imagine your kitchen sink pipe clogged with chewing gum? Many people nowadays are listening to their doctors recommend having their gallbladders removed, as if gallbladder surgery was an ice-cream treat! Removing your gallbladder is the same thing as removing the sac that holds bile that is needed to digests fats.

That’s why I also look at bilirubin levels — specifically direct bilirubin, to make sure gallbladder is opened (3mm) and working properly. Too high bilirubin (a “compound” from heme, produced in the liver) means gallbladder is clogged! That’s why I use chanca piedra or bhumi amla to unclog the gall-pipe!

 

The history of fatty liver:

There was once a time when doctors would only entertain the term fatty liver if someone consumed alcohol. If you did not fit that category and still complained that you may have fatty liver, then these doctors would say, “Oh, you don’t know what you’re talking about! Stop complaining and enjoy life!” It was only after repeated and vehement complaints that science then began to realize there is fatty liver beyond alcohol fatty liver disease. They labeled it: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD.

As time went by, NAFLD became nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH. As more time went by, NASH became something that led to metabolic dysfunction -associated steatohepatitis or MASH in 2023 because, “nonalcoholic” and “fatty” seemed as if stigmatizing and trivializing the disease, they thought. In other words, science still could not make up its mind about what fatty liver disease is!

And to complicate things even more, we have another new term — i.e., liver disease caused from environmental toxins: toxicant-associated fatty liver disease (TAFLD), which can then lead to toxicant-associated steatohepatitis (TASH), which a more severe form of TAFLD.

 

Liver disease progression:

To simplify things for the purpose of this article, there are three grades of fatty liver: mild, moderate and severe, with up to 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 of fat deposit and fat accumulation, respectively. And there are progressive stages to fatty liver:

– Simple fatty liver (fat only)

– Steatohepatitis (fat accompanied with inflammation)

– Fibrosis (chronic inflammation) 

– Cirrhosis (widespread scarring that greatly impairs liver function).


Much of this is fixable, yes. But severe fatty liver disease with cirrhosis is going to need a lot of work. Be optimistic, but do not be fooled if someone tells you, “the liver is the only organ that regenerates itself and if you cut off a part of it, it will simply grow back!” Welcome them to the real world 🌎 — the liver won’t do anything good unless you work hard enough to fix it!

 

Reverse fatty liver disease:

Luckily, nature has provided ways to accelerate reversing fatty liver disease. It is called herbs! I have studied for years and tried to find the best answers to what the best things to reverse fatty liver disease are. And I think I’ve found them.

It is not milk thistle. Milk thistle is good for liver that is already healthy. It is not burdock root either — though that can be helpful. It is not artichoke extract or swedish bitters either. Yet those can be helpful. 

The herbs that I like to focus on at reversing fatty liver are from ayurveda: kutki and Bhumi amla!

Kutki is a bitter herb that works like a mechanic, going into liver cells, and bringing them back to life. Bhumi amla is like a drainage plunger, unclogging gunk out of the gallbladder.

But there are other things necessary to accelerate reversing fatty liver disease. They are: choline and  IP6-inosotol.

Choline helps remove fat from the liver, while IP6-inositol helps remove excess iron from the liver. Excess iron is a major cause of fatty liver disease and liver inflammation! Phlebotomy through blood donation can also relieve the body of excess iron in the blood.

 

And of course, eat healthily and properly:

If you have fatty liver disease, junk food and excess sweets are a no no. Excess alcohol is a no no. Eating excess amounts of animal meat is a no no. Animal protein may raise insulin levels to intolerable levels. Excess dairy and eggs are a no no. And foods high in oxalates is a no no. I have compiled a list of the safest, most nutritious foods! If you have fatty liver, you need to load up on B vitamins, as with the choline previously mentioned, but also particularly vitamins B2 (riboflavin) and B5 (pantothenic acid) — found in organic bee pollen — to accelerate the healing process of a damaged liver. Other nutrients include magnesium, copper and phosphorus.

 

Sugar, sugar substitutes, and sugar alcohol may also contribute to fatty liver disease:

When someone says something like too much sugar causes fatty liver, I think one detail in that means, too much high fructus corn syrup and the nasty Maltodextrin that usually comes with it, contributes to fatty liver! So does aspartame. If you like sweet things, look for pure organic honey, coconut sugar, palm sugar, molasses, or even plain old cane sugar. These other sugars, such as sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners are destroying peoples’ livers! Monk fruit (sugar) is up for debate, since it is usually combined with other sugar alcohols to make it taste like sugar.


So, what should you do?:

– If possible, get an ultrasound for the liver.

– Get a blood test checking for:

– Ferritin: should be less than 75

– Ast and ALt should be less than 20

– GGT: should be less than 30

– Serum albumin: should be between 4.1 and 4.8

– Globulin: should be between 2.2 and 2.8

– Direct bilirubin: should be less than 0.3

Herbs:

– Kutki 

– Bhumi amla 

Supplements:

– Choline 

– IP6- Inositol 

Procedure:

– Phlebotomy 

Foods

Eat healthy, limiting alcohol, sweets and excess animal protein. Pay special attention to food containing vitamins B2 and B5. Also magnesium, copper and phosphorus rich food are beneficial to help heal a fatty liver.

The Other Herbs I Love

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Five years ago, I wrote about nine of my most cherished herbs. Now, I will list sixteen more.

 

Bhumi Amalaki: I previously wrote about herbs good for the liver, like kutki, eclipta alba and guduchi. Now I’ll add another ayurvedic herb, Bhumi Amalaki. This herb goes well with kutki, in rejuvenating a dying, fatty liver. In Peru, it’s known as chanca piedra — the stone breaker. If you want to protect your gallbladder from gallstones or surgery, think Bhumi Amalaki. It is also protective of the kidneys — removing excess oxalate crystals. These features will also relieve chronic abdominal pain and painful urination.

Bhumi Amalaki may also be useful for those suffering from diabetes, Hepatitis B, and HIV.

Other names: phyllanthus niruri, Bhumi amla

 

Jiaogulan: an herb originating from Southern China, this is known as the “Immortality herb”. People who drink this herb as a tea, seem to live longer, healthier lives. Containing 82 saponins called gypenosides, it is extremely useless for those with both pre-diabetes and diabetes. May also reduce visceral and subcutaneous fat.

Other names: Gynostemma Pentaphyllum, Southern Ginseng

 

Astragalus: this herb shares certain similarities with Jiaogulan — also sharing anti-aging characteristics, presumably by keeping the telomeres of cells healthy. Astragalus is famously known as a kidney cleanser, reducing protein loss, while increasing excretion of unwanted uric acid. This consequently improves blood pressure and heart function.

 

Andrographis: known as the “King of bitters” for a reason: because it is a very bitter herb. This bitterness helps make everything else sweet: improving arthritic conditions, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Its immune system regulator and strengthening abilities help improve many conditions: asthma, flu, common cold, bronchitis, COPD, COVID, TB, Lyme disease and even malaria. The key is to taking this herb at the onset of these conditions — preferably within 72 hours.

There is also credible evidence that andrographis may show improvement of the hard to treat inflammatory bowel disease Ulcerative colitis.

There is also credible evidence that this herb may show beneficial for certain cancers!

Other names: Andrographis paniculata, Green chiretta, Kalmegh

 

Pau d’arco: from the Amazon rainforest of South America and the inner bark of the tabebuia tree, while improving immune system function, this herb is famous for relieving candida overgrowth in women. Containing compounds known as naphthoquinones, it is known for being anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and maybe even anti-cancer!

Do not consume in high doses!

Other names: Tabebuia avellanedae, Taheebo and Lapacho

 

Neem: like andrographis, an extremely bitter herb from ayurveda. For temporary use only — may dry the body and skin. Not for pregnant or breastfeeding women, as may cause spontaneous abortion. Very antiparasitic, antiviral, antibacterial, antiseptic,  antifungal and anti infection. Purifies the blood and may reduce blood sugar.

 

Punarnava: like andrographis, may be good for Ulcerative colitis due to its anti inflammatory properties. May also be helpful for Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Literally meaning “the one that renews”, punarnava has a whole body cleansing effect, including as a diuretic. May also be helpful for weight loss and those with Rheumatoid arthritis.

Other names: Boerhaavia diffusa

 

African Geranium: from South Africa, very antibacterial and antiviral and proven exceptionally effective for upper respiratory tract infections: common cold, laryngitis (voice box), pharyngitis (sore throat), rhinosinusitis (sinuses); and even lower respiratory tract infections: acute bronchitis; tuberculosis.

Other names: Pelargonium sidoides, South African geranium, Umckaloabo (a brand name)

 

Mullein: like African geranium, helps with inflammation and infections of the lungs. As an expectorant, may reduce mucus. Very useful and effective for those suffering from sleep apnea. May also be helpful in treating other inflammation and infections throughout the body, including ear infections.

 

Arjuna: from ayurveda and from the bark of the Terminalia arjuna tree, this herb contains triterpene glycosides that may improve heart function and reduce chest pain. Other compounds have been isolated like arjunetoside, oleanolic and arjunic acids, that may contribute to improvement of the left ventricle of the heart, thus improving blood flow throughout the entire body.

 

Dan shen: like Arjuna, a Chinese (TCM) herb that may improve heart function by reducing excess platelets in the blood. Excess platelets causes congestion in the blood and make blood flow harder. As a consequence of this herb, blood becomes thinner and blood vessels become wider. All of this manifests as reduced chest pain, blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

Other names: Salvia miltiorrhizao, Chinese Red Sage

 

Hawthorn: like Dan shen, hawthorn is good for the heart. Flavonoids like rutin and quercetin may help heart muscle contract better, increasing blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle. This may thus decrease chest pain or irregular heartbeat. May also be a credible option for those suffering from the beginning stages of heart failure.

The most effective part of this herb for improving heart conditions is the flowers. Leafs and berries can also be used but are less effective.

 

Blue Vervain: this is the herb for anxiety, depression and insomnia. Known for its calming effect on the nervous system, the verbenalin, an iridoid glycosides, in blue vervain may increase sleep onset and duration. One side effect may be strange dreams or nightmares.

Blue vervain may also be effective against epilepsy, including the classic tonic-clonic seizures.

Other names: Verbena hastata, American vervain

[Should not be confused with its sister plant, common vervain — the European plant version (aka Verbena officinalis).]

 

Dragon’s Blood: a natural red resin (from tree sap), often used in rituals, extracted from a variety of tropical trees called Dragon trees, primarily, Croton lechleri. Commonly used for digestive issues including internal ulcers. Has antimicrobial properties and can help heal receding gum if used as a mouth rinse. Also used for external ulcers, and other skin wound to accelerate healing. May reduce arthritic pain when used topically.

If used internally, for short term use only — about one week at a time.

Other names: Sangre de Grado

 

Persian Saffron: known as the sunshine spice and the most expensive spice in the world. Effective for anxiety and depression, this spice is known for providing relief of PMS symptoms in women, even by just inhaling the herb. It may also improve sleep quality, reduce cravings, and manage diabetes. May also lubricate sex organs and increase sexual desire.

Pregnant women should not use this spice!

Saffron has many fake competition, so it is important to do research to make sure you’re getting authentic saffron. Look for saffron from Persian or Iranian origin.

Even though saffron may show beneficial in tackling certain degenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and also in certain cancers, it is important to remember that saffron is a spice, and should only be used safely in small amounts, at about 15 mg twice per day.

Other names: Crocus sativus

 

Fenugreek: like saffron, may also increase sexual desire in both sexes, by balancing hormones like estrogen and testosterone. May manage blood sugar and diabetes by slowing sugar absorption in the stomach and stimulating insulin more effectively. Increases milk supply in breastfeeding women. High in iron, excess may cause gastrointestinal issues.

 

Caution should be taken while using herbs with any medication, if pregnant or breastfeeding and two weeks before surgery. Typical side effects — though rare — may include: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, stomach upset, skin rash, anemia, constipation and/or diarrhea.

Histamine Intolerance Defused

Posted on by Diogenes II

Do not be fooled — our body needs histamine.  We need histamine to help secrete stomach acid, to contract the lungs, gut wall and uterus, to dilate blood vessels so as to manage blood pressure and nutrient distribution. Histamine is involved in the sleep-wake cycle, to keep us up and alert. We also need histamine to act as a neurotransmitter [message communicator] for the brain and to improve all brain function. And we need histamine to activate and regulate the immune system to facilitate tissue repair and wound healing. Histamine is like a fire — the problem with it though is when it is lacking its deactivator, such as DAO and HNMT enzymes, to out the fire. Here, we will discuss the bad and the ugly of this histamine intolerance. We will also discuss the ways to put out the fire.

Histamine is a neurological messenger that awakens your immune system. It reacts to infections and pathogens first, then tells your immune system to do something. How does it work? It alerts cells responsible for distributing water throughout the body of places where there is dehydration. It does this by raising the temperature of the certain region\tissue, thus causing heat and regulated inflammation. This regulated inflammation then causes the body to rush water/hydration to the infected area. Thus you may develop diarrhea if it’s in the colon, runny nose if it’s in the sinuses, and swelling of the brain (aka migraine) if it’s in the head. Being histamine causes dilation of the blood vessels, you may also develop flushing, skin rashes; and also other unspecified uncomfortable reactions, such as gastrointestinal issues and irregular periods.

There may be no such thing as histamine intolerance. The body loves histamine, and could not survive without it. Calling it histamine intolerance is like calling too much water in the body “water intolerance”. What it really should be called is histamine overload or histamine dysregulation. After histamine is activated, certain enzymes are suppose to clear it out (DAO, HNMT, MAO) to prevent it from building up. DAO works extracellular with minerals to clear excess histamine from food and the tissues. HNMT works on an intracellular level, clearing histamine that the body produces from within the cells. MAO may work as a backup to the HNMT enzyme. When these enzymes are defected, then histamine overload or dysregulation is the result.

But where does histamine comes from?

Histamine is found ready-made in certain foods or is created from an essential amino acid also obtained through the diet called histidine, to create L-histidine. This histamine is then formed and stored in a type of white blood cell called mast cell, found in tissues. It is also stored in another type of white blood cell called basophil, found in the blood. These mast cells are found in connective tissues throughout the body and awaken to allergens, infections or tissue damage. When these mast cells burst, they release their capsule-like, granule-filled content, including: tryptase, heparin, cytokine and histamine.

The three main causes of histamine to be overly-activated in the body is most likely from:

1. chronic dehydration

2. toxins building up 

3. pathogenic proliferation.

Causes of chronic dehydration may be from:

➡️ Kidney malfunction, not excreting metabolic waste, causing excess chloride production. This may be due to inadequate potassium and magnesium in the cells and excess sodium outside of the cells, causing a loss of both intracellular and extracellular fluid. This then causes widespread dehydration throughout the body, including mineral loss

➡️ Kidneys, small intestine and thymus THEN does not produce enough DAO to clear out excess histamine

Causes of toxins building up may be from:

➡️ Fatty liver, accumulating stones, thus unable to clear out toxins. Then cholesterol gets stuck in the liver from a lack of hydration, and from a lack of the hydrating fluid bile. This then causes gallstones to develop, congesting the gallbladder.

Causes of pathogenic proliferation may be from:

➡️ Heavy metal toxicity within all systems, especially unbound iron, aluminum, mercury and lead, providing a feeding ground for bacteria from food and within the gut

Thus we develop an overproduction of hydrogen peroxide, which creates more inflammation and a sensitivity to certain high histamine (or histamine liberator) foods, including those susceptible to bacteria:

➡️ Eggs

➡️ Dairy (such as milk and aged cheese)

➡️ Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kombucha and kefir

➡️ Certain fruits like avocado, tomato, eggplant, strawberries, citrus, kiwi, banana, pineapple, papaya and even dried fruit

➡️ Certain vegetables, like cauliflower and spinach

➡️ Certain grains, seeds and beans, like corn, peanuts, kidney beans and soy

➡️ Leftover food

➡️ Spoiled seafood like fish

➡️ Alcohol such as red wine and beer

In fact, many people who suffer from small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may actually be suffering simultaneously from histamine overload,  causing a rise in hydrogen dominant SIBO from excess hydrogen peroxide production. This is because SIBO consumes the DAO enzymes layered on the intestinal wall, causing the inevitable proliferation of histamine.

Taking antihistamine (H1 and H2-receptor antagonists) stops the inflammation caused by histamine, which if done habitually, may be a dangerous thing. If your body wants something to be inflamed, it is doing so for a good reason. Stopping that process may lead to malignancy in the years to come. Antihistamine also causes dehydration, including drying of the mucus on the  membrane — the very thing histamine is trying to correct. Another reason is that antihistamines (particularly first generation) make us drowsy because histamine is involved in the sleep-wake cycle, and depleting histamine in the brain by taking antihistamine, disrupts that process.

Natural antihistamines include stinging nettle and food-source quercetin.

So what will defuse histamine overload?

The number one reason why histamine is activated is because of dehydration and a lack of supporting nutrients. Simply hydrating properly with the right minerals and vitamins should correct the symptoms quickly. But there may be other issues, such as liver congestion, toxins and bacterial proliferation. These other issues will take time to correct.

Being that histamine raises inflammation, that means the body is low in certain minerals and vitamins, like magnesium and vitamin B6 (P5P). Vitamin B6 is an important co-enzyme of the DAO enzyme. It also increases magnesium’s absorption into the cells. Magnesium helps do the job for histamine without the need of raising histamine, like widening blood vessels, to remove toxins and increase nutrient absorption. Furthermore, other food sources high in the other B vitamins help P5P do its job better. Natural vitamin C found in acerola or amla will also speed up internal healing of damaged tissue; and it contains copper too, which is a fantastic healer of damaged cells.
To clear the body of excess toxins, you may try IP-6 with inositol, along with a good brand of modified citrus pectin, in the morning on an empty stomach, or at night, on an empty stomach, away from food, for a few weeks or months. (IP-6 should be used with care. Modified citrus pectin binds to toxins, and takes them out of the body, through the intestines.)
To help speed up healing of the liver, Bhumi amla and kutki will do the trick.
You may also try DOA enzyme supplements, 15 minutes before meals, to deactivate histamine overload.

So in summary, to fix histamine overload, try:

➡️ Drinking more nutrient dense fluid such as pure, sugarfree coconut water, or mineral water such as spring water

➡️ Magnesium (glycinate/malate/taurate)
➡️ Vitamin B6: P5P
➡️ Natural B vitamins: Organic bee pollen/Nutritional yeast
➡️ Natural vitamin C: Acerola or amla

To remove toxins, try:

➡️ [IP-6 with inositol

➡️ modified citrus pectin, (such as Pectasol) on an empty stomach, away from food, day or night]

To decongest the liver and gallbladder, try:

➡️ Bhumi amla

➡️ Kutki

To deactivate histamine overload, try:

➡️ DAO supplement

To help eliminate pathogens, try:

➡️ Organic Pau darco (tea) — inner bark only

➡️ Avoid spoiled or leftover food

Additionally, you may try:

⏺ one ounce of grass fed kidney and liver (from chicken or beef) per day for the DAO, vitamin A and copper content.
⏺ pycnogenol to distribute fluid evenly throughout the body
⏺ Natural antihistamines include stinging nettle and food-source quercetin.

Safest, Most Nutritious Foods

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Many health-conscious people deciding to give up on junk food and eat healthy, with fruits and vegetables and other things, like nuts, suddenly realize their health condition has gotten worse. How could this be? We are told to eat our leafy greens if we want to stay heathy! The problem is though, not all leafy greens and root vegetables are healthy for our biological constitution. While vegetables like spinach, swiss chard, collard greens and nuts like almonds and fruits like raspberries and tubers like cassava may show no physical signs of distress for some people, to others who are sensitive to oxalates, and other things — these foods are a no no. In this article, I will go over in detail the safest, most nutritious foods to eat that are associated with minimum complications. And I will specifically list the few dozen foods from around the world I think are the best at re-mineralizing and re-invigorating the human body — and they may not be what you think!

There are many defense mechanisms that plants produce to protect themselves against predators — including we, the human predator. These include antinutrients such as goitrogens, found in cruciferous foods like kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage; lectins, mostly found in legumes, whole grains, tomatoes and eggplants; phytates (phytic acid), mostly found in whole grains like oats, seeds like peanut and sesame, and legumes and nuts; gluten, found mostly in wheat products like bread, cereals, baked goods and pasta; tannins, mostly found in tea, coffee and legumes; saponins, found in legumes and whole grains, and salicylates, found sporadically in certain vegetables, like broccoli, radish and sweet potato, and in certain drinks, like beer, and fruits, like berries, cucumber and tomato– but the biggest and most debilitating offender of all these plant defenders is probably oxalates, found abundantly in some leafy greens, nuts, fruits and beans, like soy! Most of these anti-nutrients can mostly be destroyed by cooking, sprouting or fermenting these foods — with few exceptions! Oxalates, for example, are not only antinutrients — but exist in different forms (like soluble and insoluble) and are stone-formers, binding with calcium, and even magnesium, potassium or phosphorus; and settling in the kidneys and even all throughout the body, turning the human body into stone!

While goitrogens are associated with iodine malabsorption, thus interfering with thyroid function, lectins, phytates, saponins and tannins are associated with  calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc malabsorption, leading to a deficiency in these nutrients. Gluten — though not usually associated with healthy foods — can severely damage the villi of the small intestines, leading to SIBO, bloating, leaky gut and other digestive issues; while salicylates are associated with itching, inflammation and asthma-like symptoms. Lectins will simply make all gastrointestinal issues worse. Tannins are specifically associated with iron malabsorption, while oxalates are specifically associated with especially calcium, then magnesium, phosphorus and potassium malabsorption. Why is that bad? It is because calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body, and can thus be the most destructive mineral if not being absorbed properly. When calcium separates from our bone and teeth, it can act like little stones, ravaging throughout our vascular system, causing chaos.

These disclosures may bring a bit of joy, or guilty pleasure, to those who live or want to continue to live on unhealthy junk foods; but that would be like choosing injury by the left blade or the right blade of a double-edge sword. If you desire to live a long and healthy life, you must be wise and careful in choosing the best foods for your biological constitution and the organs that depend on them.

When I say be wise in choosing the best foods for your biological constitution,  we must understand that everyone is different, and wired differently.  Some types of food may be a lifesaver to one person, while that same food may be hellraiser to another. In ayurvedic (Indian) medicine, there is a system of constitution-determination called the doshas, which uses the concept of the elements of air, space, fire, water and earth to determine one’s disposition: mentally, physically and emotionally. The doshas combines these elements to produce a division of three characteristic groups: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. It is not an exact science in the least, but Vata dosha characteristically tends to be thin built and light, dry skinned, always feels cold, hates cold, loves change, restless and moves like the wind; Pitta dosha is competitive, medium built, naturally strong (muscular), impatient, jealous and fiery (many are redheads); Kapha is grounded, calm, needs to be pushed, is allergy prone, holds water and tends to gain weight easily. Using this as a guide, you may determine your own disposition and sensitivity to foods. If you are the Vata type, you probably do better with cooked, heavy foods, with healthy oils. Vata should also keep hydrated since they are prone to constipation. If you are Pitta, stay away from caffeine, fermented and spicy foods. Pitta needs protein rich food like taro, black beans and scallops. Their acidic constitution allows them to tolerate certain raw salads, like asparagus, watercress and arugula. If you are Kapha, you may need less animal protein and more plant protein. Kapha should also eat energizing foods high in copper, B vitamins and phosphorus. These include daikon radish, taro, asparagus, crimini mushrooms, black beans and scallops. They should avoid excess sweets and excess wheat products, being these foods foster weight gain.

So here is a comprised list of the safest, most nutritious food observed and borrowed from around the world that is agreeable with and beneficial to most people; keep in mind that food is eaten for pleasure, satisfaction and health — the latter often being ignored:

Japanese most healthy foods:

01. Daikon radish: most popular vegetable in Japan — high in protein and enzymes to digest complex carbohydrates, fats and other proteins. A great detoxifying vegetable, including a diuretic to flush out toxins. Contains a compound called glucosinolates, which breaks down to form isothiocyanates, which may provide powerful cancer fighting properties. May also help with weight loss. Don’t peel the skin. Downside(s): too much may be goitrogenic

02. Japanese persimmon: national fruit of Japan. Full of carotenoids, including beta cryptoxanthin, which may improve eye health. Contains a compound called fisetin, that may help reduce oxidative stress, improve brain function and fight cancer. Downside(s): high in tannins

03. Natto: a fermented soybean product high in both vitamin K1 and K2. High also in manganese, iron, copper, fiber, probiotics and a unique powerful enzyme called nattokinase, which may dissolve blood clots. Thins the blood due to vitamin K content. May help fight heart disease and certain cancers. Downside(s): an acquired taste, pungent odor, caution if on anticoagulants

Chinese most popular foods:

04. Bok choy: a cruciferous vegetable that contains phytonutrients — like the sulphur containing compounds glucosinolates, which convert to isothiocyanates — that may reduce cancer risk even if consumed just once per week. A moderate yet balanced source of carotenoids, vitamin C, folate and vitamin K. May assist with thyroid function, heart and bone health. Downside(s): too much (uncooked) may inhibit iodine absorption and affect thyroid function 

05. Taro: a root vegetable that improves digestion. Good for bowel disease,  creates short chain fatty acids that restores colon health. Also contains fiber and resistant starch that may help reduce excess weight. A good source of protein. May improve blood sugar levels. Also contains compounds called polyphenols  — particularly quercetin — that may help fight against certain cancers. Downside(s): may be high in calcium oxalates

06. Adzuki bean: contains dozens of antioxidants, making them one of the main antioxidant rich food in the world. Soaking/sprouting/fermenting them makes nutrients more bioavailable. May be good for blood sugar by improving insulin sensitivity.  May reduce high triglycerides and reduce excess LDL particles. Contains short chain fatty acids, fiber and resistant starch beneficial for colon health. May also improve kidney function.

07. Durian: the king of fruit in Southeast Asia: scary looking, though one of the most nutrient dense fruit in the world; loaded with B vitamins for energy, purifies the blood and helps make red blood cells. Contains cancer fighting antioxidants. Good for the heart, the gut and pregnant women. Downside(s): pungent odor. Do not consume with alchohol 

08. Mangosteen: known as the queen of fruit in Asia: contains a unique class of antioxidant compounds known as xanthones, which may help fight cancer and other ailments, such as chronic inflammation and diabetes. May also protect against UV damage. Downside(s): excess amounts may lead to internal bleeding. Previously banned because of concerns they would introduce an agricultural pest — the fruitfly — to other countries 

09. Bitter Mellon (Bitter Gourd): a bitter fruit very good for liver ailments, including fatty liver. Has a chemical that acts like insulin to help reduce high blood glucose level. May help ameliorate lipid disorders such as hyperlipidemia and normalize cholesterol numbers. Relatively high in vitamin A and C, which may help boost the immune system. Contains compounds that may lower high blood sugar markers, like fructosamine and Hba1c. Downside(s): extremely bitter and high in oxalates. May not be suitable for pregnant women

Germany’s favorite vegetable:

10. Asparagus: an incredible detoxifying vegetable — high in the antioxidant glutathione and an alkaloid chemical called asparagine, which may help to detox ammonia from the liver. High in a saponin called protodioscin, which supports ovarian health, increases testosterone production and maybe libido. Particularly high in B vitamins, zinc, selenium,  vitamin K and E. May help lower high blood pressure. Contains soluble and (mostly) insoluble fiber and may help burn fat, promote weight loss and alleviate urinary tract infections. A prebiotic called inulin may support gut health. High in the flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol, which may reduce inflammation and help fight cancer. Downside(s): detox may cause urine to have a strong odor for a short period of time. Some people may have an allergic reaction to asparagus due to certain proteins in the vegetable 

My observed other favorites:

11. Cucumber: keeps cells hydrated (a common health issue) and simultaneously flushes out toxins. Helps with digestion, reduces bad breath and contains chemicals that may help fight cancer. Buy organic and eat unpeeled. Downside(s): Producers often add wax to cucumbers and other produce to conserve moisture and keep a fresh look

12. Scallops: high in iodine, and choline, which makes it good for the liver. Also impressively high in phosphorous to boost energy production and metabolize B vitamins. Also high in vitamin B12. Should be eaten sparingly  — about twice per week. Downside(s): relatively low in mercury but may be high in cadmium

13. Watercress: the CDC has crowned watercress as the healthiest food in the world —  a cruciferous which contains naturally occuring nitrates that may lower blood pressure; one of the best detox vegetables — has dozens of unique flavonoids. Helps heal injuries and support collagen production. May improve athletic performance. Good for the eyes. High in Vitamin K1. Compounds called glucosinolates which convert to isothiocyanates may help protect against cancer

14. Sardine: Extremely nutrient dense — one of the few foods naturally high in vitamin D. Also high in calcium, niacin, phosphorous, selenium, and vitamin B12. A good source of protein, which is needed for enzymes and hormonal production. Is like a multivitamin — good for the brain, and when included with the bone, high in calcium.  Downside(s): May be high in purines, that may cause a rise in uric acid. Extremely high uric acid can lead to gout

15. Sunflower seeds: may look like an unimpressive source of nutrition, yet one of the few and best sources of vitamin E. Roasting can dramatically reduce vitamin E content by about 80 percent though. Also high in biotin, vitamin B1 and B5. Vitamin B5 helps with the production of the powerful hormone melatonin. Also relatively high in magnesium, vitamin B6, potassium,  selenium and copper. Consume in small amounts. Downside(s): High in cadmium 

16. Oats: [ridiculed by many respected doctors and nutritionists as a bad source of healthy foods, but oats processed properly is an extremely healthy food source.] High in many antioxidants,  including one called avenanthramides — almost solely found in oats. This helps increase nitric oxide, thus widening blood vessels and leading to better blood flow. May then protect LDL particles and cholesterol from oxidation. May also lower excess LDL and cholesterol. Very high in manganese. Also reasonably high in chromium, phosphorous,  molybdenum, copper, zinc,  thiamine and the very powerful hormone melatonin. Contains a soluble fiber called beta-glucan — well known for boosting and strengthening the immune system. Must be organic. Downside(s): may be cross-contaminated with gluten; may also contain avenin — a protein similar to gluten 

17. Papaya: a low sugar fruit, which contains a unique enzyme called papain. This enzyme helps break down the tough protein chains in muscle meat. Papaya creates better absorption of nutrients more so than other fruits and vegetables. May be good for IBS and other digestive issues. High in vitamin C and carotenoids,  like beta-cryptoxanthin and especially, lycopene, which may demonstrate anticancer activities. May be good for the heart, the pancreas, blood and Alzheimer’s disease. Downside(s): must be consumed away from other foods; may be a histamine liberator 

18. Crimini mushroom (Agaricus bisporus): these mushrooms — a form of white button mushrooms  — contain bacteria that may help improve digestion. Contains carbohydrates like chitin, beta-glucan, alpha-glutan, xylene and hemicellulose that acts as prebiotics for the gut. Exposing them to sunlight increases vitamin D content. High also in copper, selenium, potassium, vitamin B2, B3, B5 and B7. Contains the unique selenoamino acids and selenoenzymes to fight inflammation. Also contain the amino acid and antioxidant ergothioneine, that may be powerful enough to fight cancer. Also contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) — a type of fatty acid — that may have anticancer properties. Must be bought organic. Downside(s): may be high in purines that increase uric acid production 

19. Black bean: High in protein that is highly digestible (~ 80 percent). Also high in fiber, copper, and folate. Relatively high in magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, molybdenum, iron and thiamine. Contains antioxidants such as polyphenols and flavonoids, including anthocyanins, that may contain cancer fighting properties. May also aid with blood sugar and weight loss. Downside(s): contain antinutrients — but are reduced by cooking 

20. Sesame seed (hulled): known as the queen of seed oil, particularly high in copper, then iron, magnesium,  molybdenum, selenium, thiamine, zinc and an excellent source for protein. Has the highest phytosterol content of all seeds and nuts. Phytosterols and other plant compounds such as lignans may help regulate cholesterol to healthy levels. Contains the essential amino acid tryptophan, that helps relieve stress and anxiety. Thus an excellent source for menstrual and menopausal issues for women. One of the main ingredients in “seed cycling ” for women’s hormonal balance. May reduce hypertension and diabetes risk. Nourishing to the colon. Strengthening to bones and joints. Contains compounds such as sesamin and sesamol, which may protect against radiation damage to DNA. Downside(s): contains antinutrients such as oxalates and phytates, that may be reduced by soaking, sprouting or roasting seeds

21. Artichoke: like asparagus, contains a prebiotic fiber called inulin, that supports colon health. Also a source of probiotics. Improves gut motility and helps stop muscle spasms in IBS sufferers. Good for the liver — may repair liver damage and increase bile flow to release toxins from the liver. May normalize liver enzymes. Also contains antioxidant compounds such chlorogenic acid and luteolin, that helps prevent excess cholesterol formation. May also improve blood sugar levels. Also contains antioxidants such as rutin, quercetin and silymarin, which may have anticancer effects

22. Arugula: an unusual, peppery tasting, cruciferous vegetable, containing exceptional antioxidants such as erucin and glucosinolates that are believed not only to be potent cancer fighters and cancer destroyers,  but also anti inflammatory, anti diabetic and lipid lowering. Also detoxifies the liver, good for the eyes and safe for pregnant women. Also has nitrates which enhances athletic performance and endurance. High in vitamin K. Should be eaten raw. Downside(s): caution when taking blood thinners since high in vitamin K. May be goitrogenic if eaten in excess

23 Black garlic: is raw garlic that has been processed with slow heat and humidity over a period of weeks, changing the texture, color, odor and nutrient content. May be more potent (not smell or taste) than regular garlic. May help reverse fatty liver, lower cholesterol and fight against certain cancers.

24. Parsley: keeps the kidneys healthy — prevents edema and dissolves kidneys stones. Good for digestion and may improve blood sugar levels. Compounds called myricetin and apigenin may help prevent cancer proliferation. Compounds called apiol may ease menstruation complications in women

25. Ginger: powerful against fighting many infections including oral. Calms indigestion and helps digest and move food quicker through the digestive system.  A convenient remedy for nausea.  Eases menstrual cramps. Active compound called gingerol may help fight against cancer. Downside(s): moderately high in oxalates; a blood thinner that may cause bleeding if used in excess

26. Pomegranate: good for digestion, is antimicrobial and may reduce kidney stones. Powerful polyphenol compounds called punicalagins, ellagitannins and anthocyanins may reduce inflammation throughout the body. These and other polyphenolic compounds may reduce blood pressure,  plaque buildup and chest pain. Downside(s): may be relatively high in oxalates 

27. Broccoli sprouts: high in glucoraphanin — the nutrient that becomes sulforaphane; a powerful  compound with strong anticancer properties.  Downside(s): may be goitrogenic if used in excess. Has a high risk of bacterial contamination, so be sure to wash them before consuming 

28. Winter squash: full of carotenoids: beta carotene,  alpha carotene,  beta cryptoxanthin; good for the eyes, skin and immune system. Also relatively high in potassium. Both the butternut and buttercup variety complement each other,  and though butternut may be more desirable, the buttercup is loaded with much more vitamin A

29. Rutabaga: a staple in Northern Europe, particularly Sweden. Rich in potassium and vitamin C. High in glucosinolates, which contains antioxidant properties to fight against heart disease and cancer. Downside(s): may be high in oxalates 

30. Red cabbage: contains compounds called isothiocyanates that may encourage the production of short-chain fatty acids  — which acts as postbiotics for the colon. Also rich in the compounds sulforaphane and anthocyanins,  that may prevent oxidative damage and fight against cancer cells

31. Bilberry: very good at controlling diabetes or high blood sugar. Contains the potent antioxidant anthocyanin, which may combat chronic, inflammatory disorders, including of the colon — thus may be useful for Inflammatory Bowel Disease sufferers. Like blackcurrant, may aid in slowing glaucoma (an “incurable” eye disease) and reversing dry eyes.  Downside(s): contains tannins. Be cautious if you’re on diabetic meditation, as blood sugar may become too low

32. Guava: Remarkably high in vitamin C and relatively high in fiber and potassium — just one small guava a day, may help keep the doctor away! May be a lifesaver for women who suffer from menstrual pain. Guava also has one of the highest food source of a carotenoid antioxidant called lycopene on earth. Food-sourced lycopene is known for its many health benefits! Downside(s): best to get organic, from pesticide contamination. Relatively high in oxalates, may cause bloating or allergic reactions if consumed in excess

There you have it! You may be disappointed to not see your favorite foods added to the list, such as apple,  banana, strawberry, okra, spinach, pistachio, sweet potato, bell pepper, yam, carrot, onion, lemon, watermelon, eggplant, tomato and so forth and so on. You are indeed welcome to try or continue these food, with the necessary precautions — but the foods that did make the list appear to hold stronger influences on our biological constitution than these subsequent mentioned.  You are welcome to disagree.

 

 

 

 

Copper: the Great [Trace Mineral]

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Though all trace minerals are important and incremental to health, copper is perhaps the most powerful and versatile one of them all! Copper is the spark plug of the human body that keeps the cells energized and reinvigorated. Many ailments, from amenorrhea, lethargy to Alzheimer’s,  will see improvement quickly by just adding a little bioavailable copper to the diet, daily. Yet many people associate this trace mineral with a negative connotation: copper toxicity. In this article however, you will see that when the right type and dose of copper is added, health problems of all type will see improve dramatically.

But what is copper and what makes it so important?

Copper is that metal that is used as a conductor of electricity — second in effectiveness only to silver. But copper is also used as a trace mineral to electrify the cells of the human body, of course in a more bioavailable form. If there is no copper, there is no life. Magnesium is the fire, but copper is the match that lights and guides the fire! When you awaken from sleep, don’t think cortisol did that — think, copper did that. Cortisol’s active ingredient is copper. Your will power to step out of bed literally contains copper.

But how does it work?

Copper is like a baby that needs to be carried and cared for by its mother. It needs motherly guidance,  else it may go rogue and cause chaos wherever it lay — hence the negative connotation some people associate with copper. This association can be real though.

When copper enters the body, it is first transported by a transport protein called transcuprein (a macroglobulin). This protein is involved in the initial distribution of copper entering the blood from the digestive tract. There is a balance between transcuprein and another transport protein called albumin in blood plasma, creating a proper copper ratio. An imbalance of this ratio may signal disease. There is eventually an exchange between transcuprein to albumin for the eventual carriage and storage to the liver and kidneys.

But the great execution of copper distribution to the organs and tissues throughout the body happens with a large transport protein made in the liver, called apoceruloplasmin. When up to six copper atoms fits into this transport protein for distribution, it is now called ceroluplasmin. In fact, ceroluplasmin carries arguably more than 95% of total copper in healthy human plasma. The rest may be accounted for by other proteins called macroglobulin and albumin.

So how is copper beneficial?

When copper is properly transported by its transport proteins like ceroluplasmin or macroglobulin, it emits a host of benefits:

– Helps build collagen

– Helps build melanin

– Maintains proper nerve and brain function

– Helps create and protect myelin sheath

– Maintains proper immune function

– Maintains proper blood

– Helps burn glucose efficiently and completely

– Helps create ATP (cellular energy)

– Helps dispose of cellular exhaust

– Awakens powerful enzymes

– Decreases excess cholesterol

– Turn saturated fats into monounsaturated fats

– Creates proper hormonal balance

– Helps conserve body water

So what does this all mean for our health?

– Helps build collagen: prevents bone demineralization like osteoporosis, and speeds up wound healing through connective tissues

– Helps build melanin: prevents premature hair graying, eye discoloration and skin discoloration, like vitiligo. Acts as a natural sunscreen and helps prevent sunburn 

– Maintains proper nerve and brain function: May reverse degeneration diseases like Alzheimer’s,  Parkinson’s disease, and even Epilepsy

– Helps create and protect myelin sheath: may slow or reverse multiple sclerosis or any neurological disorder 

– Maintains proper immune function: prevents infections and fights all types of diseases more efficiently

– Maintains proper blood: keeps proper blood pH, prevents BOTH iron anemia and copper anemia. Absorbs iron and prevents toxic iron buildup in tissues

– Helps burn glucose efficiently and completely: may prevent insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and diabetes

– Helps create ATP (cellular energy): energizes the heart muscle, lungs and all other organs, thus preventing lethargy 

– Helps dispose of cellular exhaust: acts as an antioxidant against free radicals and turns hydrogen peroxide back into water through SOD and other enzymatic activities 

– Awakens powerful enzymes: speeds up all cellular activity. Keeps the river of metabolism in constant flow

– Decreases high cholesterol: may reduce excess LDL particles and its cholesterol and may increase HDL particles 

– Turns saturated fats into monounsaturated fats: may reduce complicated fatty acids (stearic acid) into a more simple form (oleic acid), as found in olive oil

– Creates proper hormonal balance: beneficial for those with low testosterone, estrogen dominance, excess cortisol, menstruating and menopausal women and all other hormonal imbalances

– Helps conserve body water: may prevent dehydration and create the right environment for electrolyte balance 

Great! So where can we get copper in our diet?

Like most things in life, if we want the good stuff, we have to search out for it. What makes whole  food vitamin C so powerful? Probably because it contains a copper in enzymatic form called tyrosinase. What makes beef liver, shiitake mushrooms, amla, acerola, sesame seeds, and oysters so powerful and important? Probably because they also are all sources high in copper!

But what depletes copper in the body?

Not only must we be mindful to supply our body with proper copper level, but we must also be mindful not to be depleting our bodies of copper. High zinc intake is legendary for causing copper depletion. Both zinc and copper share the same receptor sites in the gut. Metallothionein — the protein that binds heavy metals in the intestine — binds copper 1000 times more than it does zinc, often said by health expert, Morley Robbins. This means copper can be much more easily lost than zinc can.

But there are other things that deplete copper that we may take for granted, like ascorbic acid, high fructose corn syrup,  things with excess calcium, phosphorus,  manganese, molybdenum and iron. Glyphosate is a very dangerous chelator of copper. So is certain medications,  even over the counter medications,  like antacids and histamine blockers.

If your digestive system or liver is not working properly,  copper status may be compromised. Those with leaky gut, low stomach acid, fatty liver, obstructed bile flow, celiac  disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome should all keep an eye on their copper status! Copper level in the body should average 100 mg — about the size of an American penny.

Furthermore, there are inherited, genetic disorders that may cause a depletion or dysregulation of copper in the body, namely, Menkes disease and its mildest form, occipital horn syndrome. These conditions are rare, and will thus not be discussed here.

But what is this copper toxicity?

Surprisingly,  much of what we think we know about copper toxicity may not be copper toxicity at all. Yes, contaminated water sources from defected copper pipes and copper cookware may instigate what we may know as copper toxicity. But these are rare examples. The main problem with copper toxicity may come from a more sinister source: organ failure — namely, gallbladder stones and obstructed bile flow, that causes all manner of evil. Since excess copper is excreted through bile, it is this obstructed bile flow that causes a backup of excess copper in the liver that should have otherwise been excreted through the alimentary canal. So, to prevent copper toxicity from building up in the liver, do whatever it takes to maintain proper bile flow, thus adding bitters, such as kutki,  bhumi amla, artichoke extract and bitter melon. Tudca, a water soluble bile acid, may help as well.

As is with copper depletion, there is also the antithesis to that: copper overload. Wilson’s disease is perhaps the most popular genetic disorder, that causes copper toxicity to build in the liver and nervous systems. This disorder is not caused by the accumulation of copper in tissues — that is merely the result. The cause of Wilson’s disease is lack of the transport protein ceroluplasmin that holds copper, or the inability of copper to fit into ceroluplasmin. Copper toxicity is also caused, as previously mentioned, by the liver’s inability to expel excess copper into bile for excretion.

So, how should we take copper?

Mother nature knows best. The safest way to take copper is in a complex, that also contains zinc. Though zinc and copper may seem opposing to each other, they also need each other and may actually be monitoring [not opposing] each other to make biological processes work. A ratio of 10:1 or 10:2 zinc to copper may be ideal. The body is very picky about how much copper it needs, and quickly tries to get rid of the excess. Soley supplementing on copper may be risky for those with a compromised gallbladder, since an efficient gallbladder is needed to expel excess copper through bile.

Be Set Free from Edema

Posted on by Diogenes II

Edema is a symptom that the body gives us to tell there is something wrong with a major organ. Edema is the manifestation that happens when inside the cells and outside the cells are saturated with water, like a busted pipe within our tissues and organs. This edema can affect anywhere in the body — from the top of the head, to the sole of the feet. In this article, we will cover the most severe form of edema — refractory edema — thereby covering all forms of edema. We will show the mechanism that forms edema, and how to resolve it.

Edema, also spelled oedema, only occurs when and where there is, simply speaking, some type of damage in the body. Refractory edema is a chronic edema that does not respond to diuretic use or sodium restriction. Diuretics is used to flush out excess fluid, and sodium restriction is implemented to reduce fluid retention, since salt holds onto fluid — just like carbohydrates and protein do.  Refractory edema, however, means that the condition is more advanced, and needs to be dealt with more than just adding or taking away nutrients from the diet.

If there is bloating only in the lower right leg, then that is usually considered to be a sign of liver dysfunction — specifically a condition called ascites. If you have ascites, then that means your stomach is most likely also swollen with fluid. If the bloat is only in the lower left leg however, then that may indicate descending colon congestion, left kidney congestion or heart disease. This heart disease could lead to congestive heart failure if left untreated. If both legs are affected, this could mean advanced liver problem that is also affecting the kidneys. If such is the case, there may be also bloating under the eyes as well.

But what causes edema in the first place? Just like a busted pipe will dispense water uncontrollably, so will a busted organ not be able the handle the fluid in the body. The organ that usually starts the cascading failure is, the liver — from injury, that may then lead to a natural inflammatory response, then maybe fibrosis, and if fibrosis is chronic, this could then lead to cirrhosis of the liver. Other events that may lead to edema are hepatitis C and pregnancy. Medication that is damaging to the liver could also be a factor.

If both extremities are swollen, then this is most likely multiple organ failure. At this stage, the body is losing protein more so than it is designed to, and not being able to replace it. Furthermore, if there is high protein loss, then there is also high potassium loss. This quick and sudden excretion is damaging to the kidneys.

When we say the body is losing protein, what that mostly means is that the blood is losing albumin. Albumin is exactly what it sounds like — the same-like gooey-type clear liquid found in egg whites. This albumin transports nutrients and hormones throughout the body and helps to keep fluid inside of blood vessels and capillaries, and out of tissues and organs. At the loss of albumin, fluid buildup then occurs in the organs and tissues, causing fluid retention a.k.a. edema.

As this albumin and potassium make a quick exit out of the kidneys, they damage the sensitive glomeruli that acts as filters. Ideally, the kidneys allow much less than 1 gram of all proteins to filter out in a day. But when a condition called nephrotic syndrome occurs, the glomeruli processes 3 or more grams of protein leaking into the urine within a 24 hour period. This becomes very stressful and damaging to the kidneys.

This albumin is the most abundant protein in the blood serum, and is made in the liver, composed of some nearly 600 amino acid residues. If the liver is dysfunction, then albumin will not be made properly, if at all. And even when it is made, it may become quickly oxidized by free radicals. So an albumin problem first starts in the liver, then makes its way down to the kidneys.

Edema comes in many forms and have many names. There is peripheral edema, which affects the extremities. Then there is cerebral edema which affects the brain. There is pulmonary edema which affects the lungs. There is also lymphedema, which is directly affected by the immobility of the lymphatic system. I personally developed a form called pedal edema, that affected my lower right leg, ankle and feet — when I accidentally injured myself with the edge of a paint scraper. The treatment by allopathic medicine usually depends by edema type, which could range from something as basic as compression socks, to a more advanced or even holistic type all encompassing treatment.

I had what might have been called pedal edema, for 4 years, before I finally discovered the solution that completely reverse it — in days!

There are a combination of 5 supplements, including herbs, that have repeatedly shown positive results in reversing just about all forms of edema. It goes like this:

Pycnogenol: I took this supplement for 5 days with P5P, and my edema disappeared thereafter. Pycnogenol improves circulation and blood flow.

P5P: I took this synthetic form of B6 for a few days, and my edema disappeared, but came back one week later. Only when I combined it with pycnogenol did my edema disappear for good.

Mangistha: Mangistha gets the lymphatic system moving, thus it is good for edema, especially lymphedema.

Astragalus: Chronic edema damages the filtration mechanism of the kidneys — but this herb fixes that.

Kutki: Most edema problems are really a liver problem — this herb help fix all stages of liver dysfunction, including fibrosis and cirrhosis.

In addition to these, you want to support whole body function with a healthy diet of adequate potassium and other B vitamins. These include: Black beans, asparagus, bok choy, yu choy, parsnip, yam, sweet potato, kohlrabi, crimini mushrooms and lichens. You may also want to reduce excess sugar, since such encourages edema re-activation.

 

 

 

 

 

Rise-Up Against Osteoarthritis

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

There are three, or four, stages to osteoarthritis: stage one, which is painful, stage two, which is very painful, and stage three, which is excruciatingly painful. These stages are classified as minor, moderate and severe. But since any form of osteoarthritis is never minor to its victim, some medical intervention has renamed these: early, moderate and advanced (stages). What osteoarthritis is though is the progressive wearing away of the cartilage between bone joints, that cushions the bones from rubbing up against each other. When this protective cartilage is eroded, the adjacent bones gradually lay bare, grinding each other and disturbing the homeostasis of bone structure, tendons, synovial fluid and synovial membrane surrounding the joints. But why so — that is the question this article is putting to task. And how to fix this will become that goal at the end of the journey!

Though it might now be common belief, osteoarthritis has nothing to do with the natural wear and tear from aging or from being overweight. What osteoarthritis really is though is a natural wear and tear from putting the wrong kinds of food and chemicals in the body! To prove this, osteoarthritis is almost never observed in wild animals. Even elderly elephants in the wild do not get this condition. But when these animals are domesticated — suddenly, there is a dramatic rise in osteoarthritis for them. This must mean that osteoarthritis — sometimes we’ll refer to as OA — is common among zoo elephants and other zoo animals. It must also mean that the most domesticated animals — cats and dogs — do also suffer from this condition. The answers to these are all yeses. But why so? It is because domesticated animals are force-fed the same unnatural foods and drink their human counterparts are also eating.

To be clear, osteoarthritis, arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are all different things. When we think of osteoarthritis, we think of the wearing away of cartilage between bones, and the stiffness that accompanies it. When we think of arthritis, we usually think of a blanket term for pain or inflammation between the joints for any reason — even gout reason. When we think of rheumatoid arthritis, we think of a disruption of the synovial membrane and synovial fluid that lubricates the joints. Osteoarthritis usually occurs on one side of the body, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is symmetric — i.e., it usually simultaneously affects both sides of the body equally. If the damage is severe enough, then osteoarthritis can lead to symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

But what are these unnatural foods and chemicals that would cause this condition? The era of the care placed by mom and pop shops, like small family farms, has faded away as the populations increased. The consequences of this is that big business now uses the quickest, cheapest and most profitable methods — for themselves — to secure that the population is being satisfied (and cheated) with timely demand and supply. So now we have toxic glyphosate being spayed on crops to destroy weeds. Now we have GMO foods, like corn, soy, beets and alfalfa. Now we have high-fructose corn syrup, citric acid made from black mold and ascorbic acid being disguised as vitamin C. Now we have commercial farm animals being pumped with hormones and antibiotics. We now have fluoride and chloride being added to public water. We now have estrogen, poisonous lead and pharmaceutical waste products leached into these public waters. We now have synthetic iron being added to wheat flour, a major cause of gluten sensitivity. We now have carrageenan being added to ice-cream, synthetic food coloring and  synthetic B vitamins and other synthetics being added to the market disguised as good things. We also have homogenized A1 milk from black & white cows, causing congestion and maybe even high blood sugar. We also have rancid and destructive oils being so-called “vegetable oils”, destroying people’s digestive system. And slowly, these are all the things that are leading to the steady build-up of what this article is all about: that dreaded rise of osteoarthritis!

To be even more clear, there are two categories of OA: primary and secondary. Primary officially by science is of unknown cause. Secondary is said to be caused by some other disease, injury or deformity. In this article, there is indeed a known cause for all types of OA!

As previously mentioned, animals in the wild, eating what is natural for them, and surrounded by their natural environment — we hardly ever see osteoarthritis in them. One reason for this, is because wild animals naturally produce vitamin C — something we humans have long ago lost the ability to do. However, when these animals are domesticated, their ability to produce this vitamin is greatly reduced — they become like us. Consequently, natural vitamin C — one of the most potent substance to prevent or reverse osteoarthritis — needs to be added to our diet!

We must understand that modern society is a stressful environment to the human spirit — and also to that of the cartilage between bone joints. When we are stressed, this increases acidity throughout the body, and especially throughout the joints, that collects it like pond scum. This acidity is what it sounds like: acid eating our internal tissues away! There are three types of noteworthy cartilage in the body: elastic (constituting the shape of the ears and nose), hyaline (which is very smooth and translucent) and fibrocartilage (which contains rough fibrous bundles). The cartilage we are concerned about in this article is the hyaline type, found between bone joints. This is further subset as articular cartilage because, it covers articulating surfaces. This is the cartilage that is nourished by the ultra-filtrated blood liquid, known as synovial fluid, that nourishes both the internal environment of the joints and the cartilage itself. If the synovial fluid is toxic because of toxic blood, then this toxicity is spelled a.c.i.d.i.t.y to cartilage. This is why it is so important to be nourishing the blood properly to prevent this acidic cascade from happening.

There are natural ways to reduce pain from osteoarthritis and in actually building back cartilage that has been lost. These natural ways do not include NSAIDs, Tylenol or any other synthetic drugs. In fact, while these drugs are taking away the pain or inflammation, they are actually destroying cartilage and bone structure even more. In extreme cases, some have opted for surgery, to deal with the debilitating effects of cartilage loss and bone spurs that has developed.

Of the best natural products to reverse the course of OA is a patented pine bark extract called pycnogenol. Pycnogenol in an amazing way is able to recycle bioavailable vitamin C — the same vitamin C that reduces both mental and physical stress, and that helps build back cartilage. In fact, one double-blind, placebo study found pycnogenol effective by 56 percent in reducing symptoms of OA!

Along with pycnogenol is another great herb-berry: amla. This berry contains moderate vitamin C, and polyphenols to stabilize that vitamin C. Studies have shown amla to have direct protective effect on cartilage health.

The herb turmeric is also good at fighting OA pain and inflammation. Turmeric helps thin the blood. In fact, a great herb combination would be turmeric and ginger mixed with coconut oil. These all increase each other’s bioavailability.

Silica is needed to repair damages caused by osteoarthritis. But since this mineral needs stomach acid to be bioavailable to the body, it is best to use a form containing orthosilicic acid, such as that found in bamboo extract or a product called Florasil. Adding a teaspoon of unfiltered apple cider vinegar occasionally, will also increase stomach acid and silica absorbability.

Sulfur will also repair damages done by OA. Sulfur is legendary at removing toxins from cells and joints, and simultaneously adding the nutrients they need. But it must also be in a pure, absorbable form: 99.9% pure, organic, sulfur crystals (MSM).

Boron and magnesium malate taken together will add synergy and biovailability to each other, reducing inflammation and repairing bone and cartilage structure. 

You may also add IP-6/inositol to remove toxic iron accumulation from the joints. OA attracts acidity and acidity attracts iron. IP-6 will help break that bond.

Unfortunately, I am not a fan of glucosamine sulfate or chondroitin — popular supplements on the market for OA. Often, popularity of certain things may be a dead-givaway of their potential dangers. Many glucosamine/chondroitin supplements are fake and or full of toxins. My recommendations for osteoarthritis are what I’ve already listed above. You can also use topical bentonite cream or balm of Gilead ointment to alleviate pain caused by OA.