BELIEVER OF NUTRITIONAL CLAIMS-BE AWARE!

YOUR HEALTH INFO/NOTES
Dr. Peter Pantel, Ph.D. 410-823-6663

I find recent phytonutrient research papers inadequate in presenting good research … the impression that I get in reading recent research is that phytonutrients are either useless or that they are terrific!

The questions I have mulled over is “why is this so”? And I feel that I have part of the answer … and it is that much of recent research is funded and performed by people that have a special financial interest in the results being reported! THIS IS A NO-NO!

The special interests are:
The big pharmaceutical companies that do not want the phytonutrients to compete with their expensive pharmaceuticals
The providers of phytonutrients that want to sell us their products

An example of pharmaceutical special interest funded research can be read in a most respected journal praising the benefits of a pharmaceutical in preventing heart disease … the research was funded by the maker of the pharmaceutical and was carried out by persons that stood to gain financially by this type of information.
Or of a university that did a study on sprout benefits that was funded by the sprout grower, tried to patent the growth of sprouts while giving sales right to the head researchers' family.

An example of phytonutrient special interest might be applied to the seller of a currently very popular fruit drink … the fruit was always around, especially in the Mediterranean area, but did not sell very much here until somebody paid for some type of research to show how healthy it is.

I’ve decided that I will read and report mostly older publications, (15-40 years old) reporting on results obtained before the pharma companies and other special groups took over the information that is feed to us about health products.

So, before we accept published results, we should keep in mind the question:
Who paid for the research?
Who did the research?

Farmed Fish

FARMED CATFISH AND TILAPIA NOT THE BEST FISH TO EAT FOR OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS

Omega-3 fatty acids provide a wide range of health benefits for people of all ages.
They are essential ( the body cannot make them) and found in all cells of our bodies.

We are advised to eat fish because they are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. In a study reported in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, December 2008, it was determined that farm raised tilapia fish and catfish (which most of us buy, possibly without knowing that they are farm raised) have much lower amounts of omega-3 fatty acids than the amounts found in wild tilapia and cat fish … actually they have 1/8th of the amount found in wild fish ... but they are cheaper, so we buy them thinking that we are taking good fatty acid nutriton.

Tilapia and catfish are the fifth most popular fish in the U.S. and, in addition to being eaten as fish, they are also used to make fish sticks, fish burgers, artificial crab meat, and other items.

In eating fish to obtain Omega-3 benefits one should consider this:
· Humans and (fish) must have, but cannot make their own fatty acids. They get it from their food
· In addition to Omega-3s, there is another group, Omega-6s, that is essential for a healthy fatty acids intake
· The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is one of the criteria for comparing health benefits of these fatty acids.
· The healthy Omega-6 to omega-3 ratio is between 1:1 to 1:2. In reality, the American intake ratio is close to 1:20. Farm raised Tilapia and Catfish average 1:11, similar to chickens.


Why the Fuss about Omega-3/Omega-6 Ratio?
Because this ratio is important in determining the level of our immune response to disease ... the higher the ratio the more likelhood of support for a hyper-immune reaction situation.

We eat tremendous amounts of Omega-6s, and not much Omega-3 from fast foods, snack foods/cakes and pre-prepared meals. … the Omega-6s are a lot cheaper than the Omega-3s so manufactures of these items make more profit by using oils rich in omega-6 in their preparation, and the buyer be damned.

A healthy immune system is essential to our survival by fighting infections, cancers etc. But, if the system over-reacts, it attacks the body and causes hyper-immune diseases such as inflammation, allergy based diseases, risk for heart attacks, certain cancers, asthma and others.

Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent and lower such an over-responses by providing for the production prostaglandins that turn down immune system. On the other hand, Omega-6s stimulate the immune system, for better or for worse, based on the nature of the response.

It should be understood that Omega-6s are beneficial and necessary … the bad thing is an inbalance in the Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio..

Bottom line - Eat wild fish such as salmon, trout, tuna, sardines, anchovies, mackerel or herring. Or for Omega-3 concerns alone, cautiously take these fish raised in farms.

Or, take Flax oil or Sprouts (Flax seeds are difficult to take and must be ground before they become digestible) because they are extremelly rich im Omega-3 and low in Omega-6s.
Further, they eliminate the risk of mercury, insecticides and antibiotics and provide high amounts of soluble fiber and lignans.

Healthy Vision Protect

Protect Your Vision

Age related Macular Degeneration is an eye disorder that causes progressive loss of central vision due to damage to the Macula area of the eye.This damage causes blurring or darkness in the center of vision which interferes with reading, driving, etc.

There are two types of Macular Degeneration, the dry type, which is responsible for some 90% of age related macula problems and the wet type. Some say that a possible early indication of macula dysfunction is the perception that horizontal and/or vertical straight lines appear bent when viewed by a defective macula

Cataracts are a result of 'clouding' of the lens of the eye. This clouding causes a dimming, loss of acuity, a clouding of vision and other symptoms which interfere with reading and other such functions.

Many antioxidants are beneficial to the retina/macula of the eye. The ones strongly associated with eye protection and function are the yellow carotenoids, especially the luteins, zeazanthin meso-zeazanthin and luteolin. Luteins and Zeazanthin are 1000 times more concentrated in the macula than in any other organ in the body. Because of this and of experimental studies, it is concluded that an adequate amount of these phytonutrients is essential for proper macular function and protection.

Controllable Risk Factors
· Smoking
· Direct sunlight to the eye
· Diets poor in antioxidants, especially Luteins

Phytonutrients and Macular Degeneration/Cataracts
There are many plant products that can supply these phytonutrients, among the best being:

• Berries, especially Bilberries and Blueberries
• Marigold petals Natural vitamin Kale, Spinach, Carrot, Celery, Thyme, Mint and other dark greens
• Onions
• Citrus fruit, strawberries, Peaches
  
  A Good Supplement for Eye Health Should Do Several Things Well to Provide Vision Health:
  · Provide the richest lutein containing plants items including Marigold petals, Bilberry, and vegetable nutrients such as spinach, carrots, etc.
  · Provide Natural Vitamin C and other natural balanced anti-oxidants
  · Provide ALL the luteins in natural, balanced form as they are in natural foods/items, not synthetics or partial extracts. FOR MORE ITEM INFORMATION
  
  Dr. Peter Pantel, Ph.D. 410-823-6663 800-937-4881

HEALTH PROTECT - Careful Reading of Labels and Information

AstraZeneca's Cholesterol Win - Crestor sales are going to go up--a lot.
The only question is how fast.

The above comes from an article in Forbes magazine and refers to a study done to determine whether lowering blood C- Reactive Proteins (CRP) ( blood factors which seem to be indicative of inflammation associated with of heart disease risks) can help prevent heart disease.

The study was published in the current issue of the New England Jour. Med. and seems to indicate that taking statin type drugs, i.e. Crestor, provides a 50% decrease in heart attack risk, 20% decrease of dying from any cause and some 46 % lower need of heart surgery.

These figures are impressive but one has to wonder why statins were picked to study the effects of drugs on heart disease via CRP … when there are other drugs available that can decrease CRPs without the interpretation pitfall of statins.

Lets take a look at the results:

1- The 50% decrease in heart/stroke - a different type of analysis indicates that it was really only some 0.8% reduction

2- While the number of deaths in the study group was lowered, the Crestor group decrease seems to be no better than the placebo

In interpreting this study, perhaps it may be significant to note that:

The study was headed by Dr. Paul Ridker, who helped develop the test for CRP and receives royalties from their sale and

The study was funded by AsteraZeneca, the seller of Crestor

The above is an explanation of how we read the results of the study. Perhaps some one can enlighten us

Dr. Peter Pantel, Ph.D.

HEALTH PROTECT

Your Health Info/Notes Dr. Peter Pantel, Ph.D. 800-937-4881 http://www.rejuvenan.net/


Ulcers and Crucifera Family - Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Crest, Horseradish, Kale, Kohlrabi, Mustard, Radish, Rutabaga, Turnip - All same family!

A while back we read a publication by a Hopkins group that broccoli sprouts help fright/prevent/protect ulcers ... in a test tube.

That made us think of older information that we had read, namely that cabbage juice really puts a dent in ulcer problems.
Dr. Garnet Cheney, (who may have been one of my teachers in college) performed a cabbage juice study using guinea pigs and found that he could not produce ulcers in the animals being given that cabbage juice. In another study, with people, he demonstrated that cabbage juice reduced healing time of gastric ulcers by 83%. In another people study with cabbage concentrate, he reported a 92% cure.
That this has a valid foundation comes from information that an ulcer healing drug, gefarnate, is found in cabbage.


There is a 'but' here. One has to drink about a quart of this juice a day for about a month ... this is rather cumbersome and we do not know of this amount of cabbage juice has any hidden effects. Perhaps taking smaller volumes for a longer period can do the same thing.

Don't think that cabbage is a one disease treatment vegetable . Cabbage, a member of the crucifera family, seems to offer protection against radiation, extend life and fight colon and other cancers.

Small Health Quiz on Health Protect

Recently, Canadian scientists did some studies to determine which vegetables might be best to help protect against cancer. So they performed some tests tube studies with vegetable juices. Lets see how we do in selecting the best Health Protect vegetables.

The studies were done with stomach, liver, lung, breast, pancreas, skin, prostate and brain cancer cells. The groups of 'vegetables' studied were:

1. Crucifera such as as kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage.
2. Alliums such as garlic, onions, shallots.
3. Tomato, carrots, lettuce potato.

Which ones do you think were best against cancer? Vegetables in #1, #2 or #3?

The study showed that the most popular vegetables ( 60% of us eat them rather than the others) were least effective against cancer cells ... so the answer is that group #3 of tomato, carrot, lettuce and potato are not as Health Protect as broccoli or onion!

The Canadians plan to do more studies with other type of vegetable preparations to determine whether this study might be a little misleading.

The researchers further point out that in addition to eating the wrong greens, we do not eat as much of them as we should ... like 5-9 good servings of green a day.

HEALTH PROTECT RED FLAGS

The information below is an extract of a publication in Jour. Amer. Medical Assoc. - Vol. 300 No. 11, September 17, 2008 send to a friend

STUDIES SHOWING THAT BPA FOOD CONTAINER COATING HARMFUL

Here is some information we should know:
Bisphosphol A (BPA) is used to coat the surfaces of metal cans (soft drinks, beer), plastic containers, (milk, water, condiments, baby food bottles,) etc.
The study below found that exposure of people to BPA treated container, may put them in harms way.
The study cited found that the people with the highest amount of BPA in their body had 3X the risk of heart disease and more than 2X the risk of diabetes ... and this even though people with the highest BPA/disease levels in this study, still had BPA levels below currently established as 'safe level". So, how much higher would the disease incidence have been if the levels of BPA were higher?

These could be much worse if applied to babies because:

• Though bottles and formulas, milk and water babies, on an exposure to pound basis they get more BPA than adults. Also, they can't get rid of this BPA from their body as quickly as adults, leaving the door open for more serious damage.
• It may not be given in the journal but I recall reading, although not 100% certain, that BPA breaks down to estrogen, the female sex hormone. A nice piece of destruction to palce in baby food!
• The National Toxicology Program says that there should be "some concern".
• The fda says, based on 2 studies (out of many others) funded by plastics manufacturers, that "products containing BPA currently on the market are safe, and exposure levels are below those that may cause health effects". This even though the levels present in the people participating in this study and getting diseases were much lower that the currently recommended "safe level" and their conclusions
  Association of Urinary Bisphenol A Concentration With Medical Disorders and Laboratory Abnormalities in Adults
  =================================================================
  
  Context Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in epoxy resins lining food and beverage containers. Evidence of effects in animals has generated concern over low-level chronic exposures in humans.
  
  Objective To examine associations between urinary BPA concentrations and adult health status.
  Main Outcome Measures Chronic disease diagnoses plus blood markers of liver function, glucose homeostasis, inflammation, and lipid changes.
  Results
  Higher urinary BPA concentrations were associated with cardiovascular diagnoses
  Higher BPA concentrations were also associated with diabetes
  In addition, higher BPA concentrations were associated with clinically abnormal concentrations of the liver enzymes Conclusion Higher BPA exposure, reflected in higher urinary concentrations of BPA, may be associated with avoidable morbidity in the community-dwelling adult population.