March 2011 Natural Health Newsletter
In This Issue:
Problems with the PSA Test
Fun Quiz: Foods With Proven Benefits
Low-Alcohol Beer Next Gatorade?
Help for Heartburn
Good Bugs for Your Gut
Herbal Home Remedies
Diet Soda and Stroke Risk
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Problems with the PSA Test
A rising PSA level isn't such a good predictor of prostate cancer after all and can lead to many unnecessary biopsies, says a large new study.
Most Men over 50 get PSA blood tests, but they're hugely problematic. Too much PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, only sometimes signals prostate cancer is brewing - it also can mean a benign enlarged prostate or an infection. And screening often detects small tumors that will prove too slow-growing to be deadly. Yet there's no sure way to tell in advance who needs aggressive therapy.
On the other hand, some men have cancer despite a "normal"PSA count of 4 or below. So for PSAs that are rising, yet still in the normal range, some guidelines urge doctors to consider a biopsy.
How quickly the PSA number rises is something "that patients and doctors worry a lot about,"said Dr. Andrew Vickers of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. "Men show up here with a PSA of 2 and we say, `Why are you here?' And they say, `Well, I used to be a 1 and my doctor's worried. Am I going to die?'"
So Sloan-Kettering researchers studied whether considering PSA velocity adds value to the biopsy-or-not decision in those otherwise low-risk men - and concluded it doesn't.
"This is a really important study,"said Dr. Otis Brawley of the American Cancer Society, who wasn't part of the research. "A lot of doctors are going to stop looking at a PSA rise of 1 and ordering biopsies."
Vickers' team tracked 5,519 men who'd taken part in a huge prostate cancer prevention study and who'd received a biopsy at the study's end regardless of their PSA level.
Just having a rising PSA - if nothing else was considered - was associated with a slightly higher risk of having cancer, although not the more worrisome aggressive kind. But the PSA level alone, not its rise, was a much better predictor of a tumor, reported Vickers, a statistician who specializes in prostate cancer.
Focusing on PSA's rise instead triggered many more biopsies, with close to 1 in 7 men who would get one, concluded the study, published Thursday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
That compares with 1 in 20 men who are biopsied for a high PSA level alone, noted Dr. Grace Lu-Yao of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in an accompanying editorial.
"There's an important public health message here, which is for men not to worry about changes in their PSA if their overall PSA level is low,"Vickers said.
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Fun Quiz: Foods With Proven Benefits
Magazines love lists and foodies love to rank favorites. So now, even highfalutin' scholarly journals like Food Technology are joining the ranks. It recently published "14 foods that deliver research-documented benefits to health."Take our quiz based on the list.
1. Barley made the list because clinical trials have shown it lowers what?
a) Inflammation
b) CHOLESTEROL
c) Ulcer symptoms
2. Black raspberries have been shown to prevent what in mice?
a) Intestinal tumors
b) Irritable Bowel syndrome
c) Gingivitis
3. Pistachios, according to a recent study, have been found to reduce what?
a) Kidney stones
b) Shingles
c) Inflammation
4. According to a 2010 study, what nutrient in pecans may provide neurological protection by delaying the progression of motor neuron degeneration?
a) Niacin
b) Vitamin B12
c) Vitamin E
5. People who consumed two servings of canned tomato products daily experienced a significant decrease in what?
a) Blood Pressure
b) CHOLESTEROL
c) Inflammation
ANSWERS: 1: b; 2: a; 3: c; 4: c; 5: a
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Source: Institute of Food Technologists
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Low-Alcohol Beer Next Gatorade?
A Bavarian brewmeister is touting its no-alcohol beer as the latest sport drink for athletes, handing it out at the finish line of sporting events and touting its regenerative benefits.
Unlike Gatorade, Erdinger Alkoholfrei is served up with a frothy head. And it comes in one color - a golden hue - unlike conventional sport drinks.
Several top athletes from Europe quaffed the beverage from giant mugs on the podium of the World Cup biathlons held this month in northern Maine.
The company touts the beverage as an isotonic, vitamin-rich, no-additive beverage with natural regenerative powers that help athletes recover from a workout. In other words, it's carbohydrate-loaded refreshment without the alcoholic buzz of beer or the jitters caused by some energy drinks.
"It's a very healthy product,"said Glenn McDonald, U.S. manager for Erdinger. "Overseas, it's very popular. It's the No. 1 non-alcohol beer in Germany."
Even though it's called alcohol-free, Alkoholfrei still contains less than 0.5 percent alcohol. That makes it verboten for anyone under 21 in Maine. Other states, like California, allow minors to buy alcohol-free beer.
Promoted as a "sports and fitness drink,"Erdinger began targeting athletes in 2001 in Europe with an advertising campaign featuring a pair of triathletes. Its popularity quickly grew in Europe, where it's often distributed for free in the finishing area of sporting events.
Marketing beer as a sport drink for athletes is a new concept in the U.S., though McDonald points out that Alkoholfrei can be enjoyed by anyone, not just athletes.
Whether Americans are ready to embrace another no-alcohol beer is unclear. Sales of no-alcohol beer have been declining for more than a decade in United States, so any new entrant faces an uphill battle, said Benj Steinman, editor of Beer Marketer's Insights.
Erdinger, which is already sold in 45 U.S. states, has identified Alkoholfrei as a priority brand as part of a larger push into North America, McDonald said.
The 125-year-old company, which makes Alkoholfrei in the same brewery outside Munich where it turns out conventional wheat beers for suds-loving Germans, promotes itself at cycling and running events in the summer. In the winter, it's one of the main sponsors of the World Cup biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and rifle marksmanship.
At World Cup events, Erdinger banners are prominently placed in the stadium and on the course for visibility. Erdinger is also on some of the "bibs"worn by athletes.
"It's not bad. It's not bad,"said Max Cobb, president and CEO of the U.S. Biathlon Association, based in Maine, who has sampled Alkoholfrei. "It's an interesting thought to think of the carbohydrates and everything. They're definitely something athletes need at the end of an event."
No-alcohol beer made a splash in the 1990s with the entry of Anheuser-Busch's O'Douls and Miller's Sharp's, but the novelty of so-called near-beer wore off for some consumers. "Part of the appeal of beer is the ethanol,"said Harry Schuhmacher, editor of Beer Business Daily.
Erdinger hopes to win over consumers with a great German beer flavor that others lack. It doesn't come cheap, however, at about $10 for a six-pack.
As for its health claims, a University of Maine nutritionist is skeptical.
Beer contains sodium, Potassium, carbohydrates and B vitamins, all of which are good, but they're not found at the optimal levels for an athlete, said professor Mary Ellen Camire.
"It will help with rehydration. Whether it's the ideal drink to have, I'm not sure,"she said. "Surely if people are looking to celebrate, it's better to celebrate with that than a regular beer after a workout, because a regular beer has alcohol and that would dehydrate you further."
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Help for Heartburn
Turn on the TV anytime of day and you're likely to see one of those ads promoting a particular pill for Heartburn relief. It is after all a multi-billion dollar industry and they are counting on your suffering. Chances are Heartburn or acid reflux will likely affect most of us at some time in of our lives. It can be annoying, but it can also have serious health consequences if it is recurrent and left untreated. Diet and lifestyle changes, as well as natural remedies can be very effective in providing relief and can be a vital part of the total treatment program.
Diet and Lifestyle Changes
The danger with recurrent reflux or "GERD"(gastroesophageal reflux disease) is that the acid from the Stomach can damage esophageal tissue and may eventually lead to cancer. Common risk factors for Heartburn include mental Stress, obesity, pregnancy, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Eating large, fatty meals and lying down after a meal can induce heart burn. Some common medications can cause heartburn like aspirin, ibuprofen, and certain Blood Pressure drugs. Chocolate, caffeine, spearmint, Peppermint and alcohol can Relax the Muscle at the end of the esophagus, allowing reflux to occur. Undiagnosed celiac disease, food sensitivities, and bacterial or Candida (Yeast) overgrowth may also be to blame.
In general adopting a healthy lifestyle can be of great help. If you are overweight, lose weight. Avoid large, heavy, high fat meals that make you feel "stuffed”. Instead, eat smaller, lighter meals more frequently. Some people find relief at night by raising the head of their bed or pillow by six inches.
Medications
Over the counter and prescription H2 blockers (Zantac, Pepcid) and proton pump inhibitors (Nexium, Prilosec) are effective at reducing the amount of acid produced by the Stomach. In acute cases where Ulcers are present they may be indicated to allow the tissue of the esophagus to heal. They are not without side effects however, especially with long term use. People find it is extremely hard to get off of these medicines, so they just stay on them for years and years.
Stomach acid is actually very important and necessary-as long as it stays in the stomach. Too little acid from long term acid-suppressing treatment can lead to poor digestion of nutrients, especially vitamin B12. Anyone who has been taking these medications long term should have their vitamin B12 levels checked and replenished if low. Long term use of proton pump inhibitors (Nexium, Prilosec) is associated with an increased risk of bone fractures. Instead of covering up the symptom of heartburn, ideally one should try to get to the root cause of why it is recurring to avoid these medication side effects from long term use.
Alternatives
There are natural alternatives to drugs that can help alleviate symptoms. One of the most common remedies for occasional heartburn is Calcium carbonate which helps to neutralize acid in the stomach. Pure Calcium Citrate powder is a different form of Calcium that dissolves quickly and can help tighten the lower esophageal sphincter Muscle. 250 mg of pure Calcium Citrate powder mixed in water after meals and before bed is commonly recommended.
Several studies have found deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) can help heal Ulcers. In head to head studies, DGL was found to be as good or better than Tagamet and Zantac in the treatment and maintenance of gastric Ulcers. (Gut. 1985;26:599-602 and Gut. 1982;23:545-551.) It has soothing properties that aid in healing ulcers and may help heal damage in the esophagus caused by heartburn while also easing reflux symptoms. It is important to mix the DGL with saliva to activate it. It can be found in powdered form or in convenient Lozenges. DGL does not contain the Compound responsible for raising Blood Pressure that is found in regular Licorice. The most common dose is 760 mg DGL about 20 min before meals and bedtime.
Other herbs and supplements that have long been used for easing digestive problems include Aloe Vera and Slippery Elm. Gamma-oryzanol, derived from Rice Bran Oil, appears to help control digestion and is especially helpful for chronic heartburn or Ulcer sufferers. Digestive Enzymes such as Bromelain, found in pineapples, may help digestion by breaking down proteins which may ease heartburn and upset stomach.
Melatonin is most well known for helping those with sleeping problems or jet lag, but emerging research suggests it may play an important role in digestive health. Cells in the GI tract secrete 400 times the amount of Melatonin that's secreted in the pineal gland in the brain. A study published in a 2006 issue of the Journal of Pineal Research found 100% regression of GERD symptoms after 40 days in the group taking a supplement of Melatonin (6mg), L-tryptophan, vitamin B6, Folic Acid, vitamin B12, Methionine and Betaine. The other group was taking 20 mg of omeprazole (Prilosec) and had a 65.7% regression of symptoms. In a 2010 study published in BMC Gastroenterology researchers stated that melatonin shows promise as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of GERD. They do note that further studies are warranted to determine long term safety with continued use.
Side effects of melatonin can include grogginess. It also stimulates the Immune system so those with autoimmune conditions should not use unless under the advice of their healthcare Professional.
References:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/296/24/2947
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2011
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Melatonin for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. July 2008-Vol 14, No. 4.
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Good Bugs for Your Gut
Even though you may not realize they’re there, probiotics are a very important part of your digestive system. Otherwise known as “friendly bacteria”, these well-meaning microbes are working hard to keep your GI tract in healthy balance. When there are enough of them, they make it an inhospitable environment for harmful bacteria, parasites.
Probiotics appear to help enhance the Immune system and offer protection from bacteria and viruses that cause GI illnesses. Studies suggest that supplementing the diet with probiotics can help reduce the risk of developing a cold and shorten its duration. Other conditions that may benefit from probiotics include Eczema, Saccharomyces bouldarii (Florastor) is not bacteria, but a probiotic diarrhea as well as diarrhea associated with antibiotic use.
Food and Supplement Sources
The most common food source of probiotics includes Tempeh. Many special probiotic drinks are now widely available and very popular. Look for the term “live active cultures” when buying yogurt or probiotic drinks. Some of these drinks may also include the number of live cells per serving.
Supplements may be required for therapeutic doses or if someone cannot tolerate food sources of probiotics. Always choose a high quality supplement to ensure live active cultures. During antibiotic therapy take probiotics as many hours as possible in between doses of antibiotic and continue the probiotics for a few weeks after antibiotic therapy is complete.
Things to consider when shopping for a quality probiotic supplement:
1.At least 1 billion live cells per serving. 5-10 billion per serving is even better. Some conditions may require higher doses. Some supplements contain hundreds of billions of live cells per serving.
2.Guaranteed potency (means the probiotics are alive) through the expiration date, not until you buy them.
3.Look for products that require refrigeration and are refrigerated at the time of purchase.
4.If the product does not require refrigeration, make sure it was specially processed to be heat/shelf stable by an independent third party lab.
5.Dark glass containers are better than plastic at preventing moisture, heat and air from damaging probiotics.
6.Consider the strain of probiotic. Choose ones that have been proven to do what they are supposed to. Different strains can benefit different conditions.
7.Keep your probiotics in the refrigerator to protect them from heat even if they are shelf stable.
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Herbal Home Remedies
Black Cohosh, Witch Hazel, Ginseng and slippery Elm have been in use as herbal remedies for hundreds of years. But the most widely used remedy is not something only herbalists and natural healers prescribe.
"Garlic is the most-used medicinal herb in the world,"said Mimi Hernandez, the coordinator for the Appalachian Center for Ethnobotanical Studies at Frostburg State University.
Hernandez, also a clinical herbalist with the Council of American Herbalists Guild, named numerous benefits to the commonly used member of the Alliaceae family, which also includes other pungent root vegetables like onions, shallots and chives.
Eating Garlic as a first response for colds is something that Hernandez does herself.
"Garlic fumes kill germs,"said Hernandez, adding that in addition to the detoxifying qualities of fumigation of the lungs, it also boosts the Immune system.
Hernandez said that garlic is good for pin worms, which commonly affect children, and soaking garlic Cloves in Honey for a few weeks, then draining it off, provides a tasty treat for kids.
Both Hernandez and Rosie Cupler, owner of the Herb Barn in Grantsville and certified licensed practical nurse, agree that garlic is a good cure for earaches.
Cupler recommends dripping a few drops of a garlic oil and Tea Tree Oil combination, while Hernandez pairs her garlic with Mullein flower and Olive oil for a similar effect.
"I think this is a phenomenal remedy because it is so effective,"said Hernandez.
Cupler said that another common spice for alleviating common cold symptoms is capsicum, or Cayenne Pepper. Cupler recommends mixing Cayenne Pepper with Tomato Juice to alleviate a sore throat immediately and to help with the onset of cold itself.
Hernandez agrees.
"I always say, spice it up to clear it up,"said Hernandez, who also recommends Cayenne Pepper for cold symptoms.
Hernandez said that Cayenne Pepper works so well because it has antiseptic qualities, stimulates secretions, washes microbes away and helps to stimulate the blood flow for healing.
"An eighth of a teaspoon on the tongue,"recommends Hernandez, also saying that if you can handle more, take it.
Sunshine Brosi, an ethnobotany professor at FSU, has a doctorate in the study of the relationships between people and plants and has learned how it relates to the Appalachian Mountains.
"(I've) really focused on the Appalachian region,"said Brosi.
One of the herbs that Brosi says is popular for this region is Black Cohosh. The root is known to help menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and mood swings. Brosi also said that it is growing in popularity as an alternative to hormone therapy.
On Hernandez's website, she lists Black cohosh as helping with Headaches, joint pain and water retention, and also lowering Blood Pressure.
Brosi also said that Witch Hazel is often sought out in the Appalachias for its astringent qualities and is good for treating acne and hemorrhoids.
Keyser, W.Va., resident Dorothy Malkie has been a supporter of alternative medicine since she started nursing school in 1943.
"It's very complicated, and you have to know your own body,"said Malkie.
Malkie grows herbs that she mainly uses for cooking, but does make Peppermint Tea, which she said helps her to Relax and soothe stomachaches. Another antidote that Malkie praises is a homemade Cough Syrup of onions and honey, which is something she learned from her mother and frequently uses for her husband's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
"I'm not against home remedies. They work very well for me, but I do have a background,"said Malkie, adding that her nurse's training from 1943 to 1945 taught her much about it.
She says that back then, even to give a cup of Peppermint Tea to a patient, they had to have the doctor's approval.
One spice that both Hernandez and Cupler recommend cooking with is tumeric. Both said that it helps with arthritis because of its Anti-Inflammatory qualities. Hernandez said that it can help in the prevention of heart disease and with hayfever.
Hernandez recommends that for a tasty remedy, mix tumeric with "your favorite nut butter to help with arthritis."
Another popular regional mainstay of alternative medicine is also a member of the onion and garlic family.
"One harvested pretty often is ramps,"said Brosi, adding that they are good for high Blood Pressure and heart disease.
Emily Newman can be contacted at enewman@times-news.com.
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To see more of the Cumberland Times News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.times-news.com/
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Diet Soda and Stroke Risk
LOS ANGELES - It's far from definitive proof, but new research raises concern about diet soda, finding higher risks for stroke and heart attack among people who drink it everyday versus those who drink no soda at all.
The beverage findings should be "a wakeup call to pay attention to diet sodas,"said Dr. Steven Greenberg. He is a Harvard Medical School neurologist and vice chairman of the International Stroke Conference in California, where the research was presented on Wednesday.
A simple solution, health experts say, is to drink water instead.
Doctors have no chemical or biological explanation for why diet soda may be risky. It could be that people who drink lots of it also fail to exercise, weigh more, drink more alcohol or have other risk factors like high Blood Pressure and smoking. However, the researchers took these and many other factors into account and didn't see a change in the trend.
"It's reasonable to have doubts, because we don't have a clear mechanism. This needs to be viewed as a preliminary study,"said lead researcher Hannah Gardener of the University of Miami.
But for those trying to cut calories, "diet soft drinks may not be an optimal substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages,"she said.
The numbers come from the Northern Manhattan study, which enrolled about 2,500 adults over 40 in the New York area from 1993 to 2001 through random phone calls. Half are Hispanic and one-fourth are black, making it one of the few studies to look at these risks in minorities, who have higher rates of stroke.
Participants filled out a standard survey about their diets at the start of the study, and their health was tracked for nearly 10 years. In that time there were 559 strokes or heart attacks, 338 of them fatal.
Daily diet soda drinkers (there were 116 in the study) had a 48 percent higher risk of stroke or heart attack than people who drank no soda of any kind (901 people, or 35 percent of total participants). That's after taking into account rates of smoking, diabetes, waistline size and other differences among the groups.
No significant differences in risk were seen among people who drank a mix of diet and regular soda.
Earlier studies have tied diet and regular soda consumption to greater risk of diabetes and a group of weight-related problems called the metabolic syndrome.
Some diet soda critics have suggested it can promote a sweet tooth, affecting behavior and how much of a person's diet comes from sugary sources rather than healthier fruits, vegetables and grains.
These sorts of studies just observe groups of people and are not strong enough evidence to prove risk.
"It's too preliminary to suggest any dietary advice,"but other big studies should look at this question, Gardener said.
Greenberg, of the stroke association, called it "a real-world"look at possible risk.
Dr. Maureen Storey, senior vice president of science policy for the American Beverage Association, said in a statement that there is no evidence "that diet soda uniquely causes increased risk of vascular events or stroke."
"The body of scientific evidence does show that diet soft drinks can be a useful weight management tool, a position supported by the American Dietetic Association. Thus, to suggest that they are harmful with no credible evidence does a disservice to those trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight."
The beverage group's statement also noted researchers didn't adjust their results for family history of stroke. Gardener, the researcher, said that's not "a substantial weakness."
The same federally funded study also looked at a more conventional health risk - salt. It found higher risks for people eating more than 1,500 milligrams a day. That's the limit the American Heart Association recommends, but last week's new dietary guidelines from the government say it's OK to have a little more.
Researchers found that stroke risk ROSE 16 percent for every 500 milligrams of salt consumed each day. Those who took in 4,000 or more milligrams of salt had more than 2.5 times greater risk of stroke compared to those who limited themselves to 1,500 milligrams.
A teaspoon of salt contains about 2,300 milligrams of sodium. About three-fourths of the salt we eat, though, comes from processed foods, especially tomato sauce, soups, condiments, and canned foods.
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Online:
Stroke conference: http://www.strokeconference.org
Heart Association on salt: http://bit.ly/GHA0W
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