December 2009 Natural Health Newsletter « FeelGood Natural Health Food Stores

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Could the Holidays Be Causing Your Wrinkles?
As another holiday comes and goes, you expect to be stuck with a few extra pounds. But research shows that tighter jeans may not be all you’re left with… in fact, the New Year could come with a new set of wrinkles, too. Why? Well, for starters you have the season’s low humidity: Research shows [...]
Could Weak Digestion be Causing Your Depression?
Recipe – Avocado Salad with Black Olive Dressing
Authored By: Polly Pitchford, Full Spectrum Health A taste of the Mediterranean! Diet Types: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low Carbohydrate, Low Sodium, Raw Foods, Vegetarian, Wheat Free Ingredients: 3 tablespoons orange juice 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, coarsely chopped 1 clove garlic minced 1 teaspoon honey salt and black [...]
The Dark Side of Blood Coagulation
There’s no question that your blood’s ability to clot is critical-without it, a tiny paper cut could become a life-threatening injury. But like most of your body’s functions, even coagulation has a dark side… and it’s one that could kill you if you don’t keep it under control. Stroke, embolism, deep vein thrombosis… all of [...]
Two Crash-Free Ways to Beat Holiday Burnout
Getting through the holidays seems easy enough when you’re running on all your cylinders… but this hectic season’s endless parties and crowded malls will always catch up with you in the end. And without a little extra help

Could the Holidays Be Causing Your Wrinkles?

As another holiday comes and goes, you expect to be stuck with a few extra pounds. But research shows that tighter jeans may not be all you’re left with… in fact, the New Year could come with a new set of wrinkles, too.

Why? Well, for starters you have the season’s low humidity: Research shows that skin is more prone to irritation, inflammation and water loss during the winter months-and you can always count on increased chapping, cracking and dryness once the cold weather is here to stay.1-3

Then there’s the extra stress and busy schedule that come along with that holiday to-do list. Chronic stress coupled with lack of sleep can send your levels of the hormone cortisol off kilter-resulting in thinner, more sensitive skin that’s slower to heal, while causing bags and dark circles that will weigh down your eyes all season long.4-5

Finally, never underestimate the influence of your diet. All of those sugary holiday snacks add up to higher blood glucose levels-paving the way for the build up of excess amounts of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), along with the inflammation, abnormal changes to delicate tissues and premature aging they can cause.6-7 These AGEs damage your skin’s structural integrity-leading to less elastic collagen and loss of skin tone, which is related to lower levels of an important natural skin-nourishing substance called hyaluronic acid (HA) .8-10

HA is a critical element in all of your body’s tissues and fluids. It serves as a lubricant for your eyes and as a key component of both your joints’ cartilage plus the synovial fluid that serves to cushion and protect the joints. HA also serves as a powerful moisturizer for your skin, where it can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water-providing a youthful complexion with smoothness, softness and elasticity. It also plays a critical role in wound healing.

Unfortunately, hyaluronic acid (HA) levels take a nosedive with age, accumulating only in deeper layers of the dermis and leaving your skin’s outer surface drier, thinner and looser.11 Add in the harsh insults of winter-from cold winds outside to moisture-zapping heat inside-and dry, sagging and wrinkle-prone skin is virtually guaranteed if you aren’t careful.

The good news is that simply keeping your skin nourished during these next few months can help to undo the damage the cold, dry winter conditions can cause-putting the brakes on premature aging in the process. And one of the best ways to do that is to use HA, such as VRP’s HA serum, which increases endogenous HA in the dermis and attracts a water layer on top of the skin surface to protect against water loss. You might also add Facelift Serum-which lifts and tightens loose skin, protects against oxidative stress and fosters collagen repair. Use HA on your entire face and neck to replenish all-over youthful elasticity and protect against the thinning, dryness and oxidative damage caused by cold weather, stress, lack of sleep and daily UV and pollution exposure.

References:

1. Loffler H, Happle R. Influence of climatic conditions on the irritant patch test with sodium lauryl sulphate. Acta Derm Venereol. 2003;83(5):338-41.

2. Kikuchi K, Kobayashi H, Hirao T, et al. Improvement of mild inflammatory changes of the facial skin induced by winter environment with daily applications of a moisturizing cream. A half-side test of biophysical skin parameters, cytokine expression pattern and the formation of cornified envelope. Dermatology. 2003;207(3):269-75.

3. Uter W, Gefeller O, Schwanitz HJ. An epidemiological study of the influence of season (cold and dry air) on the occurrence of irritant skin changes of the hands. Br J Dermatol. 1998 Feb;138(2):266-72.

4. Zervolea I, Pratsinis H, Tsagarakis S, et al. The impact of chronic in vivo glucocorticoid excess on the functional characteristics of human skin fibroblasts obtained from patients with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome. Eur J Endocrinol. 2005 Jun;152(6):895-902.

5. Altemus M, Rao B, Dhabhar FS, et al. Stress-induced changes in skin barrier function in healthy women. J Invest Dermatol. 2001 Aug;117(2):309-17.

6. Berge U, Behrens J, Rattan SI. Sugar-induced premature aging and altered differentiation in human epidermal keratinocytes. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Apr;1100:524-9.

7. Ahmed N, Babaei-Jadidi R, Howell SK, et al. Glycated and oxidized protein degradation products are indicators of fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2005 Oct;28(10):2465-71.

8. Thirunavukkarasu V, Nandhini AT, Anuradha CV. Fructose diet-induced skin collagen abnormalities are prevented by lipoic acid. Exp Diabesity Res. 2004 Oct-Dec;5(4):237-244.

9. Lohwasser C, Neureiter D, Weigle B, et al. The receptor for advanced glycation end products is highly expressed in the skin and upregulated by advanced glycation end products and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. J Invest Dermatol. 2006 Feb;126(2):291-299.

10. Okano Y, Masaki H, Sakurai H. Dysfunction of dermal fibroblasts induced by advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and the contribution of a nonspecific interaction with cell membrane and AGEs. J Dermatol Sci. 2002 Sep;29(3):171-180.

11. Meyer LJ, Stern R. Age-dependent changes of hyaluronan in human skin. J Invest Dermatol. 1994;102:385-389.

As another holiday comes and goes, you expect to be stuck with a few extra pounds. But research shows that tighter jeans may not be all you're left with... in fact, the New Year could come with a new set of wrinkles, too.

Why? Well, for starters you have the season's low humidity: Research shows that skin is more prone to irritation, inflammation and water loss during the winter months-and you can always count on increased chapping, cracking and dryness once the cold weather is here to stay.1-3

Then there's the extra stress and busy schedule that come along with that holiday to-do list. Chronic stress coupled with lack of sleep can send your levels of the hormone cortisol off kilter-resulting in thinner, more sensitive skin that's slower to heal, while causing bags and dark circles that will weigh down your eyes all season long.4-5

Finally, never underestimate the influence of your diet. All of those sugary holiday snacks add up to higher blood glucose levels-paving the way for the build up of excess amounts of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), along with the inflammation, abnormal changes to delicate tissues and premature aging they can cause.6-7 These AGEs damage your skin's structural integrity-leading to less elastic collagen and loss of skin tone, which is related to lower levels of an important natural skin-nourishing substance called hyaluronic acid (HA) .8-10

HA is a critical element in all of your body's tissues and fluids. It serves as a lubricant for your eyes and as a key component of both your joints' cartilage plus the synovial fluid that serves to cushion and protect the joints. HA also serves as a powerful moisturizer for your skin, where it can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water-providing a youthful complexion with smoothness, softness and elasticity. It also plays a critical role in wound healing.

Unfortunately, hyaluronic acid (HA) levels take a nosedive with age, accumulating only in deeper layers of the dermis and leaving your skin's outer surface drier, thinner and looser.11 Add in the harsh insults of winter-from cold winds outside to moisture-zapping heat inside-and dry, sagging and wrinkle-prone skin is virtually guaranteed if you aren't careful.

The good news is that simply keeping your skin nourished during these next few months can help to undo the damage the cold, dry winter conditions can cause-putting the brakes on premature aging in the process. And one of the best ways to do that is to use HA, such as VRP's HA serum, which increases endogenous HA in the dermis and attracts a water layer on top of the skin surface to protect against water loss. You might also add Facelift Serum-which lifts and tightens loose skin, protects against oxidative stress and fosters collagen repair. Use HA on your entire face and neck to replenish all-over youthful elasticity and protect against the thinning, dryness and oxidative damage caused by cold weather, stress, lack of sleep and daily UV and pollution exposure.

References:

1. Loffler H, Happle R. Influence of climatic conditions on the irritant patch test with sodium lauryl sulphate. Acta Derm Venereol. 2003;83(5):338-41.

2. Kikuchi K, Kobayashi H, Hirao T, et al. Improvement of mild inflammatory changes of the facial skin induced by winter environment with daily applications of a moisturizing cream. A half-side test of biophysical skin parameters, cytokine expression pattern and the formation of cornified envelope. Dermatology. 2003;207(3):269-75.

3. Uter W, Gefeller O, Schwanitz HJ. An epidemiological study of the influence of season (cold and dry air) on the occurrence of irritant skin changes of the hands. Br J Dermatol. 1998 Feb;138(2):266-72.

4. Zervolea I, Pratsinis H, Tsagarakis S, et al. The impact of chronic in vivo glucocorticoid excess on the functional characteristics of human skin fibroblasts obtained from patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome. Eur J Endocrinol. 2005 Jun;152(6):895-902.

5. Altemus M, Rao B, Dhabhar FS, et al. Stress-induced changes in skin barrier function in healthy women. J Invest Dermatol. 2001 Aug;117(2):309-17.

6. Berge U, Behrens J, Rattan SI. Sugar-induced premature aging and altered differentiation in human epidermal keratinocytes. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Apr;1100:524-9.

7. Ahmed N, Babaei-Jadidi R, Howell SK, et al. Glycated and oxidized protein degradation products are indicators of fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2005 Oct;28(10):2465-71.

8. Thirunavukkarasu V, Nandhini AT, Anuradha CV. Fructose diet-induced skin collagen abnormalities are prevented by lipoic acid. Exp Diabesity Res. 2004 Oct-Dec;5(4):237-244.

9. Lohwasser C, Neureiter D, Weigle B, et al. The receptor for advanced glycation end products is highly expressed in the skin and upregulated by advanced glycation end products and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. J Invest Dermatol. 2006 Feb;126(2):291-299.

10. Okano Y, Masaki H, Sakurai H. Dysfunction of dermal fibroblasts induced by advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and the contribution of a nonspecific interaction with cell membrane and AGEs. J Dermatol Sci. 2002 Sep;29(3):171-180.

11. Meyer LJ, Stern R. Age-dependent changes of hyaluronan in human skin. J Invest Dermatol. 1994;102:385-389.

Tags: Bags, Body, Cold, Collagen, Diabetes, dysfunction, Eyes, Fasting, Flu, Gain, Healing, Moisturizer, Skin, Sleep, Snack, Stress, Weight, Women, Wound healing

Could Weak Digestion be Causing Your Depression?

If you've been struggling to find a cure for your brain fog, anxiety, or depression, taking stock of your digestive health probably isn't high on your priority list. In fact, you'd probably never guess that your brain and your gut share much, if anything, in common-let alone that this link could actually be hiding the answer you've been looking for in order to improve your mood and well-being. And if you're not familiar with the gut-brain link, you may be in for a surprise.

That's because emerging research now suggests that your imbalanced digestive environment could mean more than just a sensitive stomach-it could make for some very noticeable changes in your nervous system too... including depression and chronic fatigue.1-2

In a recent study of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), researchers discovered a significant verbal IQ deficit (that is, a reduced ability to recall words) when comparing this population's scores with those of healthy controls-a connection that's hardly surprising when you consider that 94 percent of IBS sufferers also show signs of major depression and anxiety.3-4

And the link doesn't end there-chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is another example of the strong connection between both gut and cognitive health, with nearly half of all CFS patients reporting symptoms of both depression and IBS.5-6 Finally, ongoing research continues to implicate leaky gut, as well as harmful bacteria and yeast overgrowth, as potential factors in childhood autism development.7-8

The good news? There's more than one way to keep your gut health-and your cognitive health-safely and naturally in check.

For starters, try a good probiotic. Not only do your levels of these healthy intestinal bacteria decline with age, but factors like illness, stress, and certain drugs (including antibiotics and pain-relieving NSAIDs) can take their toll as well. Supplementing with different strains of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria (as in VRP's BioPRO) can counteract these damaging changes-strengthening your gut and your mood as a result.

Numerous clinical trials have shown that one of the probiotic strains found in BioPRO (B. infantis) can curb intestinal inflammation, while animal studies have revealed similar results-in the form of significantly reduced levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha.9-10 What's more, research also shows that various probiotic combinations can actually improve short-term memory and concentration in chronic fatigue patients, while boosting levels of tryptophan, a critical factor in adequate serotonin production and depression relief.11

Other gut-soothing compounds include glutamine (to strengthen your intestinal wall), oligosaccharides (which are potent prebiotics that support the growth of the probiotic bacteria), DGL (shown to fight H. pylori), N-acetyl glucosamine (for tissue repair), marshmallow root (to protect mucous membranes), berberine (to control inflammation), cabbage and phosphatidycholine (to alleviate and heal ulcer pain), slippery elm (to protect against excess acidity), and Gamma oryzanol (to enhance gastric movement).12-21 You'll find all of these ingredients as part of GI Cell Support - a comprehensive natural formula to ensure peak digestive health-and optimal mental well-being-for life.

Reference:

1. Desbonnet L, Garrett L, Clarke G, Bienenstock J, Dinan TG. The probiotic Bifidobacteria infantis: An assessment of potential antidepressant properties in the rat. J Psychiatr Res. 2008 Dec;43(2):164-74.

2. Forsythe P, Sudo N, Dinan T, Taylor VH, Bienenstock J. Mood and gut feelings. Brain Behav Immun. 2009 May 28.

3. Dancey CP, Attree EA, Stuart G, Wilson C, Sonnet A. Words fail me: the verbal IQ deficit in inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2009 Jun;15(6):852-7.

4. Whitehead WE, Palsson O, Jones KR. Systematic review of the comorbidity of irritable bowel syndrome with other disorders: what are the causes and implications? Gastroenterology. 2002 Apr;122(4):1140-56.

5. Rao AV, Bested AC, Beaulne TM, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of a probiotic in emotional symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Gut Pathog. 2009 Mar 19;1(1):6.

6. Maes M, Mihaylova I, Leunis JC. Increased serum IgA and IgM against LPS of enterobacteria in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): indication for the involvement of gram-negative enterobacteria in the etiology of CFS and for the presence of an increased gut-intestinal permeability. J Affect Disord. 2007 Apr;99(1-3):237-40.

7. White JF. Intestinal pathophysiology in autism. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003 Jun;228(6):639-49.

8. Parracho HM, Bingham MO, Gibson GR, McCartney AL. Differences between the gut microflora of children with autistic spectrum disorders and that of healthy children. J Med Microbiol. 2005 Oct;54(Pt 10):987-91.

9. Brenner DM, Chey WD. Bifidobacterium infantis 35624: a novel probiotic for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Rev Gastroenterol Disord. 2009 Winter;9(1):7-15.

10. O'Mahony L, McCarthy J, Kelly P, et al. Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in irritable bowel syndrome: symptom responses and relationship to cytokine profiles. Gastroenterology. 2005 Mar;128(3):541-51.

11. Sullivan A, Nord CE, EvengÃ rd B. Effect of supplement with lactic-acid producing bacteria on fatigue and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Nutr J. 2009 Jan 26;8:4.

12. Miller AL. Therapeutic considerations of L-glutamine: a review of the literature. Altern Med Rev. 1999 Aug;4(4):239-48.

13. Maes M, Leunis JC. Normalization of leaky gut in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is accompanied by a clinical improvement: effects of age, duration of illness and the translocation of LPS from gram-negative bacteria. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2008 Dec;29(6):902-10.

14. German JB, Freeman SL, Lebrilla CB, Mills DA. Human milk oligosaccharides: evolution, structures and bioselectivity as substrates for intestinal bacteria. Nestle Nutr Workshop Ser Pediatr Program. 2008;62:205-18; discussion 218-22.

15. Rees WD, Rhodes J, Wright JE, Stamford LF, Bennett A. Effect of deglycyrrhizinated liquorice on gastric mucosal damage by aspirin. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1979;14(5):605-7.

16. Larkworthy W, Holgate PF. Deglycyrrhizinized liquorice in the treatment of chronic duodenal ulcer. A retrospective endoscopic survey of 32 patients. Practitioner. 1975 Dec;215(1290):787-92.

17. Salvatore S, Heuschkel R, Tomlin S, et al. A pilot study of N-acetyl glucosamine, a nutritional substrate for glycosaminoglycan synthesis, in paediatric chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2000 Dec;14(12):1567-79.

18. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.

19. Fukuda K, Hibiya Y, Mutoh M, et al. Inhibition by berberine of cyclooxygenase-2 transcriptional activity in human colon cancer cells. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999;66:227-33.

20. Cheney G (1952). Vitamin U Therapy of Peptic Ulcer. California Medicine. 77 (4): 248-52.

21. Stremmel W, Ehehalt R, Autschbach F, Karner M. Phosphatidylcholine for steroid-refractory chronic ulcerative colitis: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Nov 6;147(9):603-10.

Tags: Antidepressant, Anxiety, Autism, Autistic, Cancer, Children, Concentration, Deficit, Depression, Digestion, Fatigue, Gain, Gas, IBS, Irritable bowel syndrome, Memory, Mood, Nervous system, Pain, Soothing, Strength, Stress, Yeast, Yeast overgrowth

The Dark Side of Blood Coagulation

There’s no question that your blood’s ability to clot is critical-without it, a tiny paper cut could become a life-threatening injury. But like most of your body’s functions, even coagulation has a dark side… and it’s one that could kill you if you don’t keep it under control.

Stroke, embolism, deep vein thrombosis… all of these deadly conditions can be traced back to blood clots. If blood clots form in the brain, heart or lungs, or are dislodged from a leg or other site in the body and are carried in the blood stream to one of these critical organs, they can be fatal.

The truth of the matter is, you can get your clotting mechanisms back in order and minimize the risks from blood clots-thanks to an enzyme called nattokinase, which is highly effective and side-effect free.

Nattokinase is derived from a popular Japanese fermented soybean dish called natto. Dozens of clinical trials have shown that nattokinase can cut your risk of abnormal clotting significantly-and a recent study published just this past spring has only added more weight to this growing pool of evidence.

In this trial, researchers examined the effects of daily nattokinase supplementation on blood-clotting factors (including fibrinogen, and the coagulation proteins known simply as factor VII and factor VIII) in three groups of patients-one group that was healthy, one at risk of heart disease and one group of patients was undergoing dialysis.

At the end of the two-month trial period, all three groups of subjects showed a significant decrease in all three clotting factors. Fibrinogen levels dropped as much as ten percent, while factor VII decreased as much as 14 percent. But it was patients’ clotting factor VIII levels that were most dramatically affected, with subjects demonstrating significant decreases between 17 and 19 percent. These changes were independent of cholesterol levels (which were not affected by nattokinase)-and more importantly, no adverse events were reported.

The study authors’ conclusion? Supplementing with nattokinase daily could pack a serious punch against heart disease and clot formation.

Reference:
1. Hsia CH, Shen MC, Lin JS, Wen YK, Hwang KL, Cham TM, Yang NC. Nattokinase decreases plasma levels of fibrinogen, factor VII, and factor VIII in human subjects. Nutr Res. 2009 Mar;29(3):190-6.

There's no question that your blood's ability to clot is critical-without it, a tiny paper cut could become a life-threatening injury. But like most of your body's functions, even coagulation has a dark side... and it's one that could kill you if you don't keep it under control.

Stroke, embolism, deep vein thrombosis... all of these deadly conditions can be traced back to blood clots. If blood clots form in the brain, heart or lungs, or are dislodged from a leg or other site in the body and are carried in the blood stream to one of these critical organs, they can be fatal.

The truth of the matter is, you can get your clotting mechanisms back in order and minimize the risks from blood clots-thanks to an enzyme called nattokinase, which is highly effective and side-effect free.

Nattokinase is derived from a popular Japanese fermented soybean dish called natto. Dozens of clinical trials have shown that nattokinase can cut your risk of abnormal clotting significantly-and a recent study published just this past spring has only added more weight to this growing pool of evidence.

In this trial, researchers examined the effects of daily nattokinase supplementation on blood-clotting factors (including fibrinogen, and the coagulation proteins known simply as factor VII and factor VIII) in three groups of patients-one group that was healthy, one at risk of heart disease and one group of patients was undergoing dialysis.

At the end of the two-month trial period, all three groups of subjects showed a significant decrease in all three clotting factors. Fibrinogen levels dropped as much as ten percent, while factor VII decreased as much as 14 percent. But it was patients' clotting factor VIII levels that were most dramatically affected, with subjects demonstrating significant decreases between 17 and 19 percent. These changes were independent of cholesterol levels (which were not affected by nattokinase)-and more importantly, no adverse events were reported.

The study authors' conclusion? Supplementing with nattokinase daily could pack a serious punch against heart disease and clot formation.

Reference:
1. Hsia CH, Shen MC, Lin JS, Wen YK, Hwang KL, Cham TM, Yang NC. Nattokinase decreases plasma levels of fibrinogen, factor VII, and factor VIII in human subjects. Nutr Res. 2009 Mar;29(3):190-6.

Tags: Body, Cholesterol, Gain, Heart, Injury, Lungs, Weight


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DECEMBER 2009 NATURAL HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Could the Holidays Be Causing Your Wrinkles?

Could Weak Digestion be Causing Your Depression?

Recipe – Avocado Salad with Black Olive Dressing

The Dark Side of Blood Coagulation

Two Crash-Free Ways to Beat Holiday Burnout