September 2009

Don't forget to check out our Learning Center:

Library: www.feelgoodnatural.com/library

Healthy recipes: www.feelgoodnatural.com/recipes




In This Issue:

You might be allergic to wheat and not know it

Inadequate Omega 3 Intake Shortens Lives

Potassium May Prevent Kidney Stones

Turmeric and Vitamin D Fight Alzheimer's

White Tea for Weight Loss

Enhancing Peak Male Performance with Scientifically Validated Botanicals

Is Diabetes Sneaking Up on You?

The Surprising Possible Culprit Behind Fatigue, IBS, Joint Pain and More

Healthy Recipe: Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes over Spelt Ribbon Pasta

_____________________________________

You might be allergic to wheat and not know it

Celiac Disease on the Rise?

Celiac disease, an immune system reaction to gluten in the diet, is more than four times more common today than it was 50 years ago, U.S. researchers say.

Dr. Joseph Murray of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., also found that subjects who did not know they had celiac disease were nearly four times more likely than celiac-free subjects to have died during the 45 years of follow-up.

"Celiac disease has become much more common in the last 50 years, and we don't know why," Murray said in a statement. "It now affects about one in a hundred people."

In patients with celiac disease, the presence of the protein gluten from wheat, barley or rye triggers an immune system attack, damaging the villi in the small intestine. Villi are fingerlike projections that increase the intestine's surface area for nutrient absorption, Murray said.

The researchers tested blood samples gathered at Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming between 1948 and 1954 for the antibody that people with celiac disease produce in reaction to gluten. The study, published in the journal Gastroenterology, found young people today are 4.5 times more likely to have celiac disease than young people were in the 1950s.

"Something has changed in our environment to make it much more common," Murray said. "Until recently, the standard approach to finding celiac disease has been to wait for people to complain of symptoms and to come to the doctor for investigation."

Celiac article #2:
Many Celiacs Go Undiagnosed

For people newly diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine, the world can seem upside down.

Whole-wheat bread, granola, bran cereal -- staples of a healthy diet -- suddenly are poisonous, capable of causing malnutrition, neurological problems, infertility, even cancer down the road. For those with severe cases, ingestion of the tiniest morsel of wheat or gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, can trigger severe abdominal pains and diarrhea.

Though rare, celiac disease is dramatically on the rise, according to the results of a newly released study by scientists at the Mayo Clinic.

The widely accepted statistic is that one in 133 people has celiac disease, or about 1 percent of the population, but the more alarming statistic is that the majority of people who have celiac don't know it.

Henry J. Binder, a professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine, calls celiac an "iceberg" disease.

"Individuals who have been diagnosed because they have symptoms would be the small tip of the iceberg," he said.

Those without the classic digestive symptoms, or with no symptoms at all, represent the bulk of the iceberg that remains underwater.

"There's the potential for a very large number of individuals having celiac disease," he said.

Celiac disease is four times more common now than it was 50 years ago, according to a major study by Joseph Murray and other doctors at the Mayo Clinic, published in this month's issue of the journal, Gastroenterology.

The study compared blood samples collected from 9,133 adults between 1948 and 1954 at the Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming to blood samples taken more recently from 12,768 people in Olmsted County, Minn. The samples were tested for antibodies commonly present when a person has celiac disease and has been eating gluten-containing food. In addition to a rise in the disease, researchers discovered that people whose blood tested positive for celiac disease in the 1950s, but didn't know they had celiac, were four times more likely to die sooner.

The findings raise new questions about whether the general population should be screened for the disease, or if doctors should continue to screen only people who have risk factors for developing the disease -- people with a family member who has celiac or people with autoimmune disorders, like type 1 diabetes and thyroid disease. Other symptoms besides the classic digestive ones that could indicate celiac are anemia, vitamin deficiency, infertility, weight loss and bone disorders.

With the sharp rise in the prevalence of celiac disease comes a parallel increase in awareness of the disorder and options for gluten-free living. Celiac disease is easily treated by completely eliminating gluten-containing foods from a person's diet. A person diagnosed several decades ago had a more difficult time finding gluten-free items at local supermarkets and health-food stores.

Bill Jacobs, president of the Greater New Haven Celiac Group, a support network for people with the disease, got his diagnosis in 1982. He was 32.

After going through myriad tests and getting a misdiagnosis of stomach ulcers along the way, Jacobs' gastroenterologist discovered the cause of stomach woes -- celiac disease.

"I never heard of it in my life," said Jacobs, who lives in Cheshire and has been glutenfree since his diagnosis.

At first, Jacobs spent hours in the grocery store reading labels and looking for foods safe for him to eat.

"The problem was when I got the gluten-free list, it was like going on a scavenger hunt in the store," he recalled.

But in the several decades since his diagnosis, the world has become an increasingly celiacfriendly place. So when Jacobs' daughter, Keri Jacobs, was diagnosed several years ago at age 13, the transition to gluten-free living was smoother.

"The fact that my dad has it and I see how he has to eat makes it easier," said Keri, now 17 and newly graduated from Cheshire High School.

Keri Jacobs is a classic example of someone who had no symptoms of celiac disease but was screened for it because of her dad.

Her blood work was "off the charts," according to her dad, and a biopsy of her small intestine revealed extensive damage.

Camaraderie is a big thing for people with celiac disease because the condition can be isolating. When Keri and Bill Jacobs discovered Ernie's Pizzeria on Whalley Avenue, where you can special-order a gluten-free pizza, the experience was emotional.

"It was really nice to be able to go out and have pizza with my family," Keri said.

The need for a celiac network to help newly diagnosed people is what led Jane Trevett to cofound the Greater New Haven Celiac Group with friend and fellow celiac sufferer Beverly Chevalier more than a decade ago.

When the Greater New Haven Celiac Group first met in 1996, there were 15 people. Now the group has 275 members and is growing.

Over the years, Trevett has seen an increase in the quantity but also the quality of gluten-free food.

"When I first started eating gluten-free food, my husband wouldn't go near it. Now when I make a brownie mix, I can't keep him away," she said.

Health-food markets such of Edge of the Woods in New Haven and Thyme & Season in Hamden offer extensive gluten-free options. Local restaurants like Ernie's Pizzeria and Claire's Corner Copia on Chapel Street have gluten-free menu items. Even some bakeries like Dee's One Smart Cookie in Glastonbury have tuned into the need.

Hamden-based gluten-free foodie Jennifer Rafferty keeps a blog, www.glutenfreeinspired. com, where she offers local restaurant and product reviews and musings from a gluten-free perspective. Her blog gets about 60 visits per day on average.

Schools and universities are starting to respond to the growing demand for gluten-free options as well.

Robert Landolphi, culinary operations manager at the University of Connecticut, helped create a comprehensive gluten-free plan for students there.

What started as small changes to the menu evolved into the development of a substantial gluten-free program for students and staff members who have celiac.

For Mexican dishes, Landolphi uses corn instead of flour tortillas.


Celiac article #3:
Is This Hidden Allergy Hijacking Your Good Health?

The only thing worse than knowing you have celiac disease is not knowing that you have it-and just one look at the trademark signs of this devastating disorder provides ample evidence of that. Yet research suggests that as many as 97 percent of celiac sufferers will remain undiagnosed... and if you've been watching your health spiral out of control with no apparent cause to speak of, then you may just be one of them.1

Celiac disease (CD) is a genetic disorder characterized by an extreme allergic reaction to wheat-and more specifically, the protein gluten and its subfraction gliadin-in your digestive tract. When you have CD, even the smallest amount of gluten in your diet can trigger an immune assault on the lining of your small intestine, giving way to chronic bowel inflammation-and all of the numerous (and potentially deadly) complications that come with it.2-3

Diarrhea, constipation, weight problems, and the poor absorption of critical nutrients-including iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, B vitamins, and essential fatty acids, to name a few-are just the beginning. In time, CD can affect just about every system in your body. Diabetes, osteoporosis, and abdominal cancer are all linked to celiac disease... and believe it or not, clinical depression is one of the best indications that you're suffering from an undiagnosed case of this very dangerous condition.4

Making matters worse is the frustrating fact that wheat gluten is everywhere. Sure, there are the usual suspects-like bread, pasta, and cereal. But you'll also find wheat flour as filler in cold cuts, a thickening agent in sauces, a binding agent in many pharmaceuticals-even dusted on frozen vegetables.5

When it comes to celiac disease, there's no question that knowing your enemy is half the battle-and that positively identifying your condition is absolutely critical. Because while removing all of these gluten sources from your diet may sound like an impossible task, it's also a necessary one if you suffer from CD.6

So how can you be sure that wheat is the culprit behind your bad health? Well, an intestinal biopsy is considered the gold standard in testing-but if you're looking for a less invasive option, there are simple blood tests available, too. In fact, VRP offers one inexpensive option that doesn't even require a trip to your doctor for reliably accurate results.7

The Celiac Antibody Profile is an easy-to-perform finger-prick blood spot test, complete with all of the necessary materials for both collection and free shipping to a screening laboratory. The results of your test will be delivered within 10 to 14 days of receipt, alerting you of your body's individual gluten sensitivity profile-and allowing you to start tackling this dangerous hidden health threat with the certainty you deserve.

References:

1. Celiac Disease Statistics Jefferson Adams Published 6/26/06; Celiac Disease facts and figures, University of Chicago Celiac Center.

2. James Braly MD. Food Allergy Relief. 2000.

3. James Braly MD & Patrick Holford. Hidden Food Allergies. Basic Health Publications, Inc. 2006

4. James Braly MD & Patrick Holford. Hidden Food Allergies. Basic Health Publications, Inc. 2006; Canadian Celiac Association "Celiac Disease" Dr. Mohsin Rashid.

5. Dr James Braly's Food Allergy and Nutrition Revolution 1992; Canadian Celiac Association "Celiac Disease" Dr. Mohsin Rashid.

6. Canadian Celiac Association "Celiac Disease" Dr. Mohsin Rashid; James Braly MD & Ron Hoggan MA. Dangerous Grains. Avery. 2002.

7. James Braly MD & Patrick Holford. Hidden Food Allergies. Basic Health Publications, Inc. 2006; James Braly MD. Food Allergy Relief. James Braly MD 2000.

____________________________________________

Inadequate Omega 3 Intake Shortens Lives

A new study from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found Omega-3 deficient diets cause up to 96,000 preventable deaths annually in the United States (US).

"The Preventable Causes of Death in the United States: Comparative Risk Assessment of Dietary, Lifestyle, and Metabolic Risk Factors" study published in the April 2009 issue of PLoS Medicine estimated the number of deaths resulting from 12 different modifiable and preventable causes to determine how many deaths were attributable to these factors.

Of the 12 dietary, lifestyle and metabolic risk factors examined in the study, Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency ranked as the sixth highest killer of Americans, responsible for a whopping 72,000 to 96,000 preventable deaths yearly. Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency even beat out high trans fat intake, which is responsible for an estimated 63,000 to 97,000 deaths annually.

Researchers retrieved data on exposures to the 12 selected risk factors from US national health surveys, and obtained information on deaths from different diseases for 2005 from the US National Health Center for Health Statistics. They also used previously published studies to estimate how much each risk factor increased the risk of death from each disease, and applied a mathematical model to estimate the number of deaths related to each risk factor.

Tobacco smoking ranked as the highest risk factor with 436,000 to 500,000 attributed preventable deaths, followed by high blood pressure (372,000 to 414,000), obesity (188,000 to 237,000), physical inactivity (164,000 to 222,000) and high salt intake (97,000-107,000).

Studies such as this are becoming increasingly important in the US and around the world as healthcare costs skyrocket. Policymakers use these studies to determine leading causes of mortality among populations, and then to develop and implement public health policies and legislation to help reduce exposure and to prevent death from certain risk factors.

About Omega-3:

Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid (EFA), consisting of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). Oily fish (such as sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and salmon) are the only known natural sources of Omega-3 EPA/DHA. ALA is found in plants, such as flax and chia. It is important to note that only EPA and DHA contribute to the many health benefits associated with Omega-3. While the body can convert ALA into EPA/DHA, it does so very inefficiently (less than one percent), making it impossible to derive Omega-3-related health benefits from plant-sourced ALA. Furthermore, although Omega-3 EPA/DHA is vital to overall good health, the human body is not able to produce it on its own, so supplementation is required, either by eating oily fish or foods fortified with Omega-3 EPA/DHA, or by taking fish oil supplements.

www.ocean-nutrition.com
Copyright 2009 CNW Group. All rights reserved.
2009 Canada NewsWire. All Rights Reserved

__________________________________________

Potassium May Prevent Kidney Stones

Children on a high fat diet to stem seizures may ward off kidney stones with a supplement, U.S. doctors said.

The study, published in Pediatrics, looked at 301 children being treated for seizures with the ketogenic diet at Baltimore's John Hopkins Children's Center. It found children receiving the supplement potassium citrate were seven times less likely than others to develop kidney stones.

Senior investigator Dr. Eric Kossoff said the ketogenic diet given many children whose seizures are not responding to medication seems to initiate biochemical changes that eliminate seizure-triggering short circuits in the brain's signaling system.

However, the low-carbohydrate diet causes a buildup of calcium in the urine and about 6 percent of those on it form kidney stones, he said.

"We can confidently say this is a safe and powerful way to prevent kidney stones, and it should become part of standard therapy in all ketogenic dieters, not just those who already show elevated urine calcium levels," Kossoff said in a statement. "If you wait, it might be too late."

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

____________________________________________

Turmeric and Vitamin D Fight Alzheimer's

Vitamin D and turmeric spice might help stimulate the immune system to clear the brain of plaques linked to Alzheimer's disease, U.S. researchers said.

The findings, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, may lead to preventing and treating Alzheimer's by utilizing the property of vitamin D3, a form of vitamin D, alone and together with natural or synthetic curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric, to protect the brain against amyloid beta plaques.

"We hope that vitamin D3 and curcumin, both naturally occurring nutrients, may offer new preventive and treatment possibilities for Alzheimer's disease," study author Dr. Milan Fiala of the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, said in a statement.

Scientists isolated monocyte cells, which transform into macrophages that act as the immune system's clean-up crew, traveling through the brain and body and gobbling up waste products, including amyloid beta.

Researchers incubated the macrophages with vitamin D3, natural or synthetic curcumin and amyloid beta.

The team discovered synthetic curcuminoids enhanced the surface binding of amyloid beta to macrophages and that vitamin D strongly stimulated the uptake and absorption of amyloid beta in macrophages in a majority of patients.

Fiala noted this is early research and no dosage of vitamin D or curcumin can be recommended yet.

Date: July 17, 2009 URL: www.upi.com

___________________________________________

White Tea for Weight Loss

A study funded by a German health food company suggests Chinese white tea may fight obesity by reducing fat cells.

The study by Beiersdorf AG, published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism, said extracts of white tea reduced fat levels on laboratory-grown human fat cells, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

Nutritionist Marc Winnefeld said the white tea extract induced a decrease in the expression of genes associated with the growth of new fat cells and prompted existing adipocytes to break down the fat they contain, the British newspaper reported.

White Tea is named for the white downy fur that covers the unopened bud of the tea leaf. During manufacturing, the buds are lightly steamed instead of being rolled and fermented, the report said.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

_______________________________________

Enhancing Peak Male Performance with Scientifically Validated Botanicals

By Chris D. Meletis, ND

We live in challenging times where chronic stress, environmental pollutants and a myriad of other burdens are eroding away health, wellness and sexuality. As the result of the accumulation of burdens that come with modern existence, an alarming 1 in 4 men at the age of 30 now have measurable low testosterone levels. This makes it difficult to survive, let alone thrive, when the very hormone that helps support inner health is fleeting.

Overt symptoms of low testosterone are believed to affect 50 percent of men with measurable low levels. Yet the slow erosion of wellness and zeal for life that occurs with low testosterone may be so gradual, that human perception is insufficient to note the change during the short term.

It is well known that testosterone levels decline with the passage of time, and the average man passively accepting the aging process may expect deterioration of performance. Without taking a proactive stance, men undergo such changes as a slow decrease in sex drive, diminished erectile strength, sleep disturbance, depressed mood, or lethargy.

In this article, I will discuss two mile markers of male wellness: libido and erectile performance.

Enhancing Male Performance

Erectile dysfunction affects 50 percent of men ages 40-70 in the United States and is considered an important public health problem by the National Institutes of Health. Clinically, I work with many men in their late twenties and early 30s that present to my office with decreased erectile performance or overt inability at times to perform. An even greater number of men report a "take it or leave it" approach when it comes to libido. These changes are symptoms of deeper health needs and serve as a barometer of ones wellness status.

Libido and pelvic responsiveness in both the male and female share many of the same biochemical pathways. Thus, much of what follows possesses relevance for both sexes.

Before I discuss the ways that both men and women can improve their libido and enhance intimacy performance, it's important to acknowledge that maintaining healthy cardiovascular, neurological and mental wellness is also important for peak performance.

Natural Libido-Enhancing Strategies

A number of natural ingredients have been shown to affect the pathways involved in enhancing libido and improving sexual performance. Epimedium brevicornum, Tribulus terrestris, Panax ginseng, Ashwaghanda, grape seed extract, Eurycoma longifolia, pomegranate and green tea extracts (all found in the new
e formula) have a synergistic role to play in helping men operate at peak performance.

Epimedium brevicornum

Epimedium brevicornum has been widely used for impotence, infertility, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, amnesia, and senile functional diseases.1 One of the mechanisms of action is that it supports nitric oxide levels, which are essential for arousal and erectile tissue engorgement. Nitric oxide (NO) is formed from the conversion of L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which exists in three isoforms: neuronal (nNOS), endothelial (eNOS), and inducible (iNOS). nNOS is expressed in penile neurons innervating the corpus cavernosum (CC), and eNOS has been identified primarily in both cavernosal smooth muscle of penileand clitoral tissue. Researchers have concluded that and extract of Epimedium relaxes the CC smooth muscle through multitargets in NO/cGMP/PDE 5 pathway and helps address erectile dysfunction.2 Epimedium can prove very helpful as part of a male wellness protocol, relative to enhanced sexual performance.

Tribulus terrestris

Tribulus terrestris is another botanical commonly used to enhance libido. After conducting a study of Tribulus terrestris in rodents, researchers concluded, "Tribulus terrestris extract appears to possess aphrodisiac activity probably due to androgen increasing property of Tribulus terrestris."3 Similar findings were found in another study on primates, where researchers noted that Tribulus increased testosterone in the animals, and another later study on rodents, leading researchers to conclude, "The increase in intracavernous pressure which confirms the proerectile aphrodisiac property of Tribulus terrestris could possibly be the result of an increase in androgen and subsequent release of nitric oxide from the nerve endings innervating the corpus cavernosum."4-5 Tribulus also is known to decrease levels of prolactin in women, which is important since increased prolactin is associated with reduced libido.6

Panax

Panax ginseng has long been known to help support the adrenal glands and thus help cope with stress, important because stress is known to affect sexual performance. In addition Panax ginseng also helps increase circulation as well as nitric oxide production.7 The ginsenosides contained in ginseng have been shown to cause a dose-dependent relaxation of the corpus cavernosal smooth muscle in rabbits by increasing nitric oxide release.8-9 In a human study, 90 patients were divided into three groups and given Panax ginseng, a placebo, or the antidepressant drug trazodone orally. In the Panax ginseng group a significant improvement in erectile parameters such as penile rigidity, girth, duration of erection, improved libido, and patient satisfaction were reported. The overall therapeutic efficacy for erectile dysfunction was 60 percent for the Panax ginseng group but only 30 percent for the trazodone and placebo groups.10

A more recent, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study confirmed these results. Forty-five men diagnosed with ED received either 900 mg Panax ginseng or placebo three times per day for eight weeks. The first eight weeks of treatment were followed by a two-week washout period, after which the patients switched groups-those who had initially received the placebo received ginseng and those who initially received ginseng received the placebo for an additional eight weeks. Researchers measured the efficacy of treatment through changes observed in indexes of erectile function, including the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Mean scores on the IIEF for Panax ginseng were significantly higher than for placebo after eight weeks of each treatment. In addition, penile tip rigidity was significantly better after eight weeks of Panax ginseng compared to placebo.11

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

In clinical practice, Ashwagandha is an effective tool to support adrenal health. Stressed patients routinely report noticing an increased sense of well being with its use. An intriguing rat study evaluated the combined effects of Withania somnifera and Panax ginseng extracts. The two extracts were compared for their ability to attenuate some deleterious impact of chronic stress (CS). Both botanicals were able to decrease the number and severity of CS-induced ulcers, reverse CS-induced inhibition of male sexual behavior, and inhibit the adverse effects of CS on retention of learned tasks. Both botanicals also reversed CS-induced immunosuppression, but only the Withania extract increased peritoneal macrophage activity in the rats.12 This latter observation emphasizes the importance that can be gained by blending synergistic botanicals.

Grape Seed Extract

Maintaining the 60,000 miles of blood vessels and overall integrity of the circulatory system is essential. It is this long-term, broader thinking that helps preventively protect the body from needing to depend on what can be termed "reactionary" medicine. Several epidemiological studies suggest that the regular consumption of foods and beverages rich in flavonoids is associated with a reduction in the risk of several pathological conditions ranging from hypertension to coronary heart disease, stroke and dementia. Grape seed is one of the major polyphenols shown to have some of these effects in humans.13

Grape seed extract is emerging as a nutrient that has profound effects on nitric oxide production. Studies investigating grape seed's ability to support healthy blood pressure levels have determined its mechanism of action is partly due to its ability to raise nitric oxide levels. As noted earlier, nitric oxide is essential for arousal and erectile tissue engorgement.14-15

Eurycoma longifolia

Eurycoma longifolia, often called Long Jack, has a long history of use as a performance enhancing substance. In one study, extracts from E. longifolia Jack were orally administered to rats twice daily for 10 days. Testosterone was used as a positive control. Results showed that E. longifolia Jack produced a dose-dependent increase in sexual performance of the treated animals. The authors reported, "The present study therefore gives further evidence of the folk use of E. longifolia as an aphrodisiac."16

Pomegranate Extract

A study using a rabbit model of arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) measured the effect of pomegranate juice (PJ) concentrate on intracavernous blood flow and penile erection. The researchers found eight weeks administration of PJ concentrate daily significantly increased intracavernous blood flow and smooth muscle relaxation.17 These findings are preliminary, yet the results are promising.

As with many botanicals, there is not merely one potential clinical application. For instance, studies have shown that pomegranate can block the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, a process controlled by the aromatase enzyme. Pomegranate inhibited aromatase activity by 60–80 percent thus helping protect estrogen sensitive tissues including prostate and breast tissue.18

Green Tea Extract

Green tea extract is another nutrient important for male health. In vitro and animal studies have shown that green tea is a natural aromatase inhibitor that modulates estrogen synthesis.19-20 This effect can play a role in libido enhancement and overall male health.

Antioxidant Protection

One of the additional ways that ED begins to manifest is from the accumulation of unquenched oxidative products in erectile tissue.21 Antioxidant therapy is important for overall wellness and can prove useful prophylactic tool for preventing smooth muscle dysfunction and fibrosis in ED. Many of the ingredients mentioned above, including grape seed and pomegranate, also act as potent antioxidants.

New
e

In addition to incorporating all the ingredients mentioned above, the new Androprime Formula also contains Bioperine a proprietary black pepper extract. Bioperine was incorporated into
e to augment the effectiveness of the individual constituent herbs and the overall synergy of the formula.

Conclusion

It is clear that ultimate sexual functioning depends on a strong and well-nourished body that provides the ability to attain or maintain an erection. Epimedium brevicornum, Tribulus terrestris, Panax ginseng, Ashwaghanda, grape seed extract, Eurycoma longifolia, and pomegranate extract along with Bioperine (all found in the new
e) can provide synergistic support for optimal male performance.

Editor's Note: Dr. Meletis is author of the book Better Sex Naturally, published by HarperCollins and co-author of His Change of Life, published by Greenwood Publishing.

References

1. Li HB, Chen F. Separation and purification of epimedin A, B, C, and icariin from the medicinal herb Epimedium brevicornum maxim by dual-mode HSCCC. J Chromatogr Sci. 2009; 47(5):337-40.

2. Chiu JH, Chen KK, Chien TM, Chiou WF, Chen CC, Wang JY, Lui WY, Wu CW Epimedium brevicornum Maxim extract relaxes rabbit corpus cavernosum through multitargets on nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling pathway. Int J Impot Res. 2006 Jul-Aug;18(4):335-42.

3. Gauthaman K, Adaikan PG, Prasad RN. Aphrodisiac properties of Tribulus Terrestris extract (Protodioscin) in normal and castrated rats. Life Sci. 2002 Aug 9;71(12):1385-96.

4. Gauthaman K, Ganesan AP, Prasad RN. Sexual effects of puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) extract (protodioscin): an evaluation using a rat model. J Altern Complement Med.. 2003 Apr;9(2):257-65.

5. Gauthaman K, Ganesan AP. The hormonal effects of Tribulus terrestris and its role in the management of male erectile dysfunction-an evaluation using primates, rabbit and rat. Phytomedicine. 2008 Jan;15(1-2):44-54.

6. Dean W. The Neuroendocrine Theory of Aging Chapter 5. The Female Reproductive Homeostat. Vitamin Research News. December 1, 2005; 19(11).

7. Chen X, et al. Extracts of Ginkgo bilobaand ginsenoside exert cerebral vasodilation via a nitric oxide pathway. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 1997;24:958–959.

8. Choi YD, Xin ZC, Choi HK. Effect of Korean red ginseng on the rabbit corpus cavernosal smooth muscle. Int J Impot Res. 1998;10:37-43.

9. Kim HJ, Woo DS, Lee G, Kim JJ. The relaxation effects of ginseng saponin in rabbit corporal smooth muscle: is it a nitric oxide donor? Br J Urol. 1998;82:744-748.

10. Choi HK, Seong DH, Rha KH. Clinical efficacy of Korean red ginseng for erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 1995;7:181-186.

11. Hong B, Ji YH, Hong JH, et al. A double-blind crossover study evaluating the efficacy of Korean red ginseng in patients with erectile dysfunction: a preliminary report. J Urol. 2002;168:2070-2073.

12. Bhattarcharya SK, Muruganandam AV. Adaptogenic activity of Withania somnifera: an experimental study using a rat model of chronic stress. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2003;75:547-53.

13. Ghosh D, Scheepens A. Vascular action of polyphenols. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2009 Mar;53(3):322-31.

14. Edirisinghe I, Burton-Freeman B, Tissa Kappagoda C. Mechanism of the endothelium-dependent relaxation evoked by a grape seed extract. Clin Sci (Lond). 2008 Feb;114(4):331-7.

15. Zhang TX, Niu CQ, Hu JM, Liu H, Jing HE. Vasorelaxational effects of procyanidins on rabbit aorta in vitro and decreasing arterial blood pressure in vivo. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2008 Jul;33(14):1720-3.

16. Ang HH, Cheang HS, Yusof AP. Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali) on the initiation of sexual performance of inexperienced castrated male rats. Exp Anim. 2000 Jan;49(1):35-8.

17. Azadzoi K, Schulman R, Aviram M, Siroky M. Oxidative Stress in Arteriogenic Erectile Dysfunction: Prophylatic Role of Antioxidants The Journal of Urology, 2005(174) 1:386-393.

18. Kim ND, Mehta R, Yu W, et al. Chemopreventive and adjuvant therapeutic potential of pomegranate (Punica granatum) for human breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. Feb 2002;71(3):203-217.

19. Monteiro R, Azevedo I, Calhau C. Modulation of aromatase activity by diet polyphenolic compounds. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 May 17;54(10):3535-40.

20. Satoh K, Sakamoto Y, Ogata A, Nagai F, Mikuriya H, Numazawa M, Yamada K, Aoki N. Inhibition of aromatase activity by green tea extract catechins and their endocrinological effects of oral administration in rats. Food Chem Toxicol. 2002 Jul;40(7):925-33.

21. Azadzoi KM, Schulman RN, Aviram M, Siroky MB. Oxidative stress in arteriogenic erectile dysfunction: prophylactic role of antioxidants. J Urol 2005;174:386-393.


____________________________________________

Is Diabetes Sneaking Up on You?

You don't just wake up one day with type 2 diabetes. In fact, this disease could be sneaking up on you even as you read this... and if you've noticed your belt feeling tighter these days, consider it proof positive of a steady, silent attack.

That's because a larger waistline could mean you have more visceral fat. And unlike the subcutaneous fat that's stored under your skin, visceral fat builds around your internal organs, deep within your abdomen. Once there, it plays an active role in the production of inflammation-causing adipokines-a tendency that has linked this type of fat to increased risk of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease risks.1 In fact, visceral fat can raise your risk of type 2 diabetes five-fold.2 In one study of obese children, visceral fat trumped total fat as a significant cause of this condition.3

Unfortunately, visceral fat also is a key player in the development of metabolic syndrome, a frighteningly prevalent condition comprised of a cluster of abnormalities including elevated triglycerides, reduced HDL cholesterol, oxidized LDL cholesterol, hypertension, and elevated blood sugar. Research has revealed that it may actually be visceral fat-not insulin resistance, as once thought-that underlies the development of metabolic syndrome and its related heart risks in women.4

The solution to protecting yourself against the development of metabolic syndrome? Combining a proprietary extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra L root-standardized to the polyphenol flavonoid compound glabridin-along with Vitamin D3 can actually help put the brakes on this deadly trend.

The proprietary extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. is called Glabrinex, and published studies of the main component of Glabrinex revealed that it can suppress abdominal fat accumulation and blood sugar elevation in diabetic mice.5 Another study showed the same ability in obese mice fed a high-fat diet.6 Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials offer even more compelling support for this revolutionary compound, showing a significant suppression of weight gain in human subjects-accompanied by lowered body fat, especially around the abdomen.7

Of course, if you think a smaller waist provides all the protection you need, think again-as it turns out, there's one more factor you simply can't afford to ignore.

In a study published just last month, researchers found that, out of more than 3,000 aging Chinese participants, 93 percent suffered from either vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. What's worse, the study also showed that patients with the lowest levels of vitamin D were more than twice as likely to have metabolic syndrome as those with the highest levels.8

The conclusion here is crystal clear: Reducing visceral fat may be a critical part of the fight against metabolic syndrome and one of its main metabolic consequences (high blood sugar leading to type 2 diabetes). Pairing Glabrinex with a quality vitamin D3 supplement-the most bioavailable form of this essential nutrient, other than the vitamin D produced in the skin by exposure to sunlight-can help slash your risk of developing the metabolic syndrome and aid in getting rid of those extra inches around the waist.

References:
1.Phillips LK, Prins JB. The link between abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2008 Apr;10(2):156-64.
2.Grundy SM. Metabolic Syndrome Pandemic. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2008 April; 28;629-36.
3.Druet C, Baltakse V, Chevenne D, Dorgeret S, Zaccaria I, Wang Y, Levy-Marchal C. Independent effect of visceral adipose tissue on metabolic syndrome in obese adolescents. Horm Res. 2008;70(1):22-8.
4.Phillips GB, Jing T, Heymsfield SB. Does insulin resistance, visceral adiposity, or a sex hormone alteration underlie the metabolic syndrome? Studies in women. Metabolism. 2008 Jun;57(6):838-44.
5.Aoki, F, Honda, S, Kishida, H, Kitano,M, Arai, N, Tanaka, H, Yokota, S, Nakagawa, K, Asakura, T, Nakai, Y, and Mae, T. Suppression by licorice flavonoids of abdominal fat accumulation and body weight gain in high-fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6J mice. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2007;71(1):206-214.
6.Nakagawa, K, Kishida, H, Arai, N, Nishiyama, T, and Mae, T. Licorice flavonoids suppress abdominal fat accumulation and an increase in blood glucose level in obese KK-A mice. Biol Pharm Bull. 2004;27(11):1775-1778.
7.Tominaga Y, Mae T, Kitano M, Sakamoto Y, Ikematsu H, Nakagawa K. Licorice flavonoid oil effects body weight loss by reduction of body fat mass in overweight subjects. J Health Sci. 2006;52(6):672-683.
8.Lu L, Pan A, Hu FB, et. al. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and elderly Chinese. Diabetes Care. April 14, 2009. Published Online Ahead of Print.

____________________________________________

The Surprising Possible Culprit Behind Fatigue, IBS, Joint Pain and More

It could show up as digestive trouble-like chronic diarrhea, constipation, bloating or flatulence. Or, it could surface as reduced (or hyperactive) immunity instead-marked by joint pain, skin eruptions, bacterial infections, or thrush. Or maybe you've found yourself struggling with mental fog, chronic fatigue, depression, irritability, or mood swings... all without any identifiable source to speak of.

At first glance, it doesn't even seem possible that so many different conditions could have one primary cause. But the truth is, all of these seemingly unrelated symptoms could have one disorder in common... and it's one that might surprise you.

You may think of infection by a yeast-and Candida albicans in particular-as a "female" problem. And it's true that women can be especially vulnerable to this threat, suffering recurrent yeast infections for reasons ranging from birth control pills to a round of antibiotics. But the fact is, Candida resides in the body of all warm-blooded animals regardless of gender-and if it's allowed to grow out of control, the consequences can be serious, resulting in several (or all) of the health-robbing symptoms listed above.

It's known as Candidiasis-a condition in which harmless, budding yeast cells transform into a full-blown, filamentous fungus-due to hormonal imbalances, diabetes, GI flora imbalances, stress, or even excess sugar consumption-and become capable of invading your GI tissues and bloodstream, and wreaking havoc on your health.1-2 What's worse, Candidiasis is confused with any number of other illnesses more often than not... leaving the real cause of your (irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), joint pain, or chronic fatigue untreated as a result.

Ultimately, the first step toward a solution is always an accurate diagnosis... and that's where VRP's Candida Antibodies and Antigen Panel comes into play.

This comprehensive, easy-to-use test kit allows you to positively identify Candidiasis in your body, so that you can take those critical steps necessary to gain control of this hidden enemy (and your health in the process) today. By testing serum for Candida antigen-a protein marker on the surface of your cells-as well as the Candida-specific antibodies of the IgM class (an indicator of recent infection), IgG antibodies (an indicator of past or ongoing infection), and IgA (an indicator of a milder, more superficial infection), this exhaustive test is able to verify new, previous, and localized Candida infections, accurately and reliably.

Sound complicated? Well, it's not: The Candida Antibodies and Antigen Panel is a simple, affordable, finger-prick blood test that you can perform yourself at home-it comes complete with all the materials you'll need to conveniently ship your specimen to the lab, with results returned to you in as little as 10 to 14 days. If the results indicate that infection with Candida is a problem, you can eliminate the energy-zapping effects of this organism by undertaking an anti-candida diet and supplementing with KandidaPlex, a powerful blend of anti-Candida botanicals, plus taking BioPRO, a blend of five probiotic bacteria. The end result? Improved energy and the possible resolution of a host of symptoms.

References:
1. Crook WG. The Yeast Connection, A Medical Breakthrough. 2nd Addition. Professional Books. Jackson, TN, 1984.
2. Crook WG. The Yeast Connection and the Woman. Professional Books. Jackson, TN. 1987


____________________________________________

Healthy Recipe: Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes over Spelt Ribbon Pasta

Authored By: Polly Pitchford, Full Spectrum Health

This assertive sauce is good to use with any whole grain pasta.

Diet Type: Low Fat

Ingredients:
1 cup low or reduced sodium, non-fat chicken broth
1 1/2 oz. Sun Dried Tomatoes (not packed in oil, about 16)
2 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons white wine
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 cups cooked hot Spelt Ribbons
parmesan cheese to taste

Serves: 4

Cooking Time: Under 30 minutes

Instructions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside. Combine broth and tomatoes in a small sauce pan and warm gently on low heat. Take off heat and let sit 5 minutes. Drain, reserving broth. Finely chop tomatoes and set aside. Place chicken, 1/2 cup broth, wine, basil, oil, salt and pepper in saucepan and heat gently till hot. When pasta is done, drain and toss with chicken mixture and tomatoes. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1
Servings per Recipe: 4
Amount Per Serving

Calories 334
Calories from Fat 47

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 5g 8%

Saturated Fat 1g 4%

Mono Fat 2g

Cholesterol 61mg 20%

Sodium 511mg 21%

Total Carbs 42g 14%

Dietary Fiber 6g 22%

Sugars 4g

Protein 31g