Just Ask Terry

Just Ask Terry - February 5, 2010

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. I will begin “preparing for a marathon in spring and would like your suggestions as to how I might improve my endurance and stamina.” Janice C., Milwaukee WI A. Dear Janice: I believe I can give you some excellent suggestions based on our experience with other athletes. I would recommend starting with a product called Recovery 1, which is a highly concentrated liver extract with B12 and rhodiola. In animal studies, rats were observed in ice cold water swimming tests to endure approximately 15 minutes before exhaustion. After several weeks taking liver extract, they could endure 90 minutes to three hours of swimming in ice cold water. B12 has always been known as an energizer. Rhodiola is used in China, Tibet and Russia—many of the same countries with a high use of ginseng. I would recommend 1or 2 capsules three times daily. You might also want to add 12-Hour Energy Caps with a dosage of 1-2 capsules first thing in the morning. The dosage can be increased as desired. The liver extract also contains a high biologically active form of iron (heme iron), far superior to any other form of iron prescribed by physicians. This form of iron is not harsh on the stomach or constipating. 50% of all pregnant women are deficient in iron, and one out of five menstruating women is deficient as well. Iron is the #1 deficiency worldwide and can cause a person to feel fatigued, exhausted, cold and weak.

Q. Terry, I have always “had a problem falling asleep. After falling asleep I will wake up 2-3 hours later and then be wide awake.” Harry M., Chicago IL A. Dear Harry: I have a couple suggestions for you which I personally find to be extremely effective. What works great for me to get a really good night sleep is to have a protein snack just before going to bed, not a large snack, but maybe ½ ounce piece of cheese and a teaspoon of raw sesame butter or raw almond butter. I also take a highly concentrated plant oil product called Terrific Zzz’z, which is fantastic for occasional sleeplessness. I would recommend starting off with one capsule before bedtime, and if necessary, add another capsule if one isn’t sufficient. Terrific Zzz’z is perfectly safe, without side effects and will not cause you to wake up groggy or feel like you are hung over. If you wake up through the night, which I would doubt, after taking Terrific Zzz’z, repeat the protein snack again to assist you in sleeping. In most cases, the awakening is caused by the blood sugar level dropping through the night, a common problem for sufferers of allergy and asthma which frequently occur through the night. By adding this protein snack you can prevent the blood sugar level drop.

Q. I have been struggling “with gout off and on for several months and just cannot seem to get rid of it. I’ve tried medications and tried to make some changes in my diet. Nothing seems to work. Can you please make some suggestions?” Charlie, Tulsa OK A. Dear Charlie: I would first reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet, which means you will reduce red meat, any kind of organ meats such as liver, and try to eat more fatty fish and chicken. There is a wonderful solution you will find in your health food store that will work wonders for you. Ask for a freeze-dried cherry fruit extract in capsules. A usual dosage would be a 750 mg capsule, 2-4 capsules a day. I learned of this remedy a long time ago, as I have lived in Wisconsin all of my life. In parts of Wisconsin, we grow large quantities of cherries. This has been a folk remedy around these parts for decades. What’s nice about the cherry fruit extract capsules is that you do not have to drink large quantities of cherry juice nor do you have to worry about extra sweeteners.

Q. Hi Terry, “My family and I are trying to arrange our diet so it is gluten free. I think I pretty much understand what grains I should and should not eat, but I’m confused regarding oatmeal. Some say it is gluten free and others say it contains gluten. What do you think?” Heather C, Portland ME A. Dear Heather: While oats do not contain gluten, I would regard any processed oat product (like oatmeal) as a grain containing gluten, as cross contamination during harvest, storage, and manufacturing usually occurs. However, there are some companies certified gluten-free that are available in quality health food stores. Bob’s Red Mill has a certified gluten free oatmeal. I’m sure there may be other brands but I’m not aware of them.

Q. Dear Terry, “My doctor diagnosed me with high cholesterol and has prescribed Lipitor, but every time I take it, I get aches and pains and I feel terrible. Is there anything I can pick up at my local health food store that might help me lower my cholesterol naturally?” Jack S., Sarasota FL A. Dear Jack: After doing very extensive research on cholesterol and its effects on the human body, I don’t believe there is such a thing as high cholesterol. There is a genetic defect that can cause cholesterol to go as high as 1,000, which is treatable with medication. Today, many doctors cannot even tell you what high or low cholesterol is. A number of years ago, a level of 300 was well-accepted as “normal cholesterol.” Today, they have lowered this artificial threshold so that more people are included in the category of high cholesterol, which therefore can justify more prescription medication use. Cholesterol on its own does not cause damage. It’s actually found in the arteries as a repair mechanism for damaged and inflamed arteries. Our bodies produce 80 to 100% of the cholesterol in our bodies (depending on diet). Since it’s created based on our own body’s needs, I think it has a crucial role in health and should not be the target of indiscriminate lowering. As a matter of fact, all our hormones, sexual and adrenal, are created using cholesterol as a starting material. Low cholesterol can be more damaging than high cholesterol. 63% of people who die from heart attacks have, as judged by current standards, a “normal” cholesterol level. More people die from having too little cholesterol and people with high cholesterol (especially high HDL cholesterol) usually live much longer than those with low cholesterol. Low cholesterol has been reported to initiate depression, irritability, anger, suicidal tendencies, and for women, one trial published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine showed a 1200% increase in breast cancer in the statin group vs placebo [Sacks FM, Pfeffer MA, Moye LA, et al. The effect of pravastatin on coronary events after myocardial infarction in patients with average cholesterol levels. Cholesterol and Recurrent Events Trial investigators. N Engl J Med. 1996 Oct 3;335(14):1001-9.] It may also be associated with an increased risk for Parkinson’s disease. For example, compared to men with LDL cholesterol levels higher than 135, those with levels between 91 and 135 were 6 times more likely to have Parkinson’s Disease. I am not a physician Jack, so I encourage you to discuss this further with your doctor before you decide whether to take a drug, but personally, I would not do so. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make efforts to improve your heart health and reduce cardiovascular risk. I would encourage you to lose weight if you are overweight. I would also exercise several times a week, 15-30 minutes each time, and I would look into three natural supplements that have superior cholesterol balancing (which includes increasing HDL “good” cholesterol) effects than statin drugs. Perhaps the single most important biomarker of reducing cardiovascular risk is to RAISE your HDL cholesterol. Very high HDL is associated with an amazing absence of heart disease. Exercise, red wine in moderation, and clinically proven supplements are the three most effective ways to raise HDL “good” cholesterol. First, niacin (be aware of the flush that niacin can cause—not dangerous, but sometimes uncomfortable) is the most studied natural substance to balance cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol, which actually can extend the life of the individual. If you choose niacin, do not select the time-released form. For some odd reason, time-released has been known to cause liver damage, and the time-released niacin that doctors occasionally prescribe can cost between $80 and $100 a month. You get the same thing in your health food store for about $20. I would also recommend CholestCaps, which is a clinically studied Indian gooseberry (natural fruit extract) for maintaining cholesterol levels when already in a healthy range. CholestCaps have also been shown to INCREASE those important HDL levels. Another option is a supplement called CardioGLA. This is a unique and very well-studied blackcurrant seed oil extract. The berries are grown in the Arctic Circle, and due to the harsh environment, they develop some very rare compounds compared to those grown in warm climates. CardioGLA supports all cardiovascular biomarkers.