Just Ask Terry

Just Ask Terry - February 19, 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. Hi, Terry: “I thought I lived a very healthy life but as I get older (50 years), I noticed a huge change in the skin of my face. I have wrinkles that seem to have appeared overnight. Is there any truth to taking supplements internally for the health of the skin?” Joyce, Philadelphia, PA A. Dear Joyce, Absolutely! Your skin is the largest organ in your body and it must be supplied with nutrients like any organ or gland. Usually wrinkles are the result of free radical effects on the skin due to pollution, chemicals, smoking, sun and any other unhealthy practice that causes skin damage. I would suggest getting a good antioxidant at your health food store, perhaps one with blackcurrant extract, grape seed extract and pine bark. These are three very powerful antioxidants. I also like to recommend astaxanthin from BioReal from Sweden. Studies have been conducted by the Swedish company for improved skin health. I also like a combination of olive fruit extract and apple extract. In a recent small study, this combination reduced skin wrinkle depth by 40% in 28 days.

Q. Terry: “I have the most embarrassing problem, which seems to trouble me constantly. I have so much gas that sometimes I have trouble controlling when I will expel the gas. It wouldn’t be so bad but the odor is very foul.” Albert S, Clearwater, FL A. Dear Albert, This is a very common and simple problem and one that you can rectify quite easily. Most gas, particularly foul smelling gas, is caused by a very slow and lazy digestive tract. A well functioning stomach secretes large quantities of hydrochloric acid. Don’t let the name scare you. It’s a natural component of our digestive juices that is necessary to break down proteins and all minerals. In the presence of hydrochloric acid, a natural enzyme, pepsin, is then secreted from the mucus lining of the stomach. Without a natural flow of hydrochloric acid, the foods in the stomach will not be completely digested and putrefaction will set in. Sorry for the unpleasant analogy, but this is similar to a sewage system that does not drain well, and therefore, the foul smell. As we get older, our secretion of hydrochloric acid slows down, as do many other metabolic functions. We don’t run as fast as we did when we were 20, and we don’t digest foods as well as a younger person. The solution to your problem is to take from 1-3, 10 grain, (600 mg) capsules of betaine hydrochloric acid (HCL) or a product called Protazyme (from Enzymatic Therapy) with each meal. People who have a need for hydrochloric acid will experience indigestion, gas, bloating, foul smelling stool and signs of undigested foods passing through. A digestive paradox is that the signs and symptoms of too much or too little acid are exactly the same. Some people mistakenly use antacids and even over-the-counter proton pump inhibitors that shut down acid production, when what they really need is for more acid in the stomach. Experiment with capsules of hydrochloric acid at each meal and you will feel relieved of your problem.

Q. Dear Terry, “I have been suffering for over 15 years with mucus colitis. I have frequent watery bowel movements with heavy bleeding. I have not been able to make any progress in finding a solution for my condition. Is there a natural solution?” Jackie H, Boulder, CO A. Dear Jackie, I will offer you a few suggestions that may be of some help to you, but I ask you to work closely with your doctor regarding your condition, and if you should try a natural solution, make your doctor aware of what you’re doing. With that said, I would highly recommend that you take a combination of boswellia and curcumin. These two Indian plants have a significant effect reducing inflammation and healing the mucus membrane. Boswellia in particular regulates the level of leukotrienes in the body, otherwise known as the 5-LOX enzyme system, which are connected to over 60 health disorders. You would want to make sure that you select a boswellia product that is high in AKBA but standardized for no more than 15%, and guaranteed to be free of beta boswellic acid, which can be pro-inflammatory. Using a blend of boswellia and curcumin at a dose level of 700 to 800 mg combined would probably benefit you significantly. Using one or two doses per day would be helpful to support the health of the mucus membrane in the intestinal tract. Also, in addition to this combination, I would select a very high quality probiotic (Jarrow is a good quality product) that is specifically designed to support the digestive system. I would suggest to eliminate from your diet all wheat and gluten bearing grains, and dairy products. Eggs and butter are acceptable.

Q: Hi Terry, “I have been having some pain in my back, above my waist and below the bottom of my bra on the right side. It doesn’t feel like muscles, but deeper. What could it be that is hurting? Thanks.” Fonda, Peyton, CO A. Dear Fonda, I appreciate the trust and confidence you placed in me with such a complex set of symptoms. I am not a doctor and I cannot diagnose your condition, or know exactly why you are having these symptoms. I would really encourage you to see your physician to determine why you are experiencing this type of pain. If it turns out that your pain is because of muscle strain, I would recommend highly absorbable curcumin (plus boswellia, DLPA and nattokinase) and also a source of pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P), the biologically active form of vitamin B6, to enhance overall good health. You may also want to ask your doctor about gallbladder function, as many people, especially women, complain of pain in this area when they are starting to have gallbladder issues. If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

Q. “I have recently purchased a Curcumin 95% supplement. What is your opinion on this formula?” Suzanne H, Port Townsend, WA A. Dear Suzanne, Curcumin 95%, when tested in the laboratory, has shown extremely high potential for a number of health concerns. However, in the body there are many steps for entering the cellular level, starting with digestion, absorption, assimilation and penetration. This is not an easy task. Curcumin 95% has shown to be poorly absorbed systemically and sometimes cannot be found in the bloodstream after it has been orally ingested. Therefore, it is difficult to do human studies. This has been a roadblock to fulfilling curcumin’s promise. The results of the lab test have encouraged scientists to seek a manner in which to improve the absorption of curcumin. I believe you would be better off with your next purchase to select a curcumin product that has been proven to be absorbed and to be effective in published clinical trials. There are different ways to increase absorption, and the best results (up to 10 times better absorption) is from curcumin with turmeric essential oils and phospholipids. I also believe that combining curcumin with other anti-inflammatory and pain relieving ingredients will give you better results for your health. That is why I recommend curcumin with boswellia, standardized for AKBA, the most effective form of the boswellic acids. DLPA is an amino acid that sustains the activity of natural, feel good hormones in the body (endorphins and enkephalins), and nattokinase provides increased support of circulatory function. In my experience, using a blend of ingredients such as this will give you a much stronger product and better results than just standard 95% curcumin.