Just Ask Terry

Just Ask Terry - April 16, 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. Dear Terry, “Now that summer is coming, I’m wondering what you think of sun blockers and what we should do to protect our skin from cancer-causing sun damage.” Renee R., Allentown, PA A. Dear Renee, I’m not in favor of long, unprotected exposure to the sun, as some people are addicted to sun worshiping and lather themselves in oils and creams to intensify the rays and get a tan. This is not a healthy practice. I believe that good, short periods of exposure to the sun without a sun blocker are highly beneficial. This short answer cannot give you all the details of the tremendous benefits of prudent and beneficial exposure to the sun. So, in short, we need a period of healthy sun exposure several times a week, just as we need good healthy food. There probably is more benefit from sun exposure and the ensuing vitamin D production than from a healthy diet and exercise. I would recommend 15 to 20 minutes three or four times a week, wearing as little clothing as possible with no sun blocker. I just don’t believe that people who live outdoors are at a risk of getting skin cancer and need to use a sun blocker. What did we do when skin blockers were not available? I remember when I was a kid, long before there were sun blockers, playing outside in shorts from early in the morning until late at night. Actually, the biggest risk for skin cancer is not in sunlight exposure, but in sunburns. So don’t overdo it, and avoid sunburns. In a number of studies, the benefits of obtaining sunlight on our skin are far more valuable than blocking the sun with sun blockers. If you have skin cancer in the family, you may want to be cautious and use a sun blocker, but not over 8 SPF. There is very little additional protection after an 8 SPF. If you have any concern of skin cancer or you may be more susceptible to skin cancer, always seek the advice of your physician.

Q. Hi Terry, “I love your newsletter and look forward to it each Friday. I appreciate all the education and news regarding health and nutrition. I have a question regarding my 17 year old daughter’s skin. It is very oily and all the different creams and toners we bought don’t seem to reduce the oiliness of her skin.” Elaine T., Dearborn, MI A. Dear Elaine, There are a number of things I would do to reduce excessive oiliness of the skin. I would reduce all grains containing gluten and dairy foods. Butter and eggs are okay. Also, avoid soft drinks and sugar in any quantity. There are two nutritional supplement recommendations as well. One is to improve fat metabolism, which is normally under the control of the liver and gallbladder. Therefore, I would recommend artichoke extract, a tablet of 320 mg and/or curcumin, 375 to 750 mg with each meal. The other recommendation is a good B-vitamin complex, 25 to 50 mg per capsule, 1 or 2 per day. I like 2 per day, since the B vitamins are water soluble, meaning they go through the body quickly, so spreading them out during the day is more effective.

Q. Hi Terry, “My legs constantly give me a number of problems, as they always feel very heavy and tired with a lot of cramping in my calves through the night. Can you recommend a nutritional supplement or an herb of some kind that may be of benefit?” Joyce K., Toledo, OH A. Dear Joyce, The symptoms you describe are commonly associated with varicose veins. However, in some cases, these symptoms can be associated with an underlying disorder, so please talk to your health care practitioner to make sure that you are not dealing with a more serious issue. That said, there are a number of herbs that have excellent effects on reducing the signs and symptoms associated with varicose veins, and they might even reduce spider veins, too. One of the most highly researched herbs in Germany, and probably the best overall herb for varicose veins, is horse chestnut. I would look for one that is standardized for 20% aescin and enteric coated. For most people, it’s okay to use a plain tablet of horse chestnut, same standardization, but without enteric coating, there is a possibility of gastric upset. The dosage is usually 500 mg daily, which would provide 100 mg of the active component aescin.

Q. “I have a strange and unusual question, and have not received an adequate answer from my physician. I have a very bad taste in my mouth. I guess I would say it’s on the order of a bitter taste and somewhat metallic. Have you ever come across any research that would give a clue as to why I would have this bad taste?” Esther H., San Antonio, TX A. Dear Esther, From my experience, it may well be that the reason you’re having this bad, bitter, metallic taste may be due to a poorly functioning gallbladder. When the bile cannot flow freely from the gallbladder and continue on through the intestines, it tends to back up. This bile can enter the stomach, and might be the culprit for the bitter metallic taste you describe. There are times when some people say they regurgitate or burp up a taste as bitter as gall. Nothing truer could be said, so you really want to improve the function of the gallbladder. There has been research in Europe on the effectiveness of artichoke extract for improving gallbladder function. Also, there is a good deal of research on curcumin being beneficial for gallbladder function and the support of proper liver function. Studies show that 320 mg of artichoke extract and/or 375 to 750 mg of curcumin should be taken with each meal to address gall bladder and liver concerns. The only exception is if you know you have large gallstones, increasing bile flow can be a problem. Therefore, if you know or suspect you have large gall stones, talk to your healthcare provider prior to use. Last, but not least, a good probiotic may enhance the function of your intestinal tract. Therefore, I would look for a high quality probiotic with approximately 5 billion count per capsule.

Q. Dear Terry, “I have a beautiful 7-year old Golden Retriever that has early signs of arthritis. I saw a number of products advertised containing glucosamine sulfate to treat arthritis in dogs. Do you think this is okay to give to my Golden Retriever?” Jeanine J., Billings, MT A. Dear Jeanine, Glucosamine sulfate is very safe and would not have any contraindications or risk of side effects when given to dogs of any size or age. However, I feel much more confident giving curcumin or boswellia to dogs with arthritis. They are two Indian plants that contain very effective anti-inflammatory properties. However, plain curcumin 95% has very little absorption and basically is trapped in the intestinal tract. Recently, an Indian company developed a new high absorption curcumin that is up to 1000% more effective than plain curcumin 95%. This is a micronized curcumin with turmeric essential oils blended back into the powder, along with some natural plant phospholipids. I would look for this form, because other ways of increasing absorption, like using piperine (black pepper extract) is not, in my opinion, healthy for dogs. I would look for a capsule with this high absorption curcumin. For a larger dog such as your Golden Retriever, I would suggest 1 capsule daily. A formula that I particularly like for arthritis contains curcumin, boswellia, devils claw and Indian Gooseberry. It may be possible for you to find this kind of formula in your health food store.