Just Ask Terry

Just Ask Terry - April 23, 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 work out regularly and try to run 5 to 10 miles a day. As I get older, my time is not as good as it once was, and I am getting exhausted more quickly and have more soreness as well. Do I need to accept this slow-down, or is there anything I can do to help this situation?” Dick R., Fort Lauderdale, FL A. Dear Dick, I assume you have had a recent physical and your fatigue and soreness is not related to an underlying disease process. There are some incredible herbs that can really increase your stamina and exercise capabilities. Whole grape extract, which includes the skin, pulp and seeds, has been shown in recent studies to increase endurance and recovery time with little or no soreness following the exercise. Grape extract is capable of increasing the oxygen carrying capacity in the blood, which reduces fatigue and exhaustion, speeds up recovery time and will leave you free of soreness. I would recommend about 800 mg of grape extract, and I would add my favorite energy herb, rhodiola. I’ve seen a combination of grape extract and rhodiola that would make a fantastic “dynamic duo” for anyone interested in increasing their exercise capacity. I’ve known body builders and weight lifters who have been able to increase their poundage more quickly. One athlete was able to increase the weight she was lifting by about 25% after only three weeks. Don’t expect to feel the effects of the grape extract and rhodiola immediately—these healthy herbs are not stimulants like ephedra or caffeine. It will take a few weeks for the body to adjust and respond to this new combination of whole grape extract and rhodiola.

Q. Dear Terry, “I think I have hit the terrible 40’s. So many things have happened since my 40th birthday that I can understand why people have such a hard time when the big 4-0 comes. I really don’t feel bad, but my hair and nails are terrible. My hair is thinning and it’s coarse and brittle, and my nails are brittle and grow very slowly. Several of my nails have a very dark, unsightly color. Are there any natural supplements that could help?” Sharon C., Nashville, TN A. Dear Sharon, The first thing that comes to mind is that you may be lacking the mineral silica. What you describe are very common signs of a silica deficiency. Many people never think about silica when it comes to hair, nails and bone health, but it is one of the most important minerals we need. Actually, our nails are a good indication as to what is happening to our bone health, so look at your nails and if they are not pink with a nice moon on the nail near the cuticle, I would definitely consider taking silica to improve the quality of your nails and hair. Look for a good quality, high purity organic horsetail extract, usually about 10 to 30 mg daily will be sufficient, but you can also increase the dosage to about 60 mg for a few weeks to saturate your body with silica. Natural silica from horsetail, with the impurities removed, in a formula blended with bioflavonoids and marine oil greatly enhances the absorption of this essential mineral. In one study in Europe using this formulation of silica for bone health, silica was able to increase calcium absorption into the bone by 50% and bone density by 15%. In another study, silica was able to improve the success of dental implants when used for 30 days prior to the implant and at least 30 days after. In Europe, calcium supplements are not as recommended as they are in the United States. Most consumers and physicians recognize silica as being the mineral of choice for bone health. A normal dosage of silica is 10 to 20 mg for overall good health. As I’ve suggested, take 20 to 30 mg if your nails and hair are not as healthy as you would like. In the case of a broken bone or a stress fracture, I would start with 60 mg daily for six weeks and then reduce the dosage.

Q. Hi Terry, “I am 67 years of age, and every time I eat I feel terrible. My stomach is bloated, I have gas and everything just feels heavy on my stomach. The way I feel, I would just as soon not eat. Is there something wrong with my digestive system, or is there a natural product that can help me feel better?” Jackie G., Newark, NJ A. Dear Jackie, First, there is a small chance that the symptoms you describe are in fact relating to some serious, underlying disease process, so by all means, have this checked out with your health care provider. However, what you describe are some of the classic symptoms associated with indigestion, and a lack of digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid. As we get older, we produce less hydrochloric acid because our production slows down. We don’t run as fast as we did 20 years ago. We don’t perform many of our bodily functions as well as we did 20 years ago, and the same is true for our stomach, which also slows down. So, the ideal solution is to go to your health food store and pick up a bottle of Betaine Hydrochloride with Pepsin. Pepsin is the protein-digesting enzyme that is secreted from the lining of the stomach. However, pepsin is only secreted when there is a low pH in the stomach, which is initiated by the presence of hydrochloric acid (HCL). We cannot digest proteins or minerals without sufficient quantities of hydrochloric acid. I think it’s a complete misunderstanding that doctors prescribe antacids or Protonix. The presence of excess stomach acid is almost non-existent, and if excess acid does occur, it’s extremely rare. GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) and excess stomach acid are really a lack of hydrochloric acid, causing a malfunction of the stomach and the esophageal sphincter valve. The symptoms of too much acid and too little acid are almost exactly the same, but in reality, 95% of the time stomach and digestive problems will be caused by a lack of acids. Stomach acids (HCL) cleanse the gut and prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria, yeast and other destructive pathogens. With the use of drugs that reduce or eliminate the creation of stomach acid, we lose this very valuable function, and therefore, can have an overgrowth of harmful pathogens, along with the inability to digest proteins and minerals. In my opinion, there are two grossly over-prescribed medications that are totally inappropriate for nearly all healthy bodies. One class is statin drugs, and the other is the overmedication of acid-reducing drugs and antacids. For your particular symptoms, look for a good HCL product with pepsin, about 600 mg per capsule, at your health food store. Take 1 capsule with each meal. If that solves your problem, great. If not, start taking 2 capsules with each meal, especially with a large meal. Continue to increase the dosage as long as you have the symptoms. The dosage may be somewhere between 1 to 5 capsules with each meal. The only cautionary measure that I will advise is if you feel a warming sensation in the stomach after taking the capsules, you have taken a bit too much, so just drink a glass of water to dilute the contents of the stomach, and take a smaller dosage thereafter.