Just Ask Terry

Just Ask Terry - June 25, 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, “I bought a 1 pound package of dextrose sugar and I cannot remember why I bought it. I know that fructose is not good.” —Leann S., Wapato, WA A. Dear Leann, I’m glad you forgot why you bought the dextrose. Dextrose and fructose should be consumed as they are found naturally – in fruits and other unprocessed foods – not out of a bag. If you must use a sweetener, follow nature’s example and use honey, maple syrup or molasses. Stevia is also an excellent natural sweetener. Stay away from high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners added to processed foods. These are even worse than sugar!

Q. Dear Terry, “I have been diagnosed with tendernitis on the top of my right foot due to standing on a cement floor for 4 to 5 hours at a time. I am in therapy to strengthen the tendons as they heal. Is there anything else that I can take as a natural supplement that will heal them or strengthen them? Thank you, Terry, for any advice you can give me.” —Nancy F., Lowell, MA A. Dear Nancy, Regarding tendonitis, there are definitely products that you can take to help your tendons while you are also receiving physical therapy. First, I suggest a manganese and vitamin B-12 combination product. I like one that is made by Standard Process. Additionally, a bioavailable silica product extracted from horsetail would also be beneficial. Because silica is poorly absorbed, please look for a product that contains organic silica and bioflavonoids, blended with marine lipids. This greatly increases absorption and you will get the best benefits. Bioavailable silica is one of the best things I know to strengthen collagen, and your tendons and ligaments contain a great deal of collagen. Finally, to reduce any pain and inflammation, I recommend a combination of curcumin, boswellia, DLPA and nattokinase. Since curcumin is poorly absorbed, you need to read product labels and find one that has enhanced absorption and the clinical studies to prove it. Keep in mind that tendons and ligaments respond slowly because they have a very poor blood supply. You will have to be patient as you may need several months of nutritional support. I suggest taking the Manganese/B12 combination and the organic silica for 4-6 weeks, 6 per day. Then take 2-3 thereafter. Take the curcumin, boswellia, DLPA, nattokinase combination as 1 capsule, three times a day. Good luck, and remember to give it time to heal.