Just Ask Terry-January 4, 2013

Q. Dear Terry, “I have been having problems with recurring cystitis for the past 3 months. I have tried everything I can, but only seem to get temporary relief before it starts up again. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!” — Frances F., Houston, TX

A. Dear Frances,  Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a very painful and troubling condition, brought on by chronic inflammation of the bladder wall. While both men and women can experience IC, it is about 10 times more common for women.

Medical professionals are still not certain of its exact cause. While most of the time the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection called a urinary tract infection (UTI), IC can also occur without an infection being present. UTIs and/or IC can be quite tricky to manage; so first and foremost, I encourage you to work with your health care practitioner to determine the best treatment plan for you. I can make some recommendations, but that never replaces a doctor’s care and oversight. That said, I do have some safe and effective nutrients I believe can help.

A combination of clinically-tested water-soluble pumpkin seed extract and calcium glycerophosphate can help reduce painful bladder inflammation and irritation, as well as prevent interstitial cystitis. The pumpkin seed extract that I recommend is a special, clinically-tested water-soluble extract that provides all of the nutrient value of pumpkin seed extract, but in a form that is well-absorbed by the body. Glycerophosphate, a calcium and phosphorous mix specifically for bladder health, has also been clinically tested and shown to relieve bladder irritation and improve urine flow. I recommend taking 2 capsules of this blend daily. Please note that you may increase to 4 capsules daily, if additional support is needed.

To that, I would also recommend adding a combination of clinically tested ingredients, such as hibiscus and cranberry, which can be extremely effective in treating and preventing the UTIs that may be contributing to the IC. Cranberry is recognized as being an excellent botanical to use in the prevention and treatment of UTIs. It is rich in healthful compounds, like proanthocyanidins, that prevent E. coli (and other harmful bacteria) from adhering to the lining of the bladder and urethra. This anti-adherence property is what really gives cranberry extract its punch. I would recommend taking 700 mg of the hibiscus and cranberry blend twice daily to increase your odds of eliminating and preventing urinary tract infections.

You would also benefit greatly by adding a strong, bioavailable curcumin to your daily regimen. Curcumin, a compound found in the spice turmeric, is a potent antioxidant and powerful anti-inflammatory that works via multiple pathways. I recommend taking 750 mg of high absorption curcumin twice daily. Keep in mind that standard curcumin is very poorly absorbed, so make sure the product your friend chooses features a curcumin with excellent absorption that has been proven in published human studies. The best form I have ever found uses micronized curcumin blended with turmeric essential oils in a patented process. This curcumin has been shown in published human studies to be up to 10 times better absorbed than standard curcumin.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally

Tags: bacterial infection, bladder, calcium glycerophosphate, chronic inflammation, cranberry, curcumin, cystitis, E. coli, hibiscus, IC, infection, inflammation, interstitial cystitis, irritation, men, Men's Health, oversight, proanthocyanidins, pumpkin seed extract, urethra, urinary tract infection, UTI, Women, Women's Health

Newsletter - June 29, 2012

The pain of shingles, the harsh cough and sore throat of respiratory infections, and the body aches and runny noses of seasonal viruses all have one thing in common: a compromised immune system. They are also difficult to treat conventionally, and can take a long time to release their grip. In most cases, our immune system keeps us in good shape. We can, and do, have viruses in our bodies all the time. However, if our natural defenses are in order, they don’t cause any trouble. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to throw us off balance: stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, certain drugs – all of them conspire to suppress the immune system.

The good news is there are powerful natural ingredients that can help you avoid these troublesome problems. Best yet, at higher dosages for a limited duration – about 1 or 2 days – they can actually reverse viral illnesses and put you on the path to natural healing. In this Terry Talks Nutrition®, I’d like to review a combination of daily nutrients that can help you keep your immune system strong throughout the year, and – in higher dosages – give your immune system an additional boost when you need it.

Tags: Allergies, chelates, colds, E. coli, elderberry, Flu, immune system, immunity, respiratory infections, sambucus nigra, viruses, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, Vitamin D3, zinc

Weekly Articles-June 29, 2012

The pain of shingles, the harsh cough and sore throat of respiratory infections, and the body aches and runny noses of seasonal viruses all have one thing in common: a compromised immune system. They are also difficult to treat conventionally, and can take a long time to release their grip.

In most cases, our immune system keeps us in good shape. We can, and do, have viruses in our bodies all the time. However, if our natural defenses are in order, they don’t cause any trouble. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to throw us off balance: stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, certain drugs – all of them conspire to suppress the immune system.

The good news is there are powerful natural ingredients that can help you avoid these troublesome problems. Best yet, at higher dosages for a limited duration – about 1 or 2 days – they can actually reverse viral illnesses and put you on the path to natural healing.

In this Terry Talks Nutrition®, I’d like to review a combination of daily nutrients that can help you keep your immune system strong throughout the year, and – in higher dosages – give your immune system an additional boost when you need it.

Nature’s Immune Booster – Elderberry:

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is probably one of my favorite immune-boosting botanical ingredients. Of the herbs clinically studied and most often recognized for fighting colds, flus, and overall immune system defense, it is one of the most reliable.

Elderberry is well-known in America in supplements, but in Europe, Africa, and Asia, it has long been a part of culinary and medical tradition. The berries are often used in jams, jellies, and pies, and both the flowers and berries have been used specifically for their health benefits. In fact, the flowers were made into infusions to relieve symptoms of rheumatism, and were also used externally to help heal wounds.

Anthocyanins are one of the major constituents of elderberry. Not only are they responsible for the color of the berry, they are powerful antioxidants, and have noted anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties, too.

The anti-viral abilities of elderberry interfere with the structure of viruses, preventing them from entering cell walls and replicating. They also activate the body’s own anti-viral “police force” of phagocytes (specialized white blood cells) to move into action.

That’s why the elderberry extract I recommend is an Austrian variety that has been standardized to provide at least 15% anthocyanins. Austrian grown elderberry is one of the best, because this variety produces a deep purple fruit that is especially rich in anthocyanin content. In fact, Austria is a center of elderberry production in Europe because of its combination of growing season, climate, and superior harvesting and processing techniques.

I would like to add one thing about processing here. There are a lot of ways to get superior extracts, but when it comes to elderberry I prefer freeze-drying. That’s because freeze-drying not only removes the water content, but because it is such a low-temperature process, it stops cellular deterioration, enzyme activity and microbiological reactions that would otherwise reduce the extract’s effectiveness. Freeze-drying actually retains the highest levels of antioxidants, anthocyanins and other components, and has the longest shelf life of any other drying process.

Other important components in these incredible berries include quercetin, rutin, and other strong flavonoids, which all help strengthen your immune system. Elderberry extract has been shown to be especially effective when combined with vitamin C and zinc.

But the best thing about elderberry and other anti-viral nutrients is that they disrupt viruses and restore the body’s ability to fight invaders without causing the side effects or drug resistance that you see from prescription medications. And there’s no doubt that elderberry is powerful. It has shown a strong effect against 13 different pathogens, including Streptococcus pyogenes and Escherichia coli.

Vitamins Are Vital For Our Defenses:

We typically think about vitamin A and how it relates to night-blindness or healthy skin, but the fact is, vitamin A is vital to our ability to fight off infections. When people are deficient in this nutrient, they are more prone to being ill. Our immune response depends on vitamin A for strong macrophage and natural killer cell protection, so this power extends beyond simple cold and flu prevention. By boosting lymphocyte production, vitamin A can help our cells fight many threats, including tumor growth.

For example, patients who were treated with vitamin A following surgery saw an increase in lymphocytes – the white blood cells that police our system when we are most vulnerable to infection.

But vitamin A is important all of the time. Studies have shown that even for those who aren’t deficient, it provides an immune system boost.

There are different sources of vitamin A, but for immune strengthening, retinyl acetate is the best form because it kills viruses. Betacarotene just can’t compete. Remember, betacarotene is a “pro-vitamin A”, which means that while it can turn into vitamin A in the body, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will. You need the potent effects of this form of vitamin A.

Vitamin C is probably one of the best known immune boosters. The sources for vitamin C vary, but the one thing that stands out about vitamin C is that it does an amazing job reducing the severity of colds and flus, and taken as a preventative nutrient, may reduce the incidence of colds by as much as 50%!

Beyond colds and flus, vitamin C appears to have a natural anti-histamine effect, and alleviates allergy and other respiratory symptoms.

Vitamin D has been getting a lot more attention in the past few years, but I feel that it is still just beginning to get the accolades it deserves. Not only is vitamin D critical for bone development, cancer prevention, tumor reduction, and healthy heart and brain function, it is also a must for the immune system.

If you live in a northern climate, chances are good that you are vitamin D deficient. Even if you spend time outdoors in the summer, when your body’s chances of synthesizing vitamin D from sun exposure are the greatest, you could still be at risk.

Older adults, people with darker skin, and those who are overweight can’t synthesize vitamin D easily. The best guarantee of vitamin D intake is through supplementation. There are two different forms of vitamin D available as supplements: cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) and ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2). The vitamin D3 form is considered the most absorbable because it matches the form that the body creates naturally.

And because vitamin D is responsible for so many health factors, those deficient in this nutrient usually show a susceptibility to allergies, flus, and respiratory ailments. In fact, a long-term British study found that increased vitamin D3 corresponded with a lower risk of infection.

A recent medical survey also found that vitamin D deficiency (abbreviated to “VDD”) was, in their words, “positively correlated with prevalence of allergies.” Even after they averaged out the differences for age, gender, race and other factors, vitamin D deficiency still was a significant contributor to these problems. They also found “a positive correlation with allergy subtypes such as prevalence of rashes, sneezing, and sinus infections with low vitamin D”. So proper vitamin D intake isn’t just about preventing respiratory problems during the cold and flu season – it is important all the time.

Minerals That Make a Difference:

Magnesium is one of the minerals we need for everything; cellular energy, metabolism, muscle strength, heart health, and, of course, our natural immune defenses. Magnesium helps keep the bronchial system running smoothly as well – an important consideration for anyone suffering from acute respiratory viruses.

Calcium lactate, along with magnesium, supports healthy cell structure and suppresses viral growth – both important considerations when dealing with viral intruders that use the cells to replicate. The stronger the cellular integrity, the less chance viruses can get a foothold. Calcium lactate – an easily absorbed form – along with magnesium, also fights other virus-caused irritations, including fever blisters.

Zinc is an important mineral for keeping the immune system running smoothly. In one study, zinc reduced cold symptom duration by 42% when taken on the first day. Zinc is a required nutrient for T-lymphocyte (white blood cell) activity. It helps our body’s natural “guards” keep out potentially dangerous invaders, including bacterial and viral infections. It is known as an “immunomodulator,” which means it assists the immune system when the situation demands it, but otherwise simply helps us stay healthy.

There have been a number of studies about zinc and how well it prevents colds and flus. Much of the variation in effectiveness has been, in expert opinion, due to the forms of zinc used in the studies. Like many nutrients, some mineral forms are simply better utilized than others.

In fact, Zinc gluconate was the form of zinc used in the studies that have shown a 7 day reduction in the duration of cold symptoms. This is the zinc that I recommend for anyone using this mineral to address viral problems, whether it is the common cold, the flu, or
something more problematic, like shingles.

Reversing Shingles Quickly

I absolutely recommend this combination of nutrients for battling shingles. One person I knew had tried just about everything to rid herself of this viral illness and nothing was effective. Shingles are notoriously difficult to treat. They are caused by a “flaring up” of the same virus that causes chicken pox, but years after the original bout of chicken pox. The virus causes patches of painful blisters on the skin that can appear on the face, along the chest or stomach, or on the arms and hands. It is not a short-term problem, and can take weeks – even months – before the patches begin to clear. In the meantime, the affected skin itches and burns, and other flu-like symptoms are common, too.

In any event, the person who came to me for advice took one tablet of this combination every waking hour for 2 to 3 days – a high initial boost that knocked out the major skin symptoms. Then, she decreased her dosage to 1 tablet each day to keep the virus in check.

Keep Your Immune System Finely Tuned

In any viral attack, I recommend a heavy initial dosage to quickly get your immune system back into balance. Consider doing that for the first couple of days, and then work back to just one tablet as you feel healthier again. This combination is meant to be used every day, because your immune system needs support throughout the year for you to stay healthy.

For additional support, I would recommend using these ingredients with a strong biotyped concentrated plant oil combination of ravensara, myrtle, thyme, and bay. They also provide a powerful way to keep your body’s natural resistance at its best.

We all have busy schedules, and it can be too easy to ignore your health until immune system problems come up. These amazing nutrients, used daily, can help prevent that.

Tags: Allergies, chelates, colds, E. coli, elderberry, Flu, Immune and Respiratory Health, immune system, immunity, Pain, respiratory infections, sambucus nigra, viruses, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, Vitamin D3, zinc