Just Ask Terry-October 12, 2012

Q. Dear Terry, “I’ve heard that you can’t take curcumin if you have gallstones.  Is this true?”— Greg M., Melbourne, FL

A. Dear Greg, Because turmeric/curcumin can stimulate bile flow, some sources caution against the use of curcumin in people who have gall stones. HOWEVER, in two animal studies where gallstones were experimentally induced, the addition of curcumin significantly reduced gallstone formation. One researcher speculated that this was because curcumin reduced the gallbladder inflammation associated with gallstone formation.

So, while there are still many sources that caution against use of curcumin in people with gallstones because of the bile stimulation activity of curcumin, this seems to be a theoretical precaution. A search of PUBMED, the electronic medical database of the National Institutes of Health (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed), found no documentation regarding adverse effects in humans taking curcumin who also have problems with gallstone formation. To the contrary, experimental animal studies suggest that curcumin may in fact reduce gallstone formation.

That said, I encourage you to work with your health care practitioner to decide which supplements are best in your unique situation. I can make some recommendations, but that never replaces your doctor’s care and oversight.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally

Tags: bile flow, curcumin, gallbladder, gallstones, inflammation, pain and inflammation, turmeric

Just Ask Terry-July 13, 2012

Q. Dear Terry, “I am interested in taking boswellia for some gastrointestinal issues I am having. However, I’ve heard that boswellia actually contains pro-inflammatory components. How can boswellia be beneficial if it contains pro-inflammatory compounds? I’m confused.” — Dan S., Madison, WI

A. Dear Dan, Boswellia has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Now, modern day research has substantiated its use for the treatment of asthma, arthritis, intestinal disease, ulcers, bronchitis, and many skin disorders. The active components in boswellia are called boswellic acids. The majority of boswellic acids have the ability to inhibit 5-LOX (5-Lipoxygenase), a naturally occurring enzyme that is implicated in a number of inflammatory conditions. The most active of the boswellic acids is known as AKBA (Acetyl-11-keto-B-boswellic acids). Surprisingly, beta-boswellic acid, another of the boswellic acids, is actually pro-inflammatory.

When choosing a boswellia extract, please be aware that not all boswellia extracts are created equal. Some unstandardized boswellia extracts can have AKBA levels as low 1% and beta-boswellia levels as high as 20%. To make sure you are getting a quality product, look for one that has filtered out the majority of beta-boswellic acid to 5% or less and includes at least 10% or more of acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA).

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally

Tags: .inflammatory, 5-LOX, AKBA, arthritis, asthma, Ayurvedic medicine, boswellia, boswellic acids, bronchitis, intestinal disease, pain and inflammation, skin disorders, ulcers

Just Ask Terry-June 29, 2012

Q. Dear Terry, “I injured my knee when I was 13 (I am 60 years old now) and did undergo surgery to scope it in the past. Now it’s bone on bone. They wanted to put a wedge in, but I opted not to. I am trying to hold off as long as I can before getting a total knee replacement. Is there anything I can take to decrease the pain and inflammation?” — Helen D., Sacramento, CA

A. Dear Helen, I have the perfect recipe of nutrients to help knees and joints heal and thrive. These nutrients work together to reduce inflammation, strengthen bone around the joints, and increase the flexibility of your knees (and other joints as well).

A combination of bioavailable curcumin with boswellia, DLPA and nattokinase will help address the pain. Each ingredient works in a slightly different manner to get you comfortable as quickly as possible. I advise taking one to two capsules of this blend three times a day.

I also recommend using a different multi-ingredient combination of bioavailable curcumin, boswellia, along with vitamin D and fructoborate. This quartet of ingredients helps to reduce joint pain and stiffness, as well as rebuilding joint structure. I recommend taking one capsule of this blend three times daily.

Keep in mind that standard curcumin is very poorly absorbed, so make sure the products you choose feature 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. It’s also important to find formulas that feature a boswellia extract that has filtered out the majority of beta-boswellic acid, to at least 5% or less. Unlike most boswellic acids, beta-boswellic acid is actually pro-inflammatory. Removing it greatly enhances the potency of the boswellia extract. You also want a boswellia extract that includes at least 10% or more of acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), the most active component of boswellia

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally

Tags: bone, boswellia, curcumin, DLPA, flexibility, fructoborate, joints, knee, knee replacement, nattokinase, pain and inflammation, scope, stiffness, vitamin D

Just Ask Terry-June 8, 2012

Q. Dear Terry, “Do you have any suggestions on a natural approach to controlling gout?  I have changed my eating habits, but still have a lot of flare-ups. Thanks!” — John C., Carson City, NV

A. Dear John, I am glad to say I do have some recommendations. However, I would encourage you to talk with your healthcare practitioner and see what they think about the following recommendations.

I would first recommend trying a combination of bioavailable curcumin with boswellia, DLPA and nattokinase to address the pain associated with a gout flare-up. Each ingredient works in a slightly different manner to get you comfortable as quickly as possible. I advise taking one to two capsules of this blend three times a day when you experience a flare-up.

Keep in mind that standard curcumin is very poorly absorbed, so make sure the product you choose 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. It’s also important to find a formula that features a boswellia extract that has filtered out the majority of beta-boswellic acid, to at least 5% or less. Unlike most boswellic acids, beta-boswellic acid is actually pro-inflammatory. Removing it greatly enhances the potency of the boswellia extract. You also want a boswellia extract that includes at least 10% or more of acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), the most active component of boswellia.

When it comes to reducing uric acid levels, you’re taking a good first step by examining your diet. While it has been traditionally stated that people with gout should avoid red meat and saturated fats, I think it’s better to eat moderate amounts of healthy, grass fed, organic red meat (which behaves differently in the body than the mass market kind) and healthy fats, while avoiding grains. Click on this link for more information on my healthy diet plan.

Staying hydrated is also important. A study showed that drinking 8 eight ounce glasses of water a day can cut down gout attacks by almost half. The authors speculate that staying well-hydrated dilutes the circulating uric acid in the blood stream, which is what triggers gout in the first place.

When it comes to natural options, cherry extract is effective in reducing uric acid levels on an on-going basis, which can help reduce gout symptoms and flare-ups. Cherries are an extremely nutritious fruit, containing important nutrients such as lutein and zeaxanthin, beta carotene, vitamins A and C, potassium, calcium and magnesium. What’s nice about the cherry fruit extract capsules is that you do not have to consume large quantities of cherries or cherry juice, nor do you have to worry about extra sweeteners.

You want to look for a product that contains a freeze-dried extract. Freeze-drying, rather than spray drying or drum drying, fully preserves the plant compounds needed by the body to reduce uric acid levels, instead of losing them during processing (by exposing the berries to heat). I would suggest 1,500-3,000 mg of a standardized, freeze-dried sweet cherry extract daily.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally

Tags: beta-carotene, boswellia, cherry extract, curcumin, DLPA, gout, inflammation, lutein, nattokinase, pain and inflammation, red meat, saturated fats, turmeric, uric acid, water, zeaxanthin

Weekly Articles-April 27, 2012

Everyone has heard of vitamin B6 and a few may even be able to tell you that the B vitamins have a lot of research on energy and the nervous system. Vitamin B6 is critical for life itself. Having low levels of this key nutrient can lead to skin disorders, depression, dizziness, headaches, and other, more serious problems, such as heart attacks and strokes. Yet you may be surprised to learn that vitamin B6 is one of the best natural compounds around to treat all kinds of nerve pain. But it is not always easy to get from the diet. Did you know that cooking, freezing, canning, storing or processing foods can deplete their vitamin B6 content by as much as 50%? And did you know that some people cannot use certain forms of vitamin B6 effectively? There is a special, active form of vitamin B6 that your body can easily utilize called pyridoxal-5-phosphate, or P5P for short. This form has amazing healing properties. I frequently recommend it to people suffering from nerve pain, burning feet (diabetic neuropathy), carpal tunnel syndrome, PMS, and edema (water retention), among other conditions. The results for these people have been outstanding. In this issue of Terry Talks Nutrition, we will review some of the conditions that can benefit the most from the active form – P5P – of vitamin B6, as well as a mineral partner that can greatly impact your health, or even prevent certain surgeries!

What exactly does vitamin B6 do?
In scientific literature, vitamin B6 is described as a “coenzyme.” Enzymes are substances that speed up reactions. They do this to help our body perform a task, which can be anything from digesting food to keeping our liver functioning properly. A coenzyme is a molecule that works with the enzyme to aid it in carrying out its job. Without the coenzyme, the enzyme would be useless. As a coenzyme, vitamin B6 assists in an amazing variety of tasks – the creation of heme, the iron-containing component of red blood cells; making the hormone serotonin (the “feel good” hormone); processing carbohydrates for energy; keeping the nervous system working smoothly, and supporting hundreds of other jobs.

What is Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate?
Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate, or P5P as it is commonly known, is the active form of vitamin B6. In foods or most supplements, vitamin B6 is found in one of three forms: pyridoxine hydrochloride, pyridoxal, or pyridoxamine. Inside the body, these forms of B6 have to be converted by the liver to the active form the body needs – P5P.  Low rates of conversion from the inactive to the active form of vitamin B6 have been reported, especially in people with impaired liver function, celiac’s disease, older adults, and in children with autism. By consuming vitamin B6 in the active P5P form, conversion is no longer necessary, and the full benefits are available immediately after absorption.

P5P’s Great Partner – Magnesium
Magnesium is an extremely important mineral for nervous system function. It helps relax muscles and nerves, and like vitamin B6, it acts as a cofactor for many enzyme systems in the body. Deficiency of magnesium can lead to numbness and tingling, muscle contractions and cramps, and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythms. Magnesium is also excellent at relieving pain. It works by blocking a pain receptor called the NMDA receptor. Studies on the effects of magnesium for relieving pain have found benefits for people suffering from headaches, premenstrual syndrome, and leg cramps, among other conditions. I recommend magnesium in the form of magnesium glycinate chelate. This type of magnesium is well-absorbed and doesn’t cause loose stools or gastrointestinal upset, which can be present with certain other forms of magnesium.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Numbness and tingling in the fingers, the palm of the hand, and pain in the wrist or hand, sometimes extending to the elbows, are some of the most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The pain is due to swelling where a nerve enters the hand (through an opening called the carpal tunnel). The swelling puts pressure on the nerve which leads to the pain. CTS is typically associated with repetitive motion activities – typing on a keyboard, sewing, writing, using hand tools (especially ones that vibrate) and more. People spend millions of dollars on dangerous anti-inflammatory drugs for pain, and endure the discomfort and incapacitation of surgery, splints, and braces to try to find relief from this common syndrome. What if I told you that the cure for carpal tunnel is simply adequate amounts of active vitamin B6? In many studies, early intervention with vitamin B6 completely reversed this condition.  Unfortunately, if left untreated long enough, and the dysfunction becomes severe, vitamin B6 alone may not be sufficient. Every doctor in America should be required to read the published clinical studies on vitamin B6 and carpal tunnel prior to sending any patient off for surgery. Vitamin B6 is excellent for reducing the pain and relieving the swelling that causes CTS. Supplementing with vitamin B6 when the first symptoms are noticed is important, as it can help reverse the damage caused by the inflammation before it is so severe the only option for pain relief is surgery.

Burning feet (diabetic neuropathy)
Feeling like the bottoms of your feet are painfully hot and prickly is a condition known as burning feet. Although there can be a number of causes, the pain results from damage to the nerves in the foot, whether due directly to frost bite or other injury, or indirectly as a result of poorly controlled diabetes, a stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout. The pain is often worse at night. Vitamin B6 has been shown to reduce the nerve pain associated with diabetic neuropathy, one of the most common causes of burning feet. In a study combining vitamin B6 with another B vitamin (thiamin), 88% of participants experienced a reduction in pain after only 4 weeks, and their symptoms of peripheral neuropathy decreased by almost 50% (Abbas ZG. East Afr Med J. 1997;74(12):803-8).

Water retention (edema) in PMS and Pregnancy
Hormonal changes around the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy often trigger water retention. Retention of water can cause clothing, jewelry and even shoes to be uncomfortably tight.  In fact, retaining water can increase weight by as much as four or five pounds. High levels of estrogen and progesterone cause a woman’s body to retain sodium (salt), which in turn causes water to become trapped in the cells. Vitamin B6 helps the liver process these hormones more efficiently and balance sodium levels, leading to a reduction in symptoms such as water retention. In one study, supplemental vitamin B6 helped reduce the breast tenderness, headaches and weight gain associated with water retention in 215 women. Some women think they should limit their water intake prior to their menstrual period in an attempt to reduce problematic edema. Nothing could be further from the truth! If you don’t give your body enough fluid, it actually holds on to water. Think of it this way: if you have tons of money in the bank, you don’t mind spending a few dollars at the mall, but if your bank account is dangerously low, you are going to hold on to that money. Drinking 8 glasses of healthy, pure water each day has multiple benefits, including improving water balance in the body. Strokes Researchers from the Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital have found that levels of P5P in stroke patients are about half that of other individuals. These low P5P levels have been shown to increase the risk of stroke four-fold, or up to 400%. [Kelly PJ, Kistler JP, Shih VE, et al. Inflammation, homocysteine, and vitamin B6 status after ischemic stroke. Stroke. 2004 Jan;35(1):12-5. ] It just makes sense that anyone with any cardiovascular or cerebrovascular concerns should supplement daily with P5P and magnesium.

Autism and Brain Function
The combination of magnesium and P5P seems to be especially effective in children with autism. Supplementation with these nutrients has been associated with improvements in social interactions, communication and overall functioning. In fact, some studies have indicated that children with autism are not good processors of plain vitamin B6, and should benefit from the active P5P form, as it does not require any conversion process. Other brain health uses are for depression, and to help prevent migraine headaches. It even plays a role in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease prevention through its ability to reduce homocysteine.

Versatile and Powerful
Because P5P and magnesium work so effectively at such a basic level in the body, the uses for these two powerful and versatile nutrients are endless. In fact, it is hard for me to think of any health concern that would NOT benefit from P5P and magnesium. Vitamin B6 reduces the risk of heart attacks up to 70%, significantly reduces morning sickness in pregnancy, helps prevent complications of diabetes (in addition to burning feet), reduces arthritis symptoms—and this is not an all-inclusive list. The P5P form of Vitamin B6, coupled with magnesium glycinate chelate, can make a profound difference in your health, starting today!

Tags: Alzheimer's disease, angina, autism, Cardiovascular and Heart, carpal tunnel, celiac disease, chest pains, CVA, depression, diabetic neuropathy, edema, heart attack, magnesium, Mental Health and Concentration, migraine, morning sickness, nerve pain, neuralgia, neuropathy, neurotransmitter, P5P, pain and inflammation, Parkinson's disease, PMS, pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, stroke, tendonitis, tennis elbow, vitamin B6, water retention, Women's Health