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Confused About What Your Blood Chemistry is Telling You? part 2

This is the second in a series of posts about what blood tests you need on a yearly basis and what they tell you.

2. Fibrinogen

Fibrinogen levels increase with tissue inflammation. Increased fibrinogen levels can help predict the risk of heart disease and stroke as well as other inflammatory diseases. Obviously with knowledge of increased fibrinogen levels, lifestyle changes become important—such as quitting smoking, losing weight, and becoming more physically active—as well as adding nutritionals such as fish oil, niacin, folic acid and vitamins A and C, which may lower fibrinogen levels.

3. DHEA

DHEA is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone. In your twenties, levels of DHEA peak and then decline with age, decreasing to 20-30% of peak levels between the ages of 70 and 80. DHEA is frequently referred to as an “anti-aging” hormone. However DHEA is extremely important as we age as healthy levels may support immune function, bone mineral density, mood, libido, reduces abdominal fat, protects the brain following nerve injury, and helps prevent diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.  Research also suggests that DHEA may help with depression and clinical trials are evaluating DHEA’s role in memory and Alzheimer’s.

4.Estradiol

In non-pregnant women, estradiol is the most commonly measured type of estrogen.  Estradiol levels fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle and drop after menopause to a consistent but lower level . Women with increased levels of estradiol may be at a higher risk for breast or endometrial cancer. Very l ow levels may indicate a higher risk for bone fractures. In fact, in men with osteoporosis, research has shown a correlation with a low estradiol levels. Men do produce smaller amounts of estradiol than women but it is not only an indicator of increased incidence of osteoporosis but is tied to pituitary functions. Also men with low estradiol levels and low levels of testosterone may experience low sex drive and difficulty with urination.

Confused About What Your Blood Chemistry is Telling You?

Many people spend time researching all the supplements and buying more and more of them as they read the latest information about what studies have been done and what new supplement will prevent them from dying of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer or diabetes – to name a few. But have you checked to see what you are doing to your blood chemistry?

When was the last time you had a comprehensive blood test? Annual blood testing is the most important step adults can take to prevent life-threatening disease. Critical changes in your body can alert you before serious conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or worse occur. Having the proper blood tests can empower you to put together a science-based disease-prevention program that could add decades to your life.

1. Chemistry Panel and Complete Blood Count

This is the basic testing and the best place to begin. This will give you information on your overall health. It provides a broad range of information on your vascular, liver, kidney and blood cell status. The Complete Blood Count (CBC) measures the number, health, variety, percentage, concentration and quality of the red and white blood cells for infections and anemia.

Red blood cells transport oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and transfer carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. Other important components of red blood cells measured are hemoglobin and hematocrit. Low levels of these may indicate deficiencies of iron, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, or folic acid.

White blood cells are an important component of the immune system. Increased levels in the blood are usually associated with bacterial, viral,  or parasitic infections. There are 4 types of white blood cells which are measured and each one is significant in the type of potential disease it can detect.

The Chemistry Profile provides up-to-date information on the status of your cardiovascular system. These tests include total cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein), triglycerides, and total cholesterol/HDL ratio, which is more valuable as a predictor of heart disease than total cholesterol or HDL levels alone.

The endocrine system is responsible for producing hormones throughout the body, one of which is insulin, a regulator of glucose. The Chemistry Panel tests for your resting blood glucose, which helps in detecting early-stage metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Also included in the Chemistry Panel is an assessment of critical minerals such as calcium, potassium, and iron.

While the CBC is a basic test, it provides invaluable information but is only a stepping off point in keeping apprised of your physical health.  Over the next few days we will be discussing additional tests that will provide you with critical data  in maintaining a healthy blood chemistry.

Nourish Your Body with Aloe

Aloe Vera is known primarily for its topical benefits on a scrape or burn. However, it is actually enormously beneficial when ingested. It’s like moisturizing your body from the inside out. Used on a daily basis, Aloe can help reduce the damage which occurs in the gastrointestinal system much like it helps heal a skin lesion.

How many people do you know who complain of heartburn, gas,  acid indigestion, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or diarrhea, to name a few? All of these ailments are related to the GI tract.  Many things such as medication (antibiotics for example),  affect the health of the GI tract and its ability to function properly by fighting off harmful bacteria and eliminating waste. When the gastrointestinal tract is damaged or stressed it effects the entire body.

For years people who consumed Aloe have testified to the its healing qualities and now there is more and more scientific research that supports those claims.  Aloe has been added to hand and body lotion to help add moisture and heal the skin which is “epithelial tissue”. The GI tract is also lined with epithelial tissue and therefore aloe also heals and keeps it supple. Just like the skin, when the GI tract is dry and “cracked” it’s susceptible to infection.

Aloe is reported to aid in

• digestion
• blood-sugar regulation and cleansing
• detoxification
• healing by stimulating cell replication
• reducing inflammation in joint and muscle tissue associated with arthritis
• strengthening the immune system

Even consuming aloe daily may require several weeks to notice significant improvement  and any continuing gastrointestinal issue should be addressed by a doctor.

There are many Aloe products on the market. Before selecting one, check to be sure it’s bioactive and that it has a good ratio of aloe to water. Univera’s Aloe Gold®* has 200 parts aloe to 1 part water. For added defense, active botanical compounds – Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and green tea extract are added to help support the growth of beneficial intestinal flora. Most aloe on the market has been heat processed thereby destroying the polysaccharides and therefore many of the benefits. Also much of the value of aloe is lost in about 6 hours after it is harvested. This aloe is processed near the fields in order to capture those active elements.

*Aloe Gold® with ACTIValoe® from the Aloe inner gel fillet is the only Aloe Vera product with guaranteed purity, potency, and biological activity.

Your Body is Screaming for Water!

One of the most critical nutrients the body requires is water and it’s probably one of the most overlooked parts of our diet. Every bodily function is dependent on our body being hydrated. Water flushes toxins out of vital organs and joint tissue, carries the nutrients to your cells, provides hydration for the tissues such as nose, throat, etc.  and contributes to the production of vital energy.

Glycogen, which is the body’s main source of stored energy, is produced through a process which combines water with glucose.  If there is not enough water, extra amounts of glucose remain in the bloodstream, which increases your blood sugar level and ultimately is stored as fat. 

One of the primary functions of the liver is to metabolize stored fat into energy. The liver needs the kidneys to  filter toxins, wastes, ingested water, and salts out of the bloodstream in order to function properly. If you are dehydrated, the liver must compensate for the kidneys inability to filter out this debris. As a result, the liver metabolizes less fat and therefore more is stored.

Water is also a great natural appetite suppressant. It actually decreases hunger cravings. However, do not drink large quantities of water before a meal, because that will actually dilute the digestive enzymes and prevent proper digestion.

The amount of water you need depends on your diet, your health, your weight, the climate you live in and even the elevation. Some estimates say that you should get 1/2 your body weight in ounces each day through drinking water. Obviously our diet provides water also and therefore it’s important to choose foods that are not calorie laden or are actually diuretics such as caffeine, soda pop or alcohol. 

Besides just drinking water, our skin is another method of providing hydration to our bodies. How many times have you worked out or been outside working or just had a long hard day and then took a shower. It refreshes you partly because you’re re-hydrating. The health of your skin is a great indicator of your body’s hydration level.

While water isn’t a cure-all, certainly there is indication that dehydration may be implicated in the following ailments.

• Headaches   
• Joint & Back Pain
• Anxiety & Depression 
• High Blood Pressure  
• High Cholesterol 
• Fatigue & Insomnia  
• Allergies and Asthma
• Constipation

The evidence is certainly compelling - water is the source of life. So instead of drinking water as an afterthought, put it at the top of your daily routine. It could quiet your body’s screams.

Are Your “Energy Factories” Producing?

As we age, the metabolic activity in our cells decreases which means less energy. Cellular energy is produced by transporting stored fat through the cell membrane and into the mitochondria within the cell, where the fats are oxidized. Overtime cellular debris builds up from the oxidation and less energy is produced. Since energy is necessary for the proper functioning of all our organs, they too are affected by a slowing in our “energy factories“.

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is the biologically active form of the amino acid, L-carnitine, which aids the body in the production of energy and has been shown to protect cells throughout the body against age-related degeneration. Most clinical research has focused on the brain, where improved mood, memory and cognition have been observed in response to ALC.  A new study shows that ALC helps maintain normal blood flow in the brain by maintaining the cell’s energy cycle.  As people grow older, circulation to the brain diminishes which may cause fatigue, reduced drive, faintness, dizziness, headaches, as well as deficits in attention and memory.  Acetyl-L-carnitine appears to protect against some of the known negative effects that aging induces in the brain. There is a study that even suggests that ALC might someday be used in hospital emergency rooms and stroke recovery centers to improve the prognosis of patients (with thrombotic or embolic stroke) who are often given little hope of full recovery. Acetyl-L-carnitine may also facilitate nerve regeneration after nerve injury. 

However, reports on ALC for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease have been contradictory. Some studies show encouraging signs, while other studies show no benefit. A placebo-controlled study at Stanford University School of Medicine in California showed that Alzheimer’s disease patients under age 62 benefited more from ALC than older patients. The doctors concluded that acetyl-L-carnitine slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in younger subjects. Though this is an important study, Alzheimer’s patients over 61 may want to still consider ALC for its other known neurological benefits, which were not included in this particular study.

Published research shows ALC is critical to youthful cellular function in the brain, heart, liver, peripheral nerve and immune system as well helping in prevention of cataracts. Supplementation with ALC becomes an even greater consideration when we realize the potential anti-aging effects this amino acid may produce when taken in combination with CoQ10 and alpha lipoic acid.

When sugars bind with protein(called glycation), it forms most notably in the lens of the eye (cataract), the brain (senility) and the collagen of the skin.  Scientists recently evaluated the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on the glycation of lens proteins. The results show that ALC suppresses glycation by 42%, thus lowering the risk of cataracts.

There have been studies focusing on respiration rates in the heart mitochondria of rats. Older rats had a 40% lower rate of respiration and cell energy. But when they received acetyl-L-carnitine, their heart rates were almost entirely restored to a more youthful rate. Acetyl-L-carnitine has actually been used in treating congestive heart failure in humans, as well. 

While research is ongoing, there are certainly indications that supplementing with Acetyl-L-carnitine, alpha lipoic acid and CoQ10 is beneficial in aiding our “energy factories”  to produce efficiently. This, in turn, keeps many organs functioning at a more youthful level.

Do You Know Your DHEA Level?

DHEA has been studied for years and as we age our levels decline (in fact our level of DHEA may signify how fast we age).

As teenagers and young adults, our DHEA levels are at their peak until around age 35. Men notice the decline because they aren’t building the muscle they used to. Energy levels decrease. Exactly how many bodily functions DHEA affects isn’t known  but there are about 150 that have been documented and some scientists believe it is over 400.

There is a new study out this month in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition which has shown that DHEA supplements along with calcium and Vitamin D improve bone density in older women. Osteoporosis (bone thinning) affects millions of older people, women in particular, as DHEA seems to decline more sharply as they go through menopause. This study shows DHEA stimulates bone formation and aides in calcium absorption when combined with Vitamin D and calcium supplementation. 

Not only are DHEA levels important in improving bone density but severely low levels of DHEA are found in women with Lupus – again Lupus is common in women who have gone through menopause.
While many of the symptoms of menopause are caused by the loss of estrogen, there are also side effects associated with the drop in DHEA and testosterone in addition to bone density, including:

•  Decreased libido
•  Decreased strength
•  Decreased muscle mass
•  Decreased energy

Men also experience some of these symptoms of lower DHEA.

Increasing DHEA levels causes improvements in the whole endocrine system, lowers the risk for atherosclerosis, improves memory and learning ability. DHEA replacement may have other benefits including improvements in risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, improvements in immune function, and improvements in psychological health. The list goes on and on.

DHEA replacement can be an important part of your supplemental regime. Begin by getting a DHEA sulfate blood test – that’s the most accurate. If you’re over 30 and have low DHEA, you may want to consider supplementing with a small dose of DHEA/7 Keto DHEA. I recommend Univera’s Prime. Remember start slow and retest your levels in 60-90 days. You’re not going to notice a change overnight. And as always, check with your doctor.

Pureed Sweet Peas

Taken from the world’s healthiest foods at www.whfoods.org

 

This is a unique way to enjoy green peas that makes a great substitute for mashed potatoes and provides you with extra flavor and nutrition at the same time. And one serving contains 53% of the daily value (DV) for thiamin, 47% DV for vitamin C and 47% DV for vitamin E. Enjoy!

Prep and Cook Time: 15-20 minutes     Ingredients: 8 oz frozen peas 1 medium onion chopped 2 medium cloves garlic, chopped 1 + 2 TBS chicken or vegetable broth 2 TBS sunflower seeds 1 TBS minced fresh herbs such as mint, basil, chervil, or parsley depending on what you are serving peas with salt and white pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Chop onions and garlic and let sit for 5 minutes to help bring out their health-promoting properties.
2. Heat 1 TBS broth in a 10 inch stainless steel skillet. Healthy Sauté onion in broth over medium heat for 4 minutes stirring frequently, until translucent. Add garlic and sauté for another minute.
3. Add 2 TBS broth, peas, herb and cook until tender, about 3 more minutes. Puree in blender with sunflower seeds, season with salt, pepper and serve.Serves 2

Healthy Cooking Tips:

Make sure you blend peas well, stopping the blender ( I use a Vita-Mix)  periodically to scrape the sides with a rubber spatula. You want the sunflower seeds to get well ground. They add a lot of body to the puree of peas. You want them to be nice and smooth.

What is Your Stomach Saying to You?

How many people do you know with heartburn or stomach issues? It seems like it runs rampant through our society. Now, no one calls it an epidemic because it’s just heartburn, right? Well, some resesarch shows that many illnesses stem from an unhealthy gut. Some of the issues are

• heartburn
• stomachaches
• ulcers
• pancreatitis
• gall bladder issues like gall stones
• constipation
• some cancers

and the list goes on – these all take place in our gastrointestinal system. Some of them relate back to the way we eat and the balance of the flora in our system.

Things like fatty meats, alcohol, cigarette smoke,  grease from various foods (potato chips, pizza) cause stress on our system. Then to make it more difficult for our system to handle all this we take antibiotics which kill all the good flora in the system. Now this is not to say that there aren’t times when it’s necessary to take antibiotics but as most of us know, antibiotics have become overused in the past few years. Also what do you do after you take the antibiotics? Do you stop to think about recreating some healthy flora so that you can digest all the foods, etc you’re putting in there?

There are several things that can help create a healthy system. Aloe is an amazing product. It is very healing (but it doesn’t happen overnight, so give it a chance). Not all Aloe is created equal.  The one I’ve found that is the best is Univera’s Aloe Gold (it tastes good, has ACTIVE Aloe and has 200 parts aloe to 1 part water) Also probiotics are important in mantaining the health of the gastrointestinal system. Univera’s new product Aloedopholus contains both aloe and probiotics. With probiotics and aloe many people can maintain a healthy system.  Check them out at www.metabolicplan.com 

What happens when things get out of control in your sytem?

There have also been many studies in recent years on H.Pylori after the discovery that a large number of ulcers are caused by this bacteria. In the studies, scientists found that most of the people had low levels of zinc and when they were given zinc, they not only recovered from the H.Pylori but it seemed to help prevent a reoccurrance. Further studies showed that a zinc-carnosine compound was even more effective. In a small study of people with H.Pylori, scientists found that those given strong antibiotics along with a proton-pump inhibitor did not fair as well as those given the zinc-carosine compount.  In fact the zinc-carnosine group had a 100% cure rate.

Cranberry juice is also very effective in staving off the onset of H.Pylori. And Licorice has been found to kill the H.Pylori bacteria even in cases where it has become antiobiotic resistant. Of course, licorice can raise one’s blood pressure so caution is advised.

Finally there is new research being done on a perennial plant that grows in the Himalayas called Picrorhiza.  It has already been shown to speed healing in other areas and has been used to combat Hepatitis A.  

With this arsenal of natural products, we should be able to keep our gastrointestinal system functioning happily and prevent some of the bothersome issues as well as H.Pylori. Keeping a healthy gastrointestinal system will undoubtedly affect our overal health in a very positive way.

Update for Vitamin D Deficiency

In the May 1, 2009 issue of American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and women’s Hospital in Boston report a link between insufficient levels of vitamin D and increased severity of asthma in children. 

While this may be a preliminary study, it should certainly raise our awareness of this vitamin and the role it plays in our health and the health of our children.

Remember the blood test for Vitamin D levels is inexpensive and can be easily added on to any blood test you may have.