Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in seafood are associated with lower risk of heart disease, improved immune function, health advantages in preterm infants and possibly lower risk of suicide, according to new research. These findings and more are summarized in the December 2011 PUFA Newsletter and Fats of Life newsletters for health professionals and consumers, respectively.

One study reported that healthy adults with the highest consumption of fish had higher scores for two indicators of heart health – blood vessel cell function and less inflammation – compared with those who did not eat fish. Such observations suggest that eating fish regularly or supplementing with omega 3′s from fish oil, may help prevent heart disease.

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Pure Krill Antarctic Oil – What is Krill Oil and What are the Benefits of Krill Oil?

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Question: Looking for something to assist in lowering blood pressure. I had a DOT physical today and I’m 164/90. Since I’ve never been that high before the doctor is giving me a three month grace period to lower it. I am about 40lbs overweight and intend to address my diet seriously but in the meantime, I’ve made and appt to see my family physician in 3 weeks and sure would like it to be noticeably lower by that time. What natural remedies (that work) would you suggest. I intend to search the internet after I send the email to you. Please respond ASAP…..Thanks, Terry

Answer: Terry,

I wish it was that simple!  Why is your blood pressure elevated in the first place?  Is it an issue with: weight, salt, lack of exercise, nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, pre-diabetes, stress, kidney problems, sub-acute infection, heredity, atherosclerosis or is it a combination of one or more?  Get my drift.  Picking a product off the net or having me make a blind recommendation, would be a guess at best.

If you want to do it right, you can become a distance client of mine. (In a nutshell)  I will send you the forms and you send your test results, we have a consultation over the phone and I design a personalized diet, exercise and supplement plan.  If interested, you can contact my office for initial fees and follow-ups. I have done this for 18 years and have seen many……… in the exact same situation.

www.advancedhealing.com

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc

In a recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researches found that dietary supplementation with flaxseed oil (Alpha-linolenic acid 8 g/d) for 12 weeks, in 59 men with abnormal concentrations of lipids or lipoproteins in their blood, resulted in significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The researchers noted, “We observed a hypotensive effect of ALA, which may constitute another mechanism accounting in part for the apparent cardioprotective effect of this omega-3 fatty acid.”

Comment: Increased alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) intake from flaxseed offers cardioprotection by lowering blood pressure. The study used a control group who consumed the omega-6 fatty – acid linoleic acid, most commonly found in vegetable oil. The control group had no beneficial change in blood pressure.

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc

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Ultra Omega 3-6-9
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10/19/2007 – Supplements of vitamin E may counteract complications in type-2 diabetics linked to an increased risk of heart disease, says a new study from Italy.

Daily vitamin E supplements (500 International Units) were found to decrease levels of a protein associated with higher risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and ultimately cardiovascular disease in this study with 37 type-2 diabetics, published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases.

“Vitamin E might therefore be effective in preventing early endothelial damage in type 2 diabetes mellitus, possibly representing a new tool for endothelial protection,” wrote lead author Arianna Vignini from Polytechnic University of Marche in Ancona.

In addition, the production of nitric oxide (NO) – a molecule key for better blood flow – increased by about 50 per cent after ten weeks of vitamin E supplementation.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule used by the endothelium (cells lining the surface of blood vessels) to signal surrounding muscle to relax, leading to a reduction in blood pressure, reduced blood clotting and protection against myocardial infarction and strokes.

Despite the positive results and implications for type-2 diabetics, the authors sounded a note of caution, stating that no control arm with a placebo was used, and the study was not double-blind and randomised.

In terms of vitamin E supplements and heart health for the wider population, a recent study reported that a higher dose – 3200 International Units – of vitamin E is needed to reduce oxidative stress in individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease, and this may be why previous trials using lower doses failed to show any benefits for the vitamin (Free Radical Biology and Medicine, doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2007.06.019).

A number of epidemiological and animal studies have reported that antioxidants like vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene might offer some protection against heart attack in individuals at risk.

There are eight forms of vitamin E: four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc) is the main source found in supplements and in the European diet, while gamma-tocopherol (gamma-Toc) is the most common form in the American diet.

Source: Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases (Elsevier)
Published on-line ahead of print, doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2007.01.002
“A study on the action of vitamin E supplementation on plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 and platelet nitric oxide production in type 2 diabetic patients”
Authors: A. Vignini, L. Nanetti, C. Moroni, R. Testa, C. Sirolla, M. Marra, S. Manfrini, D. Fumelli, F. Marcheselli, L. Mazzanti and R.A. Rabini

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10-29-2007

A study published in the peer-reviewed Nutrition Journal (October 24, 2007) reveals that people who used multiple supplements for at least 20 years were in overall better health than both non-supplement users and individuals who only consumed a multivitamin/mineral supplement. This first-ever study on long-term users of multiple dietary supplements found them comparatively to have markedly better health as measured by higher blood levels of key nutrients, more optimal levels of key health biomarkers, and lower prevalence of diabetes and elevated blood pressure.

The objective of the study was to describe the dietary supplement usage patterns, health, and the nutritional status of long-term multiple dietary supplement users, and to make appropriate comparisons to matched single multivitamin supplement users and nonusers of supplements. Using a cross-sectional design, information was obtained from online questionnaires and on-site physical examinations from a sample of long-term users of multiple dietary supplements from a single dietary supplement supplier (Shaklee).

The group of 278 long-term multiple dietary supplement users consumed a broad array of vitamin/mineral, herbal, and condition-specific dietary supplements on a daily basis for at least 20 years. As a group, they were 73% less likely to have diabetes and 39% less likely to have elevated blood pressure than non-users. Also, this group was less likely to have suboptimal blood nutrient concentrations, and more likely to have favorable levels of key biomarkers, including serum homocysteine, C-reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL’s), and triglycerides than either non-users or multivitamin/mineral users.

“The study results were very impressive and support the potential benefits of long-term use of dietary supplements,” said Gladys Block, PhD, nutrition researcher and Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health Nutrition at the University of California at Berkeley School of Public Health. Dr. Block helped lead the research team in its efforts to conduct the first-of-its-kind study on this unique population of long-term users of a broad array of a single brand of dietary supplements.

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Q: Hello,

I am on Warfarin therapy and I would like to know if the Acai berry has too high a level of salicylates as a lot of red/purple berries have, therefore thinning the blood too much.

Regards

Susan Armstrong

A: Susan,

I am going to write my personal definitive statement here so I can use it for all future questions of this kind. It will be posted to the “most frequently asked questions” category of our blog.

First, acai does not contain salicylates. Anthocyanins (ACNs), proanthocyanidins (PACs), and other flavonoids are found to be the major phytochemicals. Resveratrol is present in very low concentrations. In addition, components including fatty acids, amino acids, sterols, minerals, and other nutrients have been identified and quantified.

Second, if “I” were taking Coumadin/Warfarin or another blood thinner “I” would not avoid fruits or vegetables, juices or whole. The amount of blood thinning properties contained in one, two, or even three ounces of acai, goji, or whatever is so negligible that I wouldn’t even question consuming the fruit for a millionth of a second.

Now remember this is me, an 18 year practicing holistic doctor with tens of thousands of hours spent in research and treating patients. What you ultimately do is up to you or you and your doctor. I can’t make the decision for you, all I can do is to tell you what I would do and why.

What the medical and pharmaceutical professions do is to take a piece of data like this: “goji or acai has been shown to possess blood thinning properties”. Then what they fail to tell us by a crime of omission is: Was it mild, slight, moderate, or severe? What amount of fruit caused it? Was the test performed in a test tube, animal, or human? …….?

Medications should be a last resort not the first. A deficiency state existed first which made the body susceptible to becoming sick, and it sure as heck wasn’t’ a deficiency of a medication. The lack of certain minerals, vitamins, protein, and/or essential fatty acids caused the body to move from the “brick house” (strong and immune to disease), to the “stick house” (weaker and now susceptible to body problems), to the “straw house” (weaker still and unable to avoid body problems).

What causes diabetes or cardiovascular disease, the above or a medication deficiency? So why not correct the above instead of activating or suppressing a normal and needed body function with: blood thinners, heart muscle regulators, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, diuretics, cholesterol-lowering medication, and others.

For almost every medication there exists a natural substance that can perform the identical job without side-effects, maybe not as quickly or as strongly but far more efficiently. Here are just two examples: fish oils (EPA/DHA) and Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) as a combination work famously to keep platelets from forming clots, exactly what Warfarin is for. The number one cause of high blood pressure and high cholesterol are being over weight. Being overweight can also cause diabetes. Two symptoms caused by diabetes are high blood pressure and high cholesterol? What a vicious circle. Analytically, a natural diet and exercise program sounds like the right treatment, yes. You and I both know what the majority do and it’s not the side-effect free, diet and exercise option.

This is probably a little more than you were expecting but I had to put this to rest. I hope it was at least educational.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Question: Dear Doctor,

I hope you can help me. My mother has a extremely thin stomach lining and has several life threatening stomach bleeds. The doctors have said there is nothing more they can do. There has to be something that will either build her stomach lining or coat it. She is on iron pills to build her blood, due to she is severely anemic due to blood loss from the stomach bleeds, but those are irritating to the stomach. We are on such a merry go round with the medical profession. Do you know of anything that could help or any suggestions?

Please, and please hurry with you answer. We are really getting into a serious state here, the doctor told me there was nothing more that he could do, and that I should stay close to a hospital for blood transfusions.

Thank you,

Elaine Smith

Response: Elaine

I would love to help but there are too many variables that I am unaware of. Also, I haven’t seen blood tests, done a physical exam, completed a verbal consultation, or had her complete necessary paperwork. Giving you this type of advice, without the above, could set me up for malpractice (please read disclaimers below) or possibly be of no benefit at addressing the condition. Below is my personal recommendation. Your mother needs the best and she needs routine follow-up, not just an e-mail guess.

Find a local holistic practitioner in your area who can complete the above, give (nutritional, diet, and treatment) recommendations, and do follow-up visits every two weeks. This may be a chiropractor (DC), Naturopath (ND), or Osteopath (DO). Ask your friends and neighbors for referrals and/or call local DC’S, ND’S, and DO’S and ask for referrals.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Dear Dr. Ettinger,

What is the Glycemic Index?

A: The Glycemic Index (GI) is a measuring system that ranks carbohydrates on the extent to which they raise blood sugars levels after eating. It makes a gram for gram comparison of carbohydrates in individual foods, and provides a measurable, evidence-based index of the concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Dr. David J. Jenkins and colleagues at the University of Toronto originated the process in 1981.

After measurement, foods that score high on the Glycemic Index are rapidly digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, causing a glucose response marked by clear fluctuations in blood sugar levels to occur very quickly. Food with slower rates of digestion score lower on the Glycemic Index scale, indicate a more stable and longer-term energy source that causes gradual rises in blood sugar and insulin levels and a reduction of fats circulating in the blood. Foods with lower Glycemic Index scores can improve glucose and lipid levels in diabetics, control the appetite, delay hunger, and control the hormonal levels of insulin.

A low-scoring GI food product releases energy slowly, making them good food sources for diabetics, dieters, and endurance athletes, while high GI scores indicate substances that will raise blood sugar levels quickly and are best for recovering from endurance exercise routines. The glycemic effect of foods depends on the type of starch, the structure of the starch molecules themselves, fiber and fat content, and acidity levels. Glycemic levels can vary greatly depending on food variations, temperatures, ripeness, preparation, and processing. Also, the GI score of a meal with mixed items is hard to predict.

The Glycemic Index is primarily used for disease prevention and weight control. Evidence shows that people who stick to a low GI diet over the course of many years likewise reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. It is thought that the glycemic spikes from eating high GI foods may cause damage to the vascular system by free radicals, as well as by increased insulin levels. Recent studies show that hyperglycemia can cause an increased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease in patients without diabetes. It is further believed that increased consumption of high GI carbohydrates increases the risk of obesity.

Dear Mr. Bxxxxxx,

That is a very difficult question to answer with out a consultation, examination and maybe some blood tests. It is a very individualistic type of condition. What works for one does not work for another. Here are some very general nutritional recommendations.

Liquid Power
Ultra Supreme Greens
Power E Complex
Power C
Super Power Enzymes
Probioitc Flora Health

This may look like a lot but it covers many bases and is really an average program in my practice. My wife and I take every one of those on a daily basis.

I also own a med spa. Beside the above supplements you may want to search out a dermatologist who does Photodynamic therapy (PDT) w/Levulan. It’s not cheep but it works. We do it at our facility and it has about an 85% effective rate after 4-6 treatments. It must be done in combination with IPL or a laser followed by 10 minutes of Blu-U or ClearLight. The doc will know what I am talking about.

Supplements are a must! Do not do just the PDT treatments!

http://www.dusapharma.com/home_p.html

http://www.drkovaklaser.com/laser-hair-removal-chicago/conditions/acne_chicago.htm

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Q: Hello, I am interested in your mangosteen drink. I am a severely depressed person, with heart disease/high blood pressure and am also very overweight. I also suffered a stroke in 2003. My question- can I take this with my medications? (I currently take 9 different prescription pills a day for the above medical conditions. I have been warned not to mix them with any herbal remedies. I saw a list of the juices and i am not allergic to them. Does this really contain only natural juices?
Thank you,
Gail D.

A: Dear Gail, Based on what you are telling me I can’t make a recommendation. The liability on my end is too great. I would show the ingredients to your doctor and see what he/she says.

I don’t know the meds your on or your history. Your MD will be the best choice.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.