Telegraph: Was swine flu ever a real threat?

Mark Honigsbaum
London Telegraph
February 2, 2010

It’s been a good week for drug companies and an even better one for conspiracy theorists. Last Tuesday, angered by the bumper rise in profits being reported by vaccine manufacturers as the incidence of swine flu plummets, the former head of health at the Council for Europe accused the World Health Organization of “faking” the pandemic.

“It looks like the WHO is under the influence of industry,” Dr Wolfgang Wodarg told a hearing in Strasbourg. “It was stated in panic-stricken terms that this was a flu that could threaten humanity. This is why billions of medications were bought.”

Exhibit number one, says Dr Wodarg, is the WHO’s decision to soften its definition of a pandemic last April, shortly before the emergence of the H1N1 virus. By eliminating the requirement that influenza pandemics should cause “enormous morbidity and death”, the WHO provoked an unnecessary “scare” that conveniently triggered the activation of “sleeping” contracts with vaccine manufacturers. Yet since the WHO’s declaration of a pandemic in June, swine flu has caused just 14,000 deaths worldwide – a fraction of the number who die from seasonal flu every year. This month, the Department of Health reported that cases had fallen to such a low rate that it was cancelling its weekly press briefings.

Like all conspiracy theorists, Wodarg started with the question “Cui bono?” and served up a plausible bad guy. For its part, the WHO vigorously denies the allegations and says Wodarg is “trivialising” what for millions of people has been a very serious problem.

So who is right? Was swine flu ever a genuine pandemic threat, or was it all a lot of (very expensive) fuss about nothing? And what are the lessons for the future? When, in late March, residents of La Gloria, in Mexico, began complaining of peculiar fevers, aches and sore throats, no one took much notice at first. The Mexican government, like the WHO, was focused on a different threat: bird flu. Following the re-emergence of the H5N1 avian virus in 2005, the WHO had drawn up a comprehensive pandemic plan, complete with a phased alert system, to be activated in the event that the virus, which had a mortality rate as high as 60 per cent, began spreading widely in human populations.

“The concern was that if bird flu suddenly went pandemic, it could trigger mortality on a massive scale,” explains John Oxford, professor of virology at Barts and The London Hospital. “The last thing anyone was expecting at that point was a pig virus from Mexico.”

It seems odd to recall now, but the massive stockpiles of Tamiflu which have come in for so much criticism were originally purchased for bird flu. Indeed, it wasn’t until two Californian children developed flu-like illnesses in mid-April that officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta realised that a new swine flu virus was on the loose.

Scientists quickly began joining the dots, and when the CDC confirmed that the H1N1 subtype from the Californian cases was identical to a virus isolated from a five-year-old boy in the La Gloria outbreak, it automatically triggered a “phase five” alert.

At around the same time, the WHO published those new guidance notes, deleting the requirement that pandemic strains should cause “enormous morbidity and death”. This was part of an ongoing review of how it should define a pandemic. Henceforth, all that would be required was “sustained” transmission in at least two different parts of the world at the same time. The result was that on June 11, when it became clear that swine flu had spread to more than 70 countries, the WHO had no option but to declare a pandemic.

But Wendy Barclay, professor of virology at Imperial College London, who was present at many of the meetings where the change of definition was discussed, says it is a “nonsense” to make out, as Wodarg does, that it was a conspiracy. “The timing was coincidental,” she says. “The WHO was considering the change long before swine flu.” And in view of the initial reports from Mexico, which suggested unusual mortality patterns among young adults, she believes the WHO was right to call for the fast-track manufacture of vaccines. “The drug companies should be applauded for delivering the vaccines in record time,” she says.

Peter Openshaw, the director of the Centre for Respiratory Infection at Imperial College London, agrees with that verdict, pointing out that the fear at the time was that swine flu could prove as deadly as the 1918 “Spanish” influenza, another strain of H1N1 that killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide. Although he has reservations about the definition change, saying that pandemics should also be required to meet a “severity threshold”, he argues that “on balance it would have been irresponsible not to have taken the measures we did”.

Having said that, Prof Openshaw admits there are some things that should be done better next time. The Department of Health’s prediction in July that as many as 65,000 Britons could die over the winter was wrong, because scientists did not have accurate data. Initial reports suggested the virus was less widespread than it was, artificially elevating the death rate. However, a study just published in The Lancet, based on more extensive tests conducted over the summer, shows that, at that time, as many as one in three people in Britain were carrying the virus, 10 times more than could be estimated from the data available from hospitals and surgeries. As a result, the fatality rate has now been downgraded to a paltry 0.03 per cent, meaning that swine flu is 100 times less lethal than Spanish flu. “What we didn’t know at the time was that there were a large number of asymptomatic carriers,” explains Prof Openshaw.

Having said that, swine flu has tended to target people between the ages of 15 and 45, a group not normally at risk from seasonal flu, which has, the experts say, fully justified the NHS’s decision to provide early treatment with Tamiflu. In the United States, points out Prof Openshaw, those infected did not get antivirals until much later, and admissions of young adults to intensive care units have been far higher.

In fact, if anything, he believes we need to deliver antivirals and vaccines even faster next time – which is why he would like to see the NHS “iron out the bottlenecks” in its distribution system. That is a message seconded by Prof Oxford, who points to the “salutary” experience of Ukraine, where a huge surge in swine flu infections late last year brought the country’s medical system to its knees and had politicians scrabbling for supplies of Tamiflu and vaccines.

Prof Oxford also warns that the winter flu season is by no means over, and that vaccination could prove vital if, as he expects, H1N1 returns next year. “Swine flu is behaving in classic Darwinian fashion,” he says. “It has already displaced 99 per cent of the other flu viruses out there. My worry is that when it gets into the elderly next year, we could see many more deaths.” So far there have been 390 deaths in the UK.

No doubt Wodarg and his supporters will see this as a further example of scaremongering. The issue, they say, is not whether swine flu poses a risk but whether the risk is big enough to justify the diversion of precious funds to influenza vaccines, when diseases such as heart disease and hypertension kill many more people each year. And the row is not likely to be resolved any time soon. Although the government is now holding talks with GlaxoSmithKline to find a way of disposing of 60 million unwanted doses of vaccine, analysts predict that it and other vaccine manufacturers stand to make windfall profits of around £4 billion.

Yet rather than looking for scapegoats, Prof Barclay says we should be grateful that the pandemic turned out to be so mild. “In many ways, swine flu has been a dress rehearsal,” she says. “Next time, we may not be so fortunate.”

International Hearings Begin On “Falsified” Swine Flu Pandemic

“Greatest medical scandal of the century” to come under scrutiny

Steve Watson
Infowars.net
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a 47 nation body encompassing democratically elected members of parliament, has begun hearings to investigate whether the H1N1 swine flu pandemic was falsified or exaggerated in an attempt to profit from vaccine sales.

A PACE resolution, passed last month, gave context to the hearings which began yesterday in Strasbourg.

“In order to promote their patented drugs and vaccines against flu, pharmaceutical companies influenced scientists and official agencies, responsible for public health standards to alarm governments worldwide and make them squander tight health resources for inefficient vaccine strategies and needlessly expose millions of healthy people to the risk of an unknown amount of side-effects of insufficiently tested vaccines. The “bird-flu”-campaign (2005/06) combined with the “swine-flu”-campaign seem to have caused a great deal of damage not only to some vaccinated patients and to public health-budgets, but to the credibility and accountability of important international health-agencies.”

Heading the hearings will be chairman of the Health Committee of PACE, Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, a former German lawmaker, a medical doctor and epidemiologist. Wodarg has referred to the swine flu pandemic as “one of the greatest medical scandals of the century.”

Wodarg charges that the WHO altered the definition of a pandemic from an outbreak in several continents at once with an above-average death rate, to one where the spread of the disease is constant.

The Parliamentary inquiry will determine if a “falsified pandemic” was declared by WHO in June 2009 on the advice of medical advisors, many of whom have close financial ties to the very pharmaceutical giants – GlaxoSmithKline, Roche, Novartis, – that produced the H1N1 vaccines.

It will also look into the controversy surrounding the fact that two shots were initially advised when it was later revealed that one dose was entirely suitable.

Pharmaceutical companies are thought to have made a profit of somewhere in the region of $7.5-$10 billion on H1N1 vaccines. The worldwide death toll from H1N1 is thought to be around 13,500, just over a third of the number who die from regular flu every year in the U.S. alone.

PACE has noted that the alleged conspiracy could have exposed “millions of healthy people to the risk of side-effects of insufficiently tested vaccines”.

Many countries have begun offloading huge stockpiles of unused vaccines and canceling outstanding orders. The latest to do so is Greece, where the government had announced that it would make H1N1 vaccination mandatory.

PACE will also hold a debate next week entitled ‘Faked pandemics, a threat to health’, to be attended by representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European pharmaceutical industry.

“Unlike the European Parliament, it has no decision-making powers, but, as was demonstrated by its report into extraordinary rendition, it does have the power to make life uncomfortable for the powers that be,” notes the Irish TImes.

Related Reading: H1N1-GATE: Big Pharma, WHO crafted ‘organized panic,’ European health head claims

Thousands of Americans died from H1N1 even after receiving vaccine shots

Mike Adams
Natural News
Monday, January 18th, 2010

The CDC is engaged in a very clever, statistically devious spin campaign, and nearly every journalist in the mainstream media has fallen for its ploy. No one has yet reported what I’m about to reveal here.

It all started with the CDC’s recent release of new statistics about swine flu fatalities, infection rates and vaccination rates. According to the CDC:

* 61 million Americans were vaccinated against swine flu (about 20% of the U.S. population). The CDC calls this a “success” even though it means 4 out of 5 people rejected the vaccines.

* 55 million people “became ill” from swine flu infections.

* 246,000 Americans were hospitalized due to swine flu infections.

* 11,160 Americans died from the swine flu.

Base on these statistics, the CDC is now desperately urging people to get vaccinated because they claim the pandemic might come back and vaccines are the best defense.

But here’s the part you’re NOT being told.

The CDC statistics lie by omission. They do not reveal the single most important piece of information about H1N1 vaccines: How many of the people who died from the swine flu had already been vaccinated?

Many who died had already been vaccinated

The CDC is intentionally not tracking how many of the dead were previously vaccinated. They want you (and mainstream media journalists) to mistakenly believe that ZERO deaths occurred in those who were vaccinated. But this is blatantly false. Being vaccinated against H1N1 swine flu offers absolutely no reduction in mortality from swine flu infections.

And that means roughly 20% of the 11,160 Americans who died from the swine flu were probably already vaccinated against swine flu. That comes to around 2,200 deaths in people who were vaccinated!

How do I know that swine flu vaccines don’t reduce infection mortality? Because I’ve looked through all the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials that have ever been conducted on H1N1 vaccines. It didn’t take me very long, because the number of such clinical trials is ZERO.

That’s right: There is not a single shred of evidence in existence today that scientifically supports the myth that H1N1 vaccines reduce mortality from H1N1 infections. The best evidence I can find on vaccines that target seasonal flu indicates a maximum mortality reduction effect of somewhere around 1% of those who are vaccinated. The other 99% have the same mortality rate as people who were not vaccinated.

So let’s give the recent H1N1 vaccines the benefit of the doubt and let’s imagine that they work just as well as other flu vaccines. That means they would reduce the mortality rate by 1%. So out of the 2,200 deaths that took place in 2009 in people who were already vaccinated, the vaccine potentially may have saved 22 people.

61 million injections add up to bad public health policy

So let’s see: 61 million people are injected with a potentially dangerous vaccine, and the actual number “saved” from the pandemic is conceivably just 22. Meanwhile, the number of people harmed by the vaccine is almost certainly much, much higher than 22. These vaccines contain nervous system disruptors and inflammatory chemicals that can cause serious health problems. Some of those problems won’t be evident for years to come… future Alzheimer’s victims, for example, will almost certainly those who received regular vaccines, I predict.

Injecting 61 million people with a chemical that threatens the nervous system in order to avoid 22 deaths — and that’s the best case! — is an idiotic public health stance. America would have been better off doing nothing rather than hyping up a pandemic in order to sell more vaccines to people who don’t need them.

Better yet, what the USA could have done that would have been more effective is handing out bottles of Vitamin D to 61 million people. At no more cost than the vaccines, the bottles of vitamin D supplements would have saved thousands of lives and offered tremendously importantly additional benefits such as preventing cancer and depression, too.

The one question the CDC does not want you to ask

Through its release of misleading statistics, the CDC wants everyone to believe that all of the people who died from H1N1 never received the H1N1 vaccine. That’s the implied mythology behind the release of their statistics. And yet they never come right out and say it, do they? They never say, “None of these deaths occurred in patients who had been vaccinated against H1N1.”

They can’t say that because it’s simply not true. It would be a lie. And if that lie were exposed, people might begin to ask questions like, “Well gee, if some of the people who were killed by the swine flu were already vaccinated against swine flu, then doesn’t that mean the vaccine doesn’t protect us from dying?”

That’s the number one question that the CDC absolutely, positively does not want people to start asking.

So they just gloss over the point and imply that vaccines offer absolute protection against H1N1 infections. But even the CDC’s own scientists know that’s complete bunk. Outright quackery. No vaccine is 100% effective. In fact, when it comes to influenza, no vaccine is even 10% effective at reducing mortality. There’s not even a vaccine that’s 5% effective. And there’s never been a single shred of credible scientific information that says a flu vaccine is even 1% effective.

So how effective are these vaccines, really? There are a couple thousand vaccinated dead people whose own deaths help answer that question: They’re not nearly as effective as you’ve been led to believe.

They may not be effective at all.

Crunching the numbers: Why vaccines just don’t add up

Think about this: 80% of Americans refused to get vaccinated against swine flu. That’s roughly 240 million people.

Most of those 240 million people were probably exposed to the H1N1 virus at some point over the last six months because the virus was so widespread.

How many of those 240 million people were actually killed by H1N1? Given the CDC’s claimed total of deaths at 11,160, if you take 80% of that (because that’s the percentage who refused to be vaccinated), you arrive at 8,928. So roughly 8,900 people died out of 240 million. That’s a death rate among the un-vaccinated population of .0000372

With a death rate of .0000372, the swine flu killed roughly 1 out of every 26,700 people who were NOT vaccinated. So even if you skipped the vaccine, you had a 26,699 out of 26,700 chance of surviving.

Those are pretty good odds. Ridiculously good. You have a 700% greater chance of being struck by lightning in your lifetime, by the way.

What it all means is that NOT getting vaccinated against the swine flu is actually a very reasonable, intelligent strategy for protecting your health. Mathematically, it is the smarter play.

Because, remember: Some of the dead victims of H1N1 got vaccinated. In fact, I personally challenge the CDC to release statistics detailing what percentage of the dead people had previously received such vaccines.

The headline to this article, “Thousands of Americans died from H1N1 even after receiving vaccine shots” is a direct challenge to the CDC, actually. If the CDC believes this headline is wrong — and that the number of vaccinated Americans who died from H1N1 is zero — then why don’t they say so on the record?

The answer? Because they’d be laughed right out of the room. Everybody who has been following this with any degree of intelligence knows that the H1N1 vaccine was a medical joke from the start. There is no doubt that many of those who died from H1N1 were previously vaccinated. The CDC just doesn’t want you to know how many (and they hope you’ll assume it’s zero).

Where are all the real journalists?

I find it especially fascinating that the simple question of “How many of the dead were previously vaccinated?” has never been asked in print by a single journalist in any mainstream newspaper or media outline across the country. Not the NY Times, not WashingtonPost.com, not the WSJ, LA Times or USA Today. (At least, not that I’m aware of. If you find one that does, let me know and I’ll link to their article!)

Isn’t there a single journalist in the entire industry that has the journalistic courage to ask this simple question of the CDC? Why do these mainstream journalists just reprint the CDC’s statistics without asking a single intelligent question about them?

Why is all the intelligent, skeptical reporting about H1N1 found only in the alternative press or independent media sites?

You already know the answer, but I’ll say it anyway: Because most mainstream media journalists are just part of the propaganda machine, blindly reprinting distorted statistics from “authorities” without ever stopping to question those authorities.

The MSM today, in other words, is often quite pathetic. Far from the independent media mindset that used to break big stories like Watergate, today’s mainstream media is little more than a mouthpiece for the corporatocracy that runs our nation. The MSM serves the financial interests of the corporations, just as the CDC and WHO do. That’s why they’re all spouting the same propaganda with their distorted stories about H1N1 swine flu.

But those who are intelligent enough to ask skeptical questions about H1N1 already realize what an enormous con the pandemic was. In the end, it turned out to be a near-harmless virus that was hyped up by the CDC, WHO and drug companies in order to sell hundreds of millions of doses of vaccines that are now about to be dumped down the drain as useless.

Sources for this story include:
CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/…

Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy…

Thousands of Americans died from H1N1 even after receiving vaccine shots

How Not to Become Part of the Obesity Epidemic: Ignore the USDA’s “My Pyramid”

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the Early to Rise online newsletter. It was written in lay fashion (without scientific references), that departs from the normal style of our newsletter, but you will see some of the latest scientific references in the Recent Science review following this article.

Unless you’ve been camping out in the Gobi desert for the past decade, you probably know that Americans are the fattest group of people on the planet. And we’re getting even fatter. The U.S. governmental agency given the responsibility to carefully track these numbers is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.

According to their statistics, 66 percent of all adults in the U.S. over age 20 are either overweight or obese. Of these, 32 percent are obese. Compare that to 30 years ago when only 47 percent of adults were overweight or obese and only 15 percent were obese. We are clearly in the midst of an obesity epidemic.

So, how did we get ourselves into this mess and is there any way out?

Two Glaring Omissions: Protein and the Glycemic Index

Perhaps the most blatant bit of failed nutritional advice for healthy eating to prevent weight gain and reduce chronic disease is that offered by the USDA Food Pyramid, now known as “My Pyramid.” The original Food Pyramid was offered up to a trusting American public in 1992, and told us we should eat less than 30 percent of our total calories as fat. Because no recommendations were made for protein (then about 15 percent of total calories), that would leave carbohydrates to make up 55 percent or more of what the USDA considers an optimal diet.

But since the original Food Pyramid Guidelines were implemented, the numbers of overweight and obese Americans have risen from 55.9 percent of the population to the current value of 66.2 percent. And all while dutifully following the high carbohydrate, low protein governmental dietary recommendations. In fact, carbohydrate intake has actually increased, particularly high glycemic index carbohydrates in the form of refined grains and sugars.

In both the original Food Pyramid and the current “My Pyramid,” absolutely zero mention is made of the glycemic index of foods, giving the message that dietary fat caused us to be fat and that replacement of fat with carbohydrate could prevent obesity and promote good health. Unfortunately, this message has now been shown in hundreds of peer review scientific journal articles to be too simplistic, incomplete, and even erroneous.

The Glycemic Index

The glycemic index, originally developed in 1981, is a relative comparison of the blood sugar (glucose) raising potential of various foods or combination of foods based upon equal amounts of carbohydrate in the food. In 1997, the concept of glycemic load (a food’s glycemic index ranking multiplied by the carbohydrate content per serving size) was introduced to assess a food’s blood glucose raising potential based upon both the quality and quantity of dietary carbohydrate.

Refined grain and sugar products nearly always maintain much higher glycemic loads than unprocessed fruits and vegetables.

For people interested in losing weight, the importance of the glycemic index and load is that the blood sugar response is closely related to the insulin response. An exception to this general rule is dairy products, which exhibit low glycemic indices and loads, but paradoxically elicit high insulin responses similar to white bread. So when you eat a bowl of cheerios for breakfast, not only do the cheerios raise your blood sugar and insulin levels perilously, but the milk raises your blood insulin levels even further.

Hundreds of scientific studies completed over the past decade show that high glycemic index carbohydrates cause hormonal and blood chemistry changes that increase the appetite and promote weight gain. That’s why you need to stick to low-glycemic foods if you want to lose weight.

You might think that the nutritionists who designed the revamped “My Pyramid” would be all over these exciting new developments. Not a chance. Highly glycemic foods are ubiquitous in the Western diet and now comprise 47.7 percent of the per capita energy intake in the U.S. Is it any wonder why 2/3 of us are now overweight or obese?

Protein – Another Missing Link for Weight Loss

Governmental regulatory and advisory institutions are known to move slowly, but when it comes to dietary recommendations to prevent weight gain and obesity, they have not moved at all since 1992. Except for a superficial stab at including exercise as part of the new “My Pyramid,” major dietary recommendations remain virtually unchanged between 1992 and 2005.

The current “My Pyramid” recommendations for the three macronutrients are as follows: fat: 20 – 35 percent of total energy intake, protein: 18 percent energy, and carbohydrate: 55 percent energy. Actual intake of these macronutrients is: fat: 32.8 percent energy, protein: 15.4 percent energy, and carbohydrate: 51.8 percent.

As was the case with the glycemic index, there is absolutely no mention of the benefit of higherprotein diets in promoting weight loss in the current “My Pyramid,” despite hundreds of well controlled scientific experiments verifying this phenomenon. The decades-old perception is that to reduce body fat, you must reduce dietary fat, replacing the fat calories with carbohydrate calories.

The problem with this approach is that people experience constant hunger, and any weight loss is typically modest and hardly ever stays off for the long haul.

But contrary to this old belief system, you can reduce your body fat by limiting carbohydrate and increasing your consumption of protein.

Believe it or not, the first well-controlled scientific study that traded out dietary fat, not with carbohydrate, but with protein did not take place until 1999. Scientists at the University of Copenhagen put 65 overweight and obese men and women on one of two diets:

1. A reduced-calorie, high-protein, lowcarbohydrate diet, or
2. A reduced-calorie, high-carbohydrate, lowprotein diet

After six months on the lowcarb, high-protein diet, subjects lost almost 20 pounds, whereas subjects on the high-carb, low-protein diet lost only 11 pounds. And these results weren’t a fluke – this type of experiment has been repeated and confirmed dozens of times in the past seven years.

A growing consensus in the scientific community is that high protein diets (where protein makes up 25 to 35 percent of total energy) are more effective at promoting weight loss than calorie reduced low carbohydrate diets because of their superiority in reducing hunger. Protein has a two to three times greater satiety value than either fat or carbohydrate, so people spontaneously eat less when they consume more protein. Of carbohydrates, fat, and protein, protein causes the greatest release of a gut hormone (PYY) that reduces hunger while simultaneously improving central nervous system sensitivity to leptin, another hormone that controls appetite and body weight regulation.

The scientific jury is in – high protein diets are the way to go. So, if you want to effectively lose weight, keep it off, and hold your hunger at bay, IGNORE the USDA’s “My Pyramid” and stick to high-protein and low-glycemic foods. Your body will thank you for it.

This time of year, many people make a New Year’s resolution to “lose weight.” A better resolution might be to eat the right food. When we eat the foods we evolved to eat, our bodies naturally maintain a more normal body composition, and there is not the constant struggle of calorie counting and dieting. Let’s look at some recent studies examining this issue.

Why Go High-Pro?

A recent review paper published in the International Journal of Obesity¹ cites numerous studies promoting higher protein diets as an effective body-weight management strategy. Several characteristics of protein and its metabolism contribute to this premise. Primarily, protein has a higher thermic effect than carbohydrates or fat, which means it requires more energy to metabolize than the other macronutrients. Following a meal, energy expenditure increases 0-3% for metabolism of fat, 5-10% for carbohydrate, and 20-30% for protein². In addition, the greatest increase in diet-induced thermogenesis occurs from animal protein rather than from soy or other plant sources³.

Another study demonstrated a low-glycemic index, low-fat-high-protein diet resulted in a spontaneous 25% decrease in caloric intake compared to a high-carbohydrate-low fat diet. The metabolic profile was also “considerably improved” in the subjects of the study⁴.

So from these studies we’re seeing that highprotein diets burn more calories while simultaneously reducing total caloric intake, by inducing satiety. We end up feeling full, eating less, and expending more energy in digestion and metabolism. Almost sounds like a weight-loss gimmick too good to be true!

¹ Westerterp-Plantenga, MS., Luscombe-Marsh, N., Lejeune, MPGM., Diepvens, K., Nieuwenhuizen, A., Engelen, MPKJ., Deutz, NEP., Azzout-Marniche, D., Tome, D., Westerterp, KR. Dietary protein, metabolism, and body-weight regulation: dose-response effects. International Journal of Obesity 2006; 30:S16-S23.

² Tappy, L. Thermic effect of food and sympathetic nervous system activity in humans. Reproduction Nutrition Development 1996; 36:391-397.

³ Mikkelsen, PB., Toubro, S., Astrup, A. Effect of fat-reduced diets on 24 h energy expenditure: comparisons between animal protein, vegetable protein, and carbohydrate. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000; 72:1135-1141.

⁴ Dumesnil, JG., Turgeon, J., Tremblay, A., Effect of a lowglycemic index-low-fat-high protein diet on the atherogenic metabolic risk profile of abdominally obese men. British Journal of Nutrition 2001; 86:57-568.

Critical Role of Peptide YY in Protein-mediated Satiation and Weight Loss:

Conceptually, we know meals rich in protein enhance satiety and weight loss, as compared to those high in carbohydrate and/or fat, but a metabolic explanation for the effect has not been fully understood. In a two-part study, researchers discovered the hormone peptide YY (abbreviated PYY) acts ‘anorectically’, or induces satiety, postprandially in humans and mice. Researchers measured the release of PYY following protein, carbohydrate, and fat-rich meals, and found that high-protein intake stimulated the greatest release of the hormone.

Different DHA Structures

Secondly, researchers discovered mice fed a high-protein diet over a long-term period experienced increased levels of circulating PYY, decreased food intake, and significantly lower weight gain and fatty tissue accumulation than mice on higher fat or carbohydrate diets. The researchers confirmed the influence of PYY by “generating” mice without the PYY gene, and observed that they were prone to over-eating and obesity, regardless of the type of diet they consumed (high protein, carbohydrate, or fat).

This paper suggests that our appetite control centers work more efficiently under lower carbohydrate and higher protein dietary conditions, similar to what our huntergatherer ancestors were adapted to, and in direct contrast to USDA food pyramid suggestions. This study verifies high protein diets make us feel full and more satisfied, thereby decreasing the total number of calories we consume, and begins to shed light on the physiological mechanisms acting to induce satiation and promote weight loss.

Batterham, R.L., Heffron, H., Saloni, K., Chivers, J.E., Chandarana, K., Herzog, H., Le Roux, C.W., Thomas, E.L., Bell, J.D., Withers, D.J. Critical role for peptide YY in protein-mediated satiation and body-weight regulation. Cell Metabolism 2006 Sept; 4:223-233.

High Protein Diet Wins Out:

A randomized trial comparing three diets, highfat, high-protein, and high-fiber/carbohydrate, demonstrated that diets high in protein confer a greater advantage in terms of weight loss, body composition, and blood lipid profile. Ninety-three overweight, insulin-resistant women were divided into each of three dietary regimes and interviewed at six and 12 months after commencement of the program. Participants in the high-protein group experienced clinically significant improvements in waist circumference, body fat mass, fasting insulin and triglyceride concentrations, and total body mass above either the high-fat or high- fiber/carbohydrate groups. More importantly, these benefits remained after 12 months, whereas participants in the other groups noticed improvement within the first 6 months, but had relapsed to some degree by the 12-month check-up. Despite the fact that participants in all three groups strayed considerably from the recommended macronutrient composition for their respective diet, members of the high-protein group experienced the most favorable outcome.

Ninety-three percent of women in the high-protein group returned for the follow-up at 12 months as compared to 75% for the high-fat and highcarbohydrate groups. Researchers believed this was significant; there seemed to be a preference for the higher-protein diet regime. Overall, participants in the high-fiber/carbohydrate group lost the least amount of weight and members of the highfat group regressed so rapidly, that there remained little advantage over the high-fiber/carbohydrate group after 12 months.

This study provides strong support for higher protein diets as an alternative to the conventional high-fiber/carbohydrate approach to weight loss and as a means of improving blood-lipid and insulin profiles.

McAuley, KA., Smith, KJ., Taylor, RW., McLay, RT., Williams, SM., Mann, JI. Long-term effects of popular dietary approaches on weight loss and features of insulin resistance. International Journal of Obesity 2006; 30:342-349.

DHA = Weight Loss?

A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition has shown that Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil, decreases body fat mass and fat accumulation in rodents. DHA achieves this in two ways: first, it acts during mitosis to inhibit differentiation of cells to preadipocytes (precursor fat cells), and secondly, by preventing the storage of fat in adipocytes, thereby increasing lipolysis (fat oxidation). Not only is the total number of pre-programmed fat cells decreased, but the ability of those cells to store large amounts of fat is also diminished.

This study continues along the current wave of omega-3 research and touches on previous studies showing decreased fat accumulation in fish-oil fed versus lard or corn-oil fed rodents^1,2. These data have important implications for us as humans, but also for our industrial food animals (i.e. cornfed, feed-lot raised beef). The average ratio of omega-3:omega-6 fatty acids in our diet is out of balance, and much of that is due to the fat composition of the animals we eat, and the fact that we no longer eat marrow, brains, and other organs. So since it can be difficult to eat a perfectly “Paleo” diet in this modern world, current research supports DHA supplementation to bring us back into natural balance–in terms of both fatty acids and body composition.

Kim, HK., Della-Fera, MA., Lin, J., Baile, CA. Docosahexaenoic acid inhibits adipocyte differentiation and induces apoptosis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Journal of Nutrition 2006 Sept; 136:2965-2969.

¹ Hainault, I., Carlotti, M., Hajduch, E., Guichard, C., Lavau, M. Fish oil in a high lard diet prevents obesity, hyperlipidemia, and adipocyte insulin resistance in rats. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1993; 683:98-101.

² Parrish, CC., Pathy, DA., Angel, A. Dietary fish oil limits adipose tissue hypertrophy in rats. Metabolism 1990; 39:217-9.

Vitamin D and the Flu: More about the Science

January 5, 2010

Bill Faloon, Co-founder of Life Extension Foundation, recently summarized some of the science showing the critical role of Vitamin D in preventing and controlling infections due to the flu. An excerpt from his article in the January 2010 Life Extension Magazine follows:

Evidence that Vitamin D Combats Winter Infections

As daylight hours grow colder and shorter, incidences of the common cold, flu, and respiratory infections spike upwards. Scientists have identified reduced vitamin D levels in winter months as a prime suspect for this increase in infectious disease cases.

Vitamin D in all forms (sunlight, sun lamps, or supplements) reduces the incidence of respiratory infections.[24,26] Dutch children with the least sun exposure are twice as likely to develop a cough and three times more likely to develop a runny nose compared with children with the most sun exposure.[35]

When Russian athletes were given access to a sun lamp to stimulate vitamin D synthesis in the body, there were 50% fewer respiratory infections and 300% fewer days of absence.[26]

Children with the lowest vitamin D serum levels are 11 times more likely to develop respiratory infection. When 60,000 IU per week of vitamin D was administered (for six weeks) to children with frequent respiratory infections, the result was a complete disappearance of such infections in the following six months.[36]

In a controlled trial of African women, a low dose (800 IU a day) of vitamin D resulted in a 3-fold reduction in cold and flu symptoms compared to those given placebo.[37]

Influenza kills between around 36,000 Americans each year[38]. Ensuring optimal vitamin D status could slash influenza incidence and morality.

How Vitamin D Boosts Immune Function and Suppresses Inflammation

Flu viruses (including swine flu) induce a massive inflammatory response that can kill the victim. In other words, it is not the virus that often kills, but the body’s hyper-reaction to the virus—in the form of uncontrolled over-production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D down-regulates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha. [39]

As people age, they often over-express these same destructive pro-inflammatory cytokines. The result is chronic low-level inflammation that damages aging arteries, joints, and neurons[40-44]. By down-regulating excess pro-inflammatory cytokine production, vitamin D could save the lives of those stricken with acute influenza, or the dozens of inflammatory diseases that afflict millions of aging Americans each year.

Antimicrobial peptides are components of the immune system that protect against bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Secreted by immune cells throughout the body, antimicrobial peptides damage the outer lipid membrane of infectious agents (including influenza viruses), rending them vulnerable to eradication.

Recent studies confirm that vitamin D dramatically up-regulates the expression of these antimicrobial peptides in immune cells[45]. We now have a definitive biological mechanism to explain why vitamin D confers such dramatic protection against common winter illnesses.

What are minimum vitamin D blood levels?

When blood is tested to assess vitamin D status, what is actually measured is the metabolically active 25-hydroxyvitamin D form of the vitamin in the serum.

When data emerged about vitamin D’s role in preventing disease, experts initially recommended a minimum target blood level of 30 ng/mL of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

In recognition of findings showing reduced incidences of disease in those with higher vitamin D levels, the standard laboratory reference range for 25-hydroxyvitamin D was raised to 32-100 ng/mL.

Based on recent and conclusive published studies, the new minimum target level for optimal disease prevention is over 50 ng/mL of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.[46-51]

A startling 36%[52-55,56] of the general population has 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 20 ng/dL, which may represent the world’s leading cause of unnecessary disease and death.

Help End the Government’s Shameful Silence About Vitamin D—the Natural Way to Prevent and Treat Flu Including Swine Flu!

January 5, 2010

Take Action Here!

With hundreds of thousands of seasonal flu-related complications, more than 35,000 deaths from the flu, and countless more from the H1N1 flu expected this season, ANH-USA asks the obvious question: What are the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Health and Human Services (HHS) doing about it? The answer: Not much!

Our goal is to persuade the CDC, FDA, NIH, and HHS to step up to the plate and help educate the public about the critical role Vitamin D plays in preventing and treating the seasonal and H1N1 flus along with many other health problems. In particular, we are asking the CDC, FDA, HHS, and NIH to issue statements outlining the immense benefits to be gained from supplementation during the flu season. In addition, HHS should update the government’s web site, www.flu.gov to include well established facts about Vitamin D.

Studies show that least one-third of Americans are wholly deficient in Vitamin D. We all need to maintain adequate levels of Vitamin D year-round, not just during flu season. The government has an important role to play in getting this message out, but says nothing at all.

In anticipation of the government’s programmed response – that even more research needs to be done – we are also asking the CDC, FDA, NIH, and HHS to support and fund additional research on the importance of maintaining adequate levels of Vitamin D, including the link between Vitamin D and flu prevention and treatment.

Why is the government utterly silent about Vitamin D and its benefits? Could it be because big corporations are not pushing such an inexpensive and readily available form of prevention and treatment? Whatever the reason, the government’s silence is shameful. Please sign our petition to these agencies now.  Take Action Here!

Vitamin D: The Super Supplement

Vitamin D is safe and effective for the prevention and treatment of seasonal and H1N1 flus. The scientific research is clear. Yet CDC, FDA, NIH, and HHS continue to tow the vaccine only line, working in close partnership with vaccine manufacturers who will make billions of dollars and who have been shielded from any liability by Congress.

This obsession with a vaccine approach makes little sense given the lack of time to test the vaccine for safety and efficacy and the challenge of producing enough vaccine on time. It makes even less sense when there are natural ways to prevent and treat the illness that have been thoroughly validated by science.

We are all familiar with the adaptive immune response. Our bodies mount a defense against a new invader and then maintain antibodies against future attacks by the same invader. This is exactly how vaccines are meant to work. But for such an immune response to work, your own immune system has to be primed and ready to do its job. Good nutrition is critical for this. Vitamin D is especially critical. Your immune system will not work without it.

Common sense tells us that what we eat will strengthen or weaken our immune systems. For some of the science behind this, see an article by Laura Landro, published in the November 24, 2009, issue of the Wall Street Journal. But even the best diet will not give us the amount of Vitamin D needed for the immune system to reach its full potential.

What Exactly Does Vitamin D Do?

When Vitamin D is lacking, we become a prime target for flu and the H1N1 Swine Flu. By contrast, those with sufficient levels of Vitamin D are able to fight off or throw off these attacking pathogens. Vitamin D boosts the innate immune response in many ways, but in particular by turning on an antimicrobial protein.

Vitamin D also balances the immune response, preventing inflammation that can lead to flu-related complications such as bacterial pneumonia or lung infection. Inflammation was the leading cause of deaths in the 1918 influenza pandemic .

Our vitamin-D mediated immune response has been with us through more than 60 million years of pre-human and human evolutionary selection. It must be critical to our survival, according to researchers at Ohio State University.

Flu is at least in part a Vitamin D deficiency disease. But the benefits of this wonder supplement go far beyond the flu. As John Cannell, MD, founder of the non-profit Vitamin D Counsel, has noted: “Current research has implicated vitamin D deficiency as a major factor in the pathology of at least 17 varieties of cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease, and more.” We join the Vitamin D Council in urging our government to break its silence about this wonder supplement.

Will the Government Act Before Countless More Suffer Needlessly?

Sen. Orin Hatch, R-Utah, complained for years that the FDA dragged its feet and ignored the science about the need for folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube birth defects in newborns. Under fierce pressure, the FDA finally admitted the truth and such defects were reduced. Now the FDA is again refusing to tell the American people about another supplement which can save lives, this time in a flu pandemic, but also in reducing heart disease and cancer and other life destroying conditions.

The government has created a web site (www.flu.gov) expressly dedicated to educating the public about flu, including Swine Flu. This site however says nothing about natural forms of prevention and treatment, including even Vitamin D.

We are now asking the CDC, FDA, NIH, and HHS to tell the truth about the immense benefits to be gained from Vitamin D supplementation during the flu season and year round. We are also requesting that HHS update the government’s web site, www.flu.gov to include the incontestable scientific research behind Vitamin D.

There are reliable scientific studies showing a positive correlation between Vitamin D and a decrease in flu occurrence and complications. There is good science explaining this correlation. If the government nevertheless believes more studies are in order, we request that the government sponsor and pay for more trials.

What Can Be Done this Flu Season?

As Bill Faloon of the Life Extension Foundation has pointed out, many doctors are not trained to recognize a Vitamin D deficiency until rickets develop in children or osteomalacia (softening of the bones) develops in adults . Even so, many doctors are now urging their patients to supplement with Vitamin D.

Whether your doctor is up to date or not, you should take the initiative. Have your Vitamin D level checked. If you are below an optimum Vitamin D level, take a supplement. Changing your diet alone cannot create optimal Vitamin D levels. Only supplementation or sufficient exposure to the sun (without sun block and when the sun’s rays are sufficiently strong) can do that.

The blood work that checks Vitamin D status is called the 25, hydroxy vitamin D test. Some experts are satisfied with a minimum reading of 30 ng/ml, but it is doubtful that this is high enough to make your immune system work at optimal levels. While a level of 30 ng/ml defines the bottom of the normal range, Integrative doctors often like to see levels of 70 or 80 (but no higher than 100) ng/ml. Use of the blood test is the best way to prevent over-dosing.

Seniors are especially apt to be vitamin D deficient and have been found to be less likely to succumb to all causes of mortality when they have optimal levels of vitamin D. Young people are also often deficient even though Vitamin D is essential as the body grows and matures.

The most recent Harvard Heart Letter confirms that at least one-third of Americans of all ages are Vitamin D deficient. “Deficient” in this instance was defined as less than 20 ng/ml of 25-hydroxy vitamin D. The Harvard letter stated that supplements are the simplest and safest way to get vitamin D and recommended 800 to 1,000 IU from supplements as a daily goal. The Vitamin D Council recommends 5,000 IU daily, but in conjunction with blood testing. The U.S. government claims to be highly concerned about Swine flu and the general health of the American public, but does not even recommend 800 IU. For the most part, it says nothing.

Imagine for a moment that a drug company announced the development of a new drug matching the preventive and curative properties of Vitamin D. Does anyone think the government would remain silent about such a new drug? Of course not. The government would promote the use of the new wonder drug. This is a scandal. Please join us in asking the government to do its duty to the American people by telling the truth about Vitamin D for flu and for general health. Take Action Here!

For more on the extensive science behind Vitamin D

Read About the Science, extracted from an article by Bill Faloon of the Life Extension Foundation.

Visit Natural Health Science News Vitamin Research, which includes studies that explain how Vitamin D works to prevent flus and respiratory disease as well as to minimize flu symptoms

Vist Vitamin D Council which also features numerous studies on influenza and Vitamin D

Schmidt Warns of More Civil Disobedience in Raw Milk War

January 2, 2010

Dear Friends in Government and those who work for the Government

From raw milk farmer Michael Schmidt.

I have a certain fascination with trying to read the human face behind the facade of those who enforce laws. My attempt to meet all of you on a personal level has nothing to do with hoping to convince you to treat me better or be more lenient towards me. Let’s be clear, I do want to be treated like anyone else, otherwise we would deal with yet another injustice.

Meeting you as equals in a worthwhile dispute requires utmost respect for each other.

Do I think you have more power than I?  No.  You should be limited because of your duty to make sure that you are not violating basic human rights when you enforce laws. If there is any hint that a law is violating basic human rights and you keep enforcing it, then you are no different than those who enforce laws in Iran, in North Korea or in any other country with a dictatorship. Are you familiar with the human rights we all have?

The danger we are facing here is much greater than the brutal dictatorships in other countries. The rules and regulations imposed on all of us by fear, misled politics through the corporate lobby and under the banner of freedom and democracy are far beyond the limitations set by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

It is worrisome if you enforce laws without the ever present awareness that nothing is more important for a truly just society than upholding ones freedom. The grave danger we are facing in Canada, is the illusion of being free and that we too willingly give up our freedom for the sake of a promised security. I agree if someone chooses to seek the protection of the state, he or she has to be prepared to give up rights. Many people are willing to do that without realizing that they have to live with the consequences of being ruled by someone else. We need to be concerned when the State takes it upon itself to impose limitations beyond its mandate without proper communication especially when the limitations of personal rights are the consequence.

I and many others never gave anyone the permission to decide for us what to eat, what to drink and how to live. Neither will we impose on you our beliefs.

I do respect your personal rights and responsibilities.

Please do understand that in the future I can not and will not anymore co-operate in any actions and proceedings, which are imposed on us IF you are violating our basic rights.

Yes this might spell trouble and hardship for me and others.

I have spent the last three years giving everyone involved the benefit of the doubt. I now have moved on.

We have the choice to resist with love and determination. We are ready to enter into a new chapter of civil disobedience. There are many of us and there will be more to come as we proceed.

We are, as always, open for a constructive dialogue

Regards,

Michael Schmidt

Top 10 Health Stories of 2009

Friday, December 25, 2009 – Byron Richards, CCN

2009 was a busy year as gene-related exploration tools opened up a treasure trove of new discoveries.  We’ve learned why some of the obvious good health habits, like getting enough sleep and exercise are more important than ever, and we’ve learned new things about health that were barely imagined even a year ago.  Many of the following stories are feature length articles that are sure to broaden your understanding of natural health and as well as illustrating the extreme importance of taking really good care of yourself.

#10 – Sleep Well, Live Longer

Everyone knows that getting enough sleep is vital to good health.  It is also vital to learning.  It is now crystal clear that sleep problems reflect excess inflammation, which in turn reflects increased risk for virtually any disease.

Excessive Sleepiness Predicts Death
Energy is the backbone of life and a new study makes this perfectly clear. A group of 9294 individuals, age 65 at the start of study, was followed for six years. Those with excessive daytime sleepiness had a 49% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a 33% increased risk of dying from any cause.

Sleeping Problems Disturb Cardiovascular Health
Timing is a key principle of health.  Sleeping and waking are timed to the earth’s 24 hour clock, and so is the health of your circulatory system.  New research is discovering that timing rhythms of your body have a powerful influence on the health of the cells that line your circulatory system.

Alcohol May Disturb Your Sleep and Biological Clock
Many people have a drink or two to relax and calm down from the stressors of the day, which even may assist sleep (at least in the short term).  A new study shows that an increased level of alcohol can disrupt your biological clock.  Not only does this induce potential serious sleep problems, it can throw your entire body out of rhythm (including your immune system).

Sleep Problems are a Significant Risk for Type II Diabetes
Three new studies show that a short sleep duration, insomnia, and too much sleep all are reflective of a major problem in blood sugar metabolism that increases the risks for type II diabetes.

Too Much or Too Little Sleep is Inflammatory
A new sleep study demonstrates that sleeping too long as well as sleeping too little goes along with having too much inflammation.  It is already known that these types of sleep problems are associated with poor health, disease risk, and increased rates of mortality.  This new study links the inflammatory theme as an underlying mechanism affecting all types of sleep duration problems.

Sleep Desire, Caffeine, and Inflammation
New research has proven conclusively that the molecule known as adenosine is in charge of your feeling of sleepiness and is required in adequate amounts in order for you to fall asleep in a natural way. Somewhat paradoxically, adenosine is also an important molecule in energy production.

Quality Sleep is Needed for Memory and Learning
When teachers watch grades plummet they invariably know something stressful is going on in that student’s life.  That is because the inflammation resulting from the problems is disturbing sleep – and a good night’s sleep is now turning out to be the key to memory and learning.

#9 – Exercise is Corrective, Rejuvenating, and Good for Your Brain

Exercise is not just to maintain a better body weight, it builds and rejuvenates brain cells, helping intelligence at any age.  Research continues to show that exercise reduces the risk for heart disease and improves the health of your liver.

Aerobics Promote a More Youthful Brain
In a small group of men and women ages 60 to 80 it was found that those who did 3 hours of aerobics per week for ten consecutive years had much less abnormal twisting of the blood vessels in their brain, reflecting brain circulation patterns of younger adults.

Aerobic Fitness Makes Teens Smarter
A Swedish study evaluating the fitness and IQ of 1.2 million 18 year olds found that those who had better aerobic fitness between the ages of 15-18 had significantly higher IQ at age 18 – and were more likely to go on to be successful in terms of education and income. The study also evaluated twins and showed that IQ was far more associated with fitness than genes.

Men Need Moderate-to-Heavy Exercise for Stroke Prevention
A new study of 3,298 people showed that men who regularly participated in moderate-to-heavy exercise (jogging, tennis, swimming) had a 63 percent less chance of having a stroke. Lighter exercise such as walking or golfing did not confer such benefits.

Exercise Helps Prevent the Re-Accumulation of Dangerous Fat
Visceral fat is the kind that accumulates in the abdominal region and is associated with highly inflammatory disease-related risk. A new study had individuals exercise 40 minutes twice a week for one year following a period of weight loss. This small amount of exercise completely prevented the re-accumulation of the high disease risk fat. The researchers found that aerobic exercise and resistance training were equally effective for this purpose.

Aerobic Exercise Improves Stiff Arteries and Fatty Liver
Several new studies are showing that aerobic exercise can have a rather profound effect on promoting health. One study showed that in older adults with type II diabetes just three months of aerobics produced noticeable improvement in the elasticity of arteries. Another study showed that one month of aerobic exercise reduced the fatty build up in the liver of overweight individuals.

Why Consistent Exercise Helps Keep the Weight Off
There are numerous studies showing that those who consistently exercise during and following weight loss are much more likely to maintain their new weight. The common reasons most people have to continue exercise is to maintain the better feeling of health and fitness and to burn calories. A new study provides a few new angles that may provide additional motivation. It showed that consistent exercise following weight loss directly reduced the urge to eat more food, specifically enhanced fat burning, and blunted the formation of new fat cells.

#8 – Adiponectin Linked to Multiple Disease Risks

Adiponectin, a hormone like leptin that comes from fat, has already been shown to be the single most important factor causing insulin resistance and type II diabetes.  Now we see that low adiponectin starts heart disease in motion, handicaps immune function, and disturbs the rhythms of healthy metabolism.  The adiponectin story is of immense importance to your health, and far from over.

Low Adiponectin Starts Cardiovascular Disease in Motion
Adiponectin and leptin are the two primary hormones secreted from your stored fat.  In health, they are released in balance.  As body weight rises, then leptin increases and adiponectin decreases.  It has been known for some time that the lowering of adiponectin is the primary cause of insulin resistance in your liver.  This new study shows that low adiponectin is associated with adverse changes in your circulatory system that lead to plaque accumulation and hardening of your arteries.

Adiponectin Stops Sepsis – Relevance to H1N1 Swine Flu
A new animal study shows that low levels of adiponectin are associated with higher toxicity of sepsis whereas adequate adiponectin prevents sepsis. Adiponectin levels are low in overweight people and being overweight is a risk factor for getting severe H1N1 swine flu. Those with severe H1N1 swine flu have sepsis-like symptoms due to the toxicity and low oxygen condition produced by the infection.

The Blood Sugar Hormone Adiponectin is Linked to Your Circadian Clock
A detailed analysis of biological clocking genes has shown that adiponectin function is in sync with 24-hour patterns. The data also showed that fasting causes the adiponectin-relating timing to fast forward, whereas a high fat diet causes adiponectin-related timing to enter jet lag.

Magnesium Needed for Healthy Adiponectin Levels
A detailed study comparing the metabolism of twins, which analyzed their basic dietary nutrients, found that magnesium intake was the most important dietary variable that determined adiponectin levels.

#7 A Clear Path to Prostate Cancer Prevention

One in six men is needlessly heading for prostate cancer.  This problem is mostly preventable and a new understanding of the androgen receptor points the way to good health – for those men wishing to take the steps it needed to stay out of the obvious risk zone.

Prostate Cancer & the Androgen Receptor – A Clearer Picture of the Problem
Prostate cancer is the most widely diagnosed cancer in America. Men have a 17% risk for getting the problem during their lifetime. The story of any cancer is essentially survival gone wrong, a problem wherein normal cell function is hijacked and turned to cancer. How this happens varies considerably for any particular type of cancer, although there are a number of common features. Any man not wanting prostate cancer in the first place or who is treating this problem should spend some time understanding at least the basics of the androgen receptor.

Coffee Reduces the Risk for Diabetes and Prostate Cancer
Several new studies support the idea that coffee may be quite good for your health – even in higher amounts. In one study it was shown that those consuming 3-4 cups of coffee per day had a 25% risk reduction for type II diabetes. In another study it was shown that the highest coffee drinkers had a 60% less chance of developing aggressive prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Treatment Causes Heart Disease and Diabetes
One common treatment for prostate cancer is to use hormone-disrupting drugs to the point of chemical castration (depressing testosterone production to nothing). Another approach is actual castration. According to a new study, either procedure causes significant risk for heart disease, and chemical castration with a GnRH agonist also causes diabetes.

Prostate Cancer and Zinc – Can Zinc Be Overdone?
Many individuals are confused by the meaning of studies that sometimes show a particular nutrient is associated with some form of cancer when in fact they thought that nutrient was supposed to be helpful. A case in point is zinc and prostate cancer, which is the subject of this posting.

Leptin, Obesity, and Prostate Cancer
Duke University researchers have demonstrated that obesity in and of itself is a risk factor for aggressive prostate cancer. The study involved 1415 men who had undergone radical prostatectomy as prostate cancer treatment (about 50/50 white and black men). Race was not a factor in who was likely to continue disease progression based on the prostate cancer spreading aggressively, but obesity was.

Another Study Linking Obesity to Aggressive Prostate Cancer
It is really important that this message sink in to the male population. Being overweight when you are older or gaining weight as an adult are clearly linked to risk for developing the most aggressive and deadly form of prostate cancer.

#6 – The Pitfalls of Bioidentical Hormones

The improper use of bioidentical hormones is putting the health of many women at risk and opening the door for unnecessary excessive regulation of the natural health industry.  It does not appear that many natural health practitioners are planning on getting their acts together any time soon – so consumers need to understand the subject much better.
Oprah’s “Crazy Talk” – Bioidentical Hormones – Helpful or Harmful? (Part 1)
Newsweek recently indulged in tabloid journalism, featuring Oprah on the cover with the headline: CRAZY TALK, Oprah, Wacky Cures, & You. The specific emphasis of the article was an attack on Suzanne Somers, Oprah, and bioidentical hormones. The Genie is out of the hormone bottle, consumers are confused, the medical profession is in its typical funk, and somewhere out there is the health-improving truth.

Oprah’s “Crazy” Talk – Bioidentical Hormones – Helpful or Harmful? (Part 2)
Hormones decline with age. The simplistic idea of replacing something that is apparently missing makes sense to many people, especially when a lab test can show that the hormone levels are lower than a younger person’s or when taking the hormone suppresses a symptom. And that is where the simplicity ends – and the risks begin to elevate.

#5 – The Unnecessary Epidemic of Type II Diabetes

How a subject like Western medicine gains a monopoly on treating an epidemic of type II diabetes is hard to understand when it is painfully obvious that their treatments fail to produce positive results.  Solutions for consumers are now available – once again rooted in a much better understanding of natural health.

Insulin, Leptin, and Blood Sugar – Why Diabetic Medication Fails
Type II diabetes is a difficult metabolic problem.  It is a national embarrassment that so many of our young people are becoming type II diabetic.  It is a national disgrace that millions of type II diabetic patients are being injured with commonly used diabetic medications that are known to make their metabolic situation worse.

Laughable Type II Diabetes Research Shines Light on Medical Ineptitude
The ability of Western medicine to treat an epidemic of type II diabetes in America shows the gross incompetence of their collective profession. Granted, type II diabetes is a tough problem because it means the natural regulatory systems of the distribution and use of calories is broken. However, if doctors can’t help solve tough problems then what good are they?

#4 – Mind Rejuvenation

Nerve health is now much better understood.  Boosting your brain’s plasticity and flexibility are the keys to your mental health and mental abilities.  Bad habits, poor mood, and even depression now need to be viewed in a different light with a far different set of solutions than have been employed by many over the past few decades.

New Insights on Addiction, Mood, Memory, and Cognitive Ability
An array of new science is painting not only a clear picture of addiction but of how the same brain issues relate to poor memory, poor mood, and poor cognitive function.  While we can think of addiction in terms of a clinical problem like drug or alcohol abuse, the same issues are involved with eating and other behavior patterns that are either a waste of your time (like too much web

BDNF at the Crossroads of Brain Function & Metabolism
Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is vital to the growth of new nerve cells, the plasticity of brain connections that are vital to brain health, and plays an important role in learning and memory.  New research is now showing that it is a vital metabolic compound, lacking in individuals who are overweight and especially in those with type II diabetes.

Synaptic Plasticity – The Key to Your Brain’s Future
How does your brain bounce back from intense stress?  When is your subconscious brain going to start believing you should actually be that weight you desire?  Any why is it you just can’t seem to break that bad habit?  The answer may lie in how flexible or “plastic” your brain structures are.

Helping Glial Cells will Revolutionize Prevention & Treatment of Alzheimer’s
In the face of a baby boomer population certain to have an epidemic of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s there is very good news on the cutting edge of science for those interested in being proactive on the topic.  The rapid developments in our understanding of neurobiology are causing scientists to refocus their efforts on the healthy function of glial cells in order to maintain and restore cognitive health.

#3 The Immune System Regulation of Metabolism

This major discovery has gone virtually unnoticed – though it has immediate practical application value to those interested in restoring and maintaining their own health.

Immunometabolism: The New Frontier
Every now and then rather jaw-dropping research is published, as is the case this week as the journal Nature Medicine published three groundbreaking articles linking the function of immune cells to obesity and diabetes – data which opens the door to solving all kinds of health problems including the obesity issue itself, inefficient immune response to the flu in overweight individuals, as well as obesity-related autoimmune problems.

#2 How Bone Health is Related to Metabolic Health

Precise mechanisms linking thyroid, leptin, and bone health have now been documented.  This information represents a fundamental shift in how health problems are caused and how they can be corrected.  A case in point is the strength of your bones.

The New World of Bones – Thyroid, Leptin, Blood Sugar, and Bone Strength
In 1994, with the discovery of leptin, the view of white adipose tissue was transformed from a warehouse whose primary role was the storage of extra calories into one of the most important endocrine organs in the human body. The explosion in leptin-related research, now involving over 16,000 studies, is a testament to the emerging reality that leptin regulates (as a top-level manager) almost everything in your body. In the past few years the leptin science has transformed our understanding of bone health and bone function.

Leptin, Thyroid, and Weight Loss
It is very common that individuals who are overweight have a majority of the symptoms associated with a hypothyroid-like condition. This is especially true for those who have a history of yo-yo dieting or have difficulty losing weight by cutting back on calories and trying to exercise more.

Oprah’s Thyroid Problem Explained
Oprah is creating a lot of buzz after gaining forty pounds and simultaneously claiming she solved her thyroid problem. Her statements sent internet bloggers into a frenzy. How did she get off her thyroid medication? Did she really solve her thyroid problem? Isn’t this just a temporary break from a sinister and permanent thyroid illness? If her thyroid is in such great shape why did she pile on forty pounds?

#1 The Swine Flu Hoopla

No story dominated the health headlines this year as did the potential Swine Flu pandemic that never happened – at least yet.  As such, it was a teachable moment.  Those interested in natural health were able to overcome the potential fear of the Swine Flu by learning how nutrition can dramatically improve the immune response to a flu that has not been seen before, as well as by understanding the shortcomings of the protection offered by vaccines.  Armed with knowledge and effective steps that can be taken, there is little to be worried about.

Using Nutrition to Help Perceive and Combat Swine Flu
There is valid concern that the H1N1 swine flu will readily infect Americans this flu season, resulting in high numbers of swine flu cases around the country. Already the CDC is reporting significant swine flu symptoms and swine flu cases in all states. This is because this new version of the flu hasn’t been around any time recently, meaning that our immune systems don’t have a memory of it and prior training in dealing with it. This does not automatically mean this is a major problem. Your immune system is perfectly capable of mounting a highly effective response against any never-before-seen virus. This article explains how your immune system does this, what nutrients can help, what forms of stress handicap this functionality, and how to help prevent the cytokine storm that would be associated with a severe swine flu episode.

The Narrow Scope of Flu Vaccine Usefulness
Let’s assume for the moment that a textbook H1N1 swine flu vaccine is actually produced. Let’s put aside our concerns about its potential toxicity, adverse side effects, or the difficulty in getting a vaccine that actually looks like the current flu problem. And let’s focus on a more fundamental question: Would such a vaccine work for you?

Top 10 Nutrients of 2009

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 – Byron Richards, CCN

This year saw an exciting expansion of scientific knowledge in support of the field of nutrition and dietary supplements to benefit human health.  The more scientists learn about genes the more they realize that it is nutrients that make all the difference in terms of being healthy.  This should not come as a surprise to anyone, since our bodies evolved in the context of using nutrients to aid survival.  In the following sections I rank the top 10 nutrients of the year (don’t leave home without them).

#10 – Vitamin C

The grand daddy of the natural health movement took on a rejuvenated importance this year, partly due to all the immune-related concerns sparked by the potential problem of Swine Flu and partly because it was found capable of actually repairing DNA (as different from its vital role as an antioxidant).

Don’t Forget Vitamin C for Swine Flu Prevention
German researchers have now demonstrated that a baseline amount of beta-interferon must be active in order for competent immune recognition and response to any viral invader, which of course includes the swine flu (H1N1). One of the many immune roles of vitamin C is to enhance the production of beta-interferon.

Vitamin C Corrects Lesions in Skin, Boosts Repair
Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties are legendary, which is why the nutrient is often fraudulently attacked by researchers whose agenda is the dislike of natural health. New scientific tools are proving the absolute value of nutrition to assist health. It is often the case the nutrients do multiple things in addition to the well-recognized understanding of their basic function. The fact that vitamin C can repair DNA damage in skin is not a trivial new finding.

Low Vitamin C Impairs Early Brain Development
Researchers have found that low vitamin C in early life results in 30 per cent less hippocampal neurons and markedly worse spatial memory (animal study). The researchers demonstrated the vital importance of proper vitamin C levels, showing that even a slight lack can cause significant brain development problems.

Vitamin C and Lipoic Acid Protect Eyes
New research is the first to show that eye health, even when there is an existing eye problem, can be maintained through the use of antioxidant supplements.

#9 – Bioflavonoids – Grape Seed Extract & Quercetin

Bioflavonoids are the synergistic and powerful partners of vitamin C.  At the top of the list are the bioflavonoids of grape seed extract and quercetin.  Last year I reported on grape seed extract’s powerful cardio protection as well as the merging findings relating to stopping Alzheimer’s plaque.  This year grape seed extract research shows its power in multiple health areas and we learn that a consistent dose gets into your brain best.  An array of new research on quercetin propels it to the head of the bioflavonoid line, with significant help for immunity, metabolism, and nerves.

Consistent Intake of Grape Seed Extract is Best for Your Brain
A new study has demonstrated that consistent intake of grape seed extract is the best way to get it into your brain. The reason you want it in your brain is because it is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrient (modulating the gene signal NF-kappaB). It is being widely studied for the prevention and treatment of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.

Grape Seed Extract Restores Insulin Sensitivity
A powerful new study shows that grape seed extract turns back on gene signals that help insulin receptors work properly, a major discovery for any person concerned with their weight or diabetes.

Grapes Prevent Heart Damage
Grape seed extract works by multiple mechanisms to support your cardiovascular health. A new study shows that in addition to blood pressure lowering effects, grapes activate the key cellular antioxidant enzyme called glutathione – specifically resulting in less damage to the heart.

Grape Seed Extract Stops Leukemia Cells
A test tube study using grape seed extract found that it killed 76% of the leukemia cells within twenty-four hours. This is the first study to pinpoint the gene-related signaling system of grape seed extract. It was found to directly turn on signals in cancer cells that induced cell death.

Quercetin: A Rising Star for Nerves, Immunity, and Metabolism
Quercetin is a common flavonoid found in many fresh fruits and vegetables. It has been in widespread use in the dietary supplement industry for the past two decades due to its natural anti-histamine properties. New research is dramatically expanding our understanding of this nutrient, including its nervous system support, immune support, and weight management properties.

Quercetin – A Potent Sinus and Cell Antioxidant
Quercetin has long been regarded as the single best natural anti-histamine nutrient, and is widely used during the allergy season to help out with problems. A number of new studies continue to highlight quercetin’s powerful antioxidant activity.

Quercetin Inhibits the Formation of Colon Cancer
Thursday, February 05, 2009 – (Byron J. Richards, CCN)
A new animal study shows that quercetin is so successful at reducing inflammation in the GI tract that it is able to prevent changes in the digestive tract that lead to colon cancer.

#8 – Pantethine

Pantethine, the co-enzyme form of vitamin B5, supports the healthy function of so many enzymes involved with metabolism that it is truly an amazing nutrient.  This year new emphasis is added to its ability to help stimulate the production of new brain cells.

Pantethine – Boost Your Brain, Cardio Health, Metabolism, and Detoxification
Pantethine can dramatically change your health and improve your metabolism. Pantethine, like no other nutrient, directly fuels the production Co-Enzyme A (CoA). CoA is a pivotal energy-broker molecule in your metabolism, used in at least seventy metabolic pathways involved in the metabolism of fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, and amino acids. Pantethine helps you clear toxins, boost your adrenal gland function, elevate your mood, clear your head, and is a vital nutrient for the health and well being of your brain and cardiovascular system.

#7 – Magnesium

Magnesium is so lacking in the American diet that correcting this simple deficiency would cause health care costs to plummet.  Research this year confirms the importance of this nutrient in the prevention of heart disease and diabetes, as well as highlighting its stellar ability to quench inflammation.

Magnesium Deficiency Sets the Stage for Plaque in the Arteries
A new animal study shows that low levels of magnesium promotes plaque formation in the arteries. During the study period magnesium deficient animals developed significantly more plaque in their aortas.

Low Magnesium Impairs Fetal Growth & Promotes Insulin Resistance
Mothers low in magnesium are more likely to have a smaller baby, along with low levels of adiponectin that set the stage for future insulin resistance and risk for eventually developing type II diabetes.

Magnesium & Fiber Reduce Diabetes Risk
A Hawaiian study followed 75,512 men and women for 8 years tracking their fiber intake, magnesium intake, and the glycemic load of their diets to see who developed diabetes.

Magnesium – The Anti-Inflammatory Mineral
A new study of 3,713 postmenopausal women shows that magnesium is a powerful anti-inflammatory nutrient. Each 100 mg of magnesium per day was associated with a significant reduction in various inflammatory markers.

Magnesium Needed for Healthy Adiponectin Levels
A detailed study comparing the metabolism of twins, which analyzed their basic dietary nutrients, found that magnesium intake was the most important dietary variable that determined adiponectin levels.

#6 – Whey Protein

Fine quality whey protein is a true super food with multiple health benefits.

Which Whey to Go
In the world of dietary supplements and functional foods there are many choices in terms of product quality, and whey protein is no exception. This is especially true when a used-car sales pitch is used in an effort to make products look and sound far better than what is actually under the hood. While consumers should expect this from network marketing companies they are often taken aback when health professionals go out on a limb and push the envelope of truth.

Whey Protein at Breakfast Reduces Appetite
A new study confirms that having whey protein as part of your breakfast helps to reduce your appetite at lunch. The study compared the appetite effects of whey to soy protein and casein protein – and whey was superior.

Whey Protein Activates Bone Building
A cell study with whey protein shows that it activates the important bone building cells known as osteoblasts, in part by turning on gene signals important to bone building.

Whey Protein Enhances Fat Metabolism
A new study shows that whey protein, compared to fish, casein, and gluten proteins had a far superior ability to help reduce the amount of fat in the blood following a high fat meal.

Protein, Fiber, & Weight Loss – The Evidence Continues
It is very clear that getting enough protein and fiber are key fundamentals for anyone’s weight management efforts, especially as the months go by.

#5 – Colostrum

Bovine colostrum shows the power of Mother Nature to support immunity, a hot topic this year due to Swine Flu concerns.  Emerging science also supports its use as a metabolic assistant and interesting repair nutrient.

Bovine Colostrum: An Immune-Support Powerhouse
First milk colostrum is a nutritional tour-de-force. It contains nutrients required for metabolic activation as well as conferring immune system support to the untrained immune system of the newborn. The relative abundance of bovine colostrum has made it a popular source of nourishment in many countries around the world, especially helping to cut down on digestive infections. Bovine colostrum is documented to have many immune support nutrients, including sialylated oligosaccharides, substances known to act as viral decoys (a virus binds to it thinking it is a human cell to infect and is instead rendered inert). An array of new science supports the use of bovine colostrum as an immune support nutrient for any person of any age.

Bovine Colostrum and the Flu
Natural protection against bacterial and viral infection is required for the survival of humans. The undisputed powerhouse in this category is first milk colostrum, a mother’s gift of protection to the newborn child. It is clearly associated with fewer digestive and respiratory infections.

Colostrum, Digestive Immunity, and Digestive Repair
It appears that colostrum may be a major key to digestive health, not only protecting the digestive tract from nasty bacterial infections, but also reducing the toxicity of those infections and repairing the lining of the GI tract all at the same time – amazing!

Colostrum Improves Metabolism in Type II Diabetic Patients
First milk bovine colostrum is loaded with metabolically activating nutrients, including being the best dietary source of leptin available. In a study with 16 Type II diabetic patients it was found that taking bovine colostrum significantly lowered blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides – all important improvements in healthier metabolism.

#4 – Coenzyme Q10

In the 1990s Q10 was ushered in as a great anti-aging nutrient.  Today, the vital role of Q10 in human metabolism is undeniable.  Since the ability of your body to make Q10 declines with age and since your cells have no way to substitue for Q10 in cellular energy production it can readily be understood that a lack of Q10 increases the amount of fatigue and the rate of cell malfunction – features that are fundamental to every aspect of a person’s health (since cellular energy is needed for any cell to do anything).

Coenzyme Q10 – An Energizing Immune Support Nutrient
Coenzyme Q10 is required for any cell in your body to produce energy, helping to finish the final steps of ATP synthesis (ATP is cellular energy). Your immune system requires a tremendous amount of ATP to aggressively mount a defense against any invader. Your body cannot substitute something else for Q10. This means that if you don’t have enough Q10, then your energy production and an efficient immune response will be reduced accordingly.

Q10 Boosts Circulatory Health in Statin-Treated Diabetic Patients
Researchers have demonstrated that 200 mg per day of Q10 can improve circulatory health in diabetic patients being treated with statins. Statins are well known to deplete Q10 as an adverse side effect. The fact that supplemental Q10 actually improves blood flow in this very difficult patient population is a significant finding.

Taking Q10 for a Test Drive – Is Ubiquinol Better?
Recently consumers have been greatly confused over the type of Q10 that is best to take. A new form of Q10 called ubiquinol has entered the marketplace, a form that may offer some advantages for some people. However, several companies have been making unsubstantiated claims of superiority that appear driven more by sales than science, making consumers wonder if the Q10 they are taking is any good.

Q10 Boosts Energy, Nerves, Muscles, & Metabolism
Coenzyme Q10 was the first anti-aging superstar nutrient, hitting the consumer market in the 1970s. In more recent times Q10 has demonstrated a significant ability to help nerves and muscles. New science shows that in addition to its antioxidant role, it also helps to stabilize the key gene signal underlying inflammation, NF-kappaB. Collectively, these benefits will assist overall metabolism, including weight loss efforts.

Coenzyme Q10, Statins, and Heart Health
Coenzyme Q10 is a top cardio-friendly nutrient. Your heart has very high energy requirements and never gets to take any time off. Q10 is required for the proper production of energy at an optimal rate, around your body and specifically for your heart. If you lack it, you will be more tired and you will make free radicals instead of energy. If you lack Q10 within your heart it will speed up the aging process and weaken your heart.

#3 – Tocotrienols

The evidence supporting the incredible protective benefits of tocotrienols continues to mount.  While tocotrienols originally started out as a top cardiovascular support nutrient they are now showing their ability to significantly support many aspects important to health.

Tocotrienols Improve Insulin Function & Protect Kidneys
Diabetic patients have malfunctioning insulin and the longer their blood sugar remains elevated the more likely they are to experience deteriorating kidneys. Two new animal studies suggest that tocotrienols are a powerful tool to assist any person with blood sugar concerns.

Tocotrienol E Stops Kidney Damage from Diabetes
Kidney damage resulting from diabetes is a long term and common consequence of the problem. A new animal study shows that the tocotrienol form of vitamin E was able to stop the kidney damage by regulating inflammatory gene signals at the most fundamental level. This is further evidence that tocotrienols are far and away the most effective form of vitamin E.

Tocotrienols Offset Alcohol-Induced Nerve Damage
Excess alcohol consumption induces inflammatory damage to nerves resulting in cognitive dysfunction. A new study shows that the tocotrienol form of vitamin E is superior to plain d alpha tocopherol in reducing alcohol-induced nerve damage.

Gamma Tocotrienol Assists Bone Strength
A new study shows that vitamin E, and in particular the form known as gamma tocotrienol, helps build stronger bones with better biomechanical strength.

Gamma Tocotrienol in the War on Cancer
A flurry of recent studies demonstrates that gamma tocotrienol, a unique form of vitamin E, offers protection at the molecular level from a number of different types of cancer.

Tocotrienols Stop New Fat Cells from Forming
One of the great problems involved with being overweight is the extreme ease with which new fat cells form. A new study shows that alpha and gamma tocotrienol can help prevent baby fat cells from turning into adult fat cells.

Tocotrienols Kill Cancer Cells
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that gamma tocotrienol accumulates in cancer cells and delays tumor growth by promoting death signals to the cancer, based on new evidence from animal and cell studies.

#2 – Vitamin D

Vitamin D may be the most researched nutrient in the world – and it is one of the most deficient in the U.S. population especially in the winter.  Because it acts more like a key regulatory hormone than anything else, lacking in it has profound adverse effects on health.  You will continue to hear a great deal more about vitamin D in the years to come.

Breast Cancer Linked to Low Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps regulate so many genes that a deficiency has multiple and significant adverse effects, including increasing the risk for breast cancer. Researchers are now recommending that every woman with breast cancer be given large doses of vitamin D. Yes, it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Racing for a cure may not be as important as spending some time in the sun.

How Vitamin D Prevents Breast Cancer
It has been known for some time that vitamin D inhibits breast cancer cells and tumor growth. Scientists are now trying to understand how vitamin D works its magic. New research shows that vitamin D activates tumor suppressor gene activity, and that activity is supported in direct proportion to the amount of vitamin D.

Vitamin D Stops Plaque Build Up In Arteries
Scientists have now proven that a lack of vitamin D helps damaged cholesterol (oxidized cholesterol) form plaque and that adequate vitamin D stops damaged cholesterol from forming plaque. This should make it painfully clear that the “public health” advice of the American Cancer Society to use sun block and stay out of the sun has directly contributed to heart disease in a major way in America.

Can Vitamin D Help Prevent H1N1 Swine Flu from Spreading?
It seems simple enough to understand. A well person contracts swine flu from a sick person, who, once sick, passes it along to another. In the case of H1N1 swine flu, most of the population is not familiar with the virus, thus it has the potential to readily spread from sick to well. Sick people are supposed to quarantine themselves to prevent transmission. Everyone else is supposed to get a vaccine. One small problem – what if the sick people aren’t really the ones spreading the infection? At first glance that sounds preposterous. A second look may cause you to pause and ponder.

Low Vitamin D Linked to Obesity, Low HDL, and Increased Cardiovascular Risk
A brand new study shows that those low in vitamin D have a 31% likelihood of having full blown metabolic syndrome, whereas those adequate in vitamin D have only a 10% likelihood. Vitamin D is one important nutrient required for healthy metabolism of calories.

Seventy Percent of U.S. Children Lack Vitamin D
For the first time researchers looked into a large number of children (6000) from across the U.S. in an attempt to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this population. The results were shocking, a whopping 70%. This poses an immediate problem for flu-related immunity, a medium-range problem for obesity predisposition, and a long-term problem for future heart disease and cancer.

Overweight Postmenopausal Women are Low in Vitamin D
Vitamin D is emerging as an important metabolic nutrient, having a definite role in the health of stored fat – although that role has not yet been clearly defined. Nevertheless, a new study using x-ray absorptiometry measurements of total body and regional fat mass in overweight postmenopausal women without osteoporosis found that fat mass significantly increased as vitamin D levels declined.

Vitamin D Status Linked to Dieting Success
An interesting new study finds that a person’s vitamin D status entering a diet predicts the likelihood of success.

Vitamin D Reduces Bacterial Infections During Pregnancy
Bacterial vaginal infections are common and result in pregnancy complications. A new study shows that women with higher vitamin D levels are much less likely to have such infections. Infection levels declined in direct proportion to higher vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D Improves Cardiovascular Markers During Weight Loss
During a 12 month weight loss program individuals taking 3,320 IU of vitamin D per day (83 µg/d) significantly improved various parameters indicating better cardiovascular health.

Folic Acid and Vitamin D Help Allergies and Asthma
Two new studies help to show the power of nutrition to assist allergies and asthma. In one study people with higher levels of folic acid in their blood had had fewer IgE antibodies, fewer reported allergies, less wheezing and lower likelihood of asthma. In another study researchers found that lower blood levels of vitamin D in children were linked to allergy and asthma severity.

Low Vitamin D Sets the Stage for Inflammatory Decline
A recent study has shown that vitamin D levels in healthy women are inversely related to their amount of inflammatory TNFa. TNFa is a potent immune system signal that induces the inflammatory response. This information sheds light on the mechanism involved with how a lack of vitamin D leads to so many health problems.

Can Vitamin D Help Fibromyalgia Pain?
If you happen to be an individual who struggles with chronic pain, then some recent research findings by the Mayo Clinic will certainly interest you. Individuals low in vitamin D need twice as much narcotic pain medication to get the same level of relief compared to someone with adequate vitamin D status.

Vitamin D is Lacking in Americans, Elderly at Risk for Fractures
Two new vitamin D studies add to the now overwhelming body of vitamin D data that says Americans need more vitamin D to prevent fractures and live healthier and longer. The first study found that taking greater than 400 IU of vitamin D per day significantly reduced fractures in the elderly. The second study showed that during the past decade vitamin D levels had fallen by 6 points in American population.

Vitamin D Intake and Teen Weight Problems
Just about everyone knows that vitamin D is vital for your bones. A new study lends more support to the idea that a lack of vitamin D may also help set the stage for weight gain and obesity in teenagers.

#1 – DHA

The long chain essential fatty acid known as DHA continues to be of extreme importance to human health at all ages.  Amazing new research results for many health issues build on the thousands of existing studies.  Of course, there is a huge difference in quality DHA fish oil, compared to other products that are faking people out and trying to pretend to be better.  Consumer beware, you need a certain number of milligrams of DHA in your diet for optimal health benefits.

Quality Fish Oil
Over 1 billion people rely on fish as their primary source of protein. Additionally, certain types of fish are rich in the essential omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. These essential fatty acids are woefully lacking in the American diet. Health authorities around the world are recommending higher intake of fish oil for the prevention of heart disease. The question arises – what is quality fish oil?

DHA, Krill Oil & Green-Lipped Mussel – Which is Best?
DHA is the most biologically useful omega 3 fatty acid. Over the past year sellers of dietary supplements have promoted various forms of DHA-containing oils such as krill oil or green-lipped mussel as superior to DHA-containing fish oil. The purpose of this brief review is to set the record straight as well as explain the extreme value of DHA to your health.

Neptune Krill Oil Joins Forces with Bayer
By now most of you already know what I think about krill oil – drastically overpriced and over-hyped for the amount of omega 3 oil it contains.  Now we find that the primary producer of krill oil is joining forces with part of the evil empire – Bayer.  Neptune is teaming up with Bayer to produce an omega 3 krill oil drug – gag, gag, gag.

Lack of Omega 3 Fatty Acids Kills 84,000 Per Year
A new taxpayer-funded study by the Centers for Disease Control estimates that in 2005 obesity killed 216,000 people, another 191,000 lost their lives to laziness, and 84,000 died because they didn’t have enough omega 3 fatty acids in their diet.

DHA Stabilizes Carotid Artery Plaque
The plaque along the walls of arteries is itself a biologically active. If macrophages are cranking out inflammation then the plaque takes on various features associated with unstable plaque on the verge of coming loose and causing a stroke. A new study of human carotid artery plaque has found that those with the most unstable plaque have the least amount of DHA in the plaque.

DHA Improves Infant Intelligence
A controlled trial with DHA-fortified infant formula shows that DHA intake is likely to result in a more intelligent child.

DHA May Help Prevent Macular Degeneration
The omega 3 essential fatty acid known as DHA is intimately involved with eye health from a very early age and a number of epidemiologic studies have indicated that omega 3 oils may reduce the risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A new animal study by researchers at the National Eye Institute (NIH) sought to identify molecular mechanisms involved. The researchers showed that a diet high in omega 3 oils can significantly prevent and in some cases reverse the AMD-like lesions in their animal model.

DHA Helps Combat Cancer
A new animal experiment offers hope for many facing cancer. The research found that DHA had a specific anti-cancer effect on its own, as well as being able to boost the effectiveness of a cancer drug (cisplatin). Furthermore, DHA was able to stop the toxic kidney-related side effects of this cancer treatment.

Fish Oil Lowers Aggressive Prostate Cancer Risk by 63%
Researchers from the University of California San Francisco have demonstrated that fish oil can reduce the most serious form of prostate cancer by 63%. The researchers also found that in men with a weakness in the inflammatory COX2 gene, 500 mg of omega 3 fatty acids per day could compensate for the genetic weakness and reduce the risk of aggressive prostate cancer in this group of at risk men by 500%.

DHA Lowers Inflammation in Men with Metabolic Problems
Elevated triglycerides are an important independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and they also signify a significant problem with leptin resistance. Both problems have inflammation associated with them. A new study shows that in men with elevated triglycerides, 3000 mg of DHA per day is able to lower various inflammatory markers like CRP and IL6.

DHA Rejuvenates Aging Brain Cells
A new cell study sheds light on the importance of DHA for brain cell growth and rejuvenation. The study shows that DHA helps to turn on gene transcription factors for neural stem cells to grow. This data indicates how good nutrition can help to promote healthier brain function and offset the wear and tear of aging.

How Fish Oil Rescues Metabolism from Obesity
DHA in particular, and fish oil in general, have been shown to have a powerful influence on the health and well being of your stored fat, as well as other aspects of metabolism such as insulin resistance. In a new study working with the obese leptin-lacking mice, researchers demonstrated the precise novel ways in which fish oil can protect against obesity, even in an animal that has no choice but to become obese.

Fish Oil Reduces Depression in Middle-Age Women
A study of 120 women, ages 40 to 55, was undertaken to determine if fish oil could help the depression that is commonly associated with menopause and perimenopause. Over an 8-week period the symptoms of depression significantly improved in the fish oil consuming women, compared to those getting the placebo.

TOP TEN HEALTH SCANDALS OF 2009

By Byron J. Richards, CCN
December 29, 2009
NewsWithViews.com

2009 is another bumper crop year for health scandals, an unfortunate trend that shows no signs of improvement. To the contrary, consumers should do everything in their power to stay healthy as the Big Pharma-sponsored medical profession continues to induce millions of serious injuries and hundreds of thousands of deaths per year.

#10 – The Failure Empire: Bob Greene Rakes It In, Oprah Fails

The scene is comic: Bob Greene sitting next to Oprah on her TV show, kicking off the New Year, as Oprah tries to explain to her viewing audience why she gained forty pounds – again. Not once did she turn to Greene and say, “Bob, I guess your program is just a bit too hard to follow, something must be wrong with it.”

As 2009 comes to a close Oprah’s new plan didn’t seem to work for her – again.

#9 – Surprisingly High Cancer Risk from CT Scans

Isn’t it nice to know that the medical profession caused 29,000 future cases of cancer in 2007 from the CT scans it performed on patients (a great tool for future business). Think twice before falling for a heart scan ad you hear on the radio; the risk for a woman getting cancer from it is 1 in 270. These are some of the remarkable numbers coming from two new studies published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

#8 – Tamoxifen Shockingly Found to Cause Aggressive Breast Cancer

Long-term Tamoxifen use, as widely promoted by oncologists for women following breast cancer, turns out to increase the risk of highly aggressive hormone receptor-negative breast cancer by 440%. This means that while Tamoxifen reduces the risk for less invasive estrogen positive cancer by 60%, it is at the same time putting many women in extreme peril.

#7 – Neurontin and Lyrica are a Death Sentence for New Brain Synapses

Neurontin and its newer more potent version, Lyrica, are widely used for off-label indications that are an outright flagrant danger to the public. These blockbuster drugs were approved for use even though the FDA had no idea what they actually did in the brain. A shocking new study shows that they block the ability of new brain synapses from forming, drastically reducing the potential for rejuvenating brain plasticity – meaning that these drugs will cause brain decline faster than any substance known to mankind.

#6 – Scientists Document How Coumadin Increases Disease Risk

While doctors hand out Coumadin like candy, apparently because they have no idea how to get someone’s sticky blood to flow normally, patient’s livers were apparently not briefed on the strategy – an oversight that is likely to injure and speed the onset of age-associated disease. A new article in the prestigious American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reveals just how vital vitamin K function is to your health.

#5 – Antidepressants Linked to a 67% Increased Risk of Death

Researchers followed 136,000 postmenopausal women taking part in the Women’s Health Initiative and found that those who started taking antidepressants during the study had a 67% increased risk of death from any cause during the 6 year follow-up period of the study. They also had double the risk for a hemorrhagic stroke or a fatal stroke.

#4 – Researchers Document the Dangers of Statins

A new scientific review of the dangers of statin medications is the first official paper to shed light on what I have been saying for years. It reviews 900 studies on the adverse effects of statins. It shows beyond any doubt that statins are potent disrupters of normal energy production by cells – meaning that the drugs are anti-life.

The statin fraud is always a candidate for top scandal of the year, and is certainly the scandal of the decade.

#3 – 224,000 Americans Died From Poor Hospital Care from 2006 – 2008

Comparing the best hospitals in the country to the national average finds that there is a 52% lower risk of dying at the top-rated hospitals. When comparing the best to the worst that figure jumps to a 72% lower risk of dying in a top hospital. This discrepancy in care quality has been documented for the past decade and is not improving. We have 74,000 needless deaths a year due to inept care. Maybe health care reform should start in the hospitals.

#2 – How the FDA, Big Pharma, and Doctors Cause Injury for Profit

In some ways the health care in America is the finest in the world. In other ways it is a severe risk to health, even deadly. The dark side of this issue involves medication profits at the expense of human health. This questionable health care approach costs at least 200 billion dollars a year and involves the costs of the drugs themselves, the injuries they cause, and the appropriate law suits that follow. The perpetrators of this fraud are the pharmaceutical companies acting in tandem with the FDA, doctors paid under the table by Big Pharma, and gullible doctors willing to write off-label prescriptions based on the hype they hear from doctors on the take and Big Pharma sales reps.

#1 – Big Pharma Strikes Gold in the Name of Health Care Reform

Most of the above list of health scandals has to do with Big Pharma and doctors injuring and killing innocent Americans under the pretense of health care – and the list could easily be five times as long. Even last year health pundits warned President Obama that there were just too many medication scandals to attempt health care reform. Amazingly, but not surprisingly, the single most important topic regarding health care reform was absent from the national debate.

With its traditional Republican protection on the sidelines, Big Pharma should have rightfully been taken to the cleaners, along with a legion of doctors writing inappropriate prescriptions. It at least seemed certain that the long-standing Democrat objective of allowing drug re-importation to drive down ludicrous Big Pharma mark-ups would readily pass with Democrats firmly in control.

Instead, Big Pharma found it could buy the White House. The Obama administration teamed up with the very stench at the source of the problem for ever-expanding health care costs. Not only will Big Pharma be guaranteed many new customers at taxpayer expense, they were also able to lock in no generic competition to their incredibly expensive and even more dangerous bio-tech drugs. It is pretty obvious that money still buys anything in our nation’s capitol.

The following are four articles I wrote on the topic as the year moved along. No country could possibly afford the drug-dispensing priorities and agenda of Big Pharma. Many of the top executives of these companies belong in jail, not driving up the costs of American health care. It is little wonder that many Americans are fed up with almost all politicians on both sides of the aisle.

Is Obama Bailing Out Big Pharma’s Bursting Bubble?

Bubble economics has become a painful financial lesson for America and the rest of the world. Will we learn from our mistakes? Will we get smarter about recognizing bubbles before they burst, so that the air can be let out of them in a less painful manner? It appears that our new president, in his passion to provide health care for everyone, is about to pump hot air into a bubble that is ready to explode under the weight of its own fraud and lack of results.

Big Pharma & Friends Poised for Massive Profits from Health Care Reform

While Democrats shoot themselves in both feet trying to explain how their proposed health care reform will be able to contain costs over time, there is another much better organized group who is pushing very hard to get this legislation through and is poised for dramatic profits at the expense of the American taxpayer. That group is the lobbyists that represent Big Pharma, the American Medical Association, hospital groups, and insurance companies.

Big Pharma Teams with President Obama

Big Pharma has struck a deal with the White House – now Americans should really be concerned. Big Pharma will spend 150 million to 200 million during the August recess to run ads on TV to support the president’s struggling health care plan. That is chump change compared to the extra hundreds of billions Big Pharma plans to rake in over the next decade.