Adding a daily serving of mixed nuts to the traditional Mediterranean diet (which consists of whole grain cereals, vegetables, fruits and olive oil, a moderate intake of fish and alcohol and a low intake of dairy, meats and sweets) is a delicious, natural and effective way to treat metabolic syndrome in older adults who are at high risk for heart disease. That's the conclusion of research just published in the December issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association.
Metabolic syndrome, also known as "insulin resistance syndrome" or "syndrome X", is a set of metabolic abnormalities that includes being overweight, having high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood glucose levels. According to the American Diabetes Association, metabolic syndrome affects how the body burns calories and uses insulin (which helps the body use or store glucose from food). About one in five overweight people has metabolic syndrome -- and that places them at increased of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and early death. The new research suggests that adding daily nuts to the Mediterranean style of eating may have a beneficial impact on some of the more dangerous ways metabolic syndrome affects the body, including causing oxygen-related cell damage, resistance to the effects of insulin and chronic inflammation.
For the study, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Rovira i Virgili, Spain, and his team of researchers studied 1,224 participants between the ages of 55 and 80 in the PREDIMED (Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea) study who were at high risk for cardiovascular disease. The research subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group received instruction on eating a low-fat diet, another received quarterly education about the Mediterranean diet, which included 1 liter per week of virgin olive oil, and the third group was instructed on eating the Mediterranean diet plus 30 grams per day of mixed nuts.
At the beginning of the study, 61.4 percent of the participants were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. After a year, 409 participants in the Mediterranean diet plus olive oil group, 411 in the Mediterranean diet plus nuts group and 404 in the control group of low-fat diet advice were again examined for the health problem. The number of participants with metabolic syndrome decreased by 13.7 percent among those in the nut group, 6.7 percent in the olive oil group and only 2 percent in the control group.
Even though the research subjects' weight didn't vary much over the one-year period, the number of people with large waist circumference, high triglycerides or high blood pressure significantly decreased in the Mediterranean diet plus nuts group compared with the others. This suggests that some elements of the diet, principally the nuts, have beneficial effects on pathophysiological characteristics of metabolic syndrome. The Mediterranean diet itself is high in unsaturated fatty acids and the addition of nuts adds beneficial nutrients such as potassium, calcium and magnesium as well as fiber.
"Development of the metabolic syndrome depends on a complex interaction between still largely unknown genetic determinants and environmental factors, including dietary patterns," the authors of the study wrote. "Traditionally, dietary patterns recommended for health have been low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets, which generally are not palatable. The results of the present study show that a non–energy-restricted traditional Mediterranean diet enriched with nuts, which is high in fat, high in unsaturated fat and palatable, is a useful tool in managing the metabolic syndrome." A planned longer follow-up study of the PREDIMED research subjects may provide even more evidence eventually of the cardiovascular benefits of the Mediterranean style of eating, along with nuts.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Kitchen Medicine and Potent Anti-Inflammatory: Turmeric
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a semi-tropical rhizhome which has been popular in East Asian curried dishes and other forms of cuisine for many centuries. The plants look like small ginger roots. Most folks will buy Turmeric in powdered form, but if you get the fresh roots, peel away the outer skin and chop finely. Beware! This deeply pigmented kitchen medicine will stain cutting boards and clothing. It is actually the deep yellow-orange pigment, a bioflavonoid, which confers the health-promoting attributes of this marvelous root.
Turmeric first came on the US national scene as a medicinal substance a few years ago when the popular prescription anti-inflammatory Vioxx was pulled from the market because of an ominous trend towards causing increased heart attacks.
In the (Nov 2005) Newsweek article describing the downfall of Vioxx, there was some mention of Turmeric as a substitute anti-inflammatory. In fact, there have been some Italian studies which compared Vioxx and Turmeric head-to-head for anti-inflammatory power, and Turmeric
performed just as well, with no side-effects.
I prescribe Turmeric to my patients for many conditions, including acute inflammation (injuries or sprained ligaments), to help blood sugar control (along with cinnamon and Chromium picolinate), to reduce respiratory distress which accompanies asthma or hayfever, and for cancer patients wishing to minimize recurrences.
Oncologists, in particular, have taken an interest in Turmeric because they discovered, about a decade ago, that primary tumors (which can usually be cured, surgically) are much more likely to spread (metastasize) into compromised, or inflamed, tissues. In other words, when a primary tumor exists, it will secrete microscopic cancer cells into the general circulation.
If these cancer cells "seed" new tissue, then we have secondary growth of the cancer and the disease is now considered systemic. Treatment becomes much more complicated, and the prognosis for survival worsens. Oncologists are very interested in preventing metastatic disease, and therefore have taken to using anti-inflammatories in their patients, to reduce the chance of micro-metastases becoming established.
Healthy tissue is more likely to perform competently. The immune surveillance mechanism (white blood cell identification and destruction of pathogens – be they viruses, bacteria, indigestible food, or cancerous cells) remains viable in healthy tissue, by definition. Some speculate that the reason east India has relatively low cancer rates, despite terrible pollution problems, is that the general population eats a lot of turmeric, regularly.
Turmeric has a strong color, but the taste is fairly mild. I recommend ¼ tsp of the powder daily as a general anti-inflammatory maintenance strategy. Triple that amount for cancer patients. When I cook a 4-quart pot of soup or stew for my family, I put gobs (1/4 cup) of turmeric into the pot. You can also sprinkle it on your food or add it to a smoothie.
More recently, scientists have shown how Turmeric, in relatively small doses, can prevent, or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/104/31/12849 . This increasingly common and devastating form of dementia, is characterized by the build up of a type of plaque in the brain. AD patients are unable to clear beta-amyloid plaque, which accumulates in their brains. In July of 2007, researchers in the L.A. area affiliated with the Veteran's Hospital, published findings showing how turmeric increases clearance of beta-amyloid plaque in AD patients. The mechanism is stated as being increased genetic upregulation of the specific type of white blood cells (phagocytes) that will break down "foreign" material. Between 9 and 16 million Americans are projected to have AD by 2050 (Wall Street Journal 6/11/07).
Turmeric first came on the US national scene as a medicinal substance a few years ago when the popular prescription anti-inflammatory Vioxx was pulled from the market because of an ominous trend towards causing increased heart attacks.
In the (Nov 2005) Newsweek article describing the downfall of Vioxx, there was some mention of Turmeric as a substitute anti-inflammatory. In fact, there have been some Italian studies which compared Vioxx and Turmeric head-to-head for anti-inflammatory power, and Turmeric
performed just as well, with no side-effects.
I prescribe Turmeric to my patients for many conditions, including acute inflammation (injuries or sprained ligaments), to help blood sugar control (along with cinnamon and Chromium picolinate), to reduce respiratory distress which accompanies asthma or hayfever, and for cancer patients wishing to minimize recurrences.
Oncologists, in particular, have taken an interest in Turmeric because they discovered, about a decade ago, that primary tumors (which can usually be cured, surgically) are much more likely to spread (metastasize) into compromised, or inflamed, tissues. In other words, when a primary tumor exists, it will secrete microscopic cancer cells into the general circulation.
If these cancer cells "seed" new tissue, then we have secondary growth of the cancer and the disease is now considered systemic. Treatment becomes much more complicated, and the prognosis for survival worsens. Oncologists are very interested in preventing metastatic disease, and therefore have taken to using anti-inflammatories in their patients, to reduce the chance of micro-metastases becoming established.
Healthy tissue is more likely to perform competently. The immune surveillance mechanism (white blood cell identification and destruction of pathogens – be they viruses, bacteria, indigestible food, or cancerous cells) remains viable in healthy tissue, by definition. Some speculate that the reason east India has relatively low cancer rates, despite terrible pollution problems, is that the general population eats a lot of turmeric, regularly.
Turmeric has a strong color, but the taste is fairly mild. I recommend ¼ tsp of the powder daily as a general anti-inflammatory maintenance strategy. Triple that amount for cancer patients. When I cook a 4-quart pot of soup or stew for my family, I put gobs (1/4 cup) of turmeric into the pot. You can also sprinkle it on your food or add it to a smoothie.
More recently, scientists have shown how Turmeric, in relatively small doses, can prevent, or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/104/31/12849 . This increasingly common and devastating form of dementia, is characterized by the build up of a type of plaque in the brain. AD patients are unable to clear beta-amyloid plaque, which accumulates in their brains. In July of 2007, researchers in the L.A. area affiliated with the Veteran's Hospital, published findings showing how turmeric increases clearance of beta-amyloid plaque in AD patients. The mechanism is stated as being increased genetic upregulation of the specific type of white blood cells (phagocytes) that will break down "foreign" material. Between 9 and 16 million Americans are projected to have AD by 2050 (Wall Street Journal 6/11/07).
Turmeric extract shows strong anti-inflammatory effect in new study
Turmeric -- a spice most often found in curry dishes -- may help prevent rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, according to a study by University of Arizona researchers.
In a previous study, the researchers found that joint inflammation in rats was reduced by turmeric, and the latest study, published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, was formulated to determine exactly what in the turmeric was anti-inflammatory.
The scientists gathered extracts from the root of the turmeric plant, the rhizome, and compared them to commercially available turmeric products. An extract containing curcumin but free of essential oils was found to be the most effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in lab rats.
The researchers theorize that the extract causes the protein NF-KB -- which determines when genes are turned on or off, and increases the production of joint-attacking inflammatory proteins -- to remain dormant in joints. The extract also blocked a pathway in the body that had previously been linked to bone loss, which led researchers to believe it could also be used to treat osteoporosis. Lead researcher Dr. Janet Funk and her colleagues suggested that turmeric extract might also be useful in treating other inflammatory conditions such as asthma, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.
The researchers said that while new drugs may be developed from the information, eating more of the spice is unlikely to have an effect. They added that more clinical trials would be needed before they could recommend turmeric supplements as a treatment for anything.
Professor Robert Moots, professor of rheumatology at Liverpool University, U.K. and spokesman for the Arthritis Research Campaign, agreed.
"It will come as no surprise if naturally occurring compounds have a drug-like effect," he said. "I do not think there is any evidence that countries that eat a lot of turmeric have a lower frequency of rheumatoid arthritis. So simply eating more spices is not likely to be effective clinically."
"The findings are interesting but should be interpreted with some caution at this stage," said Dr. Anne Barton, senior lecturer and honorary consultant rheumatologist at the University of Manchester, U.K. "Results of tests in animal models of arthritis are not always reproduced in human rheumatoid arthritis."
For more information on the effects of foods and spices such as turmeric on health, visit
In a previous study, the researchers found that joint inflammation in rats was reduced by turmeric, and the latest study, published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, was formulated to determine exactly what in the turmeric was anti-inflammatory.
The scientists gathered extracts from the root of the turmeric plant, the rhizome, and compared them to commercially available turmeric products. An extract containing curcumin but free of essential oils was found to be the most effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in lab rats.
The researchers theorize that the extract causes the protein NF-KB -- which determines when genes are turned on or off, and increases the production of joint-attacking inflammatory proteins -- to remain dormant in joints. The extract also blocked a pathway in the body that had previously been linked to bone loss, which led researchers to believe it could also be used to treat osteoporosis. Lead researcher Dr. Janet Funk and her colleagues suggested that turmeric extract might also be useful in treating other inflammatory conditions such as asthma, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.
The researchers said that while new drugs may be developed from the information, eating more of the spice is unlikely to have an effect. They added that more clinical trials would be needed before they could recommend turmeric supplements as a treatment for anything.
Professor Robert Moots, professor of rheumatology at Liverpool University, U.K. and spokesman for the Arthritis Research Campaign, agreed.
"It will come as no surprise if naturally occurring compounds have a drug-like effect," he said. "I do not think there is any evidence that countries that eat a lot of turmeric have a lower frequency of rheumatoid arthritis. So simply eating more spices is not likely to be effective clinically."
"The findings are interesting but should be interpreted with some caution at this stage," said Dr. Anne Barton, senior lecturer and honorary consultant rheumatologist at the University of Manchester, U.K. "Results of tests in animal models of arthritis are not always reproduced in human rheumatoid arthritis."
For more information on the effects of foods and spices such as turmeric on health, visit
Cigarettes, Lies, and Pet Food Advertising
It's difficult to imagine that cigarettes and lies have any connection with pet food -- but when you look closely at the advertising tactics of some pet foods, look closely at the ingredients in those pet foods -- you'll find cigarettes, lies, and pet food fits perfectly together.
To give you an example of the connection, we're looking closely at an extremely popular cat food, sold in every grocery across the country. The pet food manufacturer is one of the most popular and largest producers of pet food, selling cat and dog foods all over the world. I can't give you the pet food name, so I've made up a name and I've change some of the wording from the information provided on the pet food bag. But, and this is a really big but(t), the ingredients provided below are the actual ingredients of the real cat food. And dog owners -- the same tricks apply to dog food.
I'm using the pretend pet food name of 'Yummy Good - Super Seafood Dry Cat Food' instead of the actual cat food name. Just like many pet foods, on the front of the Yummy Good Super Seafood Cat Food bag is a photo of the most beautiful cat you've ever seen -- his coat almost glows in the picture. Bright big eyes, mischievous face -- this cat looks like the picture of health. Your eyes are instinctively drawn to the picture. Right above it you notice the pet food name, Yummy Good, with a big red heart next to it. The 'yummy' and the heart leads you to believe this cat food not only tastes good, but somehow you are providing love by feeding it. Under the beautiful cat picture you notice 'Super Seafood with Ocean Fish, Albacore Tuna, Salmon, and Crab Flavors'. And you think 'wow, look at all the fish in this cat food... it's so healthy!' To seal the deal, you read "100% Complete Nutrition" and "with Healthy Omega's".
'This has got to be a great food for my cat... all those different kinds of fish, complete nutrition, omega's, and it's named Yummy!' You pull the bag of Yummy Good Super Seafood from the shelf, and being a good pet parent, you read a little more about it on the back of the bag. You read that this food offers 'Healthy Skin and Coat promoted by Omega Essential Oils', 'Clear Healthy Vision supported by vitamins and minerals', 'Healthy Immune System supported by Complete Nutrition' and 'Strong, Lean Muscles supported by High Quality Protein'. Sold! 'Wow my cat is gonna love me for this!'
While you might think you discovered this cat food by a natural shopping process, it's actually an expertly scripted sale. It's exactly how most pet owners decide on a brand of cat or dog food, unknowing participants in the consumer/pet food sales process. Pet owners are precisely led down an expertly scripted path –- inadvertently purchasing and feeding their pets popular brands of cat or dog foods assuming the best of nutrition is being provided to their pet.
So now let's look at the actual ingredients of one of the most popular cat foods in the U.S. -- the pet food I re-named Yummy Good Super Seafood. First, you should know that ingredients listed on pet food labels are listed by pre-cooking weight -- heaviest to lightest. So by pre-cooking weight, the first five or so ingredients are the heaviest and make up the majority of the food. Knowing that, here are the first five ingredients of a real cat food sold in grocery stores all over the U.S. that I've changed the name to Yummy Good Super Seafood Cat Food: "Ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, meat and bone meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E)".
* 'Ground yellow corn' is the first ingredient -- no seafood there and corn has little to no nutritional value to cats or dogs.
* 'Corn gluten meal' is the second ingredient -- gluten is often used as a binder or thickener for pet foods. No seafood again and no nutritional value to the pet.
* 'Poultry by-product meal' is the third ingredient... hmmm, still no seafood. By-products are animal pieces that are considered unsuitable for human consumption, sort of the garbage of the meat processing industry. Poultry by-products consist of animal pieces like chicken feet and turkey heads, providing little to no nutritional value to the pet.
* 'Meat and bone meal' is the fourth ingredient. What? Still no seafood? Meat and bone meal, if you can imagine it, is an even worse pet food ingredient than by-products. This ingredient is the garbage from anything and everything animal -- things like euthanized sick animals, diseased animal tissue, or even expired grocery store meat. As you can guess, it provides little to no nutritional value to the pet (cat or dog).
* And our fifth ingredient is 'animal fat preserved with mixed tocopherols'. When chicken feet, turkey heads, cow intestines and expired grocery store meat are cooked (in the pet food industry it's called rendered), the fat that rises to the top becomes the pet food ingredient animal fat. The pet owner (and even the pet food manufacturer) has no idea what types of animals the fat comes from and worse yet, this common pet food ingredient has been determined by the FDA to be most likely to contain pentobarbital (the drug used to euthanize animals). In other words, you can pretty much assume that the pet food ingredient animal fat contains euthanized animals and the drug used to end their life. Again, no seafood and little to no nutritional value to the pet.
This is perplexing -- the majority of an actual cat food (the first five ingredients) that I renamed Yummy Good Super Seafood -- contains no seafood. Surely the next five ingredients will be the 'good stuff'. Well, let's see... here are the next five actual ingredients of a popular cat food with Seafood in the name: "soybean meal, animal liver flavor, phosphoric acid, calcium carbonate, salt". Still no seafood. Actually, still no quality nutrition provided to cats in ten ingredients! The first ten ingredients make up a huge majority of a pet food, a guesstimate with this cat food would be around 85%. So the largest majority of an extremely popular cat food I've re-named Yummy Good Super Seafood Cat Food contains no seafood and provides little to no nutrition to a cat. It isn't until the twelfth ingredient on the list that we find what the name implies -- seafood -- and that's right before the artificial coloring of the cat food.
Think about that just for a moment. Think about the weight of the food coloring you use when you color Easter eggs. The couple of drops of coloring you put into the water -- think about how much those couple of drops of food coloring weigh. Now imagine a piece of salmon or Albacore Tuna that weighs just slightly more than a couple of drops of food coloring. That's how much seafood is in this bag of cat food.
Amazing huh? And remember, these are the actual ingredients of a cat food that is sold in every grocery store across the country, a pet food that I assure you would be recognized by every U.S. pet owner. A cat food that touts Seafood in the name, containing probably far less than one small piece of Albacore Tuna or Salmon in a ton or more of cat food. A pet food that claims 'Healthy Immune System supported by Complete Nutrition' and 'Strong, Lean Muscles supported by High Quality Protein', when actually there is only a sliver of high quality protein/nutrition in the food.
As surprising as it might be, this is all perfectly legal and common practice in the pet food and pet treat industry. It's simply advertising. The existing rules of the pet food industry allow "unqualified claims, either directly or indirectly" on pet food labels. Misleading yes, but it's nothing new to advertising.
Twenty or so years ago, the tobacco industry sold pretty much the same story to consumers. Similar to this pet food claiming 'Ocean Fish, Albacore Tuna, Salmon, and Crab Flavors', Camel Cigarettes for example had slogans such as 'Slow down - Pleasure up', 'More Doctors Smoke Camels than any other cigarette', and 'For Digestion's Sake – Smoke Camels'.
The tobacco industry got caught at their game, but the pet food industry continues on, following some of the exact steps that worked so perfectly for cigarettes. Former effective tobacco marketing techniques such as continuity programs rewarding tobacco loyal consumers with 'Camel Cash' and 'Marlboro Miles' to exchange for coupons or brand wear t-shirts and hats is commonplace today with pet product consumers. To build a stronger bond with smokers, tobacco companies sponsored sporting and entertainment events. Pet Food Industries have taken that one step further. Not only is every major pet event attached to a pet food name (marketing by association to the best dogs or cats in the country to a particular brand of pet food), but almost every veterinarian graduating in the last twenty or so years has been affected by pet food corporate marketing. Veterinary students up to present day at almost every veterinary college in the U.S. are commonly taught dog and cat nutrition by pet food manufacturers -- nutrition classes based on what each manufacturer wants them to know, not pet nutrition based on unbiased science and research. Twenty years ago this would be similar to R.J. Reynolds employees teaching third year medical students respiratory function classes.
Pet food has even joined the TV game show world. Auditions have already begun for the 'Meow Mix Game Show' set to air on Game Show Network in November 2008. It's known as "branded entertainment"; an advertising tactic that has been commonly utilized for many years.
Twenty plus years ago tobacco advertising monies also controlled the media. Numerous behind-closed-door meetings have been reported between major television, radio, and print media with tobacco representatives pointing out that bad 'press' would be frowned upon and tobacco would consider removing the millions of advertising dollars provided to the media companies should bad press stories be published. For years, these tactics prevented consumers from knowing the truth about tobacco risks. Today, we can only assume the media's blind eye to rendered euthanized animals and dangerous chemical preservatives being common to many pet foods is due to the same strong arm tactics. The pet food Industry's million dollar plus advertising budgets provided by pet food high profits (a 'seafood' cat food made with corn and by-products provides a great deal more profit than a 'seafood' cat food made with real seafood) continue to keep pet owners in the dark.
How much of an impact does pet food advertising have? In 1989 a Surgeon General's report regarding the impact of cigarette advertising stated "familiarity of tobacco advertising and promotion may contribute to an environment in which tobacco use is perceived by users to be socially acceptable, or at least less socially objectionable and less hazardous than it is in fact." Study after study has proven Cigarette advertisements capitalize on the consumers' misperception of risk factors associated with smoking. In fact, the many studies of tobacco advertising effects on consumers resulted in the eventual end of tobacco advertising.
No one knows the true impact pet food advertising has on the health of pets. No study has ever been done. But using the example provided above -- with one of the most popular cat foods in the country, a cat food that touts 'Seafood' in the name and blazons 'Ocean Fish, Albacore Tuna, Salmon, and Crab Flavors' across the label (and knowing that this cat food has an unimaginable tiny amount of seafood actually in it) -- you can guess the effects on a cat's health. It was proven with cigarettes the power of advertising and it's basically proven with pet food when such an inferior cat food is a leader in national cat food sales. Familiarity of pet food advertising and promotion surely seems to contribute to an environment that these pet foods are perceived as healthy and premium.
Cigarette smokers today at the very least are informed; they make their smoking or non-smoking decisions based on science, not manipulating advertising. Pet owners are not provided the same privilege. Pet owners continue to unknowingly purchase cat and dog foods whose ingredients cannot match the advertising claims. Remember that even if the pet food label says Yummy or Seafood or even Super, the ingredient list might tell a completely different story. The front of a bag or can of pet food is just marketing, it in no way gives a "petsumer" enough information and/or sound information to judge the actual quality of nutrition that is provided to the pet in the food.
Until misleading pet food advertising is outlawed just as cigarette advertising was, pet owners must read the ingredient list, understand a few common pet food ingredient definitions, and ask a few questions of the pet food manufacturer. Briefly, look for cat and dog foods that contain no 'by-products', no 'meat and bone meal', no 'animal fat', and very little mention of grains (corn, wheat, or soy). Call the manufacturer and ask if any ingredients originate outside the U.S. (avoid pet foods that utilize Chinese imports) and get an assurance that the meat quality is a human grade. There are many quality pet foods out there, pet owners have to look a little further, but the reward to your pet's health far outweighs
To give you an example of the connection, we're looking closely at an extremely popular cat food, sold in every grocery across the country. The pet food manufacturer is one of the most popular and largest producers of pet food, selling cat and dog foods all over the world. I can't give you the pet food name, so I've made up a name and I've change some of the wording from the information provided on the pet food bag. But, and this is a really big but(t), the ingredients provided below are the actual ingredients of the real cat food. And dog owners -- the same tricks apply to dog food.
I'm using the pretend pet food name of 'Yummy Good - Super Seafood Dry Cat Food' instead of the actual cat food name. Just like many pet foods, on the front of the Yummy Good Super Seafood Cat Food bag is a photo of the most beautiful cat you've ever seen -- his coat almost glows in the picture. Bright big eyes, mischievous face -- this cat looks like the picture of health. Your eyes are instinctively drawn to the picture. Right above it you notice the pet food name, Yummy Good, with a big red heart next to it. The 'yummy' and the heart leads you to believe this cat food not only tastes good, but somehow you are providing love by feeding it. Under the beautiful cat picture you notice 'Super Seafood with Ocean Fish, Albacore Tuna, Salmon, and Crab Flavors'. And you think 'wow, look at all the fish in this cat food... it's so healthy!' To seal the deal, you read "100% Complete Nutrition" and "with Healthy Omega's".
'This has got to be a great food for my cat... all those different kinds of fish, complete nutrition, omega's, and it's named Yummy!' You pull the bag of Yummy Good Super Seafood from the shelf, and being a good pet parent, you read a little more about it on the back of the bag. You read that this food offers 'Healthy Skin and Coat promoted by Omega Essential Oils', 'Clear Healthy Vision supported by vitamins and minerals', 'Healthy Immune System supported by Complete Nutrition' and 'Strong, Lean Muscles supported by High Quality Protein'. Sold! 'Wow my cat is gonna love me for this!'
While you might think you discovered this cat food by a natural shopping process, it's actually an expertly scripted sale. It's exactly how most pet owners decide on a brand of cat or dog food, unknowing participants in the consumer/pet food sales process. Pet owners are precisely led down an expertly scripted path –- inadvertently purchasing and feeding their pets popular brands of cat or dog foods assuming the best of nutrition is being provided to their pet.
So now let's look at the actual ingredients of one of the most popular cat foods in the U.S. -- the pet food I re-named Yummy Good Super Seafood. First, you should know that ingredients listed on pet food labels are listed by pre-cooking weight -- heaviest to lightest. So by pre-cooking weight, the first five or so ingredients are the heaviest and make up the majority of the food. Knowing that, here are the first five ingredients of a real cat food sold in grocery stores all over the U.S. that I've changed the name to Yummy Good Super Seafood Cat Food: "Ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, meat and bone meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E)".
* 'Ground yellow corn' is the first ingredient -- no seafood there and corn has little to no nutritional value to cats or dogs.
* 'Corn gluten meal' is the second ingredient -- gluten is often used as a binder or thickener for pet foods. No seafood again and no nutritional value to the pet.
* 'Poultry by-product meal' is the third ingredient... hmmm, still no seafood. By-products are animal pieces that are considered unsuitable for human consumption, sort of the garbage of the meat processing industry. Poultry by-products consist of animal pieces like chicken feet and turkey heads, providing little to no nutritional value to the pet.
* 'Meat and bone meal' is the fourth ingredient. What? Still no seafood? Meat and bone meal, if you can imagine it, is an even worse pet food ingredient than by-products. This ingredient is the garbage from anything and everything animal -- things like euthanized sick animals, diseased animal tissue, or even expired grocery store meat. As you can guess, it provides little to no nutritional value to the pet (cat or dog).
* And our fifth ingredient is 'animal fat preserved with mixed tocopherols'. When chicken feet, turkey heads, cow intestines and expired grocery store meat are cooked (in the pet food industry it's called rendered), the fat that rises to the top becomes the pet food ingredient animal fat. The pet owner (and even the pet food manufacturer) has no idea what types of animals the fat comes from and worse yet, this common pet food ingredient has been determined by the FDA to be most likely to contain pentobarbital (the drug used to euthanize animals). In other words, you can pretty much assume that the pet food ingredient animal fat contains euthanized animals and the drug used to end their life. Again, no seafood and little to no nutritional value to the pet.
This is perplexing -- the majority of an actual cat food (the first five ingredients) that I renamed Yummy Good Super Seafood -- contains no seafood. Surely the next five ingredients will be the 'good stuff'. Well, let's see... here are the next five actual ingredients of a popular cat food with Seafood in the name: "soybean meal, animal liver flavor, phosphoric acid, calcium carbonate, salt". Still no seafood. Actually, still no quality nutrition provided to cats in ten ingredients! The first ten ingredients make up a huge majority of a pet food, a guesstimate with this cat food would be around 85%. So the largest majority of an extremely popular cat food I've re-named Yummy Good Super Seafood Cat Food contains no seafood and provides little to no nutrition to a cat. It isn't until the twelfth ingredient on the list that we find what the name implies -- seafood -- and that's right before the artificial coloring of the cat food.
Think about that just for a moment. Think about the weight of the food coloring you use when you color Easter eggs. The couple of drops of coloring you put into the water -- think about how much those couple of drops of food coloring weigh. Now imagine a piece of salmon or Albacore Tuna that weighs just slightly more than a couple of drops of food coloring. That's how much seafood is in this bag of cat food.
Amazing huh? And remember, these are the actual ingredients of a cat food that is sold in every grocery store across the country, a pet food that I assure you would be recognized by every U.S. pet owner. A cat food that touts Seafood in the name, containing probably far less than one small piece of Albacore Tuna or Salmon in a ton or more of cat food. A pet food that claims 'Healthy Immune System supported by Complete Nutrition' and 'Strong, Lean Muscles supported by High Quality Protein', when actually there is only a sliver of high quality protein/nutrition in the food.
As surprising as it might be, this is all perfectly legal and common practice in the pet food and pet treat industry. It's simply advertising. The existing rules of the pet food industry allow "unqualified claims, either directly or indirectly" on pet food labels. Misleading yes, but it's nothing new to advertising.
Twenty or so years ago, the tobacco industry sold pretty much the same story to consumers. Similar to this pet food claiming 'Ocean Fish, Albacore Tuna, Salmon, and Crab Flavors', Camel Cigarettes for example had slogans such as 'Slow down - Pleasure up', 'More Doctors Smoke Camels than any other cigarette', and 'For Digestion's Sake – Smoke Camels'.
The tobacco industry got caught at their game, but the pet food industry continues on, following some of the exact steps that worked so perfectly for cigarettes. Former effective tobacco marketing techniques such as continuity programs rewarding tobacco loyal consumers with 'Camel Cash' and 'Marlboro Miles' to exchange for coupons or brand wear t-shirts and hats is commonplace today with pet product consumers. To build a stronger bond with smokers, tobacco companies sponsored sporting and entertainment events. Pet Food Industries have taken that one step further. Not only is every major pet event attached to a pet food name (marketing by association to the best dogs or cats in the country to a particular brand of pet food), but almost every veterinarian graduating in the last twenty or so years has been affected by pet food corporate marketing. Veterinary students up to present day at almost every veterinary college in the U.S. are commonly taught dog and cat nutrition by pet food manufacturers -- nutrition classes based on what each manufacturer wants them to know, not pet nutrition based on unbiased science and research. Twenty years ago this would be similar to R.J. Reynolds employees teaching third year medical students respiratory function classes.
Pet food has even joined the TV game show world. Auditions have already begun for the 'Meow Mix Game Show' set to air on Game Show Network in November 2008. It's known as "branded entertainment"; an advertising tactic that has been commonly utilized for many years.
Twenty plus years ago tobacco advertising monies also controlled the media. Numerous behind-closed-door meetings have been reported between major television, radio, and print media with tobacco representatives pointing out that bad 'press' would be frowned upon and tobacco would consider removing the millions of advertising dollars provided to the media companies should bad press stories be published. For years, these tactics prevented consumers from knowing the truth about tobacco risks. Today, we can only assume the media's blind eye to rendered euthanized animals and dangerous chemical preservatives being common to many pet foods is due to the same strong arm tactics. The pet food Industry's million dollar plus advertising budgets provided by pet food high profits (a 'seafood' cat food made with corn and by-products provides a great deal more profit than a 'seafood' cat food made with real seafood) continue to keep pet owners in the dark.
How much of an impact does pet food advertising have? In 1989 a Surgeon General's report regarding the impact of cigarette advertising stated "familiarity of tobacco advertising and promotion may contribute to an environment in which tobacco use is perceived by users to be socially acceptable, or at least less socially objectionable and less hazardous than it is in fact." Study after study has proven Cigarette advertisements capitalize on the consumers' misperception of risk factors associated with smoking. In fact, the many studies of tobacco advertising effects on consumers resulted in the eventual end of tobacco advertising.
No one knows the true impact pet food advertising has on the health of pets. No study has ever been done. But using the example provided above -- with one of the most popular cat foods in the country, a cat food that touts 'Seafood' in the name and blazons 'Ocean Fish, Albacore Tuna, Salmon, and Crab Flavors' across the label (and knowing that this cat food has an unimaginable tiny amount of seafood actually in it) -- you can guess the effects on a cat's health. It was proven with cigarettes the power of advertising and it's basically proven with pet food when such an inferior cat food is a leader in national cat food sales. Familiarity of pet food advertising and promotion surely seems to contribute to an environment that these pet foods are perceived as healthy and premium.
Cigarette smokers today at the very least are informed; they make their smoking or non-smoking decisions based on science, not manipulating advertising. Pet owners are not provided the same privilege. Pet owners continue to unknowingly purchase cat and dog foods whose ingredients cannot match the advertising claims. Remember that even if the pet food label says Yummy or Seafood or even Super, the ingredient list might tell a completely different story. The front of a bag or can of pet food is just marketing, it in no way gives a "petsumer" enough information and/or sound information to judge the actual quality of nutrition that is provided to the pet in the food.
Until misleading pet food advertising is outlawed just as cigarette advertising was, pet owners must read the ingredient list, understand a few common pet food ingredient definitions, and ask a few questions of the pet food manufacturer. Briefly, look for cat and dog foods that contain no 'by-products', no 'meat and bone meal', no 'animal fat', and very little mention of grains (corn, wheat, or soy). Call the manufacturer and ask if any ingredients originate outside the U.S. (avoid pet foods that utilize Chinese imports) and get an assurance that the meat quality is a human grade. There are many quality pet foods out there, pet owners have to look a little further, but the reward to your pet's health far outweighs
New herbal supplement product uses green tea and cinnamon for controlling diabetes
There's a new nutritional supplement available for people suffering from Type 2 diabetes. It's called The Body Rejuvenator, marketed by Lafayette Miracle Solutions. Now, I'm not familiar with this company, nor have I tried this product. I'm discussing it here because it contains two key ingredients -- green tea extract and cinnamon -- and I'm interested in exploring how these two ingredients can help diabetics, and what the big picture is in terms of taking nutritional supplements if you are a diabetic.
The first thing to realize is that nutritional supplements can very successfully control blood sugar in diabetics. Both green tea and cinnamon are well-known to help control blood sugar so that you don't have such wild blood sugar swings (and potentially don't need as much insulin either). Also, there are many other benefits documented from taking both green tea and cinnamon. Green tea is noted for its anti-cancer effects, as well as its ability to aid in weight-loss, which is something that diabetics are typically concerned with. However, one concern of mine is that green tea usually contains caffeine, and caffeine, as we know, is contraindicated for diabetics. Accordingly, my advice is that green tea supplementation be limited if you are diabetic so that you don't end up overdosing on caffeine and throwing your blood sugar out of whack.
Aside from the fact that these nutritional and herbal supplements can help stabilize blood sugar, there's a bigger question of whether diabetics should be using these sorts of nutritional supplements to help control their blood sugar in the first place. As much as I believe in nutritional supplements and the power of medicinal herbs to help people with diseases like diabetes and cancer, I think there is also a danger of using them as a crutch and ultimately relying on these healing herbs rather than making lifestyle changes that will reverse the diabetic condition in the first place.
Or, stated another way, most people who are diabetic attained that state of health by following a lifestyle that promotes diabetes. This sort of lifestyle includes consuming soft drinks and lots of foods with sugars and refined carbohydrates. It's typically a lifestyle of exercise avoidance and avoidance of strength training. People who are diabetic also tend to be overweight. They tend to eat at fast-food restaurants and consume foods that promote obesity. Most of these people also continue to pursue this lifestyle even while they are diabetic. In other words, once they are diagnosed with diabetes, they very rarely change these habits: they continue to consume soft drinks, refined white sugar, products made with white flour, such as bread, and they continue to avoid physical exercise.
In this scenario, consuming one or two doses of green tea extract and cinnamon is not really going to do you much good. The product may be perfectly effective as claimed, but there's no way that one nutritional supplement can counteract an extremely toxic lifestyle that promotes diabetes, weight gain, and other chronic diseases. So, for diabetic patients who are considering nutritional supplements like this one, I would say that, yes, it's good to pursue supplements that help stabilize your blood sugar, but it's far more important to alter your lifestyle and stop following the habits that made you diabetic in the first place. If you do both, together -- that is, if you alter your lifestyle and start choosing healthful foods while engaging in regular physical exercise -- and start taking these nutritional supplements at the same time, you will be far healthier than doing either one alone. It is only in combination that these complementary therapies really make sense.
The bottom line is that you should never rely on these products to take over your responsibility for leading a healthy lifestyle in the first place. However, if you make changes and begin to pursue a healthy lifestyle, then adding these products to your list of strategies for preventing and even reversing diabetes is perfectly justified.
The first thing to realize is that nutritional supplements can very successfully control blood sugar in diabetics. Both green tea and cinnamon are well-known to help control blood sugar so that you don't have such wild blood sugar swings (and potentially don't need as much insulin either). Also, there are many other benefits documented from taking both green tea and cinnamon. Green tea is noted for its anti-cancer effects, as well as its ability to aid in weight-loss, which is something that diabetics are typically concerned with. However, one concern of mine is that green tea usually contains caffeine, and caffeine, as we know, is contraindicated for diabetics. Accordingly, my advice is that green tea supplementation be limited if you are diabetic so that you don't end up overdosing on caffeine and throwing your blood sugar out of whack.
Aside from the fact that these nutritional and herbal supplements can help stabilize blood sugar, there's a bigger question of whether diabetics should be using these sorts of nutritional supplements to help control their blood sugar in the first place. As much as I believe in nutritional supplements and the power of medicinal herbs to help people with diseases like diabetes and cancer, I think there is also a danger of using them as a crutch and ultimately relying on these healing herbs rather than making lifestyle changes that will reverse the diabetic condition in the first place.
Or, stated another way, most people who are diabetic attained that state of health by following a lifestyle that promotes diabetes. This sort of lifestyle includes consuming soft drinks and lots of foods with sugars and refined carbohydrates. It's typically a lifestyle of exercise avoidance and avoidance of strength training. People who are diabetic also tend to be overweight. They tend to eat at fast-food restaurants and consume foods that promote obesity. Most of these people also continue to pursue this lifestyle even while they are diabetic. In other words, once they are diagnosed with diabetes, they very rarely change these habits: they continue to consume soft drinks, refined white sugar, products made with white flour, such as bread, and they continue to avoid physical exercise.
In this scenario, consuming one or two doses of green tea extract and cinnamon is not really going to do you much good. The product may be perfectly effective as claimed, but there's no way that one nutritional supplement can counteract an extremely toxic lifestyle that promotes diabetes, weight gain, and other chronic diseases. So, for diabetic patients who are considering nutritional supplements like this one, I would say that, yes, it's good to pursue supplements that help stabilize your blood sugar, but it's far more important to alter your lifestyle and stop following the habits that made you diabetic in the first place. If you do both, together -- that is, if you alter your lifestyle and start choosing healthful foods while engaging in regular physical exercise -- and start taking these nutritional supplements at the same time, you will be far healthier than doing either one alone. It is only in combination that these complementary therapies really make sense.
The bottom line is that you should never rely on these products to take over your responsibility for leading a healthy lifestyle in the first place. However, if you make changes and begin to pursue a healthy lifestyle, then adding these products to your list of strategies for preventing and even reversing diabetes is perfectly justified.
Green Tea and Breast Cancer Prevention: What the Experts Say
How effective is green tea at preventing, reversing or treating breast cancer? And can green tea help improve the outcome of chemotherapy for patients who choose chemical poisons as their treatment of choice?
I searched through my library of natural health books and found the following quotes on breast cancer and green tea. They reveal the remarkable health benefits of green tea and its notable phytochemicals (EGCG).
Feel free to use these quotes with proper credit to both the original book author and NaturalNews.com for publishing this unique compilation. You may also be interested in purchasing the full books quoted below (Amazon.com links are provided).
The Experts Speak on Green Tea and Breast Cancer
Green tea is the most popular tea in China and Japan, where the lowest breast cancer rates are found. There are many health-promoting properties to green tea, and thousands of published studies verifying its benefits. Tea is generally high in antioxidants, but green is highest. Green tea is the least processed of all teas (green tea leaves are simply steamed). Oolong tea has some antioxidant effect, but lower levels than green tea, and black tea has the lowest levels of the three.
- The Natural Hormone Makeover: 10 Steps to Rejuvenate Your Health and Rediscover Your Inner Glow by Phuli Cohan
- Available on Amazon.com
Consumption of green tea was closely associated with decreased numbers of axillary lymph node metastases among premenopausal patients with stages I and II breast cancer. They also found that increased consumption of green tea was correlated with decreased recurrence of stages I and II breast cancer.
The researchers concluded, "Our results indicate that increased consumption of green tea prior to clinical cancer onset is significantly associated with improved prognosis of stage I and II breast cancer."
- Prescription for Natural Cures: A Self-Care Guide for Treating Health Problems with Natural Remedies Including Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Bodywork, and More by James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D.
- Available on Amazon.com
In a study published in 1998, Japanese researchers investigated the effects of drinking green tea on the progression of breast cancer. The study involved 472 patients with stage I, II, and III breast cancer. The results showed that increased consumption of green tea was linked to a decrease in the spread of breast cancer in premenopausal women. In a follow-up study, the researchers found that increased consumption of green tea was correlated with decreased recurrence of stage I and II breast cancer.
I searched through my library of natural health books and found the following quotes on breast cancer and green tea. They reveal the remarkable health benefits of green tea and its notable phytochemicals (EGCG).
Feel free to use these quotes with proper credit to both the original book author and NaturalNews.com for publishing this unique compilation. You may also be interested in purchasing the full books quoted below (Amazon.com links are provided).
The Experts Speak on Green Tea and Breast Cancer
Green tea is the most popular tea in China and Japan, where the lowest breast cancer rates are found. There are many health-promoting properties to green tea, and thousands of published studies verifying its benefits. Tea is generally high in antioxidants, but green is highest. Green tea is the least processed of all teas (green tea leaves are simply steamed). Oolong tea has some antioxidant effect, but lower levels than green tea, and black tea has the lowest levels of the three.
- The Natural Hormone Makeover: 10 Steps to Rejuvenate Your Health and Rediscover Your Inner Glow by Phuli Cohan
- Available on Amazon.com
Consumption of green tea was closely associated with decreased numbers of axillary lymph node metastases among premenopausal patients with stages I and II breast cancer. They also found that increased consumption of green tea was correlated with decreased recurrence of stages I and II breast cancer.
The researchers concluded, "Our results indicate that increased consumption of green tea prior to clinical cancer onset is significantly associated with improved prognosis of stage I and II breast cancer."
- Prescription for Natural Cures: A Self-Care Guide for Treating Health Problems with Natural Remedies Including Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Bodywork, and More by James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D.
- Available on Amazon.com
In a study published in 1998, Japanese researchers investigated the effects of drinking green tea on the progression of breast cancer. The study involved 472 patients with stage I, II, and III breast cancer. The results showed that increased consumption of green tea was linked to a decrease in the spread of breast cancer in premenopausal women. In a follow-up study, the researchers found that increased consumption of green tea was correlated with decreased recurrence of stage I and II breast cancer.
Epigenetics discoveries challenge outdated medical beliefs about DNA, inheritance and gene expression
It is widely accepted in scientific circles that organisms inherit DNA from their predecessors through a process known as hard inheritance -- so named because changes in the nucleotide sequence of the passed-on DNA is rare and only happens through random mutation -- but soft inheritance, or the affect of non-genetic factors on DNA, is emerging as a new science that overrides hard genetics.
In a study published in the May issue of Nature Reviews Genetics, Eric Richards, Ph.D. proposed that changes such as alternative DNA packaging and small chemical additions to DNA bases that prevent the expression can be passed on and should be considered soft inheritance.
Richards, professor of biology at Washington University in St. Louis, analyzed past studies of epigenetics -- a Greek term meaning "above and beyond the gene" -- and evolution, and found that there is evidence in both the plant and animal kingdoms that supports the notion of soft inheritance.
One of the mechanisms Richards points to is known as DNA methylation, or the chemical modification of the DNA chemical subunit cytosine. Studies have shown that a lack of proper DNA methylation can cause developmental problems in higher organisms, including stunted growth in plants and death in mice.
Richards has also studied epigentics' effect on DNA packaging, noting that DNA that is "loosely wrapped" around proteins is easier to access. This, along with the location of DNA within the nucleus, presents another factor that affects the regulation of gene expression.
Such theories, Richards said, tend to provoke a negative reaction from his peers who remain steeped in outmoded beliefs about DNA.
"Epigenetics as soft inheritance in mammals puts us on a slippery slope that many people don't want to visit," he said.
The reaction was similar for the theories of pre-Darwinian evolutionist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, who believed that the environment plays an important role in organisms' acquisition of evolutionary characteristics. Shore birds, for example, acquired long legs by constantly trying to stretch their legs and lift themselves out of the water, Lamarck believed. But many of Lamarck's theories are now being shows to be surprisingly correct, decades later.
"When most biologists hear the name Lamarck or the term soft inheritance, the reaction is, 'Oh my God, here we go again,'" Richards said. "But from a molecular biology point of view there is a mechanism to do soft inheritance, and epigenetic inheritance can be construed as a form soft inheritance. That's all I'm saying."
"The really heretical thing to say is that the environment could be pushing the epigenetic information in a direction that is beneficial," he said. "This is the more extreme variation of soft inheritance that raises the hackles."
One such hackle-raising study observed the epigenetic changes in mice hybrids from diet in a field Richards refers to as "nutritional epigenomics." In the study, researchers attempted to affect the DNA methylation of pregnant mice through varying levels of folate and B vitamins.
"The idea was: If you pump these pregnant moms up with these dietary supplements, you might be able to skew the DNA methylation patterns, and thus skew the way the mice come out at the end of the day, and it works,'" Richards said. "In this particular instance that says what you're getting fed in the womb influences your phenotype; physical and physiological attributes."
"These findings are revolutionizing our understanding about the role of nutrition and other environmental factors in human health. What they are showing," added Mike Adams, a holistic nutritionist, "is that your health is certainly not controlled entirely by your genes. Nutrition, it turns out, affects the way your genetic code is expressed. As a result, nutrition and other environmental factors determine your health just as much as your genetic code."
According to a separate study, early grooming and nurturing of rat pups by their mothers affected the methylation of a glucocorticoid receptor gene, found in the hippocampus in the brain. This nurturing apparently activates the glucocorticoid receptor and provides the pups with an enhanced ability to handle stress later on in their lives. Richards said the process appears to be brought on by changes in DNA methylation through changes in DNA packaging.
"These studies do not demonstrate inheritance between generations, but they do show that the early nutritional environment in the mice and early behavioral environment in the rat studies can change the DNA packaging on the genome, and that that is 'remembered' in the cell divisions that make the rest of the organism, " Richards said. "But this is not from one generation to another. No one has shown that yet."
Richards said that more extreme variations of soft inheritance would require that it be proven, one way or another, whether environment can induce an inheritable epigenetic change in an organism.
"Certainly, nobody has shown that an epigenetically induced beneficial or adaptive change has been inherited," Richard admitted, but he pointed out that there was also no reason to discount the idea of epigenetic inheritance.
"The big questions to resolve are how many epigenetic changes are induced by the environment, what types of phenotypes result from these changes, and how many of these epigenetic changes are inherited," he said.
In a study published in the May issue of Nature Reviews Genetics, Eric Richards, Ph.D. proposed that changes such as alternative DNA packaging and small chemical additions to DNA bases that prevent the expression can be passed on and should be considered soft inheritance.
Richards, professor of biology at Washington University in St. Louis, analyzed past studies of epigenetics -- a Greek term meaning "above and beyond the gene" -- and evolution, and found that there is evidence in both the plant and animal kingdoms that supports the notion of soft inheritance.
One of the mechanisms Richards points to is known as DNA methylation, or the chemical modification of the DNA chemical subunit cytosine. Studies have shown that a lack of proper DNA methylation can cause developmental problems in higher organisms, including stunted growth in plants and death in mice.
Richards has also studied epigentics' effect on DNA packaging, noting that DNA that is "loosely wrapped" around proteins is easier to access. This, along with the location of DNA within the nucleus, presents another factor that affects the regulation of gene expression.
Such theories, Richards said, tend to provoke a negative reaction from his peers who remain steeped in outmoded beliefs about DNA.
"Epigenetics as soft inheritance in mammals puts us on a slippery slope that many people don't want to visit," he said.
The reaction was similar for the theories of pre-Darwinian evolutionist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, who believed that the environment plays an important role in organisms' acquisition of evolutionary characteristics. Shore birds, for example, acquired long legs by constantly trying to stretch their legs and lift themselves out of the water, Lamarck believed. But many of Lamarck's theories are now being shows to be surprisingly correct, decades later.
"When most biologists hear the name Lamarck or the term soft inheritance, the reaction is, 'Oh my God, here we go again,'" Richards said. "But from a molecular biology point of view there is a mechanism to do soft inheritance, and epigenetic inheritance can be construed as a form soft inheritance. That's all I'm saying."
"The really heretical thing to say is that the environment could be pushing the epigenetic information in a direction that is beneficial," he said. "This is the more extreme variation of soft inheritance that raises the hackles."
One such hackle-raising study observed the epigenetic changes in mice hybrids from diet in a field Richards refers to as "nutritional epigenomics." In the study, researchers attempted to affect the DNA methylation of pregnant mice through varying levels of folate and B vitamins.
"The idea was: If you pump these pregnant moms up with these dietary supplements, you might be able to skew the DNA methylation patterns, and thus skew the way the mice come out at the end of the day, and it works,'" Richards said. "In this particular instance that says what you're getting fed in the womb influences your phenotype; physical and physiological attributes."
"These findings are revolutionizing our understanding about the role of nutrition and other environmental factors in human health. What they are showing," added Mike Adams, a holistic nutritionist, "is that your health is certainly not controlled entirely by your genes. Nutrition, it turns out, affects the way your genetic code is expressed. As a result, nutrition and other environmental factors determine your health just as much as your genetic code."
According to a separate study, early grooming and nurturing of rat pups by their mothers affected the methylation of a glucocorticoid receptor gene, found in the hippocampus in the brain. This nurturing apparently activates the glucocorticoid receptor and provides the pups with an enhanced ability to handle stress later on in their lives. Richards said the process appears to be brought on by changes in DNA methylation through changes in DNA packaging.
"These studies do not demonstrate inheritance between generations, but they do show that the early nutritional environment in the mice and early behavioral environment in the rat studies can change the DNA packaging on the genome, and that that is 'remembered' in the cell divisions that make the rest of the organism, " Richards said. "But this is not from one generation to another. No one has shown that yet."
Richards said that more extreme variations of soft inheritance would require that it be proven, one way or another, whether environment can induce an inheritable epigenetic change in an organism.
"Certainly, nobody has shown that an epigenetically induced beneficial or adaptive change has been inherited," Richard admitted, but he pointed out that there was also no reason to discount the idea of epigenetic inheritance.
"The big questions to resolve are how many epigenetic changes are induced by the environment, what types of phenotypes result from these changes, and how many of these epigenetic changes are inherited," he said.
Brain health dramatically improved by intake of omega-3 fatty acids and fish oils
It's no secret that long-term diet and nutrition choices have an effect on the way we look and feel; but new studies show that nutrition can also affect the way we think. As it turns out, there really is such a thing as “food for thought.”
It may seem strange that what we put in our stomachs can have such a powerful effect on what goes on in our minds, but research is increasingly showing that emotional, mental and psychiatric disorders like depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia may more likely be the result of dietary deficiencies than genetic predispositions. The same is true of people who struggle with memory loss, have trouble learning new tasks, have Alzheimer’s disease or simply suffer from a lot of blue moods. The dietary deficiency that tends to frequently show up in these patients is a lack of omega-3 oils -- abundant fatty acids found in cold-water fish like salmon, herring and cod.
Omega-3s and brain health
The omega-3 fatty acid known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an important ingredient for optimal brain function. Earl Mindell, RPh PhD, writes in Earl Mindell's Supplement Bible, “There's a reason why fish is known as brain food. It is a rich source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a fatty acid that is found in high concentration in the gray matter of the brain. DHA is instrumental in the function of brain cell membranes, which are important for the transmission of brain signals.” By making cell membranes more fluid, omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, improve communication between the brain cells, according to Mind Boosters author Dr. Ray Sahelia. As a result, lack of omega-3 in the body can cause a communication breakdown in the brain, which is probably the last place you'd want such a breakdown to happen.
Omega-3 fatty acids are so important to the development and proper maintenance of the brain that “some scientists even postulate that it was the ingestion of omega-3 EFAs that allowed the brain to evolve to the next stage in human development,” according to Superfoods Rx authors Steven G. Pratt and Kathy Matthews. While omega-3s were abundant in our diets before the 20th century, they are now seriously lacking. The Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing write in The Folk Remedy Encyclopedia, “Just like a machine, your brain needs oil -- in the form of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids -- to run smoothly. Unfortunately, the average diet doesn't usually contain the right balance of these fatty acids. If you eat a typical modern diet, you probably get plenty of omega-6 through corn, soybean, and other oils in processed food. But omega-3 oils, which are just as important, are often missing.”
Pregnant women need omega-3s
It may not be surprising that most red-meat-loving Americans do not get a lot a fish in their diets, and therefore are not getting enough brain-boosting omega-3. Unfortunately, since DHA is crucial in fetal brain development, that lack of omega-3 could be putting us at a mental disadvantage before we are even born.
“During pregnancy, omega-3 fatty acids are conveyed from the mother's blood to the developing fetus by way of the placenta,” writes Phyllis A. Balch in Prescription For Dietary Wellness. “They are vital for the development of the brain and retina membranes of the fetus. Thus, the amount of DHA the baby receives depends on the mother's dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids.” Depending on Mom’s diet, then, a child’s brain could be starved for omega-3 before it has any say in the matter, and research shows this could actually have a significant impact on intelligence and vision.
“Several recent studies, conducted in both animals and humans, have shown that babies who receive adequate amounts of this vital fat have better functioning brains and higher IQs,” writes Dr. Russell L. Blaylock in Health And Nutrition Secrets. “Those with low amounts of DHA demonstrate learning difficulties and visual problems.” Therefore, moms who want to brag about their kids’ intelligence could stand to add more fish to their diets.
Omega-3 fatty acids continue to be essential to infant brain development after birth, and research shows babies who are breast fed receive higher levels of the important fatty acid than those fed formula, since baby formula in the United States is not required to contain any omega-3 at all. Breast milk appears, in this case, to have major payoffs, according to Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and Dr. James F. Balch in Prescription For Nutritional Healing, who write, “Breastfed infants have been found to be more intelligent than formula-fed infants and to achieve higher academic levels in adult life.”
Omega-3s can aid mental and emotional disorders
The brain’s need for omega-3 fatty acids does not go away post-infancy. Omega-3 deficiencies in adults have been linked to various mental and emotional disorders. In fact, “some doctors even think the epidemic amounts of mental illness in modern societies can be traced back to the omega imbalance in the food supply,” according to Eat and Heal, by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing.
Low levels of DHA have been linked to memory loss, depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, autism and general learning difficulties or bad moods. “If you don't feed brain cell membranes enough of the right type of fat, the messages can be short-circuited and garbled. That may mean a disturbance in mood, concentration, memory, attention, and behavior,” writes Miracle Cures author Jean Carper. Depression in particular has been frequently linked to low levels of DHA, since omega-3 fatty acids help regulate mood by increasing levels of serotonin, the hormone that relieves depression.
Omega-3 may be just as important to the elderly population as it is to newborns, since diminishing omega-3 levels may be a contributing factor to stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. According to Eat and Heal, one of the possible causes of Alzheimer’s disease is beta-amyloid plaque, or clumps of protein, that accumulate in the victim's brain, and “experts believe beta-amyloid might be connected with inflammation of the brain's blood vessels.”
Since omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce inflammation, they could also be an important key in the fight against this frightening degenerative disease, as has been suggested by research in Japan. “Japanese studies have shown that supplemental DHA sharpens memory in patients with dementia and depression and improves behavior and speech in those with Alzheimer's disease,” writes Dr. Julian Whitaker in The Memory Solution.
Omega-3 fatty acids aid in routine memory function in people without Alzheimer’s, as well. “One study found that DHA supplementation significantly decreased the number of reference memory errors and working memory errors in aged male rats and in young rats,” writes Gary Null in Power Aging.
For people who don’t like fish, omega-3 fatty acids are also available in some plant foods, like flaxseed and walnuts, but they are not as potent in these forms. Fish remains the best source of omega-3s, and diets lacking in the essential fatty acids may need supplements. “For optimal brain function, I recommend that you consume fish at least two or three times a week. If your diet does not include enough of the omega-3 fatty acids or enough fish, you could consider taking supplements of fish oils or flaxseed oil,” writes Dr. Sahelia.
So, if you are fish deficient, it’s time to wise up. After all, if eating more fish oil can help keep your brain sharp and help you hold on to those precious memories as you grow older, it seems like a smart choice to make.
The experts speak on omega-3 oils and brain health:
The belief that "fish is brain food" has been held around the world for well over two thousand years. Fish supplies omega-3 oils, and among them is docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), essential for brain and eye tissue development (specifically the retina) in infants; it remains fundamental to those tissues throughout life. Current research focuses on these oils—often woefully short, if not deficient, in modern diets—as one cause of attention deficit disorder. Once more, modern research is validating folk wisdom—fish really is brain food. Now, new findings are suggesting that the oils found in fish also help prevent cancer.
20 Natural Ways to Reduce The Risk Of Prostate Cancer by James Scala PHD, page 60
Many nutrients, such as the B vitamins, are critical to proper brain function. Fatty acid deprivation works against optimal brain power. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain fatty acid found in fish, egg yolks, and marine algae, and is the predominant omega-3 fatty acid in brain tissue. As the brain is dependent on dietary fatty acids, reductions in DHA content of the diet may contribute to degenerative changes in the nervous system. The delicate balance of electrolytes also controls the electrical activity within the brain. For this reason, many of the tests previously mentioned relating to nutrition, toxic load, and stress have relevance when attempting to better understand sub-optimal brain function.
Alternative Medicine by Burton Goldberg, page 1096
DHA remains the most important brain fat throughout life. Low levels of DHA are associated with an increased risk of memory loss. Dr. Michael A. Schmidt reports in Smart Fats that, according to data collected in the long-term Framingham Heart Study, adults with low levels of DHA have a greater likelihood of developing dementia in their later years. Other studies have indicated these adults are twice as likely to develop dementia as those with high levels of DHA. And a 1997 study demonstrated that low DHA blood levels are an important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
The memory Solution by Dr Julian Whitaker, page 120
The implications of omega-3 deficiency on the brain are profound and span the entire human life cycle. Beginning in pregnancy, premature birth and its potential neurologic complications may result from omega-3 deficiency. Babies who are bottle-fed or born from omega-3-deficient mothers will lack the omega-3 fatty acids necessary for optimal cognitive and visual development. Children deprived of omega-3s may have less ability to pay attention and control impulsive behavior and may be at higher risk for depression. Teenagers and adults with omega-3 deficiency may be more prone to hostility or violence. In aging, the loss of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain may result in a higher risk of stroke, memory problems, or dementia. Individuals of any age without adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain and body may also be at higher risk for depression, bipolar disorder, and possibly other psychiatric disorders.
The Omega3 Connection by Andrew L Stoll MD, page 40
Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial because they provide fluidity to cell membranes and improve communication between brain cells. Omega-3s also reduce the clotting ability of platelets, thus potentially decreasing the incidence of heart attacks and strokes. Two very important omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). They are found in seafood, especially mackerel, salmon, striped bass, rainbow trout, halibut, tuna, and sardines. In the body, DHA is found mostly in the brain, retina, and in sperm. DHA plays an important role in vision. B) Omega-6 fatty acids are made from linoleic acid, a fatty acid found in vegetable oils such as corn, safflower, cottonseed, and sunflower. Mayonnaise and salad oils normally contain a great amount of omega-6 fatty acids. Unlike omega-3s, which are concentrated in the brain, omega-6s are found in most tissues in the body. The double bond of an omega-6 fatty acid starts six carbons from the left. Most Americans generally have a much higher intake of the omega-6s than the omega-3s.
Mind Boosters by Dr Ray Sahelia MD, page 69
One of the most important of these fats is called docosohexiaonic acid or DHA. This fat plays an important role in the formation of the synaptic connections within the brain. These connections allow the various parts of the brain to communicate with each other and communicate with the body as well.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 34
Adequate levels of DHA are required for proper brain and eye development and function. DHA is important for signal transmission in the brain, eye, and nervous system.
Heart Disease by Burton Goldberg, page 46
Essential fatty acids are important in both stroke prevention and during the repair of brain tissue damaged by stroke. The brain is almost entirely composed of fatty acids. The Framingham study confirmed that the friendly fats have a beneficial effect on stroke prevention. Essential fatty acids include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) found in perilla and flaxseed oils and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) found in cold-water fish oil. Fish oils reduce inflammation due to their high content of DHA and EPA. Fish oil acts as platelet aggregation inhibitors as well as triglyceride lowering agents.
Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page 533
DHA is not only very critical in brain development but also in maintenance of the brain later in life. Don't forget, the brain is constantly restructured throughout life, even into the extremes of age. Unfortunately, because of food-processing methods and industrial raising of animals as meat sources, most omega-3 fatty acids have been removed from our foods.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 315
Fish oil is probably the most important dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are vital nutrients. These fatty acids reduce inflammation, protect against the abnormal clotting associated with heart attacks, inhibit cancer, and protect brain function. There may be other benefits, too: a 1992 study published in the journal Lancet, for example, suggested that omega-3 fatty acids prolong pregnancy by a few days and improve birth weights.
Ask Dr Weil by Andrew Weil MD, page 92
The basic building blocks of our brain cells are essential fatty acids such as EPA and DHA from fish oil. These fatty acids are also used as fuel for brain metabolism and help control the chronic inflammatory processes involved in degenerative brain disorders.
Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page 22
In the last month of pregnancy and first month of neonatal life, omega-3 fatty acids are rapidly incorporated into the brain of the baby. Be sure to include extra amounts of salmon, sardines, or flax into your diet during this period.
8 Weeks To Optimum Health by Andrew Weil MD, page 217
DHA is found in foods that many people have given up in the name of good health, such as organ meats and eggs. It is also abundant in fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and albacore tuna; however, most Americans do not eat significant quantities of fish. DHA is found in high concentration in the gray matter of the brain and the retina of the eye. It is also instrumental in the function of brain cell membranes, which are important for the transmission of brain signals.
Earl Mindell's Supplement Bible by Earl Mindell RPh PhD, page 44
A major building block of human brain tissue and the primary structural fatty acid in the gray matter of the brain and the retina, DHA is vital for brain and eye health. Studies indicate that DHA may have cardiovascular benefits as well as neurological benefits. Although the body can convert alpha-linolenic acid into DHA, the amount produced is minimal so you are better off getting DHA directly from food.
Fight Back With Food by Readers Digest, page 73
EPA and DHA are important fatty acids in maintaining proper memory and cognitive function. Therefore, I consider fish oils to be a crucial component of the mind-boosting program presented in this book. Taking a small amount of antioxidants, such as a few units of vitamin E, along with the fish-oil supplements seems prudent.
Mind Boosters by Dr Ray Sahelia MD, page 77
Studies strongly suggest that DHA, the fatty acid found in fish, is essential for normal mental function. These fatty acids may have many jobs in the body, including a possible role in the production of neurotransmitters. In fact, research has shown that primates fed a diet low in this particular fat actually became more violent and aggressive. The same may be true for humans.
Earl Mindells Secret Remedies by Earl Mindell RPh PhD, page 110
Eat plenty of cold-water fish such as tuna, trout, mackerel, and salmon, Dr. Khalsa suggests. They're rich in omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients that help protect brain cells.
Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb, page 21
Fish have easily digestible protein, many trace nutrients, high quality essential fatty acids, low cholesterol levels and low saturated fat levels. This makes them a nearly ideal source of dietary protein. Fish that contain high Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to our good health. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), the Omega 3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish, are found in all the cells of our body. They are especially abundant in brain cells, nerve synapses, retina, adrenal glands and sex glands. If we are healthy, we can make EPA and DHA oils from Omega 3 oils found in foods. But many of us have decreased ability to make this conversion, especially people who are aging or who have a chronic illness or degenerative condition. Eating fish gives us these necessary fatty acids directly. The fish richest in this oil are salmon, halibut, tuna, mackerel, trout, sardines, eel and herring. Low-fat fish or fish from tropical waters are still healthful to eat, but they do not have any significant levels of EPA/DHA oils.
Digestive Wellness by Elizabeth Lipski MS CCN, page 166
When it comes to providing protection for the brain and encouraging overall brain health, DHA may be the more important fatty acid. Studies found that DHA supplementation significantly decreased the number of reference memory errors and working memory errors in aged male rats as well as in young rats.
Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page 22
Essential fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are important in neurological repair because the brain is composed almost entirely of fatty acids. They also have very strong anti-inflammatory properties.
Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page 531
The EPA of oily fish or fish oil supplements assist development of the fetal brain. They prolong gestation and increase birth weight.
Bartrams Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Thomas Bartram, page 350
Omega-3 essential fatty acids: These beneficial fats maintain the fluidity of nerve cell membranes. They also are important for building cells; for preserving brain, nerve, and eye function; and for lowering the risk of high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. We recommend taking 1,000 to 3,000 milligrams of omega-3s in supplement form every day. The
Rhodiola Revolution by Richard P Brown MD and Patricia L Gerbarg MD, page 215
Although for years scientists understood that fish oil could lighten the burden of heart disease, arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, only recently have they focused on the impact of fish oil in the brain. New evidence shows that fish oil may also be therapeutic for mood and brain disturbances. Dr. Norman Salem at the National Institute of mental health says low levels of omega-3s, especially one fraction called DHA, which is rich in salmon, are linked to depression, aggressive behavior, brain damage from alcohol, attention deficit disorder, and possibly Alzheimer's disease. Too little DHA and other omega-3 fat in brain cell membranes, says Dr. Salem, may compromise proper brain functioning in various ways.
Miracle Cures by Jean Carper, page 180
The brain is 60 percent fat—and essential fatty acids are an integral component of this fat. Perhaps the most critical of these essential fatty acids is DHA, which is necessary for memory and learning. Since a certain amount of alpha linolenic acid from flaxseed is converted into DHA, this supplement can be a beneficial memory booster. Also, omega-3 fatty acids have an antiinflammatory effect, which appears to be important for brain health.
Natural Physicians Healing Therapies by Mark Stengler ND, page 188
The latest research from Japan demonstrates why DHA is also necessary to maintain optimum brain functioning in adults, and why it could turn out to be critical for the prevention and possible reversal of Alzheimer's disease!
Underground Cures by Health Sciences Institute, page 104
When the level of DHA drops, reducing axon flexibility, the arms become hardened and signals are transmitted more slowly. Researchers in Japan have recently observed that the absence of DHA is associated with many cognitive and mental-health conditions, such as depression, schizophrenia, and dementia of the Alzheimer's type.
Underground Cures by Health Sciences Institute, page 104
The basic building blocks of your brain cells are essential fatty acids such as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) from fish oil. These fatty acids are also used as fuel for brain metabolism and they help control chronic inflammatory processes involved in degenerative brain disorders. When it comes to protecting brain health, DHA may be the more important fatty acid. One study found that DHA supplementation significantly decreased the number of reference memory errors and working memory errors in aged male rats and in young rats.
Power Aging by Gary Null, page 173
The omega-3 fatty acids are an integral part of the structure and function of the brain. The brain does not function well unless adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids circulate in the bloodstream and are incorporated into cell membranes. Omega-3 fatty acids also appear to influence the brain chemicals involved in antidepressant action. For example, French scientists have shown that rats deficient in omega-3 fatty acids had more receptors for the neurotransmitter serotonin and a corresponding decrease in dopamine in the frontal cortex. The direction of the changes in these neurotransmitter systems is consistent with some human models of major depression. Not surprisingly, other scientists have observed that increasing the dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids boosted the levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the frontal cortex of rats. In humans, increased dopamine in the frontal cortex increases drive and motivation, attributes lacking in the depressed person.
The Omega3 Connection by Andrew L Stoll MD, page 117
Research on infants shows that DHA is essential for normal brain development, thinking, and concentration in infants. While breast-fed infants are smarter than formula-fed infants, a study from the University of Dundee, United Kingdom, found that term infants fed DHA-fortified formulas for the first four months of life scored higher on problem-solving tests at ten months of age.
Food & Mood by Elizabeth Somer MA RD, page 200
Some experts insist that omega-3 fatty acid, the type found in fish, may be the magic intelligence-boosting ingredient in mother's milk. Omega-3s have been found critical in fetal and infant brain development. Thus, experts advise pregnant and lactating women to eat seafood to ensure that their children's developing brains are supplied with omega-3 oils.
Food Your Miracle Medicine by Jean Carper, page 285
The human body converts Omega-3 fats into DHA—a nutrient that is needed by all of us, and one that is especially critical for the brain development of fetuses and newborns. There are, however, indications that there can be a great deal of variation among people in how efficiently their bodies convert Omega-3 fats into DHA. For this reason, I strongly advise those pregnant and nursing women who choose not to eat fish to be certain to include ample amounts of flax seed oil in their diet, and as well to take supplementary DHA. Fatty fish are high in DHA, which is good, but they are often high in toxic metals and environmental contaminants that are particularly damaging to babies.
Food Revolution by John Robbins, page 93
DHA is essential for the growth and functional development of the fetal and infant brain and visual system. Human breast milk contains DHA but, unless supplemented with DHA, infant formulas in the U.S. do not contain any significant amounts. In Europe and Japan, by contrast, infant formulas are routinely supplemented with DHA.
PDR For Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendle and David Rorvik, page 140
DHA is vital for normal brain development for the fetus and infant and for the maintenance of normal brain function throughout life. DHA appears to be a major determinant of membrane fluidity in brain cells, and this could play a major role in the maintenance of normal cognition and mood.
PDR For Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendle and David Rorvik, page 148
Researchers have found that breast-fed babies have higher intelligence than bottle-fed babies, probably because of the omega-3 found in mother's milk. And it doesn't help just babies. A study showed that older men who ate fish regularly had better working brains than men who didn't eat fish.
Eat and Heal by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, page 164
While growing older is something we must all embrace, unless brain cells have withered and died, the diminishment of our mental abilities is not inevitable. The various causes of mental decline can be reversed and the progression of degenerative changes to the brain's neurons can be slowed. "Losing control of your mental faculties as you age isn't inevitable and can be reversed," says brain longevity expert Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., author of brain Longevity. Even in the late stages, Alzheimer's disease can be halted or at least slowed down; catch it early enough and it can be reversed. And if you deal with the possibility of brain decline at mid-life, your chances of preventing it altogether are high.
Alternative Medicine by Burton Goldberg, page 325
Added support to the claim of essentiality is the observation that large amounts of DHA have been found in the brain and eyes. In one experiment, female monkeys were fed diets low in DHA during pregnancy. Their offspring suffered from eye defects until their diet was supplemented by DHA.
Saturated Fat May Save Your Life by Bruce Fife ND, page 43
DHA plays a particularly crucial role in the brain development of infants and children. Together with other long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, DHA accumulates in the fetal brain late in pregnancy, and continues to accumulate during an infant's first few months of life. Human breast milk contains much more of these critical fats than cows’ milk or formula, so babies who are not breastfed have lower levels of these important nutrients. Researchers have determined that these important fatty acids affect intelligence in infancy and perhaps later in life.
The memory Solution by Dr Julian Whitaker, page 118
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the normal development of the unborn baby's brain, especially during the final three months of gestation when the size of its brain increases threefold. If the mother fails to get enough of these nutrients in her diet, the fetus will pirate what she has stored in her tissues—including her brain. Lab tests show that new mothers have half the normal blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Women who breast-feed their babies have even lower levels of DHA because they are continuing to supply the baby's need for omega-3 fatty acids. If a woman does not replenish her store of these essential elements following the birth of a child, she will have lower and lower levels with each additional child. Some people suggest this is why firstborn children score higher on intelligence tests. Until now, people have attributed the well-documented mental superiority of firstborn children to the fact they spend more one-on-one time with a parent. It is now being suggested that their greater cognitive abilities may also be due to a more generous supply of maternal DHA.
The Omega Diet by Artemis P Simopoulos MD and Jo Robinson, page 95
Evidence from the nursery suggests that they might. Human breast milk contains DHA, but infant formulas do not. (U.S. manufacturers of baby food are not yet required to add DHA to their products.) As a result, breast-fed babies have more DHA in their brains and retinas than bottle-fed babies. Breast-fed babies also have better visual acuity than bottle-fed babies, and, years later, score higher on standardized tests of reading, visual interpretation, sentence completion, nonverbal skills, and math. The superior performance of breast-fed babies could be due to any number of factors, however, including the fact that women who breast-feed their babies tend to be of a higher socioeconomic class. But careful studies show that DHA plays a key role in cognitive development.
The Omega Diet by Artemis P Simopoulos MD and Jo Robinson, page 89
Most of the clinical data on omega-3 fatty acids involves fish oil and its omega-3 components. Fish oil contains the two primary long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. DHA is generally incorporated into the cell membranes found throughout the body, but it is found in highest concentration in the retina, brain, and sperm. DHA is crucial for normal brain development and optimal cognitive and visual functioning in the fetus and newborn.
The Omega3 Connection by Andrew L Stoll MD, page 208
The studies have been somewhat mixed, but it appears that adult humans cannot convert enough ALA to EPA and then to DHA. Newborns appear to be better able to transform ALA to the longer-chain omega-3s, but these conversions may still be inadequate to fill the huge need of young children for omega-3 fatty acids. Thus, some nutritional scientists believe we must consume the fish and fish oil-derived long-chain omega-3 s directly for optimal brain health. Strict vegetarians likely have lower levels of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, than non-vegetarians, but may in the future be able to purchase both EPA and DHA supplements derived directly from algae.
The Omega3 Connection by Andrew L Stoll MD, page 46
DHA is critical for the proper development and function of the brain because your brain cells need it to transmit electrical impulses efficiently. It's not surprising, therefore, that a DHA deficiency can lead to memory, behavior, and learning problems.
Natural Physicians Healing Therapies by Mark Stengler ND, page 176
Most people may be deficient in DHA because of ALA to DHA conversion problems; DHA is found preformed in fresh sea vegetables, in cold water salmon, cod, sardines, mackerel, in fish oils. Its precursor is Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), composing 5 0-60% of Flaxseed oil, and 8-20% in unhydrogenated Soy, Walnut, Pumpkin, and Hemp seed oils. The brain sends messages to the body through the Central Nervous System, composed of positively-charged atom salts of Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium in the blood that keys either Motor Nerves' muscular activity, or Sensory Nerves' pain feedback, electrically via thousands of little cellular batteries.
Anti-Aging Manual by Joseph B Marion, page 732
One type of omega-3 fatty acid is called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is found throughout the fatty tissue in our brains, and it appears to play a role in how our brain functions. A growing body of research has confirmed that infants who are deficient in levels of this fatty acid have less than optimal neurological function, especially intelligence. Furthermore, a great number of neurological conditions, such as depression, attention deficit disorder, and schizophrenia, also have a high correlation with deficient levels of DHA in the bloodstream. Researchers have found that patients with bipolar depression often respond dramatically to very high dose supplementation with oils rich in DHA.
The Okinawa Program by Bradley J Willcox MD Craig Willcox PhD Makoto Suzuki MD, page 277
Studies show that essential fatty acids, the building blocks of the brain and nervous system, are lacking in many MS patients. Multiple sclerosis is most common in Western countries where people consume large amounts of meat, dairy products, and processed foods— all foods low in essential fatty acids—and is least common in countries where diets are high in unsaturated fats, including seed oils, olive oil, oily fish, fresh fruits, and vegetables—all foods high in essential fatty acids. A predominantly meat versus vegetarian diet seems to be a significant risk factor.
Alternative Medicine by Burton Goldberg, page 810
The types of fat in your diet may influence your memory, moods, response to stress, and learning ability. Your brain contains a high percentage of fat. This is "structural" fat, the kind that helps form your cell membranes and plays a vital role in how your brain cells function. Your brain is unusually rich in the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. Human breast milk contains DHA, but in the United States and some other countries, infant formulas do not. Breast-fed babies score higher on many types of standardized tests than bottle-fed babies. DHA has improved brain function in infants, adults, and the elderly.
The Omega Diet by Artemis P Simopoulos MD and Jo Robinson, page 99
The brain is 60 percent fat and requires essential fatty acids, especially DHA, to function properly. It has been shown that people deficient in DHA are much more likely to suffer from depression.
Natural Physicians Healing Therapies by Mark Stengler ND, page 180
The Omega fatty acids play a prominent role in a person's mental health. A number of mental disorders, including schizophrenia and manic-depression, may very well be manifestations of an Omega deficiency.
Omega 3 Oils by Donald Rudin MD and Clara Felix, page 209
Special fats found in fish oil, called the omega-3 fatty acids, help regulate mood by increasing serotonin levels, the nerve chemical that relieves depression. Low intake of fish oils lowers brain levels of serotonin in animals and increases aggressive and hostile behaviors. Similar effects have been noted in humans with lower fish oil consumption and serotonin levels, including increased rates of impulsive suicide attempts, according to researchers at the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in Bethesda, Maryland.
Food & Mood by Elizabeth Somer MA RD, page 186
Some experts believe fish fights depression because neurotransmitters, the brain's Pony Express riders that carry messages from cell to cell, have an easier time wriggling through fat membranes made of fluid omega-3 than any other kind of fat. This means your brain's important messages get delivered.
Eat and Heal by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, page 146
Scientists don't know exactly how omega-3's protect against depression, but they do know that the fats are important to health of neurons, or brain cells. To get sufficient omega-3's to battle depression, Dr. Zuess recommends taking approximately 10 grams a day of DHA and EPA, which usually amounts to about 30 fish-oil capsules daily. Take them in divided doses with meals. This remedy is safe for long-term use.
Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb, page 191
Fatigue and depression often go hand in hand. To help a blue mood, Dr. Schwartz suggests taking 1,000 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for normal brain function. Take the supplement every day at breakfast, she advises.
Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb, page 252
Dr. Andrew Stoll, a Harvard psychiatrist, found that fish oil capsules helped people with bipolar disorder, or manic depression, who go through periods of extreme highs and lows. He says, "The striking difference in relapse rates and response appeared to be highly clinically significant." Stoll suggests the omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil may slow down neurons in your brain, much like the drug Lithium, which is used to treat manic depression.
Eat and Heal by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, page 146
Research conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston indicated that omega-3s block abnormal brain cell signaling in patients who have bipolar disorder. Therefore, omega-3s can be a powerful adjunct in treating this illness.
Bottom Line Yearbook 2004 by Bottom Line Personnel, page 73
The point is that the origin of depression may be physical, such as deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids, folate, or B12, rather than mental. As another example, the bacteria in your gut can affect your brain chemistry; these bacteria release substances that can cause depression because they interfere with the brain's neurotransmitters (the chemicals in our brain that are involved with mood and thinking).
Ultraprevention by Mark Hyman MD and Mark Liponis MD, page 67
Fish oil even helped migraine sufferers have fewer and less severe headaches. And there is strong evidence that omega-3 fats can help with a host of mental illnesses including depression, mood disorders, and even schizophrenia. Some doctors even think the epidemic amounts of mental illness in modern societies can be traced back to the omega imbalance in the food supply.
Eat and Heal by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, page 164
Omega-3 fatty acids, which are lacking in most people's diets in the United States, are abundantly present in the brain and are essential for normal brain function. Though little is currently known about how omega-3 fatty acids regulate mood, recent findings show a correlation between low levels of these compounds and depression.
Fight Back With Food by Readers Digest, page 73
Recent research at Harvard has shown that supplemental essential fatty acids can improve the symptoms of bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder. This is based on the fundamental understanding that the cells of the brain normally contain high levels of DHA, which is also commonly found in fish fat, and that adequate levels of this type of fat are critical for healthy communication between brain cells.
Ultraprevention by Mark Hyman MD and Mark Liponis MD, page 13
Schizophrenia is a devastating mental disorder that tends to strike early in adulthood. New antipsychotic drugs have helped many schizophrenics function minimally in society, but they have failed to relieve all of the troubling symptoms. Recently, three independent groups of researchers have found that schizophrenics have abnormally low levels of DHA. Prompted by these findings, a fourth group treated twenty schizophrenic patients with fish oil. The therapy was well tolerated and relieved both types of symptoms commonly seen in schizophrenics: "positive symptoms," such as delusions and hallucinations, and "negative symptoms," such as social withdrawal and lack of emotions. Some patients also got relief from abnormal involuntary movements called "tardive dyskinesia," which are a common side effect of prolonged drug treatment. The investigators concluded that omega-3 fatty acids present "novel and exciting therapeutic possibilities."
The Omega Diet by Artemis P Simopoulos MD and Jo Robinson, page 98
Depression is linked with low blood levels of DHA. Alcohol leaches DHA out of the brain. Between 16 and 50 percent of alcoholics suffer from depression, as do up to 70 percent of chronic, heavy drinkers. If a pregnant woman does not have enough omega-3 fatty acids in her diet, the fetus will rob the fatty acids from her tissues. If a woman has additional children and does not replace the missing EFAs, a woman will have lower levels of DHA with each subsequent child. A lack of DHA has been linked with postpartum depression.
The Omega Diet by Artemis P Simopoulos MD and Jo Robinson, page 99
It may seem strange that what we put in our stomachs can have such a powerful effect on what goes on in our minds, but research is increasingly showing that emotional, mental and psychiatric disorders like depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia may more likely be the result of dietary deficiencies than genetic predispositions. The same is true of people who struggle with memory loss, have trouble learning new tasks, have Alzheimer’s disease or simply suffer from a lot of blue moods. The dietary deficiency that tends to frequently show up in these patients is a lack of omega-3 oils -- abundant fatty acids found in cold-water fish like salmon, herring and cod.
Omega-3s and brain health
The omega-3 fatty acid known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an important ingredient for optimal brain function. Earl Mindell, RPh PhD, writes in Earl Mindell's Supplement Bible, “There's a reason why fish is known as brain food. It is a rich source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a fatty acid that is found in high concentration in the gray matter of the brain. DHA is instrumental in the function of brain cell membranes, which are important for the transmission of brain signals.” By making cell membranes more fluid, omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, improve communication between the brain cells, according to Mind Boosters author Dr. Ray Sahelia. As a result, lack of omega-3 in the body can cause a communication breakdown in the brain, which is probably the last place you'd want such a breakdown to happen.
Omega-3 fatty acids are so important to the development and proper maintenance of the brain that “some scientists even postulate that it was the ingestion of omega-3 EFAs that allowed the brain to evolve to the next stage in human development,” according to Superfoods Rx authors Steven G. Pratt and Kathy Matthews. While omega-3s were abundant in our diets before the 20th century, they are now seriously lacking. The Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing write in The Folk Remedy Encyclopedia, “Just like a machine, your brain needs oil -- in the form of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids -- to run smoothly. Unfortunately, the average diet doesn't usually contain the right balance of these fatty acids. If you eat a typical modern diet, you probably get plenty of omega-6 through corn, soybean, and other oils in processed food. But omega-3 oils, which are just as important, are often missing.”
Pregnant women need omega-3s
It may not be surprising that most red-meat-loving Americans do not get a lot a fish in their diets, and therefore are not getting enough brain-boosting omega-3. Unfortunately, since DHA is crucial in fetal brain development, that lack of omega-3 could be putting us at a mental disadvantage before we are even born.
“During pregnancy, omega-3 fatty acids are conveyed from the mother's blood to the developing fetus by way of the placenta,” writes Phyllis A. Balch in Prescription For Dietary Wellness. “They are vital for the development of the brain and retina membranes of the fetus. Thus, the amount of DHA the baby receives depends on the mother's dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids.” Depending on Mom’s diet, then, a child’s brain could be starved for omega-3 before it has any say in the matter, and research shows this could actually have a significant impact on intelligence and vision.
“Several recent studies, conducted in both animals and humans, have shown that babies who receive adequate amounts of this vital fat have better functioning brains and higher IQs,” writes Dr. Russell L. Blaylock in Health And Nutrition Secrets. “Those with low amounts of DHA demonstrate learning difficulties and visual problems.” Therefore, moms who want to brag about their kids’ intelligence could stand to add more fish to their diets.
Omega-3 fatty acids continue to be essential to infant brain development after birth, and research shows babies who are breast fed receive higher levels of the important fatty acid than those fed formula, since baby formula in the United States is not required to contain any omega-3 at all. Breast milk appears, in this case, to have major payoffs, according to Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and Dr. James F. Balch in Prescription For Nutritional Healing, who write, “Breastfed infants have been found to be more intelligent than formula-fed infants and to achieve higher academic levels in adult life.”
Omega-3s can aid mental and emotional disorders
The brain’s need for omega-3 fatty acids does not go away post-infancy. Omega-3 deficiencies in adults have been linked to various mental and emotional disorders. In fact, “some doctors even think the epidemic amounts of mental illness in modern societies can be traced back to the omega imbalance in the food supply,” according to Eat and Heal, by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing.
Low levels of DHA have been linked to memory loss, depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, autism and general learning difficulties or bad moods. “If you don't feed brain cell membranes enough of the right type of fat, the messages can be short-circuited and garbled. That may mean a disturbance in mood, concentration, memory, attention, and behavior,” writes Miracle Cures author Jean Carper. Depression in particular has been frequently linked to low levels of DHA, since omega-3 fatty acids help regulate mood by increasing levels of serotonin, the hormone that relieves depression.
Omega-3 may be just as important to the elderly population as it is to newborns, since diminishing omega-3 levels may be a contributing factor to stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. According to Eat and Heal, one of the possible causes of Alzheimer’s disease is beta-amyloid plaque, or clumps of protein, that accumulate in the victim's brain, and “experts believe beta-amyloid might be connected with inflammation of the brain's blood vessels.”
Since omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce inflammation, they could also be an important key in the fight against this frightening degenerative disease, as has been suggested by research in Japan. “Japanese studies have shown that supplemental DHA sharpens memory in patients with dementia and depression and improves behavior and speech in those with Alzheimer's disease,” writes Dr. Julian Whitaker in The Memory Solution.
Omega-3 fatty acids aid in routine memory function in people without Alzheimer’s, as well. “One study found that DHA supplementation significantly decreased the number of reference memory errors and working memory errors in aged male rats and in young rats,” writes Gary Null in Power Aging.
For people who don’t like fish, omega-3 fatty acids are also available in some plant foods, like flaxseed and walnuts, but they are not as potent in these forms. Fish remains the best source of omega-3s, and diets lacking in the essential fatty acids may need supplements. “For optimal brain function, I recommend that you consume fish at least two or three times a week. If your diet does not include enough of the omega-3 fatty acids or enough fish, you could consider taking supplements of fish oils or flaxseed oil,” writes Dr. Sahelia.
So, if you are fish deficient, it’s time to wise up. After all, if eating more fish oil can help keep your brain sharp and help you hold on to those precious memories as you grow older, it seems like a smart choice to make.
The experts speak on omega-3 oils and brain health:
The belief that "fish is brain food" has been held around the world for well over two thousand years. Fish supplies omega-3 oils, and among them is docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), essential for brain and eye tissue development (specifically the retina) in infants; it remains fundamental to those tissues throughout life. Current research focuses on these oils—often woefully short, if not deficient, in modern diets—as one cause of attention deficit disorder. Once more, modern research is validating folk wisdom—fish really is brain food. Now, new findings are suggesting that the oils found in fish also help prevent cancer.
20 Natural Ways to Reduce The Risk Of Prostate Cancer by James Scala PHD, page 60
Many nutrients, such as the B vitamins, are critical to proper brain function. Fatty acid deprivation works against optimal brain power. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain fatty acid found in fish, egg yolks, and marine algae, and is the predominant omega-3 fatty acid in brain tissue. As the brain is dependent on dietary fatty acids, reductions in DHA content of the diet may contribute to degenerative changes in the nervous system. The delicate balance of electrolytes also controls the electrical activity within the brain. For this reason, many of the tests previously mentioned relating to nutrition, toxic load, and stress have relevance when attempting to better understand sub-optimal brain function.
Alternative Medicine by Burton Goldberg, page 1096
DHA remains the most important brain fat throughout life. Low levels of DHA are associated with an increased risk of memory loss. Dr. Michael A. Schmidt reports in Smart Fats that, according to data collected in the long-term Framingham Heart Study, adults with low levels of DHA have a greater likelihood of developing dementia in their later years. Other studies have indicated these adults are twice as likely to develop dementia as those with high levels of DHA. And a 1997 study demonstrated that low DHA blood levels are an important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
The memory Solution by Dr Julian Whitaker, page 120
The implications of omega-3 deficiency on the brain are profound and span the entire human life cycle. Beginning in pregnancy, premature birth and its potential neurologic complications may result from omega-3 deficiency. Babies who are bottle-fed or born from omega-3-deficient mothers will lack the omega-3 fatty acids necessary for optimal cognitive and visual development. Children deprived of omega-3s may have less ability to pay attention and control impulsive behavior and may be at higher risk for depression. Teenagers and adults with omega-3 deficiency may be more prone to hostility or violence. In aging, the loss of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain may result in a higher risk of stroke, memory problems, or dementia. Individuals of any age without adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain and body may also be at higher risk for depression, bipolar disorder, and possibly other psychiatric disorders.
The Omega3 Connection by Andrew L Stoll MD, page 40
Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial because they provide fluidity to cell membranes and improve communication between brain cells. Omega-3s also reduce the clotting ability of platelets, thus potentially decreasing the incidence of heart attacks and strokes. Two very important omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). They are found in seafood, especially mackerel, salmon, striped bass, rainbow trout, halibut, tuna, and sardines. In the body, DHA is found mostly in the brain, retina, and in sperm. DHA plays an important role in vision. B) Omega-6 fatty acids are made from linoleic acid, a fatty acid found in vegetable oils such as corn, safflower, cottonseed, and sunflower. Mayonnaise and salad oils normally contain a great amount of omega-6 fatty acids. Unlike omega-3s, which are concentrated in the brain, omega-6s are found in most tissues in the body. The double bond of an omega-6 fatty acid starts six carbons from the left. Most Americans generally have a much higher intake of the omega-6s than the omega-3s.
Mind Boosters by Dr Ray Sahelia MD, page 69
One of the most important of these fats is called docosohexiaonic acid or DHA. This fat plays an important role in the formation of the synaptic connections within the brain. These connections allow the various parts of the brain to communicate with each other and communicate with the body as well.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 34
Adequate levels of DHA are required for proper brain and eye development and function. DHA is important for signal transmission in the brain, eye, and nervous system.
Heart Disease by Burton Goldberg, page 46
Essential fatty acids are important in both stroke prevention and during the repair of brain tissue damaged by stroke. The brain is almost entirely composed of fatty acids. The Framingham study confirmed that the friendly fats have a beneficial effect on stroke prevention. Essential fatty acids include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) found in perilla and flaxseed oils and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) found in cold-water fish oil. Fish oils reduce inflammation due to their high content of DHA and EPA. Fish oil acts as platelet aggregation inhibitors as well as triglyceride lowering agents.
Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page 533
DHA is not only very critical in brain development but also in maintenance of the brain later in life. Don't forget, the brain is constantly restructured throughout life, even into the extremes of age. Unfortunately, because of food-processing methods and industrial raising of animals as meat sources, most omega-3 fatty acids have been removed from our foods.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 315
Fish oil is probably the most important dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are vital nutrients. These fatty acids reduce inflammation, protect against the abnormal clotting associated with heart attacks, inhibit cancer, and protect brain function. There may be other benefits, too: a 1992 study published in the journal Lancet, for example, suggested that omega-3 fatty acids prolong pregnancy by a few days and improve birth weights.
Ask Dr Weil by Andrew Weil MD, page 92
The basic building blocks of our brain cells are essential fatty acids such as EPA and DHA from fish oil. These fatty acids are also used as fuel for brain metabolism and help control the chronic inflammatory processes involved in degenerative brain disorders.
Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page 22
In the last month of pregnancy and first month of neonatal life, omega-3 fatty acids are rapidly incorporated into the brain of the baby. Be sure to include extra amounts of salmon, sardines, or flax into your diet during this period.
8 Weeks To Optimum Health by Andrew Weil MD, page 217
DHA is found in foods that many people have given up in the name of good health, such as organ meats and eggs. It is also abundant in fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and albacore tuna; however, most Americans do not eat significant quantities of fish. DHA is found in high concentration in the gray matter of the brain and the retina of the eye. It is also instrumental in the function of brain cell membranes, which are important for the transmission of brain signals.
Earl Mindell's Supplement Bible by Earl Mindell RPh PhD, page 44
A major building block of human brain tissue and the primary structural fatty acid in the gray matter of the brain and the retina, DHA is vital for brain and eye health. Studies indicate that DHA may have cardiovascular benefits as well as neurological benefits. Although the body can convert alpha-linolenic acid into DHA, the amount produced is minimal so you are better off getting DHA directly from food.
Fight Back With Food by Readers Digest, page 73
EPA and DHA are important fatty acids in maintaining proper memory and cognitive function. Therefore, I consider fish oils to be a crucial component of the mind-boosting program presented in this book. Taking a small amount of antioxidants, such as a few units of vitamin E, along with the fish-oil supplements seems prudent.
Mind Boosters by Dr Ray Sahelia MD, page 77
Studies strongly suggest that DHA, the fatty acid found in fish, is essential for normal mental function. These fatty acids may have many jobs in the body, including a possible role in the production of neurotransmitters. In fact, research has shown that primates fed a diet low in this particular fat actually became more violent and aggressive. The same may be true for humans.
Earl Mindells Secret Remedies by Earl Mindell RPh PhD, page 110
Eat plenty of cold-water fish such as tuna, trout, mackerel, and salmon, Dr. Khalsa suggests. They're rich in omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients that help protect brain cells.
Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb, page 21
Fish have easily digestible protein, many trace nutrients, high quality essential fatty acids, low cholesterol levels and low saturated fat levels. This makes them a nearly ideal source of dietary protein. Fish that contain high Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to our good health. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), the Omega 3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish, are found in all the cells of our body. They are especially abundant in brain cells, nerve synapses, retina, adrenal glands and sex glands. If we are healthy, we can make EPA and DHA oils from Omega 3 oils found in foods. But many of us have decreased ability to make this conversion, especially people who are aging or who have a chronic illness or degenerative condition. Eating fish gives us these necessary fatty acids directly. The fish richest in this oil are salmon, halibut, tuna, mackerel, trout, sardines, eel and herring. Low-fat fish or fish from tropical waters are still healthful to eat, but they do not have any significant levels of EPA/DHA oils.
Digestive Wellness by Elizabeth Lipski MS CCN, page 166
When it comes to providing protection for the brain and encouraging overall brain health, DHA may be the more important fatty acid. Studies found that DHA supplementation significantly decreased the number of reference memory errors and working memory errors in aged male rats as well as in young rats.
Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page 22
Essential fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are important in neurological repair because the brain is composed almost entirely of fatty acids. They also have very strong anti-inflammatory properties.
Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page 531
The EPA of oily fish or fish oil supplements assist development of the fetal brain. They prolong gestation and increase birth weight.
Bartrams Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Thomas Bartram, page 350
Omega-3 essential fatty acids: These beneficial fats maintain the fluidity of nerve cell membranes. They also are important for building cells; for preserving brain, nerve, and eye function; and for lowering the risk of high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. We recommend taking 1,000 to 3,000 milligrams of omega-3s in supplement form every day. The
Rhodiola Revolution by Richard P Brown MD and Patricia L Gerbarg MD, page 215
Although for years scientists understood that fish oil could lighten the burden of heart disease, arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, only recently have they focused on the impact of fish oil in the brain. New evidence shows that fish oil may also be therapeutic for mood and brain disturbances. Dr. Norman Salem at the National Institute of mental health says low levels of omega-3s, especially one fraction called DHA, which is rich in salmon, are linked to depression, aggressive behavior, brain damage from alcohol, attention deficit disorder, and possibly Alzheimer's disease. Too little DHA and other omega-3 fat in brain cell membranes, says Dr. Salem, may compromise proper brain functioning in various ways.
Miracle Cures by Jean Carper, page 180
The brain is 60 percent fat—and essential fatty acids are an integral component of this fat. Perhaps the most critical of these essential fatty acids is DHA, which is necessary for memory and learning. Since a certain amount of alpha linolenic acid from flaxseed is converted into DHA, this supplement can be a beneficial memory booster. Also, omega-3 fatty acids have an antiinflammatory effect, which appears to be important for brain health.
Natural Physicians Healing Therapies by Mark Stengler ND, page 188
The latest research from Japan demonstrates why DHA is also necessary to maintain optimum brain functioning in adults, and why it could turn out to be critical for the prevention and possible reversal of Alzheimer's disease!
Underground Cures by Health Sciences Institute, page 104
When the level of DHA drops, reducing axon flexibility, the arms become hardened and signals are transmitted more slowly. Researchers in Japan have recently observed that the absence of DHA is associated with many cognitive and mental-health conditions, such as depression, schizophrenia, and dementia of the Alzheimer's type.
Underground Cures by Health Sciences Institute, page 104
The basic building blocks of your brain cells are essential fatty acids such as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) from fish oil. These fatty acids are also used as fuel for brain metabolism and they help control chronic inflammatory processes involved in degenerative brain disorders. When it comes to protecting brain health, DHA may be the more important fatty acid. One study found that DHA supplementation significantly decreased the number of reference memory errors and working memory errors in aged male rats and in young rats.
Power Aging by Gary Null, page 173
The omega-3 fatty acids are an integral part of the structure and function of the brain. The brain does not function well unless adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids circulate in the bloodstream and are incorporated into cell membranes. Omega-3 fatty acids also appear to influence the brain chemicals involved in antidepressant action. For example, French scientists have shown that rats deficient in omega-3 fatty acids had more receptors for the neurotransmitter serotonin and a corresponding decrease in dopamine in the frontal cortex. The direction of the changes in these neurotransmitter systems is consistent with some human models of major depression. Not surprisingly, other scientists have observed that increasing the dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids boosted the levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the frontal cortex of rats. In humans, increased dopamine in the frontal cortex increases drive and motivation, attributes lacking in the depressed person.
The Omega3 Connection by Andrew L Stoll MD, page 117
Research on infants shows that DHA is essential for normal brain development, thinking, and concentration in infants. While breast-fed infants are smarter than formula-fed infants, a study from the University of Dundee, United Kingdom, found that term infants fed DHA-fortified formulas for the first four months of life scored higher on problem-solving tests at ten months of age.
Food & Mood by Elizabeth Somer MA RD, page 200
Some experts insist that omega-3 fatty acid, the type found in fish, may be the magic intelligence-boosting ingredient in mother's milk. Omega-3s have been found critical in fetal and infant brain development. Thus, experts advise pregnant and lactating women to eat seafood to ensure that their children's developing brains are supplied with omega-3 oils.
Food Your Miracle Medicine by Jean Carper, page 285
The human body converts Omega-3 fats into DHA—a nutrient that is needed by all of us, and one that is especially critical for the brain development of fetuses and newborns. There are, however, indications that there can be a great deal of variation among people in how efficiently their bodies convert Omega-3 fats into DHA. For this reason, I strongly advise those pregnant and nursing women who choose not to eat fish to be certain to include ample amounts of flax seed oil in their diet, and as well to take supplementary DHA. Fatty fish are high in DHA, which is good, but they are often high in toxic metals and environmental contaminants that are particularly damaging to babies.
Food Revolution by John Robbins, page 93
DHA is essential for the growth and functional development of the fetal and infant brain and visual system. Human breast milk contains DHA but, unless supplemented with DHA, infant formulas in the U.S. do not contain any significant amounts. In Europe and Japan, by contrast, infant formulas are routinely supplemented with DHA.
PDR For Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendle and David Rorvik, page 140
DHA is vital for normal brain development for the fetus and infant and for the maintenance of normal brain function throughout life. DHA appears to be a major determinant of membrane fluidity in brain cells, and this could play a major role in the maintenance of normal cognition and mood.
PDR For Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendle and David Rorvik, page 148
Researchers have found that breast-fed babies have higher intelligence than bottle-fed babies, probably because of the omega-3 found in mother's milk. And it doesn't help just babies. A study showed that older men who ate fish regularly had better working brains than men who didn't eat fish.
Eat and Heal by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, page 164
While growing older is something we must all embrace, unless brain cells have withered and died, the diminishment of our mental abilities is not inevitable. The various causes of mental decline can be reversed and the progression of degenerative changes to the brain's neurons can be slowed. "Losing control of your mental faculties as you age isn't inevitable and can be reversed," says brain longevity expert Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., author of brain Longevity. Even in the late stages, Alzheimer's disease can be halted or at least slowed down; catch it early enough and it can be reversed. And if you deal with the possibility of brain decline at mid-life, your chances of preventing it altogether are high.
Alternative Medicine by Burton Goldberg, page 325
Added support to the claim of essentiality is the observation that large amounts of DHA have been found in the brain and eyes. In one experiment, female monkeys were fed diets low in DHA during pregnancy. Their offspring suffered from eye defects until their diet was supplemented by DHA.
Saturated Fat May Save Your Life by Bruce Fife ND, page 43
DHA plays a particularly crucial role in the brain development of infants and children. Together with other long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, DHA accumulates in the fetal brain late in pregnancy, and continues to accumulate during an infant's first few months of life. Human breast milk contains much more of these critical fats than cows’ milk or formula, so babies who are not breastfed have lower levels of these important nutrients. Researchers have determined that these important fatty acids affect intelligence in infancy and perhaps later in life.
The memory Solution by Dr Julian Whitaker, page 118
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the normal development of the unborn baby's brain, especially during the final three months of gestation when the size of its brain increases threefold. If the mother fails to get enough of these nutrients in her diet, the fetus will pirate what she has stored in her tissues—including her brain. Lab tests show that new mothers have half the normal blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Women who breast-feed their babies have even lower levels of DHA because they are continuing to supply the baby's need for omega-3 fatty acids. If a woman does not replenish her store of these essential elements following the birth of a child, she will have lower and lower levels with each additional child. Some people suggest this is why firstborn children score higher on intelligence tests. Until now, people have attributed the well-documented mental superiority of firstborn children to the fact they spend more one-on-one time with a parent. It is now being suggested that their greater cognitive abilities may also be due to a more generous supply of maternal DHA.
The Omega Diet by Artemis P Simopoulos MD and Jo Robinson, page 95
Evidence from the nursery suggests that they might. Human breast milk contains DHA, but infant formulas do not. (U.S. manufacturers of baby food are not yet required to add DHA to their products.) As a result, breast-fed babies have more DHA in their brains and retinas than bottle-fed babies. Breast-fed babies also have better visual acuity than bottle-fed babies, and, years later, score higher on standardized tests of reading, visual interpretation, sentence completion, nonverbal skills, and math. The superior performance of breast-fed babies could be due to any number of factors, however, including the fact that women who breast-feed their babies tend to be of a higher socioeconomic class. But careful studies show that DHA plays a key role in cognitive development.
The Omega Diet by Artemis P Simopoulos MD and Jo Robinson, page 89
Most of the clinical data on omega-3 fatty acids involves fish oil and its omega-3 components. Fish oil contains the two primary long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. DHA is generally incorporated into the cell membranes found throughout the body, but it is found in highest concentration in the retina, brain, and sperm. DHA is crucial for normal brain development and optimal cognitive and visual functioning in the fetus and newborn.
The Omega3 Connection by Andrew L Stoll MD, page 208
The studies have been somewhat mixed, but it appears that adult humans cannot convert enough ALA to EPA and then to DHA. Newborns appear to be better able to transform ALA to the longer-chain omega-3s, but these conversions may still be inadequate to fill the huge need of young children for omega-3 fatty acids. Thus, some nutritional scientists believe we must consume the fish and fish oil-derived long-chain omega-3 s directly for optimal brain health. Strict vegetarians likely have lower levels of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, than non-vegetarians, but may in the future be able to purchase both EPA and DHA supplements derived directly from algae.
The Omega3 Connection by Andrew L Stoll MD, page 46
DHA is critical for the proper development and function of the brain because your brain cells need it to transmit electrical impulses efficiently. It's not surprising, therefore, that a DHA deficiency can lead to memory, behavior, and learning problems.
Natural Physicians Healing Therapies by Mark Stengler ND, page 176
Most people may be deficient in DHA because of ALA to DHA conversion problems; DHA is found preformed in fresh sea vegetables, in cold water salmon, cod, sardines, mackerel, in fish oils. Its precursor is Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), composing 5 0-60% of Flaxseed oil, and 8-20% in unhydrogenated Soy, Walnut, Pumpkin, and Hemp seed oils. The brain sends messages to the body through the Central Nervous System, composed of positively-charged atom salts of Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium in the blood that keys either Motor Nerves' muscular activity, or Sensory Nerves' pain feedback, electrically via thousands of little cellular batteries.
Anti-Aging Manual by Joseph B Marion, page 732
One type of omega-3 fatty acid is called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is found throughout the fatty tissue in our brains, and it appears to play a role in how our brain functions. A growing body of research has confirmed that infants who are deficient in levels of this fatty acid have less than optimal neurological function, especially intelligence. Furthermore, a great number of neurological conditions, such as depression, attention deficit disorder, and schizophrenia, also have a high correlation with deficient levels of DHA in the bloodstream. Researchers have found that patients with bipolar depression often respond dramatically to very high dose supplementation with oils rich in DHA.
The Okinawa Program by Bradley J Willcox MD Craig Willcox PhD Makoto Suzuki MD, page 277
Studies show that essential fatty acids, the building blocks of the brain and nervous system, are lacking in many MS patients. Multiple sclerosis is most common in Western countries where people consume large amounts of meat, dairy products, and processed foods— all foods low in essential fatty acids—and is least common in countries where diets are high in unsaturated fats, including seed oils, olive oil, oily fish, fresh fruits, and vegetables—all foods high in essential fatty acids. A predominantly meat versus vegetarian diet seems to be a significant risk factor.
Alternative Medicine by Burton Goldberg, page 810
The types of fat in your diet may influence your memory, moods, response to stress, and learning ability. Your brain contains a high percentage of fat. This is "structural" fat, the kind that helps form your cell membranes and plays a vital role in how your brain cells function. Your brain is unusually rich in the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. Human breast milk contains DHA, but in the United States and some other countries, infant formulas do not. Breast-fed babies score higher on many types of standardized tests than bottle-fed babies. DHA has improved brain function in infants, adults, and the elderly.
The Omega Diet by Artemis P Simopoulos MD and Jo Robinson, page 99
The brain is 60 percent fat and requires essential fatty acids, especially DHA, to function properly. It has been shown that people deficient in DHA are much more likely to suffer from depression.
Natural Physicians Healing Therapies by Mark Stengler ND, page 180
The Omega fatty acids play a prominent role in a person's mental health. A number of mental disorders, including schizophrenia and manic-depression, may very well be manifestations of an Omega deficiency.
Omega 3 Oils by Donald Rudin MD and Clara Felix, page 209
Special fats found in fish oil, called the omega-3 fatty acids, help regulate mood by increasing serotonin levels, the nerve chemical that relieves depression. Low intake of fish oils lowers brain levels of serotonin in animals and increases aggressive and hostile behaviors. Similar effects have been noted in humans with lower fish oil consumption and serotonin levels, including increased rates of impulsive suicide attempts, according to researchers at the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in Bethesda, Maryland.
Food & Mood by Elizabeth Somer MA RD, page 186
Some experts believe fish fights depression because neurotransmitters, the brain's Pony Express riders that carry messages from cell to cell, have an easier time wriggling through fat membranes made of fluid omega-3 than any other kind of fat. This means your brain's important messages get delivered.
Eat and Heal by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, page 146
Scientists don't know exactly how omega-3's protect against depression, but they do know that the fats are important to health of neurons, or brain cells. To get sufficient omega-3's to battle depression, Dr. Zuess recommends taking approximately 10 grams a day of DHA and EPA, which usually amounts to about 30 fish-oil capsules daily. Take them in divided doses with meals. This remedy is safe for long-term use.
Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb, page 191
Fatigue and depression often go hand in hand. To help a blue mood, Dr. Schwartz suggests taking 1,000 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for normal brain function. Take the supplement every day at breakfast, she advises.
Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb, page 252
Dr. Andrew Stoll, a Harvard psychiatrist, found that fish oil capsules helped people with bipolar disorder, or manic depression, who go through periods of extreme highs and lows. He says, "The striking difference in relapse rates and response appeared to be highly clinically significant." Stoll suggests the omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil may slow down neurons in your brain, much like the drug Lithium, which is used to treat manic depression.
Eat and Heal by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, page 146
Research conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston indicated that omega-3s block abnormal brain cell signaling in patients who have bipolar disorder. Therefore, omega-3s can be a powerful adjunct in treating this illness.
Bottom Line Yearbook 2004 by Bottom Line Personnel, page 73
The point is that the origin of depression may be physical, such as deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids, folate, or B12, rather than mental. As another example, the bacteria in your gut can affect your brain chemistry; these bacteria release substances that can cause depression because they interfere with the brain's neurotransmitters (the chemicals in our brain that are involved with mood and thinking).
Ultraprevention by Mark Hyman MD and Mark Liponis MD, page 67
Fish oil even helped migraine sufferers have fewer and less severe headaches. And there is strong evidence that omega-3 fats can help with a host of mental illnesses including depression, mood disorders, and even schizophrenia. Some doctors even think the epidemic amounts of mental illness in modern societies can be traced back to the omega imbalance in the food supply.
Eat and Heal by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, page 164
Omega-3 fatty acids, which are lacking in most people's diets in the United States, are abundantly present in the brain and are essential for normal brain function. Though little is currently known about how omega-3 fatty acids regulate mood, recent findings show a correlation between low levels of these compounds and depression.
Fight Back With Food by Readers Digest, page 73
Recent research at Harvard has shown that supplemental essential fatty acids can improve the symptoms of bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder. This is based on the fundamental understanding that the cells of the brain normally contain high levels of DHA, which is also commonly found in fish fat, and that adequate levels of this type of fat are critical for healthy communication between brain cells.
Ultraprevention by Mark Hyman MD and Mark Liponis MD, page 13
Schizophrenia is a devastating mental disorder that tends to strike early in adulthood. New antipsychotic drugs have helped many schizophrenics function minimally in society, but they have failed to relieve all of the troubling symptoms. Recently, three independent groups of researchers have found that schizophrenics have abnormally low levels of DHA. Prompted by these findings, a fourth group treated twenty schizophrenic patients with fish oil. The therapy was well tolerated and relieved both types of symptoms commonly seen in schizophrenics: "positive symptoms," such as delusions and hallucinations, and "negative symptoms," such as social withdrawal and lack of emotions. Some patients also got relief from abnormal involuntary movements called "tardive dyskinesia," which are a common side effect of prolonged drug treatment. The investigators concluded that omega-3 fatty acids present "novel and exciting therapeutic possibilities."
The Omega Diet by Artemis P Simopoulos MD and Jo Robinson, page 98
Depression is linked with low blood levels of DHA. Alcohol leaches DHA out of the brain. Between 16 and 50 percent of alcoholics suffer from depression, as do up to 70 percent of chronic, heavy drinkers. If a pregnant woman does not have enough omega-3 fatty acids in her diet, the fetus will rob the fatty acids from her tissues. If a woman has additional children and does not replace the missing EFAs, a woman will have lower levels of DHA with each subsequent child. A lack of DHA has been linked with postpartum depression.
The Omega Diet by Artemis P Simopoulos MD and Jo Robinson, page 99
The link between aspartame and brain tumors: What the FDA never told you about artificial sweeteners
On September 30, 1980, a public Board of Inquiry advised against the approval of aspartame, stating: "The Board has not been presented with proof of a reasonable certainty that aspartame (NutraSweet) is safe for use as a food additive under its intended conditions of use." In 1981, however, the FDA approved aspartame for consumer use based on studies that seem tainted by heavy financial interest in its approval. To many medical practitioners and consumer interest groups, the approval was a gross betrayal of public trust. "To think that there is even a reasonable doubt that aspartame can induce brain tumors in the American population is frightening. And to think that the FDA has lulled them into a false sense of security is a monumental crime," writes Dr. Russell L. Blaylock in Excitotoxins. In 2005, twenty-five years after the initial Board of Inquiry's caution against approval, numerous adults and children consume aspartame-sweetened products on a daily basis, despite reservations regarding its safety.
Drinking Formaldehyde
The next time you pop open a can of diet soda, pause for a moment to consider what exactly you're drinking. As the aspartame gets broken down in your digestive tract, a metabolic by-product called DKP appears. According to Dr. Blaylock, when your stomach processes DKP, it produces a compound very similar to N-nitrosourea, a powerful brain tumor-causing chemical. In addition, aspartame contains methanol, which the body breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is one of the main substances pumped into a dead body during the embalming process.
Now, when I'm dead, the morticians can pump formaldehyde into my body. Before then, however, I don't want to be pumped full of any chemical used in the embalming process, and I'm sure you don't, either. According to Dr. Blaylock, formaldehyde accumulates near DNA and causes serious damage. "Drinking even one diet cola a day can cause formaldehyde buildup in cells, so that the amount of the toxin increases daily," he writes in Health and Nutrition Secrets.
"Urban myths" of the aspartame industry
You can visit the website for Equal, which says that aspartame-induced tumors, migraines, seizures and nervous system disorders are just "urban myths." If you believe that, you probably also believe the aspartame industry's argument that the studies that resulted in the condemnation of their products were based on lab rats instead of humans. Just take note, however, that "spontaneous brain tumors in laboratory rats are extremely rare," according to Dr. H.J. Roberts in Aspartame (NutraSweet): Is It Safe?. So before you believe what the manufacturers of aspartame products would like to tell you, consider first the fact that for extensively-studied, generic laboratory rats, "brain tumors are extremely rare before age one and one-half," according to Dr. Blaylock. Afterward, compare that observation to study results cited by Dr. Blaylock that indicate "aspartame-fed rats developed two tumors by 60 weeks of age and five tumors by 70 weeks." Now, do you still believe it's an "urban myth?"
In light of the truth regarding the safety of aspartame products, it is ironic that consumers often turn to no-calorie diet products because of concern for their health, especially in regard to obesity. The aspartame industry promises consumers a reduction in calories without having to drastically change their diet. Unfortunately, misinformed consumers believe this. To the more informed readers out there: Don't beguile yourselves chasing false promises. You can lose weight by maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise and good food choices. The NaturalNews website can provide you with information you need to start making these changes. Additionally, if you want a truly natural way to sweeten your foods and drinks, try stevia. You can learn more about stevia at NaturalNews's stevia archive. The right information is available to you, but it's up to you to discern the good from the bad and make healthy lifestyle choices.
The experts speak on aspartame and brain tumors:
"September 30, 1980: A public Board of Inquiry advises against aspartame"
A Public Board of Inquiry (PBOI) advised against the approval of aspartame on September 30, 1980 pending further testing relative to induced brain tumors. It asserted: "The Board has not been presented with proof of a reasonable certainty that aspartame (nutrasweet) is safe for use as a food additive under its intended conditions of use."
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 19
"Results of studies prior to the FDA's approval of aspartame"
…. The fact that 320 aspartame fed rats developed six brain tumors by seventy-six weeks indicates an "incredible and unprecedented'' occurrence. ..
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 213
This particularly nasty substance should have never even been approved for human use. In fact, had it not been for some fancy footwork by those in power in the FDA, it never would have. Early experiments using low, medium and high doses with aspartame all found dramatic tumor increases in test animals. These included brain, pancreas, and breast tumors…
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 196
Importantly, brain tumors are extremely rare before age one and one-half in the rat. So in truth the incidence of spontaneously occurring brain tumors would be even less than cited above. Yet, the aspartame fed rats developed two tumors by sixty weeks of age and five tumors by seventy weeks.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 213
Dr. M. Adrian Gross, a respected FDA scientist-pathologist, listed dozens of "serious deficiencies" by a manufacturer and its representatives concerning the prelicensing evaluation of aspartame in animal studies . . . the most serious pertaining to brain tumors.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 11
When Dr. John Olney pointed out these findings to the FDA "aspartame Board of Inquiry" he was told that the high incidence of tumors was the result of spontaneous development of brain tumors in rats. .. He reviewed the incidence of spontaneously occurring brain tumors in rats and found that out of seven studies using a total of 59,000 rats, only 0.08% developed brain tumors—the aspartame fed rats had a forty-seven fold higher incidence. But to be fair, he even accepted G.D. Searle's references for spontaneously developing brain tumors in rats and arrives at a figure of 0.15%. This was still a twenty-five fold higher incidence in the aspartame fed rats than in the controls.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 212
There has been virtually no outcry by health professionals, the FDA or the public over the approval of aspartame-containing products for human consumption when pre-licensing animal studies showed brain and uterine tumors in rats (Cornell 1984). …
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 225
The study divided the rats into those exposed to low doses of aspartame and those exposed to a high dose. In the low dose group five of the rats developed brain tumors for and incidence of 3.13%. In the high dose group, seven developed brain tumors (4.38%). This indicates a dose related incidence of brain tumors. The higher the dose of aspartame, the more brain tumors were induced.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 212
"The FDA approved aspartame in 1981: Why?"
It is interesting to note that the first experiments done to test the safety of aspartame before its final approval in 1981 disclosed a high incidence of brain tumors in the animals fed nutrasweet® .4S4 In fact, this study was done by the manufacturer of nutrasweet®, G.D. Searle. In this study 320 rats were fed aspartame and 120 rats were fed a normal diet and used as controls. The study lasted two years. At the end of the study twelve of the aspartame fed rats had developed brain tumors (astrocytomas), while none of the control rats had. This represented a 3.75% incidence of brain tumors in the rats fed aspartame, which was twenty-five times higher than the incidence of spontaneous brain tumors developing in rats (0.15%) …
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 212
Despite concerns over the safety of this new sweetener, including brain tumor induction in experimental animals, seizures, precipitation of headaches, and an adverse effect on the developing brain, the FDA approved its use as an artificial sweetener. Sales began to grow immediately. The nutrasweet® company spent over 60 million dollars on advertising alone during its first three years.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 218
…. What is ironic is that the FDA would accept studies from a company with an obvious heavy financial interest in having aspartame approved. But even more amazing is that they would depend on this same company to provide studies that they, FDA, knew beforehand were highly questionable and possibly fraudulent upon which they would make such an important public safety decision.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 214
"In view of all these indications that the cancer-causing potential of aspartame is a matter that has been established way beyond any reasonable doubt, one can ask: 'What is the reason for the apparent refusal by the FDA to invoke for this food additive the Delaney Amendment to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act?' "
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 225
…. To think that there is even a reasonable doubt that aspartame can induce brain tumors in the American population is frightening. And to think that the FDA has lulled them into a false sense of security is a monumental crime.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 214
"How aspartame possibly causes tumors"
But the story gets even more interesting. Dr. Olney hypothesized that one possible cause of the tumor induction was a by-product of aspartame metabolism called diketopiperazine (DKP). When nitrosated by the gut it produces a compound closely resembling a powerful brain tumor causing chemical— N-nitrosourea.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 213
Several possibilities explain the high rate of cancer in these animals. One is that aspartame breaks down in the body into a substance called diketopiperizine or DKP, which chemically closely resembles a group of cancer-causing chemicals. aspartame also contains methanol, which breaks down in the body into formaldehyde and formic acid. Formaldehyde had been shown to accumulate near DNA, causing serious damage that is accumulative. That means that drinking even one diet cola a day can cause formaldehyde buildup in cells, so that the amount of the toxin increases daily.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 197
"Results and accuracy of animal studies"
…. The study showed that in 320 nutrasweet-fed rats there were 12 brain tumors whereas in a group of concurrent control rats which were not exposed to nutrasweet, there were no brain tumors. Being a neuropathologist, I know that spontaneous brain tumors in laboratory rats are extremely rare. The archival literature documents an incidence not exceeding 0.6%. Since the above incidence in nutrasweet-fed rats is 3.75%, this suggests that nutrasweet may cause brain tumors and certainly suggests the need for additional in-depth research to rule out that possibility . . .
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 226
Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats fed aspartame in the diet at various levels for up to 2 years were observed for the incidence of brain tumors (G. D. Searle and Co., 1973b). After the study was completed, the FDA appointed an independent board of inquiry to review the data. The board concluded that aspartame was a possible carcinogen, based on three of the study's findings: The incidence of brain neoplasms in aspartame-fed rats was greater than that in controls, …
Diet Nutrition Cancer by National Research Council, page 311
…. Dr. Lampert personally examined the microscopic slides pertaining to the brain tumor studies and told me a year or so after the PBOI report was completed that he had been surprised at the large size of the brain tumors in the nutrasweet-fed rats."
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 226
… brain tumors in all age groups jumped by greater than ten percent….Dr. H. J. Roberts, who has written an excellent book on the dangers of aspartame, has collected some evidence that one particular type of brain tumor may be associated with nutrasweet®.488 This tumor is known as a primary lymphoma of the brain. It is a particularly nasty tumor with a high mortality rate.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 215
Other observations in both animals studies and aspartame reactors should evoke concern about the potential tumor-causing role of aspartame-containing products.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 221
"Should you consume aspartame?"
…and aspar-tame (nutrasweet) …. Some experts suspect them of promoting cancer and having toxic effects on the nervous system. You are much better off eating moderate amounts of sugar than any of these unnatural compounds.
8 Weeks To Optimum Health By Andrew Weil MD, page 51
ACTIONS TO aspartame-CONTAINING products may pose potential public health threats. This chapter will address some of these possibilities—including aspartame-related accidents, suicide, criminality, cancer, and excessive diagnostic radiation.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 222
…. Avoid all nutrasweet®, Equal®, and aspartame in any form. There is evidence that this sweetener can impair your genetic structure, increase cancer risk and can be toxic to your nervous system.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 395
"I would view the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) set by the FDA for aspartame (50 mg/kg body weight/ day) as totally unwarranted and extremely high in that it can be associated with completely unacceptable risks as far as the induction of such (brain) tumors is concerned. It is clear that risks of this magnitude for what the FDA regards as a 'safe' level of exposure to aspartame represent an outright calamity or disaster." (Italics supplied)
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 237
and extremely high in that it can be associated with completely unacceptable risks as far as the induction of such (brain) tumors is concerned- It is clear that risks of this magnitude for what the FDA regards as a '"safe'" level of exposure to aspartame represents an outright calamity or disaster.23
Miracle Of Stevia by James A May, page 188
Some primary brain lymphomas are associated with immune depression seen with AIDS. One would expect these to increase. But there is also a dramatic increase in these previously rare tumors in individuals without AIDS.489 Some have suggested that the recent increase in brain tumors merely reflects better diagnostic methods. But a recent study found this not to be true; the increase is real.490 Dr. Roberts feels that an association with the tremendous rise in the use of aspartame products in the last decade may hold the answer.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 215
"Aspartame and other disorders"
A 57-year-old executive developed severe insomnia. His physician attributed it to "jet lag" because of his frequent travels abroad. He was consuming 10 to 12 cans of an aspartame cola and 4 to 6 packets of an aspartame powdered sweetener daily. A tranquilizer (Halcion®) was prescribed—but only intensified the insomnia. He was referred to a psychiatrist for possible depression . . . then to an endocrinologist for a possible brain tumor. The psychiatrist treated him for three years, during which time he was ".. becoming significantly more moody, nervous, and experiencing memory loss and speech difficulties (frustrating to me, but really not that noticeable to others)." Low doses of the antidepressant drug Tofranil® triggered "a near panic attack." within two weeks after discontinuing aspartame products, he was markedly improved.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 120
... Phenylalanine is the toxic component seen in the childhood disorder called phenylketonuria or PKU. In this disorder, phenylalanine accumulates in the blood and hence brain, in very high concentrations. Carriers for the gene develop blood levels of phenylalanine twice as high as those of normal people, when consuming an equal amount of aspartame. … In addition, the metabolic breakdown of aspartame yields about a dozen toxic compounds, some of which have been associated with cancer induction and alteration of brain function. The fewer of these toxins and foreign chemicals you expose your unborn child to the better. This also applies to newborns, toddlers, adolescents and adults as well. All of the toxins produced by ingesting aspartame must be detoxified and this puts a strain on the body's ability to cope.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 24
A 30-year-old woman consumed an average of five to six cups or glasses of aspartame beverages daily for 17 months. Ringing and pain in both ears, dizziness, and a severe headache began after the tenth month. Audiometric studies revealed considerable loss of hearing in the left ear. When brain tumor was ruled out by CT scan, the otology and neurology consultants diagnosed her problem as Meniere's disease. The patient herself, however, finally deduced that the aspartame drinks caused these symptoms because she could predictably reproduce them on rechallenge.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 141
I hope not, but ignoring the long-term problems seemingly associated with use of aspartame-containing products might portend another "thalidomide revolution". It is imperative that researchers who are not influenced by producer-corporations gather detailed data concerning the incidence rates of epilepsy, visual problems, allergies, Parkinsonism, brain tumors and Alzheimer's disease among aspartame consumers. The same applies to other disorders—including the frequency of birth defects, seizures, impaired intelligence and behavioral abnormalities among the children of women who ingested aspartame products at conception and during pregnancy.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 214
Many people believe that the real enemy among the sweeteners is aspartame — several Web sites are devoted to attacking it (among them holisticmed.com). It's been linked to everything from headaches, multiple sclerosis, loss of brain function, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, brain tumors, lymphoma, and lupus to diabetes itself. Some people may be sensitive to aspartame, which most commonly causes headaches. …
Living Low-Carb by Fran McCullough, page 107
Another food additive to avoid is aspartame, also called nutrasweet, …. More important, evidence now exists that aspartate affects the nervous system and spinal cord, promoting brain neurons to die, and thus leading to neurologic diseases, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). It also damages the brains of infants and children, who then have a higher that normal propensity for suffering neurologic diseases later in their lives….
Lupus by Sharon Moore, page 133
When the complainants stop using the product, the symptoms go away, returning only when they resume use of aspartame or products containing it. Many physicians refer to these symptoms as "aspartame disease." Some physicians and scientists believe it to be an underlying cause of brain tumors, comas, and death. The manufacturer of aspartame and the FDA deny any association between aspartame and these conditions.
Miracle Of Stevia by James A May, page 175
Drinking Formaldehyde
The next time you pop open a can of diet soda, pause for a moment to consider what exactly you're drinking. As the aspartame gets broken down in your digestive tract, a metabolic by-product called DKP appears. According to Dr. Blaylock, when your stomach processes DKP, it produces a compound very similar to N-nitrosourea, a powerful brain tumor-causing chemical. In addition, aspartame contains methanol, which the body breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is one of the main substances pumped into a dead body during the embalming process.
Now, when I'm dead, the morticians can pump formaldehyde into my body. Before then, however, I don't want to be pumped full of any chemical used in the embalming process, and I'm sure you don't, either. According to Dr. Blaylock, formaldehyde accumulates near DNA and causes serious damage. "Drinking even one diet cola a day can cause formaldehyde buildup in cells, so that the amount of the toxin increases daily," he writes in Health and Nutrition Secrets.
"Urban myths" of the aspartame industry
You can visit the website for Equal, which says that aspartame-induced tumors, migraines, seizures and nervous system disorders are just "urban myths." If you believe that, you probably also believe the aspartame industry's argument that the studies that resulted in the condemnation of their products were based on lab rats instead of humans. Just take note, however, that "spontaneous brain tumors in laboratory rats are extremely rare," according to Dr. H.J. Roberts in Aspartame (NutraSweet): Is It Safe?. So before you believe what the manufacturers of aspartame products would like to tell you, consider first the fact that for extensively-studied, generic laboratory rats, "brain tumors are extremely rare before age one and one-half," according to Dr. Blaylock. Afterward, compare that observation to study results cited by Dr. Blaylock that indicate "aspartame-fed rats developed two tumors by 60 weeks of age and five tumors by 70 weeks." Now, do you still believe it's an "urban myth?"
In light of the truth regarding the safety of aspartame products, it is ironic that consumers often turn to no-calorie diet products because of concern for their health, especially in regard to obesity. The aspartame industry promises consumers a reduction in calories without having to drastically change their diet. Unfortunately, misinformed consumers believe this. To the more informed readers out there: Don't beguile yourselves chasing false promises. You can lose weight by maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise and good food choices. The NaturalNews website can provide you with information you need to start making these changes. Additionally, if you want a truly natural way to sweeten your foods and drinks, try stevia. You can learn more about stevia at NaturalNews's stevia archive. The right information is available to you, but it's up to you to discern the good from the bad and make healthy lifestyle choices.
The experts speak on aspartame and brain tumors:
"September 30, 1980: A public Board of Inquiry advises against aspartame"
A Public Board of Inquiry (PBOI) advised against the approval of aspartame on September 30, 1980 pending further testing relative to induced brain tumors. It asserted: "The Board has not been presented with proof of a reasonable certainty that aspartame (nutrasweet) is safe for use as a food additive under its intended conditions of use."
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 19
"Results of studies prior to the FDA's approval of aspartame"
…. The fact that 320 aspartame fed rats developed six brain tumors by seventy-six weeks indicates an "incredible and unprecedented'' occurrence. ..
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 213
This particularly nasty substance should have never even been approved for human use. In fact, had it not been for some fancy footwork by those in power in the FDA, it never would have. Early experiments using low, medium and high doses with aspartame all found dramatic tumor increases in test animals. These included brain, pancreas, and breast tumors…
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 196
Importantly, brain tumors are extremely rare before age one and one-half in the rat. So in truth the incidence of spontaneously occurring brain tumors would be even less than cited above. Yet, the aspartame fed rats developed two tumors by sixty weeks of age and five tumors by seventy weeks.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 213
Dr. M. Adrian Gross, a respected FDA scientist-pathologist, listed dozens of "serious deficiencies" by a manufacturer and its representatives concerning the prelicensing evaluation of aspartame in animal studies . . . the most serious pertaining to brain tumors.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 11
When Dr. John Olney pointed out these findings to the FDA "aspartame Board of Inquiry" he was told that the high incidence of tumors was the result of spontaneous development of brain tumors in rats. .. He reviewed the incidence of spontaneously occurring brain tumors in rats and found that out of seven studies using a total of 59,000 rats, only 0.08% developed brain tumors—the aspartame fed rats had a forty-seven fold higher incidence. But to be fair, he even accepted G.D. Searle's references for spontaneously developing brain tumors in rats and arrives at a figure of 0.15%. This was still a twenty-five fold higher incidence in the aspartame fed rats than in the controls.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 212
There has been virtually no outcry by health professionals, the FDA or the public over the approval of aspartame-containing products for human consumption when pre-licensing animal studies showed brain and uterine tumors in rats (Cornell 1984). …
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 225
The study divided the rats into those exposed to low doses of aspartame and those exposed to a high dose. In the low dose group five of the rats developed brain tumors for and incidence of 3.13%. In the high dose group, seven developed brain tumors (4.38%). This indicates a dose related incidence of brain tumors. The higher the dose of aspartame, the more brain tumors were induced.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 212
"The FDA approved aspartame in 1981: Why?"
It is interesting to note that the first experiments done to test the safety of aspartame before its final approval in 1981 disclosed a high incidence of brain tumors in the animals fed nutrasweet® .4S4 In fact, this study was done by the manufacturer of nutrasweet®, G.D. Searle. In this study 320 rats were fed aspartame and 120 rats were fed a normal diet and used as controls. The study lasted two years. At the end of the study twelve of the aspartame fed rats had developed brain tumors (astrocytomas), while none of the control rats had. This represented a 3.75% incidence of brain tumors in the rats fed aspartame, which was twenty-five times higher than the incidence of spontaneous brain tumors developing in rats (0.15%) …
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 212
Despite concerns over the safety of this new sweetener, including brain tumor induction in experimental animals, seizures, precipitation of headaches, and an adverse effect on the developing brain, the FDA approved its use as an artificial sweetener. Sales began to grow immediately. The nutrasweet® company spent over 60 million dollars on advertising alone during its first three years.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 218
…. What is ironic is that the FDA would accept studies from a company with an obvious heavy financial interest in having aspartame approved. But even more amazing is that they would depend on this same company to provide studies that they, FDA, knew beforehand were highly questionable and possibly fraudulent upon which they would make such an important public safety decision.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 214
"In view of all these indications that the cancer-causing potential of aspartame is a matter that has been established way beyond any reasonable doubt, one can ask: 'What is the reason for the apparent refusal by the FDA to invoke for this food additive the Delaney Amendment to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act?' "
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 225
…. To think that there is even a reasonable doubt that aspartame can induce brain tumors in the American population is frightening. And to think that the FDA has lulled them into a false sense of security is a monumental crime.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 214
"How aspartame possibly causes tumors"
But the story gets even more interesting. Dr. Olney hypothesized that one possible cause of the tumor induction was a by-product of aspartame metabolism called diketopiperazine (DKP). When nitrosated by the gut it produces a compound closely resembling a powerful brain tumor causing chemical— N-nitrosourea.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 213
Several possibilities explain the high rate of cancer in these animals. One is that aspartame breaks down in the body into a substance called diketopiperizine or DKP, which chemically closely resembles a group of cancer-causing chemicals. aspartame also contains methanol, which breaks down in the body into formaldehyde and formic acid. Formaldehyde had been shown to accumulate near DNA, causing serious damage that is accumulative. That means that drinking even one diet cola a day can cause formaldehyde buildup in cells, so that the amount of the toxin increases daily.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 197
"Results and accuracy of animal studies"
…. The study showed that in 320 nutrasweet-fed rats there were 12 brain tumors whereas in a group of concurrent control rats which were not exposed to nutrasweet, there were no brain tumors. Being a neuropathologist, I know that spontaneous brain tumors in laboratory rats are extremely rare. The archival literature documents an incidence not exceeding 0.6%. Since the above incidence in nutrasweet-fed rats is 3.75%, this suggests that nutrasweet may cause brain tumors and certainly suggests the need for additional in-depth research to rule out that possibility . . .
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 226
Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats fed aspartame in the diet at various levels for up to 2 years were observed for the incidence of brain tumors (G. D. Searle and Co., 1973b). After the study was completed, the FDA appointed an independent board of inquiry to review the data. The board concluded that aspartame was a possible carcinogen, based on three of the study's findings: The incidence of brain neoplasms in aspartame-fed rats was greater than that in controls, …
Diet Nutrition Cancer by National Research Council, page 311
…. Dr. Lampert personally examined the microscopic slides pertaining to the brain tumor studies and told me a year or so after the PBOI report was completed that he had been surprised at the large size of the brain tumors in the nutrasweet-fed rats."
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 226
… brain tumors in all age groups jumped by greater than ten percent….Dr. H. J. Roberts, who has written an excellent book on the dangers of aspartame, has collected some evidence that one particular type of brain tumor may be associated with nutrasweet®.488 This tumor is known as a primary lymphoma of the brain. It is a particularly nasty tumor with a high mortality rate.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 215
Other observations in both animals studies and aspartame reactors should evoke concern about the potential tumor-causing role of aspartame-containing products.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 221
"Should you consume aspartame?"
…and aspar-tame (nutrasweet) …. Some experts suspect them of promoting cancer and having toxic effects on the nervous system. You are much better off eating moderate amounts of sugar than any of these unnatural compounds.
8 Weeks To Optimum Health By Andrew Weil MD, page 51
ACTIONS TO aspartame-CONTAINING products may pose potential public health threats. This chapter will address some of these possibilities—including aspartame-related accidents, suicide, criminality, cancer, and excessive diagnostic radiation.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 222
…. Avoid all nutrasweet®, Equal®, and aspartame in any form. There is evidence that this sweetener can impair your genetic structure, increase cancer risk and can be toxic to your nervous system.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 395
"I would view the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) set by the FDA for aspartame (50 mg/kg body weight/ day) as totally unwarranted and extremely high in that it can be associated with completely unacceptable risks as far as the induction of such (brain) tumors is concerned. It is clear that risks of this magnitude for what the FDA regards as a 'safe' level of exposure to aspartame represent an outright calamity or disaster." (Italics supplied)
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 237
and extremely high in that it can be associated with completely unacceptable risks as far as the induction of such (brain) tumors is concerned- It is clear that risks of this magnitude for what the FDA regards as a '"safe'" level of exposure to aspartame represents an outright calamity or disaster.23
Miracle Of Stevia by James A May, page 188
Some primary brain lymphomas are associated with immune depression seen with AIDS. One would expect these to increase. But there is also a dramatic increase in these previously rare tumors in individuals without AIDS.489 Some have suggested that the recent increase in brain tumors merely reflects better diagnostic methods. But a recent study found this not to be true; the increase is real.490 Dr. Roberts feels that an association with the tremendous rise in the use of aspartame products in the last decade may hold the answer.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 215
"Aspartame and other disorders"
A 57-year-old executive developed severe insomnia. His physician attributed it to "jet lag" because of his frequent travels abroad. He was consuming 10 to 12 cans of an aspartame cola and 4 to 6 packets of an aspartame powdered sweetener daily. A tranquilizer (Halcion®) was prescribed—but only intensified the insomnia. He was referred to a psychiatrist for possible depression . . . then to an endocrinologist for a possible brain tumor. The psychiatrist treated him for three years, during which time he was ".. becoming significantly more moody, nervous, and experiencing memory loss and speech difficulties (frustrating to me, but really not that noticeable to others)." Low doses of the antidepressant drug Tofranil® triggered "a near panic attack." within two weeks after discontinuing aspartame products, he was markedly improved.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 120
... Phenylalanine is the toxic component seen in the childhood disorder called phenylketonuria or PKU. In this disorder, phenylalanine accumulates in the blood and hence brain, in very high concentrations. Carriers for the gene develop blood levels of phenylalanine twice as high as those of normal people, when consuming an equal amount of aspartame. … In addition, the metabolic breakdown of aspartame yields about a dozen toxic compounds, some of which have been associated with cancer induction and alteration of brain function. The fewer of these toxins and foreign chemicals you expose your unborn child to the better. This also applies to newborns, toddlers, adolescents and adults as well. All of the toxins produced by ingesting aspartame must be detoxified and this puts a strain on the body's ability to cope.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 24
A 30-year-old woman consumed an average of five to six cups or glasses of aspartame beverages daily for 17 months. Ringing and pain in both ears, dizziness, and a severe headache began after the tenth month. Audiometric studies revealed considerable loss of hearing in the left ear. When brain tumor was ruled out by CT scan, the otology and neurology consultants diagnosed her problem as Meniere's disease. The patient herself, however, finally deduced that the aspartame drinks caused these symptoms because she could predictably reproduce them on rechallenge.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 141
I hope not, but ignoring the long-term problems seemingly associated with use of aspartame-containing products might portend another "thalidomide revolution". It is imperative that researchers who are not influenced by producer-corporations gather detailed data concerning the incidence rates of epilepsy, visual problems, allergies, Parkinsonism, brain tumors and Alzheimer's disease among aspartame consumers. The same applies to other disorders—including the frequency of birth defects, seizures, impaired intelligence and behavioral abnormalities among the children of women who ingested aspartame products at conception and during pregnancy.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 214
Many people believe that the real enemy among the sweeteners is aspartame — several Web sites are devoted to attacking it (among them holisticmed.com). It's been linked to everything from headaches, multiple sclerosis, loss of brain function, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, brain tumors, lymphoma, and lupus to diabetes itself. Some people may be sensitive to aspartame, which most commonly causes headaches. …
Living Low-Carb by Fran McCullough, page 107
Another food additive to avoid is aspartame, also called nutrasweet, …. More important, evidence now exists that aspartate affects the nervous system and spinal cord, promoting brain neurons to die, and thus leading to neurologic diseases, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). It also damages the brains of infants and children, who then have a higher that normal propensity for suffering neurologic diseases later in their lives….
Lupus by Sharon Moore, page 133
When the complainants stop using the product, the symptoms go away, returning only when they resume use of aspartame or products containing it. Many physicians refer to these symptoms as "aspartame disease." Some physicians and scientists believe it to be an underlying cause of brain tumors, comas, and death. The manufacturer of aspartame and the FDA deny any association between aspartame and these conditions.
Miracle Of Stevia by James A May, page 175
Did Statin Drugs Cause Senator Ted Kennedy's Brain Tumor?
Legions of well wishers look on as Senator Ted Kennedy struggles for his life, fighting against one of the most difficult types of brain tumors. Few men have had such an impact on the laws made in the United States. As a powerful member of the Senate HELP committee Kennedy has been a primary force shaping almost all health-related legislation for decades. Ironically, it may be the drugs he has so adamantly promoted that are the straw that broke the camel's back, leading to his brain tumor.
Few Americans receive the preferential care given to an important Senator like Kennedy. It is interesting to note what the "finest" care enables a person to receive. He is being treated at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital, arguably one of the best hospitals in the world – the same place he had surgery for a significantly blocked carotid artery in October of 2007.
Now that the public's attention will be diverted onto treating his cancer problem, not too many are going to explain that the care for his carotid artery problem could be a primary reason for his brain tumor suddenly emerging. Indeed, in Kennedy's situation the fox and the hen house are the same hospital – do you really expect them to take a close look at his situation when such an evaluation is self incriminating? And on the larger scale such an evaluation could lead to millions of Americans dumping their statin drugs in the trash.
Senator Kennedy's Health History
Kennedy is no poster child for health, fitness, or a healthy lifestyle. He is overweight and out of shape and has been for a long time. Eight months ago doctors found his left carotid artery mostly blocked and performed surgery to clean out the plaque. It took many years of abuse to create that problem. In all fairness to his doctors, Kennedy is not a very healthy patient. On the other hand, that is what doctors are for – treating patients who aren't healthy and getting them back to real health.
We know from publicly disclosed information that Kennedy was taking both blood pressure medication and statin drugs to lower cholesterol. We can assume that as part of the "finest medical care" his treatment to lower cholesterol was quite aggressive following his carotid artery surgery – now the "gold standard" of care being pushed on countless Americans. This means lowering cholesterol to abnormally low physiological levels, based on the idea that if a person can't make much cholesterol then it can't form plaque. Virtually no attention is given to the potential risks of starving the cholesterol synthesis system throughout the body – which is the core survival system of any person.
Kennedy was also on blood pressure medication. Most doctors think they have done their patients a real favor when they use enough drugs to get their numbers looking better on paper. Unfortunately, blood pressure medication typically reduces the flow of nutrition and oxygen to your brain, resulting in acid pH and an environment readily suitable for cancer growth. There is a huge difference between having normal blood pressure because you are healthy (meaning blood gets to your head properly) and good blood pressure numbers artificially produced with drugs (meaning blood doesn't get to many areas of your body properly, including your brain). There is no short cut to real health.
Statins and Cancer
Statins cause cancer for a variety of reasons, a fact that is consistently covered up by the 20-billion-dollar-a-year statin industry – with the help of Senators from both sides of the political aisle, like Kennedy, who actively support the Big Pharma agenda. In fact, Big Pharma tries to promote statins as a cancer-protective drug based on the ability of statins to kill cancer cells in test tubes. They do this in test tubes because they are so toxic. In your body a dose required to kill cancer cells would kill you first.
Statins interfere with normal immune function in multiple ways. They are so effective at suppressing your immune system that they have been researched as immune-suppressing options for organ transplant patients. That is not good news for anyone having to fight the flu or combat cancer.
Statins interfere with core survival systems that are "branches" in the normal production of LDL cholesterol. Such interference in health is a major side effect of statins – and widely ignored by prescribing physicians. For example, selenium-containing genes are reduced/blocked by statins, including the production of cellular glutathione – your cell's most important antioxidant that protects against cell mutations that can lead to cancer.
Important anti-cancer nutrients such as vitamin D and coenzyme Q10 are also reduced by statins. And a primary anti-cancer cell-modulating substance known as isoprenoids are reduced by statins. Isoprenoids in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are the reason eating these foods is associated with less cancer. Blocking your body's natural production of them with statin drugs is not a good idea.
Brain cells are weakened by statins, as every brain cell has a naturally higher level of cholesterol in its cell membrane so it can live longer (brain cells do not split and divide like other cells).
Thus, super high levels of statins are immune toxic, cripple your body's natural cancer defense system, and weaken nerves. The longer a person stays on these high doses the worse the problems become – as damage is cumulative and insidiously progressive over time. When combined with blood pressure medication this creates an environment within the nervous system ripe for cancer growth, a fact that simply cannot be denied based on the timing of Kennedy's problems.
When a person develops cancer while taking a statin the statin is never blamed – even though it is an obvious causative agent that cannot possibly be ruled out. The risk for cancer is especially true when cholesterol levels are being suppressed to abnormally low levels that virtually no person who is healthy possesses. The "finest" medical care money can buy enables an individual to be poisoned by statins and the brightest medical minds on earth don't seem to have a clue what they are actually doing to people such as Senator Kennedy.
Kennedy and Health Freedom
Ironically, in the case of Kennedy his health care is a direct result of the health policies he has forged. He is one of the most anti-vitamin and anti-natural health senators. He has now slid down the health ladder to the point he has no options but surgery, toxic drugs, or FDA-sanctioned experiments. Can the cancer be killed before his body gives out? He has very aggressive cancer and poor underlying health – not a good combination.
No place on the internet will he find a credible explanation of what vitamins he should be taking right now, which ones would support his medical options, and which ones would help him recover from his treatments most effectively. You would think he would like to know which nutrients would help turn off the inflammatory gene signals in his brain that are driving the spreading of his cancer. He certainly won't get that information from his doctors. At least he might like to know what to do if his medical treatments are successful enough that he has some time to try to fix himself.
I'd be happy to post such information on my website, but the FDA won't allow it. Indeed, it is Kennedy and mostly Democratic members of the Senate and House (along with a large number of Republicans) that are adamantly opposed to Americans understanding how to be healthy or how to use natural health options to support medical care to increase their likelihood of a positive outcome – even though the science behind such support and benefit could help millions of Americans without any side effects.
While Kennedy is being praised by friend and foe alike for his health policies that provide care to the less fortunate – it is overlooked that such plans carry with them the sacrifice of health freedom under the false pretense of "safety" and strict governmental public health enforcement.
Hillary Clinton has always seen eye to eye with Kennedy on health freedom suppression and a desire to excessively regulate vitamins. Dick Durbin, Obama's fellow senator from Illinois and national co-chair of his campaign, is at the very top of the list of vitamin-hating senators. The Democratic Party motivation behind such health freedom suppression is to have an iron grip on "herd mentality" and public health initiatives – and health freedom and access to natural health options are not compatible with this unspoken objective.
Republican politicians also favor this iron grip on public health, but for somewhat different reasons – historically to forward the sales of Big Pharma at the expense of any potential competitors. Although under the Bush administration a similar political control agenda (forced vaccinations in a pandemic flu, etc.) have blurred any differences between Republicans and Democrats on core health freedom issues. There is no candidate in serious contention for president that actively stands for and supports health freedom.
What we have is a Big Pharma model of health that Kennedy is in no small part responsible for. His own actions have drastically limited his access to solutions that actually work and could help him. Does he care? Probably not, after all he has the "best" health care that money can buy. However, there are millions of Americans who do care and are being denied their right to helpful information and safe and effective remedies. This issue should be central to a national debate on health care.
For more information on the science and side effects of statins read my article, The Statin Scam Marches On and Chapter 19 – Death by Statin, in my book, Fight for Your Health: Exposing the FDA's Betrayal of America:
Few Americans receive the preferential care given to an important Senator like Kennedy. It is interesting to note what the "finest" care enables a person to receive. He is being treated at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital, arguably one of the best hospitals in the world – the same place he had surgery for a significantly blocked carotid artery in October of 2007.
Now that the public's attention will be diverted onto treating his cancer problem, not too many are going to explain that the care for his carotid artery problem could be a primary reason for his brain tumor suddenly emerging. Indeed, in Kennedy's situation the fox and the hen house are the same hospital – do you really expect them to take a close look at his situation when such an evaluation is self incriminating? And on the larger scale such an evaluation could lead to millions of Americans dumping their statin drugs in the trash.
Senator Kennedy's Health History
Kennedy is no poster child for health, fitness, or a healthy lifestyle. He is overweight and out of shape and has been for a long time. Eight months ago doctors found his left carotid artery mostly blocked and performed surgery to clean out the plaque. It took many years of abuse to create that problem. In all fairness to his doctors, Kennedy is not a very healthy patient. On the other hand, that is what doctors are for – treating patients who aren't healthy and getting them back to real health.
We know from publicly disclosed information that Kennedy was taking both blood pressure medication and statin drugs to lower cholesterol. We can assume that as part of the "finest medical care" his treatment to lower cholesterol was quite aggressive following his carotid artery surgery – now the "gold standard" of care being pushed on countless Americans. This means lowering cholesterol to abnormally low physiological levels, based on the idea that if a person can't make much cholesterol then it can't form plaque. Virtually no attention is given to the potential risks of starving the cholesterol synthesis system throughout the body – which is the core survival system of any person.
Kennedy was also on blood pressure medication. Most doctors think they have done their patients a real favor when they use enough drugs to get their numbers looking better on paper. Unfortunately, blood pressure medication typically reduces the flow of nutrition and oxygen to your brain, resulting in acid pH and an environment readily suitable for cancer growth. There is a huge difference between having normal blood pressure because you are healthy (meaning blood gets to your head properly) and good blood pressure numbers artificially produced with drugs (meaning blood doesn't get to many areas of your body properly, including your brain). There is no short cut to real health.
Statins and Cancer
Statins cause cancer for a variety of reasons, a fact that is consistently covered up by the 20-billion-dollar-a-year statin industry – with the help of Senators from both sides of the political aisle, like Kennedy, who actively support the Big Pharma agenda. In fact, Big Pharma tries to promote statins as a cancer-protective drug based on the ability of statins to kill cancer cells in test tubes. They do this in test tubes because they are so toxic. In your body a dose required to kill cancer cells would kill you first.
Statins interfere with normal immune function in multiple ways. They are so effective at suppressing your immune system that they have been researched as immune-suppressing options for organ transplant patients. That is not good news for anyone having to fight the flu or combat cancer.
Statins interfere with core survival systems that are "branches" in the normal production of LDL cholesterol. Such interference in health is a major side effect of statins – and widely ignored by prescribing physicians. For example, selenium-containing genes are reduced/blocked by statins, including the production of cellular glutathione – your cell's most important antioxidant that protects against cell mutations that can lead to cancer.
Important anti-cancer nutrients such as vitamin D and coenzyme Q10 are also reduced by statins. And a primary anti-cancer cell-modulating substance known as isoprenoids are reduced by statins. Isoprenoids in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are the reason eating these foods is associated with less cancer. Blocking your body's natural production of them with statin drugs is not a good idea.
Brain cells are weakened by statins, as every brain cell has a naturally higher level of cholesterol in its cell membrane so it can live longer (brain cells do not split and divide like other cells).
Thus, super high levels of statins are immune toxic, cripple your body's natural cancer defense system, and weaken nerves. The longer a person stays on these high doses the worse the problems become – as damage is cumulative and insidiously progressive over time. When combined with blood pressure medication this creates an environment within the nervous system ripe for cancer growth, a fact that simply cannot be denied based on the timing of Kennedy's problems.
When a person develops cancer while taking a statin the statin is never blamed – even though it is an obvious causative agent that cannot possibly be ruled out. The risk for cancer is especially true when cholesterol levels are being suppressed to abnormally low levels that virtually no person who is healthy possesses. The "finest" medical care money can buy enables an individual to be poisoned by statins and the brightest medical minds on earth don't seem to have a clue what they are actually doing to people such as Senator Kennedy.
Kennedy and Health Freedom
Ironically, in the case of Kennedy his health care is a direct result of the health policies he has forged. He is one of the most anti-vitamin and anti-natural health senators. He has now slid down the health ladder to the point he has no options but surgery, toxic drugs, or FDA-sanctioned experiments. Can the cancer be killed before his body gives out? He has very aggressive cancer and poor underlying health – not a good combination.
No place on the internet will he find a credible explanation of what vitamins he should be taking right now, which ones would support his medical options, and which ones would help him recover from his treatments most effectively. You would think he would like to know which nutrients would help turn off the inflammatory gene signals in his brain that are driving the spreading of his cancer. He certainly won't get that information from his doctors. At least he might like to know what to do if his medical treatments are successful enough that he has some time to try to fix himself.
I'd be happy to post such information on my website, but the FDA won't allow it. Indeed, it is Kennedy and mostly Democratic members of the Senate and House (along with a large number of Republicans) that are adamantly opposed to Americans understanding how to be healthy or how to use natural health options to support medical care to increase their likelihood of a positive outcome – even though the science behind such support and benefit could help millions of Americans without any side effects.
While Kennedy is being praised by friend and foe alike for his health policies that provide care to the less fortunate – it is overlooked that such plans carry with them the sacrifice of health freedom under the false pretense of "safety" and strict governmental public health enforcement.
Hillary Clinton has always seen eye to eye with Kennedy on health freedom suppression and a desire to excessively regulate vitamins. Dick Durbin, Obama's fellow senator from Illinois and national co-chair of his campaign, is at the very top of the list of vitamin-hating senators. The Democratic Party motivation behind such health freedom suppression is to have an iron grip on "herd mentality" and public health initiatives – and health freedom and access to natural health options are not compatible with this unspoken objective.
Republican politicians also favor this iron grip on public health, but for somewhat different reasons – historically to forward the sales of Big Pharma at the expense of any potential competitors. Although under the Bush administration a similar political control agenda (forced vaccinations in a pandemic flu, etc.) have blurred any differences between Republicans and Democrats on core health freedom issues. There is no candidate in serious contention for president that actively stands for and supports health freedom.
What we have is a Big Pharma model of health that Kennedy is in no small part responsible for. His own actions have drastically limited his access to solutions that actually work and could help him. Does he care? Probably not, after all he has the "best" health care that money can buy. However, there are millions of Americans who do care and are being denied their right to helpful information and safe and effective remedies. This issue should be central to a national debate on health care.
For more information on the science and side effects of statins read my article, The Statin Scam Marches On and Chapter 19 – Death by Statin, in my book, Fight for Your Health: Exposing the FDA's Betrayal of America:
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