Coconut Oil Stops Strep Bacteria from Damaging Tooth Enamel

Reposted from The Healthy Home Economist

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/coconut-oil-stops-strep-bacteria-from-damaging-tooth-enamel/

Those in the know about the astounding health benefits of coconut oil are usually well aware of the major antimicrobial effects this traditional fat has on the skin and also in the gut.
It is no wonder that coconut oil is so great to rub into a dandruff plagued scalp as it helps bring the fungus causing this scaly problem under control with no chemical laden shampoos needed.
Coconut oil is also helpful for those with candida overgrowth problems in the gut as it suppresses all manner of gut pathogens. It is the highly beneficial medium chain saturated fat lauric acid found in coconut oil that is responsible for protection from microbial infections of all kinds when coconut oil is consumed in the diet. Lauric acid is also produced by the human mammary gland and what is credited with protecting breastfed infants from viral, bacterial, or protozoal infections.
It is only recently, however, that the conventional medical community has finally begun to appreciate the powerful antimicrobial effect of coconut oil.

Irish researchers have reported from the Athlone Institute of Technology that coconut oil was the only oil of 3 tested (olive oil and vegetable oil being the other two) that was able to prevent Streptococcus mutans, an acid-producing bacterium that is a common inhabitant of the mouth and a major cause of tooth decay, from binding to and damaging tooth enamel.
This finding lends serious credence to the ancient Ayurvedic practice of swishing the mouth with a tablespoon of oil first thing in the morning (oil pulling) which some people report works best using coconut oil.
The coconut oil used in the study was first treated with enzymes simulating the human digestive process in order to more realistically gauge its impact in the body.
The scientists also reported the coconut oil extremely effective at attacking thrush, a yeast (fungal) infection of the mouth which is not surprising given coconut oil’s helpfulness with other skin issues like dandruff.
Lead researcher Dr. Damien Brady stated that coconut oil could prove to be an attractive alternative to chemicals in maintaining oral health. Mouthwashes, toothpastes, and other oral products are loaded with chemical additives that can frequently irritate the sensitive tissues of the mouth.
Dr. Brady noted that not only does coconut oil work at relatively low concentrations, but with the worrisome problem of increasing antibiotic resistance, it is important to consider coconut oil a potentially novel new way to control microbial infections.
Dr. Brady and his team now plan to examine how coconut oil and Strep bacteria interface at the molecular level to determine if there are any other strains of bacteria that are inhibited in a similar fashion. They also plan to study antibacterial activity in the gut presumably using coconut oil and how cells lining the digestive tract can become colonized by pathogens.

Free Oral Health Summit Coming Soon!

If the holistic use of coconut oil to improve oral health and possibly prevent tooth decay intrigues you, be sure to register for the free, worldwide online Oral Health Summit that will occur November 11-18, 2012. The Summit features a panel of 20 medical doctors, dentists, nutritionists, and other experts in the field of oral health from 6 different countries who will discuss safe dental alternatives, nontoxic options, foods to prevent and heal existing decay, and safe solutions for mercury fillings, crowns, and root canals.

Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Source: Coconut Oil Could Combat Tooth Decay, BBC Health News

New Strategies for Optimizing Bone Strength

Reposted from Life Extension

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2009/apr2009_New-Strategies-for-Optimizing-Bone-Strength_01.htm

By Laurie Barclay, MD

Mainstream medicine focuses almost exclusively on prescription drugs to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in aging men and women. What many people do not know is that the most popular class of prescription medications used to treat osteoporosis, bisphosphonates, focus on limiting additional bone loss, rather than actually building more bone, in aging men and women. This class of drugs is also associated with potentially serious side effects, including heart arrhythmia. Exciting scientific research has discovered the power of collagen for supporting optimal bone tensile strength. New data suggest that a unique, patent-pending nutritional supplement consisting of collagen chelated to calcium, along with a new plum extract can help support strong, resilient bones. The Osteoporosis Epidemic Too often, osteoporosis is diagnosed late in its progression resulting in rapidly declining bone integrity that leads not only to disfigurement but also painful and potentially lethal fractures. Today’s epidemic of osteoporosis causes up to half of all women over age 50 and one in four men in the United States to suffer disabling bone fractures.1 When an elderly person slips or loses their balance, it could mean the end of their life, since up to 20% of those who sustain a hip fracture die within one year.2 Since an estimated 250,000 Americans suffer a hip fracture annually, broken hips may lead to 50,000 deaths per year in the US alone.2 Sadly, very few doctors focus on preventing this silent disease through lifestyle adjustment such as weight-bearing exercise, bioidentical hormone replacement (if indicated), and broad-spectrum nutritional supplementation to feed and nurture healthy bone. Instead, pharmaceutical companies push bisphosphonate drugs (such as Fosamax® and Actonel®) as a one-stop solution. These drugs work by reducing bone resorption, not by building new bone directly. Of interest, evidence suggests these medicines are associated with potentially serious side effects.3-5 Few doctors understand that even when these drugs are used to reduce the risk of fracture secondary to breast or prostate cancer metastasis to bone,6 it is critical that patients also take a full complement of bone-building minerals along with these medications for optimal benefit. What You Need to Know: Optimizing Bone Strength Osteoporosis is a widespread condition associated with reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and strength leading to bone fractures. Risk factors for osteoporosis include female sex, postmenopausal status, advanced age, Caucasian or Asian race, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, slim stature (underweight), sedentary lifestyle, and cigarette smoking. Bisphosphonate drugs are widely prescribed for osteoporosis, but they may be associated with serious side effects including osteonecrosis (bone decay) of the jaw and atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm associated with stroke).3-5 Optimal bone health requires not only preservation of bone mineral density, but also of bone strength, which results from the dynamic structure of bone involving a matrix of collagen fibers reinforced with calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals. Collagen calcium chelate has been shown in experimental studies to support bone strength. Dried plum extract has been shown in experimental studies and in clinical studies to improve bone structure and function, even in situations in which bone loss was thought to be irreversible. The Power of Collagen Recent advances in understanding normal bone structure and function have revolutionized the nutritional approach to optimizing bone health. Researchers are now discovering the vital importance of collagen for achieving optimal bone tensile strength. Most people will be very surprised to know that collagen, a resilient type of protein molecule, makes up most of the structure of bone.7 The spongy matrix of collagen fibers and crystalline salts within bone is crucial to absorbing compression forces to resist stress fractures,8 much as the tensile supports of steel bridges provide flexibility so that the bridge can withstand gale force winds and heavy traffic. Amazingly, the compressional strength of bone is even greater than that of reinforced concrete.9 Many fractures, however, result from twisting or torsional forces, and neither bone nor concrete has a very high degree of torsional strength. However, the dynamic collagen matrix within healthy bone allows it to better redistribute and deflect a variety of forces, thereby reducing fracture risk. Like suspension cables on a bridge that sway to absorb forces that might otherwise disrupt the main structure, collagen fibrils within bone are made up of strings of alternating collagen molecules and hydroxyapatite crystals that are connected by weak chemical bonds within the strings and between them.10 Force applied to collagen fibrils in bone causes some of these weak bonds to break. This is actually a beneficial action because by allowing stretching within the collagen matrix to spread the pressure over a broader area, the result is a protective effect on stronger bonds within the collagen molecule itself.7,10 Without both collagen and minerals, bone becomes brittle and can be easily fractured, much as a bridge with a missing cable could snap under the weight of one too many cars. Understanding Bone Anatomy Depending on their location within the skeleton and their function, bones can be classified as long (e.g. arm and leg bones), short (e.g. small wrist and ankle bones), flat (e.g. ribs, skull), or irregular (e.g. spinal vertebrae). A long bone has an expanded portion at each end called an epiphysis, which forms a joint with another bone, and a bone shaft, or diaphysis, between the epiphyses. Articular cartilage covers the ends of each epiphysis to form the joint surface, and the rest of the bone is completely encased in a tough covering called the periosteum. The solid, strong, bony layer within the periosteum is called compact bone, which is resistant to bending. The compact bone in the diaphysis forms a rigid tube with bone marrow filling the hollow chamber, known as the medullary cavity, within the tube. Because the epiphyses are subjected to the greatest forces of compression during weight-bearing activities, the epiphyses are made mostly from spongy or cancellous bone offering elastic strength. A New Type of Calcium As we have seen above, bone strength and resilience depends on collagen fibers, as well as calcium, several trace minerals, and vitamins D and K2, which act together to generate a strong, complex matrix structure. Most bone supplements recommended by doctors contain only calcium, an inadequate nutritional strategy for optimal bone health. Recently, scientists have developed a new form of calcium that molecularly binds collagen. Named KoAct™, this unique form of collagen calcium chelate is designed to enhance collagen support and turnover while increasing bone mineral density and bone strength.11 Scientists at the prestigious Tokyo University found that supplementation with collagen calcium chelate improved bone strength to a greater extent than the same amounts of calcium and collagen either given separately or together but in a non-chelated form. Specific improvements with collagen calcium chelate were seen not only in bone mineral density but just as importantly in femur (thigh bone) weight, bone collagen production, and bone flexibility and strength.11 In an experimental model of osteoporosis, the test group received a low-calcium diet for one week. In addition to their low-calcium diet, some of the test group consumed a high-dose collagen calcium chelate. The cohort receiving high-dose collagen calcium chelate had an increase in femur bone weight by an impressive 9.6%, compared with the group given the same amount of calcium in non-chelated form. The test group receiving the collagen calcium chelate had dose-dependent increases in bone mineral density, which were 3.5% to 11.1% higher than those seen in the group receiving the same amount of non-chelated calcium. The investigators concluded that collagen calcium chelate had an additive effect on bone mineral density, better than that of calcium alone or of a simple calcium and collagen mixture.12 Collagen calcium chelate was also associated with increases in femur bone strength, by about 9.9% to 25%, compared with the group receiving the same amount of calcium.12 Remarkably, the benefits of collagen calcium chelate were evident after only eight weeks of supplementation! Given these encouraging results, a large clinical study is planned for next year, in collaboration with the US Army, to look at the effect of collagen calcium chelate on bone fractures in hard-training recruits. Determining Bone Fracture Risk For ease and efficiency of movement, bone must be lightweight, yet strong enough to support far more than its own weight. Although BMD (bone mineral density) is important, so is bone strength and resilience. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently concluded that BMD, as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, is not the single best predictor of fracture risk, because it misses a significant proportion of individuals who have clinical or epidemiological risk factors for osteoporosis.19,20 Various clinical factors associated with bone strength must also be considered when deciding who is at risk for fracture and could benefit from preventive supplementation and/or treatment.19-21 Prescribing bisphosphonates to younger postmenopausal women based on BMD alone may therefore unnecessarily or prematurely expose them to the risks associated with these drugs. To predict the 10-year risk of sustaining a major osteoporotic fracture, the WHO has developed a clinical assessment tool known as FRAX (fracture risk assessment), using composite scores that rely both on BMD and on validated clinical risk factors for fracture.19,20 The test uses easily determined clinical features, such as age, race, weight, and smoking history, to go above and beyond BMD and to evaluate bone strength. FRAX allows doctors to enter clinical information online, so that a computer program can calculate the 10-year probability of hip fracture and the 10-year probability of a major osteoporotic fracture (clinical spine, forearm, hip, or shoulder fracture) for any given individual, based on information collected from large population samples in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia.19,20 Plum Extract Supports Bone Health New research has shown that plum extract can be an important component of an intelligent bone health program. In a study of 58 postmenopausal women,13 those who were randomly assigned to receive 100 grams of a concentrated plum product in their daily diet for three months were shown to have positive effects on bone. These women showed significantly increased serum levels of biological markers that reflected greater rates of bone formation.13 Laboratory studies also demonstrated that concentrated plum polyphenols down-regulate (decrease) cellular signals that cause bone resorption.14,15 Plum polyphenols promote bone deposition by increasing osteoblast (bone-building cell) activity and function via their effects on increasing certain cell-signaling compounds and by enhancing expression of an enzyme that is involved in collagen cross-linking.16 In an experimental model of bone loss caused by surgical removal of the testicles, adding dried plum extract to the diet had similar effects to parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is involved in bone metabolism.17 The test group given concentrated plum extract had an 11% increase in vertebral (spine) and femoral (thigh bone) bone mineral density compared with controls, whereas those receiving PTH had increased bone mineral density by 20.7% at the vertebrae and 17.9% at the femur. Other changes in bone volume and structure seen with concentrated plum extract relative to controls were similar to those seen with PTH.15,17 Even more compelling, experimental studies18 suggest that bone changes previously thought to be irreversible can, to a great extent, be improved by dried plum extract. In an experimental model of postmenopausal osteoporosis, the test group that already had deterioration of bone structure had improvements, relative to controls, after two months of a diet containing dried plum extract. Femoral and tibial bone densities were restored and lumbar bone density was increased. Improved bone quality also resulted in a 6.9% improvement in overall yield and a 6.0% improvement in ultimate force. The architectural microstructure of trabecular bone was also significantly improved in rats receiving dried plum extract compared with controls.18 Standardized plum extracts provide a convenient way to obtain plum’s beneficial bone-supportive properties—without the concentrated calories and sugar content. Adverse Effects of Bisphosphonates Bisphosphonate drugs such as Fosamax® (alendronate), Actonel® (risendronate), Zometa® (zoledronic acid), and others are a mainstay of osteoporosis treatment. More than one-third of outpatients seen for osteoporosis at >60 years of age are treated with bisphosphonates.22 Unfortunately, these drugs are often poorly tolerated. Gastrointestinal symptoms are common, and bone and joint pain occur often.3 Bisphosphonates also have potentially serious adverse effects.3 Osteonecrosis of the jaw (death and decay of the jaw bone) is a serious, potentially disfiguring complication in women taking bisphosphonates who have a tooth extraction.5 A study at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles found that use of alendronate pills for one year or more increased the risk for jaw osteonecrosis after a tooth extraction or was associated with denture-related ulcers. Of 208 patients who had taken alendronate, 70 mg once per week for one to 10 years, 9 (4%) developed jaw bone osteonecrosis. None of more than 13,500 dental patients who had not taken alendronate developed jaw bone osteonecrosis. Additionally, people treated with alendronate or zoledronic acid may have double the risk of serious atrial fibrillation, or irregular heart rhythm causing the heart to pump blood less efficiently, potentially resulting in pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), congestive heart failure, stroke, or death. A study showed that 2.5-3% of patients taking bisphosphonates developed atrial fibrillation and 1-2% developed serious atrial fibrillation, with complications including hospitalization or death.4 Because bisphosphonate treatment may facilitate management of bone metastases, patients with breast or prostate cancer should consider treatment in consultation with their physician.6 Individuals who use bisphosphonate medications under a physician’s guidance can help reduce their risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw by receiving a dental examination and undergoing any necessary dental procedures such as tooth extractions before initiating drug therapy.23 Additionally, individuals using bisphosphonate therapy are advised to practice good dental hygiene, stop smoking, limit alcohol consumption, and avoid jaw trauma.23,24 If possible, individuals should avoid undergoing dental surgery during bisphosphonate treatment.23 Clinical Considerations for Bone Health Collagen calcium chelate, magnesium, silicon, boron, dried plum extract, and vitamins D and K2 work to synergistically support bone health. Individuals who may derive particular benefit from supplementation with these nutrients include those at risk of threats to bone strength, such as those with a family history of osteoporosis and advanced age. For optimal bone strength, a comprehensive approach using a variety of nutrients is essential. Collagen calcium chelate and concentrated plum extract are two powerful additions for men and women focused on having healthy bones that last a lifetime! If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension Health Advisor at 1-800-226-2370.

References

1. Available at: http://bones.nof.org/site/PageServer?pagename=NOF_25th_Anniversary_Bone_Facts. Accessed January 27, 2009. 2. Available at: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/825363-overview. Accessed February 11, 2009. 3. Arum SM. New developments surrounding the safety of bisphosphonates. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2008 Dec;15(6):508-13. 4. Miranda J. Osteoporosis drugs increase risk for serious heart arrhythmia problems. Presentation Oct. 28, 2008 at CHEST 2008. 5. Sedghizadeh PP, Stanley K, Caligiuri M, et al. Oral bisphosphonate use and the prevalence of osteonecrosis of the jaw: an institutional inquiry. J Am Dent Assoc. 2009 Jan;140(1):61-6. 6. Coleman RE. Risks and benefits of bisphosphonates. Br J Cancer. 2008 Jun 3;98(11):1736-40. 7. Available at: http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0957-4484/18/29/295102. Accessed February 6, 2009. 8. Gupta HS, Seto J, Wagermaier W, et al. Cooperative deformation of mineral and collagen in bone at the nanoscale. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2006 Nov 21;103(47):17741-6. 9. Available at: http://www.nsbri.org/HumanPhysSpace/focus6/ep_development.html. Accessed February 9, 2009. 10. Buehler MJ, Ackbarow T. Nanomechanical strength mechanisms of hierarchical biological materials and tissues. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin. 2008 Dec;11(6):595-607. 11. Available at: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/smartlead/view/226058/4/Bone-Strength-is-Critical. Accessed February 6, 2009. 12. AIDP, Inc., unpublished data. 13. Arjmandi BH, Khalil DA, Lucas EA, et al. Dried plums improve indices of bone formation in postmenopausal women. J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 2002 Jan;11(1):61-8. 14. Bu SY, Lerner M, Stoecker BJ, et al. Dried plum polyphenols inhibit osteoclastogenesis by downregulating NFATc1 and inflammatory mediators. Calcif Tissue Int. 2008 Jun;82(6):475-88. 15. Franklin M, Bu SY, Lerner MR, et al. Dried plum prevents bone loss in a male osteoporosis model via IGF-I and the RANK pathway. Bone. 2006 Dec;39(6):1331-42. 16. Bu SY, Hunt TS, Smith BJ. Dried plum polyphenols attenuate the detrimental effects of TNF-alpha on osteoblast function coincident with up-regulation of Runx2, Osterix and IGF-I. J Nutr Biochem. 2009 Jan;20(1):35-44. 17. Bu SY, Lucas EA, Franklin M, et al. Comparison of dried plum supplementation and intermittent PTH in restoring bone in osteopenic orchidectomized rats. Osteoporos Int. 2007 Jul;18(7):931-42. 18. Deyhim F, Stoecker BJ, Brusewitz GH, Devareddy L, Arjmandi BH. Dried plum reverses bone loss in an osteopenic rat model of osteoporosis. Menopause. 2005 Nov;12(6):755-62. 19. Fardellone P. Predicting the fracture risk in 2008. Joint Bone Spine. 2008 Dec;75(6):661-4. 20. Kanis JA, McCloskey EV, Johansson H, Strom O, Borgstrom F, Oden A; National Osteoporosis Guideline Group. Case finding for the management of osteoporosis with FRAX—assessment and intervention thresholds for the UK. Osteoporos Int. 2008 Oct;19(10):1395-408. 21. Lewiecki EM, Watts NB. New Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis. South Med J. 2009 Jan 9. 22. Teschemaker A, Lee E, Xue Z, Wutoh AK. Osteoporosis pharmacotherapy and counseling services in US ambulatory care clinics: Opportunities for multidisciplinary interventions. Am J Geriatr Pharmacother. 2008 Dec;6(5):240-8. 23. Weitzman R, Sauter N, Eriksen EF, et al. Critical review: updated recommendations for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteonecrosis of the jaw in cancer patients—May 2006. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2007 May;62(2):148-52. 24. Khan AA, Sandor GK, Dore E, et al. Canadian consensus practice guidelines for bisphosphonate associated osteonecrosis of the jaw. J Rheumatol. 2008 Jul;35(7):1391-7.

Excess Cancers and Deaths from Genetically Modified Feed

Reposted from Institute of Science in Society

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/Excess_cancers_and_deaths_from_GM_feed_stats_stand_up.php

That cancers are found even with a small number of rats tested is strong evidence that the GM feed and herbicide are carcinogenic Prof Peter Saunders

Please circulate widely and repost, but you must give the URL of the original and preserve all the links back to articles on our website. If you find this report useful, please support ISIS by subscribing to our magazine Science in Society, and encourage your friends to do so. Or have a look at the ISIS bookstore for other publications

In September 2012, the research team led by Gilles-Eric Séralini at the University of Caen published the findings of their feeding trial on rats to test for toxicity of Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) maize NK603 and/or Roundup herbicide in the online edition of Food and Chemical Toxicology [1].

Séralini and his colleagues had previously found evidence for toxicity of GM feed in data from Monsanto’s own experiments, which they had obtained through a Freedom of Information demand [2]. Monsanto challenged their conclusions and, to no one’s great surprise the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) supported Monsanto [3]. So the team decided to run their own experiment, using an unusually large number of animals and over a period of about two years, roughly the life expectancy of the rats, rather than the usual 90 days required in toxicity trials including Monsanto’s.

What Séralini and his colleagues found was that NK603 and Roundup are not only both toxic as expected, but also carcinogenic, which was unexpected. The proportion of treated rats that died during the experiments was much greater than the controls; moreover, in almost all groups a higher proportion developed tumours, and the tumours appeared earlier.

As soon as the paper appeared, the GM lobby swung into action. In particular, the Science Media Centre (SMC), a London-based organisation partly funded by industry, quickly obtained quotes from a number of pro-GM scientists and distributed them to the media [4]. According to a report in Times Higher Education [5], the SMC succeeded in influencing the coverage of the story in the UK press and largely kept it off the television news.

Séralini has rebutted the pro-GM critics point by point on the CRIIGEN website [6]. The statistician Paul Deheuvels, a professor at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris and a member of the French Académie des sciences, has now drawn attention to another serious error in the criticisms [7]: the complaint that Séralini used only 10 rats per group when the OECD guidelines [8] recommend 50 for investigations on carcinogenesis. Because the experiments did not follow the accepted protocol, their results, they argue, can be safely ignored.

In the first place, this was not a wilful disregard of the guidelines. The experiment was designed to test for toxicity, and for that the recommended group size is 10.

But Deheuvels pointed out that the fact Séralini and his colleagues had used smaller groups than recommended makes the results if anything more convincing, not less. That is because using a smaller number of rats actually made it less likely to observe any effect. The fact that an effect was observed despite the small number of animals made the result all the more serious.

To see why, we have to look carefully at how common statistical tests are carried out. We begin with a null hypothesis, which as the name suggests is essentially the hypothesis that nothing unusual has happened. Here it is the hypothesis that rats fed on GMOs and/or herbicide are no more likely to develop cancer than the controls. Clearly, we would like to reject the null hypothesis if it is false and accept it if it is true. But statistics is about taking decisions in the face of uncertainty – if there were no uncertainty there would be no need to use statistics – and so however careful we are, we may come to the wrong conclusion.

There are two ways in which we can go wrong. On the one hand, we can make a “Type 1 error” in rejecting the null hypothesis when it is correct. Here that would mean reporting that GMO and/or herbicide are carcinogenic when they are not. Or, we can make a “Type 2 error” in accepting the null hypothesis when it is false. Here that would mean reporting that GMO and/or herbicide are not carcinogenic when in fact they are.

Naturally we would like to design experiments to make either of those probabilities as small as possible, but there is a problem. The two types of error are linked. We can reduce the probability of making a Type 1 error by requiring stronger evidence before we reject the null hypothesis. But if we do that we necessarily require less evidence to accept it, but that increases the probability of making a Type 2 error. We have to find a balance, and usually what we do is insist that the probability of a Type 1 error must be very small, conventionally 0.05. That’s the origin of the “significant at 5 percent” level.

A probability of 0.05 is very small, so what we are saying is that we will only accept that the effect is real if we can be convinced “beyond reasonable doubt”; and most of the time that makes sense. If you’re thinking of installing a new manufacturing process or a new way of running your farm, you want to be very confident that it really is better before you make a major investment.

It is not so obviously sensible when safety is concerned. If there is scientific evidence that a product is hazardous, then it is hardly surprising if the manufacturer would not want to withdraw it unless the evidence is very strong indeed. The rest of us, however, might take a different view. Are we really willing to accept NK603 maize, or Roundup herbicide, unless and until they have been shown beyond reasonable doubt to be carcinogenic?

The standard statistical test does seem to be the wrong way around, but that’s partly because so far we have only been considering the Type 1 error, the false positive. But as Deheuvels reminds us, there is also the Type 2 error, the false negative. If NK603 and/or the herbicide are actually carcinogenic, what is the probability that we will fail to observe that?

The way to reduce the probability of a Type 2 error is to use larger groups. Because we would expect carcinogenicity to be slower to appear and harder to detect than toxicity, the group size for experiments on carcinogenicity should be larger than for toxicity, and this is precisely what the OECD Guidelines require.

If the experiment had not detected carcinogenicity, that might have been because the groups were too small. As the experiment did detect it, that the groups were small is not an issue. The scientists who were asked to supply sound bites for the Science Media Centre were quick to object that Séralini and his group had used the protocol for testing toxicity rather than the one for carcinogenesis. Had they taken a moment to ask themselves why the two protocols are different, they would have realised that in using the toxicity protocol (and remember, that was because it was what the experiment was designed to test) Séralini and his group made it less likely that they would detect carcinogenesis. To criticise a result because the experiment was conducted in a way that was more conservative than required is totally unjustifiable.

References

1. Séralini G-E, Mesnage R, Gress S, Defarge N, Malatesta M, Hennequin D and de Vendômois JS (2012), Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize. Food and Chemical Toxicity. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2012.08.005
2. Séralini G-E, Cellier D and de Vendômois JS (2007). New analysis of a rat feeding study with a genetically modified maize reveals signs of hepatorenal toxicity. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicity 52, 596-602.
3. EFSA review of statistical analyses conducted for the assessment of the MON863 90-day rate feeding study, 2007, http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/19r.pdf
4. Science Media Centre press release: Expert Reaction to GM maize causing tumours in rats. 19 September 2012,
   http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/pages/press_releases/12-09-19_gm_maize_rats_tumours.htm
5. “Shock troops check ‘poor’ GM study”, Paul Jump, Times Higher Education, 4 October 2012.
6. Criigen Research Team FAQs, accessed 12 October 2012, http://www.criigen.org/SiteEn/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=368&Itemid=1
7. De Heuvels P. Étude de Séralini sur les OGM : pourquoi sa méthodologie est statistiquement bonne. Le nouvel observateur Le Plus, 2012, accessed 12 October 2012, http://leplus.nouvelobs.com/contribution/646458-etude-de-seralini-sur-les-ogm-pourquoi-sa-methodologie-est-statistiquement-bonne.html?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=widget&utm_campaign=obclick&obref=obinsource
8. OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals 451: Carcinogenicity Studies, 2009.
   http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/download/fulltext/9745101e.pdf?expires=1350053297&id=id&accname=freeContent&checksum=BB6C78E3268AD83DB887899FF18E8147

Five Reasons To Eliminate Fructose From Your DIet

Reposted from Dr. Whitaker

http://www.drwhitaker.com/5-reasons-to-eliminate-frucotse-from-your-diet

by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Filed Under:Diet, Weight Loss, Blood Sugar, General Health

Last Reviewed 01/16/2013

Whether you’ve resolved to lose weight this year or simply want to achieve better overall health, here’s a suggestion: eliminate fructose, including high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), from your diet. In fact, cutting out all sugar is one of my top dietary recommendations for optimal health and well-being.
For years, we believed that fructose was the best of all caloric sweeteners. Mother Nature put it in fruit, so what could be more natural and healthy? Furthermore, because fructose has less of an effect on blood sugar than sucrose, it was thought to be better for people with diabetes.

We were wrong. Our bodies can certainly handle a little fructose—the amount, say, in a piece of fruit—especially when it comes packaged with fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients. We cannot, however, handle the massive amounts in sodas and other sweetened beverages and processed foods.

Here are five ways excessive fructose consumption has been linked to poor health:

1. Contributes to weight gain and overeating. Fructose is readily taken up by the liver, where it is converted into fat—some of which is released into the bloodstream and some that is stored in fat cells. This is why a high-fructose diet can cause weight gain. Studies also suggest that fructose interferes with satiety-signaling hormones in the brain, which may contribute to overeating and even greater weight gain.
   
   In one recent study, researchers compared the effects of glucose and fructose in this capacity. They found that, unlike glucose, when participants consumed fructose it did not trigger the hormones that tell the body it is full and satisfied. Although these findings are preliminary, they further support the theory that fructose may actually be a bigger culprit than glucose in our epidemics of obesity and diabetes.
   
2. Raises risk of metabolic syndrome. Excessive fructose consumption is clearly linked with metabolic syndrome, as it boosts virtually every risk factor for this increasingly prevalent condition.
   
   In one study, Spanish researchers placed men on a very high-fructose diet, and after just two weeks, they had significant increases in blood pressure, triglycerides, insulin, and liver enzymes, as well as reductions in insulin sensitivity and protective HDL cholesterol. Overall, markers of metabolic syndrome increased by 25–33 percent! (These parameters returned to normal within two months of resuming a normal diet.)
   
3. Initiates the formation of AGEs. Fructose is eight to 10 times more reactive than glucose in terms of initiating the chemical reactions that create advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), which are an underlying cause of diabetes complications, cataracts, Alzheimer’s, and overall aging.
   
4. Increases risk of gout and kidney stones. A high-fructose diet raises blood levels of uric acid, which increases risk of gout. In a large epidemiological study, men who consumed two or more soft drinks a day had an 85 percent greater risk of gout than men who drank just one soda a month. Other studies have found an association between a high intake of fructose and an increased risk of kidney stones.
   
5. Contributes to NAFLD. Excessive fructose consumption has also been implicated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition most common in overweight people with metabolic syndrome.

Now it’s your turn: Have you ever noticed a change in your appetite after consuming fructose?

You May Also Be Interested In:

• Solving the Sugar Wars
• Recipes for Diabetes: Raspberry-Lemon Delight

Read more: http://www.drwhitaker.com/5-reasons-to-eliminate-frucotse-from-your-diet#ixzz2IeLC4CGg

GAPS Diet Reverses Autism

Reposted From The Healthy Home Economist

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/hannahs-story-2-years-on-gaps-diet-reverses-autism/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheHealthyHomeEconomist+%28The+Healthy+Home+Economist%29

By Guest Author Cara Faus of Health, Home, and Happiness
I knew my daughter Hannah had autism when she was only 12 months old although she wasn’t professionally diagnosed until age 4.
Now at 6 years old, after being on the GAPS Diet for 2 1/2 years, Hannah no longer carries an autism diagnosis and the progress she has made has been nothing short of life changing.
What’s more, Hannah has successfully transitioned off of GAPS in recent months and is now eating a normal traditional diet which includes grains and starches – with no regression or recurrence of symptoms!
For those of you new to GAPS, it stands for Gut and Psychology Syndrome. GAPS is a temporary diet that was designed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD to reverse autism in her own son. GAPS works to heal the gut lining, rebalance intestinal flora, and help with nutrient absorption.

In a nutshell, the GAPS Diet cuts out grains, sugar, and starch, and adds in foods rich in probiotics, healthy fats, and amino acids needed to heal and seal the gut wall. Once the gut lining is healed, many chronic health problems magically go away- things from autoimmune diseases to behavior problems to eczema.
Yes, even autism!
Hannah’s Story
I had been keeping an eye on Hannah’s development from 4 months old when she wasn’t making eye contact, rolling over, or interested in anything other than nursing, I knew something was up, but it was right near her 1st birthday that I looked up the diagnostic criteria for autism, and realized that yes, she most likely did qualify as autistic, though most professionals won’t diagnose it until 3 years. It wasn’t until she was 4 that she received a formal diagnosis from a professional, but I knew I needed to start intervention as soon as possible in order to give her the greatest chance for a full recovery.
I started by keeping her on a Weston A. Price Traditional Diet of all organic, nutrient dense foods as she was weaning, but when I didn’t see improvement with that we tried the gluten free casein free diet, which helped her ability to learn temporarily. After awhile, however, she lapsed back into ‘autism land’.
As a desperate young mom with an autistic toddler, and now her infant baby brother, I continued to search for ways to help my child. Googling ‘what to do when the gluten free casein free diet stops working autism’ brought up the GAPS Diet – this was 2009 when GAPS was just beginning to be known across the internet.
It took me a few months to work up the motivation to place my small child on such a restrictive diet, but the waking up every 2 hours all night every night, her not making progress in speech or occupational therapy because she was unable to learn, and wanting so desperately to improve her quality of life pushed me to give GAPS a try. Just after Hannah’s 3rd birthday I said we would only try GAPS for 30 days. And I tried it with her, to make sure I felt okay on such a different diet than typical Americans eat.
All this food is allowed on the GAPS diet, see the meal plans for recipes

Starting GAPS

We started GAPS with the intro diet in November 2009. I saw such great progress with her (and myself- GAPS cleared up a dairy allergy that I’d had since childhood, in just 6 weeks of the intro diet!) that I committed to keep going.
She was able to learn again, and seemed to be starved for GAPS food; she was actually eating more than I was as a lactating mother!

Continuing GAPS as it was needed

We continued GAPS for 2-1/2 years, working to heal the gut lining. Hannah’s digestion improved, and she started eating less after having been on the diet for a few weeks- her body was so starved for nutrients at first that she would eat everything in sight, but slowed back down to a typical toddler amount after a few weeks on GAPS.
The most exciting part of Hannah’s improvement on GAPS was that she was once again able to learn. She started making progress in speech, occupational, and physical therapies. She took an interest in other children, was sleeping well at night, and was happier during the day. GAPS gave her quality of life so much improvement, that there was no question that we had to continue the diet as long as it helped her.
As we continued, I got better at cooking GAPS food. In the beginning we ate vegetable soup, cooked chicken, hamburgers, and scrambled eggs nearly every day. GAPS forced me to be more creative with the allowed GAPS food, and I was able to expand to very enjoyable meals!
Hannah knew her diet was different, but she was content with her food. Other parents would look on at me jealously as she gobbled up eggs, meat, fruit, and veggies. The diet took effort to continue with, but once we had been on it about 6 months it just became routine.

Transitioning off the GAPS diet after 2 years

GAPS is intended to be a temporary diet, so after Hannah had been on it and doing well for 2 years, I started trying some foods that weren’t GAPS legal about once a month. We started with potatoes, popcorn, and whole raw milk and she did well. We continued introducing new non-GAPS foods and watched carefully for any reactions (wheat was the last thing we introduced). If her gut wasn’t healed enough to tolerate a food I saw reactions in the form of skin rashes, night terrors, or loss of eye contact- every person’s reactions would be different though.
In June we traveled to California for my little brother’s wedding. She had been transitioning off GAPS for 6 months by then, so I decided to just let go and see if she could eat what everyone else was eating. She did great! No reactions to the food at all. We were officially and successfully done with our GAPS and food allergy journey!

No longer Autistic!

Though Hannah still has some learning disabilities (I believe this is from the long time that her brain was bombarded with toxins pre-GAPS, and we’re trying other therapies to continue to help with this), she just was tested this fall and no longer meets the criteria needed for an autism diagnosis.
She has benefited so much from the GAPS diet, and has come so far from the 12 month old who would just fuss or stare off into space all day. She is toilet trained, loves interacting with peers, talks, learns new things, makes great eye contact, and is getting much better at accepting changes to her routine.
We still eat mostly GAPS at home, since it is such a nutrient dense diet that our whole family thrives on. But being off GAPS means that I don’t have to stress when we’re out and we can just eat what everyone else is eating.
The GAPS diet has been amazing for our family, I am so thankful that Dr. Natahsa Campbell-McBride wrote the GAPS book in time to help Hannah. I’m also thankful it’s not a diet we have to be on for life, but it was so worth it to stick with it for the couple years we needed to be on it.

About Cara

I’m Cara, and I write at Health, Home, and Happiness. Because I was so overwhelmed when starting the GAPS Diet, I put together some resources to help others who want to do GAPS. I have GAPS friendly meal plans (full GAPS), a book that helps you get through the more strict Introduction Diet, and even a guide to help you stock your freezer with GAPS friendly foods. You can see more GAPS articles and recipes on my blog here too.

Real Dangers Of A High Carb Diet

Reposted From Life Extension

http://blog.lef.org/2012/11/dangers-of-high-carb-diets.html

The Real Dangers of High Carb Diets

Maylin Rodriguez-Paez, RN

Many people cut back on carbs as a method of losing weight. Unfortunately, mounting research shows that the dangers of high carb diets can go way beyond weight problems.

Your body actually needs carbs to extract glucose for its basic needs. However, the problems begin when we eat excessive amounts of carbs — especially the wrong kinds of carbs.

Eating too many simple carbohydrates can inspire blood sugar spikes, which have been implicated in a number of age-related chronic diseases.

For this reason, you should strive to incorporate complex carbs into your diet and minimize simple carbs whenever possible. We’ll explain why below.

High Carb Diets May Cause Disease

Studies show that high carb diets may increase the risk of several diseases. Here are three of them worthy of particular concern:

1. Cancer

One recent study showed that people with late-stage colon cancer were more likely to die or experience a recurrence when eating a high carb, high glycemic load diet.¹ The mechanism isn’t clear, but scientists think that since simple carbs produce sugar, it may actually fuel cancer growth.

Other cancers associated with a high carb diet include breast and stomach cancer.^2,3

2. Cardiovascular disease

Back in the 1980s, the prevailing idea was to eat carbs and avoid fats in order to prevent heart disease. Today, we know better.

In fact, research suggests that high carb diets may increase the risk of heart disease. They tend to lower HDL (good cholesterol) and increase triglycerides and VLDL (very low density lipoprotein), which are two risk factors for heart disease.⁴

3. Mild cognitive impairment

According to a recent study, older people who ate high carb diets were about four times more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment. Those with higher fat and protein intakes had a lower risk.⁵

Mild cognitive impairment is an age-related condition in which memory, thinking, and judgment are affected. This often leads to more serious problems, like Alzheimer’s disease.

Be Sure to Pick the Right Carbs

The best way to avoid the dangers of high carb diets is by avoiding simple carbs as much as possible. Common offenders include white bread, white pasta, white rice, and potatoes. When in doubt, avoid white, starchy foods.

Instead, pick complex carbs, like veggies and beans. Their fiber content helps delay your gastric emptying time, minimizing the impact the food will have on your blood sugar levels.

If you’re not sure what to pick or avoid, keep a glycemic load list handy as a reference tool. This will let you measure the impact that a food will have on your blood sugar levels before you buy it or eat it.

When looking at the list, try to pick foods at the low end, with scores below 25. Also, consider taping this list to your refrigerator as a friendly reminder when reaching for foods.

White Kidney Bean and Green Coffee Extracts Block Sugar Spikes

Beyond eating the right carbs and adjusting your overall diet, certain nutrients can also help to minimize the effects the carbs you eat have on your body.

This is important because even people who watch their diets very closely can still experience dangerous blood glucose spikes after meals.

On top of that, as we age, our ability to maintain optimal glucose levels often becomes impaired. As you can see, there are a number of reasons why carb-blocking nutrients can be helpful.

1. White kidney bean extract

White kidney bean extract is a key carb-blocking nutrient that’s backed by research. It can help you maintain healthy glucose levels by inhibiting alpha-amylase, the enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars.⁶ That way, fewer carbs are actually absorbed during a meal.

In a clinical study, white kidney bean extract was found to reduce after-meal glucose levels by more than 30%. The study participants took between 4–6 grams and didn’t experience any serious side effects at all.

2. Green coffee extract

Another impressive nutrient is green coffee extract. Its active ingredient, chlorogenic acid, blocks the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase, an enzyme that controls the release of glucose in your body.⁷

In a clinical trial, participants taking 400 mg of chlorogenic saw a 24% drop in blood sugar levels 30 minutes after a meal.⁸

This is pretty impressive, and probably helps explain why you’re hearing so much about green coffee bean extracts these days.

The Bottom Line

Low carb diets not only preserve your waistline, but can also improve your overall health. So, as an overall approach to disease prevention, be sure to choose healthy carbs and avoid the simple ones whenever possible.

Your prescription? Avoid white, starchy foods. Incorporate veggies and beans into your diet. Keep a glycemic load list handy as a reference tool. And finally, consider trying carb-blocking nutrients as well.

These simple changes can put a healthier diet and a healthier life well within reach.

References:

1. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012 Nov 7. [Epub ahead of print]
2. Cancer Res. 2011 Jan 1;71(1):123-33.
3. Nutr Cancer. 2004;48(2):149-59.
4. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997 Apr;65(4):1027-33.
5. J Alzheimers Dis. 2012 Jan 1;32(2):329-39.
6. Nutr J. 2011 Mar 17;10:24.
7. J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Apr 14;58(7):4141-4.
8. Effect of green coffee bean extract (GCE), High in Chlorogenic Acids, on Glucose Metabolism. Poster presentation number: 45-LB-P. Obesity 2011, the 29th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Obesity Society. Orlando, Florida. October 1-5, 2011.

Reposted From Dr. Julian Whitaker

http://www.drwhitaker.com/little-known-benefits-of-probiotics#ixzz2FLunUcbL

Little-Known Benefits of Probiotics

by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Filed Under:Diabetes, Immune Health, Digestive Health, General Health

Last Reviewed 12/17/2012

Most of the time, people associate the word “bacteria” with germs, illness, or something else that’s bad for your health. But probiotics—strains of beneficial bacteria that reside in the intestinal tract—are actually good for you. Probiotics are best known for their role in digestive health, but research has shown that they can help many other aspects of your health. Here’s some of the evidence.

• Immunity. About 80 percent of your immune system resides in your gut. Beneficial bacteria in your intestines crowd out harmful bacteria and have a direct effect on your immune response. Unfortunately, changes in gut bacteria occur as we age—particularly a decline in Bifidobacteria, which inhibit pathogenic microbes. This increases susceptibility to colds, flu, and infections. Probiotics can help restore it.
  
  In one study, 475 healthy men and women who did not get flu shots received either a vitamin/mineral combined with a probiotic supplement or a placebo daily for five and a half months during the winter and spring. All participants reported any cold, flu, or respiratory symptoms. The group taking the vitamin/mineral/probiotic combination experienced 25 percent fewer influenza symptoms, 19 percent fewer cold symptoms, and 50 percent fewer days with a fever than the placebo group.
  
  Probiotics are also helpful if you succumb to illness and are prescribed an antibiotic. Antibiotics kill the beneficial bacteria along with the harmful. When these protective bacteria are wiped out, pathogenic bacteria and other organisms move in. This can cause diarrhea, as well as yeast overgrowth in the vagina and intestines. That’s why I recommend avoiding antibiotics whenever possible. But if you must take an antibiotic, probiotics can help offset these negative side effects.

• Gastrointestinal health. Probiotics not only reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea, they’re helpful for diarrhea and constipation associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and for ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, and other inflammatory bowel diseases.

• Obesity. Research suggests that probiotics may help fight the battle of the bulge. The bacteria that reside in your intestinal tract are involved in nutrient uptake and energy regulation. Studies reveal that in obese humans and animals, these bacteria extract and absorb more calories from food and store them in fat cells. Distinct differences have also been noted in the microbial communities of obese and thin people. Probiotics are no magic bullet for weight loss, but supporting your gut bacteria appears to reduce inflammation and other markers of obesity.

• Diabetes. Supplemental probiotics have been shown to delay the onset of glucose intolerance in animals, and, in a 2010 human study, L. acidophilus supplements had a positive effect on insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, some researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes have different gut bacteria than those without diabetes.

• Depression and anxiety. Some research has found that when your gut bacteria are out of balance (dysbiosis), it can affect your mood. For example, anxiety gives us butterflies and stress ties our stomach in knots. Thanks to the gut-brain connection, Lactobacillus and perhaps other strains appear to tone down the stress response and improve anxiety and depression.

• Skin. The journal Gut Pathogens also published an article highlighting the links between intestinal bacteria, mood, and acne. The authors note that there is an established connection between skin conditions and mood disorders (acne is associated with depression and anxiety), and that acne is also linked with gastrointestinal problems (adolescents with acne are at higher risk for several GI symptoms). In other words, your brain, skin, and immune system are all physiologically intertwined, mediated by gut bacteria. Other studies have found links between intestinal bacteria and psoriasis.

• Oral health. Research suggests probiotic supplements may help control bad breath and promote better oral health overall. More specifically, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and other strains help curb growth of bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans that contribute to bad breath, cavities, and gum problems.

So how can you maintain or increase the amount of probiotics in your body? First, eat plenty of prebiotics, indigestible carbohydrates that beneficial bacteria thrive on. Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, onions, artichokes, whole grains, and garlic, in particular, stimulate the growth of gut flora. Also consume fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, miso, sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickled vegetables. They contain live, healthy bacteria that help populate the intestinal tract.

Second, take a probiotic supplement. Popular strains of probiotics are Lactobacillus (L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, and L. rhamnosus), Bifidobacteria (B. bifidum and B. longum), and Saccharomyces boulardii (a yeast used to treat diarrhea). When selecting a probiotics supplement look for one that not only protects these delicate “good” bacteria, but also ensures they reach your entire intestinal tract. One delivery system that works extremely well is BIO-tract®. Use as directed.

Read more: http://www.drwhitaker.com/little-known-benefits-of-probiotics#ixzz2IW6nLJdj