Would the Real Olive Oil Please Stand Up?

Celiac disease causes a 12 times increased risk of autoimmune disease ( Dr. Farrell, NEJM, 2002). This can cause a considerable amount of pain and suffering. But there is hope in reducing many of the symptoms by using diet. I especially like the GAPS diet, sometimes called the "Real Gluten Free diet" or S.C.D.. It promotes a reduction in inflammation on many fronts: healing the bowel and increasing nutrient absorption, especially vitamin D, reducing bad organisms in the bowel,  bringing omega 6 (O6) to omega 3 (O3) ratios more in line with the best ratio of O6 to O3 being  2-4 to 1 ( for anti-inflammation).

When thinking of healthy oils, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is part of the solution. So I look for high quality EVOO to supplement my use of butter and coconut oil.

I have been concerned with fake olive oil for some time. When one doesn't get pure olive oil, one doesn't get the healing benefits one thought one was buying. 

This is an excerpt of the best article I've read on EVOO and the problem of fake olive oil. It is written by Eileen over at Phoenix Helix, Healing Autoimmune Disease through Diet ..and more!

When Labels Lie

When you start eating for your health, you begin to watch labels closely. But what happens when the labels aren't telling the truth?Olive oil fraud has become so rampant that an entire book has been written about it. Why has it become such a problem? Because extra virgin olive oil is big business. Touted for its health benefits in both mainstream America and the healing diets featured on this website, US consumers can’t get enough of it. And therein lies the problem. There isn't enough to go around, yet suppliers don’t want to miss a potential profit. Although standards exist for what “extra virgin” is supposed to mean, there are no teeth behind those standards, so producers can slip other oil into the bottle, slap on the coveted label, and sell fake oil quite easily to unsuspecting consumers.

First, it might help to know what extra virgin is supposed to mean. This is the highest quality and most expensive olive oil classification. The oil is mechanically pressed from the olives, without any heat or chemistry applied. In order to claim this label, the oil is supposed to meet both a chemistry standard and a sensory one, established by the International Olive Council and the USDA. The oil should have zero defects and greater than zero fruitiness. However, neither the IOC nor the USDA enforce these standards, so basically, it’s an honor game. Oh, the world would be a wonderful place if everyone was honorable.

When a dishonorable company doesn't have enough oil to meet this standard and wants to commit a little fraud, what do they do? The most common deception is to mix it with a lower standard olive oil, but some producers take it even further and mix in a variety of neutral-tasting refined oils, such as soy and canola. If you're on a healing diet, you're meant to avoid both of those oils, so it’s upsetting to realize you might be consuming them unknowingly.

Testing for Truth in Labeling:

In September 2012, Consumer Reports published its results from testing 23 olive oils from Italy, Spain and California, and only 9 passed the test as actually being extra virgin olive oil, as claimed on the label. Two that failed? Bertolli and Goya. Two that passed? McEvoy Ranch and Trader Joe’s California Estate.

As it turns out, the brand I like to use in one of the 9 brands that passed Consumer Reports testing...Kirkland Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. But I've recently discovered I can buy organic EVOO from     a single estate from Greece from the owner, right here where I live. It has a heavenly taste. 

Read Eileen's entire article for some marvelous tips on how to find pure EVOO, the full list of the brands that passed the Consumer Reports testing, and she debunks some common myths about EVOO. 

To Your Health
Dr. Barbara

On Antibiotics: Immediately Start a course of probiotics, such as HMF Antibiotic Care.

Good health depends on good bacteria in the bowel, sometimes called the microbiota. They do so many healing jobs for us from making a long list of vitamins that we ultimately absorb (and balance our hormones), digest the food and transfers the nutrients to the cells that line the bowel called enterocytes keeping them healthy, control hormones that regulate obesity, compete and inhibit pathological bacteria, stimulate the immune system to kill pathological organisms,  inhibits pathological microorganisms by making an acid environment around 4.2 pH, decrease inflammation, digest and detoxify toxins that we ingest. So many jobs.

So what do you do when you take an antibiotic that rapidly kills those good bacteria which then leaves only those organisms that are resistant to the antibiotics, without competition, so the colonies of bad bacteria grow rapidly and take over? Resulting in inflammation of both the bowel and subsequently the whole body. And C. Difficile overgrowth which causes 2000 deaths a year in the province of Ontario alone. And similar numbers of deaths a year in the province of Quebec.

I recommend, on the same day or ASAP, 3-4 hours after a dose of antibiotic, taking a probiotic supplement that has been researched and proven to be effective to replace healthy bacteria, called HMF Antibiotic Care. It really works. There is no other probiotic as safe, effective as this is. It is developed by Dr. Nigel Plummer and  the whole line of HMF probiotics are the only human derived probiotic available. 

Why are probiotics that are human derived important? Because they prefer human environments, establish easily and start to grow in the gut and remain there except for natural attrition. So every dose grows the healthy colonies. And there is a lot of surface area they have to cover. What about corroborating research?

The Cambridge Probiotic/Antibiotic Clinical Trial revealed that Genestra’s proprietary HMF blend offers proven post-antibiotic replenishment and care by promoting a healthy microflora. The trial was published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents.
“Genestra’s human-derived probiotic strains more easily survive the rigours of the intestinal environment and are more efficient at colonizing the intestinal lining - ultimately yielding greater benefits,” said Dr. Plummer.

Other Lactobacillus acidophilus organisms are grown on dairy mediums because they prefer dairy over humans. So with these one has to use much higher doses, and hope they don't die in their unnatural-to-them environment and more frequent doses to replace what "got up and left". With regular probiotics, it is unlikely to re-establish as much of the gut lining as human derived probiotics leaving more pathological organisms and inflammation. 

We have research from the Mayo clinic  in 2010, that shows the healthier your bowel lining is, the healthier and longer life you will have.

After starting any course of antibiotics, don't wait for diarrhea! Keep your bowel healthy by starting, immediately a course of probiotics, preferably human derived such as HMF Antibiotic Care. Buy it at your health practitioners office or a health food store.

To Your Health

Dr. Barbara

  

Not Feeling Better on a Gluten Free Diet- Casein in Cow's milk Mimics Gluten

So you are trying to improve your health and are following popular gluten free advice and you still have signs and symptoms of inflammation. These could be chronic sinusitis, blocked ears, cough, diarrhea, or any other sign of inflammation. This can happen if you haven't eliminated cow's milk and milk products and prepared foods that contain casein. Even some red wines have casein. 

You may want to eliminate all forms of casein from your diet, even if you are breastfeeding. Recent research shows that the allergy producing casein goes through breast milk to the infant, in milk drinking mothers. 

You'll want to know more so you can decide if you want to eliminate dairy. The safest dairy products are those prepared the GAPS way, fermented, but not everyone can tolerate this even.

Here Dr. Osborne talks about the implications of that research: Do also go to the link Cow dairy and see an interview with Dr. Ford, who discusses the different variety of milks, A1 vs A2.

The Gluten Free Warrior’s Comment:

Cow dairy is one of the most common allergens in the U.S. Babies are no exception to this rule. Milk is often viewed as an essential staple food for kids. We have been told over and over again that we need dairy for calcium, and although dairy does contain calcium, there are many other foods rich in calcium as well.

Today’s modern dairy comes from genetically tampered with cows. The casein in the dairy from these cows is resistant to digestion and has been linked to autoimmune disease. The casein from these cows for many causes the same types of symptoms we see gluten cause. This same type of casein is one of the most common dairy based protein allergies known.

In my clinical experience, I have never seen a baby be allergic to mother’s milk. The typical scenario is that the mother is consuming foods that the baby is reactive to. Once the mother changes her diet, the baby’s symptoms tend to dissipate. The study above demonstrates that on of the most allergenic dairy proteins (casein) passes into mother’s milk. The take away message is that if the baby is having allergy symptoms while breastfeeding, mom should look at her diet and make adjustments.
Common symptoms of allergy reaction in infants are:
Hives
Eczema
Colic
Chronic diaper rash
Coughing
Wheezing
Sneezing fits after meals
Chronic facial rubbing (can indicate itchy eyes)
Chronic gas

Bottom line – if you suspect that your baby is allergic to your breast milk, don’t stop breast feeding. Instead look at your diet for foods that could be a problem for the baby. The most common food problems are gluten, dairy, sugar, beans or legumes, shellfish, and cruciferous vegetables. For more information on how gluten can affect children go here <<<

Read more here:http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/gluten-free-society-blog/casein-does-cows-milk-mimic-gluten/?inf_contact_key=390e5bdf7c57b523c296fe551487a1a787430d78893739422c1f54160e0bcf95



To Your Health

Dr. Barbara

Want to Know Your Daily Calorie Needs?

Use Smith Pharmacy Health Calculator to find out: it's an important number, but only if you are honest and you use it to guide your caloric intake. 

http://www.smithspharmacy.com/ns/c/calculator-calories.htm?storeID=A2CA0A52C8E242409B8D577B01E035A1




To your health.
Dr. Barbara

Dr. Christiane Northrup’s Top Tips for Women’s Breast Health

Undiagnosed persons with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity have a four times increased risk of cancer than than the regular population. The good news is, that 5 years of a gluten free diet seems to bring the risk of cancer down to the normal rate in the population. 

This rate is still pretty high: 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women can expect to get this diagnosis.

But with a few simple lifestyle habits, that risk can be lowered. Eat a grain free diet (low glycemic), maximize your magnesium intake, meditate, sleep in total darkness 7-9 hours a night, exercise moderately, find out what your vitamin D level is and keep it in the 100-150 nmol/l range, find out what your homocysteine level is and keep it below 8 with supplemental methylators ( which are mainly B vitamins), have less than 10 alcoholic drinks a week for men, and less than 6 alcoholic drinks a week for women, have good mental and emotional coping strategies and don't smoke.


Below is an excerpt of an interview with Dr. Christiane Northrup, done by Dr. Mercola.She is a practicing physician, an OB-GYN who has dedicated a good portion of her life to helping women take control of their life and health. Dr. Northrup is also a New York Times best selling author and important educator and public speaker on natural health issues for women.

You really must view the video and read the transcripts for it's brilliant wisdom. 

Many Cancers Heal on Their Own...


Another important study was published in November 2008 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.2 This study followed more than 200,000 Norwegian women between the ages of 50 and 64 over two consecutive six-year periods. Half received regular periodic breast exams or regular mammograms, while the others had no regular breast cancer screenings. The study reported that those women receiving regular screenings had 22 percent more incidence of breast cancer.

The researchers, as well as another team of doctors who did not take part in the study but who analyzed the data, concluded that the women who didn’t have regular breast cancer screenings probably had the same number of occurrences of breast cancer, but that their bodies had somehow corrected the abnormalities on their own.


“Of course, this makes complete sense, because your immune system is set up to recognize and destroy cancers in the right environment,” Dr. Northrup says. “The right environment, of course, is enough sleep, a low-glycemic diet, enough vitamin D, and also regular handling of resentments, anger, grief, and loss.


I think what I want women to know is that your breasts are not two potentially pre-malignant lesions sitting on your chest. The problem with our paradigm – whether it’s tomosynthesis or mammograms – is that it will find things that were never going to go anywhere. And then you’re out there wearing a pink ribbon and running for the cure, thinking that you were going to die of breast cancer when you never will, and never would.”

Your immune system is setup to recognize and destroy cancers given the right environment. And the right environment includes a grain free, low glycemic diet, sometimes called a GAPS diet and the lifestyle habits mentioned above. 

Read the whole article especially if you've been contemplating getting a screening mammogram.

To your health.
Dr. Barbara

What is Homocysteine and Why You Should Know About It?

What is homocysteine and why you should know about it?

I think knowing your homocysteine level is paramount to preventing and treating cardiac, neurological, psychiatric conditions as well as cancer. 

Why take a Homocysteine Test? - watch this

In summary, a homocysteine (H) test is suitable for anyone that is concerned about their heart health,strokes or abnormal clotting. A recent review of the research on H suggested that each 3 umol/L point decrease in the H levels might, on average reduce the risk of:

-heart attacks by 16%

-strokes by 24%

-DVT (deep vein thrombosis) by 25%

Here you can read what Dr. McIntyre says about taking supplements to normalize the metabolism of homocysteine, if you should find it above 8. They are safe, effective and without side effects. What more can you want, to easily add years of healthy life.

I've highlighted some areas and added the bold.

POSTED BY: DR_CAMERONMCINTYRE ON: OCTOBER 12 2012 •




This week’s blog will focus on the subject of homocysteine. You can see from below that I have included the same methylation diagram from last week. In the middle of this diagram you can see homocysteine. So what is it and why is it important?



Homocysteine is an amino acid formed by the removal of a methyl group from methionine. Unfortunately, it has been shown that homocysteine is toxic at high levels. It has been implicated in a number of inflammatory processes in the body including increasing risk of cardiovascular, diabetes, bone and neurocognitive diseases. A physician’s health study revealed that men with higher homocysteine levels had a threefold higher risk of coronary events.

Levels of homocysteine can be measured via blood test. Optimal ranges do vary depending on age and gender but a goal of having a level of 6 µmol/L or less is considered optimal. If you are at all concerned about preventative medicine and an anti-aging approach, knowing your homocysteine level is a must in my opinion.
Homocysteine can be methylated back into methionine via trimethylglycine (betaine) and an enzyme called BHMT. In addition, homocysteine can also be re-methylated via the enzyme MS (methionine synthase), which is very dependent on methyl B12 for its reaction. For homocysteine to be converted downstream to cysteine, vitamin B6 is a required cofactor.



You can see the importance of all of these vitamin cofactors to make sure that homocysteine is dealt with in an efficient and effective manner. I want to again feature the AOR product MaxMethyl as a product to help you achieve healthy homocysteine levels. With therapeutic levels of TMG (Betaine) ,B6, folate and B12,it has been formulated to include the necessary ingredients for the proper methlyation of homocysteine.

One study using the combination of ingredients in MaxMethyl was shown to significantly reduce levels of homocysteine after just 6 weeks of supplementation. Happy methylating!

Sources:

http://www.nature.com/cdd/journal/v11/n1s/images/4401451f1.jpg

Galway, J.G. Metabolism at a Glance. 2nd Ed. 1999. P.54.

www.MTHFR.net

Thanks to the folks at AOR for the use of this blog entry.

To your health.

Dr. Barbara

Can Wheat Drive More Than Your Digestive System Crazy?

Wheat and other forms of gluten cause serious mental and neurological illnesses in the susceptible person.

Read the whole article after reading this exerpt, written by Sayer Ji, of GreenMedInfo.com which details a new study published in the journal Psychiatry Research, and seven others which have shown a link with gluten ingestion and mania and schizophrenia. 

The take away is: individuals with mania had significantly increased levels of IgG antibodies to gliadin.

Posted on: Tuesday, March 13th 2012 at 9:15 am
Written By: Sayer Ji, Founder




Wheat could be driving more than your digestive system crazy.

While wheat is well known to wreak havoc on the gastrointestinal health of genetically susceptible folks, such as those with celiac disease, and more recently, irritable bowel syndrome, new research published in the journal Psychiatry Research indicates that sensitivity to one of the components in wheat known as gliadin could be driving some into states of acute mania:

"The relationship of the antibodies to the clinical course of mania was analyzed by the use of regression models. Individuals with mania had significantly increased levels of IgG antibodies to gliadin, but not other markers of celiac disease, at baseline compared with controls in multivariate analyses."

"Among the individuals with mania, elevated levels at follow-up were significantly associated with re-hospitalization in the six month follow-up period."1

While correlation does not equal causation, it is interesting to note that there is already robust supportive research on the link between wheat consumption and schizophrenia. Seven such studies can be viewed on our open source wheat database, for those inclined to explore this connection further. You will also find listed there over a dozen neurological conditions linked to wheat consumption.

For an additional explanation for why wheat may exhibit neurotoxic, if not also psychotropic properties, the excerpts from our essay series The Dark Side of Wheat are provided to shed light on the topic:

Gliadin can be broken down into various amino acid lengths or peptides. Gliadorphin is a 7 amino acid long peptide: Tyr-Pro-Gln-Pro-Gln-Pro-Phe which forms when the gastrointestinal system is compromised. When digestive enzymes are insufficient to break gliadorphin down into 2-3 amino acid lengths and a compromised intestinal wall allows for the leakage of the entire 7 amino acid long fragment into the blood, glaidorphin can pass through to the brain through circumventricular organs and activate opioid receptors resulting in disrupted brain function.

Dr Dohan has shown improvement of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, who went on a gluten free diet. Humm.

To your health,

Dr. Barbara