New Arrivals

On June 1, 2010, I was the guest speaker at a High School — one of the topics was cardiovascular health and healthy eating.  I told them I would write this blog in their honor.

I showed the class a picture of a pomegranate cut in half, and one of the boys said it looked like a heart.  I applauded him — that’s the “Signature of Plants”; it does look like a heart with vessels and blood cells.

The pomegranate has been clinically proven to help prevent cardiovascular disease.   Scientists have discovered an enzyme that blocks lipid peroxidation called PON-1.  Pomegranate has been shown to increase PON-1 levels and activity in the blood.  Also, it is high in the antioxidant  — ellagic acid. 

It has been studied for its benefits in increasing other enzymes that work as scavengers to cleanse the arteries; inhibiting inflammation; blocking carbohydrates in insulin resistance; protecting against aging skin, especially due to sun exposure; protection against cancer, especially in cases of estrogen-dependent breast cancer and modulating the immune system.

Pomegranate is also useful for menopausal & post-menopausal women because it helps to balance the hormones.   One of our customers claims she got unbelievable results using Life Extension’s Pomegranate.  Life Extension also makes Natural Estrogen with Pomegranate as well for women who need a stronger formula.

Life Extension has added pomegranate to their blueberry extract both high in ORAC – with cocoa, which contain polyphenols.  This blend helps protect all the cells in your body by helping fight free radicals, especially the heart.

Designs for Health makes a great product for cardio health called HTN with pomegranate in it.

Solaray Pomegranate  is another good product.

by:  Carol Lombardo

As women start menopause they may experience a decline in their sexual desire.  Don’t worry this is perfectly normal.  First, I suggest you have your doctor check your blood levels.  Progesterone starts declining as you approach menopause, so it’s usually a good idea to try natural progesterone cream, e.g., Organic Excellence USP Progesterone Cream.

Most of our customers keep coming back  for  Maca.   Maca has been used for centuries in Peru.  It is grown naturally as a root & has been known as a superfood.  I suggest the standardized brands by Gaia Herbs, Nature’s Way or Solaray, if you’re looking for a capsule form.  If you prefer powders, customers like Maca Magic.   Maca is one of the favored supplements from Peru, used by both sexes  — it not only boosts libido &  balances the hormones, but it helps boost immune system, energy levels and mental acuity.  

Irwin Naturals Steel Libido for Women, which contains a proprietary blend of supplements, is a very popular seller as well.   Many customers use this with the Maca.  However, I suggest using one product at a time. 

Also, it’s always important to stay on a healthy diet & get plenty of exercise.  Elevating endorphins by exercising is always an important measure in general, for  better mind, spirit and performance.

Do not use if you are taking medications without checking with your doctor first.

CAL

If food could be controversial, then tuna must be in the conversation. There is so much talk as to how much mercury is in the fish and how damaging it could be. Mercury, in excessive amounts, can be damaging to the nervous system, liver, kidneys and practically the whole body! Yet with the excessive toxicity it is commonly used in tooth fillings such as amalgam. Always refuse amalgam fillings as these are composed of mercury and are common sources of mercury poisoning.

But, what about the fish? Okay, well the most common fish to watch for mercury are the large fish such as tuna, shark, mackerel and swordfish. These fish are highest in the food chain, so they eat all the other little fish. Little fish have little quantities of mercury. The big fish eat a lot of little fish, and all that mercury builds up in the big fish, which is why we find high amounts of mercury in bigger fish.

Does this mean you should stop eating fish? NO! Instead fish is much healthier than most red meat and chicken in the market. Try eating smaller fish like salmon, tilapia, flouder, bluefish and snapper.

A recent study done by Purdue University found that when individuals ate tuna the amount of mercury absorbed decreased after consuming oat bran, wheat bran and black tea. In many Asian cultures that consume large amounts of fish, they also have a high intake of tea, coincidence? Likely not so.

Here are a few products that would help with inhibiting mercury absorption:

Solaray – Black Tea Extract

Choice Organic – Black Tea

Now Foods – Oat Bran

Written by:

Ralph Esposito

Follow me on Twitter @NutritionDocNYU

So, Dr. Oz finds himself in a little bit of hot water and rightfully so.  It’s irresponsible to tell the truth on American TV as liberally as his show often does – especially when it comes to blowing the whistle on either ‘big pharma’ or ‘big corps’.  And now added to your long list of things to be cautious about, you must add the river of apple juice coming from China and the high arsenic levels found in that flow. They’re busy now trying to discredit his testing methods but, the question is….

Was he right?  YES!

The combo of Apples & arsenic levels was enough to cause Food & Water Watch to call upon Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to set a tolerance level for heavy metals like arsenic in apple products – as recently as July. The national environmental group also wants stepped up testing on imported foods.

The request for FDA action came after F&WW and its partner, the Empire State Consumer Project, announced the results of tests by Paradigm Environmental Services showing Mott’s Apple Juice with arsenic levels of 55 parts per billion.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits arsenic in public drinking water to 10 parts per billion, a level that has forced some communities to invest millions on treatment to cut existing levels.

According to F&WW, more than 70% of the apple juice consumed in the United States now comes from the People’s Republic of China, where the government has acknowledged ‘a problem enforcing a new food safety law’. F&WW also reports that China makes wide use of arsenic-based pesticides in farming.  It’s not just juice. Since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, U.S. food safety inspectors have been overwhelmed by the surging food imports from China, where environmental, food safety and labor laws are weaker, and regulatory oversight is lax. In 2009, 43% of processed mushrooms, 22% of frozen spinach and 78% of tilapia Americans ate came from China. To read more about the escalating problem read here: A Decade of Dangerous Food Imports from China.

In a letter to Hamburg, F&WW’s Wenonah Hauter and Empire State’s Judy Braiman say apple juice should come in for special attention because it “is regularly consumed by children.” “We find it unconscionable that FDA has not established tolerance levels for arsenic and other heavy metals in the foods we consume, especially for foods that are staples in children’s diets,” they wrote.

You and your family absolutely have a right to clean products that you can trust and safely feed your children. Here you can quickly send a pre-formatted letter to the FDA: Commissioner Margaret Hamburg

You can protect yourself quite easily by always buying organic produce and juices and yes – reading the label to find out where the juice in your particular product is from.  This has the added benefit of supporting local US farmers and encouraging more and less expensive organic products at your local store.

Also it is important that you wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly – no matter where they come from.

We carry a great rinse: Citrus Magic’s Veggie Wash Fruit & Vegetable Wash Trigger Spray which uses is 100% natural, using ingredients from citrus, corn and coconut to remove harmful substances, like wax, soil and agricultural chemicals from produce.

Best Health,

Jeanne Ricks CHC, AADP

About 13 million in America may be dealing with this deadly man killer. No, I am not speaking of heart disease, cancer or diabetes. I’m talking about low testosterone, or commonly known today at Low-T. Testosterone, which is found in both men and women, is what gives a man many of his manly characteristics. Having low testosterone is common in men as they reach their middle ages, commonly referred to as male menopause. What does Low-T feel like…

1. Fatigue
2. Low libido (low sex drive)
3. Decreased muscle gains
4. Mood issues
5. A lack of a sense of well-being
6. Low or weak erections

Low testosterone can be hidden by many other diseases or health conditions. Commonly it is misdiagnosed as a mental chemical imbalance or depression, and is treated with anti-depressants. So what do you do if you’re experiencing these symptoms? The first thing is to go see your doctor and have him test you for low testosterone. However many doctors will just check for testosterone levels, but I suggest you go into your doctor’s office prepared. Here are a few things you should ask your doctor to check so he can have the whole picture and not just one independent blood work test.

1. Total and free testosterone: Your total testosterone only tells half the story. There is a protein called SHBG, which binds to your total testosterone. Whatever it doesn’t bind to is then free testosterone.
2. Estradiol: Just as woman have some testosterone, men also have estrogen. In men, some testosterone is converted into estrogen by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme.
3. Luteinizing Hormone (LH): This hormone is release by the pituitary gland and causes the testicles to produce testosterone.
4. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH): FSH is released by the pituitary and controls sperm production. It works closely with LH.
5. Prolactin: This hormone is commonly known for its impact on lactating woman. But it is also an indicator of any hypothalamic issues.
6. Cortisol: This hormone is also known as the stress hormone. When stress levels are high, cortisol is likely to follow.

So when you go in to see your doctor make sure he see checks these things so you get the best blood work.

Here are a few supplements that can naturally increase your free testosterone levels. A great alternative to hormone therapy.

Life Extension Super Miraforte

Designs for Health Libidostim M

-Ralph Esposito

For more nutrition news and tips follow me on Twitter @NutritionDocNYU

Are You Ready?! Researchers announced they have identified the mechanism of action of lipoic acid, a remarkable compound that in animal experiments appears to slow down the process of aging, improve blood flow, enhance immune function and perform many other functions.

Alpha Lipoic Acid is a vitamin-like antioxidant that is produced naturally in the body. As a free radical scavenger, it is unique because it is both fat and water soluble. It is easily absorbed and transported across cell membranes offering protection (against free radicals) both inside and outside the cell. Other antioxidants only provide extra cellular protection.

“The evidence suggests that lipoic acid is actually a low-level stressor that turns on the basic cellular defenses of the body, including some of those that naturally decline with age,” said Tory Hagen, an LPI researcher and associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics at OSU. “In particular, it tends to restore levels of glutathione, a protective antioxidant and detoxification compound, to those of a young animal. It also acts as a strong anti-inflammatory agent, which is relevant to many degenerative diseases.”

“Our studies have shown that mice supplemented with lipoic acid have a cognitive ability, behavior, and genetic expression of almost 100 detoxification and antioxidant genes that are comparable to that of young animals,” Hagen said. “They aren’t just living longer, they are living better — and that’s the goal we’re after.”

What the OSU researchers now believe is that the role of lipoic acid is not so much a direct one to benefit cells, but rather an indirect aid that “kick starts” declining function in cells and helps them recover the functions that came more easily and naturally in young animals.

In various effects, lipoic acid appears to help restore a cellular “signaling” process that tends to break down in older blood vessels. It reduces mitochondrial decay in cells, which is closely linked to the symptoms of aging. With age, Glutathione levels naturally decline, making older animals more susceptible to both free radicals and other environmental toxins – but, lipoic acid can restore Glutathione function to near normal. And the expression and function of other genes seems to come back to life.

“We never really expected such a surprising range of benefits from one compound,” Hagen said. “This is really unprecedented, and we’re pretty excited about it.”

This is exciting news and House of Nutrition has some incredible bargains right now on supplements.  Stop by and check out our low prices on Alpha lipoic Acid supplements:

Jarrow’s Formula – Alpha Lipoic Acid 100mg is very popular.

But these are great too!

Country Life’s – Biochem Lipoic Acid 100mg

Food Science’s – Alpha Lipoic Acid 60Caps

Kal’s – Alpha Lipoic Acid 100mg

Best Health,

-Jeanne Ricks, CHC, AADP

The one thing I truly loathe hearing is people blaming their past, current or future health problems completely on genetics. It bothers me that people are so easy to put their own personal health out of their own hands. When someone blames their health condition completely on genetics, not only have they attempted to take blame off of their lifestyle, but even more important is that they have taken the healing out of their hands. Well, your genetics are not the end-all-be-all, epi-genetics is a more accurate way of looking at health conditions.

Epigenetics, straight from its Latin derivative is outer-genetics meaning outside sources that impact gene expressions. What this means is that there are non-genetic influences on your DNA, which impacts how it is expressed. So if you tell me that you have high cholesterol because it’s ‘genetic’… Sorry but I just don’t buy it.

Some people will read this and be upset that unless they take control of their lifestyle and their health issue may not resolve. Others may read this and be content that they actually have control over their health condition and then they can resolve their health issue. Which one are you?

I think you can take control of your health condition, modify your lifestyle and eliminate this outer source that is causing chaos upon your body. Essentially, the environment impacts your genes and can cause your body to change and modify itself it order to compensate. Take for example the infamous genetic-blaming disorder hyperlipidemia, also known as high cholesterol and high triglycerides. Many people will see their doctor, and they will be told that they have high cholesterol and if dieting and exercise doesn’t help then it ‘must’ be genetic. However, what if they are just not introducing the right foods, or perhaps they are doing other things like excess alcohol, that could be contributing to their cholesterol issues. Or perhaps they are cholesterol-deprived and their body is trying to compensate with excess cholesterol production. Maybe they are under extreme stress. Each of these aspects are epi, or outside environmental sources.

Nutrigenomics, the study of nutrients on gene expression is a new up and coming science. A book I just read by Naturopath Dr. D’Adamo (of the Blood Type diet) goes very deep into nutrigenomics. It is called The Genotype Diet. This book is way ahead of its time, and I highly suggest you read it. It essentially takes everything I said, but puts it in a book with personalized genetic analysis. Go get it!

-Ralph Esposito

Follow me on twitter @ nutritiondocnyu

According to a case study, people with health problems, i.e., SLE(Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus) , MS (Multiple Sclerosis), neuropathy, seizures, tinnitus, CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), and other stealth diseases should not consume aspartame.  A recent women went to the doctor complaining of uncoordinated walking, severe pain, daily spasms throughout her stomach and gut.  She went to many doctors, had biopsies, muscle studies, x-rays, brain scans, blood tests, etc.  All tests were normal, and she was diagnosed with MS or other diseases that were undiagnosed but  were killing her.  No one asked the woman if she ingested aspartame in her daily diet.

She consumed 8-12 diet sodas daily.  The doctor order her to stop immediately.  After 2 (two) days she could walk again.  Within a week her spasms quit.  Within 2 (two) weeks her pain was 80% gone.  The lesson was profound– diet soda was killing her. 

Most people can endure aspartame, with no problem.  However, some people who are metabolically susceptible to the dangers aspartame, drinking diet sodas can kill them.  They will endure endless medical treatments for their “disease”, making  their conditions and lives worse; when all the while the underlying cause of their problem — chronic  aspartame poisoning — will forment and continue to go undiagnosed.

Switch to natural flavored water with no sugar, natural club soda, coconut water & plain purified water.  For sweetners use NOW Stevia or NOW  Xylitol.

Quit all soda & artificial sweeteners.  These concoctions are like holding a loaded chemical gun to your health.  They interfere with your stomach’s acid production, the way your body usese calcium — which is critical to just about every single reaction in your body, your acid/alkaline balance, your critical phosphorus-to-calcium levels in your blood, your kidney function, your glucose levels, and much more.

ref.:  Health Alert 2/2011

 CAL

According to recent research taking over 400 mcg. (micrograms) of folic acid can increase risk of colon, lung, and prostate cancers.  This doesn’t include the natural form, which is folate — found in whole foods and whole food vitamins.

According to an article in Prevention Magazine dated April 2010, the cereal we eat can actually hurt us.  For more than a decade, the government has required enriched grains —most notably white flour and white rice — to be fortified with folic acid, the synthetic form of the B vitamin folate.  Many food manfacturers take it further, giving breakfast cereals, nutrition bars, and  beverages a folic acid boost too.

This extra nutrient isn’t meant for you, though, it’s added to protect fetuses from developing rare but tragic birth defects (i.e., spina bifada).   Also, many doctors know it protects against elevated CRP  & Homocysteine levels, protein markers measuring inflammation in the blood (see my blog dated 3/5/10 on Cardiovascular Health).  Unfortunately, most people don’t know the difference between folate and synthetic folic acid.

According to David Smith, PhD, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Oxford in England, “the more we learn about folic acid, the more it’s clear that giving it to everyone has very real risks”.  It’s very easy to overdose on folic acid.

In lieu, continue to eat as many foods as you want containing natural folate (leafy greens, citrus fruits, lentils and dried beans).  However, read labels before buying boxed foods, such as cereals, pancake mixes, breads, flour, health bars, juices, power drinks, etc.  If you stay away from boxed/processed foods, as I’ve talked about in prior blogs, you’ll be better off.  Eat as natural as possible and only supplement with natural vitamins, if needed.

My favorites are Designs for Health or  Mega Foods vitamins.

-Carol Lombardo

One day a customer came in to thank me for recommending Jarrow Liquid Carnitine for her husband, who has heart palpitations.  She said the doctor could not get over the improvement.  I also suggested he add Designs for Health CoQnol and Taurine to his protocol.   I told her taurine is very good for the heart, especially if he has arrhythmia.  She said “he has arrhythmia”.  Taurine will also act as a diuretic and will lower blood pressure.

Carnitine is excellent for circulation, energy, mental acuity, turning fat into muscle and, as aforementioned, for heart health.   Designs for Health and Jarrow have added B5 (Pantothenic Acid) to support the necessary step in fat metabolism, the synthesis of Coenzyme A, which is essential for fat transportation.  Also, it is important to stay on a healthy/low carbohydrate diet for carnitine to work properly.

Everyday, people come in to thank us for our help and have many good stories to tell us.  Alternative medicine does work, especially when people make healthy changes in their lifestyles.

C. Lombardo