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Showing posts with label IP6 (aka Phytate). Show all posts
Showing posts with label IP6 (aka Phytate). Show all posts

Friday, 4 September 2015

Prevention Articles from Natural News.com

This post is on Healthwise


Prevention articles:


Disease prevention and other health benefits of parsley

7/31/2013 - Dr. Harold Gunatillake, an affiliate of the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons, asserts that the herb, parsley, has more to offer than being a mere colorful trimming on the delectable dishes most often served in restaurants. Beyond its almost negligible size and its tasty green dynamic flavor,...

Vitamin D may hold the key to aggressive breast cancer prevention and treatment

7/24/2013 - Breast cancer strikes more than one-quarter of a million women in the U.S. each year, taking the lives of nearly 40,000 annually. While age, lifestyle, diet and physical activity all play a significant role in development of the disease, an estimated 15 percent of women fall victim due to genetic susceptibility....

Cancer cases projected to skyrocket to one in two men in the future: How will you prevent it?

3/19/2013 - This is from a finding for future cancer rates in the UK. Currently, it is just under that risk rate, just under one for every two or 44 percent. It's no surprise that the numbers are almost the same in the U.S. for both men and women. So what to do about it? Well, the first thing to realize is that...

Omega-3s dramatically inhibit breast cancer tumor growth

2/22/2013 - A new study just published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry appears to be the first to provide what the researchers call "unequivocal evidence that omega-3s reduce cancer risk." So, how much of a risk are they talking about? A huge one. The scientists from the University of Guelph found...

Herbal flu prevention and flu treatment remedies

1/21/2013 - Herbs can soothe the coughs and pain of the flu. Taking these herbs daily during flu season can build immunity. Taking them when you have the ful can reduce the symptoms and even shorten the duration of your stay-at-home flu days. Herbs can reduce your fever, soothe a sore throat, and calm a stomach...

Natural flu prevention and natural flu treatment - Flu shot alternatives

1/16/2013 - Natural remedies for the flu, such as vitamins, herbs and homeopathy, can treat and prevent the flu and norovirus. Flu viruses have acquired a "high level of resistance" to the flu vaccine, other remedies and preventive treatments for this year's flu season are advised. Previously, the Centers for Disease...

98 percent of Big Tobacco settlement money being used to fund something other than smoking prevention programs

12/12/2012 - The vast majority of the $246 billion rolling settlement awarded to all 50 U.S. states as part of the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement is apparently being spent on things other than the anti-smoking programs and campaigns for which the money was intended, according to a new report. Entitled...

Dietary prevention of metastasis to increase cancer survival

12/9/2012 - Over a million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Most patients don't succumb to the initial tumor, but rather to metastatic (spread to another body site) tumors, or drug side effects. For instance, melanoma comprises four percent of skin cancers, but 80 percent of skin cancer deaths,...

Cancer country: Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and cancer - the new normal

11/30/2012 - Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and oh yeah, cancer - that's the good ole USA, where people lump together entertainment and disease, as if they come as a combo-package. Why in the heck are we all so accepting of this way of life, of this way of entertaining ourselves and then dying some horrific, unnecessary...

Home remedies and homeopathic solutions for the prevention and treatment of West Nile and other flu-like viruses

8/27/2012 - West Nile virus and other infectious, flu-like illnesses produce symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, upper respiratory effects, fatigue, skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes. In rare cases, a severe form of West Nile may develop producing neuroinvasive symptoms affecting the nervous system. One...

Homeopathic prevention and treatment for whooping cough - 7 common remedies that work

4/4/2012 2:44:09 PM - Whooping cough is a bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract, primarily effecting both vaccinated and unvaccinated children. It's highly contagious, and adult whooping cough is not uncommon. It starts as a common cold and develops into a spasmodic, persistent, suffocative cough accompanied...

Pro-active breast health prevents cancer

12/11/2011 - Protecting your health requires more than a good diet and regular exercise. It also involves having the courage to look beyond the received wisdom of the day. This is especially true in avoiding diseases which have reached epidemic proportions in our culture such as breast cancer. Just as the medical...

Breast cancer prevention alternatives - know your options before leaping

12/5/2011 - Fear, pain, poison, and "pre-emptive" surgery characterize mainstream medicine's philosophy of breast cancer awareness. The cancer industry's attitude toward breast health is rooted in harrowing more than healing, its motives based in profit rather than prevention. Dangerous Diagnostic Procedures Although...

Breast cancer prevention that really works

10/26/2011 3:57:30 PM - Long before the industrial revolution, ancient doctors of oriental medicine studied and treated breast cancer. So even before the earth was overwhelmed with synthetic, manufactured toxins, breast cancer was still considered a tragic and life threatening disease. Clearly the toxic component of breast...

How and why to take cancer prevention seriously

10/26/2011 - Perhaps the number one reason to take cancer prevention seriously is that cancer often grows in the body for twenty years before it is detected. That means that people diagnosed with cancer in their thirties started growing it in their teens. If they're diagnosed in their forties, it's probably been...

National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society skewered in new book by leading cancer expert

6/14/2011 - A new book by leading cancer expert, Dr. Samuel S. Epstein, skewers the National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society and blames the organizations for America losing the war against cancer. In the book, "National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society: Criminal Indifference to Cancer...

Effective cancer prevention suggestions the cancer industry ignores

4/20/2011 - The war on cancer is a hoax. This is what two time Nobel Prize winner Dr. Linus Paul said years ago. Notice he didn't say failure. He said hoax. Cancer deaths have greatly accelerated since then and have become the number one disease killer, surpassing strokes and heart disease. (1) The only war...

Radiation Prevention (Opinion)

3/18/2011 9:45:57 PM - There's lots of good stuff regarding radiation solutions on this website that are incredible. But there are some other things that need to be known. First of all, duct taping every opening in your home may be beneficial to some degree but remember that radiation is heat and heat will penetrate everything...

FDA grants monopoly over preterm labor prevention drug: 15,000 percent price increase then announced

3/13/2011 - Still think the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has your best interests in mind? According to new reports, the agency has arbitrarily decided to grant exclusive approval to KV Pharmaceutical to produce the one-and-only FDA-approved premature birth prevention drug -- which is really just a modified,...

Think prevention of Type 2 diabetes when diagnosed with gestational diabetes

3/12/2011 - In the first national study of its kind, the January issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology revealed that a diagnosis of diabetes during pregnancy, known as gestational diabetes, is indicative of a much greater risk in the years ahead for a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. The study titled "Gaps in Diabetes...

A quarter of stroke victims stop taking prevention medication

8/18/2010 - A new study out of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center has found that at least 25 percent of stroke victims stop taking their prevention medications after having a stroke. Some experts say that this is unwise because the chances of having another stroke within three months after a first stroke...

Cancer researchers announce breakthroughs in natural prostate cancer prevention and treatment

12/15/2009 - Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's oldest and largest organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. So when its members (comprised of cancer researchers, oncologists and other health care professionals) meet for a national conference, research...

Vitamin D is nutritional key for prevention of breast cancer

10/13/2009 - You've heard the good news about vitamin D for years: It's a "miracle" medicine that reduces cancer rates by 77% according to previous research (http://www.naturalnews.com/021892_cancer_Vitamin_D_cancer_industry.html). It also happens to be a powerful anti-cancer medicine that can both prevent and help...

Suicide Prevention Drug Pushing Racket - Part II

8/21/2009 - This is part two of an article series by Evelyn Pringle. You can read part one here: http://www.naturalnews.com/026789_suicide_suicide_prevention_Eli_Lilly.html A recent study in the April 2009, Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety journal found no change in the suicide rate in teens as a result...

Suicide Prevention Drug Pushing Racket - Part I

8/6/2009 - Nearly every year, as part of the suicide prevention drug pushing racket, drug company shills publish a bogus study with claims that more people are dying from suicide due to a black box warning of an increased risk of suicide in young people on the labels of SSRI and SNRI antidepressants. Although...

Natural Aromatase Inhibitors are Best Prevention of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women

6/29/2009 - One of the answers to breast cancer prevention has been right under our noses all along. When diets high in natural foods that inhibit the aromatase enzyme are eaten, breast cancers in postmenopausal women don't get a chance to start, according to research from the University of Munster in Germany....

Omega-3s - Fish Oils, Flaxseed Oil and Prostate Cancer - What do the Experts Say?

4/20/2009 - Just how good are fish oils, flaxseed oils and other omega-3s at preventing prostate cancer? According to the experts quoted below, they may represent some of the most powerful anti-cancer nutrients available today! Read this large collection of quotes on omega-3 oils and prostate cancer, and you'll...

Resveratrol is "Nature's Medicine" for Cancer, Heart Disease and Much More

4/1/2009 - Just how good is resveratrol at preventing cancer and heart disease? It's so good that drug companies are trying to mimic its molecules in order to claim they're "creating" a new drug to prevent heart disease. But this is Mother Nature's miracle drug -- only it's not a drug. It's a molecule synthesized...

Morgellons: Trisha Springstead Shares Her Treatment and Prevention Protocol

3/30/2009 - Morgellons is the newest and most terrifying of the diseases that have emerged in recent years. It is currently under investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and is reaching pandemic status not only in the U.S. but in many other parts of the world. Its sufferers almost always report some history...

Prevent Myopia, Part VI: Pinhole Glasses Work as Prevention Aids

3/30/2009 - Few people have even heard of pinhole glasses, although they have been around for a long time. Pinhole glasses are not made of glass at all but of an opaque substance such as plastic. The user looks through any of the many small holes in the material. These holes have the effect of reducing the width...

The Need for Prevention in Health-Care Reform

2/12/2009 - A physician I knew (he died at a ripe old age) once quipped, "Medicine is America`s fastest growing failing business." And unless we refocus our entire approach to health care, it`s going to grow and fail even faster. Most proposals for health-care reform have focused on either expanding the availability...

The Proven Cure and Prevention for Cancer the Medical Establishment Doesn't Want You to Know (Part II)

1/8/2009 - The Budwig protocol is the food treatment and cure for cancer and other major debilitating diseases created by Dr. Johanna Budwig. It was designed for use with extremely ill and wasted cancer patients who had been sent home by their doctors to die. These were patients so ill that many were unable to...

Cancer Prevention Research Journal Launched by American Association for Cancer Research

7/6/2008 - The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has announced the launch of the world's first peer-reviewed scientific journal dedicated solely to the topic of cancer prevention. Cancer Prevention Research is already accepting submissions for online publication starting in March, with regular monthly...

Diet May Be the Key to Prevention and Treatment of Brain Tumors

4/2/2008 - Malignant brain tumor persists as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in adults and is the second leading cause of cancer death in children. There is little in the way of prevention offered by the medical establishment. Any current therapies for malignant brain tumors do not provide long-term...

IP6 - A Rising Star in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

2/27/2008 - Three recent studies have confirmed the role of inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) in cancer prevention and control of experimental tumor growth. IP6 is a naturally occurring carbohydrate first identified in 1855. It can exist on its own or can be bound to various other minerals such as calcium, magnesium,...

Cancer: Prevention Is the Cure (Part 1)

10/10/2007 - Many people have heard the saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".  When it comes to cancer, this couldn't be truer.  To date several billion dollars, over 30 years have been spent on finding that elusive cure for cancer.  What about cancer prevention?  It is estimated that a woeful...

Canadian Cancer Society announces national program to prevent cancer using vitamin D

6/11/2007 - Canada has done what the U.S. refuses to do: Protect the health of its people through a national program of encouraging vitamin D supplementation. While U.S. cancer groups like the American Cancer Society stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the benefits of vitamin D supplements in cancer prevention, the...

New research shows vitamin D slashes risk of cancers by 77 percent; cancer industry refuses to support cancer prevention

6/8/2007 - Exciting new research conducted at the Creighton University School of Medicine in Nebraska has revealed that supplementing with vitamin D and calcium can reduce your risk of cancer by an astonishing 77 percent. This includes breast cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer and other forms of cancer. This research...

Statin drugs expose patients to dangerous, debilitating side effects

1/8/2007 - Millions of Americans take statin drugs to help lower their cholesterol, making it one of the most popular classes of prescription drugs on the market today, but like most prescription medications, these drugs are often unnecessary, as most Americans could lower their LDL (bad) cholesterol levels simply...

Tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention does not benefit most women (press release)

9/25/2006 - Most women at high risk for breast cancer do not increase their life expectancy by taking the drug tamoxifen, according to a new analysis by researchers from UC Davis, UCSF, the University of Pittsburgh and McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. In addition, the researchers showed that tamoxifen is...

UC Researchers Develop and Test Prevention Program for Childhood Obesity (press release)

9/21/2006 - The waistlines of children continue to grow, along with the concern about the problem. Two University of Cincinnati researchers are recruiting a school, parents and children in fighting obesity as they test a new prevention program in Meade County, Ky. After spending spring conducting focus groups with...

Gut Brain Therapy™ an Innovative Approach to Natural Migraine Prevention (press release)

7/3/2006 - Modern medical research has exposed an extensive amount of neurological activity in the digestive system that operates independently of direction from the brain. This enteric nervous system is so complex and so capable of independent action that it has been described by researchers as a second brain....

Women's pain and discomfort from premenstrual syndrome may be lessened by diet changes and natural health remedies

6/14/2006 - Headaches, bloating, irritability, depression and fatigue are just a few of the unpleasant symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, which affects millions of women every month. But fortunately, PMS -- though widely believed to be a result of changes in hormone levels during a woman's menstrual cycle -- is...

Conflicting media messages: How ads for pharmaceuticals and dangerous foods have infiltrated health publications

3/21/2006 - A February 2006 issue of Prevention magazine features a young, fit, happy looking couple on its cover, surrounded by headlines like, "How to be (and stay) happy" and "18 best foods to fight disease." Taken at face value, the approximately 4.5 by 6.5-inch, full color booklet appears to be a publication...

Essential fatty acid phosphatidylserine (PS) is powerful prevention for memory loss, Alzheimer's and dementia

1/9/2006 - The link between old age and forgetfulness is cliché enough to be the subject of greeting cards, sitcoms and jokes. We take it for granted so often that very few of us take the time to question why it happens. However, experts may have found the answer in an essential fatty acid called phosphatidylserine....

The mineral selenium proves itself as powerful anti-cancer medicine

1/4/2006 - One of the most effective naturally occurring weapons against cancer is, like most healthy things, something many of us are not getting enough of. The mineral selenium has been shown in multiple studies to be an effective tool in warding off various types of cancer, including breast, esophageal, stomach,...

One-fifth of women would consider double mastectomy as breast cancer prevention strategy

8/21/2005 - You're not going to believe this one: A recent poll of 1500 women in Britain and five other countries found that 22 percent of them would consider having both breasts removed if they were at high risk for breast cancer. We're not talking about the removal of breasts that have cancer; we're talking about...

DHEA as cancer fighter

8/2/2005 - DHEA's ability to increase libido, burn fat and slow the aging process may be reason enough to consider taking the supplement. But in addition to those, DHEA could also help you prevent and fight cancer. New research on DHEA is giving hope to many cancer patients. While studies are still navigating...

More Employees Unable To Receive Health Insurance Coverage Through Their Employers; Prevention, Not Disease Treatment, Is The Answer

8/6/2004 - A new study from the Washington, D.C. based Center for Studying Health System Change has revealed that 9 million Americans no longer have health insurance coverage through their employers compared to those who received coverage in 2001. In other words, employers' ability to provide health insurance...

Obesity epidemic threatens to bankrupt U.S. economy and threaten financial stability of the world

7/26/2004 - Obesity continues to grab headlines in newspapers and online news site around the world. America is becoming a country of overweight and obese individuals: currently, 127 million adults are overweight in the US alone, and 60 million of them are considered clinically obese. These statistics probably...

U.S. Surgeon General says prevention is the health cure, and that means nutrition and fitness

5/18/2004 4:20:26 PM - U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona is trying to educate the public and policymakers on the importance of disease prevention. He says, "We can't afford to go on the path we're on now," meaning that as a nation, we simply cannot afford to spend ever-increasing dollars for health care, treating...

See all 281 prevention feature articles.


Concept-related articles:

Overweight:
Diabetes:
Epidemic:
Exercise:
Women:
Weight:
Men:
Physical exercise:
Chronic disease:
Food supply:
Coffee:
American Medical Association:
Tobacco:
Diet:
United States:
Food:

http://www.naturalnews.com/prevention.html

Go to Healthwise for more articles

Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Chelation Treatments for Heavy Metal Toxicity

The term “chelation” (pronounced key-lay-shun) comes from the Greek word chele, which means “claw”.  This may sound strange until you understand that certain agents, known as chelators are able to chemically bond with metals, minerals, or chemical toxins and whisk them out of the body via the urine and feces.

What Is Chelation?


In our increasingly toxic world, this is beginning to be a very necessary step toward wellness for many people.  One of the methods by which people are discovering their heavy metal toxicity is via a test known as hair mineral analysis, usually ordered by a naturopath or an integrative doctor searching for the underlying cause for disease.
People are discovering that their bodies are polluted with heavy metals such as iron, lead, mercury, cadmium, copper and zinc.  Our bodies cannot break down heavy metals, thus creating toxic levels which are playing havoc with health.
Natural therapists have long known that certain agents are able to chelate – grab onto – these heavy metals and pull them out of the body’s blood and tissues.  They form complex molecules that are chemically inert and can be easily excreted without interacting any further with the body.  This is the method by which chelation therapy detoxifies heavy metals.
So Where Are All These Heavy Metals Coming From?
Heavy metal toxicity is due to many different things, including amalgam dental fillings (which are about 50% mercury), lead in paint, tap water, chemical residues in processed foods, petrochemical products, and cosmetics (unless organic).  Mercury is probably the worst offender and those who work in these professions have the highest risk of mercury overload: physicians, pharmaceutical workers, any dental occupations, laboratory workers, potters, hairdressers, painters, printers, metal workers, welders, cosmetic industry workers, battery makers, engravers, photographers, and visual artists.
Dr. Garry Gordon, a leader in the field of chelation says, “No one on Planet Earth is operating at optimal levels without doing something about the toxic metals.  Thus the conclusion I draw is that chelation appears to be a lifetime necessity for all.  There is no chelation that can dent the lead levels of bones unless continued for at least seven years (bone turnover time).”
How Is Chelation Therapy Administered?
Depending on the agent used and the type of metal toxicity, chelating agents may be taken orally or injected into a vein or muscle.
Known Chelators
Note:  It is possible to feel worse after chelation than when you began if you are not well-informed and do not proceed carefully under the care of a competent healthcare practitioner.  You will want to get the hair mineral analysis test done first to see what metals you have a problem with (if any) and this test is usually done with a qualified professional like a naturopath or integrative doctor.  The following list is purely for informational purposes.
Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid (EDTA) is the most widely used and studied chelating agent.  It is a synthetic amino acid first used in the 1940’s as a treatment for lead poisoning.  In the 1950’s physicians began to use it for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. 
In 1980, Drs W Blumer and T Reich headed a study which discovered that people who lived close to a busy road had higher chances of dying from cancer than those who did not live close to a busy road.  They discovered that lead from vehicle exhaust was suspended in dust particles and sediment dust along the automobile artery.  They further found that calcium EDTA helped to eliminate the lead poisoning.  It appears that someone listened to this report – all vehicles manufactured after 1986 in the USA were required to operate completely on unleaded fuel.
However.  Using synthetic chelators with their own toxic side effects is not the best way to chelate.
More Natural Chelation Agents Include:
Homeopathic merc sol – good for the removal of arsenic, iron and mercury.
Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) – a nutritional supplement that transforms into dithiol dihydrolipoic acid, a chelator of both mercury and arsenic.  It is advised that ALA should be taken with caution by starting at low dosages and supporting its use with a full protocol, which includes clay, to ensure that the heavy metals do actually leave the body.
Inositol Hexaphosphate (IP6) – derived naturally from seeds and rice bran, is the most potent natural chelator of iron and completely non-toxic. Researchers at Wake Forest University Health Sciences state that “iron chelators may be of value as therapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer. They may act by depleting iron, a necessary nutrient, and limiting tumor growth.” [Current Topics Medical Chemistry 4: 1623—35, 2004].   IP6 appears to work selectively against cancer cells. Because cancer cells are high in iron content, IP6 directs most of its attention to these abnormal cells by selectively removing iron.  That deprives them of their primary growth factor.  IP6 does not remove iron from normal red blood cells which are tightly bound to hemoglobin.  Unlike cancer drugs, healthy cells are not affected with IP6, so IP6 has very low toxicity. [Deliliers GL, British J Haematology 117: 577—87, 2002]
Furthermore, IP6 actually enhances the anti-cancer effects of Adriamycin and Tamoxifen, two commonly used breast cancer drugs. [Tantivejkul K, Breast Cancer Research Treatment 79: 301—12, 2003]  For further research on IP6 on pubmed.gov, click this link.
Cilantro (Coriander) – a very effective chelator.  Many people suffering from mercury exposure report a reduction in the often-cited feeling of disorientation when they consume large quantities of this popular herb.  It appears to work better when combined with chlorella (see below).
Parsley, Alfalfa, and Chlorella (blue-green algae) – all three are powerful chemical and heavy metal chelators.  They help to get your system more alkaline and purify the blood, making it easier for the body to rid itself of wastes with less discomfort or “healing crisis” (which is often felt when the toxic debris coming out of the cells causes you to feel sick or like you have the flu).
Onions and garlic –  The high sulfur content works to eliminate heavy metals.  Eggs, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage also have high sulfur content.
Food-Grade Activated Charcoal –  Al Sears, MD recommends his patients utilize food grade activated charcoal for detoxifying heavy metals.  He recommends a total of 20 grams per day, spaced apart in two to four doses, over a 12 day period.

A few more tips:  Remember to replace the good minerals which may be lost during the chelation process with a great quality mineral supplement.  Note that it is best to eliminate heavy metals gently – slower is better than faster – so that the body can reabsorb less and avoid flooding the body with toxic metals that can cause you to feel rotten.  I said it up above and I will repeat it here – it is possible to feel worse after chelation than when you began if you are not well-informed and do not proceed carefully under the care of a competent healthcare practitioner.
References:
http://www.gordonresearch.com/answers/chlorella_and_cilantro.html
http://drsircus.com/medicine/essentials-natural-chelation
http://pubmed.gov
This article is on Healthwise.

Monday, 1 June 2015

Iron in Your Blood

Iron is essential for human life, as it is a key part of various proteins and enzymes, involved in the transport of oxygen and the regulation of cell growth and differentiation, among many other uses.

June 05, 2013 


Blood Test

Story at-a-glance

  • While iron is essential for human life, too much iron can cause heart disease and cancer. This is actually far more common than iron deficiency
  • Checking your iron levels is one of the most important tests that everyone should have done on a regular basis as part of a preventive, proactive health screen; it can be done with a simple blood test called a serum ferritin test; your ferritin level should be between 20 and 80 ng/ml, and 40 to 60 is ideal. If your iron levels are elevated or you have hemochromatosis, donating your blood or obtaining a prescription for therapeutic phlebotomy is one of the best solutions
  • There is speculation that the genetic mutation linked to hemochromatosis may have emerged to help protect ancient humans from iron deficiency resulting from a switch from a hunter-gatherer “Paleo” diet to one based on carb-heavy farming
By Dr. Mercola
Iron is essential for human life, as it is a key part of various proteins and enzymes, involved in the transport of oxygen and the regulation of cell growth and differentiation, among many other uses.
One of the most important roles of iron is to provide hemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells), a mechanism through which it can bind to oxygen and carry it throughout your tissues, as without proper oxygenation, your cells quickly start dying.
If you have too little iron, you may experience fatigue, decreased immunity or iron-deficiency anemia, which can be serious if left untreated. This is common in children and premenopausal women.
But what many people fail to realize is that too much iron can be equally deadly, and is actually far more common than iron deficiency, thanks to a hereditary disease known as hemochromatosis.

This Health Issue Has Been of Major Importance to Me and My Family

This test saved my dad's life 20 years ago when I discovered he had a ferritin level close to 1000. It was because he has beta-thalassemia. With regular phlebotomies, his iron levels normalized and now the only side effect he has is type 1 diabetes. The high iron levels damaged his pancreatic islet cells and now he has what is called "bronze" diabetes and so requires the use of insulin.
I also inherited this from him so this is a personal issue. Thankfully, I am able to keep my iron levels normal by removing about a quart of blood a year. This is removed not all at once but over a few dozen deposits.
I screened all my patients with ferritin levels and noticed nearly one-fourth of them had elevated levels. So I would strongly encourage you and your family to be screened annually for this, as it is SO MUCH easier to prevent iron overload than it is to treat it.

Ferritin Screen – One of Your Most Important Health Tests

Checking your iron levels is easy and can be done with a simple blood test called a serum ferritin test. I believe this is one of the most important tests that everyone should have done on a regular basis as part of a preventive, proactive health screen.
The test measures the carrier molecule of iron, a protein found inside cells called ferritin, which stores the iron. If your ferritin levels are low, it means your iron levels are also low.
The healthy range of serum ferritin lies between 20 and 80 ng/ml. Below 20 is a strong indicator that you are iron deficient, and above 80 suggests you have an iron surplus. The ideal range is between 40-60 ng/ml.
The higher the number over 100 the worse the iron overload, with levels over 300 being particularly toxic and will eventually cause serious damage in nearly everyone that sustains those levels long term. It's important to find out if your levels are high because your body has a limited capacity to excrete iron, which means it can easily build up in organs like your liver, heart and pancreas. This is dangerous because iron is a potent oxidizer and can damage your body tissues contributing to serious health issues, including:
CirrhosisLiver cancerCardiac arrhythmias
Type one diabetesAlzheimer's diseaseBacterial and viral infections

Cancer researchers have also found new evidence that bowel cancers are two to three times more likely to develop when dietary iron is too high in your body.1

Risk Factors for Iron Overload

People with hemochromatosis are not the only ones who may accumulate more iron than is healthy. While premenopausal women who are menstruating regularly rarely suffer from iron overload, most adult men and postmenopausal women tend to be at a high risk, as they don't have a monthly blood loss (one of the best ways you can get rid of excess iron is by bleeding).
Another common cause of excess iron is the regular consumption of alcohol, which will increase the absorption of any iron in your diet. For instance, if you drink wine with your steak, you will likely be absorbing more iron than you need. Other potential causes of high iron levels include:
  • Cooking in iron pots or pans. Cooking acidic foods in these types of pots or pans will cause even higher levels of iron absorption.
  • Eating processed food products like cereals and white breads that are "fortified' with iron. The iron they use in these products is inorganic iron, not much different than rust and it is far more dangerous than the iron in meat.
  • Drinking well water that is high in iron. The key here is to make sure you have some type of iron precipitator and/or a reverse osmosis water filter.
  • Taking multiple vitamins and mineral supplements, as both of these frequently have iron in them.

Could Reducing Your Iron Level Be a Safer Alternative to Statins?

We may have garnered some valuable information about how iron drives inflammation from studying statins drugs, of all things. Statins are of course,cholesterol drugs. Statins have an anti-inflammatory effect on your body by reducing oxidative stress, which is something the drug companies tend not to disclose. The fact that statin drugs reduce inflammation, and reduce inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein, may explain why statins decrease heart attacks in some people. This benefit has nothing to do with the action of lowering cholesterol, but rather the reduction of inflammation.
In a study published in the April 2013 issue of American Journal of Public Health2, researchers found that statins improved cardiovascular outcomes at least partially by countering the proinflammatory effects of excess iron stores. In this study, the improved outcomes were associated with lower ferritin levels but not with "improved" lipid status. Researchers concluded iron reduction might be a safe and low-cost alternative to statins. An earlier study in the American Heart Journal3 also showed that people with a lower iron burden had less risk for heart attack and stroke.
These studies add credence to what I learned a few years ago from Dr. Steven Sinatra, one of the leading natural cardiologists in the world, that statins' only health benefit is that of reducing inflammation.
This may be helpful for a small percentage of individuals who have a very high risk of dying from a heart attack, but NOT for those who simply have "high" cholesterol levels. Statin drugs are vastly overprescribed and are not worth the risk for the vast majority of you. In some cases, they may actually increase your risk of stroke. If elevated iron is the driving force behind your inflammation and cardiovascular disease, then it makes far more sense to simply reduce your iron level, as opposed to taking a statin drug that has the potential for many adverse effects.

What to Do if Your Iron Levels Are Too High

The good news if you find out that your iron levels are elevated or you have hemochromatosis is that remedying the condition is relatively simple. Some people advise using iron chelators like phytic acid or IP6, but I tried that with my dad and it failed miserably so I would not recommend it. Donating your blood is a far safer, more effective and inexpensive approach for this problem.
If, for some reason, a blood donor center is unable to accept your blood for donation you can obtain a prescription for therapeutic phlebotomy. At the same time, you will want to be sure to avoid consuming excess iron in the form of supplements, in your drinking water (well water), from iron cookware, or in fortified processed foods.
Additionally:
  • Certain phenolic-rich herbs and spices, such as green tea and rosemary, can reduce iron absorption4
  • The primary polyphenol in turmeric known as curcumin actually acts as an iron chelator, and in mice studies, diets supplemented with this spice extract exhibited a decline in levels of ferritin in the liver5
  • Astaxanthin, which has been researched to have over 100 potential health benefits, has been shown to reduce iron-induced oxidative damage6

The Ancient Origins of Iron Overload

How and why hemochromatosis – now one of the most prevalent genetic diseases in the United States – emerged is the subject of numerous theories and speculation – but its true history remains a complex mystery. In a fascinating article on the topic, The Atlantic7 recently highlighted the notion that everyone who inherited the C282Y mutation responsible for the majority of hemochromatosis cases got it from the same person. In other words, one distant ancestor passed on the mutation, which now favors people of Northern European decent.
No one knows the precise identity of the founder, but initial speculation that it was someone of Irish descent has given way to the possibility that it may have actually arisen in a Viking civilization or, even earlier, in a central European hunter-gatherer.
It takes two inherited copies of the mutation (one from the mother and one from the father) to cause the disease (and even then only some people will actually get sick). If you have just one mutation, you won't become ill but you will absorb slightly more iron than the rest of the population, a trait that may have given people an advantage when dietary sources of iron were scarce.

Did the Hemochromatosis Mutation Emerge to Protect Humans from a Carb-Heavy Agricultural Diet?

There is speculation that the hemochromatosis mutation may have spread in ancient Europe around the time that man transitioned from hunter-gatherer to farmer. Unlike the Paleolithic diet of the "cavemen," which by necessity included a relatively balanced diet of iron-rich meat, fish and plant foods, farming may have led humans to rely on an overabundance of grain carbohydrates. The featured article reported:
"Fossil evidence indicates early European farmers stood roughly 6 inches shorter than their hunter-gatherer ancestors, a possible indication of malnutrition… Average height and life expectancy fell, as bone infections, dental cavities, and skeletal malformations associated with anemia rose. While the exact composition of the Paleolithic plate remains debated, most agree that European hunter-gatherers ate more meat than those in modern farming communities. And this animal protein was an excellent source of one familiar micronutrient: iron.
The World Health Organization estimates that 1.6 billion persons worldwide current suffer from the lack of red blood cells known as anemia -- half of which may be caused by iron deficiency. One's inner paleo might wonder whether this pandemic of iron deficiency began in the Neolithic era as diets bloated with carbohydrates replaced those rich in meat and fish.
Anemia decreases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood; if marked, this will hinder an individual's ability to stay healthy, find food, and reproduce. The C282Y mutation increases iron absorption, and it may have inadvertently protected carriers against this threat."

The Hemochromatosis Link to the Plague

Another intriguing theory suggests that the hemochromatosis mutation may have protected against the Black Death of the 14th century, by preventing the Yersinia pestis bacteria from reproducing inside of human immune cells.
"During the Black Death, mortality may have been highest, up to 50-66 percent, in the British Isles -- a future hotbed of hereditary hemochromatosis … In this most unsympathetic environment, minute DNA differences may decide survival or death. A genetic advantage would quickly spread through the island population -- it would have less value on the mainland where plague mortality may have been lower," the featured article reported.
But this theory is challenged by conflicting information that suggests the plague bacteria use iron from its host to enhance its ability to infect cells. People with hemochromatosis may therefore be among the most vulnerable to succumbing to plague infections, which suggests the mutation may have nothing to do with survival. It could, perhaps, be an artifact of natural selection or there may be a different explanation entirely…
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/05/elevated-iron-levels.aspx

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