Dr. McNabb's Nutritional Blog

Making your own tinctures.

2010-04-03T06:25:00.000-07:00

If nothing else, God made me scottish. It is both a failing and a strength. That is why I prefer powders and liquids for supplements because you get twice as much for the money by doing so. You pay for the capsules themselves, and the amortization of the machinery to put the material in the capsules. Now, if whatever it is will not get by the tastebuds, yes, then I buy the capsules.
Recently, I have been using several herbs as tinctures, because tinctures are also so much cheaper. Saw Palmetto for the prostate and Astragalus for the immune system are examples. I am posting an article from the Bulk Herb Store about making your own tinctures, which would make their cost even lower. By the way, the Herb Store is a wonderful site run by a Christian family in Tennessee that I highly recommend. The more I get into nutrition, the more I have realized that herbs can be an inexpensive alternative to pharmaceuticals. Herb Pharm in Oregon is another company I often buy from and respect. Here is the link to the Bulk Herb Store.

Making your own tinctures

New York Times questions Statin Use.

2010-04-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

I have thought for a long time that Statins are way over-prescribed. Now it seems that the New York Times seems to agree. Here is the link.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/business/31statins.html

Selenium, a new use in Contact Lenses

2010-03-31T06:47:00.000-07:00

Selenium is a very interesting metal from a nutritional standpoint. We only need it in tiny amounts, like 200 micrograms (thousandths of a gram) daily. Thyroids need selenium in order to make thyroxine, a life sustaining hormone. Selenium has also been shown in multiple studies to reduce the rates of most cancers by about half. That's a 50 percent reduction! That is why selenium should be in virtually every multivitamin. If it is not in yours, get a better multi. My recommendation is the Perfect Multi from Purity Products. It is available on my website.
Now comes a completely new use for selenium. Making soft contact lenses resistant to colonization by pathogenic bacteria. Dr. Mark Willcox, a microbiologist and professor of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of New South Wales in Sydney Australia has incorporated selenium into an organic compound and bonded it to the lens material. Growth of Staph aureus was decreased by 1000 %. Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth was less. What is so good about this is that there were no deleterious effects on the corneal epithelium. Those of you who have had an infection from contact lens wear know how important this may be. Those of you who have had an infection from contact lens wear know how important this may be.
Knowing how slowly the FDA operates, it may be some time before this is available to the general public.

Detecting Alzheimer's from an Eye Exam

2010-03-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

It seems that Alzheimer's disease affects the retina of the eye as well as the brain. Two researchers from University College London, Francesca Cordiera and Stephen Moss are developing a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope to detect the protein beta amyloid in the retina, the same protein that collects in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. It is not ready at this point, but how nice it will be to go to your ophthalmologist to confirm the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, especially in the early stages when do one is quite sure what is happening. I believe we have only scratched the surface of diseases and conditions that we will be able to diagnose via an eye exam.

The role of toxins in Autism

2010-03-29T05:28:00.000-07:00

Below is an abstract from Dr. Landigan, the head at Mt Sinai Medical Center in NYC talking about the role of toxins in the development of Autism. His credentials are impeccable. Getting rid of toxins in our bodies, from amalgam fillings containing mercury, to fluoride in our water, is critical.

Current Opinion in Pediatrics:
April 2010 - Volume 22 - Issue 2 - p 219–225
doi: 10.1097/MOP.0b013e328336eb9a
Therapeutics and toxicology: Edited by Robert O. Wright

What causes autism? Exploring the environmental contribution
Landrigan, Philip J

Abstract
Purpose of review: Autism is a biologically based disorder of brain development. Genetic factors – mutations, deletions, and copy number variants – are clearly implicated in causation of autism. However, they account for only a small fraction of cases, and do not easily explain key clinical and epidemiological features. This suggests that early environmental exposures also contribute. This review explores this hypothesis.
Recent findings: Indirect evidence for an environmental contribution to autism comes from studies demonstrating the sensitivity of the developing brain to external exposures such as lead, ethyl alcohol and methyl mercury. But the most powerful proof-of-concept evidence derives from studies specifically linking autism to exposures in early pregnancy – thalidomide, misoprostol, and valproic acid; maternal rubella infection; and the organophosphate insecticide, chlorpyrifos. There is no credible evidence that vaccines cause autism.

Summary: Expanded research is needed into environmental causation of autism. Children today are surrounded by thousands of synthetic chemicals. Two hundred of them are neurotoxic in adult humans, and 1000 more in laboratory models. Yet fewer than 20% of high-volume chemicals have been tested for neurodevelopmental toxicity. I propose a targeted discovery strategy focused on suspect chemicals, which combines expanded toxicological screening, neurobiological research and prospective epidemiological studies.

Mediterranean diet protects against stomach cancer

2010-03-27T08:38:00.001-07:00

Mediterranean diet protects against stomach cancer

The Full Plate Diet

2010-03-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

The Full Plate Diet is a new book that approaches dieting in a completely new direction. It is written by two MD's, Stuart Seale and Teresa Sherard and a PhD nutritionist Diana Fleming and published right here in Austin, Texas. I highly recommend this book to you first because I love its emphasis on eating more fiber, and second, because it may be how you maintain your weight, or lose that extra weight that you may be carrying around. It has lots of good background information on fiber which I think is important. It also shows many ways to make moderate adjustments in your eating habits in order to increase the amount of fiber intake in your diet. The whole purpose of fiber here is to make you feel fuller more quickly, and to delay the time for you to get hungary again. Look for it on Amazon.com. You will be healthier as a result.

The importance of fiber

2010-03-26T05:41:00.000-07:00

I have always been a big fan of fiber. One of the greatest disservices to the field of nutrition has been to label fiber as "non-nutritive". While it is true that fiber is not directly absorbed into our system, the name non-nutritive" implies that fiber has no importance for us. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our dietary fiber is not digested by us, but by our colonic bacteria. In so doing, do mahy wonder things for us.

Fiber is the food of the intestinal bacteria which inhabit our colon. We carefully nurture (that is before antibiotics came along) our bacteria as they do many good things for us: make a number of our needed vitamins, and butyrate, a fuel for our colonocytes. In addition, they occupy ecological niches, thus keeping pathogenic bacteria at bay, and, in general, keep our colons functioning smoothly. If all these were not enough, there is an even more important role for these bacteria in keeping our immune system from over-working. This last activity has been the last to be studied, and is still not fully appreciated by doctors and practitioners. All of these functions of fiber are the result of fiber being the food of our intestinal bacteria. They digest the fiber, and, in so doing, do all these wonderful things for us.

Senate Bill S 3002

2010-03-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

For those of us who work in the nutrition industry, we were all concerned about the bill introduced by Senator McCain called S 3002, calling for severe restrictions on the supplement industry. This bill would dramatically restrict access for Americans to buy their supplements. We are now encouraged that Senator McCain has withdrawn his support for this bill. Hooray.
Here is the letter from Senator Hatch.

Orrin Hatch Letter to John McCain About S. 3002

More on Osteoarthritis

2010-03-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we wrote about glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate being the building blocks for making and repairing cartilage. There are a variety of supplements that you can use to help as well. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is heavily concentrated in three areas of the body. The vitreous body in the back of the eye is largely hyaluronic acid. It is present in skin, and is responsible for the soft, thick appearance of youthful skin. It is also present in joints, and is here responsible for lubrication necessary for comfortable movement. While it is a large molecule, good studies have shown that it is absorbed orally. To be effective, it needs to be taken three times a day, with meals. Hyaluronic acid is also especially good for Rheumatoid arthritis patients.
MSM is another supplement useful for joint health (it is also good for asthma, even status asthmaticus). I have heard patients say that MSM did not work for them. Dosage is very important here. You can't get enough MSM in capsules or pills. I recommend powdered Raspberry-flavored MSM from Designs for Health. Start with a teaspoon daily, then increase to 2 to 3 teaspoons weekly according to symptoms. If no results, continue to increase to 1, 2 or even three tablespoons (divided doses with meals.).

Treating Osteoarthritis with nutrients.

2010-03-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

We were reading an article in the paper the other day written by an Orthopedist stating that supplements for joints did not good at all. Well, I respectively disagree. I will agree that supplements taken in insufficient amounts will not help. When asked, "How much of this supplement should I take?" The answer is, It depends." To prevent a condition, perhaps only a small amount of a given nutrient is needed. To treat a minor condition, more is required, and to treat a major condition, much more is required. So, how do you proceed? Start with a capsule daily for a week. If no results, double it. If still no results, double it again. If your condition is severe, remember that you did not get to this situation overnight. It may take some time before you begin to see improvements.
Let's talk specifically about supplements for osteoarthritis, or what is called "wear and tear" arthritis. What wears is the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones. X-rays clearly tell the story of narrowing of the joint space. Clearly, cartilage is not being replaced as fast as it is being worn away. Our bodies use two very unusual amino acids to build cartilage, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. When we starve ourselves of these two building blocks, cartilage thins to the point that bone is exposed, causing pain on movement of the joint.
These two amino acids are found naturally in gelatin. Jello was a common dessert when I was young.
Today it is thought of as hospital food. Powdered gelatin, as found in Nutri-Joint, is a good supplement. You can also get glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate as capsules. Even if you do not have arthritis and are over 55, taking gelatin and glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate as a preventative is a very good idea. There are lots of other supplements beneficial to joints that I will talk about next.

Handwashing and Flu

2010-03-02T07:41:00.000-08:00

While we are on the subject of skin, let's talk about the importance of handwashing in the prevention of disease. Semmelweis showed in 1847 that by disinfecting hands with dilute chlorine solution, the incidence of deaths from purpural fever could be reduced dramatically. Meanwhile, other studies showed that even washing with soap and water the incidence of disease transmission.
Today it seems that the lowly bar of soap has been largely replaced by "Antibacterial" soaps solutions, largely by fueling fears that soap is not enough to stop the spread of germs. Bacterial cultures done on a bar of soap show that they are essentially sterile after just of short period of time. So there is little argument to the spreading of germs because someone else has just used it. Second, handwashing with soap is just as effective in stopping the transmission of disease as their antibacterial counterparts.
My objection to antibacterial soaps is fourfold. First, I don't believe they are needed. Second is the cost. They are far more expensive than bar soap. Thirdly, consider the evidence that skin is far more permeable to compounds than we previously thought. We would not want these antibacterial compounds within us. If they are capable of killing bacteria, just think how they could possibly harm our mitochondria in our cells which are very much like bacteria. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome anyone?
The forth reason is that antibacterial soaps indiscriminately kill both the beneficial bacteria on our skin as well as the pathogenic bacteria. In a similar fashion to the beneficial bacteria in our GI track, our skin has normal bacterial organisms that live happily on our skin and contribute to the health of our skin.
So, let's get back to basics and start to use bar soap again.

2010-03-01T09:21:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here looking at the list of ingredients of an underarm deoderant which includes propylene glycol, sodium stearate, stearyl alcohol, and a yellow and blue dye. These don't sound like foods to me. If they are not foods, then there must be chemicals that if absorbed into the body (or ingested), then the liver is obliged to detoxify them for excretion by the bowel or kidneys.
For years we have considered our skin to be this impenetrable covering for our body. But is this really the case? I started to think about this when I realized how many drugs are now being delivered via the skin. If we can put on a patch and have a medication delivered to us through our skin, just how impermeable is our skin and how safe is it to put various things on our skin that we would not dream of eating?
For a long time, I did not have a good alternative to underarm deodorants. Then at a Nutritional Meeting I heard a woman speak about the subject and to say that she used baking soda. I have used it for the past several years and can give you a few comments. First, it needs to be dusted on the arm pits daily. It will not last beyond 24 hours. Second, I have had to use small containers of baking soda to use in by dop kit.
I believe this concept expends well beyond underarm deodorants. Face and hand creams, lip gloss are some things that come to mind. Look at ingredients. The more strange sounding components they have, the less likely I am to buy it.
I think that as a general rule, the fewer toxins we present to our liver to be detoxified, the less risk of cancer we will have, and the healthier we will be.

2010-02-23T13:24:00.000-08:00

I have just come across an article from 2005 studying the fluid from the anterior chamber from glaucoma patients undergoing glaucoma surgery, with controls from other non-glaucomatous patients. They analyzed hyaluronic acid concentrations in both types of patients and found that glaucoma patients have a significantly reduced amount of hyaluronic acid. The difference was highly significant at P< 0.001.
Hyaluronic acid is a very high molecular weight molecule that is highly concentrated in the vitreous body, the gel that fills the back four fifths of the eye. It is responsible for the gel-like character of the vitreous . It is also the same molecule that is concentrated in joints, making them slippery, and skin, making it thick.
The interesting thing about this article is who would think of looking at hyaluronic acid in the anterior chamber. I hope this will be the basis of a research study examining the ability of oral hyaluronic acid in reducing pressures in patients with glaucoma. In the meantime, if you are considering taking it for your glaucoma, remember that hyaluronic acid is also helpful in keeping joints healthy and skin thick and lustrous. Taking it no downsides that I am aware of. Three times a day is the dosage. Here is the reference abstract.

Exp Eye Res. 2005 Jun;80(6):853-7. Epub 2005 Jan 26.
Concentration of hyaluronic acid in primary open-angle glaucoma aqueous humor.
Navajas EV, Martins JR, Melo LA Jr, Saraiva VS, Dietrich CP, Nader HB, Belfort R Jr.
Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 820, São Paulo, SP 04023-062, Brazil. edunavajas@oftalmo.epm.br
We compared the concentration of hyaluronic acid in the aqueous humor of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and non-glaucomatous patients. Aqueous humor samples were obtained from 22 patients just before trabeculectomy for clinically uncontrolled POAG (POAG group). Aqueous humor (0.1 mL) was aspirated by inserting a 26-gauge needle into the anterior chamber. The same procedure was performed for 22 non-glaucomatous patients just before cataract surgery (control group). Immediately after collection, the aqueous humor was stored at -20 degrees C. The concentration of hyaluronic acid was determined by a sensitive, noncompetitive and nonisotopic fluoroassay. The median (range) concentrations of hyaluronic acid of the POAG and control groups were 298.4 microg L(-1) (99.0-743.7 microg L(-1)) and 545.1 microg L(-1) (145.0-2366.0 microg L(-1)), respectively. The difference in concentrations of hyaluronic acid between the groups was statistically significant (P<0.001). In conclusion, the concentration of hyaluronic acid in the aqueous humor in POAG patients is lower than in non-glaucomatous patients. Further studies are necessary to determine the role of hyaluronic acid in the pathophysiology of POAG.

2010-02-22T17:17:00.000-08:00

I have just attended a two and a half day meeting given by the Institute for Functional Medicine on gastro-intestinal diseases. It re-emphasized to me the relationship of the GI tract and most chronic diseases. Part of the meeting, believe it or not, was cooking classes, demonstrating how easy it is to eat healthily. I will share recipes with you in future blogs. For the moment, I need to literally digest what I have been taught so that I can share with you the important information you need to know.

Many mainstream Pediatricians and Family doctors are now realizing the importance of probiotics in the maintenance of health. The data on newborns to toddlers is quite obvious. Children given the proper probiotics have less colic, less urinary tract infections, less upper respiratory infections, less otitis, and even less atopic eczema. This is especially important for children born through C-section, as they are inoculated with skin bacteria rather than vaginal bacteria. Passing this information on to mothers with infants is the kindest thing that you can do for them, especially if the delivery was by C-section.

Toxicity of fluoride

2010-02-16T16:15:00.000-08:00

In the last issue of a local newspaper, an article by a local dentist just opening his office appeared. In this article he extolled the virtues of fluoride.

I would like to correct his conception about fluoride being a nutrient. A nutrient is something that benefits us. For example, selenium is a micronutrient that is essential for our health. It is only required in amounts of 100 to 200 micrograms daily. Since it is a micronutrient, larger amounts of selenium are toxic. Selenium, in the proper amount, has been shown to reduce rates of many different kinds of cancer.
As opposed to nutrients, toxins are not healthy for us in any amount. Fluoride is one of those. Mercury, lead and cadmium are other notable examples. Toxins are always detrimental to us in any amount.

Chlorine is added to our water to eliminate harmful bacteria which can make us sick. It is a treatment for the water. Fluoride, on the other hand, does not treat the water at all. It is to treat us. Thus we are medicating the public whether we want it or not.

One of the major problems with the long-term intake of fluoride is skeletal fluorosis. This consists of calcification of the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments, meaning that flexion and extension of the spinal cord become severely limited. Additionally, there is stenosis (shrinking) of the spinal canal, leaving little room for the spinal cord. There's also shrinkage of the spinal foramina, causing impingement of the nerves exiting and entering the spinal cord. Overgrowth of the vertebral bodies is another thing noted on x-rays, causing limitation of twisting and torsion of the spine. All of these things cause significant symptoms in the elderly. Skeletal fluorosis does not occur overnight. It often takes more than a decade to manifest itself. When you see a cause and effect that are separated by a short time span, it is easy to figure out what happened. When cause and effect are separated by a decade, it becomes much harder. We are keeping neurosurgeons and orthopedists quite busy operating on painful backs caused by fluoride in the water. It is time we recognized the danger of adding fluoride to our water.

If you are interested in learning more about fluoride and its detrimental effects on us, I recommend Health and Nutrition Secrets, a book by Russell Blaylock, MD. He is a recently retired Neurosurgeon who also has a strong interest in nutrition. The chapter on fluoride is the most researched piece on fluoride I know. I highly recommend it.

Eggs-good or bad?

2010-02-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

OK, are eggs good or bad?

I am posting an interview on the benefits of eating eggs daily. Eggs yolks have lots of lutein and zeaxanthine, both of which are highly and preferentially concentrated in the macula of the eye. They are both yellow compounds which have the ability to attenuate UV light. That's a good thing. They are also anti-oxidants as well. We know that normal maculae have high amounts of each of these compounds. We also know that macular degeneration maculae have almost none. Thus it seems that having lots of these two compounds is a good thing.
Many people have been advised by their physician not to eat eggs, thinking that dietary cholesterol intake will make worse an elevated blood cholesterol.
Dietary intake of egg yolks does not effect blood cholesterol. It would take 30 to 45 eggs daily to equal the amount of cholesterol that is circulating in your blood at any one time. The vast majority of blood cholesterol comes from the liver. It is liver manufacture of cholesterol that is targeted by Statin drugs. The following interview will help support the argument that eating eggs is good for us.

Jim McNabb, MD

Macular Pigment, Cholesterol Lowering and Egg Yolk Consumption
Rohini Vishwanathan, Ph.D. (candidate)
Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology Program
Department of Clinical Laboratory and Nutritional Sciences
Center for Health and Disease Research
University of Massachusetts Lowell
3 Solomont Way, Suite 4
Lowell, MA 01854-5125
978-934-4506 / 978-934-2034 (FAX)
v_rohini@hotmail.com / nicolosi.robert@yahoo.com

“Consumption Of 2 And 4 Egg Yolks/d For 5 Wk Increases Macular Pigment Concentrations In Older Adults With Low Macular Pigment Taking Cholesterol-Lowering Statins,”
Am J Clin Nutr, 2009; 90(5): 1272-9. 47554 (12/2009)

Kirk Hamilton: Can you please share with us your educational background and current position?
Rohini Vishwanathan: I am presently pursuing my Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology at University of Massachusetts, Lowell with a research concentration in nutritional biochemistry under the
guidance of Dr. Robert Nicolosi and Dr. Thomas Wilson. I expect to graduate by May 2010. I received a bachelor’s degree in microbiology - biochemistry in 2000 and a master's degree in biochemistry in 2002 from Mumbai University, India. I received a doctoral fellowship in nutrition from the American Egg Board - Egg Nutrition Center in 2008.
KH: What got you interested in studying the role of egg yolks and macular pigment optical density (MPOD)? Exactly what is MPOD?
RV: My research interest is to study nutritional interventions that could be used in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and cardiovascular disease. During my first year in the Ph.D. program I worked with Elizabeth Goodrow-Kotyla, clinical nutrition coordinator at University of Massachusetts Lowell, on a study that showed consumption of one egg per day significantly increased serum lutein and zeaxanthin in an older adult population not consuming a statin. Also, in a collaborative study with Wenzel et al., University of New Hampshire, Durham, we reported 6 eggs per week for 12 weeks effectively
increased MPOD in women aged 24-59 years. Egg yolks are a highly bioavailable source of lutein and zeaxanthin. The 2 and 4 egg yolks a day study aimed to decipher the ideal dosage of eggs that could raise MPOD without adversely affecting serum total and LDL cholesterol. The study was designed by Drs. Robert Nicolosi and Thomas Wilson.
Macular pigment optical density or MPOD is a number ranging from 0 to 1.0 that corresponds to the density of a pigment in the macula lutea region of the retina. The pigment is primarily composed of nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin that can only be obtained from diet, and meso-zeaxanthin, formed by isomerization of lutein in the macula.
KH: What is the biochemistry of macular degeneration or the macula that might be improved with supplementation of the components of egg yolk?
RV: As stated in the previous response, lutein and zeaxanthin consumed in the diet exclusively accumulate in the macula, a region in the posterior pole of the retina to form a yellowish colored macular pigment. The macular pigment layer, having an absorption maximum of 460 nm, filters blue radiation of light and protects the underlying retinal cells, which are responsible for vision, from oxidative damage. Low macular pigment density is one of the pre-disposing risk factors for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Thus, consuming egg yolks, a highly bioavailable source of lutein and zeaxanthin, could improve macular pigment density and protect against AMD.
KH: Where did you come up with 2-4 egg yolks per day? Were they from free range, antibiotic and hormone free chickens, or were these factory farm produced eggs?
RV: As stated earlier our previous study showed consumption of one egg per day significantly increased serum lutein and zeaxanthin in an older adult population not consuming a statin. Also in a collaborative study with University of New Hampshire, Durham, we reported 6 eggs per week for 12 weeks effectively increased MPOD in women aged 24-59 years of age. Egg yolks are a highly bioavailable source of lutein and zeaxanthin, the 2 and 4 egg yolks/d study aimed to decipher the ideal dosage of eggs that could raise MPOD without adversely affecting serum total and LDL cholesterol. The egg yolks used for the study were from large, nonenriched eggs, which were obtained from Aramark Corporation, the food service supplier for the university, who prepared the food items. I am not sure if they were antibiotic and hormone free or free range.
KH: Were the yolks given with meals or away from meals? In a single dose or divided dose?
RV: Food items were prepared that either contained two egg yolks or four egg yolks depending on the study phase. Foods were delivered to the subjects two times in a week during the egg yolk phases. Some of the foods choices were baked custard, egg salads, waffles, pancakes, smoothies, breakfast wraps, deviled eggs and quiche. Subjects consumed one food item per day either as a single dose or divided dose as per their preference.
KH: Were the active components of egg yolks measured before, during or after the intervention (i.e. lutein, zeaxanthin)? Did they correlate with the intervention and the effect on the MPOD?
RV: Lutein and zeaxanthin were measured in a random cohort of egg yolks that were used to prepare the food items during the study period. A greater response was observed in serum zeaxanthin concentrations which may have been due to the high amounts of zeaxanthin (mean: 230 μg/yolk) in the egg yolks than previously reported. The significant MPOD increases observed in the central retinal eccentricities (0.25º and 0.5º) may have been an effect of the greater serum zeaxanthin response compared with lutein.
KH: Can you tell us about your study and the basic results?
RV: The study showed consumption of 2 egg yolks/d for 5 weeks increased serum lutein and zeaxanthin significantly by 16% and 36% respectively. Consumption of 4 egg yolks/d for 5 weeks also increased serum lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations significantly by 24% and 82% respectively. MPOD response was observed only in subjects who entered the study with a low MPOD. Two egg yolks/d for 5 weeks caused 31% increase in MPOD at the 0.5º retinal eccentricity, although this increase was not statistically significant (P = 0.059) it was
clinically relevant as MPOD increased by 0.08 units in 5 weeks. Four egg yolks/d for 5 weeks significantly increased MPOD by 48% at 0.25º, 54% at 0.5º and 50% at 1º retinal eccentricities. Serum total cholesterol did not change significantly after both 2 and 4 egg yolk phases. Serum HDL cholesterol increased significantly by 5% after both 2 and 4 egg yolk phases. Serum LDL cholesterol changes were not statistically significant, but tended to decrease (- 4%) after the 2 egg yolk phase and tended to increase (4%) after the 4 egg yolk phase.
KH: Were there any side effects with this egg yolk intervention? How was the patient compliance?
RV: There were no side effects observed during the study and all 52 subjects complied with the study protocol. Compliance was monitored through several means. Empty food containers were returned and weekly phone calls were made to the subjects. Also, 7 day diet records completed once during each phase was used to monitor egg yolk consumption.
KH: Were you surprised to see a beneficial effect on serum HDL with the egg yolk consumption?
RV: Yes. The hypothesis was that cholesterol lowering medications or statins (94% of subjects were taking statins) would prevent significant increases in serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol during egg yolk phases.
KH: Who is a candidate for egg yolk therapy? All aging individuals or only those with maculopathies?
RV: Egg yolks or eggs in general are a nutrient rich food as they contain lutein and zeaxanthin in a highly bioavailable matrix, and also high quality protein, choline and other vitamins. The results of the present study showed egg yolks increased serum lutein, zeaxanthin (which are also potent antioxidants) and MPOD thus providing beneficial effects to a population at a risk of dry AMD. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly population. We are presently studying the effect of consuming 12 eggs per week for one year in a population diagnosed with early to mid-stage dry AMD. The subjects are advised to limit intake of saturated fat in their diet. The hypothesis is consumption of 12 eggs per week for one year would increase MPOD and also
prevent progression of dry AMD. Eggs could thus be both a beneficial and affordable nutrient rich food for the aging population, specifically for a population affected with AMD when consumed as part of a healthy diet.

American Cancer Society and Vitamin D

2010-02-13T13:45:00.000-08:00

Vitamin D was originally thought to important for bone strength and little else. Research on this relatively unknown vitamin has exploded in the last few decades. It is now recognized by researchers as an important cancer fighter, com-batter of depression, and an important defense against auto-immune diseases and allergic diseases. If you are not taking 2000 to 4000 IU's of vitamin D3 daily, please be advised to do so immediately.

Here is an interesting article about how the American Cancer Society refuses to acknowledge Vitamin D as a major cancer fighter.

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

Friday, June 08, 2007
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
Editor of www.NaturalNews.com

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 provides strong new evidence that vitamin D is the single most effective medicine against cancer, far outpacing the benefits of any cancer drug known to modern science.
The study involved 1,179 healthy women from rural Nebraska. One group of women was given calcium (around 1500 mg daily) and vitamin D (1100 IU daily) while another group was given placebo. Over four year, the group receiving the calcium and vitamin D supplements showed a 60 percent decrease in cancers. Considering just the last three years of the study reveals an impressive 77 percent reduction in cancer due to supplementation. (The full press release of this study is included below. It provides more details about the findings.)

Note that these astonishing effects were achieved on what many nutritionists consider to be a low dose of vitamin D. Exposure to sunlight, which creates even more vitamin D in the body, was not tested or considered, and the quality of the calcium supplements was likely not as high as it could have been (it was probably calcium carbonate and not high-grade calcium malate, aspartate or similar forms). What does all this mean? It means that if you take high-quality calcium supplements and get lots of natural sunlight exposure or take premium vitamin D supplements (such as those made from fish oil), you could easily have a greater reduction than the 77 percent reduction recorded in this study.

American Cancer Society Opposes Vitamin D
This research on vitamin D is such good news that the American Cancer Society, of course, had to say something against it. An ACS spokesperson, Marji McCullough, strategic director of nutritional epidemiology for the American Cancer Society, flatly stated that nobody should take supplements to prevent cancer.

If it seems surprising to you that the American Cancer Society -- which claims to be against cancer -- would dissuade people from taking supplements that slash their cancer risk by 77 percent, then you don't know much about the ACS. In my opinion, the ACS is an organization that openly supports the continuation of cancer as a way to boost its power and profits. The ACS is the wealthiest non-profit in America and has very close ties to pharmaceutical companies, mammography equipment companies and other corporations that profit from cancer. Notice the name, too: It isn't the American Anti-Cancer Society, it's the American Cancer Society! What they really stand for is right in the name!

Click here to read more about the ACS and its financial ties to chemical companies, pharmaceutical companies and radiology equipment manufacturers.

The cancer industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, and I've written extensively about the criminal organizations that protect and promote the industry. Just about everything the public is told about cancer by these cancer institutions is a lie. Those "race for the cure" cancer walks are a complete scam (they really aren't searching for any way to prevent cancer or cure cancer, they're only searching for new patented drugs to profit from cancer).

http://www.naturalnews.com/021892_cancer_Vitamin_D_cancer_industry.html

2010-02-11T16:23:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first Nutrition Blog from Dr. McNabb. While it will focus on nutrition for the most part, it will also touch on subjects of general health.

I am often asked if daily aspirin is a good idea. Many physicians recommend it. However, the research has not been clear cut. Many studies that have used baby aspirin dosages (81 mg) have not shown benefit. Yet the Harvard study on Physicians showed that an adult dosage (325) every other day indicated a positive benefit. It thus appears that perhaps 2 baby aspirin daily might be the best recommendation.

I am posting a link to the article from the American Journal of Medicine I am referring to.

click here to download file