Health News
Drug-Resistant Candida is the New Superbug
Candida has garnered plenty of attention in the natural healing world for decades as a contributor to many chronic conditions, but a new strain is proving to be a killer – and is resistant to medical treatment. A recent outbreak of a deadly new superbug is gaining media attention – and for good reason. What is Candida auris? Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant fungus that claims the lives of more than one-third of people who catch it, and it stays alive on surfaces, resisting most commonly used cleaners. People who do live through the infection become lifelong carriers and it can be passed on or become active again if their immune system becomes suppressed or compromised. Candida infections are nothing new. We’ve been dealing with a variety of strains of this highly adaptive, microscopic fungus for longer than anti-fungal medications have been around. Candida auris, however, is much more aggressive and virulent than the strains we’re used to dealing with, and is targeting people who are already struggling with immune system issues. Fortunately, holistic healing approaches have been successfully addressing Candida for more than a century, and can offer hope for those who may be at risk. How Did Candida Become So Deadly? Candida is an opportunistic infection, which means it can be in your body for years but not cause a problem until your immune system becomes suppressed. Once conditions are right for it to take hold, it changes its form from a simple yeast cell to a hyphal form that embeds itself into mucus membranes and forms a biofilm that creates the perfect environment for it to thrive and grow. This biofilm is the biggest challenge antifungals have had to face – until the fungus itself became drug resistant. Drug resistance in a bacteria or fungus like Candida doesn’t happen overnight. Just like overuse of antibiotics in our livestock contributed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, agricultural fungicides sprayed on our produce is believed to be a causative factor in Candida auris becoming drug resistant and even resistant to most cleaning products. In addition to that, widespread use of antifungal medicines for everything from toenail infections to skin rashes and more has led to antifungal resistance from what is probably overuse. Candida auris has also managed something extremely difficult – it has adapted to become resistant to even the strongest of hospital cleaning products. Even after thorough cleaning, hospital rooms of patients who were infected with Candida auris test positive for the fungus on everything from door handles to testing equipment and even the windows. However, one hospital’s unorthodox use of natural remedies has them testing clean from the superbug, and this gives us insight as to where to go with a natural approach. Candida: A Natural History When Candida was first identified under the microscope as a causative agent of vaginal yeast infections, we didn’t have anti-fungal medications. Instead, two different approaches were commonly used. First, a pharmacist would make up capsules or vaginal suppositories of pharmaceutical-grade boric acid, to be inserted vaginally at bedtime. The boric acid would raise the pH of the surrounding tissues enough to make the environment inhospitable for the Candida and the infection would resolve. If the infection didn’t respond to the pH change, spread beyond a local area, or was internal, then homeopathy was used. Homeopathy was the “Standard of Care” in medicine before antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals were discovered. Homeopathy operates off the principle that “like cures like” and uses minute doses of natural substances that, if given full strength, could cause the same symptoms you’re currently having. Once antibiotics came on the scene, homeopathy slowly fell out of favor and lost its prominent place in medical therapeutics. This doesn’t mean that homeopathy isn’t effective – it just isn’t as bright and shiny of a star as antibiotics seem to be. Fast forward almost a century to today, and specific probiotics are used as first-line agents alongside antibiotics to stave off Candida overgrowth while the immune system is vulnerable. Not only are these probiotics taken during antibiotic treatment, but they are also continued for several months afterward, along with a high fiber and low sugar diet, to recolonize healthy bacteria into the microbiome and out-compete any remaining Candida that may try to take a foothold. We have also become a global community, with herbs from around the world having earned their place alongside homeopathy as effective immune system stimulators that allow the body to rise up and fight infections like Candida on its own. But what is probably the most interesting use of natural remedies is one hospital’s discovery of reactive oxygen species like ozone and hydrogen peroxide along with UV radiation to completely eradicate any trace of Candida left behind, even in the smallest nooks and crannies. This hospital, which is currently anonymous because of their ongoing research, sprayed a hydrogen peroxide mist in the rooms that had been contaminated with Candida auris, and used localized UV radiation on equipment that couldn’t tolerate moisture. The testing afterward revealed no Candida auris was present on any surface in the previously contaminated rooms. Even hospitals using the strongest chlorine-based cleaners still tested positive for significant amounts of Candida auris. What I Would Do if I Were Exposed to This Superbug Right after I read about the latest outbreak of Candida auris, I had to seek medical attention for an injury. The belt broke on the ski machine I was exercising on and the impact caused a pretty large connective tissue wound on my shin that required both deep and superficial stitches. As I sat there watching the doctor prepare that sterile field, I knew that even despite his careful attention, I could still be getting exposure to that superbug right in that moment. The fact is, despite the CDC alerting medical establishments of their concern over this silent killer, the proper testing isn’t being done to detect it and they’re concerned it’s being spread even further. When I got home, I decided to take matters into my own hands and do what I know works well to support my body and get rid of Candida auris. Our homeopathic Y-C Cleanse is designed to help support your immune health so your body can fight a fungal infection on its own, so I started taking that right away, especially because I was given antibiotics for the wound. I doubled up on my usual dose of Flora-Key, our broad-spectrum probiotic. I took what little sugar I had in my diet completely out and opted instead for more high-fiber vegetables to feed the healthy bacteria that I want to colonize in my microbiome. Finally, I started taking Para-Key, which is what I use to support my immune system when I’ve been traveling and I think I may have been exposed to any bugs. Hospitals and clinics are full of sick people and I’m not willing to take any chances! For cleaning, I already have on-hand a hydrogen peroxide spray that I use on produce, so I’ve been spraying that liberally on door handles and any surface I come in contact with, especially before and after I change my bandages. I also used an oxygen-based laundry additive when I washed the clothes I was wearing while I was receiving medical care. My home already has air purifiers stationed strategically around so I’m confident I’m breathing the cleanest air possible. The post Drug-Resistant Candida is the New Superbug appeared first on Your Health Keys.
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The Case for Carbs
Has the Keto craze made you fear carbs? Your body may need them more than you think… It seems like there’s always a villain in the nutrition world. It used to be fats that were our mortal enemy, but now carbs have taken their place. The truth is, carbs aren’t the “bad guys” they’ve been made out to be. We can’t live without any of the macronutrients – fats, proteins, or carbs – so why are carbs under attack? Much like fats, it’s about getting and eating the right carbs, in moderation.. During the low fat craze, we overdid it with carbs, trying to make our food taste better, and we loaded everything with sugar. That much sugar made us diabetic and overweight, with a side of heart disease. Once we took the sugar out and replaced it with healthy fats, we started losing weight, and carbs as a whole now have a collective target on their back. The problem is, if we shun this food group entirely, we lose out on some great health benefits we really can’t live without. Carbs Make You Happy – For Good Reason If your metabolism is sluggish, you feel like you can’t handle any more stress, and you’re tired and cranky, then your body may be crying out for the right carbs! Here’s why: Your thyroid needs carbs. Your thyroid is the master regulator of your metabolism, and controls the release of the thyroid hormone T3. When your carb intake drops too low, so does your production of T3. As a result, you can feel cold, tired, and sluggish, and it seems like just looking at food packs on the pounds. Studies have shown the ketogenic diet causes this thyroid malfunction, and for a significant number of people leads to clinical hypothyroidism. Your stress hormones need carbs. Just like so many other things in our lives, we need our stress hormones – especially cortisol – balanced and in moderation. Too much or too little cortisol can cause problems. When you are under stress, you need to make sure you eat the nutrients your stress hormones need so you can meet the higher production needs. If you don’t get enough carbs during a high-stress period, not only will your stress handling suffer, but your immunity will, too. You’ll become more susceptible to colds, flus, and even worse. You’ll develop symptoms of adrenal fatigue, which start with that wired-but-tired feeling that makes you feel on-edge and unable to sleep. Your sex hormone balance depends on carbs. The hypothalamus in your brain controls your hormone balance. When your carb intake is low, your body sees that as a type of starvation and signals hormone production to drop dramatically. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all plummet, and with that, you can see changes to your monthly cycle, decreased fertility, low libido, belly fat, blood sugar and mood swings, fatigue, depression, decreased muscle mass, and so much more. Eating carbs builds lean muscle mass. Even if you’re guzzling protein shakes for breakfast and pounding protein all day long, if you don’t have enough carbs, you could be losing muscle. Sounds crazy, but it’s true! Healthy carb intake is the difference between being in an anabolic or “building up” state in your body, as opposed to being in a catabolic or “breaking down” state. The reason for this is insulin – it’s critically important for maintaining muscle mass. When insulin drops with a carb-restricted diet, it triggers you to break down muscle to release the glycogen stored inside to be used for fuel. The end result is a loss of muscle mass. When you get enough good carbs in, they feed your muscles and rebuild the glycogen stores so you can build more muscle. Good digestion requires fiber-rich carbs. If you’ve been troubled by constipation, diarrhea, or IBS-type symptoms, you may need more carbs. The fiber in healthy carbs like beans and nuts not only provides the bulk we need for healthy bowel movements, but is also the preferred food for the healthy bacteria that live in our digestive system. In addition, fiber binds toxins and acts like “nature’s broom” to sweep them out and eliminate them from the body. How to Tell the Good Carbs From the Bad All those benefits listed above don’t come from drinking sodas and fruit juices all day, nor do they come from eating bread, cereal, pasta, tortillas, and chips. The key to building a healthy body with carbs is to use nutrient-dense, high quality carbs. Because grains trigger inflammation and hidden allergies for so many, they are best avoided until you have reached your health and healing goals and can clearly identify how they affect you. The best carbs are the low glycemic complex carbs. This includes most vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, and beans. You can recreate some of your favorite not-so-good-for-you comfort foods by using healthier substitutions: Use nut flours to bake with instead of grains. Invest in a spiralizer to make “noodles” from vegetables you enjoy. Replace sugar in recipes with low glycemic sweeteners like monk fruit (Lakanto) and stevia. Fat tastes good! Choose recipes that are low in sugar but rich in healthy fats. Use spices like cinnamon and probiotic powders like Flora-Key Probiotic Powder that enhance the natural sweetness of foods without adding any sugar or carbs. Craving that crunch? Try mixing finely chopped or ground nuts like pecans with paprika, garlic, salt, and a little cayenne (fried chicken spices) to coat your chicken and bake in the oven to make a healthy chicken tender; or for a savory treat, lightly toast nuts or seeds in a little butter and sprinkle with your favorite taco seasoning for a zesty, crunchy snack. Carbs are not your enemy. With a little creativity, you can incorporate healthy carbs into your diet and reap the benefits of increased energy, better hormone balance, great digestion, optimal metabolism, and good health all the way to the cellular level. If you’re looking for a plan to guide you into healthy eating that focuses on smart carbs, healthy fats, and the right proteins, then it’s time to get Radical! Ann Louise Gittleman’s new Radical Metabolism plan is not just to help you lose those stubborn pounds once and for all, it’s also to get you on track to a healthy lifestyle you can thrive with – and have your daily dessert too! The post The Case for Carbs appeared first on Your Health Keys.
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5 Must-Have Super Seeds
These 5 Super Seeds are the some of the best-kept nutrition secrets – and you need to make them a daily habit. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, recharge your immune system, boost your nutrient stores, increase your healthy fat intake, or even stave off cancer, these super seeds may be small but they pack a mighty punch! In our hectic, fast-paced lifestyles, it can be hard to find the time to prepare healthy snacks to take with us on the go. And, when we face an illness that zaps all the energy we have, we need something quick and easy to grab that helps us on the journey to building better health. Full of healthy fats and packed with vitamins and minerals, these 5 immune boosting, health promoting, and weight loss stimulating super seeds have all you’re looking for – and so much more. Continue reading to find out the 5 must-have super seeds for health. Apricot Kernels – A Powerful Anti-Cancer Ally At the center of this stone fruit lies an important anti-cancer tool – the apricot seed, also known as the kernel. This bitter super seed contains a powerful plant compound called amygdalin, which is toxic to cancer cells but harmless to our own healthy cells. Cancer cells contain a substance called beta-glucosidase, an enzyme that “unlocks” the amygdalin in the apricot kernels and releases 2 powerful plant compounds that target and destroy the cancer cells. These same two toxic compounds stay locked in our own cells because of an enzyme we produce that won’t let the amygdalin be broken down. But cancer isn’t the only disease that apricot kernels fight against. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, they are used to detox the digestive system and reduce inflammation, which in turn supports overall digestion and relieves joint pain. As part of this detox process, it sets off a chain reaction of enzymes that lowers blood pressure. Apricot kernels also stimulate the immune system to fight infections, and cause a cascade of enzymes that interact with your microbiome and help with detox. Apricot kernels should be bitter for the best health benefits, and should not be eaten while taking high dose Vitamin C. Experts recommend starting with 3 raw kernels daily and increasing gradually. Nausea, fever, lethargy, confusion, headaches, rash, insomnia and increased thirst may happen when an excessive amount of apricot kernels are being eaten and are signs to watch for that indicate your body may be experiencing symptoms of poisoning. Black Sesame Seeds – Small but Mighty and Mineral Rich Super Seeds You might be surprised to learn that the small white seeds that dot the tops of fast food buns pack quite a nutritional punch. And when the black hulls are left on, they become even more nutrient-rich. High in fiber, Omega 6 essential fats, B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, black sesame seeds have anti-aging and anti-cancer properties, stabilize blood pressure, boost energy, relieve constipation and indigestion, and keep bones strong. How do you eat black sesame seeds? Black sesame seeds are best eaten either when they’ve been soaked overnight or the hulls have been cracked. One delicious way to do this is to lightly toast the seeds, then mix with a coarse, natural salt in a grinder to enhance the flavor of all your savory foods. Hemp Hearts – The Vegetarian Power Protein With more than 25 percent of their calorie count coming from complete protein and 30 percent essential fats, hemp seeds – commonly known as hemp hearts – are a mainstay of many vegetarian diets. Their Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio is 3:1, which is considered the ideal ratio to consume. They are rich in GLA, a healthy fat that stimulates your fat-burning metabolism, calms skin conditions, helps balance hormones, and reduces your risk of heart disease. These potent super seeds contain not only significant amounts of the amino acids cysteine, methionine, arginine and glutamate, but also vitamin E and a wide variety of minerals, including sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, zinc and sulfur. The health benefits of hemp hearts are preserved whether eaten raw, roasted, or cooked. Hempseed oil has the same health benefits as the whole hearts do. Pomegranate Seeds – Anti-Inflammatory Jewels These beautiful little red gems are rich in a variety of polyphenols and antioxidants, vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, potassium and fiber. Pomegranate seeds also have anti-tumor properties and are particularly effective against breast and prostate cancers. They are heart protective, boost immunity, enhance memory, reduce arthritis pain, lower blood pressure, and increase blood flow to reduce erectile dysfunction issues. Pomegranate seeds are a delicious sweet treat by themselves, but also add flavor to salads and make a beautiful garnish. The juice can be added to smoothies for both color and flavor. Pumpkin Seeds – Potent Parasite Fighters Packed with fiber and protein, and rich in riboflavin, folate, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and phosphorus, these tasty little green pepitas are rich in antioxidants and protect against a variety of diseases – especially in men. Pumpkin seeds support healthy testosterone levels, prostate health, and fertility in men. They also have been shown to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels and blood pressure while increasing nitric oxide levels, which is heart protective. A diet rich in pumpkin seeds reduces the risk of breast, lung, stomach, colon and prostate cancers. If you have trouble with insomnia, the tryptophan in pumpkin seeds may help improve your sleep. These antioxidant and anti-inflammatory little powerhouses are also anti-parasitic and excellent colon cleansers. Pumpkin seeds can be eaten raw, roasted, soaked and sprouted. They are tasty on their own as a snack, but are also delicious mixed into soups and smoothies. The post 5 Must-Have Super Seeds appeared first on Your Health Keys.
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The Healing Power of Green Superfoods
Lose weight and supercharge your diet with superfood greens! Researchers keep finding more reasons your mom was right – eating those green vegetables every day really is good for you! Whether you are looking to boost your energy, trying to lose weight, or fighting something as serious as cancer, you need green superfoods as your allies in your daily battles against what’s keeping you from living your best life. And choosing organic is more important now than ever – whether you eat your greens whole, juice them, or use a greens powder. The Environmental Working Group just released this year’s Dirty Dozen – the list of the 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest amounts of pesticide residues – and it’s not good news for greens lovers. Ranking number 2 on the list is spinach, while kale is new to the list at the number 3 spot. These foods are ranked in order, which means only strawberries are more contaminated with pesticides than these popular greens. Superstar Greens! Some of the most humble vegetables have been promoted in recent years to superfood status because of their tremendous health benefits. A handful of those green superfood superstars include these previously unsung heroes: Trendy microgreens like sunflower sprouts and sulfur-rich cancer-fighting broccoli sprouts pack a vitamin and mineral-rich punch that not only leaves you feeling satisfied but supports your immune system and helps fight off diseases. Parsley isn’t just for garnish – it’s key to helping you flush excess fluids and maintain a healthy fluid balance, and plays a part in balancing homocysteine levels. Sea vegetables like chlorella became famous not only for their antioxidant power, but also for their ability to detox mold and heavy metals. Celery has grown in popularity recently for its help with gout and supporting your digestive health. Grasses like wheat, barley, oat, and alfalfa not only soothe the mucus membranes of your digestive tract, but they also contain nutrients that promote wound healing and new cell growth. Their potent enzymes and antioxidants are also famous for boosting energy and for their anti-cancer properties. Kale, spinach, and collards are green superfoods that have gained popularity in recent years solely for their powerful immune support and positive effects on cholesterol levels. 25 Reasons to “Go Green” Whether you are trying to lose weight, need support while battling a disease, or simply want to see how healthy your body can get, you can reap tremendous health benefits by choosing to “go green” with superfood greens. Here are 25 Ways Green Superfoods Can Recharge You: Purify the Blood Balance pH Oxygenate Your Cells Protect Cells from Free Radical Damage Reduce Inflammation Help with Cell Repair Support Your Immune System Nourish Your Adrenals and Support a Healthy Stress Response Help Remove Heavy Metals Protect Against Radiation Exposure Increase Your Energy Improve Your Memory Contain a Full Spectrum of Vitamins and Minerals to Boost Your Levels Flush Excess Fluids Reduce Blood Pressure Feed Your Healthy Bacteria and Microbiome Support Your Digestive Tract Support Detox and Liver Health Anti-viral, Anti-bacterial, and Anti-fungal Properties Rich in Anti-Cancer Compounds and Enzymes Soothe Inflamed Mucus Membranes Promote Wound Healing Help Balance Blood Sugar and Regulate Appetite Contain Compounds that Soothe Anxiety Fiber-Rich for Help with Elimination Get Your Greens In Truth be told, getting enough dark, leafy greens in your every day diet can be a challenge – especially if you’re not in love with the taste. You can mask the taste while still getting their health benefits by adding powdered or juiced greens to your soups and daily smoothies. Greens powders are a great solution to boost your vegetable intake – they’re easy to add to water, soups, or smoothies – and have the same health benefits as eating or juicing greens does. Just make sure your greens powder really is good for you and ask these 5 questions when you look at the label: Is it free from added sugars? Many flavored greens powders use hidden sources of fructose, like concentrated fruit juices, which contribute to blood sugar issues and weight gain. The best formulas are unsweetened and only contain greens, no additives. If you need to mask the taste, make a healthy smoothie with strong flavors like berries or mint that will overpower the greens’ distinctive taste. Do my greens contain fillers or additives? This is where label reading comes in handy – even if the ingredients list contains only greens. Look at the “Total Carbohydrates” section of the label and find the “Sugars” listed. If there’s more than 2 grams of sugars per serving, then there are added sugars hiding in there and should be avoided. Are my greens organic and free of harmful pesticides? Because greens powders are more concentrated than the whole vegetable form, the chemicals and pesticides they are contaminated with also become more concentrated. This can do more harm than good when you are faithfully taking these greens to support your health while you are fighting a disease. The best greens are grown organically, biodynamically, or using hydroponics. Hydroponics is especially important with sea vegetables like chlorella, which is now grown in clean, controlled pools. Are my greens contaminated with radioactive residues, bacteria, or heavy metals? Sea vegetables like kelp, chlorella, and spirulina top the list of the most popular ingredients added to greens powders. While these can be mineral-rich superfoods if they are grown in controlled, hydroponic conditions (like chlorella is), the wild-harvested varieties have been found to be contaminated with radioactive residues, bacteria, and heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and aluminum. And even though an ingredient like kelp sounds exotic, it’s actually sold cheaply in bulk for cattle feed, and that very same kelp is often bottled and sold to you in supplement form. Is there gluten in my greens powder? Because wheatgrass, barley, and oats top the list of greens used in greens powders, it’s important to understand when they are gluten free and when they are not – and it’s all about the processing. Gluten is only found in the seed kernel of these plants, which is what we make flour from or sprout the greens from. The stems and leaves are what are considered the “grass” and do not contain gluten. Properly processed greens contain just the young grasses – before the seed kernel is even formed – and are naturally gluten free. Our Daily Greens Formula contains an optimal blend of 11 greens that are organic and non-GMO, with no added sugars or fillers. These superfood greens include wheat grass, barley grass, kale, spinach, broccoli sprouts, parsley, chlorella, celery, collard greens, oat, and alfalfa and were chosen based on their research-backed outstanding health benefits. The post The Healing Power of Green Superfoods appeared first on Your Health Keys.
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Methylation and MTHFR Mutation: Myth or Missing Link?
It’s estimated more than 40 percent of the world’s population has at least one MTHFR gene mutation, but what does that mean for your health? Much like your fingerprints, you have a unique set of genes that make up your biochemical identity. And in each person’s genetic code, there are mutations – some are normal, while some are a sign of a potential problem. The MTHFR gene mutations have been studied for more than 20 years now and are linked to some of the most troubling diseases we face. At the same time, some researchers pass it off as a mere vitamin deficiency and dismiss it as simply a myth. So why is there so much confusion? The answer may surprise you as much as it surprised the researchers. Our whole understanding of genetics has been turned upside down in recent years, thanks to an emerging science known as epigenetics. We used to think whatever genetic hand we were dealt we were destined to express, but it turns out our genes are not our destiny – they can be turned on and off by factors we can control in our environment. Read on to learn more information about methylation and MTHFR mutation. Much Ado About Methylation Methylation is a big deal – every cell in your body uses it. It’s how we repair our damaged cells, process toxins and hormones, keep our DNA healthy, break down and use B vitamins, help the liver to process fats, activate and regulate our immune systems, reduce inflammation, and balance our neurotransmitter levels – which are the chemicals that control everything from mental health to sleep and even digestion. Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase – or MTHFR for short – is an enzyme that is critical for proper methylation. The MTHFR gene tells MTHFR how to do its job. When the MTHFR gene is mutated and switched on, it affects how well every cell in your body is able to get rid of toxins, repair itself, and whether or not each cell is able to fight off disease. The more MTHFR mutations you have, the less the MTHFR enzyme is able to do its job, and the more this can negatively impact your health. Depending on how many MTHFR gene mutations you have, your body’s ability to detoxify can be impaired by as much as 90%. This means, for example, if a person with no MTHFR gene mutations could detoxify and remove 10 molecules of a toxin from their cells, you could only detoxify and remove one, leaving 9 behind to cause inflammation and even disease within your cells. We know MTHFR methylation gene defects impair the body’s ability to detoxify itself, but they also have been linked to more than 60 different chronic health conditions, including heart disease, Alzheimers, depression, blood clotting disorders, birth defects, thyroid diseases, and certain cancers. In the past 2 decades, the MTHFR gene mutations have been studied for their role in more than 600 medical disorders. But, jut because you’ve been tested and found to have these gene mutations, it doesn’t mean you’ll get these diseases. Genes Don’t Determine Your Destiny When we have a disease that “runs in the family” we tend to assume it’s genetic, based on our past understanding of how genetics work. But did you know only 10 percent of cancers have a genetic component? It turns out that your environment plays a far bigger role in your health than genetics ever will. So even if you have multiple MTHFR gene mutations, your health may never show it. Genes aren’t always switched on, or expressing themselves. Much like you need a switch to turn a light off and on, you also need a switch to activate or deactivate your genes. If you’ve heard the phrase, “Genes load the gun but Environment pulls the trigger,” then you know the switch for your genes is the environment they’re in. What you surround yourself and your cells with is what determines your overall health. The air you breathe (in your home, your car, and outdoors), the water you drink and bathe in, and the food you eat are the outside environmental factors that affect your gene health. The environment your cells are in is affected by your total toxin load, nutrient deficiencies, cellular pH, how much you exercise, how negative or positive your thoughts are, how much stress you are under (and for how long), how much sugar is circulating, how much you sleep, how much inflammation you have, your digestion, and your mental health. There’s No Methylation “Magic Pill” Simply having the gene doesn’t mean you’re in hot water with your health. However, just supplementing with missing vitamins used in methylation doesn’t keep you from having the MTHFR gene mutations switched on, and by themselves they don’t necessarily switch those genes off. There’s no magic pill for gene expression, it’s more complicated than that. As MTHFR knowledge has grown, so has misinformation. Countless articles have been published saying it’s just folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, or riboflavin deficiency (vitamin B2), and getting your levels of these vitamins back to normal will solve the whole problem. While it’s true methylation defects are associated with deficiencies in these vitamins, it doesn’t address the underlying reasons for those deficiencies. If your diet is the reason for the vitamin deficiencies, then you’ll also be low in zinc, magnesium, and other minerals essential for proper methylation, not to mention the essential fats needed to rebuild healthy cells. You may also have a high enough toxic load from not being able to detoxify that a cleanse is needed to relieve the toxic burden from your liver and your cells before methylation can take place normally. And you may have a low-grade infection like candida that releases toxins that impair methylation. Healthy Methylation Hacks When you consider all the factors that go into building and maintaining healthy cells, it can seem overwhelming, especially with all the science being discovered around methylation and MTHFR genes. We’ve broken it down into 5 easy hacks you can use to restore your health and get your methylation back on track: Avoid processed foods that contain synthetic folic acid. When MTHFR is switched on, your body won’t process it well and it can build up just like a toxin. Get your B vitamins from natural sources. Dark, leafy greens are rich in folate; grassfed dairy products are rich in riboflavin; and grassfed meats are a good source of vitamins B6 and B12. Make sure your multivitamin supports methylation. Our Female and Male Multiples both contain the methylated forms of the B vitamins your body needs for proper methylation and energy production. Start slowly and work your way up – if methylation has been impaired, too many B vitamins at once may not be tolerated. Consider a colon cleanse. Cleansing your digestive system of the harmful bugs that release toxins that impair methylation is important to correct methylation issues. You also need to repopulate your gut with healthy bacteria that support healthy methylation. My Colon Cleansing Kit contains gentle herbs that cleanse your colon and our Flora-Key probiotic that helps restore healthy intestinal flora. Become a toxin detective and remove as many as you can from your environment. From personal care products to household cleansers – not to mention the chemicals in your food, air and water – you are being bombarded daily with toxins your body may not be able to eliminate. Ann Louise Gittleman’s Radical Metabolism is a lifestyle that helps you eliminate toxins from your diet, your kitchen, and so much more. In addition, gentle daily detox through infrared sauna, deep breathing exercises, walking, and detox baths will all help lower your toxin load and give your methylation a chance to get back on track. The post Methylation and MTHFR Mutation: Myth or Missing Link? appeared first on Your Health Keys.
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The Autoimmune Connection to a Hidden Pathogen
If you have Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lyme Disease, or any other autoimmune or chronic disease, then you need to know about mycoplasma. It all starts with fatigue. Then comes the fever and upper respiratory symptoms. The chest x-ray shows it’s walking pneumonia, so you’re prescribed a course of antibiotics. It isn’t long before your digestion is upset, but you figure it’s just the antibiotics. Then the joint pains start, and they only get more painful and more inflamed until eventually you’re diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis – an autoimmune condition. What started as a simple cold led to pneumonia, then spread downstream to your digestive system, and finally settled into your joints and led to an autoimmune disease. This is the typical story told by someone infected with mycoplasma, a stealth parasitic bacterial infection that hides in vulnerable tissues in the body then hijacks the immune system to create the conditions it needs to thrive – at the cost of your health. Mycoplasma – the Master Manipulator If you’ve ever been bitten by a mosquito, biting fly, tick, or flea, then chances are you’ve been exposed to mycoplasma. What is mycoplasma? Mycoplasma is the smallest and stealthiest of all known bacteria, and is a major culprit in the development of chronic and autoimmune diseases. Most people – including doctors – have limited knowledge of just how much it’s responsible for the chronic degenerative diseases we seem to have no long term answers for. Mycoplasma is different from all other bacteria because of its size – 4000 of them could fit inside one of your red blood cells – and its lack of a protective cell wall, which allows it to change its shape and slip inside your cells. Because it lacks a cell wall and lives inside your cells, it is resistant to most antibiotics. Mycoplasma is parasitic and can’t live without a host cell, but it’s highly adaptable and can jump from host to host and adapt to its new environment easily. This means it is transmitted from plants (contaminated foods), animals (bites and airborne droplets), and other people (sexual contact, sharing foods, airborne droplets). Mycoplasma needs your vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fats, and carbohydrates to survive. It gains access by manipulating your immune system into generating inflammation. Once that inflammation starts breaking down your tissues, mycoplasma invades and gets the nutrients it needs to survive. While different strains of mycoplasma have different tissues they prefer, they all can live inside of any tissue or organ in your body. Favorite sites include lungs, blood cells, brain, nasal passages, sinuses, intestinal lining, genitals, and the synovial lining of joints. If you have healthy cells with strong membranes, mycoplasma will have a difficult time getting into those cells and will migrate to another area where cells may not be as impenetrable. When your immune system is healthy, mycoplasma is contained and becomes part of your microbiome. This can turn it into an opportunistic infection that turns chronic whenever the immune system is suppressed for any reason. It can travel anywhere through blood cells and infect any area of the body, creating symptoms entirely different from the initial infection. It can also travel with other stealth infections like Lyme, going along for the ride and reaping the nutrient benefits. The Autoimmune Connection Because mycoplasma stimulates our own immune system to work against us by creating inflammation that damages our cells, it is linked to many autoimmune diseases and even cancers. It lives inside of our cells and tricks the immune system so it doesn’t see those cells as abnormal. All the time it’s living there it’s attacking mitochondria and making you tired, while ramping up inflammation that creates the autoimmune symptoms. Your body knows something is wrong but can’t find it, so your immune system starts attacking healthy cells in its confusion. Mycoplasma can start out as pneumonia or a genital infection, but once it gains access to your body it travels to where it has a consistent source of the nutrients it needs to live on. One of mycoplasma’s preferred places to live is in the lining of your joints, so it comes as no surprise that 90 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients have tested positive for it in their synovial fluid in affected joints. And since it likes to settle in the lining of your intestines, several studies have found mycoplasma as a culprit in Crohn’s Disease. There’s another way it causes autoimmunity. Mycoplasma cells are so similar to our own nerve cells that when our bodies mount an immune response to the bacteria, we also attack our own nerve cells in the process. It also feeds off the fats in the myelin sheath that insulate our nerve tissue. Studies as far back as 1979 have associated mycoplasma with multiple sclerosis, and it has also been linked to other neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Parkinson’s Disease. Outsmart Your Infection Since stealth infections like mycoplasma are resistant to most antibiotics and know where to hide from your immune system, there is no “magic pill” that eradicates them. You have to stay one step ahead and outsmart them. Once under control, you should see an increase in your energy levels and a decrease in autoimmune symptoms. Here are 3 ways you can defend yourself from this hidden invader: 1. Strengthen Your Cell Membranes. Mycoplasma is a parasite as well as a bacteria, so it needs to invade your cells to live. It relies on a weak cell membrane that makes it easy for it to gain access. Your diet is the key to making healthy cells. Your cell membrane is made primarily of fats, cholesterol, and proteins. The fats you eat either make or break your cellular health. Your body can’t tell the difference between trans fats and healthy cholesterol, so if you eat deep-fried foods and packaged foods known to contain trans fats, then your body will make cell membranes using those trans fats instead of the protective cholesterol it should be using, and the result is a cell that’s vulnerable to infection and disease. Your cell membranes also need the right Omega 6 fats. These fats are found in nuts, seeds, and their oils, with hempseed oil being the best source, according to Ann Louise Gittleman’s bestselling book, Radical Metabolism. If you are deficient in these healthy Omega 6 fats – NOT the unhealthy processed canola and soybean oil sources – then not only will you make weak cell membranes, but you will have inflammation that also weakens the tissues and makes them prone to infection and invasion by mycoplasma. 2. Manage Your Microbiome. Even a healthy immune system will allow mycoplasma to stay as part of the microbiome, which may allow it to become opportunistic and strike when the immune system is weak. Studies show diversity in the microbiome is the key to lowering inflammation, managing your weight, and staying healthy, but that diversity needs to center around healthy strains of bacteria, not freeloading parasites looking to feed off of your health and create autoimmune diseases when the opportunity arises. A healthy microbiome starts with a good colon cleanse, one that contains gentle but effective herbs that clean out unwanted hitchhikers, while repopulating with health-promoting probiotics. A diet rich in vegetables that contain the fiber that feeds these probiotic populations is key to continuing the health and strength of your microbiome. 3. Boost Your Immunity. A strong immune system not only wards off potential invaders, but is also less susceptible to being hijacked and manipulated by stealth infections like mycoplasma. Vitamin C is a tried and true ally in the fight against infections and is currently being studied to use in the fight against sepsis, which is the deadliest of infections. Not only does it shore up immunity, but it also strengthens collagen, which is the “glue” that holds your cells together. When this important connective tissue is strong, it keeps infections and diseases – even cancer – from spreading to other cells. Your diet also plays a key role in boosting your immunity. Vegetables and fruits rich in antioxidants and essential nutrients, nuts and seeds rich in essential Omega-6 anti-inflammatory fats, grass-fed meats and eggs full of amino acids and high in essential Omega-3 fats, and wild-caught fish rich in essential fats, not only strengthen you at the cellular level to build health from the ground up, but they also reduce the inflammation associated with autoimmune diseases that allows stealth infections to spread. The post The Autoimmune Connection to a Hidden Pathogen appeared first on Your Health Keys.
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Menopause SOS: 10 Ways to Change the Way You Experience “The Change”
Menopause doesn't have to be a daunting experience. Discover 10 ways to change the way women experience menopause with this article.
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When Normal Isn’t Normal – What Your Lab Test Results Really Mean
Your lab tests may look “normal” according to the lab’s standards, but what does that really tell you about your health? Every year, people flood their healthcare providers’ offices looking for preventative health testing to show their diet, exercise regimens, and supplements are keeping them healthy. They are often rewarded with a letter saying their lab tests are all “normal” and to come back in a year. But what does “normal” really mean? It turns out, not as much as you’d like it to. Most healthcare providers interpret lab results based on the lab’s “normal” range. But did you know there is an abundance of evidence-based literature available that shows these normal ranges are NOT the optimal reference range, and there’s a better set of data that predicts the risk of underlying disease more accurately? And more importantly, does your healthcare provider know this and use it when interpreting your tests? Let’s look at 3 of the most important tests you can get to determine your underlying health and risk of disease, and what the optimal results for these tests are. Blood Chemistry: Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP or Chem 12) These two tests not only tell you a lot about your health, but also will point to the need for more testing when values are abnormal. The first thing to take into consideration when looking at any blood test is how hydrated were you when you had the blood drawn? People with chronic anemia are often overjoyed when they see a normal lab test, but it could be that they were in the middle of a heat wave and not drinking enough water to keep up with the body’s demands. When you are even slightly dehydrated, your blood becomes more concentrated, which means your lab tests will come back higher than they actually are. Even though these lab tests are routine and commonly done, they are complex and can be difficult to interpret. Some simple things you can look for include a white blood cell count (WBC) that is low normal or slightly lower than normal, which can indicate an underlying chronic viral infection like Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is putting a strain on the immune system. The normal range is typically 4 to 11, but anything under 5 can indicate a virus. And according to studies, when eosinophils – a type of white blood cell – are above 0.5, this is an indicator of parasites, allergies, and even leaky gut syndrome. All of these are signs you may benefit from a comprehensive colon cleanse that includes anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic herbs. When looking at the CMP, the first thing you should look at is the fasting glucose level. If you were fasting at least 8 hours, the optimal range is very narrow, 82-88 mg/dL, according to several studies that have been done. The laboratory normal range is usually 70-100 mg/dL. If you are outside the optimal range, then a low glycemic diet combined with moderate exercise help to lower blood sugar and bring it back in range. And for an extra boost, consider a supplement like our Weight Loss Formula that helps curb cravings and balance blood sugar. The next values to look at on a CMP are AST and ALT, which are markers for liver function. These proteins are usually found inside a liver cell, but when there is damage, then they are released into the bloodstream. The laboratory normal ranges are usually 10-40 for AST and 7-56 for ALT. The medical literature shows the optimal ranges are 10-15 for AST and 12-15 for ALT, and a ratio can be calculated based off the values. When ALT is significantly higher than AST, the ratio is less than 1, which is a sign of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. If this is the case for you, I strongly recommend researching the Fatty Liver Index and calculating your score, to get a more accurate idea of your risk of NAFLD, and add choline to your diet and supplement regimen. There’s so much more that can be said about these valuable blood chemistry panels, but it also can get very complicated. Fortunately, this is where the Intermountain Risk Score comes in, and unfortunately, many healthcare providers aren’t even aware that this valuable evidence-based tool exists. The Intermountain Risk Score calculator uses specific values from your CBC and CMP to determine your all-cause mortality (which is your risk of dying from any disease) for 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years, and is based on data from tens of thousands of research participants. Your blood tests may look pretty good, and you may exercise, eat the foods you think are healthy, and take all the supplements you’ve been recommended, yet you may be shocked to find you have a higher than normal 5-year mortality rate. Fasting Insulin – Not Just for Diabetics You’re familiar with fasting blood glucose, but have you heard of fasting insulin? When your sugar metabolism is functioning normally, you eat a meal and your blood sugar rises, then insulin rises to escort glucose into your cells to be used as energy. Once the job is done, within 2 hours insulin and blood sugar should go back down to normal, fasting levels. When you are taking in more sugar and carbs than you need, your body will store the excess in fat cells and you gain weight. The first tissue that becomes insulin resistant is your muscles, which is why exercise improves insulin sensitivity. When you become insulin resistant, more insulin is needed to get sugar into your cells, and it stays high for longer periods of time. Insulin resistance is the precursor to many chronic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer. The laboratory normal range for a fasting insulin test is 2.6-24.9, but the true optimal range is less than 5. The lab gets it’s normal range from research done on diabetics, not on the population as a whole. Anything over 5 is an indication your cells are becoming resistant and when combined with triglyceride testing, BMI (Body Mass Index), and blood pressure, a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome can be made, which means you are headed for chronic disease. High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP or Cardio CRP) as a Marker of Inflammation There are multiple types of C-Reactive Protein tests being done, and the high sensitivity CRP is an early marker of systemic inflammation that alerts you to looming health issues like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, macular degeneration, and declining cognitive ability faster than other CRP tests can. According to several studies, by itself, the hsCRP is an accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease – even in someone with no history of it. Even if you feel like you are the picture of perfect health, be sure to have the hsCRP test done to make sure you don’t have underlying inflammation waiting to develop into disease. The laboratory normal range is 0-3mg/dL, and is the same for men and women. However, according to research, the optimal range for men should be less than 0.55mg/dL and less than 1.5mg/dL for women. Your first line of protection is to increase nitric oxide to improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and lower your hsCRP. Foods that help your body make more nitric oxide include beets, leafy greens, grass-fed meats, garlic, citrus fruits, nuts and seeds (and their oils), pomegranate, and dark chocolate. To make it easy for you, Ann Louise Gittleman has incorporated all of these powerful foods into her best-selling new Radical Metabolism plan. The post When Normal Isn’t Normal – What Your Lab Test Results Really Mean appeared first on Your Health Keys.
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Keto – Craze or Cure?
You’ve probably heard by now that the high fat, low carb keto diet will make your excess inches and pounds fall right off. But is it too good to be true? Celebrities caught up in the keto craze are all over social media. Halle Berry claims it not only controls her diabetes, but is also slowing down the aging process. Megan Fox claims keto keeps her slim after having 3 kids. And athletes like Lebron James and Tim Tebow credit keto with helping them lose fat, retain lean muscle mass, and even improve their sports performance. There’s no question keto can help you lose weight, and the results can be pretty dramatic. But what’s the cost? What does keto mean? Is keto safe? Can you do it long term? To answer these questions, we have to first understand how the keto diet works. How and Why Keto Works The magic of the keto diet happens because of the severe carb restriction. The diet is 70-80 percent fats, 20-30 percent proteins, and only 5 percent carbs. There is no calorie restriction – you can eat until you feel full, as long as you stay within the rules. Keeping the carbs very low puts your body into a state of ketosis, where you burn fats as your primary fuel. When your body doesn’t have enough carbohydrates (“carbs”) from food for your cells to burn for quick energy, it turns to fats instead. Fats are actually the preferred fuel for your metabolism and organs like your brain. Your liver breaks down fats into ketones to use as energy. Exercising for long periods of time, or drastically cutting calories (think: fasting) or carbs (think: keto) are ways to switch your body into ketosis. When you burn fat as your primary fuel, your hunger hormones change – for the better. But on a calorie-restricting diet, your levels of ghrelin – the hunger hormone – increase and cause you to feel hungrier and have more cravings. A low calorie diet also causes levels of satiety hormones to decrease in concentration, making you feel hungrier more often. In contrast, during ketosis, ghrelin does not increase, even as you lose more weight. Also, within the first week of going keto, the satiety hormones that make you feel full and satisfied level out and the result is feeling full faster and for a longer period of time. Your metabolism even gets a boost and causes you to burn extra calories while in ketosis. But, even with all its advantages, keto isn’t for everyone and can be hard to maintain for the long-term. The Dark Side of Keto Keto is not a one-size-fits-all diet. For many people, ketosis is safe, effective, and even anti-inflammatory. But, keto has a dark side – it can stress your kidneys and heart, and lead to dehydration or changes in your blood chemistry – both short-term and long-term. And there are people who shouldn’t do keto because of chronic health conditions or difficulty breaking down fats. Even for people who experience dramatic, successful weight loss, low carb keto can be hard to stick to for the long term. Carbs are everywhere – even in vegetables like cauliflower, which is a staple for many who are transitioning to keto. Keeping to 50 grams of carbs or less daily is more difficult than it sounds, especially if you travel and eat out. Going over that 50 gram amount means your body can go out of ketosis and your weight loss will come to a halt. Severely low carb also means you aren’t feeding all your body’s hormones the fuel they need to stay in balance. Even though your brain may thrive on fats, your hormones need carbs to stay healthy and in balance. The high fat keto diet is not a high protein diet. In fact, if you eat too much protein that will also kick you out of ketosis, and your body will convert that extra protein into sugar. Your body has a protein “sweet spot” – the amount you need to maintain lean muscle mass and feel full, without overdoing or underdoing it. If you have issues with stomach acid production, or your gallbladder isn’t functioning optimally or has been removed, then keto may not be the right diet for you. You need the right amount of stomach acid to digest protein, and a healthy gallbladder is essential to break down fats. You may need to supplement with HCl+2 for healthy stomach acid production, and UNI KEY Health's Bile Builder Supplements for gallbladder support and proper fat digestion before you transition to a higher fat diet like keto. What to Do When Keto Doesn’t Work for You Keto isn’t for everybody, especially long-term. And anytime you go off of a diet – especially one as strict and limited as keto – you run the risk of gaining back all of the weight you lost and then some. If you can’t see yourself shunning carbs for the rest of your life to stay in ketosis, there are time-tested and groundbreaking alternatives that give you the metabolism reboot you need to lose the weight for good, while still enjoying the foods you love. Here at UNI KEY Health, we believe a healthy diet includes all nutrients – high quality fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and filtered water – and you can fuel your body with fats and lose weight while maintaining adequate amounts of all essential nutrients. We have seen firsthand success with thousands of dieters losing inches and pounds with both the Fat Flush plan and new Radical Metabolism plan from Ann Louise Gittleman. Both of these diets not only switch you into fat-burning mode and rev up your metabolism to lose weight faster, but they also cleanse, nourish, detox, and support your health – from your organs to your hormones, and all the way down to the cellular level. The post Keto – Craze or Cure? appeared first on Your Health Keys.
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