I missed the ball games, the equestrian events and most of whatever else was happening in my family’s lives, while Rosemary was always there being a supportive, involved parent and spectator while I was at work.

And even though I wanted to be there, it just didn’t work out that way.

About ten or fifteen years ago when I decided to work less, eat healthy and exercise, I was able to be more involved with my kids lives, and it’s been great.

I’ve been telling you about training for and participating in triathlons and it’s all been great. Although I recently had a setback, I still say it’s been a healthy way of life and I’ve certainly enjoyed the new adventure.

I’m still training for triathlons and I’m ramping up my regimen so I’ll be ready for the 2011 season.

Our daughter Francine told me about an event held in Wichita Falls Texas every year. It’s called the Hotter than Hell Hundred and sounds challenging, so I’ve added it to my bucket list.

That’s right, it’s a hundred mile bike ride through the desert that starts in Wichita Falls Texas and I’ve been told it goes through a place called Devils Gate.

2011 will be the thirtieth anniversary of the event and I’m making plans for being there.

So far Rosemary is on board for the event, our daughter Francine and her husband Robert are talking about participating also.

When I say Rosemary is on board for the event that means she’ll be a supportive spectator.

As I’ve mentioned before she is an arthritis patient and is limited to what she can do.

But she’s always there watching, supporting and cheering on any family member or friend that is participanting in an event of their choosing.

Rosemary is the quintessential spectator and deserves a gold medal for being there for family and friends.

Through the years she has watched our son Nick compete in bicycle motocross races, football, baseball and Jiu Jitsu matches; she has watched our daughter Francine compete in equestrian events and bicycle motocross races; she’s watched me compete in Jiu Jitsu matches and triathlons.

She watched when Nick crashed on his bicycle at motocross, she watched Francine fall from her horse in competition and she was there when they dragged my limp body out of the water and didn’t know if I was dead or alive.

Like so many other moms in the world, she’s up for well deserved sainthood.

But on August 15th, it’s my turn…

Because I’ll be 1300mi from home, standing beside Rosemary watching our daughter Francine and her friend participate in their first triathlon.

It’s going to feel strange being on the sideline and not in the mix of things, but I’ll be one of the spectators cheering and taking pictures, and I’m already excited about being there as a supportive parent and friend.

It’s a new chapter in my life and it’s exciting and I hope I handle it well.

Watching Rosemary through the years and seeing how she handled situations, I’ve learned that being a spectator for a family member or friend requires dedication, lots of restraint and lots of love…

So I know I can do this.

According to triathlon rules a triathlete is not allowed help from spectators, if he/she falls or crashes, they have to pick themselves up and continue on, because if anyone helps them then they are automatically disqualified.

I remember telling Nicky and Stacey that no matter what happens do not try to help me if you see me fall or crash, now I hope I don’t have to take my own advice.

I’m certain that if I follow Rosemary’s lead I’ll do well and not embarrass Francine or her friend.

I’m turning the page to a new chapter, it seems strange but exciting and I’m sure I’ll end up with plenty of wonderful memories.

Go out and try something new and never say “I’m too old” or “I can’t” because you’re not and you can.

MIZPAH!

Doc

Sounds great doesn’t it? Well, I can’t give you this pill. But – believe it or not – you’re about to discover something free that does all those things. The secret goes back about 40 years…

Norman Cousins was a respected journalist who covered some of the most important stories of the last century. Sadly, he developed heart trouble at a young age. Then was struck with a serious and painful joint condition. His doctors didn’t hold out much hope.

But Cousins didn’t just accept what the doctors told him. The journalist in him took over, and he researched endlessly. And his research convinced him of one thing: Laughter is essential to human health.

You see, Cousins’ pain prevented sleep. But he discovered that watching the Marx Brothers – who he found endlessly funny – relieved his pain. In fact, watching just 10 minutes let him sleep peacefully for two hours. It was a strange prescription, but laughter led to restful, healing sleep.

Most doctors rejected Cousins’ “crazy” ideas. But he outlived their predictions by many years. He also convinced a few researchers to study laughter seriously. And what they discovered could change your life.

Among these pioneers were doctors at California’s Loma Linda University. One of their earliest studies revealed that laughter leads to lower levels of cortisone, epinephrine (adrenaline), and other hormones linked to stress.1 Laughter worked like magic. Men watched a funny video… and their stress hormone levels dropped.

Loma Linda researchers also tested laughter’s effects on the immune system. The results were just as amazing. After men watched a one-hour humorous video, their levels of certain protective cells shot way up. Even 12 hours later, some of the levels were still high.2

A team at Indiana State University found similar results – for both stress hormones and immune cell activity.3 Research backs up Norman Cousins’ pain claims, too. Even people with serious conditions are less bothered by pain when they laugh.4

And here’s another good reason to laugh: It just may help your heart. A study at the University of Maryland found laughter may support higher production of nitric oxide (NO).5 This is important for overall cardiovascular health, because NO relaxes your blood vessels – promoting better circulation.

So if you’re feeling stressed… a little physically beat… or even a little blue, take a break to watch a silly movie or stand-up comic. Read a book that makes you laugh out loud. Or get together with your funniest friends. A little laughter could be just what the doctor ordered.

But the story doesn’t end here.

It’s been 30 years since mainstream medicine dismissed Cousins’ book, “Anatomy of an Illness.” And we’re still discovering ways he was right. In fact, a brand-new study shows that laughter may help with one of our toughest medical issues.

You see, many older patients, people who’ve suffered loss, or those in severe pain completely lose their appetite. They literally waste away. And it’s not easy to get someone with no appetite and no desire to eat.

But laughter promotes changes in two key appetite hormones: leptin and ghrelin. In people who watched a short humorous video, leptin levels went down and ghrelin levels went up.6

Here’s why this could be important. Leptin suppresses appetite and ghrelin stimulates it. So helping people laugh could also help them eat. And that could reverse the wasting process. In other words, laughter could prove to be – quite literally – a lifesaver.

Stay Healthy,

Dr. Kenneth Woliner, M.D.
Best Life Herbals

_________________________________________

1 Berk LS, et al. Neuroendocrine and stress hormone changes during mirthful laughter. Am J Med Sci. 1989 Dec;298(6):390-6.

2 Berk LS, et al. Modulation of neuroimmune parameters during the eustress of humor-associated mirthful laughter. Altern Ther Health Med. 2001 Mar;7(2):62-72, 74-6.

3 Bennett MP, et al. The effect of mirthful laughter on stress and natural killer cell activity. Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Mar-Apr;9(2):38-45.

4 Christie W and Moore C. The impact of humor on patients with cancer. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2005 Apr;9(2):211-8.

5 Miller M and Fry WF. The effect of mirthful laughter on the human cardiovascular system. Med Hypotheses. 2009 Nov;73(5):636-9. Epub 2009 May 27.

6 See http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100426113058.htm.

Back in the early 1990’s, Americans became more health-conscious. Saturated fats became the enemy. And consumer groups targeted movie theaters for their heavy use of oils containing saturated fats.

So, under pressure, theaters started popping their corn in a “much healthier” type of fat… trans fat.

Of course, we now know that switching to trans fats was a big mistake. Trans fats are tremendously unhealthy. And they don’t occur in nature. They’re cobbled together in the laboratory – in much the same way Dr. Frankenstein created his famous monster.

Trans fats are made by adding hydrogen to improve food texture and to give them a higher melting point. But meddling with these fats is also what makes them increase your “bad” cholesterol levels so much… while lowering your “good” cholesterol.

Unfortunately, before everyone realized how awful trans fats really were, companies had added them to practically everything: margarine, packaged foods, baked goods, microwave popcorn, oil for deep frying… the list goes on forever.

So now we’ve started pulling the trans fats out of our foods and looking for a replacement. Most food producers have settled on interesterified fats.

Like trans fats, interesterified fats aren’t natural. They’re altered – either with chemicals or enzymes – to suit commercial food producers’ needs. And some studies show they may be just as unhealthy as trans fats.

In one study, for example, adding these unnatural fats to people’s diets increased their blood sugar by almost 20%. And it boosted their “bad” cholesterol, too.1 A recent Canadian study found interesterified fats may be particularly dangerous for people who are overweight.2

So what’s the answer? You might be surprised. It just may be going back to where we started.

You see, that “bad” oil movie theaters used to pop their corn in was coconut oil. Yes – the same coconut oil that’s recently been linked to weight loss.3

Coconut and palm oils – so-called “tropical oils” – are loaded with saturated fats. But they’re not like other saturated fats. They’re a type of fat called medium-chain fatty acids… and these saturated fats are actually good for you! People in the tropics have been eating them for countless generations without any bad health effects.

In Sri Lanka, for example, the coconut tree is called the “Tree of Life” – and people there get about 80% of their fat from coconut oil.4 Yet heart problems are far less common in Sri Lanka than in the US. And – in spite of eating all this saturated fat – the people there are much thinner.

Chances are, coconut oil is a big part of the reason. When researchers in Brazil added coconut oil to the diets of overweight women last year, their “good” cholesterol levels shot up… and their waistlines shrank.5

And in animal studies, coconut oil promotes:

Lower “bad” cholesterol

Higher “good” cholesterol6

Higher antioxidant levels7

Yes, trans fats are awful. But I don’t see how switching to another unnatural fat – such as interesterified fats – is the answer. The evidence seems to say we’d be much healthier if we went back to the old “unhealthy” fats.

Stay Healthy,

Dr. Kenneth Woliner, M.D.
Best Life Herbals

________________________________

1 Sundram K, et al. Stearic acid-rich interesterified fat and trans-rich fat raise the LDL/HDL ratio and plasma glucose relative to palm olein in humans. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2007 Jan 15;4:3.

2 Robinson DM, et al. Influence of interesterification of a stearic acid-rich spreadable fat on acute metabolic risk factors. Lipids. 2009 Jan;44(1):17-26. Epub 2008 Nov 4.

3 St-Onge M-P and Jones PJH. Greater rise in fat oxidation with medium-chain triglyceride consumption relative to long-chain triglyceride is associated with lower initial body weight and greater loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue. International Journal of Obesity (2003) 27, 1565–1571.

4 Amarasiri WA and Dissanayake AS. Coconut fats. Ceylon Med J. 2006 Jun;51(2):47-51.

5 Assunção ML, et al. Effects of dietary coconut oil on the biochemical and anthropometric profiles of women presenting abdominal obesity. Lipids. 2009 Jul;44(7):593-601. Epub 2009 May 13.

6 Nevin KG and Rajamohan T. Beneficial effects of virgin coconut oil on lipid parameters and in vitro LDL oxidation. Clinical Biochemistry, Volume 37, Issue 9, September 2004, Pages 830-835.

7 Nevin KG and Rajamohan T. Virgin coconut oil supplemented diet increases the antioxidant status in rats. Food Chemistry, Volume 99, Issue 2, 2006, Pages 260-266.

But cells sometimes divide out of control, producing large numbers of cells that perform no useful function. The offspring of these “rogue cells” can crowd out healthy cells, “steal” their nutrients and eventually lead to death. It’s a scary prospect.

But there’s a new ray of hope on the horizon. You see, researchers at Austria’s Innsbruck Medical University have made a discovery that could slash your chances of abnormal cell growth. And it all ties in to a subject I brought up a few months ago.

You may remember an article I wrote about telomeres – the “caps” on the ends of DNA strands. These caps are sort of like the plastic nibs that keep shoelaces from unraveling. As long as these caps are in good shape, your shoelaces are fine. But when the caps break off or wear down, the shoelace unravels… and you need a new shoelace.

Of course, with your DNA, the situation is more serious than simply replacing a shoelace. When telomeres wear out, so does your DNA. The ends of the strands break down, and the cell can’t reproduce normally. At that point, the cell usually dies.

But we now know these cells sometimes “go rogue.” When that happens, you can become very, very sick. The abnormal cells can crowd out healthy, normal cells. And suddenly, you’re fighting for your life.

What the Austrian scientists proved was that longer, healthier telomeres are inversely related to abnormal cell growth. In other words, people with long, healthy telomeres have a much smaller chance of cells going rogue.1

And here’s why knowing this is important. The research I’ve seen seems to say you can “reset” your telomeres. And when you do, your cells act like fresh, young cells again.2 Even better, it’s easy to give your body this extra edge.

You see, free radical damage is a big factor in wearing down telomeres. And it turns out that some common antioxidants are especially good at promoting telomere health.3

For example, researchers at the National Institutes of Health discovered that vitamins C and E are particularly effective. They found that women who simply took a multivitamin containing vitamins C and E had telomeres more than 5% longer than women who didn’t!4

And in test-tube studies, a Japanese team found that vitamin C can promote slowing of telomere wear by as much as 62%.5 So antioxidants can go a long way towards helping keep your telomeres – and your cells – healthy and young-acting.

But vitamins aren’t the only allies you have in combating abnormal cell growth.

Resveratrol – a powerful antioxidant found in grapes and wine – also has a beneficial effect on your telomeres. Resveratrol appears to stimulate telomerase activity. And telomerase is an enzyme that promotes longer, healthier telomeres.

When Chinese researchers treated cells with resveratrol, telomerase swung into action, prolonging the healthy life of the cells.6

And here’s one more way to support longer, healthier telomeres – and help cut your chances of abnormal cell growth.

Just stay active.

Of course, we’ve known for a long time that staying active is good for you. But a team at the University of California recently discovered it’s good for your telmoeres, too. In fact, they found that very active people are 15 times less likely to have short telomeres than sedentary people!7

You read that right. This study found you might cut your risk by a whopping 93%… just by staying active!

Abnormal cell growth is one of today’s biggest health worries. But thanks to this new research, you now have some simple ways to really cut your risk.

Stay Healthy,

Dr. Kenneth Woliner, M.D.
Best Life Herbals

__________________________________________

1 Willeit P, et al. Telomere Length and Risk of Incident Cancer and Cancer Mortality. JAMA, Vol. 304 No. 1, July 7, 2010.

2 Fossel M. Telomerase and the Aging Cell: Implications for Human Health. JAMA, Vol. 279 No. 21, June 3, 1998, 1732-1735.

3 von Zglinicki T. Oxidative stress shortens telomeres. Trends Biochem Sci. 2002 Jul;27(7):339-44.

4 Xu Q, et al. Multivitamin use and telomere length in women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jun;89(6):1857-63. Epub 2009 Mar 11.

5 Furumoto K, et al. Age-dependent telomere shortening is slowed down by enrichment of intracellular vitamin C via suppression of oxidative stress. Life Sci. 1998;63(11):935-48.

6 L Xia1, et al. Resveratrol reduces endothelial progenitor cells senescence through augmentation of telomerase activity by Akt-dependent mechanisms. British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 155, 387–394; doi:[DOI link]; published online 30 June 2008.

7 Puterman E, et al. The power of exercise: buffering the effect of chronic stress on telomere length. PLoS One. 2010 May 26;5(5):e10837.

I had an acute medical event and it almost killed me. It was scary, extremely painful, and happened at an inopportune time.

I’m still not certain what happened that morning; all I know is that I ended up with kidney problems and high blood pressure. 

So now what?

I fight back, is what! I’m not one for feeling sorry for myself and saying “poor me”. Nope!

Knock me down and if any way possible I’ll get up. I’ve done it before and I’m going to do it again.

A friend sent an email that said “If anyone would come back stronger than ever from something like this it’s going to be you.” 

I try to keep in mind that famous Frederick Nietzsche quote that says, “What does not kill us makes us stronger”…

And I will definitely be stronger when this episode is over.

When someone asks for advice about beginning an exercise or recovery program, I always tell them to begin with a regimen that isn’t too strenuous and increase gradually. If you overdo it you could end up in pain and possibly injured. 

To avoid pain and injury and ensure a strong return to my lifestyle, I took my own advice and formulated a plan to begin after I was home, rested and strong enough to exercise.

After being released from the hospital, I spent four days quietly recuperating and studying the mandatory change in my eating. I really dislike inactivity but it was necessary.

After the down time, I was rested and ready so I started walking with Rosemary and the dogs and before the week was over we were walking a mile then a mile and a half, as I began feeling stronger.

After my strength and stamina improved, I started into my bodyweight exercise routine increasing the reps and adding new exercises as I became comfortable with what I was doing. All the while I got stronger and my blood pressure improved.

Seven days later it was time to get back to cycling, so I set my mountain bike up on the trainer and started peddling.

I did 30 to 45min sessions on the trainer for three days and then decided it was time to get out on the road and start putting in the miles.

After three days of roadwork on the bike, I started back into a running routine.

Day one running routine, walk 5min, run 10min, walk 5min and run 15min and walk 5min.

Day two easy jog 30min. Day three repeat day one.

I continue to increase a little each day I run.

Being comfortable with the running, I started swimming in the mornings alternating the swim routines each day. I will continue to increase as the weeks pass until I’m able to swim one mile again.

I try to always do two of the three exercises run, bike, swim, each day and I change the mix every day. I also do the bodyweight exercises every day.

Always have a routine to follow when exercising, but if you’ve been sick or injured, I believe you should be flexible with you do or don’t do.

In other words, if it’s too strenuous or doesn’t feel right, stop and reevaluate what you’re doing. Otherwise you could end up reinjured or sick again.

Believe in yourself and never let anyone tell you that you’re too old or can’t because you’re not and you can.

MIZPAH!

Doc

PS. Remember, before starting or changing any exercise routine, please consult your doctor first.

But a chronic lack of sleep is a serious issue. Sleeplessness affects about a third of us. It causes brain fog, trouble concentrating and poor mental performance. It can lead to accidents and illness, too.

And now we know a lack of sleep can also kill you.

A new study of 2,242 adults found that people with chronic sleep problems are three times more likely to die from all causes as folks who sleep well. That’s right… lack of sleep triples your risk of dying early.1

So if you’re having serious sleep problems, don’t apologize. Get help instead.

I generally don’t like conventional sleep aids. It’s easy to get hooked on them, and withdrawal can be unpleasant. Plus, they have side effects.

They can leave you feeling foggy and disoriented – even after a night’s sleep. And they can produce bizarre behaviors: even driving or eating huge meals in your sleep. Imagine gaining 25 or 30 pounds from stuffing yourself in your sleep!

Fortunately, Nature offers several safe and effective alternatives.

Melatonin is probably the best-known natural sleep aid. It’s a hormone that regulates your “internal clock.” Basically, melatonin tells you when to be sleepy and when to be awake.

But we often throw our internal clocks off by fooling our bodies. If you expose yourself to too much light too late in the day, your body thinks it’s time to be awake. When that happens, your body doesn’t release enough melatonin. So you may have trouble falling – and staying – asleep.

Our bodies also make less melatonin as we get older. Either way, simply taking melatonin resolves sleep problems for many people.

If melatonin doesn’t do the trick for you, you have other natural options. Here are two of my favorite herbs to promote better sleep.

Valerian root has been used for centuries to help people relax and fall asleep. And it’s very effective. In one study, 89% of people with sleep problems said they slept better while taking valerian. And 44% of them reported “perfect” sleep.2

When was the last time you had a perfect night’s sleep? With valerian, it may be closer than you think.

But, believe it or not, there’s an even better way to get a good night’s rest. And that’s taking valerian and hops together.

Hops is an ancient herb. It’s been used to flavor beer for nearly a thousand years. Long before that, the Romans raised it as a vegetable and ate the shoots like asparagus. Later, Europeans often used a pillow filled with the herb’s flowers to help people sleep.

Today, we know that hops has a calming effect. Numerous studies have shown it promotes sleep. And some of those studies also show that adding hops to valerian is even more effective than valerian alone.3

In fact, a Canadian team found that hops and valerian promoted sleep as well as a more conventional sleep aid… but resulted in patients reporting a better quality of life during their waking hours.4

Both valerian and hops are approved to promote better sleep by Germany’s Commission E. They’re natural, safe and have no side effects.

So if you’re having trouble sleeping, don’t ignore it. The health consequences can be serious. But you don’t have to suffer with the side effects of conventional sleep aids to get a good night’s rest. You have effective natural options.

With a little luck, you may enjoy that elusive “perfect” night’s sleep at last.
Stay Healthy,

Dr. Kenneth Woliner, M.D.
Best Life Herbals

_____________________________________________

1 See http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100607065559.htm.

2 Lindahl O and Lindwall L. Double blind study of a valerian preparation. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1989 Apr;32(4):1065-6.

3 Koetter U, et al. A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, prospective clinical study to demonstrate clinical efficacy of a fixed valerian hops extract combination (Ze 91019) in patients suffering from non-organic sleep disorder. Phytother Res. 2007 Sep;21(9):847-51.

4 Morin CM, et al. Valerian-hops combination and diphenhydramine for treating insomnia: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Sleep. 2005 Nov 1;28(11):1465-71.

For example, you may have cut out a lot of empty calories by avoiding sugary sodas. But if you did, you may be putting your health at risk.

Now, I’m not saying drinking soda is good for your health. There’s nothing healthy about your average soda. But there’s an awfully good reason to be careful about what you drink instead.

You see, a new study found that diet soda could be robbing your body of calcium and phosphorus.1 And that’s bad news, because both these minerals are critical for maintaining bone strength.

As I’ve mentioned before, your bones may be at risk already… because most Americans don’t get enough vitamin D. Your body can’t properly absorb calcium without vitamin D. So adding diet soda to the mix could put your bones in serious jeopardy.

This is especially bad news for you ladies. You’re already far more likely than men to suffer from weak bones. And, on average, you also drink a lot more diet soda.

But here’s the kicker: The women in the study I mentioned only drank 24 ounces of diet soda a day. That’s barely more than a medium-sized drink at McDonald’s. In other words, just two average-sized diet sodas a day could put your bones at serious risk!

The sweetener used in most diet sodas has been linked to more than 90 health problems, too… from headaches to rashes to vision and hearing problems.2

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. When this sweetener becomes unstable, it breaks down into some pretty toxic chemicals.

For example, would you choose a drink laced with formaldehyde? That’s exactly what you may be doing when you drink diet soda that’s been sitting around too long… or has been exposed to temperatures above a certain range.2

Other poisons form when this artificial sweetener breaks down, too. Poisons like formic acid and methanol.2

Formic acid is the poison some ants use to defend their colonies against enemies – an early form of chemical warfare. Safety precautions for formic acid include avoiding skin contact and breathing the vapors.

Methanol is better known as wood alcohol. It can cause blindness in very small amounts. It isn’t safe to drink in any quantity. But when this sweetener breaks down, it may be exactly what you’re drinking.

So if you’ve picked up the “healthy” habit of drinking diet soda, you may want find an alternative – especially with the news from this latest study about bone health.

Of course, water is a good choice. But for a little flavor, try naturally decaffeinated tea. I’m particularly fond of green tea.

Green tea is rich in EGCG – a natural compound linked to heart health. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, too. Studies have even shown that it can help contribute to weight loss.

You may find the flavor of green tea – especially iced green tea – takes a little getting used to. Try adding fresh-squeezed lemon or sweetening it with a little organic honey.

It won’t taste as sweet as diet soda… but it won’t put your bones at risk either.
Stay Healthy,

Dr. Kenneth Woliner
Best Life Herbals

___________________________________________

1 NS Larson, et al “Effect of Diet Cola on urine calcium excretion” ENDO 2010; Abstract P2-198.

2 Barua J and Bal A. Emerging Facts About Aspartame. Journal Of The Diabetic Association Of India 1995 : Vol. 35, No. 4.

That would be quite a substance, wouldn’t it?

Well, believe it or not, that amazing substance exists. But there’s a pretty good chance you’ve never heard of it. Most people haven’t.

Today, we’ll discover this remarkable substance – and some of the many ways it can boost your overall health.

More Than Just a Food Coloring

Astaxanthin is best known as a coloring agent. In fact, it’s classified as a food coloring in Europe. But it’s much more.

It’s a carotinoid – a plant pigment closely related to beta-carotene. Like beta-carotene, it’s a powerful antioxidant. But, unlike beta-carotene, your body doesn’t convert it to vitamin A. (Too much vitamin a can be toxic.)

Unlike most other antioxidants, astaxanthin can cross the blood-brain barrier. That makes it available to defend your brain cells. In fact, early studies indicate it may be a powerful antioxidant for brain cells.1

Other studies reveal even more health benefits of astaxanthin:

• At Washington State university, researchers found that women who took astaxanthin showed fewer signs of DNA damage. They also had lower levels of C-reactive protein – an important sign of heart health risk. And they showed higher levels of certain immune defenses, too.2
• In lab studies, astaxanthin has shown 50% more antioxidant activity than vitamin E. Plus, it showed more than 6 times the antioxidant power of beta carotene!3
• Japanese researchers found that astaxanthin promotes clearer arteries and less LDL cholesterol damage.4
• Turkish scientists discovered it supports better eye health in laboratory animals. Retinal cells in animals given astaxanthin survived better under stress.5
• In a Belgian study, men taking astaxanthin experienced a big boost in potency. And not just some of the men. All the men given astaxanthin experienced a boost.6

“So,” your next question may be, “how easy is it to get this wonder nutrient in my diet?”

The Best Sources of Astaxanthin

One reason many people haven’t heard of astaxanthin is that it’s not common in our diets. Other than salmon, there isn’t much astaxanthin in the foods we usually eat.

And salmon contains only very small amounts.

Krill – the source of krill oil – contains about 24 times more astaxanthin than salmon. And artic shrimp contain about 10 times more than krill.

But the very best source of astaxanthin is a microalgae called Haematococcus pluvialis. H. pluvialis contains about 33 times more astaxanthin than artic shrimp… or about 8,000 times more astaxanthin than salmon!

The good news is that this microalgae grows easily and poses no known health threats. So we can get plenty of astaxanthin from H. pluvialis. And it’s available as a supplement.

If you decide to give this nutrient a try, be aware… most commercial astaxanthin is synthetic. It’s made from petrochemicals. In other words, oil. So read labels carefully.

Astaxanthin is one of those “up-and-coming” nutrients I’m keeping an eye on. We already know it boosts health in important ways. But we’ve just begun to uncover the health benefits it may offer.
Stay Healthy,

Dr. Kenneth Woliner, M.D.
Best Life Herbals

_________________________________

1 Liu X and Osawa T. Astaxanthin Protects Neuronal Cells against Oxidative Damage and Is a Potent Candidate for Brain Food. Food Factors for Health Promotion. Forum Nutr. Basel, Karger, 2009, vol 61, pp 129–135 (DOI: 10.1159/000212745)

2 Park JS, et al. Astaxanthin decreased oxidative stress and inflammation and enhanced immune response in humans. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010 Mar 5;7:18.

3 Y. M. A. Naguib . Antioxidant Activities of Astaxanthin and Related Carotenoids. J. Agric. Food Chem., 2000, 48 (4), pp 1150–1154.

4 Iwamoto T, et al. Inhibition of low-density lipoprotein oxidation by astaxanthin. J Atheroscler Thromb. 2000;7(4):216-22.

5 Cort A, et al. Suppressive effect of astaxanthin on retinal injury induced by elevated intraocular pressure. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2010 May 8. [Epub ahead of print]

6 Comhaire FH, et al. Combined conventional/antioxidant “Astaxanthin” treatment for male infertility: a double blind, randomized trial. Asian J Androl. 2005 Sep;7(3):257-62.

My patient was expressing the opinion of a surprising number of men as they get older. They think, Testosterone is for young bucks… I don’t need it like I used to.

What they don’t understand is that it doesn’t matter how old you are. Men need testosterone. If your levels get too low, the consequences can be serious. And as we get older, our levels of this critical hormone drop.

Here’s what I tell my patients…

Low Testosterone Spells Trouble

Some people call it “male menopause.” Others use the term “andropause.” But whatever you call it, men’s body’s change as they age. We just don’t notice it as much as women, because our changes happen more slowly.

One of the biggest changes we experience is a drop in testosterone – the “male hormone.” But our levels of estrogen – the “female” hormone – don’t drop. The result is a double-whammy for your masculinity.

For one thing, as testosterone levels drop, you can kiss your physique good-bye. I’ve seen studies that show you can lose almost 20% of your body’s lean muscle.1 At the same time, you’ll start to pack on extra fat.2

In other words, you’re looking at developing “man breasts” and having trouble opening jars. You’re being feminized.

And if you want to look and feel like an old man, low testosterone is the quickest route. I just read a study that found mature men with low testosterone are more likely to suffer from fatigue… and even have trouble climbing stairs or walking any distance.3

Another new looked at 3,443 men. Those with the lowest testosterone levels were much more likely to have arterial leaks or blockages in the brain… leading to brain cell death.4

And then there’s the problem that gets every man’s attention. As your testosterone levels drop, so does your sex drive. Imagine finally having the kids are out of the house, the mortgage paid, and more free time to enjoy yourself… and you just don’t feel like it any more.

So, if you have low testosterone levels, you should be concerned. You’re running the risk of serious health problems. Your changing hormone ratio is slowly turning you into a “girly man.” And you can expect to see your desire pack its bags and move out.

Sounds pretty depressing, doesn’t it? Fortunately, there are ways to boost your levels safely and naturally. And when your testosterone goes back up, so does your masculinity.5

Natural Testosterone Boosters

Two of the best testosterone boosters are minerals.

Because it’s closely linked to sexual matters, zinc probably comes as no surprise. The highest levels of zinc in men are found in their sex organs. And a number of studies show that zinc helps your body boost testosterone levels.6

Another mineral with solid evidence is magnesium. For example, Turkish researchers gave magnesium to a group of athletes and a group of couch potatoes. In just 4 weeks, testosterone levels were up in both groups.7

Though human studies are in short supply on herbs, some show promise. For example, Tribulus terrestris – puncture vine – promotes testosterone production in rats8 rabbits and primates.9 In fact, in one study, testosterone levels in primates shot up by 52%!

Another herb to consider is Long Jack, or tongkat ali. In one study, male animals were treated with estrogen, which has a feminizing effect. But animals then given Long Jack for just 14 days experienced a reversal of estrogen’s effects.10 And Long Jack has been shown to support improved sperm production and quality in humans, too.11

So, yes, low testosterone levels are a big deal. But you can do something about it. And when you do, you can get back your muscle, your health… and your desire.5
Stay Healthy,

Dr. Kenneth Woliner, M.D.
Best Lifer Herbals

____________________________________________

1 Vermeulen A, et al. Testosterone, body composition and aging. J Endocrinol Invest. 1999;22(5 Suppl):110-6.

2 Abate N, eet al. Sex steroid hormones, upper body obesity, and insulin resistance. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Oct;87(10):4522-7.

3 Hyde Z, et al. Low Free Testosterone Predicts Frailty in Older Men: The Health in Men Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Apr 21. [Epub ahead of print]

4 Yeap BB, et al. Lower testosterone levels predict incident stroke and transient ischemic attack in older men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Jul;94(7):2353-9. Epub 2009 Apr 7.

5 Rabijewski M and Zgliczyński W. Testosterone deficiency in elderly men. Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2009 Dec;27(162):517-23.

6 Kilic M. Effect of fatiguing bicycle exercise on thyroid hormone and testosterone levels in sedentary males supplemented with oral zinc. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2007 Oct;28(5):681-5.

7 Cinar V, et al. Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Testosterone Levels of Athletes and Sedentary Subjects at Rest and after Exhaustion. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print]

8 El-Tantawy WH, et al. Free serum testosterone level in male rats treated with Tribulus alatus extracts. Int Braz J Urol. 2007 Jul-Aug;33(4):554-8; discussion 558-9.

9 Gauthaman K and Ganesan AP. The hormonal effects of Tribulus terrestris and its role in the management of male erectile dysfunction–an evaluation using primates, rabbit and rat. Phytomedicine. 2008 Jan;15(1-2):44-54.

10 Wahab NA, et al. The effect of eurycoma longifolia Jack on spermatogenesis in estrogen-treated rats. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2010 Jan;65(1):93-8.

11 Tambi MI and Imran MK. Eurycoma longifolia Jack in managing idiopathic male infertility. Asian J Androl. 2010 May;12(3):376-80. Epub 2010 Mar 29.

You’re hoisted into the ambulance. It roars off to the hospital, sirens blaring. Inside, a paramedic opens your shirt and rubs salve on your belly.

The next morning, your cardiologist stops by your hospital bed. “Good news,” she tells you. “Your heart will be fine.”

The reason? It was the salve the paramedics used. Or, rather, something extraordinary in the salve.

That “something extraordinary” is capsaicin. It’s the chemical that makes cayenne pepper hot. But it does a lot more than spice up your food.

We’ve known for years that capsaicin has heart-health benefits. Oxidation of cholesterol is a major cause of clogged arteries. Capsaicin helps your body keep this oxidation under control.1 It supports healthy levels of cholesterol and fats in your blood, too.2

But capsaicin may also support the survival of your heart’s muscle cells. And it works when those cells are under the worst stress – after a major cardiac event. That’s great news, because these events can do a lot of damage.

Here’s the story in a nutshell:

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati had already discovered that making a small cut in the belly of mice – immediately after a serious cardiac event – reduced damage to the heart muscle. In fact, damage to the heart dropped by an incredible 81%.

You see, the incision stimulates certain nerve pathways. The body’s response to this stimulation is to protect the heart… exactly what you need when your heart’s in trouble.

Taking their study a step further, the researchers tested a cream containing capsaicin. The results were amazing. Capsaicin worked even better than their previous technique. Damage to heart tissue plummeted by 85%! Just by applying capsaicin cream to the mouse’s belly.3

According to the lead author, Keith Jones, “These are the most powerful cardioprotective effects recorded to date.”

As a doctor, I agree. The numbers are astounding.

If the results are even close in human trials, it will be a major breakthrough. I can’t imagine how many people could be spared extensive heart damage. Or how many lives could be saved.

Plus capsaicin is safe, inexpensive and easy to find in topical form.

Besides running human trials, Jones and his team have plans to look at how this technique may apply to other serious health problems. If it does, it will be a major step forward for natural health.

I’ll be watching for developments… and I’ll fill you in when they happen.

Stay Healthy,

Dr. Kenneth Woliner, M.D.
Best Life Herbals

_____________________________________

1 Ahuja KD and Ball MJ. Effects of daily ingestion of chilli on serum lipoprotein oxidation in adult men and women. Br J Nutr. 2006 Aug;96(2):239-42.

2 See http://www.naturalnews.com/026454_blood_spices_food.html.

3 Jones WK, et al. Peripheral Nociception Associated With Surgical Incision Elicits Remote Nonischemic Cardioprotection Via Neurogenic Activation of Protein Kinase C Signaling. Circulation. 2009;120:S1-S9.