Vitamin K - The Forgotten Vitamin

It's often called the forgotten vitamin. It was I discovered in 1934 by a Danish scientist and the letter "K" stands for the Danish spelling of "Koagulation."

Vitamin K is typically the first nutritional supplement that most American children receive as newborn; It helps the liver produce several proteins that control blood clotting. In more recent years, additional benefits have been identified as well. Among those new benefits:

• The Heart. In a study of 4,800 people over age 55, researchers in the Netherlands compared those with the lowest and highest intake of vitamin K. Those in the highest intake group were 52 percent less likely to have severe calcification of the aorta, the major artery leading to the heart. The research was published in the international journal of "Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Disease" and is summarized on www.healthyfellow.com/138/vitamin-K-and-heart-disease
  

• The Liver. The "Journal of the American Medical Association" reported a Japanese study that found vitamin K may help control the progression of liver cancer and may lower the risk of liver cancer significantly. See www.docguide.com. Search for vitamin K and liver disease research.
  

• Arthritis. Research published in the April 2006 journal "Arthritis & Rheumatism" found that higher blood levels of dietary vitamin K were associated with a lower risk for osteoarthritis of the hand and knee. For more information: use any search engine and enter the keywords "vitamin K deficiency linked to osteoarthritis."
  

• Osteoporosis. Studies at the Harvard Medical School and also in England have found that women with the highest dietary intake of vitamin K had a 30 percent decreased risk for hip fracture. A British researcher analyzing data from 13 Japanese clinical trials found the rate of spinal fractures reduced by 40 percent and hip fractures by 13 percent. Search online for "Harvard and Tufts vitamin K research."
  

How much is enough? There's no specific RDA for vitamin K for healthy adults. The suggestion is 90 micrograms (mcg) for adult women and 120 for adult men to prevent deficiency. But that's "minimum wage nutrition". Some of the best formulas for bone health contain a lot more than that. OsteoPrime Forte for example, contains 300 mcg.

To maximize your intake, do as you were told as a child: Eat your vegetables-especially the green, leafy variety. The best food sources are collard greens (440 mcg per 100 gram serving) and spinach (380 mcg per 100 gram serving); salad greens are a close third (315 mcg per 100 gram serving).

I think it's interesting that the standard advice from the conventional medical establishment is to avoid vitamin K if you're on blood clotting meds like Coumadin (also affectionately known as "rat poison"). To me, this is another example of the prevailing "wisdom": nothing must interfere with the drugs.

But vitamin K is enormously important for bone health, and the foods containing vitamin K have multiple benefits. Wouldn't it be wiser to simply adjust the medication, rather than eliminating the vitamin and the foods that contain it? Just a thought.

That said, anyone on blood thinning medication should still talk to their doctor. Supplemental vitamin K- or even a diet high in vitamin K containing foods (like salads) - can affect the required dose of blood thinners.

Love Your Liver!

Environmental pollution may be contributing to the growing problem of liver disease in U.S. adults, according to a new U.S. study.

Matthew Cave of the University of Louisville and colleagues studied the role of environmental pollutants in liver disease in 4,500 people who take part in the so-called 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

They examined chronic low-level exposure to 111 common pollutants including lead, mercury, PCBs and pesticides, and their association with otherwise unexplained liver disease in adults.

These pollutants, the researchers said, were detectable in 60 percent or more of the study subjects.

"Our study found that greater than one in three U.S. adults had liver disease, even after excluding those with traditional risk factors such as alcoholism and viral hepatitis," Cave said in a statement.

"Our study shows that some of these cases may be attributable to environmental pollution, even after adjusting for obesity, which is another major risk factor for liver disease," he said.

Cave is presenting his findings this weekend at the Digestive Disease Week conference in Chicago, the largest international gathering of physicians and researchers in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.

Given the load our poor liver has to contend with, I consider liver support supplements to be more important than ever. My favorites are milk thistle (400-900mg daily), selenium (200-400mcg daily) and alpha lipoic acid (100-600 mg daily), which I personally take every day. A great formula for general use is Vital Nutrients Liver Support which contains herbs like dandelion root, artichoke leaf extract and curcumin known to be very liver-friendly. Freshly made vegetable juices- especially with beet and beet greens- are also great for that poor liver.

7 Benefits of Detoxing Today

The 4th pillar of Youngevity is Detoxification so I thought this was a good time to share the following article "The 7 Benefits of Detoxing Today" by my friend Chris Christian, writer for HealthyNewAge.com, the alternative medicine web site and blog.

Detoxification is the process whereby the body rids itself of harmful chemicals that have accumulated in the body. These chemicals can be byproducts of natural processes, or they can be alien substances introduced into the body through food, air, or other environmental interactions.

The organs of the body responsible for detoxification are the liver, kidneys, colon, lungs, lymph system, blood and skin. Detoxification is an ongoing and natural process.

How Do You Become Toxic?

Although the body is naturally made to be able to detoxify itself, it is really geared toward a much less harmful environment than that in which most of us live today. Think back to the days when most people lived in the country and consumed foods grown locally, unprocessed, and eaten fresh or dried. No preservatives, no chemicals in the water, no smog in the air.

Those days are behind us, and we are now faced with all manner of chemicals and unnatural substances in all areas of our life. Our foods have been preserved, chemicals are added to enhance flavor or color, containers are made from chemicals that can leach into the food, the air has particulate matter in it previously unheard of, we touch cleaning compounds and other chemical solutions every day, and so on.

Our bodies' systems were not made to handle this amount of input, and they become overwhelmed. When we don't eliminate toxins from our body quickly enough, health begins to decline, and the stage is set for longer-term outcomes.

What Happens when Toxins Accumulate in the Body?

Recently, many medical researchers have been realizing that toxins are the possible, and in some cases probable, genesis of many of the chronic and degenerative diseases that plague our society today. These ailments range from immune system disorders to cancers, neurological disorders and everything in between.

Even though these diseases may have an organic cause that has been identified, such as a hormonal imbalance, the question is why did the hormonal imbalance occur in the first place? We are now realizing that the body could have been able to prevent the disease from taking hold if only it were healthy enough.

Many diseases, including pervasive and chronic ones such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Multiple Sclerosis will respond to treatment that includes helping the body eliminate toxins. These types of diseases have had a damaging impact on our society, rendering previously productive people disabled or seriously impaired in their daily lives.

Cures from typical Western medicine have been sadly lacking in effectiveness, at best being able to ameliorate some symptoms, but not being able to stop or reverse the disease. Assisting your body eliminate toxins will help you maintain or regain good health.

Why is Detoxing Essential?

The illnesses caused by overloaded, poisoned systems tend to develop gradually. People generally don't notice they're becoming ill, and when they do find that they're ill, they cannot connect their symptoms to any landmark event.

Symptoms frequently start as minor complaints such as headaches, sinus infections, frequent colds, fatigue, or other maladies that seem to be a result of being "run down." After a while, diseases such as asthma, allergies, neurological disorders and hormonal imbalances seem to spring up out of nowhere.

If you establish a regular regimen of cleansing your body now, you will have a better chance of avoiding many types of toxin-driven illnesses later on.

There are safe and cost-effective programs available for most kinds of natural detoxing. These programs will give your body the much-needed boost to eliminating poisons and unfriendly substances from the blood, colon, lungs, liver, kidneys, skin and lymph systems.

Could You Already be Toxic?

It's best to make detoxification part of your life early on, and have it constitute part of your preventative healthcare regimen. However, you may already be suffering some signs of becoming toxic. If that is the case, you will want to start a body-purifying program as quickly as possible.

If you're suffering from allergies, congestion, depression, headaches, constipation, bad breath, or a host of other annoying, chronic maladies, you could already be a victim of toxin overload.

Now you know why you should be considering detoxing. Let's review seven direct benefits of a detoxification program:

1.) Toxins and Parasites are Removed from the Body

When toxins are ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, many of them are not simply passed out immediately. They become processed along with beneficial substances, and become part of the molecular makeup of the body. Some are isolated into organs that are used to cleanse the body, such as the liver. Others accumulate in the skin or other tissues where they can reside for quite some time.

Once the toxins have been incorporated into the body's tissues, the body must respond to that invasion in some way. Responses include some of the illnesses mentioned above, and can also include genetic mutations, or upsets to the metabolism.

In addition to toxins, parasites may have been ingested or absorbed, and they also take up residence in various parts of the body. Parasites are organisms that introduce themselves into the body and then feed on it while providing no benefit in return. If their populations become overgrown, they will rob the host body of nutrients and cause health to decline.

Parasites can be very difficult to diagnose, as they generally do not make their presence known directly. Symptoms of parasitic infestation can masquerade as any number of other diseases. A person who has parasites may present with symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision, intestinal pain, fatigue, or skin rashes, yet these symptoms do not lead doctors to a proper diagnosis, because physicians do not automatically testing for and ruling out parasites.

Incorrect diagnoses and treatments then follow, yet the patient does not improve, because parasites are really at the root of the illness. Most parasites reside primarily in the colon, but they will migrate to other organs, and can cause damage to tissues there.

Organs frequently attacked by parasites include the joints, eyes, liver, heart, spleen, gall bladder, and pancreas. A detoxification program can rid the body of parasites as well as chemical toxins, thereby reducing allergies and other illnesses, and improving overall health and vitality.

2.) Immune System Function is Enhanced

The immune system comprises a delicate balance of several body processes coordinating to fight off infection, viruses or mutations. When toxins are circulating in the body, or are stored in tissues that contribute to immune system function, immunity itself can be badly compromised.

This presents challenges on two fronts. First, trying to eliminate the unfriendly toxins or chemicals distracts the immune system, which make it work overtime. When a routine attack from bacteria or viruses comes along, the immune system is already taxed by trying to eliminate or control the toxins, so it is unable to respond efficiently to the normal demands put upon it. A person with a compromised immune system is more likely to have infections, or succumb to colds, the flu, or other viral illnesses.

A properly functioning immune system works constantly to eliminate all invaders, so although a person may come into contact with potential infectious material constantly, it never takes hold. Once the immune system is overburdened with toxins, however, it does not have the resources left to fight off the daily incursions of unfriendly elements.

The second way toxins and chemicals hurt the immune system is that they can compromise the ability of the immune system to respond by damaging its ability to manufacture its needed antibodies and chemical compounds. Or, it can stimulate the immune system into overproduction, which is what causes allergies. Either way, the components of the immune system are not working to keep the body healthy. The immune system itself has become ill.

A good detoxification regimen will take the pressure off the immune system, and if it has been compromised, will allow it to repair itself so better health is attainable.

3.) Chronic Disease can be Prevented

The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that environmental toxins may cause over 60 percent of known cancers. The more industrial and chemically enhanced our world becomes, the more our elimination capabilities are stressed to keep up. If we assist our systems in their process of cleansing the body of toxins, we minimize the burden on our bodies and ensure better health.

4.) Quality of Life can be Improved

The burden of toxins in the body makes life unpleasant. Even in the absence of severe disease, nagging complaints such as joint stiffness, allergies, headaches, digestive disorders, fatigue and depression rob life of the joy with which it's supposed to be filled.

Toxins in the body that have overloaded the body's natural ability to eliminate them can drive all these complaints. A detoxification regimen can restore you to vitality and joy.

5.) Weight Loss

One of the body's responses to toxins is to encapsulate them in cells in the body. One of the most often used cells for this encapsulation is fat. Although there are many causes of obesity, and many diseases related to it, there is also the possibility that some percentage of excess weight occurs because the body is using fat to keep toxins as safely corralled as it can manage.

The body also encases toxins in water, which it must then store. Detoxing the body will result in loss of stored water and stored fat that was used to house these undesirable poisons. This may cause a loss of several pounds and inches.

6.) Body Systems' Balance Restored

All of our body's systems should be working together. Once we are overloaded with toxins, any impacted system can no longer pull its weight, and others then become overloaded or compromised. Hormonal systems, endocrine systems, digestive systems, all can be impacted by an overload of toxins. As one system fails to work properly, the others are taxed beyond their abilities, and our health deteriorates.

Undergoing a good detoxification regimen will restore balance to all your body's systems, and they will function properly again. Digestive systems return to balance, and waste elimination occurs quickly, preventing a future buildup of toxins. The body can properly eliminate toxins during restful sleep. Moods are restored to balance, and all systems are working harmoniously again.

7.) Premature Aging Stopped and Slowed

Toxins stress the body and cause systems to break down and to age more rapidly than normal. Additionally, free radicals cause skin and organ damage that advances aging more quickly. Free radicals are not actually toxins in and of themselves, but they are a result of toxins in the environment and in the body.

A free radical is a molecule that's missing an electron, so it attacks a nearby molecule to steal its electron. The attacked molecule then needs to recover its missing electron from another molecule, and a chain reaction is started that damages tissues at a molecular level. Chemical processes caused by toxins, including pollution, cigarette smoke, and herbicides can create a free radical. In small amounts, the body can accommodate and repair free radical damage. However, when the free radical activity becomes overwhelming, premature aging and other signs of tissue stress become apparent.

Removal of toxins from the body will greatly reduce the formation of free radicals. Supplementing the diet with antioxidants will increase the body's ability to eliminate free radicals, and of course the antioxidants will be put to better use if toxins do not strain the body in the first place.

What Kinds of Detoxification Programs are There?

There are many detoxification programs available today. Some are quite simple, safe and effective. Others may need medical supervision.

• The most common detoxification regimen available is a colon detox. Since most toxins are ingested, those that are not immediately absorbed into the body will be moved out of it as waste. If the waste sits in the colon for too long, the toxins can be absorbed there, or can cause irritations to the intestinal linings. A minimum of one bowel movement a day is desirable. This will generally ensure that toxins are being eliminated effectively.
  
  A colon detoxification regimen starts with eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grain foods. If organic food is available, it's preferable, due to the reduced amount of chemicals used in its growth and processing.
  
  There are supplements and herbs that assist with colon cleansing. Some of the common herbs used include psyllium husks or seeds, slippery elm, flax seeds, and Cascara Sagrada. You can also find supplements in a homeopathic store or catalog. All of these will work to stimulate the organs and aid in cleansing.
  
  Cleansing the colon should be the first step in your detoxification program. If other organs are cleansed, but the colon is not yet working properly, toxins may end up in the overburdened colon and get reabsorbed from there.
  
• The next step in detoxification is the kidney. Your kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood daily filtering out about two quarts of water and waste. Drinking large amounts of water and eating a healthy diet will help cleanse the kidneys. There are also herbal supplements available to assist in this detoxification project. Some common kidney detox herbs include Tribulus Terrestris, Nut grass, Siberian tea, and sweet basil.
  
  Some people recommend a kidney-cleansing regimen by taking watermelon. 20 pounds or more of watermelon in one day will flush the kidneys. This is not recommended for people suffering from diabetes due to the high sugar content in the watermelons.
  
• The liver is a major component in the body's filtering mechanism. It captures parasites, viruses, bacteria and fungus as it processes the bloodstream. Liver detoxification should be done under supervision, and no more than twice a year. Eating a liver-healthy diet is the best way to support your liver function. This includes eating plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, avoiding heavy fat foods, and consuming light oils that contain essential fatty acids. Also, using a natural parasite cleanse product can support the body in very useful ways.
  
• A blood detoxification is often done in conjunction with a liver cleansing regiment. There are many blood cleansing herbs such as red clover, chickweed, plantain and burdock root.
  
• The skin and lymph systems can be detoxed by exercise. Regular exercise can be combined with herbal supplements, such as red clover, ocotillo stem, and Stillingia root to increase the elimination of wastes through the skin and lymph systems. Additionally, you may dry brush the skin to increase circulation, which assists elimination of waste through the skin.
  
• The lungs can also be easily detoxified by proper breathing techniques. Taking time each day to focus on deep breathing, especially in a clean oxygen environment, will stimulate, revitalize and cleanse the lungs.
  
• Last on the detoxification list is heavy metals. They accumulate I many areas of the body and are more difficult to eliminate from the body and can cause severe illness, including brain damage. They are particularly dangerous, but luckily, they are also more rare than other contaminants, with the exception of dental amalgam (metal fillings).
  
• Free radical action is also heightened by the presence of heavy metals. Heavy metal substances include lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, mercury, and nickel. Chelation therapy is frequently used to eliminate heavy metals.
  
• Maintaining a high protein diet is important during a heavy metal detox, so do not fast during this type of detox. Protein in the diet will create sulfur-bearing amino acids, which greatly facilitate the removal of the heavy metals. There are supplements that support the effectiveness of the detox, including MSM, which is a form of sulfur, cilantro, and Chlorella. NAC (N-Acetylcysteine) and EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) are helpful in removing lead, mercury, aluminum, and cadmium from the body.

Is Brain Starving?

After reading this fantastic article by my good friend and colleague Dr. Al Sears I asked him for permission to "reprint" it for my readers. Here you go! - Dr Jonny

Is Your Brain Starving?

Do you find yourself forgetting where you left your car keys... or just feel like your brain is in a fog sometimes?

Contrary to popular belief, forgetfulness is not just a normal part of growing older. As you age, your brain loses critical nutrients that it needs to fire on all cylinders.

If your mental spark plugs aren't firing like they used to, don't worry. I'll show you how to get your brain's engine back to running as smooth as a Rolls Royce. You just need to know what's missing and how to get it.

Your Brain is Begging for Nutrients

Your brain uses chemicals called neurotransmitters to transmit messages in the brain. There are millions of these messages happening every second. Neurotransmitters are conductors of these messages, allowing them to fire from one part of your brain to another.

One important neurotransmitter is acetylcholine (ACh). Your body uses ACh to help regulate your heart, breathing, and sleep. Your body even uses it to control your muscles and keep you fired up for the bedroom.

Here's the thing... your brain needs you to supply certain nutrients to make neurotransmitters.

But there's a key nutrient it uses to make ACh that is probably missing from your diet. It's called choline, and if you don't get enough, you're headed for trouble. Choline is a necessary nutrient for overall brain health and functioning and it is important to avoid nutritional deficiencies to keep your brain sharp and healthy.¹ When you don't give the body enough choline, the brain is forced to get it from other parts of your brain. It starts eating itself alive to get what it needs for vital functions like heart and lung regulation.

I'll show you ways to get the choline your brain needs in a second, but first let me introduce you to choline's partner - DMAE. DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol) works with choline to create ACh. In fact, it does such a good job, the FDA almost approved it as a drug. The only reason it didn't happen is that the manufacturer couldn't pay the expenses to get it classified as one.

But it is the main ingredient in a commonly prescribed drug in Europe. Called Centrophenoxine, it has been shown to boost cognitive functions.² Unlike Ritalin® and other brain substances, proper doses of DMAE are a safe and side-effect-free solution to support brain health and reduce age-related mental decline and mood/behavioral problems.³

Add These Critical Brain Saving Nutrients To Your Diet

To get the nutrition your brain needs to stay sharp and clear, you may need to combine food and supplementation. Here's how to get your ACh cranking:

DMAE - You need at least 35 mg of DMAE a day. Fish is a good food source, especially sardines and anchovies.

Choline - You need at least 425 mg a day as a woman, 550 mg if you're a man. The richest food sources of choline are (per 100 g of food):

• Whole cooked eggs - 272mg. Make sure you get free-range eggs without antibiotics or hormones. They'll help fuel your muscles as well as give you much-needed choline.
  
• Raw egg yolks - 682mg. Go ahead and crack open a couple eggs into your protein shake. It's only an urban legend that there's danger in eating them raw.
  
• Chicken liver - 290mg. Though some people get turned off by organ meats, they're a potent source of high-powered nutrition. And it's an old wives tale that they store toxins – they don't.
  
• Turkey liver - 220mg. Another great source of nutrition. Just like any liver, it also provides vitamin A, CoQ10 and iron.
  
• Pork - 130mg. Just like beef, you want to eat organic, grass-fed animals only for the proper balance of fats and zero hormones and antibiotics.

Choline is easy to replace and will help to promote a healthy mind into your golden years. If you're older, you may need more choline - as much as 1500 mg a day. That may require supplementation of this critical nutrient.

My Accidental Discovery in the Amazon Rainforest

Last year while hiking in the rainforest of Peru I was shown an herb the Indians of the Amazon River Basin have been using since before recorded history to prevent fatigue and increase physical endurance. I realized that by combining this ancient herb with choline and DMAE I could create a powerful new "anti-aging" formula for increased physical and mental stamina.

Read the rest of the story»

Dr. Sears, M.D. is a board certified clinical nutrition specialist, is a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and is Board Certified in Anti-Aging Medicine. He has written over 500 articles and 7 books in the fields of alternative medicine, anti-aging, and nutritional supplementation.

¹Ferris SH, Sathananthan G, Gershon S, Clark C.. J Am Geriatr Soc 1977; 25:241-4.

²Mosharrof, A.H., et al., Effects of meclofenoxate on learning and memory--dependence on the experimental conditions. Acta Physiol Pharmacol Bulg, 1986. 12(3): p. 7-14.


³ Caille E.-J, Study concerning the bisorcate demanol effects upon quantified EEG, cortical vigilance and mood. Comparative double-blind, cross-over balanced design versus pirisudanol. Psychol Med.1986;18:2069-2086.