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You really can’t say enough good things about berries, though goodness knows I never stop trying. I’ve written extensively about blueberries, but truth be told all berries are phenomenal and strawberries are no exception. It’s time to take a look at the special properties of strawberries that make them such a nutritional powerhouse. (more…)

No matter how you slice it, osteoarthritis is a pain. Osteoarthritis (OA), which most of us think of as “arthritis,” is very common. It affects upwards of 20 million Americans. From moms, to retirees, to students, to business people, to athletes…arthritis does not discriminate. Virtually anyone could be at risk.

In the general population, an unbelievable 2% to 6% of all people are affected by OA. This is just the tip of the iceberg, however. These figures refer only to people with officially diagnosed OA.

Tens of millions more Americans have OA. They feel its pain daily and they hate the limitations it places on them. Yet these people, young and old, aren’t counted because they haven’t received an official OA diagnosis from a doctor.

Osteoarthritis: Are You At Risk?

OA is characterized by progressive loss of cartilage, pain, and, in advanced stages, joint deformity. OA hits the knees, hips, and spine, among other joints. It’s not a pretty picture. Anyone who enjoys being active, from the recreational runner, to the mom chasing her toddler, to the hard-hitting, intense athlete, may be at higher-than-average risk of developing OA.

Joint injury, knee bending, heavy lifting, and participation in high-impact recreational activities all may up the odds of later developing OA.

Unfortunately, when we are young and feel invincible, arthritis is the last thing on our minds. But it is at precisely these early stages that we may be able to head off and limit the damage that leads to future OA.

New Research: AppleBoost Improves Joint Health

There are a number of things I recommend for joint health starting with omega-3 fatty acids . And of course glucosamine and chondrotrin. I’m also very excited about the new research on shea nut extract which I’ll be telling you more about later this year. But what I’m really happy to report right now is the results of a new pilot study showing that extracts of apples can make a huge difference in improving joint health and improving the lives of people affected by arthritis.

AppleBoost Products, Inc. is a company that is invested in making a difference. They’re so invested, in fact, that they’re funding and conducting independent studies, at a well-respected laboratory and research facility. The goal? To prove that AppleBoost powder can improve joint health and improve the lives of people affected by arthritis. AppleBoost’s DAPP, or Dried Apple Peel Powder, is made from 100% certified organic apples– free of chemical pesticides, artificial fertilizers and ionizing radiation– which is then dried and milled into a fine powder that’s infused into a variety of natural apple products.

Twelve individuals, ranging from 48 to 73 years old, were enrolled in the study, “Evaluation of reduced pain and increased range of motion (Joint Health).” Primary complaints of study participants included hand, knee, shoulder, feet, neck, ankle, lower back, finger, hip, and upper back joint pain. All reported suffering from mild-to-moderate joint pain for at least 6 months.

For the intervention, nine capsules of AppleBoost powder (DAPP) were consumed daily for 12 weeks. Subjects were monitored at baseline, and at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Monitoring included blood draws, assessment of perceived levels of pain, and range of motion (ROM) tests.

The Proof is in The Numbers

AppleBoost powder provided significant benefits to the study participants. In particular, the research found:

1. The pain reduction benefits were significant.

Pain associated with the area of primary pain complaint, gradually reduced throughout the study. The reduction in pain was highly, statistically significant at 12 weeks.
Pain associated with the area of secondary pain complaint continuously reduced at each visit. The reduction in secondary complaint pain was highly, statistically significant at 12 weeks.
2. The range of motion (ROM) improvements were significant.

Joint mobility was improved across the study population.
14 of 27 parameters analyzed showed a statistically significant increase in ROM for at least one time point for all study participants. Many ROM parameters showed improvement at multiple time points for several participants.
Areas including the neck and shoulders showed significant improvements across the population, even though not all study participants reported problems in these areas at the start of the study.
What Can AppleBoost Do For You?

If AppleBoost can lower pain and improve range of motion in people with established pain and symptoms of arthritis already present, imagine what AppleBoost can do for you. As we all know, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

If you’re an athlete, an active person, or simply want to focus on keeping your joints healthy and happy as you age, AppleBoost may be just what you are looking for.

The power, and the protection, are in the peel.

The great comedian Lenny Bruce used to have a bit in which he said, “I was going on vacation, so my doctor gave me an important list of things to do for swimmers in shark infested waters”. He’d slyly ask the audience, “Are you ready for the first ‘do’?”

“Get out of the water as soon as possible!”

“Gee doc”, he’d say sarcastically, “I’m really glad you thought of that one!”

I was thinking about that routine this week while listening to Thursday’s televised discussion of the healthcare debate. Because whatever side you happen to be on, and whomever you may have been rooting for (or against) last Thursday, I’ll bet you can agree with me on one basic principle when it comes to the medical “system” in this country: “Try to stay out of it in the first place!”

Look, it goes without saying that sometimes really bad things happen to people that are completely beyond anyone’s control. And that even when we do absolutely everything right, sometimes we still fall victim to terrible diseases or accidents. Tragedies happen, often without rhyme or reason. Believe me, I get it.

But that said, there are an awful lot of basic steps we can take to reduce the risks of becoming a medical statistic.

The Nurses Health Study, for example, showed that adopting five basic strategies produced an incredible 80% reduction in the risk of heart disease. Want to know the magic five?

1. Don’t smoke
2. Maintain a healthy weight
3. Eat a Mediterranean-type diet (fish twice a week)
4. Exercise
5. Drink alcohol in moderation only

There isn’t a pill on the market that can produce the kind of results those five behaviors will produce.

I’ve put together my own personal list of behaviors and strategies that I think, taken together, could significantly lower the risk of you spending a lot of time in the medical system, or even in the doctor’s office. For what it’s worth, here’s my personal list:

1. Never eat trans-fats. A comprehensive review of studies of trans fats published in 2006 in the New England Journal of Medicine reported a strong and reliable connection between trans fat consumption and coronary heart disease. The study estimates that between 30,000 and 100,000 cardiac deaths per year in the United States are attributable to the consumption of trans fats. (By the way, don’t believe the “zero trans fats” on the label- read the ingredients: if it’s got hydrogenated oil, or partially hydrogenated oil in it, it’s got trans-fats, no matter what the label says)
2. Don’t smoke. Do I even need to explain why? I thought not.
3. Walk ½ hour or more every day, at moderate intensity, at least five days a week. It won’t make you thin, but it will protect your heart, brain, lungs and bones.
4. Lift weights. It preserves muscle, keeps your bones strong, reduces the risk of osteoporosis, keeps you body lean, and boosts your metabolism.
5. Get some sun. We are vitamin D deficient, and the list of things that vitamin D prevents, helps, or improves is simply staggering.
6. Reduce sugar in your diet. Mounting evidence suggests high-sugar (high processed carb) diets are a risk factor for cancer and heart disease, let alone diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome.
7. Eat as many servings of vegetables and fruits as you possibly can- 9 servings a day is a good goal! And concentrate on the vegetables!
8. Find a purpose. The Okinawans call it “ikagi” meaning “ a reason for being”. Contribute, participate, take the attention off yourself, and do something for other people.
9. Connect- with family, friends, animals, community. And maintain and nurture those connections. Stay engaged and positive.
10. Take basic supplements: At the very least, omega-3 fats (fish oil), vitamin D, and a high quality multiple.  And that’s the absolute minimum!
11. Eat more fiber. Every major health organization recommends 25-38 grams daily. Americans get a paltry 4-11 grams of the stuff. A ton of studies link high fiber diets with better health outcomes- less diabetes, less weight gain, better blood sugar control and less cancer and heart disease. Get it from beans, vegetables, fruits and fiber supplements.

Are these strategies infallible? Of course not. But think about it- wearing your seat belt and driving sober can’t guarantee you that some drunk won’t come out of nowhere and plow into your car. But we do those things anyway because it’s absolutely true that doing so significantly reduces the risk of something bad happening while driving. It doesn’t eliminate the risk- but it sure does lower it.

The best part about these strategies is that they are all in our control. They allow us to be empowered to actually make a difference in our health. We may not be able, individually, to transform the broken health care system in America, much as we might like to. But we can sure do our part to see that we “visit” it as little as possible.

How we feel on the inside could be affecting how we look on the outside. In fact, studies link factors that impact our emotional well-being — such as stress, depression and anxiety — to an increase in skin, hair or nail problems. Dermatologist and clinical psychologist Richard G. Fried, MD, PhD, FAAD, of Yardley, Pa., explains that there is a profound reciprocal relationship between feelings and appearance.

Stress can manifest itself on one’s appearance in many ways, but primarily by making the skin more sensitive and more reactive. (more…)

The thing about “spin” is that we expect it from politicians. We don’t expect it from science writers. Yet more often than not, spin is exactly what we get from them, especially when they’re writing about vitamins.

A recent article in Slate Magazine (entitled “The Vita Myth: Do Supplements Really Do Any Good?”) is a perfect case in point.

But before we get into that- and we will- it’s important to explain a few basic notions about research. (more…)

I’ll be honest- the lead story in this week’s newsletter was going to be a discussion of “The China Project”, a subject I’d been planning to address for quite a while. But on Sunday, while reading the New York Times, I found something that affected me so deeply that I just had to share it.

I hope after you read it you will see why I had to move “The China Project” to the back burner.

“The China Project” will keep. This won’t. (more…)

Like most animal lovers, I learn a lot from my dogs. (Don’t stop reading if you’re not a dog lover- I promise this will apply to you as well!)

A couple of years ago Emily- a 6 month old pit bull- left the Bark Avenue Rescue Facility in Los Angeles and joined my family, which at the time consisted of me and Woodstock, a 12 year old male pit-lab mix.

Immediately something interesting happened.

Woodstock- who was at the time, to put it diplomatically, a senior citizen- got a new lease on life. He started running again, like he used to do when he was a puppy. Emily got him to chase her everywhere. They played constantly. Woodstock spent less and less time sleepily contemplating life, and more and more time actively involved in it. (more…)

Two controlled clinical trials find that fish-derived omega-3s provide substantial relief and benefit for arthritis

Guest Article by Craig Weatherby

When people say “arthritis” they usually mean osteoarthritis.

It’s the most common type of arthritis by far, and distinct from the relatively rare autoimmune disease called rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is associated with normal aging and with extraordinary joint stresses … such as those experienced by construction and other workers who kneel on hard surfaces. (more…)