Archived News of the Week

Glutamate and Cancer, Olive Leaf, DHA, The Dark Side of Calcium and Why I Take Carnosine

The Scary Link between Glutamate and Cancer: Everyone knows about Monosodium Glutamate and most of you probably avoid it like the plague. Some of you get very sick after a Chinese dinner which contains liberal amounts of MSG: Sweating, insomnia and headaches are common symptoms. Glutamate is an amino acid and is found naturally in all protein containing foods and not so naturally in other products which I will tell you about soon.

If you go out to eat somewhere and think that the food is exceptionally tasty and all the little taste buds on your tongue are moshing frenziedly, wanting more and more of that Blue Plate special item, please beware - it could be the MSG acting like crack to your taste buds and, at the same time, slipping it's invisible Harry Potter cloak over your IQ. Speaking of IQ? Glutamate is horrible for your brain and can produce a number of neurological problems like severe headaches, seizures, and an exacerbation of any neurological disorder like Parkinson's or MS.

But we want to discuss the cancer connection: Recent studies have shown that glutamate receptors exist not only in the brain, but all over the body  skin, blood vessels, heart, pancreas, GI tract, prostate and breast tissue, immune cells and bone cells. (The Blaylock Wellness Report, May 2012) If you have a tiny malignant cell anywhere, the glutamate will stimulate the receptors throughout the body and can cause that tiny cancer cell to grow and replicate like a Colorado wildfire. Researchers even stimulated certain receptors and found that they could convert normal cells into cancer cells by adding glutamate.

What to avoid: If you have cancer now or are worried about a recurrence or have a family history of cancer, I would pay some attention to the list of glutamate foods to avoid: Canned foods - 70% contain glutamate; wheat, barley and oats; pinto, black, navy beans and lentils; sunflower and pumpkin seeds; of the meats, rabbit and turkey are the highest; of the nuts, peanuts are off the chart, but cashews, pistachios and almonds are high in glutamate; soy products. Beware of what I think is purposely misleading labeling, like natural flavorings and spices  that could be MSG. Foods low in glutamate  eat all you want!  are fruits, vegetables (except for mushrooms), lamb, eggs, pecans, walnuts and macadamia nuts. And don't drive yourself crazy trying to avoid all naturally occurring glutamate, just be moderate and avoid the obvious sources, like MSG. By the way glutamate is a cousin of aspartate which is in all Aspartame products, like NutraSweet. So, avoid all aspartame products in addition to the glutamate. They are both profoundly disturbing neurotoxins.

Olive Leaf - not only for viruses: For years I have been using olive leaf, along with a larch arabinolactin called Arabinex from Thorne, to fight viruses, so I was surprised to find another use for olive leaf: Lowering blood pressure. Researchers used 1,000 mgs per day in hypertensive subjects in a double-blind, controlled clinical trial and documented an average 11.5 drop in systolic and a 5 point drop in diastolic in just 8 weeks. (Phytomedicine, 2/11). In case you want to sound smart at your next cocktail party the phytochemical found in high concentrations in olive leaf is called oleuropein and its mechanism at lowering blood pressure seems to be in the modulation of arterial resistance or stiffness. (FYI: Another fantastic reducer of blood pressure is an Ayurvedic formula from Ayush Herbs called Carditone. I can honestly say that I have had 100% success with this product.)

DHA and brain volume: DHA, an omega 3 fatty acid, helps to preserve brain volume. Now, no one wants brain shrinkage. Since everything else seems to be going in the wrong direction i.e. everything that's supposed to be plump isn't (brain) and everything that's supposed to be thin isn't ( where do I start?)... at the very least I still want to assist my thinning brain to become curvaceous, plump and sexy again. The journal Neurology (2/12) reported a beneficial effect of DHA on brain volume and memory in dementia-free older men and women. Furthermore, they found a reduction of 25% in total cerebral brain volume, visual memory, executive function and abstract thinking among those whose DHA levels were the lowest. If you want more DHA than you can get in your usual fish oil combo, I carry a straight DHA from Thorne so you can load up.

When calcium is not so good: Aging brains tend to accumulate calcium in synapses. (Synapses are the transporting stations where all messages are relayed). Accumulation of calcium in the area of the brain called the hippocampus is a common albeit disturbing finding in brain-aging studies. What happens in the hippocampus is of extreme importance: It is THE part of the brain essential for learning, memory and behavior and the part of the brain that goes bonkers first if you have dementia. So, if you've got calcium deposits, which can be gluey or hard depending on the age of the deposit, in the synapses of your hippocampus, you are in big trouble.

I wouldn't depress you like this if I didn't have an answer , would I? Brain scientists have discovered that strawberries and blueberries can reduce the oxidative stress that causes the calcium to build up in the hippocampus. Not only do these magic berries reduce calcium in the brain, but they also improve the fluid-like quality of brain neurons, reduce brain inflammation thereby reducing the activation of microglia - the brain phagocytes sent to clean up debris. Microgliae are a good thing of course, but if there is too much microglial activity there will be a concomitant release of brain-destructive chemicals - the I gotta hurt you in order to save you sort of thing. These studies were performed on mice, and the scientists extrapolated that it would take humans three years of consuming the berries to attain the same effects.

Why I take Carnosine: Carnosine is a member of the energetic carn family and I supplement with all three: Acetyl-l- carnitine which specializes in brain energy and memory, l-carnitine which specializes in heart health and body energy and carnosine which protects us from the effects of aging and extends life spans. It's your natural anti-aging doc, right in your own body, and will assist in dealing with the following four indicators of aging: 1) Oxidation is a major ager and carnosine scavenges the free radicals which can stop atherosclerosis and cancer. 2) Glycation is another ager and uses faulty glucose molecules to wreak destruction on all cells. Carnosine takes a sacrificial hit (LEF, 4/12) and allows itself to be glycated thus sparing vital structures. 3)Telomeres: Very big in anti-aging now. We want to keep those little suckers big, long and healthy because, quite simply, when telomeres become too short, we die. Carnosine helps by keeping telomeres healthy and long. 4) Mitochondrial dysfunction: As we age, our little powerhouses get weaker and less energetic. Carnosine helps keep our mitochondria perky, esp in the brain, thus preventing dementias. However, carnosine decreases drastically with age, so we must supplement. Ask me about it.

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