Hi Donna!
I am great. My weight is very stable, even if I eat what seems like way too much food. I have had a few binges, and it can creep up a few pounds, but a day or two of being a little careful and it's gone! It's a miracle and I am still thrilled every day. Thank you again for all your support during Phase 1 and I hope all is well with you.
LA, New York
Remember you too can rid yourself of candida yeast, excess belly fat, stored fat that is impossible to get rid of, cellulite and detox your body at the cell level from the inside out. Find out how by visiting A Voice For Change Weight Loss today.
Hi, I'm Donna Appel, founder of A Voice For Change. I am dedicated to the health of your mind, body, spirit and planet. It is my mission to bring you the facts and the truth along with alternative solutions with regard to hormone balancing, detoxification, weight loss, nutrients, pharmaceutical drugs, food sources and industry standards, disease and other related home, health and wellness topics.
Showing posts with label B12. Show all posts
Showing posts with label B12. Show all posts
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
NEW WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS AND PRODUCTS NOW AVAILABLE
NEW WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS AND PRODUCTS NOW AVAILABLE
Visit our website for more info:
http://www.avoiceforchange.com/products.html
Have questions? Call or email: Toll Free: 866.464.4931 or 561.389.6958 or donna@avoiceforchange.com
Visit our website for more info:
http://www.avoiceforchange.com/products.html
Have questions? Call or email: Toll Free: 866.464.4931 or 561.389.6958 or donna@avoiceforchange.com
Monday, April 12, 2010
Lower Your Cholesterol – NOT a Good Idea
I didn't know that (IDKT) .... What we have been led to believe about cholesterol levels is just NOT true.
1. Low cholesterol levels are NOT healthy.
2. You will NOT live longer if you have low cholesterol levels.
3. If you have congestive heart failure, it’s NOT best to take a cholesterol-lowering drug.
Basically, it appears that we have been misled. The research that I have been doing all leads to the same conclusion and I think that Dr. Brownstein summarizes it best. I am quoting him in an article that I recently read on his website. The rest of this blog is quoted from what he wrote.
“A study in the American Heart Journal (Dec. 2008) pointed out the problems with low cholesterol levels in those with congestive heart failure. This study looked at 17,791 hospitalized patients at 236 sites who were admitted for congestive heart failure. The researchers divided the patients into four quartiles:
1. Total cholesterol of <118
2. Total cholesterol of 119-145
3. Total cholesterol of 146-179
4. Total cholesterol of >180
The most important number to look for in any study is the mortality numbers. Guess who lived the longest in the above four groups? If you guessed group one, you guessed wrong.
Those in the lowest cholesterol group (quartile 1 above) had the highest death rate (3.3%). Those in the quartile 2 had a death rate of 2.5%. The next quartile (3 above) had a death rate of 2.0% and the group with the highest cholesterol levels had the lowest death rate at 1.3%.
Other data from this study showed that those with lowered cholesterol levels had longer hospital length of stay and worse symptoms on discharge. Compared to those with the highest cholesterol levels (>180), those with the lowest cholesterol levels (<118) had a 65% higher risk of mortality.
How can this be? Does it sound like Alice-In-Wonderland to you? It really isn’t that hard to understand when you understand the physiology of the body.
It is well known that lowered cholesterol levels have been shown in many studies to be associated with a higher mortality rate. Cholesterol is a necessary and important substance in the body. It is necessary for proper mineral absorption and utilization, cell wall strength, immune system functioning and vitamin D production. There are many other important functions of cholesterol.
My clinical experience has clearly shown that it is not wise to use a drug that blocks the production of cholesterol. It does not make physiologic sense and it does not make common sense. Cholesterol research studies do not prove that taking cholesterol-lowering medications prolong life. In fact, the best statin drugs have been shown to do is to lower the risk of a non-fatal heart attack by 1% over 2-3 years. This positive effect is seen only in the most favorable trials (i.e., those trials that Big Pharma Cartel decides to release for publication). However, there are many serious adverse effects of cholesterol-lowering medications including muscle and liver problems and an increased cancer rate.
What should you do? Read and educate yourself about any drug or natural item that you are prescribed. Look at how the item works in the body and look at the possible adverse effects. Then, make your decision on whether it is in your best interest to take that substance. If it does not extend your lifespan or improve the quality of your life then perhaps you should avoid the substance. Cholesterol-lowering drugs have never been shown to improve longevity or quality of life.”
Now you know (NYK)! Pass it along and be A VOICE FOR CHANGE.
Namaste (I bow to you), Donna
Info taken from an article written by Dr. David Brownstein, M.D., For more information on cholesterol and cholesterol–lowering drugs, read Dr. Brownstein's book, "Drugs That Don’t Work and Natural Therapies That Do", 2nd Edition.
Visit his website http://www.drbrownstein.com
1. Low cholesterol levels are NOT healthy.
2. You will NOT live longer if you have low cholesterol levels.
3. If you have congestive heart failure, it’s NOT best to take a cholesterol-lowering drug.
Basically, it appears that we have been misled. The research that I have been doing all leads to the same conclusion and I think that Dr. Brownstein summarizes it best. I am quoting him in an article that I recently read on his website. The rest of this blog is quoted from what he wrote.
“A study in the American Heart Journal (Dec. 2008) pointed out the problems with low cholesterol levels in those with congestive heart failure. This study looked at 17,791 hospitalized patients at 236 sites who were admitted for congestive heart failure. The researchers divided the patients into four quartiles:
1. Total cholesterol of <118
2. Total cholesterol of 119-145
3. Total cholesterol of 146-179
4. Total cholesterol of >180
The most important number to look for in any study is the mortality numbers. Guess who lived the longest in the above four groups? If you guessed group one, you guessed wrong.
Those in the lowest cholesterol group (quartile 1 above) had the highest death rate (3.3%). Those in the quartile 2 had a death rate of 2.5%. The next quartile (3 above) had a death rate of 2.0% and the group with the highest cholesterol levels had the lowest death rate at 1.3%.
Other data from this study showed that those with lowered cholesterol levels had longer hospital length of stay and worse symptoms on discharge. Compared to those with the highest cholesterol levels (>180), those with the lowest cholesterol levels (<118) had a 65% higher risk of mortality.
How can this be? Does it sound like Alice-In-Wonderland to you? It really isn’t that hard to understand when you understand the physiology of the body.
It is well known that lowered cholesterol levels have been shown in many studies to be associated with a higher mortality rate. Cholesterol is a necessary and important substance in the body. It is necessary for proper mineral absorption and utilization, cell wall strength, immune system functioning and vitamin D production. There are many other important functions of cholesterol.
My clinical experience has clearly shown that it is not wise to use a drug that blocks the production of cholesterol. It does not make physiologic sense and it does not make common sense. Cholesterol research studies do not prove that taking cholesterol-lowering medications prolong life. In fact, the best statin drugs have been shown to do is to lower the risk of a non-fatal heart attack by 1% over 2-3 years. This positive effect is seen only in the most favorable trials (i.e., those trials that Big Pharma Cartel decides to release for publication). However, there are many serious adverse effects of cholesterol-lowering medications including muscle and liver problems and an increased cancer rate.
What should you do? Read and educate yourself about any drug or natural item that you are prescribed. Look at how the item works in the body and look at the possible adverse effects. Then, make your decision on whether it is in your best interest to take that substance. If it does not extend your lifespan or improve the quality of your life then perhaps you should avoid the substance. Cholesterol-lowering drugs have never been shown to improve longevity or quality of life.”
Now you know (NYK)! Pass it along and be A VOICE FOR CHANGE.
Namaste (I bow to you), Donna
Info taken from an article written by Dr. David Brownstein, M.D., For more information on cholesterol and cholesterol–lowering drugs, read Dr. Brownstein's book, "Drugs That Don’t Work and Natural Therapies That Do", 2nd Edition.
Visit his website http://www.drbrownstein.com
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Chronic Cough & B12 Deficiency
I didn't know that (IDKT) .... (I copied this right from the website .... no sense reinventing the wheel). I am not endorsing their products but found the article interesting and informative especially since I know a number of people that have a nagging cough. If you would like more information about the author and/or the company visit their website at http://www.northstarnutritionals.com. And I quote .... "
Hidden causes of your chronic cough
2010-01-21
Have a cough that just won‘t go away? You‘ve had it for months (or years) and know it‘s not a cold. You don‘t have allergies, asthma, or acid reflux. And you‘re not a smoker. Could it be that you‘ve got a B12 deficiency? It‘s highly possible, especially if you‘re over 60.
That‘s according to a new study presented at the World Allergy Conference last month.
For this study, Italian scientists looked at 40 patients with an unexplained chronic cough. The scientists had a hunch that sensory neuropathy (or nerve damage) caused their older patients‘ chronic cough. And what‘s one of the main causes behind sensory neuropathy? You got it: deficiencies in the vitamin B12.
So, following their hunch, the Italian scientists tested the patients‘ blood. They found that 25 of the 40 patients with a mysterious chronic cough were deficient in vitamin B12.
According to the lead author of the study Giuseppe Guida, M.D., their older patients were particularly prone to B12 deficiencies. He said, "Generally, you can find these lower levels of vitamins in older people because they can have some problem with their nutrition."
So how does low B12 cause a chronic cough? Well, over time, lack of B12 may cause inflammation of the nerves leading to your airways. It also may cause you to become hyper-sensitive to every little dust particle...
Does just a little bit of dust make you cough?
The Italian scientists wanted to see exactly what made their vitamin B12 deficient patients so prone to coughing. They measured the lung capacity of all 40 patients using a machine called a spirometer. The patients exhaled into the machine to measure their bronchial capacity to get a baseline reading. Then the patients took a histamine "challenge test."
You see, typically, when exposed to histamine, your airway will constrict and cause you to cough. But if you are "hyper-responsive," your airway will constrict at lower doses of histamine. Each of the patients with a B12 deficiency had significantly lower thresholds for histamine response. Translation?
When exposed to even just a tad of histamine, the vitamin B12 deficient group started coughing. Then, the scientists gave them B12 shots. And any guesses what happened?
Yep, their histamine responses improved. Their airways didn‘t constrict as readily and they didn‘t start coughing.
Dr. Guida‘s guardedly optimistic. In his presentation at the World Allergy Congress, he said, "Of course, we need more data to confirm the fact that there is a strong association between these two cofactors [chronic cough and the B12 deficiency]." However, "if this is the case, [this] could be a very easy way to help these people," he said, "especially because they are older and it‘s a very easy medication to [administer]."
Boosting B12 naturally
Bottom line here, folks? If you‘ve got a mysterious cough that just won‘t go away (or if you seem to overreact to allergens in your house), ask your doctor for a B12 blood test. Ideally, you should have blood serum levels above 300 pg/mL.
An important warning here for vegans and vegetarians: don‘t necessarily trust your B12 blood tests. You see, some vegetables contain a nutrient that mimics B12 in the body. So it appears as though you have enough B12 in blood tests; but this analog doesn‘t perform the same job as B12. In fact, if you‘re a plant-eater, you can be severely B12 deficient and still look normal in blood tests.
In any case, if blood tests show you‘re a little low, you‘ll definitely want to add some grass-fed meat, wild-caught fish, and free-range eggs to your diet. In most cases, your body should have no trouble at all absorbing B12 from these natural sources.
For readers who have a more serious B12 deficiency, I recommend B12 shots. They‘re not as bad as they sound, I promise! Some people get them once a month and some people as often as two times per week. Your doctor will help you figure out how often you need one. (As always, I recommend finding a natural healthcare practitioner which you can do through associations like the International College of Integrative Medicine at www.icimed.com, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians at www.naturopathic.org, or the American College for the Advancement of Medicine at www.acam.org.)
If you‘re not thrilled about getting regular shots in the arm, you can always try sublingual B12 tablets (you put them under your tongue) or low dose mouth sprays. Unfortunately, B12‘s just not very well absorbed in tablet form. Try this for a few months and see if your levels improve. If they don‘t, B12 shots are your best alternative.
No matter how you get it, B12‘s one magic elixir. When your body gets enough, you‘ll feel more energized and relaxed. And you may just see your mysterious cough disappear! " End of quote.
Now you know (NYK)! Pass it along and be A VOICE FOR CHANGE.
Namaste (I bow to you), Donna
Info taken from an article by Allan Spreen, M.D., NorthStar Nutritionals, as found in an email they published on January 21st, 2010. Visit their website for additional information http://www.northstarnutritionals.com
Hidden causes of your chronic cough
2010-01-21
Have a cough that just won‘t go away? You‘ve had it for months (or years) and know it‘s not a cold. You don‘t have allergies, asthma, or acid reflux. And you‘re not a smoker. Could it be that you‘ve got a B12 deficiency? It‘s highly possible, especially if you‘re over 60.
That‘s according to a new study presented at the World Allergy Conference last month.
For this study, Italian scientists looked at 40 patients with an unexplained chronic cough. The scientists had a hunch that sensory neuropathy (or nerve damage) caused their older patients‘ chronic cough. And what‘s one of the main causes behind sensory neuropathy? You got it: deficiencies in the vitamin B12.
So, following their hunch, the Italian scientists tested the patients‘ blood. They found that 25 of the 40 patients with a mysterious chronic cough were deficient in vitamin B12.
According to the lead author of the study Giuseppe Guida, M.D., their older patients were particularly prone to B12 deficiencies. He said, "Generally, you can find these lower levels of vitamins in older people because they can have some problem with their nutrition."
So how does low B12 cause a chronic cough? Well, over time, lack of B12 may cause inflammation of the nerves leading to your airways. It also may cause you to become hyper-sensitive to every little dust particle...
Does just a little bit of dust make you cough?
The Italian scientists wanted to see exactly what made their vitamin B12 deficient patients so prone to coughing. They measured the lung capacity of all 40 patients using a machine called a spirometer. The patients exhaled into the machine to measure their bronchial capacity to get a baseline reading. Then the patients took a histamine "challenge test."
You see, typically, when exposed to histamine, your airway will constrict and cause you to cough. But if you are "hyper-responsive," your airway will constrict at lower doses of histamine. Each of the patients with a B12 deficiency had significantly lower thresholds for histamine response. Translation?
When exposed to even just a tad of histamine, the vitamin B12 deficient group started coughing. Then, the scientists gave them B12 shots. And any guesses what happened?
Yep, their histamine responses improved. Their airways didn‘t constrict as readily and they didn‘t start coughing.
Dr. Guida‘s guardedly optimistic. In his presentation at the World Allergy Congress, he said, "Of course, we need more data to confirm the fact that there is a strong association between these two cofactors [chronic cough and the B12 deficiency]." However, "if this is the case, [this] could be a very easy way to help these people," he said, "especially because they are older and it‘s a very easy medication to [administer]."
Boosting B12 naturally
Bottom line here, folks? If you‘ve got a mysterious cough that just won‘t go away (or if you seem to overreact to allergens in your house), ask your doctor for a B12 blood test. Ideally, you should have blood serum levels above 300 pg/mL.
An important warning here for vegans and vegetarians: don‘t necessarily trust your B12 blood tests. You see, some vegetables contain a nutrient that mimics B12 in the body. So it appears as though you have enough B12 in blood tests; but this analog doesn‘t perform the same job as B12. In fact, if you‘re a plant-eater, you can be severely B12 deficient and still look normal in blood tests.
In any case, if blood tests show you‘re a little low, you‘ll definitely want to add some grass-fed meat, wild-caught fish, and free-range eggs to your diet. In most cases, your body should have no trouble at all absorbing B12 from these natural sources.
For readers who have a more serious B12 deficiency, I recommend B12 shots. They‘re not as bad as they sound, I promise! Some people get them once a month and some people as often as two times per week. Your doctor will help you figure out how often you need one. (As always, I recommend finding a natural healthcare practitioner which you can do through associations like the International College of Integrative Medicine at www.icimed.com, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians at www.naturopathic.org, or the American College for the Advancement of Medicine at www.acam.org.)
If you‘re not thrilled about getting regular shots in the arm, you can always try sublingual B12 tablets (you put them under your tongue) or low dose mouth sprays. Unfortunately, B12‘s just not very well absorbed in tablet form. Try this for a few months and see if your levels improve. If they don‘t, B12 shots are your best alternative.
No matter how you get it, B12‘s one magic elixir. When your body gets enough, you‘ll feel more energized and relaxed. And you may just see your mysterious cough disappear! " End of quote.
Now you know (NYK)! Pass it along and be A VOICE FOR CHANGE.
Namaste (I bow to you), Donna
Info taken from an article by Allan Spreen, M.D., NorthStar Nutritionals, as found in an email they published on January 21st, 2010. Visit their website for additional information http://www.northstarnutritionals.com
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