Health Resource Website Recommendation - ProHealth

Introducing ProHealth, a wonderful resource for your health needs with amazing products at more amazing prices.  ProHealth was borne out of one man's quest for better health. In 1981 Rich Carson discovered he had a chronic illness. He began to research, experiment and develop relationships with health care practitioners to further his own health, and became determined to offer others the same resources and information. He founded ProHealth in 1988 and remains intimately involved in the research and development of the company's products, and the latest news and research,

Visitors will find a wealth of information at ProHealth, including the latest research and treatment news, exclusive interviews and live chats with leading physicians, information on traditional and alternative treatment methodologies, and solid advice about symptom control. Our library offers thousands of articles on everything from Alzheimer's to Zinc and is continually updated. In addition, you can sign up for Healthwatch, our free monthly e-newsletter, which will bring the latest health news right to your inbox. At ProHealth.com, we're dedicated to helping you reach your optimum health and well-being.

 Research is the key to finding cures for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Fibromyalgia (FM), and other chronic conditions. Thus ProHealth both donates a portion of its profits and raises funds from other sources in order to further such research. Since 1988, ProHealth has raised and donated over $3 million to organizations focused on finding effective treatments, and one day perhaps cures, for these ailments, and to organizations involved in health advocacy.

Find out for yourself.  ProHealth offers more information then most other health sites, especially in the areas of Chronic Fatigue and Fibromialgia, among many others.  

Visit ProHealth Today

CLA Extreme

Conjugated Linoleic Acid - CLA

CLA Extreme contains Conjugated Linoleic Acid, or CLA. Before meats and cheeses were processed as they are today, people's diets used to naturally contain greater quantities of CLA. Now, CLA supplementation is virtually the only way to achieve the same levels of CLA. The effectiveness of CLA Extreme will not diminish over time; there is no need to cycle off the CLA product. CLA Extreme will work best for those who exercise regularly, follow a sensible diet and take the CLA product consistently.  Many people are aware of their need for CLA, and take this supplement in combination with their active healthy lifestyle.

CLA is grat for people wanting to control body fat; People wanting to increase their body’s lean mass (muscle tissue); People wanting an oil that helps to reduce pro-inflammatory body chemicals; Those wanting to prevent undesirable cellular changes through diet. 

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is a derivative of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid. The softgel is formulated with CLA, derived from safflower oil, Green Tea extract (polyphenols), Guarana extract (caffeine), L-Carnitine, and Chromium (III) Picolinate for synergistic effects of reducing body fat and increasing lean muscle mass. 

SYNERGISTS: Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin E, other Antioxidants. 

CLA may reduce insulin resistance, so people on blood sugar medications may not need as much of their drugs. Use with caution to avoid an overdose of your blood sugar medication when using this oil. Please notify your physician about your CLA supplement use if you are using any drugs! 

Get More Info Here

Article Recommendation - Gluten Intolerance

I just read a great informative article about the subject of Gluten Intolerance.  Commonly known as Celiac Disease, the gluten intolerant have created a whole new market.  Moreover, there are further revelations about this whole matter that may surprise you.  Read this great article by Karen Ansel, R.D. from the online magazine, WomensHealthMag.com

Is Gluten Bad For You?

Before you hop on the bandwagon, read this

"More than 2.5 million people may have celiac disease, yet only an estimated 150,000 have been diagnosed. That's because people can be asymptomatic for years, and the symptoms of celiac disease can also overlap with other medical problems, so it often confuses both patients and doctors alike. "

Advanced Form of the Energy-Producing Nutrient CoQ-10

Advanced Form of the Energy-Producing Nutrient CoQ-10

by Karen Lee Richards*
Source: ProHealth.com
 

With nearly 40 years of medical research showing its importance in managing a wide range of serious illnesses, it's not surprising that CoQ-10 has at times been described as "The Miracle Vitamin" and "The New Fountain of Youth." Now a new form of CoQ-10 called ubiquinol makes the benefits of CoQ-10 even more readily available to the body.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ-10) is a vitamin-like nutrient that is present in virtually every cell of the body and is an essential component of each cell's ability to produce energy. It is also a powerful antioxidant - a chemical that "mops up" potentially harmful substances.

In order to understand how CoQ-10 works, it is first necessary to understand the mitochondria. Imagine that each cell in your body is a car. Mitochondria are the engines - or energy producers - in each cell that make your "car" run. It is the job of the mitochondria to supply this energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This is where CoQ-10 comes in. To continue the car analogy, CoQ-10 is the oil that enables the engine to work.

CoQ-10 is the catalyst that makes it possible for the mitochondria to produce ATP, the molecule upon which all cellular functions in the body depend.

Why Ubiquinol Works Better

The CoQ-10 found in most supplements is called ubiquinone. In order to produce cellular energy, the body must convert the ubiquinone to ubiquinol. It is the ubiquinol that carries electrons through the mitochondria and produces energy.

Young healthy people can easily convert CoQ-10 to ubiquinol. But as we age or when we have a chronic illnesses, our ability to convert CoQ-10 to ubiquinol diminishes. This decreased ability becomes apparent around the age of 40, although some scientists suggest that it may begin in the early to mid-20s.

Ubiquinol's superior effectiveness on the degenerative consequences of aging was demonstrated in a 2006 study published in Experimental Gerontology. Age-accelerated mice were divided into three groups. The first group was fed a standard diet with no supplementation. The second group received a standard diet plus the ubiquinone form of CoQ-10. The third group ate a standard diet plus the ubiquinol form of CoQ-10.

After a year, the first group suffered severe, degenerative changes related to aging. The second group, those receiving the ubiquinone, showed noticeable, but less harsh changes. The third group, who received the ubiquinol, remained alert and energetic, exhibiting the characteristics of young, healthy mice.

Overall, the ubiquinol group aged 51% slower than the group receiving no CoQ-10 and 40% slower than the ubiquinone group. (1)

Another peer-reviewed study compared how well humans absorbed ubiquinone and ubiquinol. The results showed that it takes 8 times as much ubiquinone to equal the blood plasma concentrations of ubiquinol. More specifically, 150 mg. of ubiquinol was equal to 1200 mg. of standard CoQ-10.(2)

Additionally, in an unpublished study with aged rats, blood concentrations were sustained longer with ubiquinol. After eight hours, the concentration of ubiquinol CoQ-10 was 3.75 times greater than standard CoQ10.(3)

Obviously, as these studies indicate, it is better to give the body CoQ-10 in the form it can most readily use - ubiquinol. But until recently, ubiquinol has been difficult to stabilize. It is also easily oxidized when exposed to air. Now a novel new patented process has made it possible to produce a stable form of ubiquinol that is protected from oxidation - Ubiquinol CoQ-10.

The Implications of CoQ-10 Deficiency

Because CoQ10 is so essential to the proper functioning of every cell in the body, it's not surprising that researchers have found a deficiency of CoQ-10 may be linked to a number of diverse diseases. A few of the illnesses in which low levels of CoQ-10 may be implicated include:

• Heart Disease
• Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
• Cancer
• Parkinson's Disease
• Alzheimer's
• Migraines

Small amounts of CoQ-10 can be found in foods, primarily meat and fish. The highest amounts are found in organ meats (heart, liver, kidneys) as well as beef, soy oil, sardines, mackerel and peanuts. CoQ-10 is also synthesized in bodily tissues. In healthy individuals, the combination of dietary intake and biosynthesis work to maintain normal CoQ-10 levels.

Why Do So Many People Seem to Be Deficient in CoQ-10?

No one knows for sure. There are likely multiple causes. Perhaps the emphasis in recent years on eating less red meat as well as generally poor eating habits have contributed to reducing our dietary intake of CoQ-10. And a number of other factors, such as environmental toxins, chronic diseases and some prescription medications may contribute to the impairment of the body's ability to synthesize CoQ-10.

For example, research has shown that the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as "statins" (Lipitor, Zocor, etc.) not only lower cholesterol, but also inhibit the biosynthesis of CoQ-10 by as much as 40%.(4) Anyone taking medication to lower cholesterol should seriously consider also taking CoQ-10 supplements.

Other types of medications thought to deplete the body of CoQ10 include beta-blockers, diuretics, tricyclic antidepressants, and diabetes medications such as metformin, tolazamide and glyburide.

CoQ-10 and the Heart

Due to their high energy requirements, the heart and liver contain the most mitochondria per cell and consequently need a very high concentration of CoQ-10 in order to function properly. Because of this, much of CoQ-10 research has concentrated on heart disease. Researcher Peter H. Langsjoen, MD, FACC, reviewed numerous studies and scientific papers related to the management of heart disease with CoQ-10 and found their conclusions to be remarkably consistent: "That treatment with CoQ-10 significantly improved heart muscle function while producing no adverse effects or drug interactions."(5)

Particularly interesting have been the studies showing a strong correlation between very low levels of CoQ-10 and congestive heart failure. The severity of the heart failure also correlated with the severity of the CoQ-10 deficiency.(6) In general, the sooner patients were given CoQ-10 after onset of congestive heart failure, the more dramatic their improvement.

Cardiomyopathy (inflammation/weakening of the heart muscle) is another form of heart disease shown to benefit from CoQ-10 supplementation. In a six-year clinical study, 85 percent of cardiomyopathy patients supplemented with CoQ-10 in addition to their conventional treatments improved by one or two NYHA classes (New York Heart Association's functional classification for the four stages of heart failure).(7)

CoQ-10 also appears to be beneficial in the management of hypertension (high blood pressure). In one study of 109 patients, 51 percent were able to stop taking between one and three antihypertensive medications an average of 4.4 months after starting CoQ-10 supplementation.(8)

The Importance of CoQ10 for ME/CFS Patients

When plasma CoQ-10 was analyzed in 58 ME/CFS patients and 22 normal controls, researchers found that CoQ-10 levels were significantly lower in the ME/CFS patients than in the normal controls.(9) This finding has far greater implications than the obvious lack of energy experienced by people with ME/CFS. Because CoQ-10 is essential to every cell in the body, a severe CoQ-10 deficiency can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, which in turn has a serious negative impact on multiple organs and body systems and can ultimately result in heart failure.

In fact, that is exactly what happens, according to Dr. Sarah Myhill, MD, a UK-based ME/CFS researcher and clinician. In her recent paper, "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Mitochondrial Dysfunction," she makes her case that ME/CFS is actually a symptom of mitochondrial failure.(10) Dr. Myhill recommends that ME/CFS patients have their CoQ-10 levels checked and begin taking CoQ-10 supplements if they are low. She also notes that CoQ-10 will work best in conjunction with acetyl L-carnitine, magnesium, D-ribose and Vitamin B3 (niacinamide).(11)

CoQ-10's Role in Other Illnesses

Because a deficiency of CoQ-10 can potentially affect every cell in the body, more and more research is being done to determine how much of a role it may play in other illnesses. Animal and/or preliminary human studies have been conducted to uncover how CoQ-10 may work in managing a number of diseases including: breast cancer, melanoma, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's, and migraines.(12-16) All have had promising results indicating that CoQ-10 may be helpful in supporting the prevention or treatment of those diseases.

How to Take Ubiquinol CoQ-10

The recommended dosage of Ubiquinol CoQ-10 is one to two 50 mg. softgels per day. Check with your physician before taking more than 100 mg a day.

While standard CoQ-10 needed to be taken with a fatty meal, Ubiquinol CoQ-10 bonds with water, making it easier to absorb and eliminating the need to take it with fatty foods.

(Note: Healthy individuals under the age of 25 can easily convert standard CoQ-10 to ubiquinol, but if you are over 25 or have a chronic illness, ubiquinol is the recommended form of CoQ-10.)

In Summary
Ubiquinol CoQ-10 is vastly superior to standard CoQ-10. It provides the body with the type of CoQ-10 that is more readily available to fuel the mitochondria and produce energy because it doesn't have to expend any energy converting the CoQ-10 to its usable form.

You can purchase Ubiquinol CoQ10 at ProHealth.com

Source: ProHealth.com - "Ubiquinol - A More Advanced Form of the Energy-Producing Nutrient CoQ-10"

___
* Karen Lee Richards is Lead Expert specializing in Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS, for HealthCentral's ChronicPainConnection (www.chronicpainconnection.com). Karen is co-founder of the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) and was Executive Editor of Fibromyalgia AWARE magazine for four years.

References:
1. Yan J, et al. "Reduced coenzyme Q10 supplementation decelerates senescence in SAMP1 mice." Exp Gerontol. 2006 Feb;41(2):130-40.

2. Hosoe K, et al. "Study on safety and bioavailability of ubiquinol (Kaneka QH) after single and 4-week multiple oral administration to healthy volunteers." Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2007 Feb;47(1):19-28. Epub 2006 Aug 21.

3. Kaneka Corporation study. "Treadmill test with the aged rat at age of 61-63 weeks." 2006.

4. Ghirlanda, et al. "Evidence of plasma CoQ10-lowering effect of HMG-COA reductase inhibitors: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study." Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 1993 Mar; 33(3):226-229.

5. Jangsjoen, P.H. (1994). "Introduction to Coenzyme Q10."

6. Folkers K., Vadhanavikit S., Mortensen S.A. "Biochemical rationale and myocardial tissue data on the effective therapy of cardiomyopathy with Coenzyme Q10." Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., U.S.A., 1985; 82(3):901-904.

7. Langsjoen P. H., Langsjoen P. H., Folkers K. "A six-year clinical study of therapy of cardiomyopathy with Coenzyme Q10." Int J Tissue React. 1990; 12(3): 169-171.

8. Langsjoen P. H., Langsjoen P. H., Willis R., Folkers K. "Treatment of essential hypertension with Coenzyme Q10." Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 1994; 15:S265-72.

9. Maes M, et al. "Coenzyme Q10 deficiency in myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is related to fatigue, autonomic and neurocognitive symptoms and is another risk factor explaining the early mortality in ME/CFS due to cardi..." Neuroendocrinology Letters. 2009;30(4).

10. Myhill S., Booth NE, McLaren-Howard J. "Chronic fatigue syndrome and mitochondrial dysfunction." Int J Clin Exp Med. 2009; 2(1): 1-16.

11. Myhill S. (Oct. 2008) "Co-enzyme Q10 in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome."

12. Lockwood K, et al. "Progress on therapy of breast cancer with vitamin Q10 and the regression of metastases." Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1995 Jul 6;212(1):172-7.

13. Rusciani L, et al. "Recombinant interferon alpha-2b and coenzyme Q10 as a postsurgical adjuvant therapy for melanoma: A 3-year trial with recombinant interferon-alpha and 5-year follow-up." Melanoma Res. 2007 Jun;17(3):177-83.

14. Yang L, et al. "Combination therapy with coenzyme Q10 and creatine produces additive neuroprotective effects in models of Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases." J Neurochem. 2009 Jun;109(5):1427-39.

15. Yang X, et al. "Coenzyme Q10 Reduces beta-Amyloid Plaque in an APP/PS1 Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease." J Mol Neurosci. 2009 Oct 16.

16. Sandor PS, et al. "Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized controlled trial." Neurology 2005;64:713-715.
___
Note: This information has not been reviewed by the FDA. It is general and is not meant to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure any illness, condition or disease. It is very important that you make no change in your healthcare plan or health support regimen without researching and discussing it in collaboration with your professional healthcare team.

Women Over 50 Enjoying Sex Study Shows

A new study from the Women’s Health Initiative has found that, contrary to popular belief, older women are generally satisfied with their sex lives -- and if they do have a problem, it’s because they’d like to be having more sex. 

The study, released this month and featured in the Menopause journal, asked 27,347 women aged 50 to 79 a series of questions about how they perceive sexual activity and their own sex lives. Results from the study indicated sexual activity among 50 to 59-, 60 to 69-, and 70 to 79-year-old age groups to be 60.7 percent, 44.9 percent and 28.2 percent, respectively.

Continue reading this article here



natural health products, forums, natural remedies

Gluten Intolerance and Coeliac Disease

Definition from Wikipedia - is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that occurs in genetically predisposed people of all ages from middle infancy onward. Symptoms include chronic diarrhoea, failure to thrive (in children), and fatigue, but these may be absent, and symptoms in other organ systems have been described. A growing portion of diagnoses are being made in asymptomatic persons as a result of increased screening; the condition is thought to affect between 1 in 1,750 and 1 in 105 people in the United States.

Coeliac disease is caused by a reaction to gliadin, a prolamin (gluten protein) found in wheat, and similar proteins found in the crops of the tribe Triticeae (which includes other common grains such as barley and rye). Upon exposure to gliadin, and specifically to three peptides found in prolamins, the enzyme tissue transglutaminase modifies the protein, and the immune system cross-reacts with the small-bowel tissue, causing an inflammatory reaction. That leads to a truncating of the villi lining the small intestine (called villous atrophy). This interferes with the absorption of nutrients, because the intestinal villi are responsible for absorption. The only known effective treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet While the disease is caused by a reaction to wheat proteins, it is not the same as wheat allergy.

Living with Coeliac Disease is a challenge for anyone affected by it.  I know 2 people who have this problem, and one is in my family.  It is always a priority for the individual to be aware of the foods on the table, at the party, wedding reception or restaurant.  These folks have to watch out what they eat each and every day.  Some also take herbs to assist with the symptoms.

Obviously there is no cure for Coeliac Disease, but some herbal combinations and medicines can help manage the symptoms. Here is a product from Progressive Health which has helped some who suffer with Coeliac disease.

Alorex - Comprehensive Formula for Celiac Disease Support. Alorex addresses nutritional and immunilogical needs of people who are gluten intolerant.Alorex effectively reduces gastrointestinal disturbances and promotes nutrient absorption with an influx of digestive-supporting nutrients; all the while promoting a reduction in GI tract inflammation. 

Millions of Americans do not properly digest gluten, which is the offending protein in specific cereal grains. For these people, the consumption of foods containing any form of wheat, rye, barley, or triticale can lead to low levels of certain nutrients and a compromised gastrointestinal tract.

The impact from gluten ingestion is seen within the small intestines. An immunological reaction to gluten causes damage to the villi, or the tiny hair-like projections that absorb nutrients from food.

So people who are gluten intolerant may not be absorbing optimum levels of nutrients, including; proteins, vitamins and minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and sometimes, even water. Poor management of gluten intolerance can lead to more severe conditions. Nutritional supplements help manage the nutritional and immune-related conditions common in people who are glucose intolerant. 

Damage to the small intestines causes celiac disease patients to be at an elevated risk for malnutrition and anemia. The ingredients contained within Alorex help maintain optimal nutrition and help prevent other conditions related to poor nutrient absorption resulting from nutritional inadequacy.

Once products or dietary sources containing grain are ingested, the immune system in gluten intolerant people responds by damaging the small intestine. This results in the formation of scar tissue and subsequent malabsorption of nearly all nutrients needed for growth and development. Again, because the body's immune system causes the damage, celiac disease is considered an autoimmune disorder rather than a food intolerance. 

Learn More About Alorex Here

Incan Laparcho Pao DArco Extract

Incan Lapacho Co. Pau d'Arco extract is made from the inner barks of Plantation Grown Purple Lapacho trees found on or near the ancient Inca Trail. The Incas named it the "Giver of Life" and used it for centuries as their primary medicine.


Species: Tabebuia impetiginosa, Tabebuia Heptaphylla


Pau D' Arco has been useful in:

• Anti-candidal
• Anti-viral
• Anti-bacterial
• Anti-inflammatory
• Fever-reducer
• Anti-arthritic
• Anti-venereal
• Anti-rheumatic
• clearing skin disorders, especially eczema, herpes and the mange.

PAU D'ARCO is a natural grown herb that is derived from the inner bark of the Tabebuia Avellanedae or Tabebuia Impetiginosa (Taheebo) tree grown in South America. Pau d'Arco Tea has been used for many centuries by the Indio tribes of South America. The ancient Incas and Aztecs were probably the first to be familiar with the herbs healing powers. Stories abound telling of its miraculous curing powers.

Yale University botanically classifies it as a Lapacho and while it grows all over South America, the incas found the best variety at the end of legedary Inca Trail in northern Argentina. 


Argentines call it Lapacho Colorado, the "Purple Lapacho" due to its lavender flowers.
Throughout South America the Lapachos, the world's 2nd hardest trees have various common names depending on their country of origin. In Bolivia the locals call them Taheebos, in Brazil the general public calls them Pau d' Arcos. Brazil's Pau d' Arcos were not used by the ancient Incas. They grow over 2000 miles away from the Incan capital in Brazil's central Amazon.


PAU D'ARCO TEA, has shown that it may hold the secret for the successful treatment of various diseases, or support the bodys own healing powers.


The Inca's secret is out. Know what they knew. Drink from the true Pau d' Arco tree, the Incan 


Purple Lapahco.

Directions

Maximum usage: Mix 1 capfull to 1 cup of water and drink 4 cups daily. Moderate usage: 2 cups daily.


Mimimum usage: 1 cup daily.
The barks contained within this package were taken from Purple Lapacho trees growing on or near the acient Inca Trail.


A 100% quality control governing all Inner bark selection is guaranteed. 16% Alcohol.


Learn More Here

Melancholy Lift May Help with Depression

Melancholy Lift is a safe, non-addictive, FDA registered natural remedy containing 100% homeopathic ingredients especially selected to relieve feelings of melancholy, sadness, grief, weepiness and depressed mood. 

Melancholy Lift should be taken at the first signs of melancholy such as sadness, weepiness and feelings of fragility to reduce feelings of grief. It can also be used to improve for somber moods or those with sensitive dispositions, and all without any known side effects. 

Melancholy Lift is taken internally and works quickly to improve emotional balance and stable mood. Presented in small dissolvable tablets, Melancholy Lift is easy to ingest easily with no artificial colors or preservatives. 

All Native Remedies homeopathic products and biochemic tissue salts are manufactured in an FDA and GMP registered pharmaceutical facility under the supervision of qualified homeopaths and responsible pharmacists. Individual ingredients are listed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS).

This is a very interesting and apparently useful product which may be of benefit to many folks who suffer from occasional depression or feelings of sadness.  However, if you or someone you know suffers from clinical depression to a significant degree, consult a physician first.  

More Information on this product 

Ubiquinol Generates Energy Producing Nutrient CoQ-10

Article by Karen Lee Richards*

Source: ProHealth.com

With nearly 40 years of medical research showing its importance in managing a wide range of serious illnesses, it's not surprising that CoQ-10 has at times been described as "The Miracle Vitamin" and "The New Fountain of Youth." Now a new form of CoQ-10 called ubiquinol makes the benefits of CoQ-10 even more readily available to the body.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ-10) is a vitamin-like nutrient that is present in virtually every cell of the body and is an essential component of each cell's ability to produce energy. It is also a powerful antioxidant - a chemical that "mops up" potentially harmful substances.

In order to understand how CoQ-10 works, it is first necessary to understand the mitochondria. Imagine that each cell in your body is a car. Mitochondria are the engines - or energy producers - in each cell that make your "car" run. It is the job of the mitochondria to supply this energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This is where CoQ-10 comes in. To continue the car analogy, CoQ-10 is the oil that enables the engine to work.

CoQ-10 is the catalyst that makes it possible for the mitochondria to produce ATP, the molecule upon which all cellular functions in the body depend.

Why Ubiquinol Works Better

The CoQ-10 found in most supplements is called ubiquinone. In order to produce cellular energy, the body must convert the ubiquinone to ubiquinol. It is the ubiquinol that carries electrons through the mitochondria and produces energy.

Young healthy people can easily convert CoQ-10 to ubiquinol. But as we age or when we have a chronic illnesses, our ability to convert CoQ-10 to ubiquinol diminishes. This decreased ability becomes apparent around the age of 40, although some scientists suggest that it may begin in the early to mid-20s.

Ubiquinol's superior effectiveness on the degenerative consequences of aging was demonstrated in a 2006 study published in Experimental Gerontology. Age-accelerated mice were divided into three groups. The first group was fed a standard diet with no supplementation. The second group received a standard diet plus the ubiquinone form of CoQ-10. The third group ate a standard diet plus the ubiquinol form of CoQ-10.

After a year, the first group suffered severe, degenerative changes related to aging. The second group, those receiving the ubiquinone, showed noticeable, but less harsh changes. The third group, who received the ubiquinol, remained alert and energetic, exhibiting the characteristics of young, healthy mice.

Overall, the ubiquinol group aged 51% slower than the group receiving no CoQ-10 and 40% slower than the ubiquinone group. (1)

Another peer-reviewed study compared how well humans absorbed ubiquinone and ubiquinol. The results showed that it takes 8 times as much ubiquinone to equal the blood plasma concentrations of ubiquinol. More specifically, 150 mg. of ubiquinol was equal to 1200 mg. of standard CoQ-10.(2)

Additionally, in an unpublished study with aged rats, blood concentrations were sustained longer with ubiquinol. After eight hours, the concentration of ubiquinol CoQ-10 was 3.75 times greater than standard CoQ10.(3)

Obviously, as these studies indicate, it is better to give the body CoQ-10 in the form it can most readily use - ubiquinol. But until recently, ubiquinol has been difficult to stabilize. It is also easily oxidized when exposed to air. Now a novel new patented process has made it possible to produce a stable form of ubiquinol that is protected from oxidation - Ubiquinol CoQ-10.
 

The Implications of CoQ-10 Deficiency

Because CoQ10 is so essential to the proper functioning of every cell in the body, it's not surprising that researchers have found a deficiency of CoQ-10 may be linked to a number of diverse diseases. A few of the illnesses in which low levels of CoQ-10 may be implicated include:

• Heart Disease
• Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
• Cancer
• Parkinson's Disease
• Alzheimer's
• Migraines

Small amounts of CoQ-10 can be found in foods, primarily meat and fish. The highest amounts are found in organ meats (heart, liver, kidneys) as well as beef, soy oil, sardines, mackerel and peanuts. CoQ-10 is also synthesized in bodily tissues. In healthy individuals, the combination of dietary intake and biosynthesis work to maintain normal CoQ-10 levels.

Why Do So Many People Seem to Be Deficient in CoQ-10?

No one knows for sure. There are likely multiple causes. Perhaps the emphasis in recent years on eating less red meat as well as generally poor eating habits have contributed to reducing our dietary intake of CoQ-10. And a number of other factors, such as environmental toxins, chronic diseases and some prescription medications may contribute to the impairment of the body's ability to synthesize CoQ-10.

For example, research has shown that the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as "statins" (Lipitor, Zocor, etc.) not only lower cholesterol, but also inhibit the biosynthesis of CoQ-10 by as much as 40%.(4) Anyone taking medication to lower cholesterol should seriously consider also taking CoQ-10 supplements.

Other types of medications thought to deplete the body of CoQ10 include beta-blockers, diuretics, tricyclic antidepressants, and diabetes medications such as metformin, tolazamide and glyburide.

CoQ-10 and the Heart

Due to their high energy requirements, the heart and liver contain the most mitochondria per cell and consequently need a very high concentration of CoQ-10 in order to function properly. Because of this, much of CoQ-10 research has concentrated on heart disease. Researcher Peter H. Langsjoen, MD, FACC, reviewed numerous studies and scientific papers related to the management of heart disease with CoQ-10 and found their conclusions to be remarkably consistent: "That treatment with CoQ-10 significantly improved heart muscle function while producing no adverse effects or drug interactions."(5)

Particularly interesting have been the studies showing a strong correlation between very low levels of CoQ-10 and congestive heart failure. The severity of the heart failure also correlated with the severity of the CoQ-10 deficiency.(6) In general, the sooner patients were given CoQ-10 after onset of congestive heart failure, the more dramatic their improvement.

Cardiomyopathy (inflammation/weakening of the heart muscle) is another form of heart disease shown to benefit from CoQ-10 supplementation. In a six-year clinical study, 85 percent of cardiomyopathy patients supplemented with CoQ-10 in addition to their conventional treatments improved by one or two NYHA classes (New York Heart Association's functional classification for the four stages of heart failure).(7)

CoQ-10 also appears to be beneficial in the management of hypertension (high blood pressure). In one study of 109 patients, 51 percent were able to stop taking between one and three antihypertensive medications an average of 4.4 months after starting CoQ-10 supplementation.(8)

The Importance of CoQ10 for ME/CFS Patients

When plasma CoQ-10 was analyzed in 58 ME/CFS patients and 22 normal controls, researchers found that CoQ-10 levels were significantly lower in the ME/CFS patients than in the normal controls.(9) This finding has far greater implications than the obvious lack of energy experienced by people with ME/CFS. Because CoQ-10 is essential to every cell in the body, a severe CoQ-10 deficiency can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, which in turn has a serious negative impact on multiple organs and body systems and can ultimately result in heart failure.

In fact, that is exactly what happens, according to Dr. Sarah Myhill, MD, a UK-based ME/CFS researcher and clinician. In her recent paper, "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Mitochondrial Dysfunction," she makes her case that ME/CFS is actually a symptom of mitochondrial failure.(10) Dr. Myhill recommends that ME/CFS patients have their CoQ-10 levels checked and begin taking CoQ-10 supplements if they are low. She also notes that CoQ-10 will work best in conjunction with acetyl L-carnitine, magnesium, D-ribose and Vitamin B3 (niacinamide).(11)

CoQ-10's Role in Other Illnesses

Because a deficiency of CoQ-10 can potentially affect every cell in the body, more and more research is being done to determine how much of a role it may play in other illnesses. Animal and/or preliminary human studies have been conducted to uncover how CoQ-10 may work in managing a number of diseases including: breast cancer, melanoma, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's, and migraines.(12-16) All have had promising results indicating that CoQ-10 may be helpful in supporting the prevention or treatment of those diseases.

How to Take Ubiquinol CoQ-10

The recommended dosage of Ubiquinol CoQ-10 is one to two 50 mg. softgels per day. Check with your physician before taking more than 100 mg a day.

While standard CoQ-10 needed to be taken with a fatty meal, Ubiquinol CoQ-10 bonds with water, making it easier to absorb and eliminating the need to take it with fatty foods.

(Note: Healthy individuals under the age of 25 can easily convert standard CoQ-10 to ubiquinol, but if you are over 25 or have a chronic illness, ubiquinol is the recommended form of CoQ-10.)

In Summary

Ubiquinol CoQ-10 is vastly superior to standard CoQ-10. It provides the body with the type of CoQ-10 that is more readily available to fuel the mitochondria and produce energy because it doesn't have to expend any energy converting the CoQ-10 to its usable form.

You can purchase Ubiquinol CoQ10 at ProHealth.com

Source: ProHealth.com - "Ubiquinol - A More Advanced Form of the Energy-Producing Nutrient CoQ-10"

* Karen Lee Richards is Lead Expert specializing in Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS, for HealthCentral's ChronicPainConnection (www.chronicpainconnection.com). Karen is co-founder of the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) and was Executive Editor of Fibromyalgia AWARE magazine for four years.

References:

1. Yan J, et al. "Reduced coenzyme Q10 supplementation decelerates senescence in SAMP1 mice." Exp Gerontol. 2006 Feb;41(2):130-40.

2. Hosoe K, et al. "Study on safety and bioavailability of ubiquinol (Kaneka QH) after single and 4-week multiple oral administration to healthy volunteers." Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2007 Feb;47(1):19-28. Epub 2006 Aug 21.

3. Kaneka Corporation study. "Treadmill test with the aged rat at age of 61-63 weeks." 2006.

4. Ghirlanda, et al. "Evidence of plasma CoQ10-lowering effect of HMG-COA reductase inhibitors: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study." Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 1993 Mar; 33(3):226-229.

5. Jangsjoen, P.H. (1994). "Introduction to Coenzyme Q10."

6. Folkers K., Vadhanavikit S., Mortensen S.A. "Biochemical rationale and myocardial tissue data on the effective therapy of cardiomyopathy with Coenzyme Q10." Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., U.S.A., 1985; 82(3):901-904.

7. Langsjoen P. H., Langsjoen P. H., Folkers K. "A six-year clinical study of therapy of cardiomyopathy with Coenzyme Q10." Int J Tissue React. 1990; 12(3): 169-171.

8. Langsjoen P. H., Langsjoen P. H., Willis R., Folkers K. "Treatment of essential hypertension with Coenzyme Q10." Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 1994; 15:S265-72.

9. Maes M, et al. "Coenzyme Q10 deficiency in myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is related to fatigue, autonomic and neurocognitive symptoms and is another risk factor explaining the early mortality in ME/CFS due to cardi..." Neuroendocrinology Letters. 2009;30(4).

10. Myhill S., Booth NE, McLaren-Howard J. "Chronic fatigue syndrome and mitochondrial dysfunction." Int J Clin Exp Med. 2009; 2(1): 1-16.

11. Myhill S. (Oct. 2008) "Co-enzyme Q10 in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome."

12. Lockwood K, et al. "Progress on therapy of breast cancer with vitamin Q10 and the regression of metastases." Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1995 Jul 6;212(1):172-7.

13. Rusciani L, et al. "Recombinant interferon alpha-2b and coenzyme Q10 as a postsurgical adjuvant therapy for melanoma: A 3-year trial with recombinant interferon-alpha and 5-year follow-up." Melanoma Res. 2007 Jun;17(3):177-83.

14. Yang L, et al. "Combination therapy with coenzyme Q10 and creatine produces additive neuroprotective effects in models of Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases." J Neurochem. 2009 Jun;109(5):1427-39.

15. Yang X, et al. "Coenzyme Q10 Reduces beta-Amyloid Plaque in an APP/PS1 Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease." J Mol Neurosci. 2009 Oct 16.

16. Sandor PS, et al. "Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized controlled trial." Neurology 2005;64:713-715.

Note: This information has not been reviewed by the FDA. It is general and is not meant to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure any illness, condition or disease. It is very important that you make no change in your healthcare plan or health support regimen without researching and discussing it in collaboration with your professional healthcare team.

Digestive Science Acid Reflux Formula to Help Reduce Heartburn

It all starts with this Acid Control Formula, which aims to provide you with ongoing *natural* protection from the burning pain associated with your acid reflux without interfering with the production and functioning of your digestive enzymes.


It's made with a dual action formulation that helps to:

1. Coat and protect the esophagus from the hydrochloric acid that has been escaping your stomach to create that painful, burning sensation in your chest.

2. Reduce the overproduction of hydrochloric acid in your stomach.

The Acid Control Formula works quickly to curb your dependence on harmful antacids (which only serve to throw your digestive enzymes even further off balance and further increase your hydrochloric acid production)...
... While providing you with some much needed pain relief -- so you'll have the time and patience you need to deal with the REAL cause of your overproduction of hydrochloric acid: imbalances in your production of digestive enzymes.



There seems to be some confusion regarding what acid reflux actually is, mainly because there are a number of related terms that are used interchangeably -- like heartburn, indigestion, and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) -- even though they don't mean the same thing.
So to help you better understand what you may be experiencing, here's an explanation of the most common terms:

• Acid Reflux -- Acid reflux occurs when hydrochloric acid from the stomach --instrumental in digesting food -- leaks into the esophagus. This happens either because the valve that separates the stomach and esophagus isn't closing fully, or because the acids in your body are out of balance. The result of this acid in your esophagus is the familiar burning pain in your chest and bitter taste in your mouth.
• Heartburn -- Heartburn is simply a symptom of acid reflux, rather than an actual condition of its own. It's the word used to describe the sensation you feel when stomach acid escapes up into your esophagus.
• Acid Indigestion -- This is just another name for heartburn.
• GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) -- While the occasional bout of acid reflux is common, particularly after eating certain types of food, if you experience acid reflux more than twice each week, you may have a more chronic form of acid reflux, GERD. If left untreated, GERD can cause some fairly severe medical issues, including esophageal cancer.

The Common Symptoms of Acid Reflux

The symptoms of acid reflux occur most often after eating a heavy meal, laying down on your back, exercising or lifting heavy objects, or bending over, and include:

Heartburn

Despite its name, heartburn has nothing to do with your heart. It refers to the burning pain you typically experience in your chest -- or even your abdomen or throat -- during a bout of acid reflux. As mentioned previously, heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux, not a condition in itself.

Regurgitation

A second symptom typical of acid reflux is regurgitation. This is when the acid actually backs up into your throat or mouth. This in turn creates a sour or bitter taste in your mouth, and can even lead to vomiting.

Stomach Discomfort (Dyspepsia)

Many people who have acid reflux suffer with a range of symptoms that are included under the term dyspepsia, which refers to a general stomach discomfort. These symptoms include:

• burping
• stomach fullness or bloating
• nausea after eating
• upper abdominal pain and discomfort

Other General Symptoms

Not all symptoms of acid reflux are directly related to stomach discomfort. You may have other symptoms that you don't even recognize as being caused by acid reflux, including:

• asthma-like symptoms, such as wheezing or dry cough
• hoarseness, especially in the morning
• chronic sore throat
• extended bouts of hiccups
• nausea

If you experience any of the above symptoms for longer than two weeks, be sure to contact your doctor, who can evaluate your condition and recommend the appropriate course of action.

More Severe Symptoms

While many of the symptoms of acid reflux are easy to overlook, some symptoms are far more severe. These include:

• weight loss
• vomit that contains blood
• black, tarry, or maroon-colored stools
• difficulty or pain with swallowing

If you experience any of these more severe symptoms, be sure to contact your doctor immediately for a complete medical evaluation.

Learn More Here

Menopause Support TheraVedas Anita Supplement

TheraVedas Anita Menopause Support formula was developed to support a woman’s body as her active reproductive period declines and she enters a peri-menopausal and menopausal phase. This transition is a cause and effect of imbalance in hormonal, physiological, structural and emotional changes.

Anita, in the Indian language, means Grace. The pomegranate was once called the fruit of God. Women going through menopause may find the pomegranate to be heaven-sent because its seeds contain the estrogens (estrodiol, estrone, and estriol) the ovaries no longer produce. Pomegranate seed is one of the richest sources of the female hormone estrone. Animal-based estrones are often used to treat symptoms of the natural changes in menopause, but many women are reluctant to use them. Pomegranate estrone mimics the positive affects of estrogens and may reduce the negative health symptoms associated with menopause.

Licorice provides necessary isoflavonoids and helps the body conserve stimulant hormones. Ashwaganda supports circulation and emotional balance, while tribulus may help the woman’s brain respond to the minute traces of testosterone needed to maintain sexual desire. Anita’s unique blend of high potency-assured extracts may help to balance the physical and emotional well-being of mature women.

Buy Now | Learn More Here

Vitamin K-2 - A Key Player in Cardiovascular and Bone Health

by Karen Lee Richards*

Source: ProHealth.com

Vitamin K-2 has been tucked away in the shadows of the vitamin world for too long. Its significance to cardiovascular and bone health and its apparent link to the prevention of many other diseases make it too important to ignore.

Vitamin K - the least familiar of the alphabet vitamins - is a key player in cardiovascular and bone health. Originally scientists thought its only purpose was to promote proper blood clotting, but we're now learning that vitamin K plays a number of other important roles in the body.

The first clue to the existence of vitamin K came in 1929 when Danish scientist Henrik Dam set out to study the role of cholesterol. Several weeks after he began feeding chickens a cholesterol-depleted diet, they developed hemorrhages. When he could not stop the bleeding by adding purified cholesterol to their diet, he realized that along with the cholesterol, a second compound must have been removed from their diet.

Because of its effect on the blood's ability to clot, the newly discovered compound was dubbed the coagulation vitamin. Since the finding was reported in a German journal, the German spelling of “Koagulation” was used, which later led to the shortened version - vitamin K.

Building upon Dam's discovery, American biochemist Edward A. Doisy uncovered the structure and chemical nature of vitamin K. Their combined efforts were rewarded in 1943 when Dam and Doisy received the Nobel Prize for medicine for their work on vitamin K.

There are two naturally occurring forms of vitamin K: phylloquinone (vitamin K-1) and menaquinones (25-hydroxyvitamin Ditamin K-2).

• K-1 is found in dark green, leafy vegetables like spinach, broccoli, kale and Swiss chard.
• K-2 can be found in meat, egg yolks, and fermented foods like cheese and natto (Japanese fermented soy beans). K-2 is also synthesized naturally in the gut by microflora ('good' bacteria) fermentation.

Vitamin K2's Role in Cardiovascular Health

Research has shown that K-2 is the vitamin K form most beneficial for cardiovascular health.

A paper published in 2004 reported on The Rotterdam Study, which involved 4,800 people over a 10-year period. The researchers found that the increased intake of Vitamin K-2 reduced the risk of coronary heart disease mortality by 50%. Vitamin K-1 had no effect at all.(1)

Most heart attacks and strokes are caused when plaque builds up on the inner walls of the arteries. Eventually a section of plaque can break open, forming a clot which then travels to the heart resulting in a heart attack, or to the brain resulting in a stroke.

Standard treatment for patients at risk of a heart attack or stroke is usually aimed at thinning the blood so clots cannot form. Patients are instructed to take an aspirin every day or they are prescribed blood thinners like Coumadin or Plavix. The problem with those treatments is that, if the patient is injured, it may be difficult to stop the bleeding because the medications interfere with the blood's ability to clot.

Vitamin K-2 on the other hand, seems to be the body's natural mechanism for regulating the clotting factor.

Dutch Professor Cees Vermeer found that vitamin K inhibited clotting when blood vessels were intact - yet promoted clotting when the blood vessels were broken. Which is exactly how the body should work.(2)

Arterial calcification is a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. In the past, it was thought that this calcification was irreversible and signaled the end stages of cardiovascular disease. However, a 2007 study using rats found that diets rich in vitamin K actually reduced the arterial calcification by approximately 50%.(3)

Promoting Bone Health - Preventing Osteoporosis

Japanese women tend to have far fewer osteoporosis fractures than Western women. It is thought that their consumption of the popular Japanese food natto, which is high in Vitamin K-2, may have a lot to do with it.

A 1995 study in Japan compared vitamin K levels in the blood of 24 women who had osteoporotic fractures and 36 elderly women who had no fractures. While vitamin K-1 levels were virtually identical in both groups, Vitamin K-2 levels were twice as high in the group with no fractures compared to the group with fractures.(4)

Additionally, two very large studies also link vitamin K levels to the risk of osteoporotic fractures:

• In the Nurses' Health Study, researchers followed more than 72,000 women for 10 years. The women whose vitamin K intake was in the lowest fifth of the group had a 30% higher risk of hip fracture.(5)
• In the Framingham Heart Study, more than 800 elderly men and women were followed for seven years. Those whose vitamin K intake was in the top quarter of the group had a 65% lower risk of hip fracture.(6)

Other studies have demonstrated Vitamin K-2's ability to protect osteoblasts (the cells that build new bones) from self-destructing, while inhibiting the formation of osteoclasts (the cells that destroy bones).(6-7)

As we age, bone destruction tends to overwhelm bone building, but Vitamin K-2 can help slow down and even reverse that process.

Additional Benefits of Vitamin K-2

Diabetes - A 2010 Netherlands study followed more than 38,000 people for a decade and found that higher intake of vitamin K was associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Both vitamins K-1 and K-2 resulted in lower risk, but there was a stronger connection to the K-2. For each 10 mcg of Vitamin K-2 that was regularly consumed, there was a 7% reduction in risk.(8)

Cancer - German researchers studied more than 24,000 participants for 10 to 14 years. They found that those with the highest intake of Vitamin K-2 had a 62% reduction in the risk of lung cancer and a 35% reduction in the risk of prostate cancer. They also found that those with the highest intake of Vitamin K-2 who did get cancer experienced a 28% lower risk of dying from it.(9)

In another recent study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, researchers reported that the risk of developing Non-Hodgkin lymphoma was approximately 45% lower for participants whose vitamin K intakes were in the top 25% of the group.(10)

Need-to-Know Facts About Vitamin K-2

• Vitamin K is fat soluble and should be taken with a meal containing fat.
• There is no known toxicity even with high doses of vitamin K. An allergic reaction is possible, but rare.
• Possible food and drug interactions:
  
  • Antibiotics. The use of antibiotics can reduce the body's ability to absorb vitamin K by affecting helpful bacteria. Long-term use may lead to a vitamin K deficiency.
  • Anticonvulsants. Anticonvulsants such as Dilantin, Lyrica, Neurontin and Topamax can interfere with the body's ability to use vitamin K.
  • Blood thinners. Vitamin K reduces the effectiveness of blood thinning medications and should not be taken if you are on a medication like Coumadin (warfarin) or Plavix.
  • Xenical, Alli or Olestra - The weight-loss medications Xenical and Alli and the food additive Olestra all prevent the absorption of fat, which also reduces the body's absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin K.
  • Bile acid sequestrants - Medications like Questran, Colestid and Welchol, used to reduce cholesterol, also reduce the absorption of fat and fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin K.

Final Thoughts...

Vitamin K-2 has been tucked away in the shadows of the vitamin world for too long. Its significance to cardiovascular and bone health and its apparent link to the prevention of many other diseases make it too important to ignore.

You can purchase Vitamin K-2 at ProHealth.com

Source: ProHealth.com - "Vitamin K-2 - A Key Player in Cardiovascular and Bone Health"

References:

1. Geleijnse JM, et al. Dietary intake of menaquinone is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: The Rotterdam Study. J. Nutr. 134:3100-3105, November 2004

2. Myhill S. Vitamin K - necessary for normal bone formation and prevention of osteoporosis. Doctor Myhill.co.uk. January 22, 2010.

3. Schurgers LJ, et al. Regression of warfarin-induced medial elastocalcinosis by high intake of vitamin K in rats. Blood. Vol. 109, No. 7: 2823-2831. 1 April 2007.

4. Kaneki M, et al. [Serum concentration of vitamin K in elderly women with involutional osteoporosis]. Nippon Ronen Igakki Zasshi. 1995;32:195-200.

5. Feskanich D, Weber P, Willett WC, Rockett H, Booth SL, Colditz GA. Vitamin K intake and hip fractures in women: a prospective study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;69(1):74-79

6. Booth SL, Tucker KL, Chen H, et al. Dietary vitamin K intakes are associated with hip fracture but not with bone mineral density in elderly men and women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71(5):1201-1208.

7. Kawata T, et al. Mechanism in inhibitory effects of vitamin K2 on osteoclastic bone resorption: In vivo study in osteoporotic (op/op) mice. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. 1999; 45:501-07.

8. Beulens JWJ, et al. Dietary phylloquinone and menaquinones intake and risk of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. April 27, 2010

9. Nimptsch K, et al. Dietary vitamin K intake in relation to cancer incidence and mortality: Results from the Heidelberg cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Heidelberg). Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 May;91(5):1348-58.

10. Vitamin K may protect against developing non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, say Mayo Clinic researchers. ProHealth. April 21, 2010.

* Karen Lee Richards is Lead Expert specializing in Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS, for HealthCentral's ChronicPainConnection (www.chronicpainconnection.com). Karen is co-founder of the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) and was Executive Editor of Fibromyalgia AWARE magazine for four years.

*******

Note: This information has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is general and is not intended to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure any illness, condition, or disease. It is very important that you make no change in your healthcare plan or health support regimen without researching and discussing it in collaboration with your professional healthcare team.