Thought this might be a good way to keep ourselves updated with potentially valuble health information.

Here's one regarding the use of Hawthorn berry in the treatment of congestive heart failure:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...t&list_uids=12833999

And here's a good example of the kind of popular press alternative-complimentary research still tends to get. Notice the lumping of all "antioxidants" into the categories of Vitamins A,C and E. The article is somewhat tempered, as with the mention of Selenium, but its bias is clear. And what is said of food sources of antioxidants conveniently leaves out the wealth of information on herb-based antioxidants. This occured recently in a similar report over antioxidants and cardiac disease, where only Vitamins A, C and E were considered, but no mention of Hawthorn berry, or the amino acid Taurine, which have compelling support.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,134188,00.html

http://www.oralchelation.com/ingred/chromium.htm

Read the whole article to find important distinctions between toxic and non-toxic forms of supplemental chromium, and check your multivitamin for comparison.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...t&list_uids=15628911

____________________________________________--

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2005 Jan;129(1):74-7. Related Articles, Links


Measurement of organochlorines in commercial over-the-counter fish oil preparations: implications for dietary and therapeutic recommendations for omega-3 fatty acids and a review of the literature.

Melanson SF, Lewandrowski EL, Flood JG, Lewandrowski KB.

Clinical Laboratories Division, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

CONTEXT: The consumption of fish high in omega-3 fatty acids is advocated by the American Heart Association to decrease the risk of coronary artery disease. However, fish contain environmental toxins such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides, which may negate the beneficial cardiovascular effects of fish meals. Toxin levels vary depending on both the fish source and the specific toxin, and neither farm-raised nor wild fish are toxin free. Fish oil supplements also prevent the progression of coronary artery disease and reduce cardiovascular mortality. However, only sparse data exist on the level of toxins in fish oil. In a previous study we showed that the amount of mercury in 5 over-the-counter brands of fish oil was negligible. OBJECTIVE: To determine the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls and other organochlorines in 5 over-the-counter preparations of fish oil. DESIGN: The contents of 5 commercial fish oil brands were sent for organochlorine analysis. RESULTS: The levels of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorines were all below the detectable limit. CONCLUSIONS: Fish oil supplements are more healthful than the consumption of fish high in organochlorines. Fish oils provide the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids without the risk of toxicity. In addition, fish oil supplements have been helpful in a variety of diseases, including bipolar disorder and depression.

PMID: 15628911 [PubMed - in process]

BTW . . . this study apparently didn't measure levels of peroxidation. The brands I know of which claim to control for peroxidation, as well as environmental toxins, and use third party testing for it, are "Eskimo 3," and "Nordic Naturals." Fish oil, being a long chain fatty acid, is vulnerable to peroxidation. Turmeric is an additional means of protecting against lipid peroxidation, and is apparently only contraindicated where gallstones or ulcers, or bilary duct obstruction exists, or a history of same.

A Pub Med search is a good way of verifying safety issues.

Precautions re: antioxidant supplementation.

The article below focuses mainly upon Vitamins C, E, Beta Carotene and Selenium, but there are comments suggesting that too much antioxidant loading can interfere with the actual benefit of free radicals. The physician who runs the website favors obtaining antioxidant values from food wherever possible, which is very sensible, but encourages the use of Turmeric, for instance, since such small amounts are required.

Selenium is still viewed in the research as exceptionally important, but is recommended only in small amounts, such as 200 mcg. daily, and can be toxic at higher dosages. Vit. C at high doses is considered dangerous, promoting damage to DNA (I'll look for research articles to validate this). Vit. E still seems to slow progression to Alzheimers. But obtaining antioxidant values from herbs known to be safe, and from fruit and vegetables (through juicing) has the best supporting evidence, since the molecules are smaller than C and E, tend to pass the blood-brain barrier, and are better promoters of the naturally occuring intercellular antioxidants glutathione, catylase, and superoxide dismutase.


http://www.mercola.com/2001/aug/22/antioxidants.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...t&list_uids=15646026


This study highlights the difference between enzyme-based and non-enzymed-based antioxidants. Vits C and E belong to the latter, and don't promote glutathione, catylase, and superoxide dismutase as much as the former, which are found in fruits and vegetables and herbs/spices.

Re: high dose Vit. C, the evidence seems uncertain. Some studies show benefits of high dose Vit. C, but it seems sensible, and perhaps safer, to use enzyme-based antioxidants in low doses to accomplish many of the same benefits.

Why high doses of Vitamin C are important.

Human beings are one of only two mammals that don't produce their own C and so need to get it from foods. This is due to a genetic defect in the human race. The above URL explains this fairly clearly and even provides a chart to indicate appropriate anti-oxidant levels.

I've been taking 4-6 grams of C for years with no ill-effects; in fact, I seem to have very few colds and other illnesses.

The Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning, where I worked as webmaster for 4 years, recommends high, anti-oxidant doses. In fact, they even do intravenous C drips with their patients, especially those with cancers.

Right, though, there are dissenting opinions around. The logic behind high doses of C makes sense to me, however.

What I gather so far from the research is that enzyme-based antioxidants are more effective, and at lower doses. This doesn't negate the need and benefits of Vitamins A, C, and E, but traditionally, if you consider Oriental Medicine, polyphenols are provided in a mixture of multiple herbs and spices that activate more antioxidant pathways than the single vitamins, and are fat and water soluble. Herb-sourced antioxidants are also more effective in controlling lipid peroxidation, one of the primary causal factors of inflammation.

Here is link to a company providing Ayurvedic herbal preperations with care to quality control:

http://www.banyanbotanicals.com/

A few herbs have received full approval re: safety and effectiveness by the mainstream medical establishment, with various contraindications noted. One worth considering as a primary source of antioxidant activity, especially where heart weakness is known to exist, is Hawthorn berry, leaf and flower extract:

http://www.herbalgram.org/iher...ommissione/he045.asp

http://floraleads.com/hawthorn.htm

Research on elderberry extract for various strains of flu:


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...t&list_uids=15080016

Elderberry extract is great! There's a winery just outside of Wichita that sells elderberry wine and the extract as well. We have a bottle and I take it when I start feeling run-down.

I also have been taking an herbal echinacea-goldenseal-elderberry combo during this flu season. So far, so good . . . (and I also had the shot ).

and I also had the shot

That's cheating.

My general strategy is to drink lots of orange juice and, most importantly, being conscious of not rubbing my eyes or picking my nose. In case I just can't resist the urge (and sometimes I can't), I'm sure to wash my hands after shaking them with someone else or having gone out and about.

Take care that the flu shots you get don't have mercury in them, a common preservative banned almost everywhere but the U.S.

Meditation and heart disease:


http://my.webmd.com/content/article/100/105916.htm

Here are some links showing promise in the treatment of stroke with electro-acupuncture:

http://www.strokecenter.org/tr...=ints/intPage168.htm


http://www.strokedoctor.com/acupun3.htm

Parkinson's linked to consumption of milk:

http://www.mercola.com/2005/apr/20/parkinsons.htm

Got Parkinson's?
- new slogan in consideration for the American Dairy Association

Preliminary evidence showing possible benefit of green tea in prevention of female breast cancer:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...t&list_uids=15802301

Ingredient in cranberry found to be more effective for urinary tract infection:


http://www.mercola.com/forms/dmannose.htm

Research showing the benefit of fish oil for the treatment of learning disabilities in both children and adults:


http://www.mercola.com/2005/ma...ish_oil_learning.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...t&list_uids=15134138

Benefits of hawthorn berry, leaf and flower:

http://www.mothernature.com/Li...helf/Books/23/42.cfm

Benefits of Taurine and Carnitine, which naturopathic doctors often combine with Hawthorn to strengthen various heart functions:

http://www.vitamintrader.com/a.../1997_06_TauCar.html

One of India's most revered herbs shows promise in western research for a variety of neurological, immune, and cardiac functions:


http://healthyherbs.about.com/...es%2Fashwagandha.htm

http://healthyherbs.about.com/...m%2Fashwagandha.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en...=15711595&query_hl=1

Here's the skinny on the Vitamin E study reported recently by the media in quite negative terms:

http://www.drweil.com/u/QA/QA352339/