Archive for the ‘diet and nutrition’ Category

Mushroom Extract Shows Promise For LD

http://www.rheaheraldnews.com/online_features/health_and_wellness/article_f766b28f-313c-57f4-81e8-79c29707a6ae.html  North American Precis Syndicate Mar 26, 2018 

Unique Mushroom Extract AHCC® Shows Promise For Lyme Disease

(NAPSI)—Once almost unheard of, Lyme disease is now a household word. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are 20,000 new cases a year, and 10 percent of Americans say they know someone with chronic Lyme disease.

Yet the illness is tricky to diagnose. In the early phases, Lyme disease causes symptoms that can easily be mistaken for a case of the flu. And while some people see a distinctive bull’s-eye−shaped rash, not everyone does, and the rash doesn’t always look the same. As a result, it can take weeks or even months to get a correct diagnosis.

Worse yet, as time elapses, the bacterium that causes the disease becomes much harder to eradicate—making it more difficult to treat it effectively. Fortunately, a new pilot study shows that AHCC, a proprietary medicinal mushroom extract developed in Japan, can help alleviate the symptoms of both early and chronic Lyme disease.

Lyme disease: A hidden time bomb

Spread by black-legged ticks, Lyme disease initially causes symptoms such as rash, headaches, fatigue, fever, muscle aches, and joint pain. Timely treatment with antibiotics can be effective, but if the disease is not caught and treated early, more serious symptoms such as short-term memory loss and heart palpitations can emerge, as the bacterium spreads to the brain and heart.

Although early-detected Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics lasting 14 to 21 days, untreated chronic Lyme disease can continue for weeks, months, or even years after the tick bite. Those who have reached the chronic stage of Lyme disease run the risk of symptoms worsening and becoming long-term—causing emotional and physical stress.

AHCC: a potent immune system modulator

AHCC is an extract of the mycelia (root systems) of medicinal mushrooms and the best-selling immune supplement in Japan. It has been shown to modulate the body’s immune system in more than 20 human clinical studies and is used in more than 1,000 health care facilities around the world.

Rather than being directly anti-bacterial, AHCC increases the numbers and/or activity of several kinds of immune cells such as natural killer cells, T cells, and dendritic cells, as well as cytokines, the chemical messengers of the immune system.

Thanks to this ability to dial up immune response, AHCC has been shown to help prevent or treat a variety of bacterial and viral diseases such as HPV and hepatitis C in humans, and MRSA, influenza, and West Nile in animals. That impressive track record inspired a group of scientists to study how taking AHCC would affect Lyme disease patients.

Lead researcher says study results are “a truly exciting finding”

The study, conducted at The Salerno Center for Complementary Medicine in New York by Dr. John Salerno, enrolled 12 patients with a definitive diagnosis of early or chronic Lyme disease.

The participants took three grams of AHCC per day for eight weeks. At the beginning of the study, after four weeks, and again after eight weeks, Salerno and his associates measured symptoms such as rash, flulike symptoms, lymph node swelling, neck stiffness, and issues with the eyes, joints, and muscles, as well as neurological and cardiovascular symptoms. In addition, they looked for evidence of the bacterium and examined markers of immune activity.

After eight weeks, AHCC had improved the following symptoms: flulike symptoms; eye, joint, and muscle problems; and neurological and cardiovascular issues. Of the three patients who tested positive for IgM antibodies (produced by the body at the beginning of a Lyme disease infection) at the beginning of the study, none still had the antibodies at the conclusion. Of particular note, AHCC also significantly decreased inflammation.

“Inflammation is what makes Lyme disease so debilitating,” Salerno commented. “The fact that AHCC could reduce inflammation and improve Lyme symptoms is a truly exciting finding.”

AHCC may offer protection against Lyme disease infection

It is possible that taking AHCC proactively could prevent Lyme disease infection in the first place. A weak immune system makes the body more vulnerable to any kind of infection, whether from a virus, parasite, or bacterium. The stronger your immune system, the more likely it is to either prevent infection in the first place or clear an established infection more quickly.

In the case of Lyme disease, giving the immune system an assist in the form of more immune cells—and more active immune cells—could mean the difference between the infection being eliminated by the body in the early stages or developing into chronic Lyme disease, with its more serious symptoms. And as the new study demonstrated, even for those with chronic Lyme, AHCC can help mitigate debilitating symptoms through reducing inflammation, offering new hope for those who often feel hopeless.

How AHCC works:  http://ahccresearch.com/how-ahcc-works.html

For more information about AHCC or this study, visit www.ahccresearch.org.

On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)

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Comment:  Inflammation is a killer.  Anything you can do to lower that will help you.  Many things are available including DMSO & MSM:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/03/02/dmso-msm-for-lyme-msids/  These, cheap, effective, and safe substances are available over the counter and help with pain, inflammation, detoxing, chelating, and more.

 

 

 

 

Category:

Activism, diet and nutrition, Inflammation, Lyme, research, Supplements, Treatment

The Agony of MCAS

https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-sci-mcas-agony/

LYME SCI: The Agony of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

Lonnie Marcum, March 2018

In the winter of 2016, my 17-year-old daughter was dying. She had severe allergic reactions every day, was in constant pain, and was losing weight at a rate that was not sustainable to life. She had reached the end of her rope, and I was completely out of ideas on where to turn for help.

Eighteen months earlier, after a long illness and finally completing treatment for Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Bartonella and Lyme disease, she had been doing great. Unfortunately, she soon caught the flu and then everything went south.

Over the next year, one setback after another landed her in the hospital every other month with atrial-fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and/or near-anaphylaxis (acute allergic reactions). Each trip to the doctor took one more piece of hope away from us, since no one could pinpoint the cause of her rapid decline.

Over time, my daughter developed allergies to soaps, perfumes, juices, fruits, vegetables, and lunch meats. Eventually, she was down to only two foods that didn’t make her lips swell, mouth break out in blisters and throat tighten–sauteed chicken and brown rice noodles.

Not knowing what to do, I reached out in desperation to the “LymeParents” Yahoo group. Another mother recognized the symptoms I was describing as mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and connected me with Dr. Lawrence Afrin at University of Minnesota. Dr. Afrin consulted on my daughter’s case, then referred us to Dr. Mark Renneker, a mast cell specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.

Soon, she received a diagnosis of MCAS, and with it a path to healing.

Coincidentally, one month after my daughter’s diagnosis, I attended Dr. T.C. Theoharides’ lecture on mast cell activation at ILADS in Philadelphia. In his words:

Mast cells are the “universal alarm cell” that starts the inflammatory cascade. They can be triggered by infection, allergens, environmental factors like pollution, or even emotional stress. Once that happens, mast cells set into motion a series of inflammatory reactions, including the activation of immune cells and the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), a pro inflammatory protein or cytokine.

If you or a loved one are in a similar situation, here’s what you need to know.

The Diagnosis

MCAS is a clinical diagnosis based upon signs, symptoms and response to treatment. There are a number of tests available to confirm the diagnosis, but negative tests do not rule out MCAS.

(For a complete guide to the diagnosis of MCAS, click here:  https://jhoonline.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-8722-4-10)

Mast Cell Activation Diseases

Mast cells are a normal part of our immune system. They are located in every organ and connective tissue of the body. When mast cells detect stress, injury, toxins or infection, they release specific chemicals which trigger an immune response. Think of them as sentries or guards.

When mast cells perform properly, they are our friends. When mast cells are agitated or over-reactive, the immune system goes haywire and starts to attack the body, triggering auto-inflammatory processes or some types of autoimmune illnesses.

There are two major forms of mast cell activation diseases (MCAD)

  • Mastocytosis—the abnormal accumulation of mast cells in one or more organ systems (cardiovascular, central nervous, digestive, endocrine, genitourinary, lymphatic, muscular, peripheral nervous, respiratory) which is diagnosed by a bone marrow biopsy or a C-Kit genetic mutation.
  • Mast Cell Activation Syndromes—the inappropriate release of mast cell mediators including: histamine, interleukins, prostaglandins, cytokines, chemokines, and heparin.

As far back as 1999, researchers were able to demonstrate how Borrelia burgdorferi induces mast cell activation, contributing to greater illness in Lyme disease.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC96436/

Somehow, I feel this fact has remained under-appreciated until just recently.

(To view my previous blog on symptoms of MCAS, click here: https://www.lymedisease.org/mast-cell-activation-immune-system-goes-haywire/)

PTSD of the Immune System

When I describe my daughter’s condition to non-medical folks, I say it’s like her immune system has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After going a year with multiple untreated infections, her immune system was very depleted, and the combination of antibiotics she needed to fight her infections added additional stress. As she completed antibiotic treatment for her infections, we added supplements to boost her immune system and promote healing. Or so we thought.

Unbeknownst to her doctors and me, one of her prescription medications (ketotifen) contained lactose, which she is intolerant to. In addition, she had developed an allergy to microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), one of the most common fillers in prescription medications, vitamins and supplements. Eliminating these allergens was a major turning point in her healing.

Our Five Steps to Healing

Step 1 Reduce or eliminate mast cell triggers (common triggers)
  • Infection (bacteria, fungi, parasite, virus)
  • Insect bites (spiders, ticks, fleas, mosquitos, bed bugs)
  • Stress (heat, cold, fatigue, emotional stimuli)
  • Foods (dairy, fermented or aged foods, wheat, shell fish, sugar, preservatives)
  • Drugs (alcohol, hormones, antibiotics, anesthetics, opioids, aspirin, NSAIDS, excipients)
  • Dyes (food coloring, radiographic dyes, pigments in makeup)
  • Environmental toxins (pollen, dust, mold, animal dander, heavy metals, pesticides)
  • Noxious odors (perfumes, smoke, exhaust fumes, smog)

Step 2 Assemble the “A TEAM” (sample)

  • Physician knowledgeable about Lyme and other tick-borne diseases (treat infections)
  • Physician knowledgeable about mast cell activation syndrome (lower histamine, stabilize mast cells)
  • Psychotherapist (emotional support)
  • Physical therapist (modalities for pain, lymph drainage, home care instructions)
  • Doctor of Osteopathy (functional medicine, supportive hands-on therapy)

Step 3 Find the right combination of medications/supplements

Many people with mast cell issues will improve by taking antihistamines. Antihistamines are medications that block or inhibit the histamine receptors on mast cells and other cells found throughout the body.

Histamine is a unique chemical produced primarily by mast cells that causes inflammatory reactions and the itching feeling most of us are familiar with. Histamine also signals the immune system, regulates the digestive system, and acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain, spinal cord and uterus.

There are at least five different types of cells that respond to histamine (H1-H5 receptors) found throughout the body, although H1 and H2 appear to be the most common.

Antihistamines are classified by the type of receptor that they inhibit as listed below:

  • H1 blockers—act throughout the body (Allegra, Benadryl, Clarinex, Claritin, Silenor, Vistaril, Xyzal, Zyrtec, etc.) Note: Those that cause drowsiness cross into the brain.
  • H2 blockers—act mostly in the stomach (Pepcid, Prilosec, Tagamet, Zantac, etc.)
  • H3 blockers—act in the brain (Mostly experimental: Ciproxifan, Pitolisant)

Leukotrine inhibitors —act primarily in the airways (Accolate, Singular, Zyflo)

Mast-cell stabilizers—strengthen or stabilize the mast cell to reduce the release of histamine and other inflammatory chemicals (Cromolyn, Ketotifen, Hydroxyurea)

Tricyclic antidepressants—antidepressant that also sedate H1 receptors in the brain (Amitriptyline, Doxepin, Nortriptyline etc.)

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor—inhibits certain types of proteins that control a wide range of functions including cell growth (Imatinib)

Natural antihistamines and mast-cell stabilizers—natural supplements that act to block or clear histamine and stabilize mast cells (alpha lipoic acid, ascorbic acid, B6, diamine oxidase enzymes (DAO), luteolin, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), Omega-3’s, riboflavin, SAMe, quercetin, etc.)

Step 4 Customize Nutrition

Patients with certain genetic defects are more prone to MCAD. Looking into your genetics can help determine your predisposition to MCAD and/or histamine intolerance and help you design a customized nutrition plan.

Genetic defects related to MCAS:
  • KIT-D816V—KIT is a master regulator protein found on and in mast cells. A KIT mutation typically results in the mast cell being constantly activated. About 90% of patients with mastocytosis have a KIT-D816V mutation (there is a PCR test for this mutation).
  • MTHFR—The body makes several enzymes called MTHFR that are critical for the production of folate and many cellular functions. Patients with MTHFR defects may have an inability to clear histamine leading to MCAS and histamine intolerance.
  • HNMT—In the central nervous system, histamine is broken down by histamine methyltransferase (HNMT). Patients with a lot of HNMT defects will have trouble clearing histamine from the brain and nerves. Moodiness, sleep disturbance and frequent rashes or hives can be a sign of this.
  • ABPI—In the digestive tract, histamine is broken down by diamine oxidase enzymes (DAO). Defects in ABPI lead to lower levels of DAO and higher levels of histamine.
  • HLA—Variations in the HLA gene can increase the chances of gluten intolerance.
    VDR—VDR defects may lead to lower levels of Vitamin D, which is critical to immune health.
  • MAT—MAT gene is involved in the conversion of the amino acid methionine into SAMe. SAMe has 100s of critical functions throughout the body. If vitamin B12 makes you feel sick, you may have a lot of MAT defects. Your doctor can order blood work to check methionine and SAMe levels.

Nutrition

Genova Diagnostics, Tree of Life, Nutrahacker and Genetic Genie are the tools we used for my daughter. We also ran a complete vitamin and mineral panel to pinpoint nutrient deficiencies. Then, we designed a custom nutrition plan that was specific to her needs—I’ll describe it in detail in my next post.

Basic diet: Clean, fresh (nothing cured, processed or fermented), organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, dye-free, sugar-free, low-histamine, low-citrus, low-oxalate, low-nightshade.

Step 5 Stick to a Routine

Maintain the same sleep schedule
Maintain the same eating schedule
Maintain the same basic level of activity from day to day

Putting it all together

These steps may seem daunting. But when you are in a crisis like my daughter was, you are willing to go to extremes to get your life back. In my next post, I will share more details about what precisely we did.

Note: I am not a doctor. The information here represents my personal opinions and experiences. It is for informational purposes only—it is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.

LymeSci is written by Lonnie Marcum, a Licensed Physical Therapist and mother of a daughter with Lyme. Follow her on Twitter: @LonnieRhea Email her at: lmarcum@lymedisease.org .

References:

Mast cell activation disease: a concise practical guide for diagnostic workup and therapeutic options.

Full List of Publications and Presentations by Lawrence B. Afrin, M.D.

Borrelia burgdorferi Spirochetes Induce Mast Cell Activation and Cytokine Release

Recent Publications and Presentations by Theoharis C. Theoharides, Ph.D., M.D.

__________

Great, great information here.  Many Lyme/MSIDS patients will improve dramatically when they consider MCAS and take active steps like the ones mentioned here.

Another option not mentioned is LDA/LDI.  My daughter’s Mast Cell issues are nearly resolved after this treatment that helps the immune system recognize “friend from foe.”  Go here for more on LDA/LDI:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/05/30/new-kids-on-the-block-ldaldi/

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/04/17/mast-cell-activation-syndrome-lymemsids/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/03/23/rebecca-keith-on-mcas-parasites-lymemsids/

 

 

 

 

 

Category:

Activism, diet and nutrition, Inflammation, Lyme, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Treatment

Unlocking Gut Dysfunction: Live Webinar With Dr. Rawls

Unlocking Gut Dysfunction: Live Webinar

Join Dr. Bill Rawls during this new LIVE WEBINAR on Tuesday, March 27, 8pm EDT as he shares how he was able to rewrite his own gut health story, why our modern-day diets are not designed to support a healthy gut, and how you can identify and overcome the most common gut disruptors.

Topics covered by Dr. Rawls during the webinar will include:

  • His personal story of gut dysfunction — and how he reclaimed his gut health
  • Why our GI tract is not configured to thrive on a modern diet
  • What you need to know about gut dysfunction — and what you can do about it
  • His holistic approach to digestive health — and how a happy, healthy gut is within your reach
  • Plus, we will announce an exclusive offer for webinar attendees.

Join us, and bring your questions. Dr. Rawls will host a LIVE Q&A on gut health immediately after his presentation.

Reserve Your Seat Now »  https://rawlsmd.com/webinars/unlocking-gut-dysfunction/?utm_campaign=webinar+

We look forward to seeing you there!
– The RawlsMD Team

P.S. If you have questions about the webinar, reply to this email or call us at 800-951-2414.
RawlsMD was created by Dr. Bill Rawls and his team at Vital Plan, a company devoted to enhancing wellness through education, support, and herbal supplements.
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Category:

Activism, diet and nutrition, Gut Health

The Importance of Vitamin D, K, and Magnesium for Lyme/MSIDS Patients

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/03/12/magnesium-vitamin-d-supplementation.aspx?

Without Magnesium, Vitamin D Supplementation May Backfire

  • March 12, 2018 

Story at-a-glance

  • When taking high-dose vitamin D3, it’s important to also take extra vitamin K2 and magnesium to avoid complications associated with excessive calcification
  • Magnesium, the fourth most abundant mineral in your body, is a component necessary for the activation of vitamin D, and without sufficient amounts of it, your body cannot properly utilize the vitamin D you’re taking
  • As many as 50 percent of Americans taking vitamin D supplements may not get significant benefit, as the vitamin D simply gets stored in its inactive form due to magnesium deficiency
  • The only way to determine how much sun exposure is enough and/or how much vitamin D3 you need to take is to measure your vitamin D level, ideally twice a year
  • To assess your magnesium level, check your RBC magnesium level and track signs and symptoms of magnesium insufficiency to determine how much magnesium you need. Low potassium and calcium are also common laboratory signs indicating magnesium deficiency

By Dr. Mercola

I’ve previously written about the importance of taking vitamin K2 when you’re taking high-dose supplemental vitamin D to avoid complications associated with excessive calcification in your arteries. Now, research highlights the vital importance of taking magnesium in combination with vitamin D as well.

Magnesium, the fourth most abundant mineral in your body, is a component necessary for the activation of vitamin D, and without sufficient amounts of it, your body cannot properly utilize the vitamin D you’re taking.1,2,3,4

This may actually help explain why many need rather high doses of vitamin D to optimize their levels — it could be that they simply have insufficient amounts of magnesium in their system to activate the vitamin D. As noted by co-author Mohammed Razzaque, professor of pathology at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania:5

“People are taking vitamin D supplements but don’t realize how it gets metabolized. Without magnesium, vitamin D is not really useful. By consuming an optimal amount of magnesium, one may be able to lower the risks of vitamin D deficiency, and reduce the dependency on vitamin D supplements.”

Without Additional Magnesium, Vitamin D Supplementation May Be Ineffective

According to this scientific review,6 as many as 50 percent of Americans taking vitamin D supplements may not get significant benefit, as the vitamin D simply gets stored in its inactive form. As reported in the press release by the American Osteopathic Association:7

“… [C]onsumption of vitamin D supplements can increase a person’s calcium and phosphate levels even if they remain vitamin D deficient. The problem is people may suffer from vascular calcification if their magnesium levels aren’t high enough to prevent the complication. Patients with optimum magnesium levels require less vitamin D supplementation to achieve sufficient vitamin D levels …

Deficiency in either of these nutrients is reported to be associated with various disorders, including skeletal deformities, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome. While the recommended daily allowance for magnesium is 420 mg for males and 320 mg for females, the standard diet in the United States contains only about 50 percent of that amount. As much as half of the total population is estimated to be consuming a magnesium-deficient diet.”

Higher Magnesium Intake Lowers Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency

Indeed, previous research has indicated that higher magnesium intake helps reduce your risk of vitamin D deficiency — likely by activating more of it. As noted in one 2013 study:8

“Magnesium plays an essential role in the synthesis and metabolism of vitamin D and magnesium supplementation substantially reversed the resistance to vitamin D treatment in patients with magnesium-dependent vitamin-D-resistant rickets … High intake of total, dietary or supplemental magnesium was independently associated with significantly reduced risks of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency respectively.

Intake of magnesium significantly interacted with intake of vitamin D in relation to risk of both vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. Additionally, the inverse association between total magnesium intake and vitamin D insufficiency primarily appeared among populations at high risk of vitamin D insufficiency.

Furthermore, the associations of serum 25(OH)D with mortality, particularly due to cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer, were modified by magnesium intake, and the inverse associations were primarily present among those with magnesium intake above the median. Our preliminary findings indicate it is possible that magnesium intake alone or its interaction with vitamin D intake may contribute to vitamin D status.”

Vitamin D Lowers Mortality Risk Associated With Heart Disease

Vitamin D, a steroid hormone, is vital for the prevention of many diseases, including but not limited to Type 2 diabetes, age-related macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness), Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and well over a dozen different types of cancer (including skin cancer). Vitamin D also exhibits its infection-fighting abilities in the treatment of tuberculosis, pneumonia, colds and flu.

Studies have also linked higher vitamin D levels with lowered mortality from all causes.9,10,11 Most recently, a Norwegian study12 published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found “a normal intake of vitamin D” significantly reduces your risk of death if you have cardiovascular disease.13

About 4,000 patients diagnosed with stable angina pectoris (chest pain caused by coronary heart disease) were followed for 12 years. The average age at the outset of the study was 62. Overall, those with vitamin D blood levels between 16.8 and 40 ng/mL (42 to 100 nmol/L) had the lowest mortality risk.

Evidence Suggests Higher Vitamin D Levels Are Better

Interestingly, these findings are actually at odds with mounting research showing 40 ng/mL is at the low end of optimal. The new target is 60 to 80 ng/mL, but even a level upward of 100 ng/mL appears safe and beneficial for certain conditions, especially cancer. For example:

  • Having a serum vitamin D level of 40 ng/mL has been shown to reduce your risk for cancer by 67 percent, compared to having a level of 20 ng/ml or less; most cancers were found to occur in people with a vitamin D blood level between 10 and 40 ng/mL14,15
  • Research published in 2005 showed women with vitamin D levels above 60 ng/mL had an 83 percent lower risk of breast cancer than those with levels below 20 ng/mL16
  • A 2007 study found women over 55 who raised their average serum level to 38 ng/mL lowered their risk of all invasive cancers, including breast cancer, by 77 percent17

Other recent research18 has also highlighted the importance of vitamin D for the prevention and treatment of heart disease, showing it plays a vital role in protecting and repairing damage to your endothelium. The findings also suggest vitamin D3:

  • Helps trigger production of nitric oxide — a molecule known to play an important signaling role in controlling blood flow and preventing blood clot formation in your blood vessels
  • Significantly reduces oxidative stress in your vascular system, which is important to help prevent the development and/or progression of cardiovascular disease

According to vitamin D researcher Dr. Michael Holick, author of “The Vitamin D Solution: A Three-Step Strategy to Cure Our Most Common Health Problem,” vitamin D deficiency — defined as a level below 20 ng/mL — can raise your risk of heart attack by 50 percent. What’s worse, if you have a heart attack while vitamin D deficient, your risk of dying is nearly guaranteed.

Vitamin D Levels Below 20 ng/mL Are Inadequate for Optimal Health

Vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL have repeatedly been shown to raise your risk for a number of other problems as well, including depression19 and Type 2 diabetes. Research suggests 20 ng/mL is not even adequate for the prevention of osteomalacia (softening of your bones).

In the case of depression, having a vitamin D level below 20 ng/mL will raise your risk by as much as 85 percent, compared to having a level above 30 ng/mL,20 and evidence suggests vitamin D deficiency may be a significant driver of the rise we see in both mood and mental disorders such as psychotic21 and obsessive compulsive22disorders.

As for diabetes, an analysis23 by GrassrootsHealth reveals people with a median vitamin D level of 41 ng/mL have a diabetes rate of 3.7 per 1,000, whereas those with a median serum level of just 22 ng/mL have a diabetes rate of 9.3 per 1,000. In other words, raising your level above 40 ng/mL can lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes by nearly 60 percent.

All in all, there’s very little reason to believe that a level as low as 16 ng/mL would be protective against death if you have heart disease.

Research also shows higher vitamin D levels can help prevent and/or treat:

Dry eye syndromes24,25 and macular degeneration26,27
Autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis
Gastrointestinal diseases28
Infectious diseases, including influenza and HIV29,30
Inflammatory rheumatic diseases31 such as rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoporosis and hip fractures
Neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease32,33 and epilepsy. In one study,34 epileptics given a one-time megadose of vitamin D3, ranging from 40,000 IUs all the way up to 200,000 IUs, followed by a daily dose of 2,000 to 2,600 IUs a day for three months to bring each individual’s vitamin D status to at least 30 ng/mL, resulted in significant improvements.

Ten out of 13 had a decrease in the number of seizures, five of which experienced more than a 50 percent reduction. Overall, the group had a 40 percent reduction in the number of seizures.
Lupus. According to researchers in Cairo,35 most patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have some level of vitamin D deficiency, defined as a level of 10 ng/mL or less, or insufficiency, a level between 10 and 30 ng/mL.
Obstructive sleep apnea. In one study, 98 percent of patients with sleep apnea had vitamin D deficiency, and the more severe the sleep apnea, the more severe the deficiency.36
Falls, fractures, dental health and more. A 2006 review37 looking at vitamin D intakes and health outcomes such as bone mineral density, dental health, risk of falls, fractures and colorectal cancer, found “the most advantageous serum concentrations of 25(OH)D begin at 30 ng/mL, and the best are between 36 to 40 ng/mL.”
Obesity. Research38 has shown vitamin D supplementation (4,000 IUs/day) combined with resistance training helps decrease your waist-to-hip ratio — a measurement that is far better at determining your risk for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease than body mass index.
Neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS).39,40,41 Research shows MS patients with higher levels of vitamin D tend to experience less disabling symptoms.42

Assess Your Vitamin D and Magnesium Levels

The best way to optimize your vitamin D level is through sensible sun exposure. Unfortunately, this can be difficult for many, especially during the winter season and/or if you live in northern regions. If you cannot obtain sufficient amounts of vitamin D through sun exposure, taking a supplement is recommended. Remember that the only way to determine how much sun exposure is enough and/or how much vitamin D3 you need to take is to measure your vitamin D level, ideally twice a year.

The D*Action Project by GrassrootsHealth is a cost-effective way to do this, while simultaneously progressing valuable research. To participate, simply purchase the D*Action Measurement Kit and follow the registration instructions included. To assess your magnesium level, check your RBC magnesium level and track signs and symptoms of magnesium insufficiency to determine how much magnesium you need. Low potassium and calcium are also common laboratory signs indicating magnesium deficiency.

The Interplay of Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin K2

When supplementing, also remember to take synergistic effects with other nutrients into account. If you take high-dose vitamin D, you may also need to increase your intake of:

  • Magnesium
  • Vitamin K2
  • Calcium

These four nutrients — vitamins D and K2, calcium and magnesium — all work in tandem, and rely on sufficient amounts of each to work optimally.Lack of balance between these four nutrients is why calcium supplements have become associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and why some experience symptoms of vitamin D toxicity. Here’s a summary of some of the most important correlations between these nutrients:

•Excessive vitamin D in combination with lack of vitamin K2 may cause overabsorption of calcium, which in turn may result in calcium deposits in your heart and kidneys. Part of the explanation for these adverse side effects is that vitamin K2 keeps calcium in its appropriate place — in your teeth and bones and out of soft tissues and arteries.

While the optimal ratios between vitamin D and vitamin K2 have yet to be established, taking somewhere between 100 to 200 micrograms (mcg) of K2 is beneficial. Telltale signs of vitamin K2 insufficiency include osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes. You’re also more likely to be deficient if you rarely eat vitamin K2-rich foods (see listing below).

•Vascular calcification is also a side effect of low magnesium, so when taking vitamin D3, you need both vitamin K2 and magnesium to make sure everything is working properly.

•Maintaining an appropriate calcium-to-magnesium ratio is also important, as magnesium helps keep calcium in your cells so they can function better. Historically, mankind ate a diet with a calcium-magnesium ratio of 1-to-1,43 which is likely close to ideal.

•Magnesium and vitamin K2 also complement each other, as magnesium helps lower blood pressure, which is an important component of heart disease.

Eat a Varied Diet and Get Sensible Sun Exposure

The take-home message is that anytime you’re taking supplemental magnesium, calcium, vitamin D3 or vitamin K2, you must take all the others into consideration as well. While supplements can be helpful in some instances, your best and safest bet is to simply eat more calcium-, magnesium- and vitamin K2-rich foods, along with sensible sun exposure.

Food-derived nutrition is typically going to be the most beneficial, and this is particularly true for calcium. When you take a biologically foreign form of calcium, or when your body’s ability to direct calcium to the right places becomes impaired (as when you are deficient in vitamin K2 and/or magnesium), calcium is deposited where it shouldn’t be, such as in your arteries. It’s more likely your body can use calcium correctly if it’s plant-derived calcium. Here’s a quick summary of foods known to be high in these important nutrients:

Vitamin K2

Grass fed organic animal products such as eggs and butter, fermented foods such as natto, goose liver pâté and vitamin K2-rich cheeses such as Brie and Gouda

Magnesium

Almonds and cashews, bananas, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, brown rice, free-range pastured egg yolk, flaxseed, grass fed raw milk, mushrooms, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and leafy green vegetables, especially spinach, Swiss chard, turnip greens, beet greens, collard greens, kale, Bok Choy and romaine lettuce

Calcium

Raw milk from grass fed cows (who eat plants), leafy green vegetables, the pith of citrus fruits, carob and wheatgrass

The Role of Vitamin D in Disease Prevention

A growing body of evidence shows that vitamin D plays a crucial role in disease prevention and maintaining optimal health. There are about 30,000 genes in your body, and vitamin D affects nearly 3,000 of them, as well as vitamin D receptors located throughout your body.

According to one large-scale study, optimal Vitamin D levels can slash your risk of cancer by as much as 60 percent. Keeping your levels optimized can help prevent at least 16 different types of cancer, including pancreatic, lung, ovarian, prostate and skin cancers.

How Vitamin D Performance Testing Can Help Optimize Your Health

Is it any wonder then that no matter what disease or condition is investigated, vitamin D appears to play a crucial role? This is why I am so excited about the D*Action Project by GrassrootsHealth. Dr. Robert Heaney is the research director of GrassrootsHealth and is part of the design of the D*action Project as well as analysis of the research findings.

GrassrootsHealth shows how you can take action today on known science with a consensus of experts without waiting for institutional lethargy. It has shown how by combining the science of measurement (of vitamin D levels) with the personal choice of taking action and, the value of education about individual measures that one can truly be in charge of their own health.

In order to spread this health movement to more communities, the project needs your involvement. To participate, simply purchase the D*Action Measurement Kit and follow the registration instructions included. (Please note that 100 percent of the proceeds from the kits go to fund the research project. I do not charge a single dime as a distributor of the test kits.)

As a participant, you agree to test your vitamin D levels twice a year during a five-year study, and share your health status to demonstrate the public health impact of this nutrient. There is a $65 fee every six months for your sponsorship of this research project, which includes a test kit to be used at home, and electronic reports on your ongoing progress. You will get a follow up email every six months reminding you “it’s time for your next test and health survey.”

To order:  https://shop.mercola.com/product/1090/vitamin-d-testing-kit-for-consumer-sponsored-research

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**Comment**

Great article showing how vitamins interact and often depend upon one another, which is why obtaining them naturally through food-choices is always safest; however, as this article points out, vitamin D is obtained by direct sunlight hitting the skin.  We Northerners don’t get enough making supplementation with D almost a necessity.  Please have your levels tested as D is a fat soluble vitamin that can build up in the body and become toxic.

It is my experience that Lyme/MSIDS patients here in Wisconsin are low in Magnesium as well as D and supplementation always helps them.

Interestingly, besides the plethora of things listed above, vitamin D supplementation has been shown to help Autism:  https://www.brainhealth2030.org/single-post/2018/03/10/First-Ever-Randomized-Clinical-Trial-Shows-Vitamin-D-Supplementation-Improves-Autism-Symptoms   The scientists reported significant improvements in autism symptoms and social maturity among the exposed group and no reported gains among the placebo group. Some of the improvements reported among the exposed children included reductions in irritability, hyperactivity, social withdrawal, and inappropriate speech. ATEC scoring among the exposed group was significantly improved notably in the scores relating to sociability, cognitive awareness, and behavior.

Vitamin D has also been found to reduce risk of cancer:  https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-03-vit-d-cancer.html  “These findings support the hypothesis that vitamin D has protective effects against cancers at many sites,” the authors write.

More on Magnesium:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/01/16/magnesium-an-invisible-deficiency/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/09/29/epsom-salts-for-lymemsids/

More on Depression:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/01/18/depression-not-caused-by-chemical-imbalance/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category:

Autism, diet and nutrition, Lyme, Supplements

How Proteolytic Enzymes May Help Lyme/MSIDS

Approx. 15 Min.

Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes–What works, What Doesn’t and Why

Written by: Jon Barron  https://jonbarron.org/article/proteolytic-enzyme-formula

Proteolytic enzyme supplements, or systemic enzymes, work to clean out the blood, optimize blood flow, control inflammation throughout the body, as well as repair and rebuild the cardiovascular system.  Although they may have some cancer protective benefits–and there are indeed cancer therapies based on proteolytic enzymes, not to mention a number of studies that support those therapies–the primary benefits we’re looking for when taking systemic, proteolytic enzymes center around their ability to:

  • Control inflammation throughout the body, not just in your joints.
  • Repair and rebuild the cardiovascular system.
  • Optimize blood flow & cleanses blood of debris
  • Prevent and dissolve blood clots by dissolving fibrin
  • Dissolve plaque in your arteries and dental plaque in your mouth.
  • Clean up your immune system.
  • Minimize the impact of allergies but breaking down and removing circulating immune complexes.
  • Improve the ability to exercise and speed up recovery times.
  • Kill bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
  • Accelerate recovery from sprains, strains, fractures, bruises & surgery
  • Help with arthritis
  • Help with detoxification
  • Improve body alkalinity
  • Help with sinusitis and asthma
  • Help reduce MS symptoms

And all of these benefits stem from one simple ability: proteolytic enzymes facilitate the breakdown of rogue proteins in your bloodstream and in the soft tissues of your body. In this video, we’re going to take a look at exactly what systemic, proteolytic enzymes are, what they do, how they do it, and what the ideal proteolytic formula looks like.

More info: https://jonbarron.org/article/proteol…

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**Comment** 

Great info here.  At 2:26 he discusses how these enzymes break down protein bonds in invading viruses as well as have the ability to digest and destroy the protein based defense shield of each and every pathogen, allergen, and rogue cell, leading to their elimination.

Can you see how this would help Lyme/MSIDS patients?

Not to mention the foreign protein invaders from the food we eat.  Many Lyme/MSIDS patients have food sensitivities and Mast Cell disorders that if not addressed will cause many symptoms that look identical to Tick borne illness (TBI).  This is why some patients do not improve after taking sufficient antimicrobials.  Antimicrobials will not fix this.

At 6:55 he discusses how research has shown systemic enzymes support healthy blood viscosity and blood platelet aggregation.  Since many TBI’s infect the blood cells of our body, this assistance is extremely helpful.  Parasitemia can cause hyper coagulation, and things like blood thinners help some patients just as much as antibiotics.  Speaking of blood thinners, nattokinase’s ability to balance the clotting ability of the blood is as good as Warfarin’s but without the side effects.  Research has shown it reduces blood pressure as well.  It also dissolves amyloid fibrils, which means it very well may help with Alzheimer’s, and most Lyme/MSIDS patients understand the connection there.

At 7:30 he mentions that papain has been shown to be as effective as the pharmaceutical drugs Butadion and Indomethacin as an anti-inflammatory and that it is even used for treating parasitic worms, another common MSIDS issue.

Talk over Systemic Enzymes with your doctor.  It may very well be the thing that helps you turn the corner in your journey.

For more on Systemic Enzymes:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/04/22/systemic-enzymes/

Category:

Alzheimer's, Detoxing, diet and nutrition, Inflammation, Lyme, Parasites, Supplements