Train Your Brain for Better Memory and Cognition
By Michael A. Smith, MD As people hit middle age, they often start to notice that their memory and mental clarity are not what they used to be.
A New Antioxidant Shows Promise for Arthritis
By Michael A. Smith, MD Joint pain is not acceptable. Simply put, people in pain don’t work out and can become inactive. And considering that our bodies are meant to move, this is definitely not a good thing. Staying active is one sure way to improve your quality of life and, for most of us, will ultimately translate into a longer life. New research shows that the antioxidant, ergothioneine , holds promise for relieving joint pain. This means that we could potentially have another weapon in combating arthritis. Ergothioneine is a Joint-Specific Antioxidant The science is not conclusive yet, but it’s promising. Dr. Bruce N. Ames, senior scientist at the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, told the website Nutraingredients-USA that, “Ergothioneine is a very weak antioxidant compared to other … compounds in the cell, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Specificity is the key.” 1 And Dr. Ames is right. Any time you can target a tissue and deliver a nutrient specifically to that tissue, the effects will be greater than using a nutrient that distributes all over the body — even if that nutrient is stronger than the more specific one. And that’s exactly what you have with ergothioneine: A potentially more joint-specific, antioxidant. Some doctors actually think ergothioneine might someday be classified as a new human vitamin. Dr. Dirk Gründemann from the University of Cologne in Germany published a paper in 2009 that highlighted its properties as a vitamin. He wrote that it concentrates in the blood by a specific transporter and then is delivered directly into different tissues, like joints. 2 Ergothioneine Reduces Pain & Improves Motion Twelve people were recruited for the study. 3 The average age was 54 and all of the participants had mild to moderate chronic joint pain. The pain limited their range of motion (ROM). The subjects were given 500 µg of day of ergothioneine with additional nutrients, including white willow bark and glucosamine. They took the “cocktail” for six weeks and then were followed for an additional six weeks. Results showed that all of the subjects experienced improvements in their range of motion after six weeks of treatment. Reports of pain also decreased, compared to baseline pain and ROM. Now it’s true that the subjects took other nutrients during the study and these probably did help. However, the reduction in pain and improvement in ROM were far greater than expected. This implies that ergothioneine is playing a significant role. And, remember, what’s really exciting about it is how targeted it is. It basically appears to “love” joint tissue. Additional Strategies for Improving Joint Function Did you know that by age 70, a vast majority of people will be affected to some degree by arthritis? In the elderly, arthritis of the knee and hip are leading causes of disability. This can negatively affect the activity level of elderly Americans. We really need to keep moving as we get older. The more active we are, the better our lives will be. Here’s just a quick list of things that have been helpful in keeping joints healthy and people moving: Resistance exercises. These exercises apply light weight across the joint, but with even movement and resistance throughout a full range of motion. This is excellent for strengthening joints. Water aerobics. Any exercise done in water takes the pressure off of your joints. So you can improve cardiovascular health without damaging joints or waking up in pain the next day. Omega-3 fatty acids . Try to take between 2,000 and 4,000 mg of omega-3 fats every day. They can ease inflammation within the joint space. By the way, new data reveals that omega-3 fats from whole krill oil are particularly effective for joint health. 4 Korean angelica . Rich in decurcinol, Korean angelica is a fluid-regulating supplement that promotes healthy joints. Please take care of your joints- they’re critical to remaining active throughout your life. Want more info? You may also be interested in our joint health protocol , which highlights additional joint-healthy nutrients. Enjoy! References: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Ergothioneine-may-reduce-pain-and-boost-joint-motion-Study/ Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2005 Apr 5;102(14):5256-61. Prev Med. 2012 Feb 9. [Epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.02.001 Altern Med Rev. 2010 Apr;15(1):84-6.
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A New Antioxidant Shows Promise for Arthritis
How to Stop the Symptoms of Menopause
By Michael A. Smith, MD The symptoms of menopause can include mood swings and night terrors, bouts of depression, sleep problems, loss of libido, weight gain, headaches, forgetfulness — the list goes on and on. And it doesn’t just affect you but the ones around you as well. But here’s the good news. YES, there really is good news! Since the severity of menopause is tied to physical health — primarily the reduction in key hormones like estrogen and testosterone — we’re here to tell you there’s a natural, drug-free way to reduce the grief associated with your symptoms. Vascular Instability Might Cause Hot Flashes Hot flashes are one of the symptoms that might be due to vasomotor instability during menopause. Other possible symptoms reflecting this vascular issue include night sweats, anxiety and heart palpitations. The theory goes like this: Hot flashes occur when shifts in hormone levels affect the circulation in such a way that it no longer has the smooth gentle tone that is required for optimal function of the nervous system and circulatory system. This loss of vascular tone might be associated with changes in your own internal thermostat. So there are two basic approaches to correcting this: Estrogen hormone replacement or estrogen-like therapy. If you choose estrogen replacement, make sure you use only bio-identical estrogen. The non-bio-identical estrogens typically prescribed by doctors are associated with significant side effects. For example, the Women’s Health Initiative completed an ancillary study of the effects of non-bio-identical estrogen on cognition. What they found was that synthetic hormone therapy had a negative effect on cognition in older women. 1 Estrogen-like therapy utilizes plant-based estrogens instead of hormones. Nutrients like soy, fibers called lignans and hops have all been shown to reduce the number of hot flashes. In one particular study, women taking lignans reported a 53% drop in hot flashes. 2 Menopause & Psychological Factors For many women, the worst side effects of untreated menopause are the depression, the mental fatigue, memory loss, insomnia, and so on — all of which can be very debilitating. Supplementing with mood-enhancing nutrients can have a positive effect on women going through menopause. The key is to take supplements that support healthy serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is the “feel good neurotransmitter.” The more of it your brain has, the better you’ll feel. Here’s what we suggest for maintaining healthy serotonin levels: Tryptophan — 500 to 1,000 mg per day, on an empty stomach. This is the precursor to serotonin. Saffron — 85 mg per day. This is thought to act like a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. So by using both, you’ll make more serotonin and you’ll keep it around in your brain for a longer time. This is a powerful combination for fighting against menopause-induced mood changes. Other suggestions include green tea’s theanine, lemon balm, and for severe cases, lithium orotate, but talk to your doctor before taking any new supplement. Menopause Can Cause Urinary Incontinence Low estrogen results in urogenital atrophy — or vaginal thinning. Dryness, bleeding, itchiness and even urinary incontinence usually follow. So ultimately, menopause and vaginal thinning can create the perfect environment for bacterial infections. We suggest supplementing not only with cranberry extract, but also with a hibiscus extract. The natural compounds in hibiscus complement the already well-documented efficacy of cranberry. 3 In women suffering from more than 4 urinary tract infections (UTIs) per year, 200 mg of hibiscus per day reduced the reoccurrence of UTIs significantly. 4 You probably want to avoid cranberry juice, however. The sugar in the juice can actually help unwanted bacteria grow. That’s not good. We firmly believe that menopause is a new phase for women — full of life, productivity and promise. You don’t have to suffer. Give our suggestions a try. By the way, if you have any suggestions for our readers, please share them in the comments below! References: JAMA. 2004; 291(24):2959-2968. Udani J, Hardy M. The effect of HMRlignan on mammalian lignan and estrogen metabolite levels in post-menopausal women: A randomized, double-blind, single dummy, parallel group, pilot study. Nov 6, 2007 Phytomedicine. 2007;14(4):237-41. Available at: http://www.inpharm.cz/files/27/Studie_ucinnosti_extraktu.pdf
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How to Stop the Symptoms of Menopause
Dr Jane Groman
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