My guest this Saturday on Healthy by Nature is Bill Sardi . He'll teach us about a substance considered equal to calorie-restriction for its anti-aging benefits. It also powerfully protects our brains, hearts and cardiovascular systems. As if we needed more, scientists also seem to agree it is anti-cancer. Please don't miss this important show. (It will also be in the archives.)
NEWS
The synthetic sweetener, Aspartame, has been given a warm and fuzzy new marketing name, “AminoSweet.” But don't be fooled, it's the same ingredient that I discuss in my article on artificial sweeteners . It's what makes up “Nutrasweet ® ” and “Equal ® ”. (You probably guessed that I'm not a fan.)
RECENT RESEARCH:
Each of us has a unique assortment of bacterial colonies on our hands. Research, published mid-March in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, said that crime fighters might be able to use as a “fingerprint”, the DNA of the bacteria we leave behind. It seems that we have roughly 150 species or families of bacteria on our hands and any 2 people only have about a 13% overlap. Within a few hours of hand washing the very same colonies come back!
My 2 cents: This is a pretty cool discovery, but I included it here because it is like the unique blend of critters in our digestive tracts. We have hundreds of strains (i.e. families) of bacteria and each has a different role in protecting our health (e.g. making several vitamins, detoxifying, etc.). So, that's why I say over and over that it isn't enough to just supplement a few strains of probiotics (friendly bacteria). Yogurt usually contains only one or two strains plus it has sugar that feeds the bad guys. Even supplement pills that have 8 or more strains still just scratch the surface. I recommend products that feed your own unique strains and improve the gut environment so that all the good guys thrive. Read more .
A new reason to eat cheese: In a German study of over 24,000 adults followed for over 10 years, it was learned that those who ate more Vitamin K 2 were less likely to develop cancer or to die from it. (Vitamin K 1 did not have the same effect.)1 The results were even more significant in men with regard to lung and prostate cancer. The researchers used cheese consumption as a main indicator of Vitamin K 2 intake.
My 2 cents: There are many other reasons to get enough Vitamin K 2 . For example, it helps keep calcium going into the bones instead of gunking up the arteries. Seems there'd be zero cancer, heart disease or osteoporosis in the USA if eating cheese was all it took—we put it on everything. However, that stuff they squirt on your corn chips at the ball park (and call it nachos?) and “cheese” that squirts out of a can are not the kind these German scientists were talking about. Hard cheese is the best dairy source of Vitamin K 2 . Other food sources are dark greens like Kale (oops, not popular here) and parsley (you know that decoration people pick off of restaurant plates). I mentioned that our intestinal bacteria make vitamins. Good news, they make Vitamin K 2 . Germans may get more Vitamin K-producing bacteria from their fermented sauerkraut which isn't pasteurized like ours is.
Listener Question
Q: Donna in Sanger , TX , age 74: “ You talked about Aloe as a digestive aid - it normalizes stomach acid. Should one take aloe when taking digestive enzymes (with HCL)? Also, does one need to take the juice along with the GlucAloe capsules? The capsules are desirable for normalizing my blood sugar, which is not high, but is not in a desirable range.”
A: Donna, supplemental enzymes are very helpful for digestion. Most people at middle age and beyond have too little stomach acid. So, your supplement's extra HCL is probably a good thing. The balancing effect of aloe will work with your supplement. (Remember there is little benefit from many aloe products that remove the active polysaccharides with filtration or distilling. That's why I recommend our sponsor, Lily of the Desert.) You don't need to take liquid aloe along with the GlucAloe capsules but it wouldn't hurt if you did. Aloe naturally has a blood sugar moderating effect, but nothing like GlucAloe which concentrates the active ingredients responsible. (Of course, also avoid the sugars, white flour products, fruit juices and sodas that increase blood sugar.)
1 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 Mar 24. Nimptsch K, Rohrmann S, Kaaks R, Linseisen J.
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My books: Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers. Subtitle: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments.
Aloe Vera —M odern Science Sheds Light on an Ancient Herbal Remedy.