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Epilepsy: Carpe Vitam

· By Peter Filak · 3 Comments · In All, Diseases & Disorders, Health
Epilepsy

After Reading: Treating Epilepsy Naturally: A Guide to Alternative and Adjunct Therapies By Patricia A. Murphy

Forget Carpe Diem…

“…we need to dispel one myth promulgated by the medical profession: that prescribed medication and/or brain surgery are the only effective ways to treat seizures.”

“A seizure can be a response to stress, hypoxia (low oxygen), poorly controlled diabetes, alcoholism, drugs, low blood sugar, food allergies, even heart problems.”

Epilepsy is a condition believed to be rooted in the malfunction of electrical activity within the brain, via the nerves. It is diagnosed by the presence of recurrent seizures and tests such as the EEG which measures your electrical activity while noting abnormal variations. Putting a name to a condition and labeling the afflicted is easy, but treating and preventing it seems completely unattainable.

Can lifestyle modifications in diet, exercise, and stress ease the pressure to find a cure and eliminate our need to tinker with our surroundings in order to heal the internal? Do we become stuck with a diagnosis or do we choose sit and eat with it every day for the rest of our lives (pun possibly intended)?

NUTRITION

It is estimated that one to two out of every 100 in America have epilepsy and a Columbia University study has linked epilepsy with migraines. It found that 11% of the general public experience migraines compared to the twenty percent of epileptics. Sugar, chocolate, dairy, caffeine, and white flour, which can all be found in a nicely packaged factory produced square nowadays, are triggers to both epilepsy and migraines.

Patricia writes: “…they discover that a very small portion of food, far less than they previously ate, will start symptoms again.” We are designed to eat a certain way, we cannot be redesigned in order to fulfill some money-making scheme. We can and do become altered, both at the cellular level and at the environmental level, but never do we become redesigned.

CELIAC DISEASE

The Lancet has directly linked gliadin to eighteen different medical conditions, including epilepsy, autism, and celiac disease. Gliadin is believed to be the portion of the gluten protein found in grains that is responsible for our inability to properly digest it. We as a people (probably everyone) lack this ability to some extent and in referencing the results from the Italian Working Group Study, this becomes something we cannot ignore.

Seventy-seven percent of the patients (patients had cerebral calcification and epilepsy) had the symptoms of celiac disease. Not everyone is affected to the extent where the antibody reaction to gliadin produces an unobliging internal environment of inflammation, but everyone is indeed affected. Can seizures be the end result of a disrupted gastrointestinal tract? I would rank this at a more than a maybe.

MILK

“I hold milk and milk products to be absolute poison for anyone with any neurological disorder,” Dr. Robert Fried. Patricia writes that milk (cow) contains about twenty-five different proteins, five of which have been consistently linked with food allergies.

Patricia expands a bit on a very interesting concept of how milk can have deleterious effects on our health and be a promoter of epileptic activity. Acid base balance is literally part of the equilibrium that is kept within our bodies. It is this system that works diligently to counteract and maintain certain pH levels (7.35-7.45 are usually the accepted values), and it is the calcium in milk that depletes our very own calcium, thus disrupting this internal harmony.

ACID/BASE COMPENSATION

As calcium is used up via acid base balance, acidosis is what results, and this is a “calamity for seizure sufferers.” No need to worry yet, our body has compensatory mechanisms that can correct and regulate this system and according to Patricia, the kidneys are responsible for 35% of the workload and the rest is covered by our lungs. Take a deep breath and let it ease itself out slowly.

There’s no debate, your brain needed that, as well as every cell within your body. We are not equipped with the ability to breath only a couple times a day or even not at all. We are equipped in a way that our brain regulates the breathing process, a process in itself that goes about like a tip-toer in the background. We do have the ability to make adjustments: deep breathing, holding our breath, gasping… but each has its consequences (positive or negative).

As we become acidotic due to our body’s inability to adapt to what the dairy industry suckered us into, our lungs compensate by hyperventilating. Rapid breathing restores the balance (positive), but constricts blood vessels throughout the body and in our very vascular brain (negative). Our vessels transport blood, our blood transports oxygen and nutrients, and our vessels are now constricted!

Various body parts will scream for that oxygen and nutrients, but due to the compensatory maintenance, they must endure. This is why Patricia believes that milk can possibly be a causative agent for seizure activity. Seizures are your body telling you something is not right, whether your epilepsy was caused by trauma or by unknown reasons, something is obviously out of whack.

BRAIN ALLERGIES

William Philpott, M.D.: “fifty percent of seizures may be related to maladaptive reactions to foods, chemicals, or inhalants.” Patricia refers to these effects on the central nervous system as being brain allergies. Whether the brain allergy is induced by milk, eggs, wheat, or another environmental toxin, it can cause people to become confused, act drunk, or even have a seizure.

Kids can be tormented with:

  • Fatigue
  • Aggression
  • Irritability
  • Tantrums
  • Depression
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Inability to Concentrate

Adults can suffer from:

  • Manic depression
  • Phobias
  • Other Mental Disorders

Whether or not you choose to believe these connections, you should take allergies seriously.

A double-blind placebo controlled study in which a food regiment was followed to remove possible food allergens, further exposed food as a likely culprit. When re-introduced with the food, fifteen out of the sixteen participants had their symptoms reappear. The placebo group, given foods that were not deemed allergenic, had no reappearance of their symptoms.

ROTATING DIET?

Patricia recommends a rotating diet in order to avoid food sensitivities and she writes that sometimes it is not due to a poor diet, but malabsorption. My opinion, a rotating diet eliminates the causative agent some of the times, but never completely, and it is a poor diet and inefficient lifestyle that leads to an inflamed and over-burdened gut.

ALCOHOL

Walter Alvarez, M.D. took a retrospective look at the effects of alcohol on families. He found that 38% of the epileptics had a higher presence of alcoholism within the family compared to the presence of additional epileptics. Alcohol is a poison, an addiction, and its effects on neurotransmitters are similar to those of sugar, white flour, and refined carbs. Withdrawal from alcohol can lead delirium tremens, which is Latin for “shaking frenzy” (need I say more).

CAFFEINE

It is estimated that Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee each and every day. Like alcohol, coffee adversely affects blood sugar by raising it. Coffee is a stimulant and it amplifies your dependency through its addictive pull, and on a lighter note, it also helps constrict blood vessels so they cannot get sufficient oxygen and nutrients to the rest of your body. Withdrawal symptoms are then fledged throughout your body, and include headaches (possible coincidence?).

SUGAR

Patricia terms sugar (refined/unnatural) as “antinutrition” because it uses up vitamin stores and corrupts lipid metabolism. “Complex carbohydrates in most fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, break down into glucose more slowly than other carbohydrates” (also great sources of fiber) whereas simple carbs, such as those found in pastries, french fries, and pizza, bring constipation and low blood sugar levels along for the ride—constipation and low blood sugars are two common symptoms in epilepsy.

R. B. Allen believes that 50-90% of epileptics experience constant or periodic low blood sugar levels. Specific foods hit the system too quickly and yield an overproduction of insulin which drops your sugar levels. So, what happens when your body does not get its much needed supply of fuel?

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue
  • Shakiness
  • Headaches
  • Inability to concentrate
  • And even seizures

Fruit often gets lumped into this category too, but Patricia notes that fructose, the fruit sugar, accounts for only 5% of the net weight for most fruits.

SENSE OF TASTE

Yet again, another author (Patricia) mentions reorientation of our sense of taste, leaving artificially sweetened and manipulated foods tasting too sweet or even unbearable. These sugars provide no vitamins, minerals, enzymes, or fibers, yet they can be found everywhere:

FIBER

As mentioned above, fiber plays an all-so-important role in removing bodily wastes. If a diet constantly consists of a bombardment of non-nutritious and pro-inflammatory substances while lacking a good source of fiber, this trashy food will park itself in the garage (gut) and remain running (disaster-to-be). Your body will do a dandy job in trying to eliminate these wastes, but an insufficient diet disallows it of this ability. These wastes will recirculate and the brain is a future stop…

EXCITOTOXINS

“…when brain cells are exposed to these substances, they can become overly excited and fire very rapidly until they are exhausted to death,” Dr. Robert Blaylock.

“…chronic exposure to them can cause increasing damage.”

From what I learned in school over the years, especially college, I came to understand that our brains have the best defense system around. This defense system was responsible for blocking certain drugs and postponing the acceptance of others (SSRTIs, etc…). I learned that the blood brain barrier was impenetrable and this concept become impenetrable in of itself and I felt no need to delve any deeper.

According to Patricia though, some parts of the brain are not as protected as we would like them to be and they can even function as a “backdoor” access point to the rest of the brain. One such part, the hypothalamus, can apparently be affected by:

  • Various Toxins
  • Excitatory Proteins
  • Mercury
  • Iron
  • Low Blood Sugar
  • Etc…
MSG

MSG, a taste enhancer, found often with these labelings…

  • No MSG - my favorite for obvious reasons
  • Flavoring
  • Natural Flavoring
  • Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
  • Spices

…is an excitotoxin. High doses have been shown to cause cell death, low doses cause impairments over time, and the FDA only requires ingredients to be listed if they make up at least one percent of the total product. At this rate, companies can stick just about anything they wish into a product and you would never know, and if they did list it, a misleading label would prompt no further investigation.

In a safety report on MSG for the FDA: “motor disturbances and changes in seizure threshold have been noted in numerous studies,” yet it was deemed safe. Glutamate (MSG) has the ability to slowly seep through the “impenetrable” barrier of the brain and also the placenta. Yes, your children are not spared from its deathly grasp. If there is one thing neurologists know about newborns and children in general, it is that their brains are growing at amazing rates. Does it help to know that glutamate can be found in formulas, vitamins, and medications?

ASPARTAME

Another excitotoxin, aspartame, has been “accused of causing more than ninety side effects and contributing to brain damage, seizures, and cancer.” An astounding 80% of FDA food complaints have been about aspartame, yet you can find it on labels today. Between 1973 and 1990, those over 65 years of age have been dealt a blow: brain tumors are up 67%!

Aspartame has also been shown to increase the brain levels of phenylalanine and methanol. Methanol is converted to formic acid and formaldehyde, two “powerful neurotoxins.” Just as with MSG, aspartame is also capable of crossing the placental barrier and…

Aspartame has also been shown to increase free radicals (highly reactive substances).

Nutrasweet, a deceiving name, an unnatural sweetener, and utilizer of aspartame, has funded studies which were submitted to FDA to “prove” the efficacy of aspartame use. Funding for studies from the company that would be directly affected by the results is often thought to be off kilter. Not only did Monsanto, who owns Nutrasweet, fund these studies, they also hired government officials who approved them to work for Nutrasweet afterwards. Some of these studies showed evidence of the development of brain tumors and or death in mice… but this offers no proof of causing tumors within humans(?)!

NEUROTOXINS

“Since pesticides purpose is to kill living organisms, what potential effect might it have on humans, especially humans prone to seizures.” Some “interfere with biochemical interactions in the brain and cause seizures,” Mary Gilbert, M.D.

BABY FOOD

If animal studies show that even low-level injections and cause seizure activity, why do we allow such things as baby foods to have these pesticides within them. We wonder why disease is on the rise, I wonder why a toxin that was banned in 1920(!) can be found in baby food (oh yeah, less than one percent…). It was the Environmental Working Group Study that found sixteen pesticide residues within eight commonly eaten baby foods (Gerber, Heinz, and Beechnut).

It is recommended that you buy organic foods because “exposure over a prolonged period is more insidious and harder to detect” and organic foods have been found to be 75% richer in minerals.

HEAVY METALS

Heavy metals weigh in on the toxic side too. Mercury has been shown to cause:

  • Birth Defects
  • Brain Damage
  • Linked to various types of Mental Disturbances

Do not take it lightly when the media portrays some parents as quacks because they believe vaccinations are derailing their children. Instead, take a stand, and become informed about it. Some things sound crazy when they are interpreted by the uninformed, uneducated, and unopened minds of society, but with studies that can link aluminum to brain damage and nervous system disruption, can we actually sit quietly?

Aluminum found in:

  • Painkillers
  • Deodorants
  • Antacids
  • Table Salts
  • Some Flours

Patricia briefly mentions GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) or “frankenfoods,” as they call them in Europe. Long story short: these foods have had their DNA altered (by us), and DNA is the substance responsible for the “me-ness” or pretty much everything in every living thing.

HEALING FOODS

Patricia goes into great detail about the benefits of minerals, vitamins, and amino acids with epilepsy and shares valuable information about each. A diet specifically produced for use by epileptics, the ketogenic diet, was touched upon next.

KETOGENIC DIET

“Dr. Freeman says that several children have died as a result of unsupervised ketogenic diets.” “The diet is not nutritionally adequate, so multivitamins and mineral supplements…” I do share these quotes from this book in order to scare you and I urge you to recognize and acknowledge the seriousness of nutrition and your dietary choices.

Ketones are the residue or waste products of metabolized fats. In school, I learned about ketones and their relation to diabetes (DKA: diabetic ketoacidosis). DKA is a condition that is not sought after in the diabetic community, it is feared and treated as an emergency. So, how can epileptics profit where diabetics would shrivel?

Unlike diabetics, those with epilepsy do not have a diagnosed blood sugar condition and they may be able to more appropriately handle this emergency situation. That is my highly speculative opinion and it likely overshoots by quite a bit. My theory rattles the rim because this diet does indeed put the body in an overly awkward situational crisis.

Awkward because it seems to dissipate seizure activity while encouraging unhealthy consumption simultaneously. Some studies do back this diet up though: One from the 1930s: “completely controlled seizures in 50% of children on diet and markedly improved seizure control in 75%.” Another followed children aged 1-16 years for one year and found that 50% had greater than a 50% reduction while 27% of the studied population experienced a 90% reduction (Children averaged 410 seizures/month and tried six medications on average, prior to the study).

This diet lost a ton of grounding with the introduction of anticonvulsants, but is this the classic swap one evil for another? Our lives and our health should not be compromised due to our inability to negotiate our needs.

The ketogenic diet consists of:

  1. Getting 90% of your calories from fat
    • Butter, oil, heavy/whipped butter
  2. Entertaining a low protein and low carb appetite
  3. Avoiding all sugar
  4. Restriction of fluids – 1 oz/lb of body weight

A high fat diet has also been associated with:

  • Stunted growth
  • Constipation
  • Elevated cholesterol

If I haven’t scared you yet, it may benefit you to reread the last few paragraphs.

Patricia also mentions that children fare better with this diet because children have a greater ability (4-5x) to extract ketones from the blood to the brain.

“…forced to burn fat instead of sugar.” To me, this diet is like trying to fix your mother’s most cherished and recently chipped vase with a sledge hammer. You cannot force your body to do anything without some kind of consequence. Seizure activity may diminish, but other illnesses are surely sneaking their way in. I do not know much more about this diet than what was presented in the book, but it would be interesting to see how different diets affect epilepsy (vegetarian, vegan, etc…). In short, I do not find this option to be very appealing, let alone healthy.

STRESS

“You can have the best diet in the world, but if you are self abusive, anxious, or unhappy, your nervous system and digestive system may suffer.”

Patricia shares that “stress is a leading cause of seizures” and offers insight into various ‘stress busters’:

  • Biofeedback
  • Progressive Relaxation
  • Yoga
  • Meditation
    • A meditation study resulted in one third less seizures for those who meditated for the three months, unlike the control group.
  • Exercise
DEEP BREATHING

Breathing is so amazing, so complex, and so simple in that we can control it, alter it permanently or periodically, and because it can dramatically change us. “Breathing deeply from the diaphragm comes naturally to healthy babies. Unfortunately, many of us lose this natural capacity when we get older and acquire poor breathing habits.”

As mentioned in my article about fibromyalgia, a body that is constantly stressed or in the ‘fight or flight’ mode, has a diminished ability to heal itself and promote relaxation. Deep breathing turns on this relaxation response and settles the storm, and with time, it wards off future storms.

BRAIN WAVES

There are four types of brain waves (mentioned):

  1. Beta – awake, concentration, and possibly anxious
  2. Alpha – awake and relaxed
    • Lower levels in Epileptics.
  3. Theta – drowsy and before sleep
    • Thought to induce seizures.
  4. Delta waves – sleep
EXERCISE

“Ironically, seizures while exercising are rare, and overall, exercise helps reduce seizures.” You do not have to fear the hyperventilation effects of exercise either, this occurrence has been shown to improve the EEG reading (measures electrical activity within the brain). Patricia recommends that you do not exercise within four hours of sleepy time though.

MIGRAINES

Migraines and seizures are often accompanied by auras and Patricia offers a very interesting tactic in using auras to defend against the approaching seizure. She recommends attacking them directly:

  • Deep breathing to calm yourself.
  • Smelling something else (if it is a smell aura).
  • Pin-pricking above the tingling or tickling sensation of the aura.
  • We can also attack seizures with our sleep (another leading cause of seizures).

CHILDREN

One study found that 78 out 88 children achieved disappearance of epilepsy and migraines when food allergies were removed.

WOMEN

In a study with greater than two million subjects, the general population was found to have a 33% higher fertility rate when compared to epileptic women. According to Patricia, estrogen is a pro-convulsant, progesterone has a seizure protective effect, and this is likely linked to why 30% of epileptic women report catamenial (menstrual-related) seizures. Women tend to accumulate water a few days before they menstruate in order to be prepared for the eventual fluid loss, this is a buildup of pressure that can cause premenstrual seizure activity.

To help alleviate menopausal symptoms, Patricia recommends:

  • Exercise
  • Vitamins
  • Reducing meat, alcohol, sugar, and refined carbs.

MEN

38-71% of epileptic men been found to be hyposexual and have lower fertility rates. In one study, men who ate organic food produced 43% more sperm.

ELDERY & CONCLUSION

Patricia writes that the incidence of epileptic seizures rises dramatically after the age of sixty and that this may be due to the build up of unhealthy practices and habits over time. In my opinion, this is no coincidence. How can it be a coincidence that a disease process typically takes greater control of its host at a specific age? It cannot.

Our daily choices affect how many tomorrows we will have. We can have as many tomorrows as we set out to have, but we often lack the ability to achieve something tomorrow that can be achieved today (Now!). Do not put your natural pursuit of health and your intertwining relationship with the natural world onto tomorrow’s to do list. Carpe vitam (seize the life) because carpe diem (seize the day) is just not enough. Life is a daily process, ignorance occurs in weeks, months, years, and lifetimes. Grab hold and seize life for all of its purpose.

Do you have epilepsy (share what has worked for you)?

Do you know anyone with epilepsy?

Is it possible to heal naturally, or can we only benefit from what we create?

What are your feelings about this topic and health in general?

More Diseases & Disorders

Endometriosis: Whimpering Wisdom

· By Peter Filak · 5 Comments · In All, Diseases & Disorders, Health
Endo-150x150

After Reading: Endometriosis: The Complete Reference for Taking Charge of Your Health By Mary Lou Ballweg and the Endometriosis Association

Normally in the female reproductive system, the uterine lining responds to hormones during the menstrual cycle in order to prepare for a potential pregnancy. This involves the shedding off and bleeding more commonly known as the “period.” Some other areas of the body have growth responses to these hormones too, except these other areas lack the ability to be expunged from the body, resulting in:

  • Internal Bleeding
  • Degeneration of Blood
  • Tissue Shedding
  • Inflammation of Surrounding Areas
  • Scar Tissue Formation.

“Female pain (“womanly pain”) is not normal.” This statement also encompasses painful sex and painful menstruation – NOT NORMAL. Pain has been found to affect women more so—Fibromyalgia: 9x, Migraines: 3x, Athritis, and Temporomandibular disorders—than men as noted by a National Institutes of Health study. Imagine a world where your doctor, your neighbor, and even your family and close friends viewed your pain as womanly and below actual pain standards or as just plain normal. Many women live in this world and many women are treated in a way that only hides their pain, rather than fixing it.

“Immunotherapy treatment approach, a change in diet, and exercise – all considered alternative – are often the most effective in relieving pain.”

CANDIDA ALBICANS

“…it’s fair to say that no other approach to endo (term commonly used for endometriosis) treatment has given as consistent and long-term positive results as has treatment for Candida albicans allergy/infection and its related problems.” Candida has been found to bind with estrogen, progesterone, and corticosterone and can even make us allergic to our very own hormones by creating antibodies against them.

ALLERGIES

One study found that women with endo, as well as their families, were more prone to have allergies and it is believed that one in every five to six have allergies. These numbers bring eery insight into the madness created by the Industrial Revolution, a “progression” that unlinked the bond between rarity and allergy. Mary Lou believes it is vital to not downplay our allergies, especially with links such as Candida causing:

  • Hives
  • Asthma
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Endo
  • Psoriasis
HOW TO AVOID CANDIDA
  1. Take allergies seriously.
  2. Use antibiotics only when needed and do not overuse.
    • Antibiotics can wipe out the good bacteria which keep it in check, giving rise to super-infections (resistance).
    • Antibiotics are also known to be found in animal products (meat).
  3. Birth control can exacerbate it.
  4. NSAIDS can lead to inflammation and a leaky gut.
  5. Balance essential fatty acids.
    • Precursors to prostaglandins (moderate inflammation).
    • “Slow down production of harmful prostaglandins by reducing the presence of the essential fatty acid precursor arachadonic acid, which is found in abundance in dairy products and meat.”
  6. Avoid magnesium deficiency.
  7. Supplement healthy bacteria.
  8. Avoid use of chemicals, perfumed paper, deodorant soaps and sprays, and other feminine hygiene products.
  9. Avoid chlorinated pools and spermicides which can cause vaginitis.
  10. Avoid wearing tight clothing.
    • Keeps the vagina moist and thus promotes Candida growth.

“But the blessing of the anti-Candida diet is the complete loss of a ‘sweet tooth’.” Mary Lou writes about studies that show how sugar has been shown (200x more) to promote Candida growth. Mold sensitivities can even be triggered by dried fruits, cheese, and frozen fruit juices and this is why she recommends more veggies, whole grains, and the avoidance of sugar and yeast. Unfortunately, she falls victim to the mentality that a little here and a littler there will not hurt and this is why she believes you do not have to give these triggers up forever. My opinion, a poison is a poison forever.

NUTRITION

PROSTAGLANDINS

Food is estimated to be the third best treatment for endo, preceded by Candida/immunotherapy and exercise. Prostaglandins, mentioned just above, are an extremely important concept to understand and this book offers some very intriguing information on this topic. Linoleic and Linolenic acid are the two mentioned and described. Would it shock you to know that the typical American diet is high in the ‘bad’ prostaglandin (Linoleic acid)?

Linolenic acid, the good one, has been shown to:

  • Prevent inflammation
  • Prevent clotting
  • Dilate vessels
  • Slow cholesterol
  • Remove fluid from the body
  • Improve nerve function
  • Aid in T-cell function (immunity)

As for linoleic acid:

  • Causes inflammation
  • Promotes platelet aggregation (clotting)
  • Induces the kidneys to retain salt (hypertension)

The ‘bad’ prostaglandin can be converted to the good prostaglandin, but many things can impede this process:

  • Diabetes
  • Aging
  • High alcohol intake
  • High cholesterol
  • Stress hormones
  • Low vitamin and mineral levels
  • Elevated trans fatty acids

Meat and dairy are densely packed with these ‘bad’ prostaglandins and thus interfere with essential fatty acids. Linolenic acid can be found in:

  • Seeds
  • Nuts
  • Human milk
  • Fish oil

Intake of these foods bypasses the conversion process of the ‘bad’ one.

One study showed that a low-fat vegetarian diet was associated with reduced pain and intensity during the period and another found an association between menstrual pain and low intake of linolenic acid (good).

ANTIESTROGENIC

“One possible approach to lowering estrogen levels might be to try lowering body fat content in general, since fat cells are a source of estrogen in the body, and obese women have been found to have higher estrogen levels than lean women.” About a third of estrogen within a woman’s circulation during her premenopausal years is due to the conversion of androgens (hormone) into estrogen by fat cells. That is a very large percentage, but it is this conversion process that accounts for the majority of the estrogen in the circulation during menopause.

ESTRADIOL

Estradiol is believed to be the most active form of estrogen and vitamin B6 has been shown to aid in converting it to a less potent form. Estriol is the less potent form which does not cause tissue proliferation. You can successfully deplete your body of vitamin B6 by consuming:

  • Sugar
  • White bread & other refined carbs
  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Antibiotics
  • And by being stressed
LOWERING ESTROGEN

Yes, you can control your estrogen levels by other means, rather than through medication or even surgical procedures. A vegetarian diet has been shown to be associated with decreased estrogen levels in women, both before and after menopause. It was discovered that a diet rich in fiber was able to bind the fiber with the estrogen and excrete it via feces. Cruciferous veggies (broccoli, etc…) have all been shown to help lower estrogen levels.

PHYTOESTROGENS

Phytoestrogens, or “weak naturally occurring estrogens” found commonly in soy and flaxseed (1/100,000 as strong as estradiol), have varied results from the studies performed thus far. Some link it to having the ability to block the receptor site from the more potent estrogen and others link it to infertility. From the reading and information I have delved into thus far, I would definitely recommend avoiding the unnatural and the non-organic sources of these naturally occurring estrogens.

VITAMINS & MINERALS

Vitamins and minerals are severely affected by our lifestyle decisions and this book offers a wealth of information about how our daily choices affect us, both in the short and long term. “Iron is so potentially dangerous that I recommend blood testing before prescribing it for anyone.” Those are the words of Elmer Cranton, M.D (President of the American College of Advancement in Medicine). In short, those nutritional facts found on most labels, are vitally important. Vitally important in that we need those building blocks of food to survive and also in that we need to avoid overuse through vitamin supplementation and to decrease and or eliminate our intake of fortified foods.

INSULIN

John R. Mathias M.D. believes that women with endo experience a seizure-like activity of the fallopian tubes and GI tract due to the over-secretion of insulin. This excess release is believed to lead to excessive bad prostaglandins. John recommends reducing high glycemic foods such as potatoes, bread, corn, pasta, etc… Increasing (some) fruit and veggies (especially green) is advised.

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS

“If we design a compound to be toxic to an insect cell, why does it surprise us when we find out that the same compound is toxic to human cells?”

Environmental toxins have the ability to act like hormones and disrupt the natural order of things… and cause endo in animals. Human studies would be unethical, but they are performed anyway? These chemicals can be released into our environments and flooded into our food sources with ease and studies only provide the after effects in the long run. Avoid exposure and avoid becoming part of the unethical non-study.

PVC & DEHP

I read something in this book that absolutely irked me and nudged me further away from any belief in our healthcare system. You know those IV bags, IV lines, and all of those flexible and soft plastics found in hospitals? PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is the chemical responsible for that lovable texture and for an endless list of harmful effects due to its ability to run off and leach from these soft plastics into that medicine that has been draining into you all day.

In 2002, the FDA recognized that “Precautions should be taken to limit the exposure to the developing male to DEHP.” DEHP is the toxic additive found in PVC that leaches at the whims of your doctor’s orders. The FDA also recommends that non PVC/DEHP products be used in those at high risk (male newborns/pregnancy and puberty).

Lab studies (animals of course) show damage to:

  • Heart
  • Liver
  • Ovaries
  • Testes
  • Lungs
  • Kidneys
  • …but the FDA only warns about the effects on the male reproductive system and sperm.
DIOXIN

More exposure means more problems and this greatly affects the chronically ill and other longterm patients. An even worse and more dire scenario unfolds when these materials are burned, forming dioxins which are touted as the most dangerous chemicals known to man. I believe Mary Lou mentioned in the book about how the FDA’s report on dioxin is about two to three thousand pages in length, all concerning its harmful effects on the human body.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that medical waste is the third largest source of dioxin emissions into the air. Wind then carries these harmful chemicals to the grounds we walk, the waters we drink, and foods we eat (animals, fish, dairy, produce, and etc…). One study showed that 79% of monkeys exposed to dioxin developed endo, with the severity being directly proportional to amount of exposure. As written by Mary Lou, we need to avoid contaminated foods by opting for organically grown foods found lower on the food chain.

PERFUMES & FRAGRANCES

I always thought those who smelled “too good” or “too nice” were just too heavily doused in perfume or cologne. They smell alright, sometimes, but have you ever walked into a Bath and Body Works? Your olfactory center is overloaded with the stimulating smells bombarding your nostrils. The information I gathered from reading this section is absolutely crippling to the idea of using these products. It makes me wonder if studies will ever exist to see how those working in such stores fare in the long run, especially those working for entire shifts.

The FDA’s standpoint on these concoctions of natural oils, aroma chemicals, and solvents in alcohol bases: “Appears to be causing adverse reactions in an increasing number of individuals.”

Tolane, a chemical found in most fragrances according to a 1991 report by the Environmental Protection Agency, is linked to headaches, nausea, and narcosis. Musk AETT (used from 1955-76) was utilized as both a fragrance and a masking fragrance (unscented products). This chemical was withdrawn not because of its seemingly amazing abilities, but rather its hidden ability to cause permanent brain damage (studies noted other chemicals acted similarly). Phthalates, which one study found in 100% of fragrances and 72% of all cosmetics tested, cause birth defects.

REGULATION OF THE FRAGRANCE & COSMETIC INDUSTRY

“Fragrance and cosmetic industry is the least regulated industry,” -Dr. John Bailey of the FDA. “Fragrance can contain up to 600 ingredients.” A 1989 National Institutes of Occupational Safety study found that 884 out of the 2,983 chemicals used in the fragrance industry, were toxic and heavily linked to:

  • Cancer
  • Birth defects
  • Central nervous system disorders
  • Skin and eye irritations
  • Allergic reactions
  • Chemical sensitivities.

This information is absolutely astonishing when you think about how many people load these thousands of chemicals onto their bodies, often more than once each day. Whether we inhale them, absorb them through our skin, or lick that tasty strawberry off our lips, these chemicals always find a way into our bodies. We have become the self-induced vectors of future diseases and disorders.

DISEASES & DISORDERS WITH ENDO

“The constant production of antibodies against self tissue can lead to chronic inflammation and all the ‘fun’ that goes with it.”  Those with endo have been found to be more sensitive to allergies and have weakened natural killer cells (“exhibit decreased cytotoxicity”). The body’s immune system is unable to stop the endometrial growths appropriately and the individual is left with the inability to prevent an attack against themselves. A compromised immune system opens the door to many possibilities, none of which we want.

INFERTILITY

Being unable to reproduce or make new life can become the harsh reality for many. This inability affects about one third of those with endo, and interestingly, endo affects about one third of those afflicted with infertility. Two treatment options often promoted to fix this problem: surgery and or fertility drugs. The results for surgery are conflicting and not completely reliable, hence the need for more studies. Menopausal symptoms can often still exist after surgical or natural menopause.”…like throwing gasoline on the fire.” That is how one patient’s doctor explained fertility drugs, due to their innate ability to promote endo.

THYROID ISSUES

Even mothers with poor performing thyroids have been dealt with more children with lower iodine levels and birth defects. Shockingly, thyroid dysfunction and these end results often exist even with mild or no symptoms. More shocking, but not really, PCBs and dioxin have been shown to decrease thyroid levels.

CANCER
  • Ability to metastasize
  • Reduced natural killer cells
  • Presence of oncogenes
  • Angiogenesis
  • Loss of tumor suppression
  • Defective apoptosis (programmed cell death)
  • Hormonally affected
  • Affected by lifestyle choices

…sounds like cancer, right? Sounds like cancer and endometriosis. These are some of the commonalities shared between these two malignancies.

“Most cancers are the result of genetic mutations that occur after we are born.” Few of these cancers are due to the inherited mutations (oncogenes). “Having an oncogene for a particular cancer does not mean getting that cancer is inevitable.” An adoptee study mentioned revealed that cancer correlated to the adopting family rather than the biological parents.

Cancers specifically linked to endo include:

  • Breast
  • Ovarian
  • Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
  • Melanoma
ALCOHOLISM

Theories exist, just as breast cancer exists, that a weakened immunity and nutritional deficiencies can result from an intake of alcohol. Studies show that those who drink one or more drinks a day, can increase their cancer risk by as much as 50%. Two drinks a day has been shown to raise estrogen. It is important to mention that some studies (mentioned in book also) find that moderate consumption protects against heart disease. My belief, poison is poison, if you want wine, go eat some grapes.

WWII CHEMICALS

Weed killers, most of them if not all, contain dioxin. Roundup, a herbicide owned by Monsanto, has been found to work well with most genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Some of these overly tampered organisms become intolerant though, and need the additional spanking (more herbicide, etc…) …thus becoming even more altered. Non-hodgkins Lymphoma has been linked to the advent of new chemicals that came about after WWII.

TANNING

Have you ever gone for a “fake” tan at one of those tanning salons? Have you ever rationalized this experience for your need to get a base-tan prior to your exotic cruise coming up soon? Have you ever heard that the rays (UV-A) emitted by these machines have been linked to skin aging and non-melanoma skin cancer? Research also overly suggests that this is not an effective means of getting a base tan and this is why I urge you to seek beauty through health (natural aging) and avoid “faster” routes.

CANCER DIETS

As for diets and cancer, unhealthy fats have the ability to absorb and produce estrogen. One study revealed that women with higher trans fatty acid levels had a 40% greater risk of developing breast cancer. The Healthy Iowa Women study (consisting of 35,156 women ages 55-69) linked protein and fat to cancer. A high fat and high protein diet increased the risk for non-hodgkins lymphoma and risk was deescalated with a greater consumption of fruits.

Some anticancer activity substances mentioned were:

  • Raspberries
  • Walnuts
  • Cruciferous Vegetables (broccoli, etc…)
  • Tomatoes
  • Turmeric
  • Fish/Fish Oils
  • Green Tea

In total, these are substances with the most exposure (not enough), in reality, healthy foods promote a healthy internal environment. Eat more of these and you will have more of these -> YEARS TO LIVE.

BPA

A recent news story brought to light the need-to-know information about how canned foods contain substances that made many people throw away their plastic bottles a few years back. We are in the year 2011 and quickly approaching 2012, a 1995 study discovered that estrogen (xenoestrogen) existed in cans coated with plastic inside. This book was published in 2003 and another study found the presence of BPA in the liquid of preserved veggies and the water of autoclaved (heated under high pressure for sterilization) cans. The news of yesterday should not become the news of today, followed by an epidemic of highly preventable conditions and diseases.

CALORIC INTAKE

High-caloric intake has been associated with early puberty and total lifetime exposure to estrogen, but studies of lean verse obese vary. A longer exposure to anything toxic, including estrogen, synergizes over time and increases your odds of cancer and other various malfunctions of the body. The American Institute of Cancer offers these dietary guidelines:

  1. Eating right, remaining physically active, and maintaining a healthy weight can cut cancer by 30-40%.
  2. Diet with no smoking – 60-70%.
  3. A simple change of incorporating five servings of fruits and veggies into your daily intake – 20%.
  4. We can prevent 375,000 cases per year with a healthy diet!
SOME FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
  1. Start young.
  2. Avoid alcohol consumption.
  3. Avoid dairy with Bovine Growth Hormone and IGF (Insulin-like Growth Factor)
    • We cannot breakdown IGF due the milk protein casein—this is an extremely interesting and possible milk-killing factoid. The growth factor typically gets a lot of the deserved blame, but if it is the milk protein at the deck wheel…
    • Baby formulas wreak their own havoc with poor nutrition: 51% linoleic acid (‘bad’ stuff) vs 7% linolenic acid (good stuff).
  4. Sleep in the dark.
    • Melatonin, which regulates estrogen, can be adversely affected by light stimulation.
  5. Avoid the use of talc.
    • Baby diapers have dioxin too.
  6. Filter showers to avoid the heated chlorine gases that are toxic.
  7. Eliminate pesticides and herbicides.
  8. Drink purified water from glass containers (don’t leak) and drink plenty of water which functions to hydrate and flush out toxins and wastes within the body.
  9. Breastfeeding reduces the amount of toxins within you, but understand that these toxins go to the baby.
    • “Weight loss releases organochlorines stored in body fat, which travel into the blood and from there into breast milk.”
    • Breast milk has also been shown to be protective against celiac disease.
    • Limit your exposure to toxins because they will affect you and your children too.
    • Breastfeeding is the way to go, but just as you can mess up every other function of your body with an unhealthy lifestyle, you can do great harm to your children with this natural source of milk.
  10. Limit sun and radiation exposure.
  11. Exercise.
DIGESTIVE HEALTH & FOOD SENSITIVITIES

When the body’s environment and normal bacterial flora is up and running, studies show half as many allergy disorders exist compared to the control group (Lactobacillus given to non-control group). Mary Lou writes that we need to avoid foods we are sensitive to in order to avoid adversely affecting our children. Even hypertension, a real danger in pregnancy, is linked by some studies to prostaglandin release due to sensitivities and allergies.

EXERCISE & SOFT DRINKS

A Boston study may make you think twice about soft drinks, even rationalizing them with exercise. The results: Girls who were physically active and drank soda were five times more likely to fracture bones. The researchers were unsure to why this association existed, but one theory blames phosphorous, which is abundant in soft drinks, for stealing calcium from the bones and gradually weakening them over time. Mary Lou writes that we should avoid:

  • Extreme weight loss
  • Smoking
  • Sedatives
  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • …but perform weight bearing exercise in order to promote bone health.

CONCLUSION

Dr. Malcom Pike: “We could get rid of 85% of American breast cancer by starting with ten year olds, keeping them on a low fat, high fiber diet, exercising them heavily and keeping them slim.” We can do this. We can live longer.

“The EPA estimates that over 95% of human exposure to dioxin is through our food.” “You are the environment and the environment is you.” That quote is amazing—We are not only what we eat, we are how we live too. Live healthy, be healthy, and achieve optimal health.

Do you have endometriosis?

Has nutrition and or any other lifestyle modifications helped you?

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