Podcast 31

WELCOME TO THE 31st EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

To live effectively is to live with adequate information.  Norbert Wiener

Covering: AMD protection: Coffee: The JUPITER study:

A new meta-analysis of nine previous studies totaling 88,974 participants reports that consuming fish and omega-3 fish oils seems to reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

In a study of more than 125,000 Americans spanning 18 to 24 years finds no link between coffee consumption and increased risk of death. Even for those drinking six or more cups a day. In fact, heavy coffee drinking seemed to be associated with a decreased risk of death, especially from cardiovascular causes among women.

Both regular and decaffeinated coffee, were associated with a small decrease in risk of all-cause mortality.

Both men and women showed a trend toward decreasing risk of death as coffee consumption rose. The trend was statistically significant, though only among women, peaking at 26% reduced risk for those drinking four to five cups a day.

The JUPITER study is another example of a study that is a bad study but for different reasons. Crestor is a high potency statin. So it has all the bad side effects of statin drugs. It depletes the body of coenzyme Q10 causing muscle pain and weakness (14% of patents) also memory problems, liver toxicity and kidney problems. Those taking Crestor also had a significantly greater incidence of diabetes. The study was done in healthy people with normal LDL cholesterol levels.

If you read the print at the end of the study 11 of the 14

authors receive grants, consulting and lecture fees from a large number of pharmaceutical companies.

Reductions of 50% and 20% in relative risk for cardiac events and deaths seem impressive. Of the 8,901 men and women in the study who took Crestor: 83 or (0.9%) of them had a stroke, heart attack or cardiovascular death, compared with 157 or (1.8%) in a similarly sized group who took a placebo. This is not very impressive; it means that less than one in a hundred people received a benefit and most if not all received side effects.

In the Jupiter study all the participants were healthy with normal cholesterol. The study was to run 4 to 5 years but was terminated after just 1.9 years. If you want normal healthy people to take a drug with side effects, for the rest of their lives why terminate the study after 1.9 years unless something is starting to show that the drug is more harmful than the early results showed.

Half of all heart attacks and strokes occur in people with normal LDL cholesterol. So the researchers targeted another biomarker linked with increased risk of cardiovascular disease: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP).

Researchers from the University of California Berkeley published a clinical trial just a month before the Jupiter study showing that compared to a placebo, Vitamin C decreased CRP by 34% in people with levels higher than 2—the same results as Crestor. Vitamin D also reduces CRP. So instead of taking Crestor and making the drug companies rich take Vitamin C with each meal and vitamin D 2000 IU and stay healthy

That’s all for PODCAST #31. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of Feb. 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS

health@lencolabs.com

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

Podcast 30: 12-01-08

PODCAST #30 12-1-08

WELCOME TO THE 30th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Covering: Taking blood pressure: Vitamin D: Preventing dementia

Stupidity is its own reward Dr. D. G. Carpenter

When taking blood pressure, certain guide lines should be followed: You should be sitting in a chair with your back supported, your feet on the floor and your arm at heart level.
You should sit quietly for five minutes, before taking a reading. If you do not follow these recommendations your readings can be 7 to 12 % higher than your real blood pressure. Some people suffer from “white coat syndrome” in the doctor’s office. This is a higher reading then if taken at home. If your pressure is always high in the doctor’s office, get a home BP monitor and check your pressure at home 3 times a day for a week. If you have constant high BP try life style changes before going on drugs.

New research reveals that high levels of vitamin D (Intake 2000 to 4000 IU a day.) Helps protect against Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s diseases and the flu. Blood levels of) vitamin D should be in the range 50 to 80 ng/mL.

California researchers followed more than 2,200 women aged 78 and older for four years, and found those with larger social networks were 26% less likely to develop dementia compared with women who had smaller networks. Daily social contact was also associated with a lower risk of dementia. Surprisingly the contact didn’t have to be face-to-face; Communicating via email and telephone also made a difference. Men also benefit from staying connected. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University who tracked 147 pairs of male twins for 28 years discovered that cognitive and social activity during midlife significantly reduced the risk of dementia later on. Among the activities tied to lower odds of dementia were visiting with family and friends, club activities (such as attending parties and playing card games), and home hobbies.

Genetics clearly plays a role in breast cancer, but recent research shows that up to 73% of cases may be caused by other factors. A Swedish study of more than 44,000 sets of twins found that genetic factors (such as family history or the presence of BRCA-1 and -2 gene mutations) accounted for only 27% of all breast cancer cases. While a 2003 study found that up to 40% of the women with BRCA-1 and -2 mutations may never get the disease. Researchers are turning up more evidence that environmental factors may have a significant influence on breast cancer risk.

That’s all for PODCAST #30. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of Jan. 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #29 11-1-08

WELCOME TO THE 29th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Vitamin D again: Breakfast

Why more about vitamin D? If a good vitamin study is reported, more scientists will study it to see if it is true and where else it can be used. Vitamin D is a remarkable vitamin for increasing health. I will give a rundown of the latest studies.
A study published in June 2008 showed that men with low vitamin D levels suffer 2.42 times more heart attacks. Tens of millions of dollars are spent to advertise that Lipitor reduces heart attacks 37%. According to a late study men with the highest vitamin D levels had a 142% reduction in heart attacks. Don’t stop taking your medication but add 2000 IU of vitamin D daily.
Vitamin D deficient women, have a 253% increased risk of colon cancer
40,950 women perished from breast cancer last year in the United States. A study published in January 2008 showed that women with the lowest level of vitamin D were at a 222% increased risk for developing breast cancer. Most studies show that higher levels of vitamin D reduce breast cancer incidence by 30-50%.
Prostate cancer will kill almost 30,000 men this year. Men with higher levels of Vitamin D have a 52% reduced incidence of prostate cancer.
In a study published in Sept. 2008, blood indicators of vitamin D status were measured in 3,316 patients with suspected coronary artery disease. The subjects were followed for 7.75 years. For every small decrease in blood levels of vitamin D there was a startling 86% increase in the number of fatal strokes.
According to J. J. Cannell MD “Current research indicates vitamin D deficiency plays a rode in causing seventeen varieties of cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness muscle wasting, birth defects, and periodontal disease.
Vitamin D deficiency is diagnosed when blood levels of a vitamin D metabolite (25-hydroxyvitamin D) drops below 12ng/mL.
According to the worlds most foremost experts, optimal levels of vitamin D are between 30 and 50 ng/ml. Those with blood levels below 30 ng/ml are considered to have insufficient vitamin D.
If adults would take 2000 IU of vitamin D daily, children and babies a lower dosage. Billions in health care could be saved and people would be healthier and happier. A study showed that breast fed babies were vitamin D deficient and should be supplemented with vitamin D

Teenagers who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight than those who skip the morning meal.

That’s all for PODCAST #29. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of Dec. 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #28 9-1-08

WELCOME TO THE 28th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Beta carotene: Long term vitamin users are healthier: Dangers of CAT scans.

Harvard researchers follower more than 4,000 men who were given either 50mg. of beta carotene every other day or a placebo pill. After an average of 18 years, the men who took beta carotene demonstrated significantly higher scores on several cognitive tests compared with the placebo group.
This study also included a short-term group that was followed for an average of one year. The researchers found no difference in cognitive tests results for both groups after this shorter period of time, highlighting the importance of long term use of beta carotene for cognitive protection.
Note: It also shows you should continue your vitamin-herb intake for your long lifetime.
Note2: This study shows that vitamin studies are different then drug studies. All drugs studies show results in a year if they are going to show results. Lately the drug companies in order to discredit vitamins are doing short term vitamin studies with insufficient dosage. That is why the vitamin studies in the last 8 years show that vitamins don’t work

Quit the clean plate club. Don’t eat every thing you are served. When eating out take half home. At home, take smaller portions. Excess food is poison!

According to a report in Nutritional Journal, long term multiple dietary supplement users were less likely to have elevated blood pressure and diabetes compared with both non-users and those who supplemented with a vitamin-mineral alone.
Researchers obtained information from 278 individuals regarding long-term multiple supplement use patterns, health, and nutrition through questionnaires and physical examination. Using a cross sectional study design, and adjusting for potential confounding factors, they compared this information with data obtained from nearly 800 non-users and single multivitamin-mineral supplement users.

Consumers of multiple supplements were less likely to have hypertension and diabetes and more likely to have low levels of chronic disease related biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein which is associated with chronic inflammation, and homocysteine both of which have been associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Multiple supplement users were also more likely to have optimal levels of triglycerides and beneficial high density lipoprotein (HDL).

One of the most important advances in modern medicine is the CAT or CT scan. Used in the emergency room it can quickly diagnosis information about a patient’s coronary blood flow that can help save a patient’s life.

Unfortunately CT scans produce a large amount of radiation, often equivalent 750 chest X-rays. The radiation exposure from CT scans can lead to DNA breaks that may foster the initiation of cancer. With one or more CT scans, it is possible to accrue the amount of radiation exposure experienced by survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who later succumbed to cancer.

While CAT scans have an important role in diagnosing symptomatic patients, they should not be used as screening tools for healthy individuals. There are no demonstrated benefits of screening asymptomatic patients, while the risks of radiation exposure are well documented.

Arch. Inter. Med. 2007 showed that a brief 30-minute catnap at least 3 days a week can lower your risk of a heart attack by over 30%.

That’s all for PODCAST #28. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of Oct. 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #27 8-1-08

WELCOME TO THE 27th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Home HEPA air filters: Macadamia lowers cholesterol: Exercises for moderate neck pain with no medical cause:

Fine particles in the air from candles, cooking, rubber tires running on the road and charcoal grilling etc. can cause inflammation in the blood vessels, worsening heart and lung disease. High-Efficiency Particle Air (HEPA) Filters can reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel function. Do not confuse HEPA filters with negative ion filters. Ion filters collect particles on an electrified grid which is good but in doing this it generates ozone which is bad for the lungs.

In a five week, study 25 men and women with slightly elevated cholesterol were randomly assigned to the macadamia nut diet (1.5 ounces/day of macadamia nuts) or an average American diet. Total fat in the diets was the same; only the percentages of saturated and monounsaturated fats differed. At five weeks, the macadamia nut diet was associated with a 9% reduction in both serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) compared with controls. Other cholesterol measures, such as the ratio of LDL to beneficial HDL also improved significantly after the macadamia nut diet.

Exercises for moderate neck pain with no medical cause.

You should do these neck exercises, while sitting up straight. Hold each movement for 5 seconds, return to the starting position, repeat five times and then perform on the other side.
Rotation stretch: Turn your  head to one side until you feel your neck stretch, at no time should feel pain just a light stretch. Hold for 5 seconds then repeat. Then stretch to the other side.
Side stretch: Tilt your head toward your left shoulder until you feel a stretch on the opposite side. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat. Do the same toward your right shoulder.
Neck strengthener: Place your right hand on your right cheek, keeping your chin relaxed and slightly down. Without moving, try to turn your head against the resistance of your hand, as if trying to look over your right shoulder. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat. Do the same with your left hand.

That’s all for PODCAST #27. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of Sept. 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #26 7-1-08

WELCOME TO THE 26th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

The herb Butterbur extract for Migraine and Allergies

Clinical studies from Germany have positively confirmed that a herbal extract known as butterbur (Petasites hybridus)
May cut the frequency of migraine headaches by up to 50% in long-term migraine sufferers.
Many people are unaware of this unique supplement, which has been shown to be as effective as many prescription medications in preventing migraine with far fewer side effects.
When migraine strikes, physicians often recommend (NSAIDs) when these over-the–counter remedies are not enough doctors often prescribe medications such as Imitrex. These drugs are not risk-free. Common side-effects include nausea, dizziness; muscle weakness, drowsiness and rapid heart rate.
A wide range of prescription migraine-preventives are available, there effectiveness is unpredictable. They are also likely to induce unpleasant side affects.

Studies suggest that a standardized extract of the herb Butterbur is a powerful migraine preventive agent. Butterbur has been used for more that 2,000 years for conditions ranging from gastric disorders to allergies. Butterbur has been available in Germany as a prescription remedy since 1988. Butterbur is now available in the US as a dietary supplement

A dosage of 50-75 mg. of standardized butterbur extract twice daily for up to four months has reduced the frequency of migraine by 50%. While a dose of 50 mg. twice a day has been used in the management of allergic rhinitis.

The earliest small study in Germany of 60 patients, in which 33 adults took 50 mg. of standardized butterbur extract twice a day and the remainder, took a placebo. At the study’s start, the subjects suffered an average of 3.3 migraines each month. After 4 weeks of treatment the butterbur group averaged just 1.8 migraines per month. At 12 weeks the butterbur recipients reported and average of 1.7 migraines a month, a 51% decrease.

In a large study, researchers split 245 patients into three groups to receive: 75 mg. of butterbur extract twice a day, 50 mg. of butterbur extract twice a day, or a placebo. At the end of a four-month treatment period the patients taking 50mg. of butterbur experienced a modest reduction in migraine frequency relative to placebo users. Those taking the 75 mg. dosage, more than two-thirds reported that their incidence of migraine attacks had diminished by at least 50%.

Other nutritional therapies that may combine with butterbur’s activity to prevent migraine headaches are riboflavin (vitamin B2) 400mg a day and ginger

At clinics in Germany and Switzerland, a double blind study involving 131 patients confirmed that butterbur is just as effective as Zyrtec TM at calming nasal allergies. Another trail of 186 patients reported equally positive results, those taking butterbur were no more likely to report adverse side effects then those in the placebo group.

A large study of 508 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis who supplemented with butterbur extract for two weeks found that 90% of participants reported improvements in symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, watery eyes, itchy eyes and nose and red eyes.

That’s all for PODCAST #26. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of August 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #25 6-1-08

WELCOME TO THE 25th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Migraines: Vitamin C

Migraine suffers have one thing in common, that is the pain of a migraine. People differ in the cause, treatment severity etc. of migraine.

Many migraine suffers have food triggers. Tyramine is a trigger for certain individuals. A good idea is to keep a food diary to see what you ate a day or two before the migraine hit. For those sensitive to Tyramine it is found in ripened cheeses processed meats, certain fruits etc. A complete guide is www.headaches.org/education/?pid=1000074.

Alcohol can cause problems in certain sensitive people. Alcohol can cause dehydration since it is a diuretic. Drink water with your alcohol. Pure ethanol usually does not cause headache except in excess. It is the other alcohols produced in fermentation that causes the headache. That is why people that drink double distilled vodka get fewer headaches.

Caffeine has pros and cons. caffeinated beverages can help relieve headache pain. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor and stimulant. But it can cause a rebound effect. If consuming more than two to three cups of coffee causes rebound headaches then cut back.

A small study at the University of Cincinnati found that fish oil capsules reduced frequency and severity of migraines compared to a placebo.

A teaspoonful of honey at bedtime cut kids’ coughing nearly in half: an over the counter cough syrup had little effect.

According to the CDC, stroke is the leading cause of death and a major cause of disability. A recent study of more than 20,600 British men and women who were followed for nearly 10 years revealed that those with the highest blood levels of vitamin C had a 42% reduced risk of stroke. Another British study found that those who had a high vitamin C level, didn’t smoke, exercised regularly and consumed moderate amounts of alcohol live up to 14 healthy years longer then those that do not practice these healthy behaviors.

That’s all for PODCAST #25. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of July 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #24 5-1-08

WELCOME TO THE 24th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Your body: Vitamin D again: Diabetes

Your body and a car are similar with one big difference. Your car needs fuel, oil changes, maintenance and replacement every ten or so years.
Your body needs food, vitamins, exercise, and TLC. The difference is if you take care of the body it is capable of self repair. Treat your body right and it is good for 100 years or more.

For dry macular degeneration (AMD) research from the Age Related Eye Diseases Study (AREDS) found that taking high dose supplements, containing vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, copper and zinc helps slow disease progression in people who are at risk.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled study from the Creighton University School of Medicine, of 1,179 postmenopausal women, those taking nearly three times the recommended dose of vitamin D, plus calcium, reduced their relative risk of cancer by 60%.
The women in the study took 1,100 IU of Vitamin D3, plus 1,400 to 1,500 mgs, daily of extra calcium. Those taking only supplemental calcium, experienced no significant risk reduction.
The current upper limit for vitamin D in both the US and Europe is 2,000 IU a day. An article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that the upper limit should be increased to 10,000 IU a day.

If you give up a particular food for 3 weeks your desire for it will significantly decline. It’s important not to cheat. Even one slip will reactivate your craving.

Diabetes is a terrible disease if left untreated. It is a disease where the cells become less sensitive to insulin. As the cells become less sensitive the pancreas produces more and more insulin until it becomes less able to produce insulin. So the diabetic takes oral drugs that stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. If that does not work then you have to start injecting insulin.

If diabetes was only a matter of controlling blood sugar diabetics would not be having the troubles they have. Other problems such as elevated insulin and blood lipids. Excessive inflammation and increased free radical activity also contribute to the disease.

There are things to do to make the cells more sensitive to insulin. Regular exercise decreases insulin resistance.

Diabetes damages the blood vessels large and small. Particularly hard hit are the vessels of the eyes, kidneys and nerves.

There are alternative treatments. For ulcers that do not respond to antibiotics, increase your nutrition and vitamins.
Pack the wound with white sugar, which creates an environment in which no bacteria can survive.

Taking alpha lipoic acid 400 to 800 mg. acetyl -L-carnitine 500 to 1000 mg. and fish oil 2-8 gms. also a high potency multi vitamin and B-complex-100 in addition to your standard treatment will be helpful If you have any doubts check with your doctor.

That’s all for PODCAST #24. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of June 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #23 4-1-08

WELCOME TO THE 23rd EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Hypnosis: Living healthier and 14 years longer: Omega-3s: The government is trying to kill Medicare.

For breast cancer, a brief hypnosis session prior to biopsy or lumpectomy can reduce fatigue, pain and nausea and speed recovery. Sept 2007 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The following the four habits outlined in a study of 20,244 men and women, ages 45-79 enrolled in the EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Study.

1. Not smoking
2. Drinking moderately- one to 14 drinks a week.
3. Keeping physically active, either on the job or in leisure time.
4. Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Should improve your health and longevity.

An analysis of twins with different activity levels shows that there was a difference in longevity suggesting activity and not genes was the cause of increased longevity.

Omega-3 Study

To investigate, researchers had 11 women eat two servings of tuna or salmon each week, while another group of 12 women took in 485 milligrams of omega-3 in capsule form. Both groups got the same amount of omega-3s, just in different forms. After 16 weeks, blood tests showed omega-3 levels had risen an identical 40-50% in the red blood cells of both groups. Omega-3s in the plasma increased by 60-80% regardless of the source. Showing you can get your Omega-3s from fish or capsules.

Bad biased reporting by the N.Y. Times Newspaper.

An example of bad reporting by the N.Y. Times is titled Potential for Harm in Dietary Supplements. Approximately 245 Million Americans take vitamin supplements. A federal law requires supplement manufactures to report serious adverse effects to the Food and Drug Administration. It seems there very few reports of adverse effects. The same law applies to Drug adverse effects and there over 100 thousand reports of drug adverse reactions a year.
The article goes on to list 13 vitamins and minerals which the article states that can be hazardous when combined with various prescription drugs and over the counter remedies.
Of the vitamins mentioned only Vitamin K has been shown to interact with people taking coumadin the combination decreases clotting time which can be harmful for people undergoing surgery. The minerals mentioned can interact with the antibiotic Tetracycline and decrease its absorption.
There has been an effort by the drug companies (who are among the largest contributors to congress.)To prevent the population from taking vitamins which will improve your health.
Recently there are published studies that certain vitamins taken in conjunction with chemotherapy for cancer treatment has decreased the side effects of chemotherapy and improved the killing ability of the cancer drugs.

Medicare

Some of the programs that the Government administers are badly run. Medicare is one of the few programs that the government runs very well. The governments’ expenses for running Medicare are about 4%. The cost to Medicare of the private plans known as Medicare Advantage (MA) plans is about 17%. Medicare pays the MA plans
59 Billion Dollars or 7.1 Billion dollars more that if the patients had been enrolled in Medicare. This year the government (you the taxpayer) will pay $ 1,100 more for each enrollee in a MA plan. The services in MA plans are no better then Medicare. The MA plans are a money maker for the people running them and a high cost for the tax payer. Privatization is the government’s way to kill Medicare.

That’s all for PODCAST #23. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of May 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #22 3-1-08

WELCOME TO THE 22nd EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Depression: Drug Money: Marijuana relieves pain: Gifts to doctors by drug companies.

In an article in the British Medical Journal, too many patients are being diagnosed with depression and treated with drugs when they are merely unhappy.

British researchers enrolled 225 hospitalized patients, average age 75, and gave half a vitamin supplement providing 100 percent of the British RDA.The other half received a placebo. Both groups were fed a normal hospital diet. When they were retested after six weeks, significant improvements in mood were noted in the supplement group, regardless of their initial level of depression.

Most guidelines for weight loss are not just misleading, but wrong. There is little scientific evidence that fats drive obesity and good evidence that high glycemic carbohydrates do. The carbohydrate hypothesis offers the best explanation for the epidemic of obesity and the inability to stop it.

A new study concludes that cardio respiratory fitness may be a stronger predictor of mortality for older adults than body fat. This again shows that exercise is the most important factor for good health and longevity.

Doctors are courted by the drug companies to the tune of 20 billion dollars a year with free pens, free lunches and free trips etc. The doctor is invited to a fancy restaurant for a “medical education” speech usually about the greatest new drug. At the end of the evening some times the doctors are given an envelope with money inside.

In the office the doctor is detailed and given latest and greatest drug free. The free drugs which doctors give to their patients at first glance might seem to be a good deal. It is really bad for most patients. When the sample is finished you then get a prescription for the drug. Many times if the salesman did not intervene you could have gotten a tried and true generic drug, which would have worked as good or better and cheaper. The newer a drug the greater the chance for harmful side effects.

A study of 50 patients with HIV nerve pain found that a moderate (4%) dose THC cigarette relieved burning, aching and nerve pain as effectively as the oral pain drugs typically prescribed. The down side is that smoking marijuana has the same bed effect as smoking tobacco.

Many years ago when I was director of Pharmacy at St. Charles hospital, the cancer drug cis-platinum came on the market. It was a good drug but the side effects were terrible. Horrible nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite were among the worst.

For those patients on cis-platinum the government supplied free tins, each containing 100 of the best quality marijuana cigarettes. If a doctor had a cancer patient taking cis-platinum the doctor could write a prescription for marijuana cigarettes for that patient.

A cancer patient came into the hospital and was put on cis-platinum. He said it was the most terrible week of his life. He was nauseas and vomiting all the time and lost weight. He was admitted a few weeks later when we had received the marijuana. His doctor proscribed the marijuana cigarettes for the second cancer treatment. The patient smiled all the time, did not get nauseas, ate like a pig and felt great.

That’s all for PODCAST #22. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of April 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #21 2-1-08

WELCOME TO THE 21st EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Tidbits and Flu

Age related changes in certain nerves may cause the brains of older people to underestimate how much water they need to stay hydrated.

Children with night time coughing given a dark variety of honey, had less frequent and less severe hacking then children who took the OTC cough suppressant dextromethorphan.

Ginger and turmeric are natural anti-inflammatory agents.

The desire for intercourse in some elderly might decrease over time. A desire for intimate touch does not decrease and might increase. Humans have a lifelong need to be hugged, held, and cuddled by their partners.

Research suggests people over the age of 60 make only one-third of the amount of vitamin D from sun exposure as they did in their 20s.

The latest evidence comes from research that followed more than 1,000 postmenopausal women in Nebraska over four years. Scientists concluded that those taking 1,100 IU of Vitamin D daily had a 60 to 77 percent lower incidence of cancer then women taking a placebo (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition June 07)

New Findings: Spending just 10 minutes socializing may help you stay as mentally sharp as doing a daily crossword puzzle.

In 2007 the Cochrane Collaboration, a well respected nonprofit organization that provides accurate reviews of various therapies. They evaluated the efficacy of influenza vaccines. After looking at hundreds of clinical trials, involving hundreds of thousands of study subjects, the research team came up with some unsettling conclusions. First, they found that the majority of the studies, including those the government bases its recommendations on, were flawed.

Second, they concluded that flu shots just do not work very well. For people over age 65 living in nursing homes, the vaccine was fairly effective in protecting against flu’s complications such as pneumonia. However for people over 65 living on their own, the effects of the vaccine were negligible. Flu shots were even less effective for children, particularly those under the age of 2 (the group required to be vaccinated). The Cochrane group found them to be no more effective than a placebo!

Healthy younger adults were afforded some protection by the flu vaccine, but only when the shots matched the actual flu strains going around. Guessing which strain will appear is an informed guess. When they don’t match, as is often the case, protection is minimal. Getting a flu shot was found to lower the number of days of work missed in the healthy young adult group by less than a day.

Epidemiologist Tom Jefferson who coordinated the review said,” There is a big gap between policies promoting annual influenza vaccines for most children and adults, and supporting scientific evidence. “

To make matters worse, flu shots are not benign. Very few clinical trials have been conducted on the safety of these vaccines, which are a hodgepodge of possibly dangerous chemical and biological agents.

According to the Cochrane research team, only one safety study of inactivated vaccines has been carried out on kids younger than age 2, and that was done 30 years ago with only 35 children.

I personally use 2000 IU of vitamin D in place of the flu vaccine.

That’s all for PODCAST #21. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of March 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #20 1-1-08

WELCOME TO THE 20th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Health and medications:

A new study of nearly 1,500 men and women found that those who exercised for 30 minutes or more at least twice a week in their 40s and 50s had a 60% lower risk of developing dementia. An active lifestyle after age 60 also is protective.

Most Americans are over medicated and when drugs are needed they often take the wrong ones. Vioxx was taken off the market because it was found to cause heart attacks and strokes. Vioxx provided no better relief from arthritis then older, safer much less expensive anti-inflammatory drugs.

The majority of doctors prescribe medications because they think it is in their patient’s best interests. There has been a large change in the way that our medical knowledge is provided. Prior to 1980 most clinical research was publicly funded. Now most is funded directly by the drug and other medical industries. The drug industries primary mission is to maximize the return on investments for their investors.

Ninety percent of clinical trials now are now funded by the pharmaceutical and related industries. Seventy five percent of the published clinical research is also funded by the pharmaceutical and related industries. When a pharmaceutical company sponsors a study, the odds are five times greater that the findings will favor its product.

The drug and medical industries fund 70% of continuing education lectures and seminars, which are among the activities that doctors are required to attend to maintain their licenses. Where ever doctors turn for drug information the drug companies rule.

The government is not doing its part to regulate the drug industry. In fact the government is on the take. When it comes to the food and drug administration (FDA). The FDA is responsible for monitoring the safety of food and drugs. The FDA is underfunded by the government and the FDA supplements its income with money from the drug industry. That is certainly a conflict of interests. Also one of the biggest contributors to congress are the drug companies.

Many drugs are prescribed because of drug company influence. Anti-hypertensive drugs are used to treat high blood pressure. Norvasc was the second most commonly prescribed drug for older adults in 2003. It cost $500 to $700 a year. A study by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute found that diuretics that cost about    $ 30 a year  are as good as or better than Norvasc in protecting against complications of high blood pressure.

Diet and exercise are the two most important things to do for health and long life. The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research followed 25,000 men who had undergone Physical exams for 10 years. The men whose exercise endurance (as measured on a treadmill) was in the lowest 20% of the group were at a much higher risk of dying then those with high total cholesterol levels (above 240). Showing that exercise is more important than cholesterol levels.

That’s all for PODCAST #20. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of February 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #19 12-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 19th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Vitamin D increases life span: Health and life style changes:

High levels of vitamin D may slow aging and increase life span by preventing the age-related decline in telomere length. Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with aging, cell division and inflammation. When telomeres become too short, the cell can no longer divide and it dies.
Scientists at King’s College studied more that 2,000 women, examining their serum levels of vitamin D and assessing leukocyte telomere length. Women with the highest level of vitamin D had the longest telomeres. Women with the lowest levels of vitamin D had the highest levels of C-reactive protein. Which is a marker for chronic inflammation. Those with the highest level of vitamin D had telomeres whose length correlated to roughly five additional years of life.

Getting enough sleep may help your memory in addition to other benefits. Inadequate sleep may contribute to problems including type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity and increased accident risk. Americans are a sleep deprived society. Get 8-9 hours sleep and see how much better you feel and act.

A combination of exercise, weight loss and dietary strategies raises the level of HDL (good) cholesterol at least as effectively as any drug.

A 2004 German study found that volunteers with coronary heart disease who started a carefully regulated exercise program had fewer heart attacks and heart-related hospitalizations than those who underwent angioplasty, which is an invasive procedure to open blocked arteries.

A study that followed more than 42,000 men for 16 years found that those who ate healthfully, managed their weight, didn’t smoke, drank moderately if at all, and exercised regularly had an 87% lower risk for heart disease than those who practiced none of those behaviors. A similar study of 24,000 post-menopausal women showed that those who adopted the same measures had a 92% lower risk of heart attack over a six year period.

Americans still don’t make needed lifestyle changes because of laziness and in part because doctors are neither trained nor reimbursed to provide the necessary counseling.

That’s all for PODCAST #19. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of January 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #18 11-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 18th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Chocolate: Echinacea and the common cold:

Is your microwave safe? Yes!
The FDA rule states a microwave may leak no more than five milliwatts per square centimeter, measured at about two inches away over the ovens entire lifetime. Cell phones average a maximum output of about 1.6 watts.

Chocolate:

In a study in the AMA journal of 2007 it is that reported 6.3 grams (one-fifth of an ounce) of dark chocolate which equals 30 calories, reduced blood pressure an average of -2.9/-3.0 mmHg. in 18 weeks. Without affecting weight or blood lipids. This is a pleasant way to make a small reduction in blood pressure. Added to other blood pressure lowering modalities it can have an impact.

In short-term studies, consumption of 100 grams of unsweetened bakers cocoa daily has been shown to improve the function of endothelial lining blood vessels-thereby reducing blood pressure.

An intriguing finding by Dr. Taubert was that simple commercial dark chocolate was as effective at lowering blood pressure as much as more comprehensive dietary modifications. Dark chocolate yielded results similar to the DASH hypertension diet plan. Note: Dark chocolate should contain 70% or more cocoa. And dark chocolates have varying amount of unhealthy sugar.

Echinacea:

In The Lancet Infectious Diseases publication Craig Colman and colleagues looked at 14 randomized controlled trials totaling 1,630 participants. The researchers concluded that Echinacea reduced the average duration of colds by 1.4 days. Among 1,376 participants tested for Echinacea’s effectiveness in preventing colds. Echinacea also reduced the chances of catching a cold by 58%.
Although in line with findings of a meta-analysis performed in 2000, the findings contradicted a large, highly publicized 2005 trial reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. That study found Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, ineffective at preventing colds. The herbal industry challenged those findings, saying the tested dosage was too low—one gram daily rather than a standard three gram dose, and that the trial didn’t use a commercially available product.
In the new study (2005) Coleman suggests another possible reason for the contradictory results. More than 200 different viruses are known to trigger the common cold, and the 2005 negative findings focused on only one, rhinovirus. In addition some 800 Echinacea products are available. Note: be careful of bad studies done after 2000 especially if they contradict studies done before 2000. Note2: If the drug companies want to prove a vitamin or herb is not effective it is easy with a bad study.

That’s all for PODCAST #18. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of December 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #17 10-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 17th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Covering—Fitness: More about Vitamin E: Celiac Disease

Fitness level is a better predictor of lifespan then the absence of heart disease or high blood pressure. Researchers found that men who had the highest exercise tolerance levels were most likely to live longer.

The Vitamin E meta-analysis study that recently made the headlines was a very bad study for the following reasons. There were 19 studies selected from over 60 studies. Since there were so many studies the people doing the study select studies that will fit into their pre-selected result. In this study the people doing the study most likely had ties to the drug companies. They wanted to show that vitamin E taken in a therapeutic dose is harmful. Their conclusion “ High-dosage (more than 400 IU /day of vitamin E supplements may increase all-cause mortality and should be avoided. “ This study was blasted with much published criticism.
It is important to note that a second study of this study re-evaluated the same data and came up with a completely different conclusion. Their conclusion was that Vitamin E supplements are safe for most adults in amounts up to 1600 IU.

Pycnogenol taken before, during, and after long flights reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis.

Celiac Disease.

Celiac Disease is not just a childhood disease. Many adults have Celiac. It is believed that one in a 140 adults have celiac disease. If you have any type of stomach trouble you should be tested for celiac. It is a simple blood test which your doctor can do.
At the age of 74 I had diarrhea on and off for 6 months. Other people get a rash or just have stomach problems. I finally went to my doctor who gave me a blood test for celiac. I was positive for celiac. Celiac is caused by gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and sometimes oats. Gluten causes an auto-immune reaction in the small intestine. The villi of the small intestine adsorb nutrients from your food. Over time if you have celiac and continue to ingest gluten the villi of the small intestine can become less or none functional and you cannot adsorb the food you eat. This leads to severe mal-nutrition. If you stop eating wheat, barley, rye and maybe oats your symptoms clear up in a few weeks.
If you have to have a disease, celiac is one of the best to have. If you are overweight and you stop eating wheat, barley and rye you can loose fat. You cannot drink beer but you can have wine and whiskey. Since both of these are distilled, and gluten being a large molecule does not distill over.
Since such a large portion of the population has celiac there is now a large industry supplying gluten free bread, cake, pasta etc. So if you are not careful you can gain weight.
Page 2 of the News Letter at lencolabs.com lists 7 vitamins and minerals that all adults should take. In addition you should take 5 mg of folic acid, 25,000 IU of Vitamin A. The dose for vitamins E and D should be about 800 IU. I would also recommend a probiotic capsule or tablet every other day. Even if you do not have celiac the above additional vitamins will improve your health.
Also contact the Celiac Association 877-272-4272 or www.csaceliacs.org

That’s all for PODCAST #17. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of November 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #16 9-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 16th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Healing your legs: Alzheimer’s disease

Healing your legs.

About 5 years ago I started to get pain in my knees. If I wanted to pick up something from the floor I had to hold on to a chair to support my knees so I could bend them. I started to take Glucosamine and Chondroitin three times a day. Each dose was 500 mg. of Glucosamine and 400 mg of Chondroitin. After 3 weeks my knees were fine. It some times takes many months before your knees are fine. I would recommend any one in their fifty’s start taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin for prevention of joint problems.
I work out in the gym twice a week. A few months ago my legs started to hurt. Four weeks ago I started an exercise to improve my legs. Wearing my sneakers or a flexible shoe, I put the front half of my right foot on the bottom stair, holding onto the banister. I lower my heel and then raise my foot, and lower my heel again, up and down 12 times. I then do the same thing with my left foot. As my legs get stronger I do the exercises 3 times as a set. I then do three sets a day. My legs are now stronger and less painful. I think in a few months my legs will be great. If you are overweight or there is any pain start with fewer repetitions. Or use both feet at the same time. If you have balance problems hold the banister with both hands, or if you can place one hand on the banister and the other hand on the opposite wall. Make sure you are wearing none slip slippers or shoes so that you do not slip off the stair edge.

Alzheimer’s disease:

Alzheimer’s disease seems to come with aging. One in eight people over 65 and almost half of those over 85 have signs of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is marked by changes in the brain, these are beta-amyloid plaques and tangled tau proteins. The present thinking is that when these markers are present you have Alzheimer’s disease.
People with Alzheimers show on autopsy these changes in the brain. What causes them no one is sure. A strong case can be made for inflammation as one of the causes, and free radicals as another cause. Conventional medicine uses cholinesterase inhibitors such as Aricept (donepezil) as preventative and treatment. The claim is they delay the symptoms for six to 12 months in some of the patients that take them.

Many studies have shown that taking Ibuprofen or aspirin, both are (NSAIDs) helps prevent the progression of Alzheimers. Eating fatty fish which contain the anti-inflammatory omega-3 oils just once a week reduces the risk of Alzheimers. Also taking omega-3 supplements have the same good results.

A 2004 study of 5,000 participants showed those taking 1000 IU of vitamin E and 500-1000 mg. of vitamin C had a 64 to 78 percent lower risk of Alzheimers then the placebo group.

Additional supplements to prevent Alzheimers
A good multivitamin with minerals.
Natural Vitamin E 800-1600 IU
N-acetyl Cysteine 500-1500 mg.
Coenzyme Q-10 200- 400 mg
Phosphatidylserine 100 mg
Fruits and vegetables.

That’s all for PODCAST #16. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of October 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #15 8-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 15th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Asthma, Aging, Eyes (macular degeneration)

Asthma
A review of 26 published studies found that lowering salt intake to 1,500 mg of sodium per day reduces asthma severity and improves breathing in two to five weeks.

Aging
A pound of muscle burns 35 to 50 calories a day, compared with fat which burns 2 calories a pound.
Metabolism decreases by 1 to 2 percent every decade past the age of 30.
Bones reach their maximum strength and density some time between the ages of 25 and 30. All the bone you will have has been deposited by then, now you have to keep it and not lose your bone for the rest of your life.
When you hit your 40’s you may lose one-third to one-half a pound of muscle a year and gain that much in body fat if you are not active. That is why you might not gain weight but your belt gets tighter. Because of increased fat in your belly.
In your 50s you start to loose muscle fiber. You primarily loose the fast-twitch muscle fiber, the kind responsible for quick bursts of power. While the slow-twitch fibers, the ones responsible for your endurance, seem to better maintain their endurance.
The 70s and beyond, skeletal muscle fibers are fewer in number and may begin to shrink in size, resulting in smaller and weaker muscles.
Weight training should start at an early age. Three generations ago children played muscle building games, tag, jump rope, street ball, walked to school and walked any place they had to go. Now they sit in front of a computer or TV and get driven anyplace. Is it any wonder that 60% of the kids are over weight and 40% are obese?
Remarkable physical gains by frail nursing home residents in their 80s and 90s. By doing resistance-training for at least 6 weeks, the size and strength of their muscles significantly improved, as did their walking speed. Some said goodbye to their canes. You can get stronger at any age, if they can do it your can do it. Don’t wait till you are 90 to build muscle, if you don’t start early you might not reach a healthy 90.

Macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration is a disease of the eye that decreases the eyes ability to see. In the average person it starts later in life and gets worse as we age. There is no cure at the present time. But there is a vitamin and mineral regime that can slow the progression of the disease. The AREDS study showed that vitamins C, D, E and Beta carotene plus the minerals zinc and copper slowed vision loss. Another study in 2005 showed that the above nutrients were helpful in preventing age related macular degeneration (AMD). Also people who eat more fish are less susceptible to macular degeneration, most likely do to the Omega-3 oil in fish.
Research shows that people eating a high glycemic diet are more likely to develop AMD. A high glycemic diet is one that has sugar and  white bread in your diet.

That’s all for PODCAST #15. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of September 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #14 7-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 14th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Fish Oil; Cocoa; Vitamin D: wine and Coenzyme Q10

Fish oil increases the benefit of statin drugs.
A Japanese study of 19,000 people with elevated cholesterol levels were divided into two groups. One group took a statin plus a supplement containing omega-3 fish oil. The other group took only a statin. After four and one-half years, the addition of the omega-3 further reduced the combined risk of nonfatal heart attack and other coronary events by 19 percent compared with the statin alone. But it did not lower fatal heart attacks.

Ginger eases post surgical nausea. A review of 363 people who were given at least 1 gram of powdered ginger root capsules one hour prior to surgery were one-third less likely to suffer nausea and vomiting during the first 24 hours after the operation then those taking a placebo capsule. Ginger has also been found useful in the nausea of pregnancy.

Jean Mayer of USDA said, “If you consume about an ounce of dark chocolate a day, you will see some cardiovascular benefits.” The cocoa in dark chocolate is what is healthy. Dark chocolate is high in fat and calories; if you are over weight there are better ways to get cocoa and its benefits. For breakfast I have an 8 oz. glass of soy milk (you can use water or skim milk). I heat it up in the micro wave because I think the non-sweetened bakers’ cocoa dissolves better. I add a heaping teaspoon of cocoa and two packets of splenda. The cocoa does not dissolve easily stirring with a teaspoon. Ikea sells a small battery operated mixer ($1.50) that works great. The rest of my breakfast is a banana and an apple, a handful of walnuts, a handful of almonds and my vitamins.

A study of 4,519 people ages 60 to 80; the people who ate the most fish were 40% less likely to develop advanced macular degeneration (AMD) then people that at the least amount of fish. Omega-3 oil is found in fatty fish. In a second study of 7,752 people those that had the highest blood levels of Vitamin D were 40 % less likely to develop (AMD) then the people that had lowest levels.

If people take fish oil, vitamin D and Cocoa they should have 100% protection from getting a disease. To bad it does not work that way. The results are not additive. The reality is that doing all the correct things lowers your chance of getting a disease; it is not a guarantee that you will not get a disease. Good health is like a 3 legged stool. One leg is exercise, a second leg is mental attitude and the third leg is food and vitamins. You need all three legs to sit on the stool easily and not fall off.

A study in the May 22, 2007 issue of Neurology found that among people with (MCI) mild cognitive impairment, a daily drink of alcohol may slow the progress of dementia. Italian researchers tracked 1400 subjects ages 65 to 84 for more that 3 years. People with MCI who had up to one drink a day, primarily wine, developed dementia at an 85% slower rate then those with MCI who did not drink.

Coenzyme Q10 for migraines
The researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital examined the blood levels of Coenzyme Q10 in 1,550 children ages 3 to 22 who had migraines, and they found that a third were deficient in this important antioxidant. They gave those kids supplemental CoQ10 at .5-1.5 mg/lb of body weight per day. Then followed them for three months. Follow up exams revealed that this supplement dramatically reduced the frequency of headaches and cut headache disability scores in half. An earlier study of adults who took 150 mg of CoQ10 daily showed similar results.

That’s all for PODCAST #14. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of August 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #13 6-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 13th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Good Herbal Information

Echinacea
The New England Journal of Medicine NEJM. Recently published a study casting doubt on the effectiveness of
Echinacea. What was not reported was that the dose used in the study was less than one–third the dose recommended by the World Health Organization. A Canadian study showed that volunteers that took Echinacea at the onset of colds experienced 23% milder, shorter symptoms, such as sore throat, stuffy nose, and chills, then those taking a placebo. This is one of many studies showing Echinacea’s effectiveness.

Melatonin lowers nocturnal blood pressure.
For 4 weeks 19 adults with nocturnal hypertension (diagnosed with a 24-hour monitor) took 2 mg. of Melatonin two hours before bedtime as well as their blood pressure medication. 19 controls took their blood pressure medication alone. Blood pressure was significantly reduced in the Melatonin users. The other group reported no change.

Garlic
In a recent German study, 152 patients with advanced atherosclerosis who took 900 mg daily of garlic powder for four years experienced a 3% decrease in existing arterial plaques in their neck (carotid) and thigh (femoral) arteries. Those taking a placebo experienced more than a 15% increase in arterial plaques. This is a good study because it was long term and used the correct dosage.

Ginkgo
An overwhelming majority of Ginkgo trials have shown positive results. At least 33 randomized, controlled trials have shown this herb to enhance mental functioning or slow cognitive deterioration in older patients with dementia. While another 13 controlled studies have shown Ginkgo to boost memory and cognitive performance in healthy adults. A few people experience mild stomach upset, Ginkgo should be taken with caution by people taking blood thinners. The dosage is: 60 mg twice a day taken with food.

A 12-ounce can of sugared soda contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar; drinking one can of soda a day can add up to 15 pounds of fat in a year.

Milk Thistle
At least 19 out of 21 clinical studies (a total 2,200 people out of 2,400) have shown Milk Thistle to protect the liver against invasive toxins and possibly even stimulate the generation of new liver cells.

MORE INFORMATION ON STATINS (CHOLESTEROL LOWERING DRUGS)
Most people tolerate statin drugs very well.  However, as is true with all drugs, some people develop serious side effects.
The most common are muscle pain and weakness. Cognitive problems are the second most common problems.
Hundreds of cases of statin-induced memory loss and TGA (Transient Global amnesia) have been reported to FDA’s MedWatch
More then 12 million people in the USA take statin drugs. People and doctors are not warned sufficiently on drug labels and inserts about statin-induced memory loss.
Without this awareness, Physicians and patients are more likely to attribute declining memory or black out spells to dementia, stroke or just old age rather then cholesterol lowering drugs.
Dr. Golomb has received more 4,000 reports of cognitive dysfunction some so severe they were diagnosed as rapidly progressing Alzheimer’s disease
Dr. Graveline’s web site “www.spacedoc.net” contains almost 10,000 accounts of statin damage.
Statins lower cholesterol but do they lower heart attacks? Fifty percent of the people with heart attacks have normal cholesterol. Not a single study shows that statins are beneficial for women. The largest randomized clinical trial of statins in women found that those who took Lipitor actually had 10 % more heart attacks then women taking a placebo. There is no research suggesting that statins prevent heart attacks or extend life for anyone over age 70—women or men—including those at high risk of heart disease.
The only people ever shown in clinical studies to benefit at all from statin drugs are middle aged men at high risk for heart attack (high risk is having existing coronary artery disease, diabetes, disease of the blood vessels to the brain or extremities, or two or more risk factors, such as hypertension and smoking).
Another web site is statineffects.com.

That’s all for PODCAST #13. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of July. 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #12 5-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 12th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Heartburn and Ulcers; A few tidbits; Celiac disease and Intestinal gas.

More bad studies. According to a controversial meta-analysis study (a meta-analysis study is the combining of many studies which when combined usually result in a biased bad study). This bad study stated that taking vitamin E increased mortality risk by 4%; taking beta-carotene by 7% and vitamin A by 16%. However the authors state that they did not KNOW the exact cause of death of any of the study participants. Reported in JAMA 2-28-07. As the experts and I have said before, meta-analysis is impossible to compare, due to different patient populations; different design; different dosage, different food intake etc. In addition the antioxidants were used to treat disease not as preventatives. It was not until the researchers divided the studies based on their own bias that they were able to link antioxidants with mortality. Why a prestigious journal would publish such garbage if garbage is to strong a word then just a bad study I have no idea. Continue taking your vitamins as shown by the next study and ignore this and other bad studies.

A study of more than 950,000 healthy adults found that those who took vitamin E supplements regularly had a lower than average risk of dying of ALS (Lew Gehrig disease) in a 10 year period. Annals of Neurology, Jan. 2005. This is more truthful then some badly done recent studies that state Vitamin E is harmful as the above study.

Let your tap water run for twenty seconds before drinking or cooking with water. Water can be polluted by sitting in old pipes.

Twenty years ago studies were mostly financed by the government or organizations with no financial ties to the studies.

Now a review of 100 studies on soft drinks, juice and milk. They found that research sponsored by manufactures was four to eight times more favorable then studies that were not industry-funded.

Some natural cures for Heartburn (stomach distress) and Ulcers:
If you suffer from heartburn or ulcers here are some food tips. Avoid food that may irritate your condition, such as fried foods, citrus, tomato based, and spicy meals and other foods that you have found to irritate your condition. Eat frequent small meals but your total caloric intake for the day should not increase. Large meals increase the demand for stomach acid. Chew thoroughly and eat nothing within 2 hours of going to bed. Avoid smoking and NISAD’s. If you do take NISAD’s take with Lecithin 1200 mg which might decrease irritation. If you have trouble with regurgitation at night you can try to place a 2” block under each leg of the bed, at the head of the bed.

As mentioned in the previous podcast Folic Acid is good for Alzheimer’s it is also good for age related hearing loss, some cancers and helps cognition in seniors. If you take extra folic acid also take extra B12. Because as you age you produce less stomach acid and you need acid to absorb B 12

Many eating healthy advocates tell you to eat whole grains, which is good advice. If you get stomach irritation or bowel problems when eating whole grains you might have celiac disease. Wheat, barley and malt contain gluten, a protein which causes celiac. There is a simple blood test for celiac. Years ago people many that had bowel problems were diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. A number of them after taking a blood test were found to have celiac disease. If you have bowel problems ask your doctor to test you for celiac disease.

Intestinal gas: some facts
The average person produces 1 to 3 pints of gas a day and eliminates it in 14 to 23 passes, some while asleep. Most of this is odorless. Bacteria in the large bowel produce a tiny amount of methane by fermenting the carbohydrates left over from the digestive process and this forms hydrogen sulfide gas odor. Less then 1% of the gas we produce accounts for all the odor.

That’s all for PODCAST #12. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of June 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS is
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #11 4-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 11th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Bad beta-carotene study: low-dose Naltrexone (LDN): Folic Acid helps prevent Alzheimer’s: Normal body temperature.

On March 15th WebMD headline stated “Beta-Carotene Pills May Not Help Eyes “ Again I quote “A new study in Archives of Ophthalmology shows that healthy men taking beta-carotene pills for 12 years were as likely to develop age-related maculopathy which includes Advanced Macular Degeneration (AMD) as men not taking beta-carotene pills. AMD is when your central vision goes bad because the macular in the back of the eye is responsible for forward vision; you still have some peripheral vision. “Beta-carotene has never been shown helpful in any eye diseases. This is another example of a bad study, if the results of a study are useless then why publish? Unless you want people to stop taking vitamins. For years studies to prevent cataracts have shown the vitamin to take is Vitamin C 1000 mg. 3 times a day. To prevent AMD the vitamins and herbs are Lutein 20 mg. a day and Bilberry 80 mg. twice a day. Vitamin B6 100 mg. a day and Vitamin B12 500 mcg. a day. The vitamins can be found in 1 B-complex-100 capsule a day.

The Drug companies spend $4.5 billion a year advertising drugs directly to consumers. Do you wonder why drugs are so expensive and why they do bad studies?

The following information is from Dr. Whitaker’s Health & Healing Newsletter. Dr. Bernard Bihari, MD was using Naltrexone which is a prescription drug to help addicts withdraw from opiates. In 1985 Dr. Bihari gave low-dose Naltrexone (LDN) 1.75-4.5 mg. to a friend with recurring non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and her tumors disappeared. He then gave LDN to a friend who had acute multiple sclerosis (MS) for 16 years. She has had no MS attacks since taking LDN.
LDN works with the body to help regulate the immune system and make it more efficient, so it has wide spread use.
Dr. Bihari has treated cancer patients with colon, prostate, melanoma, multiple myeloma, breast, ovary, uterine, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. About 60% received benefits-virtually all of whom conventional treatment had failed. You can get more information at www.lowdosenaltrexone.org.

Folic Acid for Alzheimer’s Prevention. A 2007 study by Columbia University Medical Center of 965 New Yorkers 65 and older that did not have dementia. They followed them for 6 ½ years. 192 of them developed Alzheimer’s. The higher their intake of Folic Acid the lower the risk of Alzheimer’s. I suggest you increase your intake of Folic Acid by eating beans, greens and taking an 800 mcg. supplement of Folic Acid daily. Or better yet take 1 B-complex-100 daily.

For years normal body temperature has been considered 98.6 F. however modern researchers now define normal body temperature between 95.6 F to 98.6 F. Body temperature can change as much as 1.8 F over a 24 hour period. Researchers at Winthrop University Hospital N.Y. found the average body temperature of 150 adults with an average age of 81 ranged between 94 F. and 99.6. When you do not have an infection you should take your temperature when you awake and again 11 hours later. This will give you an idea of your normal temperature. If your normal temperature is below 98.6F then a temperature above 98.6 F. could be the sign of an infection.

That’s all for PODCAST #11. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of May 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

WELCOME TO THE 10th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Placebos as medicine—Melatonin again—Eliminate Acne
Not enough potassium in your diet

Thirty to seventy percent of patients taking placebos in medical studies show improvements. This shows that the unconscious mind has great control over the body. It is my belief that in the future when we know how to use the unconscious mind correctly there will be no such thing as disease.

Melatonin revisited. Besides melatonin being a good weapon against cancer it had been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines, boost mood, help with tinnitus and lower blood pressure. Spanish researchers measured the night time melatonin levels of heart attack patients in a coronary care unit, and then followed them for six months. The patients who suffered a subsequent heart attack or sudden cardiac death during the follow-up period had significantly lower levels of melatonin then those who faired well.
The best way to increase your melatonin level is to take 3 mg. Thirty minutes before bedtime.

To Much Salt Usually Means Not Enough Potassium

Too much salt in your diet is not good. Too much salt and not enough potassium is the problem. If you use a potassium-enriched salt (Nu-salt or Morton’s Salt Substitute) then the potassium counteracts the bad effects of pure salt. We get too much salt in our diet and not enough potassium. In a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, ofveteransin a living assisted facility. 768 men used potassium enriched salt (half sodium chloride, half potassium chloride). 1,213 men in the control group used regular salt. Over a 31 month follow up, the men using the potassium enriched salt had a 33% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease than those eating regular salt. Furthermore, their inpatient medical expenditures for treatment of cardiovascular disease were reduced by an average of $ 426 per year. Quite impressive for a small change in your diet.

Eliminate Acne by Changing Your Diet

Acne is not caused by poor hygiene, genetics or chocolate. It is the sugar in the chocolate that is the problem. There is virtually no acne in the Bantu and Zulu natives of Africa. Loren Cordain PhD an expert in primitive nutrition observes that acne is virtually nonexistent in cultures that eat a diet of wild game, fruit, fish, tubers etc. Dr. Cordain also noted that when these people move to the cities and eat the typical diet of refined sugars and grains, vegetable oils and other processed foods, acne becomes as common for them as for Westerners. Dr. Cordain studied the Kitava Islanders of the South Pacific who live a pre-industrial life style. Acne was almost non-existent. Studying the entire population of 1,200 revealed no cases of acne.
Our epidemic of acne is due to our Western diet of high-glycemic carbohydrates. Bread, cereal, rice, pasta, chips, candy and other high-glycemic index foods. These simple carbohydrates are rapidly converted to glucose and your pancreas produces large amounts of insulin to try to normalize your glucose level. In time this can lead to insulin resistance and finally to type 2 diabetes.
Other recommendations are to take two to four–1,000 mg. fish oil capsules and 25 to 50 mg of zinc a day, both are anti-inflammatory. Cut down or stop dairy products since Dr. Cordain says milk contributes to acne.
If you want more information two books are Dr. Cordain’s The Dietary Cure for Acne and The Whitaker Wellness Weight Loss Program.

That’s all for PODCAST #10. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of April. 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #9 3-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 9th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Vitamin D again, Herbs, Bad studies , Melatonin and Breast Cancer.

As mentioned before Vitamin D is a very important vitamin for your health. A study of more then 700 pairs of twins reports that those born in northern states were almost twice as likely to get the disease
Multiple Scleroses as those born farther south. Possibly because early sun exposure (producing Vitamin D) protects against MS.

In previous podcasts I said that the newer studies for natural products are either biased by the drug companies or are badly done. Much research done before 2000 showed that St. John’s wort was effective for mild to moderate depression. It was then tested for major depression with much-publicized disappointing results. No mention was made that it had proven effective in moderate depression. Another example of misuse of modern studies is Saw Palmetto. Early evidence found Saw Palmetto was found useful in mild to moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia. So recently a study was done to show it was not useful in men with severe benign prostatic hyperplasia. In many previous studies. It was found good for mild to moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia but no good for severe benign prostatic hyperplasia. Why repeat the negative findings of a previous good study unless you want to stop the use of the herb, so people will use the more expensive prescription drug with side effects.

MELATONIN fights breast cancer
U.S. breast cancer rates plummeted 7.2% in 2003. This came one year after millions of women stopped taking conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Melatonin runs our sleep/wake cycle. When it get dark the pineal gland produces melatonin, when melatonin levels rise in the body we fall asleep. Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and a free radical scavenger.
Melatonin has another use it is fast becoming a strong tool in breast cancer treatment and prevention. A Dec. 06 issue of the Indian Journal of Medical Science notes that in many randomized controlled trials, patients receiving supplemental Melatonin in addition to standard cancer therapies had substantially higher survival rates and significantly fewer side effects.
The Oct. 06 issue of Cancer Research has a report indicating that, in addition to Melatonin’s potential as a cancer preventive and inhibitor of tumor development and growth, it appears to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy, while decreasing side effects.
Melatonin comes in doses of 200 mcg, 1 mg. 3 mg. and 10 mg. The usual dose for sleep is 1 to 3 mg. Melatonin is taken 10 to 30 minutes before bedtime.

That’s all for PODCAST #9. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be Feb.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS is
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #8 2-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 8th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

This Podcast covers Dementia, Back pain, muscle pain and muscle cramps.

Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia
Ginkgo Biloba an herbis a powerful antioxidant; it increases blood flow to the brain, which allows the better delivery of nutrients and oxygen and increases overall brain function. Italian researchers have shown that Ginkgo biloba works as well as donepezil (Aricept) a prescription drug.In a double blind placebo-controlled study, (The best kind of study) patients with mild-to-moderate dementia were given daily doses of either 160 mg of ginkgo, 5 mg. of donepezil, or a placebo. After 24 weeks the researchers concluded that ginkgo was clinically comparable in efficacy to Aricept.

Ginkgo biloba is an herb and non-prescription, so it is not FDA controlled. You should buy Ginkgo from a reliable source. Ginkgo costs about $15 a month. Ginkgo’s only side effect is a slight blood thinning effect. If you take “any kind of blood thinners” check with your doctor about taking Ginkgo. The 160 mg. daily dose should be taken as one 80 mg. tablet or capsule twice a day.

Aricept costs about $ 100 a month and has side effects such as nausea, diarrhea and runny nose. Which would you rather use Donepezil a prescription drug or Ginkgo biloba?

BACK PAIN MUSCLE CRAMPS & SPASMS Can be caused by a lack of the mineral magnesium. According to the American Chiropractic Association approx. 31 million Americans suffer from back pain at any given time. One of magnesium’s roles in the body is in neuromuscular function, so deficiencies of magnesium may cause muscle cramps and spasms. The RDA (recommended daily amount) of magnesium is 310-420 mg. a day. Only about 1/3 of Americans get this amount. The suggested daily dose for spasm and other muscle pain is 500 -1000 mg a day in divided doses. High doses of magnesium can cause loose stools. If this is a problem take more calcium (which acts as a fecal binder) or reduce the dose of magnesium.

Taking prescription drugs or Natural therapies have two things in common. The first is that they do not work on all people. Figures of working on about 80% of the people are mentioned but where the figures come from I do not know. The second is the dosage. Some people are larger then others, also some people are more sensitive to drugs and Natural therapies then others. When trying a new drug or therapy keep this in mind.

MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a naturally occurring sulfur compound. MSM works in several ways, it is a powerful anti-inflammatory, it blocks the pain response in nerve fibers, and the sulfur may help with cartilage regeneration. When Glucosamine and Chondroitin were recommended for joint pain it was also recommended that you take it with MSM 1,200 to 4,000 mg. The combination seemed to work better then Glucosamine alone.

That’s all for PODCAST #8. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of Feb. 1-07

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #7 12-1-06

WELCOME TO THE 7th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

This podcast covers a very important fact that taking a multivitamin is a fast and easy way to improve your health. Every one should take a multivitamin. Population based studies show that taking a daily multivitamin reduces heart attacks, helps protect against colon cancer and helps boost the immune function.

Most people over 50 can no longer adequately absorb vitamin B-12 from their food. The body’s ability to make vitamin D on exposure to sunlight declines sharply with age. Pregnant women need 400 mg. or more of folic acid early or before pregnancy to prevent severe birth defects.

Whether you buy a highly advertised brand or a generic there is no difference, do not buy the super cheap vitamins in close-out or dollar stores. According to Consumer Reports half of the 18 tested brands from these stores failed to contain the labeled amount of at least one ingredient and several did not dissolve adequately.
You can take your vitamins any time of the day. Take them after a meal on a full stomach (this helps to avoid indigestion). Also the meal should contain some fat as this helps the absorption of vitamins D, E and the carotenoids.

While most of the multivitamins contain 100% of Daily Value (DV) which used to be called the Minimum Daily Requirement (MDR). Because this is the minimum that the FDA recommends. The less of each vitamin that the manufacturer puts into the Multivitamin the less it costs to make. These values have not been changed since the 1970s. Current thinking has increased the dosage of many of the vitamins in a multivitamin.

While a multivitamin is one important step on the road to good health the dosage of some of the vitamins in a multivitamin are too low. Higher doses of B, C, D, E and Calcium should be taken for optimum health.

B-complex is a mixture of six or more B vitamins. It comes as B-50.  Containing 50 mg of most of the B vitamins. Take one or two a day. If you take two a day take one with breakfast and one with dinner. The B-complex vitamin will color your urine yellow this is not harmful in any way.

Vitamin C is used to build the hormones that fight stress and strain. We are all under stress a good part of the day. I recommend one 500 mg of vitamin C with breakfast and one with dinner to help fight stress. Any excess will pass out in your urine.

Vitamin D studies have shown that we do not get enough Vitamin D in our food or in a multivitamin. The new requirement is 1000 IU a day. There is a theory that one of the contributing factors to getting the flu in the winter is because in the winter we do not get enough vitamin D. The preferred form is Vitamin D3 not Vitamin D2 since Vitamin D3 is absorbed better.

Vitamin E (natural) with tocopherols check the label for the tocopherols. The reason for natural Vitamin E is that the natural contains the tocopherols which improve the action of Vitamin E. Vitamin E in doses of 400 IU and higher decreases varicose veins and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Lancet reports Vitamin E prevents free-radical damage to LDL, blocking an early step in Heart disease and reducing the risk of coronary artery disease by 77%. Vitamin E decreases blood clotting which helps prevent stroke. So if you take coumadin check with your doctor before taking excess vitamin E.

The recommended dose of Calcium is 1000 to 1200 mg daily. If Calcium was put into a multivitamin at this dosage it would be the size of a golf ball which even I would have difficulty swallowing. Calcium tablets come as 500 mg of calcium or 500 mg of calcium with 400 mg of magnesium. This combination usually does not change bowel function as they balance each other. Calcium acts as a binder and magnesium as a natural stool softener. So you might have to adjust the amounts of calcium or magnesium for a normal bowel movement.

That’s all for PODCAST #7. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be Jan. 1, 2007

If you would like your questions answered on the health and happiness podcast our e-mail address is health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

PODCAST #6 11-1-06

WELCOME TO THE 6th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

To-days podcast covers Fish Oil (Omega-3 Fatty acids). And heartburn (GERD)

30 years ago scientists discovered that the diet of Greenland’s Eskimos was mainly fish and fat. The fish eating Eskimos have much lower cardiovascular disease then nonfish eaters. Evidence demonstrated that this protection is due to the omega-3 fatty acids found in the fish.
A 1999 study of 11,000 heart attack survivors showed that patients that took about 1 gm. of fish oil daily for three and a half years had a 30% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a 45% lower risk of having a sudden fatal heart attack.
In the year 2000, the American Heart Association began recommending taking omega-3 fatty acids to prevent heart attack and stroke.
Found in cold water fish, such as salmon, mackerel, lake trout, herring and sardines, these fish have a high content of omega-3 fatty acids. Other good sources are walnuts soybeans and canola oil.
Studies suggest omega-3s may protect the heart by reducing systemic inflammation. Omega-3 decreases the stickiness of platelets lowering the risk of clots that can cause heart attack or stroke. Research also indicates that omega-3
might fight mild to severe depression, as well as autoimmune disorders as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease. Most people do not eat enough fish to get enough fish oil to fight or prevent these diseases. There is also the problem of mercury, PCBs and dioxins in large fish.
Taking fish oil capsules is a good way to get your omega-3s with out mercury, PCBs, etc. If you are the average healthy person a dose of 1 to 3 capsules a day is fine. If you take anti-clotting agents check with your doctor for dosage.
Fish oils are so good for you that a Drug Company has come out with Omacor a prescription drug that is a concentrated form of omega-3s. Thus the drug company can make a profit by selling a prescription drug that is available over the counter with out prescription at a lower price.

Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. The stomach and the bottom of the esophagus lie behind the heart. When the sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus is weak the result is a reflux of acid, enzymes, bile, etc. into the delicate tissues that line the esophagus. This burning condition is known as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD),
.           40% of the of the adult population suffer from GERD. 60 million Americans experience heartburn once a month and more and 25 million Americans suffer painful heart burn symptoms every day.
Most people take Prilosec, Tagamet and Tums etc. to relieve the burning condition. Chronic heartburn exposes people to the higher risk of esophageal cancer.
There is a natural substance d-limonene an extract from orange peel which can be used to control GERD. Taking one 1000 mg. capsule of purified d-limonene every other day for 20 days has be shown to reduce or eliminate symptoms in most people for months or longer. Some people experience minor burping when taking d-limonene.
In a small two week study of 19 participants. They said that after taking d-limonene once a day or once every day their heartburn went from a high of 8.3 to a low of 1 or 2. In a second double-blind study of 22 participants that took either d-limonene or a placebo. At day 14, an impressive 83% of those taking d-limonene reported heartburn severity no greater then 2 compared with 30% taking the placebo. After stopping the d-limonene, the good effect lasted from 2 weeks to a few months.
D-limonene should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women, or by people who have or suspect they have ulcers. People using d-limonene should follow the manufactures instructions.

That’s all for PODCAST #6. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be Dec. 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

By clicking on PODCAST and then clicking the box next to PODCAST #6 you can get the text version of the PODCAST.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin

Welcome To the Fifth Edition of the Health and Happiness Podcast

Welcome to 5th edition of the health and happiness PODCAST. In this PODCAST I will cover vitamin D, the poor quality of the American health care system, cholesterol-lowering drugs and diuretics which are used to low blood pressure.

Vitamin D and calcium are very important for the body, not only to build strong bones but also to prevent disease. So important that vitamin D is added milk. The medical literature now has new recommended levels for vitamin D. The new recommendations are 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D for the average person. Postmenopausal women should be getting a thousand IU of vitamin D.

Normally we get 400 IU of vitamin D from our multivitamin and 400 to 600 IU more should be taken from an additional source.

In a very large study of 110,000 men and women ages 38 to 75, those who consumed more than 600 IU of vitamin D daily reduced their risk of pancreatic cancer by 41%. Pancreatic cancer is a killer, not too many people get it. Those who do get it the symptoms come late and by the time it’s diagnosed the recovery rate is very small.

Vitamin D when added to calcium increases the absorption of calcium and makes stronger bones. So it decreases bone fractures. The combination of calcium with vitamin D also decreases colorectal cancer.

John Abramson M.D. a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School wrote a book called Overdosed America; in it he says that America does not have the best medical system but one of the worst. He quotes WHO, the World Health Organization which says the life expectancy of a
healthy American ranks 22nd out of 23, of the industrialized countries. The only country that we have a better life expectancy than, is the Czech Republic, that’s pretty sad.

For medical care the U.S. spends $6,000 for every man woman and child. This is twice the amount spent by other developed countries WHO said that we ranked 37th among the nations in the efficiency in improving citizen health. In improving citizen health we ranked 72nd.

Today’s drug companies are part of the problem. The drug companies are more interested in making huge profits then in helping people. The drug companies say they need this huge amount of money for research. It is not true, the drug companies spend more money for advertising then they do for research.

Last year’s figures show for older drugs and generic drugs according to the book Overdosed America are as good as the newer advertised drugs and often safer. They are safer because they have been on the market longer and anything harmful about them comes out sooner. It takes two or more years to report the harmful effects of new drugs. As we found recently with Celebrex and other anti-inflammatories. Of the 560 new drugs approved from 1995 to the year 2000 only 13% were new drugs and were sufficiently better than the older drugs. Originally medical research was university based it was not done by for-profit organizations now they’re funded by the drug companies now you can either prevent and cure disease or you can maximize your profits. You can’t do both. The position that we’re in now, the drug companies are maximizing their profits

Now for information about cholesterol. We are told that cholesterol is a good indicator for heart attacks, yet 50% of the people that get heart attacks have normal cholesterol. A better indicator for heart attacks is high C reactive protein (H-CRP). It is an indicator of the inflammation in the body and this seems to be a better indicator for heart attacks. The more inflammation the better the chance of a heart attack.

Cholesterol lowering Staten drugs are recommended for more than 40 million Americans. Medical literature backs up their use in only a small subgroup of patients and then the benefits are small. As I mentioned in previous podcasts. Statins can have harmful side effects. Why are we using so many statin drugs because of drug company advertising.

A few years ago a large study by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute compared four different drugs to lower high blood pressure. It showed inexpensive diuretics as effective or more effective than the newer expensive drugs for high blood pressure. The study revealed the drug Cardura significantly increased the risk of congestive heart failure. Many millions of drug company dollars later Cardura is still on the market.

That’s all for podcast number five I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next podcast, will be number six on November 1

If you would like your questions answered on the health and happiness podcast our e-mail address is health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com Thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with Leonard Austin

Welcome To the Fourth Edition of the Health and Happiness Podcast

This Podcast Concerns:

1. Smokers.
2. NIH which is the national Institute of health
3. And the prevention of dementia.

There is a study stating that smokers that take Vitamin C and Vitamin D are healthier. Vitamin C prevents the smoker from the destroying the vitamin E in the body. Smoking uses up 35 mg of vitamin C per cigarette. Vitamin E protects the lungs against the free radicals produced by smoking. In the process of protecting the lungs the Vitamin E is oxidized and becomes a free radical. Free radicals are very detrimental to the body; they attack the cells of the body and prevent the formation of healthy new cells. Anti oxidants prevent the free radicals from forming.  Vitamin C, Vitamin E. and many other antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables prevent the formation of free radicals.

The Linus Pauling Institute said that smokers that take 1000 mg. of vitamin C stop the conversion of vitamin D to harmful free radicals. Vitamin C will help prevent some of the bed effects of smoking. The best thing to do is to give up smoking. A lot of people can’t do that. So the least you should do is take 1000 mg of vitamin C twice a day because vitamin C is used in the formation of the hormones that fight stress and strain and since we’re all under stress and strain the vitamin C gets used up in about 12 hours.

NIH has an expert panel that says,” The jury’s out on multivitamins “. This means that once again NIH is looking at bad vitamin studies. As I’ve mentioned before, NIH gets part of its funding from the large drug manufacturers. Before the year 2000 hundreds of good vitamin studies show that vitamins in high dosages improved health. E.g. Folic acid, B6 and B12 in high doses slow or prevent macular degeneration. Vitamins prevent diseases; they’re not drugs for the treatment of disease, except in the very few cases. It used to be thought that vitamins would be detrimental to cancer patients. It has now been found that high doses of vitamin C decreases the side effects of Cis-platinum and increases the killing of the cancer cells. So once again NIH’s expert panel saying, “the jury is out on multivitamins”. This ridiculous because there are hundreds of good studies that show that vitamins are quite healthful.

One of the statements made is a caution against smokers taking Beta-Carotene. This goes back to a very, very bad study.  The study was done with people who smoked five packs of cigarettes a day.  The people smoking five packs of cigarettes a day were given Beta-Carotene, vitamin E and a combination of Beta-Carotene and vitamin E. The study came to the conclusion that the vitamins didn’t do any good and maybe the beta-carotene was harmful.  The study did not show how they medically arrived at the conclusion that Beta-Carotene might be harmful. From that terrible study there are many statements saying that smokers should not take Beta-Carotene. Since this was such a bad study you cannot draw any conclusions from it.

As I had mentioned previously smoking a cigarette destroys 35 mg of vitamin C. So the smokers in the study had no Vitamin C in their body. There are ways to stop smoking. One of the good ways is to use medical hypnosis. It can’t be done in one session but repeating the sessions 3 to 5 times many people can give up smoking. Nicotine is a very habit forming drug. Many health professionals say nicotine is as habit forming as cocaine. Another method you can try are the nicotine patches, taken under a doctor’s supervision many people have been able to give up cigarettes.

In the New England Journal of Medicine they have an article on the prevention of dementia with B-12, and Folic acid. Americans need for Folic acid is so important that they now supplementing grains and cereals with it. The reason they found this out is that mothers that gave birth to children the Spina Bifida which is a disease where the spinal column is not completely covered were low in Folic Acid. They found that giving women Folic Acid supplements when they became pregnant prevented Spina Bifida.

Dementia affects a half-million people in United States. In some people over 70 the cognitive function declines abruptly and irreversibly. But at a younger age in some people it remains intact until it very old age. This indicates it’s not an intrinsic factor of aging, by that they mean because you’re aging it doesn’t mean you have to have dementia. They believe that Hemocysteine which is a substance produced by the body that shows inflammation in the body, that this is one of the causes of dementia. In their study and other studies that showed decreases in Hemocysteine there were decreases in dementia. More evidence of this was provided by the Rotterdam study by the Nurses study etc. These studies show that Hemocysteine is harmful to the body. This has been shown by many studies hemocysteine is a facture in dementia.. So by taking your vitamins and specifically taking B-12 and Folic Acid, which studies show has decreased in the elderly you might have a better chance of preventing dementia.

If you would like your questions answered on the health and happiness podcast our e-mail address is health@ Labs.com for more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with Leonard Austin.