Newsletter 9-23-2011

Cardovascular System - The Whole Picture
Prescription Drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities in U.S., data show
Is Multiple Sclerosis: A Chronic Mycotoxicosis?
(Missing Link in our Last Newsletter)
The Four Biggest Health Myths

A poorly nourished body will have a sick cardiovascular system. The Standard American Diet (SAD) provides a poorly nourished body.

High blood pressure, taking ANY heart related medication, heart murmurs, almost all heart defects (doctors will tell you that you were born with it or it is genetic), arrhythmias (unevenness) of the heart beat, angina pectoris pain in the left or central chest that may extend into the left neck and jaw or extend down the left inner arm), congestive heart failure, fibrillations (rapid incomplete ineffective contractions of one or more of the four chambers of the heart, atherosclerosis (large arteries affecting the middle muscle layer of the artery structure) or arteriosclerosis (affecting the walls of the small arteries with thickening, loss of elasticity and loss of contractility), infections (parasitic, fungal, viral, or fungal) of any kind in the heart or arteries and more fancy diagnosis are almost all remedied by specialized nutrition and an ideal diet or prevented by appropriate diet for one's entire life not just for the moment.

The cardiovascular system provides the nutrients for creating energy, cell structure and the flow of wastes out of the body. This flow out of the body is accomplished by a branch of the cardiovascular system, called the lymphatic system. It gathers the wastes and eventually all the lymphatic flow is dumped into the cardiovascular system for further processing and elimination.

When the body takes in; refined food, synthetic vitamins and altered foods; the cardiovascular system is stressed and degenerates slowly over decades. This slow degeneration is why the first symptom of cardiovascular trouble can be a serious stroke or heart attack.

Benefits of "Vasculin" (by Standard Process)

The body's vascular system is 100,000 miles long. Almost all of that length is in the form of capillaries invisible to the naked eye. These miniscule transporters bring blood and nutrients directly to the trillions of cells that make up the body.

Vasculin promotes artery and capillary repair, increases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood and benefits the muscles of the heart and arteries. By improving oxygen metabolism in the blood, one's exercise tolerance is improved.

Along with capillary fragility, Vasculin helps with blood pressure changes (both high and low), chronic fatigue and addresses muscular weakness.

Most cardiovascular nutritional handlings will include this supplement.

In my next article, I will discuss "Organically Bound Minerals"

Dr. Mike Spearman
Spearman Better Health Center
(323) 663-1066
email: drmikess@yahoo.com
www.spearmanbetterhealth.com

Prescription Drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities in U.S., data show

Fueling the surge are prescription pain and anxiety drugs that are potent, highly addictive and especially dangerous when combined with one another or with other drugs or alcohol.

The story from last week had the missing link to the actual story, so here is the story.

Mycotoxicosis: Mycotoxicoses is the term used for poisoning associated with exposures to mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are a toxin produced by a fungus

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, one of several non-profit organizations dealing with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research funding and patient assistance, raised almost $74 million dollars in the fiscal year 2001. It spent $64 million, of which $54.8 million went toward program expenses, and $6.6 million was directed at fundraising efforts. Two million goes toward administrative costs. The CEO alone makes over $300,000. (1)

Still, in the 57 years of the society's existence, no cause for MS has been assigned. I use the word "assigned" and not "found," because I believe a cause has already been found. In our book, "The Fungus Link, Volume 2," Doug Kaufmann and I discuss the role of fungal toxins, called mycotoxins, in the etiology of MS. The evidence brought forth by various scientists over the years and compiled in a small section of this book is quite compelling. It is so compelling that, at this point, I believe scientists will be forced into a position of proving that mycotoxins are NOT the cause of MS, a task at which, I believe, they shall not succeed.

MS is characterized by destruction of the protective sheath - called the myelin sheath - around nerves in the brain and the spinal cord. As a result, the transmission of nerve impulses to other nerves, muscles, and vital organs is interrupted. This impaired nerve function translates into symptoms such as difficulty in walking, abnormal, "pins and needles" sensations throughout the body; pain and loss of vision due to inflammation of the optic nerve, tremors, uncoordination, paralysis, and impaired thinking and memory (2). In addition, muscle wasting, bladder dysfunction, fatigue, osteoporosis, and a host of other problems may develop either directly or indirectly due to this nerve damage.

Although there is a genetic predisposition toward MS, as proven in studies of twins, only a third of those that are genetically susceptible will get MS, indicating there is still an outside factor involved (3). MS is more common in those born and raised above the 37th parallel (a line extending from Newport News, VA to Santa Cruz, CA); however, if a person moves to an area of low risk (i.e. below the 40th parallel) prior to adolescence, they assume the lower risk of their new location. These last points support the idea of an environmental exposure link to the disease.

If outside causes are to blame, then Oppenheim, an early 1900's researcher, was the closest in his assertion that MS is caused by an environmental toxin. Other researchers of his day thought that there was a defect in the blood vessels or in the glial tissues. Pierre Marie, in the late 1800's, felt that MS was caused by an infectious agent. However, despite all of the "infection" theories that have been tested over the past 150 plus years, not one - whether bacteria, virus, Chlamydia or scrapie-like agent - has proven to be the culprit.

So, let's apply what we already know about MS and see if we truly know the cause of MS or not. Mycotoxins are chemicals made by fungi. They are found in grains that have been contaminated with fungi and mold. Some mycotoxins are used for medicinal purposes. Antibiotics, such as penicillin and the cephalosporin drugs, are fungal metabolites - they are mycotoxins. Alcohol is a mycotoxin. Aflatoxin, the most carcinogenic substance on earth, is a mycotoxin. The most commonly contaminated crops are peanuts, corn, and wheat.

Often, other foods such as barley, apples, sorghum and rye can be contaminated as well. Some mycotoxins are produced in our body by the yeast in our intestines or vaginal tract. In one study, 3 women severely symptomatic for vaginal candidiasis were found to have vaginal fluid samples with significant levels of a mycotoxin called gliotoxin (4). From our environment, we can be exposed to mycotoxins through countless routes: ingestion, inhalation, skin contact, etc. The question is, once inside the body, can these mycotoxins damage nerves? Let's answer that question now.

We already know that, in MS, there is a loss of molecules called sphingolipids from the white matter in the central nervous system (5). What is not well known is the fact that mycotoxins can actually disrupt sphingolipid biosynthesis (6). Specifically, gliotoxin, as we mentioned above, on a slightly larger scale can induce nerve cell death (apoptosis).

Gliotoxin is a heat-stable chemical made by Aspergillus, Candida, and other species of fungi. (7). Not coincidentally, scientists have recovered a heat stable toxin from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients. In this particular study, they took the CSF from MS patients, heat-treated it to destroy any infectious germs, and then exposed it to nerve cells in a laboratory culture. What happened? The nerve cells died! They called this heat-stable toxin "gliotoxin."

The source of gliotoxin appears to be, again, primarily from the yeast and fungi within the human body. As such, gliotoxin is less important an agricultural scourge than other mycotoxins such as fumonisins, made by Fusarium and Aspergillus fungi, and the penetrim D toxin made by Penicillium crustosum. Fumonisins are a group of mycotoxins that happen to be neurotoxic as well as carcinogenic. They are "universally present in corn and corn-based products." (8). Penitrem mycotoxins are found in things such as moldy apple products. Penetrem D can cause tremors, convulsions, limb weakness, and ataxis (unsteady gait), "not unlike the symptoms observed in MS." (9).

As there are different classes of MS (chronic progressive, relapsing-remitting, etc.) it may very well be that the different classes are being caused by different classes of mycotoxins. In addition, the regional differences in the prevalence of MS might be explained by the particular agricultural products that dominate the most affected areas. For example, the part of America that lies above the 37th parallel also happens to encompass the cornbelt. Remember that corn is universally contaminated with mycotoxins (7). This area is also represented by much of the wheat belt. Is this just a coincidence, or good evidence of an environmental exposure risk factor?

Let's talk about some of the latest treatments for MS. Dr. Mercola has already stated in a previous article that most MS drugs are a waste of money (10). The new buzz on the town, however, is that statin drugs (cholesterol-lowering drugs) have proven effective in slowing the progression of MS (11-13). Their effectiveness should not surprise us, in light of the fungal/mycotoxin theory, when we also learn that statin drugs are antifungal (14).

Dr. Mercola has also mentioned in previous articles that Vitamin D as well as plain old sunlight can reduce mortality from and positively influence the immune system in MS (15,16). Other researchers have explained that the reason why these work is, once again, Vitamin D, whether taken in the form of a cod liver oil supplement or made naturally by our body from sunlight exposure, is anti-mycotoxin (14).

Finally, let's talk about diet again. Last year a German researcher claimed that eating smoked sausage in childhood was responsible for causing multiple sclerosis later in life. (16). Dr. A.V. Costantini, retired head of the World Health Organization's collaborating centre for mycotoxins in food, helps us out here by explaining that smoked and aged meats are often contaminated with mycotoxins (18). Thus the cause of MS, according to these and other researchers, is right in our food.

In another of Dr. Mercola's articles, he talked about how starving mice with an MS-like condition resulted in fewer symptoms and decreased progression of the illness (19). Why does starvation work? In our humbled opinion, it could be as simple as: the fewer foods taken in, the fewer mycotoxins that enter the body. You see, if we are following the standard, food-pyramid, grain-based American diet, we are consuming on average from 0.15 to 0.5mg of aflatoxin per day (8). Aflatoxin is the only regulated mycotoxin in America, so what level of exposure we have to the other, known mycotoxins in our diet that we've discussed is a guess, at best. So starvation diets not only deprive us of calories. They also "deprive" us of disease-causing, carcinogenic mycotoxins.

If indeed mycotoxins cause MS, then there are a number of steps one must take to minimize exposure to fungi and their mycotoxins. We just finished talking about diet. Since mycotoxins are commonly found in grain foods (7,8), then it would be wise to minimize grains in our diet. Doug Kaufmann outlines his Initial Phase diet in our book, The Fungus Link, Volume 2. As well, Dr. Mercola has published his book, The No-Grain Diet, which offers equally valuable information. Secondly, we should minimize our exposure to antibiotics.

Antibiotics are, for the most part, derived from fungi and are therefore classified as mycotoxins. If we've taken lots of antibiotics in the past, we should attempt to correct the damage done by these by taking a good probiotic supplement. Lastly, if we have any obvious signs of fungal infection in our body, and to us, simply having MS might qualify as an obvious sign, it might behoove us to take natural or prescriptive antifungals for a period of time. Remember that gliotoxin can be made by fungi and yeast that are already in the body, not necessarily by fungi that reside in contaminated foods.

Doug and I hope that we've given you some insight to this "mysterious" disease of MS. It seems, according to the research we've pointed to, that the cause for this disease is right before our eyes. Now, we just need to apply this knowledge. Future research should be directed at treating the disease as if it were caused by fungi and their devastating mycotoxins.

1. The Charity Navigator. Charitynavigator.org. July 2003
2. Nationalmssociety.org. Sept. 2002
3. Murray, J. Infection as a cause of multiple sclerosis: theories abound because no one knows the answer yet. Editorials. British Medical Journal. Vol 325:1128. 16 Nov 2002.
4. Shah, D.T, et al. In situ mycotoxin production by Candida albicans in women with vaginitis. Gynecol. Obstet. Invest. 1995;39(1):67-9
5. Harper. Review of Physiological Chemistry, 16th ed. 1977
6. Miller-Hjelle. PKD: an unrecognized emerging infectious disease? Emerging infectious diseases. 3(2):113-127. 1997. CDC
7. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. Mycotoxins: Risks in Plant, Animal, and Human Systems. Task Force Report 139. Jan 2003. Ames, IA
8. Etzel, R. Mycotoxins. Journal of the American Medical Association. 287(4): 425-427. Jan 23/30, 2002.
9. Iserloh.com/pheitrem.html. July 2003
10. http://www.mercola.com/2003/mar/5/ms_drugs.htm
11. Bouchez, C. Cholesterol drug may offer hope for MS patients. HealthScoutNews, April 2003;
12. Edelson, E. Cholesterol drugs may treat multiple sclerosis. HealthScoutNews. Oct. 7, 2002,
13. Verrengia, J. Statin drugs show M.S. promise. Associated press. Yahoo News. Nov 7, 2002
14. Costantini, A.V. Fungalbionics Series: Etiology and Prevention of Atherosclerosis. Johann Freidrich Oberlin Verlag. Freiburg, Germany. 1998/99
15. http://www.mercola.com/2000/may/28/sunlight_m_s.htm
16. http://www.mercola.com/2001/apr/25/vitamin_d.htm
17. Murphy, D. German researcher claims smoked sausage linked to multiple sclerosis. Meatingplace.com. Sept. 2002
18. Costantini, A., et al. Prevention of Breast Cancer: Hope at Last. Fungalbionic series. Freiburg, Germany. 1998

Advertisers have promoted low fat everywhere and so many people are obsessed with cutting fat from their diets. But did you know that eating healthy fat actually helps you lose weight? When you eat low fat foods your metabolism drastically shuts down. When your metabolism shuts down, so does your fat burning furnace. If you want to speed up your metabolism and lose weight – consume more healthy fat. Fat also tells your brain that you’re full. It will greatly cut your appetite. Have you ever eaten at a Chinese restaurant and been hungry an hour later? That was because of the high carbohydrates. It is the carbohydrates that cause you to get fat and make you hungry, especially sugar and refined grains. We’re not talking about the artificial margarine, oleos or the heated, trans fats. We’re talking about eating more raw nuts, olive oil, flax oil, coconut oil, cod liver oil, real butter, cheese, eggs and meats as good sources of healthy fat (organic and hormone free).

The problem with a high carbohydrate, low calorie diet is that bread, pasta, cereal, and other carbs break down into sugar very rapidly. This triggers an increase in insulin. Insulin takes high sugar that’s in the blood and puts it into storage as fat. This data can be found in almost every medical textbook on the subject of insulin and carbohydrate metabolism. When insulin is released it also inhibits the action of enzymes that break fat down.

Your organs need calories to keep functioning, including the heart, liver, kidneys and brain. Low calorie diets actually starve these organs. They will eventually start to malfunction. A low calorie diet will also cause your metabolism to slow way down which will cause your body to expand it’s fat cells and make it very hard to lose weight.

Protein on the other hand increases a hormone which has a function that is the opposite of insulin. It will cause your body to dissolve fat rather than store it. In the process of dissolving the fat, it gives you energy. By taking grain carbohydrates and sugar out of your diet and increasing vegetables, proteins and healthy fats, you will lose weight with less hunger and will have more.

Dr. Cindy Clayton, D.C. is a Doctor of Chiropractic practicing in the LA area at 3020 Glendale Blvd. Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90039, 323 668-2639 See her website

The Ancient Egyptians consumed a diet of high carbohydrates and low fats. When mummified bodies were dug up it was routinely found that their arteries were filled with cholesterol, their teeth were rotted and they were obese. The Eskimos consumed a 70% fat diet and had practically no heart disease. Africans, Indians, Mediterranean cultures, inhabitants of Crete, Puerto Ricans, Swiss, French and New Zealanders also consumed diets high in saturated fats with virtually no heart disease.

Despite popular belief, there are no scientific studies that show that eating a high fat diet and high cholesterol diet will in any way cause heart disease or heart attacks. However, a low cholesterol diet can cause you to develop cataracts (vision loss), age more quickly and weaken your immune system. It can also cause your body to overcompensate and to develop high cholesterol.

Heart Disease was very rare a hundred years ago. Heart disease started to increase from nothing in 1910, to a major epidemic in 1945 (50% of all deaths). From 1910 to 1970, the consumption of animal fats has actually declined, butter consumption has declined, cholesterol consumption has increased only 1% yet heart disease has increased a lot. Refined foods, sugar consumption, margarine and artificial oil intake has increased tremendously during this same period. It is these refined foods that increase cholesterol and destroy the heart.

Refined foods are depleted of all their vitamins, minerals and enzymes, especially B vitamins. Scientists have now proven that it is the B vitamin deficiency that causes heart attacks. You may be saying to yourself that you already take B vitamins but chances are you may be taking synthetic B vitamins, made from petroleum which will not supply the B you need and will actually create deficiencies. Standard Process makes Cataplex B and G, whole food organic supplements that will give you the entire B complex which will feed your heart and body. Cataplex B is the half that will help you heart, nerves and carbohydrate metabolism. Cataplex G is the half that helps stress, relaxation and fat metabolism.

Here is a list of fats with the proper ratios you should have in your diet (You should have 1 part saturated fats to one part Omega 3 unsaturated fats to 1 part Omega 6 unsaturated fats – 1:1:1):

Egg whites contain one of the best sources of protein. Egg yolks contain a small amount of cholesterol and a large amount of lecithin which breaks down the cholesterol.

The way to maintain normal cholesterol levels is not to avoid cholesterol, because that will cause your body to produce more. This occurs because of an internal mechanism in your liver. The less cholesterol you consume, the more your body makes.

What you want to do is eat foods that are high in lecithin and forget about cholesterol. It just so happens that all high lecithin foods contain high fats. That’s the way nature designed it. And that is the problem with refined and heated oil—they destroy lecithin.

Eggs don’t raise cholesterol levels. In fact, they do just the opposite—they decrease cholesterol levels. The best way to lower cholesterol is to eat organic eggs because of the lecithin factor.

Cholesterol is not a deadly poison, but a substance vital to all your cells. most of your hormones are made out of cholesterol. Your nerves could not conduct electricity without cholesterol. Your brain couldn’t function without cholesterol—in fact 70% of it is cholesterol. Cholesterol also makes vitamin D, which helps in the absorption of calcium.

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