MCVitamins.com News

Your Newsletter for Health

1. The Right Diet - The Door to Long Term Health
2. How to Deal with Testosterone Decline
3. Protect Yourself from a “Food” Ingredient
That Causes Nerve Damage
4. Nutrient Blockers - are you getting benefits from the food you eat or supplements you take?

Socialize with us - Facebook Twitter Google+

The Right Diet - The Door to Long Term Health

The low-fat/high-carbohydrate diet has been promoted for many years as the healthy diet for both the general public as well as for diabetics. As a result of this ongoing dietary advertising campaign, surveys indicate that America as a whole is now consuming far less fat and eating far more carbohydrates.

What is the result?

The result is that greater numbers of Americans today, instead of being healthy, are being diagnosed with degenerative diseases. Over thirty-five hundred (3,500+) people are being newly diagnosed as diabetic every day in the United States! Many diabetics who follow the low-fat/high-carbohydrate guidelines, find themselves having to use greater amounts of oral diabetic drugs or increasing amounts of insulin to try and keep their blood sugar levels under control.

The reason this is occurring is that the low-fat/high-carbohydrate diet is not only wrong, it is destructive to your health, and the basic cause of many of the degenerative diseases that have become so widespread.

Carbohydrates are converted to the simple sugar called “glucose” by your digestive system. Glucose passes through the walls of your intestines and loads up your blood stream with sugar, far more sugar than your body was designed to handle.

The true information regarding diet, especially for those who are insulin resistant, pre-diabetic or diabetic, has been researched and proven by medical doctors who are diabetic specialists. What this research shows can be seen in the following excerpts:

“So how much carbohydrates do our bodies really need? The answer may surprise you. Although for years, newspapers, magazines, and television talk shows have told you to load up on complex carbohydrates, like whole-grain breads, cereals, and pasta (because it was thought these foods form the basis of a “healthy diet”). In fact, your daily requirement for carbohydrate is actually zero. You read that right – none!”

“Were you to make a search of all the textbooks in any medical library, you would find diseases caused by both protein and essential fat deficiency, but there are no diseases caused by carbohydrate deficiency.”

“Why don’t you need carbohydrates? Your body – actually your liver – has the ability to take dietary protein or fat (your own body fat) and make glucose from it. The liver can make a couple of cups of sugar each day, which is more than enough to provide glucose for the few tissues in the body that prefer to use it. Most of the body, however, prefers to fuel itself with dietary or stored fat or with ketones [ketones: the natural break-down product of burning fat] instead of glucose.”

“Incredible as it may sound, you could do quite nicely without ever eating another bite of starch or sugar – as long as you had plenty of protein and fat. And that’s just what all humans did for the three to four million years we were around prior to the beginning of farming.”

“We lived by hunting and fishing (the meat, poultry, and fish of our diets today) and gathering what grew wild: roots, shoots, nuts and berries – and a bit of fruit in season. Not a bite of bread, cereal, rice, pasta, potatoes, or sugar.”

“Does that mean you should eat a diet without any carbohydrates? Not necessarily, but you could. And when you’re initially working to correct your health, lose weight, control your blood sugar, or lower your cholesterol and triglycerides or blood pressure, you’ll want to focus on limiting your carbs more tightly.”

“You don’t have to stay on a strict low-carb diet for the long term – it’s merely an effective tool to correct the problem quickly. Once near your goals (in weight or health) you can become more liberal with your carb limits, expand your intake of foods, and enjoy eating an even wider variety of fruits, vegetables, and even some higher-carb foods occasionally.”

Excerpted from: The 30-Day Low Carb Diet Solution
By Michael R. Eades, M.D. and Mary Dan Eades, M.D.

If you have not yet already done so, adjust your diet and reduce your carbohydrate intake. Along with taking the correct supplements, it will improve your cholesterol levels, triglycerides and blood pressure.

For Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

For Healthy Cholesterol Levels

How to Deal with Testosterone Decline

Low T - Testosterone

Testosterone is a hormone made by the testicles in men and in very small amounts by the ovaries in women.

This hormone plays a big role in men’s sexual and reproductive function. It contributes to their muscle mass, hair growth, maintaining bone density, and even red blood cell production. The prostate gland requires testosterone for it to remain at optimal condition

Testosterone DeclineNormal testosterone levels in men decline with age – beginning at age 30 – and continue to do so as men advance in years.

It has been found that widespread chemical exposure is also causing this decline to occur in men as early as childhood. Recently, for instance, both statin drugs and the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide were found to interfere with the testicle’s ability to produce testosterone.
see Research

Environmental Factors of Testosterone Decline

Environmental toxins disrupt the body’s endocrine system (the glands and hormones).

This is called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

These EDCs pose a threat to men’s health as they interfere with testosterone production. EDCs are also a threat to male fertility, as they apparently contribute to testicular cancer and lower sperm count.

Pregnant or nursing women who are exposed to EDCs can transfer these chemicals to their child. They can create birth defects and abnormalities.

These chemicals (EDCs) are found everywhere. They are in your home and come from personal hygiene products, chemical cleaners, contraceptive drugs, etc. They end up in your food and drinking water where you will ingest them. They enter rivers and other waterways through sewage systems.

What are some EDCs?

A chemical often added to plastics is phthalates.

Phthalates are found to cause poor testosterone production by disrupting an enzyme required to create the male hormone.

Women with high levels of DEHP and DBP (two types of phthalates) in their system during pregnancy were found to have sons that had feminine characteristics

Phthalates are found in vinyl flooring, detergents, automotive plastics, soaps and shampoos, deodorants, perfumes, hair sprays, plastic bags and food packaging, among a long list of common products.Other chemicals that are EDCs:

BPA (bisphenol-A) common in plastic products such as water bottles and food cans.

PFOA (perfluoroocatanoic acid) commonly used in water and grease resistant food coatings.

Methoxychlor (insecticide)

Vinclozin (fungicide)

NPEs (nonnylophenol ethoxylates) they are estrogen mimicking chemicals.

Bovine growth hormones –added to commercial dairy products.

Unfermented soy products – Contain female hormone-like substances (soy is not a healthy product)

MSG – A food additive that can impact reproductive health and fertility.

Fluoride – A potent neurotoxin found in certain US water supplies and is linked to endocrine disruption, decreased fertility rates, and lower sperm counts.

Pharmaceuticals that provide synthetic hormones –Pharmaceuticals like contraceptives that provide you with synthetic hormones that your body isn’t designed to respond to and detoxify properly.

Metalloestrogens – estrogen-mimicking compounds that can be found in thousands of consumer products.

How to Address Testosterone Decline

Work on eliminating products with EDCs (always check the labels)

Stop using Teflon cookware as this contains EDCs that can leach out. Replace them with ceramic ones.

Stop eating out of cans, the sealant used is almost always made from BPAs. (Note: I recently noticed that can’s with Amy’s Organic Soup had a red sticker put on it announcing “Non-BPA lining”. I'm sure more companies will be doing this).

You should also get rid of cleaning products with lots of chemicals as well as artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners, vinyl shower curtains, chemical-laden shampoos, and personal hygiene products.

Replace them with all with natural, toxin-free alternatives.

Diet Adjusting your diet can also help; since many processed foods contain these chemicals. Switch to organic foods, which are cultivated without chemical interventions.

How to Address Age related Testosterone Decline

Reduced testosterone symptoms include decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, depressed mood, memory problems, impaired concentration, irritability, fatigue and poor energy levels.

A blood test may not be enough to determine your levels, because testosterone levels can fluctuate during the day.

Hormone Replacement

There are synthetic and “bio identical” testosterone products out on the market.

Oral testosterone is available. However, some experts believe oral testosterone can have negative effects on the liver. Using other methods, such as skin patches, gels, orally disintegrating tablets, or injections, bypasses the liver and gets testosterone into the blood directly.

The main problem with synthetic hormones is that they last too long. All the natural hormonal “feedback loops”, which are not even completely understood, are disrupted because the synthetics can't act the same as the body’s natural hormones.

The hormone system works as messages from one gland to another and they then return messages. It is like a communication that goes from one person to another and the second person answers the first letting the first person know he’s been heard and also answering his message.

With hormones this becomes fragmented with millions of one-way communications that are supposed to have return messages. The synthetics keep coming in. The result is loss of proper communications between the reproductive, adrenal, and thyroid systems. They now all suffer.

Recently synthetic male hormones have been controversial with different side effects. Experts emphasize that the benefits and risks of long-term testosterone therapy are unknown, because large clinical trials haven't yet been done.

Some studies have found that men taking testosterone have more cardiovascular problems, like heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from heart disease. Some physicians have concern that testosterone therapy could stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells. Yet the evidence is mixed, with some studies showing a lower cardiac risk with testosterone therapy and no apparent effect on prostate cancer.

Men should take a cautious approach, per Dr. Carl Pallais (Carl Pallais, an endocrinologist and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.)

"I can't tell you for certain that taking testosterone raises the risk of heart problems and prostate cancer, or that it doesn't," Dr. Pallais says. "We need a large study with multiple thousands of men followed for many years to figure it out."

Nutrients that Can Help Boost Testosterone Levels

Zinc is an important mineral in testosterone production.

Zinc can be found in

Oysters
Protein-rich foods like meats and fish
Raw milk and raw cheese
Beans
Fermented foods, like yogurt and kefir

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a cholesterol-derived steroid hormone. It plays a role in the development of the sperm cell nucleus, and helps maintain semen quality and sperm count.

Vitamin D can also increase your testosterone level.

Also helps increase Testosterone

Overweight men were more prone to having low testosterone levels, and shedding excess pounds may alleviate this problem.

Managing your weight means you have to manage your diet.

Limit processed sugar

Eliminate refined carbs

Consume vegetable carbohydrates and healthy fats.

According to research, there was a decrease in testosterone stores in people who consumed a diet low in animal-based fat.

Ideal sources of healthy fat that can boost your testosterone levels include:

Olives & olive oil
Coconuts and coconut
Butter – made from raw grass-fed organic milk
Raw nuts, such as almond or pecans
Organic eggs
Avocados
Grass-fed meats
Palm oil
Unheated organic nut oils

Consume organic dairy products, like high-quality cheeses and whey protein, to boost your “branch chain amino acids” (BCAA). According to research, BCAAs were found to raise testosterone levels, particularly when taken with strength training. While there are supplements that provide BCAAs, leucine, found in dairy products, carries the highest concentrations of this beneficial amino acid.

Exercise - Unlike aerobics or prolonged moderate exercise, short, intense exercise was found to be beneficial in increasing testosterone levels.

Stress - The production of the stress hormone cortisol blocks the production and effects of testosterone. Cortisol increases your “fight or flight” response, thereby lowering testosterone-associated functions such as mating, competing, and aggression. They body is now focused on fighting or in taking flight.

Chronic stress can take a toll on testosterone production, as well as your overall health. Therefore, stress management is equally important to a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Tools you can use to stay stress-free include proper nutrition, laughter, and yoga.Acupuncture and Acupressure are also good choices.

RECOMMNEDED:

We always recommend you take the approach of building health - and low testosterone is no different.Dr. Berg has vitamins that will build Testosterone and male health.

Protect Yourself from a “Food” Ingredient
That Causes Nerve Damage

Following the Second World War food companies discovered monosodium glutamate (MSG), a food ingredient the Japanese had invented in 1908 to enhance food flavors.

Unfortunately, MSG is extremely toxic, especially to your nervous system.

The fast food industry could not exist without MSG and other artificial meat flavors to make their sauces and spice mixes. The sauces in processed foods are basically MSG, water, thickeners and some caramel coloring.

MSG tricks your tongue into thinking that it is getting something nutritious when it is getting nothing at all except some very toxic substances.

Almost all canned soups and stews contain MSG. Salad dressings, Worcestershire sauce, rice mixes, dehydrated soups, all of these as well as anything that has a meat-like taste has MSG in it.

Most processed vegetarian foods contain these flavorings. The list of ingredients in vegetarian hamburgers, hot dogs, bacon, baloney, etc., often includes “hydrolyzed protein” (another name for MSG) and other "natural" flavorings. Almost all soy-based foods contain large amounts of MSG.

In 1957 scientists found that mice became blind and obese when given MSG. In 1969, MSG was found to cause damage in specific regions of the brain. Subsequent studies confirmed this.

MSG is a substance that has a toxic effect on nerves and the nervous system that causes a wide range of reactions, from temporary headaches to permanent brain damage.

We are experiencing today a huge increase in Alzheimer's, brain cancer, seizures, multiple sclerosis, and diseases of the nervous system. One of the chief contributors are these flavorings in our food.

Ninety-five percent of processed foods contain MSG

In the late 1950’s it was added to baby food. After some congressional hearings on this subject, the baby food manufacturers stated they had taken it out of the baby food, but they didn't really remove it. They just called it by another name - “hydrolyzed protein”!

Anything that you buy that says "spices" or "natural flavors" contains MSG! The food industry avoids putting MSG on the label by putting MSG in spice mixes. Legally, if the mix is less than 50% MSG, manufacturers don't have to put it on the label.

The phrase "No MSG" on food labels has virtually disappeared. That's because MSG is in all the spice mixes.

This substance is so harmful to your body that you want to avoid all foods containing MSG!

To do this successfully you must take the time when shopping to read the ingredients labels on the foods you buy

To help you to determine what foods actually contain MSG we have compiled a list of ingredients (in alphabetical order) that ALWAYS contain MSG!

Autolyzed plant protein
Autolyzed yeast
Calcium caseinate
Gelatin
Glutamate Textured protein
Glutamic acid
Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HPP)
(any protein that is hydrolyzed)
Hydrolyzed protein
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)
Monopotassium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate
MSG
Natural flavors
Sodium caseinate
Spices
Textured protein
Yeast extract
Yeast food
Yeast food nutrient

By eliminating as much MSG as possible from your diet, it will result in greatly improved health for you and your family, both now and in the future!