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1. Ways to Support a Loved One Deciding to Get Sober
2. How does Camel Milk Compare to Alternative Milks?
3. Do I Trust Melatonin for Better Sleep? It’s Complicated
4. Addressing Your Neuropathy, What Can You Do?

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Ways to Support a Loved One Deciding to Get Sober

If you have a loved one who is beginning to consider the idea of getting sober, here are some practical things that you can do to help.

A person often comes to the point during an addiction where they begin to realize that they have a problem. After this occurs, it may take time for them to admit that they need to do something about their situation before things worsen. While some people require an intervention to go to treatment, this doesn’t always have to be the case. Usually, once a person sees that they need treatment, they know that they have a problem.e practical things that you can do to help.

See entire article Deciding to get Sober

How does Camel Milk Compare to Alternative Milks?

Supermarket shelves are packed with many kinds of "milk" for those of us who are lactose intolerant, have dairy allergies, or just prefer to drink something other than cow’s milk. Camel milk is a new addition to the list of milks now available in the US.

Camel milk is being hailed as a new superfood due to its unique, nutrient-dense properties. How do other milks stack up?

Lactose intolerance and dairy allergies

If you are one of the many Americans who have trouble digesting the sugar (lactose) in cow’s milk, camel milk may be just the ticket. Camel milk contains less lactose than cow’s milk and it is usually well tolerated by lactose intolerant people. In addition, it doesn’t contain beta-lactoglobulin – one of the proteins found in cow’s milk that causes allergic reactions. Camel’s milk contains a different beta-casein to cow’s milk. A study conducted at the Ben Gurion University in Israel found that camel milk reduced children’s allergic reactions to food when other conventional treatments had failed to do so.

100% natural versus additives

Commercial soy and nut milks don’t have beta casein or lactose, but you should read the labels carefully. Most of them have additives to thicken them so they seem more like a "milk". Three of the most common additives in nut milks are guar gum (a binding and thickening agent), gellan gum and carrageenan, which is known to be extremely inflammatory. Some have added sugar. Soy milk often contains carrageenan and vegetable oils.

Camel milk is 100% real milk without any additives.

Fat

Your body needs fats to produce energy and support cell growth. They also help your body absorb some nutrients and produce important hormones. But keep a check on what kind of fat and how much of it you consume.

Whole camel milk contains 50 percent less fat than cow’s milk. So, you can get that rich, creamy taste without worrying about the fat content.

Micronutrients

Micronutrients are often referred to as vitamins and minerals. They are all essential for a healthy body. You have to get them from your food because your body doesn’t make them, with the exception of Vitamin D.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a vital nutrient necessary for the growth, development and repair of all body tissues. It's involved in many body functions, including formation of collagen, absorption of iron, the immune system, wound healing, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.

Almond milk has no Vitamin C at all. Cow’s milk has about one milligram. Camel milk has 3 to 5 times more Vitamin C than cow’s milk.

Camel milk is rich in micronutrients like calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium.

Minerals

Your body needs minerals for a lot of different functions: Calcium for bones and teeth as well as muscle function and blood vessel contraction. Magnesium helps with hundreds of enzyme reactions, including regulation of blood pressure. Sodium is an electrolyte that helps keep your fluid balance correct and potassium is another electrolyte that maintains fluid status in cells and helps with nerve transmission and muscle function.

Cow’s milk has calcium, copper, zinc, sodium, magnesium and iron. Camel milk is rich in micronutrients like calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium.

Almond milk has calcium, magnesium and potassium. Some commercial almond milks have added nutrients to make it more like cow’s milk.

So, if you are looking for a natural, healthy milk that is a real milk without the ingredients that cause lactose intolerance and dairy allergies, try camel milk. It certainly seems to live up to the name superfood.

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Do I Trust Melatonin for Better Sleep? It’s Complicated

One thing is clear: Americans are not sleeping well. That’s especially true during the summer travel season. But some people are reaching for sleep support in the form of melatonin — and using it at dangerously high levels. There are also 11 possible drug interactions anyone taking melatonin needs to know about. Here we talk about dosage limits and other “melatonin nightmare” warning signs.

I remember taking it once many years ago for sleep. I took 1 mg. I woke up groggy and stayed groggy to about 12 noon. It wasn't pleasant. I figured I didn't have a deficiency of melatonin and I was way over what was needed so stopped.

I'm forwarding you this article as I did notice once searching in the vitamin store lots and lots of melatonin bottles. So figured it should be talked about.n

Can You Overdose on Melatonin?
By Ethan Boldt
February 14, 2022

Can’t sleep? You know you’re not alone. In the U.S., 35 percent of all adults report sleeping on average for less than seven hours per night.

For those ages 25 to 54, it’s up to 38 percent to 39 percent. If you’re a working adult, it’s possibly even worse — 33 percent of working adults reported sleeping six hours or less per night in 2017–2018, up from 28 percent in 2008–2009.

The pandemic made sleep issues even worse. According to a survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, a full third of Americans are sleeping worse than they did before the pandemic.

No problem. Just take a melatonin gummy!

Well, not so fast, as more people are taking melatonin than ever before in order to get better sleep — and some may even be using it at dangerously high levels — what’s known as melatonin overdose — according to a new Journal of the American Medical Association study.

Let’s be honest, many people buy melatonin because it’s marketed very well. It comes in yummy, colorful gummies and seems like a terrific natural supplement to aid sleep.

But we still don’t know the implications for taking melatonin for the longer term, whether in adults or kids. And studies show scarce evidence showing that melatonin works for sleep difficulties.

Let’s take a deeper look …
Melatonin Fast Facts

Melatonin is marketed as a natural sleep aid, and many melatonin supplements contain genuine natural ingredients. However, remember that a melatonin supplement is a lab-made version of your own hormone by the same name. Your body creates melatonin in your brain’s pineal gland, and it helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle.

The levels of melatonin start to increase at dusk, and they reach their peak levels by the middle of the night and start decreasing as dawn approaches. Melatonin naturally blocks signals in your brain that encourage wakefulness, thus helping you feel drowsy as you approach bedtime.

The supplement melatonin is supposed to help regulate the body’s sleep cycle and aid with several sleep problems, such as jet lag, insomnia, shift work sleep disorder and delayed sleep-wake phase (circadian rhythm sleep) disorder.

Melatonin Overdose and Improper Regulation

According to the JAMA study, consumption of melatonin supplements was only at 0.4 percent of the U.S. population in 1999–2000 but grew to 2.1 percent in 2017–2018 — that’s a four-fold increase in nearly two decades. During the pandemic, consumption further increased.

Looking at Nielsen data, American consumers spent $825 million on melatonin supplements in 2020 — this represents a whopping 43 percent year-over-year increase.

Typically a standard melatonin dosage is five milligrams per day, for a short time period. The study reveals that a growing subset of adults are taking dosages of melatonin that go well beyond the five-milligram standard.

Additionally, it turns out that actual content of melatonin in some marketed supplements can be up to 478 percent higher than the labeled content. In fact, a 2017 study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine showed that the amount of actual melatonin in over 71 percent of supplements was inaccurate, by a 10 percent margin. This further indicates that the majority of sellers mislabel how much of the hormone is in their melatonin gummies or pills.

As the study reminds us, unlike drugs and food, melatonin is not fully regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As a result, there are no federal requirements that companies test their melatonin supplements to be sure they contain the amount of advertised hormone.

In a study of 30 commercial melatonin supplements, it found that over a quarter contained serotonin. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), this is a hormone that can have harmful effects even at relatively low levels.

Plus, accidental ingestion of serotonin can cause serious issues with any individual who is also taking antidepressants, migraine medications, etc.

Lastly, while the general recommendation is to take only when needed (with many melatonin product labels simply saying “take as needed”), many people who take melatonin resort to taking it nightly.

Is that safe? According to the NCCIH:

For melatonin supplements, particularly at doses higher than what the body normally produces, there’s not enough information yet about possible side effects to have a clear picture of overall safety. Short-term use of melatonin supplements appears to be safe for most people, but information on the long-term safety of supplementing with melatonin is lacking.

Does Melatonin Work for Sleep?

Research suggests that supplementing with melatonin may help people with disrupted circadian rhythms, such as people who work the night shift and people who have jet lag.

Supplementation may also help individuals sleep better who have chronically low levels, like people with schizophrenia, who have poor sleep quality.

One randomized, double-blind trial found that two milligrams of melatonin prolonged release (PR) given one to two hours before bedtime was associated with significant improvements compared to a placebo in sleep quality and length, morning alertness, and health-related quality of life. The study also found that whether the melatonin dosage (two milligrams PR) was short- or long-term, there was no dependence, tolerance, rebound insomnia or withdrawal symptoms.

Studies have uncovered evidence that melatonin is effective in advancing sleep-wake rhythms in people with delayed sleep phase disorder. Delayed sleep phases are experienced by those who struggle with waking up later in the morning than is considered normal/socially acceptable. Taking melatonin can help people with this sleep problem fall asleep a bit sooner, although it can take some trial and error to determine the best timing and dose.

Other studies demonstrate that for normal sleep issues, such as for the initiation of sleep and sleep efficacy, “the data cannot yet confirm a positive benefit.” One study indicates that no recommendation can be proposed for the use of melatonin in shift workers.

One issue that many people don’t take melatonin properly, as timing can be key. Rather than taking right before bed, it’s recommended by experts to take several hours before bed in order for it to be effective.

Melatonin Side Effects

As a Nutrition Journal study points out, a natural sleep aid with limited side effects would be far preferable than a prescription sleep drug with more significant or even damaging side effects. Welcome melatonin, a sleep supplement considered generally safe for short-term use.

Compared to many sleep medications, you are unlikely to become dependent, have a diminished response after repeated use or experience a so-called hangover effect with melatonin.

That said, for some people, melatonin side effects can include dizziness, headaches, nausea or irritability. Some also experience vivid dreams or nightmares.

“Melatonin nightmares” are typically a sign that you need to decrease how much you’re taking. You never want to start out with the max dose. Instead, you want to start small and gradually increase if needed.

Remember, more isn’t better. Just one milligram can suffice, while many supplement contain five to 10 milligrams per serving.

Similarly, doctors recommend that you take melatonin like a pain reliever, for a short period of time, not habitually.

Other possible side effects include daytime sleepiness, short-term feelings of depression, stomach cramps, irritability and decreased libido. For men, breast enlargement (gynecomastia) and reduced sperm count are also possible.

If you experience drowsiness the morning after taking melatonin, try taking less. Never drive or use machinery within five hours of taking it.

If you take an excessive amount unintentionally, seek medical attention immediately.

Drug Interactions

Melatonin can decrease the effectiveness of some medications, while actually decreasing side effects from others. Here are some possible drug interactions to be aware of:

Antidepressant medications
Antipsychotic medications
Benzodiazepines
Birth control pills
Blood pressure medications
Beta-blockers
Blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants)
Interleukin-2
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Steroids and immunosuppressant medications
Tamoxifen

Speak with your doctor first before taking melatonin if you have any ongoing health concerns or are currently taking any other medications.

Final Thoughts

Should you take melatonin? While still considered safe in recommended doses, do not take for an extended period of time, and do not exceed five milligrams. In fact, start at a lower dosage.

Also, make sure you buy from a reputable company.

Don’t take right before bed. Instead, supplement with it several hours before you know your head will hit the pillow.

For many with sleep issues, determine whether or not it helps. For many, it may not, while those with more serious sleep issues, like shift work sleep disorder or circadian rhythm sleep disorder, may see an immediate benefit. It can also be used for jet lag.

If you are young or old and have sleep issues, it’s still better to improve your sleep habits before opting for melatonin. For example:

turn off your screens (blue light) at least an hour before bed
keep to a consistent sleep-wake cycle
sleep in a cool and dark room
avoid late evening exercise
avoid caffeine after 2 p.m.
use your bed for only sleep (and sex) rather than watching TV or reading

As indicated in the JAMA study, the growing popularity of melatonin and its expanding therapeutic potential — such as evidence of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties — warrants further study, including a careful examination of its long-term safety profile.

Melatonin Basics

Addressing Your Neuropathy, What Can You Do?

What can you do to address the symptoms of neuropathy?

1. Control your Blood Sugars if you are diabetic – it is the high blood sugar that creates nerve damage.

2. Find out what the Cause of Your Neuropathy is – and make sure you eliminate the cause.

If you got neuropathy from trauma, it isn’t a problem unless someone is beating you up every week, but there are many causes, and you need to find out what created your neuropathy and eliminate the cause.

3. Don’t eat things that include artificial sweeteners or MSG (watch for the names this ingredient may be hidden)

It can be toxins to avoid, or medications such as statins or blood pressure medications with a possible side effect of neuropathy. Talk to your doctor about changing the medication.

4) Not sure what caused your Neuropathy

Idiopathic Neuropathy just means someone hasn’t found out yet. There is always a cause and it might even be more than one cause. The combination of risk factors can create the problem that you are now feeling.

If you have neuropathy, I’d check all the possible reasons and contributors to neuropathy, and stay away. You don’t want anything that might contribute to your neuropathy

5. Alpha Lipoic Acid & Acetyl l Carnitine will help the body address the condition by getting the nerves to become healthier with anti-oxidants.

5. Take B12 (methyl B 12 NOT cynocobalamine) The body uses B12 to prevent and correct neurological defects including regeneration of neurons and the myelin sheaths protecting the nerve cells. cynocobalamine isn’t always absorbed by the body and you only get a small amount.

6. Take B1 (benfotiamine) Benfotiamine is fat soluble B-1 and has 360% greater bioavailability than any other form of B-1 which is essential to overall nerve health. It doesn’t wash out of the body like regular B1.

HOWEVER, B doesn't always equal B. A lot of vitamins are made in the laboratory and not bioavailable, and some brands of vitamins just aren't what you need. Check out th brand to see if it fits with what you need.

RECOMMENDED:

We have done the research on products and found the following to do what it says it will.

Take a Quiz: Am I doing everything I can to daily help my neuropathy?

Find out what lifestyle changes will help, take the quiz and get our suggestions and get our assistance on what you can do.

Take Our Quiz

For a good source of Alpha Lipoic Acid & Acetyl L-carnitine

And f or a good source of the vitamins that the nerves need and that work together for nerve health. (The healthier your nerves are, the less symptoms you will feel.)

RHP Nerve Support Formula

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