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1. Unexplained Neurological Symptoms? Can Be Caused by Mold
2.The Health Risks of Natural Sweeteners
3. What is Really Needed for Nerves That Don't Hurt
4. Aspirin Alternatives

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Unexplained Neurological Symptoms? Can Be Caused by Mold By Cesar Collado, SinusWellness.com

While it is obvious that inhalation of mold can lead to sinusitis, the location and sensitivity of our smelling system provide direct access to our blood stream and brain causing systemic disease that oftentimes are not considered or even recognized by traditional medical practice.

Yes, mold spores can enter through our noses to our sinuses. There they can find moisture and food to reproduce or colonize, causing a fungal or bacterial infection (Sinusitis). In some cases, mycotoxins, secondary metabolites of some molds, can also reach the brain. If the fungus is not removed and the sinuses are not cleaned regularly, susceptible people can then develop chronic sinusitis (>12 weeks or multiple times per year), a troubling disease state that affects up to 50 million people in the US alone.

As a direct result, sinusitis can often present neurological symptoms such as headache, dizziness, brain fog, memory loss, depression, anxiety, and others. Physical symptoms that may not appear obvious to the condition including pain and tingling in extremities. Consequently, other systemic chronic diseases can be misdiagnosed as these symptoms often overlap. This often leads to unnecessary diagnostics, medical treatment, side effects, and extended human and financial costs.

Here’s what is really happening.

The Nasal Mechanism

The nose is a complex, multifunctional organ. The nasal cavity and nasal hairs provide a barrier to shield our bodies from microscopic particles in the air we breathe. The nasal mucosa acts as a sticky blanket that prevents foreign particles from reaching our respiratory system.

It is the mucosa where mold stores can settle and colonize in the food and moisture rich environment. The sinuses also filter and humidify inhaled air, prior to its reaching the lower parts of the airway. Thus, the nasal mucosa is one of our body’s first lines of defense, filtering more than 500 liters of air per hour.

Innervation of the Nasal-Septum-Olfactory Nerves

Due to rich vascularization, the olfactory and respiratory systems may serve as efficient delivery mechanisms of medications as well as foreign particles. The prime location of our nasal openings on our bodies also provides direct access to cerebrospinal fluid, which, in turn provides direct access to the brain.

In addition, foreign particles and other molecules inhaled through the nose can reach our blood systems directly, without having to be digested or metabolized (broken down) by the liver, prior to being pumped to the rest of our body by the heart.

In fact, there are numerous pharmaceuticals that utilize intranasal delivery to take advantage of the fast absorption and bioavailability of this delivery method.

In addition to the obvious (nasal decongestants), there are other nasal delivery drugs to treat migraines, pain, and epileptic attacks. More recently, hormone medications and other proteins like human growth hormone, insulin, and calcitonin have been designed to deliver their effects via nasal delivery.

Mold Spores in Our Noses: Infections

Airborne mold spores have direct access to the sinuses, where they can find a home with moisture and food (mucous) to reproduce and colonize. When this happens, a sinus infection can develop. The body’s immune system then responds, creating localized inflammation, which manifests as mucous production and pressure. This sinus inflammation exacerbates the Sinusitis condition. The presence of fungi in the sinuses also creates an environment conducive to bacterial infections. The back and forth bacterial and fungal infections create a chronic sinusitis cycle.

Systemic Mycotoxin Poisoning

There are numerous molds that produce mycotoxins. These sticky chemical substances are secondary metabolites that are extremely toxic to humans.

Common mycotoxin-producing molds that are found in homes include aspergillus, penicillium, cladosporum, fumarium, etc. When these mycotoxins enter the sinuses, they can find themselves just a few microns away from cerebral spinal fluid and thus can cause serious neurological symptoms.

This is why many mold sufferers exhibit numerous debilitating neurological symptoms, such as brain fog, memory problems, headaches, pain, light sensitivity, and tingling of the extremities. These symptoms are alarming and difficult to diagnose.

Proximity To the Brain

Unfortunately, patients with these symptoms are often referred to neurologists that are likely to perform expensive diagnostics (MRI, CT scans, ect.) as part of a trial and error method of prescribing medications to see what works. This is because the symptoms can partly mimic or be similar to classic neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, including pain syndromes, movement disorders, delirium, dementia, and disorders of balance and coordination. This sometimes takes a patient’s path to wellness off-line for months or even years.

In my article, Systemic Mycotoxicosis: A Layman’s (Plain English) Discussion and Review of Dr. Thrasher’s Final Publication with Dr. Dennis MD, (http://www.sinusitiswellness.com/must-read-article-on-mycotoxin-poisoning/), I describe the methods these two physicians utilized to identify mycotoxin poisoning in the sinuses of patients with neurological symptoms. Ultimately, irrigation with a potent antifungal, Amphotericin B, in a topical fashion was the key to remediating the mycotoxins. Continued usage of Amphotericin B nasal drops (taken upside down) and nebulization then had to continue post-surgery for the patients to finally get well.

Why is this information Important?

Many patients and physicians “overlook the obvious” when treating sinusitis and mold sickness:

1) Mold and Mycotoxins primarily enter our bodies via inhalation
2) Mold spores that take up residence in our sinuses make us sick
3) Our sinuses provide a direct path for mold and mycotoxins to reach our bloodstreams and brains.

Mold Hygiene and Prevention

Patients can empower themselves to prevent mold accumulation in the sinuses and infection using readily available products. While all patients may not require this level of vigilance, if you are reading this article, it is likely that you may be a mold sufferer and could benefit from this type of Mold Hygiene. The regular cleaning of mold from our sinuses, clothes, and homes is likely the most impactful way we can help ourselves to treat and prevent mold infection.

Recommended:

Micro Balance Health Products has a suite of products to help battle mold at every source. Sinus irrigation with saline and CitriDrops flushes the mold spores out of the sinus cavity. Vigilant patients often take CitriDrops Nasal Spray with them to provide relief when encountering mold throughout their day. In addition, the following infographic outlines steps that can be taken and products that can be used to diligently keep our homes, clothes, and bodies clear of dangerous levels of mold.

Read about these products Micro Balance Heatlh Products

The Health Risks of Natural Sweeteners by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, M.D. https://www.drfuhrman.com

Added sugars come in several forms other than table sugar, such as evaporated cane juice and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Calorie-containing sweeteners like maple syrup, honey, agave, and coconut sugar are marketed as “natural” and often touted as healthier alternatives to these types of added sugars. Is there any truth to these claims?

The Alternatives Contribute Very Little Value

Similar to sugar, these alternatives are still low-nutrient concentrated sweeteners; they add substantial calories to the diet while contributing very little nutritional value. Maple syrup and honey elevate blood glucose similarly to sugar (sucrose), leading to disease-causing effects in the body. Agave and coconut sugar rank lower on the glycemic index, but are still empty calories and have other negative effects.

Repeated exposure to these excessively sweet tastes dulls the taste buds to the naturally sweet tastes of berries and other fresh fruits, which perpetuates cravings for sweets and can undermine weight loss. Since some natural sweeteners undergo fewer processing steps than sugar, they may retain some phytochemicals from the plants they originate from1 but their nutrient-to-calorie ratio is still very low, and they contain minimal or no fiber to slow the absorption of their sugars. The negative health effects of added sugar and HFCS are well-documented, including increased risk of weight gain, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.2-10

Fructose Stimulates Fat Production

Agave nectar is marketed as a low-glycemic sweetener, due to its high fructose content (agave is approximately 90% fructose). Sucrose is half fructose and half glucose, made up of one fructose molecule linked to one glucose molecule. HFCS contains 55% fructose and 42% glucose. All sweeteners (and fruits) contain some combination of glucose, fructose, and the two bound together as sucrose. Maple syrup contains about 90% sucrose, so it is very similar to regular white sugar. Coconut sugar contains 70-80% sucrose, and honey contains 49% fructose and 43% glucose.11-14

Fructose and glucose are broken down differently by the body. When fructose is absorbed, it is transported directly to the liver, where it is broken down to produce energy. Fructose itself does not stimulate insulin secretion by the pancreas. However, much of the fructose is actually metabolized and converted into glucose in the liver, so it does raise blood glucose somewhat (although not as much as sucrose or glucose).15

Despite its low glycemic index, added fructose in the form of sweeteners still poses health risks. Fructose stimulates fat production by the liver, which causes elevated blood triglycerides, a predictor of heart disease.16-17

Elevated triglycerides have been reported in human studies after consuming fructose-sweetened drinks and this effect was heightened in the participants who were insulin-resistant.15-18

Fructose, when used as a sweetener, also seems to have effects on hunger and satiety hormones that may lead to increased calorie intake in subsequent meals.18

Whole Fruits Are A Better Alternative

When you ingest any caloric sweetener, you get a mix of disease-promoting effects: the glucose-elevating effects of added glucose and the triglyceride-raising effects of added fructose. Sweeteners, unlike whole fruits, are concentrated sugars without the necessary fiber to regulate the entry of glucose into the bloodstream and fructose to the liver. All caloric sweeteners have effects that promote weight gain, diabetes and heart disease, regardless of their ratio of glucose to fructose, or what type of plant they originate from.

1 - Phillips KM, Carlsen MH, Blomhoff R: Total antioxidant content of alternatives to refined sugar. J Am Diet Assoc2009;109:64-71.
2 -Fagherazzi G, Vilier A, Saes Sartorelli D, et al: Consumption of artificially and sugar-sweetened beverages and incident type 2 diabetes in the Etude Epidemiologique aupres des femmes de la Mutuelle Generale de l'Education Nationale-European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. Am J Clin Nutr 2013.
3 - Malik VS, Hu FB: Sweeteners and Risk of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: The Role of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages. Curr Diab Rep 2012.
4 - Malik VS, Popkin BM, Bray GA, et al: Sugar Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-analysis. Diabetes Care 2010.
5 - Basu S, Yoffe P, Hills N, et al: The relationship of sugar to population-level diabetes prevalence: an econometric analysis of repeated cross-sectional data. PLoS One 2013;8:e57873.
6 - Johnson RK, Appel LJ, Brands M, et al: Dietary sugars intake and cardiovascular health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2009;120:1011-1020.
7 - Bernstein AM, de Koning L, Flint AJ, et al: Soda consumption and the risk of stroke in men and women. Am J Clin Nutr2012.
8 - Friberg E, Wallin A, Wolk A: Sucrose, high-sugar foods, and risk of endometrial cancer--a population-based cohort study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20:1831-1837.
9 - De Stefani E, Deneo-Pellegrini H, Mendilaharsu M, et al: Dietary sugar and lung cancer: a case-control study in Uruguay.Nutr Cancer 1998;31:132-137.
10 - Malik VS, Schulze MB, Hu FB: Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;84:274-288.
11 - Atkinson FS, Foster-Powell K, Brand-Miller JC: International tables of glycemic index and glycemic load values: 2008.Diabetes Care 2008;31:2281-2283.
12 - USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference [http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list]
13 - White JS: Straight talk about high-fructose corn syrup: what it is and what it ain't. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;88:1716S-1721S.
13 - Glycemic Index of Coco Sugar. Republic of the Phillippines Department of Science and Technology Food and Nutrition Research Institute.http://www.pca.da.gov.ph/pdf/glycemic.pdf. Accessed October 3, 2013.
14 - Tappy L: Q&A: 'toxic' effects of sugar: should we be afraid of fructose? BMC Biol 2012;10:42.
15 - Nordestgaard BG, Benn M, Schnohr P, et al: Nonfasting triglycerides and risk of myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, and death in men and women. JAMA 2007;298:299-308.
16 - Bansal S, Buring JE, Rifai N, et al: Fasting compared with nonfasting triglycerides and risk of cardiovascular events in women. JAMA 2007;298:309-316.
17 - Teff KL, Grudziak J, Townsend RR, et al: Endocrine and metabolic effects of consuming fructose- and glucose-sweetened beverages with meals in obese men and women: influence of insulin resistance on plasma triglyceride responses. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009;94:1562-1569.

What is really Needed for Nerves that Don't hurt

When nerves are healthy, sensory nerves (such as those in your fingers and toes) communicate well to the environment and receive messages clearly. There is no tingling, no numbness, no burning, and no pain in the feet, hands or anywhere else. 

Healthy motor nerves communicate to the muscles so that they move on demand. They relay the commands sent to the muscles from the brain. There is no unsteadiness, or being unbalanced, no dropped foot. There is no muscle weakness.

When a nerve is healthy, it has a myelin sheath surrounding it. This covering protects the nerve and just like a wire with a protective coating, it will not short circuit or create any uncomfortable feelings such as tingling, burning or pain.

What does the body need to build healthy nerves?

The body needs specific nutrients (vitamins) that will nourish the nerves and create health in each individual nerve. This, of course, will build a healthy nervous system.  It helps to supplement these B vitamins as it is difficult to get enough of these vitamins in food, especially if your nervous system health is fading. 

B1 (thiamine)  Besides being important for energy production, cardiovascular function, brain function, eye health and proper functioning of the muscles and all body cells, It is necessary for nerve function.

B1 is used in the development of myelin sheaths: Myelin sheaths are the protective covering of the nerves. Deficiency of vitamin B1 results in weakening of the sheaths. Adequate intake of vitamin B1 ensures the development of myelin sheaths and aids nerve functioning. It is also required for regulating the transmission of particular types of nerve signals along the brain and the spinal cord.

Thiamine also contributes to optimal cognitive activity, normal brain functioning, and learning capacity.

Vitamin B1 even acts as an antioxidant, helping to guard the body against the destructive effects of free radicals.

Vitamin B1 Deficiency

A vitamin B1 deficiency can happen due to numerous reasons, such as poor diet, abusing alcohol, or liver and kidney problems.  Eating large quantities of sweets, sodas, and processed foods can also create a higher risk of deficiency. 

A deficiency may result in muscle weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps, and stiffness. A vitamin B1 deficiency can also negatively affect heart function and cause the heart muscles to weaken.

Using alcohol results in lower vitamin B1as it uses up B1 and lowers the amount of B1 that can be absorbed by the body.  It blocks the B1 absorption but also damages the lining of the small intestine which will disrupt normal absorption of all ingredients. 

Vitamin B1 deficiency results in digestive problems 

A thiamine deficiency can negatively affect the nervous system resulting in tingling, numbness, irritability, poor memory retention, and depression. 

B12 - Vitamin B12's primary use by the body is aiding in the production of red blood cells, and in helping to maintain the health of the central nervous system.  It keeps nerve cells healthy and protects against deterioration of the nerves.

It is critical for maintaining this myelin sheath around nerves. Nerves are encased in a fatty sheath composed of a protein called myelin which shields nerve fibers from each other. 

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

A deficiency of vitamin B12 can contribute to a wide range of problems. Extended periods of deficiency can eventually result in degeneration of nerves as the body needs it to build the myelin sheath. Those who suffer from a vitamin B12 deficiency can have tingling sensations numbness, and burning feelings, weakness in the legs and problems walking. 

General symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can include tiredness, weakness, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, flatulence, reduction in appetite, and menstrual problems. This can be reversed when the deficiency is remedied. 

Other B vitamins: 

B2, B6 and B9:  B1 (thiamine) is dependent on the other B vitamins. Absorption of B1 into the body requires adequate supplies of vitamin B6, B12 and B9 (folic acid). A deficiency in vitamin B12 can increase loss of B1 in the urine, and vitamin B6 also appears to help regulate distribution of thiamine throughout the body. 

B9 (folic acid): Is necessary to activate the absorption of the B12. It also improves circulation, which is particularly important point for diabetics as they tend to be deficient in folic Acid and also tend to have impaired circulation. Folic acid is also helpful in restoring healthy nerves for anyone, diabetic or not. 

B2: The body utilizes vitamin B2 to keep tissue healthy and to help accelerate healing of injuries. B2 protects the nervous system.

Vitamin D: One of the functions of Vitamin D is the regulation of nervous system development and function. 

All these vitamins nourish the nerves and calm the nerve endings.

What type of B1 & B12 should you use:

You need to both the Benfotiamine (B1) and Methyl B12. The result is that the blood stream levels of vitamin B1 and vitamin B12 can be greatly increased, providing the nutritional support needed by the body to rapidly and far more effectively nourish the nerves.

You might have heard of the new type of vitamin B1 being produced, called Benfotiamine. It is a fat-soluble version of vitamin B1. What does this mean? It means this form of vitamin B1 can be taken orally in large dosages and it will not flush out of the body the way ordinary thiamine (vitamin B1) does. This is due to the fact that this type of B1 will be delivered into the blood stream where it can travel to the cells and be used. It doesn't just flush from the body. 

Methylcobalamine (called Methyl B12). This is the form of vitamin B12 that can be directly utilized by the body. When regular B12 (called cynocobalamine) is taken, the body has to convert it into the Methyl B12 in the gut. Often a person can have a hard time converting B12 especially as they get older. Methyl B12 already comes in this useable form.  So, when you take this type of B12, your body uses it.  

B12 from food is absorbed in the intestines and needs a secretion from the stomach called gastric intrinsic factor in order to be effectively absorbed. If you are deficient in gastric intrinsic factor you will absorb much less vitamin B12, and therefore can become deficient. 

Both Benfotiamine and Methyl B12 have been shown to be non-toxic and without any side effects even in very high dosages, so it can be taken as a supplement. 

Taken together with the three other B (B2, B6, B9), and Vitamin D3 in the exact proportion that work together will produce the best results. 

RECOMMENDED:

There is a formula that will give you this type of Nerve Support to build healthy nerves. It contains all these vitamins in the right amounts so they work together. 

You can find out about it here

RHP® Nerve Support Formula

Aspirin Alternatives

An educational video about aspirins, and what you can use instead of aspirin.

The information is Medical Advice for Education Purposes Only

What to take for need inflammation, or for protecting against blood clots, the alternatives address the cause of the problems which he talks about.

Watch Dr. Berg's Aspirin Alternatives

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