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How to Stop Cancer,Memory Loss,

and Diabetes for

Just Pennies a Day

by Dr. Nan Kathryn Fuchs

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Copyright 2008

by

Soundview Communications, Inc.

All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of this report or its contentsby xerography, facsimile, or any other means is illegal, except for brief quotationsin reviews or articles.

Readers are advised to consult with their own physician before implement-ing any health idea they read about, whether here or in any other publication.

Soundview Communications also publishes Nan Kathryn Fuchs newsletter,Womens Health Letter. To subscribe, or obtain information, please call or write:

Soundview Communications, Inc.

Post Office Box 8051

Norcross, GA 30091-8051

800-728-2288 or 770-399-5617

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Every year there are new nutrients that arefound to support or restore good health. Some ofthem have a narrow range of benefits. They maybe good, but not necessary for most people.Occasionally, one comes to our attention thatseems almost like a miracle nutrient. Were told ithas so many benefits it doesnt seem possible.

Well, Ive found two nutrients that fit thisdescription. And let me assure you, theyre nottoo good to be true. They work.

Several years ago these nutrients started tolook interesting to me. I followed them closely.Now there is such good science behind their ben-efits that I not only recommend them both to myfriends and patients, I take them myself everysingle day. Read on, and decide for yourselfwhether or not you want to give them a try.

A Cancer Preventive and Fighter That Works

Back in the 1920s, a doctor named Johanna

Brandt wrote a book claiming that grapes curedher cancer. In the book, called The Grape Cure,Dr. Brandt explains that a grape fast, eating onlygrapes, is the method she used to treat her dis-ease. At one point, she was eating as many asfour pounds of grapes a day!

Obviously, Dr. Brandts cure hasnt hit themainstream, but the principles of the grape cureare now shaking the medical community.

It started when Science magazine publishedan article from the University of Illinois, Chicagothat stated, resveratrol can inhibit all three

stages of chemical carcinogenesis tumor initi-ation, promotion, and progression.

Grape plants produce resveratrol as a natu-ral defense mechanism against fungus infection.But not all grape plants will produce the protec-tive substance. Its only when the plant comesunder the attack of a fungus that resveratrol isproduced to fight off or kill the fungus. And itsthis protective mechanism that has proved to beso beneficial in fighting off cancer.

This specific class of bioflavonoids that hassuch powerful anti-cancer effects is also found inpine bark, lemon tree bark, hazel nut tree leaves,blueberries, cherries, cranberries, and others. Butthe most concentrated quantity is found in theskins of certain purple grapes (resveratrol is alsofound in the grape seeds, but in lower concentra-tions).

To find resveratrol, suppliers must travelthroughout the world testing grape skins and

seeds for their resveratrol content. Once they finda vineyard with a high content of resveratrol, theypurchase the entire lot. The grapes are then trans-ported to a facility where they undergo a naturalprocess using a water-extraction method to makea high potency extract, which is then used in thesupplements.

While the therapeutic value of resveratrolis quite broad due to its antioxidant activity,results of some very sophisticated tests providea strong rationale for its use in vascular diseaseas well. Resveratrol and quercetin, both found inthe seeds and skins of grapes, block humanplatelet aggregation, i.e., they prevent the tinypoker-chip-like cells in the blood from clumpingtogether causing clots, which cause heart attacksand strokes.

Another cardiovascular effect of resveratrolis vasorelaxation, a relaxation of the walls of thearteries that may prevent angina attacks, heartattacks, and strokes.

Resveratrol has also been found to be aneffective combatant against the latest cancer drag-

on called COX cyclooxygenase. This enzymestimulates tumor cell growth and suppressesimmune surveillance, the early warning systemthat signals your body to attack the dangerouscells that are going cancerous. COX can alsoactivate some carcinogens. So we need COXinhibitors to fight this new-found enemy within.

Work done at the University of Illinois,Chicago, has proven resveratrol in grape skins tobe a powerful COX inhibitor. And its worthrepeating that resveratrol can inhibit all three

How to Stop Cancer, Memory Loss,and Diabetes for Just Pennies a Day

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stages of chemical carcinogenesis, an unusualphenomenon and highly significant in the treat-ment of cancer.

Weve all had many disappointments in thetreatment of cancer and so lets not assume thebattle is anywhere close to being over. However,resveratrol is the most significant molecule to

challenge cancer, at least in the laboratory, inmany decades and perhaps ever.

Resveratrol interferes with the developmentof cancer on several levels, such as growth inhi-bition of cancer cells and reversal of pre-cancercells to normal. As theLancetput it: Grapes aregood for you, but leave the skins on. But youdhave to drink a lot of wine to get an effectivedose of resveratrol and you wouldnt even beable to do that if you wanted to. The leader of thestudy even went so far as to remind us that eter-nal health is not to be found in the bottom of a

wine bottle.So, although not a perfect answer to the

problem, grape skins and grape seeds are what wehave to work with for the present. Fortunately,they have been found to be very effective.

What to do

I dont suggest you go on a grape fast, likeDr. Brandt. But I can heartily recommend takingresveratrol especially if cancer runs in yourfamily.

Resveratrol is nontoxic and there is essen-tially no known toxic dose. As with anything, youprobably could overdose, but it wouldnt be easy.In an experiment with dogs, they were given 132mg per 20 pounds of body weight per day for 12months with no deleterious effects. During testson pregnant women, there was no toxicity found

in the women or their babies. Nutritionists havefound that a dose of 20 mg per 20 pounds ofbody weight for humans gives the best results.But for general prevention, stick to the recom-mended dosage on the label.

Some of you may be taking a product calledPycnogenol, which contains pine bark extract,

and may be wondering if you need to take resver-atrol. The answer is yes. Remember, the grapeskin extract is far superior to any of the othertypes of extracts, so we recommend AdvancedBionutritionals Advanced Resveratrol Formula orother quality grape-skin products over any of theother extracts.

Special note: There are two forms of resver-atrol that are available: cis- and trans-. TheAdvanced Resveratrol Formula is trans-resvera-trol, which is much better absorbed than the less-expensive cis-form. Take only trans-resveratrol.

Journal of the American Medical Association, December 25,1996.

Science, January 10, 1997.

British Medical Journal, February 8, 1997.

Holistic Medicine, Vol. 4, 145-146.

Lancet, 1983; 2:130.

Bioinorganic Chemistry, 1978;8: 303-18.

Journal of Surgical Oncology, 15:67-70.

Nutrition Science News, March 1997.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,November 1996.

Lancet, January 11, 1997.

Clinica Chimica Acta, March 31, 1995.

Clinica Chimica Acta, March 15, 1995.

International Journal of Tissue Reactions, 17(1):199.

General Pharmacology, March 1996.

2

As youve just seen, good sound scientificstudies found that resveratrol stops malignanttumors from growing, it reduces blood pressure,and it prevents blood clots.

Youd think that was enough. But severalnew studies show it does much more. So muchso that its beginning to get attention in the main-stream press.

Recent research has found that resveratrolcan protect you from getting type-2 diabetes. Itcan also stop blood vessel damage caused byhigh blood sugar if youre already diabetic. Andit even kills pancreatic cancer cells. I think youllagree with me that anything that can slow downor stop the progression of pancreatic cancer isone powerful chemical.

New Research Finds Resveratrol Is Even

More Valuable Than We Thought

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Were finding out that this nutrient has somany benefits that Im going to make a predic-tion. I predict that some drug company withpatent its active ingredient and make it syntheti-cally, turning it into a prescription drug. Ofcourse, this means it will be more expensive thanthe plant-based form. I see no reason for you to

take a pharmaceutical drug when good, soundscientific studies have shown the natural plant-based form works. And it has.

Stops type-2 diabetes

The Centers for Disease Control recognizestype-2 diabetes as an epidemic thats spreading

across all age groups. When I was growing up,insulin resistance just affected older, obese peo-ple. Now, were seeing a lot of it in children andadolescents as well. Its often a result of a poordiet and excess weight, so diet and exercise arean important part of its treatment plan. And nowwere finding resveratrol is as well.

A group of scientists at the ChineseAcademy of Sciences in Shanghai gave theequivalent of 15 mg a day to insulin-resistantmice. These mice became more sensitive to insulin.

Researchers found resveratrol to be avaluable new strategy for treating both insulinresistance and type-2 diabetes. Insulin resist-

One cause of Alzheimers and Parkinsons dis-eases is part of the aging process. Normally, yourbody clears out old, damaged proteins from thebrain. But as you age, your body loses this ability.This causes a buildup of toxic substances that candamage organs, including your brain. And we knowthey can cause a number of neurodegenerative dis-orders.

A recent study discovered how older laborato-ry mice could maintain their body functions. Theysimply had to remove these damaged proteins. Theresearchers found that eliminating these toxinsresulted in better liver function.

This study focused on the liver. But the leadauthor, Dr. Ana Maria Cuervo, intends to study theeffects of protein clearance in the brain next. Shesnot the only person whos seeing the associationbetween toxic proteins and the brain.

The British also conducted a study Parkinsonsdisease. They found direct evidence that these pro-teins cause the degeneration in this disease.

Identifying a problem is only the first step.Next is the need for a solution. Fortunately, theres

a way to clear toxic proteins from the brain. Notmany people know about it yet. I heard about itfrom a colleague, neurologist Sidney Kurn, MD. Hediscusses it in his new book,Integrated Medicinefor Neurologic Disorders (Health Press NA, Inc,2008), along with other nutrients, that support neu-rological health.

The solution to clearing these toxins is noneother than resveratrol.

Resveratrol is a nutrient that comes from

grapes, red wine, and peanuts. Dr. Kurn found thatresveratrol activates the clearance of plaque in peo-ple with Alzheimers disease. He believes it shouldwork with Parkinsons disease as well.

If you want to give it a try, Dr. Kurn suggeststaking 200 mg per day in a single dose. Resveratrolis a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Soyoure sure to get some benefit from it.

If youre already taking my favorite brand,Advanced Resveratrol Formula, all you need to do

is boost your dose to four tablets per day. Eachtablet contains 55 mg per pill. And all of it is thebest form of resveratrol trans-resveratrol. None ofit is the less desirable cis-resveratrol. If you useanother brand, make sure it has this form.

And, if you suffer from any kind of neurologi-cal condition, from Alzheimers to migraines, youmight want to get a copy of Dr Kurns book. Itspretty technical. But its worth reading slowly forthe excellent information it contains on herbs andnutrients. Consider giving it to your doctor, andthen discuss possible solutions for your condition. Youcan order from any bookstore or directly from Dr.

Kurn through Farmacopia pharmacy (707-528-4372).www.medicalnewstoday.com, August 10, 2008.

Luc Farout, Bertrand Friguet. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling.January 1, 2006,

McNaught, KS, Jenner, P,, Proteasomal function is impaired insubstantia nigra in Parkinsons disease, Neurosci Lett, Jan 19,2001.

Marambaud, P, et al, Resveratrol promotes clearance ofAlzheimers disease amyloid-beta peptides,J Biol Chem, 2005.

This Natural Supplement Could Be an Answer to

Alzheimers and Parkinsons

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ance means that your body is less sensitive toinsulin, leading to high amounts of blood sugarspilling into the bloodstream. This can lead totype-2 diabetes.

Stops damage from diabetes

One of the most serious aspects of diabetes

is its side effects, including heart disease, kidneydisease, and blindness. If youre diabetic, youknow how vital it is to avoid these complications.

Heres what happens. High levels of glu-cose in the bloodstream damage the microscopicpower plants inside cells that produce energy.When these power plants the mitochondria are damaged, they make dangerous free radicals.Free radicals, as you may remember, causenumerous problems including heart diseaseand aging.

A study conducted at The Peninsula College

of Medicine and Dentistry in England found thatresveratrol can block the damaging effects ofglucose. Dr. Matt Whiteman, who headed thisstudy, discovered that resveratrol also protectedagainst this damage, and was able to repair it.

Stops pancreatic cancer

But diabetes isnt the only disease resvera-trol can fight. One of its most exciting character-istics is its ability to prevent and treat cancer.

As Ive mentioned, resveratrol is a very

powerful antioxidant. And some doctors believethat antioxidants interfere with the effectivenessof various cancer treatments. But resveratrolproves them wrong.

Recently, for the very first time, researchersat the University of Rochester Medical Centerfound that resveratrol can get right into cancercells source of energy and damage them.

That, alone, is fantastic! But resveratroldoes much more.

These researchers, headed by Paul

Okunieff, MD, chief of Radiation Oncology, gaveresveratrol to patients with pancreatic cancerbefore they had radiation treatment. The combi-nation of this particular antioxidant and radiationcaused their cancer cells to commit suicide. Thisprogrammed cell death is called apoptosis.

Your doctor may have told you to avoidantioxidants while youre getting radiation orchemotherapy. Some doctors still believe thatantioxidants like resveratrol protect malignanttumors and interfere with these therapies. Not so,says Okunieff. He found that resveratrol not onlygets into malignant cells and damages them, itprotects healthy cells from radiations damage.Resveratrol seems to have a therapeutic gain bymaking tumor cells more sensitive to radiationand making normal tissue less sensitive.

Although resveratrol is found in severalfoods, you cant get protective amounts from your

diet. So you need to look for a strong supplementthat has at least 100 mg of trans-resveratrol.

The one Ive used is Advanced ResveratrolFormula from Advanced Bionutritionals (800-728-2288). Two capsules provide 110 mg per day.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/101764.php

Moss, Ralph. Does resveratrol enhance the effects of radiationtherapy? www.cancerdecisions.com.

The Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (2008, March20). Grape Skin Compound Fights The Complications OfDiabetes. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 31, 2008.

4

Why the Flu Strikes in the Fall and Winter And How to Permanently Avoid It

I was a sickly child. Each year betweenOctober and March, I caught every cold or flu thatwas going around. Consequently, I missed weeksof school each year. Spring brought a slow recov-

ery, and by summer I was busy riding my bike andtaking long walks with my father along the reser-voir, watching the ducks and lying in tall grassesin the warm sun. All summer I remained well.

As we were going to press, the journal CellMetabolismpublished another study on resvera-trol. An international group of researchers foundthat resveratrol prevented age-related and obesity-related heart function decline in lab animals. Mostsignificantly, the aortas of these mice functionedsignificantly better than the mice that didnt take

and they had less inflammation in their hearts.Other findings from this study include better bonehealth, reduced cataracts, and better balance.

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But I dreaded the fall with its cold weather.I knew I would get sick again. Now, althoughIm a senior and at an increased risk for seriousinfluenzas, I no longer get the flu. Ever!

Ill tell you my secret and its not the flushot. It should not only keep you free from coldsand flu, it does more.

Doctors know that theres a single commonnutrient deficiency that contributes to osteoporo-sis, cancer, immune problems, and heart disease.Now some believe this same deficiency mayexplain why more people get the influenza virusduring the fall or winter months. Their theory isbacked up with good observational studies. Andit makes a lot of sense.

Vitamin D deficiency and the flu

The nutrient is vitamin D and there are anumber of reasons why you may be deficient. Asyou know, your skin produces vitamin D fromexposure to ultraviolet (UVB) sunlight. Buttheres not much sun in the fall and wintermonths. And in some parts of the world, theozone layer filters out UVB radiation and theskin cant make any vitamin D at all!

Sunscreen blocks the production of vitaminD. So if youre using it whenever you go out-doors, you may be contributing to a deficiency.In addition, year-round vitamin D deficienciesare common in people who stay indoors too

much and dont get enough sun even during thesummer.

Hundreds of years ago, people lived closerto the equator and spent more time outdoors. Theirbodies could convert sunlight into 50,000 IU ofvitamin D within 15-30 minutes on hot summerdays. Youd think that the RDI (recommendeddaily intake) for vitamin D would be similarlyhigh. Its not. The RDI for women is a paltry 600IU and many people fail to get even this smallamount only 1-3% of women over 50.

In the 1980s, British doctor, R. Edgar

Hope-Simpson found an association betweeninfluenza and vitamin D. Just a few years ago,the role of vitamin D in flu prevention re-emerged during a flu epidemic. Dr. John Cannell,a psychiatrist at Atascadero State Hospital inCalifornia, noticed that the patients in his wardstayed healthy, while patients in other wards gotsick with the influenza A virus. The only differ-ence was that he had given his patients 2,000 unitsof vitamin D a day for several months or more.

A paper published in the journalNatureexplained why. Researchers found that vitamin Dis a very strong antibiotic with an unusual activi-ty. It doesnt work like most antibiotics by killingbacteria and viruses. It increases the productionof antimicrobial peptides substances that dam-age the cell walls of the influenza virus. Scientists

also found that it reduces inflammation in infect-ed lung tissues.

Weve known about the associationbetween lung problems and vitamin D for quite awhile. Studies have shown that children with avitamin D deficiency are more likely to developrespiratory infections. And either artificial or nat-ural ultraviolet light reduces this risk.

The amount of vitamin D you have in yoursystem may determine whether or not you get theflu. Just how much do you need? More than the400 IU youll find in a heavy duty multivitamin.

Dr. Cannell recommends at least 2,000 IU a day,especially in the winter. Five thousand IU/day iseven better, he suggests.

The best way to find out how much vitaminD you have and how much more you need totake is to get a blood test for 25 hydroxy-vitaminD, known as 25(OH)D. Your level should be 50-80 micrograms/ml throughout the year, so thismeans getting tested in the summer and wintermonths. You could need as much as 5,000 IUduring the winter, and less or none in the sum-mer. If you decide not to get tested, you mightwant to take 2,000 IU a day. Dr. Cannell hasfound no toxicity at more than 10,000 IU a day.

High in sunlight; low in foods

Theres not much vitamin D in most foods.Fatty fish are highest. Youd have to eat threeservings of fatty fish every day to come close togetting enough. Insignificant amounts (100 IUper glass) have been added to milk, but thiswont ward off colds and flu. Your choices are toget enough exposure to sunlight or to take sup-

plements. Or both.If you sunbathe on a summers day for 20

minutes, you can get 20,000 IU of vitamin D intoyour system within two days. Just remember notto use sunblock until you get your vitamin D first.

You can find 5,000 IU of vitamin D fromAdvanced Bionutritionals (800-728-2288) as wellas in many health food stores. Boosting yourvitamin D to 2,000-5000 IU in the fall and wintercould end your risk of getting the flu ever again.

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You may want to stock up on a few extra bottlesof vitamin D in case you hear that a flu pandemicor a bad case of the flu is on its way. This is one(inexpensive) nutrient you dont want to run outof.

The vitamin D/flu connection is a theorybased on sound science. And since its safe to

take, you may not want to wait for more studies.Especially if youre prone to winter colds and flu.

If youre worried about the association

between skin cancer and the sun, read my article,Avoiding the Sun? Sunlight Actually PreventsCancers (April 2005). It will end the confusionperpetrated by well-meaning, but mistaken, der-matologists.

Cannell, J.J., et al. Review Article: Epidemic influenza and vita-min D,Epidemiol Infect, 2006.

Kobasa, D., et al. Enhanced virulence of influenza A viruses withthe haemagglutinin of the 1918 pandemic virus,Nature, 2004.

Ive just shown you how getting enoughvitamin D can prevent colds and the flu. But this

hormone we call the sunshine vitamin doesmuch more. Recent studies indicate that vitaminD is protective against sunburn and neurologicalconditions, such as Parkinsons disease and mul-tiple sclerosis. It can also prevent memory loss aswe age. Lets look at some of the latest researchon this important vitamin/hormone. They maygive you a few more reasons to increase yourvitamin D, either through exposure to the sun, insupplements, or both.

Sunburn: When summer comes around,youll hear the yearly mantra dont forget your

sunscreen. This warning is supposed to reduceyour risk of sunburn and skin cancer. But wear-ing sunscreen may not be as smart as you oncethought. It can result in a vitamin D deficiency,especially in people who dont go outdoors everyday or who wear a lot of clothing.

Worried about getting skin cancer?

Dont be. Skin cancers occur when we getsunburned, not because we go out in the sun.Unless youre exposed to bright sunlight on a hotsummers day for hours at a time enough toburn you may not need sunscreen at all. I useit when Im kayaking or out in the garden forhours on end. But not when Im weeding or har-vesting vegetables for an hour or two. Thatswhen my body is converting sunlight to much-needed vitamin D.

Getting sufficient vitamin D actually pro-tects your skin from sun damage. Researchershave found that people who take 5,000 IU ofvitamin D a day are not likely to burn. In fact, anew study published in the Journal of Steroid

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (January2007) supports this theory that vitamin D3 actu-

ally protects against sunburn and skin cancers. Soget out in the sun. It can protect you from sundamage, as long as you dont burn.

Parkinsons disease is on the rise. Expertsexpect the number of people with it to double bythe year 2030. They blame this rise on aging pop-ulations. But Parkinsons may be another diseaselinked to a vitamin D deficiency. Thats whatsome researchers think.

Drs. Harold and Jonathan Newmark, afather and son team, believe that a vitamin-Ddeficiency could be a major cause of Parkinsons

disease. The reason this disease affects so manyolder people could simply be that they stayindoors too much and dont get enough sun.

This makes sense. We know from previousstudies that vitamin D helps normalize brainfunction. Its protective effects on nerve growthfactors in the brain make it an ideal nutrient touse for either the prevention or treatment ofParkinsons. The Newmarks tested this theory onone of their Parkinsons patients who took 4,000IU of vitamin D a day. His Parkinsons improved.

This treatment on a single Parkinsonspatient is just the first tiny step forward in theexploration of an effective treatment. But sincelow amounts of vitamin D appear to be present inneurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosisand loss of memory, its a safe theory for us totest.

Multiple sclerosis: The association betweenvitamin D and multiple sclerosis is compelling.There are more people with MS who live in the

Vitamin D Deficiency Now Linked toMore Serious Disease

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low altitudes of Switzerland than in the high alti-tudes where the UV rays are stronger. Almost nocases of MS can be found at the equator, but thefurther away you go, the more MS you find.

People with MS often have enough vitaminD to keep their bones healthy, but not enough toprevent the disease or reduce its symptoms. One

large study found that when researchers gave peo-ple vitamin D supplements, they had a 40% lowerrisk of developing MS. Its also possible that get-ting enough vitamin D could prevent someone witha genetic predisposition to MS from getting it.

But what about people who already haveMS? Four smaller studies concluded that vitaminD lessens its symptoms.

Memory: What does vitamin D have to dowith your memory? Possibly, a lot. A group ofseniors had their memory evaluated at theUniversity of Wisconsin using a mini-mental state

examination (MMSE). Then the researchersmeasured their levels of vitamin D. There was asignificant correlation between having enoughvitamin D and getting a good score on the MMSE.The more vitamin D, the better their memory.

Other studies support these findings. Onefound that nearly 60% of participants had abnor-mally low levels of vitamin D. These low levelscorrelated with depression or bipolar disorder, andimpaired memory. A vitamin D deficiency maycause more than memory problems; it can lead tomood swings and depression, as well.

Whats enough vitamin D?

As I mentioned earlier, and cant emphasizeenough, Dr. John Cannell, whose work and pas-sion revolves around vitamin D, suggests gettinga blood test to check your levels. He keeps his25-hydroxy vitamin D levels between 50-80ng/ml, year-round. This means taking 2,000 IU inthe summer (none if you go out every day for afew hours), and 5,000 IU in the fall and wintermonths. Someone with a disease that could bedue in part to low levels of vitamin D might want

to take much more. But only do so under a doc-tors direction.

Vitamin D3 is the natural form of thisnutrient, and is better absorbed than the syntheticversion.

7

Macular degeneration (AMD) is the most fre-quent cause of blindness in people over 40. Itoccurs when the macula, right behind the retina,deteriorates. AMD destroys vision in the center ofyour eye, leaving only peripheral vision. This com-promises your balance as well as your eyesight,leaving you vulnerable to falls. Western medicinedoesnt have an answer, but I do.

Two large recent studies, each using thousandsof participants, found that your macula needs twospecific nutrients to stay healthy. One of the nutri-ents slows the progression of macular degeneration,while the other prevents it.

The researchers found that omega-3 fatty acidsslow the progression. And whats more, you dont

need a lot of the fatty acids to see benefits.Researchers found that eating two four-ounce serv-ings a week of omega-3 rich foods is enough. Thisis exciting news, as it means you can slow the pro-gression simply by eating foods that are rich inomega-3s a couple of times each week.

In the May 2007 issue of my newsletter, Ishowed you how eating nuts, which are high inomega-3 fats, can prevent advanced macular degen-eration and blindness. But nuts arent the only place

you can get omega-3 fatty acids. Fish are a richsource. So if you dont like nuts, or have difficultydigesting them, eat an extra portion of fish. Or youcan get your omega-3s from quality essential fattyacids capsules, such as those included in theAdvanced Bionutritionals Womens Vitalitymultivitamin packets.

The other nutrient that prevents maculardegeneration is vitamin D. Thousands of peoplewho took part in the National Health and NutritionExamination Survey had a complete physicalworkup, complete with photos of their retinas,blood and urine tests, and dietary intake. Thosewith the highest levels of vitamin D had the lowestrisk of getting early AMD.

Im not surprised to hear this. As we get older,our skin is less able to convert vitamin D from sun-light. Thats a time in many peoples lives whenthey spend little time outdoors exposing their skinto the sun. The older you are, the more you needeither exposure to sunlight or supplemental vitamin D.

Meanwhile, boost your diet with more fish, eatraw nuts, and get out in the sun. It can save youreyesight.

Arch Opthalmol, 2007, vol 125.

These Two Nutrients Can Help Save Your Eyesight

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Dont expect to get enough vitamin D fromyour diet if youre already deficient. Its hard toget that much from foods. And some of theamounts stated on food labels may not be accu-rate. Although milk is fortified with vitamin D, itoften contains only 20% of the amount listed onthe label.

Fish is not necessarily any better. A study toevaluate the amount of vitamin D in differentspecies of fish found that farmed salmon hadabout one-forth as much vitamin D as wildsalmon. In addition, no one knows how baking,frying, or broiling fish affects its levels of vitaminD. If you know you need more, supplements arethe quickest solution.

Brown, S.J. The role of vitamin D in multiple sclerosis,AnnPharmacotherapy, June 2006.

Dixon, K.M., et al. In vivo relevance for photoprotection by thevitamin D rapid response pathway,J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol,January 11, 2007.

Hayes, C.E., et al. Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis, Universityof Wisconsin.

Newmark, H.L. and J. Newmark. Vitamin D and Parkinsons dis-ease A hypothesis,Movement Disorders, January 17, 2007.

Reichrath, J., The challenge resulting from positive and negativeeffects of sunlight: how much solar UV exposure is appropriate to

balance between risks of vitamin D deficiency and skin cancer?Prog Biopohys Mol Biiol, September 2006.

8

Reduce or Eliminate Your Back Pain

for 10 Cents a DayIf you have chronic back pain, I have good

news for you. Ive found an effective therapybacked by literally thousands of scientific studies.In spite of all the research on this therapy, fewdoctors and other health care providers knowabout. Its not another painkiller. Its a nutrientthat addresses the core reasons for some types ofback pain. Whats more, its readily available andcosts around 10 cents a day.

Pain sends more people to their doctorsthan any other complaint. Much of it is chronicback pain. In spite of all the available therapies,more than 25% of chronic pain patients are dis-satisfied with their treatments. Along with sur-gery, analgesics and other drugs are the usualremedy. However, theyre not necessarily yourbest solution. As you may know, even commonlyused aspirin and acetaminophen can have seriousside effects, such as bleeding in the stomach andliver toxicity. Whats more, many of the strongerprescription drugs are expensive.

My problem is that pain medications treatyour symptoms, not the underlying cause of yourpain.

Recently, Stewart B Leavitt, MA, PhD,editor of Pain Treatment Topics authored a reporton this nutrient published last June. Its focus waschronic muscular skeletal back pain. He basedthe report on 22 clinical trials. Eight experts inpain control peer-reviewed the report, and itpassed their scrutiny.

Leavitts conclusions are likely to be dis-missed by most medical doctors. Even those spe-cializing in pain control. Why? Because this solu-tion doesnt come from pharmaceutical compa-nies. And representatives from drug manufactur-ers with their free samples educate doctorsabout their high-priced drugs. They dont discussinexpensive nutrients.

So what is the nutrient? It is none other

than vitamin D the sunshine vitamin thatappears to have a never-ending number of usesincluding relieving back pain. Let me explain theassociation between this vitamin and back pain.

Youve probably heard that vitamin D helpsbuild strong bones. Well, when vitamin D levelsare low and they are in many people it cancause a cascading effect of chemical reactionsthat affects bone metabolism. The result is thatthe surfaces of bones become softer. This condi-tion is called osteomalacia, and osteomalaciacauses backaches and pain.

This softening of bones can be so mild itssubclinical which means you cant identifyit yet. But it could still be responsible for yourpain. The problem stems from a lack of circulat-ing calcium caused by insufficient vitamin D. Sothe solution is to take more D, not to take morecalcium.

One of the studies in Leavitts report exam-ined vitamin D levels in 360 study participantswith back pain. All of them had insufficient D.

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When the researchers gave them supplementalvitamin D for three months, 95% of themimproved! Some people found their pain com-pletely disappeared, while others noticed a signif-icant improvement. Every single one of the par-ticipants with the most severe deficiencies experi-enced relief.

But thats not all.Researchers in Great Britain analyzed painscores in nearly 7,000 men and women. Womenwith high vitamin D levels (between 75 and 99ng/ml) had the lowest rates of pain. Women withthe lowest levels (less than 25 ng/ml) had themost pain.

If you have chronic pain, you may want tobegin by getting your vitamin D levels checkedwith a simple blood test called 25-hydroxy-vita-min D or 25(OH)D. Your level should be atleast 50 ng/ml. Although Dr. John Cannell, one of

the countrys leading experts in vitamin D, saysthat 60-80 ng/ml would be even better.

How much vitamin D should you take ifyou have low levels and are experiencing backpain? No one knows for sure. Your need for vita-min D is affected by age, skin color, and theseverity of any deficiency. But we do know thatextremely high amounts even up to 50,000IU/day are non-toxic and dont appear to inter-fere with medications. To give you a point of ref-erence, someone who spends hours in the sun canget 10,000 to 20,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day. Andprolonged or every day exposure to sunlight does-nt result in any vitamin D toxicity.

The recommended daily intake of vitamin D 600 IU is outdated and too low to correctany deficiencies. And it doesnt take into accountthe fact that people are avoiding the sun andslathering themselves with sunscreen. Both ofthese lower their bodies ability to make enoughvitamin D.

This vitamin, which functions like a hor-mone, affects bones, muscles, nerves, and numer-

ous organs. Limit your intake and you run the risknot only of pain, but of osteoporosis, cancer, andheart disease as well.

Most knowledgeable sources today say totake 1,000 to 2,500 IU/day. I agree with Dr JohnCannells recommendation of 5,000 IU/day forpeople over the age of 50 who dont spend timeeach day in the sun. Cannell said that the majorityof pain patients deficient in vitamin D experi-

enced relief after taking 5,000 to 10,000 IU/dayfor three months.

As we get older, our need for nutrientsincluding vitamin D increases. If you find youhave less back pain with this amount and want tolower your intake to 1,000 to 2,000 per day, doso. Personally, I take 5,000 IU every day.

You can find vitamin D3 supplements (thebest absorbed form) in most health food stores.Or order 5,000 IU tablets by calling 800-728-2288.

A word of caution: Dont throw out your

medications yet or stop other treatments. VitaminD may be all or a part of your answer. Since itwont interfere with any other pain therapies, youmay want to add it to your present regime. Then,if it reduces your pain, discuss your improvementwith your doctor and decide upon your next steptogether. Be sure to take this article to your doctorso he or she can read Leavitts report.

Safe, and often effective, vitamin D may bejust what you need to reduce or eliminate yourpain. And at just 10 cents a day, its extremelyaffordable.

Leavitt, S.B., Ma, PhD. Vitamin D: A neglected analgesic forchronic musculoskeletal pain, Pain Treatment Topics, June 2008.

Cannell, J.J. et al. Diagnosis and treatment of vitamin D deficien-cy,Expert Opinion Pharmacotherapy, 2008.

Vitamin D and chronic widespread pain in a white middle agedBritish population: evidence from a cross sectional populationstudy, Online First AnnRheum Dis2008 doi:10.1136/ard/2008.090456.

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Vitamin D affects non-musculoskeletalpain as well. One group of type-2 diabet-ics suffered from neuropathy. After taking2,000 IU of vitamin D a day for threemonths, pain lessened by 50% in all of thepatients.

Vitamin D reduces chronic inflammatoryautoimmune conditions like Crohns dis-ease and inflammatory bowel disease, aswell as fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.

Preliminary studies have found that acombination of calcium and vitamin Dreduced the frequency and intensity ofmigraine headaches in both pre- and post-menopausal women in two months.