The following is an abstract from a recently published research article. Take a quick look at it, then skip down to my explanation of what this means for your health.

The Abstract

Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2010 Dec 1. [Epub ahead of print]

Protective effect of sulforaphane against oxidative stress: Recent advances.

Guerrero-Beltrán CE, Calderón-Oliver M, Pedraza-Chaverri J, Chirino YI.

Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 México, DF, Mexico.
Abstract

Sulforaphane [1-isothiocyanate-(4R)-(methylsulfinyl)butane] is a natural dietary isothiocyanate produced by the enzymatic action of the myrosinase on glucopharanin, a 4-methylsulfinylbutyl glucosinolate contained in cruciferous vegetables of the genus Brassica such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cabbage. Studies on this compound is increasing because its anticarcinogenic and cytoprotective properties in several in vivo experimental paradigms associated with oxidative stress such as focal cerebral ischemia, brain inflammation, intracerebral hemorrhage, ischemia and reperfusion induced acute renal failure, cisplatin induced-nephrotoxicity, streptozotocin-induced diabetes, carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity and cardiac ischemia and reperfusion. This protective effect also has been observed in in vitro studies in different cell lines such as human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y, renal epithelial proximal tubule LLC-PK1 cells and aortic smooth muscle A10 cells. Sulforaphane is considered an indirect antioxidant; this compound is able to induce many cytoprotective proteins, including antioxidant enzymes, through the Nrf2-antioxidant response element pathway. Heme oxygenase-1, NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase, glutathione-S-transferase, gamma-glutamyl cysteine ligase, and glutathione reductase are among the cytoprotective proteins induced by sulforaphane. In conclusion, sulforaphane is a promising antioxidant agent that is effective to attenuate oxidative stress and tissue/cell damage in different in vivo and in vitro experimental paradigms.
Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

PMID: 21129940 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Translation into English

The key point here is the list of effects of sulforaphane against several inflammatory problems. Sulforaphane is generated from broccoli and similar vegetables (best in broccoli, though) by a biochemical reaction involving a certain type of enzyme.

Unfortunately, this reaction does not occur very efficiently when you eat broccoli. In fact, it is most inefficient when you eat raw broccoli. On the other hand, the enzyme is destroyed by overcooking. Steamed broccoli would provide the best source of sulforaphane from whole broccoli, although this still falls short of what you can get from a properly extracted sulforaphane fraction in a good nutritional supplement.

Not too long ago I attended a seminar about a new product from Thorne Research, which is one of the absolutely best companies in the entire nutritional supplement industry. They have been researching broccoli for quite a while and have just come out with a new product called Crucera-SGS that offers the best way to get the right ingredients from broccoli into your supplement program. I was so impressed that I now take this supplement every day. It sure beats eating several pounds of broccoli to get the same benefits!

Thorne Research focuses on formulas for health professionals, so the new Crucera-SGS will probably not be widely available in everyday nutrition stores. Nevertheless, online stores are starting to offer it, so it should be easy to get it. I highly recommend it.

All the best for broccoli benefits,

Dr. D

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From what to do when you feel a hot flash coming on to an herbal remedy for instant stress relief, Stewart’s tip sheet is filled with great ideas for managing menopausal symptoms quickly and easily to free yourself to enjoy the holidays.

“Hot flashes, night sweats, tense moments, mood swings and low self esteem are hardly conducive to cheerfulness,” says Stewart, who has advised over a million women worldwide about how to successfully manage menopause. “These tips will help women control the physical symptoms of menopause and recognize the special importance of taking care of yourself during the holidays. And the advice is good year-round.”

The report Keeping Your Cool During the Holiday Season is available free at Maryon Stewart’s blog site, www.naturalmenopause.com. In addition four guest patients join Maryon in a 35 minute audio Lifebay show exchanging advice and tips on how to cope with the holidays. The women speak frankly about how they have dealt with their menopause symptoms and maintained their cool and a sense of joy in the holidays.

The report is based on The Natural Menopause Program. The kit includes a DVD and an extensive manual that helps women manage menopause and thrive in the second half of their lives. With so many women deciding against HRT (hormone replacement therapy,) Stewart’s natural menopause program, which has been successfully helping women for over 20 years, provides solutions to the symptoms caused by hormonal changes: hot flashes, night sweats, sleeplessness, low libido, vaginal dryness, lack of energy, memory loss and mood swings. It also suggests ways for women to wean themselves from HRT. Then the program provides advice for women to stay healthy and energetic for the rest of their lives.

Maryon Stewart is an advocate of managing menopause naturally, through nutrition, scientifically based supplements, exercise and relaxation. For many years she has been a nutritional researcher and counselor and a recognized expert on nutrition and fitness. In 1987 she launched the Women’s Nutritional Advisory Service for women of all ages. Now she’s bringing her wisdom and services to North America for the very first time.

Says Stewart “There is simply no reason women need to suffer their symptoms through the holidays or ever. Simple proven remedies are available at their fingertips. I hope all menopausal women will take back their lives this holiday season.”

And what is her simple remedy for stress? Delegate, take short cuts, regularly exercise to good music and add one-quarter teaspoon nutmeg to one cup of warm water, and sip it slowly while taking a few deep breaths.

About Maryon Stewart

Maryon Stewart is the author of 24 best-selling self-help books in the UK including The Phyto Factor, Cruising through the Menopause, Beat Menopause Naturally and No More PMS. She is the co-author of No More IBS, Every Woman’s Health Guide and The Natural Health Bible. She is the founder of The Women’s Nutritional Advisory Service and the Natural Health Advisory Service. For more information see www.naturalmenopause.com or www.askmaryonstewart.com.

News about handling symptoms of menopause,

Dr. D

More Menopause Remedies Press Releases

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• Home / Menopause / Suffering from these Menopause Symptoms? Hot Flashes, Vaginal Dryness & Low Libido Suffering from these Menopause Symptoms? Hot Flashes, Vaginal Dryness & Low Libido (nightsweatpjs.wordpress.com)
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Pay close attention to what you are getting from major manufacturers. Speak with your wallet and boycott them. Your health depends on it.

Scientists Find Bisphenol A In U.S. Food | Latest News | Chemical …

Scientists Find Bisphenol A In US Food, Toxic Substances: BPA appears in meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, prepared food, and infant formula.

Publish Date: 11/01/2010 15:40

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/88/i45/8845news.html

Toxic Green Beans: High Bisphenol-A Levels In Del Monte Foods …

Riddle me this: What’s been linked to everything from heart disease to diabetes, reproductive problems to obesity and cancer? The answer is bisphenol-A (BPA), a hormone-disrupting chemical that’s a… Read more of this post, Toxic Green …

Publish Date: 11/09/2010 8:00

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Another Reason to Avoid Coca Cola

Companies Ditch Bisphenol-A, but Coca-Cola Refuses | Sustainable …

The world can’t seem to make up its mind about bisphenol-A (BPA). While some countries claim the hormone-disrupting chemical is totally toxic, others maintain that it poses no risk to human health…. Read more of this post, …

Publish Date: 11/02/2010 14:48

http://food.change.org/blog/view/companies_ditch_bisphenol-a_but_coca-cola_refuses

Updates on BPA in canned food,

Dr. D

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The new kids on the block are the herbal enhancement product companies who believe that herbs will eventually take over the fields of sexual enhancement and sexual dysfunction. This is simply because they have no side effects and the majority of the population can take them.

But let’s be honest. There is quite a bit to be concerned about safety even in the field of herbal products. Many herbal companies take advantage of the fact that there’s very little FDA regulation on herbs. The same chemicals that are in pharmaceutical products have often been found in herbal products.

With companies like Bayer, Eli Lilly, and Pfizer on the playing field, the herbal companies have a long way to catch up. But it appears that their products have an advantage over the pharmaceuticals drugs. Herbs work for more than 90% of the people who use them and rarely cause more than a slight headache or nasal congestion as a side effect.

Hopefully herbal products will soon be the norm in the United States just as it is in many European countries. Only time will tell for sure and chances are the big companies will probably just buy out the herbal companies or create their own.

Sexual enhancement herbs update,

Dr. D

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Here are the two best books that I have found. Hey, the experience of these two authors is worth its weight in gold. They show you how to live life the way it is supposed to be in spite of modern menopause.

Menopause A To Z -The Definitive Guide.

Explore The Latest Cutting Edge Information About Modern Menopause Symptoms & Treatments.

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: Menopause A To Z -The Definitive Guide.

Natural Menopause Relief Secrets

Top Menopause Symptoms and Solutions

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: Natural Menopause Relief Secrets

The Truth About Menopause

6000 women/day enter menopause! This health, fitness, and exercise program is designed specifically for women in menopause.

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: The Truth About Menopause

Menopause! – What Menopause?

Brand New e-book for 2010 – ‘Menopause! – What Menopause?’ contains a wealth of personal experiences to help women get through ‘The Change’.

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: Menopause! – What Menopause?

All the best for menopause remedies,

Dr. D

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Think hand sanitizers protect you against germs? Think again

(NaturalNews) Worried about catching a cold or the flu? Just slather on some hand sanitizer and you will be fine, say experts. But a new report has some different things to say. According to “germ experts”, alcohol-based hand sanitizers only kill certain germs for up to two minutes before drying up and becoming useless. And a recent study out of the University of Virginia (UV) revealed that alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not reduce the overall number of cold and flu cases, either, suggesting they are ineffective.

My Research on Hand Sanitizers

A few years ago I set up an experiment to compare the antibacterial activity of hand sanitizers with that of various antibiotics. All I can say is that the results were all over the map. Some products had no activity. Some exceeded the antibiotic effect of the antibiotic drugs. Wow!

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D

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As a botanist, I am often asked about my recommendations for herbs for thyroid deficiency. Unfortunately, I am chagrined to say that there is no straightforward list of herbs for this purpose. The medical database, PubMed, lists no publications on this topic, except for a couple of inconclusive reviews of a few herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine. None of my herbal reference manuals offers recommendations. In spite of that background, the Internet seems to be replete with articles and advice about herbs for thyroid conditions, none of which enjoy solid scientific support.

Thyroid Deficiency is Complicated

Part of the overall problem is that thyroid deficiency is a multifaceted problem, which therefore requires a multifaceted treatment approach. One of the best such approaches is offered by Mark A. Hyman, M.D., at his blog here:

A 7-step Plan to Boost Your Low Thyroid and Metabolism

As Dr. Hyman says, I believe a comprehensive approach is needed to address chronic thyroid issues and to diagnose them. Unfortunately, most of the options for healing by conventional care are quite limited and only provide a partial solution. But by following my seven-step plan you can achieve optimal health and UltraWellness.

I encourage you to click on that link and see the rest of his commentary and advice.

Iodine – The Missing Mineral

Iodine is a key mineral in the function not only of your thyroid but also ever cell in your body. When the thyroid doesn’t get enough iodine, it further depletes the amount of this mineral for other cells.

Some surprising and crucial facts about iodine that you should be aware of are:

* 95% of Americans are deficient in iodine. This probably includes you.
* Every cell in your body needs iodine to function properly.
* Different organs of your body use either elemental iodine or ionic iodine (iodide).
* Kelp provides only the iodide form.
* The federally defined Daily Value for iodine is pathetically low.
* It is almost impossible to get sufficient iodine from food.

Iodine deficiency leads to hypothyroidism, which is almost always inappropriately treated with prescription thyroid drugs. In addition to weight gain, other symptoms of hypothyroidism include a bad complexion, fatigue, forgetfulness, loss of sex drive, impotence, irritability and unhealthy hair, nails and teeth. An underactive thyroid gland promotes excess weight and cellulite by causing water retention. Dr. David Brownstein, in his book, Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It (3rd Edition) (see Amazon), also attributes breast cancer, fibrocystic breast disease, and prostate cysts and prostate cancer to iodine deficiency. Dr. Brownstein is one of the nation’s leading holistic thyroid practitioners.

Fortunately, you can help normalize an underactive thyroid gland by increasing your intake of the mineral iodine. It is absolutely crucial to work with a knowledgeable healthcare practitioner who knows how to test for and reverse iodine deficiency, not just a doctor who will thoughtlessly prescribe drugs.

Acccording to Dr. Brownstein, Iodoral is the best iodine supplement that I have found, because it provides both forms of iodine in sufficient amounts to be useful for your whole body.

For truth about herbs for thyroid deficiency,

Dr. D

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First take a look at this great explanation of the benefits that you can expect from black cohosh:

Hot Flashes? Try Black Cohosh – Lucky Blog – The LuckyVitamin.com …

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Publish Date: 09/13/2010 13:05

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No Need for Remifemin

Of course, GlaxoSmithKline will want you to buy a product called Remiformin, since they make it. It is the most widely used menopause herb product in Europe, although that has more to do with heavy marketing than anything else. You can find the product at Amazon and lots of other websites if you want.

The product that I like the best is manufactured by Pure Encapsulations, which manufactures supplements for physicians. In my opinion, a product for medical professionals like this one is as good as it gets. You can see more about it, and even order it, here:

CLICK TO ORDER

That’s it for now. Of course, if you want even more information on natural approaches to menopause, I’ve got a surprise for you. When you ask for my report on the Five Pillars of Basic Nutrition (see above, right), you will also get a download link to my menopause report. If you’ve got it already, take a look at the great information that I have uncovered on this topic.

That’s it for now.

Menopause herb report for today,

Dr. D

And, most of all, keep these thoughts in mind:

“If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls who live under tyranny.” Thomas Jefferson

(We have NOT followed Jefferson’s advice.)

“Unless we put medical freedom into the Constitution, the time will come when medicine will organize into an underground dictatorship….To restrict the art of healing to one class of men and deny equal privileges to others will constitute the Bastille of medical science. All such laws are un-American and despotic and have no place in a republic….The Constitution of this republic should make special privilege for medical freedom as well as religious freedom.” Dr. Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence

(The founders did NOT put medical freedom into the constitution. Now we, indeed, have an extensive system of despotic health laws in place, just as Dr. Rush predicted.)

Today’s Propaganda

The medical-pharmaceutical cartel puts out a continuous stream of so-called medical studies of supplements. They are consistently funded by a small department at the National Institutes of Health, called the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Nearly all of the studies funded by this agency somehow fail to show positive results from natural medicine. What a surprise!

News headline – “Study” Joint-pain pills are ineffective”
(Arizona Republic, September 18, 2010)

Stated purpose of the study: To evaluate the efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements against joint pain.

Unstated purpose of the study: To show that these supplements are ineffective.

Results: These supplements are ineffective. Surprise!

Here is the published abstract in the actual journal:

BMJ. 2010 Sep 16;341:c4675. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c4675.

Effects of glucosamine, chondroitin, or placebo in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee: network meta-analysis.

Wandel S, Jüni P, Tendal B, Nüesch E, Villiger PM, Welton NJ, Reichenbach S, Trelle S.

Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of glucosamine, chondroitin, or the two in combination on joint pain and on radiological progression of disease in osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. Design Network: meta-analysis. Direct comparisons within trials were combined with indirect evidence from other trials by using a Bayesian model that allowed the synthesis of multiple time points. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Pain intensity. Secondary outcome was change in minimal width of joint space. The minimal clinically important difference between preparations and placebo was prespecified at -0.9 cm on a 10 cm visual analogue scale. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases and conference proceedings from inception to June 2009, expert contact, relevant websites. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: Large scale randomised controlled trials in more than 200 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip that compared glucosamine, chondroitin, or their combination with placebo or head to head. Results: 10 trials in 3803 patients were included. On a 10 cm visual analogue scale the overall difference in pain intensity compared with placebo was -0.4 cm (95% credible interval -0.7 to -0.1 cm) for glucosamine, -0.3 cm (-0.7 to 0.0 cm) for chondroitin, and -0.5 cm (-0.9 to 0.0 cm) for the combination. For none of the estimates did the 95% credible intervals cross the boundary of the minimal clinically important difference. Industry independent trials showed smaller effects than commercially funded trials (P=0.02 for interaction). The differences in changes in minimal width of joint space were all minute, with 95% credible intervals overlapping zero. Conclusions: Compared with placebo, glucosamine, chondroitin, and their combination do not reduce joint pain or have an impact on narrowing of joint space. Health authorities and health insurers should not cover the costs of these preparations, and new prescriptions to patients who have not received treatment should be discouraged.

Comment

The public (you) has no defense against studies that seem reputable, are published in major scientific journals (in this case, the British Medical Journal), and were conducted by medical researchers at high-powered research institutions (in this case, University of Bern, Switzerland).

If the abstract seems like a bunch of statistical smoke and mirrors to you, then join the club. This study is what is called a meta-analysis, which is a comparison of several previously published studies. It really does not take a lot of effort to do a 10-trial meta analysis, so I do not know why it took 8 researchers to do it (actually, I do know, although the reason has nothing to do with the science itself).

Meta analyses are invalid statistically, just by the nature of the assumptions that have to be met by statistical formulas. And choosing the criteria for trials to be included automatically limits any comparison with those that have shown positive results. There are plenty.

Actually, I am pretty annoyed by the newspaper article that set me off on exposing this little piece of propaganda. In fact, I realize that I may not seem coherent at the moment. I am pretty steamed up at today’s headline. You can see my point, I hope. Now I’m going to have to go out and run a few miles to let off the adrenaline that came out of this whole thing as I sat with my first cup of coffee, calmly (at the beginning) reading the morning paper.

Stay on your toes and don’t believe much of anything that you see in the media, especially about supplements.

I’ve got LOT more to say about overbearing health regulations. I just have to get it out of my mind right now or it will ruin my day. Stay tuned.

For health freedom,

Dr. D

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Strontium Treatment for Osteoporosis

If you are concerned about the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis, one treatment you may have heard of and considered is strontium. WebMD takes a look at the.

Publish Date: 08/23/2010 5:26

http://www.croatianmedicaltourism.com/cms/strontium-treatment-for-osteoporosis/

Strontium Ranelate — A Novel Therapy for Osteoporosis or a …

Editorial from The New England Journal of Medicine — Strontium Ranelate — A Novel Therapy for Osteoporosis or a Permutation of the Same?

Publish Date: 01/30/2004 0:59

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe038229

Strontium Without Calcium?

Strontium is a mineral that is very plentiful in the environment and very valuable for our bones. The value of strontium is that it acts like a magnet once it is in the bones to draw calcium in. … Reverse Osteopenia & Osteoporosis Naturally. “In health there is freedom…” …

Publish Date: 08/20/2010 12:37

http://www.reverseosteopenia.com/treatment/strontium-without-calcium/

Watch Out For Drug Crap

The main point is that strontium is crucial for strengthening bones especially when calcium supplements do not work. Old research used strontium citrate, which is easy to find and inexpensive. Strontium is so good that drug companies have invented a patented version, called strontium ranelate. This is absolute crap. Strontium citrate works fine. The problem is that doctors and drug companies will not make any money with strontium citrate, so they have created a unnecessary patented drug for prescription use.

By the way, if you are looking for dietary sources of strontium, you will not find them. This is an unusual mineral that does not get into the food chain. You must take a strontium supplement to get adequate amounts into your body. You can expect to see results within 6 months to a year.

Strontium for osteoporosis pointers,
Dr. D

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