The Journal of Health reports in vol.3 issue 7 some well researched comprehensive benefits to your health. Modern research validates turmeric’s effectiveness, especially in the past 15 years.  Numerous studies and the experience of populations like India that have high dietary intake confirm its benefits.  East Indians have decreased Alzheimer’s, arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases. Here are most of the validated health benefits:

• Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative
• Helps blood pressure and cardiovascular health
• An excellent pain killer
• Resists DNA mutation due to oxidative damage
• Fights bacteria, viruses and fungi
• Helps balance cholesterol
• Fights Alzheimer’s disease
• Chelates copper and iron
• Aids in digestion

The overarching benefit is arguably that of reducing inflammation and free radical damage.  The significance of this is that virtually all diseases have the issue of inflammation…it is central to disease.

The unseen damage of inflammation occurs at the cellular level in the form of free radical damage.  Classic inflammation is experienced as swelling and pain in the body.

What is free radical damage?  It is the oxidative effect that damages the cellular DNA and ultimately the genetic code of the cell. Damaged cells produce disease when they multiply.  They make the cells sick so that they cannot function efficiently.  When the genetic code is damaged the rogue offspring of this cell is what defines cancer.

Virtually everyone has cancer cells in their body, but truly healthy people are able to rid their bodies of these cancer cells. A cancer needs hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of cancer cells together to form a tumor and be diagnosed as such.

To quote researcher Dr. Badmaev:  “The anti-carcinogenic activity of turmeric extract and curcuminoids may be in part explained by their well researched ability to prevent genetic mutation or mutagenesis”

How about cholesterol balance? First of all it is a well researched and proven fact that cholesterol is necessary and important for health. It is needed for proper lipid balance and for the many cortical steroid hormones as well as vitamin D. It is the core molecule for them all.

Studies show that the HDL (high density lipid) cholesterol is very good and should be in high ratio to the LDL (low density lipids).  Curcuminoids do this.

The International Journal of Vitamin Nutritional Research reports this in a small study of 10 people:  A daily dose of 500 mg of curcumin was given and it produced a 29% increase of the good HDL and significantly reduced the level of LDL. LDL’s are associated with inflammation and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.  While it is not the LDL itself that causes cardiovascular disease, it is the inflammation in the blood vessels that collects the LDL and that causes the disease.

It is the inflamed blood vessels that attract the LDL which co-relates to increased heart attack and stroke. The LDL acts like a rough bandage that can cause a clot or chip off and cause a blockage in a coronary or cerebral blood vessel.

Aside from helping cardiovascular health by keeping cholesterol healthy, curcumins lower blood pressure.  They function by inhibiting PAF (platelet activating factor).  The PAF reduces clotting tendencies. This decreases the incidence of heart attack and stroke.

The anti-inflammatory power of curcumins is believed to work in two ways. It is a free radical scavenger that is an anti-oxidant…directly reducing inflammation.  Secondly, it triggers the release of natural cortisone…probably the most powerful anti-inflammatory agent known.

More than one study has shown its anti-inflammatory benefits to arthritis sufferers. In a double blind, placebo controlled study, patients were given 300 mg of curcumin per day.  The joint swelling, stiffness and pain were all reduced.

Inflammation is a major cause of pain.  Pain is the by product of Cox 2 enzymes that produce post glandins.  Curcuminoids were studied at the famous Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center. Their research revealed that indeed that Cox 2 was effectively reduced by curcumins.  Inflammation as well as pain was reduced.

Hundreds of studies clearly demonstrate that inflammation is at the core of cardiovascular disease. Inflammation causes high blood pressure, cholesterol plaque formation and  increased heart attack and stroke.  Anything that can safely reduce inflammation is your best friend for health against migraine headaches, cardiovascular as well as other degenerative diseases...Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, cumin, degenerative disease, HDL, heart attack, LDL, migraine headaches, pain reliever, stroke, turmeric

Research follower, Dr. Mark Stengler, reports that optimal vitamin D was associated with a reduction of 17 different kinds of cancer.   Julian Whitaker, M.D. says colon, breast, and lung cancer was reduced by 60% in a study with optimal levels of vitamin D.

I would like to focus primarily on the risk factor that low vitamin D produces in heart disease. “Circulation” (Journal of the American Heart Association) reports low levels of vitamin D-3 are associated with a 62% increased risk of heart failure.

Researcher Dr. Michal Melamed says this:  “There are studies that link low vitamin D levels to the development of heart disease, peripheral arterial disease and different cancers.” Dr. Malamed backs up this claim by citing a study of over 13,000 people.  Men and women were followed for 8 and 1/2 years.  There were 1806 people in that group that died from cardiovascular disease.  Over half of these were deficient in vitamin D.

Why is vitamin D so effective in reducing degenerative diseases and specifically heart disease? All degenerative diseases are caused by oxidative damage and inflammation.

In the case of heart disease, inflammation in arteries collects LDL cholesterol in a plaque with calcium and other undesirable ingredients. This results in hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis.  This increases the risk of blood clots, heart attack and stroke.  It also increases blood pressure, causing hypertension and strain on the heart.  Heart failure is shown to also be associated with inflamed coronary arteries.

Russell Blaylock, M.D. reports in his newsletter of July 2009, on the subject of heart failure.  In a study of 3,299 heart failure patients, followed approximately 8 years, found a 500% increased risk of sudden death in those with the lowest vitamin D levels.

Heart attack and stroke are produced in the presence of inflammation.  The best measure of  cardiovascular risk, out of 12 factors tested, was CRP. CRP (C-reactive protein) is a marker of blood inflammation.  High levels of CRP (and not cholesterol) are associated with heart attack and stroke.  Half of all heart attacks occur, proven in a large study, in the “normal” range of cholesterol…150 to 200.

Vitamin D-3 (that used by man) is produced by UVB rays of sunshine with the cholesterol molecule  under the skin. The medical doctors who follow current studies on vitamin D recommend plenty of sunshine and/or a supplement of vitamin D-3 to keep body level up to normal…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: cancer, coronary heart disease, degenerative disease, vitamin D

What is free radical damage?  It is oxidation of your body chemistry that can decrease your longevity by making body cells sick. How does this happen?  Free radical compounds are chemicals that are hungry for electrons.  They steal electrons from weaker compounds if electrons are not freely available from anti oxidants compounds.  What are some examples of anti oxidant electron donors?

Examples of willing electron donors are vitamins A, C and E.  Thousands of flavonoids from fruits and vegetables provide  good sources.  Poly phenols from phytonutrients of tea, coffee and even seaweed can be rich sources.

“We know that most degenerative diseases are limited to free radical damage.”… James Balch, M.D.  In 1954 Dr. Denham Harmon said this: “A single common process, modifiable by genetic and environmental factors, was responsible for ageing and death of all living things.” This is more true today because of the increased assaults on your body and its genetic code.  Disease is produced by damaged DNA and inflammation.

All tissues in the body are subject to degenerative disease. Heart disease is arguably the greatest loser  because it is the number one killer in the Western world. Number two cancer is a prime example of degenerative breakdown of health. There is a proliferation of toxic chemicals and substances that attack the mitochondria, nucleus and the DNA of every cell in the body, often altering the genetic code, causing aging and pre-mature death.

Nearly everyone knows the term “carcinogen” is associated with cancer. What this means is that certain substances, chemicals… can cause alteration of healthy cells which turn into cancer cells.  In layman’s terms, the mitochondria and genetic code of the cells get “screwed up”.  This spawns a misfit, rogue cancer cell.  If enough of these cancer cells proliferate and multiply, tumor cells develop. (anti-oxidants are helpful in preventing this)

Fortunately a healthy body is able to cope with and neutralize some free radical damage, even eliminating cancer and damaged cells.  Good supplementation, vitamins, and raw vegetables that are all proven anti-oxidants, are of enormous benefit.

There is a limit to what the body can handle in detrimental foreign substances. On a daily basis your body takes in toxins in the form of air, water,  food,  free radicals oxidants and  foreign substances.

Your body handles toxins each day, eliminating chemicals and foreign substances. Unfortunately our modern environment sometimes overwhelms your body with huge amounts  that are carcinogenic…cancer causing.  Other diseases like heart disease, arthritis and brain diseases are also propelled by free radical damage.

There are, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 80,000 toxic chemicals that we are exposed to. These foreign substances include, but are not limited to:  herbicides, pesticides (4 billion lbs. in USA per yr.), mercury, cadmium, aluminum, lead, solvents, asbestos, preservatives, trans fats, prescription drugs, cleaning agents, inhaled smoke and auto exhausts, cosmetics, ammonia, artificial food products and numerous biochemical pollutants.

These products cause inflammation and sometimes even genetic aberrations that can cause cancer and other degenerative diseases.

When your body is overwhelmed, then disease and dysfunction prevail. Ultimately life and longevity is compromised.  You lose health!

Water and air pollution are a major source of these noxious chemicals.  We further add to the toxic burden by consumption of excessive trans fats, sugar, alcohol, sodium, caffeine, nitrates, and other “foods” that overload our bodies. Normal function is impaired…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: anti oxidants, cancer, degenerative disease, free radicals, heart disease, longevity

Free radicals are unstable substances… toxins, pesticides, man adulterated foods, some drugs,  biochemical by-products…any foreign substances to your body. Free radicals are greedy chemicals that need electrons to make them more stable and complete. They cause oxidative  damage and inflammation.   Even some body functions, such as exercise, produce free radicals.

The body has an amazing ability to handle some of these free radicals. Certain vitamins, such as A, C & E are antioxidant vitamins that freely give up electrons.  Bioflavenoids from fresh fruits and vegetable are also donors to the greedy free radicals that cause oxidative damage to weaker body compounds. Even the genetic code of your DNA is easily damaged by unsatisfied free radicals.

“We know that most degenerative diseases are limited to free radical damage.” James Balch, M.D.  In 1954 Dr. Denham Harmon said this: “A single common process, modifiable by genetic and environmental factors, was responsible for ageing and death of all living things.” This is more true today because of the increased assaults on your body and its genetic code. Disease is produced by damaged DNA and inflammation.

There is a proliferation of toxic chemicals and substances that attack the mitochondria and the DNA of every cell in the body, often altering the genetic code, causing aging and pre-mature death. Cancer is a prime example of this. If you  study a microscopic slide of cancer cells you will see bizarre, inconsistent, irregular, out of control, tumor cells.

Fortunately a healthy body is able to cope with and neutralize some free radical damage, even eliminating cancer and damaged cells.  Good supplementation, vitamins, and raw vegetables that are all proven anti-oxidants, are of enormous benefit.

There is a limit to what the body can handle in detrimental foreign substances. On a daily basis your body takes in toxins in the form of air, water, food and absorbable foreign substances. Normal biochemistry of you body adds to this burden.

Your body handles toxins each day, eliminating chemicals and foreign substances. Unfortunately our modern environment sometimes overwhelms your body with huge amounts of a substance or substances that are carcinogenic…cancer causing.

There are, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 80,000 toxic chemicals that we are exposed to. Cardiologist Stephen Sinatra says the figure is now 90,000.  They very much affect heart health, especially your heart rhythm. The heart is very dependent upon  electrical conduction and free radicals not only cause inflammation but also interrupt the negative and positive charges that affect heart rhythm.

These foreign substances include, but are not limited to herbicides, pesticides (4 billion lbs. in USA/yr.), mercury, cadmium, aluminum, lead, solvents, asbestos, preservatives, trans fats, prescription drugs, cleaning agents, inhaled smoke and auto exhausts, cosmetics, ammonia, artificial food products and numerous biochemical pollutants.

These products cause inflammation, oxidative damage and sometimes even genetic aberrations that result in  cancer, arthritis, diabetes II, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, kidney and other degenerative diseases.

When your body is overwhelmed, then disease and dysfunction prevail. Ultimately life and longevity is compromised.  You lose health!

Water and air pollution are a major source of these noxious chemicals.  We further add to the toxic burden by consumption of excessive trans fats, sugar, alcohol, sodium, caffeine, nitrates, and other “foods” that overload our bodies. Normal function is impaired… Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: degenerative disease, free radical damage, toxic chemicals