In this Issue:
Greetings
[[firstname]],
Teri's Colonoscopy Advice: "Just Do It!"
Doctors say it's the most preventable form of cancer, yet so many folks don't
get around to getting their recommended colonoscopies when they turn 50.
Teri recently had her first colonoscopy, and she wanted to share her story
with those of you who might be putting your test off. Here's this kat's
interview with the lovely Teri.
Guido: Were you diligent about your after-50 colonoscopy?
Teri: Not exactly. During last year's annual physical, my doctor told
me one of the joys of turning 50 is scheduling a colonoscopy and a bone density
scan.
This year when I returned she said, "Well, I see the bone density scan here,
but I don't see any colonoscopy paperwork...what's your excuse?"
When I told her I didn't get around to it, she said, "Look, you're a cancer
survivor, you need the test!" So in I went.
Guido: So, tell the truth, was it bad?
Teri: Not even a little bit.
I thought the day before was going to be the worst. The motto of the day was,
"If you can't see through it, don't put it in your mouth!"
Since I love to eat, I planned to be hungry and grumpy all day, but
truthfully, I was fine.
Jello was great for a little while, but you can only eat so much jello before
turning to broths and juices. But I'll admit, even that wasn't so bad.
I drank a prescribed potion on schedule to empty out my intestines, and I
spent a bit more time in the bathroom than usual on Thursday evening, but slept
through the night with no trouble.
At 7:45 a.m. Friday morning, I was given an IV, and asked to turn on my side.
I tasted something slightly metallic and before I knew it, I was waking up.
The whole thing took all of 16 minutes!
I didn't feel anything. I wasn't groggy or sleepy, as they just used a slight
sedative. All I experienced was a little leftover air in my intestines, and even
that was gone in no time.
If you're thinking about using the colonoscopy excuse to be cranky or get out
of work, think again. I made it to work before my usual 9 a.m. arrival!
Guido: How did your results come out?
Teri: The really good news is they were able to snip two little polyps
during the procedure. The biopsy showed one polyp to be pre-cancerous.
My old diet was most certainly the culprit. I'm eating much better now, but
my doctor still recommended more fiber.
Going for this test may have saved me from nasty problems down the road.
Early detection may have saved my life!
My advice to anyone over 50 is just get it done!
---------------------------------------------------
So fair members, no excuses, take care of your intestines and get your
colonoscopy!
And, if you're like most folks and need more fiber, check out our
Fiber Fit formula.
Support Your Aging
Cells with Alpha Lipoic Acid & Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Sadly, aging is inevitable, and while wrinkles and decreased energy are more
apparent signs, cellular mechanisms influencing aging behind the scenes are less
obvious.
That's where your mitochondria come into play.
If you've forgotten your high school biology, mitochondria are the “cellular
power plants.” They work to convert oxygen and nutrients into ATP -- the energy
used to power cellular metabolic processes in your cells.
Mitochondria perform an important job when you consider that without ATP,
even basic functions like muscle contraction and neuron firing would be
impossible!
Trouble is, like everything else in the body, mitochondria suffer the effects
of aging. Specifically, mitochondria produce high levels of free radicals, and a
downward spiral in cell function begins.
Mitochondrial decay can deplete energy production and hinder the disposal of
environmental toxins that can cause premature cell death.
Decaying cells can unfortunately lead to much greater health problems.
Declining mitochondrial health has been linked with dementia, Alzheimer’s,
Parkinson’s, epilepsy, strokes, heart disease, retinitis pigmentosa, rheumatoid
arthritis, cancer and diabetes, to name a few.
So clearly, fair members, caring for your hard-working mitochondrial friends
is important.
Alpha Lipoic Acid and Carnitine Combine to Aid Mitochondria
Some good news for you cellular energy and anti-aging fans.
Research from Kasturba Medical College in
Mangalore, and the University of Madras in India (Clinical Nutrition doi:
10.1016/j.clnu.2006.02.005) states:
“…Supplementation of L-Carnitine and Lipoic Acid may prevent
mitochondrial damage and restore mitochondrial function during aging
process.”
L-Carnitine is also used by the body to transport long chain fatty acids to
the mitochondria, where they are burned for energy.
Turns out acetyl-L-carnitine -- also helpful for mitochondrial function –
along with alpha lipoic acid makes for an even more potent combination.
High levels of acetyl-l-carnitine and alpha lipoic acid can slow the aging
process at the cellular level by reversing age-related decline in mitochondrial
activity.
Another study, one we’ve talked about before, led by
Bruce N. Ames at UC Berkeley fed older rats acetyl-L-carnitine
and alpha-lipoic acid. The older rats on this diet did better on memory tests,
had more pep, and produced more cellular energy.
Such results are attributed to acetyl-l-carnitine’s role in synthesizing
acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that enables brain cells to communicate, learn
and memorize. Acetylcholine also influences memory recall and muscle
contraction.
Acetyl-l-carnitine can also slow the natural mental decline that begins to
occur in middle age by improving memory and concentration.
Interestingly, acetyl-l-carnitine has shown to reduce lipofuscin (damaged
proteins, oxidized fats, and other lipids), responsible for many signs of aging,
including liver spots and damage to the internal organs, brain, and lens of the
eye.
Alpha lipoic acid, on the other hand, protects mitochondria by removing free
radicals and improving the recycling of other antioxidants, like vitamin C,
vitamin E, and glutathione – your body’s most potent antioxidant.
Alpha lipoic acid can be found naturally in beef, spinach and broccoli, and
is generated by your body. Acetyl-L-carnitine is found in red meat and dairy
products and is synthesized by the liver, kidneys, and brain.
If you're interested in adding either
Alpha Lipoic Acid or
Acetyl-L-Carnitine to support your
mitochondria, check out our
product page for our fabulous prices.
Happy ordering! ^..^
Favorite Pets are Back! Plus, Catch a Fishing Cat
It's about time felines returned to the spotlight.
Our first kitty, sent in by member Samantha, suffers kidney failure from a
bad batch of cat food circling the globe earlier this year. Scary stuff indeed,
but this kat is glad to hear "Baby" is "holding his own!"
Check out our latest
favorite pets!
Not Your Average Feline Friend -- Meet MeFi
Everyone knows cats hate water, but check out
these pictures of a "pet" fishing cat.
"MeFi"
lives in Russia with another domestic cat
half his size. Yep, male fishing cats can weigh up to 30 pounds!
Unfortunately, fishing cats are listed as a "vulnerable" species in
conservation programs around the globe.
Dwindling fishing cat numbers have been chalked up to both lost habitats and
hunting (their thick, beautiful coats are prized by some humans, alas).
While fishing cats adapt well to human habitats, humans aren't always so fond
of these cats, who are good at stealing chickens and fish.
Fishing cats need support to survive. If you’re interested in helping, please
visit:
The Small Cat Conservation Alliance
Health in the News
'Til next time, fair members!
Still purringly yours,
Guido
Guido Housemouser
Chief Kat and Community Manager
Our Health Co-op
4188 Westroads Drive, Unit 123
Riviera Beach, FL 33407
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