Musings on Health, Nutrition & Science

Garlic, Vitamin C & Potential Cancer Protection

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:14:00 +0000

How do you assess your risk for cancer? How do you assess the protective anti-cancer compounds in your body? What if you could assess some basic markers without drawing blood? That's just what new research is promising.

According to an Ohio State press release on research published in Analytical Biochemistry:

“'What we were after was developing a method where we could measure in urine two different compounds, one related to the risk for cancer, and the other, which indicates the extent of consumption of garlic,' said Earl Harrison, Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Human Nutrition at Ohio State, an investigator in Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, and senior author of the study.'Our results showed that those were inversely related to one another – meaning that the more we had the marker for garlic consumption, the less there was of the marker for the risk of cancer.'”

The study showed that while 5 grams of garlic had the best results, vitamin C produced a similar level of protective compounds in urine samples that were tested. So, if you like garlic, live it up, eat as much as you want (or as much as your partner will let you get away with eating). If you don't like garlic, stick to vitamin C.

Rosemary Improves Memory & Reduces Carcinogens in Grilled Meat

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:46:00 +0000

Rosemary grows easily in California and also in Spain, where I spent time as a Russian linguist in the Navy in the mid-1980s. Alas, I'm dating myself again.

A member of the mint family, rosemary is fragrant, robust, evergreen, has lovely blue flowers when in bloom, and is easy to grow for the beginning gardener--what more could you want from an also flavorful herb?! I love the smell and like to pinch off a sprig, roll fresh rosemary, and sniff the eucalyptus-like smell on my hands for hours. In the kitchen, I have always liked rosemary, along with lots of garlic, on lamb, and I often sprinkle rosemary liberally on oven-roasted potatoes, yams, and beets.

Rosemary traditionally was used to improve memory and also as a symbol for remembrance (i.e., weddings, funerals, and war commemorations). Modern research has shown folk wisdom to be grounded, specifically finding that rosemary's carnosic acid actively protects the brain from free radical damage.

In another study, rosemary and lavender essential oils were evaluated for their effect on working memory. Interestingly:

The scent of lavender significantly decreased working memory (thus lavender as a relaxing choice for aromatherapy)
The scent of rosemary significantly increased working memory (thus rosemary as a stimulant for aromatherapy sessions)
The scents of lavender and rosemary both improved subjective feelings of contentment (the control group wasn't nearly as content as the groups exposed to nature's scents)

Pretty cool. A case for aromatherapy as well as nutritional supplementation.

Meanwhile, new research shows that rosemary extracts can counter the potentially carcinogenic effects of meats cooked at high temperatures (grilled, fried, broiled or barbecued). Muscle meats cooked this way form toxic heterocyclic amines or HCAs, which have been associated with increased risk of some cancers.

Researchers from Kansas State University decided to investigate compounds that could reduce the amount of HCAs in meats cooked at high temperatures. Five different concentrations of rosemary extracts were tested on hamburger patties being grilled at 375 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

The results were published in the Journal of Food Science and included the finding that: all concentrations of rosemary extract significantly decreased levels of dangerous HCAs in meats cooked at high temperatures. Interestingly, rosemary extracted at lower ethanol concentrations were most effective in reducing the carcinogens in the meats tested.

That the research on making grilled meats safer came out of Kansas is not surprising. After all, Kansas is the 7th largest state in the U.S. in terms of total agricultural production and cattle produces about 60% of the agricultural revenue for Kansas.

Emotions Affect Us at the DNA Level

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:55:00 +0000

Gregg Braden has a pleasant voice, sports longish gray hair and a neat graying beard, and has enjoyed a big career spanning the petroleum and defense industries to helping create modern Internet infrastructure. But Braden's passion for over two decades has been discovering and explaining ancient wisdom--including the vast interconnections around us--just like a favorite science teacher from high school would do.

Tess and I were introduced to Gregg Braden (through a YouTube video in which Braden talks about The Science of Miracles ) by our friend, Christy Svanamyr. In the video, Braden talks about a very interesting military experiment on how DNA responds to emotions.

Turns out living DNA, separated from its donor, stays in tune with its human donor, whether that donor is in a separate room in the same building or separated by hundreds of miles. When a human volunteer is exposed to emotional stimuli, DNA being monitored in a separate location registers identical responses, at the exact same time, as does the human volunteer. How cool is that?!

Check out Gregg Braden's video to appreciate the points, which include:

We communicate to our DNA through our emotions
The communication is "non local" meaning the communication is instantaneous, regardless of time and space considerations
Positive emotions such as love, joy, appreciation, compassion, and forgiveness all tremendously relax the DNA--and thus strengthen the immune system response
Negative emotions such as anger, rage, and hate contract the DNA and thus disrupt immune system responses
Human emotions change the shape of DNA, and those changes determine how well our DNA regulates health and well-being
We can boost our immune systems by encouraging positive emotions that relax our DNA enough to do what comes naturally

While some readers may be skeptical, research keeps making the same case, namely that: (1) humor heals, (2) positive relationships with positive emotions heal, (3) touch that feels good heals, and (4) mindfulness--or moving from resistance to acceptance of what is--heals.

This research strikes me as incredibly important. Pass the video link along if you do too!

Health, Humor & HTML: Adventures in growing a family business online

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:28:00 +0000

I've long thought about writing a book about the Co-op. First, I wanted to write a fun little piece called, "Notes to the Kat," detailing the many incredible stories that our members pass along to their favorite feline character and our mascot.

Lately, I've been working on piecing together a more historical perspective on building a family business--the lessons we've learned, the highs and lows we've experienced, and the community we've built and enjoy. My working title is "Health, Humor & HTML: Adventures in growing a family business."

What is clear to me is that my readers might be able to help me tell the story of the early years of the Co-op, so this is my first invitation for memories of the "beginning:" how you found the Co-op, what was your relationship to the "Dr. Jon" character (a pseudonym my dad used when he started the Co-op), and what events stand out most in your mind through the years.

Autism Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency, Diet, etc.

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:10:00 +0000

Dr. Rodier is always talking about rampant vitamin D deficiencies in our modern world. He regularly encourages his patients to get tested for vitamin D levels and usually aims to boost their levels through supplementation as an inexpensive yet essential path to protecting health.

Vitamin D deficiency during a baby's brain development is now being linked to autism [along with having older parents and exposure to environmental toxins (e.g., mercury-emitting smokestacks, vinyl flooring phthalates, agricultural pesticides, etc.)].

Thousands of immigrant Somali mothers have been studied -- both in Sweden and Minnesota -- with respect to vitamin D deficiencies during their pregnancies. Alas, the number of autistic children jumped dramatically for mothers who had moved to northern climes and far away from the vitamin D-producing sunlight of their equatorial homeland.

Meanwhile, did you know that autism is growing at a rate of between 10-17% a year? This growth rate makes autism not only a problem for parents with children afflicted but also a national (actually an international) crisis. Dramatic costs ensue, with additional medical, child care, behavioral therapy, educational, and other resources required for autistic children. Estimates put lifetime costs to society at $3.2 million for each individual with autism. Staggering numbers, indeed.

The Paleolithic diet Dr. Rodier puts all of his chronic disease patients on is both gluten-free and casein-free; rich in probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D3, and critical gut- and liver-healing nutrients; and high in lean protein, veggies, and fiber.

Recent research is slowly confirming that the Paleolithic diet is good for autistic children too, who typically have gastrointestinal problems and, for example, cannot break down wheat and dairy proteins effectively, leading to leaky gut syndrome.

Sad to see our communities suffering so much from such a tragic condition as out-of-control autism, which seems to be as related to our modern diets and practices -- see my July 2009 blog entry on Vitamin E, Omega-3s, and Carnitine for Autism Spectrum Disorders --as to any of our genes.

Meanwhile, my heart goes out to those of you with autism in your immediate families.

Our Health Co-op's 8th Anniversary: Gratitude!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:03:00 +0000

Eight years ago, the day after Valentine's Day, we founded Our Health Co-op, so February is a very special month for us. Stephen, Teri, Tess, and I look at each other and shake our heads, wondering where the time went?!

When we started the Co-op, I had yet to hit my mid-40's, was clueless about autoimmune diseases, and had yet to relate to all those menopausal women we served. Stephen was still in his 30's, ate like a true bachelor, and had yet to pop the big question to Kelly. Teri still smoked, would never have considered growing wheat grass or juicing at home, and had not yet met Harley.

Tess, still a teenager and helping out with customer service, had yet to build credibility in pitching anti-aging supplements much less writing her own blog on the topic. Donnaree, our young shipper, had yet to be interested in all the products she was packing each day, and she had yet to shed those 40 pounds she gained after leaving Jamaica for the U.S.

And...the "kat" had yet to prove to be more than a fanciful creation of the founder, my father, who was as narcissistic as he was inventive. While my father passed away, the "kat" lives on and the Co-op is going strong. For that, we are all grateful.

We express our gratitude by running a big anniversary sale, during which our newsletter subscribers receive a special 20% discount coupon to use before the end of February. Some long-time members wait for our anniversary sale to stock up for the whole year.

Many of our members, however, are on fixed incomes and order their favorite basics -- such as Multi-Vites, Heart Plus, Green Tea Extract, Vitamin D3 (5000 IU), Fish Oil, Pancreatic Enzymes, and Probiotics 16 -- like clockwork each and every month, happy to use the anniversary coupon code for their February orders.

Here's a personal thank you to all of you who make the Co-op's growth and success possible. We all feel a profound sense of gratitude for your loyalty and support over the years.

Cocoa Powder, More Lutein & Other Member Requests

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0000

In browsing orders and member notes, I follow trends. Eight years after we started up, our average order size has increased, but our members are still a very thrifty group, many on fixed incomes. The last ten orders had totals of: $33.63, $67.17, $32.24, $46.28, $83.05, $64.49, $77.38, $114.46, $31.18, $215.54 and $184.97. You get the general theme.

Sure, we receive 4-figure sales, mostly from health care practitioners and clinics, who are Co-op affiliates. However, our bread and butter orders are far more modest. For example, that $67.17 order had 15 items and saved our Spokane, Washington member $14.30 (normal cost would have been $81.47 without the 20% off anniversary coupon).

At $3.97, our Oil of Oregano has been a consistently good seller since we introduced it, and, no surprise, winter cold season drives interest in this product. At $4.95, our Milk Thistle is another in-demand botanical. One of my absolute favorite Co-op products, with nary a health claim to its name, and one of our members least favorite items, is our Cell Nutritionals Blender Bottle. I use these blender bottles most mornings (love how easy they are to clean). Alas, these bottles sit like ugly ducklings on our shelves, waiting for members to "get" them (and invite them into their true place of belonging -- in kitchens around the world!). :-)

Our new stevia drops and Grenada Dark Chocolate are moving well. In fact, at the beginning of the sale, we ran out of our Grenada Dark Chocolate bars (again!). Now, our final winter stock is on the way, as temperatures will soon be rising and create possibilities for melting these fabulous dark chocolate bars.

One member wrote in to ask for a 100% cocoa powder to keep in stock all year long. Hey, this is someone speaking my language. I just splurged on Valrhona cocoa powder, so this idea gets my vote! By the way, the Valrhona powder I recently bought is "dutched," which makes it less acidic and more mild than "natural" cocoa, despite its richer, darker color.

"Natural" cocoa, although lighter in color, tastes richer and is also chock full of health-promoting flavanol antioxidants. Dutched cocoa, in contrast, retains only 10-40% of the flavanol antioxidants found in natural cocoa. We'll investigate pricing for a natural cocoa powder product, probably using the same source we use in our Rich Chocolate flavor of Constant Health. Stay tuned for an update.

Meanwhile, brisk sales of our Eye Protection have triggered a "reorder" alert on this perennial member favorite. We have had many requests to carry a higher amount of lutein in our Eye Protection formula, so we are pricing the formula out with 20mg lutein, which is more than three times the current 6mg of lutein. Stay tuned for updates on this one too.

Finally, we ran out of CoQ-10 150mg and had a slew of requests to honor the anniversary sale pricing when new stock arrives. Fair enough, we will be offering a 20% off coupon to anyone subscribing to our newsletter once we are back in stock.

That's the latest news from anniversary sale central! Thanks again to all who support us!!!

CoQ-10: The Ubiquinol vs Ubiquinone Debate

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:21:00 +0000

I remember when coenzyme Q-10(CoQ-10) raw material prices were sky high. I remember rejecting a huge of order of CoQ-10 because a supplier we inherited (when we bought the company) cheated on the amounts.

I remember when CoQ-10 became scarce after a big research study touting the benefits of CoQ-10 suddenly got mainstream attention. I remember scrambling to get CoQ-10 in stock during that time.

Notable was how dramatically the price for CoQ-10 raw material dropped after the patents expired and global competition kicked in. Since we serve many fixed income seniors (as well as some rather well-to-do value shoppers), the price drops were beyond welcome. They enabled customers to take higher doses of CoQ-10 that in-the-know doctors were starting to recommend for heart health.

Fast forward to 2009-2010. The big buzz is whether to take CoQ-10 in the ubiquinone form (the form studied for over three decades and also the less expensive raw material) or the ubiquinol form (the new patented form of CoQ-10, purportedly better at boosting serum levels of CoQ-10).

The promise with the new ubiquinol is that you can take smaller doses and get the same results as with higher doses of ubiquinone. Yes, there have been studies on rats that show ubiquinol to be superior to ubiquinone in boosting CoQ-10 for healthy cellular function and energy production.

Trouble is that no human studies have been done on ubiquinol yet; thus, the actual dosing is still up for debate.

The marketing campaigns claim that the ubiquinol form of CoQ-10 is more hydrophilic (more water soluble) than ubiquinone (but that's not saying much, as the form is still fundamentally fat soluble and it is debatable whether the ubiquinol claims are fact or fiction (see "Coenzyme Q-10 Facts or Fabrications" by Dr. William Judy.

Our independent laboratory testing director, a Ph.D. biochemist, agrees and says that the ubiquinol he has been testing is not proving to be as stable as the marketing campaigns would have your believe. I have found few people in my life who are right as often as our lab director is. He's a brilliant scientist and incredibly generous in sharing the very deep knowledge he continually amasses. Our lab director said not to bother with the more expensive material, as: (1) the body easily converts ubiquinone into ubiquinol in the body and (2) the more stable ubiquinone form is preferable for the money.

I have some notes out to our research consultants and a university professor of chemistry, who has done some very intriguing work on CoQ-10.

I'm not ruling out introduction of ubiquinol at some point but I'm also not ready to get on the bandwagon and offer something that is so much more expensive without having more confidence about stability and dosing.

Call me cautious but given the industry we operate in is filled with surprises, I prefer to feel confident in my own research. I like to go to sleep at night knowing that we are providing the best combination of nutritional efficacy and pricing possible.

Stay tuned for my next installment on the current CoQ-10 debate!

Flying to Copenhagen with Cats...

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:51:00 +0000

Last week, I decided to take my cats with me on a rather long trip to Denmark. I just couldn't bear being away from my cats for such a long time (6 weeks), so I jumped through hoops to get ready for our big trip.

First stop, White Pine Veterinary Clinic in Park City, Utah on a snowy Friday morning. I got out of my car and the guy parking next to me playfully said, "I didn't know who was driving, them or you." Okay, so I had let them sit on the heated passenger seat next to me, yowling and peering out at traffic along the way, but it was too early in the morning for me to do much more than nod at the guy making conversation as the snow fell on my face.

I would have been much happier for someone to hold the door open for me, as the wind whipped under my already fur-covered black coat! Not very clever to wear a black wool coat with white cats, but vanity wasn't exactly a primary concern that morning.

I settled in with Damon (the larger male) and Diva (the little female) both on my lap. A one-eyed Husky showed up behind us and the Siamese yowling banter ceased temporarily. A boisterous black Laborador Retriever made a big entrance and the yowls of discontent (disdain, perhaps?!) escalated.

Fortunately, we were invited to step into the examining room to finish the paperwork for international travel (rabies updates, international microchip tracking, and U.S. and E.U. health certificates). Diva promptly jumped from examining table to the small counter over a cabinet in the corner of the room. Damon peered suspiciously out the sliding glass door at various creatures parading up and down the passageway. I kept petting Damon to reassure him of my presence and continued to build up a thick layer of cat fur on my coat.

Diva has asthma, so I was glad to hear her lungs sounded good. The cats did really well overall, as they think all humans are really on this planet to admire and love them, including vets and even handymen visiting the house. Back in the car, I headed to PetCo at Kimball Junction to find a larger cat carrier. A quick breakfast at Whole Foods and I was ready to head down Parley's Canyon.

Tess met me in Salt Lake City and we set out to find the US Department of Agriculture's office near the airport to get the cats "certified" for flight. Files about "brine shrimp" crawled up one wall and it felt like the oddest place in which to find myself toting cats around. Tess kept me company while the receptionist disappeared into the interior of the office complex to confer with the veterinarian. I kept my eye on the clock, noticing that this part of my rapidly compressing travel day was expanding like a hot Southern evening. Finally (phew), I got the stamps and approvals and was off to finish packing.

With Tess's terrific help, I made it to the airport on time and paid an oh-so-reasonable airfare for the two cats (in the one carrier) of $100.00. Perfect, until I had to go through security.

"M'am, please take your pet out of the carrier before you step through the scanner." Hmm, I thought to myself that this should be interesting. The two sedated cats were like rag dolls, with their limbs akimbo in my arms, and attracted a lot of attention. The Parisienne flight attendent behind me was fascinated and started chatting as I was trying to place my cats back in the carrier, with their little paws and ears poking up again and again before I could get the carrier zipped up.

The cats settled down and all was quiet while I looked for things to read on the plane. I boarded with no problem either, with the "Large" carrier fitting easily under the seat in front of me. The man next to me, a Brit, was a huge cat fan. Even better yet! No allergies or fussiness about the occasional yowl that was echoing out from the seat in front of me (Damon was especially vocal as he hates confinement of any kind).

My seat mate and I made easy small talk that ranged from pets to his Ph.D. work until I rolled my coat up and fell asleep next to the window.

The next thing I know is that I am being shaken awake by my seat mate. Barely able to open my eyes, I heard, "Did you know that your cats are loose and wandering around up in Business Class?"

Say what?! Impossible. However, I checked the carrier, and, indeed, the cats were gone. There was a grapefruit-sized hole in the mesh side of the carrier. Damon, undoubtedly, was the one who had chewed through. I craned my head out to view a weaving Damon cruising through Business Class and next caught sight of Diva swaying her way dreamily starboard.

My seat mate captured Damon and I swept Diva up and I put them back in the carrier. I sat there with that carrier on my lap, my left arm petting the cats and plugging the hole for the moment. Problem was that I couldn't deplane in Paris with the cats in a damaged carrier. Egad. Halfway through a 9 hour flight, I scooped the cats and carrier up and did my own sway through the dark aisle, making my way back to the broad kitchen space at the back of the plane.

The flight attendants were relaxed and chatting as most of the passengers were now asleep or watching videos. I confessed that I had a rather interesting problem. Any duct tape? Nope, only masking tape, which, of course, was not strong enough to seal up the hole. Any sewing kits?

My most favorite Delta stewardess of all time went to the front of the plane and came back with a kit for sewing buttons on heavy overcoats. The thread she brought seemed to be made of titanium and the needle was at least three times the size of a normal needle. Any kind of sewing kit was huge progress; however, we couldn't cut the thread or pull it apart like normal thread. I found that I could chew my way through the thread, as a plastic knife's serrated edges practically dissolved when we tried to saw our way through that thread!

So, sitting cross-legged on the floor of the kitchen in the middle of the night, I attracted attention from those in line for the bathroom. A blond woman's long locks cascaded across her face as she bent over to peer inside to see the cats. The parade of curious passengers continued while I chatted with my newest best friend from Delta, who had taken a personal interest in me and my cats. Once my home economics skills had been put to a test, I asked if I could store the cats in an overhead bin. Sorry, that was out of the question, but my new friend offered her private storage bin, a place so snug against the sides of the carrier that no chewing through could possibly happen again. Yay!

Back to my seat and back to sleep for a few hours. I never felt so loyal to Delta. I missed breakfast but was happy just to know my cats were safe until we landed. Unboarding last, I made my way out into Charles de Gaulle airport to find my next gate for my leg to Copenhagen. All was suddenly seeming easy again.

But wait. There's more. At the check-in counter for my Copenhagen flight, the rules changed on me. The cats were too heavy to be taken into the cabin with me. I had a fleeting moment of panic and then calmly asked what I could do and inquired whether I could buy them a ticket for a seat of their own. Nope. No time for that. The only possibility was to buy a ticket for them underneath in a special compartment for pets. The catch? I would miss my plane and would have to buy a plastic crate to take the cats on the next plane to Copenhagen.

Sigh. I have two plastic crates back at home but I didn't have much choice, so I paid for the crate and the second airfare and checked them through as oversized luggage for the pet compartment. Released of my guardianship for a brief period before I had to board, I had my first meal in many, many hours, a simple Caesar salad with some Evian water and made the next plane to Copenhagen.

The good news? Despite having one of my bags missing at the baggage claim, the cats made the trip just fine and have adjusted to the time zone and temporary change in residence quite nicely.

Looking back, the flight between Salt Lake City and Paris may go down as "most memorable ever." My seat mate thought it was downright entertaining to look up and see two Siamese cats loose on an international flight. And, my stewardess friend shared that someone up in Business Class dangling a shredded airplane pillow had asked whether someone had "gotten hungry" on the flight. She assumed that one of my cats did it and I don't doubt it.

Bashfully, I shook my head and said, "You know how some people do crazy things when they are on sleeping pills?! I'm just glad I wasn't traveling with someone like my dad having a reaction like Damon had to his 'kitty Ambien.'" The stewardess, my seat mate, and I had a good laugh, and I can't help but laugh every time I think of the trip.

So, I just had to share with my readers, many of whom are huge cat fans. Here's to life with the feline lot!!!

Full Liver Regeneration in Donors & Recipients with Transplants

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:05:00 +0000

I never cared for liver. Bad texture. Disgusting taste. Revolting to look at. I never cared about the liver as an internal organ either and was scarcely even aware of the liver beyond knowing that alcoholics abused their livers terribly and that that was "bad."

Then I met Dr. Rodier, who is always going on about "liver detoxification pathways" and the liver's role in digestion and health. Okay, if I don't have to look at it, I'm happy to honor the liver's work, from blood sugar regulation, control of cholesterol and hormone levels, and digestive support to trapping and breaking down bacteria and toxins for safe elimination. Eating allergenic foods as well as foods laden with pesticides or other chemicals such as preservatives also can overtax the liver.

What blew me away is learning that the liver can regenerate itself fully, both in a donor -- who gives a substantial portion of his/her liver to a friend or relative -- and also in a recipient. And, the liver regenerates almost fully in both donor and recipient in a mere two months. While the liver regenerates faster in recipients, research shows that donors, even with smaller liver volume at regeneration, regain full liver function within a year.

This is not news to the scientific community, which has been doing research on liver regeneration for decades, but given my relative newcomer status to the world of the liver, I am still wowed by the fact that the liver can regenerate itself so fully.

Sugary Sodas Linked to Pancreatic Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:19:00 +0000

Researchers from the University of Minnesota correlated soft drink consumption with increased pancreatic cancer using the Singapore China Health Study (more than 60,000 people were followed over 14 years). The study showed a marked increase in pancreatic cancer with the consumption of sugary carbonated drinks. Survival rates for pancreatic cancer are abyssmal, so a diagnosis can seem like a death sentence, so any finding that points to possible approaches for prevention should be of interest to the medical community.

After spending years listening to Dr. Hugo Rodier and pharmacist Mike Ciell (on the perils of sugar), I have learned to respect the work of the pancreas. In truth, I didn't know where my pancreas was until I got into this line of work in the last decade.

You see, as a child of the 60's, I got to choose my science classes in high school. I opted for geology over biology or physiology classes and instead of dissecting things or learning anatomy, I went on field trips -- to dig for trilobites or grok geologic time from outcrops of rock in the desert. But I digress greatly.

The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes to break down foods (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) into smaller forms that allow for proper absorption of nutrients. The pancreas also produces essential hormones like insulin and glucagon, which most of my readers know are critical to regulating blood sugar levels. The Singapore China Health Study participants who drank on average five sugary soft drinks a week (thus adding burden to their pancreases) had an 87% increase in one of the deadliest of cancers, pancreatic cancer.

Breast cancer gets far more press, but pancreatic cancer, although more rare, causes almost as many cancer deaths each year. Just compare 2009 National Cancer Institute numbers:

Breast Cancer - 194,280 new cases and 40,610 deaths
Pancreatic Cancer - 42,470 new cases and 35,240 deaths

The difference in the ratios is quite staggering and might make you wonder how you can support your own hard-working pancreas.

Cutting out refined sugars is a good place to start (the Singapore China Health Study didn't find the same link to increased pancreatic cancer from fruit juices as with sugary sodas).

Eating a raw plant-based diet, which is enzyme-rich and alkalinizing (check out the Hippocrates Health Institute's program), and chewing your food carefully (your saliva has enzymes important to digestion) can support pancreas health.

Meanwhile, I am becoming more and more interested in how bodywork can also support healthy digestion and organ function.

Many who do abdominal massage techniques claim to increase organ health by increasing circulation to organs that have become constricted, thus allowing the release of accumulated metabolic waste and concomitant intake of healing nutrients.

Juzentaihoto in the News

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:33:00 +0000

In the latest edition of Alternative Therapies has an article on treating atopic dermatitits with a Japanese botanical formula called "juzentaihoto."

Never heard of it before, but the research looks quite promising and the pictures used in the article are quite impressive.

Apparently, juzentaihoto has powerful immunomodulatory effects. The treatment involved a rather large amount of a juzentaihoto formula -- 7.5 grams per day. The formula, derived from Japanese Kampo medicine, contained ten botanicals: astragali radix, cinnamomi cortex, angelicae radix, paeoniae radix, cnidii rhizoma, rehmanniae radix, ginseng radix, attractylodis lanceae rhizoma, poria, and glycyrrhizae radix.

Researchers believe the juzentaihoto formula provides benefits largely because of the "physiochemical interactions" among the combined botanicals (taking some of the botanicals out eliminated the positive effects), so there's something quite special about the formulation.

In the atopic dermatitis study, it took about a month to get significant results (the 58-year old patient could bend his elbows again) and in four months his skin eruptions had almost completely disappeared.

This is not surprising because the formula has been studied for its ability to boost the intestinal immune system.

According to Dr. Rodier, most skin problems are a failure of the immune system, which is largely in the gut, so anything boosting intestinal health boosts immune system health and also, handily, skin health.

Glutamine: Coming Soon

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:51:00 +0000

I just finished my blog on air pollution and thoughts about cellular detoxification. It occurred to me that I should also give a little update on glutamine, which is a potent cellular detoxifier and healer for the intestinal lining.

Glutamine is known particularly for detoxifying ammonia from the body, but its role in re-establishing the integrity of intestinal walls is also important. Breaks in the intestinal lining allow toxins as well as undigested food molecules to escape into the blood stream, where they can cause all sorts of trouble (including allergies and autoimmune responses).

Glutamine is also known for immune system support, helping stimulate the production of antioxidants (like glutathione) and fighting toxic free radicals (produced by air pollution).

The good news: we'll be adding glutamine powder before the end of the quarter, at long last!

I blogged about glutamine last September (Glutamine, Glutathione & Immunity & More on Glutamine, Immunity & Health) and received enough support to get production rolling.

Salt Lake City: Worst Air in the Nation

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:50:00 +0000

Winter in Salt Lake City is both spectacular and dismal. Watching clouds part over freshly-dusted mountains always takes my breath away. However, "inversions" thrust Salt Lake City's air quality into the worst-of-the-worst during the winter months. Many people complain about sinus problems, itchy eyes, asthma flare-ups, and low-grade coughs that persist. It's not just pollen or dust; it's the air pollution.

Indeed, the American Lung Association's 2009 "State of the Air" report gave Salt Lake City an "F" in air quality, with our average of 55 "orange" days and 2 "red alert" days each year.According to Dr. Norman Edelman, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association, "Everyone assumes that Salt Lake City must be a clean place, but it's not -- it's counterintuitive." If you're curious, take a look at the grades your region and your city received.

Cities with the highest seasonal spikes in air pollution (namely Pittsburgh, Fresno, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Birmingham, and Salt Lake City), not surprisingly, see corresponding spikes in emergency room visits for asthma attacks.

What may be surprising, however, is that the ultrafine particles in air pollution cause problems well beyond your lungs. Read more from an ABC News article on how air pollution can damage the heart and blood vessels:

"Studies conducted at the Heart Institute found that ultrafine air pollutants can cause an immediate drop in coronary blood flow and the heart's pumping function, and tend to cause arrhythmias to develop. Researchers have also found increased levels of air pollution are tied to emergency hospital admissions for heart attack, chest pain and congestive heart failure, and even to death from heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure and cardiac arrest."

My friends, my cats, and I all suffer from the bad air in Salt Lake City. A lot of folks just try to grin and bear it, but I think it's vital to view air pollution as something that requires action. Sure, we can drive less and lobby for clean air standards, but those are long-term solutions.

A rather simple solution that gives us each a lot more control? Adding lots of houseplants - my favorites are the Boston fern and Peace Lily -- as 15-20 houseplants can create clean air inside an 1800 square foot house!

Another tactic is to regularly do internal cleanses to detoxify your cells of pollutants and other toxins. Many people swear by MSM as a nutrient that helps cells purge toxins. I've personally felt better this winter since I added MSM back into my diet. If you're interested in learning more, here's a resource to check out: MSM the Definitive Guide: The Nutritional Breakthrough for Arthritis, Allergies and More

Other people are committed to major annual cleanses (several weeks of eating simply and taking a variety of botanicals and supplements to aid their bodies in releasing stored toxins).

Dr. Rodier and the Hippocrates Health Institute are both big believers in regular saunas to release stored toxins.

I am interested to hear about your experiences. Drop a line below if you have a favorite approach.

A Cold or An Allergy?

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:44:00 +0000

I was in Florida for more than a week, around people from all over the world, and when during the last few days I noticed that I was sneezing and my nose was running, I was not sure if I had caught a cold or if I was having an immune system reaction to something (in the air or in my food). I didn't have aches. I didn't have that foggy head syndrome I usually associate with colds. I didn't have a sore throat. However, I was blowing my nose constantly on Tuesday, sneezing, and I've had a bit of a cough off and on since then, more of an annoyance than any real discomfort though.

I decided to revisit the scientific differences between colds and allergies, and according to the WebMD article on "Common Cold or Allergies?" my symptoms are more likely to be caused by an allergy than a cold. Here's a reprint of the chart in the WebMD article:

Differences Between Colds and Allergies

Characteristic	Cold	Allergy
Duration	3-14 days	Days to months -- as long as you are exposed to the allergen
Time of Year	Most often in the winter, but possible at any time	Any time of the year -- although the appearance of some allergens are seasonal
Onset of symptoms	Symptoms take a few days to appear after infection with the virus.	Symptoms can begin immediately after exposure to the allergen
Symptom	Cold	Allergy
Cough	Often	Sometimes
Aches	Sometimes	Never
Fatigue	Sometimes	Sometimes
Fever	Rarely	Never
Itchy, watery eyes	Rarely	Often
Sore throat	Often	Sometimes
Runny or stuffy nose	Often; usually yellow mucus	Often; usually clear mucus

I was eating out a lot in Florida, and I wasn't entirely careful about avoiding wheat and dairy (thinking I was oh-so-healthy now and could "cheat" and have what everyone else was having). My scalp was a bit itchy and that typically signifies dairy in my diet versus an infection.

So back to avoiding appetizers like fried calamari. Back to pretending crème brûlée doesn't exist. Back to being "good" in order to feel better!

Anyway, if you feel like you have a "mild cold" and it lingers longer than a couple of weeks, you might want to do some detective work on potential allergies.

Drop a line below if you have a personal experience to share!

Dark Chocolate Bars Back in Stock Soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:17:00 +0000

Our organic Grenada Dark Chocolate bars (71% dark chocolate content) disappeared in a hurry, and Teri has received many calls from people who missed out on our holiday special and have cajoled Teri into holding their orders until the new batch of chocolate bars arrive.

Even Tess and I sold our limited stock out in Utah to a friend, who is a sweet talker and likes our chocolate bars better than the ones for which he paid $8 at a gourmet grocery store in town. That made us feel special enough to let go of our stash. Teri doesn't even like dark chocolate but says that since the label is so pretty she wouldn't mind buying this chocolate just for the label. Funny thing is that she means it!

Meanwhile, one member called this morning and asked Teri what the caffeine content is for the dark chocolate bars. Our bars are 3 ounces and thus pack about 60 mg of caffeine per bar (a little over three times the amount in milk chocolate). If you eat an entire bar, you're getting the caffeine equivalent of a weak cup of brewed coffee. If you are sensitive to caffeine, like I am, you may enjoy the rich taste of our dark chocolate enough that a square (or a third of a bar at most) will satisfy your chocolate cravings without too much buzz!

With the enthusiastic response, we've decided to carry our Grenada Dark Chocolate bars for half the year (the cooler months from November to April). Our new stock will be in later this week.

As someone who looks forward to this inventory as much as any of our customers, all I can say is "Yum!" :-)

Paying Workers to Get Healthy?

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:38:00 +0000

I keep running across articles about companies that are paying their employees to "get healthy." Programs are cropping up everywhere that incent employees to get annual physicals, quit smoking, lose weight, commit to physical fitness, etc.

The Palm Beach Post just ran an article on the Cleveland Clinic's wellness program, which gives employees incentives to "battle chronic medical conditions and lower the cost of care." Six chronic conditions include: diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma, excessive weight, and smoking.

The article featured a quote from the Cleveland Clinic's CEO, Delos Cosgrove, who said, "Over the last nine months, our employees have lost 112,000 pounds." The company has ditched deep fryers in the cafeteria and offers no junk food in vending machines. The company also employs nurse care managers that work with employees' physicians to manage chronic conditions with a bias toward supporting wellness and positive lifestyle choices versus treating diseases. More dramatically, job offers come with a required nicotine and drug test, with failure meaning no job offer possible for at least 90 days.

It's great that places like IBM and the Cleveland Clinic are investing in wellness programs with resources to support their employees in making significant lifestyle changes over time.

However, not everyone works at big companies and receives the benefits of such programs. I'll never forget one director of medicine, who was quite interested in integrative wellness and who said with resignation, "It's sad. Insurance will pay $50,000 to amputate a diabetic's foot but won't pay a few hundred dollars for preventive lifestyle coaching or to reimburse for nutritional supplements that could help."

Alas, real health care reform requires transitioning from a disease care model to a genuine wellness model. But we can start imagining a different future today. Since most of my readers are supplements fans, wouldn't it be nice if your annual supplement purchases counted as a legitimate health expense and income tax deduction? Maybe someday!

Dark Chocolate Bars Flying Out the Door

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:32:00 +0000

Our limited stock of Grenada Organic Dark Chocolate bars is disappearing fast. Within a few hours of our newsletter going out, a third of our inventory flew out the door. Of course, our price of $1.99 a bar (compare at $2.99-$3.99) makes our new 71% organic cocoa bars a very good buy.

Interestingly enough, Stephen and Teri were hesitant about adding a dark chocolate bar to our catalog, but voted in favor based on great research on dark chocolate and health. You see, our Florida office prefers sweeter milk chocolate confections, while Tess and I are dark chocolate fans at heart. Adding chocolate, specifically dark chocolate, was my idea, so I am quite happy to see fellow fans among our members.

Inventory-wise, it's probably just as well that the Florida office has to manage the chocolate bars, as Tess and I would be tempted to eat too much chocolate if the bars were allowed to whisper to us all day long! :-)

Drop a line if you have a favorite chocolate fanatic story!

Dark Chocolate Bars for the Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:59:00 +0000

It's true. I love chocolate, dark chocolate, actually. I have convinced my brother, Stephen, to carry a trial run of dark chocolate bars for the holidays. He would prefer milk chocolate, but we're going with the dark chocolate (71% cacao content) based on Tess voting "for" the dark chocolate. Teri was not particularly enthusiastic but is open-minded.

When looking for a vendor, I was clear that we should carry an organic, rainforest-friendly chocolate. I found a company that not only offers USDA Organic chocolate, but also uses solar power for their manufacturing process and produces chocolate in small hand-crafted batches.

We're buying a limited quantity of high-quality 3 ounce dark chocolate bars for the holiday season and will see whether enough of our members are interested in dark chocolate or not.

Curcumin & Black Pepper May Help Prevent Breast Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:47:00 +0000

Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center found that curcumin, (derived from turmeric) and piperine (from black pepper) helped halt breast cancer cell proliferation without harming normal breast tissue cells.

Here's a promising passage from the University of Michigan's recent press release with a quote from lead author, Madhuri Kakarala, M.D., Ph.D., R.D.:

The researchers applied a series of tests to the cells, looking at markers for breast stem cells and the effects of curcumin and piperine, both alone and combined, on the stem cell levels. They found that piperine enhanced the effects of curcumin, and that the compounds interrupted the self-renewal process that is the hallmark of cancer-initiating stem cells. At the same time, the compounds had no affect on cell differentiation, which is the normal process of cell development.

“This shows that these compounds are not toxic to normal breast tissue,” Kakarala says. “Women at high risk of breast cancer right now can choose to take the drugs tamoxifen or raloxifene for prevention, but most women won’t take these drugs because there is too much toxicity. The concept that dietary compounds can help is attractive, and curcumin and piperine appear to have very low toxicity.”

Interestingly, curcumin and piperine affect cancers that are not estrogen sensitive as well as those that are, while commonly-prescribed pharmaceuticals limit estrogen, known to be a "factor in most, but not all breast cancers."

Low toxicity. Low cost. Potential prevention as well as treatment of cancer. It's a pretty good package deal for these two health-promoting botanicals, turmeric (curcumin) and black pepper (piperine).

When we formulated our Constant Health, with 250mg of turmeric per serving, we were advised to include 10mg of bioperine (a standardized extract of piperine) to increase the bioavailability of the turmeric (curcurmin is the primary active ingredient in turmeric). Our Constant Health has a whole host of other antioxidants, detoxifiers, vitamins and minerals, and fibers in a rice protein base. If you are interested in the white paper I wrote on Constant Health, with Dr. Hugo Rodier's review, here's a link.

Life Coaching - Part of the Co-op?!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:50:00 +0000

Many of you know me as a tireless champion of integrative medicine and all things related to "health, nutrition & science."

What most people don't know is that I am also trained as an Integral Coach, a form of coaching that works to integrate four domains of human life: mind, body, relationships, and physical environment.

As the economy continues to be challenging, it has occurred to me that the things I do for my coaching clients might be of real interest to our members. And, at the Co-op, we see ourselves as a lot more than a purely product-based business. We're all from service backgrounds and consider it part of our job to take care of our community of members.

So here goes with something novel, a few offers that might help you in this tough economy (or with the stress of the holidays coming up).

Personal Branding: Positioning Your Real Value in Tough Markets -- I have done a number of workshops on this topic in the past few months and participants have consistently rated the workshop as one of the most valuable in helping them refine their personal vision and mission statements as well as packaging what differentiates them (or their products and services). This one is ideal for people in career transition or seeking to build their businesses.
Difficult Conversations & What We All Want "More Of" -- This workshop is focused on moving from the language of complaints (what we can't stand and don't want) to what we want more of, for ourselves, for the other person, for our relationships, and for the future. This one is ideal for anyone with stressful holiday family gatherings ahead as well as people who just happen to be in business with "difficult people."
Centering as an Antidote to Stress -- This is more of a guided practice of centering oneself when under pressure. Over and over, my clients find that their stress is greatly reduced every time they practice "centering" in their bodies and stop paying so much attention to their worries.
Mindfulness & Weight Loss -- I wasn't trying to lose weight but when I had to become mindful of everything I ate because of food allergies, I dropped about 15 pounds quite naturally. I attribute the weight loss to the healthier diet, yes, but also to the attention I gave to my emotions and the sensations in my body when (and after) eating different foods. We tried to do something on this topic before and had to cancel for lack of interest. Now that summer has passed and the holidays are coming fast, I thought this topic just might be of more interest right now.

We can support up to 50 people in a webinar (good for the first two topics, which include branding models and exercises to be shared). Alternatively, I can also support up to 5 people in a very personal videoconference. The subscription for participants is free, as I pay for the ability to have up to 5 guests in my own private videoconferences.

If you are interested in any of these topics, please drop a line to me and let me know more about you and your interests. I can then tailor events of interest accordingly. I hope to hear from you!

Great Response to Lugol's Iodine Introduction

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Wow. We sold out of the trial order of Lugol's Iodine in one day. We'll have more product next week, but the response was dramatic, with lots of folks telling me their stories of using Lugol's (for decades in some cases and for various needs) in private emails.

Here's what our favorite pharmacist had to say in a note to the "kat" that writes our newsletter:

Hi Cindy, Mike Ciell here. Lugol's is a necessary supplement that ALL folks should take (especially women)...too many benefits to explain on my Blackberry...we've used this in our medical practice for over 5 years...clinical results so Impressive..we automatically prescribe it to all patients. Also we use "my formula" which gives about 12.5 mgs of iodine/iodide per 10 drops. Dr. Young (MD) always prescribes 15 mgs/day....if you want I can compound the exact formula for your "cats". Glad you see the merit in this amazing nutrient!
Always my best,
Mike Ciell, RPh
Chief Science Officer and Vice-President of Clinic Operations
Ideal Protein of America, Inc

Here's what another original member had to say:

Cindy,I have good news for you, I am a relative of the ones who invented Lugol's. Dr. Jenner (my Great Grandfather) & Dr. Lugol) came up with it in a research lab while looking for a better way to clean their peat-re dishes in a search for a cure to several very contagious diseases.

They came up with a mild solution of Iodine and Iodide + distilled water, My Mother gave it to all us siblings every time something was wrong with us from the 1940's on. Her Dad used it on her family all her life as well. My Dad approved too and he was a Vet. Dr.

I love hearing from our members. Keep sharing your stories of using Lugol's.

Meanwhile, for those of you new to iodine supplementation, I strongly recommend working with a knowledgeable health care practitioner as iodine can be toxic when taken in too great of quantities. It's not like water-soluble supplements where you can take two, three, or ten times the amount and allow your body to flush what's not needed.

NAET for Allergy Elimination - Round One

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:33:00 +0000

The first step in the NAET allergy elimination process is to test for allergies. The process is quite simple. A Potential allergens (or allergen groups) are suspended in small vials of water. The practitioner hands one set of allergens at a time to the patient, giving the patient no knowledge of what is contained in each vial, and then conducts muscle testing to determine whether a given set of allergens are problematic for the patient.

Dr. Gary Olsen, a chiropractor, had me lay down on my back and extend my left arm and give resistance until he knew my "normal" resistance strength. He then started handing me different vials, with some substances clearly changing my ability to resist his pressure. I've been a bit skeptical of this process in the past but decided to try to participate with an open mind.

Turns out, a number of times when my arm weakened in response to pressure, I was holding a known allergen (eggs, grains, wheat, dairy proteins). Interestingly, my arm also weakened on the B vitamin complex and a couple of other things that I don't remember. After running me through the muscle testing, I rolled over on to my stomach and received some kind of vibrating stimulation to my spinal cord and then to various accupuncture points on my back and in my hands, knees, and ankles. NAET works by stopping accupuncture meridians from having over-reactive responses to "allergic" substances that are normally harmless.

The first session was all about challenging my body with at least 15 vials with common allergens. The next step involves me wearing a vial of one of the allergens (or allergen groups) for 25 hours after the meridian treatment (I'm supposed to work on some of the accupuncture points every two hours also, which I'm behind on today). Apparently, 25 hours is how long it takes for the body to cycle new information about an allergen's "energy" and and enable all the organs to recognize former allergens as "safe."

Yes, I have a little vial taped to the inside of my leg, halfway between my knee and ankle. A little strange, yes, but I'm not planning to work out in shorts at my gym tonight, so no worries!

I know that my brother and business partner subscribes to my blog and he is undoubtedly shaking his head, as he has many times before, wondering whether this is just another of my many experiments in alternative and complementary healing.

My brother knows I inherited by far the most sensitive system in our family though, so he keeps a more open mind than he might otherwise. We have often joked that my sensitivities are all due to the fact that our mom was incredibly careful about what she ate and even avoiding smoke (back then, both of our parents were smokers) when she was pregnant with me.

Stay tuned, as I will continue to report my experiences with NAET for allergy elimination (and meanwhile here's a link to a research study on NAET results). And, drop a line below if you have experience with NAET!

Lugol's Formula on the Way with Your Help!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:39:00 +0000

Lugol's is a form of iodine in a distilled water formula, which our favorite pharmacist, Mike Ciell, recommends to many folks. Upon Mike's recommendation, I started adding two drops of Lugol's iodine a day to my morning shake and my red, irritated "rosacea eyes" disappeared within a week or so.

We're going to get a small order of Lugol's in to test member demand. If you are interested in seeing the Co-op offer Lugol's, then weigh in below.

Maybe Mike and I are anomalies. Maybe not. Let us know with your comments below!

Alcohol Promotes Aggressive Cancer Cells

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Marteney, CEO, Our Health Co-op) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:29:00 +0000

Alcohol kills brain cells, can cause liver disease, lead to malabsorption of nutrients, and so on.. These are well-known hazards of drinking alcohol.

But did you know that alcohol also promotes aggressiveness in cancer cells (whereby, with alcohol, less dangerous cancer cells morph into deadly metastatic cells, which spread aggressively in the body)?

According to research out of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, alcohol-treated cells not only can go from normal cells to cancer cells, they also lose close connection with their adjacent cells, thus allowing them to migrate to other parts of the body (as in metastasis).

This research correlates to other research that continues to come out about the links between alcohol and cancer. Back in February, the University of Oxford reported in its Million Women study that "Each additional alcoholic drink regularly consumed per day was associated with 11 additional breast cancers per 1000 women up to age 75." The conclusion was that even moderate social drinking has major impacts on the incidence of cancer.

Regardless of what you do if you are cancer free, if you have any form of cancer, it seems wise to eliminate all forms of alcohol, as cancer cells seem to prefer being "under the influence."