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January 25, 2005

IN THIS ISSUE

 

HEART PLUS TABLETS HAVE SLIMMED DOWN!

 

News flash! You’ve asked for it (again and again) and we’re now able to deliver Heart Plus tablets in their slimmed-down, sleeker formulation!

 

It took a lot of whining, but our supplier (who likes to keep us happy) finally invested in a new piece of equipment to ensure adequate compression of larger formulas with fewer excipients.

 

All the ingredients are still the same, with the same dosage (two tablets contain 500 mg of vitamin C, 500 mg of l-lysine and 200 mg of l-proline). The only thing that has changed is the size of the tablets, which the humans have been admiring since they came in.

 

So no need to set off alarm bells when your Heart Plus tablets look a little different!

 

The good news – no extra costs involved.

 

Applause and kudos are entirely appropriate and welcome. Ta da! ^..^

 

To order our improved Heart Plus, click here!

 

CO-OP MEMBER, JACK JUMP, ADVISES MEN TO GET TESTED FOR PROSTATE CANCER!

 

The American Cancer Society estimates that during 2005 approximately 232,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S.

 

Did you know that about one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime? The good news is that only one man in 33 will die of prostate cancer.

 

Prostate health is a major concern for many of our male Co-op friends. This topic struck home last year when Teri’s brother went through prostate surgery (his surgery was a success, thankfully!).

 

So, when I found a plea in my inbox from long-time member, Jack Jump, to educate men about the need for prostate cancer testing, I thought it was a good time to highlight this important subject.

 

Jack and his wife, Kay, live in Bella Vista, Arkansas. They have been members of the Co-op since 2001 – obviously very health conscious. Kay told me that they were a “two cat family looking for a dog.” Good grief, another equal opportunity household!

 

Anyway, Jack is a substitute teacher and also drives a school bus. I asked what his favorite subject is to teach and he said:

 

“I enjoy all subjects! Each one has different challenge.”

 

Then immediately Jack jumped into the conversation about how important it is for every male over 40 years of age to be tested for prostate cancer. Jack shared:

 

“It is my personal goal to ask every male over 40 years old whom I meet if he has had his PSA checked lately.”

 

Fast factoid: “PSA” stands for “prostate specific antigen.” Jack continued with his story:

 

“I am appalled at how many men give me a blank stare and say ‘no’. Many, like me years ago, never knew they should get their PSA tested. I then give them my short speech about how they could have prostate cancer and not even know it until it metastisizes into their bones and kills them.”

 

“The problem with prostate cancer is there are no major signs or symptoms in its early stages -- yet this is when it is best treated.”

 

I asked if Jack minded talking about his personal experience with prostate cancer. He did not hesitate one bit:

 

“Back in 1997, my wife and I attended a local health show where they offered free blood tests. My wife insisted I get one. I argued and resisted asking, ‘Why would I need a blood test?’ Of course, she won and insisted I ask for a PSA test. I agreed to the test just to quiet her down, even though I was not sure why I needed a PSA test. It all seemed like a waste of time plus there was a $10 fee for the PSA.”

 

“Five days later, I get the test results in the mail with a hand-written note from the lab tech telling me to get my butt to an urologist and quick. I had prostate cancer. I felt like a ton of bricks fell on me. I had vaguely heard of prostate cancer but I didn’t even know what a prostate was!”

 

Jack’s PSA showed that he had moderately advanced cancer with a PSA of 13.3. His urologist wanted to do a surgical removal right away, but Jack held back – he wanted to do some research on his own and look into other treatments.

 

“I made changes in my diet, tried every type of alternative therapy and also worked with a dynamite oncologist who suggested short-term hormone blockade therapy. I was able to drive down my PSA to a much lower level, where it stayed for six years.”

 

In late 2003, however, Jack’s PSA unfortunately had again crept up to 14.3. He decided he had to do something right away.

 

“One Sunday afternoon, I saw a news story on a new treatment for prostate cancer that was being researched at the Mayo Clinic. Immediately, I called my oncologist, who called Mayo and made an appointment.”

 

“I met with the top surgeon in the Urology Department of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He took some tests and results came back with some unpleasant news – as expected. He said that I needed to make an immediate decision – no more playing around with it. Decide on surgery, radiation, seed implants – decide on something. There was no time left to try anything else – my cancer had advanced. There was no time to even try an experimental treatment.”

 

“The surgeon’s resident assistant assured me that this Dr. Myers, one of the top prostate surgeons in the world, knew what he was talking about and he had complete confidence in his surgical abilities. So, I had the surgery.”

 

I asked Jack if he has any complications or signs of cancer since the surgery. He stated:

 

“So far, the cancer has not returned. However, this experience has changed me and my family forever.”

 

Jack stressed that there were three important lessons he learned from this whole experience that he wants our Co-op men to know:

 

“One – every man needs to be tested for prostate cancer. Once over 40, you should get your PSA checked every 6 months. Overnight, your PSA can start climb, indicating serious issues, but with early diagnosis, prostate cancer can be effectively treated.”

 

“Second – resist the impulse to rush out and get surgery if you have an elevated PSA. Instead, give yourself time to gather information. Prostate cancer is relatively a slow-growing cancer, so learn about all treatment options available to you. You deserve first-class treatment. Don’t automatically do the first thing that the first doctor recommends.”

 

“Third -- consider the feelings of your family members. Putting off a PSA test can mean much more suffering for your loved ones.”

 

Jack went on to mention a few different treatments for prostate cancer including:

  • Cryotherapy - Destroys cancer cells by freezing tissue

  • Radiation – A common treatment for many types of cancers

  • Radioactive seed implants – Seeds injected into the prostate deliver a localized dose of radiation

  • Hormone therapy – Male sex hormones, particularly testosterone, feed prostate cancer. By blocking testosterone, this therapy can drive down PSA numbers. This treatment is typically used in early stages of prostate cancer -- to slow down the growth of cancer cells or in combination with surgery or radiation.

Jack continued to share what he has learned about treatment:

 

“Another treatment option is watchful waiting. Some men will have a very slow growing cancer and by regularly getting their PSA tested and communicating with their physician, they can monitor the progression of their cancer.”

 

“Many experts feel that every man will eventually develop prostate cancer -- if he lives long enough! But with better screening results and early diagnosis, men should not have to die from this disease.”

 

Before signing off, Jack recommended two national self-help prostate cancer groups for those interested in finding out more information:

 

Prostate Cancer Research Institute: http://www.prostate-cancer.org

 

Patient Advocates for Advanced Cancer Treatment (PAACT): http://www.paactusa.org/index.html

 

Jack is clearly a man on a mission, acknowledging that he would like to put up posters everywhere with the following admonition:

 

“Have you had your PSA checked lately? It’s important, as prostate cancer kills men. You could have advanced prostate cancer and NOT KNOW IT. There are NO symptoms. Get a PSA test SOON!'

 

I say “Pounce on that one, Jack!” Many thanks to Jack for taking the time to share his story and also for helping educate our men on the need for regular prostate check-ups!

 

SUPPLEMENTS AND NUTRIENTS FOR PROSTATE HEALTH

 

Jack’s interview made me think that it has been some time since we discussed supplements that support prostate health. Here are few suggestions and some recent research:

 

BETA SITOSTEROL

 

Beta Sitosterol is considered a “phytosterol,” which is a plant compound with a similar chemical structure to that of cholesterol. This compound is commonly found in foods such as wheat germ, soybeans and corn oil.

 

Over the past few years, concentrated extracts of this particular phytosterol have been tested for lessening the discomforts often associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - an enlarged prostate without the signs of cancer. When the prostate becomes enlarged, it can obstruct the urethral canal, interfering with urination. Research has shown that taking beta-sitosterol can significantly improve urinary symptoms and decrease inflammation.

 

For those heart-health conscious members, Beta Sitosterol is also commonly used to support healthy cholesterol levels.

 

SAW PALMETTO

 

The Saw Palmetto tree grows in the southeastern part of the United States. Saw Palmetto berries have been used for centuries for the treatment of various urinary problems. In more recent years, the concentrated extract of berry found the most effective with symptoms of BPH.

 

Prostate enlargement is typically caused by increased levels of testosterone and its derivative, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is an even more potent form of this male sex hormone. DHT actually binds to the prostate, resulting in the growth of the prostate tissue. An enzyme, 5-alpha-reductace, is responsible for converting testosterone to DHT.

 

Research indicates that Saw Palmetto inhibits this enzyme, interfering with the testosterone-DHT conversion and, therefore, reducing DHT levels that bind to the prostate tissue. Saw Palmetto actually does not affect overall size of the prostate, but it does shrink the inner prostatic epithelium.

 

Numerous clinical trials have shown that the reduced swelling effects of Saw Palmetto resulted in the reduction of the bothersome symptoms of BPH, particularly with lower urinary tract symptoms. Another key action of Saw Palmetto is that it does not reduce PSA levels. Since the PSA level is key in detecting prostate cancer, taking Saw Palmetto has no demonstrable effect on these levels, allowing men to continuously monitor for early stages of prostate cancer.

 

The Co-op’s Saw Palmetto is also formulated with pumpkin seed oil, pygeum africanum (bark of a native African evergreen tree) and uva ursi (also known as “bear grape”). The combination of these ingredients with Saw Palmetto give the added benefit of easing symptoms associated with BPH and prostate inflammation.

 

ANTIOXIDANTS: LYCOPENE & SELENIUM

 

The usual gang of antioxidants, such as A, C and E, works to protects human tissues from free radical damage. In addition, there are some antioxidants that have shown signs of improved prostate health.

 

Lycopene, the red pigment and carotene in tomatoes, has had a lot of positive press. Dozens of recent lab and clinical studies haven proven the benefits of this powerful antioxidant, particularly when it comes to prostate health.

 

This kat has written lots about lycopene in past newsletters stressing the fact that the best form of dietary lycopene comes from watermelon or cooked tomatoes. So when you sit down to your next pasta meal, add on heaps of tomato sauce!

 

I could go on and on with the positive details of lycopene, but I think you should see the references yourself. Below is just a sample of the research being done on lycopene:

 

 

SELENIUM

 

Deficiencies in selenium have been linked to poor prostate health. And similar to Lycopene, there are lots of studies that prove its worth as a leading antioxidant, so I included a couple of references below:

 

There a several possible mechanisms for the protective effect of selenium, but it is important to note that selenium and vitamin E facilitate one another’s absorption, so it’s advisable to take them together.

 

If you are interested in learning more about the Co-op’s prostate health products, including Beta Sitosterol, Saw Palmetto, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Sam’s Antioxidant Formula, please visit our Product Catalog.

 

HEALTH IN THE NEWS

That’s it for now. If you’ve made it this far, you’re one of my loyalists, and I thank you for that!

 

I’m open to new interview prospects again, so drop me a line if you have a story you would like to share with our far-flung community. ^..^

 

Still purringly yours,

 

Guido



Guido Housemouser (The Enforcer) ^..^
Chief Kat and Community Manager
Our Health Co-op
931 Village Blvd, Suite 905-480
West Palm Beach FL 33409

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