Integrative Health Blog

Turmeric, Curcumin and LDL Cholesterol: Natural Ways to Lower Oxidative Stress

Posted by on Mon, Apr 12, 2021

What is LDL and Why is it Called the "Bad" Cholesterol?

LDL, “bad” cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) gets a bad rap as a risk factor for atherosclerosis and increasing the risks of heart attacks and stroke, which together are the number one cause of death. LDL may serve some useful functions and it should be understood physiologically instead of indicting it as “bad” and blindly taking potentially harmful medications to lower it.[1] LDL is simply oxidized fat, like rancid olive oil or butter left out of the refrigerator too long. LDL and rancid fat acquire oxygen molecules and become less dense when the fluffy gas molecules (oxygen) attaches itself to the fat molecules, much as dense wood becomes less dense, left-over, dusty ashes in a fireplace after wood is burned or oxidized. When oxidized fat proceeds to flow through our blood vessels, burning and oxidizing its way, too much of it may proceed to light little fires, like taking tiny blow torches to the inside of our arteries. The damage caused by this “oxidative stress,” is sealed over by plaque in a repair process, which is usually composed of a hodgepodge of clot, fat and calcium. If a lot of repair plaque builds up, one may be diagnosed with atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis or coronary heart disease. No wonder doctors prescribe medications to lower LDL.

The Dangers of Plaque Build-up 

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Tags: heart disease, functional medicine, supplements

Natural Options for Heart Health

Posted by on Thu, Nov 01, 2018

Metabolic Cardiology  is a fairly new branch of Functional Medicine. Metabolic cardiology is a non-invasive, simple, integrative medical approach which addresses the prevention, management, treatment and monitoring of cardiovascular disease at the core basic level- which is the heart muscle cell. Functional medicine physicians are always concerned with addressing health issues at the root of the problem.

The goal here is to improve and preserve heart health at the cellular level of the individual heart cell through organic interventions that are natural to the human body. Diseased heart muscles are energy-source depleted or lacking the natural cell fuel, known as  adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is formed and recycled on the cellular metabolic level, and supplies all the energy required for every cell, organ, system and body function. ATP is so critical for energy production that it is known as the “energy currency” for life.

There are four supplements that play a major role in supporting a healthy ATP-efficient heart cell:

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Tags: heart disease, functional medicine, supplements

What Supplements Should I Take While Traveling?

Posted by on Mon, Dec 19, 2016

That is a great question!

In my experience, the last thing people want to do is lug a big bag of supplements on holiday or vacation. (See my previous post, Am I Taking Too Many Supplements?) And there is some evidence that we respond better to supplements if we pulse them, in other words, take supplements, then stop for a while, then resume taking them. If this is true then why not take a personal holiday combined with a supplement holiday?

On a more serious note, there are some important supplements that I would recommend if you are traveling to a less developed area of the world. In these places you will be undoubtedly exposed to various "bugs" that, while harmless to indigenous people, may make you sick. I find the best preventative measures include avoiding organ meats, raw shellfish, undercooked foods and of course local water sources. But, even if you are just going to grandma's for a few days, a good preventive measure is to supplement your gut and help you balance the good flora with the stress of traveling and unfamiliar food.

Supplements to Take When Traveling:

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Tags: digestive health, supplements, wellness coach

Ask the Wellness Coach: Am I Taking Too Many Supplements?

Posted by on Wed, Sep 07, 2016

The  Health and Wellness Coaches hears this question often:

Am I taking too many supplements?

Many clients come in and ask about reviewing their supplements. As health coaches we follow advice from the integrative physicians and are obviously a proponent of supplementation. There are, however, reasons as to why sometimes over supplementation can be counterproductive.

Supplements can be expensive

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Tags: supplements, health coach, wellness coach

Glutathione, the Great Antioxidant and Great Detoxifier

Posted by on Tue, Jun 25, 2013

Bob Johnson DMD

Glutathione, the Great Antioxidant

Glutathione is  known as the Great antioxidant and the Great detoxifier.

Glutathione is a critically important molecule composed of 3 amino acids but is unique in that it is made by the body and exists inside all cells.

Why is Glutathione so important?

Glutathione is a great detoxifier and critical in prevention of chronic diseases.

Oxidation of cells contributes to degenerative diseases such as cancer, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. Oxidation is also involved in the aging process with the body’s exposure to pollutants, chemicals and in regular metabolism.

Glutathione is the most important antioxidant and the body needs it for detoxification, to clean up the stressed and damaged cells, and to help the body repair itself.

Most patients with chronic illness have low levels of glutathione.

It has been clearly established that for the prevention of asthma, inflammation, arthritis, muscle weakness, cancer, cataracts, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and more, glutathione is critical.

Glutathione also helps to maintain all other antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, the nitric oxide cycle and is indispensable in DNA and protein synthesis.  As such glutathione is a critical element in the body.  Most chronic illness patients have glutathione deficiency and would be effectively treated with glutathione.

Glutathione, although made in the body can be supplemented.  Oral glutathione supplementation has been shown to be ineffective due to the digestion process but consuming the precursors especially alpha lipoic and N acetyl cysteine have been shown more effective.

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Tags: antioxidants, glutathione, detoxification, supplements

Antioxidants, Our Built-in Firefighters

Posted by on Tue, Jun 11, 2013

Why do we need antioxidants?

One of the 4 pillars of nutritional supplementation, antioxidants prevent our bodies from “burning up” (anti- against, oxidation – burning); oxidation from free radicals also causes aging, loss of cellular energy and function, premature cell death, degeneration, cancer, and more. Consider these biological truths about anti-oxidants:

  • Antioxidants come from our food (and supplements) but more importantly our body’s antioxidant enzyme systems (all requiring nutritional building blocks).
  • Cellular systems of detox and antioxidants always work together, are under genetic control and are inhibited whenever chronic inflammation is dominant. So if you have a chronic inflammatory health condition you also have an oxidation and toxic problem! Note that all chronic health conditions involve chronic inflammation.
  • Our toxic world has greatly increased our need for all types of antioxidants to heal or remain healthy.

Antioxidants are key to:

  • Anti-aging
  • Overcoming illnesses
  • Regaining health from any chronic or acute health issue
  • Restoring health of the neuro-immune system compromised through heavy metal and chemical toxicity, overgrowth of bowel toxins and chronic infections
  • All detoxification strategies should include anti-oxidants

How antioxidants are best delivered to the body:

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Tags: antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, immune system, supplements, world wellness store

Why Choose Pharmaceutical Grade Supplements

Posted by on Wed, May 15, 2013

Lauren Amodeo

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Tags: integrative health, integrative medicine, nutritional supplements, supplements, world wellness store

What to Know Before You Take Calcium Supplements

Posted by on Wed, May 11, 2011

by CE Gant MD, PhD

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Tags: heart disease, supplements

Is it Time for the Autism Community to Come Together?

Posted by on Wed, Dec 22, 2010

Recently, two popular supplements in the autism community have come under scrutiny.  The first is Oxidative Stress Relief (OSR) and the other is the “speak” supplement.  Whether or not these products are good, bad or indifferent is debatable.  The real issue at hand is the vulnerability of the autism community in general. 

On the one hand, parents are willing to take calculated risks on novel treatments.  The option of trying something that has “supplement” status is weighed against the possibility of having a child with a life-long sentence of autism.  This, to me, is understandable.  At what point, however, do we draw the line?  These children do not have the time to wait for the FDA to do multi-centered, double blind, randomized control trials on treatments—that takes years.  Nor can the families with an affected child wait for the great causation debate to be settled. 

Conversely, we cannot forget the supreme edict of pediatrics….”children are not little adults,” meaning they have a physiology and biochemistry that is unique to them.  At the very least, dosages need to be weight specific (the issue with the speak supplement) and the ingredients need to scrutinized to be natural like the word “supplement” connotes. 

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Tags: autism, supplements

NIHA Launches online Wellness Store to Promote Healthier Living

Posted by on Thu, Sep 09, 2010

National Integrated Health Associates announced their new holistic health online Wellness Store offering greater access to high quality supplements and products for healthy living, and easier visitor usability.

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Tags: health products, supplements