We already discussed that cholesterol is NOT a deadly poison, but a vital substance! It’s the cholesterol-reducing drugs (or statins, as they’re called) that are the poison, and further more…recent facts show they even don’t work! High cholesterol can indicate a health problem BUT can be totally innocent by itself.

It’s true that heart disease is the #1 killer in the United States. And men over the age of 40 are particularly vulnerable. But, the big pharmaceutical companies (and even your doctor) won’t tell you that the majority of strokes and heart attacks have NOTHING to do with elevated cholesterol levels. Actually, recent reports from the American Heart Association indicate that more people with a low cholesterol die from a heart condition than people with high cholesterol levels; which is totally NOT a surprise! The fact that the majority of all strokes and heart attacks have absolutely nothing to do with elevated cholesterol levels is a guarded secret. It’s these statin drugs that are associated with major complications and side effects such as depletion of the body’s essential energy molecule coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which can lead to congestive heart failure, extreme muscle weakness, neurological disorders and even death. Cholesterol is a vital substance and the drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol are simply dangerous.

What about cancer? All statin drugs have been associated with causing or promoting cancer in experimental animals. This is especially important since millions of Americans have been advised to take these drugs for the rest of their lives. The results of one study were especially frightening: statin drugs produced significant suppression of vital immune cells called helper T-cells. These cells play a major role in protecting us against cancer and fungal, bacterial and viral infections. The immune suppression was so powerful that authors of the paper even suggested that statins might be used to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients. The drugs tested in this study included Lipitor, Mevacor and Pravachol. Chronic immune suppression in these millions of people would mean that a tremendous number would be at high risk of developing cancer, and those already having cancer would see tremendous growth and spread of their cancers.

Statins do not seem to benefit postmenopausal women, or anyone without a history of cardiovascular disease. Yet, doctors are prescribing statins for anyone with an elevated cholesterol, and also for all diabetics – no matter their cholesterol level.

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My own mother, who still resides in my home country of Belgium, was put on Lipitor about 2 years ago. I wasn’t aware of that, but she called and expressed pain and numbness in her legs. I tried to diagnose her over the phone and spent countless hours to figure it out…until I asked her: “De doctor heeft jou toch geen cholesterol-drugs voorgeschreven zeker?” Did you get that? I guess not! I talk Flemisch (a Dutch dialect spoken in the Northern part of Belgium) to my mother…anyway what I asked her was: “Your doctor did not prescribe you cholesterol-lowering drugs, did she?”. Well, she did. I advised my mother to discontinue the Lipitor immediately and within 3 days all her symptoms in her legs were gone. I also educated her on what to do naturally to treat the CAUSE of the high cholesterol, and more importantly on what to do to protect your heart. A Danish study found that those taking statin drugs long term were 4 to 14 times more likely to develop nerve degeneration leading to difficulty walking and painful extremities. Regardless, read the side-effect profile of these statins on your drug label and you’ll see.

Cholesterol is just a BIG HOAX!

How many of the 12 million Americans now taking these drugs for their heart health understand that they are just treating the symptoms and NOT the cause of high cholesterol?

Cholesterol-reducing drugs or statins are currently as common as aspirin, with commercials running non-stop on primetime TV. Drugs like Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, Crestor and Mevacor carry many serious health risks, including destruction of muscle, liver damage, increased risk of cancer, malformations at birth, and suppression of the immune system, just to name a few. Drug companies don’t want you to remember that statins like Baycol had to be pulled from the market due to multiple deaths.

Let’s face facts. If you or a loved one has been told you have elevated cholesterol or take cholesterol-lowering statins, invest 2 minutes out of your busy day and educate yourself, it will pay you a very healthy dividend.

FACTS:

1. The whole cholesterol industry is a BIG HOAX. The “supposed” dangers of dietary cholesterol have been strongly exaggerated and one made sure that most people would test ‘positive’ for high cholesterol levels so the drugs could be prescribed and sold to almost everyone. Yes, that’s what happens when BIG money is involved!
2. Statin drugs DON’T WORK anyway! The mainstream media can no longer ignore the mounting evidence that these drugs are not a panacea. One study found that for every hundred people taking statins for three years, only one death will be prevented. Other studies hint that the number is far higher – that up to 250 people would have to take statins for at least three years to prevent a single death! A recent publication even shows that one such drug, Vytorin, simply does not even work for its intended purpose; the reduction of artery plaque. You read that correctly – “does not work.”
3. Having low cholesterol is not only bad for you, but can be just as dangerous, if not more so, than having elevated cholesterol levels.
4. Cholesterol is only “bad” if it becomes oxidized . . . and how to prevent this dangerous reaction from happening in your bloodstream.
5. Lowering cholesterol will NOT improve your health or prevent heart disease. However, simple changes to your diet can protect your heart much better than expensive statin drugs.
6. Dietary cholesterol does NOT raise blood cholesterol and therefor does NOT cause hardening of your arteries (artherosclerosis), so please start eating your organic eggs again…they are one of the most nutritious food items available! For more info, read my article “The Chicken or the Egg?”
7. It’s not eating eggs or foods with high dietary cholesterol that are the main problem; it’s the ‘bad’ foods that stimulate cholesterol production! Consuming ‘bad’ foods (processed, synthetic foods, trans-fats etc.) forces the liver to produce more cholesterol. Why? Because the cell membrane has to increase its fluidity in order to absorb and break down these ‘foreign’ substances. The production of cholesterol in our body actually increases when we consume less cholesterol. That’s also why cholesterol-diets have very limited result.
8. Mental stress, body weight, diet and level of physical activity influence blood cholesterol. Genetics are NOT a primary indicator in cholesterol-health.
9. Diet and exercise alone have limited results in lowering blood cholesterol. With the right nutrients, optimal LDL – HDL ratio’s can be obtained.
10. Many doctors have no or little knowledge about nutrition, vitamins and natural medicine and blindly and mistakenly follow the advice of drug companies…at the expense of your health.

Achieve an optimal LDL-HDL ratio, naturally!

Avoid saturated fats and consume more oat bran, soy products, fresh garlic, and phytostyerol-rich foods such as olive oil, nuts, flax and other seeds, and beans which inhibit the body’s ability to absorb dietary cholesterol.

Take the following supplements (if you really want to lower your cholesterol levels):

Fish-oils, red yeast rice, Niacin (very effective in promoting healthy levels of cholesterol and Lp (a), another ‘toxic blood’ risk factor for heart disease), CoQ10 (supports healthy HDL and prevents excess oxidation of LDL), and Policosanol (derived from the wax of sugar cane, and very effective for lowering total cholesterol and LDL levels).

Note: neither niacin nor red yeast rice extract should be used if you have liver disease or elevated levels of liver enzymes. For these individuals, garlic, guggal preparations, or panthethine are recommended.

So, eat your eggs BUT STOP (or limit) the junk food, fried foods and bad fat intake; and take your supplements (because our food does not provide enough of the right nutrients to maintain a healthy ratio of LDL – HDL).

And if you want to protect your heart, you need to focus on eating heart-healthy foods and consume or supplement with specific nutrients. The most powerful and effective quantum nutritional supplements to support your cardio-vascular system and heart are the following:

Dr. Mike Recommends

Cardiocidin-ND™ (8 oz.) Nanized nutraceutical concentrate: supports the entire cardiovascular system, including healthy blood flow, circulation, blood pressure already within the normal range; also supports heart and artery health.

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CircuZymeTM (535 mg.) 90 Vcaps, Advanced support for blood circulation and associated nerve, heart and arterial health; promotes healthy micro-circulation of blood to peripheral tissue, including the arms, legs, eyes, testicles, penis and other areas; support healthy male erectile function and the adaptive response.

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Heart Complex, Q. (495 mg.) 30 Vcaps, Nutraceutical heart support formula; promotes heart and circulation support; often used with the HCL Detox Kit*

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CoQ-QuinolTM (2 fl. oz.) The world’s only probiotic-generated, live source, fully-reduced CoQ-10H (ubiquinol; not oxidized), for maximum cell energy performance; outperforms common CoQ-10; quantum-state heart, nerve, brain and immune support*

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Yours in Optimal Health,

Dr. Mike.

Resources:

Statin Drugs: Bad news gets worse; Newsmax – Monday, January 28, 2008 by Dr. Russelll Blaylock, MD.

Premier Research labs (www.prlabs.com)

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Avocados are one of the most nutritional as well as healthy fruits you can eat.Wellness choices begin with proper nutrition, and the avocado is an excellent food source to achieve that goal. The avocado fruit, also known as the Alligator Pear, vegetable butter or butter pear, is light-green with a pear-like shape and has skin with a leather-like appearance. Avocados have a creamy, buttery texture and are popular in salads, salsas, soups, sandwiches, wraps, guacamole and various other dishes. Avocados are native to Central and South America where they have been cultivated for thousands of years.

Avocados are quite healthy for you because they are an excellent source of potassium, folate, iron, vitamin E, B-vitamins, fiber, and monounsaturated fatty acids.  Just one avocado has the same amount of potassium as two or three bananas (but more calories, approximately 50 calories for 1/5 of a regular size avocado). The sodium and potassium in avocados keeps your body chemically balanced.

An avocado contains approximately 20% fat which is mostly why the avocado is a misunderstood fruit. However, the fat in avocados is ‘good fat’. Avocados contain extremely high amounts of unsaturated oil (second only to olives). The other oils include oleic acid and linoleic acid, which studies have shown may lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (this is of less importance since we already established that cholesterol is a big hoax). Avocados, due to their mono and polyunsaturated fat content, are therefore a healthy substitution for foods rich in saturated fat. Per serving, avocados have 3.5 grams of unsaturated fats, which are known to be important for normal growth and development of the central nervous system and brain. Furthermore, avocados are a perfectly digestible and slow burning fuel, making them ideal for replenishing nutrients for athletes.

Avocados are also loaded with essential micronutrients with nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds necessary for a healthy and balanced diet. One-fifth of a medium avocado (1 oz) has 50 calories and contributes nearly 20 vitamins and minerals making it a good nutrient choice. The avocado’s smooth, creamy consistency makes it one of the first fresh fruits a baby can enjoy. A serving of avocado also contains 81 micrograms of the carotenoid lutein and 19 micrograms of beta-carotene, which some studies suggest may help maintain healthy eyes (lutein is concentrated in the macula of the eyes). Both are known to be powerful antioxidants. Avocados also contain 76 milligrams beta-sitosterol in a 3-oz serving of avocado. Beta-sitosterol is a natural plant sterol which may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels (which again is not that important).

Avocados act as a “nutrient booster” by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha- and beta-carotene as well as lutein, in foods that are eaten with the fruit.

Avocados and Heart Disease:

Avocados can help consumers meet the dietary guidelines of the American Heart Association, which are to eat a diet that is low to moderate in fat. The fats should be primarily unsaturated and low in saturated fat and cholesterol. The avocado is virtually the only fruit that has monounsaturated fat. Avocados help assist consumers in meeting a major dietary goal of reducing saturated fat in the diet, when they are consumed in place of saturated-fat containing foods.

When used instead of other fats, avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients and can be part of a calorie-reduced diet or weight loss program.

Spread and Dip Nutritional Comparison for Fresh Avocados:

Fresh avocado on sandwiches and toast or substituted as a spread in place of many other popular foods may help reduce dietary intake of calories, fat, saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol.

Looking for a twist on spreads and dips? A 1-ounce serving of fresh avocados contain 0mg of cholesterol, 0mg of sodium, 0.5g saturated fat. See the chart below for examples of how fresh avocados are a great substitute on sandwiches, toast or substituted as a spread in place of many other popular foods.

Reference: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 18 (2005) and FDA Food Labeling Guidelines for Voluntary Nutrition Labeling of Raw Fruits, Vegetable and Fish (Vol. 71, No. 159); Appendix C to Part 101 – Nutrition Facts for Raw Fruits and Vegetables (2006). Nutritional values are for the item listed only; not as consumed with other foods or ingredients.

Yours in Optimal Health,

Dr. Mike

Resource: California Avacodo commission

Boosting your immune system can be easily acheived by adding the right foods to your diet. Nuts are an excellent source of plant protein and they can also help fight heart disease and boost immunity.  Most people think that nuts are high in calories and fat… and they are right! Nuts are quite calorically dense. 15 cashews, for instance, deliver approximately 180kcal.  If you can restrain yourself from overeating them, nuts can definitely be a part of a healthy diet.

Researchers found that people who eat nuts regularly have lower risks of heart disease. In 1996, the Iowa Women’s Healthy Study found that women who ate nuts >4 times a week were 40% less likely to die of heart disease. Two years later, another study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found a similar result in another group of women subjects. Furthermore, potential heart health benefits of nuts were also found among men. In 2002, the Physician’s Health Study found that men who consumed nuts 2 or more times per week had reduced risks of sudden cardiac death.

They’re packed full of protein and are a good source of healthy fats, not to mention all the vitamins (including antioxidants) and minerals they contain. They are rich in fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants such as Vitamin E and selenium.  Nuts are also high in plant sterols and fat – but mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (omega 3 – the good fats) which have all been shown to lower LDL cholesterol.

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Nuts are one of the best plant sources of protein. The amino acid Arginine is also present in nuts which, as stated in a recent article on impotence, can help overcome erectile dysfunction. Arginine has also been found to boost immunity and lower elevated blood pressure levels. In addition, certain nuts like pecans, walnuts and almonds contain Tryptophan – another amino acid that stimulates the production of the ‘feel good’ hormone serotonin in your brain, which can help ward off depression and promote a more relaxed state.

Another reason to eat more peanuts is because they’re an excellent source of B vitamins, including folate, riboflavin and niacin. All of which are essential for healthy metabolism and growth; a deficiency of them can cause muscle degeneration and fatigue. Like peanuts, walnuts also have important benefits for your heart because of the omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids they contain. Both omega 3 and omega 6 are also needed for maintaining healthy joints and brain function.

Another must are Brazil nuts. A recent study conducted at the University of Illinois in the US suggests that Brazil nuts may play a vital role in preventing breast cancer. According to the scientists who carried out the study, this benefit is probably a result of the high amounts of selenium they contain. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that helps neutralize harmful free radicals that can attack healthy cells and increase the risk of serious conditions like heart disease and cancer – including breast cancer as already mentioned, and lung, bowel and prostate cancer.

The list of health benefits attached to each individual nut is endless. Other nuts that are particularly good include: pistachios for their high iron, protein and fiber content and high levels of magnesium, which helps control blood pressure; hazelnuts because they are one of the richest sources of the antioxidant vitamin E; and cashew nuts for their high iron content which is needed to make hemoglobin – the red pigment in the blood.

Obviously it goes without saying that nuts should not be eaten by anyone with an allergy to them. The British Nutrition Foundation recommends that if you have a family history of nut allergies you should avoid nuts when pregnant and should not give them to your children to eat in their early years.

So, nuts are good for you. Try to buy the organic, raw, natural ones of course and consume regularly but in moderation. Nuts are good for you, but don’t go nuts on them!

Yours in Optimal Health,

Dr. Mike

Resources: The Health Science Institute, UK

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Quitting smoking is not easy, yet there are a number of tips and strategies that are helpful in breaking the addiction. that Smoking kills almost 500,000 Americans each year and bla, bla, bla, bla…we all know the facts and the statistics so I won’t bore you with them again! What you probably didn’t know is that less than 3% of smokers who try to quit fail and most who succeed tried several times. So, what are some crucial keys to success besides the common prescribed patches and therapies out there (that obviously have a huge track record of FAILURE)? Here’s my personal strategies that have helped many of my patients:

1. Don’t even bother trying to stop smoking if you are TRULY not sincere. If you want to stop because your spouse or significant other is nagging you, don’t waste your time or money. ONLY if you have SINCERE PERSONAL Reasons for quitting and need help, the suggestions below will be successful! My success rate with my patients is well over 90%, mainly because I do NOT treat people who do not have those sincere personal reasons…I just tell them I can’t help them, which is true!

2. First, develop a plan. You must set a firm date for quitting and make a strategic daily plan, including a gradual decrease in the number of cigarettes you smoke. For example, if you smoke 20 cigarettes per day set-up a plan like this:

Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
# of cigarettes 18 16 18 14 16 12 14
Day 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
# of cigarettes 12 10 12 8 10 6 8
Day 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
# of cigarettes 6 4 6 2 4 0 2

3. Also set a plan of action for the cravings that will hit you. This plan of action could be a substitute activity, for example: walking the dog, checking your email, taking a relaxing bath, drinking a bottle of water, chewing some gum etc. every time a craving hits you.

4. Motivate yourself by constantly reminding yourself WHY you want to stop smoking. Maybe it’s because your health is suffering and you want to avoid doctors and hospitals, maybe you want to be alive when your grandkids grow up etc. Also think about the amount of money you will save and what else you could do with this money. Over a 10-year period, a two-pack-a-day habit costs approximately $52,000. If you have a difficult time motivating yourself, join a support group. These groups only meet once a week for about 20 minutes and they may really help. To locate a support group in your local area, contact the local hospital, the American Lung Association (800-586-4872 / www.lungusa.org ), or the American Cancer Society (800-227-2345 / www.cancer.org).

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5. Involve your friends and family. Most smokers try to stop secretly because they don’t want to be embarrassed in case they fail. You should do the exact opposite! Involve your friends, family, and even your doctor and inform them on exactly what your plan is. Ask them to check-up on you regularly to see how you are doing and apologize in advance for how irritably you may be at times as you go through nicotine withdrawals.

6. Do NOT switch to ‘light’ cigarettes, studies show is does not help because people who switch to low-tar, low-nicotine brands unwittingly compensate by inhaling smoke more deeply or frequently.
7. Do NOT ask your doctor for antidepressant therapy or drugs; you could become addicted to these ‘drugs of death’. For more information on psychotropic drugs, visit www.cchr.org

8. Get HELP. I strongly suggest a good, licensed acupuncturist who is knowledgeable about the protocols for smoking cessation(ask him or her about their success rate with previous clients) and who is skilled and legally able to inject methylcobalamin (a form of vitamin B12) into acupuncture point LI20 (3 injections, once per week, of 1cc bilateral) which will make your cigarettes taste bad. This recommendation of mine lacks scientific evidence but I have used it with great success for many years! Other complementary therapies that may assist you include acupressure and hypnosis.

If you need help or have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me anytime!

Yours in Optimal Health,

Dr. Mike.

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What is Metabolic Syndrome?

It’s a term used to describe a combination of medical problems that increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes. People with metabolic syndrome have some or all of the following: high blood glucose, high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, low HDL, elevated cholesterol and high triglycerides. The root causes of metabolic syndrome are being obese or overweight, lack of physical activity, and possibly some genetic factors.

Common primary targets for risk reduction are smoking cessation, lowering LDL and blood pressure, and drug therapy to target individual risk factors. But if excess weight is the cause, wouldn’t it be more SENSIBLE to just lose weight? I thought so! Along with some lifestyle changes, weight loss in the ANSWER. In the weight loss treatment of patients with metabolic syndrome, most health care professionals use the glycemic index (GI) as their guideline.

What is the Glycemic Index (GI)?

In 1981, Dr. David Jenkins – at the University of Toronto – developed dietary guidelines for diabetics based on an intrinsic system of “exchanges’. Dr. Jenkins and his team charted how quickly various foods affect blood sugar levels, and assigned each of these foods a “GI-number”. The GI-numbers are derived by comparing the rate of given food’s digestion to that of a reference food know to digest rapidly, such as pure glucose or white bread. The reference food is assigned a GI of 100 and the tested food is charted against this standard. Foods with a high GI (70 and above) are foods that break down quickly and cause a spike in blood sugar levels. Foods with a low GI (55 and below) break down more slowly and steadily, providing a sustained supply of energy.

Many popular diets and weight loss programs (more about these in Chapter 3) wrongly assume that foods which rapidly raise blood sugar levels are responsible for weight gain, and base their entire program on this misconception. They ignore the substantial amount of research that runs counter to their “theory”, and have taken a controversial nutritional concept out of context.

Diets composed of low GI-foods slow down the conversion into blood sugar and lower glucose levels and peaks. These diets also reduce the progression to type 2 diabetes by lowering insulin levels, and satisfy appetite without consuming extra calories. These diets are the new standard for managing diabetes in Canada, UK, France, Australia and New Zealand.

However, the American Diabetic Association (ADA) has not yet endorsed GI. The ADA raises questions about its practical importance since differences in rates of digestion do not warrant changing the diet for diabetics, and “what if different foods are eaten together at meals”? Good point! Furthermore, the ADA points out that fats have a low GI, including peanuts and chocolate; and that therefore a diet exclusively based on low GI puts the individual at risk for heart attack and stroke. Atkins is a good example of this!

Contrarily to what most people and health care professionals belief, white bread and baked potatoes (low fiber, high milled content) raise blood sugar levels with both speed and magnitude, even worse than table sugar! Oats, rye and barley have a lower GI. Amylose and compact sugars such as vegetables, pasta, and oatmeal digest slower; and fructose (simple sugars in fruit) digests slow too since they are processed by the liver prior to entering the blood!

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There are not enough clinical trials on GI yet to make a conclusion, but the diets and weight loss programs featuring low GI (low carbohydrate, high protein) plans took the GI out of context. GI is meant to identify the rate of digestion of different foods and possibly incorporating that knowledge to optimize the dietary guidelines for diabetics.

BUT did you also know that most foods with a low GI are fruits, vegetables, grains and beans…NOT meat, milk and cheese! So, all these diets such as Atkins, The Zone and others promoting a high protein intake through the consumption of meat, and restricting the intake of carbohydrates (considered high GI-food) are NOT only totally UN-Healthy, but also ignore the fact that our healthy foods (fruit, vegetables, grains) have an even lower GI than the meats and fats!

Conclusion: Our Sensible weight loss program can be considered a low GI-diet, but is not meant to be! What I mean is, the sensible weight loss program promotes the consumption of healthy foods, including grasses, grains, fruits, vegetables and beans…which all have a low GI, even lower that meats! Interesting, not? Even diabetics would benefit much more from our SENSIBLE weight loss program than from any other low GI diet. WHY? Popular low GI-diets advocate the consumption of meat which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke due to its high fat content. Our SENSIBLE weight loss program promotes foods with a lower GI than meats (in other words, less spikes in blood sugar levels and a more sustained energy) AND does NOT result in any major health risks. In fact, it reduces the risk profile for all diseases! There you have it.

Yours in Optimal Health,

Dr. Mike

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Stevia, also known as sweetleaf or sugarleaf, is part of the sunflower family, native to South and Central America. Its extracts contain up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia has shown benefits in treating obesity and high blood pressure. Stevia also has minor effects on blood glucose and glucose tolerance, and is therefore attractive as a natural sweetener to diabetics and others on carbohydrate-controlled diets.

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And of course, several companies have successfully developed an economical and industrial production process for isolating Rebaudioside A (Reb-A), a stevia extract. The FDA has not actually permitted the stevia plant itself to be used as a food additive, but only the Reb-A. But I’m glad WE all know better! The Reb-A extract is NOT natural and far less potent than the plant.

Yours in Optimal Health,

Dr. Mike

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Algae and Seaweeds including kombu, chlorella, spirulina, dulse, nori, kelp, and dunaliella are marine algae, which are saltwater-dwelling, very simple organisms that fall into a rather outdated category of ‘plants’. Most of these algae are green (chorella and dunaliella), brown (such as kelps and wracks) or red (nori and dulse), and used in many maritime regions for industrial applications and as a fertilizer. Seaweed extracts appear in the oddest places and are found in yoghurts, chocolate milk, health drinks, and even some high-quality beers.

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The major direct use of these plants as food is in Japan, China and Korea. In Japan alone, the total annual production value of nori (Japanese red seaweed) exceeds 2 billion USD, one of the most valuable crops produced by aquaculture in the world.

Seaweeds are the richest natural source of minerals, trace minerals and rare earth elements. Seaweeds have been proven to be helpful in the treatment of tuberculosis, arthritis, colds and influenza, and worm infestations. The electromagnetic action of seaweeds releases excess body fluids from congested cells and dissolves fatty wastes through the skin, replacing them – particularly – with potassium and iodine since these minerals are depleted. Seaweeds therefore have been acknowledged as effective detoxifiers. Important enough to mention also is the vitamin K content in seaweeds. This fat-soluble vitamin aids in adrenal regulation and helps maintain hormone balance.

Kelps also contain natural iodine, known to boost thyroid activity, allowing food fuels to be used before they can turn into fatty deposits. But take note that excess consumption of iodine (more than 4 ounces/day) can cause iodine-induced goiter.

Some of these sea plants produce an effective vermifugal agent (kainic acid) and have been patented as anti-viral agents (effective in the treatment of herpes simplex for example); and some have tumor fighting and cancer prevention properties.

Recent studies found that a substance called fucoidan, a complex polysaccharide found in kelps and in other seaweeds, cause cancer cells to self-destruct. The DNA within each of the cancer cells is broken down by digestive enzymes contained in the cells themselves (a process called apoptosis). Kombu and wakame are particularly rich sources of fucoidan. It is therefore interesting to note that Okinawa has the lowest cancer mortality rate in Japan where the people eat their kombu mostly uncooked; and that – in general – breast cancer rates are lower in Japan than in western countries.

Yours in Optimal Health,

Dr. Mike

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