Become a Patron!

Jimi's Daily Health Articles

Jimi

Jimi

Diamond Contributor
Member For 5 Years
!0 tips for Cancer Patients:


#1: DON'T PANIC
Most cancers didn't get here overnight. Unless you are in a situation where your very life is in immediate danger, you have time to take a step back. Pray. Ask God to show you the way. Seek wisdom and gain understanding!

#2: GET TO KNOW GOD
If you don't know the Living God, now is a good time to get to know Him. There is no better time to think about eternity then when facing a cancer diagnosis. His word tells us that when we seek God with all of our hearts, we will find Him. A verse that has been an important verse for me is: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom 10:17 As with anything else, don't take someone else's word...find the truth for yourself. His word is truth and will lead you to Him.

#3: FORGIVE. FORGIVE. FORGIVE.
I can't say it enough....forgiveness is key to healing. I've known so many people over these last ten years who do everything else right, but they have a hard time with this important healing principle. Forgiveness frees you and allows you to freely love again. I believe the answer to all emotional and soul wounds comes down to forgiveness.

#4: HEALING IN. HEALING OUT.
What you put in your body is either healing or hurting. This goes for your mind also. Either you are putting that which heals into your body and soul, or you are putting in junk. It's your choice. Each day is a new day to heal. Everyday, choose the pathway that leads to life.

#5: DON'T CHEAT
Whatever you do, commit to it with all of your heart and mind. During this season, it's important to tell yourself that you are not going to cheat. Set a schedule. Plan your menu. Setup your home to heal. Let others know you have to make some changes. Invite a friend or loved one to help you with accountability. Stay focused. Don't allow your sweet tooth to creep back in. Your health is worth it.

#6: MANAGE YOUR TIME
One of the best things I was told during my own healing season is that my 1 of 1 is to get well. I cut my hours for work, and looked at my day with intentionality. It was time for me to get well and I had to take time to do so. Healing is a minute by minute decision. How you structure your day matters. This is a new season in your life...a time to heal!

#7: HEALING SHOULDN'T LEAD TO BANKRUPTCY
I have found that most of us have limited resources and need to choose wisely how to maximize our finances around our healing. Raising money through platforms like Give.Send.Go is a great way to make up the difference and allow friends in for support. For some, it's difficult to do even that. Remember, pray first and seek God's wisdom. It's my personal belief that if you do not have the resources to eat everything organic, take every supplement or buy every new gadget recommended that God doesn't intend for your healing to lead you into bankruptcy court.

#8: FIND YOUR TRIBE
Studies show that plugging into a community helps us to stick with it. Healing holistically is not easy and unfortunately, it's not understood, nor is it supported in mainstream medicine. Many of us deal with loved ones and friends who are also naysayers. Don't allow that to get you down! Look for those like you and lock arms. That's why HealingStrong began -- to support people just like you! Our community is made up of people who serve as leaders, co-leaders, volunteers, partners, and those who attend groups meetings. Find your HealingStrong group today!

#9: THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY
Look at this as an opportunity to expand your knowledge base but also gain understanding in the process. There are so many resources available, and below are just a handful of my favorites that have helped me along the way:

Chris Wark's 20 Questions - A great resource to use for asking questions of your doctors
Created to Heal Strong Book - My top 5 Aha Moments with 14 cancer thrivers
who beat stage 3 or 4 cancer and lists all of my top resources and websites.
H.E.A.L. Bible Study - Daily devotion, readings and live call discussions of Jesus healing ministry.
Remember Me - If you've felt forgotten by God, download this one today.
Heaven's Health Food - CD or MP3 of healing scriptures set to music. I personally listened to it everyday for the first 3 months of my own healing.
Courage to Be Healed by Mark Rutland - Emotional and Spiritual healing at it's best
You Can Beat The Odds by Brenda Stockdale - Mind/Body Connection
HealingStrong Live! - Some of our very favorite speakers joined together along with a worship team, and "The Bag Lady" who had very special message.
The Truth About Cancer Global Quest - Excellent information to help make informed dec.
HealingStrong Participant Guide (Accompanies HealingStrong Group Meetings)
30 Day Healthy Living Guide (Our newest HealingStrong resource with a step by step 30 day jumpstart guide. Recipes, daily devotions, shopping lists, etc.)

#10: HEALING VS. WHOLENESS
There is a difference between healing and wholeness. God's design for us is to be whole: body, soul and spirit. If all we are looking for is healing of our cancer, then we are missing the bigger purpose that God desires for us. He wants our soul to prosper. He desires for us to live a full life. His word tells us that He is for us and not against us. He wants all men to know Him, that none shall perish -- not even one. This has been the greatest blessing and lesson for me and I'm just now understanding it, almost 10 years post cancer diagnosis. My prayer has changed from Lord, heal me to Lord, make me whole.
"And he said to him, Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole." Luke 17:19.
 
Jimi

Jimi

Diamond Contributor
Member For 5 Years
A Devastating Yet Overlooked
Symptom of Dementia

A single symptom affects a high proportion of patients with all forms of dementia.

In fact, it's been described as the most common neuropsychiatric symptom of dementia, with a bigger impact on function than memory loss.

Apathy – meaning a lack of motivation or loss of initiative – can be an early warning sign and possible predictor of cognitive decline. You’ll be shocked at its impact. . .

Evidence has been accumulating for some years to show that apathy is linked to cognitive decline and dementia. But it's often overlooked in clinical practice because doctors assume apathy only comes with depression.

Actually, apathy can appear by itself without any other obvious mental health concern and without cognitive impairment. Apathy all by itself – in a person otherwise happy and with a well-functioning memory – has been shown to increase the risk of dementia and mortality.

Doubles Dementia Risk

Last year, researchers from the Netherlands concluded that apathy "might be used in general practice to identify individuals without cognitive impairment at increased risk of dementia."

Their investigation, published in Neurology, included 3,499 community dwelling men and women aged 70 to 78 who were free of dementia at the start of the study. Data was collected on their medical history, medication use, cardiovascular risk factors, cognitive status, depression and apathy profiles, and disability.

After six to eight years follow-up, and adjusting the stats to take into account all the above factors, the researchers found seniors who had the highest apathy scores had nearly double the risk of dementia and more than twice the risk of death than those with no apathy symptoms,

Later in 2018 the same Dutch group carried out a review of 16 trials which included 7,365 patients ranging in age from 69 to 82. Findings were similar to their own study. The authors wrote:

"Apathy was associated with an approximately twofold increased risk of dementia...

"Apathy deserves more attention as a relevant, cheap, noninvasive, and easily measurable marker of increased risk of [the onset of] dementia with high clinical relevance..."

Under-Researched and Often Ignored

The most recent meta-analysis was conducted by the University of Exeter in England and presented in July at the Alzheimer's Association International conference in Los Angeles.

The reviewers looked at 20 trials to see the course of apathy over time in 4,320 people with Alzheimer's.

They found apathy was present in almost half those with the disease, and confirmed that it's often distinct from depression. This suggests it has its own unique clinical and biological profile.

According to a member of the research team, Miguel da Silva Vasconcelos, PhD student at the University of Exeter and King’s College London, “Apathy is an under-researched and often ignored symptom of dementia. It can be overlooked because people with apathy seem less disruptive and less engaging, but it has a huge impact on the quality of life of people living with dementia and their families.

"Where people withdraw from activities it can accelerate cognitive decline, and we know that there are higher mortality rates in people with apathy. It’s now time this symptom was recognized and prioritized in research and understanding.”

Professor Clive Ballard, of the University of Exeter Medical School, added:

“Apathy is the forgotten symptom of dementia, yet it can have devastating consequences. Our research shows just how common apathy is in people with dementia, and we now need to understand it better so we can find effective new treatments."

I don’t know of any medical or psychiatric treatments for apathy. And for that matter, conventional medicine doesn’t really have any treatments for Alzheimer’s.

However, there are alternative treatments for dementia that we discuss in this newsletter and in our video series Awakening from Alzheimer’s. If a loved one suddenly starts showing symptoms of apathy – even while otherwise healthy – it would be wise to see a functional/integrative doctor who knows how to treat dementia.
 
Jimi

Jimi

Diamond Contributor
Member For 5 Years
“The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.”

-- Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990”
 
Jimi

Jimi

Diamond Contributor
Member For 5 Years
As the leaves have been changing, and temperatures are dropping, and here in the Pacific NW the rain has returned, I am reminded of the seasons. Change keeps us fresh, and reminds us that we are never stuck in one place.
integrative.metagenics.com)

10. If you have other supplement needs enjoy my 25% professional discount at
wellevate.me/drpaul

I’ve attended two conferences this past month and will share here a couple
highlights:
At the MAPS (Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs) conference a
presentation by Theoharis Theoharides MD, professor of Pharmacology and
Director of Molecular Immunopharmacology in the department of Immunology at Tufts University presented 90 peer reviewed articles that made it crystal clear why we are struggling with allergies, autoimmunity, and neurodevelopmental issues.

There are four main triggers of mast cells (MAST cell activation, immune activation) which in turn leads to autoimmune issues or neurodevelopmental and other chronic issues:



mail

1. Allergies

2. Food sensitivities (dairy, egg, gluten, nuts, soy, corn, shell fish)

3. Environmental toxins (mercury, aluminum, pesticides, etc.)

4. Infections (example strep infections can result in PANDAS).



At the conference Hormones and Beyond, a presentation by Jason Fung MD made something crystal clear:
The reason so many of us struggle with our weight is not so much what we eat but when we eat!
mail


Look at pictures from any street in N. America in the 1970’s and everyone was slim. Today, we are all bulging in the middle. The biggest difference is we now snack and eat almost constantly. Each time we eat we are stimulating insulin and insulin is the gate-keeper, that directs the body to store the energy you have just consumed as fat. Fasting on the other hand directs the body to burn your fat stores for energy. He presented the example of the TV show "The Biggest Loser" where everyone would cut calories and exercise like crazy and loose tons of weight.
Why are there no reunions? Almost everyone regained all their weight and then some.
Why?
When we lose weight by restricting calories our body thinks we are trying to kill ourselves so shuts down our metabolism. Then when we return to eating normal amounts we pack it on!

Intermittent fasting solves that as our body will feast on our fat while we fast and not lower metabolism as we still have big “normal” meals some of the time.
BRILLIANT!
If you are considering intermittent fasting (not recommended for children or those without extra fat stores) do consult with your provider and consider reading Dr. Jason Fung’s book “The Obesity Code”.
 
Jimi

Jimi

Diamond Contributor
Member For 5 Years
Frailty Is Not a Normal Part of Aging

By Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen, MDs

When Hamlet declares, “Frailty, thy name is woman,” he's criticizing his mother's and all women's characters as weak.

These days, we know women can conquer physical and mental challenges as well as men (and sometimes better). We also know frailty isn't a word to be used casually to describe a person — female or male — like the color of their hair or height.

Frailty is a medical condition that's usually defined as meeting any three of these five characteristics: low physical activity, weak grip strength, low energy, slow walking speed, and nondeliberate weight loss.

It is a risk factor for poor quality of life, falls, functional decline and disability, the need for long-term care, and finally death within a two-year window.

A study published in JAMA Open Network looked at 46 studies of more than 120,000 people in 28 countries and found that each year around 4.3% of folks 60 and older will develop frailty.

The good news is that it's avoidable and reversible. Regular physical activity, including taking 10,000 steps a day, and getting two to three 30-minute strength-building sessions weekly are the basic tools to fight frailty.

Muscle-strengthening workouts are essential to counter the loss of muscle mass that can come with age. We advocate stretch bands and hand weights. Start light; it's repetitions, not heavy loads, that get results.

Sitting around robs you of energy and strength, even if you're beginning to walk more. Get up every 30 minutes and walk outside, jump in place or take a flight of stairs.

Weight management is also very important because excess pounds make mobility difficult, strain joints, increase depression, and lead to a wide range of chronic diseases, from obesity to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

If you're overweight or have a waist circumference of 35 inches or more for gals or 40 inches or greater for guys, you need to adopt a nutritional plan that will help burn fat.
 
Jimi

Jimi

Diamond Contributor
Member For 5 Years



SHARE THIS ALERT facebook twitter



Dear Jim,

Love Impossible Burgers but hate GMOs? Well the Impossible Burger is made with a genetically engineered substance, soy leghemoglobin (also known as “heme”), that is made using a synthetic biology process which makes the burgers to appear to “bleed.”

Before Impossible Foods could sell raw Impossible Burgers in grocery stores, it needed formal FDA approval of “heme” as a color additive. Despite concerns raised by Center for Food Safety (CFS) members like you, FDA approved this new color additive unusually quickly. CFS filed objections to FDA’s approval, raising safety concerns with the use of "heme", which legally puts FDA’s approval on hold.

Until FDA responds to our objections, raw Impossible Burgers cannot be sold in grocery stores.

Tell FDA to get GMO "heme" out of supermarkets until independent testing can be done!

Unfortunately, several grocery store chains are illegally selling raw Impossible Burgers. Now that it’s being sold in supermarkets ILLEGALLY, the “heme” in Impossible Burgers is scarier than anything else you’ll see this Halloween.

Just a few months ago, we wrote you about our safety concerns surrounding the “heme” Impossible Foods uses. Thousands of you did the right thing, took action, and urged FDA to require independent testing before approving additives like “heme” that are made using a new process like synthetic biology (or synbio).

Your messages to FDA should have stopped the sale of raw Impossible Burgers in grocery stores until the agency addressed them.

But grocery stores like Wegmans, Gelson’s, and Fairway Market are already selling raw Impossible Burgers illegally.

Since this is the first time that people have consumed “heme,” FDA should have required testing to make sure that this new substance—including the raw product—does not cause allergic reactions in people, but the agency did not do so.

CFS avidly supports plant-based eating, but the lack of transparency in getting the GMO Impossible Burger in retail stores highlights a troubling deregulatory trend which prioritizes corporate profit over public health and safety.

Tell FDA to get GMO "heme" off the market until independent testing can be done!

Thank you for all you do,



mail

Jaydee Hanson

Policy Director

Center for Food Safety
 
Jimi

Jimi

Diamond Contributor
Member For 5 Years
mail


Hi

So I don't know about you...but my inbox is being bombarded right now about how to avoid the flu and the best supplements to boost immunity.

I, personally, find it to be a bit overwhelming.

Like most things health related, it's nothing that can't be googled.

We live in the era of too much information.

So, obviously, I love google and love having this information at my finger tips but I also feel that it's a huge disservice for many.

Now more than ever, I find individuals are no longer actually listening to their bodies and the ebbs and flow of life. They are trying to bootstrap their health so that they can continue bulldozing forward the same way they have always done. #theamericanway #busybusybusy

Before you think me lacking empathy, let me explain that I completely know what it's like to be scared of getting sick.

In my early to mid 20's, my immune system was so shot that if I was just around someone that coughed I would end up with pneumonia or bronchitis and need steroids to breathe.

So, I get it. The fear is real.

However, what I also know looking back at where my health and life choices were back then, versus where I am now, is that you can't supplement yourself into health.

  • I know now that I cannot live my life full throttle 24/7 and 365 days a year. (even though I'd really like to!)
  • I know what I eat and how I live needs to vary from season to season.
  • I know that with cooler weather comes shorter days and longer nights. This translates for my body as naturally needing more rest.
  • I know now that if I decide to ignore this law of nature that I am setting myself up for getting sick.
  • If I do get this cold, I know that the best medicine is not herbs and pills and powering through but rather sleeping and allowing my body to work it's magic.
I am a huge advocate of herbal medicine. Love it! And if you came to my house and saw my pantry, you'd see that the obsession is real.

However, herbs and supplements don't make up for your lack of connection to Self.

You must be loving your body consistently...a daily practice.

Nourishing yourself with warm nutrient dense foods, sleeping 7 to 9 hours every night, avoiding toxins of every kind (this includes people) and most of all learning to listening to your body's cues and saying NO when appropriate.

Not hating on my peers that hustle supplements on their sites, everyone's gotta eat....but I know for certain that those bottles will only take you so far.

You've got to be willing to do the work to have the health.

Also, if doing the above is not working for you...then you also need to be willing to ask for help.

xo

Dr. Nancy


P.S. In case you wondered if we take any immune tonics in the winter...thought I'd let you know that we take megasporebiotic (year round) and that I give Sage (my 6 year old) elderberry syrup. But most of my remedies that I use are for supporting my body if/when we do get sick. My fave being Respiratonic from Herbs Etc. which is local to Santa Fe...it works wonders for a cold that moves into the chest. What do you do when you have a cold and what are your fave cold remedies? Hit reply and let me know.
 
Jimi

Jimi

Diamond Contributor
Member For 5 Years
Arthur was studying to become a doctor.

In the summer after his second year of medical school, he had a root canal procedure.

The procedure was successful, but it made Arthur very ill.

They couldn’t find anything wrong with him, but they redid the root canal procedure several times, and over the course of a couple of months he had over 40 dental x-rays.

During the last x-ray, he was sitting in the dental chair and when they turned it on, he felt something give way in the back of his skull.

“I felt an electric current pass through me from head to toe.”

The next morning, he went back to the hospital.

Suddenly he could feel electrical current from every piece of electrical equipment in the hospital.

He proceeded to lose his memory and his ability to function in medical school.

“I was 30 years old and did not have Alzheimer’s disease.”

Arthur took a leave of absence for nine months.

During this time, he had a tooth extracted, which gave him immediate relief from all of his health problems.

So, he went back to school.

Except things were not the same because he still felt electricity from every, single piece of electrical equipment and it made him quite ill.

Nevertheless Arthur made a deal with his plastic surgery professor, to be excused from the operating room which made me extremely ill, in exchange for writing a research paper on the topic of his choice.

He went to the medical library and discovered there was an enormous amount of research on the effects of electromagnetic radiation.

“I was shocked that we did not learn about this in med school.”

He decided to write a paper on: The Effects of Radiant Energy and Living Organisms.

The year was 1981.

From the time Arthur left medical school in 1981, it was another eight years before he met anyone else who said they were electrically sensitive.

In 1990, the place where he was working became completely computerized and he could no longer work there.

He tried to find another job, but discovered that most workplaces had computers and that he was essentially unemployable.

That’s when he joined a support group in New York City and realized that there were a lot of people that were affected, both by chemicals and by electromagnetic fields.

In the summer of 1996, he read in the New York Daily News – the headline was ‘3,000 City Lamp posts Are About to Become Part of the Wireless Revolution.’

The plan was to put three thousand base stations on top of lamp posts in New York City.

When the first 2G base stations, came to New York City on November 14th, 1996, within one week he was experiencing a variety of symptoms.

Note: he was NOT aware in advance of the date it would be turned on.

When he investigated, he realized that was the date when he started feeling dizzy and nauseous.

Within a few days, he was not eating or sleeping and was experiencing serious respiratory problems.

He eventually left home and sought refuge in Long Island state, New York.

In December, he and some friends, decided to put an ad in a NYC free newspaper, “If you have experienced any of the following symptoms, beginning approximately November 15th1996, we need to hear from you.”

And they heard from them.

Hundreds of people from all walks of life, men and women, all races, professionals, non-professionals, doctors, lawyers, airline employees, teachers, came forward—they had suddenly thought they were having a stroke or a heart attack or a nervous breakdown on about November 15th, 1996.

In subsequent research, Arthur correlated that the day that a particular provider had provided the first digital cell phone service in that city – which is a different day for every city – the mortality in that city increased 10% to 25%.

Arthur’s current and most pressing project is The International Appeal to Stop 5G on Earth and in Space.

For my next interview I'm delighted to welcome Arthur Firstenberg we're going to be talking about 5G, what we can do about it and how he manages to look so young and full of energy despite his sensitivity.

See https://www.electricsense.com/stop-5g-international-appeal/
 
Jimi

Jimi

Diamond Contributor
Member For 5 Years
Today's health Thought:

"Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your
own inner voice. And most important, have the
courage to follow your heart and intuition."

“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives us the test first, the lesson after.”
 
Last edited:
Jimi

Jimi

Diamond Contributor
Member For 5 Years
Food for Thought
​
Removing Children's Tonsils and Adenoids Increases Risk for 28 Diseases, Study Finds
While the conventional medical establishment calls for the removal of “broken” or “defective” body parts, a watershed study on the long-term effects of tonsillectomy and adenoid removal calls into question the propriety of this surgery, performed on nearly half-a-million children in the United States each year.
 
Last edited:
Jimi

Jimi

Diamond Contributor
Member For 5 Years
Ancient Explorer’s Survival
Secret Fights Cancer
If you’re a history buff like I am, you might recall reading about French explorer Jacques Cartier. In 1534, he became the first European to travel deep into the interior of North America. Cartier went down in history for claiming Canada for France.

But what you won’t read in most history books is the important medical discovery he made during his voyage.

I’m talking about a discovery that saved Cartier’s life back then, and that people who know about alternative medicine use to fight cancer today…

When Cartier took his French expedition to Canada, he was searching for a northwest passage to China. Unfortunately, a frozen Hudson Bay prevented the explorers from continuing on.

Soon, they exhausted their supply of fresh food, and the men developed scurvy. Cartier lost 25 members of his expedition and 50 others grew seriously ill. That’s when a local Native American Chief named Domagaia prepared an herbal tea and told them to drink it several times a day. They all recovered within two weeks.

That tea was made from pine tree bark and needles. Later, scientists familiar with Cartier’s expedition became curious -- what gave this tea its healing properties?

Recycles vitamin C

Scientists would soon learn that pine tree bark contains a mixture of fruit acids and procyanidins (also proanthocyanidins), a class of antioxidant compounds. Because of this, pine tree bark has the unique ability to boost your body’s antioxidant stores.

And in the case of Cartier and his men, the pine needles supplied vitamin C, and the bark gave them vitamin C-enhancing procyanidins– in effect multiplying the little vitamin C they had. Vitamin C, of course, is the treatment and preventive for scurvy.

But that’s not all, research shows that extracts of pine tree bark improve capillary resistance – which helps explain why Cartier’s men recovered. You see, if you suffer scurvy, your blood leaks out of your capillaries, and you literally drown in your own blood.

Thankfully, everyone knows about vitamin C these days and scurvy is a disease of the past. Now scientists think perhaps a patented extract of pine tree bark can help relegate other horrible diseases to history as well. The research is certainly promising.

Over the last fifty years, researchers have studied a patented extract of pine tree bark called Pycnogenol in more than 3,000 test subjects, leading to the publication of more than 140 articles pointing to Pycnogenol’s benefits in fighting 60 different diseases, including cancer.

Can it fight or prevent cancer?

Researchers believe it can. Because of its high antioxidant content, Pycnogenol can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation that is the spark that fuels so many of today’s most deadly cancers.

Here’s what we know from the research so far…

  • Pycnogenol selectively induces death (apoptosis) in human breast cancer cells (specifically MCF-7 cells), but not in normal human breast cells.1
  • Pycnogenol inhibits human leukemia cell proliferation. In other words, it induces apoptosis in leukemia cells. Data suggests it could therefore be a potent treatment for leukemia.2
  • Pycnogenol inhibits growth of ovarian cancer cells in vitro.3
  • Pycnogenol may alleviate the side effects of conventional therapies and improve quality of life. In one study involving cancer patients, it improved almost all side effects of chemotherapy compared to the placebo group – it decreased soreness and ulceration in the mouth and throat, reduced dryness in the mouth and eyes, and decreased incidence of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, edema, and weakness.4
In the case of the in vitro (lab culture) studies in cancer cells mentioned above, remember that studies in live humans are necessary to confirm the benefits. I’m hopeful more of these will be underway soon.

Other research, both in vitro and in live humans, shows Pycnogenol also strengthens the immune system, reduces stress, and even improves your ability to metabolize sugar.

A Godsend for diabetes patients?

Like cancer, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and diabetes are also linked to oxidative stress and DNA damage. You may also recall, sugar is one of cancer’s favorite foods. So getting high blood sugar under control is critical to protecting your health. Fortunately, research suggests that Pycnogenol can help.

In clinical study, Pycnogenol lowered blood sugar levels for thirty type-2 diabetics who followed only a diet and exercise program with no medication.5 Participants received Pycnogenol at a dose of 50 mg per day for three weeks… then 100 mg per day for the next three weeks… and finally, 200 mg per day for the final three weeks.

All three dosages lowered fasting and postprandial (after-a-meal) blood glucose levels significantly versus baseline levels… and the higher doses were more effective. A1C levels also decreased. Interestingly, Pycnogenol did not affect levels of insulin, the hormone that helps our body use sugar.

In addition to lowering blood sugar, Pycnogenol can protect against the damage blood sugar spikes can do to your cells, tissues and organs. In animal studies, Pycnogenol reduced hyperglycemic DNA damage and other diabetes-related damage to the blood, liver, and kidneys.

Further research shows that Pycnogenol may also slow carbohydrate absorption,6 reduce the incidence of diabetic ulcers,7 decrease cardiovascular risk,8 mitigate muscle pain,9 and decrease the risk of diabetic retinopathy.10

Conclusion? Pycnogenol may offer essential, non-drug support for those with diabetes or pre-diabetes.

How to take Pycnogenol

The correct dosage, according to Pycnogenol experts, depends on your reason for taking it.

For general nutritional improvement, 20 or 25 mg a day should do the job. Seeking to optimize your antioxidant levels? Go for 50 or 100 mg daily.

To help treat diabetes or cancer symptoms, you may want a higher dosage initially… scaling back to 50 or 100 mg as your health improves.

It’s easier on your body to take Pycnogenol with food. Since it recycles vitamin C, it makes sense to take it with other antioxidants.

Vitamin C (and all water-soluble supplements) should be taken in divided doses throughout the day.

One study found that taking Pycnogenol in the evening increased activity and energy levels to the point of insomnia, so take it early in the day.

There are no known contraindications in the research that I could find. Naturally, you should consult your doctor before taking Pycnogenol, especially if you’re pregnant or considering it for a child. Ditto if you take a blood thinner, as Pycnogenol can affect how quickly your blood clots.

Toxicity studies show that it would take a huge amount of Pycnogenol (nearly a pound!) to cause an acute reaction, and it would have to be taken in massive amounts every day for over six months to cause long-term toxicity. Even something as wonderful as good clean water can give you a toxic reaction if you don’t use common sense.

It’s important to note that many pine bark extracts are available on the market, but all the research described in this article was conducted on Pycnogenol, an exclusive patented extract. All Pycnogenol is extracted only from French maritime pine trees that grow in the 4,000 square miles of French forests along the Atlantic Ocean, between the vineyards of Bordeaux and the Pyrenees Mountains.

Little did Cartier know, one of the best sources of pine tree bark in the world was in his own backyard!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

VU Sponsors

Top