Is Something in Tobacco Protective Against Parkinson’s Disease?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently celebrated the 50-year anniversary of the landmark 1964 Surgeon General’s report on smoking, considered one of the great public health achievements of our time and the first of 30 other such reports from the Surgeon General on smoking.

Major criticisms of the report include a “[c]avalier treatment of costs of smoking”: The Surgeon General argued that smoking costs the United States billions, but the tobacco industry noted that “smoking saves the country money by increasing the number of people dying soon after retirement,” so we don’t have to pay for Social Security, Medicare, and the like. In fact, the industry argued, if we were truly patriotic, maybe we should encourage smoking to help balance the budget.

The tobacco industry also criticized the Surgeon General for a “[l]ack of balance regarding benefits of smoking,” asserting that “[o]ne has to search pretty hard to find any concession anywhere in the Report that smoking is not all bad.” This is something the tobacco industry liked to bring up when testifying before Congress, saying that health benefits include “the feeling of well-being, satisfaction, and happiness and everything else.” But beyond just all the happiness the Surgeon General was trying to extinguish, he failed to even mention that smokers appear protected against Parkinson’s disease. 

“Quite unexpectedly…[m]ore than 50 studies over the last half century consistently demonstrated reduced prevalence of Parkinson’s disease among smokers compared with never-smokers.” Now there are more than five dozen studies.

But smokers are probably dying before they even have a chance to get Parkinson’s, so is that the explanation? No, that didn’t seem to be it. Researchers found a protective effect at all ages. Maybe it’s because smokers tend to be coffee drinkers, and we know coffee consumption alone appears protective. But, no. The protective effect of smoking remained even after carefully controlling for coffee intake. Well, maybe we inherit some propensity to not smoke and to get Parkinson’s. If only we could clone someone to have the same DNA. We can! They’re called identical twins. And still, the relationship remained, suggesting “a true biologic protective effect of cigarette smoking.”

Not so fast. Maybe finding unusually low rates of Parkinson’s among smokers is an example of reverse causation. That is, maybe smoking doesn’t protect against Parkinson’s—maybe Parkinson’s protects against smoking. Could there be something about a Parkinson’s brain that makes it easier to quit? Or perhaps failure to develop a smoking habit in the first place is an early manifestation of the disease.

To put that to the test, researchers studied children exposed to their parents’ smoke. If they grew up to have less Parkinson’s, that would confirm the protective link—and indeed they did. So, smoking really does seem to be protective against Parkinson’s disease, but who cares? How does that help us? “More than 20 million Americans have died as a result of smoking since the first Surgeon General’s report…” Even if we didn’t care about dying from lung cancer and emphysema, even if we only cared about our brain, we still wouldn’t smoke because smoking is a significant risk factor for having a stroke, as well.

The Popular Food Combination that is Making Us Fat

Take a look at most households, restaurants or fast food joints and you’ll see a common combination in peoples’ food choices. Most people choose a high protein food with a sugary beverage or dessert to accompany or follow the meal. There are the burgers and sodas, steak dinners with cakes or pastries afterward, and many other similar combinations. But research found that combining a high protein meal with sugary drinks or desserts creates a perfect storm for destroying our metabolic health and increasing our risk of becoming overweight or obese.

Dr. Shanon Casperson, lead author of the study published in BMC Nutrition, found that this common food combination causes us to pack on the pounds while damaging our metabolism, so it may be harder to lose the weight. While most people consider protein-packed meals to be healthy way to lose weight and boost metabolism, that reality is far from the truth as soon as you add sugar.

Study participants stayed in controlled rooms where all of their food and nutritional intake was monitored on multiple occasions. Researchers also monitored oxygen intake, carbon dioxide exhaled and the amount of nitrogen excreted in the urine (nitrogen is a primary component of high protein foods like meat and poultry). Then the researchers calculated the amount of carbohydrate and fat utilized by the participants’ bodies. The study participants were given the same meals and the amount of protein was varied between 15 and 30 percent of the meals’ total caloric intake. At each meal they were given either a sugary beverage or an alternate beverage to determine the effects the sugary beverages had on metabolism. The study concluded that sugar had detrimental effects on fat storage and metabolism. 

Sweetened beverages like soft drinks and sweetened fruit punches and sweetened juices are the largest contributor of added sugars (not those naturally found in foods) to our daily diet. And, while the sugar industry has been claiming for years that sugar has a role in a healthy diet, the research simply doesn’t substantiate this claim, particularly when sugar is added to protein-based meals.

Fortunately it’s not as difficult as you might think to boost your metabolism and prevent your body from storing fat:

Cut out protein and sugar combinations. Stop piling on sugary beverages or desserts on top of your protein-based meal.

Better yet, cut out soft drinks and sugary beverages altogether. Opt for unsweetened beverages or those sweetened only with the herb stevia, which doesn’t have an effect on blood sugar levels.

Eat fruit when you have a sweet tooth, although it is best not to eat it with your protein meal either as the fruit sugars may cause the putrefaction of meat in the stomach and intestines, which could cause harmful microbes like candida yeast or others to overgrow.

Eat fruit on an empty stomach as a more natural source of sweets in your diet.

Eat beans at each meal since their high fiber content helps to stabilize blood sugar levels, which not only prevents cravings but also prevents the fat storage effects of rapidly increasing blood sugar levels.

Skip the burger and soda or steak and pie. Opt instead for healthier food choices and better food combinations.

Can Micronutrients Treat ADHD?

Little is known about what causes Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), leaving many children or adults with the condition suffering without sufficient treatment options. But recent research now shows what many nutritionists have suspected for a while: nutritional deficiencies are linked with ADHD, so eliminating these deficiencies may be the key to its successful treatment.

Research in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that micronutrient supplementation significantly improved ADHD symptoms in those suffering with the condition. Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals. The term is used to refer to nutrients we need in smaller doses compared to macronutrients like amino acids or fatty acids. The children in the study who were given micronutrient supplements experienced improved overall function, reduced cognitive impairment, improved attention, better emotional regulation and reduced aggression. While they still experienced hyperactivity, the bulk of the other symptoms the children experienced improved.

Earlier research in the online medical journal BJPsych Open assessed the nutritional status of people with ADHD compared to those without a diagnosis of the condition. They found that those suffering from ADHD had lower levels of vitamins B2, B6 and B9 (also known as riboflavin, pyridoxine and folate, respectively). 

ADHD is a neuro-developmental disorder. Common symptoms of the condition include: hyperactivity, impulsivity and a reduced attention span.

The B-complex vitamins are involved in proper energy management and the body’s ability to manufacture brain hormones known as neurotransmitters, which communicate brain messages to other parts of the brain or to the body—processes that are crucial to brain and neurological health. In multiple studies, including the BJPsych Open study, supplementation with the B vitamins riboflavin, pyridoxine and folate resulted in a significant reduction in symptoms of ADHD.

Many people still have the incorrect notion that vitamins are a nice dietary boost but aren’t essential to health. The definition of “vitamin” is organic substances that are necessary for health. The ADHD studies demonstrate both the problems linked with vitamin deficiencies as well as the benefits of increasing their amounts in the diet and through supplementation. Because B complex vitamins are water soluble, we do not store them for later use, which means we need to obtain them from our diet every day. B complex vitamins like B2, B6 and B9 are primarily found in fruits and vegetables, particularly leafy greens, yet most people simply do not consume adequate amounts of these nutrients.

Nutrient deficiencies can also indicate digestive disturbances that result in inadequate absorption of nutrients through the walls of the small intestines into the bloodstream. If that’s the case, even eating more of these critical nutrients may not be enough to correct the deficiencies. Ideally, to address the deficiencies, improve gut health at the same time as boosting fresh fruit and vegetable intake, and supplementing with B-complex vitamins. That involves eating more probiotic-rich foods like live culture sauerkraut, yogurt or vegan yogurt, kimchi, fermented pickles, etc.

Eliminate any microbial overgrowth in the intestines by taking oregano essential oil (follow package directions) and drinking thyme tea (1 teaspoon of dried thyme to one cup boiled water steeped for 10 to 15 minutes before straining). If you’re not eating fermented foods on a daily basis, add a probiotic supplement to your daily diet. To help ensure adequate B vitamins, take daily a B-complex vitamin supplement, which are usually measured in 100 milligram doses; however, some of the B vitamins will be measured in micrograms depending on the nutrient.

And, of course, eliminate sugar other than naturally-occurring sugars found in fruit to prevent rapid blood sugar spikes that impair brain signals and contribute to harmful microbial overgrowth in the intestines. Nutritional and dietary approaches are not the same as popping drugs that act to mask symptoms, they work on a cellular level to rebuild bodily health so allow at least a couple of months for improvements.

Have you heard about this secret of eternal youth? It does wonders for your skin, bones, hair, and nails

Of all the numerous proteins in our body, we have the most collagen.  It is the most abundant form of protein in our body.  If forms our joints, muscles, skin and bones, hair and nails.  Unfortunately, we lose our collagen at a rate of 1-2% per year after the age of 30.  Therefore, wrinkles appear and our skin begins to sag.  However, there is a way to fight back… Hydrolyzed Organic Collagen, like that sold at Livingtraditionallystore.com.  But what about just eating more collagen rich foods like bone broth or marrow?  What about gelatin?  Let’s look at why effective collagen therapy must include a hydrolyzed supplement.

  

Collagen for skin bones hair and nails

First of all, why can’t we consume collagen in our food?  Why can’t we just consume more meat, skin and other animal products like bone broths?  The answer is because our body cannot break down and absorb the collagen before it is expelled through the digestive system. Collagen is a triple-helix protein, which is why it is elastic and very strong.  This unfortunately makes it very hard to digest and absorb.

Scientists, knowing the benefits of collagen looked for ways to include more of it in our diet.  In doing so they discovered gelatin (a key ingredient of jello).  By using water to break down the collagen (a process called hydrolysis) they broke the triple helix and made the amino acid proteins into individual strands.  This form of collagen will only dissolve in hot water and in cool water it will congeal.  This is known as a partially hydrated product.

  

Hydrolyzed Collagen,  takes the process further. The individual strands of amino proteins are broken further into peptides.  This is now basically a “pre-digested” protein and ready for bodily absorption.  Unlike gelatin, hydrolyzed collagen will dissolve in cold water and will never congeal.  This makes it ready and easy for your body to process (within six hours 90% will be absorbed) and use the collagen for building up your skin, bones and joints.  Hydrolyzed Collagen also works fast and with taking as little as 10 grams per day.

Make sure to purchase organic, grass-fed bovine collagen or wild caught fish hydrolyzed collagen.  Good collagen will be tasteless and dissolve completely and clearly in water.  Of course, you can also add collagen to other liquids, smoothies, yogurts, etc. 

6,000 Year-Old Kiss

The Lovers’ from 1972 season at Hasanlu

Hasanlu is an archaeological excavation site in Iran, Western Azerbaijan, Solduz Valley. Theses skeletons were found in a Bin with no objects. The only feature is a stone slab under the head of the skeleton on the left hand side.

The Exact Moment Hiroshima Went Atomic

Timepiece recovered from Hiroshima which shows the exact moment the bomb dropped


The Hiroshima explosion, recorded at 8:15am, August 6, 1945, is seen on the remains of a wristwatch found in the ruins in this 1945 United Nations photo. The shadow of the small hand on the eight was burned in from the blast, making it appear to be the big hand.

8 Healing Benefits of the Herb Thyme

Not only is thyme a fragrant and versatile herb for cooking, it has a wide range of therapeutic uses thanks to the potent antiseptic compound, thymol, found in the plant’s leaves. Thyme is an effective and well-known remedy for coughs and sore throats, but more and more research is piling up about thyme’s anti-microbial, anti-cancer and other health benefits. Here are some of my favorite uses for thyme:

Eliminating Coughs, Respiratory Infections, Bronchitis and Whooping Cough

Thyme is officially recognized in Germany as a treatment for coughs, respiratory infections, bronchitis and whooping cough.Thyme contains flavonoids that relax muscles in the trachea linked to coughing and inflammation. To make a cough-eliminating tea: Add 2 teaspoons of crushed, fresh or dried thyme leaves to 1 cup of boiled water. Let steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain and drink.

Beating Fungal Diseases

As an increasing number of fungal conditions have become drug resistant research about thyme’s anti-fungal activity couldn’t have come at a better time. Thyme has been found to be effective against Aspergillus spores—a common type of mold that can cause the lung condition Aspergillosis in susceptible individuals. In one study researchers found that not only was thyme effective at inhibiting growth of fungi, it also increased the potency of the drug fluconazole to kill the disease-causing fungi. Another study in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that thyme is effective against drug-resistant strains of Candida fungi—the culprit behind yeast infections. 

Soothing Back Spasms

According to world-renowned botanist James Duke, author of The Green Pharmacy, thyme’s natural essential oils effectively reduced his back spasms.

Medical anthropologist John Heinerman, PhD, author of Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs, recommends drinking thyme tea to treat headaches. He uses one teaspoon of dried thyme per cup of hot water. He also recommends soaking cloths in thyme tea to make a compress to ease aching muscles of the neck, back and shoulders to combat tension headaches.

Helping to Prevent or Treat Cancer: Research in the journal BMC Research Notes found that thyme in combination with Middle Eastern oregano was effective at inhibiting human leukemia cells, suggesting that the herb may hold potential in the natural treatment of cancer.

10 WAYS TO USE THYME

Because thyme is so versatile, it can be used in most savory dishes. Use fresh sprigs or dried leaves of thyme in/with:

Bean dishes (Cassoulets)
Fish
Mushroom dishes
Pasta
Pizza
Poultry
Salad Dressings
Soups
Stews
Stuffing