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Curcumin

2/28/2016

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**ALERT   - If you have been taking NuJoints®  only for arthritis relief, you should at least know all of the other amazing benefits you are getting out of  just one of its primary ingredients:

                                                           **CURCUMIN**

                                       “Nature’s Miracle Supplement”

Curcumin, the active constituent of turmeric root, has been used for hundreds of years by Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for its broad range of health benefits.  In recent years, more than 8600 studies have documented the vast benefits of curcumin!  It has been proven to be a potent antioxidant and a formidable natural anti-inflammatory.  It helps strengthen our liver, heart, kidneys, GI tract, lungs, and also boosters our immunity and promotes healthy cell proliferation.  It drastically reduces free radical damage and inflammation – the initial triggers for many disease states. Based on the numerous studies conducted, curcumin has been shown to provide significant benefits for the following conditions:
  • ARTHRITIS
  • CANCER
  • ALZHEIMER’S & DEMENTIA
  • DIABETES
  • OBESITY
  • DEPRESSION
  • CARDIOVASCULAR ISSUES
  • IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
  • CROHN’S DISEASE
  • WOUND HEALING
  • TENDONITIS, TENNIS ELBOW
  • NERVE PAIN – NEUROPATHY
  • ENDOMETRIOSIS

CANCER - To put it simply, curcumin has been shown to stop cancer from starting (causing apoptosis to kill the cancer cell), to stop cancer from growing (tumor formation), and to stop cancer from spreading (metastasis).  And if you do have cancer, taking curcumin can increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs by helping them target the fast growing cancer cells, while protecting the healthy cells.  Curcumin can also decrease drug resistance in cancer cells, and protect healthy cells from the toxic effects of radiation and chemotherapy.  It has also been shown to re-activate our body’s own tumor-suppressing genes to help stop cancer from ever initiating.

Alzheimer’s disease - Patients with this condition are found to have clusters of beta-amyloid proteins amongst dying and dead brain and nerve cells. These plaques are thought to inhibit the normal transmission of messages between brain cells.  Inflammation is known to be involved and further enhances the devastating effects of these plaques. Curcumin is one of the best protectors of your brain cells from free radical damage and inflammation.  In experimental models, curcumin has been shown to decrease the decrease the accumulation and shrink the size of these plaques by over 30%, more effective than many of the drugs being tested for Alzheimer’s.  Curcumin can also calm overactive microglial in the brain.  Microglial can trigger destruction of brain connections and brain cells if left in this overactive state.  This calming effect also reduces the secretions of excitotoxins such as glutamate, aspartate, and quinolinic acid.

Depression - Curcumin is primarily known for its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective effects, but a recent study looked at its potential for major depressive disorder. 1000mg of BCM-95® Bio-Curcumin® was compared in a recent study to the prescription drug fluoxetine at 20mg daily.  The response rate on the HAM-D17 scale was almost identical at 62.5% for BCM-95® and 64.7% for fluoxetine, but the BCM-95® had negligible adverse effects and no significant side effects!  Earlier studies also showed curcumin to work as well as four other anti-depressant drugs. Curcumin is also known to increase the overall effectiveness when added to the prescription regimens! So far it looks very promising and safe for depression.  Recent research has also shown that curcumin promotes the process of neurogenesis – brain cell formation.

Heart Disease - Curcumin has been shown very effective in preventing atherosclerosis and some research indicates it may actually reverse it!  Curcumin powerfully reduces inflammation, immune over activation, and smooth muscle overgrowth – three processes responsible for the lesions that cause heart attacks and strokes. It has also been shown to protect against the effects of a high-cholesterol diet by increasing HDL levels up to 29%, decreasing triglycerides by 27% and by preventing the damaging effects of inflammation that lead to plaque build-up in the arteries.

Diabetes – Curcumin was found to be equally effective in decreasing insulin resistance as the prescriptions drug rosiglitazone.  It can lower glucose levels as fast as two weeks and help normalize HbA1c levels.  Curcumin also protects against the side effects of diabetes such as neuropathy, heart disease, and eye problems.

Obesity - Recent evidence has discovered that curcumin can help your body burn fat for energy more effectively, regulate and normalize blood glucose levels, and stop new fat cells from forming and expanding!   It is thought to inhibit the growth of fat cells much like it inhibits the growth of cancer cells – by preventing the formation of new blood vessels that feed these cells. Curcumin has also been shown to increase levels of the protein adiponectin, which is vital for regulating insulin metabolism and blood sugar levels.

Gastrointestinal disease - Most of the common diseases like IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease) and IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) are the results of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. This inflammation if left unchecked can lead to gas, pain in the abdomen, acidity, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and more. A recent study conducted on over 200 IBS patients given curcumin experienced a 25% decrease in the pain associated with IBS.  Two-thirds of the patients reported an overall improvement in all of their other symptoms as well.
Another study on patients infected with Crohn’s disease revealed that they were able to either completely stop or reduce their medications drastically while supplementing with curcumin. Curcumin not only suppresses inflammation in the intestines but actually strengthens the intestinal lining to help prevent leaky gut syndrome, a condition where harmful bacteria actually leak through the lining of the GI tract and enter the bloodstream. This condition is known to cause a vast array of hard to treat problems and symptoms.

Skin and Wound Healing - Curcumin has been observed to improve the vascular density in wounds so that enough nutrients are carried to the damaged tissue for proper healing.  It also improves collagen deposition which is vital for healthy skin repair. It is commonly known that people suffering from diabetes have a slow healing time for even the smallest of wounds. Diabetes can cause also delay the formation of new cells and clearing of the damaged ones. An experimental study revealed that curcumin, applied both topically and orally was able to speed up the recovery process. For cancer patients, radiation treatment can cause considerable skin damage which takes time to heal. Curcumin is found to speed up this process when used prior to treatment. It has also been found that curcumin has the ability to fight psoriasis, skin cancer and eczema.

BCM-95® Bio-Curcumin® – We utilize a special type of curcumin in our NuJoints®, Anti-Aging Formula-X®, and Lipid-Pro® supplements.  BCM-95® is a unique, patented blend that is purified, reconstituted and standardized to enhance the absorption of the curcuminoids from turmeric root.  It is unique in that the essential oils of turmeric (including turmerones) are added back to the 95% curcuminoid mixture after it has been extracted.  These oils not only enhance the absorption and effectiveness of the Curcuminoids but also have several benefits of its own such as enhancing the effectiveness of the body’s natural anti-cancer and immune system components.  BCM-95® Bio-Curcumin® has been proven to enhance absorption of curcuminoids from its norm of about 50% to as high as 97% and to increase bio-availability to body tissues 6.93 times better than standard curcumin!!  Also, studies have proven that BCM-95® Bio-Curcumin® reaches its peak blood concentration in half the time (1 hour vs. over 2 hours) and it stays in the blood and tissues at this high concentration for over twice as long (8 hours), whereas normal 95% curcumin withers out after only 4 hours.

Curcumin – the Natural, Safe, and Effective Super-Supplement!
Not only is the curcumin natural, it is not known to have any side effects and zero toxicity issues have been reported from the use of curcumin!  It has also been found to be successful in treating many other diseases like liver, kidney, eye, lungs, pancreatitis, allergies and more. Vast research and numerous studies are still underway to determine the various other properties of this miraculous supplement.
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Cortisol, Stress & Adrenal Fatigue

2/27/2016

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Q: I am a practicing attorney for over 10 years now, and I deal with a high stress environment on a daily basis.  I have always been able to handle the stress, but now it seems I just can’t handle it and keep up.  Any suggestions?

A: Chronic high stress can lead to a sustained elevation in your body’s cortisol levels.  We see this happen frequently in physicians, attorneys, business owners and other high stress careers.  It can lead to fatigue, weight gain, puffy face, muscle loss, irritability, sleep issues and more! Alpha Brain-E® and Adrenal Support® are the two best natural supplements to help correct this problem.  They both contain a potent combination of adaptogens that help your body adapt to the stress and normalize cortisol levels. Scheduling in 30 minutes each day for stress relief such as exercise or a massage can also be vital for staying on top of your game!
 
Q: I read your suggestion for using Alpha Brain-E® and Adrenal Support® to help normalize cortisol levels in high stress individuals.  What is the best way to test to see if my cortisol is actually high?

A: The typical blood test is not the best indicator because your cortisol levels naturally fluctuate during the day.  You typically see a spike upon awakening, a peak a couple hours later and then a steady decrease throughout the day until bedtime.  Checking just once during the day is not informative.  I suggest a 4 point urine or saliva test which is more indicative of true tissue levels.  You choose a typical work day (not weekends) and test first as soon as you wake up, then two hours later, when you get home from work, and then at bedtime.  This will give you the best overall picture of your daily cortisol output and how you are responding to stress.
 
Q: I have had an extremely high stress lifestyle and career for years so I tested my cortisol levels with a 4 point urine test as you suggested. I was surprised to see that my cortisol levels were not high at all – they were consistently very low at every test time during the day. 

A: You may be suffering from a very severe condition commonly termed as “adrenal fatigue” or “adrenal burnout.”  If you stay chronically stressed out for months or years, your adrenal glands may eventually not be able to keep up producing the elevated cortisol levels caused by the stress and just “burnout.”  Your cortisol will plunge to below baseline levels, and you will not even get your “normal” daily production of cortisol.  This is a very serious situation that can wreak havoc on your body and literally turn your life upside down. You should find an area physician that specializes in this condition and initiate a treatment plan.
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Moringa oleifera

2/25/2016

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My sister is taking a supplement called Moringa and claims it has really helped her energy levels.  Is Moringa a good supplement to take and does it really work?

The leaf extract of the Moringa oleifera medicinal plant has been used for years to improve daily energy levels, reduce fatigue and to increase enthusiasm, positive mental outlook & overall sense of well-being!  It is well documented for its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and cholesterol lowering effects.  Moringa is considered by many to be a “Super Supplement” because of its amazing natural array of active constituents.  It is a natural source of vitamins, carotenoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, tannins, oxalates and powerful flavonoids such as quercetin, myricetin, & kaempferol.  Three 650mg capsules once or twice daily is a very effective dosage!
 
 I am interested in trying Moringa to help my energy levels.  Is it similar to stimulants or energy drinks that I take during the day as needed for a temporary spike in energy production?  Will I get the typical “crash” a couple hours later?

Moringa oleifera is not a stimulant that is just taken as needed.  It is taken on a daily basis to help get to the root of the problem by helping your body drastically enhance your natural energy production and keep it consistently maximized throughout the entire day, on a day to day basis.  Although the exact mechanism of action has yet to be elucidated, it is thought to increase energy in part via its positive effects on glucose and insulin levels. Most patients notice a significant difference after 7 to 10 days of Moringa supplementation.  Moringa helps throughout the entire day rather than a couple hours, and there is no corresponding “crash”!
 
 
I’ve heard that Moringa helps with weight loss as well as energy.  Is that true?

While Moringa oleifera has shown to be very effective for producing consistently high energy levels, the studies I found regarding weight loss showed only moderate results.  It does have some activity toward weight loss but I do not think it would be truly effective for this purpose when used as a stand-alone agent.  It may have some synergistic effects when combined with other weight loss agents, such as Slim-4©.  Note that Moringa has shown to be very effective at improving cholesterol levels, especially at increasing the “good” HDL cholesterol and preventing oxidation of the “bad” LDL cholesterol.  It also has moderate effects on hypertension and blood sugar!
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Restless Leg Syndrome

2/25/2016

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I frequently have leg pains and cramps during the night that causes me to constantly move my legs and it interferes with my sleep.  Is there anything natural that could help?

Restless Leg Syndrome can be very debilitating and severely interfere with good sleep patterns.  I have tried several products for this condition over the years, but I have only found one that consistently works well.  Night Time Restful Leg® is a special combination of Horse Chestnut extract, potassium citrate, iron glycinate, folic acid, and calcium & magnesium amino acid chelates.  The proper dosage is 3 capsules one hour before bedtime.  It offers significant relief, many times total relief, in most all patients who have tried it!
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Best Natural Supplements for Sleep

2/21/2016

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What natural supplements work best for sleep?

There are several individual supplements that are beneficial for sleep but the best I have found is a combination product called Sleep Support©.  It seems to work best across the board for various individuals with various sleep problems. It helps you go to sleep and stay asleep! Patients report they wake up refreshed and energetic with no hang over effect as seen with many other products. Sleep Support© contains a standardized dosage of most all the top supplements that have been shown to help with sleep problems such as Passion Flower, Valerian, Hops, Chamomile, Mucuna Pruriens, L-Theanine, L-5HTP and more.  The dosage is 1 to 2 capsules at bedtime but most patients have found that just one capsule seems to work best.  If you wake up during the night, you can take an extra capsule without the worry of hangover effects the next morning that you would have with most prescription sleep aids.
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    Author

    Tim Rigdon R.Ph

    Categories

    All
    Adrenal Fatigue
    Arthritis
    Attention Defiicit Disorder A.D.D.
    Curcumin
    Fish Oil & Omega-3's
    Hearing Loss & TInnitus
    Moringa Oleifera
    Restless Leg Syndrome
    Sleep Support
    Testosterone
    Vitamin D
    Weight Loss

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