Glutathione and Chronic Health Problems

Your Body can’t live without Glutathione…The World’s Most Powerful Antioxidant!

Have you been feeling more tired, run down, coming down with colds or the flu, have a lack of energy, increased aches and pains that weren’t there a couple of years ago, or you’re unable to recuperate as quickly from exercise and physical activity as you once were?

You can now have a naturally occurring substance that acts as a powerful antioxidant, and immune system booster, and a detoxifier? A substance that can help your body repair damage caused by stress, pollution, radiation, infection, drugs, poor diet, aging, injury, trauma and burns? It’s called Glutathione.
What is Glutathione? Also called GSH, Glutathione is the most powerful, prevalent antioxidant in your body. The most well known antioxidants are vitamins C and E. Glutathione is a tripeptide molecule composed of the amino acids glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine, which exists in almost every cell of your body. Our glutathione level actually indicates our state of health and can predict longevity. Scientific evidence has found that glutathione is needed by our body to enhance the immune system response. There are more than 60,000 published papers on the beneficial effects of glutathione replacement, unfortunately, it is still largely ignored by mainstream medicine. Normal glutathione levels are important for good health because they neutralize free radicals, which can build up in cells and cause damage.

The Bad News… Your body’s cellular supply of glutathione begins to decline 10% to 15% per decade beginning with the age of 20. If you are over age 20, you have a glutathione shortage! Lower levels of glutathione can result in chronic illness such as… lower energy or fatigue, a weakened immune system, cellular damage, accelerated aging, and higher cellular inflammation, which results in increased muscle and joint aches and pains. Free radicals constantly are attacking our cells, which is why antioxidants are so vital to protecting our health. Glutathione has been called the World’s Most Powerful Antioxidant, and is found in every cell in the body, but, most people need some help.

The Good News!… Research shows that increasing your Glutathione levels has the following benefits:

Fight Organ and Muscle Inflammation
Increase Your Energy
Slow Down the Aging Process
Detoxify Your Body
Improve Liver Function
Reduce the Risk of Cancer
Strengthen Your Immune System
Improve Mental Function and Clarity
Improve Heart and Lung Function


In this video Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D. explains why glutathione is so important and how the body needs it to fight inflammation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh2PYQBICWs

Uncontrolled inflammation is a root cause of most major health issues ranging from heart conditions to joint and muscular conditions. Abundant glutathione levels will off-set the effects of this inflammation at the cellular level. Because glutathione is in every cell, it can regulate inflammation throughout the body.

Adding antioxidants to your diet is a tremendous help, but it is Glutathione… the world’s most powerful natural antioxidant – that is Most Important for Protecting Healthy Cells.

Glutathione cannot be taken orally to create any great increase in blood levels. We have several alternative ways to administer glutathione. To discover how glutathione and brain-based therapy can benefit you, call our office at 814-238-0232.

Autoimmune Disease Support

As many as 1 in 5 Americans suffer from an autoimmune disease. Many of them are undiagnosed. Auto immune diseases occur when the body’s immune response becomes hypersensitive and begins attacking cells, tissues and organs in the body. There are usually underlying predispositions to these conditions, however, many will not present until triggered by something in the environment. This can be an infection, a food sensitivity, a hormone problem, blood sugar dysregulation, toxins and/or inflammation. The name of the condition and its clinical manifestations are dependent upon which tissue or organ (thyroid, pancreas, brain etc) is being attacked. Some of these diseases include

· Addison’s disease
· Celiacs disease
· Chron’s Disease
· Graves disease
· Hashimoto’s thryoiditis
· Juvenile Diabetes
· Lupus
· Multiple sclerosis
· Psoriatic arthritis
· Rheumatoid Arthritis
· Scleroderma
· Sjogren’s

Although not technically autoimmune, many individuals who suffer from Fibromyalgia and Chronic fatigue have associated autoimmune diseases

For a comprehensive list visit http://www.aarda.org/research_display.php?ID=47

Traditional treatment of autoimmune disease is mainly through immune-suppression with medications that down regulate the immune response, corticosteroids that also reduce inflammation, or plasmapheresis. Some of these treatments may make the individual more susceptible to certain infections and cancers.

An alternative management strategy is to first remove the trigger(s) –stabilize blood sugar and hormones, decrease inflammation, and remove irritants (bacteria, yeast, parasites, virus, foods, heavy metals etc). Then, the immune system is supported through diet and supplementation. Nutritional supplementation can be general or very specific.

Further testing is needed to be specific. There are two parts to the immune system, TH1 and TH2. Certain botanicals, vitamins and other nutrients can support or stimulate one part or the other.

TH1
TH1 is your T-cells. T-cells are the army that attacks and cleans up afterword. (Helper T-cells, Suppressor T-cells, Natural Killer Cells, regulatory T-cells, and macrophages. TH1 response is stimulated by

· Echinacea
· Garlic
· Vitamin C
· Immune stimulants
· Licorice root
· Astralagus
· Betab-glucan mushroom
· Maitake Mushroom
· Lemon Balm

TH2
TH2 is your B-cells. B-cells make anti-bodies. They tell T-cells what to kill. Your TH2 response is stimulated by

· Caffeine
· Green tea
· Grape seed extract
· Herbal barks (cramp bark, pine bark, white willow bark)
· Lycopene
· Resveratrol
· Pycnogenol

In autoimmune patients, one side can become hyperactive and dominate over the other. By further testing and analysis of the immune system to determine the mechanics of the persons immune dysfunction, more specific support appropriate to their immune pattern can be provided. It also becomes important to not take anything that is going to be stimulating the already dominant side. Balancing this system goes a along way in reducing a patients symptoms.

Fibromyalgia and Thyroid Problems

Fibromyalgia is a form of generalized muscular pain and fatigue that affects approximately 3.7 million Americans. The name, Fibromyalgia, means pain in the muscles and the fibrous connective tissues (the ligaments and tendons). Fibromyalgia lacks laboratory abnormalities; instead, the diagnosis depends mostly on a person’s report or complaints and feelings. Pain is the most prominent symptom of Fibromyalgia. It generally occurs throughout the body although it may start in one region, such as the neck and shoulders, and spread to other areas over a period of time.

Most people with Fibromyalgia experience moderate or severe fatigue with a lack of energy, decreased exercise endurance, or the kind of exhaustion that results from the flu or lack of sleep. Sometimes the fatigue is more of a problem that the pain. Headaches, especially muscular (tension headaches) and migraine headaches, are common in Fibromyalgia. Abdominal pain, bloating, alternating constipation, bladder spasms, and irritability may cause urinary urgency or frequency. Your skin and blood circulation can be sensitive to temperature changes, resulting in temporary changes in skin color.

Fibromyalgia is a very complex network of neurological, immune system, hormonal, and inflammatory issues. In a previous issue I discussed the neurological component of Fibromyalgia. In this edition I would like to explore the thyroid’s relationship and its influence as an underlying factor in many cases of fibromyalgia.

There is a considerable amount of scientific evidence that suggest FMS is a condition of abnormally slow metabolism. The clinical features of Fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism are very similar. A number of studies verify that hypothyroidism is the most common underlying disorder. The incidence of hypothyroidism may be as high 5x greater than in the general population.

Symptoms of Low Thyroid Function
· fatigue
· weight gain
· hair loss
· constipation
· low libido
· cold hands and feet
· depression
· insomnia
· heart palpitations
Clearly, the thyroid must be investigated and managed appropriately when dealing with the fibromyalgia patient. Unfortunately, most of the patients I see taking thyroid replacement hormone still are suffering from many of the symptoms of low thyroid function. In his new book “Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Test Are Normal?” Dr. Datis Kharrazian explains why. This book is highly recommended for anyone suffering from hypothyroidism (or believes that they may be) and the doctors who care for them. There are six basic patterns of thyroid dysfunction identified and only one will respond favorably to hormone replacement therapy (and not all of these). A complete thyroid panel (i.e. more than TSH and T4) is necessary to determine the mechanism of thyroid dysfunction and the appropriate intervention. In our office, we use specific all natural protocols based on Dr. Kharrazian’s seminars and book with great success.

The successful treatment of fibromyalgia requires a comprehensive multi faceted approach that looks at ALL the causes and contributing factors. In our office, we incorporate neurologically based therapies, diet, lifestyle, stress management and appropriate supplementation based on specific lab testing to help many chronic conditions.

To discover whether this approach may be right for you please call our office at (814)238-0232 to schedule a comprehensive Case Review.

Breakthrough in Allergy Relief

We are the only office in central Pennsylvania to offer allergy and sensitivity symptom relief using the FDA cleared, U.S. patented Bax 3000. www.allergyfreeyoucanbe.com

This new technology may be the answer to finally eliminating your allergies or other sensitivities. We are proud to introduce the BAX 3000, a fully automated and computerized device that combines principles of Eastern Medicine with a modern day understanding of the nervous system's role in physical wellness.

Utilizing a unique Substance Specific Stress-Reduction Strategy, The BAX 3000 teaches the body to maintain normal function during exposure to environmental (and other) stressors.

THIS IS A UNIQUE, SCIENCE BASED APPROACH TO SYMPTOM ELIMINATION

The effects of stress, and stress relief, on health is not theoretical.as the body of evidence clearly and overwhelmingly demonstrates this link. The BAX 3000 approach to wellness is rooted in these 4 statements, each proven factual by objective, published research:

1) Stress causes or exacerbates most health related conditions.

2) A general reduction of stress levels can significantly decrease symptoms of many conditions.

3) The brain creates associations between stressful events and substances.

4) If these associations can be broken, by introducing a positive stimulus in conjunction with the specific stress inducing substance... symptoms can be eliminated.

To schedule your Allergy Survey and BAX analysis call our office at (814)238-0232.

Gluten Sensitivity and Intolerance

There is an increasing amount of interest and information on the subject of gluten (a protein found in wheat and some other grains) sensitivity and a gluten free lifestyle. With this comes a good deal of misinformation and confusion.

The most well known (but still very poorly diagnosed) and extreme gluten sensitivity is Celiac Disease, a gluten triggered autoimmune attack on the small intestine. Celiac disease is confirmed by a biopsy of the small intestine revealing tissue destruction, but it isn’t that clear cut. Gluten sensitivity can, and does, exist without obvious damage to the intestines. I have actually had patients who suspected they might have gluten sensitivities ask their primary doctor about it only to be dismissed because they didn’t have obvious gastrointestinal symptoms. Celiac and gluten sensitivity can manifest a wide array of non- GI symptoms including: osteoporosis, osteopenia, central and peripheral nervous system disorders, anemias, weight loss or gain, tooth enamel defects, dementia, autism, Aspergers, ADHD, schizophrenia, infertility and early menopause, depression, vitamin K deficiency, dermatitis, organ disorders and fatigue.

There also seems to be some disagreement over which testing method to use to confirm a gluten sensitivity. Many doctors rely on blood testing; however, I feel that stool testing is more sensitive and accurate. Antibodies produced as the result of gluten sensitivity are mainly secreted into the intestine rather than the blood, analyzing stool turns up many more positive tests than blood tests. It is only when the immune reaction has been present for long periods of time and/or the process is far advanced that antibodies are produced in quantities sufficient to leak into the blood.

One thing is for certain, the number of people and with gluten sensitivities is on the rise. Research studies suggest that this is not just due to increased awareness and better screening. Modern wheat is very different from the wheat eaten by our ancestors. As a result of hybridization, wheat today has much higher levels of gluten proteins.

In chronically ill patients, gluten sensitivities must be considered. If indicated, removing wheat from these patients diets can have profound effects on their health. One study using MRI revealed a reversing of plaquing of the brain (as seen in Alzheimer’s and Multiple Sclerosis) in wheat sensitive individuals following a year of being wheat free.

Living gluten free is not easy but there is an ever expanding availability of these foods and products. Grocery stores, restaurants, and even amusement parks and major league stadiums are offering gluten free options. There are also some excellent books on the subject that are very helpful making the transition to a gluten free lifestyle.

Join the State College Support Group for their bi-monthly meeting Wednesday August 26th 2009 7:00pm at Mt Nittany Medical Center, Room 3. Share recipes and learn about living gluten free.

Dr Diehl's Recent Radio Interview

Listen to my recent radio interview for Health News in which we discuss our approach to chronic health problems.

http://2ndcousininterviews.s3.amazonaws.com/1-01_Dr_Diehl_Interview.mp3

Please listen and share with others. I hope you enjoy it.

Have a great day

Dr. Diehl

Life Changing Chiropractic Care

A colleaugue of mine also trained by Doctor Michael L Johnson recently posted this amazing Brain Based Therapy success story to youtube. I had to share it with all of you. This is powerful.
Please watch and share with others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGAyTKyBj20