With all the news coverage of the US government “shutdown” you would think the sky is falling. In truth about 85% of the US Federal government is still operating normally. I think we would do well to remember that private citizens are what keep everything going, and that government should serve our needs, not the other way around.
We still have to get up and go to work in the morning, pay our bills, take care of our families, and all the other things that life involves on a daily basis. So it goes with health as well. We are the stewards of our own health, and if we do not take care of ourselves, no “healthcare plan” whether private or government run will matter.
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Our health is in OUR hands. Always remember that, and you will go a long way towards making sure that you have the health to enjoy your life fully and for a long time! One of the most important aspects of health is how your colon (also called the gut) functions.
Since certain neurotransmitters are actually made in your intestinal tract, “gut health” can affect your emotions, and thinking as well as how you physically feel. So as you can see it’s vitally important to have it functioning optimally!
There are several things we need to get this right. One is the right type and amount of fiber, and the other is probiotic bacteria. Click on the links below to check out my web pages on these two topics.
Fiber:
http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com/dietary-fiber.html
Soluble Fiber and Cholesterol
http://www.cholesteroltutor.com/soluble-fiber-for-cholesterol/
Probiotics:
http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com/probiotics.html
Health of your stomach and colon is the key to overall health for several reasons. You need to absorb and assimilate your food for the nutrients your body needs. If your GI tract isn’t healthy, you can get needed nutrients from your foods.
The longer the “transit time” it takes for waste to exit the colon, the longer you are exposed to toxins that can create cancerous conditions in the body. Think about it, you wouldn’t keep your garbage in your kitchen for months, you would throw it out as soon as possible, because keeping it around is unsanitary.
The same can be said for eliminating waste from your body. It needs to happen every day, and be as complete as possible. An adequate amount of both soluble and insoluble fiber is essential to this process.
An example of insoluble fiber is Psyllium seed husks. These absorb water and provide a “bulking” effect to waste in the colon.
An example of soluble fiber is fruit like apples which also assist in elimination though stimulation of peristalsis (the process of moving the bowels). By the way, the bowels should be moved at least once per day if not more.
I have heard doctors tell their patients that this is not important. In the case of one gentleman I know, his doctor told him that a bowel movement every few days was “normal” for him. This is incredibly bad medical advice.
I have had good luck with just plain Psyllium husks in water, but of course your experience may be different. Whole grains like oat groats, quinoa, or ground flaxseeds can help provide the fiber that’s beneficial to the colon.
Another factor that’s important is the bacteria that is found in the colon. If it’s the normal beneficial bacteria then you will have normal bowel function, and neither be constipated or suffer from diarrhea.
You can get this beneficial bacteria either from probiotic supplements or dairy products like yogurt or kefir. Commercial yogurts and kefirs lose much of their benefit from pasteurization. While I think the dangers of unpasteurized products are overblown, I can’t advise you to consume them for reasons of liability.
It’s safest to use a probiotic supplement or fermented dairy products as your probiotic source. Those of you who get my newsletter know that I am an advocate of the blood type diet.
When you buy these fermented dairy products, look for ones that advertise that they contain “live cultures.” This indicates they will have sufficient bacteria to be of help to you. Avoid products that contain a lot of sugar, or artificial sweeteners for obvious reasons.
Look for a live-cultured plain yogurt, preferably made from goat milk or a pasture raised cow’s milk. For kefir, the same rules follow. Plain and unsweetened is best, and you can add some berries for natural sweetening to the yogurt or kefir.
Probiotic bacteria is specific to blood type and in the near future I will be delving int that with some specific recommendations. Let’s suffice it to say that for all intents and purposes, the right probiotic foods and supplements for your blood type will result in a normally functioning colon and regular bowel movements.
So if what you are doing results in normal function, then you pretty much have it right!
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Now I have something very cool to share with all of you…
Barbara Streisand is possibly the most talented performer that ever graced a stage in any time period. Yes I know that is quite an accolade, but I believe it is well earned.
There is a full concert by the incomparable Barbara Streisand on Youtube, and here is the link:
Enjoy…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upFtYYpgb3A
I had forgotten how gorgeous her voice is and how romantic her delivery is. She is truly a once in a lifetime performer, and I’m glad I live in a time when I get to hear her perform.
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“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”
Plato
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“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Age Better #43 – Stop the MTHFR gene In It’s Tracks!
There are things that remind you that time is passing and seemingly quicker than it used to. My niece just turned 23 and is a married mom of 2. I remember babysitting her one evening many years ago so her mom and dad could get a rare night out.
She was months old and pretty much cried all of the evening until her mom came home, and then she was perfectly content again. Now she she has a 4 year old and a months old infant son of her own to care for. It’s hard to believe those years passed so quickly.
Fortunately for me, I keep learning and discovering new things that I believe can retain the quality of our health and give us many more years of enjoyable life. I promised that in this newsletter I would share cutting edge stuff with you and here’s an interesting item I just discovered.
I think I talked about the MTHFR gene defect in one of my past newsletters. It’s pretty common in North Americans. About 55% of the population have some variant of this gene, and it can cause a lot of health problems.
The cheap and easy way to tell if you have this gene defect is to eat asparagus and note whether your urine has a strong odor after about an hour or so. If it does, then you have the gene defect.
The MTHFR gene is responsible for converting folic acid into a form that the human body can actually use called “Methylenetetrahydrofolate” This is known as the “reduced” or “methylated” form of folic acid.
Since your body cannot use ordinary folic acid, this gene must be working correctly in order to convert folic acid into the methylated form. What happens when the gene is defective?
Well…your risk for things like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke, depression, migraines, birth defects, miscarriage, mental illness, ect. Are greatly increased! Methylation is also how your body repairs your DNA (and protects you from cancer).
That’s the bad news! The “good news” is that I have stumbled on a cheap nutritional supplement that can help anyone with this gene defect. That may sound like quite a claim, but it has a very sound basis in science.
Here are some abstracts from Pubmed:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22102928
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23212058
By using the “reduced” or “methylated” form of folic acid, you can bypass the problems these gene defect causes. This product is called “methylfolate.” It’s probably made by a number of companies, but I like Jarrow Formulas for both quality and price.
I just picked up a bottle and do notice quite a difference, mainly the mental aspects of this gene problem being alleviated. I feel more relaxed, less tense and anxious. That is the outward sign that the product is working.
Now please understand that I am not claiming that this supplement cures or prevents any disease. I am only saying that since the MTHFR defect causes you not to be able to utilize folic acid, you can take a form of folic acid that your body CAN utilize.
You will be hearing more about this as time goes on, but right now I believe that “methylfolate” is one of THE most valuable nutritional supplements you can take. Here is a link to it on Amazon:
http://www.age-better.info/methylfolate
If you try this nutritional supplement, please let me know how it works for you. Dosage requirements would vary from person to person, but the rule of thumb I go by is to start with the smallest dose, and see how that works for you.
Start with one capsule (400 mcg) and you can take this 3-4 times per week or every other day. If you have the MTHFR gene defect, you should notice a feeling of calmness and well being.
You can tell if you have this defect by eating asparagus and noticing of yoiur urine has a strong odor afterward. If the odor is present, this is an indication that you have this gene defect, and would benefit by taking methyl donors like methylfolate, SAM-E, or trimethylglicine.
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Do you have a disease, or other medical condition that you or someone close to you is suffering from that you would like me to research and write about? Then please let me know. I can’t give medical advice because I am not a doctor.
But I CAN research things for you and look for the most cutting edge information on that topic and present it to you and everyone who reads this newsletter. Our knowledge is advancing rapidly, and I am here to report on the very latest on health, wellness, and anti-aging for everyone who reads “Age Better.”
So if you have questions, or comments, please share them with me. I love hearing from you!
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Call me infantile…BUT I ‘ve always been a comic book aficionado. I grew up reading Marvel Comics and to a lesser extent DC as well. With that said, it’s way cool to see the characters I read so many years ago, being recreated on the big screen.
Thor 2 “The Dark World” will be out in November, as will Captain America “The Winter Soldier.” Captain America is played by actor Chris Evans who grew up in Sudbury, Massachusetts, about 30 minutes from where I live.
I can’t wait for these films and will review them when they are out. “Agents of Shield” is coming to television in the fall, I believe the first episode will be September 24th. Due to demand by fans, Agent Phil Coulson will be resurrected from the dead (he died in The Avengers). He plays “director Fury’s” right hand man.
This series should be great fun!
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This weeks musical clip is a Bruce Hornsby number called “White Wheeled Limousine”
that features one of my favorite guitarists Pat Metheny, who incidentally attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston (about 3 miles from my house!).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqNdp1SLC4g
There is also an excellent trumpet solo by John D’Earth as well. Hornsby’s piano meshes well with Matheny’s guitar, and I wish the clip did not end when it did, but it’s still a treat!
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This newsletter is read by people all over the world, so if you have something that you would like me to share such as music from your country or culture with the other readers, please let me know.
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“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin