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Aluminum

Today’s blog post is brought to you by our monthly science based nutrition newsletter!  The information is too good not to share.  Please enjoy!

The awareness of evidence regarding aluminum exposure and its negative effects on our bodies is growing.  Researchers have been linking aluminum exposure to neurological disorders such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, ADHD, and even cancer for years.  In fact, “there has been a strong link between human exposure to aluminum and the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease for half a century or more” says Chris Exley, PhD, of Keele University in England who has been studying the impact of aluminum on the human body since 1984.1 Aluminum occurs naturally is the soil, water, and air but we are contributing to the load by manufacturing of aluminum products, power plants, pollution from industrialization, “chemtrails” from aircraft in the skies, and vaccines.

If significant aluminum load exceeds the body’s capacity to eliminate it, it is deposited into various tissues that include bone, brain, liver, heart, spleen, and muscle.2   And, humans living a modern lifestyle, can very easily reach these daily dose levels.  Children and elderly people are the populations at greatest risk of exposure to potentially harmful levels.  Dr. Chris Shaw, a neuroscientist and professor at the University of British Columbia explains in his studies regarding the aluminum that is in countless products we use every day since the Industrial Revolution; “We increasingly have this compound that was not part of any biochemical process on Earth, that can now only go and do havoc, which is exactly what it does. It causes all kinds of unusual biochemical reactions.”2  Side effects of chronic Aluminum exposure or toxicity are muscle weakness, confusion, speech problems, slow growth in children, brain diseases, and nervous system problems causing difficulty with voluntary and involuntary actions.

Where does it come from?

Aluminum contamination has been found in a number of products on the market to include foods and beverages, deodorants, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals like antacids and buffered aspirin.

Additional contamination occurs when food comes into contact with aluminum equipment.  Cooking with aluminum foil dramatically increases your aluminum levels.  According to a 2006 study, cooking meat in aluminum foil increased aluminum levels as follows:3

Red meats cooked in aluminum foil increased in aluminum by 89 to 378 percent.

Poultry increased by 76 to 214 percent.

Aluminum levels increased with higher cooking temperatures and longer cooking times

Vaccines are a primary source of aluminum that exposes children to the metal more now than ever.  Children today are receiving 17 shots that contain aluminum, compared to 4 vaccines in the 1970s-1980s.4 Common vaccines that contain aluminum are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, DTap, Pneumococcal HPV, and Hib but there are more.  The worst part is that many children are receiving more than just one vaccine at a visit in which the concentration of the aluminum levels is greatly increased.

A study published in BMC (BioMed Central), a portfolio of high quality peer-reviewed journals, in 2013 concluded5:

“Alum has high neurotoxic potential, and planning administration of continuously escalating doses of this poorly biodegradable adjuvant in the population should be carefully evaluated by regulatory agencies since the compound may be insidiously unsafe… especially in the case of over-immunization or immature/altered blood brain barrier.”

Following a typical injection, 59% of the aluminum content is excreted within the first five days, but 25% may be retained long term. In some children, the aluminum may have a 10-year half-life.6  Injection of aluminum is different than ingestion.  However…this topic deserves its own newsletter.

Intake of daily antacids and aspirin that contain Aluminum is the reason why elderly persons are more susceptible to aluminum intake at neurotoxic levels.  Oral intake of 330 mg/kg/day or more results in decreased myelination of nerves in experimental animals, and even 230 mg/kg/day is enough to cause neurological damage.6  Adults who take a buffered aspirin everyday as directed by their physician to reduce cardiovascular risk with an antacid are getting between 840 and 5,000 mg of aluminum-containing compounds per day!6

Alzheimers

Very small amounts of aluminum are needed to produce neurotoxicity and is done so in increments of small amounts over a lifetime.  The hypothesis that aluminum significantly contributes to Alzheimer’s disease is built upon very solid experimental evidence and should not be dismissed.7   Data combined from 37 studies involving 1227 participants was published as a meta-analysis in The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.  The studies examined autopsy’s measuring amounts of aluminum in the brain, blood, and CSF.  The conclusion of the report demonstrated that aluminum levels are significantly elevated in the brain, serum and CSF of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.8

Getting rid of it

Actual absorption of Aluminum from ingestion is pretty low.  Most aluminum ingested from food, water and drugs is excreted out by the kidneys into the urine but the brain, however is extremely sensitive to it.  The problem is that neurons are very good at absorbing whatever aluminum does make it into the bloodstream.5 The result over time is a gradual destruction of neural tissue.

There are many nutrients you can take to aid in removal of heavy metals:

Vitamin E

Vitamin C

Selenium

Turmeric

Milk Thistle

Chlorella

Try adding herbs to your foods like cilantro, parsley, curry, and garlic.

It is also very important to test liver function, kidney function, and your immune status.  Testing a comprehensive blood panel will not only cover all of these, but can also detect any major deficiencies or toxicities that could be affecting your body’s ability to heal, repair, and detox.  You can test your toxic element status by doing a hair and urine tests.  Hair testing will help show what you are currently excreting.  However, further investigation can be done by a urine test to determine if there are toxic elements you are NOT excreting.  This is critical in that some people develop or have an impaired ability to efficiently eliminate aluminum and other heavy metals.  Basically, the heavy metals are going in faster than they are being eliminated.  Oral chelation agents can help assist the heavy metal elimination process.

There are some oral chelating agents that can be very effective and cause heavy metals to be quickly removed from the body.  However, caution should be used: high doses of these products can have side effects such as upset stomach.  Your SBN health professional can help guide you to efficiently and safely eliminate heavy metals.  Using oral chelating agents should NEVER be done unless under supervision of your experienced healthcare provider.  To find out more about heavy metals you may be exposed to and/or to see what other deficiencies exist, it is recommended to always get tested first.  An individualized plan of action is important because not everyone’s body excretes toxins at the same rate.  There are many variables that can play into your body’s healing rate.  It is never too late to get started.  Call us today to schedule a consultation with an experienced nutritionist to get tested!

 

References

  1. Dr. Veronique Desaulniers. “Aluminum Toxicity: 4 Ways to Detox Your Brain & Body.” The Truth About Cancer, 27 Mar. 2018, thetruthaboutcancer.com/detox-aluminum-toxicity/.
  2. Walia, Arjun. Here’s Where Aluminum Goes When It’s Injected Into Your Body from a            Vaccine.  The Vaccine Reaction.  Published May 31, 2016
  3. Turhan, S. “Aluminium Contents in Baked Meats Wrapped in Aluminium Foil.” Meat Science., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Dec. 2006,             www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22063217?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m% 2Cisrctn.
  4. NVIC.org Vaccination Pamphlet
  5. Khan, Zakir, et al. “Slow CCL2-Dependent Translocation of Biopersistent Particles from Muscle to Brain.” BMC Medicine, BioMed Central, 2013,   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3616851/.
  6. Goldman, Erik. “Aluminum, Alzheimer’s & Autism: Understanding the Connection.” Holistic Primary Care, 26 May 2015, holisticprimarycare.net/topics/topics-a-g/chronic-   disease/1701-aluminum-alzheimer-s-autism-understanding-the-connection.html.
  7. Gherardi, Romain Kroum, et al. “Aluminum and Alzheimer’s Disease: after a Century of Controversy, Is There a Plausible Link?” Frontiers in Neurology, Frontiers Media S.A.,       2011, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4318414/.
  8. Sohaib A. Virk Sohaib A. Virk Guy D. Eslick. Aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease: A        comprehensive meta-analysis.  Alzheimer’s and Dementia.  The Journal of the       Alzheimer’s Association.  University of Sydney.  2003, January 09.

What’s the Deal with Turmeric?

If you enjoy South Asian and Middle Easter cuisine, chances are you’ve come in contact with a spice called turmeric. It is one of the main ingredients in curry dishes and has a vibrant color and flavor1. One of the main reasons why turmeric has been linked to its main health and medical benefits is due to its active ingredient known as curcumin. A typical turmeric root may contain 2-7% concentration of curcumin1. There are over a million articles on the web and in journals supporting turmeric and its multiple pharmacological activities. Some examples of these benefits are listed below.

  • Anticarcinogenic
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Cardiovascular protectant
  • Helps support the liver
  • Supports the nervous system
  • Cancer prevention and treatment adjunct

Anti-carcinogenic Effects:

An anticarcinogen is defined as a substance that counteracts the effects of a carcinogen or inhibits the development of cancer2. Turmeric has demonstrated that it is capable of having an anti-carcinogenic effect on all steps of cancer development. Some studies are currently being conducted to prove that it may also play a part in cancer regression. The protective mechanism of turmeric is due to its direct antioxidant and free radical-scavenging effects. It helps jump start the body’s natural antioxidant system while simultaneously increasing levels of glutathione and other enzymatic processes of the body3. In various studies, turmeric has been reported to exhibit activity against the development of skin, breast, oral and stomach cancers. A study published by the Journal of Biological Chemistry found that Curcumin improves the effectiveness of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients3. Curcumin also promotes anti-angiogenesis, meaning it helps prevent the development of additional blood supply necessary for cancer cell growth.

Cardiovascular Effects:

The effect of turmeric and curcumin on the cardiovascular system includes the lowering of cholesterol levels and inhibiting platelet aggregation. A study was conducted on 10 healthy individuals who received 500mg of curcumin a day for 7 days. There was a 33% reduction of Lipid Peroxides, which contributes to a reduction of cell damage. There was a 29% increase in HDL cholesterol and 11.63% reduction in total serum cholesterol. This cholesterol lowering ability is due to turmeric interfering with the intestinal cholesterol uptake and by increasing cholesterol conversion into bile salts4.

Liver Support Effects:

A study was conducted on mice given aspirin and carbon tetrachloride (widely used as a cleaning fluid). The mice experienced a significantly reduction of the liver blood markers when treated with 100mg/kg of turmeric5. The antioxidant effect of turmeric supports its role in treating liver conditions, especially anti-inflammatory and chloretic effects (stimulating the secretion of gastric acid). This helps with increasing biliary excretion of bile salts, cholesterol and bilirubin6. Turmeric has also been noted to help increase the solubility of the bile, showing great benefit to the prevention and treatment of gallstones7.

Nervous System Support:

Multiple studies are currently underway demonstrating the effectiveness of turmeric on the nervous system. Some studies have indicated that a protective role of turmeric on stroke models, including links to the reduction of plaque buildup in models of Alzheimer’s disease8. It also has helped with the reduction of cataract formation on the lens by reducing the rate of cellular death and boosting resistance of the optic lens9-10.

Cancer prevention and Treatment Adjunct:

One human study was conducted on 16 chronic smokers and 6 nonsmokers. The nonsmokers served as a control group, while the 16 chronic smokers were given 1.5g of turmeric per day. At the end of a 30 day trail period, the smokers who had received the turmeric each day had a reduction of a mutagenic (radiation or a chemical substance) agent in their urine11. The results of the study are quite significant. With the rise of smoke and other environmental cancer causing agents, the frequent use of turmeric appears warranted11.

How much do you need?

The typical dosage for turmeric and curcumin depends on the type of condition being treated. The most common recommendation for turmeric as an anti-inflammatory aid is between 1000- 3000mg per day.  Turmeric’s active form curcumin may have difficulty being absorbed with its rapid metabolism and low bioavailability in the body. Some reports show that not all oral administered curcumin is 100% absorbed in the GI tract, in fact 40-85% may go completely unchanged. Some tips on how to help curcumin get in the body is to mix it with black pepper, fats and with quercetin (pigment found in plants and food such as red wine, red grapes, berries and onions12.)

Before considering a dosage for yourself, it is important to consult a nutrition specialist. You can find out the level of your deficiencies and toxicities by getting a comprehensive blood test and tissue mineral analysis. Reviewing results of these testing methods with your experienced nutrition professional can help you understand where to start. By knowing exactly what diet to follow and what supplements you need with the correct dosing, you can control your body’s health status. Get tested today to get started on a pathway towards optimal wellness!

 

Works Cited:

1 Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects 2nd Edition, “Chapter 13: Turmeric, the

Golden Spice”

2 “Anticarcinogenic.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2018.

3 Curcumin Treatment Suppresses IKKβ Kinase Activity of Salivary Cells of Patients with Head

and Neck Cancer: A Pilot Study http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/17/18/5953

4 Soni KB, Kuttan R. Effect of oral curcumin administration on serum peroxides and cholesterol

levels in human volunteers. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol

5 Lin SC, Lin CC, Lin YH, et al. Protective and therapeutic effects of Curcuma Xanthorrihza on

hepatotoxin-induced liver damage. AM J Chi Med 1995; 23: 243-254

6 Ammon HP, Wahl MA. Pharmacology of Curcuma Longa. Planta Med 1991;57:1-7.

7 Ramprasad C, Sirsi M. Curcuma Longa and bile secretion. Quantitative changes in the bile

constituents induced by sodium curcuminate. J Sci Ind Res 1957;16C: 108-110.

8 Lim GP, Chu T, Yang F, et al. The curry spice curcumin reduces oxidative damage and amyloid

pathology in an Alzheimer transgenic mouse. J Neurosci 2001; 21: 8370-8377

9 Pandya U, Saini MK, Jin GF, et al. Dietary curcumin prevents ocular toxicity of naphthalene in

rats. Toxicol Lett 2000; 115: 195-204

10 Awasthi S, Srivastave SK, Piper JT, et al. Curcumin protects agains4-hydroxy-2-trans-nonenal-

induced cataract formation in lenses. Am J Clin nutr 1996;64:761-766

11 Polasa K, Sesikaran B, Krishna TP, et al. Effects of turmeric on urinary mutagens in smokers.

Mutagenesis 1992; 7: 107-109

12. Nita Chainani-Wu. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. July 2004, 9(1): 161- https://doi.org/10.1089/107555303321223035

 

This information has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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