Be Prepared: Crop Shortages and Worldwide Unrest

Alternatives
®
For the Health Conscious Individual
volume 15 • N o 10 • October 201 2
S
Be Prepared: Crop Shortages and
Worldwide Unrest
tarting in December 2010,
we saw a revolutionary
wave of protests and
demonstrations in the Arab world,
which was referred to as the Arab
Spring. Since that time, rulers in
Egypt, Libya,
Tunisia, and
Yemen have
been forced
from power.
We’re now seeing civil war
uprisings in
Syria and the
imminent threat
of the same in
Bahrain. Other protests are ongoing throughout the entire Middle
East and parts of North Africa.
It’s a situation that continues to
Inside
Your Microflora Affects
Your Health...From Cradle
to Grave. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Alternatives Mailbox: . . . . . 4
News to Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
More on Gelatin
and Joints. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
You will observe with concern how
long a useful truth may be known,
and exist, before it is generally
received and practiced on.
— Benjamin Franklin
volume 15 • N o 10 • October 201 2
evolve in those countries, and the
ramifications are far from over.
I explained a few months ago how
the early stages of these movements
or revolutions are often triggered by
an increase in food prices. Very few
people talk about, or even recognize,
this connection.
In the above case, it was the
dramatic spike in wheat prices
that lit the fuse in the Middle
East and North African countries.
(Granted, those regions are, and
always have been, a powder keg
of hostility and unrest.) Drought
situations in Kansas, Colorado,
Russia, and China decimated
wheat production. At the same
time, Australia, Brazil, Canada,
and the U.S. Midwest experienced
massive flooding that destroyed
wheat crops. World wheat prices
soared by over 50%, and Egypt is
the world’s largest wheat importer
since bread is a dietary staple in
that country. Soaring food prices
triggered protests and rioting on
the streets, and acted as the catalyst for the Arab Spring.
It Could Happen Again
Next Year
I’m mentioning this again because we have the makings of a
similar situation early next year,
thanks to the current drought
here in the U.S. This drought has
started to push up global food
prices and will continue to do
so into 2013. Rising food prices
equate to rising tempers and
unrest.
Several crops are being affected
by the drought—particularly corn.
The corn crop is expected to be the
worst since 1995. The increased corn
price alone will drive up the cost of
cereals, meat, and dairy products.
Worldwide weather conditions have
also resulted in tight supplies of
wheat, soybeans, and sugar.
The United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization measures
the monthly change in the international price of a basket of food
commodities. This measurement
is called the Food Price Index
(FPI). Recently, researchers have
studied the FPI and its relationship to riots and unrest around
the world. Whenever the FPI
goes above 210, we start to see
unrest. The latest FPI figure from
August was 213, and based on
the drought, fuel prices, present
shortages, etc., it appears to be on
the rise. The peak was in February
2011, when it reached 238 in the
middle of the Arab Spring.
Don’t Be Caught Off
Guard
I have no idea what will happen
in the upcoming months or year,
Alternatives
but I just want to make sure you
aren’t caught off guard. I worry
about you. I’ve said it before, but
I honestly don’t think I can say it
too many times.
Please keep your pantry stocked
as best you can. Have enough
canned goods and other items so
that you could get by for at least
two weeks without going to the grocery store. (A three-month supply or
more would be even better.) Make
sure you have adequate amounts of
medications, supplements, toiletries, and personal items to last that
long, as well.
A supply of drinking water
is also a concern. I’ve talked at
length about water purification
I
(see drdavidwilliams.com/distilledwater), but I want to share with
you another innovative product
that can be a godsend. The product
is called the waterBOB. It’s a great
solution if you have limited space
and don’t have the capabilities of
storing much water.
waterBOB website has a short video
that shows exactly how it works.
WaterBOB is a heavy-duty plastic bladder that fits in a standard
bathtub. You attach a fill sock to the
faucet and fill the 100-gallon bladder
with water, and it stays stored right in
the tub. It also comes with a siphon
pump that attaches to the top of the
bladder so you can pump out water
as you need it. The bladder and pump
comes folded in an easy-to-store box.
It is designed for one-time use. The
Shortages come and go.
Sometimes we’re forewarned,
and other times we’re not. To me,
all indications clearly point to it
being a matter of when, not if,
we’ll experience these types of
problems. The most difficult part
is predicting exactly when. But,
when it comes to being prepared,
it’s better to be a year early than
one day late. ■
You can order it directly from the
company (waterbob.com or 800-9668044) for $29.95, plus $6.50 for shipping. And I found it at a slightly lower
price on Amazon.com.
Your Microflora Affects Your Health…
From Cradle to Grave
knew that one day, the world
would start to recognize just how
important a role intestinal and
other bacteria play in our health. I
think we’re starting to see what will
be an avalanche of research data
on the subject. And, if organized
medicine holds true to form, it will be
another 10 years before most patients
start to benefit from this knowledge.
In just the last couple of months,
there have been some amazing
studies illustrating how your intestinal flora has a dramatic effect
Alternatives®
on your health, literally from the
cradle to the grave.
group had a 22% greater likelihood of
being overweight.
Babies and Obesity
The timing of the antibiotic use
seemed to make a huge difference.
If the antibiotics were given during
the first five months, the children
tended to be overweight, or even
obese, as toddlers. When exposed
to antibiotics at 6 to 14 months of
age, children didn’t have a higher
body mass later in childhood. And,
although children exposed from
the ages of 15 to 23 months had a
slightly higher body mass index by
age seven, it didn’t increase their
likelihood of later being overweight
Researchers evaluated the use of
antibiotics in 11,532 children born
in Britain’s Avon region in 1991 and
1992. Almost 30% of the infants were
given antibiotics sometime during
the first six months of their life. The
babies who were treated with antibiotics between birth to five months
weighed more than those not given
antibiotics. The weight difference
wasn’t that dramatic at first, but by
38 months, those in the antibiotic
Author: Dr. David Williams; Editor: Larissa Long
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Office: 7811 Montrose Road, Potomac, MD 20854. Periodicals postage paid at Rockville, MD and at additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Alternatives, PO Box 3262, Lancaster, PA 17604-3262. Copyright © Healthy Directions, LLC All rights
reserved. Photocopying or reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
The approaches described in this newsletter are not offered as cures, prescriptions, diagnoses, or a means of diagnoses to different conditions.
The author and publisher assume no responsibility in the correct or incorrect use of this information, and no attempt should be made to use any
of this information as a form of treatment without the approval and guidance of your doctor.
Dr. Williams works with Healthy Directions, LLC to develop his unique formulations that supply many of the hard-to-find nutrients he
recommends. Dr. Williams is compensated on the sales of these nutritional supplements and health products, which allows him to continue
devoting his life to worldwide research and the development of innovative, effective health solutions.
2
October 201 2
or obese. (Int J Obes (Lond) 21
August 2012 [Epub ahead of
print])
This study tells us that we apply a
greater degree of nutritional science
to raising our cattle than we do our
children. Farmers have been utilizing
antibiotics for the last 50-plus years
to fatten cattle, pigs, and chickens.
Types of antibiotics, dosage amounts,
etc., have been scientifically worked
out and applied with precision to
effectively increase weight gain as
quickly as possible.
Antibiotics are known as growth
promoters. With antibiotic use,
animals gain more weight more
quickly, on less food. I’ll say that
again…antibiotics stimulate growth
with less food. Yet, for some reason, we’re just now “discovering”
that giving antibiotics to our babies
has the same result. Duh.
We’re killing the natural bacterial flora in the human body that
influences how we break down and
absorb various nutrients that help
keep us lean and healthy. Doing it
at such a critical period of development, such as early childhood, has
long-lasting effects. A lifetime of
fighting excess weight or obesity is
probably just the tip of the iceberg.
I won’t be surprised if we see other
studies linking early antibiotic use
to chronic digestive disorders,
ADHD, skin problems, allergies,
autoimmune diseases, and dozens
of other problems. Don’t forget,
gut microbes don’t just aid in the
metabolism of food, they also synthesize vitamins and help regulate
our entire immune system.
In today’s world, it’s hard enough
for a baby just to get his/her bacterial flora established. The last thing
we need to be doing is disrupting it.
Much of the beneficial bacteria
originally pass from mother to
volume 15 • N o 10
child. Some of them transfer in the
womb, and some when the baby
passes through the birth canal.
Antibiotic or other drug use by
the mother, inferior or deficient
flora from the mother, and birth by
cesarean section all compromise the
process. That’s why probiotics and
fermented foods should be a part
of the mom’s supplement program.
And probiotics should be given to
children as part of their formula if
they’re not being breastfed. I recommend including a pinch of Natren
brand Life Start probiotic powder
(http://store.natren.com).
Seniors Affected, Too
Another recently released study
looked at the effect of gut microbes
in the elderly, and the findings were
just as shocking.
Researchers looked at the gut
microflora of 178 elderly individuals over the age of 65 (average age
78). None were being treated with
antibiotics. They found that the microbes varied extensively depending on where the individual lived
and the state of their overall health.
Individuals who lived independently in the community
had the most varied microbacterial flora and were the
healthiest. People who lived in
long-term assisted living homes
had less diverse microbacterial
flora and were frailer.
Here’s a direct quote from the
lead researcher, Paul O’Toole, of
University College Cork in Ireland:
“Our findings indicate that any two
given older people, independent
of their starting health status and
genetic makeup, could experience very different rates of health
loss upon aging due to dietary
choices that impact on their gut
bacterial ecosystem.” (Nature
2012;488(7410):178–184)
Further study found that, although the diet changes quickly
once a person moves into a longterm care facility, it takes about a
year for the intestinal bacteria to
change from a “community type”
to the “long-term residential type.”
It was during this transition time
that the individuals’ health started
declining the most.
O’Toole and his team analyzed
blood, feces, urine, diet, physical strength, and mental function.
He concluded that the change in
bacteria triggered by the change
in diet was a major contributing
cause of their decline in health.
What makes this study so intriguing is that O’Toole linked the speed
at which a person loses his or her
health to a decline in the numbers
and variety of intestinal bacteria.
Most nursing homes and assisted care facilities base their
meals on government-issued
nutritional data. Probiotics or
fermented foods aren’t addressed
and rarely even mentioned. Yogurt
is about as close as they come to
this category, and, as you know,
most commercial yogurt has been
pasteurized to kill bacteria and is
worthless as a probiotic food.
Assisted care facilities and nursing
homes aren’t going to change for the
better anytime soon. If you have a
loved one residing in one, do them a
favor and keep them supplied with a
good probiotic. It can be life changing, and possibly life sustaining.
Both of these studies clearly
illustrate the necessity of eating fermented foods and taking
probiotics. They are critical at every stage of our life. To learn more,
visit drdavidwilliams.com/digestivehealth-bacterial-balance. ■
3
Alternatives
UESTIO
R
A
ED
YO U R
NS
Q
NSWE
Alternatives
MAILBOX
MAILBOX
Gout Solutions
Question: I try to follow most of the recommendations you provide in your newsletter and can
tell my overall health has improved dramatically.
One area of concern, however, involves the protein
shake in the morning, which you seem to be sold
on. I have intermittent issues with gout and I’ve
been told to avoid high-protein foods like whey.
What are your thoughts or recommendations?
—Richard J., Milford, PA
Answer: Gout is the deposition of needle-like
urate crystals in the joints, which causes inflammation, stiffness, and intense pain. For some reason,
this seems to happen more in the cooler joints of
the body. The big toe is the most common, but the
ankles, wrists, fingers, and elbows are also affected.
Uric acid is a waste product of the oxidation of
purines. Purines are natural compounds found in virtually all foods and in every cell of the body. Purines
provide the chemical structure of genes in both
animals and plants.
The main source of dietary purines comes from
the DNA and RNA found in the nucleus of plants and
animals. (They are called nucleic acids because they
are food within the cell’s nucleus.) So, the higher
purine foods are those that have cell nuclei. Milk,
cottage cheese, mozzarella, egg whites, and whey
protein don’t have cell nuclei and are considered
purine free.
Whey protein won’t cause any problems with
gout. In fact, protein shakes can be an excellent part
of a purine-free diet, in addition to helping control
blood sugar levels and lose excess weight.
Unfortunately, however, you may have trouble with
many of the foods I consider to be the most beneficial to our health and well-being since they are especially rich in DNA and RNA. These would include
foods like sardines, grass-fed red meat, seafood,
4
organ meat, egg yolks, and some fermented products like yogurt and beer.
You mentioned that your problem was intermittent.
Keep in mind that being overweight or obese will
cause you to have higher levels of uric acid to begin
with. Rather than first focusing on a purine-free
diet, losing weight—particularly with a Zone-style
diet—could eliminate your problem. A Zone-style
diet (40% carbs/30% protein/30% fat) would probably work best since a high-protein diet might cause
more problems in the beginning.
Sugar Is Also a Culprit
Another reason people experience gout is the increased consumption of fructose. It’s too complex to
explain in detail here, but studies have shown that
the metabolism of fructose increases the production
of uric acid. And, I’ve covered in great detail how
fructose sweeteners lead to metabolic syndrome
and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance and diabetes both increase uric acid levels. (J Rheumatol
02;29:1350–1355) (Am J Hypertens 96;9:746–752)
High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is being used so
extensively as a sweetener in our food supply, it’s a
wonder we don’t see more gout problems than we
do. Eliminating HFCS, particularly soft drinks sweetened with it, is a simple solution to alleviating countless cases of gout.
A Cherry Good Solution
Since the 1950s, there have been studies showing
that cherries and cherry juice could lower uric acid
levels and alleviate gout problems. (Tex Rep Biol
Med 50;8:309–311)
This study never received the attention it deserved. I’m sure part of the reason stemmed from
the fact that cherries were not that widely available
throughout the country. Expense would also play a
role since the study participants consumed one-half
pound of fresh or canned cherries a day (or up to a
quart of cherry juice) for months at a time.
Fortunately, increased cherry production has
made them more plentiful and affordable. Even better, high-quality tart cherry powder is now commercially available.
Exactly which compounds in cherries are responsible for this action has not yet been determined.
We do know that cherries contain numerous phytochemicals that have strong anti-inflammatory
October 201 2
properties. They are also the source of the complete vitamin C complex (not only vitamin C but
many flavonoids, as well). And, higher intakes of
vitamin C significantly lower uric acid concentrations. (J Nutr 03;133:1826–1829) (J Rheumatol
08;35(9):1853–1858)
Coffee Helps, Too
Coffee consumption also reduces the incidence
of gout. In this case, it isn’t the caffeine, but a
compound called chlorogenic acid doing the work.
So decaffeinated coffee or coffee extract (30%
chlorogenic acid) are both good options.
Research suggests that our body produces additional uric acid when we have excess iron. Uric
acid is an iron chelator. (It attaches to iron and helps
remove it from the body.) Some even think that gout
is a disease of iron overload.
The chlorogenic acid in coffee inhibits the absorption of iron. Coffee is one of the richest dietary
sources of chlorogenic acid. A single cup contains
70–350 mg. And, one study found that a single cup
of instant coffee reduced iron absorption from a
meal by 60–90%. (Br J Nutr 99;81:289–295)
Celery Compound Lowers Uric Acid
Celery seed (and celery seed extract) has its
roots in Ayurvedic medicine. The compound called
3nB is unique to celery. It has a profound painreducing capability, particularly in joint problems,
and is especially helpful in gout since it also lowers
uric acid production by inhibiting certain enzymes.
Fortunately, instead of consuming bundles of celery,
3nB has now been isolated as an extract.
Interestingly, delving into the mysteries of 3nB
took a serious turn when a researcher learned of
the dramatic drop in blood pressure his father experienced after eating a quarter-pound of celery every
day for a week. This gentleman’s blood pressure
dropped from 158/96 to 118/82. The 3nB in celery
was found to be responsible for the drop.
This compound does two things.
First, by influencing the production of various
prostaglandins, it acts as a vasodilator. In other
words, it relaxes the small muscles in blood vessels,
volume 15 • N o 10
which allows the blood to flow easier with less
pressure.
Second, 3nB works as a diuretic. If you study
the older literature on celery, you’ll see that it has
always been considered a diuretic.
What’s fascinating about the latest research, however, is that 3nB works much differently than other
diuretics. Most diuretics change the ratio of sodium
to potassium. If you’ve taken a diuretic to lower
blood pressure, you know that, in conjunction with
removing excess fluid, it also removes potassium,
which can be dangerous unless it’s replaced. The
3nB in celery seed extract acts as a diuretic without
depleting potassium.
The research on 3nB continues, and I’m sure
there will be more to report in the near future. As for
gout, however, 3nB is available and offers another
angle from which to approach the problem.
Overlooked, Yet Effective,
Gout Treatments
Two other treatments for gout that are usually
overlooked include:
Water. Drinking plenty of water is extremely important for flushing out excess uric acid.
Olive leaf extract. When studying the work of
“curanderos” in Mexico, I found and reported on
how olive leaf tea can be used to successfully treat
gout. For convenience sake, olive leaf extract is now
readily available and has been standardized according to the active ingredient (20% oleuropein).
Gout isn’t always an easy problem to treat. It
should be obvious that there can be many contributing factors. There is no one magic cure. For most
people, it takes a little detective work to discover
exactly what works for them. Following an antigout, low-purine diet, then hitting gout from several
angles at once with the items and recommendations
I mentioned here, is a great way to start.
To learn more about gout and what other natural
therapies can be used to treat this condition, visit
drdavidwilliams.com/what-is-gout. ■
5
Alternatives
news to use from around the world
Caffeine as a
Parkinson’s
Treatment
MONTREAL, CANADA—Earlier
research studies have found that
individuals who drink coffee have
a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, but researchers at
McGill University have now found
that caffeine can also help control
movement in people suffering
from the disease.
The study involved 61 Parkinson’s patients. The control group
was given a placebo and the test
group was given 100 mg of caffeine
twice a day (upon awakening and
then after lunch) for three weeks.
Then the dosage was bumped up
to 200 mg twice a day (again upon
awakening and after lunch) for another three weeks. (For reference,
a cup of brewed coffee typically
has about 100 mg of caffeine.)
There were no changes in the
placebo group. Those who received the caffeine, however, experienced a noticeable improvement
in their motor symptoms. On the
Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating
Scale, which is used to rate the
severity of the disease, they experienced a five-point improvement.
Both speed of movement and a
reduction in stiffness were noted.
(Neurology. 2012:79(7):616–618
[Epub 2012 Aug 1])
A five-point change isn’t terribly dramatic, but it is positive
and definitely noticeable to a
Parkinson’s patient. The primary
drug prescribed for Parkinson’s is
levodopa, and it often produces a
15-point improvement. Caffeine
can be used in conjunction with
the medication, and it is inexpensive. Walmart sells the Equate
brand of “Stay Awake,” and each
tablet contains 200 mg of caffeine
6
and costs roughly 7 cents a tablet.
Caffeine isn’t a cure for Parkinson’s disease, but more and more
research supports the idea that it
may help prevent the problem. Now
this study shows that, at the same
dosage routinely consumed by
many coffee drinkers, caffeine can
be an inexpensive form of treatment. If someone you know suffers
from Parkinson’s disease, please let
them or their caregivers know this.
Prostate Cancer
News
ATLANTA, GEORGIA—At the
annual meeting of the American
Urological Association, University
of Toronto researchers reported
that male pattern baldness was
linked to prostate cancer.
We know that prostate cancer is
driven by androgens, hormones associated with male characteristics,
and so is baldness.
This study involved 214 men,
average age 64. Each had been
referred for a prostate biopsy, but
none had been diagnosed with
prostate cancer.
Their baldness was divided
into five categories depending on
the degree of vortex balding (the
crown of the head where the hair
forms a whorl).
■
44 had no balding
■
53 had a receding hairline
■
35 had mild balding
■
28 had moderate balding
■
54 had severe balding
The association between prostate
cancer and balding was most pronounced among those with moderate and severe balding. These men
had 2.4 and 2.5 times the risk of
prostate cancer compared to those
men who had no balding.
Unfortunately, balding isn’t
some modifiable risk factor, so
there was some question of just
how useful this information might
be. The researchers I spoke with
thought balding, however, might
be used as criteria to help determine which prostate patients
should have biopsies.
I have a slightly different slant,
since the ultimate goal should be
to prevent prostate cancer in the
first place.
If you’re male, and live long
enough, your risk of developing prostate cancer approaches
100 percent if you do nothing to
prevent it. We know that certain
compounds can improve prostate
enlargement and inflammation.
Every man should be on a good
prostate product for life. It’s no
different than eating a good diet in
an effort to stay healthy. We’re living longer and discovering that we
function better and longer when
we consume certain vitamins,
herbs, oils, minerals, etc., and
that’s what needs to be done. And,
if you’re balding, that’s another
strong indication that you are even
more susceptible to developing
prostate cancer. Recognize it for
what it is—an early warning sign—
and start taking steps to protect
yourself.
To read more about prostate
health, refer to my August 2009,
August 2010, and October 2011
newsletter issues.
You can also visit my website
at drdavidwilliams.com/prostatehealth-recommendations.
On a related note, researchers
at the University of Chicago have
now shown that a component
of propolis called caffeic acid
phenethyl ester (CAPE) can stop
the spread of prostate cancer.
(Propolis, as you may recall, is
the resin used by bees to elimi-
October 201 2
news to use continued
nate germs and seal cracks and
crevices their hives. Since ancient
times, it has been used to treat
allergies, wounds, burns, sore
throats, and even cancer.)
CAPE doesn’t kill cancer cells,
but it stops the cancer from growing and spreading.
Human prostate tumors were
grafted into mice and treated with
M
a combination of resveratrol and
propolis extract was shown to be
effective in killing prostate cancer
cells. (Oncol Res 06;15(9):409–
421) This was very preliminary
research, but based on these new
findings, hopefully it will spawn
more research down this path.
■
More on Gelatin and Joints
y brother Ron and I were
recently talking about
birthdays. He made a
point with me that hit home. He
said he doesn’t really look at age
as much of a factor in his life anymore. A more important and defining factor is whether he’s able to
physically do the things he wants
to do. His comment made me think
about last month’s article on the
benefits of including gelatin in
your diet, so I’d like to clarify and
expand on a couple of points.
Although we associate it primarily with joint health, gelatin has
many other benefits. The focus on
improving joint function is understandable because our capability of
movement now defines our age.
Osteoarthritis (or “wear and
tear”) arthritis has become a major
limiting factor for millions. It
wasn’t so much in our ancestors.
They lived shorter lives, carried
less body weight, and consumed
more gelatin and cartilage-building
components. As a society, we
could obviously do a better job of
focusing on those last two points.
Even with our best efforts, we
can’t stop joint cartilage from
wearing out, but we need to
volume 15 • N o 10
CAPE. After six weeks of treatment, the growth rate decreased
by half. CAPE stopped cancer
cell division. And when treatment
was discontinued, tumor growth
resumed at its prior rate. (Cancer
Prev Res 12;5:788)
I’ve always had a strong interest in propolis. Back in 2006, I
reported on an Italian study where
proactively take steps to preserve
it and make it last longer.
A Great Example of
What Not to Do
This time of year, professional
football provides us with one of
the best examples of what not to
do when it comes to joint cartilage.
I would venture to say professional football damages and destroys more joints and connective
tissue than any other sport. A look
at the injury roster of most teams
and the number of joint surgeries
performed during a player’s career will shock you. The repetitive
trauma combined with painkillers
and corticosteroid injections is a
recipe for disaster. It’s shocking to
me that every athlete isn’t being
prescribed a diet which includes an
abundance of gelatin, meat broths,
and a quality joint supplement on a
year-round basis.
I no longer have the connections with professional athletes
that I once did. If you have those
connections, give a copy of last
month’s Alternatives to every
trainer, player, and coach you
know (the Dallas Cowboys, in particular). It could help prevent and
improve the recovery time in a lot
of injuries. And this brings me to
the other point I wanted to cover.
Repair Takes Time
Gelatin and supplements formulated for joint health can provide
relatively quick, positive results.
But it’s important to remember
that actual joint repair takes
time…often a long time. I personally take both products on a
continual basis and have for years.
I plan on taking them daily for the
rest of my life. I hope you do the
same. Symptoms like stiff joints,
pain, cracking, inflammation, etc.,
won’t disappear overnight. But
with regular use, you’ll start to
see and experience a gradual but
marked difference.
Most people neglect their joints
and most health issues until they
begin to limit or affect their normal
activity. I’ve had a lot of people say
they will just have joint replacement surgery later if it becomes
unbearable. While this is an option,
keep a couple of things in mind.
The best artificial knees and
hips last between 10 and 15 years.
If you remain healthy enough to
(continued on page 8)
7
Alternatives
Protect Yourself Against
West Nile Virus
Lately, with the recent outbreak, I’ve had a few questions regarding West
Nile virus (WNV). For details, I would refer you to the August 2008 issue of
Alternatives and the discussion on selenium (where I recommended 200
to 400 mcg daily in the form of selenomethionine daily for viral infections).
Selenium SeLECT is a quality, inexpensive brand that can be found both
online (vitacost.com) and in larger health food stores. You can also get your
selenium from Brazil nuts, which contain about 100 mcg per nut.
For an even more complete rundown on what you can do to fight a viral
infection, visit drdavidwilliams.com/immune-health.
And although there isn’t a lot of supporting research specifically relating
to WNV, active hexose correlated compound (AHCC)—the product called
ImmPower—has been shown in one animal study to improve the immune
response to WNV. It appears to work best when given prior to becoming
infected, but knowing how it works with other viruses, I wouldn’t hesitate
to use it after being infected. (J Nutr 09;139(3):598–602)
ImmPower is available from The Harmony Company
(888-809-1241 or theharmonycompany.com/product/
ImmPower-AHCC-Immune-System-Support).
Another measure to take would be to increase vitamin D levels. In
severe cases, increasing your vitamin D intake to 50,000 IU a day for the
first three days can be extremely helpful, and then reduce the dosage to
5,000 IU for maintenance.
And, as always, maintaining your beneficial bacterial flora during this
period is crucial. A quality probiotic product should be taken every day
anyway, but when the immune system is under assault from something like
WNV, I would suggest adding EpiCor, the fermented yeast culture, as well.
You can find it at vrp.com/immune-system/epicor. ■
(continued from page 7)
undergo the surgery, you can only
get two replacements (per joint)
in a lifetime. That might work for
someone who has the surgery
done at age 60. But if you have a
joint replacement in your 40s, the
best-case scenario is that you will
permanently be in a wheelchair
in 20 to 30 years.
If you can maintain your joints
using meat broths, gelatin, and
other supplements, and range of
motion exercises, stem cell therapy
could repair or regrow them in the
near future. That’s still a few years
away, but studies in Europe have
8
shown this treatment to be very
promising. Keep in mind, as well,
that when stem cells are “switched
on” to become cartilage-producing
cells called chondrocytes, they will
still need the same raw materials
to produce new cartilage. Your
body needs gelatin and the other
products I mentioned now, and
they will certainly be needed in the
future. ■
Until next month,
This Month Online
Visit Dr. Williams’
website at
drdavidwilliams.com,
where you’ll find information
and recommendations for
many of your health concerns
ranging from arthritis and
joint health to gastrointestinal
concerns and much more.
Here are a few of the articles
you’ll find this month:
■H
ow to make meat broth
■ What to have in your
emergency preparedness kit
Stay in touch with Dr. Williams
between newsletter issues!
Sign up for his Health
Dispatch E-News alerts by
visiting drdavidwilliams.
com and submitting your
email address. You can also
follow his blog, which you
can find under the Connect
with Dr. Williams tab on his
website. Here are just some of
the posts you can read there:
■W
ater distillation could
save your life
■W
ill the egg controversy
ever end?
Contact Us Here
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o submit a Mailbox
question, suggest an
article topic, or make a
comment about this month’s
issue, email feedback@
drdavidwilliams.com.
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or customer service matters
such as address changes, to
renew your subscription, to
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or to sign up a friend for
Alternatives, call 800‑527‑3044
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October 201 2
Alternatives®
EasyRenew Tip
from Dr. David Williams
Don’t Be So SAD This Winter
D
uring the autumn and
wintertime, when the sun
isn’t up as long, depression
cases (called seasonal affective
disorder, or SAD) dramatically
increase. This is usually the result
of two very important factors: lack
of light exposure, low vitamin D
levels, and lack of essential fatty
acids in our diet.
A study from the Netherlands
tested the effects of bright lights
and melatonin, a natural hormone
linked to mood and sleep, on a
group of elderly residents of several
group care facilities. The study
involved 189 residents, 90 percent
of whom were female and
87 percent of whom had dementia.
Either bright lights or dim bulbs
were installed in the ceilings and
left on from 9 AM to 6 PM each day.
Melatonin was randomly assigned
to some individuals at a dose of
2.5 mg a day, while others received
a placebo.
Over the three-year study, the
bright lights alone reduced cognitive deterioration by 5 percent and
the symptoms of depression by 19
percent. These changes may seem
small, but the therapy worked as
well as any of the anti-dementia
drugs on the market—without the
side effects.
Bright light during normal waking
hours helps regulate the body’s
natural circadian rhythm. We
weren’t made to live in a cave, yet
how many homes of older folks do
you enter that feel that way? When
the sun comes up in the morning,
open the shades and the curtains
to help keep your internal clock set
October 2012
correctly. You’ll be a happier and
healthier person in the long run.
Let It Shine
Sunlight increases levels of vitamin D as well as serotonin levels,
so it should come as no surprise
that vitamin D deficiencies are
associated with not only depression, but also with diabetes, high
blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and osteoporosis. It
now appears that depression can be
a reliable predictor of many, if not
all, of these diseases.
If you have seasonal depression,
get plenty of sunlight during your
waking hours. This is the least
expensive and most effective method of getting your daily dose of
vitamin D. In fact, 20 to 30 minutes
of sun exposure two or three times
a week can produce as much as
20,000 IU of vitamin D. If you
cannot or do not want to get out
in the sun for that amount of time,
then a dosage of 5,000 IU of vitamin
D3 per day is recommended.
Another, more expensive, but
effective route for fighting depression by increasing your exposure
to light is through using what’s
called a light box. Look for a device
that delivers 10,000 lux, which is
the strength most studies indicate
successfully lifts mood and relieves
symptoms of SAD.
One product I recommend is
the HappyLight Light Therapy
Lamp for Winter Blues by Verilux.
It is available at verilux.com/
light-therapy-lamps/happylightlight-therapy. Or you can call
800-454-4408.
Fight SAD with Fatty
Acids
It’s probably no coincidence
that many of the nut crops
become available just before
winter. Nuts are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which have the
ability to actually “store” energy
from sunlight. As a result, nuts are
a rich source of these important
nutrients during the cold months
when such fatty acids are otherwise
scarce.
Nuts should be a regular part
of your diet. Not only are they
rich in unsaturated fatty acids,
they are also a good source of the
monounsaturated fatty acids, just
like olive oil.
Like many of the other emerging health problems we’re facing,
the increase in depression can be
linked directly to our diet. If you
are suffering from seasonal depression, there’s an extremely good
chance that it may be a result of a
long-term deficiency in unsaturated
fatty acids.
So to chase away those winter
blues, make sure to increase your
intake of fatty acids and vitamin D
during the winter months and up
your exposure to natural sunlight
(or use an adequate substitute like
a light box). ■