By John Carey

It is part of the American dream to put a dollar into a company stock today, and get lots of dollars back when you sell. The only modifier to this dream by some is an aversion towards “sin” stocks – avoiding companies that make alcohol, cigarettes, pornography, guns or provide gambling.

But when I suggest that you pitch drug-companies into this same sin-bucket you probably think I´m joking. But I´ll let you in on my reasoning, which includes numerous lawsuits against the companies, lying by the company executives to market their drugs under false pretenses for profit´s sake, and drugs pushed on the public which knowingly harm more people with the side-effects than they ever help. (more…)

Fish Oils and Plant Sterols… Potent Together.
The combination of plant sterols and omega 3 fatty acids from fish had a greater triglyceride lowering effect than when either was used alone.

The Institute for Progressive Medicine carries multiple high potency, pharmaceutical grade EPA/DHA formulas. Mega Omega is fish oil formula with 420mg EPA and 300mg DHA per softgel capsule. Cardol is a liquid fish oil with 650mg of plant sterol esters per teaspoon. To order, please call 949-600-5100.

Source: J Nutr. 2008 Jun;138(6):1086-90.

Niacin and Exercise work together on Triglycerides.
We all know the benefits of using niacin for promoting healthy blood lipid levels. And we also recognize the positive effects of exercise on serum triglycerides. But what about using both together? It appears that aerobic exercise alone lowers triglyceride levels after a high-fat meal. And niacin alone lowers fasting but not post-meal triglycerides. But when combined niacin appears to influence the triglyceride-lowering effect of aerobic exercise. However, exercise also decreases post-meal blood insulin concentrations after niacin administration, which illustrates the potential metabolic benefits of exercise in persons taking niacin.

Our high quality Niacin is a special Time release folrm, designed to reduce or eliminate flushing that occurs with standard niacin supplementation. Please call 949-600-5100 to order.

Source: Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Jul;88(1):30-7.

“Doggone it mom! Can’t I stay up?
Poor quality and/or insufficient sleep has been associated with elevated blood pressure or pre-hyper tension in normally healthy adolescents.

Source: Circulation. 2008 Aug 18.

Earlier this year, scientists at Barts and the London School of Medicine found that beetroot juice can have as great an effect on blood pressure as conventional drugs. Led by Professor Amrita Ahluwalia of the William Harvey Research Institute – the renowned pharmacology centre that discovered how aspirin can prevent heart attacks and strokes – the research team found that just three hours after drinking 500ml of the juice (the equivalent of eating five medium-sized beetroots) there was a significant decrease in volunteers’ blood pressure. The remarkable effects were still noticeable 24 hours later.

That such an inexpensive and bounteous vegetable may lower blood pressure makes beetroot worthy of its new-found status as the first “super-root”. So how does beetroot work in the body? Like other superfoods, it has antioxidants in abundance, and is rich in iron, boron and folic acid. Betanene, which gives it its deep colour, is even more potent an antioxidant than polyphenols, the plant chemicals thought to be a key reason for people whose diets are rich in leafy vegetables having lower blood pressure.

But, says Professor Ben Benjamin, a consultant in Acute Medicine at the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth and member of the research team, it is beetroot’s capacity to absorb and store exceptionally high levels of nitrate that earns it the super-root title. Nitrates are nutrients found in soil which all plants need to build protein, and which the body harnesses in its battle against blood pressure.

Along with its anti-hypertensive effects, the study also found that the high levels of nitrates in beetroot juice work like aspirin does to prevent blood clots, and help to protect the lining of the blood vessels.

Written by: Maria Fitzpatrick
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

By Jerome Burne
Medical Health Journalist
As featured in Food Matters

A Check-up six months ago revealed Denis Vaughan’s prostate cancer was becoming more active. Vaughan, an orchestral conductor and one of the driving forces behind the creation of the National Lottery, has had prostate cancer for 12 years. Because the tumour wasn’t considered aggressive enough for surgery or radiotherapy, his consultant at University College Hospital had agreed on a policy of watchful waiting, while Denis kept it at bay with diet and exercise.

Then, his prostate specific antigen (PSA) score, which measures how active the tumour is, went from 13 to 18.5 ‘and the watching became a bit anxious’. His oncologist wanted him to take drugs or begin radiotherapy, but Vaughan, who is a strong believer in a natural approach to health, preferred to try a treatment offered by his London GP that involved infusing vitamin C into the bloodstream. (more…)

(Source: FOXNews, August 14, 2008)

The pain, burning and gassiness that accompany acid reflux can be debilitating to those who suffer from the condition.

Lifestyle and dietary changes that include eliminating sugary and fatty food, exercising and quitting smoking can help, as can over-the-counter and prescription medications.

But there are several natural remedies that can be used instead of or in addition to medications, according to Dr. Allan E. Sosin, founder and medical director of the Institute for Progressive Medicine in Irvine, Calif.

“It really depends on what’s going on with the person and whether or not they’re having severe symptoms,” he said. “If they’re not showing severe symptoms, we may just start them with natural items. People will come in on the medications, and we’ll add the nutritional supplements in and sometimes they’ll get off the acid blockers altogether.” (more…)

Don’t forget to participate in this year’s autism walk at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The walk is scheduled for November 16, 2008.

CLICK HERE for more information and to register!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2008
UNIVERSAL CITY SHERATON HOTEL
8:00AM to TBD

Multiple speakers will discuss topics of interest on Autism and Cancer.

See Dr. Sosin speak about masking techniques for autistic children.
For more information, CLICK HERE

D-ribose is a specialized form of sugar that acts as an energy source for the heart and other muscles.  These muscles function through the production of ATP, adenosine triphosphate, the body’s critical metabolic potentiator.   Without ATP, activities cease and muscles weaken.

Over the last several years, we have initiated D-ribose supplementation for all patients with cardiac conditions.  Reports from several cardiologists and cardiac surgeons indicate that D-ribose enhances cardiac function in patients with congestive hear failure.  It is also prescribed to patients about to undergo cardiac surgery, and greatly improves survival rate after surgery.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the primary cause of hospitalization in older people, and a major cause of death.  It occurs after heart attacks due to blocked coronary arteries, prolonged high blood pressure, and as a primary disorder of heart muscle, termed cardiomyopathy.  All forms of congestive heart failure are appropriate for treatment with D-ribose, and they respond.  Many patients have experienced improved energy and exercise tolerance after starting therapy with D-ribose. (more…)

Since I take my Vitamin D everyday, I hope I don’t outlive my 401K.
Low levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of death from all causes by 26 per cent, suggests a study with 13,000 initially healthy men and women. In adults, vitamin D deficiency may precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

The Institute for Progressive Medicine carries Vitamin D in 1000 and 5000IU strengths. (Source: Arch Internal Med. 2008 Aug 11;168(15):1629-37.)

Spicing up your diet may also add years to your life and life to your years.
Herbs and spices are rich in antioxidants, and a new University of Georgia study suggests they are also potent inhibitors of tissue damage and inflammation caused by high levels of blood sugar. In addition to finding high levels of antioxidant-rich compounds known as phenols, they revealed a direct correlation between phenol content and the ability of the extracts to block the formation of compounds that contribute to damage caused by diabetes and aging.

A process known as protein glycation occurs in which the sugar bonds with proteins to eventually form what are known as advanced glycation end products, also known as AGE compounds. The acronym is fitting because these compounds activate the immune system, resulting in the inflammation and tissue damage associated with aging and diabetes. (Source: J. Med Food. 2008 Jun;11(2):275-81.)

For better or for worse, parents can strongly influence their children’s diets.
It appears that as parents, we have a greater influence on our children’s eating habits than we might believe. When parents eat more fruits and vegetables so do their children. On the other hand the same occurs when the parents are reaching for sugary and salty snacks.

“Overweight children have already been exposed to salty, sweet foods and learned to like them,” says Debra Haire-Joshu, Ph.D., a professor at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work and who also holds an appointment at the School of Medicine as a professor. “To keep a child from becoming overweight, parents need to expose them early to a variety of healthy foods and offer the foods many times.”

Haire-Joshu says many children today are taught patterns that lead to obesity. “We want families to provide their child with an environment in which they not only learn how to eat healthy but have the opportunity to practice what they learn,” she says. (Source: Prev Med. 2008 Jul;47(1):77-82.)

This may help those going through a difficult time:
According to a recent study, high protein meals with ginger reduced the delayed nausea of chemotherapy and reduced use of antiemetic medications. Protein with ginger holds the potential of representing a novel, nutritionally based treatment for the delayed nausea of chemotherapy according to the authors of a recent study.

The Institute for Progressive Medicine’s Suprameal, Suprameal Lite and New Zealand Whey Protein contain the cleanest, freshest ingredients and provide an excellent, high quality source of protein in a balanced diet.
(Source: J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Jun;14(5):545-51.)

…and it’ll also help with those stubborn cases of H. Pylori.
Extracts of ginger demonstrated inhibitory properties against H. pylori growth. (Source: J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Sep 5;55(18):7377-86.)

Several classes of drugs are commonly abused in the acute care setting. Here are some facts to be aware of.

Antibiotics continue to be grossly overutilized by amny health care professionals. According to recent reserach, bronchitis and sinusitis both respond no better to antibiotics than to placebo.  These infections are mainly caused by viruses.  Antibiotics should be reserved for severe or resistant cases.  The fluoroquinolone drugs, like Cipro, may cause agitation or confusion.  They may also cause damage to connective tissues, especially the Achilles tendon, which may rupture.  Penicillin-related drugs may cause allergic reactions such as skin rash.  All antibiotics cause changes in intestinal flora, with elimination of good bacteria and promotion of antibiotic-associated diarrhea or yeast infection.  Anyone taking antibiotics should also take probiotics (good bacteria) to avoid intestinal complications, particularly children and older people.  Probiotics should be taken during the course of antibiotic therapy and for three weeks after.
(more…)

Helicobacter pylori is the bacterium responsible for most cases of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and stomach cancer.  Antibiotic therapy is always employed for treatment of infection with this organism, but the protocol most physicians follow has become increasingly ineffective.

The antibiotics generally prescibed are clarithromycin plus either amoxicillin or an imidazole, given usually with a proton pump inhibitor to block stomach acid release and raise their efficacy.  However this regimen is ineffective in nearly 25% of cases, due to antibiotic resistance.

A newer and slightly more complicated regimen is considerably more effective.  It reduces the failure rate by half.  First the patient receives 5 days of treatment with amoxicillin plus the proton pump inhibitor.  Then two other antibiotics are given for an additional 5 days, usually clarithromycin and an imidazole, plus the proton pump inhibitor.

Success can be assessed using the urea breath test or stool antigen test for H. pylori, 6 weeks after the treatment is completed.

Allan Sosin, M.D.