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The Natural Health & Wellness Center is a holistic preventive & wellness center. It is created to complement, educate and to teach holistic health/prevention, rather than to replace, or substitute other allopathic (conventional) services. The clients at our center are advised to retain their primary care physician and to proceed with their yearly routine checks up. All our consultations include time to help identify appropriate lifestyle and behavioral changes, dietary and other factors in one's life that can help restore health and well-being at all different levels. The mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of a person cannot be separated from his physical considerations of healing and finding the balance in all three areas may help to restore harmony while creating the foundation upon which micronutrients, herbals and good nutrition can have an unbelievable benefits. Practitioners at our center serve their clients in all stages of health and wellness, along the road of a complete recovery while providing years of experience in addressing a variety of conditions.
Dr. Antoaneta Sawyer, ND, PhD, MD is always available for a personal health and nutrition consultation on Skype, on phone or by email, and in one-on-one basis conversation. Prepare your questions before hand and consider your previous history information and tests before you while conversing. Whether you are suffering of any disease, express multiple undiagnosed symptoms, or you just do not feel at your best, or you rather consult on which dietary formula (vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, herbals. super foods) regimen you must follow as per your disease, Dr. Sawyer is here to help and interviews are available in 15-30 minutes increments. You can contact with her on (715) 392-7591, or by email: doctors@naturalhealth-wellness.com for further information.
Who is Dr. Antoaneta Sawyer?
Antoaneta (Annie) Sawyer, ND, PhD, MD is an integrative health advocate with a strong interest in natural health and holistic nutrition, prevention and healing, the role of the environment and the power of nature to heal. She is already well recognized and respected holistic coach. She is also co-founder and CEO of the Natural Health & Wellness Center “Beyond Holistic” LLC and editor of http://naturalhealth-wellness.com- an all-inclusive resource for holistic nutrition, natural health, anti-aging and wellness. Located in Superior, WI she offers in-person and phone consultations and sessions. She is familiar with number of special protocols which have proven to be extremely helpful in assisting one's own immune system in combating many of today’s modern diseases. Through her over 25 years of clinical experience as physician, she has pioneered the use of preventive medicine as the background of multiple ambulatory holistic healing therapies based on the correct diet, organic and balanced nutrition, premonitory exercise and stress management techniques. She has also authored and co-authored and published multiple articles, radio interviews, guides, and books on topics like metabolic syndrome, obesity, health and the environment, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world.
Since 2008, Dr. Sawyer maintains a private practice with a much-reduced work load and is spending most of her time doing practical scientific research in integrative medicine, while bridging both medicine( traditional and holistic) in one. Her holistic practice is oriented in treating the whole person and the reasons of the disease instead of the symptoms only, while seeing what other cultures can contribute to our American system of medicine. She applies modern and ancient medical knowledge in her daily healing practice routine and works as an independent holistic researcher and writer and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products she writes about or the products and companies she promotes. She works as an executive of the Natural Health & Wellness Center “Beyond Holistic” where she practices together with her husband Dr. Gregory Sawyer D.C. holistic healing, diets, chiropractic methods and prevention.
Dr. Annie Sawyer may be reached via regular mail at NH-WC: email: doctors@naturalhealth-wellness.com or you can request for a personal appointment consultation at http://naturalhealth-wellness.com. You may also contact her at the Natural Health & Wellness Center “Beyond Holistic” LLC line at: (715) 392-7591, cell phone: (218) 213-7087, as well as to request for a personal appointment.

For healing or preventing tips, please join her fans at:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#/antoaneta.sawyer?ref=name,

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In her proper words:
I think the physician of the future can be spectacular only and if he/she is an open minded role-model, who can heal, teach, direct and improve instead to harshly practice what he have been instructed by the traditional medicine( despite of its technical, pharmacological and laboratory advantage). I found that an early treatment is not prevention; despite we called it that way. I saw the huge difference in the Latin words "Primum non nocere"(First do no harm). That is what Integrative medicine is all about, whether they call it holistic, complementary or functional.
I began my medical career some 25 years ago as a conventional physician, but just after several years in clinical practice, I found myself being drawn toward “integrative” medicine, the field of health care that focuses on how biochemical individuality, metabolic balance, ecological context, genetic predisposition, lifestyle patterns, and other factors have the potential to strongly influence human physiology and the push-pull dynamics of health and disease. As I began to study health from an integrative perspective, I became fascinated with the prospects for correcting imbalances in human physiology on a more individualized level. I came to the realization that there were avenues available for me to help my patients in addition to conventional medical care, focusing primarily on control of a patient’s symptoms, which is the fundamental basis of what I had been taught in medical school, was no longer enough.
I understood that the "Doctor of the Future" must be a compilation between MD & ND, and nothing less than that. And, yes, my time was well-spent. I left with some useful knowledge about many holistic, homeopathic, herbal, nutritional and super food programs and protocols, healing the body/ mind/ spirit as a unit, instead in fragments. I learned how some laboratory tests and the advance in technology may be of help too. Now I feel my training is well based on the “ seekers for health care” that reach of self improvement changes and strategies, who are ready to start new life changing educational plans and methods, completely different than my Alma Mater have formerly postulated.
My mission in life is to provide my patients with safe, unique and effective complementary therapies to greatly enhance their health and well-being, while preventing them from the plaque of the today diseases. I have been involved in the area of traditional medicine for over 23 years and worked for more than 12 years in the field of nutrition and prevention, as well as natural health. I feel extremely passionate about helping people with their health. I think that our generation is already prepared to leave the traditional nest of departmental medicine, going to the Integrative Medicine path. People started to see that" their health is a state of optimal physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being and not just the absence of disease” The traditional medicine could represent a wonderful background for expending the holistic knowledge upon it. I saw what can be accomplished, when thinking outside of the box and feel secure that one day, the medicine will be a great combination between traditional and integrative one, while being oriented to prevention instead of treatment, and to healing instead of curing( treating) the symptoms. Therefore I want to believe that our future is in very good hands.
My purpose to decide starting up another PhD degree is the need to fit with my purpose in life. If one is doing a dissertation just something new to be started, or to be finished in his life, he/ she is unlikely to have the persistence or the true determination that carry him/her to the successful end. But if one is doing the above dissertation because it fits with what they want to do with their life, they will much more likely stick with it until it is done. Sometimes the value of clarification of morals and personal values can be the impetus to get you going again.
Although every one of you must ultimately make your life decision alone by yourself, it is also in your proper human nature to pay attention to the input from others. We appear to have been listening much too closely other people’s opinions that "vitamins are dangerous” or “drugs are not as harmful as we previously thought”. Our attitude towards health or health prevention it seems to resemble a clinical in-vivo trial, or a psychology experiment, where white-coated scientific authorities are able to reach conclusions, simply because they are told or are suggested to. The rule of the revolving door is operating quite well with people’s minds, cooperating with monetary benefits, instead back grounded on humanistic morals or values.
My purpose in life is to help correct this problem by placing both facts and details together with motivation directly into the reader's hands. From that point, it is up to each person private decision to live healthfully using all available tools to do so. It is always wise to select the well traveled path when it gets you where you want to go. My first task is to get people interested in making the change and to keep them motivated. Motivation shortens the distance between ignorance and knowledge. To help provide that initial spark, I am planning to write books that attempt to blend personal conviction, motivation, and natural desire to prevent instead to cure and to heal instead to treat. As difficult as it truly is to change our own personal habits, it remains the only sure method to gain our own health, and to positively influence another person to do the same.
My life-project is really about education and life change motivation in just one person's health behavior and that is the individual reader prevention plan. Sadly enough, it may be that we have had trouble seeing the trees because of the forest, while there are scientists that see the trees, without visualizing the whole forest. Globalizing or oversimplifying the cause is what made the medicine a true servant of the pharmaceutical giants. Health care and prevention is such an enormous issue that we tend to discuss more than to realize in practice. Getting a whole nation to become healthier is an enormous and almost impossible task. Oddly enough is to think that we can ever gain health by remodeling the disease, without looking for its roots. That sounds even crazy. Teaching and motivation are closely correlated. The first rule of teaching is that you need to get the listeners' attention in order to deliver the knowledge. The second rule is you need to get them to accept, to agree and act upon the road to their own life standard change. The third rule is to calibrate their progress, while making sure they got it right. The issue of motivation comes back to each one of us: we may discuss the benefit of a change, but can we realize it in practice. First and foremost we need to work on ourselves. Second we must change the way how we live, eat or handle stress. Thus we must not simply advocate, but personally choose, and to realize in practice that well-traveled route that will lead us to the dreamed health and that one of our relatives and neighbors. Nowadays we have real health options, great technology, innovative surgery that changes by hours instead of years. At the same time we are largely unaware of the safety, the scientific validity, or the real preventive power of simple nutrients, found back in our proper yards.
I wish to every one of you to make his proper discovery, by learning and benefiting of what I have already learned for years. My whole life logo was, is and always will be:” Inspiration is a much better way to live than desperation" and believe me I have never given up". Alternative medicine does really work, and as much as we know, the best it does work is on our immune systems, while reaching the point to age gracefully and with honor. I wish and will do my best to inform the human race, that there are choices and those are multiple choices, that they should be aware of, while learning to live or to age gracefully and with honor. So much it is known now about the link between diet and the degenerative disorders that are plaguing our country. In countries where meals are centered on plant based, whole foods, high rates of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and other conditions occur to a much smaller extent. Disease prevention, through GOOD eating habits, is the key to longevity, and this must start at a young age. It should be alarming to all of us to see obesity or type 2 diabetes and other diseases generally related to aging showing up in young children. I would like to encourage the right life-plan or a diet that would support improved health in young people toward better standard.

About Dr. Greg Sawyer, DC :
Greg Sawyer, D.C. received his Doctorate in Chiropractic (DC) in 1977 with Magna cum Laude from Northwestern College of Chiropractic- St. Paul (Minnesota). He has also obtained complementary degrees in Physical Therapy, Clinical Practice and Roentgenology, after interne in St. Paul, Minnesota as a Doctor of Chiropractic. Utilizing a wider range of chiropractic techniques, sacrum-occipital and activator technique, muscular therapies and therapeutic exercise, Dr. Sawyer is committed to an integrated chiropractic approach to conservative care. He is passionate about chiropractic, while telling others how balance in the spinal cord is an integral part of your overall health. He is fully trained in the art of Chiropractic. Chiropractic is a manual therapy that does undo any interference that has occurred in the Nervous system by adjusting the spine, which allows the body to work and communicate more effectively. He has been working at multiple medical companies, dealing with burned patients, medical devices and is the D.C. specialist at the Natural Health & Wellness Center Superior, WI. Dr. Greg Sawyer has been interviewed on a variety radio programs utilizing his 29 years of clinical expertise in the arenas of Integrative medicine and Biology. You can contact him at our website or on his private cell phone line: 218-213-6167; or in office phone/ fax: 715-392-7591, or email: doctors@naturalhealth-wellness.com.
In his proper words:
We share common desire to live longer, healthier life while helping others to do so through our professional knowledge! As naturopaths we strongly believe that in order to be true to our clients, we must not only preach natural health but also to live it as our main lifestyle. As vocal advocates of an early disease detection for the purpose of timely prevention, our programs provide control and reversal of previous acute and/or chronic diseases by using nutrition, behavior modification techniques, lifestyle changes, botanicals, homeopathic formulas, nutraceuticals, and other body/mind techniques that work in a complex. Prevention is a condition "sine qua non" for stronger health and longevity. Early detection and prevention has entered a new age of well-being and self-empowerment. This said with other words- prevention is a prerequisite for a healthier and longer life. Our main task is to help you preventing future acute and chronic diseases, claiming to be your consultants in case of healing also.
The objective of our center is to increase your knowledge and comprehension of acute and chronic degenerative diseases and to promote adequate care of body, mind, and spirit as united whole. The end result is to improve the generational health of our population. To accomplishing this, a close collaboration with European and American health professionals is the commitment of our center. In order to avoid disease, prevention must be first priority, and this generally cannot be accomplished with medications only. A drug-free approach to healthcare is an absolute prerequisite in the natural approach of NH & WC and can be of immense help for anyone using prescriptions or over-the-counter medications. Do not forget that each person is unique!
As we all know, the body is an amazing thing. Our body does so many processes without our knowledge so that we can go on living day in and day out. What Chiropractic does, is undo any interference that has occurred in the nervous system by adjusting the spine, which allows the body to communicate through the nervous system effectively. Chiropractic is a manual therapy to aid the body to return to a state of vitality by removing interference from the nervous system through realignment. Removal of pressure from nerves ensures the free flow of vital energy carried by the nerve to the organs and muscles supplied by that nerve. Chiropractic can be used very successfully along with conventional medical practices. After an adjustment, our body is once again able to get back to what it does best, fixing and doing bodily functions without our knowing. This means the body is now able to fix problems in the body that was caused from the interference.
Children/Infants
Bed Wetting
Ear Infections
Colic
Diarrhea
Constipation
Irritability
ADD
Autism
Abnormal Walk/Crawl
Scoliosis
Sport Injuries
Adults
Heartburn/GERD
Back/Neck Pain
Sprained Ankles
Vertigo
Foot Pain
Carpal Tunnel
TMJ Dysfunction
Sciatica
Whiplash
Sexual Dysfunction
Sinus Congestion
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Shingles
Trigger Finger
Pregnancy
Shorter Delivery Times
Pelvic Discomfort
Heartburn
Headaches
Swelling/Circulation issues
If you would like to learn more on the above topic, to request an on line or by phone alternative consultation, or a newly written article that can suit your business purposes, please call: (715) 392-7591; (218) 213-6167; or (218) 213-7087
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The material in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. Thus our intentions are not to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease. If you use the information in this newsletter without the approval of your health professional, the authors of this letter do not assume any responsibility. Copyright @ 2009, Natural Health-Wellness LLC. All rights reserved.

Alternative Help for Depression

Antoaneta Sawyer, Ph.D.

During my over 25 years of clinical practice as an MD and ND, I have found that symptoms of long-term depression combined with (or without) anxiety or/and panic disorder, can be influenced by reaching complete remission proportions by simply using the correct amount of amino acid supplementation. As part of our alternative therapy protocol, one must know that eight of the amino acids are known as essential - so they are indispensable as cannot be synthesized de novo (anew) by the human organism. Therefore they must be added (replaced or supplied) in your diet. These essential amino acids are: Leucine, Isoleucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, and Valine. Additionally, Cysteine, Tyrosine, Histidine and Arginine are essentially required by infants and growing children. Furthermore the amino acids: Arginine, Cysteine, Glycine, Glutamine, Histidine, Proline, Serine and Tyrosine are considered conditionally essential, meaning they are not normally required in the diet, but must be supplied additionally to the diet of specific populations that do not synthesize these in adequate amounts.
The distinction between essential and non-essential amino acids is somewhat unclear, as some amino acids are produced from others. The sulpfur-containing amino acids, methionine and homocysteine, can be converted into each other but neither can be synthesized de novo in humans. Likewise, cysteine can be made from homocysteine but cannot be synthesized on its own. So, for convenience, sulfur-containing amino acids are sometimes considered a single pool of nutritionally-equivalent amino acids as are the aromatic amino acid pair, phenylalanine and tyrosine. Likewise Arginine, Ornitine, and Citrulline, which are interconvertible by the urea cycle, are considered a single group.
With advanced aging we are starting to experience the consequences of a poor digestion, malabsorption, first-pass liver filtration and low absorption due to missing intrinsic factor production or a naturally occurring hypochlorhydria (low levels of HCL secretion in the stomach). Above all, a major part of our poppulation is using some daily anti-acid as (H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors) that is consequently neutralizing the small amount of HCL, still secreted by your body.
The eight essential amino acids must be combined in an equation corresponding to your personal needs, as some may miss one, while other may miss most of them. In other words you will require an individualized amino acid supplementation program as per your personal needs. There is a blood test that can be performed in order for your holistic provider to make sure you will supply the right amount or blend of amino acids missing from your body. I can guarantee that you will not only feel better within few weeks, but your depression will disappear for good. In fact you may already question yourself how all these prescription anti-depressives are working and what is behind their mechanism of action that can make you feel better in a short of a long run. You can find that their mechanism is pretty simple-as they are working as mood regulators by influencing quantitively the amount of neurotransmitters in your brain. They are also known under the common term “selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors”(SSRI).
The above information is offered to you in order to find a good holistic doctor (ND) who is well versed with the above “anti-depressive” strategy and to use all his/her knowledge and intuition in modulating the problem. Do not forget that the above amino acids addition will neither leave you hungry or drained of energy. There will not be observed the dreadful and damaging side effects faced after the SSRI use either.

Finally, you will not complain of anxiety as a consequence of a long term use of the anti-depressive medications, or of a low libido, impotence, nausea, sleeplessness, paradoxically decreased appetite, followed by a considerable weight gain after ceasing the medications, etc. and etc. Some doctors call the group of SSRI drugs a quick and necessary “band aid,” while I name them with the term “unnecessary evil.” Weaning off them is also quite a challenge.

In case after a good amino acids supplementation you still feel like you are missing something- you can consider adding a good vitamin B50-100 formula, vitamin B12 injections, trace minerals, and adaptogenic herbs. I have seen wonderful results by simply adding a good Green Food formula, as for example (Green Magma, Spirulina, Chlorella, Boku superfood, Nano Greens, New Chapter Berry Greens, and Hawaiian Spirulina) to the diet of my patients.

If you would like to learn more on the above topic, to request an on line or by phone alternative consultation, or a newly written article that can suit your business purposes, please call: (715) 392-7591; (218) 213-6167; or (218) 213-7087
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The material in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. Thus our intentions are not to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease. If you use the information in this newsletter without the approval of your health professional, the authors of this letter do not assume any responsibility. Copyright @ 2009, Natural Health-Wellness LLC. All rights reserved.

Turn to Conventional Medicine in Case of Medical Emergency

Antoaneta Sawyer, Ph.D.

The University of Maryland Medical Center published a Comprehensive Emergency Medicine Study Guide on gastrointestinal bleeding. The advice of their specialists is in case of bloody stools or vomit to aim for an immediate physician consultation, evaluation and quick surgery or treatment.

The main causes of blood in the stools medically termed Melena or Hematochezia, according to the Maryland Medical Center are:

1) Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
2) Bleeding ulcer in the duodenum or the stomach.
3) Bleeding esophageal varices or stomach varices.
4) General infection in the stomach and intestines (gastroenteritis).
5) Irritation or erosion due to injury in the GI tract.
6) Alien objects lodged in the gastrointestinal tract.
7) Ischemic (insufficient blood flow) intestines.
8) Abnormality in blood vessels, or an esophageal tear.
9) Hemorrhoids or anal fissures.
10) Diverticulitis
11) IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease).
12) Tumors of the esophagus, stomach or the small bowel.
13) Colon cancer or polyps in the colon.

Not less dangerous are the symptoms of blood vomiting (regurgitation of blood) medically termed hematemesis. Blood vomiting through the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract includes the stomach, mouth, throat, esophagus and the first part of the small intestine bleeding. The university researchers consider quite difficult to differentiate between vomiting blood and coughing up blood (from the lungs) or a serious nose bleeding. In fact vomiting blood is a true gastrointestinal bleeding and deserves an immediate attention by a physician.

References:
Overton, D. T. (2006). Gastrointestinal bleeding. In: Tintinalli, J. E., Kelen, G. D., Stapczynski, J. S., Ma, O. J., Cline, D. M., eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. Columbus, OH: McGraw-Hill; chap 74.

One Hour of Daily Moderate Exercise Recommended for Aging Women

Antoaneta Sawyer, Ph.D.

A new study published recently in JAMA found that as women get older they need 1 hr or more of a moderate physical daily activity in order to maintain their weight in norm. No surprise that at around 78% of all the American women are overweight.

Researchers at Boston Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School followed up the activity of more than 34,000 women at average age 54 at the start of this study, for over 13 years period of time. Moderate-intensity exercise: jogging, biking, aerobics, exercise machines, racquetball and swimming were used at the bottom of the research.

The researchers strongly tracked women weight and health improvement and then compared the group of daily exercisers on a diet with another comparative group who did not change their diet at all and still expected to lose weight. Only women who were normal weight to begin with and who did 1 hr of moderate-intensity exercise daily maintained their weight.

While previous research statements were stipulating that 30 minutes of active exercise or walking are completely enough women to lose their extra weight, the recent mega study proved that only the 60 minutes of a moderate exercise are the correct amount of time for aging women. In the past the federal government recommendations were encompassing 30 minutes/day equal to 150 minutes/a week. Despite that for the average woman, an hour a day may not be realistic, the researchers suggested that women may combine a little strength training to their workouts because well toned muscle can also burn fat. However, they did not reject the previous postulate that even 30 minutes could be beneficial for general health and wellness improvement. The leading author of the study, Chris Freytag added that making healthy diet and lifestyle choices will significantly improve anyone weight, general health and longevity.
I know how disappointingly that might sound for any woman above 45, especially in our extremely busy 21st century, but you should know that modulation and flexibility, while breaking up the exercise routine into 2 separate (morning-evening) segments can make up for a good daily 1hr routine. Freytag stated, "If you cannot do an hour of moderate walking then do 30 minutes of vigorous activity. Get on a treadmill, get on your elliptical and go for it. Divide it up. Ten minutes here, ten minutes there, it's going to make the difference." Thus, the study finally concludes that that you may break up your exercise routine as long as it is in 10 minute segments or longer and 30 minutes of vigorous activity that will be still equal to the recommended 60 minutes of moderate activity.
Enjoy the YouTube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ao9W-u9r0U

Reference:

JAMA. 2010; 303(12): 1173-1179.

A New Group of Proteins Discovered

Antoaneta Sawyer, Ph.D.

There is an amazing anti-aging novelty published March 5 (2010) in Science, coming from the famous UCSD School of Medicine. Proteins called “sestrins” have been discovered that may serve as natural inhibitors of aging and age-related pathologies in fruit flies. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Superfund Basic Research Program and American Cancer Society.
Sestrins are small proteins produced in high amount by the human cells in time of elevated stress. Stress disrupts normal hormonal levels, influencing immune system strength and eating habits (Innes, Vincent & Taylor, 2007). People who are not able to handle stress show high blood sugar and decreased release of insulin from the pancreas (Viner, Mc Grath & Trudinger, 1996). Extreme emotional stress (grief, anger, worry, fear) can cause the “broken heart syndrome “(BHS), also known as Cardiomyopathy (Kim, 2009; Innes et al., 2007).
Karin, the lead author of this study, states that sestrins function, however, remained puzzling until the team found that these proteins are activators of two enzymes- protein kinases that serve as main components of a signaling pathway that is a central regulator of aging and metabolism. The first enzyme is an AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK), and the second called TOR works as inhibitor of the Target of Rapamycin. Both enzymes are believed to be the central regulators of aging and metabolism in a variety of model organisms, including the worm- Caenorhabditis elegans, the fruit fly- Drosophila melanogaster and mammals. There is only one major difference - while the enzyme AMPK is activated in response to caloric restriction (a condition that is already known to slow down aging), the enzyme TOR is activated in response to over-nutrition (a condition that accelerates preliminary aging). At the same time activation of AMPK inhibits TOR, and drugs that activate AMPK or inhibit TOR can delay aging in several in vivo models including mammals.
Most importantly, the biochemical imbalance resulted in several age-related pathologies. “Strikingly, the pathologies caused by the sestrin deficiency included accumulation of triglycerides, cardiac arrhythmia and muscle degeneration that occurred in rather young flies,” concluded the lead author of the study. “These pathologies are amazingly similar to the major disorders of overweight, heart failure and muscle loss that accompany aging in humans.”How exactly the body keeps the activity of these two protein kinases in balance to prevent premature aging was not known until now. Additionally, the presence of three different genes encoding sestrins in mammals made it difficult to identify their exact physiological function in live animals. The organism that reminds to mammals is the fruit fly Drosophila, whose AMPK-TOR is regulated and balanced by a single sestrin gene. Said with other words-this sestrin gene is needed to keep the anti-aging pathway in check.
Using a variety of genetic techniques, the researchers inactivated the sestrin gene of Drosophila and found that although “sestrin deficient” flies do not exhibit any developmental abnormalities, they suffer from under-activation of AMPK and over-activation of TOR – again confirming that sestrin is needed to keep the pathway in check. UCSD and the Sanford-Burnham Institute in La Jolla, California, went on to demonstrate that drugs that either activate AMPK or inhibit TOR offered protection against most of these preliminary aging, in flies. The researchers also found that over-activation of TOR is likely to accelerate aging of heart and skeletal muscles by disrupting an important “quality control” process called “autophagy.” Autophagy is a process that allows cells to rid themselves or replace damaged mitochondria, the little energy centrals that provide all cells, with energy. However, when mitochondria get old, they produce high concentrations of free radicals that can lead to consequent tissue damage. The authors explained that the process of autophagy – which counteracts aging – allows the replacement of “old” and defective mitochondria with “young” and completely new mitochondria. At the same time- “sestrin-deficient” flies were found to exhibit accumulation of damaged mitochondria and ROS several days prior to the detection of tissue (in this case- muscle) degeneration. Feeding these flies vitamin E, an antioxidant which neutralizes free radicals, prevented premature aging a d muscle degeneration and heart failure.
In the future, the same group of researchers is planning to examine whether the mammalian sestrins can also control aging and metabolism, and whether defects in their proper gene expression will provide the explanation to some of the currently unexplainable degenerative diseases associated with old age. “Maybe one day we will be able to use sestrin analogs to prevent much of the tissue failure associated with aging, as well as treat a number of degenerative diseases, whose incidence goes up with old age, including sarcopenia and Alzheimer’s disease,” recapitulated Karin. The team of researchers proved that their structure and biochemical function found in both, flies and humans may regulate a signaling pathway that is a central controller of aging and metabolism

The Mysteries of Intelligence Unraveled

Antoaneta Sawyer, Ph.D.

A new article, that unraveled the “mysteries of intelligence”, appeared in this week issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Sanberg, Young, & Glascher, 2010).

The study aimed to pinpoint areas that are responsible for the human general intelligence, while inferred results that were based on the absence of a brain tissue. It's not a particular part of the brain (frontal or parietal), nor is it the strength or the speed of the above neuronal connections, or other features as total brain volume, that make us all smart or intelligent.

"General intelligence relies on the connection between the frontal and the parietal parts of the brain. It actually relies on a specific network inside the brain, and this is the connections between the gray matter, or cell bodies, and the white matter, or connecting fibers between neurons," concluded Jan Glascher, (the leading author of this paper and a postdoctoral fellow, at the department of humanities and social sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena; Feb. 22-26, 2010, Proceedings of the National Academies of Science)
The topic of general intelligence has always been deeply controversial. The authors of this study diagrammed 241 patients who had some sort of brain lesions and had them take IQ tests after diagramming the location of their lesions. "We took patients who had damaged parts of their brain, tested them on intelligence IQ to see where they were good and where they were bad, and then we correlated those scores across all the patients with the location of their brain lesions. That way, you can highlight the areas that are associated with reduced performance on these tests which, by the reverse inference, means these areas are really important for general intelligence."
The map that they came up with was what they expected and involved areas of the cortex as the parietal and frontal cortex. As they finally confirmed, "In the past, people have associated general intelligence very strongly with enhanced working memory capacity, so there's a close theoretical connection with that."
Finally, the researchers concluded that both (the frontal and parietal lob) are still responsible for good language skills and good mathematics. In an earlier study, the same team of investigators found that this brain network was also important for working memory, "the ability to hold a certain number of items in your mind," as authors concluded
Reference:
Sanberg, P., Young, K., and Glascher, J. (Feb. 22-26, 2010) Proceedings of the National Academies of Science)

Optimal Levels of vitamin D Reduce on Half the Chance for Cardio-Metabolic Disorders

Antoaneta Sawyer, Ph.D.

The importance of vit D supplementation is without doubt obtaining the global media attention in the latest times. One of the reason for this huge media attention is the already discovered ‘vit D pandemic deficiency’ common not only for the Nordic latitudes, but also in California where the daily sunshine is a constant factor. The state of hyperparathyroidism is recently found to be secondary to Vitamin D3 deficiency.
Is vit D deficiency a common phenomena?
Vitamin D deficiencies are common among those with chronic degenerative diseases, bulimia or anorexia nervosa, alcoholism, people who have resection or operation of their thyroid glands, overactive parathyroid glands, vegetarians, people with chronic degenerative disease and general nutritional deficiencies. There seems to be overwhelming evidence that shows vit D3 deficiency, and research is now working to prove how much of vit D3 additional supplementation actually works to prevent osteoporosis. It is already proven that an 8th week of daily supplementation may resolve any vit D 3 deficiency. The only correct and reasonable way to supplement with vit D is a serum and urine tests that are both useful in learning more about all of the individual vit D body levels. The parathyroid gland is responsible for maintaining well balanced calcium levels, which is vital for proper functioning of the muscular and nervous systems. One latest study found that insufficient levels of immune cells were produced in the thymus glands of laboratory animals with vitamin D deficiencies.
What is the correct vit D form?
Vitamin D refers to two separate precursors-D3 (cholecalciferol), and D2 (ergocalciferol). The vit D, produced in the skin on exposure to UVB radiation (290 to 320 nm), is known to be more bioactive. Both D3 and D2 precursors are hydroxylated in the liver and kidneys to form 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH] D)-the non-active 'storage' form, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25[OH]2D)-the biologically active form that is tightly controlled by the body. Vitamin D that is mostly manufactured in the kidneys is called 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D, while the other vit D known as 25-hydrovitamin D is manufactured in the liver. The parathyroid hormone produced by the parathyroid glands localized just around the thyroid gland may affect the 1,25 - dihydroxyvitamin D status also. As multiple studies suggest that Vit.D3 (cholecalciferol) is more effective than Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) one must look for supplements clearly labeled as Vit.D3 - cholecalciferol.
Is vit. D a vitamin or a hormone?
Vitamin D is actually a type of neurohormone that circulates in blood and signals to the human cells through a specific receptor. It is produced in large amounts as a result of sun exposure, and is available in much smaller amounts from dietary sources. In chronic inflammation, vitamin D also balances immune response to avoid a dangerous pro-inflammatory response. Scientists are now claiming that genes activated by vitamin D have been part of the now-human genome for sixty million years. If all proven in the future, it will mean the vitamin D genes are absolutely crucial for our survival.
Chemistry
The vitamin D that is mostly manufactured in the kidneys is called 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D, while the 25-hydrovitamin D form is manufactured in the liver. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 (25 [OH] D3) is produced in the liver by 25-hydroxylation of cholecalciferol (Vit D3), although other tissues (intestine, kidney) might perform the same hydroxylation also. This hormonally regulated steroid stimulates the intestinal absorption of both calcium and phosphorus and it also stimulates bone resorption and mineralization thereby preventing the development of rickets in children and osteomalacia in elderly.
Optimum Dose
There is quite of a controversy surrounding the optimum levels of Vit D3 supplementation. Latest studies suggest that the current RDA/DV of vitamin D (200 IU for individuals under age 50, 400 IU for those between the ages of 50 and 70, and 600 IU for those over the age of 70) may not be adequate. In fact, optimal levels are between 2,000 and 4,000 IU per day and many scientists are now questioning this level and calling for the upper limit to be increased to levels as high as 10,000 IU. Despite, most of the authors suggest the use of vit D3 of 1000 IU-2000 IU on a daily basis. I consider this dose on the safer side, as vit D3 can be also toxic.
Blood tests
Vitamin D tests are used to determine if osteomalacia, osteoporosis, or bone malformation is occurring as a result of a deficiency or excess of vitamin D. They are also used to determine effectiveness of treatment when vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and/or magnesium supplementation is prescribed. Since vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and is absorbed from the intestine like a fat, vitamin D tests are sometimes used to monitor individuals with diseases that interfere with fat absorption, such as cystic fibrosis and Crohn’s disease, to assure that they have adequate amounts of vit D.
The standard blood test is called "serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3", or 24(OH) D for short. The above test assesses blood levels of vit D3. Another- urinary test calculates the ratio of urinary calcium to urinary creatinine, and that ratio should be less than 0.37. Ratios that are consistently above 0.37 indicate excess urinary calcium. The only correct and reasonable way to supplement with vit D is through a serum and urine tests that are both useful in learning more about all of the individual vit D body levels.
You must also know that most of the MDs measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D, as it exists for much longer (T1/2) period of time (a pharmacokinetic parameter) in the bloodstream. According to me it will be a smart idea to have a complete and accurate picture of both (25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1.25-dihydroxyviramin D) levels studied. The parathyroid hormone produced by your parathyroid glands localized just around the thyroid gland may affect your 1, 25- dihydroxy vitamin D status.
What is the best way to supplement vit D?
The best and maybe the safest way to supplement with vit D3 is through whole body exposure for at approximately 15-20 minutes to the sun at peak sun times during the summer (between 10AM-4PM). In this amount of time at peak sun, skin is able to produce approximately 10,000 IU of Vit D3. No additional Vit D3 is produced in longer exposure. The amount of vit D3 corresponding of 10,000 IU is produced prior to any sunburn pinkness. In the Nordic latitudes, even 15-20 minutes of peak sun exposure may be difficult to be obtained on a daily basis, so supplementation may be the only way to cope with the problem. It seems likely that physiological vitamin D intakes will result in a higher relative risk for kidney stones for people on modern American diets (low potassium, low magnesium, high refined carbohydrates, high sodas, and a high acid residue). You may lower your risk of kidney stones by remaining vitamin D deficient, but then you raise your risk of dying from many other diseases.
What is vit D3 used for?
The versatility of vit D3 can be explained with the following:
1. Vit D3 works for healthy bones and teeth. It is necessary for the maintenance of healthy calcium and phosphorous levels in the body. Calcium, the main structural element in bones and teeth, can only be absorbed by the body when vitamin D is present.Vit D also assists the body in the transport of calcium through the bloodstream, and assists in calcium absorption.
2. Vit D3 is responsible for muscle vigor and strength protection. It’s also believed that vit D3 may contribute to increased muscle strength, by improving body balance and reducing risk of falls among elderly. 2 separate studies found that low vitamin D may be deadly for older adults as fractures are a frequent reason for mortality especially in older women.
3. Vit D3 is a powerful “immune modulator”. Several clinical studies suggested the importance of Vit D3 in improving immunity response and mainly its effects as “immune modulator”. We already know that several vitamins have important immunomodulating effects, by reducing the pro-inflammatory cytokines while increasing levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Recently-published research data revealed that vit D can stimulate the innate immune system and to prevent of influenza virus A (H1N1) by turning on antimicrobial peptides, known as “cathelicidins” (LL-37) that have been found to have broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. New studies suggested that despite bacteria are developing resistance by creating “beta-lactamases” and “cephalosporinases” (enzymes) towards the broad spectrum antibiotics (penicillin’s and cephalosporin’s)-it is quite unusual for them to develop resistance to the above mentioned peptides throughout producing specific proteases. The main effect of vit D 3 is to help to prevent immune system from overreacting in case if pathologically stimulated and to be stimulated in case if naturally inhibited. This is the definition of an immune modulator.
4. Vit D3 may help in cancer prevention. Recent studies suggest Vit D3 supplementation may promote up to a 77% reduction of cancer incidence and to prevent from more than 18 types of cancers, even the most deadly ones as colon, ovarian and pancreatic cancer.
5. Vit D3 may play a role in autoimmune disease prevention. Supplementation with vit D 3 may be contraindicated in certain diseases including sarcoidosis, lupus, polymyositis and other autoimmune diseases. Symptoms of rosacea may be also overly stimulated. Thus a consultation with health provider is an absolute must especially in case of autoimmune disease.
6. Vit D3 is an insulin secretion modifier. I have done 15 years of research on metabolic syndrome and found that Vit D3 is the Hollywood-star in "metabolic syndrome" prevention and healing. It is also helpful in obesity, diabetes prevention and treatment according several studies.
7. Vit D3 has general anti-inflammatory effect. Vitamin D3 has been implicated to be the vitamin "immune modulator". It is playing an important role in various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases like: diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Vitamin D prevents all the natural immune response from over-reacting to an antigen as well as reduces general chronic inflammation. It appears to suppress the immune response in cases when pathologically elevated or to increase it when naturally inhibited by an illness. This way vit D is one of the most popular natural immune modulators known in practice.
8. Vit D 3 can participate in skin treatment. Several clinical studies suggest that Vit D3 plays an important role in skin treatment. Latest clinical trial of oral and topical Vitamin D3 in acne, eczema and atopic dermatitis are showing positive results of vit D3 in various skin diseases. Vitamin D was also proven to improve melanoma survival and general survival.
9. Vit D3 is needed for vision support. Few studies suggest that Vitamin D3 also plays an important role in antimicrobial protection of the eyes and their surrounding muscles and tissues.
10. Vit D3 is good for heart disease protection help and blood pressure regulation. An article published in Progress Biophysics Molecular Biology (2006) indicated that vitamin D can help maintain healthy blood pressure, blood sugar and overall cellular health. Vitamin D deficiency in younger women has been found with an increased risk of hypertonia (elevated blood pressure).
11. Vit D3 is a good brain optimizer. Several clinical studies in adults have found significant associations between higher vitamin D levels and better intellectual functioning and short memory improvement. At the same moment, a recent report found high incidence of vitamin D deficiency among younger individuals with intellectual disabilities.
12. Vitamin D3 is the wonder vitamin that is working as a pro-metabolic hormone and immunomodulator, despite it is officially termed a vitamin. I have always believed and stated in most of my previous articles that if there is a vitamin that must be used by older adults that is Vit D3. I also call it the “anti-metabolic” vitamin as there are multiple studies that are showing weight loss and strong metabolic improvement in case of chronic use. In a recent systematic review and meta-analysis, middle aged and elderly people who had high levels of vitamin D3 cut their risk of developing heart disease or elevated blood sugar nearly in 50 percent (Parker et al., 2010). Researchers from the University of Warwick evaluated 28 separate studies involving almost 100,000 men and women across different ethnic groups. The data revealed a significant association between high levels of vitamin D and dramatically decreased risk of both cardiac and metabolic syndrome and its consequences- hypertonia, obesity, gout, kidney failure, Alzheimer disease, etc. Compared to those with low levels, men and women who had high levels of vitamin D had a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease by about 33%, elevated blood sugar by 55% and metabolic syndrome by over 50%. Cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death, worldwide. But according to lead author Dr. Oscar Franco, "Targeting vitamin D deficiency in adult populations could potentially slow the current epidemics of cardiometabolic disorders." I suggest that most adults check their vit D levels and to add it in case if deficient. Generally a dose between 1,000-2,000 is completely safe but you must proceed checking up your levels and to even add a dose of 4,000 IU if needed. I personally take 2,000 during the winter and do not use any in the summer, but I do have always optimal blood levels of this vital nutrient. Note* Please note that the road between vit D deficiency and Vit D intoxication is quite narrow and must be recognized as eventual possibility what requests a proper blood test follow up. People with kidney failure or with other chronic degerenerative diseases as well as the advance aged must be very careful while supplementing with this vitamin.
Enjoy the YouTube lecture of Michael Holick, MD, PhD at the University of California San Diego on vit D:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq1t9WqOD-0&feature=player_embedded
If you would like to learn more on the above topic, please call and require a personal consultation: (715) 392-7591; (218) 213-6167; or (218) 213-7087
References:
Parker, J., Hashmi, O., Dutton, D., Mavrodaris, A., Stranges, S, Kandala, N. B. et al. (2010). Levels of vitamin D and cardiometabolic disorders: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Maturitas, 65, 225-36.