Blog Archives

Understanding Hashimoto's Thyroid Dysfunction

3/28/2014

If you TPO ab and TG ab tests indicate Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  Hashi's is the most prevalent cause for diagnosed hypothyroidism.  with Hashi's, the autoimmune system erroneously identifies the thyroid gland as foreign to the body, and produces antibodies to attack and eventually destroy the thyroid gland.  As this is progressing, your TSH level rises, in response to the thyroid gland being unable to produce enough thyroid hormone.  When the level of Free T3 falls low enough in its range, hypo symptoms begin to be noticed.

Having already confirmed Hashi's, there really is no need to keep testing for the TPO and TG antibodies.  What you do need to always test is Free T3 and Free T4.  Also, since hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, those should be tested also.  Further, you should not wait for 6 months  for a return to the doctor.  Thyroxine will reach over 90% of its final effect on your blood levels in about 4 weeks.   Most doctors here request the patient to return in about 6-8 weeks for followup tests and then to adjust med dosage as necessary.

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation.  The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment.  In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."

Sex to You is...

3/27/2014

Sex is part of a healthy relationship as well as for general good health. Sex is a two-way street when it comes to people discussing it. Some understand its importance in a relationship while others don't want to fool with it and the latter is due to so many reasons we can't cover all of them here. Sex is more than just a physical act, but an emotional one as well. Complicated I know.

Having sex is healthy and is good for both men and women. Men are considered highly sexed because of our testosterone levels, but it's the way we're made. Men are like buckets that get filled up and need emptying, sounds crude but it's true. Men just don't stop producing sperm. As for women, sex is more of an emotional connection than a hormonal one. Women during child-bearing years usually get in the mood physically just a couple of days before their menstrual cycle starts because the testosterone levels are actually higher. Yes, testosterone in both sexes encourages sexual desire, it's the fact of life.

Men never change through out their lifetime unless the testosterone levels start to decrease. Women can actually have higher sexual desire when that reach the ages of 35-50.

Honestly, sex is complicated. Orgasms should be fun and getting there should be just as fun. It's like a journey, some get there faster than others, but really what's the rush? Sex is healthy. Sex is great for circulation, hormonal health and yes mental health. It can also be a great stress reliever. When you're under stress, don't let that be an excuse not to do it, but a better excuse to do it. Sex improves relaxation and in the end it can help improve relationships.

There are many herbal compounds that can help improve sexual function and desire in both sexes. One of the top herbs is Tongkat Ali or known as LJ100. LJ100 can help improve energy, stamina, endurance and improve healthy testosterone levels in both men and women. This is simply done by unbinding bound up testosterone. By freeing up testosterone, the body will respond in a more healthier way in all areas of health. Testosterone isn't just a sex herb, it's for cardiovascular health, mental health, immune health, energy and more.

Again, sex is healthy and don't forget to take the poll!

- Ward W. Bond, PhD

Promising Therapy for Brain Stroke

3/26/2014

Carnosine two amino acids joined together – in this case, beta-alanine and histidine. Carnosine is the most exciting anti-aging nutrient ever discovered. Carnosine is made by many cells in your body – and especially in muscle, heart, and brain cells. Longer-lived animals tend to have more Carnosine in their cells than do shorter-lived species, and preliminary research suggests that levels of Carnosine decline with aging (by 63% between the ages of 10 and 70 in humans).

In animal studies, Carnosine has been shown to reduce mortality, and to prevent much of the brain damage and loss of mental function, after a simulated stroke. Animals receiving Carnosine before blocking the blood vessels that feed their brains are less than half as likely to die, and the memory function and the activity of key brain enzymes is better preserved in Carnosine-supplemented survivors than in survivors who did not receive the supplement. In fact, rodent “stroke” survivors who get Carnosine perform as well on many memory tests as they did before the “stroke!”

While performing their astounding cell-rejuvenation experiments, Holliday and MacFarland happened to find that one of their cell cultures had become contaminated with cancer cells, which quickly began to choke out the healthy ones. But when Carnosine was added to samples of this contaminated population, it was found that the cell cultures became free of cancer cells. The same results followed when Carnosine was tested against seven human cancer cell lines. The researchers found that they could add cancerous cells to a culture of healthy ones, bathe the warring tribes in Carnosine – and sit back and watch as the cancer cells slowly disappeared from the pool, even as the healthy cells thrived.

When Japanese researchers implanted cancer cells into laboratory mice, and then administered a daily injection of Carnosine two centimeters away from the implant site, Carnosine-treated animals showed reduced tumor growth and mortality compared to animals not receiving the dipeptide. In some cases, tumors regressed. The effects were further enhanced when Carnosine was combined with an immune-enhancing drug.

But if we try to pin down just how it is that Carnosine can exert its other, wide-ranging anti-aging effects, we'll have a hard time choosing among all the options. The protective properties of Carnosine have been described as "pluripotent" – that is, "many-powered." Carnosine is a highly versatile antioxidant, and also has indirect antioxidant powers through the chelation of pro-oxidant metals and the prevention of the destruction of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) normally seen in cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide.

The power of these combined antioxidant actions was shown in experiments in which cells were exposed to toxic levels of oxygen. Carnosine treatment preserved healthy cell structure and reduced damage to the cells' DNA even though no other tested antioxidant could do so: not vitamin C, not vitamin E, not N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and not the potent synthetic antioxidant ethoxyquin.

Carnosine protects against the formation of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs), warped cellular proteins that have been damaged by sugar. Preliminary studies in animals fed a high-fructose diet suggest that Carnosine’s AGE-fighting ability helps preserve the flexibility of blood vessels, preventing some of the increase in blood pressure that is otherwise suffered under such circumstances. As well, Carnosine also maintains more youthful levels of proteolysis (the ability to tear down old, defective cellular proteins) in cells, – a process which slows down in old cells, interfering with cellular function. And Carnosine has been shown to react with certain abnormal proteins in a way which some research suggests may make them more readily broken up and disposed by the cell’s “garbage disposal” systems.

Carnosine changes gene expression in cells exposed to it, including increasing the expression of vimentin, a protein involved in maintaining the integrity and complex internal structure of the cell. Carnosine enhances various aspects of immunity, and protects cells against damage from a variety of toxins produced in the body as a part of normal metabolism. Test-tube studies have found that Carnosine also prevents amyloid beta-peptide, which forms the seed of the plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease. The list of protective functions goes on and on.

Are You Nutritionally Happy?

3/24/2014

Ever wake up on the wrong side of the bed in the morning and you stay on the wrong side for the rest of the day? Ever have a mild bout of depression and you can’t place your finger as to the reason why? One of the most overlooked areas of health is nutrition. Many health conditions today are not caused by a lack of medication, but a lack of nutrients our bodies need daily. Let’s take a look at two of them.

What I’m focusing on is your mental state. When you feel good mentally, the rest of your body falls into line. Every one of us needs to take a multiple vitamin daily. One with lots of B vitamins. These are needed to convert proteins, fats and carbohydrates into energy. B vitamins are also needed for a healthy nervous system which includes your brain of course. There are two particular B vitamins I want you to focus on, Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) and Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide/Niacin). If you are dealing with lots of stress and fatigue, you need extra Vitamin B5. This nutrient improves adrenal gland health, since B5 is known as the anti-stress vitamin and helps one to overcome stress and other serious mental problems like anxiety and depression to ensure fitness of mind. It does so by regulating the hormones responsible for giving birth to these mental states. B5 is also a fatigue-fighter by helping to reduce body fatigue and weariness and putting the functioning of body parts on right track. This means that this vitamin is capable of building the stamina of human body to perform well in various tasks. The dose of Vitamin B5 should be 500-1,000mg daily in a single or divided doses. One thing to remember, B5 can speed up the function of the digestive tract, so be aware as B5 in high doses can lead to quick trip to the restroom and in many cases that’s a good thing. A clean colon will also help one feel happier.

The second nutrient is Vitamin B3, a nutrient that is commonly overlooked for mental health. Niacinamide is believed to delay the debilitating effects of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. It helps by reducing inflammation inside the brain and by strengthening the immune system. Previous experiments have proved that regular supplementation of niacinamide would greatly benefit those suffering from Parkinson's disease especially when given at the early stages of the disease before dopamine starts to be depleted.

Researchers found that niacinamide reduces the level of the protein called phosphorylated tau in people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. High levels of this substance leads to the development of lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The symptoms of niacinamide deficiency is very similar to the symptoms of anxiety and depression - hyperactivity, fatigue, apprehension, headache and insomnia. Once niacinamide deficiency has been corrected, any symptom of anxiety and depression that a patient is suffering from will have been addressed as well.

Niacinamide is also known to enhance insulin production and protects insulin sensitivity and secretion by helping in cell function and metabolism. Previous laboratory experiments have also demonstrated that it prevents the early onset of Type 1 diabetes. I want to make a special note here, if your blood sugar is constantly low, you will have signs of depression, fatigue, irritability and even anger. Keeping a watchful eye on your blood sugar will help you prevent mild mental health issues. Eat more protein and fiber to keep your blood sugar from spiking and then dropping, and of course stop eating refined sugar-laden products. Refined sugar and artificial sweeteners are death to the brain.

The dose of niacinamide should be 1,000-1,500mg daily to correct mild depressive mental states. Once one overcomes the niacinamide deficiency, a daily dose of 50-100mg should be enough to maintain a happier you.

Being mentally happy is a requirement for optimum health. Your mind is so powerful, that it can think healthy or think sick. Feed it right!

- Ward W. Bond, PhD

Yes! CANCER SUCKS! 3 Things to Remember!

3/19/2014

Let's be honest. We all know someone with cancer. Some have beat it and others have succumb to it. This article isn't about the lack of medical care we all know exists when it comes to fighting this dreaded disease. Cancer therapy has not progressed any further than it has in the last 40 years. Cancer rates are not declining as the experts want you to believe, but they are actually increasing.

When someone gets the negative report, the person has a choice to either face it head on or give up on the spot. The mental aspect of dealing with the thought of fighting cancer is scary and daunting to say the least. I've met people on both sides. Some give the fight all they got and others simply quietly give up and only appear to fight to bring peace to those around them who are just as scared and fearful.

What can I say? My own father died of the complications of cancer. He actually died from the treatment and the malpractice of doctors and nurses who couldn't do the simplest things right, such as keeping his chemo port clean. He actually died of sepsis.

Moving on. Fighting cancer is a three part battle. One is in the mind, the second is in the body and the third is spiritual. All three must be addressed to effectively fight the good fight.

The Mind. The moment one gets the news, the mind is the first part of the body to start processing information. What is the immediate thought? Will I live or will I die? What is the treatment going to do? Will I be able to handle this? What will it cost? Will insurance cover me? How will I continue to support my family, etc and etc. This is where one must immediately hold every negative thought captive and keep a positive attitude and a peace that passes all understanding. Look, I know it's not easy. If you need encouragement, then just watch my TV interview (above) with Dodie Osteen (Joel's mother) who beat terminal liver cancer 31 years ago. She explains very candidly how the mind will start thinking about the end, when you are still believing for a positive outcome. It's worth every minute to watch this interview.

The Body. On my television show, Think Natural, I constantly tell people to eat right and to eat natural. Everything you put in your mouth will either help you or hurt you. Give your body a fighting chance and eat what God created and avoid all the man-made junk. Eat organic to keep the chemicals from your body. I'm not here to tell what treatment to use as each type of cancer uses a different approach. Ask you doctor or seek your own treatment that is best for your type of cancer. Exercise! Exercise will help strengthen the body and improve immune response. Also, know that you need rest too. Don't over do either.

Your Faith. Honestly, you can't fight cancer with no belief system. You all know I'm a Christian and I don't hide that fact. I know who I believe in and when times are good or bad, I look to the One who created me and died for me. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. You have to walk by faith and not sight and fighting cancer fits this category. There are times of pain, sickness, doubt, unbelief and there are victories. There can be ups and downs, but never ever give up. One has to believe that miracles happen. Also, God didn't give you cancer. He isn't trying to teach you a lesson. God doesn't do that to people. Need healing? All He has asked you to do is believe and He'll take care of the rest. Psalm 118:17 says, "I shall not die, but I shall live and declare the miraculous works of the Lord." Your were made to testify. How does one end up with a testimony? With a test in one's life that's how. Sounds unfair, but go back to the part of this article on the mind and stay positive.

If you are dealing with cancer, you can beat it. Keep that mentality. If someone who know is fighting cancer, be as positive and supportive as you can. You standing by them will help them more than you'll ever know.

- Ward W. Bond, Ph.D.

Grilling Your Food: Big Cancer Risk!

3/18/2014

Everyone enjoys grilling outdoors or indoors or picking some delicious grilled entree at your favorite restaurant. But did you know grilling can cost you your life if you eat grilled food too often?

I had a neighbor many years ago that were world champion grillers. Seriously, they had the awards to prove it. But it came with a price. The wife ended up with a double mastectomy due to breast cancer. They virtually grilled everyday. Twenty to thirty years ago no one knew if grilling was dangerous. When something taste as wonderful as a grilled steak, hamburger or chicken, your brain isn't thinking it's unhealthy. So what makes grilling unhealthy?

Here is an interesting piece of information from Bon Appetit Magazine. Read on.

"On the most basic level, the smoky flavor and the char that you get from a well-grilled steak is not particularly good for you. When fat from the cooking meat drips down on the hot coals, the smoke that forms contains stuff called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). And the charred exterior of the meat (or inside, if you like things extremely well-done) is chock full of something called heterocyclic amines (HCA).

Both of these have been linked in studies, like one conducted by the National Cancer Institute in 1999, to higher rates of colorectal cancers, and both chemicals have been added to the DOH’s official list of carcinogens (PAH all the way back in 1981, HCA in 2005). In 2009, another study found that people who preferred their steaks “very well done” were 60 percent more likely to get pancreatic cancer than those who liked them bloody (or didn’t eat steak at all), and both compounds have been found to cause tumors in mice (and might cause even more tumors in humans, since mice process the chemicals differently).

Not great news. But hey, this is science! So there are, of course, a bunch of caveats. First off, no one has determined in what quantity these chemicals become carcinogenic, and as with most things, eating in moderation isn’t all that bad for you. More specifically, you can cut way, way down on the HCA action by not charring your meat (or just cutting off the charred parts) and cut the PAH by avoiding flareups, which happen when the drippings hit the heat source. Some studies recommend microwaving your meat for 30 to 90 seconds before you pop it on the grill to make it less drippy, but since that seems somehow abhorrent to the whole idea of grilling, you can also just throw some tin foil under the meat to catch the juice, or use a two-zone cooking system on a charcoal grill to make sure you’re grilling over indirect heat."

It has been recommended to spice up your food with rosemary, curcumin and other antioxidant spices to reduce the risks as mentioned above. One thing to always do if you want to grill or eat grilled food is to take Vitamin C after each meal to reduce the risk of the chemicals from causing cancer. I like eating grilled food, but I don't eat no more than once or twice month. Just like anything overindulgence can and will lead to problems.

- Ward W. Bond, Ph.D. 2014

Cream with Your Coffee? NOT SOY!

3/14/2014

I received an interesting question on Twitter today about can one use soy in their coffee. The answer is yes you can, but I wouldn't recommend it so my answer is NO!

Why not you ask? The simple reason is because soy is a phytoestrogen and it contains enzyme inhibitors that lead to many nutritional deficiencies. Long term use of soy in the form of soy milk, soy protein, tofu and non-fermented varieties will lead to problems.

Here is list of problems that soy will eventually cause:

Reduces the formation of the intrinsic factor in the gut which is responsible for manufacturing B12. This will lead to pernicious anemia.
Causes Vitamin D3 deficiency. Vitamin D3 is responsible for bone health, colon health and is a powerful antioxidant. A lack of Vitamin D3 can lead to depression.
Soy blocks minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium to name a few. We all need these for a variety of health reason from our bone, nerves, immune and tissue healing.
Soy blocks thyroid hormones. Reduces thyroid hormones will lead an underactivity of the thyroid and medication will not work to correct if you continue ingesting soy products. Soy can block the medication from working properly.
Soy baby formula is NO-NO! Studies show it can lead to early puberty and wreck havoc on a child's developing hormonal system. It has bee shown to cause ADD or ADHD by preventing dendrite growth in the brain as well as a possible cause in childhood obesity. This is because estrogen fattens animals and humans up so avoid this food.
Are you scared yet? All is not lost and all of these things can simply be corrected by stopping the use of soy and adding back the lost nutrients. If long use of soy has lead to thyroid problems, then you need to call my office. We have work to do!

So what are the natural alternatives to add to your coffee? Try almond milk, hemp milk, oat milk or just plain organic milk. Anything can be healthier than soy! Personally, I like mine black.

Natural Products Expo West

3/12/2014

Recently, I attended the Natural Products Expo West Conference in Anaheim, CA. It is my yearly trek to the world's largest natural health conference and trade show. Every year I get to see all the new products and talk with researchers and even some celebrities about good health.

This year was no exception! Every year it grows and grows and over 60,000 people attended the conference. I met up with some old friends as well as making new ones. Pictured above, I met up with my good friend Pamela, the founder of Pamela's Products. She debuted a new product called Figgies & Jammies. If you like Fig Newton's then here's a new gluten free variety and they taste great!

I also met back up with LA Laker James Worthy and Angels pitcher Chuck Finley at the Drink Revive booth to see their new additions to the line. A great antioxidant fruit drink including the new Shape, Focus and Build. All of them taste great and because the conference is so busy it was great to grab a few of their samples to keep me going!

I had the opportunity to stop by and see Medicine Hunter Chris Kilham at the Naturex booth. This company supplies the highest quality ingredients for many nutritional supplements. Chris travels the world seeking out ancient herbal remedies and helps conduct research that benefits all of us. I'm looking forward to going down to the Amazon in the future with him of a few excursions.

One of the big highlights of the trip was interviewing and hearing the lecture of Dr. Inanaga. He is a neurologist from Japan and is 91 years old and still practices medicine. He gave information on improving Schizophrenia using an extract from the Lion's Mane mushroom. We had a great conversation and you will be hearing much of what I learned on future episodes of THINK NATURAL.

At the end of the day on Saturday, March 8, I met a gentleman who is known as the dentist to the stars in New York City, Dr. Gerry Curalota. I stopped by his booth and he showed me an incredible new oral therapy called Revitin. I hope to be showing more about this amazing product on future episodes of my show. Dr. Curalota and spent almost an hour talking about health, but more importantly sharing our love for the Lord. It was a great ending to a great conference.

I'll have more to show on THINK NATURAL so stay tuned there is more to come!