How Zinc Could Fight Age-Related Immune Decline

Many people sadly lose their elderly loved ones during the flu season. While it is still a tragedy regardless of age, we're taught to believe that it cannot be prevented and they couldn't have lived at least another few years. Fortunately, conventional wisdom is not necessarily wisdom, as there are ways to fight age-related immune decline.

One of these ways is right under our noses - literally, for users of certain sunscreens. It is not an exotic herbal remedy yet to be discovered, it is the mineral zinc. Zinc is required by the body for thousands of biological functions, but deficiency in the elderly is very common. This contributes to immunosenescence, meaning age-related immune decline, leading to an increase in infections and inflammation as the number of immune cells and their functioning falls.

An expensive source of zinc. Source: Guido (CC: 2.0).

What does zinc do for the immune system? Research has found that it can restore the abilities of killer cells to destroy virally-infected and cancerous cells; improve the immune response of white blood cells in older adults and increase survival rates in older mice. Clinical trials have shown a benefit of high-dose supplementation, with a 45mg daily dose reducing the incidence of all infections in the elderly adults in one study. Another using 80mg daily doses yielded the impressive result of a 27% reduction in mortality over 6.5 years! Zinc must never be taken at doses beyond 90mg a day, however, as this has damaging effects.

Food sources of zinc include beef chuck roast, baked beans, chicken and cashews, containing 7, 2.9, 2.4 and 1.6mg per serving respectively. Elderly people are likely to need supplementation, up to a total of 80mg each day according to Life Extension. But would supplementation just be treating symptoms of another, greater cause? If left alone, people experience a decline in stomach acid production as they age, which is very important for zinc absorption (among other things). This leads to poor digestion in general, greater vulnerability to digestive tract infections and loss of appetite. Many older people are taking antacids for heartburn, which worsens the problem and is not the best way to treat reflux (many say the best way is to boost levels of stomach acid and enzymes - see a qualified naturopath). To manage poor stomach acid and enzyme production, treatment options include supplementation with betaine hydrochloride; digestive enzymes or bitter herbs like gentian.

How Diet May Help With Endometriosis

Endometriosis is an unfortunately common condition where the tissue which makes up the uterine lining (the endometrium) grows in other areas of the body, usually in the pelvic area. The severity of its symptoms, which may include pelvic pain, period pain or infertility, can be anything from mostly silent to constantly debilitating. Conventional treatment includes surgery to remove inappropriate tissue (also the only way to diagnose it), pain relievers and hormonal medications, but these are not without their side effects. Thankfully, there are natural methods that may help to prevent endometriosis if you are at risk, or reduce the severity of its signs and symptoms, such as changes to your diet.

Source: Gunawan Kartapranata

We all need fat in our diets, but one way of reducing the risk of endometriosis, or possibly reducing its severity, may be by changing the types of fat we eat. To investigate whether fat intake has any relation to endometriosis, researchers analysed 12 years of data from the Nurses' Health Study II that began in 1989. Total fat consumption had no relation to endometriosis risk, but women in the top fifth for long-chain omega-3 fat intake had a 22% lower risk of endometriosis, compared to women in the bottom fifth. Omega-3 fats are found in foods such as oily fish, flax and hemp (to be legally sold as food in Australia from November 2017). On the other hand, women in the top fifth of trans-fat intake had a 48% greater risk of being diagnosed with endometriosis. Trans fats are found in margarine and many other packaged, processed foods. Intake of palmitic acid, a type of fat in animal products, was linked with a 52% increase in endometriosis risk when the top and bottom fifths were compared. It is suggested that the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fats may be behind their benefits, as a 1995 study found a reduced risk of period pain linked with fish oil consumption. Trans fats, and too much saturated animal fat, is pro-inflammatory. 

Increasing intake of green vegetables and fruit may also be protective against endometriosis. In an Italian case-control study, women in the highest thirds for green vegetable and fruit intake had a 70% and 40% reduced risk of developing endometriosis, respectively. These results were consistent after adjusting for affecting factors. The folate, methionine (an amino acid) and vitamin B6 found in green vegetables can regulate gene expression and detoxification. While another study disagreed, vegetables and fruit do often contain pesticides linked to reproductive problems such as endometriosis. Fruit and vegetables also contain antioxidants such as vitamin C, which protect cells from damage and thus reduce inflammation.

These are just a few ways that nutrition can protect against endometriosis, but further research is needed. An optimal treatment plan for conditions such as this must involve professional support, and communication between practitioners regardless of treatment modality. But as you can see, complex does not mean hopeless.

Vitamin K2 May Help Those With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most debilitating chronic illnesses known to humanity. It is an inflammatory disease that affects the whole body, but mostly the joints. We know it is most likely an autoimmune disease, but so far research into causative factors has been centred around genetic predisposition; microbes; allergies; abnormal gut permeability; and diet and lifestyle factors. Now, new research is showing that vitamin K2 may play a key role in fighting the disease.

Natto on rice. Source: Shades0404 (CC: 2.5)

There are several forms of vitamin K. Vitamin K1 is also known as phylloquinone and comes from plant foods, while there are several types of vitamin K2, all known as menaquinone. They come from animal foods and are produced by bacteria. The most important form of K2 for commercial use is MK-7, and is known for its benefits in cardiovascular health and bone strength. It is more bioavailable than MK-4, which has been found in a clinical trial to improve the symptoms and biochemical markers of RA. To see if MK-7 would be even better, researchers divided 84 patients with RA into two groups: one receiving 100 micrograms of K2's MK-7 form, and the other getting a placebo. After three months, markers of inflammation were significantly lower in the treated group, as well as RA disease activity scores. Active levels of osteocalcin, an important marker of bone health, also improved, and all of these benefits were seen in relation to increased levels of MK-7 in the blood. These results are very important partly because of the side effects caused by drugs prescribed for RA. While the disease itself is debilitating, the drugs can be worse enough that many people have to stop taking them.

So where exactly can we get vitamin K2, especially the MK-7 form? Besides supplements, natto and some types of cheese are sources of MK-7. Natto is a fermented soy food from Japan, and although it's very much an acquired taste, it is the best source of the best vitamin K. Some types of meat, cheese and eggs contain the MK-4 form, which is still effective, although less active. Green leafy vegetables contain vitamin K1, and are our main source of dietary vitamin K in the West. This is much less active than vitamin K2 and mainly supports homeostasis. Finally, the MK-10 and MK-13 forms of vitamin K2, which are produced by colonic bacteria, are poorly absorbed and do not provide much activity. While more research on vitamin K2 and RA are probably needed, its use against the disease looks promising, and maybe it's time to suck it up and learn to like natto.

The Digestive System May Influence Inflammaging

A key driver of the aging process is inflammation, which is why aging is now often known as "inflammaging". When you think about it, it makes sense, as aging is a process of progressive degeneration, and chronic inflammation is a vicious cycle of damage. Until recently, however, it wasn't exactly clear why and how this process comes about. But now, in a study published on the 12th of April, 2017, scientists explain that inflammaging may be caused by intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis.

It has already been well-established that inflammation drives aging in all animals, including the mice used in this study. Higher than average inflammation in the blood has been linked to lower life expectancy, poorer general health, reduced quality of life and a higher risk of chronic illness compared to the average person. Therefore, reducing inflammation could lead to living a longer, healthier, happier life. This is why the discovery of a causal connection between changes in intestinal bacteria and age-related inflammation is so important.

Yoghurt can be a source of probiotics. Source: Schwaebin.

The inflammatory mediator known as tumour necrosis-factor (TNF), which is produced by the immune system during times of infection, is responsible for much of the damage. Mice that couldn't produce TNF exhibited less age-related inflammation, less changes to intestinal bacteria and less intestinal permeability (known as "leaky gut" in many naturopathic circles). Reducing TNF led to a "younger" composition of bacteria, and transplanting the bacteria of younger mice into older mice also led to improvement in permeability. This could mean that there are two ways to fight this mechanism of inflammaging: reduce TNF, or change the composition of intestinal bacteria.

Let's look at changing the composition of bacteria, with probiotics. Using a model of the human intestinal tract, researchers looked at the effects of bacteria species commonly included in probiotics. Multiple species of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were compared by their ability to reduce TNF-alpha, the interleukins -4 and -1beta, as well as lipopolysaccharides, which are another type of inflammatory mediator. The species that produced the most dramatic reductions in TNF-alpha were L. plantarum, B. animalis, B. longum and B. longum subspecies infantis. These all reduced TNF-alpha by around two-thirds. B. longum and its infantis subspecies, like L. rhamnosus and B. bifidum, also had significant effects against lipopolysaccharides, which are linked to inflammatory illness. So probiotics may help fight inflammaging, but it is best to get a broad-spectrum product that includes the "best" strains from a qualified practitioner in order to ensure quality.

Could Nutrients Boost Our Own Stem Cells?

The popular view of stem cells is typically that of high-tech treatments reserved for "the future", far-off foreign clinics that the "authorities" usually tell us to avoid, or worse still, "baby-killing" experimental research. But studies are now showing that we may be able to harness the power of our own stem cells, using nutrients that are already accessible, in ways that are more in line with traditional natural medicine than science fiction.

One of the underlying drivers of aging is a decline in the number and function of our own stem cells, which we need to aid in tissue regeneration. Of course, one way to fight aging is therefore to protect and nourish these stem cells. Research is showing now that extracts from green tea and berries, carnosine, and vitamin D, are actually able to influence gene expression in ways that assist these cells. One of these studies is based on other research showing that substances in older animals' blood can speed aging in younger animals, and young blood can fight aging in older animals. This time, both young and old rats were given either a mixture of blueberry extract, green tea extract, carnosine and vitamin D, or a placebo. Their blood serum was then administered to cultures of rat stem cells, to compare their effects. While the blood of old rats on the control diet had harmful effects on the stem cells, that of the younger rats and the older, supplemented rats did not. These nutrients have protective effects on cells, where older animals' blood is likely to contain high levels of oxidising, inflammatory substances that cause damage. In another study using the same nutrient combination, supplemented rats were showing a great amount of changes in gene expression, including changes that reduce the production of pro-inflammatory chemicals and increase the amount of anti-inflammatory ones. This could have significant protective effects on stem cells, guarding their ability to repair tissue. The researchers also found another amazing discovery: this combination boosted the expression of genes that trigger stem-like cells in brain tissue to become adult neurons - creating healthy, new neurons that could replace damaged and dying cells. Properties like this could be tremendously beneficial for people living with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Another similar nutrient combination has seen success in human clinical trials. This time, it was a commercially-available formula of green tea, astragalus and goji berry extract, with vitamin D3, ellagic acid, beta-1,3 glucan and food-derived Lactobacillus fermentum. Eighteen adults aged 20-72 took two capsules twice daily for two weeks, and their levels of immune cells, haematopoietic and endothelial progenitor cells were measured at several points. Even just one day after supplementation began, their numbers of two types of immune cell and the two types of partially-transformed stem cell significantly increased, and stayed that way over the two weeks. A previous pilot study also showed that endothelial progenitor cells significantly rose after supplementation began. Besides being a natural, accessible alternative to experimental procedures, it could also be much more cost-effective. The difficulty in producing growth factors or directly injecting stem cells means that only a few specialised institutions are able to pull it off, and commercial viability can be poor. Overall, these nutrient combinations may be an effective way to fight aging, targeting multiple causes such as oxidative stress, inflammation and stem cell degeneration.

Could Chocolate Fight Heart Disease?

It sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? However, new research has found that a piece of good quality dark chocolate a day could help to prevent heart disease and regulate insulin levels (SWNS - National News). The cocoa that dark chocolate is so rich in was found to increase the level of "good cholesterol" (HDL) when eaten in amounts of 200-600mg a day.

Source: Simon A. Eugster

But why would something that contains sugar and isn't fruit be healthy? Scientists believe that the flavonoids in cacao beans, which are fermented, dried and roasted to make cocoa powder, are responsible. Flavonoids are also found in tea, red wine, blueberries, apples and cherries - one reason why they say "an apple a day keeps the doctor away". The flavonoids in cocoa have been shown to help lower high blood pressure, improve blood flow and protect against cellular damage. In a study of 21,000 adults in Norfolk, England, which spanned 11 years, it was found that 17.4% of those who did not eat chocolate developed or died of heart disease, but only 12% of those in the top tier of chocolate consumption suffered the same fate. The participants who ate chocolate may have had healthier lifestyles in general - those who did not had more inflammation in their arteries, more diabetes and had a higher average weight.

One mechanism behind this is the antioxidant properties of cocoa flavonoids, and studies have shown that blood cholesterol is less likely to form arterial plaque when protected by antioxidants. After four weeks of an intervention involving cocoa powder, volunteers with mildly elevated cholesterol experienced a small, but significant, reduction by 5% of their LDL ("bad" cholesterol) levels. In another study, people with normal cholesterol levels saw a 15% reduction in LDL after a few weeks of eating an amount of chocolate that equaled 168mg of flavanols. These flavonoids could also fight inflammation by affecting important pro-inflammatory enzymes, such as cyclo-oxygenase and lipo-oxygenase. When over 800 people who ate dark chocolate regularly were compared to over 1,300 who did not, those who ate around 20 grams of dark chocolate every three days had significantly less inflammation than volunteers who are more or no chocolate. Therefore, it may be best to eat chocolate in moderation, and the people who ate it every day could have also been more likely to have other vices. Other research has found that these substances in chocolate can even relieve high blood pressure, with a similar effect to your average anti-hypertensive drugs! Overall it looks like dark chocolate and cacao powder, which you can use to make your own desserts, may in fact be health foods, but of course, only in moderation.

Are Omega-3 Fats the New Cholesterol?

It seems as though we hear about omega-3 fats and their apparently never-ending list of benefits so much that many people just roll their eyes whenever they're mentioned. But some health experts, like Dr William Harris, will freely talk about them as if they are the holy grail of health. A professor at the Sanford School of Medicine, Dr Harris has been researching essential fatty acids (1 omega-3, 1 omega-6) and their benefits for 30 years. "Each study clarifies what it does. It's been shown to help brain health, depression, dementia and there is something there that omega-3 helps with. It just needs to be worked out. We're just about to start this", he says.

Dr Harris is currently in Australia, helping to launch a national omega-3 testing program that is appropriately called the Omega-3 Index. Not only is it a risk factor for heart disease that can be addressed without drugs, but he "would bet" that omega-3 levels are the most important risk factor for heart disease. Once it is rolled out, the Omega-3 Index test will be a simple finger-prick blood test, which anyone could order from a doctor or naturopath. Then, the blood levels of omega-3 will be tested and recorded as a percentage. The optimal percentage range is 8-12%, with levels under 4% considered too low. The best source of the essential omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and in particular its downstream products EPA and DHA, is species of oily fish such as salmon (with the skin on), sardines, herring and mackerel. There are also plant sources of ALA, such as flax, chia, walnuts and hemp seeds (which are still not legally food in Australia). Hemp seeds have an optimal ratio of the essential omega-6 (linoleic acid) and omega-3 fatty acids, at 2.5:1. Flax seeds have the highest ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats, with the 6:3 ratio being 0.2:1. However, some people have a harder time converting ALA to the stronger downstream products EPA and DHA, so they must eat fish or take a supplement. Others can do it much more easily, but it also means they convert omega-6 fats into harmful (in excess) products at a higher rate, and so must avoid consuming a higher than optimal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats.

So how do omega-3 fatty acids work to protect heart health? At least one of the ways that they work is to reduce inflammation. Chronic inflammation can result in tissue damage, and some inflammatory chemicals produced by the body can dysregulate blood sugar, elevate blood lipids (such as those linked to heart disease) and raise blood pressure. Omega-3 fats have been found to aid in the production of chemicals that can both stop inflammation in its tracks and resolve it. After acute inflammation, which is beneficial to the body, you are meant to produce chemicals that act as "stop signals" and mop up the pro-inflammatory ones. These are known as lipoxins, resolvins and protectins. Without them, low-grade, damaging, chronic inflammation marches on and can lead to all sorts of problems later. Resolvins are made from omega-3 EPA and DHA, protectins are made from DHA and while lipoxins are made from the omega-6 product arachidonic acid, they need the presence of EPA and DHA.

BPA Exposure May Be Linked to Asthma

Previously I wrote about a new, vegan-friendly alternative to leather made from pineapple leaves. But that's not all it substitutes, as "vegan leather" used to only mean synthetics made from petrochemical products such as PVC, which can contain toxic chemicals including BPA. BPA is an increasingly unpopular chemical, with water bottles using a lack of BPA as a selling point. The most well-known effect of BPA exposure may be hormone disruption, but did you know that it may also increase the risk of asthma?

Just say no. Source: Aney.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory illness that has unfortunately been increasing in incidence. It is characterised by over-sensitive airways, which leads to airflow obstruction, and is inflammatory. Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalisation for children and teenagers under the age of 15. I used to have asthma, but kicked it at the age of 8 by swimming in a heated pool. Others are not so lucky, as 75% of children still have symptoms of asthma when they reach adulthood. Asthma is caused by an interaction between genes and the environment, including BPA exposure. One study described in a review showed that higher prenatal levels of BPA was linked with a 20% higher risk of wheezing. 657 pregnant women were tested for their BPA levels during the first and third trimester. In another, urinary BPA levels were tested when mothers were 16 and 26 weeks pregnant, as well as at birth. Above average BPA levels was associated with more than double the risk of wheezing at 6 months, but not at three years old. It has also been demonstrated that every 10-fold increase in BPA levels was associated with a 55% increase in the risk of wheezing from birth to 5 years. A study that didn't show that BPA increased the risk of asthma only measured levels of the toxin during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, in two other studies, one involving almost 400 mothers, higher BPA levels 16 weeks into pregnancy was linked with higher risks of wheezing, one showing a 20% increase, the other showing a 79% increase. BPA exposure in childhood may or may not increase the risk of asthma too. One study found a 40-50% increase in asthma in children 3-7 years old. Two others, however, only found an increased risk in girls.

Why would a commonly used product cause diseases such as asthma? It's legal, so it must be safe, right? Well, even though BPA only has a six-hour half-life in the body, we are often in contact with it so much that little to no accumulation wouldn't make much difference. Many people also habitually use the same type of products, I have "my brand", you have "your brand". The way that BPA may cause asthma is by interfering with immune function, which may explain the mixed results in research. It may swing the immune response in favour of the T-helper 1 (Th1) cells; in naturopathic circles Th1 dominance is known to put our patients at risk of certain illnesses. Th2 dominance comes with its own risks. Others have shown that BPA could create Th2 dominance. BPA may increase the production of pro-allergic immune chemicals such as IL-4 and IgE, which tell a type of immune cell to start an inflammatory response. BPA may also cause oxidative stress, which has been known to promote diseases (including general aging) for many years. The well-known effects of oxidative stress is why popular health magazines and websites will tell you to drink green tea and eat brightly-coloured fruit and vegetables. It was the first thing I ever heard to do with antiaging, which was why even at 14 I drank green tea more than soft drinks. Overall, while human studies show mixed findings, because of individual differences, there is now more evidence, more reasons to avoid BPA.

How Dogs Can Improve Your Health

That little face, those little paws, that personality...dogs are the best! But dogs are more than just cute, playful little (or big) balls of energy; research has shown that they can boost health and life expectancy at any age, in a multitude of ways.

My dog, Charlie

First, regular exposure to dogs can make children healthier by "training" their immune systems to be less sensitive to allergens. In a study on 285 babies, regular contact with dogs resulted in an allergen sensitisation rate of 19% instead of 33%, and an atopic dermatitis rate of 30% instead of 51%. Babies with the 159TT genotype had a 5% risk of atopic dermatitis if they were exposed to dogs, and a 43% risk if they weren't. Exposure to dogs also resulted in a higher IL-10 and IL-13 response at the age of one; these are two anti-inflammatory interleukins (as opposed to pro-inflammatory interleukins such as IL-6). It seems as though dogs hold more sway over respiratory health than the anti-atopy 159TT genotype, which contradicts the over-simplified "it's aaaaall in the geeeenes" high school biology classes I had. I myself have become less sensitive to my dog's fur over time. Dogs can also help children with autism, by reducing problematic behaviour and levels of stress hormones through their companionship.

As for adults, dogs can also reduce the risk of illness, with owners making 15% fewer doctor's appointments and taking less time off work (which means less catching up to do later!) Physical activity increases, and social bonds with other dog-owning friends strengthen as we are reminded to not be constantly working. The average dog owner walks approximately 5 hours a week, which is the Australian physical activity guideline for adults, and for empty-nesters, a fur kid can fulfil the need to be needed. "Elderly" dog owners have also been found to have healthier blood pressure and cholesterol (most likely from more walking); less stress, better nutrition and increased parasympathetic nervous system function - the side of the autonomic nervous system which stimulates digestion. There was even a small study of elderly patients hospitalised for heart issues which found that pet owners were more likely to survive! Owning a dog or other pet comes with a wide range of health benefits, but if you cannot afford or keep one yourself, perhaps volunteering or taking on an on-the-side job with dogs will bring the same benefits.

Unneccessary Treatments?

As part of the NPS Choosing Wisely campaign, 14 medical colleges in Australia have recently nominated certain common medical treatments as "wasteful" in an effort to reduce healthcare costs. Naturally, some are happy with the changes, and others are furious. Headlines in today's newspapers are carrying on about children being "left to suffer" instead of being allowed antibiotics for ear and upper respiratory infections, as well as paracetamol or aspirin to relive fever.

So what are the medicines and tests that doctors are now calling "unnecessary"? Here is the list:
1) Antibiotics for ear infections (especially 2-12 year old children)
2) Paracetamol or aspirin to control fever
3) X-rays of ankle or foot trauma
4) Chest X-rays for uncomplicated bronchitis
5) Routine colonoscopies
6) Antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections
7) Long-term anti-inflammatories for elderly patients
8) X-rays for lower back pain
9) Repeated blood tests for people with fatigue
10) CT scans to check for appendicitis

Some of my classes had already discussed 1), as many ear infections are self-resolving, but I would say that they are sometimes necessary if the pain and inflammation haven't resolved in 2-3 days. There were a few natural remedies that we did talk about, but often there isn't much available for young children and their underdeveloped immune systems. I would also agree with 2), unless the fever is over 39 degrees Celsius or it's a baby under 3 months old (that is when you go straight to hospital, no baby under 3 months should be allowed to have a fever). As for 3), 4), 8) and 10), diagnostics are not my specialty, but with 5) I would also agree with their admission of the dangers of colonoscopy. It's invasive and you can disrupt the gut bacteria, which help to regulate immunity and may even make or break the effectiveness of new immunotherapy drugs for cancer. However, I would not say that antibiotics for upper respiratory infections are always unnecessary, I have needed them in the past and depending on age (ie children) and severity, antibiotics may be needed alongside natural medicines. Anti-inflammatory drugs can have devastating side effects because of their suppression of protein synthesis, so I agree with 7) as there are plenty of natural alternatives that can be very effective. This includes but is not limited to turmeric, frankincense and ginger, but please see a Bachelor-qualified naturopath if you want to heal inflammation naturally and especially if you want to stop corticosteroids. For 9) I would say that often the wrong things are tested for when someone presents with fatigue, what needs to be tested for is up to the individual.

Overall? I see these new guidelines as a mixed blessing. They may benefit some, may harm others and may open up some more minds to natural therapies.

Individualised Treatment Able to Reverse Alzheimers?

One of the worst things about the aging process is how it affects the nervous system, as it stops being just about physical degeneration and mutates into something that can seemingly erase an individual's personality, memories, and everything else about them that is non-physical. But instead of "inspirational" (how?) movies etc. documenting these horrible diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, such as the awfully depressing Still Alice, we can get actually inspired by this: a recent study where 9 of the 10 patients involved experienced significant cognitive improvement after taking on individualised treatment protocols designed to correct metabolic defects.

The long history of failure in treating neurodegeneration suggests that these conditions are caused by failures in the body's systems or programs, not a need for a specific, targeted treatment. Treatments such as oestrogen replacement, exercise, melatonin, vitamin D, curcumin, ginkgo biloba and ashwagandha have so far shown minimal effects in research, often because they are prescribed alone. Research and treatment often only considers normalising metabolic parameters instead of optimising them; for example, a homocysteine level of 12umol/L is seen as "normal", but it is not optimal, and so many people with this reading will not be healthy. "Normal" is usually defined as "90%+ of people are in this range" or "you will live to see tomorrow, barring accidents". In systems such as naturopathy, optimal levels are the primary concern, as treatment is individualised to the patient. This is also why many of us have issues with health food store "consultations", where you have to generalise because you only have a few minutes with them and are often pressured to sell as much as possible by often unqualified owners (I was in one of these places for a while).

Despite individual variations, all patients' treatment plans followed a selection of the following rules:

-Reduce simple carbohydrates and inflammatory aspects of their diets, while increasing anti-inflammatory, whole foods (several low GI, low inflammatory, low grain diet options were given)
-Enhance the clearing of cellular garbage and temporarily induce ketogenesis (all patients were instructed to fast for 12 hours a day, which was sleeping + 3 hours before bed)
-Reduce stress (patients' own choices of methods)
-Optimise sleep to around 8 hours of unbroken sleep
-Exercise for 30-60 minutes a day for 4-6 days per week
-Brain stimulation if required
-Keep homocysteine under 7. Homocysteine is quite damaging to neurological health. Methylated folate and B12 were required for this, along with B5 and trimethyl-glycine if necessary.
-Keep serum B12 levels to over 500
-Keep CRP, an inflammatory marker, under 1, with an anti-inflammatory diet, curcumin, EPA/DHA and/or hygiene
-Keep insulin under 7 and HbA1c under 5.5
-Optimise thyroid, stress and "sex" hormones
-Repair GIT health with pre- and probiotics as needed
-Reduce A-beta protein with curcumin and/or ashwagandha
-Enhance cognition with Bacopa monniera and/or magnesium threonate
-Keep vitamin D3 between 50 and 100ng/mL with vitamins D3 and/or K2 supplementation
-Increase nerve growth factor with H. erinaceus and/or acetyl-l-carnitine
-Provide synaptic structural components with citicoline and/or DHA
-Optimise antioxidants with any of: mixed forms of vitamin E, selenium, blueberries, N-acetyl cysteine, vitamin C or alpha-lipoic acid
-Optimise zinc:copper ratios
-Treat sleep apnoea if necessary
-Optimise mitochondrial function with any of: CoQ10 forms, alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetyl cysteine, acetyl-l-carnitine, selenium, zinc, vitamin C or B1, or resveratrol
-Increase focus with vitamin B5
-Increase SirT1 function with resveratrol
-Treat any heavy metal toxicity
-Consume medium-chain fats, which are in coconut oil and are an alternative energy source for the brain besides sugar.

For example, the treatment plan of a 55 year old woman with cognitive impairment and early onset Alzheimer's disease consisted of:

-Fasting for a minimum of three hours between dinner and bedtime, and for a minimum of 12

hours between dinner and breakfast
-Eliminating simple carbohydrates and processed foods from her diet;
-Increasing consumption of vegetables and fruits, limiting consumption of fish to non-farmed, and no meat
-Exercising 4-5 times per week
-Taking melatonin 0.5mg orally at bedtime, and trying to sleep as close to 8 hours per night as her schedule would allow
-Trying to reduce stress in her life with meditation and relaxation

-Taking methylcobalamin (vitamin B12) at 1mg 4x/wk and pyridoxine-5-phosphate (vitamin B5) at 20mg each day;

-Taking citicoline at 200mg each day

 -2000IU vitamin D3 daily and CoQ10 at 200mg each day

-700mg of DHA and 500mg EPA twice daily-Bioidentical oestradiol with oestriol and progesterone
-Reducing her bupropion from 150mg daily to 150mg  3 times weekly.
bioidentical estradiol with estriol
 Regardless of the authors' positions on various systems of medicine, they are essentially stating that naturopathy as a system of medicine is superior in treating these issues, as opposed to pharmaceuticals or the "green allopathy" that characterises the research where only one substance such as ginkgo biloba is given. However, it is important to see a qualified naturopath for a full consultation.

Guess What Beat Steroids in Treating Cough?

One of the most famous, or infamous, depending on your experiences, classes of prescription pharmaceuticals is the corticosteroids. Aiming to relieve inflammation, these also unfortunately carry many severe side-effects, including those stemming from the fact that they inhibit protein synthesis. Fortunately, one study looking at natural alternatives to medications found a superior alternative in the treatment of post-infectious cough (PPC), a combination of honey......and......coffee! PPC is the name given to a cough that persists for at least three weeks after a cold or other upper respiratory tract infection, and these sometimes stay around for as long as several months. Besides corticosteroids, conventional treatment may also involve codeine, antihistamines, narcotic and bronchodilator drugs, which all carry their own negative side effects.

This study, conducted in Iran, involved 97 participants who had suffered from PPC for more than three weeks. They were divided into three groups: one receiving a jam-like paste consisting of 20.8 grams of honey and 2.9 grams of instant coffee; one receiving 13.3mg of prednisolone, a corticosteroid, and the last group receiving 25mg of guaifenesin (the control). The participants were instructed to dissolve a specific amount of the product they received in warm water, and to drink this every eight hours for one week. Both before and after the week of treatment, the severity of each person's cough was evaluated by a validated visual questionnaire score. While the honey-coffee group saw their cough frequency scores drop from 2.9 to 0.2, the steroid group showed a drop from 3.0 to 2.4, and the control group only showed a drop from 2.8 to 2.7. These differences were deemed to be clinically significant. The authors also stated that even though billions of dollars are spent every year on attempts to control and resolve coughs, the effect of cough medicines are not reliable, and that despite PPC not being responsible for any mortality, it does cause significant disruption to quality of life.

PPC is often caused by persistent inflammation of the upper airways. So, how exactly do coffee and honey work against this? Well, multiple studies have shown anti-inflammatory effects of coffee, such as one where caffeine was found to block caspase-1 and therefore production of interleukin-1beta, which is a common inflammatory cytokine. Caffeine may also relieve asthma by acting as a bronchodilator, as even small amounts have been shown to improve lung function, measured by forced expiratory volume and mid-expiratory flow rates. There seems to be no significant effect of caffeine on nitric oxide levels, which is a chemical that dilates airways and blood vessels. Honey has been found to possess anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, with the former being relevant to post-infectious coughs where there may be a subclinical infection. It has direct anti-bacterial properties from hydrogen peroxide and constituents derived from the flowers that the bees had taken the nectar from, as well as simply being able to dehydrate bacterial cells due to its high sugar content and acidic pH. Unlike caffeine, honey can increase nitric oxide, which is also anti-inflammatory. The other anti-inflammatory effects of honey come from its prostaglandin-inhibiting abilities, antioxidant effects and its ability to speed up healing, which reduces the "need" for inflammation. So in conclusion, even though it may not make sense that a mixture of coffee and honey is able to stop a cough that often calls for prescription drugs, it has shown efficacy and has plenty of other research to back it up.

*One of these side effects is tendon damage, which is actually a vomiting trigger for me if I think about it or see it.

Protect Yourself Against Blood Sugar Spikes!

As I have previously written, glycation may be the main driver behind the aging process, as high blood glucose levels lead to unused sugar getting tangled in proteins and fat, which causes a vicious cycle of oxidation, inflammation and tissue damage. To make things worse, one effect of aging is less control over blood sugar spikes! (Croat Med J.)

Fortunately, a unique form of vitamin B1, known as benfotiamine, has been found in multiple studies to protect against the effects of elevated blood sugar. "Regular" B1, known as thiamine, also prevents the formation of glycation molecules, but it is quickly used up and excreted partially because it is water soluble. Benfotiamine is fat soluble, which boosts absorption and makes it more difficult to excrete. In one study, benfotiamine increased thiamine uptake into the liver and heart by 10-40%; and in the muscles and brain, it was increased 5-25 times over! (Arzneimittelforschung). Supplementation has also been shown to reduce the formation of AGEs in blood cells by 40%. In a study on human subjects taking 1,050mg of benfotiamine for three days, it completely prevented endothelial blood flow impairment after a meal rich in AGEs (Diabetes Care).

Benfotiamine has several mechanisms of action that reduce damage from sugar. It can activate an enzyme known as transketolase, which converts dangerous glucose-induced metabolites into safe compounds. It inhibits nuclear factor-kappaB activation, which is a major inflammatory molecule. Additionally, a study from 2012 showed that benfotiamine increases glucose breakdown by 70% in hyperglycaemia, and up to 49% in normal glucose conditions (Genes Nutr). It is also superior to thiamine alone in reducing neurodegenerative diseases and cancer (Clin Lab), as well as kidney and nerve damage seen in diabetic patients (Biochem Soc Trans).

Conventional "wisdom" says that you cannot reverse the damage caused by sugar. However, when benfotiamine was given to mice with Alzheimer's disease for eight weeks, it reduced both amyloid plaque and phosphorylated tau proteins, alongside a dose-dependent memory improvement (Brain). It was then determined that a reduction in glycation end products was behind the reversals in Alzheimer's pathophysiology (Mol Cell Neurosci). In another animal study, benfotiamine was found to reverse the accumulation of AGEs in the retina, as well as increasing their excretion! (Diabetologia) So there is hope for the already-aged, but benfotiamine really should become more widely available! B vitamins are commonly thrown into magnesium and iron supplements, because they are often needed together, so maybe at least some of the thiamine should be replaced with benfotiamine.                                            

"Stoner Sloth" Government Propaganda

So lately a state government in my country has decided to insult our collective intelligence with the "You're Worse on Weed" campaign, despite planned trials testing limited medical use and mounting scientific evidence proving the health benefits of a particular herb. Really? If I had or wanted children, I'd be more angry at them for drinking alcohol, which is worse for your health, or if they were abusing painkillers for whatever reason.

What do I see? I see people quietly shrinking their children's tumours back into nothing with full strength oil but being chased by "the law", I see people almost reaching "remission" and then running out of money to buy supplies to make the oil because of prohibition prices. There is even a case study of a girl who was almost saved, but "the standard of care" killed her. This is not good enough. Take your bald-heads-and-brave-hearts discourse and shove it where it will no longer see the light of day.

When I was in high school, I didn't see any "sloths", I saw kids whose lives had been ruined by pharmaceutical medications for epilepsy and Crohn's disease. If I knew about a certain natural alternative, twice as powerful as hydrocortisone (but without a list of side effects that literally make me almost vomit just by thinking about them too much), I would have been more optimistic about life, but I may have been expelled for not towing the line.

You, New South Wales government, do not speak for me. Give us Colorado-style legalisation with provision for up to two plants for personal use. I want to live, I want to be in control over my life, none of this "medicated and mighty" thing that went around social media recently. If years of food intolerance-induced damage are yet to catch up with me, I do not want the pharmaceuticals for IBD, I want what may be the best natural alternative available. By the way, the method of administration used in the study I just linked to is the weakest.

You Can Speed Up Fracture Healing!

For people of all ages, there aren't many things more inconvenient than breaking an arm, leg or something else entirely. On top of waiting for the fracture itself to heal, weeks or months of restrictive inconvenience often follows as the muscles need to be retrained. But is there another way? Are there therapies to speed up the healing of fractures? Yes of course!

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) are two options used by a number of athletes for promoting repair, with a review of 8 studies showing that both of these treatments can be effective in speeding tibial fracture healing. One of the papers reviewed found a reduction in healing time of 12 days among non-smokers treated with LIPUS (84 days versus 96 days) for clinical healing, and a reduction of 33 days for healing with PEMF (96 days instead of 129). Even in smokers using these therapies the healing time was reduced, 103 days versus 175 in the control group using LIPUS and 96 days versus 175 in the control group using PEMF. In another of the studies, this time evaluating fractures of the radius in the arm, the effects of LIPUS treatment on patients receiving 15 minutes of therapy per day were tested. For patients in the treatment group, clinical fracture healing time was 32 days on average, as opposed to 40 days in the placebo group. These figures do not count the time required to rebuild muscle tissue, so they do not fully describe the benefit of these therapies. Mechanical stimulation with whole body vibration may be another effective way to enhance bone healing and muscle strength, though results vary with the level of frequency and amplitude used. As these can be very expensive, I think they should be publicly funded due to their economic value from helping people return to work sooner. 

Fractures can also be treated nutritionally. For example, it is recommended to increase protein intake in fracture patients by 20 grams daily, as one study found that patients receiving a protein supplement remained in rehabilitation wards for 33 days as opposed to 54 days for the group receiving a placebo of similar caloric value. These patients also had greater increases of growth factor IGF-1, which is necessary for healing in bone fracture patients, and they experienced less than half of the loss in bone mineral density and half as many vertebral deformities compared to controls. Dairy products and some grains can also increase levels of IGF-1, so this is one time when you should not be on a Paleo diet. 

There are micronutrients that can also play a role in fracture healing. For example, an antioxidant vitamin E deficiency can disrupt maintenance of calcium stores, resulting in overactive parathyroid glands and bone loss. In animal studies, antioxidant administration completely prevented bone loss in mice with their ovaries removed, while inhibiting glutathione synthesis (the “master antioxidant”) resulted in a significant level of bone loss in mice with intact ovaries. Because of this, antioxidants are particularly important for post-menopausal women. Vitamin C, an antioxidant that often works with glutathione, may inhibit the bone destroying osteoclasts and sustain the growth of the bone building osteoblasts, by mechanisms such as upregulating collagen type I synthesis. Collagen synthesis is also essential for bone fracture healing in and of itself, because it is part of bone tissue. Certain pro-oxidant and inflammatory chemicals such as TNF-alpha, hydrogen peroxide, nuclear factor kappa-B, IL-8, IL-1 and IL-6 are known to work against bone building in support of the osteoclasts. Therefore, anti-inflammatory nutrients and herbs like turmeric, widely known for its effects against IL-6, may assist in healing. One of my mentors has a liking for potato poultices, and if they can be used, they have an effect against hydrogen peroxide due to the catalase present in raw potato. 

However, certain types of inflammation can benefit bone healing, therefore non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be avoided as much as possible in favor of alternatives including vitamin C (500mg), quercetin, and bromelain. Of course, calcium, magnesium and vitamin D are always indispensable in bone growth and repair, but silicon supplementation as an adjunct may increase the rate of healing, though absorption rates vary.

What are Castor Oil Packs?

Last week at my association meeting, two of my association buddies, the most experienced in the room, got to talking about the use of castor oil packs for inflammation and detoxification. This was particularly for endometriosis and fibroids, as one of them specialises in women's and children's health. I had no idea what they were, how to use them or what they were for, because we have never learnt anything about them or many other more hands-on therapies at college. Mostly we learn nutritional, herbal and lifestyle medicine, with herbal medicine almost always being liquid-extract formulas or creams.

Of course I wanted to research these outside of our meeting. Castor oil packs were popularised by Edgar Cayce, and then later researched by the physician William McGarey, author of The Oil That Heals. He wrote that when used correctly, castor oil packs can improve the function of the immune system, specifically, in two separate studies, patients saw significant increases in lymphocyte production (a category of immune cell) compared to those using placebo packs. This was repeated in a 1999 animal study, where the average number of T-11 lymphocytes significantly increased over seven hours after a two-hour treatment with castor oil packs. Increased lymphocyte levels speed the removal of toxins and cellular garbage from tissues, which also promotes healing. In one study on rats, the main compound in castor oil was more effective in relieving and preventing inflammation than the capsaicin in chilli, with inflammation peaking earlier and then later falling to lower levels than both capsaicin and control. On day eight, the inflammation had gone in both capsaicin and castor oil. When testing a subchronic model of inflammation (I would say this is very relevant to the real world), the lowest levels of inflammation during all weeks in both tests were found in the group treated with castor oil. In a study on humans with knee osteoarthritis, the 50 patients given just 0.9mL of castor oil, three times daily for 4 weeks, while the other 50 were prescribed 50mg of diclofenac sodium three times daily for 4 weeks. After being evaluated by clinical, radiographic and laboratory tests, it was found that both treatments were effective, but castor oil had no negative side effects whereas the drug had a high rate of adverse effects.

Besides castor oil packs, you can simply rub the oil in to wherever the affected area is or apply it to a Band-Aid. Basically a castor oil pack involves soaking a large enough (often folded, depending on the size) piece of cloth, preferably flannel, in room-temperature castor oil; covering this over with a sheet of plastic and then placing a heat pack or heating pad on top. This is meant to be left on for 45-60 minutes, and it is recommended to wash your skin with soap afterwards and wash the cloth separately. For best results it is said you should apply castor oil packs for four consecutive days a week, for one month. However, the brand of castor oil is very important as much of what is currently commercially available has been sprayed with pesticide and chemically treated. (since my bob style first appeared in 1923, can it take me back to that year so I can shop chemical-free much easier? :-D ) Unless you want a powerful laxative, I don't recommend you use castor oil orally either, just topically, and, only if you know you are not allergic to the oil. Fortunately, the highly toxic ricin found in castor beans is not present in the oil, but still don't go overboard. Castor oil may also have anticancer and contraceptive effects, but these need more research before any conclusions can be drawn.

An Interesting Theory on Depression

Lately I have been researching the evidence behind inflammation as a cause of depression, because  most people I saw in the student clinic this semester have been affected by depression and anxiety. So yesterday I found an article describing a new theory that not only reaffirms the inflammation as a causative factor, but also acknowledges the contributions of high stress in early life.

The authors state that "social threat" and high levels of adversity increase inflammation through the stress response, which then can initiate symptoms of depression such as low mood, inability to find pleasure and social withdrawal. While this is necessary when faced with acute physical stress (my teachers love to mention the example of a sabre-tooth tiger), any threat regardless of how imagined or non-physical it is can activate this same response.

Why did this jump out at me? Well it's because the mainstream media and many alternative sources just love to paint the illusion of an ever-worsening world. Whether it is to increase sales or to achieve social control through learned helplessness (probably both), I usually have to deliberately look for positive news that few journalists seem to care about. So was I surprised when I read this new theory? Am I surprised that mental health is an ever-increasing problem in this culture of pessimism? No! So maybe, besides increasing intake of anti-inflammatory foods such as turmeric, and nutrients such as essential fatty acids, helping to make a positive difference in the world and surrounding yourself with positive people could aid mental health. Especially if you already have a mental illness, you don't owe pessimists anything; just because many of them call themselves reeeeealiiiistiiiic doesn't mean you have to have anything to do with them in order to get taken seriously. They're health hazards, just like smokers. I deleted a couple of not-so-friends off of Facebook for this type of behaviour and I'm not sorry. Often I would rather be cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, or building a Rajasthani girl's school from the ground up than listen to this variety of people. My health comes first. I also support Camfed, which is doing some amazing work in Africa to help girls get the education and careers they deserve (much better than a typical alternative of early marriage and seven children).
I shouldn't feel like I am rebelling against the dominant culture by supporting them, but I do.
It is time to change the conversation about mental health, which is currently all about pharmaceutical drugs, to one of not only diet but also our mainstream society and media.

Coffee Isn't Bad Either

Like red meat, which I discussed in a previous post, coffee is yet another substance that has unfairly gained a bad reputation in many circles, often from concerns over adrenal issues and old wives' tales about coffee stunting growth. This is unfair because multiple studies have shown that coffee carries many health benefits; however, the quality of the coffee influences whether the findings are positive or negative because poor quality coffee can contain mould toxins.

One of these health benefits is an overall reduced risk of dying. A meta-analysis (often deemed the highest quality of evidence) involving a grand total of 997, 464 participants across the studies analysed found that four cups of coffee daily reduced the all-cause mortality rate by 16%! Three cups per day reduced the cardiovascular disease mortality rates by an average of 21%. This means that out of 100 people who would have all died in a given year, 16 get to live at least another year.

Coffee may also be protective against certain types of cancers. For example, a study in the journal Gastroenterology found that increasing coffee consumption by 2 cups per day can reduce the risk of liver cancer by 43%. A meta-analysis once again showed that regular coffee intake may cut the risk of liver cancer, this time by 50%, with men enjoying a 62% risk reduction. This may be because of coffee's influence on liver detoxification, with its diuretic effect possibly helping to flush out toxins and their metabolites. It is not just liver cancer either: other research has found that four or more cups of coffee daily can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 59%, and five can cut breast cancer risk by 29% overall, but by 59% for oestrogen receptor negative types. This seems like a lot of coffee, but one of my friends once drank about ten cups every day, and cup size does not seem to be specified.

On top of this, research from the University of Illinois has shown that caffeine may block the brain-based inflammation implicated in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. It can inhibit an enzyme known as caspase-1, which triggers production of interleukin-1beta, a pro-inflammatory chemical. Caffeine's ability to block adenosine receptors is associated with cognitive improvement and protection against Alzheimer's disease. Would Alice Still be Alice? I don't know, that movie is far too depressing for my tastes. Additionally, drinking at least two cups of coffee daily can cut your risk of death from liver cirrhosis by 66%, but tea, soft drinks and fruit juice have no effect on cirrhosis mortality rates. For best results in any of these benefits, do not drink coffee with an excess of milk and sugar. All of the studies discussed here can be accessed on GreenMedInfo.

Well Done Isn't Well Done

No gold star for you :-p

In many cases, it is not the food you are eating, but how it is cooked that has an effect on your risk of certain diseases and the rate of aging. For example, eating ocean fish reduces the risk of heart attacks, but only eating fried fish increases risk of heart disease. This is because heating food to temperatures of over 300 degrees Fahrenheit causes cell damaging chemical changes. Some of the chemicals formed are glycotoxins.....the AGEs that I discussed in a previous post on wheat. Because of these among others, a study from 2012 showed that men who consumed 1-2 servings of pan-fried meat weekly increased their risk of advanced prostate cancer by 35%. Men who ate over 2-3 servings weekly increased their risk by 40%. In other research, women who ate "well done" hamburgers increased breast cancer risk by 50% compared to women who preferred rare or medium hamburgers. Additionally, women who ate well done hamburgers, steak and bacon on a very regular basis had a 462% increased risk of breast cancer in the Women's Health Study!

Studies that show an association between glycation and disease are not all there is. A six week study on diabetic patients involved splitting them into two groups: one consuming food cooked at high temperatures, and the other on the same diet cooked at lower temperatures. The high temperature group saw their levels of glycated LDL "cholesterol" increase by 32%, but the low temperature group both lost weight and reduced their glycated LDL by 33%! While eating the same foods!
Another study on mice eating diets high in methylgloxyl (an AGE) found that AGEs contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance and eventually diabetes. The fat that these mice gained then produced more pro-inflammatory chemicals that made their problems even worse.

So what can we do about this? Chemicals such as indole-3-carbinol and chlorophyllin are known to prevent AGE induced DNA damage; cooking with moisture e.g steaming or stir frying; or marinating foods in lemon juice, olive oil, mustard or garlic can also reduce AGE formation. So as always, there is hope.

Wheat May Be Bad For Everyone

Source

Is wheat bad for everyone, not just those with coeliac disease or NCGS?

Possibly.

Conventional dietary advice instructs the world to increase consumption of "complex carbohydrates", or "whole grains", and then champions wholegrain bread and other wheat products as a solution to many health problems.

However, in the original 1981 study from The University of Toronto, that which began the concept of Glycaemic Index, paints a much more negative picture. This original study showed that the GI of sucrose (table sugar) was 59, while the GIs of white bread and wholegrain bread respectively were 69 and 72. A Mars Bar has a GI of 68, and a Snickers bar has a GI of 41, also beating bread. A dramatic rise in blood sugar levels will also trigger a dramatic rise in insulin, which encourages energy storage: first to glycogen (stored sugar) in the liver, then to fat if glycogen stores are plentiful. Excessive fat can also lead to chronic inflammation, as fat tissue produces pro-inflammatory cytokines known as adipokines, as well as tumour necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukins1, 1-RA, 6, 8 and 10. One adipokine, called adiponectin, can be anti-inflammatory in the blood vessels, but is pro-inflammatory in the skeletal joints and is associated with rheumatoid arthritis and degradation.

This inflammation contributes to the pancreatic injury described in the main source of this post. Even if consistently high blood sugar levels do not cause insulin resistance and then diabetes, you do not want them. It is the consistently high blood sugar levels in diabetic people that is the cause of retinopathy (eye damage), neuropathy (nerve damage) and nephropathy (kidney damage); in fact it is said that diabetes is a model for accelerated aging, with the "age-related diseases" often appearing years earlier than "expected" in non-diabetics! Unabsorbed blood sugar has a tendency towards getting tangled in cells and tissues and forming advanced glycation end products, or AGEs. These are useless, disrupt normal functions and have no currently known method of removal. Their only "function" is to cause even more oxidation and inflammation, adding to the already existent tissue damage, with the most visible result being wrinkling and sagging of the skin! (then you age and die, and I am expected to have babies to replace you. Ain't the "circle of life" wonderful(!?))

Fortunately, there are now known substances that can impair AGE formation, and a way to clear them may be discovered. AGE levels in the red blood cells do have the ability to decrease because these are recycled every 120 days; this is what gets measured in the HbA1c blood tests that are recommended for diabetics. Also fortunately, gluten-free and blood sugar-friendly recipes (such as those from the Palaeo diets) taste great and can encourage you to be creative in cooking.