Jul
12
2009
What is “c-reactive protein”?
by admin
C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory protein marker found in the blood that indicates the presence of inflammation. Recent research suggests that patients with elevated basal levels of CRP are at an increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Elevated levels of CRP can be caused by various types of infections and inflammation, including periodontal disease. Levels of CRP can be monitored with a simple blood test.
Until next time, thanks for visiting and here’s wishing you a naturally healthy day!
Dr. Joe Mix
NaturalHealthMix.com
Jun
28
2009
Do Supplements Work?
by admin
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), until 2002, had never been a big proponent of regular vitamin supplementation. Finally, the data could no longer be ignored. After an extensive review of the scientific research in support of vitamin supplementation, researchers Robert H. Fletcher, MD, MSc and Kathleen M. Fairfield, MD, DrPH concluded in a landmark study published in JAMA entitled: Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults that ”most people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins by diet alone. Pending strong evidence of effectiveness from randomized trials, it appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements.” (Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002; 287: 3127-3129)
Because most people do not regularly obtain optimal nutrition from diet alone and because of the overwhelming evidence of regular daily vitamin and mineral supplementation to maintain health and reduce the risks of many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, colon cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis and many more, we at Natural Health Mix are in the process of developing a high-quality, multi-vitamin, multi-mineral nutritional supplement to complement our current product offerings. Of course, we will let you know as soon as it is available. So, to answer the question: “Do supplements work?” The answer is a most definite “Yes, supplements do work!” For more information about vitamin supplementation, visit our Natural Remedies resource library and click on Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults. Until next time, thanks for checking in with us, and here’s wishing you a naturally healthy day!
Dr. Joe Mix
NaturalHealthMix.com
Jun
07
2009
Know your numbers.
by admin
Hello once again! Dr. Mix here with an update on your cholesterol numbers. Individual cholesterol numbers for HDL and LDL are often used by physicians to assess a patient’s risk of developing heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends that your total cholesterol be below 200, your LDL be below 100, and your HDL should be above 40 for men and above 50 for women. Many physicians feel that the total cholesterol to HDL ratio is a better predictor of overall heart disease risk than either number alone. Ideally, the total cholesterol to HDL ratio should be less than 4.0. Your triglycerides (another type of fat in your blood and another risk factor for heart disease) should be below 150.
For more information about your cholesterol numbers, visit our Natural Remedies resource library and click on: High Blood Cholesterol. What You Need to Know.
Until next time, thanks for visiting and here’s wishing you a naturally healthy day!
Dr. Joe Mix
NaturalHealthMix.com
May
17
2009
What is homocysteine?
by admin
Homocysteine has been identified as an independent risk factor for heart disease (along with cholesterol, c-reactive protein, age, gender, smoking, weight, and heredity). It is an amino acid found in the blood and evidence from research suggests that it damages the inner lining of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. It also is a powerful oxidant and very likely contributes to the oxidation of LDL (”bad”) cholesterol which leads to plaque build up and increases the liklihood of blocked arteries.
Vitamin supplements such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Folic acid, have been shown to reduce elevated levels of homocysteine in about 75% of people. For the remaining 25%, supplements such as Vitamin B2 and Trimethylglycene (TMG or betaine), in addition to the above, have demonstrated homocysteine lowering properties. In 1999, I published a research paper in Nutrition Research entitled: “Do Megadoses of Vitamin C Interfere with Folic Acid’s Role in the Metabolism of Plasma Homocysteine?” (Nutrition Research, Vol. 19, No. 2, Feb. 1999) which suggested that Vitamin C supplements in excess of 500 mg per day may interfere with Folic Acid’s ability to lower homocysteine levels.
This is health information that you can use and, as always, have a naturally healthy day!
Dr. Joe Mix
NaturalHealthMix.com
May
03
2009
What does PSA mean?
by admin
PSA stands for “prostate-specific antigen” which is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood and is used as a screening test to check for the presence of disease in the prostate gland, specifically prostate cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the PSA test along with a digital rectal exam (DRE) to help detect prostate cancer in men age 50 and older. Several risk factors increase a man’s chances of developing prostate cancer. These factors include:
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Age (65% of prostate cancer cases occur in men 65 and over)
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Family history
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Race (African American men have the highest rate; Asian men have the lowest)
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Diet (diets high in saturated fat may increase the risk of prostate cancer)
The test results are usually reported in nanograms of PSA per milliliter (ng/ml) of blood. In the past, most doctors considered PSA values below 4.0 as normal, however, recent research has found prostate cancer in men with PSA levels below 4.0. There is no specific normal or abnormal PSA level. The higher a man’s PSA level, the more likely it is that cancer is present. If no other symptoms suggest cancer, the doctor may recommend repeating the DRE and PSA tests regularly to watch for any changes. If a man’s PSA levels have been increasing or if a suspicious lump is detected during the DRE, the doctor may recommend other tests (urine, ultrasound, biopsy) to determine if there is cancer or another problem in the prostate.