Category Archives: Memory aids

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Alzheimer’s: Type 3 Diabetes?

Tony's picture 2 from PeggyYou may be watching your waistline, or perhaps thinking about your blood sugar level, while eating that piece of cake or pie. But it’s your brain you might best be thinking about.  

Here’s a very informative article by Chris D. Meletis, N.D. I’ve excerpted from the May 2013 issue of Whole Health Insider:

Alzheimer’s: Type 3 Diabetes?

. . . Researchers are establishing a strong link between blood sugar and brain health to the point where they’re calling Alzheimer’s disease “type 3 diabetes.” There’s also a link between diabetes and other forms of memory problems, including vascular dementia and mild cognitive impairment.

Studies consistently show a two to 3.4-fold increased risk of vascular dementia and a 1.8 to two-fold increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease in older people with diabetes.  Many studies also show that you’re 1.5 times more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment — a condition known as predementia – if you have diabetes.

Diabetes is thought to account for six to eight percent of all cases of dementia in older people. Additionally, people who have diabetes are 50 to 75 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and people with Alzheimer’s disease have a higher than normal tendency to develop type 2 diabetes or impaired fasting glucose.

Scientists looked at 15 studies that investigated the link between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Fourteen of those studies found that the two conditions were related, and in nine of those studies, the link between the two conditions was statistically significant. Smoking and hypertension — when they existed along with diabetes — increased the risk of Alzheimer’s even more.

As fascinating as these statistics are, what’s really eye-opening is the many reasons why impaired blood sugar is so damaging to your brain.

This Is Your Brain on Sugar

When researchers first began to suspect there was a link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s, they wanted to know why this connection existed. Their search led them to two peptides — chains of amino acids that form proteins.

One type of peptide, known as amyloid beta, is found in Alzheimer plaques in neurons of the brain — and in the pancreas of diabetic patients. The other peptide, amylin, is found in both the pancreas and the brains.

In one study, researchers found that same hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease — amyloid beta — in both the brains and the retinas (which is considered an extension of the brain) of diabetic patients. Specifically, the researchers looked at brain-cell-damaging toxins — known as oligomer– produced by amyloid beta. Oligomers are responsible for causing Alzheimer’s-related memory loss.

Insulin plays an important role in the formation of memories. And when oligomers attach to neurons, they knock out the insulin receptors from the neuron’s surfaces, which causes insulin resistance in the brain.

Normally, after eating, an increase in sugar in the bloodstream signals the pancreas to boost levels of insulin, which in turn signals cells to remove sugar from the bloodstream so that the cells can use the sugar for energy. Insulin resistance occurs when cells fail to respond to insulin’s signal to allow glucose into the cells. This causes the pancreas to secrete even more insulin. Over time, the elevated insulin levels aren’t enough to compensate for the higher blood sugars, and the result is high blood sugar or diabetes since glucose can’t get into the cells.

Diabetes causes even more oligomers to build up in the brain and retina, which makes neurons even more insulin resistant. If glucose can’t get into the cells, the brain is starved of the fuel it needs to function. Without glucose, your brain would work about as effectively as your car when it runs out of gas. The brain composes only about two percent of the entire human body mass. Yet, 50 percent of glucose use in the body occurs in the brain. The majority of the brain glucose is converted to ATP energy so that your brain cells can work properly and your memory remains in top shape.

The brain needs a balanced amount of glucose to function effectively. The problem occurs when the body is subjected to too much glucose and other forms of sugar such as sucrose and fructose. Too much of these sugars and it overwhelms your body to the extent that your body keeps producing more and more insulin, which ultimately loses its effectiveness, and results in the insulin resistance mentioned above. This is why, when mice with Alzheimer’s disease are fed excessive quantities of glucose, amyloid beta levels increase.

Tangled Taus

Tau proteins are another culprit to blame for the connection between diabetes and Alzheimer’s. When tau proteins clump together, they form neurofibrillary tangles, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers don’t know for sure whether these tangles actually cause Alzheimer’s, but they definitely play an important role in the development of the disease.

Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) modifies these tau proteins in the brain in such a way that they begin clumping together, causing them to form neurofibrillary tanqles.”

The Inflammation Link

Inflammation is another link between Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Inflammation triggers the production of amyloid beta and increases the risk of the vascular disease associated with dementia.

Inflammation in the blood vascular system is caused by insulin which erodes the inner wall of the vessels. Cholesterol is sent in from the liver to coat the scratches in the vessels so they don’t leak. This results in atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) that leads to poor circulation and coronary heart disease.

Low-grade, systemic inflammation also is linked to diabetes as well as the cognitive decline that occurs in diabetics. One study reported that higher levels of inflammation markers such as C-reactive protein were associated with lower cognitive performance.

Not the Brain You Were Born With 

Diabetes results in changes to the brain’s structure — including more frequent brain lesions, and wasting away of an important area of the brain — compared to people who don’t have diabetes.

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And it’s not only the structure of the brain that changes during diabetes. The blood-brain barrier becomes more permeable as well.  The blood-brain barrier separates circulating blood from the extracellular fluid of the central nervous system. This is because the brain is very choosy about what it allows inside of it. The blood-brain barrier keeps bacteria and other large molecules that don’t belong from entering the brain while allowing in glucose, hormones and other substances the brain needs to function.

When the blood-brain barrier isn’t working properly, it allows amyloid beta to slip through into the brain. The ability to allow amyloid beta proteins into your brain is controlled, in part, by a receptor for advanced glycation end products — better known as AGEs — which are produced in excess in diabetes and prediabetes.  AGEs form as a result of a protein or fat molecule combining with a sugar molecule.

AGEs are easiest to understand when you think of them in relation to the browning of food. When you toast a slice of bread, the browning of the bread is the result of AGE formation in the food. This same process occurs in your body during blood sugar spikes. The more diabetes or insulin resistance disrupts your blood sugar, the more AGEs that form in your body. And, therefore, the more amyloid beta that can get into your brain and damage your neurons.

Starving the Brain

Some research shows that during diabetes and insulin resistance, the brain is being starved of the insulin it needs to function. Yet, even while high levels of insulin are saturating the body during prediabetes, the brain becomes deficient in insulin because overproduction of this hormone weakens insulin receptors at the blood-brain barrier. This results in reduced amounts of insulin transported to the brain.

This spells disaster for brain function, since insulin enhances memory and learning. Insulin deficiency in the brain also is involved in cerebral vascular dysfunction, inflammation, oxidative stress and the inability of neurons in the brain to repair themselves.

Are Genetics to Blame?

Researchers have discovered a gene that may explain the link between Alzheimer’s and diabetes. They found that the gene, present in many Alzheimer’s disease cases, affects the insulin pathway.

Yet, of the two types of Alzheimer’s disease — type 1 and type 2 — only type 1, which accounts for five to 10 percent of Alzheimer’s cases, is genetic. This type of Alzheimer’s often develops at an earlier age. The rest of the cases, 90 to 95 percent, are type 2 and aren’t connected to genetics.

Interestingly, this sounds a lot like diabetes as well, doesn’t it? Of the two types of diabetes — type 1 and type 2 — type 1 accounts tor five percent of all diabetes cases, with 95 percent of diabetes falling under the type 2 classification.

30-DAY CURE OF TYPE 2 DIABETES

Type 2  “insulin resistance” diabetes can be cured in 30 days simply by abstaining completely from foods that spike insulin — starches and sugars.  These include Irish potatoes (french fries), white and brown rice, pasta, all flour products, such as white bread, biscuits and pastries, and what are now labeled “Gluten Free” products (made from rice flour).  These foods are high on the glycemic index, which mean they spike insulin.

The rationale for this cure is simple.  Since the receptor sites for insulin on the cells are all taken — or else damaged and even destroyed by insulin, leaving no sites for more insulin hormones to “park” and deliver their sugar-fuel to the cells — one needs to use up all the sugar in the loading zones of the cell receptors first before any more sugar can be delivered.  By putting a hold on more insulin production, triggered by starches and sugars, the amount of insulin hormones with their loads of sugar in the blood stream is gradually diminished, giving the cells a chance to repair and replace damaged receptor sites. This takes about 30 days.  After 30 days one can then return to a sensible and moderate consumption of complex (whole-food) starches and sugars.  But one must take care so as not to crowd the receptor sites again with more sugar-bearing insulin than the cells have receptor sites for.

It goes without saying —  but I’ll go ahead and say it — along with the 30-day fast from sugar and starch, daily exercise is essential to the burning of sugar by the cells. Just a 20 to 30 minute brisk walk will do the job.  You have to use up what sugar you already have in the cells and what’s waiting in the blood stream to be delivered before you take in more.  It just makes good sense.

Improve Your Diet, Boost Your Memory

The research linking Alzheimer’s and diabetes means that the key to having a good memory resides in your stomach. Commit to eating a healthy diet free of sugary foods and sodas. Choose whole wheat bread and pasta over white, refined products. Stick with healthy sweeteners such as xylitol and stevia that don’t raise your blood sugar levels.

Honey need not be discounted as it is a great food, especially locally gathered honey that has not been heated to a level that kills the enzymes. Maple syrup is also a good choice and is lower than honey on the glycemic index.

Chromium, cinnamon and Gymnema sylvestre are good choices for supplemental blood-sugar support. An analysis of the medical literature found that chromium reduced glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which is a measure of blood sugar control, as well as fasting blood glucose levels.” Gymnema sylvestre also reduced HbA1c levels in two small trials, while other studies showed cinnamon improved fasting blood glucose.

In my practice, I often call chromium “will power in a bottle.”  That’s because by balancing blood sugar, it also helps reduce the cravings for sweets that occur when your blood sugar is low.

You’ll want to consider supplementing with 1-6 grams of cinnamon, 600 mcg of  chromium and 200-800 mg of Gymnema sylvestre per day.

Put the above strategies into practice and you’ll not only reap all the rewards of having balanced blood sugar-you’ll keep your memory sharp, too.

I use Medi-Herb’s Gymnema in my practice.  It’s from Australia and it’s pure and very powerful.  One a day is usually sufficient to balance blood sugar, whether it’s high or low, and reduce your sugar-craving. You can order it from me by email — ($19/40 tablets, $53/120 tablets.)  I would also recommend CATAPLEX GTF by Standard Process Labs for your Chromium supplementation ($13/90 tabs), along with DIAPLEX ($37/150 caps) to nourish the health of your pancreas and enhance your sugar metabolism.  My email address is tpal70@gmail.com.

Until my next post, here’s to your health and healing,

Anthony Palombo, D.C.

Visit my HealingTones.org blog for more of Walter Russell’s writings. Current theme is accessing knowledge directly from the Universe and God.

DR. MELETES’ REFERENCES:

1. Samaras K, et al. Ther Adv Endocrinal Metab. 2012
Dec;3(6):189-96.

2. Kfoppenborg R, et aI. Eur J Pharmacol. 2008;585:97-108.

3.Kim B, et at J Alzheimers Dis. 2012 Dec 19. [Epub ahead
of print.]

4. Vagelatos NT, et al. Epidemiol Rev. 2013 Jan 21. [Epub
ahead of print.!

5. http://www.newswise.com/articles/
type-ii-diabetes-and-the-alzheimer-s-connection.

6. Bitel CL, et aI. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. October
2012;32(2):291-305.

7. Fehm HL, et at Prog. Brain Res. 2006;153:129-40.

8. Liu F, et al. Brain. 2009;132:1820-32.

9.  Shah K, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2012 Oct 3;13(10):12629-55.

10. Takeda S. Nihon Shinkei Seishin Yakurigaku Zasshi. 2012
Nov;32(5-6):239-44.

11. Acharya NK, et aI. J Alzheimers Dis. 2013 Feb 6. [Epub
aIlead 01 print.]

12. Kuwahara H. et al. Brain Nerve. 2013 Feb:65(2):145-51.

13. Ewald CY. et al. Genetics. June ” 2012;191(2):493-507.

14. Nahas R. Canadian Family Physician. June
2009:55(6):591-6.

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Alternative to Drugs: Change in Perception and Consciousness, Part 2, Healing the Body-mind

As I stated in the last post, we can’t address mental health without considering physical health, since the mind arises out of the body.  Conversely, we can’t really address the causes and conditions underlying physical heath without considering mental health.  Further, we can’t address mental and physical health without including and addressing emotional health. The three simply exist together as a whole, an energetic continuum.  

If we look even deeper in our search for cause, we can’t address health issues that arise in the outer man without considering the health of the inner man, spiritual health.  The outer man is but an extension of the inner man.  Now, the inner spirit is perfect, whole and healthy.  If the outer man does not reflect the inner perfection, wholeness and health of the inner man, the spirit, then there’s a reason for this failure.  The obvious reason is that the inner spiritual man is not able to get through to the outer material man.  The reflection is either distorted or not there at all.  This seems simple enough, doesn’t it?  But, then, the truth is simple.  

The rationale of any worthy healthcare service would, therefore, be to assist the individual inflicted with disease in removing the interference between the inner spirit and its perfect manifestation in and through the whole outer man.  It would be, in other words, a wholistic approach. 

This is why alternative healthcare is often described as “wholistic,” or “holistic,” as it is often spelled.  The whole person is taken into account when searching for the cause of illness and putting together a protocol for treatment.  In this post, I will offer some practical solutions along with a few  natural, holistic approaches I’ve used in my practice of 49 years, as well as some that I’m aware of in the alternative healthcare field.  

ALTERNATIVE HEALTHCARE GROWING EXPONENTIALLY 

In the video of a conversation between Drs. Rupert Sheldrake and Bruce Lipton I posted in my current Healing Tones blog — and which I’m posting again here below because it contributes so much to our understanding of ourselves in the context of the new paradigm emerging — Dr. Lipton makes the observation that we have now past the 50% mark in this country of the numbers of those who seek alternative healthcare before going to a medical doctor.  I find that most encouraging, and I feel it incumbent upon me to continue making a contribution into the process of transformation in consciousness underway and moving forward at an exponential rate.

THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND CONTROLS OUR BEHAVIOR

At the end of the video, Dr. Lipton makes a very important statement about the influence of sub-conscious programming upon our behavior.  He states that 95% of our behavior is controlled by our subconscious minds while only 5% of our actions are consciously directed.  That’s a bit scary.  Basically, we are walking around in a state of post-hypnotic suggestion where triggers in our environment push buttons in our psyche that turn on tapes in our subconscious minds that play out in our behavior and outbursts of suppressed emotionally charged energy.  

As an example of this, he explains how illness can be induced in our physical body by subconscious memories from childhood of how when we got sick we received lots of love and attention we didn’t get when we were well.  So, in order to get the love and attention we deeply crave now as adults, we may subconsciously set about getting sick — physically and mentally, as well as emotionally.  

So, I just wanted to bring this dynamic into the picture as we explore some of the natural healthcare solutions, always keeping in mind that while we may ease the symptoms of illness and balance body and brain chemistry with nutrition and herbs, the underlying cause remains untreated until we address the memories of past trauma and synchronize body and brain with present time conditions where there are no threats to fear and fight or to run away from.

NATURAL HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS 

1. Bio-Energetic-Synchronization Technique (BEST) was developed by Dr. Milton T. Morter of Rogers, Arkansas.  Dr. Morter is a chiropractor, researcher and developer, teacher, biologist and author of several books on health and consciousness.  His work is a seminal contribution to the field of holistic health care.  BEST practitioners are usually chiropractors who are trained and certified in this technique.

In just a few words, BEST is a non-invasive healing modality that accesses subconscious memories of past trauma that influence current behavior and underlie patterns of disease in the body-mind continuum.  It includes a means of communicating with the innate intelligence of the body, using kinesiology (muscle testing — which Dr. Lipton explains toward the end of the video clip) to ascertain information that helps guide the practitioner in a process of finding and then “erasing” the memory ingram where the traumatic experience is filed away in the subconscious.  

With BEST we can now erase past memories from the subconscious mind that are keeping a person in chronic stress mode of fight or flight and desensitize “buttons” in the psyche that trigger habitual emotional reactions to environmental stimuli.  

Muscles remember trauma and can become locked in defensive physiology caused by sympathetic dominance.  BEST can erase those memories and restore timing and synchronization between brain signals and muscle contraction and relaxation to take them out of fight or flight mode.  When muscles of the back are so released from tension, the spinal bones to which they are attached and pulled out of alignment are able to return to their proper alignment without being forced to do so by manipulation, a discovery that was met with strong resistance by the powers that be in the chiropractic profession.

 As Dr. Morter describes it, we can remove the “necessity for disease,” as disease is nothing more than a necessary adaptation to a deeper aberration in the energetic field.  Healing the aberrations in the energetic field removes the necessity for the adaptation and, therefore, the manifestation of symptoms.  The symptoms of disease remiss when the blockages in the subconscious mind are removed.

THE PROMISE OF CHIROPRACTIC  

This is the fundamental principle underlying the philosophy and science of chiropractic and the rationale for the spinal adjustment, which is to remove nerve interference to the flow of intelligence between the brain and the body so that the body can heal itself, as the founder of chiropractic, Daniel David Palmer, envisioned and proved out clinically over a hundred years ago, and his son, Bartlett Joshua Palmer (“BJ”) further explored and developed into a professional science, philosophy and healing art.  

Chiropractic brought to the world a great promise that spearheaded the emergence of alternative healthcare.  That promise was in BJ’s “Big Idea,” whose time had come, that “The power that made the body can heal the body” and his “Law of life” which stated that healing comes from “above, down, inside, out.”  Unfortunately, Palmer’s original philosophy gradually got watered down by a profession that failed to “get the Big Idea” and chiropractic devolved into a physical manipulative modality for relieving back aches and other musculoskeletal disorders.  But its purpose had been served as alternative health care was given birth into the healthcare arena, which was already medically dominated and monopolized by the drug-based, diseased oriented, so-called “healthcare industry.”  Chiropractic brought health-oriented consciousness to the fore of alternative health care thinking. 

2. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) was founded by Dr. Gary Craig, who developed it into a practical methodology for emotional healing with fellow psychotherapists Drs. David Feinstein and Donna Evans.  Their work is presented and detailed in The Promise of Energy Psychology – Revolutionary Tools for Dramatic Personal Change. 

Basically, EFT involves a sequential “tapping” of specific energy meridians in the face, upper torso and hands that are connected to neurological pathways in the brain.  You tap with the finger tips while repeating a mantra articulating the issue being addressed and an affirmation of deep love and appreciation for oneself.  For example, “Even though I’m afraid of heights, I deeply and completely love and appreciate myself.”  This plants into the subconscious mind a positive statement that will override negative feeling-reactions to situations in life, such as fear of heights, or even a physical conditions, such as obesity. For example, “Even though my body is overweight I deeply and completely love and appreciate myself.”  There are psychotherapists who use this technique to give their clients something they can do between visits when issues arise, and it really does work in disarming triggers by “unwiring” emotional buttons.  

You’ll have to purchase the book in order to study and learn the simple “basic recipe” for tapping.  The book is worth its weight in gold for anyone having trouble managing emotions . . . but not just for emotional management and overcoming phobias. EFT works for physical conditions, such as chronic illnesses, like diabetes and arthritis, because it accesses and affects transformation of underlying emotional causes of disease. For example, “Even though I have diabetes/arthritis/heart disease/asthma/etc, I deeply and completely love and appreciate my body with its limitations.  

EFT works for transforming one’s self-image and redirecting emotional energies toward creative enterprises.  It works in clearing addictions of all kinds.  I can’t think of any situation or condition where EFT would not be helpful in setting emotional energies free from suppression by old and limiting beliefs and inhibiting patterns of thought.  I highly recommend the book. 

3. Trophotherapy — the science of balancing blood and body chemistry with nutrition, specifically by the ingestion of high concentrations of whole-food nutrients.  This approach often includes a form of reading the body’s nutritional profile and needs through kinesiology — muscle testing specific points in the energetic meridians of the body to ascertain information the body’s innate intelligence is willing to share about its biological, physiological and anatomical health status and remedial needs.  Contact Reflex Analysis (CRA) and Quantum Reflex Analysis (QRA) are two popular methods of this science and art. 

For example, the brain has a “master reflex” point above the forehead at the hairline.  If this reflex point is “active,” it indicates the brain is in need of nutritional support.  The practitioner then proceeds to test other points to try and determine what is causing the brain’s weakness.  Sometimes it’s simply a need for vitamins and minerals, in which case placing a bottle of CATALYN (by Standard Process Labs) in the field of the person being tested will make the reflex point strong again, indicating that this multiple vitamin and mineral wholefood supplement will feed the brain and make it healthy and strong again.  I have often found that the brain is simply starving to death.

OMEGA 3 FISH OIL ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL

The brain is made of fat, cholesterol.  So feed it fat.  Good fat, that is, and not the Omega 6 peanut oils used in commercially fried foods, most of which are overheated and rancid, nor saturated fats in beef and pork.  Butter is a good fat, but not margarine.  Margarine is hydroginated oil and is rancid.  Rancid oil destroys “good” cholesterol (HDL) and tissue cells upon contact.  People who take Statin drugs are hurting their livers and brains by preventing the liver from making cholesterol. The liver makes 85% of the cholesterol needed by every cell in the body, especially hormones, which are made of cholesterol, and brain cells.    

HERBS FOR BRAIN ENERGY & MEMORY  

To boost brain energy, one can use herbs like Ginkgo Biloba. To enhance memory retention, Bacopa Complex (by Medi Herb).  To enhance memory recall, Ginkgo Forte (MH). I’ve had students take these herbs with astounding results: Bacopa during lectures and study hours, and Ginkgo before and during exams.  They work great!

ADD & ADHD (click on it to see my blog post on the subject)

The problem with ADD is one of focus and concentration.  I’ve treated many children with ADD over the years and all of them responded favorably to inositol supplementation, often the next day.  They were able to get off Ritalin.  They were able to focus and concentrate on their lessons.

The brain’s primary fuel is sugar in the form of inositol, which facilitates the transmission of electrical energy and signals between cell membranes.  This sugar is made in the liver from glucose.  Eating too much dietary sugar can compromise the production of inositol.  That’s why kids who eat too much sugar don’t produce enough inositol for the brain.  The brain doesn’t even have the energy to shut down at night.  It runs all night and throughout the day.  This is what ADD and ADHD are all about. They need to get off the sugar and take Inositol, along with Catalyn, Min-Tran, and Tuna Omega 3 Oil (SP).  Email me for dosages.  Inositol is also known to help with depression.

BALANCE MALE AND FEMALE HORMONES TO BALANCE BRAIN CHEMISTRY

Hormonal support is essential in balancing brain chemistry.  First, we need to support the hypothalamus, the stress-response center at the base of the brain.  Next, we need to support the pituitary gland, the master gland of the endocrine system.  Then we need to support the adrenal glands, as every cell in the body and brain needs adrenalin to function. This is called the HPA Axis. Email me for a protocol and to obtain products.

I hope you have learned something about your brain and mind in these last few blog posts.  I welcome your comments and inquiries.  In my next blog post, we will go beyond the outer terrain of physical, mental and emotional health issues and remedies to consider a very special healing service called “attunement” which addresses the healing of the connection between the inner spiritual man and the outer form created specifically for its perfect manifestation.  Until then, 

To your health and healing,

Dr. Tony Palombo

Email: tpal70@gmail.com    On the wed at www.healingandattunement.com 

Visit my other blog Healing Tones for thought-provoking articles from weird science to personal transformation and quantum leaps in consciousness. Enjoy the video clip below.  It’s lengthy so you may want to watch it in parts.