TriVita Article On Twin Puzzles of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The Twin Puzzles of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

How B vitamin supplementation may help by Dr. Scott Conard

Many puzzles are yet to be solved by modern medicine. As we continue to seek causes and solutions for the ills that plague mankind, confusion still swirls around two of the more “mysterious” ailments: chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FMS).

During National Chronic Fatigue Awareness Month in March, it’s appropriate to look at these two issues together, since they’re often paired in medical literature. They have some important traits in common:

We don’t know what causes either CFS or fibromyalgia
They share several symptoms
There is no cure
The confusion around these two syndromes is fed by their overlapping nature: It’s estimated that up to 70% of people diagnosed with CFS also fit the clinical guidelines for FMS, and vice versa. Most people with CFS have some kind of pain, which is a major symptom of FMS. And most people with FMS report fatigue, a major symptom of CFS. No wonder even doctors can be unsure which is which.
Vitamin B-12 and folic acid for managing symptoms
We do know, however, that many physicians and researchers (along with patients) support supplementation – including Vitamin B-12 and folic acid – as an important part of managing symptoms. Here’s a thumbnail look that helps explain why:

CFS: As the name suggests, this is a disorder that causes extreme fatigue. This fatigue is not the tiredness that goes away after you rest. Instead, it lasts a long time and limits your ability to do ordinary daily activities.

Symptoms of CFS include fatigue for six months or more, and other problems such as muscle pain, memory problems, headaches, pain in multiple joints, sleep problems, sore throat and tender lymph nodes. It is most common in women in their 40s and 50s, but anyone can have it. It can last for years.

FMS: Fibromyalgia makes you feel tired and causes muscle pain and “tender points.” Tender points are places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms or legs that hurt when touched. Other symptoms can include trouble sleeping, morning stiffness, headaches, and problems with thinking and memory, sometimes called “fibro fog.”

No one knows what causes fibromyalgia. Anyone can get it, but it is most common in middle-aged women. People with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases are especially prone to fibromyalgia.

Supporting mental function with B vitamins
Notice that both syndromes can affect mental function: memory and thinking problems can arise, and this may be a key to the use of B vitamins. As you may know, the medical links between B vitamins and brain function are strong and well documented.

So, it isn’t surprising that healthcare professionals in both traditional and alternative medicine, including experts in CFS and FMS, support the use of B vitamins and folic acid to help manage symptoms.

If you or a loved one have, or suspect you have, one of these confusing syndromes, it’s important to know that both are much more than just being tired, or having some muscle pain. CFS and FMS are often misunderstood, and deserve attention and treatment. I urge you to consult with your healthcare professional, and to see how the highest quality B vitamin supplementation might help.

Source: TriVita VitaJournal March 2009 pg 6.

Manage Blood Pressure To Help Manage Your Health

Quick: What’s your blood pressure (BP)? If you have no idea, you might also be in the dark about some serious effects of unmanaged high blood pressure (HBP), also called hypertension. Grave conditions like heart disease, heart failure, stroke and kidney failure can be caused by HBP, so it’s important to know where you stand.

Just what is blood pressure? It’s the force of blood pushing against our artery walls as our heart pumps out blood. If this pressure is too high for too long, it can damage our arteries, over-work our heart and damage other major organs. What’s worse: HBP usually has no symptoms, so you might be unaware of the damage it’s doing.

Get to know your numbers
When a blood pressure measurement is taken, two things are measured: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. This is then expressed as a number, such as 120/70 (120 over 70). The first number, systolic, is the pressure when the heart is pumping blood; the second number, diastolic, is the pressure when the heart rests between beats.

This table from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute shows normal numbers for adults (18 and over), and which numbers put you at greater risk for health problems.

Categories for blood pressure levels in adults

CATEGORY	SYSTOLIC (top number)		DIASTOLIC (bottom number)
Normal	Less than 120	And	Less than 80
Prehypertension	120–139	Or	80–89
High blood pressure
Stage 1	140–159	Or	90–99
Stage 2	160 or higher	Or	100 or higher

Note: If you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, HBP is defined as 130/80 or higher. HBP numbers also differ for children and teens.

Age does make a difference: blood pressure tends to rise as we get older, making it even more important to keep it under control. If you’re a male older than 45 or a female older than 55, your risk for HBP is higher. About one-third of U.S. adults have HBP.

“White coat hypertension”: truth or myth?
There is a real health syndrome called “white coat hypertension” that has to do with medical checkups. Some people’s blood pressure readings are high only when they visit their healthcare provider’s office because they’re nervous or anxious. In these cases, the person might be asked to monitor their blood pressure at home, or to wear a device for a short time that takes blood pressure every 30 minutes. If you’re familiar enough with your numbers to know that your first reading is high (you may have to ask), request another reading at the end of your visit.

Taking the pressure off
If you have HBP, your healthcare provider may recommend lifestyle changes to help keep it under control, including:

• Following a healthy eating plan
• Getting enough physical activity
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Quitting smoking
• Managing and learning to cope with stress

As research continues into HBP, science is also discovering some “tasty” ways to help take the pressure off, including these fascinating findings:

• Steering clear of table salt? Don’t pass on the potassium or magnesium at the same time. A recent review in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension found that the numbers go down when we boost our intake of fruits and vegetables like squash, bananas, dates and spinach.
• Chocolate-lovers, rejoice: Yale University researchers have found more evidence that antioxidants in dark chocolate can help lower BP.

If you don’t know your blood pressure, February’s Heart Health Month is the perfect time to give your heart a “valentine”: find out and, if needed, take action.

Source: TriVita VitaJournal February 2009 pg 14.

Protect Yourself From Stress, The Silent Killer

Stress is an engineering term. It describes the forces that try to tear a structure apart such as weight, wind, temperature and pressure. In humans it is much the same: Certain pressures try to tear us apart. Sometimes these stresses come from inside of us; sometimes the pressures tearing us apart come from the outside.

Homeostasis is a gift that humans and other living creatures possess but bridges and buildings do not have. Homeostasis is the force that moves resources from our reserves to wherever they are needed to combat stress.

Where stress begins

Stress is caused by change – any change. Change requires us to rearrange our priorities to meet new circumstances. Stress can also be the same circumstance over time because time itself is change.

An easy way to conceptualize stress is to say it comes from inside of us and outside of us. Some examples:

Stress from inside

• Hunger
• Aging
• Time pressure

Stress from outside

• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Noise pollution

Stress is the accumulation of all the things that pull us apart.

Homeostasis
The antidote to change is homeostasis. The Greek word “stasis” means to stand still or to stand equally. It describes a point where the tug-of-war balances out and motion ceases. Homeostasis is the ability of living organisms to adjust their internal environments to create balance. Of course, people can adjust their external environments as well (at least to some extent).

Just imagine all of the stresses pulling you apart every day: gravity, temperature, emotional upsets and expectations, etc. What balances that tug-of-war? The 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness!

Nutrients and nurturing
A body and mind deprived of proper nutrients and nurturing will be more prone to disease. “Disease” is the joining of two words. “Ease” is the freedom from difficulty, hardship or effort. “Dis-ease” is the opposite of ease: the things that make life more difficult and hard. It is also the abnormal functioning of the body or mind when the balancing forces of homeostasis fail to meet the demands of change.

The 10 Essentials create a reservoir of energy to combat the destructive forces of stress. For example, the simple act of breathing deeply can reduce the level of toxicity in our body and therefore reduce the state of imbalance.

Vitamins and minerals
Nutrients create a bulwark against stress as well. A reservoir of vitamins and minerals can help protect you from deficiency. Nutrient deficiency means specifically that you lack the nutrients you need to meet the stress imposed on your system. Without nutrients you will be weakened and you will lose the tug-of-war with stress. You will develop disease.Adaptogens
Specific plants called adaptogens help pull us back into balance. Adaptogens help us adapt no matter what the situation is – no matter where stress tugs at our body and mind. A recent conference of psychiatrists and psychologists demonstrated that a single adaptogen (Rhodiola rosea) was as effective at reducing emotional stress as several popular medications.

Another paper published by the University of Toyama in Japan demonstrated that in animal models, the adaptogen Eleutherococcus senticosis hindered the brain plaque associated with Alzheimer’s disease. It even helped slow some of the brain damage. Given the safety of adaptogens and the extreme nature of this stress-related disease, supplementing with these nutrients should be a daily routine for anyone concerned about the possibility of Alzheimer’s.

Conclusion
Stress pulls us apart. Homeostasis struggles to put us back together. Disease is the result of an imbalance between stress and homeostasis. Nutrients and nurturing support homeostasis and help build a bulwark against stress – the silent killer!

Source: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report February 14, 2009

TriVita on Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Probiotics

TriVita on Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Probiotics

The term irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is used when chronic colon problems occur and a medical cause cannot be determined. Common symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, alternating diarrhea and constipation, excess intestinal gas, intestinal cramping, uncomfortable bowel movements, mucous discharge from the rectum, abdominal discomfort following meals, and excessive awareness of the presence of stool in the colon. Despite all these distressing symptoms, in IBS the intestines appear to be perfectly healthy when they are examined. This condition means that while the function of the bowel seems to have gone awry, no injury or disturbance of its structure can be found. (A similar problem in the stomach is called dyspepsia, and the two conditions frequently overlap.)

Because the cause of IBS is not understood, conventional medical treatment of IBS is highly inadequate. Other medical treatment approaches for IBS include increased dietary fiber, drugs that reduce bowel spasm, and drugs to treat constipation or diarrhea as needed. In addition, various forms of psychotherapy, including hypnosis, have been tried, with some success.

A number of alternative medicine treatments have shown some promise for IBS. The most well known of these is peppermint oil, thought to reduce bowel spasm. Another approach involves probiotics. The most famous probiotic is Lactobacillus acidophilus, used in making yogurt. There are many other probiotics as well. When these health-promoting bacteria take up residence in the digestive tract, they compete with other microorganisms, thereby improving intestinal health.

Based on this, probiotics might be helpful for people with IBS. Numerous studies have indeed shown promise, but all of these were small, and therefore subject to question. In 2007, however, a substantial study was published in France that lends strong credence to the use of probiotics for this condition.

This double-blind placebo-controlled trial involved 274 people with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. (As the name suggests, this is IBS in which constipation is a more significant symptom than diarrhea). Participants were given either placebo or a probiotic formula containing Bifidobacterium animalis. The results over the six-week study period showed that use of the probiotic led to a significant reduction in colon discomfort compared to placebo. In addition, the probiotic treatment significantly increased stool frequency.

Source: TriVita Article Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Probiotics

TriVita Article on Dyspepsia

Source: TriVita Article Dyspepsia

TriVita – What Causes Bad Breath?

by Brazos Minshew, TriVita Chief Science Officer

One of the most common complaints among people today is poor digestion. This becomes even more distressing when personal issues like poor digestion develop into social issues like bad breath. The signs and symptoms of digestive imbalance are important as we learn to listen to our body.

Learning to listen

Imagine you had to write a book describing in detail how the ecology of our earth functions – how the rain cycle works, photosynthesis, biodiversity, seasons, and so on. Now imagine you could use only 100 words. Would that be a challenge? Absolutely!

Your body has only a few words in its vocabulary. See how many you can name:

• Fatigue
• Pain – sharp or dull
• Bleeding
• Constipation or diarrhea

You get the picture. Your body must communicate an infinitely complex system with just a few “words” in the form of symptoms. So, we need to listen carefully when our body speaks to us.

The heartbreak of halitosis

Digestion begins when we feel the sense of hunger and anticipate satisfying our needs with certain foods we crave. When we see and smell those foods our anticipation is heightened and we begin to secrete digestive juices in preparation for eating. Our mouth may water; this is because digestion begins in our mouth when we chew food and mix it with saliva.

It is important to thoroughly chew our food in order to neutralize the carbohydrates found in absolutely everything we eat. One reason why some people have bad breath (halitosis) is because they just don’t chew their food well enough to neutralize the carbs. It may also be the sign of a more serious health condition.

Slow down when you eat. You will enjoy your meal more, have sweeter breath and digest your food better.

Vitamins and digestion

Our intestines are teeming with trillions of bacteria – most of them friendly! These bacteria are needed to help us utilize our vitamins and minerals. The vitamins and minerals from our food are often not in the form we need them. They must be converted through several steps in order for us to get the benefit from them.

A good example of this is TriVita B-12

.

1. Vitamin B-12 must first bind with protein and be digested in the stomach with pepsin, which is a combination of enzymes and acids.
2. B-12 must be “tagged” for identification by another stomach protein called intrinsic factor. When B-12 reaches the small intestines, certain friendly bacteria begin to convert this complex. So now we have B-12, intrinsic factor, protein and bacteria all combining to prepare our vitamin for transport into the liver.
3. When B-12 reaches the liver it is bound to fiber and secreted through the bile back into the small intestines. More bacteria break down the vitamin into even smaller fractions.
4. This is repeated several times throughout our digestive cycle until the bacteria and fiber ferment the B-12; once the B-12 is fermented it can be absorbed by the liver. This may take up to three weeks.

Any imbalance in this system will result in indigestion of B-12. Any sign of indigestion or imbalance is a major red flag, warning that you are not digesting your vitamins, especially Vitamin B-12. These signs can include:

• Excess acid
• Bloating
• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Bad breath

Take care of your digestion by eating nutritiously. Be sure to include:

• Water
• Fiber
• Probiotics
• Vitamin B-12
• Proteins
• Healthy carbohydrates
• Healthy fats

Remember, your digestion can also be impaired by stress. So consider ways to reduce your stress, and supplement your diet with TriVita Adaptogens to protect digestive health from stress. And don’t forget the joy of eating. Joy is really a sign of acceptance. Acceptance is essential for emotional health as we learn to listen to the subtle language of our body.

Sources: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report February 7, 2009

TriVita Article: Deep Vein Thrombosis

Summary of TriVita Article Deep Vein Thrombosis
(DVT; Thrombophlebitis)

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a vein deep in the body. Veins are blood vessels with valves that help prevent backward blood flow. Blood is pushed through the veins in legs and arms when muscles contract.

Deposits of red blood cells and clotting elements in the blood can build up in a vein. This buildup leads to a blood clot. Clots usually occur in the legs but can occur in other locations. As the clot grows, it blocks blood flow in the vein.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

© 2009 Nucleus Medical Art, Inc.

Causes
Several factors contribute to clot formation, including:

• Slow blood flow, often due to lying or sitting still for an extended period of time
• Pooling of blood in a vein, often due to:
  • Immobility
  • Medical conditions
  • Damage to valves in a vein or pressure on the valves, such as during pregnancy
• Injury to a blood vessel
• Clotting problems (can occur due to aging or disease)
• Catheters placed in a vein

Treatment

Treatment aims to:

• Prevent pulmonary embolism
• Stop the clot from growing
• Dissolve the clot (sometimes)

Treatments include:

Supportive Care
This may include:

• Resting in bed
• Elevating the affected limb above the heart
• Wearing compression stockings as recommended by your doctor

A recent study of 103 patients in the hospital with DVT suggested that strict bed rest may not be necessary. In fact, early walking may be beneficial as long as adequate treatment with heparin and compression stockings are provided. *

Surgery
In some cases, a filter may be placed in the inferior vena cava. The vena cava is a major vein. Blood from the lower body returns to the heart through this vein. The filter may trap any clots that break loose before it travels to the lungs.

Prevention

General prevention measures include:

• Do not sit for long periods. If you are in a car or airplane or at a computer get up often and move around.
• Do not smoke.

If you are admitted to the hospital, talk to your doctor about how to prevent blood clots, such as:

• Get out of bed and walk as soon as possible during your recovery.
• If you are restricted to bed:
  • Do range of motion exercises in bed.
  • Change your position at least every two hours.
• Wear compression stockings to promote venous blood flow.
• Use a pneumatic compression device. This device uses air to compress your legs and help improve venous blood flow.

For more on this Topic see TriVita Deep Vein Thrombosis

TriVita Article: Stroke

Summary of TriVita Article Stroke
(Cerebrovascular Accident; CVA; Cerebral Infarct; Brain Attack)

TriVita Asks, “Is Cholesterol Bad?”

Summary: Cholesterol and Your Heart: Where Do We Stand?
by Dr Brazos Minshew

Cholesterol. This article will explain the relationship between high cholesterol and heart disease, describe the different types of cholesterol, and review several ways to lower a high cholesterol level, including exercise, a low-fat diet, and medication.

What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol, judging from the thousands of food labels and TV commercials boasting “zero cholesterol” has quite a bad reputation. Cholesterol is a vital component of all cell membranes. Unfortunately, too high a concentration of cholesterol in the blood is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. A high cholesterol level is one of many risk factors for developing heart disease.

Where Does Cholesterol Come From?
Most of the cholesterol circulating in your blood is made in the liver from fat metabolism. Dietary cholesterol comes from animal products such as meat, milk, cheese and butter.

Cholesterol and fat are transported through the bloodstream in particles called lipoproteins, which are so named because they contain different proportions of lipid (fat) and protein molecules. Chylomicrons carry triglycerides (fat from the foods you eat) from the intestine to body tissues, where they are used for energy or stored as fat.

LDLs (Low Density Lipoproteins) are stuffed full of cholesterol. They hold about two-thirds of all the cholesterol in the blood. These particles, nicknamed “bad” cholesterol, are partially responsible for forming plaque (debris) along blood vessel walls. The more LDLs you have, the greater your risk of getting coronary artery disease or a heart attack.

HDLs (High Density Lipoproteins) are known as “good” cholesterol. Cholesterol and Heart Disease
Increased levels of cholesterol in the blood can contribute to atherosclerosis, which is the gradual build-up of cholesterol, fat, and fibrous debris along the walls of your arteries. In the heart arteries called coronary arteries this can lead to chest pain or angina when someone exerts themselves.

What’s Your Risk?
A high level of blood cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. But unlike other risk factors for heart disease that you can’t change or modify, such as age, sex, or a family history of heart disease, you can lower a high cholesterol level. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing heart disease.

Know Your Numbers
Cholesterol levels can be measured with a simple blood test. The higher the ratio (high total cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol), the greater your risk for coronary heart disease. Your doctor can help assess the degree of risk associated with your particular cholesterol values:

Lab Test	Desirable	Borderline	High Risk
Total Cholesterol	less than 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L)	200-239 mg/dL (5.2-6.1 mmol/L)	more than 240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L)
LDL Cholesterol	less than 130 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L)	130-159 mg/dL (3.4-4.0 mmol/L)	more than 160 mg/dL (4.1 mmol/L)
HDL Cholesterol	More than 39 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L)	n/a	less than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L)
Triglycerides	less than 250 mg/dL (2.8 mmol/L)	n/a	more than 250 mg/dL (2.8 mmol/L)
Ratio of total Cholesterol:HDL	less than 3.5	3.6-4.9	more than 5

Ways to Lower Cholesterol
Is your cholesterol or ratio of cholesterol to HDL too high? The most effective ways to lower cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease include exercise, a low-fat diet and medication.

Exercise keeps your heart and blood vessels healthy. Exercise raises HDL, the “good” cholesterol.

The National Cholesterol Education Program’s (NCEP) dietary guidelines for lowering cholesterol have focused on lowering total fat, which often ends up increasing carbohydrate in the diet. Some nutrition experts have demonstrated that certain people on this diet may actually lower their HDL cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol. This often leaves the ratio of cholesterol to HDL unchanged. Other dietary guidelines include lowering cholesterol intake, changing the type of fat you eat, and increasing fiber.

General Tips for a Cholesterol-Conscious Diet

Reduce Total Fat
Depending on your cholesterol profile, a reduction in total fat may be beneficial. Less fat in the diet means that there is less “raw material” for the liver to use in making cholesterol. Reduce Saturated Fat
The type of fat you eat is just as important as how much you eat. Since the liver makes cholesterol more efficiently from saturated than unsaturated fat, changing the type of fat you eat can help to lower your cholesterol. Reduce Partially Hydrogenated Fats or Trans Fats.

To prolong the shelf life of foods, particularly margarine, snack foods and baked products, manufacturers use liquid vegetable oils, which have been partially hardened to form trans fats. Eating a diet containing these products has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Many foods now specify their content of trans fats; reading food labels can help you avoid these substances

Increase Polyunsaturated Fats
The type of fat found in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna is particularly healthful. Since bile, a substance that helps digest fat, is made primarily of cholesterol, excreting it will help lower total cholesterol levels. Intriguing research has shown that the vegetable protein in soy may be able to lower blood cholesterol.

A registered dietitian (RD) can help you plan a cholesterol-modifying diet that’s appropriate for your weight, height, activity level, and blood cholesterol profile.

Source: TriVita Article Cholesterol and Your Heart: Where Do We Stand?

TriVita on Vitamin D Deficiency

Summary of Source: TriVita Article Vitamin D Deficiency (Hypovitaminosis D)

Vitamin D deficiency describes low levels of Vitamin D in the blood. This condition can lead to a condition known as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. They are two forms of skeletal diseases that weaken bones. It is important to contact your healthcare provider if you think you have Vitamin D deficiency.

© 2008 Nucleus Medical Art, Inc. Causes Vitamin D deficiency can be caused by:  Inadequate intake of Vitamin D in the diet Limited exposure to sunlight Kidney disease The inability to absorb Vitamin D from the digestive tract Risk Factors A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. The following factors may increase your chance of developing Vitamin D deficiency: Lactose intolerance Strict vegetarianism Infants fed only breast milk without Vitamin D supplementation Syndromes that cause fat malabsorption, like celiac sprue or Crohn’s disease Kidney disease Prevention To help reduce the chances of getting Vitamin D deficiency, the following groups of people should talk with their doctor about whether they need a daily Vitamin D supplement: Infants who are exclusively breastfed People aged 50 and older People living in northern latitudes (eg, New England, Alaska) People working in occupations that prevent sun exposure People with darker skin (eg, African Americans) People with fat malabsorption (eg, pancreatic enzyme deficiency, Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, liver disease, surgical removal of part or all of the stomach or intestines).

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