Dr Gundry on Energy and weight loss

Dr Gundry's "Energy Renew" product should work to speed up recovery from exercise which should help fight fatigue. This product contains D-Ribose sugar at 5 grams. While the plant phytonutrients are a good addition, the 300 milligrams is far to low to really influence the body. 300 mg would fill about a third of an average size capsule. Vitamin C at 5 mg is also a very tiny amount. Average size orange has 70 mg of vitamin C. The Acetyl L-carnitine amount at 500 mg is a medium amount but would not yield significant effects on the average size body. Most studies use 3 times this amount. It is the dietary plan that goes along with this product that would achieve perhaps the majority of any weight loss.

Is this product 100% safe?

Any issue with this product becomes about potential side effects of the ingredients. And the tiny amounts of most nutrients limits this aspect to just one, D-Ribose. Yes, D-Ribose works to increase the ability of the body to build more ATP, the energy molecule. Ribose is normally built in the muscle cells from glucose. After ribose is used up during exercise, a recovery period is needed for ribose levels to slowly be built back up. Taking a supplement of ribose does speed up this recovery. BUT, there is a price associated with this help.

There is a process that speeds up the ageing of the body. This process is called glycation. ref The results of this process build up in the body elements called Advanced Glycation end products, or AGEs. AGEs simply increase the ageing speed. D-Ribose is one of the most reactionary sugars for producing AGEs. ref This is one of the fundamental aspects in Diabetes. Short term use of Ribose may be OK, but long term could be problematic. This aspect is overlooked by many Nutritionists, including in this case, also by Dr Gundry.

Natural foodstuffs that might slow down the glycation process, pLus a list of other references are found here> ref

Puzzle Question: Does milk lactose increase heavy metal absorption?

It is a known fact that in babies, the lactose in milk aids in the absorption of minerals such as calcium from the intestinal tract. But, this process also increases the absorption of other minerals, even the heavy metal toxin Lead. An adequate amount of calcium in the meal limits the amount of lead that is absorbed. There is a calcium-lead interaction where one hinders the other if it is dominate.

This question came up due to studies on rats with lactose on lead. ref ref

This gives rise to the question: How does milk lactose influence the absorption of lead in adults? (Infants and children appear to mostly be protected by milk inhibiting lead absorption when consumed at same time)

Milk appears to be protective against lead absorption due to its calcium content. This reference gives some insights. ref

Increasing Vitamin D intake is associated with higher lead levels in blood, at least in summer. But in the absense of lead in the diet, vitamin D is protective and hinders lead coming out of bone. This may be part of the milk influence story. Vitamin D may influence lead by either increasing absorption from diet or by later hindering lead increase from bone into blood by vitmain D actions on controlling phosphate levels. When calcium to phosphate levels are good, lead in hindered from entering bone.

Vitamin C also presents a small dilemma. If consumed with lead, it increases lead absorption due to its binding ability with lead. But once vitamin C is in the body, This binding, or chelating ability, helps eliminate lead and vitamin C detoxicty antioxidant actions protect against some of lead induced damages. ref 

Adequate amounts in the diet of calcium, iron, and zinc help prevent lead absorption, probably by using up transport receptors that lead needs. ref

Obviously, it is best to limit lead exposure in foods and environment when known. Drinking waters are a potential source. Filters help. Plus some foods from their method of production are more likely to be contaminated, such as cereal grasses, wheat grass, rice, concentrated protein powders, and some sources of calcium supplements. Watch out for lead in pottery and leaded crystal containers, too.

Fruit and Vegetable Juice

While fruit and vegetable juices appear to be a good idea if one does not eat sufficient whole fruits and vegetables, there are a number of considerations that dampen this practice, especially if this becomes a daily ritual. 

Yes, there are some advantages to occasional use. Some nutrients that might otherwise be deficient would become available to build health. Plus, food juices might limit intake of sodas and other empty nutirtional high calorie drinks. Milk is a completely different arena. Long hearlded as a champion for bone strength, it has suddenly taken a tumbling fall from grace.

Here are some of the considerations with excess fruit and vegetable juices. First, juices concentrate some nutrients while eliminating others. A whole carrot has 10,000 units of vitamin A as beta carotene, while a glass of carrot juice can have up to 50,000 beta carotene or vitamin A equivalent units. Over 10,000 units of pre-formed vitamin A has proved to be problematic in supplements for a number of conditions: Liver damage, fetal genetic mutations, and bone fractures. Hopefully, beta carotene does not have have these conditions attached, but too much carrot juice can turn skin and the whites of the eyes orange. This is the body storing these carotenoids until the liver can recover and properly eliminate them.

THE UGLY EFFECTS OF GLYCATION

One food element that is also concentrated is sugar. Fruits and some vegetables have a lot of fructose. It was once assumed that since fructose was metabolized in the liver at a slower rate than the glucose sugar form, it would reduce the sugar influence overall. ref But, this is no longer the case. At least in animal studies, fructose is metabolized in the small intestines too. This changes everything. ref

Even natural sugars at excess levels create a number of obstacles to maintaining health. While diabetic rates are still increasing and have long been associated with higher sugar content diets, there is another sugar involved process that deserves mention here. Sugars in the body have two possible methods or pathways they can take. One is uncontrolled by enzymes and the other is controlled by enzymes. The enzyme required pathway is needed for energy production. It is the enzyme free process that can generate problems. This process is called gycation. 

Glycation happens when excess sugars unnaturally react with and fold proteins in undesirable ways. Sugar also can react with fats. These newly formed elements can create skin wrinkles and age or brown spots. But, many of the actions associated with glycation are inside the body where they cannot be seen until disease states manifest. These areas include vision, artery health, cognitive abilities, collagen breakdown, inflammation, and even tumors. Elements formed by glycation are called Advanced Glycation End products, or AGEs.  

AGEs in the body disrupt normal functions. ref There are ways to control or limit this process. 

• Cut down on dietary sugars
• Eat more low glycemic foods
• Eat whole fruits and vegetables to supply enough anti-oxidants
• Limit BBQ, frying, grilling, and broiling foods as this generates AGEs 
• Protect skin from UV sun rays
• Exercise to use up dietary sugars and increase oxygen content of cells
• Make sure B vitamins are sufficient, notably folic acid. 

Certain supplements also can prevent AGEs formation, namely Carnosine. ref

WHOLE FOODS VERSUS EXTRACT JUICES 

One nutrient that is completely eliminated by the extraction process to make juice, is fiber. One vital function of insoluble fibers is to interfere with and control or time release sugars getting from food into the blood stream. 

In juice, the sugars are rapidly released and this overwhelms the system. This spiking of blood sugar levels generates an over-response of the insulin process and disrupts many natural body systems. Eventually, this leads to a failure of the blood glucose insulin uptake into cell pathways, called insulin resistance. As a hormone, insulin can become problematic at uncontrolled levels.

Of Interest: Vitamin D directs bone building cells to produce the hormone osteocalcin. Osteocalcin has a number of functions. One is that when activated by vitamin K2, it binds calcium into bone crystals. Another function of interest here is that the two forms of osteocalcin, activated and nonactivated, both help control blood sugar levels by regulating glucose insulin uptake by cells. ref

Skin Melanoma and supplements

Melanoma is exploding. Doubling evey 10 years.

Melanoma is very serious. Know and watch for these signs. ref 

CAUTION: See your doctor immediately if you have any of these signs of skin spot events.

The earlier skin cancer is found, there is a better chance for healing.

Are there alternative supplements that can support mainstream medical treatments? Yes! And surprisingly, there is quite a lot of science research here as well.

First, a primer on cancer to ponder. After most cancer treatments, while the cancer cells are destroyed, the immune system cells have also been damaged and need to be built back up to prevent the return of the cancer cells. This takes time. If a person free of cancer after treatment goes back to the same lifestyle and diet as before, there is a very high probability that the cancer will return, especially with melanoma.

FOOD NUTRIENTS AND SKIN CANCER 

What is myricetin? And does it help prevent skin cancer? ref Nature provides prevention. Eat more berries, fruits, and vegetables. Both teas and herbs contain myricetin, a flavonol. See other sources here. There are many different flavonols in foods. Here is one avenue from which they may prevent cancer, as well as other disease conditions. ref There are supplements that contain flavonols like quercetin. ref But always best to eat as many foods with these elements in case there are synergistic actions from other compounds also needed. ref

Some supplements add plant powders or fruit juice powers in capsules to gain value, but the amounts are usually very small and best to just eat some fruits and vegetables with them to gain any extra benefit. 

Water, Hydration, Purification, Filters

WATER! Three quarters of the earth is covered by salt water. But, it is Fresh Water that is simply vital to living. CLEAN WATER! A necessary item for body health. What is the best water to drink? What about filters and conditioners for the whole house water treatment?

FYI water intake: Experts have determined that the average body needs about about 80 oz of total fluid per day. Your body makes about 16oz per day of water and about 20% of the total comes in food. Climate, activity, and body size effect this amount. Your urine color is a good indicator of consuming the right amount. Clear or slightly yellow is best.* Too much water can harm cells in Brain and Kidneys. The Kidneys function best at this amount as too much water could compromise blood purification process. Plus too much water in blood could flood into and swell nerve cells in attempt to balance mineral electrolyte gradients. Not enough water also is hard on Kidneys and cellular transport of minerals.

*Note: Vitamin B2 supplement consumed at more than 2.5 milligrams will turn urine yellow so urine color is no longer a vital sign of consuming enough water, or liquid.

Cities have elaborate filters and purification systems for water treatment. One of the primary elements is the same one used in swimming pools, chlorination. Also ozone and UV light treatments are available. Bacteria has a way of turning up in many places and has to be reduced or eliminated from water. Plus toxic minerals like lead are undesirable and need a filtration system to remove.The body has by far the most effective and efficient filter system in the Kidneys. But, too many toxic elements could build up and damage the system even if small amounts are ingested over time. 

DRINKING WATER

Bottled waters now fill a large section of markets. Many are promoted according to their source. Mountain spring water tops the list. There are also well waters, mineral waters, distilled waters with no minerals, alkaline waters, and also purified tap water with minerals added back. Which is the best? 

Mineral content between low and high levels in water has been studied and there appears to be an association that shows higher mineral content with lower cardiovascular disease rate. The why is not exactly known. It could be the calcium and magnesium content have benefits, or the opposite and low mineral content over time could pull undesirables toxic elements out of pipes and these toxic elements build up and eventually damage artery walls. There is enough evidence now to stay away from soft waters and use waters with a natural mineral content. A purification system is still advised unless the water is tested and found clean. Thus the advantage of a mountain top source. Water is purified as it falls over rocks in a mountain stream.

Carbon filters are the primary type of purification system to generate drinking water from tap water. Silver is often added to the carbon since it kills bacteria, but now ozone and UV light are also available. Other filter types may remove too many of the minerals, like reverse osmosis. Carbon is like a sponge, it has a very large surface area compared to it's size and traps the undesirable elements as water flows through it. Over time, the sponge like pockets become filled up and that is why the filter has to be occasionally replaced. The manufacturer tests their filters to see how long the filter is effective by flowing and measuring the amount of water it takes until contaminants flow out. If a water system guarantees 100,000 gallons, it would be best to stop and replace it at 80,000 gallons. At the end of a filters life, the flow of water through the filter is slower to allow contaminates to find empty pockets to get trapped, but some contaminates begin to flow out. Most likely not at a very high rate until after the guaranteed amount. 

WHOLE HOUSE SYSTEMS

Water conditioners produce soft water with less minerals which makes it great for washing clothes and keeping mineral deposits out of pipes and off tiles in showers. For these and a few other reasons, many homes use water softeners, especially in areas with hard water, lots of minerals. But, is soft water healthy to use for drinking? Not so according to the observed associations. Thus, a purification system that removes bacteria and heavy toxic metals while leaving the natural mineral content appears to be the best method to produce drinking water. It could be very expensive to filter the whole house water just for drinking purposes.

Another area that would benefit from filtered or purified water would be in showers, baths, and pools. Chlorine gases are released faster from hot water. The hot water opens pores on the skin and this area along with eye tissues appears to be of greater concern than breathing in chlorine gas with effects on the lungs. Obvious this depends on the length of the shower, amount of type of chlorine, and the health condition of the individual. People with respiratory conditions, COPD, or asthma might need to exercise more precaution. This is somewhat controversial as to extent of any health damage to lungs, skin, eyes, and liver. But, the animal studies on chickens and rats don't look good for chlorinated water.  ref ref

WATER NEEDS

The average body needs about 2 and a half quarts of liquid a day. The body naturally produces a pint of wter by itself from various metabolic processes. And remember, many foods especially melons contain water which is naturally filtered by the plant. Artificial fertilizers and chemical pesticides can leave residues in plants that can contaminate plant water, so use caution. Generally, the benefits in plants outweigh the chemical residues. While juicing is a popular method to extract plant fluids, any contaminates or chemicals, whether natural or artificial, get concentrated in the finished product, especially heavy metals like lead. Plus, juicing also concentrates natural sugars to an undesirable level. Eat whole fruits or vegetables as well as some juice. There is no fiber in juice. And that antioxidant ORAC value is quite overworked.