Friday, January 4, 2008
What is Glutathione?
Glutathione is a dietary supplement used as an antioxidant to help protect the body from many diseases and conditions. It is also used to treat infertility (difficulty getting pregnant), cancer, cataracts, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Glutathione is used to detoxify various chemicals from the body.
Other names for Glutathione include: Gamma-glutamylcysteinylglycine and GSH.
Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you need more information about this medicine or if any information in this leaflet concerns you.
Before Using: Tell your doctor if you
are taking medicine or are allergic to any medicine (prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) or dietary supplement) are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine
are breastfeeding have other health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart or blood vessel disease
Dosage: Talk with your caregiver about how much Glutathione you should take. The amount depends on the strength of the medicine and the reason you are taking Glutathione.
If you are using this medicine without instructions from your caregiver, follow the directions on the medicine bottle. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than the directions tell you to.
To store this medicine: Keep all medicine locked up and away from children. Store medicine away from heat and direct light. Do not store your medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down and not work the way it should work. Throw away medicine that is out of date or that you do not need. Never share your medicine with others.
Warnings:
Before taking Glutathione tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Side Effects:Stop taking your medicine right away and talk to your doctor if you have any of the following side effects. Your medicine may be causing these symptoms which may mean you are allergic to it.
Breathing problems or tightness in your throat or chest
Chest pain
Skin hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin
Other Side Effects:You may have the following side effects, but this medicine may also cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if you have side effects that you think are caused by this medicine.
Zinc deficiency was seen in long term use of a combination product containing Glutathione
References:
1. Bode U, Hasan C, Hulsmann B et al: Recancostat compositum therapy does not prevent tumor progression in young cancer patients. Klin Padiatr 1999; 211(4):353-355.
2. Cascinu S, Cordella L, Del Ferro E et al: Neuroprotective effect of reduced glutathione on cisplatin-based chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Oncol 1995; 13:26-32.
3. Cascinu S, Labianca R, Alessandroni P et al: Intensive weekly chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer using fluorouracil, cisplatin, epi-doxorubicin, 6S-leucovorin, glutathione and filgrastim: a report from the Italian Group for the Study of Digestive Tract Cancer (GISCAD). J Clin Oncol 1997; 15:3313-3319.
4. Bohm S, Oriana S, Spatti G et al: Dose intensification of platinum compounds with glutathione protection as induction chemotherapy for advanced ovarian carcinoma. Oncology 1999; 57:115-120.
5. Holroyd KJ, Buhl R, Borok Z et al: Correction of glutathione deficiency in the lower respiratory tract of HIV seropositive individuals by glutathione aerosol treatment. Thorax 1993; 48:985-989.
6. Borok Z, Buhl R, Grimes GJ et al: Effect of glutathione on oxidant-antioxidant imbalance in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Lancet 1991; 338:215-216.
7. Testa B, Mesolella M, Testa D et al: Glutathione in the upper respiratory tract. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1995; 104:117-119.
8. http://www.pdrhealth.com/drugs/altmed/altmed-mono.aspx?contentFileName=ame0400.xml&contentName=Glutathione+&contentId=556
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Cleanse your Body
Here are some tips:
Drink Water
Pure water is one of the best ways to cleanse your body and your system. Simply drink more water everyday, at least the typical 8 glasses a day. Tea can be substituted for water if you want more flavor, but try to avoid adding any sweetener or milk to it, if possible. If you must add something to your water or tea for flavor, consider adding some fresh lemon juice. Lemon juice is also a great detoxifying agent and can be a nice change from plain water.
Increase Your Fiber Intake
Get plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. While this may seem obvious, many people get precious little fiber in their diet, and simply adding much more fiber to their diet can help your digestive system, cleanse your bowels and help you lose excess weight naturally. Great sources of fiber include prunes, many dried fruits, whole grain breads, whole grain pastas, oatmeal, beans, lentils and nuts.
Get More Fruit
While fruit is a generally good source of fiber, certain fruits have a great deal more power where cleansing and detoxifying is concerned. Berries, especially blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries, are great sources of antioxidants and phytochemicals, which have been shown to fight cancer, heart disease and other conditions. Berries are also high in vitamins, fiber and water, which makes them great options for anyone looking to cleanse and detoxify their body. Cranberries, specifically cranberry juice, is also an excellent way to cleanse your body. Cranberry juice has been shown to cleanse your kidneys and has long been known as a cure for bladder infections.
Liquid Diet
A more drastic way to cleanse your body is by going on a liquid diet. There are detox kits available that include specially formulated teas that can help to flush and cleanse the kidneys and the liver. In addition, pure fruit and vegetable juices can also be used on a liquid diet.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Many people find that supplementing their diet with apple cider vinegar can increase energy and help to suppress the appetite. You can add a couple ounces of apple cider vinegar to water once or twice a day, you may also stir in a bit of honey to make it more palatable. Apple cider vinegar has also been shown to lower your blood sugar, be a curative for many digestive issues, good for your skin and can help to alleviate certain allergies.
Vitamins & Herbal Supplements
There are many supplements available that include cleansing and detoxifying vitamins and herbs. Excellent herbs for cleansing include dandelion, milk thistle, burdock root, red clover blossoms, cayenne and ginger root. Vitamins and minerals that are excellent for cleansing include Vitamin C, Coenzyme Q10, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Choline.
However you choose to cleanse and detoxify your body, just be sure you pick a method that will work with your schedule and your system.
Detoxifying Your Body
You can also accelerate the improvement in health by actively detoxing your body, in large part by supporting the functioning of your liver.
The liver works twenty-four hours a day to cleanse your body of substances that can harm you, including the waste products of normal metabolism, food preservatives and additives, solvents in household cleaners, pesticides and herbicides, alcohol, drugs, toxins excreted by microbes in the digestive tract, and heavy metals (e.g., mercury or lead).
Your blood continually circulates through the liver, which filters out these harmful molecules and converts them into a form that can be readily excreted.
Studies have linked poor detoxification to several diseases, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and cancer. The ability of the liver to do its work varies from person to person, and you could find out about the strength of your own detoxification processes through a liver detoxification panel offered by several medical labs.
Meanwhile, you can help your liver through lifestyle choices and by taking certain nutrients. You've already learned about several actions that will support the liver:
- getting good nutrition (particularly cruciferous vegetables) from mainly organic foods, limiting your exposure to toxic chemicals, and taking supplements containing the MSDVs (notably the B vitamins, vitamins E and C, and magnesium, selenium, and molybdenum).
In addition, your body produces a peptide called glutathione, which strongly aids liver detoxification. Vitamin C and selenium support glutathione production. Whey protein also boosts glutathione, and you could try to eat a daily serving of this food (available at health food stores as a protein powder - which could be part of an easy breakfast).
Additionally, you could take a precursor to glutathione, N-acetyl-cysteine, with a dose of 500-1000 mg/day, or take glutathione directly, at 100-400 mg/day (although there is some question about how well the body assimilates glutathione in an oral supplement).
Other amino acids, including taurine, methionine, glutamine, and glycine can also be helpful to liver detoxification. Try supplementing any one of these, at 200-500 mg/day; start at a lower dosage if your body is particularly sensitive.
Numerous herbs promote liver detoxification as well. Perhaps the best known is milk thistle, also known as silymarin, which functions as an antioxidant and prevents depletion of glutathione. The standard dosage is 70-210 mg, three times per day.
In some cases, using supplements or herbs to aid detoxification can put the body into a temporary state of discomfort (as toxins are being processed at an accelerated pace). If this happens, reduce the dosages and see if that helps.
If the discomfort continues after a day or two, stop taking the supplement or herb. If detoxification has strong side effects, that suggests a need both to detoxify your body and to do so carefully while working with an experienced, licensed health practitioner. Finally (as usual), we don't think you should take supplements or herbs for detoxification if you are pregnant or nursing.
*** Please consult your physician before taking any supplements
Stimulating your body
Examples:
- Refined white sugar
- Coffee
- Diet pills
- Cigarettes
- Spices
- Red Meat
- Drugs
Detoxification Stimulants cannot give the body what it needs. Only natural food can promote a healthy and thus happy physiological function. You could look at it this way: the only natural way to feel good is the one that is a by-product of a normally functioning body that is producing sufficient energy at the cellular level. Any other way to feel good is phony and a result of stimulants, how innocent these stimulants may look.
Your body detoxifies itself all day and for the biggest part during your sleep. Especially until noon it is therefore suggested to eat fruit only. Your body has to dispose of the toxic elements it receives from stimulants, nutrition and pollution.
If you stop the stimulating of your body with a certain stimulant there is a good chance that the following is the result:
* an immediate loss of energy;
* emotional symptoms such as headaches, sickness and depressions.
We suggest
- Eat right - lots of fruits and vegtables
- Sleep at least 8 hrs a day
- Excersise
- Take Glutathione
Clink here to know where to purchase Glutathione Supplements
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diet
· Eliminate caffeine and alcohol.
· Eliminate refined sugar and other refined carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates suppress immune function.
· Consume a diet of whole, preferably organic foods with an emphasis on lean meats, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
o Pesticide residues have been found to be higher in chronic fatigue syndrome patients, therefore choosing organic foods is important.
· Increase dietary antioxidants through consumption of fruits and vegetables, especially blueberries.
· Focus on getting adequate high quality protein and fiber, both of which stabilize blood sugar.
· Identify and eliminate food intolerances. One study found that of chronic fatigue syndrome patients who eliminated wheat, milk, benzoates, nitrites, nitrates, food colorings and other additives from their diet, 90% reported improvement in severity of symptoms.
We also suggest to click here to read this article that will demonstrate to you why Glutathione is so important to your health and well-being.
Lifestyle for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
· Identify stressors and learn to manage them through relaxation, meditation, counseling, etc.
· Work to address the mental and emotional components of chronic fatigue syndrome which can be both a cause or an effect of the illness.
· Learn and implement diaphragmatic breathing techniques.
· Correct posture, if this is an issue.
· Participate in regular, low intensity exercise.
· Work to support optimal sleep hygiene.
Glutathione in Natural Medicine
Practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) have long advocated the use of milk thistle for liver problems. It turns out that this herb works by modestly elevating glutathione levels. The mineral selenium also produces subtle elevations in glutathione by becoming integrated into the glutathione peroxidase.
Glutathione in Health and Disease
It is believed that glutathione has an important role to play in the prevention and treatment of disease. It may in the future be considered as important to health as an alkaline diet, exercise and alkaline lifestyle.
Natural or Alternative Treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Treatment strategy may vary considerably depending on the suspected or apparent cause of the chronic fatigue and may include:
· Support and enhance immune function.
· Support and enhance liver detoxification.
· Support and enhance gastrointestinal health.
· Support and enhance adrenal function.
· Identify and address food sensitivities.
· Identify and address any metabolic abnormalities.
· Identify and treat nutrient deficiencies.
Over the past thirty years, researchers have explored the role of antioxidants in good health as well as the treatment and prevention of diseases involving oxidation or fermentation by metabolic acids.Well known and widely used antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin E and selenium neutralize acid.
They occur naturally in nature, but not in the body. They must be introduced as part of a balanced diet.Given the critical role of antioxidants in good health, it is not surprising that the body itself manufactures its own natural antioxidants.The most important of these is glutathione. Because all other antioxidants depend upon the presence of glutathione to function properly, scientists call it 'the master antioxidant.'Glutathione binds to toxins, forming a water-soluble complex - which is ultimately excreted in the urine or bile as waste.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Treatment of Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
It is important to be aware that the cause of CFS remains a mystery and that there is no simple cure. Recovery may take months, or even years, but most people do recover.
People with CFS need a regular review every couple of months by either a specialist or their general practitioner. If any new symptoms appear, treatment will need to be reassessed. People with CFS who do not respond to these treatments may be referred to a team including a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and liaison nurse.
With chronic fatigue syndrome, treating both physical and psychological factors is important.
To help with the physical aspects, the following may be beneficial:
Gentle exercise
Getting regular gentle exercise helps relieve and control symptoms. Most people with CFS can only tolerate light exercise, so it’s best to follow a "graded exercise programme", which means starting with an activity that can be done comfortably, and increasing the level of activity every few days. Getting too much exercise or increasing the level of exercise too quickly can make symptoms worse.
Painkillers
Pain relievers such as ibuprofen, aspirin or paracetamol may help relieve muscle and joint pain, headaches, and other physical symptoms. Some prescribed painkillers can become addictive and should only be used in the most severe cases on a short-term basis. Long-term use of any medication should be under the supervision of a doctor.
Daily routine
Adjusting the daily schedule to improve sleep habits may help.
To help with the psychological aspects, the following may help:
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
This is the most successful treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. CBT helps people identify how their thoughts affect their behaviour. It can help people to develop ways to cope more successfully with fatigue and other symptoms of CFS. Referral to a psychiatrist for this treatment does not mean that the doctor believes it is "all in the mind".
Antidepressants
These may be beneficial for some people with CFS where depression is a significant symptom.
Complementary treatments
Complementary medicine such as relaxation therapy, acupuncture, special diets or mineral supplements may alleviate symptoms. However, although some people may find them useful, there is no scientific evidence that these are effective.
The outlook
With or without treatment, most people who have CFS find that their symptoms get better over time and that they are able to resume normal daily activity within 1 to 2 years. Some people will continue to have symptoms for many years.
Glutathione (GSH) in Our Body
This article will demonstrate to you why Glutathione is soimportant to your health and well-being.
Glutathione (pronounced 'gloota-thigh-own') is the body's essential healthABC's - Antioxidant, Blood Booster and Cell Detoxifier.
Symptoms of Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
It is disabling all or most of the time. Even normal physical activity exacerbates the feeling of tiredness.
People who have CFS may also have other symptoms such as:
forgetfulness, memory loss, confusion, or difficulty concentrating,
sore throat,
tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpits,
muscle pain,
joint pain without redness or swelling,
headaches,
unrefreshing sleep (waking up feeling tired or unrested) or trouble getting to sleep,
fatigue that lasts more than 24 hours after exercise or exertion at a level that the person was previously able to manage without fatigue.
Other symptoms may include:
feeling hot or feverish even though temperature may be normal,
sensitivity to light or sound,
orthostatic hypotension, which causes light-headedness or dizziness as a result of a drop in blood pressure when standing or sitting up from a reclining position.
Diagnosis
When a doctor examines someone with CFS, they usually find no physical abnormalities. Diagnosis of CFS is made by taking a medical history, and by ruling out other possible conditions. Blood tests may help to rule out other illnesses, and in people with CFS the results will be negative. There is no specific test for diagnosing CFS.
Fights Inflammation and the diseases of AGING
It is well known that aging is accompanied by a precipitous fall inglutathione levels. Lower glutathione levels are implicated in manydiseases associated with aging including cataracts, Alzheimer's,Parkinson's atherosclerosis and others.Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 47:1021-26, 1994.
Heart Dis-Ease, Stroke and CholesterolRaised glutathione levels fight the oxidation of fats circulating in the bloodstreamincluding cholesterol, retarding the process of plaque formation in the arteriesleading to most heart attacks and strokes.
Nutrition Reviews 54: 1-30, 1996One of the best antioxidants is an amino acid called glutathione. I'm not alone in considering it one of the most powerful cancer-curbing, age-slowing nutrients ever discovered.
CFS-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the use of Glutathione