Say NO to Headaches, High Blood Pressure, and Asthma!

Conquering the“Debilitators”

Three ailments that impact literally millions of Americans are ones I call “debilitators.” The word “debilitate” means to sap the strength of somebody. A debilitating condition, from my perspective, is one that strikes unpredictably but sometimes periodically-and each time it strikes, “it lays a person low” and causes that person to feel weaker, more vulnerable, and to a degree, “insufficient” in some way at coping with life.

The three conditions that I have seen function frequently as “debilitators” are headaches, asthma, and food poisoning.

If you regularly suffer from these attacks on your physical body, or if you have ever suffered an attack by any of these three debilitators, I have important news for you.

Headaches 101

There are 3 basic facts about headaches that should encourage you:

  1. Most headaches are not caused by serious conditions. By the way, brain tumors-even major ones-don’t usually cause headaches.
  2. The vast majority of headaches are not lethal.
  3. You can do a great deal to prevent headaches.

Headaches come in various forms, and with varying root causes. The most common headache is the muscle-tension headache, which is caused by spasms of the neck muscles, the chewing muscles (technically the temporalis and masseter muscles), and the large band of connective tissue that covers the skull and is connected to these muscles. In these cases, stopping the spasms stops the headache.

Having said that, let me add that there are serious headaches that can have serious health consequences.

  • Ruptured intracranial aneurysms (subarachinoid hemorrhages).

These headaches usually strike with extreme intensity and without warning, and they can be lethal. Basically, a blood vessel in the brain has broken.

  • Pituitary tumors and brain tumors near the surface of the brain
  • Very high blood pressure, and intracranial hemorrhages associated with high blood pressure
  • Obstructive hydrocephalus
  • Infections, such as encephalitis and meningitis

If an extremely painful and localized headache comes on suddenly, or over a matter of hours-especially if the person does not routinely suffer from headaches-seek medical attention immediately.

Help for Tension Headaches

Recent scientific studies have indicated that people who work long hours at computers or who sit for hours hunched over a desk doing paperwork, are showing a dramatic increase in tension headaches. Stress-often related to deadlines and workload quotas-adds to this type of headache. Here are 3 things you can do to help prevent tension headaches:

  1. Get up at least once an hour and stretch your neck muscles, and while standing, give the muscles in the back of your neck a good, deep massage. If you feel pain as you massage your neck muscles, take this as a sign that you are  not stretching your neck muscles often enough or adequately enough. You may find that doing this also helps with periodic dizziness. As you massage your neck muscles, move down to massage the muscles of your shoulders, and those between your shoulder blades. You may want to do this with a co-worker. Take a few seconds to exchange neck and shoulder massages during a normal break period.
  2. Apply a warm, wet washcloth to the back of your neck while massaging your neck muscles.
  3. You may want to have professional massages on a periodic basis.

A variety of analgesic rubs can be used with massage, including various essential oils.

Hypoglycemia and Headaches

Some tension headaches, and especially ones that have an element of dizziness, are made worse by hypoglycemia-a sudden drop in blood sugar. When blood sugar falls, the muscles at the back of the neck and skull often go into spasms. If caught early enough, eating can sometimes stop these headaches. Avoid eating sugar, sweetened drinks, and high-glycemic-index foods. Also avoid artificial sweeteners, many of which induce hypoglycemia.

Unfortunately, the hypoglycemic-related headache is resistant to virtually all pain and anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen). Many people are unaware that protein bars and drinks can trigger a drastic fall in blood sugar and trigger headaches-especially those that are soy-based protein products. Never use soy protein.

If you can identify an overall trend that associates low blood sugar with headaches, the best thing for you to do is adopt permanently a daily eating pattern that includes sufficient protein  (our Fit Food Protein does an excellent job) eaten at regular intervals during any given day (upon awakening and then every 2-1/2 to 3 hours), and complete abstinence of all artificial sweeteners and sugary foods.

Watch Consumption of Flavonoids-New research has shown that many flavonoids can precipitate hypoglycemia in people who are prone to reactive hypoglycemia-which, sadly, is 30-50 percent of the population. This is especially true if the flavonoids are taken on an empty stomach. If you are taking curcumin, quercetin, Ginkgo biloba, or ginseng products on a regular basis, be sure to take them with food.  This is one of the reasons we use protein in our GHI Cleanse.

Avoid All Excitotoxins-Exitotoxins-including MSG, hydrolyzed proteins, textured proteins, yeast extract, soy proteins and isolates, caseinate, natural flavoring carrageenan, stock and broth products, and autolyzed yeast can all precipitate a migraine attack. They can also lower blood sugar to hypoglycemic levels and cause pain signals in the nerves to activate.

Exercise and Posture Tips

As a good preventive measure, do daily neck and shoulder muscle exercises. A simple resistance exercise can be done by placing your hand against the side of your head and then pushing your head against your hand. Use only mild resistance. Do this several times for each side of the head.

A second good stretch is the upward stretch of your neck. Imagine that a string has been attached to the very top of your head and it is pulling you upward.

It is always a good idea to apply a warm moist towel to your neck muscles before you begin these exercises.

Posture is important! Stand against a wall and align your spine, shoulders, and head against the wall. Then, try to maintain this posture as you walk and as you sit-keeping your head, shoulders, and spine in alignment. Don’t stoop your shoulders or crane your neck forward. Don’t slump or slouch over your keyboard or desk.

Supplements for Headaches

There are a number of good supplements that help strengthen ligaments, especially buffered vitamin C (Health Masters Excellent C). It is an important supplement for strengthening ligaments, the connective tissue of the skull, and the cervical disc in the neck-and has been linked to prevention of injuries and disc ruptures. Hesperidin strengthens tissues and acts as a calming agent, providing powerful protection to the brain and heart as well as help for neck and shoulder muscles. (Recommended dosage is 500 mg with meals twice a day.)

Magnesium (Health Masters Magnesium Glycinate) is helpful for its ability to relax muscles and reduce inflammation. (Recommended dosage is 500 mg in an extended-release form, three times a day.)

Skullcap extract, theonine, and carnosine calm nerves.

What about Migraines?

The type of migraine that causes the most concern is the migraine that begins after the age of forty. Its most distinguishing characteristic is a visual phenomenon-usually a flashing bright light that may be in a zig-zag pattern. These migraines are strongly associated with the risk of stroke.

Migraines have a very high association with both hypoclycemia and depleted magnesium levels.

Things to Do and Not Do

As in the case of tension headaches, prevention is always the best way to go! Below are several suggestions:

  • Eat an anti-hypoclyemia diet-This means eating many small meals a day, with 2-4 ounces of protein (Fit Food) at each “mini meal.” Avoid sugary foods and foods that are high on the glycemic index (usually processed foods).
  • Again, do not use soy-based protein powders or other soy products as your source of protein.  Avoid high fructose corn syrup and fructose in general.
  • Avoid caffeine, especially coffee-Coffee causes vaso constriction on the small blood vessels to the brain.  If you drink coffee on a regular basis and then skip the coffee one day these blood  vessels can dilate causing cranial pressure which can cause a caffeine withdrawal headache. That is one of the reasons that I try and avoid coffee.  If you do have a caffeine withdrawal headache, there is only one thing that I have seen get rid of  the headache.  That would be the headache powder BC.  However, this product contains aspirin and caffeine and should not be used if you have an aspirin allergy.  If it is used, it  should only be used in moderation.  I  do not recommend the regular use of aspirin. But,  say given the above constraints,  BC works great on caffeine withdrawal headaches. It can also be used to get off coffee without the headaches.  This can be done by substituting the BC powder for  the coffee and over a period of days gradually reducing the BC dosage. 
  • Do not take flavonoids on an empty stomach-such as curcumin, quercetin, Ginkgo biloba, and ginseng. These flavonoids have great overall health benefits, but they must be taken with food.  Again this is one of the reasons our GHI cleanse contains protein.
  • Avoid fish oils high in Mercury-This is pretty much all fish oils sold in discount houses. I would not put these products in my body. They must be from a known source with proper health safety protocols in place.
  • Avoid all “excitotoxic” additives and artificial substances that function as excitotoxins-Glutamate (MSG and other products), aspartame (from aspartame), and free Cysteine are all excitotoxins that are known to trigger  migraine headaches. Studies have shown that levels of glutamate in spinal fluid rise significantly during a migraine headache, and fall after the attack subsides.   What to avoid? Here are a few key items to eliminate from your food and beverage intake:

1)    Avoid soy products, cheese, and chocolate, especially dark chocolate

2)    Avoid all sweeteners (aspartame especially, but also saccharine and Splenda)

3)    Avoid foods with additives-glutamate and other excitotoxins come in a wide variety of forms!

4)    Especially avoid non organic canned soups, drinks, and broths that have excitotoxins since the toxic amino acids are more readily and completely absorbed in liquid form. Make sure the label says NO MSG.

Excitotoxins can increase brain inflammation, and prolonged brain inflammation has been associated with a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Consider Magnesium Supplementation

(Health Masters Magnesium Glycinate) Low levels of magnesium are especially common in migraine sufferers. And, magnesium supplements have been shown to dramatically reduce both the incidence and severity of headaches.

Basically, magnesium reduces excitotoxicity and brain inflammation. It also increases the production of energy in brain cells and improves blood flow in the brain.

Some medical and nutritional experts are recommending a migraine-prevention “drink” that combines 1,000 mg pyruvate and five capsules of magnesium glycinate/malate in 6 ounces of water. This mixture has been shown to impact a migraine attack in a matter of two to three minutes!

Other methods for increasing brain energy and lowering levels of glutamate in the brain include the following:

  • Riboflavin in a dose of 100 mg twice a day.
  • Vitamin B6 in the form of pyridoxal-5 phosphate in a dose of 30 mg a day.   I recommend our B5 -B6 formula for this purpose and to massively increase brain function and energy with breakfast.  I take it every day along with our B complex.

High Blood Pressure and Inflammation

Migraines have been linked to chronic inflammation in brain tissue and blood vessels. For years, people have thought that excess sodium (salt) is a major culprit in high blood pressure, but now it appears that high blood pressure is more often linked to chronic inflammation. This is one of the reasons that high blood pressure is also connected to increased incidents of dementia, heart attacks, and arteriosclerosis in general. I usually check my blood pressure weekly. Now remember at the time of this writing I will be 55 in a week. My blood pressure is almost always around 110 over 70. Being healthy does not have to be hard, but it does require consistency.

Below are several things you can do to reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure:

1) Maintain a high intake of antioxidants. All antioxidants reduce elevated blood pressure. Natural vitamin E (Health Masters Super Potent E), buffered vitamin C (Health Masters Excellent C), magnesium (Health Masters Magnesium Glycinate), CoQ10 (Health Masters CoQ10), flavonoids (especially curcumin, quercetin, hesperidin, ellagic acid)(Health Masters GHI Cleanse), alpha-lipoic acid (Health Masters Alpha-Lipoic Acid), and L-carnitine (Health Masters Carnitine) are helpful-especially in combination. Remember to take the flavonoids with food.  Perhaps the most important is HGH stimulate.  I love this product I take it 2 to 3 times a day. It has also dramatically affected my strength in the Gym.   

2) Eat your greens.Green leafy vegetables are rich in magnesium! Magnesium not only increases blood flow in both medium and small arteries and increases brain-cell energy, but it helps prevent blood clots and protects the heart. Studies have shown that 75 percent of Americans are deficient in magnesium, mainly because we do not eat enough green leafy vegetables and also because we drink too any carbonated soft drinks.

3) Exercise regularly. Moderate exercise lowers elevated blood pressure. Resistance exercises-such as lifting weights-are especially good, as is walking. Try to exercise 30-45 minutes a day, even if you are only exercising moderately.  A mini trampoline is also effective and is perhaps the best exercise to lower blood pressure. However you need to ask your doctor before beginning any exercise program. If you do use a mini trampoline simple walking will be fine in the beginnning .  Plus, it would probably be good to balance yourself with a chair back on both sides of the trampoline. Just please be careful.

4) Hawthorne for the heart.The herb Hawthorne has been recognized by the American College of Cardiology as a very beneficial herb. It both improves heart muscle strength (to help prevent heart failure) and dilates arteries, which can lower high blood pressure. (Recommended dosage is 500 mg twice a day.) Hawthorne does not cause impotence or fatigue, which are side effects associated with many heart medications.

Asthma-Another  Major Debilitator

If you have ever seen someone experience a sudden major asthma attack, you need no definition for the word “debilitator.” There’s no distress quite like the distress of being unable to breathe!

In this last generation, asthma has become a rampant disease in our nation, and a deadly disease. About 1 in 7 children is developing the condition-double the number just 25 years ago. There are more than 23 million cases of asthma in the United States today.

There is very little consensus in the medical community about what causes childhood asthma. Some researchers blame increased atmospheric pollution, but the truth is, atmospheric pollution has neither decreased nor increased during the last 25 years. What has increased is a dramatic increase in the number of vaccinations children are supposedly “required” to have-up from 10-15 vaccines in the 1970s to 36 or more today. .and rising. Several vaccine have been linked to asthma, but the more important fact seems to be the number of vaccines given during a single office visit. This massive intake of vaccines disrupts the immune system and can promote a severe autoimmune reaction.

What can be done?

First, avoid further vaccinations. This especially applies to flu vaccinations. The flu vaccine contains a full dose of mercury and mercury is a known major trigger of autoimmunity. Vaccines have a very low rate of preventing the flu, and large studies have found no protection at all in children under the age of two.

Second, monitor what you eat. Foods that have been associated with a high incidence of allergy and intolerance include pasterized cow’s milk, cheese, chocolate, and soy foods and beverages. Choose foods and beverages that reduce inflammation, such as nutrient-dense vegetables and walnuts.

Third, consider your child’s level of stomach acid. Studies have shown that as many as 4 out of 5 asthmatic children have low levels of stomach acid. Our healthmasters digestive tablets, given at mealtime, can help restore normal stomach acid levels in both adults and children. If your child speaks of a warm sensation in his stomach, reduce the dosage until that feeling disappears. Work with a physician trained in nutrition to help you monitor and determine the right level.

Fourth, use an air purifier in your home. The humidity in your home should be below 50 percent to prevent mold from growing.

Fifth, consider supplements known to help with asthma. The supplements curcumin and quercetin (Health Masters GHI Cleanse) block inflammatory reactions associated with the bronchi spasms characteristic of asthma attacks. Note: these supplements must be taken with food. No food is needed with the GHI cleanse.  It contains protein.  I realize that  I have already told you this several times. The reason that I repeat  myself many times in these emails is that not everyone reads the entire email from start to finish.   I take 4 scoops of the GHI cleanse daily.

Also, consider a balanced regimen of antioxidants to reduce the accumulation of free radicals in the lungs. Antioxidants can also help reduce lung damage as well as bronchial spasms. Recommended antioxidants include buffered vitamin C (Health Masters Excellent C), natural vitamin E (Health Masters Super Potent E), magnesium (Health Masters Magnesium Glycinate), vitamin D3 (Health Masters Vitamin D3 5000). DHA oil (Health Masters Norwegian Omega 3) also reduces inflammation in the lungs. Magnesium (Health Mastersstrong> Magnesium Glycinate)is known to significantly reduce the severity of asthma attacks.

Sixth, take vitamin D3 (Health Masters Vitamin D3 5000). New guidelines for this vitamin recommend 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 each day. This dosage is for children, too. Deficiency of this vitamin can result in immune function disruption. Even higher doses have been shown to suppress immune over activity and to decrease inflammation in the lungs. Vitamin D3 also reduces infections by viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

Seventh, consider the use of probiotics (Health Masters Probiotic Blend). Probiotic bacteria in the gut helps regulate and tame the immune system.

Eighth, make sure you are drinking purified water (Waterwise 8800 Distiller) , and that you are drinking a sufficient quantity of water. Diuretics can severely deplete water and vital minerals-including magnesium, a vital substance when dealing with both headaches and asthma. Use purified water to make tea from white tea leaves. White tea has been shown to be very helpful to those who suffer from asthma.

Ninth, Let me give a simple place to start.  Use these Health Masters products and keep the cost down.

In most cases, this takes care of the problem. The other products and suggestions can be used, but this problem is usually an easy fix with just a few supplements.

The Debilitation of Food Poisoning

If you have ever suffered from food poisoning you know that nothing can drain your body of energy-or nutrients-quite so quickly and with so much force. Many food poisoning victims suffer both extreme vomiting and extreme diarrhea, and if the poisons enter the bloodstream with sufficient force, even death can occur. For most, dehydration is a real possibility. And for many, gripping and intense intestinal cramping causes unforgettable pain.

Food poisoning is caused by the release of toxins from bacteria in contaminated food. Perhaps the scariest of the toxins is a particular strain of E.coli called 0157:H67. Most people do not realize that most strains of E.coli in the colon are beneficial and are part of the normal bacteria in the colon-but 0157:H67 can be deadly. It can cause widespread blood clotting and kidney failure and statisticians tells us that about sixty people a year die from this bacterium.

Magnesium-(Health Masters Magnesium Glycinate). One of the things that can help with the intestinal cramping is a “magnesium drink”-four capsules of magnesium citrate/malate in 4 ounces of distilled water. Within ten minutes or less the pain is likely to subside, and within thirty minutes, the pain may be gone entirely. Magnesium relaxes all smooth muscles, including those that propel food along the intestines and colon. Magnesium has the added benefit of reducing the risk of abnormal blood clotting.

This same magnesium drink can also help if a person develops a kidney stone. Magnesium relaxes the smooth muscles of the urether, the tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Regular taking of magnesium supplements dramatically reduces the chances that kidney stones will form since most stones are calcium oxalate and magnesium neutralizes or balances excess calcium. The most helpful form of magnesium is magnesium citrate/malate (Health Masters Magnesium Glycinate). The natural citrate in orange juice can also help prevent stone formation-a couple of glasses of orange juice a day can significantly reduce the risk of kidney stones-just be aware that this much juice also raises blood sugar levels. As a preventative measure, a HALF capsule of magnesium citrate/malate dissolved in a GALLON of water, can help prevent kidney stones.

The supplement quercetin (Health Masters GHI Cleanse) has been shown to protect the kidneys against many toxins and diseases and may also be helpful in overcoming the consequences associated with severe food poisoning.

In addition we carry a VE Iron product called Bentonite. It has been used for years for food poisoning. It however is not a drug.

If you find yourself with food poisoning you need to contact a poison control center immediaetely or go to an emergengy room or you doctor.

Prevention Is Preferred-As is true in most health situations, prevention is preferred to treatment! Here are several of the foremost tips for avoiding food poisoning:

  • All meats should be washed under running water and then cooked thoroughly. Never place raw meats on cutting boards, and especially do not use wooden cutting boards.
  • Wash all vegetables and fruits with a vegetable wash before eating, even if they are packaged with labels that say “prewashed.” Vegetables and fruits can be a source of food poisoning although many people have never heard this fact.
  • After preparing raw meats, clean surfaces with an antiseptic cloth. Always wash your hands with warm water and soap after handling raw meat.

Stay Hydrated-It is important to stay hydrated if you experience a bout of food poisoning or even if your system rebels against tainted food that isn’t truly “poisoned.” Drink white tea or distilled water.

A Common Thread

What is the common thread that helps overcome each of these debilitating conditions? Magnesium (Health Masters Magnesium Glycinate) and GHI Cleanse (Health Masters GHI Cleanse).  Make sure these supplements are a part of your daily arsenal of supplements.

                    

 Here are several Health facts, in bullet format, that cover several topics 

 

 

  • Chlorophyl - the green pigment in plants, may enhance a person’s ability to see in the dark. Scientists are still working on ways of instilling chlorophyll directly into the eye.  But for those who have trouble seeing in the dark, there may be hope ahead!
  • 7 Preventive Measures for the Flu - You can protect yourself from many influenza attacks by following these simple rules:

1. Use a hand sanitizer regularly.

2. Regularly clean commonly used surfaces-such as computer keyboards, telephone speakers, countertops, and door handles-with sanitizer cloths.

3. Avoid exhaustion and extreme exercise-both of which can lower immunity. Get at least eight hours of good sleep a night.

4. Avoid high-sugar intake or foods cooked with omega-6 oils-they suppress immunity and increase inflammation. (Oils to avoid include corn, safflower, canola, peanut, sunflower and soybean.)

5. Avoid excessive intake of omega-3 oils containing high levels of EPA. EPA helps reduce inflammation but is also a powerful immune suppressant.

6. If you must be in areas with a lot of people on a daily basis-such as airplanes, public transportation, large auditoriums-or crowded offices, take the supplement beta-1/3/1,6 glucan-250 mg-every other day. Take it on an empty stomach with any liquid. If you begin to feel ill, take beta-glucan every day until the illness clears and then every other day for a week.

7. Make sure you take vitamin E (Health Masters Super Potent E) that has a mix of tocopherols, and is high in gamma-tocopherol (400 IU a day).

  • Help for Ear Infections - Vitamin D3 (Health Masters Vitamin D3 5000) has been shown to be an effective treatment for ear infections. Recommended dose is 1,000 IU to 2,000 IU a day.
  • How Much EPA? - Most medical experts recommend taking no more than 100 mg of EPA per teaspoon serving of fish oil supplements. Many health supplement manufacturers are using omega-2 oils that are very high in EPA content. DHA in fish oil is helpful for many reasons; too much EPA can be harmful. (Health Masters Norwegian Omega 3