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Do we create/influence our level of health and ill health/disease?

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
Siddhārtha Gautama

“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”

“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.” Buddha

Do we create/influence our level of health and ill health/disease?

In over 22 years of helping thousands of patients, I would say that at least 90+% of our current state of health is self-created. 10% +/- is pure genetics, which may be influenced, negatively or positively, by our daily acts.

So, which diseases are predominately caused by US, knowingly/on-purpose (smoking, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, drugs, excessive alcohol, chemicals, avoidable stressors….) or unknowingly (basically, lack of knowing that the acts just listed are health damaging)?

First and foremost:

  • Diabetes (pre-diabetes and insulin resistance)
  • High Cholesterol
  • Hypertension / High Blood Pressure
  • Obesity / Over-Weight
  • Osteoporosis
  • Heart Disease
  • Cancer

Other conditions that are very strongly related to what we do or don’t do to our body:

  • Alzheimer’s
  • Auto Immune Conditions (middle age onset)

Which diseases respond the best to lifestyle modification (diet, exercise and target nutritional supplementation) than the do to potentially dangerous drugs?

  • Diabetes (pre-diabetes and insulin resistance)
  • High Cholesterol
  • Hypertension / High Blood Pressure
  • Obesity / Over-Weight
  • Osteoporosis
  • Heart Disease
  • Stomach and GI Conditions (Ulcer, Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Disease, Crohn’s Disease…)
  • Eczema
  • Cancer (as a preventative more so than a treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation are even worse as a long-term treatment, as success is only measured as, “being alive five years post original diagnosis, no matter what the state the cancer is in at that time”).

The above disease states, as well as many more not listed, can and have be treated, with almost 100% effectiveness, utilizing lifestyle modifications, alone.

Here is a set of questions to see if there needs to be some attention paid to the topic of health. Please email me back with your responses and/or questions (cut and paste) – info@advancedhealing.com. If you are presently under active care, then this would apply to anyone you know that would benefit from my help.

Do you or someone you know have any of the above conditions?

  1. If there was an easy, safe, affordable and effective way to reverse the condition/disease would you be interested in knowing more about it?
  2. Is there something stopping you from getting better?
  3. Is there something about your present state of health that needs changing? What is it?
  4. If on a medication, would you like to get off of it, if it were possible?
  5. Do you ever complain about how bad you feel?
  6. Do you move with pain or lack of breath?
  7. Does having more energy, living longer and healthier interest you?
  8. Would you like to save money on your health care spending?

In 22+ years of active practice I have helped thousands of people, just like you, live happier and more productive lives. All without the use of harmful drugs. There is no better time to make your health a priority, than right now. You owe it to yourself to live every day to the fullest, without pain or illness.

I look forward to hearing from all of you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Marcus Ettinger

Posted in Alzheimer's, Blood Pressure, Cancer, Diabetes, Holistic Medicine, My Thoughts | No Comments »

The Cycle of Inflammation – From Stressors to Disease

Sunday, October 31st, 2010

If after reading this post you have questions regarding alternative medicine, integrative medicine, chiropractic, weight-loss, diabetes or pre-diabetes prevention, nutritional supplementation or how to become a new patient, please feel free to contact our office. Advanced Healing Center of Orange County, the practice of Dr. Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC. Phone: 714-639-4360, E-mail: info@advancedhealing.com, Mail: 630 South Glassell Street #103. Orange, CA 92866.

The below cycle of inflammation (also known as an inflammatory cascade) is one of the most profound contributors to ill health and disease we face. Once set in motion, this inflammatory cycle will feed itself and becomes harder to suppress. 75% of the patients I see are in my practice because of the effects inflammation is having on their body. 100% of these effects are a direct result of not following (step 6) at the bottom of the page. The easiest way to avoid disease and ill health is to remove as many stressors (step 1) out of your life.Step 1. Over-exposure or excessive physical, emotional and/or chemical stress’, leading to the activation of  a potent modulator of the inflammatory cycle.

Stressors: Radiation; oxidative stress; physical injury, bacterial endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from food-borne bacteria (E. coli and Salmonella); “Leaky Gut Syndrome”; food and environmental allergens; viral infections; excessive consumption of simple sugars (sucrose); consumption of corn oil; arachidonic acid metabolites such as PGE2; nutrient poor, processed food diet; insufficient Omega 3 fatty acids (ALA, EPA, DHA), insufficient GLA and Vitamin D deficiency.

Step 2. Activation of NF-κB

NF-κB is widely used by eukaryotic (cells that contain a nucleus) cells as a regulator of genes that control cell proliferation and cell survival (anti-apoptotic). Blocking NF-κB can cause tumor cells to stop proliferating, to die, or to become more sensitive to the action of anti-tumor agents.

NF-κB also controls many genes involved in inflammation (cytokines [signaling molecules used extensively in intercellular communication], cell adhesion molecules and the pro-inflammatory enzymes: inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS,) cyclo-oxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LPOX). NF-κB is found to be chronically active in many inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, sepsis, gastritis, asthma, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular disease.

Step 3. Cytokines, cell adhesion molecules and the pro-inflammatory enzymes are produced.

*Interleukin-6 (IL-6) → C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Cyclooxygenase-2 → Prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) and Thromboxanes
Interleukin-1 (IL-1) → Collagenase-3 (MMP-13)
Lipoxygenase → Leukotrienes
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) → Nitric Oxide (NO)
Tissue Necrosis Factor (TNFα)
*Cell Adhesion Molecules (CAMs)

Step 4. Health conditions created by prolonged exposure to the above chemicals.

  • Pain
  • Inflammation (edema, swelling)
  • Asthma and Hypersensitivity to Potential Allergens
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Thrombosis (blood clots)
  • Insulin resistance
  • Autoimmune disease (Hashimoto’s, Lupus…)
  • Rheumatoid disease
  • Neurodegeneration (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease)
  • Cancer

Step 5. IL-1, PGE2, reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress, TNFα and CRP created because of the above health conditions, facilitate the continued activation of NF-κB.

Step 6. In order to break the above inflammatory cycle, stressors need to be removed,  severely reduced or reversed. One of the easiest steps that can be taken is to eliminate table sugar, vegetable oil and hydrogenated fats out of the diet and add in Omega 3 fatty acids, in the form of fish and flax seed oil. Next, is to reduce animal protein (red meat) consumption to 6 ounces per day and add-in nutrient dense foods like: vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and beans. Increasing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients is a cost effective measure that will pay dividends in the form of less sickness, disease and an increased life-span. Here are a few of my favorite nutrients that support  anti-inflammatory processes: molecularly distilled fish oil, natural vitamin C, chlorella, vitamin E, selenium, NAC, resveratrol, grape seed extract and curcumin. Here are a few of my favorite antioxidant rich (anti-inflammatory) fruits and vegetables: red bell pepper, tomato, cilantro, spinach, red cabbage, onion, garlic, strawberries, blueberries and red raspberries. Lastly, engaging in mild-moderate exercise (3 days/week), taking a broad-spectrum, enteric-coated probiotic and 4,000 – 10,000 IU’s of vitamin D3 per day, will round-out any  anti-inflammatory protocol.

Step 7. Proactive diagnostic blood tests to determine the presence and level of inflammation within the body, as well as tests that will determine risk for development of cardiovascular disease (heart attack) or cerebrovascular disease (stroke). Any of these tests can be ordered by calling our office 714-639-4360

  • C-Reactive Protein (CRP) – High Sensitive (Cardiac)
  • Homocysteine
  • Fibrinogen
  • Hemoglobin A1C
  • IL-6 – Interleukin – 6
  • Sed Rate (ESR)
  • Lipid Panel
  • D,25 Hydroxycalciferol – Vitamin D

*Atherosclerosis is strongly considered to be a low-grade inflammatory response of the arterial wall to a variety of stimuli in all aspects of coronary syndromes, from the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis to plaque rupture and myocardial cell death. In each of these steps, infiltration of cardiovascular tissue by inflammatory cells is evident and is regulated by a number of cytokines (IL-6 and CRP) and cell adhesion molecules.  Maseri A. N Engl J Med. 1997;336:1014-1016

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Posted in Alzheimer's, Asthma, Cancer, Foods that Heal, Infection, Vitamin D | No Comments »

Diabetes, Insulin and Alzheimer’s Disease

Saturday, October 30th, 2010

If after reading this post you have questions regarding alternative medicine, integrative medicine, chiropractic, weight-loss, diabetes or pre-diabetes prevention, nutritional supplementation or how to become a new patient, please feel free to contact our office. Advanced Healing Center of Orange County, the practice of Dr. Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC. Phone: 714-639-4360, E-mail: info@advancedhealing.com, Mail: 630 South Glassell Street #103. Orange, CA 92866.

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and is not a normal part of aging. Alzheimer’s disease is progressive and there is no known cure.

Alzheimer’s disease occurs when Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles begin to form in the memory sections of the brain, and begin damaging and killing the nerve cells. Plaques are deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid (BAY-tuh AM-uh-loyd) that builds-up in the spaces between nerve cells. Tangles are twisted fibers of another protein called tau (rhymes with “wow”) that builds-up inside cells. Though most people develop some plaques and tangles as they age, those with Alzheimer’s tend to develop far more.Below is an explanation of how the above occurs and is also one way to increase your odds for developing Alzheimer’s disease. This is also a way to increase your odds of dying of cardiovascular disease, stroke or cancer.

The diabetes, insulin and Alzheimer’s Disease connection – or – How to increase your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease by living a traditional Western lifestyle.

First, you must eat a standard Western diet, which is also a high glycemic and high fat diet. The standard Western diet contains an over-abundance of added sugar (sucrose); starch; saturated, polyunsaturated and trans-fats (dairy, red meat and hydrogenated vegetable oil), and avoid a Mediterranean diet, which is abundant in fiber; fruits; vegetables; beans/legumes; nuts and seeds and monounsaturated fats (avocado, olive oil and fish rich in Omega 3 fatty acids).Second you must avoid exercise.

Third, you must limit your engagement in mental activities such as, but not limited to: continued education, crossword puzzles and social interactions (out-side of work).

The traditional Western lifestyle is a risk factor for the development of many diseases, and it will definitely contribute to the production of elevated triglyceride (fat) and glucose (sugar) levels in the blood. Elevated glucose in the blood will raise insulin (hormone) levels and is known as type 2 diabetes. When blood glucose is elevated for an extended period of time it begins to bind to the oxygen carrying component of our blood called hemoglobin. This combining of glucose and hemoglobin is known as glycated hemoglobin (glycosylated hemoglobin or A1C), and is a diagnostic marker used to monitor the long-term state (severity or healing) of a diabetes. As the glucose level in the blood increase, so does the concentration of glycated hemoglobin (A1C).

Glycation is a normal chemical reaction that glucose (sugar) will undergo in our body and usually increases as we age. Under certain pathologic conditions such as diabetes this process is abnormally accelerated and will lead to an overabundant production of a destructive class of chemicals known as advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Some AGEs are benign, but others are more reactive than the sugars they are derived from, and are implicated in many age-related chronic diseases such as: cardiovascular diseases (the endothelium, fibrinogen, and collagen are damaged), Alzheimer’s disease (amyloid proteins are side-products of the reactions progressing to AGEs), cancer (acrylamide and other side-products are released), peripheral neuropathy (the myelin is attacked), and other sensory losses such as deafness (due to demyelination of auditory nerves). This range of diseases is the result of the very basic level at which glycations interfere with molecular and cellular functioning throughout the body and the release of highly-oxidizing side-products such as hydrogen peroxide.

Another pathologic component derived from following the above lifestyle (lack of exercise, high blood triglyceride and glucose levels) is an increase in IGF-1 production and a reduction in the passage IGF-1 into the brain. IGF-1 possesses many functions but in this context we are looking at its neuroprotective ability to inhibit the formation of beta-amyloid plaque and tau in the brain, which can lead to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

In summary, Reducing blood levels of triglycerides (below 150 mg/dL) and glucose levels (below 96 mg/dL); engaging in regular exercise (exercise increases the neuroprotective hormone Insulin-like-Growth-Factor’s passage into the brain) and continued education, will lower the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.

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Posted in Alzheimer's, Diabetes, Mediterranean Diet | No Comments »

The True Cause of Alzheimer’s?

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

head_shot_www.advancedhealing.comYesterday a study came out (Amino Acid Linked To Alzheimer’s) claiming a possible link between an increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s and the high consumption of a component of certain proteins, an amino acid – L methionine.  The study suggests that a diet rich in red meats, fish, beans, eggs, garlic, lentils, onions, yogurt and seeds can increase ones risk.  The overall hypothesis is that excess methionine is converted into a bad-actor homocysteine. Homocysteine has been linked to an increased rick for the development of dementia, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Commentary: I have to take issue with this study.  One because it is going to scare, needlessly, a lot of people and second, because it failed to include lifestyle, genetics, geographic location and other beneficial dietary factors (homocysteine reducing nutrients – fruits and vegetables), into of the overall Alzheimer’s equation, that could lesson or even negate the negative impact from eating only this type of diet.  This study is solely one of, “let’s see what will happen to a bunch of mice if we only feed them….” I am sure that adding the above factors into their final conclusion would most likely have negated their findings.

Now, let’s take a look at a population group  that has the lowest rate per of Alzheimer’s in the world, Northern India – specifically the state of Haryana.  The other northern states, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir also have very low per capita rates of Alzheimer’s.   Why is this?  Well, it’s not from a lack of consuming the above foods, because these foods just so happen to be staples in their diet.

Let’s look at the dietary habits of North India.  The cuisine of Northern India can be broken down into these regional styles: Punjabi cuisine, Mughlai/Moghul cuisine, cuisine of Kashmir, Awadhi cuisine, cuisine of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthani cuisine, Bhojpuri cuisine, Bihari cuisine, and Sindhi cuisine.  The commonality between these regional styles is the proportionally high use of meat (chicken, lamb/mutton, goat and no pork); dairy products (milk, yogurt and cheese/paneer); flat breads (the primary dietary starch) some tandoor/griddle (roti/chapati, naan, parantha) and some deep-fried in oil (puri/poori and bhatoora); many varieties of lentils/dal;  seasonal vegetables; fresh fruit (apples (apples, cherries, plums and strawberries); Nuts (pistachios, almonds); seeds/spices (cloves, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom ghee, Garam masala, sesame, turmeric [curcumin], onion, garlic, ginger and bay leaves, fennel, coriander, nutmeg, and paprika); and the samosa.  The samosa is a popular North Indian snack.  Commonly filled with boiled, fried, or mashed potato and other fillings like minced meat, cheese, mushroom, and chick pea.  (Due to sub-cultures and climate extremes within these geographic regions there will always be exceptions/exclusions to my ingredient list above).

Conclusion: Per this recent study and the fact that the diet of the Northern Indian population, which is rich in red meats, lentils, onions, garlic, yogurt and seeds, you would expect that there would be a high, per capita rate of Alzheimer’s; well, there isn’t.  In fact it’s the lowest in the world!

Let’s take a look closer to home.  The rate of Alzheimer’s in the United States is far higher than Northern India, but again based on the above study, lets look it the correlates to real life.  Below are the top ten states and bottom ten sates for rates of Alzheimer’s disease deaths  per 100,000 residents (source).

The top 10 states with the highest rates of Alzheimer’s disease deaths are:

1. Tennessee (age-adjusted death rate per 100,000 = 36.2)
2. Washington (35.9)
3. Louisiana (34.2)
4. Alabama (33.2)
5. South Carolina (32.4)
6. Arizona (31.3)
7. N Dakota (29.8)
8. N Carolina (29.5)
9. Idaho (29.4)
10. Maine (29.1)

The top 10 states with the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s disease deaths are:

1. New York (age-adjusted death rate per 100,000 = 9.2)
2. Hawaii (11.4)
3. Connecticut (16.1)
4. Nevada (17.1)
5. Maryland (17.5)
6. New Jersey (17.6)
7. New Mexico (18.3)
8. Florida (18.4)
9. Rhode Island (18.8)
10. Pennsylvania (18.9)

Do you think that New Yorker’s or Hawaiian’s eat any less red meat or fish than citizens of Tennessee, Washington or Louisiana?  No!  Do Hawaiian’s or New Yorker’s eat less eggs, onions, yogurt, garlic or seeds than the fine citizens of Tennessee, Washington or Louisiana?  No!

So, obviously there must be another or other factors, besides excess methionine, that’s contributing to their predilection for developing Alzheimer’s disease.  My thought’s are that a lack of  vitamin D, magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA), fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, exercise, chiropractic adjustments, continual engagement in intellectual activities (chess, crossword puzzles, social interaction…) and prolonged smoking are all predisposing/contributing factors.

Basically what this all proves, is that sensational research studies like this, translated into real world applications, which they don’t – are bull shit.

If you are interested in taking proactive steps that may protect you from developing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, MS and others, please contact our office in orange, California.  FYI: It is not required that clients come directly to the office to receive help. Call Dr. Marcus Ettinger for more information 714-639-4360

There are also many dietary, nutritional and exercise actions that can be taken even if someone is already experiencing one of the above conditions.  The sooner these steps are implemented the better the overall results will be.  Time is of the essence when it comes to neurodegenerative type conditions.

Mediterranean Diet, Physical Activity, Cognitive Function, and Dementia Risk

Scarmeas and colleagues investigated the association between amount of physical activity, alone or in combination with adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet, and incidence of Alzheimer disease (AD). For a mean of 5.4 years, the investigators followed 1880 community-dwelling, nondemented elders in New York City. Approximately every 1.5 years, participants completed physical-activity and food-frequency questionnaires and underwent cognitive and clinical assessments to determine dementia onset. A total of 282 participants developed AD. After adjustments for multiple confounders (including age, education, sex, ethnic background, presence of apolipoprotein E ε4 gene, baseline cognitive function, body-mass index, caloric intake, leisure activities, medical comorbidities, and smoking), the risk for AD was lower in participants with a high diet score (hazard ratio, 0.60), high physical activity (HR, 0.67), or both (HR, 0.65).

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Posted in Alzheimer's, Diet, My Thoughts, Vitamin D | No Comments »

Mediterranean Diet Helps Prevent Depression

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

The benefits of eating a “Mediterranean Diet” on reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (heart attacks) and stroke) and Hypertension (high blood pressure) is well known. Well, here is another positive heath reason for following a Mediterranean Diet. – it reduces the incidence of depression. Researchers at University Las Palmas in Spain followed 10,094 individuals for four years who, at study entry, were not depressed. Those people who adhered the most to the Mediterranean Diet through the study period had a 30-percent lower incidence of depression than individuals who did not. Following a Mediterranean Diet may also prevent the onset of depression.

The Mediterranean Diet consists of low meat intake, moderate intake of alcohol (wine) and dairy products (sheep’s milk products), and high intake of fruits, nuts, vegetables (primarily greens), cereals/grains, and fish (small fish like sardines, high in omega 3′s), and flavoring foods with herbs, spices and natural sea salt. The researchers found dose-response relationships for:

Olive Oil Benefits More Than The Heart

Olive Oil Benefits More Than The Heart

  1. fruits and nuts
  2. monounsaturated-to-saturated fats ratio
  3. legume (beans) intake

The higher the intake of fruits, nuts, monounsaturated fats (olive oil) and beans – The more profound the beneficial results were.

Archives of General Psychiatry 2009;66:1090-1098.

ADDITIONAL: E-mail to Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas MD one of the foremost researchers into the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet.

Dr. Scarmeas,

I just read your study in JAMA, very nice! I have a Integrative medicine practice in southern California for twenty years now and advocate that my clients follow a Mediterranean Diet. I have followed this way of eating for over twenty years and at 45 I have ideal blood markers.

My question is this: what do you feel is the most important aspect (most profound physiological benefits) of the Mediterranean diet?

Is it the red wine (polyphenols, especially resveratrol and its ability to increase NO synthase?)
or
Is it olive oil and omega 3’s from the fish and almonds?
or
Does the diet itself inhibit/reduce inflammatory cytokines, reducing the incidence of cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s?
or
?

I would really appreciate any insight you can share.

Thank you in advance.

Marcus Ettinger

Reply (brief but to the point):

Dear Dr Ettinger.

We are investigating some of it. Currently it is not clear. It may be a combination of all the above – biological synergy. Physical activity seems equally important.

Thank you for your interest.

Note:

Below is a paragraph from my post on The True Cause of Alzheimer’s? The deficiencies that may predispose one to developing this terrible disease can be corrected by following a Mediterranean Diet and engaging in regular exercise, throughout one’s life.

“My thought’s on predisposing/contributing factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease and senile dementia: A severe lack of vitamin D, magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA), fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, exercise, chiropractic adjustments, continual engagement in intellectual activities (chess, crossword puzzles, social interaction…) and prolonged smoking.”

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Posted in Alzheimer's, Mediterranean Diet, Minerals, Omega 3 FA's, Vitamin D | No Comments »

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